US2777229A - Counting and display annunciator - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 15, 1957 J. o. HOWARD COUNTING AND DISPLAY ANNUNCIATOR 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1953 I Znfo)? Jan. 15, W57 J. o. HOWARD 2,777,229

COUNTING AND DISPLAY ANNUNCIATOR Filed Oct. 14, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 15, 1957 J. o. HOWARD COUNTING AND DISPLAY ANNUNCIATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 14, 1953 Jan. 15, 1957 J. o. HOWARD COUNTING AND DI SPLAY ANNUNCIATOR 5 SheetsSheet 4 Filed Oct. 14, 1953 @N EQN.

296 Q oward Jan. 15, 1957 J. o. HOWARD COUNTING AND DISPLAY ANNUNCIATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 14-, 1953 0. wall/a? hfy.

United States Patent- O 2,777,229 I COUNTING AND DISPLAY ANNUNCIATOR Joseph 0. Howard, Chicago,-Ill. Applic ation ctober 14, 1953, Serial No. 386,064 12 Claims. (Cl. 40 -53 This invention relates to improvements in annunciators and changeable display devices, and has as us principal object the provision of a portable counting and display annunciator for use in stores and like locations and operable to sound a signal and display numbers sequentially under control of the attendant as the customers are served in order of the number cards they hold.

More particular objects relate to the construction and operation of the number changing mechanism and to such features thereof as the use of separate units and tens counting number display devices, and reciprocable number card carriers therefor which reciprocate in a common bed before a display window structure and each simultaneously pick up and deposit a number card as a function of reciprocatory travel thereof.

Other features relate to the actuation of each card carrier by a separate motor means for the units and tens counting carriers; and to a control 'circuitfor triggering the counting and display operation and for actuating a tens transfer circuit and its associated card carrier. means.

Still other features relate to the construction and operation of a. simplified card scoop or pick-up means on the carriers, and to a similarly simplified and efiective card deposit or push-out means on the carriers, whereby the card previously on display is picked up by the carrier at the same time as the next sequential card is deposited thereby and moved into display position.

Additional objects and aspects of novelty and utility pertain to details of the operation and construction of the illustrative embodiment described in view of the annexed drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the portable annunciator unit with parts shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical cross sectionwith parts shown in elevation and looking in the direction of lines 2.2 ofFig. 1;

.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal horizontal cross sect on looking down upon lines 3--3 of Fig. 2 with parts shown in plan;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail of parts shown in Fig. 3 looking in the direction of lines 44 of Fig. 2 and showing the carrier in homing position;

Fig. 5 is a detail similar to Fig. 4 showing the carrier in advanced position; 1

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional detail looking in the direction of lines 6-6 of Fig. 5 and showingthe indexing 2,777,229 Patented Jan. 15,

ice

In Fig. 1a portion of the interior of the case or cabinet 14 is shown to enlarged scale looking toward the front, so that the digits as seen in this view are in reverse to th view of Fig. 7. f

The numbers to be displayed are delineated on large rectangular plates 17 of suitably translucent material which is also of light weight, such for example, as plastics of the class of polystyrene and the like, the illustrative device including two packs or sets 17A, 17B, of these number plates, portraying the consecutive digits 0 to9, so that the machine shown is int-ended tocount from 00 to=99 and repeat.

Each of said sets of indicia or number plates rests in oneof the two carriers 18A, 18B, both of which are seen in Figs. 1 and 3, only oneof the sets 17A beingseen in Figs. 2, 4 andS.

The construction of the card carriers is identical, so that only one needs be described, such construction as in Figsql and 2 consisting in a vertical carrier plate 19A having an offset bracket 2!) riding on a traveler rod 21 which is common to both carriers.

The set of number plates or cards 17-A rests in a longitudinally-continuous slide channel 22 common to both carriers (Figs. 1 and 2), the bottom edges of the number cards sliding along this channel during the number-changing excursions of the carriers, each carrier having an overlying guard flange 23 (Fig. 2) with a downwardly projecting retaining lip 23A to confine the upper edge regions of the plates, while a vertical backing flange 24 (Fig. 4) is provided on the carrier to push the pack alongthe slide channel or bed when the carrier advances in number-changing operations.

Two spring presser fingers 25A are crimped at their ends into the backflange 24 of the carrier as at 26 (Figs. 4 and 5), and act to press the stack of cards or plates 17A back against the carrier plate 19A for purposes to appear in conjunction with the transfer of the cards or plates from the carrier into display positions as a result of reciprocation of the carriers.

Means for reciprocating the carrier structures 18A, 18B in their mounting on slide rod 21 is shown in Fig. l, and includes separate units and tens counting electric motors 27A and 27B fixed on the chassis floor plate of the cabinet and both having self-contained reduction gearing. Since the reciprocating mechanisms for both carrier are identical, only the one at the left of Fig. 1 will be described, the reference characters having literal 'suflixes such as 27A, 29A referring to the left-hand or units carrier means in Fig. 1, while the references having suflixes B, such as 27B, 29B, refer to the tens or right-hand car'- rier structure (Fig. 1).

The motor 27A is provided with a crank pin 28A which works in the channel 29AX of a channel bar or stroke bar 29A pivotally fixed at 30A on a depending bracket 31A beneath the mot-or, the opposite end of the channel member having a long slot engaged with a pivot screw 32A on the carrier plate 19A of carrier 18A,

It will be clear that for each revolution of the crank pin 28A the channel member 29A will sweep from leftto-right and return to its normal home position shown in Fig. 1 with a corresponding excursion of the carrier Each such reciprocatory travel of the carrier will effect the removal of the number card displayed at the appertaining window 16A and the deposit thereat of the card for the next ordinal or digital number character, as will presently be explained.

Since the illustrative embodiment is primarily intended for use in markets to facilitate the orderly serving of customers, the counting range can usually be limited to run from zero to 99, and repeat.

Accordingly, only one tens transfer or countingunit is required, the tens counting being efiected by the motor 7 means 278 and its associated card set 17B and carrier means 18B, while the units counting is effected by motor 27A and itsassociatedcarrier structure 18A.

In-Fig. 3 the two carriers are shown in their respective positions of rest (also referred to as their homing positions), and in the sectionalized view of Fig. 4 attention is directed to the number card or plate 17AX which stands ondisplay before the appertaining "window 16A and which is pressed against such windowby a pair of curved display presser fingers 33A (see also Fig. 1) carried on a vertical pivot rod 34A and yieldingly'urged in pressingaction by a clock spring 35A having one end attachcd to the .pivot rod and-its other'end BSAXbearing against a flange portion 36 of the chassis floor (as in Fig. 2).

The'companion tens unit has an identical spring presser means 33B, 358, etc. (see Fig. 1).

The operation of the novel card transfer-ring or changing-mechanism is now explained in viewofFigl, wherein it will be observed that the springpresser fingers 25A on the carrier each have a free end portion ZSAXoifset or curved outwardly to lie in position to scoop -or pass around the outside face of the outside card -17AX on-display, this peculiarity being of importance in the operation of the device, as will appear.

Another important feature in this connection isevident in Fig. 2, namely, that the windows or sight- openings 16A, 16B are recessed'so that the top and bottom margins thereof are guarded or flanked by a narrow common ledge 37 with the appertaining vertical Wallportion38, in which the window openings are formed, being'setinwardly of the side of the cabinet (as in Fig. 7).

The pick-up presser fingers 25A of each pair are spaced vertically so that one fingerofeach pair is aligned with the corresponding upper or lower ledgeportion 37, and the offset free end or scoop-portion ZSAX'df each presser finger projects outwardly, as'aforesaid, so asto be able to pass around to the outwardly fa'cin'g or display side of the outer card 17AX, according to Fig. 4, wherein said free end portions ZSAX are seen to project behind said ledge.

As a result of the foregoing arrangement of the; pickup'fingers 25A (and their counterparts 25Bfor the tens unit), when the appertaining carrier advances toward the display or deposit position of Fig. the free-end portions 25AX thereof will pass beneath or around'the displayed card and scoop it or pick it up and press it against the front side .(i. e. the side toward the front of the cabinet) of the pack -17A. For this reason, the spring -,presser fingers 25A (and the-fingers 25B of the tens unit) are referred to as a pick-up or scoop means.

