JP2002516227A - Personal stamp - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This is to manufacture a stamp (3) which has a design selected by an individual who wishes to use it and which can be used by each individual. Each stamp has a main area (9) applied with the picture of an official stamp that was asked for permission to post. Each stamp (3) has a second area (11) to which a personalized design is applied. Any design can be used for the personal design. For example, a photo of the face of the person pasting the stamp (3) on the postal matter can be provided. The personal design in the second area (11) is applied as a second printing step of the stamp (3). Each stamp (3) is manufactured as a stamp sheet and can be separated from the sheet for application to mail, so that the stamp includes both a main area (9) and a second area (11).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stamp for personal use, but more particularly to a stamp capable of providing a photograph of a face of a person.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is conventionally known to provide postage stamps on sheets. Typically, these stamp sheets are sold by postal authorities, postal operators, or facilities licensed by them. The user can remove the stamp from the sheet and attach it to the mail.
Certain stamps have tabs that can contain information about special properties. Accordingly, each stamp is divided into a main area having an officially printed stamp pattern and a second area in which personal information can be provided. The production of stamps of this nature requires a special process for printing in a printing facility authorized by the postal authority. In such a case, the stamp sheet is manufactured entirely in a formal stamp printing facility as a single print, even though one print may have separate printing steps for each color of the multicolor stamp. The cost of preparing for such printing and the cost of producing relatively small batches of stamps with tabs makes the above-described process expensive and usually unacceptable.

OBJECTS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of the problems set forth above.

Therefore, according to a first broad aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a postage stamp sheet has been proposed, comprising: A number of postage stamps are formed on the sheet, each stamp is separable from the sheet for affixing to the postal matter, and on each of these stamp main areas, an officially printed design certified for postal use 1. forming a second area corresponding to the main area, wherein the second area corresponds to the main area, and is provided with a design which does not require duplication permission for postal purposes; 2. a step of introducing the sheet formed in the step 1 into a printing apparatus; 3. a step of capturing a personal design to be applied as the design of the second area; 4. a step of manipulating the personal design to a size corresponding to the second area; Duplicating the manipulated personal symbol on the sheet on the second area of the sheet to provide a postage stamp having a personal symbol in the postage stamp sheet by the printing device; It includes at least one.

[0005] All the second areas are arranged at the same relative position with respect to the corresponding main area, and the step of manipulating the personal symbol includes the step of duplicating the personal area in each second area during the duplication step. It is most desirable to duplicate the design.

[0006] Most preferably, said second area is on a tab of each stamp.

[0007] Most preferably, each tab is separable from each main area.

[0008] Most preferably, each stamp is surrounded by a perforation so that it is possible to tear the sheet along the perforation.

The tab has a connecting line with the main region, and the connecting line is also provided with a perforation so that the tab can be broken from the main region along the connecting line. Is most desirable.

The steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 are performed at a postal authority or at a facility authorized by this authority, thereby ensuring that the personal graphic conforms to postal authority guidelines. Management is most desirable.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stamp sheet manufactured by the method described above.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a postage stamp having a main area that includes a reproduction of an officially printed stamp graphic that has been certified for postal use, wherein the postage stamp is for postal use. A personal design that does not require permission for postal purposes, has a second region corresponding to the main region, which is a duplicate of a personal design that does not require permission, and the personal design that does not require permission for postal use has been certified for mail The stamp is duplicated in a printing process following the printing of the stamp pattern, and is printed on the same sheet as the sheet on which the stamp is printed.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a postage stamp sheet provided with a number of postage stamps, the stamp sheet being separable from the sheet for each stamp to be affixed to mail, On the main areas of the stamps are provided officially printed postage stamps, each of which is certified for mail, and the sheet also corresponds to each main area,
It has a second area corresponding to each main area for sticking a personal design that does not require permission for mail to the main area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a postage stamp sheet, the method comprising: A number of postage stamps are formed on the sheet, each stamp is separable from the sheet for affixing to the postal matter, and on each of these stamp main areas, an officially printed design certified for postal use Forming a second area corresponding to the main area, wherein the second area corresponds to the main area, and a pattern that does not require postal duplication permission is provided on the sheet; 2. a step of introducing the sheet formed in the step 1 into a printing apparatus; 3. a step of capturing a personal design to be applied as the design of the second area; 4. a step of manipulating the personal design to a size corresponding to the second area; Duplicating the manipulated personal symbol on the sheet on the second area of the sheet to provide the postal stamp with the personal symbol on the sheet by the printing device. Including one.

