US2389343A

US2389343A - Card sorting machine

Info

Publication number: US2389343A
Application number: US508385A
Authority: US
Inventors: Connor Roger
Original assignee: MCBEE CO
Current assignee: MCBEE Co
Priority date: 1943-10-30
Filing date: 1943-10-30
Publication date: 1945-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1962-11-20

Description

Nov. 209 1945.

R. CONNOR Y CARD SORTINGvMACHINE' Filed oct. so, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 51 54 INVENTQR. 5j E065@ CON/voe, BY .9' @LLM d.. W

f ATTO/vsy.

R. CONNOR CARD SORTING MACHINE ,Nov. zo, 1945-.

Filed Oct. 50, 1943 I Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- Rosse CoM/voe,

BY @Ww a: M

ATTORNEY.-

Nov. 2o, 1945.l R, CCN-NOR Y 2,389,343

' l bARD SRTINGYMACHINE Il Filedv Oct. .30, 1943 3 sheets-Sheet 3 y 2j 25 40 39 3j INVENTOR. v QOL-3.15` CONNOR,

BY Y

ATTORNEY;

Patented Nov. v20, 1945.

CARD SORTING MACHINE Roger Connor, `Athens, Ohio, assignor to The Mc- Bee Company, Athens, Ohio, a corporation Application October 30,` 1943, Serial No. 50.8,385y

6 Claims.

This invention relates to card sorting and selecting machines for use indirect and sequence sorting of cards of the character widely known mainder of 'a stack -by means of asorting rod or rods passed through the perforations of a particuv lar classification. `The rod or rods retains those as Keysort cards and which are illustrated and described in Letters Patent of the United States #1,544,172. V-

It is the principal object `of my present invention to provide a generallyI improvedv apparatus capable of receiving cardsk of the ycharacter re-' ferred to and of operation toexpeditiously sein with greater facility and accuracy than prior devices for similar purposes.

One form which the invention may assume is exempliiied in thefollowing description and illustrated by 4way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a' perspective view of an apparatus embodying the preferred form ofvmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section therethrough taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

.cards unslotted for this classification while the cards slotted to represent the selected classification separate from the stack. I Y

In sequence sorting as set forth in said patent,

any number of cards in a stack may be placed quence sort or direct sort the cards disposed there- U `Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine showing the sorting rod in sorting position. I

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in section taken on line 'I-l of Fig. l. y

Fig; 8 is a perspective view of the form of selector rod employed when a plurality of the same are used simultaneously.

Fig. 9 is a trai'flsversek sectional view through the selector rod holder.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, I0 indicates an apparatus constructed 4in accordance with my present invention. This apparatus is a portable one and may be disposed on a table,l desk or other convenient support for use. The apparatus I 0 is capable of .use in sequence sorting of edge punched cards as wellasthe direct sorting thereof. u

The cards to be sorted in the present machine are those of the character set forth in the before mentioned Letters Patent of the United States #1,544,172 and in general consist of a sheet or a card having a. plurality of perforations adjacent the edge of the card which may be separately slotted out to the edge of the card. The slotting of the card indicates or represents a particular classiilcation.l In direct sorting, as pointed out in said patent, those cards relating to a particular classiiication are separated from the reinv numerical 'order or other ksequence .by ypassing the selector rod successively through the perforations in a particular sequence asset forth in the patent. Both ,direct andsequence sorting is well d known and therefore will not be described herein with particularity.

The present machine I0 is capable of receivingv a stack of cards and direct sorting.r or sequence sortingathe same., The machine comprises a` frame or. base II which in this instance is illustrated as a hollow base preferably formed oi sheet metal although other construction may be employed. At the. top of this frame there is a cir-- cumscribing wall I2 defining a rectangular card receiving chamber I2a. This chamber I2a is disposed on an angle tc the horizontal. At the bottom of the chamber I2a is a flat platform I4 also disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal. This platform I4 is pivoted` adjacent its lower end to the sides of the frame Il as at I5 so that itfmay be raised and lowered vertically a limited amount as will be described. i

Disposed Within the chamber I2a is, a card re- I ceiving rack I6 formed of a plurality of equally spaced separator plates I1. This rack is normally disposed at the same angle as the platform I4 and bears thereon. It will be noticed that each side of the rack is formed by a separator plate I1 and that all of the separator plates are rigidly joined together adjacent the lower end by transverse members I8 and I9. The upper ends of the separator plates I1 constitute templates and are substantially the same in contour and dimensiones the cards to be sorted.

v I prefer to call the upper portion of the separating plates templates inasmuch as they match the cards to be sorted and are formed with selector rod receiving holes or perforations 20 which are vious that the end edges of the templates may be likewise formed with selector rod receiving holes. When the platform I4 is in normal position as shown in dotted line in Fig. 2 and the card receivy in engagement with the cranks 25.

ing rack is in its normal position with its lower edge bearing on its platform, cards stacked between the templates will register with the templates and the punched holes a in the cards will register with the selector rod receiving holes 20 in the templates. This enables a selector rod to be projected through the templates and through the cards for sorting purposes as will be described. y

In order to hold the cards 'in aligned position rods are projected through the cards and teming gate 22 which extends transversely thereof and may be positioned so vthat the;lower ends of thecards will engage the same land be maintained in register with the templates 2|. .gate 22 may be, as shown in the drawings, swung withthe templates 2| while the selector rod or the selector rod or rods to disengage therefrom plates, the platform I4 is formed with an align-J and drop downwardly to .the platform and slide downwardly along the same a distance slightly less than f thelengthof the cards or until their lower ends abut against the transverse member I9 adjacent the lower end of the rack. It is imy portant that the cards be not permitted to slide to a position flush with the top of the platform.4

|4 so that Ithe cards released from the templates.

2| may 'slide downwardly of 'the platform to a position as shown in Fig. 2 that.v removed from the rack.

It shouldbe Vpointed out that in causingremoval of selected cards from a stack thereof after the selector rod or rods are projected therethrough, it is necessary to produce a `ian-ing4 action on 'the cards so that those cards havingk notches registering with the vselector'rod or rods' will drop completely from the stack; This jarring action is necessary to overcome the tendency of the cards to stick Vtogether or cards being held from dropping by adjacent cards. In the present instance I have provided means for imparting a vibrating or gyratory movement to the templatesy 2| to effect such separation ofthe-cards during' sorting. I accomplish this by' providing the receiving rack I8 with two downwardly projecting they may be their full length downwardly of the platform as it prevents the removed cards from falling sidewise and blocking the exit of other cards from the stack. In other words, it maintains the selected cards in a vertical position in their respective places. To guide the platform I4 in its `vertical movement, ears are formed thereon at the sides thereof. These ears have slots 33 of a length agreeing with the. amount of movement Vitis desired to permit the platform I4, which slots engage fixed pins 31.at the sides ofv the frame Il.

arms 23. One arm 23 projects downwardly from 1 one side of the rack I6 and the other from the opposite side of the rack I6. The lower ends of these arms 23 are bifurcated as indicated by` 24 and each engages a crank 25 on a transverse shaft25 carried by the frame I'I. vA spring V21 maintains the bifurcated ends 24 of the arms 23 Obviously when the shaft 26 is revolved, the templates 2| of the card receiving rack I 6 will be rapidly gyrated or vibrated .to eiect complete separation of the cards. The shaft 26 is preferably driven by an electric motor 28 mounted within the base II through a belt 28afanda pulley 29a on the shaft 26. The motor 28 is controlled by a conventional type of switch 29 also mounted within the base.

s Abefore stated, the platform. is pivoted to .the base II as at I5 for the purpose of enabling When the p ins- 3 1 engage the lower endsv of the slots 36, the platform will bev in normal orupper position and when the pins 31 engage the .upper ends ofthe slots 36, the platform will be in its lower or selecting position. A spring 38 normally tends .to move the platform to its lower position.

When the platform I4 is moved to its-lower position, the switch 29 is automatically closed to start the motor 28 and the aligninggate 22 is automatically lowered to unobstruct the exit of 40,the cards from between the templatesv 2|. These it to be lowered with relation to the bottom of the templates 2| of the card receiving rack I6. The templates 2|, of course, form a rigid part of the rack. For this purpose a transverse shaft 30 is mounted in base Il. At one end the shaft 30 is provided with an operating handle 3| positioned exteriorally of the base that itmay `be grasped and manipulated by the operator of the machine. Secured on this shaft 3U are crank arms 32 connected by connecting rods 33 to lugs 34 secured to the underside of the platform I4. When the operating handleV 3| is' in one position, the platform is positioned atits normal or kupper position or vthat shown in dotted lines'in Fig. 2.

in which position the bottom of the templates I1 are closely contiguous to the upper surface of the platform. When the parts are in this position,

the punched holes in cards stacked between the to the surface of the platform I4. inclination ofthe latter the cards will slide downtwo` functions are accomplished by -theprovision of a switch arm 39 and a gate arm 49 both fixed to the shaft 30. When the operating handle 3| of the shaft 30 is moved to lower the platform I4, it causesthe switch arm 39 to close the switch 29 and to cause the arm 40-to lower the gate 22. The arm 40 is connected toga crank arm 4| on .the gate by a connection 42. A spring 43 is providedwhich constantly tendsxto4 move the gate 22 to its upper or aligning position.

When the operating handle 3| is swung inthe opposite direction to move the platform I4 .toits upper or normal position, the army 43 swings upwardly allowing the spring 43 to swing the gate 22 to its uppermost or aligning position. At the Sametime the arm 39. disengages from the switch 29 and permits the same to open, cutting oif the operation of the motor. Thus, it will be seen that after the selectorrod or rods are projected through the cards and templates, the operating handle 3| may be operated` to lower the 'platform I4 and simultaneously operate the gate 22 and the switch 29.

vImmediately that the motor commences operation, it will impart a drive tofthe shaft 23'to revolve the crank 25` and through the cranks and the arms 23 rapidly gyrate or vibrate the card receiving rack I6 and templates 2| thereof, causing the selected cards to Adrop from thestack Due to the wardly thereover until they engage the transverse member I9. The remaining cards Vor theunselected ones will be held suspended in the card receiving rack by the selector rod or rods.

When the operator determines that all of the selected cards have been discharged `from the stack, the operating handle 3| is manipulated to turn the shaft 30 to raise the platform It and simultaneously shut oi the operation of the motor and raisethe gate 22. Of course, prior to the operation of the handle 3|, the operator removes from the' rack the selected cards that have been discharged from the stack.of cards.

For the purpose of operating vthe selector .-rod or rods, I have provided a selector rod holder 5I) which is disposed at one side cf the frame. This selector rod holder comprises a pair of complementary members 5| which are channel shaped in cross section. One of the inner opposed faces of the members 5i (which isvat the base ofthe channel in each instance) is formed with rack teeth |52 engaged by a pinion 53 fixed on the selector rod 55. The side legs 5ta of the members 5| are spaced slightly apart and formed with equally spaced sockets 5t. The spacing betweenv the sockets is precisely that of the template holes 20 and the sockets are in register with such holes 2d. These sockets 5t are adapted to receive the hub 55a oi' a selector rod 55. 'I'he hu'o 55a is formed with a knob' so that the selector rod 55 may be revolved-by revolving'the knob 56 and when so rotated, the engagement of the .pinion 53 with the teeth of the rack 52 will force Vthe members 5| further apart so that the selector rod may be moved successively from one socket 5t to the succeeding one. Obviously, when the knob 56 is turned, the engagement of the teeth of the pinion 53 with theteeth oi the rack 52 will require that the pinion 53 and its hub willbe forced to move longitudinally of the niembers 5|. It is enabled to do this by the hub creating a camming action on the adjacent faces of the members 5| between the sockets M. Thus,

the hub will enter the spaces between the adjacent faces of the members 5| between the sockets and wedge them apart so that the hub of the pinion 58 will move to the next socket, and when aligned with this socket, the members 5| will move toward each other. Thisl is possible because of the yielding of the spring means die which holds the two members 5| together which spring means Sia permits sulcient separation of the members 5| to enable thel hub 54 of the selector rod' 55 to Dass from one socket to the succeeding one. The spring means which holds the two members 5| together are located at opposite ends of the members 5l, as illustrated in Fig. 7, and consist of fiat springs as showin.l

