US3669262A

US3669262A - Removable card-handling cartridge

Info

Publication number: US3669262A
Application number: US828858A
Authority: US
Inventors: Le Roy E Gerlach; Gordon P Johnson; David A Tandeski
Original assignee: Sperry Rand Corp
Current assignee: Sperry Corp
Priority date: 1969-05-29
Filing date: 1969-05-29
Publication date: 1972-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-13
Also published as: DE2025176A1; JPS5135880B1; FR2043766A1; GB1307742A

Abstract

A removable card-handling cartridge for retaining a plurality of cards in a side-by-side relationship for use by a card-handling apparatus is described. Included in the removable cartridge, is a plurality of end-coded cards retained by a plurality of coded card-retaining pins, the pins being selectively actuatable for permitting the selection of individual ones of the end-coded retained cards for access to the card-handling apparatus. In addition to the card-retaining pins, an improved gating-rod arrangement for providing auxiliary support of the cards is shown. An improved high-resistance fluid nozzle arrangement is illustrated for keeping the cards separated while in the retained position. The entire removable cartridge is illustrated in a form permitting the removal of the cartridge, together with the cards retained therein, with a minimum amount of disconnection from the card-handling apparatus.

Description

United States Patent Gerlach et al.

[54] REMOVABLE CARD-HANDLING CARTRIDGE [72] Inventors: Le Roy E. Gerlach, Minneapolis; Gordon P. Johnson; David A. Tandeski, both of St. Paul, all of Minn.

[73] Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation, New York,

[22] Filed: May 29,1969

[21] Appl.No.: 828,858

[ 1 June 13, 1972 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-Thomas .1. Nikolai, Kenneth T. Grace and John P. Dority [57] ABSTRACT A removable card-handling cartridge for retaining a plurality of cards in a side-by-side relationship for use by a card-handling apparatus is described. Included in the removable cartridge, is a plurality of end-coded cards retained by a plurality of coded card-retaining pins, the pins being selectively actuatable for permitting the selection of individual ones of the end-coded retained cards for access to the card-handling apparatus. In addition to the card-retaining pins, an improved gating-rod arrangement for providing auxiliary support of the cards is shown. An improved high-resistance fluid nozzle arrangement is illustrated for keeping the cards separated while in the retained position. The entire removable cartridge is illustrated in a form permitting the removal of the cartridge, together with the cards retained therein, with a minimum amount of disconnection from the card-handling apparatus.

26 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUR 13 I972 SHEEI 10F 5 INVENTORS LERUY E. GERLACH GORDON I? JOHNSON Q DAV/D .4. TANDESK/ AT ORNEY PATENTEDJUN 13 1912 3.669 262 sum 30F s REMOVABLE CARD-HANDLING CARTRIDGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains generally to the field of card-handling apparatus. More specifically, it relates to the field of card-handling apparatus wherein a plurality of cards are retained in a cartridge for individual selectionand use by the card-handling apparatus, with a subsequent return of the cards to the cartridge. Still more specifically, this invention relates to the field of removable card-handling cartridges having improved means for keeping the retained cards separated, and having the improved card-retaining pins and card selection means.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are known in the prior art random accessinformation storage systems which are adapted to handle information, or data, recorded by magnetic techniques on strips of flexible material, referred to as cards. The cards are each provided with various forms of suspension, or retainer, end-coded arrangements for suspending the cards in a container where they are capable of being selectively released one at a time into the card-handling apparatus. Characteristically, the various types of cardhandling apparatus have had various devices for transporting the cards through a transducing region for cooperation with reading and recording transducers. Various devices and methods are known for returning the cards to the retained position.

The prior art has recognized the desirability of utilizing a plurality of card-retaining pins that are capable of being selectively actuated for the selection of individual cards. The prior art has also recognized the desirability of utilizing gating rods extending in parallel across the edges of the cards for cooperating with notches in the edges of the cards for providing stablization to the cards and minimizing drop-out. The prior art devices have utilized gating rods of the same shape of the card-retaining pins, with the gating rod andcard-retaining pins both in contact with the supporting notches in the cards.

The prior art devices have also recognized the desirability of maintaining the cards out of contact with one another to minimize the wear on the recording surface of the cards, due to abrasion that might be encountered when a selected card is caused to slide past the next-adjacent card during the selection process. The problem encountered in the prior art devices, wherein separation of the cards is to be maintained, but with the gating rods and the retaining pins both supporting the cards, resides in the inability of the prior art separation system to ensure that all cards will be separated. This problem exists due to the frictional contact between cards and the card-retaining pins and the gating rods.

As mentioned, the prior art has recognized the desirability of maintaining the cards in a separated condition. One form of separation has been recognized to be the injection of a stream of air downwardly against the tops of the retained cards. The air forced onto the top of the cards tends to increase the problem of the frictional engagement of the supporting notches of the cards with the card-retaining pins and the gating rods, thereby tending to enhance the problem of separating the cards. Further, due to the nature of the devices for injecting the air pressure, problems of balanced air flow exist in the prior art, and flutter in the cards is caused to be generated.

In addition to the above-mentioned problems of card separation in the prior art, the cards and container were not easily replaced. characteristically, a container of the priorart would require partial disassembly of the machine in order to be replaced. Often, expensive actuation equipment for actuating the coded release of the card-retaining pins and gating rods would have to be duplicated in the various containers, thereby rendering each container more expensive than neces sary.

The card-return systems for returning cards to the cartridge vary in the prior art from having an elastic-like member for snapping the card back into the cartridge when released by the utilization device, to providing elaborate end-around tracks for carrying thereturning card over the cartridge and down into the cartridge, thereby requiring elaborate sensing and control apparatus for stopping the cardso thatit can be again supported by the card-retaining pins and gating rods. It is to the foregoingproblems anddisadvantages in the prior art that the subject invention is directed.

SUMMARY In summary, then, this invention comprises an improved removable card-handling cartridge having a plurality of cardretaining pins for cooperating with a plurality of end-coded cardsarranged in a side-by-side relationship in the cartridge, and having a pair of gating rods parallelly arranged for cooperating with supporting notches in the edges of each of the cards. The gating rods are so arranged that when they are in the card-supporting position, the cards are raised out of contact with the card-retaining andselection pins. High-resistance fluid nozzle means are arranged for cooperating with the sides of the cartridge, for directing fluidflow at the edges of the supported cards and for maintaining the cards in a separated condition without imparting flutter thereto. The high-resistance nozzle means renders the fluid flow substantially independent of the external resistance against which the fluid is being injected, thereby providing substantially uniform fluid flow across the arrangement of cards. The removable card-handling cartridge is arranged for cooperation of the card-retaining pins with actuation means mounted inthe cardhandling apparatus, but without physical interconnection therebetween. The cartridge is arranged for removal of in dividual ones of the cards from any position in the array of cards, and provides for return of the cards at one side thereof. To facilitate the return of the cards with the card-retaining pins and the gating rods in the card-retaining positions, ramp means are provided at the card-return ends of the gating rods and card-retaining pins for deflecting the end-coded portion of the cards in a manner to permit the returning card to be engaged by the supporting surface of the gating rods and cardretaining pins when the supporting notches have proceeded past the extremity of the ramps. Card. brake means are provided for bringing the returning card to a stop without imparting reverse acceleration thereto and for permitting the returning card to be retained without damage to the supporting tabs.

A primary object of this invention, then, is to provide an improved removable card-handling cartridge for use with a cardhandling apparatus. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved removable cartridge having a plurality of end-coded cards arranged in a side-by-side relation on selectively actuatable card-retaining and selection pins. Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved removable card-handling cartridge having gating rods for holding the cards out of contact with the card-retaining and selection pins when cards are not being selected. Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved high-resistance fluid nozzle means for maintaining the cards separated out of contact with one another. Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved removable cardhandling cartridge having a minimum interconnection with card-handling apparatus thereby facilitating removal and reinsertion of different card-handling cartridges. Still a further object of this invention, is to provide an improved card-handling cartridge having brake means for stopping the cards being reinserted into one side of the cartridge. The foregoing and other more detailed and specific objectives will become apparent from a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiment when taken in light of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1, is a diagrammatic view of a removable card-handling cartridge and card-handling apparatus;

FIG. 2 illustrates the characteristic end coded portion of a card together with side notches for cooperating with gating rods;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a card;

FIGS. 4a, 4b, and 4c are diagrammatic views of a gating rod and actuation mechanism for use with actuation apparatus and FIGS. 4d and 4e are diagrammatic views of an alternative actuation mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a card-retaining and selection pin;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the card-handling cartridge taken from an end illustrating one form of card-retaining and selection pin actuation system;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the removable card-retaining cartridge taken from a side illustrating the side-by-side relationship of the retained cards, the card braking mechanism, and card return ramps;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken from the top and illustrates the array for the selection of card-retaining and selectron pins;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of an arrangement of cardretaining and selection pins and means for actuation;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of actuation means for card-retaining and selection pins;

FIG. 11 illustrates the relationship of the gating rods in the supporting position for moving the card out of contact with the card-retaining and selection pins.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view of a card-handling apparatus 10 and a partially inserted removable cartridge 12. The card-handling apparatus 10 includes a supporting member port 14 for mounting supporting

walls

16, 18, and 20. Portions of

walls

16 and 18 are broken away to illustrate the lower portion of cartridge 12, and to illustrate the support housing 22. The inner portion of support housing 22 is an opening indicated by arrow 24, which extends into the cardhandling apparatus 10, for access to transducing apparatus (not shown) for reading and recording on cards, and apparatus (not shown) for positioning and handling the cards during the time they are removed from the card-handling cartridge 12. Card-handling apparatus 10 also includes a source of pressurized fluid (not shown) that is coupled to ports 26 in the sides of housing 22 for directing the pressurized fluid upwardly. Ports 26 are directed upwardly for cooperating with like arranged ports in the cartridge 12. In the embodiment shown, there are six ports 26 at each side of housing 22. Five of the ports 26 are utilized for supplying air for separating the cards, as will be described in more detail below, and one ports at each side is utilized for supplying fluid to the card profile compensation apparatus of this invention. The latter ports are the end-most ports on each side.

Wall 16 mounts retaining-pin selection apparatus within housing 28. Characteristically, these pin actuators are electrical relays. Alternatively, the retaining-pin actuators 28 could be selected from those systems described in co-pending U.S. patent application of David A. Tandeski, entitled RETAIN- ING PIN AND ACTUATION APPARATUS, Ser. No. 828,821, filed May 29, 1970, and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,256, otherwise identified as ERA-1790, and assigned to the assignee of this invention. When electrical solenoids are utilized, the card-handling apparatus 10 includes electronic circuitry (not shown) for providing the selection signals through cable 30, which in turn is coupled through plug 32, to the retaining-pin selection housing 28, for actuating the selected ones of the card-retaining and selection pins in the removable cartridge 12.

Wall 18 is utilized for mounting the gating-rod actuation mechanisms in

housings

34 and 36. Portions of the gating-rod actuation mechanisms (not shown) cooperate with gating-

rod drive elements

38 and 40 mounted in the front wall 42 of cartridge 12. (See FIGS. 4a and 4b) The card-handling apparatus also includes electrical circuitry (not shown) for providing activation signals over conductors included in cable 44 to each of the

housings

34 and 36. The gating-rod actuation system is described below relating to FIGS. 40, 4d, and 4e. In addition to supporting

housings

34 and 36, wall 18 has a pair of

slots

46 and 48 for receiving portions of the cartridge 12.

In addition to front wall 42, the cartridge 12 includes

side walls

50 and 52, and rear wall 54. A top 56 joins all four walls together. A protective housing 58 extends outwardly from the front wall 42 for protecting the gating-

rod actuators

38 and 40. The

side walls

50 and 52 are terminated at the lower ends in supporting

surfaces

60 and 62 respectively which are arranged for cooperation with the upper surfaces of that portion of the housing 22 where fluid ports 26 are opened. Each of the

side walls

50 and 52 have fluid conduits therein for cooperating with ports 26. For instance, in side wall 50 there is shown a broken away portion with five conduits 26' for carrying pressurized fluid upwardly through wall 50 where the fluid is exhausted through openings 26" in the high-resistance fluid nozzle chamber. The high-resistance fluid nozzle chamber opens into the inner part of cartridge 12 through nozzle slot 64, and provides the forces utilized for separating the cards 66.

A plurality of openings 72 provide access to the actuation ends of the apparatus utilized for actuating the card-retaining and selection pins within cartridge 12. These openings 72 are arranged for cooperation with the actuation devices enclosed within housing 28 when the cartridge 12 is fully inserted into the card-handling apparatus 10.

In the foregoing arrangement, card-handling cartridge 12 can be inserted and removed from the card-handling apparatus 10 without having to disconnect any operative portion of the system. It can be seen that the cards 66 are spaced-apart and arranged in the side-by-side manner with the edges facing

side walls

50 and 52. When released by the appropriate combination of signals in

cables

30 and 44, the selected card will pass downwardly for use by the card-handling apparatus 10. The handling of the cards 66 within the card-handling apparatus does not form a part of this invention and will not be described in any further detail, it being clearly understood that means are provided for taking the card from card-handling cartridge 12 at any location selected within the stack and returning the card at the rear wall 54 of cartridge 12.

FIG. 2 illustrates a characteristic end-coded card 66 of the type contemplated for usage with this invention. Characteristically, the cards 66 are comprised of a flexible plastic-like material, such as Mylar, a trademarked product of E. I. du- Pont de NeMours and Company, with a magnetic layer deposited thereon. The card 66 has the approximate physical characteristics of a width of 4.5 inches; length of 14.0 inches; and thickness of approximately 0.0054 inch. While the number of cards 66 that can be accommodated by cartridge 12 will vary, it is contemplated that an advantageous system would include 512 individually addressable cards. To accommodate this addressing, there would be required nine notches in the end-coded portion. Certain of the notches have tab portions at the left sides, thereby giving no support to card 66 with the supporting pin moved to the right, while others of the notches 82 have tab portions at the right side for supporting the card 66 on respectively associated card-retaining and selection pins. The various cards 66 in the stack will have different combinations of notches having supporting tabs at the right or left sides, thereby rendering the end-coded portions of the stack of cards individually addressable. The tab portions are illustrated at the right or left sides of the notches for a 2- position selection system. At the edges of cards 66 are

gatingrod notches

84 and 86.

In FIG. 3 there is illustrated a cross-sectional view of a card 66, and illustrates a support portion comprised of a flexible plastic-like material, such as Mylar," a trademarked product of E. I. duPont deNemours and Company. A magnetic layer 92 is deposited on support layer 90 and by conventional means bonded thereto. For many applications a single magnetic layer 92 is sufficient, but in some applications it is desirable that a second magnetic layer 92 be deposited on member 90, thereby permitting recorded information to exist on both sides of card 66.

In FIG. 4a there is illustrated one form of gating rod 94 having a card-supporting surface 96 for cooperating with the gating rod notches 86 when in the card-retaining position. The gating rod 94 has mounting

members

98 and 100 at the ends thereof for rotatably mounting gating rod 94 in the card-handling cartridge 12. A device 102 is arranged for determining the degree of rotation of gating rod 94. The gate-rod device mechanism 40 is fixed to the end of mounting rod 100. Movement of mechanism 40 in the direction of arrow 102 will operate to release the associated card. FIG. 4b is a face-view of device 102, and illustrates stops 104 and 104' for positioning gating rod 94 in the retaining position, and stops 106 and 106' for stopping gating rod 94 in the released position. It can be seen that gating rod 94 rotates through angle 0, which for this embodiment will be approximately 50 to 65. When rotated, surface 108 will be approximately flush with the inner wall surface of cartridge 12. A characteristic arrangement for actuating gating rod 94 is shown in FIG. 4c and includes a gear member 1 mounted on mounting member 112. A cooperating rack 114 is mounted for driving gear 1 10 when actuated by solenoid 116 a channel drive member 118 cooperates with drive mechanism 40. To cause the gating rod 94 to be rotated in the direction arrow 102 for disengaging the gating-rod notches 86, a signal is applied from the card-handling apparatus 10 on conductor 120 to solenoid 1 16, thereby causing the solinoid to force rack 114 in the direction of arrow 122. This causes gear 110 to rotate the gating rod 94. To return the gating rod to its card-supporting position, a signal on lines 120 is provided for causing solenoid 116 to release pressure from rack 114. Spring bias provided by spring 124 moves rack 114 in the direction of arrow 126 to the card-supporting position. Alternatively, a second solenoid (not shown) can be used for returning the gating rods to the retaining position. Movement of rack 114 is limited in the holding position by stop 128 impinging on support 130, and in the releasing position by rod 132 impinging on support 134. The operation of the gating rod in supporting the cards will be described more fully below in the consideration of FIG. 11.

An alternative actuation system is shown in FIGS. 4d and 4e. In this arrangement drive member 118-1 is a collar arranged for supporting racks 114-1 and 114-2, and is slidably supported on wall 42. A pair of rollers 111-1 and 111-2 are arranged for cooperating with the inner portion of drive member 118-1 for counteracting the radial thrust of gears 110-1 and 110-2 as they are driven by racks 114-1 and 114-2, respectively. The gears 110-1 and 110-2 are coupled to elements 100 on the gating rods 94.

As the drive member 118-1 is moved in the direction of arrow 119, gear 110-1 is driven clockwise in the direction of arrow 119-1, and gear 1 10-2 is drive counter-clockwise in the direction of arrow 119-2, thereby retracting the respectively associated gating rods.

Attention is directed to FIG. 4e, where the actuation solenoid 116-1 is shown cooperating with an end of drive member 118-1 for moving it in the direction of arrow 119 to the dashed position when signals are received for energizing the relay. The relay is mounted for instance in housing 34 (FIG. 1) and is not in critical alignment with drive member 118-1. The drive member 118-1 can be returned to the card-holding position, as shown by movement in the direction of arrow 119-3, either by a spring arrangement, or by the use of return-relay 116-2, shown in dashed line. During the return, the movement of gears 110-1 and 110-2 is just the opposite of that set forth above.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a card-retaining and selection pin 140, each having mounting

members

142 and 144 for movably mounting pins in card-handling cartridge 12, as will be described in more detail below. The pin 140 has supporting

surfaces

146 and 148 for cooperating with notches and supporting tabs in the end-coded portion of the cards 66 for supporting the cards. It will be noted, that in FIG. 2 the notches are shown with supporting tabs on the right or left sides only. An alternative arrangement is to have the supporting tabs at both the right or left side, thereby expanding the coding capacity for the same number of card-retaining and selection pins. The pin has a ramp portion. 150 at the card-return end of the pin for deflecting the supporting tabs outwardly as the card is returned, thereby permitting the tabs to be engaged by the supporting

surfaces

146 or 148 when brought to a stop above the ramp. The detailed structure of the various ramp arrangements, together with various pin actuation systems is more fully described in the co-pending US. patent application of David A. Tandeski, entitled RETAINING PIN AND AC- TUATION APPARATUS, Ser. No. 828,821, filed May 29, 1969, otherwise identified as ERA-1790, and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. The body portion 152 of pin 70 has a plurality of apertures 154 for receiving actuation rods therethrough. For this embodiment, there are nine such apertures 154, thereby corresponding to the nine actuators for the notches in the end-coded card arrangement. Apertures 154 are ofa diameter such that the actuation rods, to be described below, pass freely therethrough. A preferred embodiment utilizes substantially solid material for pin 140 with rotation at

supports

142 and 144. An alternative arrangement is to utilize fixed mountings at

supports

142 and 144, with body 152 being formed from a flexible material.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the card-handling cartridge 12 illustrating one form of card-retaining and selection pin actuation system. The cartridge 12 has a top portion 56 joining

side walls

50 and 52.

Side walls

50 and 52 are adapted for being slidably engaged between supporting

members

16 and 20. A plurality of card-retaining and selection pins 140, of the type described in FIG. 5, are movably mounted to walls 42 and 54 (See FIG. 1). A selector rod extends through likeoriented apertures 154 in the card-retaining and selection pins. The selector rod 160 extends into opening 162 in wall 52, and is biased by spring 164 in the direction of arrow 166. The other end of selector rod 160 extends through aperture 168 to the inner surface of support member 16. A solenoid 170 is mounted to the support member 16 with the plunger pin 172 in the contact with the end of selector rod 160. Selector rod 160 is coupled by coupling 174 to the left-most cardretaining and selection pin 140, but is not coupled to any of the other card-retaining and selection pins. The application of a control signal on wire 176 to solinoid 170 causes the plunger 172 to be extended to bear on selector rod 160, thereby causing the left-most card-retaining and selection pin 140 to be moved to the left. When the signal is removed from conductor 176, the solinoid 170 is de-energized and the plunger 172 is caused to be retracted. The spring bias provided by a spring means 164 causes the selector rod 160 to be returned in the direction of arrow 166, thereby causing the left-most cardretaining and selection pin 140 to be returned to the card-supporting position. The

gating rods

96 and 96 are positioned in

walls

52 and 50, respectively, below the plane of the cardretaining and selection pin 160. The high-resistance nozzles 64 are mounted in

walls

50 and 52.

Walls

50 and 52 have a fluid-conduit 26' cooperating with a fluid-port 26 in card-handling apparatus 10. The nozzle openings 26" are in a fluidflow cooperative relationship with fluid-conduit 26. Therefore, when fluid is inserted in conduit 26', there is fluid flow through the fluid-conduits and out through the nozzle openings 64. The fluid flow is directed at the edges of cards 66. In this arrangement, a pair of

members

180 and 182 are adapted for forming the nozzle slots 64, with the supporting wall-

members

50 and 52. The nozzle openings 64 extend for a distance I substantially equal to the width of the stack of cards, that is, approximately 6 inches in this embodiment. The nozzles 64 have a plurality of fluid input conduits 26' for receiving fluid flow. characteristically, the fluid can be considered to be air or other suitable gaseous fluids. Fluid flow through openings 26" is under pressure of approximately 4 pounds per square inch, with the fluid flowing into chambers 190. Nozzle openings 64 extend along the lengths of chambers 190. The nozzle opening 64 has a depth d of a dimension of approximately one-eight inch and has a width dimension w in the range of 0.005 to 0.012 inch. A comparison of these dimensions w and d indicates that the dimension d is relatively much larger than w. This design provides a nozzle resistance sufficiently high, such that fluid flow therethrough is essentially independent of the external resistance presented by the edges of the cards 66 and the spacing therebetween. This establishes substantially uniform fluid flow along the dimension 1 of nozzles 64. For this arrangement, the pressure of fluid flow out through nozzle openings 64 is approximately 2.5 pounds per square inch. The flows of fluid are relatively constant; and, being opposed, tend to direct the ultimate fluid flow downward toward the bottom opening of the fluid-handling cartridge 12. Due to inserting the fluid flow at the edges of the card, rather than the top of the cards, and due to the opposed fluid flow, there is substantially no flutter imparted to the cards and the card-spacing mentioned above can be maintained without causing abrasion between adjacent cards. Additionally, the fluid flow extending toward the bottom of the card-handling cartridge 12 tends to create a drag force for aiding in the ejection of a particular selected card during the selection cycle. The opposed low-pressure system of fluid insertion can be seen to have marked improvement over fluid insertion at the tops of the cards.

