Microprocessor controlled thermal printer

A printer for printing on a web of record members, said web having a plurality of detectable indices disposed along a length of said web, each of said indices having a measurable length that is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum length, said measurable length extending along a longitudinal axis of said web and defined by a leading edge and a trailing edge of the index, said printer comprising:

• means for advancing said web through said printer;
• means for detecting a leading edge or a trailing edge of an index;
• means responsive to said detecting means for determining the length of said index;
• means for storing a default value that is less than said maximum length;
• means for determining a difference between said determined length and said maximum length to adjust said default value;
• and
• means for controlling said advancing means to advance the web an increment following the detected leading edge of a subsequent index, said increment being based upon said adjusted default value and being less than said determined length.

A printer for printing on a web of record members, said web having a plurality of detectable indices disposed along a length of said web, each of said indices having a measurable length that is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum length, said measurable length extending along a longitudinal axis of said web, said printer comprising:

• means for advancing said web through said printer;
• means for detecting a presence or absence of an index;
• means responsive to said detecting means for determining the length of said index;
• means for determining a difference between said determined length and said maximum length to provide a compensation value;
• and
• means for controlling said advancing means to advance the web an increment following the detected presence of a subsequent index, said increment decreasing as said compensation value increases.

A printer for printing on a web of record members, said web having a plurality of detectable indices disposed along a length of said web, each of said indices having a measurable length that is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum length, said measurable length extending along a longitudinal axis of said web, said printer comprising:

• a print head for printing on a record member;
• means for advancing said web through said printer;
• means for detecting a presence or absence of an
• means responsive to said detecting means for determining the length of said index;
• means for determining a difference between said determined length and said maximum length to provide a compensation value;
• and
• means for controlling said advancing means to advance the web after printing by a first increment to a stopped position within said index following the detected presence of an index, said first increment decreasing as said compensation value increases and said controlling means controlling said advancing means to advance from said stop position by a second increment to a top of form position at which printing may begin following the detected absence of an index, said second increment increasing as said compensation value increases.

A printer for printing on a web of record members, said web having a plurality of detectable indices disposed along a length of said web, each of said indices having a measurable length that is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum length, said measurable length extending along a longitudinal axis of said web, said printer comprising:

• means for advancing said web through said printer;
• means for detecting a presence or absence of an index;
• means responsive to said detecting means for determining the length of said index;
• means for or determining a difference between said determined length and said maximum length to provide a compensation value;
• and
• means for controlling said advancing means to advance the web by an increment from a stop position, with said detecting means detecting the presence of said index, to a top of form position at which printing may begin following the detected absence of said index, said increment increasing as said compensation value increases.

A method of printing on a web of record members with a printhead, said web having a plurality of detectable indices disposed along a length of said web, each of said indices having a measurable length what is equal to or less than a predetermined value, said measurable length extending alone a longitudinal axis of said web, said method comprising the steps of:

• advancing said web past said printhead;
• detecting an index as said web is being advanced;
• determining the length of said index;
• storing a default increment of advance value than is lees than said predetermined value;
• adjusting said default value based upon said determined length of said index to provide an adjusted value;
• and
• advancing said web an increment following the detection of a subsequent index, said increment representing said adjusted value and being less than said determined length of said index.

A method of printing on a web of record members with a printhead, said web having a plurality of detectable indices disposed along a length of said web, each of said indices having a measurable length than is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum length, said measurable length extending along a longitudinal axis of said web and defined by a leading edge and a trailing edge of the index, said method comprising the step of:

• advancing said web past said printhead;
• detecting a leading edge and a trailing edge of an index;
• determining the length of said index;
• storing a default value that is less than said maximum length;
• determining a difference between said determined length and said maximum length to adjust said default value;
• and
• advancing the web an increment following the detected leading edge of a subsequent index, said increment being based upon said adjusted default value and being less than said determined length of said index.

A method of printing on a web of record members with a printhead, said web having a plurality of detectable indices disposed along a length of said web, each of said indices having a measurable length that is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum length, said measurable length extending along a longitudinal axis of said web and defined by a leading edge and trailing edge, said method comprising the steps of:

• advancing said web past said printhead;
• detecting the leading edge and trailing edge of an index;
• determining the length of said index;
• determining a difference between said determined length and said maximum length to provide a compensation value;
• and
• advancing the web an increment following the detected leading edge of an index, said increment decreasing as said compensation value increases.

A method of printing on a web of record members with a printhead, said web having a plurality of detectable indices disposed along a length of said web, each of said indices having a measurable length that is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum length, said measurable length extending along a longitudinal axis of said web and defined by a leading edge and a trailing edge, said method comprising the steps of:

• advancing said web past said printhead;
• detecting the leading edge and trailing edge of an index;
• determining the length of said index;
• determining a difference between said determined length and said maximum length to provide a compensation value;
• and
• advancing the web by an increment from a stop position, to a top of form position at which printing may being following the detected trailing edge of a subsequent index, said increment increasing as said compensation value increases.