US1722601A - Card selecting and raising device - Google Patents

Description

July 30, 1929. v F. J. TILLMAN ,601

' CARD SELECTING AND RA ISING DEVICE Q Filed Aug. 25, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 30, 1929.

' F. J. TILLMAN 1,722,601

CARD SELECTING AND RAISING DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1919' 5 Sheets-Sheet a Juiy 3O, 1929. F. J. TILLMAN 1,722,601

CARD SELECTING AND RAISING DEVICE Filed u 25, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I f Ms; E E @B E-\ SK @K' r M Q M M m M [5] E L m I 1 81 sjm I A e 1 Q 5% UK M? E J 0 0 J :6 F K? 7 igfifl M HE @3 rs;

5 Q Q Q o I w r w v ,flfi'esi' Ian 622201 Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND J. TILLMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSTGNOR TO REMINGTON RAND INC., 013 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

cam) SELECTING AND RAISING 'nnvron.

Application filed August 25, 1919. Serial No. 319,699.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple. means of selecting and raising one or more cards from a receptacle containing cards.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple means of locating a card that has been misfiled.

Other and further objeotswill appear in this specification and be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings exemplifying this invention, and in which;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the card solecting and raising device broken away, and shows the rods upon which the card selecting and raising carriage is adapted to travel, and partly broken away on each end to show the receptacle containing the cards.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line IIII of Fig. 1 showing the card selecting and raising mechanism and also showing in dotted lines the numeral key 0 depressed and a card raised.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top View of Fig. 2 enlarged with ten cards removed to show the card selecting and raising mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a card partly torn apart, exposing a metal extension which is inserted in said card and through which the card is selected and raised.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side View of Fig. 4 showing a metal extension inserted in the card.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan View of one of the card files used in connection with the card selecting and raising device showing the partition walls spaced. apart and forming separate compartments for separating each ten cards and also showing U and V shaped slots cut in the tops of the cards for the purpose of locating any card that has been misfiled.

Fig. 7 is a view of two cards with their lower portions broken away and with the U-shaped slots out of alinement, indicating that the cards belong in differene compartments, and the V-shaped slots out of alinement indicating that the cards belong in different files.

Fig. 8 is a view of'two cards with their lower portions broken away, and the U- shaped slots in alinement indicating that the cards belong in the same compartment, but P the V-shaped slots out of alinement indicatgig that the cards belong in different card Fig. 9 is a view of two cards with their lower portions broken away with the U- shaped slot-s out ofalinement indicating that the cards belong in different compartments, and the V-shaped slots in alinement indicatthat the cards belong in the same card Fig. 10 is a View of one card with the V-shaped slot shown in full lines as used in a card file from 1 to 1,000 and showing in dotted lines 52- positions that the V-shaped slot can be placed in, one position for each card file containing 1,000 cards.

Fig. 11 is a View of two cards with their lower portions broken away showing how a card can be located, if the V-sha-ped slot of one card is in alinement with the U-shaped slot of another card.

Fig. 12 is a view of the lower portion of a card file with a card inserted in a reversed position. i

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of afiling cabinet broken away and shows the card files inserted therein.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of a track upon which the selecting and raising device is adapted to travel.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates one of a number of cards used in connection with this invention, each card being numbered in the upper left-hand and upper right-hand corners. Inserted in the lower part of each card is a metal extension 2 which is adapted to be struck by the selecting and raising mechanism, which will be described later. These metal extensions 2 are staggered in ten positions, one metal extension 2 bein inserted in each card to represent the unit digit of the number on the card. 3 is a front wall and 4 is a back wall, and 5 and 6 are side walls constituting a rectangular frame. Fastened to the side walls 5 and 6 and spaced between the front wall 3 and the back wall 4 area number of partition walls a which are for the purpose of separating each ten cards, and a top portion a of these partition walls a are numbered to. indicate each ten cards. The lower portion of each of the partition walls a extends below the cards and is numbered (1 and is used to prevent the card selecting and raising mechanism from being operated unless said card selecting and raising mechanism is in the proper position as will be described later. The lower ends of side walls 5 and 6 are provided with angle portions 7 and. 8 an upper part of which serves as a resting portion for cards 1 as shown in Fig. 2. This constitutes a card file and will hereafter be referred to as A.

This card file A is set into a supporting frame B of the selecting and raisin mechanism which will now be describec 9 is a short side wall having an angle portion 10;

11 is a high side wall having an angle portion 12, and upon these angle portions 10 and 12 the lower part of the angle portions 7 and 8 of the card file A are adapted to rest. 13 is an angle portion on the upper end ofside wall 11, and its upper surface is graduated into tens as shown in Fig.3, corresponding to the numbers on the top portions (a of the partition walls (a) of the card file A.

As shown in Fig. l on the upper lefthand side of supporting frame B is a bearing 14, which is fastened to the side wall 11 and which supports one end of a rod 16, and the opposite end of rod 16 is supported by a bearing 18 which is also fastened to the side wall 11. Below and parallel to rod 16 is another rod 17 which is supported by bearings 15 and 19, which are fastened to the side wall 11 of the supporting frame B. These rods 16 and 17 form a track upon which a carriage C is adapted to travel.

Carriage C consists of two side walls 20 and 21 and a top plate 22, and side walls 20 and 21 have openings 23 and 24 through which rods 16 and 17 pass. Carriage C is adapted to be moved along tracks 16 and 17 by means of a thumb-piece 25 which is securely fastened to the side of the top-plate 22 by screws 26 as shown in Fig. 2. Inserted through slots in the top plate 22 are push-rods 27 to the top of which are fastened numeral keys 28, having numerals from 0 to 9 inscribed on their upper surfaces as shown in Fig. 3. Around the push-rods 27 and between the numeral keys 28 and the top plate 22 are push springs 29 which tend to hold the push rods 27 in an upward position, and below the top plate 22 fastened to each of the push rods 27 are stop pins 30 which limit the height that push springs .29 can raise push rods 27. On the lower ends of push rods 27 loosely connected at 31 are lifting arms 32 which are pivoted toa rod 33 which is securely fastened to the side walls 20 and 21 of carriage C. On the front end of the lifting arms 32 are striking'ends 34 which are adapted toabut against the" metal extensions 2 of the cards 1 as in Fig. 2.

On the upper surface of the top plate 22 shown is an indicating hand 35 which is securely 780 on the scale 13, and he then presses the.

numeral key 0 and as the numeral key 0 is pressed the push spring 29 is compressed and push rod 27 is pushed in a downward direction.-thereby lowering one end of the lifting arm 32 and raising the oppositeend, thereby causing the striking end 34 of the corresponding lifting arm 32 to come in contact with themetal extension 2 of the card bearing the unit digit 0 in this compartment which is card 780.

If it is desired to raise, say, card 792, carriage O is advanced along scale 13 until the indicating hand 35 points directly to the numeral 790 on the scale 13, and he then presses the numeral key 2 which causes the striking end 34 of the corresponding lifting arm 32 to come in contact with the metal extension 2 of the card bearing the unit digit 2 in this compartment 790, thereby causing card 792 to be raised.

If the operator desires to select and raise, say card 797 which is in this same compartment 790, he presses the numeral key 7 thereby causing the striking end 34 of the corresponding lifting arm 32 to come in contact with the metal extension 2 of the card bearing the unit digit 7 in this compartment which is card 797.

I will now describe the means for preventing the carriage from being moved while a' key is in a depressed position.

As before described, the partition walls (a) have a lower portion (a which extends below the cards 1. It will be noted in Fig. 3 that the striking e'nds 34 of the lifting arm 32 are the width of ten cards and it can readily be seen that if a numeral key 28 was depressed that the striking end 34 of the lifting arm 32 would pass between two of the partition walls (a) and if the oper ator attempted to move carriage C while in this position that the striking end 34 of the lifting arm 32 would prevent carriage C from being moved because the striking end 34 is between two of the partition walls (a).

55 long in the same card file.

positioned along the tracks 16 and 17 so that the indicating hand 35 was not pointing directly to the numeral on the scale 13, that if a numeral key 28 was to be pressed the striking end 34 of the lifting arm 32 would come in contact with the lower portion (a of the partition wall (0) thereby preventing the card raising mechanism rom being operated.

