US3708113A

US3708113A - Price indication apparatus in which unit price setting is changeable from outside

Info

Publication number: US3708113A
Application number: US00172831A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Katakura; Y Nishida
Original assignee: Tokico Ltd
Current assignee: Tokico Ltd
Priority date: 1971-08-18
Filing date: 1971-08-18
Publication date: 1973-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-02

Abstract

A price indication apparatus comprises a computer part for making computation with respect to a measured flow quantity of fluid and a unit price per unit flow quantity, a price indication part for indicating the result of the operation in the computer part and a unit price setting changing operation part for changing a unit price set in the computer part from outside of the apparatus. The operation part for changing the unit price setting is capable of changing the unit price setting by operating a single operating rod for a horizontal sliding movement and a rotational movement about its axis by means of a single knob.

Description

United States Patent Katakura et al. 1 Jan. 2, 1973 54 PRICE INDICATION APPARATUS IN 2,836,361 5/1958 Haupt ..23s/94 A WHICH UNIT PRICE SETTING IS 3,317,129 5/1967 Berck etal CHANGEABLE FROM OUTSIDE 3,425,291 2/ 1969 Sundblom ..74/348 [75] Inventors: 3 ir i z g Nishid" Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky t 0 0 apan Attorney-Holman8zStern 1 Assisnw Tyk co L -1 K wa k NKQ 'EQ'WF' .7

ken, Japan [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Aug. 18, 1971 A price indication apparatus comprises a computer part for making computation with respect to a mea-' [2]] Appl' "L831 sured flow quantity of fluid and a unit price per unit flow quantity, a price indication part for indicating the Cl 1 235/61 L, 7 result of the operation in the computer part and a unit [51] Int. Cl ..B67d 5/08, G06c 29/00 price setting changing operation part for changing a Field of 3' M, 61 L1 94 A, 94 R; unit price set in the computer part from outside of the 74/348, 345 apparatus. The operation part for changing the unit price setting is capable of changing the unit price [56] References C'ted setting by operating a single operating rod for a UNITED STATES PATENTS horizontal sliding movement and a rotational movement about 1ts axis by means of a smgle knob. 2,024,115 12/1935 Schwartz ..235/94 A- 2,178,229 /1939 Hazard ..74/348 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures x 7"* Q" o 120% g 0;: 0 I -v f \L/EL .;4 flay E 42 a :7:

o o ,5! 0 i o E El v 40 59 II I unii (6 45 1 PATENTEDJAN ems 3.708.113

SHEET 1 OF 5 I Af k 53mm 4477, INVENTOR 9' Jam? A S/00,9

ATTORNEY PATENTEDJM 21975 3,708 113 sum 2 or 5 PATENTEBJAN ems 3.708.113

sum u 0F 5 PRICE INDICATION APPARATUS IN WHICH UNIT PRICE SETTING IS CIIANGEABLE FROM OUTSIDE This invention relates to a price indication apparatus in which a unit price can be variably set, and more particularly, to an apparatus which can be used for, for example, a fuel supplying apparatus and is capable of changing the setting of a price per a unit measured flow quantity of a fluid (hereinafter referred to as unit price) from outside of the apparatus. The price indication apparatus indicates the total price which is resulted from the computation of the measured flow quantity and the unit price.

There has been proposed and used a price indication apparatus used in the fuel supplying apparatus which is capable of multiplying the unit price by a supply quantity and indicating the price of the fuel sold.

There sometimes arises a necessity in a fuel supplying station to change the unit price depending upon the kind of customer, for example, a customer who boys the fuel in cash and a customer who buys the fuel in credit. Further, the unit price differs according to the area where the fuel supplying apparatus is used, and also according to the kind of fuel such as regular gasoline, high octane gasoline etc. Accordingly, the setting of the.unit price on the basis of which computation is performed must be changed in these cases.

If there is necessity for changing the setting of the unit price for various reasons as described above in the conventional price indication apparatus, the shell or casing of the fuel supplying apparatus is opened and then the casing of a computer where the operation is performed is opened. Then a unit price setting lever provided in the unit price setting mechanism must be manually operated for changing the set unit price. Consequently, the unit price setting changing operation requires a very complicated and troublesome work.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to eliminate the above described disadvantage and provide a novel and useful price indication apparatus which is capable of changing the unit price setting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a price indication apparatus having a unit price setting changing mechanism'in which the changing of the unit price setting can be made by a single operation part and from outside of the shell or casing. The unit price setting changing operation can be made easily by a rectilinear displacement and rotation of an operation rod provided in the aforementioned operation part. According to the invention, the unit price setting changing operation is made from outside of the shell or casing, so that it is no longer necessary to open the casing as in the prior art apparatus. Further, the provision-of the single operation part enables the operator to operate it singlehanded.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unit price setting changing mechanism in which rotation of the operation rod of the operation part for changing the unit price setting is not transmitted unless the operation rod is displaced by a predetermined distance. By adopting this construction, the unit price setting lever and gears do not receive rotational force for changing the setting before they are released from their engagements, so that damage on the lever or gears due to excessive force applied thereto can be effectively prevented.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a unit price setting changing mechanism having a mechanism for holding the operation rod of the operation part temporally in its displaced position. This construction greatly facilitates the operation for rotating the operation rod.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the description made hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of a fuel supplying apparatus incorporating the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a price indication apparatus incorporating one embodiment of a unit price setting changing mechanism according to the invention with its casing removed for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation part of the price setting changing mechanism with a part thereof removed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the essential part of the mechanism according tothe invention employed in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional plan view of the clutch portion of the operation part shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the lever portion of the operation part;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of one modification of the lever portion; and

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the price setting changing mechanism according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a fuel supplying apparatus of a generally employed type in which the price indication apparatus incorporating the unit price setting changing mechanism according to the invention is provided. Within a shell 10 which constitutes a gasoline station post, there are provided a pump, a motor, a flowmeter etc. (not shown) of a known type and, on a table 11, there is provided a flow quantityprice computing unit 12 (hereinafter referred to as a computer) to be described later. On the computer 12, there is provided an indicator 13 having a price indication part 14, a flow quantity indication part 15 and a unit price indication part 16. The

indication parts

14, 15 and 16 are disposed at positions which are visible from the front of the shell 10. On one side of the shell 10, there are provided protruding knobs 18a, 18b and 180 of

operation parts

17a, 17b and 17c of the unit price setting changing mechanism to be described later, which

operation parts

17a, 17b and 17c extend horizontally through the shell 10. In the'present embodiment, the unit price indication part 16 consists of three figure wheels which are capable of indicating 'a unit price of three figures. The three operation parts 17a, 17b and are provided for changing the setting of each figure of the unit price.

FIG. 2 illustrates a price indication apparatus incorporating one embodiment of the unit price setting changing mechanism according to the invention. The price indication apparatus 20 is generally composed of a known computer part 21, a price indication part 22 and a unit price setting changing mechanism 23 embodying the present invention. When the fuel supplying apparatus is operated to supply a required fuel, a flowmeter 24 measures flow quantity of the supplied fuel.

The output revolutions which are the result of the measurement by the flowmeter 24 are transmitted to a cone gear 26 through a shaft 25. The cone gear 26 consists of nine gear portions having sequentially different diameters and has a substantially conical shape. A gear 27 for setting the figure of the first order of the unit price is rotatably mounted on a support plate 29 loosely fitted to a shaft 28 and is capable of meshing with the cone gear 26. A gear 30 which is in mesh with the gear 27 is supported on the shaft 28. A key provided on the gear 30 is in engagement with a spline 31 formed vertically on the shaft 28 and, accordingly, the gear 30 is vertically slidable relative to the shaft 28 while it causes the shaft 28 to rotate integrally therewith when it is rotated. A gear 32 fixedly mounted on the upper portion of the shaft 28 is in mesh with an integrator gear 34 which is one of planetary gear group 33.

A gear 35 for setting the figure of the second order of the unit price has the same construction as the gear 27 for setting the figure of the first order. A shaft 36 is rotated in the same manner as the shaft 28 when it receives rotational force from the gear 35. A gear 37 fixedly mounted on the shaft 36 is in mesh with an integrator gear 38 which is one of planetary gear group 33. With respect to the figure of the third order, gears and other elements are arranged, though not shown in the figure, in the same manner as described above with respect to the figures of the first and second orders.

