GB1594733A

GB1594733A - Adhesive envelope and method of manufacture thereof

Info

Publication number: GB1594733A
Application number: GB42204/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-01-11
Filing date: 1977-10-11
Publication date: 1981-08-05
Also published as: DK146561C; DK450277A; NO773466L; SE7711358L; NO148546C; FI770066A; NO148546B; DK146561B

Description

(54) ADHESIVE ENVELOPE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF (71) 1, HEIKKI SAMULISUOENBN, of 14, Petsamonkatu, SF-33500 Tampere 54, Finland; a Finish citizen do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention concerns a method for manufacturing adhesive envelopes of plastic film, and adhesive envelopes manufactured thereby, for attachment to packages, e.g. parcels sent by post or other kinds of packages or similar consignment wrappings, and to seal C.O.D. or parcel notification cards or dispatch notes or other kinds of notices therein.

The earlier Finnish patent application No. 760982 (unpublished at the filing date of the present application) relates to an adhesive envelope of the type described above and a manufacturing method for the same.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method for manufacturing adhesive envelopes effectively and rapidly at low cost.

The present invention provides a methfor manufacturing adhesive envelopes for attachment to a package by self-adhesive areas or strips on the envelope surface, each envelope consisting of a front wall to be placed against the package surface and of a rear or outer wall united to the front wall at the edges of the envelope, wherein a blank comprising a wide tube of plastics film or a doubled band of plastics film is forwarded on a production line, said blank providing a front and rear wall for the envelopes and having a width at least equal to the width of several envelopes, continuous longitudinal parallel seams are made in said blank, said seam uniting the front and rear wall at side edges of the envelopes, longitudinal continuous adhesive strips or longitudinal series of adhesive patches are applied to the front wall surface of the blank in such a manner that adhesive areas or strips are provided adjacent to the side edges of each envelope, longitudinal incisions are made in the front wall surface of the blank adjacent to the adhesive strips or patches in the vicinity of at least one side of each envelope, said incisions providing an aperture in each envelope for the insertion of documents, said aperture being closed when the envelope is adhered to a package, and transverse seams are made across the blank to unite the front and rear walls at a separation corresponding to the desired height of the envelopes, seaming operations being carried out in such a manner that the envelopes are simultaneously cut off from the blank.

The invention is illustrated further in the following description with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows one form of adhesive envelope manufactured by the method according to the invention, viewed from the front; Figure 2 shows a section on the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows from above a production line for the adhesive envelopes of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a section on the line B-B of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a second form of an adhesive envelope manufactured in accordance with the invention, viewed from the front; Figure 6 shows a section on the line C-C of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a third form of an adhesive envelope, manufactured according to a special embodiment of the invention, seen from the front; and Figure 8 illustrates a fourth form of adhesive envelope, manufactured according to an embodiment of the invention, seen from the front.

One form of an adhesive envelope, manufactured according to the invention, shown in Figures 1 and 2, consists of the front and rear walls 1 and 2 manufactured of heat-seamable plastic film. The front 1 in Figure 1 is understood; to be the upper side, which will face the package when the envelope is placed in position on the package. The envelope is rectangular in shape and closed on all four edges 3, 4, 5 and 6, the front and rear walls 1 and 2 being seamed together at their edges or one edge may be formed by a fold in the blank while the other edges are all seamed. An incision 7 has been made in front wall 1, close to side edge 3 parallel to and of the same length as side edge 3 whereby an aperture is created, through which a document can be inserted into the envelope. A similar incision 8 can be also made near to the opposite side edge 4. Furthermore, on to the front wall 1, between the said incisions 7, 8 and side edges 3, 4 an adhesive strip 9 has been applied, either by the ordinary lamination method or as an adhesive tape. The adhesive strip can be furnished with protective tape, which can be of ordinary paper or surface-finished, i.e. by plastic-treated paper, the surface coating material being essentially of plastic material similar to that of the blank film. The protective coating tape can be also of plastic material which does not become seamed to the edge of the envelope when the side seams are being made.

As the previously-mentioned protective tape is rather expensive and the feeding of it causes expense, it can be left out, in which case the other wall of the envelopes or the particular part of them which is opposite the said adhesive strip, will be provided with a surface finish, for instance of silicone emulsion surface coating agent, such that the adhesive does not adhere thereto. When the envelopes are collected into bundles at the end of the manufacturing line, the silicone-coated strips on the lower surface of the upper envelope are always placed on the adhesive strips of the lower envelope, whereby the adhesive strips are always protected. It is easy to take envelopes from such bundles into use, since there are no protective tapes to be removed.

