GB2158981A

GB2158981A - Electronic time recorder

Info

Publication number: GB2158981A
Application number: GB08412363A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Mcgann; Godfrey Trevor Paget
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-05-15
Filing date: 1984-05-15
Publication date: 1985-11-20
Also published as: GB2158981B; GB8412363D0

Abstract

There is disclosed an electronic time recorder (10) for recording arrival and departure times of an employee. The recorder comprises a housing (11) on which is provided a keyboard (12) for operation by each employee, so that each employee can input a respective unique code to the recorder (10). The housing contains a timer, a time display panel (13) on the housing (11) for displaying instantaneous time, and, when the keyboard (12) is operated by an employee, also the respective unique code of the employee. The recorder also includes a printer, and means for presenting a paper roll (not shown) to the printer so as to receive thereon printed information concerning the time of operation and the unique code of the employee, upon operation of the keyboard (12). A print display panel (14) is provided on the housing (11) for displaying the printed information on the paper roll to the employee for verification of its correctness. The electronic time recorder dispenses with the requirement for separate cards for each employee. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electronic time recorder This invention relates to an electronic time recorder for recording arrival and departure times of employees.

Electromechanical "time clocks" have been used in factories for very many years, in order to record arrival and departure times of employees, in which each employee has his own time-recordal card which he inserts into the clock on each arrival and departure. The clock then operates to print the relevant time onto the card. Clearly, time clocks lend themselves to possible abuse, whereby a late employee can have his card "punched in" by a sympathetic colleague.

It is also known to provide electronically operated time recorders, but these require the use of separate time cards or "credit" type cards, unique to each employee, and therefore these recorders also are open to misuse, whereby a late employee can have his particular card entered into the electronic time recorder by a sympathetic colleague.

The present invention has been developed primarily with a view to providing an electronic time recorder which does not require the provision of a unique card for each employee which has to be used with the recorder each time an arrival and departure time is to be recorded.

According to the invention there is provided an electronic time recorder for recording arrival and departure times of an employee, the recorder comprising: a housing; a keyboard provided on the housing for operation by each employee so that each employee can input a respective unique code to the recorder; a timer; a time display panel on the housing for displaying instantaneous time and, when the keyboard is operated by an employee, also the respective unique code of the employee; a printer; means for presenting a permanent recording medium, such as a paper roll, to the printer so as to receive thereon printed information concerning the time of operation and the unique code of the employee, upon operation of the keyboard; and a print display panel on the housing for displaying the printed information on the recording medium to the employee for verification of its correctness.

Thus, the electronic time recorder does not need the use of separate cards for each employee (thereby reducing the possibility of misuse of the time recorder) since the keyboard will be operated uniquely by each employee, who can check the printed information at the print display panel (to see that the instantaneously displayed time on the time panel corresponds with the printed time, and that his unique code e.g. a number also has been printed).

To guard against unauthorised input of an employee code, it is preferred that the printer, means for conveying the permanent recording medium and the print display panel are arranged so that a space is made available on the recording medium, within the print display panel, to receive the signature of the employee. The permanent recording medium will thus bear, at appropriate intervals, the instantaneous time at which an input is applied to the recorder following operation the the keyboard by each employee, the unique code of the employee and also his signature.

Conveniently, the unique code of each employee will be a number code, in which case the keyboard may comprise a series of number keys to be pressed in appropriate sequence by the employee, followed by pressing an "enter" key.

The time recorder includes a programmable memory into which all relevant information can be permanently stored, and conveniently the arrangement will be such that the printed information on the recording medium will include the name of the employee corresponding to the particular code which is entered.

The space made available for the signature can then be inspected by supervisory staff for correspondence with the printed name, and for recognition of the signature.

One embodiment of electronic time recorder according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the electronic time recorder; Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a main printed circuit board of the electronic unit housed in the time recorder; Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of a memory board of the electronic unit; and Figure 4 is a detailed layout of the electronic components.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown an electronic time recorder, designated generally by reference numeral 10, for recording arrival and departure times of employees. The recorder 10 comprises a housing 11 on which is provided a keyboard 1 2 for operation by each employee, so that each employee can input a respective unique code to the recorder 1 0. Conveniently, the unique code of each employee will be a number code, in which case the keyboard 1 2 comprises a series of numbers which can be operated in appropriate sequence by each employee. In addition, the keyboard 1 2 will include an "enter" key, for operation by the employee after verification that he has entered the correct code appropriate to himself.

The housing 11 contains an electronic control unit, the circuitry of which is shown in more detail in Figures 2 to 4. Thus, the housing 11 contains a timer which runs continuously to display instantaneous time, and which will enable the time of operation of the keyboard by an employee to be permanently recorded, thereby enabling arrival and departure times to be recorded. A time display panel 1 3 is provided on the housing 11 for displaying instantaneous time and, when the keyboard 1 2 is operated by an employee, also the respective unique code of the employee.

Thus, as shown in Figure 1, employee No.1 234 has entered an arrival time of 08.59, and this information is displayed for verification by the employee.

The housing 11 also contains a printer, and a means for conveying and presenting a permanent recording medium, such as a paper roll, to the printer so as to receive thereon printed information concerning the time of operation and the unique code of the employee, upon operation of the keyboard 1 2. A print display panel 14 is provided on the housing 11 for displaying the information printed on the recording medium, so that the employee may verify its correctness. Thus, the display panel 1 3 provides an instantaneous display, whereas the panel 14 provides a display of the permanent information which will be recorded on the recording medium. It will be noted also that the print display panel 14 displays the name of the employee, corresponding to the particular unique code, namely J. Smith.

By providing an electronically operated unit within the housing 11, which operates to print relevant information onto a paper roll which presents printed information within the print display panel 14, evidently this does away with the need to use separate cards for each employee as in the known equipment.

The keyboard 12 is operated uniquely by each employee, who can check the printed information at the print display panel 14, to see that the instantaneously displayed time on the time panel 1 3 corresponds with the printed time, and that his unique code also has been printed.

In addition, to guard against unauthorised input of an employee code, the printer, the means for conveying the paper roll and the print display panel 14 are so arranged that a space is made available on the paper roll, within the print display panel 14, to receive the signature of the employee. The paper roll will then bear, at appropriate intervals, the time of input on the keyboard of each employee, the unique code of the employee, his name and his signature.

Conveniently, the time display panel 1 3 is arranged to display information via liquid crystal displays of the actual time and the employee's keyed-in number. Obviously, the employee can verify that he has keyed-in the correct number, and if it is incorrect, a "clear" key can be operated so that he can try again. The circuitry shown in Figures 2 to 4 is designed on the assumption that there will be a two digit maximum number for each employee, though evidently the unit could be readily arranged to provide up to four figure numbers, as shown by way of example in Figure 1.

Upon "entry" of relevant information concerning time and employee, by pressing an enter button, a print-out is made on a 2 1/4 inch paper roll arranged inside the housing 11. This permanent record is visible within the display panel 14, and is accessible for signature by the employee if required. The illustration in Figure 1 is by way of example only, and the printed information can be the day, date, month, hours and minutes, the employee's number, and his name. Apart from being permanently recorded on the paper roll, the information is also stored in a memory unit of the electronic control unit, for subsequent print-out of all stored information.

Subsequent employees key-in their numbers, and relevant information for them also is permanently recorded on the paper roll and displayed, and then stored in the machine. If required, a processor of the unit can be programmed to indicate a late arrival or early departure, or overtime, in red, and to print in black as standard.

At any time through the week an employer may, by opening the machine by unlocking with key 15, allow to be printed out a total of the number of hours per employee worked thus far, without erasing any of the information in the memory.

The electronic control unit is programmed so as to be able to print-out information in employee number order and also in date and time order, and a total is made of the elapsed time between each clocking.

Once per week, the recorder can be programmed to print-out all stored information and erase its memory to start a new week.

This can be programmed for any time on any day, and is normally collected for wages preparation. The machine processor may also be arranged to operate a bell or buzzer to indicate starting times, tea breaks, finishing times, etc, or indeed switch on or off central heating systems.

The unit can be wall or desk mounted, and may be constructed and programmed to operate so as to provide the following features: 1. Detail number of hours and minutes worked.

2. Extra security of a signed record, if required.

3. Indicates lateness or overtime in red.

4. Automatically resets for time, date, etc, in the event of power failure.

5. Retains all program information for up to six weeks.

6. No time cards or card racks are required.

The above features are uniquely provided in an electronic time recorder, having advantage over the existing systems which require sepa rate cards or credit-type cards and are therefore liable to abuse. In addition, existing electronically operated equipment is extremely expensive and some are overly complex. By contrast, the electronic time recorder described herein with reference to the drawings can be supplied relatively cheaply, and without undue complexity, while achieving the required advantages over the known systems.

The components of the electronic control unit are shown in Figures 2 to 4, and will be suitably programmed in advance to obtain operation of the unit in the manner described above.

Claims

1. An electronic time recorder for recording arrival and departure times of an employee, the recorder comprising: a housing; a keyboard provided on the housing for operation by each employee so that each employee can input a respective unique code to the recorder; a timer; a time display panel on the housing for displaying instantaneous time and, when the keyboard is operated by an employee, also the respective unique code of the employee; a printer; means for presenting a permanent recording medium, such as a paper roll, to the printer so as to receive thereon printed information concerning the time of operation and the unique code of the employee, upon operation of the keyboard; and a print display panel on the housing for displaying the printed information on the recording medium to the employee for verification of its correctness.

2. An electronic time recorder according to claim 1, in which the printer, means for conveying the permanent recording medium and the print display panel are arranged so that a space is made available on the recording medium, within the print display panel, to receive the signature of the employee.

3. An electronic time recorder according to claim 1 or 2, including a programmable memory into which all relevant information can be permanently stored, and conveniently the arrangement will be such that the printed information on the recording medium will include the name of the employee corresponding to the particular code which is entered.

4. An electronic time recorder according to any one of the preceding claims, including means for mounting the paper roll, forming the permanent recording medium, so as to receive printed information thereon from the printer concerning the time of operation and the unique code of the employee, upon operation of the keyboard.

5. An electronic time recorder according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.