US 5,187,774 AGranted

Reference area usable with a form for correction of form misalignment in a printer

AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

InventorRichard E. Ericson

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Abstract

A reference area usable with a rectangular form when the form is used with a computer controlled printer. The reference area having a pattern and a reference point. The pattern allowing the location of a mark printed by the printer on the pattern to be readily identified on an equivalent reference area displayed on a display monitor for the computer. The reference point is positioned so it will receive a reference mark when printed on the reference area by the printer provided the form is not misaligned in the printer. A reference mark received at the reference area provides information relative to the reference point that is a measure of the amount of vertical and horizontal misalignment of the form in the printer. This information, when placed in the computer, makes it possible for the computer to correct for any misalignment before any printing is done on the form.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for correcting for the vertical and horizontal misalignment of a rectangular form placed in a printer that is controlled by a computer having a display monitor including the steps of:

a. providing a reference area with the rectangular form that is received in the printer ahead of the portion of the rectangular form that is to receive printing from the printer, said reference area having a pattern with a reference point at which a reference mark will be received when printed provided the form is not misaligned in the printer;
b. presenting said pattern to the printhead of the printer and printing a reference mark on said pattern;
c. moving said reference area and said rectangular form with respect to the printer head so said pattern with the reference mark can be seen by the operator;
d. providing a displayed reference area on the display monitor that corresponds to said reference area, with a cursor at an initial position;
e. providing inputs to the computer to move the cursor to the position on the displayed reference area corresponding to the position of the printed reference mark provided at step b;
and
f. operating the computer on the basis of the inputs provided at step e to change the left hand printing margin to correct for horizontal misalignment and determine the amount of vertical movement required to be imparted to the rectangular form to correct for any vertical misalignment.

4 more elements

A computer system with automated printing alignment, including:

a printer configured to receive a form having a first reference pattern with a first reference point;
a monitor;
an operator actuated cursor controller;
and
a computer coupled to the printer, monitor, and curser controller, including;
first means for causing the printer to print a mark on the first reference pattern of the form in the printer, any displacement of the printed mark from the first reference point being caused by misalignment between the for and printer;
second means for causing a second reference pattern with a second reference point corresponding to the first reference pattern and point to be displayed on the monitor;
third means responsive to the cursor controller for moving a cursor on the monitor to a location on the second reference pattern corresponding to the location of the printed mark on the first reference pattern on the form in the printer;
fourth means for providing misalignment information representative of the location of the cursor with respect to the second reference point on the second reference pattern and corresponding to the misalignment between the form and printer;
and
fifth means responsive to the misalignment information for causing the printer to print in alignment on the form.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/469,222Filed 24 Jan 1990
Granted: 16 Feb 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B41J 11/64
Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in…:…
B41J 13/26
Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or…
B42D 15/0006
Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for: paper provided with guiding marks, e.g. ruled, squared or scaled paper
B41J
Typewriters