US3326219A - Device for perforating and sorting indicia bearing cards - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1967 T. w. HALL 3,326,219

DEVICE FOR PERFORATING AND SORTING INDICIA BEARING CARDS Filed April 24, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

* By 7, 50017R5 1/1 HALL June 20, 1967 T. w. HALL 3,326,219

DEVICE FOR PERFORATING AND SORTING INDICIA BEARING CARDS Filed April 24, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2-

OOOEJOOOOOUOO INVENTOR. THEHDZUFE W. HAL L Y [jnfOQOOOOnO OnLDOOOO /g June 20, 1967 w HALL 3,326,219

DEVICE FOR PERFORA'I'ING AND SORTING INDICIA BEARING CARDS Filed April 24, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. THfHDZZRE W HALL United States Patent 3,326,219 DEVICE FOR PERFORATING AND SORTING INDICIA BEARING CARDS Theodore W. Hall, 287 Linda St., Belford, NJ. 07718 Filed Aug. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 482,157 6 Claims. (Cl. 129-161) The present invention relates to a device for holding a stack of indicia bearing cards to selectively notch or slot said cards and in which each notch or slot is POSI- tioned to indicate a particular number, letter, classification, personnel information, etc. and further in which the apparatus provides automatic means for selecting a card or cards from said stack of cards when certain information is set up.

With punched or slotted cards that are punched or slotted to provide certain data, in the past the means of selecting any card or cards from a plurality of cards based on a particular item of the data punched thereon was simply, first an alignment of all cards so that similar data was slotted or perforated so that the slots or perforations would fall in alignment. Next a hand operated single needle or double needle was inserted through a particular slot or perforation for selection of all cards having a particular item of data, picking up the aligned perforations where the card is slotted. The slotted cards are easily removed thus sorting one or more cards from the group of cards. The cards removed all having the single item of data thereon. In this type of sorting of cards by hand it becomes a tedious operation, both the individual punching of each card to slot the edge of the card based on the information to be included on that particular card and the slow difficult insertion of a needle through a plurality of aligned cards to retain all cards not slotted and permit the dropping of all slotted cards having that particular information thereon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a key operated punch to permit an easy and rapid punching of each card with the desired slots to incorporate the desired data on that particular card.

A further object of this invention is to provide means to retain a plurality of slotted cards in an aligned position and in which a needle or a plurality of needles are positioned in alignment with the perforations of said cards and in which means are provided to release one or more needles and in which means are provided to propel the released needle or needles through particular perforations in said cards to hold all unslotted cards and means are provided to agitate said cards to release or drop all slotted cards that are slotted where the holding needle passes through said cards and means to hold said remaining cards and return said needle or needles to their initial position.

Other objects of this invention shall be apparent by reference to the accompanying detailed description and the drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card sorting device shown partially in cross section,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the card sorting device,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail in perspective of .a portion of the device,

FIG. 5 is a partial view in elevation of the card holder ledge,

FIG. 6 is a partial view in elevation showing the card ejector,

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a single card, and

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the electrical circuit for the operation of the device.

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Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated a device 10 for punching and sorting data bearing cards. The device is comprised of the following combined components, namely, a card punching portion 11, a card reader and retainer portion 12, a selector rod release portion 14, a portion 15 comprised of an automatic means for driving said selector rods into a plurality of cards, a portion 16 which includes a vibrator and release for dropping selected cards, all components being retained within a single framework 18 to make a compact device. Referring to portion 11 the framework 18 comprises a base portion 18B with a pair of upturned side elements 18S (FIG. 2), mounted on the base 18B there is a supporting element 19 that is provided with a plurality of slots 20. Element 19 is provided with a bore 21 extending across the complete element to permit mounting a pin 22 therethrough. A plurality of elongated keys 23 are provided of a shape and size to fit loosely within slots 20. The keys 23 are each provided with a perforation 24 so that pin 22 will pass through perforation 24 retaining each key 23 in a pivotal relationship. It is to be noted that the supporting element 19 retains keys 23 in an elevated position above base 18B. It is also to be noted that the spacing of the sides 18S (FIG. 2) on either side of base 18B is of a predetermined width to permit inserting a card on base 18B and fitted between the sides 188. The predetermined width of the card to be utilized as illustrated in FIG. 7 determines the depth of the card punching platform P. At the prescribed depth the base 18B has a raised portion 25 so that the card edge will abut with portion 25 when inserted on platform P. A second card retaining portion 26 spans the space between sides 18S and is spaced from platform P sufliciently to allow the card to be inserted within the slot shaped area, the card assuming the position as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 1. Each key 23 is provided with a slotting punch 27 pivotally affixed to key 23 and hanging from key 23 and fitted into a bore between the portion 25 and 26 and extending through platform P. Referring to FIG. 7 a card 30 is illustrated, card 30 being one of many types of cards utilized in this particular type of punch and slot sorting, card 30 having a length L and width W to fit the platform P of the portion 11 of this device. With a card 30 provided with a plurality of punches 31 each indicating a different particular data for filing, one side or both sides of the card may be utilized. If a card 30 is to be utilized in portion 11, it is inserted as illustrated in dotted lines on platform P and the keys 23 may be depressed by means of their buttons 28. Referring to FIG. 2 it is apparent that particular keys may be selected to provide a slotting of card 30 in a fashion as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this instance five keys have been depressed to provide five slots in card 30. With a plurality of stacked cards that have been slotted in different fashion but in which one or more cards have been similarly slotted in the fourth hole from the left (FIG. 7), the selection of particular cards is facilitated to be described later. With the card 30 slotted as desired, the card 30 may be removed from platform P and stacked with a plurality of cards as long as the same facing of cards is observed, that is, each card is provided with a cut edge 32 to indicate the correct positioning of all cards. Although the card punching portion 11 is primarily for the slotting of cards to indicate particular data, the keys 23 of this portion extend into the selector rod release portion, that is, each key 23 at its end opposite to the button end 28 is provided with a hook shaped end 35, all of the hook shaped ends 35 being in alignment and extending downward to engage the upstanding end 36 of a plurality of selector rods 37. To retain keys 23 in a proper engaged position, a platform P is provided 3 so that the lower portion of keys 23 rests upon platform P in its normal engaged position as illustrated in FIG. 1. A platform P is provided between the sides 185 to support a plurality of the selector rods 37. Rods 37 are positioned in alignment with each key 23 and in engagement with the end of each key 23 by an upturned end 36. The opposite end of each rod 37 is fitted through an aperture 38 in the card reader and retainer portion 12. This portion 12 is constructed as a double partition 39 and 40 with a base 42 to provide a slot 41 of a size to permit card 30 to be inserted therein and to align all punched apertures 31 with the apertures 38 in the divided partitions 39 and 40. Thus rods 37 will normally be in the position as illustrated in FIG. 1 with one end in the aperture 38 of partition 40 while the opposite end of rod 37 is retained by the hook shaped portion 35 of key 23. A plurality of small bores 44 are provided in platform P in alignment with each rod 37. Mounted in each bore 44 is a spring S that is compressed when rod 37 is in this mounted position. Thus it is apparent, referring to one rod, that if the button 28 of the key 23 retaining that particular rod is depressed, the end of rod 37 will be released and the spring S will propel selector rod 37 to pass through both apertures 38 of partitions 39 and 40 and further to engage the automatic means for driving said selector rods into a plurality of cards. A rod 45X is mounted through slots 45A (as illustrated in FIG. 1) across all rods 37 to be used for returning or resetting all rod 37 to their initial position with the end 35 of keys ,23 engaging the upturned end 36 of all rods 37. This is performed manually. It is to be further noted that a pair of keys 46 are mounted on either side of the frame 18 (FIG. 1). Keys 46 are pivotally retained on a rod 47 mounted through frame 18. One end of each key 46 is a button depressing portion 48, the opposite end is provided with an aperture 49 through which rod 45X is mounted. Thus with all rods positioned a illustrated in FIG. 1, if the keys 46 on each side are actuated by depressing buttons 48, rod 45X will be lifted lifting all keys 23 and releasing all rods 37. This is utilized as to be described later. Referring to the automatic means 15 for driving said selector rods, this is comprised of a pair of rollers 50 and 51 mounted in juxtaposition similar to a washing machine wringer, that is, rollers 50 and 51 are mounted to provide a frictional contact to rods 37 but with enough resiliency to allow rods 37 to be propelled between rollers 50 and 51 and by means of the frictional contact propelled forward as illustrated in dotted lines (FIG. 1). A motor 52 is mounted under rollers 50 and 51 and by means of a pulley '53 on motor 52 a belt 54 mounted around pulley 53 and around a second pulley 55 on roller 51 drives roller 51 to provide the propelling means. Motor 52 is a reversible motor thus when operated in one direction it will provide a counterclockwise rotation of roller -1 to propel rods 37 forward to the left (FIG. 1). And, of course when motor 52 is reversed in its operation roller 51 will be driven in a clockwise direction to return rods 37 and permit the resetting of rods 37 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Rollers 50 and 51 and motor 52 are all supported between the sides 18S and between partition 39 and a further partition 56 in the relationship as illustrated in FIG. 1. Partition 56 is provided with a plurality of apertures 57 that are in alignment with apertures 38 of partitions 39 and 40 to insure the aligned travel of rod 37 as it is propelled forward and the back end 58 is provided with similar apertures 57 for the same reason.

Referring to the portion 16 of the device there is illustrated an open chamber 60 surrounded by sides 185 on two sides and surrounded by partition 56 and the back end 58 of frame 18. At the bottom of chamber 60 affixed to either side 185 there is provided a pair of ledges 61 (FIGS. 1 and 5). Each ledge 61 is pivotally supported at 62 and normally retained in the position as illustrated in full lines thus providing a support on either side of frame 18 to retain a stack of cards as illustrated in FIG. 1. To retain the stack of cards in an upright aligned relationship, there is provided a rack 65 and a detent 66 that is spring pressed into engagement between the teeth of rack 65. One end of rack 65 is provided with a back up plate 67 while the opposite end of rack 65 is affixed to a spring 68, spring 68 being anchored to an extension rod 69 from frame 18. In operation with a stack of cards in position as illustrated in FIG. 1, the rack 65 is pushed inward to the right so that the back up plate 67 abuts with and compresses the cards 30 and retains the cards 30 as shown ready for a sorting of a particular card or cards from said stack of cards. Referring to FIG. 5 ledges 61 may be pivotally moved to the dotted position by means -of solenoids 63. A solenoid is mounted on either side of frame 18 by a strap 63 Solenoid 63 is connected to the end of ledge 61 so that when solenoid 63 is energized it will pull ledge 61 and move it pivotally to the dotted position thus removing the pair of ledges from their supporting position under cards 30 and of course when solenoid 63 is de-energized, ledges 61 will again assume the full line position as illustrated (FIG. 5). Ledges 61 may be counterbalanced to retain this normal position or they may be spring pressed to retain the position illustrated. Mounted upon the back end 58 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3) there is provided a motor 70 that is provided with a pair of offset weighted elements 71 that in operation provide a vibrating reaction due to the fact that motor M is resiliently mounted to said back end 58 and with the rotation of elements 71 there is an oscillation of the motor with relation to its mounting providing a vibration which is transmitted through the back end 58 and through rods 37 to the stack of cards mounted in chamber 60. The reason for this vibration is as follows: when a stack of cards 30 have been positioned as illustrated and a rod or particular rods 37 have been propelled through the stack of cards 30 to the back end 58 in this position solenoids 63 may be energized to release ledges 61 and the detent .66 may be pressed releasing the back up plate 67 thus the stack of cards will be hanging on the particular rods 37 that have been propelled through the stack of cards. In the selection of a card or cards for particular data, there will only be certain cards in the stack of cards that have been slotted as illustrated in FIG. 7. Therefore with the cards 30 hanging loosely from rods 37 any card slotted at rod 37 will drop from the stack. However due to frictional contact with adjoining cards, the vibration set up through rods 37 tends to overcome the frictional contact and to separate card from card allowing any unsupported card to drop.

