Method for producing markings and a mobile device for carrying out this method

• US 20030168834A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UDW
• Original Assignee: UDW
• Inventors: Ulrich, Franz
• Application Number:
  US10/381,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20030168834A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/727
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/222 specially adapted for automatic spraying of interrupted, individual or variable markings
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing large-surface markings such as patterns, images, text, company logos, signs or decorative markings. A marking head (5) that is positioned on a mobile device (1), preferably a vehicle, is moved along the surface to be marked with one or more e nozzles (6). Electronic control means (8) control the nozzles (6) of the marking head in accordance with the actual position of the mobile device (1), according to the model to be reproduced. This enables oversized markings to be produced, for example on areas of ground or other suitable surfaces, especially for advertising purposes.

Claims

1. Method for producing markings (15) on a stationary area characterized in that

a marking head (5), with one or more nozzles (6), or other means, arranged on a mobile device (1), for example a vehicle, is moved along the surface to be marked and there are electronic means of control (8) with which the nozzles (6) or the other means of the marking head are controlled in co-ordination with the actual position of the mobile device (1) in accordance with the model to be reproduced and the markings (15) are created.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the preferably remote-controlled movement of the device (1) is realised by means of a positioning system outside and/or integrated in this latter.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the logo is recorded according to the measured geographical position of the area to be marked, with software, that the precise spatial co-ordinates of each individual nozzle of the marking head (5) are determined in real time by means of the positioning system, whereupon the software compares the individual co-ordinates with the specified ideal co-ordinates of the individual pixel of the logo and each individual dye nozzle is then opened respectively, when it is located precisely in the desired position of the georeferenced pixel.

4. Method according to one of the previous claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the device is controlled during the spraying procedure in such a way that it runs in parallel tracks and that at the end of any respective track it is turned and brought into a position which advantageously connects to the previously sprayed track.

5. Method according to one of the previous claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the device follows curving tracks and thus for example prints a stripe of a specified width along a curve.

6. Method according to one of the previous claims 1 to 5, characterised in that large scale specified graphic elements, advantageously with a size of several square metres, are produced.

7. Method according to one of the previous claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the marking (15) is made on the ground, fields, snowfields, posters, textiles, walls, facades or similar.

8. Mobile device for the realisation of the method according to one of the previous claims 1 to 7, characterised in that there is at least one marking head (5) with several nozzles (6) or other means for achieving a marked area, that there is a positioning system for determining the positions of the mobile device (1) and electronic control means (8), with which the nozzles (6) or the other means of the marking head are controlled in co-ordination with the position of the mobile device (1) in accordance with the model to be reproduced.

9. Mobile device according to claim 8, characterised in that the positioning system for the controlled movement of the device (1) is realised by a positioning system contained within the device, and/or by a navigation system via satellite positioning, such as for example GPS or Glonass, and/or by a positioning system placed outside the area to be marked.

10. Mobile device according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the marking head (5) is equipped with one or advantageously more spray nozzles for the application of dye or for a partial sowing of plants or similar.

11. Mobile device according to one of the previous claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the marking head (5) is equipped with means such as for example with tools for a surface treatment, such as roughening, engraving cutting-in, mowing or similar.

12. Mobile device according to one of the previous claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the electronic control means (8) includes organs with which the scale reproduction can be adjusted.