US1449078A - Card-sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

LMQUYS.

4 SHE vS-SHEET Z E. B. WHITTLESEY.

CARD SOHTING MACHINE FILED JULY 29,1922.

Mar. 20, 1923.

f ATTORNEY LMQOYS,

Mar. 20, 1923.

E. B. WHITTLESEY.

CARD SORTNG MACHINE.

4 SHEETS-SHEETS.

FILED JULY 29.1922.

I4 A o o o o o o o o of o TAW o o o o o o o/fb. o QW o o o o o O o 117 3 o o M mo o o o o o o o Y 5 l o Ho H o o o o o o o o N R o Go wo o o o o O o o A o Mo Mo o o o o o o o O O MO 0 O O O O Q O o o o o o 0.o o o o o o o o o o o o o o p v@altentecll Mar. Ztl, i923.

imacat entre@ stares 'earsnroeeica EDWARD BBSON WHITTLIESEY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOJR. TO THE F. DODGE CONDPNY, A CORPORATION' 0F NEW YORK.

canin-shoarma MACHINE.

Application filed July 29, 1922. Serial No. 578,282.

To all. whom t mag] concer/11,.'

Be it, known, thatf l, EDWARD BABsoN WHITTLESEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the countyof New York, State of New York, have 1nvented v.certain new and useful Improve' acter or inarily comprise a cardreceptacle for holding a stack of cards to be sorted; means Ifor conveying the cardsl one at a time; means for analyzing the cards and a plurality of pockets or card 'receptacles for receiving theanalyzed cards. The cards which thesevmachines are fdesigned to sort are in common use and are ordinarily of paste board or fibre. Such cards have spaces which may be punched, as desired, to record data of various kinds.

The receptacles for holding the cards to be sorted' are of several forms. All of these forms comprise, in general, ameans for holding the cards, means for exerting a ycompressive force on the stack of cards, and reciprocating means for feedlng cards from the stack one at a time. Each card 1n passing from the stack passesbetween two bed plates provided with perforations correspending to the spaces on the card. Means is provided for holding the card in position between the bed plates until it is analyzed by a mechanism to be described hereinafter.

After'the card is analyzed it is'carried by means of -a suitable conveyor to a card pocket. lf a given card contains 'the required arrangement of perforations or index points, the analyzer functions so that the card is conveyed to a predetermined pocket. lf the card does not` contain the necessary combination of holes, it passes to a discard pocket.

secondary circuit.

Various types of lanalyzing mechanisms have been used which operate either electrically or mechanically. A' common typ-e of electrically it is ordinarily called, comprises a reciprocating plate arranged above the bed plates and carrying'a plurality of pins, the number andarrangement correspondingA with the holes in the bed plates. A contact plate is provided below the bed'plates, the contact plate having a plurality ofmercu'ry cups, ortheir equivalent, also corresponding in number and arrangement with the holes in the bed plates, and, therefore,with'the'` perforations and spaces of the card, which is to be analyzed. The arrangement of the analyzing mechanism is such that when the reciprocat,I ing plate is lowered, the pins which come in contact with the unperforated portions ofthe card are arrested and dol not make elec-r trical contact with the mercury cups in the contact plate. rlhe pins which are in register with the perforations in the card passV through these perforations and make electrical contact with the correspondingvmerculiy lcups below. 4 -1 eretofore, it has been common to inter'- connect or short-circuit all of the pins so that when contact is miade through the perforations, the mercury cups v'are all connectoperated analyzer or pin box, as f ed inl parallel. One methodof. sorting cards by means of the apparatus described above net is then connected to the yterminals of a battery, the circuit being open at three contact points, the number of.` contactV points corresponding to thenumber-of prforations in the ca'rd. This cir'uit maybe termed a he comprises a battery, which 1s separate from the batter pin b'oX, 'tlie three mercury cups corresponding to the three perforations inthe given card, and three relays connected vin series primary circuit t above mentioned, thepins of the ico iaeaove with the three mercury Vcups,A @ach-ely bemay be practiced. alla t VMiOuSf-imPVe' .ing adapted to closeone of the contacts of.' 4ments in the sorting machine itself.

thesecondarycircmt, 1- is a fragmentary viewpartly in From the foregoing, it will be evident, section -showing the' principal parts of the that when a card having the three required card sorting machine. 70

perforations, is analyzed, the pins z colfre-v Fig. 2 isa fragmentary sectionof a form sponding to ,these perforations. will make of p in'box'wliich may be used l contact with three f .the mercuryl cups. Eig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing rThis will cause the primary circuit vi.'.ela ys an iinproved pin construction. Iie t0 close the contacts inthe secondary 011'- ligs. 4, 5 andt'shcvv several electrical 75 cuit, thus energizing the sorting box electrocircuits that may be. employed forthe purmagnet. 'The operationo'f the latter estab pose of carryiiig out the improvedinethodvv lishes conditions which cause the card t0 be ofsprting cards; l p deposited in the sorting box. i Figs. 7' and 8 are fragmentary views showw It 'iS Obvious Of the. two types 0f apparatus Opening 90 v.type above described 'are not satisfactry l'closing the Vpin boxcircuits.

when it is desired'to select cards according Fig. 9 is aperspective view, partly 4'in secto combinations. consistingl of. a large, nume tion, showing. an improved compound. I

ber of perforations. This is due to the fact switchboard. vthat a primary relay must be pIOVlded *1101"4 Fig. 10 is a plan 4v iew of theaswitchboard 85 each of the required perforations, and SepaofFig. 9 showing the manner in which the 'rate primary and secondary circuits inu'St be electrical circuits are completed through the 115ML i switchboard. Accordingly, one object of 4the present Fig .11 is a, fragmentary View of an i]m k invention is to provide a very simple inethproved mechanismfor operating the lids of 90 od of sorting cards, -and to provideI ama: the sorting boxes. chine which'isladapted to select cards hN- `ig.'12 is an end view of the mechanism ing any arranf ement of perforations, the shown in Fig. 11.

machine bein designed so that it is not 'Fig 13 is atfragmentary view, partly in' necessary to use any relays, solenoids,' or section, showing a stencilling device adapt- -95 l electromagnets; except the sorting bOX'eleC- ed to be used in conjunction with' the: auf i tromagnets. .-alyzer. 1 The fundamental principle, upon which Fig. '14 is a section view of the stencilling my improved method of sorting cards 1S. device, taken at right angles to the :view

'35 based, is/that electric current is 'passed .shown in Fig. 13. 100

through the perforations .of the ca rd, the lFig. 15 is 'a longitudinal section of an' perforatipns being connected in series and analyzer provided with a printing mechaparallel." `While l have stated that the ernisin. 'i .l f' forationsl are thus connected, it shoul be Fig, 16 is a, fragmentary View Showing i 40 understood that l referto the correspond` the details 0f the printing apparatus; and Het -:k ing'pins which are connected in series and Fig. 17 is a plan view of a record card arallel 'through these perforations. l have having a stencil provided in the end thereof.

foundl that 'if' instead of passing the cur- The apparatus shown .in Fig. lcomprises rent in the samedii'ection through al1 of .a card receptaclel holding a stack of cards i the'required perforations of a given combi# 2 held in place by the heavy cover 3. A re- N0' 4 nation, the perforationsa're lconnected in ciprocating plate 4 is provided at 'thebotyseries and thecurrent is passed alternately tornof the receptacle 1' for the purpose of up and down through the perforations that delivering cards one at a time from therea very simple mac ine may be' used to perceptacle 1 to the feed rollers 5. The re `forni ,this process,' and vthe use of a multiciprocating plate 4 is operated by means 0f 1115 plici'ty of relays is entirely avoided.I suitable links 6 actuated by a cam shaft 7.

The principal change in the machine, as it rllhe feed rollers 5 i deliver each card to the. is-now known, is that the pins of the pin analyzing mechanism 8. This :analyzing box-and the mercur cups, or their equivalmechanism v8 comprises two bed plates -9 and ent, are all insulate from eachother, while 9and a-reciprocating plate 10 located above in the ordinary construction', either the pins thel bed plates. A` contact plate 11 is proare all electrically connected together, or all vided below the bed plate`9. The-bed plates of the 'contacts below the bed plates are 9 and 9 have holes or perforations therein hert-circuited. "I he primary advantage of corresponding in number and arrangement the present invention lies in .the use of series l'with the spaces on the record card which' is 125 circuits instead 'of parallel circuits. shown in Fig. 17. The contact plate 11 is vThe'following' detailedvdescriptiongtaken provided with a plurality of mercury cups in conjunction'. with the accompanying 12 correspondingy in number and arrangedrawings, relatesl to a type of machine by ment with the holes inthe bed plates 9 and 4 which my improved method of sorting cards `9. Thereciprocating plate 10 is provided 130 A i'aaaore with aY plurality of pins 13 which 'also cor-` the bed plates, but, if desired, a small num-- ber of removable pins may be employed, these being arranged at will toe'stablishl the necessary circuits. The reciprocatingl plate is operated by means of a suitable link 1d which may be actuated by .the c shaft 7. l

A plurality of feed rollers 5 is provided beyond the analyzer for the purpose of conveying the `analyzed cards to the Iselec-tive devices or sorting boxes 15, each of which is provided with a hinged lid-16.

As shown in Fig. 2, the pins 13 are yieldingly mounted Vin a pin box; that is, they are soconstructed that when the reciprocating plate l0 is lowered, the movement of those pins to which no perforations in the `card are presented, is arrested by the card.

`lachsorting 'box is provided with an electromagnet 18 which is arranged to operate the `mechanism 19; which actuates the lids 16 of the sorting boxes.

The improved method of sorting cards vmay be understood by referrin to Figs. 1,

' 2 and Il The bottom card in t e stack'2 is engaged yby the reciprocating plate 4 which forces the card into contact with the feed rollers 5. between the bed plates 9 and 9.\` A detent 20 operated by the cam shaft 7 prevents the card from passing 'throughA the analyzing mechanism for a definite period, and posil tions the card properly with respectfto the holes in the bed plate.

'lfhe rotating shaft .f 7 then'v causes the reciprocating plate 10 to be lowered. rlhe pins 13 in register with the perforations in the card pass through these Aperforations or index points and make electrical contact with the mercury cups 12 in the contact plate 11,v the remaining pins being supported by the unperforated spaces on the card so that no electrical contact is madethereby. If, for example, 'the four pins shown' in Fig. 4 are connected as shown in this figure the electrical vcircuit will be closed when these four pins makeJ contact withl vthe corresponding mercury cups in thecontact plate 11.

When this condition exists current will flow in the circuit, the current being. supplied by "a `battery B, or other l sourceof electrical energy, andthe sorting box electromagnet 18 willv function.

The reciprocating plate 10 is then raised, the detent 20 lowered by the rotating-cam shaft 7 and the card is carried forthby the rollers 5. The card passes over the tops ofthe 'sorting boxes until it approaches the Isorting box corresponding with the electromagnet which was caused to function when the -card was analyzed. Vlrllhe mechanism for These rollers 5 convey, the card vCurrent wil will ment shown in lFig. l the current passes -through the perforations in the card 21, the

perforations being connected in series and the current passing alternately up and down through the succeeding perforations.

lt will be yseen thatthe improved method v of sorting cards depends upon the closing of a plurality of definite electrical contacts corresponding with a given combination of perforations or index points in the card.

ln F ig. d the contacts are all connected in series and when they are all closed the electric current flows in the circuit and oper- .ates a sorting box electromagnet. The pins v113 are all insulated from each other, as' are also the mercury cups 12 in the `contact plate 11. This may be accomplished by making the reciprocating plate l() of insulating material, or by providing an insulating collar for each pin. rlhe contact plate 11 is preferably made of insulating material such as hard rubber or bakelite. 'lihe upper and lower bed plates 9 and 9 are .also constructed preferably of insulating material. lf it is desired, however, the cards may be passed through the analyzer in contact with the contact plate 11, and a single plate may Abe substituted for the plates 9 and 9. l

lin Fig. 5 a series parallel arrangement is illustrated. The pins a and b are connected in parallel and `this group is connected in series with a pin c. The latter may be connected in series with the pin d so that a` circuit may be closed through pins c, d .and either a or ,.or4 both. rThis combination may be used when it is desired to select all of the cards having two separate items and also one or both of two other items recorded thereon.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 6 comprises Vthe combination of two series parallel circuits, kthis larrangement being used when itis desired to select two groups of cards) All cards having perforations in "register with pins a and b `or e. will be deposited in the 4sorting box ycontrolled by electromagnet 19a, and vall the cards having los i perforations in register with pinsl e', al and c or b will be deposited in the sorting box correspondin toJ the electromagnet 181.

flow `through electromagnet 18a lwhen `electrical contact is made throu h pins a and b or o and current owv through electromagnet 18b wher. conact is made through pins e" d ande or y By considering IFigs. l to 6, inclusive, .it should be apparent that the improved method of sorting cards comprisesl all possiblev combinations of series and parallel circuits completed through the perforationsof the- `cards y or through contacts corresponding of a new form are provided, and the devices Any number of per- With the perforations.

uivalent, Ilocated at forations, or their any'points on the car in series; some perforations l may be \con nected in parallel and others in series; the perforations may be connected in parallel; or innumerable series and parallel circuits may be employed, thus simultaneously .selecting cards by depositing them in sorting boxes corresponding in number with thev number of the electrical circuits lwhich may be established." Perforations may be ineluded in' more than one circuit, but care must be exercised to avoid short .circuiting perforations of one circuit by connections ot another. lin general this may be avoided by connecting the conimon-pertorations so that they are at the beginning of the circuits, that is, electrically connected to one terminal of the source of electrical energy, as shown in Fig. 6.

lt is obvious that the improved method of sorting cardslherein disclosed possesses material advantages over the methodsheretofore employed. lin the present invention it is' not necessary to employ primary and secondary circuits, or a multiplicity of relays for closing contacts in the sorting box circuits. interconnected for the purpose of selecting cards is unlimited. ll that -is necessary is to interconnect the pins and mercury cups, either directly or through a suitable siwitchboard. Furthermore,` simultaneous selection ot a large number of groups of cards is possible'. ln the common type of sorting machine it is not practical to attempt to select cards where it is necessary to intercon- 'nect' contacts corresponding with a large number otvcard perforations, due to the fact that innumerable relays must be employed, at least one relay for every perforation in the given combination.

ln the sorting machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings various structural improvements are shown. Analyzing pins for opening and closing the pin box ci/rcuits have been lmproved: The mechanism for operatingthe sorting box lids is of a .novel construction, as is also the switchboard. An auxiliary stencil mechanism vis also disclosed, which may be employed if desired i The pins 13 shown in Fig. 2 are of ordinary construction and comprise a member `22 having afneedle 23 integral therewith or rigidly attached thereto. The member 22 is mounted in the reciprocating plate 10 in such a manner that it is yielding, and is normally' held in its lower extreme position by means of a coil spring 24. It' the pins encounter an unperforated portion of the card 21. lthey aire supported thereby and the` s'may be connected y The number of -pins that may be' magma reciprocating plate' 10 moves down relative to the pins l,thus compressing the coil springs 2tv as shown at f in Fig. 2. Each needle which passes through" a 'A perforation, as

shown 'at g in Fig. 2, makes electrical contact'with a mercury cup 12 in the contact plate 11.

y cal movement of the pin.

