Patent GB-318733-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to means for analyzing statistics from representations of data on cards or other record material
Filed: 1928-08-20
Abstract: 318,733. Lasker, W. W. Aug. 20, 1928. Statistical apparatus; sorting cards.-A device for analyzing or sorting record cards of the kind in which the data is represented by electrically conducting portions on the surface of the cards comprises means for sensing the lowermost card while in the magazine to cause actuation of the registering or sorting-member whereupon the card is withdrawn from the pile and the succeeding card put into position. As shown applied for the purpose of sorting cards into receptacles a base 2, Figs. 3 and 4, supports two upright plates 4, 5 carrying a card magazine 6 with a fixed bottom plate 7 provided with openings 7<a> - - 7e, Fig. 7, in which work terminal elements 8, 60, 61, 62, and 63 insulatably mounted on a plate 19 and adapted to co-operate with the electrical conducting portions arranged in columns on the cards. The terminal elements consist of a bar 8, Fig. 9. with common projections 8<a> - - 8i and individual insulated terminal wires 9 - - 18 arranged in pairs as shown. The plate 19 is mounted on four bent arms 20, Figs. 4 and 6, on shafts 21, 22 connected by a link 23 and operated to cause the terminals to engage the card by means of an arm 24 and cam 25 on the main driven shaft 26. After sensing the card the terminals are withdrawn and a picker blade 27 operated through an arm 28 and link 29 by a cam 30 on the shaft 26 is caused to eject the card and to pass it between feed rollers 32, 33. From these rollers the card is advanced through a conveyer comprising a set of upper and lower rollers 34, 35. The upper rollers are driven from a shaft 36 through spiral gears, the shaft being driven by a belt 37, Fig. 3, from a motor 17. In the path of the card between each pair of rollers is arranged a defector plate 40 mounted on a shaft 41 with a curved portion 42 which when the plate is raised causes the card to enter the corresponding receptacle and to rest upon a spring supported plate 45 therein. Each deflector plate is operated by the armature 47 of an electromagnet 48 one of which is associated with each pair of contacts, and the operated plate is held in its raised position by a latch member 50 the release of which in timed relation with the other operating parts is effected by a bar 52 operated by a cam 56 and provided with a set of pins 53 for engaging the inclined ends 54 of the latches. In order to select the column for actuation the common terminal elements are connected by leads 64 - - 68, Fig. 6, to contact studs on a bar 69 and a manually adjustable arm 71 is slidable on a rod 70 to engage any one of the studs. The circuits to the magnets 48 are preferably controlled through a relay. As shown in Fig. 6, the leads 9 - - 18 are each connected to a contact brush 72 engaging rings 73 on a commutator shaft 74 driving by gearing 80, Fig. 3, from the shaft 26. The rings 73 are connected to insulated bars 75 engaged by a brush 76 in circuit with the adjustable arm 70 through a lead 77, relay coil 78, and battery 79. A second commutator 83 on the shaft 74 has a set of rings 82 and bars 84 co-operating respectively with brushes 81, 85 in circuit with the magnets 84, battery 59 and contacts 86, 87. When the circuit is closed through the coil 78 its armature 88 is attracted to bridge the contacts and close the circuit of the appropriate electromagnet 48. In a modification the action of the relay is governed by a thermionic valve arrangement in the circuit thereof.