Abstract: A method of forming a card having a magnetic strip is disclosed and includes advancing a planar card member along a predetermined path of travel. The card member has opposing surfaces. A longitudinal strip of slurry comprising magnetically conductive particles is applied onto a surface of the card member. The magnetically conductive particles are magnetically aligned. The longitudinal strip of magnetically conductive particles are radiation cured to form the magnetic strip on the surface of the card member.

Abstract: An air conveyor is positioned on a tabbing machine and includes a housing having an air chamber and a web entry and web exit and air port communicating with the air chamber. An air nozzle assembly is positioned within the air chamber and includes upper and lower nozzle plates that extend across the air chamber and spaced from each other to form a web delivery channel that is aligned with the web entry and web exit. Each of the nozzle plates includes a plurality of air nozzles extending through the nozzle plate and configured to pass pressurized air from the air chamber into the web delivery channel such that a web of material entering the web entry is drawn, for example, by venturi pressure, from the web entry through the web delivery channel and out the web exit.

Abstract: An air conveyor is positioned on a tabbing machine and includes a housing having an air chamber and a web entry and web exit and air port communicating with the air chamber. An air nozzle assembly is positioned within the air chamber and includes upper and lower nozzle plates that extend across the air chamber and spaced from each other to form a web delivery channel that is aligned with the web entry and web exit. Each of the nozzle plates includes a plurality of air nozzles extending through the nozzle plate and configured to pass pressurized air from the air chamber into the web delivery channel such that a web of material entering the web entry is drawn, for example, by venturi pressure, from the web entry through the web delivery channel and out the web exit.

Abstract: An air conveyor is positioned on a tabbing machine and includes a housing having an air chamber and a web entry and web exit and air port communicating with the air chamber. An air nozzle assembly is positioned within the air chamber and includes upper and lower nozzle plates that extend across the air chamber and spaced from each other to form a web delivery channel that is aligned with the web entry and web exit. Each of the nozzle plates includes a plurality of air nozzles extending through the nozzle plate and configured to pass pressurized air from the air chamber into the web delivery channel such that a web of material entering the web entry is drawn, for example, by venturi pressure, from the web entry through the web delivery channel and out the web exit.

Abstract: A telephone calling card includes a planar card member with a scratch-off label positioned on a surface of the planar card member. The scratch-off label includes a base label having an opaque, releasable film layer and a PIN printed on the opaque, releasable film layer. A scratch-off cover label is secured on the base label and has a scratch-off layer that covers the PIN to obscure from viewing the PIN. Upon application of a peeling force to remove the scratch-off cover label, the opaque, releasable film layer is removed and hides the printed PIN from viewing via the backside of the opaque, releasable film layer. In one aspect of the present invention, the scratch-off cover label is folded over the base label.

Abstract: A method of correcting an article of mail and the article is disclosed. The article of mail has opposing sides and an edge and identifying indicia positioned on at least one of the sides adjacent an edge. A dual neutralizing mask is applied onto at least a substantial portion of the edge and overlaps the opposing sides in an area adjacent the edge to neutralize by covering at least a major portion of the identifying indicia. The indicia has neutralized and cannot be used in subsequent mail processing.

Abstract: A telephone calling card or debit card is formed as a planar card member having front and rear surfaces. A scratch-off label strip is adhered to one of the surfaces and includes an opaque label strip applied onto the surface of the card. A PIN code is applied onto the opaque label strip. A scratch-off layer is applied over the opaque label strip and over the PIN code to obscure from viewing the PIN code. The scratch-off layer can be included on a second label strip applied onto the opaque label strip for covering at least the PIN code.

Abstract: A debit card in the form of a telephone calling card is formed as a rectangular configured, planar card member that is wallet sized and has front and rear surfaces. The rear surface includes instructions for telephone dialing. A scratch-off label strip has been adhered to the rear surface. The scratch-off label strip has opposing sides and one side has a self-adhesive positioned thereon that removably adheres to scratch-off label onto the planar card member. The other side has a PIN code field containing a printed PIN (personal identification number) thereon. A control code field is positioned adjacent the PIN code field and has a control code printed thereon. A scratch-off layer covers only the PIN code field to obscure from view the PIN while leaving unobscured the control code field.

Abstract: An article feeder includes a feeder bin for holding and advancing a stack of articles. A stripper belt mechanism engages the first article contained in the stack and singularly draws the article from the stack. The stripper belt mechanism includes a source of vacuum for drawing vacuum onto the first article. A biasing mechanism biases the stripper belt mechanism against the stack of articles and applies back pressure thereto. The biasing mechanism is adjustable for varying the back pressure against the stack of articles to accommodate articles of varying thickness. A method for operating an article feeder is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for applying labels to mail, including mixed mail. A conveyor conveys individual mail pieces along a predetermined path of travel into a label applying position. The label feed mechanism feeds a web of labels into the label applying position. A label stripper is positioned adjacent the label feed mechanism at the label applying position and adjacent the path of travel to strip labels from the web when an individual mail piece has entered a label applying position. A label roller is positioned adjacent the label stripper. A roller drive mechanism is operatively connected to the label roller for vertically moving the label roller against the label. A connector is operatively connected to the roller drive mechanism for timing the roller drive mechanism to move the label roller against the label as the label is stripped from the web and against an individual mail piece fed under the label stripper.

