Multi-function machine for combining and routing image data

• US 5,638,186 A
• Filed: 01/24/1995
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Ricoh Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Ricoh Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US08/377,480
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 358/400, 358/401, 358/403, 358/407, 358/434, 358/436, 358/439, 358/443, 358/447, 358/448, 358/450, 358/452, 358/467, 358/470, 358/471, 358/476, 358/300
• US Class Current: 358/448
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/387 Composing, repositioning or otherwise geometrically modifying originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3871 the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals

Abstract

A multi-function machine for combining and routing image data is disclosed. The multi-function machine includes a number of functional units, for instance, a digital copier which produces scanned image data, a printer which prints image data from a computer, and a facsimile device which receives and sends facsimile image data. Image data from one or a number of sources may be combined to form merged image data, corresponding to a merger of the individual images. The merged image data may then be conveyed to any of a number of user selectable destinations, including a printer, a host computer, or a facsimile device.

Claims

1. A multi-function machine, comprising:

means for superimposing a first set of electronic image data over a second set of electronic image data on a pixel-by-pixel basis to form superimposed image data,

wherein either said first set of electronic image data or said second set of electronic image data is registered image data and wherein said registered image data is selected from a registered image selection menu, and

wherein said superimposing means superimposes said first set of electronic image data over said second set of electronic image data on said pixel-by-pixel basis by executing a logical operation between pixels of said first set of electronic image data and corresponding pixels of said second set of electronic image data; and

means for conveying said superimposed image data to a printer.

2. The multi-function machine of claim 1 wherein said logical operation is a logical OR operation.

3. The multi-function machine of claim 1 wherein said logical operation is selected from the group including a logical AND operation, a logical NOT operation, and a logical XOR operation.

4. The multi-function machine of claim 1 wherein said logical operation is selected from an operation panel.

5. The multi-function machine of claim 1 wherein said logical operation is selected from a host computer.

6. The multi-function machine of claim 1 wherein said first set of electronic image data and said second set of electronic image data is selected from the group including:

facsimile image data, scanned image data, or image data based upon host computer data.

7. The multi-function machine of claim 1 wherein said registed image selection menu includes a confidential imprint option, a data stamp option, a date and time stamp option, and an identification number option.

8. The multi-function machine of claim 7 wherein said identification number option includes an identification number incrementation option.

9. The multi-function machine of claim 1 wherein said first set of electronic image data is generated by said multi-function machine from coded data received from a host computer.

10. A multi-function machine, comprising:

means for receiving a merge command;

means, responsive to said receiving means, for reading one of a plurality of user selectable logical operations;

means, responsive to said receiving means, for accepting one of a plurality of user selectable merge destinations within said multi-function machine;

means, responsive to said receiving means, for identifying a source of a first set of digital data;

means, responsive to said receiving means, for selecting a source of a second set of digital data, wherein said source of said first set of digital data or said second set of digital data includes registered image data;

means, responsive to said receiving means, for executing a merge operation according to said user selectable logical operation, wherein said first set of digital data is merged with said second set of digital data to form merged image data; and

means for transmitting said merged image data to one of said merge destinations.

11. The multi-function machine of claim 10 wherein said registered image data is selected from a registered image selection menu.

12. The multi-function machine of claim 11 wherein said registered image selection menu includes at least one of the following registered image options:

a confidential imprint option, a date stamp option, a date and time stamp option, and an identification number option.

13. The multi-function machine of claim 12 wherein said identification number option includes an identification number incrementation option.

20. The apparatus of claim 10 further including means for reading one of a plurality of user selectable logical operations to generate a selected logic operation which is executed by said merging means when merging said first set of digital data with said second set of digital data.

14. A method of operating a multi-function machine, comprising the steps of:

receiving a merge command;

reading data representing one of a plurality of user selectable merge destinations within said multi-function machine;

identifying a first set of digital image data;

selecting a second set of digital image data from a registered image selection menu;

executing a merge operation wherein said first set of digital image data is merged with said second set of digital image data to form merged image data; and

transmitting said merged image data to one of said merge destinations.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said registered image selection menu of said selecting step includes at least one of the following registered image options:

a confidential imprint option, a data stamp option, a data and time stamp option, and an identification number option.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said registered image selection menu of said selecting step includes an identification number incrementation option.

17. The method of claim 14 further including the step of reading one of a plurality of user selectable logical operations to generate a selected logic operation which is executed during said executing step to merge said first set of digital image data and said second set of digital image data.

18. A multi-function machine, comprising:

means for merging a first set of electronic image data with a second set of electronic image data to form merged image data, wherein either said first set of electronic image data or said second set of electronic image data is registered image data, wherein said registered image data is selected from a registered image selection menu including at least one of the following registered image options;

a confidential imprint option, a data stamp option, a data and time stamp option, and identification number option, wherein said identification number option includes an identification number incrementation option; and

means for conveying said merged image data to one of a plurality of user selectable destinations within said multi-function machine.

19. A multi-function machine, comprising:

means for merging a first set of electronic image data with a second set of electronic image data to form merged image data, wherein either said first set of electronic image data or said second set of electronic image data is registered image data selected from a registered image selection menu;

means for reading one of a plurality of user selectable logical operations to generate a selected logic operation which is executed by said merging means when merging said first set of electronic image data with said second set of electronic image data; and

means for conveying said merged image data to one of a plurality of user selectable destinations within said multi-function machine.

21. A method of operating a multi-function machine, comprising the steps of:

receiving a merge command;

reading data representing one of a plurality of user selectable merge destinations within said multi-function machine;

identifying a first set of digital image data;

selecting a second set of digital image data;

executing a merge operation wherein said first set of digital image data is merged with said second set of digital image data to form merged image data; and

transmitting said merged image data to one of said merge destinations.

22. The method of claim 21 further including the step of reading one of a plurality of user selectable logical operations to generate a selected logic operation which is executed during said executing step to merge said first set of digital image data and said second set of digital image data.