Item lister using a shift register

Claim 2

In apparatus of the type in which documents are sorted by class into respective pockets of stacking apparatus and in which data recorded on the documents is printed on tape by class so that each sorted class of documents can be obtained with a respective tape having recorded thereon the data associated with the class of documents, the combination comprising shift regisTer means including means for recirculating data therein, means effective when the documents are transported to selected pockets for storing the corresponding data into the shift register means in the order in which the documents are sorted, means effective when a pocket is full for retrieving data associated with the documents in the full pocket from the shift register means in the same sequence in which it is stored into the latter means, means for maintaining the document data in contiguous positions of the shift register means free of intervening blanks, and a single tape advance and print mechanism controlled in accordance with said retrieved data for printing the tapes by class for documents sorted into different pockets.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the data associated with each document includes a number of characters each character being represented in the shift register means by a plurality of logical bits, said shift register means comprising a plurality of parallel operated shift registers, one for each logical bit of the characters, for storing the data serial by character and parallel by bit.

Claim 4

In apparatus of the type in which documents are sorted by class into respective pockets of stacking apparatus and in which data recorded on the documents is printed on tape by class so that each sorted class of documents can be obtained with a respective tape having recorded thereon the data associated with the class of documents, the combination comprising shift register means including means for recirculating data therein, means effective when the documents are transported to selected pockets for storing the corresponding data into the shift register means, means effective when a pocket is full for retrieving data associated with the documents in the full pocket from the shift register means, and a single tape advance and print mechanism controlled in accordance with said retrieved data for printing the tapes for documents sorted into different pockets.

Claim 5

In apparatus of the type in which documents are sorted by class into respective pockets of stacking apparatus and in which data recorded on the documents is printed on tape by class so that each sorted class of documents can be obtained with a respective tape having recorded thereon the data associated with the class of documents, the combination comprising shift register means including means for recirculating data therein, means effective when the documents are transported to selected pockets for storing the corresponding data into the shift register means, means effective when a pocket is full for retrieving data associated with the documents in the full pocket from the shift register means, and a single tape advance and print mechanism controlled in accordance with said retrieved data for printing the tapes for documents sorted into different pockets.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 3 further comprising means for maintaining the document data in contiguous positions of the shift register means free of intervening blanks.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the data associated with each document includes a number of characters each character being represented in the shift register means by a plurality of logical bits, said shift register means comprising a plurality of parallel operated shift registers, one for each logical bit of the characters, for storing the data serial by character and parallel by bit.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 5 further comprising means for maintaining the document data in contiguous positions of the shift register means free of intervening blanks.

Claim 9

In apparatus of the type in which documents are sorted by class into respective pockets of stacking apparatus and in which data recorded on the documents is printed on tape by class so that each sorted class of documents can be obtained with a respective tape having recorded thereon the data associated with the class of documents, the combination comprising a shift register store having an input and an output, storing data serial by group parallel by bit and having a unique beginning-of-line code stored therein, means including a first path coupled to the store input for entering document data and corresponding pocket identity data into the store as the documents are sorted, means controlled by a pocket full condition, the corresponding pocket identity data and the unique code for removing from the store for printing the data associated with the documents in the full pocket in the same sequence in which the latter data was entered into the store, and including means coupling the store output to the store input for re-entering the remaining data into the store in contiguous positions thereof following said unique code, and a single tape advance and print mechanism controlled in accordance with said retrieved data for printing the tapes by class for documents sorted into different pockets.

Claim 10

In apparatus of the type in which documents are sorted by class into respective pockets of stacking apparatus and in which data recorded on the documents is printed on tape by class so that each sorted class of documents can be obtained with a respective tape having recorded thereon the data associated with the class of documents, the combination comprising a shift register store having an input and an output, storing data serial by group parallel by bit and having a unique beginning-of-line code stored therein, means including a first path coupled to the store input for entering document data and corresponding pocket identity data into the store as the documents are sorted, means controlled by a pocket full condition, the corresponding pocket identity data and the unique code for removing from the store for printing the data associated with the documents in the full pocket in the same sequence in which the latter data was entered into the store, and including means coupling the store output to the store input for re-entering the remaining data into the store in contiguous positions thereof following said unique code, and a single tape advance and print mechanism controlled in accordance with said retrieved data for printing the tapes by class for documents sorted into different pockets.

Claim 11

In apparatus of the type in which documents are sorted by class into respective pockets of stacking apparatus and in which data recorded on the documents is printed on tape by class so that each sorted class of documents can be obtained with a respective tape having recorded thereon the data associated with the class of documents, the combination comprising a shift register store having an input and an output and adapted to be initialized with a unique code entry and blank code entries stored therein, means forming a first path from the output to the input normally effective for recirculating entries in the store, means forming a second path from the output to the input and including storage means for extending the effective length of the store, means controlled by the unique code entry and the first blank code entry following the unique code entry when a document is sorted for storing corresponding document and class identity data entries into the store starting at the position of said first blank entry and including means for rendering said first path ineffective during said sorting, means controlled by the unique code entry and by each class identity data entry of a requested class when a read request occurs for rendering the second path effective and the first path ineffective to insert a selected number of blank code entries into the store preceding the unique code entry and for thereafter rendering the first path effective and the second path ineffective to remove entries of the requested class, equal in number to the inserted blank code entries, from the store in a sequence related to the order in which the record data was stored, and a single tape advance and print mechanism controlled in accordance with said removed entries for printing the tapes by class for documents sorted into different pockets.

Claim 12

In apparatus of the type in which documents are sorted by class into respective pockets of stacking apparatus and in which data recorded on the documents is printed on tape by class so that each sorted class of documents can be obtained with a respective tape having recorded thereon the data associated with the class of documents, the combination comprising a shift register store having an input and an output and adapted to be initialized with a unique code entry and blank code entries stored therein, means forming a first path from the output to the input normally effective for recirculating entries in the store, means forming a second path from the output to the input and including storage means for extending the effective length of the store, means controlled by the unique code entry and the first blank code entry following the unique code entry when a document is sorted for storing corresponding document and class identity data entries into the store starting at the position of said first blank entry and including means for rendering said first path ineffective during said sorting, means controlled by the unique code entry and by each class identity data entry of a requested class when a read request occurs for rendering the second path effective and the first path ineffective to insert a selected number of blank code entries into the store preceding the unique code entry and for thereafter rendering the first path effective and the second path ineffective to remove entries of the requested class, equal in number to the inserted blank code entries, from the store in a sequence related to the order in which the record data was stored, and a single tape advance and print mechanism controlled in accordance with said removed entries for printing the tapes by class for documents sorted into different pockets.