US2598331A

US2598331A - Time computing and recording

Info

Publication number: US2598331A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1952-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 1969-05-27

Description

May 27, 1952 B.'P. WOOD 2,593,331

TIME COMPUTING AND RECORDING CLOCK Filed Oct. 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ##armry May 27, 1952 B, P, woon TIME COMPUTING AND' RECORDING CLOCK 4 Sheets-Sheei 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1947 FIG. 2

y 7, 1952 B. P. WOOD 2,598,331

TIME COMPUTING AND RECORDING CLOCK Filed Oct. 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F/ 6. 7 F/s. 9 H6. /0 F/ 6.

/m e/7/or P. Wood May 27, 1952 p, WOOD TIME COMPUTING AND RECORDING CLOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 15, 1947 F/ca. /6

Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE 2,598,331 TIME COMPUTING AND RECORDING CLOCK Browning Paton Wood, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application October 15, 1947, Serial No. 779,905

21 Claims. (01. s is-'82) This invention relates to improvements in time computing recorders and the primary object of the invention is to provide a time recorder having means for computing and recording the time elapsed between selectedoperations of the device. A further object is to provide a time computing recorder so constructed and arranged that it may be incorporated with, or have incorporated with it, many of the known varieties of instant time recorders. A still further object is to provide a time computing recorder which may be readily adjusted or modified to perform a variety of time computing and recording operations, according to the requirements of a variety of uses. Another object is to provide a device of the foregoing character which is simple, compact, inexpensiveand rugged in construction. Still another object is to provide a time computing recorder adapted to automatically reset itself after making a record of computed time and to be thereafter inoperative until the commencement of the next time period of which a record is desired. Another object is to provide a time computing recorder adapted to continue its time computing, without resetting itself, after making 3 a record of computed'time, and to reset itself at predetermined times, or to become inoperative for time computing but without resetting itself. Still another object is to provide a time computing recorder responsive to the insertion of a record receiving element or to the operation of supervisory means, or to the operation of both such element and such means for the printing of records of computed time and for the starting and stopping of time computing operations. Various other objects and the advantages of the invention may be ascertained from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Broadly stated, the invention consists in a plurality of computing and recording elements and integrating operating means therefor, together with means for automatically resetting-the computing elements after a record has been made or for continuing the operation of the computingmeans after a record has been made, and means for rendering the computing means inoperative during periods of time when no computation of time is desired.

' More particularly, the invention consists in the features and combinations of features herein disclosed, together with all such modifications thereof and substitutions of equivalents therefor as are within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is susceptible of embodiment in a'variety of ways. both as to the form and ar- 2 rangement of the computing and recording elements and the resetting and operation controlling mechanisms therefor and as to the form and arrangement of the integrating operating mechanism therefor, and these may be used alone or in association with instant time recording mechanism of anysuitable sort.

The most simple embodiment of the invention is one adapted to compute and record the working time of one man or one machine and to automatically reset itself after each recording of a computed work period. The 'inventionalso includes means whereby the operation of the time computing means and the resetting thereof are independent of the computation recording, and the computing mechanism is controlled by supervisory means for operation only at predetermined periods and for resetting at predetermined times. The computing and recording elements may be of any suitable or desired form, such as of finite form arranged for reciprocation but are preferably of endless, unidirectional type, such as belts or wheels. Computing and recording elements of wheel form are now preferred and the following description will be confined to-elements of this form and 'to integrating operating mechanism, resetting mechanism and operation controlling mechanism suitable thereto, but it will be understood the invention is not thereby limited to the wheel form of computing and recording elements or to the particular embodiments of the resetting mechanism, operation controlling mechanism or integrating operating mechanism hereafter described. r

For simplicity of description and to facilitate understanding of the construction and operation of the invention, the elapsed time computing and recording elements will be hereinafter referred to as computing wheels and the instant time recording elements as time wheels" and the same distinction will be applied to elements related thereto. The term recording wheels will be used as a generic or collective term denoting both the computing and time wheels.

According to my invention, rotatably mounted computing wheels having numerals in relief on the peripheral surfaces thereof for the printing of time computations are associated with an integrating operating mechanism to rotate the wheels in accordance with the passage of time; with means to suspend the operation of the computing wheels during desired periods of time and to render them operative during other periods of time and with means to automatically rotate the computing wheels immediately after a recording of computed time has been made, or at any other predetermined time, to reset the wheels to zero. In the accompanying drawings, which illus trate those embodiments of my invention now preferred, but without limitation to the details thereof, and one form of associated instant time recording; means, i but without limitation to,- that particular type of, instant time recor.ding;;means:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the invention, the supervisory mechanism and the casing being omitted to show the primary resetting mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the right hand side of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the recording mechanism with parts removed to reveal the means for selectively rendering the computing- Fi -.8. isv acn ssrsectional viewcffthe computing E a. is. an leyationor one. o :the compu in h L e et ins-d scs .Q the. scale crime. .6,

F 1.0.. een levationo the front of the macting.rake.-liftineam. onthesce ee f fig. 6.

E e- 1 an elevation f.theheck.oiioneoi't e computin rakecam driving-,discsrpn the scale of his. 6..

Fig. 12, is a vertical.sectionaliview,of the recoil damp ng m chan sm, on,the,.1ine,l2..I2;ot Fig- Eig, i3 is ;a.di.ag1fam-.of, one arrangementcf the electrical circuits of .the. apparatus.

Figs. lei. and 15. are views vsimilar, to Eig, .3, showing. respectively, ;mechaI1ical,.and.electrical upervis ry m e s to o troli be op rat on an esett g: 10 th mputin me hanism. mitted ,i omz 1-v Eig. sa circuit,diagram showingsupervision of operatin periods and resetting .of the-com- .put g: means.

?,1 ,u cee e ra e tl-p in ord of: the-type made bvthe apparatus.

Referring more particularly. to the drawings, and giirst to those partsofthe structureillustrated which are common to instant time recordin -and eras t me com uti g a d cord ng and W1 ebee xs i bl c ll known con- .ructiQn;,- l d gna haseend he s ace meiuimm-eidepla es fixed. .to the 'baseandcn w ichatime e rdin mechen smadesien tede ,eewholecb the. numerallfi. .is -.supp0rted.= n.any su ta le. way. asby. arpinze. Thentimereco dine mechanism 2 3, includes, front. intermediate, and eer fremeiplates. 2 2.5.and: 1';. esn cti elr. .r sid connectedteee h r in paced l tion and 1vix1s. n.ve tica1 .plene tran ver e .o he Pl nes of. the mainframeplates 22: 1A shaft 2-8"is journalled ;in the lowerparts of the frontandrear frame plates-2 5and ZI andcarries' the computing wheels A2, 43 a nd '44, hereafter described: AninvertedgyU-shaped: rake frame 29 isoscillatably mgunted" at the end'gportions of its; arms on the rake shaft-30- carries a computing-wheel rake 41,

4 hereafter described, for operating the computing wheels. A set of instant time recording wheels 3| may be mounted on the shaft 28 and an operating rake 32 for said wheels 3| may be mounted on the shaft 30. A motor 33, mounted in the main frame, drives a shaft 34 with cam 35 thereon at any suitable speed, preferably at one revolution per minute. Thecam actuates a lever, link and spring mechanism 36, of any. suitable sort, mount- 5 ed on and between the

plates

25 and 26 and connected to the rake frame to raise and lower the same at regular intervals of time, preferably once every-minute, the frame being spring powered for return movement to shift the computing wheels and-the time wheels, in the well known manner. Beneath the time recording mechanism 23. a vertically acting solenoid 31 carries a printing platen 3.8 upwardly thrustable against all the time recording wheels, whereby a time computation and an instant time record may be printed on a receivingelement 39, such -as a time card, inserted between the platen andwheels. When the element3 & be. time card, it may be used-to initiate operationof the printing-mechanism by inserting 'itfar enough to rearwardly-displace atrigger 40 actuating the circuit maker 41 (Fig. 13) of the solenoid'3-1 ,in-the well known manner. Alternatively. the circuit of the solenoid may 'be closed by any-other means at appropriate times.

It is to beunderstoodthat the mounting-ofthe time wheels 31 on the-same shaft28 asthe computing wheels and'for operation by the same -r notor and in, conjunction with the same'printing mechanism as serves the computing wheels is purelya matter of convenience and-that the shaft carryi the wheels '3 I may be entirely separate from the shaft" 28', either aligned therewith so as .to locate the time wheelsin close proximity to the computing wheels, so that instant time may be recorded besidethe record of computed time, or. the shaft carrying the wheels 3 lmay-be-loisflblank, thatis, it-.does not ,bear numerals in .re-

lief .onits .peripheral surface. The second wheel 43 b'earsthe numerals Ofand "1 to 9 in relief ,fon,its peripheral surface and the third wheel bears the numbers "0 and 1 to l'lf'in relief on. its peripheral surface. The .foregoingarrangement'oflnumerals provides recording computedtirne inhoursand tenths of an hour} which computations are very convenient in subsequent use ofthe recordedcomputations, for example, in making up apay-roll. The computing-wheels may, however, bear other series of numerals, and the number of wheels used may bemore'or less thanv thethree wheels illustrated, according to the computation and record thereof desired; as-will be wellunderstood'by-those skilled in the'art. For example; the blank'wheel flmaycarry-thenumorals- 0-" and '1 to 9 on-its peripheral' surface and the wheel 43' may carry the numerals 0 and1*-*to"5; in -w-hich case the computationand-record thereof will be-in hours-and'minutes. Likewise, the hour wheel 44 may carry numerals only from to 9 and by the use of two or v more of such wheels, the computation and record thereof may be extended to 99 or 999 hours, or=more. Computations of this extent are sometimesrequired when the device is used to compute the running time of machines.

Each of the

wheels

42, 43 and 44 is provided, at one side of the numeral row, with a circular series of ratchet teeth 45, the number of teeth corresponding to the number of numerals on the wheel. One tooth 46 on each of the

wheels

42 and 43 is cut deeper than the others so that when'the rake 47, hereafter described, engages this tooth it will be allowed to drop sufliciently to engage a tooth of the next wheel, to shift the same from one numeral to the next, as will be readily understood by all familiar with the construction and operation of counting mechanisms. For the mechanical convenience of limiting the amplitude of rake movement, it is preferred to form the wheel 42 with twelve teeth, of which two diametrically opposite teeth are deep teeth, as shown in Fig. 5, so that at each half revolution of the wheel, the rake may drop to engage the teeth of the wheel 43. This number of teeth corresponds to two series of numerals, each being 0 to and each representing a six minute period. The opposite side of each of the

wheels

42, 43 and 44 from the ratchet teeth is provided with an eccentrically disposed pin 48. Preferably, the pin bearing-side of each wheel is annularly recessed, as at 49, and the pin is located in the recess and is sunk below the side surface of the wheel, as clearly Each of these discs is irrevolubly mounted on the same shaft 28 as the computing wheels and each disc is substantially in contact with the recessed 'side of its associated wheel. The discs may be held in any suitable way against revolution on the shaft, but, preferably, by an integral spline 53 on each disc engaging in a key way or groove 54 formed lengthwise in the shaft 23. Each of the resetting discs carries, on the side thereof adjacent its associated computing wheel, a spring pawl 55 located and adapted to co-operate with the pin 48 of the computing wheel to drive the wheel for resetting and to allow the wheel to be rotated in a forward, or computing, direction. These pawls are preferably each formed of, thin spring steel, riveted at one end to the disc and inclining away from it so that the free end of the pawl may engage the side of a pin 48 during the resetting movement of the disc to drive the wheel, and may yield to allow the pin to slide under it during the forward, or computing, movement of the wheel and during positioning of the disc for resetting purposes. By recessing the wheels in the manner described, the pins 48 and pawls 55 are contained in the thickness of the wheels, and the wheels and discs may be packed closely together for mutual support.

If desired, a single resetting disc may be associated with two computing wheels by using wheels recessed on adjacent sides and by providing spring pawls on both sides of the resetting disc, which is located between the wheels.

The rake 41 is of the type usual in counting mechanisms and is, in reality, a multiple pawl adapted to co-operate with the ratchet teeth of several wheels, selectively. The pawls, or teeth, of the rake are of different lengths, the longest being at the units end of the rake for engageof contact with the teeth of the

wheels

43 and 44. When, however, the wheel 42 has been rotated sufiiciently to bring one of its deep teeth 46 in register with therake tooth, the rake is allowed to drop sufficiently for its next tooth to engage a tooth of the wheel 43, to move the wheel the distance of one tooth, or numeral, thereof. Similarly, the rake is held up out of engagement with the teeth of the wheel 44 until a deep tooth of wheel 42 and the deep tooth of wheel 43 register and allow the rake to drop into engagement with the teeth of the wheel 44.

The rake 41 is irrevolubly mounted on the shaft 36 so that its engagement with the ratchet teeth of any of the

wheels

42, 43 and 44 may be controlled. If the time wheel rake 32 is mounted on the shaft 30, it is revoluble thereon so that posltioning of the shaft to control the computing rake 41 will not affect the operation of the time rake 32. Each of the computing wheels is provided'with an associated spring pressed locking pawl 56 engaging the ratchet teeth 45 to hold the wheel against movement when the rake is slipping back over the teeth and when the pawl of the associated resetting disc is slipping over the pin 48. These locking pawls are mounted'on a common shaft '51, which may also carry similar locking pawls for the time wheels.

The mechanism for resetting the computing wheels to zero afterthe recording of an elapsed time computation comprises, in addition to the resetting discs already described, a pinion 58 fixed to the front end of the shaft 28 and meshing with an intermediate gear 59 revolubly mounted on a stud GD'carried by the frame plate 25. The intermediate gear meshes with a quadrant gear 6| fixed to the end of a shaft 62 journalled in a bracket 63 carried by the

plates

25 and 26. The rear end of the shaft has fixed thereto a pinion 64 meshing with a driving gear 65 fixed to a shaft 66 journalled in a bracket 61 carried by the right hand main frame plate 22. To ensure that the gear 59 does not overrun in resetting and that the shaft 28 and all elements driven thereby stop in exactly proper positions, the gear 59 carries a stop 59 engageable with an abutment 59 mounted on the frame. One end of a lever 68 is fixed to the shaft 66 and the other end is connected by an adjustable link 69 with the vertically movable plunger '10 of a solenoid ll mountedin a yoke 12 on the main frame. The plunger is held against rotation by a steady head 13 running on pins 14 carried by the solenoid mounting yokel2. An adjustable stop is provided in any suitable place to limit'upward movement of the plunger 10, for example, a screw 15 mounted on the main frame in the path of the steady head. A second lever 16 is fixed at one end to the shaft 66 and a tension spring 17 is connected between the free end of the lever and the base 2|, to return the parts to original positions after each operation of the solenoid ll.

The spring '1! acts as a shock absorber to cushion the mechanism against shocks incident to the operation of the solenoid. To cushion the mechanism against shocks incident to operation of the spring, any suitable form of shock absorber may be used. One form which has been found very satisfactory is of the hydraulic type illustrated sandmompriseswanzupright cylinder-J8 ptvot'edzat itsxlowenend :to -a bracket 1 9: mounted on thez base; and containing a= -piston ,Bfl ,con nected at its upper: endxto the lever ;'I S The lowenendzofithe \cylinder issconneqt d by a passageutzl with a liquid reservoir 82'; \whichimayzalso communicatewiththe openltoniof the cylinder so as'itc receive any; liquid leaking; past the. piston" A ball valve 83 iis arranged in the' passage 8 I to permitireerfio-w of liquid-dnIze-the cylinder as the piston rises and: to": close 1 against return i new of :liquid :while the :piston is descending. A lcleed passage alis niiovided kadingirorn thelower end of the-cylinder into the passage B -I, to shortenc i he valvexfli Q t 0 shiieed pa sageais' control-led bysaneedleyaglve 85, v at such rate--:-tha.t-,d cen of t piston -r t tdd an the mechanism comes=quletly toresnwithout suff rin any. s ck) In2 or r t de eicomnuti s hee Q noperative' duringitime-periods of which no comuta n-is:v e u ed suc -m n ho a a nigh s o du in thetime aarm in i 3 m ti anmean a e nmri e io auto at al i t n th ceme in ie e- 1 w en th computing w ee s a ez e reset t i e a t h P n eo z omput t mer and: -.aut m t a s q inath r s to :0nerativ p it -a e mmence ent o ;,t m pe o.c1 w iim d sir to compute. {IPhemechanism for doinglthis comprisesaga disc 8 5 irrevolubly, mounted -on the front end 'of the vshatt lia preferably immediately behindthe-pinionia; a pair'of discs 81" and '88 revolubly mounted on vthe shaft -2'8Tb'eh'ind the disc v86; and means-i-operated by thedi'sc 884 to partially rotate theerakeshaftlfll Thedisc 86 is formed wither-notch v89I in its .edge, .the length of whichnotch-isgreater than the diameter of a pin 80 fixed to thesecond .disc 81 and engaging in'the-notch. By this "means, a lost motionvdriving connection isestablishedbettveen the disc 86 andithe disc 81. The disc 81 is preferably larger in. diameter than the disc .86-and.carries.a stop pin fll. beyond-the perimeter of the disc 86,

adapted to engage an adjustable stop SZcarried by-thecomputing. mechanism frame The back of the. intermediate .disc .81 carries a pair of pins disposed 180 apartand-ieach adapted -to contact a: spring pawl-94,. similarltorthe pawls 5 5 mounted on the iront qfithe disc 8.82 Thepins and awl constit utear one-way. drivingaconnection between the-disc 81-andrthe2 disc- 88.". ,Avspring, pressed locking pawl Side-mounted(on the frame. and engages the edge ofthei disc-\88-. tohold it against rotation duringureverse rotation of the disc 81.

The disc -8B-,which is reallya *cam, is formed .with an: abrupt drop; '96.: A lever 91 'is pivotedon the frame plate '25 and ihas: a. downward projection overlying'the:camc88: The free end ofwthislever engagestunderaz roller 9.8 mountedson the iree endaof? anuarmsafl fixed :to' the" front end of the rake: shaft '30: At ':the a opposite .end" of the rake shaft, an arm 'I omismonnectedltoatension: spring IOI mounted on the'-rake-ffame 29 and operating, to hold -th'e-rol-ler ilfl down' on the lever 9l. A spring I02 mount-ed on the frame plate -25 engages the cam-1ever= 91 and 'urges it against the cam- 88.

If desired, means '-may be provided to" indicate when the "computing wheels 'areoperating: One suitable means is a lever I I13 pivotedintermediate its ends and interposedat oneend between the camlever 91 and-its spring I025 and carrying-at the opposite end; a signal IOU adapted to-ris 'e into a vlew--=opening--I-05-in theiront or the casing (not shown) when-thecomnutingwheels-are operating;

As previously stated, when a time card is inserted between the recording wheels andthe platen to printing-position, it pushes pact: the trigger ,40 to operate the circuit closing switch-oi the solenoid 3.I.- Thesame switch:closes the clrcuit' or the sole oid i c hew ye t nlun Q Of-the's01en0i 3 -d o immedi i v after .a record isprinted, while the operation of t eso nei s r t r rb t mechanism 199 n'ectedthereto; itis necessary toprovide for dif ferent-powering periods forthe two solenoids; -'-Io this end; the circuit of solenoid 31 includes a pair Qiwntac m de edty warm l" ri idl co c d h -p u er I" Q -th l 1 as-l ng as the plunger-10 is in its'bottom-posin n- A s o i a 5 u r I" mm q s i rise, thearrn 10;"! disengages the contacts 1 06". ich o n t b ak ih -s eu -.ti S ene 31. The solenoid-1| has a-holdinglcircuit includ inga icroswitch lllil controlled by a flexible-actuator Illlpivotedonthe base 2] adjacent-the solenoid 'lfla One arm oflthe actuator is in con-jtactwith the switch and the other arm inclines into the path of a pin I 'IOca'rri'ed by the plunger J19. Assoon asth'e plunger commences to .rise, the pin ,I I ll engages .the outer side of the actuator to'rock the same on its pi vot'to operate theswitch I 08 and establish the holdingcircuit of l the solenoid- 'II. When the plunger-approaches the'lihiit of its upwardmovement, the pm I III" passes the upper end of the actuator I and releases the same so thatthe switch 18- is relased'and'oplenstlie holding circuit'to de-energize the solenoid Tl; allowing its plunger to drop. The-pin HO then travels down the inner side of "theactiiatorfuntil it disengages the same bypassing the lower vend III'of it, which is' fiexedinthe process and then returns to position for re-engiagementfof its (outer surface by thepin atthenextfrise'oftheplunger.

For convenience oiu'sers oflthedevice; a gear train I Iaimay be rovided; oweredbytheshait 3A, to operate usual ho'u'ria'nd" minute hands sweepinga' clock dial I I3 which'is visible through the view "opening I05; Itwill beunderstoodthe mechanism is p'rovidedwith means to feed an'ink ribbon between the" recording wheels andtlie platen; or with other-"suitable means for-inking the printing characters on" the wheels, but for simplicity of illustration" such means has b'een omitted: Also; it will 'be {understood that when necessaryor desirable' any known or suitable means may be 'incorporated'to determine the-position of a' time card inserted *under the printing wheelstherebYto prevent printing of one-record upon a" previous" one." As is usual with time clocks, the motor 33 0perates continuously to rotate the shaft 34, prefera'blyjat one revolution per minute;- so thato'n'ce in" each minute the mechanism 38- operates' to lift the-rake frame-2'9 and fposi-tion' the rakes for a fresh engagementwiththe ratchetteeth of the computing wheels and th'e time wheels. On completion of the upward movementythereturn spring draws the frame down and' anyrake teeth which-are in operative relation with recording wheel ratchets'move the recording wheel or w-hels forward a distaneeto register 'onemin-utemttime. The forward movement of these wheels,- wlth ap paratu's'as shown in F-igsl'l to 3; is counterclockwise.

Assuming the parts of the :mechanisrn are' in the "positionsshown in Figs; 1 l te d, namely;' with the 'cam lever-81 ridingi 'on the ll-it of the cam 88 and -holding the computingirake41 upI-in inoperative position and that the computing wheels stand at zero," the operation of the above described integrating operating mechanism has no effect on the computing wheels, which remain stationary. To start the device computing, a time card 39 is inserted'in the space between the platen 38 and the recording wheels and actuates the trigger to close the circuits of the solenoids 31 and 1|. The platen rises and drives the card against the recording wheels, thereby to print a record of the time registered by the wheels. The record of the computing wheels will be :0. If time wheels are associated with the computing wheels, the instant time, say, 8 :00 A. M. will be printed beside the computed record.

When the solenoid II lifts its plunger, motion is transmitted through link 69, lever 68, shaft 66, gears 65 and 64, shaft 62, gears 6|, 59 and 58 to rotate the shaft 28 in the backward direction of the computing wheels. Rotation of the shaft 28 causes rotation of the resetting

discs

50, and 52 in the backward direction of the

wheels

42, 43 and 44. When the plunger finishes its stroke and the solenoid is de-energized, the spring 11 returns the parts to their former positions. The gear ratios in the above defined train and the adjusted length of the link 69 and the adjusted stroke of the plunger III are such that the rotation of the shaft 28 and the resetting discs thereon at each stroke of the plunger is slightly less than one complete revolution forward. and the same amount backward, so that the pawls 55 of the discs do not quite pass the wheel pins 48 when the wheels are standing at zero and thus may return to former positions without moving the wheels.

