Counter for ticket-like items

Abstract

A counting slide, with a counting aperture formed therethrough to the configuration of the items to be counted and to a height corresponding to the height of a stack containing the desired number of such items, is disposed in a counting block for reciprocating movement between a receiving position, in alignment with an access aperture formed through a top plate of the block and disposed beneath a supply magazine, and a discharge position, removed therefrom to permit the items so counted to exit the counting block by an exit aperture formed through a bottom plate of such block. The access and exit apertures are not aligned and are formed to the same configuration as the items to be counted. A longitudinal recess in the surface of slide beneath said top plate coacts with a stop block that extends downwardly from beneath said top plate to inhibit the bottom-most item from being dragged from beneath the stack as the slide is returning to its receiving position. A bevel cut is formed in the face wall of said access aperture to facilitate movement of the top-most item on the stack being counted, from beneath the supply stack. An air operated piston actuates the counting slide. A change in count is effected by changing counting blocks to one with a counting aperture of a height corresponding to the height of the number of items in the count. The magazine is disposed for selected vertical adjustment with respect to the counting block.