Patent GB-288692-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for measuring production
Filed: 1927-01-08
Abstract: 288,692. Jackson, L. Mellersh-, (Electric Production Appliance Corporation). Jan. 8, 1927. Counters actuated by independent agency.-An apparatus for registering and recording the production of shop machines comprises a time registering mechanism, means for recording the productive and non-productive times, and a control element adapted to interrupt the time register whenever the operation of the machine exceeds a predetermined time limit. The time registers and control elements are formed as units one for each machine, arranged under a glass window in a frame 28, Fig. 1, and in front of the recording mechanism 23 and recording chart 15. The chart is formed as an endless band passing over rollers driven by a chain 29 and sprocket 30, the shaft 35 being operatively connected to the main operating shaft 19 by gearing so as to drive the chart at such a rate as to indicate the time. Time and control units. Each unit as shown in Figs. 3, 5, 8 and 9 comprises a worm wheel 61 in gear with a worm 60 on a spindle 53 having a worm wheel 52 adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the main operating shaft 19. A sleeve 54 surrounds the spindle 53 and is secured to an arm 55 pivoted at 56 to the casing. The worm wheel 61 is rotatable upon a, central sleeve 62 and has rigid therewith a disc 64 with crown ratchet teeth 65 and an eccentric boss 74 with which engages the forked end of an arm 76 pivoted on a shaft 77. The arm 76 carries a pair of pawls 83 connected by a tie member 85, Fig. 5, and adapted to actuate the ratchet wheels 81, 82, of the time indicating drums 72, 73 transfer from the minutes drum to the hours drum being effected by mechanism of the deep notch type. Manipulation of the drums effects their return to zero, the drums being arrested in the zero position by pins 89, 90 thereon engaging the ends of hooked members 91 moved to operative position by a finger piece 93. The control mechanism, which interrupts the operation of the time drums and the recording mechanism, comprises a cam member 117 mounted on a disc 118 having a central bearing sleeve 119 and carrying by means of a flexible strip 123 a diametrically disposed arm 122 provided at its free end with teeth 126 adapted to coact with the teeth 65 of the disc 64. A coiled spring 143 attached at one end to the sleeve of the disc 64 is connected at its opposite end to the disc 118. During the rotation of the disc 118 the cam 117 is adapted to engage the bent end 127 of an extension of the arm 55 and to rock it to disengage the worm drive 19, 52 if the machine is not producing efficiently. The initial position of the disc 118 is adjustable by means of an indicator disc 128 provided with a stop pin 129 coacting with the arm 122, the setting being such as to allow a movement of the disc proportionally to the time required to perform an operation plus a period for legitimate idle time. If the machine is working efficiently a switch 21, Fig. 13, at the machine controls an electromagnet 20, the armature being attracted periodically so as to displace an axially disposed pin 141 in the sleeve 119 to disconnect the teeth 65, 126 to permit the disc 118 to return to initial position before the cam 117 reaches the bent end of the arm 55 so that the drive is not disconnected. If through failure of the operator the operation is not completed in the predetermined interval the drive as stated is disconnected. At the same time a spherical surface 68 on the spindle 53 depresses a pin 67 against the action of a spring 66 to open the contacts 22 controlling the recording magnet 23, whereby the recording pen is returned to normal position. To prevent the interrupting mechanism being rendered inoperative through the magnet 20 remaining energized by the operation of the switch 21 at the moment when the machine stops a finger 146 pivoted between its ends on the arm 122 normally rests with its inner end interposed between the arm 122 and the axial pin 141. The outer end of the finger 146 is offset to engage the stop pin 129 so that on contact therewith the finger is swung out from between the pin 141 and arm 122. This arrangement is such that the finger must be in its normal position for the pin 141 to disengage the connection 65, 126; the machine on starting again will deenergize the magnet 20. The connection 65, 126 may be broken at will by providing an aperture 149 in the back plate to gain access to the pin 141. Operating mechanism. The main shaft 19 is connected through a spring coupling 99 to the shaft of a constant speed motor controlled by means of a governor as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, comprising a disc 100 carrying bell-crank levers 101 with centrifugal masses 103, the inner ends of the levers bearing on a pin 102 in alignment with the motor shaft. The pin 102 is adapted in its axial movement to operate a movable switch contact arm 105 against the action of an adjustable spring 107 to control the circuit of an electromagnet 111, the armature of which coacts with contacts 113, 114. If the speed of the motor exceeds a predetermined rate the pin 102 breaks the circuit of the electromagnet 111, opens the contacts 113, 114 and interposes a resistance 116 in the conductor 115. A copper sleeve 111<a> around the magnet 111 serves to retard the opening of the switch 113, 114 and to prevent arcing at the contacts. Totals register. A counter 24 of ordinary construction is provided to register the total number of operations performed and receives actuation from a constantly rotating shaft 26 adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement therewith by means of an electromagnet 25 under the control of the machine switch 21.