Liquid-supplying Apparatus

Abstract

A liquid-supplying apparatus having a single card reader connected to each of a plurality of liquid-supplying systems for supplying different sorts of liquid. The card reader controls the respective liquid supplying system by cooperating with a discrimination card which consists of a main card and a subcard disengageably connected in a set.

Description

This invention relates to a liquid-supplying apparatus which is controlled by discriminating cards and more particularly to a liquid-supplying apparatus in which the quantities and the sorts of liquid such as fuel for supply are automatically controlled and supervised by the discriminating cards.

A conventional fuel-supplying apparatus having card readers for reading cards having codes for denoting the quantity of fuel to supply and other information data generally includes card readers respectively for the delivery systems for supplying different sorts of fuel. Provision of a card reader respectively in each fuel supplying system however involves great cost and space for the card readers and in addition involves much labor for operating the card readers.

A primary object of the invention is therefore to provide a liquid-supplying apparatus which removes the above disadvantages and is so constructed that a plurality of liquid-supplying systems are controlled by a single card reader.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel-supplying apparatus making use of a card reader cooperating with sets of discriminating cards in which the supply quantity and sort of fuel or liquid can be readily and preferentially combined.

Still other objects of the invention are the provision of a fuel-supplying apparatus to use one or more sets of cards consisting of main cards and subcards; to provide that subcards in the card reader not be taken from the reader until a definite quantity of fuel has been supplied; to provide an interlock for the fuel-supplying system so as to prevent an excess supply of fuel; and to provide for an overall concentric control of fuel supply.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a discrimination card used in the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view in transverse section of a card reader associated with the subcard shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for preventing an erronuous operation of the card reader.

In FIG. 1, a fuel-supplying apparatus for tank lorries is illustrated as one embodiment of the invention. In this figure, a fuel reservoir 11 is installed, for example, at oil plants or harbor facilities. According to an arrangement of the system of the invention, the liquid or fuel in the reservoir 11 is delivered through a conduit or pipe 12. In the pipe 12 are provided a pump 14 driven by a motor 13, a strainer 15, a flowmeter 16 such as of volumetric or turbine type, and a fixed quantity valve 17 operated by a control circuit later described. At the end of the pipe 12 is provided a swivel loading arm 18 of which an open end is inserted into a tank chamber of a tank lorry 19 brought to a definite position.

The flowmeter 16 has a signal emission part 20 which includes a flow quantity signal emitter for emitting electrical pulse signals proportional to the quantity of flow in the pipe 12, and a fixed quantity signal emitter which operates by delivery of a predetermined quantity such as 1 K1 or 2 K1 and the like. The said flow quantity signal emitter may either be of the microswitch contact type such as reed switches, or noncontact type such as a photoelectric or high-frequency signal emission type. The said fixed quantity signal emitter may be of a construction having for example a notched disk and a microswitch which can emit a fixed quantity signal at each rotation of the notched disk. The fixed quantity valve 17 is provided with an electromagnetic solenoid 21 which is excited causing the valve 17 to open and is deenergized causing the valve 17 to close. There is provided a start switch 22 on or in the vicinity of the loading arm 18. The switch 22 further hand-or foot-operated and has a construction capable of preventing casualities such as fire due to electrical sparks, excessive currents and the like during operation.

A control circuit 23 is supplied with signals as inputs from the signal emission part 20, the start switch 22, and a later-described card reader 24 and emits signals as outputs to the electromagnetic solenoid 21 of the fixed quantity valve 17 and to a printer 25 and the like.

It is seen that there is formed a continuous fuel-supplying system adapted for the delivery of a kind of fuel consisting of the above-described various components from the oil reservoir 11 to the control circuit 23, which system may herein be a crude oil supplying system. In a similar way, other fuel-supplying systems may respectively be formed of components denoted by numerals each having a suffix such as a and b. Thus, a system including components with numerals having the suffix a designates the heavy oil-supplying system and a system of components of numerals having the suffix b the light oil-supplying system. The fuel supplying systems may be in any number as the case may require. The card reader 24 as hereinbefore mentioned has a main card insertion slot 26 and subcard insertion slots 27, 27a, and 27b.

