Patent GB-654990-A (GB)
Title: Improvement in card distributing mechanism for sorting machines
Filed: 1948-04-30
Abstract: 654,990. Statistical apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. April 30, 1948, No. 11885. Convention date, May 3, 1947. [Class 106 (i)] In a cyclically operable sorting machine for record cards having numeric and alphabetic perforation points, comprising card-sensing means, card-receiving stations, and sorting blades 35, Fig. 2, for directing the cards to the stations, a lifter 74 for each blade is movable between a low, intermediate and high position and the blades and lifters are divided into a numeric zone and alphabetic zones. During each cycle the lifters in each zone are moved successively from the intermediate to the low position, e.g. due to cams 112, unless this movement is prevented by a holding latch 150, Fig. 6, which is operated when a numeric perforation is sensed, together with a lifting latch 146 for the numeric zone. If, subsequently, an alphabetic perforation is sensed, a lifting latch 140, 142 or 144 for the corresponding alphabetic zone is operated, and the lifting latches are raised near the end of the cycle thus raising all the lifters 74 in the intermediate position in the corresponding zones into the high position to lift the associated blades, means being provided so that if a blade is lifted in an alphabetic zone, all blades in the numeric zone and in alphabetic zones, if any, corresponding to subsequently sensed points on the card will also be lifted. In this manner only one space is provided between the blades to receive the card. In the machine described, the cards have twelve perforation positions (9-1, 0, 11, 12) in each column. A number is represented by a perforation in one of the positions 1-9, and a letter by a numeric perforation followed by a perforation in one of the positions 0, 11, 12 as illustrated in Fig. 6. A numeric perforation sensed by contact brush s, Fig. 7, completes a circuit to magnets Mcom, Mnum which attract armatures 184, Fig. 2, to release springs 182 to act on the latches 146, 150 at the appropriate time in the rotation of the cam-shaft 100 which is mounted in anti-friction bearings. These latches engage respectively shoulders 138, 148 on the lifters 74 still held in the intermediate position by their associated cams 112. The sensing of an alphabetic perforation completes a circuit to magnet Mo, M<SP>11</SP> or M<SP>12</SP> to cause similar operation of the corresponding latch 140, 142 or 144. The energization of magnet Mo, M<SP>11</SP> completes circuits to the magnets to the right in Fig. 7, thus operating all latches to the right, Fig. 6, of that operated first. In addition, the rightmost lifter 74 in each alphabetic zone has a ledge (not shown) which engages a bridge element 270 carried by a spring plate and arranged below the blades 35 in the zone to the right so that if this lifter is raised to lift its associated blades all the blades in this right zone will also be raised. Cams 176 on the shaft 100 act on the feet of a downwardly spring-pressed member 164 to raise the lifting latches 140, 142, 144, 146. The latches are restored near the end of the cycle by a cam 220 on a card feed roll shaft 34 rocking a plate 226 provided with fingers engaging recesses in the latches. The latch 150 is similarly restored by a cam 202. If desired, the part of the latch 150 for the numeric zone may be omitted. The record cards are fed from the sensing mechanism by pairs of rolls 14, 16, &c. between guides 44, 46 to the thin narrow blades 35 which, as shown, direct the cards to three different levels and into the usual pockets (not shown). The cards are protected from the sharp edges of the raised blades 35 by a separator slide 250 which is moved forward by fingers 254 fixed to a shaft 258 carrying an arm (not shown), which is rocked by a cam on the shaft 34. When the slide is later retracted a comblike spring member 286 presses down pivoted blade-restoring members 280. Specification 554,105, [Group XVI], is referred to.