International Business Machines Corporation

Anthony J Dattilo

Carl A Queener

John Maury Woodward

James F McDonald

Automatic processing of color signals to print an accurate reproduction of an original color image. The RGB scan signals are processed to use the full dynamic range of the system and to adjust the values such that the gray scale lines of the color components pass through the white points. The additive color signals are converted to subtractive color signals that are adjusted so that the gray scale lines pass through the black points to produce automatically an accurate reproduction with a proper neutral gray scale. The processing is arranged to make the adjustments and corrections as fast as possible.

Automatic correction for color printing

A copier-printer is employed in conjunction with an optical scanner and associated character recognition logic to transmit information contained in a document over a telephone line or other communication line. The copier-printer is used to make a copy of the document which is stored in the duplex tray. When a buffer memory associated with the communication line is ready to receive further information for transmission, the copy is retrieved from the duplex tray and circulated through the copier-printer to the optical scanner. The scanner provides the information from the copy to the buffer memory in a non-coded format except to the extent that the character recognition logic is able to code some or all of the information. The copy is advanced from the scanner to a mailbox in the form of a limited access compartment at the bottom of the collator for the copier-printer. The copier-printer may be used to receive information transmitted over the communication line by temporarily storing the information in the buffer memory and then printing the information on paper which is routed to and stored in the mailbox. Information provided to the print buffer for printing can be checked for printing accuracy by scanning the resulting printed paper using the optical scanner and comparing the scanned information with the information originally entered in the print buffer.

Information transmitting and receiving station utilizing a copier-printer

Non-coded and coded information are merged in a copier-printer system by copying the non-coded information onto one or more sheets of paper during a first pass of the sheets of paper through the system and thereafter selecting the sheets of paper with the non-coded information copied thereon from the secondary or duplex paper trays of the system for a second pass through the system during which coded information may be printed on the sheets of paper. Selection of the sheets of paper having non-coded information copied thereon is integrated with sheets of paper from the primary tray which are to contain exclusively coded information. Copying of the non-coded information and printing of the coded information is carried out under the control of mag cards indicating the pages and page locations within a given document where the non-coded information is to be copied and in some cases containing coded information to be integrated with the non-coded information. In one method, non-coded information is copied on sheets of paper which are then electronically collated and inverted before being removed as a stack from the exit tray and placed upside down in the secondary tray for subsequent integration with sheets from the primary tray as coded information is printed. In an alternative method, the sheets of paper having non-coded information copied thereon are collected in the duplex tray with each sheet then being cycled through the system without copying or printing thereon so as to be inverted upon return to the duplex tray in preparation for printing of coded information. In a further alternative method, sheets of paper onto which the non-coded information has been copied are removed from the exit tray and thereafter selected from the secondary tray to make a complete set of copies which is thereafter used as originals to make further sets of copies.

Growing community of inventors

Longmont, CO, United States of America

Anthony J Dattilo