Patent GB-1241608-A (GB)
Title: A control system suitable for a document sorting machine
Inventor: SWARTZ RICHARD L
IPC: G06K13/12
Filed: 1968-10-15
Abstract: 1,241,608. Letter sorting. UNIVERSAL BUSINESS MACHINES Inc. 15 Oct., 1968 [27 Oct., 1967], No. 48786/68. Heading B8A. A control system for selectively operating gates distributed along a trackway in a letter sorting machine comprises a plurality of signal stores (DCA decade relays, and DA digit relays; and DCB decade relays and DB digit relays; (decade relays are on left-hand side of Figs. 3A and 3C; digit relays are along the top of Figs. 3A and 3B) adapted to store signals representative of any of the gates, input means (keys 0-9, Figs. 3A and 3C) designating the different gates, means operatively connecting input means to the stores, means for cycling the input means to each of the stores in turn so that signals designating selected gates are entered successively into alternate stores, a plurality of electromagnetic actuators (solenoids 00, 01 ... 99, Figs. 3A-3D) for operating the gates respectively, and means (relays 1AC- 10AC, Figs. 3B and 3D, and associated circuitry) for cyclically connecting the stores to the actuators so that at any given time, one of the stores has complete control over all the actuators, and means (mechanical switching mechanism (Fig. 3E) and circuitry of Figs. 3A-3D) operatively connected to the actuators to energize them for opening the gates in response to information entered in the stores. General description of circuitry.-As described, there are 100 gates having respective operating solenoids 00 to 99. There are nine keys 0-9, and in routing a letter to its destined compartment, e.g. controlled by gate 61, the first digit 6 corresponding to the tens is keyed, and then the digit 1 corresponding to the units. The first digit keyed, causes power to be applied to one of an appropriate pair of a series of so-called " decade " relay DCOA; DCOB: to DC9A, DC9B. If power is routed to the A relay of the pair, on keying the code of the next letter it will be the B relay that is energized and so on. When the second digit is keyed, power is routed to one of the appropriate pair of a series of so-called " digit " relays DOA, DOB, to D9A, D9B. If it was the A decade relay that was energized, on keying the first digit, the A digit relay will be similarly energized. This arrangement of A and B stores enables the code to be keyed corresponding to a following letter, while the first letter is proceeding along the track (not shown) between the keyboard and the designated compartment. However, to ensure that keying cannot be commenced too soon, relays KR, AB (top L.H. corner of Fig. 3A) (which control the application of power to the keys 0-9) are connected via a line 38 to two parallel power lines T1A, T1B. Line T1A includes in series the contacts 1a of the digit relays D1A-D9A and line T2A includes in series the contacts of the digit relays D1BD9B. Thus, each time the second digit of a code is keyed, the relays AB and KR are deenergized and the keys are isolated until these relays are re-energized by the operation of either of cam-operated switches C3S or C4S in lines T1A and T1B. Cam - operated switching mechanism.-The switches C3S and C4S are also shown in Fig. 3E, together with their operating cams C3 and C4, on a cam-shaft CSa which is rotated at half the speed of a cam-shaft SH. The latter is rotated in a one revolution cycle by a one-revolution clutch ORC, energized by a solenoid CL (Fig. 3E). The latter is energized by power supplied from a line S1G (shown both in Fig. 3C and Fig. 3E). Power is supplied into this line by the closure of contacts 3a of relay AB. Thus, the cycle of shafts CS and CSa commences after the keying of the second code digit. The alternate selection of the A and B stores (i.e. the A or B relays of the " decade " and " digit " relays) is effected by the operation of relays 1AC to 10AC (Figs. 3B, 3D). These are energized or deenergized by a switch C5S operated by a cam C on the shaft CSa. Thus these relays by switching on or off, cause a change between A and B stores twice every rotation of shaft CSa, and therefore once during each cycle of the clutch ORC. Power on the line SIG also initiates the operation of a vacuum pick-up (see relays Pu Pus, Fig. 3E) for transferring the letter (the code of which has just been keyed) to the trackway. Arrangement of bins.-The 100 bins 00 to 99 are arranged in primary sections P1, P2 and secondary sections S1 S2 (Fig. 2), according to their distance along the trackway from the keying operator. Each solenoid in section P1 is connected directly to a return power line T2, so that it is opened immediately the other connection to the solenoid is energized via the switches activated by the decade and digit relays as previously described. A progressive delay is applied, however, to the operating of the solenoids corresponding to gates in the P2 sections (otherwise a letter previously keyed might be received by a gate opening prematurely in respect of a following letter). Thus, solenoids in the P2 section, e.g. 09, are connected to a return line F which up to a certain point in the cycle of the shaft CS (see phase diaphragm, Fig. 5) is connected by a switch C2S to a lowpower return-line Ra. Thus at about 180 degrees of rotation of the clutch ORC, initiated at the end of keying the letter, switch C2S is operated to connect line F to line T2 and so apply full power to the solenoid 09. The latter operates in concert with the solenoid 34 since the latter controls a channel leading to bins 09 and 34 is opened by closure of a contact 09a connected with the armature of solenoid 09. All the solenoids of the bins in the S2 section have their return power connection through a line R. This is connected through a limit switch M1S to line Ra and a change-over switch M2S which is operated by the passage of a letter in the S2 section of the trackway. The letter thus operates M2S to apply full voltage to open the gate of its destined bin. M1S is operated by the letter as it enters the S1 section so as to close any bin in the S2 section, left open from a previous coding. Keying operations for special circumstances.- A key RPK controlling a relay RP (Fig. 3C), is pressed in the case of a run of letters having the same coding. This causes the letters to be cycled alternately through the A and B stores. A key CRK is pressed in order to clear the circuit when an erroneous keying operation has been carried out. A key RJK is pressed in respect of a letter carrying a code which does not lie in the range of the machine. Such a letter is then carried along the trackway to a reject bin.