EP0625432B1 - Signature blotting-book or sorting file with plurality of retention tabs - Google Patents

Abstract

Signature blotting-book or sorting file consisting of a number of sheets (11) assembled together and each having a recto side (12) and a verso side (12'), of the kind in which each sheet comprises at least one document retaining means, this means consisting of a retention flap (13,14) formed by a folded strip which is partially glued along one edge of said sheet, characterised in that said retention flap (13,14) being defined by scoring of said sheet (11) parallel to one of its edges and at a certain distance from this edge, the part of said sheet lying between its free edge and the scored line forming said retention flap (13,14), said retention flap (13, 14) is folded onto one of the faces of the same sheeet (11) and glued partially onto said face along a narrow strip (18,19) close to the fold (15) bounding said sheet and said retention flap (13,14), the unglued portion of said retention flap (13,14), which lies between the glued part (18,19) and the free outer edge of the flap (13,14), forming with said sheet (11) from which it is produced the retention means. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to initials and sorters which are widely used, especially for presentation of documents successive for signature.

Currently, traditional initials or sorters are usually made from rectangular paper folders box, cardboard, blotter or similar material, each having received center a crease fold, extending over its entire height. Of each side of this central crease fold, a fold of lateral creasing. All of these three folds are provided to ensure the extension of the shirt when it is more or less trimmed of documents. These shirts are then assembled by laminating one on the other so as to constitute a block sheets with as many compartments as there have been employee of shirts for its realization.

When laminating these shirts, to create these sheets, we avoid putting glue on the part of each shirt between the central crease fold and the crease folds lateral.

These blocks of shirts being produced, it is possible to reinforce the back of these blocks by affixing a canvas called "back canvas", which is laminated on all the backs of the shirts, i.e. actually on the part of each shirt between the two folds of lateral creasing, part not having received glue for the constitution of the blocks. A cover is then laminated on the first sheet forming the top of the block and another on the last sheet of the same block.

The disadvantage of these traditional initials is that they have no means of retention of documents placed there, which requires most time keeping each document on the sheet corresponding to the using a paper clip.

To overcome this drawback, it has been described in French Patent FR-A-2 557 833 and its Certificate of Addition FR-A-2 571 309 an improvement to this type of signature book, this improvement residing in the particularity that said initial signature comprises, along the inner edge of each sheet, a tab longitudinal retention, from the sheet on which it depends, and laminated partially on the next sheet, thus allowing the insertion of the document to sign to prevent it, by pinching, from escaping when turning successive sheets, without interfering with the signature.

This retention tab is defined by creasing said sheet parallel at its inner edge and at a certain distance from this edge, the part of said sheet between said inner edge and the partially glued part constituting said retention tab.

The realization of such initials is also done by constitution of a "block", by partial bonding of each retention tab from each sheet on the next sheet, then open this block and flatten the folds joining each sheet to the retention tab that corresponds to it, then poses of the back canvas and finally folding of the whole.

This realization of such initials, even facilitated by a tool appropriate, involves a skilled workforce devoting time relatively important in positioning and setting up, and assembly by gluing, with the back still flat on the successive sheets, with their folds.

Document EP-A-0 149 954, belonging to the same applicant, is based on a double priority of the two previous documents, and discloses the same elements.

Patent GB-A-102,778 relates to a bank note holder with two flaps, each of said flaps having at its bottom a fold defining a pocket for storing tickets.

The French document FR-A-0 790 207 describes a make-up, that is to say a shirt with several flaps that can be compared to a backpack sorter accordion.

Each constituent sheet is glued, along its inner edge against an accordion fold, without a retention tab provided. This document discloses the existence, along the outer edge of each sheet, an inwardly folded extension for retaining documents.

The present invention eliminates the aforementioned drawback for the production of initials or sorters.

For this purpose, each sheet has, as before, a tab of retention formed by a strip of the sheet folded along a creasing practiced parallel to an edge of said sheet and glued, by a portion narrow located along said groove, on a corresponding narrow portion of the page located in front of said portion, forming, between its non-glued portion and said page, said retention tab.

