Patent GB-1002111-A (GB)
Title: Magazine mechanisms for loading and unloading sheet or card processing machines
IPC: G06K13/08
Filed: 1964-03-24
Abstract: 1,002,111. Feeding and delivering sheets. SIEMENS & HALSKE A.G. March 24, 1964 [March 26, 1963], No. 12354/64. Headings B6B and B6H. A magazine mechanism in which stacks of cards or sheets can be placed for separation and feeding into a machine, or which receives stacks of cards or sheets delivered from a machine, comprises at least two magazines each having a first portion adapted to removably support a storage container for a stack of cards or sheets, a second portion which can accommodate the stack of cards in the first portion, and wherein each magazine is pivotally mounted so that the stack of cards will be transferred from one portion to the other when the magazine is tilted. As shown in side view in Fig. 1, one magazine is pivotally mounted at 10 and comprises a first portion 1 formed as a platform removably supporting an indexing drawer 5 or other storage container for a stack 7 of punched cards. A handle on the drawer 5 fits in a slot in the portion 1, and the stack 7 rests on freely rotatable rollers 6 provided in the drawer. The drawer has an open side facing a second portion 3 of the magazine. When the magazine is tilted about the pivot 10, the stack 7 is bodily transferred from the drawer 5 into the portion 3, and rests on rollers 8. The two positions of the magazine are determined by stops 12 and 13. In the second position of the magazine, the rollers 8 are driven to separate the cards sequentially from the bottom of the stack 7, through an aperture 22 and a duct, and towards a card scanning machine. There are at least two such magazines independently pivoted one behind the other on the pivot 10, so that while one magazine is being used to feed the machine, the other is being loaded with a fresh stack, and interruptions of the machine are thus unnecessary. In the modification shown in end view in Fig. 5, there are two independently pivotal magazines, of the kind shown in Fig. 1, in the card separating position with both stacks 7 resting on separator rollers 8. The cards separated by the rollers 8 from each magazine are deposited by transport rollers 16 into a common magazine 17 to form a stack 18, from which they are separated by rollers to the machine. The rollers 8 are selectively driven, so that cards are separated from one magazine at a time. A photo-electric device 20, which scans the top of the stack 18, controls the separator rollers 8 to maintain the height of the stack constant. Further photo-electric devices 19 scan the interior portions of the magazines, and are operative to stop the drive of the appropriate rollers 8 when the associated magazine is emptied: the empty magazine is then pivoted, recharged with cards, and swung back into initial position. Delivering sheets.-In a modification (Figs. 3 and 4, not shown), at least two pivoted magazines similar to those shown in Fig. 1 are arranged to receive cards from a scanning machine. The cards are fed through an aperture in the top of one portion of a magazine, wherein they are supported as s stack by freely rotatable rollers, and the complete stack is then transferred bodily into a drawer (such as 5, Fig. 1) in the second portion of the magazine by tilting the magazine about its pivot. Stops are arranged to hold the magazine nearly vertical to receive the cards, and in a more inclined position for the transferring of the cards to the drawer.