Method and system of making digital image transfer thermoformed objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9296149-B2
Application number	US-201213469340-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2012
Priority date	Sep 25, 2007
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

A method and system is provided for forming a three-dimensional image and, more particularly, for making three-dimensional digital image transfer thermoformed objects on, e.g., generic molds. The system comprises a computer infrastructure operable to receive images of a subject, display the images, stitch together the images to form a single image, adjust portions of the images or single image to compensate for deformation during thermoforming of the single image, register the single image with points on a mold, and print the single image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for thermoforming an image, comprising:
a computer infrastructure comprising hardware components being operable to:
receive images of a subject;
display the images;
stitch together the images to form a single image;
adjust portions of the single image or the images to compensate for deformation during thermoforming of the single image;
register features of the single image or the images with points on a mold;
print the single image via a printer; and
store in a storage device of the computer infrastructure a matrix of a generic mold for thermoforming the images.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer infrastructure is configurable to compress portions of the single image or the images.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the computer infrastructure is configurable to compress side portions of the single image to about 50% to 60%.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer infrastructure is operable to print the single image using dye sublimation printing.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the generic mold includes customized features.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the matrix includes registration marks for aligning features of the single image.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the images include a frontal view and two side views, taken at about a 30 degree angle from the frontal view.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the stitching together comprises stitching together the frontal view and the two side views.

Assignees

• Simons Lyle S
• IBM

Inventors

• Simons Lyle S

Classifications

• B29K2027/06

  PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride · CPC title

• G05B2219/49023

  3-D printing, layer of powder, add drops of binder in layer, new powder · CPC title

• H04N1/3876

  Recombination of partial images to recreate the original image · CPC title

• B29C33/38

  characterised by the material or the manufacturing process (B29C33/44 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C51/02 Primary

  Combined thermoforming and manufacture of the preform · CPC title