CA2126075A1 - Apparatus and method for maintaining the confidentiality of printed information - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and method for maintaining the confidentiality of information contained in a printed document is accomplished by enclosing the document (72) in an envelope (74), or similar enclosure, before the document is discharged from the apparatus (12). The apparatus (12) generally includes: a printer (14), which may be a facsimile machine, photocopier, or computer printer; a document positioner (20) for positioning the document, so that the document may be enclosed in an envelope; and a document encloser (38), which encloses the document in the envelope so that the document may later be removed from the envelope for viewing only by the intended recipient. The functions and sequencing of the apparatus are controlled by a suitable control system (10). A label printer (50), for printing the name of the intended recipient on the envelope, or the other desired information, may also be included.

Description

. WO93/11948 2126~7S PCT/US92/111~ ~

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
MAINTAINING THE CONFIDENTIALITY
OF PRINTED INFORMATION

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is ~ continuation-in-part of prior United Statesapplication Serial Number 07/810,289, filed December l9, l99l.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

~ his i~vention relates to maintaining the confidentiality of information, and more particularly to an apparatus, method and product produced by such method for ensuring the maintenance of the confidentiality of printed informatlon for the particular purposes described below.

With the advent of the automate~ of f ice, : 15 maintaining the confidentiality of the content of printed matter, such as the content of correspondence, contracts, financial data, and the like, has become increasingly difficult. Because of the ease with which identical copies ~f` such documents can be made with various equipment, such as facsimile machines, photocopiers and computer printers, the need has arisen for a means for reducing the risk that confidential information contained in such documents will be accidentally or intentionally read by unauthorized personnel before such documents reach the intended xecipient~

One attempt to resolve this problem, at least from the standpoint of maintaining the confidentiality of S documents printed on a facsimile machine, is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,912,761. The apparatus and method described therein is designed to deter the "casual"
reader, i~terposed between the receiver of the transmission, and the intended recipient, from reading the document. Specifically, the document is divided into two separate documents which are individually unreadable in an easy and straight foiward manner. The two separate documents are tran~mitted in sequlence. The portions are .then recons~ituted at the receiving end by the intended recipient by using a transparency overlay process with the two portions. The patterning at the transmitting end may be accomplished by an optical filtering process or alternatively may be computer generated manipulating a pre-input document to produce the two portions for printing and transmission~

This system is, however, intended to deter only ~he "casual" reader as the separate documents are only unreadable in an "easy and straight forward manner."
Moreover, the system requires scrambling and unscrambling 25 df the original document. As this system only deters the "casual" reader, the need still exists for an apparatus and method which maintains the document in its original form while deterring unauthorized persons from viewing the document from the time it is re~eived at the location of W093/11948 PC~`/US92/11155 ~ 21~6~7~

the intended recipient to the time it actually reaches the intended recipient. There also exists ~-~ need for an apparatus and method which is adaptable to various office equipment such as photocopiers and printers~

SUMMARY OF THE_INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, confidentiality of printed information contained in a document may be maint~ained by inserting, enclosing or constructing around the document an envelope or like encl.osure and sealing the document in the envelope after the documPnt has ~een printed~ Alternatively, the printed information may be covered by any suitable opaque coveringl such as paper, after printing.
.
In the case of facsimile machines, this ;: ~ 15 invention provides for the maintenance of confidentiality of printed matter contained in a facsimile from the time the document is transmitted from the sender until the intended receiver removes the document from the envelope or other enclosure or cov ring. The terms "envelope", "package", "coverin~", "cover", "enclosure" or similar : term as used herein, and in the claims which follow, are : used interchangeably to mean "that which obscures the information contained in the document from view."

In the case of photocopiers, printers and : -25 similar machines, the invention provides means by which the confidentiality of a printed document may be maintained from the time it is printed or copied until the WO93/1194g PCT/US92~11155 2 12 60~ ~ -4-A

intended receiver removes the document from the envelope or other enclosure or removes the opaque covering.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention provides, in general, an apparatus and method for maintaining the confidentiality of information contained in a printed document. Preferably, confidentiality is maintained by sealing the document in an envelope or other suitable covering or package such that the intended receiver of the document may remove ~he document from the envelope or package without damaging the document.

The printed document may be from any source but generally is produced by standard paper handling equipment as well as office equipment such as facsimile machines, l~ photocopiers, computer printers, and the like.

The apparatus generally comprises a document confidentiality maintenance device and a controller or control system which automatically controls the functions and seguencing of the document positioner, the document encloser, and the printing device. The confidentiality maintenance device compri~es: any form o~ document printer (e.g. facsimile machine, phokocopier, computer printer and the like); a document positioner, which positions the document such that it can be enclosed in an envelope; and a document encloser which encloses the document in the envelope so that the document may be removed from the envelope by the intended receiver. Preferably, the document may be removed from the envelope without damage .. . .. . . . ..

W093/1194~ 21 2 60 75 PCT/VS92/tl15~ ~

to the document itself~ Furthermore~ the envelope may include a means for detecting tampering wi~h.the seals of the envelope such as by embossing the seals with a pattern which would indicate to the intended recipient that the seal has been partially or completely broken.

The method of the invention generally comprises the steps of printing the document, positioning the document, enclosing the document in the envelope and controlling the printing, positionin~ and enclosing steps.

The invention may also handle documents and envelopes fabricated from varicus types of material~
Such materials include fiber based envelope materials such as DOW CXEMICAL's "TYVEK", and various types of paper including, but not limited to~ conventional computer-type paper such as continuous form feed computer paper with detachable clean edye margins, nonmargin continuous roll :paper, unmargined single sheets of paper, thermal reactive paper (such as the type commonly employed in facsimile machines~, and the like. Choice of envelope material is 20 not critical~ however, it is a consideration when choosing a means for handling and transporting the material.

Various method5 of sealing the envelope are suitable for ~his invention. Although any means to affix paper or other fibrous material together may be employed in practicing this invention, adhesives are preferred.
Specifirally, heat sensitive and pr~ssure sensitive adhesives are preferred. One such heat sensitive adhesive is available from Imperial Adhesive Corp. of Cincinnati, ., , , .. , , ,~,, .. ~ , , . - . ~ . . . . . .. .

WO~3/11948 PCT/US92/111~ r .~ J

Ohio, under the trade name "VITEX". VITEX employs a heat activated polymer which is activated between about 160~
and about 180F. By changin~ the polymer solution of VITEX, the polymer may be produced to activate at temperatures as low as about 140F. Imperial Adhesive Corp. also produces a water soluble latex adhesive whioh is actîvated by applying pressure. Either of these adhesives may be employed by the several embodiments described herein. Regardless of the particular adhesive chosen, adhesive may be applied to the envelope material prior to inserting the material into the apparatus or during the operation of the apparatus.

Optionally, various embodiments of the apparatus may also include any combination of the following components which carry out particular functions af the inventiQn: a document printer, an envelope label prin~er, paper and envelope supply devices, document and envelope paper separation devices~ uni-and bi-directional motorized tractor feeds or C- or similar shaped channels, which transport and guide the document and envelope material ~
fo~m feed paper margin separation systems, and/or an envelope sealing system.

In several embodiments, the envelope is fabricated f rom one or more webs of envelope material. In 25 the ca~e of more than one web of envelope material, the printed document is positioned between or otherwise enveloped by the webs. In the case of a sin~le web, the web is formed into a cup, a U- or V-shape. The bottom edge or vertex of the cupped, U or V-shaped web is folded WO 9:3/1t948 P~/US92/1115~ ,~
.. , 212~o7s to form the envelope. The three open sides are sealed to complete the enclosing step in forming the envelope. In the case of two envelope webs, the do~ument is positioned between the webs. The four edges of the envelope are S then sealed~

In all cases (single or multiple webs)~ the envelope is sealed in such a manner that the document may be removed from the envelope by the intended recipient withGut damage to the document itself. Moreover, the envelope may be fabricated in such a manner that it cannot be opened without destroying the envelope itself such as by embossing or knurling the envelope along the seals. This added feature assures the intended recipient that the confidentiality of the cohtents of the document has been maintained.

~ nother aspect of th:is invention provides for affixation of the name and/or address t or any other information which may b~ desiredl to the outside of the envelope so that the document reaches the intended recipient without the need for opening the envelope or othexwise viewing the document. This is another feature of the invention which assures maintenance of the , integrity and confidentiality of the document. .~:

I In accordance with another aspect of this . .
25 invention, a method for ensuring maintenance of the -confidentiality of information contained in a printed document is provided. The method comprises the steps of printing the document, positioning the document such that WO93t11948 PCT/US92/11155 2~,60~ S :

the document may be enclosed in an envelope, enclosing the document in the envelope such that the document ~ay later be removed from ~he envelope, and controlling the printing positioning and enclosing st ps.

In yet another aspect of this invention, a product, produced by the method of the invention described herein is provided~ The product comprises the printed document which has been automatically positioned and enclosed in an envelope. The envelope may, optionally include an address indicating the intended recipient as well as embossing or knurling at the seal points of thP
envelope as a means of detecting tampering with the envelope.

Another aspect of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method for maintaining the coni~entiality of printed matter which optionally has the capability of fabricating an envelope after the print data has been receiv~d by the printer but before the document has been printed. This "real time" fabrication feature enables the machine to determine the physical length of the longest page to be printed (to accommodate for example 8l" x 11" or 8~" x 14" document sheets) and to construct an envelope of appropriate length. The invention provides for any length paper desired.

Still another aspect of this invention provides : for an apparatus and method for securing the confidentiality of documents while the documents are contained in the document confidentiality maintenance ,WO93/11948 PCT/US92/11155 2i~ 7~

g device. For example, this feature may be provided for by :::
enclosing the entire device in an opa~ue shrouding or ~:
cabinet. Should the shrouding or cabinet be partially or completely r~moved, the operation of the controller and 5 document confidentiality nature device is inhibited.
Accordingly, the device will not operate if the shrouding or cabinetry is partially or completely removed.

