US3512678A - Stamp dispenser - Google Patents

Description

E. A. BECK STAMP DISPENSER May 19, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 21. 1968 fir-5 1 INVENTOR. 5,4m. A., 656K May 19, 1970 E. A. BECK 3,512,678

' STAMP DSPENSER Filed March 21, 1968 l 2 sheets-Sheet 2 l iz INVENTOR. F1/@L A,1 /SE-cz United States Patent O 3,512,678 STAMP DISPENSER Earl A. Beck, R0. Box 3024, Inglewood, Calif. 90304 Filed Mar. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 714,988 Int. Cl. B65h 17/40 U.S. Cl. 226-110 12 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The present invention has primary utility for continuously dispensing a ribbon of material, such as trading stamps and the like. In one form, apparatus embodying certain principles of the present invention may include a housing in which is positioned a plurality of stamp storage means from which stamps are dispensed automatically to the exterior of the housing. Drive Iwheels may be provided in engagement with the ribbon of stamps from each of the stamp storage means to aid in moving the stamps from the storage means to a dispensing outlet. Power transmitting means may be provided in operative engagment with the drive wheels and with cyclic power means for activating the drive wheels alternatively. Sensing means may be provided within the housing for sensing the exhaustion of a supply of stamps in one of the stamp storage means, whereupon shifting means responsive to the sensing means are activated to shift the power transmitting means away from the drive wheel associating with the stamp storage means from which the supply of stamps is exhausted and into engagement with the other drive wheel.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Within the present century automatic coin-operated vending machines have moved from the crude, troublesome machines of the early nineteen hundreds, which now reside in museums, to the extremely sophisticated apparatus used routinely by the average American citizen. The ubiquitous coin-operated vending machine is used in modern times to dispense an almost limitless variety of merchandise-literally from soup to nuts.

The use of premiums of the type commonly referred to as trading stamps was initiated at approximately the same time the first crude coin-operated vending machines were being developed, and all too frequently discarded, and the growth of the trading stamp industry has developed apace with the growth of the coin-operated dispensing activities of the merchandising segment of our population. While there are detractors from the value of trading stamps, it is nonetheless an irrefutable fact that the dispensing of trading stamps has become an accepted part of the American commercial scene. Undoubtedly this fact can be attributed mainly to the almost insatiable desire on the part of the typical American housewife to get something for free. No matter what the merchandise, it can be observed that the offer of trading stamps increases the total sales volume.

In view of the parallel development of coin-operated vending machines and trading stamp premium schemes, it is to some extent surprising that no completely successful marriage between these two types of activities has, until the present time, been consummated. Conceptually at least, the advantages to be obtained from dispensing trading stamps simultaneously with the sale of an article from a coin-operated machine are apparent. The same Patented May 19, 1970 ICCA stimuli which trading stamps give to sales over the counter should characterize the dispensation of trading stamps along with merchandise from a coin-operated machine.

Within the recent past apparatus for achieving just this happy result has been suggested. More particularly, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,292,834, apparatus is disclosed which has primary utility for dispensing trading stamps in conjunction with a coin-operated vending machine. The apparatus disclosed in this patent is undoubtedly useful for the purpose for which it was intended; it is, however, subject to limitations `which the present invention was designed to overcome. Specically, prior art apparatus necessitated either an excessively large storage drum for the trading stamps or, alternatively, uneconomical supervision by an attendant. Until the present invention, a satisfactory stamp dispenser which could be used in conjunction with a coinoperated vending machine and which had a plurality of stamp storage drums which could be alternately and automatically actuated has remained an elusive desideratum.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a dispenser for ribbon material, such as trading stamps, having therein at least two storage drums for the stamps. Included within the invention are means alternately and automatically shifting an otftake power supply to remove stamps from each of the storage drums independently of the other storage drum. Sensing means are provided to control the operation of the shifting means in response to the exhaustion of a supply of stamps in one of the storage drums.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Apparatus embodying one form of the invention summarized immediately above is disclosed in the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts in all views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one form of apparatus useful in practicing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end View of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as it would appear when viewing such apparatus in FIG. 1 from the right lwith a portion of the housing removed.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the righthand portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 5 wherein certain elements are omitted to clearly indicate the structure of a pair of oppositely acting solenoids and their associated hardware.

FIG.-4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing the relationship between a pair of stamp storage means.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line S- S of FIG. 1 showing elements of power shifting means which forms a portion of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 5, as viewed from the righthand position of FIGS. 5, as it would appear with the side panel of the housing removed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic electrical diagram of the drive and control portions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS Turning now to the drawings, the major components of the present invention may be seen to include within a housing 10 stamp storage means, indicated generally by the numeral 11, (FIGS. l and 4) from which a pair of parallel stamp ribbons 12 (FIGS. l and 4) are drawn by a pair of drive wheels 13 (FIGS. 2 and 4) out a dispensing slot 14 (FIG. l) formed in housing 10. Between the drive wheels 13 and the storage means 11, the stamp ribbons 12 are each passed over an idler wheel 15.

Power is transmitted alternatively to drive wheels 13 from cyclic power means, indicated generally by the numeral 16, (FIGS. 1 and 7) through power transmitting means, indicated generally by the numeral 17 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). Power transmitting means 17 are designed to drive only one of the drive wheels 13 at a time. In order to shift the drive engagement from one to the other of drive wheels 13, shifting means, indicated generally by the numeral 18, (FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6) are provided in operative engagement with a portion of power transmitting means 17.

Sensing means, indicated generally by the numeral 19, (FIGS. 1 and 7) are provided to control the operation of shifting means 18 in response to the exhaustion Vof one of the stamp ribbons 12 from stamp storage means 11.

STAMP STORAGE MEANS Stamp storage means 11, which is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, comprises a pair of storage drums 21 on each of which a stamp ribbon 12 is wound. Storage drums 21 are each rotatably secured upon a stub shaft 22 and are held thereon [by suitable securing means, such as nuts 23. A support arm 24 projects inwardly from an end portion of housing and secures shaft 22 on which the storage drums are located.

DRIVE WHEEL ASSEMBLY The parallel stamp ribbons 12 emerging from storage drums 21 are pulled from the storage drum into engagement with a flat peripheral surface 26 on drive wheels 13. Formed on each of the drive wheels is a series of radially extending projections 27 which engage apertures 28 in stamp ribbons 12 in a manner clearly shown in FIG. 4 to furnish a positive drive to the stamp ribbons by drive wheels 13.

Support is given to drive wheels 13 by an axle 31 which is journaled to opposite sides of housing 10. Since it is necessary for drive wheels 13 to move independently one from the other,-these wheels are not directly connected to axle 31', instead they are separated thereon by a spacer sleeve 30 which is in sliding contact with each of the drive wheels. In addition the outer central portion of each of the drive wheels 26 is rigidly secured to a drive sleeve 29 which rotates freely around axle 31.

POWER TRANSMI'ITING MEANS Rotation is provided to drive sleeves 29 by power transmitting means 17 which includes a star gear 32 rigidly secured on opposite ends of each drive sleeve 29'.

Asbest shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, star gears 32 cooperate with a pair of pins 33 which project outwardly from a pair of pin wheels 34 to provide a Geneva drive of standard design. A depression 36 (FIG. 1) is formed on the outer periphery of each pin wheel 34 and is sized to receive therein a follower wheel 37 to prevent overriding of pin wheel 34. Follower wheel 37 is rotatably secured at one end of a bell crank assembly, indicated generally by the numeral 38, which is pivotally mounted within housing 10 on a pivot pin 39. Resilient means, such as tension spring 41, is secured between a portion of housing 10 and the end of bell crank assembly 38 opposite follower wheel 37 to rotate the bell crank assembly in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, into constant engagement with the periphery of pin wheel 34.

