Projection assisted printer alignment using remote device

摘要

A flexible manufacturing system includes a printing system, a projection system and a remote device. The projection system is calibrated with the printing system and helps with aligning graphics to be printed on an article. The remote device receives information from an optical device corresponding to a projection area of the projection system. The remote device can be used to control the alignment of a projected graphic on the article when the article is inside the projection area.

主权项

1. A method of printing onto an article, comprising:
positioning the article onto a platform configured to support the article; associating the article with a projection system so that the platform is in a display ready position, wherein when the platform is in the display ready position, the projection system is configured to project a graphic onto the article; projecting the graphic onto the article using the projection system; capturing image information, wherein the image information includes the projected graphic and the article; displaying the image information on a remote device; receiving alignment information from the remote device; adjusting the alignment of the graphic on the article according to the alignment information so that the projected graphic is disposed in a predetermined portion of the article; moving the platform from the display ready position to a print ready position, wherein when the platform is in the print ready position, a printing system is configured to print the graphic on the article in the predetermined portion of the article; and printing a printed graphic on the article on the predetermined portion of the article.