Improvements in Automatic Time Stamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1891-Accented, 27th June, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by PETER GEORGE GIROUD, of Newark, in the County
of Essex, New Jersey, one of the United States of America, Clock Maker.]
Improvements in Automatic Time Stamps.
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, 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 relates to improvements in automatic time stamps, and is designed
to remedy some of the defects of apparatus of that class by simplifying the construc-
tion and improving the action.
The improved apparatus is constructed with a view to compactness so as to
enable the stamp to be placed in a smaller compass than has heretofore been
possible with stamps of equal capacity. The indicating wheels and the mechanism
for operating them are so arranged and constructed that their successive movements
are accomplished with certainty and regularity, and with little frictional resistance.
As a result of the slight resistance, clock mechanism of slight power may be used,
the cost of the apparatus being thereby reduced. The stamping apparatus is also
constructed in such a way that the operation of taking the impression does not
disturb the working of the indicating wheels nor the accuracy nor efficiency of the
clock mechanism. In stamping apparatus as ordinarily constructed, such disturbance
is common and constitutes a serious defect, as it tends either to injure permanently
the apparatus or to bind it temporarily and so interfere with its accuracy.
Combined with the stamping apparatus is a time indicator, the machinery of
which controls also the automatic stamp. The two mechanisms are in complete
unison and by regulating the time piece according to standard time, the whole
apparatus can be kept in order.
As most of the matter to be printed is arranged on the peripheries of moving
wheels, and the movements of the said wheels are in a vertical plane, an ordinary
clock-work can be easily adapted to drive the combined devices by straight
connections.
In practice, a common, cheap, clock-movement is jointed by its centre arbor to
the centre arbor of the time stamping apparatus end to end, by a slot and pin
connection.
The characters which indicate the minutes are arranged on a horizontal dial
which is operated by a wheel of sixty teeth which engages with the same number
of crown teeth on the bottom of the dial. The latter is mounted in and on a
removable plate, which forms the top of the inclosing case of the apparatus and
also constitutes the printing bed. Within and near the edge of the dial is a fixed
index showing the point at which the reading is to be taken.
Within an opening in the movable dial appear the peripheries of the indicating
wheels, one of which carries in type the successive numbers from 1 to 12 for
indicating the hours of the day. This makes a step-by-step movement each hour
and a complete rotation once in twelve hours. Another of the wheels has
characters from 1 to 31 which indicate the days of the month. This makes a
partial rotation every twenty-four hours and a complete rotation every thirty-one
days. In the present apparatus thirty-one days have been taken as the month
unit, and when there are less than that number of days in a given month the
apparatus can be moved forward by hand, provision for doing which without
removing the casing is made. Still another wheel is marked with abbreviations,
twelve in number, of the names of the months in order. This moves one step

page_text: and a hook pivoted at is inserted. The hook is pressed out by a spring ƒ³. In
the rear of the head is a slit f in which the hook plays. The top of the slit is
closed by a pin f* or otherwise. On the curved arm F is pivoted a hand lever G,
one end of which extends into the slit and is held under the point of the hook
by a spring g
The other end of the lever forms a handle by means of which it
can be operated.
In case it is desired to actuate the printing pad, it is only necessary to press
down on the handle and thereby lift the plunger through the medium of the other
end of the lever and the hook, until the latter is released by the pressure of its
bevelled upper end against the pin ft. This release leaves the plunger under
the influence of the stronger spring e, which is now under tension and which
carries down the printing pad so as to press with considerable force against the
surface below. The pad and plunger are immediately raised into their normal
position however, by the power of the spring c². The contact of the printing pad
is therefore momentary, thus removing all danger of deranging the action of the
stamp machinery which danger is always present when the printing pad is operated
by the ordinary hand push-rod.
It is understood, of course, that the printing process is accomplished by placing
the paper or other substance on which a record is to be made between the printing
pad and the ink ribbon and then operating the plunger as above set forth.
The clock mechanism which operates the time indicating and stamping devices
is located within the casing A, in this instance at the rear, as shewn at H.
Inasmuch as any suitable clock work may be employed, I have not thought it
necessary to illustrate this part of the apparatus in detail. It is preferred to use
a cheap eight-day movement and to join its centre arbor to the corresponding
part of the stamp machinery by a slot and pin connection. On the end of the
arbor is secured rigidly a sleeve provided with a central opening large
enough to admit the end of the arbor h. I also make a slot h³ across the end of
the sleeve and put a pin through the arbor so as to lie in the said slot. Thus
the two mechanisms are joined and the two centre arbors are practically united
into one.
The sleeve might be attached to the other arbor and the other
co-operating parts might be reversed with the same results.
Near the forward end of the arbor is the usual hour and minute hand gear
operating the usual hands in front of the dial face 1. The gearing of the stamp
apparatus is supported by a frame J consisting of two plates separated by posts.
The indicating devices. (most of them) which this gearing is designed to operate,
are located at the top of the frame in such a position as to enter and project
through an opening in the top plate A' under the ribbon. One of the said devices
however, is in the form of a moving dial K which has on its under side sixty
crown teeth which engage with a wheel of sixty teeth run from a similar
wheel on the arbor. The dial K is provided on its upper surface with the
characters 5, 10, 15 and so on up to 60 to indicate five minutes spaces and with
intermediate points to shew the minutes. It is held in place by a pair of clips i, i,
which enter a groove in the edge of the dial. A pointer is fixed to the top
plate to shew where the reading is to be taken. With this arrangement, which
provides for the operation of the engaging part one tooth a minute, the reading
can be made very accurate, certainly to within one quarter of a minute.
practice, the wheel k is pivoted to a lug 2 on the bottom of the plate A.!.
In
It is apparent from the above that the wheel rotates once an hour. Now, this
wheel carries a little stud on which is mounted an anti-friction roller j. This
comes in contact once in each rotation with an arm or lever L on a sleeve e which
is screwed to a shaft M. On another sleeve m secured to the same shaft is an
arm N in an opening in the top of which is pivoted a deerfoot catch n of peculiar
construction. A toe n¹ on the bottom of the catch presses against a spring n
attached to the arm whenever it is moved in a direction towards the left in
Figure 5. On the right it is stopped by the shoulder 3 on the body of the arm.
The upper end of the deerfoot rests between two successive pins (of which there

page_text: "
are twelve in all) on the side of a wheel O, on the shaft P. The length and
position of the catch are such that it practically locks the wheel from movements
in either direction. Now, the arm N is normally pressed in a direction towards
the right in Figure 5, by a coiled spring a, surrounding a curved rod o', which is
attached to the arm and passes through an opening in a bracket o² on the frame..
One end of the spring presses against the bracket and the other against the arm.
The curve of the rod corresponds to the curve of motion when the arm descends.
When that happens, by the partial rotation of the shaft as the roller j presses on
the arm L, the toe is urged against the spring by the pressure of the upper
part of the deerfoot on the pin /. Presently however the first point of the decr
foot (at 2) slips by this pin and then the second point 3 passes it. A moment
later the roller j passes the point of the arm L and the parts are moved back by
the spring o, carrying with them the wheel O the distance of one tooth. Upon
the return movement, the deerfoot n is kept from turning in the reverse direction
by the bearing of its toe n' upon the shoulder in the slot of the arm N, and the
stop pin on a bracket on the frame piece J limits its bodily movement towards
the right. The wheel is locked as before. This action takes place once in an
liour. On the periphery of the wheel O are characters from 1 to 12 for indicating
the hours of the day. Next to the wheel O on the shaft l' is mounted a segment
carrying the characters A.M. and P.M. The segment has two extreme positions
in one of which A. M. and in the other of which P.M. is in line for printing. The
reversals take place at twelve o'clock noon and midnight. The means for causing
the reversals will now be described. On the front of the wheel O is a pin p,
which projects into range with the arms, r, on a wheel R. This wheel is loosely
mounted on a stud projecting from the frame. From the wheel R project inward
pins, s, which are alternately long and short, for a reason which will presently
appear. The position of the pin p, on the wheel O, is such that it is ready to
engage with one of the arms 7, when the wheel is brought to the point of
indicating 11 o'clock. This condition continues until the wheel O is given its next
partial rotation to 12. At this time the pin p catches and carries the engaging
arm with it and so gives to the wheel R a partial rotation.
In the path of the longer of the pins s, s, but outside the shorter pins is a tail
of the segment Q. A spring 7 taking under a lug 73 on the hub of the segment
holds the tail against one of the pins. In the position illustrated in full lines in
Figure 5, the spring is holding the parts in one extreme position. After the
wheel R has been carried one step farther, the parts will assume the position
illustrated in dotted lines. The two positions are those suited for bringing the
proper characters to the top of the segment for printing.