In FIG. 7 there is shown a cross-sectional view of a portion of the removable card-retaining cartridge 12 illustrating the side-by-side relationship of the retained cards 66, the relationship of the gating rod 94, the card-retaining and selection pin 140, and the relationship wherein card brake 200 is mounted to the inner surface of wall 54 at the card-return end of the card-handling cartridge 12. Wall 54 has mounting supports 202 for retaining mounting end 142 of the pin 140, and mounting supports 204 for receiving mounting end 98 of the gating rod 94. In a similar manner, wall 42 has mounting support 206 for receiving mounting pin 144, and mounting opening 208 for supporting mounting rod 100. The fluid nozzle slot 64 extends across the major portion of wall 52. The characteristic capacity of the card-handling cartridge 12 has been indicated as 512 cards. To accommodate these cards, the overall dimension of the card-handling cartridge 12 is approximately 7 inches outside width, and 6 inches inside width.

The dimension c illustrates the center-to-center spacing of cards 66 and is characteristicly 12 mils. With the thickness of the cards being approximately 5% mils, as indicated by dimension 1; the card spacings is in the range of6 to 7 mils. With this spacing, it can be seen that any flutter in the cards will cause abrasion between adjacent cards.

The card brake 200 operates to bring returning cards to a stop at the card-return end of the card-handling cartridge 12, for allowing the returning card to be engaged by the gating rods 94 and the card-retaining and selection pins 140. A card brake that has been found to have advantageous characteristics is described in co-pending U.S. patent application of LeRoy E. Gerlach, et al., entitled MOMENTUM-TRANSFER CARD BRAKE, Ser. No. 828,821, filed May 29, 1971, and otherwise identified as ERA-l 836, the co-pending application being assigned to the assignee of this invention. In summary, that card brake operates by matching the mass of a braking element to the mass of a returning card, whereby the momentum of the card is transfered to the card brake mass for bringing the returning card to a stop without imparting any reversedirection acceleration thereto. Other card braking mechanisms such as spring loaded impact members, resilient pads or the like could be utilized.

The ramp portions of the gating rods 94 and the card-retaining and selection pin 140 are fully described in the above identified co-pending U.S. patent application of David A. Tandeski.

Since the card-handling cartridge is removable, it is desirable to provide a mechanism for forcing the stack of cards into a tight stack and holding them tightly, thereby preventing any card skew that would allow cards to drop out. Since only about 45 mils of the supporting tabs rest on the supporting pins, it can be seen that a small amount of card displacement will tend to release cards. To alleviate this problem, a cardclamping mechanism 210 is employed. The card-clamping mechanism shown in full-line in the withdrawn position, and in dashed line in the card-clamping position. The same elements will have reference numerals in the card-clamping position. The card-clamping mechanism 210 includes a cardclamping plate 212 for bearing on the surface of the end-most card for tightly stacking all cards. A lever arrangement comprised of

lever arms

214 and 216 is pivotally joined at 218. An end of lever arm 214 is pivotally mounted at 220 to wall 42, and a like end of arm 216 is pivotally mounted at 222 to plate 212. The other end of lever arm 214 is slidably coupled to track 224, and a like end of lever arm 216 is slidably coupled to track 226 on plate 212. Various mechanisms can be utilized to activate card-clamping mechanism 210. For example, means can be utilized to force one or the other of

lever arms

214 or 216 upward in the appropriate track, or means could be utilized at juncture 218 for causing mechanism 210 to be moved in and out. These and other systems can be made to operate manually, or automatically upon insertion and withdrawal of cartridge 12 in card-handling apparatus 10.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken from the top of cartridge l2 and illustrates the array for the selection of cardretaining and selection pins. From this figure, it can be seen that individual ones of the card-retaining and selection pin are coupled to respectively associated ones of the selector rods 160. In this regard, selector rod is coupled to pin 140 by coupling means 174; selector rod 160-1 is coupled to pin 140-1 by coupling means 174-1; selector rod 160-2 is coupled to pin 140-2 by coupling means 174-2; selector rod 160-3 is coupled to pin 140-3 by coupling means 174-3; selector rod 160-4 is coupled to pin 140-4 by coupling means 174-4; selector rod 160-5 is coupled to pin 140-5 by coupling means 174-5; selector rod 160-6 is coupled to pin 140-6 by coupling means 174-6; selector rod 160-7 is coupled to pin 140-7 by coupling means 174-7; and selector rod 160-8 is coupled to pin 140-8 by coupling means 174-8. As described above, the endsof selector rods 160 through 160-8 that are mounted in wall 52 and are spring biased by springs 164 for urging the selector rods in the direction of solenoids 170. The selector ends of selector rods 160 through 160-8 are supported by wall 50 and are in a cooperative relationship with respective ones of the plungers 172 of solenoids 170. For purposes of illustration of the operation of this selection array, assume that the end-coded card 66, illustrated in FIG. 2 is suspended on the nine card-retaining and selection pins 140 through 140-8. Further assume that a signal necessary to activate respective ones of the pins is specified as a 1" and unactivated pins to be specified as a 0." In this arrangement, then, starting at the left side of card 66 it will be seen that the first notch encountered requires an activation of its associated pin 140. Therefore, a l is shown on solenoid 170. Next following to the right and across the end of card 66 if will be seen that there are two left-tab slots, thereby indicating that the next two lower ordered solinoids have 0"s impressed therein. The fourth notch as a supporting tab so that a l is impressed for activating pin 160-3. The center notch is a left-tab notch, thereby requiring a 0. The sixth notch has a supporting tab, thereby requiring a l for the activation of pin 160-5. Notches in the seventh and eighth positions are also left-tab notches, thereby having Os impressed on the respectively associated solinoids, and the right-most notch has a supporting tab, thereby requiring a l to activate pin 160-8. As described above, the activation of respective ones of solenoids cause the plungers 172 to be extended against the action of the bias springs 164. By releasing the right-tab notches, there is nothing supporting the card since the unselected pins do not have a tab resting thereon. Other cards are retained by the selected pins moving to the left since they would engage various combinations of left-tab notches during selection. When the signal is released, the spring-bias causes selector pins to return, and the bias springs 172 urge the associated selector rods toward the card-retaining position. It is of course understood, that prior to the activation of solenoids 170, the gating rods 94 are activated for being rotated out of the cardsupporting position so that when the solenoids 170 are selected, the appropriate card is permitted to drop from the card-handling cartridge 12. It is of courseclear that there need be no physical interconnection between the ends of plungers 172 and the selector rods 160 through 160-8. The cross-sectional area of the ends of plungers 172 is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the cooperating ends of selector rods 160 through 160-8, thereby rendering the registration tolerances of a magnitude to allow the removal of one cardhandling cartridge 12 and the insertion of another cardhandling cartridge without requiring physical adjustment or interconnection.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative type of cardretaining and selection pins 230, shown in broken away form, with the ends movably mounted in a support member 232 for rotation about supporting pin 234, and with the coupling portion 236 being above the axis of rotation. This is distinguished from the pin 140 illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the area of coupling to the selector rods is located below the axis of rotation. The

