Patent GB-448467-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in counting apparatus for recording or indicating values
IPC: G06M1/26
Filed: 1934-12-08
Abstract: 448,467. Counting-apparatus. LANDIS & GYR AKT.-GES., 1, Hofstrasse, Zug, Switzerland. Dec. 8, 1934, No. 35370. Convention date, Jan. 11. [Class 106 (i)] Counters with recording-apparatus.-In a counting-apparatus comprising type-wheels rotatably mounted on a common shaft, the values to be recorded are transmitted to a wheel other than that of lowest denomination, movement being imparted to the wheel or wheels of lower denomination through a transmission device by the rotation of the typewheel shaft from an external source of power. The invention is described as applied to a periodically-recording measuring apparatus, but is stated to be applicable to calculating and other apparatus. The device comprises a printing-counter having a units type-wheel 15, Fig. 1, tens type-wheel 14, hundreds typewheel 16, and type-wheels of higher denomination (not shown). A shaft 3, rotated in proportion to the measurement, drives the tens type-wheel through a pawl 5 and ratchet wheel 6, and gears 9, 11, 12, the gear 9 being frictionally clutched to the ratchet wheel. At the end of each period of time, a cam shaft 34 is given a clockwise rotation to set the units wheels, justify the wheels of higher denomination, print the amount of the measurement, and zeroize the counter. The setting of the units wheel 15 is derived from a stepped disc 17, Figs. 1 and 2, rigid with the shaft 10 carrying the intermediate drive gear 11. The position of the stepped disc is sensed by a lever 21 controlled by a cam 39 on the main shaft and adapted to position an arm 22 in the path of a snail cam 24, that is rigid with the units wheel 15 and connected to the type-wheel shaft 13 by a spring 28. Transfer from the tens wheel upwards is effected by mechanism of the deep-notch type and is actuated by the co-operation of a cam 59 on the shaft 10 with a lever 55 carrying the transfer pawls 61. At the beginning of an operation all the wheels stand at " 9 " ; thus, to print the true value of a measurement, the tens type-wheels and wheels of higher denomination must be stepped forward prior to printing. As the main shaft 34 rotates, a cam 38 frees a spring-urged lever 44 which engages and locks a toothed disc 18 rigid with the shaft 10 and accurately positions the stepped disc 17. Immediately thereafter, the cam 39 releases the sensing lever 21. A cam 37 now becomes operative to rock the transfer lever 55 and rotate the wheel 16 and higher wheels through one step or, if transfer has already occurred, to rotate the wheel 16 only. Further rotation of the shaft causes a cam 35 to free a spring-urged sector 33 and rotate the type-wheel shaft 13 clockwise, thus removing an arm 27 from abutment with a pin 29 on the unit wheel and' allowing the latter to rotate until arrested by the engagement of its snail cam 24 with the arm 22. The cam 38 now acts to release the shaft 10, and a cam 36 releases a spring-urged lever 47 to rock counterclockwise and, by engagement with a starwheel 19, rotate the shaft 10 forwardly to position the tens wheel for printing the next higher digit. Rocking of the lever 47 serves also, through a pitman 50 and spring pawls 52, to justify the hundreds type-wheel 16 and wheels of higher denomination. Upon further rotation of the shaft 34, printing hammers 65 are released to take an imprint from the typewheels on a record strip 66. As the shaft reaches normal position, the various cams restore their associated parts and the shaft 13 is rotated counterclockwise to zeroize the counter, the units wheel by projection 27 and pin 29, and the remaining wheels by projections 30 picking up pawls 31. In a modification in which the hundreds wheel 16 is driven from the shaft 10 through a 10 to 1 reduction gear, the units wheels 16 is set as before and the tens wheel 14 is set by a lever similar to the lever 21, 22 co-operating with snail cams on the wheel and shaft 10.