Metering device for paint for digital printing
First Claim
1. A method for digital printing, comprising:
- providing a print medium;
providing an air stream;
depositing a pigmented liquid onto an exterior surface of a substantially poreless elongate segment;
directing said air stream at said elongate segment;
electronically controlling advancement of said elongate segment though said air stream to remove a metered amount of said pigmented liquid from the exterior surface of said elongate segment and deposit said pigmented liquid onto said print medium.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A paint injector for digital printing in which paint is deposited in metered amounts on a print medium comprises a wheel rotatable by a shaft of a motor, an idler disposed in a paint reservoir, and an endless cable disposed around the wheel and the idler. The motor is preferably computer controlled such that the rotation of the wheel and thus movement of the cable is selectively controlled. As the wheel is rotated, paint contained within the paint reservoir coats the cable and is thus drawn by the cable in front of an air stream. The air stream pulls the paint from the cable and carries it toward the print medium. By employing a plurality of such paint injectors into a single print head, each containing a different color of paint, and secured to a computer controlled, movable carriage positioned over the print medium, a digital image can be painted by the print head on the print medium.
50 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for digital printing, comprising:
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providing a print medium;
providing an air stream;
depositing a pigmented liquid onto an exterior surface of a substantially poreless elongate segment;
directing said air stream at said elongate segment;
electronically controlling advancement of said elongate segment though said air stream to remove a metered amount of said pigmented liquid from the exterior surface of said elongate segment and deposit said pigmented liquid onto said print medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of producing an image on a print medium, comprising:
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applying a liquid to a substantially poreless strand;
advancing said strand through an air stream to remove an electronically metered amount of said liquid primarily from an exterior surface of said strand and deposit said amount onto the print medium; and
electronically controlling the position of said air stream relative to the print medium for depositing said amount of said liquid proximate the position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of digital printing, comprising:
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directing an air jet at a wire-shaped member;
providing the wire-shaped member with a coating of paint thereon;
advancing the wire-shaped member and the paint coating provided thereon through the air jet to remove an electronically metered amount of paint from the paint coated portion of the wire-shaped member;
carrying the paint in the air jet toward a surface;
depositing said paint onto said surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of digital printing, comprising:
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providing at least one paint injector, the at least one paint injector having a wire-shaped member;
applying a coating of paint to the wire-shaped member;
advancing the wire-shaped member to apply a coating of paint to the wire-shaped member; and
directing a fluid stream at the wire-shaped member; and
electronically controlling advancement of a paint coated portion of the wire-shaped member through the fluid stream thereby removing an electronically metered amount of paint from an exterior of the wire-shaped member and depositing it onto a surface. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification