Bookbinding: process and apparatus – Apparatus – Edge binding apparatus
Patent
1993-10-08
1996-03-26
Fridie, Jr., Willmon
Bookbinding: process and apparatus
Apparatus
Edge binding apparatus
B42C 900
Patent
active
055015603
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to mailable documents, apparatus and method, and relates particularly to mailable documents apparatus and method suited to the high speed automated folding and sealing of pre-printed sheets.
Government departments and commercial organisations frequently need to mail documents pre-printed with a standard message (or in standardised format such as pension advice notes, itemising the benefits to which the recipient is entitled) to a large number of recipient addresses.
In order to mail such documents, it has long been standard practice to insert the document in a pre-formed and separate envelope. However a "self mailer", in the form of a sheet on which the address information and the message information has already been printed, has many potential advantages. Such advantages include that the sheet when folded and sealed itself forms a mailpiece, without the need (a) for a separate envelope and (b) the equipment to insert the document in the envelope.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
An early example of a "self-mail" sheet is the well-known airmail letter sheet. However this is supplied pre-gummed, and so is not particularly suited to folding and sealing by machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,233 discloses concurrent folding and sealing of a pre-printed sheet. The adhesive is however applied to side edge portions of the printed face of the sheet (from "above" the flow path of the paper through the machine) and within a bulging sheet portion. Adhesive is finally applied to side edge portions of the sheet from below the flow path, and the trailing address region of the sheet is reverse folded onto the previously-treated interleaved sections. A disadvantage of this proposal is that the adhesive is applied to a non-planar sheet portion, and during a bulge-fold sequence. Another disadvantage is that the adhesive must be of significantly lower rupture strength than the sheet material so that the recipient can break the adhesive to ascertain the printed information. Another disadvantage is that no lateral sealing is provided, so that at least part of the printed information could become visible if an exposed fold is lifted, such lifting being perhaps necessary if a finger or other opener is to be inserted between laterally-spaced longitudinally extending glue lines. Additional exit rollers are needed if the address section following folding is to pass between more than a single pair of squeeze rollers.
European Patent Application 0,448,271 discloses a folder and sealer mechanism for the side flaps and the trailing flap of an "envelope" form, designed to be folded around accumulated printed or pre-printed sheets. Water responsive adhesive is pre-applied to the flaps, as a "line" to each side flap and as transversly spaced "spots" to the trailing flap. As the accumulation is transported into the folder and sealer by a roller pair, the flaps are moistened to activate the adhesive; the accumulation is then fed to a first sealing roller assembly, comprising an upper roller with segments positioned to pass between the spots of adhesive on the trailing flap (so that the roller will not be contaminated by moistened adhesive). The input and output path of the envelope are displaced, and the direction of travel of the envelope substantially reversed, to provide a folding and sealing arrangement with a smaller "footprint". Disadvantages of this proposal include (a) that the moistener for each side flap normally rests in a water trough, which can overflow, and in use is spring biassed towards contact with the envelope (presumably after removal from the trough by means not shown), and (b) that a "gate" is normally held in the lifted condition by a solenoid, to pivot and drop into contact with the adhesive spots on the trailing flap when the solenoid is de-activated, the gate normally resting in the water trough and so being wetted; the positioning of the pre-applied adhesive has accurately to be coordinated with the selected timing of the subsequent gate drop.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,323 disclos
REFERENCES:
patent: 4597591 (1986-07-01), Gendron et al.
Cota Albert O.
Fridie Jr. Willmon
LandOfFree
Mailable documents, apparatus and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Mailable documents, apparatus and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mailable documents, apparatus and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-912270