US3845848A

US3845848A - Bill accepting motor fuel dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3845848A
Application number: US00226406A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Robbins
Original assignee: Tokheim Corp
Current assignee: Tokheim Corp
Priority date: 1970-10-27
Filing date: 1972-02-15
Publication date: 1974-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-05
Also published as: JPS5252159Y2; JPS5281599U

Abstract

A fuel dispensing apparatus which is operable through a series of manual and automatic events, to deliver exactly one dollar''s worth of fuel in response to the deposit of a valid $1 bill. The deposit initiates the testing of the validity of the bill, the posting of the credit and prevents a further deposit. Manual actuation of a locked approval means and of a control lever to ''''on'''' position resets the computing register, activates means to supply fuel to the nozzle and prevents further operation of the resetting means. Manual operation of the nozzle will start the flow of fuel. Delivery control means is driven in time with the cost register, reduces the flow rate when the credit approaches zero, and stops flow when it reaches zero. The control means then resets automatically to its initial position and the bill acceptor is conditioned to process another bill. If another bill is deposited, the acceptor is again disabled and another delivery can be made, without approval and control lever actuation, by merely opening the nozzle. Additional $1 deliveries can be made in the last described manner until the control lever has been returned to its initial position but thereafter, the approval and ''''turn on'''' acts must be repeated to secure delivery. A modified form enables a limited number of dollar bills to be deposited at the outset of a dispensing operation, instead of a single bill, and permits the predetermined amount of fuel to be dispensed without interruption.

Description

United States Patent [191 Robbins Nov. 5, 1974 [5 BILL ACCEPTING MOTOR FUEL DISPENSING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Elmer A. Robbins, Fort Wayne, Ind. [73] Assignee: Tokheim Corporation, Fort Wayne,

Ind.

22 Filed: Feb.15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 226,406

Related US Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 84,320, Oct. 27,

197 0, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 194/13, 222/2 [51] Int. Cl. G07f 13/02 [58 Field of Search '194/5, 13; 222/2 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,285,381 11/1966 Robbins 194/5 3,357,531 12/1967 Romanowski 194/13 3,360,094 12/1967 Romanowski ..'l94/l3 3,469,741 9/1969 Bickford.... 222/2 3,550,743 12/1970 Rothchild.... 194/13 3,570,644 3/1971 Booth 194/5 3,587,808 6/1971 Romanowski 194/13 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. Kocovsky a series of manual and automatic events, to deliver exactly one dollars worthof fuel in response to the deposit of a valid $1 bill. The deposit initiates the testing of the validity of the bill, the posting of the credit and prevents a further deposit. Manual actuation of a locked approval means and of a control lever to on position resets the computing register, activates means to supply fuel to the nozzle and prevents further operation of the resetting means. Manual operation of the nozzle will start the flow of fuel. Delivery control.

means is driven in time with the cost register, reduces the flow rate when the credit approaches zero, and stops flow when it reaches zero. The control means then resets automatically to its initial position and the bill acceptor is conditioned to process another bill. If another bill is deposited, the acceptor is again disabled and another delivery can be made, without approval and control lever actuation, by merely opening the nozzle. Additional $1 deliveries can be made in the last described manner until the control lever has been returned to its initial position but thereafter, the approval and turn on acts must be repeated to secure delivery.

A modified form enables a limited number of dollar bills to be deposited at the outset of a dispensing operation, instead of a single bill, and permits the predetermined amount of fuel to be dispensed without interruption.

52 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnnv 51974 3845848 sum 03 or .11

; FlGb IbS BY afman ATTORNEY.

PATENIEDNUV 51914 38 15348 sum 05 or 11 INVENTOR. EZMER A. ROBE/N5 AT TORNEY minimum 5 m sum 07 0F 11 QNN . mNN

EWFZDOU .5 r M /M4" Cw m2 2 m m m E Y 5.

Pmsmm 5 m4 3l845l848 sum 08 or 11 FIRM a H I Y 37 53 3395' 3486 "7B asen was ms INVENTOR. Emma H. Remains Pmmmm m 3.8451848 sum near 11 v INVENTOR. Emma B. Roaaius This application is a continuation-in-part of Applicants Ser. No. 84,320 now abandoned, filed Oct. 27, 1970, for Bill Accepting Motor Fuel Dispensing Apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Various forms of money operated dispensing devices appear in the prior art, most of which are coin operated. In recent years, the increase in fuel price, shortage of coins and other factors have virtually obsoleted such devices and have spurred the development of bill accepting and validating machines. Such devices are basically electric and electro-mechanical in nature and are subject to the rather stringent, explosion proof construction requirements of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., when they are used in hazardous areas. At this time, it is impractical, if not impossible, to build a bill acceptor which is explosion proof. The obvious alternative is to build the dispenser, in which the bill acceptor is to be used, so that the latter can be located in an ordinary (non-hazardous) space, as such space is defined by U. L. regulations. One such space exists above the island of the usual filling station. It extends upwardly from a level which is 48 inches above the service floor, which is usually the driveway of the station. The dispenser lighting equipment such as the fluorescent lamp tubes, ballast, starters, wiring, etc., have been installed, for years, in this particular ordinary space to avoid the necessity for and the cost of rendering them explosion proof, and the validator and its associated equipment, including the stop control apparatus, are located in this space, in the dispenser described herein, for the same reasons.

Another problem related to money operated dispensers is that of securing accurate termination of a prepaid delivery. Whereas, in the near past, delivery terminating within the final nickles worth was acceptable, this tolerance has been reduced to the last half cents worth. The problem has been magnified by the fact that since the price per gallon of fuel has increased materially, the normal speed of operation of the cents decade has increased materially, which in turn makes it more difficult to secure an accurate stop of a delivery. A novel solution for this problem is disclosed herein.

Another problem is posed by the requirement by some fire prevention authorities that no delivery may be made from a dispenser without the supervision of a qualified attendant. The requirement has usually been met by providing a'key locked approval switch which has to be manually closed, momentarily, by the attendant before the dispenser can be turned on and used by a customer and the dispenser is again locked up as soon as the nozzle is returned to its support. Such a system is not particularly objectionable in a dispenser which provides a credit mechanism capable of establishing credit to an amount which approximates the value of the fuel wanted by the customer. The mechanisms needed to store varying and relatively large amounts of credit are relatively complex and expensive, as are bill acceptors for validating multiple denominations of bill. Marketing studies have indicated that the usual purchase is one dollars worth, hence it is not logical to provide a variable credit bank or a multidenominational validator. However, it is necessary to provide some means to enable a customer who wishes to fill up his tank, to do so with a minimum of delay. Accordingly, provision is made to accept a series of one dollar bill deposits once the first transaction has been approved.

In view of the above information, it will be seen that one object of the invention is to provide a dollar bill operated dispenser which has a high degree of flexibility of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a dispenser at a reasonable cost.

A further object is to provide a dispenser of the kind described which will deliver exactly a dollars worth of fuel upon the deposit of a valid dollar bill.

Yet another object is to provide an apparatus which prevents an initial delivery, upon establishment of a first credit, until a manual act of approval has been performed and until the registers have been reset to zero by another manual act. I

Yet another object is to provide an apparatus which will permit additional deliveries to be made in response to additional bill deposits, without performing the acts of approval and resetting, so long as the dispenser has not been restored to its initial condition.

A further object is to provide a dispenser in which the resetting of the registers and the initial delivery of fuel is prevented until the manual act of approval is performed, even though a credit has been established.

It is also an object to provide a dispenser which will prevent the deposit of an additional bill as soon as previously inserted bill is accepted, and which will permit another deposit only'after an existing credit has been exhausted or cancelled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which resets the stop control mechanism upon the exhaustion of credit or upon the restoration of the dispenser to its initial condition.

Still another object is to provide a stop control mechanism which includes a pulser, to terminate dispensing exactly as the prepaid delivery is completed.

A further object is to provide means for resetting the pulser to its initial position each time the money regis-' ter is reset to zero.

Yet another object is to provide a dispenser which is settable so as to operate upon the deposit of a bill or to operate in the normal manner, and in which means are provided to reset the stop control means to its initial condition each time the dispenser is turned off, when it is being used in the normal manner.

Another object is to provide a receptacle to receive all accepted bills, together with a register which is advanced by. one unit each' time a credit is established on the dispenser.

A further object of the invention is to provide a moditied form of dispenser which comprises means for accepting a small number of $1 bills at the start of the dispensing cycle and means for'dispensing such prepaid amount without automatic interruption'of the delivery except when the total amount has been delivered.

Another object of the modified form is to provide means for resetting the stop control mechanism only when the manually operable start-stop means is moved to its stop position while any part of the prepaid amount remains undelivered.

Still another object is to prevent the depositing of more than a predetermined number of bills at the start of the dispensing cycle.

Yet another object of the invention is to prevent the deposit of additional bills after the delivery of a prepaid amount of fuel has been started and until such delivery has been completed.

These and other objects will become apparent from a study of this specification and the drawings which are attached thereto, are made a part thereof and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser showing the nozzle support, manual control lever, approval and selector switches, credit lamp and access door for the bill acceptor.

FIG. 2 is an elevation showing the interior of the dispenser and the arrangement of its components.

FIG. 2A is a view showing the pulser drive and zero adjusting means.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the control valves and connecting fluid passages.

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the top portion of the dispenser viewed from the left of FIG. 2, with the door removed to show the stop control mechanism.

FIG. 4A is a section of the stop mechanism differential and drives.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the stop control mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an elevation, partly in section, of the acceptor, the cash box and the passages there between for guiding an accepted bill.

FIG. 7 is a detail of the computer output drive to the differential.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the top left corner of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8A is a plan view showing the tunnel, the stop mechanism and the locations of various electric components.

FIGS. 9A and 9B constitute a schematic diagram of the system, circuits and components.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the switch actuating mechanism of the power resetting mechanism in its normal condition.

FIG. 10A is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing, in full lines, the actuating mechanism conditioned for subsequently actuating the switches and, in dashed lines, in switch actuated position.

FIG. 11 is an elevation showing the modified form of the stop control mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the mechanism of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing the modified power resetting mechanism for the registers and showing the parts thereof in a number of key positions which they occupy during the resetting cycle.

FIGS. 14 and 14A constitute the wiring diagram for the modified apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORM Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, numeral 1 indicates a motor fuel dispenser which comprises a top housing 3 within which are disposed a bill acceptor 211, a cash drawer 171, a stop control mechanism 2 and various electrical parts and circuits which are described in detail below. Since all of the electrical equipment in this space is more than 48 inches above the bottom of the dispenser base 5, it occupies an ordinary or nonhazardous space and is not subject to Underwriters Laboratories requirements for explosion proof construction. Other components such as the pulser 77, the

solenoid valves

57,61, motor 11, etc., which are disposed at a lower level, must be of explosion proof construction.

As seen in FIG. 2, base 5 has members 7 fixed to it, which support a box-like frame 9. The electric motor 11, a computing register 13, and a power reset mechanism 15 are mounted in this frame. The computer is of the type disclosed in Pat. no. 2,814,444 issued to Bliss on Nov. 26, 1957, which comprises quantity and value registers 17 and 19 respectively, which are resettable to zero by the uni-directional rotation of a resetting shaft 299, through substantially one revolution.

The power resetting mechanism 15 is provided to produce such rotation of the resetting shaft and to perform other switch setting and control functions, and is preferably of the type disclosed in Pat. No. 3,187,945 issued to Wright et a]. on June 8, 1965. The structures of this mechanism which are essential to the understanding of the invention, are shown in FIGS. 10 and 10A hereof. Referring to said Figures, 69 is a manual start-stop lever which is in its vertical, FIG. 10 position when the dispenser is inoperative, and in a substantially horizontal position (FIG. 10A) during delivery.

Shaft 70 connects lever 69 to rotate cam 283 which, upon rotation to its FIG. 10A position, closes normally open switch S1, which is in circuit with normally closed switch S2,a and the resetting motor 253. This motor drives resetting shaft 299 and a cycle control cam 284 which is fixed to 299. This cam actuates a follower lever 286 which rotates freely on shaft 288. The arm 287 of the follower is biased by spring 289 to hold the follower in contact with its cam.

A switch actuating lever 291, also freely rotatable on shaft 288, is held against a stop 292 by spring 293, and the free end of the lever has a cam profile which is adapted to depress the actuator button of switches S2, 3 & 4 when the lever is rotated counterclockwise to its actuated position.

An interponent 296 is pivotally mounted at one end on a pin 295 fixed in lever 291 while its other end is bifurcated. The upper branch or arm has its lower end corner notched at 294 to receive an ear 290 formed on the follower, and spring 298 biases the interponent clockwise to urge the notch into engagement with the ear. The lower arm 297 projects into the path of cam 283.

These parts occupy their FIG. 10 position when the dispenser is in normal inoperative condition and it should be noted that ear 290 is free of the notch.

When lever 69 is rotated to its on position, cam 283 closes switch S1 and also clears arm 297 of the interponent so that spring 298 will hold the lower edge of the upper arm thereof in contact with the upper edge of ear 290.

Subject to conditions described below, the closure of S1, with S2 in its initial position, energizes motor 253 which drives the resetting shaft 299 through one revolution. During the first portion of such revolution, it actuates the clutch mechanism of the computer to disconnect the register wheels from the count input and transfer mechanisms and connects them to the resetting gear train of the computer. Simultaneously, the follower 286 descends the cam 284 to the full line position in FIG. 10A, in which the ear 290 clears the lower edge of the upper interponent arm and the latter drops to engage notch 294 and ear 290.

During the next phase of rotation of 299, it is connected to drive the gear train of the computer so that any of the register wheels which are not in their zero indicating positions will be driven to such positions in upcounting direction. Further rotation of the shaft disconnects the shaft from the gear train and shifts the clutching mechanism to its initial position to reclutch the wheels to the count input means and disconnect them from the resetting train. Thereafter, or simultaneously therewith, the follower 286 is rotated counterclockwise by cam 284 until it reaches the dashed line position of FIG. A.v This rotation of the follower is transmitted by the interponent, to the switch cam lever 291 which, during the final portion of its motion, shifts the switches S2, 3, & 4 from their a contacts (FIG. 9) to their b contacts. The opening of the switch S2,a interrupts the circuit of motor 253 to stop shaft 299 in substantially its initial position, to complete the single revolution.

While the functions of the switches S2, 3, & 4 will be described in detail below, it should be noted that the closing of S2,b causes the operation of flow supplying means such as the pump motor 11 and certain valves so that liquid can be dispensed.

When dispensing is completed, lever 69 is returned to its initial position. This restores cam 283 to its FIG. 10 position to reopen S1 and raises the arm 297, which in turn rotates the interponent counterclockwise about its pivot 295, which disengages the notch 294 from ear 290. Cam lever 291, being thus freed from the follower, will be rotated by spring 293 to its initial position and permits switches S2, 3, & 4 to return to their a contacts, to complete the cycle. It should be noted that the switches S2, 3, & 4 cannot be returned to their b contacts without repeating the above described cycle which results in resetting the registers to zero.

A shelf 21 is fixed to members 7, above and parallel to the base, and supports a pump and

air separator unit

23, 25, which isdriven by motor 11 through belt 27. The pump inlet is connected by suction line 28 to a tank (not shown) and pressurized fuel passes from the pump, through the separator to meter 29. The measured fuel then flows to the control valves, indicated generally by 31, through hose 33 to the manually operated valve 35 in the nozzle 37.

As shown in FIG. 3 the meter discharge pipe communicates with a chamber 41 of the main valve body 43. The discharge chamber 45 of the body communicates with chamber 41 through a port 47 which is controlled by a poppet valve 49 attached to a piston 51 which works in a cylinder 53. A small, fixed orifice 55 bypasses the piston. Chamber 45 discharges into the hose. A light spring 46 in the cylinder acts on the piston to urge it and valve 49 in the valve closing direction.

A normally closed pilot valve 57 is connected to a solenoid 59 which opens it upon energization. The inlet of 57 communicates with cylinder 53 above the piston and its outlet is connected with chamber 45. Thus when the pilot valve is closed, the opposing fluid pressures acting'on the piston are balanced through the orifice, so that the main valvewill be closed by the spring. When the pilot valve is open, and the nozzle valve is also open, liquid will be bledfrom the cylinder more rapidly than it can be replaced through the orifice. A differential pressure will thus be applied to the piston in the va'lve opening direction, which will'overcome the spring and cause the piston to open the main valve.

Since the magnitude of the pressure differential will increase and decrease with the magnitude of the flow through the nozzle valve, the main valve will follow or modulate the flow to the nozzle in accordance with the setting of the nozzle valve.

A normally closed slow flow valve 61 is connected to be opened by another solenoid 63, when the latter is energized. This valve is connected directly between the

chambers

41 and 45 so as to bypass the main valve. When open, it permits flow to the hose at a rate of about 4 to 5 GPM. This valve is closed to terminate the prepaid deliveries, as will be described below, and contributes much to the accuracy of the delivery.

A nozzle support 65 and boot 67 are mounted on the frame adjacent the manually operable control lever 69. The lever is mounted on a shaft 70 of the power reset which can be rotated about 90. The lever occupies a vertical, depending position (full lines FIG. 1) when the dispenser is in its initial or off condition and is rotated counterclockwise to its dashed line position to cause the dispenser cycle to start, when it is set for normal operation, and to condition it for starting when it is operated under the control of the bill acceptor. When the lever is in its rotated or horizontal position, it overlies the nozzle support so as to prevent the nozzle from being mounted thereon and it must be rotated clockwise far enough to stop dispensing and to insure the institution of another resetting cycle, before it is sufficiently clear of the nozzle support to permit the nozzle to be hung thereon.

A door 71 is hinged by 73, along itstop edge, on the end wall 179 of housing 3 (FIG. 6), so as to close the openings 221 therein, through which a bill may be inserted in and returned from the bill acceptor 211. e As shown in FIG. 2, a shaft connects the meter to drive the computer 13 and thereby, its gallons and cost registers 17, 19, in accordance with the amount of fuel delivered. The gallons delivered are continuously multiplied by the price per gallon, so that the cost register shows the exact value of the fuel delivered at any stage of the delivery.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, a pulse initiating mechanism 77, usually referred to as a pulser, is suitably mounted on a side frame 13A of the computer 13. The

penny wheel 6 of register 19 carries a gear 4 fixed to it, which meshes with a gear 4A, of the samesize, and which rotates freely on the shaft 8A of the pulser. A lug 20 extends axially from the outer face of gear 4A, par

allel to shaft 8A but eccentric to it, so as to cross the path of a lever 20A which has its hub pinned to. the shaft. The lever is preferably disposed tangentially with respect to the shaft. A screw 18 is adjustably mounted in the lug so as to extend substantially normal to the lever for abutting engagement therewith. Thus as the wheel 6 rotates in a count increasing direction, gear 4 will rotate clockwise (viewed from the left of FIG. 2A), gear 4A will rotate oppositely, so that lug 20 and screw 18 will drive lever 20A and shaft 8A in a counterclockwise direction.

Shaft 8A carries gear 4B which meshes with gear 4C I and drives it in the ratio of 5 to 1. Gear 4C is fixed to shaft 8, which also carries a two pole magnet 10 fixed to it. A reed switch S13 is mounted on the pulser casing so that the magnet poles will alternately pass the armature 12 of the switch, and since the switch is normally open, it will be closed and opened once in response to the passage of each pole. Due to the. ratio of gears 48 and 4C, movement of the penny wheel through 36, which is an advance of 1 cent of the count, produces a 180 rotation of the magnet and therefore one complete cycle of the switch.

When the pulser is initially installed on the dispenser, the gears 4 and 4A are brought into mesh with a pole in position to hold the switch just closed and with the zero indicators 26, 26A in alignment. Thereafter, during dispensing, the one pole will pass the armature so that the switch will open, as the count moves toward the first of 1 cent, and the second pole will close the switch when the indicators 26, 26A for numeral 1 coincide. If the desired closing of the switch is not obtained, the time of closing can be advanced or retarded by moving the screw 18 into or out of the lug 20, as will be described below. Thus it is seen that the switch will be closed once for every cents worth of liquid dispensed, exactly when the dispensing thereof is completed.

In the computing register disclosed, the indicating wheels or dials are reset in the same direction as that in which they are driven during counting. Thus if the penny wheel is at zero when the registers are reset, it will not be moved during a reset cycle. However, if it is not at zero, it will be moved far enough to move it to zero. The magnet will also be moved in the latter case, so that it occupies its initial position, and every full dispensing cycle will be started with the magnet occupying its proper position.

A shaft 79 (FIG. 2 8L 7) extends from the computer and forms a part of the drive train for the stop control mechanism. It is driven in time with the cents wheel and pulser during delivery, but is not reset therewith because it is driven by the money output of the computer rather than by the cents wheel.

Shaft 79 is coupled at 80 to the input shaft 89 of a bevel gear set 81 which comprises a bearing bracket 85, mounted on the dispenser frame by bracket 101. Shaft 89 has bearing in the depending arm 87 of bracket 85 and drives gear 91 which meshes with gear 99 fixed to output shaft 95, which bears in arm 93 of bracket 85. Differential drive shaft 83 is driven by shaft 95 through coupling 97.

Referring to FIGS. 4 & 4A, shaft 83 extends upwardly into housing 3 and is coupled at 105 to an extension shaft 102 which rotates in suitable bearings in

brackets

107 and 109 which are fixedly mounted on the dispenser top plate 165 and the top of the cash drawer tunnel 167 respectively. A gear 111, fixed to 102 near its upper end, but below bracket 109, meshes with the input gear 113 of a differential unit 116 (FIG. 5). Gear 113 is connected by a hollow shaft 118, which rotates in a bearing in the differential case 128, to the sun gear 114. The other sun gear 127 is fixed to shaft 115 which extends upwardly through

gears

114, 113 and their shaft 118, and through a bearing in bracket 109, to terminate in a stepped hub 119 which is fixed to it. A control disc 117 is fixed to the lowest step of the hub.

An electric motor 121 is mounted on and below bracket 107 and its output shaft extends upwardly therethrough and has gear 125 fixed to it, to mesh with gear 129, which is fixed to the differential casing 128, concentric with, but free of shaft 115.

One of more planetary pinions 131 are rotatably mounted on shafts 132, which are fixed in the differential case 128, parallel to and eccentrically of shaft 115. These pinions mesh with both sun gears. Thus when shaft 102 is driven and the motor is stationary, gears 111, 113 and shaft 118 will drive sun 114, which in turn rotates pinions 131 to drive sun 127, shaft and disc 117 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 5. When shaft 102 is stopped and motor 121 runs, gears 125, 129 rotate the case 128. The pinion shafts orbit about stopped sun 114 and drive sun 127, along with shaft 115 and disc 117, in the same clockwise direction.

A pair of radially extending,

delivery stop cams

135, 137 are rotatably mounted on the second step 133 of hub 119 (FIG. 4 & 5). Cam 135 lies above, but in contact with 137 and each is provided with an arcuate slot, 139, 141 respectively, near their outer ends and centered on the axis of the hub. A spacer 143 is disposed between cam 137 and the disc, and a screw 145 is passed through both slots and the spacer and enters a tapped hole 147 in the disc. The outer ends of the cams project beyond the periphery of the disc and are adapted to actuate a roller 149 which is mounted on the actuating lever 151 of a normally open stop switch 153. The parts are shown in their initial positions in FIGS. 5 & 9B, although in FIG. 9B the cams and disc are viewed from the bottom of FIG. 4 rather than from the top as in FIG. 5. It should be noted that the cams will have to be rotated the better part of a revolution before the cam 135 will engage the switch actuator roller 149.

The screw 145, when loosened, permits the cam 135 to be adjusted so as to advance or retard the time of switch closure while cam 137 may be similarly adjusted to change the time of reopening the switch. The screw, when tightened, will preserve the adjustment.

A flow control cam 148 is carried by an arm 152 rotatably mounted on step 133, above and in contact with cam 135. The cam 148 projects beyond the periphery of the disc from the upwardly bent end of 152 which position is at a higher level than that of cam 135 so that it cannot actuate switch 153. The roller 161 of a normally closed switch 163 is mounted in the path of cam 148 and out of the path of cam 135. The arm 152 is also slotted at 154 toreceive screw 155 which also passes through a spacer 157 and into a tapped hole in the disc.

It should bev noted that the leading edge of cam 148 is advanced further, with respect to its switch roller 161 than cam 135 is with respect to its roller 149, so that switch 163 will be actuated before 153, as the disc 117 rotates (FIG. 5). Briefly stated, the opening of switch 163 deenergizes pilot valve solenoid 59 to close valves 57 and 49, leaving valve 61 open to deliver liquid at a slow rate. Thereafter switch 153 closes preparatory to transmitting the pulse from pulser 77 when it occurs, to means which will cause the closure of valve 61 to terminate the flow and perform other functions described below. Both of the switches are mounted on the bracket 109.

As seen in FIG. 7, the dispenser top plate 165 which serves as a baseplate for mounting the mechanisms which are located under the cover 3, is fastened to the domeplate 103 of the dispenser at various points by spacer fasteners 166. Also, as seen in FIGS. 4, 8A, and 8 the tunnel 167 is of sheet metal and has flanges 169 bent outwardly to lie flat on the baseplate 165 to which they are spotwelded, to complete the tunnel to receive the cash drawer 171.

The cover 3 comprises a top wall (FIG. 4) having downwardly diverging side walls 173 and one end wall 179 (FIGS. 1 & 6) which defines the bill guide 217 receiving openings 221. The opposite end 193 of the cover (FIGS. 2 & 4) is open. A number of angle pieces 183 removably connect the cover to the plate 165 by means of bolts or other suitable fastenings 184.

A bracket 189 is mounted on the tunnel member and supports a panel 181, above and extending transversely of the tunnel member. The panel supports relays K1 through K5, a calibration switch S11, a 24

volt circuit breaker

242, 24 volt test points TF1 and'TPZ which are connected to the opposite ends of the 24 volt secondary coil of transformer 237, a 1

volt circuit breaker

241 and 115 volt test points TF3 and TP4, which lead to the neutral line 106 adjacent the coil of relay K6 (FIG. 9) and to the hot main 110 adjacent the breaker 241. These components will be described further in connection with the circuitry.

The end 193 of the housing 3, (FIGS. 4, 8, & 8A) is provided with a removable door 195 which is recessed in the end of the housing. The panel 181, the end of the tunnel and that of the cash box are exposed upon opening and removal of the door. Axially aligned, horizontal hinge pins 197 are fixed to the inner side of the door so as to be offset inwardly from the inward side of the members 199 fixed to the upper side of plate 165. A

key lock 201 is mounted on the door and has a bolt 203 Y which is moved into and out of engagement with a stop 204 fixed to the housing, to lock the door in place. The door has an inwardly extending tapped boss 205 cast on its inner face, which projects horizontally toward the end of the cash box 171. A screw 207, provided with a nut 209, is screwed into the boss and is adjusted so that the head of the screw presses on the end of the box, when the door is closed, so as to hold the box in proper engagement with the bill acceptor 211 which is disposed at the opposite end of the box (FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 6, the acceptor has a bill discharge opening 213 disposed to align with a bill receiving opening 215 in the adjacent end of the cash box, to insure that all accepted bills are deposited in the box.

The acceptor-validator mechanism may be any one of a number which are available on the open market. It is preferred to use the device made by National Rejectors, Inc., Model 34-03-001.

This machine has a slotted bill insert guide 217 and a slotted bill return guide 219 disposed at the end opposite to that facing the cash box, so that the guides lie within the aperatures 221 formed in the end 179 of the switch 229 is mounted on the end 179 of housing 3, ad-

jacent the door 71.This switch may be set to either one of two positions by means of a key which may be withdrawn after such setting. In one position, theswitch establishes circuitry which enables the dispenser to be operated in the normal manner, by removing the nozzle from support 65 and turning the manual control lever to its on position. In the other position of the switch, no

delivery can be made until a bill has been inserted, 7

tested and found to be acceptable.

A second key operated switch 231, referred to as the Approval Switch, is mounted above and in like manner to switch 229. This switch is adapted to be operated by turning the key in the lock to close the switch, which returns to its open condition when the key is returned to its initial position and is withdrawn from the lock. This switch must be used to pre-condition the dispenser for operation in response to the deposit of a bill. It performs no function when the dispenser is being operated in the normal mode.

The station attendant retains possession of both of the keys.

The approval switch is used primarily to compel the attendant to be present at the dispenser before the starting of the dispenser so as to ascertain whether the potential customer who has shown his intention of using the dispenser is actually capable of serving his'vehicle in a safe manner. In some jurisdictions, the authorities do not require such approval and in such cases the switch and its corresponding circuitry may be omitted, as will be discussed below.

A signal lamp 233 is also mounted on the end 179 of the housing 3, above the approval switch, which lights when a bill has been inserted andaccepted to show that a credit exists on the machine. It is extinguished when such credit is exhausted by delivery of the prepaid amount of fuel or upon resetting of the stop mechanism, with a credit still posted, in response to the return of the manual control lever 69 to its initial position, which cancels any remaining credit.

Various other components are mounted within the housing 3, either on the base plate 165 or on various brackets. As shown in FIG. 8A, a terminal strip 235 is mounted on the plate; a VAC transformer 237 is mounted on the tunnel along with the previously mentioned relays, and on the leg 181 of bracket 189, a socket 239 is mounted to receive the plug which carries current to the bill acceptor 211. The pump motor relay K6 is also mounted on the tunnel beside the transformer. With this description of the basic components of the system, reference is made to FIGS. 9A and 9B which disclose the circuitry provided to connect the components so as to accomplish the necessary functions. WIRING DIAGRAM (FIGS. 9A and 9B) The electrical system is shown in its initial condition in FIGS. 9A and 9B. Selector switch 229 is set for operation of the system in the prepaid delivery mode, the system is energized and the bill acceptor 211 is running so that a bill can be deposited, but no credit has been established.

The dispenser is in its initial, inoperative condition with the control lever 69 in its vertical off position and the nozzle is on its support.

Valves

49, 57, and 61 are closed and pump motor 11 is deenergized. The

registers

17 and 19 show the gallonage and cost of the previous sale. Disc 117 of the stop mechanism has been reset to its starting position so that the

cams

135, 137, and 148 are in the positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 9B.

Power is supplied to the system from a 115 VAC main although, if desired, 230 VAC may be used for some circuits, such as that for the pump motor, if 230 VAC components are provided in such circuits. A second voltage 24 VAC is also provided for use in some circuits. The hot 115 VAC line is designated by

numerals

110 and 110A throughout the diagram while the corresponding neutral has two

braches

106 and 108. In the 24 VAC system, the hot line is designated by numeral 24 while the ground lines are indicated generally by numeral 22, with suffices such as A, B, C, etc., identifying branches thereof. In a 230 volt pump motor circuit, line 108 will be connected to another hot main instead of to neutral.

The 24 volt supply is provided by the transformer 237 which has its primary coil connected at one end to line 110 which contains a circuit breaker 241, and at its other end directly with neutral branch 106. Its secondary is connected to

lines

24 and 22 as already indicated.

BlLL DEPOSIT & ACCEPTANCE When a $1 bill has been deposited in the acceptor and has been tested and found to be valid, the machine closes its switch 243 momentarily and reopens it, to close:

CIRCUIT A from 24V ground 22 through pins A of validator socket 239, switch 243, pins B, vend line 245, branch 245A, coil of relay K1 to 24V main 24.

CIRCUIT B in parallel with Circuit A, from line 245 through 2458, the coil of pulse actuated credit register 247 to main 24.

CIRCUIT C (Also parallel) from 245 through 245C, credit lamp 233 to 24. Since the above circuits would be reopened by the reopening of the bill validating switch 243, the normally open contacts A,b of relay K1 which were closed upon its energization, are used to establish a substitute ground.

CIRCUIT A1 from line 245 at 245A, through 245D, K1 contacts A,b), line 249, normally closed contacts A,a of relay K5, branch ground 22A to 22. Thus Circuits A, B, & C will be held energized.

The motor 212 which drives the bill acceptor is normally held energized by CIRCUIT D from ground 22, through 267, pins C, motor 212, pins D, line 255A which includes the normally closed parallel contacts 261 of relay K2, line 255, contacts a, S7 of the selector switch 229 to line 24. This circuit is broken, to stop motor 212 so as to prevent the deposit of another bill, upon the energization of relay K1, the normally open contacts 3,1: of which are now closed to establish CIRCUIT E from main 24 through selector switch contacts S7, 21), lines 255, 2558, K1 contacts B,b, line, 257, 257A, coil of relay K2 to ground at 22B. This relay opens switch 261 to de-energize Circuit D and motor 212.

