GB1600836A

GB1600836A - Continuous business forms assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB1600836A
Application number: GB22883/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Moore Business Forms Ltd
Current assignee: Moore Business Forms Ltd
Priority date: 1977-08-02
Filing date: 1978-05-26
Publication date: 1981-10-21
Also published as: NO146459B; NO782634L; NL181419C; IT1192747B; NO146459C; DK147554C; SE444552B; GR63164B; LU80065A1; AT367701B; NL7808030A; IT7812704A0; CH636562A5; FI64080C; AU522582B2; SE7808307L; DE2833011C2; DK147554B; NL181419B; BE869401R

Abstract

The form arrangement consists of multi-layer sets of forms, connected one behind the other, which can be advanced through the printer of an office machine. Two outer, endless layers (11, 12) are separably connected to each other at the longitudinal edges and have tractor feed perforations (13) and, for separation, transverse lines (36) of weakness. In between the latter lie intermediate layers (21, 22, 23, 24, 28) which are connected to form individual sections. The sections are connected, only along one longitudinal side of the form arrangement, to each other and to only one of the outer layers, in a separable manner. The printed sets of forms are each completely separated at the transverse lines of weakness. With this arrangement, however, only the section and one outer layer (11) of the last printed set of forms can be separated easily, whereas the other outer layer (12) can be left as a drive web for initiating the advance of the subsequent sets of forms to be printed. As a result, the whole set of forms is not wasted for this purpose. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CONTINUOUS BUSINESS FORM S ASSEMBLIES (71) We, MOORE BUSINESS FORMS LiMi- TED, a British company of 75/79 Southwark Street, London SE1 OHY, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement::- The specification of British application for Patent No. 8900/76 (1547808) describes a continuous stationary assembly adapted to be fed through the print unit of business machine comprising a continuous pair of superimposed outer record webs, said webs each having at least one margin containing a row of spaced feed apertures extending along at least one side edge thereof in superimposed relationship and being arranged to engage the feed means of the business machine so that the stationary assembly is thereby advanced into and past the printing means said outer webs being secured together along one line of securement adjacent said superimposed apertures at least one intermediate record web lying between said outer webs and having a marginal edge thereof spaced inwardly of the said superimposed feed apertures of the outer webs said outer webs and intermediate webs having spaced transverse lines of weakening in superimposed relationship for separating the form assembly therealong into individual units said intermediate web being secured to said outer webs along another longitudinal line of securement and at least the outer web to receive the original imprinting in the print unit having a longitudinal line of weakening thereon spaced inwardly of said one line of securement in the margin containing said superimposed apertures and in line with the longitudinal edge of the or each intermediate web whereby at least the one margin may be separated along said transverse line of weakening from the intermediate web and at least the original outer web imprinting whereafter said one web and said intermediate web secured thereto of the last of said units may be separated from the margin to leave the said margin available as a supporting web to enable the remaining units of the assembly to be fed through the print unit.

The present invention is a further development of a continuous business forms assembly which serves to avoid the wasting of a form length each time the assembly is fed into the print unit of a business machine.

Continuous business forms assemblies having specific application to airline ticket applications require a relatively large number of independent webs (sometimes referred to as parts) which may number twelves or more and when such business forms assemblies are processed in a typewriter machine having pin feed drive means at the outfeed side of the platen, typing position difficulties are encountered in detaching the ticket length. In the first place it is difficult to detach twelve parts in a typewriter and the assembly has to be fed out of the typewriter beyond the form feed device means and each time this occurs a ticket length is wasted. This may be overcome by printing a blank insert ticket length.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved continuous business forms assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved continuous business forms assembly particularly for use in airline ticket applications in which a length of ticket does not have to be wasted at each typing operation.

