Maintained target pressure circulation system for end effector

{
  "publication_number": "US12151471B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Maintained target pressure circulation system for end effector",
  "abstract": "Apparatus and method for a painting machine are provided. The painting machine may include an end effector controlled by custom software. The painting machine may include a self-contained medium circulation system. The custom control software may be capable of coordinated n-axis manipulation of an end. Illustrative end effectors may include an inkjet head, brush, air brush or any suitable tool for applying ink, paint, color and/or texture to a surface. For example an end effector may utilize oil-based ink or ultraviolet-cured ink. Illustrative surfaces may include canvas, paper, brick, glass etc. The custom control software may control manipulation of the end effector based on a variety of electronic inputs. The custom software may manipulate different end effectors in different ways depending on the input data, type of ink/paint being used, type of surface receiving the ink/paint or any other variable.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for depositing a medium along an arbitrary vector path, the system comprising: a rotatable end effector configured to apply the medium to a surface; a cartridge that holds the medium applied by the end effector, wherein the cartridge comprises a plurality of internal walls that reduces an impact of dynamic wave pressure due to movement of the cartridge via a plurality of holes disposed along a lower half of each internal wall; a conduit that transfers the medium from the cartridge to the end effector and from the end effector back into the cartridge; a pressure sensor that detects changes in pressure within the conduit; only one pump that: moves the medium through the conduit; and maintains a target meniscus pressure by, in response to the detected changes in the pressure, increasing or decreasing the pressure in the conduit; and software that controls movement of the end effector and the cartridge and deposit of the medium, along the arbitrary vector path and relative to the surface; wherein the pressure within the conduit is determined based on a first pressure at an inlet port of the end effector and a second pressure at an outlet port of the end effector; and wherein the only one pump maintains the target meniscus pressure when the end effector and the cartridge are rotated 360° about a rotational axis.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the end effector is configured to be rotated about the rotational axis via a planetary gear system.",
    "3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a microcontroller that dynamically maintains the target meniscus pressure despite changes in an amount of medium contained in the cartridge.",
    "4. The system of claim 1 wherein the software regulates a quantity of the medium applied by the end effector to the surface.",
    "5. The system of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises one or more of: an inkjet head; an airbrush; a paintbrush; and a paint roller.",
    "6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a microcontroller that dynamically maintains the target meniscus pressure despite changes in a flow of the medium through the end effector.",
    "7. The system of claim 1 wherein the end effector duplicates a target mark on the surface, regardless of an orientation of the end effector.",
    "8. The system of claim 7 wherein the target mark includes irregular and chaotic elements.",
    "9. The system of claim 1 wherein the software regulates a quantity of the medium deposited by the end effector on the surface.",
    "10. The system of claim 1 wherein the only one pump comprises an Archimedes screw."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This application includes a computer program listing as an appendix. The appendix includes thirteen (13) ASCII text files (submitted via EFS-Web). The appendix (all thirteen files) is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.\n\nThe table below lists the thirteen ASCII text files included in the appendix:\n\nFile File Size No. File Name Date Created (kilobytes) 1 GRBL.txt Nov. 12, 2018 27.3 2 ImageOperations.txt Nov. 12, 2018 2.22 3 Machine.txt Nov. 12, 2018 8.86 4 MotionControl.txt Nov. 12, 2018 5.44 5 motion-controller.txt Nov. 12, 2018 9.58 6 PreLoadPrintJob.txt Nov. 12, 2018 6.25 7 PrinterImage.txt Nov. 12, 2018 5.22 8 PrinterOS.txt Nov. 12, 2018 9.29 9 PrinterPL.txt Nov. 12, 2018 20.3 10 Program.txt Nov. 12, 2018 14.9 11 renderer.txt Nov. 12, 2018 9.38 12 stage.txt Nov. 12, 2018 6.74 13 X2_Ink_Handling.txt Nov. 12, 2018 2.77\n\nAspects of this disclosure relate to painting machines for producing layered and textured marks.\n\nTypically, a printer or other output device prints a “flat” image of an electronic file holding a creators input. For example, a creator may utilize a user interface to input creative marks or designs. Such input may include pressure applied by the creator to a tool used by the creator. Other illustrative inputs may include color, path, rotation and/or tilt of the tool handled by the creator. The user interface may create one or more electronic files corresponding to the input of the creator. However, typical output tools are not suitable for reproducing the richness and layering effects of the input.",
  "cpc": [
    "B41J 2/04505",
    "B05B 13/005",
    "B05B 13/0405",
    "B05B 13/0431",
    "B05C 11/1002",
    "B25J 13/089",
    "B25J 15/0019",
    "B25J 19/005",
    "B25J 9/162",
    "B25J 9/1666",
    "B41J 2/04586",
    "B41J 3/407",
    "G05B 15/02",
    "G05B 2219/45065",
    "G05D 7/0676"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B05B 13/00",
    "B05B 13/04",
    "B05C 11/10",
    "B25J 13/08",
    "B25J 15/00",
    "B25J 19/00",
    "B25J 9/16",
    "B41J 2/045",
    "G05B 15/02",
    "G05D 7/06"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Artmatr Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Benjamin Tritt",
    "Jeff Leonard",
    "Tal Achituv",
    "Owen Elias Trueblood",
    "Bryce Peterson",
    "Yaakov Markovich",
    "Sang-won LEIGH"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-03-02",
  "publication_date": "2024-11-26",
  "grant_date": "2024-11-26",
  "priority_date": "2017-11-12",
  "application_number": "US-202117190384-A",
  "family_id": "66438097",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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  ]
}