The energization of relay Kl also energizes one leg of a circuit which will be extended byadditional means to cause the operation of the register resetting motor 253. This leg is defined as CIRCUIT F1 from line 110 through line 110A at K], its contacts D,b, line 251, connectors 12 of terminal strip 235, normally closed contacts S2,a of the power reset mechanism, to the normally open switch S1, thereof which will be closed when the manual control lever 69 of the dispenser is rotated from its vertical off position to its horizontal on position (FIG. 1). It will thus be seen that operation of this lever to its on position without the establishment of a credit, will produce no results because Circuit F l is not energized. Assuming that F 1 has been energized, the closure of S1 by operating lever 69 will not start the resetting motor 253 but merely applies power to the second leg,

CIRCUIT F2 from now closed switch S1 through motor 253, line 251A to the normally open contacts A,b, of relay K3, which is the approval relay and which must be energized by closure of the approval switch 231, the contacts of which are normally open. This closure is momentarily effected by the authorized attendant by means of his key. Such closure energizes CIRCUIT G from 24V ground 22B through the coil of K3, line 2578 which includes the approval switch contacts normally closed contacts a,B, of relay K4, to line 257 which is supplied from main 24 through S7,a, lines 255, 255B and contacts B,b of K1. The energization of K3 closes its contacts D,b to close a parallel CIRCUIT H around the approval switch to hold relay K3 energized after switch 231 is opened. K3 when energized also closes its contacts A,b to complete CIRCUIT F which includes circuits F1 and F2 and the final leg through K3 contacts A,b to the 115 VAC neutral 106.

It should be noted that the manual operations of the approval switch, the manual lever 69 and the insertion of a bill may be performed in any order, but that no action of the power resetting mechanism will occur until the entire Circuit F is completed. Further, until the resetting mechanism has been operated through its cycle, there can be no delivery of fuel since with S2 in its a position the valves remain closed and motor 11 remains unenergized.

Assuming that the delivery has been approved and a credit has been established and that the lever is now moved to its on position, such action will start the resetting motor 253 which will reset the

registers

17 and 19 to zero and will also reset the pulsing switch to its initial position, if such action is necessary. As the resetting is completed, the motor reconnects the registers to be driven by the meter and opens switches S2,a and S4,a as it closes S2,b, S3,b. Opening S2,a opens Circuit F to stop motor 253 while the opening of S4,a opens a circuit leg P1 which supplies power for a calibrating function which is described below.

The closing of switch S2,b switches the power which is being supplied through the Circuit leg F1 into CIRCUIT I which extends from the switch through line 263 to the coil of the pump motor relay K6, which is connected to neutral line 106. The energization of K6 moves its A and B contacts to engage their respective b contacts so as to energize CIRCUITJ from Main through contacts A,b, line 256, pump motor 11, line 256A,

contacts

8,1; to neutral 108. The pump motor is thus started. Switch S2,b also energizes a branch 263A from line 263, which is a part of CIRCUIT K from said switch through 263, 263A, the solenoid 63 of the slow flow valve 61, and line 269 to 106. The valve is thereby opened. Switch S2,b also energizes another branch 263B from line 263 which is CIRCUIT L which extends from the switch and line 263 through line 263B, which includes selector switch S8,a, and the normally closed switch 163 of the control mechanism 2, and continues on through line 263C to the solenoid 59 of the pilot valve 57 and terminates in neutral 106. The pilot valve is thus opened and the main valve 49 will open as soon as the nozzle valve is opened by the customer to supply his vehicle tank.

13 The above described closing of switch S3,b by the resetting motor 253 establishes a I CIRCUIT M from main 24 through selector switch contacts S7,a, lines 255, 2558, Bb contacts of K1,

lines

257, 257C, resetting mechanism contacts S3,b, line 257D, the coil of relay K4 to ground 223. The energization of K4 closes its contacts AJ) and D,b and opens B,a. The closing of contacts A,b establishes a holding CIRCUIT N from ground 22B through the coil of K4, K4-b,A line 258, the normallly closed contacts B,a of relay K5 to main 24.

The opening of the K4, B,a contacts breaks the holding Circuit G for the approval relay K3 which drops out to break its holding Circuit H as well as the last leg of Circuit F, so that the reset motor 253 cannot be restarted by manipulating control lever 69 to close switch S1. Once the lever is returned to its initial position, the entire starting cycle of events must be carried out to secure another delivery, so long as the selector switch remains in the prepaid delivery mode position.

The closure of K4 contacts D,b extends a circuit leg for the reset motor 121 for subsequent operation as described below.

DELIVERY OF FUEL & CREDIT COUNTDOWN With the system conditioned as described above, motor 11 is operating,

valves

57, 61 are open, registers 17 and 19 are zeroized and the pulser and the

control mechanism cams

135, 137, and 148 are in their starting positions, so that opening of the nozzle valve will start delivery and valve 49 will open to a degree corresponding to the nozzle valve setting.

At the end of the delivery of every pennys worth of fuel, the pulsing switch S13 will close to initiate a pulse, but such pulse will not be effective because the pulsing circuit is held open by the normally open stop switch 153, which is actuated by

cams

135, 137. The amount of fuel delivered and the cost thereof is accumulated on the

registers

17, 19.

The control cam 148 is set so that is will open switch 163 when about 93 cents worth of fuel has been dispensed. The timing of this event is not critical and can be varied by loosening screw 155 and adjusting the cam 148. This event must occur far enough in advance of the closing of switch 153 to insure that only the slow flow valve is open when switch 153 closes.

The opening of switch 163 breaks Circuit L of the pilot valve solenoid 59 so that the pilot valve 57 closes and in turn causes the main valve 49 to close, regardless of the nozzle setting. Flow continues slowly through valve 61.

During, but before the end of the delivery of the last pennys worth of fuel, the stop cam 135 closes switch 153, which closes the ground leg of the pulsing CIRCUIT P which extends from main 24 at the selector contacts S7,a through

lines

255, 281, terminal 14 of strip 235, to one side of the as yet open pulsing switch S13, and from its other side through line 281A, to switch 153, then through line 281B and the coil of relay K5 to ground 22B.

When the pulsing switch S13 is closed by the pulsing mechanism 77, it energizes Circuit P so that relay K5 is operated to open its a contacts and close the D,b contacts.

The opening of its A,a contacts breaks the substitute groundCircuit A1 todeenergize relay K1. The opening of the K1-D,b contacts breaks Circuit leg F1 thereby cutting off the supply of power to Circuit K of the slow flow valve which closes and terminates the flow of fuel. The same interruption deenergizes Circuit I to the relay K6 which opens Circuit J of the motor 11 so that the pump stops. Circuit L to the pilot valve is similarly interrupted although it has already been interrupted by switch 163.

The opening of K1 contacts B,b breaks Circuit E through the coil of K2 to allow its switch 261 to reclose Circuit D and restart the bill acceptor motor 212.

The energization of K5 opened its contacts B,a in the holding Circuit N for relay K4, so that it has also dropped out. K5 also closed its contacts D,b to line 285 and since K1 has closed its contacts D,a as it dropped out, a

CIRCUIT Q is established from main A, through Kl-D,b, 285, K5-D,b, line 271B and motor 121 to neutral 106.

This motor starts and drives the differential mechanism 116 so as to rotate the disc 117 and its cam in the same direction as they were driven during countdown. The disc will rotate only as far as is required to allow the roller 149 of switch 153 to ride off of cam 137 and permit the switch to open, thereby breaking Circuit P and the bill acceptor is operating, the customer now has the choice of inserting another bill or of terminating the transaction by returning the control lever to its off position and hanging up the nozzle.

Assuming that another $1 bill is deposited and accepted, the vend switch 243 will be momentarily closed to energize Circuit A and relay K1, which shifts its movable contacts A, D & B to their respective b contacts. Closing of the A,b contacts reestablishes the substitute ground Circuit A1 to hold K1 energized. The counter Circuit B and credit lamp Circuit C are ener gized and held simultaneously with Circuits A and A1. Circuit B advances the counter 247 by one digit, which represents the accepted $1 bill.

The closing of the K1-B,b contacts again energizes Circuit E to pull in K2 which opens switch 261 and stops the bill acceptor motor 212, so that no further deposits can be made. The same K1 contacts extend power to the approval switch contacts via Circuit G but the operation of this switch is not needed because the control lever 69 was not returned to its off position, so that the power reset switches S2, S3, & S4 remain closed on their b contacts. Thus the closure of Kl-D,b contacts will reenergize Circuit F1 to supply power directly to switch S2,!) and through it to Circuits I, K & L. The motor relay K6 is energized by Circuit I and closes its contacts to energize the Circuit J and thereby starts the pump motor 11. Circuit K reopens the slow flow valve by energizing its solenoid 63 and since cam switch 163 is closed, Circuit L energizes solenoid 59 to open the pilot valve 57. Thus the dispensing of the sec ond dollars worth of fuel may proceed upon opening of the nozzle valve.

. It should also be noted that the closure of K1-B,b has also closed Circuit M to energize relay K4, which, in turn, by shifting its A & D contacts to their respective b positions, has closed Circuit N to hold K4, has reopened the approval switch Circuit G and has conditioned a second power supply line for the cam reset motor, Circuit Q1, which will be described below.

Accordingly, upon opening of the nozzle valve, the main valve 49 will open and the delivery will continue as described above, with the

counters

17 and 19 continuing to accumulate the fuel dispensed, the only difference being that, since they have not been reset, they will show the instantaneous totals of both the previous and the current delivery.

Assuming that the delivery continues to completion, the flow will be terminated in the same manner as in the previously described delivery and the system will be in the same condition as it was at the start of the delivery which has just been described, and the customer is provided with the same options as before.

If it is assumed that he elects to deposit another $1 bill but that the vehicle tank cannot accept the amount of fuel to be delivered, the system is again activated by the pulse from the bill acceptor and the relays and circuits will be established in the same way as described in connection with the second deposit, so that dispensing will occur in response to the opening of the nozzle valve. The

registers

17 and 19 will operate to show the instantaneous total of the three deliveries, since they have not been zeroized.

Since the nozzle 37 is provided with an automatic shutoff mechanism of the usual kind, the valve 35 will close as soon as the fuel level in the tank rises sufficiently to immerse the nozzle tip. By withdrawing the nozzle somewhat from the tank and operating the nozzle valve, the tank can be filled full, but since the full amount of fuel cannot be delivered, the customer merely turns the control lever off and hangs up the nozzle. Since the delivery was not terminated by the

stop cams

135, 137 and 148 and their

switches

153 and 163, relay K4 was not energized and all of the relays as well as

valve solenoids

59, 63 and motor 11 remain energized so long as lever 69 remains in its on position. However, upon the return of the lever to its off position, the switches S1 through S4 of the resetting mechanism are returned to their initial positions with the a contacts closed and cannot thereafter move out of such positions until the resetting motor 253 isagain energized to reset the registers.

Switches S1 and S2,b are opened and with the latter open, Circuits I, K & L are opened to drop relay K6 which opens pump motor Circuit J; to deenergize solenoid 63 which allows the slow flow valve to close and to deenergize the solenoid 59 to allow the pilot valve to close, if it was open.

Since K5 is not energized, the cam resetting motor 121 cannot be energized in the previously described manner by Circuit Q because contacts Kl-D,a and K5- D,b are open. However, the dropping of relay K6 closes a CIRCUIT Q1 from main 110 through K6 contacts A,a, line 27], K4 contacts b,D (which are held closed because K4 is energized), line 271A, KS-a, D contacts, line 2718 and cam reset motor 121 to neutral 106. The disc 117 is thus rotated in the same direction as before but since the pulse switch S13 may be open, the previous source of power for Circuit P, which is needed to stop 12], is not reliable and a new one must be provided. The original source was from selector S7,a and lines 255, 281, through pulse switch S13, 281A to terminal 9 of 235, and the rest of Circuit P, to energize K5. The new source CIRCUIT P1 extends from the 24 volt main 24, through reset mechanism contacts S4,a, which were closed by lever 69 upon return to off position, and line 281C and said terminal 9, to lines 281A switch 153, 281B and the rest of Circuit P.

So long as cam switch 153 remains open, the motor 121 remains energized through Circuit 01. However, when cam closes 153, K5 is immediately energized through Circuits P1 and P, and causes the relays K1, K2 and K4 to be dropped, K3 and K6, having been previously dropped, do not change.

The energization of K5 closes contacts D,b while dropping of K1 closes its contact D,a, thereby breaking Circuit 01 and establishing Circuit Q through line 285, so that the motor 121 continues to run. When the roller 149 drops from cam 137, switch 153 reopens, to break Circuit P and drop K5. Contacts D,b open to break Circuit Q thus stopping motor 121 and even though the K5 contacts D,a of Circuit Q1 are remade, this circuit is no longer effective because the dropping of K4 has opened the contacts D,b which are in said circuit.

With the dropping of K2, the bill acceptor motor is reenergized so that another bill may be deposited. While the pulsing switch S13 may not be in its initial position at this time, its zeroizing is insured by the fact that the full cycle of credit posting, approving and register resetting must be carried out before the next delivery can be made and the resetting of this switch occurs during the register resetting event of the new cycle.

()nly one other potential way of operating the system in the prepaid mode remains to be explored. Upon termination of a delivery by exhaustion of the established credit, all of the relays K1 through K6 have been dropped. The customer turns the control lever 69 to its initial position and hangs up the nozzle. This action opens the switch S1, closes 82,0 and S4,a and opens S2,b and 53,11. The bill acceptor is operating, the cams have been reset to their initial positions, the credit lamp has been extinguished and no other functions remain to be performed to complete the cycle.

As previously noted, the mere operation of lever 69 to its on position, once it has been turned off, produces no notable effect. It would close switch S1, but since all of the relays are out and Circuit F is open, there will be no resetting of the registers or any other action of the various mechanisms.

The customer could fail to return the lever 69 to its off position and leave the motor running after and incomplete delivery, but in this case he could not return the nozzle to the hook 6S and boot 67. He would have to drape it on the pump housing, throw it on the ground or otherwise dispose it in an unnatural manner which would be obvious to any attendant. The same problem exists with respect to all existing dispensers of any kind.

FORM-WITHOUT APPROVAL

Claims

1. A system for dispensing a quantity of liquid having a predetermined total value, consisting of a predetermined number of small monetary units of value, in response to The collection of a valid bill of equal total value, said system comprising: a. a bill acceptor which includes means to receive a deposited bill, means to determine its validity and value, means to collect a valid bill of proper value and means to thereupon produce a first signal, b. a dispensing apparatus having a manually operable nozzle valve, means for supplying a flow of liquid to said valve, said latter means being actuable between flow and stop flow conditions, c. said dispensing apparatus also having means for measuring the amount of liquid dispensed, a resettable value register, computing means connected to be driven by said measuring means and connected to drive register in accordance with the value of the liquid dispensed and means for resetting said register to zero, d. first control means having normal and first conditions, means operable after the resetting of said register for establishing said first control means in said first condition, and manually operable means for restoring said first control means to said normal condition, e. second control means having normal and first conditions, and means for establishing said second control means in said first condition in response to said first signal, f. means responsive to said first and second control means in said normal and first conditions, respectively, to permit operation of said register resetting means, g. means responsive to said first and second control means in said first conditions for actuating said flow supplying means to said flow condition, h. means operable in time with said value register to produce a second signal upon the complete delivery of the amount of liquid represented by each unit of value, i. means for transmitting said second signal, including transmission timing means mounted for movement between initial and signal transmitting conditions, first driving means connected to be driven by said register and connected to drive said timing means so as to reach said signal transmitting condition after the beginning of, but before the completion of the delivery of the last unit of said total value, and j. signal responsive means having normal and activated conditions, and connected to be activated in response to said transmitted second signal, means responsive to the activation of said signal responsive means, for restoring said second control means to said normal condition, and means for thereupon restoring said flow supplying means to said stop flow condition.

2. The structure defined by claim 1 which includes a digital counter and means connecting said counter with said bill acceptor so as to advance said counter by one digit in response to the collection of a bill.

2. said motor will actuate said transmit switch upon return of said timing means to initial condition to transmit the substitute signal to activate said second signal responsive means.

2. The second closure of said credit switch will energize said coil to close said stop control switch so that the next subsequent closure of said transmit switch will be effective to transmit the next second signal to activate said signal responsive means.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for producing said first signal includes a normally open switch which is closed momentarily by said acceptor when a bill is accepted and a visible signal is connected with said switch so as to be energized momentarily each time said switch is closed.

4. The structure defined by claim 1 which includes means responsive to the activated signal responsive means for moving said transmission timing means to said initial condition, to interrupt the transmission of said second signal.

5. The structure defined by claim 4 wherein said first control means remains in said first condition and wherein said means for establishing said second control means in said first condition includes means responsive to said first signal for placing said second control means in said first condition and means, responsive to said second control means in said first position and said second signal responsive means in said normal condition, for holding said second control means in said first condition, whereby the occurrence of another first signal subsequent to the interruption of said second signal will reestablish said second control means in said first condition and said flow supplying means in said flow condition without resetting said register.

6. The strUcture defined by claim 1 which includes means responsive to said first signal for preventing the collection of another bill by said bill acceptor.

