EP0573720B1 - Envelope for documents and its method of manufacture - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a document pocket and to a method of manufacturing such pockets. It will find its application in particular in the field of stationery and various applications in cases where it is necessary to associate with an object certain documents.

In this respect, a document holder is known which is in the form of an envelope, the rear face of which carries a document insertion slot, and an adhesive mass provided at least around said slot, and protected by a non-stick protective element.

More specifically, the front face and the rear face of the envelope are constituted by plastic sheets welded at their periphery. The front panel is generally transparent to reveal the documents included.

The rear face is in turn provided with a transverse or longitudinal slot and is coated on the external side with a layer of adhesive protected by a peelable sheet also carrying said slot.

During the shipment, the operator passes the documents through the pocket by inserting them through the said slot, then, he removes the protective element and sticks the pocket directly on the object or on its packaging.

When the object is received, the recipient notices this pocket and sees the documents included in it by the transparency of the front panel. He accesses the documents by tearing up this front face.

This type of document holder is quite appreciated by shippers but nevertheless we can blame it for certain disadvantages.

In particular, these document pockets cannot be addressed because on the one hand the material used does not allow it and on the other hand they are not equipped with any means allowing their use on typewriters or the like.

Furthermore, we can criticize them for some indiscretion since the front of the cover is transparent and anyone can then read the documents included therein.

In addition, due to the quality of the plastic materials used, an irreproachable quality of presentation is not obtained. In addition, it sometimes happens that these pockets tear during the handling of the objects, the materials being very flexible.

Document GB-A-2,234,489 thus discloses a document holder pocket, intended to be fixed to an object, in the form of a unitary envelope, the rear face of which carries a document insertion slot and a adhesive mass provided at least around said slot and protected by a non-stick protector, said envelope having a closed contour.

In addition, their non-stick protective element is discontinuous and consists of two separate flaps, locally forming flaps around their insertion slot.

• on dispose une première bande en continu, se présentant sous la forme d'un matériau frontal adhésif déposé sur l'élément protecteur anti-adhérent, et présentant, au moins latéralement, sur ledit élément protecteur, des perforations ;
• on dispose une deuxième bande en continu présentant latéralement des repères ;
• on solidarise partiellement ladite deuxième bande sur la première pour définir ladite pochette ;
• on synchronise le positionnement relatif de ladite deuxième bande sur la première par l'intermédiaire des perforations et des repères.

Document US-A-4,995,642 also discloses a method of manufacturing pouches, the rear face of which carries an adhesive mass protected by a non-stick protective element, in which:

• there is a first continuous strip, in the form of an adhesive front material deposited on the non-stick protective element, and having, at least laterally, on said protective element, perforations;
• there is a second continuous strip having laterally marks;
• partially securing said second strip on the first to define said pocket;
• the relative positioning of said second is synchronized strip on the first through the perforations and marks.

However, this document does not describe a pocket forming an envelope but a form presenting different labels to be torn, capable of constituting acknowledgments of receipt.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a document holder, intended to be fixed on an object, directly or indirectly, which can overcome the above drawbacks and which allows a particularly careful presentation.

One of the aims of the present invention is to propose a document pocket which can be compatible with the automatic printing systems that are known today and whose external face allows in particular the marking of the address of a recipient or any other information, such as graphics, etc.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a document pocket which allows them to be kept confidential and authorizes the decoration of the pockets at the discretion of the sender.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a document pocket which is easy to implement and to manufacture.

In this regard, the present invention provides a process for manufacturing such document pockets, in particular from a basic complex used in the field of manufacturing adhesive labels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for manufacturing document holders which allows the integration of a tear strip to facilitate the opening of the holder by the recipient.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows which is however given only for information and which is not intended to limit it.

• ladite pochette est disposée sur un élément protecteur continu portant latéralement des perforations aptes au moins à permettre l'entraînement dudit élément protecteur continu par des machines d'impression,
• la face avant de l'enveloppe est imprimable,
• ladite fente d'introduction est découpée dans l'élément protecteur continu et la face arrière de l'enveloppe.

According to the invention, the document holder pocket, intended to be fixed to an object, in the form of an envelope, the face of which rear carries a document insertion slot and an adhesive mass provided at least around said slot and protected by a non-stick protective element, said envelope having a closed contour, is characterized in that:

• said pocket is disposed on a continuous protective element laterally carrying perforations capable at least of allowing said continuous protective element to be driven by printing machines,
• the front of the envelope is printable,
• said insertion slot is cut in the continuous protective element and the rear face of the envelope.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the document pockets are arranged on a continuous protective element in a reel, or folded in an accordion.

• on dispose une première bande en continu, se présentant sous la forme d'un matériau frontal adhésif, apte à définir la face arrière desdites enveloppes, déposé sur un protecteur anti-adhérent, apte à constituer ledit élément protecteur, et présentant, au moins latéralement, sur ledit protecteur des perforations aptes au moins à permettre l'entraînement dudit protecteur par des machines d'impression,
• on découpe ledit protecteur anti-adhérent et la face arrière de l'enveloppe pour définir ladite fente d'introduction,
• on constitue le contour fermé correspondant à celui de ladite enveloppe,
• on dispose une deuxième bande en continu constituée d'un matériau apte à définir la face avant, prévue imprimable, desdites enveloppes, présentant latéralement des repères,
• on solidarise partiellement ladite deuxième bande sur la première pour définir ladite enveloppe,
• on synchronise le positionnement relatif de ladite deuxième bande sur la première par l'intermédiaire des perforations et des repères.

The process for manufacturing document pockets according to the invention is characterized in that:

• there is a first continuous strip, in the form of an adhesive front material, capable of defining the rear face of said envelopes, deposited on a non-stick protector, capable of constituting said protective element, and having, at least laterally , on said protector for perforations able at least to allow said protector to be driven by printing machines,
• said non-stick protector and the rear face of the envelope are cut to define said insertion slot,
• the closed contour is formed corresponding to that of said envelope,
• there is a second continuous strip made of a material capable of defining the front face, provided for printing, of said envelopes, having marks laterally,
• partially securing said second strip on the first to define said envelope,
• the relative positioning of said second is synchronized strip on the first through the perforations and marks.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description accompanied by the drawings which form an integral part thereof.

Figure 1 schematically shows a front view of an embodiment of document holder according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view, excessively large for understanding, of a document pocket along the axis II-II of Figure 1

Figure 3 shows a rear view of a document pocket shown in Figure 1.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the different stages of the process for manufacturing a document pocket according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 schematically shows, seen from above, the strip of document holder pocket worked successively in the installation shown in FIG. 4.

The invention relates to a document pocket and a method of manufacturing such pockets. Figures 1 to 3 show the structure of an embodiment of document holder 1, intended to be fixed on an object directly, or indirectly on its packaging for example.

The pocket 1 is in the form of an envelope 2, the rear face 3 of which carries a document insertion slot 4.

The rear face 3 also carries an adhesive mass 5 provided, at least around said slot 4, and protected by a non-stick protective element 6, such as for example silicone paper.

That said, the front face 7 of the envelope 2 is provided for printing and, the protective element 6 carries laterally perforations 8, generally called perforations 〈〈 CAROLL 〉〉 ®. Such perforations are known to those skilled in the art and are found for example on listings for computer printers.

Although the protective element 6 can be provided in a unitary manner, it will be advantageous to have the document pockets 1 on a continuous protective element 6, such as on a reel or folded in accordion.

This arrangement will facilitate the use of document pockets on printing machines and in particular on computer printers.

Thus, before its use, one will be able to write on the front face of the pocket, for example, the address of the addressee, then at the time of the shipment, the operator will slip the documents in the pocket 1 via the rear slot 4 and, will take off the cover of its protective element 6 to stick it directly on the object or indirectly on its packaging.

Furthermore, to facilitate the opening of the pouch by the recipient, it may comprise between the front face 7 and the rear face 3 of the envelope 2 a tear strip 9, inserted at the time of manufacture of the pouch.

However, to manufacture the pouch of the present invention, it will be advantageous to use materials used in the field of the manufacture of adhesive labels.

In particular, as shown in Figure 4, there is first of all a first strip 10 continuous, in the form of an adhesive front material 11 deposited on a non-stick protector 12.

In this regard, in a nonlimiting manner, use will be made, for example, of a continuous strip of a plastic material front adhesive on a silicone paper. However, it can be envisaged to use a paper or even fabric or nonwoven front end. However, it is preferable to prefer a resistant front material 11 to avoid tearing of the envelope when inserting the document or documents.

This first strip 10 is unwound in front of different work stations, marked 13 to 16 and shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4.

The first work station 13 allows the realization, at least laterally, on the non-stick protector 12 of the perforations, that is to say those marked 8 in FIG. 1.

More precisely, according to the techniques known in the field of the manufacture of labels, only the front material 11 of the first strip 10 is cut, at least laterally, in order to clear perforation zones, these being subsequently performed, at the post 14.

Still at station 13, during this cutting operation, the front 11 is also cut transversely, according to the pitch 〈〈 p 〉〉 of the label, to define the rear face 3 of the pocket as illustrated in the figure 5.

It should be noted that at station 14, the perforations 8 will advantageously be made, by punches for example, and also cut the strip 10, that is to say the non-stick protector and the rear face of the envelope, namely said front material, to define said insertion slot 4.

The strip 10 then continues on its way to the station 15, and the front material 11 is glued to the first strip thus cut to form a closed contour 17 corresponding substantially to that of said envelope. This adhesive deposition is carried out according to the predetermined pitch 〈〈 p 〉〉 of the envelopes.

At this level, that is to say downstream of the gluing station 15, there is a second continuous strip 18 which will constitute said front face 7 of the envelope 2, in particular made of polypropylene covered with a printable varnish or any other compatible material such as paper, fabric, nonwoven.

It is this second strip 18 that will be partially secured on said first strip 10 to define the envelope.

In order to synchronize the relative positioning of said second strip 18 on the first 10, markings will be provided on strip 18, such as, in particular 〈〈 CAROLL 〉〉 ® perforations.

In this case, the strip 18 will either be provided with lateral perforations 19 beforehand, or be equipped with these perforations passing in front of the work station identified 20 in FIG. 4.

This synchronization by means of the two series of perforations 8 and 19 is important in order to be able to synchronize the relative positioning according to the pitch 〈〈 p 〉〉 of the envelopes, the front face of these being able to present various markings or impressions depending also on the not 〈〈 p 〉〉 of the envelopes.

However, it should be noted that synchronization could be carried out by other references such as, for example, geometric signs recognizable by an optical reader which would be made to coincide with the perforations 8 of the non-stick protective element 6, 12.

However, the second strip 18 is directed towards the glued areas 17, as shown particularly in FIG. 4, to form the succession of envelopes 2 on the first strip 10.

When the second strip 18 is secured to the first strip 10, the assembly is directed towards the work station 16 to cut the second strip 18 laterally and longitudinally to separate the pockets 1 from one another on the non-stick protector 6, 12.

At this stage, the strip thus formed is "ragged", that is to say that the cutouts are removed so as to leave stuck on the support 6 only the pockets.

As we mentioned before, to facilitate the opening of the envelope during use, we can equip the pocket with a tear strip 9 provided between the front face 7 and the rear face 3 of the envelope 2.

For this, as shown in particular in FIG. 4, a third strip 21, called tear-off strip, is inserted between the front material 11 of the first strip and the second strip 18, which is at least partially secured to said second strip 18.

In this respect, to form said tear strip 21, a single-sided adhesive tape is used, in particular made of plastic, such as polypropylene, the adhesive side of which is directed towards the second strip 18.

Under these conditions, during implementation, this strip will adhere to the interior of the second strip 18, when said first 10 and second 18 strips are brought together.

In this case, when cutting, at station 16, the second strip 18, we will also cut said tear strip 21 to define the unitary strips 9, at least in the format of said pockets 1.

In this regard, a protruding tab may advantageously be provided, as shown particularly in FIG. 1.

Depending on the quality of the front face 7 of the envelope, and to facilitate tearing, one can provide on either side of the sides of the tear strip 9 with dotted lines 22 as suggested in Figure 1 in particular .

These dotted lines may be along the entire length of the strip or located at the start of the uprooting to start breaking.

Claims (10)

1. Jacket (1) to hold documents, designed to be fixed to an object, taking the form of an envelope (2), the rear face (3) of which has a slit (4) through which to introduce the documents and an adhesive mass (5) provided at least around the said slit (4) and protected by an antiadhesive protective element (6), the said envelope (2) having a closed contour (17), characterised by the fact that :

   - the said jacket is disposed on a continuous protective element (6, 12) laterally bearing perforations, capable at least of enabling the said continuous protective element (6, 12) to be driven by printing machines ;

   - the front face (7) of the envelope (2) can be printed on ;

   - the said introduction slit (4) is cut out in the continuous protective element (6, 12) and the rear face (3) of the envelope (2).
2. Jacket to hold documents, according to claim 1, disposed on a wound continuous protective element (6, 12).
3. Jacket to hold documents, according to claim 1, disposed on a continuous protective element (6, 12) folded concertina fashion.
4. Jacket to hold documents, according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises, between the front face (7) and the rear face (3) of the envelope (2), a tear-off strip (9).
5. Process for manufacturing jackets to hold documents, according to claim 1, each jacket (1) taking the form of an envelope (2) the rear face (3) of which has a slit (4) through which to introduce the documents and an adhesive mass (5) provided at least around the said slit (4) and protected by an antiadhesive protective element (6), the said envelope (2) having a closed contour (17), characterised by the fact that:

   - a first strip (10) is laid down continuously, the said strip taking the form of an adhesive frontal material (11), capable of defining the rear face (3) of the said envelopes (2), deposited on an antiadhesive protector (12), capable of constituting the said protective element (6), and having, at least laterally, on the said protector (6, 12), perforations, capable at least of enabling the said protector (6, 12) to be driven by printing machines ;

   - the said antiadhesive protector (6, 12) and the rear face (3, 11) of the envelope (2) are cut to define the said introduction slit (4) ;

   - the closed contour (17) corresponding to that of the said envelope (2) is formed ;

   - a second strip (18) is laid continuously, the said strip being constituted by a material capable of defining the front face (7), designed so that it can be printed on, of the said envelopes (2), and being laterally provided with guide marks (19) ;

   - the said second strip (18) is partially rendered integral with the first one (10) to define the said envelope (2) ;

   - the relative positioning of the said second strip (18) is synchronised with the first one (10) via the perforations (8) and the guide marks (19).
6. Process according to claim 5, characterised by the fact that the frontal material (11) of the first strip (10) is cut at least laterally to produce areas of perforations (8), and transversely to define the rear face (3) of the said envelope (2).
7. Process according to claim 5, characterised by the fact that the frontal material (11) of the first strip (10) is glued to constitute the closed contour (17) corresponding to that of the said envelope (2), a predetermined pitch being observed.
8. Process according to claim 5, characterised by the fact that, when the second strip (18) is rendered integral with the first strip, the second strip (18) is cut laterally and longitudinally to separate the jackets (1) from one another on the antiadhesive protector (6, 12), and the cut portions are removed.
9. Process according to claim 5, characterised by the fact that between the frontal material (11) of the first strip (10) and the second strip (18) is inserted a third, so-called tear-off strip (21), which is rendered integral, at least partially, with the said second strip (18).
10. Process according to claim 8, characterised by the fact that, during the stage in which the second strip (18) is cut, the said tear-off strip (21, 9) is cut at least to the format of the said jackets (1).

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