In order that the invention may be more clearly described, some examples according to preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that a sheet 1 of a postage stamp 3 is presented.
In this example, twelve stamps 3 are provided on the sheet 1, but other stamps may be included.The twelve stamps are typical from the viewpoint of being accepted by consumers. It is just a good number. Each stamp 3 can be separated from the sheet 1 by tearing along a series of perforations 5 and a series of perforations 7 perpendicular thereto.

The stamp sheet 1 is made from a paper that does not contain a phosphor and preferably does not contain an optical brightener in the paper coating. The back side of the paper is coated with rubber glue so that it can be adhered to mail. Each stamp 3 includes a main area 9 and a second area 11.
At this time, an officially printed stamp pattern that can be used for issuing a special stamp is provided in the main area 9. This official symbol is a symbol that is used by the postal authority or postman for mail. Therefore, each main area 9 is printed as an official stamp design, and preferably the stamp design is independent of each region 9. The second area 11 may be left blank or may be a boundary with the surroundings.

FIG. 1 clearly shows another perforation line 13 separating the various regions 9 from the second region 11. The purpose of the perforation line will be described later. During the printing of Stamp Sheet 1, each official stamp design will include the Australian Postal Service and SNP Cambec P
A phosphor according to the technique disclosed in Australian Patent No. 664740 by ty Ltd. may be applied. Only the main region 9 is coated with the phosphor and the second region 11 is not coated with the phosphor, but this does not preclude applying the phosphor to the second region.

The sheet 1 of the stamp 3 has a stamp pattern printed on the main area 9 to leave the second area 11 blank,
It should be understood that the step of providing perforation lines 5, 7 and 11 after printing the sheet 1 is to be performed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet 1 has a peripheral portion 15, which is a blank portion where nothing is normally printed.

Thus, the sheet 1 has a number of main areas 9 having a stamp design and a corresponding number of second areas 11 which, as will become clear, are postal symbols. Is not necessary. All the second areas 11 are arranged at the same relative position with respect to the corresponding main area 9.

The sheet 1 provided with no personal design in the second area 11 is stored so as to be suitable for retailing at a postal authority or a postman, or a facility authorized by these. Customers can approach these specialized agencies or facilities to personalize stamps. Usually, personalization is possible by introducing a desired photograph or pattern into the second area 11. In one situation, in the second area 11 where a symbol is provided, a personal face photograph, an overall photograph, or the like,
It can be provided by photographing at the above-mentioned business or facility. In another situation,
Company logo can be provided. Others may be provided, and personalized designs may be selected by individuals who wish to purchase stamps. The authorities, institutions or facilities described above digitize these personalized symbols so that they can be applied to each second area 11 as stamped symbols. Once the personalized design has been digitized, the size is manipulated to fit it into the second area 11. This operation may be a modification for the reproduction of the symbol, whereby the individual symbol is reproduced in each second area 11 on the stamp 3 of the sheet 1 during printing of the individual symbol. Will be done. Usually, computer-assisted software is used for symbol capture and manipulation. The computer output can be performed on any suitable digital image reproduction device, and the image can be monochrome or color. A suitable digital image playback device is
The following can be provided. 1. Laser printer 2. 2. Inkjet printer Dot matrix printer 4. 4. Any other suitable printer Copy / reproduction device capable of receiving digital signals and outputting desired images

[0023] Usually, digitization of a design supplied by a customer with a photograph or the like,
This can be done by either a digital camera or digital scanner by the aforementioned authorities, businesses or facilities. Alternatively, personalized graphics may be provided to authorities, traders or facilities in digitized files, in which case digitization is not required. Thereafter, the image reproducing apparatus performs printing on the stamped sheet 1 which has been printed and has been provided with perforations, and provides a personal design on the second area 11.

