US2932448A - Resetting mechanism for counters - Google Patents

Description

April 9 H. N. BLISS 2,932,448

RESETTING MECHANISM FOR COUNTERS 7 Filed July 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/GZ c Q 5? 40 Q 4,2 m 54 A84 /24 J6 (I) 66 .56 42 43 j a) 38 m4 I ma A? .34,

A50 Aga L38 52 INVENTOR HARVEY N BL/SS BY WWW ATTORNEYS April 12, 1960 H. N. BLISS 2,932,448

RESEITTING MECHANISM FOR COUNTERS Filed July 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 "g I INVENTOR HARVEY N. BL/JS ATTORNEYS April 12, 1960 H. NQBLISS 2,932,448

RESETTING MECHANISM FOR COUNTERS Filed July 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HARVEY N. BL/56 TTORNEYS United States Patent RESETTING MECHANISM FOR COUNTERS Harvey N. Bliss, Windsor, Conn., assignor to Veeder- Root, Incorporated, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application July 6, 1955, Serial No. 520,290

19 Claims. (Cl. 235-144) The present invention relates generally to registers and counters and, more particularly, to an improved resetting mechanism for registers and counters.

The resetting mechanism of the present invention is applicable particularly to counters and registers of the type having a plurality of side-by-side number wheels on a supporting shaft and wherein it is desired to dis connect the number wheels from their respective driving gears by shifting the supporting shaft and to reset the number wheels to zero by means of rotatable resetting members mounted coaxially with the number wheels which will pick up the number Wheel and rotate the number wheel therewith to zero position. A more specific application of the present invention is in the reseting mechanism of the more modern type of counter or register utilized in the gasoline dispensing field.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an inproved arrangement for shifting the number wheel supporting shafts to disconnect the number wheels from their drives and for picking up the number wheels to return the number wheels to zero whereby resetting of the counter or register is facilitated.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a register in which the present invention is embodied;

Figure -2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side view of the register taken from the side opposite from that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view partially in cross section of the number wheel assembly taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line (r-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a perspective View of the rotatable wheel pick-up unit;

Figure 8 is a side View of an alternative pick-up unit; and

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

The present invention is shown in the drawings as embodied in a counter or register of the type which is described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 398,045, filed December 14, 1953, now Patent No. 2,814,444, of which the present application is a continuation in part. In order that the present invention may be fully understood, a description of much of the structure of the counter or register which is described in detail and claimed in the said copending application is repeated herein.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figures 1, 2 and 3 thereof showing the complete register, the register or counter is mounted on a frame consisting of side plates 10 and 11 held in spaced-apart relationship by spreader bars 12. In this particular embodiment, the frame has slidably journaled therein four axially movable horizontal wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18 and 2b, the shaft 14 having mounted thereon a set of rotatable number wheels for registering the cost of the gasoline dispensed, these wheels being hereinafter referred to as the cost wheels C. Similarly mounted on the shaft 16 is a group of number wheels which are utilized to register the quantity of the gasoline dispensed, which group of wheels is hereinafter referred to as the quantity wheels Q. In this type of apparatus, it is desired to provide a duplicate indication at opposite ends of the register so that the operator or customer may read the indication from either side of the dispensing apparatus. Ac cordingly, the shaft 18 is provided with a set of number wheels corresponding to the cost wheels C, and these will be referred to hereinafter as the cost wheels C. In like manner, the shaft 20 has mounted thereon a group of number wheels for registering the quantity of gasoline dispensed, which correspond to the quantity wheels Q, and these will be referred to hereinafter as the quantity wheels Q.

The manner is which the cost wheels C, C and the quantity wheels Q, Q are driven in order to register the cost and quantity of the liquid dispensed is best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that there is rotatably mounted midway between the ends of the frame an upper cross shaft 32 and a lower cross shaft 34. The upper cross shaft 32 has fixed thereto adjacent the ends of the shaft a pair of gears 36, 36' which mesh with idler gears 38, 38 mounted on studs 40, 40, which are respectively mounted in the opposite side plates 10, 11. The idler gears 38, 38 are in mesh with the driven gears 42, 42 which are connected, respectively, to the wheel of lowest order of the cost wheels C and C in a manner to be more particularly described hereinafter. The shaft 32 has fixed thereto, intermediate its ends, a bevelled gear 34 which is adapted to mesh with a bevelled gear on the out-put shaft of a variator or variable change speed gearing (not shown in the drawings) whereby the unit wheels of the cost wheels C and C will be driven in unison at a speed commensurate with the price of the quantity of gasoline being dispensed.

