CARD HANDLING SYSTEM

• US 3,561,756 A
• Filed: 03/21/1969
• Issued: 02/09/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann Tally Corporation
• Original Assignee: David L. Barnett
• Inventors: Barnett, David L.
• Application Number:
  US04/809,168
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• US Class Current: 271/113
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/02 the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/08 Feeding or discharging cards

Abstract

Apparatus including a feed bin attached to a frame for supporting cards in parallel planes slightly inclined from vertical. A picker knife extends into the feed bin and periodically elevates the first card in the bin into a feed position. A feed plate mounted for rotation in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the card in feed position is provided with a plurality of card-engaging protrusions which contact the edge of the card in the feed position and move the card in its plane past read heads. The picker knife elevates the card in synchronism with the rotation of the feed plate through the utilization of camming pins secured to the feed plate which contact the bottom of the picker knife to cause the latter to extend into the feed bin.

Claims

1. In a card handling system having a bin to receive a stack of cards to be fed one at a time from said stack, the improvement comprising:

a feed plate mounted for rotation in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the first card in said stack of cards;

a card-engaging protrusion secured to said feed plate extending from said feed plate into the plane of said card to engage an edge of said card and drive the card in its plane.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said feed bin is inClined from vertical and abuts a feed face having an arcuate slot therein to permit said protrusion to pass therethrough as said feed plate rotates.

3. The b combination set forth in claim 1, including a picker knife having an operating position and a rest position, positioned for extension into said bin when in said operating position, said picker knife contacting and elevating said first card to a feed position when in said operating position.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3, including means responsive to the rotation of said feed plate for moving said picker knife from said rest position to said operating position.

5. In a card handling system, the improvement comprising:

a frame;

a feed bin secured to said frame for supporting cards in parallel planes;

a picker knife, having an operating position and a rest position, positioned for extension into said bin when in said operating position, said picker knife contacting and elevating a card to a feed position when in said operating position;

a cam follower secured to said picker knife;

a rotating shaft supported on said frame;

a feed plate mounted on said shaft for rotation in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of a card in said feed position;

a card-engaging protrusion secured to said feed plate;

said feed plate positioned to permit said protrusion to engage an edge of a card in said feed position and to drive said card in its plane as said feed plate rotates;

a cam mounted for rotation with said shaft and positioned to engage said cam follower to force said picker knife to change said positions.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5, wherein said feed bin supports said cards in parallel planes inclines from 10* to 45* from vertical.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5, wherein said picker knife is spring-loaded to said rest position and is forced to said operating position by contact between said cam and cam follower.

8. The combination set forth in claim 5, wherein said cam comprises a plurality of camming pins secured to said feed plate.

9. The combination set forth in claim 5, including a feed face extending upwardly from said feed bin and having an arcuate slot therein, said feed face positioned to permit said card-engaging protrusion to extend therethrough as the latter rotates with said feed plate.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9, including a curb extending the width of said feed bin and positioned adjacent said feed face to maintain separation between a card in said feed position and the remaining cards in a stack of cards.