US2661841A - H wallace - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1953 G. H. wjALLAcE 2,661,341 COMPARING AND AssoRTING DEVICE ,Foa mas oF Punx-x Filed June :5o. 1948 s r@heats-sham 1 GEORGE H. WALLACE ATTORNEYS 2,661,841 COMPARING AND ASSORTING DEVICE FOR PAIRS OF PUNCH CARDS Filed June 50. 1948 Dec. 8, 1953 G. H. WALLACE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. o O T L N L E A V m w. F H E HPM l. O u u l: 0 E E Qn G msi@ m 11- :1 |l| ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1953 e. H. WALLACE 2,661,841.

COMPARING AND ASSORTING DEVICE FovR PAvIRs oF PUNCH GARDS- Filed June so,l 194s 5- Sheetsshet s T; Z6 4 Z /63 223 l /6/ v INVENTR FIG. 4 l GEORGE H. WALLACE BY www ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1953 G. H. WALLACE COMPARING AND ASSORTING DEVICE FOR PAIRS OF PUNH CARDS Filed Julie 30. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 III INVENTOR. GEORGE H; WALLACE BY J ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 8, 1953 colvirsnnyof AND ASSORTING DEVICE FOR,

,PAIRS QF PUNCH CAR/DS l George H. Wallace Oak Park, `Ill., assigner to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Applicaties .ruin 3o, 194s, sexismo. 36,217

(ci. zoo- 110) 1 l5 Claims.

rihis invention relates to feeding apparatus of the kind employed to feed a plurality of sheets,

cards or the like simultaneously to printing, calculating and similar machines.

it is ,ofttimes desirable to feed two related sheets, cards or the likesimultaneously through a mechanism which performs operations on or under control of such sheets, cards or the like that are hereinafter sometimes referred to as articles. In many such instances it is necessary that a predetermined relation be maintained he tween two such simultaneously fed articles and to enable this to he realized in a novel and eiiicient manner is the primary object of thisinvention.

One instance where a predetermined relation Ais to be maintained between simultaneously fed articles is disclosed in Gollwitzer Patent No. 2,296,277. in the apparatus to which this patent pertains printing devices hearing coded indicia are passed ,sequentially through a printing machine in timed relation with perforated cards `which also hear coded indicia and pinting and calculating operations are performed cn or under control of such devices and cards.. ln this machine, each printing device corresponds to a particular card, the data borne by the two being related so that it is important that' the corresponding printing device and card pass through the machine in a predetermined relation, for

otherwise the data borne by the printing device does not have proper relation with that borne by the card, and vice versa, Aand since the data respectively borne by the two, in the aforesaid machine, are to be printed on a common sheet,

it is important that the corresponding printing,r device and card pass through the machine together, for otherwise related data will not be printed on a particular sheet.

As described in the aforesaid patent, the printing'machine therein disclosed is equipped with sensing means for, as itis called,jreading data respectively borne in coded representations thereof by lthe printing device and the card. The machine is also equipped with comparing means so'that the relationship of a particular card to a particular Vprinting` device, and vice versa, is automatically ascertained; As long `as properly related Vprinting devices and cards are fed simultaneously through the aforesaid sensing means, the machine continues to function. when, however, the data borne hy a particular printing device and cardmoved into association with the aforesaid sensing means do not corre spond, operation of the machine is automatically interrupted. :In such circumstances'the-intended operation ofthe machine cannot be resumed'until a related Acard and printing device are associated with the aforesaidsensing means. A machine of the character disclosed in the aforesaid Gollwitzer patent, as well as other machines wherein a comparing operation somewhat like that de scribed above is effected, customarily operates at high speed so that an interruption inthe operation of the machine occasioned as aforesaid `rnaterially interferes with the intended production of the machine.

It has been found in machines of the aforesaid character that the failure rto feed properly/'related articles is frequently due to displacement Yin one or the other of the two sequences of articles of a single article. Of course, when this occurs the entire series is out of step with respect tothe other series, and it is therefore another important object of this invention to enable a Amachine of the aforesaid .character to remain in continuous operation, notwithstanding. the improper positioning in one or the other of vthe two series of articles of a particular article, and an ancillary v'object is toenable continuous operation of a machine of the aforesaid character to he intended evenwhen an article is improperly .positioned in one or the other of two series of articles intended to be advanced in such a manner that related devices in the two series .will advance simultaneously and in predetermined relation one with the other.

A further object of this invention is to eject from one or the other of the two series of articles bellos advanced simultaneously, as aforesaid, one or the other of two varticles in each of the two series when there is not a predetermined relation between two particular articles in the respective series.

Still another object is to so arrange a sensing arrangement of the nature included in the machine disclosed in the aforesaid vGollwitzer pat- "en't that the sensing operation may not only be effected yupon two purportedly corresponding 'j articles in each of the two series, but also upon i other `articles `in the two series, particularly when two articlesv in a particular series do not have --the desired Apredetermined relation therebetween or are out of phase one with the other. 5o"

A yet further object is to iirst effect a sensing operation between purportedly related articles in two series thereof passing into or to a machine and to thereafter, when necessary, compare one article in one series with an article in the other series immediately oehindthe purportedly corresponding article in the other series and to subsequently, ii necessary, efect comparison between the purportedly related article in one series with the article in the other series immediately behind the purportedly corresponding article in such other series, and an object ancillary to the foregoing is to eject from one or the other or both of such series the article of a purportedly related pair which is not related to the other article of the pair in a predetermined manner.

A still further object of my invention is to sense separate series of related articles in various phases and to eliminate selected articles from another of said series in order to bring said respective series into proper phase, so that matched or complementary articles in the respective Series may be fed substantially simultaneously to mechanism wherein use is made of the matched or complementary aspects of such articles.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, shows preferred embodiment-s of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which l have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention, certain elements being shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. e is an electrical wiring diagram showing ing certain mechanical parts somewhat diagrammatically;

Fig. 5 is a continuation of Fig. 4, the top part of Fig. 5 being joined to the bottom of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the mechanical arrangement of certain elements indicated in the wiring diagram of Fig. 4 and taken substantially along the line 8 6, Fig. 7;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the commutator mechanism which is partly shown in` Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail view, considerably enlarged, showing certain mechanism which is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, this view being taken substantially along the line 8-8, Fig. l;

Fig. 9 is a plan View of certain sensing mechanism that is indicated only diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. l0 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line Ill-4B, Fig. 9, of such sensing mechanism.

Before proceeding with a, detailed description of the specific mechanism which embodies my invention, a brief discussion of the problem involved and the principles upon which its solution may be based may be given, after which the detailed description may be more readily apprehended.

Referring to Fig. l there are shown a pair of side frames SGL and EUR which support respectively two parallel tables along which series of related articles may be passed in sequence. For purposes of illustration, the articles may be considered to be perforated cards bearing complementary indicia in pairs so that in order to utilize the indicia, or to interpret and apply data represented by such indicia, it is essential that related pairs ci articles, such as cards, be move-d to their respective and effective positions either simultaneously or in some other specific and predetermined timed relation. Thus each pair of articles, one from each series, are to be passed along a path of travel to mechanism which reads out the indicia on each and combines such indicia to perform some indicated function. For example, one of the `cards or articles may carry indicia to control the setting up of recording or printing elements for recording a name, address and other data pertaining to an individual. rihe complementary card or article may bear data, for example, to show a sum of money or other numerical data to be charged or credited to the individual whose name is carried by the iirst card mentioned.

Obviously, if two related cards are not properly phased, certain data properly chargeable or creditable to one individual might be charged cr credited to another. Means must be provided, therefore, for ascertaining, before data is read out, that the two cards or other articles are properly related. In the apparatus mentioned above as being disclosed in the aforesaid Gollwitzer Patent No. 2,295,277, both members are provided, in code, with an identical account number and both are sensed to insure that they are properly matched. If not properly matched the entire machine is stopped until the series of articles are rearranged to be fed in proper sequence and phase.

Consider the two magazines 5lL and Fig. l, as containing series of related cards, supposedly arranged in the same order so that as a first card A is fed from magazine ilL, a complementary or related card A will be fed from magazine 5|R. These cards will be fed step by step through several consecutive positions, as will hereinafter be more fully described. Following,

- a card b from the first magazine or stach should be matched by a complementary card li from the second, and subsequent pairs c, c; d, d; c, e", and so on should be fed in the same phase relationship. If the cards are all fed in proper order, each matched pair will perform its propel' function. The units of each pair need not necessarily be advanced simultaneously, it being obvious that only a denite phase relationship is required. However, for simplicity in explaining the operation, it will be assumed, except where otherwise noted, that complementary cards, or cards forming a matched pair, are fed substantially simultaneously.

In the machine described in the aforesaid patent, the displacement of a single unit, such as a card, in either magazine, causes the machine to be shut down, as has been mentioned above. It very frequently happens that two cards are interchanged, or one card or printing device is inadvertently omitted from a stack, or one is intentionally withdrawn without removing its related or complementary article from the other stack. Under any of these conditions, the machine would shut down automatically, and remain inactive until an attendant can, find and remedy the cause, although it is obvious that, at most, the bulk of the articles in both magazines are either in proper phase or only one step out of phase.

Thus, in. the example given above, where related or complementary pairs of articles a, a; b, b c.

cute their intended function. According .to my invention, when the next painc and bare sensed, operation of the machine where their function is performed would not he interfered with, .buton-e of these articles, for example c, would rnext be compared with an opposing article in the .next phase or feed step. In this example, the compared article. would be c', `which matches with c. Article b would thereupon be 'rejected as superfluous. Articles c ande' would pass on to perform their usual and intended functions.

At the next feedcycle or step, articles b and d would be compared, the primed articles in magazine 5|R now being one step ahead, in relative phase. After establishing the dissimiliarity or lack .of proper relationship Vbetween these two articles, the former would next be compared with Inext inseries inthe other magazine, .namely e.

Here again the comparison is unsuccessful and the sensing means further compares the first article in the second series (from magazine SIR) 4namely c', with the next ensuing article in the iirst series (from magazine SIL) namely c. This comparison is successful, the odd member `b is discharged or ejected, articles c and c pass through their normal cycles, and thereafter the ensuing articles in both series are in proper phase.

It will be noted from the above that there have been ejected articles b .and b. Later these may be dropped in their respective magazines, orif then` order in the series is important, they may be properly inserted in place between articles a,

VCARD .FEED

Reference has been made hereinabove to the side rails .dL and 59B. 'These rails are provided with cverhanging flanges which serve to guide the advancing cards c and c as they are fed through the machine. Hence they willbe referred to hereinafter as guideways.

Magazines ESL and 52B, .also referred to above, are each comprised of front and rearwalls 4! and 42, respectively, and left andrght end walls 43 and dil, respectively. The front or left wall 1li, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, is spaced above .the table top T .a distance just sufficient to permit the feeding of one card c thereunder. The rear vwall s2 is raised or slotted to yaccomimndate a reciproeating feed plate to be described more fully presently.

The stack of cards c and c in each of the magazines is supported on .a .reciprocable bottom plate 52. Cards fed out of the magazineadvance along the table top T, being held thereon by the :overlying .flange elements 53 of the side frames, `and @finiti-,frame members 54 which-cooperate with the previously noted, card guideways Edil .and zbR.

Each magazine is provided with .a feeder voon- .sisting of `a plate 55 secured to bottom plate -52 tudinal shaft il.Y `mounted to Drojectthrough the bed plate T and the rollers 15, l grip the card frictionally to positioned :at .the rightand left sides of 6 so .as to V:project thereahove by a .distance sub stantiallyequal to or vvery slightly less than the thickness of a card c.. The platel is drilled longitudinally, as. .indicated at 52A to slide on guide I rods .52B `prmectinefrom a rigid transverse framexnember F. Fig. 2.

Atits rear end, plate .5t-is connected by elink .5.6110 thelower end .of a vertically extending lever 5i pivoted to a fixed transverse shaft 5S. The upper end .of lever 151 connects. to a horizontally .extending pawl 59 adapted to .engage teeth on a ratchet wheel Sil secured toa main drive shaft Si. Shaft 6l is continuously driven in a clockwise direction, .as seen .in Fiss. and 5, by suitable power .dri-ve means not shown.

deprisa G2 normally holds the pawl 15.9 .up so that its nose does not engage the teeth on wheel til. An armature 63, however, is securedto lpawl '55 'and an electromasnet 6.3L or 53B, which is periodically and temporarily energized, draws the armature 63 andhence paw! 5e downwardly so that thepawl engages the wheel et. Wheel .60 thus .draws thepawl .to the rear,v or to the right as seen Vin Fie. 2. and drives .the feed plate ..55 to the left to feed the bottom card c from the stack into the bite .of feed rollers Sil. A pin-e5 is arranged'to Contact `.the cam shaped rear l.end of vrpau/'1.59 and disengage the pawl from drive wheel 6.0 when its stroke has been completed. By this time thesolenoid or electromagnet @3L or 63B has been deenergized by means to be described hereinafter.

Feed rollers 64 are mountedon a shaft 61 which rotates in suitable bearings G3 secured to the main frame members of the machine. Bevel gears E9 and 'lil interconnect shaft 6'! with ,a lonM gitudinal shaft 1l which is connected to main drive shaft .El by bevel gearing i2. Rollers i3,

Fig. 2, are mounted beneath feed rollers (it and project slightly through .openings I4 in the table top or bed plate T, tooooperate with `rollers 64,. Hence .as the bottom card e is advanced from either of the magazines .SIL or EHR .into the bite of rollers 64 and 6l, these rollers grip the card and forward it to another set of feed rollers 'l5 which are mounted on another transverse shaft 'l5 Ageared by bevel gearing Tl to longi- Cooperating rollers 'it are advance it :against stop fingers 19.

,Stopiingers 19 .depend from a bar 30 secured to a longitudinally extending rock shaft si mounted at reither side of the machine, one unit being provided for each feed channel. When step f ngers 19 are lowered, the .card .c is stopped in a rst sensing position, .the ,frctional grip of rollers 15 and 18 not being suicient to buckle or otherwise .injure the card.

.Electromag-nets 821 .and 52B, respectively are the .machine to act upon armatures ,83 secured to and stead-ing laterally fromrock-shafts e l. .see Figs. ,1, Sand .5.. Whenever a magnet drh or 3ER is energized ,it `iseiective .to ,raise the stop .fingers 79 associated therewith and permit the stopped card c to advance.

The positions at which cards c are stopped .by ngers :19 are respectively designated Il'.- and IR., representing ,first Sensng'stations. Sensing One unit is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 and will be described in some detail hereinafter.

Assuming that a card has been released from the rst sensing station, IL or IR, by the operation of solenoids 82L or BZR, the feed rollers 'l5 and 18, which rotate continuously, next advance the card to another set of feed rollers 84 mounted on a transverse shaft 85 and driven by bevel gearing S6 from shaft 1i. Cooperating rollers 8'! under the table surface T assist to advance the card c to another set of rollers 88 mounted on another transverse shaft Se driven by bevel gearing 9i) from shaft li. Cooperating rollers Si beneath rollers 88 assist in advancing the card c to a second set of stop ngers 92 projecting downwardly from a bar $3 secured to the same rock shaft 8| to which fingers 19 are secured.

The second sensing stations at the left and right, shown at the rear and front, respectively, in Fig. 1, are designated IIL and IIR sensing means SLE and SR2 are provided at these stations. Whenever a solenoid 82L or 82B. is energized, both sets of fingers i9 and 92 controlled thereby are raised. Hence the card which was at station IL or IR advances to the second station IIL or IIR, and a card at one of the second stations, provided it is not rejected, as will be more fully explained hereinafter, is advanced into the bite of another set of feed rollers t4. Rollers 912i are mounted on a transverse shaft t driven by bevel gears @t from drive shaft il. Cooperating rollers Si mounted beneath rollers 9d assist in advancing a card further into apparatus, not shown, wherein the pair of matched or complementary cards are utilized for their ultimate purpose. As indicated above, such purpose may be, for example, to control the setting up of printing members, accumulating inschanism, calculating machine elements, and the like, but the present invention is not concerned with the particular purpose of which the cards are matched and forwarded.

When the card stop iingers 'i9 and $2 are elevated, the card pusher mechanism operates to feed a card from the related magazine StL or EBR into the bite of the feed rollers 3d. This is effected under the control of a switch BBL or ISR, Fig. 5, which is closed by an arm 99 on the corresponding rock shaft ii! whenever a magnet 32L or BER is energized. See also Fig. 3. Considering the switch SSL, for example, closure of this switch causes ground to be applied to a conductor mi), Fig. 5, leading to a terminal of the winding of magnet SSL, the other terminal of this winding being permanently connected to battery B. Magnet (SSL, when energized, attracts the paWl 59 into engagement with a tooth on its driving Wheel thereby causing the feed plate d5, Figs. 2 and 5, to be actuated for feeding the bottom card from the magazine SIL in the manner described hereinabove. Similarly, the switch 3BR, Figs. 1 and 9, controls energization of the magnet 53B to feed a card from the magazine EIR each time the magnet 82R is energized,

CARD REJECT Under certain circumstances it is desired to divert cards from the guideways SUL and ER at the second sensing stations IIL and IIR. This may occur, for example, when the card at station IIL matches the card at station IR but not the card at station IIR in which event the card at station IIR should be rejected. The cards are supported upon hinged plates ii, Figs. l, 2 and 5, at the sensing stations IIL and IIR. Springs ft2 normally maintain the plates lul in raised position. The free rear edge of each plate il (adjacent the stop fingers 92) is connected by a link 103 to the core of a solenoid (OAL or INR positioned beneath the plate lili. When the solenoid UMR, for example, is energized, it retracts its core and the plate li is swung down- Wardly. The card at station IIR then slides off the plate IBI into a reject box H15, Fig. 2, after which the solenoid HNR is deenergized and the spring m2 restores the plate lili into its normal horizontal position. The solenoid IML functions in a similar manner to actuate the plate lili at the station IIL whenever this is necessary.

CARD SENSING The identication indicia (perforations) in the cards disposed at the sensing stations IL, IR, IIL and IIR are analyzed by sensing devices illustrated only diagrammatically in Fig. 1 for sake of clarity. Such sensing devices, as noted above, are generally similar to those shown in Gollwitzer Patent No. 2,296,277. As best shown in Figs. 9 and 10 they comprise, for each card column to be analyzed, a set of contact ngers or brushes cooperating with a single contact bar. Thus, for analyzing the units denomination of the identifying or serial number represented on a card, there are provided at each sensing station ten contact fingers IGBU positioned to correspond with the ten index positions in the card column. The entire assembly of brushes is mounted in a block IBSA slideably mounted on Vertical guide pins 101A and adapted to be raised and lowered by means not shown but actuated by shaft il as each card is fed into sensing positions. These contact fingers engage the upper surface of the card, and depending upon Where the perforation is located in the column, one of the contact fingers will pass through the card and engage the contact bar l'iU disposed in the card guidevvay beneath that card column. Similarly, at each sensing station, a set of ten contact nngers IOS'I and contact bar NJIT are arranged to sense the tens order card columns. Additional contact iingers and bars may be arranged to analyze higher orders, if any, of the mutually identifying code elements ornumbers on the cards.

The contact bars INU and lQ'l'I at the sensing stations IL and IR are mounted in the bed plate 55 in insulated relation thereto. The contact bars IMU and iii'lT at the sensing stations IIL and IIR are mounted in but insulated from the hinged plates UJI. The contact fingers iiliU at each sensing station are respectively connected electrically to the contact fingers IGEU at every other sensing station, so that the contact ngers pertaining to like digits are connected electrically to the contact iS'I at every other station.

SEQUENCE CONTROL Assuming that four cards are respectively positioned at the stations IL, IR, IIL and IIR, the sequence in which the cards are compared and disposed of is as follows:

l. Cards at IIL and IIR are first compared. If their serial numbers agree, the stop fingers SE on both sides are raised and both cards advance along the guideways L and StR.

2, If the cards at IIL and IIR do not match.` then the cards at IL and IIR are compared. If their serial numbers agree, the card at IIL is bring the clutch teeth |52 and |54 into mesh. Thereupon the shaft |45 is coupled to the drive shaft El and the cam |115 commences rotating. The operation of the clutch is substantially identical with that described in the aforesaid patent, No. 2,265,134., except that in the patented clutch, the drive is uncoupled mechanically at the end of a single revolution.

When the shaft |46 is to be uncoupled from the drive shaft E an electromagnet |53 adjacent the latch |52 is energized. The latch |52 is attracted toward the core of the magnet |53 and is thus disengaged from the plate |59. Upon being released in this manner the plate |51 drops down onto the hub and collar |53. As the pin |59 n.

on the collar |53 comes around, it rides against the cam surface on the plate |51 and the collar |53 is cammed in an axial direction until the clutch teeth |54 and |52 are out of mesh, whereupon the shaft comes to rest. A roller |54 mounted on the plate |51 rides in contact with the face of the gear Ide at all times to brace the plate |51 against any axial thrust imparted to it by the pin |59.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM AND GPERATION Before initiating automatic operation of the machine, the operator manually operates the card handling means to feed cards from the two supply magazines to the sensing stations IL, IIL, IR i and IIR. This is done by depressing the pushbuttons |55L and |55R, Fig. 5. These are not shown in Fig. l but may be located at any convenient place in the machine. Considering the push-button |55L, for example, depression thereof closes circuit from ground to a conductor |55 which is connected to a conductor |61 leading to the winding of the magnet 52h Circuit from ground continues through this magnet winding and a conductor |68 to a normally closed contact |69 of a slow-to-energize relay |1911, thence through this relay contact and a conductor |1| to battery B3. A conductor |12 connects one terminal of the winding of the relay |1||L to the conductor |65, the other terminal of this winding being connected to battery B3. Current therefore starts to flow simultaneously through the windings of the magnet 82L and relay HBL. The magnet 32L energizes and attracts its armature 83, causing the shaft 8|, Fig. l, to be rocked. Arm 99 on the shaft 8| closes the switch QSL, energizing the magnet GSL, Fig. 5, and causing the pawl 59 to engage its driving wheel 50. The pusher 55 is thereby actuated to feed a card from the magazine 5|L, Fig. 2, into the card guideway SUL, where it is advanced by the feed rollers 54 and 15, Fig. l, toward station IL. Shortly prior to the time this card attains the station IL, and about the time pawl 59 is raised by pin 65, Fig. 2, the relay |19L, Fig. 5, completes its energization and opens its contact |59, thereby breaking the circuit through the winding of magnet 82L. The magnet deenergizes, releasing the armature 83 and allowing the card stop iinger 'i9 to drop and arrest the card at station IL. The switch QSL opens and breaks the circuit to the magnet GSL, releasing the pawl 59.

To advance the card from station IL to station IIL and feed another card to station IL, the push button |E5L, is released, thereby deenergizing the relay |10L, and is again depressed. Magnet 32L again energizes, elevating the stop fingers 19 and 92 and bringing about the energization of the magnet BSL. The card at station IL is advanced toward station IIL by theV feed rollers 15, 84

and 88, and a new card is ejected from the maga'- zine 5|L, Fig. 2, by the pusher 55 and is advanced toward station IL by the feed rollers 64 and 15, Fig. l. The relay HBL. Fig. 5, upon completing its energization, deenergizes the magnet SEL, releasing the stop ngers '9 and 92 in time to arrest the cards at stations IL and IIL. II'he push button |'55L may then be released.

In a similar manner, cards are fed from the magazine 5|R and positioned at stations IR. and IIR by two successive actuations of the push button |G5R.

Referring to Fig. automatic operation of the machine is initiated by closing a switch |13 (left side of Fig. ll) thereby applying ground to one of the spring contacts Mi cooperating with the disk |32. A contact .segment |53 in the "G sector on the dishv |52 bridges the associated contact springs iti when the dislr |32 is in its home position. Ground is therefore extended to a conductor |15 leading to a normally closed Contact |15 of a relay |15. The circuit from ground continues through this relay and conductor V31 leading therefrom to the winding of the clutch solenoid |58, and thence to battery Bil. Solenoid |55 energizes and raises the cam plate |51, causing the clutch |58 to operate and thereby initiating rotation of the cam |55.

The subsequent operation of the machine will be considered under four separate headings, in accordance with the four different conditions that may prevail, as indicated hereinabove.

l. Cards at stations IIL and IIR match The cam |55 closes the switch 55., energizing the solenoid E i9 and advancing the ratchet wheel HS one step. The switch disks |35 to |45 are thereby advanced so that their No. l sectors coopcrate with their spring contacts Uil. The oontact segment on the disk |32 is disengaged from the spring contacts |4|, deenergizing the clutch solenoid |55. However, the cam plate |51 is held in its upper position for the time being by the latch |52, so that the clutch Hi8 remains engaged.

As the switch disks |55 and |35 move into their No. l positions, the contact segments |53 in the No. l sectors of these disks bridge the respective contacts |155. One contact |i| of each of the pairs thereof associated with these disks is connected to a conductor |18 leading to a contact |55 of a relay iti, this relay contact being normally closed to ground when the relay is deenergized. Circuit from ground is thus established from the relay contact |55! through the switch disk |35 and a conductor |92 to the winding of a relay |53, thence through this winding to battery B5. Relay |53 energizes and closes its contacts |35 and |55, applying ground on the conductors |85 and |31, respectively, which are connested to the windings o relays |38 and |89. These relay windings are connected on their other sides by conductors and |9| to the contact bars |51'I and |5113, respectively, at the sensing station IIR. rIhe No. l Contact |53 on the switch disk |36 closes circuit from' the grounded conductor IIB to a conductor |52 leading to the winding of a relay |93, this Winding being connected to battery B5. The relay |53 energizes and cioses its contacts |55 and |95, thereby eX- tending current through conductors |95 and |91, respectively, to the contact bars IMU and lc'iT at the sensing station IIL.

Assuming that the two cards at the stations IIL and IIR have the same serial numbers, or have other identifying indicia, that is to say,

in the card at station IIL, contact ngers mail and i ST at the station IIL, contact fingersv IUlU and |962? at the station IIR, periorationsiin the card at station IIR, contact bars |0'1U and I'T,

conductors iti and |90, windings of relays |89 and ist. and conductors |81 and Hitl to ground at the relay contacts |85 and i3d, respectively. Relays |8 and |09 then energize and close their respective contacts |0 and |99?. Theserelaycontacts are so interconnected that when both oi?V the relays |323 and |89 are energized, a circuit is established from ground through the contacts and |00 in series to a conductor 208 leading to a contact 23| of a relay 202. The contact Zii is normally closed when the relay 202' is in a deenergized condition, and is connectedv by a conductor 203 to an end of the Winding of relay 222, the other end of this winding being connected to battery Bl.

Application of ground to the conductor 200 therefore causes the relay 202 to energize, opening its contact and closing its contacts 204 and Edt. The contact `204, in closing, completes a stick circuit for the relay 202 as follows; Afrom ground at one of the contacts I4! of the switch disk |33, through the contact segment |43 on this disk to the other contact IM (the segment N3 extending continuously through the sectors'l to 5 o1 the disk i3d), thence through a conductor 20e, relay contact 2M, conductor 203, and winding of relay 202 to battery Bl, thus maintaining the relay 202 energized. Preferably the relay contacts 20| and 20d are so arranged that the contact 204 closes at or prior to the time the contact 20| opens, so that the stick circuit for the relay 262 is established before the initial energizing circuit therefor is broken.

Relay contact 205, which is closed When relay 202 is energized, extends ground through a conductor 2B? to a contact 208 of therelay |8 which contact is normally closed when the relay i8! is deenergized, thence through a conductor 209 to a conductor 2i0, Figs. 4 and 5. The winding of the latch releasing solenoid |63, Figs. 4 and 8, -for the clutch |48 is connected on one side to the conductor 2|0 and on the other side to battery BB. Solenoid |03 therefore energizes when ground is applied to the conductor 2 l0, and in so doing it retracts the latch |02, enabling the cam plate |57 todrop into the path of the pin |59, Figs. 4 and 8, on the clutch collar |53. This brings about the separation of the clutch teeth |52 and |53, thereby arresting the camV |45 at the end of the first revolution thereof so that it cannot close the switch its to send a second impulse to the stepping relay |09.

One of the spring contacts lll associated with each of the switch disks |31 and |35, Eig, 5, is connected to the conductor 2|0. The other contact MI of the disk |38 is connected to the conductor |06 which leads to the windings of Athe card linger control magnet SZL and the slowto energize relay ililL. In a similar manner the other contact of the disk |3l is electrically connected in parallel to the card linger control Vinag- 'net 82B. and the slow-to-energize relay I'lR.

The spring contacts` Hl associated with the disks |3'| and |38 are bridged by the No. l contact segments its on these disks in the present instance inasmuch as the stepping relay |00 has beenk actuated only once.. Hencawhcl the 6.911"- ductor 2|0 is grounded as just explained, these switch contacts establish circuits for energizing the magnets 82Land 32E and the relays IlllL and lR. The relays l'iGL and |TR require a certain amount of time to fully energize and actuate their contacts, and during this interval the magnets @2L andER energize and operate the stop4 ii'ngers I9 Vand 92, Fig. l, whereby the cards at stations IIL and IIR are advancedout of these stations through'the guideways 50L and BiiR, and the cards at stations IL and IR, advance to the stations IIL and IIR, respectively. It should be noted that the relay 2:'32, Fig. et, is held energized through its stick circuit irrespective of the conditions of energization or deenergization of the relays |53' and |853 as the cards are moved. The cards which are moved away from stations IL and. IR are replaced by other cards which are fed from the magazines 5|L and 5m, as explained hereinabove.

When the relays i'iL and HSR energize, they open their contacts Id to interrupt the circuits through the windings of the magnets ML and 82R, and they also close other contacts 2H, thereby establishing a series circuit as follows: from ground through the contact 2li of relay iiL, conductor 2| 3, contact 2id of a relay 2|2L, conductor 2|5, contact 2| of relay i'isR, conductor 2|6, contact 2M ci a relay 2|2R, conductor 2|?, Figs. 5 and Li, conductor 2m and winding of relay 50| to battery 33.

The relay contacts 2| @i are normally closed when the relays 212i. and 2l2R are deenergised, Relay |3| energizcs, closing its contacts 2|S` and 220 and opening its contacts |30 and 238. Qpene ing of contact |80 deprives the conductor |18 of ground and eiects the release of relays |83, |93, |88 and |83. Closure of contact Zl establishes a stick circuit from the conductor through a conductor 22|, relay contact 2 IS and conductor 222 to the winding of relay |8|, thereby placing the relay |8| under control of the switch disk |39. Opening of relay contact 203 frees the conductor 2|B or ground, thereby deenergizing the magnet |53 and releasing. the clutch latch# ing member 62, and also deenergizing the relays Htl.. and IR. As these relays deenergize, they release their contacts 2li and deprive the conductor 2|? of ground. The contacts f it and 200 of the relay |3| are arranged to respectively close and open in the sequence named when this relay is energized, in order that the stick circuit will be established before the initial energizing circuit for the relay is broken.

Contact 220 of relay mi, in closing, extends ground through conductors 223 and 22d to the Winding of magnet i2?, Figs. l and 6, which ina-gm net thereupon energizes and tripsl the pawl |226, releasing the ratchet wheel H3 of the stepping relay |00. The spiral spring ||B returns the ratchet Wheel ||2 to its initial inactive position, thus moving the cam disks |35) to idd, inclusive, back into the positions wherein the 0 sectors thereof are engaged by the spring contacts ifll. As the disk |30 is restored to such position, its contacts ride oit the contact segment, and the Vstick circuits for the relays lili and 202 are in terrupted, whereupon these relays deenergiae. Relay ISI opens its contact 220, deenergizing the magnet |2'| and causing the pawl |25 to re-engage the ratchet wheel i3. In this way the pawl i |26 is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel until the latter has completed its return to its home position.

As the switch disk 132 moves into its home position, the contact segment 1631 thereof bridges the spring contacts 11i! and extends ground from the closed switch H3 through the conductor 1li?, closed relay contact 1115 and conductor il? to the winding of the clutch solenoid 150. The solenoid iti] energizes, setting the clutch 1&8 in operation, and the cam M5 commences to rotate. rIhus, a new card comparing operation is initiated.

2, Cards at stations IL and IIR match Assuming that the serial numbers of the cards at the stations IIL and IIR do not agree, but that the serial numbers or other control indicia of the cards at the stations IL and IIR do agree, the operation is as follows:

The cam It closes the switch ld, sending an impulse to the solenoid 11S of the stepping relay 195. The solenoid 119 energizes and actuates the ratchet wheel 13, placing the switch disks 13% to ift@ in their No. l positions. Relays 183 and 1il3 energize as before, but inasmuch as it has been assumed that the numbers of the cards at stations IIL and IIR do not match, either one or both o the relays 18B and 1853 will ren-lain deenergized and hence: the relay 252 is not energized. Consequently, the magnet remains latched up. This enables the cam lill-'s to continue its rotation and close the switch las a second time, sending a second impulse to the solenoid 119. Thus, the stepping relay les is actuated to place the switch disks 1353 to 1&5 in their No. 2 positions. See Fig. 6.

The switch disk 13? has a contact segment 1&3 in its No. 2 sector for closing circuit from the grounded conductor 118 to the Winding of the relay lil-3, which relay then energizes and closes its contacts i841 and 135 to connect ground on the windings of the relays 188 and 1x39. The switch-disk 131i, having a contact segment M3 in its No. 2 sector, closes circuit from the conductor VES through a conductor 225 and winding of a relay 226 to battery B9. The relay 22@ energizes and closes its contacts 221 and 22, which extend current from battery BQ through conductors 229 and 23d to the contact bars iillT and i'iU at the station IL. Assuming that the serial numbers or other identifying indicia of the cards at the stations IL and IIR are properly related, circuits are established or sensing means SL from the contact bars Hl'iT and i'lU through perfor-ations in the card at station IL to the aligned contact lingers iST and HlBU, thence through contact fingers iGT and WSU, perforations in the card at station IIR and contact bars IMT and iB'iU to the windings of the relays 188 and 83. Relays i138 and 189 thereupon energize and close circuit from ground to the conductor 2213, causing relay 252 to energize and extend ground to the conductor 211], in the manner explained in greater detail in connection `with the preceding operation. Magnet |63 is energized when conductor 21a is grounded, and operates to release the cam plate 157, thereby bringing' about the uncoupling of the cam it from the driving member of the clutch 168. In this manner, sensing means SL compare a card with another sensed at SR2.

Grounding of the conductor 21e also extends a circuit through the No. 2 segment or" the switch disk 131, Fig. 5, to the windings of the magnet 32B and slow-to-energize relay HBR. Magnet 62B. energizes, causing the right-hand stop Fingers 92 to be elevated. The card at station IIR advances along the guideway SDR and is replaced by a card from station IR, while another card is fed from the magazine 51E?J to station IR in the manner described above. Energisation of relay HSR after a measured time interval deenergizes the magnet 82B, and releases the card stop fingers 92.

The switch disk 139, Fig. 5, has a contact segment 143 in its No` 2 sector. This segment bridges its associated spring contacts 161 in the present instance, causing ground to be extended from the conductor 2li) to the winding of the solenoid 1ML and also to the Winding or" a slowto-energize relay 2311... The winding of solenoid 11ML derives its current from a battery Bill through a4 normally closed Contact of the relay 231L. Solenoid 1ML energizes and pulls its link 183 downwardly. This causes the drop section 181 at station IIL to swing down, and the card at station IIL slides off into a bin such as It, Fig. 1, beneath the card guideway.

The core of the solenoid 1ML is provided with a pin 232 which engages a blade 233 of a switch 21ML as the solenoid iiifiL is energized, causing the blade 233 to separate from the switch blade 235 and bringing a blade 238 into engagement with the blade 235. Ground is extended from the blade 235 through the blade 23B to the winding of a relay 232%. This relay then energizes and closes its contacts 238, 239, Edil and 241. Contact 232i, in closing, completes a holding circuit from ground at the normally closed contact 2-12 of relay l'iL to the winding of relay 231L, maintaining the latter relay locked up. Battery BLi 1 supplies current for the latter relay, a similar battery BRA 1 being provided for relay 231B.

Relay contacts 2:1553 and 2611, in closing, establish circuits as follows: from ground through the normally closed Contact 21513 of a push button switch 244i.. and relay contacts 2113 and 2M, respectively, to the windings of a relay M5L and the slow-to-release relay 212i... The latter two relays promptly energize, batteries B12 and B13 being connected thereto. Relay 212L opens its normally closed contacts 211i and 21165. Relay ZL closes a contact 24T to establish a stick circuit for itself from the conductor 1'18, Figs. 9 and 8, which leads to the normally closed and grounded contact 13s of the relay 181. Relay M5L also closes a contact 2116, but this is without effect at present.

As the slow-to-energize relay 231L completes its energization, it opens its contact and deenergizes the solenoid 1ML. The spring 1&2 thereupon restores the drop section 181 and the core of solenoid liLlL to the illustrated positions, Fig. 2. As the pin 232 rises, the switch blades 236 and 235 separate and the blades 233 and 235 1re-engage. Ground is extended from blade 235 through blade 233, a conductor 249, closed contact E38 of relay ZSL and conductor 258 to the conductor 15S leading to the windings or magnet 82L and slow-to-release relay ilsL. The magnet 21, then operates in the usual manner to elevate the left hand stop fingers S2, enabling the card at station II to advance to station IIL, replacing the card which was dropped into the bin ll. Also, a new card is fed to station L.

The relay VEEL energizes and brings about the release of the stop fingers 22 to arrest the rstmentioned card when it attains station IIL. However, it will ce recalled that the card which was at station IL matches the card that has just been fed out of station IIR, hence it is necessary that the stop fingers 92 be again elevated so that the'cardnow Vin position may continueits advance along with the card from station This occurs in the following,r manner:

-Asthe relay I'BLenergizes; it .Opens its .contact 242.; thereby breaking the stick circuit for the relay 2-3 1L. Thelatter relay deenergize's' and opens itswcontacts 233 to .24I. lContact 238;, in Qpeningydeprtfesthe conductor B of groundA and thus eiects'the'releaseoirelay IlilL. Con-n tact 249' opens Without effect, :since .relay 245i..

is'heldenergized throughts stick circuit. Opening of contact 241 breaks circuit to the Winding of the slotveto-release relay* 2I2L. This relay is delayed suiiciently in itsdeenergizationytoenF ablethe relay I'lLto release; then it closes its contacts v2 4-6 and 2 I 4. Contact -Ztapplies ground tothe contact 248 of relay -245L. The contact 248, beingclosed, extends ground through a con@ ductor 25| to the Windingsyof the maenet 8 2L and-sloW-to-energize relay I'IQL. MagnetBZLis thus energized a second time, causingcach card in the Agnioleway` SDL to advance. Hence, the cardat station IIL is ;fed out 4of sensing position into the achine tojointhe matching cardwhich wasearl-ieried outofstation IIR,Y l

switch disk" mi the rel-ate of] magnet' 'its' ao notate-energize' relays 231L and 1NR.

energization of the magnet |21 Wliicntrips Athe pawl' 126, causingthe ratchet Wheel III-lf to Isap back'to llion're position, restoring the `svt disks to |40 tg their zero positions. switfciidisk l-3lfjbreaks Ythe sti circ'its' for theirelays IBI anrl"202`,'jieleas in theserelays. f

f'As-'the'-styitch disk 132' attains Zero'pos'ition,

titten 'soienoi-c 1NI et; thereby-initiatijgthe *ensuing cai'deco'paring" operation.

` t? carat-ai' stations In.v marit .match described' -abofv'e andwill noi-fide explained in di f f Iihes ping" relay 1:09 `is st'epid aroundto fits' No? 3f -po tion before an agreelrie'r'it in 'serial stientiamnis geeignet; gets-mg 'A j? thelstation and' thenet 'mtb' tire .ein

new-cards are' positioned at .thtrour sensing stations', .and th stepping .relay .I ca ".is @tugged to normal, initiating la' new corlparing operation.

18 Vll. Gard-,s at station .IL `and IR .marchi Stepping relay I `Il9` is stepped ar'ind to its No. 4- position; vThe solenoids I-l .Ileaiieilsoth energized, causing the cards; atA stations IIL IIR-todropinto-the--bnW5. vlachzof themcgnets 82L-and MR is then energizedftvice 'to advance' the cards at stations [L` and IR; ret te the sta: tions IIL and IIR and'tinten:intov the/,guideways' 59h-and;- 59.12%.v Foliowinethis; lthe stepping relay Iil'li .isl normalized; A

It will he4 lunderstood that the processing :of operations' .describedahoye 'would eventually bring cardsfrom stations .and IR .to stations' andl IIR. Whre, they Wonldbewcomparedas descriliedunder .(.19.aahcwle; Hence step'llf) may" befomitted Vby arranging for restorationof" time? stepping'rclaiy mechanism H3; etcrrto zero-posi tionv after the `third test for .another .testlik'ef the' rst; cards originally at IIL "and n IIR having' been vdiscarded; However, it is preferable tocrdsntILfand IR asjnstdescribedand as s'hclrwninfthe xiviririer diagram. f

5. None` 'of the: cdds agree `Stf iln'irif;frelay mais"stepDedHinto-:its N A 5 position. A cntactseginent IlleY .on thesyitchf disl I3 I closes circuit'fflom grolindthrouh; a conductor 252 -a .nd @l normally closed rcorittaflc't 253 of the `-1 .elay I fI6, referred to hereinabove; tofs. conductor 2.553 Jleadiifig `-to the winding-of relayf ma; Relay 1-1.a s energizedey .batterfyam @not closes a'contact; 25.5 prior toopeningthe `contact- 25-3.- Contact 25.5, :c19s m g, completes a .stick circuitfrom the-conductor 254 .through tlnlscinfl tactand .a conductor 255 to a-push -buttonswitch' 251 which is ,normally closed to ground, thereby maintaining the relay |167 energized;

alarm is .connected @parallel with the relay I1@- to be energized concurrently therewith. by a battery BIE, and is held energized through" thesstick-cincuitfor the-.relay -Il i lIlhe .relay I IzI, inenerizing, also closes .a contact 259 towextend ground Afrorirgtl'ie corid-uctorl 252throueh conductors 2,60 and 2;.I t@ themeewt" 1,63., which cnereizes. brings about the, frf leasen-f the clutch .|413 in the mannerdescrbed above. .Another contact-' 261gV of .the .relay .I-'I-Iil closesgwhen this relayiselegized extends ground .from thefconduqtor .2523 through con# dnctors` 26 2 and .-2I 8 `.to 'the `VV'IMl-irig l .of the relay IBI. Thelat-ter relayfenergizesqand'.closes i-.ts contactglgto :complete the stick' 1ciizcuit .eon trolled by the switch disk |30. Contact :22:0 of relay'V MI :closes circuit :5to the :tripping magnet IZrFIvanLd--causes the stepping rela-y to ret-urn to nonni-ab .Ast .the switch idiskszzl tand* I3I ,attain their 0 :positions, the: relay -I-8II and magnetsJ 4.21 afncl'flfl are released.l .Relay :ISIB, ,howeverfis heldfener-.eizedfthrough itsfst-ick.,c-rci-iit.-

