Patent GB-760185-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in means for separating tickets from a pile thereof
IPC: G06K13/103
Filed: 1954-08-24
Abstract: 760,185. Sheet feeding and delivery apparatus. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Aug. 24,1954 [Aug. 27, 1953], No. 24576/54. Class 100(1) Apparatus for separating tickets from a pile in a magazine comprises means for rotating the bottom ticket of the pile bodily in its own plane through an angle to expose a portion thereof, means to restrain the second ticket from the bottom of the pile against rotation with the bottom ticket. and means engageable with the exposed portion of the bottom ticket to withdraw the ticket completely from the pile. The ticket-separating apparatus is described as for use with a machine for punching perforations in account cards, and is combined with apparatus for sensing code perforations in each ticket. Each ticket comprises two separable portions S, T, Fig. 16, which are identical and have code perforations H, magazine registration holes F, and feed holes F<SP>1</SP> therein. Pile supports; ticket-separators.-The portions S of each ticket are placed in a magazine 251, 253, Fig. 4, which is closed at the top and open at the bottom, provided with a rectangular rod 255, Fig. 8, which extends through the holes F in each ticket, and has a slidable weight which rests on the pile. The magazine side plates 251 are slotted to fit vertical guide rails on the framework of the machine, and a block on one side plate rests on and closes a switch 266 which serves to condition the starting operation of the feeding means. The magazine is mounted at an angle to the line in which the tickets are subsequently forwarded. The pile of tickets is supported by a separating roller 267, a support roller 268, and a bush 269, Fig. 8, in the frame baseplate 264. A short rod 269a, attached to vertically-reciprocating link, slidable in the bush 269 has a stud portion 271 which enters the hole F in the bottom ticket, and a pin 272 on the stud enters a hole in the bottom of the rod 255. The stud 271 extends through the thickness of the bottom ticket, and the rod 255 extends only partially through the thickness of the ticket above. Since the end of the rod 255 fits the holes F in the tickets, the ticket above the bottom one cannot be rotated about the axis through the rods 255, 269a when the separating roller 267 is rotated to rotate the bottom ticket to the position S1. When the bottom ticket has thus been rotated, cam and link mechanism lowers the rod 269a, and raises a bail 292 sufficiently to raise the rest of the pile of tickets in the magazine, whereupon the displaced bottom ticket is free to be carried to position S2 by a pin-feed device. An arm provided with a toothed nose portion 298 is swung into engagement with a few of the bottom tickets in the magazine when the pile is raised by the bail 292, and both the arm and the bail and lowered together thus ensuring that the bottom tickets will seat on the stud 271. The support roller 268 will rise to open a switch in the feed circuit when the pile of tickets is exhausted. Ticket-forwarders.-A carriage, reciprocated horizontally by cam and lever means in guide rails on the baseplate 264, is provided with pins 326 which engage holes F<SP>1</SP> in the ticket and feed it from position S1 to position S2. The rotation of the ticket to position S1 moves a latch lever on a shaft 309 to permit the operation of the carriage. The pins 326, which are urged upwardly by springs, are lowered on the idle stroke of the carriage, and released when they pass beneath a ticket and in register with the holes F<SP>1</SP>. In the position S2 the ticket rests partially beneath a pressure pad 364 and an upper removable guide plate. The perfora-. tions H are now sensed by an apparatus which causes punching apparatus to be conditioned. Ticket-delivery apparatus.-After the ticket has been sensed, a cam-operated plate 379, 382 engages the edge of the ticket and pushes it transversely to a position where co-operating feed rollers 383 grip it and deliver it on to a delivery table 397 against a stop 398 on a fixed bracket 399. The table 397 is slidable vertically on a rod 400 and a groove in the main frame 201, is biased upwardly by a spring, and as tickets accumulate on the table the latter descends until it finally closes a switch 406 which operates a warning signal. Driving and associated mechanism.-The feeding, &c., apparatus and sensing devices are driven by a timing belt from the associated punching-machine. The belt drives a main shaft 210 (not shown) through a clutch controlled by an electromagnet which is energized in synchronism with the operation of the punching-machine. The shaft is geared to a cam shaft 225 from which the apparatus and sensing device are driven through electromagnetic clutches. The main electrical circuit is conditioned by the closing of switches some of which are cam-operated, or operated by the sequence of movements or dispositions of moving elements of the apparatus: for example the ticket magazine must be in position, tickets must be in the magazine, the feed pins which feed the ticket must be in their appropriate positions, and a ticket must be fed to position S2 before sensing occurs.