Year: 1885

page_text: A.D. 1885, 11th DECEMBER. N° 15,235.
I, WILLIAM MACRONE, of 25 Jamaica Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Letter press printer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
--
My Invention relates to an improved apparatus for checking the time at which
employés arrive at their place of business.
In carrying out my Invention I provide a base plate having a central standard,
upon which is fixed a second or upper plate, cast with an annular projection, the
top of which is formed with radial bars. Between these two plates I provide
twelve drawers for the reception of the employés tickets, checks or tallies, and
which drawers are arranged radially around the standard, with their inner ends
abutting against an india-rubber ring fixed on the said standard. Each drawer
corresponds to an interval of five minutes; they are numbered 5, 10, 15 &c up
to 60. These twelve drawers are interlocked by any suitable means, as for instance
by six vertical bars or catches (one for each two drawers) provided at their
extremities with arms or projections each carrying a disc or wheel, and pivoting,
by means of these discs or wheels, in circular grooves formed in the base and upper
plates. These bars are moved round as each drawer is successively placed in
position, one bar only allowing the introduction of two consecutive drawers, and
securing them so that neither can be withdrawn until the third adjacent drawer is
first removed. The sixth drawer is, so to speak, only half a bar, and enables the
last drawer to be inserted in its opening and locked by a key, thus securing all the
drawers, which, by unlocking the last drawer can only be removed in successive
order.
Upon the standard, and above the upper plate, there is a revolving disc carrying
a flat ring furnished with a continuous groove or slot having a zig-zag shape and
forming a path for a finger hereinafter mentioned.
This disc is provided with a central box mounted upon a screw-threaded spindle
fixed in the standard; this box contains a spring which sets the revolving disc in
motion, and it has a lid screwed upon it. The zig-zag path, before referred to, is
so designed as to form twelve angular teeth having a long side and a short side.
A slit is formed in the revolving disc through which the checks or tallies are
dropped by the employés and fall into the drawers below. Each check as it is
D

page_text: being pushed into the slit depresses a rod which acts upon a spring, enclosed by the
flat ring, and carrying a hammer for striking a gong or bell screwed upon the
spindle and over the lid of the spring box.
À circular case or box fixed to a bracket, hinged or pivoted to an upright,
screwed or otherwise fitted upon the upper plate, is arranged over the gong or bell
and flat ring on the revolving disc, and is raised whenever it is required to wind
the spring of the said disc, an operation which is effected by revolving the latter a
few times in a contrary direction to that of its ordinary motion.
Upon the above case or lid is arranged a suitable stand which receives a time-
piece or clock, of ordinary construction, but the main arbor of which is, for the
purpose of my invention, furnished with a large escapement wheel having twelve
teeth corresponding to the twelve teeth of the grooved or slotted zig-zag path, each
tooth occupying in its movement a period of five minutes. This escapement wheel
actuates, at each interval of five minutes, a toothed cam which acts upon the upper
extremity of the finger whose lower extremity, passing through a slot in the case,
projects into the grooved or slotted zig-zag path above described.
When a tooth of the escapement wheel actuates the toothed cam the latter
pushes the finger along the short side of one of the angular teeth of the slotted or
grooved path, and releases the disc which is caused to rotate under the action of its
own spring for a distance equal to the long side of the said angular tooth, thus
bringing the slit in the revolving disc over the next drawer. The finger then abuts
against the short side of the adjacent angular tooth of the grooved or slotted path
and arrests the disc which now remains stationary until after a fresh interval of
five minutes, when the next tooth of the large escapement wheel will again actuate
the toothed cam, as above described, and cause the slit in the disc to move over the
next drawer, and so on. After the disc has been released, and in order to dis-
connect the cam and to cause it to return to its former position, a jumper is thrown
upwards by means of vertical teeth projecting from the flat ring, and corresponding
in number to the teeth therein.
On the edge of the revolving disc is a check pin which drops into corresponding
spaces provided on the annular projection of the upper plate. This pin prevents
the disc being turned in the wrong direction, and also stops the action of the disc
at the end of one hour, allowing the clock to continue as a time piece. For
winding the disc the pin is simply removed.
Upon the inner side of the upright, to which the bracket is pivoted, is arranged
a brake-wheel running upon protuberances formed upon the edge of the revolving
disc, the object of these protuberances being to control the action of the spring.
The bracket may be locked to the upright by means of a padlock, so as to
prevent the apparatus being tampered with.
L Doha- TOOK

