Rotary ink stamp for a copier/printer apparatus

Claim 2

In a printing apparatus adapted to print copies of page image information onto copy sheets and forward them into an output tray, the improvement of a low-cost stamping mechanism for use in such a printing apparatus for inking a special message onto the copy sheets, comprising: a printwheel; stamp means positioned on a portion of the outer circumference of said printwheel; copy sheet transport means through which a copy sheet is driven by said printwheel; and latch means including a pawl attached to said printwheel for preventing movement of said printwheel except when stamping of copy sheets is required, said pawl resting solely due to gravity in interfering relation in a cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means with respect to copy sheets passing through said copy sheet transport means, said pawl being lifted from said cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means by the leading edge of a driven copy sheet and falls solely due to gravity and centrifugal force back into said cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means once the trailing edge of the copy sheet passes said pawl.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said print wheel includes a drive wheel and a mating carrier wheel.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said carrier wheel has said stamp means attached to a peripheral portion thereof.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said drive wheel includes an O-ring attached to its outer circumference that is adapted to come into frictioned contact with copy sheets and rotate said drive wheel when stamping is required.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said stamp means includes an inking pad mounted on an ink reservoir.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said O-ring has a flat on its outer surface.

Claim 8

A low cost, compact rotary stamp apparatus, comprising: a print wheel having a curved stamp holding housing attached thereto; copy sheet transport path means through which a copy sheet is driven by said print wheel; and a pawl positioned for pivotal rotation on said print wheel and adapted to rest in a home position within a cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means such that movement of said print wheel is inhibited, said pawl being adapted to be lifted from said cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means by the leading edge of a driven copy sheet and to fall due solely to gravity and centrifugal force back into said cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means once the trailing edge of the copy sheet passes said pawl.

Claim 9

A low cost, compact rotary stamp apparatus, comprising: a print wheel having a curved stamp holding housing attached thereto; copy sheet transport path means through which a copy sheet is driven by said print wheel; and a pawl positioned for pivotal rotation on said print wheel and adapted to rest in a home position within a cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means such that movement of said print wheel is inhibited, said pawl being adapted to be lifted from said cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means by the leading edge of a driven copy sheet and to fall due solely to gravity and centrifugal force back into said cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means once the trailing edge of the copy sheet passes said pawl.

Claim 10

The rotary stamp apparatus of claim 7, including means for adjusting the position of said stamp holding housing on said print wheel.

Claim 11

The rotary stamp apparatus of claim 8, including counterweight means for positioning said print wheel.

Claim 12

The rotary stamp apparatus of claim 9, including one way clutch means connected to said print wheel in order to prevent said print wheel from bouncing when said pawl engages said latch stop.

Claim 13

The rotary stamp apparatus of claim 10, including an O-ring attached to its outer circumference that is adapted to come into frictioned contact with copy sheets and rotate said drive wheel when stamping is required.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said O-ring has a flat on its outer surface.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said stamp stamp holding housing includes an inking pad mounted on an ink reservoir.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13, including means for selectively inhibiting or not inhibiting movement of said print wheel.

Claim 17

In a printing apparatus adapted to place original page image information onto a photoconductive surface and to print copies of the page image information onto copy sheets and forward them into an output tray, the improvement of a low-cost stamping mechanism for use in such a printing apparatus for inking a special message onto the copy sheets, comprising: a multi-mode printwheel; stamp means positioned on a portion of the outer circumference of said printwheel; copy sheet transport means through which a copy sheet is driven by said printwheel; and latch means including a pawl attached to said printwheel for preventing movement of said printwheel except when said printwheel is in a first mode, said pawl resting solely due to gravity in contacting relation in a cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means with respect to copy sheets passing through said copy sheet transport means, said pawl being lifted from said cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport means by the leading edge of a driven copy sheet and falls due solely to gravity and centrifugal force back into said cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means once the trailing edge of the copy sheet passes said pawl, and when said printwheel is in a second mode said pawl does not prevent movement of said printwheel while simultaneously being lifted out of and returned to said cut-out portion of said transport by movement of copy sheets through said copy sheet transport means.

Claim 18

In a printing apparatus adapted to place original page image information onto a photoconductive surface and to print copies of the page image information onto copy sheets and forward them into an output tray, the improvement of a low-cost stamping mechanism for use in such a printing apparatus for inking a special message onto the copy sheets, comprising: a multi-mode printwheel; stamp means positioned on a portion of the outer circumference of said printwheel; copy sheet transport means through which a copy sheet is driven by said printwheel; and latch means including a pawl attached to said printwheel for preventing movement of said printwheel except when said printwheel is in a first mode, said pawl resting solely due to gravity in contacting relation in a cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means with respect to copy sheets passing through said copy sheet transport means, said pawl being lifted from said cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport means by the leading edge of a driven copy sheet and falls due solely to gravity and centrifugal force back into said cut-out portion of said copy sheet transport path means once the trailing edge of the copy sheet passes said pawl, and when said printwheel is in a second mode said pawl does not prevent movement of said printwheel while simultaneously being lifted out of and returned to said cut-out portion of said transport by movement of copy sheets through said copy sheet transport means.