GB771465A - Improvements in or relating to sorting devices for statistical data bearing records - Google Patents

Abstract

771,465. Statistical apparatus. EASTMAN KODAK CO. June 30, 1954 [July 1, 1953], No. 19244/54. Class 106 (1). Sorting apparatus comprising a plurality of stations adapted to receive elements such as cards and to have cards removed therefrom is provided with translating means for removing cards from one station and delivering them to any of the other stations and selecting means for determining the station to which the cards are to be delivered. The cards 10, Fig. 1, are preferably of light-sensitive material such as photographic film or paper and are divided into twelve image areas 12 for the reproduction of documents and a code data bearing area 13 comprising thirty-six columns of ten index positions. Along one edge of the image and code areas are timing marks 14. A plurality of stations 25, Figs. 3 and 5, are arranged in two groups A, B to provide a rectangular path for elements 10 which are moved by translating means comprising an endless chain 26 having depending fingers 27 and an endless chain 28 having depending fingers 29. Between the stations of groups A and B are selecting stations 30, 31, Fig. 3, which determine from the code in each element the station to which each element is to be delivered, the elements being fed past the selecting stations by endless chains 32, 33 with depending fingers (not shown). Stations 25 comprise a receiving and feeding hopper 34 having a track section 35 arranged thereover and movable to permit elements 10 to be removed from or delivered to the hoppers in which the elements rest on spring-pressed plungers. A stack of elements 10 are positioned in any one of the stations of group A, say the " O " station. The track section 35 above this station is then moved to a position which permits fingers 27 on the chain 26 to remove elements 10 successively from " O " station on to track section 36, Fig. 3. The fingers on chain 32 move the elements past selecting station 30 to a position in which the fingers 29 of the chain 28 move the elements over the stations of group B. The code read by the selecting station 30 is memorized by electronicallyoperated means and at the appropriate time the corresponding track member 35 in group B is moved to a position for receiving the corresponding element. The elements located in the stations of group B are then passed successively over selecting station 31 and delivered to appropriate stations in group A. The number of sorting operations effected being determined by the type of sort desired. In another embodiment, Figs. 6 and 7, the stations 25 are arranged in two groups A and B about a vertical axis with intermediate selecting stations 50, 51. Each station comprises a hopper 34 and movable track members 35 with fixed track members 52 arranged between each of the stations to form a continuous circular track. Each of the track members 35 is carried on an arm 60 which is pivotally mounted at 61 to a fixed plate 62 for vertical movement away from its hopper 34. A webbed member 64 is secured to a drive shaft 63 and has a number of forked arms 65, 66 equal in number to the stations 25. pivotally mounted on each of the arms 65, 66 are pick-up fingers 68 and carrying fingers 69 which operate in the manner illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16. The movable track members 35, Fig. 7, are each controlled by a linkage system 75 which is operated by a cam 77 upon energization of a solenoid 91 controlled by the selecting means. In another example, Fig. 12 (not shown), the hoppers are arranged horizontally and radially about a common axis and the control linkage of the movable track members 35 is suitably modified. In an embodiment, Figs. 18-21 (not shown), in which the hoppers are horizontally and radially disposed pneumatic element extracting and delivering means are used. The elements 10 may be carried to and from the apparatus by a holder 19, Fig. 9, which passes through a slot 11 in the elements which are retained by a clip 23. Specification 771,466 is referred to.