The initials or sorters of the invention are characterized in that the strip of said sheet is folded along the creasing in a direction such that said narrow portion is pasted on the same page of said sheet from which said strip.

Various variants of the invention can be devised. So the tab of retention can result from a partial folding and gluing of a strip either on the front, or on the back of the sheet from which it comes.

In addition, each sheet can have either a retention tab unique, i.e. at least two retention tabs spread over several of its edges, for example two retention tabs formed on two parallel edges opposites.

In the latter case, according to a preferred embodiment, one of the tabs retention is formed by partial bonding on the front of said sheet and the other retention tab is formed by partial gluing on the back of the same sheet, said sheet with its two retention tabs having the shape of a Z, and with a retention tab on each side, the opening of the signature book any page therefore offering the user two retention tabs, know one on the outer longitudinal edge of the left page and the other on the inside longitudinal edge of the right page.

According to another alternative embodiment, each sheet has four retention tabs distributed over its two pairs of parallel edges. In such a case, each retention tab of each couple is formed by folding and partial gluing of a strip, one on the front, and the other on the back of the leaf, which implies that a couple's retention tabs are indented where they would overlap the retention tabs from the other couple.

As a preferable means usable to bring together and immobilize the whole tabbed retention sheets of a signature book, there is provision, according to a first embodiment of the invention, to operate by inserting and gluing each sheet with its retention tab (s) in each fold of a canvas accordion forming the back and created in advance.

According to another means usable for the same purpose, each sheet with its or its retention tabs is perforated along its inner edge, all of said sheets being joined by a ring binding system of metal or plastic, or a helical or integral binding, or a plastic rod with rings, or any other similar means, or equivalent.

La Figure 1 illustre schématiquement en perspective le principe de réalisation d'un parapheur à onglets de rétention selon la technique antérieure,

La figure 2 est une vue de bout d'un tel parapheur, après pose du dos,

La figure 3 illustre schématiquement en perspective le principe d'un parapheur selon l'invention,

La figure 4 est une vue de bout d'un tel parapheur, à l'état partiellement déployé,

La figure 5 illustre une feuille comportant deux onglets de rétention dans un parapheur selon l'invention,

La figure 6 est une coupe verticale d'un parapheur réalisé avec des feuilles selon la figure 5, à l'état plié, la figure 6a en montrant un détail agrandi,

Et la figure 7 illustre globalement différentes variantes de feuilles à onglets de rétention rentrant dans le cadre de l'invention tel que défini par les revendications.

The features which have just been mentioned, as well as others, will appear in the following description, corresponding to the attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates in perspective the principle of making a signature tab arrester according to the prior art,

FIG. 2 is an end view of such an initializer, after fitting the back,

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates in perspective the principle of a signature book according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is an end view of such an initializer, in the partially deployed state,

FIG. 5 illustrates a sheet comprising two retention tabs in an initializer according to the invention,

FIG. 6 is a vertical section of a signature book made with sheets according to FIG. 5, in the folded state, FIG. 6 a showing an enlarged detail,

And FIG. 7 globally illustrates different variants of sheets with retention tabs falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, we see that, in accordance with the prior art recalled above, each of the sheets F ₁ , F ₂ , F _3, ..., Fn constituting the initializer has a grooving central R ₁ , R ₂ , ..., R _n , and two lateral grooves R ' ₁ , R' ₂ , ..., R ' _n and R'' ₁ , R'' ₂ , ..., R'' _n , a retention tab T ₁ , T ₂ , ..., T _n being formed on each sheet by the part of said sheet lying between its inner edge L ₁ , L ₂ , L _3, ..., L _n and the lateral creasing R '' ₁ , R '' ₂ , R '' _3, ..., R '' _n , each of these retention tabs being partially glued along a narrow interior portion B ₁ , B ₂ , ...,. B _n on the front of the next sheet.