The revolutions of the cone gear 26 are transmitted to the planetary gear group 33 through the

gears

27, 35, 32, 37 etc. The planetary gear group 33 effects multiplication of the flow quantity transmitted from the flowmeter 24 through the shaft 25 and the unit price set according to the heights of meshing engagement of the

gears

27, 35 etc. with the cone gear 26. The output revolutions which are the result of computation in the planetary gear group 33 are obtained from

shafts

39 and 40. The revolutions of the shaft 39 are transmitted to gear train 41, and the price is indicated on the indication part 14. The revolutions of the shaft 40 are transmitted to gear train 42, and the quantity is indicated on the indication part 15. I

A unit price setting lever 43 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is fixed at one end thereof to the support plate 29, and has a spirally bent shape. The unit price setting lever 43 is formed with ten slots 44 each of which has an inverted U or an inverted V shape at the bottom edge thereof and is respectively marked with graduation of 1, 2, 3, 9 and corresponding to the slots. On a base 45, there is fixedly mounted a projection 46 having a predetermined height. The foremost end portion of the projection 46 is shaped to engage in either one of the slots 44. The height of the lever 43 is set according to the number of the slot with which the projection 46 engages. When the height of the lever 43 is set, the height of the gear 27 is set. The setting of the height of the gear 27 determines one particular gear portion I among the nine stepped gear portions of the cone gear 26 with which the gear 27 meshes. When the projection 46 in engagement with the slot marked 0 of the lever 43, the gear 27 is spaced apart from the cone gear 26.

As described in the foregoing, setting of one particular slot 44 of the lever 43 with which the projection 46 meshes determines one particular gear portion among the stepped gear portions of the cone gear 26 with which the gear 27 meshes. Accordingly, a gear ratio between the cone gear 26 and the gear 27 is determined by the above described setting. This in turn determines a rotation ratio between the gear 32 and the planetary gear group 33 resulting in setting of computation coefficient. Consequently, the price obtained as a result of computation differs according to the setting of the unit price even though the flow quantity is the same.

In the conventional apparatus, if it is desired to change the setting of the unit price, the cover provided on one side of the shell 10 is opened, the casing protecting the computer 21 (12 in FIG. 1) is removed and the unit price setting lever 43 is manually lifted and rotated to have its desired slot 44 engaged with the projection 46. This operation for changing the setting of the unit price has entailed a rather complicated and time-consuming work. This invention has facilitated the operation for changing the setting of the unit price by conducting the operation from outside of the shell 10 through a single operation part.

Now the construction of the essential part of the apparatus according to the invention will be described. In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4,

horizontal shafts

50 and 51 of the operation part 23 for changing the unit price setting are connected in one shaft by means of a clutch 52 to be described later. The shaft 50 is provided with a flangelike spring shoe 53. A spring 55 is provided between the spring shoe 53 and a fixed bearing plate 54 on which the shaft 50 is rotatably supported. In the middle of the shaft 50, there is formed a rack 56 along the whole circumference of the shaft 50. A pinion 57 meshes with the rack 56, and is rotated by the movement of the rack 56 in the direction of arrow A or B. The rotation of the pinion 57 is transmitted to a gear 60 through a shaft 58 and a gear 59. A rack rod 61 is formed with a rack 62 which meshes with the gear 60 and is vertically moved. One end of an arm 63 is fixed to the upper end of the rack rod 61. The other end of the arm 63 is loosely engaged with the shaft 28 under the lower. surface of the boss of the gear 30. The arm 63 is slidable -relative to the shaft 28 and allows unobstructed rotation of the shaft 28.

A gear 64 is loosely fitted on the shaft 50. A collar portion of a boss of the gear 64 is joumalled on a bearing 65. A pawl wheel 66 is fixedly mounted on the gear 64. The gear 64 and the pawl wheel 66 are rotatably supported but prevented from an axial movement by the bearing 65. A pawl wheel 67 having projections which mesh with the pawl wheel 66 is fitted on the shaft 50. A pin 68 provided on the shaft 50 engages in a groove 69 formed in the pawl wheel 67. A spring 71 is provided between a spring shoe fixed to the end of the shaft 50 and the pawl wheel 67.

