Print stock guide for impact printers

Abstract

An impact printer is disclosed for imprinting characters in succession on print stock such as that comprising an elongated strip of label stock backing having a lower edge surface, an upper edge surface, a front surface and a back surface and further comprising a plurality of labels removably adhering to and spaced along a front surface of the elongated strip. The impact printer moves the print stock under tension along a predetermined path past a print station including a hammer capable of controllable, reciprocative movement in a predetermined plane to contact the back surface of the print stock. In order to maintain the print stock properly aligned in a vertical direction with respect to the hammer as it moves in its predetermined plane, a first guide includes a planar reference surface normal to the predetermined plane and is located in proximity to the print station and to the predetermined path of print stock movement. A second guide is located in proximity to the print station for urging the lower edge surface of the print stock into contact with the reference surface. The second guide includes a surface, against which the front surface of the label stock is pressed, whose vertical dimension is normal to the reference surface at a location adjacent the print station and which is inclined with respect to that normal at a location adjacent the supply position.