System and method for multi-print mechanism printing
A system and method utilizing a printer having a multi-print mechanism controller operable to receive a plurality of requests for printing a plurality of documents. The controller, typically a single ASIC, is operable to distribute a print job associated with each received request for printing to one of a plurality of print mechanisms wherein each print mechanisms is coupled to the controller and operable to print a document as directed by the associated print job. Furthermore, different kinds of print mechanisms for performing different kinds of printing functions or printing-related functions may be included in specific printing paths within the printer such that the controller is operable to direct print jobs to dedicated printing paths.
1 . A printer, comprising:
a multi-print mechanism controller operable to receive a plurality of requests for printing a plurality of documents and operable to distribute a print job associated with each received request for printing to a respective print mechanism; and
a plurality of print mechanisms, each print mechanism coupled to the controller and operable to print a document as directed by the associated print job.
2 . The printer of claim 1 , further comprising a network device coupled to the controller, the network device operable to facilitate communication via a computer network such that print requests may be communicated to the multi-print mechanism controller from remote computers coupled to the computer network.
3 . The printer of claim 1 wherein the plurality of print mechanisms are operable to print documents simultaneously as directed by the multi-print mechanism controller.
4 . The printer of claim 1 wherein the multi-print mechanism controller comprises a single integrated circuit.
5 . The printer of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of print mechanisms comprises one of the group comprising: a color print mechanism, a black and white print mechanism, a laser print mechanism, an inkjet print mechanism, and a copier print mechanism.
6 . The printer of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of print mechanisms is associated with a dedicated media feed tray.
7 . The printer of claim 1 , wherein at least one print mechanism is aligned with another print mechanism such that a document printed by a first print mechanism is fed to a second print mechanism for further printing.
8 . The printer of claim 7 , wherein the second print mechanism comprises a print mechanism operable to impart a document effect to the fed document.
9 . The printer of claim 7 , wherein the second print mechanism comprises a print mechanism operable to impart a different type of print media to the fed document.
10 . The printer of claim 7 , wherein the second print mechanism comprises a print mechanism operable to manipulate the fed document in a manner in relation to other print documents, the manner comprising a manner form the group comprising: copying, collating, stapling, fusing, binding, double-sided printing, and folding.
11 . The printer of claim 7 , wherein the first print mechanism comprises a print mechanism operable to impart an ink pattern corresponding to color portions of the document and wherein the second print mechanism comprises a print mechanism operable to impart a toner pattern corresponding to non-colored portions of the document.
12 . A method for printing multiple documents, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of requests to print a plurality of documents, the request received at a multi-print mechanism controller;
selecting a first print mechanism for a first request;
selecting a second print mechanism for a second request; and
simultaneously printing a first document corresponding to the first print request at the first print mechanism and a second document corresponding to the second print request at the second print mechanism.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising
automatically feeding a printed document from the first print mechanism to a third print mechanism; and
controlling the third print mechanism via the controller to print at least one additional aspect of a print job to the printed document.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein printing the first document in the first print mechanism comprises printing color aspects of a pint job and printing at least one additional aspect to the printed document via the third mechanism comprises printing textual aspects of the print job.
15 . The method of claim 13 wherein printing the first document in the first print mechanism comprises printing on a first side of a print medium and printing at least one additional aspect to the printed document via the third mechanism comprises printing on a second side of the print medium.
16 . The method of claim 13 wherein printing the first document in the first print mechanism comprises printing content aspects on a print medium and printing at least one additional aspect to the printed document via the third mechanism comprises printing visual effects on the print medium.
17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising controlling a third mechanism for manipulating printed documents simultaneously with controlling at least one of the print mechanisms, the third mechanism operable to manipulate printed documents in a manner in relation to other printed documents, the manner comprising a manner form the group comprising: copying, collating, stapling, fusing, binding, double-sided printing, and folding.
18 . An integrated circuit, comprising
a receiver operable to receive a plurality of requests for printing a plurality of documents and operable to distribute a print job associated with each received request for printing to a respective control channel; and
a plurality of control channels for respectively controlling a plurality of print mechanisms, each control channel operable to be coupled to a print mechanism such that each print mechanism is operable to print a document as dictated by interpreting the associated print job at the receiver.
19 . The integrated circuit of claim 18 , further comprising a distribution circuit operable to distribute each of the received requests among the control channels.
20 . The integrated circuit of claim 18 , further comprising at least one additional control channel for controlling a mechanism for manipulating a printed document.