Improvements in Sorting Machines for Cards or the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sorting Machines for Cards or the like.
1, JOHN KINSEY GORE, of No. 310 Summer Avenue, Newark, in the County of
Essex, State of New Jersey, United States of America, Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for improvements in sorting machines, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My present invention is directed to the selection, separation and classification of
thin and flat objects such as plates, sheets or cards.
It is especially adapted and designed for the classification of cards containing or
indicating statistical facts, and is highly useful in census and life insurance
tabulation.
Heretofore cards have been selected and classified by an operator with the aid
of a machine, the operation of the machine depending upon the arrangement of
perforations in the cards to be classified. In such apparatus as I am aware of
however the work has been comparatively slow and tedious, depending entirely
upon the skill and rapidity of the operator.
It is the object of my invention hereinafter set forth to enable such selection
aud classification of cards, or other similar objects for which the invention is
adapted, to be performed with. far greater rapidity than heretofore, at much less
cost of labour and time and with greater accuracy.
With such objects in view my invention consists in new mechanical means for
such purpose by which the sorting and classification is a purely mechanical act not
dependent for rapidity upon the knowledge or skill of the operator. The machine
embodying my invention, when set in operation, will select, sort and classify cards
automatically, requiring only general supervision by an operator. A single person
may run and supervise several different machines, resulting in a great saving of
labour, with greater accuracy in the result on account of the elimination of the
human tendency to error.
In order to make my invention more clearly understood I have shown in the
accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without
thereby limiting the improvements in their useful applications, to the particular
constructions, which, for the sake of illustration, I have delineated; in said
drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sorting machine embodying the invention, certain of
the parts being removed.
•
B
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the actuating mechanism.
Figs. 4 and 5, are vertical sectional views respectively on lines IV-IV and
V-V, of Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the same figures.
Fig. 7 is an elevation on a larger scale of a portion of the machine shown in
Fig. 2.
Fig. 8 is a plan view showing two of the card holding boxes or receptacles.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view of one of said receptacles.
Fig. 10 is an end view of the same.
Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line XI-XI of Fig. 9.
Fig. 12 is a similar view illustrating the operation of one of the selecting devices
in connection with said card receptacle.
Fig. 13 is a sectional view illustrating the construction of one of the selecting
devices, and the mode of detachably mounting it in the machine.
Fig. 14 is a plan view of a portion of the carrier; with several of the selecting
devices in place thereon.

page_text: Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one of the selecting devices or card collectors
detached.
Fig. 16 is a sectional view illustrating a card sorting machine in which the
selecting devices are stationary and the card receptacles are movable, the same
illustrating an inversion of the relations of the parts indicated in Fig. 2.
Fig. 17 is a plan view of a portion of the stationary frame which supports the
stationary selecting devices.
Fig. 18 is a sectional view of the same.
Fig. 19 shows a plan view of a selecting device, and of a card corresponding
therewith.
Fig. 20 is a similar view of a selecting device, and corresponding card, of a class
different from that shown in Fig. 19.
In carrying out my invention I first provide the articles to be sorted, which are
preferably made of paste-board, with differently situated perforations or notches,
according to the class of each card; for instance the cards of one class will be
provided with perforations arranged as shown in Fig. 19, while the cards of another
class will have their perforations arranged differently-for instance as shown in
Fig. 20.
In tabulating census and other statistics the card representing a person, or other
idea, is perforated in a suitable machine so as to indicate the characteristics and
conditions of such person; for instance a perforation at one place in the card
indicates that the person is white, at another place that the person is-colored, at
another place that the person is female, at another place that the person is male;
another series of perforations will indicate different ages, and the proper
perforation of this series will be made in the card at the proper place; another
perforation in the proper position will indicate the occupation of the person.
These perforated cards are produced as a list of individuals is followed and will be
in a mass from which the individual cards must be selected and all the similar
cards grouped together, making as many classes or groups as there are kinds of
cards.
