Methods of and apparatus for time clock recording and computation and related uses
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of time-clock recording for use with a time and other data card provided with information identifying the user and space for recording additional data, that comprises, electronically storing identification, time and other data of users;
- electronically reading the identifying information on a user'"'"'s card at times of check-in and check-out;
withdrawing from such electronic storage, in response to such reading, data associated with the user;
electronically totaling time periods between times of check-in and check-out to maintain stored data as to summary time periods for the user; and
recording such summary time period data upon the said space of the card at check-out.
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Abstract
This disclosure is concerned with time-clock recording and computation that, through a novel clock track card and separate clock track and data channel optical reading, in cooperation with microprocessor calculation, storage and control, enables automating employee time and attendance and similar data in a format directly recordable on the card and also directly useable by payroll or other processing computers and the like.
65 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method of time-clock recording for use with a time and other data card provided with information identifying the user and space for recording additional data, that comprises, electronically storing identification, time and other data of users;
- electronically reading the identifying information on a user'"'"'s card at times of check-in and check-out;
withdrawing from such electronic storage, in response to such reading, data associated with the user;
electronically totaling time periods between times of check-in and check-out to maintain stored data as to summary time periods for the user; and
recording such summary time period data upon the said space of the card at check-out. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- electronically reading the identifying information on a user'"'"'s card at times of check-in and check-out;
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8. Time clock recording and computation apparatus for use with a time and other data card provided with information identifying the user and space for recording additional data, said apparatus having, in combination, means for receiving the card and permitting its insertion along a predetermined path;
- means disposed along said path for reading and identifying information;
normally ineffective means disposed along said path for recording additional data, when rendered effective, in the said space of the card;
microprocessor and memory means having means for storing identification and other data, means responding to the reading of said identifying information on said card for totaling time periods between times of insertion of said card, and means for generating and storing summary data as to the user and corresponding time periods; and
means for applying such data to the recording means to render the same effective to record the same in the said space of the card so that instantaneous summaries of data are available on the card and in the storing means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- means disposed along said path for reading and identifying information;
- 25. In a time clock apparatus provided with means for receiving time-card means optical mark-sense reader means and means for sensing time-card presence and card position along said receiving means, time card means for insertion in said receiving means and having a plurality of successive marginally disposed markers for enabling card-position sensing, a mark data field for receiving identification marks for mark-sense reading, a print-out field having blank regions corresponding to the marginally disposed markers for receiving print-out of time and related data alongside the appropriate card-position marker, and a card presence sensing region for enabling indication of the presence of the time card means within the receiving means.
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35. Time clock recording and computation apparatus and the like for use with a time and other data card provided with a clock track comprising a successively interrupted longitudinal track of black marks and a mark-sense field of successive transverse lines containing successive spaces, said apparatus having, in combination, guide means for receiving the card and permitting its entry and passage along a predetermined path;
- photosensitive mark-sensing means disposed along said path for reading marks upon the card, said mark-sensing means comprising clock track detector means aligned with said track and a plurality of data channel detector means for reading data along the plurality of spaces in said transverse lines of the said mark-sense field;
normally ineffective printing means disposed along said path and responsive, when effective, to print data upon the card;
microprocessor means having data and control lines connected with the mark-sensing and printing means and means for storing identification and other data;
means responsive to the sensing by the clock track detector means of the card background and then of the clock track black marks for setting intermediate thereof the sensitivity of the mark-sense detector means;
means responsive to each successive interruption in said clock track for storing in the microprocessor means the data read by the data channel detectors along the successive lines of the said mark-sense field passing the said data channel detectors;
means for enabling the microprocessor means to indicate the position of the next line of spaces on the card available for printing new data on the card; and
means controlled by the said enabling means for rendering the printing means effective to print the said new data on said next line. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
- photosensitive mark-sensing means disposed along said path for reading marks upon the card, said mark-sensing means comprising clock track detector means aligned with said track and a plurality of data channel detector means for reading data along the plurality of spaces in said transverse lines of the said mark-sense field;
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51. For use in time clock recording and computation apparatus and the like employing a data card provided with a clock track comprising a successively interrupted longitudinal track of black marks and a mark-sense field of spaces for data, mark-sense apparatus having, in combination, guide means for receiving the card and permitting its entry and passage along a predetermined path;
- photosensitive mark-sensing means disposed along said path for reading marks upon the card, said mark-sensing means comprising clock track detector means aligned with said track and data channel detector means for reading data along the said mark-sense field, and means responsive to the sensing by the clock track black marks for setting intermediate thereof the sensitivity of the mark-sense detector means.
- View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
Specification