US1298971A - Rotary card-sorter. - Google Patents

Description

W. W. LASKEH.

ROTARY CARD SORTER.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.z9.1917.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919k lfd/leases;

W. W. LASKER.

ROTARY CARD SOHTER.. APPLICATION FILED AuG.29. 1911.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919 SHEETS-SHEET 2,.

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ROTARY CARD SOHTER.

APPUcATioN FILED AuG.2a. |917.

Patented Apr. 1,1919.

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f WILLIAM W. LASKER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '.lO POWERS ACCOUNTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, .N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ROTARY Gann-sommi..

To all whom 'it may concern Be a known that I, WILLIAM w. LA'SKE'R,

a citizen of theUnited States, residing in` Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Card- Sorters, of which the following. is a specifip cation.

Thisv invention relates to machines for sorting perforated lcards such as are used in automatic calculating and adding machines. One object of the invention is to provide a maclnne having 4a conveyer adaptedto receive from the analyzer, and simultaneously convey 4several cards to the compartments by eliminating all power losses which might y be caused by reversingA or changing the direction of motion of the parts'. t

Another object is to provide a convenient and economical arrangement of construction for the card receiving compartments.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eccentrically operated analyzer pin box, andan cccentrically operated card feeding means, therebyeliminating the use of cams and the power losses due thereto.

Other objects are to provide eflicient and economically manufactured selective means for operatively connecting theanalyzer with the means for conducting the cards to their appropriatev compartments, and suitable means for adjusting the analyzer and said selective means to the particular l1ne of perforations to be analyzed.

y While herein I have minutely described various details of the lmachine, it is understood that the invention.y i's not .limited to these, since the details of construction andJ combination may be greatly varied without speciincation bf Letter; Patent. l Patented Apr, 1, 1919 Application led August 29, 1917. Serial No. 188,718. s

depart-ing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. l v

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 -of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental -sectional view, taken approximately on the line 4 4 of Fig,1;-"

Fig. 5 is a fragmental side elevation showing parts of the means for selectively operating the card conveying means; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view of the analyzer adjustingmeans. y

On the main frame of the machine 10 are mounted the card feeding means 11, the analyzing means 12, the card receiving 'compartments 14, `means for conveying the cards from the analyzer and selectively depositing them in the various compartments, andthe motor 15 for 'driving various mechanisms.

The card feeding means 11l and the analyzer 12 are located on the upper part of one end of the machine, and are similar in constructionto that described in the application of J as. Powers, Serial No. A33863, tiled l June 14th 1915; hence. they need not now be shown or described in all their details.

The upper part of the feeding means comprises a magazine hopper 18, adapted to receive a-v pack of the cards to be sorted, and at the lower part of the feeding means there is provided a reciprocating block 19 guided in the lower part of the feeding means and connected by means` of a link 20, vto a level'. arm 21 mounted on the shaft 24 carried .on the frame ofthe machine, and provided with an arm 25' connected to a link 26 having lts end28 eccentrically mounted on the eccentric-shaft 29, driven by means of sultable driving means, hereinafter mentloned from the motor-15, whereby the block 19 1s reciprocated in the lower part of the magazine '18. The block 19 is provided witha '.feedlng knife 34 whereby, when the block 19 1s reclprocated, the lowermost card is fedv forward lthrough the micrometer slot 35 at the outletl side ofthe feeding means.

From the micrometer slot 35, the cardA is received between feed rollers 36 and 38, the latter mounted on the shaft 40, suitably driven by the sprocket chain 41 from the drive pulley 44 of the motor 15. From the shaft 40 suitable gears 46 convey power to lthe eccentric-shaft 29, and to the conveying rollers 48, which latter are adapted to withdraw the cards from the analyzer l2, and deliver them to the conveying means, as will be explained. n

The cards are conveyed by the rollers 36 and 38 into the space between the perforated plates 50, suitably supported on the frame of the machine.

The pin'box 52 is adjustably mounted on the side-pieces 54` (Fig. 2) carried on the end pieces 55 (Fig. 2) vertically slidably mounted on the posts 56 carried on the frame of the machine. Said box, side pieces, and end pieces are vertically reciprocated by means o f ,links 58 having their lower ends receiving the eccentrics 59 on the eccentric shaft 29. .n l For times` when the cards are exhausted or are improperly placed between the perforate plates 50, there is provided the usual automatic stop comprising a stop pin 60 (Fig. 4), carried by the vertically vslidable rod 62 yieldably pressed downwardly by the. spring 61 and adapted to be by a normally placed card, held out of contact with a switch lever 63 (Fig. 1), but adapted t0 be permitted, by al wrongly placed card or the absence of a card, to-move downwardly to actuate the switch lever 68 to throw the electric switch 64 and cut oif the source of power to the motor.

The pin box is provided with a row of pins 65 which may register with any one of the rows of perforations of the plates 50,

when the box is adjusted on the side pieces 54, as explained, in which osition the pin box is held by detents 66 (Figs. 2 and 6) engaging the notched bars 68 secured to the side pieces 54.

The pins 65, as explained in the beforementioned patent application are yieldably pressed against the perforated cards, andy that pin which finds a perforation, passes through the card during the downward motion of the pin-box,` and is then locked against retrograde motion relative to the pin-box by means of the sliding lockingplate 70 (Figs. 2 and 6), which is moved against the row of pins and engages over an annular lug 11 (Fig. 4), of such pin as passes through a perforation, whereby such pin is locked. This sliding movement of the locking-plate is brought about by means of bell-cranks 74 fulcrumed as at 75 upon the side-pieces 54, and each provided with a slot T6 in which engages a pin 7 8 carried on uprights 79 slidably mounted on the rods 80 `fixed to the frame of the machine. Said rods hold said uprights 79 against vertical movement, whereby thebell-crank 74 is oscillated for bringing about the reciprocation of the locking-pins.

Continued downward movement of the pin after it has been locked by the lockingplate causes the pin to bear against one of the plunger pins or plungers 85 (Fig. 6)

which corresponds in number to the pins 65V and are carried in a block 86 mounted on sleeves 88 (Fig. 4). slidably mounted on shafts 89 carried by the Vframe of the machine.

'The plunger-s 85 when depressed by the analyzing pins, transmit motion to the movable member of push-cables 90 for operating the selected mechanism of the cardconveyer as will be explained.

It is, of course, necessary that the plungers 85 remain always in register with the analyzing pins 65, as for instance when the pin-box is moved upon the side-pieces 54 as heretofore explained. v Registration is effected by means of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6 which will now be explained. The

.lower ends of the analyzing pins 65 slide in parallelly to the endl portions of the outer l i ribbon 96 by being passed under the small rollersl 99, mounted upon the lower perforated plate 50. This holds the ribbons spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit the perforated plates 50 to be disposed therebetween. The intermediate part of said ribbons are positively secured\together; and it is evident that longitudinal motion of the pin-box and consequentlythe block 94 upon the rod will positively constrain the block 86 to move an equal amount'upon the rod' 89, thus always assuring that the row ofv plungers shall always remain in register with the pins 65. l

The cards are received from the rollers 48 (Fig. 1) and are carried by the conveyers and deposited in the compartments 14. The construction and the mounting of these compartments will now be described. At one side of thc main frame ofthe machine, there is carried a standard 100 (Fig. 3) provided at its upper end with a horizontal bore in which is secured a sleeve 101 on the inner end of which is fixed a supporting drum 102, in the periphery of which are radially slidable follower rods 105, carrying at the outer ends followers 106 adapted to press outwardly the cards carried in said compart-` end wall of the compartments is formed by' an annular plate 112 secured by meansof bolts 115 (Fig. 3) to said drum. The outer ends of the compartments are left-open for the manual removal and insertion of cards.

The cards are held in the compartments against' the outwardly directed pressure of the followers 106 by means of pairs of bent metal straps 118 forming deflecting gates, for the cards, and fixed upon rods2119 rotatably mounted in brackets 120 fixed to the walls 110, said rods projecting a distance `through the inner wall plate 112 and carry` ing cam-levers 121 (Figs. 1 and 2) disposed nism.

inl helical relation around the machine for a purpose that will be explained. The deflecting gates are normally held closed by means of springs 122. v

Now will-be described the means for conveying the card from the rollers 48 to the compartments 14.

Rotatably mounted upon bearings 130 (Fig. 3) is disposed Va spider 131 carrying a ring 132 and a sprocket wheel 135 overl whiclrpasses a chain 136 (Fig. 1) from a wheel 138 on the shaft 29, whereby spider is rotated with eccentric shaft one time, for instance, for six rotations of the eccentric shaft. Y l

p Rings 139 and 140 similar to the ring 132 are secured to and held in spaced relation with the latter by means of connecting rods,

141 (Figs. 1 and 5) secured to all three of said rings, thereby forming a revolving.

frame for supporting the conveyer mecha- This frame is supportedon one side by the bearings 130 and on the other side by flange wheels 144 (Fig. 1) carried on brackets 145 supported on the base of the main frame.

Disposed around the conveyer frame there are rotatably mounted, in the rings 132, 139 and 140, a. set of, for instance, 6 clamping spindles 146 eac-h carrying a pair of clamping jaws 147 adapted to coperate under the action of springs 148 with clamping brackets 149 carried on the rings 139 and 140. Each spindle 146 carries thereon an arm 150 (Fig, 5) having at its outer end a roller 152 adapted to engage a. cam-bracketI 153 carried on the wallplate 112 in such a position that, when the conveyer frame is rotated in tion that the tripping the direction ofthe arrow of Fig. 5 said roller will contact the cam-bracket and cause the spindle to rotatev and the. clamping jaw 147 to open justas a card is delivered from the rollers 48, at which instant the roller passes from the cam-bracket and permits the clamping jaws to close upon and grasp the card.' Since in the example shown there are 6 spindles 141 and the shaft 29 rotates 6 times as fast as the conveyer frame. There will be a pair ofjaws 147 in positionlto receive a card at each delivery of a. card from the rollers 40. Of course, the specific number of clamping mechanisms may be varied lif desired, in which case the relative speed of rotation of the conveyer frame and the eccentric shaft would be varied.

The cards grasped by the jaws '147 are carried past the deflector grates 118. The

mechanism for causing the deflector gates to open to conductI cards into the respective compartments, will now be described.

Upon each connecting rod 141 (Figs. 2

ping arms 160, equal 1n number to the entire number of cam-leyers 121, and each carrying at its free end a roller 161 adapted, when the tripping arm is depressed as will and l 5) there are fulcrumed a plurality of tripbe explained to engage and trip one of, the cam-levers, thereby opening outwardly the deflector gates 118, thereby causing the card to be pulled from thejaws 147, andguided by the deflected gate into t-he compartment.

It will be noted that each tripping arm 160 is provided with an inwardly projecting finger 162 andan onwardly projecting shoulder 164,somewhat offset from said finger.

At the instant the card is inthe analyzer f being analyzed,l there is a set of jaws 147 and associated fingers 162 in a position pins.168 verticallyslidable in the pin block 169 (Figs.v 3 and 5).

The pin block 169 is placed in such a posibeen pushed upwardly will engage -the passing finger 162 associated with the clamping jaw 147, which is to receive the card whose analysis caused the tripping. This tripping throws tripping arm 160 downwardly to tripping position and causes the finger 164 to be caught behindthe hooked end 170 of` a bell-crank 171 provided with a downwardly Aextending arm 172 and yieldably held in contact .with the finger 17 0 by means of a s rin 175 tensioned between the outerarm o sai pin y 168 which has bell-crank and a projection 176l projecting d from' the fulcrumed end of the tripping lever 160, whereby the tripping lever is also yieldabl held in outward position. When any analyzing pin passes through a perforation and operates a tripping pin, that lever 160 which is adapted to contact the camlever 121 of the compartment into which such card is destined to be deposited,.is the one which is tripped by the tripping pin; and -the tripping pins, the analyzing pins, and the cam-levers 121 are arranged in such order that this must take place.

It will be noted that the discard or overflow compartment 180 just beneath the rollers 48 (Fig. 1) provided with a permanently open deflector 181, for deiecting into such compartment any card not deflected into vother compartments, as for instance, when such card has no perforation inthe column being analyzed.

The operation will be clear from the foregoing and need noW only be briefly summarized as follows The cards to be analyzed are arranged in the hopper 18, and the pinbox is' adjusted along the side pieces 154 until the analyzing pins and plunger pins register With the column to be analyzed. The machine is then started and the cards passed into the analyzer one by one and are analyzed by downward movement of the pin-box. This movement causes the outward movement Vof the tripping pins 168 just as the finger -162 passes, whereupon the tripping arm 160 corresponding to the card being analyzed is tripped inwardly. As the conveyer frame ycontinues to rotate, the card is ejected from the analyzer just in time to be caught by the jaws 147 associated with such tripping arm, and the analyzer frame continues to rotate until the rollervll of the tripped arm 160 comes into contact with the corresponding cam-lever 121, thus opening the deiector gate and conducting the card in its appropriate compartment.

After the card has been deflected into its proper compartment, continued rotation of the conveyer frame causes the inwardly projecting arm 172 (Fig. 5) to come into contact with atripping blade 184, 'which causes the hooked end 170 to disengage from the shoulder 161 and permit the tripping arm 160 to resume its normal position.

Should-it happen that no tripping lever 160 be set for a card, as for instance whenv such card has lno perforation in the column being analyzed, such card will not be deposited in one of t-he compartments 1-1, but will be deflected by the permanently open deflector 181 ,into the overflow compartment 180.

I claimy yas my invention 1. In a card sorter, the combination of a circular series .of compartments; a conveyer for conveying cards `to all the compartments; means for feeding cards tosaid coni,29s,971 t v circular series of compartments; a conveyer for carrying the cards to all of said compartments; means `f0r feeding the cards to the conveyer; a plurality of disengaging means for said cards, one for each compart ment; and means controlled by the perforations on said cards for rendering said disengaging means effective as a card reaches the compartment corresponding to its perforation.

3. In a card sorter, the combination of a plurality of stations; a conveyer. for carrying the cards to allof said stations through a. common path; means for feeding the cards to the conveyer; means for disengaging the cards from the conveyer; and record actuated means operating in synchronism with the conveyer for controlling the operation of said disengaging means t0 effect the delivery 1 of the` cards to thesorting stations corresponding thereto.

4. In a cardssorterythe combination of a I circular series of compartments; a conveyer for ycarrying the cards to all of sald compartdelecting means for disengaging the ycards from t-he conveyer; and card actuated means operatingin synchronism with -the conveyer. for controlling the operation of said deflect-- ing means to effect the delivery of the cards to the sorting stations corresponding to the index-points thereon.

5. Inl a card-sorter for sorting recordments through a common path of movement; -f means for lfeedlng the cards to the conveyer; y

cards having perforations thereon, the combination of a plurality of sorting stations.

means comprising operating levers located 1n accordance with the perforatlons on the cards; a conveyer for said cards; and adjustable lmeans on saidl conveyer actuated through the instrumentality of a card for operating the aforesaid means to discharge the cards from the conveyer into said sorting stations.

6. In a card-sorter, the combination of a clrcular serles of sorting compartments;

means comprising operating levers located in accordance'with the index-point positions on the cards a conveyer for said cards; and settable card actuated means on said conveyer actuated through the instrumentality of'the card for operating levers to discharge the cards from the conveyer into said compartments.

7. In a card-sorter, the combinatlon of a circular series of compartments; a conveyer y for carrying the cards to all of said comveyer during the travel of the latter; a group of settable members associated with each conveyer, members of the same group moving in different paths; a deflector gate for each compartment adapted to -be operated by a a corresponding set 'settable member of each group to deflect into the compartment a card from the associated conveyer; and a plurality of setting members of which the one, corresponding to a card in the analyzer is adapted to be operated by the analyzer to set the settable member corresponding to that compartment which are to receive such card, to cause such settable member to cause the deflector gate to deflect the card into such compartment. V

9. In a card-sorter, the combination of a card analyzing means; an endless series of compartments; a series of conveyers adapted to receive cards from the card analyzing f means and successively to pass sald compartments; means for opening each conveyer as 1t reaches a certain point 1n lts travel and lmmedlately closmg 1t; means for feeding lcards from the analyzing means into lthe opened conveyer; a plurality ofl settable means associated and traveling withthe conveyer, the different settable means of each conveyer traveling in different paths; a deflector gate for each compartment and each provided with' an operating cam lever dis` posed near the path of the settable meansv corresponding to such compartment and adapted to be tripped by said settable means to cause the infiector gate to deflect a card from the conveyer into the compartment; setting means adapted t0 be operated by the analyzing means in accordance with the card therein and adapted to set the settable means J Aassociated with the conveyer which'is to receive said card,- and corresponding to the cam lever'associated with the compartment which is to receive said card; means for holding the set settable means in set position `until it hastripped the correspondmg cam lever and caused the deflector gate to deflect the card. from the conveyer into the compartment; and means for causing the means after it has caused the deiector gate to deflect the card.

10. In a card-sorter; the combination of a vcard analyzer; a series of compartments;

' operating the deflectorgates; and pushvca to the compartments; delecting means; and push cables operated by the analyzer for operatin said deecting means.

11. n a card-sorter, the combination of a card analyzer having analyzer pins; a series of compartments; a deflector gate for each compartment; plungers coperating with the analyzer pins; settable means for selective bles connected to said plungers and adapted to operate said settable means.

12.111 a card-sorter, the combination of an analyzer; a series of compartments; a revolving conveyer comprising clamping jaws; meansfor opening said Yjaws when they are in position to receive cards from the analyzer; and means for deflecting cards from the jaws into the compartments. 13. In a card-sorter, the combination of an analyzer; a -series of compartments; ,a revolving conveyer comprising clamping jaws; means for opening said jaws when they are' in position to receive cards from the analyzer; settable means for delecting cards from the jaws into said compartments; and means operated by said analyzer for setting said settable means before said jaws arrive at said position.

14. In a card-sorter, the combination of an analyzer; a series ofk compartments; a revolving series of conveyers adapted to, re-

ceive cards from the analyzer; a plurality 0f settable means associated and. traveling with each conveyer each provided with a shoulder; a deflected gate for eacl compartment'and each provided with an operating cam lever disposed lnear the path f the settablev means corresponding to such compartments and adapted to be tripped by a settable means to cause a card to be deiected into a Icompartment; setting means operated by an analyzer-and adapted to set' the settable means; a springpres'sed pivoted hook adapted to engage said shoulder and Ihold the set settableme'ans set until the card has been deflected; into a compartment; and

means for tripping saidpivoted hook after the card has been deposited for causing the release of the settable means.

15. In a card-sorter, the combination of a frame; a card analyzer thereon; a standard on-said frame; a sleeve carried in said standard; a drum mounted on said sleeve; a plurality. of compartments mounted on a frame; an analyzer. supported thereon; a 13`0A 12ol the periphery of said drum; a supporting drum on said frame provided with longitudinally disposed peripheralgrooves arranged therearound; triangularly bent pieces of sheet-metal forming compartment partitions and having their free side edges brought together and secured in4 said grooves; and means for conveying cards from the analyzer to the compartments.

17. In a card-sorter, the combination of a plurality of circularly disposed compartiments; outwardly spring pressed, radially disposed follower rods mounted in said, compartments; followers on said rods; and means for analyzing cards and forcing them into said compartments.

18. In a card-sorter, the combination of a reciprocating analyzer frame; a pair of stationary of analyzer plates disposed Iunder said frame and provided with rows of per.

forations; a pin box slidable on said frame and providedy with a row of analyzer pins adapted to register with anyone of the rows of said perforations; a pin block receiving said pins and disposed above said plates and held against vertical movement; a plunger block slidably disposed below said plates; plunger pins in said block; means for holding said plunger pins in register with' said analyzer pms.

1.9. In a card-sorter, the combination of a reciprocating analyzer frame; a pair of stationary analyzer plates disposed under said frame and provided with rows of perforations; a pin box slidable on said frame and provided with a row of pins adapted to register with anyone of the rows of said perforations; a pin block receiving said pins and disposed above said plates and held against vertical movement; a plunger block slidably disposed below said plates; a pair of grooved rollers at each end of said plates; pairs of superposed ribbons dis- WILLIAM W. LASKER.

- Witnesses:

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