The cards being suitably perforated the next step of my method is to collect
them into one or more bundles without any attempt at sorting, care being simply
taken that the cards shall all face one way and all have their tops at the same end
of the bundle. For convenience in thus arranging the cards one corner of each
card is preferably cut off as indicated in Figs. 19 and 20.
I then bring the bottom of the said bundle or bundles, and a mechanical selecting
device having suitable upward projections arranged to correspond with the
perforations of one class of cards, into contact and permit the bottommost card,
if it corresponds in the arrangement of its perforations with the arrangement of the
pins or projections of the selecting device, to fall down upon the latter with the
said projections extending up through the perforations of the card. If the
bottommost card does not correspond with the selecting device no card will leave
the said bundle. I then bring the bottom of said bundle and another differently
arranged selecting device into contact, and so on until the said bundle and as
many different selecting devices have been brought into contact as there are classes
of cards. When the operation is complete the cards will be found classified, all
of the cards of each class being collected upon their appropriate selecting device.
The procedure is very much hastened by separating the unclassified cards, as soon
as they have been perforated, into as many different bundles or bunches as there are
selecting devices, and then bringing all of said selecting devices simultaneously into
contact with the bottoms of the said bundles (or the bottoms of the bundles into
contact with stationary selecting devices); the selecting devices are then moved
one step (or the bundles are moved if the selecting devices be stationary) and
simultaneously a new contact is effected between the bottom of each bundle and a
different selecting device from that which first came in contact with it, this
procedure being continued until the bundles are exhausted and the cards collected
upon their appropriate selecting devices.

page_text: If the cards are to be separated and sorted into more classes than I can con-
veniently supply selecting devices for, I first sort the cards or other articles into as
many general classes as convenient, each of which classes will comprise several of
the specific classes into which cards are to be finally sorted. I then put the cards
of each general class through another sorting operation in which they will be finally
divided into their ultimate specific classes.
On the other hand if it is convenient to employ more selecting devices than there
are classes to be formed I employ two or more selecting devices of the same kind,
which doubles or trebles the rapidity of the sorting operation.
In carrying out my invention various suitable instrumentalities besides that
which I have illustrated and hereinafter more particularly described, may be
employed.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates the cards or other flat
objects which are to be sorted. These are collected into bundles or bunches as-
shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and suitably held in place.
.
2 indicates one of the selecting devices of which a series is employed, each
selecting device being adapted by the arrangement of its upward projections to
receive the cards of a certain class, and to reject all others. The series of selecting
devices is preferably endless, being arranged in a circular or other equivalent
order so that one device is succeeded by another without interruption. In the
construction shown the selecting devices are arranged in a circle, as best seen in
Fig. 1, but such precise arrangement is not necessary to the carrying out of my
invention.
It is next necessary to provide means whereby a relative movement may take place
between the series of bunches of cards to be sorted and the series of selecting
devices. This may be effected by causing the selecting devices, or the series
thereof, to move while the series of bunches of cards to be sorted is stationary, or
by causing the selecting devices to remain stationary while the bunches of cards are
moved. Obviously this relative movement may take place partly in one and partly
in the other of the two series, it being simply necessary to bring the individuals of
the two series successively in contact with each other, without regard to which
series is moved to effect this purpose.
The first arrangement referred to is best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, in which,
3 indicates a stationary frame provided at or near its top and bottom with bearings 4
The frame 3
and 5, in which is mounted and adapted to rotate a vertical shaft 6.
is provided at suitable intervals with one or more horizontal plates, frame pieces,
or rings 7 on which are supported in a suitable series, by means hereinafter more
particularly described, the bunches of cards to be sorted.
The selecting devices 2 are supported from and moved by the shaft 6 in any
preferred manner. In the construction shown the said shaft is provided with
horizontal plates or disks 8, at or near the periphery of which are attached the
selecting devices 2 at such uniform distance from the center of rotation as to pass
around the machine exactly beneath the series of bunches of cards to be sorted, so that
when the shaft 6 is stationary at the proper point each bunch of cards will have below
it a selecting device. The frames or plates 7, being provided with a series of bunches
of cards, and the shaft 6 being brought into proper position with its selecting devices
beneath the said bunches, the shaft 6 is moved vertically in its bearings 4 and 5,
and the upward projections of each selecting device are brought to bear against
the bottom surface of the bunch of cards above it, this upward movement of the
shaft being sufficient to raise all of the said bunches slightly. At this instant any
card which belongs upon the selecting device which is in contact with it, or two or
more of said cards if they happen to lie together beneath the bunch, will drop down
over the projections or pins 9 so as to be securely engaged by and held upon the
selecting device. The shaft 6 is then lowered to its original position, and is rotated
one step so as to bring each selecting device beneath a new bunch of cards, where-
upon the vertical movement of the shaft and selecting devices is repeated, with the
result of again collecting upon the selecting device any appropriate card with which

page_text: the device may come in contact. In the construction shown the machine contains in
each range or story, of which there are three, one above the other, sixteen selecting
devices and bunches of cards. At each complete rotation of the shaft 6 therefore
at least forty-eight cards, under the most unfavourable circumstances of their
arrangement, will be collected, each upon its appropriate selecting device. As a
matter of practice many more than this number of cards will fall at each revolution
of the machine.
Having now given the general description of the operation of my invention I will
proceed to describe in detail first the preferred construction and arrangement of the
selecting devices, second, the means for holding the bunches of cards in place, and
third, the mechanism for imparting the above described rotary and vertical
movements to the central shaft and to the selecting devices carried thereby, having
especial reference to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and in the detail
Figures 4,.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.
10 is a plate constituting the base of the selecting device (Figs. 13, 19 and 20),
to which are secured the upward projections 9. As already described the peculiarity
of each selecting device consists in the arrangement of these projections or pins,
and I have found it convenient to enable the plate 10 to be adapted for the
collection at one time of cards of one class and at another time of cards of another
class, according to the exigencies of the work which is being performed, by having
its pins 9 removable and capable of being mounted in or attached to the plate in
different positions. A very desirable means of removably mounting these pius
consists in providing the selecting device with a series of holes or bearings 11 in
which the bases of the pins 9 fit tightly, but so that they can be pulled out, as
indicated in Fig. 13. One or more of the pins 9, which indicates a condition or
characteristic very generally existing, and which pin therefore will be employed in
its certain position on a considerable proportion of otherwise different selecting
devices, may be rigidly secured to the plate so as not to be removable. For
instance a pin which indicates the fact that an individual who is represented by a
card is white may be rigidly secured to the plate in its proper position. In this
case such selecting devices will only be adapted for the collection of cards
representing white persons, while the remaining selecting devices will have their
pins which indicate that the persons are colored, rigidly secured in place in their
other distinctive position. On the other hand the plates 10 may be universally
adaptable, so that any plate may be used to collect cards of any class, by being
provided with a complete set of holes 11, one for every possible position of the
pins 9. Such a plate is indicated in Fig. 19, and it will be readily understood that,
by having a set of pins arranged in the proper perforations or holes 11, it may be
used for the selection of cards of any desired class. Such plates may be thus
modified in the arrangement of their projections according to the requirements of
the tabulating or other work which is to be done. When a selecting device is full
of cards of its class, that is to say when the pile of collected cards extends to the
top of the pins or projections 9, it is necessary to remove it from the machine and
replace it with an empty selecting device. To this end the plate 10, while held
firmly in position, is so secured upon its support 8 as to be readily removable.
This result may be obtained by various forms of catches or clamping devices.
prefer for this purpose the construction best seen in Fig. 13 in which the plate 10
has at one end a slot 12 which receives a pin 13 fixed in the support 8, that end of
the plate being at the same time held down by a spring 14 which is fixed to the
said support.
The other end of the plate 10 has a hole 15 which receives a
projection 16 on the support 8, and the latter end of the plate is held down by a
pivoted catch 17 having an arm 18 controlled by a spring 19. In putting the
selecting device in place the end having the slot 12 is thrust under the spring 14
so that the said slot encloses the pin 13, and the other end is permitted to fall upon
the support 8 so that the apertures 15 will enclose the pin or projection 16. As
this is done the catch 17 may be drawn back, or forced back by the edge of the
plate, and after the plate is in place the catch will be forced into engagement with
(

page_text: the top of the plate 10 by the spring 19, as best seen in Fig. 13. In order to
rrespond with the cards and facilitate the proper arrangement of the selecting
devices, and of the projections 9 therein, I prefer to bevel one corner of each
plate 10 as indicated at 20.
The bunches of cards to be sorted are kept in place in holders 21 mounted upon
the frame 3 at such distance from the center and from each other as to correspond
with the series of selecting devices and be over one or the other of the latter in
each position of the shaft 6 and support 8. The said holders comprise each an
inner end plate 22, two side plates 23 which are secured to the end plate and to a
bracket 24, a retaining stop 25 in the form of a hinge lever pivoted at 26 upon the
said bracket 24, and held in position except when it is intentionally turned, by a
spring 27 secured to the said bracket and bearing upon a shoulder 28 of the lever;
and horizontally movable supports or shelves 29, which latter lie normally beneath
the bunch of unsorted cards and are only withdrawn after the selecting device has
its upward projections in contact with the bottommost card. Such withdrawal then
permits the proper card or cards, if it or they are at the bottom of the bunch to fall
upon the selecting device and be removed thereby. The shelves 29 are preferably
carried by arms 30 which are hinged at the sides of the holder upon rods 31, and
are provided with outwardly extending stop arms 32. I prefer to make the stops in
effect adjustable by mounting in each arm 32 a stop screw 33 which may be turned
up or down so as to cause the shelves 29 to be moved out a sufficient distance to
release the bottommost card whenever the said stop screws are acted upon by a
moving part of the machine. For this latter purpose I employ vertically movable
plungers 34 which are mounted in bearings 35 on the frame plates 7 and are
normally held down by springs 36 (Fig 10). The said plungers are situated in
line with the outer portion of the rotary and vertically movable support 8 (Fig. 7)
and are engaged and lifted thereby at the same time that the selecting devices are
raised. The latter move up sufficiently far so that each one slightly raises in the
holder 21 the bunch of cards above it, and at this instant the plungers 34 will have
come in contact with the screws 33 and oscillated the shelves 29 outwards (Fig. 12)
sufficiently far to release any card or cards through whose perforations all of the
pins 9 of the selecting device have passed, and permit it or them to drop, as is
indicated in the case of one card in the said Fig. 12. In order to keep the bunch
of unsorted cards in each holder horizontal I provide the holder with a vertically
movable plate or follower 37 the downward pressure of which will hold the cards
firmly upon the pins 9 and prevent the cards from dropping out of the holder in
case the pins of any selecting device are so arranged as to unevenly support the
cards. In order to give the follower a parallel motion as it rises and falls with the
cards, and to keep its bottom face horizontal, I provide it with two or more
controlling links 38 which are pivotally connected with posts 39 situated on the top
of the follower and which are also pivotally attached to posts 40 which extend up
from and form portions of the bracket 24. One of the said links may be provided
with an outwardly or upwardly extending handle 41, by depressing which the
follower may be readily elevated so as to introduce a bunch of unsorted cards.
The said pivotal connections are formed by screws 42 which screw through the
parts 39 and 40 and engage conical or cylindrical recesses in the ends of lateral
extensions 42 which are formed upon the said links 38. When the bunch of cards
in any holder has become exhausted the movement of the shaft 6 is arrested, the
retaining stop 25 is turned outward and downward into the position indicated by
dotted lines in Fig. 9, the follower 37 is raised by depressing the handle 41 and the
bunch of unsorted cards, say as many as two hundred cards is introduced into the
holder and deposited upon the shelves 29, which will at such time be in the position
indicated in Fig. 11. 43 indicates springs which are connected with the stop
arms 32 and with the posts 40, as seen in Fig. 10, for the purpose of keeping the
said shelves 29 in their normal position so as to support the bunch of cards.
Various means may be employed for intermittently rotating the shaft 6 so as to
move it at each step through an arc equal to the distance between two contiguous

page_text: ´holders, aud, during each instant when the shaft with its selecting devices is
stationary, for elevating the said shaft with its selecting devices.
Referring especially to Figs. 3 to 7, 44 indicates a shaft mounted in a position
which is radial with reference to the shaft 6 and which is supported in bearings 45
formed in or attached to the lower portion of the base 3. 46 is a worm wheel
secured upon the shaft 44 and engaged by a worm 47. The latter is carried by a
vertical shaft 48 upon the lower end of which is attached a power pulley 49 which
may be driven by a belt from any suitable motor, at such speed as to rotate the
.shaft 44 once for each step of the intermittent rotation of the vertical shaft 6.
50 is a cam rigidly secured upon the shaft 44 and adapted to operate at each
rotation upon the friction roller 51 of a lever 52 which is mounted upon a pivot 53,
parallel with the shaft 44, and adapted to oscillate towards and from the latter (see
Fig. 5). The lever 52 is connected by a link 54 provided at each end with a
suitable ball and socket or other joint 55, with a horizontal and radial arm 56
which is mounted by a hub or bearing 57 upon the vertical shaft 6. 58 is a pawl
mounted upon the arm 56 and adapted to engage a toothed ratchet wheel 59 which
is securely attached to the shaft 6, or to the bottommost support or plate 8. This
ratchet wheel is provided with as many teeth as there are selecting devices in each
horizontal story or range of the machine, so that at each rotation of the shaft 44,
and movement of the arm 52, arm 56, and pawl 58, the shaft 6 with the selecting
devices carried thereby will be moved through an arc equal to the distance between
two contiguous selecting devices. In the construction shown each movement of
the arm 56 will rotate the shaft 6 and parts carried thereby through one-sixteenth
part of a whole revolution. 60 is a spring attached to a fixed pin 61 and its other
end to an extension 62 of the arm 56, and operating to move said arm in a direction
opposite to that in which it is moved by the cam 50, so that the said spring returns
the arms 52 and 56 and tends to keep the arm 56 normally in the position indicated
in Fig. 8. 63 is a cam secured to the shaft 44 (Fig. 4) and engaging a roller 64
which is journalled above it and connected with the shaft 6. I prefer to mount
this roller in the arm 56, in which latter a recess 65 is formed for this purpose.
The cams 50 and 63 are so timed relative to each other that when the cam 50 has
.moved the arm 56 into the position shown in Fig. 5 the cam 63 will lift upwards
the roller 64 and with it the arm 56, sleeve 57, plate 8, and shaft 6. During such
vertical movement the arm 56, and the shaft 6 with its supported parts, are kept in
proper position and held from turning horizontally by a catch 66 which engages a
notch 67 formed in the outer end of the arm 56, and also one of a series of
notches 68 formed in the periphery of the lowermost plate or support 8. The
catch 66 is at the appropriate times moved inward and outward by any suitable
.mechanism. In the construction illustrated it is mounted at its lower end in
guides 69 formed upon the base of the frame 3, and is provided with a sleeve or
bearing 70 by which it surrounds and slides upon the shaft 44. The said catch
is normally pressed outwards by a spring 71 upon the shaft 44, and is forced
inwards at the proper time to engage the notches 67 and 68 by a cam 72 the
swell or operating surface of which is formed upon its inner side, and which
swell operates upon a roller 73 which is carried by the catch 66 upon a vertical
.axis. The arm 56 should be released by the catch 66 before the plate 8 is
released in order that the backward movement of the ratchet mechanism may
not turn backwards the selecting devices, and to this end I form the notch 67
somewhat shallower than the notches 68, and provide the cam 72 with a supporting
surface 74. This surface will hold the catch 66 in engagement with the notch 68
after it has passed outwards from the notch 67, and the catch 66 will only be
completely released by the further movement of the cam 72, after the arm 56 has
resumed its normal position indicated at Fig. 3.
The operation of the machine as thus organized is sufficiently set forth in the
foregoing description without necessity of recapitulation.
Referring now to Figs. 16, 17, and 18 it will be observed that I have also

page_text: illustrated one modification of my invention in which the parts of the machine have.
been inverted to the extent of making the holders for the bunches of unsorted cards
rotary, while the selecting devices are stationary. 75 indicates the card holders,.
which are carried by plates or supports 76 which are equivalent in their arrange-
ment and mode of operation to the plates 8 already described, being moved.
rotatively and vertically by a shaft 77. The selecting devices on the other hand
are stationary and are indicated at 78, being mounted upon frame plates or
rings 79, which latter are preferably provided with inward extensions 80 to
properly support and secure the bottom plates of the selecting devices. It will
be understood that the latter plates will be made of a size and shape to
correspond approximately with the cards to be sorted. In Fig. 17 they are.
shown as adapted for an elongated form of card. When the vertical movement
is imparted to the card holders, as indicated in Fig. 16, it will be understood
that they should be normally kept in their most elevated position, and periodically-
lowered to bring the bunches of cards down upon the selecting devices. The cam
which gives this vertical movement is indicated at 81 and is shaped in a well known
manner with a greater part of its periphery circular so as to normally hold the
roller 82 which it engages at its highest point. The said roller is equivalent in its
operation to the roller 64 already described and is connected with the shaft 77. It
is however independent of the ratchet arm 83 so that the latter may be oscillate
horizontally while the roller 82 remains in contact with and supported by the
cam 81.
The said arm 83 is operated in the manner already described with reference to
the arm 56.
The operation of the machine is as follows; the perforated and unsorted cards,
which will ordinarily be left by the perforating machine all faced the same way and
with their tops all lying in the same direction, will be placed in bunches in the
several holders 21, say two hundred cards in each holder in which case the machine.
illustrated will accommodate at once about ten thousand cards. Power is then.
applied to the pulley 49 and the vertical shaft carrying with it the selecting devices.
(or the holders in Fig. 16) will receive a step by step rotation, at each intermission
of which the selecting devices will be lifted into contact with the bunches above
them and receive from each bunch any card or cards which lie on the bottom of
the bunches and are perforated to correspond with the engaging selecting device..
The rotating frame is then lowered and turned another step and again raised, this
operation being continued until the cards in the holders are exhausted. On
account of a chance arrangement of the cards in any bunch which is more favorable
to their collection, the cards in such bunch will be exhausted more rapidly than
others, in which case the attendant will momentarily stop the machine and introduce
a new supply of unsorted cards into the empty holder. So some selecting devices
will become filled to their full capacity sooner than others, and such may be
removed and replaced by empty selecting devices as occasion requires. A card
which has been improperly perforated ordinarily will not correspond with any
selecting device, and the said card, when it arrives at the bottom of the bunch will
prevent the further collection of cards therefrom, and if the attendant notices that
cards are not being taken from any bunch the bottommost card is removed and the
machine is thus the means of detecting the error.
When all of the cards have been exhausted they will be found collected without.
error into their proper classes.
The operation of the machine is very rapid. Under the most unfavorable chance.
arrangement of the unsorted cards at least forty-eight cards will be classified at.
each rotation of the vertical shaft, but in practice many more cards will be
collected in that time. In many instances a plurality of cards of the same class
will lie together and will be simultaneously dropped upon their proper selecting
device, as soon as the latter comes in contact with the bunch at the bottom of
which said cards are situated.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a sorting machine the combination of a holder for a pile of cards or other
articles, and having a movable support for such pile, a series of differing selecting
devices, and mechanism for bringing said selecting devices successively and said
holder opposite each other, and means for operating said support to release said
articles, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of an endless series of holders having means for supporting
and releasing the cards, an endless series of selecting devices beneath said holders,
means for bringing said holders and devices successively opposite to each other, and
mechanism operating, when the devices are in said position to release the cards,
substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of a suitable frame, a second rotary frame, a series of
holders having card supporting and releasing devices and a series of selecting
devices below said holders, the former supported upon one of said frames and the
latter supported upon the other of said frames, and means for actuating the rotary
frame to bring the said holders and selecting devices successively opposite to each
other, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of a suitable frame, a second rotary frame, a series of
holders and a series of selecting devices the former supported upon one of the said
frames and the latter supported upon the other of said frames, and beneath the
holders, means for actuating the rotary frame to bring the said holders and devices
successively opposite to each other, and means for moving one of said frames in a
direction parallel with the axis of the rotary frame, to release the contents of the
holders, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination of the frame 3, a vertical shaft therein provided with
horizontal supporting plates arranged one above the other in two or more stories,
two or more series of selecting devices and holders arranged in corresponding
stories and carried respectively by said supporting plates and frame 3, and means
for actuating said shaft, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of a series of holders having movable supports, and a series
of selecting devices, means for rotating one of said series intermittently and
mechanism for moving one of said series relative to the other in a direction parallel
with the axis of rotation to operate said supports and release the contents of the
holders, substantially as set forth.
7. In a card sorting machine the combination with the rotary frame, of a radial
shaft, a cam thereon having a suitable connection with said frame for rotating it
intermittently, a cam on said shaft engaging said frame or part connected therewith
for moving it in a direction parallel with its axis of rotation, and a catch operated
by said radial shaft for preventing the rotation of the frame while it receives its
latter movement, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination of the frame 3, the shaft 6 mounted therein and provided
with the supporting plates 8, the selecting devices carried by said plates, card
holders 21 mounted on said frame, the shaft 44 provided with the cams 50, 63 and 72,
a ratchet movement for intermittently rotating the shaft 6 and operated by said
cam 50, a catch 66 operated by the cam 72, and means for rotating the shaft 44,
substantially as set forth.
9. In a sorting machine a selecting device having a plate 10 provided with
regular series of perforations 11, and the pins 9 adjustable from one to the other
of the perforations of said series, said pins being adapted to pass through the
perforations of the cards of the desired class and to support the cards whose
perforations do not correspond to the arrangement of the pins, substantially as
set forth.
10. The combination, in a sorting machine, with one or more holders adapted to
hold and deliver cards to be sorted, of a series of separate plates 10 having the

page_text: upwardly projecting pins 9, the plates being adapted to collect and retain their
appropriate cards and be independently removed from the machine with their
contents, substantially as set forth.
11. The combination of a supporting plate having a pin 13 and spring 14, and a
spring-actuated catch 17, of the plate 10 provided with pins 9 and having the
slot 12, substantially as set forth.
12. In a sorting machine the combination of a selecting device, a holder adapted!
to contain the cards or other articles to be sorted, laterally movable shelves
for sustaining said cards, and means for bringing said selecting device and holder-
together and for withdrawing said shelves, substantially as set forth.
13. The combination of the selecting device having upward projections adapted
to support the cards to be sorted and to permit the deposit of the properly
perforated cards, a holder for the cards to be sorted, removable shelves for
sustaining the cards in the holder, means for bringing said selecting device
and holder together, and means co-operating with the selecting device to keep.
the cards in the holder horizontal upon the withdrawal of the said shelves,
substantially as set forth.
14. The holder 21 having the shelves 29 pivotally mounted thereon, outwardly
extending stop arms connected with the shelves, a selecting device having upward
projections adapted to be moved towards said holder, and suitable connections
whereby said movement causes the oscillation of said stop arms and the withdrawal
of said shelves, substantially as set forth.
15. The combination with the selecting device having upward projections,.
of the holder above said device and provided with the vertically movable
follower 37, and means for maintaining the horizontal position of the follower
to properly confine the cards in conjunction with the projections of the selecting.
device, substantially as set forth.
16. The sorting machine when arranged and constructed as in Figures 1 to 15-
inclusive of the drawings.
17. The sorting machine when arranged and constructed as in Figures 16, 17
and 18 of the drawings.
Dated this 21st day of April 1894.
J. K. GORE,
Per W. H. Beck.
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.