Apparatus and method for marking a surface
First Claim
1. In an apparatus for applying a predetermined pattern to a surface, the combination comprising:
- a surface marking mechanism;
a memory storing a set of machine control instructions including a sequence of y-axis control instructions;
means, coupled to said memory, for identifying external y-axis control instructions among said y-axis control instructions, said external y-axis control instructions corresponding to y-axis coordinate values outside a first frame position of said surface marking mechanism;
means, responsive to said identifying means, for adding an offset value to said external y-axis control instructions to yield offset y-axis control instructions;
means for moving said surface marking mechanism from said first frame position to a second frame position corresponding to said offset value; and
means for positioning a y-axis movement device of said surface marking mechanism at a sequence of y-axis positions in response to said offset y-axis control instructions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for marking a surface with a predetermined pattern is described. The apparatus includes a surface marking mechanism that supports a material dispenser. The material dispenser is manipulated along a number of axes including an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis. In addition, the material dispenser is manipulated to rotate around a w-axis and to form a tilt angle with the w-axis. The surface marking mechanism includes movement devices for initial positioning of the mechanism and for re-positioning the mechanism to complete a selected pattern that does not fit within the border of the mechanism. The surface marking mechanism is responsive to control signals from a controller. The control signals are derived from a mathematical model characterizing the spatial relationship between the predetermined pattern, the material dispenser, and the surface to be marked.
110 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In an apparatus for applying a predetermined pattern to a surface, the combination comprising:
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a surface marking mechanism; a memory storing a set of machine control instructions including a sequence of y-axis control instructions; means, coupled to said memory, for identifying external y-axis control instructions among said y-axis control instructions, said external y-axis control instructions corresponding to y-axis coordinate values outside a first frame position of said surface marking mechanism; means, responsive to said identifying means, for adding an offset value to said external y-axis control instructions to yield offset y-axis control instructions; means for moving said surface marking mechanism from said first frame position to a second frame position corresponding to said offset value; and means for positioning a y-axis movement device of said surface marking mechanism at a sequence of y-axis positions in response to said offset y-axis control instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification