Abstract: An automatic method and copier apparatus for producing a transparent foil copy and a paper backup sheet of an original document sheet is disclosed. Two modes of operation are described. One mode produces one foil copy and a paper backup copy. A second mode produces one foil copy and a blank backup sheet. A copier is disclosed having two paper supply bins. Blank foils are loaded into one bin, whereas blank paper is loaded into the other bin. In the first mode of operation, two consecutive copies are made of each original document. One copy is made on blank foil taken from said one bin, followed by a second copy made on a blank sheet of copy paper taken from said other bin. In the second mode of operation, one copy is made on blank foil, followed by feeding a sheet of blank paper without making a copy thereon. In each mode of operation, the result is a two sheet set comprising a first foil sheet and a second paper sheet.

Abstract: A method for producing duplex copies from a duplex original wherein only one copy of the odd or even sides of the original documents is made during the first circulation of the originals to and from the exposure platen. During each subsequent circulation of the original documents, excluding the last circulation, two copies of the odd or even sides of the original are produced and either stored in a buffer tray if one side of the copy sheet is blank or transported to an exit tray if duplex copying has been completed on the copy sheet. Only one copy of the odd or even sides of the original documents are made during the last circulation and transfered to the blank sides of the copy sheets in the buffer tray to complete a duplex copy.

Abstract: A peripheral processing controller controls time-shared access to a memory by specialized peripheral devices. The specialized peripheral devices process data independently of a central processor that simply supervises the system. The peripheral processing controller uses predetermined modes of memory space allocation for the various peripheral devices. A memory address register in the controller is assigned to each peripheral device. In addition, each MAR has one or more predefined modes of memory space allocation and, when active, controls memory access for its assigned peripheral device. The modes also define the size of the block of space allocated and whether memory access scrolls through various blocks of space or jumps between blocks of space. The controller also detects when a peripheral device has consumed all the space in a block.

Abstract: A document distribution terminal is organized with two supervisory processing units, one to control the data entry and data printing and the other to control the terminal. Each of these processing units only performs control functions. All of the data processing is performed by various specialized devices preparing the document data for transmission or for printing. Further, the terminal is organized with two interfaces and an adapter coupling the two interfaces. The terminal-controlling processing unit supervises one interface that interconnects all of the specialized devices. The other processing unit, that controls the data entry and data printing devices, supervises the second interface. Once the supervisory processing units have set up a job in the terminal, the data transfer across the two interfaces is substantially under the control of logic in the adapter.

Abstract: A document distribution terminal can be required to process large volumes of data. To do this rapidly and efficiently, the terminal herein is organized to process all of the data in specialized peripheral devices. A supervising central processing unit (CPU) controls the terminal but does not perform any data processing. The functions of entering data, scanning documents, encrypting data, compressing data, transceiving data, decompressing data, decrypting data and printing data are all performed in parallel by specialized devices working directly with a memory. A peripheral processing controller is initialized by the CPU. The controller then controls time-shared access to the memory by the specialized devices, such as devices used for processing data representing facsimile images.

Abstract: A linear image sensor and the video channel associated with the sensor are calibrated to maximize the video signal available. The sensor is limited in output by saturation of the CCD analog shift registers in the sensor. The channel is limited by the range of the analog-to-digital converter in the channel. The useable video signal is maximized by calibrating the sensor relative to its saturation condition and by adjusting the gain of the video channel relative to the range of the analog-to-digital converter. The sensor is calibrated by adjusting its exposure to illumination. The adjustment may be made by adjusting the illumination source or by changing the sampling interval for the sensor. The gain is adjusted by using a variable gain amplifier. A microprocessor monitors the digitized video signal and controls the exposure and gain to calibrate the sensor and channel.