To provide automatic operation with this device, referring to FIG. 8, there is a schematic illustration of the electrical circuit utilized. A timer motor is provided, motor 80 is provided with a brush contact 81 that rotates clockwise over a circular supporting face 82. Face 82 is provided with a plurality of contact elements 83 that vary in size according to the duration of the contact desired. The timer motor 80 is connected to ground on one side by a lead 84. Motor 80 is connected on the other side to a starter switch 85 by a lead 86. The opposite side orswitch 85 is connected by a lead 87 to a battery or source of potential 88. The opposite side of battery is connected to ground by a lead 89. Thus the closing of the switch 85 will energize the timer motor 80 and start its clockwise rotation of the brush contact 81. As soon as the brush contact 81 starts rotation, it will contact two of the elements 83, that is, contact and 91. Contact 90 .completes a holding circuit for the motor 80, that is, the contact 90 is connected by a lead 92 to lead 86 to one side of motor 80. The brush contact 81 is connected by a lead 93 to one side of the battery 88. Thus a circuit is completed from ground through lead 89 through battery 88 through lead 93 through contact 81 to contact element 90 through lead 92 through lead 86 to one side of motor 80, the opposite side of motor 80 being connected by lead 84 to ground. Thus motor 80 Will continue to operate for a complete 360 cycle before stopping. When brush contact 81 contacts contact element 91, a circuit is completed to the reversible motor 52 through a lead 94 to drive motor 52 in a counterclockwise direction, the opposite side of motor 52 being connected to ground. Thus the circuit will be from ground through lead 89 through battery 88 through lead 93 through wiper contact 81 to contact element 91 through lead 94 through motor 52 to ground. Motor 52 will be driven counterclockwise and referring to FIG. 1, it is apparent that the cycle or duration of drive of motor 52 is sufficient to drive rods 37 from the position as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 1 to the position as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 3 when contact 81 leaves contact element 91 to break the circuit. Thus with the rods 37 driven through the stack of cards as shown in FIG. 3 the next operation is the energizing of solenoids 63. The wiper contact 81 will next contact contact element 95, element 95 being connected by a lead 96 to both solenoids 63 in series and on the opposite side of solenoid 63 to ground. Thus a circuit will be set up from ground through lead 89 through battery 88 through lead 93 through wiper contact 81 through contact element 95 through lead 96 through both solenoids 63 to ground. Solenoids 63 will retract the card holding ledges 61 on either side of the frame 18 as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 5. Thus only the cards in the stack that have not been notched will be retained by whatever rods 37 that have been propelled into the position as illustrated in FIG. 3. Any cards that have been notched at the particular position at which the rods 37 are passed through the cards will drop when ledges 61 are retracted. It is to be understood that the detent 66 holding the pinion rack 65 is pressed to release the pinion rack as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus the cards are hanging loosely from the rod or rods 37. To assist in dislodging any card or cards that have been notched, the vibrator motor 70 is now operated. Referring to FIG. 8 as the brush or wiper contact 81 advances in its clockwise rotation, the next contact element that it completes a circuit through is element 97 which is connected by a lead 98 to the vibrator motor 70, the opposite side of motor 70 being connected to ground. Thus a circuit is set up from ground through lead 89 through battery 88 through lead 93 through wiper contact 81 through contact element 97 through lead 98 through motor 70 to ground. Thus the vibrator motor 70 will continue to operate as long as the wiper element 81 moves over contact 97. When it leaves contact 97, the vibrator motor will stop. During this period any card or cards that may be frictionally retained by cards on either side thereof will be jarred loose by the vibration and thus drop from the stack. The device having completed its function of picking out or dropping particular cards according to a desired data is now ready to be reset, except that the vibrator motor 70 must stop then, the wiper contact 81 will continue and will next leave contact 95 thus breaking the circuit to solenoids 63 allowing the card supporting ledges 61 to return to their normal supporting position as illustrated in FIG. 5. With the remaining cards supported, the rods 37 must be withdrawn from the stack. The wiper contact 81 in its rotation will next contact element 99 which is connected by a lead 100 to the reversible motor 52 which is in turn connected on the opposite side to ground thus driving motor 52 in a clockwise rotation so that rollers 50 and 51 will return rods 37 to the position as illustrated inFIG. 1. However, due to the resistance provided by springs 44 it is necessary to manually move rod 45 while engaged with all upturned ends 36 of rods 37 in a horizontal relationship far enough to the right (FIG. 1) to permit all hook shaped ends 35 of keys 23 to engage the upright ends 36. The circuit for this operation may be followed from ground through lead 89 through battery 88 through lead 93 through contact brush 81 through contact 99 through lead 100 to motor 52 through the opposite side of motor 52 to ground. The wiper contact 81 will leave contact 99 stopping motor 52 and by means of contact 90 wiper brush will continue to complete its cycle of operation and stop and is ready for its next cycle of operation which must be initiated by the starter switch 85. It is to be understood that the stack of cards remaining in chamber 60 may be removed and a new stack of cards may be inserted in chamber 60 for the next sorting operation and the rack 65 is again pushed against the stack of cards to retain all cards in the position as illustrated in FIG. 1. In a sorting operation with a paraticular card such as that illustrated in FIG. 7 having been punched as already disclosed, this particular card on the top edge will have five notches which indicates that there are five items of data that are to be picked from the stack of cards now loaded in chamber 60. Thus this particular card 30 illustrated in FIG. 7 may be inserted in the card reader slot 41 and by depressing both buttons 48, rod 45X will lift all keys 23 releasing all rods 37. When all rods 37 are released, only five of the released rods will penetrate through partitions 39 and 40 to a position against rollers 50 and 51. Referring to FIG. 4 this is clearly illustrated, that is, rods 37 will abut with the card 30 where the card has not been notched but rods 37 will pass through card 30 where the card has been notched. Thus in this instance five rods will abut with rollers 50 and 51. The sequence of operation thereafter is as already described in which switch 85 is actuated starting the timer motor which in turn operates the reversible motor 52 in a counterclockwise direction thus driving rollers 5051 which pick up the five rods advancing rods 37 through the stack of cards until the rods abut with the perforations 57 in the back end 58 when motor 52 stops and the sequence of operation continues thus permitting rods 37 to retain the stack of cards but any card or cards having the five items of data slotted will drop from the stack when the cards are agitated thus selecting any card or cards having the desired data from the stack of cards.

Thus it is apparent that with the device as illustrated and described and designed primarily for the card as illustrated in FIG. 7 although it may be designed for different size cards if desired, the card without slots may be inserted on platform P so that the edge abuts with the raised portion 25 and any desired data may be slotted on the card that is inserted. Of course each key 28 that is depressed must represent the particular data that is desired. With the card so punched, the card may be inserted in the reader slot 41 with the punched edge on the top surface. In operation with a particular stack of cards or if a great many successive stacks of cards must be inserted in chamber 60, the racks 65 must be pushed in to retain each stack in succession in perfect alignment. The device is then ready so that keys 48 may de depressed and all rods released. The start switch is then momentarily depressed starting the timer motor operating and the complete operation continues automatically thereafter as described above. Thus a card or cards will be selected from the stack and the operation repeated until all cards have been selected. The device is then reset and isready for a new operation. It is apparent that with this device a card may be punched with one slot or a plurality of slots. A card maybe used in the reader slot to distinguishtthe particular data desired and the complete operation will continue to select the desired cards. It is also tobe understood that if a stack of cards containing desired slotting is inserted in chamber 60 without using a card in the reader slot 41, any button or buttons 28 may be depressed releasing the rod associated with that button which will in turn, after the actuation of the starter button, select the card or cards in the stack having the information according to the button 28 depressed.

