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WO1996034370A1 - Structure d'enveloppe et son procede de fabrication et de distribution - Google Patents

Structure d'enveloppe et son procede de fabrication et de distribution Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1996034370A1
WO1996034370A1 PCT/US1995/011952 US9511952W WO9634370A1 WO 1996034370 A1 WO1996034370 A1 WO 1996034370A1 US 9511952 W US9511952 W US 9511952W WO 9634370 A1 WO9634370 A1 WO 9634370A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
envelope
front panel
panel
panels
construction
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1995/011952
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Glenn F. Klein
Original Assignee
Klein Glenn F
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Klein Glenn F filed Critical Klein Glenn F
Priority to AU36792/95A priority Critical patent/AU3679295A/en
Publication of WO1996034370A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996034370A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/52—Friction retainers acting on under or rear side of article being separated
    • B65H3/5246—Driven retainers, i.e. the motion thereof being provided by a dedicated drive
    • B65H3/5253—Driven retainers, i.e. the motion thereof being provided by a dedicated drive the retainers positioned under articles separated from the top of the pile
    • B65H3/5261—Retainers of the roller type, e.g. rollers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D27/00—Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular flexible containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents
    • B65D27/12—Closures
    • B65D27/14—Closures using adhesive applied to integral parts, e.g. flaps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
    • B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
    • B65H3/0808—Suction grippers
    • B65H3/0816—Suction grippers separating from the top of pile
    • B65H3/0833—Suction grippers separating from the top of pile and acting on the front part of the articles relatively to the final separating direction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/50—Elements, e.g. fingers, plates, rollers, inserted or traversed between articles to be separated and remainder of the pile
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/04—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
    • G07F11/14—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other with means for raising the stack of articles to permit delivery of the topmost
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1916—Envelopes and articles of mail

