High-volume duplicator system and method providing efficient tower and duplicator operation and facilitated unloading in the collated duplex mode

A copy system comprising:

• means for duplicating successive original documents;
• said duplicating means having a limited capacity duplex tray for supporting copy processing in the duplex mode;
• means for sorting output copies delivered from said duplicating means;
• said sorting means having a plurality of towers each of which has a plurality of bins;
• means for transporting output copies to each of said towers;
• means for directing output copies in each tower to each bin therein;
• means for controlling said duplicating means and said transporting said directing means for said towers and said bins in the collated duplex mode;
• said controlling means including means for allocating a number of bins for the accumulation of each collated set;
• said controlling means further including means for operating said towers in a single tower loading mode if the number of bins for each collated set is equal to or less than a predetermined number;
• and
• said controlling means additionally including means for operating said towers in a multiple tower loading mode if the number of bins for each collated set is greater than the predetermined number.