A gear 72 meshes with the gear 64. The rotational force of the gear 72 is transmitted to a gear 74 through a shaft 73. The gear 74 meshes with a gear 75 which is loosely fitted on the shaft 28. A plate 76 which is rotated integrally with the gear 75 is loosely fitted on the shaft 28. A guide plate 77 is engaged with the plate 76 so as to be rotated integrally therewith and its ends are loosely fitted on the shaft 28. On the upper portion of the guide plate 77, there is provided a lever 78 in the form of a leaf spring which has a ball 79. The ball 79 engages in one of the recesses of a position control plate 81 which has ten recesses and is supported on a supporting post 80. The guide plate 77 is engaged with the support plate 29 so that the support plate 29 is vertically slidable with respect to the guide plate 77 and the guide plate 77 is rotatable around the shaft 28 integrally with the support plate 29.

The shaft 51 slidably extends through the shell and is provided with an operation knob 82 at its end projecting outside of the shell 10.

The clutch 52 for coupling the

rods

80 and 51 will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. The clutch 52 generally consists of a clutch member 83 fixedly mounted on the rod 50 and a clutch member 84 fixedly mounted on the rod 51. The clutch member 84 has a shape which covers the outer periphery of the clutch member 83. The clutch member 83 is formed with a spline 85. A spring 86 is inserted between the clutch member 83 and the clutch member 84. A ball 88 which is energized by a spring 87 is provided in a recess formed in the clutch member 84.

Nextly, the operation of the above described apparatus when it performs the unit price setting changing operation will be described. For changing the unit price setting, the operator pulls the rod 5H by means of the knob 82 in-the direction ofarrow A as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4. The movement of the rod 51 in the direction of arrow A causes the rod 50 to move in the same direction through the clutch 52, compressing the spring 55. The movement of the rod 50 in the direction of arrow A causes the pinion 57 which is in mesh with the rack 56 to rotate, which in turn causes the

gears

59 and 60 to rotate, thereby moving the rack rod 61 upwardly. The arm 63 is lifted by the rack rod 61 with its one end being guided along the shaft 28.

At this time, the gear is pushed upwardly by the arm 63 at the lower surface thereof and moves upwardly guided along the spline 31 of the shaft 28. The gear 27 is lifted with the gear 30 and the support plate 29, so that the gear 27 is disengaged from the cone gear 26. Simultaneously, the unit price setting lever 43 is moved upwardly with the support plate 29, thereby causing the slot 44 to be disengaged from the projection 46. Accordingly, the mere movement of the

rods

50 and 51 in the direction of arrow A causes the gear 27 and the unit price setting lever 43 to move upwardly in preparation for the following unit price setting changing operation.

- In the meanwhile, the movement of the rod 56- in the direction of arrow A causes the pawl wheel 67 to move in the same direction by force of the spring '71 and engage the pawl wheel 66. If the rod 50 is pulled further in the direction of arrow A after the pawl wheel 67 has engaged the pawl wheel 66, the pin 68 is guided along the groove 69 to allow further movement of the rod 58,

whereby damages of the

pawl wheels

66 and 67 can be avoided.

If the rod 51 is further pulled in the direction of arrow A under the above described condition, the clutch member 84 is displaced in the direction of arrow A relative to the clutch member 83, compressing the spring 86. The displacement of the clutch member 84 causes the ball 88 energized by the spring 87 to fall into the spline 85. At this time, the

clutch members

83 and 84 are coupled through the spline 85 and the ball 88 in the direction of rotation of the

rods

50 and 51 about their axes.

When the knob 82 is rotated by a predetermined angle according to a desired unit price to be set, the rotation of the rod 51 is transmitted to the rod 50 through the clutch 52 now in engagement. The rotation of the rod 50 is transmitted to the gear 64 through the pin 68 and

pawl wheels

67 and 66, and further to the gear through the

gears

72 and 74. The rotation of the gear 75 causes the plate 76 which is' integral therewith and the guide plate 77 to rotate about the shaft 28. The guide plate 77 is rotated by an angle which corresponds to the angle of rotation of the

