Color laser printer for printing prismatic duo-tone copy-resistant backgrounds
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorPeter Eric Wallin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved printing apparatus and method for its use is provided for printing copy-resistant prismatic, duo-tone patterns as a background on print media. A user or systems administrator can create a copy-resistant background design and store it as a background data file for later use, either on his or her personal computer, or at a secure network server. An authorized user can then create user-defined foreground data to be printed along with the copy-resistant background data, in a single printing operation, using a single printer, and using “blank” print media, such as standard “plain” copy paper. Highly secure documents, such as cashier's checks, thus could be printed in a single print job, without having to purchase and securely store pre-printed check paper.
Claims25
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an input/output circuit;
- an interface circuit;
- a print media input device, a print engine that applies image-forming material to print media at an image-forming station, and an output pathway that directs said print media to an output area;
- wherein:
- (a) said input/output circuit receives a print job that contains digital image data;
- (b) said interface circuit contains input and output devices that are configured:
- (i) to move a sheet of print media from said print media input device to said print engine which applies said image-forming material to a surface of said sheet at said image-forming station;
- and (ii) to move said sheet through said output pathway;
- (c) said digital image data includes, for specific sheets of blank print media for said print job, both:
- (i) user-defined print data as foreground data, and
- (ii) predetermined copy-resistant background data, the copy-resistant background data including an image design;
- and
- (d) said print engine applies, to said at least one sheet of blank print media, both said foreground data and said background data during the same print job in real time.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an input/output circuit;
- a print media interface circuit;
- a print media input device;
- a print engine that applies image-forming material to print media at an image-forming station;
- an output pathway that directs said print media to an output area;
- a processing circuit that communicates signals to and from said interface circuit, and to and from said print engine;
- and a memory circuit that stores data used by said processing circuit;
- wherein:
- (a) said input/output circuit receives a print job that contains digital image data;
- (b) said print media interface circuit moves said print media from said print media input device to said print engine, and after passing through said print engine, moves said print media through said output pathway;
- (c) said print engine, according to said digital image data, applies said image-forming material to a surface of said print media at said image-forming station;
- (d) said processing circuit is configured to provide data signals to said print engine, including said digital image data, wherein said digital image data includes both:
- (i) user-defined print data as foreground data, and
- (ii) predetermined copy-resistant background data, the copy-resistant background data including an image design used for specific sheets of said print job;
- and
- (e) said print engine applies both said foreground data and said background data during the same print job in real time.
A method for printing a copy-resistant print media, said method comprising:
- (a) providing an image forming apparatus having a print engine that applies image-forming material to blank print media;
- (b) creating predetermined copy-resistant background data, the copy-resistant background data including an image design used for specific sheets of said blank print media;
- (c) creating user-defined foreground data;
- and
- (d) causing said image forming apparatus to operate, wherein said copy-resistant background data and said user-defined foreground data are combined into a single print processing operation that is printed in real time on said blank print media, which thereby becomes copy-resistant print media.
A method for creating a plurality of copy-resistant printed documents, using blank print media, said method comprising:
- (a) providing blank print media that is not stored in a secure location;
- (b) providing a printing apparatus, and loading it with said blank print media;
- (c) creating predetermined copy-resistant background data, the copy-resistant background data including an image design used for specific sheets of a print job;
- (d) creating user-defined foreground data;
- and
- (e) sending said print job to said printing apparatus, wherein said copy-resistant background data and said user-defined foreground data are combined into a single print processing operation and printed in real time during a single printing event, which thereby produces at least one sheet of said print media that is copy-resistant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.