Card attachment system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12330442-B2
Application number	US-202217951417-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2022
Priority date	Sep 23, 2022
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A system may include a folding apparatus configured to fold a card carrier for affixing a transaction card to the card carrier and a processor which can receive a first input from a user regarding a number of folds desired in the card carrier and a location of the folds on the card carrier, receive a second input regarding one or more directions of the folds to be made on the card carrier, and transmit a signal to a positioner motor configured to position the card carrier based on the first input and the second input such that the folding apparatus folds the card carrier according to the first input and the second input.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a folding apparatus configured to fold a card carrier for affixing a transaction card to the card carrier; and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors of the system, cause the one or more processors to:
receive a first input from a user regarding a number of folds desired in the card carrier and a location of the folds on the card carrier;
receive a second input regarding one or more directions of the folds to be made on the card carrier; and
transmit a signal to a positioner motor configured to position the card carrier based on the first input and the second input such that the folding apparatus folds the card carrier according to the first input and the second input.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the card carrier is scored in a location where the folds on the card carrier are to be made.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the card carrier is a booklet, and wherein the positioner motor is further configured to position the card carrier such that the folding apparatus does not fold the card carrier.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a second folding apparatus makes one or more folds in the card carrier before the transaction card is attached to the card carrier.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the second folding apparatus makes the one or more folds in the card carrier equal to the number of folds desired in the card carrier minus one, and wherein the folding apparatus makes a final fold in the card carrier.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors configured to determine a position of the card carrier and an identifier of the card carrier.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein positioning the card carrier based on the first input and the second input comprises verifying a position of the card carrier using the one or more sensors.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor configured to transport the card carrier that has been folded by the folding apparatus to a gantry for affixing the transaction card to the card carrier, wherein the gantry comprises an arm that affixes the transaction card to the card carrier as the card carrier moves on the conveyor.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the gantry is configured to move the arm in a first direction that is perpendicular to a direction of movement of the card carrier on the conveyor and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the direction of movement of the card carrier on the conveyor to affix the transaction card to the card carrier.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the gantry is further configured to rotate the arm in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction to affix the transaction card to the card carrier.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the card carrier comprises one of a paper, a booklet, or a box product.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transaction card comprises one of a credit card, a debit card, or a gift card.

13. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising computer- readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a folding apparatus configured to fold a card carrier for affixing a transaction card to the card carrier, cause the processor to:
receive a first input from a user regarding a number of folds desired in the card carrier and a location of folds on the card carrier;
receive a second input regarding one or more directions of the folds to be made on the card carrier; and
transmit a signal to a positioner motor configured to position the card carrier based on the first input and the second input such that the folding apparatus folds the card carrier according to the first input and the second input.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to transmit a signal to a second folding apparatus to make one or more folds in the card carrier equal to the number of folds desired in the card carrier minus one before the transaction card is attached to the card carrier, and wherein the folding apparatus makes a final fold in the card carrier.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
receive, from one or more sensors, a position of the card carrier and an identifier of the card carrier; and
modify the signal transmitted to the positioner motor based on verifying a position of the card carrier using the received position of the card carrier.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
actuate a conveyor configured to transport the card carrier that has been folded by the folding apparatus to a gantry for affixing the transaction card to the card carrier, wherein the gantry comprises an arm that affixes the transaction card to the card carrier as the card carrier moves on the conveyor; and
move the arm in a first direction that is perpendicular to a direction of movement of the card carrier on the conveyor and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the direction of movement of the card carrier on the conveyor to affix the transaction card to the card carrier, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to rotate the arm in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction to affix the transaction card to the card carrier.

17. A method comprising:
receiving a first input from a user regarding a number of folds desired in a card carrier and a location of folds on the card carrier by a folding apparatus configured to fold the card carrier for affixing a transaction card to the card carrier;
receiving a second input regarding one or more directions of the folds to be made on the card carrier; and
transmitting a signal to a positioner motor configured to position the card carrier based on the first input and the second input such that the folding apparatus folds the card carrier according to the first input and the second input.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising transmitting a signal to a second folding apparatus to make one or more folds in the card carrier equal to the number of folds desired in the card carrier minus one before the transaction card is attached to the card carrier, and wherein the folding apparatus makes a final fold in the card carrier.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving, from one or more sensors, a position of the card carrier and an identifier of the card carrier; and
modifying the signal transmitted to the positioner motor based on verifying a position of the card carrier using the received position of the card carrier.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
actuating a conveyor configured to transport the card carrier that has been folded by the folding apparatus to a gantry for affixing the transaction card to the card carrier, wherein the gantry comprises an arm that affixes the transaction card to the card carrier as the card carrier moves on the conveyor;
moving the arm in a first direction that is perpendicular to a direction of movement of the card carrier on the conveyor and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the direction of movement of the card carrier on

Assignees

• Fiserv Inc

Inventors

• Harris Joel
• Stuck Ray
• Gates Jon
• Tunink Corey Dean
• Greene Iii Jay E

Classifications

• B65H43/00

  Use of control, checking, or safety devices, e.g. automatic devices comprising an element for sensing a variable · CPC title

• B65H2301/431

  Features with regard to the collection, nature, sequence and/or the making thereof · CPC title

• B65H2511/20

  Location in space · CPC title

• B65H45/30

  Folding in combination with creasing, smoothing or application of adhesive (folding or adhesive application in article or web delivering B65H37/00) · CPC title

• B65H3/0816

  separating from the top of pile · CPC title