Further features, objects and advantages of the ~:
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the detailed explanation of the specific embodiments of this invention to be given hereafter with reference to the attached drawings. ::

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE_DRAWINGS .

Figure l is a schematic representation of the 15 elements which comprise the apparatus o this invention. :-.
:
Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the elements which comprise the document confidentiality :~
main~enance device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an orthographic view of one : 20 embodiment of the confidentiality maintenance device, without it~ supporting structure.

Figure 4 is a side view of the envelope fabrication device of Figure 3.

WO93/11948 PCT/US92/ll15~ ~

2~,~,60rlS

Figure 5 is a rear view of a seal pressure roller me~hanism suitable for use in the embodiments of the invention disclosed her~in.

Figure 6 is a side view of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a bottom view of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a block diagram of the control system suitable for use in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 and adaptable for use in any embodiment disclosed herein.
Figure 9A is a wiring diagram of the heater control circuit o Figure 8~

Figure 9B is a wirin~ diagram of the seal pressure motor control circuit of. ~igure 8.

Figure 9C is a wiriny diagram of the envelope paper cutter motor control circuit of Figure 8 ' Figure 9D is a chart deplcting the make and model numbers of particular elements referenced in Figures 9A through 9C.

I Figure 10 is a side view schematic of a horizontally oriented embodiment of the document confidentiality maintenance device of Figure 1 wherein the document is printed on continuous form paper and said WO93/11948 PCT/US92/11155 ~
~i~607~

envelope is fabricated from two sources of continuous form paper. '_ Figure 11 is a side view schematic of a ::
vertically oriented embodiment of the document 5 confidentiality maintenance device employing a single ;~
source of envelope web paper wherein the single web is `:
formed into a cupped or U- or V-shaped we~.

Figure 12 is a top view schematic of the device ~
of Figure 11 as viewed from cross section 12-12. :~;

Figure 13 is a schematic representation of the steps which comprise the method of this invention.

Figure 14 is a sche:matio of a side view of another embodiment of this invention. ~
.~.
~igure 15 is a schematic representation of a ~ide view of another embodiment of this invention.

igurP 16 is an opposite side view of the - embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 14. -::

~igure 17 is a v~iew of the opposing side of that shown in Figure 16 and the same side as shown in Figure ~:
14.

Figure 18 is a top view of the embodiment of the invent1on shown in Figures 14, 16 and 17~

WO 93/1 194B PCT~VS92/11155 r æ ~2 60~ 12-Figure l9 is a schematic representation of the steps which comprise the method of the embod_~ent shown in Figures 14 t 16, 17 and 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
.. .. . . _ _ .

Referrin~ now to the drawings in detail, wherein like elements are indicated by like reference numerals, there is seen in Figure l the elements which comprise the apparatus of this invention namely the controller or control system, designated generally by reference numeral lO, and the document confidentia:Lity maintenance device (CMD), designated generally by reference numeral l2.

Figure 2 illustrates t in schematic form, the elements comprising CMD 12. CMD 12 comprises document printer l4, document positioner 16 and a document encloser 18. Document printer 14 may be any printing device suitable for pri.nting a document such as facsimi.le machines, photocopiers, computer printers and the like.

Document positioner 16 positions the printed document such that the document may be enclosed in an enclosure suitable for maintaining the confidentiality of the printed document. Positioner 16 may employ any means for assuring proper positioning. In several embodiments descxibed herein, the document is positioned between separate sheets of envelope material or a single U- or V-shaped web of envelope material. Positioner 16 may employ WO~3/11948 PCT/US92/11155 2126~7~

any suitable material handling equipment. Such equipment may comprise any or a combination of any of_~he following devices: conveyor mechanisms; gravity feed mechanisms;
tractor feed conveyors, where computer type paper having perforated holes at the margins is utilized; guiding mechanisms, such as C shaped channels located on either longitudinal side of the document sheet which guide the longitudinal sides of the document to desired positions (via driven rollers, comealongs or the like), and/or any other material handling devices known in the art.

Document encloser 18 encloses the printed document in an e~nclosure suitable to maintain the confidentiality of the printed contents. The enclosure may be constructed from any opaque material to form a covering which obscures rom view the printed onten~s of the document. The enclo~ure is preferably in the form of an envelope-like enclosure which is preferably fabricated .
by a device in which the envelope is fabricated around the d~cument prior to the document's dischar~e from the apparatus of this invention. Other embodiments of the invention may utilize envelopes which are ~abricated by the apparatus of this invention, or by other means, wherein document encloser 18 inserts the document into the envelope instead of fabricating the envelope around the document. The envelope material may be advanced through the apparatus by means similar to the means employed to advance the document paper, as discus5ed herein. 'rhe enc].osure may also be a pre-fabricated ~nvelope into which the document is inserted and the envelope is sealed closed.

4$ PCI'/US92/1115S l!
"

60~5 -14-Document encloser 18 may also include an envelope sealing device. As the envelope is fabricated, the envelope is sealed such that the document may later be removed from the envelope without damaging the document.

5 Any suitable means for sealing the envelope material may be utilized~ In the embodiments described herein, adhesives are preferred. The envelope material may be pre-treated with adhesive, as describ~d in further detail above. Adhesives may be pressure sensitive~ heat sensitive or both pressure and heat sensitive. Suitable means for applying pressure and/or heat may be included in the ~ealing mechanism as required. Adhesive may also be applied to the envelope material as the envelope is being abricated.

15Document encloser 18 may also include suitable : means for separating the envelope material from the envelope material source, preferably ~ontinuous roll form paper. The separation means is generally dependent on the form of envelope material employed. In the embodiments 20 ~described herein, separation means is preferably a knife or othe suitable~:mechanism for shearing the web of continuous roll paper. However, other methods and apparatus may also be employed such as rotary dies, guillotine or s-~is50r style knife arrangements or other separatinglor cutting means g~nerally known in the art.

If other fsrms of envelope matPrial are used, suitable separating means must be utilized, For example, if continuous form paper perforated at pxe-set lengths is , .

WO93/1194g PCT/US92/111~ ~
2126~75 used~ the envelope material may be separated at that point by applying appropriate force to burst the. perforation.
Of course, no separation means is required if pre-cut lengths of envelope material is used.

In the instance where computer-type form feed paper, having margins with spaced holes therethrough, is used as the envelope material, a suitable means for separating the margins from the envelope material is also a function of document encloser lB. Various means may bé
utilized for separating the margins depending on whether the margins are detachably connected (e.g. by perforations) to the envelope material. If perforations are present, bursting means may be utilized by applying a force to the detachable connection which is sufficient to detach the mar~in f rom the enclosure material without tearing the material. Tractor feeds angled away from the direction of travel of the enclosure material may provide sufficient force. A cutting means, such as a knife, may : be employed to assist the bursting. In the event that perforations are not present, other separation means can be employed to separate the margins such as knives or other ~utting mechanisms combined with tractor feeds or other devices to carry the margin debris away~

Document encloser 18 also may include a label ~5 printer for printing information on the envelope. Typical information which would generally be included would be the name of the intended recipient of the document as well as the recipient's address or location. Any other information which is desired to be printed on the envelope .~`

WO93/11948 PCT/U~92/lllSS

C~læ6075 may also be included. Optionally, this information may be collected directly from the information ,provided in the document itself. For example, the inside address field of a business letter could be optically or digitally "read"
by CMD 12. This information would then be stored and printed by the label printer directly on to the envelope at the appropriate time. A special cover sheet may also be used with predetermined fields in ~hich the information to be printed on the envelope is indicated. The device may also be provided to print a predetermined number of lines directly from the document to the envelope. For example, the first 25 lines of the document would also be printed on the envelope by the label printer.

Document encloser 18 may also include an enclosed document discharge mechanism. This may be any mechanism ~uitable to transport the sealed enclosure or en~elope to the discharge or finished product location of the apparatus. One embodiment of a discharge mechanism may employ motor driven ribbed rubber rollers which engage the outside surfa~e of the envelope and transport the enclosure or envelope to the discharge location of the apparatus. Other suitable discharge mechanisms may also be employed.

Figures 3 through 9 il~ustrate one particular embodiment of this inventionO Figures 3 through 7 show the mechanical details of CMD 12 of this embodiment.
Document printer 14 is not shown in these figures, however, in this embodiment, printer 14 is adjacent to document feed chute 20 such that documents 72 exiting W~3/llg48 P~T/US~2/1~
2121~7~

printer 14 discharge directly on to feed chute 20, this may be ac~omplished by means of guides. or may drop directly onto feed chute 11 unaided.

Figure 8 is a block diagram of controller (or control system) 10. Contro~ler 10 can be modified to suit any embodiment of the invention disclosed herein but, as depicted in Figure 8, is specifically related to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 through 7 and 9A through 9D. Figure 8 is more specifically suited to the embodiment of the invention which utiIizes a facsimile machine as document printer 14, although the controller 10 could be readily adapted for use with any printer 14~ such as photocopiers or computer printers.

Turning now to Figures '3A through 9Dt Figure 9A
is a wiring diagram of seal heater control circuit 94.
: Figure 9B is a wiring diagram of seal pressure motor control circuit 92~ Figure 9C is a wiring diagram of envelope cutter motor control circuit 90. Figure 9D is a tabulation of various components (K0 through R7 and Ul) ? appearing in Figures 9A through 9C and their makes and model numbers. The components of Figure 9D may, hswever, be interchanged with other suitable means for caxrying out sim~lar functions. The circuits illustrated in Figures 9A
through 9C are exemplary only and variations of that circuitry imay also be utilized to carry out the intended functions.

Referring back to Figure 2, there is seen the elements comprising CMD 12. CMD 12 comprises document ~'I .` ~ ' ~ , . . . .

printer 14, a document positioner 16 and a document encloser 18. Document printer 14 may~be any printing device suitable for printing a document such as facsimile machines~ photocopiers, computer printers and the like.

Referriny now to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, CMD 12 includes: a printer 14 (not shown); a support frame 22; feed chute 20; a first envelope paper supply 24; a second envelope paper supply 2b; first envelope web 28; second envelope web 30; an envelope paper drive mechanism 32 (schematically shown in Figure 8~ for advancing both first and second envelope webs, such as tractor feeds 34 and 36; an envelope sealer mechanism 38 (shown in detail in Figures 5-7~ which may comprise side seal rollers 40 and 42, end seal roller 44;
: 15 envelope paper cutter 46; and, optionally, seal heater 48.
SPal heater 4B may optionally be enclosed in seal rollers 40, 42 and 44 by means of heating element, such as n~chrome wire inserted inside each roller causing the surf~e of each roller to maintain the appropriate heat level in order to efect sealing. A control system l0 capable of performing the necessary control functions is shown in Figure 8. As shown in the embodiment depicted by Figure 4, CMD 12 is oriented such that the plane defined by the plane in which the document travels from the time it exits the printing machine (hereinafter referred to as the machine direction plane) is about 45 from normal.
This angle allows the document to slide along the machine direction plane to a particular stopping point where the document may be enclosed in an envelope. Optionally, CMD

... . . . . . . ..

WO93/11948 PCT/US92/t11$~ t --lg--12 may also include label printer 50 and seal heater 48 as well as other features described herein. , .

Rolls 24 and 26 and webs 2~ and 30 preferably ~onsist of standard sized paper suitable for computer or similar use with tractor feeding mechanisms and which may include detachable clean edge margins such as continuous form feed computer paper, of the type available throu~h Standard Register Corp, Dayton, Ohio. When used as envelope material, adhesive available through Imperial Adhesive, under the trade name "VITEX", described herein, may be applied to webs 28 and/or 30 for the purpose of bonding the two envelope paper webs together. The VITEX
adhesive may be applied to envelope webs 28 and 30 prior to installing ~upply rolls 24 and 26 on CMD 12 or during the operation of the apparatus~ as an additional process step. The adhesive may be applied to one side of each ~web so long as the adhesive bearing side faces the other envelope web. Adhesive may be applied to one or both : envelope webs 28 and 30. The application may cover the entire side of each web or be applied in any desired patter~ Moreover, the adhesive may be applied ~o one or both of webs 28 and/or 30 while on the machine allowing for the usage of standard tractor feed computer paper in roll form for one or both envelope paper webs. Typically, the adhesive is either heat or pressure sensitive or both hleat and pressure sensitive. The web paper may be supplied in 15 lb. rolls of 5000 pages each.

Alternatively, conventional 24 lb. check ledger sto~k paper rolls coated with a wax/polymer adhesive ma~

W~93/11948 PCT/US92/11155 2~60 1~ - 20-be used in those embodiments of the invention which utilize combination heat and pressure sensit_ve adhesive, Such coated stock (TECHPAK Adhesive SRD-l) may be obtained from ~ranklin P.P., Inc. of Franklin, Ohio~ For those embodiments of the invention which utilize pressure only sensitive adhesive, cold weld adhesive, such as the type used in the candy industry, may be utilized.

First and second web rolls comprise paper wound around a center core 52, which include bearing surfaces, allowing the cores to be rotatably mounted to a fixed surface such as frame 22 of CMD 12. Guide rollers 54, 56 and 58 also include bearing surfaces, similar to those of center core 52, rotatably mounted to a fixed surface, such as frame 22 of CMD 12. The web roll feed can be controlled by any suitable means. One such means is the implementation of friction clutch~s and servo motors which control the feed of rolls 24 and 26. The friction lutches and servo motors (clutch/motor system) may also be employed to retract excess web-feed. If used in conjuncticn with bi-directional tractor feeds, or other suitable web drive mechanism, the clutch/motor system may retract the envelope web for a variety of purposes including for .printing on the envelope at any desired location. The clutch/motor system may also be used to retract the document and/or envelope webs to any position in the apparatu5.

Tractor feeds 34 and 36 are standard, motor driveni computer paper, conveying devices which positively position first and second webs 28 and 30. Tractor feeds WO93/11948 PCT/US92/11155 t 212~)7~

34 and 36 are preferably NEC PINWRITER P6300's, available through NEC TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Tractor feeds. 34. and 36 may be mounted in various orientations and groupings so that the envelope paper webs are conveyed through CMD 12 5 smoothly and without buckling or jamming. Alternative forms of drive mechanisms and paper guides may also be employed to assure positive placement of webs 28 and 30.
For example, conveyors or guide means or a combinati.on of conveyors and guide means may be employed. The type of 10 conveying means chosen may be, in part, a function of the type of paper utilized. As mentioned, tractor feeds may be utilized with margined, continuous feed computer-type paper. For non~mar~ined paper, a system of friction (e.g.
rubber) or pressure rollers may be utilized while the 15 paper is guided on either side of the web or sheet ~where : the margins w~uld normally be attahed) by C-shaped ~hannels~ These channels may be suitably enclosed to prevent the paper from leaving the path guides~ The roller friction drive means may be positioned such that 20 the:~rollers would contact any desirable point on the surface of the paper. Other material handling devices may also be employed to ~onYey and positively position the envelope and document webs. For example, sealer mechanism 38 may be adapted to include driven pressure rollers 40, 25 42 and 44, such that the rollers drive the envelope and, optionally, the document webs as the rollers seal the ehvelope~
. .
Cutter 46 may be a guillotine or similar style :
cutting mechanism which is actuated to separate a 30 predetermined length of paper from webs 28 and 30. In :::

W~93/11~4~ PCT/U~92/tll55 ,6~l 5 this embodiment, cutter 46 is AZCO Corp.'s Model SC-12, actuated by AZCO Corp.'s Model 85616-2~ ~ .

With reference to the sealing mechanism depicted in Figures 5-7, rollers 40, 42 and 44 may be made from any suitably resilient~ non-marking material, such as plastic or rubber. The rollers are rotatably mounted such that they apply sufficient pressure ~o webs 28 and 30 to seal the envelope paper webs together while simultaneously allowing the web conveying mechanism to advance the envelope through the sealer. Detail of the sealing mechanism of the embodiment shown in Figure 3 is depicted in Fi~ures 5, 6 and 7. End roller 44 may be actuated by a motor actuator, preferably "Mod!el 85616~1". Optionally~
heater 48 may be utilized to assist in the activation of heat activated adhesion materi,al and the sealing of envelope webs 28 and 30~ A suitable heater mechanism may include an OMEGALUX, Catalog No. SNH-12/120 heater and OMEGALUX, Catalog No. CN351-JF3 heater controller. One form of sealer control system is depicted in Figures 8 and 9B and, optionally, 9A if heat is employed in the sealing function.

~ abel.printer 50 may also be incorporated in CM~
12. Referrlng again to Figures 3 and 4, printer 50 may be slideably mounted to print desired information on the outside of the envelope. Such information may include the name and address of the person to whom the document is intended, delivery and handling instructions, identification of the contents of the envelope, company logo, bar coding and the like. Printer 50 may be any WO93/l1948 PCT/US92/11155 -23- :

suitable printer such as a high resolution dot matrix printer, such as NEC PI~WRITER P630~, avai1ab1e .from NEC
TECHNOLOGIES, INC. A suitable label printer control system is depicted in Figure 8. The location of the printed label on the finished enclosed product 74 may be adjusted as desired. Figure 3 shows one possible printing location at 76O

Referring again to Figures 3 and 4, margins 60 and 62 may be removed from sealed webs 28 and 30 after the webs are cut by cutter 46. Removal of margins 60 and 62 may be automatically accomplished by cutting margins 60 and 62 just inside the tra~tor feed holes of unperforated paper or along the clean edge perforation with blades 64 and 66. Margins 60 and 62 are guided away from webs 28 and 30 by conveyors 68 and 70. Cc)nveyors 68 and 70 may be the same tractor feed mechanisms as tractor feeds 34 and 36. ~onveyors 68 and 70 may be mounted such that they are angled away f rom webs 28 and 30 . This angle need only be gre~t enough to separate the margin ~rom webs 28 and 30.
Angles in any direction of le5s than five degrees ~rom the direction of travel of webs 28 and 30 may be sufficient to ;:
achieve separation without tearing the envelope paper webs, although angles of greater than five degrees may alss be possible. In any event, the angle and direction of the angle are not critical, so long as the margin is separated and guided away from webs 28 and 30 without tearing or otherwise damaging the webs. This margin removal system may also be used for removing the margins ~rom a document papex, if such paper is utilized. This system, as well as the alternative margin removal system WO93/1194~ PCr/US92/11155 1~ -24-described below, is also adaptable for use with any of the embodiments of the invention described her~in.
, __ Alternatively, when perforated margined paper is utilized, margins G0 and 62 may be separated and removed from webs 28 and 30 without the need for utilizing blades 64 and 66~ Conveyors 68 and 70 may be oriented at such an angle so as to direct the margins away from webs 28 and 30. The entixe web being in tension with an increasing component of force perpendicular to the direction of travel o~ webs 28 and 30 as webs 2B and 30 advance will eventually cause the margins to tear free alon~ the perforation. The ang~e and direction of the angle at which conveyors 68 and 70 are oriented are not critical so long a5 the margin is separated and guided away from webs 28 and 30 without tearing or otherwise damaging the webs The apparatus of this invention also includes the necessary control systems lO to which provides the proper commands and sequencing to CMD 12 such that the apparatus performs each function described herein.
Control system lO may comprise any type of suitable control devices such as microcGmputers and proyrammable controllers. Mechanical and analog systems may also be employed to control the various functions and sequencing of the components of the apparatus. For example, a microcomputer, such as AST Research, Inc.'s microprocessor model AST Premier/2B3, controls the functions and sequencing of the embodiment shown in Figure 3~ Figure 8 is a block diagram of the control system employed by the apparatus of ~igure 3 in the case that the 21~607~

document printer is a facsimile machine. Figure 8 depicts the flow of data from data receiving circuit 82 to micro computer 80 and the low of data from micro computer 80 to various control circuitry and, in turnr to various control elements. In the embodiment of ~igure 3 where document printer 14 is a control system for a facsimile machine, the data received is digital data received over a telephone line. Facsimile receiving circuit 82 receives this data and transfers it to micro computer 80 for storage and processing~

For the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3; Figure 9A depicts heater control circuit 94 which controls the operation and temperature settings of seal heater 48; ~igure 9B depicts end seal roller pressure actuator motor ~ontrol circuit 92 which controls ~he motor which ac~tuates envelope sealer mechanism 38; and Figure 9C
: : depicts envelope paper cutter actuator motor control circuit 90 which controls the motor which actuates envelope~ paper cutter 46. In addition, Figure 8 schematically depicts control circuitry for document ~printer 14 (document printer control circuit 84), label printer 50 for the envelope adhesives (label printer cohtrol cixcuit 86) f and the envelope paper drive ~mechanism 32 (envelope paper drive mechanism motor control circuit 88). Each of these control circuits may utilize circuitry commonly known in the art.

