(19) Europäisches Patentamt European Patent Office Office européen des brevets *EP001179B1* (11) EP 1 17 9 B1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (4) Date of publication and mention of the grant of the patent: 01.06.0 Bulletin 0/22 (21) Application number: 00913832.2 (22) Date of filing: 08.03.00 (1) Int Cl. 7 : G03G 1/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US00/006138 (87) International publication number: WO 00/041 (14.09.00 Gazette 00/37) (4) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPLIT PRINTING OF COLOR AND MONOCHROME DOCUMENTS VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUM GESPALTENEN DRUCKEN VON FARB- UND MONOCHROMVORLAGEN PROCEDE ET APPAREIL PERMETTANT D IMPRIMER SEPAREMENT DES DOCUMENTS COULEUR ET MONOCHROMES (84) Designated Contracting States: DE FR GB NL () Priority: 08.03.1999 US 264287 (43) Date of publication of application: 28.11.01 Bulletin 01/48 (73) Proprietor: Electronics for Imaging, Inc. Foster City, CA 944 (US) (72) Inventors: GLASS, William, H. Edina, MN 4 (US) LOKHORST, Mark Eden Prairie, MN 437 (US) LODWICK, Philip, A. Richfield, MN 423 (US) SCHOENZEIT, Loren Orono, MN 364 (US) (74) Representative: Beck, Jürgen, HOEGER, STELLRECHT & PARTNER Patentanwälte Uhlandstrasse 14c 70182 Stuttgart (DE) (6) References cited: EP-A- 0 76 767 WO-A-99/36338 WO-A-88/014 SHAW K P ET AL: "SHEET INSERTER FOR FINISHERS" XEROX DISCLOSURE JOURNAL,US,XEROX CORPORATION. STAMFORD, CONN, vol., no. 3, 1 May 199 (199-0-01), page 269 XP000126 EP 1 17 9 B1 Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). Printed by Jouve, 7001 PARIS (FR)
1 EP 1 17 9 B1 2 Description [0001] The present invention relates to a system for printing and copying color and monochrome (e.g., black-and-white) documents. In particular, the invention provides pre-collated color sheets and an instruction sheet that allow a user to easily program a monochrome photocopier to insert the color sheets into their proper position in a final mixed document that includes the color sheets and copies of the monochrome sheets. [0002] Photocopiers and color printers have become an indispensable part of most offices, and are becoming increasingly popular for personal use as well. Color printers, including laser printers, can provide high quality text and graphic images on various document substrates, including paper and transparencies. Moreover, recently digital document processing systems, which employ both printing and photocopying capabilities, have become popular. [0003] However, such systems have a relatively high per-page operating cost. In practice, a user may wish to print and photocopy a document that has mostly blackand-white pages, and only a few color pages. For example, in a document such as a report or business plan, color pages may be used for the cover page, the first page of the different sections in the report, and for various graphs which are interspersed among a large number of black-and-white text pages. Accordingly, it is inefficient to photocopy such a document on a color photocopier when most of the pages in the document are black-and-white. It is also inefficient to print one or more copies of such a document on a printer with color and monochrome printing capabilities. [0004] In particular, depending on the arrangement made by the user, a document processing system may have a counter that maintains a count of the total number of color and black-and-white copied pages and the user is billed according to this count. [000] In contrast, conventional black-and-white photocopiers can produce a large number of photocopies very economically. However, of course, such photocopiers cannot.provide color documents. [0006] If a user desires to print several sets of a document, where the document includes both black-andwhite and color pages, the user may print out one complete document, remove the black-and-white pages, and photocopy these pages to provide the necessary number of sets of black-and-white pages. Additionally, the user can print out a corresponding number of sets of the color pages, and manually collate the color pages with the black-and-white pages to form the final sets of documents. However, this procedure is time consuming, tedious and error-prone. [0007] Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a system for easily and economically forming several sets of documents where each document includes both black-and-white and color pages. [0008] This object is solved by a method according to 1 2 3 4 0 claim 1. [0009] Further advantageous embodiments are subject matter of claims 2 to 6. [00] The object is further solved by an apparatus according to claim 8 and further advantageous embodiments according to claims 9 to 12. [0011] In addition the object is solved by an instruction sheet according to claim 13 and further advantageous embodiments according to claim 14 and 1. [0012] The inventive system has the advantage that it is compatible with existing color printers and blackand-white photocopiers. [0013] The present invention provides a system having the above and other advantages. [0014] The present invention relates to a system for printing and copying color and black-and-white documents. Note that the "printer" may itself be a copier coupled to receive print instructions