Improvements in Time Recorders Applicable for Indicating the Time at which Employees of Factories and Shops Enter their Place of Business.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Time Recorders Applicable for Indicating the Time
at which Employees of Factories and Shops Enter their Place of
Business.
A communication from auroau oy
Auburn, New York, Electrician.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND, M. Inst., M.E., of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, 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 purpose of this invention is to compel employees in factories, shops, and similar
places to record at their place of business the time of their entering the said place, and
thus save the extra expense of watchmen or time keepers usually employed for the
aforesaid purpose. And to that end in connection with the time clock mechanism,
time recording type wheels and operators' recording type wheels, or wheels geared to
transmit motion to said type wheels, and provided with catches either in different
shapes or in different positions or in both of said conditions, and manipulative keys of
different shapes, each adapted to engage with a different catch on the aforesaid wheel,
are employed. And the invention also consists in novel auxiliary devices connected
with the aforesaid mechanism, all as hereinafter described and specifically set forth
in the claims._
In the annexed drawings:
Figure 1 is a front elevation with parts broken away of a clock embodying the
invention.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the interior of said clock.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on line xx, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line y y, Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the shaft carrying the type wheels...
:

page_text: ·
Figure 7 is a plan view of a number of manipulating keys employed in the operation
of the invention, and
Figure 8 is a detached vertical section of the wheels which are actuated directly by
the keys, said view showing the supports of said wheels.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
R represents the main supporting frame of the clock mechanism, and R¹ the case
enclosing the same. The clock-mechanism may be of any suitable and well known type,
and is therefore in most parts merely indicated by dotted lines.
The only features of the clock necessary for description are the frame R and the
spindle which carries the hands of the clock, to which frame and spin lle and part of
the case R¹, the machinery hereinafter described, is attached.
Parallel with the spindle q is a counter shaft D pivoted to the frame R, and to
opposite ends of said shaft are rigidly secured a star wheel E and a gear wheel F.
To the spindle 9 of the minute hand is fastened
it cam C, and on the
frame R is pivoted a pawl G in such a position as to be actuated by the
aforesaid cam, said pawl engaging the wheel E imparts intermittent motion to
said wheel and its supporting shaft D. By employing a single cam as shown in
Figure 4 of the drawings, it is obvious that the aforesaid pawl and counter shaft
receive an impulse at the end of each revolution of the spindle of the minute hand, or
at the end of every hour and in this case the wheel E is provided with twelve teeth for
the engagement of the pawl, and thus the counter shaft D is revolved once in
twelve hours. The twelve periods of rest of the countersbaft D are required when it
is desired to allow the recording to be effected at the end of each hour. A dog G¹
attached at one end of the frame R and bearing with its free end on the wheel E serves
to prevent the reverse movement of said wheel.
a is another shaft parallel with the counter shaft and pivoted in the frame R. To
one end of a shaft a is rigidly attached a gear wheel A and on the opposite end of
said shaft is loosely mounted a pinion or gear wheel g and between this latter gear
wheel and the wheel F on the shaft D, is a gear wheel g¹ which is pivoted to the
frame R and transmits motion from the wheel F' to the wheel g and thus the latter
wheel is rotated intermittently and correspondingly with the countershaft D. To the
side of the gear wheel 9 is rigidly fastened the time recording type wheel fand
near the latter is one of the operators' recording type wheels b fastened to the shaft a.
Between this type wheel b and gear wheel A is a sleeve a¹ mounted loosely on the
shaft a and to the end of said sleeve adjacent to the type wheel 6 is firmly secured the
second operators' recording type wheel 6' and to the opposite end of the sleeve is
affixed the gear wheel A' as best seen in Figure 6 of the drawings. All of the afore-
said type wheels are of the same diameter and the marks or figures are embossed on
the peripheral faces of said type wheels. From the foregoing it will be observed that
the operators' recording type wheels are arranged concentrically side by side and
operative independently of the time recording type wheel f, which features are essential
to the operation of the apparatus.
From each of the wheels A A' projects a lug or stop d' adapted to collide with the
stationary stop d secured to the frame R as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, and
by means of springs e e coiled around the shaft a and sleeve a¹ and each connected at
one end to one of said parts and at the opposite end to the frame, the said wheels A A¹
are caused to normally rest with their stops d' d' against the stationary stop and hold
the same yieldingly in said position. B and B¹, are two gear wheels arranged axially
in line with each other and meshing with the wheels A A¹. The wheel B¹ is
pivoted to a stud pins which is rigidly attached to a. plate R2 secured across the
frame R back of said wheel, said stud pin projecting through a hole in the front
plate of the frame R, and from the back of the latter plate projects a tubular
stud pins and having mounted on it rotatably the wheel B as illustrated in
Figure 8 of the drawing.
The annular space between the two stud pins s s¹ form part of the keyhole r which
is formed with a lateral slot and is formed in both the front plate of the frame and in
the wheel B.

page_text: The wheels B B are provided on their adjacent sides with a series of pins or-pro-
jections c c c or other suitable catches which are arranged in a line curved eccentric
in relation to the axis of the wheel as shown in Figure 5 of the drawing.
In connection with the said wheels, keys H H are employed of different shapes, one
for each person required to record his or her time of entering the place of employment.
Said keys are adapted to be entered through the key hole r so as to bring the lug / or
other projection of the key to play between the wheels B B¹. Each of the keys has a
lug of a different length or shape from those of the other keys as illustrated in
Figure 7 of the drawings, and consequently each key when turned between the
wheels B B engages a different projection c on one or both wheels and causes the wheels
to turn either a greater or less distance than the other keys, and since the wheels A A¹
turn with the wheels, the type wheels B B¹ are turned to a corresponding degree.
The type wheels have on their peripheries embossed numbers or other suitable markers
as herein before stated and facing the same is a platen I carried on the free end of an
arm h¹ which projects from the shaft h pivoted to the frame R. A spring t connected
to one end of the frame and at the opposite end to the arm ' draws the platen towards
the type wheels as best seen in Figure 2 of the drawings.
From the shaft h projects also a shank i on which is hinged a lever k which is held
normally to rest on the shank by means of a weight j drawing the lever
in said direction. The free end of the lever is normally in the path of
the supplemental lug on the key H and stands in such relative position
that in turning the key in the keyhole r, the lug collides with the free end
of the lever and depresses the same, and thereby presses the platen I from the
type wheels. Immediately before the wheel has completed its revolution the lug
slips from the lever K and in releasing the same, it allows the platen to strike toward
the type wheels, which are all of the same diameter and thus receive uniformly the
impact of the platen. The hinged connection of the lever K with the shank i allows
the lug to pass freely over the lever during the return movement of the key.
Between the platen I and type wheels f, bb passes an ink ribbon P one end of which
is wound upon a spool J which is rigidly attached to a pivoted spindle; and partially
restrained from turning by friction produced on the spindle by a spring crowding the
spindle endwise and causing a collar on the end of the spindle to press on the sides of
the portion of the frame to which the spindle is pivoted as shown in Figure 3 of the
drawing. The opposite end of the ribbon is wound upon a spool J' which is fastened
to a spindle pivoted on the frame and has also secured to it a ratchet wheel K.
the oscillating arm h' which carries the platen I is connected a pawl P¹ which engages
the ratchet wheel K and thus partially rotates the same during each stroke of the
platen. A dog P" attached to the frame bears with its free end on the ratchet wheel
so as to prevent retrograde movement of the same (see Figure 2 of the drawing).
Each movement of the wheel K causes the spool J₁ to wind up a portion of the ink
ribbon and bring a new portion thereof in front of the type wheels. Upon the spool S
is wound a slip or band u of blank paper which passes from thence between the ink
ribbon P and platen I to a winding spool L which is actuated by a coil spring con-
nected at one end to the peripheral portion of the spool and at the opposite end to the
shaft on which is mounted the spool, loosely. Between the spool L and platen I
is arranged the feed roller m for moving the paper ribbon at proper intervals.
Said feed roller is secured to a shaft pivoted to the frame R to which shaft is
also fastened a ratchet wheel n which receives motion from a pawl o¹ attached to
a push bar o which is connected at its lower end to the free end of an arm h¹¹
secured to the shaft h as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawing.
i
To
In turning the said shaft by the engagement of the lug of the key H 'with
the lever k, the push bar o is forced upward and causes the pawl o' to impart
motion to the ratchet wheel n and thus turn the feed roller m sufficiently to move
the paper ribbon P the required distance. This is effected simultaneously, with
the movement of the platen from the type wheels. Another roller. m² pivoted.to
a suitable spring arm and arranged opposite the feed roller serves..to, press. the
paper, ribbon against said feed roller.

