SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CARD REPLACEMENT

• US 20090235618A1
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gates, Jon A., Tunink, Corey D., Casto, Fred C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,561,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/467
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2150/00 Flexible containers made from sheets or blanks, e.g. from flattened tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2160/10 rectangular and flat, i.e. without structural provision for thickness of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2170/20 having multi-layered walls, e.g. laminated or lined
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 3/045 for envelopes with only one flap

Abstract

A system for assembling a shipping package includes a feeder feeding an envelope from a supply of envelopes and a transport mechanism that transports a shipping container from a supply of shipping containers and places the shipping container in position for the feeder to insert the envelope into the shipping container. The envelope contains a replacement presentation instrument and a shipping indicator, and the shipping indicator includes a shipping address visible through a first substantially clear window in the envelope. Each shipping container has a second substantially clear window, and when the envelope has been inserted into the shipping container, the shipping address is visible through the second substantially clear window.

Claims

1. A system for assembling a shipping package, the system comprising:

a feeder feeding an envelope from a supply of envelopes, wherein the envelope contains a replacement presentation instrument and a shipping indicator, and wherein the shipping indicator comprises a shipping address visible through a first substantially clear window in the envelope; and

a transport mechanism that transports a shipping container from a supply of shipping containers and places the shipping container in position for the feeder to insert the envelope into the shipping container, wherein each shipping container comprises a second substantially clear window, and wherein when the envelope has been inserted into the shipping container, the shipping address is visible through the second substantially clear window.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transport mechanism comprises an intermittently-moving feed belt.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transport mechanism is a first transport mechanism, the system further comprising a second transport mechanism that receives the container from the first transport mechanism and passes the received container through a sealing mechanism.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second transport mechanism comprises a continuously-moving feed belt.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises at least one guide that folds a flap on the shipping container towards a sealed position as the shipping container is transported by the second transport mechanism.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the shipping container is substantially flat and comprises a flap closure, the flap closure comprising adhesive covered by a liner, and wherein the system further comprises a rotating brush that removes the liner as the shipping container is transported by either or both of the first and second transport mechanisms.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more vacuum cups that open the shipping container to accommodate insertion of the envelope.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the feeder is a stream feeder.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the shipping indicator further comprises a tracking indicium that is visible through the first substantially clear window.

10. A method of assembling a shipping package, the method comprising:

feeding an envelope from a supply of envelopes, wherein the envelope contains a presentation instrument and a shipping indicator, and wherein the shipping indicator comprises a shipping address visible through a first clear window in the envelope;

transporting a shipping container from a supply of shipping containers, wherein the shipping container comprises a second clear window;

positioning the shipping container to receive the envelope fed from the supply of envelopes; and

inserting the envelope into the shipping container such that when the envelope has been inserted, the shipping address are visible through the second clear window.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising sealing the shipping container.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically removing a liner, thereby exposing an adhesive on a flap of the shipping container.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the shipping indicator further comprises a tracking indicium that visible through the first and second clear windows when the envelope has been inserted into the shipping container.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising holding the shipping container open using one or more vacuum cups, to accommodate insertion of the envelope.