EP0342829B1 - Envelope for table top printer - Google Patents
Envelope for table top printer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0342829B1 EP0342829B1 EP89304539A EP89304539A EP0342829B1 EP 0342829 B1 EP0342829 B1 EP 0342829B1 EP 89304539 A EP89304539 A EP 89304539A EP 89304539 A EP89304539 A EP 89304539A EP 0342829 B1 EP0342829 B1 EP 0342829B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- envelope
- sheets
- adhesive
- panels
- panel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D15/00—Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
- B42D15/02—Postcards; Greeting, menu, business or like cards; Letter cards or letter-sheets
- B42D15/04—Foldable or multi-part cards or sheets
- B42D15/08—Letter-cards or letter-sheets, i.e. cards or sheets each of which is to be folded with the message inside and to serve as its own envelope for mailing
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42C—BOOKBINDING
- B42C3/00—Making booklets, pads, or form sets from multiple webs
Definitions
- This invention relates to envelope constructions and, particularly, to envelope constructions for use with conventional table or desk top laser printers.
- DE-C-3508114 describes a process for securing together unprinted sheets etc., in which adhesive is applied to a sheet by a rising electrostatic charge pattern in conjunction with a copying or printing process and using a powdered toner adhesive substance to produce adhesive areas. Sheets to which this toner has been applied are brought together after printing and plastification of the toner adhesive substance to render it sticky is undertaken after the actual copying or printing operation.
- US-A-4313557 describes an envelope insert for a magazine including a first and second sheet with superposed edges and with areas of adhesive and perforation lines so that the sheets can be separated from the magazine and used to provide an envelope.
- US-A-3952942 describes a continuous form mailer comprising two overlying sheets secured together along peripheral side edges and having a return envelope portion over a detachably removable invoice/receipt portion.
- US-A-3476307 describes a foldable mailing piece capable of being folded to form overlying panels and including a strip of mounting adhesive to secure the sheet to one surface of a carrying piece until need for use as a mailing piece and sealing adhesive along predetermined edges to seal edges of the panels together.
- US Specification No. US-A-4031818 describes apparatus for preparing sealed envelopes with messages which apparatus includes storing message information on a computer system, moving a single continuous strip of paper across printing means to print the desired message information on the continuous strip and thereafter folding and severing the strip of paper to form separate envelope units.
- EP-A-78967 describes an envelope assembly including folded over portions and areas of adhesive covered by removable barrier coverings.
- French Specification No. FR-A-325706 describes a method of manufacturing double sacks of strong paper including applying marginal lines of adhesive and intermediate particles of adhesive.
- the present invention solves these problems in a unique way by utilizing the heat fusing rolls of the laser printer, which are employed to fix the toner on the printed substrate, to activate a heat sealable or heat activatable adhesive provided about three peripheral borders of at least one of the envelope forming panels to seal the front and rear panels of the envelope along the borders to thereby form a conventional envelope pocket.
- a pair of sheets or webs are superimposed and adhesively secured along a single leading edge thereof.
- the leading edge in this context refers to a forward edge relative to the direction of feeding.
- the upper and lower sheets or webs incorporate front and rear envelope panels with the front panel in direct overlying and vertically aligned relationship with the rear panel. It is also a feature of the invention that the envelope panels have at least two edges which coincide with corresponding edges of the web or sheet to minimize subsequent trimming to finished form.
- the front panel of the envelope includes a foldable sealing panel portion which is provided on its rearward face with an adhesive, and preferably with a rewettable adhesive.
- the sealing panel may be folded over the rear envelope panel and sealed in a conventional manner via application of moisture to the rewettable adhesive.
- the rear sheet or web is provided on its front face with an antistick composition, and preferably a moisture barrier composition, directly underlying the rewettable adhesive on the superimposed foldable sealing panel to prevent accidental and unintended sticking of the sealing panel portion to the underlying sheet or web during production of the envelope.
- an antistick composition and preferably a moisture barrier composition, directly underlying the rewettable adhesive on the superimposed foldable sealing panel to prevent accidental and unintended sticking of the sealing panel portion to the underlying sheet or web during production of the envelope.
- the envelope border portions are provided with a heat activatable adhesive, applied in any conventional manner.
- the adhesive is preferably applied only to the front face of the rear panel, but may be applied additionally or alternatively to the rear face of the front panel.