The manufacturing of a signature book according to the prior art therefore consisted, in a first operation, to superimpose the desired number of sheets F, in partially sticking the narrow inner portion B of each tab T on the page next. To reunite the block thus constituted, the next operation consisted in open and stretch this block, in order to flatten all the defined folds by the three grooves R, R ', R' ', and to stick on the outside of these folds a back D. We then folded the whole.

It is clear that this set of operations involves a workforce qualified, devoting a relatively long time to it.

To eliminate this drawback, the invention consists in carrying out beforehand by partial bonding each sheet with its retention tab and to introduce this sheet in one of the folds of a back, also made previously, in accordion. This is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, which have been designated by the general reference 1 each sheet, on the front page 2 of which is folded along a crease 15 the retention tab 3, partially glued along a narrow portion 4 against said corresponding front page 2. Each sheet 1 with its retention tab 3 is then introduced individually inside a fold 5 of an accordion back 6, so that the initialing is already finished with its back when we have gathered all the sheets and this back. If the back 6 used for the operation proves to be too fragile, it is easy to strengthen and stiffen it.

This achievement of a signature book with a retention tab from each sheet can receive several variants, which are illustrated in the figures 5, 6 and 7, and which may have several retention tabs, longitudinal and / or transverse, but which in all cases result from the folding of a sheet on itself and partial gluing to get each retention tab on the front and / or back of the same sheet. So all combinations of these variants fall within the scope of the invention, as defined in claims.

Thus, if we refer first to Figure 5, we see that each sheet 11 constituting the initializer according to the invention is folded in Z, form called "in slate hook ", along two opposite longitudinal grooves 15 and 25, to create two retention tabs 13 and 23, folded in opposite directions, and glued partially each respectively along two narrow portions 14, 24 on each of these two pages 12 and 12 '.

As already illustrated above by Figures 3 and 4 (in the unfolded state), the Figure 6 shows, in the folded state, the overall structure of a signature book according to the invention. In this structure, the sheets 11, once formed, are united and inserted all together but individually, in the folds of the accordion back 17 of the signature book, which can also be completed by two rigid covers 21, 22, the inner edge of each sheet 11 being glued in 20 over all or part of the length of the lower half-fold of each said back pleats 17, as shown; it would also be possible to glue on the upper half-fold of each of said folds back 17.

As illustrated in Figure 7, in which the corresponding elements of the respectively right and left halves of the structure of a signature book according to the invention, shown in the open state on any page, are designated by the same reference numbers, but accompanied by a "'" for half left which corresponds to the back of the corresponding sheet 11 ', each right page 12 has a retention tab 13 obtained by folding the inner edge of the sheet 11 from which it comes and which is partially glued to the front of said corresponding sheet 11, while each page on the left 12 'likewise has a retention tab 13', obtained by folding the edge inside of the preceding sheet 11 ′ from which it comes, and which is partially glued to the front of said sheet 11 '. Similarly, the retention tab 23 resulting from the backward folding of the right sheet 11 will be associated with the back page of said sheet 11, and the retention tab 23 ′ resulting from folding towards the back of the preceding sheet 11 'will be associated with the back page of said sheet 11'.

We can thus have in the initializer two documents per sheet, each document being maintained independently of the other.

According to an additional characteristic, subject to other variants individually optional of the invention and brought together in FIG. 7, each sheet 11, 11 ′ can also be folded along its transverse edges, to create pairs of retention tabs 110, 110 'and 111, 111' located in bottom and top of each page 12, 12 ', it being understood that each of these horizontal retention tabs should be scalloped, as shown in the title example at 112, 112 'and 113, 113' at the location and according to the width of the 13-13 'and 23-23' vertical retention tabs on which they would overlap. In this case, on each sheet, the initializer may present on its two pages up to four documents, maintained independently of each other.

As already indicated, and is clearly visible in FIG. 6, the folds of the back 17 position the sheets 11 inserted therein in advance, which facilitates initializer assembly operations, eliminating the need for a hand of qualified work, and by shortening the assembly time and consequently the cost price of the signature book.

According to a preferred embodiment, the bonding of a sheet on a fold of the accordion back is made on the lower half-fold of each of said folds back 17.

