Patent GB-544722-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to registering and distributor switch mechanism particularly for use in liquid dispensing apparatus
IPC: B67D7/22
Filed: 1940-12-04
Abstract: 544,722. Registering mechanism, liquid dispensing apparatus. BUGG, K. C. Dec. 4, 1940, No. 17274. Convention date, Nov. 24, 1939. [Class 106 (i)] A registering mechanism particularly for use with a liquid dispensing apparatus comprises a distributer switch mechanism and electrical means operated to control the movement of the registering mechanism and means associated with the switch mechanism to ensure the continued operation thereof in a predetermined position by a relative adjustment of the switch parts. A variable speed mechanism is also provided to control the operation of the switch mechanism in accordance with the unit price of the commodity being delivered to register the total cost as well as the quantity. Distributer switch mechanism.-The mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 5 comprises two distributing units with driving gears 62, 74 on driven shafts 60, 72. The gears 62, 74 are connected to a variable speed mechanism as hereinafter described. The shafts 60, 72 are associated with identical spur gearing to drive other shafts two of which, 96 and 108, are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Each shaft is formed with a clutch member 142 and has slidably mounted thereon a clutch member 114 embraced by a plate 116 displaceable by means of a reset shaft 122. The clutch members 114 are pressed by springs against the members 142 by.interposed switch members 144 of insulating material. Each switch member 144 is formed with a weighted metallic inset 152 carrying pivoted pawls 146, 148 adapted to cooperate with spaced contacts 182 and 180 representing numerals 1 - 9 and zero respectively and mounted in an insulated core 178 of a non- rotatable metal ring supported in an insulated manner on the frame. The units and tens rings 158, 160, 166 and 168, Fig. 20, are provided with extending arms 190, 192, 194 and 196 connected to the plungers of solenoids 208, 210, 212 and 214 to ensure a proper zero registration. The relative adjustment between the rings 158, &c., and the pawls 146, 148, on energizing the solenoids also ensures positive contact at the moment of transfer from the tenths to units and units to tens. The sets of contacts 180, 182 are electrically connected as shown to contact assemblies 254, 258, 262 and 266, and 256, 260, 264 and 268 arranged on panels 246, 248, Fig. 5, above the respective units. These contacts are in turn connected to the operating means of the registering mechanism. A modification of the distributer switch mechanism, Fig. 14 (not shown), employs an intermittent transfer mechanism instead of the continuous gearing type described with respect to Figs. 3 and 4. The operating gears drive shafts with sleeve and through clutch members operate switch members similar to the switch members 144. These switch members co-operate with stationary distributing rings and contacts similar to those described above. The conducting portion 152 of each switch member is formed with a toothed projection to co-operate, at the completion of each revolution, with a transfer wheel and transmit a step movement to the next higher denomination. Re-setting mechanism.-To return the switch members to zero position a shaft 122 is turned through 90 degrees and a cam 124, Figs. 4 and 5, displaces rods 118 and plates 116 to declutch the members which return under the action of the weighted portion 152 to zero position. The return movement is controlled by a dash pot 134. Movement of the switch members is ensured by a pin 216 on the plate 116 deflecting a spring 218, Fig. 4, and rocking a lever 226 to raise a slide 228 with projecting portions that co-operate with pins 240 (not shown) on the switch members to move them over the dead centre. Registering mechanism.-This mechanism as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 comprises two banks of numeral drums 460, 462 frictionally mounted on shafts 464, 466 connected by belts to a motor driven shaft 482. The hundredths wheel 492 is formed with fingers 494 of graduated width from 1 to 9 overlapping a portion of the tenths wheel 490. The wheels are each provided with a stop 506 arranged to engage the core of one of a set of solenoids when energized to arrest the wheel at a zero or numeral indication. The circuits of the solenoids are connected to the contact assemblies on the panels 246, 248 and to earth. In a modification the stops 886, Fig. 13, may be made of magnetic material mounted in a wheel 884 of insulating material the wheel being arrested magnetically when the solenoid 888 is energized. Instead of numeral drums the movements of the selector switch members may be indicated on a panel by illuminating lamps arranged in pockets behind transparent numerals formed on an opaque covering plate, Fig. 18 (not shown). Connections may be made to a number of registering mechanisms by a parallel circuit arrangement with switches, Fig. 22 (not shown). Variable-speed mechanism.-To change the rate of actuation of the shaft 72 of the distributer switch units the gear 74 is engaged by a gear 1212 actuated through a change speed mechanism, Fig. 25, operated 'from the driving shaft 1016. The shaft 1016 has a gear 1213 driving the gear 62 of the second unit directly. The change speed mechanism comprises a gear 1020, Fig. 24, on the shaft 1016 which is geared to the square shafts 1024, 1030, 1036, 1042, 1048, 1054, 1060, 1074, 1086 and 1094. These shafts also carry gears loosely mounted thereon which can be clutched to the shafts selectively by the movement of bifurcated key slides arranged in three tiers as shown in Figs. 25 and 26 representing tens, units and fractions and decimals. The key slides are held in set position by longitudinally movable locking bars 1238, 1262 and 1276 each formed with a bayonet slot. The summation of the movement of the appropriate clutched shafts is effected through differential gears 1192, 1206 of the sun and planet type and transmitted to the gear 1212. To indicate the setting the locking bars are provided with studs at each end engaging slots in the arms of toothed segments, Fig. 29, such as 1306 and 1308 for the locking bar 1238, to actuate numeral drums 1318, 1320. The numeral drums may be provided with spaced contacts electrically connected to a remote indicating means. Liquid dispensing apparatus.-This apparatus as shown in Fig. 34 comprises a motor drive pump 1388 connected to a source of supply and an air separator 1402. The separator is connected to a meter 1410 of the displacement type which drives a shaft 1458 that is coupled to the shaft 1016 of the variable speed mechanism and unit price indicating means described above. To deliver liquid the nozzle 1422 is removed from its hook and a push button 1438 is operated to rock a bell crank 1444 to close the motor switch. By opening the valve in the nozzle the liquid is delivered through the piping 1414, 1418 past a sight gauge 1416. After delivery the nozzle is replaced and moves inwardly the push button 1436 which opens the motor switch and an interlock 1450 is conditioned to prevent further delivery until the reset shaft 122 has been operated. Operating the reset shaft causes a switch 1476, Figs. 1 and 5, in the motor circuit to open. Instead of the switch 1476 a manually closed switch 1480 as shown in Fig. 35 may be provided. The counter-clockwise movement of the reset shaft 122 opens the switch contacts 1484. These are held open by a latch 1498 that is released by co-operation with a plunger 1492 acted upon by the push button 1436. Pre-selector mechanism.-To deliver a predetermined quantity of liquid or a predetermined monetary value the delivery pipe 1414 is provided with a valve 1510, Fig. 36, which can be closed at the appropriate time by energizing a solenoid 1518. For this purpose the distributer switch mechanism, three denominations of which are shown in Fig. 36 viz 1522, 1524 and 1526 are electrically connected to one side of the push button contacts 1540, Fig. 37, the other side of which are connected to a conductor ring such as 1550. These rings are connected to the switch members and to the solenoid 1518 as shown and the switch member ring 1528 is connected to a source of power. When the circuit through the set contacts 1540 in the several denominations is completed the solenoid is energized to close the valve. A central cancelling knob may be pulled to restore the contacts 1540 and cancel the setting.