GB624122A - Improvements in mechanisms for use in continuous counting - Google Patents

Abstract

624,122. Counting-apparatus. BRECKNELL, MUNRO & ROGERS, Ltd., and DOLMAN, H. J. Dec. 24, 1946, Nos. 37845/46 and 26202/47. [Class 106 (i)] A mechanism for counting the total number of operations of several appliances comprises a rotary distributer carrying in differing phase relationship several displaceable toothed members, each of which co-operates with a trigger associated with one of the appliances and releasable thereby to cause the toothed member to move into a position in which it actuates once a rotary driver connected to operate a counter. For converting the operations of two groups of appliances, the triggers 46 are arranged in two rows corresponding to two shafts 6 and 7, Figs. 2 and 4, which are driver by an electric motor 11 either continuously on for at least one revolution whenever an electromagnet 48 is energized by the operation of an appliance to release a trigger 46. The release of a trigger permits a pawl 51, carried by a cam disc 17, to engage a ratchet-wheel 16 secured to, say, the shaft 6, and thereby causes the corresponding disc 17 to rotate for one revolution so as to lower a cam surface 60 on a yoke 56 in order that it may engage a projection 61 on a toothed member 23 pivoted to a disc 14 rotating with the shaft 6. The toothed member thus engages, and moves on by one step, a spur-wheel 45 secured to a rotary driver 27 geared to a counter 30. A lever 66, or according to the first Provisional Specification, a second toothed member, is also pivoted to the rotating disc 14 so as to be engaged by the lowered cam surface 60 in such a way as to rock the toothed member 23, or to be rocked itself, to step on a second spur-wheel 45 on a rotary driver 28 which is also actuated by the corresponding toothed member 23, when it is caused to project, of the shaft 7. The rotary driver 28 is geared to a counter 31 which registers the total number of operations of both groups of appliances. A third rotary driver 29 is actuated by the toothed member on the shaft 7 only and is geared to a counter 32. Over-driving of the rotary drivers may be prevented by providing each with a sprung escapement mechanism (Fig. 5, not shown), or with a sprung lever which, by engaging notched discs on the rotary driver and corresponding shaft 6 or 7 respectively, synchronizes the movements thereof (Fig. 6, not shown). In a modification, Fig. 7, each rotary driver is formed by a ratchet wheel, such as 82, geared to the counter 32, and is spring-urged against a rotating friction ring 91, which may be secured on the shaft 6 or 7. The ratchet wheel 82 is normally prevented from rotating by a pawl 85 which, however, is tripped by a link 88 when a shaft 79 is rocked by the engagement of one of the toothed members 23 of the corresponding shaft 6 or 7 with an arm 80 on the shaft 79. The rotary driver 82 is thus permitted to move on by one tooth. A shaft 92 carrying a series of arms 93, 94 is actuated by any projecting teeth on both of the shafts 6 and 7 and controls a rotary driver geared to the counter 31.