US 5,690,774 AGranted

Apparatus and method for maintaining the confidentiality of printed information

AssigneeGordian Holding Corporation

InventorMorton Greene

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for maintaining the confidentiality of information contained in a printed document is accomplished by enclosing the document in an envelope, or similar enclosure, before the document is discharged from the apparatus. The apparatus generally includes: a printer, which may be a facsimile machine, photocopier, or computer printer; a document positioner for positioning the document, so that the document may be enclosed in an envelope; and a document encloser, which encloses the document in the envelope so that the document may later be removed from the envelope for viewing only by the intended recipient. The functions and sequencing of the apparatus are controlled by a suitable control system. A label printer, for printing the name of the intended recipient on the envelope, or the other desired information, may also be included.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for maintaining the confidentiality of information contained in a printed document by fabricating an envelope around said document wherein said information is sent by a sending party to an intended recipient, said apparatus comprising:

a machine frame;
a document printer adjacent to said machine frame wherein said printer receives and stores said information and prints said document, wherein said document may comprise either a single page or a plurality of separate pages of varying lengths and informational content;
a document feed chute, mounted to said machine frame and adjacent to said printer, on which each page of said document is deposited, said feed chute being angled such that each page of said document may slide by gravitational force, in a plane which defines a machine direction plane, from said chute to a point at which a first envelope paper web meets a second envelope paper web and such that said information cannot be viewed;
upper envelope supply roller, around which a supply of upper envelope paper for said first envelope web is wound, wherein said upper envelope supply roller is rotatably mounted to said frame;
lower envelope supply roller, around which a supply of lower envelope paper for said second envelope web is wound, wherein said lower envelope supply roller is rotatably mounted to said frame;
right and left tractor feeds mounted to said frame each tractor feed having a series of pins, spaced at the same intervals as said margin holes such that said pins slideably engage said holes of said tractor feed's respective margin such that said envelope paper webs move in the direction in which said pins move;
a seal pressure roller mechanism mounted to said frame comprising a seal pressure frame;
left and right margin pressure rollers rotatably and adjustably mounted to said seal pressure frame;
center roller actuator adjustably mounted to said seal pressure frame;
center roller frame adjustably mounted to said center roller actuator;
said center pressure roller rotatably and adjustably mounted to said center roller frame;
a paper cutter, positioned to detach said envelope from said first and second webs, said cutter comprising a cutting mechanism frame mounted to said frame;
a paper cutter actuator adjustably mounted to said paper cutter frame;
and a paper cutter blade mounted to said paper cutter actuator;
a control system adapted to control said printer's functions and sequencing, said tractor feed's functions and sequencing, said seal pressure roller functions and sequencing, and said paper cutter's functions and sequencing such that said information cannot be viewed.

12 more elements

An apparatus for maintaining the confidentiality of information contained in a printed document wherein said information is sent by a sending party to an intended recipient, said apparatus comprising:

means for sending said information from said sending party to said recipient, wherein said information is sent in a first signal;
means for receiving said first signal;
means for storing said first signal;
means for printing said information from said first signal on said document such that said printed information cannot be viewed, wherein said document comprises one or more pages;
means for positioning each page of said document as said page is printed by and discharged from said printing means such that said printed information cannot be viewed and such that said document may be enclosed in an envelope, and wherein said positioning means further comprises means for positioning said document between first and second envelope paper webs, and means for depositing each page of said document on a feed chute as said page is printed by and discharged from said printing means, said chute having sufficient angle such that each page of said document slides down said chute and on to said second envelope paper web by gravitational force, said document stopping where said second envelope paper web comes essentially in contact with said first envelope paper web;
means for enclosing said document in said envelope such that said information cannot be viewed and such that said document may later be removed from said envelope by said intended recipient and wherein said enclosing means further comprises means for fabricating said envelope such that said information cannot be viewed, means for separating said envelope from said first and second envelope paper webs, wherein said separating means comprises means for cutting through said first and second envelope paper webs, means for printing information on said envelope, and wherein said fabricating means further comprises means for sealing said first and second envelope paper webs together to form an envelope around said document, and wherein said sealing means further comprises means for applying adhesive to said first or second envelope paper webs, means for applying pressure to said first and second envelope paper webs, wherein said pressure is applied by seal pressure rollers and means for heating said adhesive;
and
means for controlling said receiving, storing, printing, positioning, and enclosing means.

5 more elements

A method for maintaining the confidentiality of information contained in a printed document wherein said information is sent by a sending party to an intended recipient, said method comprising the steps of:

sending said information from said sending party to said recipient, wherein said information is sent in a first signal;
receiving said first signal;
storing said first signal;
printing by printing means said information from said first signal on said document, wherein said document comprises one or more pages, such that said printed information cannot be viewed;
positioning each page of said document as said page is printed by and discharged from said printing means such that said document may be enclosed in an envelope and such that said printed information cannot be viewed, positioning said document between first and second envelope paper webs, and depositing each page of said document on a feed chute as said page is printed by and discharged from said printing means, said chute having sufficient angle such that each page of said document slides down said chute and on to said second envelope paper web by gravitational force, said document stopping where said second envelope paper web comes essentially in contact with said first envelope paper web such that said information cannot be viewed;
enclosing said document in said envelope such that said information cannot be viewed and that said document may later be removed from said envelope by said intended recipient, fabricating said envelope such that said information cannot be viewed, separating said envelope from said first and second envelope paper webs such that said information cannot be viewed by cutting through said first and second envelope paper webs, printing information identifying said intended recipient on said envelope, sealing said first and second envelope paper webs together to form an envelope around said document by applying adhesive to said first or second envelope paper webs and applying pressure to said first and second envelope paper webs by seal pressure rollers, heating said adhesive;
and
controlling said receiving, storing, printing, positioning, and enclosing steps.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/494,124Filed 5 Jun 1995 · continuation
Priority: 19 Dec 1991
Granted: 25 Nov 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B65B 11/06
Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material: wrapping…
B31B 70/00
Making flexible containers
B31B 2150/00
Flexible containers made from sheets or blanks
B31B 2160/10
Shape of flexible containers: rectangular and flat, i.e. without structural provision for thickness of contents