Technical Field

The present invention relates to multiple ply business forms for use in business establishments. More particularly, the present invention relates to guest checks on which is printed certain information and which includes space for recording information in addition to space occupied by a printed bar code symbol.

Background Art

In present-day data processing systems, the use of bar code symbols on labels or articles is well known as a means for acquiring data at a point of sale or other business transaction. The bar code symbol on the article or label is read by scanning apparatus, to provide data such as the identification and price of the article. Of course, additional data may be required of the system in the overall arrangement depending on the complexity of the business operation. The bar code symbol may also be used on documents such as guest checks for hotels, dining facilities or the like where the information concerning items of food and/or drinks is entered or recorded on the check and the bar code symbol is read by a reader for processing the information. While the format and arrangement of printed information on the guest check varies for each business establishment, certain information is desirable to provide a record of the transactions. The printed information on the guest check may include the name and address of the business, the server, table, number of persons, time, date or other like information. It is also known that the guest check may comprise a single sheet or ply on which is printed the essential information, with a bar code symbol being printed in an appropriate machine readable

location. A portion of the check generally is easily removable along a line of perforations for issuing to the guest and which portion includes a record of the service and transaction. The guest check may comprise a back or bottom ply on which is printed the essential Information along with a printed bar code symbol, and a front or top ply which is secured to the back or bottom ply by means of a line of adhesive or the like. The front or top ply may extend over a portion or all of the back or bottom ply and is removable therefrom by the server or cashier for the desired use. Alternatively, a multiple ply guest check may include the printed information including the bar code symbol on all the plies and the plies may be secured together by means of a line of adhesive along one edge of the guest check.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a business form comprising a first ply having information printed thereon, a second ply secured to the first ply by first continuous securing means along one edge thereof and by second continuous means spaced from said first continuous securing means, the first ply having a line of weakening adjacent the second continuous means permitting removal of a portion of the first ply, and at least one third ply secured to said second ply by third continuous securing means adjacent said second continuous securing means, the selective removal of the first ply portion or said at least one third ply leaving another portion of the first ply with the information thereof remaining with the form.

Brief Description of the Drawing

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of a guest check incorporating the subject matter of the present

invention; and Fig. 2 is a side view of the guest check with the several plies being separated in exaggerated manner to show the construction.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a top or front view of a record member 10 such as a guest check which is used or issued by a motel or hotel or other establishment and on which customer charges are recorded. Upon registration at the motel or hotel, or upon being provided a service or items of consumption, the customer is assigned a guest check 10 on which is printed a bar code symbol 12. The bar code symbol 12 comprises a left hand data channel portion 14 including a plurality of lines of different widths spaced to provide machine readable indicia, such as an account member, and a right hand portion 16 that is used as a clocking channel, the overall arrangement forming a personal account number assigned to the customer and readable to process the various transactions.

Any charges that are incurred by the customer are entered on the guest check 10 by inserting the check into the printing mechanism of a terminal or like device (not shown) and entering the amount of the charge into the printing mechanism through a keyboard in a manner that is well-known in the art. A drive member in the terminal device drives the guest check 10 to a position adjacent the printing members of the printing mechanism which prints the amount of the charge. During an initial movement of the guest check 10 into the terminal device, a reader or like sensing member reads the bar code symbol 12 and enables the terminal device to identify the customer's account number so that the amount being printed is identified as belonging to such customer. After verifying the account number, the terminal device notifies the operator to enter the amount of the charge into the

keyboard, after which the printing operation is performed. At check-out time, the total amount of the charge or charges on the guest check 10 is added and printed for payment by the customer.

The guest check 10 comprises a plurality of plies which are formed and arranged in a unique manner to provide an advantageous document for use in business operations. The guest check 10 includes a top or front ply 20 of relatively lightweight paper and of rectangular form, and a bottom or back ply 22 of relatively heavyweight paper and also of rectangular form and essentially corresponding in size with the front ply. At least one middle or intermediate ply 24 of relatively lightweight paper, also of rectangular shape, extends from the lower edges of the top and bottom plies 20, 22 to a position up approximately three-fourths of the length of the guest check, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The top and bottom plies 20, 22 are full length plies with removable portions, as described below.

The top or front ply 20 is CB (coated back) carbonless transfer paper which is secured to the bottom or back ply 22 by means of a double line or spaced lines 26, 28 of adhesive along and between the upper edges of the two plies. A second pair of spaced lines 30, 32 (or a double line) of adhesive are positioned at a distance down from the first lines 26, 28 and thereby secure the top and bottom plies at a second area of attachment. A line of weakening 34 comprising a fine line of perforations is provided adjacent the second lines 30, 32 of adhesive and is below the line 32, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The fine-perforated line 34 provides for easy removal of a lower portion 36 of the front ply 20 and leaves a substantially smooth edge on the remaining upper portion 38 of the front ply.

The back or bottom ply 22 is CF (coated front) carbonless transfer paper which is of one piece construction except for a lower portion 42 which is removable along a line of weakening 40 comprising a line of perforations to provide a stub portion 42 of the transaction. The portion 42 may be used by the customer as a record of the transaction or of the total of the transactions (if more than one).

The middle or intermediate ply 24 (a short length ply) is CFB (coated front and back) carbonless transfer paper and is secured to the back ply 22 by means of a line of adhesive 44 positioned below the line of adhesive 32, as shown in Fig. 2. It is also seen that the upper edge 46 of the middle ply 24 is slightly below the line of weakening 34 of the front ply 20. The adhesive used along line 44 is a low-tack glue to permit easy removal of the middle ply 24 from the back ply 22. While Figs. 1 and 2 show the parts in exaggerated manner, it is advantageous to maintain the glue lines as close as possible to the edge 46 of the middle ply 24 and to the line of weakening 34 to minimize catching or snagging of the edges during machine-reading operations. Depending upon the orientation of the guest check 10 when inserted into the reading apparatus, alternate locations, as at 48 or 50 on the back side of the guest check 10, may be provided for the bar code symbol 12.

While a preferred arrangement of the present invention includes the use of CF, CB, and CFB paper for the several plies, it, of course, is within the scope of this invention to provide plain paper for the plies and to use carbon paper therebetween for transmitting the information to the successive plies.

The multiple ply form 10 is constructed in collated manner by applying the several glue lines, die cutting the lines of perforation, and letterpress crash imprinting the bar code symbol on the portion 38 of the top ply 20.

When a person uses this multiple ply form, items of data or information can be written on the face of the top ply 20 along with machine printing of desired data or information. An image of such writing and/or printing appears on the middle ply 24 and on the bottom ply 22. The guest check is then inserted into the terminal for machine reading of the bar code symbol 12 to effect a transaction. The lower portion 36 of the top ply 20 can be removed along the fine perforated line 34, leaving the upper portion 38 with the bar code symbol 12 thereon. After one or more additional transactions, the middle ply 24 can be removed from the bottom ply 22 by pulling along the line of low-tack glue 44 without disturbing the upper portion 38 of the top ply 20. The remaining bottom ply 22 then can be inserted into the terminal for reading the bar code symbol 12. The structure of the guest check .10 permits the bar code symbol 12 to be read with one, two, three or more plies on the check.

It is thus seen that herein shown and described is a multiple ply document for receiving data or information, which comprises a front ply on which Is printed a bar code symbol, a back ply of comparable size and secured to the front ply, and an intermediate ply of lesser size than the front and back plies and secured to the back ply. Of course, more than one intermediate ply may be provided to form or make up a unit set type guest check. A portion of the front ply can be removed along a line of weakening, and the intermediate ply can be removed along the line of adhesive which secures it to the back ply. The upper portion of the front ply on which is printed the bar code symbol remains with the document and allows the form to be used and the bar code symbol to be read with one, two, or all three plies.

The printing of the bar code symbol 12 only on the portion 38 of the top ply 20 eliminates any problems which may be caused by paper dust collecting on the steel bar code numbering wheels of the printing mechanism if the printing was performed on the CFB and the CF sheets of paper. The paper dust on the numbering wheels could result in smudging of the bar code symbol 12. The printing of the bar code symbol 12 only on the top ply 20 also eliminates any problem of "see-through" reading in the case where symbols are printed on more than one ply and shifting of the plies could cause a slight advance or a delay in reading the proper bar code with a resulting error in the transaction.

The guest check 10 of the present invention provides for two types of glue, a permanent type along lines 26, 28, 30, 32 and a low-tack glue along the line 44. The fine perforated line 34 leaves a smooth edge when the lower portion 36 of the top ply 20 is removed, and the bar code symbol 12 need be printed only one time while enabling reading thereof when one, two, three or more plies are present.