WO1992016447A1

WO1992016447A1 - A method of matching a card or ticket and the like with a paper support, matching machine for implementing the method, and paper support for putting under envelope and mailing a card

Info

Publication number: WO1992016447A1
Application number: PCT/EP1992/000504
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leonardo Barbieri
Original assignee: Logika Comp S.R.L.
Priority date: 1991-03-13
Filing date: 1992-03-06
Publication date: 1992-10-01
Also published as: IT1245189B; AU1358392A; ITMI910673A0; ITMI910673A1

Abstract

A method of matching a card or ticket (2) and the like with a paper support (3) in an uncommonly fast and reliable manner comprises the steps of providing a paper or cardboard sheet (4), cutting a window (14) through the sheet (4), applying a self-sticking label (16) over one face (5) of the sheet (4) such that a self-sticking portion (17) of the label (16) will show through the window (14), and applying the card (2) over the other face (6) of the sheet in close engagement with said self-sticking portion (17) of the label (16) showing through the window (14).

Description

A METHOD OF MATCHING A CARD OR TICKET AND THE LIKE WITH A PAPER SUPPORT, MATCHING MACHINE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD, AND PAPER SUPPORT FOR PUTTING UNDER ENVELOPE AND MAILING A CARD

This invention relates to a method as defined in the pre-characterizing part of Claim 1.

It is a recognized fact that a variety of cards or tickets have long since made their appearance in our daily life for paying purchased goods at stores, drawing currency, opening access doors and gates to protected areas, and in general for using facilities without having to pay corresponding cash.

A common demand is that a respective card can be mailed to a large number of recipients, and for this purpose, the card is matched with a suitable paper support for placement into an envelope and delivery by mail.

Each card and respective paper support are matched with each other in current practice by slipping the four corners of the card through four cuts or slits provided in a paper or cardboard sheet. In this way, the card is made unitary with the supporting sheet, which may then be folded over and put into an envelope for mailing. This procedure, while being satisfactory from several points of view and extensively utilized, involves the use of fairly complex and critical equipment for engaging the card in the slits.

Further, the card-to-sheet bond is still comparatively unreliable: in fact, undesired premature separation of the card from its support while it is being placed into an envelope or in the recipient's hands is a frequent occurrence.

It has been suggested of matching the card with its paper support by introducing the card into a pouch, commonly made of a clear material and attached to a sheet. The card would be in full view and held to the sheet along three sides.

However, this procedure is still a cumbersome one as regards the matching step, and fails to eliminate the disadvantage of an unreliable connection of the card to the supporting sheet, but merely attenuates it.

The underlying problem of this invention is to provide a method as indicated, which can overcome the cited drawbacks with which prior methods are beset.

This problem is solved by a method according to the characterizing part of Claim 1.

Further features and the advantages of a method according to this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a machine implementing it, to be read by way of example and not of limitation with reference to the accompanying single drawing figure, which is an exploded perspective view showing schematically a machine according to the invention. With reference to the drawing figure, generally indicated at 1 is a matching machine according to the invention.

It is operative to match a card or ticket 2, or the like article, with a paper support 3 comprising a sheet 4.

The card 2 is a rectangular plate made of a semirigid plastics material, and has standard dimensions, usually with sides 5.5 and 8.5 centimeters long. The sheet 4 is also rectangular, usually cut from paper or cardboard, and has a back face 5 and front face 6.

The paper support 3 is sized to fit into an envelope for ultimate mailing, together with the card, to a recipient, or alternatively, such that it can be folded over into an envelope-like configuration and mailed.

The machine 1 comprises, within a frame structure 7, a travel path 8 for the sheets 4 which extends along a -longitudinal direction x-x between a start magazine 9 and an arrival magazine 10.

Laid along the path 8 are processing stations 11, 12, 13, in this order, which are active in the sheet 4 travel path. In particular, the processing stations include a die-cutting station 11, a labelling station 12, and a card 2 take-up and release station 13.

Conventional transports, not shown in the drawing, are arranged for advancing the sheet 4 step-wise through the path 8 and successively positioning the sheet at the aforesaid processing stations.

The die-cutting station 11 is operative to cut a rectangular window 14 through the sheet 4 which has a smaller si≥e than the card, e.g. with sides 2 and 6 centimeters long.

Also active in the sheet path 8 is a printing station 15, e.g. of the laser printer variety, which will act on a sheet 4 with the latter positioned at the die-cutting station 11 to overprint it, at a suitable location on the sheet, with recipient's references {names, etc.) and card references (its serial number, and optionally the name of the issuing company and any other useful information) .

The labelling station 12 comprises a conventional labelling machine of the variety to be loaded at intervals with a roll of a continuous web of self-sticking labels, e.g. rectangular labels sided 3.5 x 10 centimeters.

This labelling machine can apply a label 16 to a sheet 4. The labelling station 12 is arranged, relatively to the path 8, to apply the label 16 over the back face 5 of the sheet 4 such that a self-sticking portion 17 of the label will show through the window 14, preferably covering it completely to fill the front face 6 of the sheet.

The take-up and release station 13 has a head 18 provided with means of taking up and releasing a card, such as a plurality of suction cups 19.

The head 18 is mounted in a vertically movable manner along the direction Z-Z on a slide 20, in turn mounted to the frame structure 7 in a horizontally movable manner along a direction Y-Y perpendicular to X-X, between a take-up position 21, located proximate to a card punching station 22, and a release position 23 overlying the window 14 in the sheet 4.

The matching machine 1 is completed by a suitable control apparatus for co-ordinate operation of the sheet transport and the aforesaid processing stations.

In passing from the input magazine 9 to the output magazine 10, each sheet 4 is successively stopped at the die-cutting station 11, where the window 14 is cut through the sheet and the latter overprinted with the recipient's and the card references, then at the labelling station 12, where the label is applied over the back face of the sheet to block the window 14 and receive the card therein, and finally at the take-up and release station 13, where the card is laid over the window such that it will be caught by the self-sticking surface 17 of the label 16 showing through the window 14.

Thus, the paper support 3 for mailing the card under an envelope is completed.

For matching a card 2 with a paper support 3, this invention provides a method comprising the steps of preparing a paper or cardboard sheet as the support, cutting a window through the sheet, applying a self-sticking label over one face of the sheet such that a self-sticking portion of the label will show through the window, and laying the card over the other face of the sheet in close engagement with said self-sticking portion of the label.

A major advantage of the method according to the invention is that it provides positive and reliable anchoring of the card on its paper support.

An additional advantage of the method according to this invention is that it can be implemented fast and simply.

Also advantageous is the machine for implementing the method, which machine is compatible throughout with its intended environment, typically an office environment, it being indeed clean, silent in operation, and compact in size.

This machine is, moreover, economical to run, it being designed to use standard sheets, thereby it can also address situations where the cards to be put under envelope and mailed are a relatively small number.

The inventive machine lends itself to installation in combination with other automatic equipment, e.g. downstream from automatic continuous sheet feeders and upstream of envelope-filling and stamping equipment for mailing.

Also advantageous is the paper support provided by the method and the machine of this invention for putting cards under envelope and mailing them: it is structurally simple, affording a significant advantage with articles which are mass produced.

It stands to reason that the method, machine, and paper support described hereinabove may be modified and altered in many ways by a skilled person in the art in order to fill contingent specified demands, without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method of matching a card or ticket (2) and the like with a paper support (3) adapted to be put under envelope for mailing, including the step of providing a paper or cardboard sheet (4) as the support (3), characterized in that it comprises the steps of: cutting a window (14) through the sheet ( ); applying a self-sticking label (16) over one face (5) of the sheet (4) such that a self-sticking portion (17) of the label (16) will show through the window (14); and applying the card (2) over the other face (6) of the sheet (4) such that it will engage with .said self-sticking portion (17) of the label (16).

2. A matching machine (1) for matching a card or ticket (2) and the like with a paper support (3) adapted to be put under envelope for mailing, characterized in that it comprises, within a frame structure (7), a travel path (8) for paper or cardboard sheets (4), a die-cutting station (11) active in the sheet (4) path (8) to cut a window (14) through the sheet (4), a labelling station (12) active in the sheet (4) path (8) to apply a label (16) over the sheet (4) such that a self-sticking portion (17) of the label (16) will show through the window (14) , and a take-up and release station (13) active in the sheet (4) path (8) to lay a card (2) onto the sheet (4) in close engagement with said self-sticking portion (17) of the label (16) showing through the window (14).

3. A matching machine (1) for matching a card or ticket (2) and the like with a paper support (3) adapted to be put under envelope for mailing, characterized in that it comprises, within a frame structure (7), a travel path (8) for paper or cardboard sheets (4) having a window (14) cut therethrough, a labelling station (12) active in the sheet (4) path (8) to apply a label (16) over the sheet (4) such that a self-sticking portion (17) of the label (.16) will show through the window (14), and a take-up and release station (13) active in the sheet (4) path (8) to lay a card (2) onto the sheet (4) in close engagement with said self-sticking portion (17) of the label (16) showing through the window. (14) .

4. A matching machine (1) according to Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises a printing station (15) active in the sheet (4) path (8).

5. A paper support (3) for putting under envelope and mailing cards or tickets (2) and the like, comprising a sheet (4), a window (14) cut through said sheet (4), and a self-sticking label (16) applied over the sheet (4) such that a self-sticking portion (17) of the label (16) will show through the window (14) to receive the card (2).