The invention relates to a suction film holder preferably for a reproduction camera and comprising a plate with grooves or channels opening outwards and communicating with a suction means.
Such a suction film holder serves to retain either an original or a reproduction sheet during the printing.
DE-PS No. 2,302,757 discloses a suction film holder for cameras. This suction film holder comprises a plurality of conical suction chambers mutually communicating through valves. However, the sheet in question may neither be of arbitrary size nor be arbitrarily located. Only the intermediary suction chamber is connected to the suction source.
The object of the invention is to provide a suction film holder permitting an arbitrary location of a sheet of an arbitrary size without a disproportionate high number of valves.
The suction film holder according to the invention is characterized by the channels being individually connected to the suction means through at least one valve, said valve closing when a heavy flow takes place and slightly opening when substantially the same pressure is present on both sides thereof.
As a result, the sheet may be of an arbitrary shape and size to a predetermind maximum size and be arbitrarily located. A plurality of channels always open on to the back of the sheet, the valves of said channels slightly opening since substantially the same pressure is present on both sides of the valve, i.e. a low pressure retaining the sheet. A plurality of valves located in the channels outside the sheet close. A further advantage is that only relatively few valves are necessary.
According to the invention the valves may be composed of flat springs adjusted so as to permit a predetermined minimum flow in the closed position.
The invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
FIG. 1 is a top view of a suction film holder according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the suction film holder of FIG. 1, and
FIG. 3 illustrates one of the valves in one of the suction channels.
The suction film holder illustrated in FIG. 1 preferably for a reproduction camera comprises a plate with grooves or channels 2 opening outwards. Each channel communicates with a suction means preferably through a valve 1. Each channel 2 is connected to the suction means through preferably one valve in the form of a flat spring 4 in the bottom of the channel, cf. FIG. 3. This flat spring closes when a heavy flow takes place, i.e. when the channel 2 is uncovered, cf. FIG. 2, and opens slightly when substantially the same pressure is present on both sides thereof. In the latter position the channel is covered by a sheet which is sucked to the film holder.
The film holder illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a high number of channels uniformly dispersed across the plate, said channels providing the advantage that a sheet of almost any size and orientation may be sucked to the holder.
The flat spring closes under usual circumstances, although a slight oozing occurs. By locating the sheet above the channel, the channel is sucked out and the flat spring 4 opens, whereby the sheet, e.g. a sheet of light-sensitive material, is secured.
The suction film holder may for instance be made of plexiglass, said holder being simple and inexpensive to manufacture.