US1625711A - Sorting device - Google Patents

Description

April 19,1921. 1,625,711

G. W. COX, JR

SORTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 26. 1925 2 Sheets-sheet 1 Patented 19, 192.7.

STATES imam PATENT GFFEQE.

GEORGE W. COX, JR., OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR- TO NA- TIDNAL ASSORTING COIVIFANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A COR- ?O RA'IION OF DELAWARE.

SORTING DEVICE.

Application filed September 26, 1925. Serial No. 58,893.

This invention relates to improvements in sorting machines or devices, and especially to machines for sorting promiscuously arranged papers or other articles, into groups or classes, in accordance with indicia carried by the panels.

In my Patents Nos. 1,533,697 and 1,533,- 698, issued April 14, 1925 I have covered instrumentalities adapted to facilitate the operation of arranging pap rs in exact alphabetical, or in exact numerical order. The present invention however is intended to facilitate the operation of arranging all papers of a certain classification into one compartment, and all papers of another classification ito another compartment, the number of the separated compartments be dependent upon the variety of classifications into which the papers are to be divided. In eti'ect, the present invention is intend d to aboliah the well-known pigeonhole system of sorting, in that it may provide the same number of classified spaces, occupying a very small fraction of the room required for a pigeon-hole battery, which spaces are normally closed except for that portion thereof which is occupied by the papers already inserted.

The structure embodying the invention is ct great utility in the sorting or groupings of all promiscuously arranged papers, or articles which carry class indicia. In hautiling bank checks in the clearing houses the checks must be assorted in accordance with the name of the bank upon which each check 's drawn, and the name of such bank is the class indicia herein referred to. The structure is of equal utility in the sorting of mail in the post ofiices, the class indicia being the State. the city, or the street, forming a part of the address. in department stores, in the sorting of sales slips, the indicia may be represented by the names or symbols indicating the particular depart ments.

in .ae pigeon-hole sort, is well known, the maximum s3 ice is provided, and in most instances only a small proportion of such space is utilized during the regular sorting operation, the pigeon-hole cases not only be ing unsightly, but occupying a very large unused space. Furthermore the operator is required to cover this entire space in his sort, resulting in needless waste of time and exertion.

It is the object of this invention therefore to provide a multiplicity of normally closed SPSCGS. and means for opening such spaces as desired, and in accordance with the class indicia carried by the article being sorted, all of such spaces being within easy reach of the operator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means permitting of gradual automatic separation of the walls defining said spaces, as the latter become filled with the articles being sorted.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means automatically closing each opened space after the article has been deposited therein.

Other objects of the invention will be made apparent in the following specification when taken in connection with the drawings forming a part thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is an enlarged vertical section on the line 4-4: of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the index-carrying tab, and,

F 6 is a perspective view of the same portion of the tab and oi the index card and holder, before assembly.

New. referring specifically to the drawso ings showing one embodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views. the machine as here shown comprises a base 1, having side rails 2. A plurality of leaves 3 are positioned on edge on said base 1, each leaf being provided with an upstanding tab 4 at one end and a similar tab 5 at the other end. In the present embodiment of the invention I have 9 -.ment-of the leaves at theleit't. presently appear further means are proillustrated the use of only two tabs carried by the leaves, but the latter may be elon-- gated and formed with three or more tabs if desired. it will he noted that the tabs l term a row rL and the tabs 5 a row 13. extending longitudinally of the machine. Eat-h leaf is also provided with a short narrow stub 6, extending in the same plane as-the tabs el and5, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The lower edges of the leaves rest upon the floor of the base 1, below the top ofthe rails 52, and each leaf is freely movable longitudinally of the rails 2and of the base 1, one of the said rails limiting lateral move- As will videditor limiting movement of the leaves to the right.

a iormdedbaseior tlieleaves, facilitating sliding movementlongitudinally of the upper surface of the base 1, and the tilting movement of the leaves during the sorting operation.

'A 'front rail 8 and a rear rail 9 extend "between and are secured to the ends of the to. A- movable platform 10 is hingedly connected M11, 11 to the rear rail 9, the front end of saidplatform being equipped with bifurcated flangeslQ which straddle thumb screws 13 carried by the front rail 8 and adapted to detachably secure the platform 10 to saidrail, in the'position shown inFig. 1. The platform 10 isalso provided with a longitudinally extending slot 14, adapted to enclose the row of stubs 6, as clearly shown in Fig. l, and with a vertically extending flange 15.fadapted for contact of the papersinseit-ed'between thetabs l, and tolimit movement of said papers to the right.

Each leaf 3 is provided with an extension 16, integral with theitab 5, as clearly showniu F 1 and 3. 'ln the sorting operatioin certain papers are placed. between the tabs 4:. and certain others betweenthe tabs 5, the papers extending to the right of the "tabs in the particular embodiment of the invention as here illustrated. The lefthand end o'f each paper isheld between the tabs 4. or 5, and the right hand ends ot' all papers placed between the tabs 4 are held between and supported by the stubs (5, and the extensions 16 similarly support the ends of the papers placed between the tabs 5. Atahle l7 is'securedto the rails of the housing, and extends outwardly to the right of the machine, and is provided with a flange 18 which prevents forward movement of the papers placed in the row B, in front of the first tab 5. It will be understood that all papers placed between the tabs of the row A will rest upon the platform 10, and all papers placed between the tabs in the row B will restniponthe table 17.

It will be noted that each of the tabs =l is provided at its top edge witha forwardly extending zindex holder if), the front taco of the holder being downwardly and in- "wardly inclined with respect to the body of the tab it. The holder 19 is formed from a strip 'of'thi'n metal which bent at substantially a right angle, forming the sections '20 and 21. The upper section 20 is transversely cut to the point of juncture with the lower section 21, to provide three card-retaining stripsQQ, 23 and 2 t, lcat'ing the free sections 20' and 2-0", on each side oft-he strip 23, except where joined to the section 21. as clearly shown in Fig. (5. The upper corners of the free sections .20 and 20 are turned downwardly, to permit of the insertion of an index card In inserting said card the end is inserted beneath the strip 22 or 2st, and the thumb of the operator presses downwardly upon the card 25 andalso upon one of the free sections 20 or 20", and, the said section, being of spring metal, will flex under pres- :sure and move away fromthe retaining strips 22, and the index card may be positioned under the strips 22, 23 and 2st. linme'diately upon removal or the pressure of the thumb ofthe operator, the tree section :20 or-QO will resiliently return to normal position and clamp the index card 25 against the retaining strips.

In order to retain the holder 19 in proper position,= ears 26, 26, are struck from the body of the tab 4 and are bent at an angle to the body thereof to receive the lower edge of the section 21. Also the top edge of the tab l is bent downwardly over and clamped upon the top ends of the strips 22, 23 and-2+h To prevent movement of :theholder 'lQQlateraIly of the tab i, an ear 27ais struck from the metal of the tab and turned over into an aperture "formed inthe section 21.

ltis to be understood that the holders 19,:projectfromthe 'top of the tabs l to approximately the same extent as the thingies 7 project at the bottom. and it is there tore clear that all of the tabs 4 will be held in parallelisn'i. The tabs 5, being integral with the leaves 3; are of course retained in paralellism with respect to the tabs 'lfhr spaced position of the tabs hand the inclination oi the holder 19. enables l'lie op erator to obtain a clear view of the index cards carried by the tabs.

In assemblingthe device the leaves are arranged ininc necl position, the upper portion of the tabs being the more distant from the operator. This further inclination of the tabs not only enables the operator to obtain a better view of the index cards 25, but also takes advantage of gravity in the restoration of any shifted leaves to normal position.

In order to limit forward movement of the leaves and to positively restore them from shifted position to normal, rearwardly-iin clined position, I utilize integrallyconnected pressure plates 28, 9.8 which are fixed on a rod 29, extending across the front of the de vice and pivotally mounted adjacent the up per surface of the base 1. The plates 28, 28 are of the same general shape as the tabs 4:, of the leaves 3, the general arrangement being such that the plate 28 is directly in front ofthe first tab l in tliorow A, and the plate is similarly positioned with respect to the front tab 5 of the row B. The rod 29 is sub ject to the influence of a spring 30, which always exerts its tendency to press the plates 28 and 28 against the'adjacent tabs t and 5 respectively, or against any papers which may have accumulated in front of said tabs, the plate 28 contacting the index holder 19, if no papers are positioned in front-thereof. hilanifestly the spring may be differently disposed and accomplish the same result. It will be understood that, during the sorting operation, many papers will be placed between adjacent tabs, and cause a pressure tending to separate said tabs. It is intended that the tabs shall separate as the spaces between them become filled, and to facili tate the separation I provide a rack bar 31 on each side of the device, mounted in a groove formed in the upper surface of the base 1. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the teeth of the rack bar 31 are flush with the upper surface of said base 1. A slide 32, terminating at each end in an upward extension 33, is slidably mounted on and extends across said base 1, and is provided with a perforated ear 34: on each side. A shaft 35 extendsthrough the perforations in the ears 34: and, on each side, carries a gear wheel 36 which meshes with the teeth in the racks 31, one end of the shaft 35 extending through a slot 37, formed longitudinally through one side 2 of the housing, and being equipped with an operating wheel 38. The other end of the shaft has bearing in the slide and the side wall :2. The ver tical extensions are integral parts of the slide and extend upwardly and bear against the rear tabs and 5 respectively, retaining said tabs in proper position.

When the papers are sufficiently accumulated between the tabs at and 5, the operator turns the wheel 38 to the rear, causing rearward movement of the slide 2 and the extension 33, and permitting an expansion of the spaces between the tabs a and 5, the

expansion being caused automatically by the papers being compressed between said tabs, or the operator may manually push backwardly any tab or tabs which are preventing the automatic expansion.

While the device so far described is capable of any classification sorting, the embodiment herein shown has been adapted, by the installation of the required indices, to the bank check sorting of certain unit of the clearing houses for the regional banks of the districts of the State of Maryland. The clearing houses clear for the member banks of the Federal Reserve System, and also for the non-member banks, the checks being drawn on banks of both classes, and being sorted in accordance with the names of the banks upon which the checks are drawn. In some cases the sort may be effected on the device of the present invention by arranging them in accordance with the names of the banks, irrespective of their member or non-member atiiliations, or they may be assorted as members and non members. Assuming that there are 104i banks which clear through the clearing house handling the unit referred to, there would be 52 of the leaves 3 provided, in the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated and described. This structure would provide a row of 52 of the tabs t, and 52 of the tabs 5, and the indicia on each of the tabs a would contain the names of two of the banks of this particular unit of the system. If the sort is to be made without regard to the afliliations as member or nonmember the arrangement of the indices on the cards 25 in the tabs t may be arbitrary, each card carrying the names of two banks, such as Denton l at l. and Essex Com, respectively representing the National Bank of Den'ton, Maryland, and the Essex Commercial Bank of Essex, lVIaryland. In the sort, when a Denton Natl check is reached, the tab at, bearing the index card 25 of that bank, is pulled forwardly and the check dropped in the space provided between the tabs 4 in the row A. Later, when an Essex Com check is reached, the same tab is pulled forwardly, and the check dropped between the opened tabs 5 in the row B. It is understood that the tabs l collectively bear a complete list of every bank in the particular unit which is cleared through the particular clearing house handling this, sort. Consequently, when all of the checks are assorted, all checks drawn on the Den ton Natl bank will have been collected in a compartment in the row A, between two adjacent tabs 4, and similarly, all checks drawn on the Essex Com will have been deposited in a compartment in the row B, between the tabs 5. In other words, all the che ks on a l of the anks in this till particular unit, will have lbeen =so distrib uted and collected, 'thatall checks drawn on each of the banks are inseparate compartnients.

