US2258120A - Sorting machine for records - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 7, 1941. M MAUL y 2,258,120

SORTING MACHINE FOR RECORDS Filed May 20, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.4`

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SORTING MACHINE FOR RECORDS Filed May 20, 1939 Fig.5

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SORTING MACHINE FOR RECORDS 'L Filed May 20, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M. MAUL soRTING MACHINE FOR RECORDS AOct. 7, 1941.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 2o, 1959 Patented oet 1, 194i Y UNITED STATES PATENT -oEFlcE zsssszo SOBTING MACHINE FOR RECORDS m .mybe'bfwidi PY' `indicatioi' islor bylangv other index marks.

. Theeardszm jt'usuauybe- Vrted according to'.

numbers a .plurality of places and in order to sort'the cardsthe proper sequence, it is necessary the cards through the machine once. foreach place ofthe numbers, provided there are/a number of sorting pockets in the wrnrf" 'ls' f upon thefcards.- ...The symbols' riorations or by graphical v'to improved means A causing an automaticlcolumnzchange tothe itthe cards have been accordrinsito :one column.

. important object of the invention is also to -provide means for selecting the range of -sort- -ing,columns, said means being adapted to 'stop machine: corresponding to the numerals to be assorted in a single run. It for instance cards .--shall be Ysorted according to a perforated record eld having three columns, i. e. columns adapted `to represent numbers up to 999, the analyzing means inthe sorting machine are at iirst adjusted to the units column and in the first sorting run the cards are assorted according to this column into the ten pockets or the machine corresponding to the ten numerals 0 to 9. (Provided the zeros are also punched as it is usual practice.) The card stacks in the pocketsare then laid above each other in the proper'sequence and are again put The analyzing means must now be adjusted to into the magazine.`

the machine automatica'allyv if the last column indicated by said adjustable. means has been sorted.

A further object lolf the invention is 'to provide a machine with automatic column change, wherein the cards run through the machine with the columns transverse to the feeding direction; this arrangement'l permits a very simple selection of the card columns to be sorted and very simple means for causingjan automatic column change, so that no mechanical movement of the analyzing means is necessary atall.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sorting machine with automatic column change wherein the symbols in one column are sorted in sive sorting runs the symbols are assorted in the sequence indicated by their numeral value.b

Another object of the invention is to provide I `a sorting machine with automatic column change,

the tens column and in the second sorting. run

the cards will be distributed into the diierent pockets in accordance with their periorations in the tens column. The cards are then again removed from the sorting pockets, laid above each other in the magazine in the proper order, and in the third sorting run the cards are distributed into the ten pockets in accordance with their .wherein the cards are analyzed while they are fed withthecolumns transverse to the feeding perforations in the hundreds column. Ii' then the cards are again removed from the pockets and the stacks put above each other in the proper sequence, the cards are all in the proper order from 0 to 999.

In the method of sorting in the machine referred to, it is necessary to adjust the analyzing means after the sorting of each column manually to the next sorting column. It is now in the direction of further mechanization of sorting by machinery, to cause an automatic adjustment of the analyzing means to the next card column as soon as the cards are sorted according to one column. A machine having provisions therefor is already indicated in German P atent 351,030, wherein an automatic column change ofthe analyzing means is effected by means of a shift card or a shift plate, added at the end of the card stack.

It is now the main'aim ofthe present invention direction and wherein the different characters are assorted in a plurality of sorting runs..y

Another important. object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated, wherein the cards are analyzed while they are in uninterrupted motion past the analyzing means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a machine wherein the characters are assorted in a pluralityof sorting runs, under the control of a symbol selector means for automatically shifting the column selecting means to the next record column if said symbol selector passes from the last symbol selection position to the iirst symbol selection position.

Another object of the invention is to provide adjustable means for indicating the rst column to be sorted and for indicating the last column to be sorted, and another object of the invention is to provide means for indicating the column to which the analyzing means are just rendered responsive.

Further objects and advantages willy be seen lfrom the accompanying drawings and the following specification which refers to a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a'record card in which thecolumns v are provided for "analysis transverse to the columns."

Fig. 2 is the key according to which the hole combinations are provided in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front-view of the machine, partially in section.

Fig. 4 is a section through the machine according to line 4-4 of Fig. 3, but showing the indicating means in a position differing from their position in Fig. 3.

Fis. 5 is a section through the machine according to line 5 5 of Eg. 3.

Fig. 6 is the wiring diagram of the machine.

