Improvements in Counters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 22nd Feb.,
1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Counters.
I REGINALD HADDAN of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co. of
18 Buckingham Street Strand W.C. London Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention a communication to me from abroad by Heinrich
Heilbronner of Neuhauserstrasse 3, Munich, Watch Manufacturer, and Max Stein
of Kanezleistrasse, Stuttgart, Merchant, both in the Empire of Germany, and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to construct an improved apparatus for counting
or registering units of measures on rules, points at billiards, and other games,
revolutions, strokes or other mechanical effects of machines or for adding together
figures in general. The characteristic feature of this apparatus lies in the means
for adjusting it to the zero point so that it may at any time be instantly readjusted
without snapping over or stopping which is of importance in its application to
measuring rules, or as a counter for billiards and the like.
The apparatus is represented in the annexed drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front
view with plate d removed.
Fig. 2 a section thereof on line A B.
Fig. 3 a front view with plate d fitted.
Fig. 4 a section on line CD showing the device attached to the upper edge of a
rule.
ab are the numbering discs which are rotarily interposed between two plates d d¹
by means of two shafts c c. Both said discs are provided with the numbers 0-9
and at their edges with as many ratchet teeth. Behind the disc a.on the shaft c is
keyed a spur wheel e and behind the latter a spiral cam f.
The movement of the disc a in the direction of the arrow is effected by a
ratchet or the like moving the spur wheel, said ratchet being itself actuated by a
pressing pin. The wheel e revolves ahead, for the space of a number or unit
respectively, the disc a which is provided with the units."
The disc which has at its underside 10 pins m remains stationary while the
disc a revolves from 1 to 9.
At the tenth pressure the disc is also turned for one number (in the direction
of the arrow) by a lever arm n of the disc a said arm pushing forward the nearest
pin m of the disc b.
The discs a and b are retained after each turning by spring pawls omitted in
Fig. 4 for the sake of clearness.
To the spindle c' is, in a similar manner as to the axle c, keyed a spiral cam f¹;
the pin p of a lever q¹ and the free end of a lever 9 which are so arranged as to be
movable abcut the points r¹ and at the same time actuated by correspondingly
strong springs & press against the said cams ƒ ƒ¹.
On turning the discs a b the levers q g' the latter with its pin slide along the
cams ff being forced outwardly by said discs with the result that the springs & ¹
acting upon said levers are brought into tension. As soon as the cam a completes
its 10th revolution, the lever q will slide off the cam fand will be swung back by
spring to the base of cam flying on axle o) whilst the cam f1 at its 9th turning
abuts with its noset against the pin p of the lever q¹ and is thus prevented from
turning any further.

page_text: When the cam fis in this position the arm n of the disc a at the 9th part of the
revolution of the latter touches the nearest pin m, but is prevented from pushing
said pin forward wherefore the disc a cannot be turned any further. The movement
of the apparatus beyond the maximum number (99) is thus precluded by this
construction.
At that point where the discs a.b meet, and, therefore the two numbers stand
alongside each other, there is arranged an opening h'on the plate & which admits of
reading off the two numbers appearing at the time. In order to readjust the
apparatus or the two disc a b respectively to the zero point, it is only required to
press the button u whereby the pawls go are released and the discs ab influenced
by the levers 99' acting upon the cams moved back to the initial position or
zero point. Said levers 9 q' acted upon by the spring pressure of s¹ thus slide
down the curves of the cams and move back to the base of the latter in which
position the cams press against the pin of the lever q¹ and against the lever
respectively whereby they are stopped and thus prevented. from running backward
farther than required.
If desired arrangement can be made that the discs ab be separately readjusted
to the zero point.
It is understood that the registering apparatus can be be attached to the rule in
any suitable manner and it is equally understood that according to the purpose and
requirement any other suitable modification regarding the arrangement of the
moving mechanism may be chosen.
Fig. 6 of the annexed drawings illustrates a modification of the numbering,
apparatus as applied to the end of a rule. Fig. 4 represents the interior
arrangement and Fig. 5 a horizontal section thereof.
In these figures a and b are the numbering discs which are encased in a flat
metallic casing d so as to be movable about two spindles e c'. Behind both discs
which show the numbers from 0 to 9, there is a wheels s' respectively provided
with as many ratchet teeth. Behind said wheels ss, there are keyed the
cams and respectively.
The movement of the disc a in the direction of the arrow is effected by a
latch or the like, which, being movably secured to an arm of a double lever j,
Is ordinarily pressed against the walls of the casing by a spring . To the
other arm of the lever is connected a pressing pin which by means of lever j
presses the latch against the wheels the disc a of which is provided with the
unit numbers; the latter is thus moved forward to show the next number.
While the disc a revolves from 1 to 9, 6 remains stationary, whereas it will
at the tenth pressure on the pin also be moved by an arm n of the wheel s
said arm pushing forward the next tooth of this wheel for the distance to the next
number.
The dises a and b are, after each turning, retained in their position by a spring
latch g.
Against the cams ffl press two correspondingly strong springs the forked
ends of which serve at the same time as guides to said cams.
20
At the turning of the discs a 6 the said springs slide with their ends along
the cams being thereby moved outwardly by the latter which brings them into
tension. Every time the discs ab complete their revolution the springs slide
off the points of the cams ff' to the base of the latter.
At the spot where the plates ab touch consequently the two numbers are side by
side, the plate d is fitted with an opening which admits of reading off the two
numbers appearing together.
In order to readjust the apparatus or the two discs.a and. 6 respectively to the
zero point, it is only required to press the pin u whereupon the latch g is released
from between the teeth of the wheels s s¹ the latter with. the discs a b being, then.
brought back to their original. or zero position. by. the springs r.r.
The springs, will. slide off on the,curves of. the spiral, cams and will be brought
back to the basis of the cams where they will remain fixed. Hereby the platesta.b

page_text: will be kept in the zero position and prevented from returning further than is
necessary.
If required there may also be fitted an arrangement to compel the plates a b to
return separately to their zero point.
The Figs. 7 and 8 also show a modification. Fig. 7 shows an interior view of
the numbering device, fitted to the end of a rule and Fig. 8 shows a horizontal
section through same.
a, a are the two numbering discs to the spindles of which are solidly keyed the
ratchet wheels b and b¹ respectively, also the cams c, c¹. The unit disc is moved in
the direction of the arrow by a projecting two armed lever d¹ and stopped
after each movement for one number's distance by a spring pressing against
the wheel b. That tooth of wheel b which corresponds with the number 0 of
the numbering disc is bent up to catch after each complete turning of the
disc a, the wheel b of the ten disc a' thus pushing it forward for one number's
distance. The wheel b¹ is stopped by a spring in a similar manner as b.
The cams cc serve in connection with an angle lever to bring the two
numbering discs back to the zero position. The cam c is of a spiral and the cam c¹
of a heart form. On pressing the projecting arm of the lever the noses fof of
the latter cause the cams and thereby the numbering discs to move backward until
the nose forests at the foot of the spiral cam c and the nose f¹ in the recess of the
heart cam c. The cams and the lever f being in this position the two numbering
discs are in the zero position. On releasing the lever the latter is moved by a
spring into its original position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Numbering apparatus having a construction for bringing the numbering
discs back to the zero position comprising two cams ff¹ connected with and moved
by the numbering discs a b on the edge of which cams slide two levers q q¹ which,
being brought into tension thereby on releasing said discs, swing back to the base
of the cams ff the discs ab being thus brought back to the zero position.
2. A modification of the apparatus described comprising two cams coupled with
and moved by numbering discs a bon the edge of which cams ff' at the moving of
the said discs ab slide two springs » ³ the latter being thus brought into tension
and on releasing the discs ab serving to return to the base of the cams thereby
bringing said discs a b back to the zero position.
3. A numbering apparatus in which the unit disc is moved by a pressure on a
two armed lever d and the teu disc by a tooth of the former both numbering discs
however, being moved back to the zero position by a pressure on a lever f the
latter rotating two cam discs connected with the numbering discs.
Dated this 9th day of August 1895.
R. HADDAN.