Improvements in Time Recorders for Workmen and other Servants.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES SHARON MACCOY, of 844, Washington
Street, New York City, in the State of New York, United States of America,
Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Time Recorders for Workmen and other Servants.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to instruments by which the exact date, down to the
minute, may be printed on a card or other document, said instrument comprising
a case provided with a printing slit or opening, and a platen or plunger mounted
above said opening.
Within the case is a series of type-wheels registering with the printing-slit, a
motor to run the same, a clock movement to govern their motions, and means for
winding, setting and adjusting the motor, clock-movement and type-wheels.
Such a device has been found to be particularly useful in registering the amount
of time spent by workmen upon their work, and to this end each employee is
provided with a card, suitably spaced or arranged, which is to be stamped with
the time when the man arrives at his work on each day, and again when he leaves,
such card covering any desired period, as, for example, a week.
One difficulty with the devices heretofore in use is that the workmen, through
ignorance or carelessness, stamp the cards in wrong places. This is due either
to the complexity of the guages or other devices by which the proper space upon
the card is brought to the printing-slit, or to the inability of the employees to read
the directions, usually placed upon the back of the card, for properly aligning or
placing it for printing."
There have also been serious objections to the power transmitting and actuating
devices heretofore employed for the type-wheels, in that, although they are
capable of exact adjustment, still, on account of their delicate construction
they are liable to be thrown out of proper relation during the hard usage to which
the instrument must necessarily be put, and the requisite accurate serial move-
ment of the train of type wheels is lost in practice.
Our invention is designed particularly to overcome these and other objectionable
features and defects, as will be pointed out, and by it we produce a device which
may be manufactured cheaply and at the same time is of neat appearance, runs
with little power, and is accurate.
In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my time-stamp, some of the
internal mechanism being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of
Fig. 1, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a top plan of Fig. 1, with the plunger cut
away, and showing, mostly in dotted lines, part of the actuating and recording
mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail of the actuating mechanism of the minute and
hour wheels. Fig. 5 is a top plan of the type wheels, showing their connection

page_text: with the main motor shaft. Fig. 6 is a detail of the card cutter or adjusted.
Fig. 7 shows, partly broken away, the preferred form of time-card. Fig. 8 is a
top plan view of the case, on a smaller scale, showing another form of card
adjuster (no card cutter being used), and an alternative form of card to be used
with it.
I prefer to make the case 1 of a substantially rectangular form in section,
although that is not material. In the front of the case 1 is inserted the clock
face 2. The top 3, which extends beyond the case on each side, is preferably made
removable, it being held in place by open hinges, screws, or other suitable
means. Attached to the back of the case is an arm or bracket, 4, which curves
forward over the top of the case, supporting, at its front end, the plunger 5,
which carries the platen 6. Directly beneath the plunger 5 and in the line of
movement of the platen 6 is an opening or printing slit, 7, in the top 3 of the
casing. The type wheels 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, are so situated as to register across
the printing-opening 7 (see Fig. 3). Across the top of the type-wheels and under
the cover 3 is stretched an inking-ribbon 14 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3),
which is wound upon and unwound from, the spools 15. Upon the top 3
of the stamp there is a shoulder 16, which is removably secured by screws 17.
This shoulder may be a straight-edge, as shown in Fig. 8, for use with one form of
time-card, or it may have an offset, as shown at 18 in Figs. 3 and 6, the purpose of
which will be explained. In either case it serves as an abutment against which
to align the time card when it is to be printed.
The device illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 is designed for use with a card such
as is shown in Fig. 7. Attached to and operated by the plunger 5, is an arm,
bent upwardly and inwardly, and having ends bifurcated so as to slide upon the
stem 20 of the punch 21, which is set in the block 22, which is mounted upon the
shoulder 16. At either end of the stem 20 of the punch are buttons or stops 24.
By this means, freedom of adjustment between the plunger 5 and the punch 21, is
secured, the punch being pressed down or withdrawn only when the bifurcated
arm 19 contacts with one of the stops 24. The punch 21 registers with a hole or
die 23, which is set in the cover 3 of the machine at the end of and in line with
the offset 18.
