US1880427A - Counting device - Google Patents

Description

E. A. FORD COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22.

Oct. 4, 1932.

1927 8 Sheets-Sheet l an ucmi oz ugene A. Ford E. A. FORIJ Oct. 4, 1932.

COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 amventoz Eugene Ford 575% IS awn mm Oct. 4, 1932. E A, FORD 1,880,427

COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 192 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 mlllillilm Oct. 4, 1932. E. A. FORD 1,380,427

COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 VIIIIIIl/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIfllIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII w ass vwentoz Oct. 4, 1932. FORD 1,880,427

COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 35 (S Elf tome Oct. 4, 1932. E, A FORD 1,880,427

' COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 v 222 I 5- ii? i 2 2- E E 5 2 v hp. 2 f i gvwehtoz Eugene A J 33% h/J G-ttOI/VWHX maw E. A. FORD COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22.

Oct. 4, 1932.

1927 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 mmm I I I I i I 5 I I I I I I I I v I v v 1 I v I I I I I I I T m w Aw m m m um Em h M0 5 Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EUGENE A. FOB-ID, OF SCARSDALE, NEW YORK,-ASSIGNOR TO THE TAIBULATING EA- CHINE COMPANY, OF ENDICOTT, NEW YORK,;A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY oonn'rrne DEVICE Application filed December 22, 1927. Serial No. 241,791.

This case is a continuation in part of applications Serial No. 163,333 filed January 25,

1927 andNo. 234,329 filed November 19, 1927, V

I relating, respectively, to combined card sorting-and counting machines and to combined card sorting and printing counter machines.

' This invention relatesto the counting and printing counter mechanisms per se, which are of general application,

In general, the ob 'ect of this invention is to' provide an improved counting device.

Further, the object of this invention is to provide an improved releasably driven counting mechanism.-

Still further, the object of this invention is to provide printing counter mechanism of improved construction. I I

The objectis also to selectively control "a plurality of banks of counters and to prevent 2Q operation of the control means while the elements are in printing relation.

Another object is also to zeroize the counters by reversing the normal direction of motion of said counters. I

Among other objects, it is aimed to provide novel means for eifecting a transfer operation between counter elements, and to provide means for apprising an attendant of the factthat a-certain counter bank has exceeded 80 its capacity. I

-Var ious other objects and advantages of my invention will be obvious from the follow- 'ing particular description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from 5 an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also constitutes certain new and novel features of construction and combination of partshereinafter set forth an claimed.

In the drawings'are illustrated two embodilnents of the invention, one being a printing counter device and the other a purely i counting device. I i I Fig.1 is a plan view of the printing counter. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. y

Fig. 3 is'a detail section through the paper roll holder of theprinting counter.

Fig.4 is a side section through the printing counter.

Fig. 5 is a sect-ion on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan section of a portion of the printin counter.

I Fig. counter taken through the handle 126 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8-is a unit counter wheel of aprinting counter bank.

Fig. 9 is a highest denominationalj orde-r I Wheel of a printing counter bank. .Fig. 10 is a planviewof a portion of the counting device modification. Fig. 11 is a View of the driving connections for said modificatiomtaken on line 1111 of Fig. 10. I I I Fig. 12 is a section on line 1212 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a detail of a counter wheel of themodification. I

Figf 14 is a section takenon line 147-14 of Fig. 10. I t

Fig. 15 is a circuit diagram of electrical means adapted to control either modification.

.The general operation of both embodiments of this invention will be understood by reference to the circuit diagram, Fig. 15, which hows diagrammatically the combination of record card sorting and counting mechanisms. It is understood, however, that these counting mechanisms are not limited in application to combination with sorting or any other accounting machine but may be used generally as a counting device in relation to'any desired mechanisms. Since the combination forms no part of the present in- Thepbject of a card sorting/ mechanism, in

general, is to sortishe record cards into groups in accordance with the designations usually determined by perforations located in diiferent positions of a selected column or columns of the cards.

In the operation'of the sorting machine, the

brush 41 previously adjusted to read the.de sired card column. When brush 41 encounters a perforation in said card column, it conis a vertical section of the printing record cards (not shown) are fed one at a V time between contact roll .0 and analyzing tacts roll therethrough and establishes 'a.

- in each sorting pocket or it may be desired to count the number of different designations in a column of the cards other than that selected for sorting control The following counting means forming the subject of the present invention may be used for either of said purposes. Should it be desired to count .the number of cards in each sorting pocket,

connection 42 is hooked up by wire 45 to plug board connection 46. Hence when a perfora-f tion is sensed by the brush 41, it establishes a second circuit simultaneously with the sorting circuit, which energizes one of a series of counter magnets 107 selected in accordance with the position of the perforation sensed by thesbrush 41. The energization of said counter magnet operates the counter bank associated therewith to add oneto-the total standing thereon. In this manner, every time a card is sorted into a pocket, it is counted by a counter bankcorresponding to said pocket. :Should it, be desired to count the totals of the various designations in a column of the cards, 'irrespective of the sorting operation, connection' ifl may be omitted and brush 41 will thereupon control onlysthc counting magnets or a second brush 47 may be used and connection 45 omitted. In either case, upon the sensing of a perforation in the 'lyzing brush.

card by an analyz-ingbrush, one circuit 'is established through contacts 48, line 49, magnet 50, and brushes 51 contacting acircuit breaker roll 52.- Energization of magnet attracts its armature 53 to permit contac'ts 48 to open, which occurs before the analyzing brush leaves the perforation in thecard, thereby avoiding sparking of the ana- Contacts 48 are closed again immediately-preceding the succeeding card cycle by anyv convenient means such as a cam, to permit the armature to again latch the contacts till a new perforation is sensed.

Simultaneously with energization of magnet 50, a second circuit-is completed through line -5 through the counter magnet 107 corre-- sponding to the position of the perforation ou the card, the counter commutator segment 55 connected to-s aid magnet, through rotat wheel plate 98 to prevent the latter from moving brush 56 contacting said segment, to a common contact. ring 57 to the brushes 51.

The brush 56;rotates in synchronism with the feed of the cards past the analyzing bruslrso that'when a perforation reaches an analyzing brush. the commutator segment 55 corre-' sponding thereto will be in engagement with the segment wiping brush 56, thereby permit- :ting the circuit to pass only through the magthe counter circuit.

net 107 connected to said segment. Each magnet thus corresponds to a diliereiitindex;

1 responding perforation has passed the analyzing brush.

The circuit breaker roll 52 is' adapted to break the counter circuit during the intervals between successive cardstand the total counter magnet 107' is energized once every card cycle when a brush 58 hits a bare spot59'on roll 52. The reject counter magnet is operated when the rear edge of the card just leaves the analyzing brush, permitting the ma ing brush 'to wipe thebare contact'roll, pro- Vided'none of the other magnets have been energized in the preceding card cycle so as to result in opening contacts 48 which opens It is understood that while the various counter magnets 107 are disclosed in this instance as selectively operated 1 by control means sensing perforated-cards,

that they may be-operated by any other control means to count anything desired such as the number of different operations of a series a of machinesin a shop, each operation controlling a different set of contacts leading selectively to the counting magnets.

The specific manner in which the printing counter embodiment of this invention'operw ates will be understood by reference to Figs. 1 to 9. 1 Amotor (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided to rotate counting printer shaft 86 through worm gears 87. The shaft has a key-way 88 in which are seated keys 89 of friction disks 90. Each printing bank 91 mount-' ed on "the shaft has a set of fourwheels 92 except the total printing bank which has five, although it is obvious that the number of wheels in abank may be varied as desired.

A friction diskis provided on each side of a wheel, compression springs 93, locatedbetween adjacent banks; engaging the outer disks and urging them into frictional engagement .with the sides of the wheels. As the friction disks rotate with the printing counter shaft, they tend to rotate the wheels but are prevented from so doing by pawls 94, the

nose 95 of a pawl engaging the long side 96 of one of the notches 97 in an escapement ing in thedirection of the arrow *(Fig. 8). The plate 98 is rigidly attached to the print ing wheel which is provided with ten type lugs bearing characters 0 to 9 disposed in printing wheel which extends as an annular 37 flange 99 from the side of the wheel. On the inside of the flange areequally spaced apart substantiallyradial of the flange.

latter is in its lower position.

escapement lugs 100, of which one side 101 is I There is a lug 100 corresponding to each. notch 97, which in turn corresponds to a printing lug on the wheel. The nose 95 projects from the side of the pawl and is sufficiently narrow to pass between the top of the lug 100 and the periphery of the escapement plate. The pawl 94 is providedabove the pawl nose with a lug 10.3 coextensive with the sides of the pawl. The escapement plates98 of all but the highest order wheels are formed with a lug 104 extending from the side adjacent the pawl of the next higher order wheel. By means of the cam lugs 104 and 103, a transfer operation is effected when a lower order'wheel moves in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 8) to present its 0 type at the index or printing position. During this movement, cam surface 105 on the lug 104 of a wheel engages the head of lug 103 of the pawl of the next higher order 'wheelland depresses the pawl against the bias of spring 106 causing the pawl nose to disengage notch side 96 to permit the wheel to be moved by the rotating friction disks in the direction of the arrow. The engagement of lugs 104 and 103 is limited to such time as will permit the wheel to move only one step or the distance from notch to notch. Should the pawl not rise soon enough to engage the next notch side 96, due to the lagging action of spring 106, the wheel is prevented from,.moving more than one step by the engagement of the radial side 101 of the next flange lug 100 with-the awl nose while the pawl rises under the influence of the spring 106, it disengages said'lug 100, permitting the wheel to move till the adjacent not-ch side 96 strikes the pawl nose, thus completing the transfer operation.

The action of the holding pawl in permitting the unit wheel of a bank to move one a perforation in the card, a circuit is established in the manner above described which energizes the magnet 107 of the printing bank corresponding to the designation of the perforation. For example, if a perforation counter wheels.

As soon as the pawl nose contacts in its lowered position the next lug 100, from which it is released to engagethe adjacent notch side 96. If the magnet and spring act promptly, the nose moves upwardly before the next lug reaches it and passes over the lug to engage the adjacent notch 97.

In Fig. 9 is shown the highest order printing wheel of a bank, the escapement plate thereof differing from the others in being provided with a lug 104 on the side thereof adjacent its holding pawl. The lug 104 is adapted to contact the right sideof the pawl nose 95 of the pawl when the wheel is turned clockwise stopping the wheel with the space 89 between type Sand 0 in the index or printing position. This is designed to prevent the highest order wheels going from 9 type to 0 type since no transfer is to be efiected by these wheels. If a highest order wheel stop 35 adapted to restrain this reverse motion of the 95 However, during this movement, thehighest order wheel of a bank is stopped with its 0 type in index positon by engagement of the lug 104 thereof with the left side of the pawl nose of'its own holding 100 pawl and each of the remaining wheels of a bank is stopped with its 0 type in index position by a flat surface 109 on its lug 104 engaging the forward edgeof the pawl nose of the pawl of the vnext higher order wheel. 5

Engagement of the surface 109 of a lower order wheel with the adjacent pawl or of the lug 104 of a highest order wheel with its own pawl stops the rotation of these wheels other wheels unil each of them is stopped in 0 position. I i

The following means are provided to effect printing of the figures standing on the wheels. Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 6, the housing 110 is open in the front, the. type lugs from which the impression is to be taken projecting past said opening in index position. A-ribbon 111 extends the length of the opening in the housing directly in front of the type lugs in index position. The left end of the ribbon is attached to a clip 112 on the end of an arm 113 pivoted to the side of the housing. A spring 114 acts on the arm urging the free end thereof away from the housing. the ribbon is attached to the end of another arm 115 pivoted to the housing. The arm is provided with an opening through which a screw 116 passes, the end of the screw con.-

tacting the side of the housing under the in- 13;

but the counter shaft continues to rotate the The other end of 123 fluence of the spring 114 acting on the other end of the ribbon. The screw may be used to adjust the tautness of the ribbon as well asto shift it relatively to the types. Spring strips 117' (Fig. 4) for guiding the ribbon and holding it slightly away from theprinting wheels are fastened to the base of the housing intermediate the counter banks. A flat platen band 118 is fastened at each end to a pin 119 (Fig. 6) carried by the frame plates 120 which are rotatably mounted on a shaft 122 journalled in standards 123 fixed to the base of the printing counter attachment. A beam 124 fastened to plates 120, (Figs. 4, 6

and 7) extends the width of the attachment in a direction parallel to the platen and ribhbn strips. slidably mounted on the beam 124 is a carriage 125 provided with a handle 126 for moving it and a freely rotatable steel roller 127 opposite the handle pressing against the platen strip.

During the counting operation, the frame plates 120 are in the position shown in Fig.

4. After the counting operation is completed;

in order to effect printing, the frame plates 120 are moved to the position shown in Fig. 7 with the plane of the platen band parallel to the plane of the ribbon. By means of handle 126, the carriage 125 is then moved from one'end of the guide bar 124 to the other. For example, if the carriage 125 is at the right as shown in Fig. 2 then it is moved to the left. The operation may be repeated, if desired. In each extreme position of the carriage a spring pressed ball 128 in the handle engages a notch 129 (Figs. 2, 4, and

I 7) to hold the carriage yieldably in position.

During. the motion of carriage 125 on the beam 124, the roller 127- presses the platen strip against the printing lugs on the wheels so that as the roller moves past a printing lug,

it causes the lug to print on a paper positioned betweenthe platen and the ribbon. )Vhen the carriage 125 has moved from one side of the machine to the. other, it has caused all the type lugs in index-position to print on the a paper the totals standing on the counter '3, by a handle 133 so that arcuate portion wheels. 4

The paper is supplied in the form of a roll which is placed in a circular holder (see- Figs. 2 and 3) comprising a lower member 130 having reduced portions at each. end fixed to the side plates 120 of the movable frame and an upper member 131 hinged to the lower member. After the roll is placed in the holder, the latter is kept closed by means of a clamp having an arcua-te portion 132 and a circular portion 132 rotatably mounted on the right hand reduced portion of member 130 (see Fig. 2). )Vhen the holder is open, the arcuate portion 132 of the clamp embraces only member 130 but 'when. the holder is to be kept closed, the clamp is rotatedcounterclockwise as viewed in Fig.

132 embraces part of member 130 and the contiguous part of member 131, the hinge between said members terminating short of the clamp to permit such movement.

freely rotatable on shaft 122. The paper may be severed against the edge of the plate 137. The shaft 141 of rolls 138 is journalled "in arms 142 rockably mounted on the shaft 122. Extensions 143 of the arm have springs 144 fastened thereto, the other end of the springs being attached to rod 136. The springs urge the roll 138 into contact with the paper. The end of the shaft 141 is provided with a knob 145 (Fig. 2) which is used torotate the shaft and the rolls 138 thereon in order to feed the paper past plate 137.

When not in printing position (Fig. 7)

the printing frame is usually in the position shown in Fig. 4. In order to move the frame 120 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that in Fig. 7, the operator grasps the handles'146 at each side' of the frame and swings the frame clockwise on shaft 122. The parts are retained in the. printing position shown in Fig. 7 by means of a spring pressed latching pawl slidably retained in each of the side plates 120 by a pin 151 fixed in the plate acting within a notch 152 of the pawl to limit frame counterclockwise, the latch pawl 150- being forced out of the space between cam 153 and screw 154 and moving along cam 153. The latter has a stop 155-which is adapted to be engaged by the latch150 to hold the frame in position where the plate 135 1112.

be used as a table for writing on the sheet The stop 155 also prevents the abrupt dropping of the frame into thep'osition shown in Fig. 4 under the force of its weight should the operator suddenly release handles 146.

,The operator by exerting afslight additional pressure on the frame forces latch 150 off the stop 155, the frame then taking the position shown in Fig. 4. f

