초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for printing selected indicia on objects, including, for example, sheets, cards, envelopes and containers. The objects are conveyed, one at a time, by a conventional conveying device along a path past a printing station. An electrically operated detector, such as a limit swit

An apparatus and method for printing selected indicia on objects, including, for example, sheets, cards, envelopes and containers. The objects are conveyed, one at a time, by a conventional conveying device along a path past a printing station. An electrically operated detector, such as a limit switch or photoelectric detector, senses a portion of each article, such as its leading edge, and generates a control signal. The control signal triggers activation of a memory containing a train of signals, which are applied to control a printer that automatically applies ink to print a selected group or line of indicia, such as alpha-numeric characters or codes, along a portion of the surface of each object.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for automatically inspecting, coding and sorting objects comprising:(a) scanning an object a first time with a first scanning device and generating first scanning signals defining a select characteristic of the object;(b) computer processing and analyzing the first scanning

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for automatically inspecting, coding and sorting objects comprising:(a) scanning an object a first time with a first scanning device and generating first scanning signals defining a select characteristic of the object;(b) computer processing and analyzing the first scanning signals and generating first coded electrical signals defining the select characteristic of the object;(c) using the first coded electrical signals to effect the application of a scannable code on the object, which code is indicative of the select characteristic;(d) scanning the code applied to the object with a second scanning device and generating second scanning signals defining the select characteristic of the object;(e) computer processing and analyzing the second scanning signals and generating second coded electrical signals; and(f) applying said second coded electrical signals to sort the object.