Details of particular control circuits are set forth in Figures 9A through 9C.

W~93/11948 PCT/US9Z/II15~ *
2~ 6 0 r~ S

A suitable program for micro computer 80 may be employed depending on the functions and sequences of various components present in any particular embodiment of ; ~:
the invention. A program written in "C" for testing the ~:.
5 envelope-forming functions of CMD 12 of the embodiment depicted in Figures 3 through 8 and 9A through 9D is s~t forth below:

/ **~***~*~*******~*~*~*****~**~***~****t~***~*******~***~*~***~**~
/~ This program tests the envelope-forming components of the Secure Fax */
/* Machine: paper routing, paper drive7 address print head, heater, */
/* sealing pressure adjust, and paper cutter. 10/2/91 */

#INCLUDE "stdio"
int port2 dat;
1~ /****~*****~***~****~*****~***~**~***~**********~***~*******~/ ~
/* OUTPUTS ~/
/ * * ~*~ * ** *~****** ****~***~****~**~*~***t*~*****/
/~ bits 5-7 ¦ bit 4 ¦ bit 3 ¦ bit 2 I bit 1 ¦ bit O */
/* un- I cutter I roller I cutter I roll press I heater ~/ ;
/* assigned ¦ up/dn I up/dn I power I power I power */
/*******~*~***** * / ,~
int portl dat;
/* INPUTS ~/
/~**~****~***~*******f*~*~****t****~***~**~**~*~***~***~****~*/ ~
/~ bits 6-7 ¦ bit 5 ¦ bit 4 ¦ bit 3 I bit 2 ¦ bit 1 ¦ bit O */
/~ un- I roller ¦ roller ¦ knife ¦ knife I FAX I FAX */
/* assigned I up I down I up I down ¦ complete ¦ incoming */
/***~*****~**~* *******~* *t,*~* * * I ~' j ;nt status;
int choice;
void delay(). /* Function creates delay of no. of counts */
void mov paper(); /* Function slowly advances paper a no. of lines~/
void prep env~); /* Function prepares envelope after loading paper~/ ~
- .~ ' W O 93/11948 21~ ~ 0 7 S P(~r/US92/ltl55 void wait_fax(); /~ Functisn waits for a fax to come in*
void fill env(); /~ Function waits for completion of fax.message*/
void trim_env(); /* Function trims excess from bottgm~of envelope~/
void print env(); /~ Function prints address on envelope */
void cut env(); t* Function cuts off completed envelope~/
FIL ~printer; /* Open file "printer" for printing ~/
/~ address on envelope ~/
main() ::~
{
choice = 0;
printer = fopen("lptl:","a");
clrscrn();
outp(Ox30C,OxOq; /~ Port 2 is output, Ports 1 and O are inputs~/ :
[

15 while (choice != q) {
printf("~n\n\n\n Select a function by entering the "); .:~
printf("appropriate integ~r"); .`.
printf("~n\n (1) Receive FAX (Untrimmed "); . ~:
20 printf("Envelope)");
printf(U\n (2) Receive FAX (Trimmed U);
printf("Envelope)");
printf(~\n (3) Envelope PreparationU);
printf(U\n (4) Exit"~;
25 printf(~n\n Enter Secltion:");
scanf("%d", ~choice);
switch(choice) case 1: wait fax();.
fill env();
print env();
cut env();
clrscrn();
: break;
case 2: wait fax();
flll_env();
print env();.
trim_env();
cut env();
clrscrn();
break:

W 0 93~11948 PC~r/U S92/11155 ~60~ 5 -28 -case 3: prep_env();
clrscrn~
break;
case 4: clrscrn~);
S break;
default: break;
} ~
: ....
. status = fclose (printer); .
printf~"\n\n\n\n FAX Test Completed\n");
', void delay(period) /~ Function to create a delay of (period) counts ~/
long period;
{ : ~.
while (period-- ~ 0); -':
, void mov paper~lines) int lines;
{
do fprintf(printer, U\nn)~
} ~ :' while(lines-- ~ O);
~: 25 } :
void pre_env() { .:
outp(Ox30F,OxO3); /~ Heater ON, Roller DO~NWARC, Cutter UP ~/ :
/* Wait for Roller to operate (wait for 1~ bit 4 of Port 1 to turn on) */
do .
: { portl dat - inp(Ox30E);
portl dat ~= OxlO; ) t~ Mask all but bit 4 */
while (port dat !- OxlO);
outp(Ox30F,OxOl); /~ Remove prw from Roller actuators ~
delay~20000L), l~ Wait for Heater to warm up to seal envelope */
~ I mov_paper(32): ~;
: delay(20000L); /~ Wait for printer to catch up */
outp(Ox30F,OxOO);
outp(Ox30F,xO.04); /~ Heater OFF, Roller DOWN, Cutter DOWNWARD ~/
/~ Wait for Cutter to operate (wait for */
: l~ bit 2 of Port 1 to turn on) ~/
: ' "

W O 93/lt9q8 P{~r/lJ~92/lllS~ ~
2126~7~

- 29 - ::

do { portl_dat = inp(Ox30E);
portl dat ~= Ox04; } /* Mask all but bit 2 ~/
while (portl dat != Ox04);
outp(Ox30F,OxOO); /~ Actuator power off ~/
delay (500L);
outp(Ox30F.OxlO); /~ Change direction of cutter actuator ~/
delay (530L);
. outp(Dx30F,Oxl4); /* Heater OFF, Roller DOWN, Cutter UPWARD ~/
/* Wait for Cutter to operate (wait for /~ bit 3 of Port 1 to turn on) ~/
do { portl dat = inp(Ox30E);
portl dat &= Ox08; } /~ Mask all but bit 3 */
while (portl dat != Ox08):
outp(Ox30F,OxOO);
delay ~500L);
outp (Ox30F,OxOA);/~ Heater OFF, Roller UPWARD, Cutter UP ~/
/* Wait for Roller to operate ~wait for */~
/~ bit 5 of Port 1 to turn on) ~/
do { portl dat = inp(Ox30E);
portl dat ~= Ox20; } /~ Mask all but bit 5 ~/
while (portl dat !=Ox20);
outp(Ox30F,OxOO); /* Heater OFF, Roller UP, Cutter UP ~/
}

void wait fax(~
( clrscrn();
poscurs(l2,30);
printf("Awaiting incoming fAX");
do /* Wait for bit O of Port 1 to turn on (incoming FAX~ ~/
portl dat = inp(Ox30E);
portl dat 6= OxOl; } /~ Mask all but bit O ~/
while (portl dat !=OxOl);
}

void fill env() { __ . cl~scrn();
outp(Ox30F,OxOl); /~ Heater ON, Roller UP, Cutter UP ~/
delay (20000L); /~ Wait for Heater to warm up ~/ :
poscurs (12,30);
printf("Awaiting end of FAX~);

WO 93/11948 P~/US92/11155 ~,~2.60 1 5 - 30 - :

do /~Wait for bit 1 of Port 1 to turn on (FAX complete) ~/
{ portl_dat = inp(Ox30E);
portl_dat &= Ox02; } /~ Mask all but bit l ~/
while (portl_dat != 0.02);
S } -void print env() mov_paper(6);
fprintf(printer," FROM: XYZ Corp. \n~n");
fprintf(printer," TO: PDI CORP. \n~nd);
fprintf(printer," REF: Your FAX 8~26/91 ~n~n~n"); ~;
fprintf(printer," ~*~*~b*~ *~*~*~ *~*~*~ *~**~
fprint~(printer~H*~ *****~*~1~*** ~nN);
fprintf(printer," ~ "); P.
fprintf(printer," ~ ~n");
fprintf(printer," * "~; .
fprintf(printer," ~ ~nu~
fprintf(printer," * "); ~::
fprintf(printer," * ~n");
fprintf~printer," * N); :, fprintf(printer," ~ \n");
fprintf(printer,"
fprintf(printer," ~ ~n"); :
fprintf(printer,"
fprintf(printer," * ~ \n"); :~
fprintf(printer,"
fprintf(printer," t \n");
fprintf(printer," * ");
fprintf(printer," * ~n");
fprintf(printer," ~ ");
fprintf(printer," ~ ~n"); :~:
fprintf(printer," *
fprintf(printer," * \n");
fprintf(printer,"
fprintf(printer," * \n");
fprintf(pr1nter," ~ ");
fprintf(printer," ~ \n");
fprintf(printer,ll * ");
fprintf(printer," ~ \n~):
40 ~ fpr~ntf(printer," **~*~*******~*~**~*~*~*~*~***~*~**~);
. fprintf(printer,"*~***~***~****~** \n~);
delay (lOOOOOL); /~ Wait for printer to catch up */
} , void trim env() ~5 {

W O 93/llg48 P~r/U S92/lllS5 21~607~ ~

delay(36000L); /~ Wait for printer to catch up ~/
clrscrn();
outp(Ox30F,OxO5); /* Heater ON, Roller UP, Cutter DOWNWARD ~/
/~ ~ait for Cutter to operate (wait for ~/
/~ bit 2 of Port 1 to turn on) ~/
do ( portl_dat = inp(Ox30E);
portl dat ~= Ox04; } /~ Mask all but bit 2 ~/
. while (portl dat = != Ox04);
10 outp(Ox30F,OxO1); /* Actuator power o~f, but heater still on */
delay(500L);
outp(Ox30F,Oxll): /~ Change direction o~ cutter actuator */
delay(500L);
outp(Ox30F~Uxl5); /~ Heater ON. Roller UP, Cutter UPWARD ~/
/~ Wait for Cutter to operate (wait for */
/~ bit ~ of Port 1 to turn-on) *~
do portl dat = inp(Ox30E~;
portl dat ~= Ox08; } /* Mask all but bit 3 */
while (portl dat ! = OxO~);
outp(Ox30F,OxO1); /~ Heater ON, Roller UP, Cutter UP ~/
}

void cut_env(~
: 25 mov paper(50);
:; if(choice ~
delay(2~000L); /* Wait for printer to catch up ~/
delay(20000L);
outptOx30FiOxO3); /~ Heater ON, Roller DOWNWARD, Cutter UP ~/
/* Wait for Roller to operate (wait for */
/~ bit 4 of Port 1 to turn on) ~/
do : { portl dat = inp(OxlOE);
portl dat ~- Ox10; } /~ Mask all but bit 4 ~/
while (portl dat != OxlO);
outp(Ox30F,OxOl); /~ Heater ON, Roller DOWN, Cutter UP ~/
. mov~paper(32);
. de~l~y(12000L);
outp(Ox30F,OxO5): /* Heater ON, Roller DOWN, Cutter DOWNWARD
/* Wait for Cutter to operate (wait for ~/
/t bit 2 of Port 1 to turn on) ~/

WO 93/11948 PC~r/U S92/lllSS

~6~ 3 2-do ::
{ portl dat - inp(Ox30E); -portl dat ~= Ox04; } /~Mask all but bit 2 ~/ : ;
while (portl_dat l= Ox04);
outp(Ox30F,OxOl); /~ Actuator power off, but heatPr still on~
delay(500L): ~
outp~Ox30F,Oxll); /~ Chdnge direction of cutter actuator */
delay(500L);
outp(Ox30F,Oxl4); /~ Heater OFF, Roller DOWN, Cutter UPWARD ~/
/~ Wait for Cutter to operate (wait for /* bit 3 of Port 1 to turn on~ */
do { portl_dat = inp(Ox30E);
portl dat &= Ox08;) } /* Mask all but bit 3 */
while (portl_dat != Ox08):
delay (SOOL): .:
outp(Ox30F,OxOO);
delay(500L);
outp(Ox30F,OxO8); /* Heater OFF, prepare to raise Roller, Cutter UP */
delay(500L);
outp(Ox3GF,OxOA); /~ Heater OFF, Roller UPWARD, Cutter UP ~/
/~ Wait for Roller to operate (wait for */
/~ bit 5 of Port 1 to turn on~
do { portl dat + inp(Ox30E);
portl dat &= Ox20; } /~ Mask all but bit 5 ~/ -while (portl dat !=Ox20);
outp(Ox30F,OxOO); /* Heater OFF, Roller UP, Cutter UP */ ~:

: 30 The foregoing control system lO may be adapted by means disclosed herein as well as by means commonly known in the art to control any of the several embodiments of CMD 12 disclosed herein.

The embodiment of the invention depicted in Figure~-~, 4, and 5, operates as follows. Individual sheets of printed material (document(s)) 72 exiting from a printer, such as a facsimile machine, photocopier or ;-~
compu~er printer, are deposited on feed chute 20. Sheets WO93/11948 21 2 6 ~ 7 ~ PCT/IJS92/11155 r 72 slide down web 3~ to the point where web 28 comes essentially in contact with web 30 at which point sheets 72 stop and accumulate until the document printing function is complete. Once printed sheets 72 are stacked on web 30v both web 28 and web 30 are advanced by tr~ctor feeds 34 and 36. As the webs advance, label printer 50 prints the desired information on web 28. Webs 28 and 30 are sealed together by a system of rollers 40 t 42 and 44, shown in further detail in ~igure 5, which press webs 28 and 30 together. Pressure from rollers 40 and 42 causes the preapplied adhesive to continuously seal the margins of webs 28 and 30 together to form a sealed envelope. The force applied by rollers 40 and 42 is contrslled by the spring mechanism shown in Figure 5. The sea~ on each end of the envelope or package is made by pressur exerted from roller 44. During the time shPets 72 are passing under roller 44, roller 44 is not in rontact with web 28O
After sheets 72 have passed under roller ~4, roller 44 is lowered to contact with web 30 and the requisite pressure required to seal the end of the envelope is applied. The force applied by the center roller may be controlled by the system of springs and electric actuator shown in Pigure 5.

Optionally, heat may be applied in conjunction with the application of pressure to the margins and end seals i,f, a heat reactive adhesive is used. In the embod~me'nt dPpicted in Figures 3 and 4, rollers 40, 42 and 44 press webs 28 and 30 against heater 48, which assists in the sealing of webs 28 and 30. Temperatures and dwell times for such a heatin~ process will vary with the type ~, 6 0 15 -34 ::
...

of thickness of paper and the type of adhesive used.
Temperatures of about 160~ up to about 180F and a dwell time of about 0.5 sec. are typical when Standard Register paper and "VITEX" adhesive is utilized. Optionally, :~.
S rollers 40, 42 and 44 may be equipped with an internal electric heating element. This heating element may be controlled to provide heat to the outer surface of roller 44.

Being sealed on all four sides, the envelope or package is advanced again by tractor feeds 34 and 36 to a position such that the portion of the envelope last sealed (hereinafter referred to as the "top end") is positioned ~:~
just below ~utter 46, at which point cutter 46 is actuated and cuts through webs 28 and 30, separating the sealed envelope enclosure from webs 28 and 30. The end of webs 28 and 30 remaining after envelope 74 has been separated are sealed and prepared to receive the next document. The remainin~ end is sealed because cutter 46 cuts through approximately the center of the end seal created by roller .:
After the sealing and separating steps are complete, envelope 74 may drop into delivery bin (not shown) or other device for further processing with margins 60 and 62 intact or, alternatively, employ a means 25i for autom~tically separating the margins from envelope 74.
As descrlbed above, margins 60 and 62 may be removed by cutting margins 60 and 62 from envelope 74 while simultaneously stripping away margins 60 and 62 by conveying means 68 and 70. After the margins are removed, , .. , . . . , , . ~ , .

W093/1~948 2 1 2 fi 0 7 ~ PCT/US92/11155 CMD 12 is prepared tQ accept a new documen~ and repeat the cycle.

Regardless of the precise embodiment of th invention adopted, CMD 12 and controller l0 include the nec~ssary controls and circuitry to control the functions and sequencing of the apparatus including those r~lated to advancing the webs, printing the label~ regulating the heaters, lifting and lowering the end seal roller, actuatin~ the envelope cutter, and striping the margins.

In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, CMD 12 may be adapted to enclose documents which exit a facsimile machine, computer printer, photocopier or other printing device. Essentially, this embodiment employs the same basic components as does the embodiment shown in Figure 3 with the exception that CMD
l~ does not rely on gravity as a means to transport the document from the discharge end of the printin~ machine and position the document such that it may be enclosed in an envelope~ Rather, the document is positively transported by conveying means, such as the tractor ~eeds utilized in the foregoing embodiment. Because this embodiment utilizes positive placement and conveyance of the documents and envelope materials, it is possible to orient this embodiment at various angles from normal to 2~ suit the,particular requirements of the printing device or __ space considerations.

One such embodiment is depicted in Figure l0.
This embudiment discloses an essentially horizontal WO93/1194~ PCT~S92/11155 ~ ~,6 0 -36-machine plane anqle (at or about zero degree~ (0~
however, the conoept of this embodiment may be utilized with virtually any machine plane angle. In this embodiment CMD 12 comprise~ machine frame 22, printer 14v document paper web supply l00, first envelope paper web supply 24, second envelope paper supply 26, document web l04, first envelope web 28, second envelope web 30, document paper cutter l02, a mechanism for advancing both first and second envelope webs 28,and 30 such as tractor feeds 34 and 36 (not shown), an envelope sealer such as seal rollers 40, 42 and 44, envelope paper cutter 46 and a control system l0 capable of performing the necessary control functions and sequencing. Optionally, CMD l2 may also include label printer 50, seal heater 43, margin stripping systems, as well as other features described herein.
, : In addition to the common features shared between the embodiment of Figure l0 and that of Figures 3 through 8 and 9A through D, the embodiment dis~losed in Figure l0 provides a means for handling continuous roll paper, such as that employed for fabrication of the envelope, as the paper supply for printing the document.
Margined or non-margined paper may be utilized as des~ribed herein. Document paper supply l00 .is similar to en~elope paper supplies 24 and 26. Documents are printed by pri~ter 14, which may be a facsimile machine, photo~opier or computer printer, or other printing device.
Document web 104 advances by any suitable conveying means 7 such as left and right document tractor feeds 106 and 108 respectiYely ~lD8 not shown). Tractor feed 108 is located WO93/11948 ~1 2 ~ ~ 7 5 PCT/US92/11155 at second document margin 11~ (not shown) opposite of left tractor feed 106, which engages left document margin 116.
Other conveying means described herein may be utilized if non-~margined paper is used for the document supply. The document margin is stripped as it exits the printer by means described for stripping the envelope margin described herein. The embodiment illustrated by Fi~ure 10 includes left and right document paper margin blades 110 and 112, respectively (112 not shown) and tractor feeds 106 and 10B (108 not shown) as the stripping means.
Document web 104 then advances to document paper cutter 114 (similar to that of envelope cutter 46) wherein document web 104 is separated or cut into pages of desired length. As document web 104 advances for cutting, a portion of the web advances to be deposited on envelope web 30. ~hen the desired length of document web 104 has advanced (typically a page len~th of document 72~, document cutter 114 sepa~ates the desired length L rom document web 104. The printiny and cutting of pages is repeated, stacking each page of document 72, until document 72 is in condition for envelope 74 to be fabricated and sealed. Envelope 74 is fabricated in a similar manner as described in the embodiment of Figure 3 with certain exceptions. One ex~eption is that envelope web 28 is driven by upper right and left tractor feeds 34 and 36A respectively (36A not shown) rather than being driven b~ tractor feeds 34 and 36. This feature alieviates the necessity of employing gravity as a document positioning means, The instant embodiment therefore provides for positive positioning of document 72 which will reduce the risk of paper jamming becau~e of ~60~

.~

misplacement and the effects of static buildup on the sliding surfaces of Figure 3 as well as allow for usage of document supply papers which tend to curl and jam such as thermal. sensitive facsimile paper and the like.

This embodiment also enables the document paper on which no printing has taken place to be retracted to the printer for further use. After the last page of a document is deposited on envelope web 30, remaining web 104 may be retracted back into printer 14 by me~ns of reversible or bi-directional tractor feeds, or similar conveying mechanism, and the clutch~motor device described herein. The type of conveying means employed may vary with the type of document paper utilized. This feature saves paper and alleviates the probl m of having blank lS sheets appear in document 72.

Once document 72 has been deposited on web 30, tractor feeds 34, 36, 34A and 36A advance first and second envelope webs 28 and 30 to sealing mechanism 38, which includes seal pressure rollers 40, 42 and 44 and which may Z0 also utilize seal heater 48 for sealing envelope 74 as described above. Envelope 74 i5 then separated from envelope webs 28 and 30 and, if necessary, envelope web mar~ins 60 and 62 (not shown) are stripped by tractor feeds 34 and 36 (not shown) and, optionally, by blades 64 and 66 ~6~ not shown) O

Label printer 50 (not shown) may also be utilized with this embodiment. A control system 10 suitable for controllin~ the functions and sequencing of .. ..
.

WO93/11~48 2 1 2 ~ ~ 7 ~ PCT/~S92/11155 this embodiment is also provided and can be readily understood from the disclosure herein.

Turning now to another embodiment of this invention, Figures ll and 12, illustrate an embodiment in which CMD 12 is in a vertical position. This embodiment employs document printer 14 similar to printer 14 utilized by the embodiment depicted in Fi~ure l0. Document paper web supply l00 is preferably non-margined paper, however, it is possible to incorporate document margin stripping means in this embodiment through the use of blades ll0 and 112 (not shown) and/or conveyors 106 and 108 (not shown), of Figure l0.

In this embodiment a single envelope web supply 24 is provided. Envelope web 28 advances to form a single ~- or V-shaped envelope web 120 by conveying means di~cussed above. As illustrated, the embodiment shown in Figure ll utilizes margined paper. Accordingly, envelope web 28 is conveyed by left and right tractor feeds 34 (not shown), 36, 34B (not shown), and 36B respectively which operate together with web guides 124, 126 and 128 to form U- or V-shaped web 120. Other arrangements of ~uides and/
or conveying mechanisms may be utilized. For example, additional margin guides similar to web guides 124 and 126 may extend the lenyth of each tractor feed. ~or non-mar~ined,paper the C-shaped channel and friction roller conve~ing means described above may be used in place of tractor feeds 34, 36, 3~B and 36B. A conveying system comprising side~uide5 and upper and lower path molded guides may also be utilized with non-margined papers.

W~93~11948 PCT/U~92/1~155 - ~:

u- or V-shaped envelope web 120 comprises first and second surfaces 130 and 132 respectively and a vertex 134. First and second surfaces 130 and 132 and vertex 134 are sections of envelope web 120 identified for positioning purposes and to more clearly define the invention~ As shown in Figures 11 and 12~ first and second surfaces 130 and 132 are defined as the inside straight surfaces o envelope web 120. These are the surfaces between which document 72 is posîtioned prior to fabrication of envelope 74. Vertex 134 is the curved inside surface of U-shaped web 12Q which lies between first and second straight surfaces 130 and 132 and along which the envelope is folded when document 72 is enclosed in the envelope 74~

After envel~pe web 120 is positioned so a~ to receive document 72, envelope web 120 is separated from web 28 by cutter 46.

The document printing function of this embodiment is the same as the printing function of the 20 embodiment of Figure 10~ There may, however, be differences in the printing functions depending on the : type of paper used. Document web 104 is conveyed from document pap~r supply 100 and through printer 14 (which ! may be a~fac~imile machine, computer printer, photocopier or any other printing device), by the paper conveying device utilized by printer 14. Alternatively, other conveying means may be provided external to printer 14~
When the desired length of document web 104 has advanced .~
..

, ~ . ., ... . . . . . .

~12607~

(typically a page of document 72) the document cutter 114 separates the desired length (hereinafter "page 122") from doument web 104. Page 122 falls, by gravitational force, into vertex 134 of envelope web 120 which has already been positioned to receive page 122. The printing, cutting or separating and stacking of document 72 (wherein document 72 comprises one or more pages 122) in web 120 is repeated until document 72 is in condition for envelope 74 to be fabricated and sealed. Once document 72 has been positioned between first and second surfaces 130 and 132 of envelope web 120, guide 128, which is movably mounted, preferably hingedly mounted to frame 22, moves away from vertex 134 of envelope web 120 so as to create an opening large enough to have the 1Eull width of vertex 134 and thickness of document 72 and web 120 pass through tQ
sealer 38 (of which only !3eal pressure roller 4~ i5 visible in Figure 11). Once guide 128 i5 open~d, document 72 and unsealed envelope web 120 are conveyed to sealer 38 by bi-directional tractor feeds 34, 36, 34B and 36B.
Guide 128 is shown in phantom in ~igure 11 to depict one position which would allow for an opening large enough to pass document 72 and web 120. Other sizes o openings are possible. Guide 128 is in the closed position and ready to accept the advancement of a new envelope web 120, when shown in solid form.

. , With respect to the particulars regarding the appli~ation of force re~uired to transfer document 72 and web 120 to the sealing device. In the embodiment shown in Figures 11 and 12, tractor feeds 34 and 36 run in the same direction as they do when they convey web 28 into position ,,~.

W093/1t948 PCT/US92/11l55 ,6~

to form the U- or V-shaped envelope web 120 when transferring document 72 and envelope web 120 to the sealing device. However, tractor feeds 34B and 36B run in reverse of the direction that they do when they convey web 28 into position to form U or V-shaped web 120. The effect of the forces applied by the tractor feeds to envelope web 120 is to push web 120, with document 72 cradled in vertex 134, out through the opening created when guide 128 is in the open position~ The conveyin~
means described herein, as well as others, may be adapted to produce the force required to transfer web 120 and document 72 to sealer 38.

As web 120 and document 72, which ~omprise envelope 74, pass through the opening created by guide 128, envelope 74 passes into sealer 38 (of which only pressure seal roller 42 is visible in Figure 11) 9 assisted as necessary by supplemental conveyors and/or guides such as guidP 136. Sealer 38 folds envelope 74 along vertex 134, seals the remaining open sides, with or without seal heater 48, and discharges the sealed envelope into bin 138. Alternatively, envelope 74 could be deposited into other apparatus for further processingO Such processin~
: may include further printing on the outside of the envelope, or 50rting or handling multiple envelopes as they are discharged from the apparatus. Of course, such processi~g after the fabrication of the envQlope could be combi~ed with an~ of the embodiments disclosed herein.

Label printer 50, not shown in Figures 11 or 12, may also be incorporated into this embodiment, as well as WO93/11948 PCT/US92~11155 2 1 2 ~

all embodiments of the invention described herein. 1abel printer 50 may be pssitioned anywhere along the path of webs 2~ or 120 so long as printer 50 can print on what will be the outside surface of envelope 74.

A suitable control system lO for controlling the functions and sequencing of the embodiment illustrated in Figures ll and 12, depending on the particular functions and systems desired may be adapted from the system~
disclosed herein and from those known in the art.

Figure 13 illustrates a preferred method for maintaining the confidentiality of information contained in a printed document. In step l40, the document containing confidential information is printed. The ~ocument is then positi~ned in step 142 such that the :l5 document may be enclosed in an:envelope after which, in 5t2p 144, the document is enclosed in an envelope in such a manner that the document may later be removed from the : envelope. Printing step 140, positioning step 142 and : ~ enclosing step 144 are all subject to controlling step l46 in which the functions and sequencing of steps 140, l42 : and 144 are controlled. Preferably controlling step 146 is by automatic control means. Such means may employ any digital, analog, electro-mechanical, mechanical or related automatic control means such as those described elsewhere 2S in this,s,pecification.
'' ' :'~
Printing steps 140 may be performed by any :~
: suitable printing means, preferably an automatic printing ',"':

WO93/11948 PCT~US92/11155 ~60~ -44-device such as a facsimile machine, photocopier or computer printer.

Positioning step 142 may be carried out by any means so long as document 72 is positioned such that the document may be enclosed in the envelope. Positioning step 142 may employ conveyors, gravity, mechanical guides or any other material handlin~ means for locating the document such that it may be enclosed in an envelope.

Enclosing step 144 may be performed by fabricating. an envelope and sealing the envelope with the document enclosed therein. The envelope may be fabricated around the document or the document may be inserted into an envelope. The enclosing step may also include sealing the envelope, stripping envelope margins, separating the envelope from the envelope webs, and printing information on the outside of the envelope. Other portions of the enclosing step have been previously discussed in de~ail herein.

