GB697257A - Improvements in or relating to counting devices - Google Patents

Abstract

697,257. Counting-apparatus. ENGLISH NUMBERING MACHINES, Ltd. May 15, 1951, No. 11251/51. Class 106 (i). A counting device comprises one or more number wheels rotatable around a common axis, a reciprocatable plunger for actuating the counting device, and means on the plunger cooperating with complementary means on an auxiliary spindle for converting a reciprocating movement of the plunger into an oscillatory movement of the auxiliary spindle, the said auxiliary spindle being coupled to a number wheel of the counting device over a gear mechanism having means for converting the oscillatory movement of the auxiliary spindle into a unidirectional rotary step-by-step movement of the said number wheel, and is characterised in that the plunger is arranged for moving in a direction substantially parallel to said common axis. A reciprocable plunger 6, Fig. 3, is normally urged outwardly by a spring 10 and carries a block 14 from which two pins 15 and 16 project. The pin 15 engages a guiding groove 17 in the base 1 of the counter and the pin 16 engages in a helical groove 20 in a sleeve 19 keyed to an auxiliary spindle 13 so that a reciprocation of the plunger 6 causes an oscillation of the spindle 13, Figs. 3 and 5. The spindle 13 is connected through gearing 22, 23, 24, Fig. 2, to an intermediate shaft 21. A sleeve 32 is axially movable on and rotatable with the shaft 21 and has crown ratchet teeth 31 which engage ratchet teeth 30 on one side of a gear-wheel 29, Fig. 7. Ratchet teeth 28 on the other side of the gear 29 engage ratchet teeth 27 of a stationary collar 26. A spring 35 urges the respective pairs of ratchet teeth 31, 30; 28, 27 into engagement. Upon movement of the shaft 21 from the shaft 13 in the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 7, the sleeve 32 takes the gear 29 with it, both the gear and the sleeve being, at the same time, moved axially against the spring 35, the teeth 28 riding out of the teeth 27. At the end of this movement the spring 35 again effects engagement of the ratchet teeth 28, 27. Upon the return movement of the shaft 21 in the direction of the arrow B, Fig. 7, the gear 29 is locked by the ratchet teeth 28, 27 while the ratchet teeth 31 ride out of the ratchet teeth 30 and the sleeve moves against the spring 35 until the end of the movement. The gear 29 transmits its stepby-step movement to a gear 36, Fig. 2, coupled to a units wheel 4 of a counter on a shaft 5, the axis of which is parallel to the direction of movement of the plunger 6.