Improvements in Apparatus for Recording Times of Employees Entering and Leaving their Employment.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 27th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Recording Times of Employees
Entering and Leaving their Employment.
We, JOHN DEY, M.A., of 102, Temple Street, Syracuse, in the County of
Onondaga, in the State of New York, United States of America, Merchant, and
ALEXANDER DEY, LL.D., of 62, Albert Drive, Pollokshields, in the County of
Glasgow, North Britain, H.M. Inspector of Schools, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
Our invention relates to the class of time recorders which are employed in fac-
tories and other establishments having many employees which are required to
record their times of entering and leaving the establishment. The invention
relates more particularly to the style of workmen's time recorder known as the
Dey workman's time recorder described in Dey's Patent Specifications No. 1614
of 1888 and No. 14075 of 1894 and it consists in certain improvements of the con-
struction and combination of the parts of the apparatus as hereinafter described.
In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the time
recorder and Figure 2, is a side elevation of the mechanism of the recorder, the
case being shown in section. Figure 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism, the
front of the case and the clock being removed. Figure 4 is an enlarged plan of
the recording mechanism, Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the mechanism
for operating the inked ribbon, taken on the line x-r of Figure 2, Figure 6 is
a detail view of the connection of the minute and hour wheels, Figure 7 is a back
elevation of the recording mechanism, Figure 8 is a detail view of the mechanism
for moving and for reversing the movement of the inked ribbon, Figure 9 is a
vertical central transverse view of the recording mechanism when in its normal
position, Figure 10 shows the same when in its operated position, Figure 11 is a
sectional view of the dial and mechanism for indicating the position of the carriage
supporting the type wheels, Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the flexible
extensible shaft for connecting the shaft of the minute wheel of the clock with
the shaft of the minute wheel of the recording mechanism, as shown in Figure 2
of the drawings, and Figure 13 shows a detail.
In the upper front portion of the case A of the apparatus is located the clock
mechanism B, which may be of any suitable known type. The minute-hand
spindle a is utilised for actuating the type wheel C, which prints the minutes of
the hours during which the recordings are made, the hours being printed by a
smaller wheel C¹, which receives motion from the minute wheel C, as hereinafter
described. The minute wheel C is fixed upon a shaft a¹, which is in line with
the spindle a, and is flexibly connected therewith, preferably, by a shaft formed
of thin strips of metal a² crossing each other and pivoted together at their ends
and crossings, in a well known manner, to permit the ends of the shaft to approach
er recede from each other easily, as shown in Figures 2 and 12 of the drawings.
The ends of this jointed extensible shaft are provided with perforated blocks a³,
which are secured upon the said spindle and minute wheel shaft by screws.

page_text: Instead of this particular form of extensible shaft, any suitable connection may
be used that combines the proper degree of flexibility with that of extensibility.
The extensible connection between the shafts is made flexible, or so that it may be
easily twisted slightly and then return to its normal position, to allow the type
wheel C to be turned slightly in one direction or the other to print the number of
minutes properly upon the record-receiving piece or band R¹ when the minute hand
of the clock is not exactly on the minute. The flexible connection also allows the
type wheel to be held without turning while the impression is being made. To
temporarily arrest the movement of said minute wheel for the purpose aforesaid,
we mount on the front side of it another wheel D), which has its periphery formed
with V-shaped notches, the number of notches corresponding to the number of
minutes on the minute wheel, a detent D' thrown into one of the notches as herein-
after described arresting the wheel.
Immediately behind the clock mechanism B is a vertical metal plate or frame A¹
secured upon the upper ends of a pair of posts A2, provided with feet secured to the
bottom of the case. From the upper part of this frame project rearward two
arms b, b, to which are secured the ends of a horizontal crossbar h of a vertical
post H, extending from the bottom of the case near the back thereof. Another
arm or bar b' extends from the said plate A to the post in a horizontal direction
below the drum R carrying the record band.
The minute wheel has types for the numbers from 0 to 60 projecting from its
periphery, and is designed to print the minutes of the time of recording. On a
vertical plate & forming the rear plate of the carriage J of the type wheels, and
in which one end of the shaft a¹ of the minute wheel turns, is mounted a second and
smaller type wheel C, which is the hour-printing wheel having types for the
numbers from 1 to 12 projecting from its periphery. This latter wheel receives
one twelfth of a revolution at the end of each complete revolution of the minute
wheel, by means of devices hereinafter referred to.
Beneath the minute wheel C, and hour wheel C, is the impression roller R,
mounted rigidly but adjustably moveable on a shaft E, which is parallel with the
shaft of the minute wheel and is journaled in the plate A', and post H, and extended
forward through the front of the case A to the operating crank of the machine.
The impression roller or drum R is turned by means of the crank to the desired
position and then the type wheels which are mounted in a cage or carriage J are
depressed to make their impressions on the band R¹ of paper mounted on the
periphery of the roller, and secured thereto by the ends of the band passing through
a slot in the roller and fastened to a clamp R2 inside of the roller.
At the end of each working day, the paper containing the recordings is removed
and a new band is placed upon the roller, when the machine is a daily machine.
When the machine is a weekly one the record band and its roller are made wider
to accomodate a greater number of spaces for recordings, as for instance, 36 side
by side, in which case the record band is removed from its roller at the end of each
week. The roller and record band and corresponding mechanism may be extended
for recording and receiving the records for any number of days desired. It will
be only necessary to provide means for moving the carriage containing the type
wheels and inked ribbon devices a greater distance, depending upon the length
of the roller carrying the record band.
The operating crank consists of two arms c, c extending in opposite directions.
To the end of one of said arms is hinged the lever I, which extends with its free
end beyond the end of the other arm, the latter terminating with a loop e¹, through
which the lever passes. By means of the lever, rotation can be imparted to the
shaft E, and in order to depress the carriage with its type wheels, which is held
supported in a raised position by a pair of coiled springs s, s on opposite sides of a
sleeve S, provided with a pin s mounted on a horizontal threaded shaft S¹, extend-
ing from and turning in the upper end of the vertical post H near the back of the
case, and passing over the frame A¹ and through the front of the case A, a frame P
is journaled on the left-hand arm b, and one of its side bars consisting of a rod B¹,

page_text: which is parallel with and directly below the screwed shaft S' is engaged by one
end of a curved lever j, which is pivoted between lugs j¹, projecting forward from
a recessed plate K, secured to the upper end of the plate A. Secured to the
front side of the plate A¹ midway between the curved lever j, and the crank shaft
are lugs e, e, in which are pivoted the ends of a horizontal bar, L', integral with
a lever L, engaged by one end of the curved lever and extending downward to the
crank or operating shaft E. The crank shaft is hollow at the end extending
through the case front, and in it is a longitudinally moveable plunger g, which
abuts with its outer end against the lever I. On the exterior of the shaft is a
longitudinally moveable collar F, which is connected to the plunger g by a pin g²
passing through a longitudinal slot g¹ in the shaft. The end of the lever L bears
on the rear end of the collar F, and on pressing the free end of the lever I toward
the case the plunger g is pushed inward and carries with it the collar F. This
movement of the collar causes the lever L to move, and in turn move the curved
lever engaging its upper end, and depressing the inner end of the pivoted frame P,
which in its downward movement strikes the carriage J and depresses it, causing
the peripheries of the type wheels C and C to make impression on the paper
band R', mounted on the roller R.
The carriage is moved vertically by depressing the rod B', which lies directly
below and parallel with the screwed shaft S¹. The rod when descending strikes
two points on the carriage simultaneously, which points are directly below the
points on the carriage which engage the ends and shoulders of the tube which
moves longitudinally on the screwed shaft St. By this means the carriage is
kept continually in a vertical position. The extended moveable rod B₁ permits
of the carriage moving horizontally and insures a uniform pressure in every posi-
tion of the carriage. It will be noticed that the springs s s supporting the
carriage are arranged to one side of the centre of the cross-bar of the carriage.
This is done to balance the carriage. When the carriage is being depressed the
pressure on the rod that operates the pawl of the ratchet wheel tends to tilt the
carriage to one side, and this is obviated by connecting the springs, s s slightly
forward of the centre of the said cross-bar. The springs s s are of sufficient
strength to prevent the depression of the carriage J before the ratchet wheel N²
and detent I have moved, this being necessary for clear and accurate printing.
The shoulders near the ends of the tube or sleeve S securely hold the carriage
from lateral movement upon the sleeve, and the pin s passing through the sleeve
enters the spiral groove in the screwed shaft and prevents longitudinal movement
of the sleeve except when the screwed shaft is turned. When the carriage is moved
toward the front of the case, the hand w on the dial V moves in the direction of
the hands of a clock.
In order to produce the impressions of the type wheels upon the paper band R¹
the inked ribbon is interposed between the wheels and the paper. The ribbon
is wound at opposite ends upon spools N N pivoted to suitable supports on the
lower end of the carriage, and by means of guides the ribbon is held normally
out of contact with the paper and peripheries of the type wheels. The said spools
are turned automatically to shift the ribbon longitudinally at each time of
recording. A pinion N forms the inner end of each spool. Between the two
pinions is a horizontal shaft 11, which is supported longitudinally moveable in
suitable bearings secured upon the inner face of one of the plates of the carriage J
and has secured to its pinions 12, which are placed a proper distance apart so that
by shifting the shaft longitudinally, one of the pinions is thrown out of engage-
ment with the adjacent pinion N1, while the other pinion is thrown into engage-
ment with the pinion N¹ adjacent thereto. This shaft receives intermittent
rotatory motion by means of a ratchet wheel N2 secured to the shaft, with which
wheel engages a pawl o¹ formed by a straight wire extending substantially in a
horizontal direction from a projection on the front plate d' of the carriage, and
substantially parallel with the shaft . The pawl o¹ is extended sufficiently,
to permit the movement of the ratchet wheel and shaft without disengaging the

page_text: wheel, and is connected to the lower end of the rod 02; extending substantially
vertically through the cross-bar d² of the carriage to a point immediately beneath
the rod B of the oscillating frame P, which depresses the carriage. The said
vertical rod is guided by the cross-bar d2, and is kept in place on the pawl o' by a
slight depression therein. An extended detent q also engages the ratchet wheel
to prevent back motion. The motion transmitted to the shaft causes one of the
pinions to turn one of the spools a distance equal to the space between two of
the teeth of the ratchet wheel N The pinions are arranged to engage the
pinion N at diametrically opposite points and consequently each of said pinions
imparts to the adjacent spool N motion in opposite direction from that imparted
to the other spool by the adjacent pinion when engaged, hence by shifting the
shaft longitudinally, the motion of the inked ribbon is reversed. The rod o²
may also be utilised for temporarily stopping the rotatory motion of the time-
printing wheels C and C¹ during the operation of recording the time. This stoppage
is effected by the engagement of a projection u on the rod 02 with an irregular
detent D' fulcrumed in the carriage just below the cross-bar d² and extending over
the wheel D having the V-shaped notches. The projection on the rod bears
upon the lower side of the detent, and when raised lifts the lever out of the path
of the notched wheel, but when the rod is lowered, as just prior to the depression of
the carriage J, and its printing wheels the lever is permitted to descend assisted
by a coiled spring which connects it with the frame of the carriage, as shown in
Figure 13 of the drawings. The same result is accomplished by connecting the
detent for the notched wheel, by a link el, with the horizontal rod of the oscil-
lating frame. The said link passes through an aperture in the cross bar of the
carriage. To effect the aforesaid longitudinal movement of the shaft ", and
thereby reverse the motions of the spools, N, N at the time when the ribbon has
been run its limit from one of the spools, we pivot to a post n a three-armed
lever v.
Two arms of this lever extend upward from the pivot and are between
two collars t t fastened to the shaft . The third arm of the lever extends down-
ward and has a pin projecting from its face. Above the shaft is pivoted a yoke t¹,
which has also three arms, one of which extends downward and is slotted longi-
tudinally at its free end and straddles the aforesaid pin on the lever v. The other
two arms extend toward the two spools N N and are provided with guides t
through which the inked ribbon i passes. To this ribbon, near each end thereof
is fastened a barrier ¹, which cannot pass the guide, 2, and in the passage of
the end portion of the ribbon from the spool, the contact of the barrier with the
guide tilts the yoke t¹, and causes the same to swing the lever to one side by
means of the downwardly extending arm of the yoke. In said movement of the
lever, it strikes one of the collars on the shaft 7, and thereby shifts the same
longitudinally and causes one pinion to be thrown out of gear with one of the
spoo's N while throwing the other pinion 2 in gear with the adjacent spool, and
thus the motion of the ribbon i is reversed. To carry the lever past the centre
and partially lock the yoke and lever in their position, the lower end of the lever
is connected by a spring o³ to the yoke near the pivot thereof.
The front plate of the case A is provided with an annular row of sockets r, r
arranged concentrically to the shaft E and from the free end of the lever I pro-
jects a pin I adapted to enter any one of the sockets. These sockets are numbered
consecutively, and each person who is required to use the recorder must adopt one
of the numbers to distinguish him from all others using the same recorder. In
recording the time of entering and leaving the place of business, each employee
must turn the lever I so as to bring the pin I' opposite the number by which he
is identified. Then by pushing the lever toward the case A, the plunger gis
actuated to arrest the movement of the minute wheel C and depress the carriage J
with its printing wheels C and C¹ to print the time upon the paper mounted on
the impression roller R. The paper is so arranged on the roller as to bring
directly under the printing wheel C that number marked upon the paper which corre-
sponds to the number of the socket r, which is entered by the pin I' in the operation of

page_text: the lever I. In order to allow the recordings during different periods of the day to
be made distinctly upon the band of paper R¹ we make the latter and its carrying
roller R of sufficient width to allow the different times of recording to be printed
in rows opposite the respective numbers marked on the paper; and to allow the
type wheels to be shifted laterally and thus permit the printing to be done at
different points in the width of the paper, we mount the type wheels C and C
and the inked ribbon mechanism on a carriage, as before mentioned, and this
carriage is moved on a guide rod e¹, and on the screwed shaft S', which is turned
by a small crank S2, on its end projecting through the front of the case.
To indicate clearly the position of the carriage with respect to the roller, we
place a dial V in the front of the case A, below the operating shaft, and arrange
numerals on the dial to indicate the different positions of the carriage, there being
preferably six positions for a daily machine and usually thirty-six for a weekly
one. Figure 1 on the said carriage dial indicates the point to which the hand
should point when the employees enter in the morning; 2 indicates the point to
which the hand should extend when the employees make their recordings at noon ;
3, when they return in p.m.; 4, when they pass out, say at 5 or 6 o'clock p.m.;
and Figures 5 and 6 are for the coming in and going out respectively when on
extra time. The hand w for the said dial is mounted on a spindle provided with
a spring w, which is secured by one end to the yoke f, in which the spindle turns.
The spindle is provided with a grooved pulley f and a cord f2 connects the
pulley with an arm k projecting to the left from the upper part of the carriage,
the cord passing over a small grooved pulley k¹ secured to the inner side of the
front of the case. The hour wheel C has types showing the numbers from 1 to 12
projecting from the periphery, and receives one-twelfth of a revolution at the end
of each complete revolution of the minute wheel C. This is effected by a pin p
projecting from the minute wheel and during the rotation of the latter engaging a
ratchet wheel pl fastened to the side of the hour wheel which is journaled on a
stud secured to the rear plate d of the carriage. A detent X attached to the plate d
and engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel prevents backward or undue movement
of the hour wheel.
Instead of the particular arrangement of roller for carrying the record band R',
any other suitable and known means may be employed to support and move the
said band. The bell G is secured upon the inner side of the plate A', and the
bell hammer M is pivoted to the said plate above the bell. Said hammer is
operated by a rod y extending downward from the arm P¹ on the oscillating
frame P to which the coiled spring T is attached which returns the said frame to
its normal position. The bell-rod is provided with a catch on its lower end which
engages a projection on the bell hammer arm when the former is raised, and while
rising the hammer is released, causing it to fall and strike the bell, its fall being
assisted by the spring Q. The roller R is adjustable longitudinally on the shaft E,
as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, by means of a screwz passing through the
hub of the roller and impinging upon the face of a collar E', rigidly fixed to the
shaft near the hub, and a flat piece F slightly wedge-shaped between the flat
side of the shaft and the flat side of the head of the screw. This wedge-shaped
piece not only prevents the roller from turning on the shaft, but it prevents the
screw from turning. To adjust the roller on the shaft, the wedge must be removed
before the screw z can be turned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a time recorder of the kind to which the invention relates, the combination
of a drum or holder carrying a numbered paper band, and turnable or movable
by a hand lever to bring any number to the top or position for receiving impres-
sions from time types (but not movable axially), with type wheels moved by a
clock and held in a carriage movable transversely to the band by means of a

page_text: screw spindle or equivalent, so that the time indications may be printed in columns
on successive parts of the width of the band, the type-wheel carriage having
combined with it mechanism for depressing it to produce the time impressions,
mechanism to keep the type wheels in connection with the clock notwithstanding
the movements of the carriage, and mechanism to keep the type wheels from
turning whilst printing, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
2. The connection between a spindle of the clock and a spindle of the movable
type-wheel carriage, consisting of a series of jointed crossing pieces which allow
of lengthening and shortening and are resiliently flexible, together with a cross-
slide coupling to accommodate the small vertical movement of the carriage,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination of mechanism for depressing the type-wheel carriage, and
mechanism for temporarily preventing the minute type wheel from turning, with
the hand lever for turning or moving the band drum or holder into position for
receiving a time impression, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Seventh day of November 1898.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.