Method and device for applying patterns to a workpiece, and computer program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025074073-A1
Application number	US-202218719217-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 13, 2022
Priority date	Dec 14, 2021
Publication date	Mar 6, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Method for applying patterns to a workpiece which is preferably composed at least in portions of wood, wood material or plastic, having the steps: performing at least one selection in terms of a decor for the application of patterns to the surface of the workpiece, computer-assisted generation and/or adapting of at least one image file taking into account the at least one selection, and at least partial application of patterns to the workpiece by means of a printing device.

First claim

1 . Method for applying patterns to a workpiece which is preferably composed at least in portions of wood, wood material or plastic, having the steps:
performing at least one selection in terms of a decor for the application of patterns to the surface of the workpiece, computer-assisted generation and/or adapting of at leas tone image file taking into account the at least one selection, and at least partial application of patterns to the workpiece by means of a printing device.

2 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein
data in relation to the workpiece to which patterns are to be applied and/or data in relation to a printing device to be used to apply patterns to the workpiece are provided, and the computer-assisted generation and/or adapting of at least one image file is/are carried out taking into account the data in relation to the workpiece to which patterns are to be applied and/or the data in relation to the printing device to be used to apply patterns to the workpiece.

3 . Method according to claim 2 , wherein the provision of data in relation to the workpiece to which patterns are to be applied comprises one or more of the following workpiece parameters:
geometry of the surface to which patterns are to be applied, material of the surface to which patterns are to be applied, surface properties of the surface to which patterns are to be applied, where applicable, existing application of patterns to the surface to which patterns are to be applied.

4 . Method according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the provision of data in relation to the printing device to be used to apply patterns to the workpiece comprises one or more of the following print parameters:
print resolution (e.g. dpi) of the printing device, printing method of the printing device, color spectrum of the printing device, printing range of the printing device, where applicable, existing station for pre-treatment, such as primers, and/or for after-treatment, such as coating.

5 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein a multiplicity of image files are provided on a data store, from which multiplicity of image files at least one is selected as a basis for applying patterns to the surface of the workpiece.

6 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the computer-assisted generation and/or adapting of at least one image file is/are carried out using artificial intelligence, in particular using at least one neural network.

7 . Method according to claim 7 , wherein one or more of the following attributes are taken into account and/or made available for selection: class of material, type of material, texture, color shade, structure, gloss level, brightness, contrast and resolution.

8 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein performing at least one selection in terms of a decor for applying patterns to the surface of the workpiece has at least one, preferably more of the following steps:
selecting at least one image file, supplying at least one image file which represents the decor for applying patterns to the surface of the workpiece, such as in particular an image file recorded by a detection device of a surface portion of the workpiece to which patterns have already been applied; selecting at least one attribute and an associated characteristic for the image file, performing at least one selection on a graphic user interface, performing at least one selection by inputting at least one graphic character, performing at least one selection by using an input device, a speech input and/or a gesture.

9 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the computer-assisted adapting of at least one image file also encompasses recourse to at least one other image file which is classified as sufficiently similar preferably taking into account the at least one selection.

10 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the workpiece to which patterns are applied by means of the printing device is detected at least partially by means of a detecting device, and the detection result is compared with the image file on the basis of which the surface of the workpiece was printed, wherein the result of the comparison preferably flows into the computer-assisted generation and/or adapting of at least one future image file.

11 . Device for carrying out the method according to claim 1 , having:
a printing device for at least partial application of patterns to the workpiece, and a computer system for generating and/or adjusting at least one image file which has at least one interface for receiving data in relation to the workpiece to which patterns are to be applied and/or a printing device to be used to apply patterns to the workpiece and preferably also to receive image files.

12 . Computer program which is stored on the computer system of the device according to claim 12 and is configured to assist the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 by means of the computer system.

Assignees

• Homag Gmbh

Inventors

• Krespach Felix
• Thiessen Boris
• Bethke-Jehnert Jana
• Müller Patrick

Classifications

• G06F3/1257

  by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles · CPC title

• G06F3/1208

  resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview · CPC title

• G06N3/09

  Supervised learning · CPC title

• G06N3/0464

  Convolutional networks [CNN, ConvNet] · CPC title

• G06F3/1285

  Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server · CPC title