Refrigerator data controller

Abstract

A portable or refrigerator mounted data controller includes a housing. Located with and preferably inside of the housing is a series of printable sheets. Also associated with the housing, and preferably located therein, is a printer which prints on a single one of the printable sheets after removal from the series by the user. The housing also includes an input device by which the printer is actuated to print indicia on the single printable sheet.

1 . A refrigerator data controller comprising: 
 a housing including    a) a series of printable sheets,    b) a printer which prints on a single said printable sheet, and    c) an input device by which said printer is actuated to print indicia on the single said printable sheet; and    a mechanism for associating said housing with a refrigerator.    
   
   
       2 . A refrigerator data controller as claimed in  claim 1:   wherein said input device includes various keys by which user selectable indicia can be inputted to be printed by said printer on the single said printable sheet; and    wherein said housing further includes instructions for operating the various keys which is stored therein and pulled therefrom for viewing by the user.    
   
   
       3 . A refrigerator data controller as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said housing further includes a display of the indicia to be printed.  
   
   
       4 . A refrigerator data controller as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said housing includes a memory which keeps date and time, and wherein said display displays the date and time kept by said memory.  
   
   
       5 . A refrigerator data controller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a withdrawal opening through which a single said printable sheet is removed from a storage location and a printing opening into which the single said printable sheet is moved to be printed with the indicia.  
   
   
       6 . A refrigerator data controller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said printable sheets include an adhesive on at least a portion of one side.  
   
   
       7 . A refrigerator data controller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment mechanism is one of a magnet or Velcro mounted to one side of said housing.  
   
   
       8 . A portable data controller comprising: 
 a housing;    a storage area in said housing in which a series of printable sheets are housed;    a withdrawal opening in said storage area through which a single said printable sheet is removed from the series by the user;    a printer located in said housing which prints on the single said printable sheet;    a printing opening in said housing adjacent said printer into which the single said printable sheet is insertable to be printed on by said printer; and    an input device in said housing by which said printer is actuated to print indicia on the single said printable sheet located in said printing opening.    
   
   
       9 . A data controller as claimed in  claim 8 , and further including an attachment mechanism which can attach said housing to a surface.  
   
   
       10 . A data controller as claimed in  claim 8:   wherein said input device includes various keys by which user selectable indicia can be inputted to be printed by said printer on the single said printable sheet; and    wherein said housing further includes instructions for operating the various keys which is stored therein and pulled therefrom for viewing by the user.    
   
   
       11 . A data controller as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said housing further includes a display of the indicia to be printed.  
   
   
       12 . A data controller as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said housing includes a memory which keeps date and time, and wherein said display displays the date and time kept by said memory.  
   
   
       13 . A data controller as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said printable sheets include an adhesive on at least a portion of one side.  
   
   
       14 . A method for marking items which are time sensitive comprising the steps of: 
 selecting an item to be marked;    removing a blank label from a housing;    inserting the blank label into a printer located in the housing;    printing at least a present date and time indicia on the label with the printer; and    applying the label with the printed indicia to an item containing a perishable food.    
   
   
       15 . A method for marking items as claimed in  claim 14 , and further including the step of inputting additional indicia to be printed on the label by the use of keys located on the housing.  
   
   
       16 . A method for marking items as claimed in  claim 14 , and further including the step of checking the indicia to be printed on the label in a display provided on the housing.  
   
   
       17 . A method for marking items as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said applying step includes the step of utilizing blank labels provided with an adhesive on at least a portion of the label.  
   
   
       18 . A refrigerator data controller system comprising: 
 a refrigerator having a surface and a food item to be stored in said refrigerator;    a housing including    a) an attachment mechanism which attaches a remainder of said housing to the surface of said refrigerator,    b) a series of printable sheets,    c) a printer which prints on a single said printable sheet, and    d) an input device by which said printer is actuated to print indicia on the single said printable sheet;    whereby said housing is mounted on the surface of said refrigerator such that said input device is usable whenever a food item needs to be labeled to print indicia on a single sheet removed from said series of printable sheets, which printed sheet is then immediately attached to the food item.    
   
   
       19 . A refrigerator data controller as claimed in  claim 18:   wherein said input device includes various keys by which user selectable indicia can be inputted to be printed by said printer on the single said printable sheet; and    wherein said housing further includes instructions for operating the various keys which is stored therein and pulled therefrom for viewing by the user.    
   
   
       20 . A refrigerator data controller as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said housing further includes a display of the indicia to be printed.