Patent GB-475901-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to analysing mechanism for statistical card sorting machines
Filed: 1936-05-29
Abstract: 475,901. Statistical card-sorting machines. BALDWIN, R. E. May 29, 1936, No. 15218. [Class 106 (i)] In reading-mechanism for a card-sorting machine spring-loaded levers 18, pressing one on each reading pin 8, coact with a reciprocating member 21 which latter is effective to operate the card-sorting mechanism only when a spring-loaded lever 18 is moved relatively to the other levers, i.e. when a card hole is read. The pins are guided in a vertically reciprocable member 1, 1a which engages collars 8a on the pins and in a guide member 9 which is normally fixed but is adjustable to position the single column of twelve reading pins over the desired card column. The pin-lifting frame 1, 1a has bearings 2 for a pair of parallel bars (similar to bars 2 in Specification 328,293, [Class 106 (i)]), by which means the frame 1, 1a is reciprocated vertically. Slidable horizontally in the stationary frame 3 are twelve slides 16 each connected by a Bowden cable 17 to timing mechanism for the sorting box deflector of the form described in Specification 396,805. A timing mechanism is actuated when its slide 16 moves to the left, Fig. 2. Pivoted at 16a to each slide 16 is a lever 18 the end of which is pulled down on to its coacting reading pin 8 by a spring 19. Pivoted to the stationary frame 3 is a pair of bell cranks 20 each having a horizontal arm, operated by a stud 24 on the pin-lifting frame 1, 1a and a depending arm. Between these two depending arms is pivoted at 22 a shutter consisting of a pair of arms 21 joined by a plate 23 having an opening 27. The latter is a little deeper than the depth of each lever 18, including its shoulder 26. A spring 25 tends to pull shutter 21, 23 to the right, Fig. 2. If all the levers 18 are at the same level (no card in the pin box, or no holes in the card column being read) the upper edge of the opening 27 rests on the upper edges of all the levers and the shutter can move left and right without effect. If, however, a card hole is read, the corresponding lever 18 will be lowered relatively to the others and its shoulder 26 will be below and behind the lower edge of the opening 27 so that when the latter is moved to the left by lugs 24 and bell cranks 20 it carries this lever 18 and its corresponding slide 16 to the left to operate the -coacting cable 17. Adjusting reading pins to read a particular column. The guide member 9 for the pins 8 is housed in a slot 9a in the stationary frame 3 and also has lugs 10, 10a at each end which fit into vertical slots 7, 7a of two bars 5 which are fixed to the machine frame. The slots 7, 7a are separated by a horizontal slot 6, and there is a pair of slots 7, 7a corresponding to each card .column. To adjust the pins the member 9 is raised, by two levers and handle 14, until the two lugs 10a are in the slots 6. The member 9 and frame 3, which latter carries the plate 1, 1a and pins 8 with it, are moved along slots 6 until the desired card column is reached, whereupon the member 9 is again lowered for its lugs 10, 10a to lock in the slots 7, 7a. Any lowered pin 8 will have been raised before adjustment, since member 9 meets collars 8b on the reading pins.