US2156978A - Sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1939- I. GHERTZMANN 2,156,978

SORTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

FIG.4.

see 74 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE soa'rmo MACHINE York Application December 30, 1936, Serial No. 118,204 In France January 30, 1936 4 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for sorting accounting and statistical record cards and. more specifically for sorting out cards bearing a given series of perforations from a group.

The provision of means for sorting into a single pocket all records having predetermined classification or serial numbers has been previously accomplished by devices known as multi-column selectors, one form of which is illustrated in United States Patent No. 1,933,357. The present invention is an improvement of such device.

Previous devices adapted to sorting machines for sorting cards which had a given series of perforations into a single pocket have been based on the fact that cards having no perforations are passed into a single reject pocket because the sorting magnet has not been affected and therefore it is only necessary to nullify the effect of the sorting magnet, at the time the sensing brushes are passed by those perforations corresponding to the selected series to be sorted, to have that particular card passed to the reject along with all others bearing a like series of perforations. It will be seen then that according to this basis of operations all cards having no perforations in the particular field sensed will be passed to the reject box along with those which it is desired to select since the absence of any perforations also completely nullifies the action of the sorting magnet, thus unperforated cards will become mixed with those selected.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a multiple column selecting device which will select cards of a chosen series of .perforations indicating a number of multiple digits which may be coded for any desired information and to prevent unperforated cards from being mixed therewith.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the specification and the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference numerals indicate similar parts and wherein,

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the automatic selection device.

Fig. 2 is a section through lines 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the circuits employed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a tabulating card.

The present invention has been shown as applied to a sorting machine of a type well known in the art. The construction and operation of the pocket selecting, card conveying, and guiding mechanism, and the general arrangement of the circuits are fully shown in the United States patent to E. A. Ford, No. 1,741,985, issued December 31, 1929 and the mechanism for feeding cards from the magazine and the brush holder are fully shown and described in the United States patent to H. Kleckler, dated December 31, 1929. The brush holder shown in the last mentioned patent as applied to the use of a plurality of brushes for multi-column analyzation is fully shown and described in Fig. 6 of United States Patent 1,933,357 to Weinlich et al., dated October 31, 1933. The motor and the starting and stopping buttons and associated circuits are likewise shown in United States Patent No. 1,933,357 and are therefore not shown in the present instance since they play no part in applicant's invention.

The selector is driven from a driving shaft 5211. which runs the entire length of the sorting machine to drive the usual conveyor rolls, etc. This shaft corresponds to the drive shaft l9 shown in Figs. 1 and 7 of Patent No. 1,933,357.

Referring now, to Figs. 1 and 2 of the present invention, the automatic selector device shown in these figures includes a worm gear 56 which meshes with a worm 52 fixed to the drive shaft 52a. The worm gear 56 is fixed to the shaft 50 which is thereby, driven from the drive shaft 52a. The shaft 500. is journaled in a bearing 51 which is fixed to the frame of a sorting machine by suitable means such as a bracket 58. A brush carrier support made of suitable insulating material is fixed to the bracket and bearing in a stationary position. The support 5| is provided with a plurality of brush carriers 62 made of conducting material and mounted on the periphery of the insulated support 5|. The brush carriers extend through the support and are terminated by threaded portions to receive nuts 63 for connecting electric conducting wires thereto. The opposite ends of the carriers are provided with holes through which brushes 30 extend. Set screws 64 extend axially into the support to hold the brushes. There are ten of these brushes 30 corresponding to the ten index positions 0 to 9 to be found on a single column of a tabulating card of the well known Hollerith type, as partially shown in Fig. 4. Brushes 29 and 49 are mounted on similar carriers for purposes to be explained later. These brushes just enumerated wipe on a selector device generally indicated at 25. Three brushes Ma, Mb, and Mc are mounted adjacent to each other in a plane parallel to the axis of a distributor 40 and wipe on said distributor. The selector device 25 and distributor 46 are fixed to the shaft 50 and rotate therewith. The brushes 4 la and 410 are mounted in arms of conductive material extending from brush carriers 65 and 66, respectively. The brush 4": is mounted in brush carrier 61. Y t

The selector device 25 includes two conductor rings 26 and 21 mounted on an insulated support fixed to the shaft 50 and separated from each other by an insulating strip 28 which is part of said insulated support. The conductor ring 21 is provided with a projection 21a and a corresponding offset of the insulating strip 26 extends into the conductor ring 26 to insulate the projection 21a therefrom. The ten brushes 30 bear on I the left hand side of the conductor strip 26 as viewed in Fig. 1. They are all mounted in a single plane normal to the axes of rotation and lie in the plane of rotation of the projection 27a. so that when it rotates it passes consecutively under each brush. The brush 49 bears on the main body of the conducting ring 21 and the brush 29 bears on the right hand side of the conducting ring 26 as viewed in Fig. 1 and to one side of the path of rotation of the projection 21a.

