CARD SORTING DEVICE

• US 3,690,670 A
• Filed: 12/15/1969
• Issued: 09/12/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George Coad, 1697 Castle Hill Rd., John Cassady, 11 Mira Monte Rd.
• Original Assignee: George Coad, 1697 Castle Hill Rd., John Cassady, 11 Mira Monte Rd.
• Inventors: John Cassady, 11 Mira Monte Rd., George Coad, 1697 Castle Hill Rd.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anton O. Oechsle
• Application Number:
  US04/885,283
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 273/149P 209/110.5
• US Class Current: 273/293
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2422 Cards with holes

Abstract

Stacked cards may be sorted by providing uniquely located identifying holes in each card and a movable element with tabs that are able to engage selected holes in a card to remove the card from a stack and deliver it to a selected sorting station. Selection is accomplished by a sort controlling means placed between the movable element and the stacked cards. The sort controlling means aligns one tab with one hole of a group on a stacked card. The tab then moves the card to a selected sorting station.

Claims

1. A card sorting system comprising a set of cards, a series of gripping means uniquely located on each card of the set, a movable element having a series of gripping means, means for locating said set of cards in stacked relation adjacent said element, means for moving said element past said cards, said gripping means being so located on said element such that a selected one of said element gripping means can grip any one of the gripping means of the most adjacent card to remove said card from the stack, code means adapted to be interposed between the element and the most adjacent card, said code means determining the particular gripping means on the most adjacent card which is gripped by the element gripping means, and means cooperating with said card and element gripping means and responsive to the particular card gripping means engaged by the element gripping means to effect the discharge of a card to a selected sorting station.

2. A card sorting system comprising:

a set of cards, a series of gripping means uniquely located on each card of said set, a movable element having a series of tab means, means for locating said set of cards in stacked relation adjacent to said movable element, means for moving said movable element relative to said stacked cards, said tabs being located on said movable element such that a selection of said tabs can grip a selection of said gripping means of the most adjacent card to remove said adjacent card from said stacked cards, sort controlling means adapted to be inserted between said movable element and said most adjAcent card of said set of stacked cards, said sort controlling means determining the particular gripping means on said most adjacent card to be gripped by a tab on said movable element, and sorting station means responsive to said particular gripping means gripped by said tab to direct said most adjacent card to a selected sorting station.

3. The sorting system of claim 2 wherein said gripping means is a series of holes aligned parallel to the direction of relative movement between said movable element and uniquely positioned across said card perpendicular to said direction of relative movement according to the particular designation of said card.

4. The sorting system of claim 3 wherein said particular hole for selecting a sorting station is one of said holes aligned in the direction of said relative movement.

5. The sorting system of claim 4 wherein said sort controlling means includes means effective to determine said particular hole in the direction of said relative movement to be engaged by said tab.

6. The sorting system of claim 2 wherein said movable element is a continuous belt adapted to move relative to said stacked cards.

7. The sorting system of claim 3 wherein said sorting station are pockets and the selection of a particular hole limits the amount of relative movement between said adjacent card and said movable element.

8. The sorting system of claim 2 wherein said sorting stations cooperate with said cards and said tabs as determined by said sort controlling means to direct a stacked card to a selected sorting station.