Method and an apparatus for automatically adding cycles with varying ratings

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic addition of machine cycles in a sequence, wherein different machine cycles in the sequence have different ratings. The apparatus comprises a machine cycle transmitter and first pulse generator, which is coupled to the machine cycle transmitter and responsive thereto. A first counter is coupled to the first pulse generator, the counter having a plurality of outputs, each output corresponding to a number in the count cycle of the counter. A rating circuit is coupled to at least two of the outputs of the counter, the rating circuit producing a plurality of outputs, each corresponding to one of the different ratings. The one of the plurality of outputs which is produced, is a function of the count in the first counter. A second pulse generator having a first input is coupled to the rating circuit, the second pulse generator producing a pulse output having a frequency corresponding to the output of the rating circuit. A second counter for counting the pulses in the output of the second pulse generator is coupled thereto.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for automatically adding machine cycles in a sequence of cycles with varying ratings.

Particularly in the field of copying techniques it is common nowadays to grade the price of a copy in steps depending on the number of copies. The first and simplest possibility is to produce a price grading in which a copy costs, for example, 0.15 DM for a number of copies up to 5,000 copies per month, and say 0.12 DM for a number of copies up to 15,000 per month and so forth.

Another grading system aimed at achieving a higher copying rate consists of, for example, the first and second copy in the case of multiple copies being the standard price, the third to sixth being half the price, and the seventh and all subsequent copies a quarter of the standard price. To achieve this aim it has been proposed, for example in German Auslegeschrift No. 1,276,053 that two counters should be used, one of which counts a first predetermined number and the second of which counts a likewise predetermined number of copies following this. In this way three counters, for example, could indicate the following quantities:

1. the total number of copies,

2. the number of copies which in the case of multiple copies were produced as, for example, the first to fifth copies,

3. the number of copies which were produced as the sixth to fiftieth copies.

From these three numbers the charges could be calculated at different prices to the customer.

The above method of calculation, however, has the disadvantage that a relatively complicated sum is still required, namely the reading for the number of copies has to be multiplied by the respective price and the numbers thus obtained have to be added. This process slows down the calculation and there is a danger that errors will be made.

Another defect of the above described system of counting is that it is not very readily altered. In particular, it is expensive to change from for example two to three, four or five price groups and such a change means incorporating further counters.

The present invention provides a method for the automatic addition of machine cycles in a sequence of cycles with different ratings, wherein each cycle is in the sequence of machine cycles is converted into a sequence of meter cycles the number of meter cycles per machine cycle being dependent on the rating of the individual machine cycle, and the meter cycles are added.

The present invention thus makes it possible to count machine cycles with varying ratings with substantially eliminating the above-mentioned defects. The device of the invention is reliable in operation and simple in construction, and can readily be adapted for any number and any different combination of calculations.

The method of the invention has the considerable advantage that instead of obtaining three, four or even more separate numbers as was previously the case, a single number is produced in which the varying rating of the individual machine cycle in the sequence has already been taken into account. The differential rating has thus already taken place before counting so that the meter cycles simply have to be added and a single counter is sufficient.

The conversion of each cycle of the sequence of machine cycles into a sequence of meter cycles corresponding to the rating can be achieved mechanically. However, in accordance with the invention an electrical circuit is preferred since this is simpler, less liable to breakdowns and easier to interchange.

Thus in the case of the preferred method in accordance with the invention the sequence of machine cycles is converted into a sequence of electrical pulses of identical form, the pulses of the pulse sequence are fed to the input of an electrical circuit unit which divides the pulses into a number of meter pulses corresponding to the rating, and the meter pulses are counted at the output of the electronic circuit unit by a counter. Preferably the number indicated by the counter gives the cost for using the machine. Then no further calculation is needed and the only source of error is a false reading by the single counter.

The different rating can be achieved by the circuit unit in a simple manner. For example, in one embodiment of the invention each electrical pulse is transformed by the circuit unit according to the rating into one or more further pulses, the or each further pulse having a substantially equal duration to the further pulses produced by the other electrical pulses but having a voltage corresponding to the rating, and these further pulses are then fed to an electrical circuit within the electronic circuit unit which produces a number of meter pulses proportional to the voltage. In a further embodiment, each electrical pulse is converted by the electronic circuit unit into one or more further pulses, the or each further pulse having a height substantially equal to the height of the pulses produced by the other electrical pulses but, corresponding to the rating, having a length dependent on the position of the pulse in the sequence, and these further pulses are fed to an electrical circuit within the electronic circuit unit which converts each further pulse into a group of meter pulses, the number of the meter pulses being proportional to the duration of the further pulse. In a still further embodiment, for each machine cycle in the sequence

a. electrical meter pulses are generated,

b. the electrical meter pulses are added as meter cycles,

c. these meter pulses are simultaneously added separately as control cycles, and

d. when a number of pulses corresponding to the rating of the machine cycle has been reached, further addition of the meter cycles is stopped.

