Document feeder system having a suspending/commencing mode with a

Abstract

A document feeder system, interfaced with a copier system, with, inter alia, a semi-automatic document feeder (SADF), an automatic document feeder (ADF), a prior task document judgment queue and an associated logic control system that allows the suspending of a prior task being run on either of the foregoing document feeders and the commencing of a subsequent or urgent task on any one of the other foregoing document feeders. This feeder suspending/commencing mode is carried out with a judgment decision capability based on judgment criteria consisting of the combination of certain predetermined prior and subsequent tasks information. Thus, when an urgent task operator selects a feeder suspending/commencing mode button, a single control panel is instantly made available so that the urgent task copy quantity and feature selections can be made. After the foregoing is accomplished, a judgment decision is made as whether to finish the copying of the original document on the document viewing glass and eject it into a prior task exit pocket and then enable the chosen urgent task feeder, or whether to feed the original document on the document viewing glass to the prior task document judgment queue for storage and subsequent feeding back onto the document viewing glass after the urgent task is completed. Whichever decision is made, the prior task status is retained for recall without having to reformat the single control panel. Accordingly, when the urgent task is completed, the urgent task operator de-selects the feeder suspending/commencing mode button thereby causing the copy quantity and feature selections of the prior task to be reentered into the single control panel and the re-commencing of the prior task without further operator intervention.