Patent US3593008A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3593008A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Article/time recording system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-01-31
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1988-01-31
Abstract
Abstract This specification describes an article/time/persons working recording system for manufacturing facilities which provides a central, continuously up-dated running account of all people hours worked in the manufacturing facility in a given interval of time, the number of people working and the number of articles produced. Additionally, if desired the recording system can identify the number of people working at a particular assembly line or other work stations together with the total number of hours being worked at that station or assembly line and the number of articles being produced by the assembly line in the given interval of time. With this information, an accurate and readily obtained up-to-date figure for the number of articles produced per work hour and/or the number of articles produced per person for the entire facility and/or any given assembly line, is instantaneously available for accounting purposes for anytime during or after a work day.
Inventors
- 👤 David A De Witt
- 👤 Ralph W De Witt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:45
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C3/00; G07C3/08; G07C3/10; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0639; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/10; G06Q10/0633; G06Q10/06398; G06Q40/12; G06Q40/125; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S198/00; Y10S198/958
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
An article/time recording system for a manufacturing facility comprising central people-hours-worked counting and readout means for deriving a count of the number of people-hours including any fractional parts thereof applied at predetermined work units within the facility in a given time interval, central articles completed counting and readout means for deriving a count of the number of articles completed in the same given time interval in the facility, at least one unit people-hours-worked-count registering means coupled to and controlling a corresponding part of the central people-hours-worked counting and readout means, and at least one articles completed count registering means coupled to and controlling a corresponding part of the central articles completed registering and readout means whereby the number of unit articles completed and people-hours worked by the facility is readily determined at any given time during the work day.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
An article/time recording system for a manufacturing facility comprising central people-hours-worked counting and readout means for deriving a count of the number of people-hours including any fractional parts thereof applied at predetermined work units within the facility in a given time interval, central articles completed counting and readout means for deriving a count of the number of articles completed in the same given time interval in the facility, at least one unit people-hours-worked-count registering means coupled to and controlling a corresponding part of the central people-hours-worked counting and readout means, and at least one articles completed count registering means coupled to and controlling a corresponding part of the central articles completed registering and readout means whereby the number of unit articles completed and people-hours worked by the facility is readily determined at any given time during the work day.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 1 further including automatic means cooperating with the central people-hours-worked counting and readout means and with the central articles completed counting and readout means for dividing the number of articles completed in a given time interval by the number of people-hours-worked to provide a continuously updated indication of the number of unit articles completed per people-hours-worked by the facility in the given time interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An article/time recording system accordiNg to claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of unit people-hours-worked-count registering means located at different work stations throughout the facility and all units are coupled to and control a corresponding part of the total people-hours-worked-count accumulated by the central people-hours-worked counting and readout means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of unit articles completed count registering means for deriving a count of the number of articles completed in a given time interval at a plurality of different work stations throughout the facility and all units are coupled to and control corresponding part of the total articles completed count accumulated by the central articles completed counting and readout means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 1 wherein the central people-hours-worked counting and readout means comprises counter means providing readout, and people-time-count-signal digitizing means for producing pulsed waveform electric signals wherein each electric signal pulse is representative of a finite time period worked by one person, and said unit people-hours-worked-count registering means serves selectively to apply representative numbers of the electric signal pulses from the people-time-count-digitizing means to the readout counter means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 3 wherein there are a plurality of unit articles completed count registering means for deriving a count of the number of articles completed in a given time interval at a plurality of different work stations throughout the facility and all units are coupled to and control a corresponding part of the total articles completed count accumulated by the central articles completed counting and readout means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 6 wherein the central people-hours-worked counting and readout means comprises readout counter means, and people-time-count signal digitizing means for generating a series of pulsed waveform electric signals wherein each electric signal pulse is representative of a finite time period worked by one person, and said unit people-hours-worked-count registering means serves selectively to apply desired numbers of the electric signal pulses from the people-time-count digitizing means to the readout counter means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 7 further including automatic means responsive to the people-time-count-signal digitizing means and to the central articles completed-count for dividing the number of articles completed in a given time interval by the number of people hours worked to provide a continuously updated indication of the number of unit articles completed per people hours worked by the facility in the given time interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 5 further including automatic means responsive to the people-time-count-signal digitizing means and responsive to the central articles complete count for dividing the number or articles completed in a given time interval by the number or people-hours worked to provide a readily accessible indication of the number of articles completed per people-hours-worked by the facility in the given time interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
161 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 5 wherein the people-time-count-signal digitizing means comprises a rotated member driven at a predetermined number of revolutions per minute and having a plurality of actuating elements secured thereto, a source of electric potential, a plurality of electric switch means connected to the source of electric potential and fixedly mounted with respect to the rotating member and arranged around its periphery and actuated by the actuating elements for developing a predetermined total number of electric signal pulses for a given number of revolutions of the rotating member, and stepping switch means having fixed and moveable contacts with the fixed contactS being selectively connected to the plurality of electric switch means for obtaining a desired number of electric signal pulses from the outputs of the plurality of electric switch means in accordance with the setting of the moveable contacts of the stepping switch, the setting of the moveable contacts being controlled by the people-hours-worked registering means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 10 further including a bank of isolating diodes operatively interconnecting the fixed contacts of the stepping switch means to the plurality of electric switch means mounted around the periphery of the rotating member for isolating all save selected ones of the outputs of the several electric switch means from the fixed contacts of the stepping switch means in order that fixed contacts of the stepping switch means have applied thereto characteristic numbers of electric signal pulses within a predetermined range and the setting of the stepping switch determines the number of electric signal pulses supplied at its output.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
125 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 11 wherein the rotated member is driven at a speed of one-third r.p.m. and has an inner row of five actuating elements that coact with a single electric switch means and an outer row of 10 actuating elements that coact with 10 electric switch means whereby the single inner switch means operates to develop 100 pulses per hour with each pulse representing one-one hundredth of an hour and each outer electric switch means operates to develop 200 pulses per hour with each pulse representing one-one hundredth of an hour and with the total number of pulses produced representing the time in one-one hundredths of an hour of a system usable in controlling operation of up to 21 persons.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
171 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 11 wherein there are a plurality of unit people-hours-worked-count registering means located at different work stations throughout the facility and all units are coupled to and control a corresponding part of the total people-hours-worked count accumulated by the central people-hours-worked counting and readout means and wherein there are a plurality of unit articles completed-count registering means for deriving a count of the number of articles completed in a given time interval at a plurality of different work stations throughout the facility and all units are coupled to and control a corresponding part of the total articles-completed-count accumulated by the central articles completed counting and readout means and further including automatic means responsive to the people-time-count-signal digitizing means and to the central articles completed count for dividing the number of articles completed in a given time interval by the number of people-hours-worked to provide a continuously updated indication of the number of unit articles completed per people-hours-worked by the facility in the given time interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 11 wherein there are a plurality of unit people-hours-worked-count registering means located at different work stations throughout the facility and all units are coupled to and control a corresponding part of the total people-hours-worked count accumulated by the central people-hours-worked counting and readout means and wherein there are a plurality of unit articles-completed-count registering means for deriving a count of the number of articles completed in a given time interval at a plurality of different work stations throughout the facility and all units are coupled to and control a corresponding part of the total articles-completed-count accumulated by the central articles completed counting and readout means whereby a continuously updated and current indication of the number of unit articles-completed and people-hours-worked by the facility in the given time interval can be obtained.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 13 further including a master time controller and readout means for deriving a count of the total time being worked by the total number of people working in the facility, said master time controller and readout means being controlled by master time clock means which records the time and number of all time recorded people working in the facility.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 15 wherein the master time clock means includes means for punching-in and punching-out workers at particular authorized times so as to add to or subtract from the total number of people working in the facility at any given time, and ancillary bypass punch-in and punch-out means for punching-in and punching-out workers at other than the particular authorized times at the discretion of a supervisor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
168 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 16 wherein the articles completed count registering means comprises packing area counting and readout means for deriving a count of the completed articles being processed through a packing area located at the end of a work station, and packing area count registering means coupled to and controlling the packing area counting and readout means, and wherein the packing area count registering means comprises a control tape dispensing means for dispensing an identifying piece of tape for securing to the completed article to indicate that the completed article has been processed through the packing area, and wherein each time a piece of control tape is dispensed, a completed article processed unit count is registered, and the control tape dispensing means operates automatically to dispense one piece of control tape at a time, and is controlled by a lockout control means that must be activated to enable the tape dispensing means to dispense another piece of control tape following a prior dispensing operation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 17 further including loading area counting and readout means for deriving a count of the completed articles being processed through a loading area, loading area count registering means coupled to and controlling the loading area counting and readout means, a conveyor mechanism for moving completed articles out of the loading area, and loading area count registering trigger means mounted on the conveyor mechanism and actuated by a completed article passing over the conveyor mechanism for registering one unit count in the loading area counting and readout means for each completed article transported by the conveyor mechanism out of the loading area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
86 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 18 further including a plurality of different characteristic article counters comprising a part of the loading area counting and readout means for deriving a count of each different type of article completed in the manufacturing facility, and type of article selector means comprising a part of the loading area count registering means for selectively activating a desired one of the plurality of different characteristic article counters in accordance with the type of article being processed through the loading area.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
151 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 19 wherein the conveyor mechanism includes a power-driven portion that normally in its inactive condition engages a completed article subsequent to the completed article being loaded upon the conveyor mechanism and wherein the count-registering trigger means in addition to registering a unit count for each completed article loaded upon the conveyor mechanism also actuates the power-driven portion of the conveyor to cause the conveyor to convey the completed article thus counted to another location, and wherein there are a plurality of differently located count-assuring stop means for assuring an accurate count of articles loaded on the conveyor and for accommodating different types of articles being loaded on the conveyor mechanism, and said type of article selector means further controls which particular type count-Assuring stop means is rendered active for use in controlling the supply of articles to the power-driven portion of the conveyor mechanism.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
127 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 19 wherein the conveyor mechanism also includes a gravity-operated portion that feeds the power-driven portion and upon which the completed articles are initially placed, the count-registering trigger means being supported on the gravity-operated portion at a distance from the power-driven portion designed to assure simultaneous engagement of the gravity-operated portion and actuation of the count-registering trigger means whereby the power-driven portion will be enabled upon each occurrence of a completed article being placed on the conveyor mechanism to withdraw the completed article off the count-registering trigger means and onto the power-driven portion a sufficient distance to assure return of the trigger means to its normally inactive position while simultaneously loading the power-driven portion of the conveyor with one completed article.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
107 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 21 wherein the conveyor mechanism further includes at its discharge-unloading end a discharge-unloading portion to which the power-driven portion delivers articles stored thereon for unloading, and said discharge-unloading portion includes at least one overdelivery sensing and inactivating control means for sensing a buildup of unloaded articles being delivered to the discharge-unloading portion above a predetermined number and for inactivating the power-driven portion of the conveyor mechanism is response thereto, and further including manually operable control means for inactivating the power-driven portion of the conveyor mechanism at the option of an operator-unloader working at the discharge-unloading end of the conveyor mechanism.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 22 further including unloading area counting and readout means for deriving a count of the completed articles being stored in the unloading area in which the discharge-unloading end of the conveyor mechanism is located and to which the articles are transported from the manufacturing facility by the conveyor mechanism and unloading area count registering means located in the unloading area and coupled to and controlling the unloading area counting and readout means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 23 wherein the unloading area count registering means comprises unloading article sensing trigger means mounted on a discharge-unloading portion of the conveyor mechanism for registering one unit count for each article transported over such discharge-unloading portion into the loading area.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
81 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 24 wherein said unloading area counting and readout means includes a plurality of different characteristic article counters for deriving a count of each different type of article coming into the unloading area, and type of article selector means comprising a part of the unloading area count registering means for selectively activating a desired one of the plurality of different characteristic article counters in accordance with the type of article coming into the unloading area.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
80 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 1 further including a master time controller and readout means for deriving a count of the total time being worked by the total number of people working in the facility, said master time controller and readout means being controlled by master time clock means which records the time and number of all time recorded people working in the facility and serving to synchronize operation of the central people-hours worked counting and readout means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
71 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 26 wherein the master time clock means includes means for punching-in and punching-out workers at particular authorized times so as to add to or subtract from the total number of people working in the faciLity at any given time, and ancillary bypass punch-in and punch-out means for punching-in and punching-out workers at other than the particular authorized times at the discretion of a supervisor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 27 further including people recording and readout means for recording the total number of people working in the facility in a given time interval, the people recording and readout means being connected to and controlled by the master time clock means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
168 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 28 wherein the articles completed count registering means comprises packing area counting and readout means for deriving a count of the completed articles being processed through a packing area located at the end of a work station, and packing area count registering means coupled to and controlling the packing area counting and readout means and wherein the packing area count registering means comprises a control tape dispensing means for dispensing an identifying piece of tape for securing to the completed article to indicate that the completed article has been processed through the packing area, and wherein each time a piece of control tape is dispensed, a completed article processed unit count is registered, and the control tape dispensing means operates automatically to dispense one piece of control tape at a time, and is controlled by a lockout control means that must be activated to enable the tape dispensing means to dispense another piece of control tape following a prior dispensing operation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 26 further including people recording and readout means for recording the total number of people working in the facility in a given time interval, the people recording and readout means being connected to and controlled by the master time clock means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