Turning yet to another embodiment of this invention, Figures 14 and 15 depict CMD 12 in a variation on the single envelope paper supply embodiment of Figure 11. This embodiment may accommodate the document dischargç of document printer 14 whether the document discharge,is from the top of printer 14 (as is shown in Figure~ i4 and 15), the side or the rear.

In the case of top discharge, document paper tracks 150 which form a document paper path 152 such as WO93/11948 PCT/US92/l1155 212~07~ t '~ ~

the system depicted in Figures 14 through 18. As document pages 72 are printed off of printer 14 they are guided by docum~nt. paper tracks 150 and docume~t-paper ribs 151 through document paper path 152~ Ea h document page 72 is transported through document paper path 152 by document feed mechanism 153. In this embodiment, document paper feed mechanism 153 comprises a system o belt driven set of contact transport rollers or comealongs 155.
Comealongs 155 yrip each document page to transport it - 10 through document paper path 152. Each comealong has a gripping surface su h as rubber or similar friction creating material on rotating wheels 148.

Once document pages 72 reach the end of document paper path 152, document page 72 is deposited into document paper ~uide tray 154. Tray 154 acts as an accumulator for each document page 72 until all document pages have been printed~
':
Document guide tray 154 is designed such that it may accommodate side and rear document discharges from printer 14. Printer 14 may be oriented such th~t printer ~ 14 is mounted above paper supply 24 such tfiat document : pages 72 fall by gravity directly on to tray 154. Of course, a document conveying system such as the one employed with top discharge printers co~ld al50 be adapted for use with side or end discharg~ printers. Tray 154 is also mounted on an angle from horizontal in order to take ad~antage of gravitational force when accumulating documents 72 as well as when transportin~ documents into envelope 74. The angle depiFted in ~igures 14 through 17 ., ;. ~

WO 93/11948 PCr/US92/1115 r ~,~6~ 46-is about 45 although other angles may be suitable with this and other embodiments of the invention-In the embodiment shown in Figures 14 throu~h 18, envelope web 28 is positioned for fabrication through envelope paper path 172 formed by envelope p~per tracks 170 similar to the system utilized for conveying document 72 in this embodiment. Envelope feed mechanism 173 conveys envelope web 28 from paper supply 24 through envelope paper path 172 to an appropriate length to accommodate the longest document page as described below.
Envelope web 28 may be transported by envelope feed mechanism in any suitable manner such as the comealong system incorporated by document: feed mechanism 153. As shown in Figures 16 through 18; however, envelope web 28 is advanced by envelope web rollers 176. Envelope web 28 i~ advanced by its appropriate length at which point the web transpor~ ceases~ Envelope 74 which is of appr~priate length is then sepaxated from envelope web 28 at cut line 178. Envelope 74 is then conveyed as an envelope web segment by envelope transport xollers 180 which positions envelope 74 for fabric~tion of the envelope.

Document paper guide tray 154 is also equipped with document insertion blade 156 which assists in both forming envelope 74 and enclo5ing document 72 into envelope 74. In the embodiment shown in Figures 14 through 18, blade 156 extends outwardly from tray 154 so as to contact and form a vertex in envelope web 74 by slightly bu~kling envelope web 74 into a U- or V-shape and which vertex forms the bottom or leading edge of the WO93J1t948 2 1 2 6 0 7 ~ PCT/US92/11155 r envelope as it engages envelope foldin~ rollers 158.
Blade 165 also positively positions document 72 in the vertex of envelope 74. The stroke or distance which blade lS6 travels is about an inch although the stroke distance need only be as long as it takes to have the leading edge of envelope 74 engage envelope folding rollers 158. Blade 156 may be actuated by cam 157 or any suitable linear transfer device such as a pneumatic or hydraulic piston.
Once envelope 74 engages rollers 158, rollers 158 fold the leading edge of envelope 74 and transport both envelope 74 and document 72 to envelope sealer mechanism 38.

Envelope seal mechanicm 38 seals the three open edges of envelope 74 and, optionally, enclo~es or knurls the seal in order to detect tampering with the envelope seals as described herein. Figures l4 and 15 discloses different envelope ~eal mechanisms 38. Figures 16 and 17 deposit details of the heat seal mechanism embodiment of Figure 14.

In ea~h of Figures 14 and 15, broken line box 38 enclosPs the components of heat seal mechanism 38~ Figure 14 ~as well a~ Figures 16 and 17 details) depict a series of two sets of rollers 160 and 162. Rollers 160 deposit side and end seal pressure rollers similar in function to those of Figures 5, 6 and 7. Optionally, these rollers ~5 may be heated by nichrome heating elements embedded in e~ch roller as described herein. Also optionally, rollers 160 may be embossed or knurled such that the seals are embossed or knurled during the sealing function. Once each side and end seal is pressure sealed, envelope 74 is WO~3~1194~ PCr/US92/1l~55 t ~60~5 -~8-transported forward by rollers 158 to retractable heat roll assembly 162. The seals are heated,to about 160F
under pressure and the completed sealed envelope 74 exits the apparatus. Of course, the several mechanisms described herein may be utili ed with this and the embodiment to follow either in part or in whole.

Figure 15 depicts heater 164, preferably halogen heater such as GoE~ Halogen model GEQ 500T 3/CL, end seal rollers 166, which may also .be optionally embossed, and side seal rollers 168, which also may be optionally embossed. Envelope 74 is transported by rollers 158 under hater 164 which is preferably heated to about 160~. Envelope 74 then passes to rollers 166 for end sealing and then to rollers 168 for side sealing and the completed sealed envelope 74 exits thP apparatus. Of course, the seals may be simultaneously embossed during the sealing process as described herein~

Figure 19 discloses a method of the invention disclosed in the embodiment depicted in Figures 14 through 18~ The steps of the invention include: receiving a digit~l signal which comprises the information contained in a document; storing the information received;
determining the longest page in the document; fabricating an enclosure or envelope to accommodate the physical len~th of the longest page (e.g. 11", 14", A4, etc. length papers) which fabricating steps may also include the steps of positioning the envelope paper web 28 such that the envelope will be fabricated to the appropriate length, printing desired information on the outside surface of the WO~3/11948 PCT/US92/111~5 ~
21~607!~

envelope with label printer 50, detaching the appropriatelength of envelope paper in envelope web se~ment .74 from envelope web 28; printing document 72; stacking each page of document 72 such that it is positioned in guide tray 154; inserting document 72 into envelope 74 as envelope 74 is being fabricated; folding to form a vertex of envelope 74; sealing envelope 74; discharging envelope 74. This method is accomplished by fabricating the envelope after the data signal is received and/or during the time the data signa' is being received. This illustrates the "real time" operation of this invention.

~ nother feature of this invention is illustrative of the invention's versatility. Referring to Fi~ure 8, which depicts a block diagram of a control lS system utilized in one emhodiment of the invention, the printer omprises a facsimile machine. A signal, external to the invention, is received over a telephone line. The signal is processed through facsimile receive circuit 82 and sent to micro computer 80~ The signal may then be stored and manipulated for various purposes. For example, data received may be rearranged and sent to document printer control circuit 84 in such form that the pages of the facsimile will print out in reverse sequential order (i.e. last page first through first page last). This 25 printing method will assure that multiple page facsimiles will be ~rranged in ascending page order with the f irst pa~e on top and last page on the bottom. This feature of the invention will eliminate the need for mechanical sorting devices and the inconvenience of manual sorting.
Moreoverr confidentiality of the content of the document ,6~

will not be compromised by having persons other than the document's intended recipient rearrange,the document in the order it was intended to be viewed.

Information received by the micro computer may also be utilized for extracting certain data from the dorument for the purposes of labeling the outside of the envelope. The intended recipient's name, address, or other pertinent information, may be extracted from the incoming data without revealing the remaining information which may be confidential in nature. One manner of extracting such information is to place "public"
information, such as the recipient's name and ~ddress, in a particular locatiQn or field, such as the inside address of a letter. Micro computer 80 is instructed through programming to read a particular field, extract the information in that field and send it to the label printer circuit~ Once the field is read, the "public" information i5 then ~ent from the micro computer to label printer control circuit 86 for printing by label printer. Similar u~es for such features may also be exploited when the printer is a photocopier or computer printerc The present invention may be embodied in o~her specific orms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes of the invention, and accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

Claims (64)

PCT/US9?/11155 What Is Claimed Is:

1. An apparatus for maintaining the confidentiality of information contained in a printed document wherein said information is sent by a sending party to an intended recipient, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving and storing a first signal wherein said first signal corresponds to said information sent by said sending party;

means for printing said information from said first signal on said document, wherein said document may comprise a single page or a plurality of separate pages of varying lengths and informational content, such that said printed information cannot be viewed;

means for positioning each page of said document as said page is printed by and discharged from said printing means such that said document may be enclosed in an envelope such that said printed information cannot be viewed;

means for enclosing said document in said envelope such that said information cannot be viewed and that said document may later be removed from said envelope; and means for controlling said receiving, storing, printing, positioning, and enclosing means.

PCT/US9?/?1155

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said enclosing means further comprises means for fabricating said envelope such that said information cannot be viewed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said positioning means further comprises means for positioning said document between first and second envelope paper webs.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said enclosing means further comprises means for separating said envelope from said first and second envelope paper webs.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said enclosing means further comprises means for printing information on said envelope.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said fabricating means further comprises means for sealing said first and second envelope paper webs together to form an envelope around said document.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said sealing means further comprises:

means for applying adhesive to said first or second envelope paper webs; and means for applying pressure to said first and second envelope paper webs.

