Improvements in Chronographic Mechanism for Recording Times of Arrivals and Departures of Workmen and for other Analogous Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
Improvements in Chronographic Mechanism for Recording Times of
Arrivals and Departures of Workmen and for other Analogous
Purposes.
I, ALEXANDER DEY, of 48 Nithsdale Drive, Pollokshields, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, H.M. Inspector of Schools, do hereby declare the nature of
this Invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to combine with any convenient kind
of clock, improved and simple mechanism for recording times of arrivals and
departures of workmen, and which is applicable for other analogous purposes.
My improved mechanism is arranged to operate by printing on a ribbon of paper
a succession of records each consisting of numerals denoting the time at which the
record has been made together with other nunerals or letters, denoting a particular
workman, and also whether the record is that of an arrival or departure.
The printing of the numerals denoting the times is effected by means of two type
wheels one of which is turned by the minute arbor of the clock, whilst the other
prints the hour, being turned step by step by a counter device once an hour. The
impression is taken by lifting the ribbon up into contact with the types at the
bottom of the type wheels. In order that the time-recording type wheels may be
kept steady in a proper position for printing there is turning with them a wheel or
disk made with angular teeth and when an impression is being taken an angular
piece is moved into contact with the disk and temporarily adjust and holds it ;
whilst to prevent interference with the clock movement the time-recording type.
wheels with their angular-toothed disk are connected to the minute arbor by a
spring.
Mounted so as to turn concentrically with the time-recording type wheels, there
are two or more other type wheels for printing numerals or letters, denoting separate
workmen or other individuals or things; and these type wheels are moved by ineans
of levers which are fitted with index points to work over graduated scales arranged
In making the apparatus operate, supposing a
at the front of the instrument.

page_text: workman passes the instrument the person in charge or the workman himself will
first by means of their levers and index points move the workman-denoting type
wheels to points on the scales corresponding to his number, one of the levers being
turned to the right or to the left accordingly as it is an arrival or departure that is to
be recorded. The person in charge next moves a small hand lever which causes the
record to be impressed upon the ribbon.
་
The precise mechanical details by which the various movements are effected may
be varied but in a simple and convenient modification the graduated scales are arranged
over the clock face and the small hand lever is placed above them. This hand
lever, by means of a bar or link at the back of the clock, raises a small block which
pushes the paper ribbon up into contact with the types. Before the paper is thus
raised, however, the block by means of an arm and pin acting on a bellcrank lever
moves a small inking roller across in contact with the types then at the bottoms of
the type wheels. The inking roller is made of or covered with absorbent material
and is charged with a suitable ink; it is held by a pendulous arm which is made to
swing across by the bellerank lever. The block returns by the action of a spring when
the hand lever is let go and moves the inking roller back again.
The paper ribbon is drawn off a roller to which a suitable tension is applied and
passing across under the type wheels proceeds over a take-up roller upon which it is
pressed by a small upper roller, the ribbon being finally wound up on a frictionally
driven roller. The take-up roller is moved a step after each record has been printed
by means of a ratchet wheel moved by means of a lever and spring pawl worked by
the block which is moved by the hand lever.

page_text: I, ALEXANDER DEY, of 48 Nithsdale Drive, Pollokshields, in the County of
Renfrew, 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 particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to combine with any convenient kind of clock,
improved and simple mechanism for recording times of arrivals and departures of
workmen, and which is applicable for other analogous purposes.
My improved mechanism is arranged to operate by printing on a ribbon of paper a
succession of records, each consisting of numerals denoting the time at which the
record has been made, together with other numerals or letters, denoting a particular
workman, and also whether the record is that of an arrival or departure.
A chronographic recorder as made according to my Invention is shown on three
accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings, figure, 1, sheet, 1, being a front
elevation, figure, 2, sheet, 2, a vertical section as at right angles to figure, 1, and
figure,, a back elevation as with several parts removed. Figures, 4, 5, and 6,
sheet, 3, are an inside elevation, an edge view, and a back elevation, of parts for
printing the times and parts connected therewith; and figures, 7, and 8, are a back
elevation, and a vertical section, of parts for printing the workmen's numbers.
these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated, excepting the numerals round the upper part of figure, 1,
these being numerals corresponding to the several workmen whose arrivals and
departures are to be recorded.
In
The works of the clock, which it is not necessary to show in section or to describe
in detail. are contained in a circular case. 9, projecting at the front of the main
casing, 10, of the recording mechanism. The arbor, 11, of the minute hand of the
clock is made to extend back from the clock case, 9, through the main casing, 10, and
on it are carried type wheels and other wheels.
The printing of the numerals denoting the times is effected by means of two type
wheels, one of which, 12, is turned by the minute arbor, 11, whilst the other, 18,
prints the hour, being turned step by step by a counter device hereinafter explained.
The impression is taken by lifting the paper ribbon, 14, up into contact with the types
at the bottom of the type wheels. In order that the minute-recording type wheel. 12,

page_text: may be kept steady in proper position for printing there is turning with it, the two
being fixed on a tubular spindle, 15, which is loose on the minute arbor, 11, a wheel
. or disk, 16, made with angular teeth, and when an impression is being taken an
angular piece, 17, is moved into contact with the disk. 16, and entering between two
teeth adjusts and holds it; whilst, to prevent interference with the clock movement
the disk, 16, is connected to the minute arbor, 11, by a blade spring, 18, which has
its inner end fixed in a boss fast on the arbor, its outer end being entered into a saw
cut in a pin fixed to the outer part of the disk, 16. The type wheel, 13, for printing
the hour numerals is carried loosely on a stud projecting inwards from a frame
piece, 19, and has in the same piece with or fixed to it an escapement wheel, 20, and
a pinion. The pinion gears with teeth on a disk, 21. which has applied to it a watch
spring, 22, arranged to move the type wheel, 13, step by step when the escapement
device allows it to do so. The spring, 22, can be wound up when required by means
of a key applied to a square arbor, to which there is fixed a ratchet wheel, 23, acted
on by a spring pawl. The escapement device consists of two detents upon the lower
ends of two blade springs, 24, fixed at their upper ends to the frame piece. 19. These
spring detenis, 24, are acted on by pins, 25, fixed to the minute type wheel, 12, and
made with bevilled ends so as when encountering the spring detents, 24, to act on
suitably placed projections on them and press them aside. The pins, 25, are fixed
in diametrically opposite positions, and one acts on one detent, 24, when the minute
hand is at 60, the other pin acting on the other detent when the minute hand is at 30.
By the action of one detent, 24, the escapement wheel, 20, is allowed to turn but
only to the extent of half a tooth space, the other detent then holding it; and when
the other detent moves aside in its turn, the wheel, 20, moves to the extent of another
half tooth space the first detent then holding it from moving further. There being
thus two movements of the hour type wheel, 13, for each complete turn of the
minute type wheel. 12, there are two similar types for each numeral on the hour
type wheel.
There are two type wheels, 26, 27, for the workmen's numerals or marks, these
being mounted loosely on the tubular spindle, 15, between the minute type wheel, 12,
and the angular-toothed steadying wheel, 16, fixed on that. spindle. These
(workmen's) type wheels. 26, 27, are formed with angular teeth, 28 (figure 7) to be
acted on by the angular steadying piece, 17, and thereby insure accurate alignment
of the several types when an impression is being taken. Arms, 29, 30, made with
arc-shaped parts to clear the steadying piece, 17, and details connected with it, are
attached to the (workmen's) type wheels, 26, 27, and have fixed to them handles and
index points the shanks of which pass through arc-shaped slots, 33, 34, in the front
of the main casing, 10, so that they can be moved to any of the numerals marked
on the outside over the slots, 33, 34. When a record is to be printed either the
workman entering or leaving or an attendant moves the handle, 32, to the workman's
unit numeral, to the left if passing in and to the right in passing out. This action
moves the type wheel, 27, so as to bring the corresponding type to the bottom, a star
or other mark being combined with the types provided for recording departures.
If the workmar's number is higher than 9, the other handle. 31, is also moved and
causes a corresponding movement of the other (workinen's) type wheel, 26.
the parts made as shown in the drawings numbers up to 209, can be used; it will
however be obvious, that one or more additional type wheels may be used with
corresponding numerals on the front of the casing, 10, when the instrument is required
for a larger number of workmen.
With
The handles, 31, 32, or one of them having been set as described a handle, 35, at
the top of the instrument is next drawn down and causes the printing of the record
by means of mechanism yet to be described.
The paper ribbon, 14, is placed in the instrument in the form of a roll which is
carried on a stud, 36, and frictional pressure to keep the ribbon in proper tension is
applied by means of a blade, 37, which is drawn up against the bottom of the roll- by
a spring, 88, placed on a vertical rod or wire, 39, the Tower end of which serves as a

page_text: a
guide for the blade, 37. From the roll the paper ribbon, 14, passes up to and over
guide rod or roller, 40, and thence horizontally across under the type wheels, 12, 13,
26, 27, to a pair of drawing rollers, 41, 42, finally passing out through a slit in the
side of the casing, 10. The rollers, 41, 42, are pressed together by springs, and the
lower roller, 41, is moved to draw forward the paper after the printing of each record,
by means of a ratchet wheel at one of its ends, and acted on by a pawl, 43, jointed
to a lever, 44, the pawl being kept against the ratchet wheel by a spring, 45.
When the front end of the handle, 35, at the top of the instrument is drawn down
its back end raises a vertical rod, 46, at the back of the instrument. The lower end
of this back rod, 46, is fixed by a horizontal bar, 47, to a short inner vertical rod, 48,
working in guides in guides in iwo brackets, 49, 50. The upper end of the inner
vertical rod is broadened and has fixed to the top of it a piece of rubber or other
suitable slightly compressible material for bearing up against the paper ribbon, 14.
When the rod, 48, rises it lifts the paper ribbon, 14, up into contact with the type wheels
On the handle, 35, being
and thereby causes an impression to be made on the paper.
let
go: a strong helical spring, 51, on the inner vertical rod, 48, and below the lower
guide bracket, 49, causes the rod, 48, to descend, and a fork, 52, fixed on the rod
then by acting on the lever, 44, and pawl, 43, causes the drawing roller, 41, to move
forward the paper ribbon, 14. The back vertical rod, 46, descends at the same time
and by pins on it depresses the back forked end of a lever, 53, the inner end of
which lifts up the angular steadying piece, 17, so as to set the various type wheels
free to turn. This steadying piece, 17, is guided in a little bracket, 54, and is made
with a spindle extending up through an upper bracket. 55, between which and a nut
screwed on the spindle there is a helical spring for pressing down the steadying
piece. The lever, 53, which holds up the steadying piece, 17, is relieved whenever
the depression of the top handle, 35, raises the back vertical rod, 46, and then the
steadying piece, 17, is pressed down to act on the angular-toothed steadying wheels,
there being ample time for the steadying action to be effected whilst the paper
ribbon, 14, is being raised up into contact with the type wheels.
The types on the type wheels are inked by means of a small roller, 56, made of a
fibrous absorbent material and occasionally supplied with a suitable ink, this roller
being carried within a small open-topped shell or trough, 57, on a spindle fixed at
the lower end of a lever, 58. This lever, 58, which at its upper end is centered on a
stud fixed to the frame piece, 19, is made with a short bellcrank arm, 59, having a
slot formed in it; and into this slot there extends a pin fixed in a small bracket, 60,
fixed to the back vertical rod, 46. As the back rod, 46, descends or rises the
bracket, 60, with the pin causes the lever, 58, to swing so as to carry the inking
roller, 56, across under and in contact with the types which are at the time at the
bottoms of the type wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not
restrict myself to the precise details herein before described, or shown in the
accompanying drawings, but what I claim is :—
1-The combination of parts forming my improved chronographic mechanism for
recording times of arrivals and departures of workmen and for other analogous
purposes, the same being arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2-In chronographic recording apparatus a type wheel for printing minutes driven
from the minute arbor of a time piece through a yielding connection combined with
a device for steadying the type wheel or keeping it stationary during the recording
operation substantially as hereinbefore described.
3-In chronographic recording apparatus a type wheel for printing hours moved
step by step from the minute type wheel by means of a spring and escapement
device so as to change its position suddenly and not gradually substantially as
herein before described.

page_text: 4-In chronographic recording apparatus and in combination with minute and
hour type wheels therein, one or more type wheels with numeral or other types for
denoting workmen or the like and with arms or handles for shifting them, such arms
or handles being arranged in connection with scales bearing numbers or marks
corresponding to the types, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5-In chronographic recording apparatus, means for drawing a paper ribbon step
by step under type wheels, combined with means for inking the types, and means
for pressing the ribbon up into contact with the types, the parts being arranged and
operating substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of October 1888
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.