Computerized apparatus and method for applying graphics to surfaces

• US 20060165462A1
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dreamscape Interiors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dreamscape Interiors, Inc.
• Inventors: Mills, Ross N., Demyanovich, William F., Cannell, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US11/386,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20060165462A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/323
• 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: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for applying at least one graphic to at least one surface comprises receiving at least one graphic, receiving data for mapping the at least one surface, communicating instructions to a horizontal drive means for moving a pigment application head across a width of a first surface, communicating instructions to a vertical drive means for moving the pigment application head along a length of the first surface, communicating instructions to a host drive means for moving the pigment application head toward and away from the first surface, and communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying at least one pigment to the first surface.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for applying at least one graphic to at least one surface, comprising:

receiving at least one graphic;

receiving data for mapping the at least one surface;

communicating instructions to a horizontal drive means for moving a pigment application head across a width of a first surface;

communicating instructions to a vertical drive means for moving the pigment application head along a length of the first surface;

communicating instructions to a host drive means for moving the pigment application head toward and away from the first surface; and

communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying at least one pigment to the first surface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating instructions to the pigment application head for moving horizontally beyond a maximum movement of the horizontal drive means.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating instructions to the pigment application head for moving vertically beyond a maximum movement of the vertical drive means.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating instructions to the pigment application head to for applying, to a second surface, at least one fiducial aligned with the graphic on the first surface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating instructions to the pigment application head to for applying, to a second surface, at least one fiducial aligned with at least one pigment applied to the first surface.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving data for mapping the second surface;

communicating instructions to the horizontal drive means for moving the pigment application head across a width of the second surface;

communicating instructions to the vertical drive means for moving the pigment application head along a length of the second surface;

communicating instructions to the host drive means for moving the pigment application head toward and away from the second surface; and

communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying at least one pigment to the second surface, such that a graphic applied to the second surface is aligned with the at least one fiducial.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying at least one pigment to the second surface comprises communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying a graphic continuous of graphic applied to the first surface.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying at least one pigment to the second surface comprises communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying a graphic identical to graphic applied to the first surface.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying at least one pigment to the second surface comprises communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying a graphic dissimilar from graphic applied to the first surface.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user-selection of a graphic.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a listing of stored graphics.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising enabling a user to edit a stored graphic.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a database of stored graphics.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a stored graphic via a computer network.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a stored graphic via the Internet.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a stored graphic via a wireless network.

17. A method for applying at least one graphic to a surface, comprising:

receiving data for mapping a first surface;

communicating instructions to a first drive means mounted to a scaffolding for moving a pigment application head along a first axis of the first surface;

communicating instructions to a second drive means mounted to a scaffolding for moving the pigment application head along a second axis of the first surface, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis;

communicating instructions to a third drive means mounted to a scaffolding for moving the pigment application head along a third axis perpendicular to the first surface; and

communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying at least one pigment to the first surface.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising communicating instructions to the pigment application head to for applying, to a second surface, at least one fiducial aligned with the graphic on the first surface.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising communicating instructions to the pigment application head to for applying, to a second surface, at least one fiducial aligned with at least one pigment applied to the first surface.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving data for mapping a second surface contiguous to the first surface;

communicating instructions to the first drive means for moving the pigment application head along the first axis of the second surface;

communicating instructions to a second drive means for moving the pigment application head along a second axis of the second surface;

communicating instructions to a third drive means for moving the pigment application head along a third axis perpendicular to the second surface; and

communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying at least one pigment to the second surface, such that a graphic applied to the second surface is substantially aligned with the at least one pigment applied to the first surface.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying at least one pigment to the second surface comprises communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying a graphic continuous of graphic applied to the first surface.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying at least one pigment to the second surface comprises communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying a graphic identical to graphic applied to the first surface.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying at least one pigment to the second surface comprises communicating instructions to the pigment application head for applying a graphic dissimilar from graphic applied to the first surface.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving data for mapping a first surface comprises receiving data for mapping a non-planar first surface.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving data for mapping a second surface comprises receiving data for mapping a non-planar second surface.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising communicating instructions to the pigment application head for moving along the first axis beyond a maximum movement of the first drive means.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising communicating instructions to the pigment application head for moving along the second axis beyond a maximum movement of the second drive means.