Abstract: Brochures, pamphlets, books, and the like containing a plurality of laser-perforated paper which has been folded and bound (in either order) on the lines of perforation have, among other things, substantially improved compressed, lay-flat properties (i.e., significantly reduced bowing) as compared to conventional perforated paper containing books, pamphlets, and the like. Additionally, the inventive articles have surprisingly high strength on the lines of perforation and low paper slippage as well. The inventive processes provide for an easy and efficient way to produce brochures, pamphlets, signatures, and other paper-based products which are easy to handle, store, and transport.

Abstract: Laser perforation of all types of paper provides paper having sufficient strength characteristics to survive stresses imposed during handling, such as experienced in sheet feed processes. The paper so perforated is readily separable along the perforation line when separation is desired. Carbonless paper products particularly benefit from use of a laser in perforation. The paper, capsule, and capsule fill material are vaporized during the laser process, thus forming clean holes and leaving little residual material on the paper.

Abstract: An apparatus for binding a plurality of sheets of paper together is disclosed. A pair of clamping plates presents one edge of the sheets for binding after a jogging plate aligns the edges. After a solid hot melt adhesive material sheet is placed along the edge of the sheets, a heating platen heats and melts the hot melt adhesive material sheet and causes the liquid adhesive to bind the sheets together. The method of binding the stack of a plurality of sheets of paper includes positioning a plurality of sheets between the clamping plates, vibrating the sheets to square and align their edges, clamping the aligned sheets of paper, presenting the aligned edge of the paper to the heating platen, placing an adhesive hot melt material sheet on the edge of the sheets, heating and melting the hot melt adhesive material sheet onto the edge, and removing the bound sheets from the apparatus.

Abstract: Laser perforation of all types of paper provides paper having sufficient strength characteristics to survive stresses imposed during handling, such as experienced in sheet feed processes. The paper so perforated is readily separable along the perforation line when separation is desired. Carbonless paper products particularly benefit from use of a laser in perforation. The paper, capsule, and capsule fill material are vaporized during the laser process, thus forming clean holes and leaving little residual material on the paper.

Abstract: An apparatus for binding a plurality of sheets of paper together is disclosed. A pair of clamping plates presents one edge of the sheets for binding after a jogging plate aligns the edges. After a solid hot melt adhesive material sheet is placed along the edge of the sheets, a heating platen heats and melts the hot melt adhesive material sheet and causes the liquid adhesive to bind the sheets together. The method of binding the stack of a plurality of sheets of paper includes positioning a plurality of sheets between the clamping plates, vibrating the sheets to square and align their edges, clamping the aligned sheets of paper, presenting the aligned edge of the paper to the heating platen, placing an adhesive hot melt material sheet on the edge of the sheets, heating and melting the hot melt adhesive material sheet onto the edge, and removing the bound sheets from the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for binding a plurality of sheets of paper together is disclosed. A pair of clamping plates presents one edge of the sheets for binding after a jogging plate aligns the edges. After a solid hot melt adhesive material sheet is placed along the edge of the sheets, a heating platen heats and melts the hot melt adhesive material sheet and causes the liquid adhesive to bind the sheets together. The method of binding the stack of a plurality of sheets of paper includes positioning a plurality of sheets between the clamping plates, vibrating the sheets to square and align their edges, clamping the aligned sheets of paper, presenting the aligned edge of the paper to the heating platen, placing an adhesive hot melt material sheet on the edge of the sheets, heating and melting the hot melt adhesive material sheet onto the edge, and removing the bound sheets from the apparatus.

