US 12,526,374 B1Granted

Mobile printer

AssigneeNewtonoid Technologies, L.L.C.

InventorsFielding B. Staton, David Strumpf

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A three-dimensional printer for providing additive material to an object in need thereof includes a non-transitory computer memory; a processor in data communication with the computer memory; a material reservoir; an output device in communication with the material reservoir; a scanning device for obtaining existing contour information about the object; and a contour database accessible by the processor which has contour information about the object. The scanning device is in data communication with the processor. Programming causes: (1) the scanning device to obtain the existing contour information; (2) the computer memory to store the obtained existing contour information; and (3) the processor to create a print file based on data from each of: (a) the obtained existing contour information, and (b) the contour database. Further programming selectively actuates the output device, utilizing the print file, to apply the material from the material reservoir to the object in need thereof.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A printer for depositing material onto a surface, comprising:

a non-transitory computer memory;
a processor in data communication with the computer memory and an input device;
a scanning device positioned to obtain information, the scanning device being in communication with the processor;
a reservoir of material;
an applicator in communication with the reservoir, the applicator comprising a plurality of nozzles;
a database accessible by the processor, the database having material application information;
programming causing the scanning device to obtain information about movement of the printer, including a travel speed of the printer;
programming causing the scanning device to obtain information about the surface;
programming causing memory to store the obtained surface information;
programming causing the processor to determine a rate of application for each of the plurality of nozzles, the rate of application being based on each of:
(A) the obtained printer movement information;
(B) the obtained surface information;
and
(C) the material application information stored in the database;
and
programming causing the applicator to apply the material to the area of the surface according to the determined rate of application for each of the plurality of nozzles;
wherein the rate of application is a speed at which material is output from each of the plurality of nozzles;
and
wherein the rate of application is controlled by variably adjusting each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles as the printer moves over the surface.

16 more elements

A method of applying material to a surface, comprising:

providing a printing device, comprising:
a non-transitory computer memory;
a processor in data communication with the computer memory and an input device, the input device for receiving material application information;
a scanning device positioned to obtain information, the scanning device being in communication with the processor;
a reservoir of material;
an applicator in communication with a reservoir comprising one or more nozzles;
and
programming for operating the printing device to apply material to an area of the surface;
placing the printing device on the surface generally in the area of the surface;
activating the printing device, wherein, upon activation of the printing device, the programming:
causes the scanning device to obtain information about the area of the surface;
causes the computer memory to store the obtained surface information;
causes the scanning device to obtain information about movement of the printing device, including a travel speed of the printing device;
determines a rate of application of the material based on each of:
(A) the obtained surface information;
(B) the obtained printing device movement information;
and
(C) the material application information;
and
causes the applicator to apply the material to the area of the surface based on the determined rate of application;
wherein the rate of application is a speed at which material is output from each of the plurality of nozzles;
and
wherein the rate of application is controlled by variably adjusting each nozzle of the one or more nozzles as the printer moves over the surface.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/933,658Filed 20 Sep 2022 · continuation in part
Priority: 20 Apr 2017
Granted: 13 Jan 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H04N 1/00519
Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof: constructional details not…
B41J 2/04581
Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits: controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements
B41J 3/36
Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed: for portability , i.e.…
B41J 11/002
For treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing: curing or drying…

Family

Application62/487,621Us provisional application · filed 20 Apr 2017
Application15/958,867Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Apr 2018
Application16/443,761Parent of this continuation · filed 17 Jun 2019
US 10,325,187 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Jun 2019
Application17/114,223Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 7 Dec 2020
US 10,863,045 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Dec 2020
US 11,451,680 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application17/114,223Parent of this continuation
Application16/443,761Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2018/0307951 A1Published application
US 2019/0344584 A1Published application
US 12,526,374 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.