The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 05, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 19, 2001
Lon McIlwraith, Delta, CA;
Andrew Christie, Vancouver, CA;
Creo Inc., Burnaby, CA;
Abstract
The present invention provides a method for the quiet, contactless handling of objects using pickup devices of the Bernoulli type. The method is particularly suitable for the contactless handling of items much larger than an individual pickup, for example the handling of lithographic printing plates. According to the method of the present invention, a flow of fluid is established between the pickup face of the Bernoulli pickup and the surface of the object to be supported. The fluid is made to flow over a laminar flow surface at a velocity sufficient to produce a pressure differential between the flowing fluid and a surrounding fluid medium. Bernoulli lift is maximized by making the laminar flow surface as smooth and protrusionúfree as possible, and by ensuring that the location and extent of the laminar flow surface substantially coincides with the maximal lateral limits of the low-pressure zone between the pickup face and the opposing object surface. As the pickup fluid flows beyond the periphery of the laminar flow surface, it flows over a vibrationúattenuating surface, reducing unwanted vibrations in the object.