US2314258A - Sorting machine of the manual control type - Google Patents

Description

T. J. WATSON March 16, 1943.

SORTING MACHINE OF THE MANUAL CONTROL TYPE Filed April 24, 1942 e Sheets-Sheet 1 DDBD U UUUD UDUUUD DDDDDU FIG.2.

IIHIIH I I I A TTORNE Y l/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII March 16, 1-943. T. J. WATSON 2,314,258

SORTING MACHINE OF THE MANUAL CONTROL TYPE Filed April 24, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T TOHNE Y March 16, 1-943. T. J. WATSON 2,314,258

SORTING MACHINE OF THE MANUAL CONTROL TYPE Filed April 24, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIYETOH ATTORNEY March 1943- T. J. WATSON 2,314,258

SOR'I'ING MACHINE OF THE MANUAL CONTROL TYPE Filed April 24, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 DUDE Dunn 3533 fiuaa 00:1?" 'nnuu Bggg/ E [gr INVENTOR A'i'TORNEY March 16, 1943. T. .1. WATSON SORTING MACHINE OF THE MANUAI I CONTROL TYPE Filed April 24, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 16, 1943. v -T. J. WATSON 2 ,314,258

SORTING MACHINE OF THE MANUAL CONTROL TYPE Filed April 24, 1942 s Shets-Sheet 6 A TTOHNE Y Patented Mar. 16, 1943 son'rmo MACHINE or The MANUAL con'rnor. ma

Thomas J. Watson, New Canaan, Conn., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 24, 1942, Serial No. 440,413 '1 Claims. (01. 209-122) This invention relates to sorting machines in general, and particularly to the type in which provision is made for sorting under manual control, papers of different classifications, such papers consisting of checks, receipts, cards or the like.

Machines of this type have been previously devised as is exemplified in the Patent to F. L. Fuller, 1,946,906, dated February 13, 1934, and are now being employed commercially and are in wide use in banks for sorting of checks. While machines'of this general type have been found suitable and eflicient, certain requirements have been encountered where an increase in sorting capacity is desirable and in such instances the limitation in the sorting capacity of the machineshown in the aforementioned patent has rendered the machine unsuitable for such extended requirements. The sorting of classified papers and checks and the like frequently go beyond the full sorting capacity of the machine and where sorting may be effected in accordance with twenty-four classifications, as has been'found to be generally suitable, a re-sort of the papers of extra classifications is necessary. The re-sorting of the checks or papers requires two handlings if double sorting capacity is required, resulting in the general decrease in the efliciency of the machine and increasing the manual effort to the point where sorting operations are laborious.

The main or principal object of the present invention is to construct a machine which will enable an increase in the sorting capacity by the selection of a plurality of sorting instrumentalities of a number greater than that utilized heretofore, such instrumentalities preferably comprising sorting compartments, as exemplified by the present disclosure.

A relatively important object closely related with the main or principal object. of the machine is to devise the improved machine so that sortingoperations may be effected in the same eflicient manner as has been conducted by previous sorting machines of the same general type.

As previously indicated, sorting machines of the same general type have previously been designed, as shown in the Fuller Patent 1,946,906. The machine shown in this patent has a sorting capacity for twenty-four different classifications. Obviously, the increase in capacity can be effected by the provision of a larger sorting drum which would accommodate a greater number of sorting compartments. The extending oi the capacity of the sorting machine in this manner would bring about difii-culties of a mechanical and electrical nature in stopping the rotatable drum. Since a larger sort-ing drum would be heavier and its weight would be further increased by the additional sorted papers it would carry, problems of inertia and momentum would arise. As exemplifying how the principal object of the present invention has been efficiently carried out, such problems have been avoided in the present disclosure by providing two independently rotatable sorting drums, each preferably with as much sorting capacity as each drum possessed before, and with the provision of two sorting drums the previous sorting capacity would be doubled. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not concerned with merely doubling the capacity of existing sorting machines, and each sorting drum may be provided with a greater or less number of sorting compartmentsthan twenty-four so that the desired capacity may be reached. It is desirable, however, to divide the capacity equally between two, three or more sorting drums so that the prime mover will have only the load of rotating one sorting drum at a time.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a selecting means which will determine which sorting drum is to be rotated at a time, and of the two arrangements disclosed this may consist of t a double keyboard, one keyboard for each sorting drum; or the provision of a selecting switch which will select the desired drum which is to be rotated under the control of a common and single keyboard.

While the machine constructed in the above described manner would be efficient and practically operative, acceptance of machines of this type from a commercial standpoint is based upon the fact that sorting operations can be correctly and efliciently performed. With the original arrangement consisting of a single drum, there would be no opportunity for an error in sorting if the correct sorting compartment was selected. With the provision of more than one sorting drum, errors in sorting operations, which could be cf.- fected by disposing the check into the wron sorting drum, should be obviated. In the present machine, this is preferably effected by providing shutters for the chutes of the sorting drums which will enable the insertion of the check only in the selected drum and will block the other sorting chute. This will effectively prevent an error which would be occasioned by inserting the check in the chute of the other drum which is not selected for operation.

A still further object in connection with the last mentioned feature of the invention is the provision of a switching arrangement which will automatically disable the shutter for the seiected drum and in one embodiment this is carried out by the switch which selects the sorting drum for operation, and in the other embodiment by the selection of the keyboards.

It is a further object of the invention to devise an electrical control which will select the desired sorting drum and concomitantly operate by electromagnetic means the shutter of the chute associated with the selected drum.

Further but relatively important objects in connection with the invention consists in details involving color distinction of the numbers on the key caps of the single keyboard to facilitatethe selection of the compartments and the selection of a drum, and a general keyboard arrangement which facilitates sorting operations.

Other objects subordinate to those just enumerated will appear as -a necessity of their acation by selection of corresponding sorting compartments. The sorting drums disclosed in the present machine may be employed in an accounting machine of the type shown in the last mentioned Fuller patent and would, therefore, carry besides the sorting compartments the record strip printing devices, totalizers, etc. Hence, the invention is not restricted to the selection of sorting compartments and even though such may be designated in the claims, it is to be understood that equivalents may be utilized and the present disclosure should, therefore, be considered merely as illustrative rather than restrictive. Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine showing one embodiment of the present invention, showing particularly the arrangement of the multiple sorting drums and the manual devices operable by the operator, such as; the sorting drum selecting switch; the sorting compartment selecting keys, and the motor release bar.

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of the multiple sorting drums showing the manner in which the drums are constructed to form the sorting pockets, this view showing as well the feeding rollers for the sorting drums.

- Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the lower right side of the assembled machine showing one of the rotatable sorting drums and its associated ing rollers and the related shutter for enabling the entrance of papers to be sorted in the chute thereof.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the wiring of th( electrical devices of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation showing the motor release bar and the associated clutch mechanism for enabling the manual control of the rotation of the main power drive shaft of the machine. 7 Fig. 8 is a plan view showing some of the parts oi the clutch mechanism shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a machine showing a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is an electrical wiring diagram for the electrical devices of the machine shown in Fig. 9.

Prime mover The power to rotate the sorting drums to select predetermined compartments of the selected sorting drum and to drive the feeding rollers is obtained from a motor III (Fig. 4) which runs constantly when the machine is set into operation. :The armature shaft ll of the motor is adapted to drive oppositely extending shafts l3 through a reduction gear mechanism l2. A selective clutch connection is made to eitherof the shafts i3 by means of a pair of clutches of a common form, each consisting of a shiftable clutch element i 5a, l5b, splined to the related shaft l3, and a companionate clutch element I611, I612, which are mounted on sleeves, each of the latter being pinned to the related shaft l3 to form a bearing for the related clutch elements l6a, or

I6b. A driving engagement between the clutch elements 15a, lGa, or I5b, l6b, is effected by rocking a bell crank No, or I8b, respectively, and

such bell cranks effect a selective mechanical driving connection from the shaft I3 to the sorting drum which is to be rotated thereby. The bell cranks l8a and I8!) are only shown in plan view in Fig. 4 but such elements correspond to the bell cranks 18 shown in Fig. 7 of the patent to F. L. Fuller, 1,946,906 and are fully disclosed in this patent. As the specification progresses, it will be pointed out in connection with the wiring diagram that such bell cranks form part of an electromagnetic control or the clutches.

Sorting drums The sorting drums and their construction may be similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned patent to F. L. Fuller, 1,946,906 and for illustrative purposes an identical construction is adopted, as is disclosed in Figs. 2 and 5.

Briefly, each sorting drum A or B (Fig. 2) consists of a rotatable drum provided with radially extending plates 33 (Fig. 5) which form a series of record receiving compartments 36. The particular records sorted by the present machine are immaterial and may consists of checks, classified paper, documents, etc. Each compartment is provided with a peripherally extending plate 34 and such plate as well as the associated plate 33 support longitudinally extending shafts 32 which carry the intergeared feeding rollers 31, which are driven during the record feeding operation so as to form the means of entrance of the sorted record into the selected compartment. It is to be understood that such feeding rollers 31 as well as the plates 34 cover each of the sorting compartments so as to prevent dropping out of sorted records therein as the sorting drum rotates to the selected compartment position.

For a detailed description of the construction of the sorting compartments, reference may be switch SI (Fig. 1) which may be set bythe ophad to the aforementioned patent to F. L. Fuller,

1,946,906. For an understanding of the presentinvention, it is to be noted that the selected drum is differentially rotated to bring a selected co.npartment to record receiving position so that by the rotation of the rollers 31 and other feeding rollers to be subsequently described, the record to be sorted is fed into the selected compartment.

In order to rotate the selected drum, the related clutch device is engaged, and by means of such engagement a grooved driving wheel 52a or- (Fig. 2) of the related sorting drum consisting of endless belts 53a and 53b, as is shown in Figs.

2 and 4. Each of the belts .53 and 53b is kept tensioned by means of a pulley 50 (Fig: 3) carried by a spring urged arm. S/uch tensioning means is precisely the same as that disclosed in Fig. 1 of the aforementioned patent to F. L. Fuller, 1,946,906. Differing from the single sorting drum arrangement disclosed in the last mentioned patent, it will be noted that the sorting drums A and B are looselymounted upon a common supporting shaft 21, and while adjacently mounted, each of the sorting drums may be se-. lectively rotatedwhen the related driving wheel 52a or 52b is rotated through the engagement of the associated clutch.

As will now be explained, the differential rotation of the selected drum is under control of a common keyboard consisting of a series of compartment selecting keys shown in Fig. 1 and also in the wiring diagram in Fig. 6. Each sorting drum is preferably provided with the same number of compartments as the sorting drum in the aforementioned patent to Fuller, 1,946,906, that is, twenty-four compartments; but such number is merely illustrative and may be varied in accordance with the predetermined requirements. Correspondingly, twenty-four keys 60 are provided and the depression of a compartment selecting key will predetermine the extent of rotation of the selected-sorting drum. The key caps of the key 00 preferably carry a pair of indicia corresponding to the classifications of the records. If the records are classified according to the numbers 1 to 48, each key 60 will carry a pair of numbers. For example, the keys will carry the numbers 1 to 24 and also 25 to 48, the

numbers being paired, 1-25, 2--26, 327, 428, etc. on the keys. The compartments I to 24 relate to the sorting drum A and compartments 25 to 48 relate to the sorting drum B. In order to eliminate confusion in the determination of which sorting drum is to be selected according to the classification of the record, the key caps are preferably colored so that the upper half carries an indicia on a red background, for example, and the lower half an indicia on a black background. The numbers in the red background may be associated with the A sorting drum and the numbers in the black background will be associated with the B sorting drum. Such color distinction will quickly enable the operator to determine which sorting drum is to be selected under control of the key board 60.

The selection of the sorting drums is deterinto the selected compartment.

mined by the position of the switch arm of a 75 erator to either an A or B position in accordance whether the A sorting drum is to be selected, or the B sorting drum and before the key of a keyboard is depressed. Similarly, the A and Bletters are provided with a red and black background to correspond with the colored backgrounds for the numeral designations on the key 60. This correspondence in coloring enables the operator to quickly determine the particular key 30 which is to be depressed and likewise the necessary previous position of the switch SI, for the selection of the required sorting drum. The manner in which the switch SI selects the particular sorting drums will be explained later in connection with the wiring diagram of the machine.

Check feeding devices In the sorting machine disclosed in the Fuller patent, 1,946,906, when a compartment has been selected to receive a check, a manually operated motor release bar is depressed so as to cause, by suitable feeding means, the feeding of the check Preferably, the same arrangement is incorporated in the present machine and now will be described in detail.

As far as is possible, the reference numerals will.

be employed herein which designate corresponding elements in the patented machine.

Referring to Figs. 2' and 5, such check feeding devices include a pair of feeding rollers I30 and I3I between which the check or paper to be sorted is inserted before the rotation of such rollers. The driving devices for driving the feeding rollers receive their power froin a shaft I32, the right hand of the shaft having a pulley (not shown) having a belt connection I34 (Figs. 3 and 5) to a pulley I35 secured to the right hand drive shaft I3 as is shown in Fig. 4. This shaft constantly rotates to thereby cause; through the belt connection I34, the constant rotation of the shaft I32. As shown in Fig. 5, the shaft I32 drives a shaft I36 through a belt and pulley arrangement I3'I, part of which is also shown in the left side of Fig. Loosely mounted upon the shaft I35 is the feeding roller I30 operatively engaged by intel-meshing gears I29 (Fig. 2) with the rearward feeding roller I3I (see Fig. 5) that is, therollers have a positive driving engagement to feed a check inserted therein when the rollers are oppositely rotated. For driving the feeding roller I30 by the shaft I36, a friction drive identified by reference numeral I38 in Fig. 2 but shown in full detail in the aforementioned Patent 1,946,906 is provided and such friction drive consists of a conical shaped disk rotatable with the roller I30 and internally recessed flange member secured to the shaft I36. Obviously, while the shaft I 36 and therefore one element of the clutch are constantly rotated, the feeding roller I30 is normally locked against movement by a lock arm I40 (Fig. i) normally engaging a stud I4I secured to the clutch element secured to the feeding roller I30, thus normally preventing the driving of the feeding rollers I30 and I3I until such arm I40 is brought to unlocking position. When a check is to be fed, the arm I40 is rocked to bring its extremity away from the path of the stud I 4| to perm t the frictional drive of the pair of feeding rollers. th s preferably being effected by rocking an arm I43 secured to the arm I40 by a sleeve I44, the arm I43 having a stud in engagement with the periphery of a profile cam I45 secured to acne revolution drive shaft I 46. As will be subsequently explained, when the motor release bar is depressed, the shaft I46 is operated a complete revolution so that by the initial rotation of the cam I45, the arm I40 will be rocked to enable the friction drive to effect the opposite rotation of the rollers I30 and I3I.

The rearward feeding roller I3I is journalled by a shaft I54 in a yoke shaped frame comprising side plates I41 and a cross member I48, both of said side plates being loosely mounted upon the shaft I36. One of the plates I41 has an integral upwardly extending arm I50 to which is articulated a link II bifurcated to receive the shaft I46 and having a roller I52 engaging the race of a box cam I53 secured to the one revolution drive shaft I46.

Under the action of cam I53, the frame consisting of the side plates I41 and cross member I48 is rocked about the shaft I36, roller I3I rolling slightly over the roller I30. This will bring the feeding rollers I30 and I3I to a position shown in Fig. 5 wherein the check to be fed is close to the feeding rollers 31 of the selected compartment and during the downward movement of the frame a gear drive-connection is made to the feeding rollers 31 so that these are also rotated during the rotation of the check feeding rollers I30 and I3I.

Secured to the clutch element which rotates with the check feeding roller I30 is a gear I51 (Fig. 2) in continuous engagement with a pinion I55 (Fig. 5) secured to a stud shaftl56 which is carried by a bail shaped frame I58 carried by the cross member I48. Pinned to the shaft I56 and similar to the pinion I55 is a roller driving pinion 5|. When the frame is depressed, the pinion H is brought into engagement with one of the intermeshing gears of the feeding rollers 31 of the selected compartment, and obviously, such feeding rollers are oppositely driven so as to convey the check received from the feeding rollers I30 and I3I and feed it into the selected compartment 36. At the termination of such feeding movement, the frames are restored and the pinion 5I elevated to give the necessary clearance to permit a subsequent rotation of the drum I to select another compartment and at the termination of such check feeding operation, the arm I40 is again brought into position to engage the stud I4I so as to stop the rotation of the feeding rollers.

The above described mechanism is precisely the same as shown in the Fuller patent, 1,946,906 andas is shown in Fig. 2 for the present machine, suchsfeeding mechanism is duplicated for the A and if sorting drums. In the present machine, and differing from the single sorting drum arranggrnent in the patented machine, the shaft I36 isextended to the right so that it will also drivithrough a friction drive I29b the feeding -.ro11ers mama I3I of the B sorting drum when released Ky the stop arm I40 for the roller I30 of the B sorting drum.

For facilitating the entry of the checks for reception by the feeding rollers, inclined chutes I61a, I61b are provided for the feeding rollers for each of the sorting drums. The weight of the check is usually suflicient to insure that they pass into the bite of rollers I30 and I3I but in case they are crumpled, forcible entry may be required and to this end the upper portion of each chute is flared at I68 to permit entry of the fingers of the operator's hand when depositing a check in said chute.

While in the present machine the check feeding devices for both sorting drums are concomitantly driven, insertion of the check into the check feeding devices for the selected sorting drum is enabled by shifting a shutter in the associated chute which will give an lentrance in said chute, and

the manner in which this is effected will be subsequently described in detail hereinafter.

Motor release bar The performance of the check feeding operations just described and others are under control of motor bar 261 depressible by the operator to effect the clutching of the constantly running shaft I32 (Fig. 8) with the main drive shaft I46.

