EP0603015A1 - Continuous forms intended to form assemblies or envelopes which can be stuck on an object - Google Patents

Abstract

Form consisting of a continuous lower strip (1) to which there are temporarily attached the constituent parts (5 to 8) of an assembly which after being detached from the lower sheet will be stuck to a parcel or the like. The lower strip has no lines of weakness, which would not be strong enough to prevent them from being torn when the constituent parts of the assembly are being pulled off. The assembly preferably comprises, however, lines of weakness (12) in order to facilitate its folding, these lines being nevertheless strong enough not to tear when it is being pulled off. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to continuous assemblies intended to form bundles or envelopes intended to be glued to an object such as a package.

• faire passer un ensemble continu ayant des feuilles multiples à travers une machine d'impression,
• diviser l'ensemble continu en ensembles individuels,
• séparer un jeu de feuilles supérieures de la feuille inférieure de l'ensemble individuel,
• coller la face inférieure du jeu de feuilles supérieures sur un colis ou similaire, cette face inférieure étant auto-adhésive, le jeu de feuilles supérieures constituant la liasse ou enveloppe.

Frequently, a user prepares multiple bundles by a process comprising the following steps:

• passing a continuous assembly having multiple sheets through a printing machine,
• divide the continuous set into individual sets,
• separate a set of top sheets from the bottom sheet of the individual set,
• sticking the lower face of the set of upper sheets to a package or the like, this lower face being self-adhesive, the set of upper sheets constituting the bundle or envelope.

There can be several types of continuous sets.

They all include a continuous lower strip provided with at least one drive zone provided with so-called "Caroll" perforations. This area is necessary for passage through the printing machine.

• a) une partie d'une feuille continue avec des lignes de coupe calculées pour permettre une division ultérieure en liasses ou enveloppes individuelles,
• b) des feuilles distinctes mais longitudinalement adjacentes aux autres feuilles,
• c) des feuilles laissant un intervalle libre entre elles et les feuilles qui les suivent sur la longueur de la bande.

Each of the first sheets above the bottom strip can be:

• a) part of a continuous sheet with cutting lines calculated to allow subsequent division into individual bundles or envelopes,
• b) separate sheets but longitudinally adjacent to the other sheets,
• c) leaves leaving a free interval between them and the leaves which follow them along the length of the strip.

• a') une partie d'une bande continue avec des lignes de coupe calculées pour permettre une division ultérieure en liasses ou enveloppes individuelles,
• b') des feuilles distinctes mais longitudinalement adjacentes aux autres feuilles,
• c') des feuilles laissant un intervalle libre entre elles et les feuilles qui les suivent sur la longueur de la bande.

Each of the most distant sheets of the lower strip can be:

• a ') part of a continuous strip with cutting lines calculated to allow subsequent division into individual bundles or envelopes,
• b ') separate sheets but longitudinally adjacent to the other sheets,
• c ') of leaves leaving a free interval between them and the leaves which follow them along the length of the strip.

The combination cc ') is not effective because it can cause incidents when the continuous assembly passes through the printing machine, in case the set of upper sheets comes off the lower strip. As the takeoff must be able to be done manually in the following, it is understood that the grip must be low, so that the risk of such an incident is not zero.

It is therefore preferable that at least one sheet forms part of a continuous strip, that is to say a combination including a) and / or a ').

On the other hand, due to problems when folding the strip, it is best to have no more than three continuous strips, including the bottom strip, in a folding area.

In any case, for the method of use described above, it is necessary to provide cutting lines crossing the lower strip, to allow the continuous strip to be divided into individual assemblies.

This process requires two separate manual operations: dividing the continuous set into individual sets, and separating the set of upper sheets from the lower sheet. That takes time.

The object of the invention is to provide a continuous strip which saves time for the user.

• une bande inférieure continue pourvue, sur au moins un de ses bords, d'une zone d'entraînement,
• au moins une bande continue supérieure présentant des lignes de coupe transversales pour définir la longueur des liasses ou enveloppes futures,
• au moins une feuille supplémentaire, placée entre lesdites lignes de coupe transversales de la feuille supérieure continue,
• la face inférieure du jeu comprenant ladite bande supérieure et la feuille supplémentaire étant auto-adhésive et adhérant de façon temporaire à la face supérieure de la bande inférieure,
• les lignes de coupe transversales de la bande supérieure ayant une résistance assez faible pour se rompre sous l'effet des efforts nécessaires pour décoller ledit jeu de la bande inférieure,

   cet ensemble ayant pour particularité que la bande inférieure est dépourvue de lignes d'affaiblissement ayant une résistance assez faible pour se rompre sous l'effet des efforts nécessaires pour décoller ledit jeu de ladite bande inférieure.To obtain this result, the invention provides a continuous assembly for forming multiple individual bundles or envelopes, comprising:

