Abstract: Tracking and management data for distribution of informational, legal, or contractual notices and tracking associated response, or non-response, is disclosed. The system generates and links tracking data for both the distribution and the response, generates indicators that include the tracking data, and encodes the indicators so that the indicators are detectable as they traverse various events and locations throughout the lifecycle. A detailed audit trail of each event in the distribution and response lifecycle is constructed using data matching methods and various statistics regarding the lifecycle, such that the response habits of notice recipients are formulated.

Abstract: A folder system with an accordion spine 16, and a method of making same is disclosed. The folder may have a plurality of insert elements 52, 60 either at manufacture or by a stub system which are bound into the spine at the valleys 32 of the web which forms the spine. The web is made of outer zig-zag web 40, with the inner web 42, 44, 46 joining adjacent insert elements and the outer web, to create a strong spine of web and inserts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a flexible holding system for transporting piece goods, consisting of an outer envelope (1, 1?, 1?, 1??, 1??) and intermediate elements (2) which each consist of a flexible web material, which are connected to one another such that compartments (3, 3?, 3?, 3??, 3??) are formed within the envelope (1, 1?, 1?, 1??, 1??). In order to provide a process for the cost-favorable and time-saving production of a flexible holding system, it is proposed according to the invention that firstly a long continuous tubular envelope (1, 1?, 1?, 1??, 1??) with intermediate elements (13, 14, 2?, 13??, 14??, 19??) is made which is then divided transversely to the tube axis into at least two parts, so that at least two flexible holding systems result.

Abstract: A bag for packaging liquid formed using plastic in film form is disclosed. The bag includes a leaktight chamber for liquid and a pocket, adjacent to the chamber, in which a pipe for withdrawing the liquid is housed. Access is provided to the inside of said pocket. An opening is formed through part of the wall of the pocket, adjacent to the chamber, to allow the withdrawing pipe to enter the chamber in a leaktight fashion. The opening is situated at the end of a tubular element of decreasing section, at the place where the section is the smallest with the element being formed from a film of plastic forming one wall of the pocket adjacent to the chamber. The tubular element accommodates the pipe for withdrawing the liquid from the chamber and is at least equal to that of the opening, so that the tubular element forms a seal around the withdrawing pipe.

Abstract: The web for a dual chamber tubular container can be maintained in an alignment across the container by providing one or more longitudinal modified areas on the web so that the web will yield and fold in the areas of the modified material. The modification will be a thinning or weakening of the web to produce yield points, such as fold points. This thinning or weakening can be produced mechanically or chemically. Mechanically, a pinch or other shaped roll can be used to thin or weaken an area. Thermally, heat can be applied. The result is a web that remains in an alignment across a tubular chamber rather than in close contact with the sidewall.

Abstract: A reusable yard waste container has a four sided rectangular shell which is open at its top end and has a flat multi-layered bottom. Two opposed sides of the shell have medial fold lines which allow the container to be collapsed to a flat orientation where it can be folded into a small package for storage. Located on the sides normal to the folding sides are upper and lower handles which facilitate handling of the container when full and erecting it from its collapsed orientation. Pockets at the bottom of the container receive weights to prevent the container from blowing away when it is left after being emptied. Snaps permit the top of the container to be closed when it is full. The container is constructed by placing four inwardly facing folds in the side walls of an elongate hollow cylindrical shell to form a rectangular cross-section shell with two pair of opposed sides.

Abstract: A web of packaging material includes a pair of flaps folded onto a backing sheet and laterally heat sealed at uniform positions along the web, forming pairs of bags having laterally opposed openings. The web is perforated at the heat seals to allow ease of separation of the pairs of bags from the web, while longitudinal perforations allow for the separation of the bags of each pair from each other. Releasable adhesive strips are provided on closure flaps to allow closure of the openings of the separated bags. The bags are filled by draping them over a carrier bar, passing them under a blower and filler, and subsequently separating the bag pairs from each other and sealing them.

Abstract: A film negative and matching proof are held for storage in a receptacle formed from a unitary body of flexible material folded to form panels positioned in overlying relation to form a first pocket and a second pocket. One panel is common to both pockets and serves as a boundary layer between the pockets positioned in back-to-back relationship. One pocket is closed along opposite lateral sides and at one end portion with the opposite end portion remaining open to receive the negative protected against undesired contact. The second pocket is positioned to receive the proof along an open end portion and an open lateral side with the opposite end portion and lateral side being closed to facilitate ease of insertion and removal of the proof.

Abstract: An article receiving apparatus and a method of forming an article receiving apparatus having an intermediate panel connected by a fold to a lateral panel on one side and by a fold in the opposite direction to the first fold to a panel connected on the opposite side. A bottom flap is formed by folding a portion of the three panels transversely to the longitudinal axes of the folds. The bottom flap is glued to one of the lateral panels. A pocket is formed between one lateral panel and the intermediate panel which opens at a first side of the article receiving device and the top portion of the article receiving device. Another pocket is formed between the other lateral panel and the intermediate panel, which opens on a second side of the article receiving device and at the top portion of the article receiving device.

