Card feeder

Claim 2

A card feeding device for moving cards along a predetermined path from an initial position to an aligning position and a reading station, comprising a plurality of card removing members in continuous and uniform motion, a masking plate having a corresponding plurality of slits encompassing suitable portions of said card removing members, means for pushing a stack of cards against said masking plate control means for imparting to said masking plate in succession a first displacement for subjecting the foremost card of the stack to the action of said card removing members, and a second displacement in opposite direction for withdrawing the stack of cards from said removing action, continuously, rotating aligning rollers on one side only of said aligning position, said path of the card comprising a portion defined by an upper guiding plate and a counter plate arranged at a mutual angle, said angle causing the card to bend longitudinally and pressing the card against said aligning rollers the operation of said control means being uncorrelated to the motion of said card removing members and to the operation of said aligning rollers.

Claim 3

The feeding device of claim 1, wherein said card-removing members comprise at least a continuous belt.

Claim 4

The feeding device of claim 1, wherein said control means for displacing said masking plate comprise at least an electromagnet means operating through passive mechanical links.

Claim 5

The feeding device of claim 3, whereby said electromagnet means are responsive to current pulses generated in dependence of the passage of the card through a first photoelectric device comprising a photoemitter and a photoelectric signal generator located on opposite sides of the path of the card.

Claim 6

The feeding device of claim 4, wherein said aligning position is defined by a lower longitudinal aligning member and an upper longitudinal limiting member, in cooperation with said counter plate, said counter plate being inclined with respect to the vertical by a substantially small angle, the inclination being in such a direction as to remove the card resting on said counter plate from the action of said aligning rollers.

Claim 7

The feeding device of claim 4, whereby the resting of the card on said aligning position is signalled by means of a second photoelectric device comprising at least a photoemitter and a photoelectric signal generator located on opposite sides of said aligning position.

Claim 8

The feeding device of claim 1 further comprising: a first photoelectric device for signalling the passage of a card through a predetermined point of said predetermined path, a second photoelectric device for signalling the resting of a card in said aligning position, detecting means for indicating the passage of a card through the reading station and wherein said control means has start input to receive start commands from a central processor unit, first, second, third inputs responsive to signals provided by said first, second photoelectric device and said detecting means respectively and a conditioning network whereby the starting of the first card removing operation is depending on a start signal unit, the starting of the second card removing operation is depending on an aligning signal at the second input, signalling that the first removed card is aligned on said aligning position, and the starting of the subsequent card removing operations is conjointly dependent on both start signal and an aligning signal, said start signal being conditioned by a consensus signal sent to the central processor unit in response to a signal indicating the passage of the card through said operative position.

Claim 9

A card feeding device for moving cards along a predetermined path from an initial position to an aligning position, and a reading station, comprising a plurality of card-removing members in continuous and uniform motion, a masking plate having a corresponding plurality of slits encompassing suitable portions of said card-removing members, means for pushing a stack of cards against said masking plate, control means for imparting to said masking plate in succession a first displacement for subjecting the foremost card of the stack to the action of said card-removing members, and a second displacement in the opposite direction for withdrawing the stack of cards from said removing action, the operation of said control means being uncorrelated to the motion of said card-removing members, a first photoelectric device for signalling the passage of a card through a predetermined point of said predetermined path, a second photoelectric device for signalling the resting of a card in said aligning position, detecting means for indicating the passage of a card through the reading station and wherein said control means has a start input to receive start commands from a central processor unit, first, second, third inputs responsive to signals provided by said first, second photoelectric device and said detecting means respectively and a conditioning network whereby the starting of the first card removing operation is depending on a start signal unit, the starting of the second card removing operation is depending on an aligning signal at the second input, signalling that the first removed card is aligned on said Aligning position, and the starting of the subsequent card removing operations is conjointly dependent on both start signal and an aligning signal, said start signal being conditioned by a consensus signal sent to the central processor unit in response to a signal indicating the passage of the card through said operative position.

Claim 10

A card feeding device for moving cards along a predetermined path from an initial position to an aligning position, and a reading station, comprising a plurality of card-removing members in continuous and uniform motion, a masking plate having a corresponding plurality of slits encompassing suitable portions of said card-removing members, means for pushing a stack of cards against said masking plate, control means for imparting to said masking plate in succession a first displacement for subjecting the foremost card of the stack to the action of said card-removing members, and a second displacement in the opposite direction for withdrawing the stack of cards from said removing action, the operation of said control means being uncorrelated to the motion of said card-removing members, a first photoelectric device for signalling the passage of a card through a predetermined point of said predetermined path, a second photoelectric device for signalling the resting of a card in said aligning position, detecting means for indicating the passage of a card through the reading station and wherein said control means has a start input to receive start commands from a central processor unit, first, second, third inputs responsive to signals provided by said first, second photoelectric device and said detecting means respectively and a conditioning network whereby the starting of the first card removing operation is depending on a start signal unit, the starting of the second card removing operation is depending on an aligning signal at the second input, signalling that the first removed card is aligned on said Aligning position, and the starting of the subsequent card removing operations is conjointly dependent on both start signal and an aligning signal, said start signal being conditioned by a consensus signal sent to the central processor unit in response to a signal indicating the passage of the card through said operative position.

Claim 11

The card feeding device of claim 8 wherein said motion imparting means comprises card-removing members in the form of a continuous belt.

Claim 12

The card feeding device of claim 8 which further includes along the path of the card apparatus for aligning a card comprising wall structure forming a card receiving channel having an upper guiding plate and a counter plate arranged at a mutual angle, and means adjacent one wall of said channel for moving a card contacted thereby toward an aligning member forming a wall of said channel, said angle being effective to cause the card on entering the channel to bend and thereby be pressed against said card moving means, and said channel being disposed such that a card at rest and in contact with said aligning member is out of contact with said card moving means.

Claim 13

The card feeding device of claim 10, wherein said card moving means comprises continuously rotating alignment rollers having a portion of their periphery extending into said channel.

Claim 14

In a card feeding device for moving cards along a predetermined path, card aligning apparatus disposed along the path and comprising wall structure forming a card receiving channel having a lower guiding plate and a counter plate disposed substantially parallel to one another and in spaced relation, and an upper guiding plate arranged at a mutual angle with said counter plate and directed toward said counter plate, means adjacent said lower guiding plate and in spaced relation with said counter plate for moving a card contacted thereby toward an aligning member forming a wall of said channel, said angle being of a magnitude to direct a card against said counter plate, bending the card longitudinally and pressing the card against said card moving means, and said space between said card moving means and said counter plate being of a magnitude to provide an unobstructed area of said channel adjacent said counter plate whereby a card at rest and in contact with said aligning means is out of contact with said card moving means.

Claim 15

In a card feeding device for moving cards along a predetermined path, card aligning apparatus disposed along the path and comprising wall structure forming a card receiving channel having a lower guiding plate and a counter plate disposed substantially parallel to one another and in spaced relation, and an upper guiding plate arranged at a mutual angle with said counter plate and directed toward said counter plate, means adjacent said lower guiding plate and in spaced relation with said counter plate for moving a card contacted thereby toward an aligning member forming a wall of said channel, said angle being of a magnitude to direct a card against said counter plate, bending the card longitudinally and pressing the card against said card moving means, and said space between said card moving means and said counter plate being of a magnitude to provide an unobstructed area of said channel adjacent said counter plate whereby a card at rest and in contact with said aligning means is out of contact with said card moving means.

Claim 16

The device of claim 12, wherein said card moving means comprises continuously rotating alignment rollers having a portion of their periphery extending into said channel.