Counting device

Claim 2

A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of counting elements including a lower order element and a higher order element, the lower order element including drive means and the higher order element including driven means; means for operating said lower order element; resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means and said driven means for operating the higher order element in response to operation of the lower order element and in predetermined relationship therewith; and means including a guide member supported by at least one of said elements for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven means during said operation of the higher order element.

Claim 3

A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of adjacent counting elements including a lower order element and a higher order element, the lower order element including drive means and the higher order element including driven means; means for operating said lower order element; resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means and said driven means for operating the higher order element in response to operation of the lower order element and in predetermined relationship therewith; motion modifying means movable with said lower order element and cooperating with said transfer means for rendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to said higher order element except during selected portions of the operation of said lower order element; and means including a generally cylindrical guide member supported between said elements for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven means during said operation of the higher order element.

Claim 4

A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of adjacent counting elements including a lower order element and a higher order element, the lower order element including drive means and the higher order element including driven means; means for operating said lower order element; resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means and said driven means for operating the higher order element in response to operation of the lower order element and in predetermined relationship therewith; motion modifying means movable with said lower order element and cooperating with said transfer means for rendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to said higher order element except during selected portions of the operation of said lower order element; and means including a generally cylindrical guide member supported between said elements for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven means during said operation of the higher order element.

Claim 5

A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of counting elements including a lower order element and a higher order element, the lower order element including drive means and the higher order element including driven means; means for operating said lower order element; resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means and said driven means for operating the higher order element in response to operation of the lower order element and in predetermined relationship therewith; and means including a guide member supported by both said lower order element and said higher order element for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven means during said operation of the higher order element.

Claim 6

A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of counting elements including a lower order element and a higher order element, the lower order element including drive means and the higher order element including driven means; means for operating said lower order element; resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means and said driven means for operating the higher order element in response to operation of the lower order element and in predetermined relationship therewith; and means including a guide member supported by both said lower order element and said higher order element for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven means during said operation of the higher order element.

Claim 7

A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of register drums including a lower order drum and a higher order drum, the lower order drum including drive means and the higher order drum including driven means; means for rotating said lower order drum; resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means and said driven means for rotating the higher order drum in response to rotation of the lower order drum and in predetermined relationship therewith; motion modifying means movable with said lower order drum and cooperating with said transfer means for rendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to said higher order drum except during selected portions of the rotation of said lower order drum; and means including a guide member supported by at least one of saId drums for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven means during said rotation of the higher order drum.

Claim 8

A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of register drums including a lower order drum and a higher order drum, the lower order drum including drive means and the higher order drum including driven means; means for rotating said lower order drum; resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means and said driven means for rotating the higher order drum in response to rotation of the lower order drum and in predetermined relationship therewith; motion modifying means movable with said lower order drum and cooperating with said transfer means for rendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to said higher order drum except during selected portions of the rotation of said lower order drum; and means including a guide member supported by at least one of saId drums for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven means during said rotation of the higher order drum.

Claim 9

A counting device as defined in claim 4, in which the resiliently biased transfer means comprises: a pair of planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on the higher order drum; and a transfer arm pivotally supported about an axis spaced from the axis of rotation of the drums, the transfer arm being slidably connected to said guide member.

Claim 10

A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of counting elements including a lower order element and a higher order element, the lower order element including drive means and the higher order element including driven means; means for operating said lower order element in a given direction; transfer means inteconnecting said drive means and said driven means for operating the higher order element in response to operation of the lower order element and in predetermined relationship therewith; motion modifying means movable with said lower order element and cooperating with said transfer means for rendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to said higher order element except during selected portions of the operation of said lower order element; and means including a guide member supported by both said lower order element and said higher order element for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven means during said operation of the higher order element.

Claim 11

A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of counting elements including a lower order element and a higher order element, the lower order element including drive means and the higher order element including driven means; means for operating said lower order element in a given direction; transfer means inteconnecting said drive means and said driven means for operating the higher order element in response to operation of the lower order element and in predetermined relationship therewith; motion modifying means movable with said lower order element and cooperating with said transfer means for rendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to said higher order element except during selected portions of the operation of said lower order element; and means including a guide member supported by both said lower order element and said higher order element for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven means during said operation of the higher order element.

