US4641197A — Image processing method or apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 93 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: entering document image data; generating character image data; controlling storage of said document data and said character data in a memory in such a manner that one of said document image data and said character image data is stored in an area of said memory and the other of said document image data and said character image data is automatically arranged to be stored in a different area of said memory; and reproducing an image on the basis of the data stored in said memory.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 93 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: entering document image data; generating character image data; controlling storage of said document data and said character data in a memory in such a manner that one of said document image data and said character image data is stored in an area of said memory and the other of said document image data and said character image data is automatically arranged to be stored in a different area of said memory; and reproducing an image on the basis of the data stored in said memory.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

An image processing method according to claim 1 wherein said controlling step comprises determining a memory location for said character image data depending on the memory location in which said document image data is stored when said document image data is stored first.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said reproducing step includes printing the image on the basis of the data stored in said memory.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 116 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for entering document image data; means for generating character image data; a memory for storing document image data and character image data; means for controlling storage of said document image data and said character image data in said memory in such a manner that when either one of said document image data and said character image data is stored in one area of said memory, the other of said document image data and said character image data is automatically arranged to be stored in an area of said memory other than said one area; and means for reproducing an image on the basis of the data stored in said memory.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 116 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: means for entering document image data; means for generating character image data; a memory for storing document image data and character image data; means for controlling storage of said document image data and said character image data in said memory in such a manner that when either one of said document image data and said character image data is stored in one area of said memory, the other of said document image data and said character image data is automatically arranged to be stored in an area of said memory other than said one area; and means for reproducing an image on the basis of the data stored in said memory.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said entering means operates to enter document image data from a desired area on a document.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said generating means comprises character input means for providing sentence information.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said controlling means stores document image data and character image data in different areas of said memory.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

an image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said reproducing means includes printing means for printing the image on the basis of the data stored in said memory.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 77 words

A copying method comprising steps of: reading a document image and generating document image data representing the document image; storing the document image data representing a plural number of documents in a memory; and putting out serially the document image data representing the plural number of documents from said memory; and; forming images of the plural number of documents on a single sheet on the basis of the document image data serially put out from said memory.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 77 words

A copying method comprising steps of: reading a document image and generating document image data representing the document image; storing the document image data representing a plural number of documents in a memory; and putting out serially the document image data representing the plural number of documents from said memory; and; forming images of the plural number of documents on a single sheet on the basis of the document image data serially put out from said memory.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

A copying method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of supplying a sheet having area two times as big as a document.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

A copying method according to claim 9, wherein in said forming step, the images of the plural number documents are formed on the same side of the single sheet.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 87 words

A copying machine comprising: means for reading a document image generating image data representing the document image; means for storing a plural number of document images represented by the document image data generated from said reading means; means for serially putting out the document image data representing a plural number of document images from said storing means; and means for forming images of the plural number of document images on a single sheet on the basis of the image data serially put out from said storing means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 87 words

A copying machine comprising: means for reading a document image generating image data representing the document image; means for storing a plural number of document images represented by the document image data generated from said reading means; means for serially putting out the document image data representing a plural number of document images from said storing means; and means for forming images of the plural number of document images on a single sheet on the basis of the image data serially put out from said storing means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 47 words

A copying machine according to claim 12, wherein said putting out means puts out the image data read from two document images to form the read image data on one of the surfaces of a sheet that has an area two times as big as a document.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

A copying machine according to claim 12, wherein said forming means is operable to form the images of the plural number of document images on the same side of the single sheet.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 99 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: a memory for storing document image data; means for putting out document image data from said memory; means for feeding a sheet for receiving an image; means for forming an image on a sheet fed by said feeding means on the basis of the image data put out from said memory by said putting out means; and means for controlling said putting out means in accordance with feeding of a sheet by said sheet feeding means so as to cause said forming means to form an image at a predetermined location on said sheet.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 99 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: a memory for storing document image data; means for putting out document image data from said memory; means for feeding a sheet for receiving an image; means for forming an image on a sheet fed by said feeding means on the basis of the image data put out from said memory by said putting out means; and means for controlling said putting out means in accordance with feeding of a sheet by said sheet feeding means so as to cause said forming means to form an image at a predetermined location on said sheet.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

An image forming apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said memory stores image data from a partial area of a document.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

An image forming apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said controlling means controls said putting out means to form the image in a location on the sheet, which location is not associated with an image location on a document.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 41 words

An image forming apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising reading means for reading the document image and generating the document image data representing the document image, the document image data generated by said reading means being stored in said memory.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 118 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: means for reading document image data representing documents; memory means for storing the read document image data representing a plural number of documents; means, including an image forming station, for forming images on a sheet at said image forming station; means for putting out document image data representing the plural documents serially from said memory means to said forming means; means for feeding a sheet to said image forming station to form an image on one side of said sheet; and means for refeeding said sheet on the one side of which the image has been formed to said image forming station to form another image on the other side of said sheet.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 118 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: means for reading document image data representing documents; memory means for storing the read document image data representing a plural number of documents; means, including an image forming station, for forming images on a sheet at said image forming station; means for putting out document image data representing the plural documents serially from said memory means to said forming means; means for feeding a sheet to said image forming station to form an image on one side of said sheet; and means for refeeding said sheet on the one side of which the image has been formed to said image forming station to form another image on the other side of said sheet.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

