US2179536A - Electric system - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 14,1939. o. E. woLFF ELECTRIC SYSTEM Ori'ginal Filed March ll, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 lieven/'n'.

'7 Sheets-Sheet 2 O. E. WOLFF ELECTRIC SYSTEM Original Filed March 11, 1.938

Nov. 14, 1939.

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Nov. 14, 1939.

o. E. woLFF 2,179,536

ELECTRIC SYSTEM Original-Filed March 11, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 14, 1939. o. E. WOLFF 2,179,536

ELECTRIC SYSTEM Original Filed March ll, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 14, 1939. o. E4 woLFF 2,179,536

` ELECTRIC SYSTEM original Filed March 11, i938 7 sheets-sheet 5 zvevn. Qt@ Edward M517 MMM ul. .EQ

Nov. 14, 1939. o. E. woLFF ELECTRIC SYSTEM '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed March 11, 1938 mwN Nov. 14, 1939. o. E. woLFF ELECTRIC SYSTEM Original Filed March l1, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 IIIVOIGII1 kw s@ Patented Nov'. 14, 1939 ELECTRIC SYSTEM f om nani-d wom. immuun, Mm., mimort nui s. nner. Belmont, Msn., mum or uw B. 8. Bauer original summon umn 11, 193s. sel-m No. f 185,468. Divided and this application April 18,

1838, Serial No. 202,708

so claim. (ci. 111-9'7) Ihe present invention relates to electric systems, and more particularly to systems for feed- 'ing and stacking sheet material, like newspapers and periodicals. 'I'his application is a division of application, Serial No. 185,408, filed March 11, 1938.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electric system for feeding and stacking sheet material.

A further object is to provide a novel control for an electric system.

Still'another object is to provide a novel switch structure. Y ,I Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a machine embodying the present invention, in preferred form, the section being taken upon'the line I I of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the dlrectionof the arrows;.

Flg. 3 is a vertical section taken uponv the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;'

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the umts 'commutator disc:

Fig. 5 is a section taken upon the line 8 8 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, taken upon the line 8 8 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 'I is a detail view, similar to Fig. 4, of the tens commutator disc;

Fig. 8 is a section taken upon the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 9 is a section taken upon the line 8 8 of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig, 10 is a vertical section taken approximately upon the line Il II of Fig. 1, looking in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrows; Fig. 11 Iis a vertical section taken upon the line of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of 451, 2,133,259, 2,133,260, 2,133,261, 2,133,262. 2,133,263,2,133264 and 2,133,165, granted October 11, 1938, and the said application, Serial No. 195,408l to which reference may be made. One oi' the side frame plates or walls of the machine is shown in Figs. 12 and 13 at |88, but the controlling mechanisms therefor described herein are contained within a housing 83.

The invention may, for example, be explained in connection with the machine of Letters Patent 2,133,263.

A plurality of newspapers may be placed, in

lapped relation, upon inclined continuously travellng conveyor belts, indicated in the said Letters Patent 2,133,263, at 3, by which an`d other -feed mechanism, they are fed forward into a hopper, shown in the said Letters Patent 2,133,263, at 338. At the bottom of this hopper, there are shown in the said Letters Patent 2.133.263 inclined continuously traveling belts 8 that feed the newspapers further forward toward a table, shown in fthe said Letters Patent 2,133,263, at 8|, on which they become accumulated in theform of a stack. During the feeding of the. papers out of the said hopper 338 and before they reach the table 8|, they are counted. As each newspaper 2 advances forward out of the said hopper 338, its forward edge engages, and passes under, a counting finger, illustrated in Figs. 14 to 16 of the present drawings at I3. The ilnger |3 is integrally fixed to a. horizontally disposed shaft |54, about which it is pivotally actuated toward the left by the traveling newspapers, becoming thus raised, in opposition Ito the force exerted by a two-way leaf spring |84, above a supporting plate (not shown) upon which the finger I3 normally rests.

The two-way leaf spring |84 carries a contact member |64 that, as illustrated more particularly in the said Figs. 14 to 16, is normally separated from a cooperating contact member |66, carried by a two-way leaf spring |88. The leaf spring |88 is normally biased, so as normally to Contact with a limiting stop (not shown). to each pivotal raising of the finger I3 by the successive papers, as they travel out of the said hopper 338, a cam |56, that is fixed to the pivotal shaft |54, effects engagement of the contact member |64 with the contact member |68, raising the leaf spring |66 out of contact with the said limiting stop (not shown). The spring |84 continuously engages the cam |56 to force the finger I3 back into contact with its supporting plate (not shown) after each paper` has traveled on beyond it, toward the said table 8|, illustrated in the said Letters Patent 2,133,263.

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In response Each raising and lowering of the counting fingen I3 will result in registering a count, as will b'e hereinafter explained, to indicate that another newspaper has been conveyed by the said conveyor belts 6 from out of the said hopper 336 and stacked on the said table 6I.

As illustrated in`Figs. 14 to 16, contact member |64 is connected, through the leaf spring |64, to a conductor 230, and the contact member |66, through the leaf spring |66, to a conductor 204. The contact member |66 is connected, by way of the leaf spring |66 and the conductor 204, to one side of counter-controlling electromagnetic coils The coils 202 are mounted upon a magnet core 600 provided with an armature 326, that is lntermediately pivoted at 2|0, as illustrated'more particularly in Figs. i and 3. The contact member |64 is similarly connected, by way of the leaf spring |64 and the conductor 200, and by way of other connections that will be described hereinafter, to the other side of the counter-controlling electromagnetic coils 202. The said other connections include a movable contact member 22 on a two-way leaf spring 20 that is normally in engagement with a stationary contact member 24.

The contact member |64 is also connected by the leaf spring I 64 andthe conductor 200 to a set of ten units push-button switches 606, a set of tens push-button switches 602, and selector commutating discs 2|3 and 2|1. The number of paper to be conveyed out of the said hopper 336, and stacked on the said table 6I, is predetermined manually by manual adjustment of the proper push-button switch or switches 602 and At each closing of the contact members |64 "and |66, in response to the actuation of the counting finger I3, therefore, the circuit of the counter-controlling electromagnetic coils 202 becomes closed, by way of the conductors 200 and A 204 to control the actuation of a counter 2I6.

The counter 2I6 is shown as a ratchet wheel provided with slightly offset ratchet teeth 2I6. This ratchet wheel 2 I6 is fixed to a counter shaft 220, which is connected by gears 240 and 24| and a shaft 242, as shown more particularly in Fig. l, or any other suitable mechanism, to actuate a dial 224. The shaft l220 is journaled in ball bearings 223 provided ,f in walls 303 and 22| in the housing 03, and extends to the right of the wall 22| as viewed in Fig. 1, toward. one of the outer walls 2II of the housing 63. The left-hand ball bearing 223, as viewed in Fig. l, is mounted in a rotary collared sleeve 264, for a purpose that will appear hereinafter. The collar of the sleeve is disposed at the right of the wall 303, as viewed in Fig. i, and the body thereof extends through the wall 303, to the left thereof. -The'counter ratchet wheel 2I6 is fixed by means of'a pin 301 on the extending part oi' the shaft 220 and is separated from the wall 22| by a shim 226 against which it is thrust by a coil spring 246. 'Ihe ratchet wheel stantly driven from a constantly driven sprocket wheel |68 upon the shaft 226. One end of the shaft 226 is journaled in a bearing 243 in one of 'the frame plates 2| I, and the other end extends freely into a socket 221 at the free end of the sleeve 226, and is locked to the sleeve 226 by a key 244 fixed to the shaft 226 and extending into a key slot 246 in the said end of the sleeve 226. The spring 246, coiled about the sleeve 226, thrusts against the friction-clutch disc 226 and a collar 241 that is fixed to the shaft 226. The friction-clutch disc 226 is thus yieldingly pressed constantly against the counter wheel 2I6 to provide a loose connection between the shafts 226 and 220 and to transmit rotative movement to the counter wheel 2I6 from the constantly driven sprocket wheel |66.

Continuous rotative movement of the counter wheel 2 I6 is, however, prevented by a spring-controlled ratchet double pawl 206 mounted upon the armature 326 so as to be pivoted therewith at 2|0.

