US2956747A - Transfer mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 18, 1960 R. T. B. DAVISON 2,956,747

TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Dec. 12, 1955 INVENTOR Aoamr TB. DA V/SON W W FM ATTO RNEYJ TRANSFER MECHANISM Robert T. B. Davison, Concord, Mass., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Machine and Metals, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 12, 1955, Ser. No. 552,377

3 Claims. (Cl. 235-140) This invention relates to revolution counters or the like and more particularly to an improved transfer mechanism for the number Wheels of such a counter.

Revolution counters or number wheels are used for numerous purposes such as, for example, counting the numbers of operations of a dispenser or of a machine. In such a counter, a plurality of number Wheels are used corresponding to units, tens, hundreds, etc. The units or digits wheel is moved one step for each operation to be counted. Transfer mechanism is provided between the wheels for successively moving the same. As an example, each time the digits wheel completes a revolution, the tens wheel will be moved one step and each time the tens wheel completes a revolution, the hundreds wheel will be moved one step. It is desirable to be able to construct such a counter from simple inexpensive parts. Prior arrangements for transferring movement of a first Wheel to a second wheel a limited amount each time a first wheel has completed a revolution has not had the desired simplicity of construction.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple transfer mechanism for a mechanical counter.

In one aspect of the invention, a plurality of number wheels may be rotatably mounted upon a shaft, nonrotatable separating plates being provided between the number Wheels, each plate having an aperture therein of limited length. The driving or first number wheel may be rotated by an actuating lever or other means, said driving wheel being arranged to move a second or driven wheel a limited amount or step each time the driving Wheel has moved a predetermined distance. For example, the units or first wheel may drive the tens or next wheel one step or digit for each complete revolution of the units wheel. Similarly, the tens wheel can be arranged to drive the hundreds wheel one step or digit each time the tens wheel makes a complete revolution. In order to accomplish the driving of one wheel from the adjoining Wheel, one of the wheels may have a projection capable of engaging the adjacent number wheel through the aperture of said separating plate, so as to index the adjacent wheel one unit.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view;

Fig. 2 is an elevation partially in section through a dispensing mechanism with which the counter might be employed;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

As one example of one use of the invention, a beverage dispenser is shown generally at (Fig. 2), which is adapted to be fitted or locked upon the neck of a bottle or container, the dispenser being of the type that is inverted when it is desired to dispense a measured quantity. The details of such a dispenser are described in coto States Patent Ofiice 2,956,747 Patented Oct. 18, 1960 pending application Serial No. 552,498, filed December 15, 1955, now Patent No. 2,883,086. It is to be understood that the invention can be used for other dispensing devices and for numerous other purposes.

An outlet 11 is provided at the top of the dispenser, the flow from chamber 14 in the upper part of the dispenser being controlled by outlet valve 12.

When the bottle is inverted, valve 15 remains locked open by trigger 15A while chamber 14 fills. Float 13A is arranged to release trigger 15A so that weight 13 can move by gravity to open outlet valve 12. Valve 15 then will close orifice 17 so as to prevent draining the bottle. Each time the dispenser is returned to an upright position after having been inverted and dispensing a measured quantity, valve 15 moves and actuates counter 19 to record the dispensing operation.

In the form shown, counter 19 is operated by actuating lever 20 operatively attached to valve 15, end 21 of lever 20 being carried in groove 22 of valve 15. Pawl 8 (Figs. 1, 4) and ratchet wheel 9 may be provided so that the counter will be actuated only by downward movements of the valve. A suitable window 23 (Fig. 3) is provided in the casing for reading the counter.

The three counter wheels including units wheel 25, tens wheel 26 and hundreds wheel 27 are rotatably mounted upon shaft 28, which can be journalled at pivot 24 in a wall of the housing, spring 29 being provided to bias number wheels 26 and 27 toward Wheel 25, and wheel 25 toward actuating lever 20.

Intermediate the ends of actuating lever 20 is a short lug 30 having a sloping face 30A, the lug being adapted to contact projections or abutments 31 on the units wheel 25 so as to index or step the same. Pins 31 are evenly spaced in a circular arrangement on the side of primary counter wheel 25 facing the actuating lever. Each time lug 30 is moved downwardly, its flat bottom surface engages one of the pins 31 and indexes the primary wheel 25 one step. When the actuating lever and lug are returned upwardly, however, the sloped edge of the lug rides over the pin that previously had been engaged in order that the flat bottom surface of the lug can then engage the next pin. Reverse movement of the primary counter wheel is prevented by pawl or spring 8, which engages teeth 9 of units wheel 25.

As seen in Fig. 1, contiguous to counter wheels 26 and 27 are thin, fiat separating plates 35, 36 respectively, each plate having an aperture 39 therein of an extent approximately equal to the number of degrees between two adjacent numerals on a counter wheel. Units wheel 25 and the tens counter wheel 26 have small pointed projections 37 and 38 (Fig. 3), respectively, each projection being arranged to project through aperture 39 when opposite thereto. Each counter wheel 26 and 27 has a series of projection-receiving apertures 40 (Fig. 1) on the side facing counter wheels 25 and 26, respectively, these apertures being evenly spaced and also being located at approximately the same radial distance from the shaft 28 as the aperture or limited slot 39 in each of the separating plates. It should be evident that the projections and apertures could be reversed in their location on the Wheels. It should also be evident that the projections could engage suitable abutments (not shown) on the cooperating wheel instead of apertures 40.

The apertures 40 in the counter wheels are properly related in their placement to the digits on the faces of the number wheels. As projection 37 of the units wheel is rotated while it projects through the aperture in separating plate 35 once each revolution, said projection will engage one of the apertures 40 on the side of the next number wheel so as to index the next wheel One number or unit, the limited length of the aperture being made such as to permit the desired movement. In a similar manner, projection 38 of the second Wheel can engage the apertures of the third wheel 27, so that it can appropriately index wheel 27 one number each complete revolution of the second wheel. As mentioned, the apertures in the separating plates are of such limited arcuate length that the second and third wheels will be indexed only one number or step at a time.

It is to be understood that variations may be made in detail of the construction Without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a counter mechanism, the combination including a shaft, a rotatable driven wheel axially movable on said shaft, a second rotatable wheel axially movable on said shaft, a non-rotatable separatorbetween said Wheels and axially movable on said shaft, said separator having an aperture of restricted angular length, a rigid projection fixedly mounted on one of said wheels, means on the other of said wheels engageable by said projection when said projection extends through said aperture to turn said secondwheel, said second wheel turning a limited angular distance for each predetermined greater angular movement of said driven wheel, the angular distance which the second wheel turns being determined by the length of the aperture, and means at one end of said shaft urging the wheels and the separator together so that the projection will extend through said aperture to turn said second wheel.

2. In a counter mechanism, the combination including a driven number wheel rotatable about an axis having a rigid fixedly mounted axially extending projection on one of its surfaces, a second number wheel rotatable about said axis having a plurality of circumferentially spaced projection receiving means on the surface facing said projection bearing surface of the driven wheel, a non-rotatable separator between said wheels having an aperture therein, and means urging said wheels and separator together, so that when said driven wheel turns a predetermined angular distance, the projection will enter said aperture and engage one of the projection receiving means to turn the second wheel a lesser angular distance, the degree of angular movement of said second wheel being determined by the angular length of the aperture.

3. In a counter mechanism, the combination including a shaft, a rotatable driven number wheel axially movable on said shaft and having a rigid fixedly mounted axially extending projection on one of its surfaces, a second rotatable number wheel axially movable on said shaft and having a plurality of eircumferentialiy spaced projection receiving holes on the surface facing said projection bearing surface of the driven wheel, said holes being tapered oppositely to the projection, a non-rotatable separator between said wheels and axially movable on said shaft, said separator having an aperture therein, means at one end of said shaft urging the said wheels and separator together, so that when said driven wheel'turns a predetermined angular distance the projectionwill enter the aperture and engage one of the holes to turn the second wheel a lesser angular distance, the degree of angular movement of the second Wheel being determined by the angular length of the aperture, and means including a pawl and ratchet arrangement for driving said driven Wheel a predetermined amount for each operation being counted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 121,687 Teasdale Dec. 5, 1871 248,130 Beranek Oct. 11, 1881 333,145 Monroe et al Dec. 29, 1885 7 432,441 Ruhlman Iuly 15, 1890 792,410 Gilbert June 13, 1905 1,009,886 Von Bechtolshein Nov. 28, 1911 1,600,766 Larson Sept. 21, 1926 1,881,580 Hodge Oct. 11, 1932

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