An image forming apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said refeeding means has an intermediate tray for reversing said sheet.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 27 words

An image forming apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said putting out means operates in synchronism with sheet feeding by said feeding means and said refeeding means.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 76 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: inputting document image data; inputting sentence data; reproducing a composite image comprising a document image based on input document image data and character images based on input sentence data; and controlling reproduction of character images based on the input sentence data while changing the lines of the sentence to be reproduced in accordance with the reproduction location of the document image based on the input document image data.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 76 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: inputting document image data; inputting sentence data; reproducing a composite image comprising a document image based on input document image data and character images based on input sentence data; and controlling reproduction of character images based on the input sentence data while changing the lines of the sentence to be reproduced in accordance with the reproduction location of the document image based on the input document image data.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 28 words

An image processing method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of recording on a sheet the composite image of said document image and said character images.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 33 words

An image processing method according to claim 22 wherein said controlling step permits the reproduction of the character images in an area other than the area in which the document image is reproduced.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 30 words

An image processing method according to claim 24 wherein said controlling step differentiates the line changing operation in accordance with the amount of the sentence data and the reproduction area.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 83 words

An image processing system, comprising: means for entering document image data; means for generating sentence data; memory means for storing said document image data entered by said entering means and said sentence data generated by said generating means; and means for controlling storage of said document image data and said sentence data into said memory means in such a manner that said document image data and said sentence data are automatically arranged to be stored within a predetermined area of said memory means.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 83 words

An image processing system, comprising: means for entering document image data; means for generating sentence data; memory means for storing said document image data entered by said entering means and said sentence data generated by said generating means; and means for controlling storage of said document image data and said sentence data into said memory means in such a manner that said document image data and said sentence data are automatically arranged to be stored within a predetermined area of said memory means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 45 words

An image processing system according to claim 26, wherein said control means controls storage of said sentence data into said memory means in such a manner as to change said sentence data on the basis of at least one of a row and line thereof.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

An image processing system according to claim 26, further comprising means for recording an image based on said data stored in said memory means.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 28 words

An image processing system according to claim 26, wherein said document image data and said sentence data are stored in mutually exclusive areas in said memory means, respectively.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 61 words

An image processing system according to claim 26, further comprising means for instructing the respective locations of the documents image data and the sentence data within the predetermined area of said memory means, wherein said control means controls the storage of the document data and the sentence data into said memory means in accordance with the instruction from said instruction means.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 90 words

An image forming system, comprising: means for reading a document image and generating document image data; means for storing the document image data generated by said reading means; means for serially putting out document image data for first and second document images read by said reading means, the document image data for at least one of said document images being derived from said storing means; and means for forming said first and second document images on a single sheet on the basis of said serially put out document image data.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 90 words

An image forming system, comprising: means for reading a document image and generating document image data; means for storing the document image data generated by said reading means; means for serially putting out document image data for first and second document images read by said reading means, the document image data for at least one of said document images being derived from said storing means; and means for forming said first and second document images on a single sheet on the basis of said serially put out document image data.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 37 words

An image forming system according to claim 31, wherein said putting out means puts out the document image data read from two documents to form the document image data on one of the surfaces of a sheet.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 123 words

An image forming system, comprising: means for reading document image data; memory means for storing the document image data read by said reading means; means, including an image forming station, for forming images on a sheet at said image forming station; means for putting out a plural number of document image data serially to said forming means, wherein at least one of said image data is retrieved from said memory means; means for feeding a sheet to said image forming station to form an image on one side of said sheet; and means for refeeding said sheet, on one side of which an image has been formed, to said image forming station to form another image on the other side of said sheet.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 123 words

An image forming system, comprising: means for reading document image data; memory means for storing the document image data read by said reading means; means, including an image forming station, for forming images on a sheet at said image forming station; means for putting out a plural number of document image data serially to said forming means, wherein at least one of said image data is retrieved from said memory means; means for feeding a sheet to said image forming station to form an image on one side of said sheet; and means for refeeding said sheet, on one side of which an image has been formed, to said image forming station to form another image on the other side of said sheet.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 20 words

An image forming system according to claim 33, wherein said refeeding means comprises an intermediate tray for reversing said sheet.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 27 words

An image forming system according to claim 33, wherein said putting out means operates in synchronism with sheet feeding by said feeding means and said refeeding means.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 155 words

An image processing apparatus, comprising: means for setting text; a text memory for storing text data representing text set by said setting means; means for reading an original document image to produce original document data representing the original document image; designating means operable for designating respective positions for the composition of text set by said setting means and an original document image read by said reading means; a composition data memory; memory control means for storing text data and original document data at respective memory areas of said composition data memory, said memory areas corresponding to the composition positions designated by said designating means, said text data corresponding to that read out from a selectively designated area of said text memory, and said original document data representing a selectively designated part of the original document image; and image forming means for forming an image in accordance with the data stored in said composition data memory.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 155 words

