US2635769A

US2635769A - Card sorting machine

Info

Publication number: US2635769A
Application number: US128465A
Authority: US
Inventors: Blake L Mishey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-11-19
Filing date: 1949-11-19
Publication date: 1953-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 1970-04-21

Description

April 21, 1953 B.L. MlSl- 'l EY CARD SORTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

81/! K5 4' MHHAY Arron/5n Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARD SORTING MACHINE Blake L. Mishey, Lyndhurst, Ohio Application November 19, 1949, Serial No. 128,465

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to sorting machines and more particularly to a new and improved machine for sorting material of a flexible nature "such as checks, cards, coupons, sales slips, tickets and other like items and for the purpose of this description such items are hereinafter referred "to as cards.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a new and improved sorting machine wherein a stack of cards to be sorted are positioned in a container and mechanically picked up individually and deposited in receiving receptacles in accordance with nomenclature appearing thereon, which may be alphabetical or numerical, without the necessity of manually handling the cards or providing the same with special sorting provisions such as punchings, cutouts, and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a sorting machine new and improved means for mechanically picking up the top card from a stack and depositing it upon a conveyor for transmission to a predetermined designated receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a sorting machine means for coordinating the pick up mechanism and transmission mechanism to efiect a more rapid sorting of the cards.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sorting machine for cards made of a flexible material which is simple to manufacture, positive in operation, economical to use and is more efficient than similar devices now in use, and further may be operated at maximum speed commensurate with the ability of the operator using the device.

These and other objects and advantageous features of the invention not at this time more particularly pointed out will become more apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sorting machine made in accordance with the present invention with parts thereof broken away and in section;

Figure 2 is a side "elevational view of the sorting machine illustrated in Figure '1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view or thepick up mechanism of the sorting machine;

Figure 4; 1.15 a fragmentary elevational view of the solenoid for controlling the actuation of the pick up mechanism taken on the line 4-! of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram covering the electrical circuit of the solenoid shown in Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a schematic electric circuit diagram covering the electrical circuit of the magnet employed for controlling the selector bars of the transmission mechanism;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-Iii of Figure 1 and showing the switch in the magnet circuit illustrated in Figure 7-;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line !l-l| of Figure l and illustrating the solenoid circuit switch controlled by the keyboard of the device; and

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are enlarged diagrammatic views illustrating the pick up roll shaft and solenoid cam in successive stages of operation.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a sorting machine embodying the teachings of the present invention and comprising a base frame It), the top surface H of which serves as a supporting surface upon which the mechanism of the device is disposed. The forward end of the frame It! supports the pick up mechanism of the device and is broadly indicated by the numeral [2, and the rear portion of the frame supports the transmission and stacking mechanism of the device and is indicated broadly by the numeral I3.

The pick up mechanism l2 mounted on the forward end of the frame In includes a boxlike open top container l4 (Figure 3) adapted to receive a stack of cards A to be sorted, and having a pair of spaced side walls I5 and [6, formed at their rearward edge portions with inturned vertical flanges l1 and 18 respectively. The container is supported on foot members 19 formed on

walls

15 and 16 which are preferably secured in any suitable manner to the supporting surface (I l. A front wall 2!! which is boxlike in configuration receives the front edges 'of the side members 15 and I6 and completesthe container for the stack of cards A. The top flange 21 of the wall 20 is adapted to engage the forward edge portion of the top card of the stack of cards and each successive one as the cards are picked up from the stack. Within the container I4 the stack of cards is disposed upon an elevator platform 22 (see Figure 9) having guide pins 23 depending from the lower surface thereof and slidably received within suitable openings in a supporting member 24 secured to and extending between the side frame members I and I6. Encircling the pins 23 and positioned between the platform 22 and support member 24 are compression springs 25 which serve to normally urge the platform upwardly so as to have the uppermost card of the stack disposed on the platform in proper position to be removed therefrom by the pick up mechanism.

