US3368701A - Seriatim presentation of articles for viewing - Google Patents

Description

e 1968 5. P. COVPPING ETAL 3,368,701

SERIATIM PRESENTATION OF ARTICLES -FOR VIEWING Filed 001;. 12', 1965 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 \NVENTORS AT QRNEY 1968 e. P; COPPING ETAL 3,353,701

SERIATIM PRESENTATION OF ARTICLES FOR VIEWING Filed Oct. 12, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvEN'roR 5 BY XM/ nQ ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1968 G. P. COPFVING ETAL 3,368,701

SERIATIM PRESENTATION OF ARTICLES FOR VIEWING Filed Oct. 12. 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 KEN/YET M 'WII/II/IMIWI 58 FIG. l0.

INVENTORJ ATTORNEY F 3, 1963 G. P.YCOPPING ETAL 3,368,701

SERIATIM PRESENTATION OF ARTICLES FOR VIEWING Filed Oct. 12, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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- 5 650/7735/ farm/r4 H6. 9- ,(EWYEF MM W 71/1741 1y INVENTQR 5 ATTQQNEY United States Patent M 3,368,701 SERIATIM PRESENTATION OF ARTICLES FOR VIEWING Geofirey lPercy Copping, Chesham, and Kenneth William Herbert Whittington, Barking, England, assignors to Her Majestys Postmaster General, London, England Filed Oct. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 495,224 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Oct. 15, 1964,

42,139/ 64 v Claims. (Cl. 21411) This invention relates to apparatus for presenting each of a series of articles in turn at a viewing position.

In certain machines handling documents and especiallly machines handling letters end similar fiat items, the items are presented singly and in turn at a window or opening in the machine for examination. In the case of a letter coding or sorting machine, the presented letter is viewed by an operator who reads the address on the letter and depresses keys appropriate to that address on a keyboard fitted to the machine. Depression of the keys applies code marks to the letter or controls the subsequent path of the letter through the machine. Rapidity of presentation ensures maximum operator output and minimum eye fatigue but in certain machines there has been an unavoidable delay between the removal from the viewing position of one item and the presentation of a succeeding item and this has limited the rate of presentation of items.

It is an object of the present invention to provide presentation apparatus in which the delay referred to above is virtually eliminated.

According to the present invention apparatus for presenting each of a series of fiat items in turn at a viewing position comprises conveying means for bringing each item to the viewing position in a substantially vertical orientation, releasable gripping means for holding the item whilst in the viewing position along its upper edge, and a control arrangement for the releasable gripping means to bring said means into operation when required.

When the gripping means are released the item held thereby falls free of the means into a holding position as is described later or may drop into a receptacle, for example a mail bag, or the item may drop on to a conveyor which transports it from the presentation apparatus.

The gripping means may feed the item into the viewing position and may comprise a single pair of co-operating rollers at least one of which is driven and between which the item is passed to be gripped along its upper edge only between the nip of the rollers whilst the item is in the viewing position. In such case, the grip is released by driving the rollers to feed the item from the nip. The length of the roller of the single pair must be sufficient to enable the item to be gripped satisfactorily. Alternatively, a plurality of pairs of co-operating rollers may be used.

The gripping means may be a movable surface, for example, a short conveyor belt and a co-operating roller or rollers. Again, the item is gripped in the nip between the roller or rollers and the surface. The use of a conveyor belt encourages a more positive entry of the items into the nip.

In a further form of the invention, the movable surface of the gripping means is that of a wide-angle cone mounted for rotation about its axis and having the cooperating roller or rollers mounted radially with respect to that axis and in contact with the cone surface.

Preferably, the rollers and conveyor belt are resiliently mounted in such manner that they can accommodate items of different thickness. Alternatively, the rollers themselves are formed of a resilient material.

The control arrangement includes a device responsive to passage of the item to the viewing position and which 3,368,701 Patented Feb. 13, 1968 causes the gripping means to grip an item when the latter reaches that position. Release of the gripping means is normally effected on completion of viewing and may be under the control of an operator who views the item in the viewing position. When the gripping means also feeds the item into and from the viewing position, the control arrangement determines the instant at which the feed ceases, the item then being held stationary in the viewing position. Feed of the item from the viewing position may be under the control of the operator as before.

By way of example only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of part of a first embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a block schematic diagram of part of a control circuit for the embodiment of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic side and front elevations respectively of part of a second embodiment,

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation of part of a third embodiment,

FIG. 7 is a scrap view of a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 6, seen in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 8,

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6,

FIG. 9 is a block schematic diagram of part of a control circuit for the embodiment of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, and,

FIG. 10 shows schematically a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

The embodiments illustrated each form part of letter coding and/or sorting apparatus having a keyboard controlled by an operator in accordance with information read-off from the letters.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus has a destacking device generally indicated at 1 and including a platform 2 which is movable by a feed screw 3. The device also includes a transfer arm (not shown) having a suction head 4 operable to lift letters 5 individually from platform 2. An array of driven rollers 6 is mounted adjacent the de-stacking device 1 to feed letters to sets of co-operating rollers 7 and 8 which suspend the letters in a viewing position. Guide plates 6A are disposed between the rollers 6 and between the rollers 6 and the rollers 7 and 8. The rollers 7 are mounted on a common shaft which is connected with driving means (not shown) while the rollers 8 are mounted on axles carried at the lower end of springloaded arms 9. The drive to the rollers 7 is transmitted through an electromagnetic clutch 10 (FIG. 2), and an electromagnetic brake 11 is incorporated between the clutch 10 and the rollers 7. Further sets of co-operating rollers 12 and 13 are mounted beneath the rollers 7 and 8 and a window 14 is disposed above the rollers 12. A photoelectric cell 15 and an associated source of light 16 are positioned above the rollers 7 and 8, the light beam from source 16 being at right angles to the axes of the rollers.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the photo-electric cell 15 is connected with a circuit 17 arranged to emit a pulse when the cell 15 is exposed to light from the source 16. The

circuit 17 is connected to the brake 11 via a bistable trigger 18. The clutch 10 is also connected to the bistable trigger 18, a lead 19 connecting the latter to the operators keyboard 20.

The general operation of the apparatus is that letters 5 are transferred individually from the de-stacking device 1 by the suction head 4 of the transfer arm .(not shown) to the rollers 6 which feed each letter to a stored position 5A in which it rests freely in the nip of the rollers 7 and 8. From the stored position 5A, the letter is moved to the viewing position 5B by the rollers 7 and 8 in which posias tion it is suspended by the rollers at a point adjacent its upper edge. When the operator has read the address on the letter in the viewing position 58 he operates the keyboard 20 and the letter is fed through the rollers 7 and 8 and falls to a holding position 50 in which it rests in the nip of the rollers 12 and 13.

The detailed operation of the apparatus is as follows. Assuming the apparatus to be empty, the operator places a stack of letters on the platform 2 of the de-stacking device 1 having first knocked down the stack to align the right-hand edges of the letters as viewed from the front. He then switches on the apparatus whereupon drive is transmitted to the rollers 6 and the light source 16 is energised. Light shines on the photo-electric cell and an electric pulse is transmitted to the bistable trigger 18 (FIG. 3) to reset it and energise the brake 11 to hold the rollers 7 stationary. The apparatus is then primed by first depressing a transport key on the keyboard which causes a letter 5 to be transferred by the suction head 4 from the stack to the rollers 6 and causes an electric pulse to be transmitted to the bistable trigger 18 via the lead 19 whereupon the trigger is set and the clutch 10 is energised and the brake 11 de-energised. Energisation of the clutch 10 causes drive to be transmitted to the rollers 7. The rollers 6 carry the letter 5 to the rollers 7 and 8 and the letter interrupts the beam of light passing from the source 16 to the photo-electric cell 15 but this has no effect on trigger 18. The letter is fed into the rollers 7 and 8 until its trailing (upper) edge moves clear of the light source 16 whereupon light falls on the cell 15 and the bistable trigger 18 is reset again and the brake 11 energised to bring the rollers 7 to rest. The operation of the brake 11 is rapid and the rollers 7 are brought to rest in a matter of milliseconds. The arrangement is such that when the rollers 7 are braked, the letter 5 is still in the grip of the rollers 7 and 8 and is in fact suspended near its upper edge in the viewing position 5B.

Next, a special priming key is depressed which results in a second letter 5 being fed to the rollers 6 but does not transmit a pulse along lead 19 to set the trigger 18 and energise the clutch 10. Therefore, the first letter remains in the viewing position 58. The second letter is fed through the rollers 6 and falls into the stored position 5A in which it rests freely and interrupts the beam of light from the source 16. Again, this interruption has no effect. The leading edge of the second letter lies behind the trailing edge of the first letter. The apparatus is now primed. However, to load the apparatus fully, the transport key is depressed again whereupon the l'lrst letter in the viewing position 5B is released by the rollers 7 and 8 and falls to the holding position 5C; the second letter (in the stored position 5A) is fed through the rollers 7 and 8 immediate- 1y following the first letter allowing the photo-electric cell 15 to reset the trigger 18 and brake the rollers 7 when the trailing edge of the letter moves clear of the light beam from source 16; a third letter which has, in the meanwhile, been transferred from the stack to the rollers 6, then comes to rest in the stored position 5A.

