AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING TIME-KEEPER FOR ASCERTAINING THE TIME OF ARRIVAL, AND DEPARTURE OF WORKPEOPLE
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, LUTHER HANSON of the Bowling Dyke Dye Works Halifax in the County
of York, Dyer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for AN IMPROVED
SELF-ACTING TIME-KEEPER FOR ASCERTAINING THE TIME OF ARRIVAL, AND
DEPARTURE OF WORKPEOPLE, to be as follows :-
This Invention has reference to a new construction and arrangement of
self-acting apparatus to be employed for ascertaining the times at which work-
people come to, or leave off their work.
For the purpose of carrying out my Invention I employ a circular table
preferably balanced by pullies, upon which are a number of boxes, or cells capable
of being removed when required.
-
This table is stationary, except at certain periods when it is capable of rotating
upon a central shaft by means of a weighted cord or spring for the purpose of
moving the position of the boxes underneath a stationary hopper.
Above the table is a clock having upon its central spindle or other convenient
part a face plate, barrel, or disc provided with cams, pegs, or slotts, the number of
which vary according to requirement. As the plate rotates by the movement of
the clock-work, the cams, pegs, or holes therein come into contact with one end of
a lever, the other end of which lever is weighted, so that when the cam or peg
liberates the lighter end of the said lever, the weighted end thereof causes it to.
drop suddenly upon another lever, which instantly removes a catch from a notch or
opening in the circular table; which table when thus liberated quickly rotates
upon its centre by the weighted cord previously mentioned the motion of
which table immediately removes one box from under the hopper, and places
another in its place, and so on, as each cam or peg on the rotating disc operates the
levers as above described.
If therefore the cams or pegs on the face-plate were placed at such distances
apart as to operate the levers, say-every five minutes, the boxes on the circular
table would be moved under the hopper from one box to another every five
minutes, so that as the workmen put their cheques into the hopper, it could always
be ascertained at what time such cheques were put into the hopper, whereby &
positive and self-acting time-keeper is obtained.

page_text: The whole of the apparatus except the mouth of the hopper and the clock face
are boarded off, and kept under lock and key so that the parts are not tampered
with.
In places where a large number of workpeople are employed the boxes into which
the cheques drop may be made long and deep, with a hinged bottom, so that the
cheques can be easily removed therefrom.
Or instead of the boxes on the revolving table being of equal sizes, they may
vary to suit special hours of the day, when more cheques are expected to be used
than at other times, the slots in the sides of the revolving table being placed at
suitable distances apart, so as to suit the different sized boxes.
Throughout this Specification I have described the table which carries the boxes
as rotary, and the hopper as stationary this however may be reversed by causing
the hopper to rotate over boxes on a stationary table.
In order to lessen the friction on the "going part" of the clock by reason of
extra exertion when lifting the levers, I introduce certain intermediate wheels
whereby the friction on the 'clock work is reduced.

page_text: I, LUTHER HANSON of the Bowling Dyke Dye Works, Halifax, in the County.
of York Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "AN IMPROVED
SELF-ACTING TIME-KEEPER FOR ASCERTAINING THE TIME OF ARRIVAL, AND
DEPARTURE OF WORK-PEOPLE," and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
This Invention has reference to a new construction and arrangement of
self-acting apparatus to be employed for ascertaining the times at which
workpeople come to, or leave off their work,
For the purpose of carrying out my Invention I employ a circular table upon
which are a number of boxes or cells capable of being removed when required.
This table is stationary except at certain periods when it is capable of rotating
upon a central shaft by means of a weighted cord or spring for the purpose of
moving the position of the boxes underneath a stationary hopper.
Above the table is a clock having upon its central spindle, or other convenient
part a cam plate, barrel, or disc provided with cams, pegs, or slotts, the number of
which vary according to requirement. As the plate rotates by the movement of
the clockwork, the cams, pegs, or holes therein come into contact with one end of a
lever, so that when the cam or peg liberates the said lever it is caused to drop
suddenly, and instantly remove a peg from a hole in the table, or from a notch or
opening therein, which table when thus liberated quickly rotates upon its centre by
the weighted cord previously mentioned, the motion of which table immediately
removes one box from under the hopper, and places another in its place, and so on,
as each cam or peg on the rotating disc operates the levers as above described.
In order that my improvements may be better understood I herein give reference
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings wherein Fig. 1 is front elevation of one
form of apparatus constructed according to my Invention, and Fig. 2 is plan view
of same.
The whole of the apparatus is enclosed within a casing A formed of wood, or
other suitable material, the said casing being shown in section in order to expose
the mechanism contained therein. B is a circular table carrying a number of boxes
or receptacles C and having a central shaft D, working in a footstep E, and
supported by bracket F, the said shaft being provided with a barrel G supplied -
with suitable cord H passing over guide pulleys I and weighted at J for purposes
hereinafter explained.
In the upper part of the casing A I fix certain framework Ķ carrying any
suitable but simple arrangement of clockwork mechanism on one shaft of which
say L I fix a cam wheel M which is employed for releasing the table and allowing
it to move from one box to another. In contact with this cam is an arm N hinged
at P and connected by cord R to weighted lever S, whilst T is another lever
carrying a vertical rod U, the lower end of which enters into certain holes made in
the top of the table B, it will therefore be seen that the arm N will be lifted by the
cam wheel M, but as soon as the end of the said arm is released, it will suddenly
lower, causing the hammer a on the lever S to drop upon the end b of the lever T
thereby lifting the point c of the rod U out of the hole it is then occupying in the
table, which table being released is caused to partially rotate on its axis by means
of the weighted cord H such rotary movement removing one of the boxes C from
under the hopper or shoot V, after which the point o of the vertical rod T enters

page_text: the next hole in the table, causing it to stop and thereby present another box under
the hopper and so on, each time one of the cams raises the arm N.
The table is provided with any suitable number of boxes C, one hole being made
in the table opposite each box, and as the point of the vertical rod is resting upon
the table, whilst it is rotating, it naturally follows-that the peg will enter the
next hole in the table which is presented to it.
If therefore the cams or pegs on the face-plate were placed at such distances
apart as to operate the arm N, and levers S and T, say-every five minutes,. the
boxes on the circular table would-be moved under the hopper from one box to
another every five minutes, so that as the workmen put their checks into the
hopper-it could always be ascertained at what time such checks were put into the
hopper consequently a positive, reliable, and self-acting time keeper is obtained.
For convenience of the workmen, the apparatus is provided with two clock
faces W, and X, one being placed immediately above the hopper or shoot in which
the checks are placed, the central pins or shafts of such faces receiving their motion
by bevil wheels Z from the shaft Ì.
In places where a large number of workpeople are employed, the boxes C may
be made larger and deep enough to hold any number of checks, and when a larger
number of workmen arrive and depart at one time than at another time,
I arrange for different sized boxes accordingley, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4
which are elevation and plan views respectively; in this case I have arranged the
table to make one revolution in 12 hours, and as the cams operate the releasing
mechanism every 5 minutes, the table is pierced with 144 holes, which represent
the number of 5 minutes in 12 hours, the said holes being placed at certain
distances apart to suit the varied sized boxes, as will be seen on reference to the
Drawings, it being understood that more workmen arrive at the proper time than
otherwise, the boxes are therefore larger when work is just commencing than
afterward.
It will be observed that when the first and large box has been under the hopper
5 minutes, the table is released and rotates, but the peg enters the next hole and
stops any further movement thereof for another 5 minutes, the distance travelled by
the table being determined by the distance of one hole from another. Instead of
having holes in the surface of the table there may be notches cut in the edge
thereof as shown at B' in Figure 5.
Throughout this Specification I have described the table which carries the boxes
as rotary, and the hopper as stationary, this however may be reversed by causing
the hopper to rotate over boxes on a stationary table as will be seen on reference to
Fig. 6, in this case the table is a fixture, but the hopper V¹is connected to the rotary
disc O having a central shaft D supported by framework D¹, the said shaft being
provided with a barrel G, and weighted cord H as in the previous case the releasing
mechanism for releasing the disc being the same as that already described and
marked with the same letters of reference.
In conclusion I would remark that I do not confine myself to any particular
description of clockwork, nor to any size or number of boxes, as all these are
details which will vary to suit circumstances and really form no part of my
Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is,
Firstly. The employment in a self acting time keeper of a weighted cord or
spring such as is herein shown and described for giving immediate rotary motion
to the table or hopper when released by the clockwork.
Secondly. The use and employment in a self acting time keeper of the
instantaneous releasing mechanism operated in manner substantially as herein
shown and described.

page_text: Thirdly. The use and employment in a self acting time keeper of the holding
mechanism such as is herein shown and described, or its equivalent.
Fourthly. The use and employment in a self acting time keeper of holes or
notches in the said tables for purposes set forth.
TIL! ALL
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