The printer 25 is adapted to make a record on a bill 28 of the quantity of the supplied fuel transmitted from the signal emission parts 20, 20a and 20b and the sorts of fuel decoded by the card reader 24. The recording may also be accomplished by magnetic or perforated tape used in an electronic computer. Said printer 25 may have terminal equipment for calculating and summing up the total of supplied quantities of fuel in one operation period.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the descrimination card to be inserted into the card reader 24. Main card 30 consists of, for example, a nonmagnetic insulating material 31 such as opaque plastic, in which one or more magnetic metal bits 32 are embedded at predetermined positions. In this embodiment, the metal bits 32 are in an arrangement corresponding to a predetermined quantity of fuel to be supplied to the tank lorry. When the quantity of fuel to be supplied is constant as in a drum, card 30 may be of a construction containing card numbers or operator numbers. The card 30 may have both a fuel quantity code and an operator number code.

A subcard 33 is generally made of material such as metal not readily deformable, which is connected to the main card 30 by a chain 34 and connected or disconnected to or from the card 30 by a lock 35. The subcard 33 is provided with notches 36 and a projection 37 at the forward end, a stepped portion 38 at one side, and a locking hole 39 in the middle thereof. Depending on the combination of the notches 36 and the projection 37, a code denoting the sort of fuel to be supplied can be obtained.

The main card 30 and the subcard 33 are connected to each other by means of the chain 34 and used in a set each having its own code designating a quantity of supplied fuel and a sort of fuel. In order to change the combination of fuel quantity and fuel sort in a set of cards, the lock 35 may be disengaged from the chain 34 so that there may be set up a new combination of another main card or another subcard. Thus the combination of the fuel quantity and the fuel sort in a set can be readily changed and this combination dispenses with the use of many cards as required in the conventional system wherein each card contains an inseparable combination of fuel quantity and fuel sort in a single card.

In FIG. 3 is shown a card reader part 40 in the card reader 24 in transverse section to cooperate with the subcard 33. At the innermost part of the slot 27 are provided switches 41a-41c opposite the notches 36 and the projection 37. In this embodiment, the notches and the projection of the card are disposed in an arrangement such that the notches 36 will be positioned opposite to the switches 41a and 41b and the projection 37 opposite to the switch 41c, so that when the card 33 has been fully inserted into the slot 27 the switches 41a and 41b are not depressed but will remain open while the switch 41c is depressed by the projection 37 and closed. A limit switch 42 is provided at a side of the slot 27 with an actuator 43 projecting from a side of the slot 27. Upon insertion of the card 33, the actuator 43 is pushed by the stepped portion 38 of the card 33 and closes the switch 42.

The card reader part for the main card 30, though not shown, has reed switches in positions opposite to all possible arrangement of the metal bits 32 of the main card 30. However, only the reed switches opposite to the metal bits 32 are actuated. The code decoded by said card reader part is a binary-decimal signal conversion through a signal conversion circuit contained in the card reader 24 and is carried to the control circuit 23 as a signal indicating the quantity of fuel to be supplied. The construction of the card reader need not be limited to that shown but may be of a high-frequency oscillation type in which a high-frequency magnetic field is modulated by shielding of the metal bits or in which an oscillation coil stops its oscillation when the card reader is opposite to the metal bits 32 of the main card 30.

An embodiment of the control circuit 13 is next described with reference to FIG. 4.

Exciting coils R.sub.1 -R.sub.10 and R.sub.X forming relays are respectively connected to power source terminals 50a and 50b in a parallel connection. The coils R.sub.1 -R.sub.5 have respective normally opened relay contacts (R.sub.11, R.sub.12 and R.sub.13), (R.sub.21, R.sub.22 and R.sub.23), and (R.sub.51, R.sub.52 and R.sub.53) respectively associated therewith. Normally opened contacts C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 are respectively connected in parallel to the relay contacts R.sub.11 -R.sub.51. The contacts C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 are closed only when the main card 30 is inserted into the card reader 24. Respective parallel circuits of the contacts C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 and R.sub.11 -R.sub.51 are connected in series to the exciting coils R.sub.1 -R.sub.5.

