US3665166A - Electrical counter - Google Patents

Electrical counter Download PDF

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Publication number
US3665166A
US3665166A US50174A US3665166DA US3665166A US 3665166 A US3665166 A US 3665166A US 50174 A US50174 A US 50174A US 3665166D A US3665166D A US 3665166DA US 3665166 A US3665166 A US 3665166A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
counter
contacts
disposed
counting
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US50174A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Takashi Miyagawa
Shunsuke Matsuo
Masanori Matsumoto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Omron Corp
Original Assignee
Omron Tateisi Electronics Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Omron Tateisi Electronics Co filed Critical Omron Tateisi Electronics Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3665166A publication Critical patent/US3665166A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06M—COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06M1/00—Design features of general application
    • G06M1/04—Design features of general application for driving the stage of lowest order
    • G06M1/041—Design features of general application for driving the stage of lowest order for drum-type indicating means
    • G06M1/044—Design features of general application for driving the stage of lowest order for drum-type indicating means with escapements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06M—COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06M1/00—Design features of general application
    • G06M1/08—Design features of general application for actuating the drive
    • G06M1/10—Design features of general application for actuating the drive by electric or magnetic means
    • G06M1/102—Design features of general application for actuating the drive by electric or magnetic means by magnetic or electromagnetic means
    • G06M1/104—Design features of general application for actuating the drive by electric or magnetic means by magnetic or electromagnetic means electromagnets, clicks
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06M—COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06M1/00—Design features of general application
    • G06M1/27—Design features of general application for representing the result of count in the form of electric signals, e.g. by sensing markings on the counter drum
    • G06M1/276—Design features of general application for representing the result of count in the form of electric signals, e.g. by sensing markings on the counter drum using mechanically-actuated contacts

