Programmed multiple stamp dispensing apparatus employing optical electronic stamp counting and auxiliary stamp roll capacity

Claim 2

A stamp-dispensing apparatus for dispensing stamps from a main stamp supply roll until all stamps are dispensed therefrom and for thereafter dispensing stamps from an auxiliary stamp supply roll comprising a main drive means for engaging said stamps from the main supply roll and moving said stamps in a stamp-dispensing direction, and auxiliary drive means arranged to drive the stamps from said auxiliary supply roll into engagement with said main drive means, means for disabling said auxiliary drive means from driving the stamps from said auxiliary drive means until such time as the stamps from the main supply roll have been depleted, and means for enabling said auxiliary drive means thereafter to drive the stamps from said auxiliary supply roll into engagement with the main stamp drive means to drive said auxiliary stamps in a stamp-dispensing direction.

Claim 3

A stamp-dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main drive means includes a main drive wheel and a flexible drive belt on said drive wheel for engaging said stamps, and wherein said auxiliary drive means comprises an auxiliary drive wheel coupled to said main drive wheel and driven from said main drive wheel, and flexible drive belt coupled to said auxiliary drive wheel for engaging the stamps from said auxiliary supply roll.

Claim 4

a plurality of output terminals connected to the counter of each of said dispensing units for delivering a respective plurality of different electrical signals to said counter to preset said counter to different numbers of steps away from the zero condition thereof, and;

Claim 5

a plurality of output terminals connected to the counter of each of said dispensing units for delivering a respective plurality of different electrical signals to said counter to preset said counter to different numbers of steps away from the zero condition thereof, and;

Claim 6

drive means for conveying stamps along a path from said roll to a discharge position;

Claim 7

drive means for conveying stamps along a path from said roll to a discharge position;

Claim 8

pulse-generating means for generating an output pulse for each stamp moved along said path, and;

Claim 9

pulse-generating means for generating an output pulse for each stamp moved along said path, and;

Claim 10

manually adjustable switch means for connecting every one of said input terminals to every one of said output terminals.

Claim 11

manually adjustable switch means for connecting every one of said input terminals to every one of said output terminals.

Claim 12

The stamp-dispensing apparatus of claim 1 characterized further by the inclusion of stamp guide means for guiding the stamps from said main and auxiliary rolls along adjacent main and auxiliary paths, respectively, and a friction drive member forming at least a part of said auxiliary drive means with said friction drive member mounted in engagement with stamps in said main path and movable through said main path to said auxiliary path when the supply of stamps in said main path is depleted.

Claim 13

A stamp-dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a stamp position sensing means comprising a light source and a photodetector, said light source being arranged to direct a beam of light through the line of perforations at the junction between adjacent stamps and onto the photodetector, and means responsive to the light impinging on the photodetector for controlling said main drive means.

Claim 14

a counter having a zero condition and connected to said pulse-generating means to move one step closer to said zero condition responsive to each pulse received from said pulse generating means with said counter connected to said drive means for operating said drive means when said counter is not in said zero condition, and; C. an adjustable encoder interconnecting said money acceptor means and all of said dispensing units with said encoder having:

Claim 15

a counter having a zero condition and connected to said pulse-generating means to move one step closer to said zero condition responsive to each pulse received from said pulse generating means with said counter connected to said drive means for operating said drive means when said counter is not in said zero condition, and; C. an adjustable encoder interconnecting said money acceptor means and all of said dispensing units with said encoder having:

Claim 16

A stamp-dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said main drive means comprises a main drive wheel and a flexible drive belt on said drive wheel, said flexible drive belt engaging said stamps to move said stamps in said stamp dispensing direction.

Claim 17

A stamp-dispensing apparatus as claim in claim 4 including a knife mechanism for separating the stamps at their perforated junction, and means for operating said knife means in response to the light impinging on the photodetector.

Claim 18

A stamp dispenser apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for controlling said main drive means includes an electronic pulse-counting circuit, and means for converting the light striking said photodetector into a pulse for each line of perforations passing between the light source and the photodetector, said pulses serving to operate said pulse-counting circuit to control said main drive means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said electronic pulse-counting circuit comprises a binary counter and circuit means coupled to said binary counter for preselecting the number of pulses that said binary counter will respond to in order to control said main drive means.

Claim 20

A stamp-dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including a knife mechanism for separating the stamps at their perforated junction, and means for operating said knife means in response to the light impinging on the photodetector.

Claim 21

A stamp-dispensing apparatus for dispensing stamps from a main stamp supply roll until all stamps are dispensed therefrom and for thereafter dispensing stamps from an auxiliary stamp roll which comprises: A. support means for rotatably supporting a main supply roll; B. support means for rotatably supporting an auxiliary supply roll; C. Stationarily mounted guide means for guiding stamps from said main and auxiliary supply rolls along main and auxiliary paths, respectively, toward a discharge position with said guide means defining said main and auxiliary paths in at least one local area in positions spaced apart but adjacent to each other, and; D. drive means adjacent to said local area for engaging stamps in said main path and moving said stamps along said main path with said drive means movably mounted for automatic movement through said main path into engagement with stamps in said auxiliary path when the supply of stamps in said main path is depleted.