Each of the pin wheels 34 is free to rotate about a shaft 42 which is journaled into opposite sides of housing 10'. Means are provided on shaft 42 immediately adjacent each of the pin wheels 34 for preventing overriding of star gears 32. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, such means includes a projection 43 having a pair of opposed ends 44 thereon formed into an arc to index with the arcuate portions of the periphery of star gears 32. Since projections 43 move as a unit with pin wheels 34 and since the pin wheels are prevented from overriding by bell crank assembly 38, star gears 32 are in turn prevented from overriding by the presence of projection 43 into the normal rotary path of the star gears.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 5, a pair of inwardly facing clutch assemblies 46 are carried on shaft 42 and each is rigidly secured on the inward side of one of the pin wheels 34. Clutch assemblies 46 each comprises an O shaped portion 47 from which project inwardly a pair of horizontally disposed teeth 48 to provide a locking groove.

A clutch engaging member, indicated generally by the numeral 49, isA located coaxially with shaft 42 between clutch assemblies 46. Clutch engaging member 49 includes a sleeve portion 51 from which projects on either end thereof a pair of clutch engaging teeth S2 which are sized to t into the locking groove formed by teeth 48 of clutch assemblies 46.

Clutch engaging member 49 is sized shorter than the distance separating clutch assemblies 46 along rotatable shaft 42. Thus, when the clutch engaging member is in operative contact with one of the clutches 46 it is out of driving engagement with the other clutch, as clearly shown in FIG. 5. Rotation is provided to clutch engaging `member 49 from shaft 42 through a key 53 projecting into a slot 54 formed on the interior surface of clutch engaging member 49. As shown in FIG. 2, key 53 is rigidly secured to shaft 42 while slot 54 is oversized to allow clutch engaging member 49 to move parallel to the axis of rotatable shaft 42 while at the same time being rotated thereby.

Gear means are provided for rotating shaft 42, and these gear means include a relatively small driven gear wheel 58 which is rigidly secured to shaft 42. A relatively large gear 59 meshes with gear wheel 58 and rotates as a unit with an axle shaft 61 on which it is secured. Axle shaft 61 is journaled on opposite sides of housing 10 and has secured thereto at a point removed from gear 59 a relatively small gear wheel 62 having formed thereon a plurality of relatively coarse teeth 63. Teeth 63 project radially from shaft 61 into the pathof a pin 64 carried by and extending from the plane of a drive plate 66 which forms a portion of the cyclic power means. By this arrangement, gear wheel 62 is moved the distance between two adjacent teeth 63 with each revolution of drive plate 66. If desired, a plurality of pins `64 may be utilized with drive plate 66 to increase the rotation ratio between gear wheel 62 and drive plate 66.

POWER SHIFTING MEANS As was pointed out in the previous section, pin wheels 34 together with their associated drive wheels 13 are driven singly and alternately due to the foreshortening of clutch engaging member 49. In FIG. 5, for instance, clutch engaging member 49 is in operative engagement with the pin wheel 34 which is on the lefthand side of the drawing. Should the ribbon 12 which is being fed to the drive wheel 13 associated with the lefthand pin wheel 34 become exhausted, it would then be necessary to shift the drive to the other pin wheel and thereafter remove stamps from the stampy drum still containing a supply of stamps. As was pointed out previously, the alternate engagement and disengagement of clutch assemblies 46 are achieved by the horizontal sliding motion of clutch engaging member 49.

In order to move clutch engaging member 49 axially along shaft 42, a slip ring 56 is slidingly secured in the central portion of sleeve 51 so thatslip ring 56 may remain rotatably stationary while clutch engaging member 49 is being powered from shaft 42. Projecting from opposite sides of slip ring 56 are a pair of dogs 57 through which axial motion is transmitted through slip ring 56 to clutch engaging member 49.

Power for adjusting the position of clutch engaging member 49 is provided through the dogs 57 which cooperate with bifurcated portions 67 of an actuating yoke member 68 (FIGS. 5 and 6). A fulcrum pin 69 is rigidly attached to, and projects through a portion of, yoke member 68 in a direction normal to the plane of the bifurcations formed therein. At one end of fulcrum pin 69 is pivotally secured a pair of parallel downwardly extending pivot arms 71, the lower portions of which are bifurcated as at 72. Fitted within bifurcations 72 is a pin 73 which projects outwardly from either side of a tie link 74 while a pair of anchor plates 76 joined by an anchor pin 77 (FIG. 6) are rigidly secured to fulcrum pin 69 between yoke member 68 and pivot arms 71. One end of a coiled horseshoe spring 78 is secured to anchor pin 77 while the opposite end of the horseshoe spring Yis secured to a similar anchor pin 79 carried between pivot arms 71 and normal to the plane of each. Horseshoe spring 78 is provided and attached in this manner in order to give a snap action to the motion of yoke member 68 upon the movement of pivot arms 71 from one side of housing l0 toward the other.

Side to side motion is transmitted to pivot arms 7l through the pin 73 which project horizontally from the tie link 74. As most clearly shown in FIG. 3. tie link 74 has a generally Z shaped configuration and functions to couple a pair of oppositely actuated armatures 81 which form a portion of oppositely facing solenoids 80. As solenoids 80 are alternately actuated, tie link 74 is moved back and forth.

CYCLIC POWER MEANS The mechanism from which drive wheels 13 obtain their power is best disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 7 wherein it will be seen to include an electric motor 82. This motor is in an electric circuit which includes a power source 83 and a normally open impulse switch 84 which may be actuated by a portion of a coin-operated vending machine to momentarily establish a circuit to motor 82. In parallel with impulse switch 84 is provided a normally open motor stop switch 86 having associated therewith an actuating arm assembely 87. A follower 88 which is secured to one end of actuating arm assembly 87 follows the periphery of drive plate 66 and opens switch 86 when it engages a depression 89 formed in the periphery of drive plate 66. The drive plate is secured to shaft 91 of motor 82.

A cycle of motor 82 is initiated by the momentary closing of switch 84 whereupon motor SZ-begins to rotatev drive plate 66. As drive plate 66 rotates, actuating arm assembly 87 is moved to close switch 86 thereby maintaining a power circuit to the motor after switch 84 has reopened. At such time as follower 88 engages depression 89, the actuating arm assembly moves to once again open switch 86 and thereby deactivate the motor.

the utilization of means to sense the exhaustion of stamps from a first source of supply and signal a stamp dispensing apparatus to activate an additional stamp dispensing ISource. In the present embodiment, such sensing means includes a pair of reaction wheels 92 in engagement with stamp ribbons 12 each wheel being journaled at one end of a bell crank 93. A pivot pin 94 is provided within housing to rotatably support bell cranks 93, while a cornpression spring 96 is utilized for each bell crank to bias its associated reaction wheel into engagement with a stamp ribbon 12.

At the end of each of the bell cranks 93 is located a single throw make and break switch 97 which is so4 positioned as to be actuated when spring 96 moves bell crank 93 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. l, upon the exhaustion of its associated stamp ribbon 12.

As best seen in FIG. 7, each of the switches 97 is in the circuit of one of the solenoids 80 so that when the stamp ribbon from one of the drums 21 is exhausted and its associated bell crank 93 moves to close switch 97. its associated solenoid is activated to shift tie link 74 thereby disengaging the pin wheel 34 associated with the exhausted stamp supply and engaging the other pin wheel.

OPERATION In the operation of the present device let it be assumed that the clutch mechanism is in the position shown in FIG. 5 so that the drive plate 66 at the bottom of FIG. 4 is being actuated from motor 82. Thus, upon closure of switch 84, as'by placing a coin in the dispensing apparatus, motor 82 is cycled and drive plate 66 moves pin 64 into engagement with one of the teeth 63 which project from, and form a part of, small gear wheel 62. This results in rotation of gear wheel 62 with an equal rotation of shaft 6l to which it is journaled. Movement of shaft 61 in turn causes gear 59 to rotate thus moving driven gear wheel 58 which is keyed to shaft 42. Rotary motion from shaft 42 is transmitted through key 53 to clutch engaging member 49 and from thence through clutch assembly 46 into the lefthand pin wheel 34, as viewed in FIG. 5. Rotation of pin wheel 34 moves pin 33 whereby its associated star gear 32 experiences simultaneous movement. The lower star gear 32, as viewed in FIG. 4, thereupon rotates around axle 31 and carries with it its associated drive sleeve 29 to move lower drive wheel 13 and its associated stamp ribbon a limited distance.

At such time as the lower stamp ribbon 12 becomes exhausted, its associated reaction wheel 92 will move downwardly adjacent idleri wheel 15 due to the action of spring 96 and pivot bell crank 93 to close and then open its associated switch 97. As this switch closes it momentarily actuates its associated solenoid thereby moving tie link 74 to the right, a viewed in FIG. 5. As tie link 74 begins to move to the right there is at first no corresponding motion of yoke member 68; however, further movement of the tie link, which brings it into an overcenter position with regard to yoke member 68, results in a snap action of the yoke member toward the right (FIG. A5) due to the action of coiled horseshoe spring 78 acting through anchor plates 76 and fulcrum pin 69. Motion of yoke member 68 to the right causes a corresponding motion of clutch engaging member 49 due to the presence of dogs 57 which project from slip ring 56. In the event that clutch engaging teeth 48 do not mesh precisely with the bifurcation formed in clutch assembly 46. no harm will be done to the mechanism due to the resilient connection between pivot arm 71 and yoke member 68. Upon further rotation of the clutch engaging member 49 this same resilient force causes the clutch engaging member to operably connect with the clutch as soon as it is properly indexed.

Following the switching described immediately above, depression of switch 84 will then actuate the righthand pin wheel in a manner identical to the actuation described previously for the lefthand pin wheel. This in turn will cause rotation of the upper drive wheel, as viewed in FIG. 4.

From the above description it will be seen that the present invention provides means for conveniently and easily dispensing a plurality of stamps 12 from a first source and upon exhaustion of that source for automatically switching to an alternate source so as to provide an uninterrupted ow of stamps to the customer.

It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are presented by way of example only and that many changes and modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a plurality of stamp storage means carried by said housing;

(c) a plurality of drive wheels each operatively associated with one of said stamp storage means to receive a ribbon of stamps therefrom;

(d) power means in said housing and selectively connectable to one of said drive wheels;

(e) means for sensing the exhaustion of stamps in one of said stamp storage means;

(f) means connected to said power transmitting means and responsive to said sensing means for shifting said power means out of engagement with the drive wheel paired with a stamp storage means from which the supply of stamps is exhausted and into engagement with another of said drive wheels in response to a signal from said sensing means, said shifting means comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed solenoids carried by said housing and connected to said sensing means;

(b) a tie link rigidly secured to the armature of each of said solenoids whereby said armatures and said tie link are moved as a unit by the alternate actuation of said solenoids;

(c) a fulcrum pin;

(d) a pivot arm rotatably secured at one end thereof to said fulcrum pin, the opposite end of said pivot arm being in operative engagement with said tie link;

(e) an actuating yoke member pivotally secured to said fulcrum pin and extending therefrom in a direction generally away from said pivot arm;

(f) a slip ring slidably secured on a portion of said power means and in operative engagement with said actuating yoke member; and

(g) resilient means secured between said pivot arm and said actuating yoke member for moving said yoke member in response to movement of said pivot arm by said solenoids.

2. A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a plurality of stamp storage means carried by said housing;

(c) a plurality of drive wheels, each operatively associated with one of said stamp storage means to receive a ribbon of stamps therefrom;

(d) power means in said housing and selectively connectable to one of said drive wheels;

(e) a plurality of reaction wheels, each of said reaction wheels being positioned within said housing to engage a continuous ribbon of stamps emerging from one of said stamp storage means;

(f) a bell crank assembly pivotally secured within said housing, said reaction wheels being rotatably mounted in one end of said bell crank assembly;

(g) a single throw make and break switch carried by said housing and in operative engagement with a portion of said bell crank assembly opposite said reaction wheels;

(h) resilient means mounted between said housing and said bell crank assembly for urging said reaction wheels in a direction toward the continuous ribbon of stamps;

(i) electric circuitry including said make and break switch and connected to said shifting means for pulsing said shifting means upon actuation of said make and break switch; and

(j) means connected to sa-id power means and responsive to closure of said single throw make and break switch for shifting said power transmitting means out of engagement with the drive wheel paired with a stamp storage means from which the supply of stamps is exhausted and into engagement with another of said drive wheels in response to a signal from said sensing means.

