Priority interrupt during editing mode

A document copier comprising:

• a job image buffer capable of holding a predetermined amount of data;
• production means operable (1) for converting images on original documents to electronic bit stream data in image frame format for input to said job image buffer and (2) for reproducing pages from image frames stored in said job image buffer;
• interrupt means of interrupting said production means operation so that a job of higher priority can be processed, wherein said higher priority job is limited to a single image frame such that duplex copies and multi-color copies which require more than one image frame to produce are excluded;
• and
• means for resuming operation of said production means operation upon completion of the .higher priority job.

A document copier comprising:

• a job image buffer capable of holding a predetermined amount of data;
• production means operable (1) for converting images on original documents to electronic bit stream data in image frame format for input to said job image buffer and (2) for reproducing pages from image frames stored in said job image buffer;
• interrupt means of interrupting said production means operation so that a job of higher priority can be processed;
• means for disabling said interrupt means when there is insufficient space in said job image buffer for storing the data for said higher priority job;
• and
• means for resuming operation of said production means upon completion of the higher priority job.

A document copier comprising:

• a job image buffer capable of holding a predetermined amount of data;
• production means operable (1) for converting images on original documents to electronic bit stream data in image frame format for input to said job image buffer and (2) for reproducing pages from image frames stored in said job image buffer;
• interrupt means of interrupting said production means operation so that a job of higher priority can be processed;
• means for storing the data for said higher priority job in said job image buffer;
• means for producing said higher priority job from data stored in said job image buffer;
• means for erasing the data for said higher priority job from said job image buffer after only one copy is produced, whereby multiple copies of said higher priority job cannot be produced, and
• means For resuming operation of said production means upon completion of the higher priority job.