- the superimposed webs or sheets are fed into a printing machine, such as a toner based table or desk top laser printer, with the sheets or webs adhered only along the forward leading edge extending across the sheets or webs, i.e., transverse to the direction of feeding.
- a printing machine such as a toner based table or desk top laser printer
- the webs or sheets are passed between a pair of heat fusing rollers which not only fix the toner, but also activate the adhesive about the three peripheral borders of one of the envelope panels, so as to securely fasten one panel to the other and thereby form the envelope, including a pocket portion sealed on three sides and open on one side.
- the individual envelopes are separated from the webs manually, or alternatively, webs or sheets may be fed into a trimming machine for removal of all or part of the web or sheet material lying outside the bounds of the envelope panels.
- the web portions which do not form part of the envelope per se many also be printed and used as a voucher, invoice, or the like to be inserted in the envelope and mailed to a customer, client, etc.
- a standard size 10 business envelope may be oriented lengthwise of standard 81 ⁇ 2" (21,6cm) wide webs or sheets in such a way as to minimize the amount of paper required to be trimmed.
- the envelope is oriented cross-wise to the longitudinally extending webs or sheets to form a smaller envelope in a manner that also minimizes trimming.
- the webs or sheets may be in continuous or discrete form. If continuous, transverse lines of perforations extending across the webs or sheets may be employed to facilitate separation of the individual envelopes and, if appropriate, associated voucher, invoice, or the like. The separation may occur before or after, but preferably after the printing operation.
- the invention provides a partially formed envelope for use with a non-impact printer, comprising a first sheet incorporating a front panel of the envelope; a second sheet incorporating a rear panel of the envelope; wherein one of said first and second sheets is provided with a line of heat activatable adhesive along at least three sides of the panel and the front panel includes a foldable sealing flap portion along a fourth edge, the sealing flap portion having rewettable or pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto; characterised in that the first and second sheets are held together solely by a line of adhesive located outside the front and rear panels and a portion of the rear panel lying directly underneath the sealing flap portion is provided with an antistick composition.
- the present invention also provides a method of producing a printed envelope comprising the steps of:
- the present invention solves particular problems with respect to the ability and/or ease with which standard business envelope constructions can be printed by conventional toner-based table or desk top laser printers.
- the invention is particularly advantageous in that it reduces the number of steps required to form and print the envelope, and in that it enables envelopes to be printed in standard table or desk top laser printers without requiring specially designed feed devices heretofore required in the prior art to align and properly feed conventional envelopes.
- an upper sheet or web 10 of an envelope blank construction is shown, and includes a forward edge 12, a pair of side edges 14, 16 and a rearward edge 18.
- FIGURE 2 there is shown a lower sheet or web 20 of an envelope blank assembly, and including a forward edge 22, a pair of side edges 24, 26 and a rearward edge 28.
- Sheets 10 and 20 are held together in superimposed relationship by a line of adhesive 30 extending along the leading edge 12 of the rearward face of the upper sheet 10 and along the aligned forward edge 22 of the front face of the lower sheet 20.
- Adhesive 30 may be of any conventional type including, but not limited to, the pressure sensitive type.
- superimposed lines of perforations 32, 42, formed in sheets 10, 20, respectively extend adjacent and inwardly of the adhesive 30.
- the lines of perforations 32, 42 permit separation of the adhesively secured forward peripheral edge portions of the upper and lower sheets upon completion of the printing/forming operation as will be described in greater detail below.
- a similar line of perforations would extend along or adjacent the rearward edges 18, 28 to facilitate separation of the individual envelopes from the continuous sheets or webs.
- the sheet 10 is also provided with a perforation line 34 extending between forward edge 12 and rearward edge 18 which serves as a line about which an envelope sealing flap, described below, may be folded in a conventional manner.
- the sheet 10 also includes a trim line 36 extending substantially parallel and spaced from the line of perforations 34. It will thus be appreciated that the sheet 10 incorporates a front panel 38 of an envelope defined by web edges 16 and 18, perforation line 32 and trim line 36.
- This front panel further includes a sealing flap portion 40, defined by lines 34 and 36, and foldable about the line of perforations 34.
- the underlying or lower sheet 20 incorporates a rear panel 48 of an envelope, defined by edges 26, 28, a transverse perforation line 42 which underlies perforation line 32, and a trim line 44 which underlies the line of perforations 34 in the upper sheet 10.