3. A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a plurality of stamp storage means carried by said housing;

(c) a plurality of drive wheels, each of said drive wheels being paired with one of said stamp storage means to receive a ribbon of stamps therefrom;

(d) an electric motor having a shaft extending from one end thereof;

(e) a drive plate rigidly secured to said shaft, said drive plate having formed therein a depression along the periphery thereof;

(f) a normally open motor stop switch;

(g) an actuating arm assembly operatively secured to said normally open motor stop switch, a portion of said actuating arm assembly being positioned to engage the periphery of said drive plate and be received Within said depression;

(h) a normally open impulse switch;

(i) a source of electric power;

(j) a first electric circuit including said normally open impulse switch and said electric motor;

(k) a second electric circuit including said power supply, said normally open motor stop switch, and said electric motor;

(l) a pin projecting from said drive plate;

(m) power transmitting means carried by said housing and drivingly contacted by said projecting pin for transmitting power from said drive plate selectively and individually to each of said drive wheels;

(n) means for sensing the exhaustion of stamps in one of said stamp storage means; and

(o) means connected to said power transmitting means and responsive to said sensing means for shifting said power transmitting means out of engagement with .the drive Wheel paired with a stamp storage means from which the supply of stamps is exhausted and into engagement with another of said drive wheels in response to a signal from said sensing means 4. A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a pair of stamp storage means carried by said hous- (c) a pair of drive wheels, each of said drive wheels being paired on said housing with one of said stamp storage means to receive a ribbon of stamps therefrom;

(d) cyclic power means associated with said housing;

(e) a star wheel drivingly secured to each of said drive wheels;

(f) a pin wheel journaled within said housing in driving engagement with each star wheel;

(g) a clutch assembly secured to each pin wheel;

(h) a rotatable shaft within said housing;

(i) a clutch engaging member carried by said rotatable shaft and axially slidable thereon alternately into and out of engagement with each of said clutches;

(j) gear means in operable engagement with said cyclic power means and said rotatable shaft for transmitting power thereto from said cyclic power means;

(k) means for sensing the exhaustion of stamps and one of such stamps storage means; and

(l) means connected to said clutch engaging member and responsive to said sensing means for shifting said clutch engaging member alternately into and out of engagement with each of said clutches in response to a signal from said sensing means,

5. The apparatus dened in claim 4 wherein said pin wheel has formed in the periphery thereof a depression, and further characterized to include a bell crank assembly pivotally secured within said housing adjacent said pin wheel, a follower wheel mounted upon one end of said bell crank assembly in engagement with the periphery of said pin wheel and resilient means secured between the end of the housing and the end of said bell crank assembly opposite said follower wheel for pivoting said bell crank assembly to urge said follower wheel into engagement with the periphery of said pin wheel.

6. The apparatus defined in claim- 4 wherein said shifting means comprises:

said fulcrum pin and extending therefrom in a direction generally away from said pivot arm;

.(f) a slip ring slidably secured on said clutchengaging member and in operative engagement with said actuating yoke member; and

(g) resilient means secured between said` pivot arm and said actuating yoke member for moving said yoke member in response to movement of said pivot arm by said solenoids.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said sensing means comprises:

(a) a pair of reaction Wheels, each of said reaction wheels being positioned within said housing to engage a continuous ribbon of samps emerging from one of said stamp storage means; I

(b) a bell crank assembly pivotally secured within said housing, said reaction wheels being rotatably mounted in one end of said bell crank assembly;

(c) a single throw make and break switch carried by said housing and in operative engagement with a portion of said bell crank assembly opposite said reaction wheel;

(d) resilient means mounted between said housing and said bell crank assembly for urging said reaction wheel in a direction toward the continuous ribbon of stamps; and

.(e) electric circuitry including said make and break switch and one of said solenoids for Ipulsing said solenoid upon actuation of said make and break switch.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said cyclic power means comprises:

(a) an electric motor having a shaft extending from one end thereof;

