Abstract: A publicly-accessible self-service terminal is provided for enabling a self-service terminal user to purchase on-demand postage stamp labels in advance. The publicly-accessible self-service terminal includes a user interface arranged to receive a request from a postage stamp buyer to purchase on-demand postage stamp labels in advance, a payment acceptor arranged to receive payment from the postage stamp buyer for purchase of on-demand postage stamp labels in advance, a roll paper printer arranged to dispense a panel portion of the roll of pre-printed self-adhesive to the postage stamp buyer, and a controller arranged to control the roll paper printer to dispense the panel portion to the postage stamp buyer.

Abstract: A support unit supports a plurality of flexible cards arranged in a stack. A pickup unit adjacent to the stack of flexible cards attracts a first card from the stack of cards, bending the flexible card. A transporting unit adjacent to the pickup unit receives and moves the first card attracted by the pickup unit along a card dispensing passageway. A biasing unit having at least one biasing roller with at least one radial projection from the biasing roller urges a portion of the first card towards the card dispensing passageway. A method of dispensing flexible cards includes movement of cards away from the pickup unit after the first card is attracted to prevent inadvertently dispensing more than one card.

Abstract: Substantially cylindrical condiment containers with extendable and retractable pouring spouts are provided. A dispensing mechanism in each container can be actuated by simply rotating a portion of the body of the container, without the need for separate knobs or levers. The central projection of the carousel is made of a plurality of spaced vertical struts or rods to reduce weight and cost. The central projection is releasably attached to the base with a locking mechanism, and there is a like locking mechanism at the top. The central projection of one carousel can be locked into the locking mechanism at the top of another carousel to attach one carousel on top of another.

Abstract: A vending machine is provided with a cabinet having a plurality of inclined, vertically spaced shelves. The shelves are able to selectively feed a beverage container to an elevator which is located adjacent an interior, right side wall of the cabinet of vending machine. A beverage container is dispensed by an escapement block of a shelf onto the elevator. The elevator vertically moves the beverage container, and then dispenses the beverage container to a delivery mechanism which gently lowers the beverage container to a delivery port which communicates with the exterior of the vending machine. The shelves in the cabinet are readily reconfigurable such that their vertical spacing within the cabinet can be easily altered. The escapement blocks of the shelves are mechanically activated to dispense a beverage container by an activation device on the elevator. Thus, electrical power and control signals for the individual shelves are not necessary.

Abstract: A cigarette case including a row of tubular sockets in which cigarettes are fitted, an electric circuit inside the case including a spiral heating coil positioned adjacent one end of each cigarette, the coil being mounted on a slide block having an externally extending push button which when pushed, pushes the cigarette end outwardly of an edge of the case, and at a same time slides the contacts of the coil into engagement with stationary contacts connected to dry cell batteries, so to heat the coil and thus ignite the cigarette as it is being pushed outwardly from the case.