rods

51 and 50 until it click-stops at a position where the ball 78 is positioned in the recess of the position control plate 81. As the guide plate 77 rotates, the support plate 29 rotates and the gear 27 and the unit price setting lever 43 rotate integrally with the support plate 29 about the shaft 28. Accordingly, the gear 27 and the unit price setting lever 43 are rotated by an angle which corresponds to the angle of rotation of the knob 82. At this stage, the gear 27 assumes a position which is of a height of one of the stepped gear portions of the cone gear 26 which corresponds to the desired unit price to be set. The unit price setting lever 43 also assumes a position in which one of the slots 44 which corresponds to the desired unit price to be set is engageable with the projection 46. Simultaneously with the rotation of the unit price setting lever 43, the figure wheel (not shown) is also rotated, and the indication of the figure of the first order of the unit price indicated on the unit price indication part 16 shown in FlG. 1 is changed.

After the foregoing operation, the knob 82 is released. The clutch member 84 is displaced relative to the clutch member 83 in the direction of arrow B due to force of the spring 86 within the clutch 52. The ball 88 is disengaged from the spline 85, and the clutch 52 returns to the state as shown in FlG. 5. As a result, the

clutch members

84 and 83 are disengaged, and thereafter the rotation of the rod 51 is not transmitted to the rod 50. The rod 50 is displaced in the direction of arrow B due to force of the spring 55, whereby the

pawl wheels

66 and 67 are disengaged.

The displacement of the rod 50 in the direction of arrow B causes the gear 57 to rotate through the rack 56 of the rod 56, thereby causing the rack rod 61 to move downwardly. As the rack rod 61 moves downwardly, the arm 63 is lowered, and the

gears

30 and 27, the support plate 29 and the unit price setting lever 43 are also lowered due to their self weight. At this time, the unit price setting lever 43 has the projection 46 engaged in one of the slots 44 which corresponds to the desired unit price to be set. By the engagement of the lever 43 with the projection 46, the downward movement of the lever 43, the support plate 29 and the gear 27 is stopped. At this time, the gear 27 meshes with one of the stepped gear portions of the cone gear 26 corresponding to the desired unit price to be set which is opposed to the gear 27 at its rotated position as described above. The rack rod 61 and the arm 63 are lowered to their lowermost positions according to the amount of displacement of the rod 50.

By the foregoing operation, the unit price setting of, for example, the figure of the first order is completed. As regards the unit price setting of the figures of the second and third orders, the unit price setting operation parts for the figures of the second and third orders having the same construction as the above described operation part for the figure of the first order are operated in the same manner for changing the unit price setting.

In the operation part of the above described embodiment, the rod 51 must be rotated in the state in which it is being pulled by means of the knob 82 in the direction of arrow A. This causes some difficulty in the operation. Embodiments of operation parts in which this difficulty has been overcome are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In FIG. 6, a lever 100 is fixedly mounted on the end portion of the rod 51. A spring pawl 101 is fixed at one end thereof to the rod 51, and the other end thereof is made a free end. The spring pawl 101 has a stepped portion 102 in the middle portion thereof. In the end portion of the rod 51, there is provided a pin 103 which serves to fix the lever 100 and support a disengaging rod 104 which is rotatable about the pin 103. One end of the rod 104 is urged by a spring 105 in a direction in which the end moves away from the lever 100. The other end of the rod 104 is constantly pushing the free end of the spring pawl 101 by force of the spring 105. A stopper 106 is mounted on the frame of the apparatus so as to engage with the stepped portion 102 of the spring pawl 101 thereby to prevent returning of the rod 51 in the direction of arrow B.

When the lever 100 is pulled in the direction of arrow A with the disengaging rod 104, the stepped portion 102 of the spring pawl 101 is brought into abutting engagement with the stopper 106, whereby the rod 51 is held in its displaced position. Accordingly, after the operator releases the lever 100, the rod 51 remains in its displaced position and the clutch 52 remains in the engaged state. This facilitates the subsequent operation for rotating the rod 51. When it is desired to disengage the spring pawl 101 from the stopper 106, the disengaging rod 104 is rotated about the pin 103 against the force of the spring 105.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the lever portion shown in FIG. 6. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. A lever 107 is rotatably mounted on a pin 108 provided on the end portion of the rod 51. When the lever 107 is pulled in the direction of arrow A with the rod 51, the stepped portion 102 of the spring pawl 101 is engaged with the stopper 106. If this engagement is to be released, the

lever 107 is rotated.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the unit price setting changing mechanism according to the invention. In FIGS. 2, 4 and 8, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

At one end 150a of an operating rod 150, there is fixedly mounted a knob 151. The other end 150b of the rod 150 is in abutting engagement'with one end of a pushing plate 152. A gear 153 is a screw gear having a hollow portion through which the operating rod 150 extends. A key 155 provided on the internal surface of the screw gear 153 is fitted in a spline 154 formed in the operating rod 150. By this arrangement, the operating rod 150 is axially displaceable relative to the screw gear 153 whereas it is rotatable about its axis integrally with the screw gear 153 through engagement of the key 155 with the spline 154. A clutch 156 which also serves as a stopper is provided in the middle of the operating rod 150. A projection portion 157 of the clutch 156 has a shape which fits into a recess 158 formed in the gear 153. A stopper 159 fixed to the frame prevents an axial displacement of the gear 153.

The pushing plate 152 is substantially V-shaped in its side view with its one plate portion 152a disposed horizontally and the other plate portion 152b disposed obliquely. The pushing plate 152 is displaceable along a guide 160 without being rotated. The pushing plate 152 receives at its bent portion force acting to move it in the direction of arrow A due to a spring 162 stretched between the bent portion and the frame 161. A lever 163 having an inverted L-shape consists of an arm 163a which is engageable at its lower end with the plate portion 152b which serves as a lifting portion and an arm 163!) which is loosely fitted on the shaft 28. A cylindrical gear 164 loosely fitted on the shaft 28 and is fixedly mounted on the support plate 29. The arm 163b of the lever 163 is engageable with the lower surface of the gear 164.

A shaft 165 extending through the base 45 is fixedly provided at the lower end thereof with a gear 166 which meshes with the gear 153, and at the upper end thereof with a gear 167. The gear 167 meshes with the cylindrical gear 164. A stopper 168 is fixedly mounted in the middle portion of the shaft 165. The stopper 168 is in abutting engagement with the lower surface of the base 45. The shaft 165 is restrained in its vertical displacement by means of the

stoppers

168 and 159.

Nextly, the operation of the above described mechanism during the unit price setting changing operation will be described. In changing the unit price setting, the operator pushes the operating rod 150 by the knob 151 in the direction of arrow B against the resilient force of the spring 162 until the projecting portion 157 of the clutch 156 fits in the recess 158. The movement of the operating rod 150 in the direction of arrow B causes the pushing plate 152 to move in the same direction. As the pushing plate 152 moves, the lifting portion 152b which is in abutting engagement with the lower end of the arm 163a of the lever 163 lifts the lever 163 along the slope thereof. The lever 163 which is in abutting engagement with the lower surface of the gear 164 lifts the gear 164, the support plate29 and the

gears

27 and 30 simultaneously. At this time, the gear 164, thesupport plate 29 and the

gears

27 and 30 are lifted without being rotated, guided by means of the key provided on the gear 30 and the spline 31 formed on the shaft 28. Consequently, the gear 27 is disengaged from the cone gear 26. Simultaneously, the unit price setting lever 43 moves upwardly with the support plate 29 thereby disengaging the slot 44 from the projection 46. Accordingly, the mere movement of the operating rod 150 and the pushing plate 152 in the direction of arrow B enables the gear 27 and the unit price setting lever 43 to move upwardly in preparation for the following operation for changing the unit price setting.

Under the above described condition, the operating rod 150 is rotated by means of the knob 151 by an angle correspondingto the desired unit price to be set. The rotation 'of the operating rod 150 is transmitted to the gear 153 through the clutch 156 which is in engagement with the gear 153. The rotation of the gear 153 is transmitted to the gear 164 through the gear 166, the

shaft 165 and the gear 167, whereby the gear 164 is rotated by a predetermined angle. As the gear 164 rotates, the support plate 29, the unit price setting lever 43 and the gear 27 rotate simultaneously with the gear 164 by a predetermined angle. By this rotation, the gear 27 assumes a position which is of a height of one of the stepped gear portions of the cone gear 26 which corresponds to the desired unit price to be set. The unit price setting lever 43 also assumes a position in which one of the slots 44 which corresponds to the desired unit price to be set is engageable with the projection 46.

