Abstract: In a reply card enabling a recipient of said reply card to answer at least one request made by a sender of said reply card by taking a determined physical action on at least one identified zone of said reply card, provision is made for at least one identified zone of said reply card to be provided with a succession of signs printed with a conductive ink, and for a determined physical action to be taken that consists in perforating at least one of said identified zones so as to detach at least a portion of said succession of signs printed with a conductive ink from the reply card, the effect of said detaching being to prevent a radio-frequency read device possessed by the sender from receiving the answer associated with said succession of signs printed with a conductive ink and detached by the recipient.

Abstract: A cover feeding device for a book binding machine features a transport device for feeding covers (1) decollated from a magazine (11), a conveyor (12) that is arranged underneath the plane of motion of the book blocks (7) a pressing device (14) that presses the covers against the spine and a printing unit (17) that prints content (8) onto the cover (1). The transport device comprises a turning device (21, 31a, b, 41) for transporting the covers (1) such that the outside (3) is at least partially directed upward during their infeed, and the printing unit (17) is arranged above the cover transport.

Abstract: A sticky note pad includes at least two stacks of sticky note sheets. Each sticky note sheet has a note-writing region, an index tab region projecting from a right lateral edge thereof, and a removable pressure sensitive adhesive layer provided on a bottom face thereof in proximity to a left lateral edge thereof. The index tab regions of the sticky note sheets of one of the stacks are staggered with respect to the index tab regions of the sticky note sheets of the other stack in a top-to-bottom direction, and are aligned to the same in a direction parallel to the lateral edges of the sticky note sheets. A glue layer binds the left lateral edges of the sticky note sheets of all the stacks. A partition sheet is adhered to the bottom face of a lowermost sticky note sheet of an upper stack.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pro label book includes printing static indicia on a web of label material, applying an adhesive to each portion of the web of label material that will become a label page in a pro label book that is not the portion of the web of label material that will become a top page of a label book to be formed if the adhesive is applied to a top surface of the web of label material or a bottom page of a label book to be formed if the adhesive is applied to the bottom surface of the web of label material, printing variable information on the web of label material, sheeting the web of label material to form label pages, and batching the label pages together utilizing the applied adhesive. Certain embodiments include attaching one of a backer or a cover to the web of label material following the printing static indicia step.

Abstract: A coupon for providing an incentive for a user to participate in physical activity. The coupon detects the physical activity of a user and indicates to the user when the threshold of physical activity has been reached. Once the coupon has indicated that the threshold has been reached, the user may redeem the coupon for a reward.

Abstract: A milling unit of a book binding device removes a coating material adhered to cutting surfaces of coating sheets. A book binding device binding a bunch of sheets fed from a sheet aligning unit includes a sheet aligning plate aligning a section of the bunch of sheets fed from the sheet aligning unit; a gripper fixing the bunch of sheets aligned by the sheet aligning plate; an adhesive unit feeding an adhesive member to the section of the bunch of sheets to bind the bunch of sheets; and a milling unit milling the section of the bunch of sheets before the bunch of sheets is subjected to binding by the adhesive unit.

Abstract: A method of security printing can comprise the steps of printing a transparent ink onto a portion of a coated substrate resulting in printed region and an unprinted region, where the transparent ink is devoid of dyes, pigments, ceramics, metallics, and fluorescents; illuminating both the printed region and the unprinted region of the substrate, where the printed region scatters more light than the unprinted region creating a contrast; and detecting the contrast with a sensor that is sensitive to detecting light scattering differences between the printed region and the unprinted region.

Abstract: A method in a diffractive color system that specifies visual color effects and/or target colors that are formed by mixing together two or more diffractively produced primary colors. The primary colors and the characteristics of the elementary gratings used in producing them are selected in such a manner that they produce the desired exact primary colors particularly in the application-specific lighting and by taking into account, when required, the color of the substrate material and/or other background separately. A diffractive color system implements the method. A diffractive component produces the mixed target color. A product contains one or more diffractive color effects.

Abstract: A punching processing unit punches holes in a paper bundle delivered from a preprocessing device. A bookbinding unit includes a cartridge for stocking a plurality of rings, and performs a ring binding by binding the paper bundle with the rings. A detecting unit detects an abnormality of a ring in the cartridge. A control unit exchanges a signal with the preprocessing unit each time when detection information obtained by the detecting unit changes. When any one of the rings is determined as abnormal and an execution of ring binding is set, the control unit inhibits the ring binding.

Abstract: A book binding machine includes a book block transport system and a plurality of clamps for clamping stacks of leaves. The clamps are disposed at a distance from each other and are guided in guide tracks of a machine frame. The book block transport system includes a clamp, which is also referred to as a lubrication clamp, having a device for lubricating the guide track. An applicator is assigned to each track roller of the clamp, and the lubricant is transferred to the track rollers through the use of a respective applicator such as a brush. The track rollers transfer the lubricant to contact surfaces of the guide track. A lubrication clamp for a book block transport system in a book binding machine, is also provided.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism having at least one pair of half-ring members that are movable between a first position, wherein the half-ring members are closed, and a second position, wherein the half-ring members are open, and at least one generally tubular member to facilitate alignment and securement of the at least one pair of half ring members when moved from the second, open position to the first, closed position.

Abstract: A saddle plate is disposed on a circulating conveyor which moves the saddle plate vertically upward. The saddle plate is arranged to receive a book block in a straddle like fashion with first and second adhesive-coated outside surfaces of book block being exposed. A pressing-on device operates synchronously with the circulating conveyor and includes two pressing-on rollers. Each roller presses a respective first or second book cover of a book casing against a respective first or second adhesive-coated outside surface. First and second drive motors are operatively coupled, respectively, with the pressing-on device and circulating conveyor. A drive control unit, operatively coupled to the first and second drives, controls the first and second drives and controllably links one to another. At least the first drive includes a controllable drive element.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing hard book cases (covers) can make cases including tucked and folded corners. The apparatus can track the progress of the book case throughout the assembly process and can accurately align the unfinished assembly with the tucking and folding devices of the apparatus. Short runs of different sized book cases may be quickly and efficiently manufactured on a single apparatus.

Abstract: A non-cellulose based deformable substrate having at least one fold line is configured to be able to be directly mounted on a frame or included in a publication. The substrate is configured to reduce the propagation of stress along the at least one fold line.

Abstract: A method for backing printed products includes feeding signatures to a transport and stitching line of a gatherer stitcher by a plurality of feeders. A plurality of signatures are gathered on the transport and stitching line and forms a folded sheet assembly. The folded sheet assembly is stitched to form a brochure along the transport and stitching line. The spine of the brochure is backed along the transport and stitching line by a pressing apparatus.

Abstract: A display system includes a binder, a header, a retaining bracket and an extension assembly. The binder includes a plate, a plurality of sheets and an attachment assembly. The plate has a front surface, a rear surface and an edge. The attachment assembly secure the sheets at the front surface of the plate and maintains and displays information. The header includes indicia and is adapted to be positioned in a retracted position where the header is substantially obscured from view by the plate and an extended position where the header extends substantially from the edge of the plate. The retaining bracket is attached to the rear surface of the plate. The extension assembly is adapted to engage the retaining bracket to maintain the header in the extended position.

Abstract: Techniques are described for authenticating security documents having security images that incorporate multiple security features. The techniques may produce robust template matching results in situations of lighting unevenness, even with stronger occluding objects. The techniques may be particularly useful in validating a security document having a security image composed of one or more “virtual” retroreflective images formed over a background of a repeating retroreflective image. The virtual retroreflective images within the security image provide strong signals that may dominate analysis and validation of the background retroreflective image, thereby resulting incorrect authentication. The techniques provide a modified normalized cross-correlation analysis that masks out the strong signals contributed by the additional security features, such as the retroreflective virtual images, while still allowing for fast and efficient template matching to be performed with respect to the background image.

Abstract: Sheet Lifter for use with multi ring sheet or page holders and multi ring binders. The Device is made from a thin ridged panel with a plurality of notches and slots. The Device is positioned in order to interact with the rings and binder spine of the page holder or binder. The Device rests on the spine with the pages or sheets resting on the Device. The Device prevents the pages or sheets from traveling past the maximum horizontal diameter point of the rings when the holder or binder is fully opened. When the holder or binder is closed the Device creates sufficient upward pressure against the pages or sheets to return them to their closed position at the maximum vertical diameter point of the rings. The pressure required is minimal.

Abstract: A sheet bundle conveying device includes a tray device on which sheets are placed and held in a bundle, a sheet bundle conveying path along which a sheet bundle from the tray device is guided to a predetermined processing position, a grip transferring device located on the sheet bundle conveying path for gripping and transferring the sheet bundle from the tray device to a processing position, and a grip controlling device for controlling the grip transferring device. When an apparatus error occurs, the grip transferring device moves the conveyed sheet bundle backward to the collection stage. A grip on the sheet bundle is released on the collection stage after the sheet bundle is returned.

Abstract: The invention relates to reflective features formed from multiple inks. In one embodiment, the reflective feature includes a substrate having a first region and a second region, the first and second regions having different surface characteristics; a first reflective element disposed on the first region; and a second reflective element disposed on the second region, wherein the first reflective element is more adherent than the second reflective element to the first region. In another embodiment, the reflective feature includes multiple layers formed from different inks exhibiting enhanced reflectivity and/or durability. The invention is also to processes for forming these features, preferably through a direct write printing process.