The invention also relates to apparatus for carrying out the method in accordance with the invention. This apparatus comprises a pulse generator controlled by the machine cycle, the output from which is connected to an electronic circuit unit which divides the pulses into a number of meter pulses corresponding to the rating, and a counter which is connected to the output of the electronic circuit unit and adds the meter pulses and indicates a value corresponding to this total.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows, diagrammatically, a circuit suitable for carrying out the method of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a variant of the circuit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows another circuit which may be used in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a circuit using digital price differentiation.

In the following description the invention will be described in relation to a device for a copying machine. Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows, diagrammatically, a counter for carrying out the method in accordance with the invention. Copies of an original are produced in a copying machine 1. The number of copies of the original which is desired is preselected with a selection unit 2. A machine cycle indicator 3 advances an instantaneous counter 4 by one step for each copy until the number of copies measured by the counter 4 corresponds to the number preset on unit 2. These devices are very well known in the art and do not need to be described in more detail.

In accordance with the invention a special device is provided to calculate the cost of using the copying machine. The machine cycle indicator 3 generates electrical pulses 5 of identical shape which after standardization in the instanteneous counter 4 to give standardized pulses 50 are fed to the input 6 of an electronic circuit unit generally indicated by the reference numeral 7. This electronic circuit converts the standardized machine cycle pulses 50 into meter pulses 8 depending on a rating -- as will be explained in more detail below -- these meter pulses then being counted at the output 9 of the circuit unit 7 by a price counter 10, added and then indicated. Each machine cycle pulse 5 is converted into a number of meter pulses 8 which depends on the respective position of the cycle pulse in the sequence of machine cycle pulses.

For each copy of the original, the instantaneous counter 4 feeds a pulse 50 to the circuit unit 7. The meter pulse 50 passes through a rectifier 11 to a counter circuit 12. This counter circuit 12 has, for example, 50 outputs and is so arranged that the first meter pulse 50 is supplied to the first output 121 of the counter circuit 12, the second pulse 50 is supplied to the second output 122 of the counter circuit 12 and so forth. The 50th pulse 50 is supplied to the 50th output 1250 of the counter circuit 12. The 51st and all subsequent pulses are likewise supplied to the 50th output 1250 of the counter circuit 12. From the 50th copy onwards, the price is thus not graded any further.

The first meter pulse 50, which arrives at the first output 121 of the circuit 12, reverses the flip-flop switch 131 and brings the feed voltage to the output and thus through a diode 151 to a slide resistor 141. The output voltage of the flip-flop switch 131 is divided between the slide resistor 141 and the resistor 140 and, according to the setting of the slide resistor 141, a voltage corresponding to the rating for the first and second copies if fed to the input of a frequency-stablized multivibrator 17. Simultaneously a first indicator lamp 161 is illuminated to indicate the price stage 1.

At the output 9 the generator 17 produces meter pulses 8 with a frequency corresponding to the input voltage. The pulse 50 is fed through a diode 18 to a control input 171 of the generator 17 so that the latter only produces the meter pulses for the duration of the machine pulse 50. In this way the machine pulse 50 is converted into a group of meter pulses 8, the number of which corresponds to the setting of the slide resistor 141. This setting depends on the rating, which is the same for the first two machine pulses 50. The meter pulses 8 are counted and indicated by the price counter 10.

The second machine pulse 50 arrives at the second output 122 of the counter 12. This output is free so that the generator 17 is also freed by the second pulse arriving at the control input 171 through the diode 18 and, as in the case of the first pulse, converts the voltage into a group of meter pulses corresponding to the setting of the slide resistor 141. Thus, in the case of the first pulse 50 and the second pulse 50 the generator 17 produces a group of meter pulses with the same number of pulses 8.

