Patent GB-1001245-A (GB)
Title: Document sorting
IPC: G06F7/10
Filed: 1963-07-08
Abstract: 1,001,245. Sorting records. SPERRY RAND CORPORATION. July 8, 1963 [July 19, 1962], No. 26938/63. Heading G4M. Cheques 10, Fig. 1, on which up to fifteen digits are recorded in magnetic ink in each of three fields, are normally sorted in accordance with the particular digits occurring at a selected position in a selected field, but provision is also made for directing each cheque into one of a number of additional pockets if a predetermined sequence of characters is recorded in selected positions in a selected field. The system is used for sorting a stack of cheques in which large numbers of cheques are drawn on the same bank or banks, thus enabling the majority of cheques in the stack to be collected together on a single pass through the machine. An alternative use is in selecting a single cheque from the stack. Each field is preceded by a control symbol, and reading head and character recognition circuitry 11 produces signals identifying the characters on the cheques. Counters 26, 28 have outputs indicating the particular field and digit being read, respectively. Code converter 21 has two outputs representing the characters read, these being a pulse on one of leads 22 and a four-bit, true and inverse, signal on leads 35. Leads 24 carry control signals, such as " readerror " signals. The multi-digit pull-out function is selected by plug-board 33. In the example shown it is desired to pull out all cheques having the sequence 6789 in positions 8, 9, 10, 11 of field 1. In the normal single-digit sorting operation, pulses appear on leads 80, 81, Fig. 3, when the selected digit position and field respectively are being read to enable gates 72-79 and pass the character-representing signals on terminals AA<SP>1</SP>-DD<SP>1</SP> of bus 35 to register 92. The number stored in register 92 represents, in 10, 4, 4, 2, 1 binary excess-two code, the pocket 0-9 to which the cheque is to be directed. If the cheque carries the complete specified sequence of characters in the correct positions, pulses occurring on jumpers 122-125, Figs. 1, 4, of plug-board 33 inhibit gates in control unit 32 at the times when counter 28 pulses the other inputs 28f-28k of these gates, and bi-stable circuit 132 remains in the "O " state. A control pulse TP1 generated by a photo-cell 41, Fig. 1, as the cheque travels between the read head and the sorting flaps transfers this state of circuit 132 to pull-out bus 11, and this causes register 92, Fig. 3, to be reset to represent pocket 11 (the last of pull-out pockets 11-16). If the cheque does not carry the specified sequence bi-stable circuit 132 is set to the "1 " state and register 92 retains the single digit sorting control signal. The remaining sections of plug-board 33 may be used to select other pull-out pockets for cheques carrying other specified sequences. The corresponding signals generated in the control circuit of Fig. 4 are passed in strict sequence through gates 140- 144 by means of pulses generated by trigger chain 52-56, Fig. 1, so that should a cheque satisfy more than one of the specified sequences, it is directed to the first of the corresponding pull-out pockets 11-16, all previous signals stored in register 92 being replaced by the one having highest priority. Reject pocket. If a digit or field on the cheque is missing, or if two cheques pass through the reader at the same time or if the cheque is badly positioned, AND gate 110 is enabled by control pulse TP7, occurring after pulses TP1-TP6, to set register 92 so that the cheque is directed to reject pocket 17, irrespective of any previous setting of register 92. Zero kill.-If the single selected digit is " 0," register 92 will be set to the corresponding state, but should the remaining digits in the selected field also be all " 0," then stage 92e will not be set to the " 1 " state through gate 97, and the cheque will be directed to zero-kill pocket 10.