Abstract: A variable speed, constant temperature laminator including a slot with a terminal portion for receiving perfect binders, rollers for applying heat and pressure to items to be laminated therebetween, a channel for feeding the items to be laminated between the rollers, a heater disposed along a length of the channel terminating in at least one arcuate fin member disposed closely adjacent to and at least partially about the rollers, the heater further includes a thin walled portion proximate the terminal portion of the slot for heating perfect binders received in the slot; and a driver for driving the rollers at variable speeds for maintaining a constant actual temperature for the heater and constant pressure while achieving a variable effective temperature for items passing between the rollers.

Abstract: A low mass heater is disclosed for rapid heat-up having thin arcuate heater portions adjacent the rollers and separated therefrom by a narrow gap for injecting heat into peripheral portions of the rollers. These arcuate portions may be ductile and have slots therein for adjusting the gap, and also include finger members for self-cleaning of the rollers. A notch is formed in a heater portion for easy lamination of a perfect binder of a booklet. Also, the laminator casing is shaped in the form of a dome having air passage slots therein, which eliminates the need for a cooling fan for the electronic components of the laminator. The dome shape also provides a large sloping surface for an ergonomic control arrangement. After lamination of a first batch of plastic envelopes requiring high laminating temperatures, a second batch requiring low temperatures can be immediately laminated without waiting for cooling down of the heater, by increasing the angular drive roller velocity.

Abstract: A customized insert sheet is laminated by heat and pressure between a plastic cover sheet and a major portion of a folder sheet. A heat activatable adhesive strip may thereafter be applied to an adhesive strip receiving channel adjacent a side edge of the plastic cover sheet, and edge portions of a stack of sheets may then be affixed to the adhesive strip receiving channel by heating the adhesive strip. The cover sheet is affixed to a side edge portion of the folder sheet to reduce wrinkling of the cover sheet upon lamination.

Abstract: Memorabilia insert sheets are pressed against a support sheet having rows and columns of small area self-stick visual fiducial adhesive zones imprinted thereon. Since the adhesive in the zones is releasable and reusable, misaligned insert sheets may be readily mounted upon the support sheet a number of times by an unskilled user until the insert sheet edges are parallel with respect to the support sheet edges and the surrounding borders are even. A transparent cover sheet is then laminated to the insert sheet by the application of heat and pressure to make a long-lasting, attractive display.

Abstract: A single configuration presentation folder is provided, enabling a user to heat laminate custom printed sheets to the face of the folder without the use of a conventional paper carrier. Portions of the folder are scored to produce folders with one or two pouches holding sales literature or pouchless versions for stand-up displays, or folders containing saddle-stitched data sheets therein or laminated data sheets mounted within a loose leaf or spiral bound cover. Various arrays of fiducials are provided for enabling easy, accurate manual positioning of variable sized insert sheets with respect to the folder edges. The fiducials may be made to disappear upon lamination or are otherwise visually non-obtrusive to the eye. The fiducials may consist of disappearing ink, readily releasable adhesive, grid lines formed in the heat activatable adhesive of the cover sheet, indentations in the folder or inks having low visual contrast.

Abstract: A single configuration presentation folder is provided, enabling a user to heat laminate custom printed sheets to the face of the folder without the use of a conventional paper carrier. Portions of the folder are scored to produce folders with one or two pouches holding sales literature or pouchless versions for stand-up displays, or folders containing saddle-stitched data sheets therein or laminated data sheets mounted within a loose leaf or spiral bound cover. Various arrays of fiducials are provided for enabling easy, accurate manual positioning of variable sized insert sheets with respect to the folder edges. The fiducials may be made to disappear upon lamination or are otherwise visually non-obtrusive to the eye. The fiducials may consist of disappearing ink, readily releasable adhesive, grid lines formed in the heat activatable adhesive of the cover sheet, indentations in the folder or inks having low visual contrast.

Abstract: A number of bearers concurrently use card-keys, having a common access code, and a unique lockout code to open a single lock. If a particular bearer is to be selectively locked out, the lockout code sensing device in the lock is changed to lockout the particular bearer but not all other bearers concurrently using their card keys to open the same lock.

Abstract: A first set of pivoted latching fingers having hook ends facing in a first direction are provided, together with a second set of pivoted latching fingers interlaced with the first set in accordance with a particular combination which unlocks the device. The fingers of the second set of latching fingers have hook ends facing in a direction opposite to the direction of orientation of the hook ends of the first set and actuation of only the proper combination of fingers causes the hooks of all fingers to be displaced away from a pair of facing lock anchor members to unlock the lock. All of the fingers are pivoted so that slight amounts of magnetically permeable material in the card key are sufficient to move the hooks of the pivoted latching fingers bearing permanent magnets, through a substantial distance, to enable the use of a thin, flexible card key for positive lock actuation.