US2101205A

US2101205A - Workman s time recorder

Info

Publication number: US2101205A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1937-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1954-12-07

Description

Dec. 7, 1937. E. G. wATKlNs ET Al.

WORKMANS TIME RECORDER Filed Sept. 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l A reza y@ TM Dec. 7, 1937.

E. G. WATKINS ET AL woRKMANs TIME RECORDER Filed sept. 24; 1955 5 sheets-sheet 2 Dec. 7, 1937. E. G. WATKINS E-r Al.

WORKMANS TIME RECORDER Filed Sept, 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 AGM Laube- Dec. 7, 1937. E. G. wATKlNs Er AL WORKMANS TIME RECORDER Filed Sept. 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mm. .Q

Dec. 7p 1937u E. G. WATKINS m A1.

WORKMANS TIME RECORDER 5 'sheets-sheet 5 Filed sepi. 24, 1955 fl-O Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES WORKMANS TIME RECORDER Edward G. Watkins and .Eames A. Dell, Gardner,

Mass., assignors to Simplex Time Recorder Company, Gardner, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 24, 1935, Serial No. 41,924

9 Claims.

This invention relates to recorders for making a printed time record on workmens individual time cards.

.More specifically, the invention relates to a `time recorder in which the card guide or chute is shifted laterally at predetermined intervals which are commonly determined by the particular working hours in force where the recorder is in use.

One important object of. our invention relates to the provision of improved means for shifting the card chute periodically by actuating devices which are indirectly driven from the time mechanism, so that the intermittent chute-shifting load does not react directly on the time mechanism.

More speci'cally, we provide means for storing power during one time period such as twentyfour hours, which power is thereafter transferred .and made available for shifting the card chute at successive intervals during the next time period.

We also provide improved means for preventing a registration unless the card chute is in some one of. its predetermined positions.

Our invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the card chute and lassociated parts;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a portion of the time recorder casing;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the parts shown `in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a left-hand side elevation, looking in the direction of. the arrow 4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view, taken along the line 6 6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the control disc;

Fig. `8 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional plan View, taken along the line 8--9 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a detail front elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow i0 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional front elevation, taken along the line ll-H in Fig. 4;

Fig. 1.2 is a side elevation of the circuit-closing devices, taken substantially along the line l2--l2 'i in Fig. 2, and

Figs, 13 and 14 are side elevations of certain parts appearing in Fig. 4 but shown in different positions.

Referring to the drawings, We have shown a card chute (Fig. 3) mounted to slide transvers-ely on fixed horizontal guide rods, one of which is shown at 2i. The chute 20 is provided with a card rest 22 (Fig. 3) slidable in grooves in the vertical side members 23 of the card chute and shifted intermittently vertically at the end of each day by time controlled actuating mechanism, not shown, and forming no part of our present invention.

Guide plates 24 and 25 (Fig. 3) are secured to the front of the card chute and are spaced substantially forwardly therefrom. The card chute f5.3 is relatively slidable transversely along a rack bar 26 mounted in openings in the

guide plates

24 and 25, and a stop pin 21 on the rack bar engages the left-hand side of the guide plate and limits movement of the card chute to the left relative to the rack bar.

An elongated coil spring 28 is connected at one end. to a stud 29 on the rack bar and at the other end to a stud 300m the guide plate 25. The card chute may thus be moved yieldingly to the right relative to the rack bar 2B, from the position shown in Fig. 3, but is held by the stop 2i' from relative movement to the left.

The teeth of the rack bar are engaged by a pinion 32 (Fig. 3), loosely mounted on a cross shaft 33 and yieldingly moved clockwise by a. coil spring 34 having its lower end iixed to the recorder frame and having its upper end connected to a flexible metal band 35 wound around the hub 36 of the pinion 32 and secured thereto by a screw 31.

A collar 40 (Figs. 1 and 6) is secured to the cuter end of the cross shaft 33 and has an axially projecting lug 4l engaged by a radially disposed pin 42 on the hub 36. The lug 4l and pin 42 thus constitute a lost motion connection between the shaft 33 and the pinion 32.

With this construction, the transverse position of the rack bar 2G and card chute 20 is normally controlled by the shaft 33 but the card chute and rack bar may be temporarily shifted manually to the left for irregular registration, in which end the pinion 32 rotates freely relative to the shaft 33 and temporarily elongates the spring 34.

If on the other hand it is desired to shift the card chute to the right manually for an irregular registration, the guide plates will slide freely along the rack bar 26, at the same time tensioning i the spring 28. As soon as the card chute is released from displacement in either direction, it Will return immediately to its predetermined setting.

The mechanism for making the impression forms no part of our present invention and is substantially similar to that shown in the prior application of Edward G. Watkins, Serial No. 20,140, led May '7, 1935.

This impression making mechanism is shown,

fao

recorder above and just to the rear of the card chute. Y

A spring ll (Fig. 12) normally holds a stopf` pin 48 against an upright bar 49. Thelower end of the lever 54 engages a member 50 (Figs. 1 and 12), one end of which isA secured to a plunger 5| slidable in fixed bearings 52. An intermediate portion of the member 50 is slidable in a xed slotted guide plate 53, and the forwardly offset outer end of the member 50 is threaded to receive a screw 5l; forming an adjustable abutment adapted to be positioned in a recess 55 (Fig. 4) formed in the upper end of a lever 56 mounted (on a'fixed pivot 51.

' The coilvspring 58 (Fig. 1) engages a washer 59 on the plunger 5| and forces the washer rearward against a cross-pin 50, which in turn enfgages the front side of the rear bearing 52. The front end of the plunger 5| is adapted to enter Vsome one of a series Voi openings 52 (Fig. 5) in a bar 63 fixed to and movable transversely with -the card chute 20 when the card chute is in any one of its predetermined lateral positions. Nhen thus aligned, the nger plate 45 may be operated to movethe plunger 5| forward. If the card chute is not in any one of its regular positions, the `plunger will engage thevrack bar 53 between the holes 62 and movement of the finger plate will be prevented.

The lever 56 (Fig. 4) is provided with a latch 65 adapted to engage a plate 56 on the upper end of a yielding member` 51 which supports a contact stud 08. When the lever is moved forward by pressure'on the finger plate, the circuit is closed and a solenoid coil 59 operates a plunger 'l0 to turn the hammer shaft and cause a hammer l2 (Fig. 3) to Yforce the card against the type wheels tomake an impression.

As theV plunger 'l0 rises, a plate lll (Fig. 4) movable therewith engages the outer end of the latch 65, lifting it away from the plate 06 so that the contacts yieldingly separate and the hammer circuit Vis broken. A light coil spring 15 maintains the lever 5B yieldingly in rearward position,

,and aV stop llimits forward movement thereof.

For the purpose of moving the card chute Inanually laterally for irregular registrations, we provide a plate 80 (Fig. 2) mounted to slide transversely in the casing C and having a forwardly projecting thumb piece 8| with an opening B2 through which insignia on the casing may be observed. Studs 83 extend downward from the slide plate 80 and engage the side edges 85 (Fig. 5) of the card chute 20.

` ,The operator by grasping the thumb-piece 8| is thus able to move the card chute from its regular position in either direction, such movement Vb eing permitted by the yieldingY connections previously described.

The pinion cross shaft 33 (Fig. 6) is provided ,at its rear.v end witha bevel pinion 85 engaging a .bevel pinion 80 on a short shaft 81 pivoted in nection to the slotted outer end of a stud 91 mounted to slide in a bearing 98 on the lever 90.

The inner end of the stud 97 successively engages difierent flange plates (Figs. '7 and 8) secured to the outer face of a disc I0! mounted on a shaft |02a (Fig. 6) which makes one revolution in twenty-four hours and'which is continuously rotated by the type wheel driving mechamsm.

The ange plates |00 are of substantially triangular cross section as shown in Fig. 8, with the thicker edge portion at the outside. The disc |0| rotates in an anticlockwise direction and the leading end of each flange plate is beveled circumferentially as indicated at |52, while the following end of each plate is sharply undercut as indicated at |03.

By placing the screws in selected holes and adjusting the plates angularly with respect to the screws and disc, the flange plates may be secured in any desired angular relation on the face of the disc i5 and each flange plate may be of such segmental length as is found desirable.

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 13, the spring 92 acts to pull the stud 9'? upward against one of the flange plates lill) and this action is supplemented by the spring 35 (Fig. 3) acting through the cross shaft 33 and gear connections which also tend to swing the segmental gear Q5 and stud il? upward.

No upward movement can take place, however, until the disc lili has rotated suiiiciently so that the stud 9? can snap oi of the rear or undercut end or" the flange plate |65 with which it is engaged, whereupon the segment gear will move upward and the card chute will move to the right in Fig. 3 until the stud 9i engages the next inner flange plate |53. This successive holding and release action will continue until the stud 91 engages the hub il@ cf the disc lill, in which position the card chute occupies its extreme right-hand position.

It will thus be seen that the disc |l| and plates 55 merely act to alternately hold and release the segment gear 80 for movement under the influence of the

springs

92 and 35 but that the disc l0! furnishes no power for movement of the card chute or its associated parts.

When the stud 5l is moved inward and engages 'the hub il@ and the card chute 20 is in its eX- treme right-hand position, some provision is necessary for resetting the apparatus and for returning the card chute to the left, an action ordinarily taking place at midnight.

We will now describe the mechanism by which this resetting is accomplished.

We provide a cam |52 (Fig. 13) mountedon a cani shaft l E3 and connected by gears Il@ and I5 (Figs. ll and l0) to the driving shaft |02a (Fig. 6) by which tie disc l0! is rotated. The gears iM and H5 are of equal size so that the cam H2 rotates once in twenty-four hours in a clockwise direction.

The cam E i2 is'provided withl a pivoted loose tip il? (Fig. 13) for purposes of quick release of the cam roll H8 which is mounted on an arm H9 swinging about a xed pivot |20. A heavy coil spring l connected between a stud |22 on the arm H9 and another stud fixed to the recorder frame but not shown. As the cam l2 rotates, the roll H8 and arm H9 are raised and the heavy spring |2| is tensioned.

The spring |43 is strong enough to overcome the spring |32 and to swing the upper end of the pivot |20 rearward to the position shown in Fig. 14 as the arm H9 approaches its upper limit of movement, In such rearward position the hook |30 overlies a stud |45 (Fig. 14) in the segment gear 90.

When the cam roll H8 thereafter drops off of the cam H2, the hocl; |30 pulls the segment gear 90 down until the lower surface |46 (Fig. 4) thereof engages a fixed stop plate |41. By such movement of the segment gear, the card chute is returned to extreme left-hand position by the power stored in the heavy spring |2| and without direct dependence on the driving power of the time mechanism.

During this downward movement of the segment gear 90, the stud 91 ratchets outward over the outwardly tapered flange plates |09 and snaps again into operative position outside of the outermost flange plate, as shown in Fig. 4.

As soon as the'cam H2 begins to lift the arm H9, the stud 91 will engage the outermost flange plate lOl, and still further upward movement of the arm H9 will cause the hook |39 to clear the stud |45, thereupon it wiil be swung to the position indicated in Fig. 13 by the spring |32 and will not thereafter interfere with the intermittent upward movement of the segment gear.

By this improved driving mechanism, we thus utilize the slow continuous rotation of the cam H2 to store up energy in the spring |2| during an entire twenty-four hour period, which energy is released when the roll H8 drops off the cam point H'! and is then applied to retlun the card chute to the left and to tension the

springs

34 and 92. The entire action is automatic and the slow continuous and uniformly resisted movement of the cam H2 does not place an undue load on the time mechanism.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what we claim is:

1. In a time recorder, a card chute, a hammer device, actuating mechanism therefor including an electric circuit and a circuit-closing switch, a. bar mounted on said chute and having spaced holes therein, and a plunger slidable through any one of said holes when said hole is in a predetermined position, said plunger and bar cooperating to prevent closing of said switch when said plunger is out of alignment with one of said holes.

2. In a time recorder, a card chute, a hammer device, actuating mechanism therefor including an electric circuit and a circuit-closing switch, a bar mounted on said chute and having spaced holes therein, and a plunger slidable through any one of said holes when said hole is in a predetermined position, and said plunger and bar cooperating to prevent closing of said switch when said card chute is not in some one of its normal operating positions.

3. In a time recorder, a card chute, a spring actuated cross shaft, a pinion mounted on said shaft and having a driving connection thereto which permits limited lost motion between said pinion and shaft, and a rack bar slidably and yieldingly mounted on said card chute and engaged by said pinion.

4. In a time recorder, a card chute, a spring actuated cross shaft, a pinion mounted on said shaft and having a lost motion driving connection thereto, a rack bar engaging said pinion and slidably mounted on said card chute, a spring acting to slide said card chute in one direction relative to said bar and a stop on said bar effective to limit such sliding movement.

5. In a time recorder, a card chute, a rack bar slidably mounted thereon, a spring to move said chute longitudinally in one direction relative to said bar, a stop on said bar to limit such movement, time-controlled means to move said bar and chute periodically and automatically as a unit in said direction, and a yieldable connection between said time-controlled means and said bar, which connection yields to permit said bar and chute to be moved manually in the opposite direction and which restores the normal operation of said time-controlled means when said bar and chute are released from manual control.

6. In a time recorder, a card chute, time-controlled means including a segment gear to shift said card chute, a timing disc having a series of concentric segmental flange plates, a stud on said segmental gear engaging said flange plates successively as said disc is rotated and a spring for said stud, said flange plates having outwardly inclined inner faces` and said stud being yieldingly and axially movable in said segmental gear and being thereby yieldingly movable past said flange plates when said gear and stud are swung outward away from the axis of said disc, and means to move said gear and stud outward at predetermined time intervals.

7. In a time recorder, a card chute, spring means to move said card chute at intervals in one direction, a pinion connected to shift said card chute in the opposite direction, a segmental gear having a stud, a pivoted arm, a hook on said arm, a spring to hold said hook normally clear of said stud, means to swing said hook over said stud as said arm and hook are raised, a continuously rotated cam elective to raise said arm and hook and to thereafter release said arm and hook, and a heavy spring connected to said arm and effective to depress said segmental gear and thereby rotate said pinion to restore said card chute to initial position when said arm is released by said cam.

8. In a time recorder, a card chute, a rack bar slidably mounted thereon, a stop on said bar, a spring to hold said chute yieldingly against said stop, and manual means to move said card chute relative to said bar away from said stop and against the action of said spring.

9. In a time recorder, al card chute, a hammer device, electro-magnetic actuating means therefor, an electric circuit for said means including a circuit-closing switch, means to move said card chute to a plurality of different lateral operating positions, and means to block said switch from closing movement when said chute is out of alignment with some one operative position.

EDWARD G. WATKINS. JAMES A. DELL.