US3740531A — Automatically presettable copy counter for automa…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 180 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, for automatic printers, copiers and the like of the type in which automatically introduced originals are provided with scannable indicia representing the desired number of copies to be reproduced the originals are conducted through a scanning means which scans the indicia and supplies a corresponding electric counting value which is stored and compared with the actual counted number of copies reproduced, and a reproduction terminating signal is produced when the stored counting value is equal to the actual counted number, the improvement comprising, in combination, said scanning means including a plurality of pivotally mounted control levers positioned in the path of movement of the original for deflection by the leading edge of the original; and respective electric switch means actuable by said levers responsive to such deflection thereof; each original having, in its leading edge, at least one forwardly opening recess, at a selected position, laterally of said leading edge, corresponding to a mathematical code and effecting delayed deflection of the correspondingly located lever and corresponding delayed actuation of the associated electric switch means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 180 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, for automatic printers, copiers and the like of the type in which automatically introduced originals are provided with scannable indicia representing the desired number of copies to be reproduced the originals are conducted through a scanning means which scans the indicia and supplies a corresponding electric counting value which is stored and compared with the actual counted number of copies reproduced, and a reproduction terminating signal is produced when the stored counting value is equal to the actual counted number, the improvement comprising, in combination, said scanning means including a plurality of pivotally mounted control levers positioned in the path of movement of the original for deflection by the leading edge of the original; and respective electric switch means actuable by said levers responsive to such deflection thereof; each original having, in its leading edge, at least one forwardly opening recess, at a selected position, laterally of said leading edge, corresponding to a mathematical code and effecting delayed deflection of the correspondingly located lever and corresponding delayed actuation of the associated electric switch means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said switch means are contact switcheS actuated mechanically by the associated control levers; said contact switches constituting a value storage.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said electric switch means are contact switches actuated mechanically by the associated control levers; and a value storage connected to said contact switches.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which said value storage is a relay storage.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which said value storage is a multi-stage binary counting unit having pulses supplied thereto by a counting pulse generator whose individual stages consist of flip-flops and which generator is presettable by said contact switches.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 56 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said electric switch means are single pole double throw microswitches; a holder mounting said microswitches in a row extending transversely of the path of movement of an original; and a shaft extending parallel to said row and pivotally mounting said control levers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 6, including means pivotally mounting said holder.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 260 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, for automatic printers, copiers and the like of the type in which automatically introduced originals are provided with scannable indicia representing the desired number of copies to be reproduced, the originals are conducted through a scanning means which scans the indicia and supplies a corresponding electric counting value which is stored and compared with the actual counted number of copies reproduced, and a reproduction terminating signal is produced when the stored counting value is equal to the actual counted number, the improvement comprising, in combination, said scanning means including a plurality of pivotally mounted control levers positioned in the path of movement of the original for deflection by the leading edge of the original; respective electric switch means actuable by said levers responsive to such deflection thereof; each original having, in its leading edge, at least one forwardly opening recess effecting delayed deflection of a correspondingly located lever and corresponding delayed actuation of the associated electric switch means; said electric switch means being single pole double throw microswitches; a holder mounting said microswitches in a row extending transversely of the path of movement of an original; a shaft extending parallel to said row and pivotally mounting said control levers; means pivotally mounting said holder; each of said control levers being formed with a projection; and an electromagnetically operated switch rod engageable with the projections of those control levers which have been deflected without delay by the leading edge of an original, to swing the same out of the path of movement of the original.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 260 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, for automatic printers, copiers and the like of the type in which automatically introduced originals are provided with scannable indicia representing the desired number of copies to be reproduced, the originals are conducted through a scanning means which scans the indicia and supplies a corresponding electric counting value which is stored and compared with the actual counted number of copies reproduced, and a reproduction terminating signal is produced when the stored counting value is equal to the actual counted number, the improvement comprising, in combination, said scanning means including a plurality of pivotally mounted control levers positioned in the path of movement of the original for deflection by the leading edge of the original; respective electric switch means actuable by said levers responsive to such deflection thereof; each original having, in its leading edge, at least one forwardly opening recess effecting delayed deflection of a correspondingly located lever and corresponding delayed actuation of the associated electric switch means; said electric switch means being single pole double throw microswitches; a holder mounting said microswitches in a row extending transversely of the path of movement of an original; a shaft extending parallel to said row and pivotally mounting said control levers; means pivotally mounting said holder; each of said control levers being formed with a projection; and an electromagnetically operated switch rod engageable with the projections of those control levers which have been deflected without delay by the leading edge of an original, to swing the same out of the path of movement of the original.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 108 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 8, including a stop bar on said holder extending along the back edges of said projections of said control levers; said stop bar pivoting said holder when those control levers deflected without delay are swung by said switch rod out of the path of the original; and an entraining bar on said holder engageable with those control levers deflected with delay, due to engaging in associated recesses in the leading edge of the original, to swing the same through a certain angular distance out of the path of movement of the original during pivoting of said holder.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 63 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 9, in which those control levers deflected without delay by the leading edge of the original are moved by said switch rod sufficiently far, relative to said holder, that they actuate the associated switches; the other control levers being deflected by said entraining bAr a distance insufficient to actuate their associated switches.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 60 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 10, including electromagnet means operable, when energized, to operate said switch rod; an additional control lever pivotally mounted on said shaft and engaged by the leading edge of an original; and an additional fixedly mounted switch actuated by said additional control lever and controlling energization of said electromagnet means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 42 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 11, including disengageable locking mechanism associated with said switch rod and operable to lock said control levers and the associated switches in the deflected position until completion of the reproduction process.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 12, in which said locking mechanism is released electromagnetically by a control signal at the end of the counting procedure.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 269 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, for automatic printers, copiers and the like of the type in which automatically introduced original are provided with scannable indicia representing the desired number of copies to be reproduced, the originals are conducted through a scanning means which scans the indicia and supplies a corresponding electric counting value which is stored and compared with the actual counted number of copies reproduced, and a reproduction terminating signal is produced when the stored counting value is equal to the actual counted number, the improvement comprising, in combination, said scanning means including a plurality of pivotally mounted control levers positioned in the path of movement of the original for deflection by the leading edge of the original; respective electric switch means actuable by said levers responsive to such deflection thereof; each original having, in its leading edge, at least one forwardly opening recess effecting delayed deflection of a correspondingly located lever and corresponding delayed actuation of the associated electric switch means; said electric switch means being single pole double throw microswitches; a holder mounting said microswitches in a row extending transversely of the path of mogement of an original; a shaft extending parallel to said row and pivotally mounting said control levers; said single pole double throw microswitches being connected in a coincidence circuit including an equal number of three-pole counter-actuated microswitches each in series correspondence with one of said control lever actuated microswitches; a counter operable to actuate said counter-actuate microswitches in correspondence with the code of the value storage; and means operable to step said counter in the cycle of the production of copies.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 269 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, for automatic printers, copiers and the like of the type in which automatically introduced original are provided with scannable indicia representing the desired number of copies to be reproduced, the originals are conducted through a scanning means which scans the indicia and supplies a corresponding electric counting value which is stored and compared with the actual counted number of copies reproduced, and a reproduction terminating signal is produced when the stored counting value is equal to the actual counted number, the improvement comprising, in combination, said scanning means including a plurality of pivotally mounted control levers positioned in the path of movement of the original for deflection by the leading edge of the original; respective electric switch means actuable by said levers responsive to such deflection thereof; each original having, in its leading edge, at least one forwardly opening recess effecting delayed deflection of a correspondingly located lever and corresponding delayed actuation of the associated electric switch means; said electric switch means being single pole double throw microswitches; a holder mounting said microswitches in a row extending transversely of the path of mogement of an original; a shaft extending parallel to said row and pivotally mounting said control levers; said single pole double throw microswitches being connected in a coincidence circuit including an equal number of three-pole counter-actuated microswitches each in series correspondence with one of said control lever actuated microswitches; a counter operable to actuate said counter-actuate microswitches in correspondence with the code of the value storage; and means operable to step said counter in the cycle of the production of copies.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 82 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 14, in which said counter includes a number of cam discs corresponding to the number of said counter-actuated switches and each operatively associated with a respective one of the latter; the number of cam discs being equal to the number of said control levers; said control levers being arranged in tetrad groups corresponding to the code key; said discs being combined and driven in tetrad groups corresponding to the code key.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said forwardly opening recesses are U-shape.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said forwardly opening recesses are V-shape.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said forwardly opening recesses are rectangular.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

In an automatically presettable copy counter, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said forwardly opening recesses are pre-marked in the original by corresponding tear-out perforations.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-06-18	1976-12-18	1977-06-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-06-18	1980-12-18	1981-06-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-06-18	1984-12-18	1985-06-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automatically presettable copy counter for automatic printing machines, copiers, and the like

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