Method and apparatus for forming an image in stone
OwnerTimothy Andrew Simsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of imbedding an image in a stone substrate includes printing an image onto a first surface of the stone substrate with regular inks and/or phosphorescent inks. Optionally, a moist towel is placed over the first surface of the stone substrate and a weight is placed over the moist towel then time is provided for the inks of the image to transfer from the print image into the surface of the stone substrate, sublimating into the stone. If provided, the moist towel and the print image are then removed and the above steps are repeated until the image is imbedded into the stone substrate. Optionally, a mirror image of the image is printed on the opposite side of the stone substrate in a similar manner.
Claims20
A method of imbedding an image in a stone substrate, the method comprising:
- (a) printing an image onto a first planar surface of a stone by transferring inks directly from a printer to the first planar surface of the stone without the inks being deposited on an intermediate medium;
- (b) waiting for the inks to transfer into the surface of the stone substrate;
- (c) repeating steps a-b until the image is imbedded into the stone substrate.
A method of imbedding an image in a stone substrate, the method comprising:
- (a) printing an image onto the first surface of the stone substrate by transferring inks directly from a printer to the first planar surface of the stone without the inks being deposited on an intermediate medium;
- (b) placing a moist towel over the first surface of the stone substrate;
- (c) placing a weight/mass over the moist towel;
- (d) evacuating an opposing surface of the stone substrate;
- (e) waiting for the image to sublimate into the stone substrate;
- (f) removing the moist towel and weight/mass;
- (g) repeating steps a-f until the image is imbedded into the stone substrate.
A method of imbedding an image in a stone, the method comprising:
- (a) printing an image directly onto a first surface of the stone, whereby inks from a printer passes directly from the printer to the first surface of the stone without the inks being deposited on an intermediate medium;
- (b) evacuating an opposing surface of the stone;
- (c) waiting for the image to sublimate into the stone;
- (d) repeating steps a-c until the image is imbedded into the stone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.