Abstract:
A copy production machine, such as a transfer electrographic copier, picks copy sheets for receiving images during a transfer operation. On rare occasions a sheet may not be successfully picked. Instead of turning the machine off and requiring manual intervention for a restart, the machine automatically retrys to repick the sheet of paper a predetermined number of times. If during such retry the pick is successful, then the copy production resumes automatically; if not, the machine is turned off after the predetermined number of cycles. During each machine cycle having an unsuccessful pick, protective actions are taken to insure that toner does not contaminate the machine and certain other actions do not provide a fire hazard. All retries are logged for maintenance assistance.

Description:
Documents incorporated by reference: copending commonly assigned Finlay application Ser. No. 729,451 filed Oct. 4, 1976, allowed and fee paid, shows a computer on which the programming of the best mode may be executed. 
     U.S. Pat. 3,955,811 shows a cut sheet apparatus as a sheet supply. 
     Diverse sheet supplies are shown in IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletins: 
     Vol. 14 No.5 October 1971, page 1535, Cut Sheet Feed Device. 
     Vol. 14 No. 5 October 1971, page 1455, Sheet Paper Feed System. 
     Vol. 14 No. 8 January 1972, page 2396, Stack Paper Feed. 
     Vol. 14 No. 9 February 1972, page 2789, Automatic Sequential Document Stack Feed. 
     Vol. 14 No. 9 February 1972, page 2786, Multiple-Hopper Paper Feed. 
     Vol. 14 No. 9 February 1972, page 2791, Single-Sheet Paper Supply For Reproduction Apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to copy production machines of the type that use cut sheets for receiving images in a copy production process, and more particularly to those machines having error recovery techniques including sheet pick retrys. 
     Copy production machines in the form of convenience copiers or of printing machines often use precut sheets of paper, plastic, or other image receiving base. One or more paper supplies contained within a copy production machine will contain a predetermined number of sheets. Sheet selection or picking apparatus of diverse types have been widely employed; the selection apparatus shown in the documents incorporated by reference show exemplary sheet selection apparatus usuable with the present invention. These sheets are automatically picked synchronously with the copy machine production operation. If a sheet of paper is not successfully picked, the rest of the copy production machine has already begun a new cycle of copy production. In prior art machines such copy production machines were stopped and then required manual intervention before restarting. Such interruption of copy production reduces throughput, increases cost, and makes the machine less convenient to use. This is particularly true where the paper pick failure is of the intermittent type. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a copy production machine having paper pick retry capabilities with suppression controls for enabling automatic restarting the machine upon a successful retry pick operation. 
     In accordance with the invention, a copy production machine having a cut sheet supply includes means to pick a sheet from the supply. An image transfer station receives the picked sheet for transferring an image thereto and the machine has an output for removing the imaged sheet from the transfer station and stacking it in the usual manner. 
     The machine includes sensing means for sensing that a picked sheet is ready to enter the transfer station. Timing means operatively associated with the transfer station indicate timed operation including the proper time for the transfer station to receive a copy sheet. Coincidence means jointly respond to the sensing means and to the timing means to indicate sheet pick failure or success. Control means respond to a failure indication to inhibit transfer of an image for one machine cycle within said image transfer station. Counter means indicate a number of successive pick failures. Further control means respond to the counter means to turn off the copy production machine after a predetermined number greater than one of pick failures. Such controls are contained in a programmable control unit. 
     Upon detection a pick failure certain operations are inhibited in the copy production machine. In a transfer electrographic machine, for example, the sheet of paper receives the image in the transfer station from a rotatable drum/belt. An air jet normally detaches the sheet of paper from the transfer drum/belt. During a paper pick failure such air jet is inhibited such that the air jet will not blow toner ink throughout the machine. The transfer corona is turned off. Further, while the interimage erase lamp can be turned on continuously for erasing a portion of an electrostatic image formed on the transfer element, the arrangement is such that may be disposed with. Toner advance to the toner station is also inhibited. When the machine has a semiautomatic document feed that operation is inhibited until a copy is successfully made. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of a copy production machine employing the present invention and including an accent of the control means used to practice the invention with respect to the illustrated transfer electrographic machine. 
     FIG. 2 is a simplified timing diagram showing an operation of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the invention as practiced in the FIG. 1 illustrated machine. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals indicate like parts and structural features in the various diagrams. A copy production machine 10 employing a first version of the present invention includes a semiautomatic document feed (SADF) 11 for feeding manually inserted original documents to be copied. The document glass (not shown) in SADF 11 is scanned by know optical scanners in original input optics 12 to provide an illuminated image over path 23 to a later described copy production portion (CPP) 13. Copyproduction portion 13 transfers the line 23 indicated optical image to copy paper as will be later described, and supplies the produced copies to output portion 14 for pickup by an operator or for automatic transfer to other utilization apparatus (not shown). In a constructed version of the invention, output portion 14 includes a copy output tray 14A which receives all produced copies in a so-called noncollate mode. When the copy production machine 10 is to be used in an environment requiring automatic collation, a collator 14B is included in output portion 14. 
     The copy production machine 10 includes an operator&#39;s control panel 52 having the plurality of manually actuable switches for introducing copy production parameters to copy production portion 13. Such parameters are well known and are not detailed except for those parameters arbitrarily having an operative and direct relationship with a first constructed embodiment of the present invention. 
     Before proceeding further with the description of the invention, the operation of copy production portion (CPP) 13 is described as a constructed embodiment of a so-called xerographic copy production machine 10. Photoconductor drum member 20 rotates in the direction of the arrow past a plurality of xerographic processing stations. The first station 21 imposes either a positive or negative electrostatic charge on the surface of photoconductor member 20. It is preferred that this charge be a uniform electrostatic charge over a uniform photoconductor surface. Such charging is done in the absence of light such that projected optical images, indicated by dash line arrow 23, alter the electrostatic charge on the photoconductor member in preparation for image developing and transferring. The projected optical image from original input optics 12 exposes the photoconductor surface in area 22. Light in the projected image electrically discharges the surface areas of photoconductor member 20 in accordance with lightness. With minimal light reflected from the dark or printed areas of an original document, for example, there is no corresponding electrical discharge. As a result, an electrostatic charge remains in those areas of the photoconductive surface of member 20 corresponding to the dark or printed areas of an original document in SADF 11 (semiautomatic document feed). This charge pattern is termed a &#34;latent&#34; image on the photoconductor surface. Interimage erase lamp 30E discharges photoconductor member 20 outside defined image areas. 
