Methods and apparatus for imprinting indecia on a three dimensional article
AssigneeEugene Gollings
InventorRichard G Carlson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for imprinting high quality images on non-planar surfaces, including the surfaces of various types of three-dimensional articles, such as baseball bats, formed from a number of different types of materials. In the preferred method of the invention, the non-planar surfaces of the three-dimensional articles are printed using a uniquely modified ink jet image transfer technique. The apparatus of the invention includes a modified ink jet plotter coupled with a novel article positioning apparatus which functions to automatically maintain the surface of the article to be printed within a plan substantially parallel to and slightly spaced apart from the place within which the ink jet nozzles of the ink jet plotter reside.
Claims21
In combination with a microprocessor-based digital plotter that produces copies of computer data based on plotting instructions received from a host computer, said plotter being of a character having a print zone having a length and a carriage which carries at least one ink jet cartridge for movement along the length of the print zone of the plotter and means for controlling firing of the nozzle of the ink jet cartridge, an improvement comprising article-holding means for holding within the digital plotter a three-dimensional article having a curved surface upon which the computer data is being imprinted, said improvement further comprising:
- (a) rotating means for controllably rotating the three-dimensional article relative to the ink jet cartridge;
- and
- (b) positioning means for controllably positioning the surface of the three-dimensional article said three dimensional article being disposed proximate the nozzle of the ink jet cartridge wherein the positioning means maintain the surface of said article at all times at a substantially uniform spaced-apart distance from the nozzle.
An apparatus for imprinting a predetermined pattern on a curved surface of a three-dimensional article, comprising:
- (a) an ink jet cartridge having a dispensing nozzle for dispensing ink, said nozzle being disposed in a first plane;
- (b) means for moving said ink jet cartridge relative to the surface of the three-dimensional article;
- (c) means coupled with said ink jet cartridge for receiving information containing the predetermined pattern, said receiving means controlling the dispensing of ink from said nozzle in response to said received information;
- (d) rotating means for rotating the three-dimensional article relative to said dispensing nozzle;
- and
- (e) positioning means for controllably positioning the three-dimensional article relative to said dispensing nozzle to continuously maintain the surface being imprinted within a second plane proximate to and substantially parallel with said first plane.
An apparatus for imprinting a predetermined pattern on a curved surface of a three-dimensional article, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of ink jet cartridges each having a dispensing nozzle for dispensing ink, each said nozzle being disposed in a first plane;
- (b) moving means for moving said plurality of ink jet cartridges relative to the surface of the three-dimensional article;
- (c) means coupled with said ink jet cartridges for receiving information containing the predetermined pattern, said receiving means controlling the dispensing of ink from each said nozzle in response to said received information;
- (d) rotating means for rotating the three-dimensional article relative to each said dispensing nozzle;
- and
- (e) article positioning means for positioning the surface of the three-dimensional article in a spaced location relative to said first plane, said article positioning means comprising sensor means for sensing a change in said spaced location between the surface of the three-dimensional article and said first plane, said sensor means including means for generating and transmitting a signal reflecting said change.
A method for imprinting indicia on a non-planar surface of a three-dimensional article using a digital plotter having a printing zone, a carriage which carries at least one ink jet cartridge having a nozzle along the printing zone, means for controllably firing of the nozzle of the ink jet cartridge and an article positioning means carried by the digital plotter for positioning the surface of the three-dimensional article upon which the indicia is being imprinted relative to the nozzle of the ink jet cartridge, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) controllably rotating the three-dimensional article relative to the printing zone;
- (b) controllably moving the surface of the three-dimensional article relative to the printing zone to maintain the surface at a substantially uniform spaced-apart distance from the nozzle of the ink jet cartridge;
- and
- (c) firing the nozzle to selectively deposit microdots of ink on the surface of the article as the article moves relative to the printing zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.