US3587812A

US3587812A - Forms registration apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3587812A
Application number: US697062A
Authority: US
Inventors: Irwin R Budenstein; Richard J Reed; Arthur U Johnson
Original assignee: Xerox Corp
Current assignee: Xerox Corp
Priority date: 1968-01-11
Filing date: 1968-01-11
Publication date: 1971-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-28
Also published as: GB1249684A; DE1900806B2; DE1900806A1

Abstract

FORMS REGISTRATION APPARATUS HAVING INDICA ALONG ONE EDGE OF A THIN SEMIRIGID, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BAR MEMBER OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SURFACE CONFIGURATION, THE INDICIA REPRESENTING THE LATERAL DISPLACEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL PRINT CHARACTERS OF THE PRINTING MACHINISM IN A HIGH-SPACED PRINTER. A PAIR OF APERTURES POSITIONED IN THE BAR MEMBER ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF ARE REFERENCED TO THE INDICIA AND ENGAGE MATING SPROCKET PINS ON THE RECORD ADVANCE MECHANISM TO ORIENT THE BAR MEMBER AND INDICIA TO THE RECORD MEDIUM. SELECTED ONES OF INDICIA ON THE BAR MEMBER ARE REGISTERABLE WITH SELECTED ONES OF INDICIA ON A CHARACTER PRINT POSITION INDICATOR ATTACHED TO THE PRINT MECHANISM OF THE HIGH-SPEED PRINTER TO FACILITATE ACCURATE RELATIVE POSITIONING BETWEEN THE PRINT MECHANISM AND THE RECORD MEDIUM. A SECOND SET OF INDICIA IS ADDITIONALLY PROVIDED ALONG A SECOND EDGE OF THE BAR MEMBER TO FACILITATE ACCURATE RELATIVE POSITIONING IN THE VERTICAL DIRECTION. THE FORMS REGISTRATION APPARATUS MAY BE UTILIZED WITH A LAYOUT SHEET FOR PRECOMPUTING THE RELATIVE POSITIONING BETWEEN THE BLANK PAPER STOCK AND THE PRINT MECHANISM.

Description

United States Patent {72] lnventors Irwin R. Budenstein 3,114,491 12/1963 Wright 197/133(X) Gloucester Township, Laurel firings, N..I.; 3,154,235 10/1964 Hubbard 197/133(X) Richard J. Reed, Concord, Calif. Arthur 3,288,264 11/1966 Gabrielson et a1 197/133 U. Johnson, Pittsford, NY. 3,292,763 12/1966 Whitehead 197/194(X) [21] Appl. No. 697,062 3,334,722 8/1967 Bernard 197/133 [22) Filed Jan. ll, 1968 3,362,516 1/1968 Scozzafava 197/133(X) [45] patgmed June 1971 Primary Examiner-EtnestT Wright, Jr. [73] Assign xerox Col-minim Attorneys- Ronald Zibelli, James J. Ralabate and Norman E.

Rochester, 1\.Y. Schrader [54] FORMS REGISTRATION APPARATUS sclaimsnnrawing Figs. ABSTRACT: Forms registration apparatus having lndlcla along one edge of a thin semlrlgld, longitudinally extending [52] U.S.Cl u 197/133, bar member of generally rectanguhr Surface configuration, l97/l87' 9 the indicia representing the lateral displacement of individual [51] lnt.Cl B41] 15/00 prim characters f the priming mechanism in a h,igh speed [50] Field of Search 197/133, primen A pail- Of apertures positioned in the bar member 133 (A), 133 (F), 133 (P), I33 I), 1 1 jacent one end thereof are referenced to the indicia and en- 194 gage mating sprocket pins on the record advance mechanism References cued to orient the bar member and indicia to the record medium. Selected ones of indicia on the bar member are register-able UNITED STATES PATENTS with selected ones of indicia on a character print position in- 543,997 8/1895 Mallin 197/194(X) dicator attached to the print mechanism of the high-speed 775,270 1 1/1904 Fox et a1. 197/194(X) printer to facilitate accurate relative positioning between the 863,065 8/1907 Hillard 197/190(X) print mechanism and the record medium. A second set of in- 1,587,133 6/1926 Anhof l97/187(X) dicia is additionally provided along a second edge of the bar 1,693,035 1 H1928 Jensen .1 197/133 member to facilitate accurate relative positioning in the verti- 2,260,232 10/1941 Phillips..... 197/194 cal direction. The forms registration apparatus may be utilized 2,285,197 6/1942 Euth 197/133 with a layout sheet for precomputing the relative positioning 2,375,427 5/1945 Mannino 197/187UX between the blank paper stock and the print mechanism.