     The next xerographic station is developer 24 which receives toner (ink) from toner supply 25 for being deposited and retained on the photoconductive surface still having an electrical charge. The developer station receives the toner with an electrostatic charge of polarity opposite to that of the charged areas of the photoconductive surface. Accordingly, the toner particles adhere electrostatically to the charged areas, but do not adhere to the discharged areas. Hence, the photoconductive surface, after leaving station 24, has a toned image corresponding to the dark and light areas of an original document in SADF 11. 
     Next, the latent image is transferred to copy paper (not shown) in transfer station 26. The paper is brought to the station 26 from an input paper path portion 27 via synchronizing input gate 28. In station 26, the copy paper (not shown) is brought into contact with the toned image on the photoconductive surface resulting in a transfer of the toner to the copy paper. After such transfer, the sheet of image-bearing copy paper is stripped from the photoconductive surface as by an air jet from detaching nozzle 33 for transport along path 29. Next, the copy paper has the electrostatically carried image fused thereon in fusing station 31 for creating a permanent image on the copy paper. During such processing, the copy paper receives electrostatic charges which can have an adverse affect on copy handling. Accordingly, the copy paper after fusing is electrically discharged at station 32 before transfer to output portion 14. 
     Returning now to the photoconductor member 20, after the image area on member 20 leaves transfer station 26, there is a certain amount of residual toner on the photoconductive surface. Accordingly, cleaner station 30 has a rotating cleaning brush (not shown) to remove the residual toner for cleaning the image area in preparation for receiving the next image projected by original input optics 12. The cycle then repeats by charging the just-cleaned image area by charging station 21. 
     The production of simplex copies or the first side of duplexing copies by portion 13 includes transferring a blank sheet of paper from blank paper supply 35, thence to transfer station 26, fuser 31, and, when in the simplex mode, directly to the output copy portion 14. Paper release gate 28 is mechanically actuated synchronously with image areas moving past developer station 24 to move a copy sheet to transfer station at the right time. 
     When in the duplex mode, duplex diversion gate 42 is actuated by the programmable machine controlling circuits 53 to the upward position for deflecting single-image copies to travel over path 43 to the interim storage unit 40. Here, the partially produced duplex copies (image on one side only) reside waiting for the next subsequent single image copy producing run in which the copies receive the second image. Copies residing in interim storage unit 40 constitute an intermediate copy production state. 
     In the next successive single image run, initiated by inserting a document into SADF 11, the copies are removed one at a time from the interim storage unit 40, transported over path 44, thence to input path 27 for receiving a second image, as previously described. The two image duplex copies are then transferred into output copy portion 14. Switch 41 of interim storage unit 40 detects whether or not there are any copies or paper in interim storage unit 40. If so, an intermediate copy production state signal is supplied over line 45 to later described machine control circuits 53. 
     The copy production machine 10 control panel 52 is connected to copier control circuits 53 which operate the entire machine 10 synchronously with respect to the cyclic movement of the image areas of photoconductor member 20. Billing meter M counts images processed for billing purposes. 
     CPP 13 also has second or alternate copy paper supply 35A which supplies copy paper to input path 27. Selection of paper supply 35 or 35A as a copy paper source is controlled from panel 52 by actuation of switch 56 labeled PRIMARY or ALTERNATE paper supply. Selection is mutually exclusive. Control circuits 53 (computer control circuits hardware is enumerated 53A) respond to switch 56 to actuate paper picker (not shown) in the respective copy paper supplies 35, 35A. 
     FIG. 1 also includes logic control details for accentuating the invention, showing incorporation of the paper pick retry in the illustrated copy production machine 10. Control 52 provides four primary control functions to copy production machine 10 for paper pick retry. These four functions are timed to be synchronous with the rotation of the image areas on photoconductor drum 20. To achieve this synchronization, drum 20 includes emitter wheel 55 having sensible marks indicating rotational position of drum 20. A sensor 56 generates electrical signals in response to sensing marks on emitter wheel 55 for sending &#34;EC interrupts&#34; over cable 57 to control 53. In one constructed embodiment there were 17 rotational indicating pulses termed EC0 through EC16, all of which indicate predetermined rotational positions in a known manner. 
     Control 53 responds to the EC interrupt signals and to the paper pick failure signals as indicated by sensor 60 to alignment gate 28 to invoke a sequence of operations as detailed in FIG. 3 flow chart form and as timed in accordance with the timing signals in FIG. 2. 
     The four main functions are labeled 4800, 4900, 5500 and 5000, respectively corresponding to microcode listing reference numbers as will become apparent. The first function is 4800 and having a program code listing in Table I found in a later part of the description. Function 4800 is initiated by the EC8 timing pulse from emitter wheel 55 and hence is termed EC8 code. The control 53 in executing the EC8 code checks the switch 60 to determine whether or not a copy sheet has been successfully transported over path 27 to aligner gate 28. If not, the control 53 then checks whether or not a retry has been previously attempted. Further, control 53 actuates CPP 13 to protect against contamination by the toner from supply 25 as will be more fully later described. Then at timing pulse EC9 code 4900, the control 53 inhibits SADF control such that additional documents are not fed during the dummy cycle as will be later more fully described. Then at EC10 time (5000 code), the control 53 checks switch 60 and exercises certain retry control over CPP 13. Finally, at EC15 time (5500 code), certain copy production control is inhibited. 
