Method and apparatus for controlling the duplex copy mode in an electrostatic copying device

A document reproduction machine having a document reproduction path for transporting copies of images being reproduced, a plurality of document reproducing stations disposed along said path, an exit portion in said path, an interim storage means for receiving single-image duplex copies, means for removing said single-image duplex copies one at a time from said interim storage means, an entry portion in said path adapted to receive blank copies from a paper supply and said removed single-image duplex copies, said machine being operable in either one of simplex or duplex modes,

• the improvement including in combination:
• means indicating a copy residing in said interim storage means;
• means indicating a change between said machine modes;
• and
• means jointly responsive to both said indicating means to actuate said document reproduction path to transport said copy from said interim storage means into said exit portion.

A document reproduction machine having a plurality of image processing stations, means including a paper path to transport copies being made past a transfer one of said stations to an exit portion, interim copy storage means in said paper path for storing partially reproduced copies,

• the improvement including in combination:
• means indicating a predetermined machine state relating to duplex copy production;
• and
• means responsive to said indication to automatically transfer said partially reproduced copies to said exit portion.

The method of operating a document reproduction machine designed to produce double-image duplex copies in a duplex mode, the machine operable in other than said duplex mode, an interim storage unit for storing single-image duplex copies,

• the steps of:
• selecting a mode of operation for said machine;
• immediately after said selection, indicating whether or not copy paper resides in said interim storage means -- if copies are indicated in said interim storage means, emptying said interim storage by moving copies to an exit portion through a paper path including an image transfer station;
• and
• inhibiting image transfers during said emptying.

The method of operating a document reproduction machine having an interim storage unit for holding single-image duplex copies when said machine is in a duplex copy production mode;

• transporting double-image duplex copies to an exit portion of said machine;
• the steps of:
• indicating end of a duplex copy production run;
• indicating that single-image duplex copies remain in said interim storage unit after the end of said duplex copy production run;
• while both said indications are active, transporting said single-image duplex copies to said exit portion;
• and
• removing one of said indications to stop said transporting.

A copy production machine having an image input section, a copy production portion and an output portion,

• a copy sheet transport means beginning in said copy production portion and extending into said output portion for transporting copy sheets between said portions,
• a billing meter actuated in accordance with the number of copy sheets transported through said copy sheet transport means,
• means indicating an auxiliary copy sheet transport operation,
• means normally imposing images on copy sheets being transported in said copy sheet transport means through said copy production portion, and
• means responsive to said auxiliary indication to inhibit said imposing image means and said billing meter during an auxiliary operation indicated by said auxiliary indication.