Duplicating system

Abstract

A duplicating system for producing collated copy sets from precollated information. The precollated information is stored on a reversibly driven and reversibly developed web member which is driven past a first copy transfer station when moving in a first direction and past a second copy transfer station when driven in a reverse direction. A development station is positioned in the path of the web to develop the precollated information thereon when the web is moving in either direction. Copy sheets are fed by a first transport past the first transfer station to produce copies thereof when the web is moving in a first direction. Copies are fed by a second transport past the second transfer station to produce copies from the developed web member when the web is moved in a reverse direction. The copies are fed to a first copy receiving tray face down when the web is moving in one direction and to a second copy receiving tray face up when the web is moving in a reverse direction. In this manner, two stacks or sets of copies are reproduced in collated order from the precollated information on the web. Upon repeating the steps of the duplicating process additional copy sets in precollated order can be obtained. The web may take the form of a lithographic master, a magnetic tape, flexographic master or a xeroprinting master.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.