Automatic dispensing apparatus

Claim 2

A liquid dispensing system comprising a dispenser, and a control apparatus disposed remotely from said dispenser, a. said dispenser comprising a motor pump, having a normally open power circuit, a meter, a valved nozzle, a dispensing line connecting said motor pump, meter, and nozzle, normally closed valve means in said line, means operable to open said valve means, a computer driven by the meter, said computer including a resettable register, means for resetting said register to zero, b. reset control means having normal and activated conditions in which it prevents and permits operation of said resetting means, respectively, a control lever manually movable to ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, dispensing control means having normal and dispensing conditions, means responsive to the reset control means, in its activated condition and said lever, in its ''''on'''' position, for causing said resetting means to reset said register to zero and to establish said dispensing control means in its dispensing condition, pulse generating means, including pulse control means operable in time with said register, for generating a pulse for each digital, incremental amount accumulated by said register, c. said control apparatus comprising a transaction counter for registering like digital incremental amounts, said counter including stepping means responsive to said pulses for advancing the count of the transaction counter, d. a presettable predetermined register including stepping means connected for actuation by said pulses for registering like digital decremental amounts to decrease the count preset thereon, e. said register and counter each including indicators to display the count thereon, f. manually actuable first means for actuating the stepping means of said predetermining register to preset a value thereon, said register including means actuable by said stepping means for establishing and maintaining a circuit leg from one side of a power source, through the coil of a first relay, to the dispensing control means, when a value is preset, g. manually actuable second means for causing the repeated actuation of the stepping means of the transaction counter to zeroize it, said counter including means for interrupting said stepping when the counter is reset to zero, said counter also including switching means which, in said zero condition of said counter, activates said reset control means to permit operation of said computer register resetting means, h. said dispensing control means in its dispensing condition, serving to close the circuits of said relay coil and of said motor pump, and to condition said valve opening means for operation, i. means responsive to the energization of said relay coil for causing operation of the valve opening means so that liquid may be dispensed, and for activating said pulse generating means, so that liquid dispensed by opening the nozzle valve will be registered on said transaction counter and predetermining register.

Claim 3

The system defined by claim 1 wherein said manually actuable first means includes means operable by said first relay, when it is energized, to disable said first means, to prevent presetting of said predetermining register during the course of the transaction.

Claim 4

The system defined in claim 1 wherein said dispensing control means is returned to its normal condition by movement of said control lever to its ''''off'''' positioN and said reset control means includes means operable upon energization of said first relay, to deactivate said reset control means, to prevent restarting delivery once it has been stopped by moving said lever to its ''''off'''' position, without resetting the transaction counter.

Claim 5

The system defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a normally closed solenoid valve and wherein a valve circuit is provided to energize the solenoid to open the valve, said circuit including a normally closed, manually operable emergency switch, said switch when open serving to cause closure of the valve to interrupt the dispensing of liquid, without changing any other conditions established in the system, so that dispensing may proceed to the intended conclusion when the switch is reclosed, and the valve is reopened thereby.

Claim 6

The system defined by claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a servo mechanism which comprises a main valve, having a large passage connected in the delivery line, a normally closed valve for the passage, an hydraulic cylinder for opening said valve, a normally closed, solenoid opened pilot valve having a small passage connecting said cylinder with the delivery line downstream of said main valve, a normally closed, solenoid opened slow flow valve having a small passage connected to bypass the main valve, circuit means for energizing said solenoids including a normally closed, manually operable emergency switch which, when it is opened, deenergizes both valve solenoids to close the pilot and slow flow valves, said pilot valve closure serving to cause closure of the main valve, thereby terminating all flow in the dispensing line.

Claim 7

The system defined in claim 1 wherein said means for resetting the computer register includes a resetting motor, means operable by said motor, when it is energized, for resetting said register, and means responsive to movement of said dispensing control means toward its dispensing condition for deenergizes said motor.

Claim 8

The system defined by claim 6 wherein the reset control means comprises a circuit which also includes the resetting motor and a switch connected for operation by said control lever so as to close and open as said lever is moved to its ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions respectively, said switch when closed, serving to complete the circuit through the resetting motor when the reset control means is in its activated condition.

Claim 9

The system defined in claim 6 wherein the dispensing control means includes multiple pole, double throw switch means for completing the power circuits of the relay coil and the motor pump and for extending the power circuitry for the valve opening means when the dispensing control means is in its dispensing condition, and means operable by said resetting motor for moving said dispensing control means to its dispensing condition substantially at the completion of resetting of the computer register.

Claim 10

The system defined by claim 8 wherein said multiple pole switch includes contacts which are closed, and open when said dispensing control means is in its normal and dispensing conditions respectively, said contacts forming a part of the reset motor circuit so as to deenergizes the motor when the dispensing control means moves toward its dispensing condition.

Claim 11

The system defined by claim 9 which includes means operable by said control lever when it is moved to its ''''off'''' position for restoring said dispensing control means and multiple pole switch to said normal condition.

Claim 12

The system defined by claim 1 which includes a manually operable ''''conventional dispensing'''' switch having two pairs of normally open contacts, means including one pair of said contacts, when closed, for enabling the operation of said computer resetting means when the reset control means is in its normal condition, and means including the other pair of contacts, when closed, for enabling the operation of said valve opening means solely in response to the establishment of said diSpensing control means in the dispensing condition.

Claim 13

The system defined by claim 1 wherein said predetermining register comprises a number of individual decades arranged in decimal order, each decade having a pulse responsive stepping mechanism for operating the decade in a count decreasing direction, one digit for each step, a. said manually actuable first means including a normally open, manually closeable presetting switch for each decade, b. means connecting each switch to apply a pulse of fully rectified current to the stepping mechanism of its associated decade, for each closure of the switch, whereby each decade may be individually actuated to preset the desired total amount of an anticipated transaction on the predetermining register.

Claim 14

The system defined in claim 1 wherein said transaction counter comprises a number of decades arranged in decimal order, each decade having a pulse responsive stepping mechanism for operating it in a count increasing direction, one digit for each step, a. said manually actuable second means including a manually operable, normally open switch, and means controlled thereby and connected with all of said stepping mechanisms for applying half wave rectified current to said mechanisms, b. said stepping interrupting means including a first switching means for each decade, connected for operation of the stepping mechanism thereof, for disconnecting such stepping mechanism from said current when the decade reaches its zero position.

Claim 15

The system defined by claim 13 wherein each transaction counter decade includes a second switching means, which is moved to zero position by said stepping mechanism simultaneously with said first switching means, and which closes a switch in said zero position, a. said reset control means comprising a second relay having a coil and first and second sets of normally open contacts, b. means for connecting all of said closed zero switches in series, c. means responsive to the closure of all of said zero switches and of said manually operable switch for energizing said second relay coil to close both sets of contacts, d. means connecting said first set of contacts to establish a holding circuit through said second relay coil and means including said second set of contacts, when closed, serving to permit operation of said computer register resetting means.

Claim 16

The system defined by claim 1 wherein said predetermining register comprises low, intermediate, and high order decades, a. a pulse responsive stepping mechanism for each decade, b. a first and a second switching means for each decade, said switching means each including a movable contact connected to be moved by said mechanism, and plurality of fixed contacts, including a zero contact, disposed for successive closure by said movable contact, upon successive steps thereof, c. circuit means connecting said zero contacts of the low and intermediate order first switching means to actuate, respectively, the stepping mechanism of the next higher order decade to transfer the count, and d. means, connected in circuit with the zero contact of the first switching means and in series with the zero contact of the second switching means of the high and intermediate order decades respectively, for causing said valve opening means to reduce the rate of liquid flow.

Claim 17

The system defined by claim 1 which includes a nonresettable cumulative counter, stepping means for actuating said counter in a count increasing direction, and means connecting said stepping means for actuation in accordance with said pulses.

Claim 18

The system defined by claim 15 wherein means, including the movable contact of the second switching means of any decade, when closed with any of its fixed contacts except the zero contact, are provided for maintaining the circuit leg to the coil of the first relay, a. a multiple pole, two position switch, means including one of said poles, in a first position, for connecting one side of a power source to the second switching means of all of said decades, said pole, in a second position, disconnecting said second switching means, from said source, b. means, including said pole in its second position, for connecting said relay coil to said source, c. means, including a second pole of said switch, in its first position, for connecting the stepping mechanism of the first register decade for actuation by said pulse generating means and for interrupting the connection when the pole is in said second position, d. said two-position switch, in its second position, serving thereby to disable said predetermining register and to enable energization of said first relay in response to the establishment of the dispensing control means in its dispensing condition, to thereby permit delivery of an indefinite amount of liquid, e. said transaction counter serving to register the amount of such delivery.

Claim 19

The system defined by claim 17 wherein said switch includes a third pole, a contact engageable by said third pole, a lamp disposed to light a ''''fill-up'''' legend, and means connecting said contact, lamp and pole to complete a circuit therethrough when said switch is in its second position.

Claim 20

A liquid dispensing system comprising a dispenser, and a control apparatus disposed remotely from said dispenser, a. said dispenser comprising a motor pump, having a normally open power circuit, a meter, a valved nozzle, a dispensing line connecting said motor pump, meter, and nozzle, normally closed, power operable valve means in said dispensing line, a computer driven by said meter, said computer including a resettable register having high, an analog low, and intermediate order decades and transfer means connecting each decade with the next higher order decade, means for resetting said computer register, b. reset control means having first and second conditions in which it prevents and permits operation of said resetting means, respectively, a control lever manually movable to ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, dispensing control means, having normal and dispensing conditions, a pulsing switch connected to be driven by said computer register so as to close and open in accordance with the registration of each successive digital, incremental amount by said computer register, c. said control apparatus having a presettable predetermining register comprising high, low, and intermediate order decades, each decade having a pulse actuable stepping mechanism adapted to step said decade one digital decrement for each pulse applied to said mechanism, d. each diode of both of said registers including a visual indicator for displaying the value of the count existing on such decade, e. manually actuable first means for each decade of the predetermining register for actuating the stepping mechanism thereof to preset thereon, the amount of liquid to be delivered, f. each decade of said predetermining register including a first switch having a plurality of fixed contacts, representing values from zero through 9, arranged in order of their respective values and a contactor connected for movement by the associated stepping mechanism into closing engagement successively with the fixed contacts, g. means connecting the zero contact of each lower order decade first switch with the stepping mechanism of the next higher order decade for transferring counts from one decade to the next higher order decade, h. each decade including a second switch having the same number of fixed contacts, arranged in the same order of values, as those of the associated first switch, and having a movable contactor, i. means connecting said first and second contactors for simultaneous movement by the stepping mechanism of the decade, into engagement with their respective fixed contacts of equivalent value, in a count decreasing direction, j. a relay having an actuating coil, k. means for connecting all of the fixed contacts, except the Zero contacts, of the second switches of all of the decades, in a circuit leg which extends from one side of a power source through the relay coil, in parallel through any fixed contacts of said second switches which are engaged by their respective contactors and to the dispensing control means, said circuit leg being opened only when all of the second switch contactors of all of said predetermining decades engage their respective zero contacts, l. said relay having first, normally open, contacts which are closed by energization of said relay to establish a partial circuit from one side of a power source, through the valve means to said dispensing control means, and having second, normally open, contacts for similarly establishing a partial circuit from one side of a power source to said pulsing switch, m. means responsive to the closing of a manually operable switch for establishing the reset control means in its second condition, to render said resetting means operable, upon movement of said control lever to its ''''on'''' position, to reset said computer register to zero and to move said dispensing control means to its dispensing condition, n. said dispensing control means, in its dispensing condition, serving to start the motor pump and, with said predetermining register preset, to complete the circuit through the first relay coil, to close the first and second, normally open relay contacts, which complete the valve opening circuit to permit dispensing, and condition the pulsing circuit for operation by the pulsing switch, respectively, o. means for transmitting pulses generated by said pulsing circuit to the lowest order decade of the predetermining decade, p. the zeroizing of said second switches of said decades upon delivery of the predetermined amount of liquid, serving to deenergize the circuit for the relay coil, and thereby to open said first and second relay contacts, to deenergize the valve opening means and the pulsing circuit, and q. means operable in response to the return of said control lever to its ''''off'''' position to restore said dispensing control means to its normal position to stop the motor pump.

Claim 21

A liquid dispensing system comprising a dispenser, and a control apparatus disposed remotely from said dispenser, a. said dispenser comprising a motor pump, having a normally open power circuit, a meter, a valved nozzle, a dispensing line connecting said motor pump, meter, and nozzle, normally closed, power operable valve means in said dispensing line, a computer driven by said meter, said computer including a resettable register having high, an analog low, and intermediate order decades and transfer means connecting each decade with the next higher order decade, means for resetting said computer register, b. reset control means having first and second conditions in which it prevents and permits operation of said resetting means, respectively, a control lever manually movable to ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, dispensing control means, having normal and dispensing conditions, a pulsing switch connected to be driven by said computer register so as to close and open in accordance with the registration of each successive digital, incremental amount by said computer register, c. said control apparatus having a presettable predetermining register comprising high, low, and intermediate order decades, each decade having a pulse actuable stepping mechanism adapted to step said decade one digital decrement for each pulse applied to said mechanism, d. each diode of both of said registers including a visual indicator for displaying the value of the count existing on such decade, e. manually actuable first means for each decade of the predetermining register for actuating the stepping mechanism thereof to preset thereon, the amount of liquid to be delivered, f. each decade of said predetermining register including a first switch having a plurality of fixed contacts, representing values from zero through 9, arranged in order of their respective values and a contactor connected for movement by the associated stepping mechanism into closing engagement successively with the fixed contacts, g. means connecting the zero contact of each lower order decade first switch with the stepping mechanism of the next higher order decade for transferring counts from one decade to the next higher order decade, h. each decade including a second switch having the same number of fixed contacts, arranged in the same order of values, as those of the associated first switch, and having a movable contactor, i. means connecting said first and second contactors for simultaneous movement by the stepping mechanism of the decade, into engagement with their respective fixed contacts of equivalent value, in a count decreasing direction, j. a relay having an actuating coil, k. means for connecting all of the fixed contacts, except the Zero contacts, of the second switches of all of the decades, in a circuit leg which extends from one side of a power source through the relay coil, in parallel through any fixed contacts of said second switches which are engaged by their respective contactors and to the dispensing control means, said circuit leg being opened only when all of the second switch contactors of all of said predetermining decades engage their respective zero contacts, l. said relay having first, normally open, contacts which are closed by energization of said relay to establish a partial circuit from one side of a power source, through the valve means to said dispensing control means, and having second, normally open, contacts for similarly establishing a partial circuit from one side of a power source to said pulsing switch, m. means responsive to the closing of a manually operable switch for establishing the reset control means in its second condition, to render said resetting means operable, upon movement of said control lever to its ''''on'''' position, to reset said computer register to zero and to move said dispensing control means to its dispensing condition, n. said dispensing control means, in its dispensing condition, serving to start the motor pump and, with said predetermining register preset, to complete the circuit through the first relay coil, to close the first and second, normally open relay contacts, which complete the valve opening circuit to permit dispensing, and condition the pulsing circuit for operation by the pulsing switch, respectively, o. means for transmitting pulses generated by said pulsing circuit to the lowest order decade of the predetermining decade, p. the zeroizing of said second switches of said decades upon delivery of the predetermined amount of liquid, serving to deenergize the circuit for the relay coil, and thereby to open said first and second relay contacts, to deenergize the valve opening means and the pulsing circuit, and q. means operable in response to the return of said control lever to its ''''off'''' position to restore said dispensing control means to its normal position to stop the motor pump.

