Abstract: A return mailer is provided in which the outgoing and reply addresses cannot be confused, and the mailer can be changed over from an outgoing mailer to a reply mailer with a minimum of effort. The mailer includes a number of plies including a first ply having an outgoing address visible on it, at least one insert ply, a second ply, and a third ply. A sealing agent, such as tape covered by a release sheet or rewettable glue, is associated with one of the plies for sealing the plies of a reply configuration together. The second ply has a reply address printed on its outer, second face, and a portion of it is pivotally mounted to fold over the first ply.

Abstract: Pressure sealing of business forms is effected utilizing first and second sets of (preferably narrow-width) rollers forming first and second nips which provide a sealing force to business forms passing between them. The first set of rollers are rotatable about first and second axes, typically horizontal, while the second set of rollers are rotatable about third and fourth axes. The third and fourth axes are substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes, and may be horizontal or vertical. The first set is typically provided above the second set, and a conveyor may be provided for conveying forms which drop from the first set into operative association with the second set.

Abstract: A window sticker for pricing and fuel economy information about a motor vehicle can be readily positioned and repositioned on a motor vehicle window, and finally removed from the window without leaving an adhesive residue, and in integral form so that it serves as a customer receipt. A continuous web of coated hydrophobic bond paper, or printable plastic, is moved in a first direction to a press where fixed indicia, including fuel economy and price related word indicia, is applied to a first face of the web, and patterns of repositional adhesive are applied to the first face adjacent edges of the web elongated in the first direction. The repositional adhesive patterns are covered by release material strips to protect them. Application of the adhesive and protective strips may be accomplished simultaneously using tip-on or blow-on techniques with double faced adhesive label stock.

Abstract: A single sheet intermediate for a mailer type business form is Z-folded into a reusable mailer having a return envelope. The Z-folding of the intermediate provides three panels of about the same size, and a cut out covered by a transparent patch may be provided in the second panel, the patch covered by a removable outgoing addressee label. The reply address may be printed on the first face of the third panel of the mailer, or on the first face of the first panel on a detachable portion that may be inserted into the return envelope. The return envelope is defined by a generally U-shaped adhesive pattern, open at one side, with a flap having rewettable adhesive at the open side. Removable strips along the side edges of the mailer are held together by permanent adhesive, and are removed when opening the mailer and using the return envelope. The bar coding and the outgoing postage indicia are detached from the mailer when it is opened so that they are not visible on the return envelope.

Abstract: A mailer with a return envelope is formed from an intermediate which is a single ply of paper having first and second faces. Fold lines divide the ply into four about equal size quadrants with outgoing address indicia printed on the first ply first face, and the reply address indicia printed on the third quadrant first face. Adhesive associated with either the second or fourth ply and the third ply forms the second or fourth and the third ply into a return envelope. The return envelope has a closable flap, having adhesive on the second face, which is adjacent the open portion of the return envelope. Permanent adhesive, such as heat seal adhesive, is disposed in border areas on portions of the second faces of at least two of the quadrants, and on the fourth or third quadrant, to hold the ply into a mailer configuration, folded about the fold lines.

Abstract: Multiple part documents in which each part has common non-variable information and variable information are produced at high speed with a minimum amount of equipment. Utilizing either sequential press technology or large diameter plates, the multiple parts of the document are sequentially printed on a single web with the non-variable information. The variable information is sequentially printed on the same web in a procedure distinct from the printing of the non-variable information, typically utilizing a single ion deposition printer for each face of the web. The parts are separated and intelligently gathered and then the parts are sealed together to form a document, along one edge, by applying glue, or pressure seal adhesive. After sealing the documents may be rotated and delivered to a carrier web. Alternatively, an outer wrapper or envelope, variably imaged by another ion deposition print engine, may be provided around the multiple part documents after sealing.

Abstract: A business form is provided ideally suited for use by an organization that delivers products, and/or which relies heavily on phone orders. A first paper sheet has a face, back, and first size. Indicia is disposed on the face, and a first pattern of repositional adhesive is disposed on the back. A second sheet having a face and a back, and a size much smaller than the first size, has indicia disposed on its face including a phone number, and a second pattern of repositional adhesive is disposed on its back. The second sheet back is readily removably attached to the face of the first sheet by the second pattern of repositional adhesive. The size of the second sheet is such that it will fit on the hand set of a telephone between the ear piece and mouth piece, and the first indicia includes an illustration of how to place the second sheet on a telephone hand set. The form may also comprise a coupon portion.

