Patent GB-1477588-A (GB)
Title: Sheet counting machine
IPC: G06M9/02
Filed: 1975-02-05
Abstract: 1477588 Sheet counters GLORY KOGYO KK 5 Feb 1975 [14 Feb 1974] 4845/75 Heading G4D  A sheet counting machine (Fig. 9 not shown) is provided with means for presetting a number of sheets and comparing the number of sheets counted with the preset number and an electrical control system including means for charging the mode of operation whereby the machine either simply counts all the sheets and stops or counts off the preset number from the stack and stops or counts the whole stack and issues an alarm if the number counted is not equal to the preset value. The counting mechanism (Figs. 1, 2 not shown) is of the rotating suction head type. It has a motor M2 driving the heads and a vacuum pump VPM evacuating the heads; these are started upon the start command and stop as soon as there are no longer any sheets against the suction heads; when motor M2 is stopped it then reverses back to a position in which one of the suction heads is aligned with the slack position for correct restarting. It also has a motor M1 which opens and closes the clamp holding the sheets; when closed the clamp holds the sheets against the suction heads; limit switches MC11 and MC21, 2 operated by cams on the shaft of M1 in the open and closed positions respectively are connected in circuit 50 so that initially the clamp is held open. Latched push button switches PB3A, B, C select the mode: PB3A selects a simple counting mode, PB3B selects the above "alarm" mode while PB3C selects the "stop" mode: various contacts of these switches are connected in cascade so that only one may be effectively operated at a time. With a power switch PB11, PB12 closed and one of the mode switches (contacts PB3A1, B1, C1) operated a count is started manually by push button PB21 or automatically by a microswitch MC51 when a stack of sheets is inserted; this engages a relay RL1 which changes the circuit 50 so the clamp moves to the closed position for counting and starts M2 and the pump VPM. In the A mode, when the whole stack has been counted pressure switch VS stops the counting mechanism and moves the clamp to the open position. In the C mode a logical signal, produced by a gate 80 when the number counted is equal to the preset number, by way of amplifier 81 and switching transistor W energizes a relay RL7; this energizes a solenoid 94 (selected by contacts PB3C2) which moves a separating arm 96 (Fig. 2 not shown) to lift the rest of the slack away from the suction heads; the clamp remains closed when the counting mechanism stops. If in this mode the stack of sheets is exhausted before the preset number is reached the mechanism stops and the clamp opens (as for the A mode) to await further sheets. In the B mode contacts PB3B3 select the alarm lamp circuit 54, 93 and the lamp is lit continuously. A further contact of PB3B (Fig. 8 not shown) operates a relay RL10 A charge over contacts RL103, RL104, which invert the logical signal from gate 80 so that relay RL7 is now deenergised at coincidence, and contact RL105 which inserts a contact RL46 closed only when the stack of sheets is exhausted. Thus relay RL7 is operated only if at the end of counting the number counted is not equal to the preset value, when via RL5 it causes the lamp 93 to flash an alarm. The clamp remains closed in this case but opens if the number counted is correct.