In the specific embodiment shown, each of the number wheels of the groups of cost wheels C and C is provided about its periphery with indicia consisting of the numerals 0 to 9 inclusive, and it is the intention that for each complete revolution of a number wheel of lower order, the wheel of next higher order will be rotated one-tenth revolution. The transfer mechanism for transferring the count from the wheels of lower order to the wheels of higher order is somewhat conventional and includes the use of transfer pinions 48, 48 rotatably mounted on transverse shafts 50, 50 respectively. The transfer pinions 48, 48 are formed with alternate wide teeth 52 and narrow teeth 54. The wide teeth 52 cooperate with a locking ring 56 formed on the side of each of the number wheels and which prevents the transfer pinion from turning except during a transfer operation. Upon each rotation of the wheel of lower order, the transfer pinion is engaged by a two-toothed driving gear 58 on the wheel of lower order and situated adjacent a gap 60 in the locking ring, which operates to impart a partial rotation to the transfer pinion. The transfer pinion also meshes with the driven gear 42 of the number wheel of next higher order, thus advancing the number wheel of higher order one-tenth revolution each time the trans fer pinion is actuated.

The quantity wheels Q, Q are driven in similar manner by gears (not shown) operated by a bevelled gear 66 fixed intermediate the ends of shaft 32 and adapted to mesh with a bevelled gear on a shaft driven without any variable speed change by the meter (not shown). As is well known, there is employed in gasoline dispensing apparatus a meter through which is passed the gasoline dispensed and which is rotated thereby in an amount commensurate with the quantity of gasoline dispensed. The meter is utilized to drive the quantity register directly, while the drive to the cost register is through the variator which changes the speed of rotation in accordance with the price per gallon of the liquid dispensed.

The means to transfer the count of the wheels of lower order to the wheels of higher order in the groups of wheels Q, Q whereby each wheel of higher order will be rotated one-tenth revolution for each complete revolution of the preceding wheel of lower order is the same as in the case of the cost wheels. The counter or register is provided with number wheels of novel construction as best shown in Figures 4 to 6 of the drawings. Referring to these figures, it will be seen that each wheel has a hub 72 in which is formed a throughbore for accommodating the wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18 and 20, the hubs being rotatable and slidable relative to the shafts. Each hub 72 is provided with a side wall 74 and radiating webs 76 on which is mounted a cylindrical rim 78 bearing the numerals or indicia hereinbefore referred to. The outer portion of the side wall is integrally formed with the driving gear 58 and locking ring 56 previously referred to for cooperation with the transfer pinions.

Mounted on the hub 72 on the opposite side of the side wall 74 is the driven gear 42 which is freely rotatable on the hub, although it is held in place axially by means of a ring 80. The driven gear 42 is formed with an inwardly projecting annular ridge 82 in which is formed a frusto-conical band of fine V-shaped serrations or teeth 84. A pair of radially opposite webs 76 of each wheel is slotted as indicated at 86 for accommodating a pivoted driving pawl 88 and a pivoted resetting pawl 90.

, Dealing first with the pivoted driving pawl 88, it will be noted that it is in the form of a flat piece pivoted at one end to the hub for swinging movement in a radial plane which includes the longitudinal axis'of the wheel. The free or outer end of the pawl is provided at its extreme end with a number of fine V-shaped serrations or teeth 94 which are complementary to and which are adapted to engage with the band of teeth 84 on the driven gear. The pawl is normally urged into cooperative engagement with the teeth 84 of the driven gear by a compression spring 96 extending between the pawl and the side wall 74. Each of the pawls 88 has adjacent its pivoted end a lobe or projection 100 adapted to extend into the bore of the hub 72 for engagement with the supporting shaft. series of circumferential grooves 102 (one for each wheel) which freely accommodate these lobes when the shafts are in registering position as shown in Figure 4, the supporting shafts being axially shiftable as previously mentioned. When the supporting shaft is in the position shown in Figure 4 so that no pivoting force is applied to the lobe 100 of the pawl by the supporting shaft, the pawl is engaged with the teeth 84 of the driven gear so that a positive driving engagement is obtained between the driven gear and the wheel. When the supporting shaft is shifted to the right, however, the lobe 100 of the pawl rides up on the periphery of the shaft, thus pivoting the pawl and disengaging it from the driven gear, thus freeing the wheel from its driving gear and conditioning the wheel for a resetting operation.

Turning now to the pivoted resetting pawl 90, it will be seen that the pawl 90 is generally similar to the pawl 88 in that it also is formed of a flat piece pivoted at one end to the hub for swinging movement in a radial plane which includes the longitudinal axis of the wheel. The pawl 90, however, is made somewhat thinner than the pawl 88 for the reason to be explained more fully herein- Each supporting shaft is provided with a a after. Like the pawl 88, pawl has a lobe or projection 92 adjacent its pivoted end which also extends into the bore of the hub 72 for engagement with the supporting shaft or a circumferential groove 102 depending on the shifted position of the supporting shaft.

Each pawl 90 has associated therewith a plunger 98 which is axially slidable in a bore 114 in the side wall'74. The inner end of the plunger 98 has a head 117 which is embraced by the finger-like projections 118 of the pawl 90. The pawl 90 is urged in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4 by reason of a spring 99 extending between the side wall 74 and the pawl and surrounding the plunger 98. The plunger is urged outwardly of the wheel relative to the pawl by means of a spring 101 As a result of this construction, the pawl 90 is normally urged in a clockwise direction so that, when its lobe or projection 92 is received in the circumferential groove 102, it will draw in the plunger 98. Conversely, when the pawl 90 is shifted in a counterclockwise direction by shifting of the supporting shaft, the plunger 98 is free to move outwardly under the influence of spring 101.

The purpose of the plunger 98 and its carrying pawl 90 is to provide means whereby the wheel may be picked up and returned to zero position by external resetting means. In order to retract the plunger 98 so that the wheel is disconnected from the resetting means and to hold the wheel when the wheel is returned to zero position, each of the supporting shafts has a properly located longitudinal slot 122 which is sufliciently wide and deep to accommodate the lobes 92 of the pawls 90 when the pawls are in radial alignment therewith. Accordingly, when a wheel is rotated to the position where the lobe of the pawl 90 of that wheel falls into the slot 122, the pawl immediately withdraws its associated plunger 98, thus interrupting any further resetting movement of the number wheel and holding the wheel in zero position. As previously mentioned, the pawls 88 being thicker than the pawls 90 will ride over and not engage in the longitudinal slot 122 and thus will not interfere with the resetting operation.

The longitudinal slot 122 in each of the wheel supporting shafts is accurately positioned in relation to the pawls 90 of the number wheels so that, when the pawls engage in the slots, the wheels will be in exact zero position. The supporting shafts, although mounted for axial shifting movement, are retained against any rotational movement by pins 123 fixed on the outer ends of the shafts, which are slidably received between ears 125 formed in the side plate 10 of the frame.

The shifting of the wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18 and 20, in order to condition the register for a resetting operation or to recondition it for a registering operation, is accomplished by a mechanism disposed on the exterior of the side plate 11 shown in Figure l of the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, there is fixed to the main reset shaft 132 a cam 134 of which a segment 13411 of varying radius cooperates with a roller 1360 on slide 138 and a second segment 13411 of reversely varying radius cooperates with a roller 13611 mounted on slide 138. Slide 138 is slidably mounted at its opposite ends on ears 140 provided on the side plate. The arrangement is such that, as the cam 134 is turned approximately 80 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, the camming surface 134a will earn the roller 136a and hence the slide 138 to the left, and conversely, when the cam is turned in a reverse direction, the camming surface 134]; by

actuating roller 1361) will move the slide to the right and return the slide to original position. An arcuate slot in the cam 134 accommodating a stop 137 projecting from the frame limits rotation of the cam '134 and acts as a safety stop in the event the operator attempts to turn the shaft 132 too far. The opposite ends of the slide 138 are formed with notches 142 for accommodating and engaging the tails of pawls 144 which are fixed to upright shafts 146 journaled as at 148 at opposite ends on the side plate. The extremities of the shafts 146 are provided with gear se ments 150 meshing with a series of circumferential teeth 152 on the adjacent protruding ends of the wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18 and 20. Consequently, when the main reset shaft 132 is in the position shown in Figure l of the drawings, which is the registering position, the wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18 and 20 are retained in the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the number wheels then being engaged with their respective driven gears. However, when the main reset shaft is rotated to the other position, the slide 138 is shifted to the left from the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, causing rotation to be applied to the upright shafts 145 which in turn axially shift the wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18 and 20 to the right from the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, whereupon the number wheels are disengaged from their respective driven gears and are in condition for resetting. An important feature of the cam 134, in accordance with the present invention, is a shallow notch 134s and an oppositely positioned small promontory 134d which are formed in the cam for the purpose of producing a slight backing up of the slide 138 after it is moved to the left by carnming surface 134a. This in tum causes a slight retraction of the wheel'supporting shafts 146 after they have been shifted to condition the number wheels for the resetting operation. This is important because it has been discovered that the shifting of the shafts 146 which in turn earns the pawls 88 and 9d of each of the number wheels to resetting position produces a considerable side thrust on the number wheels tending to crowd them together sufficiently to create considerable frictional resistance seriously interfering with the resetting operation. In accordance with the present invention this is entirely overcome by the slight retraction of the shafts 146 after they have been shifted to resetting position.

In order to pick up the number wheels, i.e. engage the projecting plunger 98 and return the number wheel to zero, there is provided in accordance with the present invention a novel rotatable pick-up unit 104 which is shown individually in Figure 7 and which is shown in association with a number wheel in Figures 4 and 5. The pick-up unit 1114 is shown in the specific embodiment as a relatively thick disc having a radial flange 110 in which a plurality of elongated arcuate pockets 112 are circularly arranged in spaced relationship adjacent the periphery of the flange. The unit has a central opening 115 to accommodate the supporting shaft and the disc is retained in assembled position by the projection of the flange 11 1 into a semi-circular recess formed by the overhanging lip 116 formed on the side of the locking ring 56. As will be appreciated, this mounting arrangement simplifies the assembly of the number wheel and its associated pick-up unit 104 whereby the pick-up unit 104 is securely held closely adjacent the associated number wheei and at the same time is freely rotatable relative to the number wheel.

The pick-up unit 104 is adapted to be rotated by means of a gear 1% which is integrally formed at the outside of the flange lit and is dished out as in dicated at 118 to accommodate the protruding hub 72 of the next adjacent nurnber wheel, thereby keeping the spacing of the number wheels to a minimum.

As previously mentioned, the counter or register is conditioned for a resetting operation by shifting the wheel supporting shafts, which in turn axially shift the pawls 90, causing them to pivot in a counterclockwise direction and thus extend the associated plungers 98. In

the event one of the elongated openings 112 is in alignment withthe plunger 98, the plunger will engage in'the opening. If it should happen that one of the openings 112 is not in alignment with the plunger 98, the plunger cannot initially 11101 6 into one of the openings 112 and this will merely further compress the spring 101. However, as soon as any rotation is applied to the resetting member 104 by rotating the gear 106, one of the openings 112 will quickly be brought into registry with the plunger 98 and the spring 101 will move the plunger 98 outwardly into engagement with the opening.

One of the purposes of using the elongated openings 112 in the pick-up unit 104 is that there is avoided any close fitting of the plunger 98 relative to the opening 112 so that engagement therebetween will take place smoothly and there will be no tendency for the plunger to jump over the openings 112 in the event the pick-up unit is rotated at a rapid speed. The more important reason for the use of elongated openings 112, however, is that they render it possible to insure a clearance between the plunger 98 and the edges of the openings 112 when the number wheel is closely adjacent to its zero position, as explained more fully hereinafter. This is important because the location of a number wheel at the zero position aligns the lobe of the pawl 9%) of that wheel with the longitudinal groove 122 of the wheel supporting shaft and, if the counter or register has come to rest at the end of a counting operation prior to the resetting operation with one or more of the wheels very close to the zero position, it is possible that upon shifting the wheel supporting shaft the lobe 92 of such a wheel will partially engage in the longitudinal groove 122 at the same time that the plunger 93 partially engages the resetting member. Thus it is possible to lock the resetting member against turning movement by connecting it through the pawl with the non-rotatable wheel supporting shaft thereby interfering with the resetting operation.

In order to impart turning movement to the gears 106 for resetting purposes, each of the gears 106 is meshed with one of the gears 124 which are fixed to transverse shafts 126, 126. The shafts 126, 126' protrude through the side plate 10, as best shown in Figure 3, and are provided at their outer ends with pinions 128, which mesh at opposite sides with the spur gear 130, which is rotatably mounted on the main reset shaft 132, Thus, by turning the gear 130 a predetermined amount, it is possible to reset all of the number wheels to zero in one operation.

In order to obtain the full benefit of the elongated openings 112 in the pick-up unit 104, which is particularly desirable when one or more of the number wheels is adjacent the zero position, it is necessary to move the main resetting gear 130 a predetermined exact amount and to time or coordinate the setting of the pick-up unit 104 therewith. As explained more fully hereinafter, the main resetting gear 130 in the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawing is adapted to be moved during a resetting operation an angular distance corresponding to the distance between two of the notches in the notched member 184, which in turn is fixed to or is integral with the main reset gear 130. Since six such notches are provided, the main reset gear is turned exactly 60 during the resetting operation although it will be understood, of course, that any other angular turning movement could have been selected. Once the precise turning movement of the main reset gear 130 is established, it is possible to select suitable sizes of the gears 128 and 124 so that the pick-up unit 104 will be rotated sufiiciently to turn the number wheels to zero position. This will require at a minimum a turning movement of 360 plus the lost motion inherent in the use of the elongated openings 112. In accordance with the invention, the gearing is selected so that turning the main resetting gear 130 through a predetermined movement-in this nism.

assanas .case 60-will result in a turning movement of the pick-up units 104 through an angle of 360 plus the distance between centers of two adjacent elongated openings 112 or a multiple thereof.

