Fluorescent printing on fabric for use as control input to automated positioning equipment
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsStephen Wiedmann, Victoria Wahlen, Branson Brockschmidt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of using an automated system to position a fabric piece. A pattern is printed onto a fabric piece with fluorescent ink, and detected with a fluorescence-detecting camera, such as a UV camera. The detected pattern is stored in a controller as a pattern signature and compared to a stored target pattern. The results of the comparing step are used to generate control signals for the automated system to move the piece into the position of the target pattern.
Claims18
A method of using an automated system to position a fabric piece, comprising:
- printing a pattern onto the fabric piece with fluorescent ink;
- detecting the fluorescent ink on the fabric piece, thereby acquiring a pattern signature;
- storing the pattern signature in a control process of the automated system as a target pattern associated with a desired location of the fabric piece;
- staging the fabric piece such that the fabric piece is moveable by the automated equipment;
- comparing the position of the pattern signature on the fabric piece with the target pattern;
- and
- using the results of the comparing step to generate control signals for the automated system to move the piece into the position of the target pattern.
A method of using an automated system to position a fabric piece, comprising:
- printing a pattern onto the fabric piece with fluorescent ink;
- detecting the fluorescent ink on the fabric piece, thereby acquiring a pattern signature;
- storing the pattern signature in a control process of the automated system as a target pattern associated with a desired location of the fabric piece;
- staging the fabric piece such that the fabric piece is moveable by the automated equipment;
- comparing the position of the pattern signature on the fabric piece with the target pattern;
- and
- using the results of the comparing step to generate control signals for the automated system to apply tension to the fabric, thereby reducing substrate distortion.
A control system for use with an automated fabric positioning system, comprising:
- a printer operable to print a pattern onto a fabric piece with fluorescent ink;
- a camera operable to detect the fluorescent ink on the fabric piece, thereby acquiring a pattern signature;
- a controller operable to store the pattern signature as a target pattern associated with a desired location of the fabric piece;
- to compare the position of the pattern signature on the fabric piece with the target pattern;
- and to use the results of the comparing step to generate control signals for the automated fabric positioning system to move the piece into the position of the target pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.