Document handling system

In an automatic handling system of a copying apparatus for making pre-collated copy sheet sets by repeated collated imaging of a set of original document sheets, the improvement comprising:

• an elongated windable document holding first web with a document side thereof being adapted for supporting said imaging documents thereon;
• first web scroll means wound from one end of said first web and inside wound from said document side for winding up a set of otherwise unattached documents on only said first web into said first scroll means and for retaining the documents between the turns of only said first web in said first scroll means;
• second web scroll means wound from the opposite end of said first web, said second scroll means being outside wound, in the same winding direction as said first scroll means;
• a second elongated windable document retaining web;
• said second web being commonly interleavingly wound with said first web on only said second web scroll means from one end of said second web to retain documents in said second scroll means between turns of said first and second webs;
• means for winding a third web scroll from the opposite end of said second web;
• said first web having a minor intermediate unwound exposed segment extending between said first and second scroll means for the imaging of documents on said first web;
• means for recirculatingly winding and unwinding said first web between said first web scroll means and second web scroll means to recirculatingly expose individual documents on said intermediate segment of said first web between said first and second web scroll means in a pre-collated order;
• optical imaging means for imaging documents on said intermediate segment of said first web between said first and second web scroll means for copying of said documents in a pre-collated order;
• said second web normally merging with said document supporting side of said first web between said intermediate segment and said second scroll means, but separating from said first web before said intermediate segment so that documents are not imaged through said second web by said optical imaging means.