(b) a drive plate rigidly secured to said shaft, said drive plate having formd therein a depression along the periphery thereof;

(c) la normally open motor stop switch;

(d) an actuating arm assembly operatively secured to said normally open motor stop switch, a portion of said actuating arm assembly being positiond to engage the periphery of said drive plate and be received within said depression;

(e) a normally open impulse switch;

(f) a source of electric power;

(g) a tirst electric circuit including said normally open impulse switch and said electric motor;

(h) a second electric circuit including said power supply, said normally open motor stop switch, and said electric motor; and

(i) a pin projecting from said drive plate into the path of a portion of said gear means.

9. The lapparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said sensing means comprises:

.(a) a pair of reaction wheels, each of said reaction wheels being positioned within said housing to engage a continuous ribbon of stamps emerging from one of said stamp storage means;

(b) a bell crank assembly pivotally secured within said housing, said reaction wheels being rotatably mounted in one end of said bell crank assembly;

(c) a single throw make and break switch carried by said housing and in operative engagement with ya portion of said bell crank assembly opposite said reaction Wheel;

(d) resilient 'means mounted between said housing and said bell crank assembly for urging said reaction wheel in a direction toward the continuous ribbon of stamps; `and (e) electric circuitry including said make and break switch and a portion of said power shifting means for actuating said power shifting means upon actuation of said make and break switch.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said cyclic power means comprises:

(a) an electric motor having a shaft extending from one end thereof;

.(b) a drive plate rigidly secured kto said shaft, said drive plate having formed therein a depression along the periphery thereof;

(c) a normally open motor stop switch;

(d) an actuating armassembly operatively secured to said normally open motor stop switch, a portion of said actuating arm assembly being positioned to engage the periphery of said drive plate and be received within said depression;

(e) a normally open impulse switch;

(f a source of electric power;

(g) a lirst electric circuit including said normally open impulse switch and said electric motor;

,(h) a second electric circuit including said power supply, said normally open motor stop switch, and said electric motor; and

(i) a pin projecting from said drive plate into the path of a portion of said gear means.

11. A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) ahousing;

(b) a plurality of stamp storage means carried by said housing;

(c) a plurality of drivewheels, each operatively associated with one of said stamp storage means for withdrawing a ribbon of stamps therefrom;

(d) ya motor within said housing;

(e) means for automatically driving said motor through a predetermined extent of rotation;

(f) means for transmitting power from said motor to either one of said drive wheels during the period said motor is automatically driven through said predetermined extent of rotation;

(g) meansfor individually sensing the depletion of said stamps from each one of said storage means; and

(h) means responsive to said sensing means for disconnecting said power transmitting means from a lirst drive wheel operatively associated with a stamp storage means from which stamps are depleted, and connecting said power transmitting means to a second drive wheel operatively associated with a stamp storage means upon which stamps are stored.

12. A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) ahousing;

(b) a pair of stamp storage means carried by said housing;

(c) a pair of drive wheels, each of said drive wheels being paired on said housing with one of said Stamp storage means to receive a ribbon of stamps therefrom;

(d) cyclic power means associated with said housing;

(e) means carried by said housing for transmitting power from said cyclic power means to each of said drive wheels;

(f) means for sensing the exhaustion of stamps in one of said stamp storage means;

(g) solenoid means connected to said sensing means and responsive to said sensing means by shifting when said sensing means senses the exhaustion of stamps in one of said stamps storage means;

(h) link means connected to lsaid solenoid means for References Cited g'nent in response to shifting of said solenoid UNITED STATES PATENTS (i) clutcll means for alternately shifting said power 2,738,934 3/1956 Dobkin 242--553 transmitting means into engagement with one of said 5 3,007,650 11/1961 Burton 242--55-3 drive wheels, and concurrently out of engagement 3,148,842 9/1964 AXSOD 242-*58 X with the other of said drive wheels; and

(j) means interconnecting said link means with said RICHARD A'SCHACHER Prlmary Exammef clutch means for alternately shifting said clutch Us C1 XR means when said link means moves in response to lo said solenoid means. 242- 55'3 58

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