Definitions

  • Prior art counters each which counts the number of electric pulses impressed by the electric device are respectively provided with six types of contacts, that is, three pairs of read out contact and common contact such as a pair of counting contacts for counting purposes, a pair of transferring contacts for a column transfer pulse to be transferred to asecond counter upon completion of the counting operation by the first counter thereby to cause the second counter to operate, and a pair of resetting contacts for resetting the figures to 0" during the counting operation.
  • One important object of this invention is to provide a simplified electrical counter having improved structural features and operational characteristics.
  • Another important object of the invention is to provide an electrical counter'which is adapted to be conveniently made in various sizes, including miniature and sub-miniature sizes, and which is capable of rendering efficient and dependable service over extended periods of time.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an electrical counter of the character indicated that is simple, compact and light-weight in design; that is durable in construction; that is reasonable in manufacturing cost; and that is capable of perbeing disposed independently while a common contact en-.
  • gageable with said transferring read out contact and said resetting read out contact is disposed on the same orbit of circular movement of the associated movable contact, whereby the construction thereof can be simple, small and compact with reduction of the diameter of the rotatable wheel necessary for the counter of the present invention.
  • a counter provided by this invention is characterized in the provision of a housing, a circuit card disposed in the housing, fixed contacts for counting digits of 0 to 9, a fixed contact for resetting the digit to O, a pair of common contacts for connecting with said corresponding fixed contacts, said both fixed contacts and common contacts being disposed in concentric on said card, a fixed contact for transferring one column disposed in the same circle as that of said resetting contact on said card, a wheel disposed rotatably over said card in the housing, a first movable contact for contacting slidingly between said counting contacts and one of said common contacts, and a second movable contact for contacting slidingly among said resetting contact, transferring contact and the other of said common contacts, said both movable contacts being disposed on wheel.
  • the counter of this invention is also provided with push-button means efi'ective to operate the rotatably wheel, so that the counter may be manually operated whenever desired.
  • the present invention is to provide a mounting arrangement of simplified construction with which a counter or counters formed into a unitary structure can be readily mounted in the mounting opening of a panel board to which it is detachably mounted.
  • the unitary structure that has been formed with the counters may be easily disassembled for the purposed of re-combination of the counters with other inasmuch as the dimensions involved permit.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a unitary structure set up with a plurality of electrically operated counters and a pair of mounting members at both sides of said counters, and a panel having an opening for mounting said unitary structure therein,
  • FIG. 2 is a disassembled view, in perspective, of the unitary structure of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the unitary structure mounted in the panel opening showing the mounting member being resiliently held in said opening,
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the counter showing its interior mechanism
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded view, in perspective, of parts of the counter of FIG. 4,
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a printed circuit card employed in the counter of FIG. 5,
  • FIG. 7 is a enlarged plan view of a rotatable wheel of the counter of FIG. 4,
  • FIG. 8 is a sectional view FIG. 7;
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic layout of the electric circuit of-the counter including the printed circuit card and control wirings disposed on each side thereof,
  • FIG. 10 is a enlarged view of a portion of a printed circuit card similar to that of FIG. 6, but showing a further modified embodiment
  • FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a part of a rotatable wheel similar to that of FIG. 7 but showing a further modified embodiment.
  • the counter 10 according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 8 is composed of three main components, namely, the housing 11 with a removable cover (not shown in Figures), the printed taken along the line VIII-VIII in circuit card 20 having poles and contacts, and the rotatable wheel 30 with its control elements including magnet means 40 and push-button means 50.
  • the printed circuit card 20 and rotatable wheel 30 are disposed between a pair of frames accommodated within the housing 11.
  • the housing 11 which may be made by molding plastic material in the form of a substantially rectangular container with front and both sides walls 11a, 11b, is provided with a front window 12 through which a proper numerical figure 31 engraved on the outer periphery of the rotatable wheel 30 can be viewed by the human eyes and with a plurality of holes 13 for inserting setting bolts 70.
  • the interier of the housing 11 is also provided with metal wells (not shown) adapted to receive bolts to hold the frames in place and with metal wells 14 adapted to receive respective bolts for securing the remmovable cover plate over the housing 1 I in place. As shown in FIG.
  • the pair of frames are detachably secured through sleeves 61 provided on botton frame 60a in one body having an interval therebetween in which the printed circuit card 20, rotatable wheel 30 and control elements 40, 50 are placed.
  • Many mounting projections including screws, sleeves and shafts are provided on the upper surface of the botton frame 60a for mounting the printed circuit card 20, rotatable wheel 30, control elements 40, 50 and top frame (not shown).
  • the printed circuit card on which the circuit is printed is made of rigid plastic material and is provided with apertures 21 through which the projections of the bottom frame 60a are extended, and with copper plated holes 22, if necessary, for circuit connection to other printed circuits as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 10.
  • the rotatable wheel 30 which is made of plastic is rotatably mounted around one of the projections 62, the periphery of said wheel 30 being in register with the window 12 of the housing 11.
  • This rotatable wheel 30 is rotatable in one direction as a detent piece 39 pivotally secured around a shaft 67 and always engaged to gear teeth 32 of the rotatable wheel 30 restrict the rotation of the latter in the opposite direction.
  • a horizontally lying magnet means 40 including an electromagnetic coil 41 and a moving iron plate 42 adapted to be attracted by the electromagnetic coil 41 upon application of an electric current to the latter.
  • This electromagnetic coil 41 is secured by projections 63 on the bottom frame 60a, to which said projections respective nuts 43 are rigidly fastened.
  • a nonmagnetized shielding plate 44 Disposed between said electromagnetic coil 41 and moving iron plate 42 is a nonmagnetized shielding plate 44 for shielding residual magnetism of the magnetic field.
  • the moving iron plate 42 is rotatably supported as particularly shown in FIG.
  • a substantially Y-shaped lever escapement 47 is rotatably disposed around a pivot 64 extended from the bottom frame.
  • This lever escapement 47 is formed with a rear end 47a which is loosely engaged to the adjacent end 42a of the moving iron plate 42 in the non-detachable condition with respect to the latter and is also formed with a pair of bifurcated front ends 4711 and 47c adapted to engage alternatively with any one of gear teeth 32 integrally formed with the rotatable wheel 30.
  • the lever escapement 47 When the moving iron plate 42 is attracted by the excited electromagnetic coil 41, the lever escapement 47 is rotated a predetermined angular distance in the clockwise direction whereby one of the front ends thereof 47b is brought into engagement with a proper one of the gear teeth 32 of the rotatable wheel 30 to advance the latter half a pitch of the gear teeth. At this time, the other end 470 of the escapement 47 is disengaged from a proper one of the gear teeth 32 because the force of a spring 48 provided between the escapement 47 and a projection 65 of the bottom frame 60a is overcome by the magnetic force of the excited electromagnetic coil 41.
  • the spring 46 causes the iron plate 42 to move upwardly so that the escapement 47 is rotated the same angular distance in the counterclockwise direction in cooperation with the spring 48, whereby the front end 470 of said escapement 47 is brought into engagement with the proper gear tooth 32 of the rotatable wheel 30 to advance the latter the rest half of a pitch, while the end 4712 of the escapement 47 is disengaged from the proper gear tooth 32.
  • the rotatable wheel 30 integrally formed with the gear teeth 32 face of the rotatable wheel 30 so that any one of the figures 31 may be positioned in register with the viewing window 12 of the housing 11 upon stepwise rotation of the rotatable wheel 30.
  • the characters 1 and 5 are shown as appeared in the viewing windows 12 respectively of a combined pair of the counters 10a and 10b.
  • the housing 11 therefor is formed at its front wall beneath the viewing window 12 with an opening 15 through which a push-button 50 normally biased to the left by a spring 51 is extended.
  • this push-button 50 is pivotally connected at its righthand extermity with the adjacent end of a lever 52 by means of a pin 53, said lever 52 being pivotally secured to a shaft 66 provided on the bottom frame 60a.
  • This lever 52 is also designed as to have the other free end 52a adapted to abut against a stop pin 49 integrally formed with one of front end 47b of the lever escapement 47.
  • This free end 52a of the lever 52 is normally disengaged from said stop pin 49 so that it does not interfere the pivotal movement of the lever escapement 47 that would be effected to rotate the rotatable wheel 30 when the electromagnetic coil 41 is energized.
  • the rotatable wheel 30 having integral the gear teeth 32 is formed with two pairs of through holes 33A, 33B and 33C, 33D eccentric to each other.
  • These through holes 33A, 33B, 33C and 33 D respectively accommodate therein springs 34 and balls, that is, two pairs of movable contacts 35A, 35D and 35B,35C, each of the balls 35 having the diameter slightly smaller than that of each of the through holes 33.
  • the rotatable wheel 30 is also formed at its upper surface with a recess 36 in which a pair of electric conductive detent pieces 37 and 38 is disposed.
  • each of the through holes 33 is closed by the electric conductive detent piece 37 or 38 and one of the balls 35 is positioned about the other end or lower end of the through hole 33 with a spring 34 being interposed between said detent piece 37 or 38 and the ball 35.
  • the balls 35 are held in position sandwiched between the springs 34 and the printed circuit card 20 so as to slidably contact contacts A, B, C and D provided on said card, respectively, as will be hereinafter described.
  • the balls 35A and 35D are electrically associated to each other through the corresponding springs 34 by means of the detent piece 37 to serve as one movable contact A, D while the balls 35B and 35C are electrically associated to each other through the corresponding springs 34 by means of the detent piece 38 to serve as the other movable contact B, C.
  • the printed circuit card 20 is provided on its surface beneath the rotatable wheel 30 with four orbits of circular movement of the balls 35A, 35B, 35C and 35D, respectively, said orbits being equally spaced in the radial direction.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Transmission And Conversion Of Sensor Element Output (AREA)
  • Control Of Conveyors (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
US50174A 1969-06-27 1970-06-26 Electrical counter Expired - Lifetime US3665166A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP5145669 1969-06-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3665166A true US3665166A (en) 1972-05-23

Family

ID=12887421

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US50174A Expired - Lifetime US3665166A (en) 1969-06-27 1970-06-26 Electrical counter

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3665166A (https=)
DE (1) DE2032106A1 (https=)
FR (1) FR2048001B1 (https=)
GB (1) GB1312842A (https=)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3778600A (en) * 1972-03-15 1973-12-11 J Burton Modular counter carry circuit
US4012624A (en) * 1975-05-14 1977-03-15 Irion & Vosseler Electric pulse counter and plastic housing therefor

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2942227A (en) * 1958-05-02 1960-06-21 Gadget Of The Month Club Inc Electric clock mounting apparatus
CH404251A (fr) * 1963-04-20 1965-12-15 Portescap Le Porte Compteur digital enregistreur
FR1367964A (fr) * 1963-08-30 1964-07-24 Presin Co Module de comptage pour compteurs électromagnétiques
US3375337A (en) * 1966-01-05 1968-03-26 Veeder Industries Inc Pushbutton rotary switch having unitary actuator
US3445636A (en) * 1966-01-17 1969-05-20 Veeder Industries Inc Single wheel counter circuit

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3778600A (en) * 1972-03-15 1973-12-11 J Burton Modular counter carry circuit
US4012624A (en) * 1975-05-14 1977-03-15 Irion & Vosseler Electric pulse counter and plastic housing therefor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1312842A (en) 1973-04-11
FR2048001B1 (https=) 1974-03-22
DE2032106A1 (de) 1971-01-14
FR2048001A1 (https=) 1971-03-19

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