US2048192A - Counting system - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1936. c. A. MARsToN GOUNTING s YsTEM Filed April 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l \.w 4, 4. .v Il, g A 4 Y n M a M N. ../u 111m fill lll. W 1M W 9 i| d M M //:y ATTORNEYS.

July 21,1935- I c. A. MARsToN 2,048,192

` COUNTING `SYSTEM Filed'AprilA, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. Caer/.f iff/fron A TTORNE YS.

Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 2,048,192 coUNrlNc.l SYSTEM Curtis A. Marston, Sacramento, Calif. ,Application april 4, 1932, serial No. soasss My invention relates to electric counting systems and more particularly it relates to a system for counting the number of times a particular operation -has been performed by a certain machine. The principles of the invention will be described in connection with a cut-ofi' saw machine, such as that employed in lumber mills,

forv cuttingV aboard into lengths which are suitable for'boxes, furniture, or variousother articles 1o of manufacture, but it is to be understood that' the invention in its broadest aspects has a wide variety of other applications. In general, the system can be employed to advantage in any machine in which a deilnite cycle of steps is fol- .lowed `in performing the particular operation to be counted.

In a cut-oi! saw, for example, the board to becut must be placed ini a deilnite position in front of the saw blade and then movedinto the rsaw blade for a definite distance to cut the piece oil. Heretofore, counting devices were actuated at a particular step in the operation, as for example, each time the lumber carriage was moved tothe end of its stroke. Unreliable o r dishonest sawyers would frequently obtain a false count under this system by moving the empty carriage backiand forth, and thus increase their wages by cutting wind, as it were. Generally, pieces cut toafa certain length are more readily so usable than pieces cut to other lengths, and in prior countingA systems no distinction was made between. pieces of different lengths. with the result that tifa operator of a machine was given the same credit for cutting desirable lengths as 36 he was givengfor cutting less desirable or odd lengths. Thisl condition led to abuses by the operators, who, instead of .exercising skill in the perfomance 'di' their duties, made an endeavor to cut -as manyg-fpi'eces as possible without regard to the best interests of the factory.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide ai 'counting system which overcomes the disadvantages of prior systems and which (Cl. 23S-92) discriminate between the pieces cut to different lengths and which is unresponsive to .idle movements of the lumber carriage.

Another object is to provide a counting system in which a plurality of operations are required 5 in actuating the counting means and in whichthe counting means is rendered unresponsive to all operations except the proper one after the initial operation has been performed.

Another object is to provide a counting system 10 in which means lis provided which renders it necessary to perform more labor in obtaining a false count than is required to obtain the same count honestly, whereby the incentive to obtain a false count is entirely removed. l5

'I'hese and other objects and advantages are attained in the embodiments of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, mostly diagrammatic, 20 of a cut-oil saw incorporating the principles of the invention and illustrating the general arrangement of the parts of the counting system.

Figure -2 is a circuit diagram illustrating one manner in which the electrical connections can ,25

be made in the counting system. 1 Figure 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating av modification.

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of another modication. 30 Referring to the drawings and first to Figure l thereof, I have illustrated a vcut-off saw having a carriage I6 and a rotatable-buzz saw blade i1. The carriage i6 is mounted on wheels i8 which roll on tracks I9 to convey the carriage to and 35 from the saw blade i1. A board or other length of lumber 2| is shown in position on the carriage i0 against a straight edge 22 or other suitable aligning means. l

A plurality of accurately positioned stops 23 40 Ato 2l, each incorporating an electric switch, are

mounted on a relatively stationary table 29. The stops or switches 23 to 2B are positioned on the `machine adjacent` the end of theboard which g board is brought into abutting engagement with any one of the other stops. A certain length will ordinarily be more readily usable than other lengths, and a second 'length will be next desirable and so on, every length having some use, but the demand for the diiferent lengths being different. The boards to be cut come in various lengths, so that each sawyer must determine to the best of his ability the most advantageous manner of sub-dividing the boards into shorter lengths. In doing this he should strive to obtain as many of the most desirable cuts as is possible, consistent with minimum waste.'

In addition to measuring the piece to be cut off, the stops or switches 23 to 23 serve to initiate actuation of the counting devices. When the board is made to abut against one of the stops, the switch associated with this stop is actuated by the end of the board, thereby closing an electric circuit, to be described presently, for initiating actuation of the particular counter employed for counting the number of pieces of the length represented by that stop. Upon actuation of one of the switches 23 to 23 in this manner all of the counting devices are made unresponsive to a subsequent actuation oi.' any of the switches until the piece has been cut off. In cutting off the piece, the carriage |6 is moved to bring the board against the saw blade I1 and a switch 3| disposed in the path of the carriage |6 is actuated at the end of the carriage movement. The actuation of switch 3| restores the counting apparatus and the circuit associated therewith to normal condition and the system is then in readiness for the next counting operation. The counting devices can be disposed in a suitable housing 32 and, if desired, a signal lamp 33 can be mounted on or near the housing in some conspicuous place.

