Very high speed duplicator with limitless finishing function

Claim 2

In a reproduction system for producing copies from a set of document sheets of a multi-page document including an image processor for producing copy sheets and a finishing apparatus whereat copy sheets of the document are collected, the improvement comprising: program means for presetting the number of copies of the document to be made by the processor during a reproduction run, and to condition the system to produce the copies in a stack mode of operation, copy sheet collecting means arranged to collect copy sheets in a plurality of stacks, wherein a predetermined number of copies of a particular document sheet is produced before a succeeding document sheet is reproduced, transport means for moving each stack from said collecting means and to deposit the stacks in a vertically arranged pile upon a receiving member, and means for reciprocably moving said member as each stack is deposited thereon for effecting the offsetting of the stacks during piling thereof.

Claim 3

In a reproduction system for producing and collating copies from a set of document sheets of a multi-page document including an image processor for producing copy sheets and a finishing apparatus whereat copy sets of the document are collected and bound, the improvement comprising: program means for presetting the number of copy sets of the document to be made by the processor during a reproduction run, a first copy set receiving means arranged to collect copy sets after binding thereof until a plurality of copy sets of a predetermined number has been collected, means for moving the copy sets from said first receiving means to a second receiving copy set means when said predetermined number has been attained to permit said first receiving means to collect additional copy sets, and control means responsive to said program means when preset for a number of copy sets greater than at said first and said second receiving means when said first receiving means has attained said predetermined number and said second receiving means has copy sets thereon to limit the number of copy sets made by the processor to no more than those copy sets already on said first and said second receiving means before further copy sets are made to permit continuing to completion of said reproduction run.

Claim 4

In a reproduction system for producing and collating copies from a set of document sheets of a multi-page document including an image processor for producing copy sheets and a finishing apparatus whereat copy sets of the document are collected and bound, the improvement comprising: program means for presetting the number of copy sets of the document to be made by the processor during a reproduction run, a first copy set receiving means arranged to collect copy sets after binding thereof until a plurality of copy sets of a predetermined number has been collected, means for moving the copy sets from said first receiving means to a second receiving copy set means when said predetermined number has been attained to permit said first receiving means to collect additional copy sets, and control means responsive to said program means when preset for a number of copy sets greater than at said first and said second receiving means when said first receiving means has attained said predetermined number and said second receiving means has copy sets thereon to limit the number of copy sets made by the processor to no more than those copy sets already on said first and said second receiving means before further copy sets are made to permit continuing to completion of said reproduction run.

Claim 5

In a reproduction system for producing and collating copies from a set of document sheets of a multi-page document including an image processor forproducing copy sheets and a finishing apparatus whereat copy sets of the document are collected and bound, the improvement comprising: program means for presetting the number of copy sets of the document to be made by the processor during a reproduction run, copy set receiving means arranged to collect copy sets, after binding thereof one upon the other to form a pile until a predetermined height of the pile has been reached, transport means for moving a pile of copy sets from said receiving means to a removal station when a pile has reached said predetermined height to permit said receiving means to collect additional copy sets, and control means response to said program means when preset for a number of copy sets greater than the number of copy sets at said removal station and said receiving means when a pile has reached said predetermined height to limit the number of copy sets made by the processor to no more than those copy sets already on said receiving means and said removal station before further copy sets in accordance with said preset program are made to permit continuing to completion of said reproduction run.

Claim 6

In a reproduction system for producing and collating copies from a set of document sheets of a multi-page document including an image processor forproducing copy sheets and a finishing apparatus whereat copy sets of the document are collected and bound, the improvement comprising: program means for presetting the number of copy sets of the document to be made by the processor during a reproduction run, copy set receiving means arranged to collect copy sets, after binding thereof one upon the other to form a pile until a predetermined height of the pile has been reached, transport means for moving a pile of copy sets from said receiving means to a removal station when a pile has reached said predetermined height to permit said receiving means to collect additional copy sets, and control means response to said program means when preset for a number of copy sets greater than the number of copy sets at said removal station and said receiving means when a pile has reached said predetermined height to limit the number of copy sets made by the processor to no more than those copy sets already on said receiving means and said removal station before further copy sets in accordance with said preset program are made to permit continuing to completion of said reproduction run.

Claim 7

In a reproduction system for producing copies from a set of document sheets of a multi-page document including an image processor for producing copy sheets and a finishing apparatus whereat copy sheets of the document are collected, the improvement comprising, program means for presetting the number of copies of the document to be made by the processor during a reproduction run and to condition the system for producing selectively the copies in bound copy sets, unbound copy sets or stacking, a copy set receiving means arranged to collect the copies in a pile either as a plurality of bound copy sets, unbound copy sets or in stacks, until a plurality of copy sets of a predetermined number has been collected, and control means responsive to said program means and cooperable with said copy set receiving means for arranging said copies in said pile in offset relationship while the apparatus is producing only unbound copy sets or stacks.

Claim 8

In a reproduction system for producing copies from a set of document sheets of a multi-page document including an image processor for producing copy sheets and a finishing apparatus whereat copy sheets of the document are collected, the improvement comprising, program means for presetting the number of copies of the document to be made by the processor during a reproduction run and to condition the system for producing selectively the copies in bound copy sets, unbound copy sets or stacking, a copy set receiving means arranged to collect the copies in a pile either as a plurality of bound copy sets, unbound copy sets or in stacks, until a plurality of copy sets of a predetermined number has been collected, and control means responsive to said program means and cooperable with said copy set receiving means for arranging said copies in said pile in offset relationship while the apparatus is producing only unbound copy sets or stacks.