Mechanism for Checking the Time Worked by Employées in Factories and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1889-Accepted, 20th July, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Mechanism for Checking the Time Worked by Employées in Factories
and the like.
We JOHN LEBER and JOHN HENRY LEBER of 157 Goswell Road, Clerkenwell,
London, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of our Invention is to check or indicate the arrival of workmen and
others employed in factories and like places. It comprises an apparatus in which slots
are opened and closed at the required time to enable the workinen or employees on
their arrival to deposit cheques or tickets therein, said cheques or tickets being
received in drawers or receptacles corresponding to the time at which they arrive at the
place of employment, thereby enabling the employer to ascertain with accuracy the
total time worked.
In the accompanying drawings Figures 1 and 2 represent front elevational and
plan views respectively of a machine in accordance with our Invention; Figures 3
and 4 are side and front elevational views of the actuating mechanism; Figure 5 is a
plan of a horizontal slide working in the upper portion of the case of the machine
through which the tickets or cheques are inserted; Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of
a portion of the exterior casing, horizontal slide and indicators hereinafter described,
and Figure 7 a sectional plan of a portion of the case of the machine showing the
arrangement which we adopt for audibly announcing when a cheque or ticket is
deposited therein.
The apparatus as shown complete in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a containing case
or box A having a clock superposed thereon. In the slots a, a, a, a provided in the
top of the casing the cheques or tickets are inserted falling into the drawers or
receptacles B. Indicators are caused to appear at one of the openings b, b, b, b, in the
front of the casing corresponding to the slot which is open. The mechanism for
periodically closing the slots is shown at Figures 3 and 4. A toothed wheel C is fixed
to the arbour of the hour hand of the clock revolving once in twelve hours. Said
toothed wheel is geared through an intermediate wheel'd to the toothed wheel D which
latter is provided with, for example, twice the number of teeth of C and consequently
one revolution of same takes place every twenty four hours. A slide F, hiving a
longitudinal slot or opening e, is free to slide vertically upon supports adapted
to the front plate E of the clock, and is caused to ascend and descend by a con-
necting rod g attached to the toothed wheel D as shown; or, the reciprocatory move-
ment of said vertical slide may be obtained by an eccentric, rack and pinion, or like
arrangement. This slide F ascends and descends within a specified time, say for
instance to agree with the speed of the toothed wheel D-once in twenty four hours,
and is divided on one its edges h into a series of steps representing hours, half hours,
quarters or other predetermined periods of time, the number and size of said steps
being in proportion to the time and number of slots to be closed; for example, in the
drawing herewith, we have illustrated a machine having four slots or openings, the
steps formed upon the edge of the vertical slide F being so divided that the slots
shall be closed respectively at 7; 7.30; 9, and 2 o'clock. It will however be obvious
that when the slots are to be closed at other times than those above stated and the
number of same increased or decreased, the slide F may be conveniently removed and
a fresh one, with differently divided steps, substituted in lieu thereof.
Bearing against the edge h, of the vertical slide F, on which the steps are arranged
is a projection i formed upon the longitudinal edge of a long slide G, which latter is
mounted on suitable bearings, and travels horizontally beneath the top of the casing A
in which the slots a are provided. This projection i before referred to, when the
horizontal slide G is performing its onward travel, is caused to press against the steps

page_text: of the vertical slide F by a weight j attached by a cord or equivalent to the end of
said slide G. Slots or openings c. c. c. c, are formed in this horizontal slide Figure 5
to agree with the steps of the vertical slide F, they would however vary in number,
as above stated, to correspond with other times at which they might be required to
open and close the slots or openings a Figure 2. Said slots c of the horizontal slide G
are arranged at unequal distances apart, to allow that only one of the slots a shall
remain open up to a stipulated time, this open slot being closed, as the vertical slide is
caused to ascend by the onward travel of the clock, owing to the projection of the
horizontal slide entering the next step of the vertical slide F thereby opening the
following slot in the casing A Figure 2, which is in turn closed and the next slot
opened at the pre arranged time; this action being continued until the vertical slide F
has ascended to its highest point of travel by means of the rod g connected to the
wheel D aforesaid.
When this vertical slide has completed its upward travel and is about to descend,
it is necessary that the projection i of the slide G should be withdrawn and disengaged
from the edge on which the steps are formed. To do this, we pivot to the front
plate Eat & Figures 3 and 4 a lever 'H, the lower extremity of which has a longi-
tutinal slot in which engages a pin or projection l' adapted to the slide G. Gearing
with the wheel 1) through an intermediate wheel d¹ is a toothed wheel 1, of corre-
sponding dimensions to D having a semi-circular cam J provided on the face thereof.
The cam is so disposed that when the vertical slide F commences to descend, said
cam bears against the upper extremity of the lever H forcing backwards the lower end
carrying with it the horizontal slide & thus causing the projection i to disengage from
the steps of the vertical slide F, and allow the latter to descend freely to its lowest
point of travel.
+
When the cam J has been carried round a sufficient distance the upper end of the
lever H is released, whereupon the projection i of the horizontal slide is again brought
to bear against the steps of the vertical slide F ready for the next upward ascent
thereof.
In lieu of a weight which is provided for causing the projection of the slide G
to bear against the steps of the vertical slide, we may employ a spring m
adapted to
the front plate E-shown in dotted lines Figure 4 which presses against the lower
extremity of the lever H aforesaid.
The indicators for showing the time at which the slots are closed and the mechanism
for actuating same are illustrated at Figure 6. Said indicators consist of discs of
metal P pivoted preferably to a plate n extending beneath the top of the casing A.
Within the slots o of the indicators P engage pins p provided on the longitudinal edge
of the horizontal slide G, Figure 5. Said pins are formed in a line with the slots c of
the slide G so that which ever of the slots a, Figure 2, is open, the time at which such
slot will close is indicated through the openings b in front of the casing A Figure 1.
In a convenient position beneath each of the slots a Figure 2 we arrange a flap or
tongue piece K Figure 7, said flaps or tongue pieces being mounted to a rod L
extending throughout the length of the machine, a weighted lever or cam attached to
said rod causing the flaps to return to their normal position after a cheque or ticket is
inserted; or, said flaps may be counterbalanced by weighted extension pieces 9 as
shown; A hammer or tongue M causes a gong N to ring upon a ticket or cheque
being deposited in the machine. By this arrangement audible warning is given to the
foreman or other attendant in charge that a ticket or cheque has been deposited in
the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
First: In a machine for checking the time of employees and others the combina-
tion of the various parts of the mechanism herein described whereby slots, in which
ticket or cheques are inserted, are closed at a given time or at given times substantially
as set forth

page_text: Second: In a time checking machine the combination of the geared wheels C,d, D,
whereby motion is transmitted from the clock to the mechanism for closing and
opening the slots substantially as berein described.
divided
Third-In a time checking machine the employment of a vertical slide F,
into a series of steps, which is caused to ascend and descend by a connecting rod g
attached to the wheel D substantially as herein described and shown.
Fourth In a time checking machine the employment of a horizontal slido G
having slots c which alternately open and close slots a in the casing A, said slide
bearing against the steps of the vertical slide F, when the latter has started to ascend,
by a weight or spring substantially as set forth and shown.
Fifth-In a time checking machine the employment of a lever H having a slot
in which engages a pin adapted to the horizontal slide G substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Sixth In a time checking machine the employment of a cam J mounted on a
wheel I to which motion is transmitted, corresponding to that of the wheel D, by an
intermediate wheel d', whereupon on the descent of the slide F the cam J bears
against the lever H causing the horizontal slide G to travel backwards and disengage
the projection from the steps of the slide F substantially as set forth.
Seventh-In a time checking machine the combination of indicators P, pivoted to
a plate n, having slots o in which engage pins p on the horizontal slide G, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
Eighth In a time checking machine the arrangement adopted for audibly
announcing when a ticket or cheque is inserted therein, consisting of flaps or tongue
pieces K, mounted on a rod L, having weighted extension pieces q, a hammer being
adapted to said rod for striking a gong suitably disposed in the interior of the machine
substantially as herein described.
nir
1000
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicants.