Abstract: A label applicator, easily mounted on a desktop in association with a label printer, has a compact configuration with no external power requirements since the components are electrically powered and the power is received from the printer. Preferably the label does not move during application, providing a high degree of accuracy and placement. The applicator may be used with both linered and linerless labels and associated printers, and uses inexpensive components. Positive stops are provided for stopping the movement of a label into the applicator housing, and the manual movement of a mailpiece into the applicator housing. Sensors sense the label and the mailpiece when accurately aligned, and cause actuation of a linear solenoid with tamp pad to move the mailpiece vertically upwardly into contact with the label pressure sensitive adhesive. The label is held in place in the desired position by one or more electric fans exhausting air from the opposite face of an apertured plate from the label.

Abstract: A multiple envelope assembly is made at a common location from a number of different webs of paper using a machine with multiple stations. A first envelope is adhesively secured to a second envelope which has an area at least 10% (preferably at least 20%) greater than the first envelope, and at least one of and preferably both of the outer surfaces of the first and second envelopes have common variable indicia (such as an addressee's name). The common variable indicia is also provided on one or more inserts in each of the first and second envelopes. Addressee indicia is provided on the outer surfaces of at least one of the first and second envelopes. The variable indicia is preferably applied using an ink jet printing assembly, while non-variable multi-color indicia is applied to the envelopes and/or inserts using multi-color flexographic print stations.

Abstract: A print and mail recovery system configuration method enables the efficient configuration of a customized executable plan to ensure continuation of critical mailing applications in the event of a man-made or natural disaster. The system is configured by storing recipient data and form data in respective databases and documenting at least one printing process, at least one finishing process, and at least one delivery process in accordance with company derived parameters. The system can be customized to accommodate varying printing processes based on varying data categories, respectively, as well as varying finishing processes and delivery processes.

Abstract: A printer cleaning cloth is described having multiple plies sonically or thermally bonded together. An embossed pattern of the cleaning cloth provides stiffness and rigidity to the cloth and imparts a roughened surface texture to the cloth. The cleaning cloth is soaked in a terpene cleaning solvent. The cleaning cloth is attached to a roll of printing labels and passes through the printer at the beginning or end of the label roll. As the cloth passes through the printer, the cloth wipes clean the printer, especially the printheads to the printer.

Abstract: An oil kit and method eliminate glue build-up on slitting blades of a slitting device. The oil kit includes a bracket assembly that is readily attachable an existing slitting device in the vicinity of the slitting blades. The bracket assembly supports a plurality of pad units each supporting a felt pad soaked in oil. The pad units are adjustable such that the oil kit can be customized for any slitting device slitting blade configuration. The felt pads are secured by friction and can be readily removed and resecured in various configurations before requiring re-soaking of the pads.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an array of individual business forms from a web allow two or more sets of forms from a single web to be formed and integrated in a final array, preferably an in seriatim array with a spacing between the individual forms. A web at least two sheets wide is moved in a first direction and slit to produce at least two web sections. The two web sections are redirected so that they move in different paths, such as by stationary curved surfaces that are vertically spaced from each other and disposed at different angles to the horizontal. Typically the web sections are redirected so that they are substantially vertically aligned with each other. Then the two web sections are cut into individual sheets and the individual sheets are redirected and combined into a single array of sheets with alternating sheets in the array from alternating web sections.

Abstract: An intermediate for a mailer type business form, and a mailer produced from it, allow construction, from a single sheet of paper, of a mailer type business form that has a confidential integral insert closed on all edges. Confidential indicia is imaged on the interior faces of the insert, and is accessible only by tearing along at least one edge of the insert, which indicates tampering. Double fold, roll fold, or other folds may be provided for forming the mailer from the intermediate. For double fold and roll fold constructions, no security screening is necessary, yet the confidential indicia is substantially as secure as if security screening had been provided.

Abstract: A Z-folded mailer type business form is constructed so as to provide a maximum reply envelope area, and to allow the reply envelope to be readily opened by an automatic envelope opener, while allowing the outgoing and reply address to be easily variably imaged by a single pass through a printer and without requiring the use of removable labels.

Abstract: A release liner for business form and label constructions comprises a substrate of carbonizing bond paper having a weight of between about 35-80 grams per square meter. A radiation (e.g. U.V.) curable silicone polymer blend is coated on the first face of the substrate with a coating weight of between about 0.8-2.3 grams per square meter. The silicone polymer blend comprises a large part base silicone polymer and optionally up to 40% of tight release additive, about 1 to 5% photoinitiator, and possibly substantially inert ingredients. A paper face of the form or label having a weight of between about 65-99 grams per square meter has a hot melt permanent or removable pressure sensitive adhesive on one of its faces, either applied directly or transferred to it if coated on the silicone, the adhesive in contact with the release liner. The form or label is substantially curl free after running through a laser printer.

Abstract: Pressure sensitive adhesive linerless label assemblies having a primer layer and a breakaway layer capable of being separated from each other after the label is applied to a surface, thus leaving a portion of the assembly on the surface and removing the other portion. In one embodiment, the primer layer is an ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer and the breakaway layer is polyvinyl acetate. In another embodiment, the primer layer is a polyethylene emulsion and the breakaway layer is a polyurethane emulsion. In a third embodiment, the primer layer is a composition of a UV curable bisphenol A epoxy oligomer, pentaerythritol triacrylate, and a monofunctional styrene monomer, and the breakaway layer is polyvinyl acetate.

