Digital multiplier useful in multiple product dispensing apparatus

Claim 2

A computing device for computing the product of a multiplier and an amount proportional to a rotational input comprising a rotary pulsing device having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulsers arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulser sets respectively, pulse generating means mounted for cooperation with the pulser sets and to be operated by each pulser of each pulser set cooperating therewith and for each revolution of the pulser as the pulsing device is rotated by the rotary input to generate a number of pulses corresponding to the number of times the pulsers operate the pulse generating means, a plurality of separate multiplier setting means each comprising at least one ringlike multiplier setting wheel encircling the pulsing device for cooperation with the pulsing device and angularly settable for selectively controlling the operation of the pulse generating means by the pulsers cooperating to thereby establish a multiplier, the multiplier wheels of the plurality of separate multiplier setting means being coaxially mounted and being spaced along the axis of the coaxial pulser sets, a counter connected to be operated by the pulses generated by the pulse generating means, and multiplier selector means for selectively conditioning each of the plurality of multiplier setting means for controlling the operation of the counter to count the product of the multiplier established by the selected multiplier setting means and an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input.

Claim 3

A computing device according to claim 1 wherein the pulsers are pulse light apertures, wherein the pulse generating means comprises photoelectric pickup means, and wherein the wheels have control light apertures for selectively controlling the operation of the photoelectric pickup means by the pulse apertures.

Claim 4

A computing device according to claim 2 wherein the pulse apertures and control apertures comprise polarized apertures.

Claim 5

A computing device according to claim 3 wherein each pulser set comprises polarized light apertures of opposite polarities and wherein each multiplier wheel comprises polarized control apertures of corresponding opposite polarities arranged in a coaxial control circle for permitting selective operation of the photoelectric pickup means by pulse apertures of corresponding polarity.

Claim 6

A computing device according to claim 1 wherein the multiplier wheels bear numerals for providing an in-line display of the multipliers established thereby.

Claim 7

A computing device according to claim 1 wherein the multiplier selector means comprises shifting means for axially shifting the pulsing device for selective cooperation with the multiplier setting wheels.

Claim 8

A computing device for computing the product of a multiplier and an amount proportional to a rotational input comprising a rotary pulse drum having a rotary input, pulse generating means operable for generating pulses and mounted for cooperation with the pulse drum for being operated thereby for generating pulses as the pulse drum is rotated by its rotary input, a plurality of separate multiplier setting means each comprising at least one ringlike multiplier setting wheel encircling the pulse drum and angularly settable for controlling the operation of the pulse generating means by the pulse drum and for thereby establishing a multiplier, the multiplier setting wheels of the plurality of separate multiplier setting means being coaxially mounted and being spaced along the drum axis, a counter connected to the pulse generating means to be operated by the pulses generated thereby, and multiplier selector means for selectively conditioning each of the plurality of multiplier setting means for controlling the operation of the counter to count the product of the multiplier established by the selected multiplier setting means and an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input.

Claim 9

A computing device for computing the product of a multiplier and an amount proportional to a rotational input comprising a rotary pulse drum having a rotary input, pulse generating means operable for generating pulses and mounted for cooperation with the pulse drum for being operated thereby for generating pulses as the pulse drum is rotated by its rotary input, a plurality of separate multiplier setting means each comprising at least one ringlike multiplier setting wheel encircling the pulse drum and angularly settable for controlling the operation of the pulse generating means by the pulse drum and for thereby establishing a multiplier, the multiplier setting wheels of the plurality of separate multiplier setting means being coaxially mounted and being spaced along the drum axis, a counter connected to the pulse generating means to be operated by the pulses generated thereby, and multiplier selector means for selectively conditioning each of the plurality of multiplier setting means for controlling the operation of the counter to count the product of the multiplier established by the selected multiplier setting means and an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input.