The distributor 40 is composed of a cylinder of insulating material having a single conducting insert 42 which extends transversely of said cylinder. The cylinder is provided with two circular side plates 40a which are undercut so that the insulated cylinder projects slightly into each face plate. The insert 42 extends under the undercut edges of the plates 40a and is biased radially of the cylinder by a spring 42a set in a well in the cylinder (Fig. 2). As the insert 42 is rotated it makes intermittent contact with the three brushes 4| a, 4lb, and Me in unison.

Turning now to Fig. 3, the wiring diagram here shown is confined for the sake of simplicity to the usual sorting circuit, the motor and motor relay circuit being identical with that provided in the previously mentioned U. S. Patent No. 1,933,357 and believed to be superfluous for the proper understanding of the present invention. In all cases it is assumed that the machine is being operated by a motor from supply lines 20 and 2|.

The sorting circuit for sorting to a single column in the well known way includes a commutator I connected to a common brush 2 and a brush 4 and a brush 3. The brush 3 is connected through wire 1 to a brush 8 wiping on a contact roll 9 which in turn is electrically connected to the brush l6 and through wire H and resistance unit l2 to the switch. The circuit from the switch 14 then follows through the sorting relay magnet coil I 3, resistance l6, sorting magnet I! to the supply 2|. The relay contacts l8 are connected to the central brush 4. With the machine operating and the switch l4 thrown in its full line position, as shown, a sorting operation from a single column through brush I0 is effected in the well known manner fully described in the patents previously mentioned herein. J v If it is desired to sort cards having a number composed of more than one digit, the switch M 1,933,357 previously mentioned, may be used. Such holder will carry a plurality of brushes 22 connected by lead wires 23 to sockets 24. The commutator brushes 3!! are each connected to sockets 32 and plug wires 68 are used as jumpers for connecting the sockets 32 and 24. Let it be assumed now that it is desired to sort out all cards containing the number 983 which may be punched in columns 4, 5, and 6 of the tabulating card as shown at I4, Fig. 4, and to reject all cards having other numbers punched therein or which may be unperforated in those columns. The first three brushes of the brush holder having been alined with columns 4, 5, and 6 of the card are now connected by means of plugging as follows: right hand brush 22, as shown in Fig. 3, is connected to the socket connected to the brush 36 corresponding to the 9 index position. The second and third brushes 22 are connected to the corresponding sockets for the eighth and third index point positions respectively, as shown in dotted lines.

The cards are fed in the usual manner'between the contact roll 9 and the selector brushes 22 and as the index points of the card pass the brushes the projection 2M will pass under the brush 30 corresponding to that index point position, therefore,.as the first column of the card passes beneath the right hand brush 22 when the perforation 9 of the number 983 appears beneath said brush, the corresponding brush 36 leading to the 9 socket will be on the projection 21a of the conductor ring 21. When this occurs, the unperforated card relay 46 is energized through the following circuit: from the supply wire 26, through brush 2, brush 3, wire I, brush 8, contact roller 9, first brush 22 now over the perforation, plugging socket 24, wire 68, socket 32, wire 69, brush 30, projection 21a, brush 49, wire 16, unperforated card relay magnet 46, resistance 44, wire 36, to the other supply line 2|. The energization of relay 46 is maintained by the following holding circuit: supply line 20, brush 2,"conductor ring 5, brush 4, wires I9, 38, contact 41 now closed, relay magnet 46, resistance 44, wire 36, to supply line 2|.

When the perforations 8" and "3 in turn pass beneath the corresponding selector brushes, the projection 21a will be under the corresponding brushes 3!! and the circuit through the relay 46 will remain undisturbed.