The preferred form of clutch mechanism whichis the same as shown in Patent No. ,9 will now be described in detail.

The motor bar 261 is operable exteriorly of the machine (see Fig. 1) and is carried by a stem 215 (Fig. 7) slidably mounted at its upper end and pivoted at its lower end to an arm 216. The stem carries a pawl 211 the lower end of which is adapted to engage one arm 218 of a bell crank, the vertical arm 219 being pivoted to a link.280 which is secured to the lower end of a pinion carrying frame comprising parallel plates 28Ia and 28Ib both loosely mounted on shaft I32 (see Figs. 7 and 8). Secured to the constantly running shaft I32 is a pinion 282 in mesh with an idler pinion 283 pivotally mounted on the frame plate 28Ia. Pinion 283 is in constant mesh with a broader pinion 284 also pivotally mounted on plate 28Ia. The pinion 284 when rocked into mesh is sufilciently broad to mesh with and drive ihgmion 285 secured to the cam carrying shaft A spring 286 (Fig. 7) connected to the frame 28Ia-28Ib retracts the latter so a normal disengagement is effected between pinions 284 and 285. When themotor bar is depressed, pawl'211 rocks bell crank 218-213 to shift the link 280 so that when the pinion carrying frame is rocked sufficiently to effect a driving engagement between pinions 284285, 2. lug 288 of a spring urged latch arm 281 will spring behind a projection 289 of frame plate 28I. Shaft I46 will now be driven to effect the feeding of the record into the selected compartment. Towards the end of a complete revolution of shaft I46, a pin 290 secured to gear 285 will coact with a tail of the latch arm 281 permitting spring 286 to restore the frame to effect disengagement between pinion 284 and gear 285.

When stem 215 is depressed, pawl 211 will rock the bell crank and by the coaction of a tail of the pawl with a fixed stud 29Ia, the pawl will be rocked in its downward movement and will pass by the arm 218 after the pinion carrying frame is rocked to be latched by pawl 281. The engaging end of pawl 211 now being below the arm 218 it will be observed that repeated operations of the drive shaft I46 cannot be effected by holding the motor bar depressed. The provision of the above non-repeat device requires restoration of the motor bar and a subsequent depression for 1 of the drive and driven pinions and this is maintained after the pin has cleared the edge 293 by the concentric edge 296 (Fig. 7) of a disk 295 (Fig. 8) coacting with the lower edge 293. When the shaft I88 returns to its home position, restoration of the frame 28in, 28lb by the unlatching oi lever 28'! will cause the lower projectingportion of extension 281 to fltin and engage a cutout portion of the disk 288, the parts nowbeing at normal.

Operation of the machine in connection with-the wiring diagram In the wiring diagram of Fig. 6,? designates a power supply which, when switches 82 and 85 are closed, connect the current supply to bus bars 88 and 88. When the switch 85, which as shown in Fig. 1 is positioned exterior or the machine, is closed, a relay magnet 88 will be connected across the power supply P, the energization of the relay magnet closing its contacts 880. to connect one side of the power supply to the bus bar 83 and to connect the motor l8 across the power supply.

Previous reference has been made to the group of compartment selecting keys 68 which are identical in construction to the keys of the keyboard of the patented machine shown in the Fuller Patent 1,946,906, particularly in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 thereof. The construction is the same in that, when a key is depressed, it will be latched depressed by means of a detent plate and will be held depressed until another key of the keyboard is subsequently operated, which will release the latched key initially depressed. This construction of the keyboard known as a flexible keyboard is very well known and for this reason is not shown herein. For fuller details, reference may be had to the Fuller patent, 1,946,906. At the end of the operation of the machine, the detent plate is operated so, as to release any key which has been latched in depressed position. v

Associated with the keys 68 and closed by each key are contacts I9 and 88 and when a key is latched depressed, contacts 19 and 88 will be latched closed. The closure of contacts I9 by any of the'keys will cause the energization of either a relay 89a or 891), depending upon the position of the switch SI. When the switch is in the A" position, it will be noted that upon the depression of a key, a circuit will be closed from the bus bar 83, line wire 88, through one of the closed contacts I9, through the switch SI at the A position to the relay magnet 89a, thence back to the bus bar 84. If the switch SI was in the 13" position, a similar circuit is closed except that current will pass through the relay magnet 89b. When the relay magnet 89a is energized, it will close its contacts 8811a so that a circuit is closed from the bus bar 83, line wire 88, relay contacts 8911a, relay contacts 81a now closed, to a clutch control magnet 92a, thence by a wire 88a and wire i 18a back to the bus bar 84. Hence, with the switch Si in the A" position, the depression of one of the compartment selecting keys will cause the energization of the clutch control magnet 92a. correspondingly, whenthe switch SI is in the B" position, relay magnet 89!) is energized which will, through a similar circuit, cause the energization of the clutch control magnet 92b. Summarizing, the position of the switch SI determines which clutch control magnet 92a or 92b is to be energized and its energization is effected by the depression of any of the compartment selecting keys 68 of the keyboard. I