The third pulse 50 arrives at the output 123 of the counter 12. Let us assume that in this example the third to the fifth copies are to cost less than the first and second copies. The third output 123 is therefore connected to the input of another flip-flop switch 132. The third pulse 50 causes the flip-flop switch 132 to reverse and thus applies the feed voltage through a diode 152 to a slide resistor 142 and an indicator lamp 162 for indicating the second price grade. The output of the flip-flop switch 132 is also connected to the second input of the first flip-flop switch 131 and the third pulse 50 causes the first flip-flop switch 131 to revert to its initial position. Diodes 20, 201, 202, 203 and 204 prevent the counter and the other flip-flop from reverting.

Thus, for the third pulse, the voltage produced on the basis of the setting of the slide resistor 142 is applied to the input of the frequency-stabilized multivibrator 17. The setting of the second resistor 142 and consequently the input voltage of the generator 17 both differ from those for the slide resistor 141 according to the differing rating of the copies 1 and 2 compared with copies 3 to 5. The resistor 142 is set in such a way that a lower voltage than before is applied to the input of the generator 17, and thus the frequency of the meter pulses 8 at the output of the multivibrator 17 is also smaller. The duration of release of the multivibrator due to the pulse 50 arriving at the generator 17 through the diode 18, however, remains the same since the pulse 50 itself remains unaltered. The third pulse 50 thus produces a correspondingly smaller number of meter pulses 8 at the output of the generator 17.

The fourth pulse 50 arrives at the fourth output of the counter 12, and the fifth at the fifth. These outputs are free so that the process described above is repeated and for each pulse 50 a sequence of meter pulses 8 corresponding to the setting of the resistor 142 is passed to the price counter 10.

The sixth pulse 50 arrives at the sixth output 126 of the counter 12. The cheapest tariff is to be applied from the sixth copy onwards. The sixth output 126 is therefore connected with the input of a third flip-flop 133. Under the influence of the sixth pulse this flip-flop reverses, causes the second flip-flop 132 to revert to its initial position, and applies the feed voltage through the diode 153 to the slide resistor 143. Simultaneously an indicator lamp 163 is switched on to indicate the price grade 3. The slide resistor 143 is set to such a value that a still lower voltage is applied to the input of the generator 17 than in the case of the pulses three to five. Consequently the sixth pulse is converted by the generator 17 into a sequence of meter pulses 8, the number of meter pulses in this case being still lower than for the preceding machine pulses.

The 7th to 50th machine pulses are fed to the seventh to fiftieth outputs of the counter 12. In the example depicted in FIG. 1 there is no further price grading from the sixth copy onwards so that all these outputs 7 to 50 are open and for these copies the number of meter pulses determined by a setting of the slide resistor 143 is produced at the output 9 of the generator 17.

The counter 12 is so designed that from the fifty-first machine pulse 5 it is switched off. Thus the counter 12 does not cover the total number of pulses 5 in the sequence of pulses, but only those within a range to which a differentiated rating can be applied. Thus it would be possible, for example, for a fourth flip-flop (not shown) to be connected to the fiftieth output of the switch 12 so that the fiftieth and all subsequent copies could be given a different, even lower price rating.

The electrical construction of counters, flip-flop switches and frequency-stabilized multivibrators is widely known. There is therefore no need to give a more detailed description of the electrical circuitry of these individual components.

When the start button 19 is pressed, the flip-flops 131 to 133 are immediately returned to their initial positions by the diodes 20, 201, and 202, the same being done for the counter 12 by the diode 203 and the counter by the diode 204. Thus the last slide resistor 143 is free until the sixth copy is produced in the copying machine 1 and the flip-flop 133 reverses again.

Another example of a circuit suitable for carrying out the method in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 2. As in the case of the circuit described above with reference to FIG. 1, in the circuit of FIG. 2 machine pulses 50 arrive from an instantaneous counter 4 at a counter 12 which switches to various outputs 121, 122 etc. These outputs are connected together into groups by the diodes 3l,32 . . . 350, each group being assigned a different rating. The mode of operation of this circuit arrangement is as follows:

The first and second pulses 50 allow the first and second outputs 121 and 122 respectively of the counter 12 to be selected. Consequently the feed voltage of the counter 12 is applied in succession to the outputs 121,122. These two outputs are connected together through diodes 31,32 and joined to the first resistor 141. Thus the feed voltage of the counter 12 is shared between the voltage divider of the slide resistor 141 and the fixed resistor 140. For the duration of each of the first and second pulses a voltage corresponding to the setting of the slide resistor 141 is therefore applied to the input of the generator 17. The third, fourth and fifth machine pulses 50 energize in succession the third, fourth and fifth outputs of the counter 12, which are likewise connected together. This time this voltage is shared by the voltage divider between the resistors 142,140. As a result a different voltage, the magnitude of which is determined by the magnitude of the resistance of the resistor 142, is applied to the generator 17. The standardized pulse 50 is thus converted into a different number of meter pulses 8 depending on whether it is the first and second or the third to fifth pulse 50 of a sequence. Finally the 6th to 50th pulses 50 are converted into a number of meter pulses 8 determined by the magnitude of the resistance of the resistor 143.

As in the case of the circuit of FIG. 1, the generator 17 in the circuit shown in FIG. 2 is only released for the duration of the pulse 50, the latter being fed through a diode 18 to the control input of the generator 17. Instead of this separate control of the generator it is possible to pass the pulse 50 itself through the voltage divider 141,142,143,140. This can be done, for example, by means of AND-gates with 2 inputs, one input of each being connected to the counter 4 and the second to one group of the outputs of the counter 12 combined together through the diodes. In this case the output of each AND-gate would be connected with a respective resistor 141,142,143. If this is done, the pulse 50 is passed through different resistors under the regulation of the counter 12. The generator 17 must then be so designed that when the voltage is 0 it does not supply any output signals 8.

The apparatus in accordance with the invention can also be used in an advantageous manner to make a further differentiation. In copying machines it is frequently the practice to adapt the size of the copy to the size of the original. Thus copies of a different size may be produced by preselection or according to automatic scanning of the original. To achieve a price differentiation under these circumstances despite using only a single counter, in accordance with the invention the number of meter pulses per machine cycle can be made dependent not only on the different rating for the sequential number of the copy in question, but also on its size. This can be achieved in various ways.

One possibility is to switch the frequency-stabilizable multivibrator or multivibrators over to a different characteristic. In this way it is possible to arrange that for an input signal of, for example, 3 volts, 220 meter pulses 8 are generated instead of 200 meter pulses 8 as heretofore. This change-over could be actuated if, for example, a copy with B4 format is to be obtained instead of one with a A4 format.

Another possibility for adapting the number of meter pulses to the size of copy is to leave the generator 17 unaltered but to vary the resistor 140 according to the differing size of copies. As a result the magnitude of the input voltage and consequently the number of meter pulses 8 per incoming machine pulse 50 is altered. This possibility for altering the resistor 140 is indicated in FIG. 2, where the resistor 140 is shown as a slide resistor.

Finally, it is also possible to achieve the differentiation according to the size of copy by making the pulse 50 of longer or shorter duration depending on whether copies are larger or smaller. The frequency interval of the pulse 50 is obviously determined by the machine cycle. However, the time duration of a pulse 50 can be altered, for example from 10 milliseconds to 8 or 12 milliseconds. This alters the length of time for which the generator 17 is released and thus the number of meter pulses 8 per machine pulse 50. The longest time duration for a pulse must naturally be smaller than the time interval between two machine cycles.

Furthermore in the case of the circuit shown in FIG. 1 it is possible, and as a simplification to be preferred, to omit the instantaneous counter 4 and to replace it by a diode connection direct with the outputs of the counter 12. This save having a digital counting unit. The two control functions of the outputs of the counter 12 do not interfere with one another. Instead of the counter 4 all that would be required would be a simple standardizing circuit which converts the machine cycle pulse 5 into a pulse 50 of a standard time duration.

Another embodiment of the counter in accordance with the invention is depicted in FIG. 3. In this case the pulse 50 is not split up according to different voltages at the input to the pulse generator 17, but according to different pulse lengths for the same voltage. Once again, the time duration for the longest pulse must be shorter than the interval between two pulses 5.

As in the case of the circuit shown in FIG. 2, the first two pulses 50 introduced into the circuit unit 7 of FIG. 3 arrive at the outputs 121, 122 of the counter 12, these outputs being combined together through diodes 31 and 32. These two outputs are joined to the input of a monostable multivibrator 181. This multivibrator 181 converts the pulse 50 into a pulse 501, the duration of which corresponds to the rating for the first and second copies.

The third pulse 50 of the series passes through the third output 123 to the input of a second monostable multivibrator 182. This converts the pulse 50 into a pulse 502, the duration of which is constant but differs from that of the pulse 501 according to the rating. Thus for the normal grading system, the pulse 502 is shorter by the percentage by which the third to fifth copies are cheaper than the first and second.

Since the outputs 123 to 125 are connected through diodes, the fourth and fifth pulses 50 are converted into pulses 502 of identical length to that from the third pulse 50.

The sixth and all successive pulses 50 pass in a similar manner through the outputs of the counter 12 and diodes to the input of a third monostable multivibrator 183 which converts these pulses 50 into still shorter pulses 503 according to the desired reduction in price.

The outputs of the multivibrators 181, 182, 183 are connected through diodes with the input of a pulse generator 17. The latter converts the pulses 501, 502, 503 into a number of meter pulses 8 proportional to the time duration of these pulses, these meter pulses 8 then being added in the counter 10.

The output of each of the monostable multivibrators 181, 182, or 183 respectively is also connected with the first input of a bistable flip-flop 191, l92, or 193 respectively. The first pulse of the respective multivibrator causes the flip-flop to reverse so that the feed voltage is applied to its output and causes the corresponding lamp 161, 162 or 163 to light up.

The output of the second and third multivibrators 182 and 183 respectively is connected with the second input of the first or second flip-flop 191 or 192 respectively. Thus in the case of the first pulse 502 the flip-flop 191 is made to revert to its initial position, and in the case of the first pulse 503 the flip-flop 192 is caused to revert. Thus the lamp once again always indicates the correct price grade at any given moment. The return inputs of all three flip-flops 191, 192, 193 are connected by diodes 202, 201, 20 respectively with the return switch 19. This ensures that for each new copying series the indications coincide with the rating.

In the case of the circuit depicted in FIG. 3 the length of the pulses 501,502,503 which are generated can also be varied. This gives the counter system great flexibility.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4. Here the division is achieved not with analogue components which regulate the frequency or cycle time of the generator 17, but by on-line control by a further counter 300 which, when a prescribed number of meter pulses 8 and therefore a given price is reached, does not allow any further pulses 8 to pass to the price counter 10 for the duration of the individual cycle 50. This design has the advantage of eliminating as far as possible components such as resistance dividers or RC-elements which necessitate greater accuracy of manufacture or of balancing in circuits of this kind.

The left hand side of the circuit shown in FIG. 4 is identical to that of the circuit of FIG. 1 and will not be described in detail. For the first price grade, the output signal of the flip-flop 131 is passed to an AND-gate 305. As long as no further signal is produced by the preselected output 304 of the counter 300 an OR-NOT-gate 309 is not activated by any of its inputs, its output is 1 and therefore an AND-gate 310 transmits the pulses of the generator 17 which through a diode 311 activate the price counter 10 and through a further diode 312 the control counter 300.

When the number of pulses preset by selection of the output 304 has been reached, for example 50 cost units of pulses 8, the counter 300 passes a signal to the corresponding output 304. The AND-gate 305 activates the OR-NOT-gate 309. As a result the AND-gate is closed and further meter pulses 8 are suppressed.

At the start of the next copy the rising edge of the next pulse 50 causes a monoflop 308 (monostable flip-flop) with a short output pulse to return the counter 300 to its initial position. The process described above is then repeated. In the case of the third cycle 50 -- as explained with reference to FIG. 1 -- the flip-flop 132 is actuated and the flip-flop 131 returned to its initial position. The pulses 80 produced by the generator 17 pass through the AND-gate 310 as long as the OR-NOT-gate 309 has 1 at its output and on to the counter 10 and control counter 300. After the desired number of pulses 80 corresponding to the second price grade the information is passed through the output 303 to the other input of the AND-gate 306. Because of the consequent state 1 at the output of the AND-gate 306 the output of the OR-NOT-gate 309 is switched from 1 to 0. As a result the AND-gate 310 is closed and no further pulses 80 are passed to the counter 10 and 300. The number of pulses 80 arriving at the counter 10 thus corresponds to the position of the output 303 of the counter 300; thus if in the case of the second price grade 30 cost units are to be calculated instead of 50, the thirtieth output of the counter 300 is connected as output 303 with the AND-gate 306 of the second price grade. The counter 300 is returned to its initial position by the leading edge of the next pulse 50 in the way described above.

The same procedure is repeated for the third price grade by activating an AND-gate 307 through the output 302 of the counter 300 to achieve a still cheaper price per copy.

The special advantage of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is the digital differentiation of the price grades by the counter 300. As a result of this the frequency of the generator 17 is not critical provided that during the time of the machine cycle at least as many pulses 80 are generated as are necessary for the most expensive price grade. In a similar way the shape of the pulse 50 is not critical. If a freely oscillating generator 17 is used, the diode 18 can be omitted, in which case the length of the pulse 50 is not critical at all and it even can be shorter than the duration of the longest group of pulses 8 (most expensive copy).

