CA1161867A - Recirculating documents duplex copier - Google Patents
Recirculating documents duplex copierInfo
- Publication number
- CA1161867A CA1161867A CA000355033A CA355033A CA1161867A CA 1161867 A CA1161867 A CA 1161867A CA 000355033 A CA000355033 A CA 000355033A CA 355033 A CA355033 A CA 355033A CA 1161867 A CA1161867 A CA 1161867A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- copying
- document
- copy
- documents
- sheets
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
- G03G15/6555—Handling of sheet copy material taking place in a specific part of the copy material feeding path
- G03G15/6579—Refeeding path for composite copying
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/22—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20
- G03G15/23—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20 specially adapted for copying both sides of an original or for copying on both sides of a recording or image-receiving material
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
- G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
- G03G2215/00367—The feeding path segment where particular handling of the copy medium occurs, segments being adjacent and non-overlapping. Each segment is identified by the most downstream point in the segment, so that for instance the segment labelled "Fixing device" is referring to the path between the "Transfer device" and the "Fixing device"
- G03G2215/00417—Post-fixing device
- G03G2215/0043—Refeeding path
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
- G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
- G03G2215/00535—Stable handling of copy medium
- G03G2215/00556—Control of copy medium feeding
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An automatic pre-collation duplex copying apparatus (10, 20) and method in which original docu-ments having either an odd or even number of pages may be recirculatively copied (26) in reverse serial order yet provide properly collated output duplex copy sets.
A simplex/duplex copying system is disclosed in which, when an odd number of document sheets are detected (29, 31, 100) in a first, non-copying, circulation of the document sheets, the copying of the last and sub-sequent alternate document sheets is inhibited during the first copying circulation, whereas if an even number of document sheets are detected, the copying of the second and subsequent alternate document sheets is inhibited during this first copying circulation, and these different copying sequences are reversed for the last copying circulation. All document sheets are cop-ied during the intermediate circulations. A compatible duplex/duplex copying system is also disclosed.
An automatic pre-collation duplex copying apparatus (10, 20) and method in which original docu-ments having either an odd or even number of pages may be recirculatively copied (26) in reverse serial order yet provide properly collated output duplex copy sets.
A simplex/duplex copying system is disclosed in which, when an odd number of document sheets are detected (29, 31, 100) in a first, non-copying, circulation of the document sheets, the copying of the last and sub-sequent alternate document sheets is inhibited during the first copying circulation, whereas if an even number of document sheets are detected, the copying of the second and subsequent alternate document sheets is inhibited during this first copying circulation, and these different copying sequences are reversed for the last copying circulation. All document sheets are cop-ied during the intermediate circulations. A compatible duplex/duplex copying system is also disclosed.
Description
f7 RECIRCULATING DOCUMENTS DUPLEX COPIER
The present invention relates to an improved automatic document handling system for providing pre-collation duplex copying.
As xerographic and other copiers increase in speed, and become more automatic, it is increasingly important to provide higher speed yet more reliable and more automatic handling of both the copy sheets 1~ and the individual original documents being copied.
The providing of duplex copying capabilities and pre-collation copying capabilities greatly complicates and increases the copier document and copy sheet handling complexities.
The term "duplex copying" may be more speci-fically defined into several different, individually known, copying modes. In duplex/duplex copying, both sides of a duplex document sheet (which has images on both sides~ are copied onto both sides of a single copy sheet. In duplex/simplex copying, both sides of a duplex document are copied onto only one side of two successive copy sheets. In simplex/duplex copying, to which the present invention particularly relates, the images of ~wo successive simplex document sheets, which have images on only one side, are copied onto opposite sides of a single copy sheet. In the print-ing industry, as opposed to the copier lndustry, two-sided copying may be referred to as "backing-up" rather than duplex copying.
In a set of duplex documents or copy sheets, odd pages 1, 3, 5, etc., will typically appear on the first sides, with even pages 2, 4, 6, etc., on the second sides, respectively~ If there are an odd number of pages in the set of duplex sheets the backside of the last sheet will typically be blank (empty). In contrast, in a set of simplex document or copy sheets, , ~
the number of the sheet will typically also correspond to the page number. Thus, an odd number of simplex document sheets will normally have an odd number of page images.
The duplex copying of the copy sheets (for either duplex/duplex or simplex/duplex copying) may be done by first making in the copier processor a set of simplexed copy sheets (printed only on their first sides) of only the odd or the even document pages and temporarily storing those simplex copy sheets in a duplex buffer tray, and then feeding them back through the same copying processor for a second pass printing of the opposite order (even or odd page) document images on the opposite .sides of the copy she~ts. Such systems may be referred to as sequential or dual pass duplexing systems. Examples of such systems for handling the copy sheets being duplexed are shown in U. S. Patents Nos. 3,615,129, issued October 26, 1971 to W. A. Drawe, et al.; 3,645,615, issued February 2~, 1972, to M. R. Spear, Jr.; and 3,851,754, issued October 15, 1974, to E. E. Drexler et al. on duplex/duplex. Of particular interest as disclosing a duplex copying system which is also a pre-collation copying system are U. S. Patents Nos. 3,630,607, issued December 28, 1971, to ~. Korn and 4,116,558, issued September 26, 1978, by the same assignee in the name of J. A. Adamek et al ~he present invention is an improvement over said Adamek Patent No. 4,116,558 for automatically achieving copying and storage of even page numbered copies of simplex documents in the duplex buffer tray to avoid variable output inversion or copying of a blank page when an odd number of simplex documents are being duplex copied, as indicated in that patent to be de-sirable, and for achieving this feature under the fur-ther diEficulty oE copying the documents in reverse ~G~867 (decending) serial page order with a different type of document handling system. The description beginning with the last paragraph of Column 8 of said Adamek U.
S. Patent is particularly noted by way of background ~or this application.
A desirable feature for a copier is to provide automatic document recirculation for pre-collation copy-ing. As discussed, for example, in detail in U. S.
Patent No. 3,963,345, issued June 15~ 1976, to D. J.
Stemmle, et al., at Columns 1-4, and the above-cited Adamek patent, such pre- collation copying systems provide a number o~ important advantages. The copies exit the copier in pre-collated sets, and do not require subsequent sorting in a sorter or collator. Any desired number of such copy sets may be made by making a corres-ponding number of recirculations of the document set in collated order past a copying station and copying each document once each time it recirculates. On-line finishing and/or removal of the completed copy sets may be provided while additional copy sets are being made from the same document set.
However, a disadvantage of pre-collation copy-ing systems is that the documents must all be repeatedly circulated, and copied in a pre-determined order only once in each circulation, by a number of circulations equivalent to the desired number of copy sets. Thus, it may be seen that increased document handling is necessitated Eor a pre-collation copying system, as compared to a conventional postrcollation copying sys-tem. Maximizing document handling automation and copy-ing cycle efficiency is particularly importan~ in pre-collation copying. I~ the document handler cannot cir-culate and copy documents in coordination with the copy sheets in the correct order, the total copying time ~or each copy set will be increased.
In a post-collation copying system, all the - 4 - ~
desired copies are made at one time from each document page and collated by being placed in separate sorter bins. The document set need only be circulated once and multiply copied to fill bins of the copy sheet sorter or collator with the corresponding number of copy sets desired. However, the number of copy sets which can be made in one circulation is limited by the number of available bins, and the sorter adds space and complexity and is not well suited for on-line fin-ishing.
Some examples of art relating to pre-colla-tion document handling systems of the type disclosed herein, in which each document ~heet is withdrawn from the bottom of a document set stack for copying once in each circulation and then returned to the top of the document stack for repeated copying circulations include: German Patentschrift 1,128,295, 25 October 1962; and U. S. Patents Re. 27,976, (originally U. S.
3,499,710, issued March 10, 1970) to L. W. Sahley; U.S.
3,536,320, issued October 27, 1970, to D. R. Derby;
V. S. 3,552,739, issued January 5, 1971, to R. R.
Roberts, et al.; U. S. 3,556,511, issued January 19, 1971, to A. Howard, et al.; U. S. 3,888,579, issued June 10, 1975, to V. Rodek et a~.; and U. S.
3,937,454, issued February 10, 1976, to R. H. Colwill.
A recen~ example of a pre-collation copying system of this type, with circuitry and switches for counting the number of documents recirculated and for counting the completion of each set circulation, and face~up loading of the document stack, i5 shown in U. S. Patent No. 4~076,408, issued February 28, 1978, to M. G. Reid et al., and in the U. S. Patent Office Defensive Publi-cation T957,006 of April 5, 1977, by M.G. Reid, et al.. Other examples of document sheet sensors are disclosed in U. S. Patent 3,790,158, issued February 5, 1974, to J~ E. Summers et al..
A recent example of an N to 1 order duplex or simple~ pre-collation copying document recirculation system is disclosed in article No. 16332, pp. 49 - 52 of the November 1977 issue of "Research Disclosure", published by Industrial Opportunities, Ltd., Homewell, Havant, Hampshire, U. K.. A corresponding U. K. application No. 2,000,749A was published 17 January 1979.
Further examples of copier systems with docu-ment and sheet handling control systems are described in U. S. Patent Nos. 4,062,061, issued December 6, 1977, to P. J. Batchelor et al.; 4,078,7~7, issued March 14, 1978, to L. E. Burlew et al.; 4,099,150, issued July 4, 1978, to J. L. Conin; 4,123,155, issued October 31, 1973, to W. L. Hubert; 4,125,325, issued November 14, 1978, to P. J. Batchelor et al.; and 4,144,550, issued March 13, 1979, to J. M. Donohue et al While conventional integral software incor-poration into the copier's general microprocessor logic circuitry and software of the functions and logic de-fined herein as taught by the above is preferred, it will b~ appreciated that the functions and systems disclosed herein may be alternativPly conventionally incorporated into a copier utilizing any other suitable or known copier software or hard wired logic systems, cam-bank switch controllers, etc.. The output control of the exemplarly sheet handling systems disclosed herein may be accomplished by activating known elec-trical solenoid controlled sheet deflector fingers and drive motors or their clutches in the indica~ed seq-uences, and conventional sheet path sensors or switches may be utillzed for counting and keeping track of the ~6--positions of documents and copy sheets.
Certain aspects of the duplex copying exem-plary system here are disclosed in German OLS
The present invention relates to an improved automatic document handling system for providing pre-collation duplex copying.
As xerographic and other copiers increase in speed, and become more automatic, it is increasingly important to provide higher speed yet more reliable and more automatic handling of both the copy sheets 1~ and the individual original documents being copied.
The providing of duplex copying capabilities and pre-collation copying capabilities greatly complicates and increases the copier document and copy sheet handling complexities.
The term "duplex copying" may be more speci-fically defined into several different, individually known, copying modes. In duplex/duplex copying, both sides of a duplex document sheet (which has images on both sides~ are copied onto both sides of a single copy sheet. In duplex/simplex copying, both sides of a duplex document are copied onto only one side of two successive copy sheets. In simplex/duplex copying, to which the present invention particularly relates, the images of ~wo successive simplex document sheets, which have images on only one side, are copied onto opposite sides of a single copy sheet. In the print-ing industry, as opposed to the copier lndustry, two-sided copying may be referred to as "backing-up" rather than duplex copying.
In a set of duplex documents or copy sheets, odd pages 1, 3, 5, etc., will typically appear on the first sides, with even pages 2, 4, 6, etc., on the second sides, respectively~ If there are an odd number of pages in the set of duplex sheets the backside of the last sheet will typically be blank (empty). In contrast, in a set of simplex document or copy sheets, , ~
the number of the sheet will typically also correspond to the page number. Thus, an odd number of simplex document sheets will normally have an odd number of page images.