7. The structure defined by claim 6 which includes means responsive to said second control means in said normal condition for disabling said bill collection preventing means.

8. The structure defined by claim 1 which includes third control means having normal and first conditions, key operable means for establishing said third control means in said first condition including releasable means for holding same in said first condition independently of said key operable means, and means responsive to said first control means in said normal condition and said second and third control means in said first conditions, to condition said register resetting means for operation.

9. The structure defined by claim 8 wherein said manually operable means is mounted for movement between on and off positions, and which includes means operable thereby as it moves to said on position, to cause said conditioned resetting means to reset said register and establish said first control means in said first condition.

10. The structure defined by claim 9, which includes means responsive to said first and second control means in said first conditions for releasing said third control holding means and means for thereupon restoring said third control means to said normal condition.

11. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said flow supplying means includes first and second valve means connected in parallel to supply liquid to said nozzle valve at relatively large and small rates of flow respectively, and wherein said flow supplying means includes stop means, operable from a normal to a first condition to close said first valve, and wherein said timing means includes means for operating said stop means to said first condition as said timing means nears said transmitting condition.

12. The structure defined by claim 11 which includes means responsive to said transmitted signal and to said second control means in its normal condition, for restoring said timing and stop operating means to their initial and normal conditions respectively.

13. The structure defined by claim 11 wherein said manually operable means is movable between on and off positions, and which includes selector means selectively settable to predetermining and normal conditions, said selector means, in said normal condition, including means for disabling said bill acceptor and said second signal producing means, and for rendering said stop means ineffective to close said first valve, a. means responsive to said first control means and said selector means in said normal conditions and said manually operable means in the on position for resetting said register, b. means responsive to said first control means in said first condition and said selector means in said normal condition, for actuating said flow supply means to flow condition, and c. means responsive to said manually operable means in its off position for moving said first control means to normal condition to return said flow supplying means to said stop flow condition.

14. The structure defined by claim 1 in which said signal responsive means includes a first actuator having normal and activated conditions, means connecting it to be activated by said transmitted second signal, and wherein siad means for establishing said second control means in said first condition includes a normally closed first switch adapted to be opened by said first actuator when activated, and wherein said timing means comprises a switch control element mounted for movement therewith, a normally open second switch disposed so as to be closed by said element to establish said transmitting condition, a. means connecting said second switch between said second signal producing means and said first actuator so as to open said first switch upon transmission of said second signal, and means for returning said second control means to normal condition upon the opening of said first switch.

15. The structure defined by claim 14 which includes means for relatively adjusting said second switch and said control switch element, so as to adjust the time of occurrence of said signal transmitting condition.

16. The structure defined by claim 14 wherein said means for producing said second signal includes a normally open third switch, means for connecting it in series with said second switch, an actuating element for said third switch, means mounting said actuating element for movement in a predetermined path to a first point therein at which it closes said third switch and thereafter to a second point therein at which releases said switch to reopen, means for driving said actuating element in time with said value register so as to close said third switch at the completion of delivery of each small monetary unit of value and means for adjusting said element along said path, relative to said drive means, so as to correlate said switch closure with the completion of said delivery.

17. The structure defined by claim 1 which includes selector means selectively settable to predetermining and normal operating conditions, said manually operable means being movable between on and off positions, said selector means, in its normal condition having means for disabling said bill acceptor and for rendering said second signal producing means ineffective, a. means responsive to said first control means and said selector means in said normal conditions, and said manually operable means in its on position, for operating said register resetting means to reset said register, b. means responsive to said first control means in its first condition and said selector means in said normal condition, for actuating said flow supplying means to the flow condition, and c. means responsive to the movement of said manually operable means to its off position for returning said first control means to normal condition to restore said flow supplying means to stop flow condition.

18. The structure defined by claim 17 which includes means operable by said register resetting means for resetting said second signal producing means to its signal producing condition.

19. The structure defined by claim 17 which includes means responsive to said first control means in said normal condition for applying a third signal to said signal transmitting means, second driving means connected to drive said transmission timing means independently of said value register, a. first actuating means, responsive to said second control means in said normal condition and said activated signal responsive means, for actuating said second driving means to move said timing means to its initial condition, to interrupt signal transmission, b. second actuating means, responsive to said first control means and said signal responsive means in said normal conditions, for actuating said second driving means, to move said timing means to said signal transmitting condition, whereby said second driving means is actuable by said first and second actuating means to restore said timing means to said initial condition from any condition of displacement from said initial condition.

20. The structure defined by claim 19 wherein said second actuating means includes a device actuable between first and second conditions in which it respectively permits and prevents operation of said second actuating means to actuate said second driving means, a. means responsive to said first control means in said first condition and said selector means in said normal condition for moving said device to said first condition, means responsive to said device in said first condition and said signal responsive means in said normal condition, for holding said device in said first condition, b. means responsive to said activated signal responsive means for disabling said holding means, and means operable thereupon for returning said device to said second condition.

21. The structure defined by claim 1 which includes second driving means connected to move said transmission timing means independently of, but in the same direction said first driving means, first actuating means, including means responsive to said second control means in said normal condition and said signal responsive means in said activated condition, for actuating said second driving means, and means for stopping said second driving means with said transmitting means in said initial condition.

22. The structure defined by claim 21 wherein said second driving means includes an electric motor, said first actuating means includes a normally open switch which is adapted to be closed by said signal responsive means in said activated condition, and said stopping means includes said transmission timing means in said initial condition.

23. The structure defined by claim 21 wherein said manually operable means includes an element which is movable between on and off positions and causes said first control means to occupy said normal condition upon movement of said element to its off position, means responsive to said first control means in said normal condition for applying a third signal to said signal transmitting means, second actuating means, including said first control means and said signal responsive means in said normal conditions, for actuating said second driving means to drive said transmission timing means to said signal transmitting condition, to cause said third signal to activate said signal responsive means, and means responsive to such activation to disconnect said second actuating means from, and connect said first actuating means to said second driving means, to restore said transmission timing means to said initial condition.

24. The structure defined by claim 23 wherein said second actuating means includes additional means, having normal and activated conditions, for rendering said second actuating means ineffective and effective respectively, means responsive to said first control means in said first condition for activating said additional means, means responsive to said signal responsive means, in said normal condition, and said activated additional means, for holding said additional means activated, whereby said second actuating means is rendered effective to actuate said second driving means upon movement of said first control means to said normal condition with said transmission timing means in a condition other than said transmitting condition.

25. The structure defined by claim 24 which includes a third control means having normal and first conditions, key operable means for establishing said third control means in said first condition, means for releasably holding it in said first condition, said establishing and holding means including a normally closed switch controlled by said additional means and adapted to be opened thereby upon activation thereof, said third control means in said first condition, with said first and second control means in their normal and first conditions respectively being connected to condition said resetting means to reset said register, and means responsive to said first control means, in said first condition for activating said additional means to open said normally closed switch to restore said third control means to said normal condition.

26. The system of claim 1 which includes a delivery relay having normal and 1st states, means responsive to said first control means in its first condition, for establishing said delivery relay in 1st state, a second relay having normal and 1st states, means, including said second control means in its first condition and said delivery relay in its 1st state to establish said second relay in its 1st state and means responsive to said second relay in its 1st state and said signal responsive means in its normal condition for holding said second relay in its 1st state.

27. The system of claim 26 which includes electrical means for starting and stopping said bill acceptor comprisIng a normally closed switch and means responsive to said second relay in its 1st state for opening said switch.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein said means to permit the operation of said register resetting means includes an electric motor and circuitry for operating said motor, which includes a normally closed switch and means responsive to the establishing of said second relay in its 1st state for opening said switch.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein said first and second control means are in their first conditions and which includes a. a normally open power supply switch which is held closed by said second control means in its first condition, b. said delivery relay having a normally closed switch which is open when said relay occupies its 1st state; said second relay including a normally open switch which is closed by said relay in its first state; said signal responsive means including a normally closed switch which is opened upon activation of said means; a reset relay having normal and 1st states and having first and second normally open switches which are closed by the relay in its first state, c. means connecting said power supply switch with the delivery relay switch and through the second relay switch, the signal responsive means switch and said reset relay so as to establish said reset relay in its first state to close its normally open switches, a reset motor connected to the timing means, d. means connecting the first of said reset relay switches with a supply of power and with said reset motor to cause said motor to restore said timing means to its initial condition when said manual means is operated to restore said first control means to its normal condition while said second control means occupies its first condition.

