Interactive system for signature production

Claim 1

In a copier having a control (user interface) and a plurality of operating components cooperating with one another to produce impressions on copy sheets, the operating components including a photoreceptor, a platen for supporting first side by side documents to be imaged, an optical system for projecting images of the documents onto the photoreceptor, a developer for developing images of the side-by-side documents on one side of a copy sheet, the side one copy sheet later receiving images of second side-by-side documents on the platen, the control including a console for displaying operator messages and for entering program data, the method for providing completed signature sets for center folding such sets for assembly into booklet form comprising the steps of: (a) entering into the console the number of pages to appear in the completed signature sets, (b) determining a check value for document orientation to provide signatures, (c) displaying the orientation of documents in signatures for the correct placement of documents on the platen, (d) loading a first pair of documents onto the platen in the orientation as shown on the display for side one of the first signature copy sheet, (e) producing images of the first pair of documents on side one of the first signature copy sheet, (f) loading a second pair of documents onto the platen in the orientation as shown on the display for side two of the first signature copy sheet, (g) producing images of the second pair of documents on side two of the first signature copy sheet, and (h) repeating steps d, e, f and g until all signatures are produced in the proper orientation for assembly into a booklet form.