US3225576A - Time recording lock system - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1965 J. D. RICHARD 3,225,576

TIME RECORDING LOCK SYSTEM Filed Nov. 6, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I ,uL ELECTRO- L MECHANICAL LATCH OSCILLATOR I 4 I0 I 1 FIG. IA FIG. is g 54 I2 1L 5 f 2| 22 23 24 E r F9 r I I f T 25 CAPACITANCE FIG. 16

COMPONENT KEYS 33 F 6 2 39 g 40 g g RELAY E TIM E RECORDER I LATCHING LATCHING RELAY D FREQUENCY LATCHING RELAY C RESISTANCE LATCHING LATCHING RELAY A Dec. 28, 1965 J. D. RICHARD 3,225,576

TIME RECORDING LOCK SYSTEM Filed Nov. 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 64 OUTSIDE 82 LATCH 9| INSIDE a4 6 (D F so 60 6 78 85 7l6 OSCILLATOR INVENTOR JOSEPH D. RICHARD TIME RECORDER United States Patent 3,225,576 TIME RECORDING LOCK SYSTEM Joseph D. Richard, 3569 Loquat Ave., Miami, Fla. Filed Nov. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 409,543 4 Claims. (Cl. 70--434) This is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 199,486, filed June 1, 1962, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to lock and key systems, and more particularly, to such a system including improved apparatus for maintaining a permanent graphic record of the time intervals which each of a number of individuals spends inside a protected area.

In my United States Patent 3,093,994, issued June 18, 1963, there is shown and described a recording lock and key system for restricting entry into an unattended protected area to select persons and for automatically recording the time and duration of the visits made by each of these persons to the area now abandoned. In this prior system, an electromechanical door latch is controlled by an electronic circuit which is actuated by placing one of a group of keys, each containing an electronic circuit element of a different specific Value, into either of an inner and an outer key receptacle positioned on opposite sides of the latched door and connected to the electronic circuit. This prior system also includes a graphic recorder which makes a record of the key used and of the time which elapses between the insertion of a key in the outer receptacle and the subsequent insertion of the same key in the inner receptacle. When a holder of a key inserts the key in the outer receptacle, the door unlocks allowing the holder to enter the protected area and the recorder begins to make a record of the time and duration of the visit into the protected area. As the holder enters the area, the door locks behind him. When he wishes to leave the area, he places the same key in the inner receptacle to again unlock the door and deactivate the recorder.

This prior system provides a complete record of-all who use their keys to alternately enter and leave the protect-ed area. However, the recording portion of the system can be defeated because the lock can be operated at all times by placing a key in either of the receptacles. Thus, when a key holder enters the protected area he can insert the key into the inn-er receptacle to stop the recorder and can remain within the area for any additional length of time without this being recorded. When he desires to leave the area, he merely 'reinserts the key in the inner receptacle to unlock the door and can leave without leaving any indication that the recording system has been compromised.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved recording lock and key system which is not subject to the foregoing difiiculty.

Another object is to provide an improved system of this type wherein the recording system cannot be defeated.

Another object is to provide such a system wherein the door unlocks each time a key is placed in a receptacle only if that key is alternately placed in the inner and outer key receptacles.

A further object is to provide such a system wherein each time a key is placed in a key receptacle the connection of the lock activating circuit for that key is switched to the other receptacle.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a recording locking system for controlling access to a locked area through a latchable door comprising in combination: a removable key assembly having at least one electronic component of a specific value and having a first set of contacts connected to said components; a key receptacle outside the locked area for receiving the key comprising a second set of contacts adapted to engage the first set of contacts when the receptacle receives the key and first switch means adapted to be operated when the receptacle receives the key; a key receptacle inside the locked area for receiving the key comprising a third set of contacts adapted to engage the first set of contacts when the receptacle receives the key and second switch means adapted to be operated when the receptacle receives the key; an electrical discriminating control circuit responsive to electronic components of the type and specific value as the component in the key assembly and having an input connectible to the component in the key assembly through the second or third set of contacts when the key assembly is inserted in either the outside or inside key receptacles; electrical switching means responsive to the discriminating control circuit; means for latching the aforementioned door in the closed position; latch controlling means comprising latch actuating circuit means connected to the switching means, third switch means having a first position connecting the first switch means to the actuating circuit for placing the actuating circuit in condition to be energized only when the first switch means and the switching means are operated simultaneously and having a second position connecting the second switch means to the actuating circuit for placing the actuating circuit in condition to be energized only when the second switch means and the switching means are operated simultaneously, and means for changing the position of the third switch means each time the latch is operated; and graphic recording means connected to the third switch means for producing a record whenever the third switch means is in the second position.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general organization of one type of time recording system in which a simple event mark appears on the graphic recorder each time a key is used.

FIG. 1A is an elevational view of a key component and a receptacle having contacts engaged by the key component.

FIG. 1B is a composite View of a number of different key components shown in elevation.

FIG. 1C is a graph of the capacity-frequency relationship of the key components shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another type of time recording system in which latching relays are used to maintain the continuity of the recorder trace for the entire time the various key holders spend inside the locked area.

FIG. 2A is a graph of the resistance-frequency relationship of a number of key components such as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a time recording and locking system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a table showing typical capacitor values and resulting oscillator frequencies for the five component keys of the system shown in FIG. 3.

Referring again to the FIGURE 1, a door 1 is shown mounted in the wall 2. The door 1 is locked in a closed position by means of the bolt 3 which is controlled by the electromechanical actuator 4 through the relay switch 6. A series of keys 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 are shown in FIG- URES 1A and 1B with each containing a capacitor of a slightly different value. For example, key number one contains the capacitor 26 of the arbitrary value 28. The terminals of the capacitor 26 are connected to the bevelled contacts 54 and 55 which are separated by the insulator 30. When the component key 20 is pressed against the receptacle contacts 11 and 12 mounted on the wall 2 the leads 13 and 14 connect the capacitor 26 into the frequency determining circuit of the oscillator 10. A specific oscillator frequency thereby results which is determined by the precise value of the capacitor 26. Thus each of the five component keys shown in FIGURE 1 1s capable of producing a different specific frequency in the oscillator 10. The plotted relationship 29 between capacitance and oscillator frequency is shown by the graph (FIGURE 1C).

FIGURE 1 also shows a resonant reed relay in which the coil 1.5 is driven by the output of the oscillator 10. The five reeds of the reed relay are resonant at exactly the five specific frequencies produced by the five different capacitors shown in the five component keys. Thus each key is capable of actuating only one of the reeds of the resonant reed relay. For example component key number five, when pressed against the receptacle contacts 11 and 12, causes the oscillator 10 to produce a specific frequency which drives the reed relay coil 15 at the precise resonant frequency of the reed 16 causing it to make intermittent contact with the contact 17. The contact 17 and the resonant reed 16 are in series with the marker of channel five of the event recorder 9, the control relay coil 5, and the battery 8. Thus when the resonant reed 16 makes contact with the fixed contact 17, the relay contacts 6 are closed and the event recorder stylus 19 marks channel five of the event recorder 9. At the same time the event recorder marks the use of each key, the electromechanical latch 4 is actuated so that the door 1 is unlocked. The time base of the graphic recorder 9 is related to clock time so that the actual time of each of the events shown on the graphic record may be accurately known. Any of the five component keys shown in FIG- URES 1A and 1B may thus be :used to open the door 1. However, each time a component key is used only the recording channel for that specific key is marked. A graphic record is thus maintained of the time sequence of use of all of the keys of the time recording system.

In FIGURE 2, a typical component key 31 is shown containing the resistor 32. By means of the receptacle contacts 33 and 34, the resistor 32 may be connected between the leads 35 and 36 thus determining the frequency of the oscillator circuit shown. The resistor 32 is thereby included in the collector to base feed-back circuit of the transistor 38. The type of phase shift oscillator shown is well known in the art. The oscillator signal is amplified by the transistor 40 which drives the coil 41 of a resonant reed relay. When component key A 31 which contains the resistor 32 is pressed against the receptacle contacts 33 and 34, an oscillator frequency is produced which precisely matches the resonant frequency of the reed 42 of the reed relay. When vibrated at its resonant frequency by the coil 41, the reed 42 makes intermittent contact with the fixed contact 43 thereby actuating the latching relay A 45 which in turn controls the marker stylus 47 of channel A of the graphic event recorder 49. Other component keys may be used in a similar manner to activate the other recording channels of the time recording system of FIGURE 2. The graph 50 (FIGURE 2A) shows the plotted relationship 53 between resistance value and oscillator frequency for this system. The five specific resistance values of the component keys are shown along with the five corresponding specific oscillator frequencies. Each time any one of the component keys is used, the corresponding latching relay switches to the alternate condition and remains there until actuated again. When a person enters the locked area the time recorder channel corresponding to his particular component key is activated and that recorder channel continues to mark on the time graduated recorder paper until the same component key is used again for leaving the locked area, at which time the mark is discontinued.

Referring now to FIG. 3 in detail, there is shown a system in accordance with the present invention which generally comprises five key assemblies 60, 61, and three others not shown; an outside key receptacle 62 and an inside key receptacle 64; a solenoid operated latch 65 having a bolt 66; an oscillator 67; a direct current power source 68; a resonant reed relay 69; a graphic recorder 70; and five control units 71, 72, and three others not shown, each being responsive to one of the key assemblies.

The key receptacles 62 and 64 are shown on opposite sides of a wall 74 adjacent to a door 75, and the solenoid latch is shown mounted in the edge of the wall facing the door with the bolt 66 extending into a recess in the edge of the door to lock the door in the closed position.

Each of the key assemblies contains a capacitor 76, a pair of bevelled contacts 77 and 78 each connected to one side of the capacitor, and a strip 80 of insulating material positioned between the contacts 77 and 78. The capacitor 76 in each of the five keys has a slightly different value as shown in the table of FIG. 4 wherein the keys are identified as being numbers 1 to 5.

The outside key receptacle 62 comprises a cup shaped metallic outer shell 81, an inner member 82 of insulating material having a pair of contacts 84 and 85 on the outside end thereof and having a pair of contacts 86 and 87 on the inside end thereof, and a spring 89 between the inner member 82 and the outer shell 81 to normally keep the contacts 86 and 87 out of contact with the inside end wall of the outer shell 81. The contacts 84 and 85 are positioned to engage the contacts 77 and 78 respectively when a key is inserted in the receptacle, and the contacts 86 and 87 are positioned to engage the outer receptacle when the inner member is moved inwardly by the insertion of the key.

Likewise, the inside key receptacle 64 comprises a metallic outer shell 91, an inner member 92 of insulating material having a pair of contacts 94 and 95 for engaging the key contacts and a pair of contacts 96 and 97 for engaging the outer shell 91 when a key is inserted in the receptacle, and a spring 99 between the inner member and the outer shell for normally keeping the contacts 96 and 97 separated from the outer shell 91.

As described in detail hereinafter, the insertion of a key into one of the receptacles 62 or 64 connects the power source 68 across the power input terminals of the oscillator 67 and connects the capacitor 76 in the key across the terminals A and B of the oscillator 67. The terminals A and B connect into the frequency determining circuit of the oscillator 67 so that the output frequency of the oscillator is dependent upon the value of the capacitor 76 in the key. The table of FIG. 4 discloses representative output frequencies produced by the oscillator in response to the insertion of each of the keys in one of the key receptacles.

The resonant reed relay 69 includes a coil 100, five resonant reeds, and five stationary contacts associated with the reeds. These reeds include a reed 101 having a natural resonant frequency of 520 cycles per second and having an associated stationary contact 102, a reed 104 having a natural frequency of 540 cycles per second and having an associated stationary contact 105, and three other reeds having natural frequencies of 560, 580, and 600 cycles per second respectively.

The graphic recorder 70 comprises a sheet of paper 106 continuously driven by a motor (not shown), five stylus (107, 109, and three others) for marking the paper 106 when energized, and five elapsed time counters 110, one for each stylus for totaling the recording time of each stylus to indicate the total time that the holder of each of the component keys has spent inside the door 75. Suitable elapsed time indicators, or time totalizers as they are sometimes called, are readily available commercially. They may be reset to zero, for example at the end of every week or month. In this manner, the time recording system described herein can serve as a time keeping system for employees. The total working time for any employee may be instantly determined by reference to his particular time totalizer.

The control unit 71 includes a latching relay 111 and a control relay 112 having a winding 114 and two pairs of contacts 115 and 116. The latching relay 111 comprises a coil 117, a lever 119 under the control of the coil, a ratchet wheel 120 operated by the lever, a cam wheel 121 carried by the ratchet wheel and having alternate high and low camming surfaces 122 and 124 respectively, a cam follower 125, a pair of movable contacts 126 and 127 operated by the cam follower, a pair of stationary contacts 128 and 129 associated with the movable contact 126, and a stationary contact 130 associated with the movable contact 127.

Likewise, the control unit 72 includes a latching relay 131 and a control relay 132 having a winding 134 and two pairs of contacts 135 and 136. The latching relay 131 comprises a coil 137, a lever 139, a ratchet wheel 140, a cam wheel 14-1 having high and low camming surfaces 142 and 144 respectively, a cam follower 145, a pair of movable contacts 146 and 147, a pair of stationary contacts 148 and 149, and a stationary contact 150. The other three control units, which are not shown, are similarly constructed.

The contacts 84 and 94 of the key receptacles 62 and 64 are connected together and to the terminal B of the oscillator 67, and the contacts 85 and 95 of the key receptacles are connected together and the terminal A of the oscillator.

The negative terminal of the battery 68 is connected to each of the outer metallic shells 81 and 91 of the key receptacles and to the negative side of the solenoid latch 65 through a conductor 151. The positive terminal of the battery 68 is connected to the positive input power terminal of the oscillator 67, to the contact 130 of the latching relay 111, to the contact 150 of the latching relay 131, and to each of the reeds of the resonant reed relay 69. The negative power input of the oscillator 67 is connected to the contacts 86 and 96 of the key receptacles. The contact 87 of the key receptacle 62 is connected through a conductor 152 to the contacts 128 and 148 of the latching relays, and the contact 97 of the key receptacle 64 is connected through a conductor 154 to the contacts 129 and 149 of the latching relays.

The winding 114 of the control relay 112 is connected between the contact 102 of the reed relay 69 and the contact 126 of the latching relay 111, and the winding 134 of the control relay 132 is connected between the contact 105 of the reed relay and the contact 146 of the latching relay 131. A capacitor 155 is connected in parallel with the winding 114 and a capacitor 156 is connected in parallel with the winding 134.

The winding 117 of the latching relay 111 is connected in series with the contacts 116 of the control relay 112 between the contact 126 and the positive terminal of the battery 68, and the winding 137 of the latching relay 131 is connected in series with the contacts 136 of the contol relay 132 between the contact 146 and the positive terminal of the battery 68. The contacts 115 of the control relay 112 and the contacts 135 of the control relay 132 are connected in parallel between the positive terminal of the battery 68 and a conductor 157 leading to the positive side of the solenoid latch 65. The contact 127 of the latching relay 111 is connected to the stylus 107 in the recorder 70 by means of a conductor 156, and the contact 147 of the latching relay 131 is connected to the stylus 109 of the recorder by means of a conductor 157.

In operation, when the holder of a key wishes to enter the protected area, he places his key in the outside key receptacle 62 and pushes. The inner member 82 of the receptacle moves inwardly until the contacts 86 and 87 abut against the inner wall of the outer shell 81 to connect the conductor 152 and the negative power terminal of the oscillator 67 to the negative terminal of the battery 68. At the same time, the capacitor 76 in the key is con nected across the terminals A and B of the oscillator 67.

The oscillator operating and delivers to the coil 101) of the resonant reed relay 69 a signal having one of the five frequencies disclosed in the table of FIG. 4 depending on which of the five keys is being used. The reed which has a natural resonant frequency equal to this signal frequency is sent into vibration and intermittently engages its associated stationary contact. As described hereinafter in detail, a current path is thus established through the control unit (e.g. 71, 72) connected to the reed (provided that the latching relay (e.g. 111, 131) is in the correct position) to cause the solenoid latch 65 to unlock the door. At the same time, the latching relay in the control unit is made to change its position and the marking stylus associated with the key used is energized to start marking a line. When the door is unlocked, the holder opens the door, withdraws the key from the receptacle, and enters the protected area allowing the door to close and lock behind him.