30. The system of claim 29 which includes means for supplying power to said first reset relay switch from the switch of said signal responsive means so that the supply will be interrupted when said means is activated.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the second switch of said reset relay is connected to one side of said transmit switch and to said signal responsive means, and wherein said delivery relay includes a normally closed power switch, means connecting said power switch to the other side of said transmit switch so as to transmit a pulse to said pulse responsive means when said timing means is restored to its initial condition by said reset motor, thereby activating said pulse responsive means to normalize said system.

32. The system of claim 31 which includes a multipole selector switch means which is manually settable to automatic and to normal operation positions, said switch means in its automatic setting serving to a. transmit power to said second signal producing means and b. permit energization of said bill acceptor, and wherein said means in its normal setting serves to c. isolate said second signal producing means and supply power directly to said register resetting means and to the normally open and the corresponding normally closed contacts of said delivery relay, independently of said second control means; d. prevent energization of said bill acceptor and e. positively complete the ground circuit leg of the register resetting means so as to render said means responsive solely to said manually operable means, and wherein said establishment of the first control means in its first condition, in response to the resetting of the registers, energizes said delivery relay to establish said second relay in its 1st state and wherein the restoration of first control means to its normal condition restores said dispensing relay to its normal state to cause said timing means to be reset to its initial condition at the end of each normal operation of said dispensing apparatus.

33. The system of claim 1 which includes credit posting means in addition to that provided by said second control means in its first condition, said additional posting means comprising a. first and second devices each having first and second states, means responsive to said second control means in its first condition for establishing said first device in its second state, means established by said first device in its second state to divert another first signal to said second device to establish it in its second state to post an additional credit.

34. The system of claim 33 which includes means responsive to said first control means in its first condition, for preventing the establishment of said second device in its second state.

35. The system of claim 33 which includes means responsive to said second device, in its second state, to render the transmission of said first transmitted second signal ineffective to activate said signal responsive means to interrupt delivery.

36. The system of claim 35 which includes means operable by said transmission timing means for restoring said second device to its first state, and which includes additional means operable by said timing means after passage thereof through its transmitting condition, for conditioning said signal transmitting means to activate said signal responsive means upon the next subsequent movement of said timing means to its transmitting condition.

37. The system of claim 36 which includes third and fourth devices, each having first and second states, means responsive to said second device in its second state for establishing said third device in its second state, a. means established by said third device in said state for diverting a third first signal to said fourth device to establish it in its second state, b. means responsive to said fourth device in its second state for preventing restoration of said second device to its first state until after the first passage of said timing means through its transmitting condition, c. said additional means being operable after the second passage of said timing means through its signal transmitting condition, to condition said signal transmitting means to activate said signal responsive means upon the third movement of said timing means to its transmitting condition.

38. The system of claim 33 which includes third and fourth devices, each having first and second states, and which includes means responsive to said second device in its second state, for establishing said third device in its second state and a. means established by said third device in its second state for diverting a third first signal to said fourth device to establish it in its second state, to post a further credit.

39. The system of claim 38 which includes means responsive to said fourth device in its second state for disabling said bill acceptor.

40. The system of claim 38 which includes means responsive to said first control means in its first condition for preventing the establishment of said fourth device in its second state.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein said first and third devices include means for delaying the establishment thereof in their respective second states.

42. The system of claim 33 wherein said means for transmitting said second signal includes a normally open transmit switch connected in series with a normally open stop control switch and wherein said timing means includes means for closing said transmit switch when said timing means moves to its transmitting condition and for opening it when it passes said condition, and wherein the means for closing said stop control switch includes: a. a coil connected in a circuit which comprises a normally closed switch which is opened by said second device in its second state and a normally open credit switch which is disposed for closure by said timing means subsequent to the reopening of said transmit switch and to reopen as said timing means continues in motion, b. means for holding said second device in its second state, said means comprising a normally open switch which is closed by said second device in its second state and which is in series with a normally cLosed first hold switch, said hold switch being disposed so as to be opened by said timing means after said credit switch is reopened and said second device restored to its first state, whereby:

43. The system of claim 42 wherein said timing means includes rotary cam means which rotate one revolution as said timing means move from initial to signal transmitting condition, said cam means and transmit switch being disposed so that said switch is closed in the initial and transmitting conditions of said timing means and is opened as the first event of a revolution, means for disposing said credit switch to be closed and opened by said cam means after said transmit switch is opened, means for disposing said first hold switch to be opened and closed by said cam means, after said credit switch has been opened, to restore said second device to its first state.

44. The system of claim 42 wherein said flow supplying means includes a normally closed main valve and a slow flow valve connected to bypass said main valve, and wherein the means for actuating said flow supplying means includes motor operated means for opening and closing said main valve as said motor is energized and deenergized respectively, a. means for energizing said motor including said first and second means in their first conditions and a normally closed first switch connected so as to supply said motor, b. a normally closed second switch connected in parallel with said first switch, means responsive to the energization of the coil for closing said stop control switch and for opening said second switch, c. means operable by said timing means for opening said first switch after said second switch is opened and before said timing means reached its transmitting condition, so as to deenergize said motor and close said main valve prior to the subsequent closure of said transmit switch.

45. The system of claim 42 which includes a delivery relay having normal and first states, means responsive to said first control means in its first condition for establishing said relay in its first state, a second relay having normal and first states, means including said second control means in its first condition and said delivery relay in its first state to establish said second relay in its first state and means responsive to said second relay in its first state and said signal responsive means in its normal condition for holding said second relay in its first state, a. means for resetting said timing means to its initial condition, including a reset motor connected to drive said timing means, a reset relay having normal and first states and having first and second normally open switches and a third normally closed switch, said means for holding said second device in its second state including said third switch in series with the hold switch thereof, b. energizing means for said reset relay including a power switch which is closed by said second control means in its first condition, a normally closed switch of said delivery relay, a normally open switch of said second relay and a normally closed switch of said signal responsive means, c. means connecting said reset relay first switch to said energizing means and said reset motor to energize the motor when said first switch is closed, d. means for supplying a substitute second signal to said signal responsive means comprising a normally closed power switch of said delivery relay, said transmit switch And said reset relay second switch whereby a. upon restoration of said first control means to normal condition while said second control means occupy said first condition, said reset relay will be energized to open said second device to restore it to its first state, and to energize said reset motor,

46. The system of claim 45 which includes third and fourth devices each having first and second states, wherein said second device in its second state is connected to establish said third device in its second state for diverting a third first signal to establish said fourth device in its second state, said fourth device including a normally open switch, means connecting said switch in series with a source of power and through a normally closed second hold switch and said normally closed third switch of the reset relay so as to hold said fourth device in its second state, said third switch serving to return said fourth device to its first state upon energization of said reset relay.

47. The system of claim 42 which includes third and fourth devices each having first and second states, means responsive to said second device in its second state for establishing said third device in its second state, means established thereby for diverting a third first signal to said fourth device to establish it in its second state to post a third credit, said fourth device including a. a normally closed switch connected in series with said coil and the normally closed switch of said second device, a normally open auxiliary switch connected in parallel with said normally closed first hold switch, and a normally open switch in series with a normally closed second hold switch, for holding said fourth device in its second state, said second hold switch being disposed for operation by said timing means so as to be opened thereby after the first hold switch is reclosed upon continued operation of said timing means,

48. The system of claim 47 wherein said fourth device includes a normally closed switch, said bill acceptor having electric driving means and said switch connected therewith so as to disable said drive means when said fourth device is in its second state.

49. The system of claim 47 which includes means responsive to the energization of the coil of said stop control switch and to said signal responsive means in its normal condition, for maintaining said coil energized.

50. The system of claim 47 wherein said timing means includes rotary cam means which rotate one revolution as said timing means move from initial to signal transmitting condition, said cam means and transmit switch being disposed so that said switch is closed in the initial and transmitting conditions of said timing means and is opened as the first event of a revolution, means for disposing said credit switch to be closed and opened by said cam means after said transmit switch is opened, means for disposing said first hold switch to be opened and closed by said cam means after said credit switch has been opened and means for disposing said second hold switch so as to be opened by said cam means after said first hold switch has been reclosed and before said transmit switch is reclosed.

51. The system of claim 47 which includes a visible signal for each of said devices and means for energizing the signal of each device as said device is established in its second state.

52. The system of claim 51 which includes a second visible signal for said firsT device and means for energizing said signal when said second control means is in its first condition, to indicate that said first device should be in its second state.