Patent GB-839129-A (GB)
Title: Predetermining counter
IPC: G06M1/38
Filed: 1956-11-20
Abstract: 839,129. Counting-apparatus. VEEDERROOT Inc. Nov. 20, 1966 [Nov. 23, 1955], No. 35432/56. Class 106 (1). A predetermining counter comprises two sets of number wheels A, B, Figs. 1, 3, 4, mounted on parallel shafts, both sets of number wheels being driven in the same direction by respective gears 35, 36 which are rotated by an input shaft 20 via intermediate gearing (not shown). Initially, as described below, the number wheels A are zeroized by means of pick-up pawls co-operating with a groove on the reset shaft 101. The wheels B may then be manually set to a required predetermined number by means (not shown) independent of the transfer pinions 45. In operation, the number wheels B commence counting down from the predetermined number and the number wheels A commence counting up from zero. Each number wheel is provided with a notch, the notches 47 of the higher denominational number wheels being adjacent the zero digit of their associated wheel, and the notches 46 of the units denominational wheels 40 being between the zero and one digits of their wheels. Hinged plates 69, 70 pivoted at 68 have fingers 80a-80d and 81a-81d associated with the respective number wheel sets A and B, the fingers of one plate only having wiping contact with the associated set of number wheels at a time, the fingers of the other plate being maintained out of contact with their associated number wheels by means of pins 82. When operation commences, the fingers of the hingeplate 70 are in contact with the number wheels of set B but when this set has counted down to zero the hinge plates are driven by co-operation of the notch 46 with the finger 81a so that the other hinge-plate 69 comes into contact with the number wheel set A which has now counted up to the predetermined number. The hinge-pin 68 is carried by two levers 66, 67, fixedly mounted on a shaft 63. A pin 71 carried by the lever 66 is adapted to move in a lost-motion slot 64 of a lever 62 freely mounted on the shaft 63, the lever 62 being rocked when the hinge-plates are changed over. The lever 62 carries at its other end a pin 61 co-operating with an annular groove 60 on a clutch 50. The clutch 50 is carried on a shaft 25 which rotates with the input shaft 20, the shaft 25 also carrying freelymounted bevel gears 29, 30 having toothed portions 53, 54 adapted to engage the clutch teeth. The bevel gears 29, 30 are adapted to engage a third bevel gear mounted on a shaft carrying a main driving gear engaging the gears 35, 36. Thus, when the clutch 50 is moved across from engagement with the bevel gear 29 to engagement with the bevel gear 30, the main driving-gear and hence both sets of number wheels are caused to rotate in the opposite direction. An arm of the lever 66 carries an arcuate end 97, Fig. 3, adapted to actuate a push-rod 98 controlling a microswitch 99 every time the hinge-pin 68 changes over. Hence the counter will give a signal each time a count equal to the preset number is reached. To set the counter for operation, a shaft 101 is moved to the left by depressing a knob 100, thereby disengaging a pin 106 from a notch 107 in a sleeve 105 to permit rotation of the shaft 101, leftward movement of the sleeve 105 permitting a spring-biased lever 110 to be pivoted, thereby unlatching the cover 12 of the counter which is urged open by a spring 123. Leftward movement of a cam 133 mounted on the shaft 101 causes a lever 130 mounted on the shaft 63 to be pivoted thereby pivoting the hinge-plates out of engagement with both sets of number wheels and simultaneously disengaging the clutch 50 from both bevelled gears 29 and 30. The reset knob 100 is turned through one complete revolution to reset the number wheels of set A to zero, further rotation being prevented by the re-engagement of the pin 106 with the groove 107. The spring 103 will then urge the reset shaft to the right (Fig. 1) but it will be held by engagement of a finger 113 of the lever 110 with the locking sleeve 105. The number wheels B are now manually set to the predetermined number and the cover 12 closed. As the cover 12 closes, the lever 110 is rotated clockwise to move the finger 113 upwards out of engagement with the locking sleeve 105, permitting the reset shaft 101 to return to its outward position. This outward movement of the reset shaft 101 releases the lever 130, thereby permitting a spring 96 to urge arms 90 towards each other, the co-operation of cam rollers 93 on the arms 90 with detents 94, 95 on the lever 67 causing the hinge-plate 70 to move into engagement with the number wheels B.