GB750284A - Improvements in electrical sorting machines for record cards - Google Patents

Abstract

750,284. Statistical machines. MAUL, M. March 5, 1954 [March 11, 1953], No. 6517/54. Class 106(1). An electrical card-sorting machine of the type in which each card-receiving pocket is directly controlled by an associated sorting magnet is characterized in that in addition to each magnet directly controlling the selection of its associated card pocket a plurality of magnets energized simultaneously by a combination of index marks, energizes, by means of associated contacts, another of the remaining magnets depending on the combination in which they are energized, and also in that their own sorting ininfluence is rendered ineffective. The cards of the type shown in Fig. 1 are posted from a magazine 11, Fig. 2, into one of five pockets 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e and a reject pocket 17f. The sorting magnets W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, Fig. 3, are energized by single index marks to actuate the rods 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e which in turn lift their associated sorting member 28a-28c in known manner to provide the appropriate sorting channel. When a combination of index marks occurs resulting in the energization of more than one sorting magnet the associated contacts W<SP>2</SP>II, W<SP>3</SP>II, &c., establish a circuit which simultaneously energizes one of the remaining magnets to open an alternative sorting channel, and de-energizes the magnets first energized, a suitable holding circuit being established by the new combination sorting magnet now energized. For example, if in the card column being analysed there is more than one hole, e.g. numeral 6, several magnets respond, i.e. W<SP>2</SP>, W<SP>3</SP>, which actuate their contacts W<SP>2</SP> I and W<SP>3</SP> I as well as their contacts W<SP>2</SP> II and W<SP>3</SP> II , the former establishing holding circuits for these magnets, the latter establishing a circuit to magnet W<SP>4</SP> which interrupts the holding circuits for magnets W<SP>2</SP> and W<SP>3</SP> and establishes the circuit for magnet W4 so that the two magnets W<SP>2</SP>, W<SP>3</SP> are de-energized and only magnet W<SP>4</SP> remains energized before the card reaches the sorting blades. Accordingly by means of two sorting magnets a third magnet has been brought into operation which sorts the card according to the operation of its blade. De-energization of the magnet W<SP>4</SP> is effected by the interruption of its holding circuit by a timed contact which opens at the required point in the machine cycle.