US2294903A - Selective filling and finding system - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1942. R. o. GRIFFIN 2,294,903

v SELECTIVE FILING AND FINDING SYSTEM I Filed Oct. 5, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l I BY%W ATTORNEYS,

p 1942- I R. o. GRIFFIN 2,294,903 I SELECTIVE FILING AND FINDING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 5, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. 20255? 0 GHFFJN ATTORNEYS.

P 1942- R. O. GRIFFIN v SELECTIVE FILING AND FINDING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 5; 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w snu -lllllllllll 6 11 mm INVENTOk. 05227" 0; GHFi/N ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 8. 1942' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE samo'rrva FILING AND rmnmc sys'rm 1mm 0. drum, Berkeley, Calif.

Application mms, 193s. Serial No. 233,400

" 25 Claims. (Cl. lac-16.1)

cards are notched along their edges in accord-' ance with a predetermined code. Each card'also has a central recess with a restricted opening for the purpose of receiving a card removing member when the card is moved into a predetermined position. A plurality of selecting bars are used and certain of these are moved for setting up a definite code. The cards having notches corresponding to the code will be moved by rocking the device and will receive the bars setting up the code. The cards having the code will also receive the card removing member and can. be withdrawn by the member.

The present form of the invention is designed to be held in the hand when operated. The cards are notched according to a code and are placed in a receptacle. A cover is placed over the receptacle "and carries a number of key-actuated selector bars that may be depressed in accordance with a code. The device is turned upside down to move the cards toward the bars. Those cards having .notches corresponding with the depressed keys, will move further than the other cards, and I provide novel means for engaging and holding the group of cards that has moved'further. The device is now turned back into an upright position and the cover is removed and will lift the coded cards from the receptacle.

I I have provided thirty keys and these may be coded in any desired manner. The cards have opposite edges marked with thirty lines and these lines designate where the cards can be punched for forming bar-receiving recesses. A central recesson opposite edges of each card has a restricted opening for receiving the member that removes the card from the pack.

It is possible to arrange the thirty markings on each card edge into six groups of five numbers the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Figure l is a. vertical longitudinal section I through the device taken substantially along the line l-l of Figure 3;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device;

Figure 4 is .a section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of Figure 3; s

Figure 6 illustrates-the operation of the device;

and a Figure 7 is a plan view device.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a card holding receptacle indicated at I. This receptacle is preferably box-like in shape with an open top 2 and a central partition 3, see Figure 2. A cover 4 has walls 5 that telescope over the receptacle. The lower edges of the cover walls are curved as at 6 to permit the ready movement of the cover over the receptacle.

A plurality of cards of the type shown at 'l in Figure 7 are disposed in the two compartments A and B formed in the receptacle I by the partition 3. These cards are marked adjacent to their edges and I have shown thirty marks 8 along one edge and a similar number of marks 9 along the opposite edge although this number may be changed at will. In Figure 6, I show one of the cards I provided with a punched-out recess l0 and this recess is formed at the marking numbered H in accordance with a predetermined code hereinafter described. It is possible to provide the cards with any desired number of recesses l0 and both edges of the cards may be recessed in this manner.

The edges l l and [2 of the card I, see Figure 7,

are also'provided with recesses I3 and it that of a card used with the at C and D in Figure 3. The keys C carry push buttons I5 numbered from 1 to inclusive and the keys D are provided with similar push buttons I5 numbered from 16 to 30 inclusive. In Figure 2, I show the push buttons I5 mounted on shanks I8 and these shanks in turn are pivotally secured at I! to selector bars I8. A guide comb I9 for the bars I8, is placed on each side of the cover 4, see v Figures 1 and 2, and the selector bars I8 are slidably mounted in the slots 20 formed in the combs. After the bars are mounted in the combs, a bar retaining strip 2| is placed over the open ends of the combs and holds the bars in place. This bar has-a bevelled lower edge as shown in Figure 2.

The shanks I6 project through slots 22 formed in the top wall 23 of the cover. A key-holding strip 24 is placed under the top wall 23 and between the two rows of shanks I8 and also acts as a spacer bar for the shanks. Each shank carries a catch 25 that will engage with the strip 24 when the shank is moved downwardly by depressing the button l5. A spring 26 is connected to each shank and extends at an angle to a supporting hook 21 and this spring will yieldingly hold the catch 25 in engagement with the strip 24 when the key is depressed. The spring 26 performs theadditional function of returning the shank and selector bar I8 to starting position when the key I5 is swung about its pivot I! in a direction to free the catch 25 from the strip 24. The freeing of each key may be done manually and independently or all of the keys may be freed at once from the strip 24 by a mechanism now to be described.

In Figures 2 and 4, I show two key- release bars 28 and 29 extending parallel with respect to each other and normally abutting one another. The release bars 28 and 29 are slidably supported on brackets 30 that are secured to the walls 5 of the cover 4, see Figures 1 and 4. Links 33'are pivotally connected to both bars 28 and 29 and are normally inclined in the positions shown in Figure 4. The bars are recessed at 34 for providing spaces through which pivot pins 35 extend from the links to the brackets 30. It will be seen from this construction that when the bar 28 is moved to the right in Figure 4, the links will move the bar 29 to the left and will also space the bars from each other. The bars contact with the key shanks i6, see Figure 2, and therefore a movement of the bars away from each other will cause the shanks to move outwardly and free the catches 25 from the strip 24 of those keys that have been depressed. The springs 26 will immediately raise the depressed key shanks and will also raise the selector bars I8 connected therewith.

The means for moving the release bars 28 and 29 away from each other, consists of a link 36 centrally disposed on the bars 28 and 29, see

Figure 4. The link 36 is pivotally connected at 3'! to the bars, The link 36 is carried by a stub shaft 38 and Figure 1 shows the shaft extending through a sleeve 39 carried by the top cover 23. The sleeve 39 extends through the strip 24, and the shaft 38 extends above the top 23 and carries a release key 40, see Figure 3. When the release key 40 is rotated in the direction of the arrows a, the shaft 38 will be rocked and will swing the link 36 therewith. The link will act upon the bars 28 and 29 to move them into release position. The bars will free the depressed keys and permit them to return to normal position in the manner already stated. When the release key 40 is freed, a torsional spring 4I, see Figure 1, will swing the key and the link 38 back into the positions shown in Figures 3 and 4, and this will bring the release bars 28 and 29 back into contacting position as shown in Figure 4.

Figures 1 and 6 show the cards I with notches III cut therein at predetermined places. The desired code is formed by depressing certain keys I5 and then the box is inverted. The cards will gravitate from the receptacle I into the cover 4 and the depressed selector bars I8 will hold the cards from moving beyond these bars unless the cards have notches registering with the depressed bars. Those cards that have the selected code will move beyond the depressed bars I8 and will come to rest after the selector bars enter the notches. A card removing bar 42 is positioned to enter the recesses I3 of the cards carrying the proper code. In Figures 1 and 4, I show the card removing bar 42 extending across the width of the cover and it will be seen from Figures 1 and 6 that the bar is rectangular in cross section and normally the wider sides of the bar are disposed in a vertical position.

Figure 2 shows the bar rotatably carried by the side walls of the cover and being rigidly secured to a bar rotating member 43. In Figure 5, I show the member 43 as comprising a disc with a peripheral cutout portion 44 that is bounded by shoulders 45 and 46. A peripheral groove .41 is formed in the member 43 and extends from the shoulder 45 to the other shoulder 48, A stop pin 48 is carried by the side wall of the cover and normally contacts with theshoulder 46. A coiled spring 49 is connected to the pin 48 and is received in the groove 41. The other end of the spring is connected to the member 43 at 58. An actuating arm 5| is pivotally connected to the member 43 at 52 and has its free end slidably received in a bracket 53. The other end of the arm 5| is curved at 54 to provide a handle.

After the receptacle has been inverted, the handle 54 is moved, see Figure 5, and the card removing bar 42 will be swung through 90 and will lock itself in the card recesses I3. Of course, the device is held in inverted position during this movement, and therefore Figure 6 should be inverted to illustrate the correct position of the device. The handle 54 is kept raised while the device is returned to normal position and this will cause the coded cards to be supported and the others to drop back into the receptacle. The handle 54 is still held in raised position while the cover is removed from the receptacle. This will remove the coded cards from the receptacle.

As an aid in removing the cover, I provide arcuate side walls 55, see Figure 2, which are integral with the top '23 and are arranged parallel with the banks of keys C and D, see Figure 3.

The thumb of the hand of the operator that removes the cover from the receptacle, actuates the handle 54 for rotating the bar 42 before the cover is removed. The pivoting of the key shanks I6 to the selector bars I8 permits the shanks to rock on their pivots when moving into or out of their operating positions. This obviates the necessity of causing the entire selector bar to move in the direction of its length when the catch 25 engages with or disengages from the strip 24. The arrangement of the springs 28 performs the double function of keeping the catches of the depressed keys in engagement with the strip 24 and of returning the selector bars to normal positions when the catches are freed by the manual swinging of individual depressed keys away from first letter.

the strip 24 or the releasing of all of the keys by the partial rotation of the release key 40.

It is possible to code both edges II and I! of each card and I therefore have designated the marks 8 along one edge by the reference charac ter A on the card and have designated the marks 9 adjacent to the edge I2 by the reference char acter B, also marked on the card, see Figure 7. When it is desired to code from the edge 12, the pack of cards are inverted in the receptacle l and the recess I now takes the place of the recess l3.

It is possible to make various types of codes on the cards. For example, the cards could be coded to give the surname and the first letters of the first and second given names. In addition the sex, race, and whether the person is a parent or non-parent, could be given. All of this is accomplished by coding the cards in the following manner:

Surname.-The first eleven positions on the card will be used for this name. The only use that will be made of the direct alphabetical principle will be to determine the general filing location of the card by the first letter of the surname; thus, Smiths card (after being notched) would be dropped in the drawer designated for the S's (with the notched edge up). The consonants are given arbitrary numerals as shown in the next table. The notch'ed coding for the surname begins with the numerical equivalent given the first three consonants in the name following the (When fewer than three consonants are to be found in the surname, the deficiency is made up with ciphers-one, two or three, as the case may be.) The consonants are arbitrarily grouped and numerically designated in this manner:

b, p, f, v-1 0, s, k, g, j, q, x, z-2 d, t3 1-4 n-5 r6 Now, for illustration, take Smiths card, m"=5; t"=3; and h is not given a number. Therefore the surname Smith will be 530. The three-digit numbers made up of all the various combinations of the six figures above shown (and the zero when required) can be coded in the eleven markings provided, if five out of eleven positions reserved for the purpose are notched. The maximum possible combinations within a segment of eleven are 462 in combinations of five each. 1 (Only 259 are needed for all of the combinations possible with six numbers, but ten positions in combinations of five gives a maximum of only 252-just 7 short of the number needed.) A complete list of code number combinations for the 259 different arrangements required will be unnecessary to give. Sufiice it to say that the Smith surname of 530 when coded will be 2-5-7-8-10. according to this code number of five figures.

First letters of first and second given names- We have nineteen positions left on the one margin of the card outside the segment of eleven positions just used for the surname. I Of these nineteen markings we shall use six, in combinations of three, to code the first letter of the first given name and six more, in combinations of three, to code the first letter of the second given name, in this manner:

Out of the twenis six letters in the alphabet,

Notches are punched in the cardseven are of relatively infrequent occurrence as initials of given names: I, Q, U, V, X, Y,-Z. Within a given large collection of names, these seven total no more than any one of a number of the remaining nineteen letters of the alphabet; hence the seven are given a common coding, thus making coding provision necessary for only twenty lettered groupings, which is taken care of by 'six positions in combinations of three each:

1st initial 2nd initial (12-17) (18-23) 12-13-14A18-19-20 12-13-15-13-18-19-21 12-13-16-C-18-l9-22, etc.

This leaves seven positions (24 to 30 inclusive) unused. Two of these can be used for sex; three for race; and the last two for parent or nonparent:

Sex:

24-male 25female Race:

26-white 27-black 28-all other Family position:

29-parent 30-nonparent Applying the code to a specific case, e. g., Amy Caroline Smith, negro mother, our positions on the card would be notched; 2-5-7-8-10 for the 530--numerical equivalent of Smith (exclusive of the S, of course, which determines itsfile drawer or compartment); 12-13-14 for the A of Amy; 18-19-22 for the C of Caroline; 25 for female; 27 for race; and 29 for parent. Notches in the card for this person will be made adjacent to the following numbers: 2-5-7-8-10; 12-13-14; 18-19-22; 25; 27; 29 (a total of 14 notches). The card would then be dropped, notched side I up, in the drawer or compartment designated for the S's, no particular place within such drawer or compartment being necessary, regardless of the number of other cards therein contained. When necessary to find that card again, although it is anywhere within the receptacle containing many other cards, it is necessary merely to press the keys on the selector corresponding to the numbers last above indicated and turn the device upside down, pull thehandle 54, and turn the device right side up. The desired card will be hanging from the cover when the cover is removed.

It will be obvious from the foregoing, that filing and refiling has been reduced to merely dropping the card anywhere in a drawer or compartment just as long as the notched side is up. It will also be clear that the complete code need not be used when selecting. For instance, if it is desired to locate all the negro mothers, regardless of name, it is simply a matter of pressing only the keys numbered 25, 2'7 and 29; or if desired to locate all negro mothers of the name Smith, regardless of given names, the key combination will be 2-5-7-8-10; 25, 2'7 and 29; or, if desired to locate only negro women, only- keys 25 and 27 will be pressed.

It is to be borne in mind that this consumes only one of the two margins of the card. Thev other margin of thirty positions can be used for any other coding purpose desired to break each case down by other groupings such as occupation, address or district, etc. This is accomplished, after coding along one edge, by reversing the position of the coded cards in the receptacle with respect to the top and bottom and then continue further coding operations.

I also show a novel method for coding cards to be used in a decimal system. The thirty numbers on the card 7 are arranged in six groups of five numbers each, see Fig. '7. By combining the five numbers in difierent groups of two, it is possible to designate any number from zero to nine inclusive. The following list will make the point clearer:

The six groupings of five numbers each will give a six-numbered figure and it will therefore be possible to code up to 999,999. This type of coding lends itself especially to the decimal system as used in the filing of books in libraries, list of medical classifications, etc. It is helpful in the rapid locating of cards relating to a particular group. When this system is used, the banks of keys C and D may be provided with small numbers to divide the keys into groups of;

five each in the same manner as the thirty numbers on the cards are divided into groups of five each. These small numbers are shown in parentheses on the keys in Figure 3. It is also possible to color successive groups of five keys each with contrasting colors as black and yellow. The groups of keys would be alternately colored as indicated and this would permit the operator to quickly find the desired keys in any group.

Should the thirty numbers on one edge of the card be used without any grouping as above mentioned, it is possible to obtain as high as 115,000,000 diflerent combinations. Should the other side of the card be used with its thirty numbers, it will be seen that the possible cornbinations will be extremely large.

It should be noted that the front of the cover and the front of the receptacle are marked in some designating manner so that the cover will be properly positioned on the receptacle each time the device is used. The word front can be stamped on both receptacle and cover or a projection (not shown) could be-provided in the receptacle that would be received in a recess (not shown) in the cover only when the cover was properly positioned. Figures 2 to inclusive, show a housing 43' for the mechanism that rocks the bar 42. This housing has its flange recessed for slidably receiving the arm 5|. It is possible to use all four sides of the card for coding purposes. In the specification and claims, the term card is used in its broadest sense, so as to cover ordinary loose leaves, cards, sheets, and other accounting elements.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a receptacle for cards having notches along their edges arranged in a predetermined manner, a cover removably secured to the receptacle, a plurality of depressible key bars carried by the cover, said bars being receivable in the notches, means for holding the keys in depressed position after they have been manually moved, said receptacle and cover being movable as a unit for moving the cards toward the bars, thedepressed bars only permitting those cards to pass whose notches correspond therewith, and gripping means for gripping those cards whose notches receive the depressed bars, said means withdrawing the gripped cards when the cover is removed from the receptacle.

2. In a device of the type described, a receptacle for holding a plurality of cards notched along their upper edges in a predetermined manner, a cover for the receptacle, selector bars carried by the cover and being movable toward the cards, the advanced bars being receivable in the notches of cards whose notches correspond with the moved bars when the receptacle is moved for moving all of the cards toward the bars, and means for retaining the cards whose notches receive the bars and for removing them when the cover is removed.

3. In a device of the type described, a receptacle, a plurality of cards mounted in the recep tacle and having their exposed edges notched in a predetermined manner, each card also having a recess with a restricted entrance, a cover for the receptacle, key-actuated bars movably carried by the cover and adapted to be received in the notches aligned with the bars, said bars constituting stops for the cards when the device is turned for moving the cards toward the bars, means for holding the bars against return movement when manually depressed, whereby the depressed bars will act as advance stops'for all of the cards excepting those having notches in alignment with the depressed bars, a card retaining member carried by the cover and designed to enter the restricted opening and be received in the card recesses of the last-mentioned group of cards, means for rotating the member into a position that will prevent it from passing through the restricted portion of the recesses whereby a removal of the cover will carry with it the last-named group of cards.

4. In a device of the type described, a plurality of selector bars, a guide for each end of each bar, a key-shank pivoted to each bar and carrying a catch, a stop lying in the path of each catch, spring means for causing each shank to keep its catch in engagement with the stop when the key is depressed for moving its bar so that both ends of the bar will be moved in the same direction, and for bringing the bar and shank back into normal position when the key-shank is rocked about its pivot for freeing the catch from the stop.

5. In a device of the type described, a plurality of notched cards, a plurality of movable selector bars, a key-shank for each bar and carrying a catch, a stop lying in the path of each catch, each key-shank when manually depressed moving its bar and bringing the catch into engage ment with the stop, spring means for yieldingly urging each key-shank and bar back into normal position, common release means for simultaneously freeing all of the depressed key-shanks, and card engaging means for gripping those cards having notches receiving the depressed bars when the cards are moved toward the bars.

6. In a device of the type described, a plurality of parallel selector bars, a key-shank for each bar and carrying a catch, a stop member, every alternate shank being disposed on one side 0: the member and all of the other shanks being disposed on the opposite side, whereby the member will divide the shanks into two parallel rows and will act as a spacer between the rows, the

catches on the shanks in the two rows facing each other, said shanks adapted to be manually depressed for causing the catches to engage with the stop member, and spring means for returning each shank and bar to normal position when the shank is moved for freeing the catch ber will divide the shanks into two parallel rows I and will act as a spacer between the rows, the catches on the shanks in the two rows facing each "other, said shanks adapted-to be manually depressed for causing the catches to engage with the stop member, spring means for returning each shank and bar to normal position when the shank is moved for freeing the catch from the stop member, and common release means for simultaneously freeing all of the depressed key-shanks,

8. In a device of the type described, a selector bar, guides for the ends of the bar, a key-shank pivotally secured to the bar and extending substantially at right angles thereto, said shank being manually depressable in the direction of its length for moving the bar, a stop bar disposed adjacent to the shank, a catch carried by the shank, and a spring connected to the shank and exerting a pulling force at an angle on the shank for yieldingly holding the catch in engagement with the stop when the shank is depressed, said spring returning the bar and shank to normal position when the shank is moved for freeing the catch from the stop.

9. In a device of the type described, a receptacle for holding cards, cards disposed in the receptacle and having recesses with restricted openings, a cover for the receptacle, a bar rectangular in cross sectionand rockably carried by the cover, said bar extending transversely across the tops of the cards and in line with the recesses, said bar normally having its narrow edge facing the restricted recess openings, whereby the bar will enter the openings when the cards are moved toward the bar, manually controlled means for rocking the bar through 90 after the bar has entered the card recesses, thus presenting the broad side of the bar to the restricted openings and securing the cards to the bar, whereupon a removal of the cover from the receptacle will carry the secured cards therewith.

10. In a device ofthe type described, a cover for a receptacle, a bar extending across the interior of the cover and being rockably carried for presenting the broad side of the bar to the receptacle.

11. In a device of the type described, a plurality of key-shanks arranged in two rows, a stop extending between the two rows, catches carried by the shanks and engaging with the stop when the shanks are depressed, spring means from each other for moving the shanks and freeing the catches from the stop.

12. In a device of the type described, a receptacle for cards, a cover having a hand grip portion, cards placed in the receptacle and having recesses with restricted openings, a bar rock ably carried by the cover and having a narrow side designed to enter the restricted openings when the cards are moved toward the bar, an-

arm operatively connected to the bar and having a handle positioned to be actuated by the same hand that grips the cover, said arm when actuated, rocking the bar for presenting the wide side of the bar to the restricted entrance of the card recesses, wherebythe cards are connected to the bar and will be removed with the cover.

13. A card'finding device comprising a receptacle having compartments therein, the compartments being made for holding cards havingtheir exposed edges notched in a predetermined manher, and the cards also being provided with re-'- cesses with a restricted entrance, a cover for the receptacle, aplurality' of key-actuated selector bars carried by the cover and in alignment with the notches, means for temporarily holding any bar in advanced position that has been moved by the depressing of a key, a bar rockably carried by the cover-and aligned with the restricted entrances, said bar presenting a narrow side to the cards so as to enter those cards that are moved toward the bars by the tilting of the receptacle and cover as a unit and that have notches corresponding to the advanced bars, a handle for rocking the rockable bar for causing the broaderside of the bar to face the restricted entrances, whereby the cards receiving the rockable bar will be secured thereto and inglyholding one shoulder against the stop .for

positioning the narrow side parallel with the top of the cover, a handle eccentrically connected to thedisc, said handle when actuated rocking the disc to bring the other shoulder against the stop, whereby the wide side of the bar is swung into a parallel position with the cover top.

15. In a device of the type described, a plurality of selector bars, parallel guides for slidably supporting both ends of each bar, a key shank pivoted to each bar for moving the bar so that both ends of the bar will move in the same direction. along the guides, a catch on each shank, a stop lying in the path of each catch, and spring means for causing each shank to keep its catch in engagement with the stop when the key is depressed.

16. In a device of the type described, a selector bar, parallel guides for slidably supporting both ends of the bars, a key shank pivoted to the bar and being manually depressible for moving the bar so that both ends of the bar will move in the same direction along the guides, a stop bar,

for urging the shanks back into normal position,

a pair of bars extending between the two rows of shanks, and means for moving the bars away a catch carried by the shank, and a spring connected to the shank for yieldingly holding the catch against the stop when the shank is depressed. 1

17. A card finding device comprising a receptacle, cards disposed therein and having their exposed edges notched in a predetermined manner and also provided with recesses with restricted entrances, a cover for the receptacle, a plurality of key-actuated selector bars carried by the cover and disposed in alignment with the notches, means for holding any depressed bar against returning, a bar substantially rectangular in cross-section rockably carried by the cover and normally presenting a narrow side to the restricted entrances so as to enter the recesses of those cards moved toward the bars by the moving of the receptacle and that have notches corresponding to the depressed bars, and a handle for rocking the bar in the recesses for causing the broader side to close the restricted entrances, whereby the cards receiving the rockable bar will be removed with the cover.

18. A card finding device comprising a receptacle, cards disposed therein and having their exposed edges notched in a predetermined manner, a cover, selector bars carried by the cover and being receivable in the notches, said cards being movable toward the selector bars, push buttons associated with the bars and being movable for advancing any desired bar toward the cards, whereby only those cards having notches corresponding to the advanced bars will have their notched edges pass beyond the remaining cards when all of the cards are moved toward the bars, and means for gripping those cards that move further than the remaining cards.

19. In a card selecting device, the combination 01' a mass of data-bearing cards, each containing a plurality of marginal slots positioned with reference to the data contained thereon, an invertible holder for the cards, selector bars on said holder extending across the cards and being receivable in the slots, said bars being individually adjustable with respect to the cards, whereby to permit the cards bearing those particular slots aligned with the adjusted bars to fall below the other cards and upon the adjusted bars when the holder is inverted, and means for gripping the cards whose slots receive the adjusted bars.

20. In a card selecting device, the combination of a mass of data-bearing cards, each containing a plurality of slots positioned on the top margins thereof and arranged uniformly with respect to the data contained on the cards, each cards, and a rod substantially rectangular in cross-section adapted to enter the key-slots of the advanced card group, whereupon by tuming said rod in the enlarged portion of the slots, the cards will be retained thereon for removal.

21. In a device of the type described, a receptacle for holding a plurality of cards notched in a predetermined manner along the edges of the cards facing an opening in the receptacle, a cover for said opening, selector bars carried by the cover and being movable towards the cards, the advanced bars being receivable in the notches of cards whose notches correspond with the moved bars when the receptacle is moved for moving all oi the cards toward the bars, and means for retaining the cards whose notches receive the bars and for moving them when the cover is removed.

22. In a device of the type described, a receptacle for holding a plurality of cards having their exposed edges notched in a predetermined manner, a cover for the receptacle, key-actuated bars movably carried by the cover and adapted to be received in the notches aligned with the bars, said bars constituting stops for the cards when the device is turned for moving the cards toward the bars, means for holding the bars against return movement when manually depressed, whereby tthe depressed bars will act as advance stops for all of the cards excepting those hav ing notches inalignment with the depressed bars, a card retaining member carried by the cover and designed to enter restricted portions oi recesses formed in the last-mentioned group 0! cards and to be received in enlarged portions of the card recesses, and means for moving the member into a position that will prevent it from passing out through the restricted portion of the card recesses, whereby a removal of the cover will carry with it the last-named group of cards.

23. In a device 0L the type described, a plurality of movable selector bars for overlying a plurality oi notched cards, a key-shank for each bar and carrying a catch, a stop lying in the path of each catch, each key-shank when manually depressed moving its bar and bringing the catch into engagement with the stop, spring means for 'yieldingly urging each key-shank and bar into normal position, common release means for simultaneously freeing all of the depressed keyshanks, and card engaging means for gripping those cards having notches receiving the de pressed bars when the cards are moved toward the bars.

24; In a device of the type described, a receptacle for holding cards having recesses with restricted openings formed in the cards, a cover for thevreceptacle, a bar elongated in cross-section and rockably carried by the cover, said bar extending transversely across the tops of the cards and in line with the recesses, said bar normally having its narrow edge facing the restricted recess openings, whereby the bar will enter ,the openings when the cards are moved toward the bar, means for turning the bar after the latter has entered the card recesses for presenting the broad side of thebar to the restricted openings and securing the cards to the bar, whereupon a removal 01' the cover irom the receptacle will 'carry the secured cards therewith.

25. In a device oi the type described, a receptacle for cards having recesses with restricted openings in the cards, a cover having a hand grip portion, a bar rockably carried by the cover and having a narrow side designed to enter the restricted openings when the cards are moved toward the bar, an arm operatively connected to the bar and having a handle positioned to be actuated by the same hand of the operator that grips the cover, said arm when actuated, rocking the bar for presenting the wide side of the bar to the restricted entrance oi the card recesses, whereby the cards are connected to the bar and will be removed with the cover.

ROBERT O. GRIFFIN.

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