US2656054A - Sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1953 F. c. GLEAsoN SORTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 18, 1949 FIG.|

ATTORN EY oct. 2o, 1953 F. c. GLEASON 2,656,054

SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1949 asheefs-sheet '2' OOOOOOOOOO OO o o o oo o o o o o O O 3mm o o o o 0 o 0 @o O O jeavrlc 562214500 o o o o o o O o o o O 0 l 35% v kfw/t q l u) @WM/wl. RNW-1 ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1953 F. c. GLEAsoN 2,656,054

` SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1s, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. .3v 13 l BY A ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1953 F'. C. GLEASON SORTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Jan. 18, 1949 ATTORNEYS F. C. GLEASON SORTING MACHINE Oct. 20, 1953 8 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Jan. 18, 1949 ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1953 F. c. GLEASON soRTING MACHINE l 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 18, 1949 3mm Gfasaf/ A TTORNEY Oct. 20, 1953 F. c. GLr-:AsoN

8 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTOR N EY 0d. 20, 1953 F, C, GLEASON 2,656,054

SORTING MACHINE ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES gTENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to sorting machines and more particularly to a machine for sorting articles such as letters, sales slips, bills of lading and the like, adapted to be operated automatically in accordance with the printed material contained on the article faces. More specifically theinvention relates to such a machine which is so constructed that it may be used in series with one or more identical machines to deliver the sorted articles to common collection places.

Machines for automatically sorting articles according to the printed material contained thereon are old in the art, but none has been invented that may be used in a battery of like machines for-materially decreasing the number of collection points required, nor in fact has any been developed that possesses the superior and distinguishing characteristics of that which is the subject of this invention. Additionally, signicant commercial success has been accorded none.

In its broadest aspects, the present invention contemplates an electrically operated machine having a number of compartments or chutes into which are to be sorted articles, and belt driving and conveying means for conveying such letters and the like to the various chutes. The various electrical circuits of the machine are adapted to be actuated from a keyboard similar in the arrangement of the keys to that of a standard typewriter keyboard. The operator of the machine need merely note a certain number, for example two, characters in the printed matter of the article to be sorted, operates the corresponding keys on the keyboard and the letter will be routed to the proper chute without further attention from the operator. It is contemplated that the only restriction of the speed with which articles may be sorted is the speed with which the operator can scan the pertinent printed matter and operate the keyboard, the speed of the belt conveying means being of such magnitude that it is in no way restrictive with respect to the speed of sorting. The construction of the machine, and

particularly the chutes, is such that any number of machines may be placed side by side and the articles, sorted by each, conveyed through the chutes of the machines on one side thereof to common collection points for all of the machines in a group.

More specifically the present invention contemplates a sorting machine mounted on a suitable framework and having a plurality of chutes, the number of such chutes depending only upon the number of different categories into which it is desired to sort the articles to be sorted. Each chute comprises a base portion and a back Wall which confine the article, delivered, to the chute. It has no side or front walls, except for, perhaps, a lip along the front edge of its base, the front Wall being necessarily omitted to provide means for entrance of the article. The chutes are all in' clined at an angle sufficient to cause the article delivered to any one of them to slide, because of gravitational force, out endwise therefrom. Additionally, the chutes are arranged in generally vertical rows longitudinally of the machine, corresponding ones in each generally vertical row being at the same horizontal level.

The feeding and conveying means of the sorting machine comprise a vseries of power driven conveyor belts all preferably and most economically driven from a single source of driving power. A swinging rotary feed mechanism takes a single article from the source of supply, passes it on to generally vertically disposed initial feed belts from which it is received by horizontal feed belts so disposed as to pass above the generally vertical rows of chutes. A solenoid-operated trap is provided for each of the generally vertical rows of chutes and, according to the desires of the operator of the machine, one of these intercepts the article during its horizontal travel and diverts it into one of the generally vertical rows. Each of these rows is itself provided with a positive conveying means inclined at the same angle as is its respective generally vertical row of chutes. This conveyor, again comprising positively driven belts, receives the article at the point of its diversion from its horizontal path of travel by the abovementioned solenoid-operated trap. It conveys the article downwardly along the generally vertical row of chutes past the front, substantially open sides of the chutes. Each chute is provided with a solenoid-operated trap which is adapted to divert the article from the generally vertical conveying means into the chute. The operation of these traps is also controlled by the operator of the machine. The article is thus delivered to a particular chute.

While each of the traps for diverting the articles from their horizontal paths of travel into one of the generally vertical paths is operated of necessity by a separate solenoid, the chute traps are so designed that a single solenoid may be used for lthe operation of all of those in one horizontal fzontal rows.

to one pole of a source of electric current and each forms one half of a make-and-brea'kV electric switch. The other halves of the make-andbreak switches are carried by a reciprocable member positioned beneath the keyboardv andr adapted to assume either of two positions with respect to the keyboard depending upon" the'op eration of the keyboard.

Aspointed out above, thescrting machine;- of the present' invention isintended to be. operated according' to. theY printed" matterV carried.. onr the faceiof the article to be sorted, certain characters of the. printed matter when typed on the keyboard serving to determine tov which of the plurality of chutes the article is tosbe delivered. The electrical circuit setup. of the machine hereiin disclosedhasbeen designed: to operate the machine and sort articles according toi any* two distinguishing; charactersof the' printed matter. For' instance, insertingmaill the tworst letters of the street name in the address may serve as the distinguishing characters. However, it is contemplated that thel electricaly systemv with obvious vxm'idiiications may be adapted toy operate the.. machine in accorda-nce with three, four or morecdistinguishing characters andthe fact that tvv'o4 have here beenlchosen" for illustrative purposes is notto be construed as limiting.

For' this reason the. electrical' operating system of the'sorting machine disclosed and described herein,v comprises essentially twomajor sets. of circuits: One of the iirstrof these isL completed when the rstkey of. the keyboard, corresponding to; theffi'rst distinguishing character ofv the Yprintedmatter', is' depressed, the key being'returned toits original positionbyv a spring return, but the-'circuit so completed'being ma-intainedby a relay. The completion of. this circuit energizes o one: of. theY trap-operating solenoids;r depending upon which key is pressed, for one of the horizontal. rows ot. chutes serving toset up all. of the traps of the chutes of that particularV row. The completion of this circuit also. energizes a solein'oid' provided to move the reciprocableY member fcrmingthe other halves. of the keyboard makeandfbreak switches in one direction, setting this member. up for the subsequent depression of. a second key of the. keyboard; whether it be the same key as first. depressed or' a different one is immaterial-to the operation of theY machineas provision is'necessarily made this.V manner to meetlY ther possibility of the two distinguishing characters of the printed matter according to Vwhiclrthe machine is operated being the same.

This rst circuit is maintained by means'of the above-mentioned relay until broken. as willy be subsequently described.

One of. the second. major sets-of. circuitst is completed'whenrthe key of the keyboard, correspond'- ing'tcr the second distinguishingcharacter of the printed matter is depressed, this key also being returned' to. its' rest. positionv by a spring return but the circuit so completed being maintained by a relay. The completion of this circuit accomplishes several things. It rst of all energizes one of the solenoids which sets up one of the traps serving to intercept and divert an article carried by the horizontal conveying means to a generally vertical conveying means. It also energizes a solenoid to return the reciprocable keyboard member to its original position. This circuit tco is maintained by its relay until broken at the saine time as is'theI first-mentioned circuit. The second major vcircuit established also serves to operate the swinging rotary feed mechanism through a secondary circuit. The secondary circuit when so established causes the swinging rotary feed mechanism to. feed an article from they article supply to the machine by energizing a. solenoid which swings such mechanism into operating position. As the article passes' between the initial feed belt conveying means it, however, nicks a trigger switch mechanismrv breaking thistsecondaryvr circuit and; makinga tertiary circuit. Thefletterf-eontacting parti ofthe trigger switch mechanism istsoz positioned.

with.- respect" to theletter-contacting portion of the swinging rotary feed mechanism..- that` the distance therebetween. is less-.than the` width. of the narrowest article to` be-sorted. The tertiary circuit energizes' another solenoid which.- returnsl the swinging` rotary feed. mechanism tof itsinoperative position and.` because of the.. spacing of... thetrigger switch. and the: feed mechanism does so beforeY a second. article: can. be. fed. At the same time, the last-mentioned. solenoid,l setsa dash` pot or time-delay mechanism for break--v ing, both. the Y first and. secondmajor circuits pre.- viously establishedzby the operation of. the-keys of the; keyboard.l The time-delay device. is set, ofiv course, for the. length. of. time required for an article. tober delivered from. the articlefsourceto the. chutes farthest away therefrom, this:Y setting of the time-delay device therefore allowingfsui flcient timefor theY delivery of. articles, to any intermediate chute also.. f

As pointed. out,. the chutes compriseI bases-and baelcwallsand-are inclined at such an angle that an article delivered to any one of them. will, because ot gravitationalforce, slide out-from the end. thereof. In. addition, the chutes are of such dimensions transversely of..the machine that1 they extend a short distance beyond the. body ofthe machine oneaeh. side of it. ThisI construction.v is provided so that wheni itv is desired tov use more than one machine; as is. contemplated where there isa large number of articles tobe. sorted. the machines to. bey used. together may be set. side by side:v in steppedv fashion,` the chutes of.: one machine overlapping` those" of the` adjacent machine on the next. lowerEv step. Thusthe. `chutes of eachmachine formv portions oflonger. chutes throughrwhiclr articles from the chui-,es of.' the machines on upper. steps; may pass in. being` delivered-toA thev common collection pointsA of. all machines.V Itl will boolean that, the. correspond.- ing. chutes of the machines of such. a group.. all receive thesame type of article. that. isxv for instance.. the X. chute? of eaclzr will. receive from the sorting machineof each, articleshaving. been sorted-according. to the same two distinguishing characters. It will alsofbe clear. thatv the stepped arrangement of machines used as a group is necessary as' the delivery ot the articles," that have beensorted: by.f each; tocommon collection points. depends upon gravitational. force;`

Theadvantagesv oi the; sorting machine. of the present invention-will .be obvious.. Instead othaving to manually sort articles or to even manually collect articles, that have been automatically sorted, from the chutes of each machine, but one collection is.;now necessary and that is the collection from' the common collection points of the group or. battery of machines. In the event one machine'of a group, being used together requires routine maintenance it may be removed from its position and a spare machine inserted in its place. Thus only one spare machine is needed as all machines are identical. l The removal of one will not put the whole group out of commission. j

This invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment thereof. However it is to be understood that such further and detailed description is merely by way of exemplication and the invention is not limited thereby except to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevational view showing the framework for supporting the various elements of one embodiment of the machine of this invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the machine shown in Fig. 1 and Aincluding portions of identical machines adapted to be used therewith, one lying on either side thereof,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, also showing portions of identical machines placed in stepped relation, one on each side of the main machine, f

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial elevational view taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a portion of the machine and the operating circuits completed by the depression of the first-operated key,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the machine and the circuits completed by the depression of the second-operated key,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the machine showing the feed release and return circuits, and

Fig. 8 is a `schematic representation of the combined operating circuits of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1-4, any suitable framework may,

be used to support the sorting machine mechanism. The basic framework shown, being but one type which will satisfactorily serve the purpose, comprises a plurality of vertically disposed members I connected by various horizontal members 2 and plate members 3 to form a rigid, sturdy structure.

Within this framework and supported thereby is a plurality of chutes 4, each consisting'of a base 5 having a lip 6 and back wall 1. The chutes 4 are arranged in generally verticalrows a, b, c, d, etc. longitudinally of the machine, corresponding ones being at the same horizontal level. Thus, are formed horizontal rows A, B, C, D, etc. Each chute is additionally itself inclined in a direction transversely of the sorting machine at an angle of approximately 45 with the horizontal, or even possibly greater. The omission of a front side wall for each chute is necessary in order to provide means for the entrance of an article to be sorted into such 'chute and end walls for each are omitted to permit the article to slide sidewise out therefrom.

Mounted above the above-mentioned framework, adjacent one end thereof and supported thereby ls an article feeding or supply-trough I Il, one end of which is considerably elevated from the other to facilitate the feeding of the articles to the lower end and from there to conveying means of the sorting machine. The articles I I to be sorted, in this case letters, are placed in the trough in a generally vertical position with the faces thereof carrying the printed matter or address facing the lower end of lthe trough. A weight-follower I2 rides in the trough above the letters and is adapted to maintain them in their vertical positions and to supply the necessary force to assure that they will move towards the lower .end of the trough.

The feeding and conveying means of the sorting machine comprises a series of power driven belts (Fig. 2) all preferably and most economically driven from a single source of driving power, for instance, an electric motor I3 suitably supported above the opposite end of the basic framework from that at which the supply trough is mounted. Horizontally-disposed conveyer belts I4, supported by driving rollers I5 and' I 6 are mounted to ride above and across the upper ends of the generally vertical rows of chutes, the driving rollers being supported on horizontal members 2 of the framework. These horizontal conveyer belts are positively driven by the motor I3 through driving belt II and serve to forcibly transfer letters supplied to them, vlengthwise of the machine and above the generally vertical rows of the chutes. The supporting roller I6 provides driving power for one set of initial feed belts I8 supported by it and auxiliary shaft I9 Plates 20 are mounted below the lower flights of the horizontal conveyer belts and are adapted to support the letters to be sorted during the period of their conveyance by such horizontal conveyer belts. Each generally vertical row of chutes is also provided with positive conveying means-in the form of conveyer belts 22 inclined at the same angle as are the generally vertical rows of chutes and serving to convey a letter, when properly diverted from its horizontal path of travel to a chute of the generally vertical row depending upon the operation of the sorting machine as'will be subsequently described. These generally vertical conveyer belts are supported by driving drums 23 and idler drums 24 which, by suitable belt connecting means as shown in Fig. 2, are all driven from the single source of power, motor I3, through power belt 25. It should be noted here that the conveyer belt drive supplied by the power belt 25 is opposite in direction to that supplied to the horizontal conveyer belts, and this is necessary in order that the letters to be conveyed by the generally vertically disposed conveyer belts may be so conveyed by the right hand flight of each, as seen in Fig. 4.

The second set of initial feed belts 28 is driven and supported by means of attachment to one of driving drums 23 for the generally vertical conveyer belts and is additionally supported by idling shaft 29 supported by the framework and shaft 30. Thus, the adjacent flights of the initial feed belts move in the same direction, that is downwardly, and cooperate in conveying a letter to be sorted. vAlso mounted on shaft 30 is a swinging rotary feed mechanism, comprising a number of friction discs 32 mounted upon a shaft 33 carried by a framework 34 which is mounted on supporting shaft 30. This swinging rotary feed mechanism is adapted to be pivoted about shaft 30, as will be subsequently described, in order to bring the friction discs into contact with the let- 7 carried in the supply trough ,and to feed a letter from the supply trough into and between the generally vertically disposed nights of the sets of initial feed belts and thereby begin it on `its path of travel through the sorting machine. Driving belts 35, driven by connection to shaft 30, supply driving power to disc-'carrying shaft 33.

To assist in assuring the feeding of but one letter at a time, a counter-rotating wiper 36 is mounted adjacent the point of entrance 4of the letter into the initial feed. belts, such rotating wiper being driven by power belt 31 in a direction opposite to that of the Vinitial feed belts and the friction discs of the swinging rotary feed mechanism, thereby serving to positively prevent any letter or the like other than that being .acted upon by the friction discs from being fed into the initial feed belt. This rotation of the wiper is accomplished by the connection of its power supplying drive belt 31 to one of driving drums Also provided to assure single feed of articles is a feed ,cut-K trigger mechanism 38 which is tripped each time a letter vis fed through the initial feed belts and results in the pivoting of the swinging rotary feed mechanism to inoperative position as will be subsequently described. The trigger mechanism is positioned a distance from the friction discs .of the feed mechanism less than the width of the narrowest 'letter to besorted thereby assuring discontinuance of the feeding 'before the .friction discs contact the .next letter.

The framework provided for supporting the swinging rotary feedmechanism supporting Vshaft and the counterrotating wiper shaft as well as the idler shaft of the inst-mentioned set of initial feed belts is .shown Fig. 1 of the drawings and comprises conventional members vsupported by the basic framework Iof the .sorting machine.

A letter fed to the initial lfeed 'belts vis carried thereby downwardly and fed thereby tothe lower flights of the horizontal vconveying belts by which, asl has been above indicated, Vit is conveyed longitudinally of the machine above the `upper ends of theA generally vertical rows of chutes. Each generally vertical row of chutes is provided with a `claw-'like trap lloperated by a solenoid 4l. The solenoids 41 are supported by brackets 42 .from the framework below the article supporting Vplates :in vsuch a manner that the lingers of the trap are yclosely adjacent the upper end of the effective .flights of the generally vertically disposed conveyor feed belts. The traps are adapted to be operated a direction generally parallel to rthe generally 'vertical conveyor belts, the ends of the :lingers of the trap being adapted to ,proj-ect beyond the plaire of 'the letteresupporting pla-tes and between the .horizontally disposed feed belts, thereby intercepting letters conveyed by horizontal feed belts and diverting their `direc-tion Aof movement from the horizontal path into agenerally lvertical path. In order to realize such o peration, the trap-operating solenoid must be energized, in which case the solenoid supported arm of the trap is drawn into the solenoid against the pressure of spring t3, thereby accomplishing the desired projection of the trap fingers int-o the spaces between the horizontal feed belts. When deener-gized, springs 43 will obviously return the .traps to their inoperative positions.

The generally vertical feed belts having received letters diverted .from a horizontal path of travel through the operation of the above-described traps, `convey such letters downward-ly ,past .the substantially open mouths ofthe chutes of the particular rows which they serve. For

8 completion of the sorting operation the letters must be delivered to a `particular chute from their generally vertical path of travel. This i5 accomplished by chuteA traps comprising suit.- ablyshaped fingers 44 mountedl on shafts 45 and adapted to have their tips projected into the spaces between the belts of the generallyA vertical conveyers and to thereby interceptand divert letters, being carried by such conveyer, in*- to the chutes. The finger supporting shafts 45 are mounted adjacent,` the substantially open .mouths of the chutes and are supported by 4the side members of the framework which support the chutes themselves. The turning of the finger supporting shafts and the consequent movement 'of the fingers into operative position are'accomplished by rods 4l operatively connected thereto by connecting members 48. Rods 4l are conveniently supported by the framework and may be longitudinally reciprocated by means of solenoids 43 and springs 50 attached thereto. The solenoid additionally may. be conveniently supported in anyv manner from the framework. Upon the `enengizationof any particular-.solenoid 49, its accompanying rod. 4 1 is drawn towards it, thereby serving to move the corresponding trap fingers into operative position through connecting members 48. When the solenoid is subsequently deenerg'ized, its spring will serve to return rod 41 to its norm'al position, and thereby the corresponding trap .fingers to their inoperative position. A Y

While a particular means and manner for supporting the chute trapsand. operating members has been shown in the drawings, it should be understood, of course,fthat any typ-e of mourn',- ing may prove equally satisfactory, but itper- `naps should be pointed out that kno means for mounting such apparatus will be satisfactoryif it will in any way obstruct the ends of the chutes and thereby prevent .the proper-entrance .of letters thereinto through the'upper end or :the proper emission of lletters therefrom through :the `lower end, such .entrance and :emission being all important to the' subject of this invention as will be subsequently pointed out .at length.

As indicated above in the preamble of .the specification, the sorting machine of the present invention is intended to .be operated in .accordance with the printed matter carried on the face of the article to be sorted., certain- .charactors of the printed matter when typed'o'n a keyboard, serving 'to determine to which cf the plurality of chutes the article to be sorted. will be delivered. While the electric circuit arrangement of the machine., as will be described and disclosed herein, has been designed to op'- erate the ymachine fto sort articles according to any two distinguishing characters of the printed matter, Ait is contemplated, of course, that the electrical `system with obvious modifications may be adapted to yoperate the machine in accordance with three, four or more vdistinguishing char.- actersand 'the fact that 'two only have here been chosen for illustrative purposes is not to be construed as limiting. The two distinguishing letters or characters of the printed matter .carried on the faces of the articles to be sorted may be any two. For instance, in sorting mail, the first two letters l of the street name may serve as Ythe distinguishing characters.

The various electrical circuits (Figs. e) for operating the sorting mechanism, including the swinging rotary feed mechanism, the horizontal trap-.operating solenoids, and the chute trapoperating solenoids are controlled and actuated by a keyboard 60 very similar in the arrangement of letters of the alphabet and numerals to that of any standard typewriter keyboard. The keys, only several of which are shown, ioi instance, A, B, and C, are formed of insulating material and are supported in a plate member 6| also formed oi insulating material. Each key is provided. with a spring e2 for normally maintaining it in inoperative position and each has on its lower end an electrically conductive member 63. Adjacent each key and supported by the plate member is one half Ell of a makeand-break electric switch connected to one pole of a source of electric current. The other halves 55 of the make-and-break switches are carried by a reciprocable member Se mounted for reciprocation between rollers Sl and Bil below the keys. These other halves of the makeand-break switches, connected to the other pole of a source oic electric current, are formed in pairs, one o1 each pair being adapted to be used when the key for such pair is depressed in accordance with the irst distinguishing character of the printed matter carried on the face of a letterand the other being adapted to be used when the key is depressed in accordancer with the second distinguishing character of the printed matter. Upon depression of a key, the

upper and lower halves of a particular makel and-break switch are connected by the electrically conductive member carried upon the lower end of such key. As will be described below, when the first key is depressed in accordance with the first distinguishing character oi the printed matter and makes contact between an upper switch half 64 and one of a pair orlower switch halves 55, the member supporting the lower halvesof the make-and-break switches will be moved in one direction to set up the otlcer lower switchlhalves ofY the pairs in preparation for the depression of a second key in accordance with the second distinguishingV characteristic of the printed matter. Because of such an arrangement of make-and-break switches, it is completely immaterial to the proper operation of the sorting machine whether or not the second distinguishing character be the same as the. rst. However, a cam portion 69 is provided between each pair of lower switch halves to positively return a depressed key to its inoperative position upon the reciprocation of switch carrying member, thereby avoiding the contacting of both lower switch halves of a pair upon the single depression of a key.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the effect upon the sorting machine of the depression of a keyof the keyboard representing the first distinguishing character of the printed matter carried by the letter to be sorted will be described.` Each horizontal row `of chutes will receive letters having the same distinguishing character in the printed matter carried on their faces. 'For instance, the horizontal `row of chuteswhich has been'labeled B will receive all letters having as `theiriirst distinguishing rcharacter the letter B. The generallyvertical rows of chutes will receive letters or the like Vin accordance with the second distinguishing characterof the printed matter carried on their faces. For instance, the row labeled a will receive all letters Vhaving as their second distinguishing character the letter a. A

y As shown in Fig. `5, upon the depression of key B a keyboard make-and-break switch willbe made thereby eiecting the operation of relay 10. This relay 'I0 will be maintained operative until broken as will be subsequently pointed out. As a result of the making of relay lll, solenoid B will be energized and the chute traps 44 of row B actuated, the ends of their fingers being projected into spaces between theV belts of the generally vertical conveyers and, therefore, being in a position to divert any letter, being carried by the conveyer belts, into a chute of the horizontal row designated B. Additionally, the making of relay l0, serves to energize solenoid 12, which in turn causes the reciprocable member of the keyboard mechanism to move in one direction, setting up its switch halves for depression of a key in accordance with the second distinguishing character of the printed matter on the face ofthe letter to be sorted. It vshould be noted that the major circuit set up by the depression of a key in accordance with a rst distinguishing character has no effect whatevervupon the feeding of the letter into the sorting `mechanism of the machine, the only effect of such first letter key depression being to set up the traps of one row of horizontal chutes and the energization of the solenoid responsible for setting up the lower portion of the keyboard for second letter key depression.

Referring now to Fig. 6,`the effect of the depression of a key in accordance with the second distinguishing character of the printed matter will now. be described. For instance, if the second distinguishing character were a, the A key of the keyboard would be depressed and a second major circuit set up. Such depression of key A serves to energize relays 'I4 and l5. Through the energization of relay 14,"current vis supplied to one of the horizontal .trap-operating solenoids; in this case that one supported above the row of chutes designated a. 'ihe operation of this solenoid results in the proJection of the clawlike lingers of the trap, carried thereby, into the path of horizontaltravel of letters carried by the horizontal conveyer. Thus, any letter fed into the conveying means of the sorting machine will be intercepted by the fingers of this horizontal trap and diverted from its horizontal path of travel and carried along aj generally vertical downward path by the generally verticalV conveyer serving the chutes oi' the row designated a. Such letter will further be diverted rfrom its diagonal path of travel by the adjacent trap voi' row B, which along with'all other traps of 'row B has been setup as pointed out above, and it will finally be delivered to a particular chute which will receive all letters or the like vhaving as'their first distinguishing character B and their second distinguishing character. a.' As pointed out above, the depression of' key A also Aenergizes relay i5 thereby supplying current through makeand-break switch lt tosolenoid ll. Solenoid Tl. throughv marieesA is anais, is cmnected with the swinging rotary vfeed mechanism of the sort'-Y ing machine and upon ener'gizationA causes such swinging rotary feed mechanism to pivot about its pivotal axis and'to feed a letter rotating wiper andthe hereinafter described-feed cut-off trigger ,mechanismA assuring `s ingle feed.;

Referring to Fig. 7, there is shown diagram.-v matically what `may be called vthe feed .release and return circuit of the electrical control sysy Herein itswill be I y fromthe sup# ply trough into the initial feed belts, the'counteraccepta l l noid 80 supplies theV necessary force for'the return of the lower half of the keyboard to its normal position thereby setting it up for the depression of a key in accordance with the first distinguishing character of the printed matter carried by the next letter to be sorted. In order that solenoid 80 may perform its function, some electrical or mechanical lsystem must be provided to allow it to do so, taking into account the effect of solenoid 12- on the reciprocable lower portion of the keyboard. As stated, solenoid 12 is maintained energized throughout one operation of the machine in the arrangement shown. Therefore, its effect on the reciprocable portion of' the keyboard must be overcome and this is accomplished in the arrangement shown by having solenoid 8'0 of sufliciently'greater strength than solenoid T2' to do so. However, other arrangements, such as means for deenergi'zing solenoid 'l2 when the lowerv portion of the keyboard reaches Ythe terminal of its travel toward solenoid 12, are contem- 'plated and the fact that'diil'erent strength. solenoids are here provided toaccomplish the solution Vof the problem is'not to be construed as limiting as it is recognized that many other means' might be provided to accomplish this end with equal satisfaction. As the letter fed to the initial feed belts of the sorting machine passes through them, it' contacts'the trigger 82 of the feed cut-ofi trigger mechanism thereby breaking switch 16, resulting in the deenergization of solenoid VIl and lthe making of make-and-break switch 83, which in turn results in the energization of solenoid 84. "Solenoid te vis also 'connected to the swinging rotary feed v'mechanism through members 18 and' T9, but contrary to the action of' solenoid T1 thereupon,l it serves" to force member 18 "outv therefrom 'and to return the swinging rotary leed' mechanism to its inoperative position. lt is'V contemplated that trigger 8i be so positioned' with respect'tof'friction discs 32 of the swinging rotary feedmechanism that the distance' therebetween be less than'the width ofthe narrowest letter to Vbe sorted'so' that the Vswinging rotaryfeed mechanism will be returned to'itsinoperative position before itsv friction discs 'can' Ycontactthe"nextletter "to be 'sorted subsequentto'that already fed to the sorting vmechathereby assuring the feed of only 'one letter during yone operativecycle'oi' the sorting mecharAdjacent the solenoids T1 Aand 8f4" is amakeand-break switch 85 carried by one. of the main suppiylmes'for electric'current. Such switch Bi'is or" the type that is always closed except when sprung open by Van external iorce',"'and upon the discontinuanceV of such external force, it'w-il'l'return to its closed position. Associated with switch 85 is a conventional dash pot or time-v delayk device 8T, sopositionecl. and arranged that it maybe' operated by a member 88 carriedby and'projecting from member T8; The "dash pot 81 is -so designed thatthe head'89` 'of its pro jectinglmember may pass switch 8h having no eiect thereon when moved' in'a direction' to 'the leitaseseen- Fig. '7; except perhaps totend to force it tighter closed, but when returned by the dashA pot operating mechanism" it does serve' to breakswitch. 85. This proj ecti'rigV head member 89 oithedash potis projected in; a leitwardl-y direction by; protruding member '88? when solenoid 8'4 is.l energized: to: returnthev swinging rotary feed mechanism to its inoperative position. Thus', the dash pot-'or time-'delay' device is set up and automatically begins to return'its projected head ceive the same typ-e letters, that is; all those hay;

member 89 rightwardly and at a particular time such member will engage a projection of switch and thereby momentarily breaking such switch. When such switch is broken, relays T0, 14 and 15 are deenergized, thereby deenergizing all of the circuits of the electrical operating apparatus of the sorting machine except, of course, that of the electric motor. Such relays will not again be energized and set up until the keys of the actuating keyboard are again depressed in accordance with the printed matter contained on the face of the next letter' to be sorted.l Et will be seen that the master switch 85 need only be broken momentarily and, therefore, the dash pot is designed to do just this, allowing the switch to be made again after the momentary breaking thereof. 4

The letter which has been fed into 'theinitial feed belt will, as has been described above, proceed along a path of travel through the machine until it is deposited in the proper chute. It will. of course, be clear that the proper setting' of the dash potl or time-delay device should be for' the time required for a letter to be fed into the mad chine and to travel through the machine to the chu-te farthest from the letter feeding position.

It is contemplated that the only limitation` in the speed of operation of the above-described sorting machine will Vbe that imposed by the ability of the operator to operate the keyboard., as the speed of all the conveyor belts can be maintained, and satisfactorilyso, at ay speed sulcientlyv great to oiier no limitation. whatsoever.

As indicated in the preamble of the specilication, it is contemplated that such machines will be used in groups or lratteries,l the machines of a group or battery beingV placed side by side at stepped levels with respect to one another as shown in Fig. 3. Additionally pointed. out was the factl that the chutes of 'a machine are all inclined at an angle transversely of the machine to facilitate the emission. by gravity of letters deposited in any onefout from the end thereof and into the corresponding chute oi the next lower machine in a group'. The chutes are: further so designed that they will extend beyond ther outer connes of the' supporting framework of. the sorting machinel and', thereforer beyond any of the operating mechanismeofy the machine and the upper end of each is widened or swaged out. When arranged in groups or batteries, as showninA Fig. 3,` the lower ends of the chutes of one machine enter the widened upper ends' ci those of the next lower machine. The machines of a particular group orrbattery areidentieal andk theI letters sorted by each are sosorted that corresponding chiites or each machine will reing particular distinguishing characters con'V I ed by the printed matter on'. their faces. v for instance, au letterswnh distinguishing Characters Ba'will be delivered t'o YBa chutes, which are similarly situated in. each machina I-t; will, therefore, loeseen that ltheBvclr letters'sortedr'by oneV machine will passv from such Ymachine into the Ba chute of the next lower machine'and from there along with the Boletters sortediby that machine intoi'the Bd @mites-:la the 'still lower machine: and soy on 'until they arewpass'ed through the lowest machmeor any one Hence, instead of beiiig'required to coll-eet sorted material from each machinel separately`,'-all ma tei-'iai of a like kind sorted by alltheinachines 13 comprising one battery or group may be collected together. f Y

The fact that all the machines of a group are identical permits the removal of anyone for routine maintenance and the insertion of a substitute machine to take its place, and thus, .the removal of a single machine. will not result in the inoperativeness of a whole group, and further, one spare machine may be'used for replacement purposes for a whole group, it being unlikely that more than one will require maintenance at any particular time. However, in the event that more 'than' one does, it would be a simple matter to rearrange the remainde'rof the group sov that they would continue to operate as a group rather than as single machines; g The article feeding'mean's disclosed in this application, but not claimed herein, is fully disclosedand claimed in my copending application serial No. 332,313, ined January 21, 1953. similarly the v,keyboard actuating' mechanism disclosed vin this aplication, but not claimed herein, is fullydisclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial 'No. 332,314, filed January 21, 1953.

