APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRINTING ON ARTICLES HAVING A NON-PLANAR SURFACE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for printing on an article having a non-planar surface, the method comprising:
- obtaining coordinates or a geometry for a non-planar surface of an article;
determining a tangent orientation for a print head in three dimensions; and
using the tangent orientation and positioning the print head relative to the non-planar surface of the article.
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Abstract
A method for printing on an article having a non-planar surface in an embodiment includes obtaining coordinates or a geometry for a non-planar surface of an article; determining a tangent orientation for a print head in three dimensions; and using the tangent orientation and positioning the print head relative to the non-planar surface of the article. Embodiments of apparatus for printing on articles having non-planar surfaces are also disclosed.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for printing on an article having a non-planar surface, the method comprising:
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obtaining coordinates or a geometry for a non-planar surface of an article; determining a tangent orientation for a print head in three dimensions; and using the tangent orientation and positioning the print head relative to the non-planar surface of the article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for printing on an article having a non-planar surface, the method comprising:
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obtaining a geometry for a non-planar surface of said article; determining a deviation of curvature with respect to the non-planar surface; determining a tangent/slope for a plurality of points on the non-planar surface that are within a print region or area; determining a sabre angle based upon a provided or determined print density; using the determined sabre angle to determine a process direction angle, a cross process direction angle, or both a process direction angle and a cross process direction angle.
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13. A method for printing on an article having a non-planar surface, the method comprising:
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providing an article with a non-planar surface having a print area or print region; providing or obtaining a desired print resolution and an associated sabre line; selecting or identifying a number of points near the sabre line that are on or within the print area or print region; determining a tangent for the non-planar surface; and positioning a print head relative to said article using information associated with the tangent.
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14. A method for printing on an article having a non-planar surface, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of points in two dimensions, the plurality of points representing points selected or identified in connection with a print surface/substrate; providing a sabre line with a sabre angle; selecting a plurality of points on the print surface and identifying three-dimensional coordinates at the print surface for the plurality of points; providing a minimum number of points along or about a sabre line; measuring the offset distances between successive points; assessing the line placement on the surface with respect to the sabre line; calculating the distance between coordinates; and applying trigonometric functions between distances calculated between coordinates and the offset distances between each coordinate point to provide a print angle for that point. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method for printing on an article having a non-planar surface, the method comprising:
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(a) selecting a plurality of points based on a print width on an identified printing surface; (b) identifying coordinates with respect to a common reference point; (c) selecting a plurality of points along a sabre line, the sabre line having a sabre angle; (d) obtaining an offset distance between successive points along the sabre line; (e) selecting a coordinate that describes the curvature of the printing surface; (f) determining a print angle based on the selected coordinate; (g) using a distance equation to determine the distances between coordinates; and (h) using trigonometric functions between the determined distance between coordinates and the offset distance to provide a print angle for a specific point. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for printing on an article having a non-planar surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a print head including a plurality of nozzles; a means for determining a tangent for a print surface or print substrate on a non-planar print surface of said article; and a means for positioning the print head relative to the non-planar surface based on the determined tangent. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification