Automatic product-dispensing system

Abstract

An automatic fuel-dispensing system for dispensing fuel at unattended fueling sites includes a number of fuel pumps capable of dispensing different types of fuel. A common control console is used to control the operation of the fuel pumps and to record the data relative to the customer identification, site location and quantity of fuel used. The control console includes a card reader, and a customer inserts a card which uniquely identifies him into the reader, enters an odometer reading, and selects a pushbutton for the fuel pump from which he desires to obtain fuel. If a validity check of the card against preset validity check data fails, a red invalid panel indicator illuminates on the control console; and no product can be withdrawn from the selected dispenser. If the inserted card passes the validity checks, the odometer reading and customer identification data is stored in a RAM memory uniquely associated with the selected dispenser. The card then may be removed from the reader which is then ready for the next fueling operation for another customer, even though fuel in the meantime is being withdrawn from the first-selected dispenser. Upon completion of fueling, the customer hangs up the dispensing hose to turn off the pump, and the control console is signaled to indicate fueling is completed. The customer identification, quantity of product withdrawn, identity of product, and other optional output data then is automatically transferred under control of the control console to a teletypewriter or output interface for further processing. A single card reader and control console may simultaneously control the dispensing of fuel from all of the pumps which are controlled by it, and each of the transaction records are separately transferred to the output teleprinter or interface automatically without interference.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.