GB2027245A

GB2027245A - Time recorder

Info

Publication number: GB2027245A
Application number: GB7917957A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Simplex Time Recorder Co
Current assignee: Simplex Time Recorder Co
Priority date: 1978-05-30
Filing date: 1979-05-23
Publication date: 1980-02-13
Also published as: CA1147561A; DE2823450A1; GB2027245B; BR7903410A; FR2427651A1; AU525117B2; AU4759079A; NL7904050A; BE876651A; DE2823450C3; JPS5520596A; DE2823450B2; SE7904672L

Abstract

A workman's time recorder has time storage devices each associated with the respective work member and arranged to be switched on and off by means of a stamp card each associated with an individual work member. Monitoring devices in the form of signal generating devices monitor orderly use of the stamp cards and serve to indicate and store faulty use of a stamp card. Blocking devices temporarily block a storage device upon faulty use of the respective stamp card and are automatically actuated to unblock the respective working time storage device for each new working time period.

Description

SPECIFICATION Time recorder The invention relates to a time recorder for recording the working times of a plurality of works members during the duration of a plurality of successive working periods comprising a plurality of working time storage devices, each associated with a respective works member and all being arranged to be switched on and off by means of an identifying element, e.g. a stamp card, individually associated with the works member, monitoring devices for monitoring orderly use of the identifying elements and blocking devices for temporarily blocking a storage device upon faulty use of the respective identifying element.

A time recorder of this kind is known for example from German Patent Specification No. DAS 1809306 according to which the current supply for the working time storage devices is centrally controlled and is interrupted at a predetermined instant of time when the works member omits to switch off, wherein each working time storage device is associated with a blocking circuit which responds only when the storage device is still switched to the operative position by means of the identifying element, in particular a key which is in the possession of the works member, at a control time lying outside the predetermined working time, and wherein the blocking circuit which serves as a blocking device in the known time recorder can be switched free only by a circuit measure which is not available to the works member, namely by the key of a supervisor who must be called specially for this purpose.

It is a disadvantage of the known time recorder that the respective works member who has made a mistake, either intentionally or unintentionally, in the operation of the time recorder, at the start of a new working period, i.e. when he appears again in the works to resume his work after the blocking circuit had been triggered, as is normal at night, must search first in a time consuming search for the superior who possesses the key, possibly does not find him at all, for example because of illness, travel on business and the like, or even because the holder of the special key for unlocking the blocking circuit may be for example an employee the regular working time of whom starts later than the working time of the works member responsible for the mis-use of the time recorder and wishing for example, being a workman, to begin with his early shift.

It is already known in German Patent Specification No. DOS 2323829 to perform in a time recorder additions to or corrections of the stamp card which is provided with magnetic recording elements (magnetic strips), for which purpose a inserting system is to be provided which is connected to the working time registering apparatus and in which the respective data can be inserted manually. Obviously this proposal is useful in practice only if a manual insertion of correction data is possible solely for a supervising person, this leading to the same difficulties as explained above.

Furthermore, it is known German Patent Specification No. DOS 2411 174 to construct a time recorder in such a manner that upon faulty operation thereof by a works member the working time of whom is to be recorded, code combinations are produced which likewise prevent a continued normal counting of the respective working time storage device and render necessary the interference of a supervising person, this likewise being connected with the same difficulties explained above.

An object of the invention is to provide a time recorder in which mis-use triggers blocking processes always only for a defined working period, which however are not effective any more even in the next following working period so that in this new working period the time recorder and the working time storage device associated with the respective fellowworker operate again in normal operation without interference from outside.

According to the invention there is provided a time recorder for recording the working times of a plurality of works members during the duration of a plurality of successive working periods comprising a plurality of working time storage devices, each associated with a respective works member and all being arranged to be switched on and off by means of an identifying element, individually associated with the works member, monitoring devices for monitoring orderly use of the identifying elements, and blocking devices for temporarily blocking a storage device upon faulty use of the respective identifying element, the monitoring devices comprising signal generating devices by means of which faulty use of an identifying element can be indicated and stored, the blocking devices being automatically actuable for releasing the working time storage devices for each new working time period.

In a time recorder according to the invention, therefore, mis-use is detected and registered, so that an explanation of the circumstances becomes necessary which led to the mis-use. On the other hand clarification of the open questions may be effected at any desired later time, for example at the end of a settlement period of one week or one month, so that immediate interference of a superior can be omitted; this is very significant in the interest of a regulated working progress of the works member who is responsible for the misuse as well as also for the supervisor.

Preferably, upon mis-use of the time- recorder, the time recorder omits simply a credit for the respective working period and the stamp card of the co-worker is furnished with a corresponding marking so, that the working time to be credited in favour of the working period cannot be entered until after clarification of the factual circumstances. The fact that in no case at all a credit is effected when a mis-use prevails forces the respective employee then to pursue automatically by himself a clarification of the circumstances in order to obtain a credit for the working time actually performed.

A preferred exemplary time recorder according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic circuit diagram, partly in the form of a block diagram of the time recorder, wherein the circuit diagram is divided into several part Figs. 1 a to 1 f; Figure 2 is a map plan for explaining the correct assembly of the part figures of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a stamp card for a time recorder according to Fig. 1 with characteristic printouts of the printing mechanism.

The time recorder illustrated in the drawing operates with a working period card or a stamp card 50 as an identifying element.

Such a stamp card 50 is individually associated with every single works member, for reasons of simplicity referred to below as workman.

The stamp card 5Q is used for operating a conventional card reader 52.

In a manner known per se, the card reader examines the side face of the stamp card 50 for correctness, reads the personnel number given on the card, examines the personnel number range stated on the stamp card, selects from a plurality of working period storage devices connected, for reasons of simplicity referred to as stores 54.1 to 54.n below, the store corresponding to the personnel number, and comprises an end switch 52.1 which is actuable by the stamp card 50.

As mentioned, the card reader 52 is connected to the personnel number-related stores 54.1 to 54.n, namely by means of a lead 56 by way of which always one of the stores 54.1 to 54.n can be called up or addressed with the aid of the coded personnel number information; for this reason reference is made below to the address lead 56.

As shown by the drawing, the card reader 52 and the individual stores 54.1 to 54.n are in connection with further devices, wherein however the individual connecting leads are illustrated only for the store 54.1. In detail, in addition to the constructional groups described the time recorder possesses first of all a timing generator, referred to below as clock 58, which delivers the time information for a programmable time progress control 60. Furthermore, an inserter keyboard 62 is provided which comprises keys with the individual contacts 62.1 to 62.4 by way of which additional information can be inserted; this will still be explained below.Moreover, the time recorder is equipped with a lamp field 64 which comprises four indicator lamps 64.1 to 64.4 and co-operates with the inserter keyboard 62 in order to render possible in common therewith the functioning of the time recorder.

The time recorder has, a printer 66 which is known per se and usual in such apparatus, namely a printer with column control, which comprises an output at which a pulse-like signal "printing finished" can be delivered and which comprises five inputs through which the following commands can be fed thereto: printing of the clock time, printing of the special sign, print-out of the time of day and total working time, red print, underlining of the clock time.

The time recorder has furthermore a calculator 68 with an arrival block 68.1 with an interruption block 68.2 and with a departure block 68.3 which are illustrated separately in the drawing in order to increase the clarity, but which in reality are grouped together to form a constructional group. In detail, the arrival block 68.1. possesses a clock time store 68.11 which contains the same information as a clock time store 58.2 of the clock 58 and which under certain circumstances may be indentical therewith. Furthermore, the arrival block 68.1 possesses a store 68.12 in which is contained the programmed arrival time, for example the time of the normal start of work.Additionally, the arrival block 68.1 comprises also an arrival time store 68.13; upon an arrival booking either the clock time of the clock time store 68.11 or the programmed arrival time of the store 68.12 is transferred thereto. The interruption block 68.2 comprises a subtraction unit 68.21 which, upon an interruption of work during the normal working time can form the difference between the clock time and the time information stored at this instant of time in the arrival time store 68.1 3, in order to be able to transfer the previously performed working time thus calculated at the start of an interruption of work to a day working time store 68.33; as becomes clear from the reference numeral, the latter is component part of the departure block 68.3, but for clarification it is illustrated once more separately in the interruption block 68.2. The departure block 68.3 contains a subtraction unit 68.31 in which again the stored arrival time can be subtracted from the current clock time when a workman leaves. A second subtraction unit 68.32 serves for forming the different between a programmed departure time and the previously stored arrival time. The two subtraction units 68.31 and 68.32 are connected to the day working time store 68.33 the contents of which may be transferred to a total working time store 68.34 under predet ermined circumstances; the latter is likewise component part of the departure block 68.3.

The total working time store 68.34, the day working time store 68.33 and the arrival time store 68.13 are associated with corresponding stores of the individual personnel number related stores 54.1 to 54.n which always accept the contents of the said stores of the calculator 68 when a booking is performed for the respective workman and which store the relevant data for the next booking process, since the data in the calculator 68 must be changed at each booking process in accor dance with the data associated with the re spective workman and cannot be stored per manently.The constructional groups summar ily referred to above are connected together by altogether 47 logic gate circuits, such as AND gates, OR gates etc. 1 to 47 as well as a series of flip-flop circuits 52.2, 54.11 to 54.14, 60.1 to 60.3, which together render possible the manner of working described below, of the time recorder. It must be noted in the drawing in this case that delay mem bers which are necessary under certain cir cumstances and which ensure a perfect per formance of the logical functions, are not illustrated with one exception, since their ne cessity (or the possibility to omit them) de pends in the individual case upon the con cretely used constructional elements and is recognisable by the expert without difficulty.

Furthermore it must be noted that in the interest of a clear representation, it has been omitted in a few cases to draw in the neces sary connecting lines between certain con structional groups; however, the necessity for the existence of such connections is clear in the individual case from the description of the functioning. It is to be mentioned at this juncture merely that the clock time informa tion of the clock time store 58.2 must be available for various functions of the calculator 68 as well as for the printer. Moreover it is understood that likewise appropriate connec tions must be present between the stores referred to above, of the calculator 68 and the associated storage devices of the personnel number-related stores 54.1 to 54.n; these connections, however, are not illustrated in the drawing.The time recorder operates as follows: Normal operation When, prior to the start of a working peri od, a workman inserts his stamp card 50 in the usual manner into the card reader 52, the latter examines first the stamp card 50 which side thereof faces forwards, it being assumed in this case that stamp cards 50 are involved which are imprinted on their one side during the one half of the month, for example on their front face, and are imprinted on their other side, in this case the back face, during the other half of the month, i.e. from the 16th day to the last day of the month. Furthermore the card reader 52 reads the personnel number which is provided on the stamp card 50 in coded form, in particular holes punched out of it, and which is individually associated with the respective workman.A further information provided coded on the stamp card 50 indicates a so-called personnel number range which, especially in larger firms, associates each workman with a defined time recorder and with the aid of which the stamp card 50 is prevented from being used also in other time recorders. Moreover, on the strength of the personnel number read, the card reader selects one of the personnel number-related stores, for example the store 54.1. Finally, upon insertion of the stamp card 50 into the card reader 52, an end switch 52.1 in the latter is closed also.

When the front face of the stamp card 50 which is located in the card reader 52, faces forwards, a flip-flop 52.2 connected to an output of the card reader 52 delivers an signal, whereas in the other case a logic "0" is produced. This signal is fed to the one input of an exclusive OR gate 1 with negated output or of an EX-NOR gate 1 the other input of which is connected to the Q output of a flip-flop 60.3. The set input S and the reset input R of the flip-flop 60.3 are connected to the programmable time lapse control 60 which ensures that in the case under consideration an "L" is produced at the Cl output of the flip-flop 60.3 during the first 15 days of a month, whereas an "O" is produced from the 16th day to the last day of the month.The output of the EX-NOR gate 1 is connected to the one input of an AND gate 3 the second input of which receives an "L" when the stamp card 50 located in the card reader 52 belongs to the correct personnel number range. The output of the AND gate 3 is connected to a negated input of the AND gate 4 as well as to an input of the AND gate 5.

The respective other input of the AND gates 4 and 5 is loaded with "L" when a stamp card 50 is located in the stamp card reader 52 which card maintains the end switch 52.1 in the closed state. The output of the AND gate 4 delivers a signal "Fault" when different logic signal levels prevail at its inputs, for example when the stamp card 50 has been inserted back-to-front, when the stamp card 50 does not belong to the correct personnel number range, or when the end switch 52.1 is not actuated. The signal "Fault" causes then a fault indicator 58. 1 of the clock to light up. The output of the AND gate 5, at which an "L" prevails when the end switch 52.1 has been actuated correctly, and the correctness of the personnel number range and the correct insertion of the stamp card 50 has been examined, is connected to one input of the AND gate 6 and to one input of a further AND gate 8.The second input of these two AND gates 6, 8 is always connected to the Q output of a flip-flop 60.2. The S input and the R input of this flip-flop are connected to the programmable time lapse control 60 and the Cl output thereof delivers an "L" when the printing or booking process initiated by the insertion of the stamp card 50 into the card reader 52 takes place during a normal period predetermined by the programming of the time lapse control. If in contrast the stamp card 50 is inserted into the card reader 52 during a special period, the "0" prevails at the Q output of the flip-flop 60.2.

The output of the AND gate 6 is connected to the one input of an OR gate 7. The output of the AND gate 8 is connected to one input of the AND gate 9 as well as one input of the AND gate 10. The respective second input of the AND gates 9 and 10 (the second input of the AND gate 9 is negated) is connected to the output of a further EX-NOR gate 2 which comprises two inputs. One of these inputs is connected to the Cl-output of a flipflop 60.1 the S input and the R input of which are connected to the time lapse control 60. The time lapse control 60 is so constructed that an "L" prevails at the Q output of the flip-flop 60.1 when normally an arrival booking would have to be performed during the normal period, and an "0" prevails when a departure booking would have to be performed during the normal period.The second input of the EX-NOR gate 2 is connected to the Cl output of a flip-flop 54.11 which is a component part of the personnel number-related store 54.1 which, in the constructional example, it to be activated by the personnel number present on the stamp card 50 and recognised by the card reader, by way of the address lead 56. The Q output of the flip-flop 54.11 delivers an "O" when, because of the last booking, it must be assumed that the workman was present up to the instant of time of the booking now to be performed, whereas an " L" prevails at the Q output when a preceding absence of the workman forms the start.

The output of the AND gate 9 is connected to the second input of the OR gate 7 the output of which is connected on the one hand to the indicator larnp 64.2 of the field of lamps 64, and on the other hand to a lead 62.5 to which always one of the terminals of the individual contacts 21.4 to 21.3 of the insertion keyboard 62 is connected.

As shown by the preceding statements, an "L" can occur at the output of the OR gate 7 only if an "0" prevails at the output of the flip4lop 60.2 (special period), or when a discrepancy occurs between the booking an arrival booking or a departure booking-which is to be expected on the basis of the state of the time lapse control 60, and the booking which is to be expected on the basis of the state of the personnel number-related store 54.1. The steps to be taken in this case will be explained still in detail further below.

If it is assumed that the booking which is to be expected because of the state of the time lapse control 60 and the store 54.1 is always the same, for example an arrival booking, an "L" results however at the output of the AND gate 10. The output of the AND gate 10 is always connected to an input of an AND gate 11 and an AND gate 1 3 the second input of which gates is again connected to the Q output of the flip-flop 60.1, the second input of the AND gate 11 being negated. The output of the AND gate 11 is connected to an input of the OR gate 1 2 the output of which is always connected to one input of two AND gates 46 and 47.An "L" can occur at the output of the AND gate 11 only if during the normal period ("L" at the output Q of the flipflop 60.2) a departure booking is to be expected ("0" at the Q output of the flip-flop 60. 1). However, this case of a departure booking is not to be dealt with until further below. At first the case is to be considered that an arrival booking is to be performed at normal operation. In this case an "L" prevails at the two inputs of the AND gate 13, so that an "L" results also at the output of the AND gate 1 3 and is supplied to the one input of an OR gate 28 with three inputs. The output of the OR gate 28 is always connected to one input of two AND gates 29,30 as well as to one input of an OR gate 34 having three inputs.The second inputs of the AND gates 29 and 30-the second input of the AND gate 29 is negated-are connected to the output of an AND gate 14 at which an "O" prevails during the normal operation. Thus, if during normal operation an arrival booking is to be performed, an "L" prevails at the output of the AND gate 29, whereby the clock time store 68.11 of the arrival block 68.1 is activated and the contents thereof are then transferred to the arrival store 68.13. The arrival time is then transferred from the latter to the arrival time store of the personnel number-related store 54.1. Additionally the "L" at the output of the OR gate 34 controls the column "Printing the clock time" of the printer 66, so that the arrival time, i.e. the clock time at the instant of arrival of the workman at the stamp clock, is printed out on the stamp card 50.

If, during normal operation, a departure booking is to be performed, the signal switchthrough to the input of the AND gates 11 and 1 3 occurs in the manner described above.

However, because of the "0" at the Q output of the flip-flop 60.1, a departure booking results in a blockage of the AND gate 1 3 and an "L" at the output of the AND gate 11.

This "L" is fed through the OR gate 1 2 to the one input of the two AND gates 46 and 47.

The second input of the two AND gates 46 and 47-the second input of the AND gate 47 involves a negated inputs connected to the Q output of a further flip-flop 54.12 of the activated store 54.1. An "0" prevails normally at the Q output of the flip-flop 54.1 2. Solely when a false booking was effected on a working day or within a working period, an "L" prevails at the Q output of the flip-flop 54.12. Thus normally, i.e. if no.false day booking is present, an "L" prevails at the output of the AND gate 47 and is supplied to the one input of an AND gate 44 and an AND gate 45 as well as an OR gate 40 with three inputs. The output of the AND gate 46 at which normally an "0" prevails is likewise connected to an input of the OR gate 40. The third input of the OR gate 40 is connected to the output of an AND gate 24.The second input of the AND gate 44 and 45-the second input of the AND gate 44 is negated-is always connected to the individual contact 62.4 of the insertion keyboard 62, this contact being associated with a paid key which is releasable by a superivising person only by means of a key or the like and the functioning of which will be discussed in detail further below still. Thus, of the two AND gates 44, 45 only the AND gate 44 is normally set, i.e. when the paid key is not depressed, when the departure of a workman is to be expected within the normal period, and delivers at its output an " L" which activates the subtraction unit 68.31 of the calculator 68 by means of which the arrival time can be subtracted from the clock time stored in the clock time store.In this case the clock time store is a component part in the form of a constructional group 58.2 of the clock 58 and is connected to the calculator 68 where therefore, in order to increase the clarity, and also at other locations in the circuit, a corresponding block with the denomination "clock time" is illustrated.

Thus the formation of the difference in the subtraction unit 68.1 occurs only upon a departure booking. The difference calculated from the clock time and the arrival time corresponds to the day working time for the respective workman and is consequently transferred to the day working store 68.33.

Moreover, the content of the day working store 68.33 is transferred to the total working time store 68.34 during normal operation, i.e.

upon a departure booking at the end of a working day. From there the total working time is then transferred again to the total working time store of the personnel numberrelated store 54.1. Additionally, upon a departure booking during normal operation, a further input of the OR gate 34 is controlled by way of the output of the OR gate 40; the input of the OR gate 34 initiates then the printing of the clock time-in the present case the departure time-by means of the printer 66. Furthermore, the output of the OR gate 40 is connected to the one input of an OR gate 38 the output of which is connected to the set input S of the flip-flop 54.11 so that, upon departure of the workman, this flipflop is set to "L" = absence, after previously, upon arrival of the workman, it had been reset by means of its reset input R which is connected to the output of the OR gate 28.

Owing to this setting and resetting of the flipflop 54.11 the presence of the anti-valency condition at the inputs of the EX-NOR gate 2 in normal operation is always ensured, so that also an "L" results always at the output of the AND gate 10; this is the condition for the fact that one of the AND gates 11 and 13 is capable to switch through for the performance of an arrival booking or a departure booking.

Thus, after the performance of an arrival stamping, the arrival time of the workman is stored in the store 54.1 as well as also the fact that this workman is present. The stamp card 50 can then be withdrawn again, so that the next workman may insert his stamp card into the card reader 52, whereby the personnel number-related store, for example the store 54.2, associated with this workman is activated and can then co-operate with the logic circuits partly described above and the calaculator 68, the individual outputs and inputs of the store 54.2 being connectable to connecting points ato iwhich may be formed for example by OR gates with n inputs, which however are not specifically illustrated in the drawing for the purpose of increasing the clarity.

Under the condition that the time lapse control 60 is programmed in such a manner that arrival and departure stampings can be performed only at the start of a working day and at the end thereof, but not at the beginning and the end of a pause, for example the lunch break, the arrival time is maintained in the arrival time store of the store 54.1 up to the instant at which the workman leaves the works and at which he inserts his stamp card 50 again into the card reader.

If thereby the criteria to be examined by the card reader 52 are fulfilled, the processes occur which have been described above for the departure stamping, in which case then the subtraction unit 68.1 forms the difference between the arrival time stored in the morning and the current clock time and in which case this difference which corresponds to the working period performed is inscribed in the day working time store 68.3 and in the total working time store 68.4-working time to be credited may be shortened relatively to the actual presence time by predetermined pause times in a known manner. The content of the said stores of the calculator 68 is then transferred again to the day working time store or the total working time store, respectively, of the store 54.1 and moreover printed out together with the clock time upon departure or the departure time, respectively, in the respective columns of the stamp card 50. The stamp card illustrated in Fig. 3 for use in conjunction with a time recorder according to the invention illustrates such normal arrivaldeparture bookings for the first and the second day of a month.

Unpaid interruption In some cases it is unavoidable to give leave to a workman for a certain period of time during the normal working period, for example for attendance at a public office, in which case, however, the workman does not receive any payment for this period of absence. Therefore the duration of the interruption must be noted on the stamp card 50 and be taken into account in the calculation of the day working period. In the sliding time recorder according to the invention this is effected in the following manner: First of all, in the morning when the workman appears at his work place or inserts his stamp card 50 into the card reader 52, a usual arrival booking is performed, such as described above. When the workman who has performed his arrival booking for example at seven o'clock, then wishes to go at 8 o'clock, he again inserts his stamp card 50 into the card reader 52.At this instant of time, an "0" prevails at the Q output of the flip-flop 60.2 and indicates that the stamping is not to be performed during a normal period, but during a special period. The "O" at the Q output of the flip-flop 60.2 has the consequence that the AND circuit 8 does not switch through, so that the normal path described for the arrival stamping remains blocked as far as the output of the AND gate 44. However, the AND gate 6 can now become conductive and it activates by way of the OR gate 7 the lamp 64.2 of the lamp field 64 which illuminates an inscribed field with the inscription "Press key". Moreover "L" potential is supplied to the lead 62.5 and thus to the one terminal of the individual contacts 62.1, 62.2, 62.3 the associated keys of which carry the inscription "arrival", "interruption" and "departure", respectively.Thus the workman, if he wishes to interrupt his work during the special period, is requested, by the lighting up of the inscribed field "press key" to depress one of the keys of the insertion keyboard and to "inform" the time recorder in this way of the step which is intended. Thus in the case under consideration, the workman must actuate the key "interruption" and thereby close the individual contact 62.2. The closure of the contact 62.2 leads to the supply of an "L" to the one input of a NOR gate 31 with three inputs.Furthermore, the "L" is supplied to always one input of two AND gates 20 and 26, as well as to one input of an OR gate 1 8. The output of the OR gate 1 8 is connected to one input of the AND gate 1 9 the second input of which is a negated input and is connected to the Q output of the flip-flop 54.11 of the store 54.1 at which an "0" prevails at this instant of time, since the workman is still present or was previously present, respectively. The output of the AND gate 1 9 at which an "L" prevails under the stated conditions, is connected to the second input of the AND gate 20, so that an "L" appears also at the output of the latter.This "L" then becomes effective, by way of the one input of an OR gate 43, at the inputs of two AND gates 41, 42. The second input of the two AND gates 41, 42-the second input of the AND gate 42 is negated-is always connected to the individual contact 62.4 which is associated with the function "paid", so that always an "0" prevails at the two inputs under the condition that the interruption involved is an unpaid one. Thus an "L" appears at the output of the AND gate 42, this "L" being supplied on the one hand to the one input of an OR gate 39 and on the other hand to the input of the subtraction unit 68.21.The energisation of this subtraction unit has the consequence that the difference is formed between the clock time at the beginning of the interruption and the arrival time previously stored, and that a booking corresponding to the difference, of the working time performed is effected in the day working time store 68.33. Furthermore, the printing of the clock time by the printer 66 is initiated by way of the OR gate 39 the output of which is connected to an input of the OR gate 34. Moreover the output of the OR gate 39 is connected to a further input of the OR gate 38 by means of which setting of the flip-flop 54.11 is effected at the Q output of which then again an "L" prevails and indicates the absence of the workman.

When, at the end of the interruption, the workman inserts his stamp card 50 again into the card reader 52, at first, because of the special period still prevailing, the indicator lamp 64.2 for the inscribed field "press key" is switched on again and an "L" is supplied to the lead 62.5. The workman then actuates the key "arrival", whereby the switch 62.1 is closed. Thereby an "L" is fed to an input of the NOR gate 31 as well as to always one input of the three AND gates 21, 22 and 27.

Since the workman was previously absent, an "L" results by way of the Cl of the flip-flop 54.11 of the store 54.1 and is supplied to the second input of the AND gate 21, so that the output of the latter delivers an "L". The output of the AND gate 21 is connected to an input of the OR gate 28 the output of which is connected to an input of the OR gate 34, so that then the printing of the clock time by the printer 66 can be initiated by way of the output of the latter gate, namely as a red stamping and in the third column of the stamp card 50 where, in Fig. 3, 9 o'clock is shown. The output of the OR gate, furthermore, is connected to the one input of the AND gate 29 the second input of which is negated and is connected to the output of an AND gate 14.The one of the two inputs of the AND gate 14 is connected to the contact 62.4 which is open at this instant of time, and the other one which is negated is conneoted to the Q output of a further flip-flop 54.14 of the store 54.1. Thus an "0" prevails at the output of the AND gate 14, so that an "L" results at the output of the AND gate 29 and is fed to the input of the constructional group 68.1 which ensures that the clock time of the clock time store 58.2 is stored in the arrival time store 68.13 of the calculator 68 as well as in the arrival time store of the store 54.1.Thus, after an unpaid interruption the day time working store of the store 54.1 contains the presence time which has elapsed prior to the interruption, whereas the arrival time store 68.13 contains the new arrival time after the end of the interruption, so that then, when the workman leaves at the end of the working day, all processes can be performed in the same way as has been described above for the departure in normal operation.

As briefly mentioned above, the arrival time after an interruption is printed out in red on the stamp card 50. Likewise the departure time at the beginning of an interruption is printed out in red. This is attained by the fact that an AND gate 37 with two negated input is provided; the one input thereof is connected to the Q output of the flip-flop 60.2 at which an "0" prevails during the special period, and the other input thereof is connected to the output of an AND gate 36 at which an "L" prevails only when the content of the total working time store is to be printed out; this is not the case either at the end or at the beginning of an interruption.

Paid interruption When a workman interrupts his working time, but is nevertheless to be paid for the duration of the interruption, the stamp card 50 is inserted into the card reader 52 at the beginning of the interruption in the same way as for an unpaid interruption, and the key "interruption" is actuated. At the same time, a supervising person actuates the key "paid" and the paid contact 62.4 of the insertion keyboard 62 is closed, respectively. First of all this has the consequence that an indicator lamp 64.1 of the lamp field 64 is caused to light up and illuminates an inscribed field with the inscription "paid". Moreover, when the paid contact 62.4 is closed, the one input of an OR gate 1 5 is supplied with an "L".The output of the OR gate 1 5 is connected to the input "underlining the clocktime" of the printed 66 which is activated accordingly.

Moreover the "L" of the paid contact 62.4 is always supplied to one input of the two AND gates 41 and 42, the input of the AND gate 42 at which the "L" prevails being negated, so that this AND gate remains cut off in any case and consequently storing in the day working time store of the working time performed up to the start of the interruption cannot take place, such as described for the operative proceedings in the case of an unpaid interruption. On the other hand, as in the case of the unpaid interruption, again an "L" occurs at the output of the OR gate 43 by way of the gates 18, 1 9, 20 and is fed to the second input of the AND gate 41 which in consequence becomes conductive and controls the heading "printing the clock time" of the printer 66 by way of the OR gates 39 and 34.Furthermore, the "L" of the output of the AND gate causes the flip-flop 54.11 to be set by way of the OR gates 39 and 38, so that the "L" appears again at the Q output of the flip-flop and represents the absence of the workman. Furthermore, the output of the AND gate 41 feeds the "L" to the set input S of the flip-flop 54.14 so that the "L" which is associated with the paid interruption appears at the Q output thereof.