- trim lines 36 and 44 are offset by the width W of the sealing flap portion 40, so that flap 40 may be folded about line 34 and over the trim line 44 (ultimately the upper free edge) of the rear panel 48 in a conventional manner.
- Trim lines 36 and 44 are preferably in the form of elongated perforations or slits to facilitate manual removal of the excess web portions which do not form part of the finished envelope.
- the foldable sealing flap portion 40 is provided on its rearward face, i.e., the face that ultimately engages the rearward face of the rear panel 48 in the folded-over position, with an adhesive pattern 50, extending over substantially the entire flap portion.
- Adhesive 50 may be of a conventional rewettable type typically employed in envelope construction.
- One suitable adhesive of this type is a compounded synthetic resin emulsion produced by the Craig Adhesives Company and sold under the name Craigbond 3078S.
- Other suitable rewettable, or pressure sensitive adhesives may also be used.
- the antistick composition is preferably of the moisture barrier type, and most preferably a vegetable based ink, such as that manufactured by Colorcon, Inc. and sold under the name NoToxTM.
- a vegetable based ink such as that manufactured by Colorcon, Inc. and sold under the name NoToxTM.
- This is a non-toxic and contaminant free ink which may be ordered in several colors such as yellow, magenta, blue or black. This latter feature is advantageous inasmuch as certain color inks may be more desirable for use with variously colored envelope assemblies.
- the adhesive pattern 50 comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive
- the antistick composition may comprise a conventional release liner or coating.
- the pattern 52 may extend from an upper edge 46 (substantially underlying trim line 36) to a line adjacent trim line 44, thus extending slightly above and below the adhesive pattern 50 to insure that sealing flap is not caused to adhere to any portion of sheet 20 during the entire envelope forming and printing production process.
- the front face of lower sheet 20 is also provided with strips 54, 56 and 58 of heat activatable adhesive extending along edges 26, 28 and perforation line 42, within the confines of the rear panel 48 of the envelope construction. It will be appreciated that when panels 38 and 48 are heat sealed along adhesive lines 54, 56 and 58 during the printing operation, an open-ended envelope pocket will be formed which can be closed by sealing flap 40 in a conventional manner. While the strips 54, 56 and 58 are shown applied to the front face of the rear panel 48, they may also be applied to the rearward face of front panel 38.
- the heat activatable adhesive may be a waxy hot melt adhesive particularly designed for preapplied heat seal applications, such as that described herein.
- One exemplary adhesive is sold by the H.B. Fuller Company as product No. HM-4199.
- Other heat activatable adhesives may also be used.
- FIGURE 5 a schematic diagram is presented which illustrates the sequence of events in a process according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
- sheet feeder 70 feeds a pair of superimposed sheets 10, 20 preferably in continuous web form and secured together only along the adhesive line 30 adjacent the leading edge 12 of each envelope construction, to a non-impact printer 72.
- FIGURE 1 shows the preferred feeding direction indicated by arrow 60 and noting that the adhesive line 30 extends transverse to the direction of feeding.
- the blank envelope assembly of this invention has been specifically designed for use with non-impact printers and especially for non-impact printers having heat fusing toner based table or desk top printers, e.g., laser printers.
- a business logo and/or address are printed, usually in the upper left hand portion of the front panel of each envelope (such as area 74 in FIGURE 1).
- the continuous web then passes through heat fusing rolls, schematically indicated at 76, 78, which fix the toner and activate the heat sealable adhesive strips 54, 56, 58 in the border areas of each envelope to seal the front and rear panels so as to form an envelope pocket therebetween.
- individual envelopes may be separated manually from the web by tearing along the perforation lines 32, 42 and trim lines 36 and 44. If in continuous form, an additional tear must be made along edges 18, 28.
- the web may be fed to a trimmer 80 which removes at least the leading edge portion (between lines 32, 42 and edges 12, 22) of each envelope construction. Further trimming along lines 36, 44 may be done here, or the separated but only partially trimmed envelopes may be shipped to the customer for final trimming.
- one (or both) of the web portions which do not form part of the envelope per se such as shown at 82 and 84 in Figures 1 and 2, respectively, may be utilized as vouchers, invoices, or other inserts for use with the envelopes.
- FIGURES 1 and 2 represents a standard business envelope, formed within standard 81 ⁇ 2" by 11" (21.6cms by 27.9cms) paper sheets, or sections of continuous sheets.