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to an envelope construction and a method of making and dispensing them. More particularly, the present invention relates to an envelope construction which can be fed through a conventional sheet feeder with non- impact printers, and for dispensing from a kiosk or the like.
  • a partially constructed envelope is adapted to be fed into a laser printer, which causes the completion of the forming of the envelope as a result of the heat produced by the laser printers.
  • a line of heat activatable adhesive is employed to facilitate this process.
  • a crease is formed where the gummed flap is joined to the body of the envelope. This facilitates closing the envelope.
  • the crease is formed by scoring the paper. As a result, there is an impression or indentation made in the paper, and when the envelopes are stacked, they tend to nest at the score lines.
  • nested envelopes are attempted to be fed into a conventional sheet feeder, they do not singularize readily and more than one can be presented inadvertently to the feeder mechanism in an undesirable manner. As a result, jamming of the feeder mechanism can occur. Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have an envelope construction, where large quantities of the envelopes can be stacked and fed seriatim through a conventional sheet feeder in a reliable and consistent manner.
  • Kiosks while normally sheltered from the elements, may be located in public areas, such as open malls and other such locations, where the atmosphere is not necessarily controlled. Thus, such kiosks may frequently encounter high humidity environments.
  • an envelope construction which includes a front panel having a flap sealing adhesive strip on its back side, and a rear panel secured to the front panel at its marginal edges to form a pocket.
  • the thickness of the adhesive strip is substantially the same as the thickness of the rear panel so that when the flap is opened, the overall configuration of the envelope is flat to facilitate stacking and feeding.
  • the combination of the strip and the rear panel are both secured to the back side of the front panel, and the combination adds a layer of a uniform thickness to provide the desired flat aspect.
  • a line of perforations in the front panel between the adhesive strip and the rear panel with the flap portion opened do not deform the front panel.
  • the front and rear panels have opposing curls facing each other to retain the flat aspect of the envelope, even when the envelope absorbs moisture.
  • An advantage of the present invention is seen in the fact that the novel construction of the envelope prevents warping or curling in high humidity environments and this attribute allows the envelope to be stored in large quantities in a stacked arrangement.
  • the envelopes can be dispensed to the public from an apparatus, such as a kiosk having an envelope dispensing apparatus integrated therein.
  • a further advantage of the present invention is that since the envelope construction may be formed of two separate panels, the two panels can be two different sheets of paper, each having a different weight. In this regard, a heavy bond paper can be used for the front panel and a lighter weight bond can be used for the rear panel when the envelopes are to be used in formal correspondence applications. In this manner, a high quality envelope results, and yet its overall weight is lower, thereby reducing the cost of postage required.
  • FIG. 1 is a partially cut away pictorial view of an envelope construction which is constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view of the envelope construction of FIG. 1, taken substantially on line 2-2 thereof;
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the envelope construction of FIG. 1, illustrating the opposing curl configurations of the front and rear panels;
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an envelope dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 there is shown a new envelope construction 10, which is constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • the envelope construction 10 can be readily and conveniently fed through a non-impact printer, without having a tendency to be pealed shut from the heat produced by a laser printer (not shown) or the humidity produced by an ink jet printer. Also, the envelope construction 10 will not damage the printer fuser (now shown) of a laser printer, since the construction 10 is protected from adhesive from being inadvertently transferred therefrom to the printer. Due to the novel construction of the envelope 10, envelopes made in a manner of the envelope construction 10, can be stocked flat in a symmetrical manner without leaning or tilting.
  • the envelopes can be stocked in their opened conditions, as indicated in FIG. 1, and can be fed reliably through a conventional sheet feeder (not shown) without adhesive contamination or premature self- sealing.
  • approximately 200 envelopes made like the construction 10 can be stacked in a conventional 500 sheet paper tray (not shown) for feeding through a conventional non-impact printer.
  • the envelope construction 10, generally comprises a large front panel on 20, and having a front side 20A, and a backside 20B, so that a small rear panel 30 is disposed in an overlying relationship on the backside 20B of the front 20 and is secured in place thereof.
  • the rear panel has a front side 30A and a backside 30B.
  • a flap portion generally indicated at 12 of the front panel 20 extends beyond the rear panel to form a fold over flap for the envelope construction 10 so that the contents (not shown) and the pocket P can be retained in place in a convenient manner.
  • an adhesive strip generally indicated at 16 extends across the backside 20B of the front panel 20 at the flap portion 16 near one of the its marginal edges so that the flap portion can be sealed in a closed folded over position.
  • the rear panel 30 and the adhesive strip 16 are generally of the same thickness to add a substantially uniform thick layer to the backside 20B of the front panel 20 to provide the envelope construction with a generally flat aspect to enable a group of like envelope constructions to be stacked evenly for sheet feeding purposes.
  • the front panel 20 and the rear panel 30 each assume its natural curl and in a confronting relationship with one another to form a symmetrical shape to help retain the overall symmetrical shape of the construction constant, even when the panels absorb moisture to facilitate greatly sheet feeding purposes.
  • a perforation line 15 in the front wall 20 extends between the adhesive strip 16 and the rear panel 30 entirely across the longitudinal length of the large front panel 20.
  • the perforation line 15 facilitates the folding over of the flap portion 12. Once the flap portion 12 is sealed in place, the envelope construction 10 can be more readily opened, such as with a letter opener (not shown) or similar tool. Also, in accordance with the present invention, the perforation line 15 does not deform the front panel 20, and thus the envelope construction 10 assumes a flat configuration as best seen in FIG. 2.
  • the adhesive strips 16 includes an adhesive line 17 covered over by a peal off backing strip 19.
  • the envelope construction 10 can be fed through a sheet feeder (not shown) and into a non ⁇ impact printer (not shown) without prematurely sealing the envelope construction, since the adhesive 17 is of a pressure sensitive type, and is covered over by the peal- off backing strip 19. Strip 19 can be removed as shown in FIG. 1 prior to sealing the envelope construction 10.
  • the front and rear panels are positioned in overlying relationship as indicated in FIG. 1.
  • three of the marginal edges are aligned as indicated at 32, 34 and 36.
  • a u-shaped strip of adhesive 25 extending along the three marginal edges, 32, 34 and 36 to fixed together the two panels to form the pocket P.
  • the adhesive strip 16 is then secured to the backside 2OB of the front panel 20 and secured in place by the adhesive 17.
  • the perforation line 15 is formed by conventional means (not shown) in the front panel 20 either prior to the assembly with the rear wall, or afterwards.
  • the front panel 20 has a thickness T
  • a rear panel 30 has a thickness the rear panel 30 and the adhesive layer 25 have thickness t,.
  • the adhesive strip line 17 and peel-off backing strip 19 have a combined or overall thickness t 2 .
  • a uniform overall thickness in the envelope construction is achieved by configuring the envelope components such that t. substantially equals t 2 .
  • the rear panel 30 and the adhesive line 25 have a combined thickness t, substantially equal to the combined thickness t 2 of the adhesive strip 17 and the peel-off backing strip 19.
  • the panels 20 and 30 are composed of paper material, and have a material curl, which causes the paper sheet to be bowed from end to end, as shown in FIG. 3, the curl becomes exaggerated in high humidity environments as a result of the absorption of moisture.
  • the curl of the paper material forming the front panel 20 and the paper material forming the rear panel 30 are arranged in a confronting relationship with one another to form a symmetrical slightly elliptical shape, thus, when moisture is absorbed, the panels 20 and 30 tend to bow further away from one another, but they retain an overall symmetrical configuration.
  • Each one of the panels 20 and 30 is composed of paper material having a suitable thickness and stiffness to enable the envelope construction 10 to be properly fed through a sheet feeder. If there is too little calendaring, the panel is too limp and does not have sufficient body for the feeding. On the other hand, if there is too great a calendaring, the resulting envelope is too stiff, and it does not bend readily as it is fed through a non-impact printer.
  • the panels 20 and 30 are each composed of paper material having a caliper of between about 3.00 mils and about 5.50 mils.
  • the most preferred caliper is of 4.00 mils and a porosity of about 11.0 Gurley units.
  • the paper material forming the front and rear panels should have sufficient surface smoothness to be properly fed by a sheet feeder and then through a non-impact printer. If the paper material is too slick, it will not be fed properly. If the roughness is too great, there is too much rag content in the paper material and lint can form on the rollers (not shown) of the equipment.
  • the paper material forming the front and rear panels 20 and 30 has a surface smoothness of between about 85 Sheffield and about 150 Sheffield. The most preferred surface smoothness is about 100 Sheffield.
  • an envelope dispensing apparatus 90 which is constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • the envelope dispensing apparatus 90 is disposed within a protective housing 80 to serve as a vending machine for the public.
  • the apparatus 90 is adopted to dispose envelopes in their open positions, and one is made according to the envelope construction 10 of FIG. 1.
  • a customer can make a payment for one or more of the envelopes, and the envelopes are then dispensed to the customer.
  • the envelope dispensing apparatus 90 includes a payment mechanism 82, which will accept payment for envelopes, in the form of coin, currency, or magnetic strip credit/debit cards.
  • the apparatus 90 also includes a sheet feeder 84 connected to an envelope storage bin 86 containing a stack of like envelopes 88, each of which is similar in construction to the envelopes construction 10 of FIG. 1.
  • the stack of envelopes 88 can include a large number of envelopes, such as 500 to 1000 envelopes. Due to the unique flat, symmetrical construction of the envelope, the stack is even, and the envelopes are fed reliably through the feeder 84.
  • a customer would enter payment via a payment chute 91.
  • the payment mechanism 82 activates the sheet feeder 84 via a electrical cable 93, which conveys a signal from the payment mechanism 82 to the sheet feeder 84 to commence the feeding of envelope.
  • the sheet feeder 84 Upon activation, the sheet feeder 84 picks up envelopes 88 seriatim stored in the bin 86, and moves them through the envelope outlet slot 97, exposing the envelope 95 to the customer (not shown) . The customer can then conveniently remove the disposed envelopes, such as the envelope 95. The vending process can then be repeated. Because of the flatness, uniform thickness, and resistance to curling or warping, the envelope construction of the present invention makes it possible to vend envelopes in this manner, even through the apparatus 90 is located where the environment is not regulated. High humidity has little or no affect on the reliability of the vending of the unique envelopes. Preprinted, custom printed, or blank envelopes can be vended in this manner, depending upon the desired design and related system employed. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that various different modifications are possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations to the exact abstract or disclosure herein presente .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

Une structure d'enveloppe (10) comprend un panneau avant (20) dont la face arrière est dotée d'une bande adhésive (16) de fermeture à rabat, et un panneau arrière (30) fixé au panneau avant (20) par ses bords extérieurs (32, 34, 36), le tout formant une poche (P). L'épaisseur de la bande adhésive (16) est sensiblement la même que celle du panneau arrière (30), de sorte que le rabat (16) faisant partie du panneau avant (20) est ouvert, l'enveloppe (10) présente une configuration générale plate, ce qui facilite l'empilage et le chargement des enveloppes. La bande (16) et le panneau arrière (30) sont tous deux fixés à la face arrière du panneau avant (20) et la couche qu'ils constituent est d'une épaisseur uniforme, grâce à quoi on obtient l'aspect plat désiré. Une ligne de perforations (15) située sur le panneau avant (20), entre la bande adhésive (16) et le panneau arrière (30), le rabat (12) étant en position ouverte, offre l'avantage de ne pas déformer le panneau avant (20). Les panneaux avant et arrière (20, 30) présentent des roulages opposés se faisant face, de sorte que l'enveloppe (10) conserve son aspect plat même en cas d'humidité.
PCT/US1995/011952 1995-04-24 1995-09-18 Structure d'enveloppe et son procede de fabrication et de distribution WO1996034370A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU36792/95A AU3679295A (en) 1995-04-24 1995-09-18 Envelope construction and method of making and dispensing sa me

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US42758095A 1995-04-24 1995-04-24
US08/427,580 1995-04-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996034370A1 true WO1996034370A1 (fr) 1996-10-31

Family

ID=23695461

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1995/011952 WO1996034370A1 (fr) 1995-04-24 1995-09-18 Structure d'enveloppe et son procede de fabrication et de distribution

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU3679295A (fr)
WO (1) WO1996034370A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU757676B2 (en) * 1999-05-18 2003-02-27 Moore Business Systems Australia Limited Envelope

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US684181A (en) * 1900-11-14 1901-10-08 Leopold Briery Cover or bag.
US3999701A (en) * 1974-05-23 1976-12-28 Mail-Well Envelope Company Currency holding folder
US4807805A (en) * 1987-01-20 1989-02-28 Avery International Corporation Dual envelope sheet-fed assembly
US4821916A (en) * 1985-07-26 1989-04-18 Renee Dewaele Device for dispensing and vending flexible supports
US4915369A (en) * 1987-08-11 1990-04-10 Rutishauser Data Ag Apparatus for separating and feeding envelopes to an office machine
US4915288A (en) * 1989-04-27 1990-04-10 Avery International Corporation Envelope with single peel-off backing sheet to facilitate printing and copying
US4993587A (en) * 1988-05-09 1991-02-19 Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha Card dispensing apparatus for card vending machine
US5238143A (en) * 1992-08-03 1993-08-24 Ncr Corporation Apparatus for dispensing flat articles

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US684181A (en) * 1900-11-14 1901-10-08 Leopold Briery Cover or bag.
US3999701A (en) * 1974-05-23 1976-12-28 Mail-Well Envelope Company Currency holding folder
US4821916A (en) * 1985-07-26 1989-04-18 Renee Dewaele Device for dispensing and vending flexible supports
US4807805A (en) * 1987-01-20 1989-02-28 Avery International Corporation Dual envelope sheet-fed assembly
US4915369A (en) * 1987-08-11 1990-04-10 Rutishauser Data Ag Apparatus for separating and feeding envelopes to an office machine
US4993587A (en) * 1988-05-09 1991-02-19 Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha Card dispensing apparatus for card vending machine
US4915288A (en) * 1989-04-27 1990-04-10 Avery International Corporation Envelope with single peel-off backing sheet to facilitate printing and copying
US5238143A (en) * 1992-08-03 1993-08-24 Ncr Corporation Apparatus for dispensing flat articles

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU757676B2 (en) * 1999-05-18 2003-02-27 Moore Business Systems Australia Limited Envelope

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3679295A (en) 1996-11-18

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