.Relay LI 1:6 .also lhas .a; normally closed; contact H thronghwhieh circuit;is;ord-inamilygestablished to .the windng .ofthe .clutch .solenoid IIIIlwhen the .switch .disk .|32 .returns .-to its O -potiitiori` relay contact lI 'I .-5; however, opens when the Prevents @Herg;i22.ifleiflA 19 ton 251' to release the relay |76. The machine is then operated manually to correct the condition of non-agreement.

NLANUAL CONTROLS Mention has been made of the push buttons I65L and 165B., Fig. 5, and their use in actuating the magnets 82L and 82B. for momentarily elevating the card stop fingers 92. This is advantageous where it is desired merely to advance the cards along the guideways.

There may be instances, however, where it is desired to eject a card from a station IIL or IIR and move the succeeding cards up a single station each. For example, assuming that the card at station IIL is to be ejected and the card at station IL moved into station IIL and retained there, the procedure is to depress the push button 2ML, Fig. 5. A contact piece 263 on the plunger of this switch closes circuit from ground to the windings of the solenoid IML and slow,- to-energize relay 23|L. Solenoid IML energizes and swings the drop section lill downwardly to eject the card at station IIL into the bin |65. concurrently therewith the relay 231L is energzed, in the manner explained above, but the relays 2(2L and 245L are prevented from energizing in this instance inasmuch as the contact 243 of the switch 2ML is open.

Relay 23|L energizes in due course and re-L leases the solenoid IML. Relay 231L being energized, the stop nger magnet 82L and associated relay HBL are energized as the drop section IDI is restored to its upper position, so that the card atl station IL is advanced to station IIL and a new card fed to station IL. As relay lBL energizes it releases the relay 231L, which in turn brings about the release of the relay I'IBL. Whereupon the push button 2ML may be released.

The push button 244B controls the right-hand side of the apparatus in the same manner as the push button 2ML does with respect to the lefthand side.

A push button 264, Fig. 4, is provided for the purpose of enabling the solenoid H9 of the stepping relay |09 to be operated under manual control whenever desired. Another push `button 265 controls operation of the tripping magnet l2'l.

It will be understood that Where I have referred to batteries BI, B2, etc., for operating the various solenoids, these may all consist of a single batteryl with multiple connections, or may.

consist of any other suitable source of electrical energy. The various grounds may all be connected severally or in groups as may be most convenient.

While I have above referred to a certain se-i quence of operations, and to specic electrical connections, it Will be understood that other arrangements may be had and that mechanical elements may be substituted for electrical relays or other elements and vice versa. It will also be understood that by reference to cards above, it is not intended that the invention be so limited. It is equally applicable to other articles bearing indicia of any character, such as notches, perforations, protuberances, conductive or insulating areas, or any form of intelligence capable of mechanical and/or electrical sensing.

' Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modication and I therefore do not Wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterfill 20 ations as fall Within the purview of the following" claims.

I claim:

bear related data representations, other compara ing means including sensing means adapted to cooperate with the articles in the second pair thereof, means operable to render said other comparing means eiective only when the articles associated With the first comparing means are not related, means for rejecting one of the articles of the first pair thereof when said other comparing means is effective to determine that one of the articles associated with the iirst comparing means is related to one of the articles associated with said other comparing means, and means for associating the related article of the second pair with the related article of the iirst pair whereby the feeding means may be effective to feed such associated articles to the machine.

2. In apparatus for pairing -related articles that function when properly paired and correlated to control operation of a cyclic operable vmachine to which paired articles are to be fed, means for feeding and comparing articles to group them in correlated pairs, including a first pair of comparing means for comparing two related articles rst fed, another pair of comparing means for comparing one of said first two articles with a related article of another pair, and means operable to render said other comparing means effective only when `the articles associated with the rst comparing means are not properly paired and correlated one with the other, means for feeding prop#- erly paired and correlated articles to the machine, and means for rejecting articles which are not properly paired and correlated after repeated comparisons.

3. hi` apparatus of the character described, means for feeding articles to be compared and paired along two separate comparing paths, electricai sensing means at a first pair of stations along said paths for comparing a first pair of articles in said stations to determine whether they are properly paired, additional electrical sensing' means at a second pair of stations for comparing one of said articles of said first pair with one article of another pair, means operable to render said additional sensing means effective only when( the sensing means at the first station is effective' to determine that the articles thereat are not lr e lated for pairing, and means for rejecting un-4 paired articles which give repeated negative re sults on such comparison, said last-named means being eifective to Withdraw said unpaired articles from said comparing paths.

4. In apparatus of the character described and for comparing related articles such as cards or the like which are fed together in pairs along aV guideway in the apparatus and which function *A to control the apparatus when properly related,

a iirst pairl of comparing means for comparinga pair of articles rst fed to determine if they are properly related, a second pair of comparingA means for comparing a pair of articles next fed to 4 see if they are properly related, means for comparing each of the articles in said rst pair of erable tovreject unrelatedar'tides from me guide way.

'. Ifn apparatus of the characterdescribed;

ist and 'second pairs` of "('zniiaringA inanfsg spaced-'apart sensing stations said-apparatus an'd- Wlireat said comparing incaricare respe'e tively located for comparing data carried ferent sets of articles readablel fthroughf ratus, a` guideway in Said -apparatscfl said article maybe -fedl to said sensing' sta ahd through 'and' past- Said pairs of ol-hpr apparatus, means responsive to failure-'to sosensle-` identicaldata to reject one or said artic-les.J the guideway, comparing means for' coin-pa gvr the unrejected article with another relatediarticle thereto vat the other' off ysaid stations,- means operable "to render saidY comparing "means feinese tifve only when identical data are not sensedcy the firstnamed means, `and 'means operable to adtanc'esaid other related 'article from `'said other station Vto said' one station when said other coniparing'means determine-that said unrejected fatti'ol'e "and Said other article are-properly 'related' to lbe advanced 'togthertoisaid point vof fuse.

6; In apparatus of the character' described, a rs't 'pair of sensing stations for comparing lindicia'ebearing articles, a second pair of 4sensing stations' for comparing indicia-bearing artides,

means operable to -rstcomparea pair' of articles in said first stations and to forward' ther-n to Ia point of when Vthey are foiind to bear properly related indicia, comparing means :for "comparingv an article located in the second pair of stations With the related onev of the articles in said lirst station, means operable vto render saidcomparing means effective only whenthe meansoperable to rst compare a pair of articles in said rststations are effective to determine that the jdatafon saidarticles are not related, and means Ito-reject unrelatedartcles from the apparatus.

i7. In apparatus for pairing related articles, a`

rst pair-ofcomparing stations including electrical` sensing. .means for comparmga first pair of articles to` `ascertain whether .they arev properly related one with the other, asecond pair of @com-vparing stations including additional electrical sensing means to compare each of said articles with a related one of a second pair of articles at the second pair of stations, means operable to render said additional comparing means effective only when the means for comparing the rst pair of articles at the first stations ascertain that such articles are not properly related, and means to advance articles from said first stations in pairs only when the articles thereat are determined to be properly related.