The preferred embodiment described herein relates to a machine having only two pockets or compartments; the cards are sorted in this machine in a plurality of sorting runs as has already been indicated. In the nrst sorting run all cards having a 0-perforation are assorted and guided into the assorting compartment A, while all other cards are fed to the rest card or reject compartment R. 'I'he selection of the 0-per forations is caused by a symbol selector. At the end of the card stack the shift card will shift the symbol selector from the 0 to the 1position. While the symbols are assorted the opl erator can again put the cards from the rest card pocket into the magazine and the cards in. the assorting compartment can be left. If the rest cards run now again through the machine, the cards having a 1designation in the selected column are'assorted and guided upon the cards having a 0designation. The shift card will then again cause shifting of the symbol selector which will now be adjusted to the 2position. The respective column will be assorted and the operations will continue until all cards are assorted in the Apocket and they are then in the proper sequence from 0 to 9" above each other. I

After the last run the shift card will again cause shifting of the symbol selector and the latter will be moved from the 9 to the 0- position. From this movement is now derived the shifting of the analyzing means to make the same responsive to the next card column. The operator will put the cards from the assorting pocket into the magazine and above these cards the cards from the RF-pocket, and the same'operations will now take place as before described with the only difference that the cards are now sorted according to the next Icolumn. The iirst column to be sorted is adjusted by an indicator and the last column to be assorted may also be selected by an indicator and these indicators determine the range of columns to be sorted, and if the last column selected by the indicator has been sorted the machine will automatically stop. In order to provide a very simple column selection mechanism which does'not require the movement of the analyzing means for the purpose of column selection, in the present invention the columns are fed transverse to the feeding direction through the machine. The analyzing means are stationary and are rendered electrically responsive to the desired record column. Due to this provision itis only necessary to provide time differential responsive` 'controlling means for said analyzing means which controlling means are under the supervision of said symbol selector.

The preferred embodiment will now be described more in detail:

The motor II drives the card feedrknife I2 which feeds the card from the magazine to the feeding rollers I3 the cards are at rst fed past the analyzing brushes IIIand then to the sorting f pockets. If the selected symbol is present the sorting magnet Il will attract the sorting blade Il and thus the selected cards will be fed into the assorting pocket A, while all remaining cards are fed to the rest card pocket R, from where they are again inserted into the magazine. On the front wall of the machine there is provided a hand wheel 3|, having an indicator 53, which may be adjusted to any of the columns I to I5, indicated on the graduation of the front wall of the machine. The indicator 53 is adjustable by the hand wheel 3l to the column according to which sorting shall take place, Below the hand wheel 3l there is rotatably mounted an adjustable ring 18, having an indicator 4I. This indicator is manually adjustable to the last column to which sorting shall take place. Since in sorting according to numerals at first the column having the lowest denominational place must be sorted, in Fig. 3 the indicator 53 is for instance adjusted to column Il and the indicator 4I is adjusted to column 1. I'his means that sorting is desired from column I4 to column 1 inclusive.

Since the card has two record decks, each having 15 columns, the desired record deck must be manually selected before sorting of the cards. In order to'permit such deck selection the brush holder I6 (Fig. 4) is adjustable on the bar I1 in any one of two different positions corresponding to the two decks of the card.

On the front wall of the machine (Figs. 3 and 5) there are further indicating means provided to indicate the symbol vwhich is just selected. On the shaft 25 there is-fast a numeral wheel 41 indicating the numerals which can be sorted in the different sorting runs and above the numeral wheel there is a cover 46 having a window, so that only one of the numerals on said numeral wheel is visible. In the home position of the machine the numeral 0 is adjusted as is shown in Fig. 3.

The mechanical construction of the machine may be clearly seen from the drawings. Driven by a gearconnection derived from the card feed,

there is a gear 35 loosely mounted on shaft 30,

and said gear carries an insulatingly mounted bridge contact 3l; the latter rotates synchronously with the passage of the card columns past the analyzing means. 'I'he bridge contact 34 slides between the contact ring 33, and between the face of a wheel 39; the latter is fast upon the shaft 30 and secured in its position by means of the ball 1I engaging into notches of said wheel. A current supply ball 12 is stationarlly provided on the machine and slides on a metal ring 32 which is insulatingly embedded on the circumference of wheel 33 and extends with a projection (seen in Fig. 4) corresponding to one columnary position to the front face of wheel 33. This conducting projection is therefore adjustable in accordance with the position of shaft 30 to any one of the record columns. Accordingly, the bridging contact 3l can only establish a connection between the contact ring 33 and the contact projection of ring 32 if a certain column passes on the analyzing brushes, said column being determined by the adjustment of hand wheel 3| which is also fast on the shaft 30. It will be seen that the means just described serve for the column selection.

