System for collecting data

A system for collecting data, which comprises

• counter holder means,
• a plurality of counters, which are removably held by said counter holder means at predetermined locations, each of said counters being adapted to perform incremental and decremental counting operations,
• a program timer operable to produce first and second control signals in alternation in accordance with a predetermined time schedule,
• drive means carried by said counter holder means and comprising drive output means and operable under control of said program timer to rotate said drive output means in a decremental sense when said control timer produces said first control signal and in an incremental sense when said control produces said second control signal,
• a plurality of clutch means carried by said counter holder means and connected to said drive output means and associated each with one of said counters, each of said clutch means being adapted to assume a first state for driving the associated counter in an incremental sense and a second state for driving the associated counter in a decremental sense,
• a plurality of code detectors, each of which is associated with one of said counters and comprises code detector elements and is adapted to receive an identification code carrier in a predetermined position and to assume a first state in response to an insertion of a mating identification code carrier having code elements, which represent the same code as said code detector elements, and a second state in response to the removal of such mating identification code carrier, and
• a plurality of clutch-shifting means, which are carried by said counter holder means and associated with respective ones of said clutch means and of said code detectors and adapted to cause the associated clutch means to assume said first and second states in response to the first and second states, respectively, of the associated code detector.