Abstract: A business form such as a label, tag or the like is provided in which a thermally imagable substrate has on selected portions of its surface a plurality of different colored areas. At least one of the colored areas is obscured by thermally imaging the substrate in a selected area so as to provide color coded information. The colored areas may be preprinted as half-tone screened areas on the substrate in a number of different patterns and arrangements. The form may be printed with both color coded information and variable information in a single printing pass.

Abstract: A mailer assembly which can be supplied to a user in intermediate form and which, when assembled and sealed, has an enhanced ability to shield confidential information from unauthorized view is provided. The mailer assembly may also include an integral return envelope and also may be designed so that variable information can be printed on the sheets making up the mailer prior to assembly using nonimpact printers such as laser printers which use heat and pressure to fuse toner to paper. The mailer assembly includes first and second sheets in superimposed relation, with each of the first and second sheets having a pair of marginal side edges and a pair of end edges. The mailer further includes removable marginal side and end strips for opening the mailer. The first and second sheets are secured together parallel to their respective marginal side and end edges to form a subassembly.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive composition is provided for use on cellulosic substrates which will not become tacky under high temperatures, lose adhesive properties due to contact with silicone oils, "block" when stacked prior to printing, or lose bond-forming ability with age. Non-thermoplastic pigment particles and a compound selected from the group consisting of a natural rubber latex, a graft copolymer of natural rubber and acrylic monomer and a blend of the natural rubber latex and the graft copolymer are mixed together to form an adhesive with a glass transition temperature in the range of -10.degree. to -78.degree. C., a dielectric constant of about 2.25 to 2.62 and a green strength of 0.05 to 0.75 p.s.i. The adhesive may also optionally contain a chloroprene-methacrylic acid copolymer latex and a vinyl-methacrylic acid copolymer latex.

Abstract: A cellulosic substrate suitable for use as an envelope or mailer is provided which includes a transparentized portion which has been impregnated with a liquid polymerizable transparentizing material which has then been cured by exposure to radiation. The transparentized portion is no thicker than the remainder of the substrate to permit stacking of the substrate. The transparentized portion may also include carbonless imaging capabilities.

Abstract: A single multipurpose tuck label/form is provided and is imprinted with only a single pass of a printer. The multipurpose tuck label/form includes a label ply and a liner ply, both having respective first and second sides. The first side of the liner ply contacts the second side of the label ply and includes a release coating thereon. Through a unique placement of the release coating on the liner ply and pattern-coated adhesive on the label ply, the tuck label/form can be imprinted in a single pass through a computer-driven printer and may be used without the need for any die cuts to be made on the liner ply.

Abstract: An optically variable device for use on security documents to deter unauthorized reproduction is provided which contains a warning message that is not readily apparent to an observer but that reproduces as a visible warning message when copied. The device comprises a pattern of light reflecting surfaces which comprise a reflection diffraction grating having a plurality of grooves that vary in orientation and blaze angle. In an alternative embodiment, a machine-readable optically variable device is provided in which the pattern of specularly light-reflecting surfaces produces a machine-readable message in response to light impinging on the device.

Abstract: A process for making melamine-formaldehyde microcapsules in an aqueous solution containing a high concentration of a water miscible or water soluble organic solvent is provided. The aqueous solution is prepared and a water insoluble melamine-formaldehyde pre-condensate is dissolved therein by adjusting the temperature and organic solvent concentration of the aqueous solution such that the melamine-formaldehyde pre-condensate is barely soluble therein. A substance to be encapsulated, preferably an oily solution containing a dyestuff precursor, is dispersed into the aqueous solution to form an emulsion, the melamine-formaldehyde pre-condensate being insoluble in the substance to be encapsulated.

Abstract: Multiple ply labels include removable single ply portions for use in facilitating package shipment operations. Two-ply and a three-ply embodiments are disclosed with release material being applied to portions of a second or bottom ply which are overlain by tab portions of a first or top ply having adhesive applied to the underside of the tab portions and around the periphery of the top and bottom plies to adhere the plies to one another to assemble the labels. The tab portions are preferably formed by die cuts; however, lines of weakness created for example by creasing or lines of perforations can be used to make the tab portions readily separable from the top ply. Card portions are also formed by lines of perforations or other lines of weakness in the top ply with the card portions being formed clear of any adhesive coating such that they are free of adhesive for filing, mailing or other applications related to the package shipment operations.

Abstract: An improved security document according to the present invention includes a substrate having a surface for carrying indicia. The document has background printed matter, consisting of a pattern of elements of a first size and frequency, printed at a first density on the surface. The document further has a cancellation term, consisting of a pattern of elements of a second size and frequency, printed at a second density on the surface. Elements of one of the first size or the second size are sufficiently small such that they are not reproduced by a color copier at a particular copier setting, and elements of the other of the first size or the second size are sufficiently large such that they are reproduced by the color copier at the particular copier setting. As a result, a copy of the security document made on a color copier displays the cancellation term. At least a portion of the security document surface is divisible into a plurality of bands extending across the surface.

Abstract: A mailer or business form is provided including a coating of a first colorless reactant on one sheet thereof and a transparent patch overlying the coating. The surface of the patch facing the sheet includes a coating of a second colorless reactant such that when the transparent patch is impacted by an imaging force, a visible image is formed which may be viewed.

