Metering device for paint for digital printing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for depositing a metered amount of a liquid on a surface, comprising:
- a motor;
a wheel rotatable by said motor;
an idler;
an elongate segment disposed around at least a portion of said wheel and a portion of said idler and advanceable by said wheel, said at least one elongate segment having a quantity of liquid disposed on at least a portion thereof;
at least one fluid nozzle positioned and oriented for directing at least one jet of fluid toward said at least a portion of said segment to remove an amount of liquid from said segment and direct said amount toward a surface; and
a controller for electronically controlling advancement of said elongate segment relative to said at least one fluid nozzle thereby substantially controlling the amount of liquid removed from said segment.
3 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.
42 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for depositing a metered amount of a liquid on a surface, comprising:
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a motor;
a wheel rotatable by said motor;
an idler;
an elongate segment disposed around at least a portion of said wheel and a portion of said idler and advanceable by said wheel, said at least one elongate segment having a quantity of liquid disposed on at least a portion thereof;
at least one fluid nozzle positioned and oriented for directing at least one jet of fluid toward said at least a portion of said segment to remove an amount of liquid from said segment and direct said amount toward a surface; and
a controller for electronically controlling advancement of said elongate segment relative to said at least one fluid nozzle thereby substantially controlling the amount of liquid removed from said segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for depositing a liquid on a surface, comprising:
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at least one nozzle for producing at least one fluid stream;
a strand for advancing a liquid disposed on at least a portion thereof through said at least one fluid stream, said at least one nozzle orienting said at least one fluid stream for removing said liquid from said strand and directing said material toward a surface; and
a controller for electronically controlling the quantity of said liquid removed by said at least one fluid stream and thus the quantity of liquid deposited on the surface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for digital painting, comprising:
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a support structure;
a carriage associated with and movable in at least one direction relative to said support structure;
a plurality of injectors secured to said carriage, each comprising;
a motor;
a wheel rotatable by said motor;
an idler;
an elongate segment disposed around at least a portion of said wheel and a portion of said idler and advanceable by said wheel, said segment having a quantity of liquid disposed on at least a portion thereof; and
at least one fluid nozzle positioned and oriented for directing a jet of fluid toward said at least a portion of said segment to remove an amount of liquid from said segment and direct said amount toward a surface; and
a controller electronically connected to each said motor for controlling metering of said liquid onto said surface and for controlling movement of said carriage relative to said support structure. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for depositing a metered amount of a liquid on a surface, comprising:
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at least one air jet;
an advancing mechanism having an exterior surface and having a liquid disposed primarily on the exterior surface for advancing said liquid through said at least one air jet, said at least one air jet removing said liquid from said exterior surface of said advancing mechanism and transporting said liquid from said advancing mechanism toward a surface; and
a controller in communication with said advancing mechanism to control the quantity of liquid removed by said at least one air jet, thereby substantially controlling the quantity of liquified pigmented material deposited on the surface. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification