Record card reading apparatus

Claim 2

A record card reading apparatus comprising: a feed hopper having a base for holding a stack of cards to be read, a reading station for reading a record card, a reading track extending under said reading station for guiding a card past said reading station, an output stacker disposed below said feed Hopper for receiving cards after reading, a feed track inclined to the horizontal for guiding cards from said feed hopper to said reading track, first driving means for transporting a card emerging from said feed hopper along said feed track to said reading track, second driving means for transporting said card in a first direction along said reading track, and under said reading station, a stop disposed at one end of said reading track for arresting said card being transported along said reading track in said first direction immediately prior to its passing completely past said reading station, third driving means controlled for transporting said card in a second direction opposite to said first direction along said reading track and under said reading station after said card has reached said stop, means for controlling said reading station to read said card during transport by said third driving means, said first driving means transporting said card after the reading thereof in said second direction into said output stacker, continuously rotating drive rollers disposed below said feed hopper, means for moving said rollers through an opening in the base of said feed hopper and urging said rollers against the lower card of the stack in said feed hopper to drive said lower card from said feed hopper to said feed track and control means for energizing said first, second and third drive means and said means for moving said continuously rotating rollers.

Claim 3

The reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein said stop is disposed relative to said reading station such that the last column of said card viewed in the direction of said first direction of motion is located under said reading station when said card rests against said stop.

Claim 4

The reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first driving means is disposed between said feed hopper and said reading station and comprises a first friction drive wheel, continuously rotating, a first friction pressure wheel disposed above said drive wheel and cooperating with said first drive wheel to transport a card from said feed track to said reading track, a second friction pressure wheel disposed below said first drive wheel, and a first electromagnet for urging said second pressure wheel against said first drive wheel to transport a card from said reading track to said output stacker.

Claim 5

The reading apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second driving means is disposed between said reading station and said stop and comprises a second friction drive wheel, continuously rotating, a third friction pressure wheel, and a second electromagnet for urging said third pressure wheel against said second drive wheel, and wherein said third pressure wheel rests against said second drive wheel with only a slight resilient pressure when said second electromagnet is deenergized whereby a card between said third pressure and second drive wheels is urged against said stop with only a small force.

Claim 6

The reading apparatus of claim 4, wherein said third driving means is disposed proximate to said reading station and comprises a third friction drive wheel, in a stepping motor controlling rotation of said third drive wheel, a fourth friction pressure wheel, and a third electromagnet for urging said fourth pressure wheel against said third drive wheel, whereby said fourth pressure and third drive wheels act together on a longitudinal edge of a card.

Claim 7

The reading apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a second detection station is disposed proximate to said stop, and wherein an output signal is delivered by said second detection station during the passage thereby of the leading edge of a card and controls interruption of energization of said second electromagnet.

Claim 8

The reading apparatus of claim 4, further comprising means responsive to the passage of the trailing edge of a card under said reading station in said second direction for generating a signal to denote that the next card may be transported from said feed hopper to said reading track.

Claim 9

The reading apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means responsive to the reading of a punch code representing ejection in a card column by said reading station to activate a pulse generator to deliver relatively high frequency pulses to said stepping motor whereby said card is ejected at a high speed.

Claim 10

The reading apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means responsive to output signals delivered by said reading station to deliver an ejection-representing signal when said output signals represent information borne by said member denoting a premature ejection command, and means responsive to said ejection-representing signal for controlling said third driving means to rapidly eject said member past said reading station.

Claim 11

A record card reading apparatus comprising; a feed hopper having a base for holding a stack of cards to be read, a reading station for reading a record card, a reading track extending under said reading station for guiding a card past said reading station, an output stacker disposed below said feed hopper for receiving cards after reading, a feed track inclined to the horizontal for guiding cards from said feed hopper to said reading track, first driving means disposed between said feed track to said reading track and including a first continuously rotating friction drive wheel, a first friction pressure wheel disposed above said drive wheel and cooperating with said first drive wheel to transport a card from said feed track to said reading track, a second friction pressure wheel disposed below said first drive wheel, and a first electromagnet for urging said second pressure wheel against said first drive wheel to transport a card from said reading track to said output stacker, a stop disposed to one end of said reading track for arresting a card transported along said reading track immediately prior to its passing completely past said reading station, second driving means located between said reading station and said stop for transporting said card in a first direction along said reading track and under said reading station including a second continuously rotating drive wheel, a third friction pressure wheel, and a second electromagnet for urging said third pressure wheel against said second drive wheel, said third pressure wheel resting against said second drive wheel with a slight resilient pressure when said second electromagnet is deenergized for urging a card disposed therebetween against said stop with only slight force, a third driving means disposed proximate said reading station for transporting a card in a second direction opposite to said first direction, along said reading track and under said reading station after said card has reached said stop including a third friction drive wheel, a stepping motor controlling rotation of said third drive wheel, a fourth friction pressure wheel and a third electromagnet for urging said fourth pressure wheel against said third drive wheel, said fourth pressure and third drive wheels acting together on a longitudinal edge of a card, means for controlling said reading station to read said card during transport by said third driving means, said first driving means transporting said card after the reading thereof in said second direction into said output stacker, other continuously rotating drive rollers and a fourth electromagnet for moving said rollers against the lower card of the stack in said feed hopper and urging said other rollers in said feed hopper, whereby the lower card is driven from said feed hopper to said feed track and control circuits for energizing said first, second, third and fourth electromagnets.

Claim 12

A record card reading apparatus comprising; a feed hopper having a base for holding a stack of cards to be read, a reading station for reading a record card, a reading track extending under said reading station for guiding a card past said reading station, an output stacker disposed below said feed hopper for receiving cards after reading, a feed track inclined to the horizontal for guiding cards from said feed hopper to said reading track, first driving means disposed between said feed track to said reading track and including a first continuously rotating friction drive wheel, a first friction pressure wheel disposed above said drive wheel and cooperating with said first drive wheel to transport a card from said feed track to said reading track, a second friction pressure wheel disposed below said first drive wheel, and a first electromagnet for urging said second pressure wheel against said first drive wheel to transport a card from said reading track to said output stacker, a stop disposed to one end of said reading track for arresting a card transported along said reading track immediately prior to its passing completely past said reading station, second driving means located between said reading station and said stop for transporting said card in a first direction along said reading track and under said reading station including a second continuously rotating drive wheel, a third friction pressure wheel, and a second electromagnet for urging said third pressure wheel against said second drive wheel, said third pressure wheel resting against said second drive wheel with a slight resilient pressure when said second electromagnet is deenergized for urging a card disposed therebetween against said stop with only slight force, a third driving means disposed proximate said reading station for transporting a card in a second direction opposite to said first direction, along said reading track and under said reading station after said card has reached said stop including a third friction drive wheel, a stepping motor controlling rotation of said third drive wheel, a fourth friction pressure wheel and a third electromagnet for urging said fourth pressure wheel against said third drive wheel, said fourth pressure and third drive wheels acting together on a longitudinal edge of a card, means for controlling said reading station to read said card during transport by said third driving means, said first driving means transporting said card after the reading thereof in said second direction into said output stacker, other continuously rotating drive rollers and a fourth electromagnet for moving said rollers against the lower card of the stack in said feed hopper and urging said other rollers in said feed hopper, whereby the lower card is driven from said feed hopper to said feed track and control circuits for energizing said first, second, third and fourth electromagnets.

Claim 13

The reading apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a first detection station disposed proximate to the throat of said feed hopper, wherein an output signal is delivered by said first detection station to said control circuits to denote that a card has been transported from said feed hopper to said reading station within a predetermined interval, and wherein said reading apparatUs is halted if said interval is exceeded.

Claim 14

A record card reading apparatus comprising; a feed hopper having a base for holding a stack of cards to be read, a reading station for reading a record card, a reading track extending under said reading station for guiding a card past said reading station, an output stacker disposed below said feed hopper for receiving cards after reading, a feed track inclined to the horizontal for guiding cards from said feed hopper to said reading track, first driving means disposed between said feed hopper and said read station for transporting a card emerging from said feed hopper along said feed track to said reading track and including a first continuously rotating friction drive wheel, a first friction pressure wheel disposed above said drive wheel and cooperating with said first drive wheel to transport a card from said feed track to said reading track, a second friction pressure wheel disposed below said first drive wheel, and a first electromagnet for urging said second pressure wheel against said first drive wheel to transport a card from said reading track to said output stacker, a stop disposed at one end of said reading track for arresting a card transported along said reading track immediately prior to its passing completely past said reading station, second driving means located between said reading station and said stop for transporting said card in a first direction along said reading track and under said reading station including a second continuously rotating drive wheel, a third friction pressure wheel, and a second electromagnet for urging said third pressure wheel against said second drive wheel, said third pressure wheel resting against said second drive wheel with a slight resilient pressure when said second electromagnet is deenergized for urging a card disposed therebetween against said stop with only slight force, a third driving means disposed proximate said reading station for transporting a card in a second direction opposite to said first direction along said reading track and under said reading station after said card has reached said stop, including a third friction drive wheel, a stepping motor controlling rotation of said third drive wheel, a fourth friction pressure wheel and a third electromagnet for urging said fourth pressure wheel against said third drive wheel, said fourth pressure and third drive wheels acting together on a longitudinal edge of a card, means for controlling said reading station to read said card during transport by said third driving means, said first driving means transporting said card after the reading thereof in said second direction into said output stacker, and means responsive to the reading by said read station of a punch code representing ejection in a card column to activate a pulse generator to deliver relatively high frequency pulses to said stepping motor whereby said card is ejected at high speed.

Claim 15

A record card reading apparatus comprising; a feed hopper having a base for holding a stack of cards to be read, a reading station for reading a record card, a reading track extending under said reading station for guiding a card past said reading station, an output stacker disposed below said feed hopper for receiving cards after reading, a feed track inclined to the horizontal for guiding cards from said feed hopper to said reading track, first driving means disposed between said feed hopper and said read station for transporting a card emerging from said feed hopper along said feed track to said reading track and including a first continuously rotating friction drive wheel, a first friction pressure wheel disposed above said drive wheel and cooperating with said first drive wheel to transport a card from said feed track to said reading track, a second friction pressure wheel disposed below said first drive wheel, and a first electromagnet for urging said second pressure wheel against said first drive wheel to transport a card from said reading track to said output stacker, a stop disposed at one end of said reading track for arresting a card transported along said reading track immediately prior to its passing completely past said reading station, second driving means located between said reading station and said stop for transporting said card in a first direction along said reading track and under said reading station including a second continuously rotating drive wheel, a third friction pressure wheel, and a second electromagnet for urging said third pressure wheel against said second drive wheel, said third pressure wheel resting against said second drive wheel with a slight resilient pressure when said second electromagnet is deenergized for urging a card disposed therebetween against said stop with only slight force, a third driving means disposed proximate said reading station for transporting a card in a second direction opposite to said first direction along said reading track and under said reading station after said card has reached said stop, including a third friction drive wheel, a stepping motor controlling rotation of said third drive wheel, a fourth friction pressure wheel and a third electromagnet for urging said fourth pressure wheel against said third drive wheel, said fourth pressure and third drive wheels acting together on a longitudinal edge of a card, means for controlling said reading station to read said card during transport by said third driving means, said first driving means transporting said card after the reading thereof in said second direction into said output stacker, and means responsive to the reading by said read station of a punch code representing ejection in a card column to activate a pulse generator to deliver relatively high frequency pulses to said stepping motor whereby said card is ejected at high speed.