The improved construction shown in Fig. 3 has been devised with a vievs7 to avoiding the objectionable features inherent in the pin construction shown in'Faig. 2. A

In Fig. 3 a cylindrical sleeve `25 is pro- IVided, this sleeve being fixed in the reciprocating plate 10 in any suitable manner, as by providing a small annularprojection 26 on the outer surface of the cylinder 25 for the purpose of securing a orcedfit. 'Thecylinder 25 has a flange restricting the bottom opening and serving as a guide for thc needle 23. 4A plunger orv piston 26 1s provided on the upper end of the needle23, this plunger being adapted to slide within the casing 25. 4A spring 27 within the casing 25 serves to hold the plunger 26 against the bottom'of the casing. A rigid electrical contact is 'made at the top of the casing 2 as shown at 28. Y

From the preceding paragrapht should be apparent that the improved pin construction illust-rated in Fig. 3 provides a practical means of insuring true'vertical motion ol the needles, and also provides an improved electrical, construction. There is no relative movement between the casin'gs 2:3k

`recorders, it is not necessary to provide any means of rendering the analyzer' inoperative, dueto the fact that no harm results from; the opening of the soiting box when there is no card to be deposited therein. However; it',v auxiliary attachments of any character are employed it is necessary to piovidea iis means for renderingthe pin box inoperaf tive when no card is being analyzed.

In l4 igs. l and S a pin 13 is shown which coacts with'a mercury cup 12 in the contact iso platell. rlhe pin 13 .is made substantially longer than pins 13 and is located in such a position that it can never pass through 'any of the perforations of the card; for example, it may be located at a point corresponding with somevpoint on themargin ot the card. Accordingly, when a card is bed the pin 13 makes electrical contact withthe mercury cup 12, this contact being made be# fore the pins 13 make electrical contact with the cups 12. due to the fact that the pin 13 is of greater lengthl than the other pins. TWhen contact is made at 12 a relay 29 is caused to function, this relay opening the main pin circuit. This prevents current from flowing in the pin circuit when the pins 13 have made contact with the correspondingmercury cups 12. A

An improved mechanism for rendering thepin box inoperative when no card isp attaohed at the ends thereof. These plugs being analyzed is shown in F ig. 7 In Fig. 7 a master pin 30 is shown, this pin being located at such a point -that it does not.

)pass through a y perforations on any card.

Af lever 31 is` pivoted on the reciprocating plate 10 at a point near the master'pin 30. This lever 31 is normally held in a substantially horizontal position by means of a suitable spring 32. This lever is adapted tobe operated by means of the master pin 30 and to close, through, a mercury cup 33, the J main pin,circuit. When no card is being analyzed the master pin 30 is carried down by the/reciprocating plate 10 and does not operate thelever 31. Accordingly the pin circuit remains open at the cup a card is'being analyzed, however, the master pin 30 is supported by the card, and the continued downward Amovement of the reciprocating plate 10 causes the lever 31 to come in contact with the end of the pin 30, whereby the lever 31 is tilted so that electrical con# f tact is made through the mercury cup' 33. The pin circuit may thenfbe closed through the pins 13. The lever 31 and the rmercury cup 33 are preferably so adjusted that electrical/contact is made thereby only after contact is made by the pins 13,. and so that the circuit is broken aty 33 before the circuit is broken by the pins 13. It is thus' apparent that this improved mechanism not only provides a means of rendering the pin boX inoperative when no card is being analyzed, but also provides a means whereby arcing at the mercury cups 12 is prevented, all the arcing taking place at the one point,-'the cup 33. l

Figs. -9 and 10 illustrate the improved compound switchboard whichma'yjbe used in conjunctionwith the improvedsorting 33. When machine. A lower or base switchboard 34 is provided, this switchboard having mercury cups35 corresponding in number with the pins and mercury cups of the analyzer, and with the electromagnets of the sortingboxes. The electrical connections are preferably made so'that one section of the switchboard is connected with the pins of the analyzer and another sect-ion with thevmercury cups 'of the analyzer, this being shown in Fig. 10. The upper switchboard 36 comprises a plate of any insulating material having holes therein corresponding in number and arrangement with the mercury cups 35'in the lower switchboard 34. The upper switchboard is provided with handles 37 so that it may be removed from .the lower switchare adapted to itin the Aholes in the upper switchboard. The plugs 39 are l-ongenough so that they project below the upper switchboard, and when the upper and lower switchboardsfare assembled, the lower ends ot the. plugs 39 make electrical contact with the mercury'cups 35.

