Improvements in Time-recording Machines and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Time-recording Machines and the like.
We, MORTON BLENCOWE COTTERELL, Electrical Engineer, and PERCY GARNISS
EBBUTT, Electrical Engineer, both of Plume Works, Aston, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Most time recording and similar machines are extremely complicated, delicate,
and expensive, and are limited as to the number of workpeople that can be
registered thereby and also as to the number which can be registered in a given
time. In most systems of time checking already in use there is also a consider-
able risk of mistake either by error or fraud.
Our invention is calculated to remove these defects and to supply an automatic
time. recorder or similar machine which shall be at once speedy, cheap, reliable,
and unlimited as to the number of tickets or other articles to be printed.
According to our invention when used as a time recorder for work-people we
provide a machine having a number of wheels so arranged that upon power being
applied to one or more of them it is imparted to them all and a series of rollers
bearing dies, type, punches, or any other suitable printing or marking appliance
provided with a self-inking apparatus when necessary is brought into action.
The impression of the dies, type or other marking devices is printed onto tickets
that are fed into the machine by the workpeople as they pass, the feeding taking
place through an aperture provided for that purpose which may be fitted with
mechanical or other means to assist the entrance of the tickets.
In one form of our invention the arrangement of the mechanism is as herein-
after described:-
-
Pivotted in a frame or in other bearings are certain shafts or spindles the first
series of which carries rollers wheels or other devices rovolving toward each other
or similar apparatus calculated to grip and carry forward a ticket or other article.
Another series of spiu'lles is provided with wheels rollers or other suitable
apparatus bearing type, dies, punches, or other printing or marking appliances
which print or mark upon the ticket or other article as it is fed through the
machine. When ink is required this is of a special nature and is obtained from
other rollers or reservoirs.
The various spindles are geared together by cogs, bands, or other suitable con-
nections and are driven by the application of clockwork or other power.
Where clockwork is used the printing rollers or other devices may be so
arranged that they print upon the tickets the time indicated by the clock or there-
abouts within a prearranged limit.
It is to be understood that the small amount of power required to drive the

page_text: machine may be obtained by the application of clockwork, springs, weights,
electricity, water, heat, or other sources.
Dated this 13th day of November 1897.
MORTON BLENCOWE COTTERELL.
PERCY GARNISS EBBUTT.
improvements in Time-recording Machines and the like.
We, MORTON BLENCOWE COTTERELL, Electrical Engineer, and PERCY GARNISS
EBBUTT, Electrical Engineer, both of Plume Works, Aston, in the County of
Warwick, 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:-
This invention is an improved machine for recording time, date, and other data,
by marking or impressing symbols or other prearranged devices upon a ticket
or slip which is adapted to be inserted into it by a person who it is desired to have
a check upon, and it is applicable either in the sense of checking the person deposit-
ing the ticket, or a person who is supposed to place on record the time the person
deposits such ticket.
The machine according to this invention is automatic in its action, speedy in
its work, unlimited as to the number of records it makes, and reliable in the sense
that it is almost impossible that any mistake can be made when recording the
insertion of the ticket or label, as, in the latter case, the person inserting the ticket
or label is able to clearly see what data will be recorded upon it.
The said
machine is calculated to be extremely useful for recording and checking work-
men's time, as it is only necessary that the workmen when passing in and out
shall insert into the machine, through a slot, a ticket or label, which shall be
provided him and have upon it a known number, to place on record, without any
possibility of any fraud being practiced upon him, the time at which he comes
to and returns from his work; it being understood that an indicating device which
is combined with the machine allows of the workman seeing what is to be recorded
upon the ticket he inserts.
The machine according to this invention is characterized by the following parts:
A. number of wheels which are set up on their peripheries with type or other
marking devices, and which are adapted to be brought to work in combination
with each other so as to nip the inserted ticket and pass it between them, and
which are also capable of being interchanged the one to the other; a driving gear
which is adopted to rotate the aforesaid marking wheels from a source of power
such as a running-down train of wheels or an electric motor; an inking appliance
which can be brought into action with the marking wheels so as to set up their
typed peripheries (if such are used) with ink; an indicating mechanism by which
the person inserting the ticket or label can ascertain before inserting what will
be printed or impressed upon the said ticket; and a casing which encloses the
whole of the mechanism, and to which is fitted a feed tube for the insertion of the
tickets and a draw or receptacle for receiving them after having passed through
the machine.
It will be obvious that the machine according to this invention can be arranged
with its primary parts combined in various forms according to what is required
to be inserted into the machine and also what is required to be recorded; but
in order that this invention may be clearly understood it will be hereinafter particu-

page_text: larly described in connection with a machine for recording workmen's time,
reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein a desirable
arrangement of the primary parts of the invention is shown. In the said sheet
of drawings the machine is shown in longitudinal section in Fig. 1, in transverse
vertical section in Fig. 2, and in top side plan on a reduced scale in Fig. 3.
Figs. 4, 5, & 6, show some of the important parts of the machine separately.
In the recording machine set forth by the figs. of the sheet of drawings the
marking wheels a which are twelve in number, are mounted to freely rotate on
horizontal axes disposed on the boundaries of two carrier plates c, d, which are
in their turn carried by rotatable spindles c, d, the last named being suitably
supported from the enclosing casing 6 of the machine by tubular brackets c³, d³,
one of which is connected to a divisional wall, 62, within the said casing, and the
other to the casings top or cover 63. The said marking wheels a, which have their
peripheries set up with type, are arranged so that six of them are carried by the
plate c and six by the plate d, and also so that the wheels on the one plate can
meet and come in line with the wheels upon the other plate, one at a time, and be
worked adjacent to each other and to a feed tube e, disposed within the top part 63
of the casing so as to depend into the interior; so that a ticket which is passed
down the said tube, e, will pass between the typed peripheries of the aforesaid
adjacent pair of marking wheels, be drawn into the interior of the machine, be
printed upon, and let fall into a draw or receptacle provided in the machine's
body to receive it. This draw or receptacle is indicated in dotted lines at
in Figs. 1, and 2. The marking wheels on the one carrier plate are set up with
type to represent the days of a working week, and the marking wheels upon the
other carrier plate are set up with type to represent the hours at which workmen
come and leave their work, and each marking wheel is so carried that it can be
brought into and held in a position to work in combination with either of the
marking wheels upon that carrier plate to which it, itself, is not connected; so
that six different times (such as 6 o'clock, 6-30, 7 o'clock, 7.30, 9 o'clock and
2 o'clock) can be marked on the ticket on any one of six different working days.
The means shown in the drawings to allow of the interchangeability of the
marking wheels, so that the different combinations herein before referred to can
be obtained on the different carrier plates (the one wheel to the other), consists
in mounting the spindles c, d, of the plates c, d, so that they have a straight
line longitudinal movement in their tubular brackets, and fitting to the said
carrier plates a number of holes c d and stop pegs cd, the latter being carried
by the enclosing casing and being adopted to engage the said holes one by one.
The setting of the stop pegs and holes are such as to ensure the carrier plates c,
being held in a position which will bring the marking wheels, carried by them,
in line with each other under the feed tube e when a pair of the said wheels are
at work. To change the marking wheels so as to obtain the printing of any
record in the combination, either of the spindles c, d, or both, as the case may
be, are lifted by hand until their carrier plates are freed from engagement with
the stop pegs, when the said spindles, and the carrier plates with them, can be
turned or partly rotated until the pair of marking wheels desired are brought
opposite the feed tube e, when the spindles c, d, are allowed to fall so that one
of the holes c, d, engage the respective stop pegs; it being understood that there
is in each of the carrier plates a hole for each marking wheel.
d
The driving means for the marking wheels, a, is shown as a friction gear
consisting of rotatable drums g, g, h, h³, their peripheries being preferably formed
with semi-soft-materials.
The drums g, h, carry on
their surfaces the supply of ink for the
marking rollers, and the intermediate drums g³, h², constitute the actual inking
rollers for carrying the necessary ink from the rollers g, h, to the wheels a as well
as the means for driving. The drums are mounted within bracket portion g³, h³,
standing up from the divisional wall, 63, in the enclosing casing, and the

page_text: drums g, h, are shown geared up by toothed wheels g, h, carried upon their
shafts; so that if motion is communicated to the drum g, the drum h is also
turned, but in a reverse direction. The pair of marking wheels adjacent to the
feed tube, e, rest with their peripheries upon the drums g, h, and are held well
in frictional contact by the coiled springs m, m2, which are fitted to the
spindles c², d², so as to exert a pulling down tendency thereon; the inking
drums g³, h³, being mounted in the bracket so that they in their turn are in
good frictional contact with the surfaces of the drums g, h. The drum g, can be
driven by clockworks or other motive power so as to keep the pair of marking
wheels adjacent to the feed tube constantly working in the direction of the
arrows.
The means for indicating to the workman what will be printed upon the ticket
or card he inserts consist of a pair of discs i, n, one of which is fitted to each of
the carried plates upon which are mounted the marking wheels, and each disc is
connected to its carrier plate, so as to rotate with it, by a coupling pin o which
engages a hole o², in the said carrier plate. These indicating discs are disposed
near the top of the enclosing casing of the machine, and are so carried that some
part of them rotate within the limits of sight holes, 23, n2, formed within the top
or cover of the machine's casing; so that various matter which is carried upon one
of their faces, and which corresponds exactly with what is upon the peripheries
of the pair of marking wheels adjacent to the feed tube e, can be clearly seen
through the said sight holes. Thus, for example; assuming the marking wheels
adjacent to the feed tube e, form between them Monday, 7.30, the indicating
discs i, n, would display through the sight holes also Monday, 7.30,-Monday
on the one disc, and 7.30 on the other. One on such discs, setting forth the
working day on its face, will be clearly seen in Fig. 5, and the marking rollers
to correspond with it in Fig. 4; in Fig. 5 and Figs. 1, and 2, representing the
indicating matter.
The general dispositions of the sight holes, the feed tube, and the indicating
discs, are diagrammatically shown by Fig. 3.
The machine described requires very little attention; it being only necessary
to adjust the marking rollers to the different times at which the workman is
desired to be checked, and to connect the said machine to some means for import-
ing movement to its driving gear.
In the machine set forth, it has been arranged that the ticket shall be printed
upon on both its sides, the one set of marking wheels on the one carrier plate
being responsible for the day, and the other set upon the other carrier plate being
responsible for the time of the day; but the same effect could be obtained by
using only one series of marking wheels and an abutment wheel common to all,
the said abutment wheel being carried in a suitable way and disposed under the
feed tube e, so as to come opposite to the working wheel and work in conjunction
with it; in this case the ticket would be printed upon one side only, and one
indicating disc only would be used.
In Fig. 6, is shown a convenient way of connecting the marking wheels a,
to their carrier plates. This method allows of the marking wheels being easily
removed from the said carrier plates and again placed in position, and will allow
a small size machine to be capable of forming numerous recording combinations.
It will be obvious that the primary parts of the machine according to invention
can be arranged in various practical ways so as to produce the result attained in
the arrangement of machine described, and that instead of the inserted tickets
being printed upon as set forth, they may be pierced pinched punched or impressed.
If desired, a pair of feed wheels may work in the feed tube in advance of the
marking wheels, but for all practical purposes this is not anticipated.
If the changing of the marking wheels, so as to set up a different combination,
should be required to be done mechanically, the spindles c, d, carrying the said
marking wheels, may be connected with a clock mechanism, which either releases