[0024] Personal symbols provided on the sheet 1 are desirably provided by a postal authority, a postman or a licensed facility, rather than by a terminal user. This is because the personalized design can be managed to ensure that it meets the guidelines and public ethical standards of the desired postal licensee or licensed facility. In addition, customers may require the fulfillment of an application to assert copyright ownership in any work that is reproduced. This allows you to waive liability for copyright infringement on postal authorities, postmen or licensed facilities.

After the personal stamps 3 have been produced and passed to the customer's hand, the customer then tears each stamp 3 from the sheet 1 as necessary along the separation line defined by the cut lines 5, 7. Can be separated by If necessary, the customer may set up a cut line 13, thereby providing only the stamp design on the main area 9 without the second area 11.

If the customer requests that the entire stamp 3 comprises a main area 9 and a second area 11,
These can be separated from the sheet 1 and pasted on mail. The stamp can then be inspected by a postal authority or postal company through an inspection process that checks the applied phosphor. After being used as mail, the stamp 3 can be recovered from the mail, and if necessary, the stamp collector can leave the entire main area 9 and second area 11 of the stamp 3, Alternatively, either of the following operations can be performed: separating the main region 9 from the second region 11 along the separation line defined by the cutoff line 13.

It will therefore be appreciated that the second area 11 can be compared to a tab attached to a stamp design formed on the main area 9.

While the sheet 1 of the stamp 3 is being written on stamp paper of the rubber glue type, the concept of the present invention can be applied to other types of stamps such as a peel-off type stamp.
This type of stamp to be peeled off and pasted is formed in the form of a sheet or a band, or in the form of a bag, and the word “sheet” here includes these and other modified examples in which the stamp is formed on a web. Should be considered widely. Further, while the preferred embodiment shows the design of the second area 11 on the tab, this area may be an integral part of the main area 9. For example, this area may be provided between official stamp designs to ensure that it is private.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a second example of a stamp sheet according to the present invention is shown. In this example, the stamp sheet 1 is the international patent application PCT / CA
It is similar to the stamp sheet disclosed in 95/00017 (International Publication No. WO / 95/20807). The specification of this patent application discloses a stamp sheet that can be personalized by the user. The difference between this patent application and the present invention is that
In the Canadian Postal Service patent application, the personalized design is formed with officially printed postage stamps that have been certified for postal use. The personalized design is pre-defined by the postal permit operator or the licensed facility and is not a true personalized design at the request of the user. In the Canadian Postal Service patent applications, all special personalized designs are shown differently. The user can select one of the personalized patterns to be applied in connection with the officially printed stamped pattern. However, in the present invention, the personalized design is formed as a second printed portion that extends over the officially printed stamp design. Therefore, in the present invention, the personal symbol can be a true personal symbol determined by a customer or a stamp user. In the present invention, these personal designs are:
It is prescribed in advance by a postman or a permitting facility as described above.

Further, in the present example, the sheet 1 can be similar to that disclosed for the first embodiment. However, in this example, it is particularly desirable to form a portion of the stamp sheet of the type of peeling and sticking. In such a configuration, a glacine back sheet (not shown) can be provided, and the sheet 1 is placed on the back sheet and bonded with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Thereby, the back sheet is temporarily and removably attached to the back sheet. In use, each stamp 3 is appropriately cut along a separation line defined around the stamp. Therefore, when the corner of the stamp 3 is removed from the back sheet 1, the stamp 3 can be removed from the back sheet and the postal matter to which the stamp 3 is attached. The cutting of the stamp 3 on the sheet 1 is performed such that this cutting does not cut the back sheet. A special system for cutting is described in International Patent Application PCT91 /
00200, WO 91/18378. This patent application is directed to providing a simulated perforation on a stamp that is peeled and pasted.