When an envelope, as described above, is used, the document to be sealed in the envelope is inserted through the incision, after which the protective tape (if any) is removed from the adhesive strips, and the envelope with its contents is pressed on to the surface meant for it whereby the envelope will be closed at the same time and the document inside the envelope will remain well protected.

When the adhesive envelopes as described above are manufactured in accordance with the invention on a production line (as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4), the blank 10 is seamable plastic film tube, either wound or received directly from an extrusion press and this tube is used for the formation of the front and rear walls 11 and 12, the blank tube being of such a width that several adjacent adhesive envelopes can be produced simultaneously from the production line. While the blank film 10 is proceeding along the line, longitudinal seaming procedures are carried out continuously, in order to form longitudinal parallel seams in a known way, the seaming speed and the temperature of the heating elements being arranged so that the front and rear walls are united and the material is simultaneously cut off at the seams. The seams 13 therefore divide the blank 10 into several equally wide lanes of adhesive envelope blanks having closed side edges 3, 4. The edges of the tube blank 10 do not require any seaming, of course, since the front and rear walls are joined from the outset. While the longitudinal seaming may be carried out either on both walls or on one wall only, a continuous longitudinal slit 14 is made, adjacent to each longitudinal seam 13, in the front wall only for each envelope to form necessary inserting aperture. The incision 14 can be also made adjacent to the edges of the blank tube 10. Furthermore, on the same wall as the incision 14, on both sides of the seam 13, adhesive strips 15 are placed, this being performed either by the ordinary lamination method or by application of a tape. In addition, on each adhesive strip is placed a protective coating tape which can be either ordinary paper or plastic-coated paper or such plastic film as will not become seamed together with the blank film proper, but will break off as a result of the effect of heat.

Finally the seaming of transverse seams 16 is carried out, whereby the front and rear walls of the envelopes are united at transverse edges 5, 6 and at the same time several envelopes are cut off from the blank line. When the protective coating tapes for the adhesive strips are of paper, these have to be cut off at the seam by a known method since they do not break off in connection with the seaming process as a protective tape of plastic does.

The protective coating tapes can also be left out, but in such a case on the opposite wall, on the rear face of the envelope, simultaneously with application of the adhesive strips, a silicone coating will be applied, which is at least as wide as the adhesive strip. When the envelopes are pressed one above another, they will not adhere to each other due to the silicone coating.

The envelopes can also be manufactured so that the longer envelope sides will be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bank run in which case the adhesive strips of the envelope will be correspondingly longer, creating naturally a better adheence on to the package surface. In such a case the slits or apertures are also on the long side, thus possibly facilitating the insertion of the document.

In addition to the adhesive strips at the edges, several additional adhesive strips can be aranged on the wall surfaces, thus improving the envelope attachment.

The form of envelope shown in Figures 5 and 6 is mainly similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 but it contains a minor addition which facilitates the use of the envelope.

The envelope has front wall 21 and rear wall 22 which are combined at edges 23, 24, 25 and 26 but in such a way that the rear wall 22 continues on one side somewhat past the seam 23 thus forming a protruding flap 22a. The envelope has adhesive strips 29 like those in the previously described form and an incision 27 near to one of the strips 29, through which incision a document can be inserted. The flap 22a has been made so that the envelopes can be collected into bundles and seamed together as on line 22b. Adjacent to the seam 23 the flap has been perforated or provided with a thinning on line 22c, along which line the envelope can be easily torn off from the bundle. In addition- to this, the flaps 22a are provided with holes 22d, by which the bundle can be suspended if required. Alternatively, there may be a single hole. The envelopes can also be bundled in such a way that they are not seamed together by strips, in which case there can be a perforation at the edges, near to the holes 22c, due to which the envelope with its strips is easily detached when torn off from its suspension.

In order to prevent the envelopes sticking to each other, while piled one above another, the back of the rear wall is provided, at a point corresponding to the adhesive strips 29, with a surface coating 29a of a material, e.g. silicone coating material, which prevents the adherence of the adhesive. Therefore no protective tapes are needed on top of the adhesive strips, with the result that the envelope structure is simplified, making it cheaper and easier to use.

When adhesive envelopes of the form shown in Figures 5 and 6 are manufactured according to the invention, the method is mainly the same as described before, wherein several envelopes are manufactured side by side on the production line.

For the starting blanks there are, however, several separate bands, of which the lower one, functioning as the blank for the rear wall, is coherent and wide, the flap width having been taken into consideration in the total width. The blank for forming the upper wall part 21, is fed and seamed as separate strips, whereby an envelope according to Figures 5 and 6 can be made. Longitudinal seaming is performed as a continuous process, thus producing side seams 23, 24, for the envelopes. Transverse seaming is used for forming the two transverse seams 25, 26, of the envelope, and the transverse seaming can be carried out in such a way that the envelopes break off at the same time. Of the longitudinal seams, seams 23 have to be made in such a way that the flap 22a does not break off. Simultaneously with the longitudinal seaming, the perforation or the thinning 22c for the flap 22a can be performed. This can be done during some later stage as well, of course. Furthermore, the aplication of the adhesive tapes 29 is performed, e.g. by a known method, using rollers and discs. The silicone coatings 29a, mentioned before, are applied on the rear wall, in line with the adhesive strips.

Finally the envelopes, cut off from the production line, are piled into bundles and are seamed together with their edge flaps, and the optional holes 29d for suspension are perforated through the flaps.

The form of envelope shown in Figure 7 is generally similar to the one shown in Figure 5, and the numerals 61-69 indicate the same features as numerals 21-27 in Figure 5 except that 62b indicates the perforation line and 62c indicates the line of the bundle seam. There are two incisions, 67, 68 comparable to the incisions 7, 8 in Figure 1. Adhesive strips 69 are placed adjacent to the side edges 63, 64 but adhesive strips 69b are placed also adjacent to the long edges 65, 66 by transverse application across the blank. The envelope stays better in position when it is attached on to a base at all four edges.

In addition the structure has been reinforced in that the front and rear walls 61, 62 have been seamed together by a seam 70, circling around the inner edges of the adhesive strips 69, 69b. This seaming can be either coherent or a point seam, which can be used, of course, also for the other forms.

The form of envelope shown in Figure 8 is similar to that shown in Figure 7 and the numerals 71-78 indicate the same features as numerals 61-68 in Figure 7.

However, the adhesive strips have been replaced by adhesive patches 79, placed on to the envelope corners, so that the consumption of the adhesive will be less, of course. In many cases, sufficient performance can be achieved also by this structure.

When adhesive envelopes of the lastmentioned form are manufactured, the method used is mainly the same as des cribed before. The production of the patches of adhesive and of the silicone coatings, to be placed on the opposite side thereto, is carried out most conveniently by a known printing method, the patches being applied as longitudinal series instead of longitudinal strips on the blank.

As starting blanks, as far as possible, tubular blanks may be used instead of separate bands one above another. In such a case, it may be advantageous to remove the top wall at the tear-off flap so that the flap would not be double unnecessarily.

Patent Application No. 801408 (Serial No. 1594/34) divided herefrom claims an adhesive envelope, manufactured of plas tic film, for attachment to a package by self-adhesive strips on the envelope surface, the envelope consisting of a front wall to be placed against the package surface and of a rear or outer wall, wherein the front wall is united to the rear wall at two opposite edges of the front wall but is not united thereto at the other edges of the front wall so that apertures are formed for the insertion of documents between the walls, the rear wall protrudes beyond said other edges of the front wall, and adhesive strips are present on the front surface of the protruding portions of the rear wall, such that adhereing the envelope to a package closes the apertures.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A method for manufacturing adhesive envelopes for attachment to a package by self-adhesive areas or strips on the envelope surface, each envelope consisting of a front wall to be placed against the package surface and of a rear or outer wall united to the front wall at the edges of the envelope, wherein a blank comprising a wide tube of plastics film or a doubled band of plastics film is forwarded on a production line, said blank providing a front and rear wall for the envelopes and having a width at least equal to the width of several envelopes, continuous longitudinal parallel seams are made in said blank, said seams uniting the front and rear walls at side edges of the envelopes, longitudinal continuous adhesive strips or longitudinal series of adhesive patches are applied to the front wall surface of the blank in such a manner that adhesive areas or strips are provided adjacent to the side edges of each envelope, longitudinal incisions are made in the front wall surface of the blank adjacent to the adhesive strips or patches in the vicinity of at least one side edge of each envelope, said incisions providing an aperture in each envelope for the insertion of docu- ments, said aperture being closed when the envelope is adhered to a package, and transverse seams are made across the blank to unite the front and rear walls at a separation corresponding to the desired height of the envelopes, seaming operations being carried out in such a manner that the envelopes are simultaneously cut off from the blank.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive strips are furnished with protective tapes of ordinary paper or plastics-coated paper, in which the plastics material is the same as that of blank film.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive strips are furnished with protective tapes of plastics material which is different from that of the plastics film and which does not form seams, but is cut off due to the heat of the seaming operation.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein as the adhesive strips, self adhesive tape, furnished with a protective cover, is used.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein a protective tape is not used for the adhesive strips but on the face of the blank opposite to the adhesive strip the blank is furnished with a coating, at least of the size of the adhesive strip, which prevents the envelopes adhering to each other when the envelopes are piled one above another.