- FIGURES 3 and 4 a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein a smaller envelope construction is formed within similar sized sheets or webs.
- FIGURES 3 and 4 The envelope construction illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 is identical in every respect with that illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 with the exception of size of the envelope and its orientation relative to the feeding direction of the webs or sheets.
- reference numerals in FIGURES 3 and 4 are identical to those used in FIGURES 1 and 2, with the addition of a prefatory "1.” Because of the identical construction, the embodiment shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 need not be described in detail. It is sufficient to indicate that the envelope has been reoriented relative to the webs or sheets 110, 120 so that the length dimension of the envelope extends transverse to the direction of feeding indicated by arrow 160, rather than parallel to the direction of feeding as in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.
- the envelope orientation is such as to maximize the use of existing edges of the webs or sheets and thereby minimize the amount of final trimming required.
- the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of producing standard or other size envelopes that can be printed in heat fused toner based table or desk top laser printers without the addition of a special envelope feed device, and further provides manufacturing economies by reducing the number of both process steps and pieces of equipment required to form finished envelopes.
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Description
- This invention relates to envelope constructions and, particularly, to envelope constructions for use with conventional table or desk top laser printers.
- Presently, it is difficult for standard business envelopes to be fed into a table or desk top laser printer without the addition of a specailly constructed envelope feed device. In addition, and even with this feed device, standard solid-pasted envelopes will pucker and/or wrinkle when processed through a laser printer as a result of the heat and pressure applied during the printing process.
- In particular Specification DE-C-3508114 describes a process for securing together unprinted sheets etc., in which adhesive is applied to a sheet by a rising electrostatic charge pattern in conjunction with a copying or printing process and using a powdered toner adhesive substance to produce adhesive areas. Sheets to which this toner has been applied are brought together after printing and plastification of the toner adhesive substance to render it sticky is undertaken after the actual copying or printing operation.
- US Specification No: US-A-4313557 describes an envelope insert for a magazine including a first and second sheet with superposed edges and with areas of adhesive and perforation lines so that the sheets can be separated from the magazine and used to provide an envelope.
- US Specification No: US-A-3952942 describes a continuous form mailer comprising two overlying sheets secured together along peripheral side edges and having a return envelope portion over a detachably removable invoice/receipt portion.
- US Specification No: US-A-3476307 describes a foldable mailing piece capable of being folded to form overlying panels and including a strip of mounting adhesive to secure the sheet to one surface of a carrying piece until need for use as a mailing piece and sealing adhesive along predetermined edges to seal edges of the panels together.
- US Specification No. US-A-4031818 describes apparatus for preparing sealed envelopes with messages which apparatus includes storing message information on a computer system, moving a single continuous strip of paper across printing means to print the desired message information on the continuous strip and thereafter folding and severing the strip of paper to form separate envelope units.
- European Specification No. EP-A-78967 describes an envelope assembly including folded over portions and areas of adhesive covered by removable barrier coverings.
- French Specification No. FR-A-325706 describes a method of manufacturing double sacks of strong paper including applying marginal lines of adhesive and intermediate particles of adhesive.
- The present invention solves these problems in a unique way by utilizing the heat fusing rolls of the laser printer, which are employed to fix the toner on the printed substrate, to activate a heat sealable or heat activatable adhesive provided about three peripheral borders of at least one of the envelope forming panels to seal the front and rear panels of the envelope along the borders to thereby form a conventional envelope pocket.
- More specifically, in the present invention, a pair of sheets or webs (in discrete or continuous form) are superimposed and adhesively secured along a single leading edge thereof. The leading edge in this context refers to a forward edge relative to the direction of feeding. The upper and lower sheets or webs incorporate front and rear envelope panels with the front panel in direct overlying and vertically aligned relationship with the rear panel. It is also a feature of the invention that the envelope panels have at least two edges which coincide with corresponding edges of the web or sheet to minimize subsequent trimming to finished form.
- The front panel of the envelope includes a foldable sealing panel portion which is provided on its rearward face with an adhesive, and preferably with a rewettable adhesive. Thus, in use, the sealing panel may be folded over the rear envelope panel and sealed in a conventional manner via application of moisture to the rewettable adhesive.