Abstract: A mailer product is provided which is formed from a single sheet of paper having first, second and third sections. The first and second sections are separated by a first transverse line and the second and third sections are separated by a second transverse line. The sheet of paper is foldable along the first and second transverse lines so that the first section overlies the second section and the third section overlies the first and second sections. First adhesive material is provided on one of the first and the second sections of the sheet for securing the first and the second sections to one another when the sheet is folded along the first transverse line, thereby forming a return envelope. Second adhesive material is located on at least one of the first, second and third sections for securing the third section to at least one of the first and the second sections when the sheet is folded along the second transverse line, thereby forming a closed mailer.

Abstract: A printable product label assembly having a selectably adhesive portion is provided. The label assembly includes a printable face sheet overlying a liner sheet, a releasable adhesive securing a first portion of the face sheet to a first portion of the liner sheet such that the face sheet and liner sheet are readily separable upon the application of a sufficient delaminating force. A pressure sensitive adhesive secures a second portion of the face sheet to a second portion of the liner sheet such that when the label is removed from the liner sheet, only a selected area of the label includes the pressure sensitive adhesive, while the remainder of the label is nontacky to the touch.

Abstract: A multi-ply form or label which utilizes a clean release adhesive for securing one or more of the plies together is provided. Different embodiments provide a laminated postal card or mailer having a return envelope or a multi-ply product label. In all of these embodiments of the invention, the plies of the label, postal card, or form are secured together in a manner which withstands rough handling and minimizes lost or torn plies. The various embodiments of the invention also include both preprinted information as well as the capability to record variable information on more than one ply in a single printing pass.

Abstract: A process for making melamine-formaldehyde microcapsules in an aqueous solution containing a high concentration of a water miscible or water soluble organic solvent is provided. The aqueous solution is prepared and a water insoluble melamine-formaldehyde pre-condensate is dissolved therein by adjusting the temperature and organic solvent concentration of the aqueous solution such that the melamine-formaldehyde pre-condensate is barely soluble therein. A substance to be encapsulated, preferably an oily solution containing a dyestuff precursor, is dispersed into the aqueous solution to form an emulsion, the melamine-formaldehyde pre-condensate being insoluble in the substance to be encapsulated.

Abstract: Carbonless coating compositions which can be printed onto one or more sheets of a business form or mailer to provide a visible image which is sharper and darker than previous coatings are provided. The compositions also find use on security documents and safety papers to provide a covert image on the document beneath information which may be subject to attempted alteration, such as the amount written on a check. The covert image becomes visible upon the application of pressure or solvent in the area coated to provide evidence of the attempted alteration. The self-contained composition includes an admixture of a color former, a color developer, and a plurality of pressure-rupturable microcapsules containing a solvent. Another solvent-sensitive composition includes an admixture of a color former and a color developer.

Abstract: A high solids content, aqueous, microcapsule-containing printing ink is prepared by forming microcapsules in situ in a printing ink vehicle. The microcapsules are preferably prepared by interfacial polymerization or interfacial crosslinking between a reactant, such as a polyisocyanate dissolved in an oily solution and a coreactant such as a polysalt of casein and diethylene triamine present in an aqueous solution into which the oily solution is dispensed. The aqueous solution contains water and preferrably a non-volatile diluent such as a non-reducing sugar, for example methyl glucoside. The oil-containing microcapsules contain an oil solvent and a mixture of dye precursors which upon reaction with a color developer produces an intense black image. The printing ink preferably has a 60-70% by weight solids content and may be used as a low-coat-weight CB coating for preparing carbonless copy paper.

Abstract: A coating composition is provided for various substrates which renders them receptive to thermal transfer images formed thereon and provides the substrates and images with resistance to moisture, abrasion, and solvents. A mixture of radiation curable oligomers, monomers, and optionally a free radical initiator are blended together, coated onto a substrate, and then cured. Other optional components in the coating include an adhesion promoter, coloring agents, pigments, and/or fillers.

Abstract: A document is provided having a solvent sensitive and/or pressure sensitive ink printed thereon which reacts to the application of a solvent and/or pressure to form a visible stain or image. The ink includes a first composition of solvent soluble, water insoluble dye particles, a binder, and optionally, an opacifier. Alternatively, the first composition may be combined with a second composition which includes an encapsulated solvent and optionally a stilting material. The first and second compositions may be printed on the document in separate steps or printed together as a self-contained composition. The ink may be printed on the entire surface of the document or only on selected areas thereof.

Abstract: A process for the production of microcapsules containing a core material is provided and includes the steps of providing a polar solvent, and adding thereto a dispersion of a tertiary aliphatic isocyanate and a core material in an oleophilic liquid and an amine-containing composition having at least three primary amine groups to form a mixture. The mixture containing these components is reacted to form microcapsules containing the core material. The tertiary aliphatic isocyanate preferably comprises an adduct of m-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate and trimethylolpropane. The core material may contain a dyestuff precursor which is capable of reacting with a color developer to form a color. The microcapsules containing dyestuff precursor may be used to coat a support sheet to form carbonless copy paper.

Abstract: A process for producing melamine-formaldehyde microcapsules using a reactive protective colloid is provided. The reactive protective colloid is prepared by reactively coupling a surface active polymer with a first melamine-formaldehyde pre-condensate. An aqueous solution which includes the reactive protective colloid and a second melamine-formaldehyde pre-condensate is then prepared. A substance to be encapsulated, preferably an oily solution containing a dyestuff precursor, is dispersed as droplets into the aqueous solution. The reactive protective colloid surrounds the droplets to form an emulsion. The second melamine-formaldehyde pre-condensate and the reactive protective colloid are made to self-condense to form melamine-formaldehyde microcapsule walls around the droplets of the substance to be encapsulated.