US6348940B1 — Image forming apparatus and system and a recordin…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 100 words

An image forming system comprising: an image memory which stores at least one image; a format memory which stores a format defining an arrangement of frames for a composite image, at least one frame of the arrangement having a size larger than that of the other frames; an arranging means for arranging the at least one image in accordance with the format; an image forming means for forming the composite image on a recording medium; and a controlling means for controlling the image forming means to form the composite image in accordance with an arrangement made by the arranging means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 100 words

An image forming system comprising: an image memory which stores at least one image; a format memory which stores a format defining an arrangement of frames for a composite image, at least one frame of the arrangement having a size larger than that of the other frames; an arranging means for arranging the at least one image in accordance with the format; an image forming means for forming the composite image on a recording medium; and a controlling means for controlling the image forming means to form the composite image in accordance with an arrangement made by the arranging means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The image forming system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the format memory stores a plurality of formats defining different arrangements of frames for the composite image.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The image forming system as defined in claim 2 , further comprising a selector which selects one of the plurality of formats, wherein the arranging means arranges the at least one image in accordance with a format selected by the selector.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 45 words

The image forming system as defined in claim 3 , further comprising counting means for counting a number of images stored in the image memory, wherein the selector selects one of the plurality of formats in accordance with the number counted by the counting means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The image forming system as defined in claim 4 , further comprising a film scanner which picks up at least one image from a photographed film.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The image forming system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the recording medium has the form of a sheet.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

The image forming system as defined in claim 6 , wherein the recording medium includes: a base layer; an adhesive layer separably attached on the base layer; and a recording layer attached on the adhesive layer, the recording layer for bearing the composite image.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

The image forming system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the image forming means includes perforating means for forming perforations on the recording medium.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The image forming system as defined in claim 8 , wherein the perforating means includes a knurled cutter.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The image forming system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the arranging means includes size changing means for changing the size of the at least one image.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The image forming system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the image forming means includes a thermal transfer type printer.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 108 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: a holder which holds recording mediums one over another, each of the recording mediums having a predetermined size; a transporter which transports one of the recording mediums along a specified direction; an image former which forms an image of a first format on a specified region of the recording medium transported by the transporter; and forms an image of a second format different from the first format on another region on the recording medium; and a separation former which forms a separation on the recording mediums transported by the transporter for driving the specified region of the recording mediums from the other region.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 108 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: a holder which holds recording mediums one over another, each of the recording mediums having a predetermined size; a transporter which transports one of the recording mediums along a specified direction; an image former which forms an image of a first format on a specified region of the recording medium transported by the transporter; and forms an image of a second format different from the first format on another region on the recording medium; and a separation former which forms a separation on the recording mediums transported by the transporter for driving the specified region of the recording mediums from the other region.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the separation former is disposed downstream of the image former with respect to the specified direction.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the separation is perforations.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the separation former includes a knurled cutter.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the image former includes: an ink ribbon bearing ink; and a thermal transfer head for transferring ink of the ink ribbon to the recording mediums.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

The image forming apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the first format and second format differ from each other in size.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of forming images in an image forming system comprising the steps of: detecting a number of image frames in a recording medium; detecting a number of unexposed image frames in a recording medium; setting a display index format based on the number of unexposed frames, wherein the display index format is set to have at least one enlarged image frame when the number of unexposed frames is greater than a predetermined number, and said enlarged image frame is larger than the other image frames; and displaying the image frames and the at least one enlarged image frame according to the display index format.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of forming images in an image forming system comprising the steps of: detecting a number of image frames in a recording medium; detecting a number of unexposed image frames in a recording medium; setting a display index format based on the number of unexposed frames, wherein the display index format is set to have at least one enlarged image frame when the number of unexposed frames is greater than a predetermined number, and said enlarged image frame is larger than the other image frames; and displaying the image frames and the at least one enlarged image frame according to the display index format.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method of forming images in an image forming system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the display index format is set so that all of the image frames are the same size when the number of unexposed frames is less than said predetermined number.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 48 words

A method of forming images in an image forming system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the display index format is set to have at least two enlarged image frames when the number of unexposed frames is greater than another predetermined number larger than the predetermined number.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method of forming images in an image forming system as claimed in claim 20 , wherein said first predetermined number is 2 and said second predetermined number is 5.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method of forming images in an image forming system as claimed in claim 20 , wherein said enlarged images are placed in corners of a display displaying the image frames and the at least one enlarged image frame.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 91 words

A computer readable medium on which a computer program for forming images is stored, said program directing a computer to execute the steps of: (a) selecting one format from a plurality of formats, each of said formats defining an arrangement of frames for a composite image, at least one of the formats including at least one frame having a size larger than that of the other frames; and (b) generating the composite image by arranging at least one image to the frames in accordance with the format selected in step (a).

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 91 words

A computer readable medium on which a computer program for forming images is stored, said program directing a computer to execute the steps of: (a) selecting one format from a plurality of formats, each of said formats defining an arrangement of frames for a composite image, at least one of the formats including at least one frame having a size larger than that of the other frames; and (b) generating the composite image by arranging at least one image to the frames in accordance with the format selected in step (a).

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 26 words

The computer readable medium as defined in claim 23 , wherein the selection in step (a) is automatically executed in accordance with a number of images.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 89 words

A method of forming images in an image forming system containing a controller for performing the method, the method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting one format from a plurality of formats, each of said formats defining an arrangement of frames for a composite image, at least one of the formats including at least one frame having a size larger than that of the other frames; (b) generating the composite image by arranging at least one image to the frames in accordance with the format selected in step (a).

Claim 30

Independent Claim 89 words

A method of forming images in an image forming system containing a controller for performing the method, the method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting one format from a plurality of formats, each of said formats defining an arrangement of frames for a composite image, at least one of the formats including at least one frame having a size larger than that of the other frames; (b) generating the composite image by arranging at least one image to the frames in accordance with the format selected in step (a).

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of in claim 25 , wherein the selection in step (a) is automatically executed in accordance with a number of images.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-02-18	2005-08-20	2006-02-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-02-18	2009-08-20	2010-02-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-02-18	2013-08-20	2014-02-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image forming apparatus and system and a recording medium

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