Mailpiece with personalized communication and return slip and related method utilizing wrapper system

Abstract

The present teachings relate to a mailpiece and method for assembling a mailpiece using a document processing system such as a wrapper system. The assembled mailpiece has outgoing and reply envelope functionality. In the outgoing format, the mailpiece may optionally contain advertisements, inserted documents, or coupons.

1 . A method of assembling a mailpiece having outgoing and reply envelope functionality by way of a wrapper, the method comprising steps of:
 printing information on both sides of a sheet of paper, the printed sheet of paper including:
 a first address printed on the first side of the sheet of paper, the first address associated with the outgoing envelope, 
 a personalized communication and detachable return slip printed on the second side of the sheet of paper, the personalized communication being associated with an addressee identified in the first address and the width of the detachable return slip is smaller than the width of the personalized communication, and 
   adding a reply envelope to be wrapped within the sheet of paper;   folding the sheet of paper along a plurality of fold lines such that the first address is viewable on an exterior of the folded sheet, and the personalized communication and detachable return coupon are concealed in an interior of the sheet facing the reply envelope;   sealing the folded paper along one of more adhesive portions positioned along one or more side edges of the folded sheet; and   cutting the folded sheet from a continuous web of paper to form an assembled mailpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 forming a plurality of perforations on the folded sheet of paper by way of perforation rollers.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 adding one or more pages of assembled inserts prior to the folding step.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the printing of the personalized communication includes printing a billing statement, advertisement or banking statement. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the printing of the detachable return slip includes printing a change of address request slip, a payment slip, an invoice slip, an advertisement acceptance slip, or an acknowledgement of funds transfer slip. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the printing step is performed by way of a duplex printer. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more perforations are added to the sheet of paper prior to or after the printing step. 
     
     
         8 . A mailpiece having outgoing and reply envelope functionality to be assembled by way of a wrapper, the mailpiece comprising:
 a reply envelope to be inserted and wrapped within the mailpiece by way of the wrapper; and   a sheet of paper including printed material on first and second sides of the sheet of paper, the sheet of paper comprising:
 a first address printed on the first side of the sheet of paper, the first address associated with the outgoing envelope, 
 a personalized communication and a detachable return slip printed on the second side of the sheet of paper, wherein:
 the personalized communication is associated with an addressee identified in the first address, 
 the detachable return slip is capable of being inserted into the reply envelope in an unfolded state after detachment from the sheet of paper and an adjacent stub, 
 
 a plurality of fold lines extending across a width of the sheet of paper such that the sheet of paper is folded along the fold lines by the wrapper and the reply envelope is wrapped therein, wherein the first side of the sheet of paper forms an exterior of the mailpiece, and 
 at least one adhesive region positioned on at least the second side of the sheet of paper sealing the mailpiece. 
   
     
     
         9 . The mailpiece according to  claim 8 , wherein the reply envelope is an addressed reply envelope having a second address different from the first address. 
     
     
         10 . The mailpiece according to  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of perforated lines for detaching the detachable return slip and for opening the assembled mailpiece. 
     
     
         11 . The mailpiece according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the perforated lines for detaching the return slip extends vertically from a top side of the return slip towards, but not all the way to, a bottom edge of the sheet of paper. 
     
     
         12 . The mailpiece according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one adhesive region comprises a plurality of glue strips extending across the second side of the sheet of paper. 
     
     
         13 . The mailpiece according to  claim 8 , further comprising one or more pages of assembled inserts to be included inside the assembled mailpiece. 
     
     
         14 . The mailpiece according to  claim 8 , wherein the personalized communication includes a billing statement, advertisement or banking statement. 
     
     
         15 . The mailpiece according to  claim 8 , wherein the detachable return slip is selected from: a change of address request slip, a payment slip, an invoice slip, an advertisement and acceptance slip, or an acknowledgement of funds transfer slip.