Three-dimensional object printing apparatus and method

An apparatus for supplying ink to a surface of a three-dimensional object, comprising:

• an ejection section for ejecting ink;
• a mechanism for changing relative positions and relative attitudes of said ejection section and said three-dimensional object;
• a processing section for approximating a predetermined area of the surface of said three-dimensional object by a flat face;
• and
• a controller for controlling said mechanism to change said relative positions of said ejection section and said three-dimensional object while maintaining said relative attitudes thereof in a plane parallel to said flat face.

A method of supplying ink to a surface of a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:

• a) approximating a portion of the surface of said three-dimensional object by a flat face;
• b) fixing the inclination of said flat face of said step a) to a predetermined inclination;
• and
• c) supplying ink to the surface of said three-dimensional object while performing two-dimensional scanning in a plane parallel to said flat face of said step b).

An apparatus for supplying ink to a surface of a three-dimensional object, comprising:

• an ejection head with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink to the surface of said three-dimensional object located opposite said nozzles;
• a scanning section for causing said ejection head to scan the surface of said three-dimensional object;
• and
• a controller for enabling predetermined nozzles and disabling the other nozzles out of said plurality of nozzles in accordance with a shape of the surface of said three-dimensional object located opposite said ejection head, thereby to control scanning by said scanning section and ink ejection by said ejection head.

An apparatus for supplying ink to a surface of a three-dimensional object, comprising:

• a table to place said three-dimensional object, said table being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a placing surface of said table;
• an ejection head with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, said ejection head being capable of being positioned in any desired position in three-dimensional space;
• and
• a controller for controlling ink ejection by said ejection head in response to rotation of said table, by rotating said table with said ejection head in a predetermined position in three-dimensional space so that ink is supplied to said three-dimensional object with a predetermined width in a direction of said axis.

A method of supplying ink to a surface of a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:

• a) locating said three-dimensional object opposite an ejection head with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink;
• b) causing said ejection head to scan the surface of said three-dimensional object;
• and
• c) enabling predetermined nozzles and disabling the other nozzles out of said plurality of nozzles in accordance with a shape of the surface of said three-dimensional object located opposite said ejection head, thereby to eject ink from said enabled nozzles during said scanning.