US1278523A - Mechanical card-distributing machine. - Google Patents

Description

A. s. mw.

MECHANICAL CARD DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.13. 1915.

1,278,523. PatentedSept. 10,1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

b b a A v INVENTOR. WITNESSES: I g 2 E I I ORNEYS.

A. s. TREW. MECHANICAL c/mo DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

.APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13. I915.

R m. 9 m/ H m m 9 N N s 3 E R V 0 p3 T &n 1/ am a m3 4 4 m M n a w z P F .4 FHL Y B 0 i y P L m M m )4 WITNESSES: 7f 6 W J z/zw A. s. mEw. MECHANICAL CARD DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, I915. A 1 78,523. Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IN VENTOR:

A TTORNE Y3.

WITNESSES:

TUNITED STATES PATENT F CE- nnrnun s. ranw, or 203mm, onneon, nssrenon 'ro rnzw-ruvnarmc ncnm'n 001mm,; COBPOBATION'OI' onncon'. r

MECHANICAL CARD-DISTRIBUTING lucnnm'.

Application as December 13, 1915. Serial Io. cam.

To all'whomitmay concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. Tnnw, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, and State of Or on, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Mechanical Card-Distributing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in card distributing machines adapted for rap- .idly and accurately distributing cards, letters, andthe like, from a container to a series of card receptacles, the main object of this invention bein operated machine, as distin ished from an electrically operated machine, shown and described in my pendin application, filed February 4, 1915, Seria? Number6,159, or the pneumatically operated machine, shown in mypending application, filed November 29,1915, Serial Number 64,050.

Among the other objects of this invention are, to provide in a'card distributing machine of the character referred to, a continuously running ejector, held normally in a non-ejecting position, a continuously running card conveyer for transferrin the cards from the card container, or hol er, to a series of card receptacles, and a selecting mechanism, with manually controlled means for moving the ejector into an ejecting position, and for setting the selecting mechanism, whereby, when a key, or lever, is

moved by the operator, a card is ejected and the selecting mechanism automatically and mechanically set for determining into which card receptacle the ejected card is tobe deposited. Other novel features in card distributing machines will be referred to in con nection with the following description of my invention- In order that others may clearly understand my invention, 1 have shown in the accompanying three sheets of drawin s one.

practical embodiment thereof, which will now describe.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view through the machine on line 2 2 of Fi 1' Fig.2) is a vertical cross sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view on line 4-4, of Figs. 1 and 2;

to provide amechanically- Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the selectors;

Fig. 5' is an end view of the same; 4

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5" of Fig. 5; v

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the part shown in Fig. 5; Fig.6 is a cross sectional view through said part on line 6"-6".of-Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a key box; I

Fig. 7 1s a fragmentary sectional view showlnga release key;

Fi 8 is a fragmenta side view of a trave 'ng conveyer chain, s l iowing one of the card propelling fin ers;

Fig. 8' is a'top p an view thereof;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary to plan view, part1 in section, on an enlarge scale, showmg t e selecting mechanisms, the conveyer and the key levers, taken on line 99 of.

ig. 10 is a verticalsectional view on line 1010, of Fig. 9, with the addition of two of the card receptacles in place; and

Fig. ll'shows one of the switch members in the cardreceptacles.

Referring now more in detail'to the drawings, the invention comprises a table-like structure having the legs 1-1, a lower shelf 2, an intermediate shelf structure 3, and a top frame 4.;Mountedthrough theintermediate shelf 3, is a vertically disposedcard holdingbox 5, provided therein with an elevator 6,'having a s ring supporting board 7,

upon'which a stac of cards, letters, or the like, 8 restswithin the box 5. Thegelevaton 6, is provided at its bottom,'at opposite sides,-

with pulleys 9-'-9, under which runs a supporting and elevating cable 10, one endof which is attached near the top,-at oneside,

of said card box, as at 10, and the other end of which runs over a-pulley 11, at the o site side of said card box, and is 'rovldlfd with a weight 12, whereby, as'sai weight moves downwardly by gravity, it lifts the card elevator and the cards-therein so that the topmost card isexpo'sed in a osition to be ejected horizontally from sai card elevator, orcard holder, in a manner hereinafter described.

An ejector plate 13, is pivotally mounted at its rear ed as at 1414, Fi 2 and 9, said ejector p ate being indicate in dotted lines in Fig. 9. The supporting and opermeans of links 17-17, to crank arms 18-18,

upon the opposite ends of a shaft 19, mounted in suitable bearing standards 20-20, at opposite sides of the intermediate shelf 3,

a as clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Mounted upon said shaft 19, between itsbearing standards 20-20, are two sprocket wheels 21-21,

upon which run two sprocket chains 22-22, said sprocket chains passin over sprocket wheels 23-23, near the rig t hand end of the table structure, and suitably supported in standards, as 24, Fig. 2, said sprocket c0nveyer chains extending thence downwardly through the intermediate shelf 3, and around sprockets, as 25, upon a shaft 26, suitably supported underneath the intermediate shelf 3, as indicated in Fig. 2. A belt 27 operates over a pulley 28, upon the outer end of said shaft 26, and over a pulley 29, of a motor 30, supported upon the lower shelf 2. Thus from said motor 30, through the belt 27, and the shaft 26, said conveyer sprocket chains 2222 are driven. The sprocket chains are provided at spaces apart with conveyer fingers 22 -22 and with selectors 31-31, said selectors being shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in enlarged views, and each comprising a shaft or bolt 32, connected at its opposite ends with the spaced sprocket chains 2222, said shaft or bolt 32, bein rovided with a longitudinal slot 32, and liaving mounted thereon a plurality of cylindrical and ring members 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38, the outer, or end, members 33 and 38, being relatively long, and

provided in their outer ends with suitable bearing end pieces as 33, and 38, and the members 34, 35, 36 and 37, being relatively short, ring-like members, spaced apart with cam washers 39-39, therebetween, each of said cam washers having a cam projection 39, a square portion 39*, and provided with two locking notches or sockets, as 39 and 39, Fig. 6 opening inwardly to its center. Slidably mounted in the slot 32 in the bolt or shaft 32, is a comb-like member 40, having a projecting cam prong 40, and a series of short tooth-like portions 40"40 adapted to fit within the notches 39 and 39, in the am washers 39, so as to lock them against turning. When said comb-like member is shifted, as to the right in Fig. 6, said tooth-like members 40*, are moved to positions between said cam washers 39-39, and out of their notches, whereby to permit said cam washers to be turned upon the shaft, or bolt, 32, turning their cam, portions 39, upwardly, as shown in Fig. 6. A spring 41, in the cylindrical member 38, of each selector, 0 crates normally to hold said comb-like inem r 40, to the left hand position, as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be noted that the cylindrical or ringlike members 33, 34, 35,- 36 and 37, each has projecting from its right hand side, Fig. 5, a lug-like member, as 33, 3 1, 35, 36" and 37, adapted to fit in corresponding notches in the left hand sides of the adjacent ring members 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38. These interfitting lug portions, or fingers, operate as spacers, and also as limits stops for the cam washers 39. There are two of these spacing lugs on each ring, at opposite sides, shown in section in Fig. 6, in which lugs 34, are, shown.

Said selectors are spaced between the sprocket chains 2222, in the manner indi: cated in Figs. 2 and 10, of the drawings, one of said selectors following close after each pair of conveyer fingers 22", upon said conve er chains.

' ounted upon the intermediate shelf 3, at opposite sides thereof, are two upstanding bearing supports 50-50, provided at their upper ends with forwardly projecting bearing members 50-50, which support the opposite ends of a shaft 51., as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 10. Mounted upon the middle portion of said shaft 51, are two feed rollers 52-52, adapted to bear against two smaller feed rollers, as 53, supported upon a shaft 54, in short supporting arms 55-55, at tached to the lower ends of two guide members 5555*. At their upper ends said guide members 55 -55, are slidably mounted through the supports 50 -50, as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 10, and near their lower ends, said ide members work through guide blocks 50 -50", attached to the members 50-50. Coiled springs 55 55 operate between projections on the sides of the members 50 -50 and 55-55, to yieldingly pull said short supporting arms 55-55, and the feed rollers 53 carried thereby upwardly, so that said feed rollers 53, are held in yielding bearing engagement with the feed rollers 52-52.

Said feed rollers 52and 53, engage each other in a plane corresponding to the plane of the topmost card in the card holder, whereby as said card is ejected, it is ejected so as to be caught between said rollers and fed forwardly thereby into a position to be picked up by the next pair of conveyer fingers 22, on the conveyor chains 2222. Mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 51, which carries the larger feed rollers 52-52. is a gear 56 (Figs. 1, 3 and 10), which gear meshes with a gear 57, on the shaft 19, and from which said gear 56 and the shaft 51, and the rollers are driven, the shaft 19, as before described, being driven by the conveyer sprocket chains 22-22, which are driven from the motor 30, through the belt 27.

The ejector plate 13, is normally held in a non-ejecting position, that is, so that it reciprocates above the topmost card in the bconstitutin an upwardly projecting curved cardholder, by means-of twopivoted angle arms 58-58, the upper ends of which bear upwardly :against the under side of said e ector plate 13. Coiled s rings 5959, norejector plate 13,.

mally tend to draw sai downwardly, while stronger coiled rings 6060, connected to the opposite, or ower,

ends of said angle arms, normally hold their upper ends up 1n supporting positions under the ejector p ate and against the tension of the'springs 59'59.

The lower ends of the two pivoted angle arms 58-58, are connected together by a cross member which has an off-set portion,

at 58,'as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, the front portion 58 of said off-set portion 58,

plate'58, so as to overcome the tension of the spring 60, and to raise the lower ends of the angle arms 58, sufliciently to move their upper ends downwardly and permit the ejector plate 13, to be drawn down into positlon to engage the topmost card, or letter, in the card holder, and eject it horizontally between the feed rollers 52 and 53. The

letter is'thrown forwardly by the feed rollers after the selector 31, which has tripped the angle arms 58, as it is moved upwardly ast the same, and is caught by the conveyer fingers 22*,upon the conveyer chains 22-22, and by them carried forwardly along the top plate 4, of the table structure, to the card receptacles, five of which are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and designated, respectively, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65, said receptacles constituting upstanding box-like structures open at their lower ends above the passageways for said e cards, and provided with supporting plates,

as 61, 62, 63*, 64! and 65, said supporting plates being attached at one side of the box, or card receptacle, and projecting across the same for a portion of the breadth of the box and then curved downwardly, in "the manner clearly indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 10.

Pivotally mounted in the open lower ends of said card receptacles are switch members, or plates, as 61", 62", 63 64 and 65", shown in perspective view in Fig. 11, said switch members being pivoted near their tops, on a pivot rod, as 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65. Secured to the pivot rod for each switch member, is a downwardly depending finger, as 61, 62', 63, 64: and 65, said fingers being differently positioned upon said rod, as

clearl indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, Where y .to be engaged by different cam washers on the selectors 31. Secured to the. opposite ends of the pivot rods for the switchmembers are depressing fingers 61 62 63, 64 and 65, so that when the depending finger intermediate the ends of one of said switch rods is engaged by a selector washer, it will rotate said switch pivot rod, and through the depressing fingers tilt the switch member downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 10, switch member 62F. It will be apparent that it is necessary to form. the switchmembers, as. shown in Fig. 11, so as to give proper clearance for the card conveyer fingers 22, on the conveyer chain. It will be noted that the positions of the selectors 31, on the conveyer chains, relative to the conveyer fingers 22-22,- are such that the selector will operate the proper switch in time for it to catch the .front edge of the card, or letter, being propelled by the following conveyer finger, whereupon the card or letter will be forced up over the switch'member into the bottom of the card receptacle whose switch member has been opened. Coiled springs 66, operate on the front ends. of'the switchv members to normally hold them in closed ositions.'-

I wil means ofwhich the selectors arecontrolled from akey box. Referring to Figs. 1, .7 and 9, a key box 70, is mounted in the front of the machine, provided with an intermediate horizontal partition member 71, Fig.

1 next describe the mechanism by 7. Mounted in said key box is a plurality of operating keys, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77, having their stems extending through the box and through the horizontal partition member 71, as clearly indicated in Fig. 7. Each of the, key stems is provided with a collar, as 78, against which bears a spring 79, the lowerrend of which spring rests upon the horizontal partition 71. Each of the key stems is provided immediatel underneath said partition 71, with an off set portion 80, which forms, at its upper edge, a shoulder bearing against the under side of said partition member 71, so as to limit the upward movement of said key stem. Said off-set portion also terminates in a curved cam surface, as 81, the upper end of which ends in a projecting point 82, for a purpose hereinafter referred to. Each of said key stems. is provided at its op osite side with a projecting point, as 83, an near its lower end with a cam surface 84. A slide plate 85, is mounted in said key box and is normally held in one-position by a coiled spring 86, as shown in Fig. 7. Said slide plate is adapted to be moved forwardly" plate, the openings through said slide plate being sufiiciently elon ted to permit the key stem to be pushe down through said slide plate until the point 82, at the upper end of the cam surface 81, catches on the under side of said slide plate. When said slide plate ismoved forwardly by one key, it operates to lock the other-keys against depression, for the reason that it moves underneath the projecting points'83, on the opposite side of the key stem. When a key is pressed downwardly, its cam surface 84, engages the end .of an operating lever, as 87, 88, 89, 90 and 91, which levers are of angle form as clearly shown in Fig. 9, and are pivoted as at 92, upon a base plate 93, which extends between the bearing standards 20-20, as indicated on Fig. 9. The 0pposite end of said levers 87, 88, 89, 90 and 91, are turned at an angle and slidably mounted through a guide plate, or member 94, preferably formed as a art of the base plate 93, which may also formed as a part of the bearing standards 20-20. The ends ofsaid key levers 87 88, 89, 90 and 91, normally roject onl slightly from said guide mem er 94, in a inement with the cam washers 39, of the selectors 31, so that when one of the keys is depressed, the end of its key lever is caused to be moved outwardly into the path of thesquare projecting portion 39, Fig. 10, of one ofthe cam washers of a selector 31, so that its cam portion 39, will be turned upwardl or outwardly from the carrying sprocket c ain.

Any one of the cam washers when so turned will engage the off-set plate 58", of the angle arms 58, and lift them so as to permit the ejector plate to be lowered sufiiciently to engage the topmost card, or letter, but the set cam washer will only engage the proper switch member, by its depending finger, above referred to, in the bottom of the proper card receptacle, so as to set the switch member corresponding to the particular key depressed.

The guide member 94, has a cam extension 94, Figs. 5 and 5", positioned toengage the prong 40, on the comb 40, so as to move said comb to release said cam washers at the time any one of them is engaged by the end of a key lever, as above described. Said rong 40, remains in engagement with said cam extension 94, long enough to unlock the cam washers and permit them to be turned, and then it is released and a in locks-the comb 40.

Eac of the key levers 87, 88, 89, 90 and 91, are normally drawn back at their selector engaging ends, by means of a coiled spring, as 93, as clearly indicated in Figs. 9 and 10.

Attached to the front edge-of the slide plate 84, in the key box 70, is a link 95, connected to one end 'of a rocker arm 96,

mem

r as at 97, the opposite end 6 -roc er lever 96, is looped around the path of the conveyer fingers 22, as at 98 Fi 9, and then extended adjacent the path 0 the selectors 31-31, as they move upwardly with the conveyer chains 2222. When any one of the keys 72, 73, 74, 76 and 77, is depressed, the slide plate 85, will be moved forwardly in the key box, by the cam portion 81, of said ke stem, as hereinbefore described, and operate to rock the rocker arm '96, to move its op site end slightly away from its position jacent the path of the selectors 31, but not so far that it will not be engaged by the projecting cam portion of any cam washer on a selector, by which said rocker lever 96, is moved to move said slide plate 85, to release the keys automatically. Key 75 is a release key and has no key lever extending therefrom, as will be noticed in Figs. 1 and 9, but is provided with a cam member 75, .Fig. 7, adapted .to engage and move the slide plate 85, forward y. sufliciently to disengage the points 82, of any of the key stems which may be down, and to permit them to be raised to their normal or up positions by their sprin 79.

Re erring to Figs. 2 and 4, there is mounted across the intermediate shelf structure 3, a frame member 100, having an upper cross bar 101, with a downwardly projecting cam lug 102, and a lower cross bar 103, having an arch 104, formed therein, the downwardly projecting cam lug 102, being in position to engage the projecting cam prong 40', on the comb member 40, of any one of the selector members 31, whereby to move said comb member so as to rmit the cam washers of the selector mem r to be turned, while the arched portion 104, engages the cam portions 39, of any of the selectors 31, and turns them to their. normal, "or inoperative, positions.

The operation of 111 card distributing machine ma be briefly escribed as follows: Assumin at the motor is running and is driving t e conveyer 22 and the ejector 13, in the manner hereinbefore described, the operator by glancing at the topmost card in the card box, which is exposed face up, is

able to tell from the information thereon into which pocket said card goes, and premcs the key corresponding to'that pocket. Assuming that key 72 has been depressed, and key lever 87 has been moved upon its pivot 92, so that its free-end projects from the selector, in order to release, or unlock, said.

10, and also seen in '9, it being the middle cam Washer of the selector moving upwardly. At the time said'key lever engages said camwasher, the cam extension 94, of

the guide plate 94, engages the cam prong] 40, and moves the comb member 40 in the cam washers and permit the one engaged by the extended key lever to be turned. While the other cam washers} are also unlocked,

they can. not turn because their square, or straight, sides are moving along the ends of the other key levers. When the particular cam washer has been turned to the oscitor moves upwar tion indicated, the comb is released an j the camwashers areall again locked with the and which is bein held down by reason 0 the engagement 0 itspoint, or shoulder, 82, against the under side of the slide plate 85';

.Said cam washer 39, next engages the curved plate 58", onthe connecting exten sion58, of the angle arms 58, and moves 'bination, a card holder, a series of card rethem so that the ejector plate 13,. is drawn downwardl by its spring 59, in position to engagean eject in a horizontal direction the topmost card. Said angle arms are held down sufficiently long by the engagement of the camwasher 39, with said curved plate 58", to permit a full'stroke of the ejector, which ejects the to most card between the feed rollers 52 an 53. The. feed rollers throw the cards forwardlyvon the top plates 4, along the op osite sides of the machine,

and immediate 3' following the selector, which has cause t he operation of the ejector, and sufliciently forward so that the rear edge of the card, or letter, is engaged by the next transfer fingers 2222', onthe conveyer chain, which operate to move said card, or letter, alon with the conveyer. The

cam washer, which is turned in operative position, moves along under the card receptacles until it engages the proper switch finger, which in this case would be 63', Fig. 1, it being themiddle cam washer, which finger it engages and thereby rocks the switch member down; in the positionbf switch member 62", Fig. 10, in time, to catch the card, or letter, being pushed by the transfer fingers 22, whereupon said card, or letter, is pushed up into the bottom of the card receptacle, and underneath the stack whlch would be resting upon the supporting plate in said, pocket, or, receptacle. As said selector moves on under the cross bar 101, Fig.

, 4, the lug 102, on said bar 101, engages the comb prong 40, of the selector and moves the comb to unlock the cam washers ust as 9 and 10, as said selecthe cam washer which has been operating, engages the arch 104, on the cross bar 103,

and is by it turned back into its normal position.

tinuously running card conveyer and a continuously running ejector, normally in a non-ejecting position, with selector mechanism and means for manually controlling the same, whereby, when a key is depr I a corresponding selector is set which causes ferrin g the card from the card container to the pocket corresponding to the key dep i I I 4 I a' aware that many changes'can be made in the details of construction .of my invention as here illustrated, without departing from the spirit; thereof, and I do not, therefore, limit my, invention to the structural details here shown for purposes of illustration, exce t as I may be limited by the hereto appen ed claims.- f

I claim:

, 1. In acard distributing machine, in comor continuously driving said conveyer and said ejector, and manually controlled selective mechanism for moving said ejector into,

a position to engage and eject a card from said card holder "during its reciprocating movement and for setting the switch to a selected ocket into which the e ected card is to be deposited.

2. In-a card distributing machine, in combination, a cardholder adapted to hold a stack of cards with, the topmost card exposed to view, an ejector mounted to reciprocate across the top of said card holder for ejecting cards one by one horizontally therefrom, a series of receivin pockets for said cards, switch members or deflecting the cards into said receiving pockets, a traveling conveyer adapted to receive the ejected cards and to transfer them to said pockets, means for continuously 'drivin said conveyer and said ejector, a series 0 keys corresponding to said pockets, selective mechanisms carried by said conveyer and adapted to cause the movement of said ejector transverselyof its reciprocating movement into a-position to engage and eject the topmost card, and to set a selected switch member, and operating connections from said keys for setting said selective mechanisms,

the operation of the ejector and the setting of the proper switch for ejecting and trans- I of cards upwardly, an ejector mounted to reciprocate horizontally and continuously across the top of said card holder, means for so operating said ejector, a series of receiving pockets, a card conveyer mechanism.

for conveying the ejected cards to said pockcts, and a key-controlled selective mechanism for moving the ejector at will to engage a card and pre-determining the pocket into which the ejected card is to be deposited. w

4. In a card distributing machine of the character referred to, means for holding a vertical stack of cards with the topmost card exposed to view, a reciprocating ejector adapted to be moved at will into position to engage and eject the cards one by one horizontally from the top of said card holder, means for continuously reciprocating the same, feed rollers adapted to grip and feed the ejected cards forwardly in a horizontal direction, a traveling conveyer adapted to receive and carry said ejected cards, means for operating the same, a series of receiving pockets, switch members controlling the entrances to said receiving pockets, and manually controlled means for selecting and setting said switch members for directing the ejected cards into selected pockets and for moving said ejector into a card engaging position.

5. In a card distributing machine of the character referred to, a 'card holder, an ejector mounted to reciprocate in a nonejecting osition adjacent said card holder,

means or continuously operating said e ector, manually controlled means for moving said ejector, during its reciprocating movement, into position to enga e and eject the exposed card from said car container, and card conveying and distributing mechanism'coiiperating therewith and controlledby said manually controlled means, substantially as described.

6. In a card distributing machine of the character referred to, a card holder adapted to hold a vertical stack of cards, with the face of the topmost card exposed, means for feeding said stack of cards upwardly, an ejector mounted to reciprocate horizontally across the top of said card holder, in a non-ejecting position, means for continuously reciprocating said ejector, manually controlled means for moving said ejector into a position to engage and eject the topmost card from said card container, and card conveying and distributing mechanism cooperating therewith and controlled by said manually controlled meansfsubstantially as described.

7. In a card distributing ma'chine,.in combination, a card holder, an ejector operable and the like, means for driving therein for ejecting cards therefrom one by one, a traveling conveyer, means for driving said traveling conveyer, a series of receiving pockets above said traveling conveyer, switch members in the lower open ends of said card receiving pockets, adapted to be moved into positions to pick up the cards carried by said traveling conveyer,

and manually controlled selective mechanism for determining the switch member to be opened. k

8. In a card distributing machine, in combination, a series of card receptacles open at their lower ends, switch members mounted in the lower ends thereof, a traveling conveyer mounted to travel under said receptacles and provided with card carrying means, and manually controlled selective mechanism for opening the switch in a desired receptacle for directing the card into said receptacle.

9. In a card distributing machine, in combination, aseries of card receptacles, a traveling conveyer mounted to travel underneath said receptacles and rovided with card carrying ineans, means or feeding cards to said conveyer-one by one, switch members associated with said receptacles and adapted to direct cards from said conveyer into said receptacles, and manually controlled mechanism for selectively operating said switch members.

10. In a card distributing machine, in combination, a series of card receptacles, a traveling conveyer mounted to travel underneath said receptacles and provided with means for carrymg cards, means tor driving said conveyer, switch members associated with said receptacles and adapted to be moved into positions to direct cards from said conveyer to said receptacles, and manually controlled means forselectively operating said switch members.

11. In a card distributing machine, in combination, a series of card receptacles open at their lower ends, switch members movably mounted for directing cards into said receptacles, a traveling conveyer mounted totravel underneath said receptacles and provided mounted for directing cards into said receptacles, a traveling conveyer mounted to travel underneath said receptacles and provided with means for carrying cards, letters,

said .conveyer, a card holder, means or ejecting cards therefrom, one by one, on to said conveyer, selectors carried by said conveyer for o crating said switch members, and manuy controlled means for setting said selectors for selectively operating said switch members.

13. In a card distributing machine, in combination, a series of card receptacles open at their lower ends and provided with card supporting means therein, switch members movably mounted in said lower open ends and adapted to be moved into position to directcards up into said receptacles on to said supporting means, a traveling conveyer mounted to travel under said receptacles and provided with means for carrying cards, means for driving said conveyer, and manually controlled means for feeding cards one by one to said conveyer and for selectively opening said switch members for directing the cards from said conveyer into said receptacles.

14. Inacard distributin machine, in combination, a card holder a apted to hold the supply of cards, an ejector operable therein for e ecting-cards therefrom, one by one, a traveling carry said ejected cards, a series of card receptacles having open sides adjacent said conveyer, switch members mounted in said receptacles and operable to direct cards from said conveyer into said receptacles, selectors carried by said conveyer for o crating said switch members, and manual y controlled means for setting said selectors for operating the desired switch members, said selectors being adapted also to cause the operation of said ejector to eject the cards fromsaid card holder.

15. In a card distributin machine, in combination, a card holder a apted to hold a stack of cards, letters, or the like, with the topmost one exposed to view, means for feeding said cards upwardly in said card holder, a horizontally operating ejector adapted to eject cards from the top of said stack of cards, one by one, feed. rolls for feeding the ejected cards forwardly, a traveling conveyer adapted to receive and carry said ejected cards, a series of card recepta- I cles above said conveyer and provided with fleet cards from said conveyer into said reswitch members adapted to be moved to deceptacles, means for driving said conveyer and said feed rolls, selectors carried by said conveyers and adapted to be set to selectively operate said switch members,-and manually controlled means corresponding to said card receptacles for selectively setting said selectors, said selectors being adapted also to cause the intermittent operation of said ejector, substantially as described,

16. In a card distributingmi} nine, in combination, a card container, an ejector operable therein for ejecting cards therefrom one byone, a series of card receptacles switch members for directing cards into recepconveyer adapted toreceive and container to said card receptacles adapted to receive and carry cards, selector mechanisms carried by said conveyer and adapted to be set to selectively operate said switch members, manually controlled means for selectively setting said selector mechanisms, and means adapted to be engaged by said selector mechanisms for causing the operation of said ejector in ejecting the cards from said container.

17. In a card distributing machine, incombination, a card container, an ejector operable therein for ejecting cards therefrom one by one, a series of card receptacles, switch members for directing cards into said recedptacles, a traveling conveyer from said car container to said card receptacles adapted to receive and carry cards, selector mechanisms carried b said conveyer and adapted to be set to se ectively operate said switch members, manually controlled means for selectively setting said selector mecha-v nisms, means for automatically restoringsaid selector mechanisms to their inoperative position, and means adapted to, be engaged bysaid selector mechanisms for causing the holder and card distributing mechanism for determiningthe disposition of said ejected cards, controlled by said manually controlled means. a

19. In a 'card distributing machine, in combination with a card holder and a series of card receptacles, a reciprocating ejector adapted to be intermittently moved into positlon to e ect cards, one by one, from said card holder, a traveling conveyer provided with means for receiving and carrymg ejected cards from said card holder to said card receptacles, means for driving said traveling conveyer and for reciprocating said,- e ector, means carried by saidconveyer for-i causing sald e ector to be intermlttentlly moved into position to engage and eject car from said card holder, .switch members for directin cards from said conveyer into said receptac es, selectors carried by said conveyer for selectively operating -said switch memsaid selectors bers, and means for setting V to operate the during their course of trave desired switch members,

20. In a card distributing machine, a series of card receptacles open at their lower ends and provided with card supporting means, switch members mounted in the bottom of said receptacles and adapted to be moved to direct cards, letters, and the like, up into said receptacles and on to said supporting means, means for carrying cards along underneath said receptacles in position members.

Signed at Portland, Multnomah county,

Oregon, this 4th day of December, 1915.

ARTHUR S. TREW. In presence ofi- W. C. CmUssEiI, I. M. GRIFFIN.

Images