selector rods

238 and 240 pass over the top surface 242 of card-retaining and selection pin 230, and are out of contact therewith. The selector rod 244 is coupled to member 236 by a suitable coupling means 246. As in the previously described arrangement, the solenoids 170 operates through its plunger 172 to activate selector rod 244 for moving pin 230..

In FIG. 10 there is shown a diagrammatic view of the actuation arrangement and mounting for the card-retaining and selection pins.230 of the type illustrated in FIG. 9. It will be noted that solenoid 170 is mounted at the opposite end of the selector rod 244, from that illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. This follows since the coupling 246 to coupling member 236 is above the axis of rotation 234, rather than below. In this arrangement, the end of selector rod 244 that cooperates with plunger 172 extends through card-handling cartridge wall 52', with the opposite end cooperating with spring biasing means 164 in card-handling cartridge wall 50.

The foregoing discussion contemplates that the supporting tabs for the at'rest condition are mounted on the right side of notches 82. For alternative arrangements, it is necessary only to determine which direction the card-retaining and selection pins must travel to release the tabs in order to determine which arrangement of the solenoid actuators with respect to the ends of the selector rods is required. For systems having supporting tabs at both sides of the notches, it would be necessary to either have selector solenoids at both ends of the selector rods, or to provide a coupling between the plungers 172 and the selector rods for causing the solenoids 170 to be able to both push and pullthe selector rods to an intermediate release position.

FIG. 11 illustrates the relationship of the gating rods 94 in thegating-rod notches 84 for moving the card 66 out of contact with the card-retaining and selection pins 140 when in the card-retaining position. The full-line representation of gating rod 94 illustrates the gating rod in a position as surface 96 is coming in contact with the supporting surface 250 :at the upper extremity of the gating-rod notch 84. In this position, the supporting tab 252is in contact with the supporting surface 146 of card-retaining and selection pin 140. As gating rod 94.is moved in the direction of arrow 254, the dashed-line representation of gating rod 94 is in effect. This causes the card66 to be raised a distance h.bringing it to the position illustrated by the dashed line portion for card 66. When raised the distance It, it can be seen that the card 66 is out of-contact with the card-retaining and selection pin I40, and is supported only by gatingrod 94. It is of course clear, that the gating rod 94 at the other side of the card (not shownyfunctions at the same time and in asimilar. manner to that just described. The use of the gating. rods 94 in the manner just described precludes any spurious card dropoutwhenthe gating rods are in the card-retaining position, and further functions to prevent the cards 66 from skewing in the stack. When the cards 66 are supported by only the card-retaining and selection pin 140, it is clear that many cards will be retained by a single one of such pins or an unsymmetrical combination of pins. A distance it that has been found to be advantageous is 0.015 inch.

During the selection of the particular card 66, the gating rod 94 is rotated out of contact with gating-rod notch 84 by moving it opposite to the direction of arrow 254. The other gating rod (not shown) is also rotated out of it gating-rod notch. Such a rotation of the gating rods allows the cards 66 to move down into contact with the supporting surfaces 146 .of the cardretaining and selection pins 140. A subsequent application of the appropriate control signals to theselection solenoids 170 then causes the appropriate ones of the card-retaining and selection pin to be rotated through an angle (1: out of contact with supporting tabs 252, thereby permittingthe selected card 66 to be removed from the stack. For this embodiment surface 146 engages approximately 45 mils of tab 252, and angle 4) is approximately, 2. Pin 140 moves about 60 mils, thereby giving a 15 mil clearance. Following such a selection, the gating rod 94 is again rotated inthe direction of arrow 254 for lifting the cards 66 out of contact with pins 140. The use of the gating rods 94 finds a further advantageous use in maintaining the appropriate separation of the cards 66. When a new card-handling cartridge 12 is inserted in the card-handling apparatus 10, the cards 66 will be bunched. To facilitate the initial separation of the cards, the fluid. pressure is applied to nozzles 64, followed bya sequence of actuations of the gating rods 94 without the actuation of any of the card-retaining and selection pins. This sequential actuation of the gating rods 94 coupled with the fluid flow inserted :in the stack, results in a vibration of the cards in thestack that tends to cause the cards to separate. It is of course apparent that due to the cards being lifted out of contact with the card-retaining and selection pins by the gating rods, that the frictional contact of individual cards to the supporting surfaces isminimized. Therefore, the reduced friction due to the gating rod arrangement and the insertion of the fluid flow while the gating rods are being sequentially activated, causes the cards to separate. After the initial separation, the cards will be periodically raised and lowered due to the selection action for selecting new cards. Since the cards returned from the document-handling apparatus 10 are returned atone side of the card-handling cartridge 12, this raising and lowering tends to cause the stack of cards to move to fill the position vacated by a previously selected card and to permit room for the returning card to be added to the end of the stack.

CONCLUSION From a consideration of the foregoing descriptionof the preferred embodiment, when taken in light of the drawings, it can be seen that novel removable card-handling cartridge has been described. The removable card-handling cartridge has the features of a minimum interconnection to the card-handling apparatus, thereby rendering interchange of cartridges relatively. simple. Additionally, the card-handling cartridge includes anovelarrangement of amatrix of .cardsretaining and selection pins actuated by an array of selector rods. This selectioncombination cooperates with a pair of gatingrods associated withgating-rod notches in the edges of the cards, whereby the gating rods operate to lift the cards out of contact withthe supporting surfaces of the card-retaining and selection pins. The cartridge additionally includes means for receiving a fluid flow from a pairof opposed high-resistance fluid nozzles forinserting fluid atrelatively low pressures into the stack ofcards for causing the cards to be separated, and assisting in ejecting selected cards. Accordingly, it is clear that the various stated objectives andpurposes of, the invention have been met and are fully described herein.

It being understoodthat various changes and modifications in the detailed structural relationship and dimensioning of the invention described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, what is intended to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An improved card-handling cartridge for use in data-handling apparatus, comprising: a pair of parallelly arranged spaced-apart side-wall members; a front-wall member joined intermediate said side-wall members; a rear-wall member generally parallel to said front-wall member and joined intermediate said side-wall members; a top member joined to said side-wall members; said front-wall member and said rear-wall member for closing the top of said cartridge; a plurality of selectively actuatable card-retaining and selection pin means for supporting a plurality of end-coded record cards and selecting individual ones of said cards for release, each of said pin means mounted between said front-wall member and said rear-wall member; card separation means mounted in said side-wall members for maintaining said record cards in spaced-apart positions; and selectively actuatable gating rod means for releasing said record cards when in first positions and for lifting said record cards out of contact with said pin means when in second positions.

2. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of selectively actuatable card-retaining and selection pin means include a like plurality of selector rod means for activating selected ones of said card-retaining and selection pin means, each of said selector rod means coupled to an associated one of said card-retaining and selection pin means.

3. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of card-retaining and selection pin means includes a body portion, at least one card-supporting surface mounted on said body portion, and coupling portion means on said body portion for coupling to the associated one of said selector rod means.

4. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 3 wherein said coupling portion means includes an aperture for receiving said selector rod means and further includes coupling means for coupling said selector rod means to said body portion for causing said pin means to move in response to applied pressure from said selector rod means.

5. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 4 wherein one of said pair of parallelly arranged spaced-apart side-wall members includes a plurality of apertures therethrough; and each of said selector rod means having first and second ends, said first ends extending through respectively associated ones of said apertures in said side-wall members for cooperating with card-selection actuators in an associated data-handling apparatus, and said second ends supported by the other of said pair of wall-members, and further including selector rod urging means in cooperation with said second ends for urging said selector rod members in a direction to cause said pin means to be in card-retaining positions.

6. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 3 wherein said coupling portion means is between the axis of mounting said pin means and said card-supporting surfaces.

7. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 3 wherein the axis of mounting said pin means is between said coupling portion means and said card-supporting surfaces.

8. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 1 and further including a plurality of end-coded record cards mounted on said pin means, each of said cards having a plurality of coded slots having a unique arrangement of support tabs therein, ones of said tabs for releasbly engaging said pin means, said cards further including substantially parallel displaced edges, each of said edges having notches for cooperating with said gating rod means.

9. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 8 and further including card restraining means intermediate said pair of sidewall members for closely stacking said plurality of record cards when the card-handling cartridge is removed from a data-handling apparatus.

10. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 9 wherein said card restraining means includes support mechanism means mounted on said front-wall member; card surface engaging means mounted on said support mechanism means for engaging a surface of the end-most one of said plurality of record cards; and drive means coupled to said support mechanism means for causing said card surface engaging means to force said plurality of record cards into a tightly stacked arrangement when the card-handling cartridge is removed from a data-handling apparatus.

11. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 1 and further including card brake means mounted on said rear-wall member for stopping record cards being returned to the card-handling cartridge adjacent said rear-wall member.

12. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 1 wherein said card separation means includes fluid pressure means at said pair of side-wall members for directing fluid flow inwardly in the cartridge; and fluid conduit means in fluid communication with said fluid pressure means for conveying fluid thereto.

13. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 12 wherein said fluid pressure means includes a pair of fluid nozzle slots, each of said nozzle slots extending across a substantial portion of respectively associated ones of said side-wall members; and a pair fluid pressure chambers, respective ones of said chambers in fluid communication with associated ones of said fluid nozzle slots, each of said chambers coupled to said fluid conduit means for receiving fluid therefrom.

14. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 13 wherein said fluid conduit means includes first and second pluralities of conduit openings in said pair of side-wall members, said first plurality of conduit openings extending from the bottom of one of said pair of side-wall members to one of said pair of fluid pressure chambers, and said second plurality of conduit openings extending from the bottom of the other of said pair of side-wall members to the other of said pair of fluid pressure chambers.

15. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 1 wherein said gating rod means includes a pair of gating rods, each of said gating rods of a predetermined length and having first and second ends, and a card supporting surface extending along said length thereof, mounting means coupled to said first and second ends of each of said gating rods for rotatably mounting said gating rods between said front-wall member and said rearwall member, and actuation means coupled to said first ends of said gating rods for causing rotation of said gating rods in response to forces applied by the data-handling apparatus.

16. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 15 wherein each of said pair of side-wall members includes gating rod grooves for receiving a respectively associated one of said gating rods, the depth of said gating rod grooves being such that portions of said card supporting surfaces extend beyond the inner surfaces of said side-wall members when said gating rods are in card-supporting positions, and substantially all of said gating rods are within said gating rod grooves when said gating rods are rotated to card-releasing positions.

17. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 16 and further including stop means coupled to each of said gating rods for limiting the degree of rotation of said gating rods.

18. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 17 wherein said actuation means includes a pair of lever means for cooperating with drive mechanisms in the data-handling apparatus.

19. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 17 wherein said actuation means includes a pair of gear means coupled to respective ones of said gating rods, collar means movably mounted on said front-wall member, said collar means having top and bottom support members and a pair of connecting end members, first rack means mounted on said top support member for cooperating with one of said pair of gear means, second rack means mounted on said bottom support member for cooperating with the other of said pair of gear means, movement of said collar means causing said gating rods to be moved in opposite rotation directions.

20. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 19 and further including roller means for cooperating with said top and bottom support means for counteracting radial pressures from said pair of gear means.

21. An improved card-handling cartridge for use in datahandling apparatus comprising: a pair of parallelly arranged spaced-apart side-wall members, one of said side-wall members having a plurality of apertures therethrough; front-wall and rear-wall members joined intermediate said side-wall members, a top member joined to said pair of side-wall members and said front-wall and rear-wall members; a plurality of selectively actuatable card retaining and selection pin means for supporting a plurality of end-coded record cards, and selecting individual ones of said record cards for release in response to external selection forces, each of said pin means mounted between said front-wall and rear-wall members, said plurality of card retaining and selection pin means including a like plurality of selector rod means having first ends extending through associated ones of said plurality of apertures insaid one side-wall member and second ends movably mounted in the other of said side-wall members, each of said selection rod means coupled to an associated one of said pin means for causing said associated one of said pin means to move in response to pressure applied at said first end; selectively actuatable gating rod means for cooperating with edges of record cards for releasing the record cards when in first positions and for lifting the record cards out of contact with the pin means when in second positions; fluidic record card separation means for inserting pressurized fluid at the edges of the record cards for causing the record cards to assume spaced-apart positions; card brake means mounted in the vicinity of said card retaining and selection pin means for stopping record cards returning to the cartridge in a position to again be retained on said pin means.

22. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 21 and further including a plurality of end-coded record cards mounted on said pin means, each of said cards having a plurality of coded slots having a unique arrangement of support tabs therein, ones of said tabs for releasbly engaging said pin means, said cards further including substantially parallel displaced edges, each of said edges having notches for cooperating with said gating rod means.

23. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 22 and further including card restraining means intermediate said pair of sidewall members for closely stacking said plurality of record cards when the card-handling cartridge is removed from a data-handling apparatus.

24. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 23 wherein said card restraining means includes support mechanism means mounted on said front-wall member; card surface engaging means mounted on said support mechanism means for engaging a surface of the end-most one of said plurality of record cards; and drive means coupled to said support mechanism means for causing said card surface engaging means to force said plurality of record cards into a tightly stacked arrangement when the card-handling cartridge is removed from a data-handling apparatus.

25. A card-handling cartridge as in. claim 21 wherein said fluid pressure means includes a pair of fluid nozzle slots, each of said nozzle slots extending across a substantial portion of respectively associated ones of said side-wall members; and a pair fluid pressure chambers, respective ones of said chambers in fluid communication with associated ones of said fluid nozzle slots, each of said chambers coupled to said fluid conduit means for receiving fluid therefrom.

26. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 25 wherein said fluid conduit means includes first and second pluralities of conduit openings in said pair of side-wall members, said first plurality of conduit openings extending from the bottom of one of said pair of side-wall members to one of said pair of fluid pressure chambers, and said second plurality of conduit openings extending from the bottom of the other of said pair of side-wall members to the other of said pair of fluid pressure chambers.

Claims

9. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 8 and further including card restraining means intermediate said pair of side-wall members for closely stacking said plurality of record cards when the card-handling cartridge is removed from a data-handling apparatus.

15. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 1 wherein said gating rod means includes a pair of gating rods, each of said gating rods of a predetermined length and having first and second ends, and a card supporting surface extending along said length thereof, mounting means coupled to said first and second ends of each of said gating rods for rotatably mounting said gating rods between said front-wall member and said rear-wall member, and actuation means coupled to said first ends of said gating rods for causing rotation of said gating rods in response to forces applied by the data-handling apparatus.

21. An improved card-handling cartridge for use in data-handling apparatus comprising: a pair of parallelly arranged spaced-apart side-wall members, one of said side-wall members having a plurality of apertures therethrough; front-wall and rear-wall members joined intermediate said side-wall members, a top member joined to said pair of side-wall members and said front-wall and rear-wall members; a plurality of selectively actuatable card retaining and selection pin means for supporting a plurality of end-coded record cards, and selecting individual ones of said record cards for release in response to external selection forces, each of said pin means mounted between said front-wall and rear-wall members, said plurality of card retaining and selection pin means including a like plurality of selector rod means having first ends extending through associated ones of said plurality of apertures in said one side-wall member and second ends movably mounted in the other of said side-wall members, each of said selection rod means coupled to an associated one of said pin means for causing said associated one of said pin means to move in response to pressure applied at said first end; selectively actuatable gating rod means for cooperating with edges of record cards for releasing the record cards when in first positions and for lifting the record cards out of contact with the pin means when in second positions; fluidic record card separation means for inserting pressurized fluid at the edges of the record cards for causing the record cards to assume spaced-apart positions; card brake means mounted in the vicinity of said card retaining and selection pin means for stopping record cards returning to the cartridge in a position to again be retained on said pin means.

23. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 22 and further including card restraining means intermediate said pair of side-wall members for closely stacking said plurality of record cards when the card-handling cartridge is removed from a data-handling apparatus.

25. A card-handling cartridge as in claim 21 wherein said fluid pressure means includes a pair of fluid nozzle slots, each of said nozzle slots extending across a substantial portion of respectively associated ones of said side-wall members; and a pair fluid pressure chambers, respective ones of said chambers in fluid communication with associated ones of said fluid nozzle slots, each of said chambers coupled to said fluid conduit means for receiving fluid therefrom.