Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing improved microcapsules which are useful in connection with carbonless copying systems. Also disclosed are the microcapsules themselves which comprise minute discrete droplets of liquid fill material including an initially colorless chemically reactive color forming dye precursor and a carrier therefor encapsulated within individual, rupturable, generally continuous polyamide shells formed thereabout. The process comprises the steps of incorporating in the fill material, an amount of an epoxy resin or a polystyrene resin effective to render the microcapsules resistant to inadvertent release and transfer of the fill material.

Abstract: Disclosed are normally substantially colorless chromogenic 2-phenyl-1,2,3-triazolofluoran color precursor compounds having the following generic structural formula: ##STR1## wherein each R.sub.1 represents either a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group having from one to five carbon atoms and wherein R.sub.2 preferably represents either a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl group having from one to five carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group. These compounds are generally substantially colorless but capable of becoming highly colored when brought into reactive contact with many conventional Lewis acid materials. Accordingly, these compounds are highly useful as a component of pressure-sensitive copying papers.

Abstract: An adhesive applicator of the gravure-type is provided for continuously applying spots of adhesive onto a travelling web with the use of a roller of the intaglio type. A filling device having a spring loaded shoe element bearing against the roller fills the cavities of the roller with adhesive under pressure from a closed adhesive reservoir. The web is moved by a pin wheel disposed adjacent the roller, and spots of adhesive from the filled cavities are continuously applied to the web as it is intermittently forced to track the applicator roller by means of spaced pads provided on the wheel.

Abstract: Sets of manifold business forms are coated on selected surfaces thereof with chemicals which are capable of reacting with each other to produce a colored mark. In one arrangement at least one intermediate sheet is coated on one surface with a composition of a record-developing material (which is generally solid) and a non-compatible color precursor (which is generally in the form of a microencapsulated liquid) to thereby function as both a record-receiving and a color-transfer surface upon reacting with the coating of at least another separate sheet of the set containing another compatible color precursor and/or another record-developing material on the surface thereof. In another arrangement, some of the sheets are coated front and back with a record-developing material, while others are coated front and back with a microencapsulated color precursor.

Abstract: Disclosed are normally substantially colorless chromogenic 3'-amino-6' or 7'-(pyrazol-1-yl)fluoran color precursor compounds having the following generic structural formula: ##SPC1##Wherein each R.sub.1 represents either a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group having from one to five carbon atoms; wherein each R.sub.2 represents either a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl group having from one to five carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group; and wherein the pyrazolyl group is attached to the fluoran moiety at either the 6' position or the 7' position of the latter. These compounds are generally substantially colorless but capable of becoming highly colored when brought into reactive contact with many conventional Lewis acid materials. Accordingly, these compounds are highly useful as a component of pressure-sensitive copying papers.

Abstract: A rotary die cutter comprises a pair of plate and anvil cylinders rotatable about fixed and spaced axes for die cutting a web passing therebetween. A die cutting plate is secured along the periphery of the plate cylinder, and an anvil plate is secured along the periphery of the anvil cylinder. The clearance between plate and anvil cylinders is determined by the thickness of the anvil plate thereby providing an interference between plates for a clear-through die cut or a gap for die cutting less than each layer of a multi-layered material depending on the thickness of the anvil plate selected.

Abstract: In an apparatus for trimming a band of marginal feed holes from the marginal edge of a continuous paper web wherein the apparatus has a pair of rotary slitters for slicing the web parallel to its marginal edge and a tractor pin feed device for moving the web toward the rotary slitters, a web chopper is provided which includes a rotary chopper blade in cutting engagement with a rotary anvil for repeatedly chopping the web at its marginal edge. The chopper blade has an inner edge in alignment with the slitters so that the web may be chopped along its marginal edge during the feeding thereof into the slitters which serve to thereafter slit along the web to thereby separate the feed hole band from the web into short strips.

Abstract: Record material useful for carbonless copying systems and the like and adapted to develop distinctive coloration on contact with a preferably colorless dye precursor reactive in an electron donor-acceptor color-producing mechanism, characterized by a thin, uniform surface coating containing smectite clay having its molecular structure chemically modified to impart substantially Newtonian viscosity behavior to aqueous suspensions thereof. On examination by X-ray diffraction, the chemically modified clay preferably exhibits a discernible peak at a characteristic angle of diffraction. Chemical modification is preferably achieved by contacting the clay with the acid, such as sulfuric acid, for a time sufficient to irreversibly alter the clay structure. Such clay coatings can be applied by the usual coating techniques and produce dye images of substantially improved resistance to fading by light and ordinary atmosphere.

Abstract: A laminated heat insulating jacket for conduits having a self-locking separable plastic seam for holding the jacket assembled about a fluid conveying conduit and more particularly a conduit of the type embraced by a heat tracer tube helpful in heating the fluid conduit and its contents. The exterior layer or main body of the jacket comprises suitable impervious plastic strip material equipped along its lateral edges with separable seam forming members. Laminated to the main body strip are one or more layers of resilient heat insulating material and an exposed layer of foil-like heat conducting and heat reflective material serving to minimize heat losses from the conduit and to distribute heat from a heat tracer tube to adjacent areas of a fluid conduit embraced thereby.

Abstract: A web feed apparatus wherein a section of the web is maintained at a higher tension while accurately metering the feed of the web at a relatively lower tension, means being provided to isolate the low tension metering function from the higher tension section by anterior snubbing rolls and posterior tension pull-up rolls. A typical mechanism is a blanket offset business forms printing press which must satisfy the requirement of very accurate web feed rate over a given length of the web, when the blanket-impression nip at the print couple(s) with the attendant higher tension requirement to maintain print quality and web lay, are both necessary.

Abstract: An envelope assembly of a succession of envelopes each includes a front and back panel and extractable insert material contained therein, the insert material comprising a top-opening return mailer envelope connected to a portion of the envelope by means of a panel forming a portion or chip of the return envelope which is separable therefrom, and which is retained with the envelope upon extraction of the insert. As an alternative, the chip of the return envelope is connected to an insert sheet within each envelope.

Abstract: A method of manifold copying using recording members having a dielectric surface on one side and surface of relatively lower resistivity on the opposite surface, which comprises forming a pack by placing sheet on sheet with the dielectric surfaces facing one way so that each dielectric surface excepting on one outer sheet is in contact with the lower resistivity surface of the next sheet, then placing the pack on a support with the lower resistivity surfaces on each sheet facing the support, then contacting the sheet further removed from the support with pressure imaging means, thereby to form a latent image on each dielectric surface, then separating the sheets of the pack and developing the latent image on each sheet by attracting thereto electroscopic marking particles.