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(11) | EP 0 000 814 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Improvements in or relating to Stubless Multi-ply assemblies |
| (57) A unit set assembly of multiple plies includes superimposed top (11), intermediate
(12) and bottom (13) plies each being devoid of any tear lines which may form a stub,
and each being coated on selected surfaces thereof with chemicals which are capable
of reacting with one another to produce a coloured mark. The top (11) and bottom (13)
plies are interconnected by means of a removable glue flap (14), and portions of the
glue extend through holes (17) lying along a margin of the bottom ply (13) so as to
thereby interconnect the intermediate (12) and bottom (13) pliestogether. The top
ply is coated front and back and the intermediate ply is coated on its back surface
with a micro-encapsulated colour precursor, while the bottom ply is coated front and
back and the top surface of the intermediate ply is coated with a record developing
material. Upon application of pressure to the set, coloured marks are formed on the
intermediate and bottom ply top surface as the reactive components of the coatings
on mating surfaces react. The plies are capable of re-arrangement such that by removal
of the intermediate ply and by placing the backs of the top and bottom plies in mating
engagement coloured marks are produced on the backs of the plies as the reactive components
of the coatings of these mating surfaces are forced into reactive contact upon the
application of pressure to the back of the set. The unit set may also include at least two of such intermediate plies, similarly coated as the intermediate ply of the three-ply set so that, upon application of pressure to the set, coloured marks are formed on both intermediate and bottom ply top surfaces as the reactive components of the coatings on mating surfaces react. Portions of the glue extend through aligned holes lying along the margins of the lower intermediate and bottom plies, the latter being smaller than the former so as to mask portion of the glue extending therethrough. The plies are capable of re-arrangement as in the three-ply set upon removal of both intermediate plies. |
[0001] A unit set assembly of multiple plies includes superimposed top, intermediate and bottom plies each being devoid of any tear lines which may form a stub, and each being coated on selected surfaces thereof with chemicals which are capable of reacting with one another to produce a coloured mark. The top and bottom plies are interconnected by means of a removable glue flap, and portions of the glue extend through holes lying along a margin of the bottom ply so as to thereby interconnect the intermediate and bottom plies together. The top ply is coated front and back and the intermediate ply is coated on its back surface with a micro-encapsulated colour precursor, while the bottom ply is coated front and back and the top surface of the intermediate ply is coated with a record developing material. Upon application of pressure to the set, coloured marks are formed on the intermediate and bottom ply top surface as the reactive components of the coatings on mating surfaces react. The plies are capable of re-arrangement such that by removal of the intermediate ply and by placing the backs of the top and bottom plies in mating engagement coloured marks are produced on the backs of the plies as the reactive components of the coatings of these mating surfaces are forced into reactive contact upon the application of pressure to the back of the set.
[0002] The unit set may also include at least two of such intermediate plies, similarly coated as the intermediate ply of the three-ply set so that, upon application of pressure to the set, coloured marks are formed on both intermediate and bottom ply top surfaces as the reactive components of the coatings on mating surfaces react. Portions of the glue extend through aligned holes lying along the margins of the lower intermediate and bottom plies, the latter being smaller than the former so as to mask portion of the glue extending therethrough. The plies are capable of re-arrangement as in the three-ply set upon removal of both intermediate plies.
[0003] This invention relates generally to a stubless multi-ply assembly having carbonless transfer material on each of the surfaces thereof, and more particularly, to such an assembly which is capable of both separation and re-arrangement so that coloured marks may be produced on the fronts and backs of the plies upon application of pressure to the front and back of the set.
[0004] US Patent No. 3981523 and US serial No. 664941 filed 8th March 1976 as a divisional thereof disclose sets of manifold business forms comprising stacks of sheets having one or both surfaces of the sheets coated with carbonless transfer material for the development of images on both sides of the sheets upon the application of pressure to opposite sides of the sets. On the other hand, US serial No. 623393 filed 17th October 1975 discloses a stubless multi-part assembly wherein the parts are interconnected as a unit set without reliance on a stub yet are capable of easy separation and manipulation.
[0005] The aforedescribed stacks of business forms and unit set of multipLe parts, nevertheless, are not without their limitations. The stacks of forms are not interconnected as a set capable of separation during use as a correspondence assembly, and images the stubless unit set is incapable of having developed on both sides of the sheets upon removal of a sheet and re-arrangement of them.
