Abstract: A folded paper board compact disc carrier for carrying a plurality of compact discs. A compact disc carrier formed from a single piece of stock comprises a paper board blank having a central portion divided by a fold line into first and second planar portions. Each portion includes a side edge having a tab and a pair of opposing flaps foldable along a fold line lying perpendicular to the central portion fold line. Each flap is foldable to an inward position wherein the flaps define with their corresponding planar half an enclosure adapted to receive a compact disc. Upon folding the first and second planar portions along the central portion told line the enclosures are placed in spaced apart parallel relationship with the side edge tabs of each planar half disposed adjacent each other. The compact disc carrier so formed requires no glue or other adhesives and will hold a plurality of compact discs.

Abstract: A system controls a package assembly line. The package assembly line has a piece feeder and a component feeder. The piece feeder is arranged to feed pieces to a transport of the package assembly line. The component feeder is arranged to feed components to the transport of the package assembly line so that the components and the pieces are combined into packages. The components have corresponding component identifiers thereon. The system includes a memory for storing a piece data file having piece identifiers corresponding to pieces fed by the piece feeder, a detector for detecting a component identifier from a component being fed by the component feeder toward the transport, a comparator for comparing the detected component identifier to a corresponding piece identifier, and in response to the comparison controlling the feeding of a component or rejecting a component.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a carton from a blank sheet of material, in line, and wrapping it about articles of a predetermined size including cutting and scoring blades which are automatically preset according to parameters previously stored, for these particular articles, in a programmable controller.

Abstract: A device for carrying a compact disc having a central aperture and a method of forming the same are provided. The device comprises a blank formed from a single piece of paper board stock, with the blank including a generally rectangular portion having a plurality of fold lines dividing the blank into a plurality of sections. At least one of the sections is foldable along a fold line to a closed position in which the one section forms with an adjacent section an enclosure. A hub is formed in the one section, with the hub including a pair of members. Each member includes an outer portion sized to extend through the compact disc aperture. Each member is shiftable between an unfolded position, in which the member is disposed in the plane of the one section, to a first folded position, in which the member outer portion is folded along a first fold line and is positioned to extend through the compact disc aperture.

Abstract: A printed publication having integrated labels or bookmarks, as well as a method for manufacturing same are disclosed. The printed publication includes a plurality of pages and a cover, at least one of which includes a plurality of bookmarks releasably adhered thereto. The bookmarks can be individually removed by the user, and repositioned elsewhere within the publication for marking and later reference purposes. The method includes the steps of applying an adhesive coating along a moving web of material, applying a release coating to the moving web, folding the web such that the adhesive coating is adhered to the release coating, and cutting the web into individual labels.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for partitioning a real-value windowed attribute into ranges, wherein the values within each range generally correspond to a particular class of results associated with runs of a process. The system and method determines a low range having attribute values generally corresponding to a first class, a middle range having attribute values generally corresponding to a second class, and an upper range having attribute values generally corresponding to the first class. The system and method may be used in a system that produces an induction tree useful in developing an indication of a cause of a particular result of a process from values associated with at least one real-valued, windowed attribute that arises during the runs of the process.

Abstract: A system controls a package assembly line. The package assembly line has a piece feeder and a component feeder. The piece feeder is arranged to feed pieces to a transport of the package assembly line. The component feeder is arranged to feed components to the transport of the package assembly line so that the components and the pieces are combined into packages. The components have corresponding component identifiers thereon. The system includes a memory for storing a piece data file having piece identifiers corresponding to pieces fed by the piece feeder, a detector for detecting a component identifier from a component being fed by the component feeder toward the transport, a comparator for comparing the detected component identifier to a corresponding piece identifier, and a data list re-sequencer for re-sequencing the piece data file if the detected component identifier fails to match the corresponding piece identifier.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for reproducing master and variable information on a display device, such as a computer network or a demand printer. The present invention develops first and second sets of template data representing associated first and second template pages, respectively, wherein each set of template data includes master data representing fixed information to be printed and area data representing an area of a page in which variable information is to be printed. A database is developed having a number of entries, each of which represents variable printed information and the display device is responsive to the sets of template data and the database to display the first and second template pages with selected variable information. The fixed and variable pages may be converted to TIFF format and imposed according to an instruction set. Alternatively, the fixed and variable pages may be “imposed-on-the-fly” as they are processed by a RIP.

Abstract: The present invention is useful for assembling a book. The inventive method includes the steps of specifying pagination information including an indication of whether a page is to be selectively included in the book, determining whether the page is to be assembled into the book based on the pagination information, and generating page description language instructions for production of the book in accordance with the pagination information.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an electronic press develops first and second sets of template data representing associated first and second template pages, respectively. Each set of template data includes master data representing fixed information to be printed and area data representing an area of a page in which variable information is to be printed. A database is developed having a number of entries, each of which represents variable printed information. An electronic press is responsive to sets of template data and the database to print the first and second template pages with selected variable printed information.

Abstract: A folded paper board compact disc carrier for carrying a plurality of compact discs. A compact disc carrier formed from a single piece of stock comprises a paper board blank having a central portion divided by a fold line into first and second planar portions. Each portion includes a side edge having a tab and a pair of opposing flaps foldable along a fold line lying perpendicular to the central portion fold line. Each flap is foldable to an inward position wherein the flaps define with their corresponding planar half an enclosure adapted to receive a compact disc. Upon folding the first and second planar portions along the central portion fold line the enclosures are placed in spaced apart parallel relationship with the side edge tabs of each planar half disposed adjacent each other. The compact disc carrier so formed requires no glue or other adhesives and will hold a plurality of compact discs.

Abstract: A new and improved grease shunt valve and lubrication system for a printing press or the like is achieved by the adding of vent drains and/or seals to prevent the accumulation of a waxy-like residue from the grease that interfered with operation of a return spring for closing of the valve. An existing solenoid, operated, grease shunt valve may be retrofitted with an additional body portion having a grease drain vent therein and a seal that seals grease from flowing along a solenoid, actuating rod and into the solenoid core. Preferably, an end plug that seals one end of the return spring is drilled to provide the drain vent for grease flowing into the spring chamber. Vent holes may also be drilled into the solenoid housing to drain and vent grease flowing into the solenoid core.

Abstract: A binding line having increased capacity and increased flexibility to deliver customized or personalized signatures to the gathering conveyor in order to customize or personalizes the content of a book to appeal to targeted demographic groups or individuals. The binding line includes a gathering conveyor, a plurality of packer boxes positioned along the gathering conveyor, each of the packer boxes being adapted to deliver a distinct signature to the conveyor, and a feeder system operatively associated with at least one of the packer boxes. The feeder system includes a feed conveyor and a plurality of feeder boxes, each of the feeder boxes being adapted to deliver a selected signature to the associated packer box. A primary controller is provided for activating a selected set of the packer boxes, thereby delivering a set of signatures to the gathering conveyor.

Abstract: A method of printing using a press having first and second printing units and responsive to electronic data includes the steps of running the press to cause first and second printing units to produce first and second printed components, respectively, on a substrate, stopping the press and inspecting the first and second printed components to determine a degree of misregistration of the first printed component relative to the second printed component caused by substrate growth. Original electronic data representing an image to be printed by the press are modified in dependence upon the degree of misregistration. The press is subsequently operated in accordance with the modified electronic data to print the image with a reduced degree of misregistration.

Abstract: This invention concentrates on relieving the ergonomic strain on a bindery line operator by always loading at an ergonomically correct height for minimum wrist strain and also performing the “jogging,” which is normally done by the operator prior to placing a stack onto the pocket feeder. The signatures are placed onto a lift at the same height because the signature stack support is being lowered automatically until the pivoted conveyor is full. Then, the entire log is pivoted upwardly and advanced to meet the rear of the previously loaded log. The log is advanced through a series of air blasts to aerate the signatures, a vibrating table to align the backbones, and a set of oscillating guides to align the signatures head to foot to eliminate the manual jogging of signatures and thereby repetitive movement of the operator's wrist to do the jogging.

Abstract: A folded paper board CD carrier for carrying a plurality of CD's. A CD carrier formed from a single piece of stock comprises a paper board blank having a central portion divided by a fold line into first and second planar portions. Each portion includes a side edge having a tab and a pair of opposing flaps foldable along a fold line lying perpendicular to the central portion fold line. Each flap is foldable to an inward position wherein the flaps define with their corresponding planar half an enclosure adapted to receive a CD. Upon folding the first and second planar portions along the central portion fold line the enclosures are placed in spaced apart parallel relationship with the side edge tabs of each planar half disposed adjacent each other. The CD carrier so formed requires no glue or other adhesives and will hold a plurality of CD's.

Abstract: In order to be able to eliminate a mechanical caliper, a bindery line has a plurality of signature feeders or packer boxes each of which is operable to feed a signature therefrom. A collating conveyor passes by each of the signature feeders or packer boxes along a signature conveying path so as to be operable to receive signatures from the signature feeders or packer boxes in collated form for forming a book. A book finishing section is downstream of the signature feeders or packer boxes for forming the book from the signatures received in collated order after the collating conveyor has passed by each of the signature feeders or packer boxes in travel along the signature conveying path. With this arrangement, the invention utilizes detectors for detecting a missing signature, an incorrect signature, a double signature, a conveyor jam, a hanging book, and a long book.

Abstract: A new and improved pallet cap is formed in one flat piece that can be stored flat; and, when it is desired, the flat piece can be easily erected in a pallet cap which can cover a side edge of a stack of material on the pallet. This is achieved by providing a flat sheet of paperboard with an elongated flange having fold lines to allow the flange to be folded to project at an angle to a flat panel which is to lie flat on the top or bottom side of the pallet load. The preferred shape of the pallet cap is generally in the shape of a T with the flange being in the crossbar head of the T and the flat panel being the leg of the T.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for reproducing master and variable information, including variable graphics information, on a display device, such as a computer network or a demand printer. Variable graphics information is stored in a database. A user is prompted to specify graph parameters (i.e. graph type, size, labels, etc.) or default values are used. Template page files containing fixed information and placeholders for variable information are generated. Image boxes are used as placeholders for variable graphics information and an executable graph file is placed in the image boxes. A text box containing the specified graph parameters and variable graphics information from the database is layered over the image box and “tagged” to specify that it contains variable graphics information.

Abstract: In order to ensure the prompt processing of payments of bills with personal checks while using automatic mail opening equipment, a return envelope assembly includes a front panel and a rear panel each having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges. The front and rear panels are integral along their bottom edges about a bottom fold line about which they may be folded so as to have their inner surfaces lie in confronting relation after the envelope is formed from a one piece blank. A side flap is integral with each of the side edges of the front panel about respective side fold lines which are structured such that the side flaps may be folded inwardly to lie between the confronting inner surfaces of the front and rear panels. The side flaps are secured to the inner surface of the rear panel using an adhesive and a closure flap is provided to seal an opening defined by the top edges of the front and rear panels.