Dispensing preset amounts of a product
First Claim
1. A circuit for controlling the dispensing of a preset amount of a product from apparatus having normal and low rates of delivery and metering means for measuring the quantity of product delivered and/or calculating the monetary value thereof, comprising switching means operable to produce different switch signals for individual preset amounts of material to be dispensed in multiples of a unit amount, counting means responsive to the detection of one of said switch signals to store the number of units represented by the switch signal and operable to change the number stored by one for each unit amount dispensed, storage means for storing the difference between a predetermined amount of product, less than a unit amount, and the unit amount, and comparison means responsive to an indication by the counting means that the final unit of the preset amount is being dispensed to compare continuously the amount of product dispensed in the final unit with the stored difference to provide a signal, when the amounts are equal, to cause the dispensing to be changed from a normal to a slow delivery rate for delivery of said predetermined amount.
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Abstract
Apparatus for dispensing a preset monetary amount of product, such as fuel, sold by volume and for use with a dispenser which calculates and displays a continuously increasing cost of the delivery has a number of selector buttons which relate to units of cost and which when selected set an appropriate number into a counter. The counter is coupled to the display, and the count is decremented by one for each unit cost of product actually delivered. During delivery of the first unit a store calculates the difference between a unit cost and the cost of a small predetermined volume, which volume is required to be delivered slowly to end the delivery and avoid under- or over-delivery due to mechanical or fluid inertia of the dispenser. When the counter indicates the final unit preselected is being delivered, a comparator compares continuously the cost displayed for that unit and the stored difference and when they are equal the delivery rate is slowed for the final predetermined volume. The apparatus may be used with pre-stored values where delivery is by volume rather than cost.
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Citations
7 Claims
- 1. A circuit for controlling the dispensing of a preset amount of a product from apparatus having normal and low rates of delivery and metering means for measuring the quantity of product delivered and/or calculating the monetary value thereof, comprising switching means operable to produce different switch signals for individual preset amounts of material to be dispensed in multiples of a unit amount, counting means responsive to the detection of one of said switch signals to store the number of units represented by the switch signal and operable to change the number stored by one for each unit amount dispensed, storage means for storing the difference between a predetermined amount of product, less than a unit amount, and the unit amount, and comparison means responsive to an indication by the counting means that the final unit of the preset amount is being dispensed to compare continuously the amount of product dispensed in the final unit with the stored difference to provide a signal, when the amounts are equal, to cause the dispensing to be changed from a normal to a slow delivery rate for delivery of said predetermined amount.
Specification