US4148057A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Direct laser printing and forming apparatus
Assignee: SOLUTION SCIENCES Inc
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Filing: 1977-10-25
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Granted: 1979-04-03
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Expires: 1997-10-25
Abstract
Abstract Direct laser printing and forming apparatus is provided wherein a surface to be printed is coated with an ink which is setable upon being irradiated by energy. The surface to be printed may be selectively irradiated by a source of a directable beam of energy radiation or a coherent electromagnetic radiation, which may be a laser, which scans the surface to be printed. The image is formed directly on the surface by selectively irradiating portions of the ink to be set. The excess ink, which has not been set, is removed leaving the printed image. The coherent source of electromagnetic radiation or the laser is controlled by means of a computer system. The process may be repeated for different colors using a color separation technique. The apparatus may be used to print directly on large and/or irregularly shaped objects. In a second embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention may be used to form a three dimensional object from material which is setable upon being irradiated by electromagnetic radiation. The setable material may be a material which polymerizes upon being irradiated. In this embodiment, the beam of radiation is split into a plurality of beams which are caused to converge at a point and scan out a three dimensional object in a container of the setable material. This produces the three dimensional object.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. M. Jesse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:53
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J11/00; B41J11/001; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J3/00; B41J3/28; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
Apparatus for printing on a surface, comprising: means for applying a polymerizable ink to the surface to be printed, said ink polymerizing in response to energy radiation; a source of a directable beam of energy radiation; means for controlling the source of radiation in intensity and scanning in response to electrical signal information whereby the energy radiation may polymerized the ink at a plurality of points on the surface to form a printed image; and means for removing from the surface ink which has not been polymerized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus for printing on a surface, comprising: means for applying a polymerizable ink to the surface to be printed, said ink polymerizing in response to energy radiation; a source of a directable beam of energy radiation; means for controlling the source of radiation in intensity and scanning in response to electrical signal information whereby the energy radiation may polymerized the ink at a plurality of points on the surface to form a printed image; and means for removing from the surface ink which has not been polymerized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source of radiation is vehicle mounted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said source of radiation is mounted on a boom on said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source of a directable beam of energy radiation is a source of coherent electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said coherent source of electromagnetic radiation is comprised of a laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source of a directable beam of energy radiation is comprised of an apparatus for producing a focusable electron beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for storing information for forming an image by scanning.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for receiving information from a remote location for forming an image by scanning.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
222 words
Apparatus for multi-color printing on a surface, comprising: means for processing information for forming images of at least a first and a second separate colors by scanning; means for applying a setable ink of a first color to the surface to be printed; a source of a directable beam of energy radiation; means for detecting alignment markers positioned on the surface for positioning and controlling the scan of said source of energy radiation; means for controlling the source of energy radiation in intensity and scanning in response to the first color information whereby the energy radiation may set ink at a plurality of points on said surface to form a desired image of a first color; means for removing ink of said first color from said surface which has not been set; means for applying a setable ink of a second color to said surface to be printed; means for detecting said alignment markers on the surface and positioning said source of energy radiation prior to a second scan of said surface whereby said source of energy radiation is controlled by said control means in response to the second color information to print a second color image in exact registry with said first color image; and means for removing ink of said second color from said surface which has not been set.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
222 words
Apparatus for multi-color printing on a surface, comprising: means for processing information for forming images of at least a first and a second separate colors by scanning; means for applying a setable ink of a first color to the surface to be printed; a source of a directable beam of energy radiation; means for detecting alignment markers positioned on the surface for positioning and controlling the scan of said source of energy radiation; means for controlling the source of energy radiation in intensity and scanning in response to the first color information whereby the energy radiation may set ink at a plurality of points on said surface to form a desired image of a first color; means for removing ink of said first color from said surface which has not been set; means for applying a setable ink of a second color to said surface to be printed; means for detecting said alignment markers on the surface and positioning said source of energy radiation prior to a second scan of said surface whereby said source of energy radiation is controlled by said control means in response to the second color information to print a second color image in exact registry with said first color image; and means for removing ink of said second color from said surface which has not been set.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said source of radiation is vehicle mounted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said source of radiation is mounted on a boom on said vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said source of energy radiation is a source of coherent electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said source of electromagnetic radiation is comprised of a laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said source of energy radiation is comprised of an apparatus for producing a focusable electron beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said setable ink is comprised of an ink which cures when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said setable ink is comprised of an ink which polymerizes when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 including means for storing information for forming an image by scanning, said processing means receiving information from said storage means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 including means for receiving information from a remote location for forming an image by scanning, said processing means receiving information from said receiving means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for printing on a surface, comprising: applying an energy radiation polymerizable ink to the surface to be printed; providing a source of a directable beam of energy radiation for irradiating said polymerizable ink; controlling the source of energy radiation in intensity and scanning in response to electrical signal information whereby the energy radiation may polymerize the ink at a plurality of points on the surface to form a printed image; and removing from the surface ink which has not been polymerized.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for printing on a surface, comprising: applying an energy radiation polymerizable ink to the surface to be printed; providing a source of a directable beam of energy radiation for irradiating said polymerizable ink; controlling the source of energy radiation in intensity and scanning in response to electrical signal information whereby the energy radiation may polymerize the ink at a plurality of points on the surface to form a printed image; and removing from the surface ink which has not been polymerized.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 19 including the step of storing information for forming the image by scanning.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method in accordance with claim 19 including the step of receiving information from a remote location for forming the image by scanning.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for multi-color printing on a surface, comprising: applying an energy radiation setable ink of a first color to the surface to be printed; providing a source of a directable beam of energy radiation for irradiating said ink on the surface; detecting alignment markers positioned on the surface for positioning and controlling the scan of said source of energy radiation; controlling the source of energy radiation in intensity and scanning in response to the first color signal information whereby the energy radiation may set ink at a plurality of points on the surface to form a desired image of a first color; removing ink of said first color from said surface which has not been set; applying an energy radiation setable ink of a second color to the surface to be printed; detecting said alingment markers on the surface and positioning said source of energy radiation prior to a second scan of said surface whereby said source of energy radiation is controlled by said control means in response to the second color information to print a second color image in exact registry with said first color image; and removing ink of said second color from said surface which has not been set.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for multi-color printing on a surface, comprising: applying an energy radiation setable ink of a first color to the surface to be printed; providing a source of a directable beam of energy radiation for irradiating said ink on the surface; detecting alignment markers positioned on the surface for positioning and controlling the scan of said source of energy radiation; controlling the source of energy radiation in intensity and scanning in response to the first color signal information whereby the energy radiation may set ink at a plurality of points on the surface to form a desired image of a first color; removing ink of said first color from said surface which has not been set; applying an energy radiation setable ink of a second color to the surface to be printed; detecting said alingment markers on the surface and positioning said source of energy radiation prior to a second scan of said surface whereby said source of energy radiation is controlled by said control means in response to the second color information to print a second color image in exact registry with said first color image; and removing ink of said second color from said surface which has not been set.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 22 including the step of storing information for producing said first and second separate color images by scanning.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 22 including the step of receiving information for forming an image of said first and second colors from a remote location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-02 | 1982-10-02 | 1983-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-02 | 1986-10-02 | 1987-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-02 | 1990-10-02 | 1991-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |