US2206660A - Counting device - Google Patents

Description

July 2, Y w CE COUNTING DEVICE I Filed April 15, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 37 Q 22 50 "In. *"1W WWW-" U ATTORNEY July 2, 1940- J. w. BRYCE 2,206,660

' COUNTING DEVICE Filed April is, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3a.. FIG. 3.

AMPLIFIER w 6 F|G.4.

(Lipli' 9 M39 INVEN R 1d. a M

ATTORNEY July 2, 1940. J. w. BRYCE 2,206,660

COUNTING DEVICE Filed April 15, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO n U) @8 o 9, Y W LL .ATZTORNEY July 2, 1940. J. w. BRYCE 2,206,660

COUNTING DEVICE Filed April 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 5A.

INVENTOR AT'ToRNEY Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUNTING DEVICE Application April 15, 1937, Serial No. 136,965

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in counting devices and has for its principal object the provision of electromagnetically operated operating mechanisms which are particularly adapted for very high speed machine operations.

It has been found that the standard counting devices, such as the regular Veeder counter, when controlled by electromagnetic mechanisms usually are incapable of registering extremely high speed machine operations due to the timed interval required to energize the counter magnet sufilciently to actuate the counter. To overcome this objection, it has been proposed to provide a series of individual high speed relays which are responsive to the control impulses generated in extremely short intervals of time. The individual relays are, in effect, transfer relays and are successively operated in such a manner that for each impulse energizing the circuit control- 26 ling the series of relays, one relay is energized to indicate the number of the impulse impressed upon the chain of relays and at the same time condition associated circuits so that the next impulse is efiective to energize the next relay in the chain. I

In the proposed manner, a number of the said high speed relays may be energized in succession and upon reception of 'a' predetermined impulse, for example, every tentli'or twentieth impulse,

a standard Veeder or similar counter can be actuated, thereby causing an entry into the standard counter and re-conditioning the series of high speed relays forasimilar counting cycle.

Therefore, further objects of 'the present in- ,vention are the 'provisionaof a-plurality of high speed relays successively operated; upon successive reception of the controlrinipulses which may be indicative of completed cyclesof certain machine operations, or the passage of articles by a predetermined point orthe like; the provision for effecting visible registration upon reception of predetermined impulses indicating the number of machine operations completed or the number of articles which passed the predetermined point; the provision of automatically re-conditionin'g the chain of high speed relays for further operation upon reception of a predetermined impulse; the provision of successive entry from one series of high speed relays to another series and automatically conditioning the first series for further reception of the control imn l Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also constitutes certain new and useful features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section of the analyzing and controlling portion of a record card controlled sorting machine.

Fig. 2 is a detail of the card controlled contacts.

Figs. 3 and 3a are detailed views of one form of light control device which may be used with the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of a commutator control device.

Figs'. 5 and 5A show schematically a preferred form of the circuit connections to illustrate the principle of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a standard counter unit.

It will be obvious from the description to follow that the present invention is applicable to many types of counting operations; however, it is preferred to describe the invention in conjunction with a record card controlled machine for the purpose of counting the individual records fed to the machine, and with the. understanding that. its application is not limited to the specific mechanism described. 1

One form of record card controlled machine to which the present invention is readily adaptable is the card controlled sorting machine, one

type of which is disclosed and described in the U. S. Patent No. 1,969,362 issued to E. AJFord, August 7, 1934. Referring now to Fig. 1, a brief description of the machine will be given. 'An

electric motor 6| (Fig. 5) is provided to be corinected to the main driving, shaft 2| which in turn is connected to the card feeding rollers 22 and also to a shaft 23 on which is fixed a cam 24 adapted to move an arm 25 against the action of springs 26. The arm is pivoted at 21 and is connected at its upper end to a. plate 28 provided with a card picker 29. The cam 24 moves the picker toward the left and the springs 26 acting against the arm 25 move the picker back toward the right. Each movement of the picker to the left causes the lowermost card in' 'the stack 30 to be moved forward into cooperation.

with the first set of feed rollers 22. These rollers then feed the card to the next set of rollers. As. 11.1

the card is being fed from the first to the second set of rollers it passes under the electric sensing brush 3|. The rollers then continue to feed the 35. A disk is provided for each sorting pocket 32, and each disk is provided with a drop shoulder so that the said shoulder permits the corresponding guide blade 34 to drop at a time interval corresponding to the sensing of the corresponding index point position on the card. In other words, each of the cam disks 36 corresponds with one of the index point positions on the card. The 9 position passes under the sensing brush before any of the guide blades 34 has been dropped. If there is a perforation in the 9' position, a circuit is closed through the sensing brush 3| and cooperating contact roller 31a to energize the magnets 33 which are adapted to look all the guide blades in their upper position. Then, when the card reaches the ends of the blades at 31 it will pass under all of" the blades and be guided into the first pocket or 9 pocket. If there is no perforation in the 9K.

position but one in the 8" position, one of the cam disks 36 will permit one of the guide blades to be dropped just after the 9 position passes under the brush, and then when the 8 position having a perforation passes under the brush, the latter will close a circuit to energize the magnets 33 which then locks all the remaining guide blades in position, thus preventing any from dropping. Therefore, when the card reaches the guide blades, it will pass over the top of the lowermost blade and under the other blades and thus be guided into the second or 8" pocket. Sorting of the cards is effected similarly for those with perforations in other positions, so that the cards are guided to the individual pockets in accordance with the perforations disposed there- The control circuits for the improved counting device will now be described, and it will be evident from the description that the circuits to be described can generally be employed in the desired applications and not limited to the specific application as shown in conjunction with the card controlled machine for the purpose of detecting the passage of a card by a given point or, in other words, initiating a control signal or impulse each time a card is fed to the machine for analyzation.

Referring now to Fig. 2, means is provided, to actuate a fast operating relay 39 upon the passage of each card through the machine, comprising a card lever 40 and contacts 4|. The card lever is disposed adjacent to the sensing brush 3| and roller'3l-a, so that upon the passage of each card from the sensing station the card lever 40 is operated by the card passing through the guides 38 to close the associated contacts 4|, thereby establishing a circuit from the terminals a and b'including the relay 39. After the card has passed the lever 40, the contacts 4| are opened momentarily before the following card again causes them to be closed.

In Figs. 3 and 3a a different type of controlling circuit is shown to comprise a light sensitive device 42, such as a photo-cell, which is suitably mounted on the frame 43 of the machine and connected to a standard amplifier 44, the output of which is connected to the fast operating control relay 33 referred to in the control circuit just described. The light sensitive device is controlled by any suitable light source as indicated at 45 which is mounted on a bracket 43 fixed to the frame of the machine. The shaft 23 (see Fig. 1) is extended beyond the frame 43 of the machine and to which is secured a hollow commutator-like housing 41 provided with an opening 48. The light source 45 is mounted within the housing which is rotated by the shaft 23 so that when the opening 43 is positioned between the light source and light sensitive device the said device is operated by the light rays emanating from the source through the said opening and thereby causing the relay 33 to be operated. The said relay is adapted to be operated each time a card is fed past a predetermined point in the machine. In this modification, however, the card does not actuate directly the control means for the control circuit. The commutator housing 41 is adjusted so that the openlay 33 to be energized. The operationof the card levers 49 is well known in record card controlled machines which are adjusted to be operated to maintain the associated contacts continuously closed as long as cards are successively fed to the machine. For a detailed description of such card levers, reference may be made to U. S. Patent No. 1,741,985, Figs. 2 and 6 therein and indicated at MS. Therefore, with cards passing through the machine, the contacts 43 are maintained in an operated position thus closing the circuit to the light source 45. Now, as the cards pass a selected position in the machine, the opening 45 is positioned between the energized light source and photo-cell energizing the cell and relay 33.

