Grid-Map Surface Printing for Automated Level Error Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual surface leveling in construction and civil engineering projects is a slow and bottleneck-inducing process, particularly when dealing with large areas, necessitating a faster and more efficient method for measuring and correcting surface levels.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus equipped with a motion control system, positioning module, and printheads that uses a grid map to automatically measure and correct surface level deviations by ejecting printing fluid in patterns indicative of height errors, enabling precise and rapid flattening operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual surface leveling measurement is used, then measurement precision can be maintained, but productivity is significantly reduced and project time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods with an automated printing apparatus that uses a positioning module and controller to automatically navigate and mark surface locations. The system substitutes human-operated mechanical level measurement with an automated system that combines positioning technology, grid map processing, and controlled printing fluid ejection to achieve rapid surface leveling measurement and marking.
2Productivity
If automated printing apparatus is used to mark surfaces, then productivity and speed are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printing apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a positioning system (using the positioning module to locate surface points) and a marking system (using printheads to eject printing fluid). The controller integrates grid map processing, location determination, and printing control into a single device, reducing the need for separate measurement and marking equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a grid map as an intermediary data structure that simplifies the complex task of surface leveling. The controller processes the grid map to determine precise printing locations, acting as a mediator between the positioning module's raw location data and the printheads' marking actions. This intermediary layer organizes the complexity into manageable discrete locations.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual surface leveling is performed, then device complexity remains low, but manufacturing precision and surface level accuracy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement with an automated system that uses a positioning module to precisely locate surface points according to a grid map. The controller calculates exact printing locations based on the grid map data, ensuring high precision in marking surface level deviations without requiring complex manual measurement procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a chassis moveable on a surface through a motion control system, a receiver to receive a signal from a positioning module corresponding to a distance of the printing apparatus with respect to a reference; a printhead to selectively eject an amount of a printing fluid to the surface; and a controller. The controller is to determine the actual location of the printing apparatus with respect to a grid map representative of a part of the surface, the grid map including a plurality of nodal points with its corresponding height values; and to control the motion control system to move the chassis to a first surface location corresponding to a first nodal point of the grid map. The controller is further to obtain a vertical component value with respect to the reference at the surface location; and control the printhead to eject an amount of printing fluid at the surface location in a pattern indicative of an error between the vertical component value and the nodal point height.