COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

Description

G06M encompasses mechanical and electromechanical counting devices and systems for tallying discrete objects or events, excluding counting mechanisms integrated into larger computing or specialized apparatus covered elsewhere in G06. This subclass includes odometers, tally counters, revolution counters, and similar instruments that perform incremental counting through mechanical, electromagnetic, or simple electromechanical means. The classification applies to the mechanisms themselves—such as gear trains, escapements, and display systems—rather than to the broader computational devices or digital systems classified under other G06 subclasses.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass G06M recorded 11,112 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 597 in 2013 to 1,049 in 2023 (+76%), peaking at 1,602 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class G06 are SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (66,669 applications), IBM (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION) (62,313 applications) and MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING (41,918 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Counting in machines for making cigarettes Counting in machines for shaping metal without removing material Counting in printing machines or presses Counting in office copying machines Counting of axles of rail vehicles Counting in packaging machines Entry or exit registers