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the envelopes is formed with an attachment flap provided by a protruding portion of the rear wall.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the front wall band of the doubled starting blank consists of several adjacent, narrow bands, having between them a sufficiently wide distance for the formation of attachment flaps in the rear wall band.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7. wherein longitudinal perforations or thinnings are formed in the blank so as to provide a perforation or thinning between the attachment flap and the second side edge of each envelope.

9. A method according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein each attachment flap is provided with an attachment hole or holes for attaching the envelopes to a holder.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein necks of material outwardly of of the attachment holes are perforated or thinned.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive strips are applied by printing.

12. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein adhesive strips

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. cribed before. The production of the patches of adhesive and of the silicone coatings, to be placed on the opposite side thereto, is carried out most conveniently by a known printing method, the patches being applied as longitudinal series instead of longitudinal strips on the blank. As starting blanks, as far as possible, tubular blanks may be used instead of separate bands one above another. In such a case, it may be advantageous to remove the top wall at the tear-off flap so that the flap would not be double unnecessarily. Patent Application No. 801408 (Serial No. 1594/34) divided herefrom claims an adhesive envelope, manufactured of plas tic film, for attachment to a package by self-adhesive strips on the envelope surface, the envelope consisting of a front wall to be placed against the package surface and of a rear or outer wall, wherein the front wall is united to the rear wall at two opposite edges of the front wall but is not united thereto at the other edges of the front wall so that apertures are formed for the insertion of documents between the walls, the rear wall protrudes beyond said other edges of the front wall, and adhesive strips are present on the front surface of the protruding portions of the rear wall, such that adhereing the envelope to a package closes the apertures. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A method for manufacturing adhesive envelopes for attachment to a package by self-adhesive areas or strips on the envelope surface, each envelope consisting of a front wall to be placed against the package surface and of a rear or outer wall united to the front wall at the edges of the envelope, wherein a blank comprising a wide tube of plastics film or a doubled band of plastics film is forwarded on a production line, said blank providing a front and rear wall for the envelopes and having a width at least equal to the width of several envelopes, continuous longitudinal parallel seams are made in said blank, said seams uniting the front and rear walls at side edges of the envelopes, longitudinal continuous adhesive strips or longitudinal series of adhesive patches are applied to the front wall surface of the blank in such a manner that adhesive areas or strips are provided adjacent to the side edges of each envelope, longitudinal incisions are made in the front wall surface of the blank adjacent to the adhesive strips or patches in the vicinity of at least one side edge of each envelope, said incisions providing an aperture in each envelope for the insertion of docu- ments, said aperture being closed when the envelope is adhered to a package, and transverse seams are made across the blank to unite the front and rear walls at a separation corresponding to the desired height of the envelopes, seaming operations being carried out in such a manner that the envelopes are simultaneously cut off from the blank.

12. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein adhesive strips

are applied at all of the edges of the front wall of each envelope.

13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the front and rear walls of each envelope are seamed together inwardly of the adhesive strips.

14. A method according to any of claim 1-10, wherein, instead of adhesive strips, adhesive patches are applied to the corners of each envelope.

15. A method for manufacturing adhesive envelopes substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings.

16. Adhesive envelopes manufactured by a method according to any of the preceding claims.

17. An adhesive envelope manufactured by a method according to any of claims 1-4 and substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

18. An adhesive envelope manufactured by a method according to any of claims 6-9 and substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.

19. An adhesive envelope manufactured by a method according to either of claims 12 and 13 and substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 7 of the drawings.

20. An adhesive envelope manufactured by a method according to claim 14 and substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 8 of the drawings.

21. A method of making a bundle of adhesive envelopes which comprises manufacturing envelopes by a method according to any of claims 6-10, piling the envelopes into bundles and seaming them together at points in the attachment flaps.