Assuming that the proper gearing has been selected to cause turning of the pick-up unit 1'34 through 360 plus the exact distance between centers of the adjacent elongated openings 112 or a multiple thereof, then it is necessary, in accordance with the invention, to assemble the counter or register so that when the main reset gear 130 is in the at rest position one of the elongated openings 112 will have its center in alignment with the plunger 98 when the wheel is at the zero position. This result is facilitated by constructing the pick-up unit 104 so that it has the same number of elongated openings 112 as there are teeth in the gear 106 forming part of the pickup unit 104. This is further facilitated by utilizing gears 106 and 128 of the same size and mounting them on the shafts 126, 126 in aligned relationship.

Since the arrangement of the gearing is such that the pick-up unit 194 is always rotated 360 plus a multiple of the distance between centers of the adjacent openings 112, it will be appreciated that if the counter or register is assembled so that the plunger 98 will be situated at the center of an elongated opening 112 when the wheel is in the zero position, this relationship will be maintained through the life of the counter. It is thus assured that there can be no binding of the plunger 98 with an elongated opening 112 in the event the number wheel is in position such that the pawl 90 is partially engaged in the longitudinal groove 122.

An alternative form of the pick-up unit which may be utilized in accordance with the invention is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings and bears the reference numeral 304. The pick-up unit 304 is generally similar to the pick-up unit 104 except that it is of two-piece construction arranged to permit slippage when torque in excess of a predetermined amount is applied.

Referring particularly to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the gear 366 which corresponds to gear 106 of the previously described unit, has an integral hub 307 dished out at 318 to accommodate the protruding hub 72 of the next adjacent number wheel and a central bore 315 to accommodate the wheel supporting shaft. Supported against the side surface 30% of gear 306 and positioned concentrically by the beveled shoulder 369 is a ring 310 preferably formed of a plastic material such as a phenolic resin. The ring 310 has a flange 311 for engagement under the overhanging lip 116 of the number wheel and is provided in its side facing the wheel with a series of spaced apart circularly arranged pockets 312 for cooperation with the plunger 98.

The ring 310 is urged into frictional engagement with gear 3G6 by a washer 313 mounted on hub 307 and having a tongue 314 engaged in a suitable notch inthe hub 307. The washer 315, in turn, is engaged by the fingers 316 of an annular spring 317 which, in the specific embodiment, is fastened to the hub by four spun over spuds 319 integrally formed on the hub 307.

The parts of pick-up unit 3% are so designed that, in the event the pawl 9i? of the associated number wheel is partially in the longitudinal groove 122 at the same time the plunger 98 is partially in one of the pick-up holes or pockets 312 which might effectively block rotation of the number wheel and the ring 310 of pick-up unit 304, the gear 3'06 can turn relative to the ring 3-10 and thus will not block operation of the counter resetting mecha The fact that the associated number wheel is not turned during the resetting operation, in the event of such occurrence is of no moment for the condition referred to can occur only when the number wheel is in substantially zero position and, therefore, does not have to be reset. While the amount of friction between ring 310 and gear 306 is insufficient to prevent operation of the counter resetting mechanism, it nonetheless is ample to prevent slippage when there is no abnormal blocking of the wheel or disc. I

It will be apparent from the preceding description that, in order to reset the register, all that it is necessary for the operator to do is to turn the main reset shaft 132 sufficiently to cause shifting of the number wheel supporting shafts and then impart rotation to the spur gear which in turn will cause rotation of the gears 106 which rotate the discs 104, or 304, whichever is used, to cause them to pick up the number wheels and return them to zero position. Thereafter, the main reset shaft may be again turned to shift the wheel supporting shafts back to original supporting position, thus conditioning the register for a registering operation. Although all of the foregoing opera tions could be carried out manually by direct actuation, it may be preferred to arrange the counter for simple semiautomatic operation.

Turning now to the semi-automatic arrangement for turning the main reset shaft 132 and rotating the gear 130, this is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The outer end of the main reset shaft 132 is provided with a coupling 154 for receiving a manually operated actuating member (not shown) which can be a crank or any other suitable means. The resetting gear 130 is rotatably mounted on a hub 131 which in turn is rotatably mounted on the reset shaft 132 between the coupling 154 and the side plate 10. Fixed to the coupling 154 is a drive plate which, by reason of such mounting, is adapted to turn with the reset shaft. Immediately behind the drive plate 180 and secured to the hub 131 is a control plate 182. Behind the control plate 182 is the notched disc 184 which is fixed to the gear 130. In the specific embodiment, the notched disc 184 is, in fact made integral with the resetting gear 130.

Pivo'ted on the outer face of the control plate 182 adjacent the periphery thereof is a drive pawl 136, which is biased in a clockwise direction by means of a spring 188. The drive pawl 186 has a nose portion 187 which is adapted to cooperate with a shoulder 190 on the drive plate 180. Consequently, when the apparatus is in the position shown in Figure 3, which is the position at the end of a counting operation, the operator can turn the shaft 132 in a counterclockwise direction and drive plate 180, by engagement of the drive pawl 186 with the shoulder 190, will cause similar counterclockwise movement of the control plate 182. This turning movement is continued by the operator until the drive plate 180 is moved .sufiiciently so that the nose of a latching pawl 192 will fall into the notch 194 in the drive plate 180. As will be realized, the engagement of the latching pawl 192 in the notch 194 will prevent reverse turning of the drive plate 180.

On the inner side of the control plate 182 there is pivoted a second drive pawl 200, the pawl 200 being pivoted in a clockwise direction into engagement with the notched disc 184 by a spring 202. The direction in which the pawl 200 faces is such that, when the control plate 182 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in the manner just described, the nose of the pawl 200 will merely ratchet over the edge of the notched disc 184 and will impart no movement thereto. To insure that no movement will be imparted to the notched disc 184 by reason of the drag of the pawl 200, there is provided a combination stop and no-back pawl 204 pivoted at 206 on the frame and biased into engagement with the notched disc .134 by means of a spring 208.

The control plate 182 is urged in a clockwise direction by means of a relatively heavy spring 219, which is con-- nected at one end 212 to the side plate 10 and which is connected at its other end to a projection 214 on the control plate 182. Also connected to the control plate 182 at 216 is the plunger 21% of a dashpot 220 which pivotally connected at its outer end 222 to the side plate 10. The arrangement is such that the dashpot will control the speed of rotation of the control plate 182 in a clockwise direction but will provide little opposition to rotation of the control plate in the opposite or counterclockwise direction. The main spring 210 is loaded by counterclockwise movement of control plate 182. During this operation no movement is imparted to the resetting gear 139 or the notched disc 184, this being effectively prevented by the no-back pawl 204. At the completion of the cocking movement of the parts just described, the no-back pawl 204 is cammed to a releasing position by the camming edge 183 which is adapted to engage a pin 201 on the pawl 204, thus lifting the no-back pawl into the releasing position.

With the apparatus in the cocked position as just described, the operation may then reset the register simply by pivoting the drive pawl 186 so as to disengage its nose 187 from the shoulder 190 of the drive plate 180. While the exact mechanism for pivoting the pawl 186 to disengaging position may be subject to considerable variation, there is shownfor this purpose in the preferred embodiment a pivoted arm 230 which is pivotally mounted on the side plate of the frame and having a pawl 232 mounted for limiting pivoting movement at its outer end, the pawl 232 being biased in a counterclockwise direction by means of a light spring 234. A coupling 236 secured to the arm 230 can be used to pivot the arm 230 in a clockwise direction to cause the pawl 232 to engage underneath the tail of the pawl 186 and thus disengage it from the driving plate 180 to cause resetting to take place.

Turning now to the resetting operation which takes place upon the disengagement of the pawl '186 from the driving plate 180, it will be seen that immediately upon release of the pawl 186 the control plate 182 is free to rotate in a clockwise direction under the influence of the heavy spring 210 at a speed controlled by the dashpot 229. Such clockwise rotation of the control plate 182 will cause a concurrent rotation of the notched disc 184 because of the driving action of the second drive pawl 200 which is in engagement with one of the notches 185 of the notched disc 184. This concurrent movement of the notched disc 184 will not be prevented by the no-back pawl 204, because, as previously mentioned, this pawl has been disengaged to releasing position by the cam shoulder 183 of the co'ntrol plate 182. Upon partial movement of the control plate 182 and the notched disc 184 therewith, the no-back pawl 204 is again free to lock the disc 184 against movement, which it does as soon as disc 184 has rotated far enough to bring the next notch 185 into registry therewith, which occurs at the completion of the necessary amount of turning to effect complete resetting.

Upon completion of the resetting operation, the latching pawl 192 is disengaged from the notch 194 of the drive plate 180 by reason of the camming edge 236 of the control plate 182 which engages against the pin 193 of the latching pawl 192 and thereby cams the pawl 192 in a clockwise direction to disengaging position. .Since the latching pawl 192 is now disengaged from the driving plate 180, the operator is then permitted to turn the coupling 154- and hence return the shaft 132 to original position shown in Figures 1 and 3. In this position the drive pawl 186 is re-engaged with the shoulder 190 of the driving plate 180 and the wheel supporting shafts are shifted to re-engage the number wheels with their driving gears, thus conditioning the apparatus for a counting operation.