Abstract: A telephone calling card includes a planar card member with a scratch-off label positioned on a surface of the planar card member. The scratch-off label includes a base label having an opaque, releasable film layer and a PIN printed on the opaque, releasable film layer. A scratch-off cover label is secured on the base label and has a scratch-off layer that covers the PIN to obscure from viewing the PIN. Upon application of a peeling force to remove the scratch-off cover label, the opaque, releasable film layer is removed and hides the printed PIN from viewing via the backside of the opaque, releasable film layer. In one aspect of the present invention, the scratch-off cover label is folded over the base label.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for blocking a tabbing feature of a mail handling system are provided which preferably include a mail register positioned to register a plurality of pieces of mail being conveyed so that each selected edge of the plurality of pieces of mail aligns along a common path of travel, a mail presence detector positioned downstream from the mail register to detect the presence of each piece of mail as the piece of mail travels along the common path of travel, and a mail identifier positioned downstream from the mail detector and in communication with the mail detector to identify preselected pieces of mail which should not be tabbed. The apparatus also preferably includes a tab controller positioned in communication with the mail detector and the mail identifier to communicate to a tabber of a mail handling system to not tab the preselected pieces of mail.

Abstract: A telephone calling card or debit card is formed as a planar card member having front and rear surfaces. A scratch-off label strip is adhered to one of the surfaces and includes an opaque label strip applied onto the surface of the card. A PIN code is applied onto the opaque label strip. A scratch-off layer is applied over the opaque label strip and over the PIN code to obscure from viewing the PIN code. The scratch-off layer can be included on a second label strip applied onto the opaque label strip for covering at least the PIN code.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for blocking a tabbing feature of a mail handling system are provided which preferably include a mail register positioned to register a plurality of pieces of mail being conveyed so that each selected edge of the plurality of pieces of mail aligns along a common path of travel, a mail presence detector positioned downstream from the mail register to detect the presence of each piece of mail as the piece of mail travels along the common path of travel, and a mail identifier positioned downstream from the mail detector and in communication with the mail detector to identify preselected pieces of mail which should not be tabbed. The apparatus also preferably includes a tab controller positioned in communication with the mail detector and the mail identifier to communicate to a tabber of a mail handling system to not tab the preselected pieces of mail.

Abstract: A vacuum table conveying apparatus and associated methods are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a frame, a vacuum chamber positioned to extend along an upper portion of the frame, a vacuum source positioned in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber to apply a low vacuum with a high volume of air to the vacuum chamber, and at least one vacuum belt overlying the vacuum chamber. The at least one vacuum belt preferably has a plurality of openings extending through upper and lower surfaces thereof so that vacuum from the vacuum chamber extends through the plurality of openings and applies to articles mounted on the upper surface of the at least one vacuum belt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sorting mail is disclosed. A mail bin receives individual mail pieces in vertical orientation from the discharge end of a feed belt assembly. The feed belt assembly includes at least one brush roll positioned at the discharge end of the feed belt assembly for imparting a concave profile to the mail upon discharge to aid in reducing any damage to a side edge of the individual mail piece discharged into the mail bin.

Abstract: A debit card in the form of a telephone calling card is formed as a rectangular configured, planar card member that is wallet sized and has front and rear surfaces. The rear surface includes instructions for telephone dialing. A scratch-off label strip has been adhered to the rear surface. The scratch-off label strip has opposing sides and one side has a self-adhesive positioned thereon that removably adheres to scratch-off label onto the planar card member. The other side has a PIN code field containing a printed PIN (personal identification number) thereon. A control code field is positioned adjacent the PIN code field and has a control code printed thereon. A scratch-off layer covers only the PIN code field to obscure from view the PIN while leaving unobscured the control code field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for feeding and tabbing intermixed pieces of mail. A method preferably includes positioning a plurality of intermixed pieces of mail having a plurality of different widths, lengths, and thicknesses so that each of the plurality of intermixed pieces of mail has a commonly-oriented edge to be tabbed. The commonly-oriented edge to be tabbed is preferably defined as being the side of a piece of mail generally perpendicular to the address orientation when reading the address of the piece of mail. The method also preferably includes positioning at least one tab on each of the plurality of intermixed pieces of mail. An apparatus for feeding and tabbing intermixed pieces of mail preferably includes an intermixed mail feeder for feeding a plurality of intermixed pieces of mail having a plurality of different widths, lengths, and thicknesses so that each of the plurality of intermixed pieces of mail has a commonly-oriented edge to be tabbed.

Abstract: Articles such as mail are rotated 90.degree., aligned at one edge, and tabs applied to the edge and wrapped around the edge. The article is carried on a belt, and a stop halts forward movement of the article as the article is received under a pivot ball and a drive ball that holds the article against the belt. The driving force causes the article to rotate about the pivot until the article is free to move further on the belt. Angled belts receive the article and urge it against an alignment fence. A tab is dispensed onto the article, and a twisted belt provides a warped surface for wrapping the tab around the edge of the article. Pressure belts press the tab firmly into position.

Abstract: A paper folder has folding rollers spring urged against the complementary rollers so the rollers touch at the nip when no paper is present. A light spring allows the rollers to open when a piece of paper is to be received therebetween; but, the light spring completely closes after a short movement to limit the gap between the rollers. A heavy spring allows further spacing of the rollers under great force. The resulting folder will fold a range of thicknesses of paper, and including groups of several sheets of paper, without adjustment of the rollers.