/3 7 I l i-l' -Tj -l l-i ri-h -l wk-M P el r -:i 1"l"l-lr'l hhl-rrl i-rl-l rli'hll r'l'i'l'l- & 5 o h h PATENTE-D JUH2'8 19m SHEET 2 0F 5 INVENTORS BUDENSTEIN OOOO PATENTEUJUN28|9H 3587.812

SHEET 3 OF 5 49 f I, 3/ I 3/ 56 INVENTORS IRWIN R. BUDENSTEIN RICHARD J. REED ARTHUR U. JOHNSON PATEN1E11J1111281971 35 7,5312

DATE

PRODWOR EMP MACHOPERJOB 111111 1111111111 1111111 CODE DATE ENTRY CODE CODECODEHll" 11111111 1111111 111111 11111111 II! [1 III PRODWORK EMP M CODE 0RD DATE 7 v ENTRY f fic 0099 01-06-67 1: FC 0100 01-06-67 6 FC 0102 01-07-67 .INVENTORS n. 1:10am IRWIN R. BUDENSTEIN 0105 OPUS-67 PREV BAL AI RICHARD REED ARTHUR U. JOHNSON PATENTED JUN28 I971 SHEET 5 OF 5 O 0.00 0.0 0,9 ONO 0,0 O

I P 3 "g IVFITITIIIIIIII ATTRNEY FIG. 7

FORMS REGISTRATION APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to high-speed printing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for obtaining accurate registration and positioning of the paper stock used therein in relation to the print mechanism. Machines of the type to which the invention particularly relate have been characterized as high-speed printers which are utilized in mak ing hard copy read out from computers. In such machines a printing mechanism is generally supported adjacent to a printing station past which a strip of printing paper is advanced, The paper upon which the print out from the computer is formed is positioned by paper feed tractors or sprocket drive mechanisms such as those illustrated in US. Pat. to Bernard, Bloom et al., and Whitehead, No. 3,334,722; 3,176,819 and 3,292,763 respectively, which are adjustable to align the paper with the printing station. The paper stock which generally comprises continuous fanfolded forms is advanced in discrete indexing steps through the printing station at which successive characters are printed thereon in a line at a time and then advanced to the next successive line.

The printing mechanism which may comprise a print roll or rolls bearing peripheral type font, a series of print bars, or an endless steel band which carries a plurality of type elements is generally positioned over the fanfold stock at the printing station. Therefore, it is generally necessary to move at least a portion of the printing mechanism away from the printing sta tion when loading a strip of fanfold material into the machine. The movable portion of the printing mechanism thus may be mounted on movable yokes, swingable carriages, and the like so that it may be retracted out and away from the printing station to facilitate positioning of the paper stock.

The paper upon which the record is formed has heretofore generally been of the type having preprinted form lines thereon. The use of such record paper has thus dictated the necessity for accurate alignment of the print mechanism with respect to the paper stock to ensure that the correct printed information appears at the position thereon corresponding to the preprinted information. In order to obtain the required lateral and vertical positioning of the paper with respect to the print mechanism, various types of positioning scales have been proposed in an attempt to overcome the difficulties heretofore experienced. These scales are then utilized in cooperation with the preprinted information to position the print mechanism relative thereto.

More recently, it has been proposed to utilize paper stock in the high-speed printer having no preprinted information thereon and subsequently superimpose various types of information over the information already recorded. For example, in a xerographic reproducing apparatus of the type disclosed in copending application, Ser. No. 607,004, filed Jan. 3, l967 in the names of Hitchcock et al. now U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,554 and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application, continuous or fanfolded computer forms are advanced onto the surface of a platen of a copying machine of the type disclosed in copending application, Ser. No. 400,363 filed Sept. 30, 1964 in the names of Melville et al. and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. In such machines successive incremental areas of the document, positioned on the platen, are illuminated and projected onto the surface of a rotating xerographic drum. The latent image of information to which the xerographic drum is exposed is subsequently developed and transferred onto a suitable record copy medium in accordance with the xerographic process.

Because the existing high-speed printers currently in use employ conventional printing techniques, there is a resulting limitation on the number of copies which may be generated in a particular computer run. The demand for additional copies has thus necessitated reproducing apparatus of the type disclosed in the above-cited copending application to Hitchcock et al. because to make additional copies with the high-speed printer via the computer would involve unnecessary additional costs and require tie-up of valuable computer time which could otherwise be utilized more advantageously.

The previous use of preprinted forms as the recording medium in the high-speed printers has required a large inventory on hand of numerous and varying types of forms. Inasmuch as additional copies of the original form generated must be reproduced, it has therefore been proposed to make the printout from the computer onto blank fanfold forms rather than preprinted forms, and subsequently superimpose additional information onto copies of the original printout. This may be accomplished by utilizing an overlay in conjunction with the reproducing machine.

An overlay is a clear transparency which may be formed of an acetate or other suitable material and which contains form headings, rulings, or other information thereon. The overlay is positioned on the platen of the reproducing apparatus disclosed in the above-cited copending application to Hitchcock et al. and in addition to producing a copy of the original information, additional material such as identifying information may be added thereto. By using such overlays, the user can quickly and easily design new forms or revise those presently in use. The overlay additionally provides the user the capability and flexibility needed to add headings and guidelines, to mask out data wherever desired, to outline highlights of certain documents or to make other quick changes wherever necessary. The use of such an overlay therefore retains all the advantages of a preprinted multipart form, while also making possible the elimination of preprinted forms inventory, in addition to providing for quick revision of forms being used. This can result in substantial savings by eliminating additional costs which result from forms obsolescence. Headings and guidelines may also be added to improve appearance and readability. Furthermore, certain sections may be masked or blocked out and highlights outlined to separate significant data from secondary information. When being used, the overlay occupies a fixed position over the optical scan area or platen of the reproducing apparatus. That is, the overlay is not subject to horizontal and vertical adjustment with respect thereto. Accordingly, the computer generated data printed on the blank continuous fanfold paper which is to subsequently pass over the overlay, must accurately register both horizontally and vertically therewith so that the copies being produced will show the data within the lines, columns, and information areas required. Although the fanfold paper passing over the overlay will permit a limited adjustment in both the horizontal and vertical direction, the adjustment permitted nevertheless does not circumvent the requirement that the data printed on the continuous fanfold form be inaccurate registration with the transparent overlay. Because of these limited adjustment capabilities, it is therefore necessary for the operator of the computer printer to print the data for a given report or computer run in the precise predetermined lateral and vertical positioning on the blank fanfold pages thereby ensuring accurate subsequent registration of the data with the overlay.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to accurately position the paper stock in relation to the print mechanism in a high-speed printer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide forms registration apparatus which facilitates accurate relative positioning between the paper stock and the print mechanism in high-speed printers,

.It is yet another object of the preset invention to provide forms registration apparatus which can easily be positioned in a high-speed printer for accurately positioning the print mechanism relative to the paper stock and then be removed therefrom.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide forms registration apparatus which may be used in conjunction with existing registration apparatus in high-speed printers to obtain precise registration between the print mechanism and blank paper stock.

These and other objects of the invention are attained by providing forms registration apparatus having indicia along one edge ofa longitudinally extending bar member, the indicia being divided into incremental portions which correspond to the lateral displacement of individual print characters of the print mechanism in a high-speed printer. Guide means positioned adjacent one end of the registration apparatus cooperate with the paper feed mechanism of the high-speed printer to align the registration apparatus and the indicia thereon with the paper stock in the machine. The relative lateral displacement between the paper stock and the print mechanism may then be adjusted by aligning precomputed indicia on the forms registration apparatus with precomputed indicia on the character print position indicator of the highspeed printer. Additional indicia may also be provided along a second edge of the registration apparatus which corresponds to the vertical displacement of individual print characters as determined by the paper stock advancing mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following detailed disclosure and description thereof, especially when considered in I conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of the forms registration apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a high-speed printer in which the forms registration apparatus is particularly adapted for use.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed is isometric view of a high-speed printer used in conjunction with the forms registration ap paratus.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the high-speed printer taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a transparent overlay having columnar headings preprinted thereon.

FIG. 6 shows the transparent overlay in registration over the printout sheet.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a layout sheet which is especially adapted for precomputing the relative positioning between blank paper stock and the print mechanism in a high-speed printer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the forms registration apparatus as contemplated by the present invention includes a relatively thin, semirigid bar member of generally rectangular surface configuration designated 10 which is not readily susceptible to breakage, bending, or other deleterious effects which may occur through extended usage thereof. Semirigid member 10 includes a first longitudinally extending edge 11 and a second longitudinally extending edge 12 parallel thereto. A first lateral end 13 and a second lateral end 14 are parallelly disposed to each other and perpendicularly oriented with respect to

longitudinal edges

11 and 12.

A pair of apertures 15 having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the sprocket advancing apertures 36 in the fanfold paper stock 31 are positioned in the semirigid bar member 10 adjacent lateral end 13. Apertures 15 are spaced from lateral end 13 and each other, distances which conform to the spacing of the sprocket advancing apertures 36 from the edge of the fanfold paper stock 31 and to the spacing of successive adjacent sprocket apertures 36 therein.

A first set ofindicia or scales 16, the incremental portions of which correspond to the lateral displacement of individual print characters in the print mechanism 49 of a high-speed printer 30, extend longitudinally along edge 11. The indicia 16 are arranged in ascending order from the lateral end 13. The indicia representing the first print character position is spaced from lateral end 13 a distance which represents the closest distance to the edge of the fanfold paper stock 31 on which a print character may be placed for effective subsequent utilization. Becauseof the positioning of the apertures 15 from lateral end 13, the first print character indicia is therefore similarly referenced to the sprocket indicia is therefore similarly referenced to the sprocket advance apertures 36 in the fanfold paper stock 31.

A second set of indicia or scales 17, the incremental portions of which correspond to the vertical displacement of individual print characters as determined by the paper stock advancing mechanism 51 in a high-speed printer 30 extend longitudinally along edge 12. The indicia 17 are preferably arranged in ascending order from the lateral end 14. A reference mark 18 spaced from lateral edge 14 extends between

longitudinal edges

11 and 12 to provide accurate registration with the laterally extending perforations 31a in the fanfold paper stock 31 as shown in FIG. 3. Reference mark 18 may be positioned coextensive with the first vertical print character position as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, or as an alternative spaced a predetermined distance therefrom.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 there is illustrated a portion of a high-speed printer generally designated 30 in which the forms registration apparatus 10 is particularly adapted for use. As illustrated therein, a strip of continuous blank fanfold paper stock 31 having a plurality of sprocket advance apertures 36 spaced along either lateral edge thereof is supported in the high-speed printer 30 and advanced past a printing station 50 by means of tractor drive mechanism 51 having a plurality of sprocket pins 35 which engage and project through the sprocket advance apertures 36 in the fanfold material 31. The tractor drive mechanisms 51 are laterally displaceable within the high-speed printer 30 by means of adjustable lateral slide mechanisms 53. Part 54 is the tractor drive shaft. In the high-speed printer 30 illustrated, the fanfold material 31 is held in engagement with sprocket pins 35 by means of plate members 37 which are pivotably connected to the tractor drive assemblies 51.

A character print position indicator 38 is pivotably attached to the print mechanism 49 by means ofa mounting bracket 39 and pivot pins 42. The character print position indicator 38 can thus be pivoted out and away from the paper path as is the print mechanism 49 when a new supply of paper stock 31 is to be placed into the printer 30. The print mechanism 49 and character print position indicator 38 attached thereto are laterally displaceable within the machine on a carriage assembly mounted upon sliding

shafts

56 and 57 as shown in FIG. 3. The print mechanism 49 is pivoted away from the printing station 50 when lock 74 is disengaged allowing the whole print mechanism 49 to pivot in a counterclockwise manner about shaft 72 which is supported on sliding

shafts

56 and 57 by crossbars 73 and 76. Character chain 58 is mounted for rotation about drive gear 70 and idler gear 71 and is driven by motor 62 all of which is supported on the carriage assembly 68. Print hammers 63 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 strike against character chain 58 causing a mark to be placed upon the record medium 31 by ribbon 64, since the record medium 31 and ribbon 64 is situated between the print hammers 63 and character chain 58, Ribbon 64 is fed through the printing station 50 by supply reel 65 and takeup reel 66 both mounted upon suitable support means. It should be noted that the lateral positioning the tractor drive mechanisms 51 and the fanfold stock 31 is independent of the lateral positioning of the print mechanism 49 and character print position indicator 38. Scales or indicia 41 are provided along character print position indicator 38 in accordance with the lateral spacing of individual print characters in the print mechanism 49 of the high-speed printer 30. The scales 41, however, as in most printers do not extend sufficiently to provide for accurate positioning in all relative displacements. To precisely position the print mechanism 49 in relation to the fanfold stock 31 as contemplated by the present invention, the pivotable fanfold hold down plates 37 are pivoted out and away from in contact with fanfold material 31. In this position the forms registration apparatus is placed into'the machine, fitting the apertures in forms registration apparatus 10 over two of the sprocket pins 35 of the tractor drive mechanism 51. This accurately and precisely aligns the registration apparatus 10 with both the tractor drive mechanism 51 and the fanfold material 31. Then in accordance with predetermined calculations, the fanfold material 31 via the tractor drive assemblies 51 or the print mechanism 49 are displaced laterally relative to each other until a first predetermined number on the forms registration apparatus 10 aligns with a second predetermined number on the character print position indicator scale 38 attached to the print mechanism 49 of the high-speed printer 30. This arrangement thus accurately positions the print mechanism 49 of the high-speed printer 30 in relation to the fanfold material 31.

ln computing the relative positioning in accordance herewith, a specific character from the high-speed printer 30 which has a known print position according to the character print position indicator scale 41 and the transparent forms overlay 70 (as shown in FIG. 5) to be subsequently used on a reproducing apparatus (not shown), may be recorded on a layout sheet such as that illustrated in FIG. 7. As illustrated therein, the forms layout sheet 20 is designed to represent a single sheet of the fanfold paper stock 31. A plurality of indicators extending along both lateral edges of sheet 20 represent the sprocket drive apertures 36 in the blank fanfold stock 31. The sheet 20 is preferably divided into two parts by a longitudinally extending centerline 21. A first set of indicia such as scales 22 extend laterally in either direction from centerline 21 along the upper and lower

perforation reference lines

23 and 24 in increments representing the lateral spacing of individual print characters in the high-speed printer 30. A second set of indicia 26 is positioned along either lateral edge of layout sheet 20 which represents the vertical displacement of individual print characters in the high-speed printer 30. In the preferred embodiment both sets of

indicia

22 and 26 are extended to form a grid 27 over layout sheet 20 to further aid in making computations for positioning the fanfold paper 31 in the print mechanism 49.