Backward rotation of the shaft, as above described, rotates the notched driving disc 86 backward, or clockwise, It will be noted in Figs. 1 and 3 that the pin 90 on the disc 81 is at the left hand end of the notch 89 of the disc 86, this being its invariable position except when the rake control mechanism is in operation. The disc 86 thus rotates through the angle subtended by the notch, less the angle subtended by the pin 90, before the right hand end of the notch engages the pin 98 and imparts driving force to rotate the disc 81 backwards. During this backward rotation, one of the pins 93 on the back of the disc passes the spring pawl 94 on the cam disc 88.

On the downstroke of the plunger 10, the shaft 28 and disc 86 rotate in forward (counterclockwise) direction until the left hand end of the notch 89 again engages the pin 90 and movement is imparted to the disc 81 and from it, through one of the pins 93 and the spring pawl 94 to the cam disc 88 to rotate it forwardly and carry the cam drop 96 under the projection of the lever 91, so that the lever drops and releases the arm 99 of the rake shaft 30. The spring [0| then draws down the arm I00 of the rake shaft and thus rotates the shaft and draws the rake 41 fixed thereto down into operative relation with the ratchet teeth of the

computing wheels

42, 43 and 44. The computing wheels are now operated, as already described, by the minute-by minute oscillation of the rake frame and rake under the power of the motor 33. This operation of the computing wheels continues until the next operation of the solenoids by the insertion of a time card, as already described.

At the next operation of the solenoids, say, at

12:06 P. M., the imprint made on the time card .by the computing, wheels will read 4:1," meaning that, fourand-one tenth hours have elapsed .of solenoid operations.

10 since the record making at 8:00 oclock. The time wheels will print the instant time record, namely, 12:06 P. M.

On the said second operation of the solenoids, the mechanism operates exactly as already described, excepting that on the rise of the plunger 10, the spring pawls of the resetting discs 50, 5| and 52 will pass the pins 48 of such of the computing wheels as have moved, and that on the fall of the plunger, the pawls will engage the pins and move the computing wheels to resetthem at zero. Also, the second pin 93 on the disc 81 will engage the spring pawl 94 on the cam disc and rotate the disc one-half revolution to position the lift of the cam under lever 91, thereby to lift the lever tocause rotation of the rake shaft and lifting of the rake 41 out of operative relation with the computing wheels. Thus, while the clock continues to operate until the next record is printed, the computing mechanism remains idle.

While, in the foregoing description, the actuation of the mechanism has been described as being initiated by introduction of a time card and by movement of a trigger thereby to close the solenoid circuits, it will be understood the invention is not limited to this manner of use, as the actuation may be initiated by other means, such as by a push button control of the solenoid switch or by extending the solenoid circuit to be closed automatically, as by the starting and stopping of a machine to which the device is connected, the printed record being made on any suitable receiver therefor, such as a moving paper ribbon.

Since, in the operation already described, the resetting mechanism of the computing wheels functions at each operation of the solenoid H and since it is necessary that starting and stopping of time computation. occur alternately, each at every second operation of the solenoid; the cam disc must turn only one-half revolution at each operation of the solenoid and this governs the amount of lost motion between the discs 86 and 81 and the number of pins 93 on the disc 81. For the timing of computation starting and stopping, as described, the amount of lost motion between the discs 86 and 81 need be only sufficient to ensure that only one of the pins 93 will pass the pawl 94 at each operation of the solenoid so that lowering of the rake is accomplished by a half revolution of the cam and raising of the rake by the next half revolution of the cam, and thus occur only on every second operation of the solenoid II.

In other uses of the device, it may be neces sary to provide for starting and stopping the computing wheels less often than at every second operation of the solenoid H, for example, at every third or every fourth operation of the solenoid. This may be done by increasing the number of pins 93 to three, four or more and by correspondingly increasing the length of the notch 89 in the disc 86 so that the cam is rotated only one-third or one-fourth or smaller fraction of a revolution at each solenoid operation. By further increasing the number of pins 93 and the length of the notch 89, the rake lowering and the starting of the computing wheels can be arranged to occur only once in any desired number If the cam 88 is to be rotated less than one-quarter revolution at a time, it is desirable to increase the diameters of ..the discs 86 and 81, in proportion to the diameter of the cam, beyond that shown. a

.shownisithat when it is necessary to remove" the computing device" fromthe main frame; all? that ,isnecessary is to withdraw the "pin 2'4" an'd'liit away the ,computing device. "No connections between the computing device and the solenoid have tobetaken down, as thegears 64' and'ii5 merely disengage. On assembling .the computing device .to theiframaafterthey are connected by thepin 2.4,? it is a simple matter to mesh" the'gears To enable the time computing apparatus previously described to make. successive records of a single time computation or successive records of different time computations without resethng after eachvrecor'din and to render thecomputing device operative and inoperative during predetermined periods of time, irrespective ofncomputation recordings, as is necessary for. recording computed time'inrespect' o'f' ainumber of men,

supervisory meansisprovi'ded. This means operates' through controlling the raising and'lowering of the computing rake '41 and mayiextend to controlling the operation of the solenoid "H. Suitable forms of apparatus are illustrated in Figs; 1'4, 15.. and 1'6, but it will- .be understood" the invention .is not'limitedito .the specific details thereof or to the associationof the specific; mech- .anisms of these figures with that of previous figures, as other fiorms ,o'isupervi'sory, means may be used.

Referring to Figs. 14 to ,16, H4 designates-a twelve-.liour wheel, thatis, ,a' wheel making" exactly one revolution.every"twelveihours; This wheel maybeapart ofithe clock'train' Hi2, such as, the wheel drivin the'hourih'an'd oi the' clock, or may be independent of the clock trainand driven by any suitable means. A cam H5 is driven by the wheel HG, either directly" or through intermediate means at the rate of one revolution every'twelveihours, or every twentyfour hours, as may be desired. The face of the cam l'l15.is formed with notches or drops ll6' of length and positioning accordingv to thetime periods at which it isd'esired to have the computingmechanismrendered inoperative. Eachof the drops isabrupt at its .le'adingenjd, being,preferably. radialof the. cam or; even slightly undercut. As shown, the wheel lf5is ,a twelve-hour wheel and is formed with two drops H6.positioneidto render the computing mechanisminoperative at,

say, twelve o,clock,and' five ofclock, and hold it i inoperative for,v say,.thirty to sixty, minutesafter eachof these'ti'mes. The" cam level-.911 is provid ed with a tail M l-carrying a pin U8 extending laterally therefrom. A lever lfl9lis' pivoted intermediate its ends onabracketimcarried by the frame plate2'5'. One arm of the lever l1l9'overlies the pin H8 and theiother'arm has pivoted to .it a link [2! which carries a pin r22 riding on the face ofthecam I it. The free end of the link .l2l is supported in any suitable way, for .exa'mpic on the cam shaft. .A tension spring. 1'23 is connected between the lever H9 and the frame plate to urge the pin [2'1" against the cam. This spring I23 is superior to the spring I02 which urges ,theglever 91 against the cam .88,

so that when the pin 22 enters adrop of the cam M5, the spring 123 will overcome the spring .102 andliftthe leveraway from thecaniEB, and

also lift the rake t? away from the computing wheels. The pin l22'is' preferably cut 'diame'tri I 2 .cally so: as to provide a sharp-edgeanda'flat surface -facing the abrupt side of the'cam "drop, "as shown, thus to enableithe pin to' fully-enter the cam drop at a given instantand notrjg 'ad a y InFig'.'.15' there is shownan-alternative-mecha- ,nism' designed for electrical operation. In'this mechanism, the'cam i F5 is replaced by ardisc [-24 carrying electrical contacts of 'any'desired length inthe' circumferential direction of thedisc, which contacts may" be adjustableon the" disc. 'The' disc is electrically insulatedTrom-the rest of the mechanism and is fed with current'through a sli'pirinig andibrus'h'. 12.6; A flexible'conta-ct arm P27 is positioned to be engaged by the contacts (25. The disc with itscontacts .and'the'contact arm are connected in'series'in"the circuitof' an electro magnet I28, thesarmature of'which, designated 1:29; is carried by the:tail I fl'oftheiiever 291. The disc'l24',.contacts.i2'5 and contact-arm 1'21 constitute avery' simpletfo'rm' of program .device to open and .close a singl'excircuit .at times predetermined by the'locations of the'contacts 125' and'to'hold it closed fortperio'ds' determined by the duration of engagement ofthe contacts Withlthe xarm 121. The mechanisms oi- Figs. l i'and'l5 do'notsuperviseithe operation of. th'e resetting solenoid; This supervision. may be effected by any other suitable means, suchta's av pair? of contacts: in th'ej powering circuit of the solenoid arrange'd'to be operatedbythe' clock train H2, or'manualiy; .or by a masterclock. "In Fig. 16' thereiis shown adiagram of circuitsiby which operations of 'themagnet 128' and of the solenoid .11 are controlledb'y' a single program device [33 of any suitable or conventional construction in which the contactsare formed. and arranged to closethe circuits of the magnetand of the solenoid-independently'.oflone another at -,desired"'.instants, hol'dgthem clos'edifor' predeterminedpe'riods' of time and'thenopenthem.

-.In the operation of veither of f the ,me'chanisrns shown in Figs. 14 and 15, .the powering circuit .of. the printing solenoid is. separated from .the powering circuit of the'resetting solenoid'lLso that record printing and the resetting of the computing mechanism willlbe entirely independent of one another.

Eor computing and recording an ordinary. d'ays work for a number ofmen, the operationis as follows: Ats'ome time prior to .8100 A. .the computing. wheelshave been set. at-zero.-and the computing rake lifted sothat if men insert their time cards before 8:00 A. the printed .rec- 0rd, if time wheels areassociated withthecomputing wheels, is actual time and "(l-1.0 com puted time. At exactly eight oclock, the powering circuit of the solenoid His-closed, either manually or by a supervisory program device, and the solenoid operates the mechanismeasalready described .to lowerthe rakedlintooperative position, so that records thereafter printed will show the actual time of printing and the computedtime since eight oclock. -.Since,.in..this application of the invention, the circuit oflthe printing solenoids? is separate from that of the resetting solenoid,.as already stated,. the printingoperations do not affect the solenoid .Il'Land do not cause resetting of the computing .wheels or lifting orrelease of the rake 4T. Thus,..;any number of men may punch vinfduring the period froinshortly before eight oclock until, with the wheelsillustrated which compute by tenths .of an hour, six minutes aftereightoclockandall .will receive .thev same computed time .record. namely 0:0. The printed instant time record 13 will show the number of minutes before or after eight oclock. Any man punching in at six minutes after eight oclock and up to twelve minutes after eight oclock will get a record of, say, "8:08 A. M. :1." The computing mechanism remains in operation until twelve oclock noon. If men punch out before noon, the printed record shows the fact, the exact time of the punch out and the computed time since eight oclock. From eight oclock until noon, the cam II holds up the pin I22 against the urge of the spring I23 and thereby so positions the link I2I and the lever I I9 as to leave the pin I I8 free, whereby the lever 91 will be held down by its spring I02 to 'release the rake for operation. At exactly noon,

' of the rake 41 out of operative position so that the computing wheels cease to rotate and remain at the computed time of 4:0 hours. The records made by men punching out late is, therefore, 4:0. At about half past twelve o'clock, when all men have punched out, the computing wheels are reset to zero by operation of the solenoid II under manual or program device supervision, but the rake remains lifted out of operative relation with the computing wheels. At one oclock, the solenoid II is operated, under control as before, to lower the rake 41 for operation of the computing wheels. Thus, men punching in shortly before one oclock make a record of 0:0 hours and men punching in later than six minutes after one oclock make a record showing the computed time lost. Between noon and about half past twelve oclock, rotation of the cam I I5 will have moved the drop I I6 out of register with the pin I22, thereby moving the same outwardly to shift the connected mechanism and release the lever 91. In the afternoon hours, the operation is merely a repetition of that described for the morning hours. At five oclock, the cam H5 releases the mechanism to lift the rake 41 and stop the computing wheels. At, say, half past five o'clock, the solenoid II is operated under supervision as before to cause resetting of the computing wheels to zero and to position the cam 88 to hold the rake up, the rake being at, or shortly after, this time freed from the urge of the spring I23, by the rotation of the cam I I 5. The mechanism is now set for operation at eight oclock the next morning.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 15, the contact disc I24 functions as the cam H5 and the magnet I28 as the spring I23. The lengths of the contacts I25 determine the time periods during which the magnet holds the rake up and areequivalent to the lengths of the cam drops II6. It will be obvious that the magnet I28 may be under control of the same program device I30 as supervises the solenoid ii, in which case the cam II5 with its attendant mechanism and the contact disc I24 will both be omitted.

If provision is to be made for computing hours of night work, the cam H5 is formed with the necessary additional drops or the disc 124 is provided with the necessary additional contacts.

The program device may be remote from the computing and recording mechanism and may supervise the operation of a number of such devices, or it may be closely associated with the computing mechanism, being in part the disc I24,

.. which ;-may then carry a second row of contacts;

to control the powering of the solenoid II, so that the solenoid will be controlled primarily by the clock motion H2 and its operation perfectly synchronized with the operation of the magnet. It will be obvious that, with a completely electrical supervision, the magnet I28 may be mounted directly on the rake frame 29 in position to act directly on the rake 4! to lift the same without intervention of the lever 91.

While, in the foregoing description, the elements 31 and II have been shown and described as solenoids, for the reason these are a very satisfactory type of prime mover for their purpose, it will be understood that other types of prime movers may be provided and are to be regarded as mere mechanical equivalents of the solenoids for the purposes of thi invention. For example, the solenoid 31 may be replaced by a conventional trip. sprin and cooking lever arrangement for manual operation and the solenoid II by a rotary electric motor or by a spring motor, either of which may be controlled by insection of a time card or by supervisory means as already described, or even manually. Also, the solenoids may .be replaced by pneumatically powered plungers under control substantially as already described.

It will be seen from all the foregoing that my invention provides means for computing and recording elapsed time under a considerable variety of conditions to meet the requirements .of industry; for suspending the operation of the computing 'means while holding the computation during predetermined periods of time; for starting and stopping computation at predetermined times and for automatically resetting the computing means, either after each recording or at predetermined times.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a time computing recorder comprising,

. time computing and recording elements; a conmeans for said elements and driving means between said actuating means and said elements; means to position said driving means selectively in operative and in inoperative positions relatively to said elements; and means controlling said positioning means, including means to urge the positioning means to release the driving means for operative engagement with the elements; and a cam having a lift to hold said controlling means against said urge and in suchwise that the positioning means holds the element driving means in inoperative position, the last said means including a shaft on which the cam is rotatable; ratchet driving connection between said shaft and said cam; a prime mover operatively connected to the shaft to rotate the same alternately in reverse and in positive directions; and means to control said prime mover for operation at predetermined times.

3. In a time computing recorder comprising, a

-rotatably mounted shaft; time computing and recording elements rotatably mounted on said shaft and driving means to rotate saidelements setting, comprising a pin onone of saidelement and its associated disc and-a spring pawl on the other of saidelement andassociated disc; and

'meanstorOtate said shaft in reverse direction to position said discs for element resetting-and subsequently in positive direction for element resetting.

4. In a time computing recorder comprising, a

rotatably mounted shaft; time computing and recordingelements rotatably mounted on saidshaft and pivotally mounted pawl means-engageable with said elements to rotate same for time computing; means to position said'pawl-means selectively inoperative and in inoperative relations to said-elments, including a pawl position controlling lever; a .cam rotatable on said shaft controlling the position of saidlever; a cam driving disc rotatable on said shaft; ratchet'driving connection-between said disc and said-cam;--lost motion driving connection between said shaft and said-disc; and means to rotate saidshaft'in positive and reverse directions.

5. In-a time computing recordercomprising, a rotatably mounted shaft; time computing and recording elements rotatably mounted on said shaft; elementdrivingmeans including a frame oscillatably mounted on the shaft and pawl means pivotally mounted in said'frame; an arm connected to said pawl means tocontrol operative engagement thereof with said elements; a lever engaged by said arm; said lever being formed in such-wise thatthe arm mayrreciprocate thereon during-oscillation-of the frame with out altering the relative positions of the arm and vframe; a cam controlling the position of said lever; and means to partially rotate said cam whereby the lever and arm are shifted to move the pawl means outof operative relation to said-elements and -.to further partially rotate said cam whereby the lever and armarexshifted to move the pawl means into operative relation to saidelements.

.6.- In a .time computing recorder comprising,

time computing elements; means to actuate said elements for time computing and means to print a record 'of time computation registered by said elements", including .a prime mover; means to move said elements between computing periods 101- resettingthereof, including va .prime mover, and .means to render said elements inoperative at :one resetting thereof and to hold them inoperative during --at least one further resetting and .to render them operative upon a predeter- .I'n'ine'd number of .resettings.

.7. In combination with structure according to .claim- 6, means responsive to movement of a rec- .ord receiving memberinto record receiving position between the elements and the printing- .means to initiate action of both said prime ;movers.

, said first solenoid operating instantly on solenoid operation and a holding circuit for said second solenoid to prolong the powering thereof- :during a major portion of thestroketherof.

9'. .lnatime computing recorder -:cor r. unrising i 1 -26 time computing elements .and means tov actuate said elements for time computing; means independent-of said actuating means tomove said elements for resetting including,-a prime mover having. a reciprocatable part; means-controlling the powering of said prime mover including a pivoted-member extending alonga portion of the path of travelof said reciprocatable part .and in-- clined to and crossing said path and .adapted to be engaged by saidpart during-movement thereof in one direction and movedthereby to maintain powering of said prime moverduring said engagement, said pivotedmember beingiadapted to position itself out of the pathof movement of the reciprocatable part during movement op posite the first.

10. In a time computing recordercomprising. time computing elements and means to actuate .said elements for time computing; means toactacts adapted to be closed at the commencement of' powered plunger movement and held closed during a portion of such movement and thereafter to remain open to permit return of the plunger.

11. In a time computing recorder comprising, time computing elements and means actuating said elements for time computing; means to move said-elements independently of theactuatingmeans. for resetting the same comprising, a solenoid; driving connection between-saidsolenoid and said elements; a spring opposing the operation of the solenoid, to cushion the driving connection against shock and to return the driving connection to original position; and a recoil damping means to cushion said driving connection against shock due to recoil action of said spring.

12. In a time computing recorder comprising, arotatably mounted shaft; time computing elements rotatably mounted on said shaft and actuating means for said computing elements oscillatably mounted on said shaft including pawl means normally operatively engaging said elements; means to rotate said shaft in operating cycles each comprising approximately one revolution each in reverse and positive directions; resetting discs :irrevolubly mounted on said shaft; ratchet driving connection between said discs and said elements for moving said elements in computing direction independently of the actuating means thereof, thereby to reset the elements; and means to control operative engagement of said pawl means and said elements, thereby to determine the duration of and intervals between time computing operations 'comprising, a cam rotatably mounted on said'shaft; lever'mechanism controlled by said cam to move said pawl means into and out of operative relation to said elements; and ratchet driving connection between said shaft and said-cam adapted to'move the cam in-integrating manner, whereby thecam is rotated one complete revolution during, at the least, every two operative cycles of said shaft.

13; In combination with structure according toclaim 12, powered timing means engaging said lever mechanism to hold the same and the connected pawl means in inoperative position independently of release by said cam for operation.

1%. Structure according to claim 12 in which the driving connection between the shaft and the cam comprises a disc fixed to said shaft; a disc rotatable on said shaft; lost motion driving connection between said discs; a pawl carried by one of said disc and said cam; and a plurality of teeth carried by the other of said disc and said cam, engageable successively by said pawl.

15. In a time computing recorder, including a shaft; revolubly mounted time computing wheels; means for driving said wheels for time computing comprising, a frame oscillatably mounted on said shaft and pawl means pivotally mounted on said frame and engageable with said wheels to drive the same in integrating manner; means to control engagement of said pawl means with the Wheels for control of the duration of and the intervals between time computing operations comprising, a cam on said shaft; a lever riding on said cam; a lever connected to said pawl means and riding on said first lever, said second lever moving in an arcuate path by reason of the oscillation of the frame; said first lever being curved in the part thereof engaged by said second lever to conform approximately to the arcuate path of the second lever, whereby positioning of the pawl means by said cam is unaffected by oscillation of the frame; and means to rotate said cam through a fraction only of a revolution at each operation thereof.

16. In a time computing recorder, a rotatably mounted shaft; time computing and recording elements rotatably mounted on said shaft for time computing; resetting discs irrevolubly mounted on said shaft; ratchet driving connection between said discs and said elements; means to rotate said shaft in reverse and in positive directions, relatively to the movement of said elements in computing, to respectively position said discs for element resetting and to subsequently reset the elements.

17. Structure according to claim 16 in which the shaft rotation is limited to less than one revolution, whereby the ratchet driving connection of elements which have not moved does not operatively engage said elements and the elements remain stationary during resetting of elements which have moved.

18. In combination with structure according to claim 16, means to render said elements inoperative upon one reverse and positive rotation of said shaft and to maintain the elements inoperative during at least one succeeding reverse and positive rotation of said shaft, comprising a cam and a driving disc rotatable on said shaft; a pawl on one of said cam and disc; a plurality of teeth on the other of said cam and disc for engagement by said pawl; and a lost motion driving connection between said shaft and said disc adapted to move the disc through the angular distance between adjacent teeth thereof upon each reverse and positive rotation of said shaft.

19. In a time computing recorder, a main frame; a sub-frame; time computing elements mounted in said sub-frame; means for controlling the periods of operation of said elements and for resetting the elements, mounted partly on said main frame and partly on said sub-frame and including a pair of interengaging members, one on the main frame and the other on the subframe, disengageable on separation of the main and sub-frames without altering the adjustment of either part of said means.

20. A time recording device comprising a shaft; a plurality of printing wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft; a continuously oscillating rake having pawls to operatively engage said printing wheels; means to move the pawls associated with certain of said wheels out of operative relation with the wheels and to hold them out of opera tion with the wheels while the rake continues to oscillate, whereby said certain wheels remain stationary and hold a record registered thereby while the other wheels continue to be operated; means to print a record from all said wheels; and means associated with said printing means for releasing the pawls of said certain wheels for operative engagement with the wheels after a predetermined number of operations of the printing means.

21. A time recording device comprising a shaft; a plurality of printing wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft; a continuously oscillating rake having pawls to operatively engage said printing wheels; means to move the pawls associated with certain of said wheels out of operative relation with the wheels and to hold them out of operative relation with the wheels while the rake continues to oscillate, whereby said certain wheels remain stationary and hold a record registered thereby while the other wheels continue to be operated; means to print a record from all said wheels; and means associated with said printing means for moving said certain wheels after a predetermined number of operations of the printing means to positions of readiness for operation by said pawls to make a fresh record.

BROWNING PATON WOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,186,541 Bryce June 13, 1916 1,277,086 Larrabee Aug. 27, 1918 1,295,110 Brown Feb. 25, 1919 1,432,627 Shenstone Oct. 17, 1922 1,487,143 Brendle Mar. 18, 1924 1,554,283 Kern Sept. 22, 1925 1,590,806 Brendle June 29, 1926 1,780,770 Salustri et a1. Nov. 4, 1930 1,795,085 Dwyer Mar. 3, 1931 2,019,307 Friden Oct. 29, 1935 2,138,480 Wild Nov. 29, 1938 2,153,185 Harrison Apr. 4, 1939 2,193,629 Hopping Mar. 12, 1940 2,231,288 Hemmingson Feb. 11, 1941 2,285,844 Spaunberg June 9, 1942 2,293,934 Cooper Aug. 25, 1942 2,310,347 Berck Feb. 9, 1943