In Fig. 4, the light source and photo-cell are replaced by a control disk 50 secured to the shaft 23, said disk provided with a conducting segment 5| adapted to engage the brushes 52. The conducting segment and brushes are adapted to be engaged as the card passes a predetermined point in the machine, so that when cards are fed to the machine, the control circuit for relay 33 is closed by both the card lever contacts 49 and the brushes 52 connecting relay 33 to the terminals a and b. v

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 5A, a complete control circuit for the counting device is shown and includes two series of transfer relays which represent the units and tens orders as indicated. To simplify the drawings, the terminals a and b of the first control circuit described are shown connected to terminals 0 and d respectively.

50 tacts I-b and resistance R-I.

65 ductor 82 to the other side of the line 51.

aaoaoeo key must be held depressed until cards pass the regular card control contactslQ-a of the machine. These card contacts are similar to the contacts 49 (described hereinbefore, see Figs. 3

and 4) and are-adapted to be closed continuously until the card feeding is discontinued. With contacts 49-a closed, a holding circuit is established through the contacts 59-a and contacts 49-a to shunt the start key and thereby maintaining relays 58 and 59 and motor 6| operated, until the stop key 60 is depressed.

In addition to operating the contacts 49--a the cards operate the contacts 4| so as to close and open momentarily upon the passage thereof to operate the relay 39 each time a card passes the said contacts. Energization of relay 39 causes the associated contacts 39-a (Fig. 5A) to be closed, thereby energization of the control circuits of the units order of the counting device is effected to establish the following circuit: one side of the line 56 .through contacts 39-a, normally closed contacts Illg of relay III, normally closed contacts I-c, coil of relay II, common conductor 62 and normally closed contacts 63-a of relay 63 (Fig. 5) to the other side of the line 51, energizing relay II. Relay I is now energized by means of the established circuit from line 56, through contacts 39-11 which still remain closed, conductor 64, contacts IIa, coil of relay I to the common conductor 62 and line conductor 51/ The contacts associated with relay I are now operated: the contacts I-b and I-c are of the make before break type; that is, contacts I--b 40 are closed before the contacts I--c are opened.

A holding circuit for relay I is provided through contacts Ia as follows: one side of the line 55 to conductor 65, through the parallel circuit comprising contacts 2llc and contacts Iii'b to common conductor 66, resistance R,2, contacts Ia, coil of relay I, common conductor 62 to the other side of the line '51.

As long as the contacts 39a remain closed, the coil of relay I I is energized through the con- The resistance R-! is of such value that it will provide holding current for the relay II however, the value of this holding current is not suii'icient to cause initial operation of the relay II (this statement also applies to any one of the relays II to 20).

The purpose of resistance R-2 in the holding circuit described is to prevent a potential holding circuit to be formed for the relay II; for, with relay I! still energized when relay I is energized,

the following circuit is possible: from conductors 56 and to contacts 20-0 and I0--b, conductor 66, resistance R2, contacts I-a, contacts II-a, conductor 64, contacts I0g, contacts I-b, resistance R-I, coil of relay I I, common con- The resistance R-2, however, is of such value that whenever it is in series with resistance R-l the current is limited to a value insufflcient to maintain the relay II energized. Therefore, when the .0 contacts 39-41. are opened, and this occurs after the relay I or like relay is energized and the holding circuit established therefor, the relay II is deenergized.

It will now be seen, upon initiation'of the next control impulse, namely due to the energization of the relay 39 (the operation of which is indicative of another machine operation or cycle, in this instance, the passage of another card through the machine), a circuit is established to operate.

lows: line 56, contacts 39-11 now closed, contacts. I I-b, Id, I2-a, coil of relay 2, common conductor 62 to the linei'l. A holding circuit is provided for relay 2 through the contacts 2-a as follows: line 56, conductor 65, parallel circuit through contacts 20-0 and I 0-b, conductor 66, resistor R-2, contacts 2-a, coil of relay 2, common conductor 62 to line 51. Operation of contacts 2-b connects resistor R--' in series with contacts I-d and coil of relay I2 thus preventing the operation of relay I2 when deenergized and upon initiation of a third control impulse which, due to the circuit arrangement, is also impressed upon contacts 2--b. For the same reason,

relay II was not operated upon the initiation of the second control impulse which not only was impressed upon contacts I I--b but also on contacts I-b through contacts I 0-9, the current flow through the coil of relay II is limited by resistor R-I associated therewith to the extent that energization of relay II cannot be effected. Upon decay of the control impulse relay 39 is deenergized and contacts 39-a are opened thus causing relay I2 to be deenergized. Relay I2 is not maintained energized after opening of the contacts 39-0 by the possible back circuit through the operated relay contacts due to the series relationship of resistances R-I and Rr-2 associated therewith, thereby reducing the current flow through the coil of said relay to a value less than the value of the holding current required by the relay. The circuit just referred to is the following: from line 58 to conductor 55, parallel circuit through contacts 20-0 and III-b, conductor 66, resistor 3-2, contacts 2-a, I2-a, 2-b, resistor R,I, coilof relay I 2, common conductor 62 to line 57.

In a like manner, relay 3 is energized upon initiation of the third control impulse and maintained energized by a holding circuit established through its associated resistor R-2 and contacts 3-41, relay 4 is energized upon initiation of the fourth control impulse, etc. and therefore evident that the next relay in the chain or series is energized upon reception of the next impulse. Since relays 3 to 9 have similar control elements and circuits associated therewith as the relays I and 2 and operate in the same manner as the latter, it is believed further detailed description is not necessary.

It was previously mentioned that a Veeder or other counter mechanism can be operated upon the reception of a predetermined number of impulses and for illustrative purposes let it be as- 4 sition as shown inilg. A so that upon initiation of the eleventh impulse, relay I will become energized in the manner as described.

Therefore, let it be assumed that relays I to 9, have been energized and are maintained energized by the established holding circuits through the parallel circuit including contacts c and Ill-b. The circuit through which relays I0 and 29 will be energized is through a circuit established by the d contacts of the relays previously energized. For this reason, the circuit just mentioned must be maintained until the holding circuit for relay I0 is established; to accomplish this the contacts IIl- -a and I0b are arranged to be the make before break type. Now, assume that the tenth impulse is initiated, due to the momentary operation of relay 39 and contacts 39-a; the following circuit is established: line 56, contacts 39-a, conductor 64, contacts "-4), I-d, I2-b, 2--d, etc. to I9-b, 9-41 to contacts Ill-d, coil of relay 20, conductor 62, contacts 63--a to line 51, energizing relay 20. Contacts 20-a now connect the circuit just described from contacts 9--d to the coil of relay III to line 51, energizing said relay. The relay I2 is not energized at this time because the contacts 39-c are opened whenever the control relay 39 is operated; The contacts Ill-c and d are the make before break type and provide a holding circuit for relay 20 through contacts 9-d, Ill-c and resistor R,-I as long as relay 39 is operated. A holding circuit for relay III is also established as follows: from line 56, conductor 65, contacts 39b now closed, conductor 13, resistor R,-2, contacts I0a, coil of relay Ill to line 51. The contacts Iil-b are now opened and since contacts 20-0 are open the holding circuits for relays I to 9 are broken thus restoring the said relays to the normal inoperative position as shown in the figure. Immediately, therefore, a supplementary holding circuit through contacts I-g is established for relay Ill. The said contacts are connected in parallel to the contacts 39-h which are now opened due to the deenergization of control relay 39. At this time, relay 20 is also deenergized to close the contacts 2Ilc. Reenergization of relays I and II is prevented during the interval of the tenth impulse and a holding circuit established therefor upon closure of contacts 20-0. by providing the contacts Ill-g in the control circuit, the last mentioned contacts are opened upon energization of relay I0 thus preventing faulty energization of relays I and II.

