US2525405A

US2525405A - Card-sorting device

Info

Publication number: US2525405A
Application number: US32932A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur W Feiertag
Original assignee: MCBEE CO
Current assignee: MCBEE Co
Priority date: 1948-06-14
Filing date: 1948-06-14
Publication date: 1950-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1967-10-10
Also published as: FR992079A; NL78967C; US2692055A

Description

Oct. 10, 1950 A. w. FEIERTAG 2,525,405

CARD soa'rmc. DEVICE Filed June 14, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I 6.2 INVENTOR.

, flan/w: V14 Fz/zem 0a. 10, 1950 A. w. FEERTAG 2,525,405

" CARD SORTING DEVICE Filed June 14, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Oct. 10, 1950 A. w. FEIERTAG 2,525,405

CARD SORTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 14, 1948 Patented Oct. 10, 1950 CARD-SORTING DEVICE Arthur W. Fciertag, Athens, Ohio, assignor to The McBee Company, Athens, Ohio, a corporation Application June 14, 1948', Serial No. 32.932

Claims.

The present invention pertains to devices for sorting cards, and more particularly to the selective sorting of marginally perforated cards. Cards of the typereferred to are provided along one or more edges with one or more rows of perforations which are grouped and identified by suitable indicia to represent desired classifications. In practice, one or a plurality of these perforations are notched or slotted out tothe edge of the card, forming a pattern of notches or slots pertaining to a single classification. Such notched and slotted cards may be selectively sorted by passing one or more sorting rods through selected perforations of a group of cards, which perforations represent the desired classification. By then permitting the cards having notches or slots coinciding with the perforations penetrated by the rod or rods to disengage from the latter, while the remainder of the cards remain suspended therefrom, the cards of one or more selected classifications are sorted from a stack of cards. 7

It is an object of the present invention to provide a card sorting device of the character described which is readily and easily assembled and disassembled and can be readily and easily folded into a compact condition for shipment or storage.

It is a further object of the invention to pro" vide an apparatus of the character described having means for lockin different operative parts thereof in suitable positions for the various operations.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims.

The apparatus of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing how the apparatus may be folded up for ease of storage and shipment.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing-in full lines the apparatus after stacking the cards and also showing, in broken lines, the position of the apparatus for removin selected cards.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed view of a notched card, such as are sorted by the apparatus of this invention.

Fig. 5' is a plan view, partly in section, of the apparatus of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation, partly broken away, i

of the selector mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the line ll of Fig. 5.

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged, fragmentary, detailed views taken along the lines 8-8, and 9-i of Fig. '7, respectively.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, detailed fragmentary view along the line lo-lo of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings,

the main structural elements of the apparatus are a base i, supporting a back or frame 2, which, in turn, supports a card tray 3 and a selector mechanism 4. Base l is in the form of a dishlike structure having a main or bottom portion 9, front and rear flanges l0 and l l, respectively, and side flanges l2 having horizontal outwardly turned top portions. Base 1 is also provided with beads go for reinforcement, and at the rear with upwardly extending brackets I3 on opposite sides of the base. Each bracket i3 is provided with a slot Hi having an upper.- circular section l5 and a lower vertical section [6.

Tray 3 comprises a main portion or deck 20, a forward bead 2i, rearwardly extendin tabs 2.2 and rearwardly slanting brackets 23 secured to the opposite sides and rearwardly of the tray. Brackets 23are joined at their outer ends by stop bar 24.

Back or frame 2 is provided with a main portion or face 29 bent backwardly near the sides to provide flanges 30. On face 29 near each edge thereof is a vertical row of horizontal slots 3!.

The top of face 29 is bent forwardly to provide a flange 32, and each side flange 30 is cut away and extends upwardly to provide an ear 33 which is separated from flange 32 by a slot E l. The bottom of face 29 is bent rearwardly to provide a flange or shelf 35. Pivoted to the top of frame 2 is a member 36 bent to form a vertical extension 29a of face 29 and a horizontal shelf 36a having an upwardly and outwardly turned edge portion. Shelf 36a is provided with a verticalpartition 3; and a spring 38 to receive and retain asupply of selector rods 88. Secured to each end of vertical extension 29a and extending forwardly therefrom is an arm 39 receiving and holding a rubber grommet 40, as shown in Fig. '7 and, in broken lines, in Fig. 5.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the bottom portion of each side flange 30 is cut away to provide a rearwardly curving, recessed ear 42 and above each ear i2 is a vertical, oblong slot 43. Frame 2 is pivoted to base I by a keeper bar 44, secured by nuts 45, extending through oblong slots 43 and appropriate passages in brackets I 3. Lugs 46 secured to ears 42 extend through and engage the sides of slots M.

The selector mechanism 4 is pivoted to frame 2 by means of arms or brackets 50 and pivot pins the latter extending through ears 33 of flanges 30. Each bracket 50 is in the form of a sheet metal strip so cut and bent as to provide an inwardly extending flange 52 cut away at the rear to provide a shoulder 53, and is further provided with an inwardly bent tab or arm 54 to receive a pivot pin 55. Selector tray 69 and the elements associatedtherewith are pivoted to brackets 56 by means of the pivot pins 55.

The apparatus is shown in operative position in Fig. 1, and is shown folded up for storage or shipment in Fig. 2. In folding up the apparatus, it is merely necessary to raise and tilt the tray 3, using stop bar 24 as a fulcrum, sufliciently to disengage tabs 22 from slots 3|, then lower the tray until it rests upon and nests Within base I. Then frame 2 is lifted to engage the bottom of slot 43 with keeper bar 44, which results in raising lugs 46 into a position such that, as frame 2, pivoted on keeper bar 44 is swung forward, lugs 46 slide upwardly through the circular section |5 of slot I4. Frame 2 is then merely bent forward into the position shown in Fig. 2. Finally, selector 4 and brackets'59, pivoted on pins 5|, are folded backwardly into the position shown. In this position, shoulder 53 of bracket 59 rests adjacent to notch 34, and all the various parts are compactly and securely brought together.

Selector mechanism 4 comprises a tray portion 60 which is pivoted to arms 54 by means of pivot pins 55, as mentioned above, and a head member or selector rod actuating bar 6|. Tray 60 is defined by forward and rearward longitudinal bars '62 and 63, respectively, transverse or end bars 64, and transverse bottom bars 65. Forward bar 62 is provided with an upper row of perforations 66 and a lower row of perforations 61 shown in section in Figs. 5'and 7 and in elevation in Fig. 6. Rearward bar 63 is provided with upper and lower slots 68 and 69,'respectively, in alignment with upper and lower rows of

perforations

66 and 61, respectively. Head member 6| is also provided with upper and lower rows of countersunk perforations 66a and 6111, respectively, corresponding to and in alignment with upper and lower rows of

perforations

66 and 61, respectively, of forward bar 62. The countersinking of perforations 66a and 61a is more clearly shown in Fig. 7.

Head member 6| is carried by plungers 15 secured to each end of the head member and which slide through complemental channels 16 in end bars as of tray 66. Head member 6| is also provided with a locking plate or slide 71 which is slidably secured to the face of head. member 6| by the ends of plungers 15 extending through oblong slots Tia, and by means of washers 15a and retainers 1522. Looking plate 77 is provided with upper and lower rows of perforations 18 and 79, respectively, in alignment with

perforations

66a and 67a, respectively, of the head member proper. Locking plate 11 is also 7 provided with an inwardly extending flange or ear 80 at one end thereof, which is received within a recess 69a in head member 6 Within recess 89a and secured between the inner side of flange 86 and theadjacent side of recess 80a, is a spring 8| which normally acts to urge locking plate Tl outwardly or to the left, as viewed in Fig.5, so as to hold perforations l8 and 19 out of alignment with perforations 66a and 61a of head member 6|. Selector'rods 88, each having a head 69 and an annular groove 99, are inserted through

perforations

13 and 16 of locking plate 71 and through corresponding perforations 66a and 61a of head member 6| when the latter is in closed position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 5.

The design of the countersunk

perforations

66a and 67a of head member SI and of locking plate I? is such that the selector rods can be inserted While locking plate 77 is in normal, unaligned position. This is accomplished by having the perforations 66a and 611:. countersunk, as described, and by designing oblong slots Tia so as to limit the dis-alignment of plate T! to a position such that it covers about half of each perforation 66a and 61a. In this position, the selector rods 88 can be inserted without moving plate 71 with fingers against spring 8!, but once the rods are inserted, slide ll is deflected to right by countersunk holes, the locking plate 71 will engage the grooves 99 when, selector rod 88 limits in slot 68 and 69 andprevent outward movement of the rods until plate 'l'l is pushed or pulled to the right. This can be easily accomplished by placing a finger at, top and bottom of side H (as shown in Fig. 6) and pulling or pushing slide to right against tension of spring 8 The selector rods 88 are thus easily inserted, are securely locked in place when-head member 6| is extended to inoperative position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, as well as during rotation of the selector mechanism, and are easily removed.

Secured to each end of head member 6| by means of bolts 91 is a cap or bumper 92, which engages the undersideof flanges or ears 52 when the selector mechanism is pivoted through 180 to its inverted postion.

Each plunger rod is provided with an annular groove 95 near its forward end. Each groove 95, when head member 6! and plunger rods 75 are in inward, operative position, is in algnment with a recess or channel 96, within which a ball bearing 9'1, urged by a spring 98, engages the adjacent groove 95. Thus, when in inward, operative position, the plunger rods and head member are yieldably locked in place. However, when it is desired to pull head member 6| into extended, inoperative position, this may be readily accomplished by exertion of,v a slight pull on the head member 6 This yieldable locking means is operative to hold the head member in inward, operative position and prevent it from falling into the extended position as the selector mechanism is revolved about its axis.

The outer or rearward end of each plunger rod I5 is provided with a pin 99 extending outwardly in a horizontal position, and at such a point that when the head member 6| and plungers 15 are in inward, operative position, the pins 99 clear the ends of flanges 52, so that the selector mechanism may be rotated about its horizontal axis. However, when'the head member and the plunger rods are in extended, inoperative position or at any intermediate position, pins 99 engage fianges 52 and thus prevent rotation of the selector mechanism.

A cushion to prevent shock, noise and jarring as the head member 6| is pulled outwardly into inoperative position, is provided by two springs H6, one of which is shown in Fig. 5 and to an enlarged scale in Fig. 10. Each of these springs is located in a recess or channel "I in an end bar 64 and is secured to a pin ||2. As the head member 6| and the plunger r'odslE are pulled outwardly into inoperative position, the pins 99 slide through slots H3 in the sides of end bars 64 until the pins engage the springs H0, which serve as limit members.

In operation, the apparatus is assembled and brought into the position shown in Fig. 1. Selector rods 88 are inserted in perforations 18 and T9 of locking plate ll, thence through perforations 68a and 61a of head member 8! and on through perforations 08 and 6'! of forward bar 62. Then head member Si is pulled outwardly into extended, inoperative position. Marginally punched cards I29 provided with upper and lower rows of marginal perforations I2! and I22, respectively, are then stacked in tray 60 with their perforated margins downward. It will be noted that certain of the marginal perforations, such as i2 l a and 322a, are slit all the way through to the edge of the card. With cards I20 in position, and with head member Bl in extended, inoperative position and selector rods 88 placed in the proper position, the head member BI is pushed inwardly until it abuts against bumper washer 92a and tray 69, thus pushing the selector rods through the marginal perforations of the cards I20 and engaging their tips in slots 68 and 59 of rear bar 63 of tray 68. The selector mechanism is then pivoted forwardly through an arc of 180 on pivot pins 55 as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 3. The selected cards, i. e., those engaged only by rods 88 engaging slits l2 la and l22a, drop out onto the deck of tray 3 and may be removed, after which the selector mechanism may be swung around into its original position for rearrangement of the selector rod 88 or for inserting a new stack of cards I20.

It will be apparent that the apparatus of the invention adds to the mechanisms of this class, a number of advantageous features making for ease of assembly and disassembly, compactness when in collapsed condition and efficiency of operation.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

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

1. A card selecting'apparatus comprising a vertical frame; arms extending forwardly from opposite sides of the upper portion of said frame; a card selector mechanism pivotally supported by said arms so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, and comprising a tray member defined by bottom members, side members provided each with a passage to receive and slidably support a rod member, a front member provided with perforations for insertion and passage of selector rods and a rear portion provided with recesses in alignment with said perforations to receive the tips of the selector rods; a head member associated with said tray provided with perforations, said head member being carried by rod members slidable through said passages in the side members of the tray; and means associated with said rod members whereby the head member is yieldably locked in place when in operative position adjacent said front member of the tray; and means associated with said rod members operative to lock the tray against rotation when the head member is in outwardly extended, inoperative position but allowing rotation thereof when said head member is in operative position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said rod members is provided with an annular groove and said tray is provided with a recess and a spring loaded member located within said recess, said spring loaded member being operative to yieldably engage said groove when the head member is in operative position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said arms is provided with an inwardly extending flange and the outer end portion of at least one of said rod members is provided with a projecting member so located and of suchv length as to engage the underside of said flange when the head member is in inoperative position, but to clear the same when said head member is in operative position. I

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in combination with a locking plate slidably secured adjacent the face of said head member, said locking plate being provided with perforations in alignment with the perforations of the head member and being further provided with yieldable means, normally operative to urge the plate to a position wherein the perforations of the plate are out of alignment with those of the head member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said locking plate is provided at one end with an inwardly turned flange portion, said head member islprovided with a recess to receive the flange portion, and a spring member is secured within said recess in such position as to bear against the flange portion and urge the locking plate laterally into unaligned position.

ARTHUR W. FEIERTAG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,021,838 Kinney Apr. 2, 1912 1,702,994 Buckeridge Feb. 19, 1929 2,305,629 Magnuson 1 Dec. 22, 1942 2,331,471 Holleck Oct. 12, 1943 2,417,531 Welk Mar. 18, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 820,786 France Aug. 9, 1937