Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Product assembly or manufacturing
Utility Patent
1998-08-20
2001-01-02
Gordon, Paul P. (Department: 2724)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Product assembly or manufacturing
C700S127000
Utility Patent
active
06169932
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There are many organizations and individuals who want small quantities of specially faced instruments, such as clocks, thermometers, air speed indicators, barometers, and the like. However there presently does not exist a cost effective technique for producing small volumes of customized instrument faces in a quick and high quality manner, especially if a multicolor face is desired. Attempts have been made to produce instrument faces electronically using a high quality color printer. While clock faces produced in that manner have impressive aesthetics, a slow print speed and ink fading when exposed to sunlight made such a method of producing custom clock dials impractical. Also, it was difficult to quickly and conveniently cut out the clock dial, utilizing a knife.
Traditional methods of producing high quality multicolored instrument faces are not applicable to small volumes (e.g. between 1 and 500 units) because of the large set up costs. Using traditional screen printing methods, a screen must be made to print each color. After printing the instrument faces have to be die cut on a large press using a steel rule die, having large set up costs and usually involving significant amounts of waste.
According to the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided which allow the cost effective production of multicolor instrument faces of high quality, and in small runs. While the invention is particularly applicable to the production of functional multicolor instrument faces, having numerical and other indicia thereon, it is also applicable to the production of other functional multicolor elements, which can be used to produce a functioning object. All of the apparatus necessary for practicing the invention is off the shelf equipment, but it is configured in a unique manner according to the present invention to solve a long standing problem in the art.
According to one aspect of the present invention apparatus for producing multicolor instrument faces is provided. The apparatus comprises the following elements: A computer. A color photocopier or like color printer. Interface means for controlling the color photocopier with the computer to effect printing of a multicolor instrument face on a sheet of paper from electronic signals transmitted to the color photocopier from the computer. And automatic cutting means operatively connected to the computer for cutting an instrument face shape from a sheet of paper on which it has been printed by the color photocopier. The automatic cutting means preferably comprises a laser cutter. Also, there preferably is provided a laminator for laminating a sheet of paper on which an instrument face is printed to a sheet of more rigid material. A scanner or CD ROM may also be provided for inputting data into the computer.
Utilizing the apparatus described above, a method producing an instrument face having functional indicia thereon is provided. The method comprises the following steps: (a) Creating the instrument face with functional indicia thereon in the computer in electronic format. (b) Under the control of the computer, transmitting electronic signals from the computer to the printer (e.g. color photocopier) to control the printer to print the instrument face with functional indicia on a piece of sheet material. And (c) cutting the appropriate shape and size of the instrument face from the piece of sheet material on which it is printed.
The method also preferably comprises the further step of assembling the instrument face with other functional components, such as clock hands and a clock movement, to produce an operable instrument having a face with functional indicia thereon. Step (c) is typically practiced automatically, using a laser cutter. Step (b) may be practiced to print the instrument face on a sheet of paper and then there is the further step (d), between steps (b) and (c), of laminating the sheet of paper onto a piece of more rigid material, such as acrylic or plexiglass if self-supporting, or these materials or styrene or cardboard if it is to be mounted in a casing. Numerical indicia may be part of the functional indicia, in multiple colors, on the instrument face, and the method may be employed as to produce 1-500 instrument faces of a particular type in a cost effective manner.
More generally, the invention relates to a method of constructing a functional multicolor element having indicia thereon utilizing a computer and a color photocopier. The method comprises the following steps: (a) Electronically creating or providing in the computer an electronic simulation of the desired functional multicolor element, with indicia thereon. (b) Under the control of the computer, transmitting electronic signals from the computer to the photocopier so that the photocopier transforms the electronic simulation of the desired functional multicolor element onto a piece of sheet material. And (c) using the functional multicolor element with other elements to produce a functioning object.
There is also typically the further step (d), between steps (b) and (c), of cutting the sheet material into a different shape containing substantially only the functional multicolor element, and step (d) is typically practiced automatically under the control of the laser cutter. The steps (a) and (b) may be practiced to produce an instrument face which is assembled with mechanical and electrical components at the instrument to produce an operable instrument with mutlicolor functional instrument. face, such as clock, thermometer, air speed indicator, altimeter, barometer, horizon indicator, etc. Other functional objects that could be created according to the invention include customized plaques, trophies, or like awards.
A simplified procedure for making multicolor instrument faces can be employed if a color photograph (as is, or doctored, as with an air brush) is used to provide the basis for the artwork on the instrument face. In this case the method comprises the following steps: (a) Superimposing functional indicia for an instrument face on a transparent substrate over the color photograph. (b) Copying the color photograph with superimposed functional indicia, using a color photocopier, onto a sheet of paper. (c) Laminating the sheet of paper to a piece of sheet material more rigid than the piece of paper to provide a laminate; and (d) cutting the instrument face out of the laminate. Step (b) is typically practiced to simultaneously enlarge or reduce the photograph with superimposed functional indicia when making the copy on the sheet of paper to insure the proper size for the instrument face.
The invention also may be used to produce self-supporting instruments. That is, the instrument face itself provides the support for the instrument (rather than being mounted in a casing), either the sheet material on which photocopying has been practiced, or more typically a piece of acrylic or plexiglas to which that sheet is laminated. According to this aspect of the present invention a method is provided comprising the following steps: (a) Making a color copy of a geometric design having functional instrument indicia thereon, and at least one color besides black and white, on a piece of paper. (b) Laminating the piece of paper on a piece of rigid, self supporting material with the functional indicia facing outwardly, to provide a laminate. (c) Cutting the geometric design from the laminate to form a self-supporting design element comprising the instrument face and back, the face having the functional indicia thereon; and (d) connecting the mechanism to back of the self-supporting design element, with the indicator visible on the front of the design element and cooperating with the functional indicia on the instrument face. The geometric design may be an irregular geometric design, and the instrument may be a clock and the at least one functional moving indicator at least an hour hand and a minute hand.
It is the primary object of the present invention to cost effectively produce high quality, even multicolor, instrument fac
Gordon Paul P.
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
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