Abstract: Printed articles having unique data thereon, and flexible substrate printing systems and methods that allow for customization of flexible, absorbent substrates. Customization is accomplished by printing variable data on substrate stock in a single run or production pass such that at least some of the articles in a set of articles contains printed matter different from printed matter on other articles in the same set. The substrate stock can include napkin material, toilet tissue material, paper towel material, or any other similar substrate. One or more print engines are configured to receive substrate stock from the conveyor and print variable matter on the substrate stock. The methods and systems allow for economical and efficient production of small or large customer orders without the need to produce individual printing dies or plates.

Abstract: Interactive custom printed order placement and fulfillment systems and methods for placing, selling, accepting, proofing, transmitting, producing, servicing, and delivering orders for printed products including individualized or personalized information in time-efficient ways. Video conferencing technicians can provide direct access to professional, expert, and knowledgeable help. The interactive custom printed order fulfillment systems and methods further provide opportunities for targeted up-sells, cross-promotion, advertising, marketing, and information management to benefit those placing orders, those facilitating or brokering orders, and those producing and delivering orders, thereby increasing information efficiency.

Abstract: A financial transaction card is packaged within a carrier which contains the card and prevents access to any indicia borne on the card (e.g., magnetic stripe, barcode, and the like) prior to activation of the financial transaction account associated with the card at the point of sale. The package bears no alternative indicia correlated with those borne on the card, and thus only the indicia on the card itself may be used for account activation. Such indicia are exposed at the point of sale by opening a section of the carrier to reveal the actual indicia borne on the card itself. Thus, any breakage of the carrier or other attempts to access the card within the packaging, prior to presentation of the packaged card for activation at the point of sale, is evidence of tampering of the package. In a preferred embodiment, the package is a simple three-panel, partially perforated construction that provides substantial security for the packaged card, at minimal manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A process for making a lenticular card including: providing an imaged transparent sheet having a first smooth side and a second side with a lenticulated region, the transparent sheet optionally having at least one printed image area on the first smooth side and a moisture cure adhesive layer over the printed image areas and non-image areas of the first smooth side, and the moisture cure adhesive layer being applied with a screen press through a screen; and combining the imaged transparent sheet on the adhesive layer side of the transparent sheet with a backing sheet by nipping the paired sheets with a nip roller. The invention also provides processes useful for preparing a lenticular card including an optional core sheet, or optional primer layers.

Abstract: The present invention includes a process for making a magnetically readable card. The process includes providing a polymeric extrudable substrate material and one or more magnetic strips. The substrate is extruded in an extruder. The magnetic strips are aligned and coextruded with the polymeric substrate in the extruder to form a continuous length of magnetic strips and polymeric material.

Abstract: A process for making a lenticular card including: providing an imaged transparent sheet having a first smooth side and a second side with a lenticulated region, the transparent sheet optionally having at least one printed image area on the first smooth side and a moisture cure adhesive layer over the printed image areas and non-image areas of the first smooth side, and the moisture cure adhesive layer being applied with a screen press through a screen; and combining the imaged transparent sheet on the adhesive layer side of the transparent sheet with a backing sheet by nipping the paired sheets with a nip roller. The invention also provides processes useful for preparing a lenticular card including an optional core sheet, or optional primer layers.

Abstract: A process for making a lenticular card including: providing an imaged transparent sheet having a first smooth side and a second side with a lenticulated region, the transparent sheet optionally having at least one printed image area on the first smooth side and a moisture cure adhesive layer over the printed image areas and non-image areas of the first smooth side, and the moisture cure adhesive layer being applied with a screen press through a screen; and combining the imaged transparent sheet on the adhesive layer side of the transparent sheet with a backing sheet by nipping the paired sheets with a nip roller. The invention also provides processes useful for preparing a lenticular card including an optional core sheet, or optional primer layers.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering an electronic document over a network, printing in hard copy form at a remote destination, and delivery of the hard copy document to a recipient. A user sends the electronic document to a server over a client-server network (which can be the Internet) where a conversion software program converts the electronic document from its client application format to a printable format (e.g., a PostScript file). A print preview program then converts printable version of the electronic document to a graphical view format. The user can now preview the document on-line to determine how the hard copy document will look upon delivery. The printable version of the electronic document is then transmitted across a printing network (which can also be the Internet) to a print spooler server. The print spooler server prints a hard copy version of the document on an attached printer. The hard copy document is then either delivered to the recipient or held for pick-up by the recipient.

Abstract: The present invention includes a process for making a magnetically readable card. The process includes providing a polymeric extrudable substrate material and one or more magnetic strips. The substrate is extruded in an extruder. The magnetic strips are aligned and coextruded with the polymeric substrate in the extruder to form a continuous length of magnetic strips and polymeric material.

Abstract: The present invention includes a process for making a magnetically readable card. The process includes providing a polymeric extrudable substrate material and one or more magnetic strips. The substrate is extruded in an extruder. The magnetic strips are aligned and coextruded with the polymeric substrate in the extruder to form a continuous length of magnetic strips and polymeric material.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for making a magnetically readable card. The apparatus includes a mechanism for providing a polymeric extrudable substrate material and one or more magnetic strips. The substrate is extruded in an extruder. The apparatus also includes a mechanism wherein the magnetic strips are aligned and coextruded with the polymeric substrate in the extruder to form a continuous length of magnetic strips and polymeric material.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for rapidly producing encoded, ink-jet printed cards. The method includes providing an encodable and printable card and providing an electronic database with stored data. The method also includes encoding and printing the card by concurrently transferring electronically data from the database to an encoder and to a printer. The data printed on the card is verified for accuracy with a verification mechanism.

Abstract: A pad of paper sheets is constructed so that individual sheets may be removed from the pad without the individual sheets having any aggressively tacky or repositionably tacky coatings on exposed surfaces of the sheets after removal. There is no need for padding compounds or coatings on exterior edges or sides of the pads.

Abstract: A printing system operates on a computer system to enable creation of a variety of printed products. The printing system takes either a kiosk form or a personal system form. The printing system contains a variety of definitions of products in its storage which may be selected and modified by a user. The user may alter a plurality of aspects of the selected product including the layout of the product, the graphics of the product and different aspects of the textual information to be printed on the product to personalize the product. Upon completion of personalization of the product, the printing system provides the user with a plurality of order and transmission options which allow certain products to be printed locally, and which allows certain products to be printed by a remotely located printing facility. The user may create a print order which is transmitted in one of two manners to the remote printing facility.