Envelope having extended edge for non-impact printer

Abstract

An article of manufacture and method for printing, using a non-impact printer, indicia less than ¼″ from an edge of the article of manufacture is disclosed. In one embodiment, the article of manufacture and method enable printing on the article of manufacture in accordance with United States Postal Service specifications. The article of manufacture, e.g., a document such as an envelope or other form, includes an extension portion forming an edge detectable by a page detecting means of a non-impact printer wherein the detectable edge extends past the actual edge of the article so that the non-impact printer is directed to print less than ¼″, and preferably less than ⅛″, from an actual edge of the article of manufacture.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An article of manufacture printable on a non-impact printer, said article comprising a removable strip which extends beyond an actual edge of the article such that the strip is detected by a non-impact printer as an actual edge of the article, thereby shifting the printing field toward the actual edge of the article.  
     
     
         2 . The article of    claim 1    wherein said article is an envelope.  
     
     
         3 . The article of    claim 2    wherein said removable strip is integral with a sealing flap of said envelope.  
     
     
         4 . The article of    claim 3    wherein said removable strip forms a protective cover over an adhesive disposed on the sealing flap.  
     
     
         5 . The article of    claim 4    wherein said removable strip has adhesive release material disposed on a face opposing and adhesive-disposed face of the sealing flap.  
     
     
         6 . The article of    claim 1    wherein said strip is detected by a page detection means of the printer.  
     
     
         7 . The article of    claim 1    whereby said detected removable strip enables printing of indicia on the article less than ¼inch from the actual edge of said article.  
     
     
         8 . The article of    claim 1    whereby said detected removable strip enables printing of indicia on the article less than ⅛inch from the actual edge of said article.  
     
     
         9 . The article of    claim 7    wherein the printed indicia is a face-indicating mark (FIM) required by the US Postal Service.  
     
     
         10 . A method for printing with a non-impact printer less than ¼inch from an edge of a printable article, said method comprising: 
 providing a printable article having a removable strip which extends beyond an actual edge of the article such that the strip is detected by a non-impact printer as an actual edge of the article, thereby shifting the printing field toward the actual edge of the article;  
 processing said article through a non-impact printer.  
 
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 10    wherein said article is an envelope.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11    wherein said removable strip is integral with a sealing flap of said envelope.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12    wherein said removable strip forms a protective cover over an adhesive disposed on the sealing flap.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 13    wherein said removable strip has adhesive release material disposed on a face opposing and adhesive-disposed face of the sealing flap.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 10    wherein said strip is detected by a page detection means of the printer.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 10    whereby said detected removable strip enables printing of indicia on the article less than ¼inch from the actual edge of said article.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 10    whereby said detected removable strip enables printing of indicia on the article less than ⅛inch from the actual edge of said article.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 10    wherein the printed indicia is a face-indicating mark (FIM) required by the US Postal Service.