EP0579288A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Image forming apparatus with a priority interrupt mode
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1990-06-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A document copier (1), having a copier operation that includes image editing for inputting data of a production run, which data both specifies special features and defines areas (Pi and P 2 ) of an original document (56) for treatment by the special features. An interrupt mode interrupts the image editing and the image forming so that a job of higher priority can be processed. The special features specifying data and the area defining data of a production run are stored only for areas which are completely defined at the time of interrupt of the copier operation. The higher priority job is limited to a single image frame such that duplex copies and multi-color copies which require more than one image frame to produce are excluded. A job image buffer (9) capable of holding a predetermined amount of data is provided. The interrupt operation is disabled when there is insufficient space in the job image buffer for storing the data for the higher priority job. Data for the higher priority job is erased from the job image buffer after only one copy is produced, whereby multiple copies of said higher priority job cannot be produced.
Inventors
- 👤 Margaret Clark c/o Eastman Kodak Company Gartner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:20
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/50; G03G15/5012; G03G15/36; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00912; H04N1/00915; H04N1/0092; H04N1/32; H04N1/32358; H04N1/32561; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0077; H04N2201/0081; H04N2201/0082; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3285; H04N2201/3295; H04N2201/3298
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
An image forming apparatus (1) comprising: a buffer (9) for storing image data representing a job to be processed; production means (2) for producing pages from said image data stored in said buffer (9); interrupt means for interrupting said production means so that a job of higher priority can be processed; characterized by means for disabling said interrupt means when there is insufficient space in said buffer for storing the data for said higher priority job.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
An image forming apparatus (1) comprising: a buffer (9) for storing image data representing a job to be processed; production means (2) for producing pages from said image data stored in said buffer (9); interrupt means for interrupting said production means so that a job of higher priority can be processed; characterized by means for disabling said interrupt means when there is insufficient space in said buffer for storing the data for said higher priority job.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said production means includes means operable for converting images on original documents to electronic bit stream data in image frame format for input to said buffer.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claims 1 or 2, including means for resuming operation of said production means upon completion of the higher priority job.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claims 1, 2 or 3, further characterized by means (3, 8) for setting said apparatus in a production mode for producing said higher priority job which mode is limited to producing a document using a single image frame such that production of a document that requires more than one image frame to produce is excluded.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
67 words
The apparatus (1) of any of claims 1 through 4, further characterized by means (2, 3) for producing said higher priority job from data stored in said job image buffer means; and means (3, 8, 7) for erasing the data for said higher priority job from said job image buffer means after one copy is produced whereby multiple copies of said higher priority job cannot be produced.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
A document copier (1) comprising: a job image buffer (9) capable of holding a predetermined amount of data; production means (2) operable for converting images on original documents to electronic bit stream data in image frame format for input to said job image buffer and for reproducing pages from image frames stored in said job image buffer; interrupt means for interrupting said production means operation so that a job of higher priority can be processed, wherein said higher priority job is limited to a single image frame such that duplex copies and multi-color copies which require more than one image frame to produce are excluded; and means for resuming operation of said production means operation upon completion of the higher priority job.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A document copier (1) comprising: a job image buffer (9) capable of holding a predetermined amount of data; production means (2) operable for converting images on original documents to electronic bit stream data in image frame format for input to said job image buffer and for reproducing pages from image frames stored in said job image buffer; interrupt means for interrupting said production means operation so that a job of higher priority can be processed, wherein said higher priority job is limited to a single image frame such that duplex copies and multi-color copies which require more than one image frame to produce are excluded; and means for resuming operation of said production means operation upon completion of the higher priority job.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
155 words
A document copier (1) comprising: a job image buffer (9) capable of holding a predetermined amount of data; production means (2) operable for converting images on original documents to electronic bit stream data in image frame format for input to said job image buffer and for reproducing pages from image frames stored in said job image buffer; interrupt means of interrupting said production means operation so that a job of higher priority can be processed; means for storing the data for said higher priority job in said job image buffer (9); means for producing said higher priority job from data stored in said job image buffer (9); means for erasing the data for said higher priority job from said job image buffer after only one copy is produced, whereby multiple copies of said higher priority job cannot be produced, and means for resuming operation of said production means upon completion of the higher priority job.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
A document copier (1) comprising: a job image buffer (9) capable of holding a predetermined amount of data; production means (2) operable for converting images on original documents to electronic bit stream data in image frame format for input to said job image buffer and for reproducing pages from image frames stored in said job image buffer; interrupt means of interrupting said production means operation so that a job of higher priority can be processed; means for storing the data for said higher priority job in said job image buffer (9); means for producing said higher priority job from data stored in said job image buffer (9); means for erasing the data for said higher priority job from said job image buffer after only one copy is produced, whereby multiple copies of said higher priority job cannot be produced, and means for resuming operation of said production means upon completion of the higher priority job.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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