Pulse encoder for a liquid dispensing device

A pulse encoder for fitting to a meter (10) of a liquid dispenser device for the purpose of supplying a signal representative of the flow of liquid dispensed, said encoder comprising:

• a coding wheel (12;
• 12') driven by said meter (10) at a speed of rotation that is substantially proportional to the liquid flow rate, said wheel (12, 12') carrying a first series of divisions (d.sub.i ;
• d.sub.j) of angular period P, and referred to as "primary" divisions;
• two primary sensors (Ca, Cb;
• C'a, C'b) suitable for detecting said primary divisions (d.sub.i, d.sub.j) and angularly offset from each other by one-fourth of the angular period, so as to provide two primary pulse signals (Sa, Sb;
• S'a, S'b) that are likewise offset by one-fourth of a period;
• wherein said coding wheel (12;
• 12') also carries a second series of divisions (d'.sub.i ;
• d'.sub.j), referred to as "secondary" divisions, of angular period P' equal to twice the angular period P of the primary divisions (d.sub.i ;
• d.sub.j), a secondary sensor (Cc;
• C'c) being suitable for detecting said secondary divisions (d'.sub.i ;
• d'.sub.j) so as to supply a secondary pulse signal (Sc;
• S'c) of period that is double the period of the primary pulse signals (Sa, Sb;
• S'a, S'b);
• and
• Wherein said encoder includes processor means suitable for supplying said signal representative of the flow of liquid dispensed on the basis of the primary and secondary pulse signals.