8. In a machine of the character described including a guideway for articles to be paired and related as pairs to subsequently control operation 0f the machine, two pairs of sensing stations in said guideway, feed control means responsive to the sensing of identical data borne by a pair of articles at one of the pairs of stations to advance such articles bearing identical data as a pair therefrom to a point of use in the machine, means responsive te failure toisef-s'ense identieainata tos reject one of said articles from lthefguidewayat said one. of 'the pairs of stations and to :c'empareV the rel'nainingVl article fat saidforwardfstation' with; a related article located at the other of the ipairis of stations, and means operable to rendersad?.

las'tA-.named means eie'ctive uponsaidrejectionpf saido'ne of 'said articles.

- '9.- In am'achineof the. character described clud'in'g 'afgindeway' for articles. to. befpaired' "and properlyrela-ted one wit-li the 'other to" fcontrclz operation of the machine, a .'first pair of'sensin'g" stations-forcomparmg data borne said artiecles to determine if the data borneby: aLpairnf;

said 'articles are .properly related whereby '-the x forward such articles-at said'first pair of stations:

to va ipoinitfof use in :themachine when.suchr-artie-v c`les are 'fou-iid .to bear related data, 'othercomey paring means for comparing one lofthe articlesat said first :pair'of stations with .azrelated iarticleiat'. 1, said:V secondA pair of stations, means .operabletorend'erisaid'other comparing means. effective:fc'mly` when Itlie said. one- 'article is determined. to :bear

data'l unrelated to the other article 'at sai'dn-rst. pair of stations, meansitorejectsaid other articlea from 'the guideway, and :mea-ns toadvance safidl related article at said second' pair offstationsta said iirst pai-r of stations Wh'ensaidirelatedarticle: is determinedV by said other 'comparing'imeansfto; be properly vrelated to saidpnearticle.

110. In apparatus of theLLclfiaracter describedfii-r; cluding means for:advancingfdierent.datasbeareing articles along respective :paths fof Atravel:.to-ice arranged in properly related pairs, Aimeansnat :a nrst :station falo'n'g said pathffo'r comparingfsaid articles to :group them Ain :properly related pairs. the articles in each properly -related to bear.' identical data, 'second comparingmeanssat fase'cond station .along said :path of ltravel :responsive to a 'first faiilur'e to iind' av properly related#data1 relationship between articles in :juxtaposed posi#- tions fat the. vvrst station, ifor Acomparing.:at .least one .of said .articles Aat :the nrst station'with fat least one' other related article not-linclude'dlinith. rst amed comparing operation, means .operai-l bleit render fsai'd second :comparing :means fe'ffe'cetivefonly when tlie irs't-"named `means'arezreiiective to determine that the articles associated` therewith 4bear unrelated. data,- tliird comparing means for? comparing the second ofV said articles at' the first lstation with fa second other' related article-'riot included in the nrstenamed atrapar#l ing operation, means to render said third comparing means efective only when the said second comparing means determine that said second article and said second related article bear unrelated data, and means responsive to failure to relate one article with another to reject such unrelated article from the path of travel and to advance another article from the second station to the rst station to take the place of the rejected article.

11. In electrical sensing apparatus for testing articles bearing indicia to group such articles as ibear related indicia, and in which apparatus there are means for advancing such articles in pairs along separate paths from one sensing station in said paths to a spaced-apart other'sensing station and for advancing such articles in properly related pairs from said other station, the combination of sensing means for nrst compar ing a plurality of articles located at said other station, other sensing means including elements of said first sensing means for comparing an article tested by said first means with an article at said one sensing station not tested by said first means, means operable to render said other sensing means effective only when the means for first comparing a plurality of articles is effective to determine that thearticles sensed thereby are unrelated, and means to advance said article at said one station to said other station when said other sensing means determine that such one article is properly related to one of said unrelated articles. l

12. In apparatus of the character described, two parallel feed channels, a series of feed rolle-rs in each of said channels for advancing control articles along said channels, a reciprocating feeder for taking an article in each channel from astack of articles and introducing said article into said feed channel, means for controlling the operation of said feeder, stop means along said channels for stopping articles in two different sensing positions in each channel, means for controlling said stop means, a sensing means in each sensing position in each channel, means connecting said sensing means to identify related articles located at each sensing position, means responsive to the identication of properly related articles for initiating operation of said control means for one of said stops at one of said sensing positions, means responsive to failure to identify related articles for rejecting one of such nonidentifying articles from its channel, sensing means for sensing each of said non-identifying articles with the articles at the othersensing position that may be related thereto, and means to advance articles from the second to the first sensing position that may be determined as heing properly related to the non-identifying articles at the first sensing position.

13. In an apparatus for pairing related articles that function when paired to control operation of a cyclic operable machine to which the paired articles are to be fed, means for advancing said articles in pairs, comparing means for comparing data representations borne by the articles of the first.` pair thereof, means for feeding said first pair of articles to the machine only when the comparing means is effective to ascertain that such articles bear related data representations, other comparing means including sensing means adapted to cooperate with the articles in the second pair thereof, means operable to render said other comparing means effective only when the articles associated with the first comparing means are not related, means for rejecting are ticles which do not match after repeated comparisons, and means for interrupting operation of the apparatus and the machine when thev comparing means and said other comparing means are effective to determine that all the articles associated therewith are unrelated.

14. In apparatus of the character described, means for feeding related articles to be compared and paired along two separate comparing paths, a rst pair of comparing stations along said paths and including a first pair of comparing means for comparing a first pair of articles to determine Whether they are matched, a second pair of comparing stations along said paths and including other comparing means for comparing one of the articles in said rst pair of articles with a related one of another pair at said second pairr of stations, means operable to render said other comparing means effective when the articles associated with the first comparing means are not matched, and means within the comparing paths for rejecting from said path articles which are not properly paired after repeated comparisons.

15. In apparatus for pairing related articles to be advanced along a guideway and which function When properly paired and related to control operation of a cyclic operable machine, means for feeding and comparing articlesin pairs to group them in properly related pairs, including, ccmparing means for comparing two articles rst fed as a pair, other comparing means for comparing one of said articles first fed with another of a pair of articles next fed, means operable to render said other comparing means effective only when the articles associated with the first comparing means are determined as not related, means for feeding properly paired articles to the machine, and means for rejecting from the guideway articles which are not properly paired after repeated comparisons.

GEORGE H. WALLACE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,591,005 Stuivenberg June 29, 1926 1,989,049 Youngberg Jan. 22, 1935 2,066,783 Kolm Jan. 5, 1937 2,172,328 Bryce Sept. 5, 1939 2,359,670 Page Oct. 3, 1944 2,379,828 Rubidge July 3, 1945 2,434,512 Page Jan. 13, 1948 2.445.636 Rubidge July 20, 1948

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