US3208663A

US3208663A - Continuous series of envelopes

Info

Publication number: US3208663A
Application number: US375602A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert H Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-06-16
Filing date: 1964-06-16
Publication date: 1965-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-28

Description

Sept. 28, 1965 A. H. JOHNSON n CONTINUOUS SERIES 0F ENVELOPES Filed June 1e, 1964 3,208,663 CONTINUOUS SERIES F ENVELOPES Albert H. Johnson, 4 James St., Enfield, Conn. Filed June 16, 1964, Ser. No. 375,602 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-469) This invention, relates to a series of envelopes arranged in a continuous series for feeding successivelyto an addressing machine, or typewrite or'the like. l

The invention is in certain respects an improvementl on the subject matter of applicants copending application Serial No. 328,364, tiled December 5, 1963.

Where manifolded envelopes are fed between a platen and a printing mechanism, particularly in high speed addressing machines, for example, the leading edge of individual envelopes may be caught by guide fingers or other projecting elements which are located close to the path of the envelope. When this occurs the envelope or the carrying strip may-be torn or the machine may be jammed. The principal feature of this invention is an arrangement of the manifolded envelope to avoid this objection. An other featureis an arrangement by which to shield the leading edge of the envelope so that it will be guided past any of these projecting devices.

More specifically one feature of the invention is the formation of spaced aps in the carrying strip in a position to overlie the leading edges of successive envelopes. Another feature is the use of these flaps in locating the envelopes on the backing strip during the assemblage of envelopes and tapes on the backing strip.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims, and from the Iaccompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

FIG; l is a plan view showing a continuous series of standard envelopes.

Y FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 of a modification.

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 of another modification.

Referring rst to FIGS. l and 2, each envelope 2V is` Y `standard envelope having a front panel 4 and a back panel consisting of side flaps 6 and 8, Ya bottom flap 10 and a sealing ap 12. The latter tiap 12 is folded against but not adhered to the remainder of rthe back panel. The envelope, as described, is a standard form of mailing envelope which is produced in very large quantities and 'is commonly known in the trade as one of the standard forms.

The series of envelopes 2 are arranged in spaced relation in a continuous series on a continuous'backing strip 14 and aremaintained in spaced relation to each other on the backing strip by spaced

tapes

16 and 18 which overlie the opposite ends of the envelope and form pockets 20 to receive the ends of the envelopel when the tapes are pressed into contact with'the backing strip. yThe opposite edges of the backing strip project beyond the tapes and have a row of perforations 22 for use in feedingv the assemblage to a machine. The

tapes

16 and 18 have adhesive 24 on the underside thereof of the conventional latex type or heat sealing type and the backing strip has cooperating bands of adhesive 26. In this way the adhesive'on the tapes will adhere to the adhesive on the backing strip where it is not covered bythe ends of the envelopes,

Y thereby forming the pockets 20 for the ends of the envelopes but without adhering directly to the envelopes. 'I'he envelopes are spaced apart by spacers 28 between theends of adjacent envelopes where the tapes and the backing strip are held together. Y l l j -To concealthe leading edge of each of the envelopes,

' and thus protect it `from contact with adjacent parts of 3,208,663 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 y ce i tapes and of a substantial length to overlie a major portion of the envelope. This ap 30 serves to conceal the leading edge 32 of the envelope and provide a smooth surface such that projecting elements on the machine closely adjacent to the front surface of the backing strip` will not be caught on the leading edge of the envelope as the assemblage is fed in the directionV of the arrow 33 v through the machine.

The tlap is formed by a U-shaped slit cut in the backing strip and the ends 34 of the slit are engaged by the leading edge of the envelope, as shown. This arrangement serves to locate each of thev envelopes in the precise position lengthwise of the backing strip and also accurately with the long edges of the envelope at right angles to the edges of the strip since the envelopes are positioned bef neath these flaps during assemblage of the envelopes on the backing strip and beneath the tapes.

The ap'30 is shown as being slightly wider than the spacing of the inner edges of the tapes so that the opposite edges of the ap are engaged by the tapes, as shown. This arrangement provides a secure attachment of the iap and makes sure that the flap will be in a position to receive whatever information is applied to the envelope by the machine. In this way the flap may also serve as a per-v manent record of whatever information was applied to the envelope. As will be apparent, the back of the flap may carry transfer material, such as carbon paper or the 4the leading edge of the envelope. Obviously, this ap is not intended to receive any of the information being printed; however, it does serve to protectthe leading edge of the envelope, as above described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the flap 40 is longer and terminates just -under the inner edges of the tapes 16" and 18." and is thus held in position to some extent by these tapes. The ends 42 of the lslit that formed the flap serve as Ibefore to locate the envelopes both vendwise of the backing j strip 14" and in proper oriented position thereon beforev the tapes 16" and 18" are applied. The tlap 40 also serves the function of covering the leading edge of the envelope so that 'any projecting elements forming part of the machine cannot catch the leading edge of the envelope.

It will be understood that this type of manifold envelope is arranged to feed over a platen with the printing mechanism on the front side of the backing mechanism. Thus the conceahnent of the leading edge of the envelope from the front side of the assemblage serves the desired purpose. In the usual machine the platen side of the device does not have projecting elements that would readily catch on-the envelope.

The effect of the

flap

30, 36 or 40 is to hold the leading edge of the envelope smoothly against the backing strip in the area of the machine where the envelope might be caught. Thus, the overlying ap can be as small as desired provided it is located in such a way as to keep the envelope flat against or substantially in the plane of the backing strip. It is to be understood that the invention is not limitedV to the specific embodiment herein illustrated and described, but may be used in other ways without` depart- Y urefrom its spirit as defined by the following claims.

l claim:

1. A series of envelopes arranged in spaced relation to oney another for feeding continuously and successively to a machine, a backing strip on which the envelopes are positioned, tapes arranged along opposite edges 0f the series `of envelopes to hold them in position on the strip, and means on the backing strip to hold the leading edge of the envelope against the backing strip said means including a ap cut from the portion of the backing strip y underlying the envelope, said flap overlying substantially the entire length of the leading edge of the envelope between the tapes.

2. A series of'envelopes as in claim 1 in which the aps extends between the opposite tape and the ends of the tlap are engaged by the tapes to hold the ap against the envelope. l

3. A device for supporting al series of standard envelopes in spaced relation to one another for continuously and successively feeding the envelopes to an addressing machine or the like, including a backing strip on which the envelopes are positioned in spaced relation, the forward edge of the envelope in the direction of movement ofthe backing strip into the machine being the leading edge, tapes extending lengthwise of the strip in spaced relation to one another and overlying the opposite ends of the envelopes to hold the envelopes in position on the strip, and a plurality of flaps integral with the backing strip and overlaying substantially the entire length of the leading edges of the spaced envelopes being formed by slits cut in the backing strip in the area underneath the envelope, the ends of each slit engaging the leading edge of the associated envelope adjacent opposite ends and locating it lengthwise on the backing strip.

4. A device as in claim 3 in which the slit is U-shaped and the ends of the slit extend in the direction of feeding motion of the strip into the machine.

5. A device as in claim 3 in which the backing strip and tapes cooperate to form pockets to receive the ends of the envelope and the ends of the ilap are engaged by the tapes.

6. A device as in claim 3 in which the ap extends across the envelope. between the tapes, and the ends ot the flaps are positioned beneath and retained by the tapes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,013,844 9/35 Sherman 229-69 2,723,077 11/55 Whitman 229-69 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,279 1908 Greatritain-` JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

Claims

3. A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A SERIES OF STANDARD ENVELOPES IN SPACED RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER FOR CONTINUOUSLY AND SUCCESSIVELY FEEDING THE ENVELOPES TO AN ADDRESSING MACHINE OR THE LIKE, INCLUDING A BACKING STRIP ON WHICH THE ENVELOPES ARE POSITIONED IN SPACED RELATION, THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE BACKING STRIP INTO THE MACHINE BEING THE LEADING EDGE, TAPES EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF THE STRIP IN SPACED RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER AND OVERLYING THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE ENVELOPES TO HOLD THE ENVELOPES IN POSITION ON THE STRIP, AND A PLURALITY OF FLAPS INTEGRAL WITH THE BACKING STRIPS AND OVERLAYING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE LEADING EDGES OF THE SPACED ENVELOPES BEING FORMED BY SLITS CUT IN THE BACKING STRIP IN THE AREA UNDERNEATH THE ENVELOPE, THE ENDS OF EACH SLIT ENGAGING THE LEADING EDGE OF THE ASSOCIATED ENVELOPE ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS AND LOCATING IT LENGHTWISE ON THE BACKING STRIP.