Counter mechanism for conveyor systems

Claim 1

IN A CONVEYOR SYSTEM, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CARRIERS, A MAIN TRACK, A CONVEYOR FOR MOVING SAID CARRIERS ALONG SAID MAIN TRACK, A BRANCH TRACK, CONVEYOR MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MAIN CONVEYOR FOR CONVEYING THE CARRIERS TO SAID BRANCH TRACK, SWITCH MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE CARRIERS OPERABLE IN ONE POSITION TO GUIDE SAID CARRIERS ALONG SAID MAIN TRACK AND IN ANOTHER POSITION TO GUIDE SAID CARRIERS ALONG SAID BRANCH TRACK, SIGNAL MEANS ALONG THE MAIN TRACK ADAPTED TO BE ACTUATED BY A CARRIER TO PROVIDE A MECHANICAL MOVEMENT FOR OPERATING SAID SWITCH MEANS, AND A COUNTER MECHANISM HAVING A MECHANICAL INPUT MECHANICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SWITCH MEANS FOR PRODUCING A MECHANICAL INPUT SIGNAL AND ADAPTED TO BE MECHANICALLY ACTUATED BY A CARRIER AS IT MOVES ALONG THE BRANCH TRACK FOR PRODUCING AN OPPOSING MECHANICAL OUTPUT SIGNAL, SAID COUNTER MECHNAISM INCLUDING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ACTUATED WHEN THE NUMBER OF COUNTS OF CARRIERS MOVING INTO THE BRANCH TRACK EXCEEDS THE NUMBER OF COUNTS OF CARRIERS MOVING OUT OF THE BRANCH TRACK BY MORE THAN A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT TO PREVENT THE MECHANICAL MOVEMENT FROM SAID SIGNAL MEANS FROM BEING TRANSMITTED TO SAID SWITCH MEANS.