Method and apparatus for improved job stream printing in an electronic printer with various finishing function

An electronic reprographic apparatus for scanning, processing, printing and finishing at least a first and second job in a job streaming mode of operation comprising:

• scanner means for scanning at least a first and second set of original documents which comprise at least said first job;
• storage means adapted to store image data of said documents for current and subsequent processing,
• printer means for printing copies of said stored image data,
• finisher means for collating said printed copies into at least said first and second sets, said finisher means further adapted to secure each of said sets by means of a selected finishing activity, and
• controller means for controlling operation of the scanner, storage, printer and finishing means, said controller means including job scheduling means for determining a minimum number of finishing skip pitches required to prevent job overlap in said finishing means.

A method of operating an electronic printer in a multi-job streaming mode including at least a first and second job to make at least first and second finished sets of documents comprising the steps of:

• programming the printer with printing and finishing instructions for each job,
• scanning a plurality of document pages comprising each of said at least first and second jobs and converting the scanned pages into electronic pages,
• combining said electronic pages of each job with the printing and finishing instructions to provide job files for each of said jobs,
• storing said job files in memory pending printing,
• forming a print queue with said jobs in a preset printing priority for successive accessing of print files thereof when printing said jobs,
• printing said jobs successively and forming a job collating queue comprising at least a first and second collated set of printed copies,
• providing a set securing finishing activity and
• automatically calculating a total number of finishing skip pitch times to determine an optimum time to commence printing and collating of stored electronic signals such that the finishing actually being performed on a first set is completed and the second collated set ready to be accepted for the finishing activity with a minimum finishing delay time.

In an electronic printer having a copy set finisher wherein two or more sets forming a set scheduling group are to be printed concurrently in a multi-set scheduling mode, a method of optimizing set overlap in said finisher including the steps of:

• determining a number of finisher pitches required to complete finishing activity on a first set scheduling group,
• determining a number of print pitches required to print the second set scheduling group,
• subtracting the print pitches from the finisher pitches to obtain a minimum number of finisher skip pitches, and
• delaying arrival of the second set scheduling group to the finisher by a time interval corresponding to said finisher skip pitches.