Continuous stationery

Abstract

 Continuous stationery (1) to be typed upon or printed with characters by a print unit of a computer or the like having a plurality of blocks (4) extending transversely across the continuous stationery, the blocks having a depth of one eighth of an inch with the blocks spaced at a distance apart of one half of an inch (l2.7 milli­metres).

Description

[0001] This invention has reference to continuous stationery and has particular reference to what is sometimes known as continuous CPO (computer print out) stationery. This continuous stationery is particularly adapted to receive random printed information from computer print out equipment.

[0002] British Patent Specification No. l447965 refers to continuous stationery with marginal feed holes and bars printed in half tone of two different colours (preferably of green and reddish yellow tones) alternately and transversely of the continuous stationery spaced apart by unprinted parts of the continuous stationery of equal depth to the depth of the printed bars. British Specification No. l507467 refers to continuous stationery having printed spaced blocks extending transversely of the web with alternate sets of blocks printed with greater intensity than the blocks spaced there between.

[0003] In the two before mentioned specifications the printed blocks (or bars) have depths of one-sixth or one-eighth of an inch spaced apart by distances depending upon the spacing of the printing to be applied to the continuous stationery so that if the printing is to be applied to respective blocks the continuous stationery has to be changed each time the spacing of the printing on the continuous stationery for example from one-sixth of an inch to one-eighth of an inch is changed.

[0004] British Specification No. l50l628 describes continuous stationery with sets of two transverse blocks formed of diagonal lines and sets of lines spaced apart and extending transversely across and spaced longitudinally of the continuous stationery.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide improved continuous stationery.

[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide continuous stationery with spaced transverse blocks or bars of half tone printing so arranged that printed matter applied to the continuous stationery is printed on such blocks or bars (or on intermediate unprinted paper) whether the spacing of the printed matter is at one-sixth of an inch (42.3 millimetres) or one-eighth of an inch (3l.7 millimetres).

[0007] According to the present invention continuous stationery adapted to be typed upon or printed with characters by a print unit of a computer or the like, comprises a plurality of blocks extending transversely across the continuous stationery in a direction perpendicular to the line of feed of the continuous stationery, the blocks each having a depth of one eighth of an inch and being spaced along the line of feed of the continuous stationery at a distance apart of one half of an inch.

[0008] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a view of the continuous stationery printed with data spaced at a depth of one sixth of an inch and

Fig. 2 is a view of the continuous stationery printed with data spaced at a depth of one eighth of an inch.

[0009] The business forms continuous stationery generally designated l comprises a single record web. The record web 2 is provided with groups 4 of spaced blocks each of a depth of one eighth of an inch (32 millimetres) and extending transversely of the webs, the blocks of one group being spaced from blocks of the adjacent group of blocks by a distance of three eighths of an inch (9.5 milli­metres) between the adjacent blocks. Thus there is one block of the depth of one eighth of an inch (9.5 millimetres) on every half inch depth of form (l2.7 millimetres and the blocks are spaced apart along the line of feed of the continuous stationery at a distance of half an inch (l2.7 millimetres). These blocks extend from top to bottom of the web.

[0010] Each of the blocks 4 is printed in half tone screen printing formed of small ink spots arranged closely adjacent to one another. The blocks 4 provide positive segregation of one line of information recorded from the next line of information recorded as the eye passes down and across the lines of recorded information and assists the eye to follow the lines of recorded information across the web and thereby reduces occular digression and consequent tendency of inadvertent omission of the information.

[0011] The blocks 4 are printed on the record webs 2 in brown ink (conveniently pantone No. 47l). It has been found that random printed information printed on record webs in brown ink is easier to read, particularly under conditions of fluorescent lighting, than if the record webs were printed in other colours. Also photocopies of records in brown ink provide a level of background to the recorded information similar to the original.

[0012] However, it is also within the scope of this invention that the blocks are printed in blue, green or grey ink. Thus for example the blocks may be printed in blue 285, green 354, 368 or 376, grey 4l5, 4l7 or 42l, orange l23, pantone yellow U or warm red U colours.

[0013] It will be appreciated that business forms stationery according to the invention may comprise a plurality of record webs with intermediate transfer material either in the form of interleaved carbon paper webs or self copy transfer material coated on the webs (such for example as sold under the Trade Mark MCP). The webs have the blocks 4 arranged as shown in the drawings.

[0014] Because the blocks 4 are spaced apart a distance of half an inch (l2.7 millimetres) when typing or other printing is to be applied to the stationery at a spacing of one sixth of an inch as shown in Fig. l the first line of printing is applied to a block and the next two successive lines of typing are applied between the blocks and the fourth line of typing is printed exactly on the next succeeding block 4. Similarly further lines of typing are applied accurately on a block or between blocks 4 with no typing appearing partly on and partly off a block. Similarly if typing is applied to the stationery at a spacing of one eighth of an inch as shown in Fig. 2 the first line of printing is applied to the first block 4 the second, third and fourth lines of printing are applied between the blocks 4 and the fourth line of typing is printed exactly on the next succeeding block. The continuous stationery bears consecutive numbers 6 referring to a line spacing of one eighth of an inch on the right hand side of the continuous stationery web and also bears consecutive numbers 7 referring to a line spacing of one sixth of an inch on the left hand side of the continuous stationery web.

[0015] There is also included a line of consecutive numbers 8 referring to the spacing of the blocks 4 down the web. The consecutive numbers refer to a single length of the continuous stationery (between cross perforations about which the web is folded into a pack).

[0016] Across the top and bottom of each single length of this continuous stationery web are included a series of lines of transverse numbering 9 to indicate the positions of longitudinal columns of information to be entered on the continuous stationery. This numbering 9 of the columns is helpful to the programmer in working out the format of the information to be recorded on the continuous stationery.

[0017] Instead of printing the blocks 4 of half tone small ink spots the blocks could comprise blocks l0 of closely spaced diagonal stripes as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3 the blocks l0 of the closely spaced diagonal stripes slope downwardly from right to left and are spaced at intervals as the blocks shown in Figs. l and 2.

[0018] The blocks may be printed in several other kinds of patterns and examples of such patterns are shown in Fig.4. Thus the pattern ll comprises a plurality of parallel lines of chevron shape positioned horizontally to form the block. Also as shown at l2a, l2b, the blocks may comprise a series of helically arranged lines parallel to each other with a series of lines running between adjacent turns of the helical lines. As shown at l2a the helical lines are drawn in a clockwise direction as viewed from the left hand side of Fig. 4. As shown at l2b the helical lines are drawn in an anti clockwise direction as viewed from the left hand side of Fig. 4. It is intended that blocks having helical lines arranged in the two pattern directions are arranged alternately longitudinally of the continuous stationery.

[0019] As shown at l3 in Fig. 4 the pattern is similar to that shown in Fig. 3 except that the closely spaced diagonal stripes slope downwardly from left to right instead of from right to left.

[0020] As shown at l4 the blocks are made up of a composite pattern of three horizontally of variable width disposed lines with cross lines to give the appearance of a line of spaced letters N in one line and a line of spaced figures each being a mirrored image of the letter N. Other patterns of blocks may be employed as convenient or desirable.

Claims

1. Continuous stationery adapted to be typed upon or printed with characters by a print unit of a computer or the like comprising
a plurality of blocks 4 extending transversely across the continuous stationery in a direction perpendicular to the line of feed of the continuous stationery and wherein the blocks have a depth of one eighth of an inch and character­ised in that the blocks are spaced along the line of feed of the continuous stationery at a distance apart of one half of an inch (l2.7 millimetres).

2. Continuous stationery as claimed in claim l characterised in that all the blocks 4 are printed in half tone screen printing formed of small ink spots arranged closely adjacent to one another.

3. Continuous stationery as claimed in claim l characterised in that all the blocks 4 are printed in half screen printing formed of closely spaced diagonal strips.

4. Continuous stationery as claimed in claim 2 or 3 characterised in that the continuous stationery bears consecutive numbers 6 related to the spacing of one eighth of an inch on one side of the continuous stationery and consecutive numbers 7 related to the spacing of one sixth of an inch on the other side of the continuous stationery.

5. Continuous stationery as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the continuous stationery bears consecutive numbers related to the one half of an inch spacing of the blocks on the continuous stationery.

6. Continuous stationery as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the continuous stationery bears consecutive numbers of transverse numbering 9 to indicate the positions of longitudinal columns of information entered on the continuous stationery.

Drawing