Patent GB-782675-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for recording the readings of counters
IPC: G06M3/06
Filed: 1954-04-28
Abstract: 782,675. Counting apparatus. DEGEN, A. A. C. April 28, 1955 [April 28, 1954], No. 12276/54. Class 106 (1). Counting-apparatus comprises a continuously operated counter, means for effecting a recording of the reading of the counter, means for stopping the counter during a recording operation while storing its input which stored input is transmitted to the counter at the end of the recording. A continuously rotated shaft 10, Fig. 5, drives through gearing the sun-wheel 15, Fig. 4, of a differential gear the other sun-wheel 16 of which is fixed to a gear 17 which through a gear 18 drives the units wheel of a counter 20. The planet carrier 23, Fig. 5, is normally locked by a dog 24 carried by an arm 25 secured to a gear 26 which meshes with teeth 27 on the planet carrier 23. The gear 26 is secured to the driven member 30, Fig. 4, of a slipping friction clutch comprising a driving member 32 and a spring 33. The clutch 30, 32 is controlled by a fork member 34 mounted on a rotatable shaft 35. When a recording is to be taken from the counter 20 an electromagnet 42, Fig. 1, is energized to cause longitudinal movement of a rod 44 which effects rotation of the shaft 35, Fig. 5, to disengage the clutch members 30, 32. The rod 44, Fig. 1, also moves a lever 48 counterclockwise to bring a detent into locking engagement with a gear secured to the units wheel of the counter 20. The sun-wheel 16, Fig. 4, is thereby locked and the planet carrier 23 rotates to drive the gear-wheel 26 counterclockwise, Fig. 5, so that the dog 24 is withdrawn from the carrier to an extent depending on the duration of energization of electromagnet 42. Upon de-energization of electromagnet 42 the rod 44 is returned to release the counter 20 and to re-engage the clutch members 30, 32 so that the gear 26 returns the carrier 23 to its home position wherein it is again locked by the dog 24. The friction clutch 30, 32 may be replaced by a magnetic clutch. Printing. Movement of the rod 44 upon energization of the electromagnet 42 effects closure of contacts 62, Fig. 1, to energize an electromagnet 64 the armature 65 of which through a link 66 reciprocates a platen 67 which presses a paper strip 68 against an ink ribbon 69 and the printing faces of the counter 20. Paper feed. An electromagnet 75, Fig. 4, receives an impulse when the electromagnet 42 is de-energized and operates a pawl and ratchet mechanism to rotate a pin-wheel 80, Fig. 1, and feed the paper web from a supply reel 82 to a wind-on reel 88. The electromagnet 75 also operates a pawl and ratchet mechanism to wind the ink ribbon 69 from a reel 90, Fig. 4, to a reel 91. The paper strip is given a periodic additional advance to separate the records into groups. In a modification, Fig. 12, the planet carrier of the differential is normally locked by a detent 159 in such a position that a pin 157 on the carrier abuts a stop 158. Coaxial with the planet carrier is a pinion 154 which carries an arm 155 and which meshes with a gear segment 153 connected by a crank arm 152 to an eccentric 136 attached to a disc 141. Adjacent the eccentric is a continuously rotated ratchet 137. A pawl 140 carried by the disc 141 is normally held away from the ratchet 137 by a lever 142 controlled by a lever 145. Upon energization of an electromagnet 161 the counter is locked as described above, the detent 159 frees the carrier and the lever 145 moves to free the lever 142 which, however, is locked by the extension 160 of the detent 159. Upon de-energization of the electromagnet 161 the lever 142 is freed so that the pawl 140 engages the ratchet 137 to cause rotation of the eccentric 136 which through the crank-arm 152, the gear segment 153 and the pinion 154 rotates the arm 155 which meets the pin 157 and restores the carrier to its initial position.