The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 23, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 28, 1997
William Carroll, Garden Grove, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for dispensing postage stamps that are coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive onto envelopes located therebeneath. Such postage stamps are wound in rolls and have a uniform width. In some postage stamp rolls the stamps are supported upon a carrier strip coated with a release agent, while in other arrangements the roll of stamps includes no separate carrier strip. The stamp application device of the invention is applicable to both types of postage stamp rolls. The stamp application apparatus employs a body that defines a stamp roll cavity and a postage stamp dispensing position. An advancement roller is located beneath the stamp roll cavity and above the postage stamp dispensing position and serves to advance the exposed end of the postage stamp roll toward the postage stamp dispensing position in incremental steps in response to operation of an advancement actuator mechanism. A guide mechanism directs the exposed end of the elongated strip of postage stamps from the advancement roller to the stamp dispensing position. A press mechanism is mounted on the dispenser body and is operable to press a postage stamp located at the postage stamp dispensing position against an envelope located directly therebeneath. When the device is utilized to apply stamps from a roll employing a carrier strip, a takeup roller is provided with a traction enhancing surface that frictionally seizes the extremity of the carrier strip. The carrier strip is advanced toward a carrier strip ejection location, while postage stamps are directed along a different path to the stamp application position.