Large area marking device and method for printing

• US 20040233242A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Patton, David L., McIntyre, Dale F., Allen, Loretta E., Chapman, Steven S., Pietruszewski, Jacob L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,951,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/14
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/28 for printing downwardly on flat surfaces, e.g. of books, drawings, boxes , envelopes, e.g. flat-bed ink-jet printers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0236 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/10 using flat picture-bearing surfaces H04N1/113, H04N1/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/207 Simultaneous scanning of the original picture and the reproduced picture with a common scanning device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0438 Scanning displays; Scanning large surfaces, e.g. projection screens, writing boards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0464 Self-propelled scanners, e.g. robotic scanners, means for propulsion integrated in the scanner carriage

Abstract

A method and apparatus for printing an image on a large surface area or walkway provides for imagewise marking of the surface with a color marking solution, to form a visible image on the surface during an image recording mode of a marking engine. The marking engine includes a scanner and the marking engine moves along the surface and operates the scanner to sense a crude image upon the surface and generates data signals representing the crude image or boundaries defined by the crude image scanned. In response to data signals the marking engine is operated to print an enhanced image of the crude image and/or to color the crude image so that the printing overlies the crude image.

Claims

1. An apparatus for printing an image on a surface, the apparatus comprising:

a movable marking engine including a scanner, the marking engine moving along the surface and the scanner being operative to sense a crude image upon the surface and to generate data signals representing the crude image or boundaries defined by the crude image scanned; and

a controller for controlling the marking engine, the controller being responsive to the data signals to control the marking engine to print an enhanced image of the crude image and/or to color the crude image so that the printing overlies the crude image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and including a display that displays the crude image sensed by the scanner.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the crude image represents an outline and the controller controls the marking engine to colorize the crude image within the scanned boundaries.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the controller controls the marking engine to advance the scanner to scan the crude image in straight raster lines.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 and wherein the controller controls the marking engine to first scan a first predetermined entire area during a first pass and then controls the marking engine to print and/or color upon the area in a second pass.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 and wherein the marking engine is supported upon a self-propelled vehicle that supports the marking engine and scanner and the vehicle includes a drive that engages the surface at plural locations for moving the marking engine along the surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 and wherein the marking engine is located outboard of an area defined by lines connecting the plural locations so that during operation of the marking engine for imagewise printing and/or coloring the drive does not engage areas of the surface that have been previously imagewise printed and/or colored by the marking engine.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 and wherein the marking engine is an ink jet marking device.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 and wherein the marking engine is an ink jet marking device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the marking engine is an ink jet marking device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the controller controls the marking engine to advance the scanner to scan the crude image in a path defined by the crude image.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the controller controls the marking engine to first scan a first predetermined entire area during a first pass and then controls the marking engine to print upon and/or color the area in a second pass.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 and wherein the marking engine is supported upon a self-propelled vehicle that supports the marking engine and scanner and the vehicle includes a drive that engages the surface at plural locations for moving the marking engine along the surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 and wherein the marking engine is an ink jet marking device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 and wherein the marking engine is located outboard of an area defined by lines connecting the plural locations so that during operation of the marking engine for imagewise printing and/or coloring the drive does not engage areas of the surface that have been previously imagewise printed and/or colored by the marking engine.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 and wherein the marking engine is an ink jet marking device.

17. The apparatus of claim 6 and wherein a signaling device is provided external to the boundary to emit a signal to identify a boundary location of a predetermined area that includes the crude image.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 and wherein the signaling device comprises a laser beam emitter that emits a laser beam signal and a reflector is mounted on the vehicle and reflects the laser beam signal to a sensor.

19. A method for printing an image on a surface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a movable marking engine that includes a scanner;

moving the marking engine along the surface and operating the scanner to sense a crude image upon the surface and generating data signals representing the crude image or boundaries defined by the crude image scanned; and

in response to the data signals operating the marking engine to print an enhanced image of the crude image and/or to color the crude image so that the printing overlies the crude image.

20. The method of claim 19 and including generating a display of the crude image sensed by the scanner.

21. The method of claim 19 and wherein the crude image represents an outline and the marking engine colorizes the crude image within the scanned boundaries.

22. The method of claim 19 and wherein the marking engine advances the scanner to scan the crude image in straight raster lines.

23. The method of claim 22 and wherein the marking engine first scans a first predetermined entire area during a first pass and then controls the marking engine to print and/or color upon the area in a second pass.

24. The method of claim 23 and wherein the marking engine is supported upon a self-propelled vehicle that supports the marking engine and scanner and the vehicle includes a drive that engages the surface at plural locations and moves the marking engine along the surface.

25. The method of claim 24 and wherein the marking engine is located outboard of an area defined by lines connecting the plural locations so that during operation of the marking engine for imagewise printing and/or coloring a drive does not engage areas of the surface that have been previously imagewise printed and/or colored by the marking engine.

26. The method of claim 25 and wherein the marking engine is an ink jet marking device.

27. The method of claim 24 and wherein the marking engine is an ink jet marking device.

28. The method of claim 19 and wherein the marking engine is an ink jet marking device.

29. The method of claim 19 and wherein the marking engine advances the scanner to scan the crude image in a path defined by the crude image.

30. The method of claim 19 and wherein the marking engine first scans a first predetermined entire area during a first pass and then the marking engine prints upon and/or colorizes the area in a second pass.

31. The method of claim 30 and wherein the marking engine is supported upon a self-propelled vehicle that supports the marking engine and scanner and the vehicle includes a drive that engages the surface at plural locations and moves the marking engine along the surface.

32. The method of claim 31 and wherein the marking engine is an ink jet marking device.

33. The method of claim 19 and wherein the marking engine is an ink jet marking device.

34. The method of claim 19 and wherein a signaling device is provided external to the boundary and emits a signal to identify a boundary location of a predetermined area that includes the crude image.

35. The method of claim 34 and wherein the signal comprises a laser beam signal and the signal is reflected from the vehicle.

36. The method of claim 19 and wherein the marking engine is supported upon a self-propelled vehicle that supports the marking engine and scanner and the vehicle includes a drive that engages the surface at plural locations and moves the marking engine along the surface.

37. The method of claim 36 and wherein the marking engine is located outboard of an area defined by lines connecting the plural locations so that during operation of the marking engine for imagewise printing and/or coloring a drive does not engage areas of the surface that have been previously imagewise printed and/or colored by the marking engine.

38. The method of claim 19 and wherein a selection is provided of plural stored images for printing and in response to a selection of a particular stored image and the sensing of the crude image the marking engine prints the enhanced image.

39. The method of claim 19 and wherein image data representing a character or logo is prestored in a memory associated with the marking engine before scanning of the crude image and in response to a selection for printing of such character or logo and the scanning of the crude image the enhanced image is printed by the marking engine.

40. The method of claim 19 and wherein the crude image sensed is printed as an enhanced image and in a repeating pattern of the enhanced image.

41. The method of claim 19 and wherein a handheld marker is used to create the crude image upon the surface which is a walkway.

42. The method of claim 19 and wherein the surface is a walkway.