The wheel S is marked with numbers from 1 to 31 for indicating the days of the
month, and it is operated one step every twenty-four hours by mechanism which
will now be described. On the sleeve which supports the hour hand is a pinion t
engaging with a wheel T which rotates on a stud projecting from the front of the
frame. From this wheel T, which is geared to make a complete rotation once a
day, the wheel S is rotated step-by-step, the connections being substantially the
same as those between the wheels and O. In this instance the connecting parts
are an anti-friction roller on a stud on wheel T, an arm or lever U on a sleeve u
on shaft V, sleeve and arm W carrying a deerfoot catch w. The arm U is
slightly different from L, and the deerfoot also has its peculiar construction, but
the operation is substantially identical. That is, once in each rotation of the
wheel T it forces the arm U back carrying the shaft V, and arm W and the deer-
foot .
The latter is arranged to stand between teeth 6 and 8, being cut away
to leave a place for an intermediate tooth, as shewn in the detail at the left of
Figure 2. There are thirty-one pins on the wheel S and it makes a complete
.rotation after thirty-one operations of the lever U by the wheel T. The release
of the lever and the carrying forward of the wheel take place on the passage
from P.M. to A. M. at midnight. The spring which operates the lever is shewn
at 10 and the bracket against which it presses at 11. In case any month has less

page_text: than thirty-one days, the wheel S can be operated independently of the clock
mechanism, by means of an arm attached to the shaft V and a rod ². The
latter projects through an opening in the back of the casing (see Figure 12) where
it can be easily reached for being operated. A similar group of parts shewn at 10¹
and ware attached to the shaft M for operating the hour wheel independently.
Besides these rods other appliances project through the rear casing one at r
for setting the hands of the clock and another at al for regulating the clock.
It now remains to describe the action of the wheel Y, which is marked with
abbreviations of the names of the months, and which is actuated after every
thirty-first operation of the wheel S or on the change from 31 to 1 on that
wheel. It will be observed that the pins on wheel S, thirty-one in mumber, engage
with a pinion or wheel Z mounted on the frame. The wheel has thirty-one teeth
corresponding to the number of the pins. On the hub of this wheel is an arm
which is adapted to engage at intervals with pins on the month wheel. The pins
are twelve in number, arranged at equal distances apart. As the wheel S
approaches the position where is shewn the number 31 at the top, the arm is
brought nearer and nearer to one of the pins. When the change from 31 to 1
finally takes place, the arm is carried by a quick movement against one of the pins
moving the wheel one space.
In
As a still further precaution against the slipping of the wheels I have provided
spring-pressed. pawls which are urged against successive pins on the wheels.
this way the pawl u retains the wheels S, the pawl y the wheel Y, the pawl ¹ the
wheel and the pawl y' by A the wheel O. The tension of the spring 10 is
adjusted by loosening the screw 12 which holds the clip 11 and moving the clip
up or down and then tightening the screw. A slot in the end of the clip admits
of this being done.
C
On the lug kon the top plate A.' is mounted a disc 14. This disc carries bars
indicating the years and is operated by hand. In the same plate is mounted a
transverse shaft 15 carrying a sleeve with words in type such "
paid," etc. Outside the plate and within reach of the hand is a sleeve with the
as received,"
same words in the same order. By means of this outside handle, the sleeves inside
the top plate can be turned and print any desired word.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. The combination and arrangement with a clock driving mechanism, of a time
stamp constructed and operated substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a time stamp an automatic plunger and platen, constructed arranged
operated and operating substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. In a time stamp, the combination and arrangement with an indicating wheel
having a series of pins thereon with which a catch mounted on a spring actuated
lever engages, of a toothed wheel having an excentric anti-friction roller mounted
upon it in such a manner as to operate the spring actuated lever: substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
4. In a time stamp, the combination and arrangement with an indicating wheel
having pins projecting therefrom, of a deerfoot catch constructed and operating
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
5. In a time stamp, the combination and arrangement with a meridian segment
of a wheel having longer and shorter extensions co-operating with the tail of the
egment, a pawl, and devices for operating the wheel; substantially as and for
he purpose herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: 6. In a time stamp, the combination and arrangement with a lever, of a
spring coiled around a curved rod, and an adjustable pivoted clip; substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
7. In a time stamp, the combination and arrangement with a horizontal dial
having a groove in its edge, of two or more clips engaging with the groove;
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
בד
11"
AD 1001
WILLIAM E. HEYS.