Claims
- 1. A method of applying random interference patterns to a moving substrate using a fluid jet applicator having a fluid plenum and an associated orifice array and means for selectively passing droplets onto the moving substrate only during controlled print times having a duration T, said method comprising the steps of:
- applying artificial stimulation to said fluid plenum to purposefully generate standing waves within the fluid plenum to generate a droplet curtain such that a droplet emanating from a given orifice is not formed at the same time as droplets from neighboring orifices; and
- maintaining the print time T below a predetermined maximum value, said predetermined maximum value being selected so that a random interference pattern is applied by said selectively passing droplets of said droplet curtain onto said substrate, whereby said standing waves are purposefully utilized to generate said patterns and whereby a random interference pattern of a desired type may be applied to said substrate.
- 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of maintaining the print time below a predetermined maximum value includes the step of selecting a print time such that no more than about one droplet per orifice is formed during such time.
- 3. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of selecting a print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval such that the random interference pattern appears colored without any background coloration.
- 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of maintaining a print time below a predetermined maximum value includes the step of selecting a print time such that only about two droplets per orifice are formed during such time.
- 5. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of selecting a print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval such that the random interference pattern deeply colored on a background having relatively light coloration.
- 6. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:
- controlling the print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval to simulate a wood grain pattern.
- 7. A method according to claim 6, further including the step of:
- controlling the frequency of the print time while maintaining the print time fixed below said predetermined maximum value to simulate a wood grain pattern.
- 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said controlling the frequency step includes controllably varying the frequency of the print time to thereby simulate a knot hole.
- 9. A method according to claim 8, including the step of sweeping through a predetermined range of frequencies.
- 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said fluid applicator includes an artificial tachometer signal generating means for generating signals having a selectable frequency of further including the steps of:
- generating artificial tachometer signals; and
- generating print time signals at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of such artificial tachometer signals, whereby said random interference patterns may be varied by varying the frequency of said artificial tachometer signals.
- 11. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:
- controlling the print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval to simulate a moire silk pattern.
- 12. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:
- controlling the print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval to simulate a falling water pattern.
- 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the controlling step includes the step of selecting a print time and a spacing time ST between print times to be approximately equal to the period of the stimulation frequency.
- 14. A method according to claim 1, wherein said fluid jet application includes means for generating images including indicia and further including the step of:
- generating an image which includes indicia; and
- superimposing a random interference pattern over such indicia.
- 15. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:
- purposefully varying the standing wave pattern to modify the currently generated random interference pattern.
- 16. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:
- applying the random interference pattern to paneling material.
- 17. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of applying the random interference pattern to ceiling tile.
- 18. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:
- applying the random interference pattern to a door.
- 19. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying artificial stimulation includes the step of controlling the frequency of the applied stimulation so that the generated standing wave pattern is such that the net acoustic power delivered at each orifice causes the droplet breakoff from each orifice to remain within the charge electrode region.
- 20. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of modifying the generated random interference pattern by varying the print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval while maintaining the print time below said predetermined maximum value.
- 21. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of modifying the random interference pattern by controllably varying the substrate speed.
- 22. A substrate having a random interference pattern on at least one surface thereof, said interference pattern being applied to the substrate as it is moving using a fluid jet applicator having: a fluid plenum and associated orifice array; and means for selectively passing droplets onto the moving substrate only during controlled print times having a duration T, said substrate pattern being formed by the method of:
- applying artificial stimulation to said fluid plenum to purposefully generate standing waves within the fluid plenum to generate a droplet curtain such that a droplet emanating from a given orifice is not formed at the same time as droplets from neighboring orifices; and
- maintaining the print time T below a predetermined maximum value, said predetermined maximum value being selected so that a random interference pattern is applied by said selectively passing droplets of said droplet curtain onto said substrate, whereby said standing waves are purposefully utilized to generate said patterns, and whereby a random interference pattern of a desired type is applied to said substrate.
- 23. A substrate according to claim 22, wherein the step of maintaining a print time below a predetermined maximum value includes the step of selecting a print time such that only one droplet per orifice is formed during such time.
- 24. A substrate according to claim 22, further including the step of selecting a print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval such that the random interference pattern appears dark without any background coloration.
- 25. A substrate according to claim 22, further including the step of selecting a print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval such that the random interference pattern appears dark on a background having some light coloration.
- 26. A substrate according to claim 22, further including the step of:
- controlling the print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval to simulate a wood grain pattern.
- 27. A substrate according to claim 22, further including the step of:
- controlling the frequency of the print time while maintaining the print time fixed below said predetermined maximum value to simulate a wood grain pattern.
- 28. A substrate according to claim 27, wherein said controlling the frequency step includes controllably varying the frequency of the print time to simulate a knot hole.
- 29. A substrate according to claim 22, wherein said fluid application includes an artificial tachometer signal generating means for generating signals having a selectable frequency and further including the step of generating artificial signals; and further including the steps of:
- generating artificial tachometer signals, and
- generating print time signals at a frequency in response corresponding to the frequency of such artificial tachometer signals whereby said random interference pattern may be varied by varying the frequency of said artificial tachometer signals.
- 30. A substrate according to claim 22, further including the step of:
- controlling the print cycle which comprises a print time of interval followed by a print time off interval to simulate moire silk.
- 31. A substrate according to claim 22, further including the step of:
- controlling the print cycle which comprising a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval to simulate a falling water pattern.
- 32. A substrate according to claim 31, wherein the controlling step includes the step of selecting a print time and a spacing time ST between print times to be approximately equal to the period of the stimulation frequency.
- 33. A substrate according to claim 22, further including the step of
- generating an image including indicia; and
- superimposing a random interference pattern over such indicia.
- 34. A substrate according to claim 22, further including the step of:
- purposefully varying the standing wave pattern to modify the currently generated random interference pattern.
- 35. A substrate according to claim 22, wherein the substrate is paneling material.
- 36. A substrate according to claim 22, wherein the substrate is a ceiling tile.
- 37. A substrate according to claim 22, wherein the substrate is a door.
- 38. A substrate according to claim 22, wherein the substrate is a fabric.
- 39. A substrate according to claim 22, further including the step of modifying the generated random interference pattern by varying the print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval while maintaining the print time below said predetermined maximum vale.
- 40. A substrate according to claim 22, further including the step of modifying the random interference pattern by controllably varying the substrate speed.
- 41. A fluid jet applicator for applying random interference patterns to a moving substrate comprising:
- a fluid plenum and an associated orifice array;
- means for selectively passing droplets onto the moving substrate only during controlled print times having a duration T;
- means for applying artificial stimulation to said fluid plenum to purposefully generate standing waves within the fluid plenum to generate a droplet curtain such that a droplet emanating from a given orifice is not formed at the same time as droplets from neighboring orifices; and
- maintaining the print time T below a predetermined maximum value, said predetermined maximum value being selected so that a random interference pattern is applied by said selectively passing droplets of said droplet curtain onto said substrate, whereby said standing waves are purposefully utilized to generate said patterns and whereby a random interference pattern of a desired type may be applied to said substrate.
- 42. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, wherein said means for maintaining the print time below a predetermined maximum value includes means for selecting a print time such that no more than one droplet per orifice is formed during such time.
- 43. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, further including means for selecting a print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval such that the random interference pattern appears dark without any background coloration.
- 44. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, wherein the means for maintaining a print time below a predetermined maximum value includes means for selecting a print time such that only two droplets per orifice are formed during such time.
- 45. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, further including means for selecting a print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval such that the random interference pattern appears dark on a background having some light coloration.
- 46. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, further including means for selecting a print cycle which comprises to a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval to simulate a wood grain pattern.
