US2440665A

US2440665A - Automatic set-back counter

Info

Publication number: US2440665A
Application number: US447460A
Authority: US
Inventors: Max L Jeffrey
Original assignee: National Acme Co
Current assignee: Devlieg Bullard Inc
Priority date: 1942-06-17
Filing date: 1942-06-17
Publication date: 1948-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 1965-04-27

Description

M. L. JEFFREY AUTOMATIC SET-BACK COUNTER Filed June 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m WW I ML M M P 1943- M. 1.. JEFFREY ,665

AUTOMATIC SET-BACK COUNTER Filed June 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MAX. LJEFFREY Patented Apr. 27, 1948 UMTEB STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC SET-BACK COUNTER Max L. Jeffrey, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to The National Acme Company, Cleveland, Ohio,

corporation of Ohio Application June 1'7, 1942, Serial No. 447,460

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in counting mechanisms and more particularly to means for setting back a counter. The invention is particularly related to counting devices wherein counterwheels are provided which are actuated to successively register a certain number movements of a mechanism. So far as the counter wheels and their supporting shaft is concerned they constitute an improvement over my Patent No. 2,035,891 of March 31, 1936. One of the counter wheels registers units from to 9 and upon each complete revolution movement is transmitted from this counter wheel to the next counter wheel which is moved one digit to thus register tens. In case four counters are in a unit, that unit would be capable of registering from 0 to 9,999. More than one set of counters may be supported on a single shaft. These counters are operated by a lever and ratchet mechanism which in turn is operated by a solenoid. In the present invention there are illustrated by way of example two sets of counters disposed in a single shaft each of the sets being actuated by independent solenoids.

Prior to my invention various means were used to reset these counters and in my prior patent this means comprised a shaft which was slid longitudinally and then turned to rearrange the counter wheels to cause them to be reset to zero. In some instances the shaft was moved by a key.

Key setting of the counters is time consuming and in some instances the counters were overset so that when the device was supposed to be reset to 0000 it read 1111 and 2222 instead, depending upon the degree to which it was overset. Of course, in case they are overset they could be turned further until zero is again reached but this is time consuming and often this condition went unnoticed. Furthermore, these prior counters required a rather complicated manual operation in setting the same and this necessitated placing the counter in a place where it was accessible to enable the operation to be performed.

By my present invention I have provided a counter which can be reset to zero by a. simple turning movement of the counter supporting shaft. Furthermore, I have provided means whereby the counter can be reset electrically and automatically from a remote point. In carrying out the resetting, all that is required of the operator is that he close the reset circuit for an instant after which the resetting takes place quickly and automatically. This operation also may be accomplished automatically or in con junction with some other operation if so desired.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a reset for a counter wherein a limited movement of the counter supporting shaft resets the counter.

Another object of my invention is to eliminate the manual resetting of the counter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic reset for a counter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter which may be reset without touching the counter.

Another object of my invention is to provide a counter which may be disposed in places such that ordinary manual resetting thereof would beimpractical.

Still other objects of the invention and the invention itself will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof which description is illustrated by the accompanying drawings and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a counter embodying my invention with certain parts broken away and others shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, shown partly in section of the counter and shaft assem- 1013';

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear elevation of the upper rear portion of the device of my invention, certain parts being broken away to show the structure in back thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the lines 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 2 and looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 taken from lines 5-5 of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective of a portion of a counter wheel and pinion gear, being taken on the lines 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the counter wheel supporting shaft;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section of the upper portion of the device taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a similar view to that of Fig. 8 taken from the lines 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9a is a view of a ratchet lever and ratchet removed from the structure of Fig. 9 to better show their relative positions;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the lines Iii-H] of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of the electric circuit and parts used to effect resetting of the counters illustrating the position of the parts during a resetting operation.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like parts have been designated by like reference characters, and more particularly to Fig. 1.

A frame is provided for supporting the mechanism and comprises a pair of side members I and 2 held in spaced parallel relation to each other by cross bars such as 3 and 4 which are secured to the frame by screws The counter mechanism is disposed adjacent the top between the two side members, being supported on a shaft 6 rotatably journalled in the side members. In the particu- V lar embodiment shown there are shown two separate and independently operated sets of counters. The number of sets of counters is, however, a matter of choice since the invention is applicable to one or more such sets. The sets of counters are operated by solenoids, there being two solenoids, one for each set of counters.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 9, the solenoid includes the winding 8 and the movable plunger or armature 9 which is attracted down into the solenoid in the usual manner. Each armature has pivotally secured thereto an upwardly extending rod Iii which carries a hook shaped end H adapted for engagement with the teeth ll! of the counter ratchet it. A spring 7 is provided for moving the rod it toward the ratchet wheel, the spring being of generally helical form and having one end surrounding a lug 42 on the rod it and the other end seated in a recess in a cross member 59 which cross member extends between and is supported by the side members I and 2; Each downward stroke of the solenoid causes the ratchet to be moved one tooth or notch and carries with it the first counter disk.

The counter mechanism is somewhat similar to that previously described in the aforementioned patent.

The hook H is arranged to engage the teeth l2 on a ratchet wheel I 3 which is rotatably journalled on the shaft 6. This occurs when the armature 9 is pulled downward by energization of the solenoid 8. Over-travel of the ratchet wheel is prevented by the pawl 16 (Fig. 9) which is journalled on a shaft ll and has'the one end in engagement with the teeth of the wheel. The pawl is of a generally bell crank shape and is held in engagement with the teeth by a tension spring I8 secured to the pawl at Zil; the other end of the spring is secured to the frame at 15.

The ratchet wheel l3 has connected thereto by rivets a counter drive wheel M (Fig. 2). This like the ratchet wheel is also rotatably journalled on the shaft 3 and is provided with an outwardly extending flange indicated at 22 which extends under a counter ring 2! carried by the first couner wheel 23. The wheel H5 is relieved from the flange Z2 inward toward the hub. The inner surface of the flange 22 is provided with alternate teeth and notches of the same formation as shown at 50 and 5| for the ring member 48 of Fig. 4.

The first counter wheel 23 is provided with a hub 24 which is also rotatably journalled on the shaft 6. This hub is cut away at one point in a manner similar to thehub 44 in Fig. 4 to enable a pawl about to be described to engage in the notch or groove 2t which runs longitudinally in the shaft 6. The face of the counter wheel 2-3 facing the wheel it is provided with a pair of

pins

27 and 23 upon which are disposed pawls 29 and 3% respectively. The pawl 29 is designed for engagement with the teeth and notches inside of the drive wheel I l and the pawl 36 for alternate engagement with the groove 26 in the shaft 6 and the teeth and notches in the drive wheel. A spring 3! engages the pawl 29 urging it outward into engagement with the teeth and the notches 505l. The other end Of the spring engages the pawl Ell moving it about the pivot 28 inward toward the groove 5. When this cut-away portion in the hub aligns with the groove 6, the pawl drops into engagement with the groove. Driving power for the counter wheel is effected by frictional engagement of the teeth and notches 5055 of the wheel I 4 on the pawl 29.

t should also be noted at this point that, assuming that the relation of the pawls, counter wheel and shaft as shown in Fig. 4 is such that the counter is set at zero, that the first movement of the driving wheel it causes the first counter wheel 23 to be moved relative to the shaft 6, which shaft is at this time standing still. This movement causes the pawl 33 to also be moved relative to the shaft 6 and it is, therefore, raised completely and quickly out of engagement with the groovev 25, the point 32 of the pawl riding on the periphery of the shaft. This causes the portion 33 of the pawl 30 to enter into locking engagement with one of the notches 59 and thus cause the driving wheel Hi to be locked in positive driving engagement to the counter wheel 23.

The counter wheel 23, which as previously stated carried the counter ring 2i, which ring is seated on the shoulder 34, is provided with an enlarged diameter 35 extending up alongside the counter ring and terminating short of the periphery of the ring. This enlarged diameter as best shown in Figs. 5 andfi is substantially smooth and circular on its periphery except for a notch 36 which is shown as a square notch, although it need not be square, indicated in dotted lines and which extends inwardly toward the hub. This as will later more clearly appear, provides a space for the tooth of a pinion gear to enter allowing the pinion to operate the next succeeding counter wheel. Also carried by the counter wheel is a disk 3'! of a smaller diameter than 35 secured to the wheel by rivets and which disk is substantially plain except for a pair of teeth 38 which extend from the periphery with the space between the teeth in alignment with the notch 35.