Provision must be made to close the said control circuit upon energization of relay I0 because the contacts Ill-g are maintained in an open position as long as relay It remains energized, which is a timed interval equivalent to the time required for the relay I to be energized to open the contacts 1-g. Therefore, the control contacts I2--b are provided. Relay I2 is connected in parallel to relay I9 and therefore is energized by the holding circuit established for relay III whenever the contacts 39-0 are closed. These contacts are closed upon the decay of the tenth impulse and at that time relay I2 is operated to close the control contacts 12-4), and contacts '|2a which establish a holding circuit for the said relay. Relay I2 is deenergized when the relay I0 is deenergized. thus the control circuit is conditioned for the reception of the control impulses either by contacts Upon reception of the eleventh impulse relays II and I are energized as described hereinabove to establish successively series circuits so that the following relay in the chain is energized upon initiation of the next control pulse.

It isunderstood that contacts Ill-e are closed for the entire timed interval until relay 1 is reenergized by the seventeenth impulse. In this manner, sufficient time is. provided to permit the,rnore sluggish and slower electromagnetic actuated counter indicated at II to be operated to enter one in the units order of the counter. Referring to Fig. 6, a typical and well known counter unit is shown and it is believed mention need only be made of the fact that upon each energization of the magnets II, the units indicating wheel is positioned one step, and upon positioning from 9 to 0, a 1 is added in the tens order in the usuaL manner, etc. Resetting of the counter is effected by a reset handle II. For a detailed description of the counter unit, reference may be made to the U. S. Patent No. 2,043,295, wherein the magnets are indicated by the reference character 66 and the reset handle by character I68.

To stop the operation of the machine, a stop key 60 is provided and assuming that the contact arm of switch 16 is positioned on contact a, operation of the key opens the holding circuit to relays 58 and 59, deenergizing said relays and consequently the motor 6|, thereby preventing further machine operations such as the feeding of cards. If it is desired to automatically stop the machine upon completion of a tenth operation or multiple thereof, that is, immediately upon entry of a digit in the counter II, the contact arm of switch 16- is positioned to engage contact b which is connected to a normallyclosed contact Ili--h operated by relay I9. It is evident, then, if the stop key 60 is operated, and let it be assumed at that moment a control impulse was initiated to operate relay 3, the motor circuit is not deenergized immediately, due to the closed shunt circuit including contacts III-h.

The stop key is kept depressed until the tenth impulse or multiple thereof is effective to operate relay I0, thereby opening the contacts III-h,

thus preventing further feeding of the cards.

In the event the machine is stopped before the relay I0 has been operated to effect a visible entry into the counter II, supplementary readout or indicating means should be provided to enable one to determine the exact number of machine operations "completed. The readout means may comprise a circuit as shown connecting the contacts I-e, 2-e to 9e in series whenever all the relays I to 9 are deenergized. Upon operation of the key 11 at this time the 0 indicating lamp I8 is energized. Connected to each jv contact of the relays I to 9 is an indicating lamp I8 to identify the associated relay; thus upon operation of the key 'I'I when any one of the relays I to 9 is energized, the corresponding indicating lamp is energized.

It may be necessary to provide more than one chain of counting relays when certain machine operations are counted at an extremely high rate of speed. Therefore, in Fig. 5, a second series of relays are shown connected exactly as the relays in Fig. 5A and thus it is not necessary to describe further the operation of the second chain of relays except to state when the second chain is to be operated the switch III is placed in position (b) so that when the contacts I Ile are closed, the magnet II is not energized, but instead the control circuit 89 for the second series of counting relays representing the tens order.

When two series of relays are connected in series by means of switch I0 as shown, ,it is necessary to provide an additional controlrelay such side of the line 58- to conductor 65, switch I0, contacts I 0--e to conductor 80, coil of relay 8| to the other side of the line 5'I.through the contacts 6 3-b, and also by means of conductor to contacts IO-g to the contacts 0 of relay IOI, and coil of relay III and common conductor 83, contacts 63-b to the line 51 to energize the relays III and BI. Relay I0l is energized and maintained operated by the circuits established by operation of relay III exactly in the same manner as relay I which was described in detail hereinbefore and need not be repeated. Contacts Iii-e remain closed for seven entries in the unit circuit until the contacts 'I-g and 39-12 are opened thus breaking the holding circuits for relay I0. Upon deenergization of relay I0, the relays 8! and III are deenergized. Relay IN is maintained operated thus establishing a circuit to energize relays II2 and I02 upon the second operation of relay I0 closing the contacts I0-e for another interval of time equivalent to seven entries in the units order. In this manner, relays I02 to H0 are operated upon every tenth operation of the relay I0.

Let it be assumed that relays IOI to I09 are energized and that relays I to 9 are energized and that contacts 4! are now closed to energize the relay 39 thereby closing the contacts 39-0,, 39-h, and opening the contacts 39--c, causing relay I0 to be energized closing the contacts I0e which are then maintained in an operated position for seven entries in the units order. Closure of contacts I 0e at this time causes the relay Hi to be energized as described before closing its contacts 8I-a and opening the contacts 8I--b. Relay I20 is also energized through the circuit established by the contacts IIO-g and the d contacts of relay I 0I to I08. Upon energization of relay I20, through the contacts a. of relay I20, the relay H0 is energized establishing a holding circuit through the-contacts a of relay I I0 and contacts 8 I--a as follows:

one side of the line 56, conductor 84, contacts 8Ia, conductor 85, resistor R2, contacts a of relay IIO, coil of relay IIO, conductor 83, contacts 63-12 to line 51. As mentioned in connection with relay III, the adjustments of the contacts a to e of relay IIO are the same, thus the contacts a of relay IIO make before contacts I) of relay H0 break. Therefore, the holding circuit for relay H0 is established before the contacts b of relay IIO open the holding circuitsfor relays IOI to I09, deenergizing said relays. It is seen that a parallel circuit is now established by contacts SI-c and contacts g of relay I0I to maintain relay III) energized, so that upon deener'gization of relay M, the relay. H0 is not deenergized.

The magnet II is energized to enter I upon the closure of contacts e of relay IIO through the following circuit: line 56, conductor 84, switch 82,

contacts e of relay I I0, conductor 86, coil of magnet II to line 51.

Now upon energization of relay 1 in the units order, relay I0 is deenergized, opening contacts l0-e, deenergizing relay 8|. Relay I III, of course. remains energized until relay I0! is operated to open the contacts a of relay I0I to break the holding circuit for relay IIO. Therefore, it is seen that contacts IIO-g are opened as long as relay I I0 remains energized. Closure of contacts 8 I--b now permits the relay I2I, connected in parallel with relay M0, to be energized and establish a holding'circuit therefore through the contacts I2I-a. Operation of relay I2I also causes the contacts I 2 I-b to be closed so that when the contacts I0-e are again closed, relay I01 can be energized as just described. The timing of operation of contacts I I0 g and I2I--b is different from the timing ofoperation of the contacts III-g and 12-h. This change is necessary when the two chains of high speed relays are connected in series, otherwise faulty operation of relays III and IN would be effected. It is evident if the contacts I2I-b closed upon operation of relay H0 and the decay of the control impulse (operating relay 39), since contacts I0--e remain closed for seven entries, a faulty entry would be made by energizing the relays III and IOI. For this reason, relay PM is controlled by contacts 8I--b which are operated by the extra control relay BI rather than by the relay 30 as in the units order. Therefore, it is obvious that just by duplieating the chain of counting relays as shown in the units order and connecting the said chains of relays in series, an operative two-order chain relay counting device cannot be effected, instead a control circuit, as described, is necessary to change the timing of the operation of contacts IIO-q and I2I---b.

Similar indicating lamps are associated with the relays I0! to I09 so that the certain relays operated at a particular time can be indicated. Similarly to stop the counting device upon an even multiple number of operations, that is, immediately after entry in the indicating wheel type of counter, the contact arm of switch It can be positioned on contact 0, so that upon operation of the stop key -60, the machine is not stopped until the contact IIO--h is opened which is controlled by relay IIO.

To reset the high speed relays to the normal inoperative position, shown in the drawings, a

reset key is provided which upon operation en- 4 ergizes the relay 63 opening the associated contacts 63a and b which, it is remembered, are included in the holding circuits for all the high speed relays I to 20 and I 0| to I20, respectively.

If it is desired to extend the orders of the counter relays, a similar chain of relays forthe hundreds order may be connected to switch 02 including a control relay similar to relay 8|, just as the tens order of relays are shown connected to switch 10.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation maybe made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a plurality of relays, a control circuit and means to energize said circuit successively, means to operate one of said relays upon energization of the circuit, means to operate I a second relay upon operation of the first mentioned relay, means to maintain the second relay operative and the first relay inoperative upon deenergization oi the circuit, and means, including the latter relay after being set to the aforesaid inoperative position, for energizing a third relay upon energization of the control circuit a second time.

2. A device oi the character described comprising, in combination, a plurality of relays, a control circuit and means to energize said circuit successively, means to operate one of said' relays upon energization of the circuit, means under control 01' the last mentioned relay upon operation thereof for operating a second relay, means to maintain the second relay operative and render the first relay inoperative upon deenergization oi the circuit, means to maintain the first relay inoperative upon the second energization of the circuit, and means, including the latter relay after being set to the aforesaid inoperative position, for operating a third rlay upon said second energization of the circuit 3. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, a series of groups of relays, each group including a control relay and a companion relay, a control circuit for said series and means to energize the circuit, means to operate the control relay of one of said relay groups upon energization ofsaid circuit, means effective upon operation of the control relay to operate a companion relay of the same group, means to maintain said companion relay energized and said control relay deenergized upon deenergization of the control circuit, and means controlled by the operated relay group for causing the next group of the series to be operated under the control of said circuit.-'

4. A device of the character describedya plurality of sets of relays arranged to form a series, each set including a control relay and a companion relay, a control circuit for said relay series, means to impress impulses on said control circuit, means to cause the operation of one of said relay sets including means to energize the control relay thereof upon the occurrence of one such impulse, means controlled by the energized control relay for automatically operating a companion relay of the same set, means to maintain the latter relay energized while the first energized relay is deenergized and maintained deenergized upon termination of the impulse, and means controlled by the condition of the relays of the operated set for causing the next set of relays to be operated.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, an impulse circuit for emitting impulses, a series of relay devices, each with means responsive to the impulse circuit and aaoaaeo vices upon the operation ot a predetermined number of said devices, and means also under control of the relay devices to maintain the said work circuit in operated condition until a predetermined succession of said devices have again been operated.

6. I A device of the character described comprising, in combination, an impulse circuit for emitting impulses, a series of relay assemblies, each with means responsive to the impulse circuit and means controlled by the last-mentioned means for directing the next impulse to the next relay assembly, whereby the relay assemblies'are operated successively by a succession of impulses, means to maintain portions of the energized relay assemblies in an operated condition upon the interruption of an impulse, a work circuit, means controlled by one of the relay assemblies for imparting and maintaining a control impulse to said work circuit after a predetermined number of said relay assemblies have been energized and concomitantly rendering the maintaining means Y of the previously energized relay assemblies inoperative so as to deenergize said assemblies, and means under control of the relay assembly which imparts the control impulse and another of said relay assemblies to prolong said impulse until a predetermined number of the deenergized relay assemblies are again operated.

'7. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, an impulse circuit for emitting impulses, a series of relay organizations each having means responsive to the impulse circuit and means controlled by the last-mentioned means for routing the next impulse to the next relay organization whereby the relay organiza tions are operated successively by a succession of impulses, means to maintain portions of said energized relay, organizations in an operative condition upon interruption of an impulse, a work circuit, means under the control of one of the relay organizations to direct a control impulse to said work circuit after a predetermined number of said relay organizations have been operated and concomitantly causing all of said operated relay organizations to become deenergized except the one which effects the control impulse, and means effective upon initiation of said control impulse and a preselected one of the denergized relay organizations to prolong said impulse until a certain number of said deenergized relay organizations are again operated.

J ANIES W. BRYCE.

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