GB1090129A - Transfer counter - Google Patents

Abstract

1,090,129. Counting apparatus; zeroizing. TRI-TECH Inc. July 27, 1965 [Aug. 7, 1964], No. 32145/65. Heading G4D. A transfer counter comprises a plurality of counter drums, means for operating a lower order drum, resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said lower order drum with a higher order drum and reset means for moving said transfer means against its resilient bias, said transfer means thereupon acting on said lower order drum to reset it to an initial position. As shown, the resetting operation is initiated by first decoupling the various driving gears 53 from their corresponding drums 22, 23 and thereafter rotating the gears 53 through a small angle in a direction to urge followers 61 out of contact with cams 60. The transfer mechanisms 45 are thereupon effective to drive the drums towards the reset position through planetary gears 50, 49 and trunnions 52. Each of the gears 53 is coupled to a drum by means of a toothed wheel 65. The rotary and axial reset movement of each gear 53 and wheel 65 is controlled by reset arm 70 attached to rotatable and axially movable rod 40. As illustrated in Fig. 2 a solenoid 80 is energized to reset the counter; this moves actuating pin 82 to the left and hence pivots reset lever 85 clockwise about shaft 42. The reset lever urges a reset arm 70a and thus rod 40 axially to the right by reason of camming surface 86. The movement of rod 40 also carries with it reset arms 70 whose fingers 72, 73 engage gears 53 and move them free from their corresponding drums. As reset arm 70a completes the axial movement it rides off a boss 94 and is biased by spring 95 to move in an anticlockwise direction. This in turn rotates rod 40 and reset arms 70 whose fingers 72 rotate wheel 65 and gears 53 through a small angle. The impact of the fingers 72 rotates the gears 53 which rotate planetary gears 49, 50 and thus pinions 52 to start the drums moving towards their reset positions. The impact of fingers 72 also makes transfer arms 47 pivot against the biasing force of the springs 63 to carry followers 61 away from cams 60. The increased biasing force of each spring 63 produces a pivotal movement of transfer arms 47, Figs. 5 to 8 (not shown), such that the planetary gears 49, 50 move relative to the now stationary gears 53 and continue to rotate clockwise thereby maintaining the rapid movement of the drums. As each drum approaches its reset position follower 61 engages the lobe on the cam 60 to arrest further reset movement.