Snap action transfer pinion

Claim 2

In a gear having at least two lateral sections, each section having gear teeth around its circumference, an improvement which delays the rotation of the driven section until the driving section has rotated a predetermined amount comprising: a. means for storing energy from the rotational motion of the driving section, b. means for preventing the driven section from rotating, and c. means to release the stored energy when the driving section has rotated a predetermined distance, thereby causing the driven section to rotate.

Claim 3

Aparatus recited in claim 1 wherein resilient means is used for storing the energy from the rotational motion.

Claim 4

Apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein the resilient means comprises a coil spring.

Claim 5

Apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein the coil spring is mounted coaxially with the two gear sections and has one end secured to one lateral section and the other end secured to the other lateral section.

Claim 6

Apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said preventing means and release means comprise: a. a stationary plate having an opening with notches around the opening, coaxially mounted between the two lateral sections, b. a pawl, rotably mounted on the driven lateral section so that it can lodge into a notch on the stationary plate, and c. an arm mounted on the inside of the driving lateral section so that it will disengage the pawl from the notch when the driving lateral section has rotated a predetermined distance.

Claim 7

In a counter having a plurality of counting wheels arranged in ascending order, an improvement which delays the rotation of the higher ordered counting wheel until the next lower ordered wheel has completed essentially one revolution, comprising: means for storing energy from the rotational force that the lower ordered counting wheel exerts on the next higher ordered counting wheel when rotating the next higher ordered counting wheel a predetermined distance for each revolution the lower ordered counting wheel makes, and for releasing the stored rotational force when the lower ordered counting wheel essentially completes a revolution, thereby causing the next higher ordered counting wheel to rotate the predetermined distance.

Claim 8

In a counter having a plurality of counting wheels arranged in ascending order, an improvement which delays the rotation of the higher ordered counting wheel until the next lower ordered wheel has completed essentially one revolution, comprising: means for storing energy from the rotational force that the lower ordered counting wheel exerts on the next higher ordered counting wheel when rotating the next higher ordered counting wheel a predetermined distance for each revolution the lower ordered counting wheel makes, and for releasing the stored rotational force when the lower ordered counting wheel essentially completes a revolution, thereby causing the next higher ordered counting wheel to rotate the predetermined distance.

Claim 9

Apparatus claimed in claim 6, wherein the said means comprises: a. a multi-sectioned transfer pinion having one pinion body section coordinating with the lower ordered counting wheel and a second pinion cap section coordinating with the higher ordered counting wheel, and b. means within the multi-sectioned transfer pinion for delaying the rotation of the cap section until the body section has been rotated a predetermined distance.

Claim 10

In a counter having a plurality of counting wheels arranged in ascending order, rotatably mounted in a co-axial position, having a counting gear affixed to the side of each counting wheel which faces the lower ordered wheel, and having a driving gear and slide ring affixed to the side of each counting wheel, an improvement which delays the rotation of the higher ordered counting wheel until the next lower ordered wheel has completed essentially one revolution, comprising: a transfer pinion having a plurality of sections, comprising: a. a transfer pinion body section having gear-teeth on one side, rotatably mounted so that the gear-teeth cooperate with the driving gear and sliding ring of the lower ordered counting wheel, b. a pinion cap section having gear-teeth on one side, rotatably mounted adjacent to the pinion body, so that the gear-teeth mesh with the counting gear on the next higher ordered counting wheel, c. resilient means inside the transfer pinion body connected to the pinion body and the transfer pinion cap and biased to cause each to rotate in opposite directions until stopping means on each section engage each other, d. means for permitting the pinion cap to rotate when the pinion body has rotated a predetermined distance, and e. means for stopping the rotation of the pinion cap after it has rotated a predetermined distance.

Claim 11

In a counter having a plurality of counting wheels arranged in ascending order, rotatably mounted in a co-axial position, having a counting gear affixed to the side of each counting wheel which faces the lower ordered wheel, and having a driving gear and slide ring affixed to the side of each counting wheel, an improvement which delays the rotation of the higher ordered counting wheel until the next lower ordered wheel has completed essentially one revolution, comprising: a transfer pinion having a plurality of sections, comprising: a. a transfer pinion body section having gear-teeth on one side, rotatably mounted so that the gear-teeth cooperate with the driving gear and sliding ring of the lower ordered counting wheel, b. a pinion cap section having gear-teeth on one side, rotatably mounted adjacent to the pinion body, so that the gear-teeth mesh with the counting gear on the next higher ordered counting wheel, c. resilient means inside the transfer pinion body connected to the pinion body and the transfer pinion cap and biased to cause each to rotate in opposite directions until stopping means on each section engage each other, d. means for permitting the pinion cap to rotate when the pinion body has rotated a predetermined distance, and e. means for stopping the rotation of the pinion cap after it has rotated a predetermined distance.

Claim 12

Apparatus recited in claim 8 wherein the resilient means described in section (c) comprises: a coil spring coaxially mounted inside the pinion body and pinion cap having either end connected to one of the pinion sections.

Claim 13

Apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein said means described in sections (c) and (d) comprise: a. a detent plate, rotatably mounted between the transfer pinion body and the transfer pinion cap, having notches around the inside diameter of the detent plate, b. means for holding the detent plate stationary, c. a pawl rotatably mounted in the pinion cap so as to place the pawl in such a position that the pawl can lodge into the notches on the detent plate, and d. means attached to the transfer pinion body for disengaging the pawl from a notch in the detent plate when the pinion body has rotated a predetermined distance.

Claim 14

Apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein the pinion body has a ''''Z'''' shaped member secured within the pinion body itself so that one end extends transversely into the same plane the detent plate lies in and in close proximity to the pawl.

Claim 15

Apparatus recited in claim 11 having in addition means for permitting ''''Z'''' shaped member to be deflected away from the pawl when the transfer pinion is rotated backwards.