A tank of a tank lorry is generally partitioned into two to five chambers, each of which has a capacity of 1 K1 or 2 K1. The fuel supplied into the tank is multiplied in volume in units of 1 K1 or 2 K1. The embodiment as hereinabove described is capable of supplying the fuel in a fixed quantity in a multiple number of 2 K1 within a range of 2 K1 to 10 K1, in which the contacts C.sub.1, C.sub.2 - - C.sub.5 correspond to the quantities of fuel respectively in 2 K1, 4 K1, - - - 10 K1. The fuel quantity which is recorded in code by the main card 30 consists of a multiple number of 2 K1 and of contacts C.sub.1 -C.sub.5, the contact of the number corresponding to the fuel quantity read by the card reader 24 is closed.

The exciting coil R.sub.6 has a normally opened contact R.sub.61 and a normally closed contact R.sub.62 cooperating therewith and connected in series with a fixed quantity switch 51 in the signal emission part 20. The exciting coil R.sub.7 has normally closed contacts R.sub.71, R.sub.72 and a normally opened contact R.sub.73 cooperating therewith. The coil R.sub.8 constitutes a rotary relay having a rotary contact R.sub.81 which is moved in one step by each excitation of the coil R.sub.8, and is connected serially with the contact R.sub.61. The rotary contact R.sub.81 consists of a rotary contact member 52 connected in series with the exciting coil R.sub.7, contacts 53a, 53b, - - 53e connected serially to the contacts R.sub.12, R.sub.22,- - R.sub.52, and a dead contact 53f. The exciting coil R.sub.9 has normally opened contacts R.sub.91 and R.sub.92 cooperating therewith and is serially connected to the limit switch 42 and the contact R.sub.71. The exciting coil R.sub.10 has normally opened contacts R.sub.101 and R.sub.102 cooperating therewith. There is a parallel connection of the start switch 22 and the contact R.sub.101, a normally closed switch 55 for emergency stop, a parallel connection of the contacts R.sub.13 -R.sub.53, the contacts R.sub.92, R.sub.72 and R.sub.62, and the exciting coil R.sub.10 which are respectively connected in series. The exciting coil R.sub.X has a normally opened contact R.sub.X1 and a normally closed contact R.sub.X2 cooperating therewith.

An electromagnetic solenoid 56 is provided in the card reader part 40 in a serial connection with the contact R.sub.91, which during operation drives a rod (not shown) to fit into the hole 39 of the subcard 33 for locking. The electromagnetic solenoid 21 for the fixed quantity valve 17 is in a serial connection to the contact R.sub.102. Serially connected to the exciting coil R.sub.X is a print finish switch 57 in the printer 25, which is closed upon completion of recording and printing of all information data in the printer 25. An electromagnetic solenoid 58 in series with the contact R.sub.X1 serves for the return of the rotary contact R.sub.81. By action of the solenoid 58 the member 52 of the rotary contact R.sub.81 is brought back from its stepped position to the position of the dead contact 53f. The contact R.sub.X2 is provided between the contacts 51 and R.sub.51 in a common line 54 connected to the power source terminal 50a, and serves for releasing the self-holdings of the coils R.sub.1 -R.sub.5.

In the circuit and connections as shown in FIG. 4, each block circuit is enclosed with broken lines according to an operation to be later described and respectively denoted in the terms of a main card memory circuit I, a coincidence circuit II, a subcard block circuit III, a fixed quantity valve circuit IV, a return circuit V, and a printing circuit VI.

Operations of the apparatus having the construction hereinbefore described will now be illustrated.

The main card 30 of the discrimination card that is delivered to an operator or a driver may have a code of fuel quantity as for example "8 K1" and a subcard 33 having a code of fuel sort of "Crude Oil." Firstly, the operator or the driver may bring his tank lorry 19 alongside a stage in to definite position and insert the loading arm 18 into a tank chamber of the lorry 19.

Next, he may insert the main card 30 into the slot 26 of the card reader 24 as well as the subcard 33 into the slot 27. By insertion of the subcard 33 into the slot 27 the limit switch 42 will be closed and the forward end of the card 33 be positioned opposite to the switches 41a-41c. Upon complete insertion of the card 33, the switches 41a and 41b are held open and, the switch 41c is closed. By combined open or closed operations of these switches the "crude oil" as the fuel sort is decoded, whereby the supplying system of the crude oil is selected. Thus the quantity of "8 K1" contained in the card 30 is decoded by the card reader of the main card and is transmitted to the control circuit 23, and the contact C.sub.4 shown in FIG. 4 is closed.

By closing of the contact C.sub.4 the exciting coil R.sub.4 is closed to the power source terminals 50a and 50b through the contact C.sub.4 and the coil R.sub.4 actuates to close the contacts R.sub.41, R.sub.42 and R.sub.43. With the contact R.sub.41 closed, the coil R.sub.4 is held by its own action. Although the main card 30 is taken out immediately after it is inserted into the card reader 24 and the contact C.sub.4 is opened, the coil R.sub.4 will not be deenergized. Therefore, at the instant the first fuel supplying system is selected by the subcard 33, the quantity of fuel to be supplied is memorized in the control circuit 23.

With the limit switch 42 being closed, the exciting coil R.sub.9 is actuated and the contacts R.sub.91 and R.sub.92 are closed. With the closing of the contact R.sub.91, the electromagnetic solenoid 56 for locking the subcard is excited. By the action of the solenoid 56, the card 33 is inserted with a rod in the hole 39 and the subcard 33 is locked fixedly until the fuel supply reaches a fixed quantity as defined by the main card 30.

When the start switch 22 is actuated in this position to start the fuel-supplying operation, the motor 13 is driven to operate the pump 14. Through the closed switch 22 and the contacts R.sub.43, R.sub.92, R.sub.72 and R.sub.62 the exciting coil R.sub.10 is now closed and it operates to close the contacts R.sub.101 and R.sub.102. As the contact R.sub.101 is closed, the coil R.sub.10 is self-held. With the closing of the R.sub.102 the solenoid 21 is excited so that the fixed quantity valve 17 is opened.

As soon as the motor 13 starts its operation and the fixed quantity valve 17 opens, the crude oil in the reservoir 11 is carried by the pump 14 through the pipe 12 and delivered into the tank chamber of the lorry 19 through the strainer 15, the flowmeter 16, the fixed quantity valve 17, and the loading arm 18. During the supply of fuel the fuel quantity is constantly measured by the flowmeter 16, the obtained flow quantity being converted into a signal by the flow quantity signal emitter in the signal emission part 20 and transmitted to the printer 25 and integrated.

When the flow quantity of the crude oil passed through the flowmeter 16 reaches a fixed quantity equal to the capacity of one of the tank chambers of the lorry 19, that is, 2 K1 for example in case of the present embodiment, it will occur that the normally opened fixed quantity switch 51 is closed by the fixed quantity signal emitter of the signal emission part. The exciting coil R.sub.6 is excited by closing of the switch 51 so as to close the contact R.sub.61 and open the contact R.sub.62. By closing of the contact R.sub.61 the exciting coil R.sub.8 is excited whereby the contact member 52 of the rotary contact R.sub.81 advances in one step from the dead contact 53f and is connected to the contact 53a. At the instant the contact R.sub.12 is opened so that the exciting coil R.sub.7 is not excited. Once the normally closed contact R.sub.62 is opened the exciting coil R.sub.10 is deenergized and the contacts R.sub.101 and R.sub.102 are opened. By opening of the contact R.sub.101 the coil R.sub.10 is released from its self-holding and by opening of the contact R.sub.102 the electromagnetic solenoid 21 is deenergized. By deenergizing of the solenoid 21 the fixed valve 17 closes so that the supply of fuel is completed to the quantity of 2 K1.

When the operator or the driver moves the loading arm 18 to another tank chamber in the lorry 19 and operates the start switch 22 in the same way as above described, the exciting coil R.sub.10 is again excited; the fixed quantity valve 17 is opened by solenoid 21; and the fuel supply operation is commenced again. When a further supply of fuel in 2 K1 has been performed, the exciting coils R.sub.6 and R.sub.8 are excited and the contact member 52 of the rotary contact R.sub.81 is stepped forward from the contact 53a to the contact 53b by the coil R.sub.8. On the other hand, by opening of the contact R.sub.62 the exciting coil R.sub.10 is deenergized whereby the electromagnetic solenoid 21 is deenergized. Due to deenergization of the solenoid 21 the fixed quantity valve 17 closes. Thus the fuel supply of 2 K1 for the second time is accomplished with the total supply of fuel obtained in 4 K1 including the first time supply of fuel in 2 K1.

