Patent ID: 7009720

Claim:
A high reliability imaging system comprising: an optical scanning means adapted to produce optical images from an image source; an image storing means, connected for receiving and storing the optical images from the optical scanning means; a plurality of image forming means, each connected for receiving the optical images from the image storing means and enabled further for forming the images on recording sheets; a multi-path sheet feeding means, connected and adapted for: (i) selectively receiving sheets from any one of a plurality of sheet dispensing means, (ii) selectively delivering the sheets to the plurality of image forming means over any of a plurality of paths, so as to enable the forming of latent images onto the sheets, and (iii) thereafter, selectively delivering said sheets with latent images to a sheet receiving means over any of the plurality of paths; a controlling means, adapted for selectively choosing paths for the sheets to move from the sheet dispensing means, through a selected one of the image forming means to the sheet receiving means, the controlling means adapted for sensing sheet jams, for activating jam clearance actions, and for selecting alternate sheet paths for optimizing apparatus reliability, and a sheet jam sensor means and a jammed sheet receiving means, the sheet feeding means adapted for reversing sheet flow direction so as to move a jammed sheet from the sheet feeding means into the jammed sheet receiving means.