Provision has now been made to stop the machine if all columns have been sorted. Fast on accento the machine frame there is an insulating ring 16. The same carries a contact ring 44. Loose upon the vring 16 there is the before mentioned ring 18, which is manually adjustable and secured in its position by a ball 15. The ring 18 carries the metal ring 49 which is interrupted on one place (corresponding to a columnary position) by theinsulating piece 42. The bridging contact balls 43 will always connect the contact ring 44 with the contact ring 48, but in one position, namely if the balls 43 encounter the insu-` lating piece 42, this connection will be interrupted. The contact balls 43 are mounted in the hand wheel 3|, as is shown in Fig. 4. Current is supplied to ring 40 by a contact ball over supply line 5 I On the shaft 25 (Fig. 5) there isprovided the symbol selector. Current supply takes place through contact ring 28 fast in the stationary insulating sleeve ||0. The insulating part 82 which is fast on the shaft 25 carries the bridging contact balls 2| which connect ln each position of the shaft the contact ring 20 to one of the contact pins 8|a to which the translator lines 8| in the present instance is of well known construction and not shown in detail in the drawings. The hole combination controls the-translator magnets 60 (Fig. 6) and the latter will raise the coordinated controlling bars 6|, thus selecting only one of the lines 8|, namely the line coordinated to the controlling hole combination. After each analysis the bars 6| are again restored to home position illustrated in Fig. 6 by means of a cam controlled bar 63. The translator includes also a translator line 8|--S.v This line is selected by the combination S, indicated in Fig. 2.

In the present instance the shift card is so provided that each column bears the combination S, indicated in Fig. 2. If therefore the shift card arrives, no matter which column is selected for sorting, the line 8|S will be rendered responsive and will actuate the shift magnet 23 'so that the symbol selector will be shifted to the next symbol by means of pawl 85 and ratchet 86, the latter being fast upon shaft 25.

The operation will now be explained in connection with the wiring diagram of the machine shown in Fig. 6.

The cards are fed past the analyzing brushes I9. The contact plate 9| is connected in the usual manner over card lever contact 9a and contact 93 to the positive line 10. 'I'he contact 83 is closed only while the card is under the brushes I0. From the brushes I0 lead lines to the translator magnets 68 and from their leads a common line 3B to the contact piece 32 (projection 32 in Fig. 4). The contact piece 32 is adjusted by the hand wheel 3| to the desired'column. The bridge contact 34, rotating synchronously with the passage of the columns past the brushes, will therefore connect in the moment in which the desired column passes under the brushes the contact piece 32 to the stationary ring 33, from which leads a line 31 to the negative line 80.

If the combination is analyzed, the translator magnets 6|! will adjust the controlling bars 6| and will connect the line 62 to the seelcted line 8|. The selected line may become only responsive if the bridge contact 2| is in the position in which the latter connects the selected translator line over commutator ring 28 and line 95 to the sorting magnet I5. It will readily be seen that all cards havingthe combination determined by the adjustment of the symbol selector will be assorted. If then the shift card follows at the end of the card stack, the line 8|-S will be selected 'and will energize magnet 23, thereby causing shifting of the symbol selector to the next symbol. The operations will continue as has already been described in the introduction.

As soon as the symbol selector is shifted from the 9 to the 0position, the bridge contacts 83 will close the contacts 26, thus establishing current circuit over lines 98, 99, contacts 28, line |90 to the column change magnet 21 and over switch 28, which is in closed position if automatic column change is desired, to the line 89. The magnet 21 will shift by means of ratchet wheel 29 (see also Fig. 4) the shaft 39 for one column, thus positioning the contact piece 32 for the next column and also shifting the bridge contacts 43 from the column position 14 to the column position "13". The cards removed from the assorting pocket and the rest card pocket are again inserted into the magazine and are now assorted according to the next column. The same operations as already explained will continue and each time the symbols are assorted according to one column, the shaft 38 is moved for one step and therewith the bridge contact 43 approaches the insulating piece 42. If the column 7 has been assorted, the bridge contact 42 will again be moved under the control of the shift card to the next column, but now the current circuit of the motor relays leading overline 59, contact ring 44, bridge contact 43, contact ring 40, line 5| and stop contact 52 will be interrupted at 42 and the machine will stop.

