Patent GB-190323856-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Time Recording Stamps.
Inventor: THOMPSON WILLIAM PHILLIPS
Filed: 1903-11-03
Granted: 1904-05-19
Abstract: 23,856. Thompson, W. P., [Wilson, J. C.]. Nov. 3. Time-checking apparatus.-Relates to stamps for printing the date and time and for recording the time which elapses between successive impressions, especially applicable for use with telephones for recording the exact times a conversation begins and ends and indicating the interval. The apparatus comprises a case A, carrying the clock train C, the printing-dies and the ink ribbon E<2>, and attached by screws to a base B carrying the impression mechanism. The clock train C is of usual form having a dial C' and hour, minute, and seconds hands c<1>, c<2>, c<3> visible through a glass in the hinged bezel D. To the bottom of the case A is fixed a bed-plate F, on the under surface of which is a fixed annular printing-surface G for printing the representation of the clock dial, Figs. 19 and 20. The arrow head or pointer I<3>, Fig. 7, for printing the indication of the hour, is, on a ring or flange formed on a disc I, having a tubular stem by which it is connected to the disc I<7>, attached by a sleeve to the hour-wheel of the clock. The minute printing and recording device J consists of a disc J<1>, Fig. 9, having a stem with spring projections J<6>, J<7> which grip the prism-shaped projection J<8> of the minute arbor of the clock. On the face of the disc J<1> are relief parts J', J<4>, for printing the representation of the minute-hand j, Figs. 19 and 20, and a segmental series of graduations J<1> extending from such hand j, and spaced into minute and five-minute divisions. The device M for printing the seconds-indicating hand is connected by a spiral spring m<5> with the seconds shaft of the clock train. The relief part for printing the seconds-hand is of lower relief at its inner part, so that the outer end only of the hand may be printed, or its full length may be printed as described later. The device for printing the a or p of the a.m. or p.m. comprises a rotary piece K bearing on its end the characters a, p in relief. The inner character only is in range of the platen carrier Q, and only this character is printed, a rotation of the piece K through 180‹ serving to change from a to p, or vice versÔ. This semi-rotation is imparted by a ratchet and cambarrel arrangement, operated from the hour-wheel of the clock. The ratchet is fed one step every hour, winding a spring, and after every twelve hours it operates one of two stop pawls to permit the part K to rotate 180‹ until stopped by the other stop pawl. The date is printed by types placed in a dovetail groove in a holder H<1>, removably held in a dovetail groove in the bed-plate F. In the case A are formed chambers E, E' for spools of inking-ribbon E<2>, which passes around guides, and under the printing-surfaces, but free from contact with the latter. The spool-shafts are removably mounted by means of discs at one end engaging recesses in the case A at the ends of the chambers E, E', and held in place by springs which serve to put tension on the ribbon. The spool E<3> is provided with a hand-wheel for rotating it to wind up the ribbon, and the other spool E<4> is fed by a ratchet-wheel operated by a pawl at each downward movement of the platen-carrier Q after an impression. The base-plate is formed with an opening O, and with four curved arms O<1>, O<2>, &c. carrying a tubular guide O<6> for the stem Q' of the platen-carrier Q. The platen Q<1> is fixed in a rectangular recess in the carrier Q. The stem Q' is operated to raise the platen and make an impression by the end of a hand-lever P, pivoted at O<10 >in lugs fixed on or forming part of the guide O<6>. The end of the lever P is slotted to receive a campiece S, pivoted on the pivot shaft O<10>, and engaging a piece T, movable vertically in a slot in the lower end of the stem Q<2> against the pressure of a spring t. A projection T<2> on the piece T engages under the end of a plunger P<2>, mounted to slide vertically in a guide O<7> and pressed downwardly by a spring t<4>. The platen-carrier is moved down by a spring q<14>. On the hand-lever P is pivoted at p a lever P', the end p<3> of which normally clears the shoulder s on the piece S, but, when the lever P' is operated by depressing a button p<5>, it engages and operates the piece S when the lever P is depressed, so that both the platen carrier and the plunger P' are raised. The upper end of the plunger p<2> is opposite the central part of the seconds-hand-printing-device M. Guides are provided on the platen-carrier by which the card to receive the impression may be placed and held in exactly the same position for successive impressions. A first impression is taken at the commencement of a certain period of time to be recorded, as shown by Fig. 19, by depressing the lever P, without operating the button p<5>, so that the end only of the seconds indicator is printed. On taking the second impression on the same card, shown by Fig. 20, the button p<5> is operated with the lever P, so that a complete impression of the time and of the whole of the seconds indicator is made. The interval between the impressions of the hand j, and the extent of superimposition of the imprints of the index j<1>, indicate the lapse of minutes between the two impressions, Fig. 20, while the lapse of the additional seconds is indicated by the interval between the imprints of the seconds indicator. As shown in Fig. 20, the interval of time indicated is 3 minutes 36 seconds.