Referring again to Fig.-. 15, the printing counter circuit includes contacts in circuitwith magnets 107-9 to R and contacts 161 in series with the total counter magnet 107. The purpose of these contacts is to prevent energization of the counter magnets and resulting actuation of the printing wheels when the platen frame is in the printing position shown in Fig. 7. 'While counting is being effected, contacts 160 and 161 remain closed and the platen frame is in the position shown in Fig. 4. These contacts are seen to be carried by pairs of spring blades 162 (Fig. 5) on a frame fixed to the under side of the base plate of housing 110. 'One of the blades of each pair is longer than the other. The long blade of contacts 161 has a right angular extension 163 which is in contact with an insulated block 164 attached to the long blade of contacts 160. The block is normally engaged on the side opposite that engaged by extension 163 by the end of an arm 165 of a bell crank 166 pivoted at 167 to the side of the housing 110 (see Figs. 1 and 4). When. it is desiredto print from the wheels, the platen frame is moved from the position shown in Fig. 4'to that shown in Fig. 7. During this movement, the forward edge of plate 137 engages the outer end of bell crank 166, which is in the path of the plate and rocks the bell crank on' its pivot causing the arm 165 thereof to move the long blades of contacts 160 and 161 away from the short blades, thus opening contacts 160 and 161. Energizm tion of'the magnets 107 or 107 is thus made impossible while the platen frame is inprinting position.

It is obvious that in the case of the counter modification to be hereinafter described contacts 160 and 161 are not needed since no printing isefiected in said modification.

Fig. 15 also shows the circuit for driving the printing counter motor and the scheme for reversing the rotation of the motor to efiect zeroizing of the counter wheels in the manner described. When the counter wheels are being rotated in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 8, the motor operating circuit is through the switch 170, the contact block 171,

spring blade 172, contact posts 173, motor field 174, contact posts 175, spring blade 176 and contact block 177. To reverse the motor,

the operator grasps the free end of a lever 17 8 (Figs. 1 and 2) pivoted to the base of the printer attachment and swings the lever to the right moving a link 179 on the other end of the leverto the left, against the force of a spring 180 The link 179 moves spring blades 172 and 17 6 connected by insulated pins to the left out of contact with contact studs 173 and into contact with studs 175 which reverses the direction of the current in the field of the motor, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the motor shaft and the counter wheels. When the operator releases the handle of lever 178, spring 180 returns the blades 172 and 176 to the right to the normal position shown in Fig. 2. In order to prevent accidental reversal of the motor when the printing is being effected, a rod 181 (Figs. 1 and 2) pivoted to the forward end of lever 178 is guided for movement in a hole 182 in standard 123 (see Fig. 2). When the parts are in the printing position (Fig. 7),

the movement of link 181 to the right is limited by contact with the side of the adjacent frame plate 120. The lever 17 8 as a result cannot be moved to the right to shift the motor reversing contacts. WVhen the parts are in non-printing position (Fig. 4) the movement of the link 181 through hole 182 is unrestrained by the member 120, thus permitting zeroizing to be effected.

It is obvious that the reversing means for the counter motor is not limited to the par ticular construction shown, as any equivalent motor reversing means may be employed. The reversing means disclosed herein is "equally well adapted to reverse the rotation ing or other machine designed to control the counter. As in the printing modification, the counting wheels 211 are freely mounted on a continually revolving shaft 212 and are grouped in banks of four except for the total counter which has five wheels. Between adjacent wheels 211 are placed friction disks 213 each of which has a pin'214 extending into the groove 215 of the shaft. Between adjacent banks is mounted a washer 216 against which spider springs 217 and 218 press, forcing the friction disks into tight engagement with the counter wheels. The counter wheel consists of a flanged disk 219 to which is attached an escapement wheel 220. Coacting with each escapement Wheel is a pawl indicated at 221 for the units wheel and at 222 for the remaining wheels. The

pawls are mounted on a rod 223 and spaced by sleeves 224. The units pawl differs in form from the remaining pawls as may be seen by comparing Figs. 12." and 14. The units pawl is actuated by the counter magnet 225 similar to the magnet 1 07 indicated in the circuit diagram (Fig. 15). When armature 226 is attracted, it rocks-pawl 221, withdrawing the upper detent 227 from the wheel which permits the friction discs to rotate the wheel and positioning the lower detent 228 for engaging the next tooth of the wheel. When the armature is released, the pawl returns to its original position, the upper detent thereof engaging the neXt notch, the wheel thus having moved one step. The

wheels in this particular instance have two a '3 the inclined surface 230 of the pawl of the next higher order wheel, rocking the nose '231 of the pawl out of engagement with the tooth it is engaging and permitting the wheel to be frictionally rotated till the next tooth engages the pawl nose.

The-counting modification is driven by a motor (not shown) the motor shaft 232 being provided with a' spiral gear 233 which drives, a shaft 234;.through a spiral gear 235. The upper end of shaft 234 has a worm driving the counter shaft 212. The shaft 234 is journalled' in a bracket 236 pivoted at 237 and biased towards the counter shaft by a spring 238, adjustment being provided by av set screw 239.

In order to zeroize the wheels, the rotation of the counter shaft is reversed as in the printing. counter by reversing the direction of rotation of the motor shaft by means similar to that employed in the printing counter. The reverse rotation of the counter wheels I will continue until one of the faces of lugs 229. of the lower order wheels engages the under side of the pawl of the adjacent higher brder wheelwhich stops the lower order wheel in zero position. The highest order wheel of each counter bank is provided with a pawl to its left which coacts with the lug 229 on said wheel to stop the wheel in zero position, this being the only function of said pawl.

pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the formand details ofthe device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. I intend to beliinited therefore only as indicated by the scope of the following claims:

elements, and an escapement element opposite said escape wheel coacting with the same detent for limiting the movement of said counter element to said predetermined amount.

2. In a counting device including a shaft and counter elements associated therewith, an escapement mechanism comprising an escape wheel mounted on the counter element and a detent coacting therewith, means for :nor-

mally holding said elements against rotation, an electromagnetic means for releasing said escapement detent to permit a predetermined movement only of said elements to effect a counting operation, and an escapement element fixed to the counter element and surrounding the escape'wheel coacting with said detent for limiting the movement of the counter element to said predetermined amount.

3. In an accumulator device including a shaft, a counter element, a friction disk associated with said counter element and mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith and means for resiliently forcing said disk and counter element together to furnish a friction drive for, the latter, an escapement mechanism including anescape wheel associated with the counter element, adetent coacting therewith, anelectromagnet for releasing the detent to permit predetermined movement of the position. While I have shown and described and' 5. A counting device including a printing counter element, electrically operated devices including an actuating circuit for. releasably driving said element, means for effecting printing by said element,and means operated by the. printing means for automatically breaking said circuit preventing undesir able movement of said element while printing is" being effected. v

6. A counting device including printing 'counter elements, means for moving said elements step-by-step to effect counting, and

.mechanism for effecting printing by said elements, said mechanism, normally occup ing an idle position while counting is being e ected, means for releasably retaining said mechanism in printing position when moved thereto from its idle position, said mechanism being movable after it has been'nioved ,to printing .7. A counting and printing device including a pluralitybf rotatable printing counter banks, said banks being operated step by step for effecting countingoperationsand mounted so as to be incapable-of movement from the'position to which they are s'ooperatetl until again operated, means movable toward;

,said bank for printingfrom said banks, and

means for preventing said banks from be'ing 'operated step by step while printing.

8. A counting device including counter elements, each element having a toothed wheel,

position to effect printing from said elements.

a pawl having a pawl nose cooperating with the teeth on each wheel to restrain movement thereof, means for actuating said pawl to release the pawl nose from its coacting wheel and permit movement thereof, and means other than said teeth coacting with the same pawl nose for limiting the movement of the released counter element.

9. A counter including counter elements,

escapement mechanism fixed to each counter element and including opposed escape wheels,

a detent coacting with each wheel, one of said wheels coacting with said detent to normally prevent rotation of the associated counter element with the shaft,-and the other of said wheels coact-ing with said detent to limit rotation of said counter wheel to a fixed, invariable, predetermined amount.

10. A counting and printing device including a plurality of printer wheels comprising an item counter, said wheels being operated step by step for effecting counting operations, means for retaining said wheels in theposition to which they are operated, means movable towards said wheels for taking a printed impression of the item numbers standing thereon, and means for autolnatically preventing step by step movement of said Wheels while the printing impression is being taken therefrom.

11. A counting device including printing counter elements, means for moving said elements step by step'to effect item counting, mechanism for effecting printing by said elements, said mechanism comprising a frame normally occupying an idle position while counting is being effected, a platen band carried by said frame, means for moving said frame into printing position with said band opposite the counter elements, means for holding said frame in printing position, and a movable printing roller adapted to impress the band against said counter elements to effect a printing impression.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my sig nature.

EUGENE A. FORD.

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