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.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This present application relates to dispensing of postage stamp labels at a self-service terminal, such as an automated teller machine (ATM), and is particularly directed to a method of operating a self-service terminal to provide on-demand postage stamp labels to a postage stamp buyer (such as an ATM customer) and a self-service terminal therefor. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are numerous types of ATMs. One type of ATM is a cash withdrawal only ATM. In a typical cash withdrawal only ATM, an ATM customer is allowed to withdraw cash in a publicly-accessible, unattended environment. The ATM customer initially inserts a user identification card through a user card slot at the ATM, enters a personal identification number (PIN), and then enters the amount of cash to be withdrawn. After cash is dispensed, an ATM transaction receipt is printed and dispensed to the ATM customer. 
     Another type of ATM is a check depositing ATM. In a typical check depositing ATM, an ATM customer is allowed to withdraw cash and is also allowed to deposit a check (without having to place the check in any deposit envelope) in a publicly-accessible, unattended environment. To deposit a check, the ATM customer inserts a user identification card through a user card slot at the ATM, enters the amount of the check being deposited, and inserts the check through a check slot of a check acceptor. If the check is accepted for deposit, the amount of the check is deposited into the ATM customer&#39;s account and the check is transported to a storage bin within the ATM. If the check is not accepted for deposit, the check transport mechanism transports the check in a reverse direction along the check transport path to return the check to the ATM customer. After the check is deposited, an ATM transaction receipt is printed and dispensed to the ATM customer. 
     Some known ATMs allow ATM customers to buy postage stamp labels. In these known ATMs, dollar-bill size sheets of pre-printed postage stamp labels similar to sheets of pre-printed postage stamp labels sold by the United States Postal Service are loaded and stored in a cash cassette of the ATM. These sheets of pre-printed postage stamp labels are sometimes known as advanced purchased postage stamp labels in that they are designed to be purchased at a point of sale and then taken away from the point of sale to another location for later use. A drawback in these known ATMs is that the sheets of pre-printed postage stamp labels reduce the cash storage capacity of an ATM since the sheets occupy the storage space of a cash cassette. Since the cash storage capacity of an ATM is reduced, both cash replenishment frequency and cost for armored car companies are increased. It would be desirable to provide an ATM with capability to dispense postage stamp labels to ATM customers without having to reduce cash storage capacity of the ATM. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, 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 comprises a user interface arranged to receive a request from a postage stamp buyer to purchase on-demand postage stamp labels in advance, and a payment acceptor arranged to receive payment from the postage stamp buyer for purchase of on-demand postage stamp labels in advance. The terminal also comprises a roll paper printer including (i) a print head, (ii) a roll of pre-printed self-adhesive media, (iii) a first transport mechanism arranged to feed a panel portion of the roll of pre-printed self-adhesive media from the roll to the print head, (iv) a second transport mechanism arranged to dispense a panel portion of the roll of pre-printed self-adhesive media from the print head to the postage stamp buyer. The terminal further comprises a controller arranged to (i) control the first transport mechanism to feed a panel portion of the roll of pre-printed self-adhesive media from the roll to the print head when a request is received from the postage stamp buyer to purchase on-demand postage stamp labels in advance and payment is received from the postage stamp buyer for the purchase of on-demand postage stamp labels in advance, (ii) control the print head to print information onto the panel portion so as to provide at least one on-demand postage stamp label in advance, and (iii) control the second transport mechanism to dispense the at least one on-demand postage stamp label from the print head to the postage stamp buyer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may take form in various components and arrangement of components and in various methods. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating example embodiments and alternatives and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a left-front perspective view of an image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM) constructed in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the ATM of  FIG. 1 , looking approximately in the direction of arrow X in  FIG. 1 , and showing some parts removed and some parts in block representation including a dual roll paper printer. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the dual roll paper printer shown in  FIG. 2 , and showing the printer as having a roll of pre-printed, self-adhesive media as one of the rolls. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the roll of pre-printed, self-adhesive media shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged front view of a stamp panel from the roll of pre-printed, self-adhesive media shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged back view of the stamp panel shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken approximately along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 , and showing layers of the stamp panel. 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , and showing die ties between individual stamp labels of the stamp panel. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view showing sixteen stamp panels of  FIG. 4  in relationship to each other during production of the roll of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 10  is a back view of the sixteen panels shown in  FIG. 9 , and showing sense marks. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view, taken approximately along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  depicts a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method which may be implemented by the ATM of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 13  is a left-front perspective view of a self-service terminal constructed in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is an elevational view of the self-service terminal of  FIG. 13 , looking approximately in the direction of arrow Y in  FIG. 13 , and showing some parts removed and some parts in block representation including the dual roll paper printer of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         FIG. 15  depicts a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method which may be implemented by the self-service terminal of  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a self-service terminal in the form of an image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM)  10  is illustrated. The check depositing ATM  10  comprises a fascia  12  coupled to a chassis (not shown). The fascia  12  defines an aperture  16  through which a camera (not shown) images a customer of the ATM  10 . The fascia  12  also defines a number of slots for receiving and dispensing media items and a tray  40  into which coins can be dispensed. The slots include a statement output slot  42 , a coin slot  43 , a receipt slot  44 , a card reader slot  46 , a first cash slot  48 , a second cash slot  50 , and a check input/output slot  52 . The slots  42  to  52  and tray  40  are arranged such that the slots and tray align with corresponding ATM modules mounted within the ATM  10  as will be described later. 
     The fascia  12  provides a user interface for allowing an ATM customer to execute a transaction such as a conventional ATM transaction or a postage stamp label purchase transaction as will be described later. The fascia  12  includes an encrypting keyboard  34  for allowing an ATM customer to enter transaction details. A display  36  is provided for presenting screens to an ATM customer. A fingerprint reader  38  is provided for reading a fingerprint of an ATM customer to identify the ATM customer. The user interface features described above are all provided on an NCR PERSONAS (trademark) 6676 ATM, available from NCR Financial Solutions Group Limited, Discovery Centre, 3 Fulton Road, Dundee, DD2 4SW, Scotland. 
     ATM modules mounted within the ATM  10  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the ATM  10  of  FIG. 1 , looking approximately in the direction of arrow X in  FIG. 1 , and showing some parts removed and some parts in block representation including a dual roll paper printer  70 . A transport path (shown in broken line) is defined between the dual roll paper printer  70  and the receipt slot  44 . 
     Other ATM modules include a statement printer module  41 , a check processing module  51 , and a card reader module  45 . A transport path (shown in broken line) is defined between the statement printer module  41  and the statement output slot  42 . A transport path (shown in broken line) is defined between the check processing module  51  and the check input/output slot  52 . A transport path (shown in broken line) is defined between the card reader module  45  and the card reader slot  46 . 
     Still other ATM modules include a coin dispenser module  39 , a first cash dispenser module  47 , and a second cash dispenser module  49 . A transport path (shown in broken line) is defined between the coin dispenser module  39  and the coin slot  43 . A transport path (shown in broken line) is defined between the first cash dispenser module  47  and the first cash slot  48 . A transport path (shown in broken line) is defined between the second cash dispenser module  49  and the second cash slot  50 . 
     A communications module  62  is connectable in secure electronic communications with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to request batches of unique serialized identification (ID) numbers for purpose of providing U.S. postage stamp labels, as will be described later. The batches of unique serialized ID numbers obtained from the USPS are stored in stamp data memory  64 . An electronic controller  60  is provided for controlling operation of components including the ATM modules within the ATM  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of the dual roll paper printer  70  shown in  FIG. 2  is illustrated. The dual roll paper printer  70  is a modification of a standard type of receipt printer used in conventional ATMs to print ATM transaction receipts. The modified printer  70  is capable of printing transaction receipts and postage stamp labels on-demand, as will be described later. Modifications to the printer  70  include removal of certain parts like front and rear guides, elimination of raised edges, and coating certain parts with a lacquer/plastic “anti-stick” coating so that postage stamp stock can be moved more smoothly and more quickly through the printer. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the printer  70  includes a first roll  72  which comprises conventional thermal paper stock on which transaction data (such as ATM transaction data) can be printed to provide transaction receipts (such as ATM transaction receipts), and a second roll  74  which comprises stamp stock on which postage stamp data can be printed to provide on-demand postage stamp labels. More specifically, the second roll  74  comprises a roll of pre-printed, self-adhesive media such as shown in  FIG. 4 . The second roll  74  is about 79.5 mm+0.7 mm, −0.05 mm for ease of transport through the printer  70 . The maximum roll width is 80 mm and the maximum roll diameter is 9″. Each of the first and second rolls  72 ,  74  is wound and fed through conventional transport mechanisms which are controlled by the controller  60  ( FIG. 2 ) so that either a transaction receipt or on-demand postage stamp labels are dispensed through the receipt slot  44  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to an ATM customer as will be described hereinbelow. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a solid white plastic core  73  with a relatively large diameter may be used to minimize the wound in curl that would prevent stamp panels from laying flat. Wound in curl could also cause jamming at the exit of the printer  70 . The solid white plastic core  73  may be 3.042″+/−0.01″ ID, 3.392″+/−0.01″ OD, and 3.15″+/−0.003″ length. Core wall thickness may be from about ⅛″ to about 3/16″. Wind tension of the material on the cores keeps the rolls from telescoping and the material from moving side-to-side easily in the printer  70  causing jams. Increasing roll wind tension to produce a tighter roll eliminates telescoping and improves straightness of the feed path through the printer  70  reducing the potential of a media jam in the printer  70 . 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged front view of a single panel portion  80  of the second roll  74 .  FIG. 6  is an enlarged back view of the panel  80 , and  FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 , and showing layers of the panel  80 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the panel  80  has a construction of five layers. The five layers include a liner substrate layer  81 , a release coating layer  82  disposed on the liner substrate layer  81 , an adhesive coating layer  83  disposed on the release coating layer  82 , a label substrate layer  84  disposed on the adhesive coating layer  83 , and a thermally-sensitive coating  85  disposed on the label substrate layer  84 . 
     The liner substrate layer  81  and the release coating layer  82  together form a liner which is designated with reference numeral  86 . The adhesive coating layer  83 , the label substrate layer  84 , and the thermally-sensitive coating  85  together form a label which is designated with reference numeral  87 . The release coating layer  82  and the adhesive coating layer  83  are selected such that label  87  is releasably attached to the liner  86 . Adhesion of the face stock to the liner  86  is sufficient for transport of the pressure sensitive label material through the printer  70  without individual die cut labels coming off in the inside of the printer. The label release force from the liner  86  may be about 100 g/2″ at 90 degrees and 300 fpm. 
     Label material may be chosen with a standard 40 lb (lb/3000 ft) liner. As an example, standard supercalendered kraft liner has a release coating on the surface that allows a die-cut label with the adhesive to release from it easily when the ATM customer wishes to apply a postage stamp label to an object (e.g., letter, envelope, etc.) to be mailed. Inks used to prepare the pre-printed stamp labels may be water-based as they adhere to both the label face stock and the reverse side of the supercalendered kraft liner. An overprint varnish can be added to improve the adhesion of ultraviolet (UV) inks and increase the scuff and UV resistance of postage stamp labels. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , materials of the label  87  are selected to provide a white face stamp stock. The dynamic thermal sensitivity of the face stock may be specified either by a curve or such that the optical density at an applied energy of 0.5 mJ/dot should exceed 1.2, which would be typical for a high resolution direct thermal printing paper and given the resolution required for the readability of a two-dimensional barcode and other information to be printed thermally on the stamp label. 
     When the thermally-sensitive coating  85  of the label  87  is heated by a thermal print head, micro-encapsulated color developer and color former in the coating  85  melt, come in contact and react to form black dots of a thermal image. As shown in  FIG. 5 , one panel  80  of the white face stamp stock is pre-printed with twelve colored graphic images of an American flag. Each graphic image is pre-printed using a four color process which may be a flexographic four-color process or a lithographic four-color process, for examples. Each graphic image is pre-printed on an individual label of the panel  80 . Accordingly, there are twelve individual labels shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     It is conceivable that graphic images other than an American flag may be used. As examples, the pre-printed graphic images may be selected to reflect the season, a holiday, or a promotional purpose. Accordingly, sales and marketing efforts are supported. Sufficient white space is left on each individual label for indicia and other information to be added so that a legal first class postage stamp label can be created as will be described hereinbelow. The size and orientation of the pre-printed graphics may be altered to make room for a unique media identification number which can be used as a security measure to keep track of the second roll  74  and ensure that no counterfeit media is generated and used to produce counterfeit stamp labels. 
     The size of white space  76  at the side of the four-color graphic image on each label is selected to accommodate the vertical thermal printing of a 12×36 pixel two-dimensional barcode  75  with a three pixel open area on all sides of the barcode. Each pixel is about 0.02″ so that white space around the barcode  75  on all four sides is about 0.06″. White space  76  is also provided for the printing of a postage meter ID  78  in a 4-point Helvetica bold font vertically along the right side of the barcode  75  just outside the barcode quiet zone. White space  77  below the image is sized to accommodate the horizontal printing of “$0.44” in at least 6-point Helvetica bold font, and “US Postage” in at least 5-point Helvetica bold font. A tolerance of about 1/32″ is provided at both the top and bottom of each label to account for inaccuracies in registration during the printing process and to make sure that subsequent thermal printing ends up inside the physical borders of the stamp label. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the panel  80  has twelve individual labels arranged in two parallel rows of six each. Each individual label is die-cut and is about 24 mm high by 36 mm wide. The size of the panel  80  is about 6″×3.15″ which fits easily in a wallet or purse. The 2×6 panel approximates the dollar-bill-like size of sheet of stamps provided by the USPS and dispensed at ATMs. Other panel sizes are possible. 
     Serrations  95  improve the aesthetics of the stamp labels to make them appear more like the actual printed U.S. postage stamp labels purchased at a U.S. post office. Scalloped edges  96  are provided at sides of the individual labels to minimize peel off in the printer  70 . The scalloped edges  96  facilitate removal of individual labels from the liner  86  when the ATM customer is ready to remove the stamp labels. 
     To produce legitimate stamps, the USPS requires a phosphorescent strip  97  to be printed on the stamp that they measure with a special meter in PMU units. The width of the security strip  97  may be about 1/16″. The phosphorescent strip  97  may read between about 30 to about 70 PMU units. The size of the anilox may be selected to maximize the depth of color and fluorescence of the strip  97  while ensuring the drying of the ink so that it does not adhere to and pull off a black sense mark ink from the back of the liner  86  rolled against it in the roll  74 . A 300 line anilox with a BCM of 7.5 may be selected. The vertical placement of the strip  97  is away from the four color image to increase its readability. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , black sense marks  91 ,  92  are located in positions to enable panel portions shown in  FIG. 5  to be cut.  FIG. 6  is an enlarged back view of the stamp panel shown in  FIG. 5 . A top-of-form sense mark (the center black sense mark on the back of the liner  86 ) signals the printer  70  when to begin to print to accurately register the thermal printing in the white space on the individual die-cut stamp labels. With additional print stations, printing other than the black sense marks could also be done on the reverse side of the liner  86  for either customer information or promotional purposes. As an example, instructions to the customer as to storage and handling of the stamp labels to maximize their life could be printed there. 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , and showing die ties between individual stamp labels of the stamp panel  80 . For simplicity, die ties  99  associated with only one stamp label is shown in  FIG. 8 . To assist with the adherence of the die-cut labels to the face stock during transport through the printer  70 , both horizontal and vertical tie lines  99  are provided. 
     A printing press for production of the pre-printed stamp labels may comprise a Webtron 1618, a narrow web pressure sensitive label press with six printing stations. The impression cylinder circumference is 12″ making a 6″ repeat of the stamp panels. The press used is 18″ wide, so the stamp panels of twelve stamp labels are printed four across and the pre-printed web is slit to width and rolled onto a core such as the core  73  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 9  is a front view showing sixteen stamp panels of  FIG. 5  in relationship to each other during manufacture of the second roll  74  shown.  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , four rolls in a side-by-side relationship are provided across a single liner substrate  76 . The four rolls are separated by cutting the liner substrate  76  lengthwise between rolls at cut line locations designated with reference numeral  71 . Individual rolls are then combined end to end to provide a final roll that goes into the printer  70 . Roll length may be 675 feet for example. Other roll lengths are possible. 
       FIG. 10  is a back view of the sixteen panels shown in  FIG. 9 , and showing black sense marks  91 ,  92 .  FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view, taken approximately along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 9 . To make the black sense marks  91 ,  92  more visible to sensors in the ATM  10 , the black sense mark density may be raised by using a specially-formulated dense black water-based flexo ink designed by Sun Chemical to which 5-15% rubine toner on weight of the black ink is added. Average print density may be raised to 1.5 by using the dense black sense mark ink toned with the rubine toner and using a 400 line anilox on the press with a 5.88 BCM (billionth cubic meter) to increase the volume of black ink printed. 
     Black sense marks repeat every 6″ on the reverse of the liner  86  to indicate the point at which the panels  80  should be cut away from the roll when purchased from the ATM  10 . The label matrix between the panels  80  of stamp labels containing the face stock and adhesive is stripped away such that the knife on the printer  70  does not cut through adhesive  83 . This keeps adhesive from building up on the cutter in the printer  70 . The matrix is also stripped from the sides of the stamp panels  80  to prevent peeling of the matrix in the printer  70  and to facilitate feeding of stamp panels through the printer. The addition of assist cuts in the die where the matrix is widest in the horizontal direction helps to increase the ease of matrix removal and allow the press to be run at higher speed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a flow diagram  100  depicts one embodiment of a method which may be implemented by the ATM  10  of  FIG. 1 . In response to receiving user identification from an ATM customer (block  102 ), the ATM  10  prompts the ATM customer to select either an ATM transaction or a stamp purchase transaction to be conducted at the ATM  10  (block  114 ). A determination is made in block  106  as to whether stamp purchase selection has been made. If the determination in block  106  is affirmative (i.e., the ATM customer has selected a stamp purchase transaction), then the method proceeds to block  108  in which a request is received from the ATM customer to purchase on-demand postage stamp labels in advance at the ATM  10 . 
     The ATM customer is then prompted to make payment for the purchase of on-demand postage stamps (block  110 ). After payment is received from the ATM customer to pay for the purchase of on-demand postage stamps (block  112 ), a panel  80  from the second roll  74  is fed to a thermal print head of the printer  70  for printing of indicia and other information thereon (block  114 ). The number of print heads may comprise one print head, two print heads, or more than two print heads. The printing on postage stamp labels requires only a single print head. The use of two or more print heads allows for printing on both sides of a receipt. 
     The indicia and other information include a two-dimensional barcode  75  ( FIG. 5 ) in the white space  76  as shown in  FIG. 5  (block  116 ). The unique serialized ID numbers stored in the stamp data memory  64  ( FIG. 2 ) are used in the printing of the two-dimensional barcodes  75 . Information to be thermally printed may be delivered as a digital map to the printer  70  and is printed on demand. Information may be delivered as a single bit map for a complete panel of twelve stamp labels at one time. 
     If not already pre-printed, the indicia and other information also include “$0.44” and “US Postage” in white space  77  as shown in  FIG. 5 . For simplicity, only two of the stamp labels are shown with the barcode  75  and other information. This printing of the indicia and other information produces legal first class U.S. postage stamp labels ready to be dispensed to the ATM customer to provide the ATM customer with a panel of postage stamp labels which have been produced on-demand in advance so that the ATM customer can carry the postage stamp labels away from the point of sale to another location and use them at a later time. 
     After a newly created panel of postage stamp labels is dispensed to the ATM customer (block  118 ), the ATM  10  prints a stamp purchase transaction receipt using thermal paper stock from the first roll  72  (block  120 ). The process of printing the stamp purchase transaction receipt is similar to the known process of printing an ATM transaction receipt and, therefore, will not be described. After the printed stamp purchase transaction receipt is dispensed to the ATM (block  122 ), the ATM  10  prompts the ATM customer as to whether the ATM customer now desires to perform an ATM transaction (block  124 ). 
     A determination is then made in block  126  as to whether the ATM customer has selected to conduct an ATM transaction. If the determination in block  126  is negative (i.e., the ATM customer has not selected to conduct an ATM transaction), then the method ends. However, if the determination in block  126  is affirmative (i.e., the ATM customer has selected to conduct an ATM transaction), the method proceeds to block  128 . It should be noted that block  128  is the same block that the method proceeds to if the determination back in block  106  was negative (i.e., the ATM customer did not select to conduct a stamp purchase transaction). 
     After the ATM  10  performs a conventional ATM transaction with the ATM customer (block  130 ), the printer  70  prints an ATM transaction receipt (block  132 ) for the ATM transaction which has just been performed at the ATM  10 . The printed ATM transaction receipt is dispensed to the ATM customer (block  134 ). The ATM customer is then prompted in block  136  as to whether the ATM customer desires to now conduct a stamp purchase transaction at the ATM  10 . A determination is made in block  138  as to whether the ATM customer has selected to conduct a stamp purchase transaction. If the determination in block  138  is negative (i.e., the ATM customer has not selected to conduct a stamp purchase transaction, then the method ends. However, if the determination in block  138  is affirmative (i.e., the ATM customer has selected to conduct a stamp purchase transaction), then the method proceeds to block  108 . The method from block  108  and on for an ATM transaction have already been described hereinabove. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , a left-front perspective view of a self-service terminal  200  constructed in accordance with one embodiment is illustrated.  FIG. 14  is an elevational view of the self-service terminal  200  of  FIG. 13 , looking approximately in the direction of arrow Y in  FIG. 13 , and showing some parts removed and some parts in block representation including a dual roll paper printer  270 . The self-service terminal  200  is in the form of a standalone kiosk in which a person desiring to purchase on-demand postage stamp labels may do so. The self-service terminal  200  comprises a fascia  212  coupled to a chassis (not shown). The fascia  212  defines a number of slots for receiving and dispensing media items and a tray  240  into which coins can be dispensed. The slots include a coin slot  243 , a receipt slot  244 , and a bill acceptor slot  260 . The slots  243 ,  244 ,  260 , and tray  240  are arranged such that the slots and tray align with corresponding terminal modules mounted within the self-service terminal  200 . A display  236  is provided for presenting screens to a self-service terminal user. 
     Terminal modules mounted within the self-service terminal  200  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 14  is an elevational view of the self-service terminal  200  of  FIG. 13 , looking approximately in the direction of arrow Y in  FIG. 13 , and showing some parts removed and some parts in block representation including a dual roll paper printer  70 . A transport path (shown in broken line) is defined between the dual roll paper printer  70  and the receipt slot  244 . Construction and operation of the dual roll paper printer  70  are the same as the dual roll paper printer  70  described hereinabove with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     Other terminal modules include a coin dispenser module  239 , and cash bill acceptor module  250 . A transport path (shown in broken line) is defined between the coin dispenser module  239  and the coin slot  243 . A transport path (shown in broken line) is defined between the cash bill acceptor module  250  and the bill acceptor slot  260 . 
     A communications module  262  is connectable in secure electronic communications with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to request batches of unique serialized identification (ID) numbers for purpose of providing U.S. postage stamps, as will be described later. The batches of unique serialized ID numbers obtained from the USPS are stored in stamp data memory  264 . An electronic controller  260  is provided for controlling operation of components including the terminal modules within the self-service terminal  200 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , a flow diagram  300  depicts one embodiment of a method which may be implemented by the self-service terminal  200  of  FIG. 9 . In response to receiving a request is received from the self-service terminal user to purchase on-demand postage stamps at the self-service terminal  200  (block  302 ), the self-service terminal user is prompted to make cash payment for the purchase of on-demand postage stamps (block  304 ). After payment is received from the self-service terminal user to pay for the purchase of on-demand postage stamps (block  306 ), a determination is then made in block  308  as to whether cash change needs to be provided to the self-service terminal user. If the determination in block  308  is affirmative (i.e., cash change is needed), then cash change in the form of coins are dispensed to the self-service terminal user. However, if the determination in block  308  is negative (i.e., cash change is not needed), then the method skips block  310  and proceeds directly to block  312 . 
     In block  312 , panel  80  from the second roll  74  is fed to a thermal print head of the printer  70  for printing of indicia and other information thereon. The indicia and other information include a two-dimensional barcode  75  in white space  76  as shown in  FIG. 5  (block  314 ). The unique serialized ID numbers stored in the stamp data memory  264  ( FIG. 14 ) are used in the printing of the two-dimensional barcodes  75 . Information to be thermally printed may be delivered as a digital map to the printer  70  and is printed on demand. Information may be delivered as a single bit map for a complete panel of twelve stamp labels at one time. 
     If not already pre-printed, the indicia and other information also include “$0.44” and “US Postage” in white space  77  as shown in  FIG. 5 . For simplicity, only two of the stamp labels are shown with the barcode  75  and other information. This printing of the indicia and other information produces legal first class U.S. postage stamps ready to be dispensed to the ATM customer to provide the ATM customer with postage stamp labels which have been produced on-demand in advance so that the ATM customer can carry the postage stamps away from the point of sale to another location and use them at a later time. 
     After a newly created panel of postage stamp labels are dispensed to the self-service terminal user (block  316 ), the self-service terminal  200  prints a stamp purchase transaction receipt using thermal paper stock from the first roll  72  (block  318 ). The process of printing the stamp purchase transaction receipt is similar to the known process of printing an ATM transaction receipt and, therefore, will not be described. After the printed stamp purchase transaction receipt is dispensed to the self-service terminal user (block  320 ), the method ends. 
     It should be apparent that on-demand stamp labels described hereinabove are pre-printed in a continuous roll and not in sheets. Indicia and other information are thermally printed on media provided in roll form to the printer  70 , and the individual stamp panels are then cut at predetermined positions signaled by black sense marks  91 ,  92  printed on the reverse side of the liner  86 . Indicia and other information are thermally printed on media provided in roll form to the printer  70  and the individual stamp panels  80  are then cut at predetermined positions signaled by black sense marks  91 ,  92  printed on the reverse side of the liner  86 . 
     It should also be apparent that the capability of an ATM to provide on-demand postage stamp labels in advance to postage stamp buyers, as described herein, allows the ATM to maintain a relatively large cash storage capacity since no cash cassette is taken up by sheets of stamp labels. Accordingly, cash replenishment frequency and use of armored car companies are reduced resulting in less operating costs. 
     It should be apparent that the electronics stamp data (i.e., the unique ID numbers) may be procured real-time on demand or in daily batches, etc., to match actual usage. Sheets of stamps (which may lie in an ATM for months before the revenue is realized) are not procured. Since sheets of stamps are not procured, capital outlay is reduced resulting in less cost. 
     It should be apparent that the roll  74  has no intrinsic value until a barcode and other information is printed and authenticates a postage stamp label. Accordingly, the impact of media waste or media damage is reduced. 
     It should also be apparent that if the roll length is 675 feet (for example), then there would be a total of 1350 stamp panels or 16,200 stamp labels. The length of the roll  74  may be shortened based on the expected sales volume of stamp labels such that stamp labels do not remain in a given self-service terminal beyond their recommended life which may be about six months. 
     Although the above-description describes providing a first class U.S. postage stamp label, it is conceivable that other classes and types of stamp labels may be provided. For example, it is conceivable that some stamp labels of a panel have one stamp value and that the remaining stamp labels have another stamp value. This may be convenient for some postage stamp buyers, especially when the USPS announces an increase in postal rates. As another example, it is conceivable that each stamp label has its own stamp value. As yet another example, it is conceivable that some stamp labels are U.S. postage stamp labels and some stamp labels are non-U.S. postage stamp labels. Accordingly, the self-service terminals provide owners or operators flexibility to introduce or offer varying stamp values. Moreover, postage stamp buyers may be able to purchase postage stamp labels having customized values based upon individual usage. 
     Also, although the above-description describes providing panels of on-demand postage stamp labels, it is conceivable that other types of labels may also be provided. As an example, return address labels taking the address of the customer from their bank records and printing it on pre-designed panel of die-cut labels that would be dispensed with the stamp panel. This may require alternating the pre-printed stamps and blank address labels that would be blank for non-bank customers. 
     Although the above-description describes the PERSONAS (trademark) 6676 NCR ATM used in an embodiment, it is conceivable that other models of ATMs, other types of ATMs, or other types of self-service check depositing terminals may be used in other embodiments. As an example, the ATM may be a cash withdrawal only ATM in which an ATM can perform only one type of ATM transaction (i.e., withdraw cash). Self-service terminals are generally public-access devices that are designed to allow a user to conduct a self-service transaction in an unassisted manner and/or in an unattended environment. Self-service terminals typically include some form of tamper resistance so that they are inherently resilient. 
     While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of example processes and system components, and while the various processes and components have been described in detail, applicant does not intend to restrict or in any limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional modifications will also readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broadest aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, implementations, or illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.