US2338133A

US2338133A - Sorting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2338133A
Application number: US341351A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maynard L Sandell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-06-19
Filing date: 1940-06-19
Publication date: 1944-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1961-01-04

Description

Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Applicati:nc.L1-uricsl9,(1ci;41:233:30. 341,351

The present invention relates to a sorting apparatus for separating certain cards from a larger group of cards and more particularly to a sorting device including a plurality of needle members for simplifying the use or manipulation of a card sorting system.

Card sorting systems in which the cards are provided with a series of holes and with marginal notches according to a predetermined code are already known. A selected card or series of cards may be removed from a larger group or pack of cards by a succession of needling operations to eliminate those cards which'are not desired.

The primary object of the invention is the provision 01 a vibrator for vibrating the pack of cards and facilitating the removal of the cards notched according to the arrangement of the needle members.

Other and further objects of the invention will be suggested to those skilled in the art by the description which follows.

The above and other objects 01 the invention are embodied in a sorting device for use with a group of cards provided with a series of holes which may require two or more needling operations'.

In the card sorting system shown, the cards ID are provided with a series of holes I I along the margins thereof. Code indicia is placed on each card and as'shown in Fig. 1 such indicia comprises the characters 0, l, 2, 4, 7 and SF arranged in series corresponding to units, tens and hundreds. By means of a punch the margins of the card l0 opposite the hole ll may be removed so that by a series of needling operations any card or cards from 0 to 999 may be removed from the pack or group of cards.

v For instance, the card Ina has been provided with marginal notches l2 opposite the unit holes 1 and'2, the

tens holes

2 and 4 and the hundreds holes 1 and SF. Accordingly, this card will be I63. In a similar manner the card lob ha been provided with marginal notches l2 opposite the

unit holes

1 and 4, the tens holes 4 and SF and the hundreds holes 7 and SF so that this card is 745.

along the margins thereof and which may be.

gagement with threaded holes in the body member.

Reference is hereby made to the accompanyingv drawing wherein similar reference characters designate similar elements and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sorting device according to the invention and being inserted into a group of cards for separation of a desiredltype of card. I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a vibrator and a vertical section through the sorting device which has a modified form of needle member.

Although the sorting device 01' the invention is to be described with relation to its use in a definite type of card sorting system, it must be understood that the sorting device may also be used with other types of card sorting systems In order to obtain any particular unit, ten or hundred it is necessary to needle two holes in the corresponding series or holes. For instance, number, 1 is obtained by notching the margin opposite hole- 1 but number 3 is obtained by marginal notches opposite

holes

1 and 2, number 5 by notching

opposite holes

1 and 4, while number 8 is obtained by notching opposite holes 1 and '7. Thus, if only 1 is notched all of the 1's, 3s, 5s,

and 8's would also be separated by the needling of hole 1. In the same manner needling of a notched 4 hole will permit separation of all of the 4's, 5s, and 6s because 5 is composed of the

combination

4 and 1 and 6 of the

combination

4 and 2. Likewise, needling of the 7 hole will separate the 7's, 8's and 9s because 8 is composed of the combination '7 and 1 and 9 of the combination of 7 and 2.

Since all the numbers in a series are obtained by combinations of notches necessarily. requiring two needlings, there will be a further separation of the cards by the second needling inthe series so that only one card number will be obtained. When only

card

1, 2, 4 or '7 is desired, a marginal notch is made opposite the corresponding hole and the SF hole so that the second needling will separate such single figure card from those cards notched for a combination of that figure with another figure. For instance, the 1 cards will be notched opposite the hole 1 and the hole SF but upon needling 0f the hole lwill not be separated from the 3's which are obtained by needling of

holes

1 and 2 or from the 5s' obtained by needling 1 and 4, or from the 8's which are obtained by needling of 1 and 7. However, the 1 cards will be separated from the 3s, 5s and 8's by the second needling through the SF hole. Said 3s, 5s and 85 can be separated from each other by a second needlin through the other hole of the combination or respectively through the 2, 4 or 7 holes. Of course, all that has been said with respect to the notching of the unit cards also applies to the notching of cards including tens and hundreds. In fact, this type of sorting system is well known and has been commercially used for a good man years but is explained herein so that the features and advantages of the present invention can be readily understood.

The sorting device comprises a body member I3 and a plurality of needle members I4. Conceivably, the sorting device always used for sorting a specific number could have the body member I3 and needles I4 made integrally or permanently fastened together. Preferably, however, a mounting means is provided for variation of the arrangement of the needle members H or for detachable connection of the needle members H! to the body member I3 in any selected arrangement. Two forms of such a mounting means are disclosed herein, one form of mounting means comprising frictional engagement of the ends of the needle members I4 with holes in the body member I3 and the other form of mounting means comprising threaded portions on the needle members I4 for engaging threaded holes in the body member I3.

For provision of the first form of mounting means, the body member I3 is provided with a series of holes I5 corresponding in spacing to the spacing of the holes II in the cards Ill. The needle members l4 have tapered or pointed ends l4 and have their other ends provided with a slot I6.

In order to remove a desired o selected card or cards from the larger group of cards, it is now only necessary to insert a plurality of needle members I l into the body member I3 in an arrangement corresponding to the marginal notching of the card or cards desired. The arrangement or insertion of the needle members i4 is facilitated by the provision of indicia on the body member I3 adjacent the holes I5 thereon and corresponding to the indicia on the, cards I0. For instance, one edge I3 of the body member I3 may be beveled and engraved or otherwise marked with units, tens and hundreds divisions. Designations corresponding to the designations on the cards are also engraved or otherwise marked on at least one surface of the body member l3 adjacent the holes l5 therein. This provision of the indicia on the body member assists in setting up the arrangement of the needle members I4 or in checking the arrangement of needles during the needling operation. Preferably, such indicia are placed on the back and top surfaces of the body member I3.

For example, if card or cards I63 are desired, needle members I4 will be inserted in the hundreds holes 1 and SF, in the

tens holes

2 and 4 and in the

units holes

1 and 2. All of such needle members I 4, as shown in Fig. 1, can now be inserted through the holes and notches in the cards I0 and only the cards provided with marginal notches I2 corresponding to the arrangement of the needle members I4, such as card Illa, can be separated from the group of cards. This separation of the cards is accomplished by one needling horizontal position by the needles through the units and tens 2 and hundreds l.

The best method of operating the sorting device of the invention is to suspend the entire group of cards on the needle members I4. In order to facilitate this suspension of the cards ID, a support member 28 is fastened to the body member I3. Such a support member 28 should be provided so as not to interfere with insertion or removal of the needle members I4 and so as not to cover any of the indicia thereon.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art and well known to those who have used card sorting systems that there is considerable friction, sticking, static, etc. between adjacent cards so that it is sometimes difficult to cause the selected cards to drop out of the group. To overcome this difficulty the sorting device according to the invention is mounted upon or attached to a vibrating means. Such a vibrating means may comprise a standard type of vibrator 24 mounted upon a bracket 25 on a wall 26 and having a square vibrating shaft 21 extending therefrom. The support member 28 is fastened to Square shaft 21 by a clamp screw 28 and has a threaded portion 30 for engaging a threaded socket 20 on the lower face of the body member I3. Thus, when the cards III are suspended from and vibrated by the needle members I4, the cards Illa will fall from the group more readily and the operator is sure that all of the cards notched in the same manner as the needle member v are arranged have been removed.

A modified form of mounting means comprises threaded holes 3| in body member I3 in alignment with the holes I5 which are spaced according to the holes II in the cards Ill. The needle members I4 as before have tapered or pointed ends l4 but are provided at their other ends with knurled enlargements 32 and have adjacent threaded portions 33 for engaging the threaded holes 3| in the body member I3. Thi form of mounting means is particularly adapted for use on a sorting device to be mounted on the vibrator 24 and can be readily removed or inserted into I the body member I 3 by grasping and turning the knurled enlargements 32. On the other hand, the frictional type of mounting means permits more rapid removal and insertion of the needle members and is less expensive to manufacture.

The-present invention is subject to many variations, particularly in the arrangement of the mounting means to permit variation of the location of the needle members I4 with respect to the body member I3 or detachable connection therebetween. Accordingly, the present disclosure is to be construed in an illustrative sense, the scope of the invention being defined by the claims which follow.

Having now particularly described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and what I claim is:

1. A sorting apparatu comprising a sorting device for use with a group of cards which may be series of holes along the margins thereofandwhich may be separated according to the arrangement of marginal notches in said cards and including a body member and a plurality of needles extending from said body member for insertion into the holes and notches 'in said cards, and a vibrating means including a support member for supporting said sorting device and needles thereof so that said group of cards can be suspended on.

said needles and including a. vibrator connected to said support member whereby vibration of said group of cards causes only those cards which are notched to correspond to the arrangement of said needles to fall out of said group.

3. \A sorting apparatus comprising a sorting device for use with a group of cards which may' be separated according to the arrangement of holes and notches therein and including a body member and a, plurality of needles extending therefrom for insertion into said holes and notches, a support member supporting said body member of said sorting device, and a vibrator connected to said support member for vibrating said support member, said sorting device and any cards associated with the latter.

4. A sorting apparatus comprising a sorting device including a body member provided with a plurality of threaded opening arranged in parallel relationship transversely thereof and a plurality of needles threaded into certain of said openings and extending from said body member, a support member attached to said body member at substantially a rightangle to said openings, and a vibrator connected to said support member for vibrating said support member, said sorting device and any needles attached to the latter.

MAYNARD L. SANDELL.