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that each stamp 3 has an officially printed main area 9. Further, it is shown that the second area 11 is printed separately from the official design of the stamp 3. Further, each stamp 3 has an area 1 defining a position where the second area 11 is to be pasted.
7 is shown. As shown, the entire area 17 is included in the main area 9. In a modification of this example, the area 17 may overlap the main area 9,
Alternatively, it may be completely separated from the main area 9.

The personalized design 11 is replicated by the technique described in the first embodiment as a second printing step for officially printed stamp designs approved for mail. Therefore, a person who wishes to use a personal stamp 3 on a mail piece separates the stamp 3 from the sheet 1 around the separation line and affixes it to the mail piece. At this time, the personal symbol in the second area 11 can be separated from the sheet 1 around the separation line 19 of each second area 11. Thereafter, the second area 11 can be pasted on the area 17 of the stamp 3 for personal use. Therefore, the thickness of the stamp 3 obtained is twice as thick as the sheet material 1.

Therefore, the region 17 that defines the position for attaching each second region 11 forms at least a part of the main region 9 as illustrated, and each second region 11 is within the main region 9. It can be understood that it enters completely. It is desirable that each second area 11 has the same relative position on the sheet 1 with respect to the corresponding main area, and that the number of the second areas 11 and the number of the main areas 9 are equal.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a third example of the present invention, which is cooked to the example shown in FIG. 2, but in this embodiment the stamp sheet 1 is rolled It has the shape of a band wound around. Official stamp design in main area 9 and second area 11
The personal design inside is formed in the same manner as in the example described above. It is desirable that these stamps be of a type to be peeled off and pasted, even if the formation of a band in the form of a rubber stamp is not excluded.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a further example of a postage stamp 3 of the present invention. Here, stamp 3 is formed in a manner similar to that described with respect to FIG. 2, except that sheet 1 can be folded to form a glove.

In the examples of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the second area 11 having a personal design, which is peeled off from the stamp sheet 1 and stuck on the sheet forming the stamp 3, is the sheet material of the stamp 3. Note that it results in at least twice the thickness. Since the provision of the area 17 is not outside the scope of the present invention, this area 17 can be removed from the stamp 3, whereby the second area 11 is placed on the mailpiece at the position defined by the removed area 17. When affixed, the stamp will only have a single sheet 1 thickness.

The steps described above are adapted in many ways to the commercially available sheet 1. For example, there are many postal authorities, mailers or licensed facilities with which customers contact to get stamp sheets 1. These can be convenient existing stamp retailers. Another suggestion is to sell this sheet only from the post office. In each of the above cases, a stamp sheet 1 with a personalized design 11 can be produced locally at such a facility. In another scenario,
The digitized images can be processed at these facilities and sent by any suitable data transfer means to a remote facility that manufactures the sheet 1 with personalized symbols in the second area 11. The seat 1 can then be returned to the facility for later delivery to the customer.

In yet another example, sheet 1 may be provided with a photosensitive region for second region 11, whereby a conventional photographic image is provided on this region and sheet 1
It is possible to duplicate the one or more second areas 11 above, and then form a stamp stamped photographically to form the desired symbol. In this scenario, the term "printing device" is meant to be generic, including the desired photographic imaging device.

These and other variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, the essence of which is defined by the foregoing description.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a stamp sheet according to a first example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a stamp sheet according to a second example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a stamp sheet according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stamp sheet according to a fourth example of the present invention.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR , BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS , JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Ross McDogol Victoria 3130 Black, Australia Baan South Indra Road 27