Referring now to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the energization of the clutch control magnet 82a will rock the bell crank 18a and as is obvious from Fig. 4, it will engage the clutch lia, [8a which will cause the rotation of the drive wheel 82a and through the belt connection We drive the A sorting drum in the manner previously described. i

Similarly, the energization of the clutch control magnet 82!) will'rock the bell crank 18b, engaging the clutch lib, lib, thus causing the rotation of the wheel 52b so that through the belt drive 88b the B sorting drum will be rotated.

The above circuits just described set the selected sorting drum into rotation and in addition to initiating the rotation of the selected sorting drum the keys 88 also control the differential rotation in order that when the selected compartment is at the proper position in which to receive the sorted check, the drum will be stoppedin its rotation and locked in such position. The differential rotation of the sorting drums is determined by the supplemental contacts 88 closed by each of the keys 68. Each of the keys 88 closes its individual contacts 88 and considering an individual set of contacts, it will be noted that one contact blade is connected to the line wire 88 which is connected to the bus bar 88 and the other blade of such contacts is extended by a related wire connection 951: to a contact point 96a of a commutator. While not all of theconnections from all of the keys to their respective contact points 96a are shown in Fig. 6, it should be noted, nevertheless, that for a full complement of keys there are wire connections from all the contacts 88 to all the contact points 96a and in addition thereto there are wire connections to the c'ontact points 96b of a supplemental commutator. Therefore, the depression of one of the compartment selecting keys 68 renders the associated contact point 98a and 98b alive."

The series of contact points 960 and 98b toether with their associated commutator levers I 84a and 18th comprise two commutator structures, the mechanical details of which are fully shown and described in the patent to Fuller, 1,946,906. Details of these two commutators are also shown in Fig. 2 wherein it will be noted that the commutator lever l84a is mounted so as to rotate with the drum A and the commutator lever l84b is mounted to rotate with the sorting drum B. The series of contact points 96a and 98b are carried by disks of insulating material 98a and 88b which are fixed, that is to say, they are secured to the side frames of the machine. The commutator levers ma and l84b carry related contact points a and M51; and each of said commutator levers, 184a, 184b, has a continuous contact with conducting rings l8'ia and Wm, respectively. Obviously, in the rotation of the selected sorting drum, the related commutator lever i84a,'l8lb will rotate until it engages with the contact point of the associated commutator which has been rendered "alive," thereby extending the circuit from the contact point to the associated commutator lever I84a, l84b, the conducting ring I8'Ia, l8'lb,.to a wire [88a or a wire I88b. The wire |88a is connected to a solenoid NM and a wire N81: is connected to the solenoid I88b, the other side of each of said solenoids having a wire connection 8a or Il8b back to the bus bar 84.

The circuit from wires 188a and l88b divide so that the relay magnets i83a, |83b are extended back to the bus bar 84 to also be energized. At the time the commutator lever l8la or l88b which is effective engages the live contact point, the

associated relay magnet Illa or lllb will be energized to open its contacts lla or lib, thereby deenergizing the related clutch control magnet 92a or 82b to stop the rotation of the selected sorting drum. The solenoids lllfia and lllib are the solenoids which cause the stopping of the drum at the predetermined compartment position and locking it in such position and the drum stop devices, as more fully shown and described in the Fuller patent, 1,946,906, consist of an arm 2a which is pivoted to the framework structure of the machine. To the arm H2 (Fig. 3) there is pivoted a lock arm 3a. The arm 2a has an extension to which is secured a spring Illa. The solenoid l09a has a retractable core piece I Ila, the lower end having a pin-end slot connection with the related lock arm 3a.