Abstract: Adhesively edge-padded stack of carbonless copy paper better separates upon fanning into collated sets when a thin layer of hot-melt adhesive is used for the edge-padding. As in the prior art, the outer surfaces of each set should have a release coating such as a fluorocarbon. The layer of hot-melt adhesive includes, by weight:20-50% thermoplastic copolymer,15-50% tackifying resin, and20-60% wax having a melting point of at least 60.degree. C.As soon as the adhesive has cooled below its softening point, the stack can be fanned, thus breaking it into sets. Fanning can usually be performed within 45 seconds, because there is no need to wait for the adhesive to dry as has been necessary with the aqueous adhesives that have been used in the prior art. Preferably at least 20% by weight of the adhesive is a paraffin wax that is C.sub.35 -C.sub.70 substantially straight-chain hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A latex adhesive made from a polymer such as a ethylene/vinyl acetate or styrene/butadiene copolymer, a low-boiling alcohol, such as isopropanol, a non-crystallizing polyhydric alcohol such as sorbitol, and preferably a cellulose thickener. The latex adhesive dries so quickly that an adhesively edge-padded stack of paper sheets formed using the adhesive can be cut by hand into tablets within about 30 minutes. These tablets do not leave an upstanding ridge of adhesive when a number of the sheets are torn off.

Abstract: Adhesively edge-padded stack of carbonless copy paper better separates upon fanning into collated sets when a thin layer of hot-melt adhesive is used for the edge-padding. As in the prior art, the outer surfaces of each set should have a release coating such as a fluorocarbon. The layer of hot-melt adhesive includes, by weight:20-50% thermoplastic copolymer,15-50% tackifying resin, and20-60% wax having a melting point of at least 60.degree. C.As soon as the adhesive has cooled below its softening point, the stack can be fanned, thus breaking it into sets. Fanning can usually be performed within 45 seconds, because there is no need to wait for the adhesive to dry as has been necessary with the aqueous adhesives that have been used in the prior art. Preferably at least 20% by weight of the adhesive is a paraffin wax that is [.alpha.] C.sub.35 -C.sub.70 substantially straight-chain hydrocarbon.

Abstract: An apparatus for binding a plurality of sheets of paper together is disclosed. A pair of clamping plates presents one edge of the sheets for binding after a jogging plate aligns the edges. After a solid hot melt adhesive material sheet is placed along the edge of the sheets, a heating platen heats and melts the hot melt adhesive material sheet and causes the liquid adhesive to bind the sheets together. The method of binding the stack of a plurality of sheets of paper includes positioning a plurality of sheets between the clamping plates, vibrating the sheets to square and align their edges, clamping the aligned sheets of paper, presenting the aligned edge of the paper to the heating platen, placing an adhesive hot melt material sheet on the edge of the sheets, heating and melting the hot melt adhesive material sheet onto the edge, and removing the bound sheets from the apparatus.

Abstract: Known adhesive compositions for edge-padding a stack of sets of collated sheets of carbonless copy paper have not provided both good fanout and good adhesion within individual sets unless used with carbonless copy paper from the company that supplies the adhesive. This problem is here resolved by using a water-based adhesive composition that differ from those in current use simply by adjusting the amount and type of monohydric and polyhydric alcohol. Best results are attained when the polyhydric alcohol is noncrystalline sorbitol.

Abstract: Known adhesive compositions for edge-padding a stack of sets of collated sheets of carbonless copy paper have not provided both good fanout and good adhesion within individual sets unless used with carbonless copy paper from the company that supplies the adhesive. This problem is here resolved by using a water-based adhesive composition that differs from those in current use simply by adjusting the amount and type of monohydric and polyhydric alcohol. Best results are attained when the polyhydric alcohol is noncrystalline sorbitol.

Abstract: A composite strip material for forming graphics such as letters, numbers, symbols or pictures. The strip includes an accepting tape comprising a layer of latent adhesive material in face-to-face contact with a layer of microgranules lightly adhered to a donor web. At least one of the layers bears a radiation absorbing pigment which, when selectively heated in accordance with a pattern of radiation, momentarily softens adjacent portions of the adhesive material. Upon separation of the accepting tape and donor web, microgranules transfer to the accepting tape only in irradiated areas.

Abstract: A composite strip material for forming graphics such as letters, numbers, symbols or pictures. The strip includes an accepting tape comprising a layer of latent adhesive material in face-to-face contact with a layer of microgranules lightly adhered to a donor web. At least one of the layers bears a radiation absorbing pigment which, when selectively heated in accordance with a pattern of radiation, momentarily softens adjacent portions of the adhesive material. Upon separation of the accepting tape and donor web, microgranules transfer to the accepting tape only in irradiated areas.