US2759672A - Mechanical drive numerical display devices - Google Patents

Description

' g- 1956 c. s. SIMONDS ETAL MECHANICAL DRIVE NUMERICAL DISPLAY DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 22, 1955 INVENTORS CLARENCE S. S/MO/VDS CLARENCE E ADLER ATTOR/VE .5

21, 1956 c. s. SIMONDS ETAL 2,759,672

MECHANICAL DRIVE NUMERICAL DISPLAY DEVICES Filed April 22, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 2 I N V EN TORS CL ARE/V05 5. SIMO/VDS B CLARENCE E. ADLER A TmR/VEYS C. S. SIMONDS ETAL Aug. 21, 1956 MECHANICAL DRIVE NUMERICAL DISPLAY DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 22, 1955 IN V EN TORS CLARENCE 5. SIMO/VDS BY CLARENCE E ADLER WW'% ATTORNEYS g- 1955 c. s. SIMONDS ETAL MECHANICAL DRIVE NUMERICAL DISPLAY DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 22, 1955 m o w if "fl @2 11 m INVENTORS CLARENCE s. S/MO/VDS CLARENCE & ADLER ATTORNEYS United States Patent IVIECHANICAL DRIVE NUMERICAL DISPLAY DEVICES Clarence S. Simonds and Clarence E. Adler, Toledo, Qhio, assignors to Toledo Scale Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 22, 1955, Serial No. 503,057 8 Claims. (Cl. 235-132) This invention relates to numerical display devices that are adapted to be actuated from the output of an electronic counter or a similar device, and in particular to a mechanical drive for such numerical display devices.

Numerical display devices of the type to which the drive of this invention is especially applicable are mechanically-driven and electrically-controlled and are sometimes known as readout devices. Such numerical display devices are connected to electronic counters when it is desired to display an indication corresponding to the count accumulated in the counters in conventional and aligned figures so that they may be easily read. When the numerical display devices are so connected to the counters, they indicate in plain aligned figures the count that exists in the counter when the counter reaches the quiescent state.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a mechanical drive for quickly and positively starting and stopping the numeral display wheels of an electricallycontrolled indicating device with a minimum of noise and wear on the operating parts, the indicating device being of a type that may be connected to an electronic counter for displaying numerical figures corresponding to the count accumulated in the counter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical drive for a numerical display device, the drive utilizing the inertia of some of its parts as a source of power for some of its operations.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple, self-contained display unit which automatically aligns numeral display wheels in correct reading position even when the unit is tipped.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical drive for quickly and positively starting and stopping the numeral display wheels of an indicating device in which the numeral display wheels, once started, are continually in motion until they are stopped in positions corresponding to a count in the controlling electronic counter, which mechanical drive positions and securely locks the stopped display wheels in correct indicating poistions until a new indication is to be displayed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for simultaneously unlocking and starting a plurality of stopped numeral display wheels in an indicating device in which the display wheels, once started, are continually in motion until they are each stopped in a position corresponding to a count in the corresponding section of the controlling electronic counter.

More specific objects and advantages are apparent from the following description of preferred forms of the invention.

According to the invention the improved display device comprises a display member, a constantly runnning power wheel, and drive means positively engaged with the dis play member and frictionally engageable with the power wheel. Preferably the frictional engagement is self-energizing so that there is a minimum of slippage as the display member is started from rest. When the display member approaches the correct indicating position, as indicated by an electrical circuit including brushes on the drive means frame cooperating with a commutator in the display member, a stopping latch is moved into position to engage a tooth of the drive means at a point generally on an extension of the line of centers of the display member and drive means. This engagement at this position instantly arrests the drive means and display members and the reaction forces on the axle of the drive means rocks the drive means support into disengaged position. Preferably a lock released by a start signal is arranged to lock the drive means support in drive disengaged position with the latch still engaged with the drive means to finally position the display member. A lock drive member or bar actuated by the start signal to release the lock is common to all of the individual drives and takes any of three positions, one to unlock the drive, a second with one or more drives running, and a third with all drives latched.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure I is a front elevational view showing the assembled numerical display device comprising four indicia bearing drum members three of which are stopped in indicating position.

Figure II is an oblique view of one of several duplicate assemblies comprising the display device shown in Figure I.

Figure III is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line III-III of Figure II, certain duplicated parts being omitted.

Figure IV is a plan view of the drive shown in Figure III, certain duplicated parts being omitted.

Figure V is a detailed side elevational view of the drum member, the various positions of the idler or drive means positively engaging the drum member, and the support for the idler all of which parts are shown in Figure II.

Figure VI is a vertical sectional View taken along the line Vl-VI of Figure V.

Figure VII is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away showing one of the indicia bearing drum members and a rockable support member together with a circuit controlling the indication of a count.

Figure VIII is a diagram of brushes and a commutator mounted in the drum member that are used in the circuit controlling the indication of a count.

These specific figures and the accompanying descripnon are intended merely to illustrate the invention but not to impose limitations on its scope.

Referring now to the accompanying figures, and in particular to Figures I and II, the improved numerical dison a frame having vertically upstanding end plates 1 and 2. The complete device comprises a plurality of duplicate subassemblies, one for eac place in the number to be indicated. The several subassemblies, one of which is shown in Figure II, are driven mechanically by series of spaced apart power wheels 3 mounted on a power shaft 4 journaled in bearings adjustably mounted, but not shown, in the end plates 1 and 2. The power wheels 3 are continuously rotated when the device is in operation and, when engaged, frictionally drive a plurality of intermediate drive wheels or idlers 5 each of which positively engages and rotates one of a plurality of generally cup-shaped hollow drum members 6 bearing indicia on their cylindrical surfaces. The indicia are visible through windows 7 in a front wall 8 (Figure I) of a housing enclosing the device.

The drum member 6 is mounted for rotation on. a needle bearing 9 located axially, by means of a snap ring 10, on an axle 11 extending between the end plates 1 and 2.

See Figure VI for details. A flanged bearing 12 held on the axle 11 by a second snap ring 13 holds the bearing 9 in place against the inner surface of the snap ring 10. The idler is fitted with bushings 14 turning on an axle 15 fixed to an arm of a support member 16 fixedly mounted on the flanged bearing 12. Thus, the rockable support member 16 and the drum member 6 have a common pivotal axis defined by the axle 11.

The idler 5 (Figures II and VI) includes, to cooperate with the power wheel 3, a friction drive surface 17, which may be knurled, flanked by a gear 18 on one side and five equally spaced apart teeth 19 on the other side. When the display device is in operation so that the power wheels 3 are continuously rotated and when the support member 16 is rocked to engage the drive surface 17 of the idler 5 with its power wheel 3, as shown in Figure II, the power wheel 3 continuously rotates its associated idler 5. The rotating idler 5 drives the drum member 6 at half its speed, the gear 18 on the idler 5 being engaged with a gear 20 mounted on the side of the cupshaped hollow drum member 6. A second gear 21 (Figure VI) on the side of the drum member 6 may be used to drive a train of gears (not shown) to set type wheels according to the indicia displayed through the windows 7. The directions of rotation of the power wheels 3, of the idlers 5, and of the drum members 6 are indicated by arrows in Figure II.

When the turning drum 6 approaches the position at which it is to stop, a signal is transmitted through a circuit controlling the indication of a count, which circuit will be hereinafter briefly described, to cause an end 22 (Figure II) of a solenoid operated latch 23, one of which is provided for each idler 5, to intercept the approaching one of the five teeth 19 on the side of the idler 5 at a position adjacent the associated power wheel 3 thereby stopping that one of the drum members 6 at one of ten possible stopping positions. The latch 23 is fulcrumed on a bracket 24 by means of a flexure plate return spring 25, the bracket 24 extending between the end plates 1 and 2. The latch 23 is actuated by a solenoid 26 fixed to the bracket 24, the solenoid 26 being energized to actuate the latch by the signal through the circuit controlling the indication of a count. Ten possible stopping positions are provided because the numerical display device is to indicate in the decimal system of notation. Should some other system of notation be employed a different number of teeth 19 or a different gear ratio between the idler and the drums or both would be used. The present device provides the ten stopping positions for the drum members 6 with five teeth 19 on each of the idlers 5 and a two to one gear ratio between the drum members and the idlers.

One of the features of the improved drive is the fact that the stored kinetic energy of the driven members, i. e., the

idlers 5, the drum members 6, and any type wheel drive gears which may be driven by the gears 21 on the sides of the drum members 6, is used as a source of power to move certain parts of the mechanism to disengage the idlers 5 from the power wheels 3. No other useable source of power is available, since the signal controlling the indication of a count comes from the very low power output of an electronic counter. The inertia of the driven members as they are being stopped by the engagement of the end 22 of the latch 23 with one of the teeth 19 on the idler 5 rocks their associated support member 16 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure II, until an extended arm 27 of the support member 16 strikes a limit bumper 28. The bumpers 28 are preferably made of a hardened resilient synthetic resin such as nylon to keep noise and wear at a minimum. The counterclockwise movement of the rockable support member 16, by moving a lug 29 on the support member 16 out of engagement with a lug 30 on a rockable sector 31, permits the sector 31 to be rocked in a counterclockwise direction by means of a spring 32 having one end attached to the arm 4 27 of the support member 16 and its other end attached to the sector 31.

The sector 31 includes a finger 33 having a front face 34 and a rear face 35, the lug 30 and a second finger 36. Integrally formed on the finger 33 or fixedly attached thereto is a hook 37 adapted to engage a locking face 38 of the solenoid operated latch 23. The sector 31 is rockably mounted on a shaft 39 journaled in bearings 40 mounted in the end plates 1 and 2 (Figure III) and is resiliently urged counterclockwise toward the idler 5 by means of the spring 32 coiled once around the shaft 39 with one end attached to the arm 27 of the support member 16 and its other end attached to the finger 33 of the sector 31.

The shaft 39 forms part of a reset means which also includes an ordinary rotary solenoid 41 mounted on the end plate 2 and a reset bar 42 mounted on and keyed at 43 to the shaft 39 (Figure IV). The shaft 39 is parallel to the axle 11 and the reset bar 42 extends generally parallel to the shaft in spaced apart relationship. There is a separate sector 31 for each of the idlers 5, but only one reset bar 42 is provided for the entire drive, the reset bar 42 extending nearly the distance which separates the end plates 1 and 2 as best shown in Figure IV. As shown in Figure III, the sectors 31 are spaced from the right hand end of the reset bar 42 and spaced apart from each other by means of a series of sleeve-like, stepped spacers 44, the sectors 31 and the limit bumpers 28 being rockably mounted on one step on the spacers 44 and the springs 32 being coiled around a second step on the spacers 44. A nut 45 threaded on the end of the shaft 39 forces the left hand bearing 40, as viewed in Figure III, against the end of the reset bar 42 which holds the series of sleeve-like, stepped spacers 44 in place.

When a signal to stop is received the solenoid 26 is energized to move the latch end 22 into the path of the teeth 19. Because of the inertia the drum 6 and idler 5 continue rotation, the idler now in effect turning around the end 22 of the latch 23 thereby rotating the support member 16 counterclockwise as seen in Figures II and V. This motion lifts the drive surface 17 of the idler 5 free of the power wheel 3 and the lug 29 from the path of the finger lug 30. This permits the sector 31 to rotate counterclockwise under the influence of spring 32, the

, finger lug 30 moving beneath the support member lug 29 to lock the support member 16 in the uppermost position it reaches while absorbing the momentum of the rotating drum 6 and associated parts. The upward motion of the support member 16 is limited by engagement of support member finger 27 with the under side of the plastic sleeve 28 on the shaft 39.

As in any system having elasticity there is a tendency to rebound when the parts are stopped suddenly by engagement with a fixed stop. In the improved drive this rebound is prevented by a stationary stop bar 22a the end of which engages the rear face of the tooth 19 following the one whose front face caught on the latch end 22. The face of the end of the stop bar 22a is generally normal to a line passing through the face and the end face 22 of the latch 23. Thus while the idler 5 is rolling upwardly with a tooth caught on the latch 23 and the support 15 is moving up the next following tooth 19 of the idler 5 describes a generally circular path tangent to the end face of the stop bar 22a. Once the support member 16 is latched in its upper position the idler 5 cannot move down to free its teeth 19 from the latch end 22 and thestop bar 22a. The indicia bearing drum 6 is thus positively locked with one of the ten indicia centered in the viewing opening.

When a new reading is to be made, the rotary solenoid 41 is momentarily energized rocking the shaft 39 and the reset bar 42 attached thereto clockwise as seen in the figures. The reset bar 42 first contacts the second fingers 36 of the sectors 31 rocking the hooks 37 away from the back or locking faces 38 of the latches 23; the

lug 30 away from locking engagement with the bottom surface of the lug 29 on the rockable support member 16-; and the rear faces 35 of the fingers against the latches 23 to positively move the latches out of engagement with the idlers 5. (Should the count in the counter, hereinafter described, have changed to a new count so that the solenoid 26 of any one of the solenoid operated latches 23 is no longer energized, the return spring of that latch helps retract the tail end of the latch 23 from engagement with its associated idler.) An instant later, the downwardly moving reset bar 42 engages the extended arms 27 of the support members 16 rocking the members about the axis of the shaft 11 to bring the idlers 5 into frictional engagement with the power wheels 3, whereby all of the rotatable drum members 6 are simultaneously, quickly and positively started and continue in motion until they are each again stopped and locked in indicating positions corresponding to a count in the corresponding section of the controlling electronic counter. The lug 29 on each of the support members 16 is then engaged with its associated lug 30 on each of the fingers 33, as shown in Figure II, preventing the fingers from locking their associated latches 23 until the inertia of the stopping driven members again rocks the support members 16 to lift the lugs 29 out of contact with the lugs 30 on the sectors. The return spring in the rotary solenoid 41 returns the bar 42 to its position shown in Figure II after the solenoid 41 is deenergized. The positive engagement of the downwardly moving bar 42 with the extended arm 27 of each support member 16 rocking the support members and bringing the idlers 5 into frictional engagement with the power wheels is very important, since this arrangement frees the idlers from dependence upon gravity to frictionally engage them with the power wheels 3 and allows the display unit to automatically align the drum members in 3 correct reading position even when the unit is tipped.

When the solenoid 26 of one of the solenoid operated latches 23 is again energized in response to a signal controlling the indication of a count, that latch stops the idler 5 associated therewith, the inertia of the stopping driven members rocks their associated support member 16 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure II, and the cycle hereinbefore described is repeated to accurately align and lock in place one of the ten indicia on the periphery of one of the drum members 6 in viewing position corresponding to a count in the corresponding section of the controlling electronic counter.

The reset bar 42 as seen in Figure V is urged counterclockwise by the return spring of the rotary solenoid 41, and when the solenoid 41 is deenergized the reset bar 42 moves from its energized position shown by the dotted line position 42 to its intermediate position shown by the solid lines. It is held in this intermediate position by engagement with the downwardly directed rear face of the finger 33. As each of the drums 6 reaches its correct indicating position and is stopped the corresponding sector 31 moves counterclockwise away from the reset bar 42. Finally only one of the drums is left running and when it stops the reset bar 42 follows its sector 31 into the third position (marked 42").