The distributor 40 rotates in synchronism with the passage of the card so that the conducting insert 42 passes beneath the brushes 4la, 4lb, and Me as the 12 index point position on the card passes the sorting brushes. Brushes Ma and Me are electrically connected, therefore, by means of the insert 42 at this time connecting the sorting relay magnet H in circuit, but inasmuch as contact 41a is open and 4'! is closed by the energization of relay magnet 46, no current will flow to energize the sorting magnet I'I. Consequently, the card in question will not be sent to the compartment corresponding to .the "12" position, but will be sent to the discard or reject compartment.

Let it now be assumed that the card passing beneath the selector brushes 22 bears a different figure from the one desired, say, the figure 987, for example. When the perforations 9 and "8 pass beneath the first and second selector brushes 22 the circuit will function as previously described so that the relay 34 is energized and remains energized, but when the perforation 7 of the third column which is connected to the brush 30 corresponding to the 3 index position comes beneath the brush 22, the brush 30 corresponding to 7" index point position will be on the projection 21a, but this brush is not plugged across to the selector brushes 22 so that no ,circuit will be established. On the other hand the brush 38 corresponding to the 3" index point position which is connected to the third brush 22 Will be riding at this time on the conductor 25. The relay 34 then becomes energized in the following manner: supply line 20, brushes 2 and 3, wire 1, brush 8, contact roller 9, third brush from the right 22, now on '7 index perforation, connecting socket 24 to the socket 32 corresponding to the 3" index point position, wire 3|, brush 38, connector ring 26, brush 29, wire 33, relay 34, resistance 35, wire 36, to supply line 2|. Relay 34 now remains energized by the closing of the relay contact 31 establishing a holding circuit from supply line 20, brush 2, conductor ring 5, brush 4, wire I9, wire 38, wire H, relay contact 31, relay magnet 34, resistance 35, wire 36 to supply line 2|. When the conducting insert 412 now comes under the brushes 41a and MD, the sorting relay l3 becomes energized through the establishment of the following circuit: supply line 28, brush 2, conductor ring 5, brush 4, wires I9, 38, and H, contact 31 now closed, wire '72, brush Mb, brush Ma, switch l4 now in dotted line position, sorting relay 13, wire I5, resistance I6, sorting magnet IT, to the supply line 2|. The energization of sorting relay l3 closes contact l8 and energizes the sorting magnet I1 directly through the commutator i from the supply line 28 and will send the card bearing the perforated number 987 into compartment I2 of the sorting machine, since, as previously stated, the circuit established through the medium of the conducting insert 42 occurs at the 12 index point position of the card.

A similar operation will occur if any one of the digits varies from the digits 9, 8, 3, as originally set up by the plugging wires, due to the fact that the brushes 30 corresponding to these digits as set up will be in contact with the conductor ring 26 at all times except when the projection 21a passes under those brushes which only occurs at those corresponding index point positions and can only be effective through the circuit established by projection 21a when those index points are perforated.

Let it now be assumed that the card passing beneath the selector brushes 22 is without any perforation. In this case, neither of the two relays 34 or 46 will be energized and the contact 41a will remain closed which is its normal position as shown in Fig. 3. Consequently, when the conducting insert 42 passes beneath the brushes Ala and M0 at the "12 index point position of the card, sorting relay l3 becomes energized through the following circuit: supply line 20, brush 2, conductor ring 5, brush 4, wires l9 and 38, contact 41a now closed, wire 13, brush 41c, conductor insert 42, brush 4Ia, switch l4, sorting relay magnet l3, wire I5, resistance l6, sorting magnet I! to the supply line 2|. The sorting magnet is, therefore, energized by the closing of the relay contact I8 as previously described and the unperforated card is delivered to the 12 pocket in the same manner as those cards having perforations, differing from the number 983 originally set up. It will be understood that the index number 983 as given is merely an example and that any number may be given comprising a greater or a lesser number of digits, it being necessary to make only the suitable connections between the sockets 24 and 32 and to have a brush holder carrying a sufllcient number of selector brushes 22 to take care of a number having the maximum number of digits required.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel featurs of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a sorting machine for sorting record cards including a sorting magnet, the combination with a main drive shaft of the sorting machine, of a drum driven by said shaft, a plurality of conductor rings on said drum and insulated from each other, one of said conductor rings having a recess therein and another of said conductor rings having a projection extending within the recess of said first named conductor ring but insulated therefrom, a series of wiper brushes bearing on said first-named conductor ring in a circumferential row and situated in the orbit of rotation of the recess and projection whereby they progressively wipe the projection of said first named conductor ring in serial order as the drum rotates, a plurality of brushes including one brush wiping on each conductor ring during the time said series of wiper brushes are being progressively wiped by the projection of said second named conductor ring, a second drum driven by the main shaft having a single conductor segment mounted thereon and insulated therefrom, a plurality of brushes bearing on said second drum in a row parallel to the axis of rotation of said drum whereby said brushes are wiped simultaneously by said conductor segment as the drum rotates to cause a momentary contact to be made between all brushes for each revolution of said second drum, circuits connected to said first and second named drums and to said sorting magnet, and means in said circuits and controlled by said first named drum for controlling the operation of the sorting magnet by said second named drum.