Movement from the first'counter wheel assembly comprising the

parts

37, 35 and 2! is transmitted to the next counter wheel once each complete revolution, by a pinion 4i). There will be three such pinions for each of the sets of counters as best shown in Fig. 3. These pinions are journalled on a shaft il which extends between the frame members I and 2. Each pinion comprises a composite gear, one portion of which has ten teeth and the other portion five teeth with the alternate teeth of the ten-tooth part being in alignment with the five teeth of the five-tooth part or stated in other words the pinion is a tentooth gear with one-half of each alternate tooth out from the center of the gear to the side. The pinion is positioned adjacent to the counter wheel as best illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6, so that the fivetooth portion of the pinion has two teeth riding'on' accuses tooth part of the pinion at which time the pinion is moved and the five-tooth part may rotate onefifth of a revolution since one of the teeth of the five-tooth part may then enter into the notch 36 in the part 35 of enlarged diameter. This movement of the pinion is transferred to the next succeeding counter wheel, the ten-tooth portion of the pinion being in mesh with the teeth 49 of the locking ring 48 as will hereinafter more clearly appear.

The next succeeding wheel, which in this case would be the tens wheel, comprises the wheel body 43 which is provided with a hub 44 rotatably journalled on the shaft 6 in the same man ner as the hub 24 of the wheel 23. This Wheel also carries the member ring 45 the ring having a press fit onto a shoulder formed adjacent the periphery of the wheel and extending towards the first wheel to provide a flange. There is also riveted to the face of this wheel facing away from the first counter wheel a disk 46 and having exactly the same conformation as the disk 31, previously described. The periphery of the wheel at 41 adjacent themember is formed the same and provides precisely the same function as that of the part 35 in the preceding wheel.

The inner surface of the indicia ring 45 is smooth and provides a bearing for a locking ring 48. This ring has a flange which extends inside of the indicia ring and as stated has a bearing therein and may rotate relative to the indicia ring this being the sole support for the ring 48. The exterior of the ring 48 is provided with teeth 49 which extend up beside the indicia ring. These teeth are adapted to be in mesh with the tentoothed portion of the pinion 4B. The inner surface of this ring 48 is provided with alternate teeth and notches 50 and El. The wheel 43 has secured to the face of it and facing toward the first counter wheel and inside of the ring 48, pawls 29 and 38 which are exactly the same as the pawls described for the first wheel and which are clearly shown in Fig. 4.

As previously described when the pinion is moved one-fifth of a revolution by the movement of the first wheel the two teeth 38 engaging with the ten-tooth part of the pinion and the notch 38 allowing one of the teeth of the fivetooth part to enter the disk 35 of enlarged diameter; the ten-tooth part also being in mesh with the teeth 49 of the ring 48 causes the ring 48 to be moved moving the wheel 43 by the engagement of the teeth and notches 58-5l with the pawl 29. This first part of the movement is frictional but as soon as the movement starts with the pawl 29 the pawl 30 is moved out of the roove 26 and the part 33 is then forced into engagement in one of the notches 5! locking the ring and wheel securely together. The first counter wheel has now moved so that the teeth 38 are beyond the ten-tooth part of the pinion and the fivetooth part is'again in engagement with the enlarged diameter of the disk 35 thus the pinion can no longer move.

It will thus be seen that the digit or first counter wheel 23 moves continuously with the ratchet wheel I3 and that once each revolution the second or tenths wheel 43 is moved one-tenth of a revolution, the first wheel registering units and the second wheel tens. The movement from the second wheel is transmitted to the third wheel in exactly the same manner upon a complete revolution of the tens wheel and eventually the fourth wheel is likewise moved in the same manner.

6 It should be particularly noted that the wheels automatically become locked as described, by the camming action of the shaft 8 against the pawls 30 which shoves the pawls outward into the notches in the rings 48. This as distinguished from my prior patent where the locking had to be accomplished manually by turning the shaft and pulling it outwardly.

It will also be seen that as long as the counter wheels carrying pawls 29 and 30 are rotated so that the pawl 38 is out of the notch 25 of the shaft 6 that the gear ring 48 is locked to thewheel, and this locking occurs with a movement of one-tenth of a revolution of the counter wheel.

A means is provided pennitting resetting of the counters to zero with a minimum of movement and time which resetting is accomplished by rotating the shaft 6 one revolution. The rotation of the shaft to reset the counters to zero is effected by rotating it in the same direction as the counter wheels move when the counting operation is taking place that is counterclockwise as shown in Fig. 4. As previously mentioned when the pawl 30 moves out of the notch 26 it rides up on to the smooth periphery of the shaft 6. It will be appreciated that the pawls in this figure will have moved counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 4 together with the wheel and will be some place with the point 32 of the pawl 30 resting on the periphery of the shaft 6. Therefore, as soon as the shaft 6 is moved in a counterclockwise direction it finally allows this pawl 30 to drop into the groove 26, the point 32 being of complementary shape to that of the groove thus removing the part 33 of the pawl from looking engagement with the teeth and notches 58-5l. This, with the exception of the first or units wheel, which is unlocked from the ratchet wheel, causes the ring gears 48 to be unlocked from the wheel bodies 43 which carries the pawls allowing relative movement therebetween. Further movement of the shaft 6 is transmitted from the shaft through the pawls 30 to the wheel 43. Further, the tension on the spring 3| is decreased on the pawl 29 and the ring gear and the end portion of the pawl can ratchet in and out of the internal teeth Ell-5| of the ring gear 48.

This operation can best be understood if it be assumed that the counter wheels have been operated until they read 1,234. In this case the 1 pawl, this being the one on the left of the cross sectioned group in Fig. 2, would be in the first notch counterclockwise to the position shown in Fig. 4. The 2 pawl would be in the next notch, the 3 pawl in the one notch further along in side of the ring gear and the 4 pawl four notches removed from the first pawl. These pawls would thus be No. 1 closest to the notch, 2, 3 and 4 progressively further away from the notch; since the shaft is being turned counterclockwise the groove 26 would first release the 1 pawl, the 1 number wheel would be moved by the shaft 6 the notch 26 being engaged with the pawl 38 and the ring gear would be unlocked by being held by the ten-tooth part of the pinion 48 which is also in looking engagement with the preceding 2 wheel assembly which parts are locked together. The ring gear would stand still and the wheel with the indicia would move together with the shaft. As soon as the shaft groove '26 becomes aligned with the 2 pawl this would also drop into the shaft groove releasing that ring gear from the wheel. At this point the 1 wheel has been moved so that the 2 mark of the 1 wheel is aligned with the "2 of the 2 wheel.

The 2 wheel becomes unlocked from the 3 wheel in the same manner and the 1 and 2 wheels move together until the 3 wheel is picked up and finally the l wheel at which time all the wheels would be in alignment. In this case when the four notches all become aligned after which all of the wheels are moved together the ratchet l i freely moving on the driving ratchet teeth l2 and remaining together for the further turning movement of the shaft. The shaft obviously is turned until the zero comes back to the proper point to set the device to zero. In the case of hand operation, this may be effected by an extension of the shaft 6 beyond the confines of the case or by a key. It could be inserted through the case into turning engagement with the shaft 6.

In the present embodiment illustrated, automatic means is provided for rotating the shaft 6 and accomplishing this resetting. Briefly it comprises a motor driven ratchet which rotates the shaft 6. The shaft is provided with a cam which operates a circuit breaker inserted in the motor circuit so that when the shaft has returned the number wheels back to the predetermined zero point, the motor circuit is interrupted to deenergize the motor. An additional feature that it is well to mention at this point consists in the providing of means for disconnecting the ratchet from the shaft when the cam reaches this predetermined point to prevent the momentum of the motor from causing the shaft to be rotated beyond the zero points.

As best shown in Fig. 1, a motor 55 is provided suspended from the bottom of the frame. The motor shaft 56 extends outboard from the motor and carries thereon an eccentric member 5?. A ratchet rod 553 is rotatably journalled on the cocentric member and held in position by a bushing 59, the bushing, eccentric and motor shaft all being pinned together by a taper pin (it. Obviously, rotation of the shaft will cause the rod 58 to be moved up and down. The countershaft 6 has pinned thereto at its left end as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, a ratchet gear 6i by a taper pin 62 extending through the hub of the gear and the shaft 5. The ratchet rod 58 extends upward through the frame opposite the gear (SI and is provided on its end with a hooked portion tt'arranged for engagement with the teeth as of the ratchet (Fig. 8'). The ratchet rod is arranged to be moved into operative engagement with the teeth upon energization of the motor 55 through the combined movement of a spring 65 and a solenoid 82. The spring 65 is of tapered helical formation having one end surrounding a lug 66 on the ratchet rod and the other end seated in a socket El on a bracket 68 which bracket is carried by the cross member 59 that extends between and is supported by the side members i and 2.

The ratchet rod is therefore arranged to rotate the gear iii and the shaft 5 in a counterclockwise direction reverse movement of the shaft and gear being prevented by a dog '52 on the opposite side of the gear which dog is pivoted on the shaft il and has an end it? for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet and held in engagement therewith by a spring i i secured to the other end of the dog and hooked into the frame at E5 in much the same manner as described for the dog I6 and spring It in connection with the counter actuating solenoid ratchets.

It should be noted that the pawl isii not only positively prevents reverse movement of the shaft ii, but also frictionally resists forward movement since the torque applied to the shaft must be sufiicient to rotate the ratchetwheel Bl and-raise the pawl. This raising movement is resisted. by

the spring 14. The frictional engagement of the pawl 13 against the teeth is suificient. to hold the shaft in a predetermined position.

As previously stated solenoid operated means against the pressure of the spring 65 away'from.

the ratchet wheel when the circuit is de-ener gized. Specifically, it includesv a block 16 :-of;a' generally triangular shape being pivotally supe ported at one corner on the shaft 4|. At, thelower end of this block, journalled on a. pin 1:1; .is' a roller 58. This roller rides'againstthe edge :of-

the ratchet rod 58 facing toward thearatcheti wheel. The other corner'of theblockhas secured:

to it the upper end of a link 79, the lower end'or which is connected at to thearmatureBi of. a solenoid 82. When the block 'lfiis'rotatedxabout its pivot roller 18 pushes against'the edge'of. the;

rod 58 forcing it against the pressureof the-spring;

away from the wheel 6! Thisisaccomplished normally when the solenoid is de-energized by. a spring 853 which engages an outwardly extending.

lug 85 on the link 19 and which has the other end supported by a bracket 86 carried bythe crossmember 81. Pins 88 in the lug and bracket are:

provided about which the ends'of' the spring, sets to hold the same in position. Itwillthllsbe seen that when the solenoid is de-energized the link" 79 is pushed upward by the spring: M carrying with it the block 76 forcing the roller 78; against the arm 58 as previously mentioned. Whenthesolenoid 82 is energized, the armaturetl' pulls:

down the link 79 compressing the spring:84'rotat-. ing the block 76 in a counterclockwise direction and withdrawing theroller 18:from the edge of The spring 65 pushes the rod and:

the rod 58. hook 63 over into engagement with the ratchet wheel.

As previously mentioned the engagement of the ratchet rod with the ratchet wheel is effected by energization of the solenoid 82. Disengagement is effected by de-energizing the solenoid 82 and this is accomplished by means of a cam 96 keyed on the shaft 6 to the right asbest shown inFi'gs. 1 and 9. This cam comprisesa substantially cir.

cular member having a shallow groove 9 I extend-- Cooperating with the cam. is a, pawl member 92 rotatably. journalledonthe.

ing across the surface.

shaft 4! and provided with a downwardly extending arm 93 which extends opposite to the'cross member 81 and which is provided with a recess. end of the spring:

95 serving as a socket for the 95, the other end of which 96 in the arm 93.

The pawl member is also provided with a pro.- jection or finger '97 on its upper part having a is seated. over. alpin cam engaging face es which allows the" cam. $0.

to be rotated and the edgerof the-groove 91 to hit the surface 98 and move thepawl 92 aboutits':

pivot ll. The pawl is provided at I with laterally extending ledge to which is riveted. a relatively stiff leaf spring It! by rivets Hi2 eX'- tending through the spring and ledge-.1 A set screw and lock nut 13 and IM are threaded through the ledge and engage the spring and pros vide a means of adjustment therefor to adjust.

the same angularly relative to thepawl. The

cross member 69 extending between the, frame sides I and 2 also carries a bracket I65 on which is mounted a micro-switch, the operation pin I01 of which extends adjacent to the spring I6 I.

The operational characteristics of this switch are too well-known and it should sufiice to say that the switch will make or break a circuit as will more fully hereinafter appear so that when the movement of the cam counterclockwise moves the pawl 92 the switch closes the circuit and holds the circuit closed until rotation of the cam allows the pawl finger 91 to drop back into the groove 9 l.

Operation of the circuit, motor and the parts can best be seen from Fig. 11. A motor energization circuit is provided from a source the leads being shown at H6. It may be alternating or direct current. The motor 55 and solenoid 82 are connected in parallel. One lead goes directly to the motor 55 and to the solenoid 82. The other lead to the motor and solenoid is broken at H! and the micro-switch I66 is connected across this break. Also connected across the break parallel with the micro-switch is a manually operated push button switch H2.

It being assumed that it is desired to reset the counter through the rotation of the shaft 6 which has previously been described, the operator closes the circuit by actuating the push button I I2 causing the motor solenoid to be energized. At this time the contacts of the micro-switch I06 are open but as soon as the contacts H2 are closed the motor starts moving, the cam moves the pawl 92 to close the contacts I06 of the micro-switch which are in parallel relation with the push button switch I 12. The push button switch obviously only needs to be closed for an instant. Simultaneously with the energization of the motor the solenoid 82 operates, pulls down the link 19 and moves the block 16 with the roller 18 away from the link 58 allowing the spring 65 to push the ratchet rod 58 over so that the end 63 is in operative relation with the ratchet wheel 6!. Since the motor is now running and the rod 58 moving up and down the shaft 6 will be rotated through the ratchet wheel 6! as previously described and the counters reset. If the button H2 is maintained closed the movement will continue indefinitely. However, as soon as the button H2 is released the micro-switch I06 takes charge of the circuit and maintains 'the circuit closed until the groove 9| of the cam 96 allows the projection 91 on the pawl 92 to enter into the groove at which time the spring 95 rotates the pawl causing the pressure on the plunger I61 of the microswitch to be released which opens the circuit shutting ofl the motor and de-energizing the solenoid. The spring 84 moves the link Idupward and causes the roller 18 to engage the rod 58 disconnecting the ratchet hook 63 from the ratchet. The motor can now coast to a stop without further operation of the ratchet. The counter is now set to zero.

It will thus be seen that I have improved the simplified ratchet mechanism which is considerably more economical in construction than the prior devices and that a single revolution of the counter supporting shaft serves to completely reset the same to zero. Also, it will be seen that with the automatic reset mechanism it may be quickly and accurately reset to zero without any manual operations to close the switch H2.

Having thus described my invention I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the scope or spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In combination with a counter having a shaft for resetting the same, an apparatus for rotating said shaft comprising a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft, means cooperating with said wheel to turn the same including a reciprocable member having a tooth engaging portion for engaging teeth on said wheel, means for moving said member into and out of operative engagement with said wheel including spring means connected to the member and moving it toward the wheel and means to move said member against the pressure of said spring means away from said wheel and including a lever pivoted on a support spaced from said member, an abutment carried by said lever and engageable with said member and means to move said lever to cause the abutment to push said member against the pressure of said spring away from said ratchet wheel comprising a link connected to said lever and a spring connected to a fixed support and urging said link to move said lever with said abutment against said member, and means to overcome the effect of said last mentioned spring and cause said first spring to move said member against said ratchet wheel.

2. In combination with a counter having a shaft for resetting the same, an apparatus for rotating said shaft comprising a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft, means cooperating with said wheel to turn the same including a reciprocable member having a tooth engaging portion for engaging teeth on said wheel, means for moving said member into and out of operative engagement with said wheel including spring means connected to the member and moving it toward the wheel and means to move said member against the pressure of said spring means away from said wheel and including a lever pivoted on a support spaced from said member, a roller carried by said lever and engageable with said member and means to move said lever to cause the roller to push said member against the pressure of said spring away from said ratchet wheel comprising a link connected to said lever and a spring connected to a fixed support and urging said link to move said lever with said roller against said member, and means to overcome the effect of said last mentioned spring and cause said first spring to move said member against said ratchet Wheel, said means including a solenoid connected to said link and adapted on ener gization to pull said link against said second spring pressure, and to move said roller out of engagement with said member.

3. In combination with a counter, a shaft for resetting the. counter, ratchet means for moving the shaft to reset the counter including a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft, an electric motor, a rod reciprocable by the motor shaft and having a ratchet Wheel engaging portion on the end thereof, means for moving said rod into and out of ratchet wheel engaging position including a first spring means for biasing the rod toward and a second spring means for biasing the rod away from the ratchet wheel, and electrically operated means for overcoming the bias of said second spring means to render said first spring means effective and said second spring means overcoming the first spring means upon release by said electrically operated means, a circuit for said motor and said electrically operated means for causing simultaneous operation thereof and including a starting switch for connecting said circuit to a source of power; a second switch in parallel with the first svn'tch and arranged to be closed after the motor starts and to open said circuit when the counters are reset;

4. In combination with a counter mechanism supported in a frame and having a shaft rotation of which causes resetting of the counter, means for automatically rotating said shaft a predetermined amount to reset said counters comprising a ratchet Wheel, an electric motor having an eccentric and a ratchet engaging rod journalled on said eccentric and adapted to be reciprocated thereby, said rod having a ratchet engaging end adapted for engagement with the teeth of said ratchet, spring means connected between said rod and the frame for moving said ratchet engaging end of the rod into engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth, means for holding said ratchet engaging end out of engagement with said teeth against comprising a lever pivoted to the frame and having a roller for engagement with said rod, means to move said lever to cause said roller to push against said rod, comprising a link connected to the lever, and a spring connected'between the link and the frame; and means to pull said link against said last mentioned spring pressure to cause said first spring to effect engagement of the ratchet engaging end and wheel comprising a solenoid connected to said link, circuit means connecting said motor and solenoid to a source of current, said motor and solenoid being controlled by the same circuit, and a first switch means for energizing said circuit and a second switch means for de-energizing said circuit, a cam carried by said counter shaft and operatively connected to said second switch, means to open said circuit when the counter shaft reaches a predetermined position.

5. In combination with a counter having a shaft for resetting the same,an apparatus for rotating said shaft including a ratchet wheel, means to turn the wheel including a, reciprocable member, means for moving said member into and out of operative engagement with said wheel and including a first spring means engaging the member and moving it toward the wheel and a second spring means in engagement with the member capable of overcoming the first spring means and moving the member away from the Wheel and means for overcoming said second spring means said means for overcoming said second spring means being releasable upon the shaft being returned to a predetermined position to allow the second spring means to operate.

6. An apparatus for wheels in a counter mechanism having a shaft adapted upon rotation to efiect said resetting comprising means to rotate the shaft including an electric motor, an eccentric carried by the motor shaft and a pitman journalled thereon, a ratchet wheel fixed to the counter wheel shaft and a portion of said pitman adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, a first spring means pressing said pitman toward ratchet engaging position and a second spring means pressing said ratchet away from ratchet engaging position, and means for overcoming the pressure of the second spring means to allow said first spring means to press the ratchet wheel engaging portion into engagement with said wheel.

the pressure of said spring resetting the counter 7. apparatu'sfor rotating a counter wheel resetting mechanism havinga rotatable resetting shaft comprising means for rotating said shaft including an electric motor, a pitman operated by the motor and a ratchet wheel carried by said shaft and operated by the pitman, said pitman having a ratchet operating member on its end, and spring means for holding and moving said member on the end of the pitman toward the ratchet and a second spring means for holding said ratchet operating member away from said ratchet wheel and electrically controlled means arranged to be energized upon energization of said motor to overcome said second spring means, said pitman being forced into engagement with the ratchet by said first spring when the effect of the second spring is overcome.

3. In combination with a counter mechanism supported in a frame and having a shaft and counters connected thereto, rotation of which causes resetting of thec'ounters, meansfor automatically rotating said shaft a predetermined amount to reset said counters comprising a ratchet wheel, an electric motor and a ratchet-engaging member driven thereby, said ratchet-engaging member adapted for engagement with the teeth of said ratchet wheel, spring means connected to said member for moving said member into engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth, means for normally holding said member out of engagement with said teeth operating against the pressure of said first mentioned spring comprising a lever and means carried thereby for engagement with said member, means" to move said lever to overcome the effect of said spring comprising a spring pressed link, means to pull said link against said last mentioned spring pressure to allow said first spring .to effect engagement of the member and Wheel comprising a solenoid having a movable armature connected to said link, common circuit means connecting said motor and solenoid to a source of current, and a first switch means for energizing said cir-' cuit and a second switch means for deenergizing said circuit, a cam carried by said counter shaft and operatively connected to said second switch, said cam adapted to open said second switch and said circuit when the counter shaftreaches a predetermined position. V

' MAX L. JEFFREY. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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