Claims
- 1. An image processing apparatus for scanning and proofing an image at the same time, the apparatus comprising:
a) an output imager; b) an input scanner connected to the imager; and c) a mechanism for scanning and proofing the image at the same time; and wherein the imager and scanner are set to the same pre-determined baseline settings as a starting point.
- 2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner and imager are enclosed by an apparatus housing.
- 3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imager comprises a rotatable drum mounted for rotation about an axis, the drum being arranged to mount a receiver sheet and a donor sheet in superposed relationship thereon; a motor for rotating the drum; a printhead; a lead screw for moving the printhead in a first direction, the printhead being mounted on the lead screw; and a linear translation subsystem on which the printhead, drum, and lead screw are mounted.
- 4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner is a flatbed scanner.
- 5. An image processing apparatus for scanning and proofing an image at the same time, the apparatus comprising:
a) a rotatable drum comprising a scanning portion adjacent to an imaging portion, the drum being mounted for rotation about an axis, the imaging portion of the drum being arranged to mount a receiver sheet and a donor sheet in superposed relationship thereon, the scanning portion of the drum being arranged to mount an input image thereon; b) a motor for rotating the drum; c) a printhead; d) an input scanner; e) a lead screw for moving the printhead in a first direction, the printhead being mounted on the lead screw; and f) a linear translation subsystem on which the printhead, scanner, drum, and lead screw are mounted.
- 6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a single set of control electronics for controlling both the scanning portion and imaging portion of the apparatus.
- 7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the printhead and scanner are mounted on the same lead screw.
- 8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the receiver sheet is thermal print media, and the donor sheet is dye donor sheet material.
- 9. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the translation subsystem comprises a single movable translation stage member, and the printhead, scanner, drum, and lead screw are mounted on the translation stage member.
- 10. An image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the translation subsystem further comprises two adjustable translation bearing rods.
- 11. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus comprises a single rotatable drum, and the thermal print media and the input image are mounted side by side on the same drum.
- 12. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second rotatable drum, the first drum comprising the imaging portion and the second drum comprising the scanning portion.
- 13. An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the scanner and printhead are connected to and utilize the same drive mechanism.
- 14. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the translation subsystem comprises a first and second movable translation stage member, the printhead being mounted on the first movable translation stage member, and the scanner being mounted on the second movable translation stage member.
- 15. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second lead screw for moving the scanner in a first direction, the scanner being mounted on the second lead screw.
- 16. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the translation subsystem comprises a movable translation stage member and associated electronics, two translation bearing rods, and a single translator drive; the printhead and scanner being mounted on the movable translation stage member, which is supported on the translation bearing rods; and the drum, translator drive, and associated electronics being connected to both the scanner and printer.
- 17. An image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the same machine and control electronics are used to scan and print.
- 18. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the input image is a painting, print, or artist's sketch, and the scanner comprises a light source.
- 19. An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an automated transport mechanism for transporting the input image to the drum, the transport mechanism comprising a sheet material input image tray in a housing of the apparatus.
- 20. An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising means for providing a vacuum to the interior of the drum, and openings through the surface of the drum for communicating the vacuum from the interior to the exterior of the drum.
- 21. An image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the drum further comprises clips for removably mounting the input image on the drum.
- 22. An image production process for scanning and proofing images at the same time, comprising the steps of:
a) introducing an input image to a scanner within an image processing apparatus comprising the scanner, an imager, and memory; b) contemporaneously transferring the image data from the scanner to the imager and to memory; and c) outputting a trial image from the imager.
- 23. An image producing process according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of:
d) inputting corrective data to the imager; and e) outputting an intended image from the corrected data.
- 24. An image producing process according to claim 22, wherein the steps of the process are undertaken within a single image producing apparatus comprising the scanner, the imager, and a printer.
- 25. An image producing process for scanning and writing images to a thermal print media, comprising the steps of:
a) inputting an intended image to an image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, a translation system, and an input scanner and a printhead mounted on the translation system adjacent to the drum; b) attaching an input image to an input scanner portion of the drum; c) loading thermal print media and dye donor material onto an imaging portion of the drum; d) spinning the drum; e) translating the input scanner and the printhead along the drum using the translation system, which is in coordinated motion to the spinning drum; f) ripping and feeding data from the scanner portion of the drum to the printhead; and g) creating a trial image on the thermal print media.
- 26. An image producing process according to claim 25, further comprising the steps of:
h) modifying and re-ripping the image as required; and i) creating the intended image on the thermal print media.
- 27. An image producing process according to claim 26, wherein the input image is attached to the scanner portion by removably mounting it on the drum by means of adhesive tape or clips on the drum.
- 28. An image producing process according to claim 26, further comprising the step of: printing the scanned image as a halftone image at the same time that the image is being created on the thermal print media.
- 29. An image producing process according to claim 26, wherein the scanner portion and the imaging portion are side by side on the same drum, and the scanner and printhead are external to the drum.
- 30. An image producing process according to claim 26, wherein the same drum, translation system, rods, drive, and associated machine electronics and controls electronics are used to both scan and print.
- 31. An image producing process according to claim 26, wherein the translating step is carried out by moving a lead screw, the lead screw being attached to both the scanning head and the printhead.
- 32. An image producing process for scanning and writing images to a thermal print media, comprising the step of printing the image on a printer as the image is being scanned on a scanner, the scanner, printer, and output imager being within a single image processing apparatus.
- 33. An image producing process according to claim 32, wherein printing of the image is initiated without storage of the entire image as a digital data file.
- 34. An image producing process according to claim 32, further comprising the step of using the same drum and translator drive and associated electronics to both scan and print, the single image processing apparatus also comprising the drum and translator drive.
- 35. An image producing process according to claim 32, further comprising the step of using the same machine electronics and controls electronics to scan and print.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Reference is made to commonly-assigned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 82180/NAB), filed herewith, entitled IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH INTERNAL SCANNER, by Roger S. Kerr et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein.