Patent GB-1398554-A (GB)
Title: Drive mechanism for setting a dial
IPC: G06M3/06
Filed: 1972-06-15
Abstract: 1398554 Counting apparatus; shaft position encoding H TATSUNO 15 June 1972 [15 June 1971 22 June 1971 25 June 1971 19 Feb 1972] 22700/72 Divided out of 1398553 Headings G4D and G4H [Also in Division H1] Apparatus for dispensing liquid, e.g. petrol, from a plurality of outlets and registering the price of each amount supplied, comprises a memory circuit for storing signals corresponding to the amount dispensed at any outlet, a selector on a console for transferring the signals from a selected outlet, from the memory circuit to second memory circuit, a dial on the console for showing the price, means for changing figures on the dial and producing corresponding signals which are compared with those in the second memory circuit and for halting the figure change on coincidence of signals. The arrangement described comprises four outlets A-D, Fig. 1, each with its own meter 112, 122, 132, 142. Signals corresponding to quantities dispensed are stored in a memory circuit 2 and extracted by pressing a selector button A-D of a row 22 on a console 20, Figs. 2, 6, for passage to the second memory circuit 6. A row 21 of lights A-D indicate when any outlet has completed dispensing. Preset petrol address disignation and unit price circuits 4, 3 feed signals to a calculating circuit 5 to which also passes signals from the second memory circuit 6 to produce a total price signal for the amount dispensed. Price is selected by pressing a button W-Z of a row 23. A light 24 indicates when the above processes have been completed. Dial operation.-The price indicating dial comprises six figure drums 30, Figs. 2, 6, on a common shaft 68, each driven through a separate gear train 61, 57, 51a by a separate ratchet mechanism 51, 52, 48, 58, 55. Ratchet operating swing levers 48 are pivoted about a common shaft 49 by a pair of cams 43a engaging a single rod 46 to swing all the levers together. The cams are constantly rotating but each lever 48 is engaged by the rod 46 with clearance so that a solenoid 55, 58 may pull it, clockwise as shown, it then being no longer oscillated by the rod. Each ratchet mechanism also drives, through gears 51a, 56, 59, an individual contact bush arm 92 mounted on a common shaft 66 and sweeping its own circuit board 62, Figs. 2, 7, 8, the mechanism being shown "as a shaft position detector" 13 in Fig. 1. The contact sectors 74- 78 are connected to signal sources so that the brushes 91 in sweeping round the board, collect signals progressively corresponding in values from 0-9. These signals are individually compared with the signals in the second memory circuit 6 and on coincidence, a signal passes to a "magnetic drive circuit" 7 to operate the solenoid 55, 58, thus, halting the particular drum 30 at the appropriate figure. Sales ticket printing and resetting. The console includes a manually set date indicator 29 and the figures of this and the drum 30 are print numerals, so that a ticket drawn from a supply 35a and laid in the position 32 is printed by manually passing a roller 27 over it. Details of a credit card 28 may also be so recorded. In its travel, the roller presses a button 31 to reset the device ready for the next price calculation. A manual reset button 25 is also provided. If another article than petrol is also being sold, its quantity and price may be manually recorded on a dial 26 and means, similar to that described, may be provided to transfer the total price to the main dial.