Improvements in or connected with Counting Devices.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 188-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Counting Devices.
1, RICHARD BÜRK, of The Würtembergische Uhren-fabrik Schwenningen,
Würtemburg, in the Empire of Germany, Watch Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
:―
This invention relates to an improved counting device by which, upon a suitable
number being reached to which the counting apparatus has first been adjusted,
an electric contact is closed and thereby an alarm device or a mechanism for
throwing the apparatus out of gear is automatically set in operation. The
object of this improvement is to inform the workman when the respective number
has been reached on the counting apparatus without him having constantly to
watch the same; or to cause an automatic throwing out of action, for instance
of a machine on which the counting apparatus is acting.
The first may for instance take place by the operation of an electric bell or the
like in the ordinary way, whilst the automatic throwing out of gear of the
machine may be effected on the closing of the circuit by an electro-motor being
set in operation, by which means the driving belt of the machine may be shifted
on to the loose pulley also in the ordinary manner and thereby the machine
thrown out of operation.
The counting apparatus is preferably so arranged that it counts backwards, so
that when all the counting rollers have reached zero, that is, assumed a certain
prescribed position, the contact is established; that is to say the contact is always
established in the same position of the counting rollers.
It is advantageous that the contact and the action of the alarm device or the
mechanism for throwing out of gear should start even before the zero position
commences, for instance on the last movement of the tens counting disc into the
zero position, because thereby the alarm continues for a longer period than would
be the case in the short moment of the zero position, and the workman attending
to the machine thus has his attention called thereto early enough to avoid any
exceeding of the zero position and to prevent any further counting by suitably
disconnecting the machine. Even when the throwing out of gear of the machine
or the like takes place automatically, it is advisable to allow the electric device
for throwing out of gear to come into play even before the zero position is reached,
as the sudden stoppage of a machine is not possible, as the impetus of the working
parts must first be suspended before the machine can become stationary.
A counting apparatus with counting rollers and provided in accordance with
this invention with a contact closing device for giving an electric alarm or
operating a mechanism for throwing out of gear, is shown in the accompanying
drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a plan view;
Figure 2 a side view;
Figure 3 a cross section on the line r― of Figure 2, and

page_text: thousands "rollers A A' A2 A3 A4, one of a series of levers B B B B shaped like
a pawl, bears with a sliding action, said levers being rigidly connected with one
another by means of a single sleeve b revoluble on a spindle 6', the ends b° of said.
levers lying in a straight line. A contact lever 63 is further firmly mounted on
the sleeve 6 and the free end of said contact lever plays in the recess c of a contact
block C in which block a contact screw c¹ is mounted and which is insulated
from the casing D of the apparatus by means of an insulating bush c³.
Notches a, Figure 4, are provided in each of the disc rings a a¹ a² a³ in which
notches the ends 6° of each of the levers B-B3 can drop, as soon as all the
respective number rollers have reached their zero positions. By the turning of
the sleeve b thus caused, the contact lever 2, in consequence of a spring 63 acting
on it, comes out of the dotted normal position shown in Figure 4 into the position
shown in full lines, that is to say it bears against the contact screw c¹ and the
closing of the circuit is produced, whereby the electric alarm or a device for
throwing the mechanism out of gear is set in operation. The current takes the
course shown in Figures 1 and 2 from the wire y to the insulated contact block C,
the screw c', the lever 62 to the spring 3 and through the frame or casing D to
the wire y.
The handling of the apparatus is extremely simple and convenient.
If for instance the counting apparatus is to be employed in printing machines
for counting sheets, and say 3500 sheets are to be printed, the counting apparatus
is adjusted to the number 3500 and is allowed to count the same backwards.
(This adjustment may be effected extremely easily in the counting apparatus
shown in the drawings, as the number rollers together with their ratchet wheels E
may be axially adjusted on their spindles F and G respectively until they are
brought out of engagement with the cog-wheels operating them and they may
then be suitably adjusted.) As soon then as all the sheets have been printed
down to 10, that is to say as soon as the tens roller has reached its zero position
the lever B belonging thereto can drop into its corresponding notch a° on the
disc ring a
as the other rollers A¹ A2 A3 are already standing at their zero
position, that is to say the ends of their lever arms B1 B2 B3 respectively lie in
front of the notches of their respective number rollers A¹ A2 A3. The sleeve b
then turns and the lever 62 is pressed by the spring 63 against the screw c¹ as
shown in Figure 4. The circuit is thus closed and the electric alarm device or
mechanism for throwing out of gear comes into operation.
In conclusion it may be remarked that the apparatus may also be adjusted to
number forwards, in which the case the counting apparatus must be previously
adjusted to the number resulting from the difference of the highest number of
the apparatus after deduction of the number of articles to be counted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
1. A counting apparatus having an electric contact closer adapted to operate
an alarm or a device for throwing automatically the machine out of action, and
capable of being adjusted to any number, characterised by the counting device.
which is arranged to number backwards being adjusted to the desired number
and a closing of the electric circuit established on the counting rollers reaching
the zero position by a series of notches (a°) formed one on each number
disc (a a¹ a³ a³) of the counting rollers (A A¹ Aº A³ A') in which notches a series
of levers (B B 132 B³) all rigidly mounted on a single sleeve (b) may engage with
their points (6°) as soon as all the number discs and number rollers have reached
their zero position, whereupon by the turning of the sleeve (b) a contact lever (62)
firmly mounted thereon is also turned and pressed on a contact screw (c¹), that is
to say the circuit is closed and the alarm or mechanism for throwing out of gear
is operated, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A modification of the counting apparatus hereinbefore described, consisting

page_text: in the same being arranged to count forward and the closing of the circuit to
take place on the highest number of the apparatus being reached in a manner
similar to the arrangement for counting backwards, but the counting apparatus
being adjusted to the difference between the number which is to be counted to
and the highest number of the apparatus instead of being merely adjusted to
the desired number which is to be counted, substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of October 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.