US2265439A - Sorting machine for perforated records - Google Patents

Description

Deeps, 1941.

M. MAUL I SORTING MACHINE FOR PERFORATED RECORDS Filed April 20, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 9, 1941. M. MAUL SORTING MACHINE'FOR PERFORATED RECORDS Filed April 20, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 3

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SORTING MACHINE FOR PERFORATED RECORDS Filed April 20, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 67 as 125 as 65 Dec. 9, 1941. MAUL 2,265,439

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mEIE Dec. 9, 1941. M. MAUL Somme MACHINE- FOR PERFORATED RECORDS Filed April 20, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patcnted Dec. 9, 1941 ,z ,2'ss,43a

Michael Maul, Berlin-Johannisthal, Germany,

asslgnor to the firm Deutsche Hollerlth Maschinen Gesellschaft m. b. H., Berlin-Lichterfellle, Germany Application April 20, 1939, Serial No. 269,059 In Germany May23, 1938 20 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements for effecting the automatic sorting of record cards. Machines which have accomplished this purpose have, heretofore, been provided with an analyzing device for analyzing the designations represented upon the cards and as a result of such analysis the cards are sorted. Such ma- -chines, of a common and well known type, are

provided with card receiving or sorting pockets which are commensurate in number with the representations on the card which are to control the sorting operations, and the analyzing device is adapted to control the sorting blades in such a manner that the cards will be directed to the sorting pockets in accordance with the representations on the card. If, in accordance with the customary arrangement, the cards contain the digital designations to 9, the cards are automatically sorted into the ten sorting compartments in one sorting run, and the groups of records sorted are removed from the different pockets and are interposed one group above the other thus providing a stack of records which perforations therein but it is evident that such designations may also be made by graphical marks on the record cards in order that such designations may control the sorting instrumentalities of the machine. The perforations may be analyzed either mechanically or electrically but when graphical marks are utilized the analysis is usually effected photoelectrically.

Sorting machines which are capable of sorting in the previously described manner are capable of obtaining a high speed of operation but machines of this type are usually expensive in con-- struction and operation since they require a number of sorting pockets-which are commensurate in number to the designations which are to control sorting operations effected in one run. The use of such machines has, therefore, been limited in employment to large ofiices and industries which have a large output of punched records which are to be sorted and, therefore, can utilize the services rendered by the purchase or rental of such sorting machines.

According to the present invention the ma chine embodies a construction which will meet the demands and requirements of smaller businesses and mercantile establishments and such-form of machine requires less space and is cheaper in construction and operation. While'the output is relatively smaller than machines heretofore constructed, such output nts in very well withthe requirements of certain types of business and permits a profitable application of the improved sorting machine for such types of business.

The main object of the present invention is to devise a sorting mechanism which is simpler in construction and operation than that devised heretofore and in one embodiment comprises a plurality of sorting pockets, into one of which records related to a selected sorting control designation are sorted and the remaining records are deposited into a reject pocket.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sorting mechanism with two card receiving pockets and a single sorting blade which is positioned in accordance with a single selected designation so as to sort related cards into one of said pockets and to deposit the remaining cards by said sorting blade into the other of saidpockets.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an automatically operated sorting designation selector which upon the termination of sorting operations for one run of the cards causes by means of a specially constructed card,

the automatic adjustment of the machine so that cards pertaining to the next selected designation are sorted out during the next sorting run.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a manual means whereby the designations which are to control the sorting operations may be manually selected in the absence of the utilization of the automatic sorting designation selector just described. A still further object, in connection with the automatic and manual sorting designation selector, is to provide an interlock which prevents the operation of, for example,-the manual selector when the automatic selector is to be used thereby preventing possible misoperations of the 'machine. 1

A still further object of the invention, and a relatively important one, is the provision of means to eliminate unnecessary sorting runs for cards bearing designations which are not to be sorted out and which are to be deposited in the reject pocket. fl'he above described means is preferably electncal in nature and is used "in conjunction withthe automatic sortlng designatlon selector so that a preliminary set-up of the sorting designations a es-zoo 'eachsortingnmandplacetheminthemaga ofrecordsinthestackistobemadethereby controlling the operation of the automatic designation selector so that the latter will cause-the machinetobeadjustedinsuchamannerthat sorting 111118 for the desired. designations will be effected and sorting runs for designations which are not represented. by records in the stack will be omitted. -Inordertounderstandhowthemachineis capable of carrying out the preceding objects, a brief description will be given of the operation of the improved sorting machine.

In order to sort cards in a sequence corresponding to the designations represented on the cards the machine carries out the sorting operations for a stack by a. plurality of runs and in each sorting run cards representing'a selected designation are sorted out and the remaining cards are deposited in a "rejec pocket. The remain-- ing cards are then removed from the reiect" pocket and are again passed through the sorting machine, and in the next sorting runcards having designations corresponding to the next selected designation are sorted out and the remaining cards are deposited in the "reject" pocket. In this manner the sorted cards drop in the same pocket and are stacked one group above a another in a sequence which corresponds to the sequence the sorting designations are selected. For carrying out the above operation the machine is provided with only two card pockets and a single sorting blade and the number of sorting runs required to sort the records is commensurate with the number'ot designations which are to control the sorting operations.

In the above described sorting operations for pocket in the tenthsorting run comprise cards which are unperforated in the column which iCOIItIOIS the sorting operations. Obviously, by

retaining the cards which are sorted out in the same sorting pocket the cards will be arranged in groups in a digital sequence, with the group of cards representing 0" at the top, and the group of cards representing 9 at the bottom. I For selecting the designations which are to control sorting operation, an automatic sorting tor is shiftable step by step, either by manually operated means or by automatically operated designation selector is provided and such selecmeans. For effecting its automatic operation a special card is placed in the stack of cards in the magazine and is so positioned as to be the last card which passescthrough the machine for each sorting run and this special card is provided with a special control perforation. when this special card passes through it will cause the automatic adjustment of the sorting designation selector so that sorting operations may be efiected under control of the next selected designation.-

When the last-named expedient is utilized suc-, cessive sorting runs may be effected in automatic sequence by having the operator immediatelyremove the cards out of the "reject pocket during alneadiacenttheunsortedcardawhichareah,

ready in the magazine, and such imsorted cards v are to be separated from the cards removed from the "reject? pocket by means of the special card hereinbefore described. I,

By a1 repetition. of such operations the sorting runs maybe in automatic sequence and by a continuous operation of the machine.

At other timesit-mayibe desirable to select the sorting control designations manually, and to this end a special-k eyis provided and the machine includes a switch which locks out the special key when the automatic selection of sorting control designations is to be effected, and reversely, when selection of sorting control designations is to be effected, their automatic selection is rendered ineffective.

- In order to eliminate unnecessary sorting runs for designations which are not to control sorting operations, the machine preferably includes a device-which iselectrical in nature and which is set up in accordance with designations which are to control sorting operations and which are not to control sorting operations, and such de= vice controls the automatic sorting designation selector so that certain positions of the sorting designation selector; corresponding to the designations which are not to control sorting operations, are skipped.

This device preferably comprises a number of digit representing electrical relays the contacts of which are normally closed and which are vopened during the first sorting run .by correspondingly designated cards and are retained open for subsequent sorting runs. The normal adjustment of such relay contacts in closed position causes the omission of sorting operations for designations corresponding to the closed con- ,tacts whereby sorting runs for such designations will be omitted.

While the present improvements have been illustrated in connection with a card which is unched according to the combinational hole system, and which is translated to a single reading to control sorting operations, it is understood that such disclosure is merely illustrative and not restrictive. Furthermore, it is obvious that while the improved sorting machine is illustrated as ca able of sort ng perforated cards. with slight modification sorting may be eii'ected for like devices in which the sorting designations are represented by' raphical marks, and the like.

Oneembodiment oi the invention, which is preferably electrical in form, is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: I Fig. l is a; view in side elevation of the improved-sorting machine showing the upper part "broken away to more clearly illustrate certain parts thereof.

Fig. la is a detail view showing the construction of a card lever incorporated in the present machine andalso showing the analyzing element coordinated with the perforation of the special card.

' Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine and shows the general arrangement of the machine with the card feeding mechanism provided at the right end of the machine and at the left end thereof the electrical instrumentalities for control purposes.

Flg. 3 is a sectional view of one end of the machine and is taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine taken forming part secured to the feed roller shafts. The machine is also provided with two other sets of feeding rollers it, best shown in Fig. 1, one set adjacent the pocket A, and the other adjacent the pocket Fig. 7 is an illustration showing the code of the 1 combinationally arranged. perforations representing the digits.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of one of the relays f the translator.

Fig. 9 is a etail view showing one of the relays which is set up to represent the designations which are to control sorting operations.

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram of the machine- Form of tabzdating and control cards The cards which are to be sorted are prefer- I ably of the form shown in Fig. 5 and comprises Fig. 5. The cards are so placed in the magazine that the'printed part of the card comprises the upper-surface. With the direction'of the card feed shown by the arrow near Fig. 5 the lower edge of the card is the leading edge.

Figure 6 represents a preferred form of a special card ill, or other element, which provides for the automatic selection of the next sorting designation. This card may be of somewhat more rigid and unyielding material than the perdesignated B. By any suitable gearing mechanism, these feeding rollers may also be driven from and by the shaft 36.

Analyzing means The analyzing means for the cards to be sorted comprises four flexible electrical analyzing brushes l6 (Fig. 1) which establish electrical connections through the cardholes at the respective analyzing positions to acontact plate II. The analyzing brushes I6 are carried by a brush holder I5 (Figs. 1 and 2) which has a worm .connection with. a worm screw I4 and to which a crank arm is mountedso that by the rotation of the crank arm, the brush holder I! can be shifted transversely of the card and thus, be coordinated with a selected column of either card field. The electrical analyzing brushes have flexible wire connections thereto, best shown in Fig. 1, and said wire connections are secured to binding posts of a common and well known construction.

l The brush holder I5 is .provided with an indicator 20 (Fig. 2) which passes through a slot in the machine cover, as best shown in Fig. 1, and moves over a scale on the machine cover. The scale is marked with columns 1 to 20 and also columns 21 to 40.

The selection of the card field which is to control sorting'is effected by means of a manually positioned switch 85 (Fig. 1)- and by means, to be later described, when the'switch is in its upper position, the brushes I6 will be coordinated with the upper card held and when moved to the forated record cards in view of the repeated use thereof. The control card 10 is provided with a rectangular perforation 69 through which the. correlated analyzing device shown in Fig. 1a may pass and which effects the selection of the successive sorting control designation.

It is understood that the size, form of the cards, the form of the perforation for the special card may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention and the form and con- 7 struction shown herein is merely illustrative.

Card feeding mechanism lower position they will be coordinated with the lower card field.

In the front cover of the machine, there is provided a cover 32 (Fig. 3lpi1ovided-with a window 30 through which numerals or characters on a dial 3 I" are visible. The numeral which isvisible through the window corresponds to the a ically under control of the card 10 shown in Fig. 6.

l Sorting devices If the card which. passes through the machine has a representationcorresponding to the designation which is to control sorting, by means to be subsequently described, a sorting magnet 2| (Fig. 1) will be energized and will rock its armature 22 upwardly or coun erclockwise and said armature is constructed as a sorting blade of the machine is operated by a motor I I (Fig. 1)

which through a speed reduction mechanism drives a shaft 36 and by means of a crank connection to the shaft 36 the usual picker I 2 is reciprocated for each "operation of the machine. The picker feeds the cards inserted in themagazine In, one by one, to the feed rollers l3. To the shaft 36 there is secured. a gear which meshes with a pinion 34 (see Fig. 3) and said pinion is secured to the lower feed roll shaft of the firstset of feeding rollers l3 which are immediately adjacent the supply magazine ill (see Fig. 1). Such feed rollers are intergeared by pinions 33 so that upon the upward movementof the armature, this card will be obstructed by the highest end of the blade to be guided into the A pocket and drop upon a. movable card bottom 24 of said pocket. If. the card does not contain the selected sorting designation there will be no energization of the magnet 2| and the card will be passed uninterruptedly by the set of feeding rollers l3 shown at the extreme left in Fig. 1

and be deposited in the reject or R pocket.

Translator The translating mechanism provided herein is of the type which is well known in the art and fully shown and described in the patent to M.-

Maul, No. 2,025,602, dated December 24, 1935. K

4 J menace means of a spring-pressed contact ball embedded In general, the mechanism is controlledby the analyzing means and effects a set up of. the combinations-l hole representation which is translated into a si le controlling eiectricai impulse.

Each analyzing brush II, as bestshown in Fig. 10, is connected by a wire I to a respective translator magnet 51, each ofwhich controls a different number of electrical contacts 00. As best shown in Fig. 8 when a translator magnet 61 is energized, the respective armature 01 will be attracted and moved downwardly so that a plate 88 will be unlatched to bemoved to the left by the resilient middle contact plate so that the right hand contacts 65 will be open, and the left hand in and carried by the cylinder H8. Also contacting with the member I! is another springpressed contact ball embedded in the cylinder I I0 and which makes contact with the contact points Ill. g v

The step by step positioning of the shaft 31 and therefore, the sorting designation selector is eflected, aspreviously described by means of the 7 After the passage of each card to be sortedr 4 that by the synchronous rotation of the cam 83 magnet ill to which successive electrical impulses are described. To the shaft 31, as previously described, there is secured the number indicating wheel 3| which indicates the successsive positions of the sorting designation selector. Relay set-up means representing designations on records controlling sorting operations If in the passage of a stack of cards which are to be sorted, and which cards consist of promiscuously arranged cards which are tov be sorted, certain digit representaitons do not occur, it is preferable to eliminate the adjustment of the sorting designation selector for such desi nations and thus eliminate corresponding sorting runs. In order to eliminate sorting rims for such .designations the machine is provided with a device which in the first passage of all of the cards I comprising the stack through the machine, a

with respect to the passage of the cards through the machine, the operative parts of the translater will be restored to normal after. each card is analyzed.

s'ortingtdesignation selector ords bearing a designation corresponding to the selected digit line.

The sorting designation selector comprises, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10, a contact member designated generally by the reference numeral I05 which may occupy successive positions so that by said contact member I05 suecessive contact may be made with contact points I04 to which are connected the digit lines I06.

The step by step positioning of the sorting designation selector member I00 is effected by means of a pawl I09 (Figs. 4 and 10) which is actuated by the armature of a magnet IM and which pawl cooperates with a ratchet wheel I02 secured to the shaft 31.

The structure of the sorting designation selector is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10, but the details of the construction thereof are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Referring to Fig. 3, it wiil be seen that surroundings cylinder N8 of insulating 7 material which is fastened to shaft 31, is a commutator body I08 which carries the contact points III. The commutator body I08 is carried by two cylinders mm and I08b also of insulatingmaterial. Embedded in the cylinder I00b is a contact ring I03 which forms a current supplying connection for the contact member I05 by This device is so constructed that the indirect set up, which corresponds to designations which do not appear in cards in the stack, will cause the sorting designation selector to be adjusted so that it will immediately effect the next sorting of cards corresponding to the next digit representation, and which is represented by cards in the stack.

This device'comprises, as shown in Fig. 10.9. plurality of relays there being one relay for each of the digits 8 to 0 inclusive, but no relay is provided for the digit 9 since the normal condition of the machine requires a sorting run for the digit 9." The magnet I9 of each relay is adapted to control the position of its respective contacts 18 and from the details of construction disclosed in Fig. 9, it will be seen that the contacts 18 for each relay are normally closed. The armature 16 of the magnet of the relay normally engages a shoulder of a plate ll of insulating material and such plate cpacts with the contact I0 so as to retain said contacts in closed position.

In Fig. 10, it will be seen that by means of wire connections I01 the digit lines I06 are connected to the magnets 10 of the relays so that during the passage of the stack of cards through the machine for the first sorting run, or for 91' certain of the magnets IQ of these relays will be energized and those magnets which are energized will correspond to the digit representations on the cards which are passed through the machine. Upon the energization of a magnet 19 it will be noted that the respective contacts 18 will be opened and these contacts will remain opened for the several sorting runs necessary for sorting in accordance with the designations appearing on cards.

When the sorting runs are being cheated for all of the digits the member I05 has caused a contact to be made with each of the contact points I00 successively and after the sorting run for the last digit, or 1" arr-electrical contact will be made by. means to be subsequently de-. I

. I 2,265,489 r scribed to efiect the energiz'ation of a pair of restoring magnets 00. As best shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the energization of the magnets "will elevate their respective armatures l4 and rock a yoke 02 so as to rock the series of members 11 to permit the armatures I! of the relays to latch under the members TI and retain the contact I8 in closed position. This is the normal condition 7 of the machine so that upon the passage of a subsequent stack of cards the relays will again beset up in accordance with the designations appearing in the next stack of cards which are tc be sorted. 5 v

As will be further described in detail the contacts II which remain'- closed and which, of

course, correspond to designations which do not appear on cards in the stack, will cause an adjustment of the sorting designation control selector to omit sorting runs for such designa-- A tions. To this end the contacts I8 have wire connections to a series of contact points H4 and .coordinated with such contact points II4 islamember 5 is carried by the rotatable cylinder I I and making contact with the contact member II are three spring-pressed contact balls. The

,one at the left makes continuous contact with a current supply contact ring 3. while the one atthe extreme right makes contact with a contact element IIS (see also Fig. The intermediate spring-pressed bail makes successive contact'with the contact points H4 as the selector H6 is given a step by step movement.

Manner of operation of the machine After or before a stack of cards has been placed'in the supply hopper I0, there will be certain preliminary adjustments of the machine so as to'select the card field which is to control sorting operations and also to select the particular card column of the selected card field. The selection of the card column is effected by the rotation of a crank handle'shown at the left in Fig. 3 which positions the brush holder I5 (Fig. 1) so as to coordinate the analyzing brushes I6 with a selected card column. The selection of the card field is effected by the appropriate adjustment of the switch 85 (Fig. 10) which selects a card field in a; manner which is presently to be described.

The preferred, and more desirable operation of the machine, is the type of operation in which there is an automatic successive selection of the digits which are to control sorting operations. For this type of operation of the machine, three switches II, 8|, 9| (Figs. 2 and 10) are concurrently adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 10. Since these three switches must be concurrently positioned the operating levers thereof are joined together by a sleeve I00, shown in Figs. 2 and 10.

The initiation of the operation of the machine is effected when the desired preliminary adjustments have been made by the depression of a start key I20 which closes a circuit from the positive line side 15 through contacts closed thereby, a wire I, to a holding relay magnet I22, thence to the negative line side 95 causing the energization of the motor relay magnet I22 and the closure of its related contacts I23 and I24. Contacts J23 are holding contacts for the magnet I22 and provide a holding circuit for said magnet through the contacts I23, through contacts I25 normally closed, and through the stop" contacts m. Thisholding circuit rmains closed until either contacts I26 or contacts I40 are opened. The closure of the relay contacts I24 closes a circuit to .the operating motor II and; such motor will bein continuous operation until the aforementioned holding circuit is opened.

Current to the analyzing brushesii is transmitted by either of two circuits, depending upon which card field is to control sorting operations, such card fields being selected, as previously 'described, by the switch 65. With the switch" in the position shown in Fig; 10 current will be transmitted to the brushes I6 by the following I6 thereby closing the circuit at such time to the contact plate I'I. However, if the switch 05 is when the perforations of the upper card field are beneath the brushes I6. I. v

In accordance with the, perforations present in the selected and field, certain of the translator magnets 51 will be energized and contacts 65 will be opened or closed accordingly and thereby in accordance with the combinational arrangement of perforations select a particular digit line I06, Assuming thatthe machine is normally conditioned to effect sorting of records bearing the designation 9, it will be seen that from the'cardlev'er contacts 29, there is a branch wire connection I 41 which passes through certain of the closed contacts 65 to a particular digit line I06. If a card passes through which represents the digit 9, the 9" digit line I06 will be closedto the related contact point I04. By reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the circuit then extends from this contact point I04 to the spring .pressed ball contact coordinated therewith, as shown in Fig. 3, through the contactor member I05, to the spring pressed contact ball at the left as shown in Fig. 3, to the current,

supply ring I03, and thence to the sorting magnet 2| to the negative line side 95. Hence, the