Claim 10

A computiNg device according to claim 7 for computing the product of an amount proportional to a rotational input and a multiple place multiplier, wherein each multiplier setting means comprises a plurality of multiplier setting wheels for different places respectively of the multiple place multiplier.

Claim 11

A computing device according to claim 7 wherein the pulse drum is mounted for rotation about an axis laterally offset from the axis of the coaxial multiplier setting wheels.

Claim 12

A computing device according to claim 7 wherein the multiplier selector means comprises shiftable means mounted to be shifted parallel to the axis of the coaxial multiplier setting wheels for selectively conditioning the setting wheels for controlling the operation of the counter.

Claim 13

A computing device according to claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the pulse generating means is mounted on the shiftable means for selectively conditioning the setting wheels for controlling the operation of the counter.

Claim 14

A computing device according to claim 7 wherein the pulse drum and the coaxial multiplier setting wheels are mounted to be relatively axially shifted for selectively conditioning the multiplier setting wheels for controlling the operation of the counter, and wherein the multiplier selector means provides for relatively axially shifting the pulse drum and coaxial multiplier setting wheels.

Claim 15

A computing device according to claim 12 wherein the pulse drum is adapted to be axially shifted by the selector means within the coaxial multiplier setting wheels.

Claim 16

A computing device according to claim 7 wherein the pulse drum comprises a plurality of pulse light apertures arranged in a plurality of coaxial circles to form a plurality of coaxial pulse aperture sets respectively, wherein the pulse generating means comprises photoelectric pickup means operable by the pulse apertures, and wherein the multiplier setting wheels have control light apertures for selectively activating the pulse apertures for operating the photoelectric pickup means in accordance with the angular settings of the multiplier setting wheels.

Claim 17

A computing device according to clam 14 wherein each multiplier setting means comprises a set of a plurality of multiplier setting wheels, wherein the pulse drum and the coaxial wheels are mounted to be relatively axially shifted for selectively conditioning the wheel sets for controlling the operation of the counter and wherein the multiplier selector means provides for relatively axially shifting the pulse drum and coaxial wheels.

Claim 18

A computing device according to clam 14 wherein each multiplier setting means comprises a set of a plurality of multiplier setting wheels, wherein the pulse drum and the coaxial wheels are mounted to be relatively axially shifted for selectively conditioning the wheel sets for controlling the operation of the counter and wherein the multiplier selector means provides for relatively axially shifting the pulse drum and coaxial wheels.

Claim 19

A computing device according to claim 15 wherein the selector means provides for shifting the pulse drum within the coaxial wheels.

Claim 20

A computing device according to claim 14 wherein each multiplier setting means comprises a set of a plurality of multiplier setting wheels, and wherein the drum has separate pulse aperture sets for each wheel set.

Claim 21

A computing device according to claim 17 wherein the multiplier selector means comprises shiftable means mounted to be shifted parallel to the axis of the coaxial wheels for selectively conditioning the wheel sets for controlling the operation of the counter.

Claim 22

A computing device according to claim 17 wherein the plurality of wheels of each wheel set provides for establishing different places respectively of a multiple place multiplier, wherein the pulse generating means comprises a separate photoelectric pickup for each place of the multiple place multiplier and a light pipe pickup system connecting each photoelectric pickup for receiving light pulses from each corresponding multiplier setting wheel.

Claim 23

A computing device for computing the product of a multiple place multiplier and an amount proportional to a rotational input comprising a pulsing device having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulsers arranged in a plurality of pulser circles, each coaxial with its axis of rotation, to form a plurality of pulser sets respectively, pulse generating means mounteD for cooperation with the pulser sets to be operated by each pulser of each pulser set cooperating therewith and for each revolution of the pulser as the pulsing device is rotated by the rotary input to generate a number of pulses corresponding to the number of times the pulsers operate the pulse generating means, a plurality of sets of angularly settable multiplier wheels angularly settable for selectively controlling the operation of the pulse generating means by the pulsers cooperating therewith for establishing a multiple place multiplier, the multiplier setting wheels of the plurality of wheel sets being coaxially mounted and bearing numerals for providing an in-line display of the multiple place multipliers established thereby, multiplier selector means for selectively conditioning the wheel sets for setting the number of pulses generated by the pulse generating means, and a counter connected to the pulse generating means for being operated by the pulses generated thereby to count the product of the multiple place multiplier established by the selected wheel set and an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input.

Claim 24

A computing device for computing the product of a multiple place multiplier and an amount proportional to a rotational input comprising a pulsing device having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulsers arranged in a plurality of pulser circles, each coaxial with its axis of rotation, to form a plurality of pulser sets respectively, pulse generating means mounteD for cooperation with the pulser sets to be operated by each pulser of each pulser set cooperating therewith and for each revolution of the pulser as the pulsing device is rotated by the rotary input to generate a number of pulses corresponding to the number of times the pulsers operate the pulse generating means, a plurality of sets of angularly settable multiplier wheels angularly settable for selectively controlling the operation of the pulse generating means by the pulsers cooperating therewith for establishing a multiple place multiplier, the multiplier setting wheels of the plurality of wheel sets being coaxially mounted and bearing numerals for providing an in-line display of the multiple place multipliers established thereby, multiplier selector means for selectively conditioning the wheel sets for setting the number of pulses generated by the pulse generating means, and a counter connected to the pulse generating means for being operated by the pulses generated thereby to count the product of the multiple place multiplier established by the selected wheel set and an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input.

Claim 25

A computing device according to claim 20 wherein the multiplier selector means comprises shiftable means shiftable parallel to the axis of the coaxial wheels for selectively conditioning the wheel sets for setting the number of pulses generated by the pulse generating means.

Claim 26

A computing device according to claim 21 wherein the shiftable means comprises an indicator for indicating the selected wheel set.

Claim 27

In a multiple product fluid dispensing system adapted for selectively dispensing each of a plurality of fluid products and having a cost register and a cost computing device driven in accordance with the volumetric amount of fluid dispensed and presettable for establishing the unit volume price of each of the plurality of products and connected for indexing the register in accordance with the preset unit volume price of the selected fluid product and the volumetric amount of fluid dispensed, the improvement wherein the computing device comprises pulse generating means connected to be operated in accordance with the volumetric amount of fluid dispensed and controllable to establish the unit volume pulse rate generated thereby, a plurality of price wheel sets for the plurality of fluid products respectively each comprising a plurality of angularly settable price setting wheel means, the price setting wheel means of each price wheel set and the pulse generating means being cooperable for controlling the pulse generating means for establishing the unit volume pulse rate and for thereby establishing the unit volume price of the respective fluid product in accordance with the angular setting of the price setting wheel means, the price setting wheel means of the plurality of price wheel sets being coaxially mounted and bearing numerals for providing an in-line display of the established unit volume prices of the plurality of fluid products, price selector means for selectively conditioning each price wheel set for controlling the pulse generating means, and means connecting the computing device and register for operating the register to count the cost of fluid dispensed in accordance with the unit volume price established by the selected price wheel set.

Claim 28

In a multiple product fluid dispensing system adapted for selectively dispensing each of a plurality of fluid products and having a cost register and a cost computing device driven in accordance with the volumetric amount of fluid dispensed and presettable for establishing the unit volume price of each of the plurality of products and connected for indexing the register in accordance with the preset unit volume price of the selected fluid product and the volumetric amount of fluid dispensed, the improvement wherein the computing device comprises pulse generating means connected to be operated in accordance with the volumetric amount of fluid dispensed and controllable to establish the unit volume pulse rate generated thereby, a plurality of price wheel sets for the plurality of fluid products respectively each comprising a plurality of angularly settable price setting wheel means, the price setting wheel means of each price wheel set and the pulse generating means being cooperable for controlling the pulse generating means for establishing the unit volume pulse rate and for thereby establishing the unit volume price of the respective fluid product in accordance with the angular setting of the price setting wheel means, the price setting wheel means of the plurality of price wheel sets being coaxially mounted and bearing numerals for providing an in-line display of the established unit volume prices of the plurality of fluid products, price selector means for selectively conditioning each price wheel set for controlling the pulse generating means, and means connecting the computing device and register for operating the register to count the cost of fluid dispensed in accordance with the unit volume price established by the selected price wheel set.