page_text: The operation of the apparatus thus far described is as follows:-`
The person entering his or her place of business inserts his or her key into the
keyhole r and turns the key in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figures 1
and 5 in the drawings. In doing this said person first turns the wheels B B' and
thereby causes the type wheels b 6' to turn into such a position as to present towards
the platen I the number corresponding to that marked on the key or number by
which the person using the key is known. By the time the type wheels have assumed
said position the lug releases the previously depressed lever k and allows the spring
actuated platen to strike the paper ribbon u so as to receive the impression from the
registering wheels, the wheels 6 imprinting the number by which the operator is
known, and the wheelf marking the hour or period of day during which the recording
is made. If desired the ink ribbon may be dispensed with and the type or marks of
the type wheels sharpened sufficiently to make the necessary impression on the
recording paper. In as much as it is desired to limit the time of recording a guard
for opening and closing the keyhole is employed; said guard consists of a gate M
pivoted on the frame in such a position as to cause the gate to drop by gravity into a
position to close the keyhole. From the guard or gate M is extended an arm M¹
from the free end of which projects a pin v which is in the path of cams N¹ N¹ on the
periphery of the wheel N firmly secured to the spindle of the hour hand. The
collision of the said cams with the pin v crowds the arm M₁ aside and thereby raises
the guard or gate M clear of the keyhole r as represented in Figure 1 of the drawings.
When the wheel N has turned sufficiently to carry the cam N¹ away from the pin v
the gate M automatically drops across the keyhole and closes the same. Hence it will
be observed that the periods of holding the keyhole open depends on the length of the
cam projections N' N¹ which may be made so as to cause the keyhole to be kept open
for any desired period.
In order to permit the person in charge of the recording apparatus to keep the
guard M away from the keyhole when desired, there is pivoted to the front of the
frame R inside of the inclosing case R¹ a detent or latch T arranged in such a position
as to allow said detent to engage and hold the guard M when raised from the keyhole r
as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is':-
1. A time recorder comprising a clock-mechanism, time recording type wheel,
operator recording type wheel, a wheel gearing to transmit motion to the latter type
wheel and provided with catches disposed in different positions thereon, and operators'
manipulative key of different shapes, each adapted to engage with a different catch on
the aforesaid wheel and thereby turn said wheel, and a platen movable toward and
from said type wheels substantially as set forth.
2. In combination with the clock-mechanism, and time recording type wheel geared
to receive motion from said clock-mechanism, the operators' recording type wheel
arranged concentrically with the time recording type wheel and operative independently
thereof, wheels geared to transmit motion to the operators' recording type wheels,
projections on said geared wheels arranged in different positions, and operators' keys
of different shapes each adapted to engage with a different projection on the aforesaid
wheels, substantially as described and shown.
3. In combination with the time clock-mechanism, the cam c connected to the hand
spindle, the pawl G actuated by said cam, the countershaft D, the wheels E F fixed to
said countershaft and actuated by the aforesaid pawl, the pivoted type wheel f, gears
arranged to transmit motion from the countershaft to the type wheels, the type wheel b
operative independently of the type wheel f, a platen arranged movable to and from
the aforesaid type wheels, a recording sheet, or band passing between the platen and
type wheels, manipulative keys adapted to actuate both the platen and type wheels bb
substantially as set forth.
4. In combination with a time clock-mechanism and time recording type wheel

page_text: actuated by said mechanism, operators' recording type wheels operated independently
of the clock-mechanism, all of said type wheels carrying their printing faces on their
peripheries and being of the same diameters and concentric with each other, a platen
arranged movable to and from the printing faces of the type wheels and manipulative
keys adapted to operate the operators' recording type wheels and the platen substan-
tially as described and shown.
5. A time recording apparatus comprising recording type wheels, spring restraining
wheels actuating said type wheels and having projections in different relative positions,
and manipulative keys having lugs or projections of different lengths and all graduated
to allow each key to engage a different projection on each of the aforesaid wheels
substantially as set forth.
6. In combination with the type wheel, a wheel adapted to actuate the type
registering wheel and having lateral projections arranged in a line curved eccentric in
relation to the axis of said actuating wheel, the keys adapted to be revolved on the
axis of said wheel and each of the said keys having a lug of different length from those
of other keys substantially as described and shown.
7. The combination of the shaft a type wheel b and gear A secured to the opposite
ends of said shaft, the sleeve a' mounted loosely on the shaft a, the type wheel b¹ and
gear A secured to opposite ends of the sleeve, the gear wheel B and B' meshing with
the gears A A¹, the projections ccc on the adjacent sides of the wheels B B and
arranged in lines curved eccentric in relation to the axes of said wheels and keys
adapted to be revolved on the axes of the wheels B B¹ with the lugs of the keys
between said wheels, and the lug of each key being of a different length from those of
the other keys, substantially as described and shown.
8. The combination of the shaft a, the type wheel b and gear wheel A secured to
the opposite ends of said shaft, the sleeve a mounted loosely on the shaft a, the type
wheel b and gear A¹ fastened to opposite ends of the sleeve, the stationary stop d,
stops d d projecting from the gears A A' and adapted to collide with the stationary
stops, springs ee holding the said gears to rest with their stops yieldingly on stationary
stops, the gear wheels B B meshing with the gears A A¹ projections c c on the
adjacent sides of the wheels B B' and arranged in lines curved eccentric in relation to
the axes of said wheels, keys adapted to enter their lugs between the wheels B B' and
the lug of each key being of a different length from those of the other keys, substan-
tially as described and shown.
9. In combination with the time clock-mechanism, the shaft a, the type wheel f
mounted loosely on one end of said shaft, the gear 9 secured rigidly to the side of the
type wheel, a train of gears for transmitting motion from the clock-mechanism to the
gear g the type wheel band gear A rigidly attached to opposite ends of the shaft a
and sleeve a mounted loosely on said shaft, the type wheel 61 and gear A fastened to
opposite ends of the sleeve, gear wheels B B' meshing with the gears A A¹ and pro-
jections cc on the adjacent sides of the wheels B B and arranged in lines curved
eccentric in relation to the axes of the wheels, the keys adapted to be revolved on the
axes of the wheels B B¹ with the lugs of the keys between said wheels, and the lugs of
each key being of a different length from those of the other keys, substantially as
described and shown.
10. In combination with the time clock-mechanism, the cam C secured to the
spindle of the minute hand, the counter shaft D the wheel E and gear F rigidly
attached to said countershaft, the pawl G actuated by the cam C and imparting motion
to the wheel E, the pivoted shaft a, the type wheel mounted loosely on said shaft, the
gear secured rigidly to the side of said type wheel, the intermediate gear g¹ transmitting
motion from the gear F to the gear g, the type wheel b and gear A rigidly secured to the
shaft a, the sleeve a mounted loosely on said shaft, the type wheel b₁ and gear A'
fixed to the sleeve, the gear wheels B B¹ meshing with the gears A A' and eccentrically
arranged projection c c on the adjacent sides of the wheels B B', keys H having lugs
of different lengths and adapted to turn between the wheels B B', stops for supporting
said wheels in their normal position, the springs for restoring the wheels from their
actuated position to their normal position substantially as shown.

page_text: 11. In combination with the type wheels, shaft h, arm h¹ extending from said shaft
and carrying the platen I, the shank i projecting from the shaft, the lever k hinged on
the shank and sustained normally resting on the same and key H provided with the
lug adapted to engage the lever k substantially as set forth.
11
12. In combination with the type wheel, the spring actuated paper winder L, the
feed roller m ratchet wheel n secured to the shaft and said feed roller, roller m² held
automatically in proximity to the feed roller, the shaft h having projections from it,
the arms and " and shank i, the platen I carried on the arm h¹ the push bar o
n, the
extending from the arm ", pawl o¹ on said rod engaging the ratchet wheel
lever k hinged on the shank i the weight j connected to said lever and the key H
provided with the lug adapted to engage the lever k.
13. In combination with the type wheel, the oscillatory arm h¹, platen I carried on
said arm, the tension spool J, the winding spool J' ratchet wheel K attached to the
shaft of the winding spool, the ink ribbon P running from the spool J to the spool J',
the pawl P¹ attached to the arm h¹ and imparting motion to the ratchet wheel, the
dog P for preventing the retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel, substantially as
described.
1000