Large surface image reproduction system

• US 6,467,978 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1999
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John D. Tideman Jr
• Original Assignee: John D. Tideman Jr
• Inventors: Tideman, John D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld, Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Jr., Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US09/252,839
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 400/76, 400/70, 400/61, 400/88, 400/279, 101/483, 101/492
• US Class Current: 400/76
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 19/005 Cable or belt constructions for driving print, type or paper-carriages, e.g. attachment, tensioning means
• 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: G06K 15/22 using plotters
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1017 the main-scanning components remaining positionally invariant with respect to one another in the sub-scanning direction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1026 using a belt or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/128 using a scanning head arranged for linear reciprocating motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0438 Scanning displays; Scanning large surfaces, e.g. projection screens, writing boards

Abstract

A system for automatically reproducing an image on a large surface, such as the external wall of a building or a billboard. The system includes a computer, a translator program, a controller card and image reproduction machinery. The computer is programmed with the translating program which converts a downloaded image file into a data file capable of being used by the controller card. The controller card is used to control drivers which control various motors on the image reproduction machinery. The image production machinery comprises a guide rail, a carriage, and a medium head assembly. The guide rail is suspended adjacent to the surface to be painted. During operation, the guide rail moves along one axis of the surface and the carriage moves longitudinally over the guide rail. The medium head assembly contains a plurality of airbrushes which are equally spaced apart with their tips aimed at a single point on the wall thereby producing a single pixel of various colors and shades.

Claims

1. An image reproducing system, comprising:

a. a guide rail having a longitudinal axis;

b. means to dispose said guide rail adjacent to a surface to be treated;

c. a carriage. with a plurality of wheels that enable said carriage to move longitudinally along said guide rail;

d. at least one medium delivering means disposed on said carriage;

e. means to move said guide rail in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said guide rail;

f. means to move said carriage longitudinally over said guide rail;

g. means to control said medium delivering means; and

h. coordinating means to control said means to move said guide rail, said means to move said carriage longitudinally over said guide rail, and said medium delivering means to produce a desired image on a large surface.

2. An image reproducing system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means to dispose said guide rail adjacent to a surface includes at least one chain disposed adjacent to the surface to be treated and suspended from said guide rail adjacent to the surface.

3. An image reproducing system as recited in claim 1, further including a fixed chain disposed longitudinally over said guide rail and a motor attached to said carriage, said guide rail engaging said chain to selectively move said carriage over said guide rail.

4. An image reproducing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said medium delivery means is a plurality of airbrushes coupled to a medium container and an air supply, said airbrushes being adjustably attached to said carriage enabling the distance between each said airbrush and a surface to be treated to be adjusted.

5. An image reproducing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said coordinating means is a computer which receives an image file of a desired image and controlling the means to move said guide rail said means to move said carriage longitudinally over said guide rail, and said medium delivery means to produce a desired image on a surface.

6. An image reproducing system as recited in claim 5, further including a translator program loaded into said computer to convert the image into machine codes that are used by said means to move said guide rail, said means to move said carriage and said medium delivery means.

7. An image reproduction system comprising:

a. a computer having sufficient memory to process an image data file of a desired image to be reproduced on a surface;

b. a translator program loaded into the memory of said computer used to process an image data file into machine codes, said translator program controlling the image production assembly to produce an image by creating a plurality of pixels formed in a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said guide rail and moving the guide rail successively over the surface to be treated;

c. a controller card connected to said computer used to process the machine codes;

d. image reproduction machinery assembled adjacent to a desired surface connected to said controller card that uses said machine codes to reproduce an image on a desired surface, said image reproduction machinery including a guide rail, a carriage that selectively moves longitudinally along said guide rail, said carriage including at least one air brush that can be adjusted on said carriage enabling the distance between said airbrush and a surface to be treated to be adjusted; and

,

e. means to connect said image reproduction machinery to said controller card.

8. An image reproduction system as recited in claim 7, wherein said means to move said carriage on said guide rail is a fixed chain disposed on said guide rail, and a motor attached to said carriage that moves said carriage along said chain.

9. An image reproduction system as recited in claim 7, wherein said means to move said guide rail is at least one chain perpendicularly aligned to said guide rail said chain being engaged by said guide rail thereby enabling said guide rail to move longitudinally over said chain.

10. An image reproduction system as recited in claim 9, further including at least one motor and at least one gear engaged to said chain, so that when said motor is activated, said guide rail moves longitudinally along said chain.

11. An image reproduction system as recited in claims 7, further including a motor and gear engaged with said chain disposed over said guide rail, whereby when said motor is activated, said carriage moves longitudinally over said chain.

12. An image reproduction system as recited in claim 7, wherein said carriage includes a container holding means which holds a plurality of medium containers, each connected to an airbrush.