Multi-function machine with interleaved job execution
US5299296A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1993 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/00126
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A multi-function machine with interleaved job execution is disclosed. The multi-function machine performs multiple functions such as printing and digital copying. Multiple users of the machine are intermittently serviced as the machine switches from printing to copying jobs and vice versa. The manner of switching is partially determined by whether the requisite set-up time for a particular job is complete. The manner of switching may also be determined by user-set priorities. In either embodiment, jobs are interleaved so as to eliminate unused time associated with the period required to set-up a job. As a result, the machine operates optimally while intermittently making progress on multiple jobs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.