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Checking the Time of Arrival of
Employés.
I, WILLIAM MACRONE, formerly of 25 Jamaica Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, and now of Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Letter Press Printer, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to an improved apparatus for checking the time at which
workmen and employés arrive at their place of occupation, or business, and it will
be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) is a front elevation and Fig. 2, a plan of a time checking
apparatus constructed according to my Invention. Fig. 3 (Sheet II) is a side
elevation of the apparatus, and Fig. 4 a plan, but with the clock, the winding
mechanism, and the bell or gong removed, in order to clearly shew a revolving disc
in which is a continuously grooved or slotted zigzag path. The dotted lines in
fig. 3, indicate the position of said clock, when turned back upon a hinged arm, pro-
vided for the purpose, so that access may be had to certain of the parts. Fig. 5 is
an inverted plan of the revolving disc detached, shewing the mechanism for
causing the bell or gong to sound each time a ticket, check, or tally, is deposited
in drawers provided for their reception. Fig. 6 (Sheet III) is a vertical section
taken ou the line 2, 3, of fig. 2, and Fig. 7, is a plan of the same, the revolving disc
being removed in this figure in order to shew the arrangement of the drawers
(which are twelve in number); the contrivances or means for interlocking the said
drawers, and also an annular rim or projection furnished with twelve vertical teeth,
between which a check pin, provided in the revolving disc, falls at intervals of five
minutes, the purpose of which is hereinafter mentioned. Fig. 8, is a side view
(enlarged) and fig. 9 a front view (also enlarged) of the mechanism for regulating
and liberating the revolving disc, all the above arrangements being hereinafter
fully described and indicated in all the figures, by the same letters of reference.
In constructing a time checking apparatus according to my Invention, I provide
a base or sole plate A, having a central standard A', provided at its upper part with
radial arms a, which support an upper plate B, cast with an annular rim b,
furnished with twelve vertical teeth b¹. Between these two plates A and B, I fit
twelve drawers C, for the reception of the employés tickets or checks; these
drawers are arranged radially around the standard A¹. Each drawer C, corre-
sponds to an interval of five minutes; they are numbered 5, 10, 15, etc. up to 60,
and are interlocked by any suitable means, as for instance, by six vertical bars or
catches c, pivotting between the sole and upper plates, and by six beads c¹. Five
of these bars or catches c are T-shaped in cross section, the sixth d, being L-shaped.
They can be moved round as each drawer is successively placed in position, one bar or

page_text: •
catch c, only allowing of the introduction of two consecutive drawers and, together
with the beads c¹ on the alternate drawers, secure them, so that neither drawer can
be withdrawn until the third adjacent one is first removed. The sixth or L-shaped
bar enables the last drawer to be inserted in its opening and locked by a key, at d¹,
thus securing all the drawers which, by unlocking the last drawer (No. 60) can
only be removed in successive order. When replacing the drawers it is necessary
to begin by inserting 55, then 50, and so on, up to 60, when this latter is then
locked by the aforesaid key.
Upon the standard A¹, and above the upper plate B, is the revolving disc D,
which carries a flat ring or plate e, furnished with a continuous zigzag groove or
slot forming a path e', into which works a finger f, the purpose of which is herein-
after fully described. This plate e, is also provided with a range of twelve vertical
teeth or inclines e³, arranged in a circle. To prevent this disc being turned in the
wrong direction, I provide a check pin e, which drops into the teeth b¹, at each
interval of five minutes. This disc is cast or formed with a central box D¹, which
is mounted upon and revolves in a socket on the upper part of the central
standard A¹; this box contains a coiled spring g, which gives motion to the
revolving disc, it is secured at one of its ends to the box, and at the other to a
spindle on which is mounted the bell, and lastly it is maintained in position by a
сар. The zigzag grooved or slotted path e¹, is so designed as to form twelve
angular teeth, each having a long side and a short side, as clearly shewn in fig. 4.
A slit h, which will only admit one check at a time, is cut in the revolving disc,
and through this slit the checks are dropped by the workmen, or employés, and
fall into the drawers below, the slit remaining five minutes over each drawer.
Each check as it is being pushed through the slit comes into contact with two
small friction wheels i, i¹, (fig. 5) mounted in bearings on each side of the slit, and
on the under face of the revolving disc. The friction wheel i, revolves upon a
bent wire 3, terminating in the hammer i³, of the bell it, and the ends of the
bearings in which this wheel i, is mounted are forked, in order to allow sufficient
play for the wheel and for the insertion of the check, which at the same time acts
instantaneously upon the bent wire i³, and causes the hammer 3, to sound the bell.
This bent wire is secured to the under face of the revolving disc by a stud j, and
moves in a bracket k; a spring 1 ensures its return to its normal position.
It will thus be seen that the whole of the striking mechanism is carried along
by the revolving disc.
A circular case, cover, or box E, fixed to a bracket F, hinged or pivotted to an
upright F, set on the upper plate B, is arranged over the bell, and zigzag
grooved path e, in the revolving disc. The coiled spring g, which actuates this
revolving disc, is wound up by means of the key m, the shaft of which carries a
bevil pinion p, in gear with another bevil pinion p¹, mounted upon the spindler,
of the spring, and controlled by a ratchet and pawl 8. This arrangement which is
clearly seen in fig. 6 (Sheet III) is placed above the bell. But the bevil wheels
and ratchet arrangement for winding the spring may be dispensed with, and the
disc itself may be employed for the purpose, after temporarily removing the check
pin e³.
Above the circular case, cover, or box E, is a timepiece or clock G, which, by the
bracket F, is hinged to the upright F¹, by the winged screw pin o, and is held in
position by another winged screw pin o¹, inserted eccentrically to the former, so as
to secure the clock in position and to prevent the apparatus being tampered with.
Or in place of this winged screw pin o³, a padlock may be used. The timepiece or
clock may be of any suitable construction, but the main arbor of which is, for the
purpose of my invention, furnished with a large escapement wheel H, baving
twelve teeth or blades arranged, by preference, at an angle of 22°, to the
periphery thereof, and corresponding to the twelve teeth formed by the grooved or
slotted zigzag path e¹. I do not, however, confine myself to said angle, as it will
be obvious that the inclination of the teeth or blades will be determined in practice
for the perfect working of the apparatus. Each tooth or blade of this escapement

