Claims
- 1. An apparatus for depositing a liquid on a medium, comprising:at least one wheel having an outer edge selectively rotatable by a motor; a liquid dispenser for depositing a quantity of liquid on said wheel proximate said outer edge; and at least one air jet positioned proximate said outer edge for directing a flow of air at said outer edge, said flow of air removing at least a portion of said quantity of liquid and carrying the at least a portion of said quantity of liquid toward the print medium as said wheel rotates through said flow of air.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outer edge of said wheel is comprised of a plurality of teeth.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said motor comprises one of a stepper motor and a servo motor electronically controlled by a computer for selectively controlling the rotation of said at least one wheel and thus the quantity of paint removed by said at least one air jet.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid dispenser comprises a reservoir in fluid communication with said outer edge for depositing a quantity of liquid on said outer edge.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said reservoir comprises a base member having a slot therein in fluid communication with an interior of said reservoir for receiving an edge of said wheel.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said wheel fits at least partially within said slot in close tolerance thereto to allow the wheel to rotate within the slot with the slot cleaning the side surfaces of the wheel.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one air jet comprises a first air jet positioned on a first side of said wheel and a second air jet positioned on a second side of said wheel, said first and second air jets oriented toward a position proximate said outer edge of said wheel at an angle thereto to remove liquid on said wheel and direct the liquid away from the outer edge of the wheel.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first and second air jets each comprise primary and secondary air jets, said primary air jets positioned to remove liquid from said wheel in a direction radially extending from the center of said wheel and said secondary air jets angled toward said primary air jet to focus said liquid in line with the direction of flow of the primary air jets.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wheel is coupled to a shaft of the motor.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid dispenser comprises at least one second wheel rotatable by said at least one wheel, said at least one second wheel in fluid communication with a liquid reservoir and engaging said outer edge of said at least one wheel.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one second wheel comprises an annular groove for receiving said outer edge of said at least one wheel, wherein said annular groove of said at least one second wheel receives liquid from said liquid dispenser and rotation of said at least one wheel allows liquid within said annular groove to be deposited on said outer edge of said at least one wheel.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one second wheel comprises a serrated outer edge.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one second wheel comprises a pair of wheels oriented approximately ninety degrees to said at least one first wheel and each of said pair of wheels engaging opposite sides of said at least one first wheel proximate said outer edge.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid is comprised of at least one of paint, ink, die, etchant, solvent, oil, acrylic, and polyurethane.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising at least one second wheel having teeth configured to match the pitch of the teeth on said at least one wheel, wherein rotation of said at least one wheel causes rotation of said at least one second wheel and wherein said at least one second wheel cleans the teeth of the at least one wheel.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising at least one scraper for removing material cleaned by said at least one second wheel.
- 17. An apparatus for depositing a liquified material on a surface, comprising:stream means for providing a fluid stream; wheel means for advancing a material disposed on at least an outer edge thereof through said stream means, said stream means oriented for removing said material from said wheel means; application means for applying said material onto said wheel means; and control means for selectively rotating said wheel means relative to said stream means and thus controlling the quantity of material removed from said wheel means by said stream means.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said wheel means comprises at least one wheel having an outer edge, said application means comprises a dispenser for depositing a quantity of material on said wheel proximate said outer edge, said stream means comprises at least one air jet positioned proximate said outer edge for removing at least a portion of said quantity of material and directing the material toward a medium as said wheel rotates through said at least one air jet, and said control means comprises at least one of a stepper motor and a servo motor.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said outer edge of said wheel is comprised of a plurality of teeth.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said control means further comprises a computer for selectively controlling the rotation of said at least one wheel and thus the quantity of paint removed by said at least one air jet.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said dispenser comprises a reservoir in fluid communication with said outer edge for depositing a quantity of liquid on said outer edge.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said reservoir comprises a base member having a slot therein in fluid communication with an interior of said reservoir for receiving an edge of said wheel.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said wheel fits at least partially within said slot in close tolerance thereto to allow the wheel to rotate within the slot with the slot cleaning the side surfaces of the wheel.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said at least one air jet comprises a first air jet positioned on a first side of said wheel and a second air jet positioned on a second side of said wheel, said first and second air jets oriented toward a position proximate said outer edge of said wheel at an angle thereto to remove liquid on said wheel and direct the liquid away from the outer edge of the wheel.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said first and second air jets each comprise primary and secondary air jets, said primary air jets positioned to remove liquid from said wheel in a direction radially extending from the center of said wheel and said secondary air jets angled toward said primary air jet to focus said liquid in line with the direction of flow of the primary air jets.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said wheel is coupled to a shaft of the motor.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said liquid dispenser comprises at least one second wheel rotatable by said at least one wheel, said at least one second wheel in fluid communication with a liquid reservoir and engaging said outer edge of said at least one wheel.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said at least one second wheel comprises an annular groove for receiving said outer edge of said at least one wheel, wherein said annular groove of said at least one second wheel receives liquid from said liquid dispenser and rotation of said at least one wheel allows liquid within said annular groove to be deposited on said outer edge of said at least one wheel.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said at least one second wheel comprises a serrated outer edge.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said at least one second wheel comprises a pair of wheels oriented approximately ninety degrees to said at least one first wheel and each of said pair of wheels engaging opposite sides of said at least one first wheel proximate said outer edge.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said liquid is comprised of at least one of paint, ink, die, etchant, solvent, oil, acrylic, and polyurethane.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising at least one second wheel having teeth configured to match the pitch of the teeth on said at least one wheel, wherein rotation of said at least one wheel causes rotation of said at least one second wheel and wherein said at least one second wheel cleans the teeth of the at least one wheel.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising at least one scraper for removing material cleaned by said at least one second wheel.
- 34. An apparatus for digital painting, comprising:a frame; a plurality of printing units secured to said frame, each of said printing units comprising: at least one wheel having an outer edge selectively rotatable by a motor; a liquid dispenser for depositing a quantity of liquid on said wheel proximate said outer edge; at least one air jet positioned proximate said outer edge for removing at least a portion of said quantity of liquid and directing the liquid toward the print medium as said wheel rotates through said at least one air jet.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said outer edge of said wheel is comprised of a plurality of teeth.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of said plurality of printing units further comprises a stepper motor electronically controlled by a computer for selectively controlling the rotation of said at least one wheel and thus the quantity of liquid removed by said at least one air jet.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said liquid dispenser comprises a reservoir in fluid communication with said outer edge for depositing a quantity of liquid on said outer edge.
- 38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein each of said reservoirs contain a different color of paint.
- 39. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a support structure comprises a left support assembly and a right support assembly, said frame being mounted and moveable between said left support assembly and said right support assembly.
- 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said right and left support assemblies are configured to allow movement of said frame along said right and left support assemblies.
- 41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said reservoir comprises a base member having a slot therein in fluid communication with an interior of said reservoir for receiving an edge of said wheel.
- 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said wheel fits at least partially within said slot in close tolerance thereto to allow the wheel to rotate within the slot with the slot cleaning the side surfaces of the wheel.
- 43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said at least one air jet comprises a first air jet positioned on a first side of said wheel and a second air jet positioned on a second side of said wheel, said first and second air jets oriented toward a position proximate said outer edge of said wheel at an angle thereto to remove liquid on said wheel and direct the liquid away from the outer edge of the wheel.
- 44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said first and second air jets each comprise primary and secondary air jets, said primary air jets positioned to remove liquid from said wheel in a direction radially extending from the center of said wheel and said secondary air jets angled toward said primary air jet to focus said liquid in line with the direction of flow of the primary air jets.
- 45. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said wheel is coupled to a shaft of the motor.
- 46. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said liquid dispenser comprises at least one second wheel rotatable by said at least one wheel, said at least one second wheel in fluid communication with a liquid reservoir and engaging said outer edge of said at least one wheel.
- 47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said at least one second wheel comprises an annular groove for receiving said outer edge of said at least one wheel, wherein said annular groove of said at least one second wheel receives liquid from said liquid dispenser and rotation of said at least one wheel allows liquid within said annular groove to be deposited on said outer edge of said at least one wheel.
- 48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said at least one second wheel comprises a serrated outer edge.
- 49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said at least one second wheel comprises a pair of wheels oriented approximately ninety degrees to said at least one first wheel and each of said pair of wheels engaging opposite sides of said at least one first wheel proximate said outer edge.
- 50. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said liquid is comprised of at least one of paint, ink, die, etchant, solvent, oil, acrylic, and polyurethane coating.
- 51. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising at least one second wheel having teeth configured to match the pitch of the teeth on said at least one wheel, wherein rotation of said at least one wheel causes rotation of said at least one second wheel and wherein said at least one second wheel cleans the teeth of the at least one wheel.
- 52. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising at least one scraper for removing material cleaned by said at least one second wheel.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/155,884, filed on May 24, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application No. 08/878,650 filed on Jun. 19, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,111.
US Referenced Citations (37)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
NUR Advanced Technologies advertisement for Blueboard™ in Digital Graphics Magazine, May/Jun. 1997, p. 69. |
Paasche AB (Fine Art) Airbrush instructions, reprinted courtesy of Airbrush Digest, 1983. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/878650 |
Jun 1997 |
US |
Child |
10/155884 |
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US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10/155884 |
May 2002 |
US |
Child |
10/165017 |
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US |