Stamp apparatus
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTetsuji Fuwa, Keiji Seo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stamp apparatus prevents a used stencil plate from being used again for making a plate. The apparatus includes a reflective photo sensor that determines if thermal paper of the currently set stencil plate is colored from a past plate-making process. On detecting the colored thermal paper, the sensor prompts an LCD to give an alarm display warning the user of the used stencil plate. Alternatively, a retractable projection interferes with insertion of a used stencil plate. In both cases, the stamp apparatus remains disabled until the used stencil plate is removed. This protects the stamp apparatus from getting soiled or damaged by spilled ink from the used stencil plate set inadvertently by the user.
Claims28
A stencil device for use in a stamp apparatus comprising:
- a stencil member for forming an image therein;
- an ink carrier disposed adjacent to said stencil member;
- and
- a prior use indicator separate from and adjacent to said stencil member that indicates that an image has been formed in said stencil member and that prevents a subsequent image from being formed in said stencil member.
A stamp apparatus for making a stencil plate comprising:
- a feed path including an inlet port for inserting a stencil plate therein;
- a detector disposed in said feed path for detecting prior use of an inserted stencil plate;
- a warning device coupled to said detector for warning of insertion of a used stencil plate;
- an image making device disposed in said feed path for making an image on an inserted stencil plate;
- and
- a controller coupled to said detector, said warning device and said image making device for controlling said warning device and said image making device when a used stencil plate is detected.
A stamp apparatus and a stencil plate for use therewith, wherein said stamp apparatus comprises:
- an inlet port for inserting said stencil plate therein;
- an image making device accessed through said inlet port for making an image on said inserted stencil plate;
- and
- wherein said stencil plate comprises:
- a stencil member for forming an image therein;
- an ink carrier disposed adjacent to said stencil member;
- and
- a prior use indicator separate from and adjacent to said stencil member that indicates that an image has been formed in said stencil member and that disables said image making device to prevent a subsequent image from being formed in said stencil member.
A stamp device for use in a stamp apparatus, comprising:
- a stencil member for forming an image therein;
- an ink carrier disposed adjacent to said stencil member;
- a support member that supports said stencil member and said ink carrier;
- and
- an indicator disposed on said support member separate from said stencil member that indicates one of a used state of said stencil member in which an image has been formed therein and an unused state of said stencil member in which an image has not yet been formed therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.