System, method and apparatus of applying, with a printhead of a printing system, ink to a substrate based on a distance the printhead has moved

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12285944-B2
Application number	US-202117469208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2021
Priority date	Sep 8, 2021
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses and methods provides for technology that applies, with a printhead of a printing system, ink to a substrate as the substrate remains stationary and the printhead moves across the substrate. The technology determines, with a distance encoder, a distance that the printhead has moved, and controls application of the ink from the printhead to the substrate based on the distance.

First claim

We claim:

1. A printing system that comprises:
an inkjet printer that comprises a printhead configured to apply ink to a substrate, wherein the printhead comprises a distance encoder configured to identify a distance that the printhead has moved, wherein the distance encoder includes a wheel encoder that is positioned to be in direct contact with the substrate and supports the printhead;
a reservoir coupled to the printhead to supply the ink to the printhead;
a controller configured to provide one or more control signals to the printhead and control application of the ink to the substrate based on the distance;
a guide rail system configured to releasably attach to the substrate and guide the printhead over a printing area of the substrate, wherein the guide rail system comprises:
a first guide rail configured to releasably support the printhead;
flexible mounting members disposed on opposite sides of the first guide rail and configured to swivel and attach to a curved surface; and
a plurality of mounting members coupled to the flexible mounting members, wherein the plurality of mounting members are configured to releasably attach to the substrate;

a main sensor that comprises a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor, wherein the main sensor is configured to detect a triggering feature on the guide rail system, and wherein the controller is further configured to control the printhead to initiate a print operation and cause the printhead to apply the ink to the substrate based on a detection of the triggering feature by the main sensor;
one or more handles coupled to the printhead, the one or more handles configured to be gripped and guide the printhead across the printing area of the substrate;
a proximity sensor configured to detect when the substrate is within a predetermined distance of the printing system;
an ultraviolet (UV) lamp configured to provide UV light to cure the ink that is applied to the substrate; and
a UV interface button, on a handle of the one or more handles, configured to depress and actuate the UV lamp;
wherein the controller is further configured to provide the one or more control signals and:
control the UV lamp and cure the ink applied to the substrate by providing the UV light in response to the substrate being within the predetermined distance of the printing system and the UV interface button being depressed at a first time; and
disable the UV lamp and disallow the UV light in response to the substrate being determined as no longer being within the predetermined distance of the printing system;

a plurality of flexible cables;
a power supply configured to supply power to the inkjet printer through a first of the flexible cables;
printing consumables configured to provide ink to the inkjet printer through a second of the flexible cables; and
a printing pneumatic configured to provide one or more of air or gas to the inkjet printer through a fourth of the flexible cables, wherein the controller is further configured to provide the one or more control signals to the printhead through a third of the flexible cables.

2. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the guide rail system slidably supports the printhead to guide the printhead over the printing area of the substrate.

3. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the guide rail system includes a first guide rail and a plurality of mounting members coupled to the first guide rail, wherein the plurality of mounting members are configured to releasably attach to the substrate.

4. The printing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more buttons on the one or more handles to control the printhead to control the application of the ink to the substrate.

5. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the main sensor comprises the magnetic sensor.

6. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the main sensor comprises the optical sensor.

7. A printing apparatus that comprises:
an inkjet printer that comprises a printhead configured to apply ink to a substrate, wherein the printhead comprises a distance encoder that identifies a distance that the printhead has moved, wherein the distance encoder includes a wheel encoder that is positioned to be in direct contact with the substrate and supports the printhead;
a controller configured to provide one or more control signals to the printhead to control application of the ink to the substrate based on the distance;
a guide rail system configured to releasably attach to the substrate and guide the printhead over a printing area of the substrate, wherein the guide rail system comprises:
a first guide rail configured to releasably support the printhead; and
flexible mounting members disposed on opposite sides of the first guide rail and configured to swivel and attach to a curved surface; and
a plurality of mounting members coupled to the flexible mounting members, wherein the plurality of mounting members are configured to releasably attach to the substrate;

a main sensor that comprises a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor, wherein the main sensor is configured to detect a triggering feature on a guide rail system, and wherein, based upon a detection of the triggering feature by the main sensor, the controller is configured to control the printhead to initiate a print operation and cause the printhead to apply the ink to the substrate;
one or more handles coupled to the printhead, the one or more handles being configured to be gripped and guide the printhead across a printing area of the substrate;
a proximity sensor configured to detect when the substrate is within a predetermined distance of the printing apparatus;
an ultraviolet (UV) lamp configured to provide UV light and cure the ink that is applied to the substrate;
a UV interface button, on a handle of the one or more handles, configured-to depress and actuate the UV lamp;
wherein the controller is further configured to provide the one or more control signals and:
control the UV lamp and cure the ink applied to the substrate by providing the UV light in response to the substrate being within the predetermined distance of the printing apparatus and the UV interface button being depressed, and
disable the UV lamp and disallow the UV light in response to the substrate being determined as no longer being within the predetermined distance of the printing apparatus;

a plurality of flexible cables;
a power supply configured to supply power to the inkjet printer through a first of the flexible cables;
printing consumables configured to provide ink to the inkjet printer through a second of the flexible cables; and
a printing pneumatic configured to provide one or more of air or gas to the inkjet printer through a fourth of the flexible cables, wherein the controller is further configured to provide the one or more control signals to the printhead through a third of the flexible cables.

8. The printing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:
the guide rail system slidably supports the printhead to guide the printhead over the printing area of the substrate; and
the inkjet printer is a handheld inkjet printer.

9. The printing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the printing apparatus comprises the guide rail system, and wherein the guide rail system includes a first guide rail and a plurality of mounting members coupled to the first guide rail, wherein the plurality of mounting members is configured to releasably attach to the substrate.

10. The printing apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
one or more buttons on the one or more handles to control the printhead to control the application of the ink to the substrate.

11. The printing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the main sensor comprise

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Riley Terrell Diane
• Greene Edward
• Frontiera Frederick B
• Auffinger Sean

Classifications

• B41J2/04581

  controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements · CPC title

• B41J11/00214

  using UV radiation · CPC title

• B05B12/12

  responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature {position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus (B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B05D3/067

  Curing or cross-linking the coating · CPC title

• B41J19/205

  Position or speed detectors therefor · CPC title