Improvements in Liquid Dispensing Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
VONILIMTE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Liquid Dispensing Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM MILES FOWLER of No. 15 Vandewater Street in the City of New
York in the County and State of New York, United States of America,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :--
My invention relates to improvements in liquid dispensing apparatus, in which
provision is made for regulating the quantity dispensed and its price, and for
making a permanent record of the price of the liquid dispensed at one time,
and registering the sum total of the prices of the liquid dispensed at several
times.
A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying
drawings, in which,
it
Fig. 1 is a front view of the dispensing, recording, and registering apparatus, as
appears set up for use;
Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of one of the dispensing apparatuses, the
casing being represented in section ;
Fig. 3 is a rear view of the operating levers and the shaft for determining
the amount to be recorded and registered, the section being taken through the
line 2. 2. of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged section from front to rear, showing the connection between
the operating lover and the shaft for controlling the recording and registering
mechanism;
Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through the line 4. 4. of Figure 4;
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through one of the measuring receptacles ;
Fig. 7 is a front view of one of the measuring receptacles;
Fig. 8 is a view of the recording and registering mechanism in rear elevation ;
Fig. 9 is a view of the same in side elevation, partly in section;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section, shewing the connection between the
printing wheel and its shaft, and the operative parts in immediate connection
therewith; and,
Fig. 11 is an enlarged view, in side elevation, of the impression mechanism.
My invention contemplates one or more dispensing apparatuses, cach comprising
a mensuring recoptacle in connection with a supply reservoir, and supplied with
means for varying its mensuring capacity; a recording device under the control
of each of the dispensing apparatuses singly and collectively, to make a record
corresponding to the amount dispensed from one or more of the dispensing
apparatuses at oue transaction, and a registering device also under the control
of the dispensing apparatuses singly and collectively to register the sum total
of a series of transactions.
One or more measuring receptacles A, A', A², in the present instance three, are
arranged in a line, and may be conveniently located within a cooling chamber B',
through which a supply pipe B extends to supply the receptacle with liquid. Each
of the receptacles is provided with a valve a, adapted to close an opening in the
upper portion of the receptacle, and prevent overflow when the receptacle is filled,
and to admit air around it into the receptacle while the liquid is being drawn
therefrom.
A sliding piston a¹ is arranged within the receptacle, and adapted to be moved
along within the receptacle toward and away from the outlet, in order to lessen or
increase the amount of liquid which may be drawn therefrom at one time. In the
present instance, I have shewn a screw threaded spindle a' extending from without

page_text: the receptacle into it, and engaging with a screw threaded hub a³ of the piston a',
so that when the spindle is turned in one direction or the other, the piston will be
caused to move in one direction or the other within the receptacle. To prevent the
piston from turning within the receptacle, I have provided guide rods a¹ therein.
The piston is cut away at its top, as shown at a', for the purpose of permitting the
liquid within the receptacle to pass back and forth from one side to the other, as its
position is changed, to vary the capacity of the measure.
In practice, it will be observed, that while the receptacle may be filled with liquid
upon both sides of the piston, only that which is on the side on which the outlet is
located, will be permitted to run out of the receptacle when the outlet is opened.
The supply pipe B connects with a common inlet and outlet opening a, through
a three-way cock b, of any well known or approved construction, in which the ports
are so arranged, that when turned in one direction, communication will be
established between the supply pipe 13 and the interior of the measuring receptacle;
and when turned in the opposite direction, such communication will be cut off, and
an opening will be established between the receptacle and the outlet pipe 6' leading
to the spout ³.
An operating lever C is loosely mounted upon a shaft D, its operating handle
projecting in front of a casing E, and its opposite arm being located within anid
casing and connected with the handle of the cock b by a link b.
The shaft D on which the operating lever C is mounted, is employed to transmit
motion to the recording and registering devices, and the connection between the
operating lever C and the shaft D, is such, that it may, during its complete stroke,
cause the shaft D to rotate more or less in accordance with the predetermined
amount or price of the liquid to be dispensed at one time from any of the measuring
receptacles.
In the presont instance, I have so arranged the connection, that the shaft D inny
be turned three different distances for a single downward stroke of the operating
lever C, and thereby register three different prices for a certain quantity of liquid
to be dispensed, as may be determined upon. For the purpose of the present
explanation, I shall consider that when turned the lesser of the three distances, the
shaft will move the recorder and register to record and register five cents; when
moved the medium distanco, ten cents; and when moved the whole, or greater
distance, fifteen cents. The connection by which this is accomplished is as
follows: A rachet toothed wheel e is keyed on the shaft D, and the operating
lever is provided with a hollow hub e' which embraces said ratchet wheel, and also.
embraces a barrel which surrounds a portion of the ratchet toothed wheelc
within the hub of the lever. The barrel is provided with an opening c³, through
which a spring actuated plunger or dog e', seated in the operating lever C, may
gain access to, and engage with, a tooth of the ratchet wheel c. The barrel
may be rotated within the hub e' of the operating lover, and independently of the
shaft D, so as to expose more or less of the opening to the path of the dog e', as
may be desired. Thus, if the barrel be so adjusted that the dog o' does not reach
the opening until the lever C has nearly completed its stroke, the dog will only
engage and move the wheel c, and hence the shaft D the distance of one tooth.
