VACCUM PLATES

WIPO Patent Application WO1992010336

A3

A vacuum plate system comprises a base plate (10) and a support plate (20). The base plate (10) has an array of vacuum apertures (12) formed in it and a vacuum groove (14) around its periphery. Vacuum and positive pressure connection ports (15-18) connect to the vacuum apertures (12) and groove (14). The support plate (20) is formed economically out of plastics material, and is formed on its upper, working surface (21) with an array of shallow cavities (23). Each of the cavities (23) is formed with a small central hole (24) which passes through the support plate (20). Each such hole communicates with grooves (25) which are formed on the underside of the support plate (20), to distribute the vacuum supplied via the vacuum apertures (12). In use, a workpiece is placed on the support plate (20), which in turn is placed on the base plate (10). The support plate (10) and workpiece are held in position by vacuum applied via one or more of the ports (15 to 17). A tool can cut right round the edge of, and even under the workpiece and into the support plate (20), which may be scrapped and/or recycled after the machining operation. The invention is particularly suitable for the machining of thin and/or fragile components.

PETRIE LAURENCE ROSS (GB)
DAVIES DAVID (GB)
STANLEY DAVID WILLIAM (GB)

PCT/GB1991/002176

July 23, 1992

December 09, 1991

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CARNE UFM LTD (GB)
PETRIE LAURENCE ROSS (GB)

B25B11/00; B25H1/08; (IPC1-7): B25B11/00

US4723766A	1988-02-09
FR2513160A1	1983-03-25
DE8703223U1	1987-04-16
EP0159623A2	1985-10-30
DE8700766U1	1987-03-12
DE3140882A1	1982-05-27

Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 12, no. 302 (M-732) 17 August 1988, & JP,A, 63077626 (NEC KANSAI LTD) 7 April 1988, see abstract

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