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US 9,070,055 B2Granted
Graphic alignment for printing to an article using a first display device and a second display device
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsTodd W. Miller, Eli R. Troyke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible manufacturing system for an article of footwear includes a printing system for printing graphics onto the footwear. The flexible manufacturing system includes a first display device that is transparent and which may be used to superimpose graphics over an article to align the article with the printing system. An optical device and a second display device provide a fixed viewing angle for a user aligning the article under the first display device.
Claims20
A method of printing onto to an article, comprising:
- displaying a graphic on a transparent display device that is disposed between the article and an optical device;
- capturing image information of the graphic and the article with the optical device;
- aligning the graphic with the article while the article and a printing system are in a first relative configuration using the captured image information;
- changing a configuration of the article and the printing system from the first relative configuration to a second relative configuration, wherein the second relative configuration is substantially different from the first relative configuration;
- and
- printing the graphic onto the article while the article and the printing system are in the second relative configuration.
3 more elements
A method of printing onto to an article, comprising:
- placing a first display device over the article while the article and a printing system are in a first relative configuration, wherein the first display device has a transparent display screen;
- displaying a graphic on the first display device;
- capturing image information associated with the graphic and the article;
- displaying the captured image information on a second display device;
- aligning the graphic with a predetermined portion of the article while the article and the printing system are in the first relative configuration;
- changing a configuration of the article and the printing system from the first relative configuration to a second relative configuration, wherein the second relative configuration is substantially different from the first relative configuration;
- and
- printing a printed graphic onto the predetermined portion of the article while the article and the printing system are in the second relative configuration.
5 more elements
A method of printing onto an article, comprising:
- positioning the article onto a platform configured to support the article and to move the article from a first relative position with respect to a printing system to a second relative position with respect to the printing system;
- disposing a transparent display device between the article and an optical device when the platform is in the first relative position;
- displaying a graphic on the transparent display device when the platform is in the first relative position;
- capturing image information with the optical device, wherein the image information includes the displayed graphic and the article;
- adjusting an alignment of the graphic with respect to the article according to the captured image information so that the displayed graphic is disposed over a predetermined portion of the article;
- moving the platform from the first relative configuration to the second relative configuration, wherein when the platform is in the second relative configuration, the printing system is configured to print the graphic on the article on the predetermined portion of the article;
- and
- printing a printed graphic on the article on the predetermined portion of the article.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.