Image copier having enhanced duplex capabilities; method of printing a copy of a document to produce a duplex copy product

An image copier producing a user selected copy product comprising:

• a scanner configured to electronically scan at least two page sides of a document comprising at least two pages, the scanner further configured to produce an electronic data stream comprising discrete electronic representations of individual page sides of the document;
• a printer comprising an input-output system configured to receive the discrete electronic representations of individual page sides of the document, a printer engine configured to receive engine-ready data, an image processing pipeline configured to convert the discrete electronic representations of individual page sides of the document into engine-ready data, a copy processor configured to electronically process the electronic data stream to put them in condition for subsequent processing, and a print element configured to receive the engine ready data from the printer engine and print a copy of two page sides of the document on a single sheet of printable medium in response to a command from the copy processor;
• and
• wherein the printer engine is configured to receive the engine-ready data from the processing pipeline in such a manner that the first page of the document scanned is the first page of the copy product printed by the printer, and the last page of the document scanned is the last page of the copy product printed by the printer, and further wherein the image copier is configured to print one of the first two page sides of the document while concurrently scanning a third page side of the document.

A method of duplex copying a plurality of sheets respectively having first and second sides defining page sides, the method comprising:

• scanning a first page side of one of the sheets to produce a first electronic image;
• scanning a second page side of one of the sheets to produce a second electronic image;
• and
• commencing printing of a copy of the first electronic image of one of the first page side or the second page side while scanning a third paqe side of one of the sheets.