Abstract: A reuseable mailer type business form has an initial mailing configuration addressed to an outgoing addressee, and a reply mailing configuration addressed to a reply addressee. The mailer complies with the postal requirement that no part of the outgoing address or postage (including postal service applied bar coding) appear on the mailer in the reply configuration. The mailer includes a front opaque ply with at least one cut-out, and at least one removable strip adjacent an edge, including a perforation line. Postage indicia are visible at the upper right-hand corner of the front ply. A rear opaque ply has a fold line adjacent an edge, and coincident with the perforation line of the front ply. A flap is defined between the fold line and the adjacent edge. At least one insert ply (between the front and rear plies) having outgoing address information visible through the cutout when the mailer is in the initial mailing configuration is provided.

Abstract: Sheets, such as business forms, are turned so that their orientation is changed from landscape to portrait mode, or vice versa. Simple apparatus effects sheet rotation, and includes a conveyance surface on which a sheet travels in a first direction, first and second rollers for engaging the sheet traveling on the conveyance surface, and first and second drives (e.g., D.C. stepper motors) for driving the first and second rollers independently of each other. A sensor senses the position of the sheet just downstream of the rollers, and a controller (computer)--in response to the sensor--controls the speed and direction of rotation of the motors so that one roller rotates with a given tangential speed in a first direction of rotation, while the other roller rotates at that same speed in an opposite direction of rotation.

Abstract: A label construction provides for labels applied to a surface that have long life even outdoors, or in conditions where there are dirt or chemicals. The construction includes a first ply of transparent protective material having first and second side sections and first and second faces. A first adhesive is disposed on the first ply first face, and a first release liner, having less affinity for the first adhesive than the transparent protective material, is disposed on the first adhesive covering the first side section of the first ply. A second release liner is disposed on the first adhesive covering the second side section of the first ply. A label ply is disposed over at least a portion of the second release liner on the opposite face from the transparent protective material, and a second adhesive is disposed between the second release liner and the label ply, having a greater affinity for the label ply than the second release liner.

Abstract: A luggage tag attachable to the handle of a piece is of the type comprising a face stock and a release liner with a longitudinal fold line scored into the tag and extending from one end of the tag to terminate at a point between the first and second ends of the tag, the tag being foldable about the fold line. A detachable ticket or receipt is integrally formed in the center of the tag extending from the root of the fold line to the second end of the tag, and tongues are formed in the tag on each side of the detachable ticket. Reinforcing tear-resistant strips, such as Mylar.RTM. tape strips, are provided on the back of the face stock extending at least the lengths of the tongues, and preferably the entire length of the face stock. The back of the face stock has adhesive over the entire area thereof, but a pattern of varnish desensitizer is provided along a portion of each of the tongues, so that adhesive is not transferred to a luggage handle when it is disposed between the tongues.

Abstract: An intermediate for a mailer type business form, and the mailer itself, provide a secure construction of return envelope and may be manufactured in a simple manner from a single piece of paper. The mailer is formed by V-folding a single ply about a first fold line, with the left hand side of the outgoing mailer forming a return envelope and the right hand side forming detachable information containing panels. The outgoing address indicia is printed on the inner face of one of the panels forming the return envelope, while the other panel forming the return envelope has a window through which the outgoing address is visible. When the right hand portion of the mailer is detached, the panel of the right hand portion having reply address indicia printed on its inner face may be separated, by perforations, from the rest of the components and inserted into the return envelope to cover the outgoing address, and so that the reply address is clearly visible through the window of the return envelope.

Abstract: A specially constructed label is useful for application of a first face of the label to the inside face of a transparent pane so that it is visible from the outside face, and which label may have indicia applied to its first face. The label first face has self-imaging material, and it is covered by a transparent release liner, with laminating adhesive between the release liner and the label first face. Writing applied to the release liner will be transferred to the first face. The label is preferably part of a business form having a paper sheet attached by adhesive at an overlap area between the paper sheet and the label. Perforations allow ready detachment of the label from the paper sheet.

Abstract: Business form components are stacked to separate them into different jobs, and after stacking are synchronously conveyed together to a pressure sealer, or similar device, for sealing the components together into a business form or are conveyed to subsequent operations such as secondary stacking into larger stacks. Each component moves from an aligner/feeder to a stacker, moving up an incline of a continuously running conveyor belt so that each successive component passes underneath any previous components in a stack. When a movable stop against which the components are held rotates out of the way, a top roller near the trailing ends of the components pinches them against a bottom roller so that the components move together away from the stacker in register with each other.

Abstract: Tickets for concerts, conventions, sports, and like events, have a security feature to assist in preventing counterfeiting. A stretchable security thread is disposed in a piece of paper stock extending so that it intersects, with portions lying on either side of, a line of separation in the piece of paper stock (and/or is parallel to the length of the ticket). The line of separation typically is a perforation. The security thread is a stretchable material, such as polyester, and may have microprinting. When the ticket is detached at the line of separation, the security thread does not initially separate but rather stretches to provide a visual (and tactile) indication between the separated portions of the paper stock before it breaks. Such tickets are produced from a web of material having the security threads, which web is printed, and then cut into sheets for delivery to a customer who then can apply variable printing.

Abstract: A specially constructed pallet jack is used for transporting a heavy roll of paper having a central hollow core. The pallet jack includes a frame with elongated arms having first and second ends, with a first set of wheels mounted at the second end of the arms, and a second set of wheels mounted near the first end of the arms. A jack is provided for jacking up the first ends of the arms so that they are spaced from the wheels. Between the arms is a cradle having first and second ends with three obtuse angle-connected planar surfaces extending between the first and second ends. The first end of the cradle is pivotally mounted to the first ends of the arms, and the cradle is biased to a roll-receiving position by a gas spring. When a roll is rolled into the cradle, it pivots, dampened by shock absorbers to a roll-capture position in which the roll cannot spontaneously roll out of the cradle. A strap passes from the cradle through the core of the roll to positively hold it in place.

Abstract: A return mailer is provided in which the outgoing and reply addresses cannot be confused, and the mailer can be changed over from an outgoing mailer to a reply mailer with a minimum of effort. The mailer includes a number of plies including a first ply having an outgoing address visible on it, at least one insert ply, a second ply, and a third ply. A sealing agent, such as tape covered by a release sheet or rewettable glue, is associated with one of the plies for sealing the plies of a reply configuration together. The second ply has a reply address printed on its outer, second face, and a portion of it is pivotally mounted to fold over the first ply.

Abstract: A folded (e.g., Z-folded) mailer type business form is constructed so that it may be printed using an IBM 3800 printer without sticking to the printer fuser or backer rolls. Pressure sensitive adhesive patterns (e.g., discontinuous strips) are placed on the first face of a paper sheet near a first transverse edge, and the second face of the paper sheet near a second transverse edge. The spacings from the edge are about 5/16 inches in each case, sufficient to insure that the adhesive is not engaged by the printer rolls during pausing of the printer.

Abstract: In electrostatic imaging utilizing a silent electric discharge, nitrogen or other controlled gas is supplied to the discharge region. First and second control fingers each having first and second ends and a number of active openings along their lengths, provide electrodes at the discharge region. The controlled gas is supplied to the discharge regions through first and second gas input channels each connected to either the first ends or second ends of both the control fingers. The charge output associated with the active openings in the control fingers is stabilized so that there is a substantially even distribution of charge output along the length of each control finger by providing first and second bleed holes associated with each of the control fingers, and closer to the gas input channel than are the active openings in the control fingers.

Abstract: The creation and ordering of custom business forms is simplified for short-run orders, allowing the end user of the business form to design and transmit the order on a personal computer. Using appropriate design software, the business form is first designed, and then electronically transferred into a second software program which allows for the selection of a number of business form parameters, and also includes order parameters including quantity and delivery options. The business form parameters from the design software are automatically transferred to the ordering software, and any remaining parameters that must be selected are then selected in a sequence, the order quantity and delivery information is inputted, and the price is calculated, and then the custom business form and order are transmitted in machine form to a second computer remote from the first computer.