2. In a sorting machine for sorting records having indicia thereon, analyzing means including a plurality of brushes, a multiple column selector device comprising a plurality of commutators each having a plurality of brushes, one of said commutators being formed with a plurality of conductor rings and another of said commutators having a single conducting segment, manipulative means for selectively connecting any of the plurality of brushes of said analyzing means to any of the plurality of brushes of first-named commutator to make a setting for sorting out records having certain indicia, a sorting mechanism, a plurality of circuits inter-connecting said sorting mechanism .and said second-named commutator with said firstnamed commutator, and means included in said plurality of circuits comprising a plurality of selector relays, one of which is operated under control of one of the conductor rings on the firstnamed commutator in conjunction with the connected brushes of the first-named commutator and another of which is operated under conjoint control of said connected brushes and another plurality of brushes and the single conducting segment of the second-named commutator shall be rendered eflective to control the sortingmechanism to sort out records having indicia corresponding with the setting of said'manipulative means.

3. In a sorting machine for sorting records having indicia thereon, analyzing means comprising a plurality of brushes for reading said indicia, a multiple column selector device for sorting out records having like indicia on certain portions thereof from other records having unlike indicia or no indicia on said portions, said multiple selector comprising a plurality of commutators each having a plurality of brushes, one of said commutators being formed with a plurality of conductor rings and another of said commutators having a single conducting seg ment, manipulative means for selectively connecting any of the pluralityoof brushes of said analyzing means to any of the plurality of brushes of the first-named commutator to make a setting of the selector device according to the indicia appearing on the records to be sorted out, a plurality oi circuits comprising a plurality of selector relays, one of which is operated under control of one of the conductor rings on the first-named commutator in conjunction with the connected brushes of the first-named commutator and another or which is operated under conjoint control of said connected brushes and another conductor ring, and connections whereby the coaction of certain of the plurality of brushes and the single conducting segment of the secondnamed commutator is rendered inefiective to control the sorting mechanism as long as records having like indicia are being read analyzing means and effective when records having either unlike indicia or no indicia are passing said analyzing means.

4. In combination with a sorting machine for sorting record cards and provided with analyzing means for progressively reading designations in index point positions on a card and sorting mechanism controlled by a sorting magnet and driven by a drive shaft; a multi-column selector including a commutator formed with a plurality of conducting rings and driven by said vdrive shaft. a series of circumterentially disposed brushes bearing on one of said plurality of rings, each brush corresponding to a diflerent index point position on the card; manipulative means for selectively connecting said brushes to said 1 analyzing means to set-up controlling index point positions on the multiple column selector, a conducting element on the other of said rings for progressively wiping said series of brushes as the commutator rotates, a selector relay controlled by the conjoint operation of the aforementioned series of brushes and conducting element, another selector relay controlled from said series oi brushes and said one of said plurality of rings, a second commutator driven by said shaft having a conducting segment thereon and a plurality of brushes bearing on said second commutator and disposed in a row parallel to the axis 01' rotation of said commutator whereby said conducting segment momentarily causes an electrical connection between said brushes upon each rotation of said commutator, circuits connecting one of said last-named brushes with the sorting magnet, and circuits interconnecting said flrstnamed brushes with each of the selector relays and the other of said last-named brushes to the selector relays whereby the operation of the sorting magnet is brought under the conjoint control of said selector relays, second-named commutator, and its associated last-named brushes.

IOYNO GI-IERTZMANN.

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