Patent GB-190406543-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Workmen's Time Recorders.
Inventor: DEY ALEXANDER
Filed: 1904-03-17
Granted: 1904-05-12
Abstract: 6543. Dey, A., and Dey, J. March 17. Time-checking apparatus for workmen. A workmen's time-recorder, Fig. 3, has a vertical slot 2 to receive a card to a variable depth depending on the day of the week, a handle on a shaft 24 which is then rocked to operate the mechanism, two guides which shift the card transversely in the slot 2 to either of several positions for different parts of the day, and a platen 26 which then presses the card against the front figures on three type-wheels 8, 11, 20, to print the minute, hour, and day number, respectively. The printing-wheels are on vertical axles, and are arranged to print the data longitudinally on the card, each column cross-wise of which serves for one day, commencing with Monday at the right hand end of the card ; other data are written on the left half. Each card is kept in a thin flat metal case, having longitudinal slots to receive the type, and an opening showing a number. The depth stop in the slot 2 is either of several pins projecting from a vertical shaft 30, which is turned a seventh of a revolution each day by a star-wheel 35 being engaged by a tooth 32 on a revolving shaft 33 ; this is geared to the shaft 5 of a clock, turning once an hour. The star-wheel 35 engages a roller carried by a spring 36, as shown in plan in Fig. 5, and, in order to prevent any movement of the shaft 30 except that given by the tooth 32, the star-wheel engages a notched block 38 carried by a flat spring 37, a projection on which is engaged by the tooth 32 as it passes, to lift the block 38 above the plane of the wheel when the tooth 32 has come into gear with the wheel. The flat spring 37 may be replaced by a spring-pressed pivoted piece. The card is adjusted transversely by guides 53, 54, shown in plan in Fig. 9, respectively connected by sliding rods 52, 55 to angular levers 51, 56 on a fulcrum 50. Normally the guides 53, 54 are widely separated by slotted links 58 connecting the levers 51, 56 to arms on the shaft 24, which is acted on by a strong spring. When the shaft 24 is rocked by its handle, the levers 51, 56 are freed by the links 58, and the guide 54 is moved along the slot by a spring 48 turning the lever 56 until an arm of this is stopped by either of several pins on a shaft 43 ; the guide 53 is also moved towards the guide 54 by a spring 60 connecting the levers together. The shaft 43 may be turned periodically by a star-wheel on it being engaged by teeth of a wheel 40 on the shaft 33, Fig. 3, or the shaft 43 may be set by hand, being connected by bevel gear to a handle movable round an inclined dial ; the handle is connected to the bevel gear by disconnectible couplings and a flexible shaft, to permit removal of the part of the casing of the recorder carrying the dial. The platen 26, Fig. 3, is on a lever connected by a spring to an arm of the rock-shaft 24. The minute wheel 8 is carried on the clock shaft 5, and the hour wheel 11 is geared directly to it. Independent turning of the hour wheel is prevented by teeth engaging a detent-lever, which is normally held stationary by a cam on the minute wheel. The day wheel 20 is turned by a tooth on the axle of the hour wheel ; gear such as is shown in Fig. 5 may be used. The invention is partly applicable to recorders marking on drums or other surfaces.