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A method for manufacturing a postage stamp sheet, comprising: A number of postage stamps are formed on the sheet, each stamp is separable from the sheet for affixing to the postal matter, and on each of these stamp main areas, an officially printed design certified for postal use 1. forming a second area corresponding to the main area, wherein the second area corresponds to the main area, and is provided with a design which does not require duplication permission for postal purposes; 2. a step of introducing the sheet formed in the step 1 into a printing apparatus; 3. a step of capturing a personal design to be applied as the design of the second area; 4. a step of manipulating the personal design to a size corresponding to the second area; Duplicating the manipulated personal symbol on the sheet on the second area of the sheet to provide a postage stamp having a personal symbol in the postage stamp sheet by the printing device; A method that includes at least one. 2. The method according to claim 2, wherein all of the second areas corresponding to the main area are arranged at the same relative position with respect to the main area, and the step of operating the personal design includes the steps of: The method for producing a postage stamp sheet according to claim 1, wherein the method is performed so as to be duplicated. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein each second area is on a tab of each stamp. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the tabs is separable from the main area. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each stamp is surrounded by a perforation so that the sheet can be torn along the perforation. 6. The tab has a connecting line with the main region, and the connecting line is also provided with a perforation so that the tab can be broken from the main region along the connecting line. The method for manufacturing a postage stamp sheet according to claim 3. 7. The steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 are performed at a postal authority or at a facility authorized by this authority, thereby ensuring that the personal graphic meets postal authority guidelines. The method for manufacturing a postage stamp sheet according to claim 1, wherein the postage stamp sheet is managed. 8. A stamp sheet produced by the method according to claim 1. 9. A postage stamp having a main area including a copy of an officially printed postage stamp certified for postal use, wherein the postal stamp has a personalized design that does not require postal approval. Also has a second area corresponding to the main area, the personal design that does not require the permission for the post, is replicated in the printing process following the printing of the stamp design certified for the post, A postage stamp printed on the same sheet on which the stamp was printed. 10. The postage stamp according to claim 9, wherein said second area is a tab of said postage stamp. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the tab has a line for separating the main region from the main region, and the separation line enables the main region to be removably separated from the second region. stamp. 12. The stamp according to claim 11, wherein the separation line is defined by a perforation. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second region is attached to a region in the main region, the region being defined for attaching the second region.
At least 2 of the thickness of the sheet material that duplicates the official stamp design and the personal design
10. The stamp according to claim 9, wherein the stamp is equal to double. 14. A postage stamp sheet provided with a number of postage stamps, wherein each postage stamp is separable from the sheet for pasting to a postal matter, and each of the main areas of each postage stamp is certified for mail. An officially printed postage stamp pattern is provided, and the sheet also has a corresponding main area for each main area for sticking a personal design that does not require permission for mail to the main area. Postage stamp sheet having a second area corresponding to. 15. The postage stamp sheet according to claim 14, wherein all the second areas corresponding to the main area are arranged at equal relative positions with respect to the main area. 16. The second area is separable from the sheet so that the second area can be affixed to a mail piece with a stamp having the main area.
The stamp sheet described. 17. The stamp sheet according to claim 14, wherein each of the stamps includes an area that defines a position for attaching the second area. 18. The stamp sheet according to claim 17, wherein each area defining a position for attaching the second area includes at least a part of the main area. 19. The stamp sheet according to claim 18, wherein the entirety of each second area falls within each main area. 20. A method for manufacturing a postage stamp sheet, comprising: A number of postage stamps are formed on the sheet, each stamp is separable from the sheet for affixing to the postal matter, and on each of these stamp main areas, an officially printed design certified for postal use Forming a second area corresponding to the main area, wherein the second area corresponds to the main area, and a pattern that does not require postal duplication permission is provided on the sheet; 2. a step of introducing the sheet formed in the step 1 into a printing apparatus; 3. a step of capturing a personal design to be applied as the design of the second area; 4. a step of manipulating the personal design to a size corresponding to the second area; Duplicating the manipulated personal symbol on the sheet on the second area of the sheet to provide the postal stamp with the personal symbol on the sheet by the printing device. A method that involves one. 21. To form a personalized stamp, 6. 6. removing the main area formed in step 1 to form a stamp; 7. a step of peeling off the second area having the individual's design copied in the step 5; Affixing the peeled main area to a mail piece and affixing the peeled second area to the mail piece so that the mail piece has a personal stamp. Item 21. The method for manufacturing a postage stamp sheet according to Item 20. 22. The method for manufacturing a postage stamp sheet according to claim 20, wherein the stamp includes an area that defines a position for attaching the second area. 23. The method for manufacturing a postage stamp sheet according to claim 22, wherein each area defining a position for attaching the second area includes at least a part of the main area. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the entirety of each second area falls within each main area.