- The rear sheet or web is provided on its front face with an antistick composition, and preferably a moisture barrier composition, directly underlying the rewettable adhesive on the superimposed foldable sealing panel to prevent accidental and unintended sticking of the sealing panel portion to the underlying sheet or web during production of the envelope.
- At the same time, the envelope border portions, with the exception of the border defined by the foldable sealing flap portion, are provided with a heat activatable adhesive, applied in any conventional manner. The adhesive is preferably applied only to the front face of the rear panel, but may be applied additionally or alternatively to the rear face of the front panel.
- To print and finalize the formation of the envelope construction, the superimposed webs or sheets are fed into a printing machine, such as a toner based table or desk top laser printer, with the sheets or webs adhered only along the forward leading edge extending across the sheets or webs, i.e., transverse to the direction of feeding.
- After the envelope (typically only the front panel) has been printed with return address information and the like, the webs or sheets are passed between a pair of heat fusing rollers which not only fix the toner, but also activate the adhesive about the three peripheral borders of one of the envelope panels, so as to securely fasten one panel to the other and thereby form the envelope, including a pocket portion sealed on three sides and open on one side.
- Subsequently, the individual envelopes are separated from the webs manually, or alternatively, webs or sheets may be fed into a trimming machine for removal of all or part of the web or sheet material lying outside the bounds of the envelope panels. The web portions which do not form part of the envelope per se, many also be printed and used as a voucher, invoice, or the like to be inserted in the envelope and mailed to a customer, client, etc.
- In one exemplary embodiment, a
standard size 10 business envelope may be oriented lengthwise of standard 8½" (21,6cm) wide webs or sheets in such a way as to minimize the amount of paper required to be trimmed. In another exemplary embodiment, the envelope is oriented cross-wise to the longitudinally extending webs or sheets to form a smaller envelope in a manner that also minimizes trimming. - In either case, the webs or sheets may be in continuous or discrete form. If continuous, transverse lines of perforations extending across the webs or sheets may be employed to facilitate separation of the individual envelopes and, if appropriate, associated voucher, invoice, or the like. The separation may occur before or after, but preferably after the printing operation.
- Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a partially formed envelope for use with a non-impact printer, comprising a first sheet incorporating a front panel of the envelope;
a second sheet incorporating a rear panel of the envelope; wherein one of said first and second sheets is provided with a line of heat activatable adhesive along at least three sides of the panel and the front panel includes a foldable sealing flap portion along a fourth edge, the sealing flap portion having rewettable or pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto; characterised in that the first and second sheets are held together solely by a line of adhesive located outside the front and rear panels and a portion of the rear panel lying directly underneath the sealing flap portion is provided with an antistick composition. - The present invention also provides a method of producing a printed envelope comprising the steps of:
- (a) aligning a pair of sheets incorporating respectively front and rear envelope panels in overlying relationship, one of the sheets being provided with a heat activatable adhesive in predetermined areas corresponding to peripheral edge portions of its envelope panel, said areas lying on a face of the one sheet which engages a second of the pair of sheets;
- (b) feeding the overlying sheets into a non-impact printing means for printing indicia on at least one face of one of said sheets, said non-impact printing means including heating means;
- (c) characterised in that prior to step (b) said sheets are fixed together along a single edge by a line of adhesive located outside the peripheral edge portions of the envelope panel, and in that the heating means of the printer is utilized to activate the heat activatable adhesive in predetermined areas to seal the sheets or webs, thereby forming an envelope pocket.
- From the above, it will be appreciated that the present invention solves particular problems with respect to the ability and/or ease with which standard business envelope constructions can be printed by conventional toner-based table or desk top laser printers. The invention is particularly advantageous in that it reduces the number of steps required to form and print the envelope, and in that it enables envelopes to be printed in standard table or desk top laser printers without requiring specially designed feed devices heretofore required in the prior art to align and properly feed conventional envelopes.
- Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.
-
- Figure 1 illustrates a front envelope panel incorporated within a sheet or web in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention;
- Figure 2 illustrates a rear envelope panel incorporated within a sheet or web for use with the sheet or web shown in Figure 1;
- Figure 3 illustrates a front envelope panel incorporated within a sheet or web in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention;
- FIGURE 4 illustrates a rear envelope panel incorporated within a sheet or web for use with the sheet or web shown in FIGURE 3; and
- FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an envelope printing and sealing process in accordance with the invention.
