GB2179597A

GB2179597A - Method of producing tickets

Info

Publication number: GB2179597A
Application number: GB08620737A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald John Devine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-08-31
Filing date: 1986-08-27
Publication date: 1987-03-11
Also published as: GB8620737D0; GB2179597B; GB8521700D0

Abstract

A method of producing tickets, comprising providing a plurality of first sheets each of which has a plurality of ticket shapes defined and releasably retained thereon eg. by perforations, providing a second sheet having defined areas corresponding on the second sheet to the positions of the ticket shapes on the first sheets, applying to said areas artwork to be included on the tickets, reproducing eg. by photocopying, letterpress, litho or screen printing said artwork from the second sheet onto each of said first sheets so that said artwork is reproduced on each of said ticket shapes, and releasing the ticket shapes from each of the first sheets.

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of producing tickets This invention relates to a method of producing tickets.

Conventionally, tickets to be used for example to gain entry to social events are printed on blanks which are provided by manufacturers in the form of bundles of precut "singles". Problems often arise in the storage and handling ofthesebundlesduetothe insubstantial and bulky nature ofthe structure ofthe bundles.

Further, a major disadvantage of "singles" is that they can be printed only by means of a letterpress, as this has meantthatonlya printerwho had access to a letterpress platen could print tickets from the "singles". This has resulted in printers finding other ways of producing tickets by obviating the need for "singles", with the resulting restriction on the nature ofthe tickets. In particular only tickets which are self-coloured and have regular straight edges and square corners have been produced.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of producing tickets, comprising providing a plurality of first sheets each of which has a plurality of ticket shapes defined and releasably retained thereon, providing a second sheet having defined areas corresponding on the second sheet to the positions of the ticket shapes on the first sheets, applying to said defined areas artwork to be included on the tickets, reproducing said artwork from the second sheet onto each of said first sheets so that said artwork is reproduced on each of said ticket shapes, and releasing the ticket shapes from each of the first sheets.

The reproduction of the artwork onto the first sheets can be done for example by photocopying, letterpress, litho, or scree printing. Photocopying is especially effective.

The ticket shapes may be an integral part of the first sheets and releasably retained on the sheets by being partially secured around their peripheries.

Alternatively the ticket shapes may be in the form of cards which are adhered to the first sheets which can be plastics coated for easy release of the cards. The ticket shapes may be regular as in conventional tickets or may have irregular peripheries as required.

The ticket shapes may be self-coloured, plain or have a background pattern over which the artwork is reproduced.

Theartworkmaybeforexampleintheformofa design orwording, or a combination of both.

Preferably said defined areas on the second sheet are indicated by visible markings which are not reproduced in photocopying; for example the markings may be pale blue orothercolourwhich is invisible to a photocopying machine. In this way the markings can be seen by an operator applying the artwork to the defined areas but not reproduced on the ticket shapes of the first sheet. A grid pattern of markings, or datum lines, can be included in the defined areas to facilitate correct alignment of the artwork.

Sheets having ticket shapes provided on them may be conveniently packaged by vertically stacking the sheets in bundles.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of a blank layout sheetfor use as a second sheet in the method of this invention; Figure2 is a plan view of the layout sheetof Figure 1 with artwork applied to it; Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank sheet of card for use as a first sheet in the method of the invention; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the sheet of Figure 3 after reproduction ofthe artwork on it.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a sheet 2 of plastics coated paper having printed on it in pale blue colour a series of nine round-cornered rectangles 4 each of which corresponds in length and breadth to the overall shape of a dance ticket to be prepared bythe method of this embodiment. The rectangles 4 are internally sub-divided by a grid pattern 6whose lines are parallel tothe boundary lines 8 ofthe grid. The grid 6 is also marked in pale blue colour.

In orderto provide artworkforthe desired tickets, informative wording 10 is typed by a typewriter on a sheet of paper and reproduced eighttimes on a photocopying machine. Each ofthe resulting nine items of artwork loins then cut to a size which will fit within the periphery of the grid 6, and the nine items are pasted one into each grid 6 ofthe sheet 2 as shown in Figure 2. The grid allowsthe artwork lOto be correctly aligned on the sheet2.

Referring now to Figure3, a sheet 12 of stiff card has nine serrated-edged shapes 14 of the size of the desired tickets partially punched from it. The ticket shapes 14 are held on the sheet at spaced intervals around their periphery by uncut tab portions 16so thatthey are prevented from falling from the sheet but can be neatly and easily reieased when required by breaking the tabs 16. The sheet 12 is ofthe same length and breadth as the sheet 2 and the ticket shapes 14 are provided on it in the same positions as the grids 6 on the sheet 2.

The sheet 2 with the nine items of artwork 10 applied to the grids 6 is placed on the platen of a photocopying machine, and a number ofthe sheets 12 sufficientto provide a required number of dance tickets is then fed into the machine so thatthe artwork is reproduced on each sheet 12. The result is as shown in Figure 4.

Each sheet 12 then has nine ticket shapes 14 carrying the artwork 10, and the ticket shapes 14 can then be released by pushing them from the sheet 12 to breakthetabs 16. Each sheet 12thus provides nine dance tickets.

During the photocopying stage the grids 6 are not reproduced on the sheet 12 as they are of pale blue colourtowhichthephotocopying machine is not generally sensitive. However, if evidence ofthe grids 6 appears on the sheet 12, as in the case where an unusually sensitive machine is used, the method can be repeated with the artwork being pasted to the reverse face of the sheet 2. Correct alignment of the artwork 10 on the grids 6 can be ensured by holding the sheet 2 in front of a light source so that the grids6 are visiblethrough the sheet 2, but will not be picked up by the photocopying machine.

Afterthe photocopying stagethesheets 12 can be stored intact until required, and can be easily packaged fortransport. The tickets 14 can then be released when and where needed.

Claims

1. A method of producing tickets, comprising providing a plurality of first sheets each of which has a plurality of ticket shapes defined and releasably retained thereon, providing a second sheet having defined areas corresponding on the second sheet to the positions ofthe ticket shapes on the first sheets, applying to said areas artwork to be included on the tickets, reproducing said artworkfrom the second sheetonto each of said first sheets so that said artwork is reproduced on each of said ticket shapes, and releasing the ticket shapes from each ofthefirst sheets.

2. A method of producing tickets as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said defined areas on the second sheet are indicated by visible markings which are not reproduced in photocopying.

3. A method of producing tickets as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said defined areas include a pattern of markingsfacilitating correct alignment of the artwork within the areas.

4. A method of producing tickets as claimed in Claim 1,2 or 3 wherein visible markings which are not reproduced in photocopying are provided on the second sheet.

5. A method of producing tickets as claimed in any one ofthe preceding Claims, wherein said ticket shapes are an integral part ofthe first sheets and are retained on the sheets by spaced connections around the peripheries of the ticket shapes.

6. A method of producing tickets as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said artwork is reproduced on said first sheets by photocopying.

7. A method of producing tickets as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said ticket shapes have non-linear peripheries.

8. A method of producing tickets as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. Tickets whenever produced by the method as claimed in any one ofthe preceding Claims.