US3215072A - Address card - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 2, 1965 KOOCH EIAL ADDRESS CARD 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1963 FIGI.

FIGS.

INVENTORS GEORGE KOOCH WILLIAM L. FENNIMORE ATIXS,

Nov. 2, 1965 I G. KOOCH ETAL 3,215,072

ADDRESS CARD Filed June 25, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5.

FIG? I NVENTORS GEORGE KOOCH WILLIAM L. FENNIMORE ATTYS.

Nov. 2, 1965 KOOCH ETAL ADDRESS CARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25, 1963 INVENTORSI GEORGE KOOCH WILLIAM L. FENNIMORE BY ATTYSM United States Patent 3,215,072 ADDRESS CARD George Kooeh, Philadeiphia, Pa., and William L. Fermimore, Pennsauken, N.J., assignors to Scriptomatic, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 25, 1963, Ser. No. 290,396 1 Claim. (Cl. 101--149.4)

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in sheet material having a recessed area in one face thereof and more particularly to single layer sheet material such as master cards designed for use in conjunction with the hectograph process.

One specific use of sheet material of this type is in the hectograph process wherein an address or other material is printed in a recessed area in one face of a master card. To transfer this printed material to a work piece such as an envelope, a solvent is applied to the work piece and the portion of the master card containing the printed material is brought into pressure-applying relation with the area of the work piece to which the solvent is applied thereby causing the material printed on the master card to be reproduced on the work piece.

The conventional master card comprises a sheet of material of uniform thickness with the printed material to be reproduced deposited on an imprint area of the card. This printed material is in reverse in the card so that when it is transferred to a work piece a positive image is formed. One disadvantage of these prior cards is that when the cards were stacked prior to use, the printed material on one card is in direct contact with the face of the next adjacent card thereby permitting a portion of the printed material to be transferred to the face of the next adjacent card with a resultant decrease in the life of the cards. A further drawback of this type of master card is that a special type of typewriter is required in many instances to apply the printed material to the card. It also has been proposed to make cards of this general type on a sheet of two-ply material with one of the plies having an opening formed thereon before it is adhered to the second ply. This type of card also possesses several disadvantages. For example, if the bonding cement adhering the plies of the card is not spread uniformly, the plies tend to separate at the edges and present the possibility of jamming in a machine such as an addressing machine. Moreover, even if the bonding cement is spread uniformly, there is the possibility of warpage or separation of the plies due, for example, to changing temperatures or humidity conditions to which the card is subjected.

The present invention provides a master card characterized by novel features of construction and arrangement which is designed to replace master cards of the above prior type and obviate the disadvantages thereof. In accordance with the present invention, the master card comprises a single layer of sheet material having a first panel area and a second panel area substantially completely surrounding the first panel area which is of greater thickness than the first panel area with the edges of the second panel adjacent the first panel area being beveled to join smoothly with the first panel area. With this construction the sheet material may be used without difficulty in various types of equipment permitting various operations to be carried out which presently cannot be accomplished. In one form of the invention, the recessed first panel area provides a recessed imprint area for the printed material to be transferred from the master card to the work piece which may be applied thereto by a conventional typewriter. Thus when the cards are stacked one on top of another in an addressing machine or the like, smearing of the printed material to be transferred is obviated. Moreover, the card is characterized by a straight edge around its entire periphery insuring reliable engagement by feed ice means of the addressing machine or the like. Also, with a single ply card the problem of warpage and separation present in multiply cards is eliminated thereby providing a greater useful life for the card.

With the foregoing in mind, an object of the present invention is to provide a one-ply sheet of material having a protected area of reduced thickness on which various operations may be accomplished.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of various embodiments of the present invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of master card in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the imprint face of the master card of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a stack of master cards of the type shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the lowermost card in the stack being fed to the feed rolls prior to being forwarded to a printing station;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through a master card in accordance with the present invention illustrating one form of means for removing one portion of the material from one face of the card to define the recessed area;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a step in the manufacture of the card in which the recessed face of the card is embossed after removal of the portion of the card defining the recessed area;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view through a card with a sheet of carbon paper or the like applied to it illustrating a card of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in position to receive the printed material;

FIG. 8 is a perspective View of a second embodiment of master card in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the imprint face of the master card of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view through a card of the type shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 with a sheet of carbon paper or the like applied to it in position to receive printed material; and

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a stack of master cards of the type shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrating the lowermost card in the stack being fed to the 'feed rolls prior to being forwarded to a printing station.

