Patent ID: 7831191

Claim:
A printing system comprising: a first media source supplying a longitudinally-extending length of sheet media having opposing first and second surfaces; a second media source supplying pre-cut sheets of media; a merging unit operatively disposed along said length of sheet media, said merging unit adapted to receive said pre-cut sheets of media from said second media source and operative to position said pre-cut sheets of media in longitudinally-spaced relation to one another along said first side of said length of sheet media; a marking unit operatively disposed along said length of sheet media and adapted to mark images on said pre-cut sheets of media as well said length of sheet media thereby generating pre-cut sheets of marked media as well as marked and unmarked portions of said length of sheet media with said unmarked portions extending beneath said pre-cut sheets of marked media; a separating unit operatively disposed along said length of sheet media, said separating unit adapted to separate said pre-cut sheets of marked media from said length of sheet media and thereby expose said unmarked portions of said length of sheet media; a cutting unit operatively disposed along said length of sheet media and operative to sever said length of sheet media into individual sheets of media such that marked sheets of media are formed from said marked portions of said length of sheet media and unmarked sheets of media are formed from said unmarked portions of said length of sheet media; and, a sheet collection unit adapted to receive at least said marked sheets of media from said cutting unit and said pre-cut sheets of marked media from said separating unit.