The duplex copying of the copy sheets (for either duplex/duplex or simplex/duplex copying) may be done by first making in the copier processor a set of simplexed copy sheets (printed only on their first sides) of only the odd or the even document pages and temporarily storing those simplex copy sheets in a duplex buffer tray, and then feeding them back through the same copying processor for a second pass printing of the opposite order (even or odd page) document images on the opposite .sides of the copy she~ts. Such systems may be referred to as sequential or dual pass duplexing systems. Examples of such systems for handling the copy sheets being duplexed are shown in U. S. Patents Nos. 3,615,129, issued October 26, 1971 to W. A. Drawe, et al.; 3,645,615, issued February 2~, 1972, to M. R. Spear, Jr.; and 3,851,754, issued October 15, 1974, to E. E. Drexler et al. on duplex/duplex. Of particular interest as disclosing a duplex copying system which is also a pre-collation copying system are U. S. Patents Nos. 3,630,607, issued December 28, 1971, to ~. Korn and 4,116,558, issued September 26, 1978, by the same assignee in the name of J. A. Adamek et al ~he present invention is an improvement over said Adamek Patent No. 4,116,558 for automatically achieving copying and storage of even page numbered copies of simplex documents in the duplex buffer tray to avoid variable output inversion or copying of a blank page when an odd number of simplex documents are being duplex copied, as indicated in that patent to be de-sirable, and for achieving this feature under the fur-ther diEficulty oE copying the documents in reverse ~G~867 (decending) serial page order with a different type of document handling system. The description beginning with the last paragraph of Column 8 of said Adamek U.
S. Patent is particularly noted by way of background ~or this application.
A desirable feature for a copier is to provide automatic document recirculation for pre-collation copy-ing. As discussed, for example, in detail in U. S.
Patent No. 3,963,345, issued June 15~ 1976, to D. J.
Stemmle, et al., at Columns 1-4, and the above-cited Adamek patent, such pre- collation copying systems provide a number o~ important advantages. The copies exit the copier in pre-collated sets, and do not require subsequent sorting in a sorter or collator. Any desired number of such copy sets may be made by making a corres-ponding number of recirculations of the document set in collated order past a copying station and copying each document once each time it recirculates. On-line finishing and/or removal of the completed copy sets may be provided while additional copy sets are being made from the same document set.
However, a disadvantage of pre-collation copy-ing systems is that the documents must all be repeatedly circulated, and copied in a pre-determined order only once in each circulation, by a number of circulations equivalent to the desired number of copy sets. Thus, it may be seen that increased document handling is necessitated Eor a pre-collation copying system, as compared to a conventional postrcollation copying sys-tem. Maximizing document handling automation and copy-ing cycle efficiency is particularly importan~ in pre-collation copying. I~ the document handler cannot cir-culate and copy documents in coordination with the copy sheets in the correct order, the total copying time ~or each copy set will be increased.
In a post-collation copying system, all the - 4 - ~
desired copies are made at one time from each document page and collated by being placed in separate sorter bins. The document set need only be circulated once and multiply copied to fill bins of the copy sheet sorter or collator with the corresponding number of copy sets desired. However, the number of copy sets which can be made in one circulation is limited by the number of available bins, and the sorter adds space and complexity and is not well suited for on-line fin-ishing.
Some examples of art relating to pre-colla-tion document handling systems of the type disclosed herein, in which each document ~heet is withdrawn from the bottom of a document set stack for copying once in each circulation and then returned to the top of the document stack for repeated copying circulations include: German Patentschrift 1,128,295, 25 October 1962; and U. S. Patents Re. 27,976, (originally U. S.
3,499,710, issued March 10, 1970) to L. W. Sahley; U.S.
3,536,320, issued October 27, 1970, to D. R. Derby;
V. S. 3,552,739, issued January 5, 1971, to R. R.
Roberts, et al.; U. S. 3,556,511, issued January 19, 1971, to A. Howard, et al.; U. S. 3,888,579, issued June 10, 1975, to V. Rodek et a~.; and U. S.
3,937,454, issued February 10, 1976, to R. H. Colwill.
A recen~ example of a pre-collation copying system of this type, with circuitry and switches for counting the number of documents recirculated and for counting the completion of each set circulation, and face~up loading of the document stack, i5 shown in U. S. Patent No. 4~076,408, issued February 28, 1978, to M. G. Reid et al., and in the U. S. Patent Office Defensive Publi-cation T957,006 of April 5, 1977, by M.G. Reid, et al.. Other examples of document sheet sensors are disclosed in U. S. Patent 3,790,158, issued February 5, 1974, to J~ E. Summers et al..
A recent example of an N to 1 order duplex or simple~ pre-collation copying document recirculation system is disclosed in article No. 16332, pp. 49 - 52 of the November 1977 issue of "Research Disclosure", published by Industrial Opportunities, Ltd., Homewell, Havant, Hampshire, U. K.. A corresponding U. K. application No. 2,000,749A was published 17 January 1979.
Further examples of copier systems with docu-ment and sheet handling control systems are described in U. S. Patent Nos. 4,062,061, issued December 6, 1977, to P. J. Batchelor et al.; 4,078,7~7, issued March 14, 1978, to L. E. Burlew et al.; 4,099,150, issued July 4, 1978, to J. L. Conin; 4,123,155, issued October 31, 1973, to W. L. Hubert; 4,125,325, issued November 14, 1978, to P. J. Batchelor et al.; and 4,144,550, issued March 13, 1979, to J. M. Donohue et al While conventional integral software incor-poration into the copier's general microprocessor logic circuitry and software of the functions and logic de-fined herein as taught by the above is preferred, it will b~ appreciated that the functions and systems disclosed herein may be alternativPly conventionally incorporated into a copier utilizing any other suitable or known copier software or hard wired logic systems, cam-bank switch controllers, etc.. The output control of the exemplarly sheet handling systems disclosed herein may be accomplished by activating known elec-trical solenoid controlled sheet deflector fingers and drive motors or their clutches in the indica~ed seq-uences, and conventional sheet path sensors or switches may be utillzed for counting and keeping track of the ~6--positions of documents and copy sheets.
Certain aspects of the duplex copying exem-plary system here are disclosed in German OLS
2,828,6~9, published March 1, 1979, and in U. S.
patent 4,166,614 issued September 4, 1979.
A preferred feature of the invention is to provide, in a document handling apparatus for plurally recirculating a set o~ simplex original document sheets to a copier to be copied onto both sides of copy sheets to ~orm pre-collated duplex copy sets, an improvement comprising; means for circulating and copying the docu-ments in reverse (decending) serial page order beginning with the last sheet in the document set and ending with the first sheet in the document set, odd/even determin-ing means for automatically determining whether thereare an odd or an even number of original documents in said document set before they are copied; and copying control means, controlled by saicl odd/even determining means, to inhibit copying of the last and alternate sùbse~uent documents on the first copying circulation of said document set in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means that there are an odd number o~ original documents in said set, and to inhibit copying of the next-to-las~ and alternate sub-sequent documents on the first copying circulation ofsaid document set in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means that there are an even _ 7~ 6~7 number of said original documents.
It is a further preferred feature of the in-vention to place a set of simplex original document sheets in a collated face-up stack of 1 to N page order which are individually circulated from the bottom of the stack to the platen of a copier and back to the top of said stack in N to 1 order, with N being the page number of the bottom page of said document stack, wherein said odd/even determining means determines whether N is an odd or even page number, and wherein if N is an odd number, the document sheets are copied in the first copying circulation as controlled by said copying control means in the copying order sequence N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, etc., up to the total number of document sheets in said document set, and in at least the second copying circulation all the document pages are copied and the Nth document page is ~irst copied on only one side of a copy sheet as a simplex copy, and in the last copying circulation that same document set is copied in the copying sequence N, N minus 2, N minus 4, etc., ancl wherein if N is an even number, the documents are copied in the first copying circulation in the order ~l, N minus 2, N minus 4, etc., and copied on the last copying circulation in the order N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, etc~.
Pre~erably said odd/even determining means comprises means to circulate the document set once before it is copied and count the number of sheets in that non-copying circulation~
6~ .
-7a-Various aspects of the invention are as follows:
In a document handling apparatus for plurally recirculating a set of simplex original document sheets to a copier to be copied onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets, the improvement com-prising: means for circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page order beginning with the last sheet in the document set and ending with the first sheet in the document set, odd~even determining means for auto-matically determining whether there are an odd or an evennumber of original documents in said document set before they are copied, and copying control means, controlled by said odd~even determining means, to inhibit copying of the last, or next to last, and alternate subsequent docu-ments on the first copying circulation of said documentset in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or even number of original documents in saicl set to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets without variable output inversion.
..9 .~ ' .
36~ j .,~
-7b-In the method of recirculatively copying a set of original documents in. a copier onto both sides of copy sh.eets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets, including circulating the document set in reverse (descending) (N to 1) serial page order beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, the improvement comprising the steps of:
automatically determining wh.ether there are an odd or an even number of simplex original documents in said document set by counting the simplex documents as they are so circulated before they are copied, in the first copying circulation of the docu-ment set, copying in said N to 1 order only the last (Nth) and subsequent alternate simplex documents or alternatively only copying the n~xt-to-last (N minus 1) and subsequent alternate simplex documents automa-tically in response to said deter~ining of whether there are an odd or even number of simplex documents in said set, and in all intermediate copying circulations of the document set, copying all of said simplex documents in said N to 1 order, and in the last copying circulation of the document ~5 set, copying the alternate simplex documents not copied on said first copying circulation, to provide a properly collated output of duplex copy sets having consistent copy sheet output inversion.
~ ' .
, . ..
\ -~
-7c- ~ 7 A method for recirculatively copying a set of simplex original documents in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets compri-sin~ the steps of. circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page (N to 1) order beginning with the last sheet N in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, automatically determining whether there are an odd or even number of original documents in said document set by counting the documents as they are so circulated before they are copied, copying only the next-to-last (N minus 1) and subsequent alternate documents on the first copying circulation of said document set in said N to 1 order automatically in response to said determination that there are an odd number of original documents in said set, or alternately automatically copying only the last (N) and alternate subsequent documents on the first copying circulation of said document set in said N to 1 order in response to said determination that there are an even number of said original documents in said set, and copying all of said documents in said N to 1 order in al:L intermediate copy-ing circulations of said document set, and on the last copying circulation, copying the alternate documents not copied on the first copying cixculat:ion, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets with consistent copy sheet output inversion.
In a document handling apparatus for plurally recirculating a set of simplex original document sheets to a copier to be copied onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets, the improvement comprising: means for circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page order beginning with the last sheet in the document set and ending with the first sheet in the document set, and odd/even determining means for automatically determining whether there are an odd or an even number of original documents in said document set before they are copied, and copying control means, controlled -7d-by said odd~even determining means, to control the feeding of copy sets in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or even number of original documents in said set to provide properly collated output duplex copy sheets.
In a method of recirculatively copying a set of original documents in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets., including circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page order beginning with the last sheet in the document set and ending with the first sheet in the document set, automatically determining by odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or an even number of original documents in said document set before they are copied by circulating said document set in a ~irst single non-copying circulation before any of the documents are copied and counting the number of document sheets which are circulated in said first, non-copying circulation, and controlling the feeding of copy sets, in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or even number of origina1 documents in said set to provide properly collated output duplex copy sheets.
A method for recirculativ~ly copying a set of simplex original document sheets in a copier onto both .sides of copy sheets to make plural properly collated duplex copy sets by pluraly recircula~ing said document ~ esC~ 5 sheets for copying in reverse (~e~e ~i~) serial page order (N to 1) beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, characterized by: automatically determining -7e~ 867 whether there are an odd or an even n~nber of simplex original document sheets in said document set by counting the total number of document sheets in the set as they are circulated in a first, single, non-copying circulation, before any documents are copied, automatically in response to the selection of duplex copying from said simplex docu-ments; then, in subsequent (copying) circulations of the document set, automatically in response to said deter-mining that there are an odd (not even) number of simplex documents in said set and said selection of duplex copy-ing, copying said last (Nth) document onto only one side of a copy sheet to make a simplex end copy sheet for each copy set, and properly inverting this simplex end copy sheet to maintain proper collation and orientation with the other copy sheets in the copy set, which other copy sheets are then duplexed by being copied on both sides from the other document sheets of the document set, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets.
A method for recirculatively copying a set of simplex original document sheets in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to make plural properly collated duplex copy sets by plurally recirculating said document sheets for copying in reverse (descehding) serial page order (N to 1) beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the irst sheet (1) in the document set, characterised by the steps of automatically determining whether there are an odd or an e~en number of simplex original document sheets in said document set by counting the total number of document sheets in the set as they are circulated in a first, single, non-copying circulation, before any documents are copies;
then further circulating said documents and (a) automatically in response to said determining that there are an odd (not even) number of simplex original ~.~
..
~ ~L6~LI!367 -7f-documents in said original document set and said selection of duplex copying, copying said last ~Nth) document onto only one side of a copy sheet to make a simplex end copy sheet for each copy set, and properly inverting this simplex end copy sheet to maintain proper collation and orientation with the other copy sheets in the copy set, which other copy sheets are duplexed by being copied on both sides from the other document sheets of the document set, to pro~ide properly collated output duplex copy sets, each such duplex copy being produced by copying from an even original document on to one side of the copy sheet and from the next lower numbered odd original document in the original document set on to the other side of the copy sheet, or (b) automatically in response to said determining that there are an even (not odd) number of simplex original documents in said original document set, copying all the documents on to opposite sides of respective copy sheets to provide properly collated duplex copies by copying an even document on to one side of each copy sheet and the next lower numbered odd document in the document set on to the opposite side of the copy sheet.
A method for recirculatively copying a set of simplex original document sheets in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to make plural properly collated duplex copy sets by plurally recirculating said document sheets ~or copying them in reverse (descending) serial page order (N to 1) beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, characterised by the steps of automatically determining whether there are an odd or an even number of simplex original document sheets in said document set by counting the total number of document sheets in the set as they are circulated in a first, simple, non-copying circulation, before any docu-ments are copied, automatically in response to the selection ~iq ~ ..
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of duplex copying from said simplex documents;
then ~urther circulating said documents and [a) automatically in response to said determining that there are an odd Inot even) number of simplex original documents in said original document set and said selection of duplex copying, copying said last (Nth) document onto only one side of a copy sheet to make a simplex end copy sheet for each copy set, and properly inverting this simplex end copy sheet to maintain proper collation and orientation with the other copy sheets in the copy set, which other copy sheets are duplexed by being copied on both sides from the other document sheets of the document set, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets, each such duplex copy being produced by copying from an even original document on to one side of the copy sheet and thereafter copying from the next lower numbered odd original document in the origlnal document set on to the other side of the copy sheet, or (b) automatically in response to said determinin~
that there are an even (not odd) number of simplex original documents in said original docume~t set, copying all the documents on to opposlte sides of respective copy sheets to provide properly collated duplex copies by first copying an even document on to one side of each copy sheet and then copying the next lower numbered odd document in the document set on to the opposite side of the copy sheet, and stacking said duplex copies with the odd numbered sides of the copies face-up and in reverse serial number order (N to 1) from bottom to top of the stack.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description, and to the drawing forming a part thereof, wherein:
The Figure is a partial side view of an exemplary copier and a document feeder therefor incorporating the present invention.
Referring to the exemplary copier 10 shown in the Figure, and its exemplary automatic document feeding unit 20, it will be appreciated that various other recirculating document feeding units and copiers may be utilized with the presPnt invention, including various ones disclosed in the above-cited references.
In the recirculating document handler (RDH) 20 here, individual original documents are sequentially fed from the bottom of a stack of documents (placed by the operator face-up in the document storage area or stacking tray 24) to the imaging station 26, which is the conventional platen of the copier 10, to be conventionally imaged onto a photoreceptor 12 for the making of copies in a conventional xerographic mannerO
The document handler 20 has conventional switches such as 29 for sensing and counting the individual documents fed from the tray 24, i.e., counting the number of docu-ment sheets circulated. A conventional resettable bail and its associated switch 31 indicates the completion of each circulation o the complete document set and then is automatically reset on t~e top of the stack before the next circulation. The document feeder 20 is selected or adapted to sexially sequentially feed the documents, which may be conve~ntional sizes and weights of sheets of paper or plastic containing infor-mation indicia to be copied, e.g., printed or typed letters, drawings, prints, photographs, etc.. A bottom feeder 32 feeds the bottom document sheet, on demand, to a platen belt 30 which moves the document into re-gistration over the copier platen. In this documentfeeder 20 each document is inverted as it is fed from the tray 24 to the imaging station 26 around a first inverting path 40.
After the document has thus been turned over once at 40 and copied, there is a decision gate 60 in the document path after the downstream end of the platen ~6~L8~i~
g belt 30 here, comprising pivotable deflector fingers, which determines the further recirculatory movement of the documents through a selected one of two different return transport paths back to the tray 24. These two paths are a Eirst (simplex) transport path 54 and a second (duplex) transport path 58. The second or duplex transport path 58 returns the documents to their storage area 24 for restacking with effectively only a single inversion. In contrast, the first or simplex transport path 5~ transports the documents around a second invert-ing path 54 and returns them to the same restacking tray after having been inverted twice. Therefore, the solenoid or other actuation of the selector gate 60 determines whether the documents are recirculated with a total of one or two inversions. With two inversions (the simplex path 54) the same sides of the documents are exposed in each circulation and are restacked in the tray 24 in each circulation in their original orien-tation. With one inversion (the duplex path 58) the documents are restacked in the tray 2~ inverted from their previous orientation, which provides for copying of the opposite sides or faces of~ the documents on their next circulation. This is only used for copying duplex documents. The exemplary duplex path transport 58 here is provided by a reversable three roller sheet inverter as shown.
Both the simplex transport 54 and duplex trans-port 58 continuously restack the sheets after they are copied on the top of the stack of sheets in the tray ~4. Thus, continuous multiple recirculations for pre-collation copying can be provided.
The exemplary copier 10 processor and its controller lO0 will be described in further detail.
It provides duplex or simplex pre-collated copy sets from either duplex or simplex original documents copied by the RDH 20. Two separate copy sheet trays 106 and L86~
107 are provided here to feed clean copy sheets onto which the images of the documents are to be printed.
The control of sheet feeding is by the machine con-troller 100. The controller 100 is preferably of the known programmable microprocessor type exemplified by the patents cited in the introduction, which conven-tionally also controls all of the other machine fun-ctions described herein including the operation of the document feeder, the document and copy sheet gates, feeder drives, etc..
For pre-printed or blank covers or other non-copy inserts additional inserter trays such as 108 can be provided, if desired, ~or direct output without print-ing, but interleaved with the copies.
The copy sheets are fed ~rom trays 106 or 107 to the conventional xerographic transfer station 112 for imaging one side thereof, then to the conventional fusing station 114. From there, depending on the posi tion of a duplex selector finger or gate 118, the copy sheets will be de~lected either into a duplex buffer intermediate storage tray 116 for duplex copies, or into the copy output path of the copier via an output transport 126. The copy sheets stacked into the duplex tray 116 are stacked image face-up in the order in which they were copied. The duplex tray 116 here includes a bounce reverser 120 and jogger~normal force wheels 122 for assisting the stac~ing of copy sheets therein and assistance in bottom feeding from the duplex tray 116 by a bottom feeder 124. For duplex copying the previously simplexed copy sheets in the tray 116 are fed by the feeder 12~ back to the transfer station 112 for the imaging of their second or opposite side page image. Such now-duplexed copy sheets are then fed out past the now-opened gate 118 into the same output trans-port 126. The output transport 126 transports the finished copy sheets to an output tray, or, preferably, ~L6~86~7 to a finishing station 140 for the stapling, stitching, gluing, binding, and/or off-set stacking of the com-pleted, precollated, copy sets. The copy sheet may be stacked in the finisher in a compilier tray in the order produced without an inverter with the system dis d osed here.
By way of further background, a known problem with reproducing machines which must do both simplexing and duplexing is the maintaining of proper collation of the copy sheets in the output tray. For example, for simplex copy sheets generated in reverse serial order, the copy sheets would be properly collated if they are output stacked in that order (N to 1), and stacked face-up in the output tray. Thus, when the operator picks up the stacked set of completed copy sheets, it will be in the proper forward serial page order (1 to N~ from the top of the stack to the bottom.
The same is true for duplex copies, with the additional requirement that a lower document page number be on the top of the copy sheet and the next higher document page number be on the bottom of the same copy sheet, so that the completed duplex copy set is in the order 1/2; 3/4; 5/6; etc~. ~ di~ficulty is that most dual pass duplex copying systems inherently have an inversion of a duplex copy sheet within the processor as the duplex copy sheet is returned to the transfer station from the duplex tray ~or the printing of the second side image onto the back of the duplex copy sheet.
Thus, typically a duplexed copy sheet receive~ one more inversion than a simplexed copy sheet. Accordingly, the output path for a simplex copy sheets is typically different (i.e., contains one more or one less inver-sions) than the output path for duplex copy sheets in order to maintain the proper collation order of the output sheets.
It is known ~hat this creates a particular ~3L6~67 problem when there is an odd number oE document pages to be copied onto a duplex copy set. In that caser the last page of the set of duplexed copies is really a simplex copy, because with an odd number of original document pages ~he last copy sheet page in the copy set will only have an image on one side thereof, and the other side will be blank. It is known from the above-cited Adamak patent, for example, to be undesir-able to run this last duplex copy sheet page through the transfer station for the pseudo-printing of a blank image on the backside thereof in order to obtain an additional inversion, since this wastes processing time and also can cause undesirable background contamination of the blank backside of this last page sheet. This can be avoided by printing a last todd) page of the duplex copy set on only one side of a clean copy sheet fed from a copy sheet tray, rather than from the duplex buffer tray, i.e., only running this par~icular copy sheet through the processor once. However, this results in the last duplex copy sheet having a different number of inversions, and, therefore, apparently requiring its inversion in order to maintain its collation with the rest of the duplex copy sheets if copied in forward serial order. This inversion adds an addi~ional time delay and potential paper jam site, as well as the additional expense of the inverter mechanism. Further, in order to treat the last duplex page differently, it is necessary to know whether an odd or even p~ge number document is being copied. That is easy to know if the documents are copied from page 1, in forward serial order, but not if the first document copied is the last sheet of an unknown number of documents.
With the present system, these problems are overcome, and the last odd page of the duplex document set can be copied on only one side oE a clean sheet fed from a copy sheet tray and fed out to the copier output without an additional inverter being required.
Assume, as one example here, a five page (five sheet) simplex document set, from which 10 pre-collated copy sets are desired. This is accomplished here with 12 document set circulations.
A first non-copying circulation of this docu~
ment set determines with a count of the sheet sensor switch 29 in conjunction with bail switch 31 whether tbere are an odd or even number of documents. Deter-mining that the number of document pages is odd in thisexample, i.e., that the last document N is 5, the copier controller 100 in the next (second~ circulation of the document set skips the first and subsequent alternate documents and copies only the even pages 4 and 2, in that order [i.e., copies only pages N minus 1 and N
minus 3] and places those even page copy sheets in the duplex buffer tray 116. The other document sheets are circulated in this first copying circulation, but their copying is inhibited and no corresponding copy sheet is fed for them in this first copying circulation.
On the next 9 document circulations in this 10 set example (intermediate circulations 3 to 11) all the documents are copied in the N to 1 order, i.e., 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. However, the copy sheets for page 5 is fed from the copy sheet tray 107 or 106 ~not the duplex buffer tray 116) and after receiving page 5 on only one side thereof is directly outputted, as a sim-ple~ copy. Page 5 is thus face-up in the output to the finisher 140, and the first copy sheet out. Docu-ment page 4 is then copied on a sheet fed from the copy tray 107 or 106 and fed into the duplex buffer tray 116. The next copy sheet is fed from the bottom of the duplex tray 11~ This is the copy sheet on which page 4 had been printed in the previous circulation.
Document page 3 is printed on its opposite face, and, due to the inherent inversion in the processor output ~6~7 path, this second copy sheet out is placed in the output path with its page 3 side face-up and its page 4 side face-down on top of the preceeding page 5 copy sheet.
The next even document page, page 2, is also copied on a clean copy sheet from tray 106 or 107 and fed into the duplex tray 116 on top of the preceeding page 4.
The last copy sheet in each set is fed from the duplex tray 116 and it receives the document page 1 image on the opposite side of the previous page 2 image and is likewise outputted. Thus, in each of these 9 document circulations a complete duplexed outputted copy set is provided stacked in the finisher 140 in the proper collated order 1/2; 3/4; 5/blank; and meanwhile the duplex tray 116 has been refilled with another even-side buffer set.
On the last (12th) document set circulationin this example the above copying sequence is changed in ~hat none of the even document pages~ 2 and 4 in this example, are copied. Thus, l:he duplex buffer tray 116 is emptied out, and not refil:Led, on the last copy-ing circulation, and the final (lt)th) copy set is pro-vided, as taught by the above-cited Adamak patent.
If, in the above example, there had been an even number of documents, e.g. 4, the copier controller would change the copying sequence and not skip the first and subse~uent alternate documents being recirculated in the ~irst copying circulation. Rather, it would skip pages 3 and 1, the second and alternate documents, to copy only the even pages 2 and 4 in the first cir-culation. On the second copying circulation it would~eed the first copy sheet (page 4) to the duplex tray, not to the output, since it is an even page to be du-plexed, as described above.
I~, in the above example, ~here had been only one copy set requested (punched into the copy count selector switch) rather than 10, then only the first and second and last document circulations described above would be utilized. There would be no intermediate circulations in which all documents were copiedO
It may be seen that by the combination here of reverse document page order copying but with auto-matic feeding of only even page copies into the duplex tray, and the feeding of those even page copies back to the processor in the order in which they were copied on their first sides, that proper output collation is maintained even though the last odd document page copy i5 effectively simplexed. To express it another way, with this system, no separate or additional inverter is required for effectively simplexing the last duplex copy sheet when there is an odd number of document pages. Further, this same document handler and copier can be alternatively utiliæed to produce fully simplexed copy seks from the same simplex documents if desired, and these simplex copy sheets will also be in the proper collated output order, i.e., output stacked in N to 1 order, but face-up, so as to form proper 1 to N page order copy sets.
It is important to note that with this system, that the odd lmage page number which is placed on the second side of the copy sheet being duplexed is the preceeding (lower) page number, not the succeeding ~higher) page number. That is, page 3 is printed on the backside of page 4 and not page 5. This is essen-tial for maintaining proper collation here, where the copy sheet is outputted with the last printed side up.
This would be true of a straight-through paper path bottom transfer copier as well as the disclosed top transer copier wi~h one inversion in the output path from the ~ransfer station to the finisher. The present system automatically accomplishes, with this particular reverse serial order copying system, the placement of the next lower odd page number on the back of each copy i7 sheet bearing the immediately previous higher even page number.
It is also important to note that the present system properly and consistently handles letterhead or other pre-printed or pre-punched copy sheet stock or forms for duplex copying for either an odd or even number of duplex, or an even number of simplexJoriginals.
In printing onto letterhead paper, page one, the odd page, must be printed on the front or letterhead side, not the back sides, of the copy sheet. For pre-punched sheets the binder holes must be on the left side of the odd pages. With the present system these restricted copy sheets can desirably always be placed face-up in either of the copy sheet trays, yet will always be properly duplexed, since the proper even page sides are always printed on the back of the copy sheets first as they are fed from the copy trays, and then the odd document pages are copied onto the ront sides of the copy sheets as they are fed from the duplex tray.
Briefly re-describing the disclosed simplex/
duplex copying system, it will be seen that it does not require a separate or variable copy output sheet inverter yet provides proper page order collated output of all copies, even for those copiers like the "Xerox"
"4000" or "5400" which have an inherent inversion in the pa~er path output after transfer (rather than a straight-through paper path). Such a paper path is disclosed here. There is no feeding of a "blank" side copy sheet through the processor for the back of a las~
odd copy page, or its inversion. The documents are alw~ys circulated in N to 1 order (i.e., reverse serial page order) in all circulations. For this purpose, the simple~ document set here is placed face-up in the tray of a document handler which bottom-feeds the docu-ments to the platen. Before ~y~ is initiated, the document set is first initially circulated in one non-6~
copying circulation during which the number of documents is counted. If an even number of simplex documents is counted on ~his first "pre-count" circulation, then on the second (and first copying) circulation the docu-ments are copied in the order N, N minus 2, N minus4, N minus 6, etc.. That is, when the "pre-count"
circulation determines that the last document is an even document, then all even documents (only) are copied in the second document circulation by copying every other document in reverse order starting with the very last document N. The odd document pages are circulated, but not copied. In contrast, if an odd number of docu-ments is counted in the pre-count cycle, then the last sheet N of the document set and the alternate subsequent documents are not copied on the second circulation and the copying sequence is N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, N minus 7, etc.. This also caus~Qs only even document pages to be copied in the second ~first copying) cir-culation even though the last document page is odd rather than even. Thus, an even side buffer set is always placed in the duplex tray for e ther odd or even numbers of documents. After the above-described first two document circulations, all but the last subsequent circulations proceed with copying of all document pages onto copy sheets ~ed alternately from the copy tray and duplex tray, as disclosed in Xerox Patent 4,116,558.
Then on the last document set circulation, only the odd document pages are copied, by reversing the copying sequence for odd and even numbers of documents which was described above for the second circulation.
Referring now to the duplex/duplex system which can be compatibly provided here, the duplex documents may also be loaded face-up and copied in the same N
to 1 (reversed serial) order from the same single docu-ment tray. Here the document inverter for the duplexdocuments is downstream of the platen rather than up-stream. Thus, the duplex documents are also first run through a single dummy (non-copying) circulation, but with inversion to restack ~he documents inverted in the DM tray from their initial orientation. Thus, the even sides of the duplex documents are copied on the seconcl (first copying) circulation and placed in the duplex tray so that the proper page order sequence can be provided in the output of the duplex copy sheets without an inverter. On all subsequent circulations (up to the final one) every duplex document sheet is copied on one side and then inverted before restacking as described in the above-cited U. S.
Patent 4,166,614 and German OLS 2828669. That is, all the odd sides are copied on the third (second copying) circulation onto the opposite sides of the buffer set fed from the duplex tray, then all the even sides are copied in the fourth circulation and placed in the duplex tray, etc., etc.. The duplex documents are inverted during all but the last circu-lation. On the last duplex docu!ment copying pass thedocuments are all copied but are not inverted. The_ re~ore, they are automatically re-collated in the docu-ment handler tray during this last copying circulation.
To improve copy efficiency, an additional feature may be provided if th~re are only two simplex documents in the document set. With only two simplex documents, there is only one copy sheet in each duplex copy set, so collation is not required. If only two document sheets are counted in the document set during the non-copying first circulation, the copying control 100 causes the copier 10 to make multiple rather than single copies of these first and second document sheets in the first copying circulation. That is, the copier automatically switches to a nonprecollation duplex -- 19 -- ~
copying mode in which the selected number of copies, (but limited to the duplex tray 116 capacity~ is made from each document while it is held on the platen with-out circulation, and all these copy sheets are stored into the duplex tray and then the next document is multiply copied onto their opposite sides. If the number of "copy counter" selected copies exceeds the duplex tray capacity, the two documents are re-circu-lated for copying, e.g., for 60 duplex copies of two documents with a 25 sheet capacity duplex tray, 25 copies are made in the first circulation, 25 in the second and ten in the third.
While the duplex copying system disclosed herein is preferred, it will be appreciated that various lS variations, alternatives or improvements thereon may be made by those skilled in the art, and the following claims are intended to encompass those falling within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
patent 4,166,614 issued September 4, 1979.
A preferred feature of the invention is to provide, in a document handling apparatus for plurally recirculating a set o~ simplex original document sheets to a copier to be copied onto both sides of copy sheets to ~orm pre-collated duplex copy sets, an improvement comprising; means for circulating and copying the docu-ments in reverse (decending) serial page order beginning with the last sheet in the document set and ending with the first sheet in the document set, odd/even determin-ing means for automatically determining whether thereare an odd or an even number of original documents in said document set before they are copied; and copying control means, controlled by saicl odd/even determining means, to inhibit copying of the last and alternate sùbse~uent documents on the first copying circulation of said document set in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means that there are an odd number o~ original documents in said set, and to inhibit copying of the next-to-las~ and alternate sub-sequent documents on the first copying circulation ofsaid document set in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means that there are an even _ 7~ 6~7 number of said original documents.
It is a further preferred feature of the in-vention to place a set of simplex original document sheets in a collated face-up stack of 1 to N page order which are individually circulated from the bottom of the stack to the platen of a copier and back to the top of said stack in N to 1 order, with N being the page number of the bottom page of said document stack, wherein said odd/even determining means determines whether N is an odd or even page number, and wherein if N is an odd number, the document sheets are copied in the first copying circulation as controlled by said copying control means in the copying order sequence N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, etc., up to the total number of document sheets in said document set, and in at least the second copying circulation all the document pages are copied and the Nth document page is ~irst copied on only one side of a copy sheet as a simplex copy, and in the last copying circulation that same document set is copied in the copying sequence N, N minus 2, N minus 4, etc., ancl wherein if N is an even number, the documents are copied in the first copying circulation in the order ~l, N minus 2, N minus 4, etc., and copied on the last copying circulation in the order N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, etc~.
Pre~erably said odd/even determining means comprises means to circulate the document set once before it is copied and count the number of sheets in that non-copying circulation~
6~ .
-7a-Various aspects of the invention are as follows:
In a document handling apparatus for plurally recirculating a set of simplex original document sheets to a copier to be copied onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets, the improvement com-prising: means for circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page order beginning with the last sheet in the document set and ending with the first sheet in the document set, odd~even determining means for auto-matically determining whether there are an odd or an evennumber of original documents in said document set before they are copied, and copying control means, controlled by said odd~even determining means, to inhibit copying of the last, or next to last, and alternate subsequent docu-ments on the first copying circulation of said documentset in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or even number of original documents in saicl set to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets without variable output inversion.
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-7b-In the method of recirculatively copying a set of original documents in. a copier onto both sides of copy sh.eets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets, including circulating the document set in reverse (descending) (N to 1) serial page order beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, the improvement comprising the steps of:
automatically determining wh.ether there are an odd or an even number of simplex original documents in said document set by counting the simplex documents as they are so circulated before they are copied, in the first copying circulation of the docu-ment set, copying in said N to 1 order only the last (Nth) and subsequent alternate simplex documents or alternatively only copying the n~xt-to-last (N minus 1) and subsequent alternate simplex documents automa-tically in response to said deter~ining of whether there are an odd or even number of simplex documents in said set, and in all intermediate copying circulations of the document set, copying all of said simplex documents in said N to 1 order, and in the last copying circulation of the document ~5 set, copying the alternate simplex documents not copied on said first copying circulation, to provide a properly collated output of duplex copy sets having consistent copy sheet output inversion.
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-7c- ~ 7 A method for recirculatively copying a set of simplex original documents in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets compri-sin~ the steps of. circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page (N to 1) order beginning with the last sheet N in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, automatically determining whether there are an odd or even number of original documents in said document set by counting the documents as they are so circulated before they are copied, copying only the next-to-last (N minus 1) and subsequent alternate documents on the first copying circulation of said document set in said N to 1 order automatically in response to said determination that there are an odd number of original documents in said set, or alternately automatically copying only the last (N) and alternate subsequent documents on the first copying circulation of said document set in said N to 1 order in response to said determination that there are an even number of said original documents in said set, and copying all of said documents in said N to 1 order in al:L intermediate copy-ing circulations of said document set, and on the last copying circulation, copying the alternate documents not copied on the first copying cixculat:ion, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets with consistent copy sheet output inversion.
In a document handling apparatus for plurally recirculating a set of simplex original document sheets to a copier to be copied onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets, the improvement comprising: means for circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page order beginning with the last sheet in the document set and ending with the first sheet in the document set, and odd/even determining means for automatically determining whether there are an odd or an even number of original documents in said document set before they are copied, and copying control means, controlled -7d-by said odd~even determining means, to control the feeding of copy sets in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or even number of original documents in said set to provide properly collated output duplex copy sheets.
In a method of recirculatively copying a set of original documents in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets., including circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page order beginning with the last sheet in the document set and ending with the first sheet in the document set, automatically determining by odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or an even number of original documents in said document set before they are copied by circulating said document set in a ~irst single non-copying circulation before any of the documents are copied and counting the number of document sheets which are circulated in said first, non-copying circulation, and controlling the feeding of copy sets, in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or even number of origina1 documents in said set to provide properly collated output duplex copy sheets.
A method for recirculativ~ly copying a set of simplex original document sheets in a copier onto both .sides of copy sheets to make plural properly collated duplex copy sets by pluraly recircula~ing said document ~ esC~ 5 sheets for copying in reverse (~e~e ~i~) serial page order (N to 1) beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, characterized by: automatically determining -7e~ 867 whether there are an odd or an even n~nber of simplex original document sheets in said document set by counting the total number of document sheets in the set as they are circulated in a first, single, non-copying circulation, before any documents are copied, automatically in response to the selection of duplex copying from said simplex docu-ments; then, in subsequent (copying) circulations of the document set, automatically in response to said deter-mining that there are an odd (not even) number of simplex documents in said set and said selection of duplex copy-ing, copying said last (Nth) document onto only one side of a copy sheet to make a simplex end copy sheet for each copy set, and properly inverting this simplex end copy sheet to maintain proper collation and orientation with the other copy sheets in the copy set, which other copy sheets are then duplexed by being copied on both sides from the other document sheets of the document set, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets.
A method for recirculatively copying a set of simplex original document sheets in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to make plural properly collated duplex copy sets by plurally recirculating said document sheets for copying in reverse (descehding) serial page order (N to 1) beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the irst sheet (1) in the document set, characterised by the steps of automatically determining whether there are an odd or an e~en number of simplex original document sheets in said document set by counting the total number of document sheets in the set as they are circulated in a first, single, non-copying circulation, before any documents are copies;
then further circulating said documents and (a) automatically in response to said determining that there are an odd (not even) number of simplex original ~.~
..
~ ~L6~LI!367 -7f-documents in said original document set and said selection of duplex copying, copying said last ~Nth) document onto only one side of a copy sheet to make a simplex end copy sheet for each copy set, and properly inverting this simplex end copy sheet to maintain proper collation and orientation with the other copy sheets in the copy set, which other copy sheets are duplexed by being copied on both sides from the other document sheets of the document set, to pro~ide properly collated output duplex copy sets, each such duplex copy being produced by copying from an even original document on to one side of the copy sheet and from the next lower numbered odd original document in the original document set on to the other side of the copy sheet, or (b) automatically in response to said determining that there are an even (not odd) number of simplex original documents in said original document set, copying all the documents on to opposite sides of respective copy sheets to provide properly collated duplex copies by copying an even document on to one side of each copy sheet and the next lower numbered odd document in the document set on to the opposite side of the copy sheet.
A method for recirculatively copying a set of simplex original document sheets in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to make plural properly collated duplex copy sets by plurally recirculating said document sheets ~or copying them in reverse (descending) serial page order (N to 1) beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, characterised by the steps of automatically determining whether there are an odd or an even number of simplex original document sheets in said document set by counting the total number of document sheets in the set as they are circulated in a first, simple, non-copying circulation, before any docu-ments are copied, automatically in response to the selection ~iq ~ ..
6~
7~ ~
of duplex copying from said simplex documents;
then ~urther circulating said documents and [a) automatically in response to said determining that there are an odd Inot even) number of simplex original documents in said original document set and said selection of duplex copying, copying said last (Nth) document onto only one side of a copy sheet to make a simplex end copy sheet for each copy set, and properly inverting this simplex end copy sheet to maintain proper collation and orientation with the other copy sheets in the copy set, which other copy sheets are duplexed by being copied on both sides from the other document sheets of the document set, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets, each such duplex copy being produced by copying from an even original document on to one side of the copy sheet and thereafter copying from the next lower numbered odd original document in the origlnal document set on to the other side of the copy sheet, or (b) automatically in response to said determinin~
that there are an even (not odd) number of simplex original documents in said original docume~t set, copying all the documents on to opposlte sides of respective copy sheets to provide properly collated duplex copies by first copying an even document on to one side of each copy sheet and then copying the next lower numbered odd document in the document set on to the opposite side of the copy sheet, and stacking said duplex copies with the odd numbered sides of the copies face-up and in reverse serial number order (N to 1) from bottom to top of the stack.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description, and to the drawing forming a part thereof, wherein:
The Figure is a partial side view of an exemplary copier and a document feeder therefor incorporating the present invention.
Referring to the exemplary copier 10 shown in the Figure, and its exemplary automatic document feeding unit 20, it will be appreciated that various other recirculating document feeding units and copiers may be utilized with the presPnt invention, including various ones disclosed in the above-cited references.
In the recirculating document handler (RDH) 20 here, individual original documents are sequentially fed from the bottom of a stack of documents (placed by the operator face-up in the document storage area or stacking tray 24) to the imaging station 26, which is the conventional platen of the copier 10, to be conventionally imaged onto a photoreceptor 12 for the making of copies in a conventional xerographic mannerO
The document handler 20 has conventional switches such as 29 for sensing and counting the individual documents fed from the tray 24, i.e., counting the number of docu-ment sheets circulated. A conventional resettable bail and its associated switch 31 indicates the completion of each circulation o the complete document set and then is automatically reset on t~e top of the stack before the next circulation. The document feeder 20 is selected or adapted to sexially sequentially feed the documents, which may be conve~ntional sizes and weights of sheets of paper or plastic containing infor-mation indicia to be copied, e.g., printed or typed letters, drawings, prints, photographs, etc.. A bottom feeder 32 feeds the bottom document sheet, on demand, to a platen belt 30 which moves the document into re-gistration over the copier platen. In this documentfeeder 20 each document is inverted as it is fed from the tray 24 to the imaging station 26 around a first inverting path 40.
After the document has thus been turned over once at 40 and copied, there is a decision gate 60 in the document path after the downstream end of the platen ~6~L8~i~
g belt 30 here, comprising pivotable deflector fingers, which determines the further recirculatory movement of the documents through a selected one of two different return transport paths back to the tray 24. These two paths are a Eirst (simplex) transport path 54 and a second (duplex) transport path 58. The second or duplex transport path 58 returns the documents to their storage area 24 for restacking with effectively only a single inversion. In contrast, the first or simplex transport path 5~ transports the documents around a second invert-ing path 54 and returns them to the same restacking tray after having been inverted twice. Therefore, the solenoid or other actuation of the selector gate 60 determines whether the documents are recirculated with a total of one or two inversions. With two inversions (the simplex path 54) the same sides of the documents are exposed in each circulation and are restacked in the tray 24 in each circulation in their original orien-tation. With one inversion (the duplex path 58) the documents are restacked in the tray 2~ inverted from their previous orientation, which provides for copying of the opposite sides or faces of~ the documents on their next circulation. This is only used for copying duplex documents. The exemplary duplex path transport 58 here is provided by a reversable three roller sheet inverter as shown.
Both the simplex transport 54 and duplex trans-port 58 continuously restack the sheets after they are copied on the top of the stack of sheets in the tray ~4. Thus, continuous multiple recirculations for pre-collation copying can be provided.
The exemplary copier 10 processor and its controller lO0 will be described in further detail.
It provides duplex or simplex pre-collated copy sets from either duplex or simplex original documents copied by the RDH 20. Two separate copy sheet trays 106 and L86~
107 are provided here to feed clean copy sheets onto which the images of the documents are to be printed.
The control of sheet feeding is by the machine con-troller 100. The controller 100 is preferably of the known programmable microprocessor type exemplified by the patents cited in the introduction, which conven-tionally also controls all of the other machine fun-ctions described herein including the operation of the document feeder, the document and copy sheet gates, feeder drives, etc..
For pre-printed or blank covers or other non-copy inserts additional inserter trays such as 108 can be provided, if desired, ~or direct output without print-ing, but interleaved with the copies.
The copy sheets are fed ~rom trays 106 or 107 to the conventional xerographic transfer station 112 for imaging one side thereof, then to the conventional fusing station 114. From there, depending on the posi tion of a duplex selector finger or gate 118, the copy sheets will be de~lected either into a duplex buffer intermediate storage tray 116 for duplex copies, or into the copy output path of the copier via an output transport 126. The copy sheets stacked into the duplex tray 116 are stacked image face-up in the order in which they were copied. The duplex tray 116 here includes a bounce reverser 120 and jogger~normal force wheels 122 for assisting the stac~ing of copy sheets therein and assistance in bottom feeding from the duplex tray 116 by a bottom feeder 124. For duplex copying the previously simplexed copy sheets in the tray 116 are fed by the feeder 12~ back to the transfer station 112 for the imaging of their second or opposite side page image. Such now-duplexed copy sheets are then fed out past the now-opened gate 118 into the same output trans-port 126. The output transport 126 transports the finished copy sheets to an output tray, or, preferably, ~L6~86~7 to a finishing station 140 for the stapling, stitching, gluing, binding, and/or off-set stacking of the com-pleted, precollated, copy sets. The copy sheet may be stacked in the finisher in a compilier tray in the order produced without an inverter with the system dis d osed here.
By way of further background, a known problem with reproducing machines which must do both simplexing and duplexing is the maintaining of proper collation of the copy sheets in the output tray. For example, for simplex copy sheets generated in reverse serial order, the copy sheets would be properly collated if they are output stacked in that order (N to 1), and stacked face-up in the output tray. Thus, when the operator picks up the stacked set of completed copy sheets, it will be in the proper forward serial page order (1 to N~ from the top of the stack to the bottom.
The same is true for duplex copies, with the additional requirement that a lower document page number be on the top of the copy sheet and the next higher document page number be on the bottom of the same copy sheet, so that the completed duplex copy set is in the order 1/2; 3/4; 5/6; etc~. ~ di~ficulty is that most dual pass duplex copying systems inherently have an inversion of a duplex copy sheet within the processor as the duplex copy sheet is returned to the transfer station from the duplex tray ~or the printing of the second side image onto the back of the duplex copy sheet.
Thus, typically a duplexed copy sheet receive~ one more inversion than a simplexed copy sheet. Accordingly, the output path for a simplex copy sheets is typically different (i.e., contains one more or one less inver-sions) than the output path for duplex copy sheets in order to maintain the proper collation order of the output sheets.
It is known ~hat this creates a particular ~3L6~67 problem when there is an odd number oE document pages to be copied onto a duplex copy set. In that caser the last page of the set of duplexed copies is really a simplex copy, because with an odd number of original document pages ~he last copy sheet page in the copy set will only have an image on one side thereof, and the other side will be blank. It is known from the above-cited Adamak patent, for example, to be undesir-able to run this last duplex copy sheet page through the transfer station for the pseudo-printing of a blank image on the backside thereof in order to obtain an additional inversion, since this wastes processing time and also can cause undesirable background contamination of the blank backside of this last page sheet. This can be avoided by printing a last todd) page of the duplex copy set on only one side of a clean copy sheet fed from a copy sheet tray, rather than from the duplex buffer tray, i.e., only running this par~icular copy sheet through the processor once. However, this results in the last duplex copy sheet having a different number of inversions, and, therefore, apparently requiring its inversion in order to maintain its collation with the rest of the duplex copy sheets if copied in forward serial order. This inversion adds an addi~ional time delay and potential paper jam site, as well as the additional expense of the inverter mechanism. Further, in order to treat the last duplex page differently, it is necessary to know whether an odd or even p~ge number document is being copied. That is easy to know if the documents are copied from page 1, in forward serial order, but not if the first document copied is the last sheet of an unknown number of documents.
With the present system, these problems are overcome, and the last odd page of the duplex document set can be copied on only one side oE a clean sheet fed from a copy sheet tray and fed out to the copier output without an additional inverter being required.
Assume, as one example here, a five page (five sheet) simplex document set, from which 10 pre-collated copy sets are desired. This is accomplished here with 12 document set circulations.
A first non-copying circulation of this docu~
ment set determines with a count of the sheet sensor switch 29 in conjunction with bail switch 31 whether tbere are an odd or even number of documents. Deter-mining that the number of document pages is odd in thisexample, i.e., that the last document N is 5, the copier controller 100 in the next (second~ circulation of the document set skips the first and subsequent alternate documents and copies only the even pages 4 and 2, in that order [i.e., copies only pages N minus 1 and N
minus 3] and places those even page copy sheets in the duplex buffer tray 116. The other document sheets are circulated in this first copying circulation, but their copying is inhibited and no corresponding copy sheet is fed for them in this first copying circulation.
On the next 9 document circulations in this 10 set example (intermediate circulations 3 to 11) all the documents are copied in the N to 1 order, i.e., 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. However, the copy sheets for page 5 is fed from the copy sheet tray 107 or 106 ~not the duplex buffer tray 116) and after receiving page 5 on only one side thereof is directly outputted, as a sim-ple~ copy. Page 5 is thus face-up in the output to the finisher 140, and the first copy sheet out. Docu-ment page 4 is then copied on a sheet fed from the copy tray 107 or 106 and fed into the duplex buffer tray 116. The next copy sheet is fed from the bottom of the duplex tray 11~ This is the copy sheet on which page 4 had been printed in the previous circulation.
Document page 3 is printed on its opposite face, and, due to the inherent inversion in the processor output ~6~7 path, this second copy sheet out is placed in the output path with its page 3 side face-up and its page 4 side face-down on top of the preceeding page 5 copy sheet.
The next even document page, page 2, is also copied on a clean copy sheet from tray 106 or 107 and fed into the duplex tray 116 on top of the preceeding page 4.
The last copy sheet in each set is fed from the duplex tray 116 and it receives the document page 1 image on the opposite side of the previous page 2 image and is likewise outputted. Thus, in each of these 9 document circulations a complete duplexed outputted copy set is provided stacked in the finisher 140 in the proper collated order 1/2; 3/4; 5/blank; and meanwhile the duplex tray 116 has been refilled with another even-side buffer set.
On the last (12th) document set circulationin this example the above copying sequence is changed in ~hat none of the even document pages~ 2 and 4 in this example, are copied. Thus, l:he duplex buffer tray 116 is emptied out, and not refil:Led, on the last copy-ing circulation, and the final (lt)th) copy set is pro-vided, as taught by the above-cited Adamak patent.
If, in the above example, there had been an even number of documents, e.g. 4, the copier controller would change the copying sequence and not skip the first and subse~uent alternate documents being recirculated in the ~irst copying circulation. Rather, it would skip pages 3 and 1, the second and alternate documents, to copy only the even pages 2 and 4 in the first cir-culation. On the second copying circulation it would~eed the first copy sheet (page 4) to the duplex tray, not to the output, since it is an even page to be du-plexed, as described above.
I~, in the above example, ~here had been only one copy set requested (punched into the copy count selector switch) rather than 10, then only the first and second and last document circulations described above would be utilized. There would be no intermediate circulations in which all documents were copiedO
It may be seen that by the combination here of reverse document page order copying but with auto-matic feeding of only even page copies into the duplex tray, and the feeding of those even page copies back to the processor in the order in which they were copied on their first sides, that proper output collation is maintained even though the last odd document page copy i5 effectively simplexed. To express it another way, with this system, no separate or additional inverter is required for effectively simplexing the last duplex copy sheet when there is an odd number of document pages. Further, this same document handler and copier can be alternatively utiliæed to produce fully simplexed copy seks from the same simplex documents if desired, and these simplex copy sheets will also be in the proper collated output order, i.e., output stacked in N to 1 order, but face-up, so as to form proper 1 to N page order copy sets.
It is important to note that with this system, that the odd lmage page number which is placed on the second side of the copy sheet being duplexed is the preceeding (lower) page number, not the succeeding ~higher) page number. That is, page 3 is printed on the backside of page 4 and not page 5. This is essen-tial for maintaining proper collation here, where the copy sheet is outputted with the last printed side up.
This would be true of a straight-through paper path bottom transfer copier as well as the disclosed top transer copier wi~h one inversion in the output path from the ~ransfer station to the finisher. The present system automatically accomplishes, with this particular reverse serial order copying system, the placement of the next lower odd page number on the back of each copy i7 sheet bearing the immediately previous higher even page number.
It is also important to note that the present system properly and consistently handles letterhead or other pre-printed or pre-punched copy sheet stock or forms for duplex copying for either an odd or even number of duplex, or an even number of simplexJoriginals.
In printing onto letterhead paper, page one, the odd page, must be printed on the front or letterhead side, not the back sides, of the copy sheet. For pre-punched sheets the binder holes must be on the left side of the odd pages. With the present system these restricted copy sheets can desirably always be placed face-up in either of the copy sheet trays, yet will always be properly duplexed, since the proper even page sides are always printed on the back of the copy sheets first as they are fed from the copy trays, and then the odd document pages are copied onto the ront sides of the copy sheets as they are fed from the duplex tray.
Briefly re-describing the disclosed simplex/
duplex copying system, it will be seen that it does not require a separate or variable copy output sheet inverter yet provides proper page order collated output of all copies, even for those copiers like the "Xerox"
"4000" or "5400" which have an inherent inversion in the pa~er path output after transfer (rather than a straight-through paper path). Such a paper path is disclosed here. There is no feeding of a "blank" side copy sheet through the processor for the back of a las~
odd copy page, or its inversion. The documents are alw~ys circulated in N to 1 order (i.e., reverse serial page order) in all circulations. For this purpose, the simple~ document set here is placed face-up in the tray of a document handler which bottom-feeds the docu-ments to the platen. Before ~y~ is initiated, the document set is first initially circulated in one non-6~
copying circulation during which the number of documents is counted. If an even number of simplex documents is counted on ~his first "pre-count" circulation, then on the second (and first copying) circulation the docu-ments are copied in the order N, N minus 2, N minus4, N minus 6, etc.. That is, when the "pre-count"
circulation determines that the last document is an even document, then all even documents (only) are copied in the second document circulation by copying every other document in reverse order starting with the very last document N. The odd document pages are circulated, but not copied. In contrast, if an odd number of docu-ments is counted in the pre-count cycle, then the last sheet N of the document set and the alternate subsequent documents are not copied on the second circulation and the copying sequence is N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, N minus 7, etc.. This also caus~Qs only even document pages to be copied in the second ~first copying) cir-culation even though the last document page is odd rather than even. Thus, an even side buffer set is always placed in the duplex tray for e ther odd or even numbers of documents. After the above-described first two document circulations, all but the last subsequent circulations proceed with copying of all document pages onto copy sheets ~ed alternately from the copy tray and duplex tray, as disclosed in Xerox Patent 4,116,558.
Then on the last document set circulation, only the odd document pages are copied, by reversing the copying sequence for odd and even numbers of documents which was described above for the second circulation.
Referring now to the duplex/duplex system which can be compatibly provided here, the duplex documents may also be loaded face-up and copied in the same N
to 1 (reversed serial) order from the same single docu-ment tray. Here the document inverter for the duplexdocuments is downstream of the platen rather than up-stream. Thus, the duplex documents are also first run through a single dummy (non-copying) circulation, but with inversion to restack ~he documents inverted in the DM tray from their initial orientation. Thus, the even sides of the duplex documents are copied on the seconcl (first copying) circulation and placed in the duplex tray so that the proper page order sequence can be provided in the output of the duplex copy sheets without an inverter. On all subsequent circulations (up to the final one) every duplex document sheet is copied on one side and then inverted before restacking as described in the above-cited U. S.
Patent 4,166,614 and German OLS 2828669. That is, all the odd sides are copied on the third (second copying) circulation onto the opposite sides of the buffer set fed from the duplex tray, then all the even sides are copied in the fourth circulation and placed in the duplex tray, etc., etc.. The duplex documents are inverted during all but the last circu-lation. On the last duplex docu!ment copying pass thedocuments are all copied but are not inverted. The_ re~ore, they are automatically re-collated in the docu-ment handler tray during this last copying circulation.
To improve copy efficiency, an additional feature may be provided if th~re are only two simplex documents in the document set. With only two simplex documents, there is only one copy sheet in each duplex copy set, so collation is not required. If only two document sheets are counted in the document set during the non-copying first circulation, the copying control 100 causes the copier 10 to make multiple rather than single copies of these first and second document sheets in the first copying circulation. That is, the copier automatically switches to a nonprecollation duplex -- 19 -- ~
copying mode in which the selected number of copies, (but limited to the duplex tray 116 capacity~ is made from each document while it is held on the platen with-out circulation, and all these copy sheets are stored into the duplex tray and then the next document is multiply copied onto their opposite sides. If the number of "copy counter" selected copies exceeds the duplex tray capacity, the two documents are re-circu-lated for copying, e.g., for 60 duplex copies of two documents with a 25 sheet capacity duplex tray, 25 copies are made in the first circulation, 25 in the second and ten in the third.
While the duplex copying system disclosed herein is preferred, it will be appreciated that various lS variations, alternatives or improvements thereon may be made by those skilled in the art, and the following claims are intended to encompass those falling within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (23)
1. In a document handling apparatus for plurally recirculating a set of simplex original document sheets to a copier to be copied onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets, the improvement com-prising: means for circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page order beginning with the last sheet in the document set and ending with the first sheet in the document set, odd/even determining means for auto-matically determining whether there are an odd or an even number of original documents in said document set before they are copied, and copying control means, controlled by said odd/even determining means, to inhibit copying of the last, or next to last, and alternate subsequent docu-ments on the first copying circulation of said document set in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or even number of original documents in said set to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets without variable output inversion.
2. A document handling apparatus according to Claim 1, in which, in response to the determination by said odd/even determining means that there is an odd number of original document sheets, said copying control means causes the single copying of only the next-to-last and subsequent alternate document sheets on the first copying circulation of said document set, and causes the single copying of only the last and alternate subsequent document sheets on the last copying circulation of said document set, and causes the copying of all said document sheets on all copying circulations of said document set between said first and last cir-culations thereof.
3. A document handling apparatus according to Claim 1, in which said set of original document sheets is a collated face-up stack of 1 to N page order simplex documents which are individually circulated from the bottom of said stack to the platen of said copier and back to the top of said stack in N to 1 order, with N being the page number of the bottom page of said document stack; and wherein said odd/even determining means deter-mines whether N is an odd or even page number, and wherein if N is determined to be an odd number, the document sheets are copied in the first copying circulation as controlled by said copying control means in the copying order sequence N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, etc., up to the total number of document sheets in said document set, and in at least the second copying circulation all the document pages are copied and the Nth document page is first copied on only one side of a copy sheet as a simplex copy, and in the last copying circulation the document sheets are copied in the copying sequence N, N minus 2, N minus 4, etc., and wherein if N is determined to be an even num-ber, the documents are copied in the first copying circulation in the order N, N minus 2, N minus 4, etc., and copied on the last copying circulation in the order N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, etc..
4. A document handling apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, in which said copying control means includes duplex buffer means for temporarily storing the copy sheets made of the alternately copied document sheets in said first copying circulation of said document set and for re-presenting all of said temporarily stored copy sheets for the copying of images of alternate document sheets on the opposite sides of all of said stored copy sheets during the sub-sequent circulation of said document set.
5. The document handling apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein when said odd/even determining means determines that there are an odd number of original documents in said document set, the first copy made in at least the second copying circulation is made from the last document page in the document set onto only one side of a blank copy sheet as a simplex copy sheet.
6. The document handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said odd/even determining means comprises means for circulating the document set in a first single non-copying circulation before any of the documents are copied and counting the number of document sheets which are circulated in said first, non-copying circulation.
7. The document handling apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein all of said copies made from said document set have the correct number of copy sheet inversions in their output whether there are an odd or even number of said original documents without an output inverter.
8. The document handling apparatus of Claim 6, wherein if only two document sheets are counted in said document set during said non-copying circulation, said copying control means causes said copier to make multiple copies of said two document sheets in the first copying circulation.
9. The document handling apparatus of Claim 1, wherein in response to the determination by said odd/even determining means that there is an odd number of original document sheets, said copying control means causes the single copying of only the next-to-last and subsequent alternate document sheets on the first copy-ing circulation of said document set, and causes the single copying of only the last and alternate subsequent document sheets on the last copying circulation of said document set, and causes the copying of all said docu-ment sheets on all copying circulations of said document set between said first and last circulations thereof, wherein said set of original document sheet, is a collated face-up stack of 1 to N page order simplex documents which are individually circulated from the bottom of said stack to the platen of said copier and back to the top of said stack in N to 1 order, with N being the page number of the bottom page of said docu-ment stack;
wherein said odd/even determining means deter-mines whether N is an odd or even page number, and wherein if N is determined to be an odd number, the document sheets are copied in the first copying circulation as controlled by said copying control means in the copying order sequence N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, etc., up to the total number of document sheets in said document set, and in at least the second copying circulation all the document pages are copied and the Nth document page is first copied on only one side of a copy sheet as a simplex copy, and in the last copying circulation the document sheets are copied in the copying sequence N, N minus 2, N minus 4, etc., wherein if N is determined to be an even num-ber, the documents are copied in the first copying circulation in the order N, N minus 2, N minus 4, etc., and copied on the last copying circulation in the order N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, etc., wherein said copying control means includes duplex buffer means for temporarily storing the copy sheet made of the alternately copied document sheets in said first copying circulation of said document set and for re-presenting all of said temporarily stored copy sheets for the copying of images of alternate docu-ment sheets on the opposite sides of all of said stored copy sheet during the subsequent circulation of said document set, and when said odd/even determining means determines that there are an odd number of original documents in said document set, the first copy made in at least the second copying circulation is made from the last docu-ment page in the document set onto only one side of a blank copy sheet as a simplex copy sheet, and wherein said odd/even determining means com-prises means for circulating the document set in a first single non-copying circulation before any of the doc-uments are copied and counting the number of document sheets which are circulated in said first, non-copying circulation, wherein all of said copies made from said document set have the correct number of copy sheet inver-sions in their output whether there are an odd or even number of said original documents without an output inverter.
wherein said odd/even determining means deter-mines whether N is an odd or even page number, and wherein if N is determined to be an odd number, the document sheets are copied in the first copying circulation as controlled by said copying control means in the copying order sequence N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, etc., up to the total number of document sheets in said document set, and in at least the second copying circulation all the document pages are copied and the Nth document page is first copied on only one side of a copy sheet as a simplex copy, and in the last copying circulation the document sheets are copied in the copying sequence N, N minus 2, N minus 4, etc., wherein if N is determined to be an even num-ber, the documents are copied in the first copying circulation in the order N, N minus 2, N minus 4, etc., and copied on the last copying circulation in the order N minus 1, N minus 3, N minus 5, etc., wherein said copying control means includes duplex buffer means for temporarily storing the copy sheet made of the alternately copied document sheets in said first copying circulation of said document set and for re-presenting all of said temporarily stored copy sheets for the copying of images of alternate docu-ment sheets on the opposite sides of all of said stored copy sheet during the subsequent circulation of said document set, and when said odd/even determining means determines that there are an odd number of original documents in said document set, the first copy made in at least the second copying circulation is made from the last docu-ment page in the document set onto only one side of a blank copy sheet as a simplex copy sheet, and wherein said odd/even determining means com-prises means for circulating the document set in a first single non-copying circulation before any of the doc-uments are copied and counting the number of document sheets which are circulated in said first, non-copying circulation, wherein all of said copies made from said document set have the correct number of copy sheet inver-sions in their output whether there are an odd or even number of said original documents without an output inverter.
10. In the method of recirculatively copying a set of original documents in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets, including circulating the document set in reverse (descending) (N to 1) serial page order beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, the improvement comprising the steps of:
automatically determining whether there are an odd or an even number of simplex original documents in said document set by counting the simplex documents as they are so circulated before they are copied, in the first copying circulation of the docu-ment set, copying in said N to 1 order only the last (Nth) and subsequent alternate simplex documents or alternatively only copying the next-to-last (N minus 1) and subsequent alternate simplex documents automa-tically in response to said determining of whether there are an odd or even number of simplex documents in said set, and in all intermediate copying circulations of the document set, copying all of said simplex documents in said N to 1 order, and in the last copying circulation of the document set, copying the alternate simplex documents not copied on said first copying circulation, to provide a properly collated output of duplex copy sets having consistent copy sheet output inversion.
automatically determining whether there are an odd or an even number of simplex original documents in said document set by counting the simplex documents as they are so circulated before they are copied, in the first copying circulation of the docu-ment set, copying in said N to 1 order only the last (Nth) and subsequent alternate simplex documents or alternatively only copying the next-to-last (N minus 1) and subsequent alternate simplex documents automa-tically in response to said determining of whether there are an odd or even number of simplex documents in said set, and in all intermediate copying circulations of the document set, copying all of said simplex documents in said N to 1 order, and in the last copying circulation of the document set, copying the alternate simplex documents not copied on said first copying circulation, to provide a properly collated output of duplex copy sets having consistent copy sheet output inversion.
11. A method for recirculatively copying a set of simplex original documents in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets compri-sing the steps of: circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page (N to 1) order beginning with the last sheet N in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, automatically determining whether there are an odd or even number of original documents in said document set by counting the documents as they are so circulated before they are copied, copying only the next-to-last (N minus 1) and subsequent alternate documents on the first copying circulation of said document set in said N to 1 order automatically in response to said determination that there are an odd number of original documents in said set, or alternately automatically copying only the last (N) and alternate subsequent documents on the first copying circulation of said document set in said N to 1 order in response to said determination that there are an even number of said original documents in said set, and copying all of said documents in said N to 1 order in all intermediate copy-ing circulations of said document set, and on the last copying circulation f copying the alternate documents not copied on the first copying circulation, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets with consistent copy sheet output inversion.
12. In a document handling apparatus for plurally recirculating a set of simplex original document sheets to a copier to be copied onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets, the improvement comprising: means for circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page order beginning with the last sheet in the document set and ending with the first sheet in the document set, and odd/even determining means for automatically determining whether there are an odd or an even number of original documents in said document set before they are copied, and copying control means, controlled by said odd/even determining means, to control the feeding of copy sets in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or even number of original documents in said set to provide properly collated output duplex copy sheets.
13. The document handling apparatus of claim 12, wherein said odd/even determining means comprises means for circulat-ing the document set in a first single non-copying circulation before any of the documents are copied and counting the number of document sheets which are circulated in said first, non-copying circulation.
14. The document handling apparatus of claim 12, wherein all of said copies made from said document set have the correct number of copy sheet inversions in their output whether there are an odd or even number of said original documents without an output inverter.
15. In a method of recirculatively copying a set of original documents in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to form pre-collated duplex copy sets, including circulating the documents in reverse (descending) serial page order beginning with the last sheet in the document set and ending with the first sheet in the document set, automatically determining by odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or an even number of original documents in said document set before they are copied by circulating said document set in a first single non-copying circulation before any of the documents are copied and counting the number of document sheets which are circulated in said first, non-copying circulation, and controlling the feeding of copy sets in response to a determination by said odd/even determining means whether there are an odd or even number of original documents in said set to provide properly collated output duplex copy sheets.
16. A method for recirculatively copying a set of simplex original document sheets in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to make plural properly collated duplex copy sets by pluraly recirculating said document sheets for copying in reverse descending serial page order (N to 1) beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, characterized by: automatically determining whether there are an odd or an even number of simplex original document sheets in said document set by counting the total number of document sheets in the set as they are circulated in a first, single, non-copying circulation, before any documents are copied, automatically in response to the selection of duplex copying from said simplex docu-ments; then, in subsequent (copying) circulations of the document set, automatically in response to said deter-mining that there are an odd (not even) number of simplex documents in said set and said selection of duplex copy-ing, copying said last (Nth) document onto only one side of a copy sheet to make a simplex end copy sheet for each copy set, and properly inverting this simplex end copy sheet to maintain proper collation and orientation with the other copy sheets in the copy set, which other copy sheets are then duplexed by being copied on both sides from the other document sheets of the document set, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets
17. The method of claim 10 further including the step of automatically inserting cover sheets interleaved with said duplex copy sheets.
18. A method for recirculatively copying a set of simplex original document sheets in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to make plural properly collated duplex copy sets by plurally recirculating said document sheets for copying in reverse (descending) serial page order (N to 1) beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, characterised by the steps of automatically determining whether there are an odd or an even number of simplex original document sheets in said document set by counting the total number of document sheets in the set as they are circulated in a first, single, non-copying circulation, before any documents are copies;
then further circulating said documents and (a) automatically in response to said determining that there are an odd (not even) number of simplex original documents in said original document set and said selection of duplex copying, copying said last (Nth) document onto only one side of a copy sheet to make a simplex end copy sheet for each copy set, and properly inverting this simplex end copy sheet to maintain proper collation and orientation with the other copy sheets in the copy set, which other copy sheets are duplexed by being copied on both sides from the other document sheets of the document set, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets, each such duplex copy being produced by copying from an even original document on to one side of the copy sheet and from the next lower numbered odd original document in the original document set on to the other side of the copy sheet, or (b) automatically in response to said determining that there are an even (not odd) number of simplex original documents in said original document set, copying all the documents on to opposite sides of respective copy sheets to provide properly collated duplex copies by copying an even document on to one side of each copy sheet and the next lower numbered odd document in the document set on to the opposite side of the copy sheet.
then further circulating said documents and (a) automatically in response to said determining that there are an odd (not even) number of simplex original documents in said original document set and said selection of duplex copying, copying said last (Nth) document onto only one side of a copy sheet to make a simplex end copy sheet for each copy set, and properly inverting this simplex end copy sheet to maintain proper collation and orientation with the other copy sheets in the copy set, which other copy sheets are duplexed by being copied on both sides from the other document sheets of the document set, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets, each such duplex copy being produced by copying from an even original document on to one side of the copy sheet and from the next lower numbered odd original document in the original document set on to the other side of the copy sheet, or (b) automatically in response to said determining that there are an even (not odd) number of simplex original documents in said original document set, copying all the documents on to opposite sides of respective copy sheets to provide properly collated duplex copies by copying an even document on to one side of each copy sheet and the next lower numbered odd document in the document set on to the opposite side of the copy sheet.
19. A method for recirculatively copying a set of simplex original document sheets in a copier onto both sides of copy sheets to make plural properly collated duplex copy sets by plurally recirculating said document sheets for copying them in reverse (descending) serial page order (N to 1) beginning with the last sheet (N) in the document set and ending with the first sheet (1) in the document set, characterised by the steps of automatically determining whether there are an odd or an even number of simplex original document sheets in said document set by counting the total number of document sheets in the set as they are circulated in a first, simple, non-copying circulation, before any docu-ments are copied, automatically in response to the selection of duplex copying from said simplex documents;
then further circulating said documents and (a) automatically in response to said determining that there are an odd (not even) number of simplex original documents in said original document set and said selection of duplex copying, copying said last (Nth) document onto only one side of a copy sheet to make a simplex end copy sheet for each copy set, and properly inverting this simplex end copy sheet to maintain proper collation and orientation with the other copy sheets in the copy set, which other copy sheets are duplexed by being copied on both sides from the other document sheets of the document set, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets, each such duplex copy being produced by copying from an even original document on to one side of the copy sheet and thereafter copying from the next lower numbered odd original document in the original document set on to the other side of the copy sheet, or (b) automatically in response to said determining that there are an even (not odd) number of simplex original documents in said original document set, copying all the documents on to opposite sides of respective copy sheets to provide properly collated duplex copies by first copying an even document on to one side of each copy sheet and then copying the next lower numbered odd document in the document set on to the opposite side of the copy sheet, and stacking said duplex copies with the odd numbered sides of the copies face-up and in reverse serial number order (N to 1) from bottom to top of the stack.
then further circulating said documents and (a) automatically in response to said determining that there are an odd (not even) number of simplex original documents in said original document set and said selection of duplex copying, copying said last (Nth) document onto only one side of a copy sheet to make a simplex end copy sheet for each copy set, and properly inverting this simplex end copy sheet to maintain proper collation and orientation with the other copy sheets in the copy set, which other copy sheets are duplexed by being copied on both sides from the other document sheets of the document set, to provide properly collated output duplex copy sets, each such duplex copy being produced by copying from an even original document on to one side of the copy sheet and thereafter copying from the next lower numbered odd original document in the original document set on to the other side of the copy sheet, or (b) automatically in response to said determining that there are an even (not odd) number of simplex original documents in said original document set, copying all the documents on to opposite sides of respective copy sheets to provide properly collated duplex copies by first copying an even document on to one side of each copy sheet and then copying the next lower numbered odd document in the document set on to the opposite side of the copy sheet, and stacking said duplex copies with the odd numbered sides of the copies face-up and in reverse serial number order (N to 1) from bottom to top of the stack.
20. A method according to claim 19 including in the case where an odd number of simplex documents has been determined:
a first copying circulation of the document set following said non-copying circulation in which only the next-to-last (N-1) and subsequent alternate simplex documents (N-3, etc.), i.e. the even-numbered documents are copied in reverse serial number (N to 1) order on to the first sides of respective blank copy sheets;
one or more intermediate copying circulations of the document set in which all of said simplex documents are copied in said N to 1 order, said Nth (or highest numbered odd) document and said even-numbered documents (N-1, N-3, etc.) being copied on to the first sides of respective blank copy sheets and said remaining odd-numbered documents (N-2, N-4, etc.) being copied on to the second sides of the copy sheets on to which the even-numbered documents were copied in the next previous circulation; and a final copying circulation of the document set in which all of said odd-numbered simplex documents (N, N-2, etc.) are copied in said N to 1 order, said Nth (or highest numbered odd) document being copied on to the first side of a blank copy sheet and said remaining odd-numbered documents (N-2, N-4, etc.) being copied on to the second sides of the copy sheets on to which the even-numbered documents were copied in the next previous circulation.
a first copying circulation of the document set following said non-copying circulation in which only the next-to-last (N-1) and subsequent alternate simplex documents (N-3, etc.), i.e. the even-numbered documents are copied in reverse serial number (N to 1) order on to the first sides of respective blank copy sheets;
one or more intermediate copying circulations of the document set in which all of said simplex documents are copied in said N to 1 order, said Nth (or highest numbered odd) document and said even-numbered documents (N-1, N-3, etc.) being copied on to the first sides of respective blank copy sheets and said remaining odd-numbered documents (N-2, N-4, etc.) being copied on to the second sides of the copy sheets on to which the even-numbered documents were copied in the next previous circulation; and a final copying circulation of the document set in which all of said odd-numbered simplex documents (N, N-2, etc.) are copied in said N to 1 order, said Nth (or highest numbered odd) document being copied on to the first side of a blank copy sheet and said remaining odd-numbered documents (N-2, N-4, etc.) being copied on to the second sides of the copy sheets on to which the even-numbered documents were copied in the next previous circulation.
21. A method according to claim 20 including in the case where an even number of simplex documents has been determined:
a first copying circulation of the document set following said non-copying circulation in which only the last (N) and subsequent alternate simplex documents (N-2, etc.), i.e. the even-numbered documents, are copied in reverse serial number (N to 1) order on to the first sides of respective blank copy sheets;
one or more intermediate copying circulations of the document set in which all of said simplex documents are copied in said N to 1 order, said even-numbered documents (N, N-2, etc.), being copied on to the first sides of respective blank copy sheets and said odd-numbered documents (N-1, N-3, etc.), being copied on to the second sides of the copy sheets on to which the even-numbered documents were copied in the next previous circulation; and a final copying circulation of the document set in which only the odd-numbered documents (N-1, N-3, etc,) are copied in said N to 1 order on to the second sides of the copy sheets on to which the even-numbered documents were copied in the next previous copying circulation.
a first copying circulation of the document set following said non-copying circulation in which only the last (N) and subsequent alternate simplex documents (N-2, etc.), i.e. the even-numbered documents, are copied in reverse serial number (N to 1) order on to the first sides of respective blank copy sheets;
one or more intermediate copying circulations of the document set in which all of said simplex documents are copied in said N to 1 order, said even-numbered documents (N, N-2, etc.), being copied on to the first sides of respective blank copy sheets and said odd-numbered documents (N-1, N-3, etc.), being copied on to the second sides of the copy sheets on to which the even-numbered documents were copied in the next previous circulation; and a final copying circulation of the document set in which only the odd-numbered documents (N-1, N-3, etc,) are copied in said N to 1 order on to the second sides of the copy sheets on to which the even-numbered documents were copied in the next previous copying circulation.
22. A method according to any of claims 18, 19 or 20 further including the step of automatically inserting cover sheets interleaved with said duplex copy sheets.
23. A method according to claim 21 further including the step of automatically inserting cover sheets interleaved with said duplex copy sheets.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US5785579A | 1979-07-16 | 1979-07-16 | |
| US057,855 | 1979-07-16 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1161867A true CA1161867A (en) | 1984-02-07 |
Family
ID=22013141
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000355033A Expired CA1161867A (en) | 1979-07-16 | 1980-06-27 | Recirculating documents duplex copier |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0022680B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5617359A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1161867A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3072199D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3232210A1 (en) * | 1982-08-30 | 1984-03-01 | Agfa-Gevaert Ag, 5090 Leverkusen | Sheet-conveying device in a copier |
| EP0108840B1 (en) * | 1982-09-21 | 1987-04-29 | Xerox Corporation | Higher productivity recirculative document copying |
| DE3275489D1 (en) * | 1982-09-21 | 1987-04-02 | Xerox Corp | Higher productivity recirculative document copying |
| JPS59216160A (en) * | 1983-05-25 | 1984-12-06 | Canon Inc | Both-side copying method of one-side original |
| US4561772A (en) * | 1983-05-25 | 1985-12-31 | Xerox Corporation | Recirculative document duplex copying |
| US4536078A (en) * | 1983-05-25 | 1985-08-20 | Xerox Corporation | Recirculative document duplex copying |
| JPH063556B2 (en) * | 1983-05-25 | 1994-01-12 | キヤノン株式会社 | Double-sided copy control method using single-sided original |
| JPH0616193B2 (en) * | 1983-05-27 | 1994-03-02 | キヤノン株式会社 | Circulating automatic document feeder |
| JPS60249163A (en) * | 1984-05-25 | 1985-12-09 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Method for controlling copying machine |
| JPS61159668A (en) * | 1984-12-31 | 1986-07-19 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Both-surface copying method |
| US4660963A (en) * | 1985-12-30 | 1987-04-28 | Xerox Corporation | Auto duplex reproduction machine |
| JP2565878B2 (en) * | 1986-10-16 | 1996-12-18 | 株式会社東芝 | Electronic copier |
| EP0529692B1 (en) * | 1986-11-04 | 1997-07-09 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | A sheet finisher |
| JPH03132770A (en) * | 1989-10-19 | 1991-06-06 | Canon Inc | Image forming device |
| JP2622048B2 (en) * | 1991-12-25 | 1997-06-18 | シャープ株式会社 | Copier equipped with recirculating document feeder |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3588472A (en) * | 1966-11-18 | 1971-06-28 | Xerox Corp | Logic control apparatus |
| US4098551A (en) * | 1975-02-13 | 1978-07-04 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Both side copying machine |
| US3937454A (en) * | 1975-05-16 | 1976-02-10 | Colwill Richard H | Sheet recirculator |
| US4076408A (en) * | 1976-03-30 | 1978-02-28 | Eastman Kodak Company | Collating document feeder with multiple feed detector |
| US4512651A (en) * | 1977-07-05 | 1985-04-23 | Eastman Kodak Company | Collating document feeder and reproduction apparatus having copy duplexing capabilities |
| US4125325A (en) * | 1977-08-30 | 1978-11-14 | Xerox Corporation | Automatic duplex control system for a reproduction machine |
| US4162844A (en) * | 1977-08-30 | 1979-07-31 | Xerox Corporation | Reproduction machine with duplex image shift |
| US4159500A (en) * | 1977-11-17 | 1979-06-26 | Reliable Electric Company | Modular line protector |
-
1980
- 1980-06-27 CA CA000355033A patent/CA1161867A/en not_active Expired
- 1980-07-14 JP JP9616780A patent/JPS5617359A/en active Granted
- 1980-07-16 DE DE8080302390T patent/DE3072199D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1980-07-16 EP EP19800302390 patent/EP0022680B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS5617359A (en) | 1981-02-19 |
| JPH0310943B2 (en) | 1991-02-14 |
| EP0022680A1 (en) | 1981-01-21 |
| DE3072199D1 (en) | 1992-04-30 |
| EP0022680B1 (en) | 1992-03-25 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |