Method of and apparatus for printing edges of flexible sheets in assembled relationship

An apparatus for printing on corresponding edges of a plurality of flexible sheets maintained in assembled relationship, comprising:

• means for printing on said edges of said flexible sheets in non-contact fashion;
• means for controlling said printing means, said controlling means comprising a font programmable to represent indicia to be printed on said edges of said flexible sheets, said controlling means being operatively associated with said printing means;
• and
• means for placing said edges of said flexible sheets in operative relation to said printing means, said placing means being adapted to accommodate printing of said indicia in a selected position on said edges;
• said edges of said flexible sheets being divided into a grid, said grid being defined by a network of evenly distributed horizontal and vertical spaces;
• said font being programmable to cause said printing means to print determined portions of said indicia in identified ones of said spaces in said grid after said position has been selected.

An apparatus for printing on corresponding edges of a plurality of flexible sheets maintained in assembled relationship, comprising:

• an ink jet printer having at least one print bar extending transversely of said corresponding edges of said flexible sheets in a plane generally parallel thereto;
• means for controlling said ink jet printer, said controlling means comprising a font programmable to represent indicia to be printed on said edges of said flexible sheets, said controlling means being operatively associated with said ink jet printer;
• and
• means for placing said edges of said flexible sheets in operative relation to said ink jet printer, said placing means being adapted to accommodate printing of said indicia in a selected position on said edges;
• said placing means also being adapted to impart relative movement between said ink jet printer and said corresponding edges of said flexible sheets as said font causes said ink jet printer to print said portions of said indicia;
• said placing means also be adapted to compress said flexible sheets to cause each of said corresponding edges to be in contact with the next adjacent of said corresponding edges as said font causes said ink jet printer to print said portions of said indicia;
• said edges of said flexible sheets being divided into a grid, said grid being defined by a network of evenly distributed horizontal and vertical spaces;
• said font being programmable to cause said ink jet printer to print determined portions of said indicia in identified ones of said spaces in said grid after said position has been selected.

A plurality of flexible sheets maintained in assembled relationship and having printing on corresponding edges of said flexible sheets, where said edges are printed by following the steps of:

• dividing said edges of said flexible sheets into a grid, said grid being defined by a network of evenly distributed horizontal and vertical spaces;
• selecting a position on said edges of said flexible sheets for printing an indicia, identifying said spaces in said grid to receive portions of said indicia to be printed thereon, and determining said portions of said indicia to be printed in each of said spaces in said grid so identified;
• printing on said edges of said flexible sheets in non-contact fashion;
• and
• controlling said printing with a font programmable to represent said indicia to be printed on said edges of said flexible sheets;
• said font being programmed to cause said portions of said indicia so determined to be printed in said spaces of said grid so identified after said position for printing of said indicia has been selected.