The selector rod holder 5U is connected by two telescoping slides 51 to the templates 2| of the rack i1. Theser guiding slides extend horizontally at right angles to the faces of the templates as illustrated 'so that the selector rod holder til may be moved laterally relatively to the templates `2l as illustrated. The amount of movement permitted the selector rod holder 50 is slightly greater in dimension than the spacing between the outermost templates 2|. Therefore, when the selector rod holder 50 is in its outermost position it will be completely'withdrawn from the adjacent template; and permit the insertion of cards between the templates. When the selector rod holder 5D is in its innermost position the selector rod will be projected through the furtherest template 2| so as to engage all of the cards disposed in the rack and be supported A by each template.

The selector rod holder and selector rod construction just described is provided for the purpose of sequence or other sorting where but one selector rod is employed in that by merelyturning the selector rod it will be moved to the next position and be in alignment with the next selectorrod hole 20 ofthe templates. The selector rod vmay be moved, however, to any position in alignment with any selector hole of the templates by` merely continuing yto revolve the same as described. However, if it is desired to directsort and use more than one selector rod, the selector rod 55 is rotated until it engagesA the last opening in the selector rod holder 50 which open ing is beyond the upper end oi' the templates 2| in which positionvtheselector rod may pass in back oi .the templatesl without engaging either the templates or the cards therein.

For use in direct sorting with multiple rods, selector rods such'as shown in Fig. 8. arel provided,A which are straight rods with hat heads. One or more of these may be projected endwise through the sockets 5t of the selector rod holder 50 and after they` have been positioned in the selector rod holder, the selector rod holder is moved toward the card Vreceiving rack to project those selector rods through the cards and templates. In connection with such use the selector rod holder this formed with aretaine'r member 5t pivoted thereto as at t9 and capable oi overlying the'outermost face of the selector rod holder t and the heads of the rods and mainf' form it in its uppermost normal position at approximately the lower edges of vthe templates 2i. The selector rod holder til is withdrawn to its outermost position. The operator then places the cards in between the templates with their lower ends engaging the gate 22, and resting, of course. onthe inclined platform it. In this position, the holes therein will register with the holes 20 of the templates. If but one operating` rod 55 is employed, the operator positions it in the operating .rod holder 5t in alignment with the selected hole 2@ of the templates and cards. The operating rod holder is; then moved laterallytoward the card receiving rack so as to'project the selector rod-4 55 through the cards and templates. If, however, more than one selectorrod is to be employed such as in a direct sort, the selector rod 55 lis moved to-aninoperative position as previously described and the selector rods are projected through the proper sockets 55 in the rod holder 5t. The retainer member 5t is thenpositioned to maintain these rods in position with respect to the holder 5U. p.

Thereafter the selector rod holder 5d is moved laterally in a direction toward the templates to its innermost position at which theselectorrods will project through the templates 2| and the cards therebetween.V Regardless of the type of sort, the operator then operates the handle @i as previously described to lower the platform id so that the cardsv will be suspendedfin the rack i@ from the operating rod or rods. Simultaneously with thelowering of the platform It, the switch 2li will be closedby the switch arm giiwand the gate 22 will be'lowered through themedium of the arm ilo, the connection t2 and the crankarm t|.-,.1mmediately upon closing of the switch 29,

the motor will commence and will drive the shaft 25 to vibrate or gyrate the card receiving rack `causing the cards having notches registering with 4 Y asaaacs the same until they engage the transverse memthat all of the selected cards have been removed from the stack, the'selected cards will be removed from the rack. Thereafter, the operator will operate the handle ll to discontinue the motor, raise the platform I4 and also repositionthe gate 22 as previously described. When this has been done, the operator withdraws the selector rod 55 by withdrawing the selectorerod` vholder 50 to its outermost position. At thistime the gate 22 will be upraised maintaining' the selected cards in position between the templates. The operator may then withdraw the cards from the apparatus sothat the same will be in condition forv a subsequent operation. f

