Patent GB-1115953-A (GB)
Title: Card-type information-carriers, and sorting apparatus and office installations utilizing the same
Inventor: BALDOCK HUGH CHARLES
IPC: G06K21/02
Filed: 1965-08-04
Abstract: 1,115,953. Selecting cards. P. H. ORN. STEIN, and R. J. KALTHOFF, [trading as OK. PARTNERSHIP). 4 Aug., 1965, No. 33463/65. Heading G4M. The cards, Fig. 11, have a slot 27 engageable by a flange 46 on a side wall 35 of the container, the bottom edges of the cards resting on rollers 41. Each card is coded with a ten-digit number by means of slots of variable depth cut in from edge 25. Taking the digits of this number in order, starting with the left-hand digit, a notch is made in the appropriate digit value position 1 to 9 and 0, the depth of the notch representing the position of the digit in the number. Thus in the example given, the first digit is 3 and a notch is made at position 3 of ten increments depth. The second digit is 2 and a notch is made in position 2 of nine increments depth and so on. When a digit occurs more than once in a number, notches are made in transfer digit positions A to I. Thus in the case where the digit 3 occurs in the first, fourth and fifth positions, besides the notch for the first digit made as described above, a notch is made in the A position of depth 7 increments signifying that the first digit is repeated in the fourth position and another notch is made in the D position of depth 6 increments signifying that the fourth digit (same as the first) is repeated in the fifth position. More than one ten-digit code number may be recorded on a card by interleaving the notches, e.g. there may be two zones (called the A and B zones), corresponding digit value positions being adjacent to each other. The cards also have a slot 26 engageable by a scanning member and a ferromagnetic strip 21 by means of which a magnet is used to withdraw selected cards as described below. Entry of selecting code is by a set of ten pushbuttons PB1-PB9 and PB0, Fig. 17. Operation of a push-button for the first digit energizes a corresponding magnet BS and allows the corresponding pusher bar (118), Fig. 13 (not shown), to move to the right until it engages the smallest radius section of a stepped cam (125) so that a wiper 162, Fig. 17, on bar (118) engages the right-hand contact, e.g. T3A, if the first digit is 3. On release of the push-button, magnet 167, Fig. 18, is energized to rotate shaft (135), Fig. 13, and the remaining cams (125) thereon by one step, the first one being looked in position by its bar (118). Sector switch 21S also rotates to engage contact 21SA. Other digits are entered similarly by sequential operation of the push-buttons. When a digit is repeated, e.g. when three occurs in the first and fourth positions, the second operation of PB3 energizes BS3 (no effect) and also BSA through contact T3A, line 260, BSA and contact 21SA of switch 21S, the latter engaging all contacts 21SA to 21SC at this stage. In this manner the bars (118) are moved to. the right by discretely variable amounts in accordance with the value of the associated digit. Selection operation, Figs. 3-10 (not shown). A sequence of operations is performed automatically under control of a number of switches which are actuated by the various moving parts of the apparatus. (a) A scanning platen (42) is advanced towards the cards to align them against a back wall (35), a non-magnetic member (29) entering slots 26 in the cards. (b) The platen (42) is moved back taking the cards with it by virtue of the attraction between magnet (22) and strips 21, Fig. 5. (o) Eccentrics (145), Fig. 13, force hollow members (142, 143) against the pusher bars (118) which in turn cause the selector bars to be projected from the platen by amounts depending on the amount of right-hand displacement, the associated bar (118) has been subjected to. Cards not having the desired notch pattern are pushed away from platen (42) by the selector bars, Fig. 6. The selector bars are withdrawn by return springs (115) as eccentrics (145) complete one revolution. (d) An abutment member (43) is lowered, Fig. 7, and platen (42) is withdrawn further taking only the selected cards with it, tabs 32 preventing movement of the rejected cards, until member (43) drops into slots 30 in the selected cards, Fig. 8. (e) The platen and the member (43) are moved towards this stack to align the rejected cards against wall (35), Fig. 9. (f) Member (43) is removed and the platen completely withdraws the selected cards, Fig. 10. Collection of selected cards. A plate is moved across the face of the platen to sweep all the selected cards off member (29) and magnet (21) into a collecting tray. General construction, Fig. 1 (not shown). Several drawer type card containers (12-15) are housed in a cabinet (11). An elevator (17) containing the selection apparatus is programmed to perform selection at one or more of the drawers (12-15). The elevator (17) also includes apparatus for fine positioning of the platen whereby selection from either the A or B zone can take place as desired.