Abstract: A data processing system is provided which can be connected to an existing ply matching and verification system for multiple-part printed products to perform a number of additional operations external to the matching and verification system. The data processing system is configured to access the data stream generated by the matching and verification system at two data points corresponding, respectively, to after indicia on a ply is detected and before it is stored for matching purposes, and after the indicia on all of the plies of a printed product has been stored in a buffer.

Abstract: An automatic verification or matching system is provided for insuring that a multiple-part printed product, such as a multiple-ply form with matching variable indicia on each ply, has been properly assembled. The system operates in conjunction with a conventional pin band collator and comprises a plurality of indicia sensing devices, such as bar code scanners and/or video cameras, located at the collator stations for sensing the variable indicia on each part of the product during assembly. Advantages of the system include the ability to use either bar code scanners or video cameras as indicia sensing devices, provision for automatic resequencing of the printers used for printing the variable indicia in the event of a mismatch error, automatic indication of the collator station where a mismatch error has occurred, and automatic marking of defective products that are produced after an error occurs.