GB669956A - Improvements in or relating to machines for sorting statistical cards - Google Patents

Abstract

669,956. Statistical apparatus. POWERSSAMAS ACCOUNTING MACHINES, Ltd. Oct. 23, 1950 [Oct. 27, 1949], No. 27622/49. Class 106 (i). A machine for - sorting statistical cards into pockets is provided with means for receiving an impulse from the usual card reading device and using this setting to open the appropriate pocket deflector at the correct time. The timing device comprises a plurality of discs one for each pocket, one of which will be described. The disc 8, Fig. 3, carries pins 10 which act as pivots for intermediate members 11 which are in turn linked at 15 to trip plates 16. The corners 12 of the roughly triangularshaped plates 11 act as cam surfaces and are engaged by a setting member 13 which protrudes into the path of one of them depending on the instant the impulse is received from the sensing means. Deflection of the corner 12 moves the intermediate member 11 and the trip plate 16 to an active position shown in dotted outline at the bottom of Fig. 3. The trip plate 16 is guided by a pin 19 working in an L-shaped slot, and is spring urged by a spring 20 to the active or inactive position. Each trip plate carries a roller 21 which, in the active position, engages the lever 22, Fig. 2, to operate the pocket card deflector 5 mounted on shaft 23. As the active trip plate with its associated roller 21 passes under the lever 22 to operate the card deflector 5 it also engages with the part 17 against the stop 24 which returns the trip member to its normal inactive position. The discs 8 are mounted on a shaft 9, Fig. 2, and are rotated continuously in timed relation to the card feeding apparatus, the cards are sensed at 2 and the appropriate impulse read from the card is transmitted by the Bowden cable 7 to the arrangement shown in Fig. 4. Movement of the Bowden cable 7 raises arm 29b of the bell-crank 29 pivoted at 35. Corresponding.movement of the arm 29a forces the plunger 26 inwards to the right in Fig. 4. A detent arrangement comprising a spring-loaded ball 33 and annular groove 30 serve to keep the plunger 26 in this active position after the momentary impulse has been removed from the Bowden wire. The end 13 of the plunger 26 engages as shown in Fig. 2 with the next intermediate member 11 to reach it, pushing it out to the active position where it remains until contact is made with the arm 22 to activate the card deflector at the right time and return the active trip member to its normal position. The plunger 13 is returned to its normal inactive position after engaging an intermediate member 11 by a cam 38 associated with each intermediate member. The cams 38 are carried on a spider 36 mounted on a boss 37 on the plate 8 as shown in Fig. 2. In a modification shown in Fig. 6 a flanged member 8a carries six settable shutter operating members 43 equally spaced apart, around the periphery as shown. The pins act in the manner described in Specification 396,805 to operate deflectors 5, movement of the pins 43 to active position being effected by an intermediate member comprising a bell-crank 47 pivoted on a stationary lug 48 and operated by plunger 13 constructed as described above. In this case the plunger 13 is moved to its active position by an impulse from the sensing mechanism as the result of the direct engagement therewith of the Bowden wire 7. The plunger is restored to its inactive position by cams 38 as described above. The pins 43 are restored to their inactive positions by a fixed cam 49. Specification 128,207, [Class 106 (i)], also is referred to.