Automated drawing apparatus, system and method
OwnerAlbert Joseph Charpentier, Joseph Walter Charpentierinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer-controlled robot arm is configured to draw on a substrate. The robot is capable of picking up, drawing with, and releasing multiple different drawing implements serially to, for example, prepare a line drawing having a plurality of colors. In a first embodiment, the robot arm picks up and releases a drawing implement vertically. In a second embodiment, the robot arm picks up and releases the drawing implement horizontally. A dispenser holds and dispenses the substrate and also controls the force applied to the substrate by the robot arm and drawing implements. A completed drawing may be incorporated into a mosaic image or collage.
Claims20
An automated drawing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a robot arm, the robot arm defining a robot arm axis of rotation, the robot arm having an operating end, the operating end being rotatable with the robot arm about the robot arm axis of rotation, the operating end being movable in an axial direction parallel to the robot arm axis of rotation, the operating end being movable in a radial direction with respect to the robot arm axis of rotation;
- b) a frame, the robot arm being supported by the frame, the frame being configured to support a substrate;
- c) at least one storage location, the at least one storage location being configured to support and retain a writing implement, the writing implement being configured to mark the substrate;
- d) a microprocessor operably attached to the robot arm, the microprocessor having a configuration to cause the operating end of the robot arm to selectably move to the the storage location, to engage the writing implement, to move the writing implement to the substrate, to mark the substrate with the writing implement, to return the writing implement to the storage location, and to release the writing implement to the storage location.
An automated drawing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a robot arm, the robot arm defining a robot arm axis of rotation, the robot arm having an operating end, the operating end being rotatable with the robot arm about the robot arm axis of rotation, the operating end being movable in an axial direction parallel to the robot arm axis of rotation, the operating end being movable in a radial direction with respect to the robot arm axis of rotation;
- b) a frame, the robot arm being supported by the frame;
- c) at least one storage location, the at least one storage location being configured to support and retain a writing implement, the writing implement being configured to mark a substrate;
- d) a substrate supported by the frame;
- e) a microprocessor operably attached to the robot arm, the microprocessor and the robot arm having a configuration to cause the operating end of the robot arm to selectably move to the the storage location, to engage the writing implement, to move the writing implement to the dispenser, to mark the substrate with the writing implement, and to return the writing implement to the storage location;
- f) a holder, the holder being attached to the robot arm operating end, the holder being generally tubular in shape and configured to receive the writing implement, the holder having a holder longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the robot arm axis of rotation, the holder defining a hole aligned with the holder longitudinal axis;
- g) an ejecting pin, the ejecting pin having an ejecting pin longitudinal axis, the ejecting pin being supported by the frame so that the ejecting pin longitudinal axis is aligned with and in a spaced apart relation to a corresponding storage location longitudinal axis, wherein the robot arm axis of rotation is vertically oriented and wherein the ejecting pin and the storage location are configured so that an upward vertical movement of the robot arm operating end when the holder longitudinal axis coincides with the storage location longitudinal axis will cause the ejecting pin to penetrate the hole and to push the writing implement out of engagement with the holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.