If it is desiredtosortbymember and non-member b anks, the member banks will preferably be indicated -at'theleftbf the index cards 25 and the non-member banks at t'he right. All checksdra'vvn on'a" inernher bank will then be deposited in the row A, and all checks drawn on a IIOIPITIGHI- ber bank \villthen bedeposited in the low E. ltivill be noted that this particularschelne comprehends 'adouble sort, in that all'of the checks'are not only collected intogroups each containing only checks drawn on one bank, but that'the meniber bank checks are all 1n row A,a11d 'thenon-1nembe1" hank checksare all in row B. There are numerous arbitrary methods of sorting whichlnay be practiced with the device of WlllCll an embodiment is herein disclosed,

as will be understood, and, as before stated, the number otclasslfications maybeextended to include not only the rows Aand B, but also 21911111113 additional rows as the particular Kvork inay'require.

In the post otlice letter carrier-sort to arrange the mail for house-to-house deliveryftheindices 'Wouldcarry 1316112111185 of streets, buildings,eto. Inthe sort of the sales 511133 for department stores, the "indices 25*would'carry letters,* words or numer- "als. to indicate the separate departments,

opened at the will of the operator;butwhich occupy aniiniinum of space, the device-described being capable of holding4000 checks and being only'18 inches wide and 16 inches long, occupying "a very small proportion of the space which would berequired for a pigeomhole battery "for the same bank unit sort.

The device closes the tabs automatically upon the release ofany tabe-ithich has been pulled" forward to "provide the necessary opening, since suchpull is against'the influence of the spring 30, "which spring, as-

sistefd by gravity, immediately presses the plates 28. 28 "against the front tabs 4 and firespectlively. and immediately restores said tubs and all u'nshi'fted tabs "in the row, Z-lainping the checks therebetween.

As shown in Fig. 3, the platform l0,'"upon which'the edges of the checks rest, is of such height relative "to the 'tabs etfthat, when the lower edges of'the checks 'are upon the' alatform-the upper portion of the check is "belowthe top of the ta s and 'hnte does usestn 1 not in -any Way obscure the index cards 25 carried by 1 the tabs. @Vlovement "of the leaves laterally of the device, in either direction, is prevented "by the edges'ot the platform-I0 iind'the SidesQ. Vertical movement -of-'the'-leaves -is prei 'ented by the platform 10. In order to more definitely limit such verticalmovenient however, I. provide a bead =10 which isformed longitudinally in the surfaceof the platform 10, and-extends downwardl -to a point immediately abovethe top otthe'leaves when in the highest position of'their pivotal movement. Obviously a-stop strip could be applied to the under surface of the platform if desired.

To facilitate tlieulse of the cleric-e1 have provided a check or-paper holder comprising a-"downwvardly inclined table 39 located at theiront of the device between the' rows A and B. The table 39 is detachably secured to the front rail Sby means of an extension 40,provided "with two apertures etl, 41, --large1-atthe bottom than at the top. Said apertures are sodormed that the lower portions fit over headed bolts carried by tl1e"ra il"8. The table isthen pushed downwardly an d the bolts slide into the narrowed portions of said :apertures, and detachably se ure the table in position: Connected to thefront 'edge of the table, isa i ertieally eXtendingpIate- LQ, as clearly illustrated in Fig.1. In-use the checks to be assortedaredeposited face upwardly on the table 3S), directly below the eyes of the operator, and are'opressed inwardly'to- Wards said plate 42. The pressure results in the checks being fanned at their rear edge, "greatly "facilitating the work of the operator "in removing' a, single check at a time for deposit in the :mppropriate space provided. The operator pulls the tabs 4 with; the left hanch'tmd with the right hand deposits the cheeks between the appropriate tabs in thespaoes provided.

hileIhave here shown the -spacerclements 7 "as an integrally formed flange, and While this is the pl-eferred constructiomit is obvious that otheroneans lnay he carried by the :leaves toinaintain the desired separation thereof. ltls also understoodthat the holders '1!) liir the index cards maybe provided by any snrtable structure, so lou g asthey clearly display the mdices whlle the device is in operation.

In tlie-soi'tlngof small-units it is of course possible to*-e'flicie11tly utilize a device such as described, but provided 'Wllill only the row A' of the 'tabs' t, in which case the "index cart 535wouldcontain onlyone deatguatlon oi? class. liut in inostnf thexclass mama lot of papers being sorted, would also be so long that the operator could not easily reach the tabs at or near the end of the row. Furthermore the device would be without certain of the advantages of the device clescribed, in that, having only one row of tabs the operator could not have the benefit or the va iance in classification between sepa rated rows.