The pawl 206 is provided at.its ends, on opposite sides of its pivot 2I6, with two oppositely acting pawl teeth2|2 and 2|4 for engaging the ratchet teeth 2I6 of the ratchet counter wheel 2I6. The tooth 2|2 of the ratchet pawl 206 is held normally in engagement with a ratchet tooth 2 I6 of the counter wheel 2 |6.by a spring 222 that is mounted about the pivot 2I0 (Figs 1 and 3). Upon the closing of the circuit of the electromagnetic coils 202 by the contact members |64 and |66, in response to the actuation of the counting finger I3, the amature 326 will be actuated by the energized coils 202 about its pivot 2I0, clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, in opposition to the action of the spring 222. The pawl 206 will be rocked'with the armature 326 upon which it is mounted, effecting the separation of the tooth 2|2 of the ratchet pawl 206 from the said ratchet tooth 2I6. The tooth 2I4 is, at the same time, actuated into engagement with another tooth 2I6. The next moment, the finger I3, as the paper thereunder passes beyond it, will be actuated by the spring |64 to efl'ect the actuation, in the opposite direction, of the cam |66, and the consequent separation of the contact members |64 and |66. i This will result in the opening of this circuit of the coils 202. The spring 222 will thereupon rock the pawl 206 in the opposite direc- `tion, counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, to

cause the tooth 2I4 torelease its tooth 2I6 and the tooth 2|2 to engage another tooth 2I6 of the ratchet wheel 2I6. The pawl 206 is actuated by the armature 320 of the magnet coils 202 and the spring 222 like an ordinary escapement pawl, with its teeth 2|2 and 2|4 engaging the teeth 2I6 of the ratchet wheel 2I6 alternately. 'I'he counter wheel 2| 6 is thus rotated step-by-step from the sprocket wheel I 66 through successive angular distances corresponding to one tooth 2 I6 for each paper. Successive movements of the counting wheel 2I6, tooth by tooth, one tooth at a time, become thus registered on the dial 224, to register a total count corresponding to the papers -2 fed by the conveyor 6 out of the hopper 336.

After leaving the counting finger I3, the papers 2 are fed into the bite between vertically disposed continuously traveling lift belts of a conveyor, shown in the said Letters Patent 2,133,

263, at I1 and 2|, which feeds the newspapers, as they are received from the said hopper 336, vertically upward.

Each paper is then fed from above the said table 6|, at a downward incline, on' to the top x of the said stack accumulated on the said table 6|. During this downwardly inclined feeding, the papers travel over a downwardly inclined guide,

shown in the said Letters Patent 2,133,263, at 36,

and under downwardly inclined guide arms or members, shown in the said Letters Patent 2,133,- 263, and in Fig. 14 herein, at 66, toward and against stops, constitutedv of integrally bent portions. 58 of the said guide members 55. The said bent portions 58 project downward. so as to be engaged by the forward edges of the newspapers, thus limiting the further travel of thepapers. The newspapers thus become successively deposited on the top of the said stack on the said table 3|. each on top of the previously deposited paper, in engagement with the said stops.

As also explained in the said LettersPatent 2,133,263, and as illustrated in Fig. 14 herein, to equalize the pressure exerted by them on the uppermost sheet of the said stack, these two guide members may be separated by a yoke 43 that is pivoted at to an arm 4|. The guide members 55 are thus always maintained in proper position for guiding the papers to the top of the stack 88. The upper portion of the said conveyor 2|, and related parts, are automatically raised vertically, in accordance with the height of the said stack. This is effected by the impact of the papers,

passing under the said guides 55, in opposition to the force of gravity.

Half-revolutions of a collar |88 are eected by clutching the collar |88 to a drum |13 (as shown more particularly in Fig. 6) that is normally mounted loosely on a. shaft |10 (Fig. 12) so as to be free to turn thereon. The drum |13 is constantly rotated, at constant speed, from a sprocket gear |15 that is integral therewith. One end |13 of a spring |11, that is wound around the outside of the drum |13, is held in a hole |32 in the collar |88 (as 'illustrated more particularly in Fig. 6), and the other end 8| is held in a hole |8| of a collar |83 that normally is loosely mounted on the drum |13, so as to turn freely when the spring |11 1s free to do so, 'it will.

.I through4 its own resiliency. engage and wind itself tightly about the constantly rotating drum |13. so

as to become tensioned thereagainst, by friction. The spring |11 will thus be caused to rotate with the drum |13, carrying with it the collars |83 and |88, and thereby effecting the rotation of the shaft |10, to which the collar |88 is fixed by the screw 58. The tensioned spring |11 thus effects the clutching of the shaft |10 to the drum |13, so as to become rotated from the sprocket wheel |15.

More than a half-revolution of the shaft |10 is prevented by the lug 30| on the collar |83, during its rotation inf its circular path about the axis of rotation of the drum |13, coming into engagement with the lug 300 of the upper armature 302 or the lower amature 304, as the case may be. The rotation of the collar |33 will thus become interrupted, and the end |8| of the spring |11 will be held back from further rotation. This will' effect a partialunwinding'of the spring |11 from its irictional engagement'with'the drum |13, so as to render it loose again upon the drum |13. The drum |13 will continue to rotate, but the collar |83 and the shaft |10 secured thereto will have become unclutched therefrom.

The lugs 300 'of the armatures 302 and 304 thus operate in alternation, to interrupt the rotation of the shaft |10 at the end of each half-revolution thereof. In response to the successive closings of the circuits of the upper and the lower electromagnetic coils 3|8 and 3|8, respectively provided with cores |00 and |02, therefore, the shaft |10 becomes rotated through successive half-revolutions to effect intermittent actuation of a table l2, up and down, into its two effective and ineffective positions, and to control the contact members 81 and |3 and the contact members 22 and 24.

The circuit of the coils 3|8 becomes closed to start the feed at the beginning of each cycle of operation, and the circuit of the coils 3|8 becomes closed to stop the feed at the end of each ,cycle of operation, under the control of the commutating discs 2|3 and 2|1 of the selector and the push-button switches 808 and 802. A shaft 528, on which the master switch 318 is mounted, is set into operation at the end of each cycle of operation by the closing of the circuit of electromagnetic coils 38. The final half-revolution of the shaft 10, for effecting the final raising of the table |2, to stop the further operation of the machine, is effected by closing the circuits of the electromagnetic coils 3|8 through the medium of the master switch 30. A shaft 823, on which the master switch 30 is mounted, may be set into operation by means of a clutch mechanism of the above-described character; not, however, under the control of electromagnetic coils, but mechanically, under the control of a reset pushbutton 234, as hereinafter described. The operation of the reset push-button 234 results also in actuating a similar clutch for returning the selector commutating discs 2|3 and 2 |1 and related parts to their initial positions, as more fully described hereinafter. The shafts 528 and 828 of therespective master switches 318 and 30 are shown in Fig. 6 bridged by a leaf spring 231, and they are insulated from each other by separating collars320 and 32|.

Shafts 48 (Figs. 13 and 14), 11 (Fig. 14), 84 (Fig. 14) and 528 (Figs. 6, 10 and 14) are provided with continuously rotating sprocket gears for .rotating them intermittently, through the medium of a drum |13 integral therewith, in the same way that the sprocket gear |15 rotates the shaft |10. The driving sprocket gears for the shafts 48 and 528 are shown at |38 and |35, but

' those for the shafts 11 and 84 are not shown herein, though they are illustrated in the said application, Serial No. 195,408, at |32 and 251, respectively. These shafts 48, 11, 84 and 528,un like the shaft |10, are actuated through complete revolutions, instead of through only halfrevolutions, at each engagement of the lugs 30| of the collars |83 by the lugs 300 of the respective armatures 304. The two sets of electromagnetic coils 3|8 and 3|8 are, therefore, replaced by only' a single set oiv coils 43 (Fig. 13), 15. 82 and 38 (Figs. 6 and 10), respectively, mounted upon a core |08, and provided with but a single armature 304. The relation of these coils to their respective shafts is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6. A biasing spring 36, attached to a bar or other support 34, positioned opposite to the armature 304 on the yoke 308, normally maintains the yoke 308 and the armature 304 thereon in the position illustrated, for example, in Figs. 6y and 13, so that the lug 30| ,normally engages the lug 300 of the armature 304. In other respects, the operation is substantially the same as described above and in the said application. Serial No. 195,408.

As is further explained in the said application, Serial No.- 195,408, any desired number of groups of ten, twenty-five, fifty, etc. papers may be stacked on the said table, with semi-rotations of the said table between the stacking of the successive groups. The said table 3| is turned by K rotating a vertically disposed shaft 35 (Fig. 14) upon which it is mounted. Half-rotations of the shaft 35 are effected, in timed relation to the operations above described, by means of a rack 43| that meshes with a gear 432 secured to the shaft 88. The rack 43| is provided upon a horizontally disposed bar 438 that is slidably actuated horizontally, first to the right,`and then to the left, as .viewed in Figs. 1 and 14. The slidable actuation of the bar 438 is effected by means of a crank pin 429 disposed in a slot 888 provided at one end of the bar 438. The crank pin 428 is mounted upon a gear 4 secured to the shaft 428. The shaft 428 is driven by a gear 38 on the shaft 84 that is controlled by the electromagnetic .coils 82. The gearing is so designed that, corresponding to a half-revolution of the shaft 428, the shaft 88 shall be turned through a half-revolution; and when the shaft 428 is turned a further half-revolutionA to its`original position, the shaft 88 shall likewise be' turned a further halfrevolution to its original position. These halfrevolutions are effected at the end of the feeding of the papers in groups of ten, or any other desired number.