Claim 12

A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of counting elements including a lower order element and a higher order element of molded plastic construction in facing relationship with each other, the lower order element having drive means on the side facing the higher order element, the higher order element having driven means on the side facing the lower order element, and at least one of the elements having support means on the side facing the other element; means for operating said lower order element; resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means and said driven means for operating the higher order element in response to operation of the lower order element and in predetermined relationship therewith; motion modifying means movable with said lower order element and cooperating with said transfer means for rendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to said higher order element except during selected portions of the operation of said lower order element; and means including a molded plastic guide member carried by the support means for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven means during said operation of the higher order element.

Claim 13

A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of counting elements including a lower order element and a higher order element of molded plastic construction in facing relationship with each other, the lower order element having drive means on the side facing the higher order element, the higher order element having driven means on the side facing the lower order element, and at least one of the elements having support means on the side facing the other element; means for operating said lower order element; resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means and said driven means for operating the higher order element in response to operation of the lower order element and in predetermined relationship therewith; motion modifying means movable with said lower order element and cooperating with said transfer means for rendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to said higher order element except during selected portions of the operation of said lower order element; and means including a molded plastic guide member carried by the support means for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven means during said operation of the higher order element.

Claim 14

A counting device as defined in claim 7, in which the drive means, the driven means and the support means are integrally molded with the corresponding counting element.

Claim 15

A counting device as defined in claim 7, in which the resiliently biased transfer means comprises a transfer arm of molded plastic construction, and means for resiliently urging the transfer arm into engagement with the motion modifying means.

Claim 16

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing counting elements arranged adjacent one another in progressively increasing order, each of the counting elements including motion modifying means, first support means and drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order element, and including second support means and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower order element; means for driving the driven means on the lowest order element to operate said lowest order element; transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent elements for operating the higher order element only during selected portions of the operation of the lower order element; and means including a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent elements and supported by the first and second support means on the elements in said pair, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower order element and the driven means on the higher order element.

Claim 17

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing counting elements arranged adjacent one another in progressively increasing order, each of the counting elements including motion modifying means, first support means and drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order element, and including second support means and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower order element; means for driving the driven means on the lowest order element to operate said lowest order element; transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent elements for operating the higher order element only during selected portions of the operation of the lower order element; and means including a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent elements and supported by the first and second support means on the elements in said pair, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower order element and the driven means on the higher order element.

Claim 18

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of register drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including motion modifying means, first support means and drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including second support means and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum; means for rotating the driven means on the lowest order drum; transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums for operating the higher order drum only during selected portions of the operation of said lower order drum; and means including a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported by the first and second support means on the drums in said pair, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on the higher order drum.

Claim 19

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of register drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including motion modifying means, first support means and drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including second support means and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum; means for rotating the driven means on the lowest order drum; transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums for operating the higher order drum only during selected portions of the operation of said lower order drum; and means including a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported by the first and second support means on the drums in said pair, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on the higher order drum.

Claim 20

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including first support means and drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including second support means and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum, said support means, drive means and driven means being integrally formed with the corresponding drum; means for rotating the driven means on the lowest order drum; resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums for operating the higher order drum only during selected portions of the operation of the lower order drum; and means including a generally cylindrical guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported by at least one of the support means on the drums in said pair, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on the higher order drum.

Claim 21

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including first support means and drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including second support means and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum, said support means, drive means and driven means being integrally formed with the corresponding drum; means for rotating the driven means on the lowest order drum; resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums for operating the higher order drum only during selected portions of the operation of the lower order drum; and means including a generally cylindrical guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported by at least one of the support means on the drums in said pair, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on the higher order drum.

Claim 22

A transfer counter as defined in claim 12, the first and second support means comprising cylindrical hubs coaxial with said drums, said guide member being supported for rotation about said hubs.

Claim 23

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of register drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including motion modifying means, first support means and drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including second support means and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum; means for rotating the lowest order drum in a given direction; resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums in cooperating relationship with said motion modifying means, each of the transfer means including a transfer arm pivotally supported about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation of the drums, said transfer means rotating said higher order drum only during selected portions of the rotation of the lower order drum; and means including a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported by the first and second support means on the drums in said pair, said transfer arm being slidably connected to said guide member, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on the higher order drum.

Claim 24

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of register drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including motion modifying means, first support means and drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including second support means and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum; means for rotating the lowest order drum in a given direction; resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums in cooperating relationship with said motion modifying means, each of the transfer means including a transfer arm pivotally supported about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation of the drums, said transfer means rotating said higher order drum only during selected portions of the rotation of the lower order drum; and means including a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported by the first and second support means on the drums in said pair, said transfer arm being slidably connected to said guide member, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on the higher order drum.

Claim 25

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing reGister drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including a first hub and drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including a second hub and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum; means for rotating the driven means on the lowest order drum in a given direction; transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums for rotating the higher order drum only during selected portions of the rotation of the lower order drum; and means including a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported for rotation about the first and second hubs on the drums in said pair, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on the higher order drum.

Claim 26

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing reGister drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including a first hub and drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including a second hub and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum; means for rotating the driven means on the lowest order drum in a given direction; transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums for rotating the higher order drum only during selected portions of the rotation of the lower order drum; and means including a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported for rotation about the first and second hubs on the drums in said pair, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on the higher order drum.

Claim 27

A transfer counter as defined in claim 16, which further comprises means for resiliently biasing the transfer means into engagement with said drive means and said driven means.

Claim 28

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including a first hub and a drive pinion on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including a second hub and a driven gear on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum; means for rotating the driven gear on the lowest order drum; resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums, each of the transfer means including a pair of planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lowest order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum, to enable operation of said higher order drum only during selected portions of the operation of said lower order drum; and means including a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported for rotation about the first and second hubs on the drums in said pair, said planetary gears being rotatably carried by said guide member, said guide member maintaining said planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum.

Claim 29

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including a first hub and a drive pinion on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including a second hub and a driven gear on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum; means for rotating the driven gear on the lowest order drum; resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums, each of the transfer means including a pair of planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lowest order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum, to enable operation of said higher order drum only during selected portions of the operation of said lower order drum; and means including a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported for rotation about the first and second hubs on the drums in said pair, said planetary gears being rotatably carried by said guide member, said guide member maintaining said planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum.

Claim 30

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including a first hub and a drive pinion on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including a second hub and a driven gear on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum, said hubs, pinions and gears being integrally formed with the corresponding drum; means for rotating the lowest order drum; resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums, each of the transfer means including integrally formed planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum and including a transfer arm pivotally supported about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation of the drums, to enable operation of said higher order drum only during selected portions of the operation of said lower order drum; and means including a generally cylindrical guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported for rotation about the first and second hubs on the drums in said pair, said planetary gears being rotatably carried adjacent the periphery of said guide member and said transfer arm being slidably connected to said periphery, said guide member maintaining said planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum.

Claim 31

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including a first hub and a drive pinion on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including a second hub and a driven gear on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum, said hubs, pinions and gears being integrally formed with the corresponding drum; means for rotating the lowest order drum; resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums, each of the transfer means including integrally formed planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum and including a transfer arm pivotally supported about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation of the drums, to enable operation of said higher order drum only during selected portions of the operation of said lower order drum; and means including a generally cylindrical guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported for rotation about the first and second hubs on the drums in said pair, said planetary gears being rotatably carried adjacent the periphery of said guide member and said transfer arm being slidably connected to said periphery, said guide member maintaining said planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum.

Claim 32

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing register Drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including a compensating cam, a first hub and a drive pinion on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including a second hub and a driven gear on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum, said cam, hubs, pinions and gears being integrally formed with the corresponding drum; means for rotating the driven gear on the lowest order drum; resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums, each of the transfer means including integrally formed planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum, including a transfer arm pivotally supported about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation of the drums, and including a follower carried by the transfer arm and cooperating with the compensating cam on said lower order drum, to enable operation of said higher order drum only during selected portions of the operation of said lower order drum; and means including a generally cylindrical guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported for rotation about the first and second hubs on the drums in said pair, said planetary gears being rotatably carried adjacent the periphery of said guide member and said transfer arm being slidably connected to said periphery, said guide member maintaining said planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum.

Claim 33

A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearing register Drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums including a compensating cam, a first hub and a drive pinion on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including a second hub and a driven gear on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum, said cam, hubs, pinions and gears being integrally formed with the corresponding drum; means for rotating the driven gear on the lowest order drum; resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums, each of the transfer means including integrally formed planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum, including a transfer arm pivotally supported about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation of the drums, and including a follower carried by the transfer arm and cooperating with the compensating cam on said lower order drum, to enable operation of said higher order drum only during selected portions of the operation of said lower order drum; and means including a generally cylindrical guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported for rotation about the first and second hubs on the drums in said pair, said planetary gears being rotatably carried adjacent the periphery of said guide member and said transfer arm being slidably connected to said periphery, said guide member maintaining said planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum.