Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, data sets with identification marks, which are associated with the plastic cards, are first provided and each data set has associated therewith a print job number. The plastic cards and the printed card carriers, which have a print job number printed thereon, are provided in a presorted sequence and the identification mark of a plastic card and the print job number of a card carrier are detected. On the basis of the data set provided, the plastic card, whose identification mark has been read, has associated therewith a print job number, whereupon it is determined on the basis of this print job number whether the plastic card which is about to be joined and the card carrier match one another. If this is the case, the plastic card and the card carrier are brought together and joined.

Abstract: A method of bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, comprises the following steps: providing the plastic card and the printed card carrier; detecting the identification mark of said plastic card; reading data from a database by means of said identification mark; detecting the data on said printed card carrier prior to joining said card carrier to the plastic card; determining whether the data detected on the card carrier correspond to the data read; and, provided that the data read and the data detected correspond, bringing together and joining the plastic card and the card carrier.

Abstract: A knife folder for folding a sheet material comprises a sheet-material feeder for feeding the sheet material in a first direction, a folder for folding said sheet material, and a sheet-material conveyer used for conveying the sheet material and comprising at least one pair of rotating conveying components whose axes of rotation are arranged in a second direction substantially at right angles to the first direction. The folder pushes the folded sheet material between the conveying components of the at least one pair of conveying components when it is at its folding position. The sheet material is advanced up to a stop. The folder comprises a knife extending in a third direction substantially at right angles to said first and said second direction. The sheet material can be conveyed in the third direction by actuating the conveying components.

Abstract: A method of bringing together and joining cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective cards, comprises the steps of: providing the card; detecting the identification mark of the card; associating a print job number with the card; reading a data base by means of the identification mark; printing on the card carrier data read from the data base as well as the print job number; detecting the print job number of the card carrier prior to joining the card carrier to the card; determining whether the print job number of the card, which is about to be joined to the card carrier, corresponds to the print job number detected in the preceding step; and, provided that the print job number of the card and that of the card carrier correspond, bringing together and joining the card and the card carrier.