US3272095A - Continuous process for addressing and forming envelopes - Google Patents

Description

Sept 13, 1966 J. HEUFF ammsa CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR ADDRESSING AND FORMING ENVELOPES Filed Aug. 26, 1963 OQCQPOQOOO OO v'ta INVENTOR JACK HE FF ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,272,095 CQNTINUOUS PROCESS FOR ADDRESSING AND FQRMING ENVELOPES lack Heutf, 1284 Osborne Ave., Verdun, Quebec, Canada Filed Aug. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 304,353 lClaims priority, application Canada, July 17, 1963,

880,390, Patent 686,619 9 Claims. (Cl. 93-61) This invention relates to a continuous process for addressing envelopes. More particularly, this invention relates to a continuous process for making and printing envelopes with addresses corresponding to mailing lists.

During recent years, there has developed an increasing number of commercial establishments that mail large quantities of individual mail to different persons or corporations. Such mail may comprise periodical bills, no tices, etc. and often runs into hundreds or even thousands of individual pieces of mail for a given mailing. Moreover, such mailings, as in the case of periodical bills, are repeated on a time basis, e.g. monthly, although the entities to whom the mail is addressed are not always the same i.e. some addresses are changed, others are eliminated. Therefore, there exists a need for a versatile method of handling such mailings in a fast, simple and economical manner.

Several methods are already available for printing series of envelopes with addresses corresponding to socalled mailing lists. The simplest but most expensive method consists in individually addressing each envelope on a typewriter. Another method consists in printing gummed labels with addresses corresponding to those on such mailing lists and to stick such labels on regular envelopes. Such a method has many drawbacks, the most important of which is that the gummed label detract from the appearance of the envelope and, if stuck manually, also involve costly labour.

The most commonly used system for such mass addressing is that in which plates are made corresponding to each name on the mailing list, these plates then being used for printing each name individually on an envelope. Further to the cost of making individual plates, which makes such a system very expensive, this system suffers from a lack of versatility in that losses are incurred whenever a name i canceled from such lists and costs are increased whenever it is desired to add a new address.

With the advent of computing machines, a further system has come into being, in an effort to decrease cost and manpower as well as to provide versatility.

In this method, the flap-carrying face of series of envelopes is secured by adhesive means to a continuous web which can then be processed through a business machine. U.S. Patent 2,363,417 issued November 21, 1944, to V. E. Hezwood shows a method and apparatus for making assemblies of series connected envelopes. As shown in thi patent, assemblies thus produced are usually further processed into zig-zag or fan-folded stacks. Such stacks can then be fed into computing or business machines being fed at the same time with punch cards which contain information equivalent to the complete informa tion corresponding to the name and address of each entity on the desired mailing list. As is well known, by properly processing the aforesaid assembly through a computing machine While feeding the machine with punch cards, each envelope will be printed on its front face with the desired data including name and address of the entity to whom it is desired to mail certain material. After the tab paper is processed, the thus addressed envelope is separated from said tab paper and is ready for mailing while the tab paper is destroyed. Further to the waste represented by such tab paper whose function is only to serve as conveying means for the envelope, difficulties 3,272,095 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 are involved in processing the envelope due to the combined thickness of the envelope and the continuous stock tab paper as the envelope is secured in a non-permanent fixed manner to the tab paper.

The present invention provides a simpler, speedier and more economical process, when compared with prior art practices, for addressing envelopes in a continuous manner.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a continuous process for printing and making envelopes with addresses corresponding to those on a given mailing list in a continuous, simple and efficient manner.

The objects of the present invention are achieved by our process which comprises, in its broadest aspect, continuously feeding a single thickness of continuous stock tab paper consisting of a plurality of interconnected tab units to a computing machine suitable for handling such paper and having a printing mechanism for translating into print onto one side of each of aid tab units information fed into it contained on a punch card system, said information corresponding to a series of names and addresses, while controlling the travel of said continuous stock tab paper to present a selected area to said printing mechanism, whereby each said unit is printed in said selected area with a name and address corresponding to said information of said punch card system, and converting said tab units into envelopes while using as the front face of each envelope the printed side of said unit.

