US1404688A - Time-controlled symbol-displaying device - Google Patents

Description

J. A. DEMUTH'. TIME CONTROLLED SYMBOL DISPLAYING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23. I918.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

1. A. DEMUTH. TIME CONTRDLLED SYMBOL DISPLAYING DEVICE.

APPLLCATION FILED APR-23 1918.

1,404,688, Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@ five/7127];

Q Emmi M J/fg J. A. DEMUTH. TIME CONTROLLEDSYMBOL DISPLAYING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-23.1918.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

JEFF/7275 135% Win/ PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. 'DEMUTH, or OBERLIN, 01110.

TIME-CONTROLLED SYMBOL-DISPLAYING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan 24 1922 Original application filed April 6, 1917, Serial No. 160,302. Divided and this application filed April 23,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. DEMUTH, a citizen of the Unit-ed States, residing at Oberlin, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have'invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Time-Controlled Symbol-Displaying Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. V

This application is a division of my prior application No. 160,302, filed April 6, 1917, on workmens time recording systems, the

primary object of which was to provide such a device which would be simple, effective and very difficult; to defraud. The essential object of a portion of that invention comprising the subject matter of this application, is to provide adevice adapted to periodically and successively display cryptic symbols indicating and corresponding to definite periods of time. A more specific object of the present inventionis to provide such a symbol displaying device embodied in a simple form, effective in operation and adapted to be cheaply manufactured and not liable to get out of order.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a belt adapted to carry the cryptic symbols and driven by an intermittently operated motor which is in turn controlled'by a suitable clock mechanism. or other time measuring means. Another specific object of this invention is to provide a simple and invariably operating mechanism for controlling the belt motor by the clock mechanism. Still another object is to so arrange symbol displaying means and the time measuring controlling device that the-symbols may not be repeated in such manner as to represent or correspond to the same time for consecutive hour or twelve hour periods, but on the contrary may be advanced or changed regularly, constantly changing the relation of the symbols to the handsof the clock. This prevents any individual memorizing a symbol displayed at a, certain time and successively using that symbol to falsely indicate a corresponding later time. hand it is necessary that the change of the symbol with relation to the time must/be a definite factor readily computed by a time clerk. V

The drawings illustrate such a time controlled symbol displaying device as em- On' the other 1918. Serial No. 230,344.

bodied in my prior application above referred to.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my device displaying a time symbol; F g. 2 is a vertical section through the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on an enlarged scale illustrating the mechanism controlling the movement of the symbol belt; Fig. 4 is a section substantially at right angles with Fig. 3 taken substantially on the line 4-4 of that figure; Fig. 5 is a similar section taken on the offset plane inclicated by the line 55 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional detail in the nature of a plan of theupper symbol belt drum and controlling means therefor, the plane of this section being taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; 7 is a front elevation of a portion of the clock mechanism and the means controlling the actuation of the symbol belt;

and Fig. 8 is a still further enlarged section detail looking downwardly onto the devices attached to the clock mechanism for controlling the actuation of the symbol belt.

Describing my invention by the use of reference characters, 10 indicates a clock casing carrying at its upper portion'suitable mechanism actuating the hands of a clock dial 12, and controlling the movement of the symbol belt 14:,to present the successive symbols at an opening 15 in the front wall 13 of the clock casing.

As shown. the clock mechanism proper, has a suitable frame 16, carrying a spring 17, actuatinga gear 18, transmitting movement throgugh intermediate gearing indicated at 19 to a spindle 22. On this spindle are a series of equally spaced actuating members, each adapted to cause a single advancing movement of the symbol belt. As there are thirty of these actuating members, the hour period is divided into thirty periods of two minutes each. As a convenient method of constructing these actuating projections, I provide a series of star toothed wheels 20. As shown, each of these has six teeth coacting with a small lever 23, pivoted at 2% to the frame 16.

The connection between the actuating levers 23 and the means for controlling the advance of the symbol belt is shown as comprising flexible members 25, connected with the'levers and carrying movable actuators 26. Th se flexible members 25 are guided over pulleys 27 so that they may rise verti- 14 is guided. This drum is shown as mount tated the various levers 23 are lifted and then they are released oneby one, each dropping from one tooth of its star wheel to the next. In dropping, the corresponding weight 26 is caused to strike the laterally extended end 32 of a lever 31 pivoted at 33 to a bracket 29 extending from the rear wall of the'clock casing. The force of the blow raises the right hand end of the lever and withdraws a dog 34, carried by'the lever, from engagementwith one of the teeth 35 formed in the periphery of one of the flanges 36 of a drum 37 over which the symbol belt ed on a spindle 38 carried by brackets 39 extending from the rear wall, of the casing, and this spindle is shown'as driven by constant tension spring'actuat-ed mechanism.

The mechanism driving the sp ndle 38 1s mounted in a frame 40 and preferably comprises a spring 41 actuating a gear. 42 which drives a pinion 43 rigld w th the gear 44, in

turn drivinga gear 45' rigid on the spindle 3S. A shaft 46 1s shown as extending transversely through the'clock casing and is provided with a square portion 47 at its outer end to which may be fitted a crank 48 for winding the spring 41. This shaft extends into and is attached to the inner end of the spring and is retained in any position given it by a v pawl 49 coacting with a ratchet tooth wheel 50. The outer end of the spring is connected by a clip 51 with the gear wheel 42. I 1 V Consequent upon one of the levers 23 dropping'ofi from a tooth of its star wheel, the weight supported thereby will drop from its uppermost position to the transverse head 32on the lever 31, momentarily overcoming the tension of a spring 53, shown as attached't-o the leven and to the block 30, thus withdrawing the tooth 34 from engagement 7 with one of the teeth in the flange 36. The spring. 41, acting through the gearing described, promptly advances the drum 37 and the belt, while the spring 53-urges the dog 34 into engagement with the flange; by

overcoming the weight of the member 26,

thus causing this dog to engage the next tooth and stop the movement of the drum. The teeth of the flanges 36 are preferably so spaced that each advance of thebelt prebriefly described asfollowsg 7 sentsthe nextsuccessive symbol to the op ening 15. To cause the belt to be advanced accurately, I have provided eyelets 54 there in spaced between the symbols and adapted to be engaged by short rounded pegs or teeth 55 on the drum 37. g

The belt 14 may be guided over a corresponding drum in the lowerportion of the clock casing, but to provide a longer belt carryinga larger number of symbols without unduly increasing the size of the clock casing, I prefer to provide, two rollers spaced apart in the lower portion of the easing and loop the intermediate portion of the belt upwardly over a roller 62 closely adj acent the drum 37 as indicatedin Fig. 2. The rollers 60 and 62 are merely guiding rollers or idlers, and they may be arranged in any suitable fashion or additional rollers may be provided to further loop the belt, allowing it to be made still longer or the casing to be more condensed. It will be seen that'the forward reach of this belt is arranged close to the front wall 13 of the casing'so that the numbers at either side of the opening 15 tected by a glass closure 63 mounted across the openingl5. t

It is conceivable that various-time record ing systems for workmen might be devised 'with which this symbol displaying mecha- .may not-be seen. The belt is preferably pro- 7 nism might be used as an important factor.

The application of which this is a division illustrates the system with which I prefer to use such a symbol displaying device. For

purposes of convenient reference,-however, the use of the device herein shown may be Take for instance a factory employing a large number of workmen, an entrance room is provided through which all the workmen must pass when entering orleaving the factory. In this room is mounted my time clock or symbol displaying device in a con-' spicuous place and in various positions from which the symbol at the opening -15 ofthe clock may be easily read, are placed record strips in suitable boxes or casings. group of workmen are assigned to each box. and

required'to write on the record strip, the' symbol displayed, wherebyhe thus records his time of entry. As that symbol does not correspond on-successive days "with'the same time,it is obviousthat it is very difficult to defraud the time keeping system using this device. As stated in the prior application,

each workman upon entering the factory proceeds to the box to which he is assigned, takes a pencil provided for the purpose, notes the symboldisplayed by the clock, writes this symbol, forexample,'KN, and then advances the strip by actuating a suitable lever. or other device to present a blank spacein the opening for the next person? It is obvious that several workmen or a large number entry or departure may-interpret the symhole on the record strips by the use of a key to the symbol belt comprising an arrangement of the symbols in the same order as they are carried on the belt. It is only necessary then for the time clerk, to know which symbol was presented at. any definite time, whereupon he'may count either way from that by two-minute periods and thus accurately check the time of entry and departure for each workman.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. The combination of a clock, a belt having thereon a series of code symbols, a casing enclosing the belt, rollers over which the belt may run, a single row of centrally positioned coacting projections and cavities on the belt and one of said rollers, a motor connected with said last mentioned roller to advance the same to move the belt, a stop member controlling the motor, aqveight adapted to release said stop, and means for raising and dropping said weight to cause such release consequent upon a definite movement of the clock mechanism.

2. The combination with a clock, a belt having a series of code symbols, a roller guiding said belt, coacting projections and cavities on the roller and belt, a constant tension motor for driving said roller, a toothed member preventing rotation of the roller, a stop for engaging the teeth, a plurality of weights'adapted to release said stop when dropped, connections between the weights and the clock mechanism, and a series of toothed members for raising and releasing the weights consequent upon a predetermined movement of the clock mechanism.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of mean for carrying a series of code symbols, and means for successively displaying said symbols at predetermined intervals, said means including a motor actuating the symbols, a time measuring instrument, and means for controlling the actuation of the motor including a series of spaced independent actuators released by said instrument. v

4. The combination of a time measuring device, means for carrying and displaying a series of cryptic symbols, a motor for driv ing said means, a series of spaced actuators including a plurality of weights moved by the time measuring device and controlling the movement of said motor through an escapement periodically released by said weights whereby the symbols are successively displayed at predetermined intervals.

5. The combination with a means carrying a series of cryptic symbols, a motor driving said means, a=latch controlling the movement'oi said motor, and having a spring return 'zfOI retaining the latch inmotor holding position, a time measuring instrument having a series of spaced actuators for moving said latch against the action of said spring whereby the symbols are displayed successively at predetermined intervals.

6. In a symbol display device, the combin-ation of a clock means carrying a plu rality of cryptic symbols, a casing surrounding said means and adapted to display one symbol at a time, means connecting the symbol carrying mechanism with the clock mechanism and comprising a latch member, an impact release and a spring for returning said latch to holding position.

7. The combination with a clock, a belt having a series of code symbols, a roller guiding said belt, meansrior driving said roller, a shoulder, a stop for engaging the shoulder to prevent rotation of the roller, a plurality of weights each adapted to be dropped to release said stop, connections between the weights and the clock mechanism, and a series of spaced projections for raising and releasing the weights consequent upon a predetermined movement of the clock mechanism.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a member having thereon a series of successively arranged code symbols, a casing in which said member is mounted having an opening adapted to display only one symbol at a time, mechanism for advancing the member to present the different symbols to the opening, a time measuring instrument having a series of actuators having a positive release action to cause the actuation of such mechanism at measured intervals, the number of actuators having such relation to the number of symbols that one number is not evenly divisible by the other.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing, an endless member therein carrying a plurality of cryptic symbols and adapted to display one symbol at a time, time controlled mechanism for intermittently advancing said symbol displaying means, a clock controlling said last mentioned means, said controlling mechanism comprising a series of actuators moved by the clock of a number incommensurable with the number symbols and evenly spaced to divide the hours into an equal number of periods, and controlling connections between said means and the means for actuating the symbol carrying means.

10. The combination of a casing, an end- -'interv als,-saidmeans including a motor to release an actuator to advance said end less member, the number-oi said teeth being lncommensurable with the number ofsymbols. z e

" 11. 111 a device of the class described, the: combination of means for carrying a series of code symbols,;andmeans for successively displaying such symbols at predetermined actuating the symbols, a time measuring instrument, means for controlling the actuation of the motor, including a series of Weights separately released by said instru ment at fixed intervals of time, and amotor holding member adapted to bereleased by the impact of each weight, and a means adapted to replaces-aid I holding member in motor holding position against the action of SfllClWGlght.

In testimony whereof, I hereuntoaifixmy signature. V i

- V JOHN-A.

' Witnesses: V 1

- LUGIND REPLOGLE, f '7 IoaMARTY;

Images