MULTIPLE LEAF TICKET ASSEMBLIES

Abstract: A multiple leaf ticket assembly (11) which has a plurality of leaves (18/19) extending between perforated removable marginal portions. The ticket leaves (18/19) are joined together adjacent one marginal portion to form a ticket butt (26) and some of the leaves are provided with lines of perforations (28) adjacent the butt whereby they may be easily torn from the butt (26). A plurality of ticket assemblies (11) may be printed on continuous paper and provided with continuous back and/or front cover sheets (12/13).

Description: "MULTIPLE LEAF TICKET ASSEMBLIES" This invention relates to improvements in and relating to multiple leaf ticket assemblies. Multiple leaf ticket assemblies are presently arranged with the leaf sets supported on a continuous backing sheet whereby they may be fed through suitable printing apparatus to enable relevant details to be typed onto the ticket assembly. The leaves of such ticket assemblies are adapted to be removed from the backing sheet and stapled into a folder or wallet to form a book of tickets. This is a time consuming operation and often results in the provision of a folder of tickets which is both untidy with sheets out of alignment and awkward to use. The ticket leaves may include vouchers and these may be difficult to remove without damaging the voucher. This invention aims to alleviate the abovementioned disadvantages and to provide improvements in and relating to multiple leaf ticket assemblies which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent, With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in ticket means including a plurality of multiple leaf ticket assemblies supported along a continuous backing sheet adapted for controlled advancement through printing apparatus and each ticket assembly having a plurality of leaves connected together along a common side portion to form a butt. The backing sheet may form part of the ticket assembly but preferably the ticket assembly is removed from the backing sheet which may be retained as an audit copy or the like. The continuous backing sheet suitably has marginal side portions adapted for engagement with paper feed apparatus such as tractor drive apparatus. Preferably the ticket means is also provided with a continuous top sheet to facilitate feeding the ticket means through printing apparatus or the like. It is also preferred that the ticket leaves of each- icket assembly be glued together adjacent a longitudinal, edge of said backing sheet to form said butt and that each tear out leaf is defined by lines of perforations or indentations or the like disposed inwardly of the butt. The leaves of adjacent ticket assemblies may be defined by transverse perforation lines or the like weakening means on continuous sheets held between the top and backing sheets and the leaves may be glued together by a continuous glue line to form the butts but preferably the glue line is interrupted adjacent each transverse perforation line or the like which defines said leaves. Interruption of the glue line reduces the rigidity of the ticket means to facilitate feeding, the ticket means about rollers of printing apparatus and the like and whereby the continuous ticket means may be stored in a fan folded arrangement, folded about selected transverse perforation or fold lines. If desired each ticket leaf may be constituted by a tear out portion of a respective" continuous sheet and all or some of the continuous sheets may extend across the full width of the backing sheet and have removable marginal portions which overlie the marginal portions of the backing sheet. These overlying marginal portions may be provided with spaced apertures for engagement by a tractor drive apparatus or the like. The marginal portions of the " leaves may be glued together but preferably all the marginal portions are crimped or the like whereby all the marginal portions may be interconnected while being able to slide across one another to a limited degree so as to retain sufficient flexibility of the assembly of overlying marginal portions to facilitate feeding of this assembly about drive rollers and the like. For this purpose it is preferred that the marginal portions be relatively wide such that the relatively- stiff butt of each ticket assembly does not overlie interfere with the engagement of the adjacent marginal portions with drive means. Of course these marginal portions could be glued and compacted if desired. The front leaf of each ticket may constitute a cover for the ticket assembly but of desired eaih ticket assembly may be removed and fixed into a cover. In a preferred form each ticket assembly includes at least a pair of sets of leaves disposed in adjoining relationship along the backing sheet or support means and each set of leaves has a plurality of leaves each having a common side portion which may be connected together in overlying relationship to form said butt. Preferably each set of leaves includes opposed removable marginal portions which may engage with the tractor feed or the like of printing apparatus and which provide fold lines coincident with the junction between the sets of leaves so as to facilitate accurate folding of the sets of leaves to their overlying positions. The sets of leaves of the ticket assembly upon removal from the backing sheet and folding to their overlying position may be stapled together to form the ticket butt or pressure sensitive adhesive or the like may be placed on the butt portion of the outermost leaves of each or one set to connect the sets together upon folding to overlie one another. One set of leaves of each ticket assembly may contain identification or spaces to be filled in by the ticket seller and the other set of leaves of each set of tickets may contain information printed upside down on the leaves whereby when folded to overlie said one set of leaves the printing on both sets of leaves will be similarly disposed. Of course both sets of leaves may have insert spaces to enable information to be transferred to the backing sheet along the full length thereof. Preferably said one set of leaves is the lowermost set of leaves whereby as each new ticket assembly is advanced through printing apparatus to a printing position by the ticket seller, the completed ticket is spaced from the printing apparatus by the uppermost set of leaves of the ticket to be printed whereby the printed ticket is easily accessible for removal from the backing sheet. If desired a continuous front sheet or front leaf retaining means may be supported above the ticket assemblies and all components of the continuous array of tickets may be connected together by crimping or glueing or the like, as desired. Preferably the front and rear supporting sheets are full width sheets provided with perforations extending fully across the sheets at the junction between respective ticket assemblies and across the junction between respective ticket sets of each ticket assembly. Each ticket set may include any desired number of leaves such as in 6, 8 or 10, for example. Each ticket assembly may contain more than two sets of leaves which may be fan-folded upon another to form the ticket assembly. The adhesive used to connect the leaf sets together could then be placed on the top and back of the intermediate set(s) of leaves. If desired a removable protective cover may be applied to the self adhesive glue to protect it prior to use. Each ticket assembly may include a cover leaf supported on said continuous backing sheet between the top and bottom leaves of said ticket assemblies and upon removal of the ticket assembly from the backing sheet, the leaf or leaves above the cover leaf may be folded about the butt to the back of the ticket assembly to expose the cover leaf. The butt portion may extend from the edge of the ticket assembly which adjoins the removable marginal portions to a longitudinal perforation line along each leaf to facilitate folding of the leaves about the butt along the longitudinal perforation line. Some of the ticket leaves may be removable from -a stub portion along further longitudinal perforation lines disposed inwardly of said butt. Preferably the stub portion is wider than the butt so that when the leaves are folded about the butt to expose the cover leaf the further longitudinal perforation lines or the like along which the voucher leaves may be removed are disposed inwardly of said butt. Thus the butt may be gripped between the fingers to facilitate removal of the removable leaves from the stub portion. Preferably the further longitudinal perforation lines are formed to provide less tear resistance than the perforation lines adjacent longitudinal perforation lines about which the leaves may be folded about said butt portion. The leaves of the ticket may be sensitized to enable information on the top sheet to be transferred onto underlying sheets but of course carbon paper or the like could be provided for this purpose. The backing sheet may also be sensitized whereby it may record information typed or printed onto the ticket assembly. For example, this backing sheet may be used as an audit copy of the ticket assemblies. In a preferred form the cover leaf is formed from non-sensitized material which may be a relatively heavy sheet in order to provide protection for the book of tickets. Furthermore the cover leaf may be formed of non-sensitized material such as a gloss cover. Each leaf may extend a similar distance from the butt so that when the leaves are folded about the butt they terminate along a substantially common edge. Alternatively the cover leaf may extend beyond the remaining leaves so that it may be folded about the butt to cover the other leaves. For this purpose the cover leaf could be arranged as the lowermost leaf in the ticket assembly secured to the backing sheet and it could be folded from the back about the butt to cover the remaining leaves. Of course ticket assemblies of the present invention can be provided individually and independent of a backing sheet and thus in another aspect this invention resides broadly in the ticket assemblies substantially as described above. In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to accompanying drawings which illustrate typical embodiments of the present invention and wherein:- FIG 1 illustrates a stack of tickets according to one embodiment of this invention; . FIG 2 is a perspective view illustrating the passage of the tickets through printing apparatus; FIG 3 is a perspective view of the ticket leaves fanned to a separated position for illustrative purposes; FIG 4 is a rear view of the tear out sets of leaves comprising an unfolded ticket assembly; FIG 5 illustrates the method of folding the leaf sets to their overlying positions; FIG 6 is a perspective view of the ticket assembly with portions cutaway and folded for illustrative purposes; FIG 7 is a perspective view of an alternate form of multiple leaf ticket assembly as removed from the continuous backing sheet; FIG 8 is an enlarged detail view of a corner portion of the ticket butt and illustrating the arrangement of glue lines and perforations; FIG 9 is a perspective view showing the alternate form of ticket assembly, and FIG 10 illustrates the method of removal of a service coupon from the alternate form of ticket assembly. Referring to FIGS 1 to 6 of the drawings there is shown a continuous ticket array 10 comprising a plurality of ticket assemblies 11 supported between a continuous backing sheet 12 and a continuous cover sheet 13. Ticket designation or position indication means is printed on the covering sheet 13 to assist with the positioning of the ticket in a printer. The covering sheet 13 may be discarded in use or it may be retained and used as an audit copy or the like. The continuous ticket array 10 is adapted to be fed through printing apparatus 14 by a tractor drive 15 as shown in FIG 2, for entering ticket details thereon. When completed the ticket assembly 11 may be fed upwardly from the printer 14 to a position clear of the tractor drive 15 whereby it is accessible for removal from the backing sheet 12 with the removable marginal portions 16 still attached to the leaves of the ticket assembly 11. The continuous covering sheet 13 may be crimped or otherwise secured to the backing sheet 12 and/or the ticket assembly 11. The covering sheet 13 provides a 10 shield to prevent the transverse edge portions of the ticket leaves catching in the printing apparatus during feed therethrough. The continuous backing sheet 12 and the continuous covering sheet 13 are provided with transverse rows of perforations 17 at the junction between each ticket assembly 15 11 and intermediate rows of perforations 17a at positions • • halfway therebetween. The intermediate perforations 17a terminate inwardly of the marginal portions 1 * 6 and correspond to a central fold line in each ticket assembly as will become apparent. 20 As illustrated each ticket assembly 11 is a two-part ticket assembly having upper and lower adjoining sets of leaves 18 and 19 respectively which are interconnected ' only along slit lines or lines of perforations 17a and by the removable marginal portions 16 which are engaged by the C - J tractor drive 15. The lower set of leaves 19 is provided with instructions and other printed material which may be read by a ticket seller inserting information into the ticket 11 through the printing apparatus 14 while the uppermost set of tickets 18 has all information thereon, such as "Terms and Conditions" 3° printed upside down. The back left hand end portions 21 of the upper and lower sets of leaves 18 and 19 (shown in reverse in FIG 4) are each provided with a strip of adhesive 22 which engage one another to join the sets of leaves 18 and 19 together when JD they are folded about the lines of perforations 17a to arrange the ticket assembly for supply to a customer after the marginal portions have been removed. In this folded attitude, the printing which appears inverted on the upper set of leaves 18 is reverted to a normal attitude. For example the back upper leaf 23 on which the words "Conditions of Sale" appear at the top left hand corner appears as the intermediate leaf 23 in the folded ticket assembly as shown in FIG 6, with the words "Conditions of Sale" reverted to their normal upright position. 10 Each set of leaves 18 and 19 may contain six leaves for example, some or all of which may be sensitised so that information printed thereon will be recorded in the appropriate positions and on the front and backing sheets 13 and 12 if required. In this embodiment the cover 25 is formed 1 from plain paper so that information printed onto the covering sheet 13, which is removed from the ticket assembly 11, does not appear on the cover 25. However the printed material does appear on subsequent selected sensitized sheets such as the removable voucher sheets and the ticket sheet which is on retained in the ticket assembly. Some or all of the ticket leaves may be provided with the removable marginal drive portions 16, with tear lines of perforations 24 dividing. ' those leaves from the marginal portions. Furthermore the end portions of the ticket leaves inwardly of the lines of 5 perforations 24 are each glued together to form a butt portion 26 above the contact adhesive zones 22. Glue lines 20 in the butt portion 26 join the leaves together. The glue lines 20 terminate short of the lines of perforations 17 and 17a. Some of the leaves in either set of leaves 18 or 1 , 30 but in particular those selected ones in the lower set of leaves 19, extend from the butt portion 26 and terminte short of the opposite .marginal drive portions 16. These "short" leaves are provided with further tear lines of perforations 28 inwardly of the butt portion 26 so that they may be easily 35 removed from the ticket assembly 11. These "short" leaves terminate inwardly of the marginal portions remote from the butt portion 26 so that when those marginal portions are torn off, the "short" leaves are not accidentally removed along the lines of perforations 28. For example, as 1 shown in FIG 6 the leaf 29 of the book of tickets 30 is entitle voucher and this leaf 29 is provided with lines of perforations 28 inwardly of the butt 26 so that the ticket assembly 11 can be held by the butt in one hand and removed by the other hand along the line of perforations 28. In use the continuous array of tickets 10 is fed through suitable printing appartus 14 until the desired ticket assembly is aligned therewith. For this purpose the alignment indication marking 32 in this embodiment is a repeat of the ticket leaf retained by a customer. When correctly positioned, the lower set of leaves 19 will be aligned with the printing head and the upper set of leaves 18 will extend upwardly beyond the tractor drive means 15. After the ticket seller has filled out the ticket the array 10 is advanced one full ticket assembly 1 A . The completed ticket will then be spaced above the tractor drive 15 by the next upper set of leaves 18 whereby the printed ticket assembly 11 together with the cover sheet 13 may be torn from the continuous backing sheet 12. The cover sheet 13 may be discarded if not required and the backing sheet 12 may be retained for an audit copy for example. The upper set of leaves 18 is then folded down behind the lower set of leaves 19 and joined thereto by the pressure sensitive adhesive strips 22. Retention of both marginal portions 16 for the folding process assists in maintaining both ends of the ticket leaves in alignment so that when connected together a neat bundle of leaves is formed. The marginal drive portions 16 may then be torn away to leave the ticket assembly 11, as shown in FIG 6, ready for use. The ticket assembly 50 illustrated in FIGS 7 to 10 is also supported on a continuous backing sheet provided with apertured marginal drive portions adapted to engage with the tractor feed of a printing machine. However each ticket comprise a single set of leaves supported between. the backing sheet and a cover sheet. It will be seen that in this embodiment each ticket assembly 50 comprises five leaves including a first leaf 40 designated "passenger copy", a second "cover" leaf 41, a third leaf 42 designated "terms and conditions" and fourth and fifth removable leaves 43 and 44 designated "service coupon". These leaves are all glued together at one end to form a butt 51 along the left hand edge of the ticket assembly 50. Each ticket leaf is provided with a line of perforations 52 adjacent its torn side edges 53 (which were initially secured to their respective marginal drive portions) and which define fold lines. The leaves are connected together by a glue line 54 between the lines of perforations 52 and the edges 53 to form the butt 51. The first and third leaves are full width leaves 40 and 42 torn.from respective apertured right hand marginal drive portions which engage with the tractor drive means, while the remaining ticket leaves do not extend across the full width of the backing sheet. They terminate inwardly of the right hand lines of perforations dividing the leaves from the marginal drive portions, however they are secured by further pronounced lines of perforations 55 spaced inwardly from the fold perforations 52 and separated therefrom by a distance greater than the width of the butt 51. Sheet five is glued to the backing sheet by a further glue line along the left hand marginal drive portion so as to positively secure the ticket assembly 50 to the backing sheet. The remaining sheets are connected to the backing sheet by crimping through their left and right hand marginal drive portions so that a degree of relative movement can occur between the overlying marginal portions. Furthermore the glue line 54 which forms the butt 51 is compressed by suitable roller means during production of the ticket arrangement so that the thickness of this portion of the ticket assemblies is maintained as thin as possible. This compressed zone is indicated by the markings 56. This mode of connecting the marginal 1 portions together may also be used with the previously described embodiment. The service coupon leaves four and five or the back of the adjacent leaves, or both, are formed of sensitized paper so that the printing applied to the first sheet in the printer will be repeated on the service coupons. Furthermore each ticket assembly 50 may be sequentially numbered in a single pass of the ticket assembly through suitable printing apparatus and if desired the ticket leaves may be provided with a printed background or sensitized ink or the like to prevent unauthorized alteration of a ticket. As shown, the left hand portion of the ticket leaves are connected together by the glue line 54 extending between the torn edges 53 of the leaves and the fold perforations 52. Accordingly the first leaf designated PASSENGER COPY can be folded about the butt 51 and the latter folded about the remaining lines of fold perforations 52 as illustrated in FIG 9, to form an inturned butt 51 concealed between the leaves of the ticket assembly 50. In this folded form the ticket assembly 50 has fixed front and rear covers which are formed from unsensitized paper and removable sensitized service coupons. The front cover may be glossy if desired and printed with any suitable advertising material or the like and the inside of the back cover (which was the top sheet) contains all information such as ticket number and the like inserted through the printing apparatus. This information is also imprinted onto the sensitized SERVICE COUPON leaves. The ticket number copied on the third sheet may be viewed through a window 57 in the cover leaf. The lines of tear out perforations form stub portions 58 are disposed inwardly of the butt 51 whereby a user may grasp the butt 51 of the ticket assembly 50 outwardly of the tear lines 55 so that the service coupons can be easily removed from the supporting stubs 58. Thus it will be seen that the ticket assembly can be readily printed, torn from the backing sheet, folded and given to a customer with a minimum of effort. The " customer will then have a ticket with easily removable service coupons completed with all ticket details and which may be carried by the holder without fear of the sensitized leaves, which are concealed between the unsensitized front and rear leaves, soiling other articles. Furthermore as no staples are utilized, printing and dispensing of tickets can be carried • out quickly and easily. Of course any number of leaves may be utilized to suit a particular application. It will be understood that the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention and that all such and other modifications and variations to the above # described embodiment as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is defined in the appended claims.

Claims: THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:- 1. Ticket means including a plurality of multiple leaf ticket assemblies supported along a contiguous backing sheet adapted for controlled advancement through printing apparatus and each ticket assembly having a plurality of leaves connected together along a common side portion to form a butt. 2. Ticket means according to Claim 1, wherein said ticket assemblies are removable from said backing sheet. 3. Ticket means according to Claim 2, wherein said ticket assemblies are supported inwardly of marginal drive portions provide along said backing sheet. 4. Ticket means according to Claim 3, wherein said marginal drive portions are adapted for engagement with tractor feed means of printing apparatus and said ticket assemblies are connected to said marginal drive portions through tear off marginal portions adapted to overlie said marginal drive portions. 5. Ticket means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ticket leaves are glued together to form said butt adjacent said tear off portions. 6. Ticket means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ticket leaves are continuous throughout said ticket means and the sets of leaves of each ticket assembly are divided from the adjacent sets of leaves along tear lines. 7. Ticket means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is provided a continuous covering sheet covering said ticket assemblies and having marginal portions which overlie the marginal drive portions of said backing sheet. 8. Ticket means according to Claim 7, wherein said marginal portions of said ticket leaves and covering sheet are perforated at the junction line of adjoining ticket assemblies. 9. Ticket means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said ticket leaves are glued together via glue lines which are interrupted adjacent .the top and bottom of each said ticket assembly. 10. Ticket means according to any one of Claims 4 to 9, wherein one or more of the leaves of the respective said ticket assemblies are removable from said butt and are not provided with tear off marginal portions which overlie the marginal drive portions remote from said butt. 11. Ticket means according to Claim 10, wherein said removable leaves are connected to said butt along tear lines. 12. Ticket means according to any one of-the preceding claims, wherein said leaves are arranged to fold about said butt along printed fold lines. 13. Ticket means according to Claim 12, wherein selected leaves are provided with a stub form which they may be torn and which is connected to said butt. 14. Ticket means according to Claim 13, wherein said stub is wider than said butt and wherein said selected leaves are not provided with tear off marginal portions which overlie the drive marginal portion remote from said butt. 15. Ticket means according to any one of ttie preceding claims, wherein each said ticket assembly comprises two sets of leaves disposed in adjoining relationship along said backing sheet and which, in use constitute ; a leading set of leaves and a trailing set of leaves which are arranged to be folded about their transversely extending adjoining edges upon one another to form a book of tickets. 16. Ticket means according to Claim 15, wherein the trailing set of leaves is provided with position markings to indicate information zones to be printed. 17. Ticket means according to Claim 16, wherein one or more of the leaves of the trailing set of leaves are removable from said butt and are not provided with tear off marginal portions which overlie the marginal portions remote from said butt. ' ' 18. Ticket means according to any one of Claim 15 to 17, wherein one pair of adjacent end portions of said sets of leaves are connectible together along adhesive strips provided on said ticket assembly. 19. Ticket means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: LYNCH JOHN BRENTWOOD, TYMMS MURRAY DENIS, LYNCH, JOHN, BRENTWOOD, TYMMS, MURRAY, DENIS
Applicants: COMPUTER PAPER LTD, COMPUTER PAPER LIMITED
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B42D5
IPC codes: B41L1, B42D5