Claims
- 1. An apparatus for printing, folding and binding sheet media using imaging material as the binder, the apparatus comprising:
an applying device operative to apply imaging material in a pattern of a desired print image on a media sheet and to apply imaging material to a binding region on the sheet; a first activating device operatively coupled to the applying device, the first activating device operative to activate the imaging material in the print pattern and in the binding region; a media sheet folder operatively coupled to the first activating device; and a second activating device operatively coupled to the folder, the second activating device operative to re-activate imaging material in the binding region.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the applying device and the first activating device comprise a laser printer having a controller configured to format a digital representation of the desired print image and a digital representation of the binding region to which imaging material is applied, a toner development unit for applying imaging material and a toner fuser for activating the imaging material after it is applied to the media sheet; and the second activating device comprises a second toner fuser.
- 3. A system for printing, folding and binding sheet media using imaging material as the binder, comprising:
at least one media sheet; an image forming device configured to apply imaging material in the pattern of a desired print image to a media sheet, to apply imaging material to selected binding regions on the media sheet, and to activate the imaging material; a folding device operatively coupled to the image forming device, the folding device configured to fold the media sheet one or more times creating two or more adjacent panels; and a binder operatively coupled to the folding device, the binder configured to reactivate the imaging material applied to the selected binding regions on the media sheet.
- 4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a computer configured to create or retrieve a print image in electronic form, the computer in electronic communication with the image forming device.
- 5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the folding device and the binder comprise one appliance.
- 6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the image forming device, the folding device, and the binder comprise one appliance.
- 7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the computer retrieves the print image electronically from an electronic storage device, a scanner, or a digital camera.
- 8. A method for folding and binding sheet media, comprising:
applying imaging material in the pattern of a desired print image to a media sheet; applying imaging material to a binding region on the media sheet; activating the imaging material in the print pattern and in the binding region; folding the media sheet one or more times into two or more panels; and reactivating the imaging material applied to the binding region.
- 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the imaging material is toner and the steps of activating and reactivating the imaging material comprise fusing and re-fusing the toner.
- 10. A computer program product for printing, folding and binding sheet media, comprising computer useable medium having computer readable instructions thereon for:
directing an image forming device to apply imaging material in the pattern of the desired print image to a media sheet, to apply imaging material to selected binding regions on the media sheet, and to activate the imaging material; directing a folding device to fold the media sheet one or more times along selected fold lines creating two or more adjacent panels; directing a binder to reactivate the imaging material applied to selected regions on the media sheet.
- 11. The computer program product according to claim 10, further comprising instructions for creating or retrieving the print image in electronic form.
- 12. The computer program product according to claim 10, further comprising instructions for selecting the number of fold lines and selecting the location of the fold lines.
- 13. The computer program product according to claim 10, further comprising instructions for selecting the strength of the inter-panel bond formed by the binder.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This a divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 09/495,426 filed on Jan. 31, 2000, which is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 09/320,060 filed May 26, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,728.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09495426 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
Child |
10441439 |
May 2003 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09320060 |
May 1999 |
US |
Child |
09495426 |
Jan 2000 |
US |