Method arrangement and computer software for the printing of a separator sheet by means of an electrophotographic printer or copier

• US 20060045596A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischler, Karl M
• Granted Patent: US 7,651,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1243 Variable data printing, e.g. document forms, templates, labels, coupons, advertisements, logos, watermarks, transactional printing, fixed content versioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

In a method or system for printing a separator sheet with a printer or copier, with aid of a first program module at least first data are generated that contain at least information for formatting of elements of at least one separator sheet, the elements to be printed on a register tab associated with the at least one separator sheet. The first data are processed with aid of a second program module so that second data are generated via which print data for generation of a print image on the register tab are added to a print data stream. At least the register tab of the one separator sheet is printed with the print image by the printer or copier.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A method for printing of a separator sheet with a printer or copier, comprising the steps of:

with aid of a first program module, generating at least first data that contain at least information for formatting of elements of at least one separator sheet, said elements to be printed on a register tab associated with the at least one separator sheet;

processing the first data with aid of a second program module so that second data are generated via which print data for generation of a print image on the register tab are added to a print data stream; and

printing at least the register tab of the one separator sheet with the print image by the printer or copier.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein third data that contain data of the elements to be generated on the register tab are generated with aid of the first program module.

25. A method according to claim 23 wherein data that contain elements to be generated on the register tab are generated with aid of a third program module.

26. A method according to claim 24 wherein the second data and the third data are respectively stored in a file.

27. A method according to claim 24 wherein the third data contain text data or data of graphic elements.

28. A method according to claim 24 wherein the first data and the third data are processed for a first print job with aid of the second program module, the third data being associated with the first print job, and the first data and fourth data are processed for a second print job of the second program module, the fourth data being associated with the second print job.

29. A method according to claim 28 wherein a file name of a first file in which the first data are stored and a file name of a file in which the third data are stored, or a file name of a file in which the fourth data are stored are specified as parameters in invocation of the second program module.

30. A method according to claim 28 wherein fifth data for generation of a further print image in at least one section of the separator sheet outside of the register tab are processed by the second program module such that print data for generation of the print image are added to the print data stream.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the third, fourth, or fifth data can be selected via the first or second program module or can be generated with the help of the first or second program module.

32. A method according to claim 30 wherein the fifth data are associated with a respective print job.

33. A method according to claim 23 wherein the first data contain at least information for arrangement of elements of a separator sheet set to be printed on register tabs, and that with aid of the second program module second data are generated via which print data for generation of respectively one print image on each register tab of the separator sheet set are added to a print data stream.

34. A method according to claim 33 wherein the separator sheet set serves as a sorting aid for a loose-leaf system.

35. A method according to claim 23 wherein the first program module is contained as a program element in a desktop publishing program module as one of the elements selected from the group consisting of a Java applet, plug-in program module, and a linked program element.

36. A method according to claim 23 wherein an assistant function with which all necessary information for generation of the first data can be activated in the first program module.

37. A method according to claim 23 wherein a view of the separator sheet with register tab of a separator sheet set with the register tabs is simulated and displayed with aid of the first program module.

38. A method according to claim 23 wherein the second program module is executed by a second data processing system.

39. A method according to claim 23 wherein the information for formatting contains specifications regarding at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of dimensions of the register tab, position of the register tab in a separator sheet set, paper format of the separator sheet, and alignment of the register tab.

40. A method according to claim 23 wherein a preview of a separator sheet with selected settings is possible in the first program module, whereby data with the settings as parameters are transferred to the second program module, the second program module transfers the generated second data to the first program module, and wherein with the first program module the second data are further processed into display data with aid of a program element.

41. A system for printing of a separator sheet, comprising:

a first data processing system which executes a first program module that generates first data that contain at least information for formatting of elements of at least one separator sheet, said elements being printable on a register tab associated with the at least one separator sheet;

a second data processing system which executes a second program module that processes the first data and generates the second data so that print data for generation of a print image on the register tab can be added to a print data stream with aid of the second data; and

a printer or copier which prints at least the register tab of the separator sheet with the print image.

42. A method for printing of a separator sheet, comprising the steps of:

with aid of a first program module, generating at least first data that contain at least information for formatting of elements of at least one separator sheet, said elements to be printed on a register tab associated with the at least one separator sheet;

processing the first data with aid of a second program module so that second data are generated via which print data for generation of a print image on the register tab are added to a print data stream; and

printing at least the register tab of the one separator sheet.