Importance

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Abstract

Print heads with arcuate printing surfaces are used to apply images to elongated, laterally curved slats prior to their assembly into Venetian blinds. Each print head includes a print head casing having a concave or convex printing surface forming an arc shape. The print heads are distributed in series along a slat path, which is defined by a conveyor. One or more ink wells are coupled to the print head casing; each ink well may contain a separate color of ink. Many print jet orifices are evenly distributed along the printing surface, and may be arranged in an array with multiple rows and columns, for example. Each print jet orifice is coupled to one of the ink wells by a supply path. During the printing process, slats are longitudinally advanced along the slat path past the print heads. A controller regulates the slat's position relative to the print heads, and controls the position using the conveyor. At selected times, depending upon the slat's position, the controller activates selected ink jets of selected print heads to eject ink upon the curved slat, and thereby imprint a desired image upon the slat. The images imprinted on individual slats are coordinated to provide a desired, overall image spanning the Venetian blinds.

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First Claim