The rearmost corners of the side frame members I5 and [6 are continued upwardly above the top of the container I4 and terminate in forwardly projecting ears 26. Horizontally journaled in the upward extensions of the side frames I5 and i6 and extending thereb-etween is a rotatable shaft 2? which is arranged to extend over the top of the stack of cards A disposed in the container [4. Keyed to the shaft 27 intermediate the extremities thereof is a roller 28 (Figure 12) which is suitably slotted as at 29 to receive a strip of rubber 30. The rubber strip to projects outwardly from the surface of the roller 28 and when the latter is rotated is adapted to frictionally engage the surface of the top card of the stack of cards A which is firmly pressed thereagainst by springs 25 acting on platform 22. Rotatively mounted on the shaft 2! and positioned at each end of the roller 28 are idler rollers 3|, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. The shaft 21 projects beyond the side member I5 of the container l4 and has keyed on its outer end an arm 32, the latter having pin 33 projecting from its outer end in a direction parallel with the axis of the shaft 21.

With reference to Figure 4-. of the drawings there is illustrated mechanism for controlling the rotation of the shaft 27. Secured to the outer surface of the side wall I5 is a U-shaped bracket 34, the free arms 35 of which project in a horizontal position and have mounted therebetween a solenoid 3B. The solenoid 36 is provided with a plunger 31, the upper end of which projects through the upper arm 35 of the bracket 34. Spaced from the upper arm 35 and secured to the plunger 31 is a plate 38 which is suitably apertured to receive the upstanding pins 39 mounted on the upper arm 35 of the bracket 34. Encircling the pins 39 and serving to urge the plunger 31 upwardly and maintain it in its extended position with respect to the solenoid 36 are compression springs 40. Mounted on the free end of the solenoid plunger 31 is acam element 4i. The surface of the element 4| facing the arm s2 is formed with spaced

horizontal slots

42 and 43 projecting from opposite sides of the element and connected at their inner ends with a vertical slot 44. All of the slots are of the same width and are adapted to receive the end of pin 33. Rotation of the shaft 21 is controlled by the position of the cam element 4| mounted on plunger shaft 31.

The opposite end of shaft 21 projects beyond the side member I6 and has keyed thereon a wheel 45, the peripheral surface of which is covered with a suitable friction material 46. A spring 4'! extending between a pin 48 mounted on the side frame member 16 an P n 9 on the wheel 45 serves to urge the wheel 45 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 of the drawings. Carried on the base member I0 is a bracket 5! which is adapted to support a motor 52. The driven shaft 53 of the motor 52 carries a wheel 54, the periphery of which is arranged to engage the periphery of the wheel 45 and drive the latter. The motor and wheel 54 are continuously rotating. Accordingly, the surface of the wheel 45 is cut away as at 55 complemental to the surface of the wheel 54 to provide an area of non-engagement between wheels 45 and 54.

As viewed in Figure 12 the shaft 21 is held against rotative movement by the position of pin 33 in the bottom of vertical slot 44 of cam element 4|. When the solenoid 36 is energized the plunger carrying the cam element ii is moved downwardly and pin 33 passes upwardly in slot 44 and into alignment with slot 42 thereby releasing pin 33 from the cam element. Release of pin 33 by the cam element ii permits spring 47 to rotate shaft 2? beyond the area of non-engagement between the wheels 45 and 54 to the position shown in Figure 13 where wheel 54 is effective to rotate wheel 45. As roller 28 carried by shaft 2! is rotated the rubber strip carried thereby engages the top card of the stack and buckles it up as shown in Figure 13. Con tinued rotation snaps the flexible card to where the rearward edge portion thereof lies on the upper surface of the roller 28 as shown in Figure 14, in which position the shaft has completed one full rotation and is in the position shown in Figure 12. The solenoid upon being de-energized permits the upward movement of the cam it in response to pressure of the springs 41} thereby bringing slot 43 of the cam element into registry with the end of pin 33 (Figure 12) which enters the same and positions itself at the lower extremity of the vertical slot 44 in position for the succeeding cycle of operation.

Mounted on the surface II of the base iii forward of the container I 4 is an elongated switch box 51 formed of a suitable electrical insulating material. The box 57 is of inverted U-shape in cross section, the legs of which are cut away to form longitudinal slots 58 and 59. Mounted in the slot 58 is a conductor bar 60 which is connected through conductor GI to one terminal of a transformer 62. The slot 59 carries a conductor bar 33 which is connected to one outlet of solenoid 36 through conductor 64. The other outlet of solenoid 36 is connected to the other terminal of transformer 62 through conductor 65. Extending through the top surface of the box 5'! is a plurality of openings, each of which is adapted to receive a switch button 65, the lower surface of which is supported on the end of a spring element 61, the other end of which is connected to conductor bar 63. The spring element 67 adjacent the bottom of button as carries contact button Iii. Extending from the conductor bar 60 is a plurality of arms TI having contact buttons 12 mounted on their outer free ends and arranged to be engaged by contact buttons Ill. When a switch button as is depressed, bringing contact buttons iii and 52 into engagement, an electrical circuit is closed through the solenoid 36 as illustrated in the wiring diagram of Figure 6.

Suitably positioned on the surface II of the base plate It] are a plurality of upstanding studs 13, being secured to the base plate by a threaded shank which extends therethrough and receives a nut "I4 below the plate. Each stud :131is1provided with'a bifurcated end :15 receiving therein a lever arm 16. Apin =II extending through the bifurcated end of the stud I3 and the arm 10 provides a pivotal connection for the arm 16. The lever arm 1'6 is provided with a key top I for manual operation. The lower edge surface of the arm IB'adjacentthe button "I8 is provided with a dependingprojection "I9 which is adapted to engage the upper -surfaceof button '66 for ac s tuating the same. :AS shown in "Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, there are provided ten of the lever arms I0, each with a *key top mounted thereon. The key tops "are assigned to the ten numerical characters 0 tox9 inclusive. The huntber of lever arms may be increased incase ass'orting other than numerical is used.

Extending in straight alignment b'a'ckwar dly from the pick up mechanism I2 is the transmission and stacking mechanism I3, comprising a substantially rectangular frame having longitudinal side members 80 and 8 I and end members 82 and 83. The frame is supported on base I0 in a horizontal alignment with the upper surface of roll 28 by means of columns 84 disposed at the four corners thereof. The opposed sides of'the side members 80 and 8| of the frame are provided with aligned journals 85 which support therebetwee'n shafts 86. Rotatably mounted 'on each of the shafts 86 in longitudinal alignment are idler rollers 81. Disposed betweeneach'set of rollers 81 is a transverse partition 88 which defines a plurality of stacking receptacles 89. .An inclined plate 90 is disposed inthe bottom of each receptacle to facilitate th'e alignment of the cards disposed therein.

Journaled in the ears 26 of the side members I and I6 of the container I4 is a shaft 9i which has rotatably mounted thereon spaced

rollers

92 and 93 which are disposed in 'alignment'with ithe rollers 81 carried on the shafts 86. At the rear of the transfer mechanism I3 and journaled in the frame members 80 'and BI is a shaft'lll upon which are mounted spaced rollers 95 and 96. The rollers 95 and 98 are in longitudinal alignment with the rollers 02 and 93, respectively, on shaftBl. A conveyor belt 91 is adapted to pass around members 92 and 95 and a second conveyor belt 98 passes around the rollers "93 and 96. The shaft 94 is'adaptedto'b'e drivenbymeans of an electric motor 99 through a coupling I00. The motor 99 is preferably supported upon the rear portion of the supporting plate I0 by means of asuitable bracket I0l.

Extending longitudinallyof the "transfer mechanism I3 are a plurality of stacked strip members I02 which define runways therebetween through which the cards picked up by the pick up mechanismfiare conveyed by belts 9! and '98 to the receptacles 89. Thestac'ked strip members I02 are of progressively increasing length from the bottom of the stack towards the top. The forward ends of the strip members have rounded end edges which "rest on plate I25 supported between end frame "member 82 and cross member 82a extending between side frame members 80 and 8| and each strip defines'with the next adjacent strip a runway through which a card is adapted to be conveyed. The rearward end of the .strip members is supported by the top edge of partitions 88 as at 80a "and is inclined downwardly to direct the card carried thereby into a receptacle 89.

Mounted below the plate 125 is a Ifram'e H0 vertically movable selector bars ilrlrl. The selector bars project through "apertures in the plate I25 and are provided with: inclined upper surface I I2, the apex of which is positioned immediately behind the .forward edge of e'a'ch of the members I02. There is provided'on'e of the selector bars III for each of the runways defined by two adijacent members I02. Adjacent "the lower end of each of the selector bar's I' I-I there is provided an outwardly projecting pin which is received within the bifurcated end portion II4 of the end of the lever arm 1.B,the latter being extended to engage the stud I:I:3 uponithep'a'r- 'ticular selector b'ar wI'rI I. which :it is adapted to actuate. Upon movement "of "a card along the transmission mechanism in response to movement of the belts 91 and'i98, the operator, by depressing one of the keys I0, projects the upper end "I I2 of the member II I into the 'path of the card thereby deflecting :it into the tlesi-gnated. runway. Supported by a bracket 126 'on frame H0 is an electromagnet I'I5 which extends the length "of the group of selector bars 'I IzI an'd is adapted to attract a projection I2! 'forr'ned on the bars III when the same is brought into proximity to the magnet. When energized the "magnet :is adapted to hold one of the members I lI in "its elevated position until the current "to the magnet is interrupted.

Positioned immediately rearwardl'y or the second last runway .intheipath of travel of a =card along the transmission mechanism is a switch I I6 which takes the Storm illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings. The switch I IS is supported on the longitudinal frame imemberlll andha's an angulated arm II! which rproj'ects over "the path of a card being moved along by the

conveyor belts

91 and 98. The arm 11 1 is pr'ovided with "a downwardly inclined spring contact member I I'8 which is connected to an electric conductor H ll. An arm I 20 extending outwardly from tlhe-member '81 carries an upwardly inclined "spring contact member I21 which is connected to conductor I22. The arms I-I I and are "preferably made of electrical insulating material and serve to support the "contacts I18 and I-2 I in such a manner that their extremities are normally in contact so that :a circuit "therea'cro'ss is maintained at "all times.

'With reference to :F'igure '7 the electrical cir- "cuit for the :magnet H5 is described as follows: Current inows from a transfo'rnrier I23 through conductor I19 to contact element 'Il'8 of switch 1H6, thence to C'Ollttfit element l2] through line 1-22 to on'e'terminal of magnet H5, thence from the other terminal of magnet I I S through conduotor I 24 to the other terminal or transformer I 23. The circuit to the magnetisnormally-closed, energizing the magnet lat an time's. Upon depressing one of the keys 218 the il'ever arm 16 actuated thereby is pivoted about its stud T3 raising a member IJIII which is 'held in its elevated position by the-magnet I1 5. A-card movin along the conve or "is adapted to pass between contacts II8 and I2I opening the circuit to the magnet I I 5 which permits the member "I I I previously elevated by lever 1 6 to :drop to its normal position.

32in using the device of the -'present "invention for numerical 'assorting, a stack of unassorted cards, number side up, is placed upon the platform '22 in the container M, the forward edges thereof being projected under the flange 2| of the front plate 20. To *e'fiectthis the spring 23 which is adapted tohouse therein aplurality or In rare :de 'ressed to zpermit' the stacking o'f'the cards A. The motor 99 -is started thereby setting in motion the

belts

97 and 98 which as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 move in a clockwise direction. The motor 5! is started thereby setting in operation the driving wheel 54 which as viewed in Figures 12, 13 and 14 is moving also in a clockwise direction.

Assuming that the number on the topmost card is H45, the operator depresses the key bearing the numerical designation 5, note Figures 1 and 3. The single downward stroke of this key closes the circuit to the solenoid 36, the current flowing from the transformer 62 through conductor 6|, thence across the contacts H and 12 through conductor 64 to solenoid 36 and thence through conductor 55 to the other terminal of transformer 62 to complete the circuit. Energization of the solenoid 36 retracts plunger 31 moving cam element 4! downwardly to release the pin 33. In response to pressure of spring 41 the periphery of wheel 45 is brought into engagement with the continuously rotating wheel 54 and the former is caused to make one complete revolution rotating shaft 2'! and the roller 28 carried thereby.

