Document holder with preprinted locating aid

• US 4,636,099 A
• Filed: 04/24/1985
• Issued: 01/13/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ted A. Goldstone
• Original Assignee: Ted A. Goldstone
• Inventors: Goldstone, Ted A.
• Primary Examiner(s): EICKHOLT, EUGENE H
• Application Number:
  US06/726,788
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 400/531, 400/579, 400/522, 400/622, 400/619, 400/581, 400/511-512, 282/11.5 R, 282/11.5 A, 282/25, 40/124.2, 40/124.4, 40/158 B, 40/159, 229/68 R
• US Class Current: 400/531
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/12 specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like , e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 5/027 Sheets or cards attached to a carrier strip or web shipping forms B42D15/006

Abstract

A reusable document holder for use in a computer printer or electronic memory typewriter, including a strong, flexible plastic support material or sheet, preferably formed of the polyester Mylar, having a plurality of spaced document attachment areas for attachment thereon of documents, e.g. checks, to be printed in a computer printer, each of such areas having bands or straps at the corners, for insertion of such document beneath the bands, and a flap along the top edge for insertion of the top edge of such document beneath the flap. These elements support such documents and protect the top edges thereof when the document holder is fed through a printing device for printing on the documents or checks. Such bands and flap are formed by slitting or cutting the support material. Tractor feed holes are provided along the opposite edges of the support sheet for feeding the document holder through the device or printer, and line-up marks are provided on the plastic support to ensure correct loading and alignment of the document holder in the computer printer.

Claims

1. A reusable document holder for printing on inserted checks and like pliant documents especially adapted for use in a computer printer of friction or pin drive type which feeds the checks through in a given feed direction, which comprises:

(a) a strong, flexible polyester support film having a thickness ranging from about 0.003 inch (3 mils) to about 0.007 inch (7 mils);

(b) a plurality of vertically spaced attachment areas of predetermined shape on said support film for attachment of different checks of similar shape but that may vary in thickness and rigidity in said respective areas, the spacing of the attachment areas defining successive printing positions;

(c) means provided in said attachment areas for attaching and supporting the checks in said respective areas on said support film, said attaching and supporting means comprising a plurality of essentially diagonally disposed straps, at least one at each of the corners of said attachment areas, said straps formed by cutting said support material for insertion of said check beneath said straps in the respective attachment areas;

(d) a flap provided along the leading edge of each of said attachment areas, said flap formed by slitting said support material, for insertion of the top edge of said check beneath the flap in each of said attachment areas said support film including printed matter thereon corresponding to the pattern of a check in areas other than said straps and said flap, to aid in locating said straps and said flap for insertion of a check in proper position;

(e) aligned tractor feed holes along opposite edges of said plastic support film for receiving the pins of a tractor feed mechanism on said computer printer, for loading and alignment of said support film in said computer printer, and feeding said document holder in the feed direction; and

(f) line-up marks on said document holder prior to the leading attachment area to ensure proper initial loading and alignment of said support film in the computer printer, such that printed entries will properly be positioned on the subsequently printed checks.

2. A device for enabling checks to be printed under computer control on any of a number of printer types having sprocket pin drives comprising:

a thin, reusable sheet having spaces for receiving a number of checks in spaced apart relation along its length, the sheet including a leading edge portion before the first check for feeding into a printer and a trailing edge portion after the last check thereon, the sheet further having adequate structural firmness to support checks moving through the printer mechanism and comprising;

means defining regularly spaced sprocket holes adjacent the side margins thereof for receiving printer sprockets, said holes being oversize relative to the sprocket pins;

means imprinted along the sheet at spaced apart regions defining facsimiles of the checks at successive printing areas;

means at the printing areas for defining check retention means in the form of diagonal straps across the different corners of the checks, said retention means comprising means defining slits in the sheet, the slits terminating at curved end apertures; and

visible means imprinted on the check holder for defining reference indicia for lengthwise and transverse positioning of the holder in the printer such that checks positioned in the successive printing areas can be printed upon at selected data entry regions as the sheet is advanced.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 above, wherein the sheet is a die cut plastic sheet having die cut slits and sprocket holes as well as outline, and wherein the means defining curved end apertures define circular end stops for each end of the slits.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 above, wherein the sheet has a leading edge portion greater than 6" in length and a trailing edge portion greater than 3" in length and is of polyester material of between 0.003" and 0.007" in thickness.