Improvements in Time Checking or Registering Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1898-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
Improvements in Time Checking or Registering Apparatus.
We, THE BROOK TIME CHECKING CLOCK COMPANY LIMITED of Kings
Head Buildings, Cloth Hall Street, Huddersfield, Yorkshire Time Checking Clock
Manufacturers, and FRANK BROOK of the same place, Managing Director, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to apparatus for automatically registering or
checking the times of arrival, and departure also, if desired, of clerks, assistants,
warehousemen and others in all cases where the signatures or initials have to be
written, stamped or otherwise affixed on a sheet of paper or in a time book on
entering and leaving the premises.
In carrying out our invention we employ a suitable case or box with an inclined
or desk top and either with or without provision for the reception of a clock.
Within the said case or box and under the desk top or sloping lid is a barrel or
drum around the axis of which is wound a cord, chain or wire having a weight
suspended from the end thereof.
On one or both ends of the said drum are a number of projections, teeth or lugs
with which in successive order is adapted to engage a suitable form of lever or
pallet which normally holds the drum in position against the gravity action of the
weight. The pallet or lever is adapted to be moved on its pivot clear of the
teeth or projections on the drum by an electro magnet or magnets on the completion
of an electric circuit which is effected by the clockwork mechanism forming a part
of our improved apparatus for checking or registering the times at which signatures
or initials are written or affixed on the time sheet. This said clockwork is some-
what similar to that shewn and described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to the aforesaid Frank Brook on the 5th September 1893, No. 16,662 ;
and comprises an eight days clock having combined therewith the striking mechanism
of a thirty hours' clock which is actuated as and when required by and from a
discharge wheel or plate receiving rotary motion from the hour wheel to the extent
of ne revolution to every twenty four revolutions of the said hour wheel. On
the said discharge wheel or plate are arranged any number of detachable studs or
pins according to the times at which the checking or registering is to take place,
such pins being brought successively into abutment with the connection or connections
for releasing the escapement or striking mechanism, which, being then put in motion
by the action of the coiled spring, gives movement to a wiper, cam or equivalent
piece of mechanism adapted during a part of its rotation to engage with a spring
or contact maker in circuit with the electro magnet or magnets and insulated
from the clock or striking mechanism, whereby the circuit is completed and the
pallet or lever withdrawn by the magnet or magnets out of the path of the studs
or teeth on the drum. The latter on being thus released is rotated to the extent
of one tooth or stud by the action of the suspended weight, the pallet or lever
being returned by spring or otherwise to its normal position in time to engage with
the next succeeding stud and lock the drum. A detent or catch engaging with the
same teeth or studs or with others on the opposite end of the drum prevents any
backward movement of the drum.
On or around the drum or barrel we secure a sheet of paper with lines marked

page_text: thereon for receiving the signatures or initials and dividing the sheet in accordance
with the times each portion thereof will be presented opposite a slot or opening in
the sloping lid or desk top through which the pencil or marker has to be inserted
to make or stamp the initials or signatures, such divided portious being marked
printed or otherwise stamped with the times at which it is determined the checking
or registering shall take place. The paper may be supplied from a roll and wound
onto the drum by the action of the latter.
Instead of a weight, a coiled spring may be employed to rotate the drum each
time it is released, and, in both cases, the weight or spring is wound up by rotating
the drum or barrel in a backward direction.
On the discharge wheel or plate we may secure a second set of pins or studs
which will engage in turn with a contact piece in a bell circuit and completing the
circuit will cause the bell to be rung shortly in advance of the actuation of the
checking apparatus thereby giving warning to late comers to hasten and affix their
signatures or initials.
If desired we can dispense with the electrical connections for releasing the
drum at pre-determined times, and in lieu thereof rotate the drum in corresponding
manner by a pinion or bevil, gearing with a toothed wheel or bevil wheel on the
drum or drum shaft, said pinion being rotated to the required extent at each
release of the escapement or striking mechanism by a shaft and bevils deriving
motion from the striking mechanism.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1896
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents for the Applicants.
