MOBILE PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTED REFERENCE MARKS
A mobile printing apparatus includes a chassis; a first wheel rotatably mounted on the chassis; a second wheel rotatably mounted on the chassis; a motor for rotating the first wheel; an encoder for monitoring an amount of rotation; a first photosensor array; and an array of marking elements disposed proximate the first photosensor array.
1 . A mobile printing apparatus comprising:
a chassis;
a first wheel rotatably mounted on the chassis;
a second wheel rotatably mounted on the chassis;
a motor for rotating the first wheel;
an encoder for monitoring an amount of rotation;
a first photosensor array; and
an array of marking elements disposed proximate the first photosensor array.
2 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second photosensor array, wherein the array of marking elements is disposed between the first photosensor array and the second photosensor array.
3 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first photosensor array has a first length, the second photosensor array has a second length, and the array of marking elements has a third length that is less than both the first length and the second length.
4 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first length is equal to the second length.
5 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a length of the first photosensor array is equal to or approximately equal to three times a length of the array of marking elements.
6 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a power source.
7 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the power source is a battery.
8 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the array of marking elements includes an array of nozzles for ejecting drops of liquid.
9 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a liquid supply.
10 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 1 , the motor for rotating the first wheel being a first motor and the encoder being a first encoder, the mobile printing apparatus further comprising:
a second motor for rotating the second wheel; and
a second encoder for monitoring an amount of rotation.
11 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first wheel and the second wheel are configured to be independently driven in either a forward direction or a reverse direction.
12 . A mobile printing system comprising:
a mobile printing apparatus including:
a chassis;
a first wheel rotatably mounted on the chassis;
a second wheel rotatably mounted on the chassis;
a first motor for rotating the first wheel;
a second motor for rotating the second wheel;
a first encoder for monitoring an amount of rotation of the first wheel;
a second encoder for monitoring an amount of rotation of the second wheel;
a photosensor array; and
an array of marking elements disposed proximate the photosensor array; and
a controller for controlling the operation of the mobile printing apparatus.
13 . The mobile printing system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is mounted on the mobile printing apparatus.
14 . The mobile printing system of claim 13 , the mobile printing apparatus further including a data input port such as a USB port or a memory card slot for inputting data for printing.
15 . The mobile printing system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is mounted remotely from the mobile printing apparatus.
16 . The mobile printing system of claim 15 , the mobile printing apparatus further including a wireless receiver.
17 . The mobile printing system of claim 12 , wherein the mobile printing apparatus further comprises a battery.
18 . The mobile printing system of claim 12 further comprising a liquid supply, wherein the array of marking elements includes an array of nozzles for ejecting drops of liquid.
19 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a liquid in the liquid supply includes a colorant.
20 . The mobile printing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a liquid in the liquid supply includes a functional material.