Abstract: A job processing method and apparatus are provided for allowing an operator of an electronic reprographic system to be able to select deferred actions for inactive print jobs which are automatically initiated upon the detection of a specified triggering event. The job processing instruction set associated with the inactive job is implemented as soon as system resources are available after detection and identification of the triggering event. The triggering event can be one of a predetermined set of system operating conditions.

Abstract: An automatic document imaging mode selection system in a system for generating electronic images of documents, in which documents may be variously fed or registered on a document imaging platen with a plural mode automatic document handling system. Various document handling and/or image scanning modes of operation are automatically selected from among various available potential such modes by accessing various document handling status information and/or sensor inputs, and coordinating that information to automatically select an optimum such mode where the operator has not specifically selected a mode. This may further include automatically determining whether or not to conduct a special pre-scan cycle before image scanning is initiated, and/or taking into consideration inferences as to whether or not the document(s) had been previously imaged. It may further or additionally include automatically changing the registration or scanning position for the particular document in accordance with the mode selection.

Abstract: A fault clearance and recovery operation in an electronic reprographic system comprises storing in memory clearance and recovery instructions for specific system faults, monitoring the system for fault occurrence and accessing displaying the stored instructions upon detection of a fault occurrence. Faults having similar recovery features are classified into buckets to facilitate the clearance and recovery operations.

Abstract: An electronic printer with a scanner for scanning the document pages of a job and converting the document images scanned to pixels, a printer for making prints of the documents from the pixels in accordance with job programming instructions, the scanner and printer operating asynchronously with respect to one another, and interruption of a job to process a special job is effected by interrupting the job currently being scanned by the scanner to scan the special job while continuing printing of other jobs in the print queue, and when the special job is ready, interrupting the job being printed to print the special job while resuming scanning of the interrupted job, and then continuing the printing of the interrupted job upon completion of the special job.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling software object faults in an electronic reprographic system for scanning and synchronously or asynchronously processing and printing a plurality of jobs are described. The system is monitored for the occurrence of software object faults in a job, and when such faults are identified, the operator is informed of such software object faults prior to processing of the object. The system is provided with the means to process another object without operator intervention prior to correction of the faulted object, and to proceed with processing the faulted object after correction of the fault.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering from faults occurring in an electronic reprographic system capable of processing and printing a multiplicity of jobs is described. The invention provides for the monitoring of the system for the occurrence of faults in a job, interrupting printing of the job upon the occurrence of a fault and determining in which of two fault categories the fault belongs, including an automatic resumption category and a manual resumption category. The invention further provides for automatically resuming the printing of the job without operator intervention in response to clearance of a fault categorized in the automatic resumption category.

Abstract: An electronic printer with a scanner for scanning the document pages of a job and converting the document images scanned to pixels, a printer for making prints of the documents from the pixels in accordance with job programming instructions, the scanner and printer operating asynchronously with respect to one another, and proofing of one or more pages of a job is effected by interrupting the job currently being scanned by the scanner to scan the proof job while continuing printing of other jobs in the print queue, and when the proof job is ready, interrupting the job being printed to print the proof job while resuming scanning of the interrupted job.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an electronic reprographic system upon detection of a fault are described. Original documents of a job to be printed are scanned to provide images for storage. When scanning is interrupted, the last captured image is stored and selectively displayed. If scanning is not completed before the interruption, the system is monitored for the occurrence of a fault before scanning is resumed. The detection of a fault occurrence requires clearance of the paper path before scanning operation can be resumed. If scanning is completed, printer operation is enabled to provide image output. Partially completed scan jobs resulting from scanner interruption are saved in operator accessible memory.

Abstract: A reproduction or printing machine including a finisher having a stack mode, a staple set mode, and a bound set mode and a tray for receiving copy sheets delivered to the finisher to be operated in any of these modes. The reproduction machine includes a controller for instructing the finisher to change from a first mode to a second mode and an operating panel having a switch to initiate the change. After initiation of the mode change at the operator panel, the controller delays by a first time period the instruction to the finisher to change the mode of operation and, also, delays by a second time period the transfer of the copy sheets to the tray in the finisher. The second time period delay depends upon the finishing mode the machine is running in and the requested new finishing mode.

Abstract: Various operating modes of the reproduction machine require the use of an automatic document handler, a finisher station, and a dedicated duplex tray. Various machine malfunctions require different degrees of operator intervention and job recovery. Depending upon the clearance procedures required, the machine will automatically make up for lost or damaged copy sheets with a minimum amount of operator intervention, loss of copy sheets and efficient use of the machine operating components. In particular, for automatic duplex operation, the dedicated duplex tray is primed with certain copies of the documents to be copied in a predetermined sequence. Job recovery is an automatic procedure to reprime or add to the copy sheets already in the dedicated duplex tray to make up for lost or damaged copies in the set without necessarily having to reject a whole set having partial copies in process or copies destroyed in the operator intervention activity. Job recovery for other machine elements is also included.

Abstract: A document sensing and control system for a document handling system for feeding documents across the imaging station of a copier. At a document input area two document sensors are centrally positioned respectively at the upstream and downstream sides of a pre-registration gate to sense the presence or absence of documents to control the document handling system in a desired manner during its operating cycle. Protection is provided, without requiring additional sensors, against improper insertion of documents into the document handling unit, over or under sized documents, document misfeeding, and lifting of the document handling unit away from the platen.