Patent GB-685450-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for continuously recording the performance of mechanical operations
IPC: G07C1/08
Filed: 1949-06-10
Abstract: 685,450. Recording-apparatus. FORRELLAD, J. T. June 10, 1949 [June 12, 1948 ; Oct. 30, 1948; Dec. 16, 1948; March 31, 1949], Nos. 15580/49, 15581/49, 15582/49 and 15583/49. Class 106 (iv). Apparatus for automatically recording the performance of at least two mechanical operations comprises means for displacing a recording band at substantially constant speed, means for recording time marks in response to signal impulses from a master clock, at least two detector devices responsive respectively to the different mechanical operations and operating respectively to produce signal impulses to energize hammer-actuating electromagnets for printing series of work-indicating marks and operating at least two luminous indicating means corresponding to each mechanical operation. A pilot lamp 16, Fig. 4, lights while a switch 18 is closed during the working of a machine and a work control lamp 17 lights when the switch 18 and a detector switch 19 are closed when electromagnet 4 is also energized and actuates a hammer 6, Fig. 2, causing printing through an ink ribbon 14 on a record band 3 drawn from a drum c by friction rollers driven through a chain of gears from a source of energy, preferably an electric motor. The ink ribbon is drawn from one spool to another, the spools being rotated by the main drive of the apparatus through mechanism including a ratchet-wheel for intermittent motion. Reversing means are provided which may be mechanical or may comprise two electromagnets coupled through levers to an axle carrying bevel pinions at its ends for engaging alternately further pinions for driving the spools. The record band may be visible for some time before passing to a storage roll. The printing hammers, electromagnets and connections may be enclosed in boxes with the lamps arranged on the covers in the order of the corresponding machines in the workshop. A plurality of records may be made side-by-side on one record band through a single ink ribbon by groups of printing hammers, the number in each group corresponding to a number of partial movements in an operation and the number of groups to the number of operations or machines. The speed of the record band may be adjusted to suit the frequency of the movements so that the record will be clear and each hammer may bear a different character. From the record the time and rhythm of the work may be studied and the records may be utilized in controlling operations, e.g. the time of immersion of an object in a chemical solution or'the time in a source of heat as, e.g., in a press moulding cycle. Time graduations. Electric contacts arranged in a clock R, Fig. 5, supply current from line L at regular intervals, e.g. every five minutes, while the machine is working, to electromagnet 4 which through its armature and levers 20 displaces a member 21. The shaped end of the member 21 engages a button 22 on a lever 5 pivoted at 23 and biased by a spring 24. At its free end the lever 5 carries an axle 25 common to two wheels bearing on their peripheries characters respectively for intervals of 5 minutes and for hours. A ratchet-wheel 27 rotates with the 5 minute wheel which is formed on one face with twelve hemi-spherical recesses into which a spring-pressed ball, carried by a rod 30 mounted on the lever 5, can penetrate for registering purposes. A pawl 33 pivoted at 34 and urged by a spring 35 engages the teeth of the wheel 27 to a depth determined by a cam 36. When the electromagnet 4 is energized every five minutes it causes the two wheels to print and when de-energized the return movement causes the pawl 33 to advance the fiveminute wheel a twelfth of a revolution. When the five-minute wheel has made a complete revolution the hour wheel is advanced a twelfth to bring the next hour character into printing position. In an alternative embodiment, Figs. 6a, 6b, additional " minute " marks are recorded between the hourly and five-minute impressions by a stylus 6 on a lever 5<SP>1</SP> controlled by an electromagnet 4<SP>1</SP> excited every minute and independent electromagnets 4i, 4d control levers 5i, 5d to advance the five-minute and hour wheels respectively. To either embodiment a supplementary device may be added for maintaining during machine idle time the correct relation between the clock and time type wheels. The device employs another electromagnet excited, e.g., from the mains, from dry cells, or from accumulators.