• a continuous lower strip provided, on at least one of its edges, with a drive zone,
• at least one upper continuous strip having transverse cutting lines to define the length of future bundles or envelopes,
• at least one additional sheet, placed between said transverse cutting lines of the continuous top sheet,
• the underside of the set comprising said upper strip and the additional sheet being self-adhesive and temporarily adhering to the upper face of the lower strip,
• the transverse cutting lines of the upper strip having a strength low enough to break under the effect of the forces necessary to detach said clearance from the lower strip,

this assembly having the particularity that the lower strip is devoid of weakening lines having a resistance low enough to break under the effect of the forces necessary to detach said clearance from said lower strip.

Thus, during takeoff of the game comprising the upper strip (s) and the additional sheet (s), the desired bundle or envelope is closed, but the lower strip is left intact, which can then be folded, rolled, or cut into pieces of the length you want.

The additional sheet may be part of a strip similar to the upper continuous strip which has just been mentioned, which corresponds to the combination aa ') mentioned above. It can be placed between the upper and lower bands, which corresponds to the combinations ba ') and ca'). It can also be placed on the upper strip, which corresponds to the combinations ab ') and ac'). The number and the position of the additional sheets are not limited, in particular in the case of a bundle or envelope comprising inserts.

The lower band can be completely devoid of weakening lines. It is however preferable that it has transverse lines of weakness separated by intervals each corresponding to a bundle or future envelope, or to an integer of these bundles or envelopes. These lines weakening will serve to facilitate the folding of the assembly. They may consist of a series of incisions separated by bridges, the ratio of the lengths of the incisions and the widths of the bridges being chosen accordingly. Other lines of weakness can separate the training zone from the rest of the strip, while respecting the condition stated above.

The upper continuous strip may have transverse cutting lines which are superimposed on the weakening lines of the lower strip which we have just mentioned. These cutting lines may have been completely cut in advance when the bundle or envelope is taken off, and at this time having zero resistance to the forces associated with taking off.

This solution is not preferred, for the reason indicated above, namely the risk of incidents when passing through a printing machine, unless the complete cut is made after this passage.

The cutting lines of the upper strip may also consist of incisions separated by bridges, and be superimposed on the weakening lines of the lower strip.

According to an advantageous modality, the incisions and the bridges of the upper band coincide, in this case, with those of the lower band, but, in the training zone, which is not reached by the upper band, the ratio of the length of the incisions at the width of the bridges is much shorter than in the common part, which results in the desired resistance difference.

The advantage of this mode is that all of the incisions can be made in one operation on both the top sheet and the bottom sheet.

It is also possible to provide that the cutting lines of the upper strip are offset longitudinally with respect to the lines of weakening of the lower strip, being placed on the side and else of each of these. This solution is not always preferred, because it multiplies the number of incision lines. To allow folding, it is often necessary to provide, in addition, on the upper strip, a line of weakness coinciding with that of the lower strip. The area between the two adjacent cutting lines of the upper strip can be torn off separately, which is an additional operation, or remain adherent to the lower strip, which complicates the subsequent storage thereof. However, the processing and removal of bundles can be facilitated.

The user can take off the bundles or envelopes right out of the printing machine. The strip can also be stored in a rolled or cut lengthwise state, each of which carries three or four bundles or envelopes.

• Figure 1 est une vue en plan d'une partie d'un ensemble continu conforme à l'invention,
• Figure 2 est une vue fortement agrandie de la région A de la figure 1, et
• Figure 3 une vue analogue à la figure 2, mais avec les feuilles supérieures enlevées.
• Figure 4 est une vue, analogue à celle de la figure 1, d'une autre réalisation conforme à l'invention.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of practical examples, illustrated with the aid of the drawings, among which:

• FIG. 1 is a plan view of part of a continuous assembly according to the invention,
• Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged view of region A of Figure 1, and
• Figure 3 a view similar to Figure 2, but with the upper leaves removed.
• Figure 4 is a view, similar to that of Figure 1, of another embodiment according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows part of a continuous assembly intended to constitute bundles, that is to say envelopes open on one side, and containing intermediate sheets or inserts. The part of the assembly which is shown in FIG. 1 comprises two bundles, shown only in part, and their connecting zones.

The assembly includes a continuous lower band 1, of which only the marginal parts 2, 3 are seen, which constitute training zones having perforations 4 of the "Caroll" type.

On the lower strip 1 is fixed, provisionally, a base strip 5, a small part of which is visible, on the right in the figure, and whose lower face, not visible, is self-adhesive, its adhesive being calculated to allow a easy peeling of the lower sheet 1, and stronger adhesion to a package or the like. The base band 5 covers the lower band 1 with the exception of the drive zones 2 and 3. On the base band 5 are fixed insert sheets 6, 7, which do not constitute a continuous band, but are separated by suitable intervals, and a cover strip 8, which covers the insert sheets 6, 7 and is glued, on either side longitudinally of each insert sheet 6, 7, on the base strip 5 The cover strip 8 is continuous: on the left side of the figure, it extends in the direction of the drive zone of the lower sheet, and stops at the same distance from it as the strip of based. On the right side of the figure, on the contrary, it extends less far towards the drive zone 3 of the lower strip than the base strip 5, and leaves the ends of the insert sheets 6 and 7 free The upper face of the covering sheet has a certain number of locations such as 9, 10, intended to receive information concerning, for example, the sender, the recipient, the weight and dimensions of a package, etc. ..

On the left edge of the figure, it will be observed that the cover strip and the base strip carry tabs 11 which protrude from the drive zone 2 of the bottom sheet, and serve to facilitate separation by ungluing of the bundle and the bottom sheet. These tabs are optional.

At intervals corresponding to the size of a bundle, the continuous assembly has lines weakening and cutting 12, which we will now examine in more detail with the help of Figures 2 and 3.

Each weakening and cutting line 12 is formed of a number of transversely directed incisions 13, and aligned with each other. These incisions 13 are separated by bridges 14, where the continuity of the material is ensured on both sides of the line 12. If we consider the interior part of the continuous assembly, that is to say the part which is limited by the left edge (in the figures) 15 of the covering strip 8 and the base strip 5, and the right edge (in FIG. 1) 16, of the base strip 5, in this area, the incisions 13 all have the same length, and the bridges 14 which separate them have the same width. In practice, the ratio of the length of an incision to the width of a bridge is about 5.5 / 1.

On the contrary, in the marginal part of the lower sheet 1, that is to say in the drive zones 2 and 3, the length of the incisions is much smaller, while the width of the bridges is not modified. . When one arrives at the left edge 17 and at the right edge 18 of the lower strip, the ratio of the length of the incisions to the width of the bridges is only about 3/1. In addition, the weakening line 12 ends with a fairly wide bridge 19 at the point where it meets the edge 17, or 18, of the lower sheet 1. This bridge 19 is wider than the others. bridges. As a result, there is no initiation of rupture of the lower sheet at this location.

It will be understood that, if a pull is exerted on the edge of the bundle formed by the continuous strips 5 and 8, with the intermediate sheets 6 and 7, for example by exerting a pull on the tongue 11, or on the edge of the continuous strips 5 and 8 in case they have no tabs, these strips will tear along the line of incision 12, but the sheet lower 1, which is more robust in its marginal parts will not tear and will remain intact.

However, if the continuous assembly is folded in a zigzag, the fact that the line 12 extends through the lower continuous strip 11 will allow easy and trouble-free tying.

The reference 20, in Figures 1 and 2, designates a longitudinal section line which is used for the manipulation of the inserts, and which is outside the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows that the lower sheet 1 has no other weakening lines than the transverse line 12. It would however be possible, if desired, to provide a transverse section line along the drive zones, provided that this cutting line is strong enough not to tear during the separation of the bundle and the lower strip.

Of course, variations are possible. For example, line 12 can be a simple weakening line intended to facilitate folding, a different line of incisions, not affecting the lower band 1, but only the base and covering bands 5 and 8, could be provided at a short distance on either side of line 12, in order to delimit the bundle which must be unstuck.

In the example described, the cut and weakening line 12 passes between two Caroll drive perforations 4. There is nothing to prevent line 12 passing through one of these perforations, which will then fulfill the function of a incision 13.

Figure 4 shows part of another continuous assembly according to the invention and intended to constitute bundles.

The assembly includes a continuous lower strip 21, visible only on the upper right edge of the figure and the marginal parts 22, 23 of which constitute the training zones having perforations 24 of the "Caroll" type.