[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stubless multi-ply assembly which permits more effective and economical use of the plies without the need for the handling and disposal of a stub, while at the same time permits the assembly to be re-arranged so that marks are produced thereon upon application of pressure to both sides of the set.
[0007] According to the present invention a unit set comprises at least first, second and third plies, said first ply having a folded flap removably connected along one edge thereof by a line of weakening extending along the fold between said first ply and said flap, said third ply having at least one hole lying adjacent one edge thereof, said flap underlying said third ply and having a quantity of detachable adhesive thereon securing said first ply to said third ply, a portion of said quantity of adhesive extending through said hole and securing said second and third plies together along one edge of said second ply, said edges of said plies lying at a common end of said unit set, and said plies each being devoid of any tear lines which may form a stub, each of said plies having on each of its surfacesa coating comprising an initially colourless colour-forming reactive component, a reactive component of each of the coatings of said first ply being capable of reacting to produce a coloured mark with a reactive component of each of the coatings of said third ply upon coming into reactive contact therewith, -a reactive component of one and another of the coatings of said second ply being capable of respectively reacting-to produce a coloured mark with a reactive component of said coatings of said first ply and with a reactive component of said coatings of said third ply upon coming into reactive contact therewith, said plies being in overlying relationship one to another such that one of said coatings of said first ply is disposed against said one coating of said second ply and said another coating of said second ply is disposed against one of said coatings of said third ply, whereby upon application of pressure to said unit set, said one coating of said first ply is forced into said reactive contact with said one coating of said second ply and said another coating of said second ply is forced into said reactive contact with said one coating of said third ply to thereby produce coloured marks on said second and third plies, said plies being capable of re-arrangement such that, upon removal of said second ply, said first ply is made to overlie said third ply with its other coating disposed against the other coating of said third ply as said first and third plies are folded about said line of weakening, whereby upon application of pressure.to the re-arranged unit set said other coating of said first ply is forced into said reactive contact with said other coating of said third ply to thereby produce another coloured mark on said third ply.
[0008] Unit sets in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is an expanded prospective view of a three-ply stubless assembly according to the invention,
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 assembly showing the manner of using the assembly by producing coloured marks on one side of the plies thereof,
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2 except that the assembly is shown re-arranged with its intermediate ply removed and the remaining plies reversely folded to facilitate production of an image upon application of pressure to the reverse side of the set,
Fig. 4 is an expanded perspective view of a four-ply stubless assembly according to the invention, and,
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the Fig. 4 assembly.
[0009] Turning now to the drawings wherein like references characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, an assembly generally designated 10 is shown in Fig. 1 as comprising three superimposed plies or parts 11, 12 & 13.
[0010] The top or first ply 11 is provided with a removable flap 14 connected to one edge thereof along a fold line 15 of perforations. This flap is provided with a glue stream l6 substantially parallel to line 15 and aligned with a plurality of holes 17 provided in the bottom or third ply 13 along its marginal edge which underlies line 15. Flap l4 is folded to underlie bottom ply 11 (see Fig. 2) and is secured thereto for interconnecting plies 11 and 13 together. Also, portions l6a of glue stream l6 extend through holes 17 for interconnecting the intermediate or second ply 12 and ply 13 together. Therefore, upon removal of ply 11 from the unit set, plies 12 and 13 remain intact, separation of plies 11 and 12 separates all three plies of the set from one another, and removal of the ply 12 leaves plies 11 and 13 intact.
[0011] Each of the plies of unit set 10 is according to the invention coated both front and back with carbonless transfer material which comprises an initially colourless colour-forming reactive component. A reactive component of each of the coatings 18 and 19 of ply 11 and of the back coating 21 of ply 12 is capable of reacting to produce a coloured mark with a reactive component of each of the coatings 23, 24 of ply 13 and of front coating 22 of ply 12 upon coming into reactive contact therewith. Coatings 18, 19 and 21 comprise liquid material in tiny rupturable microscopic capsules, the fill comprising a first reactive component of the reactive system and being illustrated as a series of small circles containing a plus mark ( + ). Coatings 22, 23 and 24 comprise the second relative component of the reaction system which is usually a solid material containing a record- developing material, which when disposed against the coatings containing the first reactive component of the system, causes a mark to be produced upon the rupturing of the microcapsules. For example, a mark 25 may be impressed upon the upper surface of ply 11 by means of a stylus or machine key moving in the direction of arrow 26. Such mark is imaged as mark 27 on the top surface of ply 12 and further as mark 28 on the top surface of ply 13, as the microcapsules in coating 19 and in coating 21 rupture and the fill thereof spills out into contact to co-react with the reactive component in respective coatings 22 and 23. It should be pointed out that the second reactive component is illustrated as a series of plus marks ( + ).
