Automatic identification of accessories in a reproduction apparatus

In a reproduction apparatus embodying a marking engine including a logic and control unit for controlling the operation of said reproduction apparatus and at least one accessory, such as a sorter, binder, stacker, folder, or the like, associated in a series with said marking engine, a communication system for automatic identification of accessories associated with said marking engine, said communication system comprising:

• a processor associated respectively with each accessory, said processor including means for providing an identification of its associated accessory;
• a communication bus interconnected between said logic and control unit of said marking engine and said processors of each respective accessory;
• and
• a timing circuit, responsive upon power up of said marking engine and associated accessories, for automatically electrically linking said processors of each respective accessory, in sequential order, to said logic and control unit of said marking engine to relay accessory identification provided by said respective processors, in such sequential order to said logic and control unit, whereby said logic and control unit receives an indication of which particular accessories are associated with said marking engine and in what order.