Method and apparatus for digital printing
AssigneeDean Robert Gary Anderson
InventorDean Robert Gary Anderson
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Abstract
A printing device for digital printing on a print medium is comprised of a wheel rotatable by a motor, a liquid dispenser for depositing a quantity of liquid on the wheel along the outer edge, and an air jet positioned adjacent the outer edge for removing the liquid from the outer edge and directing the liquid toward the print medium as the wheel rotates through the air jet. The outer edge includes a plurality of teeth transport the paint from the dispenser to the air jet. An electronically controlled motor is used to selectively rotate the wheel through the air jet thereby removing a desired amount of liquid from the wheel. The liquid is transported by the air jet toward the print medium. By employing a plurality of such printing devices, a full color digital image can be reproduced on any print medium.
Claims52
An apparatus for depositing a liquid on a medium, comprising:
- at least one wheel having an outer edge selectively rotatable by a motor;
- a liquid dispenser for depositing a quantity of liquid on said wheel proximate said outer edge;
- and
- at least one air jet positioned proximate said outer edge for directing a flow of air at said outer edge, said flow of air removing at least a portion of said quantity of liquid and carrying the at least a portion of said quantity of liquid toward the print medium as said wheel rotates through said flow of air.
An apparatus for depositing a liquified material on a surface, comprising:
- stream means for providing a fluid stream;
- wheel means for advancing a material disposed on at least an outer edge thereof through said stream means, said stream means oriented for removing said material from said wheel means;
- application means for applying said material onto said wheel means;
- and
- control means for selectively rotating said wheel means relative to said stream means and thus controlling the quantity of material removed from said wheel means by said stream means.
An apparatus for digital painting, comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of printing units secured to said frame, each of said printing units comprising:
- at least one wheel having an outer edge selectively rotatable by a motor;
- a liquid dispenser for depositing a quantity of liquid on said wheel proximate said outer edge;
- at least one air jet positioned proximate said outer edge for removing at least a portion of said quantity of liquid and directing the liquid toward the print medium as said wheel rotates through said at least one air jet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.