Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
346 words
In the method of copying a set of simplex document sheets, by their plural recirculation in reverse serial order on a copier, with selection of duplex copying for providing precollated sets of duplex (two-sided) copy sheets from said simplex document sheets, and with counting of the number of said simplex document sheets in said document set in the first circulation thereof for determining if there is an odd or even said number of said simplex document sheets, to control said duplex copying in response to said selection of duplex copying, the improvement comprising the steps of: presetting said copier to initially operate as if it were predetermined whether there were an odd or even number of simplex document sheets in the set of document sheets before said counting and before said determining if said number is actually odd or even, in response to said presetting step, and said selection of duplex copying, automatically copying only alternate document sheets of said set of simplex document sheets in their first circulation before they have been counted and irrespective of whether or not the copy sheets are non-orientation sensitive copy sheets such as plain paper, or orientation-restricted copy sheets requiring consistent inversion for properly oriented output or binding edge orientation, counting the number of document sheets in said set thereof while they are being so copied during said first circulation to actually determine whether there are an odd or even number by the end of said first circulation, then automatically, in the second circulation of said set of document sheets, in response to said actual determination in said counting step of whether there are an odd or even number of document sheets in the document set, copying only the other alternate document sheets twice (onto two copy sheets) to correct said duplex copying for said orientation-restricted copy sheets if said presetting step does not correspond to said actual determination, or copying all of said document sheets once if said presetting step does correspond to said actual determination, then copying all of the document sheets in subsequent copying circulations thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
346 words
In the method of copying a set of simplex document sheets, by their plural recirculation in reverse serial order on a copier, with selection of duplex copying for providing precollated sets of duplex (two-sided) copy sheets from said simplex document sheets, and with counting of the number of said simplex document sheets in said document set in the first circulation thereof for determining if there is an odd or even said number of said simplex document sheets, to control said duplex copying in response to said selection of duplex copying, the improvement comprising the steps of: presetting said copier to initially operate as if it were predetermined whether there were an odd or even number of simplex document sheets in the set of document sheets before said counting and before said determining if said number is actually odd or even, in response to said presetting step, and said selection of duplex copying, automatically copying only alternate document sheets of said set of simplex document sheets in their first circulation before they have been counted and irrespective of whether or not the copy sheets are non-orientation sensitive copy sheets such as plain paper, or orientation-restricted copy sheets requiring consistent inversion for properly oriented output or binding edge orientation, counting the number of document sheets in said set thereof while they are being so copied during said first circulation to actually determine whether there are an odd or even number by the end of said first circulation, then automatically, in the second circulation of said set of document sheets, in response to said actual determination in said counting step of whether there are an odd or even number of document sheets in the document set, copying only the other alternate document sheets twice (onto two copy sheets) to correct said duplex copying for said orientation-restricted copy sheets if said presetting step does not correspond to said actual determination, or copying all of said document sheets once if said presetting step does correspond to said actual determination, then copying all of the document sheets in subsequent copying circulations thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said copying of document sheets on said first circulation is restricted to copying only the next-to-last and subsequent alternate document sheets in said reverse serial copying order, to avoid copying a last (first copied) odd document sheet in said first circulation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 2 wherein ones of said two copies of said document sheets copied twice in said second circulation are made on the back side of copy sheets copied in said first circulation and the others of said two copies are made onto additional copy sheets to provide a desired buffer set thereof enabling duplex copying of all said document sheets on subsequent circulations of the document set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said presetting step controls the copies for copying even document sheets in the first circulation, so that said desired buffer set will comprise only copies of even document sheets regardless of whether there are an odd or even number of document sheets in said document set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1 wherein ones of said two copies of said document sheets copied twice in said second circulation are made on the back side of copy sheets copied in said first circulation and the others of said two copies are made onto additional copy sheets to provide a desired buffer set thereof enabling duplex copying of all said document sheets on subsequent circulations of the document set.