Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for printing an image onto a curved surface of a three dimensional article. The apparatus principally includes a support fixture, an ink jet print head having a plurality of nozzles, and an articulatable robotic arm. One of the support fixture and the print head is mounted to and carried by the robotic arm. The robotic arm is moveable so as to cause relative movement of the print head along a series of scanning paths that follow the surface contour of the curved surface of the article. A controller is coupled to the robotic arm and is configured to cause articulation of the robotic arm. The controller causes the robotic arm to continuously locate the print head relative to the curved surface and to cause the plurality of nozzles to eject printing medium at predetermined locations along the scanning paths so as to form the image.

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First Claim