61 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 26 wherein the articles completed count registering means comprises packing area counting and readout means for deriving a count of the completed articles being processed through a packing area located at the end of a work station, and packing area count registering means coupled to and controlling the packing area counting and readout means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
62 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 1 wherein the articles completed count registering means comprises packing area counting and readout means for deriving a count of the completed articles being processed through a packing area located at the end of a unit work station, and packing area count registering means coupled to and controlling the packing area counting and readout means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
66 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 32 wherein the packing area count registering means comprises a control tape dispensing means for dispensing an identifying piece of tape for securing to the completed article to indicate that the completed article has been processed through the packing area, and wherein each time a piece of control tape is dispensed, a completed article processed unit count is registered.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
56 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 33 wherein the control tape dispensing means operates automatically to dispense one piece of control tape at a time, and is controlled by a lockout control means that must be activated to enable the tape dispensing means to dispense another piece of control tape following a prior dispensing operation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
108 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 1 further including loading area counting and readout means for deriving a count of the completed articles being processed through a loading area, loading area count registering means coupled to and controlling the loading area counting and readout means, a conveyor mechanism for moving completed articles out of the loading area, and loading area count registering trigger means mounted on the conveyor mechanism and actuated by a completed article passing over the conveyor mechanism for regIstering one unit count in the loading area counting and readout means for each completed article transported by the conveyor mechanism out of the loading area.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
83 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 35 wherein the conveyor mechanism includes a power-driven portion that normally in its inactive condition engages a completed article subsequent to the completed article being loaded upon the conveyor mechanism and wherein the count registering trigger means in addition to registering a unit count for each completed article loaded upon the conveyor mechanism also actuates the power driven portion of the conveyor to cause the conveyor to convey the completed article thus counted to another location.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
129 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 36 wherein the conveyor mechanism also includes a gravity operated portion that feeds the power-driven portion and upon which the completed articles are initially placed, the count-registering trigger means being supported on the gravity-operated portion at a distance from the power-driven portion designed to assure simultaneous engagement of the gravity-operated portion and actuation of the count registering trigger means whereby the power-driven portion will be enabled upon each occurrence of a completed article being placed on the conveyor mechanism to withdraw the completed article off the count-registering trigger means and onto the power-driven portion a sufficient distance to assure return of the trigger means to its normally inactive position while simultaneously loading the power-driven portion of the conveyor with one completed article.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
68 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 37 further including a plurality of differently located count assuring stop means for assuring an accurate count of articles loaded on the conveyor and for accommodating completed articles of different size, and means for controlling which particular size count assuring stop means is rendered active for use in controlling the supply of articles to the power-driven portion of the conveyor mechanism.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
77 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 37 wherein the conveyor mechanism further includes at its discharge unloading end a discharge-unloading portion to which the power-driven portion delivers articles stored thereon for unloading, and said discharge-unloading portion includes at least one overdelivery sensing and inactivating control means for sensing a buildup of unloaded articles being delivered to the discharge-unloading portion above a predetermined number and for inactivating the power driven-portion of the conveyor mechanism in response thereto.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 39 further including manually operable control means for inactivating the power-driven portion of the conveyor mechanism at the option of an operator-unloader working at the discharge-unloading end of the conveyor mechanism.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
57 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 40 further including unloading area counting and readout means for deriving a count of the completed articles being transported to the unloading area from the manufacturing facility, and unloading area count registering means located in the unloading area and coupled to and controlling the unloading area counting and readout means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
86 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 35 further including a plurality of different characteristic article counters comprising a part of the loading area counting and readout means for deriving a count of each different type of article completed in the manufacturing facility, and type of article selector means comprising a part of the loading area count registering means for selectively activating a desired one of the plurality of different characteristic article counters in accordance with the type of article being processed through the loading area.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
153 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 42 wherein the conveyor mechanism includes a power-Driven portion that normally in its inactive condition engages a completed article subsequent to the completed article being loaded upon the conveyor mechanism and wherein the count registering trigger means in addition to registering a unit count for each completed article loaded upon the conveyor mechanism also actuates the power-driven portion of the conveyor to cause the conveyor to convey the completed article thus counted to another location, and wherein there are a plurality of differently located count assuring stop means for assuring an accurate count of articles loaded on the conveyor and for accommodating different types of articles being loaded on the conveyor mechanism, and said type of article selector means further controls which particular count assuring stop means is rendered active for use in controlling the supply of articles to the driven portion of the conveyor mechanism.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
108 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 42 wherein the conveyor mechanism further includes at its discharge-unloading end a discharge-unloading portion to which the power-driven portion delivers articles stored thereon for unloading, and said discharge-unloading portion includes at least one over delivery sensing and inactivating control means for sensing a buildup of unloaded articles being delivered to the discharge-unloading portion above a predetermined number and for inactivating the power-driven portion of the conveyor mechanism in response thereto and further including manually operable control means for inactivating the power-driven portion of the conveyor mechanism at the option of an operator-unloader working at the discharge-unloading end of the conveyor mechanism.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
57 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 22 further including unloading area counting and readout means for deriving a count of the completed articles being transported to the unloading area from the manufacturing facility, and unloading area count registering means located in the unloading area and coupled to and controlling the unloading area counting and readout means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
47 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 45 wherein the unloading area count registering means comprises unloading article sensing trigger means mounted on a discharge-unloading portion of the conveyor mechanism for registering one unit count for each article transported over such discharge-unloading portion into the unloading area.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
81 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 46 wherein said unloading area counting and readout means includes a plurality of different characteristic article counters for deriving a count of each different type of article coming into the unloading area, and type of article selector means comprising a part of the unloading area count registering means for selectively activating a desired one of the plurality of different characteristic article counters in accordance with the type of article coming into the unloading area.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
57 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 1 further including unloading area counting and readout means for deriving a count of the completed articles being transported to the unloading area from the manufacturing facility, and unloading area count registering means located in the unloading area and coupled to and controlling the unloading area counting and readout means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
47 words
An article/time recording system according to claim 48 wherein the unloading area count registering means comprises unloading article sensing trigger means mounted on a discharge-unloading portion of the conveyor mechanism for registering one unit count for each article transported over such discharge-unloading portion into the unloading area.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
176 words
A people-time-count-signal digitizing device for an article/time recording system generating electric signal pulses comprising a rotated member driven at a predetermined number of revolutions per minute and having a plurality of actuating elements secured thereto, a source of electric potential, a plurAlity of electric switch means connected to the source of electric potential and fixedly mounted with respect to the rotating member and arranged around its periphery and actuated by the actuating elements for developing a predetermined total number of electric signal pulses for a given number of revolutions of the rotating member, and stepping switch means having fixed and movable contacts with the fixed contacts being selectively connected to the plurality of electric switch means for obtaining a representative number of electric signal pulses from the outputs of the plurality of electric switch means in accordance with the setting of the movable contacts of the stepping switch, the setting of the movable contacts being controlled in accordance with the number of people working in a given time interval for which a people-time count is desired.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
176 words
A people-time-count-signal digitizing device for an article/time recording system generating electric signal pulses comprising a rotated member driven at a predetermined number of revolutions per minute and having a plurality of actuating elements secured thereto, a source of electric potential, a plurAlity of electric switch means connected to the source of electric potential and fixedly mounted with respect to the rotating member and arranged around its periphery and actuated by the actuating elements for developing a predetermined total number of electric signal pulses for a given number of revolutions of the rotating member, and stepping switch means having fixed and movable contacts with the fixed contacts being selectively connected to the plurality of electric switch means for obtaining a representative number of electric signal pulses from the outputs of the plurality of electric switch means in accordance with the setting of the movable contacts of the stepping switch, the setting of the movable contacts being controlled in accordance with the number of people working in a given time interval for which a people-time count is desired.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
115 words
A people-time count-signal digitizing device according to claim 50 further including a bank of isolating diodes operatively interconnecting the fixed contacts of the stepping switch means to the plurality of electric switch means mounted around the periphery of the rotating member for isolating all save selected ones of the outputs of the several electric switch means from the fixed contacts of the stepping switch means in order that the fixed contacts of the stepping switch means have applied thereto characteristic numbers of electric signal pulses within a predetermined range and the setting of the movable contacts of the stepping switch determines the number of electric signal pulses supplied at the output of the stepping switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |