US2818214A

US2818214A - Hand counter

Info

Publication number: US2818214A
Application number: US461209A
Authority: US
Inventors: Anton Van Veen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-10-08
Filing date: 1954-10-08
Publication date: 1957-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1974-12-31

Description

A. VAN VEEN Dec. 31, 1957 HAND COUNTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1954 F'IGJ FIG-2 INVENTOR ANTON VAN VEEN M A'T'TOR EY A. VAN VEEN Dec. 31, 1957 HAND COUNTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1954 3 Flrlllld .lzrllllllllrfla 5 INVENh'QR ANTON VANJVEEN AT TOR EY United States Patent HAND COUNTER Anton Van Veen, Canton, Conn.

Application October 8, 1954, Serial No. 461,209

8 Claims. (Cl. 235-417) This invention relates to a tally or counter and more particularly to a manually operated counter adapted to count or add by digits and by multiples of digits.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a manually operated counter of the deep groove digit wheel type having operating levers to index the wheels, one of the levers serving to control the indexing movements of thewheels in the conventional manner while one or more levers, associated with the first lever, may be operated to add multiples of digits.

A'feature of importance of the invention that enables the above object to be accomplished is that two or more separate indexing levers for the digit wheels are provided so mounted that one lever when depressed will index all digit wheels as required in a conventional counter but thesecond lever or other levers may be depressed with out operating the first or preceding levers so that some only of the digit wheels will be indexed, so that additions to a previous total of tens, hundreds, etc. may be made by depressing one lever. In the operation of hand counters it is usual for the digit wheels to be operated step by step, the unit digit wheel being indexed each time the operating lever is depressed or actuated and the tens, hundreds, etc. digit wheels are indexed only with each complete rotation of its preceding digit wheel. The present invention, however, permits the tens, hundreds or other digit wheels to be indexed independently of their preceding wheel or wheels. When one of these tens, hundreds or other digit wheels is indexed, the wheels for higher multiples are indexed when the digit wheel of lower denomination completes a rotation. In this manner additions may be made to any total setting of the digit wheels by tens, hundreds, etc.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may include the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

' In the accompanying drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown the invention in a four digit manual counter but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

- In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective-view of a counter made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the counter shown in Fig. l, the section being taken just below the casing to show the digit wheels and portions of their indexing'means;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views of the digit wheel operating mechanism in successive operative positions, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the wheel. engaging levers for each of the digit wheels.

In the above mentioned drawings attached hereto and forming a part ofthis specification there has been shown Patented Dec. 31, 1957 but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and in its preferred aspect, the invention may include the following principal parts: First, a casing within which are rotatably mounted on a common axis a series of digit wheels there being four of the wheels shown in the illustrated embodiment; second, manually operated levers pivotally mounted, one for each digit wheel; third, a frame member pivotally mounted for angular movement about the axis of the digit wheels; fourth, indexing levers carried by said frame and movable against the pressure of individual light springs into engagement with the notched peripheries of said digit wheels; fifth, lateral projections on said indexing levers each overlapping the indexing lever for the adjacent digit wheel of higher denomination; and a projection on each of said indexing levers, said projections being of successively increasing length and adapted for engaging within the notches formed in the digit wheels.

Referring more in particular to the figures of the drawing and first to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the counter includes a casing 10 within which are rotatably mounted, preferably and as shown on a common longitudinal axis 8, four digit wheels 12 each having digits from 0 to "9 on its periphery. Also formed on the periphery of each wheel are notches 14, one for each digit, and one notch on each wheel being substantially deeper than the others. As the operation of manual counters by a lever having projections of varying lengths engaging notches in the digit wheels is well-known and is shown in my Patent No. 2,572,784, granted October 23, 1951, further description of the wheels and their indexing movements is not thought to be necessary. By the construction shown in my above referred to patent, the counter may be utilized to count by single digits only, the unit wheel being advanced one digit by each downward movement or" the cover forming the actuator and the successive wheels being indexed one digit each time its immediately preceding digit wheel completes a full rotation.

