Abstract: An automate card package mailer for preparing card packages (60) composed of one or more cards(50) attached to matching carrier forms (33) for mailing has a carrier folding apparatus that is programmable to fold the carriers into different configurations including Z-fold, C-fold, bi-fold and no-fold, has a controller (42) that controls the movement of carriers by different amounts relative to a first folding arm to achieve different first folds, folds the carriers by pushing the fold location on the surface of the carriers into the nib of a first pair of folding pinch rollers with a first pivotally mounted folding arm after guiding the carrier with a slanted guide and an arcuate guide to the desired position beneath the folding arm, makes a second fold with a second pivotally mounted arm that pushes another fold location on a carrier into the nib of a second pair of rotating pinch rollers while a holding member holds a folded section upright in a well.

Abstract: A card package production system (10) with interchangeable inserters (24A, 24B) and carrier folders (86A, 86B) to enable use of forms (26A, 26B) of different types verifies the carriers (30) if they are properly produced and rejects them if they are not prior to the attachment to a carrier. The embossed characters and encoding read from the card are compared with the stored card data to verify accuracy and are compared to coding on the carrier form (26A, 26B) to determine if there is a match. A code on the carrier is also compared to stored carrier data and to the cards provided for insertion and are rejected without cards if incorrectly prepared.

Abstract: A card package production system (100) for producing card packages (115) composed of cards (128) attached to carriers (113) has an adhesive label attachment station (358, FIG. 34) with a heating platen (361) having a width for heating at least two labels (148) simultaneously that are passed over the platen (361) and a labeler downstream from the heating platen (361) with a pressing member (372) for pressing the heated adhesive label (128) against a card (128) at an attachment position. The heating platen (361) heats only an intermediate section of the adhesive to activate the adhesive and leaves end portions of the label relatively unheated and unactivated to facilitate subsequent removal of the label (148) from the card (128).

Abstract: A card package production system (20) for producing card packages (22) with cards (26) mounted to bifold carrier forms (24) with a pair of parallel, spaced, preweakened fold lines (33) and (34) dividing the body (32) of the carrier forms into leading end (35), middle (36) and lagging end (37) sections, a card carrier form folding apparatus (30) having a stop member (46) located extending downwardly into a blocking position along a folding path (44), a plurality of rollers (38)(39) and (40) for moving the carrier forms (24) along the folding path (44) and into the stop member (46) to buckle the leading end (35) and middle section (36) away from the folding path (44), a pushing member (56) driven by an electric motor (57) engaging the lagging end section (37) to push the carrier form (24) along the folding path (44) to pivotally swing the stop member (46) to a nonblocking position enabling the middle section (36) to fall back against the lagging section (37) folding the carrier (24) along fold lines (33) and (3

Abstract: A card package production system (100) for producing card packages (115) composed of printed paper carriers (113) with matching cards (128) attached to the carriers (113) selectively outputs the card packages through a card package multi directional distribution module (136) having a carrier transport with a primary carrier transport path extending between a package inlet (262) and a primary package outlet (144) for transporting the card packages along the primary carrier transport path. A movable stacker gate assembly (280) mounted for movement between a stacking position (FIG.

Abstract: An automate card package mailer for preparing card packages (60) composed of one or more cards(50) attached to matching carrier forms (33) for mailing has a carrier folding apparatus that is programmable to fold the carriers into different configurations including Z-fold, C-fold, bi-fold and no-fold, has a controller (42) that controls the movement of carriers by different amounts relative to a first folding arm to achieve different first folds, folds the carriers by pushing the fold location on the surface of the carriers into the nib of a first pair of folding pinch rollers with a first pivotally mounted folding arm after guiding the carrier with a slanted guide and an arcuate guide to the desired position beneath the folding arm, makes a second fold with a second pivotally mounted arm that pushes another fold location on a carrier into the nib of a second pair of rotating pinch rollers while a holding member holds a folded section upright in a well.

Abstract: A card package production system (30) for producing card packages each with at least one card (48) bearing card information at a plurality of different card information locations on the card (48) with a card multireader (54) having an elongate card track (52) with a succession of reading stations located along the track (52) with readers for respectively reading the card information at the different locations on the card (48) with means for simultaneously sliding a plurality of the cards (48) along the track (52) in seriatim relationship through the succession of reading stations of the multireader 54 for simultaneous reading of the card information at the different locations on the cards (48) by the multireader (54).

Abstract: A card package production system (100) with a printer module (102) that prints and provides carriers (113) to an attachment module (104) for attaching cards (130) to matching carriers has a carrier transport mechanism (FIGS. 11-14 and 48) with carrier support members (224 and 226) with upstream ends that are elevated relative to the downstream ends of downstream carrier support members (226 and 228), respectively, to enable an upstream carrier to pass over the top of a downstream carrier to prevent the upstream carrier from jamming into the downstream carrier during a temporary halt in operation.

Abstract: A card package production system (100) for making card packages (115) of carriers (113) with attached cards (128) with a pair of rollers for passing a carrier in an upstream direction to a card attachment station for receipt of a card, a card drop mechanism for dropping a card with adhesive onto a carrier at the card attachment position; and a controller for controlling the operation of the pair of rollers to first reverse the rollers to pass the carrier with the card on the carrier in a downstream direction back past the pair of rollers to press the card with the adhesive against the carrier to adhere the card to the carrier, and to then reverse the at least one roller again to pass the carrier with the adhered card in the upstream direction.

Abstract: A card package production system (100) for producing card packages (115) composed of cards (128) attached to carriers (113) has an adhesive label attachment station (358, FIG. 34) with a heating platen (361) having a width for heating at least two labels (148) simultaneously that are passed over the platen (361) and a labeler downstream from the heating platen (361) with a pressing member (372) for pressing the heated adhesive label (128) against a card (128) at an attachment position. The heating platen (361) heats only an intermediate section of the adhesive to activate the adhesive and leaves end portions of the label relatively unheated and unactivated to facilitate subsequent removal of the label (148) from the card (128).

Abstract: A card package production system (30) for producing card packages each with at least one card (48) bearing card information at a plurality of different card information locations on the card (48) with a card multireader (54) having an elongate card track (52) with a succession of reading stations located along the track (52) with readers for respectively reading the card information at the different locations on the card (48) with means for simultaneously sliding a plurality of the cards (48) along the track (52) in seriatim relationship through the succession of reading stations of the multireader 54 for simultaneous reading of the card information at the different locations on the cards (48) by the multireader (54).

Abstract: An embossed card package production system with a computer controller (12) for accessing embossed card information in a card data memory (40) and embosser (20) for embossing a card (30) with the stored embossed information and an embossed card verification system with an embossed card character reader (70) for reading embossed information (32) on the card with the computer controller comparing the read embossed information on the card (30) with the stored embossed information for the card in the card data memory (40) to determine if there is a match and automatically identifies each card which has embossed information on the card which does not match the stored information on the card to reject each card identified as being incorrectly produced.

Abstract: A card package production system (10) with interchangeable inserters (24A, 24B) and carrier folders 86B) to enable use of forms (26A, 26B) of different types verifies the carriers (30) if they are properly produced and rejects them if they are not prior to the attachment to a carrier. The embossed characters and encoding read from the card are compared with the stored card data to verify accuracy and are compared to coding on the carrier form (26A, 26B) to determine if there is a match. A code on the carrier is also compared to stored carrier data and to the cards provided for insertion and are rejected without cards if incorrectly prepared.

Abstract: Card carrying mailing forms (10, 80) with a planar resilient body of paper (12, 82) having fold lines (14, 16 and 84, 86) equally dividing the body (12, 82) into a leading end section (18, 88), a middle section (20, 90) and a lagging end section (22, 92). In one embodiment of the carrier form (10) ears (66) are opened by bending the planar body (12) to receive cards held within a pair of corner pockets (38, 40) by a flap (50) cut from the middle section (20) of the body (12) which also is moved to an operative position by bending the body (12). In another embodiment of the carrier form (80), pockets (98, 100) are made from rectilinear cuts to enable opening of the pockets (98, 100) by means of a roller and the cards (30) are held in the pockets by folding the lagging end section (88) over the middle section (90) adjacent the edge (102) of the card (30).

Abstract: A card package production system (20) for producing card packages (22) with cards (26) mounted to bifold carrier forms (24) with a pair of parallel, spaced, preweakened fold lines (33) and (34) dividing the body (32) of the carrier forms into leading end (35), middle (36) and lagging end (37) sections, a card carrier form folding apparatus (30) having a stop member (46) located extending downwardly into a blocking position along a folding path (44), a plurality of rollers (38)(39) and (40) for moving the carrier forms (24) along the folding path (44) and into the stop member (46) to buckle the leading end (35) and middle section (36) away from the folding path (44), a pushing member (56) driven by an electric motor (57) engaging the lagging end section (37) to push the carrier form (24) along the folding path (44) to pivotally swing the stop member (46) to a nonblocking position enabling the middle section (36) to fall back against the lagging section (37) folding the carrier (24) along fold lines (33) and (3

Abstract: Methods of operating embossed card package production system (10) by verifying by reading and comparing information obtained by reading embossed (32) and magnetically encoded information (35) and coded information (27) on a carrier (26A, 26B) stored card and carrier information in a forms data memory (44) and a card data memory (40) to make new cards appropriately prepared and are correctly matched to the carriers (26A, 26B). Incorrect cards (30) are sent to a reject location (90) to prevent formation of incorrect packages. Only cards (30) which are determined to be correctly prepared have activation labels 21 applied which also serve to distinguish them from incorrectly prepared cards (30) and inventory reports are automatically kept of rejected carriers, rejected cards and the number of labels as well as the number of correct carriers produced which are printed on the very type of carrier to which the accounting information relates with a carrier printer (48).

Abstract: A card package production system (10) with interchangeable inserters (24A, 24B) and carrier folders (86A, 86B) to enable use of forms (26A, 26B) of different types verifies the carriers (30) if they are properly produced and rejects them if they are not prior to the attachment to a carrier. A card carrier (26A) has a pair of corner pockets (31) and a flap (33) in which a card (30) is inserted. The corner pockets (31) are opened by bending the carrier form over an arcuate member (170).

Abstract: A push-button padlock having a swivel-only shackle, the free end of which is receivingly engaged by a sleeve that is reciprocable into the padlock body housing upon actuation of a thumb latch member projecting through the housing, preferably through a hole in the front face. The shackle is an inverted J-shaped shackle with the longer end entrained in the padlock body where it engages a latching mechanism which includes the thumb latch and shackle sleeve members. The thumb latch is preferably of breakaway construction and the sleeve may be rotatable. A locking mechanism of any desired type to selectively lock and unlock the latching mechanism may be employed. One preferred locking mechanism is of push-button type, and another preferred locking mechanism is a key lock mechanism, both of which are operative to selectively lock and unlock the latching mechanism that may be employed.

Abstract: A sequence dependent push-button lock mechanism having compression loaded locking rod assemblies, arcuate segments of which are placed in compression if attempts are made to force the lock open, and unlocking by rotating the arcuate segments out of compression engagement with a sliding block associated with a thumb-actuated reciprocating shackle sleeve, particularly adapted for use in padlocks and deadbolt/cabinet locks. The locks are applicable to use in combination with pivot-only shackles in the padlock form, and thumb-actuated shackle or deadbolt release mechanisms. The thumb latch is of a break-away type to deter plurality of holes in a spaced array for receiving spring biased automatic return push-button assemblies which actuate locking rods that are disposed to rotate upon selective engagement with various combinations of special "T" and "C" shaped flanges on button actuator members.

Abstract: A push-button padlock having a swivel-only shackle, the free end of which is receivingly engaged by a sleeve that is reciprocable into the padlock body housing upon actuation of a thumb latch member projecting through the housing, preferably through a hole in the front face. The shackle is an inverted J-shaped shackle with the longer end entrained in the padlock body where it engages a latching mechanism which includes the thumb latch and shackle sleeve members. The thumb latch is preferably of breakaway construction and the sleeve may be rotatable. A locking mechanism of any desired type to selectively lock and unlock the latching mechanism may be employed. The preferred locking mechanism is of push-button type, comprising a button block member having a plurality of holes in a spaced array for receiving and retaining two types of buttons, one or more Type A Combination Button(s) and the balance being Dead Pin B Buttons.