Patent GB-367980-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for sorting documents and the like provided with statistical or other determinative perforations
IPC: G06K13/16
Filed: 1931-01-03
Abstract: 367,980. Statistical apparatus. MACADIE, D., 109, Bowes Road, Palmers Green, London, and RATCLIFF, C. F., 17, Mary Road, Stechford, Birmingham. Jan. 3, 1931, No. 299. [Class 106 (i).] Sorting cards.-A machine of the kind described in Specification 235,271, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.], for sorting thin documents such as pension warrants or postal orders statistically perforated, is provided with an endless conveyer band 40 for feeding the documents along the track 1, the band having pins 41 for engaging the rear straight edges of the documents and being also adapted to hold the documents firmly down on the track. The track has side walls 2, and when the suction picker 26, Fig. 7, arches the top document of the pile a wedge 28 co-operates with a gripper 29 to grip the document and deposit it on the track in the required position. The pivoted deflectors 6, Fig. 8, for sorting the documents into their respective compartments may be operated as described in the above-mentioned Specification. A bar 16 reciprocated by a crank shaft 22 drives through a ratchet and clutch device a spindle 11 for raising the feed elevator 8. A cam 15 on the bar 16 actuates by means of a lever 14<1> the suction picker tube 26, and as the bar 16 moves to the left, a wedge 28 carried thereby passes under a raised document while a gripper 29 closes down on it. A bellcrank lever 31 is next rocked by a stop 32 to allow the gripper to descend. The bar 16 then moves towards the right to carry the document on to the track, and at the end of this movement the document is released by a lug 33 encountering a stop. The picker tube 26 is connected by a pipe 36 to a bellows 37. The conveyer band 40 is given a periodic movement by a blade 47 on the bar 16 engaging behind a pin 41, the pulley 42 being provided with a friction brake to check over-travel of the band. Each pivoted deflector 6 is held closed against the action of a torsion spring by a latch 54 forming the armature of an electromagnet 54<1> which, when energized, permits the deflector to open. Each deflector is controlled by an electric contact stud 51 situated on the track in front of the deflector and engaged by a contact 56, Fig. 11, only when the perforation coincides with the stud 51 and when a companion pin 59 is prevented from entering a hole 65 by the document. The hammer-head 58 carrying the pivoted bar 57 supporting the contact 56 and pin 59 is rocked by a shaft 61 actuated by a cam on the shaft 24. A stop on the deflector 6 causes each document to pivot to a horizontal position in falling into a compartment. All the bottoms of the compartments are connected to a bar 72 which can be raised by chains 73 wound round a shaft 74 which is connected by a belt to the shaft 11 so that as the elevator 8 rises, the bottoms descend. A contact 80 on a blade 78 arranged above the lower strand of the conveyer is raised by a crumpled document so as to close an electric circuit including an electromagnet for controlling a driving-clutch, and thereby stop the machine. Printing special marks.-A printing device, Fig. 22, may be attached to the feeding end of the machine to print a cancelling mark on each document before it is sorted. It comprises a hexagonal drum 98 supported by arms 97 on the rock-shaft 61. The drum carries a rubber stamp on each face, and as the shaft 61 is rocked to move the contacts 56 towards the track 1, the drum is moved to impress the lowermost stamp on to the document. A pawl 100 turns the drum as the shaft 61 rocks back again.