JPH0398898A - Duplex refueling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent forced stopping in refueling from occurring or prevent refueling from being charged to a different person when the refueling is to be added to one aggregate bill by converting the charges for the refueling by two filling units to a single total or a compound pulse signal and by giving the result to a POS (point of sale) processor. CONSTITUTION:Refueling by each nozzle is shown as a quantity of oil supplied by respective indicators 8; a pulse-compounding circuit 23 outputs a compound pulse signal (j) which is equal to the sum of the numbers of flow-representing pulse signals (a) received from respective pulse transmitters 7 and gives it to a counting circuit 24 for counting; the result of the counting by the counting circuit 24 is shown as a total of refueling on an indicator 9. When the refueling is over and each nozzle is put back in place in a nozzle case, a circuit 25 for judging ending of refueling thereupon outputs the value of a signal (m) representing the total at that point of time as a signal (n) representing a final total to POS. Since only a refueling unit A is assigned to the charge of POS, POS issues a slip printed with the value of the signal (n) representing a final total, that is, the total of refueling, as the oil supplied by only the refueling unit A. Thus this method makes it possible to print out the total of the oil supplied by each of refueling apparatus on one single slip.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Industrial Application Field The present application relates to a refueling device that supplies oil to automobiles at a gas station, etc., and more specifically, a device that outputs the total amount of refueling between different refueling units. Regarding. (b) Conventional technology and its problems As a recent trend, large diesel trucks are often equipped with multiple fuel tanks of the same shape, and the bottoms of these tanks are connected to each other with hoses, etc. The oil level will drop in the same way, so there is the advantage that using multiple lubrication devices at the same time can significantly reduce work time. However, at the end of refueling, the amount of refueling at each refueling device is printed and issued on separate slips, which is undesirable for administrative purposes. Therefore, a request has arisen to add up the amount of oil supplied by each oil supply device and print it on one slip.

Since slips are issued from the point-of-sale processing system i1 (POS), the POS should be equipped with a totaling function, but this would require major modifications and would be expensive. For this reason, a system was created in which the refueling device was modified without modifying the POS, and as a result, a totaled slip was issued from the POS side. The modified refueling system is equipped with a switch that instructs summation and a pulse combining circuit, and the refueling units to be combined are individually specified at the POS (A
, B. In order to combine both refueling units, first POS
After having the card read by the customer, specifying refueling unit A and giving refueling permission, the same customer card is read again and this time specifying refueling unit B and refueling permission is granted), and then the total is added up. The system uses a system in which the flow rate pulse signals output from refueling units A and B are combined by pressing the switch, and the combined pulse is output only from the refueling unit A side and sent to the POS. However, the specifications of POS differ depending on the manufacturer, resulting in the following inconveniences.

■P○ made by company C. In the case of S, even if the nozzles of both refueling units are refueled after being removed from the standby position,
A pulse signal is output from refueling unit A, but not from refueling unit B, so after a certain period of time, the POS side determines that refueling unit L-B is not in use and permits refueling to refueling unit B. and forcefully stop refueling.

■In the case of the POS manufactured by Company D, even if refueling is performed from both refueling units, the pulse signal from refueling unit B is not output, so even if refueling is finished, the POS side still receives the signal from refueling unit B. It is determined that refueling is not being performed and the refueling permission status is maintained, and when the next customer comes and removes the nozzle from the refueling standby position, the pump starts and the name of the previous refueling customer (written on the card) is used. This time, a refueling customer refuels. (c) Structure and effect for solving the problem This application specifies all the refueling units to be used on the POS side, but the above-mentioned problem occurs when pulses are sent from only one refueling unit. The purpose is to solve the problem, and its structure consists of a pump that pumps out oil, a motor that drives the pump, a flowmeter that measures the pumped oil, and a system that measures the amount of oil measured by the flowmeter. a pulse transmitter that generates a number of refueling pulse signals, a hose, a nozzle, a nozzle case to which the nozzle is hung while waiting for refueling, and a nozzle detection means that detects the presence or absence of the nozzle in the nozzle case; a motor control means that energizes the motor on the condition that a refueling permission signal is received from a POS and the nozzle detection means detects the absence of a nozzle;
A plurality of refueling units comprising a refueling amount indicator are housed in one casing, and a totalizing instruction means outputting a totalizing instruction signal, and a totalizing instruction when the refueling permission signal is given to one of the refueling units in the casing. and control means for supplying a refueling permission signal to the motor control means of the other refueling units upon generation of the signal, and generating a summation instruction signal when one of the plurality of refueling units receives the refueling permission signal from the POS. A refueling permission signal is given to the other refueling units in one casing, and the nozzle is ready for use by simply removing it from the nozzle case. (2) Embodiment In Figure 1.2, 3 is a housing of a refueling system that accommodates two refueling units, A and B, which handle the same type of oil, and inside each housing, oil is pumped out from a storage tank (not shown). A pump 4, a motor 5 that rotationally drives the pump 4, a flowmeter 6 that measures the pumped oil, and the flowmeter 6 outputs a number of flow rate pulse signals a (1/500 liter pulses) corresponding to the amount of oil measured. a pulse transmitter 7 that displays the amount of refueling for each refueling unit, an indicator 8 that displays the amount of refueling for each refueling unit, an indicator 9 that displays the combined (total) amount of refueling of both refueling units, an indicator lamp 10 that indicates that combined refueling is in progress, In addition to the summation switch 11, an electric circuit to be described later is housed therein, and a nozzle 13 connected to the tip of a hose 12 is hung on a nozzle case l4. POS is a point-of-sale system (hereinafter simply referred to as POS) that controls the refueling unit, stores customer data and various other data related to refueling, and performs customer management. L5 is an outdoor terminal connected to the POS and installed near the refueling unit, and includes a printer 16 for issuing a slip, a card reader 17 for reading a card owned by the customer, and a designation switch 1 for specifying the refueling machine to be used. The date is set. 19 is a nozzle detection switch, which is arranged in relation to the nozzle case 14, and the nozzle 13 is connected to the nozzle case 1.
4 (refueling standby position), a nozzle detection signal b is generated.

20 is a counting circuit which returns to zero when the nozzle detection signal b disappears, counts the flow rate pulse signal a, outputs the counted value as the oil supply amount signal C, and causes the display 8 to display the oil supply amount. 2l is a motor@control circuit, in which the customer's card is read by the card reader 17 of the outdoor terminal 6115, and the refueling permission signal d (in the designated refueling unit) is output to the designated refueling unit by operating the designated switch l8. If the nozzle detection signal b disappears, the motor energizing signal f is output, the motor 5 is rotated, and the nozzle detection signal b is output. When this happens, the motor energizing signal r disappears and the motor 5 is stopped. Note that the summation switch 1l outputs a summation instruction signal h when operated. Reference numeral 22 denotes a summation control circuit, in which when the refueling permission signal d is input to either of the refueling units and when either of the summation switches l1 is operated to generate the summation instruction signal h, the summation control circuit outputs the refueling permission signal e and the summation start signal i. is generated. This refueling permission signal e is once sent to the nozzle detection signal b of either refueling unit.
disappears, and then disappears with the presence of nozzle detection signal b of both refueling units. Note that even though the summation instruction signal h has been input, the summation control circuit 22 does not allow refueling to the refueling unit until the nozzle detection signal b of the refueling unit on which the refueling permission signal d is not manually applied disappears. When the signal d is input, or when the nozzle detection signal b in both oil supply units once disappears and then occurs respectively, that is, when the oil supply by both oil supply units ends, the summation start signal i disappears.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a pulse summation circuit which outputs a summation signal j equal to the sum of the numbers of flow rate pulse signals a generated in both refueling units on condition that the summation start signal l is input. 24 is a counting circuit which is reset to zero by inputting a reset signal k;
Count the number of composite pulse signals j and output the counted value as the sum value signal m. This counted value is then displayed on the display 9 as the total amount of oil supplied. Reference numeral 25 denotes a refueling end determination circuit, which outputs a reset signal k (one pulse) after the nozzle detection signal b disappears when the summation start signal l is input or when the summation start signal i is not input, and also outputs the reset signal k (one pulse) when the summation start signal i disappears. At the same time, the sum value signal m is outputted as the final sum value signal n.

The indicator lamp 10 shown in FIG. 1 lights up to notify you when the summation switch l is operated and the summation start signal i is generated, and turns off when both nozzles l3 are returned to the nozzle case l4. With the above structure, we will continue to explain the flow of refueling work below, including Figure 3. First, let's talk about the case of independent refueling where only the refueling unit A side is used without adding up. After reading the customer's card with a card reader and operating the designation switch 18 to specify refueling unit A, refueling is permitted from the POS. signal d
is output to refueling unit A. Next, attach the nozzle 13 on the oil supply unit A side to the nozzle case 14.
When it is removed, the count value of the counting circuit 20 is returned to zero and the motor 5 is started. When refueling starts, a flow rate pulse signal a corresponding to the refueling amount is generated.
is generated, the counting circuit 20 counts this and displays it on the display 8 as the amount of oil supplied.

Note that the POS directly receives the flow rate pulse signal a and outputs the P
There is a type that counts the amount of oil supplied within the OS, and a type that ultimately receives the amount of oil supplied.In the case of the former, the flow rate pulse signal a is passed through the pulse combination circuit 23 and sent to the POS along the route shown by the broken line. , in the latter case, the nozzle 13
When the fuel is returned to the nozzle case l4, the value of the oil supply amount signal C may be sent to the POS via the oil supply completion determination circuit 25. When the refueling is completed (when the nozzle 13 is returned to the nozzle case 14), the printer 16 prints the amount of refueling at the refueling unit 7A along with the customer's name and issues a slip (independent slip). The above operation is the same when refueling unit B is used.

Next, a case will be described in which combined refueling is performed.

When a card owned by the customer is read by a card reader 17 and a designation switch 18 is operated to designate refueling unit A, a refueling permission signal d is outputted from the POS and given to the refueling unit A and the summation control circuit 22.

Thereafter, when the summation switch 11 (which may be for either refueling unit) is operated to generate a summation instruction signal h, the summation control circuit 22 outputs a refueling permission signal e, which is applied to both refueling units.

The refueling unit A side has already been given the refueling permission signal d from the POS, but the motor control circuit 21 drives the motor 5 on the condition that either refueling permission signal is given, so both refueling permission signals There is no problem even if d and e are given twice. With this operation, both refueling units become usable, and furthermore, the refueling end determination circuit 25 starts accepting the total value signal m based on the summation start signal i generated at this time, and at the same time generates a reset signal k to perform counting. The circuit 24 is brought to zero.

When the nozzle 13 is removed from the nozzle case 14 in each refueling unit 7, the counting circuit 20 returns to zero and the motor 5 is started, making it possible to refuel. As each nozzle 13 refuels, each indicator 8 displays the respective refueling amount, but the pulse summation circuit 23 displays the sum of the number of flow rate pulse signals a output from each pulse transmitter 7. An equal sum or pulse signal j is output and given to the counting circuit 24 for counting. The count value of this counting circuit 24 is displayed on the display 9 as a total oil supply value.
is displayed. In addition, in the case of a POS having a specification that calculates the total amount of refueling by counting the signal pulse signal j on the POS side, the signal signal j may be directly given to the POS through the route shown by the broken line.

When the refueling is completed and all the nozzles 13 are returned to the nozzle case 14, the refueling end determination circuit 25 outputs the value of the total value signal m at that time to the pos as the final total value signal n. Since only the refueling unit A is specified as the POS, the value of the final total value signal n, that is, the total amount of refueling, is printed and issued on the slip as the refueling amount for only the refueling unit A. In addition, in the case of a POS that counts the command pulse signal j, the end of the refueling/lubrication is known from the signal output from the refueling end determination circuit 25 when each nozzle 13 is returned to the nozzle case 14, and the end of refueling/oil is determined at that point. The counted value of the combined pulse signal j at is regarded as the total amount of oil supplied, and is printed and issued on a slip as the amount of oil supplied from the oil supply unit A.

In addition, if only one nozzle 13 refuels despite the summing operation, the detection signal b of the other nozzle will be At this time, the summation control door circuit 22 eliminates the refueling permission signal e, terminates refueling, and prevents subsequent refueling by both nozzles 13.

These operations are the same when refueling unit B is specified. Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

An example of this modification is shown below. ■According to Figure 3, the operation for summing is accepted on the condition that both nozzles are not in use, but if one nozzle is in use and the other nozzle is not in use, the operation for summing is accepted. Let it be accepted. ■According to Figure 3, after one lubrication unit is specified and the operation for summing is performed, if the other lubrication unit is specified before the nozzle is removed, the summing operation will be canceled. However, in addition to this, if one refueling unit is specified and the other refueling unit is specified before the summing operation is performed, the subsequent summing operation will not be accepted. ■The refueling permission signal e is given regardless of whether or not the refueling permission signal d is given, but it is given only to the refueling unit to which the refueling permission signal d is not given. ■Operations for combined lubrication can only be performed using the summing switch on the designated side of the lubrication unit. ■During combined refueling, while one nozzle is refueling, the refueling device controls the motor so that it does not start even if the other nozzle is returned to the nozzle case (refueling is complete) and the nozzle is removed again. ■
There is no display 9 to display the total value. In other words, for a type of refueling device that does not need to display the total value during refueling and only needs to send the total value to the POS at the end of refueling, the pulse summation circuit 23 and counting circuit 24 in Fig. 2 are unnecessary. It is sufficient to provide a total value calculation circuit that calculates the sum of the values of the refueling amount signal C in both refueling units at the end of refueling (generation of nozzle detection signal b in both units), and to send the calculated value to the POS. ．． ■Additional processing is possible not only for light oil but also for gasoline and kerosene. In the case of gasoline, it is designed to speed up the process of refueling a small lorry, and in the case of kerosene, it is convenient when a customer brings in a large number of cans and multiple workers use multiple nozzles to refuel. The number of refueling units that can be combined is not limited to two sets, but can be increased to more. (E) Effect As detailed above, only one refueling unit is specified from the POS, the other refueling unit is specified (refueling permission) on the refueling device side, and the refueling results from both refueling units are added up. Since it is converted into a value or combined pulse signal and sent to the POS, the POS issues a slip with the total amount of refueling printed on it, assuming that only the specified refueling unit has refueled, which solves the problem mentioned above, that is, specifying multiple refueling units from the POS. This can solve problems such as forced stoppage during combined refueling or refueling under someone else's name.In addition, you only need to read the customer card once, and you only have to specify the refueling unit once, which saves work time. It can be omitted.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pump that pumps out oil, a motor that drives the pump,
A flowmeter that measures the pumped oil, a pulse transmitter that generates a number of refueling pulse signals corresponding to the amount of oil measured by the flowmeter, a hose, a nozzle, and a nozzle case on which the nozzle is hung while waiting for refueling. , a nozzle detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a nozzle in a nozzle case, and a motor control means for energizing the motor on the condition that a refueling permission signal is received from a POS and the absence of a nozzle is detected by the nozzle detection means. A plurality of refueling units consisting of a refueling amount indicator and a refueling amount indicator are housed in one casing, a totalizing instruction means for outputting a totalizing instruction signal, and a totalizing unit that outputs a totalizing instruction signal when the refueling permission signal is given to one of the refueling units in the casing. and control means for giving a refueling permission signal to the motor control means of another refueling unit upon generation of an instruction signal.