Referring to FIG. 6 there is illustrated a card ejector means for the reader slot to facilitate the removal of the single card 30 after each operation. The ejector means is simply a pivotally supported key 101 having a push button end 102 and having an ejector card contacting end 103. With .key 101 mounted in alignment with slot 41 on either side of frame 18 with an opening in the bottom 42, it is apparent that by depressing button 102, the end 103 Will raise card 30 so that it may be easily removed from the device.

It is to be understood that single edge cards or double edge cards may be utilized by simply turning the card over in the event double edged cards are used and although a particular size card 30 has been shown, any desired size or shape card may be used in the device as long as the device is extended to accept that particular size or shape card. It is also to be understood that although .a particular method of slotting the edges of the cards has been illustrated, the cards may be slotted in other fashions without departing from the spirit of this invention and although FIG. 2 illustrates a plurality of buttons and rods to be actuated, the number of buttons and rods may be varied according to the cards designed for the machine and although a roller driving means has been illustrated for propelling rods 37 through the stack, other means may be utilized without departing from the spirit of this invention and although a vibrator has been associated with chamber 60 for dislodging selected cards from a stack, any form of vibrator may be utilized without departing from the spirit of this invention and although a pair of ledges have been provided in chamber 60 to support the stack of cards, any supporting means may be provided as long as it may be withdrawn as desired without departing from the spirit of this invention and this invention shall be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for holding a stack of cards having aligned apertures on their edges including:

(a) a plurality of slotting punches arranged in a straight line, said punches each supported on the end of a typewriter like key having an identifying button, said keys pivotally supported by a main frame in a resiliently maintained raised position, a card slot in said main frame, a plurality of punch bores at 90 to said slot and in alignment with one edge of said card slot, said punches fitted into said bores for slotting a card selectively.

(b) a bottomless card stack holding chamber provided with releasable means to hold said cards in alignment in said chamber and means to compress said cards into an upright position in said chamber so that all similar information slotted into said cards will be in alignment,

(c) a plurality of selector rods mounted in a single plane on a platform, each rod aligning with the key of a slotting punch, each rod at one end releasably retained by the end of the key with which it aligns, each rod provided with means to propel said rod away from the key with which it aligns when released, each rod fitted through perforations to guide said rod When propelled away from said key,

(d) a motor-operated driving means to grip and drive selected rods through the aligned apertures in said stack of cards after the selected rod or rods are released and propelled away from said keys,

(e) means to release the compression on said stack of cards and drop any one or more cards that have been slotted at the perforations through which the selector rod or rods have been driven, means to release any individual selector rod with the aligned key.

2. In a device according to claim 1 in which there is included a reader slot for a card positioned at to said selector rods and in juxtaposition with the ends of said selector rods, said reader slot being of a size to receive a single card and align the slotted apertures on one edge of said card with the selector rods.

3. In a device according to claim 1 in which there is included a reader slot for a card positioned at 90 to said selector rods and in juxtaposition with the ends of said selector rods, said reader sl-ot being of a size to receive a single card and align the slotted apertures on one edge of said card with the selector rods, and in which there is indicluded a pair of depressing or releasing buttons connected to a releasing means for all selector rods to release all rods that are propelled to abut with a card in said reader slot thus providing the means to permit a rod or rods to pass through only the slotted apertures.

4. A device for holding a stack of cards having aligned apertures on their edges including:

(a) a plurality of typewriter like keys having an identifying button, said keys pivotally supported by a main frame in a resiliently maintained raised position, said keys provided with a holding means at the end opposite to said buttons,

(b) a bottomless card stack holding chamber provided with releasable means to hold said cards in alignment in said chamber and means to compress said cards into an upright position in said chamber so that all similar information slotted into said cards will be in alignment,

(c) a plurality of selector rods mounted in a single plane on a platform, each rod aligning with a key, each rod at one end releasably retained by the end of the key with which it aligns, each rod provided with means to propel said rod away from the key with which it aligns when released, each rod fitted through perforations to guide said rod when propelled away from said key,

(d) a motor-operated driving means to grip and drive selected rods through the aligned apertures in said stack of cards after the selected rod or rods are released and propelled away from said keys,

(e) means to release the compression on said stack of cards and drop any one or more cards that have been slotted at the perforations through which the selector rod or rods have been driven, means to release any individual selector rod with the aligned key.

5. In a device according to claim 4 in which a vibrator is affixed to said card stack holding chamber to shake the cards when the compression on said cards has been released to promote the dropping of the unsupported cards.

6. In a device according to claim 4 in which a reset rod is positioned across all selector rods and slidable in a horizontal plane to abut with one end of said selector rods to manually retract all rods to a reset position and removed from said device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,217,744 10/1940 Gruenhut l2916.1 2,524,918 10/1950 McKeOWn 129-161 2,640,485 6/1953 Zalkind l29--l6.l

JEROME SCHNAL Primary am e

Claims (1)

1. A DEVICE FOR HOLDING A STACK OF CARDS HAVING ALIGNED APERTURES ON THEIR EDGES INCLUDING: (A) A PLURALITY OF SLOTTING PUNCHES ARRANGED IN A STRAIGHT LINE, SAID PUNCHES EACH SUPPORTED ON THE END OF A TYPEWRITER LIKE KEY HAVING AN IDENTIFYING BUTTON, SAID KEYS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY A MAIN FRAME IN A RESILIENTLY MAINTAINED RAISED POSITION, A CARD SLOT IN SAID MAIN FRAME, A PLURALITY OF PUNCH BORES AT 90* TO SAID SLOT AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH ONE EDGE OF SAID CARD SLOT, SAID PUNCHES FITTED INTO SAID BORES FOR SLOTTING A CARD SELECTIVELY. (B) A BOTTOMLESS CARD STACK HOLDING CHAMBER PROVIDED WITH RELEASABLE MEANS TO HOLD SAID CARDS IN ALIGNMENT IN SAID CHAMBER AND MEANS TO COMPRESS SAID CARDS INTO AN UPRIGHT POSITION IN SAID CHAMBER SO THAT ALL SIMILAR INFORMATION SLOTTED INTO SAID CARDS WILL BE IN ALIGNMENT, (C) A PLURALITY OF SELECTOR RODS MOUNTED IN A SINGLE PLANE ON A PLATFORM, EACH ROD ALIGNING WITH THE KEY OF A SLOTTING PUNCH, EACH ROD AT ONE END RELEASABLY RETAINED BY THE END OF THE KEY WITH WHICH IT ALIGNS, EACH ROD PROVIDED WITH MEANS TO PROPEL SAID ROD AWAY FROM THE KEY WITH WHICH IT ALIGNS WHEN RELEASED, EACH ROD FITTED THROUGH PERFORATIONS TO GUIDE SAID ROD WHEN PROPELLED AWAY FROM SAID KEY, (D) A MOTOR-OPERATED DRIVING MEANS TO GRIP AND DRIVE SELECTED RODS THROUGH THE ALIGNED APERTURES IN SAID STACK OF CARDS AFTER THE SELECTED ROD OR RODS ARE RELEASED AND PROPELLED AWAY FROM SAID KEYS, (E) MEANS TO RELEASE THE COMPRESSION ON SAID STACK OF CARDS AND DROP ANY ONE OR MORE CARDS THAT HAVE BEEN SLOTTED AT THE PERFORATIONS THROUGH WHICH THE SELECTOR ROD OR RODS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN, MEANS TO RELEASE ANY INDIVIDUAL SELECTOR ROD WITH THE ALIGNED KEY.

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