The present invention further consists in addressed envelopes prepared by the aforesaid process.

The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a stack of continuous stock tab paper, part of which is shown after having been processed in accordance with an initial step of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of the paper of FIGURE 1 which has been printed in a specified area in accordance with a further step of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing a stack of blanks, made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, from an aligned stack of envelope units, before such blanks are processed into a finished envelope, such blanks being shown in relation to the portion of the tab paper from which they are die-cut.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of each such blank ready for further processing into a finished envelope.

FIGURE 5 is also a perspective view showing the folded and assembled envelope with the flap of the envelope being opened.

With specific reference to the accompanying drawings and more especially to FIGURE 1, a stack 10 of continuous stock tab paper is shown partly in folded position and partly in unfolded position. Continuous stock tab paper is the common appellation of paper provided for feeding into computing machines. This paper is usually fan-folded lengthwise or can also be in roll form. As shown, each separate unit 11 of this paper is usually fanfolded along line 12. This paper is also usually perforated sidewise, e.g. along line 12, for ease in separating units from one another. This continuous paper is also usually provided with multiple pin holes 13 on either or both sides in relation to its length for assistance in feeding the paper through the machine as well as for control of the travel of the paper so as to present a selected area to the printing mechanism by engagement with the feeding means of the computer.

Such continuous paper should be chosen according to the size of the envelope required, as will be seen later. This paper is processed through a computing machine.

Computing machines presently available will process paper 8" x 22" widthwise having a minimum of 3 /2 lengthwise. Similarly, the thickness and weight of the paper should also be chosen according to the quality of the envelope desired. Preferred continuous paper is the continuous stock tab paper sold as 40M, i.e., paper having a weight of 40 lbs./ 1000 sheets having a size 17" x 22", having regularly spaced perforations running on each side of the paper in a lengthwise manner, and fan-folded lengthwise along perforated lines, said perforated lines being spaced regularly from one another.

This continuous paper is allowed to be processed through a computing machine in the direction of the arrow. A section of FIGURE 1, starting from line X shows in perspective part of said continuous stock tab paper after it has been processed through any such computing machine with printing applied to one surface of each tab sheet or unit, in accordance with the invention.

It will be understood that any computing machine with a printed output can be used in the process of the invention. More specifically, the invention contemplates feeding continuous stock tab paper into a computing machine with a printed output which can handle continuous form paper, said printed output corresponding to information fed into or stored in said machine. Examples of said computing machines are IBM tabulator 403 and IBM tabulator 1401/2/3, as is well known in the art. Continuous paper 10 being fed into such a computing machine while said machine is being fed simultaneously or has previously been fed with and has stored the information contained on a punch card system, the information desired is thus printed on each unit 11A, 11B,

FIGURE 2 shows a unit 11A as obtained after passing through the computing machine as described above. Also outlined in FIGURE 2 in thin lines, 14 is a contour of an envelope blank to be die cut from said unit 11A as will be described hereinafter.

The printed stock tab units 11A, 11B are then processed so as to be separated from each other or, alternatively, a series of 2 or 3 such units is separated from a similar series. This operation is facilitated when folding lines between units are perforated as shown for line 12.

After the separation step, the units are ready for processing into finished envelopes. All known methods of making envelopes or converting paper into envelopes can easily be applied to the present process as will be obvious to persons skilled in the art. One such process is shown in the drawings in which, with specific reference to FIG- URES 3, 4 and 5, a stack of strips consisting of units such as eg 11A, 11B is shown in FIGURE 3. As shown, the envelope blank 15 is die cut from this stack along the contours 14, to form a stack 15 of blanks of envelope size, each pre-addressed with the printed data as described.

The envelope blank 15 is now ready for folding along folding lines in a conventional manner to form a finished envelope as shown in FIGURE 5 by way of illustration, the finished envelope being shown with its flap open.

Although information other than the name and address of the entity to whom the envelope is to be sent can be printed in the above manner, it is usually more convenient to have any such further data, such as, e.g., name of sender, printed in accordance with conventional processes which are less expensive because of the repetitive nature of such additional data. However, it is often convenient,

prior to subjecting the continuous paper to the process described, to print additional information on a selected area of the reverse side of said paper.

I claim:

1. A process for addressing and making a series of envelopes which comprises continuously feeding a single thickness of continuous stock tab paper consisting of a plurality of interconnected tab units to a computing machine suitable for handling such paper and having a printing mechanism actuatable for translating into print onto one side of each of said tab units information corresponding to a series of different names and addresses fed into it, said continuous stock tab paper being provided with locating means adapted for co-operation with feeding means of said computing machine to control the travel of said paper successively to present a selected area of each of said tab units to said printing mechanism while actuating said printing mechanism whereby each said unit is printed in said selected area with a name and address corresponding to said information, die cutting each of said printed tab units to produce an envelope blank and converting each of said blanks into an envelope using as the front face thereof the printed side of said blank.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein said information fed into the computing machine is contained on a punch card system.

3. A process according to claim 2, wherein said information has been stored in said computing machine in advance of the feeding of the stock tab paper into the machine.

4. A process according to claim 3, wherein before feeding of the stock tab paper into the computing machine, the stock tab paper has been previously printed by conventional printing methods for matter remaining constant between different envelopes in the series.

5. A process according to claim 4, wherein said locating means comprises means provided in both marginal edges of the stock tab paper adapted for engagement with the feeding means of the computing machine.

6. A process according to claim 4, wherein said locating means comprises a series of perforations extending the whole length of the stock tab paper parallel with each marginal edge of the latter and said feeding means comprises a series of protrusions adapted to engage with said perforations.

7. A process according to claim 6, wherein before die cutting each tab unit, such unit is separated from the stock tab paper.

8. A process according to claim 7, wherein a series of separated printed tab units are assembled into an aligned stack and such series die cut together in a single operation.

9. A process according to claim 4, wherein said stock tab paper is partially perforated between each tab unit along a line perpendicular to the marginal edges of the paper.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 953,220 3/1910 M. Fadden. 2,694,351 11/1954 Winkler et al. 93-63 2,847,915 8/1958 Rapp 93-63 X 3,174,427 3/1965 Taylor 10l93 3,185,075 5/1965 McGregor et al. 10193 BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner. v

Claims (1)

1. A PROCESS FOR ADDRESSING AND MAKING A SERIES OF ENVELOPES WHICH COMPRISES CONTINUOUSLY FEEDING A SINGLE THICKNESS OF CONTINUOUS STOCK TAB PAPER CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTED TAB UNITS TO A COMPUTING MACHINE SUITABLE FOR HANDLING SUCH PAPER AND HAVING A PRINTING MECHANISM ACTUATABLE FOR TRANSLATING INTO PRINT ONTO ONE SIDE OF EACH SAID TAB UNITS INFORMATION CORRESPONDING TO A SERIES OF DIFFERENT NAMES AND ADDRESSES FED INTO IT, SAID CONTINUOUS STOCK TAB PAPER BEING PROVIDED WITH LOCATING MEANS ADAPTED FOR CO-OPERATION WITH FEEDING MEANS OF SAID COMPUTING MACHINE TO CONTROL THE TRAVEL OF SAID PAPER SUCCESSIVELY TO PRESENT A SELECTED AREA OF EACH OF SAID TAB UNITS TO SAID PRINTING MECHANISM WHILE ACTUATING SAID PRINTING MECHANISM WHEREBY EACH SAID UNIT

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