page_text: wheel H, occupies, in its movement, a period of five minutes, and actuates, at
the termination of such period, a wheel t, armed with wipers or teeth, which
successively act upon the upper extremity of the finger f, which finger is pivotted
at f*, and whose lower extremity, provided with a sinall friction roller f¹, passing
through an opening in the case, projects into the grooved or slotted zigzag path e
Instead of the wheel t, a cam furnished with a pivotted tooth and a pin may be
employed for the purpose, the escapement wheel being modified to suit this
arrangement.
When a tooth or blade of the escapement wheel H, above described, actuates a
wiper or tooth of the wheel t, this latter moves the finger f, along the short side
of the angular teeth of the slotted or grooved zigzag path e, and releases the
disc D, which is caused to rotate under the action of its own spring g, for a
distance equal to the long side of the angular tooth, thus bringing the slit h, in the
revolving disc over the next drawer. The finger f, then abuts against the short
side of the adjacent angular tooth of the grooved or slotted zigzag path and arrests
the disc which now remains stationary until after another interval of five minutes,
when the next tooth of the escapement wheel will again actuate the toothed or
wiper wheel t, and cause the slit in the disc to move over the next drawer,
and so on.
It must here be noted that the winding mechanism of the revolving disc is
independent of that of the clock, and enables the latter to work independently
of the former, the clock being used only to regulate the mechanism liberating
the disc.
After the disc has been liberated or released, and in order to disconnect the
wiper of the little wheel and upper extremity of finger f, instantaneously, a
jumper v, furnished with a friction roller vl, is thrown upwards by means of its
travel over the vertical teeth or inclines e³, on the slotted flat ring or plate e,
corresponding in number to the teeth formed therein. This jumper has a slot
working over two guide pins 1, 2, fixed in the casing of the clock; it is also
weighted at 3, to cause it to fall back steadily to its former position, and it is
further provided at its upper extremity, with a head v2, (with or without a spring)
60 arranged that the teeth or wipers of the wheel t, pass by without bindrance,
leaving the head in the proper position to strike the respective wiper at ench
release of the disc. The jumper may be dispensed with, but the use of it adds to
the accuracy of the working.
Upon the inner side of the upright F', is arranged a break, consisting of a short
tube w, within which is placed a ball of "fibre," rubber, or other suitable substance,
impelled forwards by a spiral spring also located within the tube. Or in lieu of the
tubular break, above described, a wheel, or other means, may be used.
Inclined protuberances y, y, formed upon the periphery of the revolving disc
pass against and press upon the break during the revolution of the disc, the action
of the break upon the same serving to control and weaken the unwinding of the
spring g. A stop y', pivoted upon the break tube can be brought down to abut
against a projection y³, (fig. 4) upon one of the inclined protuberances y, to arrest
the revolving disc at the end of one hour, the clock then continuing its motion as
a time piece. By raising the stop the disc continues to revolve.
Although my Invention has been specially designed for checking the time of
arrival of workmen at their places of occupation, yet it is obvious that the same
apparatus herein described may equally well be employed for checking the time at
which workmen depart from works and return thereto, or for recording the length
of time occupied by workmen on certain jobs, or journeys.
Having now described my Invention and in what manner the same may be
carried into effect, I claim :-
1. The improved time-checking apparatus having its parts constructed, arranged,
combined, and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and as shewn in
the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. The combination of parts constituting the mechanism for regulating and
liberating the revolving disc, as herein described and shewn with reference to
figs. 4, 6, 8 and 9 of the drawings.
3. The combination of parts constituting the mechanism for sounding a gong or
bell, on the introduction of each check through the slit h, as described, and as
shewn with reference to fig. 5 of the drawings.
4. The means for effecting the interlocking of the drawers as herein described,
and shewn with reference to figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7 of the drawings.
ERNEST DE PASS,
68, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the Applicant.