- sorting magnet 2| will be energized upon the pas- From the digit lines I06, there are wire connections I01 which lead to the magnets I9 of the digit representing relays thereby energizing during the passage of all of the cardsin the stack 'placed in the supply magazine and in the first sorting run certain of the magnets I9, and such magnets will correspond to cards which bear digit representations in the column which is to be control sorting operations. .It will be noted from Fig. 10 that there is a wire connection which commonly connects all of the magnets 10 and which leads to switch contacts 010. which are closed in the position of the switch 0| shown in Fig. 2, and thence by wire I59 the circuit is completed to the negative line side 95.

It is understood, of course, that the magnets or the relays are retainedenergiied during the passage oi the cards for the first sorting runand all succeeding sorting runs.

The contacts 05 of the translator, are. however,

restored to normal after the passage of each card by means thebar I4. The contacts 18 which are opened remain opened, however, sinc they are only restored to norm closed positi n by means of the bar 82 whic is operated only when sorting operations have been effected for (all digit representations in a selected card col- The'successive positioning of the sorting designation selector is effected under control of the control card 10 shown in Fig. 6, as previously described. For analyzing the perforation 69 in the card shown in Fig. 6 there is provided an analyzing device 99 (see Fig. 1a) which passes through the perforation 09 and. makescontact with: a

to the negative line side 95. A cam I3I is driven by a suitable shaft 01 the machine so as to close contacts I32 at the time perforation 091s disposed beneath the analyzing brush 98. From a comparison of the cards shown in Figs. 5' and 6 it will be seen that the cards to be sorted (Fig. 5) will have no effect upon the closure of the circuit just described since such cards are not provided with any perforation in alignment with theperioration 69 of the control card I0.

The energization of the magnet IOI will attract its armature thereby positioning pawl I09 so as a to engage a successive tooth oi the ratchet wheel I02. when the circuit to magnet MI is broken by the opening of contacts I32, the pawl I09 will accuse The above described operation was based upon v the assumption that the stack 01 cards placed in the magazine contained all of the digit representations or that it was immaterial whether wherein sorting runs ior certain digits are eliminated will now be described.

In the event thatcertain oi the digit representations on the cards of the stack which are to be sorted are not present, the sorting-designation selector is operated under control of the relay set-up means, which represents designations of the cards present in the stack, so that sorting runs pertaining to digit representations which are not present in the cards are eliminated. it will be recalled that certain of the magnets I9 of the digit set-up. means are energized and such magnets represent digit representations of the cards which are to be sorted. The absence of the other digit representations of the series of digits will be indicated by the closure of contacts I8 which is the condition when the related magnets I9 are not energized.

' ,(Fig. 10) are carried by the cylinder H9 (Fig. 3)

It will also be understood from the preceding description that since the members I05 and H5 the switching mechanisms controlled thereby will be concurrently positioned. It will also be recalled that after a sorting run for each of said digit representations the cylinder H8 is given a stepoi movement and in the event that there.

are no'records present in the stack for the sucposition thereby closing a circuit from the posibe retracted by a spring so as to turn the ratchet wheel I02 and the-shaft 31 a single step. Since it is assumed that the machine is normally conditioned for sorting of cards having the 9 digit representations the automatic sorting designation selector will now be positioned so that the 8 digit line I00 will be selected for sorting of cards containing this digit representation. which have been taken out of the reject pocket R (Fig. 1) are again placed in the magazine and these cards are again passed through the machine so as to sort out the cards having the 8 digit representation. The control card, 10 is, of course, again placed in the magazine so as to be the last card in the stack of cards which have been taken irom the reject pocket and placed in the magazineand upon the next passage' of the control card through the, machine the automatic sorting designation selector is 1 given a step of movement so as to select the 7" 1 digit line I06 and cause cards hearing this digit representation to be sorted out.

In the above described manner, sorting opera-,

The cards tive line side 15,.a wire I00, through switch contacts 9Ia, now closed, one of the contacts I8 related to the magnet I9 of the relay pertaining to the successive digit representation, and through said closed contacts to a respective line IE4, to a related contact point lid (see Fig. 3), the intermediate spring pressed contact ball, the contact member I I5, the left hand spring pressed contact ball, current supply ring H3, cam operated contacts I2I (Fig. 10) wire I63 to the stepping magnet IN, and wire I53 to the negative line side 95; By the circuit just described an electrical impulse is transmitted to the magnet IM and through pawl I09 in cooperation with ratchet wheel I02, shaft 31 will be turned a single step,

after which the cam operated contacts I2I open thereby deenergizing the magnet IOI and pervmitting the retraction of the pawl I09. It should designation selector again reaches thef9 position. v

At this time, as will besubsequently-described, the rod 92 (Fig. 10) is operated so as to open the contacts I25 thereby opening'the holding circuit be noted from Fig. .10 that contacts I2I are opened and closed by means of a cam I22 (see Fig. 3) rotated by a continuously rotating shaft so as to effect successive opening and closing of the contacts I2I.

In the event that-the next selected digit line I09 corresponds to a card bearing a similar designation. which is absent from the stack to be sorted, the above described operation will be repeated so that for each inefiective position of the sorting designation selector a sorting run will be omitted for a corresponding designation.

The closure oi those contacts I8 which have been opened by the energization oi certain of the respective magnets I9, is efl'ected v hen sorting operations havebeen completed for all of the different ,digit representing cards appearing in the stack or, in other words, when all of the digits of a selected card column have controlled sorting operations. At this time contact member ll! passes from the ast or position on the related contact'poin II to the position shown in Fig. and this pas I ee steps of operation. During the first step of such movement there will be an electrical connection across the contact members I58 and H9 (Fig. 16? thus closing a circuit which extends from the positive line side I5,- wire I60, switch 'points 9Ia now closed, wire ISI, contact member I68 which is engaged by the intermediate contact ball (Fig. 3) engaging contact member 5, contact member 5, the right contact ball e ngaging contact member I I5, contact member I I0,

wire I62, cam contacts I2I, magnet IIII, wire I53 I to the negative line side 95. While the circuit of the motor has been opened cam contacts I2I are capable of transmitting suificient electrical impulses to the stepping magnet IIJI so as to position the cylinder H8 and the switching mechanisms to their normal position, as shown in Fig. 10.

For certain types of machine operations it may be desirable to manually adjust the sorting designation selector in order to adjust the machine for the sorting of records bearing a certain designation. For this type of machine operation, the switching members 1|, 8|, SI (Fig. 10) are moved from the position shown so that the switch con tacts IIa, Illa and 91a are open and contacts 1Ib are closed. This will disconnect the circuits and electrical instrumentalities for the automatic ,sortingdesignation selector and also for the digitsorting designation setup means.

translator device herein shown for the combinational designations will not be necessary and may i be dispensed with. With the additional eliminage will take place I tion of the sorting designation setup means a very simple construction of a sorting machine is effected which requires; a very short card feed to the sorting compartments; a single analyzing means, and a sorting magnet controlled thereby.

A machine constructed according to the above embodies a very simplified construction of sorting machine and differs from a sortlng machine 'of a well known type. in that it eliminates the,

use of a long card feed, the provision of aplurality of sorting blades, sorting compartments, and a synchronized control for the sorting blade from the analyzing means.

Another construction of the machine which is obvious is to provide the armatures of the mag- .net 19 with visible indicators so that during the passage of all the cards of a card stack, the posi tioning of certain of the armatures would visually indicate the sorting designations which are present in the cards passed through the machine. With such designations noted by the operator, the sorting designation selector may be adjusted to corresponding positions by means of the key III and sorting runs for such designations may then be effected, obviously omitting sorting runs for thos designations which are not represented by cards in the stack. The automatic restoration f of the attracted armatures of the digit setup it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details magnet IN by a circuit described as follows: to

the positive line side I5, through contacts closed by the key, I I I, switch contacts 'II b now closed, wire I52 to magnet IIII, and thence by wire I53 to the negative line side 95. By a succession of impulses to the magnet IN, the sorting desig-- nationselector may be adjusted to the desired position and sorting operations for records having a certain designation may be effecte While it is preferable to construct the machine to include all of the novel features herein disclosed, the machine may be constructed so as to include only some of these features. For example, in a simplified construction of the machine, the sorting designation setup means may be omitted without interfering with the manner 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: 1

1. In a sorting machine for sorting out in a single sorting run a single group of records having a selected designation in one column from other groups of records having other designations in the same column, analyzing means for effecting the analysis of said designations, a sorting mechanism, designation sorting controller means intermediate said analyzing means and said sorting mechanism for selecting the designations which, upon analysis, will effect the operation of said sorting mechanism, means for efiecting an operation of said controller means at the termination of each sorting run to select the next designation while maintaining the same operative relationship between the analyzing means and the'record column containing the next designation, and means including a record indicative of the termination of each sorting run for automatically operating said last named means upon the completion of each sorting run :o select the next designation for sorting operaions.

2. In a sorting machine for sorting records according to a selected designation on the records for each sorting run, an analyzing means for analyzing said designations, a sorting mechanism including an .electro-magnet controlling said sorting mechanism, a plurality of digit representing circuits, means intermediate said analyzing means and said circuits to effect the transmission of an electrical impulse over a selected digit representing circuit when corresponding digit representing designations are analyzed, a step by step controller intermediate said circuits and said electro-magnet for selecting said circuits to cause an electrical digit representing impulse to be transmitted over said circuit to energize said electro-magnet, and means for automatically operating said circuit controller upon the completion oteach sorting run to select a successive digit representing circuit for the succeeding sorting run. I I

3. In a sorting machine for sorting out in a single sorting run a single group of records which have a selected designation and rejecting all other groups of records having other designations 'in the same record column, a commutator 7' ,comprising a step by step switch member'land a plurality of digit representing lines selected by said switch member, a designation means for transmitting sorting controlling impulses over said lines in response to the of the different designations analyzed in said record column, and means for automatically er- I fecting a step of movement of said switch member upon the completion of each sorting operation to select a successive digit representing line forthe succeeding sorting operation.

-4. In a sorting machine in which a sorting run is eflected for each record designation and mechanism controlled thereby, selecting means intermediate said analyzing means and said sort- =ing mechanism for controlling sorting operations for successive designations in their ordinal sequence, and means including a specially designated card comprising the last card in the series} to be sorted in each sorting run for controlling said selecting means for effecting the selection of thenext designation to be efiective upon the subsequent sorting nm for sorting operations.

5. In a sorting machine for sorting out in the other records having other designations in the same record column, a commutator comprising a step by step switch member and a plurality of ldigit representing lines selected by said switch jmemben' a designation analyzing means for transmitting sorting controlling impulses over said lines in response to the analysis of all of the designations analyzed in said record column, and means including a special record member forming the last record in each sorting run I to efiect a step of movement of said switch memher to thereby select a successive digit repre- 1 senting line;

6. In a sorting machine for sorting out in a single sorting run a single group of records'having a selected designation in one column from other groups of records having other designations in the same column, analyzing means for eflecting the analysis of said designations, a sorting mechanism, designation sorting control- :ler means intermediate said analyzing means and said sorting mechanism and operable step by step for selecting the designations in an in-. variable sequence which, upon analysis, will ei'-- feet the operation of said sorting-mechanism,

means for effecting a step of operation of said controller means at the termination of each sorting run to select the next designation while maintaining the same operative relationship be- I was a i umn containing the next designation, and means including a record passed through the machine at the termination of each sorting run for automatically operating saidlast named means upon the completion of each sorting run to select, the next designation for sorting operations.

7.Inasorting machine for sorting outina single sorting run a single group 0! records having a selected designation in one column from other groups of records having'otherdeslgnations in the same column, an brush I tlon while maintaining the same operative reiationship between the analyzing brush contact "said sorting runs are efiected in sequence accordas ;ing to the ordinal sequence of the designations arecord designation analyzing means, a sorting and the record column containing the next designation, and means 'includingm circuit passed through the machineaiuring each sorting run for closing said circuit for automatically operating said last named means upon the completion 0! each sorting run to select the next desigj same sorting run a single group of records which 7 i have a selected designation and rejecting all nation for sorting operations.

' 8. In a sorting machine for sorting in a plu- 'rality ot' runs records containing digit representations, in combination, a sorting mechanism, a record designation means for controlling said sorting mechanlsm, means for selecting and determining the particular designation which is to control upon the sensing thereof said sorting mechanism during each-run of unsorted records, set-up digit representing means responsive to the passage or all of therecords to be sorted during the first sorting run, and means controlled by said set-up means, to control said selecting means to cause the latter to successively select designations corresponding to only those appearing on the records to be sorted.

9. In a sorting machine in which a sorting run is effected for each record designation and said sorting runs are efiected in sequence according to the ordinal sequence of the designations,

- an analyzing means, a sorting mechanism controlled thereby, selecting means intermediate said analyzing means and said sorting mechanism for causing successive sorting runs to be eiiected for successive designations in their ordinal sequence, means responsive to each sorting run to select the next designation according to the ordinal sequence thereof, a digit-repretween the analyzing means and the record col- 7t senting set-up means responsive to the passage of all the records during the first run for repre- I senting designations on the records, and means controlled by said set-up means to cause said selecting means to select only such designations as appear on the records to thereby eliminate sorting operations for non-existing designations.

10. In a sorting machine for sorting records according to single designations on the records for each sorting run, an analyzing brush contact in the path of-the designations oithe records, a sorting mechanism including an electromagnet, a step by step operated circuit controller for said electromagnet tor effecting the operation of the aces-13o sorting mechanism by the successive designations. during-succeeding sorting runs, means for efiecting the step by step operation of said circuit controller, and means including a record passed through the machine during each sorting run to cause the automatic operation of said last named means whereby only such cards as have designations selected by the circuit controller will be sorted by said sorting mechanism during that sorting run, set-up digit representing means responsive to the passage of all the records to be sorted during the first sorting run, and means controlled thereby for eilecting an operation of said circuit controller to cause the lattr to select a succeeding designation corresponding to thenext designation in their ordinal sequence, said digit set-up means causing said circuit controller to be advanced to omit designations not represented on records passed through the machine during the first sorting run whereby only such selecting means. sort ng mechanism controlled by said designation selecting means for sortin records according to the analysis of designations, and means for causing said designation selecting means to be controlled by said set-up digit representing means to render said sorting mechanism effective to sort only records bearing designations represented by the records analyzed by said analyzing means and represented by the set-up digit representing means, said set-up means causing said designation selecting means to be inefiective to select designations for sorting control which correspond to designations not appearing on the records and which are not set up on said digit representing means.

12. In a sorting machine for sorting in a plurality of runs record containing digit representing designations, record designation analyzing means, set-up digit representing means under control of the analyzing means for setting up digit representations appearing on the records analyzed during the first sorting run, means for retaining said set-up means in digit representing positions during successive sorting runs, sorting mechanism for sorting records according to the analysis of designations and during a. plurality oi sorting runs, means controlled by said set-up I digit representing means to render said sorting mechanism efiective to sort during successive sorting runs only records bearing designations represented by the records analyzed by said analyzing means and represented by the set-up digit representing means, and means responsive to the completion of the lastsorting run for. records represented by the set-up digit representing means for rendering said retaining means ineflective.

13. In a sorting machine for sorting records in a plurality of sorting runs according to the sequence of all the digitswhich appear in a full complement of records to be sorted, record designation analyzing means, digit set-up'means under control of said analyzing means for setting up representations 0! the digits appearing on records to be sorted, sorting mechanism, means responsive to the termination of each sorting run for causing the sorting mechanism to be responsiveto the next'digit designation to be analyzed for sorting correspondingly designated records,

and means under control ot said digit set-up means to render said last named means ineffective when the next digit designation does not appear on any of the records to be sorted and for causing the sorting mechanism to be responsive to the next digit designation and which is represented by the digit set-up means, thereby eliminating idle sorting runs for digits not appearing on records.

. 14. In a sortingmachine for sorting records 1 card is analyzed by the analyzing means the.

sorting mechanism to'be responsive to the next digit designation to be analyzed for sorting correspondingly designated records, and means under control of said digit set-up means to render said last named means ineflective when the next digit designation does not appear on any of the records to be sorted and for causing the sorting mechanism to be responsive to the next digit designation and which is represented by the digit set-up means, thereby eliminating idle sorting runs for digits not appearing on records.

15. In a sorting machine for sorting records according to their digit representations, the digits being represented by holes in combinational hole arrangement, a sorting mechanism, record designation analyzing means, means for translating the designations analyzed into a single reading comprising a digit representation, selecting means for successively selecting said translated digit representations for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to the successive digit representations, a digit representing set-up means controlled by said analyzing means, and means controlled by said set-up means to select only such digit designations as appear on the records to thereby eliminate idle sorting operations for non-existing designations on records which are not to be sorted.

16. Ina sorting machine for sorting records in a plurality of sorting runs according to their digit representations, the digits being represented byholes in combinational hole arrangement, a sorting mechanism including a single sorting pocket and a reject pocket, record designation analyzing means, means for translating the designations analyzed into a single reading comprising a digit representation, selecting means for successively selecting said translated digit representations for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to the successive digit representations during successive sorting runs to direct records representing the selected digits in the sorting pocket in successive sorting runs and to direct other records in the reject pocket, a digit representing set-up means controlled by said analyzing means, and means controlled by said set-up means to select only .such digit designations as appear on the records to thereby eliminate idle sorting runs for non-existing designations on records which are not to be sorted.

17. In a sorting. machine for sorting records,

1 said records representing by designations there-- -on digits according "to which sorting operations ensue, a sorting mechanism including a sorting pocket and a reject pocket, record designation analyzing means, means controlledby said record designation analyzing means for controlling said sorting mechanism to direct records bearing a selected designation in the sorting pocket and remaining records in said reject pocket, selecting.

means for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to the designations successively in the i Q ordinal sequence of the digits, digit representing set-up means controlled by said analyzing means to represent the digits the records. analyzed, and means controlled by said set-up means to cause said selecting means to select only such designations as appear on the records analyzed to thereby eliminate sorting operations for nonexisting designations. 4

18. In a sortingmachine for sorting records in a plurality of sorting runs, said records representing by designations thereon digits according Y to which sorting operations ensue, a sorting mechanism including a sortingpocket and a reject pocket, record designation analyzing means,

means controlled by said record designation analyzing means forcontrolling said sorting mech-' anism to direct records bearing a selected designation in the sorting pocket and remaining records in said reject pocket, selecting means comprising a step by step operated controller for causing said sorting mechanism to be responsive to the designations analyzed by the analyzing means successively in the ordinal sequence of the digits, digit representing set-up means controlled by said analyzing means to represent the digits pear'on the records analyzed to thereby'eliminate sorting runs for non-existing designations.

19. In a sorting machine for sorting records according to digit designations of records during successive sorting runs affected to sort records in a predetermined ordinal sequence, designation analyzing means, sorting mechanism controlled thereby, selecting means intermediate said sort ing mechanismand analyzing means to cause sorting runs to be eflected for successivedesignations in their ordinal sequence, digit representing means comprising a plurality oi digit representing relays set uphunder control of said analyzing means, and means controlled by said relays to control said selecting means to select only such designations as appear on the records to thereby eliminate sorting runs for non-existing designations. I

20. In a sorting machine for sorting records according to digit designations of records during successive sorting runs effected to sort records in a predetermined ordinal sequence, designation analyzing means, sorting mechanism controlled thereby,.selecting means intermediate said sorting mechanism and analyzing means to cause sorting runs to be eflected for successive designations in their ordinal sequence, digit repreof the records analyzed, and means controlled by said set-up means to cause said controller to be operated a plurality of steps to select for successivesorting runs only such designations as ap- -tion appearing on the records to cause said retaining means to be ineiiective.

MICHAEL MAUL.

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