US2415854A - Driving and counting system - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 18, 1947. w. L. SHEFFIELD DRIVING AND COUNTING SYSTEM Filed May 18, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet l m w 2 05 n m5 1% n M 1. m y

Feb. 18, 1947. w, S EF IE D 2,415,854

DRIVING AND COUNTING SYSTEM Filed May 18, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W 62 /////VT0,.

[m L SHt'fT/ELQ. ma. M /7 T7')f Feb. 18, 1947. w, sHEFFlELD 2,415,854

DRIVING AND COUNTING SYSTEM Filed May 18, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @2552? 9a ea- 7 Patented Feb. 18, 1947 DRIVING AND COUNTING SYSTEM Wilbur L. Sheffield, Canton, Mass., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Raytheon Manufacturing Company, Newton, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application May 18, 1944, Serial No. 536,190

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a system in which a driven load is rotated through a predetermined number of revolutions, the rotation of said driven load is stopped, and the cycle of operations repeated. In such a system a counting mechanism is used, whereby the predetermined number of revolutions may be selected. In such systems it is desirable that the counting mechanism be reset to its zero position at the completion of the predetermined number of revolutions. Heretofore it has been the practice for the counting mechanism to be reset by manually-operated means.

An object of this invention is to devise a simple and reliable mechanism for automatically resetting to its zero position the counting mechanism of a system as described above.

Another object is to devise such a system as will operate without undue shock during each of the various stages of operation through which the system passes.

A further object is to improve certain mechanism details of such a system in the interest of simplicity of fabrication and adjustment.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention will be best understood from the following description of exemplifications thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system comprising an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the counter reset clutch mechanism incorporated in the system of Fig. 1;

'Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic vertical view of another embodiment of my invention, the portion above the line AA being rotated out of a horizontal plane into a vertical plane in the interest of simplicity of illustration;

Fig. 4c, is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the magnetic clutch shown in Fig. 4;

'Fig. 5 is an enlarged section, partly broken away, of the driving clutch mechanism incorporated in the arrangement of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view of said driving clutch mechanism, partly broken away, as viewed from the bottom 01' Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section of an'over-runningclutch taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 4; and

' Fig. 8 is a diagram of the electrical portions of the "system illustrated in Figs. 4-6.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-3 there isprovided a driving motor I which is adapted to drive a driven load 2 through a predetermined number of revolutions during each of a plurality of cycles of operation. In order to count the revolutions through which the driven load 2 is rotated, there is provided a counting mechanism 3 which may be of any suitable standard type such as a Vedder-Root predetermining counter, Model CF-106715. Such a counting mechanism may be provided with a register 4, so that the revolutions counted may be observed thereon. Also such a standard counting mechanism is sup.- plied with a switch 5 the contacts of which are adapted either to be separated or to be brought into contact with each other when the number of revolutions counted by the mechanism 3 reaches a predetermined number. As is well known with counting mechanisms of this type, such a predetermined number of revolutions can be set up in the counting mechanism 3 by the operator by means of suitable presetting members Ma.

In order that the revolutions of the driven load 2 may be transmitted to the counting mechanism 3, a positive drive must be established between the counting mechanism 3 and the driven load 2. Such a positive drive may be provided by a sprocket 6 mounted on and attached to the same shaft that carries driven load 2. Said sprocket 6 drives a chain 1 which in turn drives sprocket 8 mounted on and attached to a shaft that carries a gear 9 which meshes with a gear I0 carried on and attached to the input shaft 'of the counting mechanism 3. Thus as the driven load 2 is rotated, the counting mechanism 3 will count rotations of said driven load.

In accordance with well-known constructional features, the counting mechanism 3 is also provided with a reset shaft ll, whereby at any desired time after the counting shaft has been subjected to a number of counted revolutions, the counting mechanism 3 may be reset to its zero position. In order to actuate the reset shaft H, said shaft is provided with a gear l2 engaged by a driving gear l3, which during the counting operation of the system is maintained in the stationary position. The gear I3 is provided with a central bushing l4 (Fig. 3) in which is journalled a reset shaft I5. Said shaft l5 has secured to one end thereof a reset cam l6 which thus rotates as the shaft l5 rotates. Said shaft l5 may be driven by a pulley l'1 secured thereto, said pulley being driven by a belt I 8 engaging a pulley l9 driven by a relatively small reset motor 20.

The gear I 3 is provided with a pawl 2| pivoted at 2| a to me side'of said "gear. The" pawl 2| is provided with a shoulder 22 which is adapted to be engaged by a corresponding shoulder 23 on the cam I6. The pawl 2| is forced toward the cam I6 by means of a spring 24 (Fig. 3) mounted on the back side of the gear I3, and engaging a pin 25 (Fig. 2) and extending through a slot 28 in the gear I3, and secured to the pawl 2 I. In order to hold the pawl 2| out of engagement with the cam I6 and thus maintain the gear I3 in a stationary position, there is provided a stop rod 21 having a shoulder 28, so that when the rod Z'I is moved into a position adjacent the pawl 2|, the nose of said pawl engages said shoulder 28 and is thus held out of engagement with the cam I8. The stop rod 21 is carried and actuated by an armature 29 which is adapted to be moved by an electromagnetic coil 38. The armature 29 and thus the stop rod 21 are biased toward the pawl 2| by means of a spring 3|.

The motor I drives the driven load 2 through a main clutch 32, which may be identical with the clutch I8 described in greater detail in connection with an additional embodiment of this invention and illustrated in detail in Figs. and 6.. The clutch in Fig. 1 may be supplied with a clutch-engaging handle 3.3 (corresponding to handle I III of Figs. 5 and 6) which when actuated causes the clutch to be engaged, whereby the motor I drives the driven load 2. Said clutch 32 is also provided with a magnetically-operated disengaging mechanism 34 (corresponding to members 9598 of Figs. 5 and 6), which when supplied with energizing current disengages the .clutch'and causes the driven load to stop.

The system illustrated in Fig. 1 is supplied with electrical energy from a pair of power lines 35. These power lines are connected by means of a main switch 36 to a pair of lines 31 connected to the motor I. Likewise said switch connects the power lines. 35 to a pair of lines 38 connected directly to the motor 28. It will be seen, therefore, that when the switch 36 is closed, both motors I and 20 are rotated continuously. A conductor 39 connects one of the conductors 38 to one terminal of the clutch-disengaging mechanism 34, the other terminal thereof being connected through a conductor 45, the switch 5, and through conductor 46 to the other line 38. Thus it will be seen that when switch 5 closes, the clutch-disengaging mechanism 34 operates to disengage. the clutch 32 and stop the driven load 2. A conductor 41 extends from conductor 45 to one terminal of the coil 3.8. the other terminals thereof being connected by means of a conductor 48 to the lower of the lines 38. Thus when switch 5 closes, it also actuates coil 38 to pull the stop rod 21 out of engagement with the pawl 2|, thus permitting the spring 24 to move said pawl 2| toward the cam I8.

The operation of the system as described above is substantially as follows. The operator sets up in. mechanism. 3. by means of the presetting members Maths predetermined number of revolutions through which the driven load 2 is to be rotated. Thereupon the switch36 is closed and the motors I and 28 are started. The clutch 32 is inits disengaged position, and thus the driven load '2 is not rotated until the clutch-engaging handle 33 is actuated. The switch 5 being. in its. open position, the coil 3.8 is deenergized, and thus the stop I061 27 holds the pa l 2|. out of engagement with the cam I8, so that thegear I3. is maintained stationary. 'I'hereuponv the clutch-engaging handle 33 i actuated, and the driven load 2 is rotated.

ing mechanism 3 is rotated so that the rotations of the driven load 2 are counted. When the predetermined number of revolutions is reached, the counting mechanism 3 closes the switch 5. This energizes the clutch-disengaging mechanism 34 which disengages the clutch 32 and stops the rotation of the driven load 2. Closure of the switch 5 also energizes coil 38 which pulls the stop rod 21 out of engagement with the pawl 2|. Therefore the shoulder 23 on the cam I6 will engage the corresponding shoulder 22 On the pawl 2|, and thus drive the gear I3. This in turn rotates the counter reset shaft II, which thus resets the counting mechanism 3 toward its zero position. As the resetting is initiated, the switch 5 reopens which deenergizes the clutch-disengaging mechanism 34. However, as previously indicated, the clutch 32 is not reengaged until the handle 33 is again actuated. Also the coil 30 is deenergized which causes the spring 3| to again move the stop rod 21 toward the gear I3. As the gear I3 approaches the end of a complete revolution, the nose of the pawl 2| will engage the shoulder 28. This moves the pawl 2| out of engagement with the cam I8, which thus is permitted to continue its rotation while the gear I3 is held stationary by the shoulder 28. The proper gear ratio is selected between the gears I3 and I2, so that a single complete revolution of the gear I3 is sufllcient to rotate the reset shaft II to reset the counting mechanism 3 to its zero position. Thereupon the motors 28 and I continue to rotate, but neither the driven load 2 nor the counting mechanism 3 is actuated. In order to restart the cycle, the clutch-engaging handle 33 is actuated, whereupon the driven load 2 is again rotated and the above sequence of operations repeated.

Of course the principles of my invention, as illustrated by the above embodiment, may be incorporated in a wide variety of devices. For example, it may be desired to utilize a common drive both for the counting and the resetting shafts of the counting mechanism. It also may be desirable to introduce variations in the speeds at which the main clutch and the counter reset clutch are engaged and run. Under these conditions it may be desired to use a plurality of counting mechanisms. An embodiment of my invention incorporating such variations is illustrated in Figs. 4-8. 1

At thesame time the c unting shait Of the count In Figs. 4-8 the same reference numerals are used as in Figs. 1-3, where the elements are identical. In the embodiment of Figs. 4-8 there is provided a lead counter 41 and a total turn counter 48. The lead counter W is provided with a switch 49' similar to switch 5 in Fig. i, which switch 48 is normally closed until the predetermined number of revolutions set up in the counter 47 is reached, at which time the switch 49 opens. The total turn counter 48 is provided with a similar switch 58, which however is normally in its open position until the counter 48 reaches the predetermined number of revolutions set up therein, at which time the switch 58 closes. The counters 47 and 48 are provided, respectively, withcounting shafts 5| and 52. These counting shafts carry sprockets which are caused to rotate synchronously by means of a chain 53 or other positive means engaging both of said sprockets. The shaft 52 is provided with an additional sprocket which is engaged by a chain belt 54 driven by a sprocket 55 connected to the shaft 56 which rotates a load member (not shown). Thus: as the shaft 56 rotates, the rota-- tionsthereof are imparted-to the counting shafts 51 and 5.2, and these revolutions are. counted by the counters 41 and 48. The motor is provided with a pulley 5'! driving a belt 58, which in turn drives an idler pulley 59. The idler pulley drives a. belt 68 which in turn engages a pulley 6| which, as shown in Fig. 4a, is journalled on a shaft 62 so as to rotate freely on bushing 62' on said shaft unless connected thereto. In order to connect the pulley BI to the shaft 62, said pulley carries one element 63' of a magnetic clutch, said element consisting of a plurality of clutch plates non-rotatably connected to said pulley 6| and surrounded by a magnetic armature 63. Said armature 63 is non-rotatably mounted upon shaft 62 but may move to a limited extent along said shaft 62 under the influence of an electromagnet 64 likewise fixed to the shaft 62. Said armature 63 has non-rotatably mounted therein a plurality of clutch plates 64' interposed between the clutch plates 63'. The electromagnet 64 may be energized from a pair of leads 65 connected to a brush and slip-ring arrangement 65' likewise carried by the shaft 62. Thus when the electromagnet 64 is energized it attracts armature 63 which causes the clutch plates 63' and 64 to engage with each other thus connecting the pulley 6| to the shaft 62. Also directly fastened to the shaft 62 is a sprocket 66 which drives a chain belt 61, which in turn engages and drives a sprocket 68. The sprocket 68 is provided with an interior bushing 69 within which the shaft 56 is journalled. In this way the sprocket 68 and the elements connected thereto can rotate freely around the shaft 56 unless coupled thereto by a suitable clutch mechanism. Rigidly secured to the sprocket 68 is a sprocket I8 driving a chain II which drives a sprocket I2 mounted on a counter reset shaft I3. This shaft I3 is analogous to the shaft I5 in Fig. 1, and thus drives the counter reset driving gear I 3. In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the gear I3 engages and drives gears 14 and 15 mounted respectively on reset shafts 16 and 11 of the counters 41 and 48, respectively.

A clutch, generally designated as '18, is provided for causing the sprocket 68 to drive the shaft 56. The details of the clutch I8 are shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Rigidly connected to the sprocket 68 is a cam I9 which during the driving period is adapted to engage with a pawl 88 pivoted by a pin 8| to a driving plate 82 fastened to the shaft 56. The cam I9 is provided with a shoulder 83 which during the driving period engages a corresponding shoulder 84 on the pawl 88. A spring 85 fastened to the back face of the driving plate 82 engages a pin 86 which projects through a slot 81 and is fastened to the pawl 88. In this way the spring 85 biases the pawl 88 toward its position of engagement with the cam I9.

In order to disengage the pawl 88 from the cam 19, there is provided a stop rod 88 having a shoulder 89 which when moved toward the cam I9 engages the nose of the pawl 88, thus moving said pawl out of engagement with the cam I9 and holding said pawl thus disengaged. The stop rod 88 is adapted to be moved into its stop position by a link 98 pivoted at its upper end to the frame 9| of the'machine and pivoted at an intermediate point to the stop rod 88. The lower end of the link 98 is pivoted to one end of a clutchactuating rod 92 which is biased toward its stop position by means of a spring 93. The stop mechanism including the stop rod 88 is adapted to be held in the running position by means of a latch 94 pivoted at a pivot point 93' to the base 9|. The latch94. carries a fulcrum arm 94 pivoted to one end of an armature 95 adapted to be actuated by an electromagnetic coil 96. The armature 95 is adapted to be biased to its outer position by means of a spring 91,

For purposes of control to be described below, there is also associated with the stop mechanism a micro-switch 98 provided with a reset button 99 biased outwardly from the micro-switch by a spring I 88. The button 99 is engaged by the link 98 in its running position, and thus the spring I88 is prevented from moving the button 99 outwardly from the micro-switch 98. The micro-switch 98 is of a well-known type in which the switch opens if the button 99 is moved outwardly therefrom by the spring I88. In this wellknown type of micro-switch when the spring member I8I is pushed inwardly, the microswitch 98 recloses, provided at that time the reset button 99 is also moved inwardly against the action of the biasing spring I88. The spring member |8I is adapted to be actuated by a switch-closing rod I82 which when moved inwardly against the action of the spring I8I is adapted to re-close the micro-switch 98. The spring rm I8I also biases the rod I82 toward the edge of the driving plate 82, and thus the inner end of said rod engages and rides on the edge of said driving plate. The driving plate 82 is provided with a cam projection I83 which is thus adapted to force the rod I82 inwardly against the action of the spring arm I8I so as to re-close the micro-switch 98.

It will be noted that when the nose of the clutch 88 engages the shoulder 89 so as to stop rotation of the shaft 56, the action of the spring 93 exerts a pressure on the pawl 88 tending to rotate it together with its driving plate 82 in a reverse direction, Since it is desirable to stop the shaft 56 in a definite predetermined position without any reversal of its rotation, I have provided a stop mechanism to prevent such reverse rotation. For this purpose the driving plate 82 is provided with a clutch plate I84 adapted to rotate inside the stop race I fixed to the frame 9|. The clutch plate I84 is provided with one or more cut-away portions I86, each of which receives a roller I81. Each roller I8! is engaged by a spring-biased pin I88 tending to move the roller I81 into engagement with the stop race I85. If the driving plate 82 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, the rollers I8'I are disengaged from the stop race I85 and thus permit the driving plate 82 together with the shaft 56 to rotate freely. If, however, the driving plate 82 tends to rotate in a clockwise direction, the rollers ID! will bind against the stop race I 85, preverit such rotation, and lock the plate 82 and the shaft 56 in their stopped position,

The shaft 56 may be carried in a suitable bearing I89. The clutch-actuating rod 92 may be provided with a suitable handle II8- so that the operator may manually reengage the clutch. The shaft 56 may also be provided with a hand wheel I I I, so that the operator may rotate the shaft 56 by hand if so desired.

