US 5,966,503 AGranted

Digital copying/printing apparatus and method for assembling a set of images

AssigneeOce-Technologies B.V.

InventorsEduardus J. W. van Vliembergen, Jurek N. Deen, Rene F. A. Collard

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Abstract

A digital copying/printing machine and method by which a set of images can be assembled from document images input in separate actions. This set can then be printed as a whole. Document images can be input by a scanner (physical documents) or via a connection to a digital environment, such as a network (digital document images). For digital document images, a storage unit is provided in which different images can be stored and which is provided with a selection function for selecting the required image for inclusion in the set. A separate input key is provided on the operating panel for starting an input action. Individual adjustments for the printed product can be made for each input action, e.g., for lighter or darker or single or double-sided printing. An image input in this manner is included in a set file in the memory of the machine. In response to actuation of a print key on the operating panel, the entire set file is printed.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A digital image reproduction apparatus for assembling a set file of discrete images and reproducing the same on image supports, the apparatus comprising:

an electro-optical scanner for generating digital image data corresponding to an image;
an inputting unit for receiving data, fed from an external digital environment and corresponding to images, and generating digital image data corresponding thereto;
a storage unit for temporary storage of image data generated by the scanner and the inputting unit;
a printing unit for printing, on image supports, images corresponding to image data in the storage unit;
an operating unit provided with operating means operable by an operator;
a control unit connected to the scanner, the inputting unit, the storage unit, the printing unit and the operating unit, said control unit being operable to control the scanner, the inputting unit and the storage unit in response to an associated command from the operating unit so that at least one digital image generated by the scanner and at least one digital image generated by the inputting unit are stored in or added to a set file of discrete images in such manner that image data generated in separate actions by the scanner and the inputting unit are assembled in the storage unit to form said set file, and said control unit being operable to cause each discrete image in said set file to be completely printed by the printing unit in response to an associated command from the operating unit.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.