US2094644A

US2094644A - Counting mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2094644A
Application number: US752279A
Authority: US
Inventors: Floyd L Fleming
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-11-09
Filing date: 1934-11-09
Publication date: 1937-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1954-10-05

Description

Oct} 5, 1937. F. L. FLEMING w 2,094,644

COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 1934 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Inventor By 1910 36 flaming Oct. 5, 1937. F. L. FLEMING COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 miug Inventor A llorney Patented Oct. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My present invention relates to counting mechanisms of the package operated type, and while the mechanism is well adapted for use with various kinds of packages, it is especially designed 5 for counting and registering the number of sacks of grain delivered from a harvesting machine. In carrying out my invention I utilize any standard registering device that is suitable for my purpose, and combine therewith an operating mech- 10 anism that is intermittently actuated by the moving sacks of grain, which mechanism is simple in construction and operation, inexpensive in the cost of manufacture, durable, and eflicient in its operation.

15 The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter he more fully set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment 20 of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. It will be understood however, that changes and alterations may 25 be made in the exemplifying structure, within the scope of my claims without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the platform and delivery chute of a harvesting machine,

30 the chute being equipped with the device of my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation with the dustproof glass housing broken away to disclose the register, and showing the retaining means for the housing.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view with some parts shown in elevation, as at line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In order that the general assembly and utility of parts may readily be understood I have shown in Figure 1 the usual platform P that is attached in convenient position to the side of the harvester where the men work in sacking or filling the sacks with grain and in sewing the sacks.

After the sacks are sewed they are placed, singly,

in the chute C and slide down the chute to be disposed of in suitable manner.

In carrying out my invention I employ a standard register R, for counting and register- 50 ing the sacks as they slide down the chute, and

the register is provided with an actuating button, as R. that is depressed to count each sack as it passes down the chute. The operating mechanism of my invention co-operates with 55 the button R, by depressing it to actuate the register, and of course the depressed button rises after each depression.

The operating mechanism is located in a suitable position on the chute, and supported above the chute by means of attaching plates 1, I, and the

side arms

2, 2, that are hinged to the plates at 3 and these side arms are braced by means of diagonal braces 4, attached to the arms and to the side walls of the chute.

A rectangular base plate 5 is mounted above the chute on the

arms

2, 2, and the register R and the operating mechanism are conveniently located and supported on the base plate above the chute, the operating mechanism of course being disposed in the path of movement of the sacks as they slide down the chute by gravity.

The plate is bolted at 6 to the supporting yoke that is formed by these

arms

2, 2, and a package-actuated trip arm or actuating arm I is disposed longitudinally of the chute in position for the sacks to pass under the arm and in contact therewith. One end of the arm is hinged or pivoted at 8 in a supporting flange 9 of the base plate, and the free end of the arm is suspended by means of a bolt H! which is passed through a hole in the base plate and provided with an adjusting nut I l. The lower end of the suspending bolt is provided with a T-head l 2 and the bolt is passed upwardly through a hole l3 in the operating arm. A transversely extending bend I4 is fashioned in the operating arm, thereby forming a groove or seat at the underside of the arm for the T-head, and in this manner the arm is suspended in operative position, and its free end is adapted to be lifted by a passing sack of grain.

The operating arm co-operates with an operating bolt I5 which is provided with a head [6 resting at all times on top of the arm, and a spring I! coiled about the lower end of the bolt and interposed between the base plate and the head I6, tends at all times to project the operating bolt downwardly and to depress the free end of the operating arm.

A guide sleeve or tube l8 for the operating bolt is threaded in a hole in the base plate and a lock nut 19 fixes the guide sleeve in desired position. As shown in the drawings the operating bolt passes upwardly through this sleeve, and a laterally extending presser-arm 20 is mounted on the upper end of the bolt. The arm is clamped in adjusted position by means of two clamp nuts 2| and 22 threaded on the end of the operating bolt, and the lower nut 22 forms a stop for the downward movement of the bolt against the operating arm. The nuts may be adjusted to regulate the tension of the spring ll and to regulate the movement of the operating bolt and the presser-arm that is rigidly mounted thereon.

As seen in Figure 3 the free end of the presser-arm projects over and remains at all times in contact with the top of the button R of the register, and the down-stroke of the presser-arm is the working stroke of the register, through the instrumentality of the button R. From this description it will be apparent that the passage of the sack down the chute results in lifting the free end of the operating arm, and that the operating bolt is lifted, against the tension of its spring, and the bolt carries with it the presser-arm 29. This action permits the button R to rise to position so that it will be depressed for its working stroke after the sack passes from under the operating arm and out of contact therewith. After the sack has passed, the compressed spring I l forces the operating bolt downwardly, and the free end of the operating arm is thereby lowered until its movement is stopped by the T-head and nut ll of the suspending bolt.

To those familiar with existing conditions about the harvester during threshing operations,

it is well known that the atmosphere is filled with fine dust that penetrates all openings in the various mechanisms, and to protect the register from deteriorating eifects of the dust, I provide a glass housing 23, in the form of an inverted cup or jar that encloses the register, the presser-arm, and the guide sleeve and operating bolt within the sleeve. The housing at its lower edge is suitably fixed in a seat formed by the use of an annular series of upraised flanges 25 or lugs struck from the metal. of the base plate, and an interior gasket 25 is provided for the joint between the housing and the base plate to make a dust-proof joint.

The housing may readily be removed and replaced, and for retaining it in place over the protected parts I employ a spring bail 26 that clamps on the depressed top of the housing, and the ends of this spring bail are hinged to the base plate at 21. In order to remove the housing the spring bail is swung on its hinges to release the housing, and then the latter may readily be moved or removed to gain access to the register and other parts of the device.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In actuating means for a counting mechanism, the combination with a base plate having spaced openings and an upright guide sleeve secured in one of said openings above the plate, and an operating bolt movable in the sleeve and having a head below the plate, of an operating arm hinged at one end beneath the plate, a suspending bolt passed through the other opening, co-acting means on the suspending bolt and arm to limit downward swing of the latter, and a spring interposed between the head of the operating bolt and the base plate.

2. In actuating means for a counting mechanism, the combination with a base plate having spaced openings and an upright guide sleeve secured in one of said openings above the plate, and an operating bolt movable in the sleeve and having a head beneath the plate, of an operating arm hinged at one end beneath the plate, a spring interposed between the base plate and bolthead for holding the latter in contact with said arm, a suspending bolt loosely supported in the other opening and passing loosely through a hole adjacent the free end of said arm, said arm having a transversely extending groove in its under face, and a T-head on said suspending bolt located in said groove for limiting the downward swing of said arm.

FLOYD L. FLEMING.