- Referring to FIGURE 1, an upper sheet or
web 10 of an envelope blank construction is shown, and includes aforward edge 12, a pair ofside edges rearward edge 18. - In FIGURE 2, there is shown a lower sheet or
web 20 of an envelope blank assembly, and including aforward edge 22, a pair ofside edges rearward edge 28. -
Sheets edge 12 of the rearward face of theupper sheet 10 and along the alignedforward edge 22 of the front face of thelower sheet 20. It will be appreciated, of course, that the adhesive 30 may be applied, alternatively, to only one of the upper and lower sheets. Adhesive 30 may be of any conventional type including, but not limited to, the pressure sensitive type. In either case, superimposed lines ofperforations sheets adhesive 30. The lines ofperforations event sheets rearward edges - The
sheet 10 is also provided with aperforation line 34 extending betweenforward edge 12 andrearward edge 18 which serves as a line about which an envelope sealing flap, described below, may be folded in a conventional manner. Thesheet 10 also includes atrim line 36 extending substantially parallel and spaced from the line ofperforations 34. It will thus be appreciated that thesheet 10 incorporates afront panel 38 of an envelope defined byweb edges perforation line 32 andtrim line 36. This front panel further includes asealing flap portion 40, defined bylines perforations 34. - Referring again to FIGURE 2, the underlying or
lower sheet 20 incorporates arear panel 48 of an envelope, defined byedges transverse perforation line 42 which underliesperforation line 32, and atrim line 44 which underlies the line ofperforations 34 in theupper sheet 10. - Thus, it may be seen that
trim lines flap portion 40, so thatflap 40 may be folded aboutline 34 and over the trim line 44 (ultimately the upper free edge) of therear panel 48 in a conventional manner. -
Trim lines - It will be understood, of course, that other trimming methods may be employed, incorporating, for example, an automatic trimming machine.
- With reference again to FIGURE 1, it may be seen that the foldable
sealing flap portion 40 is provided on its rearward face, i.e., the face that ultimately engages the rearward face of therear panel 48 in the folded-over position, with anadhesive pattern 50, extending over substantially the entire flap portion.Adhesive 50 may be of a conventional rewettable type typically employed in envelope construction. One suitable adhesive of this type is a compounded synthetic resin emulsion produced by the Craig Adhesives Company and sold under the name Craigbond 3078S. Other suitable rewettable, or pressure sensitive adhesives may also be used. - With specific reference also to FIGURE 2, it may be seen that in registration with the rearward face of
flap portion 40, there is provided on the front face oflower sheet 20, a strip orpattern 52 of an antistick composition applied to prevent accidental and unintended sticking of the foldablesealing flap portion 40 to thelower sheet 20 during the printing and heat sealing processes. - The antistick composition is preferably of the moisture barrier type, and most preferably a vegetable based ink, such as that manufactured by Colorcon, Inc. and sold under the name NoTox™. This is a non-toxic and contaminant free ink which may be ordered in several colors such as yellow, magenta, blue or black. This latter feature is advantageous inasmuch as certain color inks may be more desirable for use with variously colored envelope assemblies. Of course, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other vegetable based inks with good moisture barrier characteristics may also be employed. In addition, if the
adhesive pattern 50 comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive, the antistick composition may comprise a conventional release liner or coating. - The
pattern 52 may extend from an upper edge 46 (substantially underlying trim line 36) to a lineadjacent trim line 44, thus extending slightly above and below theadhesive pattern 50 to insure that sealing flap is not caused to adhere to any portion ofsheet 20 during the entire envelope forming and printing production process. - The front face of
lower sheet 20 is also provided withstrips perforation line 42, within the confines of therear panel 48 of the envelope construction. It will be appreciated that whenpanels adhesive lines flap 40 in a conventional manner. While thestrips rear panel 48, they may also be applied to the rearward face offront panel 38. - The heat activatable adhesive may be a waxy hot melt adhesive particularly designed for preapplied heat seal applications, such as that described herein. One exemplary adhesive is sold by the H.B. Fuller Company as product No. HM-4199. Other heat activatable adhesives may also be used.
- Turning to FIGURE 5, a schematic diagram is presented which illustrates the sequence of events in a process according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Thus,
sheet feeder 70 feeds a pair of superimposedsheets adhesive line 30 adjacent the leadingedge 12 of each envelope construction, to anon-impact printer 72. In this regard, reference is made again to FIGURE 1 showing the preferred feeding direction indicated byarrow 60 and noting that theadhesive line 30 extends transverse to the direction of feeding. - The blank envelope assembly of this invention has been specifically designed for use with non-impact printers and especially for non-impact printers having heat fusing toner based table or desk top printers, e.g., laser printers.
