# US 7,242,494 B2 · Printing device, printing method, and computer-readable storage medium for printing using multiple printers

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 7,242,494 B2
- Document ID: US7242494B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/665,118
- Filed: 2003-09-22
- Published: 2004-03-25
- Granted: 2007-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2001-03-21
- Assignees: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Eiichi Hanazato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7242494B2

## CPC

- H04N 1/2032: {of two pictures corresponding to two sides of a single medium (refeeding a sheet for double-sided scanning H04N1/00572)}
- B41J 11/46: by marks or formations on the paper being fed
- H04N 1/00347: {with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus (circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32)}
- H04N 1/0057: {Conveying sheets before or after scanning (arrangements for conveying sheets as part of the scanning operation H04N1/04 and subgroups)}
- H04N 1/00665: {Details specific to handling of web-shaped media, e.g. paper or film rolls}
- H04N 1/0473: {in subscanning direction, e.g. picture start or line-to-line synchronisation}
- H04N 1/203: Simultaneous scanning of two or more separate pictures {, e.g. two sides of the same sheet (refeeding a sheet for double-sided scanning H04N1/00572)}
- H04N 1/506: {Reproducing the colour component signals picture-sequentially, e.g. with reproducing heads spaced apart from one another in the subscanning direction}
- H04N 2201/0031: where the still picture apparatus controls another apparatus
- H04N 2201/0032: where the still picture apparatus is controlled by another apparatus
- H04N 2201/0039: Connection via a network
- H04N 2201/0082: Image hardcopy reproducer (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence)
- H04N 2201/04713: Details of the detector arrangement, e.g. non-standard position, optical details (H04N2201/04712 takes precedence)
- H04N 2201/04718: outside the image area
- H04N 2201/04731: in the sub-scan direction
- H04N 2201/04732: Detecting at infrequent intervals, e.g. once or twice per line for main-scan control
- H04N 2201/04751: Detecting position relative to a step, e.g. using L-shaped masks, marks or gratings
- H04N 2201/04786: Controlling a start time, e.g. for output of a line of data (H04N2201/04784 takes precedence)
- H04N 2201/04793: using stored control or compensation data, e.g. previously measured data
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A printing device includes a first printer and a second printer which continuously print one or plural pieces of printing data onto a printing medium. In the printing device, the second printer includes a reading sensor, the first printer first prints the one or plural pieces of printing data onto the printing medium by forming a mark indicating a page of the printing medium or each of the plural pieces of the printing data, the reading sensor in the second printer subsequently reads the mark and matches printing surfaces of the printing medium to be printed by the first and second printers, and the second printer thereafter prints the printing data onto the printing medium. The printing device includes an information holding part which previously holds information on a relationship between the mark position and a size of the printing medium or a size of each of the plural pieces of printing data, and a mark position setting part which movably sets the mark position based on the information held in the information holding part in accordance with the size of the printing medium or the size of each of the plural pieces of printing data.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A printing device comprising a first printer and a second printer which continuously print printing data onto a printing medium, the second printer comprising a reading sensor, the first printer first printing the printing data onto the printing medium by forming a mark indicating a page of the printing medium, the reading sensor subsequently reading the mark and matching printing surfaces of the printing medium to be printed by the first and second printers, the second printer thereafter printing the printing data onto the printing medium, the printing device comprising:
an information holding part which previously holds information on a relationship between a size of the printing medium and a position of the mark; and
a mark position setting part which movably sets the mark position based on the information held in the information holding part in accordance with the size of the printing medium.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The printing device according to claim 1, wherein, when, as a result of matching the printing surfaces of the printing medium to be printed by the first and second printers, it is determined that the printing data on the printing surface to be printed by the first printer does not match the printing data on the printing surface to be printed by the second printer, printing operations of the first and second printers stop and an occurrence of an abnormal state is notified.

### Claim 3

A printing device comprising a first printer and a second printer which continuously print plural pieces of printing data onto a printing medium, the second printer comprising a reading sensor, the first printer first printing the plural pieces of printing data onto the printing medium by forming a mark indicating each of the plural pieces of the printing data, the reading sensor subsequently reading the mark and matching printing surfaces of the printing medium to be printed by the first and second printers, the second printer thereafter printing the plural pieces of printing data onto the printing medium, the printing device comprising:
an information holding part which previously holds information on a relationship between sizes of the plural pieces of printing data and the mark position; and
a mark position setting part which movably sets the mark position based on the information held in the information holding part in accordance with the sizes of the plural pieces of printing data.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The printing device according to claim 3, wherein, when, as a result of matching the printing surfaces of the printing medium to be printed by the first and second printers, it is determined that the printing data on the printing surface to be printed by the first printer does not match the printing data on the printing surface to be printed by the second printer, printing operations of the first and second printers stop and an occurrence of an abnormal state is notified.

### Claim 5

A printing method that continuously prints printing data onto a printing medium, comprising the steps of:
previously holding information on a relationship between a size of the printing medium and a position of the mark;
movably setting the position of the mark based on the previously-held information in accordance with the size of the printing medium;
forming the set mark upon printing the printing data onto a printing surface of the printing medium to be printed first;
reading the mark by a reading sensor and matching printing surfaces of the printing medium to be printed first and second; and
printing the printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed second when it is determined that the printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed first matches the printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed second.

### Claim 6

A printing method that continuously prints plural pieces of printing data, comprising the steps of:
previously holding information on a relationship between the sizes of the plural pieces of printing data and a position of a mark indicating the plural pieces of printing data;
movably setting the mark position based on the previously-held information in accordance with the sizes of the plural pieces of printing data;
forming the set mark upon printing the plural pieces of printing data onto a printing surface of the printing medium to be printed first;
reading the mark by a reading sensor and matching printing surfaces of the printing medium to be printed first and second; and
printing the plural pieces of printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed second when it is determined that the plural pieces of printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed first match the plural pieces of printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed second.

### Claim 7

A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program which continuously prints printing data onto a printing medium, wherein the program enables a computer to function as:
means for previously holding information on a relationship between a size of the printing medium and a position of a mark indicating a page of the printing medium;
means for movably setting the mark position based on the previously-held information in accordance with the size of the printing medium;
means for forming the set mark upon printing the printing data onto a printing surface of the printing medium to be printed first;
means for reading the mark by a reading sensor and matching printing surfaces of the printing medium to be printed first and second; and
means for printing the printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed second when it is determined that the printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed first matches the printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed second.

### Claim 8

A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program which continuously prints plural pieces of printing data onto a printing medium, wherein the program enables a computer to function as:
means for previously holding information on a relationship between sizes of the plural pieces of printing data and a position of a mark indicating each of the plural pieces of printing data;
means for movably setting the mark position based on the previously-held information in accordance with the sizes of the plural pieces of printing data;
means for forming the set mark upon printing the plural pieces of printing data onto a printing surface of the printing medium to be printed first;
means for reading the mark by a reading sensor and matching printing surfaces of the printing medium to be printed first and second; and
means for printing the plural pieces of printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed second when it is determined that the printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed first matches the printing data onto the printing surface of the printing medium to be printed second.