Intermittence-responsive working-time indicator

Abstract

A working-time indicator that resets itself to a zero position as soon as the supervised work is interrupted for a predetermined, preferably adjustable minimum period of time but neglects all pauses of a shorter duration comprises, in combination, a first or working-time meter that is adapted to measure and indicate the duration of a single period or a succession of spaced periods between an arbitrary number of start and stop pulses received thereby, said first meter being resettable to a zero position by means of a resetting pulse, and a second or idling-time meter that is adapted to measure the period of time following immediately after each stop pulse to said first meter and to compare the length of each such period of idling with a preferably adjustable reference value, means being provided for automatically resetting said second meter to a zero position, if and when said first meter receives a new start pulse before the length of the period of idling has reached the reference value, and means being also provided for supplying a resetting pulse to said first meter at the very moment when the length of the period of idling measured by said second meter equals said reference value.

I claim: 
     
       1. An intermittence-responsive working-time indicator comprising in combination I. a first time meter operative as a working-time meter and including a. means for measuring and indicating the duration of a single period between a start pulse and a subsequent stop pulse supplied to said first meter .Iadd.and for measuring and indicating said period .Iaddend.as well as the total duration of an arbitrary number .Iadd.greater than zero .Iaddend.of interspaced such periods while neglecting the intervals between them, and   b. means for resetting said first time meter .[.to a zero position.]. at the receipt of a resetting pulse,     II. a second time meter operative as an idling-time meter and including a. means for measuring the idling-time following immediately after each stop pulse to said first time meter, and   b. means for resetting said second time meter .[.to a zero position.]. at the receipt of a resetting pulse .[.through either one of two separate reset inputs thereof.].,     III. means for comparing the idling-time measured by said second time meter with a .[.stored.]. .Iadd.reference .Iaddend.value and for supplying a pulse .Iadd.at least .Iaddend.to said resetting means of the first time meter .[.as well as to one of said separate reset inputs of said resetting means of the second time meter.]. at the very moment when the measured idling-time equals said .[.stored.]. .Iadd.reference .Iaddend.value,   IV. .[.means for supplying a resetting pulse to the other one of said separate reset inputs of said resetting means of the second time meter at the receipt of each start pulse to said first time meter, and   V..]. means for starting the operation of said second time meter whenever a stop pulse is received by said first time meter, and for stopping the operation .[.thereof whenever it has become properly reset by a resetting pulse supplied to either one of its reset inputs.]. .Iadd.of said second time meter whenever a start pulse is received by said first time meter, and   V. means connected to said resetting means of the second time meter for supplying a resetting pulse thereto before said second time meter is actuated to start measuring the duration of each new idling-time period. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. A working-time indicator according to claim 1 wherein said .[.stored.]. .Iadd.reference .Iaddend.value is adjustable. 
     
     
       3. A working-time indicator according to claim 1 wherein means are provided for blocking said first meter, when the working-time indicated thereby reaches a selected maximum value. 
     
     
       4. A working-time indicator according to claim 1 .[.wherein means are provided for releasing.]. .Iadd.further comprising means connected to said working-time meter for generating .Iaddend.a signal when the working-time indicated by said first meter reaches a selected value. 
     
     
       5. A working-time indicator according to claim 1 wherein said first meter is combined with a storage unit for memorizing a working-time value previously indicated by said first meter in a manner to make said memorized value readable at a later time, if needed, and wherein means are provided for automatically recording in said storage unit each value indicated by said first meter every time the latter receives a resetting pulse. 
     
     
       6. A working-time indicator according to claim 5 wherein said storage unit is of the kind from which a previously recorded value is automatically erased when a new value is entered. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  An intermittence-responsive working-time device comprising in combination: I. a first time meter operative as a working-time meter and including means for measuring the duration of a single period between a start pulse and a subsequent stop pulse supplied to said first meter and for measuring said single period as well as the total duration of an arbitrary number greater than zero of interspaced such periods while neglecting the intervals between them,   II. means for resetting said first time meter at the receipt of a resetting pulse,   III. a second time meter operative as an idling-time meter and including means for measuring the idling-time between each stop pulse and subsequent start pulse supplied to said first meter,   IV. means for comparing the idling-time measured by said second time meter with a reference value, and   V. means for generating said resetting pulse to said first time meter when the measured idling-time of said second time meter equals said reference value. .Iaddend.