from a computer. Alternatively, the printer and copier could be the same or different multifunction machines which provide both printing and copying functions. Of course, the printer may also be a stand alone computer printer. [001] A method provides one or more (e.g., N) sets of documents using a printer and a copier, and each set of documents includes a first type of sheets, and a second type of sheets provided in a particular sequence in relation to the first type of sheets. The method includes the steps of printing a first complete document set, including the first and second types of sheets. N-1 insert sets of the second type of sheets are also printed, along with an instruction sheet indicating the particular sequence. Preferably, each item is printed on the same printer although this is not required. [0016] The first complete document set is positioned in a document feeder of the copier, and the N-1 insert sets are positioned in a post-process insertion tray of the copier. Additionally, the copier is programmed by a user according to the instruction sheet to identify the particular sequence. [0017] The copier is programmed to output copies of the sheets of the first type in the first complete document set, and to output the sheets of the second type from the N-1 insert sets at the place of the sheets of the second type in the first complete document set in the document feeder. [0018] The copier can therefore provide the N sets of documents in which the sheets of the second type are provided in the particular sequence. [0019] In a particular embodiment, the sheets of the first type are black-and-white, and the sheets of the second type are color. Thus, the N sets of documents will automatically include the black-and-white and color pages arranged in the appropriate sequence within each document. [00] The instruction sheet may have a graphical display (i.e., picture) of the particular sequence to aid in communicating to the user. The copier may have a control panel or the like with a corresponding display to sim- 2
3 EP 1 17 9 B1 4 plify the programming step. [0021] A corresponding apparatus and instruction sheet are also presented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for split mode printing of color and monochrome documents in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a split mode instruction sheet in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1 2 3 4 0 [0023] The present invention relates to a system for printing and copying color and black-and-white documents. [0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for split mode printing of color and monochrome documents in accordance with the present invention. A user interface 1 allows a user to enter commands to a personal computer (PC) 1, workstation or the like, to print out a document on a color/monochrome printer 1. The printer 1 may be a digital color printer that can print and/or copy both color and black-and-white pages. For example, a Canon CLC 20/00-S or CLC 00 may be used. Generally, the images are printed on paper, although other substrates such as transparencies may be used. The PC 1 includes graphics processing software 12, such as the EDOX system, available from Management Graphics, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. [002] The graphics processing software 12 enables the printer 1 to print one complete document set 1, N-1 color insert sets 10 and an instruction sheet 160. The complete document set 1 includes a number of pages including both color and black-and-white pages. For example, the complete document set 1 might include ten pages total, with seven black-and-white pages and three color pages, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2. [0026] For example, the black-and-white pages may have positions 1, 3-7 and in each document, while the color pages have positions 2, 8 and 9 in each document. The color insert sets 10 include N-1 sets of the color pages only. For example, each set 1,..., set N-1, may include the color sheets in positions 2, 8 and 9. For instance, assuming N =, this means it is desired to produce N-1 = 4 copies of the original complete document set 1. [0027] Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, the graphics processing software 12 commands the printer 1 to print an instruction sheet 160 that gives the user specific instructions for assembling the N = documents using a monochrome (e.g., blackand-white) photocopier 170. An example instruction sheet 160 is shown in FIG. 2. [0028] FIG. 1 also shows a conventional monochrome copier 170, with a control panel 17 which allows the user to enter specific commands to the copier. The copier 170 may be, for example, the high volume Océ analog black-and-white copier. The copier 170 includes an automatic feeder 180, a post-process insertion tray 18, and one or more output trays 190. [0029] As is known to those skilled in the art, the feeder 180 feeds in sheets, one at a time, to a platen of the copier, e.g. using a belt mechanism, wherein the sheets are imaged onto blank sheets which are subsequently output from the copier. The sheets in the post-process insertion tray 18 are fed into, passed through, and output from the copier, without being printed or otherwise modified by the copier. [00] In accordance