Banded envelopes

Abstract

An envelope package including a plurality of generally aligned envelopes, the plurality of envelopes being compressed together. The package further includes a generally non-elastic band extending around the plurality of compressed envelopes and retaining the envelopes in a state of compression. Each envelope is generally flat and planar in the absence of outside forces, and the band retains the plurality of envelopes in a limited state of compression such that none of the banded envelopes are pulled out of plane by more than about 1/40 of the length of that envelope to reduce warpage thereof.

1 . An envelope package comprising:
 a plurality of generally aligned envelopes, said plurality of envelopes being compressed together; and   a generally non-elastic band extending around said plurality of compressed envelopes and retaining said envelopes in a state of compression, wherein each envelope is generally flat and planar in the absence of outside forces, and wherein said band retains said plurality of envelopes in a limited state of compression such that none of the banded envelopes are pulled out of plane by more than about 1/40 of the length of that envelope to reduce warpage thereof.   
   
   
       2 . The envelope package of  claim 1  wherein said band retains said plurality of envelopes in a state of compression such that said plurality of envelopes exert an expansion force of at least about ½ pound. 
   
   
       3 . The envelope package of  claim 1  wherein said band retains said plurality of envelopes in a state of compression such that said plurality of envelopes are compressed at least about 10% from their uncompressed state. 
   
   
       4 . The envelope package of  claim 1  wherein each envelope includes a cavity having a throat and a flap which can selectively cover said throat. 
   
   
       5 . The envelope package of  claim 4  wherein each flap includes an adhesive located thereon such that each flap can be adhered to a body of an associated envelope to thereby seal the associated envelope. 
   
   
       6 . The envelope package of  claim 1  wherein each envelope is generally rectangular in front view and has a plurality of outer edges, and wherein the outer edges of each envelope are generally aligned such that said plurality of envelopes form a generally rectangular prism. 
   
   
       7 . The envelope package of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of envelopes are compressed in a direction generally perpendicular to said plane of each envelope. 
   
   
       8 . The envelope package of  claim 1  wherein said band is made of a generally air-impermeable material. 
   
   
       9 . The envelope package of  claim 1  wherein said band has a width of at least about 1 inch. 
   
   
       10 . The envelope package of  claim 1  wherein said band extends around the center of said plurality of envelopes. 
   
   
       11 . The envelope package of  claim 1  wherein said band includes a marking thereon. 
   
   
       12 . The envelope package of  claim 11  wherein said marking is located a predetermined distance from a side edge of said plurality of banded envelopes such that the marking is utilizable by a vision-guided robot or an optical recognition machine to determine the location of the side edge of said plurality of banded envelopes. 
   
   
       13 . The envelope package of  claim 1  further including a supplemental band extending around the plurality of envelopes and spaced apart from said band such that said band and said supplemental band together retain said plurality of envelopes in a state of compression. 
   
   
       14 . The envelope package of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of envelopes includes at least about 50 envelopes. 
   
   
       15 . The envelope package of  claim 1  wherein each envelope is generally flat and rectangular in front view and includes four outer edges, and wherein said band extends only around two of said outer edges of inner ones of said envelopes such that said inner ones of said envelopes each have two unbanded edges. 
   
   
       16 . An envelope package comprising:
 a plurality of generally aligned envelopes, said plurality of envelopes being compressed together; and   a generally non-elastic band extending around said plurality of compressed envelopes and retaining said envelopes in a state of compression, and wherein said plurality of envelopes exert an expansion force of at least about ½ pound such that said plurality of envelopes are sufficiently compressed to generally seal ambient air out of said plurality of envelopes to thereby reduce absorption of moisture and warpage thereof.   
   
   
       17 . The envelope package of  claim 16  wherein said band retains said plurality of envelopes in a limited state of compression such that none of the banded envelopes are pulled out of plane by more than about 1/40 of the length of that envelope to reduce warpage thereof. 
   
   
       18 . An envelope package including:
 a plurality of generally aligned envelopes, said plurality of envelopes being compressed together; and   a generally non-elastic band extending around said plurality of compressed envelopes and retaining said envelopes in a state of compression, wherein said band retains said plurality of envelopes in a state of compression such that said plurality of envelopes are compressed at least about 10% from their uncompressed state such that said plurality of envelopes are sufficiently compressed to generally seal ambient air out of said plurality of envelopes to thereby reduce absorption of moisture and warpage thereof.   
   
   
       19 . The envelope package of  claim 18  wherein said band retains said plurality of envelopes in a limited state of compression such that none of the banded envelopes are pulled out of plane by more than about 1/40 of the length of that envelope to reduce warpage thereof.