The operation of this part of the mechanism is as follows: A card, such as is
shown in Fig. 7, is laid face down upon the cover 3 of the stamp, so that the
notch or cut 25 (if a notch has been made already in the card if not, then
so that the upper end of the card) abuts against the shoulder 18. The plunger 5
is then pushed down. This both operates the platen 6 so as to press the card
against the type wheels at the printing slit 7, and operates the punch 21, to cut
the edge of the card 26, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7. Other forms of
punching devices may be substituted. Thus, we may use a form in which the
cutter or punch 21 is rigidly attached to the plunger 6, having a guide depended
from the arm 4, instead of being guided by the block 22.
An inspection of Fig. 7 will show that the cut 25, is opposite the date which is
printed at the same time. In order to print a date immediately below the last
one which appears there, the card is laid face down on the cover 3, and against the
shoulder 16, so that the last cut 25 abuts against the offset 18. Each cut thus
determines the position of the next date upon the card. By this means, no
other device, except the card itself, is required to guide the workman in placing
the card for stamping a new date upon it. A chute 27 (shown in dotted lines in
Figs. 1 and 3; see also Fig. 2) extends downward to the side of the case 1, for
carrying away the bits of card punched out at the die 23.
In the form of machine illustrated (on a smaller scale) in Fig. 8, the cutting
device is entirely dispensed with. This is designed for use with a time card,
such as 28, which has been previously provided with one or more series of notches
or corrugations, 30, at its edge or edges. A pin, 29, entering a given one of
theso (as the fifth from the left-hand end) determines the place where the date
shall be printed (e.g. opposite the ninth notch from the left end). In using this

page_text: scheme, it is only necessary for the workman to know how far a certain notch is
from the place to be printed; he then places the card, face down, with the pin 29
entering the selected notch, and then operates the plunger 5.
Looking next at the internal mechanism of the stamp, it will be observed that
there are at the back, two motors (see dotted lines, Fig. 3) 31, 32. One of these
actuates the clock mechanism (not shown), the other actuates the type-wheels.
The main shaft for driving the type-wheels is 33. Fast upon shaft 33, which
carries the minute hand of the clock is a gear 34, which meshes with a gear 35, so
proportioned and arranged as to travel at the same speed as the minute hand of
the clock. This gear 35 carries the minute wheel 8 of the type printing series.
A roller bearing 37, on the end of a lever 36, travels over the surface of the cam 38
fast upon the shaft of gear 34. This lever 36 is fastened to the same hub as
lever 39. Near the upper end of lever 39 is a short slot 40 which extends obliquely
upwardly and inwardly (see dotted lines, Fig. 4), in which the pin of the hori-
zontal actuating pawl 41 is inserted. This actuating pawl or lever 41, pivoted to
lever 39 as explained, extends forward over the wheel 65. This gear 65, which
has 24 teeth, is fast upon the same hub as wheels 9 and 10, which are the hour and
meridian wheels, respectively.
The operation of the mechanism thus far described is as follows: As the
wheel 34 revolves, the cam 38, fast upon its shaft, raises the lever 36, thereby
rocking the hub 42, and thus retracting the vertical lever 39, which designate
the "driving lever."
As the lever 39 retracts, it draws back the actuating pawl 41. During this
retraction the tooth 46, on the underside of this pawl strikes against one of
the teeth of the gear 65, and this tends to raise the pawl. This tendency is
opposed by the pressure exerted by the springs 44 and 45, one of which bears
respectively on each end of the pawl 41. This double pressure would produce
friction and binding at the joint between lever 39 and pawl 41, were it not for the
oblique slot 40 in which the uniting pin works. This joint allows the pawl 41 to
be retracted until the bearing end of lever 36 falls from the cam 38, when, under
the tension of spring 47, the shaft 42, and lever 39 are rocked forward. As the
upper end of 39 moves forward it pushes horizontal lever 41, the tooth 46 of which
engages a tooth of gear 65, the forward end of 41 at the same time striking and
releasing for a moment the locking lever 48. In this way the lever 41 carries
the wheel 40 forward one tooth, when the locking lever 48, being released from
contact with the end of lever 41, drops back at once under tension of spring 49
and holds wheel 65 from further movement. Thus, at each complete revolution
of the minute wheel, the hour and meridian wheels (9 and 10), which are fast
upon the same shaft as wheel 65, advance together one tooth.
In the drawings, I have illustrated the tooth or teeth 46, as being integral
with the actuating levers 41, etc., the friction caused by their bearing upon the
type-wheels being taken up or cushioned by the slot and socket joint at 40; but it
is obvious that one may use instead, pivoted teeth, 46, pressed into engagement
by superimposed springs. This would allow the use of an ordinary pivot at 40.
I have tried this device, but, although it is operative, I prefer the mechanism
illustrated.
As the hour and meridian wheels complete one revolution, a roller bearing 50
upon lever 51 rides upon a cam 52, which is fast upon the shaft of gear 65, thereby
rocking a shaft upon which is fastened an upright lever 53, to which is attached,
by a pin and slot, as before, the horizontal actuating lever 54 for the day wheel.
The action of this mechanism is similar to that for actuating gear 65, which has
been described. Similar means are employed for pushing the month-wheel 12,
forward one tooth at the end of the revolution of the day-wheel 11, and suitable
means are also provided for actuating the year wheel one tooth at the end of
the revolution of the month wheel. Devices for compensating for differences in
the length of months, are well known in the constructions to which my invention
relates, and I will not describe them.

page_text: It should be noted that all of the actuating levers 41, 54 and 55 are pivoted
in the same way to the upright levers 39, &c., and that the forward ends of all of
them play in slots or openings in a single cross-piece 43, the springs 45 for their
forward ends being fastened to this piece. In like manner the springs 44 for the
rear ends of the actuating levers are all mounted upon a single brace or cross-
piece 56. In this way the simplicity, cheapness and durability of the device are
promoted.
It is sometimes desirable to readjust the type-wheels; as when the clock has
been allowed to run down, or when it has lost or gained time, and has to be re-set.
I have devised a simple and effective means of doing this. Looking now at
Figs. 2 and 5, it will be observed that, at the rear of the main shaft 33 is a dished
wheel 57 having a toothed periphery. Opposite to this wheel 57 is an arm 58,
carrying at its outer end a pin 59, which normally engages between the teeth of
wheel 57. The arm 58 which carries pin 59, is mounted upon and revolves with
the shaft 60 of the motor of the machine. Attached to the wheel 57, as by a
collar 61 upon its hub, is a lever 62, pivoted at 63, and attached to the push-
bar 66, which is normally pressed outwardly by the spring 64. When this push-
bar 66, which extends out to the face of the clock, is pushed in, it throws the
lever 62 over, thereby drawing the dished wheel 57 out of contact with the pin 59.
All of the moving mechanism connected with the type-wheels is now free to be
moved independently of the motor and may be turned and adjusted by turning the
hands of the clock, or by lifting the cover 3 of the case and turning the type-
wheels themselves.
I have found it desirable in some cases, although not essential, to place on
the cover 3 a guide or raised edge, parallel to the shoulder 16, and distant there-
from about the width of the time card. The card is placed between these two
guides, and thus any danger of lateral displacement is avoided, the proper
longitudinal adjustment being secured by one or more of the devices already
described.
I do not limit myself in any way to the precise devices shown, or to the precise
combinations in which they are found; for there are many equivalents for what I
have shown and described, which will occur to anyone skilled in the art.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention 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. In a time-stamp, the combination of an aligning device, and a stop or offset
for engaging the edge of a time card, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
2. In a time-stamp, the combination of a printing slit or opening, a straight-
edge for aligning the time-card, and a stop or offset for engaging the edge of a
time-card, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In a time-stamp, the combination of an aligning device and a stop consisting
of a vertical pin for engaging the serrated edge of a time card, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
4. A stop for locating the time card in a time-stamp, consisting of an offset
in a straight-edge, substantially as described.
5. In a time-stamp, the combination of a printing slit or opening, a pin or stop
at a fixed distance therefrom, and a time card having a series of indentations
upon one edge, each indentation representing a certain fraction of the distance
from the printing-slit to the pin or stop, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
6. As an article of manufacture, a notched or serrated time-card.
7. The combination, in a plunger for a time-stamp, of a platen and a cutting
punch, substantially as and for the purposes described.
8. In a time-stamp, the combination of a plunger and a cutting device operated

page_text: thereby, the said cutter having a sliding connection with the plunger and traveling
in a fixed guide, substantially as and for the purposes described.
9. In a die, the combination of a plunger provided with a forked arm, a punch
having a stem movable within said forked arm, stops at each end of said punch-
stem for engaging said forked arm, and a fixed guiding device for the lower part
of said punch, substantially as and for the purposes described.
10. In a time-stamp, the combination of a plunger, a cutting die for the time-
card operated by said plunger, and a chute or passage for carrying away the bits
of card punched out, substantially as and for the purposes described.
11. In a time-stamp, the combination of an aligning device for the time-card,
an offset in said aligning device, and a cutting die adapted to register at said
offsets, substantially as and for the purposes described.
12. In a time-stamp, the combination of a printing slit or opening, a plunger
situated above said opening and carrying a platen adapted to register therewith,
and a cutting device opposite said printing slit and operated by said plunger,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
13. In a time-stamp, the combination, with the type-moving mechanism and
a locking pawl therefor, of an actuating pawl engaging and operating the locking
pawl and type-moving mechanism during its forward stroke, said actuating pawl
having a slotted connection with its driving lever, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
14. In a time stamp, the combination of an actuating wheel for the minute-
printing wheel, a cami upon the shaft of said actuating wheel, a lever having a
roller bearing at its end which travels over said cam, a driving lever rocked by
said roller bearing lever, said driving lever having at its free end a slot arranged
obliquely to the length of the lever, and an actuating lever or pawl for the hour
wheel attached to said driving lever by a pin working within said slot, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
15. In a time-stamp, the combination of a separate wheel for each unit of the
date, a rocking device upon each of the lower unit wheels for transmitting
intermittent motion to the wheel of the next higher unit, and a series of levers
having flexible connections, arranged between the lower unit wheel and the next
higher unit wheel.
16. In a time stamp, the combination of a series of wheels each representing a
unit of the date, a cam operated by the shaft of each lower unit wheel for trans-
mitting, through a series of levers, intermittent motion to each higher unit wheel,
roller bearings between said cam and said lever systems, and flexible joints
between the actuating lever and the driving lever of said lever system, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
17. A driving lever for the actuating pawls of intermittent speed mechanism,
having an oblique slot in its outer or driving end substantially as described.
18. In an intermittent power mechanism, the combination of a driving lever
having at its outer end a slot oblique to its length, and an actuating lever joined
thereto by a pin working in said slot, substantially as described.
19. In a time stamp, the combination of a series of actuating levers pivoted to
a series of driving levers and all lying in the same plane, the forward ends of said
actuating levers playing in slots in a single cross piece, and a series of depressing
springs for the said forward ends, said springs being all mounted upon said cross
piece, substantially as described.
20. In a time stamp, the combination of a motor, a series of type-wheels
normally operated by said motor, and means for withdrawing said type-
wheels from operative connection with said motor, said means consisting
substantially of a spring pressed push bar, a lever connected to said push
bar, and a disk or wheel operated by said lever, said disk or wheel
being normally in operative connection with a pin or arm carried by said motor
device substantially as and for the purposes described.
21. In a time stamp, the combination of a toothed wheel, a pin normally in

page_text: engagement between the teeth of said wheel, and a push bar carrying a lever
whose outer end is in operative connection with said toothed wheel, said push
bar being seated upon a spring, substantially as and for the purposes described:
22. A setting attachment for the type-wheels of a time stamp, consisting
substantially of a spring seated push bar extending inwardly from the case of the
time stamp, a lever operated by said push bar, a wheel connected with said lever
and mounted upon the main shaft of the type wheels and adapted to be thrown
into and out of operative relation with the motor device of the time stamp by the
action of said push bar, substantially as and for the purposes described.
23. In a time stamp, the combination of two substantially parallel guides, with
a device or devices for securing the proper longitudinal adjustment of the time-
card.
T
1
101
1
0
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.