Patent GB-758902-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in card collators
Filed: 1954-11-26
Abstract: 758,902. Statistical apparatus. MAUL, M. Nov. 26, 1954 [Dec. 10, 1953], No. 34370/54. Class 106 (1). A record card sorting or collating machine is provided with several card supply magazines 11, 12, 13, Fig. 7, and receiving pockets 21, 22, 23, 24 and several sets of card analysing brushes bl, b<SP>11</SP>, b<SP>111</SP>, and is characterized in that the analysers control a comparing device which upon analysis of a predetermined card index mark or a differing mark, releases a programme device which controls the supply of index cards from the plurality of supply magazines and the deposition thereof into different receiving pockets through a plurality of machine cycles. Item cards of the type shown in Fig. 1 (together with auxiliary cards at the end of each item card " group ") are inserted in the magazine 11 and are fed from the latter to the brushes bl, b<SP>111</SP> and subsequently to the pocket 24. The brushes b<SP>1</SP> and b<SP>111</SP> are wired to a comparing device and detect " group " changes in the card sequence. The brushes b<SP>1</SP> for the group number are furthermore wired to a storage device, and transfer the group data of each card thereto. The storage device, Fig. 12, comprises rows of pins 46 held by detent devices 47 against return springs 48, the pins 46 being actuated by magnets S, and reset at the end of each card analysis. When the group control detects a change of the group number, the programme mechanism is advanced one step and the machine operation is changed accordingly, so that in the next machine cycle the last card of the item group, i.e. the auxiliary card is eliminated and is directed to the pocket 21. Also, resetting of the storage device, which now contains the group number from the first card of the next item card group, is prevented, and at the end of the cycle, card feed from magazine 11 is stopped and the programme device is advanced to the next stage. Address cards are now fed from pocket 12 past brushes b<SP>11</SP> and b<SP>111</SP>. The comparing device is connected between the brushes b<SP>11</SP> and the store analysing device and the group numbers of the address cards are compared with that set in the store. All address cards having a different group number are directed to pocket 22. If brushes b<SP>11</SP> detect an address card with the correct number the programme device is advanced to the next step at the end of the cycle. During the next cycle the feed from the magazines 11 and 12 is disconnected and cards are fed from the magazine 13 to the brushes b<SP>11</SP> and b<SP>111</SP>. By means of brushes b<SP>11</SP> the group number is compared with that in the store. If the card group number differs it is directed to pocket 23. If the group number is correct the programme device advances one step, and the programme tape reaches its initial position, so that the machine again feeds cards from magazine 11 to brushes bl and b<SP>111</SP>, and subsequently to the pocket 24, until a group change is detected. The programme tape is shown in Fig. 2 and is analysed by fourteen brushes bl to b<SP>14</SP>. Above the brushes b<SP>1</SP>-b<SP>14</SP>, which are shown in relation to their respective columns, are indicated the magnets associated with each brush. For example the brush b<SP>2</SP> is wired to the magnet E<SP>2</SP> which controls the card feed from the magazine 12. The brushes b<SP>7</SP> and b<SP>8</SP> control the relays U<SP>1</SP> and U<SP>2</SP> which effect a shifting operation of the comparing device to the various brushes or to the analysing device for the store. The brushes b<SP>10</SP>, b<SP>11</SP> and b<SP>12</SP> are wired to the auxiliary relays H<SP>1</SP>, H2, H3 which control the effect of the comparing device on the machine. The brushes b<SP>13</SP> , b<SP>14</SP> are wired via cam contacts to the clutch magnet K and serve to control the programme device.