This second movement of the reset bar 42 into the third position provides a positive indication that all the drums 6 have been stopped and are in indicating position. This may be used to mechanically or electrically interlock a printer or other mechanism driven by the drums or intermediate gearing to prevent operation of the printer or other auxiliary equipment as long as a drum is still rotating.

The signal controlling the indication of a count is carried through a circuit shown in Figures VII and VIII, in which a set of nine brushes mounted on the support member 16 cooperate with a single conducting member or commutator 49 arranged in a certain pattern and carried on the drum member 6, there being a separate circuit for each drum member 6 and its associated drive. Information relative to a count accumulated in an ordinary binary system-electronic counter 46 is transmittedathrough a series of leads A1, A2; B1, B2; C1, C2; and D1, D2 that connect four stages, hereinafter referred to as stages A, B, C and D, of the electronic counter to the conducting member. A set of nine brushes 52-60, one for each of the leads A1, A2, B1, B2, etc. and one for an output lead 47 going to an amplifier 48, are provided.

A commutator member 49 mounted in the rotatable drum member 6 is provided With a conducting surface 52 and insulated surfaces 51. The seriesof brushes 52-60 are mounted in a slot \61 .of the rockable support member 16 and are arranged to cooperate with the commutator 49. The brush 5.2, always contacting the conducting surface 53, is connected to the output lead 47. The brushes 52 to 6! are connected two to each stage of the counter 46. In the particular arrangement the connections are: brush 53-lead C2 of stage C; brush 54.--1ead A2 of stage A; brush 55lead B1 of stage B; brush 56-lead C1 of stage C; brush 57lead A1 of stage A; brush 58--le ad D2 of stage D; brush 59-lead B2 of stage 13; and brush v64) lead D1 of stage D.

The following table shows the counter condition and the voltage fed to the amplifier for each digit to be indicated (state of the counter) and each relative position of the commutator and brushes. In the table the first column indicates the number registered in the electronic counter; the second to fifth columns inclusive indicate which of the leads A-1 or A-2, 15-1 or B2, C-1 or 02, D4 or D2 is energized, i. e. is positive with respect to the other. The commutator in each position connects four of the eight leads, one from each pair, to the amplifier. The

resulting voltage, depending upon the number of connected and energized leads, varies from four units (when all the connected leads are energized) to zero units (when none are energized). The intermediate voltage levels are one unit, two units, and three :units depending upon Whether one, two, or three of the connected leads are positive. The control may be arranged to operate When all the connected leads are positive or all negative.

These voltage levels are indicated in columns 6 to 15 inclusive for each position of the commutator for each number that may be registered in the counter. It should be noted that the voltage level rises and falls by unit steps and reaches four units (to stop the indicator) only once in each revolution.

Table Leads Voltage to Amplifier in Units at each No. in Energized commutator :Position Ooun- I ter A B O D 0 8 9 l 5 i 7 3 2 6 4 2 2 2 2 4 3 2 3 2 1 2 3 2 3 1 2 2 2 3 2 3 .4 3 2 3 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 2 1 2 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 3 2 3 4 3 2 1 2 2 1 2 3 2 1 2 3 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 1 2 2 l 2 3 4 3 2 1 2 3 2 1 l 2 2 l 0 -l 2 3 2 3 4 3 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 1 3 4 3 2 l 0 1 2 l 2 1 2 2 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 2 1 0 1 The commutator 49 and the brushes 52-63 that are used in the circuit controlling the indication of a count are not part of this invention and are described for the purpose of showing a circuit means controlled by a commutator for energizing the solenoid operated latch for stopping the drum member in selected positions. The present invention is concerned with the improved mechanical drive hereinbefore described for quickly and positively starting and stopping the indicia bearing drum members.

The commutator 49 is shown relative to the brushes in the position it occupies to indicate a zero. In such a position the brushes 55, 56, 57 and bear on insulated portions While the remaining brushes 53, 54, 58 and 59 7 bear on conducting portions which are electrically connected to the portion cooperating with the brush 52 which is the output brush connected to the lead 47.

As the commutator moves one step counterclockwise from the position shown, the brush 58 passes from the conducting portion to the insulated portion while the brush 60 passes from the insulated to the conducting portions. These two brushes are connected to the fourth or D stage of the electronic counter and represent a change of eight in the count.

Proceeding clockwise in the figure (counterclockwise movement of the commutator relative to the brushes) to the following positions that are reached as the commutator continues to rotate counterclockwise one finds that in passing to the second position from the zero, the nine position, that brush 57 passes from an insulated to a conducting segment while brush 54 passes from a conducting to an insulated portion. The same continues for the succeeding steps In transferring from each step to the next, one brush of each pair passes from an insulated to a conducting portion while the other brush of the pair passes from a conducting to an insulated segment. In this arrangement for any possible position of the commutator with respect to the brushes four of the brushes bear on insulated portions of the commutator while the remaining four brushes bear on conducting portions. By the pattern of the insulated portions in respect to the conducting portions these combinations are varied to correspond to the combinations of conducting states in the electronic counter representing each of the digits to 9 inclusive. The drum members 6 are stopped in positions corresponding to such combinations of conducting states when a signal from the counter energizes the solenoid 26. As the commutator 49 approaches a position corresponding to the count in the counter the voltage on the output lead 47 rises stepwise from one voltage level to the next as it approaches the final position. This arrangement avoids the production of large transient voltages which may interfere with the operation of the counter.

To summarize: The improved numerical display device is connected to the electronic counter 46 when it is desired to display numercial figures corresponding to the count accumulated in the counter in conventional and aligned figures so that they may be easily read. When the display device is in operation and when the power wheels 3 are engaged by the idlers 5, the drive for the drum members 6 bearing indicia on their cylindrical surfaces is positioned as shown in Figure II with the power wheels 3 continuously rotating and driving the idlers 5 and the drum members 6. The directions of rotation are indicated by arrows in Figure H.

The drum members 6, once started, are continually in motion until they are stopped in positions corresponding to a count in the controlling electronic counter 46. The drum members 6 are stopped in such positions in response to a signal from the counter by the action of solenoid operated latches 23 engaging the idlers 5 and stopping the drum members 6 gear engaged with the idlers at one of ten possible stopping positions.

The inertia of the stopping driven members rocks their associated support members 16 counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure II, out of engagement with the sector 31 which are then instantly urged against the idlers 5 under the action of the springs 32. In such position, each sector 31 locks its latch 23 to accurately hold its drum member 6 to align one of the ten indicia on the periphery of the drum in viewing position.

When a new reading is to be made, the rotary solenoid 41 is caused to be energized momentarily rocking the shaft 39 and the bar 42 attached thereto. The bar 42 first rocks the sector 31 clockwise, as viewed in Figure II, unlocking the stopped drum members 6 and then rocks the support members 16 in the same direction about the axis of the shaft 11 to bring the idlers 5 into frictional engagement with the power wheels 3, whereby all of the rotatable drum members 6 are simultaneously, quickly and positively started and continue in motion until they are each again stopped and locked in indicating positions corresponding to a count in the corresponding section of the controlling electronic counter.

The end of the shaft 39 remote from the rotary solenoid 41 is shown broken off in Figure III to indicate that a second numerical display device may be located adjacent the first device and the shaft 39 may be extended and used in the second device in exactly the same way it is used in the first device.

Various modifications in particular details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

Having described the invention, we claim:

I. in a device for mechanically positioning a member according to a count accumulated in an electronic counter, in combination, a member to be positioned, a power wheel, drive means positively engaged with the member and frictionaliy engageable with the power wheel, rockable means for journaling the drive means and moving the drive means into frictional engagement with the power wheel, stopping means positively engageable with said drive means in the region between the axes of rotation of the drive means and power wheel whereby the inertia of the member and the drive means rocks the rockable means to disengage the drive means from the power wheel, and means for operating the stopping means as the member approaches the position corresponding to the count.

2. In a device for mechanically positioning a member according to a count accumulated in an electronic counter, in combination, a member to be positioned, a power wheel, drive means positively engaged with the member, rockable means journaling the drive means and movable in a direction to bring the drive means into self-energizing frictional engagement with the power wheel, stopping means adapted to positively engage the drive means intermediate the axes of rotation of the drive means and power wheel, means for actuating the stopping means as the member approaches the position at which it is to be stopped, and means for locking the rockable means with the drive means disengaged.

3. In a device for mechanically positioning a rotatable member according to a count accumulated in an electronic counter, in combination, a rotatable member to be positioned, a continuously rotating power wheel, a rockable member journaled concentrically with the rotatable member, drive means journaled on the rockable member and positively engaged with the rotatable member, said rockable member being rockable to a position bringing the drive means into self-energizing frictional contact with the power wheel for rapidly starting the rotatable member, stopping means adapted to engage the drive means at a point generally on an extended line of centers of the rotatable member and the drive means, and means for actuating the stopping means when the rotatable member approaches a position corresponding to the count.

4. In a device for mechanically positioning a rotatable member according to information in a low power electrical circuit, in combination, a rotatable member to be positioned, a continuously rotating power wheel, a rockable member journaled coaxially with the member to be positioned, drive means positively engaged with the member and journaled on the rockable member, resilient means acting on the rockable member for urging the drive means into engagement with the power wheel, a spring-urged lock holding the rockable member in drive disengaged position, means for momentarily releasing the lock, stopping means engageable with the drive means at a position generally on the extended line of centers of the member and drive means whereby the inertia of the member drives the rockable member to locked position when the stopping;

means engages the drive means, and control means for actuating the stopping means as the member approaches a position corresponding to the information.

5. A device according to claim 4 in which the control means includes a plurality of brushes on the rockable member cooperating with a commutator in the member to be positioned.

6. In a device for positioning a rotatable member according to information in a low power electrical circuit, in combination, a rotatable member to be positioned, a continuously rotating power wheel, a rockable member journaled on an axis generally coaxial with the rotatable member, drive means journaled on the rockable member and positively engaging the rotatable member, resilient means urging the rockable member in a direction to engage the drive means with the power wheel, locking means for opposing motion of the rockable member and for centering the drive means, means for unlocking said locking means, stopping means engageable with the drive means at a point generally on an extended line of centers of the rotatable member and drive means whereby the rockable member is rocked to locked position by inertia forces of the rotatable member and drive means, said locking means also serving to lock the stopping means in stopping position, and means for actuating the stopping means as the rotatable member approaches a position corresponding to the information.

7. In a device for positioning a rotatable member according to the count in an electronic counter, in combination, a rotatable member to be positioned, a continuously rotating power wheel, a rockable member, drive means journaled on the rockable member, said drive means having a first part positively engaged with the rotatable member, a second part frictionally engageable with the power wheel, and a third part having ratchet-like teeth, stopping means comprising a pivoted latch adapted to engage the ratchet-like teeth at a point generally on an extension of the line of centers of the rotatable member and drive means, locking means adapted to hold the rockable member with the drive means disengaged and the stopping means latch engaged with the ratchet teeth, said rockable member serving to hold the locking means in unlocked position when the drive means are engaged and until the rockable member is moved to drive disengaged position by action of the latch and rotatable member, and means for actuating the pivoted latch as the rotatable member approaches the position corresponding to the count.

8. In a device of the class described, a plurality of rotatable members to be positioned, a power wheel for each rotatable member, a drive means for each member positively engaging the member and frictionally engaging the power wheel, a spring latch for holding each drive means disengaged, means for disengaging each drive means as its member approaches indicating position and permitting the associated spring latch to catch the drive means in disengaged position, and a common release bar for the series of spring latches that is movable to a first position to disengage the latches to a second position while at least one drive means is engaged with its power wheel and to a third position when all latches have engaged the respective drive means in disengaged condition.

No references cited.

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