Card/carrier combination diverter and/or sorter systems
A card/carrier combination sorter system is described that is configured for use with a card/carrier combination production system. The sorter system includes an input that is in communication with an output of the production system so as to receive a plurality of card/carrier combinations one-by-one from the production system. The sorter system is configured to sort the plurality of card/carrier combinations into one or more bins of the sorter system. In some embodiments, a card/carrier combination is not diverted and is instead output through an output of the sorter system to an inserter system for insertion into an envelope and subsequent mailing.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a plurality of folded card/carrier combinations that are not in envelopes one-by-one through an input of a card/carrier combination sorter system; and
using the card/carrier combination sorter system to sort selected ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations into a bin of the card/carrier combination sorter system, the bin is configured to receive the selected ones of the folded card/carrier combinations, and transporting additional ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations one-by-one to an output of the card/carrier combination sorter system and outputting the additional folded card/carrier combinations one-by-one through the output, wherein the output is not associated with a bin.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the card/carrier combination sorter system to sort selected ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations into a plurality of bins, each of the bins is configured to receive the selected ones of the folded card/carrier combinations.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the card/carrier combination sorter system includes a diverting mechanism that includes the input through which the folded card/carrier combinations are received one-by-one, the diverting mechanism having the output that is connectable to an inserter system and a second output that is connectable to a sorter mechanism that includes the bin; and
using the diverting mechanism to divert selected ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations to the output or to the second output.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input is located on a first side of the card/carrier combination sorter system, and the output is located on a side of the card/carrier combination sorter system different from the first side.
5. A card/carrier combination sorter system, comprising:
an input configured to receive a plurality of folded card/carrier combinations that are not in envelopes one-by-one into the card/carrier combination sorter system;
a transport path extending from the input along which the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations are transported in the card/carrier combination sorter system;
at least one bin that is configured to receive select ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations;
a diverter disposed along the transport path that is engageable with the folded card/carrier combinations to divert the select ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations from the transport path into the at least one bin; and
an output that is configured to output additional ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations therefrom one-by-one, the output is not associated with a bin.
6. The card/carrier combination sorter system of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of the bins, each bin is configured to receive select ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations; and
a plurality of the diverters, each one of the diverters is associated with a corresponding one of the bins, and each diverter is configured to divert the select ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations from the transport path into the associated bin.
7. The card/carrier combination sorter system of claim 5 , comprising a divert section and a sorting section; the divert section includes the input and the output; and the sorting section includes the at least one bin and the diverter.
8. The card/carrier combination sorter system of claim 7 , wherein the divert section includes a diverter.
9. The card/carrier combination sorter system of claim 5 , comprising a diverter mechanism and a sorter mechanism; the diverter mechanism includes the input and the output; and the sorter mechanism includes the at least one bin and the diverter.
10. The card/carrier combination sorter system of claim 9 , wherein the diverter mechanism further includes:
a diverter; and
a second output in communication with the transport path through which additional ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations are output, the second output being connectable to the sorter mechanism.
11. The card/carrier combination sorter system of claim 5 , wherein the input is located on a first side of the card/carrier combination sorter system, and the output is located on a side of the card/carrier combination sorter system different from the first side.
12. A card/carrier combination handling system, comprising:
a card/carrier combination production system that includes a card personalization system that is configured to personalize plastic cards, a carrier form printer that is configured to generate printed carrier forms, a card fixing mechanism that is configured to fix at least one personalized card to a printed carrier form to produce a card/carrier combination, and a folding mechanism that is configured to fold a card/carrier combination to produce a folded card/carrier combination;
the card/carrier combination production system further includes an output from which folded card/carrier combinations produced therein are output one-by-one; and
a card/carrier combination sorter system connected to the output of the card/carrier combination production system, the card/carrier combination sorter system includes:
an input configured to receive a plurality of the folded card/carrier combinations one-by-one into the card/carrier combination sorter system;
a transport path extending from the input along which the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations are transported in the card/carrier combination sorter system;
at least one bin that is configured to receive select ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations; and
a diverter disposed along the transport path that is engageable with the folded card/carrier combinations to divert the select ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations from the transport path into the at least one bin.
13. A card/carrier combination diverter mechanism, comprising:
an input configured to receive a plurality of folded card/carrier combinations that are not in envelopes one-by-one into the card/carrier combination diverter mechanism;
a transport path extending from the input along which the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations are transported in the card/carrier combination diverter mechanism;
a first output in communication with the transport path through which select ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations are output, the first output being connectable to an inserter system;
a second output in communication with the transport path through which additional ones of the plurality of folded card/carrier combinations are output, the second output being connectable to a sorter mechanism;
a diverter in the transport path that is engageable with the folded card/carrier combinations to divert the folded card/carrier combinations to the second output.
14. The card/carrier combination diverter mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the input is located on a first side of the card/carrier combination diverter mechanism, the first output is located on a side of the card/carrier combination diverter mechanism different from the first side, and the second output is located on a side of the card/carrier combination diverter mechanism different from the first side.