Printer with edge strip trimmer including a downwardly extending edge surface

In a printer having first and second opposed sprocket means positioned on opposed sides of a printer platen for feeding from an upstream to a downstream direction continuous-feed paper sheets having continuous-feed edge strips formed along the opposing sides of the paper sheets, the combination of an edge strip trimming apparatus, said edge strip trimming apparatus comprising first and second edge strip trimmers, each of said edge strip trimmers comprising:

• (a) edge strip hold-down means positioned in spaced-apart relation to one of the first and second sprocket means for receiving a sheet of paper to be separated from the edge strip and for holding the edge strip against the sprocket means as the paper is fed through the printer;
• (b) separating means for separating the edge strip from the paper sheet, said separating means comprising a paper sheet support bed for extending inwardly from the edge strip hold-down means to a point underneath the horizontal plane of the paper sheet for progressively diverging the plane of the edge strip from the plane of the paper sheet as the paper sheets are successively fed through the printer;
• and
• (c) an edge surface defined by said support bed, said edge surface having a gradual compound curve which tapers forwardly in the direction from which the paper sheets are fed through the printer, and downwardly to a point beneath the bottom surface of said edge strip hold-down means, said edge surface extending downwardly to ensure separation of the edge strip from each successive paper sheet as said sheets are progressively fed through the printer.