System for reproducing a physical color image
First Claim
1. An attachment to a digital printer for reproducing an original physical image, all or portions of which are classifiable into a finite number of types, the printer being operative to print multiple copies of a page image represented by digital image data formatted according to a print raster,the attachment being housed separately from the printer and comprising--a scanner anda digital computer, connected to said scanner and connectable to the digital printer and including storage,wherein said computer is programmed to receive a copy command from an operator and thereupon to automatically,cause said scanner to scan the original image,process image data resulting from said scanning so as to obtain a complete digital representation of a page image,cause said representation to be transferred to the printer in a raster format that corresponds to the print raster, andcause the printer to print said page image;
- and wherein said processing of image data is carried out automatically according to a set procedure, which includes at least a first and second subprocedure, in sequence, each associated with parameters, none of said parameters being alterable during said processing,said first subprocedure including processing associated with any single original image andsaid second subprocedure including processing associated with any single page image;
and whereinsaid first subprocedure is divided into a plurality of paths, each corresponding to one of said types, andsaid processing of data from the original image or from any portion thereof is carried out along the one of said paths that corresponds to its type.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system that enables quickly, reliably and automatically producing quality copies of a physical color image, utilizing an available digital printer or digital press. The system consists of a scanner and a digital processor, commonly housed and interfaced to the printer, and an integrated software package. It features a novel image processing flow, whereby scanning, processing and outputting to the printer proceed as a continuous sequence of operations on the image data, without any intermediate files being created and without any intervention by the operator of the system. Scanning, processing and printing of different images may take place simultaneously in a pipeline fashion.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An attachment to a digital printer for reproducing an original physical image, all or portions of which are classifiable into a finite number of types, the printer being operative to print multiple copies of a page image represented by digital image data formatted according to a print raster,
the attachment being housed separately from the printer and comprising-- a scanner and a digital computer, connected to said scanner and connectable to the digital printer and including storage, wherein said computer is programmed to receive a copy command from an operator and thereupon to automatically, cause said scanner to scan the original image, process image data resulting from said scanning so as to obtain a complete digital representation of a page image, cause said representation to be transferred to the printer in a raster format that corresponds to the print raster, and cause the printer to print said page image; -
and wherein said processing of image data is carried out automatically according to a set procedure, which includes at least a first and second subprocedure, in sequence, each associated with parameters, none of said parameters being alterable during said processing, said first subprocedure including processing associated with any single original image and said second subprocedure including processing associated with any single page image; and wherein said first subprocedure is divided into a plurality of paths, each corresponding to one of said types, and said processing of data from the original image or from any portion thereof is carried out along the one of said paths that corresponds to its type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for reproducing physical original images as printed copies, any original image or portions thereof being classifiable into a finite number of types, comprising--
a digital computer, including storage, a scanner, connected to said computer, and a digital printer, connected to said computer and housed separately from said scanner and said computer and operative to receive digital page images, in print raster format and to print multiple copies of any such page image in a plurality of printing colors; -
wherein said computer is programmed to automatically, after receiving a copy command from an operator, cause said scanner to scan an original image, process resultant image data so as to obtain a complete digital representation of the page image, cause said representation to be transferred to said printer as a page image in said print raster format, separated by printing colors, and cause said printer to print the page image; and wherein said processing of image data is carried out in its entirety according to a set procedure, which includes at least a first and a second subprocedure, in sequence, each associated with parameters, none of said parameters being alterable during said processing, said first subprocedure being associated with any single original image and said second subprocedure being associated with any single page image; and wherein said first subprocedure is divided into a plurality of paths, each corresponding to one of said types, and said processing of data from the original image or from any portion thereof is carried out along the one of said paths that corresponds to its type. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for reproducing a physical original image as printed copies, by means of a digital printer, the original image, or portions thereof, being classifiable into a finite number of types, the method comprising the steps of--
(a) providing a digital computer, including storage and user interface means, and a scanner, all being housed separately from the printer, and connecting the scanner to the computer; -
(b) connecting the computer to the printer; (c) programming said computer to automatically, after receiving a copy command from an operator-- cause the scanner to scan the original image, process resultant image data so as to obtain a complete digital representation of a page image, cause said representation to be transferred to the printer in a raster format, separated by printing colors, and cause the printer to print the page image; and (d) programming the computer and the user interface to enable an operator to set any parameters, affecting the page image, prior to issuing said copy command; wherein said processing of image data is carried out in its entirety according to a set procedure, which includes at least a first and a second subprocedure, in sequence, each associated with parameters, none of said parameters being alterable during said processing, said first subprocedure including processing associated with any single original image and said second subprocedure including processing associated with any single page image; and wherein-- said first subprocedure is divided into a plurality of paths, each corresponding to one of said types, and said processing of data from the original image or from any portion thereof is carried out along the one of said paths that corresponds to its type. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification