Printer for applying temporary tattoos

A temporary tattooing apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining a first opening a second opening and a cavity connecting the first opening to the second opening the cavity being designed to receive a user's extremity through the first opening and to allow egress through the second opening;
• a visualization module configured to superimpose visual media equivalent to a desired tattoo onto the user's extremity within the cavity, and to perform a method to generate a tattoo digital file, the method comprising:
• providing a set of rules and directions related to a visualization framework to a processing module to facilitate conversion of digital tattoo images into tattoo digital files;
• receiving a digital tattoo image in a digital media format;
• preprocessing the digital tattoo image to enhance one or more visual components;
• applying a detection algorithm to identify visual components of the digital tattoo image;
• converting the analyzed digital tattoo image into a lattice structure for visual rendering and overlaying;
• and
• transforming the lattice structure with the analyzed tattoo image into a tattoo digital file for use by the temporary tattooing apparatus;
• a printer module disposed within the cavity to apply the desired tattoo, the printer module including one or more print heads for administering temporary tattoo ink to apply the temporary tattoo to the user's extremity;
• and
• a user interface terminal configured to allow a user to select the temporary tattoo from among a number of candidate temporary tattoos and to adjust one or more properties of the temporary tattoo prior to application of the temporary tattoo.

An apparatus for applying a temporary tattoo to an extremity of a user, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining a cavity extending therethrough, at least a portion of the housing being formed from a transparent material;
• a user interface terminal configured to allow the user to select a desired temporary tattoo to be applied to the extremity of the user, responsive to the user placing the extremity within the cavity;
• a visualization module configured to superimpose a visual media equivalent to the desired temporary tattoo onto the extremity within the cavity, the visualization module including:
• one or more sensors configured to detect at least a size and shape of the extremity inserted into the cavity, and
• one or more projectors configured to project the visual media equivalent to the desired temporary tattoo onto the extremity, such that the user can view the visual media equivalent to the desired temporary tattoo on the extremity through the transparent portion of the housing;
• and
• a printer module disposed within the cavity to apply the desired temporary tattoo, responsive to the user approving the tattoo via the user interface terminal, the printer module including:
• a plurality of print heads for administering temporary tattoo ink to apply the desired temporary tattoo to the extremity, and
• a gantry system configured to move the plurality of print heads to facilitate application of the desired temporary tattoo,
• wherein each of the plurality of print heads is independently movable on the gantry system;
• wherein the user interface terminal is configured to allow the user to adjust one or more properties of the desired temporary tattoo prior to application of the temporary tattoo.