The present invention is specifically described with reference to a master card for use in the hectograph process. It will he understood, however, that this description is merely by way of example and not of limitation and that the sheet material of the present invention and process of making the same can he used in various other forms of equipment and processes other than that used in conjunction with the hectograph process.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and particulanly to FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, thereof, there is illustrated an embodiment of master card 10 made in accordance with the present invention which may be of a generally rectangular shape in the form of a single layer of paper board or single layer heavy paper stock with the card :10 having a reverse face 1 1 and an imprint face 12.

In the present instance, a recessed area of generally rectangular shape defining an imprint area 1 3 provided in the imprint face .12 of the card 10. If desired, a sheet of carbon paper :14 or the like may 'be removably scoured to the card when the card is initially made, for example, by means of adhesive 15 along the upper edge of the card so that the carbon paper 14 in the present instance overlies the recessed imprint area 13 of the card. The carbon paper is used for applying the desired printed material to the imprint area :13 of the card and after the card is printed, the paper is torn off so that the cards may be stacked as illustrated in FIG. 4. The recessed imprint area 13 preferably does not extend entirely across the face of the card leaving opposite side edges of the card 16, 16 adjacent opposite sides of the imprint area 13 of the same thickness as the remainder of the card which is of greater thickness than the imprint area 13 thereby adding rigidity to the card and preventing the card from bending at the imprint area.

In the use of a master card of the above type in an addressing machine or the like, the cards are stacked, for example, as indicated at 17 in FIG. 4 preparatory to being fed to the printing station of the addressing machine with the imprint area 13 of each card facing downwardly with the printed material being applied within the recessed imprint area 113. By this arrangement, when the cards are forced out of the stack of cards, for example, by means of a feed blade :18 through a pair of feed rolls 19, the printed material is protected in the recessed imprint area and does not smear due to contact with the platen or adjacent card. Preferably, the edges of the recessed imprint area 13 are beveled, for example, as indicated at 21, to prevent the cards from catching against one another or catching on portions of the addressing machine during use. It is noted that the straight sided edge about the entire periphery of the card presents a blunt contact area for engagement by the feed blade 18 insuring positive engagement thereby regardless of the position of the stack of cards on the platen 17.

The recessed imprint area 13 preferably is formed by removing a predetermined portion of the card, for example, by a grinding operation or by slicing a thin layer of material away from the card. When this is done, an uncalendered surface is exposed at this portion of the card, and in some instances, it is necessary that the surface he made smooth in order to properly receive the printed material. This can 'be accomplished by calendering in the conventional manner. Preferably, however, the card is made as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings with the portion of the surface of the card being removed at the imprint area 13 of the card from the reverse face :11 of the card, for example, by running a grinding wheel '23 across the face of the card at the imprint area and removing a predetermined portion of the material from the card. Thereafter, the imprint face of the card is contacted by an embossing wheel 24 which engages the imprint face of the card at the imprint area and embosses the imprint face of the card inwardly thereby forming the recessed imprint area 13 and providing a smooth calender surface on the recessed face of the imprint area. :By this operation, the material of the card at the imprint area is displaced so that the reverse face of the cards at the imprint area .lies in the plane of the remainder of the reverse face. This area is not calendered but the printed material is applied to the calendered recessed face of the imprint area and therefore the grinding operation does not interfere with the printing qualities of the initial paper stock used in the card. At the same time, the embossing roll 24 may be so designed to provide the desired beveled edges 21 at the edges of the recessed imprint area (13.

