Printing variable data on a variety of different pre-printed stocks
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorRonald S. Cok
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printing apparatus for variable pre-printed stock stores customer data and two or more different pre-printed stocks. A scanner scans the printed area of the pre-printed stocks and produces tray stock information identifying the stocks. Received electronic customer orders include the customer data and selection data for one or more of the pre-printed stocks. A controller receives the tray stock information and the electronic customer orders for matching the tray stock information to the electronic orders to produce print instructions. A printer receives the print instructions and prints the customer data corresponding to the match onto pre-printed stocks identified by the match.
Claims21
A printing apparatus for variable pre-printed stock, comprising:
- storage for customer data;
- pre-printed stocks, each pre-printed stock having a printed area and an open area on a common side of the pre-printed stock;
- a printer tray for holding two or more different pre-printed stocks;
- a scanner for scanning the printed area of each of the pre-printed stocks to form an image of each of the printed areas, for comparing each image of the printed areas with different pre-printed stocks, for matching each image of the printed areas with one of the different pre-printed stocks, for identifying each matched image to produce tray stock information identifying the pre-printed stock, and for storing the produced tray stock information identifying the pre-printed stocks;
- storage for electronic customer orders, each electronic customer order including one or more of the customer data and selection data for one or more of the pre-printed stocks;
- a controller for receiving the tray stock information and the electronic customer orders, for matching the tray stock information to the electronic customer orders to produce an electronic customer order match, and for producing print instructions for the matched electronic customer order;
- and
- a printer for receiving the print instructions and for printing the customer data corresponding to the matched electronic customer order onto pre-printed stock identified by the matched electronic customer order.
A method of printing customer data on pre-printed stock, comprising the steps of:
- loading a plurality of different pre-printed stocks into a printer, the pre-printed stocks having an open area and a printed area on a common side of the pre-printed stocks;
- scanning the different pre-printed stocks using a scanner to form an image of each of the printed areas, comparing each image of the printed areas with different pre-printed stocks, matching each image of the printed areas with one of the different pre-printed stocks, identifying each matched image to produce tray stock information identifying the pre-printed stock, and storing the produced stock tray information identifying the pre-printed stocks;
- receiving a plurality of electronic orders in the printer, each order identifying one or more of the pre-printed stocks and including customer data;
- matching the stock tray information with two or more of the plurality of electronic orders to form two or more electronic order matches;
- and
- producing print instructions for the two or more electronic order matches and printing the customer data corresponding to the electronic order matches onto pre-printed stocks identified by the electronic order matches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.