If, however, the barrel be set so that the dog may engage the wheel c at oue
third of the lever's stroke, it will move the wheel c, and hence the shaft C, the
distance of two teeth. And again, if the barrel be so moved that the dog be
allowed to engage the wheel c at the beginning of its stroke, it will move the
latter, and hence the shaft D, the distance of three teeth.
The adjustment of the barrel may be conveniently made by means of a set
screw c', extending through a lug c" on the barrel, and into the perforations o', c'
on the supporting frame.
The shaft D, at a suitable distanco from the dispensing mechanism, is provided
with a spur wheel d, in gear with a spur wheel on the shaft F, journalled in
suitable bearings in the frame of the recording and registering mechanism. Adding
mechanism G, of any well known or approved construction, is arranged to be

page_text: operated by the spur wheel, to register the sum total of the units of price
corresponding to the liquid dispensed.
In using the term " units of price," I refer to that price which is assumed as the
price of the least quantity, or cheapest quantity, of liquid which is to be
dispensed at one time, and in my present apparatus the prices of quantities greater
than the least, or more valuablo than the cheapest, are assumed as multiples of this
lowest price. For example, in practice, if the lowest price at which any quantity
of liquid dispensed at one tinio be five cents, the prices of a greater quantity, or
more valuable portion of liquid, will bo teu cents, fifteen cents, or some other
multiple of five cents. As the adding mechanism is arranged to register one unit
for overy five cents, the sum total of the units registered by said adding mechanism,
will represent the number of five cents for which the liquid dispensed hus been
sold. The relation between the adding mechanism and the teeth on the ratchet
wheel c, in connection with the dispensing mechanism, is such, that the movement
of the ratchet wheel c one tooth, will operate the adding mechanism sufficiently to
register one unit, and the mechanism of said ratchet wheel two or three teeth, will
operate the adding mechanism to register two or three units, to correspond
therewith.
In connection with the shaft F, there is a type wheel II, provided on its face
with type /, representing five cents, ten cents, etc., increasing at regular intervals of
fivo units up to one hundred, more or less, as may be found desirable. The
wheel H is fixed to a clutch section h, which latter is adapted to engage the
tapered end of the shaft F, for the purpose of causing the said wheel to turn
together with the shaft. The clutch section h' is also provided with a central pin
or plunger 4*, adapted to enter a socket in the end of the shaft F, and a springƒ³
inserted in the socket f between the end of the socket and the end of the pin or
plunger h³, has a normal tendency to push the clutch section ' out of engagement
with the taper end of the shaft F. The wheel H is, however, held normally in
close engagement with the shaft by means of a sliding koy 1, the enlarged portion i
of which, forces a bearing piece against a conical journal on the clutch
piece h¹. When, however, the key I is slid upwardly, so as to bring its reduced
portion opposite the end of the bearing piece f, the latter will be permitted to
yield under the tension of the spring, and the clutch section h¹ will thereby be
thrown out of engagement with the shaft F.
The type wheel is connected with a stationary disc K, fixed to the supporting
frame by means of a coil spring &, one end of which is connected to a pin on the
disc K, and the other end to the hub of the wheel H. The disc K, in addition to
its function of a support for one end of the spring k, also serves to hold the
spring in position relative to the type wheel H, and forms a housing for one end of
said spring. When the type wheel H is turned by its engagement with the shaft F,
it is against the tension of the spring k, and such movement tends to wind the
spring, so that the moment the clutch section h¹ is released from the shaft F, the
spring k will return the typo wheel A to its normal position.
The relation between the type wheel H and the teeth upon the ratchet whool c
in connection with the dispensing mechanism, is such, that the movement of the
ratchet wheel one tooth, will, through the shafts D and F and their connections,
rotate the type wheel H the distance between two types, or, in the present instance,
an interval of five cents. From this it follows, that the successive movements of
any one, or several, of the operating levers of the dispensing mechanism, will serve
to advance the type wheel H as many intervals of five cents as the wheel or
wheels c have been advanced teeth. For instance, if one of the operating levers of
one of the dispensing mechanisms be operated to advance its wheel one tooth,
another two teeth, and another three teeth, the sum total of the advances of the
wheels will be the distance of six teeth, and the type wheel I will have been
thereby advanced six intervals of five cents, and its type, representing thirty cents,
will have been thereby brought into position to print.
C
The mechanism for securing the impression is as follows: A sliding frame L is

page_text: •
mounted in the supporting frame, so as to slide back and forth toward and away
from the type on the wheel H. The sliding frame L is provided with a rack 1,
adapted to engage a toothed sector m on an operating lever M, pivotted to the
frame, as at m³. When the lever M is depresseil, the engagement of the sector m
with the rack I, serves to lift the frame L toward the type, and when the lever is :
reversed, the movement of the frame L is away from the type. The frame L
carries a supply roller N, on which may be wound a coil of tape for receiving the
impression from the type, and the free end of said coil of tape may be led froin tho
roll through an inner channel a leading toward the front of the casing, and adapted,
when the frame L is elevated, to open at its front into a receiving cup O, fixed to
the front of the casing. A loose roller N' serves to guide the tape into the
channel n.
The roller N has loosely mounted on its shaft, a spur wheel n' which spur wheel
is in engagement with a rack P, fixed to the casing, so that, as the frame Lis
raised and lowered, the spur wheel n' will be caused to turn. The spur wheel ' is
connected with the roller N by means of an annular sories of ratchet teeth n
carried by the roller, and a spring actuated pawl n' carried by the spur wheel.
The arrangement of teeth n' and the pawl n³ is such, that when the frame Lis
moved toward the type, the pawl.n will slide fredly over 'tho ratchet teeth, and
will not move the roller N to feed the type. But when the said frame L is moved
away from the type, the pawl n' will engage a tooth n³, and thereby lock the spur
wheel n' to the roller N, and cause it to rotate and feed the strip. An impression
pad P is carried in the upper portion of the frame L, for pressing the strip
yieldingly into contact with the type, and a cutting edge n' at the mouth of the
channel is arranged to co-operate with the straight edge at the rear of the 2
receiving cup O, so that just before the frame I reaches the limit of its downward
stroke, it will sever the printed portion of the strip from the body of the strip, and
leave it detached within the cup O. To prevent the forward feed of the strip
within the channel n, after the cutter has begun its work, I provide a cam on the.
frame L, 'the function of which is to engage and lift the pawl ont of engagement a
with the ratchet tooth ?, just before the frame L completes the limit of its down-
ward stroke, and thereby stop the further feed of the strip at that point.
From this it follows, that when the operating lever M is depressed, the frame L
will be moved toward the type, and an impression will be formed on the strip near
its end. As soon as the lever M begins its return movement, the printed' strip will a
be fed forward into the receiving cup O, and just before the frame L reaches the
limit of its downward stroke, the printed strip will be cut off, and left free to be
removed from the cup 0.
The sliding frame L has fixed thereto an arm Q, the end of which partially.
embraces the spindle of the key I, and just before the sliding frame roaches the
limit of its upward movement, the arm Qreaches a shoulder on the key, and lifts
it, so as to bring the reduced part i opposite the bearing piece to rolcase the
type wheel from the shaft F. At this same moment, however, a nose g on the
arm Q, enters between two of the teeth on the toothed wheel 7', fixed to rotate
with the type wheel H, and thereby prevents the latter from returning to its normal 4
position under the tension of the spring k, until after the impression has been made,
and the sliding frame L begins its downward movement. I also find it desirable
to 'bevel' the sides of the teeth on the wheel ¹, so that the nose g will serve, as it
passes between two teeth, to centre the type wheel, so as to bring the type squarely
into position to make a clear impression. Just before the sliding frame reaches 6
the limit of its downward movement, the arm Q will engage a shoulder on the
key I, and slide it downwardly into position to bring its enlarged portion i opposite
the bearing piece, and thereby crowd the type wheel into frictional engagement
with 'the shaft F, ready for further operation.
In order to prevent a simultaneous operation of two or more of the operating 6
lovers C, I provide a series of locking bars r'; placed end to end, and given
sufficient play to admit one of the lovers C only to pass between them at one time.

page_text: B
The adjacent ends of the bars r¹ are preferably beveled, and the portion c³ of the
lever which is adapted to pass between them, is also provided with a rounded or
beveled face, so that when one of tho levers C is pulled forward, it will push the
bars out of the way, to allow it to pass between them, and in so doing, will prevent
any other lever C from being operated while the lover first moved is between the
limits of its stroke.
For the purpose, however, of providing for the rapid successive movements of
several levers without the delay of returning them to their normal positions, I
provide an additional slot or opening c with a beveled edge c", so that when any
one of the levers has reached the downward limit of its stroke, to draw the liquid,
another lever may immediately be brought from its normal down to its depressed
adjustment, the locking blocks being allowed to slide through the slot c¹ in the
lever first depressed. After the second lever is down to draw liquid, a third may
be depressed in the same manner, and so on, each succeeding lever which is
depressed, serving to slide the locking blocks through or into the opening in the
lever previously depressed. The levers, when so consecutively depressed, will
operate the registering apparatus at each depression, and will also operate the
recording mechanism to print the cumulative amount. The levers inay be returned
to their normal positions consecutively, either in the order in which they were
depressed, or in any other convenient order.
It is obvious that the series of looking blocks might be arranged to enter sockets
iu the opposito sides of the severed levers, instead of passing through openings
formed therein.
In order to lock all the lovers against operation, I provide a sliding piece ³, which
may be thrown into and out of position with the end of one of the sliding blocks, to
crowd them close together. The sliding piece may be operated by an armon
a rock shaft, which may he operated by a handle, and the latter, if so
desired, may bo secured by a lock of any well known or approved construction,
the key of which may be held by the proprietor, or any person designated by him.
Having given the operation of the several parts in detail, the operation of the
apparatus, as a whole, may be briefly described as follows:-
Liquids of varying qualities and prices, or several portions of liquids of the same
price, may be dispensed by operating one or more of the lovers of the dispensing
imechanism, and such operation of the dispensing levers will have registered the
sum total of the price units upon the registering device, and will, at the same time,
have turned the type wheel into position to bring the type which represents the
price of all the portion dispensed at that transaction, into position to print. All
that remains to be done is, to operate the recording lever, and thereby print and
deliver a ticket containing such price.
It is assumed, of course, that a number of portions of liquid dispensed at one
transaction, will not carry the type wheel beyond a single revolution, which in the
present form of my invention is the limit of its advance movement. In case it
should be required to record a price higher than the wheel is made to record for a
single transaction, it may be readily accomplished by making two or more records
instead of one.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. In combination, one or more dispensing mechanisms, a recording device, and a
registering device, the recording device being under the control of the dispensing
mechanism, to determine the price to be recorded for a single transaction, and the
registering device being simultaneously under the control of the dispensing
mechanism, to determine the sum total of a plurality of transactions, substantially
as set forth.
2. In combination, one or more dispensing mechanisms, a recording device, a
registering device, and a common connection between the dispensing mechanisms

page_text: and the recording and registering devices, whereby the operation of the dispensing
mechanisms serves to determine the price to be recorded for that operation, and
registers the price either alone or in connection with other operations, substantially
as set forth.
3. In combination, a dispensing mechanism, a recording mechanism, a shaft con-
necting the two, and a variable connection between the said shaft and the dispensing
mechanism, whereby the shaft may be rotated more or less while the quantity of
liquid dispensed remains constant, substantially as set forth.
4. In combination, a dispensing mechanism, a recording mechanism, a shaft con-
necting the two, an operating lever for the recording mechanism, and an impression
device, the recording mechanism being under the control of the dispensing
mechanism, to determine the amount to be recorded, and the impression device
being under the control of said operating lever, to make the record, substantially
as set forth.
5. The dispensing mechanism, comprising the measuring receptacle, means for
supplying liquid thereto, means for withdrawing the liquid therefrom, and a sliding
piston within the measuring receptacle, the interior portions of the receptacle upon
both sides of the piston being in përmanent communication with each other, sub-
stantially as set forth.
6. The combination with the shaft and the dispensing operating mechanism for
controlling the movements of the shaft, of a printing wheel having an inter-
rupted connection with the shaft, and means for controlling the connection of the
printing wheel with the shaft, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with the shaft and ineans for rotating it, of a spring-actuated
printing wheel having an interrupted engagement with the shaft, an impression
device, means for moving the impression device toward and away from the printing
wheel, and a key under the control of the impression device and its operating
means, to throw the printing wheel into engagement with the shaft, substantially
as set forth.
8. The combination with a dispensing device, the shaft and means for rotating
the shaft, of a printing wheel having an interrupted engagement with the shaft, an
impression device, means for moving the impression device toward and away from
the printing wheel, a tape supply roller carried by the frame of the impression
device, tape feed mechanism, and means for interrupting the feed during a portion
of the movement of the impression device, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with a dispensing device, the printing wheel, and means for
operating it, of the impression device supported in a reciprocating frame, a tape
supply roller, a tape conduit on the frame, tape feed mechanism, a cutter carried by
the frame, a stop carried by the frame to temporarily lock the printing wheel, and
means for operating the frame and thereby securing an impression, feeding the tape,
and severing the printed portion, substantially as set forth.
10. In combination, several dispensing mechanisms, each provided with its own
operating lever, locking mechanism in position to prevent the simultaneous move-
ment of two operating levers, the connection the locking dovice and the levers
being such, that a second lever may be operated as soon as the preceding lever has
completed its advance stroke, substantially as set forth.
Deted this 21st de af Tanu 1902
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.