Further, by movement of the loading arm 18 to another tank chamber in the same lorry 19, there is commenced a third supply of fuel in 2 K1 in a manner similar to that described above. Thereby the total supply of fuel in 6 K1 is achieved. At this instant the contact member 52 of the rotary contact R.sub.81 will make an advance in one step from the contact 53b to the contact 53c.

For the fourth supply of fuel, the loading arm 18 may then be moved to a still other tank chamber in the lorry 19 where the fourth supply of fuel in 2 K1 will be carried out similarly as in the described manner, a total fuel supply of 8 K1 being thereby obtained. As in the described manner, the fixed quantity switch 51 is closed at this instant and the contact member 52 of the rotary contact R.sub.81 proceeds one step from the contact 53c to the contact 53d. In this condition, the contact R.sub.42 has been already closed by insertion of the main card 30 into the card reader 24, the exciting coil R.sub.7 is closed through the rotary contact R.sub.81 connected to the contact R.sub.42 and the contact 53d and is excited. By excitation of the coil R.sub.7, the contacts R.sub.71 and R.sub.72 are opened and the contact R.sub.73 is closed.

As the contact R.sub.71 is opened the exciting coil R.sub.9 is deenergized, of which the contact R.sub.91 opens to deenergize the electromagnetic solenoid 56 for locking the subcard. With the solenoid 56 being deenergized the rod in the locking hole 39 of the subcard 33 is disengaged from the hole resulting in that the card 33 is released from the slot 27. By opening of the contact R.sub.72 or the contact R.sub.62, the solenoid 21 is deenergized similarly as described so as to close the quantity valve 17. At the instant even though the start switch 22 is further operated erroneously or intentionally, the fixed quantity valve 17 will not open since the contacts R.sub.92 and R.sub.72 are held in open states. Accordingly, it is impossible that the fuel is supplied more than a predetermined quantity proper for the main card 30 as it is in the interlocking condition.

Hence, by closing of the contact R.sub.73, the starting signal of printing for the printer 25 is emitted from the print circuit VI. Thus, in the printer 25 are printed on the bill 28 the information data about the supplied fuel quantity transmitted from the signal emission part 20 and integrated therein and about the fuel sort transmitted from the card reader 24. When the printing on the bill 28 is completed, the printing completion switch 57 is closed and the exciting coil R.sub.X is excited, the contact R.sub.X1 thereby closed and the contact R.sub.X2 opened. By closing of the contact R.sub.X1, the electromagnetic solenoid 58 for the return of the rotary contact is excited with the contact member 52 of the rotary contact R.sub.81 being brought back to the dead contact point 53f. By opening of the contact R.sub.X2, the exciting coil R.sub.4 is deenergized to open the contact R.sub.41 and release the self-holding of the coil R.sub.4. In this way, the fuel supply operation of 8 K1 in accordance with the first supplying system for crude oil is accomplished and the control circuit shown in FIG. 4 is restored to the condition which existed before operation.

The above embodiment illustrates the operation of the fuel supply in case it is confined to the crude oil in 8 K1 by use of the discrimination card comprising a set of a main card 30 and the subcard 33. It is likewise possible to supply plural sorts of fuel in one tank lorry. For instance, in case that the lorry 19 is to be supplied with a supply of crude oil 4 K1, heavy oil 2 K1 and light oil 2 K1, it is necessary to prepare three sets of discrimination cards, i.e., a set of a main card having a code of 4 K1 and a subcard having a code of crude oil, a set of a main card having a code of 2 K1 and a subcard having a code of heavy oil, and a set of a main card having a code of 2 K1 and a subcard having a code of light oil.

In this circumstance, at first, the main card for 4 K1 of the first set is inserted into the slot 26 and the subcard for the crude oil is inserted into the slot 27, whereby the system for the crude oil is selected and the quantity of 4 K1 is memorized in the control circuit 23. Subsequently, the above main card is drawn out and the next main card for 2 K1 of the second set is inserted into the slot 26 with the subcard for heavy oil being inserted into the slot 27a. Thus the system for heavy oil is selected and the quantity of 2 K1 is memorized in the control circuit 23a. When the above-mentioned main card is drawn out and the next main card for 2 K1 of the third set is inserted into the slot 26 and the subcard for light oil is inserted into the slot 27b there may be selected a system for light oil and the quantity of 2 K1 can be memorized in the control circuit 23b.

Consequently, the start switch 22 will operate. In the manner as described the crude oil in 4 K1 is delivered into the tank chambers of the lorry through the loading arm 18. The start switch 22a will operate to deliver the heavy oil of 2 K1 to another tank chamber through the loading arm 18a. The light oil of 2 K1 will be delivered into still other tank chamber by operation of the start switch 22b through the loading arm 18b. The fuel supplying of the systems may be performed either simultaneously or in turn.

According to the invention, merely a single card reader having a single slot for the main card may be sufficient to control plural sorts of fuel for respective fuel-supplying systems.

The main card may if desired have an operator code number designating the person of operator or driver in place for or together with the fuel quantity code number. Furthermore, the apparatus of the invention may be utilized for supplying fuel to railway tank lorries, drums, and for maritime shipment in addition to the use in the usual tank lorries. Also, modifications are available for the control circuit without its being confined to the above-described embodiment, by which for example the relay circuit may properly be replaced by a transistor circuit having the same effect. This applies to the fuel-supplying system which may be provided in a plural number as desired.

An embodiment of a card reader erroneous operation preventing circuit will now be illustrated which may be provided in the card reader 24 with reference to FIG. 5. Usually the conventional card reader has a disadvantage that in the course of insertion or taking out the card into or out of the card reader, the metal bits arranged on the main card will pass over the detection parts such as the code detection element, code detection circuit, etc., in the card reader whereupon said detection parts could make an erroneous detecting and decoding and the erroneous codes are put in the memory circuit. In other cases where one card is put in or out repeatedly, results of decoding at each time of putting in or out are invariably put in the memory circuit thereby causing an erroneous operation.

The possibility of such error is eliminated in the embodiment of this invention. In the embodiment, a card reader part 60 having the slot 26 for the insertion of the main card 30 has a card insertion confirmation part 61 at the innermost part thereof. The confirmation part 61 employs for operation a microswitch being pushed by the forward end of the card 30 or a detection means cooperating with a metal bit provided near at the forward end of the card 30.

A gate circuit 62 is provided consisting of AND-circuits 63a-63n of the number corresponding to that of the detection part in the card reader part 60. By printout signal of the printer 25 there is operated a reset switch 64 which emits a reset signal which is sent to a bistable multivibrator 65 and the memory circuit in the control circuit 23. The multivibrator 65 is put in cutoff state by the reset signal from the reset switch 64 and in conductive state by the card insertion signal from the card insertion confirmation part 61 so as to send the setting signal. A monostable multivibrator 66 receives the setting signal from the multivibrator 65 and sends a pulse wave for a certain short time. An exciting coil 67 forming a relay with a normally closed relay contact 68 is excited and opens the contact 68 when the coil 67 receives the pulse from the multivibrator 66. The AND-circuits 63a-63n are opened only when the contact 68 is opened.

In the circuit of the construction as above described, where the card 30 is not yet inserted into the card reader part 60, the control circuit 23 is reset by the reset switch 64 and the contact 68 is closed and the gate circuit 62 is closed.

When the card reader part 60 has fully inserted therein the main card 30, there are operated only the detection parts corresponding to the codes that the card 30 has out of the number of detection parts in the card reader part 60, the signal of which is then sent to the gate circuit 62. At the same time, the card insertion confirmation part 61 confirms the complete insertion of the card 30 and sends the card insertion signal to the bistable multivibrator 65. Being put in conducting state by said signal, the multivibrator 65 emits a setting signal and the subsequent monostable multivibrator 66 receives the setting signal and emits a pulse wave having a narrow pulse width. The exciting coil 67 is excited by said pulse and opens the contact 68. With the contact 68 being opened, the AND-circuits 63a-63n are opened and the code of the card 30 is memorized in the control circuit 23 during the opening intervals of the AND circuits. The normally closed contact 68 opens only for a relatively short period of time equivalent to the pulse width of the pulse emitted by the multivibrator 66 and thereafter it closes again so that the gate circuit 62 opens only in a short open period of the contact 68 to make a record in the control circuit 23.

