US3224759A

US3224759A - Full pocket indications in record card machines

Info

Publication number: US3224759A
Application number: US265180A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wolf Waldemar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-09-25
Filing date: 1963-03-14
Publication date: 1965-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-21
Also published as: GB954626A

Description

w. WOLF 3,224,759

FULL POCKET INDICATIONS IN RECORD CARD MACHINES Dec. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1963 Jnrenton- Waldemar Wolf w m w 3 9" I e a M m A from m: Y

W. WOLF Dec. 21, 1965 FULL POCKET INDICATIONS IN RECORD CARD MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1963 NW mm NW mm Jnremor:

Waldemar Wolf ehael S- S'z ik 42% torngy United States Patent 3,224,759 FULL POCKET INDICATIONS IN RECORD CARD MACHINES Waldemar Wolf, Nurnberg-Reichelsdorf, Germany, as-

signor to Michael Maul, Schwabach, near Nurnberg, Germany Filed Mar. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 265,180

Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 25, 1962,

M 54,308 2 Claims. (Cl. 271-64) In punched card machines (particularly in sorting machines for punched cards) it is customary to release a full pocket signal if the card receiving pocket is filled with cards. For this purpose in each pocket usually a resilient card receiving carriage is provided which, in unloaded condition, is arranged somewhat below the card path and will be lowered for the extent of the card stack upon increase of the card weight. In its lowermost position the carriage releases the full pocket signal, for instance by closing of a contact. Generally the machine is stopped by this signal. In sorting machines customarily comprising a larger number of sorting pockets at common bar operable by each card receiving carriage is provided for a plurality of card receiving pockets, which common bar will release the full pocket signal when moved from its initial position.

In relatively simple machines comprising a plurality of card receiving pockets-as in conventional sorting machinesthe technical means for the card receiving carriages are of importance with respect to production and costs. Moreover, often the constructive dimensions of the machine are disadvantageously influenced by the carriage.

F or the purpose of reducing the costs of these machines and in order to diminish the constructive dimensions (for instance in desk machines) thereforewith the omission of the conventional card carriage moving up and down according to the present invention, on the firmly fastened bottom of the pocket a resilient feeler is provided performing only a slight lift above the bottom of the pocket, the spring action of the feeler being adjusted in such a manner that, if the pocket is filled, the slight lift is overcome just as far as to release the full pocket signal. This arrangement approves of a limited height of the pocket, in any event not so high that looping of the card in the card receiving pocket can take place if the card is fed into the pocket. Accordingly, the arrangement according to the invention is particularly advantageous in cases not depending on very high stacks of received cards and allowing removal of the card stacks from the machine repeatedly, however, permitting only removal of smaller card stacks at a time. This is for instance the case in machines to be employed in smaller and medium sized enterprises producing a smaller number of cards anyway and consequently preferring for economic reasons a simpler and cheaper machine, preferably in the form of a desk machine.

Further preferred features of the invention will be seen from the following specification and the claims.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in connection with a so-called small type sorting machine comprising only six pockets and being constructed as a desk machine. It is evident that the invention is not restricted to this case of app ication.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the machine;

FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the common bar as well as a micro switch controlled by the common bar;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the feeler arranged in the bottom of the pocket;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the sorting machine;

3,224,759 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 FIG. 5 shows the circuit diagram of the machine, however, only as far as it is essential for the full pocket signal.

The sorting procedure proper need not be explained in detail since it is known per se and for the rest is of no importance for the object of the invention. It must only be mentioned that in numerical sorting the cards are sorted in two sorting runs. In the first sorting run the digit 0 to 4 are assorted into five sorting pockets and the remaining cards drop into the reject pocket arranged at the left hand end of the machine. The digit pockets :having been cleared, the cards are removed from the reject pocket and will run once more through. the machine, however, in this instance sorting according to digits 5 to 9 will take place.

In the usual manner the cards are deposited in the magazine 10, with the aid of a rotating card knife the cards are drawn one by one from the card stack and by means of feed rollers are fed past an analyzing station 11 (FIG. 4) capable of analyzing simultaneously five hole positions of the card. In the first sorting run the analyzing station 11 is rendered effective by an impulse emitter (not illustrated) at the moment at which the hole positions 0 to 4 are just in the analyzing station, and in the second sorting run the analyzing station is rendered effective at a moment at which the hole positions 5 to 9 are in said analyzing station. The impulse emitter may be rendered effective to the one or the other mode of operation by key actuation. For each sorting pocket a sorting magnet 13 is provided lifting an assigned sorting bar 14 upon energization. Thus in a known manner the sorting deflectors 15 are drawn apart at a point corresponding to the .perforation so that the card is forced to run into its assigned sorting pocket. The sorting pockets comprise the pocket bottom 17 consisting of one piece and the partition walls 18.

In each sorting pocket a feeler is provided to be seen in front view from FIG. 4 and in section from FIG. 3. In FIG. 1 said feelers are no more perceptible since they are arranged deeply within the card receiving pocket in such a manner that they are no longer visible upon perspective illustration. These feelers are, however, provided approximately in the middle of the pocket bottom so that the centre of gravity of the card stack lies just over the feeler. Preferably, the feeler is, however, slightly displaced to the front with respect to the middle, so that the card stack is prevented from tilting forwardly, but, if tilting should occur at all, is forced to tilt backwardly thus resting upon the rear wall of the card receiving pocket.

The feeler is provided as follows:

A pin 22 is fixed in a cap 21 (FIG. 3), said pin being loosely guided through a set screw 23. The lowermost side of the cap 21 bears a flange 28 urged against the lower side of the pocket bottom 17 by means of the spring 24. The spring 24 is mounted in a spring cup 25 comprising a middle bore into which the projection of the set screw is freely entering, so that the spring cup rests on the set screw. The set screw 23 is adjustable within a holding sheet 26 by means of a thread and the holding sheet 26 is fixed to the pocket bottom 17 by means of screws. The lower end of the set screw 23 is slashed so that it may be turned by means of a tool. By turning of the set screw 23 consequently the spring cup 25 may be adjusted in upward or in downward direction and thereby the spring 24 may be adjusted to more or less strong pressure. After corresponding adjustment the set screw 23 is arrested in its position by means of a locking nut 27.

If the pocket is filled the feeling cap 21 is pressed downwardly to a degree causing the lower end of the pin 22 to engage the lip 36 of a common bar 31 so that this common bar is somewhat displaced. Accordingly, the common bar 31 is displaced as soon as any one of the sorting pockets is filled. The two ends of the common bar 31 are rotatably mounted between points. Approximately in the middle of the machine there is provided a micro switch 36 and the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2. A lever arm 32, seated on the common bar 31, is held in its position as shown in FIG. 2 against a settable stop 34 by means of a spring 33. If one of the pins 22 engages its lip 30 (FIGS. 2 and 3), the arm 32 (FIG. 2) is rocked in counter-clockwise direction oppositely to the tension of the spring 33. Consequently the right hand lever arm 32 (FIG. 2) is pressed against the pin 35 of the micro switch 36 common to all pockets. In the us-ual manner a snap spring 37 is provided in the latter micro switch (illustrated uncovered in FIG. 2) so that upon a certain set stress of the spring 24 (FIG. 3) strong snapping of the spring 37 is effected thereby releasing the stop signal for the machine. The micro contact is illustrated as shift contact, however, only the upper contact 39 is employed which is closed in the rest position of the micro switch.

FIG. illustrates the circuit diagram of the machine. The machine is connected to the mains by means of the main switch 40. The sorting device is connected to the mains through a transformer 41 and a rectifier arrangement 42. The contact e (condenser and resistance connected in parallel) is closed in the usual manner if cards are in the card magazine.

If the start key 43 is depressed a current circuit is estab lished through relay R closing its holding contact r1 and the motor contact r2. A shunt to the contact of key 43 is maintained through contact r1 if the start key 43 is again released. The contact 39 of the micro switch 36 is arranged between relay R and the magazine contact e. If the machine is rendered operative by depressing and releasing of the start key 43 the relay R remains energized and the motor contact r3 closed. Accordingly, the machine continues running and the current circuit through relay R is maintained by contact 39, contact e, through the contact of the stop key 44 and holding contact 11.

If any one of the sorting pockets is filled with cards the micro contact 39 is opened in the manner already described and thereby the current circuit through relay R is interrupted, the motor contact r2 drops and the machine stops.

If the machine is to be stopped manually at any desired moment, stop key 44 is depressed; so the before mentioned current circuit of relay R is also interrupted so that the motor stops. 4

What is claimed is:

1. A full pocket indication device for punched card machines comprising at least one receiving pocket and full pocket indication means wherein the cards in a receiving pocket move due to their weight a yielding support to a degree causing a full pocket signal if a card pocket is filled, characterized in that a feeler is provided on the unyielding pocket bottom of each receiving pocket on which the stack of cards is placed, the feeler containing a spring cup fastened to the lower side of the pocket bottom and supporting a spring urging in upward direction a feeler cap which is projecting through a hole of the unyielding pocket bottom into the receiving pocket and a collar of which is held against the lower side of the pocket bottom, said feeler cap being lowered if loaded by the stack of cards, a pin of said cap projecting loosely through a set screw bearing the spring cup, the set screw being arranged in a thread bore of a holding plate fastened to the lower side of the pocket bottom, and being settable in axial direction for adjustment of the spring pressure acting on the feeler cap and also being lockable by means of a lock nut, and that the pin of a receiving pocket may release the full pocket signal in a manner known per se.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the release of the full pocket signal is effected through a toggle spring controlled by said feeler, said toggle spring being preferably provided by the toggle spring of a micro contact including the full pocket signal contact.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,835,382 12/1931 Cunningham.

2,461,418 2/1949 Ford 271-64 X 2,487,347 11/ 1949 Malmros et al 271-64 2,910,294 10/1959 Weidenhammer 271-88 2,957,691 10/1960 Williams 271-88 3,084,812 4/1963 Johansson.

3,106,302 10/1963 Mandonas 214-6 M. HENSON, WOOD, ]R., Primary Examiner. RAPHAEL M. LUPO, ROBERT B. REEVES, Examiners.