Stamp dispensing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for dispensing stamps and the like from an elongated web of said stamps having a longitudinally spaced transverse row of perforations between each stamp, comprising a drive wheel to engage the stamp web and dispense one or more stamps from the apparatus when the drive wheel is rotated, means for rotating the drive wheel to dispense the stamps, and means for stopping the rotation of the drive wheel when a preselected number of stamps have been dispensed, said stopping means including counting means located adjacent the moving stamp web and actuated by the passage of each row of perforations to stop the drive wheel when a preselected number of said rows have passed, said apparatus being further provided with a housing having an opening through which the stamps are dispensed in a substantially horizontal direction, means supported by the housing for mounting a stamp web roll above the level of the dispensing drive wheel for the web to be unwound from the roll and dispensed by the drive wheel, and means for guiding the web from the roll to the drive wheel including a guide roller assembly around which the direction of travel of the stamp web is changed to the substantially horizontal direction it is traveling when dispensed, said assembly comprising a first idler roller mounted on the housing for rotation around a fixed axis of rotation and a second idler roller supported for rotation by the first idler roller, said second roller comprising a ring encircling the first roller and having an internal diameter substantially larger than the outside diameter of the first roller for movement downwardly with the web as slack is placed into the web between the drive wheel and the stamp roll after each vending operation and for movement upwardly into engagement with the first idler roller at the beginning of a dispensing operation to reduce the possibility of the web being broken when the drive wheel first begins to rotate to dispense stamps.

Claim 3

APparatus for dispensing stamps from an elongated web of said stamps having a transverse row of perforations between each stamp comprising a housing having an opening through which the stamps are dispensed, a drive wheel and an idler wheel to engage the stamp web therebetween and move the web through the opening when the drive wheel is rotated, means for rotating the drive wheel, means for actuating the drive wheel rotating means when a coin or coins of a preselected value are deposited in the housing, means responsive to the passage of each row of perforations as the web is moved through the dispensing opening of the housing to stop the drive wheel and the dispensing of stamps after a preselected number of stamps have been dispensed, said drive wheel stopping means including circuit means having first and second contacts positioned on opposite sides of the stamp web to be electrically insulated from each other by the imperforate portions of the stamp web and electrically connected when a row of perforations passes between the contacts, one of said contacts comprising a brush having bristles of resilient electrically conductive material that are bent against one side of the stamp web for one or more of the bristles to extend through one or more of the perforations as each row passes between the contacts to make electrical contact with the other contact, means responsive to a preselected number of electrical connections between the contacts to stop the drive wheel, means supported by the housing for mounting a stamp web roll from which the web is unwound as stamps are dispensed by the drive wheel, means for guiding the stamp web from the roll to the drive wheel and including a roller assembly around which the web makes a substantial change in direction before it reaches the drive wheel, said roller assembly comprising a first idler roller mounted on the housing for rotation around a fixed axis of rotation and a second idler roller supported for rotation by the first idler roller, said second roller comprising a ring encircling the first roller and having an internal diameter substantially larger than the outside diameter of the first roller for movement downwardly with the web as slack is placed into the web between the drive wheel and the stamp roll after each vending operation and for movement upwardly into engagement with the first idler roller at the beginning of a dispensing operation to reduce the possibility of the web being broken when the drive wheel first begins to rotate to dispense stamps.

Claim 4

APparatus for dispensing stamps from an elongated web of said stamps having a transverse row of perforations between each stamp comprising a housing having an opening through which the stamps are dispensed, a drive wheel and an idler wheel to engage the stamp web therebetween and move the web through the opening when the drive wheel is rotated, means for rotating the drive wheel, means for actuating the drive wheel rotating means when a coin or coins of a preselected value are deposited in the housing, means responsive to the passage of each row of perforations as the web is moved through the dispensing opening of the housing to stop the drive wheel and the dispensing of stamps after a preselected number of stamps have been dispensed, said drive wheel stopping means including circuit means having first and second contacts positioned on opposite sides of the stamp web to be electrically insulated from each other by the imperforate portions of the stamp web and electrically connected when a row of perforations passes between the contacts, one of said contacts comprising a brush having bristles of resilient electrically conductive material that are bent against one side of the stamp web for one or more of the bristles to extend through one or more of the perforations as each row passes between the contacts to make electrical contact with the other contact, means responsive to a preselected number of electrical connections between the contacts to stop the drive wheel, means supported by the housing for mounting a stamp web roll from which the web is unwound as stamps are dispensed by the drive wheel, means for guiding the stamp web from the roll to the drive wheel and including a roller assembly around which the web makes a substantial change in direction before it reaches the drive wheel, said roller assembly comprising a first idler roller mounted on the housing for rotation around a fixed axis of rotation and a second idler roller supported for rotation by the first idler roller, said second roller comprising a ring encircling the first roller and having an internal diameter substantially larger than the outside diameter of the first roller for movement downwardly with the web as slack is placed into the web between the drive wheel and the stamp roll after each vending operation and for movement upwardly into engagement with the first idler roller at the beginning of a dispensing operation to reduce the possibility of the web being broken when the drive wheel first begins to rotate to dispense stamps.

Claim 5

Apparatus for dispensing stamps from an elongated web of said stamps having a transverse row of perforations between each stamp comprising a housing having an opening through which the stamps are dispensed, a drive wheel and an idler wheel to engage the stamp web therebetween and move the web through the opening when the drive wheel is rotated, means for rotating the drive wheel, means for actuating the drive wheel rotating means when a coin or coins of a preselected value are deposited in the housing, and means responsive to the passage of each row of perforations as the web is moved through the dispensing opening of the housing to stop the drive wheel and the dispensing of stamps after a preselected number of stamps have been dispensed, said apparatus being further provided with means mounting the idler wheel for movement between a dispensing position to engage the stamp web between the idler wheel and the drive wheel to move the stamp web when the drive wheel is rotated and a non-dispensing position out of engagement with the stamp web and means for moving the idler wheel to its dispensing position when the means for rotating the drive wheel is actuated and for moving the idler wheel to its non-dispensing position when the drive wheel rotating means is deactuated.

Claim 6

Apparatus for dispensing stamps from an elongated web of said stamps having a transverse row of perforations between each stamp comprising a housing having an opening through which the stamps are dispensed, a drive wheel and an idler wheel to engage the stamp web therebetween and move the web through the opening when the drive wheel is rotated, means for rotating the drive wheel, means for actuating the drive wheel rotating means when a coin or coins of a preselected value are deposited in the housing, and means responsive to the passage of each row of perforations as the web is moved through the dispensing opening of the housing to stop the drive wheel and the dispensing of stamps after a preselected number of stamps have been dispensed, said apparatus being further provided with means mounting the idler wheel for movement between a dispensing position to engage the stamp web between the idler wheel and the drive wheel to move the stamp web when the drive wheel is rotated and a non-dispensing position out of engagement with the stamp web and means for moving the idler wheel to its dispensing position when the means for rotating the drive wheel is actuated and for moving the idler wheel to its non-dispensing position when the drive wheel rotating means is deactuated.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 further provided with an idler roller, means mounting the roller to rotate around a fixed axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the idler wheel and positioned to engage the idLer wheel when the idler wheel is in its dispensing position, said roller being spaced from the drive wheel a distance such that the idler wheel will be urged further between the roller and the drive wheel to increase the force the idler wheel exerts on the stamp web and the drive wheel and yet be free to move out of engagement with the drive wheel and return to its non-dispensing position when the drive wheel stops rotating.