Although the card 30 is moved after the record has been made in the control circuit 23 and the code number signal decoded by error by the card reader 60 such as other than the normal code number of the card 30, the gate circuit 62 is closed thereto and such erroneous code number will not be memorized in the control circuit 23. Even when the card 30 is inserted in the card reader part 60, the gate circuit 62 will not open unless the card insertion confirmation part 61 operates. Similarly, the control circuit 23 has not memorized the erroneous code number. Should the card 30 be repeatedly put in or out intentionally or carelessly after the card is inserted, the card insertion confirmation part 61 will operate the number of times of putting in or out of the card but the bistable multivibrator 65 will not emit a setting signal unless it receives a reset signal from the reset switch 64 so that the erroneous code will not memorized in the control circuit 23.

There may be used a noncontact type relay circuit utilizing a switching operation of the semiconductor in place of the contact relay circuit having the exciting coil 67 and contact 68.

In the above-described system general liquid may be applied to the apparatus in substituting for the above fuel or oil.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. A liquid-supplying apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid reservoirs respectively having different kinds of liquid in storage, liquid-delivering conduit pipes arranged respectively for supplying liquid from each of said liquid reservoirs respectively to a liquid-supplying place, means for delivering the liquid respectively provided in the liquid-supplying pipes, flowmeters provided respectively in the liquid delivering pipes, open-close valves provided respectively in the liquid-delivering pipes, at least one main card and one subcard detachably connected, a single card reader having a main card insertion slot and subcard insertion slots equal in number to said liquid-supplying systems, said card reader transmitting a liquid quantity read from a main card inserted in the main card insertion slot to a circuit system corresponding to the liquid kind read from a subcard inserted in a subcard insertion slot, control circuits provided in each of said circuit systems corresponding to said liquid-supplying systems, said control circuits storing the liquid quantity transmitted from said card reader and emitting a valve closing signal upon coincidence of flow quantity signals from the flowmeters and the liquid quantity signals stored in said control circuit, said card reader cooperating in sequence with a plurality of cards incorporating a liquid kind code and the liquid quantity code, said open-close valve being closed by said valve-closing signal from said control circuit.

2. Liquid-supplying apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said card reader includes a first card reader part for reading the code of the main card and a plurality of second card reader parts for respectively reading the codes of each subcard, said first card reader part reading the supplied liquid quantity in cooperation with the main card, said second card reader part reading a kind of liquid in cooperation with the subcard, said second card reader part further including means for locking the inserted subcard whereby the latter cannot be taken out, said locking means maintaining a locking of the subcard until the flow quantity of liquid passed through the flowmeter amounts to the predetermined quantity stored in the control circuit and the control circuit emits an unlocking signal.

3. Liquid-supplying apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said first card reader part includes means whereby, after the supply liquid quantity read from the main card by said first card reader part is stored in the control circuit corresponding to the liquid kind read from the subcard by the second card reader, the main card can be removed from said first card reader part whereafter can follow the insertion, reading, and transmission of supply liquid quantity to the control circuit with respect to different main cards.

4. Liquid-supplying apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said card reader includes a card insertion confirmation means to operate when the main card is inserted to a predetermined position, comprising a gate circuit between the reading and detecting means of said card reader and the control circuit, means actuated in a reset condition only when a signal from the confirmation means enters and a pulse of a relatively short time period is generated, and means for opening said gate circuit only during a time of the width of the pulse from said pulse-generating means, said control circuit including a card reader erroneous operation prevention circuit which stores the signal from said card reader only in the opening period of said gate circuit.

5. Liquid-supplying apparatus as defined in claim 4 which further comprises a printer for receiving a print signal emitted from said each control circuit when the liquid supply is completed and printing the flow quantity from the flowmeter and the liquid kind from said card reader, said printer sending a reset signal to the pulse-generating means and the control circuit when the printing has been completed.