Patent GB-1243420-A (GB)
Title: Direct access article storage and selection apparatus
IPC: G06K13/08
Filed: 1969-06-04
Abstract: 1,243,420. Card &c. selection apparatus. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP. 4 June, 1969 [5 June, 1968], No. 28254/69. Heading G4M. Articles such as aperture cards or magnetic strips are stored in discrete chambers in stationary cells 56, Fig. 2, an article stored in a chamber is accessed directly and is delivered to a continuously operating endless transport system 52 and can subsequently be restored in any one of the chambers. Storage cells.-Each cell has side walls which converge from the entry end towards the exit end, the entry end having a plurality of dividers defining the individual strip storage chambers and each divider beng provided with an air nozzle for maintaining separation of the strips in the cell and reducing friction. The exit ends of the storage cells have a continuously rotating vacuum capstan 62 for accelerating an ejected strip on to the transport system 52 through a guide 64. The entry end of each cell 56 is provided with means for guiding a strip to be restored into a selected chamber, for decelerating the strip and for ejecting a selected strip as described in detail below. Transport system and processing stations.- Strips are held in contact with the outer surface of the inside run of a series of sets of endless belts 112, Fig. 2, by vacuum applied through the gaps between the belts in each set. In the embodiment shown, two processing stations 72, 76 are provided in parallel paths, a strip being diverted to one station or the other by a cornering device comprising a set of belts 112 on a pair of pulleys, the axis of one pulley being angularly displaceable relative to that of the other pulley by a pneumatic actuator, Fig. 6 (not shown). In another embodiment, the processing stations are arranged in series in the transport path, and a cornering device preceding each processing station either allows a strip to by-pass the station or diverts the strip into the station for processing. Each station 72, 76 includes a continuously rotating vacuum capstan with a diverter for stripping of a strip after processing during one or more capstan cycles, and a group of read/write heads which is axially movable for track selection. The heads are positioned by a coarse servo in accordance with a desired position set upon binary switches and a fine servo employing a pair of servo heads which scan the gap between a pair of adjacent, different frequency servo tracks on the upper and lower portions of the strips. Strip selection and ejection.-In one embodiment each strip is normally retained by a leaf spring finger 192, Fig. 8 engaging a notch 196 in the lower edge. Each finger 192 can be individually depressed by energizing the corresponding coil 216 to neutralize the field of a magnet 212 which attracts a hammer 206, so that the hammer is allowed to rotate under the action of spring 210 and cam follower 220, projection 204 depressing the associated finger 192 and surface 224 subsequently ejecting the strip. When a strip is to be restored, solenoid 230 raises an exit stop 234 and lowers all the fingers 192 in the cell by way of linkage 236, 200. In another embodiment, Fig. 10, strips are normally stored with front lower and rear upper edge portions in contact with inclined surfaces 260, 264 and their lower leading edges behind a lip 262. A strip is selected by energizing magnet-neutralizing coils 274 so that a corresponding pair of fingers 250, 254 are lowered and the selected strip is rocked to the horizontal position 126. The selected strip is ejected by a hammer 278 driven by a voice coil motor, the speed of ejection being increased after sensing of the initial strip movement by a photo-cell. On restoring a strip, fingers 250, 254 are lowered, the entering strip is slowed down by a spring bearing on its upper edge and by a resiliently mounted stop bar, and the fingers 250 254 are then raised to rock-the strip into the storage position. Strip speed may also be reduced before entering a cell by means of vacuum ports urging the strip into engagement with a vacuum surface. Strip restore chamber selection.-One of a group of-cells 56 is selected by pressurizing a Bourdon tube 458, Fig. 16, to straighten the associated flexible stripper blade 88 so that it intersects the transport belts 112, and a particular chamber in the selected cell is selected by a slide movable to one of a number of discrete positions to position the end 436 of the actuated blade opposite the required chamber. An air film may be provided on blades 88. Strip -entry and removal.-Strips may be inserted in or removed from the system during its operation by means of a special station 102, Fig. 2, provided with a restore and ejection mechanism whereby a strip directed into this station can be removed manually in a special container, or-a-strip inserted into the station 102 in the container can be ejected into the transport system.