An image processing apparatus, comprising: means for setting text; a text memory for storing text data representing text set by said setting means; means for reading an original document image to produce original document data representing the original document image; designating means operable for designating respective positions for the composition of text set by said setting means and an original document image read by said reading means; a composition data memory; memory control means for storing text data and original document data at respective memory areas of said composition data memory, said memory areas corresponding to the composition positions designated by said designating means, said text data corresponding to that read out from a selectively designated area of said text memory, and said original document data representing a selectively designated part of the original document image; and image forming means for forming an image in accordance with the data stored in said composition data memory.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 35 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said memory control means is adapted to arrange the text data read out from a part of said text memory in accordance with the composition position.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 149 words

An image processing system comprising: reading means for reading an original image to generate image data representing the original image; storage means for storing the generated image data, said storage means having such a storage capacity that it can store the image data for more than two original images read by said reading means; means for selectively deriving first and second image data, respectively corresponding to first and second original images which are to be reproduced, from image data which is stored in said storage means and which includes, in addition to said first and second image data, further image data representing at least one further image which can be reproduced by the system; and recording means operable in accordance with the first and second image data derived by said deriving means for recording copy images only of said first and second or images on a single recording sheet.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 149 words

An image processing system comprising: reading means for reading an original image to generate image data representing the original image; storage means for storing the generated image data, said storage means having such a storage capacity that it can store the image data for more than two original images read by said reading means; means for selectively deriving first and second image data, respectively corresponding to first and second original images which are to be reproduced, from image data which is stored in said storage means and which includes, in addition to said first and second image data, further image data representing at least one further image which can be reproduced by the system; and recording means operable in accordance with the first and second image data derived by said deriving means for recording copy images only of said first and second or images on a single recording sheet.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 36 words

An image processing system according to claim 38, wherein said recording means is arranged to record said copy images of both of said first and second original images on the same side of said recording sheet.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 65 words

An image processing system according to claim 38, wherein said deriving means is operable to enter the derived first and second image data into an image data memory separate from said storage means, and wherein said recording means is operable in a recording mode to record said copy image in accordance with the first and second image data read out from said image data memory.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 98 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing in a image data memory first and second image data defining respective image portions and derived from different data sources; reading out from said image data memory composite data comprising said first and second image data; and recording a composite image comprising both said portions; said image data storage step including a control step of automatically storing said first and second image data in said image data memory in such a manner as to arrange that the said image portions are not overlapped in said composite image recording step.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 98 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing in a image data memory first and second image data defining respective image portions and derived from different data sources; reading out from said image data memory composite data comprising said first and second image data; and recording a composite image comprising both said portions; said image data storage step including a control step of automatically storing said first and second image data in said image data memory in such a manner as to arrange that the said image portions are not overlapped in said composite image recording step.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 20 words

An image processing method according to claim 41, wherein the first image data is data derived from an original document.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 19 words

An image processing method according to claim 41, wherein the second image data is data generated for character generation.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 87 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: entering first and second image data derived from different data sources; storing said first and second image data in a memory; and controlling the storage of said first and second image data in a memory in such a manner that one of said first and second image data is stored in an area of said memory and the other of said first and second image data is automatically arranged to be stored in a different area of said memory.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 87 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: entering first and second image data derived from different data sources; storing said first and second image data in a memory; and controlling the storage of said first and second image data in a memory in such a manner that one of said first and second image data is stored in an area of said memory and the other of said first and second image data is automatically arranged to be stored in a different area of said memory.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 20 words

An image processing method according to claim 44, wherein the first image data is data derived from an original document.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 19 words

An image processing method according to claim 44, wherein the second image data is data generated for character generation.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 33 words

An image processing method according to claim 44, wherein said controlling step comprises determining a memory location for successive image data depending on the memory location in which last image data is stored.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 26 words

An image processing method according to claim 44, further comprising the step of printing an image on the basis of the data stored in said memory.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 70 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: entering first and second image data derived from different data sources; reproducing a composite image of a first image based on said first image data and a second image based on said second image data; and controlling the reproduction location of one of first and second images in accordance with the reproduction location of the other of said first and second images.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 70 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: entering first and second image data derived from different data sources; reproducing a composite image of a first image based on said first image data and a second image based on said second image data; and controlling the reproduction location of one of first and second images in accordance with the reproduction location of the other of said first and second images.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 20 words

An image processing method according to claim 49, wherein the first image data is data derived from an original document.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 19 words

An image processing method according to claim 49, wherein the second image data is data generated for character generation.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 42 words

An image processing method according to claim 49, wherein said controlling step permits the reproduction of one of said first and second images in an area other than the area in which the other of said first and second images is reproduced.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-02-02	1990-08-04	1991-02-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-02-02	1994-08-04	1995-02-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-02-02	1998-08-04	1999-02-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image processing method or apparatus

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