Method and apparatus for splicing continuous pin-feed forms

摘要

A method and apparatus for splicing a fresh stack of continuous pin-feed forms in a high-speed printer having fed therethrough an expended stock of continuous pin-feed forms, where the printer includes an input station at a recessed area. A slidable tray for supporting the fresh stack is pulled out of the printer, and a splicing station which is hingedly coupled to an upright wall portion attached to the tray is deployed external to the printer for splicing ease. The splicing station includes a spool of splicing tape which is disposed within a locating groove of a controlled depth, the forms being registered on locating pins on either side of the groove for accurate splicing upon pressing them centered on the tape. When the splice is complete, the spliced stack is fan-folded upon the tray, the splicing station folded back against the upright wall portion, and the tray returned within the recessed area.