Automated system and method for constructing card multipacks
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automated system for constructing card multipacks, the automated system comprising:
- a movable conveyor;
a first carrier placing station configured to place a first carrier portion of a carrier on the conveyor;
at least one card placing station configured to place a plurality of stored value cards on the first carrier portion;
a data capture station configured to read a card bar code of each of the plurality of stored value cards and a carrier bar code of the carrier in-line in the automated system;
a software system adapted to create a data file including the card bar codes and to create in the data file an association between the card bar code of each of the plurality of stored value cards and the carrier bar code for subsequent activation of each of the plurality of stored value cards using the carrier bar code; and
a sealing station configured to seal the carrier,wherein the automated system is configured to place the stored value cards, read the card bar codes, create the data file, and seal the carrier in an in-line automated manner, andwherein the data capture station is configured to read the plurality of card bar codes and the carrier bar code between the at least one card placing station and the sealing station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Automated systems and methods for constructing card multipacks. An automated system for constructing card multipacks includes: a movable conveyor; a first carrier placing station configured to place a first carrier portion of a carrier on the conveyor; at least one card placing station configured to place a plurality of stored value cards on the first carrier portion; a data capture station configured to read a card bar code of each of the plurality of stored value cards in-line in the automated system; and a software system adapted to create a data file including the card bar codes.
34 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An automated system for constructing card multipacks, the automated system comprising:
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a movable conveyor; a first carrier placing station configured to place a first carrier portion of a carrier on the conveyor; at least one card placing station configured to place a plurality of stored value cards on the first carrier portion; a data capture station configured to read a card bar code of each of the plurality of stored value cards and a carrier bar code of the carrier in-line in the automated system; a software system adapted to create a data file including the card bar codes and to create in the data file an association between the card bar code of each of the plurality of stored value cards and the carrier bar code for subsequent activation of each of the plurality of stored value cards using the carrier bar code; and a sealing station configured to seal the carrier, wherein the automated system is configured to place the stored value cards, read the card bar codes, create the data file, and seal the carrier in an in-line automated manner, and wherein the data capture station is configured to read the plurality of card bar codes and the carrier bar code between the at least one card placing station and the sealing station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An automated system for constructing card multipacks, the automated system comprising:
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a movable conveyor; a carrier placing station configured to place a carrier portion of a carrier on the conveyor, the carrier comprising a carrier bar code; at least one card placing station configured to place at least one stored value card on the carrier portion; a data capture station configured to read at least one card bar code of the at least one stored value card and the carrier bar code of the carrier in-line in the automated system; and a software system adapted to create a data file associating the at least one card bar code with the carrier bar code, a folding station configured to fold the carrier portion into a folded configuration, wherein the automated system is configured to place the at least one stored value card, read the at least one card bar code, create the data file, and seal the carrier in an in-line automated manner, wherein the data capture station is configured to read the at least one card bar code and the carrier bar code subsequent to the placing of the at least one stored value card on the carrier portion, wherein the folding station is configured to fold the first carrier portion subsequent to the data capture station reading the at least one card bar code and the carrier bar code, and wherein the first carrier portion in the folded configuration covers the at least one stored value card. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of constructing a card multipack using an automated system, the method comprising:
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placing a first carrier portion of a carrier on a conveyor of the automated system using a first carrier placing station of the automated system; placing a plurality of stored value cards on the first carrier portion using at least one card placing station of the automated system; reading a plurality of card bar codes of the plurality of stored value cards in-line using a data capture station of the automated system subsequent to the placing of the plurality of stored value yards on the first carrier portion; reading a carrier bar code of the carrier in-line using the data capture station subsequent to the placing of the plurality of stored value cards on the first carrier portion; creating a data file including the card bar codes using a software system of the automated system, wherein creating the data file comprises creating an association between the card bar code of each of the plurality of stored value cards and the carrier bar code for subsequent activation of each of the plurality of stored value cards using the carrier bar code; and sealing the card multipack subsequent to the reading of the plurality of card bar codes and the reading of the carrier bar code, wherein the placing the stored value cards, reading the card bar codes, creating the data file, and sealing the carrier are performed in an in-line automated manner using the automated system. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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19. The method of dais 18, further comprising placing a second carrier portion including the carrier bar code on the stored value cards using a second carrier placing station of the automated system subsequent to reading the card bar codes and prior to reading the carrier bar code.
Specification