On the lower strip 21 is fixed, provisionally, a base strip 25, which, unlike that of FIG. 1, normally covers the entire lower strip, including the marginal parts. The base strip is self-adhesive on its lower face, its adhesive being calculated to allow easy peeling of the lower strip 21 and re-sticking on another surface. In the upper right corner of the figure, a part of the base strip is detached from the lower strip.

Transverse lines of weakness 26, which will be discussed later, divide the bands 21 and 25 into segments each corresponding to a bundle.

In each segment corresponding to a bundle, the lower band is continuous, but the base band has an incision line 27 with closed outline, of generally rectangular shape with rounded corners, the transverse sides 28 of which are at a short distance from one line of weakness, and the longitudinal sides 29, 30 are outside the drive zones.

The transverse sides 28 of the incision line 27 constitute the cutting lines defining the longitudinal dimension of the bundle, just as the longitudinal sides 29, 30 define its transverse dimension.

A cover sheet 31 is glued to the part 32 of the base strip which is surrounded by the incision line 27. Its transverse edges and one of its longitudinal edges are exactly superimposed on the incision line 27, and the another of its longitudinal edges 33 (on the right in the figure) is further from the edge of the strip than the corresponding longitudinal side 30 of the base strip. The contact sheet 31 is glued directly to the base strip along its transverse edges.

Interleaving sheets 34, 35 are placed between the base strip and the cover sheet. They extend less close to the weakening lines 26 than the upper sheet, and are not caught in the transverse bonding lines connecting the cover sheet to the base strip, but, on the side opposite to the longitudinal edge 33, the slip sheets and the cover sheet are layered and glued together to the base strip. Overlapping lines of weakness 36 make it possible to separate the cover sheet and the intermediate sheets from the heel formed by the joint bonding area individually or together. Towards the opposite side, that is to say towards the longitudinal side 30 of the cut, the interlayer sheets advance a little beyond the edge 33 of the cover sheet.

The lines of weakness 26 are analogous to the lines of weakness 12 in Figures 1 to 3, so there is no need to describe them in more detail.

To separate a bundle from the assembly, it suffices to bend the latter in the vicinity of an angle of the incision line with closed contour 27, so as to initiate takeoff from this angle, then to exert traction on this one.

The main difference between the assembly of FIG. 1 and that of FIG. 4 resides in the fact that, in the case of FIG. 1, the additional sheets are formed by the inserts 6, 7 placed under the upper continuous strip formed by the continuous covering strip 8, whereas, in the case of FIG. 4, the upper continuous strip consists of the base strip 25, so that the inserts are placed on it, as well as the cover sheets.

Claims (9)

A continuous assembly to form multiple individual bundles or envelopes, comprising: - a lower continuous strip (1) provided, on at least one of its edges, with a drive zone (2, 3), - at least one upper continuous strip having transverse cutting lines (12, 28) for dividing into sections having the length of future bundles or envelopes, - at least one additional sheet (5 to 8; 31, 34, 35), placed between said transverse cutting lines of the continuous top sheet, - the underside of a set comprising a section of said upper strip and the additional sheet (15, 8) being self-adhesive and temporarily adhering to the upper face of the lower strip (1), characterized in that the lower strip (1) is devoid of weakening lines having a resistance low enough to break under the effect of the forces necessary to detach said clearance from said lower strip, so that it is possible to separate the set comprising the upper strip and the additional sheets of the lower strip without cutting this lower strip. Continuous assembly according to claim 1, in which the lower strip has a weakening line (12) which is similar to and overlaps the cutting line (12) of the upper strip, except in the area of drive (2, 3) and is less weakened than the cutting line in said drive area. An assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the weakening line and the cutting line (12) are formed of transverse incisions (13) separated by bridges (14), and the ratio of the length of the incisions to the width of the bridges is higher in the part common to the lower and upper bands than in the part which extends into the training zone. Assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the weakening line (12) does not have an incision (13) at the point where it meets the edge (17, 18) of the lower strip (1) . Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper strip and the additional sheet or sheets do not extend in the drive zones. Assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that tabs are provided at least on the upper strip to facilitate the take-off of the bundle or envelope. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an additional sheet is formed from a continuous strip having transverse cutting lines superimposed on those of the upper strip. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that there are provided, in the upper strip, closed contour incisions surrounding the additional sheet or sheets to facilitate the release of the bundles or envelopes each consisting of a part of the upper strip located inside the closed contour and one or more additional sheets. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises several additional sheets, at least one of which constitutes an insert, is bundled between a section of the upper strip and another upper sheet, and has a longitudinal dimension lower than that of this section and this other upper sheet.

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