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US4514768A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image forming apparatus

Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1983-09-23
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Granted: 1985-04-30
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Expires: 2003-09-23
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Abstract

Abstract An image forming apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a scanner for producing image information on a document by optically scanning the document, a keyboard for specifying various type face patterns of characters, numerals, symbols, etc., and a character generator for providing type face patterns specified by the keyboard. The document image information is dot printed on a paper sheet by using all of the heating elements of a thermal head, while the type face pattern data is dot printed on a paper sheet by driving every other one of the heating elements, i.e., it is dot printed with one half the dot number of the document image information.

Inventors

  • 👤 Toshimichi Ishizawa

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 19:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; H04N1/0402; H04N1/0408; H04N1/0411; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/028; H04N1/0417; H04N1/042; H04N1/0443

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 71 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for picking up document image information from a document through photoelectric conversion; memory means in which pattern data corresponding to a plurality of different type face patterns are stored; pattern data specifying means for specifying pattern data corresponding to at least one type face pattern stored in said memory means; and means for reproducing document image information and pattern data with different dot densities, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 71 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for picking up document image information from a document through photoelectric conversion; memory means in which pattern data corresponding to a plurality of different type face patterns are stored; pattern data specifying means for specifying pattern data corresponding to at least one type face pattern stored in said memory means; and means for reproducing document image information and pattern data with different dot densities, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pick-up means is scanning means for picking up document image information by optically scanning the document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 104 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reproducing means includes means for converting document image information into a first bit signal of a predetermined bit density and converting pattern data into a second bit signal of a bit density lower than the bit density of said first bit signal, thermal head means having a plurality of heating elements for transferring dots of ink of an ink medium onto a sheet medium, and means for driving said heating elements according to said first bit signal and driving at least every other one of said heating elements according to said second bit signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 90 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said converting means includes a first decoder for producing said first bit signal and a second decoder for producing said second bit signal, and said driving means includes a plurality of switching elements connected in series to said respective heating elements and means for leading the outputs of said first decoder to control terminals of said switching elements, respectively and leading the outputs of said second decoder to at least every other ones of the control terminal of said switching elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 86 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said producing means comprises means for converting the document information and type face pattern data into bit signals, laser means which is driven by bit signals from the converting means to intermittently produce laser beam corresponding to the bit signals, means for deflecting the laser beams, and means for deflecting laser beams corresponding to the document information at one scanning speed and laser beams corresponding to the items of type face pattern data at another scanning speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 104 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reproducing means includes means for converting document image information into a first bit signal of a predetermined bit density and converting said pattern data into a second bit signal of a bit density lower than the bit density of said first bit signal, wire printer means having a plurality of wire elements for transferring dots of ink from an ink medium onto a sheet medium, and means for driving said wire elements according to said first bit signal and at least every other ones of said wire elements according to said second bit signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 69 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reproducing means includes means for converting document image information and pattern data into bit signals; CRT means driven in response to said bit signals of said converting means, to produce an electron beam modulated according to said bit signals; and means for deflecting said electron beam at different speeds with respect to said document image information and pattern data.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3790703A Cited
US3830975A Cited
US4026642A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-04-29 1988-10-29 1989-04-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-04-29 1992-10-29 1993-04-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-04-29 1996-10-29 1997-04-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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