Recording and computing device

Claim 2

Apparatus for providing a total numerical indication representative of an evaluation of a condition for a preselected number of events wherein the average evaluation per event is automatically changed and whereby the average number of pulses per event is responsive to changes in resistance in a predetermined nonlinear manner as the number of events selected is increased, said apparatus comprising: means for selecting the number of events to be evaluated; means for automatically determining the nonlinear rate of evaluation per event depending upon the number of events selected, said rate determining means including pulse generating means for generating a predetermined number of pulses in accordance with the determined rate; and recordation means coupled to said rate determining means and actuated by the pulses therefrom to provide determining means and actuated by the pulses therefrom to provide a cumulative indication of the number of pulses received thereby, said total number of pulses being proportional to the total evaluation of said preselected number of events.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for selecting the number of events to be evaluated comprises a manually operated selector movable between a home position and a plurality of settings corresponding to different numbers of events, and wherein said rate determining means includes selector means coupled to said manually operated selector and movable in accordance therewith to a plurality of settings, each said setting corresponding to a different number of pulses to be produced as said predetermined number of events occurs.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said manually operated selector is moved automatically from a set position toward said home position incrementally until the number of events to be evaluated has been completed, and wherein said selector means of said rate determining means includes a cam member having a predeterminedly contoured camming surface, and a cam follower movable therealong, the cam follower being coupled to said pulse generating means, said cam member being moved from a set position corresponding to the set position of said manually operated selector, to the home position, incrementally in accordance with the movement of said selector, and said cam follower moving along the contoured surface of said cam member and thereby controlling the number of pulses generated by said pulse generating means during the movement of said cam member from the set to the home position.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pulse generating means includes a controlled conduction device operable between conductive and nonconductive states, capacitor means coupled to said conductive device, and variable resistance means, being electrically coupled to said capacitor means, said capacitor means upon being charged to a predetermined level, changing the state of said device from nonconductive to conductive and discharging through said device to produce a pulse, said device returning to a nonconductive state with the discharge of said capacitOr means, said variable resistance means being mechanically coupled to said cam follower and being varied in accordance with the movement thereof along said cam member, said variable resistor means regulating the charging rate of said capacitor means as a function of its resistance level, thereby to control the pulses generated.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including manually operable means for cancelling the number of events selected before the occurrence of said events.

Claim 7

Apparatus for recording a total numerical indication representative of an evaluation of a condition for a preselected number of events comprising: means for selecting the number of events to be recorded, said selector means being movable between a home position and a plurality of different set positions corresponding to different numbers of events to be recorded; means for computing the rate at which said preset number of events are to be recorded including: a. pulse generating means energized as events occur for producing pulses, b. a control element for regulating the number of pulses produced by said pulse generating means, said control element having a movable operator adjustable between a start setting and a plurality of different control settings corresponding to different numbers of pulses to be produced as events occur, c. cam means having a portion graduated in a predetermined manner for determining the rate at which events are recorded, said cam means being movable between a home position and a plurality of different control positions corresponding to different recording rates, d. means actuated after the selector means have been moved to a given set position for latching the selector means and cam means together so that they are capable of moving together as a unit, e. drive means operated as events occur for moving the latched together selector means an cam means, whereby said selector means is returned to its home position and said cam means is moved from its home position, f. cam follower means which rides along said portion as the cam means is moved to and from its home position, g. means coupling the follower means to the operator so that as events occur the cam means adjusts the setting of the operator in accordance with the control position said cam is at; and recording means coupled to the pulse generating means and actuated upon the generation of the pulse for providing a cumulative numerical indication of the number of pulses received, thereby recording in relative numerical values at the rate established by the computing means the evaluation of said condition for the number of events occurring.

Claim 8

Apparatus for recording a total numerical indication representative of an evaluation of a condition for a preselected number of events comprising: means for selecting the number of events to be recorded, said selector means being movable between a home position and a plurality of different set positions corresponding to different numbers of events to be recorded; means for computing the rate at which said preset number of events are to be recorded including: a. pulse generating means energized as events occur for producing pulses, b. a control element for regulating the number of pulses produced by said pulse generating means, said control element having a movable operator adjustable between a start setting and a plurality of different control settings corresponding to different numbers of pulses to be produced as events occur, c. cam means having a portion graduated in a predetermined manner for determining the rate at which events are recorded, said cam means being movable between a home position and a plurality of different control positions corresponding to different recording rates, d. means actuated after the selector means have been moved to a given set position for latching the selector means and cam means together so that they are capable of moving together as a unit, e. drive means operated as events occur for moving the latched together selector means an cam means, whereby said selector means is returned to its home position and said cam means is moved from its home position, f. cam follower means which rides along said portion as the cam means is moved to and from its home position, g. means coupling the follower means to the operator so that as events occur the cam means adjusts the setting of the operator in accordance with the control position said cam is at; and recording means coupled to the pulse generating means and actuated upon the generation of the pulse for providing a cumulative numerical indication of the number of pulses received, thereby recording in relative numerical values at the rate established by the computing means the evaluation of said condition for the number of events occurring.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said selector means includes means actuated when said selector means is returned to its home position which deactuates said latching means, and means operated when said latching means is deactuated for returning said cam means to its home position, whereby said operator is set at its start setting with the return of the cam means to its home position.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined in claim 6 including means actuated when said selector means returns to its home for providing a control signal.

Claim 11

The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said selector means further includes manually operable means for cancelling the preset number of events before said events occur.

Claim 12

The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said canceling means includes a depressable handle which is connected to said selector means, said handle upon being depressed and turned moves said selector means to a set position, with said canceling means being activated after said events begin to occur by depressing said handle.