According to the present invention a continuous business forms assembly comprises a continuous pair of superimposed outer webs, said webs each having a row of spaced feed holes extending along at least one marginal edge thereof in superimposed relationship and being arranged to engage the feed means of a business machine so that the business forms assembly in thereby advanced into and past the printing means, said outer webs being attached together by first securement means adjacent said superimposed holes at least one intermediate web lying between said outer webs and having one marginal edge thereof spaced inwardly of said superimposed feed holes and said first securement means, said outer webs having spaced transverse lines of weakening in superimposed relationship, the or each of said intermediate webs having cut portions presenting opposite edges spaced inwardly of said transverse lines of weakening said forms assembly being separable into individual units along said transverse lines, said intermediate web being attached to one of said outer webs by second securement means extending longitudinally of the form, and at least one of said outer webs having a first longitudinal line of weakening thereon disposed between said first and second securement means, whereby after printing of a number of said units in the printing means the one of the webs to which the or each of the intermediate webs is attached may be separated along said transverse lines of weakening and the said one of the webs and each intermediate web may be separated along the first longitudinal line of weakening wherafter at least the one of said outer webs and each of the said intermediate webs attached thereto may be separated from the other of said outer webs thereof to the said other web together with the marginal side portions available as a drive web, or the webs may be separated from the marginal side portions to leave the marginal side portions available as a drive web for initiating the feed of the remaining units to be fed through the printing means.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a part of the continuous business forms assembly according to the invention, partly broken away to illustrate the details thereof, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view on a reduced scale of the Fig. 1 assembly showing the manner of providing a drive web for the unprinted forms assembly to be fed through the printer, and, Figs. 4 & 5 are a plan view, partly broken away, and cross-sectional view of a modification.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, a continuous business forms assembly is generally designated 10 in Figs. 1 to 3 and comprises continuous upper and lower webs 11 and 12 in overlying relationship and having substantially the same width. Similarly as described in the Specification of British patent No. 1547808, the assembly 10 hereof is provided with rows of spaced feed holes 13 in outer webs 11 and 12 along the opposite marginal webs respectively in superimposed relationship. Such feed holes are arranged to engage the feed means of a business machine (not shown) for advancing the business form into and past the printing means (also not shown).Lines of securement which may be in the form of longitudinal lines 14 and 15 of adhesive are disposed adjacent the rows of feed holes for securing the outer webs to gether along their marginal edges.

Otherwise, securement means such as longitudinal rows of paper staples, as shown in British patent specification No. 1376447, may be provided in lieu of the lines of adhesive for attaching the outer webs together along their marginal edges. Longitudinal lines of perforations 16 and 17 are provided in upper web 11 slightly inwardly of their respectively adjacent lines 14 and 15 of adhesive and corresponding and underlying lines 18 and 19 of perforations may be provided in the lower web 12.

A plurality of intermediate webs 21, 22 and 23 and 24 are superimposed between outer webs 11 and 12, transfer material such as carbon black being provided wholly or in part on the underside surfaces of webs 11, 21, 22 and 23 for transferring indicia which is printed or is otherwise applied to the upper surface of web 11 through the bottom most intermediate web 24. Otherwise carbonless transfer material of a known variety may be applied to mating surfaces of webs 21, 22, 23, and 24 so as to produce coloured marks during a reaction between reactive components thereof upon application from a writing or printing stylus to the top surface of web 11 for effecting the transfer of indicia through the intermediate webs.

Web 21 is secured to only the underside of web 11 by means of a longitudinal line 25 of adhesive or by other means of securement such as the paper staples mentioned above.

Intermediate webs 22 and 23 are secured along lines 26 and 27 of adhesive respectively to the undersides of their overlying webs, lines 25 to 27 of adhesive being staggered, if desired, to avoid a direct overlay of adhesive between webs. The bottom most intermediate web is shown in Fig. 2 as being of the fan-fold variety by having a front cover 28 in underlying relationship thereto and connected to web 24 along a fold line 29. Cover 28 is secured as along a line 31 of adhesive to the underside of web 23. The opposite marginal edges of intermediate webs 21 to 24 are secured likewise together as along lines 32 of adhesive which may be laterally offset from one another to avoid bunching between lines of adhesive.