Claims (10)

1. Signature folder or sorter constituted by the joining-together of a plurality of sheets (1, 11) each having a front page (2, 12) and a back page (12'), of the type in which each sheet (1, 11) comprises at least one retaining tab, a strip (3, 13) of the said sheet (1, 11), which strip is folded over along a groove (15) formed in a manner parallel with one edge (30) of the said sheet (1, 11) and is glued, by a narrow portion (4, 14) situated along the said groove (15), onto a corresponding narrow portion of the page situated opposite the said portion (4, 14'), forming, between its non-glued portion and the said page (2, 12), the said retaining tab,
   characterised in that
   the said strip (3, 13) of the said sheet (1, 11) is folded over along the groove (15) in a direction such that the said narrow portion (4, 14) is glued onto the same page (2, 12) of the said sheet (1, 11) from which the said strip (3, 13) originates.
2. Signature folder or sorter according to claim 1, characterised in that the said strip (3, 13) of the said sheet (1, 11) is folded over upwards along the groove (15) in such a way that it is glued, by its front face, onto the front page (2, 12) of the same sheet (1, 11) along a narrow portion (4, 14) situated along the groove (15), the said retaining tab being constituted between, on the one hand, that non-glued front portion of the strip (3, 13) which is situated between the extreme edge (30) of the sheet (1, 11) and the narrow portion (4, 14) and, on the other hand, that front page (2, 12) of the same sheet (1, 11) which faces it.
3. Signature folder or sorter according to claim 1, characterised in that a strip (23) of the said sheet (11) is folded over downwards along a groove (25), in such a way that it is stuck by its back face onto the back page (12') of the same sheet (11), along a narrow portion (24) situated along the groove (25), the said retaining tab being constituted between, on the one hand, that non-glued back portion of the strip (23) which is situated between the extreme edge (40) of the sheet (11) and the narrow portion (24) and, on the other hand, that back page (12') which faces it under the same sheet (11).
4. Signature folder or sorter according to claim 1, characterised in that each sheet (1, 11) comprises, at the same time, at least two retaining tabs distributed over at least two of its edges, the one created with the front page (2, 12) in accordance with claim 2 and the other created under the back page (12') in accordance with claim 3.
5. Signature folder according to claim 4, characterised in that each sheet (11, 11') comprises four retaining tabs (13, 23, 110, 111 ; 13', 23', 110', 111') distributed over the two pairs of parallel edges of the sheet.
6. Signature folder according to claim 4, characterised in that, the sheet (11, 11') comprising two pairs of parallel strips (13, 23, 110, 111 ; 13', 23', 110', 111'), each strip of each pair being folded over and glued partially, the one (13, 111; 13', 111') onto the front page, and the other (23, 110; 23', 110') onto the back page of the sheet, the tabs (110, 111; 110', 111') of a pair which are thus formed are cut away (113, 112; 113', 112') at the place where they would be superposed on the tabs (23, 13; 23' 13') of the other pair.
7. Signature folder or sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it is made up of a concertina-shaped back (17), onto each of the folds (20) of which there is glued, individually, a sheet (1, 11) comprising at least one retaining tab.
8. Signature folder or sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the means used to join together and immobilise all the sheets (1, 11) constituting the signature folder is a binder with rings made of metal or plastic material, a spiral or integral binder, or a plastic moulding with rings passing through perforations formed in one of the edges of each sheet.
9. Process for the manufacture of a signature folder or sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it consists in producing each sheet (1, 11) with its retaining tab or tabs and the concertina-shaped back (17) beforehand, and then in individually inserting and gluing each of these sheets (1, 11) in each fold (20) of the concertina (17).
10. Process for the manufacture of a signature folder or sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it consists in producing each sheet (1, 11) with its retaining tab or tabs beforehand, in perforating it on one of its edges and in joining together all the sheets (1, 11) constituting the signature folder or sorter by means of a binder with rings, a spiral binder, an integral binder or a plastic moulding with rings.

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