IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHECKING OR INDICATING THE PERIODICAL ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF EMPLOYEES AND IN CLOCKWORK MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING PARTS OF SUCH APPARATUS.
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Maberly Llewellin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th May 1882.
WILLIAM MABERLY LLEWELLIN of Bristol in the County of Gloucester and of
Glasgow in the County of Lanark North Britain Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR CHECKING OR INDICATING THE PERIODICAL ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
OF EMPLOYEES AND IN CLOCKWORK MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING PARTS OF SUCH
APPARATUS.'
This Invention, which relates to apparatus for checking or indicating the
periodical arrival and departure of employees and to clockwork mechanism for
actuating the moving parts of certain arrangements of such apparatus, is a further
development of the Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to the present
applicant bearing date the 7th day of June A.D. 1881 Number 2472.
One improvement consists in providing the checking apparatus with a shoot or
shoots so projecting that employees leaving or entering the place of their employ-
ment by another apartment or on the other side of a wall or partition from that
at which the apparatus is situated may pass their checks into the machine.
Another improvement consists in providing the apparatus with an open circular
hopper in order that any number of checks may be passed in at one time.
In apparatus of that class for which Letters patent were granted to John Adams
bearing date the 11th day of July A.D. 1855 Number 1554 and wherein the shoot
rotates over a stationary box for holding the checks, in lieu of supporting the
spindle on the box itself, an improvement consists in introducing a bridge
extending across the top of the box on which bridge the lower end of the spindle
is stepped thereby enabling the box to be withdrawn at pleasure.
Another improvement consists in curving or dishing inwards the bottom of the
check box in order to cause the checks deposited in its several compartments to
roll towards the circumference and in cases where the check boxes rotate and
where it is desired to have checks taken at a number of times during the day.
A further improvement consists in hinging the bottom and securing it by a catch
which coming in contact with a fixed key releases the bottom and allows the
C

page_text: checks to drop down into another and lower compartment. By this arrangement
smaller boxes may be used.
When moving check boxes are used an improvement consists in placing one box
above another or others and in making the uppermost box without a bottom and
with larger divisions or compartments in it which taper downwards and direct the
checks into the smaller divisions of the box or boxes underneath.
Another improvement consists in the employment of a tier of two or more check
boxes so arranged that the superposed boxes shall each have one open bottomed
compartment corresponding and communicating with the lowermost box which
alone rotates and thus receives into its several compartments the checks passed
into the superposed boxes. So soon as all the compartments in the lowermost box
shall in rotation have been brought under the false divisions of the superposed
boxes the said under box is disconnected from the actuating mechanism and
remains stationary whilst the box immediately above is connected and revolving
receives the checks into its several compartments in the same manner and so on
until the uppermost box in the tier is reached.
Another improvement consists in employing a rotating vertical or inclined
circular box divided into a series of compartments the depth of each of which
extends from the periphery inwards to a point about halfway to the centre of
the circle. The shoot or shoots through which the checks are passed deliver the
said checks into these compartments and as the box is rotated the checks are
dropped into another shoot flexible or hinged if desired by which they are
deposited into compartments away from the vertical or inclined box which
compartments may be made to move by the same clockwork.
The compartments of the vertical or inclined rotating box may be self closing
at certain parts of the revolution so as to retain the checks passed into them.
Another improved arrangement of the mechanism consists of a drum or pulley
receiving the same motion as the minute hand of the clock. Over this drum is
passed an endless band or chain of steel iron or equivalent flexible material and in
the band projecting points are formed or fixed or a slot or elongated holo is cut.
The other part of the arrangement consists of a hopper for placing the checks in
at the bottom of which is an elongated shoot or funnel down which the checks can
fall.
This funnel or shoot is divided into as many divisions as there are times to be
checked these divisions being made by movable trap doors or diaphragms which
move on pivots hinges or an equivalent arrangement and are actuated by levers
projecting through the side of the funnel. The trap doors or diaphragms are
arranged to close obliquely in the funnel or shoot.
At the side of the shoots immediately above the trap door when it is closed,
across the shoot is an opening in the side of the funnel and fitted to this opening
is another funnel or shoot.
The band above referred to passes down the two sides of the funnel or shoot
and over a pulley at the bottom.
The action of this arrangement is as follows:-The endless band having motion
given to it from the clock at certain times, the projecting points in the band or
the slot liberate or pull up the lever projecting through the side of the funnel and
the diaphragm or trap door falls across the funnel in an oblique position, causing
any checks that may fall down the funnel to be stopped and diverted into the
side shoot and thence into a drawer or box. As the band moves on, to shut
another diaphragm or trap door, another following projection in the band opens
the trap door that had previously been closed. The distances between the levers
and the respective trap doors correspond to various intervals of time.
A. combination of several of these arrangements may be made by which one
clock can give motion to two or more endless bands fixed in suitable casings
separate and distinct from one another.
Another arrangement consists in using an endless band as before described but
in this case the band has no slot or hole in it.

page_text: Upon the band are attached buckets or boxes somewhat after the mode of a
bucket dredger or elevator. The distances between these buckets or elevators
correspond to certain periods of time the checks being delivered into the buckets
by a hopper and funnel and from the said buckets the checks are at certain times
delivered into other funnels and by them into suitable divisions or drawers. In
combinanation with the hopper and funnel a spring arrangement is or may be used
which, immediately one box or bucket has passed from under the funnel, draws
the end of the said funnel into position over the next box or bucket in the band.
In another arrangement an endless band with projecting arms is used in
combination with a series of shelves so arranged that boxes can stand upon them
and be lifted off by means of the projecting arms by which they are carried to a
higher shelf and there deposited.
Under another arrangement the check boxes are stationary and represent
certain times and a hopper or shoot or a series of hoppers or shoots is fitted to the
endless travelling band so as to deliver the checks into the said boxes.
In all arrangements by means of endless bands two or more bands may be used
or any combination of bands
In another arrangement the circular check box may have blank intervals or
spaces between its several compartments over which the hopper or shoot passes or
which pass under the hopper or shoot at certain intervals of time.
In that class of checking apparatus, in which a stationary circular box is used,
the said box is made with runners or slides on the underside corresponding to
other grooved slides in the casing so that the box can only be placed in the
machine in a certain position. And on the outside of the check-box is placed a
projecting piece or alternatively on the inside of door is placed a piece so that the
box is obliged to be in its proper position before the doors can be shut.
With reference to the apparatus described in the specification filed in pursuance
of the aforesaid Letters Patent granted to me for checking the periodical arrival
and departure of managers foremen and others in charge an improvement consists
in coiling the roll of paper on a drum attached to a spindle revolving in a vertical
horizontal or inclined plane and which spindle has also another drum fixed on it
as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth. From the first drum the paper passes
over another drum secured on the actuating spindle of the apparatus and from
thence it is passed partially round a third drum in the circumference of which
spikes or pins are fixed for the purpose of marking the paper and also of assisting
in pulling it round. The last mentioned drum is placed near the aperture in the
casing through which the foremen or others sign their names and it is geared with
and receives motion from the actuating spindle by toothed or friction wheels or
their equivalents. The paper after passing round the spiked druin may either fall
into a space below or it may be coiled on the second drum on the first mentioned
spindle.
Guide or couch rollers covered with felt or equivalent material are also provided
in conjunction with the spiked drum in order to conduct the paper to and
from the said drum and to afford a resisting medium to the spikes in entering
the paper.
Another alternative arrangement for this part of the apparatus consists in
winding the paper on a drum and thence passing it over a larger drum operated
by the actuating spindle. Upon leaving the second drum the paper is coiled upon
a third drum which by means of a weight, spring or their equivalent exercises a
tension upon it. The larger or second drum is set with pins or teeth to draw the
paper in the required direction and the said pins may perforate the paper and
indicate the times when it is exposed for signature.
Under another arrangement the paper ribbon or band is wound upon a roller or
drum as previously described from which it passes between the spiked roller and
another grooved roller so placed that it causes the spikes to enter the paper.
A spring is employed to prevent the paper from being too quickly unwound from

page_text: the first roller or drum and a pin is also provided to guide the paper off the spiked
roller.
An arrangement for checking foremens or other officials time can also be worked
by means of pins projecting points or slots on the side of an endless band which
strike against the arms or projecting part of a drum over which paper passes, the
paper being unwound from another drum. Also the pins may release a detent
attached to a suitable clock work arrangement which will cause the signing drum
to move round a certain given distance.
Under another arrangement a flat piece of paper ruled off into divisions corre-
sponding to different periods of times may be used to check the arrival and
departure of the foremen and others in charge the said piece of paper being secured
on a rectangular board and reciprocated by the clockwork so as to bring the
various divisions in one line or row opposite the signing orifice during the day.
At the end of each day or other period of time the board, which is removable at
pleasure, is raised or lowered so as to bring another series of divisions into position
for being signed on. Instead of paper the board itself may be made of slate,
papier Maché or equivalent material and, in lieu of reciprocating, the said board
may rotate under or at the back of the signing orifice.
Another part of this Invention relates to the "Check boards" described in my
said previous Specification. Instead of the boards falling or sliding downwards as
therein described they are, under this Invention, counter-weighted and the weight
being at certain times released by a detent and allowed to fall causes the board to
rise or move upwards and the falling of the weight may also sound a gong, bell,
whistle or other signal to intimate when the checks may be taken off by the
workpeople. After the proper time for removing the checks has expired a shutter,
or door is, by a similar arrangement, raised to cover the board and a signal may
also at that time be sounded. The detents are released and the signal sounded
either by a spring or lever operated by a screw or worm fixed on the actuating
spindle of the machine,-Or under another arrangement the boards may be placed
side by side or in a line with each other or one above the other instead of behind
one another and a screen dropped in front of each board.
The check boards may also be arranged in circular form and revolve so that
parts of them may be hidden behind a screen somewhat as set forth with reference
to the foremen's checking arrangement under my said previous Letters Patent.
Another part of this Invention relates to improvements in the Clockwork
mechanism by which the moving parts of certain arrangements of the apparatus
are actuated and it consists in the employment of a barrel similar to the barrel of
a musical box and which turns round once in each hour. The barrel is divided
circumferentially and equally into 12, 24 or any other desired multiple of these
spaces. In the division lines projecting pins are placed corresponding to certain
times in each hour.
"
or
A sliding bar is used kept in tension by a weight and actuated by a "cam
"snail" which " pumps" the discharging "tail" at each hour there being 12. 24
or any other desired number of steps in the snail. A "step" is made when the
"tail" is wanted to be taken out of the way and another falling step brings the
tail on to another row of pins and so on until the last step is arrived at.
The pin
of the arm that falls upon the "snail" passes under the "snail" and " pumps" a
lever for the running parts to bring the lever which actuates the lifting "tail" to
the top of the "snail" again. An alternative method consists in dispensing with
the barrel and substituting a chain or other flexable equivalent but preferably a
chain with 720 or other convenient number of links. Each link corresponds to
a minute or other period of time and has two holes and in the link corresponding
to a certain minute in each hour a projecting pin is placed which coming against
raises the descharging lever and so actuates the registering arrangement. The
chain passes over a pulley and revolves once every hour or other period of time as
may be desired.
Another alternative arrangement consists in substituting a screw with 24 or

page_text: other number of threads in lieu of the barrel. Projecting pins are placed either on
the top or bottom of the thread thus doing away with the "snail" in front.
To obviate the use of bevil wheels to communicate the motion to the registering
parts of the apparatus a lever actuated by a pin, cam, excentric or their equivalent
is used which lever operates a ratchet and wheel arrangement underneath.-or an
endless chain cord or band may be used and passed over a pulley actuated by the
clock. The vertical direction is changed into a horizontal direction by guide or
idle pulleys and the chain or cord is thence passed round a horizontal wheel on the
spindle actuating the registering parts of the apparatus.
It is also proposed to use one winding with one spring for discharging work and
for going a toothed wheel being fixed to the inner and another similar wheel to
the outer end of the spring.
A modification of this arrangement may also be applied to the "fusee"
Two, three or more checking machines and series of check boards may be
actuated from one clock by means of an endless band, connecting rods, cranks or
excentrics or a combination of any or all of them and by means of this arrange-.
ment constructions of checking apparatus not embraced by this or my previous
invention may be actuated alone or in combination with my checking apparatus
and the clock may also be arranged to open and lock the main gate or door of the
works electrically and automatically at certain required intervals by electrically
connecting it to the door or gate.
The doors for affording access to the interior of the apparatus are instead of
being hinged as formerly preferably made to slide in grooves.