Abstract: In a plural color printer or copier in which marking materials (e.g., toner) of at least first and second different colors are utilized, especially where the first color is the most commonly used (normally, black), with a common cleaning system for removing marking materials not fully utilized for imaging; an automatically actuated gate system selectively connects the cleaning system via a transport path to a purging dump, or, connects the cleaning system to a toner reclaim path to the image development station using that toner. The gate system is maintained in the purging position when the printer or copier is utilizing any marking material of the second or other colors. The gate is maintained in the reclaim position when the printer or copier is solely utilizing the first marking material. There is also a preset purge cycle delay of the actuation of the gate following from whenever the printer or copier starts solely utilizing the first marking material of the first color, i.e.