Methods and apparatus for image transfer

A printing apparatus for printing indicia on a plurality of three-dimensional articles each having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis and a curved surface upon which the indicia is to be imprinted, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a supporting frame;
• (b) printing means connected to said supporting frame for printing indicia on the three-dimensional articles, said printing means including a carriage carried by and movable longitudinally of said supporting frame, carriage moving means for moving said carriage longitudinally of said supporting frame and a plurality of side-by-side print-heads, connected to said carriage;
• and
• (c) positioning means connected to said supporting frame for positioning a selected one of the plurality of three-dimensional articles relative to said printing means in a manner such that the longitudinal axis of the selected one of the plurality of three-dimensional articles is maintained within a plane that is substantially parallel to and spaced-apart from said carriage of said printing means, said positioning means comprising computer means operably associated with said printing means for providing printing instructions thereto and an article-holding assembly, including a holding fixture carried by said supporting frame, said holding fixture comprising:
• (i) first and second spaced-apart gripping members for gripping the selected one of the plurality of three-dimensional articles;
• (ii) gripping member positioning means for moving said second gripping member relative to said first gripping member;
• and
• (iii) article-rotating means operably associated with said second gripping means for controllably rotating said second gripping member.

A method for imprinting an image on at least a portion of a three-dimensional article having a longitudinal axis by using a modified microprocessor-based printing apparatus that includes a printer having a longitudinally-extending print zone, a computer and control circuitry that functions to cause the printer to produce an image on the article based on printing instructions received from the computer, the printer being of a character having a carriage which carries a plurality of ink jet cartridges, each having a nozzle for depositing ink on the three-dimensional article, said method comprising the steps of:

• analyzing the three-dimensional article to determine the configuration of the portion of the surface that is to be imprinted;
• positioning the three-dimensional article within the print zone of the printer, rotating the article about its longitudinal axes;
• producing a non-distorted image;
• distorting said non-distorted image in a manner to produce an image that generally corresponds to the surface of the three-dimensional article that is to be imprinted, moving the plurality of ink jet cartridges longitudinally of the print zone while using the computer to transmit printing instructions to the printer instructing the printer to fire the nozzles of the ink jet cartridges in a manner to print the distorted image on the surface of the rotating three-dimensional article.

A method for printing a substantially seamless image on at least a portion of an elongated, non-planar article having a longitudinal axis by using a modified microprocessor-based printing apparatus that includes a printer having a longitudinally-extending print zone, a computer and control circuitry that functions to cause the printer to produce an image on the elongated, non-planar article based on printing instructions received from the computer, the printer being of a character having a carriage which carries a plurality of ink jet cartridges in an in-line relationship, each said jet cartridge having a nozzle for depositing ink on the elongated, non-planar article, said method comprising the steps of analyzing the configuration of the portion of the surface of the elongated, non-planar article that is to be imprinted;

• positioning the elongated, non-planar article within the print zone of the printer, rotating the elongated, non-planar article about its longitudinal axes;
• producing a non-distorted image;
• distorting said non-distorted image in a manner to produce an image that generally corresponds to the surface of the elongated, non-planar article that is to be imprinted, moving the plurality of ink jet cartridges longitudinally of the print zone;
• and using the computer to transmit printing instructions to the printer instructing the printer to sequentially fire the nozzles of the ink jet cartridges in a manner to print the distorted image on the surface of the elongated, non-planar article.

A method for spiral printing a substantially seamless image on at least a portion of a baseball bat having a longitudinal axis by using a modified microprocessor-based printing apparatus that includes a printer having a longitudinally-extending print zone, a computer and control circuitry that functions to cause the printer to produce an image on the baseball bat based on printing instructions received from the computer, the printer being of a character having a carriage which carries four ink jet cartridges in an in-line relationship, each said jet cartridge having a nozzle for depositing ink on the baseball bat, said method comprising the steps of analyzing the configuration of the portion of the surface of the baseball bat that is to be imprinted;

• positioning the baseball bat within the print zone of the printer, rotating the baseball bat about its longitudinal axes;
• producing a non-distorted image;
• distorting said non-distorted image in a manner to produce an image that generally corresponds to the surface of the baseball bat that is to be imprinted, moving the plurality of ink jet cartridges longitudinally of the print zone;
• and using the computer to transmit printing instructions to the printer instructing the printer to sequentially fire the nozzles of the ink jet cartridges in a manner to print the distorted image on the surface of the baseball bat.