PCT/US9?/?1155

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said sealing means further comprises means for heating said adhesive.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said pressure is applied by seal pressure rollers.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said separating means further comprises means for cutting through said first and second envelope paper webs.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said positioning means further comprises means for depositing each page of said document on a feed chute as said page is printed by and discharged from said printing means, said chute having sufficient angle such that each page of said document slides down said chute and on to said second envelope paper web by gravitational force, said document stopping where said second envelope paper web comes essentially in contact with said first envelope paper web.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, said first and second envelope paper webs having right and left margins, said margins having spaced holes therethrough and being detachably connected to opposite sides of each web, further comprising means for separating aid margins from said envelope paper webs.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said margin separating means further comprises means for applying a force to said detachable connection sufficient to cause said margin to detach from said envelope paper webs without tearing said envelope paper webs.

PCT/US9?/?1155

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said margin separating means further comprises means for cutting said detachable connection prior to, or simultaneously with, the application of said force.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said document printing means comprises a facsimile machine, a photocopier, or a computer printer.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said positioning means further comprises means for positioning said document in between first and second straight sides of a single U-shaped envelope web, said U-shaped web also having a vertex located between said first and second sides.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said enclosing means further comprises means for separating said U-shaped web from an envelope supply web.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said enclosing means further comprises means for printing information on said envelope.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said fabricating means further comprises means for sealing said first and second sides of said U-shaped web together to form an envelope around said document.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said sealing means further comprises:

PCT/US??/?1155 means for applying adhesive to said first or second sides of said U-shaped web;
means for folding said U-shaped web along said web's vertex; and means for applying pressure to said first and second sides of said U-shaped web.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said sealing means further comprises means for heating said adhesive.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for application of pressure comprises pressure rollers.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said document printing means comprises a facsimile machine, a photocopier or a computer printer.

24. An apparatus for maintaining the confidentially of information contained in a printed document wherein said information is set by a sending party to an intended recipient, said apparatus comprising:

a base;

a document positioner mounted to said base wherein said positioner positions said PCT/US????1155 document, and wherein said document may comprise a single page or a plurality of separate pages of varying lengths and informational content, such that said document may be enclosed in an envelope and that said information cannot be viewed;
a document encloser which is adjacent to said document positioner wherein said encloser encloses said document in said envelope such that said information cannot be viewed and that said document may later be removed from said envelope;
a receiver and storage device wherein said receiver receives a first signal which corresponds to said information sent by said receiving party and said storage device stores said first signal;
a document printer which is adjacent to said positioner wherein said printer prints on each page of said document at least a portion of said information from said first signal and wherein each page of said document is positioned on or in said positioner as said page is printed by and discharged from said printer prior to said encloser enclosing said document in said envelope such that said printed information cannot be viewed; and a controller which controls the function and sequencing of said document positioner, P??????????155 document encloser, receiver, storage device and document printer.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said document encloser further comprises an envelope fabricator wherein said fabricator fabricates said envelope and encloses said document in said envelop such that said information cannot be viewed.

26. An apparatus for maintaining the confidentiality of information contained in a printed document by fabricating an envelope around said document wherein said information is sent be a sending party to an intended recipient, said apparatus comprising:
a machine frame;
a document printer adjacent to said machine frame wherein said printer receives and stores said information and prints said document, wherein said document may comprise either a single page or a plurality of separate pages of varying lengths and informational content;
a document feed chute, mounted to said machine frame and adjacent to said printer, on which each page of said document is deposited, said feed chute being angled such that each page of said document may slide by gravitational PCT?????/11155 force, in a plane which defines a machine direction plane, from said chute to a point at which a first envelope paper web meets a second envelope paper web and such that said information cannot be viewed;
upper envelope supply roller, around which a supply of upper envelope paper for said first envelope web is wound, wherein said upper envelope supply roller is rotatably mounted to said frame;
lower envelope supply roller, around which a supply of lower envelope paper for said second envelope web is wound, wherein said lower envelope supply roller is rotatably mounted to said frame;
right and left tractor feeds mounted to said frame each tractor feed having a series of pins, spaced at the same intervals a said margin holes such that said pins slideably engage said holes of said tractor feed's respective margin such that said envelope paper webs move in the direction in which said pins move;
a seal pressure roller mechanism mounted to said frame comprising a seal pressure frame;
left and right margin pressure rollers rotatably and adjustably mounted to said seal pressure frame; center roller actuator adjustably mounted to said seal pressure frame; center roller frame adjustably mounted to said center roller PCT/US??/11155 actuator; said center pressure roller rotatably and adjustably mounted to said center roller frame;
a paper cutter, positioned to detach said envelope from said first and second webs, said cutter comprising a cutting mechanism frame mounted to said frame; a paper cutter actuator adjustably mounted to said paper cutter frame;
and a paper cutter blade mounted to said paper cutter actuator;
a control system adapted to control said printer's functions and sequencing, said tractor feed's functions and sequencing, said seal pressure roller functions and sequencing, and said paper cutter's functions and sequencing such that said information cannot be viewed.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a label printer mounted to said frame wherein said label printer prints desired information on said outside surface of the envelope and said control system is further adapted to control said label printer's functions and sequencing.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a seal heater mounted to said frame wherein said control system is further adapted to control said seal heater's function and sequencing.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising right and left margin debris tractor feeds mounted to said frame each having a series of pins spaced PCT???????115?

at intervals the same as said margin holes such that said pins slideably engage said margin holes, each debris tractor feed being positioned on an angle away from the center of said first and second webs, wherein said angle is sufficient to separate said margins from said webs without distorting or tearing said envelope paper webs and wherein said control system further controls the functions and sequencing of said debris tractor feeds.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising left and right margin separation blades, each margin blade having a cutting surface wherein said cutting blade is mounted to said frame such that said cutting surfaces assist in the separation of said margins from said first and second webs.

31. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said positioning means further comprises means for positioning each page of said document at a vertex formed in an envelope web segment by a document insertion blade.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said positioning means further comprises a document accumulating means wherein each page of said document is deposited from said printing means into said accumulating means such that said printed information cannot be viewed.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said fabricating means further comprises means for positioning a length of envelope web wherein said length is capable of fully enclosing said document.

PCT/US9?/11155

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said accumulating means further comprises said document insertion blade.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said fabricating means further comprises folding rollers into which said document insertion blade positively positions said document and envelope at said vertex.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said fabricating means further comprises an envelope sealing means.

37. A method for maintaining the confidentiality of information contained in a printed document wherein said information is sent by a sending party to an intended recipient, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal wherein said first signal corresponds to said information sent by said sending party;

storing said first signal;

printing by printing means said information from said first signal on said document, wherein said document may comprise a single page or a plurality of separate pages of varying lengths and informational content, such that said printed information cannot be viewed;

positioning each page of said document as it is printed by and discharged from said PC?????/11155 printing means such that said document may be enclosed in an envelope and such that said printed information cannot be viewed;
enclosing said document in said envelope such that said information cannot be viewed and that said document may later be removed from said envelop; and controlling said receiving, storing, printing, positioning, and enclosing steps.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said enclosing step further comprises the step of fabricating said envelope such that said information cannot be viewed.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said positioning step further comprises positioning said document between first and second envelope paper webs.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said enclosing step further comprises the step of separating said envelope from said first and second envelope paper webs such that said information cannot be viewed.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said enclosing step further comprises the step of printing information on said envelope.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said fabricating step further comprises the step of sealing said first and second envelope paper webs together to form an envelope around said document.

P?????????1155

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said sealing step further comprises the steps of:
applying adhesive to said first or second envelope paper webs; and applying pressure to said first and second envelope paper webs.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said sealing step further comprises the step of heating said adhesive.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said pressure is applied by seal pressure rollers.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said separating step further comprises the step of cutting through said first and second envelope paper webs.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said positioning step further comprises the step of depositing each page of said document on a feed chute as said page is printed by and discharged from said printing means, said chute having sufficient angle such that each page of said document slides down said chute and on to said second envelope paper web by gravitational force, said document stopping where said second envelope paper web comes essentially in contact with said first envelope paper web such that said information cannot be viewed.

PC??????/?1155

48. The method of claim 47, said first and second envelope paper webs having right and left margins, said margins having spaced holes therethrough and being detachably connected to opposite sides of each web, further comprising the step of separating said margins from said envelope paper webs.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said margin separating step further comprises the step of applying a force to said detachable connection sufficient to cause said margin to detach from said envelope paper webs without tearing said envelope paper webs.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said margin separating step further comprises the step of cutting said detachable connection prior to, or simultaneously with, the application of said force.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said document printing is performed by a facsimile machine, ???????????155 -64.1-photocopier or computer printer such that said information cannot be viewed.

52. The method of claim 38, wherein said positioning step further comprises the step of positioning said document in between first and second sides of a single U-shaped envelope web, said U-shaped web also having a vertex located between said first and second sides such that said information cannot be viewed.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein said enclosing step further comprises the step of separating said U-shaped web from an envelope supply such that said information cannot be viewed.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said enclosing step further comprises the step of printing information on said envelope.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said fabricating step further comprises the step of sealing said first and second sides of said U-shaped web together to form an envelope around said document such that said information cannot be viewed.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said sealing step further comprises the steps of:
applying adhesive to said first or second sides of said U-shaped web;

????????/11155 -64.2-folding said U-shaped web along said web's vertex; and applying pressure to said first and second sides of said U-shaped web.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein said sealing step further comprises the step of heating said adhesive.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said application of pressure is applied by pressure rollers.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein said document printing is performed by a facsimile machine, photocopier or computer printer such that said information cannot be viewed.

60. The method of claim 38, wherein said positioning step further comprises the steps in an positioning said document at a vertex formed in an envelop web segment by a document insertion blade such that said information cannot be viewed.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said fabricating step accommodates said document having a longest page.

??????????1155 -64.3-

62. A document enclosed in an envelope provided by the method of claim 38.

63. A document enclosed in an envelope provided by the method of claim 52.

64. A document enclosed in an envelope provided by the method of claim 60.