The free end of the arm 3a has secured thereto an upward extension l22a and associated therewith a pivoted pawl or check arm I230 so that when the arm 3a is projected upwardly by the energization of the solenoid I086, the check arm |23a is placed in the path of one of a series of extensions a of the sorting drum. The timing is so arranged that the arm Illa is elevated when the desired compartment is at the check receiving position, and at this time a stud a nearly opposite the selected sorting drum will be between the extension HM and the check arm l23a, thereby stopping the rotation of the drum and since the solenoid "9a is retained energized, it will lock the sorting drum in such position. The momentum of the drum carries the arm 3a to the left against the action of the spring Ga and the reverse action of the latter will return the sorting drum to such position that the selected compartment is in the proper position to receive the paper to be sorted. The above described stopping device for the sorting'drum has been described in connection with the A sorting drum but it is to be understood that a duplicate arrangement is provided for the B sorting drum to similarly stop the B sorting drum when it i selected for operation. Although the contact points 96a or 98b are rendered alive for both commutators, it is to be noted that only one of such commutators is affected, due to the position of the switch SI so as to correspondingly stop the rotation of the sorting drum selected by the switch SI.

When the selected drum has been rotated to the proper compartment receiving position, the motor release bar 261 is depressed which will then cause the operation of the feeding rollers I30 and it to feed the check inserted in the chute I61 or I6Ib into the desired compartment of the selected sorting drum. However, in order to eliminate the possibility of errors in disposing the sorted paper or check into the wrong chute, a feature of the present machine is to provide suitable shutters which will prevent the insertion of the check in the wrong chute but enable its entrance into the proper one, thereby eliminating the possibility of errors in sorting, either accidentally or intentionally. This feature of the machine will now be described in detail.

Shutters for sorting chutes arrangement for the chute lilo will be described in connection with Fig. 5, it being understood that a duplicate arrangement is provided for the chute mo.

Pivotally mounted on a stud III is a blade or shutter I" and said shutter I" has an integral extension ill to which is connected a spring I. The tension of the spring I08 rocks the shutter I about its pivot llil to normally block the opening in the chute Illa. Pivoted to the plate I02 is the core of a solenoid SMa. When the solenoid is energized, it will rock the shutter I ll! around its pivot IIH, thereby opening the chute I81 of the selected sorting drum. Only one of the solenoids SMa or SMb is energized at a time so that only the chute I61 of the selected sorting drum will be free for the insertion of the paper to be sorted. The chute of the sorting drum which has not been selected, will, of course. be blocked so the resistance given by the shutter I" in the insertion of the paper in the wrong chute I61 will quickly apprise the operator of the error made.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the solenoids SM and SMb are each in parallel with their respective solenoids "Ba and "9b and as long as the solenoid I091: is energized the chute of the selected associated sorting drum will be opened for check sorting operations and such solenoids SMa and SMb are retained energized until the depressed key is released at the termination of the paper feeding operation. At this time, the contact of the depressed key are opened so as to open the circuit to both of the solenoids Na and SM: or l09b and SMb. In connection with the release of the keys, it is understood that the circuit to the solenoids "9a and SMa, for example, is closed by the contact of brush Ill-5a with the "alive" contact point 98a, the circuit being broken through the key contacts 80 when the depressed key is released. Attention is directed to the provision of contacts Illa which extend the circuit back from the solenoids i094 and SMa through such contacts and contacts 8941a and wire 88 back to the bus bar 83. Such contacts close a stick circuit for both of the solenoids. When the depressed key is released. the relay 89a and I 03a, for example, will be deenergized, opening the contacts 89m and Ilia, breaking the circuit to the solenoids 9a and SM, thereby breaking such circuits at the relay points instead of at the key operates! contacts I! and 80, permitting a minimum of sparking at the key contacts and lengthening the life thereof.

Modification of the present invention The present invention also contemplates a modification whereby the capacity for check sorting operations can be increased, utilizing substantially the same principles of operation as disclosed in the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive. This modification is disclosed in Figs. 9 and 10, Fig. 9 showing a plan view of the keyboard arrangement'and Fig. 10 disclosing the electrical wiring diagram for the modified machine.

The details of the sorting mechanisms are not disclosed because they are precisely the same as that shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. That is, the construction of the sorting drums, the clutch devices for initiating the rotation of the sorting drums and the means for predetermining the extent of the rotation of the sorting drums is precisely the same as that shown in these figures,

this statement also being true with respect to the anism therefor. The major distinction in the modified form of machine is the provision of two .GIIA are designated I-24 and the key caps ofthe keyboard 60B are designated 25 to 48, and in accordance' with this classifications on the checks orpapers to be sorted, the desired key depressed. It will be noted that each keyboard controls independently the associated commutator for predetermining the extent of movement and the selection of the drums is effected by enabling the key contacts 80 of one keyboard to cause the energization of the associated clutch control solenoid 92a as shown in the wiring diagram of Fig. and by having the contacts 80 of the other keyboard cause the energization of the oth er clutch control solenoid 92b. Obviously, this dispenses with the switch SI so that the selection of the drums may be automatically effected under control of the independent keyboards. The energization of each stop control solenoid l09a, |09b is accompanied by the energization of the related shutter control solenoid SMa or SMb, thereby opening the chute of the sorting drum which has been selected for operation. Since the other chute is effectively blocked by the shutter I00 which has not been moved, the other chute 'will be blocked against the entrance of the sorted papers when that sorting drum is not to be employed for sorting operations.

