IES79657B2 - A self-mailer - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-mailer for non-impact printing comprising a unitary paper sheet, having a pair of parallel side edges, parallel top and bottom edges and first and second faces, the first face having an address box for receiving addressee information and a printing box for receiving printed matter, and a window spaced apart from the address box, the self-mailer being foldable such that the address box is visible through the window.

Description

A self-mailer This invention relates to a one piece self-mailer, to a method of processing a one piece self-mailer form and to a process for the manufacture of a self-mailer.

An advantage of mailer forms is that subject matter can be printed on the mailer form which can then be folded into an envelope format for mailing thereby obviating the need for separate envelopes and forms or additional paper sheets etc .

Heretofore, mailer forms have been widely used with impact printers. Such mailer forms have generally been multiply self-carbonated paper fed to an impact printer on sprocket punched continuous stationery web.

Following printing, the top ply is decollated from the mailer and the individual mailer forms are detached from the continuous web, usually along scored perforation lines.

However, mailer forms generated using impact printers suffer from a number of disadvantages. Firstly, stubs should be removed from sprocket punched continuous stationery. The individual forms must be decollated or burst at the perforations. In addition, the use of branding and customising of such stationery has been $79657 difficult due to the basic nature of such impact printers. Nevertheless, due to cost constraints, the •a use of non-impact printers, such as laser printers, for printing mailer forms has been confined to major ► enterprises only due to financial and technological constraints .

However, more recently, non-impact computer printers have become affordable and have increased in popularity - particularly for small to medium sized business users which have heretofore relied on impact printers.

Generally non-impact printers, such as laser printers, are primarily adapted to receive single sheets of paper only.

Accordingly, attempts have been made to arrive at a mailer form adapted for use with non-impact printers such as laser printers. However, generally, such mailer forms are complex in nature, cumbersome to use and fold and/or do not adequately preserve the confidentiality of the subject matter printed within the mailer form when folded.

In addition, it is frequently necessary to print the recipient's address information on one face of the * mailer form while the subject matter to be conveyed by the mailer form is printed on the reverse face which is S796S7 concealed following folding. However, such duplex printing delays laser printing and gives rise to additional costs. For example, where a duplex laser printer is not available it becomes necessary to reverse the form and feed the mailer through a printer a second time to print on both sides. Alternatively, address labels are used.

Mailers of the prior art frequently rely on a pressure activated sealing adhesive which requires the use of a pressure sealing machine following laser printing of the mailer form. Such pressure sealing systems require a considerable outlay which is not tenable for the small to medium sized enterprise. In addition, the use of such pressure sealing devices further delays the preparation of the folded mailer forms.

Many of the laser forms of the prior art adapted for use in non-impact printers also suffer from the disadvantage that the blank form, prior to folding, can have tabs etc. projecting therefrom - the tabs being necessary to either form or close the final envelope. However, such tabs can become entrapped in printer mechanisms or are easily damaged during storage or stacking.

Finally, concerns exist as to the degree of confidentiality ensured by the use of such mailer forms and a need exists to improve the degree to which such * self-mailer forms are tamper proof for conveying highly sensitive or confidential information through the mail.

An object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selfmailer adapted for use with a non-impact printer such as a laser printer.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a self-mailer having improved tamper proof features.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a process for the manufacture of a self-mailer and a method for processing a self-mailer.

According to the invention there is provided a selfmailer for non-impact printing comprising a unitary paper sheet, having a pair of parallel side edges, parallel top and bottom edges and first and second faces, the first face having an address box for * receiving addressee information and a printing box for * receiving printed matter, and a window spaced apart from the address box, the self-mailer being foldable such that the address box is visible through the window.

Preferably, the self-mailer comprises two parallel fold lines disposed between the side edges to define a top panel, a centre panel and a bottom flap in the paper sheet. Suitably, the address box is disposed within the top panel, the window is formed in the centre panel and the printing box extends between the top and centre panels .

Preferably, the self-mailer comprises a side fold line disposed adjacent each side edge between the top and bottom edges to define side stubs on the paper sheet. More preferably, the side fold lines comprise metalmetal formed perforations .

Suitably, the side stub comprises adhesive disposed between the first transverse fold line and the bottom edge. Advantageously, the adhesive is heat resistant. Preferably, the adhesive comprises a self-adhesive tape.

Suitably, the window comprises a transparent window patch. Advantageously, the window patch comprises a film material.

Preferably the second phase comprises a hatched area corresponding with the printing box on the first face.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the paper sheet is foldable between an unfolded first position and a folded second position by urging the top panel against the centre panel about the first transverse fold line and urging the bottom flap against the reverse of the top panel about the second transverse fold line such that the bottom flap forms a security flap.

