IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKMEN'S CHECKING APPARATUS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company,
Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKMEN'S CHECKING APPARATUS."
A communication from Richard Bürk, of Schwenningen, in the Empire of
Germany.
Sealed the 7th October 1879, and dated the 30th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April 1879.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKMEN'S
CHECKING APPARATUS." A communication from Richard Bürk, of Schwenningen,
in the Empire of Germany.
The Invention has for its object to replace the control of the doorkeeper by an
automatic controlling apparatus, which gives a graphic account of the time when
each workman enters the establishment, and the time when he leaves it. It consists
in combining a turnstile with a movable marking instrument, or pencil, and a
movable sheet in the following manner-To the axle of a (preferably four armed)
turnstile a disc is attached, provided at its circumference with (four) slots, in one of
which rests a projection of a movable locking lever, so as to prevent the turning of
the disc. The person who enters the stile pushes back a button or knob, thereby
allowing the said lever to be lifted up by a spring, and to disengage the disc.
Simultaneously with depressing the button the person turns a hand or indicator
attached to a sleeve, which works on the same axis as the button, until the hand
points to the number of the workman on the dial plate over which it moves, this
turning motion being shared by a cylinder forming the continuation of the axis of
the button, and having at its circumference a helicoidal groove. This groove receives
a pin, which by the revolving motion of the fixed cylinder travels parallel to the
axis of the latter and takes with it the holder of a pencil or marking instrument,
so as to give the latter a position in front of a marking sheet, which corresponds to
the position of the indicator on the dial, or to the number of the workman. Every
interval between two slots on the circumference of the said disc is provided with a
Doll

page_text: pin, and when the person leaves the turnstile the nearest pin moves an angle lever,
which acts upon the said pencil holder in the direction of its axis, so as to produce
the control mark on the diagram sheet, the pencil holder being brought back to its
original position by a spring as soon as the pin has passed the said angle lever. The
rim of the turnstile disc is provided with curved cuttings pressing upon a pin attached
to the bottom of a rod, into a recess of which the end of the locking lever enters.
The upper part of this rod abuts against a disc on the axis of the button, this disc
holding down the rod and the locking lever until, on the arrival of another work-
man, it is pushed back by the button in order to release the turnstile as described.
The diagram sheet may be mounted on a drum, and divided into horizontal lines
indicating the hours, and vertical lines indicating the numbers of workmen, but it
is preferred to fix it upon a frame provided with a rack and moved by clock work,
which alternately lifts the frame and allows it to fall alter having reached its highest
position. In order to discern the entrance marks from the exit marks, two marking
instruments are applied, which produce different marks, both pencils being worked
by the described angle lever, one when the turnstile moves to the right, and the
other when it moves to the left.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th October
1879.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKMEN'S
A communication from Richard Bürk, of Schwenningen,
CHECKING APPARATUS."
in the Empire of Germany.
This
The Invention has for its object to replace the control of the doorkeeper by an
automatic controlling apparatus, which gives a graphic account of the time when
each workman enters the establishment, and the time when he leaves it. It consists
in combining a turnstile with a movable working instrument or pencil, and a
movable recording sheet in the following manner-To the axle (a preferably
four armed) turnstile a wheel or disc is attached, provided at its circumference with.
(four) slots, in one of which rests a projection of a movable locking lever, so as to
prevent the turning of the disc. The person who enters the stile pushes back a
button or knob, thereby allowing the said lever to be lifted up by a spring and to
disengage the disc. Simultaneously with depressing the button the person turns a
hand or indicator attached to a sleeve, which works on the same axis as the button,
until the hand points to the number of the workmen on the dial plate over which
it moves, this turning motion being shared by a cylinder forming the continuation.
of the axis of the button, and having at its circumference a helical groove.
groove receives a pin, which by the revolving motion of the fixed cylinder travels
parallel to the axis of the latter, and takes with it the holder of a pencil or marking
instrument, so as to give the latter a position in front of a marking sheet, which
corresponds to the position of the indicator on the dial, or to the number of the
workman. Every interval between two slots on the circumference of the said disc
is provided with a pin, and when the person leaves the turnstile the nearest pin
moves an angle lever, which acts upon the said pencil holder in the direction of its
axis, so as to produce the control mark on the diagram sheet, the pencil holder
being brough back to its original position by a spring as soon as the pin has passed
the said angle lever. The rim of the turn-stile disc is provided with curved cuttings
pressing upon a pin attached to the bottom of a rod, into a recess of which the end
of the locking lever enters. The upper part of this rod abuts against a disc on the
axis of the button, this disc holding down the rod and the locking lever until, on
the arrival of another workman, it is pushed back by the button in order to release
the turnstile as described. The diagram sheet may be mounted on a drum and
divided into horizontal lines indicating the hours, and vertical lines indicating the
numbers of workmen, but it is preferred to fix it upon a frame provided with a
rack and moved by a clock work, which alternately lifts the frame and allows it to
fall after having reached its highest position. In order to discern the entrance
marks from the exit marks two marking instruments are applied, which produce
different marks, both pencils being worked by the described angle lever, one when
the turnstile moves to the right, and the other when it moves to the left. The
accompanying Drawing will serve to illustrate a practical mode of performing the
Invention. The apparatus is shown attached to a four armed turnstile at the
entrance of the establishment. To the arms A or wheel B is attached, proved with
four cuts or slots a; in one of these rests a lever C movable in a vertical direction,
whereby the turning of the stile is prevented. In order to free the latter the
button D is pressed in, and carries back the disc E, thus allowing the bolt F to bo
thrown up by the spring e; the lever C, resting with its one end in the bolt F, is
also carried upwards and lifted out of the slot a. At the same time as the workman
presses the button he turns the hand G by the button D to his number on the face
plate, said number corresponding to his factory number. This turning is conveyed
to the cylinder H, which moves the working pencil carrier J to a position on the

page_text: diagram corresponding to the said number, the carrier being connected by a guide b
to the groove cut in the cylinder. As the workman passes out of the stile, the pin
Cattached to the wheel B presses against the angle lever K and puts the lever.
mechanism L in operation, thus pressing the marking pencil M against the diagram
and making the control mark. As soon as the pin C has passed under the angle
lever K, the spring f brings the lever mechanism L, and with it the pencil M, into
their original position. As the stile turns the bolt F is drawn down by a pin
attached at its lower end, which rests against the lower rim of the wheel B, said
lower rim being provided with suitable curved cuts. The disc E, propelled by the
spring d, comes thus into its original position and holds the bolt F down. The
lever C can now sink down again into one of the cuts a, and prevent the further
turning of the stile until another workman comes and repeats the operation as
before described. A drum can be used to carry the diagram sheet, which is divided
by horizontal lines into hours and parts of hours, and by vertical lines for the
number of workmen it is intended to control, these numbers being the same as those
on the face plate; in order however the more easily to remove, as well as to be able
to observe the diagram at any time the same is attached to a frame N provided
with a ratchet bar, which gearing into a clock work mechanism, continually lifts the
frame, and with it the diagram; a disengaging mechanism is also provided, which
allows the frame to fall on arriving at the highest point, when the re-lifting begins
again. The control marks consist of holes or indentations made by the control
pencil in the diagram. In order to distinguish the coming in marks from the going
out marks, two marking peucils are provided with different shaped ends, one round,
o, the other a cross, +; these two pencils are each attached to a lever mechanism L
and L', both being worked by the angle lever K, as before described, but only one
at a time, that is to say, one when the wheel B moves to the right, and the other
when it moves to the left. The apparatus can be furnished with clock mechanism
and dial for serving as a factory clock. Claims. The combination of an automatic
liberating and locking turnstile, with the marking of a number or other device.
The automatic marking of two control pencils, the one for passage inwards, the
other for passage out. The movement imparted to the control pencils by the spiral
groove. The use of a frame provided with a rack for shifting the diagram; all
substantially in the manner and for the purpose as described, illustrated, and set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand and