Apparatus for displaying image information recorded on a document and any modified data added thereto

• US 5,515,144 A
• Filed: 08/20/1993
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kozo, Umeda, Takao, Miyasaka, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, A. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, SUSAN SHUK YIN
• Application Number:
  US08/109,644
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 358/296, 358/300, 358/302, 358/452, 358/453, 358/450, 358/400, 358/401, 358/496, 359/41, 359/51, 359/52, 359/98, 355/208, 355/271, 355/209, 355/205, 355/207, 355/204, 355/203, 355/202, 355/200, 355/211, 355/212, 355/210, 345/87, 345/901, 345/173, 345/179
• US Class Current: 399/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data

Abstract

In order to edit print information, the print information from a memory may be printed on a sheet by a printing arrangement and the sheet transported to a window at which the sheet is supported so that it is aligned with an editing unit and an editing display. Editing data are then input via the editing unit and are displayed by the editing display so that the editing data appear in the window at the same position as the part of the print information to be edited. At the same time the information in the memory may be changed in accordance with the editing. In this way, the print information can be displayed clearly, and the editing data input quickly. The sheet may be paper but may also be a composite film having low molecular weight liquid crystal material dispersed in high molecular weight material such as high molecular weight liquid crystal material.

Claims

1. A sheet processing apparatus, comprising:

at least one recording sheet for carrying print information thereon;

memory means for storing print data corresponding to said print information;

a window;

support means for supporting said at least one recording sheet such that said print information is visible in said window;

an editing unit for inputting editing data;

an editing display associated with said window for displaying said editing data at a selected part of said window corresponding to a part of said print information on said at least one recording sheet; and

data editing means for editing part of said print data corresponding to said part of said print information in response to said inputting of said editing data to said editing display.

2. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising, print means for printing said print information;

and

transport means for transporting said at least one recording sheet from said print means to said support means.

3. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising erasing means for erasing said print information, said transport means being arranged to transport said at least one recording sheet from said support means to said erasing means.

4. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a storage means for storing said at least one recording sheet; and

wherein said at least one recording sheet comprises a plurality of recording sheets, and said transport means is arranged to transport said plurality of sheets successively to said printing means from said storage means.

5. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising output means for outputting at least one selected sheet of said plurality of recording sheets from said transport means.

6. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for detecting a stain on any of said plurality of recording sheets, wherein said at least one selected sheet corresponds to any of said plurality of recording sheets having a stain thereon.

7. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for counting a number of times any of said plurality of sheets is transported to said support means, wherein said at least one selected sheet corresponds to any of said plurality of sheets for which the counted number of times corresponds to a predetermined number.

8. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising scanning means for

scanning said at least one recording sheet, to thereby read said print information, to generate said print data, and to transmit said print data to said memory means;

and

transport means for transporting said at least one recording sheet from both said scanning means and said support means.

9. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

print means for printing said print information;

erasing means for erasing said print information; and

drive means for driving said at least one recording sheet,

wherein said at least one recording sheet comprises an endless belt,

said endless belt extending from said print means to said support means, from said support means to said erasing means, and from said erasing means to said print means.

11. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for counting a number of rotations of said endless belt due to said drive means and for generating a belt replacement signal when the counted number of rotations corresponds to a predetermined number.

12. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one recording sheet is made of paper.

13. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one recording sheet comprises a composite film having low molecular weight liquid crystal material dispersed in high molecular weight material.

14. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said editing display comprises a liquid crystal display.

15. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said editing display comprises a CRT display.

16. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said editing display is located below said support means, and said at least one recording sheet is translucent.

17. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said editing display is located below said support means, and said at least one recording sheet is transparent.

18. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said editing unit comprises a transparent tablet, a pen, and means for detecting a location of said pen relative to said transparent tablet.

19. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said transparent tablet is located over said support means.

20. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said editing means comprises a keyboard.

10. A sheet processing apparatus, comprising:

at least one recording sheet for carrying print information thereon;

memory means for storing print data corresponding to said print information;

a window;

support means for supporting said at least one recording sheet such that said print information is visible in said window;

an editing unit for inputting editing data;

an editing display associated with said window for displaying said editing data at a selected part of said window corresponding to a part of said print information on said at least one recording sheet;

data editing means for editing part of said print data corresponding to said part of said print information in response to said inputting of said editing data to said editing display;

print means for printing said print information;

erasing means for erasing said print information;

drive means for driving said recording sheet;

wherein said at least one recording sheet comprises an endless belt,

said endless belt extending from said print means to said support means, from said support means to said erasing means, and from said erasing means to said print means; and

means for detecting a stain on said endless belt and for generating a belt replacement signal on detection of said stain.

21. A sheet processing apparatus, comprising:

at least one recording sheet for carrying print information thereon;

a memory for storing print data therein;

print means for printing said print information on at least a part of said at least one recording sheet based on said print data;

transport means for transporting said at least a part of said at least one recording sheet from said print means, said print information being able to generate editing data;

scanning means for scanning said at least a part of said at least one recording sheet to thereby read said print information and said editing data and for editing said print data in said memory based on said editing data; and

erasing means for erasing said print information from said recording sheet;

wherein

said transport means is arranged to transport said at least part of said at least one recording sheet from said scanning means to said erasing means.

22. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising:

storage means for storing said at least one recording sheet,

wherein said at least one recording sheet comprises a plurality of recording sheets, and

said transport means is arranged to transport said plurality of recording sheets successively from said storage means to said print means.

23. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said at least one recording sheet comprises a composite film having low molecular weight liquid crystal material dispersed in high molecular weight material.

24. A sheet processing apparatus, comprising:

at least one recording sheet, said at least one recording sheet comprising a composite film having low molecular weight liquid crystal material dispersed in high molecular weight material;

recording means for applying electric fields to at least a part of said at least one recording sheet, to thereby record information on said at least a part of said at least one recording sheet;

a window;

support means for supporting said at least one recording sheet such that said information is visible in said window; and

modifying means for inputting modifying data to said information, thereby displaying the modifying data at a selected part of said window corresponding to a part of said information on said at least one recording sheet.

25. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said high molecular weight material is high molecular weight liquid crystal material.

26. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said at least one recording sheet has a protective film in at least one side thereof.

27. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said recording means comprises means for applying a charge pattern to said at least a part of said at least one recording sheet, to thereby record said information.

28. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising erasing means for erasing said information from said at least one recording sheet, said erasing means including means for applying a further charge pattern to said at least a part of said at least one recording sheet, said further charge pattern being of opposite polarity to said applied electric fields, to thereby erase said information from said at least one recording sheet.

29. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said recording means comprises means for applying a voltage pattern to said at least a part of said at least one recording sheet, to thereby record said information.

30. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising erasing means for erasing said information from said at least one recording sheet, said erasing means including means for applying a further voltage pattern to said at least a part of said at least one recording sheet, said further voltage pattern being of opposite polarity to said applied electric fields, to thereby erase said information from said at least one recording sheet.

31. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 24, having erasing means for erasing said information from said at least one recording sheet.

32. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said erasing means comprises means for applying an alternating voltage to said at least one recording sheet.

33. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said at least one recording sheet comprises an endless belt extending from said recording means to said erasing means and from said erasing means to said recording means, and said apparatus further includes means for removing said at least a part of said at least one recording sheet comprises drive means for said endless belt.

34. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said high molecular weight material is provided with liquid crystal material.

35. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said at least one recording sheet includes a protective film on at least one side thereof.

36. A sheet processing apparatus, comprising:

at least one recording sheet, said at least one recording sheet comprising a composite film having low molecular weight liquid crystal material dispersed in high molecular weight material;

recording means for applying electric fields to at least a part of said at least one recording sheet, to thereby record information on said at least a part of said at least one recording sheet; and

means for removing said at least a part of said at least one sheet from said recording means after said information has been recorded thereon,

wherein said recording sheet further includes dichromatic coloring material.

37. A facsimile apparatus, comprising:

at least one recording sheet for carrying print information thereon;

memory means for storing print data corresponding to said print information;

a window;

a support means for supporting said at least one recording sheet such that said print information is visible in said window;

an editing unit for inputting editing data;

an editing display associated with said window and said editing unit for displaying said editing data at a selected part of said window corresponding to a part of said print information on said at least one recording sheet;

data editing means for editing part of said print data corresponding to said part of said print information in response to said inputting of said editing data to said editing display; and

transmission means for transmitting said print data between said memory means and a remote location.

38. A facsimile apparatus, comprising:

at least one recording sheet for carrying print information thereon;

a memory for storing print data therein;

print means for printing said print information on at least a part of said at least one recording sheet based on said print data;

transport means for transporting said at least a part of said one recording sheet from said print means, said print information being able to generate editing data;

scanning means for scanning said at least a part of said at least one recording sheet to thereby read said print information and said editing data and for editing said print data in said memory based on said editing data;

erasing means for erasing said print information from said recording sheet, wherein

said transport means is arranged to transport said at least part of said at least one recording sheet from said scanning means to said erasing means; and

transmission means for transmitting said print data between said memory and a remote location.

39. A facsimile apparatus, comprising:

at least one sheet, said at least one sheet being a composite film having low molecular weight liquid crystal material dispersed in high molecular weight material;

print means for applying electric fields to at least a part of said at least one sheet, to thereby print information on said at least a part of said at least one sheet;

means for removing said at least a part of said at least one sheet from said print means after printing said print information thereon;

a memory means for storing print data corresponding to said print information; and

transmission means for transmitting said print data between said memory means and a remote location.

40. A sheet processing apparatus, comprising:

at least one recording sheet, said at least one recording sheet comprising a composite film having low molecular weight liquid crystal material dispersed in high molecular weight material;

recording means for applying electric fields to at least a part of said at least one recording sheet, to thereby record information on said at least a part of said at least one recording sheet,

wherein said recording means comprises two transparent substrates having pixel electrodes thereon, and said information are input by a keyboard connected to the substrates after said at least one recording sheet is inserted between the two substrates;

a window;

support means for supporting said at least one recording sheet such that said information is visible in said window; and

modifying means for inputting modifying data to said information, thereby displaying the modifying data at a selected part of said window corresponding to a part of said information on said at least one recording sheet.