After the foregoing operation, the operator releases the knob 151. The pushing plate 152 and the operating rod 150 are displaced in the direction of arrow A by the resilient force of the spring 162 and return to their initial positions. As the operating rod 150 moves in the direction of arrow A, the clutch 156 is moved away from the gear 153, and the projecting portion 157 of the clutch 156 is disengaged from the recess 158, whereby the clutch 156 is released from its engagement with the gear 153. Accordingly, even if the knob 151 is erroneously rotated thereafter, the gear 153 is not rotated. Therefore, damage on the rotation transmission mechanism subsequent to the gear 153 will be avoided. The movement of the pushing plate 152 in the direction of arrow A causes the lever 163 to move downwardly due to its self weight along the slope of the lifting portion l52b. The gear 164, the support plate 29, the

gears

27 and 30 and the unit price setting lever 43 move downwardly due to their self weight. At this time, the unit price setting lever 43 has one of its slots 44 which corresponds to the desired unit price to be set engaged with the projection 46. By the engagements of the lever 43 with the projection 46, the downward movement of the lever 43, the support plate 29 and the

gears

27, 30 and 164 are stopped. At this time, the gear 27 meshes with one of the stepped gear portions of the cone gear 26 corresponding to the desired unit price to be set which is opposed to the gear 27 at its rotated position as described above.

The operations for setting other figures are made in the same manner as described above by operating an 7 operating part for each figure which has the same construction as the operating part described above.

This invention is not limited to the above described embodimentsbut various variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A price indication apparatus in which setting of a unit price is changeable comprising:

, a computer part comprising a cone gear which consists of a plurality of gear portions each having a different number of teeth and is revolved according. to the measured flow quantity of the fluid, unit price setting gears provided for each figure of the unit price to be set each of which gears meshes with one of the gear portions of said cone gear corresponding to the unit price to be set, shafts each of which is revolved by the revolution of each of said unit price setting gears and guides said'gear vertically slidably, a planetary gear group which is revolved by a rotational force transmitted by each of said shafts and substantially effects computation of said measured flow quantity and the set unit price, and unit price setting levers each of which is provided so as to slide vertically guided by said shaft and integrally with said unit price setting gear and rotate about said shaft, said lever being controlled in its height by engaging with a projection fixed to the frame of the apparatus, whereby the gear portion of said cone gear to be meshed with said unit price setting gear is selected;

price indication part for taking out the result of operation in said computer part from the output of said planetary gear group and indicating it as a total price; and an operation part for changing the set unit price provided for each figure of the unit price to be set comprising an operation knob, an operating rod provided at one end thereof with said operation knob and held in a horizontally movable position, means for converting the horizontally moving force of said operating rod into a vertically moving force, means for lifting said unit price setting gear and said unit price setting lever along said shaft by said vertically moving force obtained by said converting means, means for taking out and transmitting a rotational force of said operating rod during its rotation about its axis, and means for rotating said unit price setting gear and said unit price setting lever about the axis of said shaft by the rotational force received from said means for transmitting the rotational force;

wherein said operating rod being rotated by an angle corresponding to the desired unit price to be set thereby to rotate said unit price setting gear to a position opposed to the gear portion of said cone gear corresponding to the desired unit price to be set, and said unit price setting gear and said unit price setting lever being lowered by return of said operating rod to its initial position before its movement and respectively engaged with the gear portion of said cone gear and said projection.

2. The price indication apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said operation part for changing the unit price setting further comprises a spring which is energized by the horizontal movement of said operating rod, said spring causing said operating rod to return to its initial position when said operating rod is released from the moving force acting thereon thereby causing said unit price setting gear and said unit price setting lever to move downwardly due to their self weight.

3. The price indication apparatus as defined in claim 1 in a fuel supplying apparatus having a casing which covers said apparatus, wherein-said operating rod extends through said casing and said operating knob is provided outside of said casing.

4. The price indication apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said operating rod of said operation part for changing the set unit price has a rack portion, said lifting means consists of a rack rod which is vertically movable and an arm which is vertically movable integrally with said rack rod and lifts said unit price setting gear and said unit price setting lever, and said means for converting moving force consists of a first gear which meshes with said rack portion of the operating rod thereby converting the horizontal movement into a rotational movement and a second gear which meshes with the rack of said rack rod and lifts said rack rod vertically when it is rotated by the rotational force of said first gear.

