AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AND RECORDING THE TIME OF THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF EMPLOYÉS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Price, of Hampton Wick, in the County of
Middlesex, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
REGISTERING AND RECORDING THE TIME OF THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
OF EMPLOYÉS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Price at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th June 1879.
EDWARD PRICE, of Hampton Wick, in the County of Middlesex, Gas Engineer.
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AND RECORDING THE TIME OF THE
ARRIVAL. AND DEPARTURE OF EMPLOYÉS."
The object of this Invention is to provide an apparatus by which the time of
arrival or departure of one or more employés may be accurately registered.
The apparatus is moved by clockwork wound at convenient intervals, and consists
of, 1st, the clockwork which is wound by a central spindle to which motion is given
by the unwinding of the coil. This spindle causes a disc to revolve, to which is
temporarily attached a printed circular card divided according to duration of
action required into either twelve or twenty four numbered divisons for hours, and
subdivided by marks for every five minutes; this card constitutes the indicator, and
as it revolves is lightly pressed by the point of a pencil. The pencil is held in a
horizontal position by a vertical sliding bar moving in and supported by short arms
attached to the framework, and having eyes in which the bar moves, the normal
position of which is preserved by a spiral spring or indiarubber band. This bar
terminates with a socket into which a short piece of lead pencil is loosely fitted; a
spring attached to the vertical bar presses the head of the pencil and keeps the
point in contact with the card at the top of the circular space enclosed by the time
divisions. With these arrangements a downward movement of the bar will make
a clear and decided mark on the indicator, thus registering the time of the move-
ment of pencil. The bar is depressed by the turning of a spindle furnished with a
lever or cog which acts on a stud or ratcher formed on the bar. Either one or a

page_text: number of spindles may be used, distinction being preserved by making the spindle
levers of various lengths in the case of lever action, or by providing different keys
for turning the spindle as hereafter described, the action of which shall be variously
limited by their sizes & shapes & the form of a boss which encloses the end of
spindle. This produces different lengths of stroke by the sliding bar, & a corre-
sponding difference in the length of stroke on the indicator. The spindle or spindles
to be turned by means of a key or keys fitting their ends which must be of
sufficient length to pass through a wall to the outside, leaving the apparatus in the
office. The card indicator to be attached conveniently for removal & replacing. By
means of this apparatus a correct tell-tale & record is provided which requires
adjustment not more than once a day, & is capable of checking either one or a
number of servants, & is invaluable where regularity is indispensable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Price in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th December
1879.
EDWARD PRICE, of Hampton Wick, in the County of Middlesex, Gas Engineer.
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AND RECORDING THE TIME OF THE
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF EMPLOYÉS."
The object of this Invention is to provide an apparatus by which the time of
arrival or departure of one or more employés may be accurately registered. The
apparatus has been specially devised for gas works, where it is of great importance
to insure regularity of attendance on the part of the lamplighters, and to preserve a
record of the same. It is however equally well adapted for many other purposes of
a similar character.
The apparatus consists of a disc that is caused to revolve by means of clockwork
which is wound up at convenient intervals. The disc carries with it a printed
circular removable card, divided into twelve or twenty-four spaces representing
hours, and sub-divided into smaller spaces, each denoting five minutes. As the card
revolves it is slightly pressed against by a pencil, and so long as the pencil is not
interfered with only a circular mark is produced. The pencil is so arranged however
that by means of a rack and a pinion fixed to a horizontal shaft that passes through
the wall of the office or station where the register is kept the said shaft may be
made to revolve by the application of a key, the action being transmitted to the
pencil which is caused to make vertical marks on the card of a length corresponding
to the extent of the revolution, which is determined by the particular key employed.
Each employé or lamp-lighter is furnished with a key which will cause a certain
length of mark to be made, and each key differs in the length of the mark it will
make. The positions of these marks in reference to the divisions on the card
distinctly point to the times at which they are made, and a notification of tho
arrival for starting to light and return after lighting of each person is thus precisely
recorded, and the same with regard to extinguishing.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood, Drawings are attached
hereto, of which the following is a description:-Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the
instrument enclosed in a case, the front part of the case being removed in order to
exhibit the instrument more clearly; Fig. 2 is a sido elevation of the apparatus with
the case in section; Fig. 3 is a front view of the box attached to the exterior wall
of the office, or wherever convenient; Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevation of the
same; and Figs. 5 and 6 are two views of one of the keys employed. In Fig. 1 A
is the printed card attached to the disc which is caused to revolve by the clockwork
shown at B in Fig. 2, and is removed daily, and another card substituted; C is the
pencil that presses against the card and is caused to move vertically in consequence
of its being connected with the vertical arm D which moves in guides E and F, and
has a rack G cut in a part of its length. The pencil when at rest is kept in the
position shown by an elastic band X which passes over a stud on D and another
stud fixed to the guide F. H is a pinion that gears into the rack G and is fixed
to the shaft I, Fig. 2, which passes through the back of the case and through the
wall, and terminates in the box J fixed to the exterior of the wall of the office or
other convenient situation. Fig. 3 is a full size front elevation of the box J showing
the end of the shaft I; Figs. 5 and 6 are two views of one of the keys. The barrel
of this key when inserted in the keyhole K slides over the shaft I, the stud L of
the latter engaging in the spiral slot V of the key. It will be observed that when
inserted, if the key is pressed home, it will by the action of the spiral groove on the
stud L cause the shaft I to revolve, and such revolution being communicated by the
pinion and rack to the pencil C will cause the latter to make a mark such as is
shown at M, N, O, P, on the card. Within the box J there are two springs Q and R,

page_text: Fig. 4, fixed concentrically to the shaft I. The former spring is arranged so that on
the introduction of the key through the opening S, Fig. 3, the point T, Fig. 4,
prevents it from being withdrawn through the same key-way by the obstruction it
offers to the projection U, Figs. 5 and 6 on the key, and necessitates a partial
revolution of the latter before it can be withdrawn through the opening W. It will
be seen that the spring R is so placed that while it prevents the key passing in
through the opening W it offers no impediment to the withdrawal of it through
the same opening. The operator is therefore obliged to pass the key in through the
opening S, and is compelled to thrust it home and give it a partial turn before he
can get it out again through the opening W, and this action ensures a certain mark
being made upon the card. The variation in the lengths of the marks made upon
the card is due to the different depths of the barrels of the keys. A particular key
will therefore make but one length of mark on the card, and it is consequently
easy to identify to whom cach mark is due.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements that I have described or referred to, as variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention,
but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. The disc and card printed and arranged as herein described and shown
on the Drawings.
Secondly. The pencil carrier with the vertical arm D, the pinion H, and the
shaft I, as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
Thirdly. The box J with its springs Q and R, as herein described and shown on
the Drawings; and,
Fourthly. The keys made as herein described and shown on the Drawings at
Figs. 5 and 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Price, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
EDWP. PRICE. (L.S.)