The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 21, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 16, 1992
Frederick E Altrieth, III, Scottsville, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
Method and apparatus for optically reproducing information from an original document sheet together with electronically written additional information that may be either constant in content for all copies or may vary in content from copy to copy. Electrophotographic reproduction apparatus includes data entry apparatus for reading in the sets of variable information data items defining the electronically written information and is operable to format a template of one or more patches defining a minimal template area in which the variable information may be electronically reproduced onto the document without unnecessarily obscuring the optically reproduced information. Optionally, the template may be displayed to the operator who may format the size, style and font of alphanumeric and symbolic information in order to achieve a desired appearance on the composite copy. The original document sheet or a copy thereof is then placed on a digitizing tablet, and the operator may select the coordinates on the document of the template within which the electronically written, variable information is to be reproduced. The document sheet is then placed on the exposure platen and the document information is optically copied together with the electronically reproduced minimal size template onto an intermediate master having a black patch(es) corresponding in shape and placement to the template. If acceptable to the operator, the intermediate master is again placed on the exposure platen and optically reproduced in a first image frame while the variable information is electronically exposed by an LED print head on the same or a second image frame, and a composite copy is made. In the case of single or multiple copies of documents with constant additional information, the composite copies are made with a fixed template corresponding in size and shape to the formatted information. In the case of single or multiple copies of documents with variable additional information, the composite copies are made with a fixed template of an area sufficient to accommodate the additional information which occupies the greatest space.