To effect the raising and lowering of the guide members 88, they are rendered pivotally movable upward in substantially vertical planes, about a pivot 248, in opposition to the action of a spring, not shown herein, but illustrated in the drawings of the said application, Serial No. 195,408, at 4|8. rThis maybe effected in any desired manner, as by moving a vertically disposed link 443 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 14, into engagement with a pin 431 mounted upon an arm 249 that is fixed to the ar'm 4|. A bell- 1Hcrank lever 444 is actuated by means of a link 448 from a crank pin 441 on a gear 48|.

These operations, commencing with the raising of the guide members 88, are synchronized by the master switch 318, in the course of one complete revolution thereof, brought about by clutching the shaft 828 to the constantly rotating gear |88. In the course of this complete revolution, the master switch 319 is caused to engage successively contact members 889, 818, 812 and 814.

The contact members 888 and 812 are connected together by a conductor 81| that is connected, in turn, to a conductor 813 that leads, by way of a conductor 12, to the coils 43 for actuating the shaft 48 to raise and lower the guide members 88. The contact member 818 is similarlyk connected, by a conductor 818, to the coils 92 for actuating the shaft 84 to turn the said table 9| through half-revolutions. The contact member 814 is connected, by a conductor 818, to the electromagnetic coils 3|8 for lowering of the table I2 to restart the feeding of the papers 2 out of the said hopper 338. The engagement between the master switch 318 and the contact members 889, 818, 812 and 814 need be but momentary. As soon as the master switch 318 moves out of engagement with contact members 888 and 812, respectively, for example, the coils 43 become deenergized, and the spring 98 returns the armature 384 to its normal position.

At the end of the counting of the predetermined number of papers desired to be stacked for any particular dealer, and their accumulation in the said stack, the said stack is removed from the said table 8|. To this end, the said table 8| is constituted of a frame comprising parallel horizontally disposed slats alternating in position with the positions of similarly disposed elongated rolls, illustrated in the said Letters Patent 2,133,283, at 823.

The said table 8| is raised and lowered by effecting successivehalf-revolutions of a cam 99 on a shaft 88 in response to actuation of the clutch controlled by the electromagnetic coils 18 for actuating the shaft 11 (Fig. 14). A gear 18 on the shaft 11 drives a gear 19 on the shaft 98. The diameter of the gear 18 is half that of the gear 19, in order thatthe cam 98 shall be actuated through successive half-revolutions in response to complete revolutions of the shaft A11. A cam follower 421 disposed at the lower end of the table shaft 98 follows the cam 99 downward in engagement therewith, carrying the said table with it. A further half-revolution of the shaft 88 results in restoring the cam 89 and.

therefore, the said table, to their normal positions. The face of the gear 432 is wide enough so as to remain in mesh with the rack 43| both when the said table is in its uppermost and its lowermost positions.

To effect removal of the stack of sheets. the table 8| is lowered below the said continuously rotating rolls 823, with its said slats into the spaces between these rolls. The lowering of the said table effects the lowering of the stack of papers into contact with the said rolls 823. The stack becomes thereupon moved by the rolls 823 oif the said table.

The contact members 388 and 314 of the master switch 38 are connected together, by a conductor 31|, to a conductor 1|, that is connected by the conductor 12 to the coils 43; and the contact members 318 and 312 are connected together, by a conductor 13, to a conductor |84 that is connected to the coils 18. The engagement ofthe master switch 38 with the respective contact members 388, 318, 312 and 314 need be but momentary, the same as the engagement of the master switch 318 with the contact members 888. 818, 812 and 814.

The commutating discs 2| 3 and 2|1 of the selector are both constituted of insulating material, and are respectively provided with tubular projections 281 and 288, as illustrated more particularly in Figs. 1 and 4 to 8 (the showing Yof Figs. 14 to 16 is more diagrammatic), that extend oppositely to each other intoa conducting sleeve 28|. The discs 2 i3 and 2|1 are respectively further provided with centrally disposed conducting annuli 288 and 282, that are disposed opposite to each other in electrical contact with the ends of the conducting sleeve 28|, the parts being joined together into a unitary spool by screws 288. This spool is disposed between the walls 22| and 383, and the counting shaft 228 extends through the insulating tubular projections 281 and 288 thereof, so as to be insulated from the conducting sleeve 28| and the conducting annuli 288 and 282. A roll 832 (Figs. 10 and 14 to 16), that is in continuous engagement with the annulus 282, serves as a brush contact member. The counting shaft 228 engages frictionally against the interior walls of the tubular .projections tightly enough to transmit the step-by-step rotary movement of the-counting shaft 228 to the spool. This ,frictional engagement is loose enough, however, to permit rotatable adjustment of the spool about the shaft 228 to its initial position upon the completion of the stacking of each stack of papers on the said table. As hereinafter described, this return of the spool to its initial position is eiected in response to manipulation of the reset push-button 294. The spool is thus rotated step by step, from the constantly rotating sprocket gear |98, under the control of the ratchet wheel 2|8 and the escapement pawl 288, but is resetperiodically to its initial :grasse B position before the commencement of the stackinl of e4 ch new stack.

The c mmutating disc' 2li constitutes a unitscounter control, and the commutating disc 2I1 constitutes a tens-counter control. The disc 2li may,"therefore. be referred to as the units disc and the disc 2H as the tens disc. It will now be explained how these discs control the circuits of the electromagnetic coils SIB, SIB, 43, 15, B2 and Ii and the consequent operation of the respective shafts |10, 4U, 11, 84 and 528, so as to actuate the cams |05 for controlling the position of the table I2 and the feed of the papers out of the said hopper, the raising and lowering of the guide members 55, the turning and the lowering and raising of the said table, and the actuation of the master switch 318.

The units commutating disc 2I3 is associated with an assemblage constituted of a group of nine substantially equally spaced segmental contact members 624, electrically connected to the centrally disposed annulus 250. The segmental contact members 824 are marked in Figs. 4 and 11 with the nine units numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. As the said spool is rotated with the shaft 220, step by step, as before described, these segmental contact members B24 willcooperatively engage successively an assemblage constituted of a group of ten substantially equally spaced units contact members 2I5 circumferentially associated with the disc 2I3. They are marked, in Figs. 1 and 14, with the ten units numbers 0, l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively. The contact members 2I5 are respectively connected by wire conductors, as shown in Fig. 14, and as hereinafter described, with the set of ten units push-button switches 60E, corresponding to the ten units numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, and correspondingly marked in Fig. 14. Corresponding openings |52 in a plate I5! into which they extend may be similarly marked on the plate. The two relatively actuable assemblages of contact members 624 and 2I5 both extend over substantially the same distance, along the circumference of the units commutating disc 2I3. Any number of these units pushbutton switches 606 may, of course, be employed, cooperating with a correspondingly designed units commutating disc 2I3.

Because there are ten units contact members 2i5, and only nine cooperating segmental contact members 624, they may be so disposed that, as the shaft 220 is rotated, step by step, by the constantly driven sprocket gear I98, the contact members 2I5 shall engage singly and successively the segmental contact members 624. The spacing of the contact members 624 and 2I5 is so related to the step-by-step actuation 0f the shaft 220 and the commutating disc 2| 3 driven thereby that one contact member 2 I5 always engages one and one only of the segmental contact members 624.

The order in which the segmental contact members 824 engage the contact members 2| 5 will now be described in connection with Fig. 1l. It should be noted that, in this Fig. l1, the disc 2 I3 is shown from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 14. It will be assumed that the shaft 220 is' rotated past the contact members 2I5 anti` clockwise, as viewed in Fig. l1 (or clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 14).

In the ilrst or initial position of the units commutating disc 2|3, the first segmental contact member 624, marked 0, is alone shown in Fig. -11 engaging the first contact member 2I5,

which is also marked 0. At the end of one count, the first segmental contact member 024 marked 0 will have been moved anti-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 11, out of engagement with the contact `member 2i! marked 0, and the second segmental contact member 624, marked 1, will have been moved anti-clockwise into engagement with the second contact member 2I5, marked 1, which will alone, at this time, engage a segmental contact member |24. At the end 1of two counts, the second segmental contact member O24, marked i, will have been moved anti-clockwise out of engagement with the second contact member 2I5 marked 1, and the third segmental contact member 624, marked 2, will have been moved anti-clockwise into engagement with the third contact member 2I5, marked 2, which will alone, at this time, engage a segmental contact member 824. At the end of three counts, the fourth segmental contact member 024, marked 3, will alone engage a contact member 2I5, lwhich will be the fourth, marked 3. The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth segmental contact members 824, respectively marked 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, will, similarly, singly and successively, alone engage the fth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth contact members 2I5, respectively marked 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. In the Acourse of the first eight stepby-step actuations of the counting shaft 220, corresponding to the iirst eight counts ofthe counting ratchet; Wheel 2 I8, therefore, the eighth segmental contact members 624 marked 1 to 8, will, in that order, successively and singly engage the successively disposed eight contact members 2 I5 marked 1 to 8. At the ninth count, the ninth segmental contact member 624, marked 8, will have been moved anti-clockwise out of engagement with the ninth contact member 2 i 5, marked 8, and the first segmental contact member 624, marked 0, will have been moved into engagement with the tenth contact member 2 I 5, marked 9. At the tenth count, the first segmental contact member 624, marked 0, will have been moved anti-clockwise out of engagement with the tenth contact member 2| 5, marked 9, and the second segmental contact member 624, marked 1, will have been moved anti-clockwise into engagement with the rst contact member 2I5, marked 0, which will alone, at this time, engage a segmental contact member 624. The position will then be the same as shown in Fig. 11, except that the second segmental contact member 624, marked 1, will now be in engagement with the rst contact member 2I5, marked 0; and this will again be the only segmental contact member 624 in engagement with any contact member 2i 5.

During these first ten step-by-step actuations y of the shaft 22B, therefore, the commutating disc 2I3 will have been actuated through an angular distance corresponding to that between two suocessive segmental contact members 624. The operation is obviously similar to that of a vernier. During the next nine step-by-step actuations of the shaft 220, the operation above described will be repeated. The segmental contact members 624, marked 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 0, l, will successively and singly engage the contact members 2I5 marked l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. At the twentieth count, Ithe segmental contact member marked 2 will be moved into engagement with the ilrst contact member 2I5 marked 0.

During the next ten counts, this operation will contact member 624, marked 3, will be moved into engagement with the first contact member 2lb, marked 0.

At the fortieth count, the fifth. segmental contact member i526, marked 4, will be moved into engagement with the first contact member El@ marked 0; at the ftieth count, the sixth segmental contact member 26, marked 5, will be moved into engagement with the firstcontact member 2lb marked 0; etc. At the eightieth count, if the operation were to proceed that far, the ninth segmental contact member e245, marked 0, would b-e moved into engagement with the first contact member Elli, marked 0.

With the arrangement illustrated, and with only eight tens push-button switches bild, as also illustrated, it is not possible to count to any greater Inumber because oi the action of the lugs 265 and @22 (Figs. l. and 2), the function of which, as hereinafter described, is to reset the commutating discs 2l@ and 2li! and the spool of which they constitute a part. The apparatus can, however, easily be adapted to the counting of any desired number of papers stacked, and other means thanthe lugs Zlib and 522 can be provided for resetting the commutating disc spool. t can even be reset by hand.

The tens commutating disc Zll is provided with but a single segmental contact member lil, electrically connected to the centrally disposed annulus 252 and, therefore, through the sleeve 25|, to the annulus 250 and the group of segmental contact members 6213. During the stepby-step rotation oi the before-mentioned sleeve by the counter shaft 220, the contact member i@ will be rotated in synchronism with the segmental contact members @32d successively to en'u gage cooperatively a group of any desired numloer, usually ten, of substantially equally spaced tens or other multiple contact members 2l0 circuznerentially associated with the'disc 2li. The contact members I4 and 2li), like the contact members 624 and 2l5, may be regarded as constituting two relatively actualole assemblages, one of the assemblages comprising only the single contact member i4.

The contact members 2lb and 2l9 are shown in the form of rolls. each freely ,movable pivotally. as shown more particularly in Fig. 9, about a pin at one end of an arm 230, the other end of which is pivoted about a* pivot member 23! that extends through the wall v22I or 303. The

arms 230 are spring-pressed, each by means of a spring 232, so as to provide yielding engagement between the contact rolls 2I5 and ZIS and the peripheries of the discs 2l3 and 2H, respectively. Firm contact is thus obtained between the contact members 2I5 and 2I9 and their corresponding commutating discs 2I3 and 2I`I, with a minimum of friction.

-The provision of ten units contact members 2I5 and ten tens contact members ZIB will provide for counting up to one hundred papers. Additional sets of ten contact members each will usually be provided to enable counting to hundreds, thousands, etc., thus to provide for the counting and stacking of any number of papers.

For simplicity, however, only eight contact members 2I9 are illustrated, respectively connected by wire conductors, as shown in Fig. 14, and as hereinafter described, with the set of eight tens push-button switches 602.

The tens push-button switches 602 are marked in Fig. 14 with the tens numbers 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70, respectively. Corresponding openings I53 in the plate ISI into which they extend arcanes may be similarly marked on the said plate. illorresponding markings are placed opposite to the contact members 2i@ of Fig. 10, and upon the disc 2M in Fig. 14. 1n Fig. i4, the tens push-button switches 502 are shown positioned in reverse/order to the actual positions on the machine, in order to simplify the showing of the circuit connections.

in cooperation with the assemblages of contact, members 2HE and 2m, and the assemblages oi' contact members 62d and iii, the set of tens push-button switches 602 controls the total tens, and the set oi units push-button switches 606 the total units, of the total count, and together they control the total number, of the papers accumulated in the stack 89. With this arrangement, as stated, therefore, by suitable combinations of the tens push-button switches 602 and the units push-button switches 605, it is possible to count and accumulate inthe stack 88 up to eighty papers.

lThe contact member I4 is just large enough so that one end of it becomes actuated into engagement with one of the contact members 2l@ when its other end is actuated out of engagement with the next-preceding contact mem ber 2lb. Initially, the tens commutating disc 2li occupies a position such that the contact member i@ engages the contact member 2I9 marked 0, as illustrated in Fig. 10. In the course of the rst ten step-bystep actuations of the counter shaft 22e, while the successive segmental contact members 624 engage successively the successively positioned contact members 205, as

before described, the contact member I4 will remain in engagement with only that one contact member 2I9, marked 0 in Fig. 10. At the eleventh count, when the segmental contact member 524 marked 2 engages the contact member 256 marked 1, as before described, the contact member I4 will be actuated from the contact member 2l9 marked'O to the next contact member 2I0, marked vl0. In the course of the next ten step-bystep actuations of the shaft 220, during which the successive segmental contact members 824 will again engage successively the successively positioned contact members 2I5, as before described, the contact member I4 will remain in engagement with the one contact member 2I9 marked 10. During the next ten step-by-step actuations of the shaft 220, the contact member I4 will similarly remain in engagement with the third contact member 2I9, marked 20; and so on. In all cases, the contact member I4 remains in engagement with one contact member 2I9 only throughout the ten step-by-step actuations of the counter shaft 220 corresponding to the ten single and successive engagements of the contact members 2I5 and 624, before moving into engagement. with the next contact member 2I9.

The push- button switches 602 and 606 extend through openings in the xed cover plate 20| of the housing 93 and also through the openings |62 and |53 alined therewith in the pivoted plate IBI therebelow. They are normally respective lacks lil, so as to be normally inefi'ective, and the tens switches 802 are normally effective, so as cooperatively to establish electrical contact with their respective Jacks 8| 2. The push-button switches may, however, be depressed to their lowered positions. in which the units switches 808 become cooperatively effective to establish electrical contact with their respective jacks 8I2, and the tens switches 802 become ineffective, so' as to break connection with their respective Jacksv 8|2. To this end, the units switches 508 are provided with upper conducting sleeves or collars 54 and lower insulating sleeves or collars 53 and the tens switches 802 are provided with uppe'r insulating sleeves or collars |05 and with lower conducting sleeves or collars |01. In its raised position, therefore,l each units switch 888 prevents any iiow of current between the arms of its jack 5I0 .because of the insulating collar or sleeve 53 interposed between them; inV

its lowered position, however, each units switch 805 bridges the arms of the jack 8|0 through the medium of the conducting collar 54. Each tens switch 802, on the other hand, in its raised position, bridges the arms of its jack 8|2 to establish electrical contact between them; and, in its lowered position, 'each tens switch 802 insulates the arms of these jacks 8 I2, by means of the conducting sleeves |08, to prevent the flow of` current between them. I

By reason of this arrangement, aswill hereinafter appear, one of the units push-button switches 808 in its lowered position, and all except oneof the tens push-button switches 802, in their raised positions, control the stacking of a corresponding number of papers.

If, for purposes ofillustration, it may be assumed that it is desired to stack sixty-five papers,

the units push-button switch 888 marked 5 and the tens push-button switch 802 marked 60 will both be depressed in their respective jacks 6|0 and 8 I2, the remaining push-button switches 802 and 886 remaining raised. 'Ihe depressed pushbutton switches will control suitable electric circuits for effecting thefeeding out of the hopper 389 and the counting of the desired number of papers and their stacking on the saidtable; in this case, sixty five. i

.The reset push-button 294 is disposed above one end of a lever |48 that is fixed to a shaft 48 so as toextend to one side thereof, as viewed in Fig. 14. Upon the reset push-button 284 becoming depressed, the lever |49 will be pivotally actuated clockwise,` as viewed in Fig. 14, effecting a corresponding rocking movement of the shaft |48 in bearings 280. 'Iwo levers |50 and 282 are secured to the shaft |48 so as to extend to the left thereof, as viewed in Figs. 18 and 19,

in a direction opposite to the direction of extension of the lever |49. Rods 284 (Fig. 14) and 288 (Fig. 10) that are secured to the underside of the plate |5| are rockably mounted in bearings in the respective levers |50 and 282. The rocking movement of the shaft 48 transmitted thereto by the reset push-button 294 will, therefore, be come municated to the levers |50 and 282 and, from them, to the plate |5|. The plate |5| will thereupon become raised upward, causing the walls of the openings |52 and |58 to be actuated into engagement with collars |55 provided upon the push-button switches 882 and 808 to raise these push-button switches up into their original undepressed positions.

Two further levers, one of which isshown at 288, and the other of which is shown in the drawings of the said application, Serial No. 195,408, at 205. are secured to the shaft |48. The lever 288 is connected by a link |88 to aforked arm |1| that is pivoted at 288. The lever 205 is conthe frame of the housing 88, and a sleeve (not shown) that is integral with the lever |51 is mounted to turn freely thereon. Actuation of the lever |49 by the reset push-button 284 will thus rock the shaft |48 pivotally to actuate these links |55 an'd |88. 'I'he arm |1| and the arms 210 of the forked member |51 are provided with lugs 300, similar to the lugs 300 before described.

The lugs 800 of the arm |1| cooperate with a lug similar to the lug 30| before described, on a cylindrical housing 38|. The housing 33| is secured to the collar |88 that is fixed to the shaft 828 of the master switch 30 by the screw 58, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 6. The coiled spring |11 is wound about a drum |14, similar to the drum |18, and is adapted to become tightened to clutch the shaft 828 to the constantly rotating gear |81. The gear |81 is xed by one of the screws 56 to a sleeve 28| that is mounted loosely about the shaft 828. The end |18 of the spring |11 is held in the hole |82 of the collar |88 and the other end |8I is held in the hole |9| of the collar |88, that is free to rotate about the sleeve 29|. When either lug 800 of the forked arm |1| is engaged by the lug 80| of the housing 33|, therefore, the spring |11 will be unclutched from the drum |14', and the sleeve 28| will alone be constantly driven by the sprocket gear |91'.

The normal position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 10. Upon the depression of the reset pushbutton 294, the link |88 will actuate the forked member |1| out of its normal position, releasing the lug 39| of the forked arm i1| from engagement with the right-hand lug 308 of the housing 38|, and actuating the left-hand lug into the path of rotation of the lug 88|. The spring |11 will thereupon clutch the collars |83 and |88 and the shaft 828 of the master switch 38 to the constantly rotating sleeve 29|, until this lug 80| becomes engaged by the left-hand lug 300 of the housing 38|. at the end of a half-revolution.

Upon the release of the push-button 294, the

release of the push-button 284, the master switch 80 will successively engage also the con- `tact members 812 and 814 to restore the said table to its raised position and to relower the guide members 55 to their original position.

The lugs 800 on the arms 210 of the'forked member |51 cooperate with a lug 80| on a cylindrical housing |59, mounted upon a'shaft 208 that is alined with, and loosely connected to, the shaft 220, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1.

A drum [|66 and a spring E62 inside the housing H59 cooperate in the same way as' the drum lli and the spring V11. The upper lug 680 of the forked member ii'ill is actuated out oi. engagement with the lug 38H of the housing E59 by depression of the reset push-button 294i (Fig i). A sprocket gear 201 is fixed to the shaft i286 by one of the screws 58, so as to be constantly rotated thereby. The sprocket gear ill, in turn, is actuated by a sprocket chain H63 that is driven from a sprocket wheel 296 on the shaft G88. The drum U61 is fixed to the shaft 296 by a pin 212, so as also to be constantly rotated.

One end of the spring 062 is held in an opening (not shown) in a collar 21d that is free to turn about the shaft 206, in the same way that the end im of the spring iill is held in the opening |9i. The other end of the spring 562 is held similarly in an opening 218 in an annular plate 218 that is held to the housing W9 by a screw 218. The housing 159 is secured to the collar 21e by a screw 291. When, upon the push-button 299 becoming depressed, the lug 3M of the bousing 59 becomes released from its engagement with the upper lug 308 of the forked member E61, therefore, the spring G62 will wind itself tightly about the drum tdi to cause the housing |59 to be rotated with the constantly rotating shaft 206.

The housing |59 will carry with it, in its rotation, a sleeve 280 that is keyed to the housing |59 at 282. The sleeve 288 is keyed also, at 283. to the collared sleeve 264. The collar oi' the sleeve 284 is provided with the lug G22 for engaging the lug 285 on the disc 2id, as iilustrated more particularly in Figs. 1 and i0. The spool that carries the discs 2l3 and 2F11 is thus caused, by the engagement oi the'lugs 622 and 285, to be rotated from the continuously rotating sprocket gear 201 about the shaft '220. Upon the return of the reset push-button 295 to its upper position, to permit the parts to resume their normal position by gravity, the lug 30H on the housing |59 will be restored into engagement with the upper lug 300 of the forked member |51. IThe spool will then have been rotated by the lugs 622 and 285 to a position such that the selector discs 2|3 and 2|1 will be restored to their initial or zero positions, illustrated in Figs. 11 and 10 respectively.

The electric system is normally ineiective to energize the clutch-controlling coils 3|6, 3|6, 43,

83, 15 and 36. It is rendered effective by manually depressing selectively the proper push- button switches 602 and 606 and operating the machine through a cycle or group of cycles of operation. The necessary circuits will be rendered effective, in sequence, at the end of predetermined rotative movement of the counting wheel 2|8, as determined by the counting finger I3, and as controlled by the contact members 624 and Il of the respective commutating discs 2|3 and 2|1.

The wiring connections will be understood from Figs 14 to 16. The first or 0 contact member 2|5 of the commutator disc 2|3 is connected by a conductor 4|3 with the jack 6I0 of the first or 0 units push-button switch 606. The second or 1 contact member 2li is connected by a conductor 4|5 with the jack 6||| ofthe second or 1 units push-button switch 606. 'I'he third or 2 contact member 2I5 is connected by a conductor .M1 with the third or 2 units push-button switch 606; and so on. The sixth or 5 contact member, for example, is'connected by a conductor 68 with the jack iii@ of the sixth or 5 push-button switch 6F36; and the last or 9 con tact member 2id is connected by a conductor M9 with the jack 660 'of the last or 9 units pushbutton switch 606.

The lrst or 0 contact member 259 of the commutating disc 261 is similarly connected by a conductor 5.2i with the jack @i2 oi the first tens push-button switch 682, marked 0; the second or 10 contact member 21S! is connected by a conductor 8M with the jack 05H2 of the second contact member 682, marked lik-the sixth or 50 contact member 218 is similarly connected by a conductor 5225 with the sixth or 50 tens pushbutton switch 602; the seventh or 60 contact member .tit` by a conductor 23 with the seventh or 60 push-button switch 606; and the last or 70 contact member 2|9 by a conductor 42| with the last or 70 push-button switch 886.

Though the spool on which. the commutating discs 2|3 and 2|1 are mounted is rotatably actuated by the shaft 220, so that the respective segmentalcontactmembers 629 shall engage successively their respective cooperating contact members ZIE and the contact member ill shall engage the necessary contact members 219, respectively,

circuits for effecting the desired operations are notI completely established, notwithstanding the engagement of these contact members, except when the corresponding units and tens push- button switches 600 and 602 have been depressed. By connecting the sixth units push-button switch 605 marked 5, for example, so as to connect it, through its conducting sleeve 54, with its corresponding sixth contact member 215, a circuit will be established between this sixth units pushbutton switch 606 and the corresponding contact segment B24, at the end. of ilve counts.

A motor 8 for driving the machine may be connected to power-supply mains 6I and 430 of alternating current by means of a line switch 293 (Figs. 24 to 26).

Power is supplied to the counter-and-selector mechanism from the shaft |88, driven from a sprocket chain |90, which extends through the housing 93 to support certain sprocket gears, including the sprocket gear |92, whichA actuates a. sprocket chain |93 that passes over, to drive constantly, the three sprocket gears |96, |91 and |98 for respectively actuating, in the manner before described, the shaft 528 of the master switch 318, the shaft 629 of the master switch 30, and the .shaft 241 for yieldingly driving thel counter shaftl 220 through the friction-clutch disc 228.

The power-supply mains 6| and 430 are also connected by the line switch 293 to, a'rectifierand-lter 319 (Figs. 4 to 16). The circuit to the rectifier-and-tllter 319 extends, on one side, as shown in Figs. 14 to 16, from the main 6|, through the line switch 293, and by way of a conductor 62; and, on the other side, from the main 430, through the switch 293, by way of a conductor 63. One Fide of the rectiiier-and-filter 319 is connected to a. ground 6H, and thel other side to the conductor 26. All the hereinafter-mentioned grounds are connected to the ground 9M. '.I'he ground 6M constitutes one side, and the conductor 26 the other side, of a source of rectifiedand-filtered non-pulsating direct current for energizing all the hereinafter described circuits of the before-described electromagnetic coils, and also the circuit of a high-resistance neon signal lamp ||6.

It will be assumed that the machine is at rest.

'The master switches occupy their normal illus- 75 trated positions, the master switch 318 between the contact members 814 and 888, and the master switch 30 between the contact members 314 and 388. The table |2 has previously, at the end of the prior cycle of operations, been raised by the cams |05 on the shaft |10 to its normal effective position, raising the papers in the said hopper, so that the machine can not feed any papers 2 out of the said hopper, as described in the said Letters Patent 2,133,263.

The cam |80 on the shaft |10 occupies, at this time, its normal position, illustrated in Figs. 14 to 16, in engagement with the two-way leaf spring Il, so that the contact members 22 and 24 are in engagement, and the contact members 81 and I8 are out of engagement. The various armatures 304 occupy positions such that their lugs 300 are engaged by the lugs 30| of the collars |83, so that the corresponding collars |88 are unclutched from the drums |13. The shaft 208 for effecting Ithe re-setting of the discs 2|3 and 2|1, under the control of the reset pushbutton 284, likewise occupies its normal position.

Let it be assumed, as before, that the units push-button switch 808 marked 5, and the tens push-button switch 802 marked 60, have been depressed, as illustrated in Fig. 14, so as to count and stack 65 sheets, the remaining push-button switches 806 and 802 being maintained in their raised positions. The closing of the line switch 203 will connect the motor 8 and the rectifierand-iilter 319 to the power-supply mains 6| and 430. The motor 8 will set the belt conveyors 3 into operation to effect the feeding of newspapers into the said hopper, but the raised table l2 prevents feeding of the papers out of the said hopper. The various sprocket. gears before-described are set into continuous rotation to drive continuously the drums |13 of the shafts |10, 48, 11 and 84 to which they are respectively secured. As the shafts |10, 48, 11 and 84 are not, at this time, clutched tc the respective drums |13, however, they are maintained stationary. The cams |08 of the shaft |10 remain raised, therefore, to hold the table i2 in its raised, effective position.

The 'machine may now be started into operation by depressing the start push-button switch |0. A circuit becomes then established to effect the lowering of the table |2. This circuit may be traced in Figs. 14 to 16 from the conductor 28, through the two-way leaf spring 20 and the contact members 22 and 24, that are normally maintained closed by this leaf spring 20, and by way of the conductor 28 and conductors 28, 428

and |39, to the start push-button switch l0. The

circuit continues from the start push-button switch |0, by way of conductors 84 and 8E, to the lower electromagnetic coils 3i'8, and from these coils 3| 8, to a ground 88.

The closing of this circuit of the lower coils 3|8 will cause them to become energized to actuate, about pivots 308 and 3|0, a yoke 308, so as to move the lower armature 304 thereof toward the right, and the upper armature 302 thereof toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 12. The lug 30| on the collar |88 will thus become freed from its engagement with the lug 800 of the lower armature 304. The spring |11 will, therefore, clutch the collar |88, and the shaft |10 to which it is secured, to the constantly rotating drum |13. The shaft |10, with the substantially diametrically positioned cams |05 and |80 carried thereby, will thus become actuated through an initial half-revolution only. The resulting lowering of the cams |08 permits lowering of the bar supports of the table |2 to their ineffective position, about their pivot |28, by gravity, thereby lowering the papers in the hopper 830 into engagement with the continuously traveling belts. The resultant raising of the cam |80 effects raising of the contact member 81 into engagement with the contact member I8, that is mounted on the two-way leaf spring 20, at the same time raising,the contact member 22 out of engagement with the contact member 24. The breaking of the engagement of the contact members 22 and 24 effects the opening of 'the above-described circuit of the electromagnetic coils 3|8 for effecting the lowering of the table I2. The closing of the contact members I0 and 81 effects the closing of two circuits. One of these circuits, through the contact members |04 and |88, at the successive moments when the latter become closed by the raising of the counting arm I3, includes the counter-controlling electromagnetic coils 202. The other circuit leads to the push-button switches 802 and 808 and the selector commutating discs 2|3 and '2|1.

Upon the table I2 becoming lowered, the belts 8 begin to feed the papers 2 out of the hopper 338, through the gap between them and the lower projecting finger i8 of the wall and under the counting finger i3. As the papers 2 pass successively under this counting finger i3, they successively actuate it, to effect the closing of the contact members |84 and |86. The circuit of the counter electromagnetic coils 202 may be traced from the conductor 28, through the leaf spring 20, the contact members i8 and 81 which, at this time, are held closed by the cam |00, by way of conductors 25 and 200, through the leaf spring |84, the contact members |84 and |80, and the leaf spring |08, and by way of the conductor 204, to the counter electromagnetic coils 202; and from the coils 202, to a ground 68. The successive closing and opening of this circuit of the coils 202 by the counting finger l0, as before explained, results in step-bystep rotatable actuation of the counting wheel 2|8, the counter shaft 220 to which it is secured, and the counter 224 and the commutating discs 2|3, 2|1 of the selector.

The contact members 81 and I9 control not only the circuit of the.countercontrolling electromagnetic coils 202, but also, as before stated, the circuit to the push-button switches 608 and 602. The last-named circuit extends from the conductor 28 through the leaf spring 20 and the switches i8 and 81, to the conductor 25; and from the conductor 25, by way of a conductor 830, to the conductor 628. The circuit can not be traced further from the conductor 626 through the arms of the `iacks 6|0 unless one of the units .switch buttons 808 has been depressed.

The circuit can not, for example, be traced by way of the conductor 413 to the contact member 2 5 marked il, which is initially engaged with the segmental contact member 824 marked 0, because the' first-push-button switch 808, marked 0, is open. The same is true as to the next four segmental contact members 824, which becomel actuated, singly and successively, into engagement with the next succeeding contact members 2 5, at the end of the next four additional counts, as before described, since their corresponding units push-button switches 808 are raised, as shownv in Fig. 14. The units push-button switch 808 marked 5 alone being assumed to have been depressed, the other units push-button switches 608 beingraised, as illustrated in Figs. 14 to 18, the contact member 2|5 marked 5 is exclusively effective, in cooperation with the units disc 2|3, to control -the number of papers that shall be accumulated on the' table 8| before the nextfollowing operation. A similar remark applies, of course, to the contact members 2I9 of the disc 2I1 and the tens push-button switches 802.

After five step-by-step actuations ofthe counting shaft 220, the commutating disc 2|3 will have become actuated thereby, step-by-step, to its sixth position, in which contact will be made between the sixth contact member 2|5, marked 5, and the sixth segmental contact member 824, marked 5. A group of five papers, the number predetermined by the units push-button switch 808 marked 5, will have become counted and accumulated in the stack upon the said table. Before any more papers 2 will be stacked on the said table, the circuit of the electromagnetic coils 3|8 will become closed, to effect actuation of the shaft |10 through a half-revolution, in order that the cams |05 may raise the table I2, thereby to stop the feed of the papers out of the said hopper. 'I'he circuit of the said coils 3|8 continues from the units push-button switch 808 marked 5 and the arms of the jacks 8|0 bridged thereby and, by way of the conductor 83, to the sixth contact member 2|5 marked 5.

From the sixth'contact member 2|5 marked 5, the circuit continues through the sixth segmental contact member 624, marked 5, which is in engagement therewith at this time, to the annulus 250 (Fig. 1); and, from the annulus250, to the 35 sleeve 25|. The circuit continues from the roll 632, in engagement with the annulus 252, by way of conductors |43 and 620 (Figs. 14 to 16) to the electromagnetic coils 3I8; andfrom the coils 3|8 to a ground 580.

The coils 3|8 become thereupon energized to actuate the upper armature 302 to the right, as viewed in Fig. l2, thereby releasing its lug 300 from engagement with the lug 30| of the collar |83. The spring |11 thereupon binds against the shaft |10 to clutch the constantly rotating drum |13, thereby to eiect a half-revolution only of the shaft |10 and the cams |05 and |80y carried thereby, as before described. This halfrevolution of the shaft |10 results in raising the cams |05 to raise the table i2, thus-stopping the feed of the papers out of the said hopper. The cam |80, at the same time, becomes lowered through a half-revolution to release the leaf spring I8, effecting the breaking of the engagement of the contact members 81 and I9, and the reengagement of the contact members 22 and 24. The breaking of the engagement of the contact members 61 and I9 effects the opening of the above-described circuit to the counter electromagnetic coils 202 and the circuit to the pushbutton switches 808 and 602, the commutator discs 2|3 and 2I1 and the coils 3|8. The reengagement of the contact members 22 and 24 makes possible, at the proper time, the reestablishment of thecircuit of the electromagnetic coils 3|6, for effecting the relowering of the table I2 and the starting anew of the feeding of the papers out of the said hopper.

Immediately after the feed has been stopped by lifting the table I2, following upon the .stacking on the said table of the first group of five papers 2, the guide members 55 will be raised, the said table will then be turned a half-revolution, and the guide members 55 will be relowered, after which the table I2 will become relowered, to permit the stacking on the said table of ten more papers, making fifteen papers in all. This is effected by means of the master switch 318 during its rotation through a complete revolution when the shaft 528 becomes clutched to the constantly rotating sprocket gear |85 (Fig. 6) upon ener 'gization Iof the electromagnetic coils 36.

The circuit of these coils 38 was established simultaneousy with the establishment of the above-described circuit of the table-controlling electromagnetic coils, and before contact was broken between the contact members 81 and I8. 'Ihis circuit may be traced as a branch circuit extending from the conducting sleeve 25| to the conducting annulus 252 v(Fig. 1) and the contact member I4 of the disc 2I1 connected therewith. The contact member I4, as before explained, is at this time in contact with the first contact member 2I8, marked 0. The circuit continues by way of the conductor 421, the first tens pushbutton switch 808, marked 0, which has not been depressed, and the arms of the jack 8|2 thereof,

by way of conductors |45 and 38, to the electrocoils 38 to a ground 35. The electromagnetic coils 38 thereupon become energized to actuate the armature 304 (Fig. 6), thereby releasing the lug 30| of the collar |83 from its engagement with the lug 800 oi the armature 304. The corresponding spring |11 thereupon clutches the shaft 528 of the master switch 318 to the constantly rotating sprocket gear |85 to actuate the master switch 318 throughout a complete revolution. Before the end of this complete revolution, the above-described circuit of the coils 38 having meantime become ybroken by the contact members 81 and I8, the armature 304 will have become restored to its original position by the spring 88, so that its lug 300 will become reengaged by the lug 30| of the collar |83, preventing more than A the one revolution of the shaft 528 and the master switch 318 controlled thereby.

During lthis complete revolution of the master switch 318, it will firstmake contact with the contact member 568. A circuit will thereupon be established from the conductor 25, through the leaf spring 20 and the contact members 22 and 24, which have become closed by the cam |80 simultaneously with the lowering of the cams |05, and by way of conductors 28, 28 and 428, to the master switch 318. The circuit continues from the master switch 318, through the contact member 568, arid by Way of the conductors 51| and 513, to the electromagnetic coils 43; and

from the electromagnetic coils t3 to a ground 42. The consequent energization of the electromagnetic coils 43 effects the actuation of the armature 304. 'I'he lug 300 of this armature 304 becomes moved over to the right, releasing the lug 30| 1 on the collar |83, and permitting the spring |11 to bind tightly against the drum |13, thereby to eect clutching of the collar |83 to the collar |68. The shaft 48 becomes thereby rotated through a complete revolution, or until the lug 30| becomes reengaged by the lug 300 on the armature 304, which has become restored to its normal position by the spring 88. During this complete revolution, the gear 50 on the shaft 48 will rotate the gear 45| and the crank pin 441 mounted thereon tlrough a half-revolution, to effect actuation of the link 443 upward and to the left, as viewed in Fig. 14, about the pivot 248, through the medium of the links 445, 444 and 448. The guide members 55 will thus become raised pivotally above the top of the said stack, about the pivot 248.

When the master switch 318 becomes actuated into contact with the contact member 510, a circuit becomes established from the master switch 318, through this contact member 510, by way of the conductor 515, to the electromagnetic coils 82; and from the electromagnetic coils 82 to a ground 83. The circuit of the electromagnetic coils 82 becoming thus closed, the coils will become energized to effect rotation of the shaft 84 through a complete revolution, in the same manner as before described. During this complete revolution, the gear 86 will rotate the gear 4 through a half-revolution. The crank pin 429 on the gear 4 will thus become actuated through a half-revolution, thereby effecting an actuation of the rack 43| to drive the gear 432 and the shaft 95 on which it is mounted `through a halfrevolution. This will result in turning of the said table and the stack thereon through a halfrevolution.

Meantime, the master switch 318 has been moved out of contact with the contact member 510, and into contact with the contact member 512. A circuit becomes then established from the master switch 318, through the contact member 512 and, by way of the conductor 513, again, to the coils 43. At the time of the breaking of the contact between the master switch 318 and the contact member 568, the spring 98 returned the armature 304 to its original position. Upon this reclosing ofthe circuit of the coils 43, the armature 304 becomes again attracted to the right, thereby again releasing the lug 3M of the collar I83 from engagement with the lug 308 of the armature 304, and permitting a further revolution of the collar I83, and a consequent further rotation of the shaft 48. The gear on the shaft 48 thereupon drives the gear 45t, which is of diameter twice that of the gear 50, back to its original position, permitting the guide members to become restored to the position illustrated in Fig. 14,

In its next position, the master switch 318 makes contact with the contact member 514. A circuit is then established from the master switch 318, through the contact member 514, and, by way of the conductor 516, through the coils 3IS, to the ground S6, The consequent energization of the coils 3IB will effect a rotation of the shaft V10 through a further half-revolution, in the same manner as before described, to effect the lowering of the table I2 by the cams H05 to its ineffective position, permitting the recommencing of the feeding of the papers out of the said hopper and, thro-ugh the cam i60, the reopening of the contact members 22 and 24 and the reclosing of the contact members I9 and 81;

The said table, with the stack of ve sheets thereon, has now been rotated through a halfrevolution, while the guide members 55 were raised, and the guide members 55 have been restored to their normal position. With the table I2 relowered, the machine again commences to feed the papers out of the said hopper and on to the stack. The closing of the contact members I8 and S1 by the shaft i60 has reestablished the circuit of the counter-controlling electromagnetic coils 202, and also the circuit to the push-button switches 608 and 802 and the commutating discs 2i 3 and 2I1. The electromagnetic coils 202,

therefore, will resume control, through the pawl 208, of the step-by-step actuation of the shaft 220.

During the feeding of the first group of five Abutton switches 30S in this sequence, but in a position reverse to that of the original stack of the first five papers, the shaft 220 will be actuated ten steps, corresponding to ten counts, as controlled by ten further operations of the paw] 208. 'I'he actuation of the before-described sleeve and the discs 2I3 and 2I1 mounted thereon may be regarded as in two steps; one step corresponding to the feeding of the first five papers of the next group of ten papers; and the other step corresponding to the feeding of the second five papers of this group of ten. The contact segment I4 remains in contact with the same first contact member 2I9, marked O, during the feeding of the first ve papers of this next group of ten papers; and in contact with the next-succeeding contact member 2I8, marked 10, during the feeding of the remaining five papers of this second group of ten papers.

During the feeding of this further group of ten papers., the contact segments 824 will singly and successively become actuated into engagement with their corresponding contact members 2i5, as before described. The first nine of these actuations will correspond to the open push-button switches 608 marked 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, l, 2, 3, 4, to which these contact members 2I5 are connected. The tenth will correspond to the tenth pushbutton switch 803 marked 5.

At the tenth additional count, or fifteen counts in all, corresponding to the feeding and stacking of fifteen papers, therefore, the contact member 624 marked 5 will again become actuated into engagement with the Contact member 2 i5 marked 5, which is connected to the push-button switch 608 marked 5. Thereupon, two circuits will again become established through the commutating disc 2I3. One of these is through the brush-contact roll 632, which is always in contact with the annulus 252, and by way of the conductors |43 and 820, to the electromagnetic coils 3I8. The other may be traced from the contact member I4 and the second contact member 2I9, marked 10, in engagement therewith, by way of the conductor 3i I, through the second tens push-button switch 802, marked 10, and which has not been depressed, and by way of .the conductors I45 and 38, to the electromagnetic coils 35.

The coils 3I8 will thereupon effect a reclosing of the gap under the finger I8 of the wall II, to prevent further feeding of the papers 2 out of the hopper 339, and the coils 38 will effect a reactuation of the master switch 318, throughout a complete revolution, into engagement with the contact members 558, 510. 512 and 514. During this revolution of the .master'switch 318, the guide members 55 will again be raised, the said table SI will again be rotated through a halfrevolution, the guide members 55 will again be relowered, and the coils 3I8 will again become energized to eifect resumption of feeding of the papers out of the said hopper, in the same manner as before described.

The feeding of the papers, recommenced at the end of the stacking of the rst five papers, has continued until the discs 2I3 ancl2I1 became rotated sufficiently to effect the stacking of a group of ten additional papers on the stacking table, but turned 180 degrees with respect to the said first group of five papers.v The stack on the said-table 9| will now contain fifteen papers, the

lower group of ve facing with their unfolded edges in one direction, and the next group of ten facing with their unfolded edges in the opposite direction. A further group of ten papers will now be stacked, with their edges in the same direction as those of the original five stacked papers. Upon the accumulation of these additional ten papers, making a total of twenty-five, the same operations will again take place.

In this manner, underthe control of the selector commutating discs 2|3 and 2|1 and the contact members 91 and I9, which are closed when the table I2 is lowered, the cams |05 will be raised to lift the table I2, thereby to interrupt the feed of the papers out of the said hopper, at the end of the feed of groups of 5, 15, 25, 35, 45, and 65 papers. Under the control of the master switch 318, in cooperation with the switch members 22 and 24, between the feeding of successive groups of the papers, the guide members 55 will be raised, the said table 9| with the stack thereon will be turned a half-revolution, the guide members 55 will be relowered, and the table I2 will be relowered to recommence the feeding and stacking of the papers.

At the end of the feeding and stacking of the 65th paper in th'e stack, the contact member I4 will be in contact with the contact member 2|9 marked 60. 'Ihe above-described circuit of the coils 3|8, through the sixth units push-button switch 608, and from the roll SI2, and by way of the conductors |43 and 320, has, therefore, again been established, as before, to stop the feed of the papers out of the hopper, 339. The circuit to the electromagnetic coils 39, for actuating the master switch 318, extending from the contact,

member I4, by way of the conductor 423, to the tens push-button switch 802 marked 60, will, this time, however, be open, because this tens pushbutton switch 6 20 marked 60 has been depressed, to insulate the arms of its corresponding jack 9| 2.

There will not, therefore, be any further repetition of the operations before described of actuating the guide members 55 or turning the said table 9|. After 65 papers have thus become counted and stacked, the operation ofthe machine becomes terminated, with the stack of 65 papers 2 on the said table 9|, at rest.

The operator has become notified of the completion of the stacking of the 65 sheets by the signal lamp I I6, the circuit of which was established simultaneously with the final establishment of the-circuit of the coils 3|8 and in parallel thereto. This circuit extends from the sleeve 25|, by way of the conductor |43 and a conductor 259, through the signal lamp ||6, by way of the conductor 38, and through the coils 36, to the ground 35.

If the tens push-button switch 609 marked 60 had not been depressed, it would have been possible to trace this circuit through the coils 36 through this push-button switch 00 in such manner as to short-circuit the signal lamp I I6. The coils 36 would then have become sufficiently energized to actuate the shaft 528 of the master switch 318, as before described. The depressing of the tens push-'button switch 606 marked 60 has now prevented the short-circuiting of the signal lamp IIS. The signal lamp IIB will, therefore, be caused to flash. Because of the high resistance of the neon signal lamp IIS, however, there will not be enough current through the electromagnetic coils 39 to actuate the shaft 318 of the master switch 028.

The illumination of the lamp IIE will constitute a signal to the operator that the stacking of the sixty-five papers has been completed. The operator will now depress the reset push-button 294 to remove 4the stack of papers from the said table 9|. The shaft 928 will thereupon become clutched to the constantly rotating sprocket gear |31 (Fig. 6) to actuate the master switch 30 throughout a complete revolution.

In the first position of the master switch 30, since the leaf spring 20 has been restored to its original position, a circuit will be established from the conductor 20, through the leaf spring 29 and the contact members 22 and 24 and, by way of conductors 29 and 260, to the master switch 30; and from the master switch 30 to the contactI member 338. The circuit continues, by way of the conductors 31|, 1| and 12, to the electromagnetic coils 43 and the ground 42.A The guide members 95 will therefore be raised, in the izrne way as before described, about the pivot When the master switch 30 engages the contact member 310, a circuit will be established from the master switch 30, through the contact member 310 and, by way of the conductor |04, to the electromagnetic coils 15. 'I'his will effect actuation, through a complete revolution, in the manner before described, of the shaft 11. A complete revolution of the shaft 11 vwill effect a half-revolution of the shaft and the cam 99 mounted l thereon. The half-revolution of the cam 99 will eifect a lowering of the cam follower 421 and the shaft and the said table 9| mounted thereon, but without disengaging the gear' 432 from the rack 43|. Upon the lowering of the said table 9|, the stack of papers becomes lowered into engagement with the rolls 523, which effect removal of the stack of papers over the said anti-friction rolls 523.

In its next position, the` master switch 30 engages the contact member 312, which is connected, by way of .the conductor 13, to the same conductor I 04, leading to the electromagnetic coils 15. The engagement of'the master switch 30 with the contact member 312, therefore, effects a reclosing of the circuit of the coil 15 and a further complete revolution of the shaft 11, thereby effecting a further half-revolution of the shaft 80 and the cam 99 thereon, to effect la reraising of the said table 9| to its original position. The interval between the lowering and raising of the said table 9| is sufiicient for the said rolls 523 to perform their work of removing the stack of papers.

Upon the master switch 30 reaching the contact member 314, the circuit of the coils 43 becomes reestablished by way of the conductors 1| and 12, effecting the relowering of the guide members 59 to their original position. The depressing of the reset push-button 294 has effecttween each two successivegroups.

. ber, may be stacked on the said table 9|.

button switch 806 and the depressed tens pushbutton switch 602 to their raised positions. The machine is now ready for the accumulation of a new stack of papers on the said table 5|, the size of which is determined by the setting oi' two other push-button switches 608 and 502. As before described, the new stacking will be recommenced by operating the start push-button switch I0.

In the example given above, the stack of sixtyiive papers collected on the saidl table 9|, as determined by the units push-button switch marked 5 and the tens push-button switch marked 60, was constituted of one group of ilve papers and six groups each of ten papers, the said table Si having been turned through halfrotatlons during interruptions of the feed be- The number of papers in the first group may be' varied or adjusted, as desired, from zero to nine, depending upon which unit push-button switch 605, has been manually depressed. 'I'he actuation of the units disc 2|3 from its initial position to a position corresponding to the depressed push-button switch 602 will determine, in all cases, the variable number of papers in the first group stacked.

If the units push-button switch 606 marked had been depressed, the above-described circuit from the conductor B25 would, at the very beginning, have continued through the arms of its jack SI directly to the segmental contact member 524 marked 0 and -the cooperating contact member 2| 5 marked 0; and then, through the conducting annulus 250, the sleeve 25l'and the conducting annulusV 252, directly to the segmental contact member Il of the commutating disc 2|1. The machine would then have stacked a rst group of ten papers, a second group of ten papers reversed in position to the first group, a third group of ten papers positioned in the same direction as the first group, and so on, up to a total oi sixty papers. i

It will further be observed that if the tens pushbutton switch 802 marked 0 had been depressed, it would not have been possible to trace the above-described circuit through lthis tens pushbutton switch B02. The machine would then have stopped operating at the end oi' the stacking of the first group of five papers, instead of continuing until sixty-five papers were accumulated. Depending upon which units push-button switch 555 is depressed, in combination with this-tens push-button switch 605 marked 0, therefore, groups of papers, each less than ten in num- The feed will be interrupted, at the end of the stacking of each of these groups, whereupon the said the conductor |45, in the same way that the tens push-button switches 802 are shown connected to the conductor |45 in Fig. 14. If it is desired to count into the thousands, a fourth set of pushbutton switches and a fourth commutating disc like the disc 2|1 would be provided, and so on.

l The feed oi' the papers 2 may be stopped at any time by depressing the emergency stop pushbutton switch |12. A circuit is then established from the conductor 25, through the leaf spring 20, the contact members i8 and B1 and the leaf spring IB and, by way of the conductors 25, 530 and 525, to the stop push-button switch |12, shuntlng the push-button switches 602 and 505, and the commutating discs 2 Il and 2|1. 'Ihe circuit continues from the stop push-button switch |12, by way of a conductor 84 and the conductors 258 and |25, to thecoils SIB and the ground 580. The coils SIB will thus become energized to actuate the shaft through a half-revolution, thereby, through the cams |05. to raise the table l2 to stop the further feeding of the papers out of the said hopper.

By maintaining the start-push-button switch I5 depressed, the above-described circuit of the electro-magnetic coils 3|8 controlled thereby will be maintained continuously closed. In this manner, the papers may be caused to feed continuously through the machine, without the ald of the selector, until either the stop push-button switch g I5 is raised, to enable the depressed push-buttable 9| may be lowered, as before described, by 'i' the master switch 30, to enable the rolls 523 to remove each group before the stacking of the next group. The same result mayfofv course, be obtained by omitting the tens push-button switches 802 and the commutating disc 2|1 connected therewith, and connecting the conductor |45 directly to the conducting sleeve 25|.

On the other hand, when it is desired to count into hundreds, the eight tens push-button switches 602 will be increased to ten, and a third set of push-button switches will be provided, as before stated, together with a third commutating disc, corresponding tothe disc 2 I1, and a third arrangement oi contact members corresponding to the contact members 2|9. The contact members of the third arrangement would be connected through the third set of push-button switches to ton switches 652 and B05 to assume control, or until lthehopper 339 becomes entirely emptied. This is an advantage when it is desired merely to count the papers to any number, at will.

Modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art, and all such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as deilned in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch structure having, in combination, two relatively actuable assemblages each having a group of substantially equally spaced contact members extending over substantially equal distances, one of the groups having more contact members than the other group, and means for relatively actuating the assemblages to cause the contact members of one of the groups to engage singly the contact members of the other group.

2. A switch structure having, in combination, two relatively actuable assemblages each having a group 'of substantially equally spaced contact members extending over substantially equal distances, one of thev groups having one more contact member than the other group, and means for relatively actuating the assemblages to cause the contact members of one of the groups to engage singly and successively the contact members of the other group.

3. A switch structure having, in combination, a rotatable disc having a group of substantially equally spaced contact members, a group of cooperating substantially equally spaced contact members, one of the groups-having one more contact member than the other group, and means for rotating the disc to cause the contact members of one of the groups to engage singly and successively the contact members of the other group.

4. A switch structure having. in combination, two relatively actuable assemblages each having a group of substantially equally spaced contact members extending over substantially equal distances, one of the groups having more contact members than the other group, two further rela-

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