A form 10 has a portion 14 laminated on both sides with polyester film and defined by die cuts along lines 13. The portion 14 is, therefore, removable, and has a magnetic recordal tape 25 incorporated therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to forms or documents preferably of paper on
 which is printed variable data such as personal details for example names,
 addresses and other individual information.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a
 form having front and reverse sides and incorporating a removable portion
 therein, the form incorporating a sheet of printable material, preferably
 paper and being adapted to have variable data printed on at least one
 side, the removable portion having a first sealing layer applied to its
 front side and a second sealing layer applied to its reverse side, and
 data means being provided on at least one side of the removable portion
 for recordably receiving machine readable data.
 In some embodiments said data means comprises a strip of magnetic recording
 tape. In other embodiments said data means comprises a chip.
 Conveniently said data means is applied externally of the sealing layer,
 but with some arrangements said data means is disposed between the sheet
 and one of the sealing layers.
 Preferably the sealing layers comprise polyester films.
 Sometimes, however, one sealing layer comprises a varnish coating applied
 to the outward facing surface of the sheet on the other side of the
 removable portion to the data means, the sealing layer on said one side
 comprising a polyester film. In some arrangements a base sheet is provided
 on said other side of the removable portion and extends beyond the
 removable portion.
 Ideally, the removable portion is defined by a die cut which penetrates the
 form through to, but not including, the base sheet where such a base sheet
 is provided. It is a further preferred feature that one or both polyester
 films are printer compatible such that variable data can be printed
 thereon.
 According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a
 method of producing a form having front and reverse sides, the method
 comprising the steps of applying sealing layer to the front and reverse
 sides of a predetermined area of a sheet of printable material, preferably
 paper, said predetermined area in use defining a removable portions
 applying data means on at least one side of said predetermined area,
 printing variable data on to one or both sides of the form and recording
 machine readable data on to the data means.
 Preferably the sealing layers are polyester film but in some methods there
 is the step of applying a varnish layer to the outward facing surface of
 the sheet on the side of the predetermined area which does not have the
 data means.
 In preferred methods there is the further step of having a base sheet on
 the side of the predetermined area which does not have the data means.
 Ideally the removable portion is defined by die cutting around said
 predetermined area through to but not including the base sheet if
 provided.
 With some preferred methods the variable data is printed before the
 application of the polyester films but in others, the polyester films may
 be printer compatible.
 The printing of the variable data may be on both sides of the form and may
 include variable data on the removable and non-removable portions of the
 form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 In the figures there is shown a paper form 10 which may be an A4 sheet of
 paper but could be of any size or shape. The form 10 has a front side 11
 and a reverse side 12. In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is indicated by lines 13 an
 area which in the finished form will be a removable, credit card shaped
 portion 14 although it will be appreciated that the card portion 14 could
 be of any shape or size.
 Starting with a plain sheet 10, the sheet 10 may be printed on front and/or
 reverse sides 11, 12 with static information 15 which will not chance such
 as the letterhead, logo and graphics of the company sending the form. This
 static information 15 will not alter depending on the recipient of the
 form. The static information 15 could even include the contents of a
 standard letter. Static information is also likely to be printed within
 the lines 13.
 Variable information or data 16 can then be printed on to the front side 11
 probably including the area within the lines 13 and possibly on to the
 reverse side 12 as well. This variable data 16 changes depending on the
 recipient of the form and can include names, addresses, policy or account
 numbers or other personalised information relevant to the intended
 recipient.
 A patch 17 is then applied to the reverse side 12 of the form 10, covering
 the area defined by the lines 13. The patch 17 is of laminar construction
 and comprises a layer 18 of non-peelable adhesive, a polyester film layer
 19, an optional varnish coating 20, a non-peelable adhesive layer 21 and a
 base sheet 22 which in use is the remotest layer from the paper form 10.
 The base sheet 22 may be paper or a transparent or opaque sheet.
 On the front of the form 10 a further polyester film layer 23 with a
 non-peelable adhesive layer 24 is secured over the area defined by the
 lines 13. Data means in the form of a length of magnetic recordal tape 25
 is then attached over at least part of the area defined by the lines 13
 using a suitable non-peelable adhesive 26. The polyester film layers may
 be transparent, semi-transparent or opaque.
 The form 10 is then passed through a die-cut machine which produces cuts 27
 through all layers except the base sheet 22, following the path defined by
 the lines 13 so as to produce a removable card 14, the non-peelable
 adhesive layer 21 allowing removal from the base sheet 22. If this card 14
 has variable data printed on the paper, the variable data is effectively
 being sealed in by the polyester film layers 19 and/or 23 so that the data
 cannot be tampered with.
 It will be appreciated that in the drawings the thickness of the layers of
 the card 14 have been exaggerated so as to clarify the construction. In
 one envisaged use the card 14 may be used as a loyalty card for a shop,
 the tape 25 containing personal customer details, the card also showing
 corporate graphics relating to the shop (static information).
 Other uses will also be apparent to the reader such as credit cards, travel
 cards, parking permits as well as many other applications.
 The forms 10 may be produced as individual sheets or as part of a
 continuous system with a number of forms detachably connected in series.
 Also the polyester film layers 19, 23 may be printing compatible so that
 the variable data can be applied after the components of the card have
 been attached to the paper form 10. The actual printing of all variable
 data may be by any known printing means such as laser, ink jet, digital
 and the formation of the label could be by cutting methods other than die
 cutting.
 In the specific arrangement described above the following materials have
 been found to be suitable for the layers but it will be appreciated that
 variations and modifications in composition and thickness will be
 possible.
 Base sheet (22)--45 micron paper sheet/film
 Non-peelable adhesive (21)--E326 adhesive produced by PCP (Precision Coated
 Products)
 Polyester film (19)--50 micron transparent polyester film
 Non-peelable adhesive (18)--E326 adhesive produced by PCP
 Paper form (10)--Printer paper
 Non-peelable adhesive (24)--E326 adhesive produced by PCP
 Polyester film (23)--50 micron transparent polyester film
 Magnetic tape (25)--10 micron to ISO7811 standard
 A throw away liner would also be attached to the patch 17 prior to
 attachment to the form 10.
 In alternative arrangements the magnetic recordal tape 25 could be applied
 between the form 10 and the further polyester film layer 23 to give some
 protection to the tape 25. This is shown in FIG. 4. The tape 25 could also
 be formed as part of the polyester film layer 23.
 In the further alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the base sheet 22
 and the non-peelable adhesive layer 21 are omitted. Also the die-cuts 27
 are such that small unbreakable tabs retain the card shaped portion 14
 attached to the remainder of the form until such time as it is needed. It
 can then be simply pressed out by hand breaking the retaining tabs.
 Once the complete form has been assembled the personalised data can be
 recorded on to the tape 25 so as to relate to the intended recipient of
 the form 10. The recipient, on receipt, can then peel off the card 14 or
 press it out in the case of the FIG. 5 embodiment and use it for its
 intended purpose. It will of course be understood that the tape 25 is
 located on the card 14 in a position that allows the tape 25 to be read in
 a conventional manner using a suitable machine.
 The printing of the variable data and the recordal of the tape need to be
 synchronised so that the personal details in the variable data relates to
 the information put on the tape 25. It is possible that a single machine
 could be used to print and record in one pass of the form 10.
 It is also envisaged that the magnetic recordal tape 25 which is "read
 only" could be replaced by another type of recording medium. One such
 example would be a chip of the type which is now becoming used on smart
 cards such as store loyalty cards etc. The chips are more expensive than
 tape but are "read and write" in nature so as to provide a two-way
 communication with a compatible machine such that the information
 contained on the chip is able to be changed as the card 14 is used.
 In other alternative arrangements the removable portion is double sized and
 has adhesive on its rear side when removed from the form 10. Once removed
 the double size removed portion is folded in half so that the rear sides
 are stuck together thereby forming a normal sized card. With such an
 arrangement variable data can be printed on to both sides of the card with
 only a single pass through a printer.
 Further embodiments may involve the polyester film on the opposite side to
 the recordal tape being revealed and folded over by the intended
 recipient. Such an arrangement could enable a signature to be applied and
 then protected by the polyester film.