Interactive publication printer and binder

• US 7,190,491 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): SAFAIPOUR, HOUSHANG
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAFAIPOUR, HOUSHANG
• Application Number:
  US10/659,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 358/3.28, 715500-542, 283/72, 283/94, 283/98, 178/18.01, 382/312, 382/321
• US Class Current: 358/3.28
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting transparent or white coloured liquids, e.g. processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0006 by applying adhesive to a stack of sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2261/04 Producing books by printing sheets in following order, e.g. for ordering via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/34 from supports slid from under the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0337 Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1264 by assigning post-processing resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1265 : Printing by reference, e.g. retrieving document/image data for a job from a source mentioned in the job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 : Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 : Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 : the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• 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 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 : Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

A combined printing and binding device which is designed to print and bind a multi-page interactive publication. The device includes a communicator which is designed to receive a set of page descriptions from a computer system. The page descriptions correspond to the pages of the interactive publication and each page description includes content information and coded data. The device also includes a printer which is designed to print, onto media sheets, each of the page descriptions received by the communicator. The printer does this by simultaneosly printing the content information in visible ink and the coded data in substantially invisible ink. The device also includes a binder that is designed to bind the printed media sheets together to form the printed, bound, interactive publication.

Claims

1. A combined printing and binding device adapted to print and bind a multi-page interactive publication, comprising:

a communicator adapted to receive from a computer system a set of page descriptions corresponding to the pages of the interactive publication, each page description including content information;

a printer adapted to print, onto media sheets, each of the page descriptions received by the communicator by simultaneosly printing the content information in visible ink and coded data corresponding to the content information in substantially invisible ink; and

a binder adapted to bind the printed media sheets together to form the printed, bound, interactive publication.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the substantially invisible ink is substantially invisible to the average unaided human eye.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the substantially invisible ink is absorptive in the infra-red spectrum.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the coded data encodes a plurality of tags, each tag comprising at least:

a page identifier which uniquely identifies the media sheet upon which the tag has been printed; and

position information indicative of the position of the tag relative to the media sheet upon which the tag has been printed.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a housing adapted to house the communicator, printer and binder.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the communicator is a wireless communicator adapted to wirelessly communicate with the computer system.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the binder comprises an adhesive applicator and a movable platten, the adhesive applicator being adapted to apply adhesive to the media sheets as they move past the adhesive applicator and the movable platten being adapted to press the adhesive-applied media sheets together, thereby binding them.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the printer comprises a page-width inkjet printhead.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the printhead comprises a plurality of nozzles manufactured using microelectromechanical machine technology.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the nozzles comprise moving nozzle chambers.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a relay device adapted to:

receive first indicating data from a sensing device; and

transmit second indicating data to the computer system.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the sensing device is adapted to sense at least some of the printed coded data on a page of the interactive publication and to generate the first indicating data using at least some of the sensed coded data.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the first and second indicating data are both indicative of at least a page identifier of the page of the interactive publication.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the first and second indicating data are identical to one another.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the first and second indicating data are not identical to one another and wherein the relay device is adapted to generate the second indicating data using at least some of the first indicating data.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising a media tray adapted to receive and retain a plurality of media sheets print.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the printer comprises a page-width inkjet printhead, wherein the binder comprises an adhesive applicator and a movable platten and wherein the device is adapted to print and bind a media sheet positioned in an original plane of orientation in the media tray by transporting the first media sheet from the media tray, past the printhead and the adhesive applicator, to the movable platten, whilst substantially maintaining the media sheet in its original plane of orientation.