FLUID DISPENSING DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM

• US 3,765,567 A
• Filed: 07/23/1971
• Issued: 10/16/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fred Maiocco, Howard J. Jelinek, Joseph Maiocco
• Original Assignee: Fred Maiocco, Howard J. Jelinek, Joseph Maiocco
• Inventors: Maiocco, Joseph, Maiocco, Fred, Jelinek, Howard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/165,076
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 222/76,30
• US Class Current: 222/30
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/228 using digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A fluid dispensing data processing apparatus and system comprising electronic transducers, logic networks, shift registers, multiple digital counters, and transaction sequencers which generate, format, store and validate fluid pump transaction data such as total gallons dispensed, cost per gallon, and the total cost of a transaction. Provision is made for entering sales information not related to fluid dispensing operations, verifying all data, and preparing a hard copy receipt for dispensing to the customer. Provision is also made for incorporating a credit card verification system, and interfacing the system with a regional accounting computer.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing data processing apparatus comprising:

at least one fluid pump. at least one data generation means connected to each of the fluid pumps for automatically generating dispensing data;

a selecting means with parallel inputs from each of said data generation means for detecting the data relating to a single transaction;

a magnetic memory storage device; and

, recording means connected between said selecting means and said memory storage device for recording the data selected by said selecting means into said memory storage device.

2. The fluid dispensing data processing apparatus claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

formaTting means connected between said selecting means and said recording means for placing the dispensing data into a desired sequence;

data compilation means connected to said selecting means in parallel with said data generation means for storing data relating to non-fluid transactions; and

, differentiating means within said selecting means for distinguishing and separately sequencing the fluid and non-fluid transactions.

3. The fluid dispensing data processing apparatus claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

at least one operator console;

a multiplexer connected between said operator consoles and said selecting means for locking the particular console involved into said selecting means; and

, request means within said multiplexer for ascertaining the non-busy state of said selecting means.

4. The fluid dispensing data processing apparatus and system claimed in claim 1 wherein said data generation means comprises:

an optical transducing means connected to said fluid pumps for creating an electrical signal related to the quantity of fuel dispensed; and

, pump computer means connected to the output of said transducing means for calculating the total cost of fluid dispensed and storing variable identification information.

5. The fluid dispensing data processing apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein said multiplexer comprises:

at least one console signal multiplexer having a data input from each of said operator consoles; and

enabling means connected to said console signal multiplexer for enabling a particular console data in each of said console signal multiplexers.

6. The fluid dispensing data processing apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein said recording means comprises:

temporary registers for temporarily storing digital information;

shifting means connected between the parallel combination of said data generation means and said data compilation means, and said temporary registers;

control means connected between said temporary registers and said memory storage device for controlling the writing of data into said memory storage device;

7. The fluid dispensing data processing apparatus claimed in claim 6 further comprising:

sequencing means connected between said selecting means and said recording means for arranging the data into a desired configuration prior to writing the data into said memory storage device; and

, verification means for insuring that the data written into said memory storage device corresponds with the data originated by said data generation means and said data compilation means.

8. The fluid dispensing data processing apparatus and system claimed in claim 4 wherein said pump computer means comprises:

calculating means having inputs for quantity of fluid dispensed and price per unit volume of fluid for computing the total cost of the fluid dispensed;

a variable identification information register in parallel with said multiplying means for storing variable identification information;

an output register connected at the outputs of said multiplying means and said storage means for storing all data input to and generated by said pump computer means.

9. The fluid dispensing data processing apparatus and system claimed in claim 8 wherein said multiplying means comprises:

a binary counter connected to said transducing means for counting the pulses generated by said transducing means;

a quantity decoder/register connected at the output to said binary counter for storing information related to total quantity of fluid dispensed;

a unit price register having manual and remote inputs;

a unit price register/decoder.

10. The fluid dispensing data processing apparatus and system claimed in claim 4 wherein said transducing means is a flow meter transducer comprising:

a fluid pump shaft;

a transducer connected to said fluid pump shaft, and having equally spaced holes aligned in a circular configuration on a transducer wheel;

a mounting bracket;

a light emitting diode mounted in such a manner whereby light emitted by said diode will pass through the holes in said transducing wheel; and

, a photo transistor mounted to receive light emitted by said light emitting diode passing through said holes in said transducer wheel.

11. The fluid dispensing data processing apparatus claimed in claim 5 wherein said enabling means comprises:

a console select multiplexer having an input from each of said operator consoles;

a counter having outputs to said console select multiplexer and each of said console signal multiplexers;

a logic network means having an input from said console select multiplexer and an output to said counter for stopping said counter on the number selected by said console select multiplexer;

outputting means within each console signal multiplexer for outputting the input signal corresponding to the console number on which said counter has stopped; and

, disabling means within each console signal multiplexer for disabling all console inputs not enabled by said outputting means.