While the apparatus forming the basis of the invention has been disclosed rather specically, it should be understood that various modifications and changes may be incorporated or made therein without departure from the invention. For instance, it is contemplated that the generally vertical rows of chutes and their accompanying conveyer means might be exactly vertical and that articles might be conveyed by the flights of the belts of such conveyer means opposite those which are shown in the drawings. In this case the chutes would necessarily be reversed to a position in which their substantially open mouths would face to the right instead of to the left as shown. It is even contemplated that the generally vertical conveyer means might be dispensed with altogether and guiding means be substituted in their place thereby depending upon gravity and the momentum given the articles by the horizontal conveying means to deliver them from the horizontal conveying means to the chutes. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be limited only to the extent set forth in the appended claims. y

I claim:

1. A sorting machine for mail and the like which comprises a plurality of chutes mounted in a supporting framework and spaced longitudinally thereof, said chutes extending substantially transversely of the framework completely through from one side of the framework to the other and being substantially parallel to one another, an article supply source for positioning a supply of articles to be sorted and means for conveying the articles from the supply source substantially longitudinally of said framework to the chutes, each chute being inclined transversely of the frame and having an opening in one side through which articles` may be delivered to the chute, each chute also being open at both ends and inclined to such a degree that an article delivered to the chute will slide out of the lower end of said chute.

2. A sorting machine for mail and the like which comprises a plurality of chutes mounted in a supporting framework and spaced longitudinally thereof, said chutes extending substantially transversely of the framework completely through from one side of the framework to the other and'being substantially parallel to one another, anartlcle supply sourcefor positioning. a`

supply of articles to be sorted and means for conveying the articlesfrom the supply source sub: stantially longitudinally `of said framework to the chutes, each chute being inclined transversely of the frame and having an opening in one side through which` articles may be 'delivered to the chute, each. chute also being openat both ,ends and inclined to such a degree that an article delivered to the chute' will slide out of the lowerend .of said chute, and each chute also extending substantially beyond the plane of one side. of the frame. v l

\3.,A sorting machine for mail and. thelike which comprises a plurality of .chutes mounted in a supporting framework and spaced longitudinally thereof, said chutes extending substantially transversely of the framework completely through from :one side -of the framework tothe other. and being substantially. parallel .to one another, an article supply source for positioning a supply ofarticles to be sorted and means for conveying the. articles from the supply source substantially longitudinally of -saidframework to the chutes, each chute beinginclined transversely ofgthe frame and having an opening in one side through which articles may be delivered to the chute, each chute also being open at both ends and inclined to such a degree that an article delivered to the chute will slide out of the lower end of said chute, the inclined chutes being arranged in substantially horizontal rows.

4. A group of sorting machines for mail and the like, each machine comprising a plurality of chutes spaced longitudinally thereof, each chute extending and being inclined substantially transversely of the machine and being open at both ends, and means for conveying articles from an article supply source tosaid chutes, the machines 0f the group being arranged side-by-side in vertically-stepped relation with the end of each chute of one machine engaging an end of the corresponding chute of the adjacent machine, whereby the corresponding chutes of the group of machines form continuous chutes through which all articles delivered' by the machines to said corresponding chutes pass and are delivered to a single collection point for all machines.

5. A group of sorting machines for mail and the like, each machine comprising a plurality of chutes spaced longitudinally thereof, each chute extending and being inclined substantially transversely of the machine and being open at both ends, each chute also extending completely through from one side of the machine to the other side thereof, and means for conveying articles from an article supply source to said chutes longitudinally of the machine, the machines of thegroup being arranged side-by-side in vertically-stepped relation with the end of each chute of one machine engagingV an-end of the corresponding chute of the adjacent machine, whereby the corresponding chutes of the group of machines form continuous chutes through which all articles delivered by the machines .to said corresponding chutes pass andare delivered to a single collection point for all machines.

6. A group of sorting machines formail and the like, each machine comprising a plurality of chutes spaced longitudinally thereof, each chute extending and being inclined substantially transversely of the machine and being open at both ends, and means for conveying articles from an article supply source tor said chutes, the machines of the group being arcasema rf s'fde-'by-'side in verticalky-istepped relai bien' thetend, of each ehue-ef eine mash-ine lerigiagifngraxl end of the. correspondingchnte leii the machine, Vthe ower end of each ehuteetone: machine entering the upper end et; a wrresponding chute ei the adiacenti macrime, whereby the corresponding chutes oi ef nzraaehinesl "form comixirueiis chiites through wleh am; artsiclesv deiivered by the maf-vV chimes .t0 said corresponding chutes' pass' .and .are delivered. to# a.: single coliecti'o'rr point fer ai); machiresi/ 7. A group of sorting machines for and each machine comprising a; plurality of eutesspace longitudinally each chute' e 'and being inclined Substantially transversely of the machineand; being .operi at hath ends; and: means for conveying ,fantaisies 'arbic-Ie Supply source Vtoy said. chutes, themaehmes of the group being arranged iside-V br-side `w'reizticadty@stepped` rel'aiion with the end off each. chute of one machine en atx? :mety .of the. correspondngfchute ofi the am jacent machime-r whereby the corresponding chutes of' the group ef machines' form. contini?,-l

t6: otrs 'chutes through; which. in@ antieke by the machines to said corresponifg pass an@ are te' a single eeilection peine for' arl machines, the chutes e each machine being arranged; 'im substantially herzntal rewsev Y Y semences eine the meer y.this pageanem'ran esmas Femme

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