It thus will be seen that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a counter or register of improved construction having many advantages from an operational standpoint, which is particularly adapted for commercial manufacture and use, and which will afford speed and simplicity of control compatible with accuracy and dependability.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

it is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

1. In a counter, a rotatable number wheel, a coaxially mounted rotatable resetting member having a series of circularly arranged elongated openings, a plunger on the number wheel for engaging in one of said openings, said openings being of greater length than the width of the plungers to permit relative movement thereof lengthwise of the opening, means for extending the plunger toward the resetting member during a resetting operation, and means for rotating the resetting member through one complete turn plus at least the distance between centers of said openings.

2. In a counter, a rotatable number wheel, a coaxially mounted rotatable resetting member having a series of circularly arranged elongated openings, a plunger on the number wheel for engaging in one of said openings, said openings being of greater length than the width of the plungers to permit relative movement thereof lengthwise of the opening, means for extending the plunger toward the resetting member during a resetting operation, a gear fixed to the rotatable resetting member having a predetermined number of teeth which is divisible by the number of said openings, and means for rotating the gear through one complete turn plus at least the number of teeth corresponding to the distance between centers of said openings.

3. In the mechanism set forth in claim 2, a gear fixed to the rotatable resetting member having the same number of teeth as the number of openings in the resetting member and means for rotating the gear through one complete turn plus at least the distance between adjacent teeth.

4. In a counter, a number wheel supporting shaft, a number wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft, a rotatable resetting member disposed coaxially with the number wheel and having a series of circularly arranged elongated openings, a plunger on the number wheel for engaging in one of said openings, 21 shiftable member in the number wheel for moving the plunger toward and away from the resetting member during a resetting operation, means on the shaft for actuating the shiftable member and to cause it to withdraw the plunger away from the resetting member when the number wheel is in zero position, means for rotating the resetting member through at least one turn during a resetting operation, and means for positioning the resetting member in a rotated position where the intermediate portion of an elongated opening of the resetting member is in alignment with the plunger of the number wheel when the number wheel is in zero position.

5. In a counter, a number Wheel supporting shaft, a number wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft, a rotatable resetting member disposed coaxially with the number wheel and having a series of circularly arranged elongated openings, a projectable member on the number wheel for engaging in one of said openings, a shiftable member in the number wheel for moving the projectable member toward and away from the resetting member during a resetting operation, said supporting shaft having a notch located to receive the shiftable member and withdraw the projectable member away from the resetting member When the number wheel is at Zero position, a gear fixed to the rotatable resetting member having a predetermined number of teeth which is divisible by the number of said openings, and 'means for driving the gear having an initial starting position such that the intermediate portion of one of said openings is aligned with the projectable member when the wheel is in zero position and arranged to turn the gear through one complete turn plus the number of teeth corresponding to the distance between centers of at least two openings.

6. In a counter, a number wheel supporting shaft having a longitudinal notch, a number wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft, a rotatable resetting member mounted coaxially with the number wheel and having a series of circularly arranged elongated openings, a shiftable pawl iii the number wheel adapted to engage in the notch of the supporting shaft when the wheel is in zero position, a plunger actuated by the pawl for engaging in one of the openings of the resetting member and arranged to be withdrawn away from the resetting member when the pawl engages in the notch of the supporting shaft, a gear fixed to the rotatable resetting member having the same number of teeth as the number of openings in the resetting member, said gear and resetting member being positioned so that an intermediate portion of one of said openings is aligned with the plunger when the wheel is in zero position, and means for rotating the gear through a multiple of the tooth distance of said gear greater than 360 degrees.

7. In a counter, a resetting actuator movable through a predetermined distance from an initial position, a number wheel supporting shaft, a number wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft, a rotatable resetting member disposed coaxially with the number wheel and having a series of circularly arranged elongated openings, a plunger on the number wheel for engaging in one of said openings, a shiftable member in the number, wheel for moving the plunger toward and away from the resetting member, means on the shaft for actuating the shiftable member and to cause it to withdraw the plunger away from the resetting member when the number wheel is in zero position, and drive means between the actuator and the resetting member for positioning the resetting member with an intermediate portion of one of said openings in alignment with the plunger when the wheel is in zero position and for rotating the resetting member through a distance which is a multiple of the distance between centers of adjacent openings greater than 360 degrees.

8. in a counter, a resetting actuator movable predetermined distances in a continuous direction, a number wheel supporting shaft, a number wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft, a rotatable resetting member mounted coaxially with the number wheel and having a series of circularly arranged elongated openings, a shiftable member in the number wheel, a plunger actuated by the shiftable memher for engaging in one of the openings of the resetting member, means to shift the shiftable member and withdraw the plunger when the wheel is in zero position including a notch in the supporting shaft, a gear fixed to the resetting member having a predetermined number of teeth which is divisible by the number of openings in the resetting member, and a gear train between the actuator and the last-named gear for rotating the gear through a distance of one turn plus the number of teeth corresponding to the distance between centers of at least two openings, said gear train being assembled to position the gear in a rotated position such that the intermediate portion of one of the openings is aligned with the plunger when the actuator is at rest and the number wheel is in zero position.

9. in a counter, a shaft mounted for axial movement into and out of non-resetting and resetting positions, a plurality of number wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft, a rotatable resetting member mounted coaxially with each of said number wheels and having a series of circularly arranged elongated openings, a plunger in each wheel for engaging in an opening of the associated resetting member, a pawl pivotally mounted in each wheel for actuating the plunger,' saidshaft having a shoulder for pivoting the pawl to a plunger extending position when the shaft is shifted to resetting position and a notch for retracting the pawl and plunger when the number wheel is in zero position, a gear fixed to each resetting member having a number of teeth which is divisible by the number of openings in the resetting member, and driving means for rotating said gears from an initial position through one complete turn plus the distance between centers of at least two openings, said initial position being a rotated position in which the intermediate portion of one of said openings is in alignment with the plunger when the wheel is in zero position.

10. In a counter, a shaft mounted for axial movement into and out of non-resetting and resetting positions, a plurality of number wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft, a rotatable resetting member mounted coaxially with each of said number wheels and having a series of circularly arranged elongated openings, a plunger in each wheel for engaging in an opening of the associated resetting member, a pawl pivotally mounted in each wheel for actuating the plunger, a plurality of shoulders on the shaft for pivoting the pawls to plunger extending position when the shaft is shifted to resetting position, said shoulders being provided with a notch to retract the pawl and plunger when the wheel is in zero position, means for shifting the shaft to resetting position and thereafter partially retracting the shaft to relieve excessive side thrust on the wheel, and means for rotating the resetting member through one complete turn plus the-distance between centers of at least two of the openings therein.

11. In a counter, a shaft mounted for axial movement into and out of non-resetting and resetting positions, a plurality of side-by-side number wheels rotatably supported on the shaft, pawl means in the number wheels for actuation by the shaft when the shaft is shifted to resetting position, and means for sequentially shifting the shaft to resetting position and thereafter partially retracting the shaft while the shaft is in resetting position to relieve excessive side thrust on the wheels.

12. In a counter, a shaft mounted for axial movement into and out of non-resetting'and resetting positions, a plurality of side-by-side number wheels rotatably supported on the shaft, pawl means pivotally mounted in each of the number wheels engaging with the shaft, a plurality of shoulders on the shaft for cooperation respectively with the pawl means in the number wheels to pivot the pawl means when the shaft is shifted to resetting position, and means for shifting the shaft to resetting position and thereafter retracting the shaft a small predetermined amount to relieve excessive side thrust on the wheels. 7

13. ,In a counter, a shaft mounted for axial movement into and out of non-resetting and resetting positions, a plurality of side-by-side number wheels rotatably sup ported on the shaft, pawl means in the number wheels for actuation by the shaft when the shaft is shifted to resetting position, and means for shifting the shaft to resetting position including a cam, said cam having a surface for causinga slight retrogression of the shaft following movement thereof to resetting position.

.14. In a counter, a shaft mounted for axial movement into and out of non-resetting and resetting positions, a plurality of side-by-side number wheels rotatably supported on the shaft, means for restraining outward axial movement of the end number wheels, pawl means in the number wheels for actuation by the shaft when the shaft is shifted to resetting position, a cam follower operably connected to the shaft, a rotatable cam asso- 13 axially mounted rotatable resetting member, means for selectively interengaging the number wheel and resetting member, means fior rotating the resetting member, and clutch means forming a frictional engagement between the last named means and the resetting member.

16. In a counter, a rotatable number wheel, a coaxially mounted rotatable resetting member having a series of circularly arranged openings, 21 plunger on the number wheel for engaging in one of said openings, and means for frictionally driving the resetting member.

17. In a counter, a rotatable number wheel, a coaxially mounted rotatable resetting member having a series of circularly arranged openings, a plunger on the number wheel for engaging in one of said openings, a gear in side-by-side relationship with the resetting member, and means forming a frictional engagement between the gear and resetting member.

18. In a counter, a rotatable number Wheel, a coaxially mounted resetting gear, a wheel pick-up member 14 frictionally mounted on the resetting gear, and means for selectively engaging the number Wheel with the wheel pick-up member.

19. In a counter, a rotatable number wheel, a coaxially mounted resetting gear, an annular pick-up member having a series of circularly arranged openings mounted for rotation on the resetting gear, a plunger on the number Wheel for engaging in one of said openings, and spring means maintaining the pick-up member in frictional engagement with the gear to prevent slippage therebetween except when movement of the number wheel is prevented.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,764,959 Johnston et a1. June 17, 1930 2,161,919 Fraser June 13, 1939 2,568,709 Bliss Sept. 25, 1951

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