US5465160A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite image forming apparatus for automatically combining document and image characters
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1994-08-31
•
Granted: 1995-11-07
•
Expires: 2014-08-31
Abstract
Abstract A composite image forming apparatus includes a scanning part for obtaining image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction, a character generating part for generating character data indicating either a character or a numeric character, an image composition part for obtaining composite image data by combining the character data with the image data of the scanned document, an image forming part for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data so that a composite image is formed for each copy of the document, and a character setting control part for changing the respective character data each time a composite image is formed to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasushi Kamo
- 👤 Masayuki Hayashi
- 👤 Masaaki Ito
- 👤 Shinji Yamakawa
- 👤 Midori Aida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
347 words
A composite image forming apparatus comprising: scanning means for obtaining image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction; character generating means for generating character data indicating either a character or a numeric character; image composition means for obtaining composite image data by combining the character data generated by said character generating means with the image data of the entire document obtained by said scanning means; image forming means for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data from said image composition means so that a composite image is formed for each copy of the document; input means for inputting a copy repetition number which indicates the number of image forming processes repeatedly carried out by said image forming means with respect to the same document; character setting control means for changing the respective character data, generated by said character generating means, each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies until an image composition repetition number of said image composition means reaches said copy repetition number from said input means; wherein, said character setting control means includes: first input means for inputting an image composition repetition number to said image composition means when said first input means is depressed, said image composition means repeatedly obtaining the composite image data until said image composition repetition number is reached; second input means for inputting an image composition instruction to said image composition means when said second input means is depressed, said image composition means being instructed to obtain the composite image data by said instruction; and wherein, said control means enables the image forming means to repeatedly carry out an image forming process with respect to each copy of the document until the image composition repetition number is reached if the instruction is input by said second input means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
347 words
A composite image forming apparatus comprising: scanning means for obtaining image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction; character generating means for generating character data indicating either a character or a numeric character; image composition means for obtaining composite image data by combining the character data generated by said character generating means with the image data of the entire document obtained by said scanning means; image forming means for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data from said image composition means so that a composite image is formed for each copy of the document; input means for inputting a copy repetition number which indicates the number of image forming processes repeatedly carried out by said image forming means with respect to the same document; character setting control means for changing the respective character data, generated by said character generating means, each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies until an image composition repetition number of said image composition means reaches said copy repetition number from said input means; wherein, said character setting control means includes: first input means for inputting an image composition repetition number to said image composition means when said first input means is depressed, said image composition means repeatedly obtaining the composite image data until said image composition repetition number is reached; second input means for inputting an image composition instruction to said image composition means when said second input means is depressed, said image composition means being instructed to obtain the composite image data by said instruction; and wherein, said control means enables the image forming means to repeatedly carry out an image forming process with respect to each copy of the document until the image composition repetition number is reached if the instruction is input by said second input means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said character setting control means changes an image density of the character generated by said character generating means in accordance with an image density of the image data of the document obtained by said scanning means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said character setting control means changes a character-size of the character data generated by said character generating means in accordance with a character size of the image data of the document obtained by said scanning means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image forming means forms a composite image wherein a plurality of character data generated by said character generating means are combined with the image data of the entire document obtained by said scanning means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said character generating means generates the character data if the image composition instruction is input by said second input means, and said character generating means does not generate the character data if the image composition instruction is not input by said second input means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A composite image forming method which is performed by the composite image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the respective character data generated by said character generating means is changed by said character setting control means each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document, when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
269 words
A composite image forming apparatus comprising: scanning means for obtaining image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction; character generating means for generating character data indicating either a character or a numeric character; image composition means for obtaining composite image data by combining the character data generated by said character generating means with the image data of the entire document obtained by said scanning means; image forming means for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data from said image composition means so that a composite image is formed for each copy of the document; input means for inputting a copy repetition number which indicates the number of image forming processes repeatedly carried out by said image forming means with respect to the same document; character setting control means for changing the respective character data, generated by said character generating means, each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies until an image composition repetition number of said image composition means reaches said copy repetition number from said input means; wherein said character setting control means includes: pitch setting means for setting a print pitch of the character data, generated by said character generating means; and pitch input means for inputting a numeric data of a print pitch of the character data when the pitch input means is depressed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
269 words
A composite image forming apparatus comprising: scanning means for obtaining image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction; character generating means for generating character data indicating either a character or a numeric character; image composition means for obtaining composite image data by combining the character data generated by said character generating means with the image data of the entire document obtained by said scanning means; image forming means for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data from said image composition means so that a composite image is formed for each copy of the document; input means for inputting a copy repetition number which indicates the number of image forming processes repeatedly carried out by said image forming means with respect to the same document; character setting control means for changing the respective character data, generated by said character generating means, each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies until an image composition repetition number of said image composition means reaches said copy repetition number from said input means; wherein said character setting control means includes: pitch setting means for setting a print pitch of the character data, generated by said character generating means; and pitch input means for inputting a numeric data of a print pitch of the character data when the pitch input means is depressed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
274 words
A composite image forming apparatus comprising: scanning means for obtaining image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction; character generating means for generating character data indicating either a character or a numeric character; image composition means for obtaining composite image data by combining the character data generated by said character generating means with the image data of the entire document obtained by said scanning means; image forming means for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data from said image composition means so that a composite image is formed for each copy of the document; input means for inputting a copy repetition number which indicates the number of image forming processes repeatedly carried out by said image forming means with respect to the same document; character setting control means for changing the respective character data, generated by said character generating means, each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies until an image composition repetition number of said image composition means reaches said copy repetition number from said input means; wherein said character setting control means includes: dot pattern setting means for setting a dot pattern of the character data, generated by said character generating means; and dot pattern input means for inputting selectively one of a plurality of predetermined dot patterns of the character data when the dot pattern input means is depressed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
274 words
A composite image forming apparatus comprising: scanning means for obtaining image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction; character generating means for generating character data indicating either a character or a numeric character; image composition means for obtaining composite image data by combining the character data generated by said character generating means with the image data of the entire document obtained by said scanning means; image forming means for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data from said image composition means so that a composite image is formed for each copy of the document; input means for inputting a copy repetition number which indicates the number of image forming processes repeatedly carried out by said image forming means with respect to the same document; character setting control means for changing the respective character data, generated by said character generating means, each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies until an image composition repetition number of said image composition means reaches said copy repetition number from said input means; wherein said character setting control means includes: dot pattern setting means for setting a dot pattern of the character data, generated by said character generating means; and dot pattern input means for inputting selectively one of a plurality of predetermined dot patterns of the character data when the dot pattern input means is depressed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
302 words
A composite image forming apparatus comprising: output means for recording two-dimensional image data on a recording medium; scanning means for inputting two-dimensional image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction; character generating means for generating character pattern data indicating either a character or a numeric character, said character pattern data having a halftone density; image composition means for obtaining composite image data by combining the character pattern data generated by said character generating means with the two-dimensional image data of the document input by said scanning means; image forming means for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data obtained by said image composition means so that a composite image is formed for each copy of the document and said composite image is output to said output means; character setting update means for updating the respective character pattern data, generated by said character generating means, each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies; character setting change means for changing a setting of an output image of the character pattern data generated by said character generating means; detection means for detecting a setting of the two-dimensional image data input by said scanning means; and control means for adjusting the setting of the output image of the character pattern data, generated by said character generating means, in accordance with the detected setting of the two-dimensional image data detected by said detection means, thus allowing said character setting change means to automatically change said setting of said output image into the thus adjusted setting.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
302 words
A composite image forming apparatus comprising: output means for recording two-dimensional image data on a recording medium; scanning means for inputting two-dimensional image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction; character generating means for generating character pattern data indicating either a character or a numeric character, said character pattern data having a halftone density; image composition means for obtaining composite image data by combining the character pattern data generated by said character generating means with the two-dimensional image data of the document input by said scanning means; image forming means for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data obtained by said image composition means so that a composite image is formed for each copy of the document and said composite image is output to said output means; character setting update means for updating the respective character pattern data, generated by said character generating means, each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies; character setting change means for changing a setting of an output image of the character pattern data generated by said character generating means; detection means for detecting a setting of the two-dimensional image data input by said scanning means; and control means for adjusting the setting of the output image of the character pattern data, generated by said character generating means, in accordance with the detected setting of the two-dimensional image data detected by said detection means, thus allowing said character setting change means to automatically change said setting of said output image into the thus adjusted setting.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said character setting change means changes a character size of an output image of the character pattern data generated by said character generating means, said detection means detecting a character size of a given input character pattern included in the two-dimensional image data input by said scanning means, and said control means adjusting the character size of the output image of the character pattern data, generated by said character generating means, in accordance with the detected character size of the given input character pattern detected by said detection means, thus allowing said character setting change means to automatically change said character size of said output image into the thus adjusted character size.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein, if the character size detected by said detection means is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, said control means adjusts the character size of the output image of the character pattern data, generated by said character generating means, in such a way that said character size of said output image is greater than the threshold value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein, if the character size detected by said detection means is greater than a predetermined threshold value, said control means adjusts the character size of the output image of the character pattern data, generated by said character generating means, in such a way that said character size of said output image is smaller than the threshold value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
