Patent GB-976119-A (GB)
Abstract: 976,119. Bill-issuing meters. ELECTROMETRE S. A. July 31, 1962 [Sept. 15, 1961], No. 29400/62. Heading G4T. A consumption meter automatically issues bills at regular intervals, the bills being selected from magazines containing bills of different predetermined amounts. Several meters can be connected to the same bill-issuing apparatus. The meters drive a shaft 25 through a ratchet 24 (Fig. 3) and, through the right-hand sides of differential gears D1, D2, a shaft 68, connected to a counter 71 which indicates the cost of the services obtained. An additional rotation is imposed on shaft 68 by a constantly-running motor 42 through the left-hand side of differential D1, which rotation represents a charge, such as meter hire, proportional to time. Frictionally coupled with shaft 68 is shaft 75 carrying cams 76 to 78. Each cam closes a switch after different rotations of shaft 75. Thus, switch 79 closes before switch 80 which closes before switch 81. The switches closed determine from which magazine I to IV a card is to be issued-if none are closed, magazine I is selected, if all are closed, magazine IV. A typical magazine is shown in Fig. 4. Contacts 85 are closed by pulses at regular intervals of time to energize a solenoid 87a which moves rod 108 to the left rocking lever 91 anticlockwise until contacts 99 open. The effect is to release escapement wheel 114 from abutment with lug 112 to abutment with lug 113. At a later stage switch 107 (Fig. 3) is closed (see below) and energizes solenoid 87b moving rod 108 to the right until contacts 100 open, and rocking lever 91 back into its original position. This releases escapement wheel 114 until the next tooth strikes lug 112. The bills 131 depend by notches 132 from a tape 125, the movement of which under the action of springs 129 is controlled by the escapement wheel. The first movement of the escapement, when the wheel moves from lug 112 to lug 113, is insufficient to release a bill, but the second movement of the escapement moves a step 130 in the tape past a bill releasing it to fall into a tray (not shown). Each time a bill is issued the counter 71 and shaft 75 is reset by an amount corresponding to the bill. A continuously running motor 49 drives a wheel 54 which is clutched to shaft 61 and thus the left hand side of differential D2 for varying angular rotations of the shaft. When a bill is selected by closure of appropriate switches 79 to 81 and switch 85, one of the studs 102 to 105 is projected into the path of the end 59 of a pawl 55 on wheel 54, When the pawl hits the projected stud it rocks into engagement with wheel 63 until the abutment of stud 106 with a pin 106 which restores the pawl. At the time the pawl hits pin 106 the contacts 107 close to cause delivery of the bill. The motor 49 in this way drives shaft 74 backwards relative to the movement given it by the meter. Should more electricity than is appropriate to the highest bill have been consumed i.e. should shaft 75 be on a second rotation when the bill is read, lever 82 prevents full retraction of shaft 75 and the issue of further bills. The amount unbilled is then displayed on the meter. Motor 42 and differential D1 may be omitted.