Abstract: Unit mailing costs of promotional mailing may be reduced utilizing a dual mailer including first and second stuffed envelope assemblies (12), (14), in side-by-side relation joined by a line of weakening (18), wherein one of the envelope assemblies (12) contains a frank (30) while being free of address information and the other of the envelope assemblies (14) includes an address receiving area (32) while being free of a frank. A first message (Offer #1) is contained within the first envelope assembly (12), and a second message (Offer #2) different from the first message (Offer #1), is contained within the second envelope assembly (14).

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to an improved method of making a document file which has a pair of covers and a plurality of file elements laminated one upon another between the covers. The file elements are hot-sealed together and to the covers. The covers each have an auxiliary sheet hot-sealed to the cover body. The outermost file elements are hot-sealed to the auxiliary sheets of the covers. Thus, no dents or recesses are formed on the cover by hot-sealing the outermost file elements to the respective covers.

Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for converting thermoplastic web material, flat or tubular, to produce bags. A conventional bag machine produces web segments provided with a group of centrally located holes and each segment is transferred by a conventional rotary transfer device to one of a plurality of platforms which are sequentially located at a stacking station. The platforms are provided with upwardly projecting pins on which the web sections are stacked. After the accumulation of a desired number of web segments on the platform located at the stacking station, the loaded platform is indexed away from the stacking station to a perforating station and then to a cutting or cutting and blocking station to thereby produce two bag stacks, each of which are retained on the associated platform by the pins.

Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for converting thermoplastic web material, flat or tubular, to produce bags. A conventional bag machine produces web segments provided with a group of centrally located holes and each segment is transferred by a conventional rotary transfer device to one of a plurality of platforms which are sequentially located at a stacking station. The platforms are provided with upwardly projecting pins on which the web sections are stacked. After the accumulation of a desired number of web segments on the platform located at the stacking station, the loaded platform is indexed away from the stacking station to a perforating station and then to a cutting or cutting and blocking station to thereby produce two bag stacks, each of which are retained on the associated platform by the pins.

Abstract: A method of producing an envelope having an integrally formed external pouch on one side for accommodating a despatch note, waybill or the like, comprises the steps of longitudinally folding a sheet of plastics material from a first reel and transporting the folded plastics sheet to a downstream sealing station while simultaneously feeding a strip of sheet plastics to overlie the folded plastics of the first reel to be transported therewith, and sealing folded plastics to form the envelope while simultaneously applying the same process to the strip plastics, to form the pouch on one wall of the envelope.

Abstract: Direct mail articles comprise an outer envelope containing a pre-formed reply envelope, detachable reply devices, such as coupons and a reply card, and optionally, one or more separate enclosure sheets. The reply envelope is provided with a plurality of apertured pockets adapted to receive at least one of the reply devices, where the apertures permit visual or machine sorting of the sealed envelopes based on the presence or absence of a particular reply device in a particular pocket. Methods of preparing personalized, finished articles from one or more integral sheets or webs are described.

Abstract: A multi-pocket pad (folder) is formed from a one-piece paperboard blank. The folder includes a cover panel, two body panels and two pad retention panels which are adhered in a face-to-face relationship. Flap members, connected by fold lines on the opposite ends of the body panels, form a plurality of pockets. A retention panel has a structure, such as a slit or holes, to hold a notebook. An elongated panel (spline) may be used to hold a pen and the cover panel may be removably joined to a pad retention panel to close the folder.

Abstract: A device and method for folding the main and secondary flaps of self-sealing envelopes into the inoperative condition. The envelopes (11) are fed, bottom edge leading, into a roller (20), the front panel of the envelope being in contact with the roller. The bottom edge lifts off the roller and the envelope is arrested and temporarily supported by abutment means (38,40,44) while the main flap (16) of the envelope is held to the roller by suction (22,24) and carried around the roller and thereby folded relative to the front panel of the envelope. In this position of the envelope, the secondary flap (18) slidably engages the surface of the roller and is then arrested by stop means (28) which carry the secondary flap (18) around and fold it relative to the back panel of the envelope.

Abstract: A method of producing an envelope having an integrally formed external pouch on one side for accommodating a despatch note, waybill or the like, comprises the steps of longitudinally folding a sheet of plastics material from a first reel and transporting the folded plastics sheet to a downstream sealing station while simultaneously feeding a strip of sheet plastics to overlie the folded plastics of the first reel to be transported therewith, and sealing folded plastics to form the envelope while simultaneously applying the same process to the strip plastics, to form the pouch on one wall of the envelope.