It is of course understood that the leaves 3 may be removed as desired, or new leaves inserted. In such cases the thumb screws 13 are loosened and the platform 10 lifted on its pivots 11, and a leaf may be lifted out, or an additional leaf inserted.

Various modifications of the structure herein disclosed may be suggested to those skilled in the art, but my invention covers all embodiments falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A sorting device comprising a plurality of movable ele nents each provided with a plurality of tabs, the tabs of the several elements being arranged in a plurality of parallel rows, each element being provided with a plurality of sets of indicia, each set of which is classified in accordance with the classification of one of said rows, and means spacing each element of each row from the adjacent element in the same row.

2. A sorting device comprising a. plurality of movable elements positioned on edge and arranged in a row, each element being provided with a plurality of tabs extending above the body portion of the element, means facilitating the operation of separating one tab from an adjacent tab in the row, and means forautomatically restoring said tab to a normal position.

3. A sorting machine comprising a. multiplicity of separator elements positioned on edge, each element being provided with a plurality of spaced tabs forn'iing a plurality of rows, classification indicia carried by one of the tabs on each element, and a paperreceiving platform positioned between said rows,

11. A sorting device leaf providiul with a plurality of laterally separated tabs, an integrally formed spacing projection formed on the lower portion of said leaf, and an index pocket carried by the top of one of said tabs.

5. A sorting device comprising a plurality of spaced elements postioned on edge in a row, each element comprising a body portion and a vertically extending tab, the tabs of adjacent elements being adapted to receive papers therebetween, and a pla form mounted in position to support the ends of the said papers.

6. A sorting device comprising a plurality of spaced elements positioned on edge in a row, each element comprising a body portion and a vertically extending tab, the tabs of adjacent elements being adapted to receive papers therebetween, each element being mounted for movement longitudinally of said row, and means for limiting lateral and vertical movement of each element.

7. A sorting device comprising a plurality of spaced element-s positioned on edge in a row, each element comprising a body portion and a vertically extending tab, the tabs of adjacent elements being adapted to rcceive paper therebetween, a platform covering said body portions and adapted to support the ends of the said papers, and means carried by said platform and adapted to limit lateral movement of said papers.

8. A sorting device comprising a plurality of spaced elements positioned on edge in a row, each element comprising a body portion and a vertically extending tab, the tabs of adjacent elements being adapted to receive papers therebetween, a platform covering the body portions of all elements in the row, and means carried by the platform and extending below the. body thereof, adapted to limit vertical movement of said elements.

9. A sorting device comprising a multiplicity of spaced elements each comprising a body portion. carrying a plurality of laterallv snaced tabs formin )arallel rows of t tabs adapted to receive papers thereln-u wcen, a platform extending in parallelism with said rows of tabs and over said body portions, and a support for promiscuously arranged papers positioned at the front end of said platform.

10. A sorting device comprising a multi plicity of spaced elements arranged in a row and each mounted for movement longitudinally of said row, each element comprising a body portion carrying a plurality of vertically extending and definitely spaced tabs adapted to receive papers therebetween and forming parallel rows of tabs, and a platform extending over the body portion of Hailtl elements and between the tabs 11. A sorting device comprising a plural ity of elements positioned on edge in a row. each element crnnprising a body portion carrying a plurality of vertically extending labs: adapted to receive papers therebetwemi and forming parallel rows of tabs, and a pivotally mounted platform extending over said body portions between said tabs, and means for securing said platform against pivotal movement.

12. A sorting device comprising a plurality of elements positioned on edge in a row, each element comprising a body portion carrying a plurality of vertically extending sorting tabs and a vertically extending paper-supporting stub, and a platform extending over said body portions and between the rows formed by said tabs, said plat-form being provided with an elongated slot emma adapted to' pass over andflsurroundtthe row a body portionv and a plurality of laterally formed by said stubs.

13. A sorting device comprising a, multiplicity of spaced elements arranged in a row and adapted to receive papers therebetween, means contacting the front element and con stantly urging the other elementsback- Wardly in said row, means resisting-such backward movement, and manually operable means for releasing said resistance.