Referring now to Figure 2, wherein I have shown one manner in which electrical connections can be made, there is illustrated a plurality of counting devices 34, 35, and 36, of any suitable construction but each having an actuating member 31 which is movable in a definite path to effect a counting operation. In the embodiment illustrated, the counting device 34 registers the number of pieces cut having a length determined by the switch stop 23, the counting device 35 registers the number of pieces having a length determined by the switch stop 24, and the counter 36 counts all of the pieces in the group ot remaining lengths.

An electro-magnet 33 having an armature 33 is associated with each of the counters 34, 35 and 36. Whenever one of the electro-magnets 33 is energized and -then de-energized, its associated counter eiects a registering operation. A locking relay 4| can be connected in parallel with each of the electro-magnets 33 for completing a holding circuit for the associated electro-magnet 33. A main relay 42 is provided whichy serves as a circuit changer and which when energized renders all oi the relays 33 unresponsive to subsequent actuation of'the switches 23 to 23.

Assuming that the end of the board 2| is placed against the switch stop 26 as is shown in Figure 1, preparatory to the cutting oil.' of a piece of board measured by the stop 26, the relay 33 associated with counter 36 will be energized over a circuit which can be traced from line L1, through line switch 43, conductor 44, lower contacts and armature 43 of relay 42, conductor 46, switch 26, conductor 41, electro-magnet 33 and relay winding 4| in parallel, conductor 43, conductor 43, conductor 5|, switch 3|, line switch 43 to line `L2. Electro-magnet 33 is thereupon energized to move the actuating memberT of counter 36 to the position shown in Figure 2. Simultaneously,

'winding 42. and lamp 33 in parallel, conductor lo relay winding 4| is energized to close contacts I2 and contacts 53.

Closure of contacts 52 completes a holding circuit for electro-magnet 33 and relay winding 4| which can be traced from line Li, conductor 54, conductor 56, contacts 52, windings 33 and 4I in parallel, conductors 43, 43 and 5|, switch 3| to line La. Subsequent opening of switch 26, therefore, does not serve to eil'ect de-energization of electro-magnet 33. l0

Closure of contacts 53 completes an energizing circuit for the main relay 42 and lamp 33, which can be traced from line L1, conductor 54, conductor 56, contacts 53, conductors 51 and 53, relay 5|, switch 3| to line La. Lamp 33 thereupon lights up and the armature 43 of relay 42 opens the lower contacts and closes the upper contacts associated with relay 42.

Closing oi' the upper contacts of relay 42 serves 20 to complete a holding circuit for this relay and the lamp 33 which can be traced from line L1, conductor 44, upper contacts and armature 43 of relay 42, winding of relay 42, conductor 5I, switch 3| to line La. Opening of the lower contacts of relay 42 disables the control circuit through switches 23 to 23, so that subsequent opening or closing oi any one of these switches produces no eii'ect on any of the counters 34 to 36.r Electro-magnet 33 of counter 36 is held en- 3" ergized over the circuit which extends through contact 52 and the associated actuating member 31 is thus held in the position shown in Figure 2. Relay 42 and lamp 33 are held energized over the circuit which extends through the upper contacts of relay 42.

To eii'ect a complete counting operation and to restore the system to normal, the switch 3| is adapted to be actuated to open condition by movement of the carriage I6 to the position it assumes at the end of a sawing operation. 'I'hus the switch 3| can be mounted as shown in Figure 1 in the path of the axle 6| oi the forward wheels of the carriage or in the path of any other parto! the carriage in such a location that it is actuated to open position when the carriage has been moved a distance which is suiiiciently great to effect the cutting oii of the end of the board 2|. When the switch 3| is opened, the holding circuits of relays 42 and 4| are broken and electro-magnet 33 becomes de-energized, thereby releasing its armature 33 and allowing the actuating member 31 to be restored to its initialposition under the force of any suitable biasing means. 'I'he piece cut on is thus counted on counter 36 and the system is restored to normal condition.

In this manner the number of pieces cut in the group of lengths controlled by the switch stops 25 to 23 is registered in counter 3 6, while counters 34 and 35 register the number of pieces 5.0 cut under the control of switch stops -23 and 24, respectively. Lamp 33 becomes illuminated whenever the relay 42 is energized and is extinguished when the relayI 42 is de-energiaed, sov that by watching the lampat any particular 05 saw, itcan be readily determined whether the sawyer at that machine is attempting tolobtain a false count. Movement of the empty carriage i6 back 'and forth against the switch 3| will not actuate any oi the couhtersf'Moreover, repeat- .70 ed actuation of switches 23 to 23, after an initial actuation of one of them, will not actuate the counters unless there is a succeeding operation of switch 3|. It is to be understood that all oithe other parts of the system can be made in- Z5 accessible tothe operator of the machine, thereby precluding any unauthorized tampering in an eifort to secure a false count.

The system illustrated in Figure 3 is somewhat similar tothat shown in Figure 2, but a single electro-magnetic winding 32 is made to perform the functions of the windings 33 and 4i associated with each of the counters in Figure 2. The corresponding parts are indicated by the reference characters employed in Figure 1. A pair of movable switch elements 33 and 44, insulated from one another in any suitable manner, are actuated upon energization of the associated'electro-'magnet 32 Aand simultaneously the actuating member 31 is moved through one- 4half of its cycle of movement.

Assuming that the switch 23 has been closed by moving the end of the board thereagainst, an energizing circuit for the electro-magnet 32 is completed which can be traced from line L1. line switch 43, conductor 33, uppercontacts and armature 43 of -the relay 42, conductor 51, switch 23, winding 32, conductor 63, switch 3|, conductor 33 to line La. v Thereupon switch 53 closes to complete a holding'circuit for a winding 32 4and switch 64 closes to complete an energizing circuit for relay 42, while simultaneously the actuating member of 'counter 34 is moved through one-half cycle of its movement.

' The holding vcircuit for Dwinding 32 can be traced from line L1, conductor 33, conductor 1|,

conductor 12, switch 33, conductor 13, winding 32, conductor 33, switch 3|, conductor-63 to line La. Winding 32, therefore, remains energized after the switch 23 is opened.

The energizing circuit for relay 42 can be traced from line L1, conductors A33, 1| and.12, switch 34, conductor 14, through relay winding 42 and lamp 33 in parallel, conductor 13, switch 3|, con; ductor 33 to line La; Lamp 33 thereupon lights up and the armature 43 is attracted to close the lower contacts and to open the upper contacts ofy relay 42. Upon openingof the upper contacts of relay 42, the energizing circuits ofv windings 32, through the switch stops 23, 24 and 25 are disabled, so that subsequent actuation of switches 23 to 25 produces no effect.

Closing of the lower contacts of relay 42 complete a holding circuit for this relay which can be traced from line L1, conductor 33, lower contacts and armature 43 of relay 42, conductor 11, winding of relay 42 andl lamp 33 in parallel,

conductor 13, switch 3|,-conductor 33 to line La. The lamp 33 then remains energized,'the switches 23 to 25 remain ineffective and the counter A34 remains partially actuated, until the carriage |3fis moved to cut of! the end of the board.

-When the carriage I3 reaches the end o! its stroke, the switch 3| of Figure 1 is opened, thereby restoring the system to normal condition, and in readiness toetfect the next counting operation.

The system mustrated 1n Figure 4 1s simpli- I fied still further in that the actuating electromagnet lsassociatedfwith each of the counters 34 to 33 is employed to close only a single set of contacts and the holding circuit for -electromagnet 13 is omitted. Thus, an arm 3| is actuated upon energization of one of the electromagnets 13 to eilect' closure of a pair of wiping or sliding contacts 32-v of any suitable construction. Assuming that the switch 24 is closed in Figure 4, an energizing circuit for the electromagnet 13 associated with counter 35 is completed which can be traced from line L1, line switch 43, conductor 33, lower contacts and armature 43 of -relay 42, conductor 34, switch 24, conductor 33, electro-magnet 13, conductor 31, conductor 33, switch 3| to line La. Electro-magnet 'I3 is thereupon energized actuating the 43 of relay 42, winding of relay 42, through Q switch 3| to line La. Opening of the lower contacts of relay 42 disables the energizing circuits of all of the electromagnets 19, and the electromagnet 13 associated with counter 35 is deenergized, permitting the contacts 32 to open. Subsequent actuation of thev switches 23 to 25 produces no effect on any of the counters, since the energizing circuit for the counters remains open at the lower contact of relay 42 as long as relay 42 remains energized. To de-energize revlay 42 and thus restore the system to normal,

the carriage I3 must be moved to its rear position, thereby opening the switch 3|.

In each of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 4, one of the counters 34 -to 33 is actuated, whenever the end of the board i`s placed against one of the switch stops preparatory to a cutting oiI operation. Until the switch 3| is opened, however, the circuits controlled by the switch stops are disabled, thereby precluding subsequent actuation of any of the counters without moving the carriage I6 to its rear position. In the embodiments illustratedin Figures'2 and 3 the actuated counter is only partially actuated in response to the placing of the board against one of theswitch stops and the actuation of the counter is not completed until the carriage |3- has been carried to its rear position. In every case. however, two distinct steps in theoperation of the machine are required to be performed during each counting operation' and unless these steps are both performed, and performed in a denite counting'devices serving to register the number of pieces cut of a definite size", an actuating member for each counting device movable in a dennite cycle for effecting actuation of each of said counting devices, 'contacting means adapted to be operated by positioning of different lengths of material in operative position relative to the saw, electromagnetic means energized by operation of said contacting means to eiect movement of one of said actuating members through a portion only oi its cycle in response to thepositioning of the length of material inoperative position rela` tive to the saw, the particular actuating member ail'ected being the one associated with the counting devicea which counts th'e 'pieces of the size about to be out when the length of material is thus positioned, means for de-energizing said elecy tro-magnetic means to cause said actuating memfusA ment in response to completion of a sawing operation, and means conditioned by operation of any one contacting means for precluding energization of the electro-magnetic means associated with all of the other actuating members during a sawing operation. f

2. In a counting system for separately counting the number of units of different sizes successively operated upon by a work element, a plurality of counting devices each of which serves to register the number of units of a predetermined size which are operatedupon by said work element, a movable actuating member for each of said devices, electro-magnetic means ior effecting movement of one of said actuating members through a portion of its cycle in response to predetermined positioning of a unit of predetermined size with respect to said work element, said last means including electrical contacting means arranged to be operated by positioning units of predetermined size with respect to the work element, the particular actuating member affected being the one associated with the counting device which registers the units of that size about to be'operated upon, and means for causing said actuating member to be moved to complete the cycle of its movement and to effect actuation of its associated counting device, upon the work element. completing its operation upon a unit.

3. In a counting system for separately counting the number of units of different sizes operated upon by a machine having a definite cycle of operation, a plurality of counting devices each of which serves to register the number of-l units of a predetermined size which are operated upon by said machine, a movable actuating member for each of said devices, means for effecting movement of one of said actuating members through a portion of itsV cycle in response to a predetermined positioning of a unit of predetermined size with respect to said machine, at the commencement of a cycle of operation, said last means including electrical contacting means arranged to be operated by positioning units of predetermined size with respect to the work element, the particular actuating member affected being the one associated with the counting device which registers the units of predetermined size about to be operated upon, means for causing said actuating member to be moved to complete the cycle of its movement and to effect a registration in said counting device in response to said completion of its cycle of movement, and means released by completion of the cycle of operation of the machine for precluding actuation vof all of the other actuating members only during the period that any one of the actuating members remains partially actuated. f

4. In combination with a machine having a definite cycle of operation for performing work upon articles of various sizes, a plurality of elec- 5 trical contactors, there being a contactar corresponding to each size of article, each contactor being closed by introducing into the machine an article of its corresponding size, a plurality of counting devices, there being a counting device for each contactor, electro-magnetic actuating means for the counters, an electrical circuit connecting said contactors with said electro-magnetic means, whereby upon the closing of a contactor there is an actuation of a corresponding A counting device, a master contactor adapted to be closed during a cycle of operation of the machine and to be automatically opened upon completion of said cycle, meansv eiective responsive to closing of one of said rst named contactors, together with closed condition of said main contactor, for rendering the remainder of the first mentioned contactors ineffective to cause a registration on their associated counting devices, and means responsive to opening of said main contacter for reconditioning the system for a subsequent counting operation.

5. In combination with a machine having a definite cycle of operation for performing work upon articles of various sizes, a plurality of electrical contactors, there being a contacter for each size of article, each contactor being closed upon introducing into the machine an article of its corresponding size, a plurality of counting devices. there being a counting device for each contactor, 86 electro-magnetic means for the counters, each electro-magnetic means requiring electrical energization followed by de-energization of the same, to complete a count on its corresponding counting device, an electrical circuit connecting said contactors with said electro-magnetic means whereby upon closing of a contactar there is energization of the .corresponding electro-magnetic means, means included in said circuit for retaining an electro-magnetic means energized following closing of its associated contactor and to shunt out the remainder of said electro-magnetic means, a master contactor adapted to be closed during a cycle of operation of the machine and to be automatically opened upon completion of said cycle. u and means for eecting de-energization of an energized one of said electro-magnetic means and reconditioning of the system for a subsequent counting operation. responsive to opening gg ot said master contactar.

CURTIS A. MARSTON.

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