Suitably, the unitary paper sheet comprises an A4 sheet. Preferably, the first transverse fold line is disposed 126ram from the top edge, the second transverse fold line is disposed 129mm from the first transverse fold line and the side fold lines are disposed 17mm from the parallel side edges of the unitary paper sheet.

The invention also provides a process for the manufacture of a self mailer comprising forming fold lines about which the self-mailer is foldable in a paper sheet characterised in that the fold lines are formed by metal-metal perforation. Preferably, the paper sheet is in the form of continuous stationery from which unitary paper sheets are subsequently cut.

Suitably, the unitary paper sheet is provided with two transverse perforated fold lines to define a top panel, a centre panel and a bottom flap in the unitary paper sheet.

Advantageously, the unitary paper sheet is provided with perforation fold lines disposed adjacent and parallel to the side edges of the paper sheet.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a self-mailer in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a reverse plan view of the self-mailer of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side perspective view of the self15 mailer in a semi-folded position with an end of the self-mailer partially cut away, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the self-mailer in a partially folded position with the bottom flap and the centre panel disposed above the top panel.

Figs. 1 to 4 show various views of a self-mailer 1 suitable for laser printing in accordance with the invention. The self-mailer 1 is formed from a unitary A4 sized paper sheet having a top edge 3, a bottom edge 4, a first side edge 5 and a second side edge 6. No flaps or tabs protrude from the top edge 3, the bottom edge 4 or the side edges 5,6.

The sheet 2 is divided into a top panel 7, a centre panel 8 and a bottom panel or flap 9 by fold lines.

More particularly, a first perforated fold line 23 extends across the sheet 2 between the first and second side edges 5,6 to separate the top panel 7 from the centre panel 8. A second perforated or scored fold line 24 extends transversely across the sheet 2 between the first and second edges 5,6 to separate the centre panel 8 from the bottom flap 9.

The top panel 7 forms the reverse of the self-mailer following folding.

The top panel 7 is provided with an address box 10 for receiving a printed address disposed adjacent the top edge 3 and off-centre towards the first side edge 5 of the seat 2. The address box 10 is defined by a printed rectangular border 11. A quadrilaterally shaped printing block 12 is disposed beneath the address box 10. The printing block 12 is defined by a printing block border 13. The printing block 12 is adapted to receive printed matter from a laser printer in conventional fashion and extends between the top panel 7 and the centre panel 8.

The bottom flap 9 is provided with an address window 14 disposed beneath the printing block 12. The address window 14 is positioned and shaped to rest over the address box 10 when the self-mailer 1 is folded as shall be explained more fully below. Accordingly, the address window 14 is disposed off-centre on the sheet 2 towards the side edge 5 of the sheet 2.

A transparent film patch 15 is disposed over the address window 14. The transparent film patch 15 is mounted on the sheet 2 by an adhesive 16 disposed about the address window 14 between the film patch 15 and the sheet 2.

The top panel 7 is provided with an optional print area 17 disposed adjacent the address box 10. The optional print area 17 is adapted to receive printed subject matter such as logos, trade marks, brand information etc. Alternatively, the optional print area 17 can remain blank as required.

The bottom flap 9 is adapted to receive printed subject matter such as folding instructions for the self-mailer 1 which can be printed onto the sheet 2 during c manufacture.

The sheet 2 is further provided with two side scored 5 perforation lines 19,20 disposed adjacent and parallel to the side edges 5,6 respectively of the sheet 2. The area defined between the side perforation lines 19,20 and the respective side edges 5,6 form side stubs 21,22 respectively which are removable from the self-mailer 1 by a recipient of the self-mailer 1 to open the selfmailer 1.

The side stubs 21,22 are provided with elongate selfadhesive strips 27,28 disposed between the first scored fold line 23 and the bottom edge 4 at the bottom flap 9 of the sheet 2. Each self-adhesive strip 27,28 is made up of a removable film strip 25,26 respectively to conceal the adhesive of the adhesive strip 27,28 during printing and prior to folding of the self-mailer 1 following printing.

Following removal of the film strips 25,26, the adhesive remains on the sheet 2 to facilitate assembly » of the self-mailer 1.

As shown in Fig. 2, the reverse of the sheet 2 of the self-mailer 1 is provided with a hatched panel 29 which corresponds with the area of printing block 12 shown in Fig. 1. The hatched panel 29 serves to ensure that subject matter printed on the printing block 12 is not visible through the sheet 2 of the self-mailer 1.

As indicated above, the self-mailer 1 has overall dimensions equal to those of an A4 sheet of paper i.e. a width of 209.5mm and an overall length of 298mm. The top panel 7 has a length of 126mm, the centre panel a length of 129mm and the bottom flap a length of 43mm. The side stubs 21,22 have equal widths of 17mm so that the width between the side perforation lines 19,20 is 175.5mm.

The transparent film patch 15 of the address window 14 is suitably of a material which will not suffer damage due to heat and pressure generated in a laser printer. Similarly, the adhesives used to adhere the film patch 15 to the sheet 2 and of the self-adhesive strips 27,28 are also adapted for use in a laser printer.

For example, a suitable film-type material is Mellonex (Trade Mark) available from Sidaplex Limited while a suitable adhesive is a hot melt adhesive having a suitable activation temperature adapted for use with laser printers e.g. an activation temperature of 260°C.

Suitable material for the manufacture of the selfadhesive strips 27,28 is Steratape (Trade Mark) available from Tapes for Industry.

The self-mailer form 1 of the invention can be passed 5 through a laser printer in conventional fashion for printing. For example, the self-mailer form 1 can be used for printing payroll slips, account information, promotional information etc.

Folding of the self-mailer 1 will now be described having regard to the drawings with particular reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Firstly, the film strips 25,26 are peeled from the side stubs 21,22 to reveal adhesive.

The self-mailer 1 is then folded along the transverse scored line 23 so that the top panel 7, (and accordingly the address box 10) is urged against the centre panel 8. The address information printed in the address box 10 is therefore visible through the , transparent film patch 15 of the address window 14 and the portion of the adhesive strips 27,28 within the centre panel 8 adheres to the stub portion of the top panel 7. The self-mailer 1 is therefore closed at the side edges 5,6.

The bottom flap 9 is then folded about the second transverse scored fold line 24 and urged against the reverse of the top panel 7. Closure of the bottom flap 9 therefore takes place over the top edge 3 of the sheet 2. The bottom flap 9 is adhered to the reverse of the top panel 7 by the remaining portion of the adhesive on the adhesive exposed strip 27,28 on the bottom flap 9.

The bottom flap 9 is dimensioned so that the bottom flap 9 overlaps with the reverse of the top panel 7 by a distance sufficient to prevent access to the printed subject matter within the print box 12 on the internal face of the top panel 7 and centre panel 8 without breaking the seal formed by the adhesive strips 27,28 or tearing the bottom flap 9 along the side perforation line 19,20. Therefore, the bottom flap 9 forms an important security feature to preserve confidentiality of the contents of the self-mailer without requiring a transversely disposed adhesive across the flap 9.

In addition, by locating the printing block 12 below the address block 10, the printed matter contained within the printing box 12 is located remote from the top edge 3 to further restrict access to the printed matter without destroying the integrity of the folded self-mailer 1.

The hatched panel 29 ensures the confidentiality of the printed matter disposed within the printed block 12 from the exterior of the self- mailer 1 by preventing viewing of the printed matter through the sheet 2.

J The folded self-mailer 1 can then be franked etc. and placed in the mail in normal manner.

A recipient of the self-mailer 1 opens the folded selfmailer 1 by removing the side stubs 21,22 (and accordingly the adhesive strips 27,28 respectively) and simply unfolds the self-mailer 1 in a reverse operation to that described above.

The method of manufacture of the self-mailer 1 is as follows : As indicated above, the self-mailer of the invention is formed from a single ply sheet of A4 sized paper.

The livery required by the end user of the self-mailer is first printed on continuous stationery from which the final sized self-mailer forms 1 will ultimately be guillotined.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a roll of continuous stationery for use in the manufacture of a final A4 sized sheet of paper will be larger in size than an A4 sized sheet of paper to facilitate guillotining of the A4 sized sheets from the continuous stationery roll pack to ensure sharp edges on the A4 sheet of paper.

Printing of the required livery onto the continuous roll of stationery can involve printing from roll to roll using a printer or alternatively from a roll of continuous stationery to fan folded continuous stationery. Various combinations of livery colours and formats can be used.

The rolls of plain paper are fed through a continuous stationery printing press which can print and perforate simultaneously.

The continuous stationery paper is sprocket punched at each edge to facilitate passage of the continuous stationery through a Tamarack (Trade Mark) processing machine.

It should be noted that during the printing of the livery the perforation or fold lines of the self-mailer 1 namely the first transverse scored fold line 23 and the second transverse scored fold line 24 together with the two side scored perforation lines 19,20 are formed in the sheet 2 of the self-mailer 1 during printing of the livery onto the sheet 2.

More particiilary, the perforations of the fold lines 19,20,23,24 are formed using a metal to metal J perforation technique. Metal to metal perforation using a metal cylinder, ensures that pressure is evenly applied to the stationery from the front and reverse faces and an opposing metal plate by the perforation cylinder which helps to prevent bulking of the selfmailer 1 and permits pre-loading of a number of self10 mailers into the paper cartridge of the laser printer.

Metal to non-metal formation of perforations in paper sheets results in deformation of the stationery which has been found to give rise to bulging of the paper which can inhibit passage of sheets of paper through a laser printer. Metal to metal formation of the perforations in the self-mailers 1 of the present invention eliminates such bulking and accordingly jamming of self-mailers in laser printers and the like.

In the passage of the (livery) printed rolls through the Tamarack (Trade Mark) processing machine, a cutting operation is carried out to form the address window 14 in each self-mailer 1. Waste paper is removed by a vacuum system.

The transparent film patch 15 is then released from a roll by the Tamarack (Trade Mark) machine, cut to the appropriate size for the address window 14 and applied to the self-mailer 1 to cover the address window 14.

The transparent film is adhered to the paper sheet 2 by an adhesive disposed about the address window 14 as previously described.

The continuous stationery is then discharged from the Tamarack (Trade Mark) machine at the delivery end where it is re-rolled.

The re-rolled continuous stationery in the form of multiple self-mailers 1 is then re-entered into the Tamarack (Trade Mark) machine. The Tamarack (Trade Mark) machine is provided with roll mounted self15 adhesive tape for the self-adhesive strips 27,28. The self-adhesive strips 27,28 are cut from the roll of self-adhesive tape by the Tamarack machine in the required lengths and applied to each self-mailer of the continuous stationery on the side stubs 21,22 as previously described.

The self-mailers 1 are therefore provided with the desired livery, the address window 14 and the selfadhesive strips 27,28. The continuous rolls of selfmailers are then passed through a high speed guillotine to cut the self-mailer form 1 from the continuous stationery. The self-mailer 1 is cut from the continuous stationery such that the sprocket punched margins are removed to result in sharp non-serrated 1 self-mailer edges 5,6. Similarly, the self-mailer 1 is cut at its top and bottom edges 3,4 respectively from the continuous stationery to define top and bottom edges having sharp non-serrated top and bottom edges 3,4. The final dimensions of the self-mailer 1 correspond to an A4 sheet of paper.

Accordingly, an A4 sheet sized self-mailer 1 is provided having smooth edges.

The advantages of the invention are many; The self-mailer form of the invention is simple to use and is adapted for use with non-impact printers such as laser printers.

The self-mailer is provided with a window such that address label and double sided printing of the self-mailer is not required.

- The window of the self-mailer of the invention is provided with a transparent film patch to prevent access to the contents of the self-mailer through the window thereby enhancing the security of the self-mailer.

The self-mailer is provided with a security flap which also restricts access to the contents of the self-mailer but nevertheless obviates the need for a transverse adhesive seal or the like.

The self-mailer is A4 size without the presence of protruding stubs, tabs or the like to facilitate easy passage of the self-mailer through a non10 impact printer such as a laser printer.

The fold lines of the mailer are formed such that no tenting of the self-mailer occurs and the unfolded self-mailer can be stored in a completely flat disposition and can pass through a laser printer without jamming.

The self-mailer of the invention is sealed using a self-adhesive tape adapted for use in a laser printer and which does not require secondary (sealing) equipment in addition to a laser printer.

The dimensions of the A4 sheet self-mailer maximise the available area for printing on the self-mailer whilst also eliminating bulking of the self-mailer 1 when formed into an envelope.

I The self-mailer 1 has an economical advantage in ? that the bottom flap 9 while serving as a tamper proof or security device on the self-mailer 1 akin to a sealed envelope is nevertheless open so that the self-mailer 1 of the invention does not attract premier postage rates unlike standard sealed self-mailers or envelopes.

Claims (5)

1. A self-mailer for non-impact printing comprising a unitary paper sheet, having a pair of parallel side edges, parallel top and bottom edges and first and 5 second faces, the first face having an address box for receiving addressee information and a printing box for receiving printed matter, and a window spaced apart from the address box, the self-mailer being foldable such that the address box is visible through the 10 window.

2. A self-mailer as claimed in Claim 1 comprising two parallel fold lines disposed between the side edges to define a top panel, a centre panel and a bottom flap in the paper sheet. 15

3. A process for the manufacture of a self-mailer comprising forming fold lines about which the self mailer is foldable in a paper sheet characterised in that the fold lines are formed by metal-metal perforation. 20

4. A process as claimed in Claim 3 characterised in that the paper sheet is in the form of continuous stationery from which unitary paper sheets are subsequently cut.

5. A self-mailer whenever manufactured by a process as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4.