Claim 22

The system defined by claim 19 wherein said dispensing control means in its dispensing condition prevents operation of said resetting means.

Claim 23

The system defined by claim 19 wherein said pulsing switch is connected in the base circuit of an NPN transistor, the emitter circuit of which is connected to actuate the stepping mechanisms of the predetermining decades.

Claim 24

The system defined by claim 21, wherein said decade stepping mechanisms include a solenoid, a ratchet mechanism operable in a cocking stroke by said solenoid and means for operating it in a counting stroke upon deenergization of said solenoid.

Claim 25

The system defined by claim 22 wherein said pulsing switch is driven in timed relation with respect to the lowest order decade of said computing register so as to close at a time prior to the arrival of the decade at each full digit position of the decade and to be opened at each such full digit position, to insure accurate correlation of the computer and predetermining registers.

Claim 26

The system defined by claim 19 wherein said resetting means includes an electric motor connected to reset the computer register and means driven by said motor to move said dispensing control means to its dispensing position substantially upon completion of register resetting.

Claim 27

The system defined by claim 19 wherein said dispensing control means comprises a double throw switch having a number of poles movable to each of two different positions to engage different ones of a number of fixed contacts, and wherein said resetting means includes means for actuating said pole to said positions.

Claim 28

The system defined by claim 24 wherein said dispensing control means comprises a double throw multiple pole switch which, in said normal condition of the dispensing control means, has a closed switch connected in said reset mOtor circuit and open switches for said valve opening and motor pump circuits, all of said switches being reversed when said dispensing control means occupies its dispensing condition.

Claim 29

The system defined by claim 19 wherein each pulse represents a 1 cent value of the liquid dispensed.

Claim 30

A liquid dispensing system comprising a dispenser, and a control apparatus disposed remotely from said dispenser, a. said dispenser comprising a motor pump having a normally open power circuit, a meter, a valved nozzle, a dispensing line connecting said motor pump, meter and nozzle, normally closed, power operable valve means in said dispensing line, a computer driven by said meter, said computer including a resettable register, having high, an analog low, and intermediate order decades and transfer means connecting each lower order decade with the next higher order decade, means for resetting said computer register, b. reset control means having normal and activated conditions in which it prevents and permits operation of said resetting means respectively, a control lever manually movable to ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, dispensing control means having normal and dispensing conditions, a pulsing switch connected to be driven by said computer register, so as to close and open in accordance with the registration of each successive digital incremental amount by said computer register, c. said control apparatus having a presettable predetermining register comprising high, low, and intermediate order decades, each decade having a pulse actuable stepping mechanism adapted to step said decade one digital decrement for each pulse supplied to said mechanism, d. said control apparatus also having a transaction counter having high, low, and intermediate order decades, each having pulse actuable stepping mechanism adapted to step the decade one digital increment for each pulse received by such decade, e. each decade of said register and counter having a visual indicator for displaying the value of the count existing on said decade, f. each of said predetermining register and counter decades, including a first switch having fixed contacts, representing values of zero through nine, arranged in order of their respective values, and a contactor mounted for movement by the associated stepping mechanism into closing engagement successively with the individual fixed contacts, g. each of said predetermining register and transaction counter decades having a second switch comprising successively arranged value contacts and a contactor driven by the stepping mechanism of the decade, h. manually actuable first means for each predetermining decade for actuating the stepping mechanism of the decade to preset a value on the first and second switches of the decades, i. means for resetting the transaction decades to zero position, comprising manually controllable means for applying a pulsating direct current simultaneously through the stepping mechanism, the contactors and fixed contacts having values one through nine of the first switch of each transaction counter decade, said current being interrupted and resetting of each decade being terminated when the contactor reaches the zero contact, j. means responsive to the zeroizing of said second switches of said transaction counter decades for establishing said reset control means in its activated condition, k. means responsive to the presetting of any said predetermining register decade second switches to an amount other than zero for conditioning the coil of a first relay for energization upon movement of said dispensing control means to dispensing position, l. means responsive to the movement of the control lever in its ''''on'''' position when said reset control means is in said activated condition, for causing said resetting means to reset the computer register to zero, and to establish said dispensing control means in its dispensing condition, thereby energizing said relay coil and Said motor pump, m. normally deenergized pulsing means, including said pulsing switch, n. means responsive to the energizing of said relay coil for energizing said valve opening means and said pulsing means, o. means for transmitting pulses generated by said pulsing switch to the stepping mechanisms of the lowest orders of said predetermining register and transaction counter decades, to respectively decrease and increase the count thereon, one digit for each pulse, when dispensing occurs, p. said second switches of said predetermining register decades, serving to break said relay coil circuit when all of the contactors of second switch decades reach their zero contacts, thereby to deenergize said valve opening means to terminate dispensing, and to deenergize said pulsing circuit, q. said control lever, when returned to its ''''off'''' position, serving to deenergize deenergize pump motor and to restore said dispensing control means to its normal position.

Claim 31

A liquid dispensing system comprising a dispenser, and a control apparatus disposed remotely from said dispenser, a. said dispenser comprising a motor pump having a normally open power circuit, a meter, a valved nozzle, a dispensing line connecting said motor pump, meter and nozzle, normally closed, power operable valve means in said dispensing line, a computer driven by said meter, said computer including a resettable register, having high, an analog low, and intermediate order decades and transfer means connecting each lower order decade with the next higher order decade, means for resetting said computer register, b. reset control means having normal and activated conditions in which it prevents and permits operation of said resetting means respectively, a control lever manually movable to ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, dispensing control means having normal and dispensing conditions, a pulsing switch connected to be driven by said computer register, so as to close and open in accordance with the registration of each successive digital incremental amount by said computer register, c. said control apparatus having a presettable predetermining register comprising high, low, and intermediate order decades, each decade having a pulse actuable stepping mechanism adapted to step said decade one digital decrement for each pulse supplied to said mechanism, d. said control apparatus also having a transaction counter having high, low, and intermediate order decades, each having pulse actuable stepping mechanism adapted to step the decade one digital increment for each pulse received by such decade, e. each decade of said register and counter having a visual indicator for displaying the value of the count existing on said decade, f. each of said predetermining register and counter decades, including a first switch having fixed contacts, representing values of zero through nine, arranged in order of their respective values, and a contactor mounted for movement by the associated stepping mechanism into closing engagement successively with the individual fixed contacts, g. each of said predetermining register and transaction counter decades having a second switch comprising successively arranged value contacts and a contactor driven by the stepping mechanism of the decade, h. manually actuable first means for each predetermining decade for actuating the stepping mechanism of the decade to preset a value on the first and second switches of the decades, i. means for resetting the transaction decades to zero position, comprising manually controllable means for applying a pulsating direct current simultaneously through the stepping mechanism, the contactors and fixed contacts having values one through nine of the first switch of each transaction counter decade, said current being interrupted and resetting of each decade being terminated when the contactor reaches the zero contact, j. means responsive to the zeroizing of said second switches of said transaction counter decades for establishing said reset control means in its activated condition, k. means responsive to the presetting of any said predetermining register decade second switches to an amount other than zero for conditioning the coil of a first relay for energization upon movement of said dispensing control means to dispensing position, l. means responsive to the movement of the control lever in its ''''on'''' position when said reset control means is in said activated condition, for causing said resetting means to reset the computer register to zero, and to establish said dispensing control means in its dispensing condition, thereby energizing said relay coil and Said motor pump, m. normally deenergized pulsing means, including said pulsing switch, n. means responsive to the energizing of said relay coil for energizing said valve opening means and said pulsing means, o. means for transmitting pulses generated by said pulsing switch to the stepping mechanisms of the lowest orders of said predetermining register and transaction counter decades, to respectively decrease and increase the count thereon, one digit for each pulse, when dispensing occurs, p. said second switches of said predetermining register decades, serving to break said relay coil circuit when all of the contactors of second switch decades reach their zero contacts, thereby to deenergize said valve opening means to terminate dispensing, and to deenergize said pulsing circuit, q. said control lever, when returned to its ''''off'''' position, serving to deenergize deenergize pump motor and to restore said dispensing control means to its normal position.

Claim 32

The system defined by claim 28 wherein said power operable valve means includes a main valve mechanism, having a normally closed first solenoid valve, a normally closed solenoid slow flow valve, and circuit means for said solenoids controlled by said first relay, a. a second relay having normally closed contacts connected in the circuit of the first valve''s solenoid, b. means responsive to the positioning of the contactor of the first switch of the highest order and of the second switch of the intermediate order decades of the predetermining register on their zero value fixed contacts, for energizing said second relay to deenergize said first solenoid valve of said main valve mechanism, c. the movement of the contactor to the zero contact of the second switch of the lowest order predetermining decade serving to open the circuit of the first relay to cause deenergization of the slow flow valve solenoid to stop all flow.

Claim 33

The system defined by claim 29 wherein said main valve means includes an hydraulically operable main valve connected to be conditioned for opening and having means for causing its closing in response to the respective opening and closing of said first solenoid valve.

Claim 34

The system defined by claim 28 which includes means responsive to the energization of said first relay for disabling the manually actuable first means to prevent presetting of said predetermining register prior to restoration of said system to its initial condition.

Claim 35

The system claimed by claim 28 wherein said dispensing control means includes a limit switch which is opened and closed as said dispensing control means is established in its dispensing and normal conditions respectively, to interrupt the operation of said resetting means substantially at the end of the computer resetting operation, and means operable by the movement of said control lever to its ''''off'''' position for establishing the dispensing control means in its normal condition.

Claim 36

The system defined by claim 32 wherein said dispensing control means includes a second switch disposed to close and open as said limit switch opens and closes, respectively, said second switch forming a part of the coil circuit of the first relay so as to deenergize it and thereby prevent restarting a delivery, which has been stopped by turning the control lever to its off position prior to the completion of a predetermined delivery, merely by returning the control lever to its ''''on'''' position.

Claim 37

The system defined by claim 32 wherein said resetting means includes a motor connected to zeroize said computing register and connected to establish said dispensing control means in its dispensing condition after the register has been reset.

Claim 38

The system defined by claim 34 wherein said reset control means comprises the circuit for said resetting motor which includes a switch which is closed in response to the zeroizing of the second switches of said transaction counter, said limit switch and a switch which is opened and cLosed by the control lever in its ''''off'''' and ''''on'''' positions, respectively, said switches being arranged in series so as to energize said motor only when all of said switches are closed.

Claim 39

The system defined by claim 28 which includes a manually settable, double pole, conventional operation dispensing switch, means connecting one pole of said switch in parallel with the switch which is responsive to the zeroizing of the transaction counter, and a second pole connected parallel with the means responsive to the energization of said first relay for energizing the valve opening means, said switch, when closed, serving to enable control lever switch to start said resetting means and, upon completion of resetting, to establish said dispensing control means in its active condition to energize the valve opening means, to stop said resetting motor and to start said pump motor, thereby permitting dispensing under the sole control of said control lever and nozzle valve.

Claim 40

The system defined by claim 35 which includes a multiple pole, manually settable fill control switch having first, predetermining and second, fill positions, in said first position one pole of said switch forms the part of down count pulse transmitting means of said predetermining register, another pole of said switch forms a part of relay coil energizing circuit which includes the second switch of a predetermining register decade, said switch in its fill position having said poles open and having a third pole closed to establish a circuit leg to said relay coil in parallel with the decade second switch and said second pole, whereby said relay will be energized upon movement of said dispensing control means to its dispensing position.

