Multiple delivery device counter and counting method
AssigneeTeleflex Medical Incorporated
InventorsCurtis THORNTON, Lynn J. Willett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A counter mechanism includes: a counter housing including a shaft and a hole; a first set of cam teeth located in the hole; a striker located in the hole and configured to move axially with respect to the hole having a second set of cam teeth; a counter wheel hub having a third set of cam teeth configured to communicate with both the first and second set of cam teeth, the counter wheel hub also having an actuator; and a counter wheel having an actuation feature configured to communicate with the actuator to cause the counter wheel to rotate when the counter wheel hub rotates. A method for counting dispensed items may also be described.
Claims20
A counter mechanism comprising:
- a counter housing including a shaft and a hole;
- a first set of cam teeth located in the hole;
- a striker located in the hole and configured to move axially with respect to the hole having a second set of cam teeth;
- a counter wheel hub having a third set of cam teeth configured to communicate with both the first and second set of cam teeth, the counter wheel hub also having an actuator;
- and
- a counter wheel having an actuation feature configured to communicate with the actuator to cause the counter wheel to rotate when the counter wheel hub rotates.
A method for counting dispensed items comprising:
- engaging a first set of cam teeth and a second set of cam teeth with a third set of cam teeth;
- moving a striker axially through a hole in the counter housing to disengage the third set of cam teeth from the first set of cam teeth;
- rotating a wheel hub until the third set of cam teeth come to rest in a notch in the second set of cam teeth;
- and
- rotating a counter wheel when the counter wheel hub rotates.
A counter mechanism comprising:
- a counter housing including a shaft and a hole;
- a first means for engaging located in the hole;
- a striker located in the hole and configured to move axially with respect to the hole having a second means for engaging;
- and
- a counter wheel hub having a third means for engaging configured to communicate with both the first and second means for engaging.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.