GB2093772A - Card locking device for time recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

A card locking device incorporated in a time recorder which is constructed in such a manner that while a printer, e.g. a wire type dot matrix type printer 19, 19a, performs its printing operation such as time printing or the like on a time card inserted into a card guide passage 4, a locking lever 31 is effective in clamping the inserted time card in the card guide passage 4 for the purpose of preventing it from being removed therefrom and on completion of the intended printing operation tie locking lever is disengaged from the inserted time card whereby it is ready to be removed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Card locking device for time recorder The present invention relates to a time recorder.

When recording on a time card using a time recorder data such as company arrival time, an operator inserts his time card into a card guide passage through a card insert pocket of the time recorder and when he judges that the intended printing has been completed, he removes it from the card insert pocket. Since insertion and removal of the time card in and from the time recorder are performed by the individual operator's hand, it is often found that he removes his time card too early by mistake or intentionally. Such early removal causes misprinting on the time card. The conventional time recorder contains a printing section which is constructed as a series of printing types arranged in the form of a ring and a printing hammer and is operated in such a manner that printing is performed immediately after inserting a time card into a printing start position.With this recorder relatively little misprinting is caused by card movement.

More recent electronic time recorders however, have a printing section constructed as a wire type dot matrix printer and these do present a problem that a series of irregular types in an upwards inclined alignment in the direction of removal of the time card are printed when an operator removes his time card during printing operation, because in this case the dot matrix printer is displaced transversely relative to the time card during the printing operation.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a time recorder as set forth in Claim 1.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a card locking device as set forth in Claim 2.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partially sectioned side view of a time recorder with a card locking device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention incorporated therein.

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the essential part of the card locking device in accordance with the present invention, shown in an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the essential part of the card locking device similar to Figure 2, wherein the device is shown in the locked state.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the essential part of the card locking device, taken in line A-A in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the locking lever, wherein the locking lever is shown in the disassembled state.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the locking lever, taken in line B-B in Figure 5.

Figures 7 to 9 are a schematic plan view of cam mechanisms respectively, by which operations of the cam mechanisms are shown in a stepwise manner.

Figure 10 is a schematic illustration of a control system for the card locking device in the form of a block diagram, and Figure 11 is a time chart of operations of the card locking device.

Prior to entering into description of the card locking device in accordance with the present invention a typical time recorder for which the present invention is practised will be described below with reference to Figure 1.

In the drawing the reference numeral 1 designates a housing of the time recorder on which a card insert pocket 2 is arranged displaceable along the guide shaft 3 in the transversal direction, that is, in the direction at a right angle to the plane of the drawing, said guide shaft 3 extending horizontally through the housing 1. Thus it is possible to change the required printing position relative to a time card to be printed by way of displacing said card insert pocket 2. The reference numeral 4 designates a card guide passage for the time card vertically arranged in the housing 1, said card guide passage 4 being constructed of two parallel guide plates 4a and 4b and its upper end being connected to the lower part of the card insert pocket 2.The reference numeral 5 designates a guide rod which is disposed in the housing 1 in parallel to said card guide passage 4, said guide rod 5 being supported displaceable in the vertical direction and having a sliding frame connected thereto which is formed with a rack 7 which serves for determining a certain printing stage on the time card. The reference numeral 8 designates a ratchet wheel which is in engagement with said rack 7 to be rotated by one revolution per day by means of a motor (not shown) so that stage feeding is effected. Specifically said ratchet wheel 8 is adapted to feed the sliding frame 6 in the vertical direction by one stage per day by way of engagement with the rack 7.Further the arrangement is made with the ratchet wheel 8 such that on completion of stage feeding by 1 6 days the sliding frame 6 falls down to the lowermost position as illustrated in the drawing, because the ratchet wheel 8 is disengaged from the rack 7. The reference numeral 9 designates a mounting plate associated with said sliding frame 6, said mounting plate 9 being provided with an actuator 10 on its upper end part which is rotatably supported by means of a shaft 10 which extends through the mounting plate 9. Said actuator 10 is formed with a card receiving portion 1 Oa at its front end which is located in alignment with card guide passage 4.The reference numeral 12 designates a cooperating piece which is rotatably supported by means of a shaft 13 at the lower end part of said mounting plate 9, the upper part of said cooperating piece 12 being operatively connected to the lower end part of the actuator 1 0. Thus as the actuator 10 is rotated about the shaft 11 in the clockwise direction by means of the time card which is inserted through the card insert pocket 2, the cooperating pieces 12 is also rotated about the shaft 13 in the anticlockwise direction by way of the operative connection between the both components 10 and 12, whereby the pushing portion 12a of the cooperating piece 12 comes in contact against a microswitch 1 5 fixedly secured to the sliding frame 6 to turn on said microswitch 1 5. As described later, the microswitch 1 5 functions as an actuating switch which serves to actuate the printing section of the time recorder.

Thus once the microswitch 1 5 is turned on, the whole operations become effective.

Next, a typical printing section which is incorporated in the time recorder will be described in more details with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 6 and 1 7 designate guide shafts which extend in parallel to each other in the housing 1 a and the reference numeral 1 8 does a printer base mounted between both the guide shafts 16 and 17. The printer base 18 is arranged horizontally displaceable, while being guided by means of both the guide shafts 16 and 1 7. Further the printer base 18 is provided with a commercial wire type dot matrix printer 19 (hereinafter referred to simply as dot printer) fixedly mounted thereon. In Figure 2 to 4 the dot printer 19 is not shown but it is assumed that in practice the dot printer 19 is mounted on the printer base 18 in the same manner as shown in Figure 1.As best seen from Figure 1, the printing head 1 9a of the dot printer 19 is horizontally protruded towards the upper part of the guide passage 4 to print certain working data on the time card inserted in the card guide passage 4. On the bottom of the printer base 18 are located two roller shafts 20 and 21 (only one of them shown) which extend in parallel to one another in the vertical direction at a certain distance therebetween. The roller shafts 20 and 21 are provided with guide rollers 22 and 23 rotatably fitted thereon. The reference numeral 24 designates a cam disc which is interposed between both the guide rollers 22 and 23, said cam disc 24 containing a cam shaft 25 fixedly secured thereto which is adapted to be rotated by means of a motor 27 fixed to the central part of the frame 1 a by way of a bracket 26.The reference numeral 28 designates a transmission casing with reduction gears (not shown) incorporated therein for transmitting driving power of the motor 27 to the cam shaft 25 at a reduced speed of rotation. Thus as the cam disc 24 is rotated, the printer base 18 is horizontally displaced by way of the power transmission system constructed in the above described manner, while being guided with the aid of the guide shafts 1 6 and 17, whereby the dot printer 19 performs forward movement relative to the time card inserted into the card guide passage 4.

Figures 7 to 9 schematically iilustrate the movement of the cam disc 24 as described above, seen from the above. As apparent from the drawings, the cam disc 24 is shaped in the form of a heart and is secured to the cam shaft 25 in an eccentric position. Specifically, Fig. 7 illustrates the location of the cam mechanism at a starting time (when operation stops). As the cam shaft 25 starts its rotation from the illustrated location, the cam disc 24 is rotated in the clockwise direction whereby both the guide rollers 22 and 23 are displaced to the left by means of the cam face of the cam disc 24 which comes in contact against the guide rollers 22 and 23. As a result the dot printer 1 9 together with the printer base 1 8 is displaced toward the printing start position.Next, Figure 8 illustrates another location of the cam mechanism where the cam disc 24 has been rotated by about 90 degrees and thereby the dot printer 19 has reached the printing start position.

Now printing operation starts at this position. As the cam disc 24 is further rotated in the clockwise direction from the position as illustrated in Figure 8, the guide rollers 22 and 23 are displaced to the right by means of the cam face of the cam disc 24 which comes in contact against them, whereby the dot printer 19 is transversally displaced to the right, while performing printing operation on the time card with the use of a certain dot matrix pattern. In the meanwhile, Figure 9 illustrates still another location of the cam mechanism just before completion of the transversal displacement accompanied by printing operation. Assumed that the distance between the cam shaft 25 and the one guide roller 23 at the printing start time is represented by T as illustrated in Fig. 8, the distance therebetween at the location as illustrated in Figure 9 is represented by T + n.This means that the dot printer 19 is transversally displaced by the distance of n while performing printing operation (hereinafter referred to as tranversal printing displacement). When the cam disc 24 is rotated by 180 degrees from the position in Figure 8, the tranversal printing displacement of the dot printer 19 comes to an end and at the same time the intended printing operation is completed. After completion of the transversal printing displacement of the dot printer 1 9 together with the guide rollers 22 and 23 they perform reverse displacement toward the position as illustrated in Figure 7, as the cam disc 24 is further rotated. Finally, one cycle of transversal printing displacement is completed when the cam disc 24 is rotated by one revolution and comes to a stop at the position in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a block diagram which schematically illustrates a control section by which the dot printer 1 9 and motor 27 are controlled. In the block diagram the reference numeral 29 designates a central processing unit comprising a microprocessor as a main component. Said central processing unit 29 additionally contains a storage device (not shown) in which a number of electronic memories are incorporated. Further the reference numeral 30 designates a time circuit comprising an oscillating circuit such as crystal oscillator, C-MOS circuit or the like. A time signal which is to work as a reference control signal for the respective sections is delivered from said time circuit 30 to the microprocessor in the central processing unit 29 via a signal line 30a.The central processing unit 29 is operated in such a manner that the data previously stored in the storage device are read out and processed in accordance with the ONsignal delivered from the microswitch 1 5 via a signal line 1 5a and then control signals derived from said data are issued to a printing magnet 1 9b for actuating the wires in the dot printer 1 9 and to a driving circuit 27b for the motor 27 so that the rotation of the motor 27 as well as the printing operation of the dot printer 1 9 are performed in the above described manner.

Next, a card locking device for the time recorder with the above described printing section incorporated therein will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6.

A locking lever 31 which constitutes an essential component of the card locking device in accordance with the present invention is designed such that the upper plate 32 has a pair of foot plates 33 at its both ends, said foot plates 33 being bent at a right angle relative to the upper plate 32 is integraily formed with a locking piece 31 a at the bottom side of the upper plate 32, said locking piece 31 a extending downwards at a certain forward inclination angle relative to the vertical plane, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Further the locking lever 31 is supported rotatable about the guide shaft 1 6 which extends through drilied holes 33a on both the foot plates 33, wherein the front face of locking piece 31 a is oriented toward the card guide passage 4.As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the card guide passage 4 is provided with a locking counter-plate 4c which is located opposite to the locking piece 31 a relative to the card guide passage 4 so that the time card inserted into the card guide passage 4 passes through the space between the locking piece 31a and locking counter-plate 4c. In Figures 2 to 4 the reference numeral 34designates a coil spring which is wound about the one end of the guide shaft 16.

As best seen from Figure 3, the upper end of the coil spring 34 is inserted in a drilled hole 35 on the frame 1 a, while the lower end is resiliently engaged to the back side of the one foot plate 33 of the locking lever 31 in such a manner that the locking piece 31 a is rotated in the clockwise direction so as to come in resilient contact against the locking counter-plate 4c.

A part typically represented by the reference numeral 36 in Figures 1 to 5 is an actuating mechanism for controlling the operation of the lock lever 31. In the embodiment as illustrated in the drawings the actuating mechanism 36 comprises a control rod 37 extended between both the foot plates 33 of the locking lever 31 and a control cam 38 secured to the cam shaft 25 in a coaxial relation to the cam disc 24. The control rod 37 is shaped in the form of a gate as illustrated in Figure 5, wherein the foot rods bent at right angle relative to the control rod 37 has bent ends 37a which are rotatably fitted in drilled holes 33b at the lower ends of the foot plates 33, while the central part of the control rod 37 is deformed to a plate-shaped driven portion 37b.Normally the control cam 38 secured to the cam shaft 25 is adapted to rotate the whole locking lever 31 against the coil spring 34 by way of the engagement to the driven portion 37b of the control rod 37 in such a direction that the locking piece 31 a is displaced apart from the card guide passage 4. As the cam shaft 25 is rotated and the control cam 38 is disengaged from the driven portion 37b of the control rod 37, the lock lever 31 is rotated toward the card guide passage 4 by means of the coil spring 31, until the time card inserted in the card guide passage 4 is tightly clamped between the front edge of the downwards extending locking piece 31 a and the locking counter-plate 4c, as illustrated in Figure 3.

As a result it is ensured that the time card 39 is prevented from any early removal.

