Fluid delivery control system

Claim 2

In a fluid dispensing system having at least one fluid delivery subsystem for delivering fluid, the fluid delivery subsystem having accumulating means for accumulating the amount of the fluid delivered and signal transmitter means for transmitting signals representing the accumulated amount in the accumulating means, and a register subsystem having register means for registering the amount of fluid delivered by each fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means connected for receiving the transmitted signals from each delivery subsystem and for operating the register means to register the amount of fluid delivered by the delivery subsystem, the improvement wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predetermined frequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals of a plurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated amount, wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for transmitting clock signals at said predetermined frequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises a shift register connected to be operated by the binary signals and clock signals for receiving the binary in sequence, a BCD storage register connected to be operated by the shift register and clock signals for storing the BCD signal groups in sequence, the register means comprising a plurality of separate register sections for the plurality of BCD signal groups respectively adapted to be activated for registering the amount of the respective BCD signal group, the receiver means further comprising BCD decoder-driver means connected to be operated by the BCD storage register for decoding each BCD signal group in the BCD signal group sequence and for driving all of the separate register sections in accordance therewith, and sequencing means operable by the clock signals for activating the separate register sections in said BCD signal group sequence and in synchronism with the operation of the BCD storage register for being driven by the BCD decoder driver means for sequentially registering the amounts of the respective BCD signal groups stored in the storage register.

Claim 3

In a fluid dispensing system having at least one fluid delivery subsystem for delivering fluid, the fluid delivery subsystem having accumulating means for accumulating the amount of the fluid delivered and signal transmitter means for transmitting signals representing the accumulated amount in the accumulating means, and a register subsystem having register means for registeriNg the amount of fluid delivered by each fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means connected for receiving the transmitted signals from each delivery subsystem and for operating the register means to register the amount of fluid delivered by the delivery subsystem, the improvement wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predetermined frequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals of a plurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated amount, wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for transmitting clock signals at said predetermined frequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises a shift register connected to be operated by the binary signals and clock signals for receiving the binary signals in sequence, a BCD storage register connected to be operated by the shift register and clock signals for storing the BCD signal groups in sequence, the register means comprising a plurality of separate register sections for the plurality of BCD signal groups respectively adapted to be activated for registering the amount of the respective BCD signal group, the receiver means further comprising BCD decoder-driver means connected to be operated by the BCD storage register for decoding each BCD signal group and for driving all of the separate register sections in accordance therewith, and sequencing means operable by the clock signals for activating the separate register sections in sequence for being driven by the BCD decoder-driver means for sequentially registering the amounts of the respective BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, the register sections being selectively operable 0-9 digit indicators and the receiver means comprising blanking means for deactivating the digit indicators when displaying leading uninterrupted zeros, the BCD signal groups of the accumulated amount being transmitted in descending order of significance and the blanking means being operable for inactivating the digit indicators at the beginning of a transmission sequence and to activate the digit indicators when the BCD signal group in the storage register represents a number.

Claim 4

In a fluid dispensing system having at least one fluid delivery subsystem for delivering fluid, the fluid delivery subsystem having accumulating means for accumulating the amount of the fluid delivered and signal transmitter means for transmitting signals representing the accumulated amount in the accumulating means, and a register subsystem having register means for registeriNg the amount of fluid delivered by each fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means connected for receiving the transmitted signals from each delivery subsystem and for operating the register means to register the amount of fluid delivered by the delivery subsystem, the improvement wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predetermined frequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals of a plurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated amount, wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for transmitting clock signals at said predetermined frequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises a shift register connected to be operated by the binary signals and clock signals for receiving the binary signals in sequence, a BCD storage register connected to be operated by the shift register and clock signals for storing the BCD signal groups in sequence, the register means comprising a plurality of separate register sections for the plurality of BCD signal groups respectively adapted to be activated for registering the amount of the respective BCD signal group, the receiver means further comprising BCD decoder-driver means connected to be operated by the BCD storage register for decoding each BCD signal group and for driving all of the separate register sections in accordance therewith, and sequencing means operable by the clock signals for activating the separate register sections in sequence for being driven by the BCD decoder-driver means for sequentially registering the amounts of the respective BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, the register sections being selectively operable 0-9 digit indicators and the receiver means comprising blanking means for deactivating the digit indicators when displaying leading uninterrupted zeros, the BCD signal groups of the accumulated amount being transmitted in descending order of significance and the blanking means being operable for inactivating the digit indicators at the beginning of a transmission sequence and to activate the digit indicators when the BCD signal group in the storage register represents a number.

Claim 5

A fluid dispensing system according to claim 2 wherein the accumulating means is operable for accumulating the amount of fluid delivered to at least one decimal place and wherein the blanking means is operable to activate the digit indicators when the BCD signal group in the storage register corresponds to the first decimal place.

Claim 6

In a fluid dispensing system comprising at least one delivery subsystem having a plurality of separate fluid product delivery systems and adapted to be selectively set for delivering a selected one of the fluid products with the corresponding product delivery system and for being activated for delivering the selected product, and a control subsystem for selectively setting and activating each delivery subsystem, the improvement wherein each delivery subsystem comprises settable product selector means selectively settable for selectively setting the delivery subsystem for delivering a selected one of the fluid products, wherein the control subsystem comprises first manually operable electrical selector switch means for each fluid delivery subsystem and wherein each delivery subsystem comprises second manually operable electrical selector switch means operable for selectively selecting the fluid product to be delivered and deactivating the delivery subsystem and electrical control means operable by the combined operation of the first and second electrical selector switch means for setting the product selector means in accordance with the manual operation of the second electrical switch means and for activating the delivery subsystem for delivering the selected product established by the setting of the product selector means and operable by either the first and second electrical selector switch means for deactivating the delivery subsystem.

Claim 7

In a fluid dispensing system comprising at least one delivery subsystem having a plurality of separate fluid product delivery systems and adapted to be selectively set for delivering a selected one of the fluid products with the corresponding product delivery system and for being activated for delivering the selected product, and a control subsystem for selectively setting and activating each delivery subsystem, the improvement wherein each delivery subsystem comprises settable product selector means selectively settable for selectively setting the delivery subsystem for delivering a selected one of the fluid products, wherein the control subsystem comprises first manually operable electrical selector switch means for each fluid delivery subsystem and wherein each delivery subsystem comprises second manually operable electrical selector switch means operable for selectively selecting the fluid product to be delivered and deactivating the delivery subsystem and electrical control means operable by the combined operation of the first and second electrical selector switch means for setting the product selector means in accordance with the manual operation of the second electrical switch means and for activating the delivery subsystem for delivering the selected product established by the setting of the product selector means and operable by either the first and second electrical selector switch means for deactivating the delivery subsystem.

Claim 8

A fluid dispensing system accOrding to claim 4 wherein the control means is operable by the second electrical switch means to inactivate the fluid delivery subsystem, and wherein the fluid delivery subsystem comprises resettable register means for registering the amount of each fluid delivery and automatically resettable to zero when the fluid delivery subsystem is reactivated for delivering fluid, and wherein the control means comprises means preventing reactivation of the fluid delivery subsystem until the subsystem has been inactive for a predetermined time interval.

Claim 9

A fluid dispensing system according to claim 5 wherein the reactivation preventing means comprises delay means connected to be reset to zero when the fluid delivery subsystem is inactivated and to generate a reset control signal after said predetermined time interval, and wherein the control means further comprises activation means operable by the reset control signal and the second manually operable electrical switch means for operating the product selector means.

Claim 10

A fluid dispensing system according to claim 4 wherein the second manually operable electrical switch means is operable for inactivating the fluid delivery subsystem for delivering fluid, and wherein the fluid delivery subsystem comprises liquid crystal indicator means for indicating the amount of fluid delivered and timer means for inactivating the indicator means after a predetermined time interval after the fluid delivery subsystem is inactivated for delivery fluid.

Claim 11

In a fluid dispensing system having at least one fluid delivery subsystem for delivering fluid, the fluid delivery subsystem having accumulating means for accumulating the amount of the fluid delivered and signal transmitter means for transmitting signals representing the accumulated amount in the accumulating means, and a register subsystem having register means for registering the amount of fluid delivered by each fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means connected for receiving the transmitted signals from each delivery subsystem and for operating the register means to register the amount of fluid delivered by the delivery subsystem, the improvement wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predetermined frequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals of a plurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated amount, wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for transmitting clock signals at said predetermined frequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises a shift register connected to be operated by the binary signals and clock signals for receiving the binary signals in sequence, a BCD storage register connected to be operated by the shift register and clock signals for storing the BCD signal groups in sequence, the register means comprising a plurality of separate register sections for the plurality of BCD signal groups respectively each operable by the BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, the receiver means further comprising sequencing means operable by the clock signals for activating the separate register sections in sequence for sequentially registering the amounts of the respective BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, each of said separate register section being a display section connected to be energized for a time interval according to the time interval the respective BCD signal group is stored in the storage register and the receiver means comprising display inactivating means for automatically inactivating said display sections when the clock signal frequency decreases below a predetermined frequency.

Claim 12

In a fluid dispensing system having at least one fluid delivery subsystem for delivering fluid, the fluid delivery subsystem having accumulating means for accumulating the amount of the fluid delivered and signal transmitter means for transmitting signals representing the accumulated amount in the accumulating means, and a register subsystem having register means for registering the amount of fluid delivered by each fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means connected for receiving the transmitted signals from each delivery subsystem and for operating the register means to register the amount of fluid delivered by the delivery subsystem, the improvement wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predetermined frequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals of a plurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated amount, wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for transmitting clock signals at said predetermined frequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises a shift register connected to be operated by the binary signals and clock signals for receiving the binary signals in sequence, a BCD storage register connected to be operated by the shift register and clock signals for storing the BCD signal groups in sequence, the register means comprising a plurality of separate register sections for the plurality of BCD signal groups respectively each operable by the BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, the receiver means further comprising sequencing means operable by the clock signals for activating the separate register sections in sequence for sequentially registering the amounts of the respective BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, each of said separate register section being a display section connected to be energized for a time interval according to the time interval the respective BCD signal group is stored in the storage register and the receiver means comprising display inactivating means for automatically inactivating said display sections when the clock signal frequency decreases below a predetermined frequency.

Claim 13

A fluid dispensing system according to claim 8 wherein the activating means comprises capacitance means which discharges at a predetermined rate, a single shot circuit operable by the clock signals to charge the capacitance means a predetermined amount for each clock signal, and means operable by the capacitance means for maintaining the display sections inactive below a predetermined charge level of the capacitance means.

Claim 14

In a fluid dispensing system having a plurality of fluid delivery subsystems independently operable for delivering fluid, each fluid delivery subsystem having accumulating means for separately accumulating the cost and volumetric amounts of fluid delivered and signal transmitter means for transmitting signals representing the accumulated amounts in the accumulating means, and a register subsystem having register means for registering the cost and volumetric amounts of fluid delivered by a fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means selectively operable for receiving the transmitted signals from a selected delivery subsystem and for operating the register means to register the cost and volumetric amounts of fluid delivered by the selected delivery subsystem, the improvement wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predetermined frequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals of a plurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated cost and volumetric amounts, wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for transmitting clock signals at said predetermined frequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises a single shift register connected to be operated by the binary signals and clock signals for receiving the binary signals in sequence, a single BCD storage register connected to be operated by the shift register and clock signals for storing the BCD signal groups in sequence, the register means comprising a plurality of separate number indicators for the plurality of BCD signal groups respectively each operable by the BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, the receiver means further comprising sequencing means operable by the clock signals for activating the separate number indicators in sequence for sequentially registering the amounts of the respective BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, the number indicators being incandescent indicators and the receiver means comprising blanking means for inactivating the indicators when the clock frequency is below a predetermined frequency.

Claim 15

In a fluid dispensing system having a plurality of fluid delivery subsystems independently operable for delivering fluid, each fluid delivery subsystem having accumulating means for separately accumulating the cost and volumetric amounts of fluid delivered and signal transmitter means for transmitting signals representing the accumulated amounts in the accumulating means, and a register subsystem having register means for registering the cost and volumetric amounts of fluid delivered by a fluid delivery subsystem and receiver means selectively operable for receiving the transmitted signals from a selected delivery subsystem and for operating the register means to register the cost and volumetric amounts of fluid delivered by the selected delivery subsystem, the improvement wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for repetitively serially transmitting at a predetermined frequency and in a predetermined sequence the binary signals of a plurality of BCD signal groups of the accumulated cost and volumetric amounts, wherein the signal transmitter means is operable for transmitting clock signals at said predetermined frequency, and wherein the receiver means comprises a single shift register connected to be operated by the binary signals and clock signals for receiving the binary signals in sequence, a single BCD storage register connected to be operated by the shift register and clock signals for storing the BCD signal groups in sequence, the register means comprising a plurality of separate number indicators for the plurality of BCD signal groups respectively each operable by the BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, the receiver means further comprising sequencing means operable by the clock signals for activating the separate number indicators in sequence for sequentially registering the amounts of the respective BCD signal groups stored in the storage register, the number indicators being incandescent indicators and the receiver means comprising blanking means for inactivating the indicators when the clock frequency is below a predetermined frequency.