with the present invention, the user enters commands to the copier 170 via the control panel 17 to inform the copier of the desired location of the colored pages within each document. Additionally, the complete document 1, (e.g., ten pages) is placed in the automatic feeder 180, and the N-1 color insert sets 10 are placed in the post-process insertion tray 18. [0031] The user then instructs the copier 170 to produce, e.g., N = sets of documents. The copier 170 feeds in the color and black-and-white pages of the complete document set 1 one page at a time. Depending on the capabilities of the copier 170 and the collating mode selected, the complete document set 1 may be fed in to the copier only once to produce the N output documents, or may be fed in once for each output document. The copier 170 may have a number of conventional output trays 190. [0032] In accordance with the present invention, each black-and-white page of a complete document set 1 that is fed into the copier 170 is photocopied where a corresponding photocopy is provided to the output trays 190. Additionally, when a color page of the complete document set 1 is fed into the copier 170, the page is not photocopied. Instead, a corresponding page from the color insert sets 1-0 is fed in to the copier via the post-process insertion tray 18 and output to one of the output trays 190. Thus, each color page in the complete document set 1 is replaced by a corresponding page of the color insert sets 10. In this manner, the resulting documents provided to the output tray 190 include both black-and-white and color pages. Additionally, the color pages are inserted in the appropriate sequence within each document. Therefore, there is no need for the user to manually collate the color and black-and-white pages to form the final documents. [0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a split mode instruction sheet in accordance with the present invention. The instruction sheet 160 is formed according to the graphics processing software 12 of the PC 1 in FIG. 1. Using software techniques which should be apparent to those skilled in the art, the instruction sheet 160 provides textual and graphical instructions to the user for use in controlling the copier 170. The instruction sheet 160 may include a summary region 0 which informs the user 3
EP 1 17 9 B1 6 of information such as the number of color insert pages per document set, the total number of pages per document set, and the total number of document copies which the user desires. [0034] Furthermore, a textual region 2 includes instructions for operating the copier 170. A first step is to place the one complete document set 1 in the document feeder 180. A second step is to place the pre-collated insert sets 10 into the post-process insertion tray. A third step is to program the copier via the control panel 17 to replace the particular pages of the color set as indicated in a graphical display 2. The graphical display 2 clearly conveys to the user the location of the color sheets relative to the black-and-white sheets. For example, the color pages may be the second, eighth and ninth pages within each ten page document. The color sheets may appear colored in the display 2. [003] Preferably, the instruction sheet 160 is customized for ease of use with the control panel 17 of the copier 170. For example, the control panel 17 may have a key pad that allows a user to enter numbers corresponding to the positions of the color pages (e.g., 2, 8 and 9). The graphical display 2 can be laid out to correspond to the control panel 17 of the particular monochrome copier being used to allow the user to easily confirm that the correct positions for the color pages have been entered. Moreover, the graphical display 2 may have a similar size to the display provided on the control panel 17 so that the display 2 can be held up to the control panel 17 to provide a quick visual confirmation. [0036] The control panel 17 may allow the user to enter commands via alternative means, for example, such as voice commands, direct commands from the software 12, or scanning of the instruction sheet 160 by a scanning function associated with the copier 170. The scanning may include scanning and conversion of text and/or graphics, such as bar codes, on the sheet 160. [0037] Accordingly, it can be seen that the present invention provides a system for combining the power of a digital color printer with the economy of a high speed, black-and-white photocopier to produce final documents having both color and black-and-white pages. Appropriate graphics processing software is provided on a PC, work station or the like to command a printer to print a complete document set, including both blackand-white and color pages, N-1 color insert sets, and an instruction sheet to guide the user in programming a conventional black-and-white copier with an automatic feeder and a post-process insertion tray. Advantageously, the system enables the production of economical documents, and frees the user from the task of manual collation. [0038] Although the invention has been described in connection with various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous adaptations and modifications may be made thereto without 1 2 3 4 0 departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. [0039] For example, while the invention was discussed in terms of producing a final document with color and black-and-white pages, the invention is suitable for use in producing any document where pages of a first type must be inserted in a particular order between pages of a second type. For example, it may be desired to insert a different stock of paper, photographs or transparencies, between pages of standard paper provided by a copier. [00] Moreover, the complete document set, color insert sets, and instruction sheet need not be printed on the same printer. [0041] Additionally, the color insert sets may be printed prior to when they are needed, e.g., to allow a user to make an additional number of sets of the mixed document at a later time. Claims 1. A method for providing N sets of documents using a printer and a copier, where N>1, and each set of documents includes a first type of sheets, and a second type of sheets provided in a particular sequence in relation to the first type of sheets, comprising the steps of: printing a first complete document set, including the first and second types of sheets; printing N-1 insert sets of the second type of sheets; printing an instruction sheet indicating the particular sequence; positioning the first complete document set in a document feeder of the copier; positioning the N-1 insert sets in a post-process insertion tray of the copier; and programming the copier according to the instruction sheet to identify the particular sequence. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein: in said programming step, the copier is programmed to output copies of the sheets of the first type in the first complete document set, and to output the sheets of the second type from the N-1 insert sets at the place of the sheets of the second type in the first complete document set. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein: the copier provides the N sets of documents in which the sheets of the second type are provided in the particular sequence. 4
7 EP 1 17 9 B1 8 4. The method of claim 1, wherein: the sheets of the first type are black-and-white; and the sheets of the second type are color.. The method of claim 1, wherein: the instruction sheet comprises a graphical display of the particular sequence. 6. The method of claim, wherein: the copier comprises a display for use in said programming step corresponding to said graphical display. 7. An apparatus for providing N sets of documents, where N>1, and each set of documents includes a first type of sheets, and a second type of sheets provided in a particular sequence in relation to the first type of sheets, comprising: printing means for printing a first complete document set, including the first and second types of sheets, N-1 insert sets of the second type of sheets, and an instruction sheet indicating the particular sequence; and a copier having a document feeder upon which the first complete document set is adapted to be positioned, a post-process insertion tray upon which the N-1 insert sets are adapted to be positioned, and control means adapted to be programmed according to the instruction sheet to identify the particular sequence. 1 2 3 the instruction sheet comprises a graphical display of the particular sequence. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the control means comprises a display for use in programming corresponding to the graphical display. 13. An instruction sheet for use in programming a copier to provide N sets of documents, where N>1, and each set of documents including a first type of sheets, and a second type of sheets provided in a particular sequence in relation to the first type of sheets, comprising: means for indicating the particular sequence; wherein said instruction sheet is adapted to be used for programming control means of the copier to inform the copier of the particular sequence, thereby enabling the copier to output copies of the sheets of the first type in a first complete document set in a document feeder of the copier, and to output the sheets of the second type from N-1 insert sets in a post-process insertion tray of the copier at the place of the sheets of the second type in the first complete document set according to the particular sequence to provide the N sets of documents. 14. The instruction sheet of claim 13, wherein said indicating means comprises a graphical display of the particular sequence. 1. The instruction sheet of claim 14, wherein: 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the copier is adapted to be programmed to output copies of the sheets of the first type in the first complete document set, and to output the sheets of the second type from the N-1 insert sets at the place of the sheets of the second type in the first complete document set. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the copier is adapted to provide the N sets of documents in which the sheets of the second type are provided in the particular sequence. 4 0 the graphical display corresponds to a display of said copier. Patentansprüche 1. Verfahren zur Bereitstellung von N Dokumentensätzen unter Verwendung eines Druckers und eines Kopierers, wobei N>1 und wobei jeder Dokumentensatz einen ersten Typ von Blättern beinhaltet und einen zweiten Typ von Blättern, die im Verhältnis zu dem ersten Typ von Blättern in einer bestimmten Folge bereitgestellt werden, wobei das Verfahren folgende Schritte beinhaltet:. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the sheets of the first type are black-and-white; and the sheets of the second type are color. 11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: Drucken eines ersten vollständigen Dokumentensatzes einschließlich des ersten und zweiten Typs von Blättern; Drucken von N-1 Einschubsätzen von dem zweiten Typ von Blättern; Drucken eines Anleitungsblatts, welches die bestimmte Folge. bezeichnet; Einlegen des ersten vollständigen