We, THE BROOK TIME CHECKING CLOCK COMPANY, LIMITED, of Kings
Head Buildings, Cloth Hall Street, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Time Checking Clock
Manufacturers, and FRANK BROOK, of the same place, Managing Director, do
bereby 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:-
Our invention has reference to apparatus for automatically registering or
checking the times of arrival, and departure also, if desired, of clerks, assistants,
warehousemen and others in all cases where the signatures or initials have to be
written, stamped or otherwise affixed on a sheet of paper or in a time book on
entering and leaving the premises.
In carrying out our invention we employ a suitable case or box with an inclined
or desk top and either with or without provision for the reception of a clock.
Within the said case or box and under the desk top or sloping lid is a barrel or
drum around the axis of which is wound a cord, chain or wire having a weight
suspended from the end thereof. On one or both ends of the said drum are a
number of projections, teeth or lugs with which in successive order is adapted to
engage a suitable form of lever or pallet which normally holds the drum in position
against the gravity action of the weight.
The pallet or lever is adapted to be moved on its pivot clear of the teeth or
projections on the drum by an electro magnet or magnets on the completion of an
electric circuit which is effected by the clockwork mechanism forming a part of
our improved apparatus for checking or registering the times at which signatures
or initials are written or affixed on the time sheet. This said clockwork is

page_text: somewhat similar to that shewn and described in the Specification of Letters. Patent
granted to the aforesaid Frank Brook on the 5th September 1893, No. 16,662, anl
comprises an eight days' clock having combined therewith the striking mechanism
of a thirty hours' clock which is actuated as and when required by and from a
discharge wheel or plate receiving rotary motion from the hour wheel to the
extent of one revolution to every twenty four revolutions of the said hour wheel.
On the said discharge wheel or plate are arranged any number of detachable studs
or pins according to the times at which the checking or registering is to take place,
such pins being brought successively into abutment with the connection or
connections for releasing the escapement or striking mechanism, which, being then
put in motion by the action of the coiled spring, gives movement to a wiper, cam
or equivalent piece of mechanism adapted during a part of its rotation to engage
with a spring or contact maker in circuit with the electro magnet or magnets and
insulated from the clock or striking mechanism whereby the circuit is completed
and the pallet or lever withdrawn by the magnet or magnets out of the path of the
studs or teeth on the drum.. The latter on being thus released is rotated to the
extent of one. tooth or stud by the action of the suspended weight, the pallet or
lever being returned by spring or otherwise to its normal position in time to engage
with the next succeeding stud and lock the drum. A detent or catch engaging
with the same teeth or studs or with others on the opposite end of the drum prevents
any backward movement of the drum.
On or around the drum or barrel we secure a sheet of paper with lines marked
thereon for receiving the signatures or initials and dividing the sheet in accordance
with the times each portion thereof will be presented opposite a slot or opening in
the sloping lid. or desk top through which the pencil or marker has to be inserted
to make or stamp the initials or signatures, such divided portions being marked
pointed or otherwise stamped with the times at which it is determined the checking
or registering shall take place. The paper may be supplied from a roll and wound
on to the drum by the action of the latter:
Instead of a weight, a coiled spring may be employed to rotate the drum each
time it is released, and, in both cases, the weight or spring is wound up by rotating
the drum or barrel in a backward direction.
On the discharge wheel or plate we may secure a second set of pins or studs
which will engage in turn with a contact piece in a bell circuit and completing the
circuit will cause the bell to be rung shortly in advance of the actuation of the
checking apparatus thereby giving warning to late comers to hasten and affix their
signatures or initials.
Referring to the drawings illustrating our invention.
Fig. I is elevation of an eight days' clock having the striking mechanism of a
thirty hours' clock combined therewith for determining and controlling the action
of the signature or initial time registering or checking mechanism; the clock
face or dial and part of the clockwork being omitted and the minute and hour
hands and gearing for actuating the hour hand being shewn in dotted lines for the
sake of clearness.
Fig. 2 is longitudinal section of the signature or initial time registering or
checking mechanism taken on line 1, 1, of Fig. 4.
Fig. 3 is end elevation of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow 2.
Fig. 4 is transverse section of Fig. 2 taken on line 3, 3.
Fig. 5 is longitudinal elevation of the drum or cylinder which carries the time
roll register or sheet.
Fig. 6 is transverse section of Fig. 5 taken on line 4, 4.
Fig. 7 is elevation of the double pallet or releasing and bolding lever for
releasing and allowing partial rotation of the registering drum or cylinder.
Fig. 8 is transverse section of Fig. 7 taken on line 5, 5.
Fig. 9 is enlarged detail of the means for completing and checking the electric
circuit which are situated on the rear frame of the clock and seen in dotted lines
in Fig. 1.

page_text: Fig. 10 is view illustrating two signature or initial time registering or indicating
machines in circuit with a clock.
Fig. 11 shews a modification of the registering or checking apparatus in which
the time sheet is unwound off a roll by the drum or cylinder and the time printed
on said sheet by a type disc previous to being carried around by the drum and
exposed.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
In the drawings, letter a represents the framework of the clock, the arbor or
shaft on which the hour wheel e is mounted, said hour wheel gearing with wheel d
and receiving notion from the ordinary mechanism of an eight days' clock, which,
being well known, is not shewn on the drawings.
On the hour wheel arbor bis mounted a pinion e which gears into and drives a
disc or discharge wheel or toothed plate f mounted on a stud secured to the frame-
work a, said discharge plate being rotated to the extent of one revolution to every
twenty four revolutions of the hour wheel.
The face of the discharge plate has an index line f¹ thereon, which is, by
preference, marked off radially into divisions f, representing hours, these divisions
being subdivided again into halves and quarters or other fractional parts or units
in the form of a scale, and holes are punched or drilled at any of these divisions or
intermediate thereof for the reception of studs or pins whose number and
disposition around the discharge wheel are determined by the periods of time at
which the checking or indicating is required to take place.
In conjunction with the above mechanism we employ the striking mechanism of
a thirty hours' clock, consisting of levers g and for releasing said mechanism,
spring barrel i, fusee j, the train of wheels k, k¹ k¹, k², k³, k³, k², "fly" k*, and
snail k mounted on the shaft ko.
Connected with the lever g is a short lever arm g' which is adapted to be engaged
by the pins f on the discharge wheel as the latter rotates and to elevate the said
lever which lifts the leg of the lever h clear of the shoulder on snail ³, whilst the
short lever arm secured on the same stud as the lever h, is at the same time
placed clear of the pin on the toothed wheel k³, whereby the mechanism is
temporarily released and is put in motion by the uncoiling of the spring in the
barrel i.
The motion of the parts, however, is only temporary, so as to bring the larger
diameter of the snail under the depending leg of lever h, and is arrested by the
piu m on wheel 3 engaging a projection n on the end of lever g, but immediately
the pin f3 in engagement with the lever arm g' rides clear of said lever arm the
lever g assumes its normal position and releases the wheel k³ and therefore the
striking mechanism, whereupon the action of the coiled spring causes the parts to
be rotated until the cam or snail has completed a revolution and is again locked
by the depending foot of lever as shewn on the drawings.
The parts remain in the positions shewn in Fig. 1 and inoperative until a second
pin on the discharge wheel actuates the lever arm g', when they are operated as
previously described, and this is repeated each time a pin f³ on the rotating
discharge wheel f engages the lever arm g'.
The intermittent motion of the striking mechanism obtained in the manner set
forth by the successive engagement of pins or studs f³ with the lever arm g', is
utilised for the purpose of completing and breaking an electric circuit whereby to
determine and bring about the periodical partial rotation of the signature or initial
time registering or indicating drum or cylinder as hereafter described.
On the rear end of the snail shaft ke, (shewn more clearly in Fig. 10) is mounted
a switch or cam o adapted to rotate therewith and to make a complete revolution
each time the striking mechanism is released and actuated. The end of said
switch or nose of the cam o is tipped with silver and engages at one part of each
revolution with the silvered under surface of a spring or contact piece p carried by
an insulating bracket pl secured to the frame a and insulating the contact piece
from the clock. To said contact piece is secured a terminal p2 connected by wire

page_text: to one end of a coil or armature on bobbins forming the electro maguet p³ the
opposite end of such coil being connected to one pole of a battery p' whose other
pole is connected by wire to a terminal p secured to the clock frame a the whole
forming an electric circuit which is completed by engagement of the switch or
cam o with the contact piece p and broken when moved out of engagement
therewith.
The electro magnet is supported by and secured to a platform or shelf g in the
upper portion of a box or case q¹ wherein is journalled in bearings secured to the
sides of said casing a shaft r on which is mounted the drum having secure:
around its periphery a sheet of paper 3 comprising the time sheet or register on
which the initials or signatures have to be affixed. The battery p is placed in the
bottom cupboard of the case or box which is provided with ant closed in at the top
by a sloping desk lid q adapted to be locked so that admission cannot be had to
the upper interior portion of the box except by a responsible official having charge
of the key, a longitudinal slot 3 of a given width being cut in the said lid to admit
of the upper surface of the cylinder 2 being level or nearly level with the face of
the lid when closed.
The sheet of paper or time sheet 3 is ruled with lines on which to affix the
signatures or initials and is divided by horizontal lines into equal sections the
number of which is determined by the number of times the apparatus is intended
to register in a day or other given period of time, and vertical division lines may
be marked thereon so that on each section of paper there are the same number of
spaces provided for names or initials as there are employees engaged on the business
premises. The time sheet is of such a length that when placed tightly around the
cylinder its opposing edges overlap each other and such sheet is secured on the
cylinder in the following manner: An openings is made in the periphery of
the cylinder (see Figs. 5 and 6) into which project pins or spikes s attached to
or driven into a thin piece of wood 2 secured within the cylinder against the inner
wall thereof, the said spikes or pins piercing through the overlapping edges of the
paper, which are pressed into the opening and then firmly secured by a hinged
plate or slides adapted to fit nicely into the openings and provided at one end
with a lug or turned down end s adapted to engage and lock with a spring stud or
snap catch secured to the side of the cylinder.
2.2
Slots or openings s are cut in the plate 3 at equal distances apart corresponding
to the position of the spikes s' so that the latter may project into same.
On the left hand side of the time sheet and in each section thereof is printed or
marked the times of day each such section will be presented opposite the slot q in
the lid q, so as to be in view of the employees when affixing their initials or
signatures on the exposed section of the time sheet, and forming the register or
indicator by which the times of arrival or departure of the employees may
subsequently be read off.
On each end of the cylinder 2 are a series of tecth or projections t, t, one tooth
at each end for each section into which the time sheet is divided, the series of
teeth t being adapted to be engaged by a double pallet u and the series of teeth t¹
by a detent centred on a stud v' carried by a bracket v secured to the inside of
the case or box q' at the back thereof.
The double pallet u is curved to the radius of the cylinder and is engaged
about midway at each side thereof by, and pivots upon, the conical or pointed ends
of two adjustable screws or bolts u screwed through lugs or ears on a bracket u³
secured by screws to the platform or shelf q, in a position close to and within the
influence of the electro magnet p³.
-On the upper end of the pallet u is formed at right angles a tooth u³ adapted,
when said pallet is moved into an abnormal position, to engage with a tooth ton
the cylinder.
At the lower end of the said pallet is a loose toc piece or locking dog u having
a leg u thereon which passes through and is adapted to slide in ways in lugs u ou
the face of the pallet, its movement in one direction being limited by the toe piece

page_text: -abutting against the end of the pallet and in the other direction by the engagement
with the lower of the two lugs u of a pin or stud a' secured on the leg u³
intermediate of said lugs.
The drum or cylinder, when released, is rotated in the direction of the arrow
by the gravity action of a weight w suspended from a cord attached at one end
to an eyelet w² secured to the underside of the dividing partition g' of box or
-case q, and attached at its opposite end to a barrel on the cylinder, around
which a portion of the cord is coiled.
The release of the registering cylinder 2 at the times determined upon and its
intermittent rotation to the extent of one section marked off on the time sheet, is
effected in the manner following:-
1
Assuming, for illustration, that the section of the time sheet exposed opposite the
slot g³ in the lid q2 is marked at 7.45 a.m., and that the period of time it is arranged
to remain in an accessible position is expiring and the next section marked
at 8 o'clock a.m. is required to take its place opposite the said slot, a stud or
pin on the discharge plate fat 8 of the clock or intermediate of 7.45 and 8 of the
clock, rides under the lever arm gl and raises it to place the leg of lever / clear of
the shoulder on snail and release the striking mechanism which, on the stud f³
passing clear of the lever arm 91 and allowing it and levers g, h and to assume
their normal positions, is actuated, and by means of switch o, completes and breaks
the electric circuit, as fully set forth above.
On the completion of the circuit, the current from the battery p* flows through
the armature of the electro magnet pa and magnetises the core of same, which
thereupon attracts the keeper us and draws said pallet into the position shewn in
dotted linc in Fig. 8, thereby removing the toe piece clear of the tooth t it has
been engaged with, and placing the tooth us at its upper end, into the path of the
teeth t and slightly ahead of one of said teeth, which, on the cylinder being
turned slightly on its axis in the direction of the arrow by the action of the
suspended weight w, will abut against said tooth u³ and temporarily hold the
cylinder until the electric circuit is broken. On this taking place the pallet rights
itself by reason of its greater weight being below the fulcrum, and again releases
the cylinder and allows its partial rotation in the direction of the arrow to the
extent of one section of the time sheet to be completed, so as to present the section
marked at 8 o'clock a.m., opposite the slot q3, by which time a succeeding tooth t
on the cylinder has engaged and raised the toe piece u into abutment with the end
of the pallet as shewn in full line in the figures, which prevents further movement
of the cylinder until the electric circuit is again completed to place section marked
at, say, 8.15 a.m. opposite slot q³.
When the pallet is attracted and drawn into its abnormal position as described,
the weight of the unsupported toe piece u causes it to fall downwards, away from
the end of the pallet, to the position indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 8, in
which position it is held by the engagement of pin u' with the lower lug u, the result
being that when the pallet rights itself on the breaking of the circuit, the said toe
piece will abut against the under surface of, or fall under, the tooth it was last
engaged with and thereby prevent the cylinder being rotated either intentionally
or accidentally, in the wrong direction; the detent engaged successively with the
teeth t' on the left band end of the cylinder when said cylinder has been moved
to the extent of one complete section of the time sheet, likewise preventing any
backward movement of the cylinder when the parts are in their normal positions
and at rest. The teeth t¹ on the cylinder are made angular or curved on the rear
faces thereof in order to raise the detent as they pass thereunder in a forward
direction, but immediately they are clear of the end of the detent, it falls by its
own weight to the horizontal, as shewn (Fig. 4) and successively engages with
same.
A stop piece secured to the bracket limits the fall of the detent.
By raising and holding the detent clear of the cylinder, the latter can be rotated
freely in the reverse direction to re-wind the cord w on the barrel. Any desired

page_text: number of registers or indicators, of the description set forth, may be in circuit.
with one and the same clock mechanism, and, in Fig. 10 we have shewn two-
signature or initial time registers or indicators in circuit with one elock, the clock
being connected to one pole of a battery placed in the hottom cupboard of one of
the boxes or cases g' as before explained, and the terminal p² on the contact piece p-
connected to the armature of the electro magnet in one indicator which is connected.
to the armature of the electro magnet in the other indicator, and the latter connected..
to the opposite pole of the battery.
In Fig. 11 we show a modification of the signature or initial time register or.
indicator consisting in the addition to the mechanism already described of a...
printing disc a mounted on an axis journalled in bearings in the upper interior
portion of the case or box q' and having raised type fixed thereon to print the times.
at which the sections of the time sheet are to be exposed, on the margin of said
sheet. The said disc is of the same diameter as the cylinder 2 and has a gear-
wheel thereon (not shewn) meshing with a corresponding gear on the said cylinder...
The time sheet instead of being secured around the cylinder, may be in a long
length and wound on a roll el journalled in bearings in the box or case y' off which.
it is unwound by the motion of the cylinder. The end of the paper is passed
between the type dise and cylinder, then enrried partly around the latter and
nipped against it by a roller a driven by frictional contact with the cylinder...
The type is fixed to the disc at intervals apart corresponding to the width of the
scetion of paper which must be brought opposite the slot in the lid y at each
partial rotation of the cylinder and it impresses or prints the time on the margin of
cach section of paper at the point of contact of the dise with the cylinder, the type-
being inked over just prior to printing, by an inking roller a. The type on the-
disc may comprise the periods of time the indicator is to be actuated in one-
working day or part of a working day, or two or more days, and at each revolution.
will print the same matter on the time sheet in the same order of progression
repeated again and again until the length of paper on the roll is exhausted. The
length of paper may be equivalent to what would be used in a full working week,..
or longer time, so that at the end of the week it could be taken out of the box or
case, into the bottom of which it falls as it leaves the cylinder, and the times
of arrival or departure of each employee on each day of the week thus recorded on.
one sheet of paper.
If desired, we can dispense with the electrical connections for releasing the drum.
at pre-determined times, and in lieu thereof rotate the drum in corresponding-
manner by a pinion or bevil wheel gearing with a toothed wheel or bevil wheel on
one end of the drum, or on the drum shaft, said pinion being rotated to the required.
extent at each release of the escapement or striking mechanism by a shaft and
bevils deriving motion from the striking nechanism in manner precisely similar to
the arrangement shewn and described in the before mentioned Specification of
Letters Patent No. 16,662. On the discharge wheel or plate we may secure a
second set of pins or studs, on a separate index line f (shewn in dotted line
in Fig. 1) which said studs will engage in turn with a switch or lever/", and moving
it iuto abutment with a contact piece, complete a circuit and cause a bell in said
circuit to be rung shortly in advance of the actuation of the checking apparatus.
whereby warning is given to those coming rather late to hasten and affix their
signatures before the next section of time register is presented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what.
we claim is :-
Firstly. The signature or initial time checking or registering apparatus.
constructed and operating in the manner and for purposes substantially as herein.
shewn and described.
Secondly. The combination, with a clock having striking mechanism combined
therewith and a discharge plate or wheel driven from said clock and having

page_text: provision for receiving pins or studs for releasing the striking mechanism as and
when required, of apparatus or apparatuses for receiving the signatures or initials
of employees on entering or leaving business premises and for checking or
registering the time or times at which they are affixed, and electrical or mechanical
connections between the recording apparatus or apparatuses and the striking
mechanism or clockwork for actuating the said apparatus at the predetermined
times substantially as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. The general arrangement, construction and combination of clockwork
and parts comprising the herein described signature or initial time registering or
checking apparatus substantially as shewn and herein set forth.
Dated this 1st day of December 1896
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Patent Agents.