I will now describe the method of locatlng 2 a card that has been misfiled.

Referring to Fig. 6, on the left-hand side of the card file A are U-shaped slots 37 which are cut in the tops of the cards 1, and these U-shaped slots 37 govern each ten cards bearing the unit digits from 0 to 9 in a compartment containing ten cards This U shaped slot 37 is cut in ten cards in'one position and is then offset in the next ten cards, &c., thereby forming an almost diagonal line across the length of the card file A. This U-shaped slot 37 is for the purpose of locating a card filed in the wrong tens compartment. On the right hand side of the card file A is a V-shaped slot 38 which is cut into the tops of cards 1 in a line parallel with the side walls 5 and 6 of card file A. This V- shaped slot 38 governs every thousand cards. As seen in Fig. 10 this V-shaped slot 38 has been dotted in 52 different positions across 1 the top of a card. This indicates that this V-shaped slot 38 can take any of these positions across the top of a card, thereby governing 52,000 cards. One V-shaped slot for each 1,000 cards and 1,000 cards for each card file A, and it can readily be understood that by using different shaped slots the num- -ber of cards used in connection with this card filingsystem can be greatly increased. It will be noted in Fig. 9 that card 38 has been placed behind card 7 and that the U-shaped slots 37 are out of alignment, indicating that the cards belong in different compartments, but that the V-shaped slots 38 are in alignment indicating that the cards be- It will be noted in Fig. 8 that card 1008 has been placed behind card 7 and that the U-shaped slots 37 are in alignment, indicating that the cards could be filed in the same compartment, butthat the V-shaped slots 38 are out of alignand that the U-shaped slots 37 are also out of alignment. This indicates that the cards do not belong in the same compartment or in the same card file, and it can readily be seen that if a card should be filed in a position similar to either of these examples that 'the operator would readily find them by glancing across the top of the card file A, because the back card would close up the U-shaped slot 37 and the V-shaped slot 38 of the front card providing two of the slots were not in alignment. It will be noted in Fig. 11 that a V-shaped slot 38 appears in a U-shaped slot 37 and the reason for this, it will be noted, is that the number on the rear card is in the 31,000s; therefore the V-shaped slot 38 has taken one of the 52 positions as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, and it will also be noted that the front card has for its number 547. Therefore, the U-shaped slot 37 has been offset until it is in this position and it can readily be seen that if a card were filed in a position similar to this the operator could readily find said card because the V-shaped slot 38 shows up through the U-shaped slot 37 and the other slots are closed up by the cards. It will be noted in Fig. 6 that both the U-shaped slot 37 and the V-shaped slot 38 are shown in dotted lines in the center of the card file A, and it will also be noted that the U-shaped slot 37 has been offset where the V-shaped slot 38 would meet it. This is done so that there will always be two slots in the top of each card: one U-shaped slot 37 and the other V-shaped slot 38.

I will now describe a method for preventing a card from being filed ina reversed position.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 12, a bar39 is fastened inthe lower left-handcorner of the card file A and said bar 39 runs through the length of the card file A. A corresponding slot 39 is cut in the lower left-hand corner of the cards 1 and it can readily be seen that if a card were reversed and filed that it would not go down all the way in the card file, because the card would strike against the bar 39 and could readily be seen by the operator because the card Would project above the other cards in the card file A.

I will now describe how the selecting and raising device is used in connection with a cabinet file.

As shown in Fig. 13 the files A are adapted to be inserted into a cabinet D. Rigidly secured to the front of cabinet D by screws 40 are tracks 41 and 42, andupon these tracks 41 and 42 the selecting and raising device is adapted to travel, as will now be described. Referring to the Figs. 1 and 2 it will be noted that supporting frame B has legs 43 and that the two back legs 43 have cut into them slots 44. Rigidly secured to the upper rear end of side wall 11 is an upright iece 45 that has a slot 46 cut into it, and t ese slots 44 and 46 are adapted to be mounted on tracks 41 and 42.

If the operator desires to select a card from a file in the cabinet D, he mounts the selecting and raising device through slots 44 and 46 on tracks 41 and 42 and 'moves the selecting and raising device along the tracks 41 and 42 until the selecting and raising device is opposite the card file A wanted and he then takes hold of a handle 47 which is fastened to the front wall 3 of the card file A. and pulls the file out on to the supporting frame B until the front wall 3 of the card file A comes in contact with a stop pin 48 which is fastened to the angle portion 12 of: the supporting frame B as shown in Fig. 1 and in this position the card selecting and raising mechanism is adapted to be operated. If the operator desires to return a file to the cabinet D, he pushes the file backward until it no longer engages the supporting frame B and he may then move the selecting and raising device along tracks 41 and 42 and position it in front of another card file A in order to select a card from a different file, if he so desires.

What I claim is:

1. In a card-selecting device, the combination of a cabinet, a plurality of card-receptacles therein, card units having selective characteristics located in said receptacles, a track mounted on said cabinet, a card-selecting device adapted to travel along said track and to be positioned in front of any one of said receptacles, and to receive and support the receptacle when the latter is drawn from the cabinet, said device including means for selecting and raising a unit from any one of the receptacles.

2. In a card-selecting device, the combination of a cabinet, a plurality of card-receptacles arranged in horizontal rows therein, card units having selective characteristics located in said receptacles, a track for each receptacle row, a card-selecting device adapted to travel along any one of said tracks, to be positioned in front of any one of the receptacles of any row, and to receive and to support the receptacle when the latter is drawn from the cabinet, said device including means for selecting and raising a unit from any one of the receptacles.

3. In a card-selecting device, the combination of a cabinet, a plurality of card-receptacles therein, card units having selective characteristics in said receptacles, a track mounted on said cabinet, a card-selecting de vice adapted to travel along said track and to be positioned in front of any one of a plurality of said card-receptacles, and to receive.

and support the receptacle when the latter is drawn from the cabinet, said device including means for! selecting and raising a unit from an means are ad the receptacle.

4. In a card selecting and raising device a receptacle adapted to contain a plurality of card groups, a scale bearing a plurality-of characters in register with respective card groups, a carriage movable along said scale bearing lifting members for operating on the cards of any card group, supporting means for said carriage, an indicating hand borne by said carriage adapted to indicate on said scale the specific card group on which the lifting members of said carriage are to operate, and means for preventing said lifting members being operated when the carriage 1s not properly positioned relative to a selected card group.

5. In a card selecting and raising device, the combination of a selecting and raising mechanism, a receptacle adapted to contain cards arranged in group formation, each card having a metallic extension, said mechan sm adapted to travel longitudinally of said receptacle on the outside thereof so that 1t can operate on an one of said cards, and guiding means for t e travel of said mechanism.

6. A card selecting and raising apparatus, comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a plurality of vertically held cards arranged one of the receptacles, which pted to travel engthwise of in ten card groups, a carriage adapted to travel the length of the receptacle, a select- 7 ing mechanism borne by said carriage, guid ing means for said carriage, said mechanism having a series of card lifting members and there being a lifting member for each card of a card group, and means for preventing said lifting members being operated when the carriageis out of register with an elected card group.

7.In a card indexing system, a receptacle containing a plurality of vertically held cards arranged in groups, each card of each card group having an alining notch on its upper edge forming a groove through each card group, the grooves of successive card groups being offset from one another but in.

sighting alinement with each other, thereby forming a continuous groove through all of the card groups.

8. In a card indexing system, a receptacle containing a plurality of approximately vertically held cards arranged in groups, each card of each cardgroup having an alining identifying ndtch on its upper edge forming a groove through each card group, the grooves of successive'card groups being offset from one another but in sighting alinement with each other, thereby forming a continuous groove through all of the card groups, each card in the receptacle bearing a second alining notch on its upper edge, said second notches being equally positioned on all the cards thereby forming a second continuous sighting groove through all of the cards of the receptacle.

9. In a card selecting and raising device, 5 the combination of a receptacle divided into compartments, each compartment adapted to contain a group of cards, a carriage adapted to be moved from one compartment to another, means for guiding said carriage, selecting members mounted on the carriage to operate on the cards in any of the compartments, and means to prevent said carriage being moved from the compartment in which it is operating while any selecting member is being operated.

FERDINAND J. TILLMAN.

Images