Patent GB-1185879-A (GB)
Title: Data Retrieval Apparatus and Method
Inventor: ORNSTEIN PAUL H
IPC: G06K21/02
Filed: 1967-04-04
Abstract: 1,185,879. Selecting cards. P. H. ORNSTEIN, [trading as OK PARTNERSHIP]. 4 April, 1967 [4 April, 1966], No. 15464/67. Heading G4M. Selection apparatus comprises an elongated suspension magnet for attracting magnetic inserts in the sorting edges of a stack of notched cards, and a plurality of selector bars, selected ones of which may be moved to an operative position in which they extend below the non- selected bars, relative movement between the cards and the bars causing rejected cards to be pushed off the magnet while selected cards remain suspended on the magnet. Cards, Fig. 4.-Magnetic inserts 17, 25 are provided in register with the sorting edge 16 and the opposite edge 26, e.g. between laminations of the card. A pivot notch 22 is provided adjacent edge 16, and if edge 26 may also be used for sorting, there is a corresponding pivot notch 27. The sorting edge 16 may be divided into a number of fields, e.g. 13, and as shown a 2 out of 5 code is used in numeric fields 1-5 and 13, and a 1 out of 5 code (a-e) is used in fields 6-12. Other codes are envisaged, e.g. 5-bit binary. It is also possible to notch edge 26 in positions adjacent the one representing an item of data whereby selection may be made on an " equal or greater than " basis or to select cards corresponding to a range of values in a particular field, Figs. 27, 28 (not shown). Selector bars: setting up.-A group of five solenoids Sa-Se, Fig. 14, is selectively energized from a keyboard to set selector bars 110 corresponding to one field of the cards, the solenoids being advanced between keyboard entries to register with successive fields of selector bars 110. The keyboard may also be used to select one or more selector mechanisms from a plurality, each mechanism being associated with a different card file. The selector bars 110 are suspended from a platen 48 by tines of a comb spring 133, and each has a number of slots 146-150 one of which, 146, in the case of the a bar shown, is narrower than the others. Solenoid fingers 126-130 co-operate with slots 146-150 so that, depending on the solenoids energized, one or more of the bars 110 are moved lengthwise and are cammed downwards by ribs 136 underneath platen 48, the ribs finally engaging notches 155 which are about half as deep as notches 154. The bars are reset by a blade 135 actuated by a solenoid SR. Operation.-The first entry of a selection code from the keyboard also energizes a motor MT, Fig. 15, which rotates a cam 92 to raise a card drawer receptacle 56 on arms 80, any cards 13 which are not properly stacked being aligned by bar 76 and end wall 52. Pivot notches 22 are engaged over rail 31 and magnetic inserts 17 are attracted by a magnet 30 so that the cards are suspended and tray 51 is supported on arms 72 and spring 71 when the cam 92 again lowers arms 80. When a select button is pressed after setting up the selector bars, a platen motor is energized to rotate cams 245, 246, Fig. 14, via a sprocket and chain drive, so as to force platen 48 downwards. The actuated selector bars push rejected cards off magnet 30 so that their lower magnetic insert is attracted by magnet 28, Fig. 15. The weight of the rejected cards overcomes the supporting force of spring 71 and the tray of rejected cards is lowered on arms 72, the rate of descent being controlled by a damper 77. The selected cards remaining on magnet 30 and bar 31 may be pulled-off by hand after the return of platen 48, or the frame 14 including bar 31 may be slid out with the selected cards suspended on it. The platen motor also drives a linkage, Fig. 13 (not shown), to restore the selector solenoid carriage to its initial position over the first card field.