Abstract: A paper document, such as a business form, is printed with a pantograph that is obtained from a pattern on a negative that is substantially incapable of construction by repeating geometric or organic shapes. A positive of the pattern is scanned to create a high resolution digital image in a computer, the high resolution image is interpolated to a low resolution digital image, the image is stored in the computer, for example as full size. Alternatively a rectangular tile that can be repeated substantially seamlessly is created and using the rectangular tile as a pattern an electronic document of desired size is created by manipulating and repeating the rectangular tile pattern. At least two different density versions of the low resolution digital image are preferably produced and stored.

Abstract: A display assembly uses a particular point of purchase label construction associated with a point of purchase display construction associated with a displayed item for purchase that does not take up valuable area that is covered by price stickers, or the like, and in a manner that allows a retail establishment to save up to several hours a week in prominently displaying point of purchase messages. The label construction includes a label face stock having first and second faces, an opaque release liner stock also having first and second faces, the first face of the release liner ply having an adhesive release coating (such as silicon), and the second face of the release liner having first, point of purchase, indicia imaged thereon (such as "As Advertised"), and a pressure sensitive adhesive (preferably repositional) between the adhesive release coating the label face stock to releasably hold the plies together.

Abstract: A license plate decal is provided on a folded (e.g. Z-folded) business form which acts as a carrier for the decal. A cut out is formed in a panel of the mailer and a patch (such as a glassine patch) is adhesively secured at a peripheral portion to the mailer panel and a release coating is provided on at least a significant part of the central portion of the patch. The decal adhesive engages the release coating so that the decal and its associated pressure sensitive adhesive may be readily removed from the patch. The patch may be secured to the paper on either face thereof; if secured at the bottom face, the patch and decal can flex into the cutout to provide a minimum thickness when in a stack of mailer intermediates. Where the patch is secured at its top face, the maximum thickness of the patch and decal combination is preferably about 0.008 inches, which is significantly less than the thickness at the decal in prior art carriers.

Abstract: Prepaid printing services are obtained and provided using remote and host computers. A card or diskette for printing services is purchased and using a remote computer, the host computer is accessed by e-mail or the like. Application software and printer drivers are downloaded from the host to the remote, and the prepaid printing services are actually installed as a print option on the print menu of the remote computer. Document composition and printing to fulfill the printing services request can be by any conventional techniques, and debiting and invoicing are typically practiced simultaneously with document shipment.

Abstract: A business document contains a removable decal. The decal has a plastic substrate overlaid with a reflective coating including an aluminum coating and glass beads. A toner receptor coating overlies the reflective coating. A fine screen pattern is printed on the toner coating and which pattern may include jagged lines or closely spaced dots. Variable and non-variable information is then printed on the toner receptive coating. In the event of use of a solvent to alter the printed information on the decal, the fine printed screen pattern is likewise disrupted and evidences alteration of the decal.

Abstract: A single web is printed in side-by-side relation with variable and non-variable information forming document and envelope web portions. The web is split longitudinally and the document web portion is cut to form discrete documents. Each document is folded about transverse foldlines to form a folded document and rotated 90.degree. for registration with matching envelope portions on the envelope web. Glue lines are applied to the envelope web. The envelope web is then plow-folded along both margins to form first and second flaps overlying and containing the document within the envelope portion of the envelope web. The glue lines are sealed to one another and excess envelope web material between adjacent envelopes is removed whereby envelopes containing documents sealed within the envelopes and forming mailers are provided.

Abstract: A cradle for holding and feeding a stack of sheets in a printer or copier which compensates for non-uniformities in the stack, and especially non-uniformities in the central portion of the stack, thereby presenting a level top sheet to a sheet feeder regardless of how many sheets are in the stack. The cradle broadly comprises a rectangular base plate and four support posts arranged proximate the corners of the base plate. Two extension springs are arranged diametrically with respect to one another, each spring supported at its ends by the support posts, with the springs intersecting one another at approximately the center of the base plate. The extension springs support a plastic sheet, upon which the stack of sheets is laid.

Abstract: A document or business forms handling machine having toner associated therewith, and also having rollers and paper guiding surfaces on which toner may collect, is simply and easily periodically cleaned using a sheet of paper having a thickness and weight comparable to 20-38 lb. bond paper (or 80-100 lb. tag stock), and having a pattern of non-tacky toner attracting and holding material (such as pressure sensitive cohesive, like a styrene-natural rubber copolymer) on at least a first face thereof covers at least about twenty percent of the first face. The cohesive engages, attracts, and holds undesirable toner as the sheet is fed through the machine, to clean it. The machine may be a photocopier, laser printer, or pressure sealer; and the pattern may be a solid block, or spaced parallel strips of cohesive.

Abstract: A combined business form/identification card includes a sheet of cellulosic stock material having a barrier coating on a first portion of the sheet with an overlay of laser-printable varnish on the barrier coat. Lines of weakness are provided in the sheet in the area of the barrier coat and varnish to produce an identification card detachable from the sheet. A second portion of the sheet has indicia imaged thereon.

Abstract: An on-demand exact registration form web perforating method is simple yet effective, and can operate at high speed and a long life. A form web is moved in a predetermined path past first and second rotatable continuous circumferential perforator wheels mounted on stationary axes and spaced from and in alignment with each other along the path. First and second anvil cylinders are spaced along the path for cooperation with the wheels, each cylinder having an interrupted circumference including a raised portion and a depressed portion, and an axis of rotation.