     Control 53 exercises timed synchronization of copy production machine 10 by copy transport states memorized in a computer memory. A single register of the memory termed CR (cycle record) memorizes the eight possible cycle states for a given sheet of paper to be transported through the copy production machine 10. CR1 when set indicates a sheet of paper is to be picked. Similarly CR2 indicates that the picked sheet of paper should have arrived at aligner gate 2B and that copy production steps of develop, transfer, etc. should be performed. CR3 indicates a sheet of paper should have left the transfer station 26. CR4 indicates that the sheet of paper should have left fuser station 31. CR5 through CR8 are transport states associated with output portion 14 and not pertinent to the present invention. 
     SADF 11 includes a sensor 62 indicating that an original document is in the SADF tray 63. This sensor actuates the SADF controls 64 (program steps in control 53) for transporting the original document onto the document glass as is well known in the art. Further, a sensor 65 can indicate that a document is on the document glass within SADF 11. If so, a signal is supplied to an aligned latch 66 within control 53. In a practical embodiment the align latch 66 is a portion of a microcode structure at 4813 and 5027 will become apparent. Latch 66 sets an AT bit corresponding to a memory register 67 as will become more apparent. Memory register 67 has a plurality of control bits having an effect on the execution of the code at 4800, 4900, 5000 and 5500. Similarly, a second memory register 68 has a pair of bits SP1 and SP2 also exercising a control function on copy production machine 10 via the programmed control. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the reproduction machine 10 timing for controlling the machine with respect to a sheet of paper that supposedly is at aligner gate 28 as represented at the programmable control 53 by the digit CR2. Timing pulse EC0 is a reference pulse. Pulses EC7 and EC8 indicate time as will be later described, at which it is expected a sheet of paper from one of the supplies 40, 35, 35A to have reached and be aligned at aligner gate 28. In prior ECs, i.e., EC0 thru EC7, the document on the document glass (not shown) of SADR 11 has been projected over path 23 and has been imposed upon drum 20. At EC8 a first portion of the exposed drum image surface 22 is beginning to receive toner from station 24. 
     The aligner switch signal is solid line indicates the window at which time the aligner switch should be actuated. That is, at 70 is the earliest expected time for a sheet of paper to arrive at 60, while at 71 is the latest time that the trailing edge of the paper will leave 60. In the event of a paper pick failure, switch 60 is never closed;, therefore, the aligner switch from switch 60 remains inactive as indicated by dashed line 72. 
     The transfer corona (not shown) of transfer station 26 is normally on from EC10 through EC5. Therefore, at time EC10 the exposed image at area 22 has completely passed erase station 30E and is receiving toner from station 24. In the case of a paper pick failure it is desired to limit the amount of toner on drum 20 during the cycle of machine 10 corresponding to the paper pick failure. Accordingly, when the machine detects no sheet of paper at aligner switch 60 at time EC8 a paper pick failure is identified, the transfer corona in station 26 is turned off via line 26A. 
     Air jet 33 detaches the sheet of paper from photoconductor drum 20 and allows it to enter fuser station 31. Detach under normal operating conditions is actuated at EC15 and deactuated at EC0 as indicated by the solid line detach signal. In the case of a paper pick failure the machine cycle immediately following the failure inhibits the detach action as indicated by dashed line 74. The detach is inhibited such that the air from jet 33 will not blow toner, which is resident on the photoconductor drum 20, from transfer station 26 to other portions of the machine. It will be remembered that a portion of the image imposed upon photoconductor drum 20 via path 23 has already been toned with ink in station 24. Since no paper passes through aligner gate 28 to transfer station 26 the toner still resides on photoconductor drum 20. Of course, cleaner station 30 will remove the toner from the drum as it continues its rotation. 
     The development cycle of station 24 merely places toner ink on a photoconductor surface such that the toner ink adheres to the electrically charged portions of the photoconductor drum 20 surface for creating a latent image. The normal develop signal which creates a bias signal in the developing station for a magnetic developing brush is normally turned on during EC7 such as at 76 and turned off just following EC0 such as at 77. In the event of a paper pick failure the cycle following the failure during which no paper is being transported through the transfer station 26, the magnetic bias of the normal intensity is removed at EC8 and remains removed for the rest of the cycle as indicated by dash line 78. However, in order to maintain a minimum amount of toner transfer from the developing station 24 to the photoconductor drum 20 a predetermined bias should be applied to the magnetic developing brush. Through experimentation the most advantageous bias for the constructed embodiment of the present invention was a so-called light development bias which is normally used for developing copies from images having very intense lines. Light development bias is supplied to the magnetic brush at EC8 and remains on until normal turn off time as indicated by dash line 80. In other constructed embodiments of the invention it may be more advantageous to supply other than the light developed bias voltage to the magnetic development brush. In the event the light development has been selected by the operator, then it would follow its normal course of turn on and turn off as indicated by dash line 81. 
     The last protective action insofar as the photoconductor drum 20 is concerned involves inactivating the toner supply 25 from supplying toner to developing station 24. During normal copying processes toner supply is continuously operative to supply toner to the magnetic development brush (not shown) within developer station 24. However, upon detection of a paper pick failure and a retry is being initiated, the toner supply is inhibited in the cycle immediately following the paper pick failure beginning at EC8 and extending to EC0 as indicated by dash line 82. In a constructed embodiment of the invention, toner supply 25 included a conveyor, such as an auger 25A, which was merely deactivated during the cycle following the paper pick failure. 
     Machine control 53 includes a programmed computer set up as described in the Finlay application supra. However, to more particularly point up the invention the program execution will be described with respect to flow chart of FIG. 3 with the incorporation of source code at the instruction level usuable with the programmable computer described in the Finlay application, supra. The numerals in FIG. 3 correspond to the source code relative address. For example, numeral 4089 representing a branch instruction entitled &#34;EC8 ALIGN CHK&#34; corresponds to relative address 4809 in Table I below. This correlation between the flow chart and the source code makes the source code easier to read. It should be understood that in a programmable controlled copy production machine 10 that the instructions represented by the flow chart of FIG. 3 are those instructions particularly pointed to practicing the invention in that machine. Interleaved between the instructions as shown in FIG. 3 will be many other instructions for performing other functions necessary for a successful operation of a copy production machine 10 but not necessary for an understanding or the implementation of the present invention in such a copy production machine. For simplifying identifying the interleaved instructions, all of the instructions in FIG. 3 have been set up in four tables corresponding to the four blocks 4800, 4900, 5000, 5500 of FIG. 1 each of the ECs, EC0 through EC16 (not all shown in this application). 
     The EC8 code beginning at relative address 4800 is entered at branch instruction 4809, at which time switch 60 (FIG. 1) is sensed to see whether or not it is closed. If it is closed a binary one signal is supplied to programmable control 53 indicating that a sheet of picked paper has arrived at aligner gate 28. In the program of instructions (not shown) aligner switch 60 was sensed at EC7. If a sheet of paper was detected at EC7 then programmable control 53 sets latch AC of memory register 67 to the active position. For the EC8 code at 4809 program control executes a branch instruction which checks latch AC at time EC8 for determining whether or not the sheet of paper had been sensed at EC7. If so, a binary one state is set in latch AC causing the program to move it directly to the next branch instruction 4882, as later described. If the paper was not received at aligner switch 60 at time EC7 the sheet is late as indicated by the binary zero state of latch AC. Then the control via branch instruction 4813 checks the actual condition of switch 60. If closed, a binary one signal is detected from switch 60 causing the program control to execute instructions at 4818 for logging the data that the sheet was late at aligner switch 60. The data is logged in a later described nonvolatile CMOS memory. 
     On the other hand, if the sheet of paper is not at switch 60 at time EC8, the binary zero signal from switch 60 causes the program control to execute instructions at 4830 initiating protective actions for copy production machine 10 to prevent contamination and other problems from occurring during the machine cycle following the paper pick failure during which cycle no sheet of paper will go through transfer station 26. The protective actions, including deactivating the toner conveyor by supplying an active signal over line 85 (FIG. 1), turning off transfer corona in transfer station 26 and setting the magnetic brush bias to light development copy by a signal supplied over cable 86 to station 24. In this regard, the cable 86 includes a plurality of lines for setting a bias respectively to normal, dark or light as is well known in the copy production arts. 
     Following the protective actions, the program control then enters the last portion of the EC8 code that pertains to the present invention. At branch instruction 4882 latch RE of memory register 67 is checked for its signal state. If it is a zero this means that no previous retry for paper pick has occurred. If, on the other hand, RE is set to the one state a previous retry has occurred. Upon the zero state the program control immediately exits the EC8 CR2 code and enters code (not shown) not pertinent to the present invention and not shown herein. If, on the other hand, a retry for paper pick has occurred, then at 4886 the program control checks to see whether or not latch AC is set to the active condition. If set to the one state a sheet of paper has covered switch 60 at aligner gate 28; i.e., the retry was successful. Then the program control executes an instruction 4890 which logs the paper pick failure and successful retry, rests the aligner check latch AC and proceeds to nonpertient code. On the other hand, if latch AC is to the zero state the program control goes from branch instruction 4886 to log a pick failure at 4898 and turn off the machine. 
     In Table I immediately below, such protective actions are shown in source code executable on the computer shown in the Finlay application, supra. 
     
                                           TABLE I__________________________________________________________________________LOC OBJ  OP1 OP2     SOURCE STATEMENT                       REF                BEGIN EC8 CODE                         4788    7A9E  EC8   DC*          1.    IF (CR2|CR3) &amp; B4                            47907A9E    E4   0004        LRCRREG     LOAD CR REGISTERS&#39; REGISTER7A9F    AB60 0060        NIP1(CR2,CR3)                            TEST IF C2 |CR3 IS ACTIVE7AA1    3569 7B69        BZEC8S      CR2&amp;CR3 NOT ACTIVE-BRANCH TO END OF EC8                            CODE7AA3    A6A1 01A1        LBLCOUNTRY  LOAD COUNTRY INDICATION BYTE7AA5    90   0000        TPB4        TEST IF B4 MACHINE7AA6    40   7AB0        JZEC8A1     IF NOT BRANCH AROUND          1.    THEN                                   4797          2.    . RESET BSSTBY,RTRYBIAS                4798                TRMBPSB47,P(BSSTBY,RTRYBIAS)7AA7    A66F 006F7AA9    AB3F 003F7AAB    A16F 006F          2.    . CALL BRSHBCON                        48007AAD    33C52    0003        52C0    BALR3,BRSHBCON          1.    ENDIF                                  4802    7AB0  EC8A1 DC*          1.    IF CR2 &amp; NOT CENOPAPR                  48047AB0    E4   0004        LRCRREG7AB1    96   0006        TPCR27AB2    354C 7B4C        BZEC8A7AB4    A662 0062        LSCEMODE7AB6    A803 0003        CICENOPAPR7AB8    354C 7B4C        BEEC8A          1.    THEN                                   4808          2.    . IF ALIGNER FAILURE AT EC7(ALIGNOK=0) 4809                TPBPSB23,ALIGNOK7ABA    A657 00577ABC    95   00057ABD    3CEA 7AEA        BNZEC8B1          2.    . THEN                                 4812          3.    . . IF ALIGNER SW=1                    4813                RIN CSB027ABF    A6C1 00C17AC1    90   0000        TPCPYATAL7AC2    43   7AD3        JZEC8B0          3.    . . THEN                               4817          4.    . . . SET ALIGNOK &amp; ALGNSLOW           4818                TSMBPSB23,P(ALIGNOK, ALGNSLOW)7AC3    A657 00577AC5    AF21 00217AC7    AF57 0057          4.    . . . CALL LOGBIN - LOG PAPER SLOW(101)                                                       4820                LIDX`0101`7AC9    AE01 01017ACB    297ACC    AE01 01017ACE    32C04D    0002        4DC0    BAL R2,LOGBIN7AD1    2CEA 7AEA        BEC8B1    7AD3        EC8B0          DC*          3.    . . ELSE                               4825          4.    . . . DEACTIVATE CONVEYOR              48307AD3    A67B 007B        LBPCB117AD5    B6   0006        TRCONVYER                STOUT117AD6    A17B 007B        STBPCB117AD8    A1D2 00D2        STBCCB11          4.    . . . DEACTIVATE TRANSFER CORONA (XFERCOR)7ADA    A67F 007F        LBPCB157ADC    B6   0006        TRXFERCOR                STOUT157ADD    A17F 007F        STBPCB157ADF    A1D6 00D6        STBCCB15          4.    . . . SET RETRY BIAS BIT - RTRYBIAS          4.    . . . CALL BRSHBCON -TO SET BIAS TO LIGHT                                                       4834                TSBPSB47,RTRYBIAS7AE1    A66F 006F7AE3    AF40 00067AE5    A16F 006F7AE7    33C052    0003        52C0    BALR3,BRSCHBCON                        4837          3.    . . ENDIF    7AEA  EC8B1 DC*          2.    . ENDIF                                4839          2.    . IF ALIGNOK=1                         4840                TPBPSB23,ALIGNOK7AEA    A657 00577AEC    95   00057AED    352D 7B2D        BZEC8B4          2.    . THEN                                 4843          3.    . . IF DUPLEX INDICATOR &amp; NOT SIDE2    4844                TBPPCB05,DPLXIND7AEF    A676 00767AF1    92   00027AF2    3501 7B01        BZEC8B2                TPBPSB20,DPXSIDE27AF4    A654 00547AF6    95   00057AF7    61   7B01        JNZEC8B2          3.    . . THEN                               4849          4.    . . . DUPLEX VANE DWN                  48507AF8    A673 0073        LBPCB027AFA    AF40 0006        TSDPLXVANE                STOUT027AFC    A173 0073        STBPCB027AFE    A1C1 00C1        STBCCB027B00    08   7B08        JEC8B3          3.    . . ELSE                               4855    7B01  EC8B2 DC*          4.    . . . DUPLEX VANE UP                   48577B01    A673 0073        LSPCB027B03    B6   0006        TRDPLXVANE                STOUT 027B04    A173 0073        STBPCB027B06    A1C1 00C1        STBCCB02          3.    . . ENDIF                              4861    7B08        EC8B3          DC*          3.    . . IF NOT LGHTCPY1 &amp; NOT NOEARLYF &amp;CEMODE NOT =                                                       4863                &amp; NOT CENOPAPR &amp; NOT CR4 &amp; NOT PRECOND                TPBPCB05,LGHTCPY17B08    A676 00767B0A    93   00037B0B    3C2D 7B2D        BNZEC8B4                TPBPSB47,NOEARLYF7B0D    A66F 006F7B0F    94   00047B10    3C2D 7B2D        BNZEC8B47B12    A662 0062        LSCEMODE7B14    A803 0003        CI37B16    3D2D 7B2D        BEEC8B47B18    A803 0003        CICENOPAPR7B1A    3D2D 7B2D        BEEC8B4                TPBCRLO,CR47B1C    A604 00047B1E    94   00047B1F    3C2D 7B2D        BNZED8B4                TPBPSB07,PRECOND7B21    A647 00477B23    90   00007B24    6D   7B2D        JNZEC8B4          3.    . . THEN                               4873    7B25  EC8B3A                DC*          4.    . . . CLOSE FUSER ROLL                 48757B25    A67A 007A        LSPCB107B27    AF80 0007        TSFUSEROL                STOUT 107B29    A17A 007A        STBPCB107B2B    A1D1 00D1        STBCCB10          3.    . . ENDIF                              4879    7B2D  3C8B4 DC*          2.    . ENDIF                                4881          2.    . IF RETRY=1                           4882                TPBPSB07,RETRY7B2D    A647 00477B2F    92   00027B30    3D4C 7B4C        BZEC8A          2.    . THEN                                 4885          3.    . . IF ALIGNOK=1                       4886                TPBPSB23,ALIGNOK7B32    A657 00577B34    95   00057B35    44   7B44        JZEC8B5          3.    . . THEN                               4889          4.    . . . LOG SUCCESSFUL RETRY &amp; RESET RETRY                                                       4890CATOR          4.    . . . CALL LOGBIN - LOG CODE(103)      4891                LIDX`0103`7B36    AE01 01037B38    297B39    AE03 01037B3B    32C04D    0002        4DC0    BALR2,LOGBIN                TRBPSB07,RETRY7B3E    A647 00477B40    B2   00027B41    A147 00477B43    0C   7B4C        JEC8A          3.    . . ELSE                               4896    7B44  EC8B5 DC*          4.    . . . LOG UNSUCCESSFUL RETRY           4898          4.    . . . CALL LOGBIN - LOG CODE (104)     4899                LIDX`0104`7B44    AE01 01047B46    297B48    AE04 01047B49    32C04D    0002        4DC0    BALR2,LOGBIN          3.    . . ENDIF                              4902          2.    . ENDIF                                4903          1.    ENDIF                                  4904    7B4C  EC8A  DC*          1.    IF CR3 &amp; NOT PRECOND &amp; NOT CENOPAPR    4906__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     In the above table the first few instructions beginning at 4790 have to do with the copy production machine capable of making copies in a so-called B4 size paper as opposed to an 8.5 × 11 inch size paper. Instructions pertinent to the present invention begin at 4809 and continue through 4904. Beginning at 4906 the EC8 code pertains to the paper transport status CR3; i.e., a sheet of paper having left transfer station 26 and not yet arriving at fuser station 31 is executed. Since that portion of the copy production machine is not pertinent to an understanding of the present invention, it is dispensed with. In all other portions of the code at 4900, 5000 and 5500 the code pertains to those instructions executed for CR2 at the respective EC times. 
     The EC9 code relates to the control of SADF 11, i.e., should an original document be transported from SADF tray 63 as indicated by aligner switch 62 being activated onto the document glass (not shown) within the SADF 11. Such SADF controls 64 are represented by the code listing in Table II below; it is to be understood that additional SADF controls (not shown) are exercised by program control 53. 
     
                                           TABLE II__________________________________________________________________________LOC OJB OP1 OP2        SOURCE STATEMENT                     REF                  BEGIN                       EC9 CODE                        4921   7B6C   EC9     DC   *                1. IF CR27B6C    E4  0004           LR   CRREG     LOAD CR REGISTERS&#39; REGISTER7B6D    96  0006           TP   CR2       TEST IF CR2 IS ACTIVE7B6E    3D87   7B87           BZ   EC9A      CR2 NOT ACTIVE-BRANCH TO CR3 TEST                1. THEN                2. . IF ALIGNER NOT ACTIVE EC7&amp;EC8                                                       4928GNOK=0)7B70    A657   0057           LB   PSB23     LOAD PROGRAM STATUS BYTE7B72    95  0005           TP   ALIGNOK   TEST IF ALIGNOK IS ACTIVE7B73    3C80   7B80           BNZ  EC9C      IF NOT ACTIVE-                2. . THEN                3. . . CHECK ALIGNER SW (IF ACTIVE-ALIGNTOK=1)7B75    29                 TRA            TRANSPOSE ACCUM                  RIN  CSB02     LOAD CONTROL STATUS BYTE7B76    A6C1   00C17B78    90  0000           TP   CPYATAL   CHECK ALIGNER SWITCH7B79    3D80   7B80           BZ   EC9C7B7B    29                 TRA            TRANSPOSE ACCUM7B7C    AF80   0007           TS   ALIGNTOK7B7E    A157   0057           STB  PSB23   7B80      EC9C DC   *                2. . ENDIF                       NONPERTINENT EC9 CODE.                       BELOW SADF CODE EXECUTES 4952.                1. IF LIDDWNSW=1                  RIN  CSB095B90    A6D0   00D05B92    95  0005           TP   LIDDWN5B93    3DBB   5BBB           BZ   SADF06                1. THEN                2. . IF NOT FLUSH                  TPB  PSB07,FLUSH5B95    A647   00475B97    91  00015B98    3CB0   5BB0           BNZ  SADF05                2. . THEN                3. . . IF CR1 &amp;POPLIDMEM5B9A    A604   0004           LB   CRL05B9C    97  0007           TP   CR15B9D    3DB9   5BB9           BZ   SADF05A                  TPB  PSB31,POPLIDM5B9F    A65F   005F5BA1    97  00075BA2    3DB9   5BB9           BZ   SADF05A                       NONPERTINENT CODE                       RELATING TO OTHER ASPECTS OF SADF 11                1. IF STARTL |CR1 |(CR2&amp;((B4                &amp;EC&lt;11) |EC&lt;9 |ALIGNOK=0))                  TPB  PSB22,STARTL5BF0    A656   00565BF2    96  00065BF3    3413   5C13           BNZ  SADF115BF5    A604   0004           LB   CRL05BF7    97  0007           TP   CR15BF8    3413   5C13           BNZ  SADF115BFA    96  0006           TP   CR25BFB    351D   5C1D           BZ   SADF125BFD    A6A1   01A1           LBL  COUNTRY5BFF    90  0000           TP   B45C00    49  5C09           JZ   SADF105C01    AE0B   000B           LI   115C03    A261   0061           SB   ECCOUNT5C05    3E13   5C13           BH   SADF115C07    2C0F   5C0F           B    SADF10A   5C09   SADF10  DC   *5C09    AE09   0009           LI   95C0B    A261   0061           SB   ECCOUNT5C0D    3E13   5C13           BH   SADF11   5C0F   SADF10A DC   *                  TPB  PSB23,ALIGNOK5C0F    A657   00575C11    95  00055C12    6D  5C1D           JNZ  SADF12                       NONPERTINENT CODE RELATING TO                       OTHER ASPECTS OF CONTROLLING SADF 115D7B    B2  00025D7C    A179   00795D7E    2C9D   5D9D           B    SADF26                5. . . . . ELSE   5D80   SADF25  DC   *                6. . . . . . DECREMENT ALIGNTMR5D80    A64B   004B           LB   ALIGNTMR5D82    2A                 S15D83    A14B   004B           STB  ALIGNTMR                6. . . . . . IF ALIGNTMR=05D85    A800   0000           CI   05D87    3E9D   5D9D           BH   SADF26                6. . . . . . THEN                7. . . . . . . DFENTRY=1                7. . . . . . . DFBELT=1                  TSMB PCB09,P(DFBELT,DFENTRY)5D89    A679   00795D8B    AF60   00605D8D    A179   0079                7. . . . . . . ENTERING=1                7. . . . . . . SADFBUSY=1                7. . . . . . . POPLIDMEM=05D8F    A65F   005F           LB   PSB315D91    AF08   0003           TS   SADFBUSY                  TRM  P(POPLIDM,ENTERING)5D93    AB7E   007E5D95    A15F   005F           STB  PSB31                7. . . . . . . SADFTMR=386                  LID  3865D97    AE01   01825D99    295D9A    AE82   01825D9C    8A  000A           STR  SADFTMR                6. . . . . . ENDIF                5. . . . . ENDIF__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     In the table above and in the flow chart portion of FIG. 3, program control 53 by instruction 4928 checks latch AC of memory register 67. If it is a zero this means no sheet of paper is at aligner gate 28 and SADF 11 operations are to be inhibited. Inhibition of SADF 11 is achieved by bypassing the programming at 4952 which exercises control over SADF 11. From branch instruction 4928 in the event of aligner check, the program control 53 proceeds immediately to the CR3 code of EC9, i.e., nonpertinent code. From thence, the program control 53 awaits EC10 interrupt pulse at which time the EC10 code is executed. 
     In the event there was a successful paper pick (normal case) the SADF controls beginning at 4952 actuate SADF 11 as by actuating its belt (not shown) for transporting an original document from tray 63 onto the document glass (not shown). It should be noted that in the code not illustrated in FIG. 3 that at 4933 the aligner switch 60 is checked following checking latch AC of memory register 67. 
     Th EC10 code 5000 relates to retry controls exercised over copy production machine 10 by control 53 as shown in Table III below. 
     
                                           TABLE III__________________________________________________________________________LOC OBJ  OP1 OP2           SOURCE STATEMENT                            REF                BEGIN   EC10 CODE                      5002    7BAD   EC10 DC        *                1. IF  CR27BAD    E4   0004          LR    CRREG      LOAD CR REGISTERS&#39; REGISTER7BAE    96   0006          TP    CR2        TEST IF CR2 IS ACTIVE7BAF    ECB4 7BB4          BNZ   EC10AB7BB1    30EC7C    7CEC        0000      BU    EC10F,R0    7BB4   EC10AB                  DC    *                1. THEN                2. . IF NOT B47BB4    A6A1 01A1          LBL   COUNTRY7BB6    90   0000          TP    B47BB7    6D   7BBD          JNZ   EC10A                2. . THEN                3. . . ALLOW                        FUSER TURN-ON                                   (SCANTM=0)          5015                TRB     PSB20,SCANTM7BB8    A654 00547BBA    B6   00067BBB    A154 0054                2. . ENDIF    7BBD   EC10A                  DC    *                2. . IF NOT PRECOND                   TPB PSB07,PRECOND7BBD    A647 00477BBF    90   00007BC0    44   7BC4          JZ EC10BA7BC1    30EC7C    7CEC        0000      BU EC10F,R0                2. . THEN    7BC4   EC10BA                  DC*                3. . . IF ALIGNOK=0                    50197BC4    A657 00577BC6    95   00057BC7    343A 7C3A          BNZEC10C6                3. . . THEN                4. . . . RESET CR1                     50237BC9    E4   0004          LRCRREG7BCA    B7   0007          TRCR17BCB    84   0004          STRCRREG                4. . . . IF ALIGNER SW=1               5027                  RINCSB027BCC    A6C1 00C17BCE    90   0000          TPCPYATAL7BCF    46   7BD6          JZEC10C0                4. . . . THEN                5. . . . . SET ALIGNTOK                5032                TSBPSB23,ALIGNTOK7BD0    A657 00577BD2    AF80 00077BD4    A157 0057                4. . . . ENDIF    7BD6   EC10C0                  DC*                4. . . . IF ALIGNTOK=1                 5036                TPB PSB23,ALIGNTOK7BD6    A657 00577BD8    97   00077BD9    3DF0 7BF0        BZEC10C1                4. . . . THEN                5. . . . . CALL LOGBIN - LOG PAPER                                                       5040(102)                LIDX`0102`7BDB    AE01 01027BDD    297BDE    AE02 01027BE0    32C04D    0002        4DC0    BALR2,LOGBIN                5. . . . . RESET RETRY                 5043                TRB PSB07,RETRY7BE3    A647 00477BE5    B2   00027BE6    A147 0047                5. . . . . SET ALIGNCPP                TSBCPP,ALIGNCPP7BE8    A65D 005D7BEA    AF10 00047BEC    A15D 005D7BEE    2438 7C38        B EC10C5                4. . . . ELSE    7BF0   EC10C1                 CD*                5. . . . . IF RETRY=1                  50507BF0    A647 0047        LBPSB077BF2    B2   0002        TRRETRY7BF3    3529 7C29        BZEC10C4                5. . . . . THEN                        5055                6. . . . . . RESET RETRY               50557BF5    A147 0047        STBPSB07                6. . . . . . RESET END                TRBPSB03,END7BF7    A643 00437BF9    B7   00077BFA    A143 0043                6. . . . . . DFEXIT=0 CLOSED EXIT GATE7BFC    A679 0079        LBPCB097BFE    B4   0004        TRDFEXIT                STOUT097BFF    A179 0079        STBPCB097C01    A1D0 00D0        STBCCB09                6. . . . . . SET ALIGNCPP                TSBCPP,ALIGNCPP7C03    A65D 005D7C05    AF10 00047C07    A15D 005D                6. . . . . . IF ANY CR4-CR8            50597C09    E4   0004        LRCRREG7C0A    AB1F 001F        NIP1(CR4,CR5,CR6,CR7,CR8)7C0C    3D21 7C21        BZEC10C2                6. . . . . . THEN                7. . . . . . . RESET CR2, XFERCOR,                                                       5064COR7C0E    E4   0004        LRCRREG7C0F    B6   0006        TRCR27C10    84   0004        STRCRREG7C11    A67F 007F        LBPCB157C13    B6   0006        TRXFERCOR                STOUT157C14    A17F 007F        STBPCB157C16    A1D6 00D6        STBCCB157C18    A67C 007C        LBPCB127C1A    B3   0003        TRCHRGCOR                STOUT127C1B    A17C 007C        STBPCB127C1D    A1D3 00D3        STBCCB127C1F    2C27 7C27        BEC10C3                6. . . . . . ELSE    7C21   EC10C2                DC*                7. . . . . . . ALIGNTOK=1              5077                TSB PSB23,ALIGNTOK7C21    A657 00577C23    AF80 00077C25    A157 0057                6. . . . . . ENDIF    7C27   EC10C3                DC*7C27    2C38 7C38        BEC10C5    7C29   EC10C4                DC*                5. . . . . ELSE                6. . . . . . IF NOT STOP2                TPBPSB23, STOP2                        5088                TPBPSB23,STOP27C29    A657 00577C2B    91   00017C2C    3C38 7C38        BNZEC10C5                6. . . . . . THEN                7. . . . . . . SET RETRY &amp; CR1         5092                TSB PSB07,RETRY7C2E    A647 00477C30    AF04 00027C32    A147 00477C34    E4   0004   LR   CRREG7C35    AF80 0007        TSCR17C37    84   0004        STRCRREG                6. . . . . . ENDIF                5. . . . . ENDIF                4. . . . ENDIF                         5103    7C38   EC10C5                 DC*7C38    2C3C 7C3C        BEC10B    7C3A   EC10C6                DC*                3. . . ELSE                4. . . . INCREMENT COPY COUNTER- CPYCTR=CCTRSAVE                                                       5104__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     The align check latch AC is checked at 5019. If successful, the remaining portion of the EC10 code shown in Table III above is bypassed to code (not shown) executed with respect to CR3 et seq. In FIG. 3 such bypassing is represented by line 90 wherein the code pertinent to the present invention is the EC15 code as later described. 
     If AC latch in register 67 is a zero, then the control 53 uses instruction 5023 to reset CR1 of the CR register in memory. This action shows that paper was not picked during the previous paper pick try. Then control 53 at step 5027 again checks switch 60. If switch 60 is closed, then align latch 66 is set to the active condition in preparation for setting AT latch of register 67, i.e., picked paper has reached aligner switch 60. Then at 5036 latch 66 is checked. If paper was successfully received at aligner gate 28, as indicated by switch 60, step 5040 is executed which logs paper late indication in the later described CMOS memory, resets the retry latch RE of memory register 67, and sets the align copy paper path check latch PF of register 67. Upon the successful paper path receipt the nonpertinent code is entered for EC10. As shown in FIG. 3 nonpertinent code leads to the EC15 code. 
     If latch 66 is reset then the program control goes to branch instruction 5050 for checking the condition of the retry indicating latch RE of memory register 67. If the retry latch is a zero, then at 5088 the control 53 checks whether or not the stop button has been pushed. If it has been pushed the EC15 code is entered as shown in FIG. 3; in the constructed embodiment the CR3 code (not shown) of the EC10 code would be entered prior to entering the EC15 code. If the stop button is not activated, then at 5092 control 53 sets the retry latch, i.e., a retry has been executed, and CR1 is set to the active condition. Setting CR1 enables paper pick function to be executed during the next machine cycle. Note that at 5023, CR1 was reset. Hence, if the stop button was pushed no paper pick occurs. 
     If the entry latch had been set to the one state then the machine should be turned off as only one retry is permitted in the illustrated embodiment. In this regard, retry latch RE acts as a modulo two counter for counting the retries. 
     Upon the second retry, the control 53 at 5055 resets retry latch RE and sets the align CPP latch PF indicating a paper pick failure. Such paper pick failure will be illuminated on panel 52 informing the operator of the cause of machine stoppage. At branch instruction 5059, control 53 checks to see whether any CR4-CR8 is set to the one state. If any of them are a one state, a sheet of paper is in the paper path portion of copy production machine 10 somewhere between fuser station 31 and the ultimate output. If CR4-CR8 are all zeros, then at 5077 a flag is set for use later in the programming. On the other hand, if a binary one is in any latch of CR4 thru CR8 then at 5064 control 53 resets CR2 latch of the CR memory register and deactivates the corona control. The corona is a high voltage used in charging station 21 to charge the surface of photoconductor drum 20. Then control 53 exits EC10 code portion shown in Table III to a CR3 code portion not pertinent to the present invention and not shown. As shown in FIG. 3 the next pertinent code is the EC15 code beginning with instruction 5544. 
     The pertinent portion of the EC15 code relating to inhibit copy production in a pick failure is shown in Table IV below. 
     
                                           TABLE IV__________________________________________________________________________LOC OBJ  OP1 OP2     SOURCE STATEMENT                       REF                BEGIN EC15 CODE                        5522    7E7B  EC15  DC*                                    5524          1.    FUSER PUFFER OFF7E7B    A673 0073        LBPCB027E7D    B7   0007        TRFPUFFER                STOUT027E7E    A173 0073        STBPCB027E80    A1C1 00C1        STBCCB02          1.    IF CR17E82    E4   0004        LRCRREG7E83    97   0007        TPCR17E84    3D8C 7E8C        BZEC15A          1.    THEN          2.    . START FUSER TURN-ON INHIBIT(DOC.GLASS SCAN                                                       55337E86    A654 0054        LBPSB207E88    AF40 0006        TSSCANTM7E8A    A154 0054        STBPSB20          1.    ENDIF    7E8C  EC15A DC*          1.    IF CR2 &amp; NOT CENOPAPR7E8C    E4   0004        LRCRREG7E8D    96   0006        TPCR27E8E    3DB3 7EB3        BZEC15B7E90    A662 0062        LBCEMODE7E92    AB03 0003        CICENOPAPR7E94    3DB3 7EB3        BEEC15B          1.    THEN          2.    . IF ALIGNER OK AT EC7|EC8 (ALIGNOK=1) &amp;                NOT PRECOND                            55447E96    A657 0057        LBPSB237E98    95   0005        TPALIGNOK7E99    3DB3 7EB3        BZ EC15B                TPBPSB07, PRECOND7E9B    A647 00477E9D    90   00007E9E    3CB3 7EB3        BNZEC15B          2.    . THEN          3.    . . TURN BERNOULLI ON                  55497EA0    A67A 007A        LBPCB107EA2    AF40 0006        TSBERNULI                STOUT107EA4    A17A 007A        STBPCB107EA6    A1D1 00D1        STBCCB10          3.    . . IF LEDSAVE27EA8    E6   0006        LRSIZEREG7EA9    95   0005        TPLEDSAVE27EAA    43   7EB3        JZEC15B          3.    . . THEN          4.    . . . BERN5 ON7EAB    A67A 007A        LBPCB107EAD    AF20 0005        TSBERNULI5                STOUT107EAF    A17A 007A        STBPCB107EB1    A1D1 00D1        STBCCB10          3.    . . ENDIF          2.    . ENDIF          1.    ENDIF                                  5564__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     At 5544 control 53 checks the align check latch AC of memory register 67 for a one or zero state. If it is in the zero state, all copy production steps are inhibited by bypassing the code beginning at 5549, such as entering instruction at 5563. From 5563 nonpertinent code is executed until the next EC8 time causes execution of branch instruction 4809. 
     The copy production steps beginning at 5549 include turning the jet 33 on by activating a valve (not shown) for releasing air pressure from air reservoir 33R in copy production machine 10. The instruction at 5558 relates to different size paper to be detached from photoconductor drum 20 and is not pertinent to an understanding of the present invention. All the rest of the EC15 code is not pertinent and is not shown for that reason. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.