9 EP 1 17 9 B1 Dokumentensatzes in eine Dokumentenzuführeinrichtung des Kopierers; Einlegen der N-1 Einschubsätze in einen Nachverarbeitungs-Einfügeeinsatz des Kopierers; und Programmieren des Kopierers gemäß dem Anleitungsblatt, um die bestimmte Folge zu kennzeichnen. 2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem der Kopierer in dem genannten Schritt des Programmierens so programmiert wird, daß er Kopien der Blätter des ersten Typs in dem ersten vollständigen Dokumentensatz ausgibt und die Blätter des zweiten Typs von den N-1 Einschubsätzen an dem Ort der Blätter des zweiten Typs in dem ersten vollständigen Dokumentensatz. 3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem der Kopierer N Dokumentensätze bereitstellt, in denen die Blätter des zweiten Typs in der bestimmten Folge bereitgestellt werden. 4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem die Blätter des ersten Typs schwarzweiß sind, und die Blätter des zweiten Typs farbig.. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem das Anleitungsblatt eine grafische Anzeige der bestimmten Folge beinhaltet. 6. Verfahren nach Anspruch, bei dem der Kopierer eine Anzeige zur Verwendung in dem genannten Schritt des Programmierens beinhaltet, welche der genannten grafischen Anzeige entspricht. 7. Vorrichtung zur Bereitstellung von N Dokumentensätzen, wobei N>1 und wobei jeder Dokumentensatz einen ersten Typ von Blättern beinhaltet und einen zweiten Typ von Blättern, die im Verhältnis zu dem ersten Typ von Blättern in einer bestimmten Folge bereitgestellt werden, wobei die Vorrichtung beinhaltet: 1 2 3 4 0 Druckermittel zum Drucken eines ersten vollständigen Dokumentensatzes, einschließlich der ersten und zweiten Typen von Blättern, von N-1 Einschubsätzen von dem zweiten Typ von Blättern, und eines Anleitungsblatts, welches die bestimmte Folge kennzeichnet; und einen Kopierer, der eine Dokumentenzuführeinrichtung aufweist, die so ausgelegt ist, daß der erste vollständige Dokumentensatz in sie eingelegt werden kann, einen Nachverarbeitungs-Einfügeeinsatz, der so ausgelegt ist, daß die N-1 Einschubsätze in ihn eingelegt werden können, und ein Steuermittel, das so ausgelegt ist, daß es gemäß dem Anleitungsblatt programmiert werden kann, um die bestimmte Folge zu kennzeichnen. 8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, bei der der Kopierer so ausgelegt ist, daß er so programmiert werden kann, daß er Kopien der Blätter des ersten Typs in dem ersten vollständigen Dokumentensatz ausgibt und die Blätter des zweiten Typs von den N-1 Einschubsätzen an dem Ort der Blätter des zweiten Typs in dem ersten vollständigen Dokumentensatz. 9. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, bei der der Kopierer so ausgelegt ist, daß er die N Dokumentensätze bereitstellt, in denen die Blätter des zweiten Typs in der bestimmten Folge bereitgestellt werden.. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, bei der die Blätter des ersten Typs schwarzweiß sind, und die Blätter des zweiten Typs farbig. 11. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, bei der das Anleitungsblatt eine grafische Anzeige der bestimmten Folge beinhaltet. 12. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, bei der das Steuermittel eine Anzeige zur Verwendung bei der Programmierung umfaßt, welche der genannten grafischen Anzeige entspricht. 13. Anleitungsblatt zur Verwendung bei der Programmierung eines Kopierers, um N Dokumentensätze bereitzustellen, wobei N>1 und wobei jeder Dokumentensatz einen ersten Typ von Blättern beinhaltet und einen zweiten Typ von Blättern, die im Verhältnis zu dem ersten Typ von Blättern in einer bestimmten Folge bereitgestellt werden, wobei das Anleitungsblatt umfaßt: Mittel zum Bezeichnen der bestimmten Folge; wobei das genannte Anleitungsblatt so ausgelegt ist, daß es für die Programmierung des Steuermittels des Kopierers verwendet werden kann, um dem Kopierer die bestimmte Folge mitzuteilen, so daß der Kopierer in die Lage versetzt wird, Kopien der Blätter des ersten Typs in einem ersten vollständigen Dokumentensatz aus einer Dokumentenzuführeinrichtung des Kopierers auszugeben, und die Blätter des zweiten Typs von N-1 Einschubsätzen aus einem Nachverarbeitungs-Einfügeeinsatz des Kopierers an dem Ort der Blätter des zweiten Typs in dem ersten vollständigen Dokumentensatz gemäß der bestimmten Folge auszugeben, um N Dokumentensätze bereitzustellen. 14. Anleitungsblatt nach Anspruch 13, bei dem das genannte Bezeichnungsmittel eine grafische Anzeige der bestimmten Folge beinhaltet. 6
