Method and apparatus for dispensing money orders including means to detect money orders

An automatic money order dispenser for printing and dispensing money orders of the type having relatively long top and bottom edges and relatively short left and right side edges, and having alphanumeric indicia pre-printed thereon along lines extending substantially parallel to the top and bottom edges comprising:

• a money order issuing path along which the pre-printed money order forms travel with one of the side edges of each form positioned as a leading edge as the forms travel along the issuing path through the dispenser;
• printing means extending entirely transversely across the money order issuing path and perpendicular to the top and bottom edges of the money order forms for simultaneously printing variable alphanumeric indicia on blank forms on a plurality of lines extending substantially parallel to the top and bottom edges of the forms thereby forming completed money order to be issued;
• means for insuring blank forms are not counterfeit including means sensing at least one code mark on each blank form said means for insuring also including means determining whether the blank forms are properly located in the printing means before actuating the printing means;
• external housing enclosing the money order issuing path and printing means and having parallel first and second side walls, parallel third and fourth side walls extending perpendicularly to and interconnecting the first and second side walls, and a top wall interconnecting upper edges of the first and second side walls and the third and fourth side walls;
• a compartment within the housing for storing blank money order forms for feeding into the money order issuing path with the top and bottom edges of the stored blank forms extending substantially parallel to the money order issuing path and the first and second side walls of the housing;
• and
• a slot in the third wall extending substantially perpendicular to the money order issuing path and parallel to the printing means for emitting the completed money orders from the housing in a direction extending substantially parallel to the first and second side walls following printing by the printing means.