Patent ID: 6729706
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An apparatus for printing an image on an area of a walkway, the apparatus comprising:a marking engine responsive to digital signals representing an image for imagewise marking a surface of the area with a color marking medium to form a visible image on the surface of the area during an image recording mode; a self-propelled and automatically steered vehicle that supports the marking engine and includes a drive that engages the surface of the area at plural locations for moving the marking engine along the surface, the marking engine being located outboard of an area defined by lines connecting the plural locations; and a logic and control unit for controlling the drive and the marking engine to print the image by printing adjacent swaths in sequential order without the drive rolling over a swath already printed so that during operation of the marking engine for imagewise marking during the image recording mode the drive does not engage areas of the surface that have been previously imagewise marked and the drive providing movement of the marking engine to position the marking engine at substantially all points to be marked in the area.