FIG. 7 illustrates the card during application of printed material to the imprint area of the card. (The card may be placed in a typewriter with the recessed imprint area of the card facing the platen of the typewriter. Type bars, designated generally as 25 in FIG. 7, may then strike the reverse face of the card forcing the struck portion of the card downwardly against the carbon paper 14 to apply the desired printed material to the face of the recessed imprint area. If desired, a conventional typewriter ribfbon or the like (not shown) may be positioned intermediate the type bars 25 and the reverse face of the card so that the material printed on the imprint area of the card appears in a true image on the reverse face of the card. 'It will be noted that with a portion of the material removed from the card at the imprint area, the card is thin enough so that a conventional typewriter may be used to apply printed material to the card. In conventional cards of this type, the card is too thick to be struck from the reverse face by means of a type bar. Accordingly, a special typewriter has to be used with a reverse image on the type so that the card is struck from the imprint face directly applying the printed material in reverse on the imprint face of the card.

There is shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, inclusive, another embodiment of master card in accordance with the present invention. The card is generally similar to that described above being of generally rectangular shape and formed of a single layer of paper board of heavy paper stock and having a reverse face 111 and an imprint face 112. In the present instance, a recessed area 113 of generally rectangular shape is provided in the reverse face 111 of the card and the printed material to be transferred is applied to the imprint face 112 of the card in a rectangular area thereof opposite the recessed area on the reverse face 111 of the card. As in the first described embodiment, a sheet of carbon paper 114 or the like used to apply the desired printed material to the imprint area of the card may be removably secured to an upper edge of the imprint face of the card so that it overlies the imprint face of the card. As illustrated, the side edges of the recessed area 113 in the reverse face of the card are spaced inwardly from opposite side edges of the card and are of the same thickness as the remainder of the card thereby adding rigidity to the card and preventing it from bending at the imprint area. Preferably, the edges of the recessed area are beveled as indicated, for example, at 121 to prevent the cards from catching on one another or catching on portions of the addressing machine during use. It is noted that as in the previously-described embodiment, the entire peripheral edge of the card is straight-sided to insure proper feeding through an addressing machine or the like.

In manufacturing a card of the above type, the recessed area 113 is preferably formed by removing a predetermined portion of the card, for example, by a grinding operation or by slicing a thin layer of material away from the card. The cards preferably have at least one smooth calendered surface and the recessed area 113 is provided in the face of the card opposite the calendered surface. Thereafter the printed material to be transferred to the calendered surface of the card is applied on the side opposite the recessed area 113 of the card within the periphery of the recessed area. This may be done on a conventional typewriter by placing the card therein with the calendered face opposite the recessed area 113 of the card facing the platen of the typewriter. Type bars designated generally as 125 in FIG. 10 may then strike the recessed area of the card forcing the struck portion of the card downwardly against the carbon paper 114 to apply the desired printed material to the calendered face of the card on the side thereof opposite the recessed area. If desired, a conventional typewriter ribbon or the like (not shown) may be positioned intermediate the type bars 125 and the recessed area of the card so that the material printed in the recessed area of the card appears in true image. It is noted that when a portion of the material is removed from the card at the imprint area, the card is thin enough so that a conventional typewriter may be used to apply the printed material to the card In this embodiment of the invention, the carbon deposits or other material which forms the indicia to be reproduced is on the flat calendered surface of the card at the imprint area, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 11. When these cards are stacked in storage or during use, this deposit on the imprint area of the card is protected and prevented from coming in contact with the next adjacent card due to the recessed area on the next adjacent card. When the cards are fed one at a time to a printing station, there is a minimum of wear on the deposit indicia due to the beveled edge at the side of the recessed area rather than the sharp corner which would tend to wipe the deposit indicia ofi of the card.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the following claim.

We claim:

A master card formed of a unitary sheet of paper board or the like having an imprint face and a reverse face, means defining a recessed area extending into the card from the reverse face thereof with the card being of lesser thickness at the recessed area than at the remainder of the card, the edge of the sheet surrounding the recessed area being beveled, the imprint face of said card lying in a single plane and being a smooth calendered surface and said recessed area being a roughened surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS DAVID KLEIN, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,215,072 November 2, 1965 George Kooch et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant (only), line 1, for "George Knoch" read George Kooch Signed and sealed this 24th day of May 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER 7 Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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