The motor relay 65 is connected from line 98 over line 89 and start contact 58 to the negative line 80. If the motor relay is energized by depression of start key 59, it closes its associated contacts 81 and 88. The contact 81 establishes a circuit from the relay over line 59, the above described column limitation device for stopping the machine, line 5| and contact 52, thus keeping the relay 65 energized even if contact 50 opens again. The contact 88 will therefore also remain closed and the motor will remain in operation until the motor relay will be interrupted automatically in the above 'described manner at the insulating piece 42. If it is desired to stop the operation of the machine manually, the stop contact 52 may be opened.

1f the machine shall be used without automatic column change, the switch 28 must be opened. If it is desired to adjust the symbol selector to any position in order to assort any desired symbol, by repeated depression of key 24 the symbol selector can be shifted by means of the shift magnet 23 to any desired column.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of tion.

represented, the cards being fed through the machine with the columns transverse to the feeding direction, stationary analyzing means common to all record columns which are coordinated in succession with the analyzing means and adapted to analyze at one time a single column while the card is in motion past the analyzing means, sorting mechanism controlled by said analyzing means, settable column selecting means. means for causing said column selecting means to be operative during the coordination of successive record columns with the analyzing means to cause the latter to be selectively responsive to a selected one of said card columns at the time the selected record column is coordinated with the analyzing means, and means under the control of a shift card for automatically causing a setting of said selecting means for rendering said analyzing means responsive to the next card column.

2. In a sorting machine for record cards having a plurality of adjacent record columns, wherein characters controlling the machine are represented, analyzing means common to all record,

ping the sorting operation, said stopping means being under the control of said means for rendering the analyzing means responsive to the next card column.

3. In a sorting machine for record cards having a plurality of adjacent record columns. wherein characters controlling the machine are represented, the cards being fed through the machine with the columns transverse to the feeding direction, stationary analyzing means common to all record columns and adapted to analyze at one time a single column, sorting mechanism controlled by said analyzing means, column selecting means for causing said analyzing means to be selectively responsive to a selected one of said card columns, means under the control of a shift card for automatically rendering said analyzing means responsive to the next card column, and ,means adjustable to any desired card column for stopping the sorting operation, said stopping means being under the control of said means for rendering the analyzing means responsive to the next card column.

4. In a sorting machine for record cards having a plurality of adjacent record columns, wherein characters controlling the machine are represented, the cards being fed through the machine with the columns transverse to the feeding direction, stationary analyzing means common to all record columns and adapted to analyze at one time a single column while the card is in motion past said analyzing means, sorting mechanism controlled by said analyzing means, column selecting means for causing said analyzing means to be selectively responsive to a selected one of said card columns, means under the control of a shift card for automatically rendering said analyzing means responsive to the next card column, and means adjustable to any desired card column for stopping the sorting operation, said stopping means being under the control of said means for rendering the analyzing means responsive to the next card column.

5. In a ,sorting machine for sorting out during each sorting run only one group of records having a selected designation and rejecting during the same sorting run all other groups of records having other designations, a reject compartment and a single assorting compartment, sortingr mechanism operable for sorting selected records in said assorting compartment, analyzing means for analyzing said designations for effecting the operation of said sorting mechanism upon analysis of selected designations, and automatically operated means effective and responsive to successive sorting runs for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to successive selected designations to thereby sort out for each sorting run a group of records having a selected designation and reject during the same sorting run all other groups of records having other designations, means for selecting any one of the record columns bearing said designations, and means under the control of said automatically operated means for automatically rendering said column selecting means effective for the next record column 'after the assorting of all groups of records.

6. In a sorting machine for sorting out during each sorting run only one group of records having a selected designation and rejecting during the same sorting run all other groups of records having other designations, a reject compartment and a single assorting compartment, sorting mechanism operating for sorting selected records in said assorting compartment, analyzing means for analyzing said designations While theA records are in motion past said analyzing means and for eii'ecting the operation of said sorting mechanism upon analysis of selected designations, and automatically operated means effective and responsive to successive sorting runs for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to successive selected designations to thereby sort out for each sorting run a group of records having a selected designation and reject during the same sorting run all other groups of records having other designations, means for selecting any one of the record columns bearing said designations, and means under the control of said automatically operated means for automatically rendering said column selecting means effective for the next column after the assorting of all groups of records.

