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Object holder for a direct-to-object printer

A holder and object technology, applied in typewriters, printing devices, printing, etc., can solve problems such as balloon inflation

Inactive Publication Date: 2018-12-25
XEROX CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The pump then fills the balloon with gas or liquid to inflate the balloon

Method used

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  • Object holder for a direct-to-object printer
  • Object holder for a direct-to-object printer
  • Object holder for a direct-to-object printer

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0016] An object holder for securely holding an object in a direct-to-object printing system, and direct-to-object printing systems configured to operatively use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention are disclosed.

[0017] non-limiting definition

[0018] At least one surface of the "object" will be printed with ink. Example objects are shoes, sneakers, socks, and other items that have internal cavities.

[0019] A "direct-to-object printing system" or simply a "printing system" is a printer designed to print on the surface of an object. figure 1 The direct-to-object printing system incorporates at least the following functional components: at least one printhead, a support member, an actuator, a controller, and an object holder.

[0020] A "printhead (or print head)" is an element (eg, an inkjet) that fires or ejects droplets of marking material, such as ink, onto the surface of an object to produce markings on the object. In one embodiment, a ...

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PUM

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Abstract

What is disclosed is an object holder for retaining an object in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. The object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead of a direct-to-object print system. An expandable bladder attached to either the shuttle mount or a restraint. The bladder is inserted in a cavity of an object to be printed. A pump then fills the bladder with either a gas or a liquid to cause the bladder to expand. The expanded bladder in the object's cavity enables a surface of the object to be printed. In one embodiment, the filled bladder substantially conforms to ashape of a human foot, and the object being printed is footwear.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to printing systems for depositing ink directly onto the surface of an object, and more particularly to means for holding an object securely in a direct-to-object printing system while it is being printed. Background technique [0002] Printers known in the document reproduction art apply marking material, such as ink or toner, to a sheet of paper. In order to print something onto objects of non-negligible depth, such as coffee mugs, bottles and the like, it is common to print a mark and apply the printed mark to the surface of the object. However, in some manufacturing and production environments there is a need to print directly on the object itself, but this creates various hurdles that must be overcome before such dedicated direct-to-object printing systems can become more widely accepted commercially. One of these hurdles is how to secure objects in such specialized printers as they are printed. Such direct-to-objec...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): B41J11/00
CPCB41J11/00A43B3/0078A43D3/04B41J3/4073B41J3/40731
Inventor R·A·伊里萨里C·M·泰洛J·R·麦卡锡
Owner XEROX CORP