Field of the Invention

The invention is related to the scope of procedures which enable the technical execution and printing of confidential content on envelopes using laser printing.

Technical problem

The technical problem resolved by this invention is a process that permits easy and economical printing of confidential matter onto envelopes using laser printing. Confidential matter means, for example, PIN codes for bank cards, PIN and PUK codes for mobile phones, as well as any other numerical or character codes. Unauthorized opening of envelopes must be prevented, or be evident at first glance. This means that confidential documents opened without authority should be rendered unusable.

Prior Art

Current methods of printing and sending PIN codes rely on dot-matrix printing technology which is printed on all four sides and then glued into a tri-fold letter. The disadvantage of that system is principally the use of specific printers and associated equipment, as well as longer and more complex workflow. Under Patent No. 21504, the envelope and printing process is characterized by the fact that it is folded and glued by pressure points using special latex based adhesive.

Description of the technical solution

At the core of the envelope and procedure of the invention is the fact that the envelope is A4 format, and divided into three equal parts by a pair of width-wide perforations, to enable folding the form into a "C" or "Z" fold and with two additional longitudinal lengthwise perforations together with three additional side perforations that allow easy opening of the letter. Confidential content is obscured by several overprinted areas with cut borders in a narrow black frame, which colour the edges when opened. The envelopes and procedure for printing confidential content with a laser printer is described in more detail in the following figures:

Figure 1 - Top view of carrier sheet 1 with confidential content

Figure 2 - Bottom view of carrier sheet 1 with confidential content

Figure 3 - The first fold of carrier sheet 1 with confidential content

Figure 4 - The second fold of carrier sheet 1 with confidential content

The envelope and the procedure of the invention is executed on carrier sheet 1 with a specific weight of 90 to 140g/m2, on laser or recycled paper, which permits print by low and high temperature laser printers. Sheet 1 , with a pair of width-wide perforations 3 and 4, is divided into three equal parts 1a, 1b and 1c, which enable folding of the form into a "C" or "Z" fold. To open the envelope after folding and gluing of sheet 1 , there are another two longitudinal (lengthwise) perforations 7 and 8, and additional width-wide perforations 2, 5 and 6.

Sheet 1 has longitudinal perforations 7 and 8, which allow the letter to be detached and opened. The first part, 1a, of sheet 1 is designed for printing notices. Part 1 b is the mirror image of 1c, which is folded at the fourth perforation. In parallel with perforation 4, is perforation 5 in the lower part and perforation 6 in the upper part. They form two parallel bands, which have two small rectangles of adhesive 25 and 26 in the middle.

Part 1b has rectangular shaped frame 15, made of adhesive. In part 1c, rectangular frame 16 is formed, which is a mirror image of frame 15, in respect of perforation 4. Located within part 1 b are rectangles 17 and 18, containing confidential content 19 and 20. Located within part 1c are rectangles 21 and 22, while rectangles 23 and 24 have a protective coating pre-printed in dark black colour that prevents visual identification of the content before opening the layer. A security coating is printed so that the numerical raster is printed in several layers. Rectangles 23 and 24 are bordered by cuts 23a and 24a, which are rectangle in form with an additional triangle with rounded apex. Cuts 23a and 24a enable removal of the protective layer once the letter is received and opened by the recipient; a frame with a 2 mm black edge around each of their edges, guards against unauthorized opening. Parts 1d and 1e, which are separated from parts 1a, 1b and 1c by perforations 7 and 8, are designed for tearing when received by the recipient. At the outer edge of part 1d and 1e, and in part 1 a of layer 1 , are two elongated rectangular layers of adhesive 16 and 11. At the inner edge of parts 1d and 1e, and in parts 1 b and 1c of sheet 1 , are elongated perpendicular adhesive layers 12 and 14.

Using this procedure, the entire area of protective coating is covered by layer of transparent colour, over which a transparent adhesive film, rectangular in shape, is applied. The adhesive on the bottom side of the film must have such characteristics that prevent stratification or degrading of the adhesive at the high temperatures found in laser printers, while retaining adhesiveness.

Strips 23a and 24a on carrier sheet 1 are formed by a cutting tool. Strips 23a and 24a are designed so as to have special suspended areas, perforations, that allow identification of unauthorized attempts to open the envelope. The shape of strip 23a and 24a may also be oval, trapezoidal, diamond-shaped, in the form of drops, or any other chosen geometric shape depending on the settings of the cutting tool as applied to carrier sheet 1.

The laser print image is created using selected numbers or symbols to display PIN or PUK codes. Symbols are printed with equally large dots. The background to the numbers and symbols are printed with the bigger or smaller dots distributed over the entire surface. The formation of characters and background makes it impossible to visually identify a feature on the buffer layer, while the envelope is unopened.

As shown in Figure 2, on the reverse side of sheet 1 in part 1a is a frame for recipient data. Part 1 b is entirely printed with a protective material. In parts 1d' and 1e' of part 1c are two parallel rectangular parts 29 and 30. On the reverse side of sheet 1 there are also two rectangular adhesive parts 27 and 28. The protective areas can be one or more, and in different shapes.

When the content is printed on both sides of Sheet 1 and all necessary adhesive and protective components are in place, sheet 1 is folded by 180° along perforation 4 so as to cover rectangular part 19 with rectangular part 21 on the right side, and rectangular part 20 with rectangular part 22 on the left side. Then part 1a is folded by 180° against the back of 1c and bonded using parts 9, 10, 11 , 16 and portions of 27 and 28.

The envelope is, according to this invention, bonded in three layers and designed to allow double-sided printing of data, the "C" fold, pressing the folded layers into the shape of the envelope, prevents unauthorized opening and so protects the confidentiality of the information.

According to variation I, the envelope and procedure can be folded in the "Z" system.