Patent GB-845490-A (GB)
Title: Record card collating apparatus
Inventor: WIENER JEROME B
Filed: 1958-07-24
Abstract: 845,490. Collating record cards. MAGNAVOX CO. July 24, 1958, No. 23911/58. Class 106 (1). A record card collating-machine has a pair of input stacks 12, 14, Fig. 1, for record cards and a pair of output stacks 174, 181, suction drums 16, 18 for selectively feeding cards from either of the input stacks to a transport drum 20, datasensing means 122 adjacent this drum and means for transferring a card from drum 20 to either output stacking drum 24, 26 according to the comparison between the data sensed on successive pairs of cards. Cards are normally prevented from leaving the stack 12 by a gate 90 which is displaced by energization of a magnet 102 so that the end card can move with the suction drum 16. A throat member 88 prevents more than one card leaving the stack at once. Energization of magnet 114 similarly allows a card to leave stack 14 and move on the surface of drum 18. Deflectors 116, 118 cause cards to pass from these drums to the central drum 20. The deflector 130 has three possible positions; in the left-hand position its fingers enter grooves in drum 20 to transfer a card to a suction drum 22, in the right-hand position the fingers cause a card on drum 22 to pass back to drum 20 and in the centre position it does not affect cards on either drum. Energization of magnets 168 and 170 moves the deflector to left and right-hand positions respectively. A deflector 177 is caused by energization of magnet 178 to enter grooves in drum 20, thereby transferring cards to drum 24 for stacking in output hopper 181. If this magnet is not energized a card passes to deflector 172, permanently engaged in the grooves of drum 20, and is transferred to the drum 26 for stacking in output hopper 174. In the form described the data is magnetically recorded on the cards and sensed by a row of read heads 122, 124, 126, 128, Fig. 7. Column selection.-The sensed signals from head 122 which are clock-pulses are amplified and applied to flip-flop 188, reset by the applied signal delayed. The output from the flip-flop passes to a binary counter 222 consisting of four stages 234-240, Fig. 9. The selector 220, Fig. 7, consists of four 2-position switches 224- 230, Fig. 9, connected to the counter stages and to an AND gate (comparator 218, Fig. 7) to provide a signal when the value in the counter agrees with the value set up on the selector. By this means the column which is to be used in the collation process is selected, the output from the comparator 218 serving to open gates 206-216 connected to three flip-flops 190-194 set by signals from the other three heads. The outputs from these six gates therefore represents the data sensed in the selected column of the card and is passed to two sets of gates 246-256 and 270-280, one only of which is open according to the setting of the flip-flop 258, the data being entered accordingly in one of two sets of three flip-flops 260-264 and 284-288. The values stored in the two sets of flip-flops are compared in comparator 266 to derive signals indicating that the value in the first set are less than, equal to or greater than that in the second set. For alphabetic data the signals may indicate that one letter precedes, corresponds to or follows the other. Operation.-The operation is described of the machine when adapted to transfer to output stack 181 all cards from input stack 14 and all cards from stack 12 that agree with corresponding ones from stack 14 and to transfer to stack 174 all cards from stack 12 which differ from corresponding cards from stack 14. Closure of switch 314, Fig. 8, causes a pulse to be formed in differentiator 332, 333 which is applied to flipflop 334, resetting it and producing a low-voltage output which is applied to valve 338 to prevent it conducting. Magnet 102 is thereby prevented from being operated and gate 90 (Fig. 1) remains in its shut position so that no cards can leave stack 12. The pulse also passes through gate 358 to set flip-flops 258 and 360. The output from the latter causes valve 366 to conduct to energize magnet 114 and allow a card to leave stack 14 and move with drum 18. The flip-flop 360 is then reset by the delayed pulse through delay line 364 and no further cards are allowed to leave stack 14. After being transferred to drum 20 by deflector 118, the card is sensed and the data in the selected column is entered in flip-flops 284-288, flip-flop 258 being set and flip-flops 260, 264 are all reset by the differentiator pulse. The value stored is assumed to be " 2." The comparator comparing " 2 " with zero indicates that the latter is less by a signal on line 294 which passes through AND gate 300 and OR gate 302 to set flip-flop 304. This causes valve 306 to conduct and energizes magnet 170, displacing deflector 130 to the right into engagement with drum 22, but idly, since no card is travelling on the drum at this time. Flip-flop 304 resets through delay line 305 to de-energize magnet 170 and deflector 130 returns to the central position. The signal from OR gate 302 is also delayed and used to set flip-flop 318 which energizes magnet 168 slightly after the de-energization of magnet 170 and deflector 130 moves to the left hand position to transfer the card to drum 22. Flipflop 318 is reset through delay line 320. The comparator signal on line 294 also passes through gate 330 to reset flip-flop 258 and to set flip-flop 334 which accordingly energizes magnet 102 through valve 338 and allows a card to be fed from input stack 12. After the first card leaves the stack flip-flop 334 is reset through delay line 336 and gate 335. This card is passed by deflector 116 to the central drum 20 and sensed at 122, the signals derived from the selected column being entered in flip-flops 260-264 (flip-flop 258 now being reset). This value is assumed to be " 1 " (one) and is compared with value " 2 " in the other set of flipflops 284-288 to produce another " less " indication on line 294. This signal is blocked by gate 300 since flip-flop 258 is now reset, and the flip-flops 304 and 318 remain unset so that the first card continues to circulate on drum 22 and the second passes deflector 130 and is transferred to stacking drum 26 by deflector 172, thence to stack 174, it being desired to collect in this hopper all cards from stack 12 which carry data differing from that of those in stack 14. The signal on line 294 also passes through the gate 330 to set flip-flop 334 and by energizing magnet 102 causes another card to be fed from stack 12. This card is sensed as before and the data enters flip-flops 260-264 since flip-flop 258 is still reset. It is assumed that this value is " 2 ", the comparator comparing it with " 2 " previously entered in flip-flops 284-288 produces an " equal " indication on line 292. This signal is blocked by AND gate 298, flip-flop 258 being reset, gate 130 remaining unoperated and the first card remains on drum 22. The " equal " signal also passes through gate 346 to set flip-flop 348 energizing magnet 178 through valve 352 to cause deflector 177 to transfer the card from drum 20 to drum 24 which stacks it in hopper 181. Flip-flop 348 is reset through delay-line 350 to return the deflector to inoperative position. The " equal " signal also passes through gate 330 to set flipflop 334 to feed another card from the input stack 12. This card is sensed as before and the data from the selected column again enters flip-flops 260-264. The value is assumed to be " 3 " and the comparison accordingly gives a " high " indication on line 290 which passes through AND gate 296 and OR gate 302 to set flip-flop 304. Energization of magnet 170 pivots deflector 130 to the right so that the card on drum 22 returns to drum 20. The " high " signal, delayed by delay line 316, also sets flipflop 318 to energize magnet 168 pivoting deflector 130 to the left to transfer the next card (value " 3 ") from drum 20 to drum 22. By this means the card from stack 14 is replaced on the drum 22 by a card from stack 12. The " high " signal also passes through gate 346 to set flip-flop 348, energizing magnet 178 to transfer the card which had been circulating on drum 22 from drum 20 to drum 24 for output stack 181 where all cards from stack 14 are to be deposited. The " high signal also passes through gate 358 to set flip-flop 360, thereby energizing magnet 114 to feed another card from input stack 14 which is sensed as before. The signal through gate 358 also sets flip-flop 258 so that the data sensed passes to the flip-flops 284- 288. The new value is assumed to be " 3 " corresponding to the value in flip-flops 260- 264 derived from the card now circulating on drum 22. The " equal " indication on line 292 passes through AND gate 298 (258 now set) to set flip-flop 304 and energize magnet 170. This pivots deflector 130 to transfer the card from drum 22 to drum 20 and later flip-flop 318 is set to energize magnet 168, pivoting the deflector to its opposite position so that the new card from stack 14 is transferred to drum 22. The " equal " signal also operates deflector 177 to transfer to drum 24 the card from stack 12 which had been circulating on drum 22. It is then stacked in hopper 181 since it has data corresponding to that of a card from stack 14. The " equal " signal passing through gate 330 resets flip-flop 258 and causes another card to be fed from the input stack 12. The process continues, all cards from stack 14 passing to stack 181 with those cards from stack 12 whose value corresponds with cards from the stack 14. The remaining cards from stack 12 pass to stack 174. Other systems of operation are mentioned. In a modification shown in Fig. 10, in addition to drums 20, 24 and 26 there is a drum 402 having an output stack 404, and a deflector 400 operable to intercept the cards on drum 24 moving towards stack 181. The " equal " signal from comparator 266 operates deflector 400. By this means only cards from input stack 14 pas