Abstract: An electronic gift certificate dispenser device for printing and dispensing a gift certificate purchased by a credit card. A consumer approaches the device and inserts a credit card into a magnetic card reader. The consumer chooses a retailer from a menu of participating retailers and enters the gift certificate value. The machine automatically verifies the credit card, causes the account to be debited and prints the gift certificate. A plurality of gift certificate dispensing devices can be connected in a network under the control of a central processing unit. Information regarding gift certificate purchases is transferred from the devices to the central processing unit to be collated and billed to credit card accounts. The central processing unit also informs merchants of the purchase of gift certificates that will be redeemed at their stores.

Abstract: An improved paper image reproduction device being communicatively integrated into a communications network and having a cabinet having at least one cassette receiver for receiving a paper cassette and a paper cassette paired with each such paper cassette receiver, the paper cassette bearing a supply of stacked paper sheets, includes a detector disposed with the cabinet for sensing a partial supply of paper in each such paper cassette. A signal generator is coupled to the detector and is communicatively coupled to the communications network for providing a signal to the local area network representative of a partial supply of paper in each such paper cassette. The local area network communicates such signal to at least one station on the communications network.

Abstract: A gift certificate dispensing device having an internal machine-readable indicia reader is disclosed for printing and dispensing a certificate either based upon payment by a user or upon the insertion of a pre-paid form into a slot in communication with the scanner. A plurality of gift certificate dispensing devices can be connected in a network under the control of a central processing unit. The central processing unit identifies and keeps track of all the certificates within the network by way of indicia disposed on the certificates, which are scanned by each device as they are dispensed therefrom.

Abstract: An electronic gift certificate dispenser device for printing and dispensing a gift certificate purchased by a credit card. A consumer approaches the device and inserts a credit card into a magnetic card reader. The consumer chooses a retailer from a menu of participating retailers and enters the gift certificate value. The machine automatically verifies the credit card, causes the account to be debited and prints the gift certificate. A plurality of gift certificate dispensing devices can be connected in a network under the control of a central processing unit. Information regarding gift certificate purchases is transferred from the devices to the central processing unit to be collated and billed to credit card accounts. The central processing unit also informs merchants of the purchase of gift certificates that will be redeemed at their stores.