Superimposed longitudinal lines 33 of perforations are provided in webs 11, 21, 22, 23 and 28 slightly inwardly of lines 25 to 27 of adhesive, and superimposed longitudinal lines 34 of perforations are provided in webs 21, 22 and 23 slightly inwardly of lines 32 of adhesive. Another row of feed holes 35 is provided in superimposed relationship in webs 11, 21, 22, 23, 28 and 12 slightly inwardly of lines 17 and 19 of perforations for the purpose of assembling the parts of the business form together as these feed holes engage the feed means of the business machine during the assembling process.

Unlike the construction disclosed in the aforementioned specification of British Patent No. 1547808 the intermediate webs herein are not fully continuous in a longitudinal direction but are die cut in the vicinity of the spaced transverse lines of weakening 36 provided in webs 11 and 12. The die cut intermediate webs define plies having opposing edges 37 and 38 lying inwardly of their adjacent lines 36 of weakening and extending from lines 33 of perforations so that a removable stub 39 is defined interconnecting the plies of one web together. These plies are further delimited by free edges 41 lying inwardly of lines 16 and 18 of perforations.

As can be seen, the assembly is severable into individual units "U" along transverse lines 36 of weakening with each of the units containing a booklet "B" of plies "P" formed from the intermediate webs and from cover web 28.

In operation, the series of connected business forms 10 is advanced past the printing means of the business machine in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3 as the feed pins of the tractors engage feed holes 13 along opposite marginal edges thereof. After a printing run (see indicia I in Fig. 3), the connected printed forms are separated (burst) as in any normal manner along transverse lines 36 of weakening to separate them into individual units U with the feed bands delimitedbylines 16, 18, 17 and 19 ofperforations, being removed. Booklet B for each unit may then be removed therefrom together with the upper ply formed of web 11 by separation along lines 33 of perforations.The booklet, which may be for example an airline ticket booklet will then be automatically separated from the upper ply of web 11, and the booklet cover formed of web 28 may then be folded over the top part of the booklet. Thereafter, this top part and the underlying parts formed of webs 22 and 23 may be removed from the booklet along lines 34 of perforations when desired.

After the form is printed and is fed by the tractor pin feed devices to the out feed side of the tractor, a predetermined length of the various printed units are separated from the unprinted assembly along a superimposed part of transverse lines 36 of weakening.

After the desired number of units U of the series of connected forms have been printed, the second to the last unit USL of this printed series is separated from the last printed unit UL of forms along transverse lines 36a of weakening. Web 11 of unit UL may then be removed together with its underlying booklet B along line 16 as well as along lines 33 of perforations. Carrier web 12 of unit UL therefore remains together with its feed bands, delimited by lines 16, 18 and 17, 19 of perforations, connected to the leading unprinted units U of the assembly. This portion of the carrier web of the unit UL therefore serves as a drive unit for the unprinted assembly at such time as the assembly is to be printed during a subsequent printing run.The entire unprinted assembly may be removed from the business machine and, when the assembly is reloaded thereinto, the leading unit is UL rather than an unprinted unit U so that the entire assembly may now be advanced to the printing unit of the business machine without wasting a leading unit since its upper web and the underlying booklet are already printed and removed.

One of the advantages with the use of the construction as aforedescribed is that web 11 and the underlying booklet B associated with a particular unit U may be separated therefrom along a single transverse tear line 36.

Carrier web 12 may remain unseparated since it carries no indicia. Otherwise, if the units are to completely burst from one another such may be carried out by separation along only a pair of superimposed tear lines 36 provided in the upper and lower webs. In any event, the intermediate webs are not separated from one another along transverse tear lines as heretofore required. The cross-tearing of only part 11, or further of part 12, also eliminates the risk of damaging the parts of the booklet, and the final ticket booklet will have clean edges and be more presentable as compared to those having perforated edges. It should also be pointed out that booklet B may be used as a ticket-by-mail construction after it is removed from its unit.

The infeed construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that a continuous cover sheet web 42 and a separate single unfolded web 24 are provided instead of the last part fan-fold web 24.

The web 24 has die cuts similar to the webs 21, 22 and 23 except the cover sheet web 42 has no die cuts. Also the web 42 is formed with a fold line 43 between alternate adjacent die cut webs plies with a transverse line of tear-off perforations 44 between the other alternate die cuts series of plies P, and one set of plies pl between the lines of weakening 36 comprises an invoice and copy set whereas the other set of plies P2 comprises an air ticket booklet part.