[0012] After writing on the set with the images transferred to the underlying plies as aforedescribed, intermediate ply 12 may be removed from the unit set as a retention copy so that, when interconnected plies 11 and 13 are received by the intended recipient, plies 11 and 13 may be reversely folded into the position shown in Fig. 3 whereupon coatings l8 & 24 are disposed in overlying relationship to one another. Glue flap l4 permits the top and bottom plies to be reversely folded to form a unit set 10A which facilitates the production of markings on opposite sides of plies 11 and 13. The co-reactants in the contacting coatings 18 and 24 of the plies coreact to produce an image 31 on ply 13 as a mark 29 is impressed on ply 11 by a stylus or machine key by applying pressure in the direction of arrow 32. Again, the microcapsules in coating l8 rupture so that the fill contained therein spills out to contact and co-react with the co-reacting material in coating 24.
[0013] The precursors and the acidic coatings useful in connection with the carbonless copying system of the invention are described,for example and in detail,in US Patent No. 3981523 and therefore will not be described in detail herein. That patent disclosure is specifically incorporated herein by reference.
[0014] A four-part unit set assembly 33 is shown in Fig. 4 as comprising superimposed top and bottom (first and fourth) plies 11 and 13 and intermediate (second and third) plies 12 and 34. This assembly is similar to assembly 10 shown in Fig. 1 with the exception of additional ply 34, and is the same as the assembly shown in the aforementioned US application Serial No. 623393 except for the carbonless copying system of the invention. The construction and operation of stubless assembly 33 herein is therefore not unlike that described in the '393 application, the entire disclosure of which being specifically incorporated herein bv reference.
[0015] Ply 34 has holes 35 provided along its marginal edge in alignment with holes 17 lying in ply 11. Holes 35 are of a larger size relative to holes 17 so as to provide an armular portion 36 in ply 13 which serves to mask glue spot 16a as it extends through the aligned holes (see Fig. 4). Also ply 34 is coated front and back as at 37 and 38, such coatings being the same as coatings 22 and 21, respectively, on ply 12. Thus, a reactive component of each of the coatings 37 and 38 is capable of reacting, respectively, to produce a coloured mark with a reactive component of each of the coatings 21 and 23 of plies 12 and 13 upon coming into reactive contact therewith. A mark 39 when impressed upon the upper surface of ply 11 by means of a stylus or machine key moving in the direction of arrow 41, is therefore imaged as marks 42, 43 and 44 on the respective top surfaces of underlying plies 12, 34 and 13 as the microcapcules in coatings 19, 21 and 38 rupture and the fill thereof.respectively spills out into contact to co-react with the reactive component in respective coatings 22, 37 and 23.
[0016] After writing on the set with the images transferred its shown in Fig. 5, intermediate plies 12 and 34 may be removed and plies 11 and 13 may be reversely folded into the position shown in Fig. 3 whereupon coatings l8 and 24 are disposed in overlying relationship to one another. Writing and image transfer on opposite sides of plies 11 and 13 may then be carried out similarly as described hereinabove with reference to Fig. 3 In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that a simple and economical yet highly effective unit set of multiple plies has been devised using a unique arrangement of coatings comprising an initially colourless colour-forming reactive component on each of the surfaces of the plies to facilitate image production on both sides of the top and bottom plies of the set. The particular arrangement of coatings on each of the surfaces of each of the plies facilitates the production of images on the intermediate and bottom plies as pressure is applied to the top ply of the set, whereafter the intermediate ply or plies may be removed and the top and bottom plies may be reversely folded so that their back surfaces overlie one another to facilitate the production of an image as a mark is impressed upon the reverse side of the set. Of course, additional intermediate plies 34 having the same front and back coatings may be utilized in each unit set 10 or 33, each additional ply 34 having holes 35 in alignment with smaller hole 17 so as to function the aame as in Fig. 5, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
1. A unit set assembly of multiple plies comprising at least superimposed first, second
and third plies, said first ply having a folded flap removably connected along one
edge thereof by a line of weakening extending along the fold between said first ply
and said flap, said third ply having at least one hole lying adjacent one edge thereof,
said flap underlying said third ply and having a quantity of detachable adhesive thereon
securing said first ply to said third ply, a portion of said quantity of adhesive
extending through said hole and securing said second and third plies together along
one edge of said second ply, said edges of said plies lying at a common end of said
unit set, and said plies each being devoid of any tear lines which may form a stub,
each of said plies having on each of its surfaces a coating comprising an initially
colourless colour-forming reactive component, a reactive component of each of the
coatings of said first ply being capable of reacting to produce a coloured mark with
