This class provides for processes and apparatus for conveying information by selectively creating on a medium a visibly distinguishable symbol* or mark* composed of a plurality of portions*. The symbol* or mark* is created portion* by portion* as, for example, by pixels or dots. The symbol* or mark* may be an alphanumeric character or an image.
SCOPE OF THIS CLASS (347)
(1) Note. The symbol* or mark* is created portion* by
portion*. A symbol* or mark* which is not created portion* by portion* is found elsewhere. For example, printing type, typewriters, stencils, and hand stamps create a whole mark* rather than a mark* portion* by portion*. (see References to Other Classes, below, for these latter classes)
(2) Note. The symbol or mark which is created using a character supporting electrode stylus by which an electrostatic charge is deposited onto or discharged from a medium is, however, classified in this class (347).
(3) Note. The symbol* or mark* conveys information. Information is the communication of knowledge or intelligence. For example, an alphanumeric character and an image are marks* which convey information. A code (e.g., a bar code) is a mark* which conveys information.
(4) Note. A visibly distinguishable mark* created portion* by portion* for a purpose other than conveying information is found elsewhere. For an example of a coating formed in this manner, see References to Other Classes below.
(5) Note. Some portion* by portion* marks* in a specific situation are found elsewhere. For a portion* by portion* mark in the production of a printing plate see References to Other Classes, below.
(6) Note. The marking* can be combined* for a special purpose. Special purpose devices are found elsewhere; e.g., facsimile devices, electrophotos:graphic copiers, labelers, and recorders. (see References to Other Classes, below.) (7) Note. The marking* device is made up of several portions*: a combined* portion, a controller portion, a head* portion, a marking* portion, a medium portion, and a housing portion. The combined* portion is the combination of a marking* device and an external means which functions as a special information marking* system. The controller portion contains the means to direct the operation of the marking* device or any of its component parts. The head* portion contains the means which provides the marking*. The marking* portion contains the specifics of the marking* (e.g., the fluid, the impact, the heat, the electricity, and the radiation). The mechanism portion contains the medium, its handling, and its processing. The housing portion* contains an outer enclosure for the marking* device.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
This class (347) provides for "stand-alone" incremental printers such as ink jet, laser, thermal, dot-matrix, or electrostatic printers. These devices, for the most part, are now classified in Class 346, Recorders, and Class 400, Typewriting Machines.
Other types of informational marking* are found elsewhere. See References to Other Classes, below.
Subcombinations of this subject matter can be found in various areas. For example, media and media handling means are found elsewhere (see References to Other Classes, below)
As these arts are reclassified, appropriate subject matter will be transferred to this class (347). See Other Classification Systems, below, for the appropriate IPC subclass for the art of this class (347).
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
101, Printing, appropriate subclasses for means adopted to produce characters or designs on a surface by impression of types or die or by applying coating matter thereto through openings of previous portions* of a pattern sheet, as in stenciling, or by impression from planos:graphic or intaglio surfaces. (see Class definition, Scope of the Class, (1) Note, (5) Note; also see Lines With Other Classes, above, re informational marking other than a Class 347 type)
118, Coating Apparatus, appropriate subclasses for devices for applying or obtaining a surface coating on a base and/or impregnating base materials.
156, Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture, for labelers. (see Class definition, Scope of the Class, (6) Note) 216, Etching a Substrate: Processes, especially
27, for methods of making a thermal ink jet device.
226, Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length, appropriate subclasses for processes or apparatus for moving, sensing, threading, and constraining indeterminate material. (also see Lines With Other Classes above re media handling subcombinations)
242, Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding, appropriate subclasses for winding or unwinding flexible material from a reel. (see Lines With Other Classes above re media handling subcombinations)
271, Sheet Feeding or Delivering, appropriate subclasses for means for removing individual sheets from a stock or for positioning individual sheets with respect to some mechanism for operating on them or for placing them after they have been operated upon. (also see Lines With Other Classes, above re media handling subcombinations)
346, Recorders, appropriate subclasses for apparatus and corresponding processes for making a record of the movement of machines or instruments or of any phenomenon capable of being detected. (see Class definition, Scope of the Class,
(6) Note)
355, Photocopying, appropriate subclasses for photos:graphically copying information from an original or carrier. (also see Lines With Other Classes, above, re informational marking other than a Class 347 type)
358, Facsimile, especially
500+, for natural color facsimile and subclasses 400+ for black and white facsimile. (see Class definition, Scope of the Class, (6) Note; also see Lines With Other Classes, above, re informational marking other than a Class 347 type)
365, Static Information Storage and Retrieval, appropriate subclasses for apparatus or processes for static storage and retrieval of information.
369, Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval, appropriate subclasses for processes of and apparatus for the storage or retrieval of arbitrary variable information. 395, Information Processing System Organization,
101+, for static presentations processing (e.g., for printers). (also see Lines With Other Classes, above, re informational marking other than a Class 347 type)
396, Photography, appropriate subclasses for devices for photos:graphically recording an image of an object upon actuation.
399, Electrophotography,
9+, for diagnostics, subclasses 38+ for controls, subclasses 130+ for image formation, subclasses 168+ for charging, subclasses 177+ for exposure, subclasses 222+ for development, subclasses 297+ for transfer, subclasses 320+ for fixing, subclasses 343+ for cleaning, and subclasses 361+ for document handling. (see Class definition, Scope of the Class, (6) Note)
400, Typewriting Machines, appropriate subclasses for devices causing an intelligible character to be imprinted on a record medium by a type member. (see Class definition, Scope of the Class, (1) Note)
427, Coating Processes, appropriate subclasses for applying or obtaining a coating on a surface. (see Class definition, Scope of the Class, (4) Note)
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles, appropriate subclasses for stock material composites in general; for a transfer medium (e.g., ink ribbon) per se, see
195+, and 984+; for a record receiver, per se, see subclasses 195+. (also see Lines With Other Classes above re media
handling subcombinations)
430, Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof, appropriate subclasses for forming the likeness of an object, or an instrumented or discernable phenomenon, in a chemically defined receiver or in a receiver wherein radiation produces a chemical reaction, by use of radiation.
503, Record Receiver Having Plural Leaves or a Colorless Color Former, Method of Use, or Developer Therefor, 200, 226 for imaging with colorless color formers and developers therefor; subclass 227 for nontextile sublimation thermal dye transfer medium or record receiver, per se, or for processes of transfer wherein the medium or the receiver is substantial to the transfer.
B41J, of the International Patent Classification (IPC). for the art in this class (347).
GLOSSARY:
The following terms have been defined for purposes of classification in this class. In the class and subclass definition of this class, terms used in a sense defined below are indicated by an asterisk(*).
COMBINED
Means connected with the marking* device for adapting the device to a particular marking* purpose.
CONTROL
Means to regulate the operation of the head*, the medium, and the other parts of the marking* device so that the device will operate in the intended manner.
EJECTOR
The mechanism which projects the fluid* onto the medium*.
FLUID
The flowable substance which is projected from the ejector* mechanism or which is used to enhance the transport or generation of charged particles. HEAD (Marker)
The section of the marking device which produces the visibly distinguishable or latent symbol or mark on the medium in accordance with an information signal.
MARK
A discrete area on the medium which contains the plurality of portions*. Unless otherwise indicated, "mark" and "symbol" are used synonymously in the subclass definitions of this class.
MARKING
The specific manner by which the mark* is formed; e.g., ink jet, impact, thermal, electric (e.g., toner applied to a latent image), or radiation.
MEDIUM
A substrate on which the visibly distinguishable or latent symbol or mark is formed.
PORTIONS
Elemental sections of a symbol* or mark*. An elemental section is not, itself, a symbol* or mark* as, for example, is an alphanumeric typeface used to create a picture or an image.
SYMBOL A mark* which conveys intelligent information. Unless otherwise indicated, "mark" and "symbol" are used synonymously in the subclass definitions of this class.
TRANSDUCER
The part of the head* which converts an input signal into the force for producing the mark*.