This section provides overview, applications, and principles of counters. Also, please take a look at the list of 83 counter manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
A counter is a counting device, tool, or part.
When counting, a small number can be easily counted and memorized, but when the number becomes large, it becomes difficult to do so by memory alone. For this reason, a counter is a device that counts numbers correctly on behalf of humans.
Counters used by people to remember numbers are called counters. Counters are used to count the number of cars passing by in traffic surveys, for example. Currently, it is possible to replace counters with smartphone applications.
Some counters are incorporated into industrial equipment as electrical components. They are called digital counters and are mainly used inside control panels at production sites. digital counters can be used to measure automation when the same operation is performed multiple times in one batch.
Digital counters include preset counters and counters.
A control signal is an output when the count reaches a preset value.
Standard input signals are pulse signals and contact open/close signals. Digital signals such as contact outputs or transistor outputs are used as output signals.
When the output of the counter is to be stopped, a reset process is performed. Reset processing can be done with a pushbutton or by short-circuiting the reset terminal.
Many preset counters require an auxiliary power supply to supply electricity to the counter itself. Auxiliary power supplies can be purchased in AC or DC power supplies of your choice.
This counter has only the function of displaying the count value. It counts contact and pulse inputs and displays the count value on an output screen.
The counter can also be reset to zero. Reset processing is performed with the pushbutton or resets terminal as with the preset counters.
Many counters are also available with a built-in battery, eliminating the need for an auxiliary power supply. In addition to the above, there are also time counters that measure the duration of contact output.
There are also addition counters that increase in count value with each signal input and subtraction counters that decrease in count value. Since there are many types of counters and their specifications vary, it is necessary to select the right counter for the right application.
In the case of a counter, a human-powered pushbutton turns a character wheel to produce an output. The internal circuit only uses gears to drive the character wheel, and the reset button also manually returns the character wheel to 0.
Digital counters are divided into three parts: the display part for displaying the count value, the internal circuit for receiving and operating input signals, and the operation part for resetting or presetting the value.
Input signals are sent to the counter in various ways, including input by pushbuttons and digital input using sensors. Digital counters are generally input by contact. A pushbutton with a contact can be used to convert the input to a pushbutton input.
The internal circuitry always holds the current value. The initial value is generally 0 but can be set arbitrarily. Upon receiving an input signal, the counter's internal circuitry displays the current value plus one on display.
When a preset counter is used, the output signal can be sent out by performing a preset. The preset value is compared with the current value, and if it is equal to the set value, an output signal is an output.
When the operation is completed, the counter enters a state waiting for an input signal and prepares for the next process. By repeating these series of operations, the counter counts the number of digits and continues to display the number of digits on display.
The display section can be a character wheel or digital. Most character wheel displays are called electromagnetic counters, which use electromagnets to turn the character wheel. Electromagnetic counters have the advantage of maintaining the display even without a power source.
In recent years, counters with digital displays are also widely used. Digital displays require a power supply, but those that emit light have the advantage of being easy to see in the dark.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Ranking as of January 2023 Globally
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Line Seiki | 16.7% |
2 | Pixsys | 11.1% |
3 | K?bler | 11.1% |
4 | Hengstler | 11.1% |
5 | Trumeter | 11.1% |
6 | Controls Warehouse | 5.6% |
7 | ENM Company | 5.6% |
8 | MIDSCI | 5.6% |
9 | Carlo Gavazzi Automation | 5.6% |
10 | OMRON Industrial Automation | 5.6% |
11 | Crouzet | 5.6% |
12 | Koyo Electronic Industries | 5.6% |
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the counter page as of January 2023. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
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