Multi-toner image forming apparatus and method having pattern recognition
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorJohn R. Thompson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Image forming method and apparatus is capable of making images in at least a two different colors or toners. An original is electronically scanned for recognizing a predetermined characteristic of a pattern on the original, such as its color, size and/or shape. The image forming apparatus then provides the recognized pattern in a chosen accent color or in a toner different from that used for the rest of the image.
Claims20
Image forming apparatus for forming a color image:
- first means for forming a first image in a first color from electronic image information;
- second means for forming a second image, combined or combinable with the first image, from electronic image information and in an accent color different from the first color;
- means for electronically analyzing an original electronic image obtained by optical scanning and for recognizing a predetermined characteristic of a character, logo or other pattern, such as its size and/or its shape;
- means for controlling the second image forming means to form an image in the accent color corresponding to patterns having the predetermined characteristic;
- and
- means for controlling the first image forming means to form an image in the first color corresponding to at least a portion of the original electronic image.
Image forming apparatus for making at least a two toner image:
- first means for forming a first image in a first toner from electronic image information;
- second means for forming a second image, combined or combinable with the first image, from electronic image information and in a second toner different from the first toner;
- means for electronically analyzing a scanned original image and for recognizing a predetermined characteristic of a character, logo or other pattern, such as its size and/or its shape;
- means for controlling the second image forming means to form an image in the second toner corresponding to patterns having the predetermined characteristic;
- and
- means for controlling the first image forming means to make an image in the first toner corresponding to at least a portion of the original image.
Image forming apparatus comprising:
- a memory
- means for inputting an electronic signal indicative of a predetermined pattern shape into the memory,
- a scanner for creating an electronic signal indicative of the image content of an original,
- means for comparing the electronic signal indicative of the pattern shape with the electronic signal created by the scanner,
- means for copying the original, and
- means for controlling the copying means in response to the comparing means to treat patterns in the original corresponding to the input pattern differently from other portions of the original in copying the original.
A method of forming a two or more color image from an original, said method comprising:
- optically scanning the original to provide an electronic representation of the original,
- analyzing the electronic representation for patterns having a predetermined recognizable shape,
- forming a first image in a first color from at least a portion of said electronic representation,
- forming a second image in a second color from a portion of the electronic representation recognized as having the predetermined recognizable shape of pattern, and
- combining the first and second images to form a two color image with the recognized patterns in the second color and at least a portion of the rest of the image in the first color.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.