Now the control cam 38 will be described below in a greater detail with reference to the above description in connection with Figures 7 to 9. As illustrated in the drawings, the control cam 38 is fixedly secured to the heart-shaped cam disc 24 for the dot printer in an eccentric relation relative to the cam shaft 25, while being orientated in the same direction as the expanded portion 24a of the cam disc 24. During stoppage of operation as illustrated in Figure 7 the front end part of the control cam 38 is brought in contact against the driven portion 37b of the control rod 37 whereby the whole locking lever 31 is displaced against the coil spring 34 to the unlocked position as illustrated in Figure 2.When the cam shaft 25 is rotated by a certain small angle, the control cam 38 is immediately disengaged from the control rod 37 with the result that the time card 39 is locked by means of the locking piece 31 a, as illustrated in Figure 3. In the meanwhile, during transversal printing operation as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 the control rod 37 isquitely free from engagement to the control cam 38 whereby the locking piece 31 a of the lock lever 31 continues to lock the time card 39 in the card guide passage 4, while preventing any removal therefrom. When the cam shaft 25 is rotated by one revolution and the transversal displacement of the dot printer 19 is completed, the control cam 38 comes again in engagement against the control rod 37, as illustrated in Figure 7, whereby the locking lever 31 is displaced to the unlocked position as illustrated in Figure 2. Now the time card 39 is ready to be removed.

The card locking device in accordance with the present invention has been described above. Now operation of the card locking device will be further described in order with reference to the time chart in Figure 11.

Prior to entering into operation the card insert pocket 2 is displaced to lock for a predetermined printing position such as company arrival time printing position, company leaving time printing position or the like. Then the time card 39 is inserted into the card guide passage 4 through the card insert pocket 2. When the inserted time card 39 depresses the actuator 10, the microswitch 1 5 is turned on whereby the central processing unit 29 in the control section starts its processing operation, causing the motor 27 to be rotated.As the motor 27 is rotated, the lock lever 31 becomes effective whereby the inserted time card 39 is locked in the card guide passage 4 and at the same time the dot printer 1 9 performs transversal printing displacement, while the respective printing magnets for the wires in the dot printer are energized in accordance with the command from the central processing unit 29 to perform the intended printing operation on the time card 39.

On completion of the printing operation by means of the dot printer 19 the locking lever 31 is disengagement from the locked state and thereafter the motor 27 comes to a stop. At this moment the time card 39 is ready to be removed from the card guide passage 4. When the operator takes out it, the actuator 10 is restored to the original position, causing the microswitch is to be turned off. At the same time the central processing unit 29 stops its control operation.

Finally it is to be added that in Figure 1 the reference numeral 40 designates a time indicating clock panel in which a time indicating clock 41 is incorporated to indicate the existing time by means of time pointers which are driven in accordance with control signals delivered from the central processing unit 29 via a signal line 41 a, as illustrated in Figure 10.

Claims (5)

1. A time recorder having a printerforprinting data on an inserted time card of a type in which a printing head is moved across the card during a printing operation and characterised by clamping means operative during the printing operation to prevent movement of the time card.

2. A card locking device incorporated in a time recorder in which insertion of a time card into a card guide passage is operative to cause a switch to be turned on so that a wire type dot matrix printer is displaced transversely relative to the inserted time card to print on a desired location of the time card, wherein said card locking device comprises a locking lever which is formed with a locking piece located on one side of the card guide passage, spring means adapted to rotate the locking lever toward the card guide passage so as to clamp the inserted time card in the space between the locking counter-plate located on the opposite side relative to the card guide passage and a cam means adapted to displace the locking lever away from the card guide passage against the resilient force of the spring means, said cam means being such that the rotation of a motor initiated by means of the switch causes the locking lever to be disengaged from the cam means so that the inserted time card is locked by means of the locking lever and on completion of printing operation of the dot printer the locking lever is again displaced apart from the card guide passage so that the time card is disengaged from the locked state.

3. A card locking device incorporated in a time recorder as set forth in Claim 2, wherein the locking piece of the locking lever by means of which the inserted time card is clamped in cooperation with the locking counter-plate extends downwards from the front part of the locking lever at a certain forward inclination angle relative to the vertical plane.

4. A card locking device incorporated in a time recorder as set forth in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the cam means for displacing the locking lever is secured coaxially to the cam shaft for the cam means which serves for transversely displacing the dot printer while performing printing operation, said cam shaft being rotated by means of the motor.

5. A time recorder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.