- 47. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 46, further including means for controlling the frequency of the print time while maintaining the print time below said predetermined maximum value to simulate a wood grain pattern.
- 48. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 47, wherein said means controlling the frequency includes means for controllably varying the frequency of the print time to thereby simulate a knot hole.
- 49. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, including means for sweeping through a predetermined range of frequencies.
- 50. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, wherein said fluid applicator further includes an artificial tachometer signal generating means for generating signal having a selectable frequency and means for generating print time signals at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of said artificial tachometer signals whereby said random interference patterns may be varied by varying the frequency of said artificial tachometer signals.
- 51. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, further including means for selecting a print cycle which comprises a print time of interval followed by a print time off interval to simulate a moire silk pattern.
- 52. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, further including means for selecting a print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval to simulate a falling water pattern.
- 53. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 52, wherein said means for controlling includes means for selecting a print time and a spacing time ST between print times to be approximately equal to the period of stimulation frequency.
- 54. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, wherein said fluid jet applicator further includes means for generating images including indicia and means for superimposing a random interference pattern over such an image.
- 55. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, further including the step of:
- means for purposefully varying the standing wave pattern to modify the currently generated random interference pattern.
- 56. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, further including means for applying the random interference pattern to paneling material.
- 57. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, further including means for applying the random interference pattern to ceiling tile.
- 58. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, further including the step of:
- means for applying the random interference pattern to a door.
- 59. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, wherein said means for applying artificial stimulation includes means for controlling the frequency of the applied stimulation so that the generated standing wave pattern is such that the net acoustic power delivered at each orifice causes the droplet breakoff to remain within the charge electrode region.
- 60. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, further including means for modifying the generated random interference pattern by varying the print cycle which comprises a print time on interval followed by a print time off interval while maintaining the print time below said predetermined maximum value.
- 61. A fluid jet applicator according to claim 41, further including means for modifying the random interference pattern by controllably varying the substrate speed.
- 62. A method of operating a fluid jet applicator having a fluid plenum and an array of orifices, and means for applying fluid from said fluid plenum through said orifices to a moving substrate, said applying means including means for selectively passing droplets onto the moving substrate only during print times having a duration T, said method comprising the steps of:
- controlling the fluid jet applicator to apply a simulated wood grain pattern to said substrate including applying artificial stimulation to said fluid plenum to purposefully generate standing waves within the fluid plenum; and maintaining the print time T below a predetermined maximum value, whereby a wood grain pattern is applied to said substrate.
- 63. A method of operating a fluid jet applicator having a fluid plenum and an array of orifices, and means for applying fluid from said fluid plenum through said orifices to a moving substrate, said applying means including means for selectively passing droplets onto the moving substrate only during print times having a duration T, said method comprising the steps of:
- controlling the fluid jet applicator to apply a simulated moire silk pattern to said substrate including applying artificial stimulation to said fluid plenum to purposefully generate standing waves within the fluid plenum; and maintaining the print time T below a predetermined maximum value, whereby a moire silk pattern is applied to said substrate.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 026,488, filed Mar. 16, 1987, now abandoned which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 908,289, filed Sep. 17, 1986 which is a division of application Ser. No. 729,412, filed May 1, 1985 now U..S. Pat. No. 4,650,694.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2062787 |
Dec 1970 |
DEX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
Darling et al., Multiple-Nozzle Ink Jet Printing Experiment, IBM. J. Res. Develop, vol. 28, No. 3, May 1984, pp. 300-306. |
Meyer et al, "Ink Jet Printing--A new Possibility in Textile Printing", Melliand Textiberichte, English Ed., Feb. 1977, pp. 162-164; 255-261, (also attached is a German version of the article providing the drawings referred to in the article). |
Oster et al, "Moire Patterns", Scientific American, May 1963, pp. 54-63. |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
729412 |
May 1985 |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
26488 |
Mar 1987 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
908289 |
Sep 1986 |
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