Claim 41

The system defined by claim 28 which includes a nonresettable cumulative pulse responsive counter and means connecting said cumulative counter with the means for transmitting pulses generated by said pulsing switch for simultaneously registering such pulses.

Claim 42

A liquid dispensing system comprising a dispenser, and a control apparatus disposed remotely from said dispenser, a. said dispenser comprising a motor pump having a normally open power circuit, a meter, a valved nozzle, a dispensing line connecting said motor pump, meter and nozzle, normally closed valve means in said line, means operable to open said valve means, a computer driven by the meter, said computer including a resettable register, means for resetting said register to zero, b. reset control means having normal and activated conditions in which it prevents and permits operation of said resetting means, respectively, a control lever manually movable to ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, dispensing control means having normal and dispensing conditions, means responsive to the reset control means, in its activated condition, and said lever, in its ''''on'''' position, for causing said resetting means to reset said register to zero and to establish said dispensing control means in its dispensing condition, pulse generating means, including pulse control means operable in time with said register, for generating a pulse for each digital, incremental amount accumulated by said register, c. said control apparatus comprising a transaction counter for registering like digital incremental amounts, said counter including stepping means connected to said pulse generating means and responsive to pulses for advancing the count of the transaction counter, said counter including indicators for displaying the count thereon, d. manually actuable means for zeroizing said transaction counter and for then establishing said reset control means in its activated condition, to permit operation of said computer resetting means, e. said dispensing control means, in its dispensing condition, including means to close said motor pump circuit, to cause said operable means to open said valve means and to activate said pulse generating means, so that liquid will be dispensed upon opening of said nozzlE valve and such liquid will be registered on the transaction counter.

Claim 43

A liquid dispensing system comprising a dispenser, and a control apparatus disposed remotely from said dispenser, a. said dispenser comprising a motor pump having a normally open power circuit, a meter, a valved nozzle, a dispensing line connecting said motor pump, meter and nozzle, normally closed valve means in said line, means operable to open said valve means, a computer driven by the meter, said computer including a resettable register, means for resetting said register to zero, b. reset control means having normal and activated conditions in which it prevents and permits operation of said resetting means, respectively, a control lever manually movable to ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, dispensing control means having normal and dispensing conditions, means responsive to the reset control means, in its activated condition, and said lever, in its ''''on'''' position, for causing said resetting means to reset said register to zero and to establish said dispensing control means in its dispensing condition, pulse generating means, including pulse control means operable in time with said register, for generating a pulse for each digital, incremental amount accumulated by said register, c. said control apparatus comprising a transaction counter for registering like digital incremental amounts, said counter including stepping means connected to said pulse generating means and responsive to pulses for advancing the count of the transaction counter, said counter including indicators for displaying the count thereon, d. manually actuable means for zeroizing said transaction counter and for then establishing said reset control means in its activated condition, to permit operation of said computer resetting means, e. said dispensing control means, in its dispensing condition, including means to close said motor pump circuit, to cause said operable means to open said valve means and to activate said pulse generating means, so that liquid will be dispensed upon opening of said nozzlE valve and such liquid will be registered on the transaction counter.

Claim 44

The system defined by claim 39 which includes a predetermining register having presettable counting means, pulse responsive stepping means for moving said counting means toward zero condition, and means for connecting said stepping means for operation by said pulse generating means, a. means for connecting said counting means between said dispensing control means and said valve operating means, including means conditioned by said dispensing control means in its dispensing condition and means conditioned by said counting means in its preset condition for enabling said valve operating means to open said valve means when both of said means are conditioned.

Claim 45

The structure defined by claim 40 wherein at least said connecting means for said counting means is selectively settable to either of two positions and includes means operative in one position to interconnect said counting means between said dispensing control and valve operating means and means operable in its other position for connecting said dispensing control and valve operating means.