Patent ID: 7982903

Claim:
A method for printing and finishing a series of sheet-like objects utilizing a data processor system, a printer and a finishing apparatus having a detector for detecting arrived sheets, comprising the steps of: A) storing within the data processor system a set of printing instructions defining printings to be printed on the sheet-like objects; B) successively outputting successive portions of the stored set of printing instructions from the data processor system to the printer; C) printing said sheet-like objects in response to and in accordance with the successive portions of the printing instructions outputted to the printer; D) delivering the printed sheet-like objects from the printer directly to an input of the finishing apparatus; E) finishing the delivered sheet-like objects within the finishing apparatus; and F) programming the data processor system to perform, during step C, the steps of: F1) at least periodically registering output data in response to the outputting of the successive printing instructions to the printer, which registered output data are at least indicative of printer capacity required to process the printing instructions outputted to the printer; F2) detecting the arrival of individual sheet-like objects from the printer and generating signals representing such detected sheet-like objects; F3) at least periodically registering production data in accordance with the generated signals, which production data are at least indicative of a quantity of printed production realized by the printer in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer; F4) at least periodically determining timing instructions from the production data; and F5) at least periodically controlling the timing of the outputting of next successive portion of the stored set of printing instructions of step A) in accordance with the timing instructions, F6) wherein the timing instructions are determined for delaying or advancing the outputting of said next successive portion of the stored set of printing instructions in response to a difference between the printed production and the required printer capacity relative to a threshold value.