A simple connection isshown in Fig. 10, to illustrate the use of the switchboard. The battery B or other source of electrical energy; is permanently connected to the mercury cups below the holes 40 provided in the upper switchboard 36. The pins 13-are permanently -connected to corresponding merica curywnps .in the lower switchboard, this connection being shown in dotted lines. The mercury cups 12 in the b-ase plate 11 of the sorting machine are permanently connected to corresponding mercury cups in the lower switchboard. The terminals of the sorting box magnets 18 are connected to corresponding mercury cups in the switchboard. 'As

shown in the drawing cords 41, 42, v43 and 44 are used for the purpose of making the electrical connections. -Cord 42 connects the positive terminal of the' battery B to'one' terminal of the electromagnet v13. 'llhe other terminal of the electromagnet 18 is connected to the mercury cup 12h by the cord '44. rlhe cord 43 interconnects pins 71, and z' and cord 41 connects mercury cup 12i with the negative terminal of the battery B. The electrical circuit consists of the followingv elements; battery B, electromagnet 18, mercury cup 12h, pins 7L pins i; mercury 121 .and battery B. This particular circuit is shown merely for the purpose of illustration, lior it is obvious that all of the circuits may be connected up in a corresponding-manner.

Figs. 1, 11 and 12 show an limproved mechanism for operating the sorting box lads. This mechanism compr1ses a plurality or shaft 46 extends along the side ofthe sorting machine and is gearedto the shaft 7 by any suitable, gear train 47. Each d1sc45 has a plurality of movable lugs 48 spaced around the edge thereof. The movable ylugs 48 are adapted to be displaced by means of the elestromagnets 18, andafter they have been so displaced they are returned to their `or1ginal position by means of suitable members 49 each of which has an inclined surface 50 which comes in contact with the displaced lug as the disc fis rotated the speed of the shaft 46 is adjusted yby means of the .gear train 47 Iso that a givenvlug 48 moves a distance equal to that between two successive lugs while the cards which 4ha'veloeen analyzed move a distance equal to the width ,of one sorting box. When a cardlhaving a required combination of Aperforations 1s analyzed, the corresponding sorting box electromagnet 'functions and -displaces the. lug 48 which happens to be adjacent the electromagnet at that instant. The analyzed card is then conveyed by lmeans of conveyor -rollers 5 and the displaced lugadvances as the shaft 46 rotates.

` it isto be deposited the displaced lug 48 5() and is restored to its original position. In order that the sortingvbox mechanism may operate 'in the manner describedin the lee preceding paragraph, it is necessary to mount successive electromagnets 18 in difer. ent positions for the different sorting boxes.,4 That is, .the electromagnet for the sorting box adjacent, to the analyzer would bedisplaced from the member 51 a distance equal to that between two successive lugs 48; the electromagnet for the second sorting box awayfrom the analyzer would be displaced from the corresponding member 51 a distance equal to' twice that betweenV the successive lugs 48; and the other electromagnet would be disposed in like .manner around the circumference of the discs 45. I

Itis to be understood that thesorting box i mechanism may be modified considerably yea with'outwdep-arting from' the spirit of the invention.' lFor example, the discs 45 may be mounted -in a plane parallel to the plane of the sorting box machine instead of transverse as shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the mbers 51 may be made in.

When the 'card reachesh the sorting box adjacent to the one in which l .is actuated di'erent shapes and dierent lengths so the lids will be actuated when the lugs 48Y fare inj any desired position. of discs 45, mounted on a rod 46. The rod Various auxiliary devices may be employed in conjunc counting the cards deposited inthe various pockets, data registering machines, stencilion with'v the improved vsorting machine. Counting devicesfor.

or its equivalent may be employed in con-:fa l.

junction with the limproved sorting machine@ The stamping mechanism shown in 13 and 14 comprises an' attachment which may be secured to the sorting machine near the pin box. The stamping mechanism oon-"` sists of a reciprocating member 52 whichI isv actuated by a lever arm'53 normally' held iny inoperative-position by the' armature ,54 ofthe electromagnet 55. A record strip I56 in the form of a'roll of paper is mounted on a suitable holder 57 and is adapted to be wound on a second holder 58. y This record strip 56 passes' beneath two idlers 59, the strip being inclose proximit to the cards 21 as they pass between the i ers 59. An ink ribbon 60 maybe mounted on suitable sfupports 61 in such ajmanner that it passes below the record card 2l. The ink ribbon 60 may be wound fromene sup ort `61 tothe other by suitable .gearing not shown) cooperating with the`holder 58. 'The `cards 21 may have a stencil 65 in the end thereofas shown in Fig. 17 When acard is analyzed which has the required-r coma- Ino the record is madeon the record strip 5.6,

the cam 66 on the shaft ,64 has rotated far lenough to return the lever [53 toits originalposition where it is again held in place stamping device is caused to rotate -by means of the lever 67 carrying the pawl 68 which engages theI ratchet wheel 69. The lever 67l by' the links attached to the re ciprocating ,plate .52.

The printing mechanism.` shown -in 1 5 and 16 is particularly -adapted to print dat-a of any kind on record cards-having any` required combinationifof perforations vvby the armature 54. Theholder 58'of the I therein..v A printing roll 70 is 'carriedI by a suitablerocker arm pivoted at.72.` A cam follower 73 is mounted on therocker arm and lis adapted toV engage fthe 74..

Lanchas y and the shaft 78 now rotates the cam 7% As the card leaves the analyzing mechanism it is carried forward between the feed rollers 5 and the cam 74 forces the printing roll The link 78A 70 down on to the card 21. Y holds the clutchA 76 in operating position until the printing roll 70 isl released by means-of the cam 74. The spring 7S? then brings the vprinting roll 70ba`ck to its inoperative position and theclutch 76 is rendered inoperative. l

It is to be understood that the improvements herein disclosed may be applied to any machines rof the general type described, and the improved analyzing mechanism may .be used in conjunction with sorting boxes,

or any other devices which may be'operated by mechanism responsive to thecurrents in the analyzing circuits. The term selecting devices as'herein used is intended to in-l.

clude all such mechanisms.

l claim: Y n

1. The process which consists in passing record cards through an analyzing device and closing contacts connected in-A series when cards having certain data thereon are analyzed, whereby a selecting mechanism is caused to operate.

2. The method of selecting record cards, which consist in closing contacts connected in series, when cards having certain d ata thereon are in a predetermined position,

whereby electric current is caused to flow through a circuit to operate vice.

3. The method ofselecting `record cards, which consists in connecting contacts in se'- ries, the contacts corresponding with cer tain spaces on said cards, and closing said contacts when a card having data recorded a selecting deon the certain spaces is in a' predetermined position, whereby' electric currentis caused to flow through a'circuit to operate a selecting device.

LThe `method of selecting record cards, which consists in passing an electric current alternately .up and'dowii lthrough index points on certain of saidcards.

5. The method of selecting record cards,

which consists in passing an electric current alternately up vand down through the index points on certain of said cards, and through a selecting device.

6. The method of selecting record-cards, which consists in connecting elements of an analyzing mechanism in series, passingthe cards through the analyzin mechanism and causing electric current to ow through said elements to operate a selectingldevice when certain ofv said cards are analyzed.

7:- 'llhe method .of selecting record cards, which consistsin connecting certain pins of a pin box analyzer in series, 'passing the cards through the analyzer and'making cleo' trical contact through index 'points in certain of said cards by means of said pins. whereby a selectingv device is caused to 0P- erate. 8.1'll`he method of selecting record cards7 which consists in connecting certain elements of an analyzing mechanism in series, and

connectingthis series group in parallel with certain other elements, passing the. cards throughv the analyzing mechanism and causing electric current to flow through said elements to operate a selecting device when certain of said cards are analyzed. 9. rlhe method of selecting record cards which includes placing the cards successively in position to control the movement of a plurality of contacts and moving such gint-acts to establish series circuits through v 10. rlhe method of selecting record cards' contact points connected in series andcaus- K ing the' contacts to be closed upon the passage'of cards bearing predetermined data.

11. The method of selecting record cards which includes connecting selectingdevices in series vand closing the series circuits through these devices, the closing of the cir cuits being controlled by the cards.

Y; 12, rllhe method of selecting record cards which includes connecting contact elements of an analyzing mechanism in series, moving the contacts to close the lcircuit through them and controlling this movement by means of the cards successively yinterposed in the p-ath of movement. f y

13. The method of sorting record cards into groups bearing predetermined data which includes connecting movable contacts in series circuits7 each of said circuits cntaining a selecting device for a card group, lplacing the cards successively in the path of travel of these contacts and controlling the operation of the selecting devices in accordance with theidata carried by the cards.

' 14. pifn 'box consisting of a reciproca-ting plate having a plurality of pins mounted therein and insulated from each other, and a contact plate provided with a plurality of insulated contact elements co-operable with izoy said pins, said pins and their associated elements being so arranged that they may be plate,.a plurality of pins mounted therein and insulated from each other, a contactplate, and a plurality of mercury cups mounted therein and insulated from each other, said mercury cups, corresponding in number and arrangement with said-pins.

16. A pin box comprising a reciprocating pla-te, a' plurality of pins mounted therein and adapted to be electrically connected 1n.

series, a contact plate, and a plurality of contact elements mounted therein and adapted tobe electrically connected in series.

18. l In a pin 'box of the type described, al

pin comprising a cylindrical casing closed at the top and adapted to be mounted in the reciprocating plate, a plunger within said casing and having a needle fixed to the lower end thereof, a flange in the lower end of said casing for guiding said needle and a coiled spring within said casing to render said needle and plunger yieldable.

19. A compound switchboard adapted to be used with sorting machines of the type described, lcomprising a lower switchboard having a plurality of contact .elements mounted therein, an upper switchboard having a plurality of holes for receiving plugs, said upper switchboard being adapted to be readily removed from the lower switchboard. l

20. A compound switchboard Jfor use with sorting machines of the class described, comprising a pair of separable switchboard members, one of these members having a group of contact elements serving as terminals for operating, devices, and the other member providing means \to interconnect 'these terminals.

21. A compoundswitchboard for use with vsorting machines of the class described comprising a plurality of separable switchboard elements, one of these members having a group'of Contact elements serving as terminalsfor operating devices, and each-of the other members-providing an index to these terminals and means to interconnect them.

22. A compound` switchboard for use with sorting machines of the class described, comprising a plurality of separable switchboard members, one of these members having a group ofv contact elements adapted to be permanently connected toL operating devices, and each of the other members providing mountings for a group of elements to col loperate with the elements of the iirst group and also having an index to the lirst group. 23. A compound switchboard adapted to be used with sorting machines off' the type described, comprising a lower switchboard having a plurality of mercury cups therein, an upper switchboard having holes therein corresponding' in number and arrangement with the mercury cups, the holes of said upper switchboard being adapted to receive plugs, said upper switchboard being detachably mounted on said lower switchboard in such a manner that the plugs which may be inserted in Athe holes of the upper switchboard may extend intothe mercury cups in the lower switchboard.

24;. ln a sorting machine of the type derA scribed, a mechanism for lifting a sorting box lid, comprising a disc, means for rotating said disc, a lug associated with said disc and adapted to the slide parallel to the axis of rotation of the disc, means for moving said lug into its operative position to lift the lid, and means for moving said lug into its inoperative position after the lid vhad been lifted.

25. In a sorting scribed, a mechanism for lifting a sorting box lid, comprising a rotatable disc, a plurality of slidably mounted lugs in said disc,

said lugs 4being adapted to' be moved parallel to the axis of said disc, andl means adapted to ,be actuated by an analyzer for moving one of said lugs to its operative position.

26. In a sorting machine offthe type dcscribed, a mechanism forv lifting a sorting box lid, comprising a circular disc, a shaft supporting said disc, a plurality of slidablymachine of the type depin and a switch arranged in such a manner that when a. card is being analyzed, the maslter pin closes the switch after contact is madeby the analyzer pins and opens the switch before the analyzer pins break contact, said mechanism being further arranged so that the switch may not be closed when no card is in the machine.

In testimony whereof I yail'lix my signature.` l

EDWARD mason, wnlmsser.-

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