When the apparatus has been fully loaded, the operator keys each letter to its eventual destination while it is in the holding position 5C. Throughout the operation of the apparatus, each letter is read in the viewing position 5B and keyed when in the holding position 50. This enables the operator to increase his rate of working and to check a letter when it has passed from the viewing position 5B but before it is dispatched to its destination. The window 14 retains the letters in the holding position 5C should they fall forward. The rollers 13 have drive transmitted to them when an address is keyed and the letter is fed through the rollers 12 and 13. Also, a keying operation has the same effect as the depression of the transport key in the priming operation which is to transfer a further letter from the stack to the stored position 5A and to move letters in the stored, viewing and holding positions to the respective succeeding positions. As letters are taken from the stack, the platform 2 of the de-stacking device 1 is moved upwardly by the feed screw 3 to maintain the top of the stack at a constant height. Because the letters are knocked down prior to being placed on the platform 2, substantially correct alignment of the letters as they pass through the apparatus is ensured.

Any variation in the thickness of the letters is accommodated by movement of the spring-loaded arms 9 on which the rollers 8 are mounted.

A principal advantage of the apparatus described is that as soon as a. latter starts to move from the viewing position 5B to the holding position 50, a letter in the stored position 5A starts to enter the viewing position immediately, whereas in prior apparatus the letter has, for example, been supported on a trap door which had to be kept open long enough to allow a letter having the maximum permissible dimension (in the direction of travel) to drop clear. Also, with the use of a quick-operating electromagnetic clutch 10 and brake 11, the operating speed of the apparatus is further increased. A secondary advantage is that as the letters are suspended in the viewing position 5B, there is no need for a viewing window and this gives the operator an uninterrupted view of each letter. Also, there is easy access to a letter in the viewing position should it be necessary to withdraw the letter by hand. Yet a third advantage is secured because letters have to pass between rollers or belts and rollers only, there being no hazards such as flaps. Elimination of such flaps also removes the need of associated operating mechanisms.

The rollers 8, as well as the rollers 7, may be positively driven to obtain a more positive feed of the letters through the rollers and a more positive stopping and starting. action. If both the rollers 7 and 8 are driven a difiiculty does arise in independently suspending each roller 8 on its arm 9.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an alternative mechanism for suspending a letter in the viewing position 5B. The rollers. 8 are replaced by belts 21 and upper and lower pulleys. 22 as used in timing gear, the lower pulleys each being carried on a separate spring-loaded arm 22a pivoted on the axis of the upper pulley, and each belt 21 being positively driven, the rollers 7 also being positively driven as before. A letter is fed to a chute 23 and the leading, edge of the letter settles against the belts 21. The shape of the chute is such that part of the underside of the letter rests on the rollers 7 and such that the inclination of the letter to the vertical does not exceed about When the letter is to be moved to the viewing position. 58, it is found that there is little tendency for the letter to hesitate before passing between the rollers 7 and the. belt 21 and that when in the viewing position, its lead-- ing edge is substantially horizontal since the arrangement just described permits any misorientation of a letter reaching the stored position 5A to be corrected. This arrange-- ment is also particularly useful when comparatively thick letters are to be handled.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be modii lied so that the letter in the holding position 5C is also suspended, instead of resting on rollers 12 and 13. Sets of rollers similar to 7 and 8 would be mounted approximately midway between rollers 7, 8 and rollers 12, 13, to grip the upper edge of the letter in the holding position 5C, but in this position the rollers carried on springloaded arms would have to be at the rear, to avoid obstructing the operators view of the letter in the viewing position 5B. Instead of rollers similar to 7, 8, belts and rollers as in FIGS. 4 and 5 could be used to suspend the the letter in the holding position 5C, with the belts at the rear to avoid obstructing the operators view. In either case the rollers 12, 13 would become continuously-rotating transport rollers.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 to 9, a third embodiment is shown which has a de-stacking unit 1, rollers 6 and a keyboard 20 as in the first embodiment but has different means for presenting the letters to the viewing position.

A shallow cone 30 having a surface of resilient material is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, drive being transmitted via a clutch and a brake 11 similar to those parts in the first embodiment. Two sets 31a, 31b of free-running rollers are arranged to contact the surface of the cone 30 along generators of the cone, set 31a lying along the generator perpendicular to the line of entry of the letters while the other set 31b lies along the horizontal generator.

An annular window 32 is formed in the cone 30 behind which window is mounted the photo-electric cell and in front of which is mounted the light source 16.

A series of equi-spaced holes 35 is formed in the cone 30 adjacent the periphery thereof, and a further photo-electric cell 33 and associated light source 34 are mounted behind and in front of the cone 30 respectively, at the same radius from the cone axis as the holes.

The control circuit shown in FIG. 9 is similar to that shown in FIG. 3 except that a changeover switch 36 is incorporated to connect either the photo-electric cell 15 and the pulse circuit 17 or the photo-electric cell 33 and pulse circuit 37 to the bistable trigger 18.

Referring again to FIGS. 6 to 8, a guide plate 38 having an upturned edge 39 is positioned to feed letters on to the surface of the cone 30 and a rotatably-mounted, S-shaped arm 40 is mounted adjacent the lower end of guide plate 38. The edge 39 is aligned with the apex of the cone.

Assuming the apparatus is empty, the operation is as follows. A stack of letters is knocked down so that the upper and right-hand edges, as viewed from the front, are aligned and the stack is placed on the platform 2 of the de-stacking device 1 so that the right-hand edges of the letters constitute the leading edges when the letters are fed to the rollers 6. The changeover switch 36 is set to the position shown in FIG. 9 to render the photo-electric cell 33 operative and the photo-electric cell 15 inoperative. The operator depresses the transport key on the keyboard resulting in a letter 5 being transferred from the stack to the rollers 6. Simultaneously, the clutch 10 is energised and the brake 11 de-energised so that the cone 30 is rotated until a hole 35 in the cone is aligned with the source of light 34 and photo-electric cell 33 whereupon a pulse is transmitted from the circuit 37 to reset the bistable trigger 18 which energises the brake 11, tie-energises the clutch 10 and the cone 30 is brought to rest. The letter 5 then reaches the cone via guide plate 38 and comes to rest in a first stored position 5A.

The transport key is depressed again and, as the rotation of the cone starts, the first letter is carried round towards a second stored position 5A" and is inclined forwardly as shown in FIG. 7 by the action of the arm 40, which is rotated through half of one revolution upon depression of the transport key or upon completion of any other key sequence, the rotation beginning simultaneously with the rotation of the cone 30 and ending before the leading edge of the next letter reaches the arm. The cone comes to rest with the first letter in position 5A, the angular movement of the cone being governed by the spacing of the holes 35, and the next letter. In the second stored position 5A", the first letter is gripped beween the cone and the free-running set 31a of rollers. Depression of the transport key is repeated until the first letter reaches the viewing position 5B in which it is suspended adjacent its upper edge between the surface of the cone 30 and the lower set 31b of the rollers with its leading edge (not the lower edge of the letter) substantially horizontal. To ensure that this leading edge of the letter is substantially horizontal when in the viewing position 5B, the angle Z (as seen in FIG. 10) between the line of entry of a letter (i.e. the edge 39 of the guide plate) and the horizontal must be an integral multiple of the angle Y through which the cone turns at each movement. The angle Y is, of course, an integral sub-multiple of 360, the value depending upon the angular spacing of the holes 35. It is advisable for angle Z to be greater than to ensure that the edge of a letter in the first stored position 5A stays in contact with the edge 39 of the guide plate. A suitable value for Z lies between and A fan of 3, 4 or 5 letters on the cone at once has been found to be most suitable and, if Z=nY where n=2 for 3 letters in fan n=3 for 4 letters in fan n:4 for 5 letters in fan then, using the limits of Z mentioned above, Y lies between the values 95 4 and 120/4-i.e. between 24 and 60. A convenient value for Y is 36, giving a value of 108 for Z and an arrangement of four letters in a fan (as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10).

In the substantially horizontal viewing position, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, the right-hand edge of the first letter interrupts the light beam from the source 16 to thephotoelectric cell 15. The interruption occurs as the letter attains this horizontal viewing position because it, and each subsequent letter, is fed on to the cone in a position such that the letter rotates about its top right-hand corner, as viewed from the front, when carried by the cone. This is achieved by aligning the upturned edge 39 of the guide plate with the apex of the cone, and by the positioning of the upper set 31a of rollers as described above. The apparatus is fully loaded by depressing the transport key yet again so that the first letter is moved clear of the a ated to make the. photo-electric cell 15 operative and the photo-electric cell 33 inoperative. The circuitry 17 is arranged to emit an electric pulse when light to the cell 15 fromthe source 16 is interrupted (instead of vice versa as in the first embodiment), restoration of the light having no effect. When the first letter is keyed, the clutch 10 is energised and the brake 11 dc-energised so that the cone 30 rotates and drive is transmitted to rollers 13. The first letter is thus fed through the rollers 12 and 13 from the hold ng position 5C, the second letter drops from the VlCWlIlg position 53 to the holding position 5C and the third letter enters the viewing position. As the third letter enters the viewing position, its right-hand edge approaches the path between the photo-electric cell 15 and the light source 16 and interrupts the light when it reaches the set viewing position. Interruption of the light results in the circuitry 17 emitting an electric pulse which resets the bistable trigger 18 to energise the brake 11 and deenergise the clutch 10. Thus, the cone 30 is brought to rest only when the third letter is in the correct viewing position 5B whilst the other letters on the cone 30 progress as already mentioned and a further letter is fed on to the cone from the stack. The procedure is repeated as often as necessary, the feed screw 3 of the tie-stacking device 1 maintaining the top of the stack of letters at a predetermined height as before.

There is a minimum period during which a letter presented for reading must be stationary but apart from this, the maximum number of letters which the apparatus can handle in a given time is determined by the peeds of operation of the clutch 10 and the brake 11. As in the first described embodiment, the clutch 10 and the brake 11 are electromagnetic and comparatively fast operating (a matter of milliseconds) and, as each angular movement of the cone 30 is small, angular acceleration and therefore clutch and brake torque requirements are minimised, resulting in an increased operational speed of the apparatus.

The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 may be modified for example, by accommodating the photo-electric cell in an annular groove in the surface of the cone 30. Alternatively, the photo-electric cell 15 and associated light source 16 can be omitted and the photo-electric cell 33 permanently connected to the bistable trigger 18. In such an arrangement, the cone 30 is rotated through a fixed angle each time, the angle being governed by the spacing of the holes 35. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the cone 30 is brought to rest irrespective of whether the letter entering the viewing position 5A is exactly horizontal. A further modification is that the sets 31a, 31b of rollers may be replaced by narrow angle cones which contact the cone 30 along respective generators positioned as before. Also, the rotatable arm 40 may be dispensed with if the articles being handled are stilt so that they automatically fall forward when fed on to the surface of the cone 30. However, if any of the articles are flimsy or bowed, it is almost essential to have the arm 40 or a similar device to clear the way for the entry of succeeding articles.

In any of the arrangements described, the de-stacking device may be of a type other than that referred to and any of the various rollers employed may be of the resilient type. Also, means other than photo-electric cells can be used in the control of the apparatus and the rollers 12 and 13 may be replaced by a controllable flap for example.

Further, apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is not restricted to the handling of letters but is applicable to any substantially fiat articles.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for presenting each of a series of individual flat items which are not connected to one another in turn at a viewing position comprising in combination:

(a) conveying means for bringing each item in turn to the viewing position in a substantially vertical orientation,

(b) gripping means located at the viewing position for holding the item whilst in the viewing position along its upper edge only, and

(c) releasable control means for controlling the operation of said gripping means and conveying means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the gripping means comprises means for feeding the item from the conveying means into the viewing position and for thereafter holding the item, in that viewing position, along its upper edge only.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the gripping means comprises as its feeding and holding means a single pair of cooperating rollers at the viewing position, at least one of which is driven, the item being passed between said rollers and being held thereby, whilst in the viewing position, along its upper edge only.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the gripping means comprises as its feeding and holding means a plurality of pairs of cooperating rollers at the viewing position at least one of each pair being driven, the item simultaneously passing between the rollers of each pair and being held thereby, whilst in the viewing position, along its upper edge only.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the gripping means comprises as its feeding and holding means a movable surface cooperating with at least one roller at the viewing position, the item passing between the movable surface and the roller and being held thereby, whilst in the viewing position, along its upper edge only.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the movable surface is that of a drivable conveyor belt, the item passing between the conveyor belt and the at least one roller and being held thereby along its upper edge only hilst in the viewing position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the movable surface is that of a wide-angle cone mounted for rotation about its axis, the at least one roller being located at the viewing position and mounted in contact with the cone surface along a generator of the surface, the rotating surface of the cone conveying an item between the at least one roller and the surface of the cone into the viewing position where it is held along its upper edge only.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the control means comprises means for determining the instant at which the feed ceases for causing the item to then be held stationary by the gripping means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the means responsive to the passage of the item comprises in combination a photo-electric cell and an associated radiation beam, said beam positioned to be normally incident on the cell, and to be interrupted by the passing of an item to the viewing position, operation of the gripping means being controlled by the excitation or non-excitation of the photo-electric cell by said associated radiation beam.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the control means further comprises means responsive to the angular position of the rotating cone for controlling the conveyance of an item to the viewing position.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which the cone contains a series of equi-spaced holes disposed in a circle, the centre of said circle lying on the axis of rotation of the cone, and in which the means responsive to the angular position of the rotating cone comprises a photo-electric cell and associated radiation beam mounted on opposite sides of the cone and each at the same radius from the axis of the cone as said holes, the rotating cone being brought to rest each time a hole in the cone is in alignment with the radiation beam and photo-electric cell.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 and further comprising, in combination with said control means, keyboard operated means controlling both said control means to govern the passage of an item through the apparatus and the eventual destination of said item.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and further comprising, in combination with said cone, guide plate and cooperating rotatable arm means for ensuring that the items are fed in turn on to the surface of the cone in overlapping relationship.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the control means comprises means for determining the instant at which the feed ceases for causing the item to then be held stationary by the gripping means.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 and further comprising, in combination with said control means, keyboard operated means for controlling both said control means to govern the passage of an item through the apparatus and the eventual destination of said item.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which the means responsive to the passage of the item comprises in combination a photo-electric cell and an associated radiation beam, said beam positioned to be normally incident on the cell, and to be interrupted by the passing of an item to the viewing position, operation of the gripping means being controlled by the excitation or non-excitation of the photo-electric cell by said associated radiation beam.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the control means comprises means responsive to the passage of the item to the viewing position for causing the gripping means to grip the item when said item reaches that position.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 in which the means responsive to the passage of the item comprises in combination a photo-electric cell and an associated radiation beam, said beam positioned to be normally incident on the cell, and to be interrupted by the passing of an item to the viewing position, operation of the gripping means being controlled by the excitation or non-excitation 9 of the photo-electric cell by said associated radiation beam.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the components of the gripping means are of a resilient material.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the components of the gripping means are resiliently mounted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,656,054 10/1953 Gleason 214-11 2,677,473 5/1954 Piggott et a1 21411 2,984,349 5/1961 Mathis 198 10 6/1961 Rabinow et al 271-57 X 1/1962 Osborn et a1 214--11 11/1962 Francois 21411 9/1963 Goodell et a1. 21411 FOREIGN PATENTS 7/1930 Germany.

RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner. EVON c. BLUNK, Examiner.

M. L. AJEMAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (4)

1. APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING EACH OF A SERIES OF INDIVIDUAL FLAT ITEMS WHICH ARE NOT CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER IN TURN AT A VIEWING POSITION COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) CONVEYING MEANS FOR BRINGING EACH ITEM IN TURN TO THE VIEWING POSITION IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL ORIENTATION, (B) GRIPPING MEANS LOCATED AT THE VIEWING POSITION FOR HOLDING THE ITEM WHILST IN THE VIEWING POSITION ALONG ITS UPPER EDGE ONLY, AND (C) RELEASABLE CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SAID GRIPPING MEANS AND CONVEYING MEANS.

2. APPARATUS AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1 IN WHICH THE GRIPPING MEANS COMPRISES MEANS FOR FEEDING THE ITEM FROM THE CONVEYING MEANS INTO THE VIEWING POSITION AND FOR THEREAFTER HOLDING THE ITEM, IN THAT VIEWING POSITION, ALONG ITS UPPER EDGE ONLY.

14. APPARATUS IS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 2 IN WHICH THE CONTROL MEANS COMPRISES MEANS FOR DETERMINING THE INSTANT AT WHICH THE FEED CEASES FOR CAUSING THE ITEM TO THEN BE HELD STATIONARY BY THE GRIPPING MEANS.

15. APPARATUS AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 14 AND FURTHER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION WITH SAID CONTROL MEANS, KEYBOARD OPERATED MEANS FOR CONTROLLING BOTH SAID CONTROL MEANS TO GOVERN THE PASSAGE OF AN ITEM THROUGH THE APPARATUS AND THE EVENTUAL DESTINATION OF SAID ITEM.

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