Upon the homing retreat of the carrier from the'iadvanced-or exchangefposition of Fig. 5, the next card 17AY in number sequencewillbe removed --fr omthe rearward side of the pack anddeposited in place of the picked-up card, owing to the spring action of the-pickup'presser finger means 25A,.25AX, :and the cooperation of a set of stationary deposit or .push-out-ifingers 40A (Fig. 5), each fixed at one end-40AX to awertical end member-42A on the chassis floor, and havingatheir respective oppositeends'40AY free and=disposed to he immediately behind the trailing vertical-edge=of the last, inside or rearmost card 17AY which is to be deposited or exchanged when thecarrier has stoppedat the fully advanced ordisplay position, as in Fig. 5.

There are preferably two-of these -stationa17y, horizontally-extensive push-out or deposit-fingers -40A.-for each carrier spaced apart vertically (*a,S il'17'Flg.-2a"flHd lying close to the appertaining -carrier:-plate- 19A.

When the carrier moves into fully advanced posit-ion .(asinFig. 5) thepick-up .fingers 'ZSA -will'ipiek .=up .=t=he previously deposited or displayed :card17AX:, an-previouslyexplained, and the r spring action'of thesefingersavill also press the pack 17A inwardly or rearwardly, so that the innermost card 17AY will begin to move inwardly away from the window as the pack 17A begins to pass off the two stationary pick-01f or deposit blocking fingers 40A, whereby to cause the trailing vertical edge of said innermost card 17AY to lie in juxtaposition to the free blocking ends 40AY thereof in the condition illustrated in Fig. 5. For this purpose the blocking ends 40AY of the deposit or push out blocking means 40A (and the counterparts 40B, 40BY) are dimensioned in thickness to equal, or at least not exceed, the thickness of one card so that said trailing edges register with the thickness of the blocking ends 40AY.

When'the carrier next retreats from the aforesaid fullyadvanced or exchange position of Fig. 5, the juxtaposed, innermost or last card 17AY will be left behind because the confronting blocking ends 40AYof the push-out deposit fingers block any possible retrogressive movement of such card with the pack in the retreat of the cam'er, and so soon as the rest of the pack (including the newly picked-up card 17AX) has retreated far enough the display ,presser fingers 33A will push the newly deposited card 17AY forward against the window 16A where it then replaces-the withdrawn card 17AX.

Such an exchange of display cards requires only one brief reciprocation of the carrier means, which corresponds to asingle revolution .ofthe motor crank means 28A, the jcycling-of the rnotor 27A for this purposebeing'controlled by a normally open, sensitive, carry-over switch 45A zadjustably mounted on the chassis close to the stroke arm or channel member 29A, and having an operating lever with roller means 46A adapted to be engaged by the stroke arrn29A in its home position to hold'theswitch open; A slight movementof thestroke arm 29A-away from this 'normalor home position will effect closure of the switch 45A, and the latter will .remain closed until the .crankmeans .28A completes its cycle and the full'reciprocatory travel of the carrier .is completed back to homing position.

. It may beobservedhere that thetens counting display unit has :an identical cycling control means including a carry-overswitch 458 with an operating lever androller means 463 (see also 'Fig. 3) actuated by the appertaining stroke arm 29B whenever thetens circuit is triggered.

'Whi-le the-two'drive motorsi27A, 27B are extensively geared down, is desirable to have the positions of their operating-levers and roller- means 46A, 46B adjustable to compensate forwear. Accordingly, both switches-are pivotallymounted in identical fashion, the switch '45A, forexampleybeing carriedon a pivot bolt 47A (Figs. 2 and 5) threading into a chassis'bracket 48A, and having a Z-shaped rocker arm attached cccentrically as at 45X thereto at one of its ends, and threadedly engaged withan adjusting screw-49A at its opposite end, the-head .of the screw 49A being exposedon the lower inset ledge of {the especially recessed window structure, heretofore described, so as to be inconspicuous yet-sufiiciently uccessible for servicing, the inner end of said screw threading into a small offsetting lug 50A (Fig. 2) on said other end of the Z arm.

The switch pivot lbolt :47A .passes .through aligned punches in the intermediate zig-zag spans of! the 2 arm, and it will be observed from Fig. 5? that the cccentrically- -attache'd endof the latter at 45Xlies on the opposite side of the axis of the pivot bolt from the adjustingscrew lug 50A, With the result that when the latter is threaded .in or out the Z bracket will be rocked and so will'the'switch 45A anditsassociated actuating lever and roller means 46A to alter the position of the latterin relation to the appertaining stroke arm.

Thecontrol circuit. for the novel displayrannunciator .is shown in Fig. 8, it being explained first, however that the device is intended especially for use in' busy markets Where the customers take number cards to await their turn as the series of numbers is called out. In permanent installations the annunciator is preferably mounted high on a wall behind a counter being served, thereby in view of the waiting customers.

Referring to Fig. 8, in a typical store installation there will be a low-voltage master circuit including a normally open master trigger switch 60 attached conveniently along the back of the store counter, this switch being of the plunger variety and having a movable contact 57A normally held away from its companion contacts 57 by action of a spring-urged operating plunger 56, which has attached to its free end a long pull cord or lanyard 55 strung behind the counter, where it can be pulled by any of several clerks, thereby actuating the plunger contact 57A to close the circuit across contacts 57 and energize the coil 62 of the low-voltage relay via conductors 63, 64, and 65 from the 12-volt secondary winding 66 of a transformer whose primary is connected to power line terminals 67 through a panel cut-out switch 75X and conductor 68. The switch 75X is one of the main controls provided on the front panel of the case (as in Fig. 7), there being a companion cut-out switch 75Y for the display light source 69.

Another incident to the operation of the trigger switch 60 is the energization of hell coil 58 for a bell or like signal device connected by conductors 59 in shunt with the relay coil 62.

When an attendant pulls the lanyard and closes the master starting or trigger switch 60, 'as aforesaid, lowvoltage relay contacts 70, 71 close to complete a starting circuit to the coil 27AX of the units motor via conductors 72, 73, 74 from one power terminal 67, ofwhich the remaining terminal connects to the other side of this motor coil via juncture 76A with conductor 76, and through the cut-out switch 75X.

. It will be noted here that the relay contacts 70,. 71 shunt the contacts 45AX, 45AY of the carry-over switch 45A, also connecting to said conductors 72 and 74.

The starting impulse imparted to the units motor by operation of the low-voltage relay is suificient to assure idle, and is in fact disabled by a normally open supervisory tens transfer switch 77, having one of its contacts 78 in series with one contact 45BX of the tens motor carry-over switch, via conductor 80 and its other contact 79 connected to one of the power source terminals 67 via conductors 81, 82.

The remaining contact 45BY of the tens motor carryover switch connects with one terminal of the winding of the tens motor via conductor 83, while the remaining terminal of said winding connects at junction 76A to the power lead 76 from the cut-out switch.

The tens transfer or supervisory switch 77 will only be closed when the units index means takes its ninth step after zero.

sprocket.

Carried on the crank disc, on which the units motor carrier crank pin 28A is disposed, is an indexing stud 94 adapted to work in the teeth of the indexing sprocket, so that every time the carrier crank pin 28A makes one 6 revolution the index stud also makes one revolution to advance the index sprocket one tooth or one-tenth of a revolution, the switch cam 92 likewise making only onetenth of a cycle or revolution.

When the index sprocket and cam complete the ninth step (with respect to zero as a starting reference) the cam notch 93 will be opposite the operating roller 77X on switch-actuating lever 77Y for the supervisory tenstransfer switch, thereby closing the latter and the series circuit to one side of the power line so that now the tens motor is in readiness to operate, for the duration of one cycle only, whenever the units motor shall next be started in its tenth step, as by closure of the manual or trigger switch 60.

Thus, during the tenth counting cycle of the units motor the tens motor will also complete one cycle to actuate its carrier means 18B and change the card in the tens group 1713 simultaneously with the exchange of a No. 9 card for a Zero card in the units pack 17A, at the completion of which operation the tens supervisory switch 77 will again disable the tens motor circuit for the duration of the next full units count, whereupon the supervisory tens transfer switch will operate once again to enable the tens section to operate as before for the next tens increment, and so-on.

For portable or temporary installations the power terminals 67 are fed from a connecting plug adapted to be plugged intoa standard outlet; and the low-voltage relay circuitis provided with a length of flexible cable 101 and plug means 102 for removably interconnecting the relay operating conductors 63, 64, between the annuciator cabinet and trigger switch at the store counter.

The annunciator unit may be rendered inoperative by opening the panel cut-out switch 75X, or if a resetting operation is desired, opening of panel switch 75Y only will cut the lamps 69 out of circuit and the main trigger switch 60 may be held closed until the numbers readOO or some desired number is reached.

The disclosed display and counting annunciator provides reliable, smooth, and attractive operation, and such servicing as it requires for cleaning, adjustment of the carry-over switches for wear, etc., is conveniently effected. The service man or clerks may reset either or both the tens and units numbers at will by actuating reset switches having operating buttons exposed on the front wall of the cabinet.

. The contacts of reset switch 105 (Fig. 8) shunt the low-voltage relay trigger contacts via conductors 1053 connected across conductors 63, 64. A small plunger 105A is pushed for this purpose, only a slight portion of the button head of this plunger being barely exposed through the front panel of the machine, as indicated at 105A in Fig. 7. Pushing of this button by the service man or clerk will hold in the relay until the desired units number or the zero card is made to appear.-

Similarly, pushing of plunger 106A will close the contacts of the tens reset switch 105 and apply line voltage directly to the winding 27BX of the tens motor via conductors 106B, 106C for resetting or special selecting purposes.

When the tens transfer switch 77 is closed, as in Fig.8, and the trigger switch 60 is closed, contacts 7071 of the relay not only pulse the units motor winding via conductor 73, 74, as aforesaid, but simultaneously pulse the tens motor winding via conductor 106C, which is also looped to the relay contact 70 along with the units motor conductor 73.

The separate, motor-driven carrier means for the units and tens counting provides accurate and trouble-free operation of the respective novel card pick-up and deposit mechanisms in the carriers, and it is to be understood that the construction is not limited to the use of only one tens counting section, nor to the precise details of the construction shown except as may be provided by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A counting display annunciator comprising a cabinet having card-display sight-openings behind which translucent number cards are to be positioned; a common slide bed behind said opening; a common slide rod behind said openings and extending in parallelism with and above said bed; a units card carrier and a tens card carrier supported by said rod to reciprocate across said bed from respectively opposite home positions at one side of said sight openings to advanced positions in alignment each behind one of said openings for purposes of depositing and picking up number cards thereat; sepa rate reciprocating and electric motor drive means for each carrier; a set of sequential units number .cards carried by said units carrier and slidably resting in said bed; a set of sequential tens number cards carried by said tens carrier and slidably resting in said bed; each carrier having spring pick-up finger means for scooping up a displayed card into one sideof said set and holding the set of cards in the carrier; and each carrier having stationary cardblocking finger means associated therewith and shaped and positioned to block .return of the trailing edge portion of the last card on the opposite side of the appertaining set to deposit said last card at said advanced postion cooperably with the pressing action of said pick-up finger means, upon return travel of ,the carrier to home position; circuit means and switch means connected with said motor means for separately energizing said motor means in sequential units .and tens counting operations each consistingof a complete reciprocation of the appertaining carrier from home to advanced position and return respectively to effect an exchange of displayed number cards by picking'up one card and depositing another for display; together with presser means acting automatically to move the deposited card into the displayposition occumate tothe window and urging the set oppositely away from the window toward the last card on the remote side of the set, said presser finger means having olfset scooping ends adapted to pass around a displayed card at the Window on the side :thereof proximate .to the window-to pick up such card and press thesame into.the

set upon movement of the carrier means and saidfingers into position 'before the window;.stationary deposit finger means extendingin a plane parallel to said last card. on the outermost sidelof such card farthest from the window and having a-blocking end not greater in'thickness than i the thickness of any of said cards and situated to confrontthe trailing edge of .said last card upon movement of t the same by the carrier meansinto advanced position before the window, said. presser finger means. urging. the set toward said blocking ends to position said lastcard in blocked confronting. relationship with the blocking end as aforesaid; and presser means constantly acting to urge said blocked'last card into display position against said window upon retreat of the carrier means; an oscillable stroke arm fortrcciprocating said carrier meansas aforesaid; an electric motor and drive means actuated thereby for oscillating said stroke arm; a startingswitch and circuit connections controlled thereby for momentarily the duration of one'complete reciprocating operation of the stroke arm, whereby to effect an excursion of-the carrier means to pick up a displayed card and depesit in its place the next sequential card.

3. In a counting and display annunciator, 21 units number card carrier and a tens number card carrier respectively movable into and out of advanced position relative to a display sight opening, card pick-up and deposit means for each carrier and automatically operative to pick up a displayed card and deposit a card of sequential number value; an electric motor for eachcarrier, and cyclically operable drive means actuated by each motor for moving the appertaining carrier through successive card pick up and deposit cycles; circuit means including a starting switch for momentarily energizing the units carrier motor; carry-over switch means connecting with said units motor and controlled by movement of the appertaining drive means for energizing the units motor for the remainder of a cycle started by said starting switch; a starting circuit for the tens carrier motor and closed by said starting switch; a carry-over switch in said tens starting circuit and controlled by the appertaining tens drive means for energizing the tens motor for the remainder of a cycle started by said starting circuit and a tens transfer switch normally opening said starting circuit; index means actuated every ninth cycle out of ten cooperably with said units motor for closing said tens transfer switch for the duration of one cycle whereby the tens carrier means will be operated ,once for each tenth operation of the units carrier means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 and further characterized in that said starting switch includes normally open contacts and operating means therefore actuated to closed circuit condition by a lanyard; and said circuit means includes a relay operated by said starting switch momentarily, said relay including starting contact means closed bystarting operation thereof to energize said units motor momentarily, as set forth.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 and further characterized by the provision of separate manually-operable switch means each connected with said circuit means for operation to holdthe appertaining units or tens motor energized so long as the corresponding reset switch means is held operated 'whereby to actuate the corresponding carrier independently .of said starting, carry-over, and tens transfer switches.

6. A counting display annunciator comprising at least two reciprocable carriers each having a set of consecutively numbereddisplay cards of. substantially uniform thickness, mechanism operable to reciprocate said carriers independently from a home position to an advanced display position and return; motor means energizable to effect reciprocation of either carrier; circuit means for energizing said motor means, and card pick-up and deposit means for each carrier and respectively including pick-up presser means movable with each carrier to press against one innermost side of the appertaining card set and'to passbeneath' a displayed card at said display position to scoop it up against said side of the set upon movement of the carrier into display position, together with stationary card-deposit finger means extending along the path of travel ofthe card at the opposite and outermost side of said card set and having a blocking end portion of the approximate thickness of a card and positioned to confront and register with the trailing edge of the last card on said opposite and outermost side of said,card set, when-the latter is advanced. to said display position, to block return of said last card with the carrier when the latter moves back towardsaid home position; and

presser meansactingagainst said blocked card to urge -the same into said display position responsive to retreat of the carrier toward. home position. i

' 7. In a display'type counter adapted to ,display. number cards one at a time from a pack, means defining a .card

by said. carriergandmeans for changing displayed cards as a function of reciprocation of the carrier and comprising: card-restraining means located close to said station along the path of the rearmost face of said pack to engage the trailing edge of the rearmost card in the pack when the latter is moved into position opposite said station to restrain movement of such card away from the station with the remainder of the pack when the carrier subsequently retreats therefrom; and yieldable presser means cooperable respectively with a displayed card at the front of the pack and the last card at the rear of the pack, when the latter is positioned at the display station, and acting to press the displayed card onto the front of the pack and to press the restrained rearmost card across the path of the carrier into display position when the carrier retreats from said rearmost card, whereby to change the display of cards by movements of the pack as a function of each complete travel of the carrier into and out of position before said display station.

8. In an annunciator: card-changing mechanism comprising a reciprocable carrier; electric motor means for reciprocating said carrier from a home position to a card display position and return; a set of display cards transported back and forth by said carrier with the cards of the set stacked in parallelism with the line of travel of the carrier; pick-up and presser finger means yieldably pressing against one side of said card set and having end portions offset to pass outside of a displayed card at said display position to scoop it into said set while simultaneously pushing said set in a direction toward the opposite side thereof from said display position, and a relatively stationary pick-up member including a blocking end disposed at said opposite side in a position of alignment with the trailing edge of the outermost card on said opposite side at said display position of the carrier, said outermost card being pushed into a position to abut said blocking end by said pick-up and presser finger means such that said outermost card is held and prevented from returning with the carrier to home position but is left standing at said display position; spring-urged means yieldingly bearing against said held card and operating to push same into the position theretofore occupied by the scooped card; together with a control circuit for said motor means for operating the same to efifect card-changing reciprocations of the carrier as aforesaid.

9. A changeable number card exhibitor and control means for use in stores to be controlled by clerks at counters, and, comprising to wit: a cabinet having window means before which number cards are deposited and withdrawn for display in counting sequence including both units and tens digits; separate units and tens carrier means including units and tens card carriers reciprocable from home positions into and out of alignment with said window means, sequential digit car-ds carried by each carrier, and card pick-up and deposit means for each carrier and operable as a function of each reciprocation thereof as aforesaid to pickup an appertaining units or tens card on display and deposit the next sequential card for display in counting sequence; electric means for reciprocating said carriers separately and jointly; circuit means including a master switch, tens transfer switch means cooperable with said units carrier means, and carry-over cycling switch means connected to effect reciprocation of the units carrier responsive to each operation of said master switch, and to effect concurrent reciprocation of the units and tens carriers responsive to every tenth operation of said master switch.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 and further characterized in that said master switch is adapted to be located on said counter and includes a lanyard operating control extended along said counter.

11. In a counting display mechanism, at least two reciprocable card carriers and a set of 10 display cards carried by each of the same and respectively bearing the number characters for counting from 0 and 1 to 9, inclusive; means mounting said carriers for reciprocation along a predetermined path; means defining side-by-side display positions for each carrier at one side of said path, each carrier being reciprocable in a direction away from the other from the corresponding display position to a corresponding rest position; separate electric motor means each drivingly connected with one of said carriers to reciprocate the latter relative to said display and rest positions; and circuit means including a starting switch, limit-switch means, tens-transfer switch means and relay means all connected for operation in predetermined duty cycles under initial control of said starting switch in each cycle, to energize at least one, and sometimes two, of said motors and reciprocate said carriers in consecutive counting operation from 00 to 99 with one of said carriers reciprocating once to each ten reciproca tions of the other carrier; together with card depositing and pick-up mean-s for each carrier and operable responsive to each reciprocation thereof to pick up any card at the appertaining display position on movement of the carrier thereto and further operable to deposit another card therefrom at said display position responsive to the ensuing retreat of said carrier to rest position; the cards of each carrier being arranged in counting sequence in each carrier so as to display units and tens digits in the counting sequence as aforesaid.

12. In a card display mechanism, at least two card carriers and means mounting the same for reciprocation along a predetermined linear path relative to respectively corresponding side-by-side display positions and corresponding non-display positions; an electric motor and drive means actuated thereby for reciprocating each of said carriers into and out of its respective display and non-display positions; pick-up means on each carrier for yieldingly pressing a pack of display cards thereon of uniform thickness against an abutment member in the appertaining carrier which is on the side of the latter oppositely facing the plane of the appertaining display position thereof; stationary presser means opposite each display position and yieldingly movable across said path to urge a display card across said path from one to the other side thereof into said display position; relatively stationary push-out means for each carrier positioned in alignment with the edge of the outermost card in the appertaining pack and located adjacent the corresponding abutment member and nearest to said non-display position, and by means of which push-out means said outermost card is effectively pushed out of the carrier thereby as a result of relative motion of the corresponding carrier from display to non-display position, thereby leaving said pushed-out card opposite said display position for urgence as aforesaid by the appertaining presser means crosswise of said path into said display position; said pick-up means on each carrier having an end portion disposed to pass beneath a displayed card on movement of the appertaining carrier into the display position from non-display position and to press said card into the pack thereof for removal from said position upon an immediately following retreat of the carrier to nondisplay position; together with limit-switch means cooperable with each carrier and actuated once per reciprocation thereof, relay means, tens-transfer switch means cooperable with the drive means for one of said carriers, and a starting switch, all connected in a control circuit for said motors for operation in duty cycles under control of the starting switch to reciprocate one of said carriers upon each operation of the latter switch, and to reciprocate both carriers on each tenth operation of said starting switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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