11 EP 1 17 9 B1 12 1. Anleitungsblatt nach Anspruch 14, bei dem die grafische Anzeige einer Anzeige des genannten Kopierers entspricht. Revendications 1. Procédé de production de N jeux de documents au moyen d'une imprimante et d'un copieur, avec N>1, et chaque jeu de documents comprend un premier type de feuilles et un second type de feuilles agencées selon une séquence particulière par rapport au premier type de feuilles, comprenant les étapes consistant à : imprimer un premier jeu de documents complet, comprenant les premier et second types de feuilles ; 1 6. Procédé selon la revendication, dans lequel : le copieur comprend un afficheur destiné à servir lors de ladite étape de programmation correspondant à ladite représentation graphique. 7. Appareil de production de N jeux de documents, dans lequel N>1, et chaque jeu de documents comprend un premier type de feuilles et un second type de feuilles agencées selon une séquence particulière par rapport au premier type de feuilles, comprenant : des moyens d'impression pour imprimer un premier jeu de documents complet, comprenant les premier et second types de feuilles, N- 1 jeux d'intercalaires du second type de feuilles, et une feuille d'instructions indiquant la séquence particulière ; et imprimer N-1 jeux d'intercalaires du second type de feuilles ; imprimer une feuille d'instructions indiquant la séquence particulière ; positionner le premier jeu de documents complet dans un chargeur de documents du copieur ; 2 un copieur ayant un chargeur de documents sur lequel le premier jeu de documents complet est adapté à être positionné, un plateau d'insertion après traitement sur lequel les N-1 jeux d'intercalaires sont adaptés à être positionnés, et des moyens de commande adaptés à être programmés conformément à la feuille d'instructions pour identifier la séquence particulière. positionner les N-1 jeux d'intercalaires dans un plateau d'insertion après traitement du copieur ; et programmer le copieur conformément à la feuille d'instructions pour identifier la séquence particulière. 3 8. Appareil selon la revendication 7, dans lequel : le copieur est adapté à être programmé pour sortir des copies des feuilles du premier type dans le premier jeu de documents complet et pour sortir les feuilles du second type à partir des N-1 jeux d'intercalaires à la position des feuilles du second type dans le premier jeu de documents complet. 2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel : à ladite étape de programmation, le copieur est programmé pour sortir des copies des feuilles du premier type dans le premier jeu de documents complet et pour sortir les feuilles du second type à partir des N-1 jeux d'intercalaires à la position des feuilles du second type dans le premier jeu de documents complet. 4 9. Appareil selon la revendication 7, dans lequel : le copieur est adapté à produire les N jeux de documents dans lesquels les feuilles du second type sont agencées selon la séquence particulière.. Appareil selon la revendication 7, dans lequel : les feuilles du premier type sont en noir et blanc ; et les feuilles du second type sont en couleurs. 3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel : le copieur produit les N jeux de documents dans lesquels les feuilles du second type sont agencées selon la séquence particulière. 4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel : les feuilles du premier type sont en noir et blanc ; et les feuilles du second type sont en couleurs:. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel : la feuille d'instructions comprend une représentation graphique de la séquence particulière. 0 11. Appareil selon la revendication 7, dans lequel : la feuille d'instructions comprend une représentation graphique de la séquence particulière. 12. Appareil selon la revendication 11, dans lequel : les moyens de commande comprennent un afficheur destiné à servir lors de la programmation correspondant à ladite représentation graphique. 13. Feuille d'instructions destinée à servir à la programmation d'un copieur pour produire N jeux de documents, dans laquelle N>1, et chaque jeu de docu- 7
13 EP 1 17 9 B1 14 ments comprend un premier type de feuilles et un second type de feuilles agencées selon une séquence particulière par rapport au premier type de feuilles, comprenant : des moyens indiquant la séquence particulière ; dans lesquels ladite feuille d'instructions est adaptée à servir à la programmation des moyens de contrôle du copieur pour informer le copieur de la séquence particulière, permettant de cette façon au copieur de sortir des copies des feuilles du premier type dans un premier jeu de documents complet dans un chargeur de documents du copieur, et de sortir les feuilles du second type à partir des N-1 jeux d'intercalaires dans un plateau d'insertion après traitement du copieur, à la place des feuilles du second type dans le premier jeu de documents complet conformément à la séquence particulière pour fournir les N jeux de documents. 1 14. Feuille d'instructions selon la revendication 13, dans laquelle lesdits moyens d'indication comprennent une représentation graphique de la séquence particulière. 2 1. Feuille d'instructions selon la revendication 14, dans laquelle : la représentation graphique correspond à un afficheur dudit copieur. 3 4 0 8
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EP 1 17 9 B1