Scanning method and apparatus for an inserter

In an inserting system of the type having one or more modules for feeding one or more documents having coded marks thereon, each of said modules comprising means for detecting said marks and means for controlling the operation of the respective module, said inserting system further comprising means coupled to receive output signals from said detecting means corresponding to said coding and/or information marks, and means responsive to the receipt of said signals for controlling said module controlling means, the improvement wherein said means for receiving the output signals of said detecting means comprises buffer means, and wherein said controlling means comprises means for selectively changing the direction of read-out of data from said buffer means between first-in-first-out and last-in-first-out and means for controlling said inserting system in accordance with data read out of said buffer means.

A method for controlling a document feeding system of the type having means for feeding one or more documents having coded marks thereon, means for detecting said marks, means coupled to receive the output of said marks, means coupled to receive the output of said detecting means, and means for controlling the operation of said document feeding system in response to the receipt of the output of said detecting means, the improvement wherein said method comprises applying data from said detecting means to a buffer means, changing the direction of read-out of said buffer means, and controlling said document feeding system in accordance with data stored in said buffer means only after reading-out said buffer means.

In a document feeding system of the type having a plurality of document feeding stations, each said stations having means for feeding one or more documents having coded marks thereon, means for detecting said marks, means coupled to receive the output of said detecting means, and means for controlling the operation of said document feeding system in response to the receipt of the output of said detecting means, said feeding stations including a first document feeding station coupled to feed documents to a second document feeding station, the improvement wherein said means for receiving the output of said detecting means comprises buffer means, and wherein said controlling means comprises means for selectively changing the direction of read-out of data stored in said buffer means, and means for controlling said document feeding system in accordance with data read-out of said buffer means, and wherein said first feeding station comprises means for applying data corresponding to information read by its detecting means to said second feeding station.