Claim 29

In a multiple product fluid dispensing system according to claim 23 wherein the price selector means comprises indicator means shiftable parallel to the axis of the coaxial price wheel means for indicating the unit volume price display of the selected fluid product.

Claim 30

In a computing device for computing the product of a multiplier and an amount proportional to a rotational input comprising a rotational input, presettable pulse generating means driven by the rotational input presettable for establishing the multiplier and operable to generate a number of pulses in accordance with the multiplier established by the setting of the pulse generating means and the rotation of the rotational input, and a counter connected to be operated by the pulses generated by the pulse generating means for counting the product of the established multiplier and an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input, the improvement wherein the pulse generating means comprises a rotary pulsing device connected to be rotated by the rotational input and having a plurality of rotatable pulse light apertures arranged in a circle to form a pulse aperture set, photoelectric pickup means mounted for cooperation with the pulse aperture set and adapted to be operated by each pulse aperture thereof for each revolution of the pulse aperture set as the pulse actuating device is rotated by the rotational input to generate pulses for operating the counter and having a number of pulses corresponding to the number of times the pulse apertures operate the pulse generating means, a control member having a plurality of control light apertures arranged to form a control aperture set for selectively controlling the operation of the photoelectric pickup means by the pulse apertures, the pulse aperture set and control aperture set each comprising polarized light apertures of opposite polarity such that the polarized control apertures provide for selectively activating the polarized pulse apertures of the same polarity for operating the photoelectric pickup means.

Claim 31

In a computing device for computing the product of a multiplier and an amount proportional to a rotational input comprising a rotational input, presettable pulse generating means driven by the rotational input presettable for establishing the multiplier and operable to generate a number of pulses in accordance with the multiplier established by the setting of the pulse generating means and the rotation of the rotational input, and a counter connected to be operated by the pulses generated by the pulse generating means for counting the product of the established multiplier and an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input, the improvement wherein the pulse generating means comprises a rotary pulsing device connected to be rotated by the rotational input and having a plurality of rotatable pulse light apertures arranged in a circle to form a pulse aperture set, photoelectric pickup means mounted for cooperation with the pulse aperture set and adapted to be operated by each pulse aperture thereof for each revolution of the pulse aperture set as the pulse actuating device is rotated by the rotational input to generate pulses for operating the counter and having a number of pulses corresponding to the number of times the pulse apertures operate the pulse generating means, a control member having a plurality of control light apertures arranged to form a control aperture set for selectively controlling the operation of the photoelectric pickup means by the pulse apertures, the pulse aperture set and control aperture set each comprising polarized light apertures of opposite polarity such that the polarized control apertures provide for selectively activating the polarized pulse apertures of the same polarity for operating the photoelectric pickup means.

Claim 32

In a computing device according to claim 25 wherein the pulsing device comprises a second said pulse aperture set with one pulse aperture set having one aperture of one polarity and two apertures of the opposite polarity and the other pulse aperture set having two apertures of one polarity and four apertures of the opposite polarity, wherein the control member comprises a second said control aperture set, for said second pulse aperture set and wherein each of said control aperture sets has unpolarized control apertures and control apertures of opposite polarity for selectively activating the pulse apertures to provide with both of the control aperture sets any number of pulses in the sequence of 1-9 for each predetermined rotation of the pulsing device.

Claim 33

A computing device for computing the product of a multiplier and an amount proportional to a rotational input comprising a rotary pulse drum having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulsers arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulser circles to form a plurality of coaxial pulser sets respectively, pulse generating means mounted for cooperation with the pulser sets and to be operated by each pulser of each pulser set cooperating therewith and for each revolution of the pulse drum as the pulse drum is rotated by the rotary input to generate a number of pulses corresponding to the number of times the pulsers operate the pulse generating means, a set of a plurality of multiplier setting wheels encircling the drum for cooperating with the pulser sets, the multiplier setting wheels being coaxially mounted and being spaced along the axis of the pulse drum and being angularly settable for selectively controlling the operation of the pulse generating means by the pulsers for establishing a multiplier and a counter connected to be operated by the pulses generated by the pulse generating means for counting the product of the multiplier established by the wheel set and an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input.

Claim 34

A computing device for computing the product of a multiplier and an amount proportional to a rotational input comprising a rotary pulse drum having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulsers arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulser circles to form a plurality of coaxial pulser sets respectively, pulse generating means mounted for cooperation with the pulser sets and to be operated by each pulser of each pulser set cooperating therewith and for each revolution of the pulse drum as the pulse drum is rotated by the rotary input to generate a number of pulses corresponding to the number of times the pulsers operate the pulse generating means, a set of a plurality of multiplier setting wheels encircling the drum for cooperating with the pulser sets, the multiplier setting wheels being coaxially mounted and being spaced along the axis of the pulse drum and being angularly settable for selectively controlling the operation of the pulse generating means by the pulsers for establishing a multiplier and a counter connected to be operated by the pulses generated by the pulse generating means for counting the product of the multiplier established by the wheel set and an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input.

Claim 35

A computing device for computing the product of a multiplier and an amount proportional to a rotational input comprising a rotary pulse drum having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulsers arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulser circles to form a plurality of coaxial pulser sets respectively, pulse generating means mounted for cooperation with the pulse sets and to be operated by each pulser of each pulser set cooperating therewith and for each revolution of the pulse drum as it is rotated by the rotary input to generate a number of pulses corresponding to the number of times the pulsers operate the pulse generatiNg means, a plurality of multiplier wheel sets each comprising a plurality of angularly settable multiplier wheels, the multiplier setting wheels of the plurality of multiplier wheel sets being mounted coaxially and being spaced along the drum axis and for cooperation with the pulser sets for controlling the operation of the pulse generating means by the pulsers cooperating therewith, a counter connected to the pulse generating means to be operated by the pulses generated thereby, and multiplier selector means for selectively conditioning the wheel sets for controlling the operation of the counter to count the product of a multiplier established by the setting of the selected wheel set and an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input, the selector means comprising means for relatively axially shifting the pulse drum and coaxial multiplier wheels for selectively conditioning the wheel sets for controlling the operation of the counter.

Claim 36

A computing device for computing the product of a multiplier and an amount proportional to a rotational input comprising a rotary pulse drum having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulsers arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulser circles to form a plurality of coaxial pulser sets respectively, pulse generating means mounted for cooperation with the pulse sets and to be operated by each pulser of each pulser set cooperating therewith and for each revolution of the pulse drum as it is rotated by the rotary input to generate a number of pulses corresponding to the number of times the pulsers operate the pulse generatiNg means, a plurality of multiplier wheel sets each comprising a plurality of angularly settable multiplier wheels, the multiplier setting wheels of the plurality of multiplier wheel sets being mounted coaxially and being spaced along the drum axis and for cooperation with the pulser sets for controlling the operation of the pulse generating means by the pulsers cooperating therewith, a counter connected to the pulse generating means to be operated by the pulses generated thereby, and multiplier selector means for selectively conditioning the wheel sets for controlling the operation of the counter to count the product of a multiplier established by the setting of the selected wheel set and an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input, the selector means comprising means for relatively axially shifting the pulse drum and coaxial multiplier wheels for selectively conditioning the wheel sets for controlling the operation of the counter.