Importance

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Abstract

A sheet transport system for automatically transporting sheets is provided. The system includes a primary path apparatus for feeding printed sheet images there, along a printing station to imprint sheets. The sheet transport system also provides an apparatus for transporting selected ones of the sheets along the path to a sheet path portion remote from the primary path and for returning selected ones of the sheets to the other fed sheets so that the combined sheets are arranged in a collated manner corresponding to the predetermined sequence. The system also includes, in the secondary or shunt path, a buffer for holding sheets previously passing through the printing station. The secondary path is arranged to permit selected return of ones of the sheets in the shunt path to the primary path. The system may also include a path for returning printed sheets in the primary path to the printing station. Thus, the sheet handling system provides for selective reordering of imaged sheets to promote improved printing operations.

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First Claim