The general technical principles of the example shown in FIG. 4 can be described as follows:

A continuous sequence of meter pulses 80 is generated. These meter pulses pass both to the price counter 10, which indicates the amount to be paid, and also to a control counter which, beginning anew with each new machine cycle, counts the meter pulses 80. After the requisite number of meter pulses 80 selected for the respective cycle, the supply of meter pulses 80 is stopped. The time at which (that is the number of such pulses 80 after which) the cut-off is to occur, is determined by the selection of the output of the control counter, but which output is used is determined by the counter switch 12 so that as a rule with rising output number (first, third, seventh output) the counter switch activates the control counter outputs with falling number (50th, 30th, 10th output) to split up the pulse sequence.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for the automatic addition of machine cycles in a sequence, wherein different machine cycles in said sequence have different ratings, said apparatus comprising:

a. a machine cycle transmitter;

b. first pulse generator means coupled to said machine cycle transmitter and responsive thereto;

c. first counter means coupled to said first pulse generator means, said counter means having a plurality of outputs, each output corresponding to a number in the count cycle of said counter;

d. rating circuit means coupled to at least two of the outputs of said counter means, said rating circuit means producing a plurality of outputs, each output corresponding to one of said different ratings wherein the one of said plurality of outputs which is produced is a function of the count in said first counter means;

e. second pulse generator means having a first input coupled to said rating circuit means said second pulse generator means producing a pulse output having a frequency corresponding to the output of said rating circuit means; and

f. second counter means for counting the pulses in the output of said second pulse generator means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rating circuit means comprises:

a. at least two flip-flop switch means each flip-flop switch means being coupled to a predetermined one of said outputs of said first counter means; and

b. variable resistance means coupled to the output of each of said flip-flop switch means, the value of each of said variable resistance means corresponding to a different one of said ratings, said variable resistance means being coupled to the input of said second pulse generator means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each said variable resistance means is a voltage divider wherein one leg thereof is a variable resistor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second leg of said voltage divider is a resistor common to all of said voltage dividers.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said second pulse generator comprises a frequency stabilized voltage generator having a second input connected to the output of said first pulse generator, wherein the frequency of the output of said generator is a function of the magnitude of the voltage applied to the first input thereof, and wherein the first input thereto is coupled to said voltage dividers at the common point between said first and second legs, whereby the voltage applied to the first input is proportional to the value of the variable resistance which corresponds to the rating of the machine pulse in the sequence being transmitted by the machine cycle transmitter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rating circuit means comprises at least two variable resistance means each variable resistance means being coupled to predetermined ones of said outputs of said first counter means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each said variable resistance means is a voltage divider wherein one leg thereof is a variable resistor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second leg of said voltage divider is a resistor common to all of said voltage dividers.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second pulse generator comprises a frequency stabilized voltage generator having a second input connected to the output of said first pulse generator, wherein the frequency of the output of said generator is a function of the magnitude of the voltage applied to the first input thereof, and wherein the first input thereto is coupled to said voltage dividers at the common point between said first and second legs, whereby the voltage applied to the first input is proportional to the value of the variable resistance which corresponds to the rating of the machine pulse in the sequence being transmitted by the machine cycle transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rating circuit means comprises at least two monostable multivibrator means, each coupled to predetermined outputs of said first counter means, wherein the pulse width of the output of each of said multivibrator means corresponds to a different one of said ratings.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the frequency of the output of said second pulse generator means is a function of the pulse width of the voltage applied to the input thereof, and wherein the width of the pulse applied to the first input thereof corresponds to the rating of the machine pulse in the sequence being transmitted by the machine cycle transmitter.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rating circuit means comprises:

a. at least two flip-flop circuit means coupled to predetermined outputs of said first counter means;

b. third counter means coupled to the output of said first pulse generator means;

c. a plurality of AND gates, the inputs of each AND gate being coupled to one of said flip-flop circuit means and a predetermined output of said third counter means; and

d. an OR-NOT gate, the inputs of said OR-NOT gate being coupled to said AND gate,

and wherein said second pulse generator means comprises;

e. a pulse generator circuit having an input coupled to said first pulse generator means; and

f. AND gate means having one input coupled to the output of said pulse generator circuit and another input coupled to the output of said OR-NOT gate, the output of said AND gate being coupled to said second and third counter means.