a reactive component of each of the coatings of said third ply upon coming into reactive
contact therewith, a reactive component of one and another of the coatings of said
second ply being capable of respectively reacting to produce a coloured mark with
a reactive component of said coatings of said first ply and with a reactive component
of said coatings of said third ply upon coming into reactive contact therewith, said
plies being in overlying relationship to one another such that one of said coatings
of said first ply is disposed against said one coating of said second ply and said
another coating of said second ply is disposed against one of said coatings of said
third ply, whereby upon application of pressure to said unit set, said one coating
of said first ply is forced into said reactive contact with said one coating of said
second ply and said another coating of said second ply is forced into said reactive
contact with said one coating of said third ply to thereby produce coloured marks
on said second and third plies, said plies being capable of re-arrangement such that,
upon removal of said second ply, said first ply is made to overlie said third ply
with its other coating disposed against the other coating of said third ply as said
first and third plies are folded about said line of weakening, whereby upon application
of pressure to the re-arranged.unit set said other coating of said first ply is forced
into said reactive contact with said other coating of said third ply to thereby produce
another coloured mark on said third ply.
2. The unit set assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the coatings of said
first ply and said another coating of said second ply comprises a plurality of .pressure
rupturable microcapsules containing said colour-forming reactive component thereof,
said microcapsules being repturable upon application of said pressure to said unit
set.
3. A unit set assembly of multiple plies, comprising at least superimposed first,
second, third and fourth plies, said first ply having a folded flap removably connected
along one edge thereof by a line of weakening extending along the fold between said
first ply and said flap, said third ply having at least one first hole of a predetermined
first size lying adjacent one edge thereof, said flap underlying said fourth ply and
having a quantity of detachable adhesive thereon securing said first ply to said fourth
ply, said fourth ply having at least one second hole of a predetermined second size
lying adjacent one edge thereof in axial alignment with said first hole, the size
of said second hole being less than the size of said first hole, a portion of said
quantity of adhesive extending through said first and second holes and securing said
second and fourth plies together along one edge of said second ply, said quantity
of adhesive lying inwardly of said first hole by reason of the difference in size
between said holes to thereby immobilize said third ply in place, said edges of said
plies lying at a common end of said unit set, said plies each being devoid of any
tear lines which may form a stub, each of said plies having on each of its surfaces
a coating comprising an initially colourless colour-forming reactive component, a
reactive component of each of the coatings of said first ply being capable of reacting
to produce a coloured mark with a reactive component of each of the coatings of said
fourth ply upon coming into reactive contact therewith, a reactive component of one
and another of the coatings of said second and third plies being capable of respectively
reacting with each other to produce a coloured mark and with a reactive component
of said coatings of said first ply and with a reactive component of said coatings
of said third ply upon coming into reactive contact therewith, said plies being in
overlying relationship to one another such that one of said coatings of said first
ply is disposed against said one coating of said second ply and said another coating
of said second ply is disposed against said one coating of said third ply and said
another coatitgof said third ply is disposed against one of said coatings of said
fourth ply, whereby upon application of pressure to said unit set, said one coating
of said first ply is forced into said reactive contact with said one coating of said
second ply and said another coating of said second ply is forced into said reactive
contact with said one coating of said third ply and said another coating of said third
ply is forced into said reactive contact with said one coating of said fourth ply
to thereby produce coloured marks on said second, third and fourth plies, said plies
being capable of re-arrangement such that upon removal of said second and third plies,
said first ply is made to overlie said fourth ply with its other coating disposed
against the other coating of said fourth ply as said first and fourth plies are folded
about said line of weakening, whereby upon application of pressure to the re-arranged
unit set said other coating of said first ply is forced into said reactive contact
with said other coating of said fourth ply to thereby produce another coloured mark
on said fourth ply.
4. The unit set assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of the coatings of said
first ply and said another coating of said second and third plies comprises a plurality
of pressure rupturable microcapcules containing said colour-forming reactive component
thereof, said microcapsules being rupturable upon application of said pressure to
said unit set.
5. A unit set assembly arranged substantially as herein described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.