The motor release bar 261 and the associated clutch from the prime mover to the main driving shaft is precisely the same'as that disclosed for the first modification described and shown in Figs. '7 and 8. It is possible that with the modifled form of invention, a somewhat increase in sorting speeds will result, due to the elimination of the switch Si which requires additional manipulation by the operator to select the desired sorting drum.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to different modifications, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and detains of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of selectable movable carriers each provided with a plurality of sorting compartments, power means to move said carriers, compartment selecting means for predetermining the extent of movement of the carriers by said power means to select said compartments, means for feeding records disposed in a chute of the associated carrier to feed a record to the selected compartment, blocking means in each chute to prevent insertion of a record to be fed by said feeding means to a selected compartment, and means for operating said blocking means in accordance with the carrier selected for sorting operations to enable the feeding of the record into the compartment selected by said compartment selecting means.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of selectable movable carriers each provided with a plurality of sorting compartments, power means to move said carriers, compartment selecting means for predetermining the extent of movement of the carriers by said power means to select said compartments, means for feeding records disposed in a chute of the associated carrier to feed a record to the selected compartment, adjustable blocking means in each chute to prevent insertion of a record to be fed by said feeding means to a selected compartment, and means for adjusting said blocking means in accordance with the carrier selected for sorting operations to enable the insertion of a record in the chute thereof for feeding the record into the compartment selected by said compartment selecting means, and to prevent the insertion of a record in the chute of the carrier not selected for operation.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of selectable movable carriers each provided with a plurality of sorting compartments, compartment selecting means comprising keys of a single keyboard for predetermining the extent of movement of the carriers to select said compartments, means for determining the particular carrier to be moved under control of said compartment selecting means, blocking means in chutes leading to the compartments of the carriers to prevent insertion of a record to be disposed into a selected compartment, and means under control of said determining means for adjusting each of said blocking means in accordance with the carrier selected for sorting operations to enable the insertion of the record in the chute of selected carrier for feeding the record into the selected compartment thereof, and to prevent the insertion of a record in the chute of the carrier not selected for operation.

4. In a machine of the class described, the conibination of a plurality of selectable movable carriers each provided with a plurality of sorting compartments, compartment selecting means comprising individually operated keys of a single keyboard for predetermining the extent of movement of the carriers to select said compartments, means for feeding records disposed in the chute of the associated carrier to feed a record to the selected compartment, means for predetermining the carrier to be moved under control of said keys, blocking means in each of said chutes to prevent insertion of a record to be fed by said feeding means, and means controlled by said predetermining means for adjusting each of said blocking means in accordance with the carrier selected for sorting operations to enable the insertionof a record in the chute of the selected carrier for feeding the record into the compartment selected by said keys, and to prevent the feeding of a record into a compartment of the carrier not selected for operation.

5. In a machine of the class described, the com bination of a plurality of sorting drums, each having a plurality of'compartmentscommon key controlled means for causing rotation of a selected drum to a selected compartment receiving position, separate feeding means for each drum and concomitantly driven to feed a record to a selected compartment of a selected drum, means for selecting the drum to be rotated for compartment selection under control of the key controlled means, and means to prevent the cooperation'of a record with the feeding means 1alssociated with the drum not selected for opera- 6. In a machine of the class described, the comrier, and to enable the cooperation oi records with compartments of the selected carrier.

7. In a sorting machine, the combination of a plurality of movable sorting carriers, a chute for each carrier to enable the insertion of records to a selected compartment oi. each carrier, an

ammo-s adjustable shutter in each chute tor blocking the insertion oi! a record in the associate chute, a prime mover, separate transmission means from each carrier to said prime mover to move said carrier, a stop device for each carrier for controlling the extent of movement of the carrier, selecting means to select the transmission means to be operative and to actuate the stop device for the selected carrier, and means for selectively adjusting the shutters in accordance with the stop device and transmission means selected for operation to block the insertion of a record in one chute, and to enable the insertion of a record in the chute of the selected carrier.

THOMAS J. WATSON.

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