When the holder of the key Wishes to leave the protected area, he places the key in the inside key receptacle 64 and pushes. The inner member 92 of the receptacle moves until the contacts 96 and 97 abut against the outer shell 91 to connect the conductor 154 and the negative power terminal of the oscillator 67 to the negative terminal of the battery 68. The capacitor 76 in the key is connected across the terminals A and B at the same time.

The oscillator starts operating and produces an output signal at the same frequency as before to cause the same reed to be set into vibration to again complete the current path through the same control unit as before. The current fiow results in the unlocking of the door, the movement of the latching relay back to its original position, and the de-energization of the stylus to end the line being marked.

FIG. 3 shows the condition of the system when the holder of the key 60 (key No. 1 on the table of FIG. 4) is outside the protected area and the holder of key 61 (key No. 2 on the table of FIG. 4) has used his key to gain access to the protected area.

It will be noted that in the control unit 71, the movable contacts 126 and 127 of the latching relay 111 are held in their upper position by the engagement of the cam follower 125 with one of the cam surfaces 122. With the latching relay in this position, the winding 114 of the control relay 112 is connected to the receptacle 62 through the contacts 126 and 128 and the conductor 152.

When the key 60 is pressed into the receptacle 62, the oscillator produces an output of 520 cycles per second and causes the reed 101 to vibrate and intermittently engage the contact 102. Current then flows from the positive side of the battery 68 through the reed 101, the contact 102, the winding 114 of the control relay, the contacts 126 and 128, the conductor 152, the contact 87, and the outer shell 81 to the negative terminal of the battery.

The current flow through the winding 114 closes the contact pairs and 116 allowing current to flow through the solenoid latch 65 and through the winding 117 of the latching relay 111. The capacitor 155 smooths the pulsating current produced by the intermittent connection between the reed 101 and the contact 102 so as to maintain the relay 112 constantly energized. The solenoid latch 65 withdraws the bolt 66 to unlock the door, and the winding 117 acts on the lever 119'to rotate the ratchet wheel and the cam wheel 121 until the cam follower engages the next adjacent cam surface 124. The movable contacts 126 and 127 are thus permitted to move downwardly to contact the stationary contacts 129 and respectively.

The control unit 71 thus assumes the condition in which the control unit 72 is shown and the positive terminal of the battery 68 is connected through the contacts 130 and 127 and the conductor 156 to the elapsed time counter 110 and to the stylus 107. The counter 110 therefore starts to operate, and the stylus 107 begins to mark a line on the paper 106. Also, the winding 114 is then connected to the key receptacle 64 through the contacts 126 and 129 and the conductor 154.

In the control unit 72, as shown in FIG. 3, the cam follower 145 engages a cam surface 144 permitting the movable contacts 146 and 147 to assume a position in contact with the stationary contacts 149 and 150. With the latching relay in this position, the stylus 109 is held energized by connection to the positive side of the battery 68 through the conductor 157 and the contacts 147 and 150. Also, the winding 134 of the control relay 132 is connected to the key receptacle 64 through the contacts 146 and 149 and the conductor 154. The control unit 72 was placed in this condition by the placement of the key 61 in th outside key receptacle 62 and the stylus 1% is marking a continuous line indicating the time that has elapsed since the key 61 was inserted in the receptacle 62..

From inside the protected area, the holder of the key 61 can unlock the door and terminate the record being made by the stylus 109 by placing the key 61 in the receptacle 64. The use of the key 61 in the receptacle 64 causes the oscillator 67 to deliver a signal having a frequency of 540 cycles per second to the coil 100 of the reed relay. The reed 104 is placed in vibration and a current path is completed from the positive side of the battery 68 through the reed 104, the contact 155, the winding 134, the contacts 146 and 149, the conductor 154, the contact 97, and the outer shell 91 to the negative side of the battery. In response to this current flow, the contacts 135 and 136 of the control relay 132 close to energize the solenoid latch 65 and to energize the winding 137 of the latching relay 131. The door is thereby unlocked and the cam wheel is rotated to place the control unit 72 in the condition in which the control unit 71 is shown to separate the contacts 147 and 150 and de-energize the elapsed time counter and the stylus 109.

Under normal conditions, each key holder would use his key alternately in the inside and outside key receptacles to enter and leave the protected area. Each time a key is inserted in a receptacle and unlocks the door, the latching relay associated with that key switches the connection of the control relay winding to the opposite key receptacle. Therefore, the door cannot be opened again with that key unless the key is inserted into the opposite key receptacle because a current path through the associated control relay cannot be othewise established.

If, for example, the holder of key 61 inserts the key in the receptacle 62, placing the control unit '72 in the condition shown, and then does not enter the area, when he withdraws the key from the receptacle he will have locked himself outside and will have locked the stylus 199 in the recording position. He cannot subsequently use his key to gain access to the protected area and the continuing record being made will alert anyone entering the empty area to What has transpired and who the ofiender is.

Likewise, if a key holder used his key to enter the protected area and then inserted the key in the inside receptacle to stop the record which was being made of his visit and then withdrew his key and remained within the area, he would be locked in and could not subsequently open the door by reinserting his key in the inside receptacle. In this case the next key holder entering the area would be alerted by the absence of a recorded line that the person found in the area had improperly used his key.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides an improved recording lock and key sys tem wherein the recording portion of the system cannot be defeated without detection and wherein the door unlocking mechanism is activated each time the key is used only if the key is alternately placed in the inside and outside key receptacles.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A recording locking system of the character described for controlling access to a locked area through a latchable door comprising in combination: a removable key assembly having at least one electronic component of a specific value and having a first set of contacts connected to said component; a key receptacle outside the locked area for receiving said key comprising a second set of contacts adapted to engage said first set of contacts who said receptacle receives said key and first switch means adapted to be operated when said receptacle receives said key; a key receptacle inside the locked area for receiving said key comprising a third set of contacts adapted to engage said first set of contacts when said receptacie receives said key and second switch means adapted to be operated when said receptacle receives said key; an electrical discriminating control circuit responsive to electronic components of the type and specific value as said component in the key assembly and having an input connectable to said component in said key assembly through said second or third set of contacts when said key assembly is inserted in either the outside or inside key receptacles; electrical switching means responsive to said discriminating control circuit; means for latching the aforementioned door in the closed position; latch controlling means comprising latch actuating circuit means connected to said switching means, third switch means having a first position connecting said first switch means to said actuating circuit for placing said actuating circuit in condition to be energized only when said first switch means and said switching means are operated simultaneously and having a second position connecting said second switch means to said actuating circuit for placing said actuating circuit in condition to be energized only when said second switch means and said switching means are operated simultaneously, and means for changing the position of said third switch means each time said latch is operated; and graphic recording means connected to said third switch means for producing a record whenever said third switch means is in said second position.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said third switch means includes a first contact connected to one side of said first switch means, a second contact connected to one side of said second switch means, and contact means for engaging said first contact when said third switch means is in said first position and for engaging said second contact when said third switch means is in said second position; said latch actuating circuit means is connected between one side of said switching means and said contact means of said third switch means; and the other side of said switching means is connected to one side of an electrical power source and the other side of said first and second switch means are connected to the other side of the electrical power source.

3. A recording locking system of the character described for controlling access to a locked area through a latchable door comprising in combination: a plurality of removable key assemblies each having at least one electronic component of a different specific value and each having a first set of contacts connected to said component; a key receptacle outside the locked area for receiving said keys comprising a second set of contacts adapted to engage said first set of contacts when said receptacle receives one of said keys and first switch means adapted to be operated when said receptacle receives one of said keys; a key receptacle inside the locked area for receiving said keys comprising a third set of contacts adapted to engage said first set of contacts when said receptacle receives one of said keys and second switch means adapted to be operated when said receptacle receives one of said keys; an electrical discriminating control circuit responsive to electronic components of the type and specific values as said components in the key assemblies and having an input connectable to one of said components through said second or third set of contacts when one of said key assemblies is inserted in either the outside or inside key receptacles for producing a different output in response to each key; a plurality of electrical switching devices each responsive to a difierent output of said discriminating control circuit; means for latching the aforementioned door in the closed position; a plurality of latch controlling means each comprising latch actuating circuit means connected to a different one of said switch ing devices, third switch means having a first position connecting said first switch means to said actuating circuit for placing said actuating circuit in condition to be energized only when said switching device connected thereto and said first switch means are operated simultaneously and having a second position connecting said second switch means to said actuating circuit for placing said actuating circuit in condition to be energized only when said switching device connected thereto and said second switch means are operated simultaneously, and means for changing the position of said third switch means each time said latch is operated; and graphic recording means 10 having a plurality of record producing elements each connected to said third switch means for producing a record whenever that said third switch means is in said second position.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein each of said third switch means includes a first contact connected to one side of said first switch means, a second contact connected to one side of said second switch means, and contact means for engaging said first contact when said third switch means is in said first position and for engaging said second contact when said third switch means is in said second position; each of said latch actuating circuit means is connected between one side of one of said switching devices and said contact means of said third switch means; and the other sides of all of said switching devices are connected to one side of an electrical power source and the other side of said first and second switch means are connected to the other side of the electrical power source.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,093,994 6/1963 Richard 70 434 3,134,254 5/1964 Richard 7o 277 ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A RECORDING LOCKING SYSTEM OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO A LOCKED AREA THROUGH A LATCHABLE DOOR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A REMOVABLE KEY ASSEMBLY HAVING AT LEAST ONE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT OF A SPECIFIC VALUE AND HAVING A FIRST SET OF CONTACTS CONNECTED TO SID COMPONENT; A KEY RECEPTACLE OUTSIDE THE LOCKED AREA FOR RECEIVING SAID KEY COMPRISING A SECOND SET OF CONTACTS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID FIRST SET OF CONTACTS WHEN SAID RECEPTACLE RECEIVES SAID KEY AND FIRST SWITCH MEANS ADAPTED TO BE OPERATED WHEN SAID RECEPTACLE RECEIVES SAID KEY; A KEY RECEPTACLE INSIDE THE LOCKED AREA FOR RECEIVING SAID KEY COMPRISING A THIRD SET OF CONTACTS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID FIRST SET OF CONTACTS WHEN SAID RECEPTACLE RECEIVES SAID KEY AND SECOND SWITCH MEANS ADAPTED TO BE OPERATED WHEN SAID RECEPTACLE RECEIVES SAID KEY; AN ELECTRICAL DISCRIMINATING CONTROL CIRCUIT RESPONSIVE TO ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS OF THE TYPE AND SPECIFIC VALUE AS SAID COMPONENT IN THE KEY ASSEMBLY AND HAVING AN INPUT CONNECTABLE TO SAID COMPONENT IN SAID KEY ASSEMBLY THROUGH SAID SECOND OR THIRD SET OF CONTACTS WHEN SAID KEY ASSEMBLY IS INSERTED IN EITHER THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE KEY RECEPTACLES; ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID DISCRIMINATING CONTROL CIRCUIT; MEANS FOR LATCHING THE AFOREMENTIONED DOOR IN THE CLOSED POSITION; LATCH CONTROLLING MEANS COMPRISING LATCH ACTUATING CIRCUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SWITCHINGMEANS, THIRD SWITCH MEANS HAVING A FIRST POSITION CONNECTING SAID FIRST SWITCH MEANS TO SAID ACTUATING CIRCUIT FOR PLACING SAID ACTUATING CIRCUIT SAID SECOND SWITCH MEANS AND SAID SWITCHING MEANS ARE MEANS AND SAID SWITCHING MEANS ARE OPERATED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND HAVING A SECOND POSITION CONNECTING SAID SECOND SWITCH MENS TO SAID ACTUATING CIRCUIT FOR PLACING SAID ACTUATING CIRCUIT IN CONDITION TO BE ENERGIZED ONLY WHEN SAID SECOND SWITCH MEANS AND SAID SWITCHING MEANS ARE OPERATED SIMULATANEOULY, AND MEANS FOR CHANGING THE POSITION OF SAID THIRD SWITCH MEANS EACH TIME SAID LATCH IS OPERATED; AND GRAPHIC RECORDING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID THIRD SWITCH MEANS FOR PRODUCING A RECORD WHENEVER SAID THIRD SWITCH MEANS IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION.

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