The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 15, 1991
Filed:
Mar. 20, 1989
Robert L Ward, Tempe, AZ (US);
Other;
Abstract
A display and printer subsystem for use in a sorting operation with sorting apparatus in which information can be displayed and labels printed for the catagories of materials resulting from the sorting operation is disclosed. The display and printer subsystem includes a microprocessor which develops and sends address, data and external control signals over system buses, a plurality of display units, and a plurality of printer units. Each display unit includes an alphanumeric display module responsive to the application of control, enable, and data signals to write specified characters in specified display positions. Each display unit also includes a logic interface circuit adapted to receive the address signals, the display unit using the address signals to select a particular display module. Similarly, each printer unit includes a printer responsive to data signals, control signals and enable signals for printing alphanumeric data at predetermined media positions. Each printer unit is responsive to address signals that are used to select the printer. Associated with each display unit is a manually operated switch that causes the information displayed by the display unit to be printed. The files of the data to be displayed and printed are stored in a memory unit. The program of the microprocessor permits automatic selection of the relationship between the stored files and the sort parameters associated with the printer and display units. This relationship can be determined by an operator. The display and print subsystem is described with particular reference to manual and automatic sorting of mail.