Claim 22

A stamp-dispensing apparatus for dispensing stamps from a main stamp supply roll until all stamps are dispensed therefrom and for thereafter dispensing stamps from an auxiliary stamp roll which comprises: A. support means for rotatably supporting a main supply roll; B. support means for rotatably supporting an auxiliary supply roll; C. Stationarily mounted guide means for guiding stamps from said main and auxiliary supply rolls along main and auxiliary paths, respectively, toward a discharge position with said guide means defining said main and auxiliary paths in at least one local area in positions spaced apart but adjacent to each other, and; D. drive means adjacent to said local area for engaging stamps in said main path and moving said stamps along said main path with said drive means movably mounted for automatic movement through said main path into engagement with stamps in said auxiliary path when the supply of stamps in said main path is depleted.

Claim 23

A stamp-dispensing apparatus for dispensing stamps from a stamp supply roll comprising drive means for moving said stamps along a path in a stamp-dispensing direction, and a stamp position sensing means comprising a light source and a photodetector, said light source being arranged on one side of said path to direct a beam of light through the line of perforations between adjacent stamps in said path and onto the photodetector on the opposite side of said path, and means responsive to the light impinging on the photodetector for controlling said stamp drive means.

Claim 24

A stamp-dispensing apparatus for dispensing stamps from a stamp supply roll comprising drive means for moving said stamps along a path in a stamp-dispensing direction, and a stamp position sensing means comprising a light source and a photodetector, said light source being arranged on one side of said path to direct a beam of light through the line of perforations between adjacent stamps in said path and onto the photodetector on the opposite side of said path, and means responsive to the light impinging on the photodetector for controlling said stamp drive means.

Claim 25

A stamp-dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said drive means comprises a main drive wheel and a flexible drive belt on said drive wheel, said flexible drive belt engaging said stamps to move said stamps in said stamp dispensing direction.

Claim 26

A stamp-dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 including a knife mechanism for separating the stamps at their perforated junction and means for operating said knife means in response to the light impinging on the photodetector.

Claim 27

A stamp dispenser apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said means for controlling said stamp drive means includes an electronic pulse-counting circuit, means for converting the light striking said photodEtector into a pulse for each line of perforations passing between the light source and the photodetector, said pulses serving to operate said pulse-counting circuit to control said stamp drive means.

Claim 28

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said electronic pulse-counting circuit comprises a binary counter and circuit means coupled to said binary counter for preselecting the number of pulses that said binary counter will respond to in order to control said stamp drive means.

Claim 29

A stamp dispenser apparatus as claimed in claim 14 including a knife mechanism for separating the stamps at their perforated junction, and means for operating said knife means in response to the light impinging on the photodetector.

Claim 30

A stamp-dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of separate stamp-dispensing units, each stamp-dispensing unit including a stamp drive means for driving the stamps from a stamp supply roll on the associated stamp-dispensing unit in a stamp dispensing direction, a main drive motor, a drive wheel for each of said separate stamp-dispensing units, and means for engaging the drive wheel of each of said dispensing units between said drive motor and the stamp drive means for that dispenser unit to dispense stamps from each particular stamp-dispensing unit, and including a stamp position sensing means comprising a light source and a photodetector, said light source being arranged to direct a beam of light through the line of perforations at the junction between adjacent stamps and onto the photodetector, and means responsive to the light impinging on the photodetector for controlling said drive means engaging means.

Claim 31

A stamp-dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of separate stamp-dispensing units, each stamp-dispensing unit including a stamp drive means for driving the stamps from a stamp supply roll on the associated stamp-dispensing unit in a stamp dispensing direction, a main drive motor, a drive wheel for each of said separate stamp-dispensing units, and means for engaging the drive wheel of each of said dispensing units between said drive motor and the stamp drive means for that dispenser unit to dispense stamps from each particular stamp-dispensing unit, and including a stamp position sensing means comprising a light source and a photodetector, said light source being arranged to direct a beam of light through the line of perforations at the junction between adjacent stamps and onto the photodetector, and means responsive to the light impinging on the photodetector for controlling said drive means engaging means.

Claim 32

Stamp-dispensing apparatus for dispensing stamps from a plurality of stamp rolls in response to a plurality of different monetary credit signals which comprises: A. money acceptor means having a plurality of different-output terminals for conducting a plurality of different-output electrical signals indicative of different monetary credits; B. a plurality of stamp-dispensing units with each of said units having:

Claim 33

Stamp-dispensing apparatus for dispensing stamps from a plurality of stamp rolls in response to a plurality of different monetary credit signals which comprises: A. money acceptor means having a plurality of different-output terminals for conducting a plurality of different-output electrical signals indicative of different monetary credits; B. a plurality of stamp-dispensing units with each of said units having:

Claim 34

A stamp-dispensing apparatus for dispensing stamps from a stamp supply roll comprising a drive means for moving said stamps in a stamp-dispensing direction, means for initiating operation of said stamp drive means in response to a signal from a coin acceptor apparatus, electronic pulse-generating means for generating one pulse for each stamp dispensed by the drive means, and an electronic pulse counter circuit adapted to receive said pulses and to operate after a predetermined number of pulses have been received for disabling said stamp drive means.

Claim 35

A stamp-dispensing apparatus for dispensing stamps from a stamp supply roll comprising a drive means for moving said stamps in a stamp-dispensing direction, means for initiating operation of said stamp drive means in response to a signal from a coin acceptor apparatus, electronic pulse-generating means for generating one pulse for each stamp dispensed by the drive means, and an electronic pulse counter circuit adapted to receive said pulses and to operate after a predetermined number of pulses have been received for disabling said stamp drive means.

Claim 36

A stamp-dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 19 including a knife means for cutting the dispeNsed stamps off from the supply roll at the perforated junction between the last-dispensed stamp and the next stamp in the roll, and means responsive to operation of said electronic pulse counter circuit for operating said knife means to cut said dispensed stamps off from the supply roll.

Claim 37

A stamp-dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said electronic pulse counter circuit comprises a binary counter.

Claim 38

A stamp-dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 20 including a program board having a plurality of electrical jack pairs, each pair adapted to set a separate pulse count in the binary counter, the total pulse count being set by the strapping of a selected one or more of said jack pairs.

Claim 39

A stamp-dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of separate stamp-dispensing units, each stamp-dispensing unit including a stamp drive means for driving the stamps from the associated stamp-dispensing unit in a stamp-dispensing direction, a binary counter circuit associated with each dispenser unit and set to count a predetermined number of input pulses, coin acceptor means for energizing said binary counters, an electrical pulse-generating means for generating a pulse for each stamp dispensed form each stamp dispenser unit, said binary counters each operating upon receipt of said predetermined number of pulses from the associated pulse-generating circuits for operating to terminate the associated stamp drive means, and a program board comprising a plurality of sets of jack pairs, each set associated with one particular monetary coin of a plurality of monetary values, certain ones of the jack pairs in each set being associated with certain ones of the binary counters in each separate stamp dispensing unit, the electrical strapping of the jack pairs associated with each particular coin set and associated with each particular stamp-dispensing binary counter determining whether or not the particular stamp dispenser drive means is made operative upon receipt of that particular coin by the coin acceptor, the particular strapping of one or more of the jack pairs in a set determining the number of pulse counts to be accepted by the binary counter and thus the number of stamps to be dispensed from the particular associated stamp dispenser unit.

Claim 40

A stamp-dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of separate stamp-dispensing units, each stamp-dispensing unit including a stamp drive means for driving the stamps from the associated stamp-dispensing unit in a stamp-dispensing direction, a binary counter circuit associated with each dispenser unit and set to count a predetermined number of input pulses, coin acceptor means for energizing said binary counters, an electrical pulse-generating means for generating a pulse for each stamp dispensed form each stamp dispenser unit, said binary counters each operating upon receipt of said predetermined number of pulses from the associated pulse-generating circuits for operating to terminate the associated stamp drive means, and a program board comprising a plurality of sets of jack pairs, each set associated with one particular monetary coin of a plurality of monetary values, certain ones of the jack pairs in each set being associated with certain ones of the binary counters in each separate stamp dispensing unit, the electrical strapping of the jack pairs associated with each particular coin set and associated with each particular stamp-dispensing binary counter determining whether or not the particular stamp dispenser drive means is made operative upon receipt of that particular coin by the coin acceptor, the particular strapping of one or more of the jack pairs in a set determining the number of pulse counts to be accepted by the binary counter and thus the number of stamps to be dispensed from the particular associated stamp dispenser unit.

Claim 41

A detector assembly for detecting the lines of perforations in a strip of stamps which comprises a printed circuit board having an aperture therein adapted to receive a strip of stamps moving in a direction generally perpendicular to said board, a photodetector mounted on said printed circuit board on one side of said aperture for detecting light which passes across said aperture generally parallel to said circuit board, a light source mounted on said circuit board on the opposite side of said aperture from said photodetector, and a cylindrical transparent lens mounted on said circuit board between said light source and said photodetector with the axis of said lens generally perpendicular to the line extending between said light source and said photodetector.

Claim 42

A detector assembly for detecting the lines of perforations in a strip of stamps which comprises a printed circuit board having an aperture therein adapted to receive a strip of stamps moving in a direction generally perpendicular to said board, a photodetector mounted on said printed circuit board on one side of said aperture for detecting light which passes across said aperture generally parallel to said circuit board, a light source mounted on said circuit board on the opposite side of said aperture from said photodetector, and a cylindrical transparent lens mounted on said circuit board between said light source and said photodetector with the axis of said lens generally perpendicular to the line extending between said light source and said photodetector.