Method for application and accurate positioning of graphics on a surface
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRichard W. Baird, James N. Buttrick, Glenn R. Dalby, Silas L. Studley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a method of applying an accurately positioning at least one graphic image on a large contoured surface using an apparatus comprising a flexible-rail positioning system mounted on a portion of the surface on which the graphic image is to be applied, a graphic image application system, software to operate the positioning system, and software to operate the graphic image application system.
Claims22
A method of applying and accurately positioning at least one graphic image on a large contoured surface, comprising the steps of:
- connecting a flexible-rail positioning system with an attached paint application system that uses ultraviolet curable paints to a portion of the surface to be painted, the paint application system being controlled by an imaging software program;
- identifying reference marks on the portion of the surface to be painted;
- aligning the paint application system to the reference marks on the portion of the surface to be painted;
- aligning a selected segment of the graphic image to be applied to the reference marks on the portion of the surface to be painted;
- applying the selected segment of the graphic image by moving the paint application system along the portion of the surface to be painted using a flexible rail;
- and,
- detaching the flexible-rail positioning system after the selected segment of the graphic image is applied, and moving the flexible-rail positioning system to another portion of the surface to apply a new selected segment of the graphic image, wherein the imaging software program tracks the selected segments already applied and positions new selected segments based on the selected segments already applied to form a mosaicked graphic image on the surface to be painted.
A method of accurately applying and positioning a graphic image on an exterior surface of an aircraft, comprising the steps of:
- connecting a flexible-rail positioning system with an attached graphic image application system to a portion of the surface, the graphic image application system comprising an ink jet printer that uses ultraviolet curable inks and the graphic image application system being controlled by an imaging software program;
- identifying reference marks on the portion of the surface;
- aligning the graphic image application system to the reference marks on the portion of the surface;
- aligning a selected segment of the graphic image to be applied to the reference marks on the portion of the surface;
- applying the selected segment of the graphic image by moving the graphic image application system along the portion of the surface using the flexible-rail positioning system;
- and,
- detaching the flexible-rail positioning system after the selected segment of the graphic image is applied, and moving the flexible-rail positioning system to another portion of the surface to apply a new selected segment of the graphic image, wherein the imaging software program tracks the selected segments already applied and positions new selected segments based on the selected segments already applied to form a mosaicked graphic image on the surface.
A method of applying and accurately positioning at least one graphic image on a large contoured surface, comprising the steps of:
- connecting a flexible-rail positioning system with an attached paint application system that uses ultraviolet curable paints to a portion of the surface, wherein the system uses ultraviolet curable paints or inks;
- using an imaging software program to scan, match, and identify reference marks on the portion of the surface to align the paint application system to the reference marks;
- using a camera system for fiducial detection of the reference marks to align a selected segment of the graphic image to be applied to the reference marks;
- applying the selected segment of the graphic image by moving the paint application system along the portion of the surface using a flexible rail;
- and,
- detaching the flexible-rail positioning system after the selected segment of the graphic image is applied, and moving the flexible-rail positioning system to another portion of the surface to apply a new selected segment of the graphic image, such that the selected segments are accurately positioned to form a mosaicked graphic image on the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.