5. The price indication apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said operation part for changing the unit price setting further comprises coupling means for coupling, in the direction of rotation of said operating rod, said operating rod and said means for transmitting the rotational force when said operating rod has moved by a predetermined distance.

6. The price indication apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said operating rod consists of a first operating rod provided with said operating knob and a second operating rod aligned with said first operating rod, and said operation part for changing the unit price setting comprises a first coupling means for coupling said first operating rod and said second operating rod in the direction of rotation of said operating rod about its axis when said first operating rod has moved by a first predetermined distance relative to said second operating rod and a second coupling means for coupling said second operating rod and said means for transmitting the rotational force in the direction of rotation of said operating rod about its axis when said second operating rod has moved by a secondpredetermined distance.

7. The price indication apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said operation part for changing the set unit price further comprises a retaining means for retaining said operating rod in its horizontally displaced position against force of said spring.

8. The price indication apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said operating rod of said operation part for changing the set unit price has a sloping portion and said lifting means consists of a lever which is in abutting engagement with said sloping portion and is moved up wardly by the movement of said operating rod causing said unit price setting gear and said unit price setting lever to move upwardly.

Claims

1. A price indication apparatus in which setting of a unit price is changeable comprising: a computer part comprising a cone gear which consists of a plurality of gear portions each having a different number of teeth and is revolved according to the measured flow quantity of the fluid, unit price setting gears provided for each figure of the unit price to be set each of which gears meshes with one of the gear portions of said cone gear corresponding to the unit price to be set, shafts each of which is revolved by the revolution of each of said unit price setting gears and guides saiD gear vertically slidably, a planetary gear group which is revolved by a rotational force transmitted by each of said shafts and substantially effects computation of said measured flow quantity and the set unit price, and unit price setting levers each of which is provided so as to slide vertically guided by said shaft and integrally with said unit price setting gear and rotate about said shaft, said lever being controlled in its height by engaging with a projection fixed to the frame of the apparatus, whereby the gear portion of said cone gear to be meshed with said unit price setting gear is selected; a price indication part for taking out the result of operation in said computer part from the output of said planetary gear group and indicating it as a total price; and an operation part for changing the set unit price provided for each figure of the unit price to be set comprising an operation knob, an operating rod provided at one end thereof with said operation knob and held in a horizontally movable position, means for converting the horizontally moving force of said operating rod into a vertically moving force, means for lifting said unit price setting gear and said unit price setting lever along said shaft by said vertically moving force obtained by said converting means, means for taking out and transmitting a rotational force of said operating rod during its rotation about its axis, and means for rotating said unit price setting gear and said unit price setting lever about the axis of said shaft by the rotational force received from said means for transmitting the rotational force; wherein said operating rod being rotated by an angle corresponding to the desired unit price to be set thereby to rotate said unit price setting gear to a position opposed to the gear portion of said cone gear corresponding to the desired unit price to be set, and said unit price setting gear and said unit price setting lever being lowered by return of said operating rod to its initial position before its movement and respectively engaged with the gear portion of said cone gear and said projection.

3. The price indication apparatus as defined in claim 1 in a fuel supplying apparatus having a casing which covers said apparatus, wherein said operating rod extends through said casing and said operating knob is provided outside of said casing.

6. The price indication apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said operating rod consIsts of a first operating rod provided with said operating knob and a second operating rod aligned with said first operating rod, and said operation part for changing the unit price setting comprises a first coupling means for coupling said first operating rod and said second operating rod in the direction of rotation of said operating rod about its axis when said first operating rod has moved by a first predetermined distance relative to said second operating rod and a second coupling means for coupling said second operating rod and said means for transmitting the rotational force in the direction of rotation of said operating rod about its axis when said second operating rod has moved by a second predetermined distance.

8. The price indication apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said operating rod of said operation part for changing the set unit price has a sloping portion and said lifting means consists of a lever which is in abutting engagement with said sloping portion and is moved upwardly by the movement of said operating rod causing said unit price setting gear and said unit price setting lever to move upwardly.