Patent GB-616519-A (GB)
Abstract: 616,519. Time recorders for workmen. NILSON, C. E. J. May 13, 1943, No. 7651. Convention date, May 15, 1942. [Class 106 (iv)] A time-recording apparatus for workmen comprises a plurality of individual counters, each adapted to accumulate a total of time recorded and a common printing or stamping device adapted to be coupled selectively to the individual counters for the purpose of receiving the totals therefrom and printing or stamping indications of said totals. The counters receive time impulses from a built-in clock mechanism or electrically from a master clock or motor and each counter may, independently of the others, be switched on and off at the commencement and conclusion of the work by the workman inserting a key or his time-recording card or operating a switch lever. As shown in Fig. 3, each counter includes a ratchet wheel 6 which can be operated by a pawl 9 pivoted to a reciprocatory strip 7 by which the time impulses are imparted to the counters, the switching on and off being effected by the insertion and removal of a key 10; the insertion of this key actuates a segment 11 rigidly connected to a notched disc 13 which may be engaged by a projection on a pivoted arm 15 pressed against the disc by a spring 17. The pawl 9 has an arm 21 which, on the upward movement of the strip 7, engages a hook 20 on the arm 15 to set, as shown in the upper parts of Fig. 3, the pawl 9 in position to engage the wheel 6 and so transmit the time impulses to the counter. On removal of the key 10 the disc 13 is actuated turning the arm 15 downwardly so that a hook 23 thereon moves the pawl 9 out of engagement with the wheel 6 and so terminates the transmission of the time impulses. In a modification, operation of a switch lever is substituted for the insertion and removal of the key 10. To prevent time impulses being fed to the counter outside normal working hours, there is provided a strip 61 carrying, for each counter, a catch 63 adapted, when the strip 61 is moved downwardly at the end of the regular working time, to engage the arm 15 and so disengage the pawl 9. In order that time impulses shall continue to be transmitted to the counter of a man doing overtime, an additional key 66, Fig. 3, is inserted, this serving to push back the catch 63. Means are provided to ensure that, should a workman not remove his key at the end of normal working hours, his counter is disconnected, these means comprising an arm 72 rigidly connected to the disc 13 and adapted for engagement by an arm 68 on a bar 67 which is kept depressed during non-working time and ensures that the disc 13 is set in the " out " position and the segments 11 actuated to push out the key 10. Disconnection of a counter in which an overtime key 66 has been inserted is prevented by the engagement of the key with a projection 73 on the segment 11. Figs. 1, 7 show an arrangement in which the switching on and off of the counter is effected by insertion in a funnel 30 of the workman's perforated time-recording card 28, the perforations 29 being engaged by the arms of a star-wheel 31 the rotation of which is transmitted through a link 36 to stepped segments 37. Behind each vertical row of counters is a shaft 44 fitted with arms 45 which are angularly displaced so that, on upward movement of the shaft against spring 102, only one can engage a counter at any one time, each shaft 44 carrying fast and loose gears 46, 47 engaging racks 53, 54. To each loose gear 47 is secured an arm 49, the relative arrangement being such that on simultaneous turning of the gears, only one arm 49 at any one time can engage prongs 51 on a pivoted lever 50 serving to raise the shaft 44. The setting of the segments 37 effected by insertion of the card 28 serves by co-operation with the racks 53, 54 to effect the necessary rotation of the shaft 44 to bring an arm 45 into position to actuate the appropriate counter. In this form of the invention also, an arrangement is described to ensure that should a workman omit to " clock out " at the end of a working period, his counter is automatically set to the " out " position. The stamping device consists of a group of type wheels 90, Fig. 1, of the same number as the type wheels of the individual counters and provided on half their circumference with type 91 and on the other half with gear teeth 92 which serve to connect the wheels through rack 93 and double gear segments 94 to racks 87. When the sum in a counter is to be transmitted to the recorder, the appropriate rack 87 is geared to the counter either by the manual operation of a pushbutton or key or automatically by the insertion of a record card in the funnel 30, the sum being recorded on the card by a hammer 95 which presses the card against the type wheels. Constructions are described in detail for effecting the transmission of the sum in a counter to the recorder both by manual opera,- tion of a push-button and automatically by the insertion of a record card in the funnel 30, this latter operation starting up an electric driving motor at the same time as the register shaft which is to be set in operation is connected, whereupon the sum in the counter is transmitted to the recorder, the counter is set in zero position and its sum total stamped on the card. The stamping devise may be arranged to record the calendar time in addition to the sum total of the counter.