7. In a sorting machine for sorting out during each sorting run only one group of record cards having a selected designation and rejecting during the same sorting run all other groups of cards having other designations, the cards being fed through the machine with the columns transverse to the feeding direction, stationary analyzing means common to all record columns and adapted to analyze at one time a single column, a reject compartment and alsingle assorting compartment, sorting mechanism operable for sorting selected records in said assorting compartment, the analyzing means eiiecting the operation of said sorting mechanism upon analysis of selected designations, and automatically operated means effective and responsive to successive sorting runs for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to successive selected designations to thereby sort out for each sorting run a group of cards having a selected designation and reject during the same sorting run all other groups of cards having other designations, column selection means for causing said analyzing means to be selectively responsive to a selected one of said card columns, and means under the control of a shift card for automatically rendering said analyzing means responsive to the next card column.

8. In a sorting machine for record cards having a plurality of record columns, analyzing means adjustable to be selectively responsive to any selected record column, means under the control of a shift card and adapted to render said analyzing means automatically responsive to the next card column, means adjustable to the last column to be sorted, said last named means being under the control of said column selecting means and adapted to stop the operation of the machine when the last column has been sorted.

9. In a sorting machine for records bearing designations for controlling sorting operations, means for analyzing said designations, means for feeding said records to said analyzing means in a direction transverse to the direction of the` columns, sorting mechanism controlled by said analyzing means, settable column selecting means, means for rendering said settable cloumn selecting means operative during the feeding of the records to said analyzing means to cause the latter to be responsive to a selected record column at the differential time the selected record column is coordinated therewith, devices for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to successive designations in a selected column during successive sorting runs, and means responsive to the completion of sorting runs for each selected column for setting said selecting means to select a successive record column and to cause the sorting mechanism to be placed under control of said devices.

10. In a sorting machine for records bearing designations for controlling sorting operations, means for analyzing said designations, means for feeding said records to said analyzing means in a direction transverse to the direction of the columns, sorting mechanism controlled by said analyzing means, settable column selecting means, means for rendering said settable column selecting means operative during the feeding of the records to said analyzing means to cause the latter to be responsive to a selected record column at the differential time the selected record column is coordinated therewith, devices for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to successive designations in a selected column during successive sorting runs, and means including a control card coordinated with the analyzing means at the completion of the last sorting run effected for each selected column for setting said selecting means to select a successive record column and to cause the sorting mechanism to be placed under control of said devices.

11. In a sorting mechanism for records bearing designations for controlling sorting operations, means for analyzing in succession the record columns of records which are fed in a direction transverse to the direction of the record columns, column selecting means initially settable to select the initial column to be effective to control sorting operations for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to a selected column at the differential time the selected column is coordinated therewith, automatically operated means for causing. said selecting means to select the record columns in succession, and a final sorting control means settable to represent the last column to control sorting operations for rendering said selecting means ineffective when the latter has selected the last record column which is to be effective for controlling sorting operations.

12. In a sorting mechanism for records bearing designations for controlling sorting operations, means for analyzing in succession the record columns of records which are fed'in a direction transverse to the direction ofthe record columns, column selecting means initially settable to select the initial column to be effective to control sorting operations for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to a selected column for a plurality of sorting runs at the time the selected column of each record is coordinated therewith, automatically operated meansv including a control card indicating the last sorting run for each column for causing said selecting means to select the record columns in succession, and a nal sorting control means settable to represent the last column to control sorting operations for rendering said selecting means ineffective when the latter has selected the last record column which is to be effective for controlling sorting operations. 13. In a sorting mechanism for records bearing designations for controlling sorting operations, means for analyzing in succession the record columns of records which are fed in a direction transverse to the direction of the record columns, column selecting means initially settable to select the initial column to be effective to control sorting operations for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to a selected column for a plurality of sorting runs at the time the selected column of each record is coordinated therewith, automatically operated means for causing said selecting means to select the record columns in succession, and a final sorting control means settable to represent the last column to control sorting operations for rendering said selecting means ineffective when the latter has selected the last record column which is to be effective for controlling sorting operations during a plurality of sorting runs and to terminate sorting operations. 14. In a sorting machine for records bearing designations to be sorted for controlling sorting operations, sorting mechanism, analyzing means including automatically operated means for rendering said sorting mechanism responsive to said designations in succession during successive sorting runs, means for initiating the operation of the machine and means for maintaining its con. tinuous operation, means for feeding records to the analyzing means transverse to the direction of the columns, selecting means for rendering the analyzing means responsive to the designations of a selected record column when the selected column is coordinated with said analyzing means, automatically operated means for causing said selecting means to select the record columns in succession at the completion of sorting operations for all the designations of each column. a final column set-up device, and automatically operated means under control of said device and responsive to completion of sorting operations for the final record column for causing said maintaining means to be ineffective and thereby terminate the operation oi' the sorting machine.

MICHAEL MAUL.

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