It. A sorting-device comprisinga-1nultiplicity otspaced elements arranged m aa'ow,

said elements being separately movable longitudinally ot sanbrovv and adapted to re" ceive papers therebetween, means constantlypressing against the front element of the row, a stop member bearing against-the rear element and limiting rearward movement thereof, and means for moving said -stop men'iber longitudinally or, SilltllOWb A sorting device con'iprising a multn plicity oi spaced elements arranged ill-lit clincd position in a row and adaptedjto receive papers therelietwccn, and a-spring )resfeed Jlate contactin the-outer surface of the front elementot said' row, whereby to always return any moved elementto its normally inclined position.

16. A sorting device comprising a multiplicity oi? spaced elements arranged'in ai-row and adaptedto receive papers therebetween, each element being mountedon lts edge to permit pivotal movement, andbeingalso movable longitudinally of said row, aspring pressed plate constantly exerting its 1nflu ence to pivotally shift the front element rear Wardly, a memberpositioned against and limiting rearward body movement of, the rear elementlongitudinally 111 said row, andmeans for moving said member outwo'fcontact with said rear element;

17. A sorting device comprising aplnrality of separator elements arranged ina row, each member beingseparatelymovable iongitndinally of-said row, a stop member normally limiting rearwardmovement of said elements, and rack mechanism connected to said member whereby the latter may bemoved nreach direction longitudinally of said row,

18. A sortingdevice comprising a pluralityof separator elements arranged in a row, each member belngseparately movable longitudmally of sald row, astop memberinormally limiting rearward movement of said elements, rack mechanism connected to said member whereby'the latter may be moved in each direction longitudinally of said row,

and means constantly pressing all the elements rearwardly in said row.

19.. A' leaf for sorting; devicescomprisinga body portionand a: plurality of laterally separatedtabs extending therefrom, and a spacer abutment forming a part ot-the leaf.

20. A leafior sorting devices comprising sification indicia carried by oneoi said tabs.

22, A leaf for-sorting devices, comprising a body portioirand a plurality of separated and variously classified tabs extendingtherefrom; and ind-ieia carriedby one oi saidtabs and denoting the classification of= all the tabs A lcai for sorting devices, comprising a bodyportion and a plurality of separated tabs extending therefrom, classilic:

tion indicia carried by one of said tabs, and 35 means carried by the leaf and adapted to space it from a juxtaposed leaf.

an A leat' for sorting devices comprising a body portion, an assorting tab extending from saidbody portion, and a papcr-snpporting stub'extending from said'body portion and located in the-plane of said tab;

25. A leai ior sorting devices comprising a bodyportion, aplu'rality of spaced assort ing-tabs extending from said body portion, and a paper-supporting stub extendingi'rom said body portion andlocated betweensaid tabs;

26: A leaf-for sorting devices comprising abody portion, a plurality of spaced assortingtabsextending from said body portion, afpapensupporting stub extending from said body portiodjand located between saidtabs, and a paper=snpporting extension carried at the end of said body portion.

27. A lea-f for sorting devices comprising abody portion carrying on itslowercdge an integrally formed spacer element provided Witha rounded bottom, a plurality of'spaced vertically extendingtabscarried by the upper'portion of said leaf, and an indexcar bythe upper portion-of said leaf, and-indicia carried by one of said tabs denoting the classification of all the tabs.

29JAI1-inClX holdertor sorting tabs, comprisinga bodyportion, resilient' flanges connected atone edge to said'body portion and extending at an anglethereto, parallel cardretainingcl'ips connected to said body portion and 1 extending in a plane above the plane of said flanges, andmeans for securing said flanges and body portion to said tab. 1

30. An index holder "for sorting tabs, com- Cil prising a body portion, resilient flanges connected at one edge to said body portion and extending at an angle thereto, parallel cardretaining clips connected to said body portion and extending in a plane above the plane of said flanges, and means for securing said flanges and body portion to said tab,

said means comprising upturned clips struck from the tab and supporting the bottom edge of said body portion, and a flange extending from the top edge of said tab and clan'iping said card-retaining clips.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE W. COX, JR.

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