Improvements in Counting and Numbering Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1896
Complota Specification Loft TRAL June 1007 Accortad
سلسل Disk
1007
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Counting and Numbering Apparatus.
I, AUGUST MONFORTS, of München-Gladbach, Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a device that can be employed with advantage in
counting and numbering apparatus (hereinafter denoted by the term counting-
apparatus) of all kinds and the object of which is to return a number wheel into
its initial or zero position from any position into which it may have been rotated
by its ratchet mechanism. This device comprises suitable teeth on the wheel and
a spring which engages with the said teeth and is arranged to be placed in stress
by the forward rotation of the number-wheel, and which will, when it has reached
a certain degree of stress, retain approximately the said degree of stress and, on
the further rotation of the number-wheel, will slip over the tooth with which it
will have just been in engagement and engage with the next succeeding tooth, and
will cause the number-wheel to rotate backwards when the pawls of the
number-wheel have been disengaged.
In one construction of counting-apparatus provided with a returning device
according to this invention the number-wheels (each of which carries ten numerals)
are mounted so as to be capable of rotation on an axle which is fixed in a suitable
casing. Each number-wheel is connected to, or formed in one piece with a ratchet
wheels between the teeth of which there engage a driving pawl and a retaining
pawl or detent. The driving pawl is formed with as many driving teeth as there
are number or ratchet wheels, and it is rotatably connected to an arm which is
mounted so as to be capable of rocking about a bolt or pin. The driving pawl is
kept pressed up against the proper ratchet-wheel by means of a small helical
spring coiled around by a pin by which it is connected to the aforesaid arm.
Blade springs secured to the casing serve to keep the retaining pawls in
engagement with the ratchet-wheels.
Between the driving pawls and the retaining pawl there is pivotally arranged a
cam which is connected to a lever and can be operated by the latter in such a manner
as to move the driving pawl and the retaining pawl out of engagement with the
ratchet wheels.
Each number-wheel is provided with a central aperture concentric to the axle
and having its circular edge formed with ratchet-teeth. In this aperture is a
spiral spring of which one end is connected to the fixed axle the other end carries
a small roller that engages between the ratchet-teeth of the aperture.
By means of the aforesaid arm and the driving pawl the number-wheels are
rotated in a forward direction, the retaining pawl serving to prevent unintentional
backward rotation of the number-wheels. When the counting or numbering is
completed, and a fresh counting or numbering is to be begun, the cam arm is
rotated in such a manner as to cause the cam to force the pawls apart and thereby
cause them to release the number-wheels, which are then moved by their spiral
springs back into their initial positions. The length and elasticity of each spiral
spring are made such that the maximum tension of the said spring is reached only
when the corresponding number-wheel has made more than one complete revolution.
it was engaged, and engages immediately behind the next succeeding tooth. The
spring moves away from the tooth of the edge of the aforesaid aperture with which
it was engaged, and engages immediately behind the next succeeding tooth. The
number of the teeth of each aperture is equal to the number of printing types or

page_text: numerals carried by the corresponding number-wheel c.g. in the construction of
apparatus being described, in which each number-wheel carries only ten numerals,
the number of teeth is ten. The maxinram tension of each spiral spring is always
the same.
9
10
of a
of a
The greatest required backward rotation of the number-wheel is equal to
revolution so that a spiral spring which reaches its maximum tension at
revolution, for instance, will, after the number-wheel has been turned back from 9 to 0,
still have a tension corresponding to f of a revolution of the number-wheel or to
two teeth of the aperture.
If the length and elasticity of each spiral spring are greater for instance, if they
are such as to allow of two revolutions of the number-wheel in a forward direction
before the roller becomes disengaged, then the tension of the spring, when the
number-wheel has been turned back from 9 to 0, will in the zero position correspond
to of a revolution.
By selecting a spiral spring of suitable strength, it is therefore possible to increase
the maximum and minimum tensions as desired, and thus ensure the certain
operation of the apparatus.
The apparatus may be constructed with any desired number of number-wheels and
instead of only one spiral spring for each number-wheel, there may be employed two
spiral springs arranged one within the other and engaging with two oppositely
arranged sets of ratchet-teeth.
Improvements in Counting and Numbering Apparatus.
I, AUGUST MONFORTS, of München-Gladbach, Germany, Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention has relation to numbering and paging machines and consists in
certain improvements hereinafter to be fully described, and shown in the accompanying
drawings, in which-
Fig. 1 is a plan of a hand numbering and paging apparatus or stamp, having two
number-wheels, constructed in accordance with my invention;
Fig. 2 is an underside view thereof, the springs that act upon the retaining pawl
being shown as broken;
Fig. 3 is a front end view of the apparatus;
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section according to the line x x of Fig. 5, a portion of one
of the number-wheels being broken away;
Fig. 5 is a plan of an apparatus, the numbering or paging head of which comprises
three number-wheels, the driving pawl being shown broken;
Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the number-wheels, and
Figs. 7 and 8 are sections taken on lines y y and zz of Figs. 6 and 7 respectively.
In these drawings F indicates a suitable frame in the body of which are formed
bearings for two shafts or pins s and s' and in the cheeks or ex-tensions f of the said
frame are bearings or sockets for the axle or shaft S that carries the number-wheels,
as shown in Fig. 4.
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I have shown an apparatus in which the numbering or paging
head has only two number wheels W & W printing from 1 to 99, these wheels being

page_text: of the usual general construction but differing in the following particulars. Around
a central aperture a in each wheel, through which the supporting shaft S passes
loosely, is formed an annular recess provided with ratchet-teeth, the number of
which is preferably equal to the number of numerals on the wheel or disc. In the
recess a¹ is located a spiral brake and retractor spring S (Fig. 4) that is coiled about
the shaft S and whose inner end is attached to the said shaft whilst its outer end is
bent upon itself to form a cylindrical spindle or rod-like enlargement that is held in
contact with the inner toothed periphery of the recess a' by the tension of the spring,
which is thereby gradually wound up during the step-by-step rotation of the number-
wheel until reaching a degree of stress sufficient to cause its free end, upon further
rotation of the number wheel, to slip over the tooth with which it will have just been
engaged and to engage with the next succeeding tooth. The spring S also acts as a
brake for the wheel. The length and elasticity of the spring S are preferably such
that it will attain its maximum tension when the number-wheel has made more than
one complete revolution. Inasmuch as the greatest backward revolution of a number-
wheel is equal to of a revolution of such wheel-i.e., from 9 to 0,-a spiral brake and
retracting spring S that will reach its maximum tension at revolution, for instance,
of such wheel will therefore still have a tension of 1 of a revolution after it has
turned the wheel back from 9 to 0), so that the power of the spring when under least
tension will be sufficient to hold its outer end firinly in contact with the toothed
inner periphery of the recess a¹ in the number-wheel. It will be observed that with
the construction described the spring is positively engaged by the peripheral teeth of
the recess a', and is therefore positively wound up instead of being wound up by
mere frictional contact with a smooth peripheral wall, which has heretofore been
proposed but is more or less unreliable because a slight weakening of the spring will
prevent a sufficiently firm contact with the smooth surface to drag the spring along
and wind it; when the spring is caused to be positively drawn along as described,
however a slight weakening of the spring will not impair its function. It will further
be observed that in this arrangement the maximum as well as the minimum tension
of the spring suffers no variation, except such as may be due to the weakening of the
spring after long use. On the other hand, the spring acts positively upon the wheel
to turn it back to a starting-point.
The number wheel or disc W is further provided with another disc or wheel wo
between which and the wheel W is a disc w, in the periphery of which are formed
the teeth by means of which the said disc is moved step by step by a suitable pawl.
The disc w is of less diameter than the number-dise W, while the toothed driving
disc w is of less diameter than the disc w, so that a guide-groove is formed between
the two dises W and w, for the guidance of the nose of the actuating pawl, and in the
disc w is formed the recess a above described. In practice I preferably form
the discs w, and W integral, as shown in Fig. 7, but this is not absolutely
necessary, and in the periphery of the disc W is or may be formed a lock notch w
Fig. 8, hereinafter to be referred to. The described construction applies of course to
all the number wheels used.
In the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the first number-wheel W has, as
usual, the digits and a cipher, while the second wheel W has the digits only and the
said first number-wheel W has also, as usual, one space between two of its teeth of
greater depth than the remaining spaces, whilst the actuating pawls have driving
points or noses of correspondingly different lengths, so that when the first number-
wheel W has made one revolution the pawl thereof will drop to a lower point and
allow the pawl for the second number-wheel W1 to engage one of the teeth on the
periphery of the corresponding disc w and move the said wheel a distance equal to
one tooth or number in order to bring the digit 1 in alignment with the cipher on the
wheel W and print 10, and so on. This arrangement is a well known one, hence
the operation will be readily understood by those conversant with this class of
apparatus.
The driving pawl P I preferably make of a single piece provided with two pawl-
arms p and p that enter the grooves and engage with the peripheral teeth of the

page_text: discs w¹ of their respective number-wheels W and W, the point or nose of the pawl-
arm being somewhat longer than the point or nose of the pawl-arm p1, as shown in
full and dotted lines in Fig. 4, for purposes above set forth. The pawl P has a rear
extension p in which is formed a passage for a pivot pin 2, the said rear extension
being pivoted on the said pin between the fork on a segmental lever or arm L, that
On the shaft or pin 8
has its fulcrum on the shaft or pin s hereinbefore referred to.
between a second fork on the fulcrum-end of the lever L is pivoted a retaining
pawl pl, likewise preferably constructed of a single piece and provided with two pawl-
arms p2 and 3 that engage the teeth of the discs of the wheels W and W
respectively (see Figs. 2 and 4), the said pawl-arms being held in engagement with
the said teeth by a spring S2 secured to the underside of the framing F and provided
with two spring-arms 82 and 83 bearing against the pawl-arms p² and p respectively.
The arms of the driving pawl P are likewise held normally in engagement with the
teeth on the discs w¹ by a suitable spring, which, however, is not shown.
The pawls P and P1 have converging extentions 3 and 4 respectively, which lie in
the path of a cam C fixed on the aforesaid shaft s, to which is also secured a handle 5,
by means of which rotation is imparted to the cam in order to spread the pawls in
opposition to the stress of their springs and move them simultaneously out of
engagement with their number-wheels.
The lever L, which as shown in Fig. 4 is of segmental form, has a longitudinal
slot 6 about midway between its forked ends land l, as shown in dotted lines in said
Fig. 4, and in this slot is arranged a transverse pin 7 that passes through a vertical
slot in a crosshead at the end of an actuating rod R that carries a retractor
spring 8 whose ends abut against the back of, the frame F and against a collar 9
(Fig. 1) on the said rod. It is obvious that when the rod R is pushed forwardly or
towards the numbering or paging head, the lever L will be thrown forward to move
one or both number-wheels, as the case may be, a distance of one numeral, the.
said rod being returned to its normal position by the aforesaid retractor-spring 8.
It is also obvious that whenever it is desired to return the number-wheels to their
initial or starting position all that will be necessary will be to impart a partial
rotation from right to left to the shaft s, through its handle 5 (Fig. 4) to disengage
the pawls P and P' from the number-wheels, when the brake and retractor springs S¹
will return the said wheels to their said initial or starting position.
In order to prevent the wheels from being carried around beyond their starting
position by momentum, I provide a lock-notch 12 (Figs. 4 and 6) in the outer face
of each of the wheels W and W to be engaged by stop pawls p pivoted to the
fraine-cheeks f and normally held in contact with the wheel-faces by springs 14
(Figs. 1 to 3).
The apparatus above described will print numbers from 1 to 99, as stated, but
when it is necessary to print a larger range of numbers, as from 1 to 999, I employ
three wheels, W, W2, and W, as shown in Fig. 5, two of which carry the digits and
a cipher while the third has the digits only; and in order that the three armed
driving pawls may come into engagement with their respective number-wheels at
the proper time, each of the wheels W & W2 has one of its tooth-spaces of greater
depth than the remaining spaces, and the spaces of the third number-wheel W',
which carries the digits only, whilst the depth of the space of the wheel W is slightly
greater than the depth of the corresponding space of the wheel W2, the driving
points or noses of the driving pawl-arms (of which, of course, there must be three)
being of corresponding length. In this construction instead of pivoting the locking
pawls p to the frame-cheeks, I pivot them upon a common shaft or spindle 15
(Figs. 4 and 5) and form in the periphery of each disc w, of the wheels W, WI,
and W2 a lock-notch w² (Fig. 8) hereinbefore referred to, that is engaged by the
three pawls. Here also I prefer a single pawl p³ having three arms 16, held in
contact with their respective discs w by springs 17.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is

page_text: 1. In a counting or numbering apparatus, means for automatically turning a
number-wheel back into its zero or initial position, comprising suitable teeth on the
number-wheel and a spring S¹ which engages with the said teeth and is arranged
to be placed in stress by the forward rotation of the number-wheel, and which will,
when it has reached a certain degree of stress, retain approximately the said degree
of stress and, on the further rotation of the number-wheel, will slip over the tooth
with which it will have just been in engagement and engage with the next
succeeding tooth, and will cause the number-wheel to rotate backward when the
pawls of the number-wheel have been disengaged, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. In counting or numbering apparatus a returning device constructed, arranged,
and operating as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in the drawings
herein referred to.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.