International Business Machines Corporation

Terence Travis

Wayne E Robbins

David E Finlay

Paul R Spivey

Roger E Kuseski

Donald Richard Andrews

Noreen A Hannigan

Copy production machine having a print mode for making copies under automatic control interruptible by a copy mode of making copies. In the print mode images to be copied are automatically supplied to a copy production portion. In the copy mode, a variety of image supplying techniques may be employed. Copy output means separate copies made from the two modes. In the print mode images are preferably precollated whereas in the copy, mode produced copies are collated. In a print mode plural image sources may be employed, such sources being activated ad seriatim.

Copy production machines

Expandable memory system having add-on modules beginning at fixed address boundaries, e.g., 2K (K=1024), and having verification and authorization features. A non-volatile memory stores a bit corresponding to each 2K memory boundary. When an add-on program is authorized at a particular boundary address, the corresponding bit is set. The base program checks each bit and, if it is set, reads the first location of the corresponding add-on program. If the data read from the new module matches some reference, e.g., the boundary address itself, then program control branches to the add-on program. Additional verification features include cyclic redundancy checks of the added code. Alternative operation includes branching to a verified add-on program that tests its own authorization bit which, if reset, causes a branch to the next verified add-on program, and so on.

Add-on programs with code verification and control

A copy production machine is capable of having copies from plural independent copy runs in a copy sheet transport path at a given instant. Such independent runs are combined to produce duplex (double-sided) copies. Recovery from jams in such duplex operations is described. The described system also distinguishes between copy sheets having images and non-imaged copy sheets. Apparatus and procedures are described for utilizing the counts for precisely recovering from loss of copy sheets due to a jam or other stoppage condition. Control of a billing meter is also disclosed.

Automatic copy recovery

A copy production machine controlled by a programmed computer in which the computer control programs include synchronous and asynchronous portions. The asynchronous portions are repetitively executed in loop form for checking operating components and servicing operator control panels. The synchronous portions are executed in timed relation to the operation of the machine. The execution of the programs is coordinated via a set of memory registers accessible by the computer during execution of both program portions.

Programmed copier control

A copy production machine selectively interleaves copy separation sheets between successive copy jobs, subjobs or job portions. The copy separation sheets can be from the same copy sheet supply source or from an alternate source. The supplied copy separation sheets need not be operated upon by the copy production machines for receiving an image. Such sheets may have been preimaged under certain situations. Before and after a copy job, the number of separation sheets supplied has a predetermined relationship to the number of copy receiving bins in an output portion receiving the copy separation sheets. The number of separator sheets supplied intermediate successive runs of a copy job equals the number of copies to be produced in the next succeeding copy run. The effective capacity of a collator is extended by such interleaving plus a programmable control that tallies copies made versus copies selected greater than the capacity of a collator such that the collator job is automatically segmented.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Terence Travis