Under certain conditions of operation, it is desired that the shaft 56 as well as the counter reset shaft I3 be rotated at a reduced speed. For this purpose the motor I also drives a speed-' reducing gear mechanism H2, the outputpulley II3 of which drives a belt H4. The belt H4, in turn drives a pulley |I5 mounted on the casing member II6 of an overrunning clutch H6. The casing I I8 is provided withgan inner-race surface 7 H1 within which .rotates a clutch plate H3 fastened to the shaft 62. The edge of the clutch plate H8 is machined off to provide a plurality of flat surfaces II9 each at substantially right angles to the radius of said clutch plate and each extending completely across its respective portion of said clutch plate H8, At the center of each surface II9 there is provided a springbiased assembly consisting of a pair of leaf springs I set into a recess provided in the surface 9. A roller I2I is inserted at one side of each of the spring-biasing assemblies. Thus if the casing I I6 tends to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. '7, the rollers I2I will bind against the inner race surface I II, and thus drive the clutch plate H8 and the shaft 62. If, however, an attempt is made to drive the shaft 62 in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. "I, the rollers I2I will .be disengaged from the race surface III and the shaft 62 can rotate freely without driving the casing IIIi. Therefore the desired over-running clutch action is secured for purposes to be described below, By the above construction it will be noted that the rollers I2I may be inserted on either side of each of the spring-biasing assemblies I20. In some instances it may be desired that the rotation of the entire assembly be reversed. In this case, all that is necessary is to remove a face plate from the overrunning clutch assembly and move the rollers I2I from one side to the other of the spring-biasing assemblies I20. This provides a simple and effective overrunning clutch arrangement capable of providing overrunning clutch action in alternative directions.

The circuit arrangement for the electrical portions of the system illustrated in Figs. 4-7 is shown in Fig. 8. A pair of supply lines I22 are adapted to be connected to an suitable source of alternating current. A switch I23 is adapted to connect said supply lines I22 to a pair of local supply lines I24. The motor I may be connected directly across the lines I24 so that when the switch I29 is closed, the motor I is set in rotation. The actuating coil 30 of the counter reset mechanism is connected in series with the switch 50 of the total turn counter 48 across the lines I24. The actuating coil 99 of the main clutch I8 is likewise connected in series with the switch 50 across the lines I24. The micro-switch 99 is provided with a switch arm I25 which is adapted to engage either a live contact I26 or a dead contact I21. The contact I26 may be connected to one of the lines I24. The switch arm I25 is connected through the switch 49 of the lead counter 41 and the actuating coil I28 of a relay I29 to the other line I24. The relay I29 is provided with a contact I30 connected in series with one of the leads 95 extending to th magnetic clutch 63-64. The magnetic clutch is adapted to be energized through said contact I30 from a rectifier bridge I3I, the input to which is provided by the lines I24.

The operation of the system described, as illustrated in Figs. 4-8, is substantially as follows. The total turn counter 48 has set up therein the predetermined number of revolutions which it is desired to impart to shaft 50 and the load driven thereby. The lead counter 4'! has set up therein a'number of revolutions which is smaller than the predetermined number set up in the total turn counter 48 by any desired number. The clutch-actuating rod 92 is in its outer position in which the. shoulder 89 of the stop rod 88 isin engagement with the pawl 80 and is holding said pawl disengaged from the cam 19. The microswitch 98 is in its open position, and thus the relay I29 is in its open position so that the circuit to the magnetic clutch 03-454 is open. Under these conditions the switch I23 is closed, whereupon the motor I is set in rotation. This causes the shaft 02 to rotate at slow speed, and the pulley 9i carrying the portion 63 of the magnetic clutch rotates idly at the higher speed around the shaft 62. The rotation of the shaft 62 at low speed in turn rotates the sprocket 6B, the chain belt 61, the sprockets 68 and 10, and thus the cam I9. Thereupon the clutch-actuating handle H0 may be pushed inwardly. This moves the stop rod 98 out of engagement with the pawl 89, whereupon the cam I9 as it rotates in a counter-clockwise direction at low speed causes its shoulder 83 to engage the shoulder 84 on the pawl 80, thus causing the driving plate 92 and the shaft 96 to be driven. The speed of rotation is selected to be of a sufficiently low value, so that upon the engagement of the pawl by the cam I9, no undue shocks are imparted to any part of the system. Once the cam I9 has engaged the pawl 80 and has started to rotate the shaft 59, it is no longer necessary to maintain the slow speed of rotation. Within substantially a quarter of a turn after the initiation of rotation of the shaft 56, the cam surface I03 comes into contact with the rod I02 and pushes said rod in a direction to move the switch arm I25 of the m1- cro-switch 98 into engagement with the live contact l 25. This completes the circuit to the actuating coil I29 of the relay I29, which therefore closes the contact I30. This energizes the magnetic clutch 6364, which thus connects the rapidly rotating pulley 6| directly to the shaft 62. The shaft 62 is thereupon driven at the higher speed, causing the shaft 50 to be driven at its higher speed. No interference is encountered with the slow speed drive due to the fact that the overrunning clutch H6 permits the shaft 92 to overrun the slowly driven clutch casing H6. The shaft 56 in turn drives the countershafts 5| r and 52 through the chain drive already described so that the counters 4'! and 48 record the rotations of shaft 56. The shaft 59 continues to rotat at full speed until the lead counter 41 reaches the number set up therein, which as previously indicated is less than the total number of turns to which it is desired to support shaft 59. However, when the counter 41 reaches its set number, the switch 49 opens, thus deenergizing the relay I29 and opening the circuit to the magnetic clutch tit-$4. Thus the high-speed pulley 6| is disengaged from the shaft 02, which thereupon assumes its slow speed operation through the slow speed drive II2I Iii. Thereupon the shaft 56 is rotated at this slow speed for the remaining number of revolutions until the predetermined number set up in the total turn counter 48 is reached. At this point the switch '50 of said counter 40 is closed. This energizes the circuit for the coil 99 which attracts the armature 95, thus rotating the latch 94 out of engagement with the clutch stop mechanism. Thereupon the spring 93 forces the rod 92 together with the link 99 and the'stop rod 83 toward its stop position. This causes the shoulder 89 to move into a position where it is engaged by the nose of the pawl 80. The pawl 80 is thus disengaged from the driving cam I9 and the shaft 56 is thus stopped accurately in a predetermined position, due to the provision both of the pawl 80 engaging the shoulder 89 as well as the reversestop.mecha-- msm 101408. It will be noted that the stopping of rotation likewise occurs at slow speed. Furthermore this speed is sufliciently slow so that none of the mechanism is subjected to undue shock.

When the spring 93 moves the rod 92 to its outer position, the link 90 is pulled away from the button 99, and therefore the spring I is enabled to move said button 99 to its outer position, to the right in Fig. 8. This causes the switch a'rm I25 of the micro-switch 98 to leave its live contact I26 and move into engagement with its dead contact I21. At the same time that the coil 96 of the stop mechanism is energized, the switch 50 also completes the circuit for the coil 30 of the counter reset mechanism. The energization of the coil 30 moves the stop rod 21 out of engagement with the pawl 2I, and therefore the cam I B engages the pawl 2| and drives the reset gear I3. This in turn drives the gears 14 and 15 on the counter reset shafts 16 and 11, respectively. As soon as the resetting begins, the switch 49 is reclosed and the switch 50 is reopened. Reclosing of the switch 49, however, does not reenergize the relay I29 since its circuit is broken by the microswitch 98, the switch arm I25 being in contact with the dead contact I21. Reopening the switch 50 deenergizes the coil 30 which permits the stop rod 21 to move back into position where it may reengage the pawl 2 I. Thus as the gear I3 completes a revolution, the pawl 2| engages the shoulder 28 and is moved out of engagement with the cam I6. Thus the gear I3, after rotating through said revolution, is again stopped. The gear ratio between the gear I3 and the gears 14 and 15 is such that one revolution of the gear I3 resets the counters 41 and 48 to their zero position. Reopening of the switch 50 also deenergizes the coil 96 which thus releases the armature 95, and thus the latch 94 is moved into a position where it is ready to reengage the stop mechanism upon actuation by the handle IIU.

Upon completion of the above sequence the shaft 62 continues to drive the sprocket 68 and the elements directly connected thereto at low speed. However, the shaft 56 is held stationary in its stop position, and no counting occurs. To restablish the rotation of the shaft 56 for its predetermined number of cycles together with the associated cycle of events, the handle III! is pushed inwardly by the operator, whereupon the operation as above described is repeated.

Of course it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to' the particular details as described above as many equivalents will suggest themselves to those skilled in th art. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be given a broad'interpretation commensurat with the scope of the invention within the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a counting system, a main driving member, a driven member, a counting mechanism, means for setting up a. predetermined number to be counted by said counting mechanism, anactuating member for causing said counting mechanism to count the actuations of said actuating member, a reset member for resetting said counting mechanism to its zero position, means for causing said driven member to actuate said actuating member, a main clutch for coupling and uncoupling said main driving member to said driven member, means for causing said clutch to couple said main driving member to said driven member, an auxiliary driving member, an auxiliary clutch for coupling and uncoupling said auxiliary driving member with said reset member, means responsive to the counting by said counting mechanism of said predetermined number for causing said main clutch to uncouple said main driving member from said driven member and for stopping further movement of said driven member, means responsive to the counting by said counting mechanism of said predetermined number to cause said auxiliary clutch to couple said auxiliary driving member to said reset member to reset said counting mechanism to its zero position, and means for causing said auxiliary clutch to uncouple said auxiliary driving member from said reset member and for preventing further movement of said reset member upon completion of said resetting operation.

2. In a counting system, a main driving member, a driven member, means for causing said main driving member to operate at a slow speed, transfer means for causing said main driving member to operate at a substantially higher speed, a counting mechanism, means for setting up a predetermined number to be counted by said counting mechanism, an actuating member for causing said counting mechanism to count the actuations of said actuating member, means for causing said driven member to actuate said actuating member, a reset member for resetting said counting mechanism to its zero position, a main non-slip clutch for coupling and uncoupling said main driving member to said driven member, means for causing said clutch to couple said main driving member to said driven member while said driven member is operating at slow speed, means responsive to the movement of said driven member for actuating said transfer means to cause said main driving member to operate at said higher speed, an auxiliary driving member, an auxiliary clutch for coupling and uncoupling said auxiliary driving member with said reset member, means responsive to the counting by said counting mechanism of said predetermined number for causing said main clutch to uncouple said main driving member from said driven member, and means responsive to the counting by said counting mechanism of said predetermined number to cause said auxiliary clutch to couple said auxiliary driving member to said reset member to reset said counting mechanism to its zero position. I

3. In a counting system, a main driving member, a driven member, two counting mechanisms, means for setting up a predetermined total number to be counted by one of said counting mechanisms, means for setting up a, second predetermined number less than said first predetermined number to be counted by the other of said counting mechanisms, actuating members for causing said counting mechanisms to count the actuations of its associated actuating member, a. reset member for resetting said counting mechanisms to their zero positions, means for causing said driven member to actuate said actuating members, a main clutch for coupling and uncoupling said main driving member to said driven member, means for causing said clutch to couple said main driving member to said driven member, an auxiliary driving member, means responsive to the counting by said other counting mechanism of said second predetermined number for causing said main driving member to operate at a substantially reduced speed, means responsive to the counting by said first counting mechanism of said first predetermined numaeiaete 'y 'sard'first' counting mechanism said first predetriniend n'iembr tocaus said auxiliary clutch to couple said auxiliary driving member to said reset mernber toreset said counting mechanisms to their zero positions.

'4 In a counting system, a rnain giriving memper, a driven meinber, means for causing said ma n driving em r t Operat at a s ow s ed, transfer means for causing said main driving n? he? o te at a ubst nti l y hi her peed! t o tti ns m h nisms mean fo e ting.

p at pr dete m ne al nu ber t b co'unt'd by e o said coun n mechan m means or et in u a sec nd pred t rm n number le s han said fi s redet rm ne numbe; i be 'qQlmt d. by the other of. said countin mee meme ctu n mem e or cau ing s id l nn metheni m t co n the a t ticn of it asswiat rl. actuatin member, a eset membe i res tt n stu co ntin mechanisms to th ir er mentions for Qausin aid.v driven memes t v atuat sa d. actua in m mbers, a -n nz li clutch fpr cou in and. n o plin e s dri in member to. id. driv n. er mean o causin sa d lu ch to. coupl said driv ng membe o said. iv n member hi ssaicif main. q iiiing member is p rating at 9v2 speed; es onsive to, the movement of.

5.3151 tir ven member 9! gtua ing said. transfer memo causesaidma n d iv ng member o oncrate at S idhigh r peed, an auxiliary drivin membe meensr'e ponsive to hecoun ingby said o her co ntin in o sa d s cond. predetermined n mhert or d enersizing said. transfnmeai to a se. saidmain, dr v m mbe t qperatef t sa dslow. speed, mean po v tothe counting. by saidfirst counting mechanism mem r rom said dr ven member and .for stop: ne W61. movemen of said driuen member,

H I responsive tojhe counting by. said fir immune. mech n m. Qffinid first. predeterr m eginurnher to 234 .56 said ux iary clutch to .ls saiqaun l ery riving memberto. said reset maintlu tn r unlinganduncoup in aid men. quvi member to said driven memb r, n aueilie yz 19 2 1. 1 twp-line. and. unc pl n sa d mai d in em r with said, reset memben. me

e ht s i said r d e mine n mber rqrcsus n snd rnain clutch to uncoupl said m liii i mete wns riv member and'fr'ne'a'n's'f responsive to the counting by. said counting mechanism of said predetermined num;

b'e'rt'of cause said auxiliary clutch to couple saigt mainfdrivin member to said reset member to predetermined number. for causing. clutch to uncouple. said main driving:

her to reset saiglcounting mechanisms to.

. a. predetermined number s responsive to the counting; by said count-,

reset s i taunt n m an o. i z o 1 st tion.

'6 n c untin exis ent a mai d iv ng-1.1 1 .9 11 a d iven. membe a cqunt n m h n sm rneans for setting up a, predetermined number to be counted. by said counting mechanism, a, ree memb tor r se ti s d c un in mechasm t its zero ppsitio eans t r ausing said driven member to ct a e. said actuating. mema ma lutch fo ou lin an ncqupl n S m in. ri n membe to. said. driv meme an. aux lia y lu ch. i r cpu l ng an unceu: Pli said ma riv member ith said reset msmber m ans responsive. o hev coun n by aid tqueti methani m it s id predet m ned umber r ca sa d main. c utch. t unw id Qu insmemb r from. aid d ven ember, m an e p ns ve t the. ounting; by sa d i n m han sm. of. aid nresieterm neqn me h to w s s id aux a y lutch t o le sai a n dr v m m er to ai eset ir en h r tare. st Sa d co ting mechanism. o ts ero position, nd m a s 9 aus sa auxi i ry l tch to ote s sai ma n. dr v n member f m. aid reset m mbe pon com et n o sa d. ese tin operation.

ln v eq at n s sn. ama n dr Y ng. m m: be a t vt n. memb r, wo quntin mec an sms, means far in up amt det m ed ta number to b cq n edhy eni sat qo nt emephr ni i t a ing members. or c usin said.v Co n in m t anism t .0 it theactuation 0t its es p e a t tinsmemben me nsiqr t: e u a s ems, redet rminednumherless h n. a firs Br 5 1 umber. tu wped y h Oth r Of .31 o nt ng. mechanisms. a re e mber fo es tt n s i ounting. m cln. aei ms to tn Zero Posi ions mean -screamin id. yi il tmb l o. athlete. 131. ac uat n memb iis amai llt chioncoupling and uncouz i ei ismai r' n memb r Qsa tl dri en member; a xi iar clut h qr; pu l n an coupling said main driving member..with saidre.-.. et smi? r m a s; p pa s nssaid,. lutchracqul a H mem e m aes sn nsiv o; he qun ing by. qtt er. stunt n ofsa d. seco d; t tsrmin d. number r. ausing: said. main. ri ng. membsrtq p re et a. substa t al yes t d stsst. Is 1?.t sire.to.the. ntmebyi S id fi t mati t an of dete mined il fl be to'unc o upl" "d enews CITEP The following references. are ,file. of this patent;

' LNII P IerEs Ar u-ts of -record the umber y Name. Date 1 Q 9,;'179;.. Coxhead May 22,1934 1937mm Staegemann Oct. 23,, 1934-

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