132 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said character setting change means changes a halftone image density of an output image of the character pattern data generated by said character generating means, said detection means detecting a maximum density of the two-dimensional image data input by said scanning means, and said control means adjusting the halftone image density of the output image of the character pattern data, generated by said character generating means, in accordance with the detected maximum density of the two-dimensional image data detected by said detection means and in accordance with a given conversion factor, thus allowing said character setting change means to automatically change said halftone image density of said output image into a density indicated by the detected maximum density multiplied by the given conversion factor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein, if the thus adjusted halftone image density is higher than a predetermined upper limit, said control means allows the character setting change means to change the halftone image density of the character pattern data, generated by the character generating means, into a density indicated by said upper limit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein, if the thus adjusted halftone image density is lower than a predetermined lower limit, said control means allows the character setting change means to change the halftone image density of the character pattern data, generated by the character generating means, into a density indicated by said lower limit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
127 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said character setting change means changes a halftone image density of an output image of the character pattern data generated by said character generating means, said detection means detecting cumulative density frequencies of the two-dimensional image data input by said scanning means, and said control means adjusting the halftone image density of the output image of the character pattern data, generated by said character generating means, in accordance with the detected cumulative density frequencies of the two-dimensional image data detected by said detection means, this allowing said character setting change means to automatically change said halftone image density of said output image into a density indicated by a density frequency which is determined from the detected cumulative density frequencies.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein, if the thus adjusted halftone image density is higher than a predetermined upper limit, said control means allows the character setting change means to change the halftone image density of the character pattern data, generated by the character generating means, into a density indicated by said upper limit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein, if the thus adjusted halftone image density is lower than a predetermined lower limit, said control means allows the character setting change means to change the halftone image density of the character pattern data, generated by the character generating means, into a density indicated by said lower limit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
134 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said character setting change means changes a halftone image density of an output image of the character pattern data generated by said character generating means, said detection means detecting a background density of the two-dimensional image data input by said scanning means, and said control means adjusting the halftone image density of the output image of the character pattern data, generated by said character generating means, in accordance with the detected background density of the two-dimensional image data detected by said detection means and in accordance with a given density factor, thus allowing said character setting change means to automatically change said halftone image density of said output image into a density indicated by the detected background density to which the given conversion factor is added.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein, if the thus adjusted halftone image density is higher than a predetermined upper limit, said control means allows the character setting change means to change the halftone image density of the character pattern data, generated by the character generating means, into a density indicated by said upper limit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein, if the thus adjusted halftone image density is lower than a predetermined lower limit, said control means allows the character setting change means to change the halftone image density of the character pattern data, generated by the character generating means, into a density indicated by said lower limit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
311 words
A composite image forming apparatus comprising: output means for recording a multilevel composite image on a recording medium; scanning means for obtaining two-dimensional image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction; character generating means for generating character data which indicates either a character or a numeric character; image composition means for obtaining composite image data by combining the character data generated by said character generating means with the image data obtained by said scanning means; image forming means for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data from said image composition means so that a composite image for each copy of the document is formed and said composite image is supplied to said output means; character setting control means for changing the respective character data generated by said character generating means each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies; character density change means for changing a halftone image density of an output image of the character data generated by said character generating means, and for supplying the changed halftone image density to said image composition means; and control means for adjusting the halftone image density of the output image of the character data generated by said character generating means in accordance with a background density of the image data obtained by said scanning means and in accordance with a given conversion factor, thus allowing said character density change means to automatically change the halftone image density of the output image of the character data into a density indicated by a logical sum between the background density and the conversion factor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
311 words
A composite image forming apparatus comprising: output means for recording a multilevel composite image on a recording medium; scanning means for obtaining two-dimensional image data for each dot by scanning a document in a main scanning direction and scanning the same in a sub scanning direction; character generating means for generating character data which indicates either a character or a numeric character; image composition means for obtaining composite image data by combining the character data generated by said character generating means with the image data obtained by said scanning means; image forming means for carrying out an image forming process based on the composite image data from said image composition means so that a composite image for each copy of the document is formed and said composite image is supplied to said output means; character setting control means for changing the respective character data generated by said character generating means each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies; character density change means for changing a halftone image density of an output image of the character data generated by said character generating means, and for supplying the changed halftone image density to said image composition means; and control means for adjusting the halftone image density of the output image of the character data generated by said character generating means in accordance with a background density of the image data obtained by said scanning means and in accordance with a given conversion factor, thus allowing said character density change means to automatically change the halftone image density of the output image of the character data into a density indicated by a logical sum between the background density and the conversion factor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said apparatus comprises detection means for detecting a background density of the image data obtained by said scanning means, and for supplying said background density to said control means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said apparatus comprises input means for inputting a copy repetition number which indicates the number of image forming processes repeatedly carried out by said image forming means with respect to the same document.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said character setting control means changes the respective character data generated by said character generating means each time a composite image is formed by said image forming means to make a copy of the document when an image forming process is repeatedly carried out with respect to the same document to make a plurality of copies until an image composition repetition number of said image composition means reaches said copy repetition number from said input means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4270146A
Cited
DE3121503A1
Cited
US4513325A
Cited
US4780397A
Cited
JPS63167562A
Cited
JPS63208870A
Cited
JPS63158571A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-06 | 1999-05-08 | 1999-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-06 | 2003-05-08 | 2003-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-06 | 2007-05-08 | 2007-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |