Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for manufacturing a bead-inlaid picture and method

US6003577A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
3References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 12, 1997
Grant dateDec 21, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 12, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T156/1906
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a bead-inlaid picture by inputting a desired original image as a motif for a bead-inlaid picture by an image input device, dividing the inputted original image into each of pieces in a size equal with that of a bead, comparing numerical data for the hue and the brightness obtained for each of the pieces and numerical data for the hue and the brightness predetermined for each of the beads and replacing the numerical data for each of the pieces with a color code allocated to a bead having numerical data most approximate with the obtained data and outputting signals corresponding thereto by an image processing device, feeding beads allocated with color codes while dividing them on every color codes by a feeder, arranging the thus fed beads in accordance with the arranged sequence for each of the pieces in the original image by an actuator and, fusing the arranged beads on a glass plate. A bead-inlaid picture can be manufactured just in accordance with the original image at high quality and at a reduced cost quite automatically without requiring any particular skill.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.