Tothose familiar with the various sorting operations utilized in conjunction with cards ofthis character, it will be obvious that various types ofsorts may be eifected including direct sorting and sequence sorting.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provideda very simple and eilicient apparatus for expeditiously sorting edge punched cards rand while I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made therein vbythose skilled in the art without departing from the yspirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus describedy my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the.character described, a frame, a longitudinally inclined platform on the frame, a plurality of vertically disposed laterally spaced templates superposed over the upper end of the platform and arranged longitudinally thereof, said templates each having a row of holes arranged longitudinallyv thereof complementary to and aligning with holes in cards to be disposed 'therebetween for sorting, a selector rod holder at `one side of the templates and arranged in parallelism therewith, a telescopic connection connecting the top of the templates withfsaid holder -enabling lateralmovement of the holder toward from each other and move said rod from socket to socket along said holder.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame, a longitudinally inclined platform on the frame, a plurality of vertically disposed `laterally spaced templates superposed over the upper end of the platform and arranged longitudinally thereof, said templates each having a row of holes arranged longitudinally thereof complementary to and aligning with `holes in cards to be disposed therebetween for sorting, a selectorrod holder at one side of the templates and arranged in parallelism therewith, a telescopic connection connecting the top of the templates with said holder enabling lateral movement of the holder toward and away from the templates a distance equivalent to the lateral dimension occupied by the templates, said selector rod holder including a. pair of complementary members yleldingly urged together and formedfwith complementary parts'of selector rod receiving sockets in alignment with the holes of the templates, a

selector rod yieldingly retained in said sockets and projecting in a direction whereby it will be projected through and withdrawn from the holes of the templates upon movement of the holder, complementary toothed engagement means on said rod and said holder whereby turning movement of the rod will urge said members away from each other and move said rod from socket to socket along said holder. y

3. In` an apparatus of the character described, aframe, a longitudinally inclined platform on the frame, a plurality of vertically disposed laterally spaced templates superposed over the upper end of the platform and arranged longitudinally thereof, said templates each having a row of holes arrangedA longitudinally thereof complementary to and aligning with holes in cards to be disposed therebetween for sorting, a selector rod holder at one side of the templates and arranged in parallelism therewith, a telescopic connection connecting the top of the templates with said holder enabling lateral movement of the holder toward and away from the templates a distance equivalent tothe lateral dimension occupied by y the templates, saidselector rod holder including a pair of complementary members yieldingly urged together and formed with complementary parts of selector rod receiving socketsin alignment with the holes of the templates, a selector rod yieldingly retained in said sockets and projecting in a direction whereby it will'be projected through and withdrawn from the holes of the templates upon -movement of the holder, a rack f formed on one of said members, a pinion secured on said seletor rod in engagement therewith whereby turning movement oi the rod will force said members awayv from each other and move said rod from socket to socket along said holder.

4*.An apparatus of vthe character described comprising a frame, an inclined platform on the frame, laterallyfspaced templates superposed on the platform, said templates being complementary to cards to be received between the templates and having holes formed therethrough to register with holes in cards to be interposed therebetween, means for independently raising and lowering the platform withrespect to the bottom of the tem- Dlates'vibrating means connected with the templates for vibrating the same, and means for automatically placing the vibrating means in operation upon the lowering of the platform and ceasing operation of the vibrating means automatically upon raising of the platform from its lowered position. l

5. An apparatus of` the character described comprising a frame, an inclined platform on the frame, laterally spaced templates superposed on the platform, said templates being complementary to cards to be received between the templates and having holes formed therethrough to register with holes in cards to be interposed therebetween, means for independently raising andlowering the platform with respecttothe bottom of the templates, motor driven vibrating means operatively connected with the templates for vibrating the same, switch means for the circuit of said motor drivenlyibrating means; an operative connection between the platform and said switch whereby lowering of the platform will close the circuit of said motor driven means and raising of the 'plat-'- form from its lowered position 'will open the circuit of said motor driven means.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame` a longitudinally inclined platform on the frame, laterally spaced templates relatively xed together and superposed on the platform and arranged longitudinally thereon in a vertical position, said templates being complementary to cards to be received therebetween and having holes arranged in a row therealong to be in register with holes in cards to be interposed therebetween, means for raising and lowering the platform with respect to the bottom of the templates, motor driven vibrating means for vibratingthe templates, means for automatically closing the motor circuit upon lowering ofthe platform y.