Patent GB-320631-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to means for recording meter readings
IPC: G01F15/06
Filed: 1928-06-14
Abstract: 320,631. Last, J. June 14, 1928. Counters with recording-apparatus.-A method of and means for preparing perforated and printed records of the readings of apparatus such as gasoline vending pumps, gas or electricity meters, &c., consists in sensing the meter readings as indicated by a controlling device by means of a second controlling device adapted to actuate recording elements. The apparatus comprises an attachment for connection to the meter mechanism having detector members controlled in accordance with the old and new meter readings and adapted to control the punching and printing elements of a recording mechanism mounted in a separately removable casing adapted for application to a number of such attachments. The attachment as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a casing 1 with a packing ring 4 secured to a base plate 5 which is attached to a split adaptor rim 8 substituted in the bezel 10 for the glass cover of the indicating dials. The casing is provided with extension dial spindles 11 each provided with a forked member 14 to couple it to the corresponding meter index pointer. Repeater index pointers 15 are mounted on the ends of the spindles 11 and are viewable through a glass cover 18. Each spindle 11 is provided with a set of ten cam plates 19 spaced apart by circular washers 20 and having sector-shaped projections 21 arranged in a helical manner each corresponding to one of the numerals 0 to 9. Arranged beneath the sets of cam plates is a vertically slidable table 24, Fig. 2, with longitudinal slots carrying slides 28 with upwardly extending projections 31 and downwardly extending portions terminating in projections 32, 33, the projections 32 in the lowermost position of the slides being adapted to co-operate with one or other of the perforations 35 in a plate 34. Mounted on the side flanges 25 of the table 24 are slides 36 with projecting pins 37, 38, the latter projecting through cam slots 39 in the outer wall of the ' casing 1 so shaped as to effect the raising and lowering of the table 24 with its slides 28. The operation of the slides 36, 28 is effected by sliding plungers 40, 41 forming part of the recording mechanism. Additional plungers 41 are provided which co-operate with steps on a fixed plate 42 for the purpose of recording the meter number. The recording mechanism is provided in a casing carried by the person authorized to take the. readings and is attached to the casing 1 by the engagement of a locking plate 44, Fig. 4, with slotted dowel pins 43. Two backward and forward movements of the operating handle are necessary to complete the recording operations. On the first movement the plungers 41 are operated to take up a position corresponding to the last meter reading and the setting is then transmitted to punch selectors and the punches operated to perforate a record-strip. Backward movement of the main shaft 46 rocks a cam 49, loose thereon, by means of a lever 51 engaging a notch in a boss 73 on the shaft and the cam, by means of a cam slot 70 and pin 69, rocks a frame 68 and transmits its movement to a plurality of differentially movable toothed sectors 66 connected thereto by springs. The sectors 66 engage rack teeth on the plungers 41 and advance them into the casing until the shoulders 109 thereon are arrested by the projections 32 and steps in plate 42. The slides 28 being in their lowermost position permit the depending noses 110 at the end of the slides to pass over the projections 32. The sectors are held in their adjusted positions by spring-controlled pawls 117 released for engaging the teeth 118 of the sectors by movement of a bail 115 on a lever 112 when the frame 68 strikes the arm 111 of the lever 112. Immediately after this engagement the pin 74 on the lever 51 engages the projection 77 of a bell crank lever 60 and rocks this lever and a lever 123, Fig. 5, to displace the plungers 40 whereupon the shoulders 125 on the plungers engage the pins 37 and cause a movement of the slides 36 from the lowest to the mid position. The projections 33 are thereby moved out of the holes 35 and the projections 32 are engaged in the recesses behind the noses 110 of the plungers 41. A cam 50 on the main shaft then comes into operation to rock a lever 127 pivoted on the shaft 113 and through vertically extending links depressed a cross bar 132. The cross bar 132 is connected by springs to a series of cam plates 90 and the downward movement imparted to each plate is determined by the co-operation of one of the steps on the plate with a projection 96 on the corresponding plunger 41. Each cam plate has a set of cam slots 92 co-operating with slidable punch selectors 89 adapted to lock one or more pins 95 in operative position with respect to vertically aligned punches 79. The uppermost and lowest, selectors each control two punches and are movable to one of three positions, the central selector controls one punch and is movable to two positions, the five punches being used singly and in combination to punch holes representing the digits 0 to 9. The punches 79 are adapted to pass through the perforated die plates 81, 82 of a vertically movable box 80 operated, after the setting of the punches, by pins 87 on the arms 86 of the box engaging cam slots in cams 47. 48 on the main shaft. The record-strip passes between the plates 81, 82 and at the time of punching a cutting die is operative to detach the portion perforated. On the forward movement of the operating handle the box 80 is lowered, the cam plates 90 raised, and the frame 68 returned. During this movement the frame 68 restores the sectors 66 and withdraws the plungers 41 and the slides 28 since the latter are in engagement with the noses 110. The plungers 41 are not entirely withdrawn from the casing 1 since on the return movement of the cam 49 the pin 74 on the lever 51 engages a nose 136 on the bell crank 60 and frees the cam from the main shaft. Towards the end of this forward movement the main shaft through gear sectors 57, 56 and pawl 55 operates a ratchet wheel 53 having a plurality of series of teeth to impart a movement through a gear train to the feed rollers 100 of the record-strip. The wheel 53 is attached to a gear wheel 58 having pins 59 arranged in pairs at positions corresponding to the series of teeth and adapted to co-operate with lips 63, 64 on an arm 62 of the shaft 61. During the feeding movement a pin 59 engages the lip 63 and imparts a movement to the shaft 61. This movement is transmitted through the levers 60, 123 to the plungers 40 and slides 36 thereby raising the table 24 and slides 28 from the mid position, into which they have been raised by the pin 74, into their uppermost position. The operating lever 45 is again moved backwards whereupon the cam 49 operates the plungers which are free to move forward with the slides 28 until the projections 31 are arrested by the projections 21 on the cams 19 i.e. in positions corresponding to the readings of the meter dials at the time. The continued rearward movement then results in the severed part of the strip being punched accordingly. During the return movement of the handle the parts are restored and a fresh portion of the strip is fed to the die plates and the perforated part is discharged into a receiving receptacle 136. At the same time one of the pins 59 of the wheel 58 engages the upper face of the lip 64 and rocks the shaft 61 to impart a withdrawal movement to the plungers 40. The pins 37 of the slides 36 being in the recess 126 of the plungers draws them to the front of the box and through the cam slots 39 causes a lowering of the table 24 and slides 28 in the vertical direction, the projections 33 entering the perforations of the plate 34 to maintain the new meter reading. The pins 37 and the projections 32 are thus disengaged from their plungers and permit them to be withdrawn entirely from the casing. Towards the end of the operation a shaft 140 operatively connected with the main shaft 46 effects the unlocking of the casing. Printing mechanism is preferably associated with the punching mechanism so that a printed slip with the two meter readings may be issued. Two sets of type wheels are provided one for each reading, the wheels being operated by racks in mesh with pinions on shafts geared to racks on the cam plates 90. Suitable mechanism may be provided to prevent the operation of one type wheel set whilst the other is functioning. After the old meter reading has been printed and punched the strip is fed until the printed part is beyond the cutting knife 148 and after the second operation the knife severs the printed portion and delivers it through a slot 149, a deflecting plate 137 ensuring discharge of punched portion to the receptacle 136. The type wheels sets are offset to prevent over-printing. In order to position accurately the cam plates 19 prior to the movement of the slides 28 the spindles 11, in a modification of the apparatus, carry ratchet wheels 186 - - 189, Fig. 7, co-operating with pawls adapted to set the cam plates by rotating one or more of the spindles 11 to exact positions. The frame 13 carrying the spindles is permitted a limited movement during which a lever 193 engages a slot in the side members and causes the pawl 195 on the lever to engage the ratchet wheel 189. If the corresponding index should be at the zero position the pawl 195 engages a deep notch and causes the pawl to rock a lever 198 transferring a unit to the next index through the pawl 199. The pawls normally retard the action by resting on the back of the ratchet teeth unless actuated by the pawl carrying levers.