Having recorded the specific position of the known character which as an example might be 10) on the character print position indicator scale 41, the forms registration apparatus 10 is placed above the selected character extending laterally across the forms layout sheet 20 with the lateral end 13 being aligned therewith so that two of the aperture indicators 25 on the layout sheet 20 are aligned with apertures 15. In this position the particular reading on the scale 16 which aligns with the selected character for example, (20), is recorded for further computation. Next, the algebraic difference between the character print position as indicated by the character print position indicator scale 41 and the forms registration apparatus scale 16 is taken, which in the example would result in (minus l0). To this difference is then added a predetermined constant which is sufficient to compensate for the difference in relative displacements between the sprocket pins 35 and the zero position on the character print position indicator scale 41. In the preferred embodiment the number (40) is chosen ad the predetermined constant which is to be added. This number may be specially referenced on the scale 16 such as shown in FIG. 1. The result of adding (40) and (minus 10) is which is the number utilized on the character print position indicator scale 41 in setting the print mechanism 49.

The printer registration apparatus 10 is then placed into position in the high-speed printer 30 with the apertures 15 engaging two of the pins on the tractor drive mechanism 51, with the set of indicia 16 positioned above the indicia 41 on the character print position indicator 38. The print mechanism 49 of the high-speed printer 30 is then laterally displaced until the number (30) on the character print position indicator scale 41 directly aligns with the selected registration mark on the forms registration apparatus scale 16. The print mechanism 49 is then locked into the computed lateral position which is precisely the positioning required to conform to the transparent forms overlay 70 being utilize in the reproducing apparatus.

Having thus accurately determined and set the relative lateral positioning of the print mechanism 49 and the fanfold paper stock 31, the vertical positioning go of the paper stock 31 in relation to the print mechanism 49 may be checked by means of indicia 17 along edge 12 of the forms registration apparatus 10. This is accomplished by placing the forms registration apparatus 10 on the layout sheet 20 with reference mark '18 being aligned with one of the

perforation reference lines

23 or 24. In this position the number of character line spaces from the perforation reference line 23 to the previously selected character having a known print position is noted on scale 17. The forms registration apparatus 10 is then placed over the fanfold material 31 in the high-speed printer 30 with the reference mark 18 being aligned with one of the horizontal perforations 31a in the fanfold sheet 31 corresponding to the same perforation reference line 23 on layout sheet 20. The fanfold paper stock 31 may thus be vertically positioned in the high-speed printer 30 according to the previously noted vertical line spacing indicator on scale 17. FIG. 5 shows a transparent overlay 70 which has preprinted headings thereon. When the transparent overlay 70 is placed in a reproducing device along with the computer fanfold sheet 31 having the data aligned in accordance with the forms registration apparatus 10 of the invention, a composite copy is produced shown in FIG. 6 whereby the preprinted headings are in registration with the data printed on the computer fanfold sheet 31.

Thus, it may be seen from the foregoing description that by utilizing the forms registration apparatus 10 in the manner disclosed, the relative positioning between the print mechanism 49 and the fanfold paper stock 31 in a high speed printer 30 can be accurately determined and adjusted.

While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teaching of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.

We claim:

1. In a high-speed printer having a print mechanism, a record medium, a character print position indicator and a sprocket pin record advance mechanism; a forms registration apparatus adapted to accurately adjust the relative positioning between the print mechanism and the record medium coniprising:

an elongated bar member,

guide means positioned in said bar member adjacent one end thereof and engageable with said sprocket pin record advance mechanism of said high-speed printer to align said bar member with said sprocket pin record advance mechanism and said record medium supported thereon, and

a set ofindicia on said bar member extending longitudinally along one edge thereof, said indicia measuring the lateral displacement of individual print characters of said print mechanism in said high-speed printer and being referenced to said guide means, said indicia registering with a set of indicia on said character print position indicator laterally movable with said print mechanism to facilitate accurate relative positioning between said print mechanism and said record medium.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a pair of apertures spaced from the end of said bar member and each other to receive a mating pair of sprocket pins on said sprocket pin record advance mechanism of said high-speed printer.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, said forms registration apparatus further including:

a second set of indicia on said bar member extending longitudinally along a second edge thereof, said second set of indicia measuring the vertical displacement of individual print characters in said high-speed printer. and

indexing means adjacent one end of said bar member in reference to said second set of indicia whereby said indexing means registers with a horizontal perforation on said record medium to facilitate accurate vertical positioning of said record medium in relation to said print mechanism.

4. In a high-speed printer of the type wherein a continuous record medium is advanced past a printing station by means of sprocket pins that engage the record medium at either lateral edge thereof and having a print mechanism, a character print position indicator and a sprocket pin record advance mechanism; a forms registration apparatus for accurately ad justing the relative positioning between the print mechanism and the record medium comprising:

a thin simirigid longitudinally extending bar member of generally rectangular surface configuration,

guide means including a pair of apertures in said bar member adjacent one end thereof referenced to said record medium for receiving a mating pair of sprocket pins of said sprocket pin record advance mechanism which when positioned thereon serve to align said bar member with said record medium, and

a set of indicia on said bar member extending longitudinally along one edge thereof referenced to said guide means, said indicia measuring the lateral displacement of individual print characters of said print mechanism in said high-speed printer, selected ones of said indicia being registerable with selected ones of indicia on said character print position indicator attached to and laterally movable with said print mechanism of said high-speed printer to facilitate accurate relative Positioning between said print mechanism and said record medium.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, said forms registration apparatus further including a second set of indicia on said bar member extending longitudinally along a second edge thereof measuring the vertical displacement of individual print characters in said high-speed printer, and

indexing means adjacent one end of said bar member and referenced to said second set of indicia whereby said in dexing means is in registration with a horizontal perforation on said record medium and facilitates accurate vertical positioning of said record medium in relation to said print mechanism.

6. A high-speed printer of the type having a print station past which a continuous strip of record media is longitudinally advanced for recording thereon including:

record advancing means engageable with said record media to support and positively advance said record media past the print station,

means for adjusting the lateral positioning of said record advancing means and said record media supported thereon in relation to said print station,

printing means positioned adjacent said print station for recording information on said record media,

means for adjusting the lateral positioning of said printing means in relation to said print station,

character print position indicator means attached to said printing means, said character print position indicator means being laterally displaceable with said printing means and including a set of indicia extending therealong representative of the lateral print positions of said printing means,

an elongated bar member,

guide means positioned in said bar member adjacent one end thereof and engageable with said record advancing means to align said bar member with said record advancing means and said record media supported thereon, and

a set ofindicia on said bar member extending longitudinally al on one edge thereof said indicia measuring the lateral disp acement of individual prmt characters 0 said printing means in reference to said guide means, selected ones of said indicia on said bar member being registerable with selected ones of the indicia on said character print position indicator means to facilitate accurate relative positioning between said printing means and said record media.

7. In a high-speed printer of the type having a print station and a print mechanism past which a continuous strip of record media is longitudinally advanced by a web advance mechanism for recording thereon, the method of aligning the print mechanism with the record media comprising:

selecting a known print position of a character recorded on said record media, measuring said known position on the scale of said print mechanism to provide a first measurement and recording said first measurement, attaching a forms registration apparatus to the web advance mechanism of said printer and aligning said known print position with the scale of said print mechanism and said forms registration apparatus to provide a second measurement and recording said second measurement,

calculating the algebraic difference between said first and second measurements and adding a predetermined reference amount from said forms registration apparatus to said algebraic difference and laterally displacing said print mechanism by an amount obtained by the calculation obtained from said forms registration apparatus.

8. The method of claim 7 including: attaching said forms registration apparatus over the sprocket pins of said web advance mechanism in guide means on said forms registration apparatus.