It is arranged that when a ticket length is detached from the assembly 10 leaving the lower web 12, it comprises a backing cover sheet being part of the cover sheet web 42 which is folded about the fold line 43 to provide a head opening cover booklet rather than the side stub ticket produced from the assembly shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The set of plies P2 constitutes instructional material and advertising matter and the set of plies pl is able to receive on blocks indicated diagrammatically at 45 information as to airports of departure and arrival, times of departure and arrival and as is normally included in airline tickets.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the lines of adhesive 15 may be located between the side edges of the web and the spaced feed holes 13, and as shown in Fig. 4, additional ticket webs are included. The lines of adhesive 25, 26 & BR< 27 are included to retain the webs in position during manufacture.

In a further modification, corresponding to the modification shown in Fig. 5 of the Specification of Patent No. 1547808, the webs of the assembly are provided with lines of longitudinal perforations 33 adjacent side edges of the webs. Lines of longitudinal weak perforations are also provided in the back web 18 adjacent the side edges and these perforations are in line with the lines of longitudinal perforations 33. The lines of transverse perforations (36 in Fig. 1, and 44 in Fig. 4) do not extend beyond the lines of longitudinal perforations 33 into the margins.

In use the operation is similar to that described except that the front web, back web and intermediate web or webs are all detached from the marginal side portions of the front and back webs and the continuous stationery is fed by having the marginal side portions drawn by the feed tractors. The back web is of thicker material to constitute the cover of the book.

In the aforedescribed embodiments the number of parts of the unit and the types and locations of the transfer means may vary in accordance with particular needs without departing from the scope of the claim of the Specification. Also securement means other than the glue lines disclosed may be utilized for attaching the described parts together without altering the substance of the invention.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention are made possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be prac tised otherwise than as specifically described.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A continuous business forms assembly comprising a continuous pair of superimposed outer webs, said webs having a row of spaced feed holes extending along at least one mar ginal edge thereof in superimposed relation ship and being arranged to engage the feed means of a business machine so that the business forms assembly is thereby advanced into and past the printing means, said outer webs being attached together by first secure ment means adjacent said superimposed holes, at least one intermediate web lying between said outer webs and having one marginal edge thereof spaced inwardly of said superimposed feed holes and said first securement means, said outer webs having spaced transverse lines of weakening in superimposed relationship, the or each of said intermediate webs having cut portions presenting opposite edges spaced inwardly of said transverse lines of weakening said forms assembly being separable into individual units along said transverse lines, said intermediate web being attached to one of said outer webs by second securement means extending longitudinally of the form, and at least one of said outer webs having a first longitudinal line of weakening thereon disposed between said first and second securement means, whereby after printing of a number of said units, in the printing means the one of the webs to which the or each of the intermediate webs is attached may be separated along said transverse lines of weakening and the said one of the webs and each intermediate web may be separated along the first longitudinal line of weakening wherafter at least the one of said outer webs and each of the said intermediate webs attached thereto may be separated from the other of said outer webs thereof to the said other web together with the marginal side portions available as a drive web, or the webs may be separated from the marginal side portions to leave the marginal side portions available as a drive web for initiating the feed or the remaining units to be fed through the printing means.

2. The business forms assembly according to claim 1, wherein said outer webs each have rows of superimposed spaced feed holes provided along a marginal edge opposite said one marginal edge thereof for engaging the feed means of the business machine, said outer webs being attached together by third securement means adjacent said other row of superimposed feed holes said one web having a second longitudinal line of weakening thereon spaced inwardly of said third securement means, and said intermediate web having a marginal edge opposite said one marginal edge thereof spaced inwardly of said second longitudinal line of weakening.

3. The business forms assembly according to claim 2, wherein other intermediate webs are provided between said outer webs said intermediate webs having superimposed third longitudinal lines of weakening thereon located inwardly of said second securement means and said intermediate webs being attached together by fourth securement means lying between said first and third lines of weakening whereby said intermediate webs may be separated from said one outer web.

4. The business forms assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one of the outer webs which constitutes a cover sheet web is formed between one set of

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Claims

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advertising matter and the set of plies pl is able to receive on blocks indicated diagrammatically at 45 information as to airports of departure and arrival, times of departure and arrival and as is normally included in airline tickets.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the lines of adhesive 15 may be located between the side edges of the web and the spaced feed holes 13, and as shown in Fig. 4, additional ticket webs are included. The lines of adhesive 25, 26 & BR< 27 are included to retain the webs in position during manufacture.

In a further modification, corresponding to the modification shown in Fig. 5 of the Specification of Patent No. 1547808, the webs of the assembly are provided with lines of longitudinal perforations 33 adjacent side edges of the webs. Lines of longitudinal weak perforations are also provided in the back web

18 adjacent the side edges and these perforations are in line with the lines of longitudinal perforations 33. The lines of transverse perforations (36 in Fig. 1, and 44 in Fig. 4) do not extend beyond the lines of longitudinal perforations 33 into the margins.

In use the operation is similar to that described except that the front web, back web and intermediate web or webs are all detached from the marginal side portions of the front and back webs and the continuous stationery is fed by having the marginal side portions drawn by the feed tractors. The back web is of thicker material to constitute the cover of the book.

In the aforedescribed embodiments the number of parts of the unit and the types and locations of the transfer means may vary in accordance with particular needs without departing from the scope of the claim of the Specification. Also securement means other than the glue lines disclosed may be utilized for attaching the described parts together without altering the substance of the invention.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention are made possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be prac tised otherwise than as specifically described.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A continuous business forms assembly comprising a continuous pair of superimposed outer webs, said webs having a row of spaced feed holes extending along at least one mar ginal edge thereof in superimposed relation ship and being arranged to engage the feed means of a business machine so that the business forms assembly is thereby advanced into and past the printing means, said outer webs being attached together by first secure ment means adjacent said superimposed holes, at least one intermediate web lying between said outer webs and having one marginal edge thereof spaced inwardly of said superimposed feed holes and said first securement means, said outer webs having spaced transverse lines of weakening in superimposed relationship, the or each of said intermediate webs having cut portions presenting opposite edges spaced inwardly of said transverse lines of weakening said forms assembly being separable into individual units along said transverse lines, said intermediate web being attached to one of said outer webs by second securement means extending longitudinally of the form, and at least one of said outer webs having a first longitudinal line of weakening thereon disposed between said first and second securement means, whereby after printing of a number of said units, in the printing means the one of the webs to which the or each of the intermediate webs is attached may be separated along said transverse lines of weakening and the said one of the webs and each intermediate web may be separated along the first longitudinal line of weakening wherafter at least the one of said outer webs and each of the said intermediate webs attached thereto may be separated from the other of said outer webs thereof to the said other web together with the marginal side portions available as a drive web, or the webs may be separated from the marginal side portions to leave the marginal side portions available as a drive web for initiating the feed or the remaining units to be fed through the printing means.
2. The business forms assembly according to claim 1, wherein said outer webs each have rows of superimposed spaced feed holes provided along a marginal edge opposite said one marginal edge thereof for engaging the feed means of the business machine, said outer webs being attached together by third securement means adjacent said other row of superimposed feed holes said one web having a second longitudinal line of weakening thereon spaced inwardly of said third securement means, and said intermediate web having a marginal edge opposite said one marginal edge thereof spaced inwardly of said second longitudinal line of weakening.
3. The business forms assembly according to claim 2, wherein other intermediate webs are provided between said outer webs said intermediate webs having superimposed third longitudinal lines of weakening thereon located inwardly of said second securement means and said intermediate webs being attached together by fourth securement means lying between said first and third lines of weakening whereby said intermediate webs may be separated from said one outer web.
4. The business forms assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one of the outer webs which constitutes a cover sheet web is formed between one set of

cut positions with a line of tear off perforations and between an adjacent set of cut portions with a fold line.
5. A series-connected business forms assembly constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.