Patent GB-776014-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to counting-apparatus
IPC: G06M1/36
Filed: 1954-12-09
Abstract: 776,014. Counting-apparatus; zeroizing- mechanism. VEEDER-ROOT, Inc. Dec. 9, 1954 [Dec. 14, 1953], No. 35696/54. Class 106 (1). A counter comprises an axially movable shaft, a number wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft, a driven gear for rotating the number wheel during a counting operation, a resetting gear or disc for resetting the number wheel to zero, shiftable means actuated by the shaft connecting the number wheel selectively with the driven gear or the resetting gear. The invention is described as applied to a counter for use with liquid dispensing apparatus and comprises two quantity counters Q, Q<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 7, mounted on shafts 16, 20 and two cost counters C, C<SP>1</SP> on shafts 14, 18. The lowest order drive wheels 42, 42<SP>1</SP> of the counters Q, Q<SP>1</SP> are driven directly through gearing, from a meter and the lowest order drive wheels 42, 42<SP>1</SP> of the cost counters C, C<SP>1</SP> are driven from the meter through a known type of variable speed gear, the setting of which corresponding to the price of liquid per unit dispensed is indicated on an indicator P, Fig. 2. Geneva type transfer mechanism is provided for each counter C, C<SP>1</SP>, Q, Q<SP>1</SP>. The numeral wheels of the counters each comprises a hub 72, Fig. 8, having a bore through which passes the support shaft 14, 16, 18 or 20 and on which is mounted a cylindrical rim 78 bearing the numerals and the drive gear 42 or 42<SP>1</SP>. The drive gear 42<SP>1</SP> drives the numeral drum 78 as described in Specification 684,047 through an annular serrated ridge 82 and a pawl 88 pivoted in the hub 72 and serrated at 94. During a registering operation a projection 100 of the pawl 88 rests in a circular groove 102 in the shaft 18. Also pivoted in the hub 72 of each numeral wheel is a pawl 90 having a projection 92 which rests in the groove 102 during a registering operation. Each pawl 90 controls a plunger 98. Adjacent the side wall 74 of each numeral wheel is a gear 106 fixed to a disc 104 having a circular series of holes 112 at the radius of the plunger 98. The arrangement is such that when, as described later, the shaft 18 is moved to the right, Fig. 8, for a resetting operation the pawl 88 is disengaged from the serrations 84 and the pawl 90 is moved to-allow the plunger 98 to be pushed by a spring 101 into engagement with the adjacent hole 112 of the disc 104 so that upon rotation of the gear 106, as described later, the numeral wheel is zeroized. The holes 112 and the corresponding end of the plunger 98 are made sufficiently frusto-conical to provide a firm driving engagement without binding. When the wheel reaches the zero position the projection 92 of the pawl 90 engages a longitudinal slot 122 in the shaft 18 and thereby withdraws the plunger 98 from the hole 112 and disengages the zeroizing drive. The projections 100, 92 of the pawls 88, 90 respectively are so shaped that upon movement of the shaft 18 from the registering to the resetting position the pawl 88 is disengaged from the drive wheel 42<SP>1</SP> before the pawl 90 is moved. The mechanism for effecting axial movement of the shafts 14, 16, 18, 20 comprises a main reset shaft 132, Fig. 5, which carries a cam 134 which co-operates with a pair of rollers 136 on a slide 138. The slide has at each end a notch 142 which accommodates a pawl 144 on an upright shaft 146 the ends of which have gear segments 150 which mesh with teeth 152 on the adjacent shaft 14, 16, 18, 20. The arrangement is such that clockwise movement of the shaft 132 and the cam 134 through an arc determined by a stop 137 causes the slide 138 to move to the left, Fig. 5, to rotate the shafts 146 and the gear segments 150 effect axial movement of the shafts 14, 16, 18, 20. Upon the return movement of the shaft 132 the shafts 14, 16, 18, 20 are returned to their initial positions. The shaft 132 is coupled by a coupling 154, Fig. 14, to a shaft 156 connected by the linkage shown in Fig. 1, to a handle 168 actuated by the operator. When the handle 168 is moved clockwise 90 degrees from the position shown the said linkage rocks the shaft 132 and through the linkage 164, 178 the pump motor switch (not shown) is opened. The lost-motion connection. 170, 172 between the plate 164 and the rod 178 ensures that a full stroke of the handle 168 is necessary to open the motor switch. A gear 130, Fig. 14, which is connected through gearing to the gears 106, Fig. 8, of the numeral wheels is rotatable on a hub 131 rotatable on the shaft 132, Fig. 14, and is integral with a notched disc 184. Fixed to the coupling 154 is a driveplate 180 and secured to the hub 131 is a control plate 182. At the end of a dispensing operation a spring-pressed pawl 186, Fig. 4, pivoted to the control plate 182 engages a shoulder 190 of the drive-plate 180 so that upon the above-mentioned movement of the handle 168 which results in counter-clockwise movement of the coupling 154 the drive-plate 180 moves the control plate 182 through the pawl 186 until a latch pawl 192 engages the notch 194 of the drive-plate 180. A spring 210 connected to the plate 182 is thereby tensioned. A second drive pawl 200 also pivoted to the plate 182 rides over the notched disc 184 during the counterclockwise movement of the plate 182, the disc 184 being locked by a spring pressed pivoted detent 204 until a nose 183 of the plate 182 raises the detent 204 partially out of the notch 185 which is so shaped that the disc 184 is freed for clockwise movement but locked against counter-clockwise movoment. The parts are not in the position shown in Fig. 12 in which a pawl 232 carried by an arm 230 lies beneath the end 186a of the pawl 186. The arm 230 has a coupling 252 by which it is connected to a shaft 250 connected through the linkage shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to an L-shaped bracket 242 which abuts the inner end of a push-button 240. Depression of the push-button 240 causes through said linkage a clockwise movement of the arm 230, Fig. 12, and the pawl 232 disengages the pawl 186 from the plate 180 whereupon the spring 210 pulls the plate 182 counterclockwise and the pawl 200 moves the disc 184 and the gear 130 counter-clockwise until the detent 204 engages the next notch 185. The speed of movement of the plate 182 is determined by a dashpot 220 mechanically connected thereto. At the end of the movement of the plate 182 a cam projection 236 thereon disengages the pawl 192 from the drive disc 180 so that the operator can return the handle 168 to the horizontal position, thus closing the switch of the pump motor and restoring the parts to the position shown in Fig. 4 and the shafts 14, 16, 18, 20 to their normal positions. Specification 425,473 also is referred to. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 684,047.