Printing utilizing a virtual mask
First Claim
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1. A method of selectively omitting a portion of a print design based on detecting a feature of an article to print the print design except the selectively omitted portion on the article, the method comprising:
- disposing the article on a portion of a print system;
forming a digitized image of the article based on data obtained from a sensor system while the article is on the portion of the print system, wherein the digitized image comprises at least a first region representing at least a portion of the article;
using a computing system, classifying first portions of the first region as belonging to a first category and classifying second portions of the first region as belonging to a second category corresponding to a detected feature of the article, the first and second portions being classified based on the digitized image;
discharging a print material on the article based on the print design, using the printing system, on the at least a portion of the article represented by the first region if the first region is classified in the first category; and
preventing the discharge of print material on the at least a portion of the article represented by the first region if the first region is classified in the second category;
wherein the discharged print material on the article constitutes an incomplete form of the print design lacking print material at the selectively omitted portion of the print design corresponding to the detected visible feature of the article.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for printing on an article are disclosed. An embodiment of a method may include the generation of a virtual mask that can designate areas for printing and/or designate areas to exclude from printing. A method may include utilization of the virtual mask during either 2D or 3D printing such that a print design is printed in areas designated for printing by the virtual mask.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of selectively omitting a portion of a print design based on detecting a feature of an article to print the print design except the selectively omitted portion on the article, the method comprising:
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disposing the article on a portion of a print system; forming a digitized image of the article based on data obtained from a sensor system while the article is on the portion of the print system, wherein the digitized image comprises at least a first region representing at least a portion of the article; using a computing system, classifying first portions of the first region as belonging to a first category and classifying second portions of the first region as belonging to a second category corresponding to a detected feature of the article, the first and second portions being classified based on the digitized image; discharging a print material on the article based on the print design, using the printing system, on the at least a portion of the article represented by the first region if the first region is classified in the first category; and preventing the discharge of print material on the at least a portion of the article represented by the first region if the first region is classified in the second category; wherein the discharged print material on the article constitutes an incomplete form of the print design lacking print material at the selectively omitted portion of the print design corresponding to the detected visible feature of the article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of printing on an object using a virtual mask, the method comprising:
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placing the object on a tray in a printing system; obtaining image data regarding the object while the object is on the tray using at least one image capture device; forming a virtual representation of the object based on the image data and demarcating the virtual representation into one or more regions representing different portions of the object; generating a virtual mask based using a computing system, wherein the virtual mask classifies each region of the virtual representation as belonging to either a first area where printing is permitted or a second area where printing is prohibited; selecting the print design; preventing the discharge of the print material on the object based on the print design at portions of the object that correspond to the first area to selectively omit portions of the print design; and discharging a print material on the object based on the print design at portions of the object that correspond to the second area, wherein the discharged print material on the object constitutes an incomplete form of the print design lacking print material at the selectively omitted portions of the print design that correspond to the first area. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification