US912230A - Autograph time-recorder. - Google Patents

Description

F. H. COTTRILL n A. LEIHAMMER.

AUTOGRAPH TIME RECORDER. APPLICATION HLED APB. 24.1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

F. H. COTT'RILL A.'LEIHAMMER.

AUTOGRAPH TIME RECORDER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 24.1907.

mwa/JW V MM @fw TH: NoRnls Perses co.. wAsHmcrcN. v4 cA F. H. GTTRILL & A. LEIHAMMER.

AUTOGRAPH TIME RECORDER.

APILIOATION FILED APR.24.1907.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1HE NoRms PETERS co.. wAsHlNcroN, n. c.

FRANK H. GOTTRILL AND ALFRED LEIHAMMER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

AUTOGRAPH TIME-RECORDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application tiled April 24, 1907.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Serial No. 369,980.

1o att whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK H. CorrnrLL and ALFRED Lninnararnn, citizens of the United States, and residents of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Vfisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rlutograph Time- Recorders; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter described and claimed with reference to the accompanying drawings, its object being to provide simple and accurate autographic time recorders, 'he same being so arranged and constructed that parties signing their names upon an exposed portion of a paper tape, and thereafter moving the tape by a system of levers, vill cause a registration of the exact time of signing, to be printed upon said tape opposite the signatures.

ln the drawings: Figure i represents a longitudinal sectional view of a time-recorder embodying the features of our invention, the section being indicated by line l-l of F ig. 2; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same with a portion of the casing broken away to show portions of the printing` and tape feedmechanisms; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the recorder, as indicated by line 3 3 of Fig. l; Fig. Ll, a detail view of the printing lever actuating trip-cam j; Figs. 5 and 6, enlarged detail fragmental views of the time-wheel transfer mechanism; F ig. 7, a perspective view of the time-recorder in its entirety; Fig. S, is a detail view of a locking-mechanism, and F ig. 9, a plan view of a portion of the printing-wheels together with the in-andout slide in its position of rest.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A indicates a casing fitted upon a base l, at one end of which is secured a well C for the reception of a paper tape D, that is fed therein from a roll E suitably mounted upon a spindle F at the opposite end of therecorder. The tape D travels over rollers a, which rollers support said tape directly under the top of the casing, the aforesaid tape is thereafter passed over a feed-roller G and is ield against the feed-roller by a springpressed idle-roller H, from which point the tape is guided over a spindle c into the well. The feed-roller Gr is loosely mounted upon a shaft l having bearings in the sides of the casing. One end of the shaft projects through said casing and has secured thereto a hand-lever d, which lever when rocked by the operator, first serves to impart motion to a printing-mechanism and tl ereafter to a paper feedmechanism as hereinafter described.

The paper or tape-feed is accomplished by the following mechanism: if; rock-arm K is secured to the shaft l, having a horizontal pin Z extending in either direction f om the upper end K of the rock-arm, and a coilspring (Z secured to the opposite end. rhis spring is secured to a pin projecting .m the casing and holds the rocka stop-pin e, through which pin and spring the hand-lever is held in its forward or rest position. Said rock-arm K has pivoted thereto a pull-pawl L that engages a ratchetwheel M, which is secured to the adjacent end of the feed-roller, there beine` stoppawl f pivoted to the casing and engaging the ratchet-wheel to prevent back-throw of the latter.

By the above describ d arrangement, the hand-lever can be rotated against the tension of spring CZ until the rock-arm comes against astop-pin g, this movement being sutlicient to permit the pull-pawl L to engage a forward tooth in its ratchet, the hand-lever is then permitted to return to its starting position by the contraction of the coil-spring, which movement revolves the feed-roller G and moves the paper-tape the required distance, so that a signature thereon is cleared from a slot l?? in the top of the recorder-casing. The length of feed of the paper is in proportion to the width of the slot N in the top of the casing` which slot is provided for the purpose of exposing the paper so that individuals required to use the machine may sign their naines upon the tape. The casing-top is slightly depressed lengthwise for a portion of its width over the tape, in order that the same may rest as close as possible to the underside of the top for convenience of persons .vlien writing their signatures upon said tape.

A printing-wheel 0 is mounted upon a stud /L of a bracket t', which bracket is secured to the side of the casing. rEhe printing-wheel; which will be termed a minutewheel in a series, carries peripheral typebearing figures from l to 60, and also has a ratchet-toothed ring O of less diameter. The teeth of the ring correspond in number "m li against to the peripheral type of the wheel O, and are provided for engagement with a pawl P that is carried by a yoked-lever P', the tail of which is actuated by a cam-wheel Q that is driven by a clock-train (not shown) and so timed as to make one revolution per minute. AThe yoke-leverv P is loosely mounted upon the stud /t which `carries the minute-wheel, the tree end of said lever being held against the periphery of the camwheel Q by means ot a spring j that is connected to the aforesaid lever and a pin of the clock-train trame K as shown. A spring-controlled click-pawl m is pivoted upon the clock-trame tor engagement with the toothed-ring O', and serves to hold the same against overthrow when actuated by 'the yoke-lever mechanism. As shown, the periphery or" cam-wheel@ vis of gradual increasing diameter with an abrupt drop, and at the completion of each cycle thereof, a quick drop oi the yoke-lever takes place caused through the action of its spring.

This motion is transmitted to the minutewheel, through the pawl R and said wheel revolves 1/60 ot a revolution, bringing a type to the printing-point, indicating the minute, in synchrony with the clock-train.

By the above described mechanism the minute-wheel is intermittently moved sixty times an hour, and changes instantly at the expiration ot each minute. Should 'a Vprinting operation be started simultaneous with the rotation of the minute-wheel, lit would not eiiect the timing ot same with relation to the clock, by reason ot a locking-incohanism, which mechanism serves to `hold the aforesaid wheel, until the vprinting operation has completed its retarded motion. The locking-mechanism consists of an arm n eX tending upward from the yoked-lever iP to a position directly under the printing-point. The end ot the arm terminates in a rule jointed spring-controlled latch extension 0, whici is adapted to engage a tooth p upon a primary anvil p', if the latter is pressed downward as the yoke-lever starts to move the minute-wheel. 1n this case the said yokelever' would be caught and held by the tooth p, in suspension under its spring-pressure, until the anvil had printed and returned sufficiently to tree the latch-extension o, at which time the action of said yoke-lever would be completed and the minute-wheel turned thereby. if however the anvil should be down at the moment the vlatchextension 0 is passing under the tooth p on its back-stroke, said latch would yield by reason of its spring-and-rule joint-connection withoutintertering with the operation.

1When the minutewheel has -made a complete revolution, an internal tooth q `thereof engages a twelve-tooth pinion p', which pinion constitutes a hub-portion of an `hourwheel Q', and revolves the same one space.

The hour-wheel is mounted upon a stud r, that is eccentric to and projects from a disk 7"', which .terms part ot the bracket z', and is connected thereto by a neck-portion s, as best shown in Fig. 3. The hour-wheel is also provided with peripheral type-characters from 1 to 12, which are moved to the printing-point in a manner as stated, and in synchrony wi i the clock. The said wheel upon its tace rartiiest from the minute-wheel has a hub-extension with a single tooth 8, which is provided tor engagen ent with a twenty-tour toothed internal gear ot a ring li, which ring is revoluble upon the disk fr, and carries twenty-teur type-characters La. and P. ld., alternately spacer. around its periphery. These type-characters by reason ci the gear-connection just described, are moved every twelve hours so that the change to 2r. M. or is made at the printingpoint to designate whether the machine is being opera ad to register signatures in the morning, Vaiternoon or evening. rihe wheel M and ring it, constitute part ot the series ot printing members and are provided with spring-dogs Q, g, respectively, which dogs snap in between the type-characters thereon and hold the wheels in their adjusted positions as best shown in Fig. 5, of the drawings.

ln order that the paper-tape should designate the registration ot parties going out of a place ot business as well as entering, we have provided reciprocative bar S, having the printing-characters in and Out upon its tace. rThis bar is Ouided at one end by an yarm extending from the neck-portion of bracket z', and at the oppositeend by a rod S, which passes through a slot in the said bar. r1`he bar is connected to a lever T that is fulcrumed upon a shaft T said lever hcing held in Aits normal, or vertical position by a leaf-spring t. rihe upper end ot the lever T projects through a slot in the top -ot the casing, and when at rest this lever holds the bar S to which it is connected in a central -position so that the types thereon are equi-distant from 'the printing-point, as shown in Fig. 9 ot the drawings. curved finger is secured to the shaft T its position being such with relation to the lever T, that when the latter is at rest, the end of the inger is directly in the path of pin CZ of the rock-arm K, thus locking the actuatingmechanism or" the machine until said Finger is raised or lowered, which movement is obtained by molfing the lever T either forward or backward.

By the above means it will be understood that parties usino' the machine are compelled to rst unlock the same by moving the aforesaid lever T forward or backward, which movement will bring rthe types In or Out to the printing-point, the direction ot motion coinciding with the type, being indicated upon the face of the casing as shown in F ig. 7, of the drawings. Thus the operator will bring the desired type to the printing-point to indicate whether he is leaving or entering a place of business, a feature which is very desirable where employees are entering and leaving at various intervals of time.

1n unlocking the machine it is only necessary to hold the lever T until the operating handle has been started, as the pin d will then either slide over or under the curved surface of the linger and hold the same together with the type-bar S in its adjusted position until said operating handle has returned to its normal position. This is accomplished by reason of the upper and lower faces of the linger being formed on dilferent radial curves concentric with the arc described by said pin d, the said curves being struck with relation to the movement of the linger in either direction.

All of the type carrying members are located directly under and near one edge of the paper as shown, while the signatures are written upon the upper surface of the paper. The printing of the time, etc., however is aranged to be embossed through the paper so that it will appear upon the same side as the signatures. This is accomplished by placing a ribbon V between the anvil p and the upper surface of the paper, so that when said anvil is forced down upon the thin paper, the pressure will be sufficient for the ribbon to cause an impression of the type to be legible upon the upper surface of the paper. The anvil is secured to the underside of the machine casing and held in suspen ion by a spring-strip u, in such'a manner that when said anvil is struck by a quick acting hammer TW, it will immediately rebou d from contact with the ribbon and thus prevent smudging caused through motion of the paper thereunder. The hammer 1V eX- tends over and rests upon the anvil p', said hammer forming part of a lever VV, which lever is fulcrumed on the rod S', and has a tail-portion that carries a pivoted gate-cam o arranged in the path of the pin (l of the rock-arm lil, as best shown in Fig. et, of the drawings. The hammer-lever W is held in its normal position against a stop-pin 'w by a coil-spring fw', and when the rock-arm K is actuated, its pin d engages the upper face of the gate-cam, causing said hammer to rise in opposition to .ne spring w. When said pin d, in its forward movement, leaves the gate-cam the aforesaid hammer gives a blow to the anvil, the inertia of which causes the saine to strike the ribbon and print. TJpon the return-stroke of the rock-arm its pin passes under said gate-cam and lifts the saine vithout disturbing the lever 1V', there being a stop projecting from said lever upon which the aforesaid gate-cam rests.

1n some instances it may be desirable, at stated intervals of time to lock the bar S against the tension of its spring, so that it will print either' the word 1n or Out continuously, in which case we have provided lever T with a set-screw i, which travels in a slot of a detent y projecting from the top of the casing, and by this means the said lever T may be set in either direction by tightening up the screw to prevent the aforesaid lever from returning to its normal position.

The printing ribbon is mounted upon a spool s and is carried over suitable guiderollers above the paper-tape to a windingspool e', which spool is provided with a ratchet-wheel a, that is engaged by a springcatch 72, fast on the tail of the hammer-lever WC By the above means the ribbon is fed intermittently with each stroke of said hainmer-lever, and when the ribbon is to be rewound upon the spool e a trip c that is pivoted to the casing, is pressed against the spring-catch b to disengage the same from the ratchet-wheel. Said spool a is then wound in reverse direction, by means of a handle CZ, which extends through the machine-casing and forms part of the aforesaid spool-spindle.

ris shown in Fig. 7, of the drawings, the clock-mechanism is provided with the usual face and hands exposed for the convenience of the operators to show the exact time.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be seen that our recorder is so arranged thatthe paper-tape has intermittent feed, independent of the time-printing wheels, which wheels are moved by a minutewheel having intermittent motion imparted thereto by a cani in connection with the clock-mechanism, it being obviously within the scope of our invention to vary the contour of the cam and its speed, if desired, provided the latter will produce an impulse to the yoke-lever at intervals of one minute. To complete an operation, an employee first writes his signature upon the paper tape, then pulls the lever T to designate whether he is going in or out, and then; in order that a registration of the time be obtained, the handle must be pulled forward, this motion causes the time to be printed opposite the said signature, and as the operatinghandle is returned to its position of rest through the spring connected thereto, the paper feed-mechanism will draw the paper tape forward sulliciently to clear the signature from the slot and bring a blank space under the same for the next signature. rlhe loose end of the paper tape is fed into the well below and may be detached by the timekeeper who has access thereto.

To form a solid backing for the paper, when the operator is writing his signature thereon, a table N is secured to the casing directly under the slot N upon which the paper tape travels andV is supported at this point.

ille Claim:

l. An autograph and time printing recorder provided with a slotted easing for the exposure of a paper tape which tape is adapted to pass thereunder, an inking ribbon arranged parallel with the paper strip, between the paper and easing and to one edge of said paper, a series of clock-Controlled time designating` type-members below the paper, a printing-lever having a hammer disposed above the ribbon and in alineinent with the slot in the easing, a shaft, a roel;- arm secured to the shaft for engagement with'the printing-lever, a hand-lever secured to said shattexterior ot' the easing, a paper feed roller loosely mounted upon the aforesaid shaft, a ratchet-wheel secured to the feed-roller7 and a pawl `for engagement with the ratchet-wheelcarried by the rook-arm.

2. An autograph and time printing recorder provided with a slotted casing for the exposure of a paper tape, which tape is adapted to pass thereunder, an inking ribbon arranged parallel with thel paper strip, between the paper and casing and to one edge of said paper, a series of clock-controlled time designating type-members below the\ paper, a printing-lever having a hammer disposed above the ribbon and in alinement with the slot in theeasing, a shaft, a rook-arm secured to the shaft for engagement with the printing-lever, a hand lever secured to said shaft exterior of the casing, a paper feed roller loosely mounted upon the aforesaid shaft, a ratchet-wheel secured to the feed-roller, a pawl for engagement with the ratchet-wheel Carrier by the rook-arm, a typecarryingV member provided with type-characters designating In and Out adjacent to the time designating type-member, a manually operative lever in Connection with the in and Out type-carrying member, a spring in connection with the manually oper.- ative lever, whereby the In and Out designations of said member are normally held away from the printing point, and a nger Carried by said lever arranged to normally oppose the rock-arm.

in testimony that we claim the foregoing i we hare hereunto set our hands at Milwaukee iii-the County of Milwaukee and State of llliseonsin in the presence of two witnesses. FRANK H. COTVTRILL. A ALFRED LEIHAMMER. Yiivi'tnesses Grenen E. FLEISCHMANN, XVM. l?. CARMICHAEL.

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