page_text: the said spindles, or turns them, at certain pre-arranged times; so that as the
time of the clock mechanism alters so will the combination set up by the marking
wheels.
In machines used for other purposes than for recording time or date, such for
example as rough-printing tickets, slips or labels, or for checking the admission
of persons into a building by a particular or numbered door, (such as door A) the
construction and arrangement of all the primary parts is practically the same as
those already described, other than the marking wheels having their peripheries
set up with the type corresponding to the particular matter to be recorded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
First A time or like recording machine in which the essential features are a
combination of suitable marking wheels which are carried on rotatable and adjust-
able spindles so as to be interchangeable, a suitable driving means for operating
the said marking wheels, a feed tube arranged so as to lead to the nip of the
said marking wheels for the passage thereto of a ticket or the like, and an enclos-
ing casing wherein and whereon the whole of the aforesaid parts are located and
arranged, substantially as described.
Second: In time and like recording machines, the combination of suitable
marking wheels which are carried so as to be interchangeable, a suitable means
for operating the said marking wheels, a feed tube arranged so as to lead to the
nip of the said marking wheels, an indicator which is interchangeable with the
said marking wheels, and an enclosing casing wherein the whole of the aforesaid
parts are located, substantially as described and set forth.
Third: In time and like recording machines, the combination of marking
wheels mounted upon and carried by rotatable spindles so as to be interchangeable
one to the other in sets, indicating means operated from the carrying means of
the marking wheels, means for rotating the said marking wheels, a feed tube
arranged so as to lead into the said marking wheels, and a suitable enclosing casing
having sight holes form therein, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourth In time and like recording machines, the combination with a suitable
enclosing casing, of parallel spindles adjustably mounted therein, a carrier.
plate fixed upon each spindle, a series of marking wheels mounted upon each
carrier plate, devices for rotating the said marking wheels, a feed tube located
within the enclosing casing so as to lead to the said marking wheels. and an
indicating appliance arranged in conjunction with each of the said spindles, sub-
stantially as set forth in Figs. 1, to 5.
Fifth In time and like recording machines, the combination of an enclosing
casing b, provided with sight holes 2, n², parallel spindles c, d, mounted within
said casing so as to rotate and slide, carrier plates c, d, fixed upon the said spindles
and carrying a series of marking wheels a, a feed tube e disposed within the said
casing so as to lead to the marking wheels, inking and driving devices adapted to
work the said marking wheels from a motive power and supply their surfaces with
ink, and indicating discs i, n, connected to the spindles c, d, so as to be rotated
therewith in proximity to the sight holes as aforesaid, substantially as set forth
in Figs. 1, to 5.
Sixth In time and like recording machines, the combination of an enclosing
casing b, parallel spindles c³, & adjustably mounted and sliding therein and
carrying marking wheels a, means, &, for holding the said spindles in their
adjusted positions, driving and inking gear g, g, h, h², for rotating the said mark-
ing wheels, and a feed tube, e, disposed in the enclosing casing so as to lead
between the said marking wheels, substantially as set forth in Figs. 1, and 2.
Seventh In time and like recording machines, the combination with the

page_text: marking wheels and their driving and inking appliances 9, g³, h, h³, of
springs m, m³, fitted to the adjustable and shifting spindles carrying the said
marking wheels, substantially as set forth.
1
14th
August 1908
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also of Liverpool, London and Manchester,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.