In order to permit counting by tens, hundreds or other multiples of ten, the operating lever engaging the wheels is made in two or more generally similar parts. These operating levers 16, 18, 20 and 22 as shown in the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment comprise four separate levers each pivotally mounted for oscillation about a single axis 24 for swinging movement so that their free ends respectively may enter the notches 14 provided in the peripheries of the wheels 12. Each of the

levers

16, 18 and 20 is provided with a lateral projection 26 overlapping the lever for the adjacent wheel 12 of higher denomination. By this means, when the lever 16 for the unit digit wheel 12 is operated all levers 16, 18, 2'3 and 22 will move toward their respective wheels 12 and the counter operates in the conventional manner as if there was but one lever. If, however, the lever 18 for the tens digit Wheel 12 is operated the units lever 16 remains inoperative and out of engagement of its notch but the tens, hundreds, etc. levers 18, 20 and 22 are moved toward their respective wheels. Similarly, if the hundreds lever 20 is operated the hundreds wheel 12 will be indexed one notch and the thousands wheel and any other higher denomination wheels will be indexed 18, 20 or 22 and all actuators 28 are mounted for depressing movement about a common axis 29.

The first effect of movement downward of any manual actuator 28. is to swing'its wheel

engaging lever

16, 13, 20 or 22., toward the notches of its wheel. This movement: of the wheel engaging lever will also swing the wheel, engaging levers for the wheels of higher denomination due to the overlaps 26. With this lever or with the several levers moved by the actuator to their notch engaging positions theframe 30 on which these levers are pivotally mounted will be swung by further downward movement of the actuator to effect the wheel indexing movement.

As shown in Fig. 6 the overlaps 26 are shown as small rectangular plates attached as by brazing to one lever and individually overlapping the free ends of levers for the adjacent wheel of higher denomination. Each lever 16 to 22 isprovided with a notch entering portion or pointed projection 25. These projections as shown in Fig. 7 are of successiveb varying length, the projection 25 on the lever 16 for the units digit wheel 12 being the longest.

The swinging frame 30 as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is mounted for oscillating movement about the axis of the digit wheels 12 and is normally held in its upper position by a suitable spring 32 of the helically coiled type. Pivotally mounted on a common axis near the free end of the frame 30 are the

wheel operating levers

16, 18, 20 and 22, each lever being positioned to engage the notches in the periphery of its digit wheel when oscillated by its actuator 28. Depressing the frame member 30 with one ormore of the levers 16 to 22 in notch engaging position by an actuator 28 indexes the digit wheels 12 in the usual manner.

Each. of the digit wheels 12 has a spring detent 34 in the form of a resilient wire or strip bearing against the notched portion of the wheel periphery. By means of these springs 34 a slight amount of friction is applied to the wheels 12 to prevent accidental rotation or overrun. Similarly individual bent wire springs 36 resiliently retain the

levers

16, 18, 20 and 22 in their retracted positions away from. their digit wheels 12 and against the rear surface of the oscillated frame member 30 on which the levers are pivotally mounted. The manually operated levers or actuators 28 are resiliently retained in their upper positions by individual bent wire springs 38.

In operating the counter the actuator 28 for one of the digit wheels 12 is depressed.

This movement first contacts the lower free edge of the actuator 28 with a portion of one of the levers 1 13, 20- or 22 depending upon which actuator is depressed. Further depression of the particular actuator 23 pivots the engaged

lever

16, 18, 20 or 22 into its notch engaging position. Continued depression of the actuator 28 then oscillates the frame 30 with the selected operating lever in its notch engaging position so that the particular digit wheel 12" engaged by its operating lever will be indexed one digit. By means of the lateral projections on the levers 16', 18 and 20 the levers for digit wheels for higher denominators than the wheel indexed by its actuatorand lever also will be moved toward its notch engaging position. Depending upon the depth of the notch engagedby the operating lever 1.6, 18, 20 or 22 oscillated by" its actuator digit wheels 12 of higher denomination will also be indexed.

If it is desired to add ten to the previous total the actuator 28 for lever 18 is depressed. This movement advances the tens wheel one digit. 11f lever 18 enters its deep notch 14 then. the hundreds wheel also will be indexed.

Inmorder to view the total determined by the positions of the wheels 12 the casing 10 is provided with spaced openings; 40 one for each wheel 12.

1: claimas my invention:

1. A manual counter comprising a casing, digit wheels rotatably mounted therein, a frame pivotally mounted within the case, and individual digit wheel engaging levers pivotally mounted on said frame, said wheel engaging levers having laterally extending portions whereby pivotal movement of any of said levers will oscillate the levers for wheels of higher denomination, and individual manually operated actuators for oscillating said frame with the wheel engaging lever operated by the particular actuator in its indexing position.

2. A manual counter comprising a casing, digit wheels rotatably mounted therein, a frame pivotally mounted within the case, and individual digit wheel engaging levers pivotally mounted on said frame for movement toward and from said wheels, individual light springs normally retaining said levers in retracted position said wheel engaging levers having laterally extending portions whereby pivotal movement of any of said levers will oscillate the levers for Wheels of higher denomination, and a manually operated actuator for each wheel engaging lever for oscillating said frame with the wheel engaging lever operated by the particular actuator in its indexing position.

3. A manually operated counter comprising a casing, digit wheels rotatably mounted therein, a frame pivotally mounted within the case, and individual digit wheel on gaging levers pivotally mounted on said frame, individual: light springs normally retaining said levers in retracted position said wheel engaging levers having laterally extending portions overlapping the adjacent lever for the wheel of higher denomination whereby pivotal movement of any of said levers will oscillate the levers for wheels of higher denomination, andamanually operated actuator for each lever for oscillating said frame with the lever operated by the particular actuator oscillated to its indexing position.

4. A manually operated counter comprising a casing, digit wheels rotatably mounted therein, a frame pivotally,- mounted within the case, individual digit wheel. engaging levers for each wheel pivotally mounted on saidframe, said wheel engaging levers having a portion overlapping the free end of the lever for the adjacent wheel for higher denomination whereby pivotal movement of. any of said levers into indexing position will, oscillate the levers for wheels of higher denomination, and individual manually operated actuators for moving said. levers into wheel engaging position and also oscillating said frame with the wheel engaging lever operated by the particular actuator in its indexing position.

5. An indexing mechanism for manually operated. counters comprising a series of rotatably mounted digit wheels having notches in their peripheries, one notch. in each Wheel being of greater depth than the others, a

pivotally mounted frame, and individualpivotally mounted wheel engaging levers on said frame for indexing said wheels, said levers having projections at their free ends for entering the notches on said digit wheels, and manually operated actuators for said wheel engaging levers adapted when depressed to first move its lever toward its digit wheel and when further depressed to swing said:

frame to effect indexing movement of its wheel.

6. An indexing mechanism for manually operated counters comprising a series of rotatably mounted digit wheels having notches in their peripheries, one notch in each wheel being of greater depth than the others, a.

pivotally mounted frame, and pivotally mounted levers on said frame movable into wheel engaging position, said: wheel engaging levers having projections for entering the; notches on said digit wheels, and individual manuallywheels having notches in their peripheries, one notch in each wheel being of greater depth than the others, a pivotally mounted frame, an individual pivotally mounted lever on said frame for each wheel, said levers being normally resiliently retained in their retracted position and having projections for entering the notches on said digit wheels, lateral extensions on said levers overlapping the lever for an adjacent wheel, and a manually operated actuator for each of said levers adapted when depressed to first move its lever toward its digit wheel and when further depressed to swing said frame to effect indexing movement of its wheel.

8. An indexing mechanism for manually operated counters comprising a series of rotatably mounted digit wheels having notches in their peripheries, one notch in each wheel being of greater depth than the others, a pivotally mounted frame, and individual pivotally mounted levers on said frame for engaging said wheels on said frame, said levers having projections on their free ends for entering the notches on said digit wheels and having lateral projections overlapping the lever for the adjacent wheel of higher denomination, and separate manually operated actuators for said levers adapted when depressed to first move its wheel engaging lever toward its digit wheel and when further depressed to swing said frame with the wheel engaging lever in its indexing position to effect indexing movement of said wheel and wheels of higher denomination.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 325,260 Maxwell Sept. 1, 1885 2,572,784 Van Veen Oct. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 901,473 Germany Jan. 11, 1954