Accounting and cash-transfer system for filling stations having metered pumps

• US 4,087,858 A
• Filed: 12/13/1976
• Issued: 05/02/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARAL Austria GmbH
• Original Assignee: ARAL Austria GmbH
• Inventors: Pichler, Peter, Ranner, Dietrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Wise, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US05/749,753
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 235/151.34, 235/92 FL, 235/61.7 R, 235/61.7 A, 222/36, 222/30, 222/23
• US Class Current: 705/413
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/308 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/12 Containers for valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/06 Coin boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/08 Counting total of coins inserted

Abstract

A filling station with several pumps, dispensing various types of fuel, includes an electronic control unit with a counter receiving trains of backward-counting pulses from the outputs of various pulse generators driven by flowmeters installed in the several pump outlets. The counter also receives forward-counting pulses indicating the amount of money deposited by the station attendant in a locked cash box; upon depletion of the available credit balance, as indicated by a zero pulse count, the control unit stops the dispensation of fuel from all pumps. Another counter, receiving only the forward-counting pulses, has a presettable upper limit for preventing deposition of more than a predetermined maximum amount in the cash box; when that limit is reached, the box must be taken to a depositary accessible only to representatives of the station owner or the fuel supplier while an alternate cash box is substituted therefor at the filling station. The cash boxes have code markings, preventing their replacement by unauthorized receptacles, and are also provided with magnetic-core memories communicating with the control unit upon insertion to indicate whether the box is empty (or not more than partly filled) or full.

Claims

1. In a filling station including pump means for the dispensation of liquid products, said pump means having at least one outlet provided with a flowmeter for measuring the quantity of liquid dispensed, the combination thereof with:

a receptacle with an entrance aperture for the deposition of cash received by station personnel for the sale of metered products, the interior of said receptacle being otherwise inaccessible to the station personnel;

test means adjacent said receptacle for ascertaining the value of money passed through said entrance aperture;

first signaling means coupled with said test means for generating signals representative of the amount of money deposited in said receptacle;

second signaling means coupled with said flowmeter for generating signals representative of the monetary value of the product dispensed;

arithmetic means connected to said first and second signaling means for registering a credit balance equal to an initial credit augmented by said amount of money and diminished by said monetary value; and

stop means connected by said arithmetic means for deactivating said pump means upon said credit balance dropping to a predetermined minimum.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said pump means comprises a plurality of pumps each provided with an electric drive motor, said stop means comprising circuit breakers in circuit with the drive motors of all said pumps.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said second signaling means includes a plurality of pulse generators, each driven from the flowmeter of a respective pump, and summing means connected to said pulse generators for delivering the combined outputs thereof to said arithmetic means.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said summing means has a plurality of input terminals each connected to a respective pulse generator through a coded coupling preventing a relative transposition of said pulse generators and input terminals, said coded coupling completing an energizing circuit for the respective drive motor by way of the associated circuit breaker.

5. The combination defined in claim 3, further comprising adjustable conversion means inserted between said pulse generators and said summing means for modifying the pulse rates in the outputs of said pulse generators in conformity with current prices of the dispensed products.

6. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said drive motors, said pulse generators and said arithmetic means have energizing circuits connected to a communal power supply, further comprising storage means independent of said power supply connected to said second signaling means for preserving information relating to the monetary values of the dispensed products.

7. The combination defined in claim 3, further comprising individual pulse counters respectively connected to said pulse generators, said pulse counters being provided with output connections for the reading of their contents from a remote location.

8. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said first signaling means comprises a source of pulse sequences, said arithmetic means including a reversible pulse counter with forward-counting and backward-counting inputs respectively connected to said source and to said summing means.

9. The combination defined in claim 8, further comprising a totalizer connected to said source for registering the sum of moneys deposited during an extended period.

10. The combination defined in claim 1, further comprising register means connected to said first signaling means for indicating the amount of money deposited in said receptacle, said register means being presettable to a selected ceiling for said amount, and blocking means controlled by said register means for preventing the passing of further money through said entrance aperture upon said amount reaching said ceiling.

11. The combination defined in claim 10, further comprising transport means for feeding money to be deposited past said test means, said blocking means including an interruptor for deactivating said transport means.

12. The combination defined in claim 10, further comprising a holder for removably supporting said receptacle in line with said transport means.

13. The combination defined in claim 12 wherein said receptacle is internally provided with a shutter for obstructing said entrance aperture upon withdrawal of said receptacle from said holder, said shutter having an extension cammingly engageable with a formation on said holder during said withdrawal.

14. The combination defined in claim 13 wherein said receptacle is provided with internal detent means for latching said shutter in its obstructing position, further comprising release means for said detent means effective upon insertion of said receptacle into said holder.

15. The combination defined in claim 14 wherein said receptacle is provided with a coding and said holder carries monitoring means for detecting said coding, said release means being controlled by said monitoring means.

16. The combination defined in claim 15, further comprising static memory means in said receptacle for storing data relating to the degree of filling of said receptacle with deposited money, said monitoring means including circuitry for establishing a connection from said memory means to said register means facilitating the transfer of data therebetween and for actuating said release means in response to the stored data only upon the deposited amount being less than said ceiling.

17. The combination defined in claim 16, further comprising a logic network connectable via said circuitry to said memory means and to said register means for inhibiting the actuation of said release means upon insertion of said receptacle with a degree of filling significantly less than the amount indicated by said register means.

18. The combination defined in claim 17, further comprising resetting means for said register means controlled by said logic network for becoming effective upon insertion of said receptacle in an empty state with said register means indicating an amount at least equal to said ceiling.

19. The combination defined in claim 16 wherein said memory means is of the magnetic-core type, said receptacle being provided with a normally locked wall member displaceable into an open position upon unlocking thereof for removal of the deposited money be an authorized person, further comprising magnetic erasing means controlled by said wall member to move past said memory means for resetting same upon displacement of said wall member into said open position.

20. The combination defined in claim 14 wherein said release means comprises an electromagnetic coil.