- As the envelope blanks are fed through the printer, a business logo and/or address are printed, usually in the upper left hand portion of the front panel of each envelope (such as
area 74 in FIGURE 1). The continuous web then passes through heat fusing rolls, schematically indicated at 76, 78, which fix the toner and activate the heat sealable adhesive strips 54, 56, 58 in the border areas of each envelope to seal the front and rear panels so as to form an envelope pocket therebetween. - Thereafter, individual envelopes may be separated manually from the web by tearing along the perforation lines 32, 42 and
trim lines edges trimmer 80 which removes at least the leading edge portion (betweenlines edges 12, 22) of each envelope construction. Further trimming alonglines - It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the envelope shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 represents a standard business envelope, formed within standard 8½" by 11" (21.6cms by 27.9cms) paper sheets, or sections of continuous sheets.
- With reference now to FIGURES 3 and 4, a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein a smaller envelope construction is formed within similar sized sheets or webs.
- The envelope construction illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 is identical in every respect with that illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 with the exception of size of the envelope and its orientation relative to the feeding direction of the webs or sheets. In this regard, reference numerals in FIGURES 3 and 4 are identical to those used in FIGURES 1 and 2, with the addition of a prefatory "1." Because of the identical construction, the embodiment shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 need not be described in detail. It is sufficient to indicate that the envelope has been reoriented relative to the webs or
sheets arrow 160, rather than parallel to the direction of feeding as in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. - In both embodiments, the envelope orientation is such as to maximize the use of existing edges of the webs or sheets and thereby minimize the amount of final trimming required.
- While only two envelope sizes and orientations have been described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that other conventional, or customized envelopes may be formed in accordance with the invention.
- It will therefore be appreciated that the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of producing standard or other size envelopes that can be printed in heat fused toner based table or desk top laser printers without the addition of a special envelope feed device, and further provides manufacturing economies by reducing the number of both process steps and pieces of equipment required to form finished envelopes.
- While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (15)
- A partially formed envelope (10, 20) for use with a non-impact printer (72),
comprising a first sheet (10) incorporating a front panel (38) of the envelope;
a second sheet (20) incorporating a rear panel (48) of the envelope; wherein one of said first and second sheets is provided with a line of heat activatable adhesive (54, 56, 58) along at least three sides of the panel and the front panel includes a foldable sealing flap portion along a fourth edge, the sealing flap portion (40) having rewettable or pressure sensitive adhesive (50) applied thereto; characterised in that the first and second sheets (10, 20) are held together solely by a line of adhesive (30) located outside the front and rear panels (38, 48) and a portion of the rear panel lying directly underneath the sealing flap portion (40) is provided with an antistick composition (52). - A partially formed envelope as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that one of the first and second sheets (10, 20) incorporates an envelope insert to be printed by said non-impact printer.
- A partially formed envelope as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said first and second sheets are incorporated in a respective pair of continuous webs, each sheet being defined in part by lines of perforations (32, 42) extending transversely of the respective webs.
- A partially formed envelope according to any of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the single line of adhesive (30) lies outside and adjacent superimposed lines of perforations (32, 42) which define the leading edges of said envelope panels.
- A partially formed envelope according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the envelope panels have at least two edges which coincide with corresponding edges of the web or sheets.
- A method of producing a printed envelope comprising the steps of:(a) aligning a pair of sheets (10, 20) incorporating respectively front and rear envelope panels in overlying relationship, one of the sheets (10, 20) being provided with a heat activatable adhesive (54, 56, 58) in predetermined areas corresponding to peripheral edge portions of its envelope panel, said areas lying on a face of the one sheet (10, 20) which engages a second of the pair of sheets (10, 20);(b) feeding the overlying sheets (10, 20) into a non-impact printing means (72) for printing indicia on at least one face of one of said sheets, said non-impact printing means including heating means;(c) characterised in that prior to step (b) said sheets (10, 20) are fixed together along a single edge by a line of adhesive located outside the peripheral edge portions of the envelope panel, and in that the heating means of the printer (72) is utilized to activate the heat activatable adhesive (54, 56, 58) in predetermined areas to seal the sheets or webs, thereby forming an envelope pocket.
- A method according to claim 6 characterised in that said sheets (10, 20) are fixed together along a leading edge (12).
- A method according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which each of the sheets forms part of a continuous web of such sheets.
- A method according to any of claims 6 to 8 characterised in that said sheets define front and rear panels (38, 48) of said envelope, each of said panels (38, 48) having a front face and a rearward face, the front panel (38) including a foldable sealing flap portion (40).
- A method according to claim 9 characterised in that prior to step (b), the foldable sealing flap portion (40) is provided on its rearward face with a rewettable adhesive (50).
- A method according to any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein said panels (38, 48) extend longitudinally in the direction of feeding.
- A method according to any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein said panels extend longitudinally in a direction transverse to the direction of feeding.
- A method according to claim 10 wherein prior to step (b), the rear panel (48) is provided on its front face with a moisture barrier composition (52) in an area corresponding substantially to said rewettable adhesive (50) on the foldable sealing flap portion (40).
- A method according to claim 13 wherein said moisture barrier comprises a vegetable-based ink.
- A method according to any one of claims 6 to 14 further including the step of:(d) trimming the sheets (10, 20) to separate the envelope therefrom.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US19629988A | 1988-05-20 | 1988-05-20 | |
US196299 | 1988-05-20 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0342829A2 EP0342829A2 (en) | 1989-11-23 |
EP0342829A3 EP0342829A3 (en) | 1990-08-22 |
EP0342829B1 true EP0342829B1 (en) | 1994-08-10 |
Family
ID=22724813
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP89304539A Expired - Lifetime EP0342829B1 (en) | 1988-05-20 | 1989-05-05 | Envelope for table top printer |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0342829B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2774311B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR8902355A (en) |
CA (1) | CA1325621C (en) |
PT (1) | PT90615A (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5164218A (en) * | 1989-05-12 | 1992-11-17 | Nippon Soken, Inc. | Semiconductor device and a method for producing the same |
DE19518107A1 (en) * | 1995-05-17 | 1996-11-21 | Drescher Geschaeftsdrucke | An easier-opening confidential single sheet letter-cum-envelope |
GB0403989D0 (en) * | 2004-02-24 | 2004-03-31 | Black Stephen P | Stationery |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR325706A (en) * | 1902-10-23 | 1903-05-06 | S Ecornes En Papier | Improvements to paper bag making machines |
US3476307A (en) * | 1968-05-06 | 1969-11-04 | Hans G Faltin | Foldable mailing piece |
US3952942A (en) * | 1974-01-24 | 1976-04-27 | Leary John W O | Continuous form mailer with integral detachable insert material and return envelope |
US4031818A (en) * | 1974-10-16 | 1977-06-28 | Gaf Corporation | Apparatus for preparing sealed envelope units with messages |
JPS52105027A (en) * | 1976-02-28 | 1977-09-03 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | Method of false-tamping printing sheets such as calendars |
US4313557A (en) * | 1980-05-14 | 1982-02-02 | Berlin Industries, Inc. | Envelope insert for magazines |
JPS57174238A (en) * | 1981-04-21 | 1982-10-26 | Toppan Moore Kk | Preparation of windowed letter |
DE3144064A1 (en) * | 1981-11-06 | 1983-05-19 | Nederlandse Pillo-Pak Maatschappij B.V., 6961 Eerbeek | SHIPPING BAG |
DE3508114C1 (en) * | 1985-03-07 | 1986-05-22 | O. T. Drescher GmbH, 7255 Rutesheim | Process for gluing products made of paper, foils, etc., in particular label sheets |
-
1989
- 1989-05-05 EP EP89304539A patent/EP0342829B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-05-16 JP JP1122701A patent/JP2774311B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-05-19 PT PT90615A patent/PT90615A/en unknown
- 1989-05-19 BR BR898902355A patent/BR8902355A/en unknown
- 1989-05-23 CA CA000600367A patent/CA1325621C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0342829A2 (en) | 1989-11-23 |
BR8902355A (en) | 1990-01-09 |
CA1325621C (en) | 1993-12-28 |
PT90615A (en) | 1989-11-30 |
JP2774311B2 (en) | 1998-07-09 |
JPH0238033A (en) | 1990-02-07 |
EP0342829A3 (en) | 1990-08-22 |
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