US3693967A

US3693967A - Card reader

Info

Publication number: US3693967A
Application number: US76413A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert G Bower; Baisel L Eveland; Ivan N Markowitz; Earl E Masterson
Original assignee: Honeywell Inc
Current assignee: Honeywell Inc
Priority date: 1970-09-29
Filing date: 1970-09-29
Publication date: 1972-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-26

Abstract

Card feeding apparatus for transferring a single card from a stack to a processing station, wherein the cards are transferred to a visible ''''wait'''' station along a path, and from the wait station to the operating station along a transverse path. A flexure mounted picker device transfers a card to a first set of roller means which is effective to move the card into the wait station, and a pusher arm transfers the card into a second set of roller means which is effective to move the card into the processing station, the picker device and pusher arm being operated by a single motor through an eccentric coupling.

Description

[ Sept. 26, 1972 8/1964 Cerfetal.....................271/44 9/1967 Masterson.............271/44 UX 3/1969 Davis.... ......................271/54 4/1966 Pfleger et al.............27l/54 X ABSTRACT Card feeding apparatus for transferring a single card 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Baisel L. Eveland, Brookside, N.J.; Ivan N. Markowitz, Framingham, x 1 2; s Ashley Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk ng an Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Stoner, Jr.

Attorney-Fred Jacob and Leo Stanger Sept. 29, 1970 [57] Appl. No.: 76,413

from a stack to a processing station, wherein the cards 171 10, 271 44 271 54 are transferred to a visible wait station along a path, 27 4 and from the wait station to the operating station 5 3/24B65h along a transverse path. A flexure mounted picker Field ofSearchWW271/44 DIG 4 10 54 42, device transfers a card to a first set of roller means 271/41 which is effective to move the card into the wait station, and a pusher arm transfers the card into a second References Cited setof roller means which is effective to move the card into the processing station, the picker device and UNITED STATES PATENTS pusher arm being operated by a single motor through an e tric lin 4/1959 Last......... ....271/10 coup g 4/1965 Shaler et al. ..........271/DlG. 4

United States Patent Bower et al.

[54] CARD READER [72] Inventors: Robert G. Bower, Concord, Mass;

[73] Assignee: Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.

22 Filed:

[52] US. Cl.

[51] Int.

PATENTEB SEPZB 3 693, 987

SHEET 2 [IF 3 /NVENTORS Robert 6. Bower Ivan N. Markowi/z Earl E. Masrerson Attorney PATENTEDSEPEB 1 12 3.693.967

SHEET 3 OF 3 v Roberf 6. Bower Bafse/ L. Eve/and Ivan N. Markow/lz Earl E. Masrerson A! for/ray BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the data processing art, one of the first input/output media to receive wide acceptance for use with computers was the punched card. Such a media is perhaps still the most practical and economical method of storing blocks of data in a reusable, yet expandable form which can be visually inspected for accuracy, using a relatively simple Hollerith code.

Generally, in a system for processing the cards, whether it be to place the information on the cards by means of a card punching process or to read the information from the cards, a requirement exists to move the cards singly from a stack to an operating station of one type or another. In the past, various card advancing devices such as pickers or the like have widely been used for purposes of selecting a card from the bottom or top of the stack and advancing the card towards the utilization device for date processing or 'tabulating functions. Greater emphasis has been placed on the improvement in design of these devices when used with high speed electronic systems, as the relatively low speed of record handling has become a severe limiting factor upon the overall speed of data processing. In the past, efforts have been made by workers in the art to increase the speed of handling such documents as punched cards, however, these efforts have often resulted in poor reliability and have resulted in the compromise of other features desirable to the utility of such a device.

One such feature desirable in a card feeding arrangement when combined with a card reader, is the ability to arrest the card in its advance to the operating station, and to later, at some selectable time, resume advance of the card to the operating station. The station at which the card is stopped can generally be referred to as a wait station which advantageously will be viewable by the operator such that the card can either be read by the operator, removed from the sequence, or if desirable a new card can be inserted at this point prior to the read station. In prior art card feeding arrangements, the providing of a wait station of the type referred to above has generally been frustrated by the use of continuous feed mechanism, wherein the card is always under the influence of rollers, from the point of leaving the card stack, to the point where the card enters the operating station.

Another relatively important feature to be considered in providing a card feed arrangement of the present type, is the reliability of the feed mechanism, and the capability of the feed mechanism to operate at relatively high speed without damage to the cards during the feed process. Picker arrangements as well as rollers and other elements which are provided to feed the cards during the transport should be so operated that the card edges are not impacted at a high velocity which would obviously cause damage to the card edge. Additionally, the cards should not be pushed into engagement with elements such as rollers at a velocity which would cause the cards to buckle prior to entering the feed device. Further, the timing of the transport elements should be such that overlap of the cards is eliminated to prevent the problem of tearing the card during transport through reader mechanism. While the above problems have existed in prior art arrangements to some extent, in a card handling device wherein a visible station is provided along the path of card travel, these problems are again confronted and must be overcome to provide a device having a reliability which is acceptable in the field of data processing.

A requirement more general to any peripheral device to be used with a computer system is that the device be as compact as possible while still maintaining its reliable qualities. In the case of a large computer system, a central processor is often augmented by high speed printing equipment, display devices, tape units, and disk units as well as card equipment. It should be evident therefore, that the providing of compact units preferably of the table top variety will increase the desirability of any system to the user.

With the foregoing in mind therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide card feeding apparatus for transferring cards singly from a stack to an operating station which includes a visible station along the path of card travel.

It is a further object of the invention to provide card feeding apparatus which is reliable in operation while employing a minimum of moving parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide card feeding apparatus wherein reliable card feeding is accomplished without card damage.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide card feeding apparatus for feeding cards singly from a stack to an operating station, which apparatus is relatively light weight and compact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Card feeding apparatus is provided for transferring cards along a path having transverse segments, the apparatus having a card supporting surface with a first roller means aligned for feeding a card introduced therebetween onto the surface and a second roller means disposed at one side of the supporting surface in transverse alignment with the first roller means. A picker knife is mounted for reciprocating movement and has a portion for contacting a card edge to move the card between the first roller means while a pusher arm disposed adjacent the supporting surface at the side opposite the second roller means is mounted for reciprocating movement relative to the second roller means to contact an edge of a card disposed on the support surface and move the card into the second roller means. A single drive means is provided for causing the reciprocating movement of the picker knife and the pusher arm. In another aspect, the invention provides a picker device wherein a picker knife is disposed with a portion thereof aligned with an edge of the bottom card in the stack for moving the end into a feeding means during reciprocating movement. The picker knife is connected to a support member by a pair of flexure members having their respective flexure axes parallel, the flexures each having one end fixedly attached to the picker knife and the opposite end fixedly attached to the support member to inhibit rotation of the picker knife during reciprocation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The aforementioned objects of the present invention, together with features and advantages thereof will become apparent from the following detailed description when read together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a card reader device for detecting information punched in each column on a card, in which a preferred embodiment of the card feeding apparatus ,of the present invention is advantageously employed;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 1 showing the card feeding apparatus of that figure in detail;

FIG. 3 is an. elevational view taken along the lines lIIlIl of FIG. 2 and showing the card feeding apparatus in greater detail;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing a portion of the structure of FIGS. 1 through 3, taken on an enlarged scale for clarity; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom view taken along the lines V-V of FIG. 4 and showing further, details of that portion of the card feeding apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a cardfeeding apparatus for transferring cards singly from a stack located in a hopper 12, the ends are fed along a prescribed path to a processing station designated as 13. Where the card feeding apparatus 10 is employed in a card reader, the station 13 may comprise a read head of any type which is well known in the art. However, it should be understood the card feeding apparatus 10 is not limited to card readers but may be employed in other card devices such as a card punch arrangement, in which embodiment the various elements required to. perform the punching operation would be located at the processing station 13. For purposes of the present description, the station 13 is intended to be provided with a read head (not shown) and the apparatus l0 employed in a card reader used in conjunction with a computer of any type well known in the art.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the cards in traveling from the hopper l2'to the operating station 13 are fed in transverse directions along a path which includes a wait station 14 which is open to the view of the operator of the device. At the wait'station 14, the card may be read by the operator at which time a card may be inserted manually to replace a card in a given program, or to provide additional information to a program stored in the hopper12..As will be noted, the wait station 14 is unencumbered by pinch rollers or other feed 19 comprises a pair of idler rolls 26 which are biased (by means not shown) toward a pair of drive rolls 27. The drive roHs 27 are attached to a shaft 28 on which is mounted a drive pulley 29 having an idler pulley 31 affixed at its'opposite end.

In the embodiment shown, a single drive motor 32, which may be chosen from any number of AC or DC motors suitable for this purpose, is attached to the bottom surface of the plate 17. The drive motor 32 has a pulley 33 attached to one end of the motor drive shaft, and a pulley 34 attached to the opposite end of the motor drive shaft, allowing the motor to drive from either end of the shaft. The pulley 33 is connected to the drive pulley 29 and idler pulley 31- by a belt 36, while the pulley 34 is drivingly engaged with the drive pulley 24 by means of a belt 37 connecting the two.

mechanism, and the card is capable of being removed at that point along its path of travel. The wait station 14 comprises the top surface of a plate 16 which together with a second plate 17 serves to provide a portion of the support structure for the various elements of the card feeding apparatus 10.

Between the wait station 14 and the processing station 13 an opening is provided in the plate 16, and a pinch roll assembly 18 extends through the opening such that contacting surfaces of the pinch rolls are substantially in alignment with the top surface of the plate 16.

At an adjacent side of the wait station 14, and aligned transversely with the pinch roll assembly 18, is anotherset of pinch rolls 19 likewise having their contactsurfaces disposed substantially in alignment with At this point in the description, it will be observed that operation of motor 32 is effective to simultaneously rotate the drive rolls 22 and the drive rolls 27 in a continuous fashion so long as the motor remains energized.

In addition to the

drive roll assemblies

18 and 19 as described above, the cards to be fed from the hopper 12 are operated on by a picker device 38 and a pusher device 39 which are effective to move a card along the prescribed path to the processing station 13. Both the picker mechanism 38 and the pusher mechanism 39 are connected to a DC motor 41 by flexure drive springs 42 and 43 respectively operating through an eccentric coupling 44 which is effective to drive the picker mechanism 38 and pusher mechanism 39 in timed relation. Operation of these elements will be explained in greater detail as the description proceeds.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 taken in conjunction with FIG. 1, the picker mechanism 38 is shown to comprise a pair of picker knives 46 and'47 mounted on a block 48 in spaced relation with one another. A pair of rectangular relatively

thin plates

49 and 51 are fixed at one end to the block 48 and fixedly fastened to a support member 52 mounted on the bottom surface of the plate 17. When so mounted, the

plates

49 and 51 serve as flexural supports'to provide for substantially linear movement of the

picker knives

46, 47 by virtue of the fixed end attachment of the plates to the block 48 and the support member 52 which inhibits rotation of the knives.

Each of the

picker knives

46, and 47 comprises a sloping

surface

53 and 54 respectively which, together with a card support member 56, serve to support the stack of cards placed in the hopper 12, the bottom card resting on the sloping

surfaces

53, 54 and the support member 56. Adjacent the sloping

surfaces

53, 54 are a pair of

picker blades

57, 58 which extend above the surfaces 53, 54 a distance of 0.005 inch which is effective to push the bottommost card from the stack during reciprocating motion of the picker mechanism 38.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the pusher mechanism 39 comprises a pusher arm 59 mounted on a block 61 and extending through an opening in the plate 16 for reciprocating movement into, and out of, the wait station 14. The mounting block 61 is fixed to a pair of

elongated spring members

62 and 63 which have their ends fixed to a support member 64 attached to the lower surface of the plate 16. Thus, as with the picker mechanism, the arm 59 is supported by

spring members

62 and 63 which have their end substantially fixed providing for a linear, rather than rotational, movement of the arm 59.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a detent means in the form of a permanent magnet 66 is attached to a bracket member 67, which is further connected to the plate 17 in spaced relation, and in alignment with the arm 59. The permanent magnet 66 is designed to generate a magnetic flux of sufficient intensity to draw the arm 59 adjacent the magnet, and thereby to detent the arm 59 in a position adjacent, and slightly spaced from, the magnet.

As previously alludedto, the eccentric coupling 44 serves to provide reciprocating motion to the picker mechanism 38 and the pusher mechanism 39 through the flexure drive springs 42 and 43. With reference to FIG. 4, the drive motor 41 has a shaft 68 extending from the motor housing and to which the eccentric coupling 44 is attached. The eccentric coupling 44 comprises a crank shaft 69 attached to the shaft 68 by a key 70 and sleeve 71. A ring 72 supported by suitable bearings is mounted for rotation on the shaft 69. The shaft 69 has an eccentric portion 73 on which is mounted a second ring 74, the ring 72 being fixed to the flexure drive spring 43 and the ring 74 being fixedly attached to the tlexure drive spring 42. From the foregoing, it will be evident that during a single revolution of the motor 41, the shaft 69 travels one complete revolution about the shaft 68 causing the ring 72 to move from the position shown in FIG. 4 to a position wherein the shaft 69 is on the opposite side of the shaft 68 moving the drive spring 43 to the left and back to the position as shown in FIG. 4. In like fashion, rotation of the shaft 68 through an angle of 90 will be effective to move the shaft 69 to a point behind the shaft 68 (as shown in FIG. 4) moving the eccentric portion 73 and the ring 74 rearwardly. Further rotation of the shaft 68 through 180 is effective to cause the shaft 69 to be located directly in front of the shaft 68 moving the ring 74 in the forward direction, causing reciprocating motion of the drive spring 42.

The drive motor 41 is operated through a single revolution clutch means 76 which is effective to cause the shaft 68 to complete one revolution on demand from the central processor, through a suitable peripheral control unit in the case of a card reader as shown. While the single revolution clutch 76 may be of any type known in the art, a device as described in copending application of Ivan N. Markowitz and Robert G. Bower, Ser. No. 95,182, filed Dec. 4, 1970, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention may advantageously be employed for this purpose.

In operation, with the magnet 66 serving to detent the pusher arm 59 in the position shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 2, the

picker knives

46, 47 are in their fully extended or forwardmost position, and the card feeding apparatus 10 is in the ready state. After a deck of cards has been loaded into the hopper 12, the motor 32 is energized and continuous operation of the pinch rolls

assemblies

18 and 19 takes place. It is generally required that manual means be provided to jog the first bottom card from the deck causing the motor 41 to operate for a single revolution. This feature may be incorporated into the system, and the single card fed from the bottom of the deck to the wait station 14 at which time an operator may view the card and read the information contained thereon. With a card located at the wait station, and the elements positioned as described above, the card feeding apparatus 10 is ready for a read command from the central processor. On receiving a command, the motor 41 is energized and by rotation of the shaft 68 as hereinbefore described, the pusher arm 59 moves to push the card disposed in the wait station 14 into the pinch roll assembly 18. The pinch roll assembly 18 is in continuous operation and serves to forward the card along its path to the processing station 13.

During the above operation, the picker mechanism 38 has moved beneath the card hopper 12 such that the

picker blades

57 and 58 are moved from beneath the deck of cards, and have their edges located adjacent the bottom card in the deck. Further rotation of the shaft 68 is effective to cause the edge of each

blade

57 and 58 to contact the edge of the lowermost card and move it into the pinch roll assembly 19, while simultaneously, the arm 59 is being moved towards the magnet 66. The timed sequence of pick and push operations set up by the eccentric coupling 44 is such that the roll assembly 18 is operative to carry the card pushed from the wait station 14 into the operating station 13, prior to the new card being fed from the bot-' tom of the stack and transported to the wait station by the roll assembly 19. Controls connected to the clutch 76 are effective to shut down the motor 41 after a single revolution, and additional braking means if required may be applied to the motor to achieve this result. However, in order to ensure that the arm 59 and

picker knives

57 and 58 maintain a timed sequence upon the initiation of the next start signal, the magnet 66 serves to detent the entire assembly in a position wherein the arm 59 is retained a few thousandths of an inch from the magnet. Thus, at the initiation of a read signal from the central processor, the arm 59 and

picker blades

57 and 58 retain a timed relation for the pick and push operation, which is the same from one card to another as the cards are being fed into the processing station.

Thus, it will be understood from the foregoing that the various objects of the invention are achieved by providing a card feeding apparatus 10 which is relatively simple in operation and compact in structure. Further, both the picker device 38 and pusher device 39 are so designed that the card is transported along the desired path with a minimum risk of damage to the card by either the picking, or pushing steps accompanying the card transfer.

By virtue of the eccentric coupling 44, both the picker mechanism 38 and the pusher mechanism 39 are operated at a linear velocity which is substantially sinusoidal in nature. That is to say, the picker mechanism 38 starts from zero velocity at the point at which it contacts the bottom-most card in the deck,

reaches a maximum velocity midway in its travel toward the roll assembly 19, and decelerates to near zero velocity at the point at which the card is fed into the rollers 26 and 27. Likewise, the pusher device 39 operates at a sinusoidal linear velocity while pushing a card into the roll assembly 18. Therefore, the picker device 38 and the pusher device 39 each are efiective to contact the card to be moved at a velocity which is near zero to eliminate edge damage to the card resulting from this initial contact, and to feed the card into the

respective roll assembly

18 or 19 at a velocity which is near zero to prevent buckling of the card, or edge damage during this portion of the feeding operation. It will be evident that the structure herein disclosed provides a distinct improvement over solenoid actuators 'and other devices wherein the impact delivered to a card is essentially of high velocity in both its initial contact with the card and in the introduction of the card into a roller, or other transport device.

Additionally, by providing the picker device 38 and the pusher device 39 with respective support means comprising. a pair of flexure members fixedly connected at both ends and having their respective axes of flexure parallel and in spaced relation in the path of movement, the

picker knives

57 and 58 as well as the arm 59 contact the card in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the card. This feature eliminates any bending or distortionof the card edge which would be produced by a single pivot arrangement, or single spring arrangement allowing rotation of the

knives

57 and 58 and the arm 59 about the suspension point of the respective member.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In card handling apparatus wherein cards are transferredsingly from a stack thereof;

card feeding means for moving a card along a prescribed path,

picker means disposed adjacent the bottom of the stack of cards. and mounted on a support member for reciprocating movement toward and away from said card feeding means, said picker means including a picker knife having a portion aligned with an edge of the bottom card in said stack for moving said card into said feeding means during said reciprocating movement,

a pair of flexure members having their respective axes of flexure substantially parallel and in spaced relation along the path of movement of said picker means, each said flexure means having one end fixedly attached at said support member and the opposite end fixedly attached at said picker knife whereby reciprocating movement of said picker knife is ineffective to cause rotation of said knife.

2. Card feeding apparatus, for transferring cards singly from a stack thereof to an operating station,-

a first feed means disposed adjacent the bottom of said hopper and aligned for feeding a card onto said supporting surface,

a second feed means disposed at one side of said supporting surface between said supporting surface and said operating station and in transverse alignment with said first feed means for feeding a card into said operating station,

a picker knife disposed adjacent the bottom of said hopper and having an edge portion in alignment with the edge of the bottom card in said stack, said picker knife being mounted for reciprocating movement to contact said edge portion with said card edge to move said card into said first feed means during said reciprocating movement,

said picker knife being mounted on support structure by a pair of flexure means each having its respective axis of flexure parallel to the other and each having one end fixedly connected to said picker knife and the opposite end fixedly connected to the support structure such that reciprocating movement of said picker knife is ineffective to cause rotation of said picker knife about the knife support structure,

a pusher arm disposed adjacent said supporting surface at the side opposite said second feed means and mounted for reciprocating movement relative to said second feed means, said arm having a portion aligned with an edge of a card located on said supporting surface for contacting said arm with said card edge to move said card into said second feed means during said reciprocating movement, and

drive means for causing said reciprocating movement of said pusher arm and said picker knife in sequence. t

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said drive means is a single motor having a shaft operatively connected to each said picker knife and said pusher arm to provide sequential movement of said picker knife and said pusher arm.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 which further includes an eccentric coupling interconnecting said motor shaft with said pusher arm and said picker knife, said eccentric coupling arranged on said shaft to move said pusher arm in sequence with movement of said picker knife such that a card is removed from said supporting surface prior to another card being fed onto said supporting surface, whereby only a single card is located on said supporting surface during a time period in the feeding operation.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a single rotation of said motor shaft is efiective to cause one cycle of said pusher arm to introduce a card into said second feed means and one cycle of said picker knife to remove a card from the bottom of the stack, and further-including a magnetic detent for accurately positioning said shaft at the completion of one of said cycles.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pusher arm is mounted on support structure by a pair of flexure means each having its respective axis of flexure parallel to the other and each having one end fixedly connected to the support structure such that reciprocating movement of said pusher arm is ineffective to cause rotation of said pusher arm aboutthe arm support structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 which further includes wall structure forming a housing for said card feeding apparatus, and wherein said supporting surface is substantially unobstructed by said wall structure whereby cards on said supporting surface are visible to an operator and may be readily removed from the feeding path, at said supporting surface.

8. Card feeding apparatus for transferring cards along a pair of transverse paths comprising:

a card supporting surface,

a first feed means aligned for feeding a card onto said surface,

a second feed means disposed at one side of said supporting surface in transverse alignment with said first feed means for feeding a card from said surface,

a picker knife mounted for reciprocating movement and having a portion for contacting a card edge to move said card into said first feed means,

a pusher arm disposed adjacent said supporting surface at the side opposite said second feed means and mounted for reciprocating movement relative to said feed means, said arm having a portion aligned for contacting an edge of a card disposed on said supporting surface during reciprocating movement to move said card into said second feed means,

said picker knife and said pusher arm each being mounted on respective flexure means for support thereof,

each of said flexure means comprising a pair of flexure numbers fixedly connected at their one end to said respective picker knife or pusher arm, the pposite end fixed against rotation and having their respective axes of flexure substantially parallel and in spaced relation along the path of reciprocating movement whereby said movement is ineffective to cause rotation of said picker knife and said pusher arm, and

drive means for causing said reciprocating movement of said picker knife and said pusher am,

said drive means comprising a single drive motor having a rotatable shaft,

a first flexural drive element having one end connected to said picker knife,

a second flexural drive element having one end connected to said pusher arm, and

means mounted on said shaft for eccentrically coupling the opposite ends of each of said flexural drive elements with said shaft for'movement in response to rotation of said shaft, said opposite ends of said first and second drive elements being rotatably mounted on said coupling means at respective positions relative to said shaft axis of rotation such that said shaft moves said pusher arm in sequence with said picker knife to remove a. card from said supporting surface prior to a second card being deposited on said support surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a single rotation of said motor shaft is effective to cause one cycle of said pusher arm to introduce a card into said second feed means and one cycle of said picker knife to move a card into said first feed means, and further including detent means for accurately positioning said shaft at the completion of one of said cycles.

Claims

1. In card handling apparatus wherein cards are transferred singly from a stack thereof; card feeding means for moving a card along a prescribed path, picker means disposed adjacent the bottom of the stack of cards and mounted on a support member for reciprocating movement toward and away from said card feeding means, said picker means including a picker knife having a portion aligned with an edge of the bottom card in said stack for moving said card into said feeding means during said reciprocating movement, a pair of flexure members having their respective axes of flexure substantially parallel and in Spaced relation along the path of movement of said picker means, each said flexure means having one end fixedly attached at said support member and the opposite end fixedly attached at said picker knife whereby reciprocating movement of said picker knife is ineffective to cause rotation of said knife.

2. Card feeding apparatus for transferring cards singly from a stack thereof to an operating station, comprising: a hopper for supporting a stack of cards to be operated upon, a card supporting surface disposed adjacent said hopper, a first feed means disposed adjacent the bottom of said hopper and aligned for feeding a card onto said supporting surface, a second feed means disposed at one side of said supporting surface between said supporting surface and said operating station and in transverse alignment with said first feed means for feeding a card into said operating station, a picker knife disposed adjacent the bottom of said hopper and having an edge portion in alignment with the edge of the bottom card in said stack, said picker knife being mounted for reciprocating movement to contact said edge portion with said card edge to move said card into said first feed means during said reciprocating movement, said picker knife being mounted on support structure by a pair of flexure means each having its respective axis of flexure parallel to the other and each having one end fixedly connected to said picker knife and the opposite end fixedly connected to the support structure such that reciprocating movement of said picker knife is ineffective to cause rotation of said picker knife about the knife support structure, a pusher arm disposed adjacent said supporting surface at the side opposite said second feed means and mounted for reciprocating movement relative to said second feed means, said arm having a portion aligned with an edge of a card located on said supporting surface for contacting said arm with said card edge to move said card into said second feed means during said reciprocating movement, and drive means for causing said reciprocating movement of said pusher arm and said picker knife in sequence.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a single rotation of said motor shaft is effective to cause one cycle of said pusher arm to introduce a card into said second feed means and one cycle of said picker knife to remove a card from the bottom of the stack, and further including a magnetic detent for accurately positioning said shaft at the completion of one of said cycles.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pusher arm is mounted on support structure by a pair of flexure means each having its respective axis of flexure parallel to the other and each having one end fixedly connected to the support structure such that reciprocating movement of said pusher arm is ineffective to cause rotation of said pusher arm about the arm support structure.

8. Card feediNg apparatus for transferring cards along a pair of transverse paths comprising: a card supporting surface, a first feed means aligned for feeding a card onto said surface, a second feed means disposed at one side of said supporting surface in transverse alignment with said first feed means for feeding a card from said surface, a picker knife mounted for reciprocating movement and having a portion for contacting a card edge to move said card into said first feed means, a pusher arm disposed adjacent said supporting surface at the side opposite said second feed means and mounted for reciprocating movement relative to said feed means, said arm having a portion aligned for contacting an edge of a card disposed on said supporting surface during reciprocating movement to move said card into said second feed means, said picker knife and said pusher arm each being mounted on respective flexure means for support thereof, each of said flexure means comprising a pair of flexure numbers fixedly connected at their one end to said respective picker knife or pusher arm, the opposite end fixed against rotation and having their respective axes of flexure substantially parallel and in spaced relation along the path of reciprocating movement whereby said movement is ineffective to cause rotation of said picker knife and said pusher arm, and drive means for causing said reciprocating movement of said picker knife and said pusher arm, said drive means comprising a single drive motor having a rotatable shaft, a first flexural drive element having one end connected to said picker knife, a second flexural drive element having one end connected to said pusher arm, and means mounted on said shaft for eccentrically coupling the opposite ends of each of said flexural drive elements with said shaft for movement in response to rotation of said shaft, said opposite ends of said first and second drive elements being rotatably mounted on said coupling means at respective positions relative to said shaft axis of rotation such that said shaft moves said pusher arm in sequence with said picker knife to remove a card from said supporting surface prior to a second card being deposited on said support surface.