Immediately following the start of the turn of roller 28 the friction surface of the element 30 carried thereby comes in contact with the surface of the top card, causing it to buckle and the rearward edge thereof to move beyond the outer surface of roll 28. At thi point the edge of the card snaps upwardly and lays upon the roll 28 as shown in Figure 14. In this position, since the pressure exerted on the leading edge of the top card between moving

belts

97 and 98 and rollers 3| is greater than that exerted on the trailing edge of said card between the flange 2| and the supporting stack of cards, now projected under the moving

belts

91 and 98, is gripped between the same and rollers 3i and by the same force conveyed by said belt over the top surfaces of rollers 81. Depressing the key 5 pivots the lever 16 associated therewith about its pivot pin 11 moving the selector bar Ill connected to the outer end thereof vertically to bring the inclined surface H2 thereof into the path of the moving card. The card with its top surface adjacent to the frictionized belts and its bottom surface supported by the smooth plate I25 is moved by the belts along the conveyor with its central portion deflected upwardly into the runway leading to the receptacle controlled by the number 5 key. The card when it has entered the runway is urged rearwardly by the belts making frictional contact with the right and left top surface of said card with intermittent support on the bottom surface by the spaced idler rollers 81. The magnet H5 maintains the selector bar III in it elevated position upon release of the key 18, until the card passes between the contact elements I I8 and IZI of switch I I 6 breaking the circuit to the magnet I I5 and permitting the selector bar II I to return to its normal position. Immediately upon passage of the card past the switch H6 the circuit to the magnet H5 is closed.

Each card in container I4 is picked up, conveyed to and deposited in its respective receiving receptacle 89, in a similar manner as that described above by depressing the key bearing the numerical designation of the units digit of the number appearing on the respective card.

When the stack of cards originally placed in the container l4.is disposed of as above described and this does not constitute the entire group of cards to be sorted, another stack of unassorted cards is placed in container I 4 and likewise assorted to the units digits of the numbers appearing on the respective cards. This procedure is repeated as necessary until all of the cards to be assorted have been disposed of and then the cards are removed from the respective receptacles and stacked numbered side up, in numerical order in respect to the units digits. The entire re-assembled group of cards is again processed through the machine, the same procedure as that described above being repeated with respect to the next digit of the numbers, for example the "10 digit of the numbers, and this complete operation is repeated until an assortment of all of the numbers has been made with respect to all of the digits controlling the numbers thereon. Upon completion of this assortment, the stacking of the tickets will arrange them in numerical sequence.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to obtain by Letters Patent is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinally of the machine, means for moving cards along said conveyor, a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive cards from said conveyor, a plurality of runways positioned above said conveyor and starting forward- 1y of said receptacles adapted to guide cards moving along said conveyor into said receptacles, vertically movable selector bars positioned adjacent the forward terminus of said runways and arranged to intercept the travel of the cards along said conveyor and direct the same into one of said runways, manually actuated means for moving separate selector bars into the path of the moving cards, magnetic means for maintaining said selector bars in their elevated position, pick up means for moving the top card from a stack disposed at one end of the conveyor onto said conveyor, and electrically controlled means for actuating said pick up means.

2. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinally of the machine, a plurality of belts for moving cards along said conveyor, a plurality of horizontally arranged receptacles positioned below the conveyor and adapted to receive cards, a plurality of runways positioned above said conveyor starting forwardly of said receptacles serving to guide cards moving along said conveyor into said receptacles, vertically movable selector bars positioned adjacent the forward terminus of said runways and arranged to intercept the travel of the cards along said conveyor and direct the same into said runways, manually actuated means for moving separate selector bars into the path of the moving cards, magnetic means for maintaining said selector bars in their elevated position, means responsive to the movement of a card for releasing said selector bars and permitting the return thereof to normal position, pick up means for moving the top card from a stack disposed at one end of the conveyor onto said conveyor, and electrically controlled means for actuating said pick up means.

3. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinally ofthe machine, means for moving cards along said conveyor, a plurality of receptacles arranged horizontally below said conveyor adapted to receive cards being sorted, a plurality of runways superimposed one above the other starting forwardly of said receptacles for guiding cards moving along said conveyor into said receptacles, vertically movable selector bars positioned adjacent the forward terminus of said runways and aranged to intercept the travel of the cards along said conveyor and direct the same into said runways, manually actuated means for moving separate selector bars into the path of the moving cards, magnetic means for maintaining said selector bars in their elevated position, a container positioned at the forward end of said conveyor adapted to receive a stack of cards to be sorted, pick up means for moving the top card from the stack disposed in said container onto said conveyor, and electrically controlled means for actuating said pick up means.

4. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinally of the machine, means for moving cards along said conveyor, a plurality of receptacles horizontally arranged below the conveyor for receiving said cards, a plurality of runways positioned above said conveyor starting forwardly of said receptacle and adapted to guide cards moving along said conveyor into designated receptacles, vertically movable se1ector bars positioned adjacent the forward terminus of said runways and arranged to intercept the travel of the cards along said conveyor and direct the same into said runways, pick up means for moving the top card from a stack disposed forwardly of the conveyor onto said conveyor, electrically controlled means for actuating said pick up means, and a plurality of manually actuated keys for simultaneously controlling the actuation of said selector bars and pick up means.

5. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinally of the machine, means for moving cards along said conveyor, a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive cards from said conveyor, a plurality of runways positioned above said conveyor starting forwardly of said receptacles and terminating selectively at the entrance to said receptacles, selector bars positioned adjacent the forward terminus of said runways and arranged to intercept the travel of the cards along said conveyor and direct the same into said runways, manually actuated means for moving separate selector bars into the path of the moving cards, a container positioned at the forward end of said conveyor adapted to receive a stack of cards to be sorted, pick up means for moving the top card from the stack and delivering same to said conveyor, said pick up means including a roller engageable with the top card of the stack, means for rotating the roller through a complete revolution, solenoid actuated cam means for controlling the rotation of said roller, and key members for controlling the solenoid circuit and the movement of said selector bars.

6. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinally of the machine, means for moving cards along said conveyor, a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive cards from said conveyor, a plurality of runways positioned above said conveyor starting forwardly of said receptacles and adapted to guide cards moving along said conveyor into said receptacles, vertically movable selector bars positioned adjacent the forward terminus of said runways and arranged to intercept the travel of the cards along said conveyor and direct the same into said runways, pick up means for moving the top card from a stack disposed forwardly of the conveyor onto said conveyor, said pick up means including a rotatable shaft carrying card engaging means, a cam member for controlling the rotation of said shaft, a solenoid for moving said cam means into and out of engagement with said shaft, and manually actuated means for simultaneously moving separate selector bars and closing the circuit to said solenoid.

7. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor for moving cards longitudinally of the machine, a plurality of card receptacles arranged horizontally below said conveyor, a plurality of runways superimposed one upon another above said conveyor having the forward end thereof starting forwardly of the receptacles and terminating selectively above said receptacles for guiding cards moving along said conveyor into said receptacles, vertically movable selector bars positioned adjacent the forward terminus of said runways and arranged to intercept the travel of the cards along said conveyor and direct the same into said runways, magnetic means for maintaining said selector bars in their elevated card intercepting position, and means responsive to the movement of a card along said conveyor for interrupting the flow of current to said magnetic means and thereby releasing said selector bars.

8. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor for moving cards longitudinally of the machine, a plurality of card receptacles arranged below said conveyor, a plurality of runways for guiding cards moving along said conveyor into said receptacles having the forward end thereof positioned forwardly of the receptacles and terminating selectively above said receptacles, vertically movable selector bars positioned adjacent the forward terminus of said runways and arranged to intercept the travel of the cards along said conveyor and direct the same into said runways, manually actuated means for moving separate selector bars into the path of the moving cards, magnetic means for maintaining said selector bears in their elevated position, and means responsive to the movement of a card along said conveyor for interrupting the flow of current to said magnetic means and thereby releasing said selector bars.

BLAKE L.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,003 Barnes June 16, 1936' 1,086,351 Dick Feb. 10, 1914 1,375,241 Trew Apr. 19, 1921 1,471,722 Brooks Oct. 23, 1923 2,397,258 Haessler Mar. 26, 1946