Abstract: The invention is directed to a high-speed document-processing machine, comprising a diverse-set-compilation section, comprising a burster having a local non-Distributed Control System controller; a reader and an accumulator having a reader/accumulator Distributed Control System Local Control Module; a folder and a diverter having a folder/diverter Distributed Control System Local Control Module; a buffer having a buffer Distributed Control System Local Control Module; wherein all of said Local Control Modules are interconnected via a multi-drop communication link; said burster local non-distributed control system is connected to said reader/accumulator Local Control Module via a communication link; and, said reader/accumulator Local Control Module is a Command Module including means for dynamically controlling the speed of said burster based on the state of one or more variables affecting the speed at which downstream devices can operate.

Abstract: A document processing machine includes a sheet supplying apparatus for supplying a seriatim stream of sheets; an accumulator for accumulating the stream of sheets into sets; a reader for reading a mark on a document and decoding the mark to obtain information regarding the set to which the document belongs; a buffer for storing accumulated sets; and a controller for controlling a speed at which the sheet supplying apparatus operates based upon the state of one or more variables affecting the speed at which downstream devices can process sheets. Such variable include, e.g., the number of accumulated sets in the buffer, the number of sheets in a set being processed, the form length of sheets within a set being processed, and the speed at which a downstream base insertion machine can receive sets.

Abstract: A multi-stage, serpentine-shaped buffer has an entry area for receiving documents, a first level comprising a first plurality of document stages, a first turn-around for substantially reversing the direction of document travel following said first plurality of stages, a second level vertically adjacent to said first level, said second level comprising a second plurality of document stages, a second turn-around for substantially reversing the direction of document travel, and a third level vertically adjacent to said second level, said third level comprising a third plurality of document stages.