Multicolor image printing device and method
OwnerRichard M. Peckinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multicolor image printing device composed of a micro-reticulated resin containing different colors of ink which are selected to correspond with the image being printed by a scanning device coupled to a digitizer. In one embodiment a plurality of small resin pieces are preimpregnated with ink and then arranged in an array to form the image printing device. In another embodiment the resin is an integral piece and the ink is injected therein at the desired locations. The methods and apparatus of making and using both embodiments are disclosed.
Claims36
An apparatus for making a color image printing device comprising a scanning means for scanning the representation to be printed and generating a scanning signal responsive thereto;
- a color selection means having an input means for receiving said scanning signal and means responsive to said scanning signal to generate a color selection signal corresponding to the color of a portion of the scanned representation;
- a plurality of color banks each holding a plurality of printing modules comprising ink of a single color, and each having distributing means responsive to said color selection signal to distribute one of said modules when said color selection signal corresponds to the color of printing modules held therein;
- a composing means to compose said distributed modules into an array of modules;
- and
- a binding means for binding said array whereby said bound array can be applied to a surface and the ink in said printing modules will produce at least one image corresponding to said representation.
An apparatus for making a printing device comprising a scanning means for scanning the representation to be printed and generating a scanning signal responsive thereto;
- a color selection means responsive to said scanning signal to generate a color selection signal corresponding to the color of a portion of the scanned representation;
- a block of ink absorbing material;
- a plurality of color injection means for injecting ink into said block of ink absorbing material;
- and
- delivery means responsive to said color selection signal to deliver said color selection means to a portion of said block of ink absorbing material to inject ink therein to form a pattern of ink injections in said block, said pattern corresponding to the scanned representation so that the block can be applied to a surface to print at least one image of said representation.
A method of making a color image printing device comprising the steps of:
- scanning the representation to be printed and generating a scanning signal responsive thereto;
- generating a color selection signal corresponding to the color of a portion of the scanned representation;
- providing a plurality of color banks each holding a plurality of printing modules comprising ink of a single color;
- distributing a printing module from one of said plurality of color banks when said color selection signal corresponds to the color of printing modules held in the color bank;
- composing said distributed modules into an array of modules;
- and
- binding said array;
- whereby said bound array can be applied to a surface and the ink in said printing modules will produce at least one image corresponding to said representation.
A method of making a printing device comprising scanning the representation to be printed and generating a scanning signal responsive thereto;
- generating a color selection signal responsive to said scanning signal corresponding to the color of a portion of the scanned representation;
- providing a block of ink absorbing material;
- injecting ink into a portion of said block of ink absorbing material responsive to said color selection signal to form a pattern of ink injections in said block,
- said pattern corresponding to the scanned representation so that the block can be applied to a surface to print at least one image of said representation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.