Thus, at the beginning of a paid interruption, the clock time is printed upon the stamp card 50, namely in red, since the "0" prevails at the one negated input of the AND gate 37 during this special period and because of the fact that even at the other negated input also, no print-out of the content of the total working time store is effected.

Additionally, the clock time printed in red is underlined. Apart from this, no calculation processes occur in the calculator 69, since the interruption block 68.2 is not activated, so that the arrival time is maintained which is stored in the arrival time store upon arrival during the normal period.

When, at the end of the paid interruption, the workman returns again and actuates the arrival key, all processes take place substantially in the same way as upon a return after an unpaid interruption; in this case, however, the heading "underlining the clock time" is controlled by the "L" at the Q output of the flip-flop 54.14 by way of the OR gate 1 5 on the one hand and on the other hand an acceptance of the clock time by the arrival time store of the arrival block 68.1 is prevented. In this case this suppression of the new arrival time storage occurs internally in the personnel number-related store.

Furthermore, it must be mentioned additionally that in the manner of operation under consideration, an "L" is supplied to the one input of an AND gate 33 by the output "printing terminated" of the printer 66 at the end of the printing process; at the other input of the AND gate 33, there prevails the "L" of the output of the OR gate 28 and is supplied, as usual, to the reset input of the flip-flop 54.11. Upon return after a paid interruption, the "L" at the output of the AND gate 33 controls the reset input of the flipflop 54.14, so that subsequently the "0" prevails again at the Q output thereof.

Paid absence time prior to the beginning of presence When a workman does not arrive until during the special period-that is to say basically too late-but is nevertheless to be paid for the working time which has elapsed since the normal start of work, he is first of all requested, by the lighting up of the indicator lamp 64.2 of the lamp field 64 after insertion of his stamp card 50 into the card reader 52, to depress a key; as already described above, the control of the indicator lamp 64.2 is initiated in this case by way of the AND gate 6 and the OR gate 7 merely by the fact alone that an "0" prevails at the output of the flipflop 60.2 and indicates that the stamping is to be performed during the special period.

The workman can then close the arrival contact 62.1 by depressing the arrival key; this would trigger off the same processes as the return after an unpaid interruption. However, since in the case under consideration, the time which has elapsed since the normal start of work is to be paid, additionally the paid contact 62.4 is closed by a supervising person authorised for this purpose, whereby an "L" results at the one input of the AND gate 14; the other input thereof is negated and the "O" of the Cl output of the flipflop 54.14 prevails there.Different from the return after an unpaid interruption or from straightforward late arrival, the AND gate 29 is maintained in the closed state by the "L", whereas the AND gate 30, at the second input of which the "L" from the output ofthe OR gate 28 prevails, becomes conductive and controls the store 58.1.2 for the programmed arrival time in the arrival block 68.1, so that then the content thereof, i.e. the programmed arrival time which corresponds to the normal start of work, is inserted into the arrival time store 68.13. When then, in the evening, the workman leaves again, a day working time is calculated for him which does not result from the actual arrival time, but from the programmed arrival time.The fact that in this case payment is made for an absence period is, however, made recognisable on the stamp card 50 by the fact that the heading "under lining the clock time" of the printer 66 is controlled by way of the OR gate 15. Moreover, the printer 66 prints also the actual arrival time when the heading "printing the clock time" is controlled by the "L" at the output of the OR gate 28 by way of the OR gate 34. In this case the clock time and the actual arrival time, respectively, is printed in red because of the fact that an "0" prevails at each of the two negated inputs of the AND gate 37.A booking in which the full working time is paid although the workman had ar rived late, is found on the stamp card illus trated in Fig. 3 at the fifth day of the month where as arrival time 8.00 hours has been stamped and in spite of this the full day working time of 8.00 hours has been booked, as for an arrival at 7.00 hours.

Payment of the full working time upon prema ture departure.

When a workman leaves prematurely, but is to be paid for the full day working period, the departure contact 62.1 and the paid contact 62.4 must be closed after the lighting up of the lamp 64.2 "press key" which is initiated in the described manner. By closing the de parture contact 62.3 an "L" is supplied to the one input of the AND gate 1 6 and, by way of the OR gate 18, to the one input of the AND gate 1 9. At this instant, the "0" from the Q output of the flip-flop 54.11 prevails at the second-negated-input of the AND gate 19, so that an "L" appears at the output of the the AND gate 1 9 and is fed to the second input of the AND gate 1 6. Therefrom an "L" results at the output of the AND gate 16 and is supplied by way of the OR gate 1 2 to a respective input of the two AND gates 46 and 47. Thus in the case under consideration the "L" from the output of the AND gate 16 is substituted for the "L" which is fed by the output of the AND gate 11 by way of the OR gate 1 2 to the said inputs of the AND gates -46,47 upon departure during the normal period. Consequently, as upon departure dur ing the normal period, always one input of the AND gates 44 and 45 are controlled by an "L".However, when the paid contact 62.4 is closed, an "L" prevails at the second input of these two AND gates, so that the AND gate 44 remains closed and the AND gate 45 controls the subtraction unit 68.32 of the calculator 68. Consequently the difference is I formed between the clock time and the pro grammed departure time and is stored as day working period in the day working time store 68.33. Moreover the day working time is added to the content of the total working time store. The printing of the clock time is ef fected as upon departure during the normal period. Additionally, as upon departure during the normal period, printing out of the content of the total working time store is effected.

Additionally, however, underlining of the clock time is also effected because of the "L" signal from the paid contact 62.4 transmitted by way of the OR gate 15.

Forgotten arrival booking.

In establishments in which the working time is determined by means of a time recorder, the case does not occur infrequently that for reasons of any kind a workman forgets at the start of work to insert his stamp card 50 into the card reader 52. In this case, upon departure of the workman after the end of the working time, i.e. before during the normal period in the sense of the present application, automatic stamping of the stamp card cannot be effected.In detail, in the time recorder according to the invention, the absence of the arrival stamping becomes effective by the fact that because of the forgotten arrival stamping an "L" prevails at the Q output of the flip-flop 54.11, so that because of the discrepancy between the departure booking to be expected and the simultaneously indicated absence of the workman an "0" results at the output of the EX-NOR gate 2, whereby the normal path through the AND gate 10 remains blocked for the performance of an automatic stamping process. Instead, by means of the AND gate 9 to the one input of which the "L" from the output of the AND gate 8 is supplied and at the second-negated-input of which the "0" from the output of the EX-NOR gate 2 prevails, the indicator lamp 64.2 is switched on by means of the OR gate 7, so that the inscribed area "press key" lights up.Therefore, the workman is requested to actuate one of the keys of the keyboard 62. When the workman depresses the departure key and closes the departure contact 62.3, respectively, in accordance with the actual situation, the "L" signal is fed to always one input of the AND gate 16, the OR gate 18 and the AND gate 24. By way of the OR gate 18, the "L" travels to the one input of the AND gate 17; at this instant the "L" from the Q output of the flip-flop 54.11 indicating the absence of the workman prevails at the second input of the said AND gate 1 7. Consequently the AND gate 1 7 becomes conductive and delivers the "L" by way of the OR gate 23 to the indicator lamp 64.3 which illuminates an inscribed area with the inscription "wrong key".

This signal draws the attention of the workman to the fact that according to the information present in the time recorder a departure booking cannot be expected. At the same time the output of the OR gate 23 by means of which the indicator lamp 64.3 is controlled, is connected to the input of a monostable multivibrator circuit 69 the output of which is connected to an input of an AND gate 32. The second input of the AND gate 32 is connected to the output of an OR gate 31 having a negated output. The OR gate 31 has three inputs which are connected to the three contacts 62.1, 62.2 and 62.3 of the insertion keyboard 62. When then, after the lighting up of the field "wrong key", the workman opens the departure contact 62.3, an "0" prevails at each of the three inputs of the OR gate 31, so that an "L" results at the negated output of the OR gate 31.Simultaneously with the opening of the departure contact 62.3, the "L" signal at the output of the OR gate 23 is terminated. The mono-stable multivibrator circuit 69 is of such a construction that it is triggered by the trailing flank of the "L" signal from the output of the OR gate 23 and produces now at its output and at the input connected thereto of the AND gate 32 a time-limited "L" signal. Thereby, however, a short "L" pulse appears also at the output of the AND gate 32 and is fed to the set input S of a bistable multivibrator circuit 70 at the Cl output of which then an "L" appears. This "L" is fed to the one input of an AND gate 25 the second input of which is likewise connected to the output of the OR gate 23.

When then the workman truthfully closes the departure contact 62.3 again, an "L" is produced at the two inputs of the AND gate 25, so that an "L" appears also at the output thereof and is fed to the one input of the AND gate 24. Since an "L" prevails by way of the closed departure contact 62.3 at the second input of this AND gate 24, the AND gate 24 delivers at its output an "L" which is fed by way of the OR gate 40 always to an input of the OR gate 34 and the AND gates 35 and 36. Furthermore, the "L" from the output of the AND gate 25 is supplied to the set inputs S of the flip-flops 54.1 2 and 54.1 3 the Cl output of which goes to "L" thereby and indicates thereby that a false day booking or a false booking of the booking period, respectively, prevails.The "L" from the Cl output of the flip-flop 54.12 is fed to the negated second input of the AND gate 36, whereby on the respective working day the print-out of the content of the total working time store is prevented. This measure is of particular importance when on the respective day the performance of the arrival booking after an interruption of the working time was forgotten. The "L" from the Q output of the flipflop 54.1 3 is supplied to the second input of the AND gate 35 so that the latter becomes conductive and by the "L" at its output controls the heading "print the special sign" of the printer 66.Whereas, as indicated in the drawing, the flip-flop 54.1 2 is always reset at its reset input R at midnight, so that the content of the total working time store can be printed again at the end of the next following working day, the flip-flop 54.1 3 is not reset until the end of the current accounting period, for example the current month, so that then upon every departure booking ("L" at the output of the OR gate 40) the special sign is printed automatically in order to indicate that a false booking has occurred in the accounting period which must be taken into account in some way when the pay for the respective workman is calculated. Otherwise, however, no defect is produced on the stamp card 50 which requires immediate correction.Solely for the day on which a false booking has occurred, no booking of the day working time and the total woking time is performed, such as is the case for the stamp card according to Fig. 3 on the eighth day of the month. It is also clear from Fig. 3 in this case that the departure time is printed in red, as for all other special bookings which do not occur automatically. When the departure time in red and the special sign have been printed and the workman then withdraws his stamp card 50 from the card reader 52, opening the switch 52.1 in the card reader 52 causes an "O" to be produced at the negated reset input R of the flip-flop 70 whereby the same is reset.

Various After essential functions of the time record er according to the invention have been ex plained above in great detail, various details not discussed heretofore, of the time recorder are to be gone into. First of all it must be mentioned in this connection that the control of the indicator lamp 64.3 for illuminating the inscribed area "wrong key" can be controlled also with the other misuses of the time recorder, for example when the departure contact 62.3 is actuated after a preceding actuation of the interruption contact 62.2, whereby again the flip-flop 70 would be set and the AND gate 25 prepared, whereupon then, upon renewed actuation of the departure contact 62.3 the processes described above would take place.Even if after a normal arrival booking during the special period the arrival contact 62.1 would be actuated and then released, the AND gate 25 would again be prepared by way of the flip-flop 70, whereupon then, upon renewed closure of the arrival contact 62.1, the AND gate 27 would become conductive, so that the clock time would be stored away as a new arrival time by means of the OR gate 28 and the AND gate 29; however, this booking fault would likewise be noticed because of the fact that the flip-flops 54.12 and 54.13 are set, and consequently, as in all false bookings, the indicator lamp 64.4 "false booking" lights up and the special sign (+) is printed.

Finally, still it must be pointed out that the arrival time store and the day time store in the personnel number-related stores 54.1 to 54.n are always cancelled at midnight, while simultaneously the flip-flops 54.11, 54.1 2 are set for the indication of the presence or the day false booking to "L" (absence) and "0" (no false day booking), respectively. Additionally, at the end of each accounting period, for example at the end of a month, the flip-flop 54.1 3 for the accounting period is set to "O" and the total working time store is cancelled, namely also at midnight.

It must also be mentioned still that the presence time which is stored in the day working time store at the beginning of an interruption is transferred at midnight to the total working time store, if no further booking process had been effected. In this case, therefore, the booking "interruption" is evaluated as a departure booking, but only if subsequently no false operation of the time recorder occurs.

Moreover, it must be pointed out that the day working time store is set to zero by a departure booking. When then, in spite of this, a content is still present in the day working time store at midnight, this may be the case for example when a workman has left with the intention merely to interrupt the work, but then has not returned any more to his work place, the content of the day working time store is transferred into the total working time store. In spite of the fact that per se a misuse is present, no special sign (+) is printed out in this case, since the situation is clear in itself, namely under the condition that an "L" prevails at the Q output of the flip-flop 54.11 and thereby indicates the absence of the workman.

In the preceding description the assumption was made that the special sign after a mis-use is printed out always up to the end of the month together with the total working time result and thus indicates to the workman as well as to the accounts department of the establishment that a correcting action must still be taken here. However, according to the invention, there still exists the posibility to construct the time recorder in such a manner that after consultation with the workman, a supervising person can insert into the total working time store an additional working time which corresponds to the actual presence time and can then reset the flip-flop 54.1 3.

Furthermore, the possibility exists to construct the time recorder in such a manner that the working time can be detected not only in the case of fixed working times, but also in the case of a predetermined sliding time programme. It was assumed in the constructional example that the normal period lasts until 7.00 hours in the morning, that then a special period follows until 16.00 hours in the afternoon and that subsequently the normal period runs again, wherein provided that there is no operating fault, all booking processes are performed automatically during the normal period, whereas the performance of a booking process during the special period ("0" at the Q output of the flip-flop 60.2) are executed only after a single or multiple actuation of a key of the insertion keyboard. At this juncture it must also be pointed out that in principle it causes no difficulties in a time recorder according to the invention to effect automatic deduction of fixed predetermined pause periods in the calculation of the day working period.

Furthermore, it must be mentioned still that when, upon departure, a workman forgets unintentially to perform a departure booking, this fact is also detected at midnight, since in this case an "0" which indicates the presence of the workman prevails then at the output of the flip-flop 54.11. In this case also the presence of a false booking is detected; the special sign for indicating the presence of a false booking, however, is not printed out until the next following working day.

In practice, it is advantageous when devices are used for the time lapse control, such as described for example in the U.S. Patent Specifications Nos. 3922531,3974362 and 4063071 of the Applicants. Furthermore, it has been found advantageous when the printer 66 with heading control used is a Victor-Matrix-Printer of the type 129, such as produced by the Firm Victor Comptometer Corporation, Chicago, U.S.A.

Finally, in a time recorder according to the invention, preferably card readers may be employed, such as described for example in the German Patent Specification No. DOS 26 36 080 (Sachse) and in the German Patent Specification No. DOS 2343433 (Tonne) or the corresponding U.S. Patent Specification No. 3 641 321.

Claims

1. A time recorder for recording the working times of a plurality of works members during the duration of a plurality of successive working periods comprising a plurality of working time storage devices, each associated with a respective works member and all being arranged to be switched on and off by means of an identifying element, individually associated with the works member, monitoring devices for monitoring orderly use of the identifying elements, and blocking devices for temporarily blocking a storage device upon faulty use of the respective identifying element, monitoring devices comprising signal generating devices by means of which faulty use of an identifying element can be indicated and stored, the blocking devices being automatically actuable for releasing the working time storage devices for each new working time period.

2. A time recorder according to claim 1, wherein the signal generating devices com prise at least one indicator lamp for indicating mis-use.

3. A time recorder according to claim 2, where the signal generating devices comprise a plurality of indicator lamps for indicating distinguishable types of mis-use.

4. A time recorder according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the identifying ele ments are stamp cards and the signal generat ing devices comprise printing devices for printing at least one special signal on the stamp cards.

5. A time recorder according to claim 4, wherein the printing devices are controllable so that the special signal is printable always together with the total presence time up to the instant of time at which a correction of the consequences of the mis-use occurs.

6. A time recorder according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the blocking devices (54.1 2) are arranged that the crediting of presence times is suppressible for working time periods in which mis-use occurred.

7. A time recorder according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein by means of the signal generating devices operating instructions are producible, input means being provided for performing the operating instructions.

8. A time recorder according to claim 7, wherein a programmable time lapse control is provided by means of which programmed N predetermined first time periods for automatic operation of the time recorder and second time periods are insertable during which the operation of the time recorder is to be performed in dependence upon operating instructions with the aid of the input means.

9. A time recorder for recording the working times of plurality of works members during the duration of a plurality of successive working periods substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.