Card handling apparatus

Claim 2

In data card handling apparatus comprising a card feeding station adapted to receive a stack of cards, a reading station having means for reading the cards, a receiver for cards which have been read, transport means for moving cards successively from said feeding station past said reading station to said receiver, and drive means for said transport means, said feeding station having card aligning means engageable by the side edges of the cards in said stack for aligning the cards with said means for reading the cards, and jostling means for agitating the cards, said jostling means including a plate engageable with the stack of cards, said plate extending on a plane normal to said card aligning means, means mounting said plate for card agitating movements, and actuator means for moving said plate towards and away from said stack of cards independently of said drive means, means providing an inclined surface remote from said transport means to feather the stack of cards with the leading edge of the card adjacent to said plate nearest said transport means, and means operable in response to each movement of said plate away from said stack of cards to effect engagement of said leading edge of successive cards by said transport means and transport of the successive cards from said feeding station past said reading station.

Claim 3

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, said transport means including means for maintaining the alignment of the successive cards with said means for reading the cards as said cards are transported past said reading station.

Claim 4

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, said transport means comprising a feed roll revolvable on an axis transverse to the direction of movement of said cards, said means operable to effect transport of said card adjacent to said plate including pressure applying means engageable with the leading edge of successive cards to press the same into frictional engagement with said roll upon movement of said plate away from said stack of cards.

Claim 5

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, said transport means comprising a feed roll revolvable on an axis transverse to the direction of movement of saiD cards, said means operable to effect transport of said card adjacent to said plate including pressure applying means engageable with the leading edge of successive cards to press the same into frictional engagement with said roll upon movement of said plate away from said stack of cards and throughout movement of said cards from said feed station past said reading station to said receiver for maintaining the alignment of the successive cards with said means for reading the cards as said cards are transported past said reading station.

Claim 6

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, said transport means comprising a feed roll revolvable on the axis transverse to the direction of movement of said cards, said means operable to effect transport of said card adjacent to said plate including pressure applying means engageable with the leading edge of successive cards to press the same into frictional engagement with said roll upon movement of said plate away from said stack of cards and including additional pressure applying means engageable with successive cards to press the cards into frictional engagement with said feed roll throughout movement of said card from said feed station past said reading station for maintaining the alignment of the successive cards with said means for reading the cards as said cards are transported past said reading station.

Claim 7

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, said transport means comprising a feed roll revolvable on an axis transverse to the direction of movement of said cards, said means operable to effect transport of said card adjacent to said plate including spring means engageable with the leading edge of successive cards to press the same into frictional engagement with said roll throughout movement of said cards from said feed station past said reading station to said receiver.

Claim 8

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, said card aligning means including at least one vertically extended guide surface engageable by the side edges of said cards, said transport means including a feed roll revolvably mounted adjacent to said plate, and said means responsive to movement of said plate acting on the leading edge of the lowermost card on said support.

Claim 9

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, said card aligning means including at least one vertically extended guide surface engageable by the side edges of said cards, said transport means including a feed roll revolvably mounted adjacent to said plate, said means operable in response to each movement of said plate comprising pressure applying means movable between a position relieving the leading edge of the lowermost card from engagement with said feed roll and a position pressing said leading edge into engagement with said feed roll, said actuator means for said jostling means having means for moving said pressure applying means to the first-mentioned position and allowing movement of said pressure applying means to the second-mentioned position, said pressure applying means also including means for maintaining pressure against the cards to hold the cards against said feed roll in alignment with said means for reading the cards as the cards pass said reading station.

Claim 10

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, said card aligning means including at least one vertically extended guide surface engageable by the side edges of said cards, said transport means including a feed roll revolvably mounted adjacent to said plate, said means operable in response to each movement of said plate comprising pressure applying means movable between a position relieving the leading edge of the lowermost card from engagement with said feed roll and a position pressing said leading edge into engagement with said feed roll, said actuator means for said jostling means having means for moving said pressure applying means to the first-mentioned position and allowing movement of said pressure applying means to the second-mentionEd position, said pressure applying means comprising means cooperable with said feed roll to press the cards against said feed roll substantially entirely across the cards.

Claim 11

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, said transport means comprising a feed roll revolvable on an axis transverse to the direction of movement of said cards, said means operable to effect transport of said card adjacent to said plate including pressure applying means engageable with the leading edge of successive cards to press the same into frictional engagement with said roll upon movement of said plate away from said stack of cards said receiver comprising a stacking station including means for receiving the leading edge of successive cards from said transport means while said cards are engaged between said feed roll and said pressure applying means and moving the trailing edge of a preceding card from the path of the leading edge of an oncoming card.

Claim 12

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, said transport means comprising a single feed roll and adjacent pressure applying means for pressing successive cards against said feed roll, said means operable in response to each movement of said plate comprising a projection on said plate extending towards said feed roll, said feed roll having a reduced diameter portion receiving said projection, said projection being engageable with the leading edge of successive cards to move the latter and said pressure applying means away from said feed roll upon movement of said plate in one direction and said projection allowing the leading edge of the lowermost card to engage said feed roll upon movement of said plate in the other direction.

Claim 13

In data card handling apparatus comprising a card feeding station adapted to receive a stack of cards, a reading station having means for reading the cards, a receiver for cards which have been read, and transport means for engaging and moving cards successively from said feeding station past said reading station to said receiver, said receiver comprising a stacking station including revolvable screw means for receiving successive cards from said transport means while engaged thereby and moving the preceding card from the path of an on-coming card to prevent damage of said cards, said revolvable screw means comprising a pair of rotary shafts spaced apart to permit passage of cards therebetween, and resilient spring screws carried by said shafts, said resilient spring screws being yieldable upon engagement of said cards therewith.

Claim 14

In data card handling apparatus comprising a card feeding station adapted to receive a stack of cards, a reading station having means for reading the cards, a receiver for cards which have been read, and transport means for engaging and moving cards successively from said feeding station past said reading station to said receiver, said receiver comprising a stacking station including revolvable screw means for receiving successive cards from said transport means while engaged thereby and moving the preceding card from the path of an on-coming card to prevent damage of said cards, said revolvable screw means comprising a pair of rotary shafts spaced apart to permit passage of cards therebetween, and resilient spring screws carried by said shafts, said resilient spring screws being yieldable upon engagement of said cards therewith.

Claim 15

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, said resilient spring screws having opposite leads, and means for rotating said shafts in opposite directions.

Claim 16

In data card handling apparatus having card feeding means, card reading means, transport means for engaging and positively driving successive cards from said feeding means past said reading means, and a card stacker for receiving cards edgewise from said transport means, said stacker means including walls defining an inlet for cards, a base wall below said inlet, and rotary screw means engageable by said cards as they successively move while engaged by said transport means from said inlet to said base wall for shifting preceding cards from the path of on-coming cards, said screw means including a resilient, spring wire wound in a loose helix, said spring wires being yieldable upon edge engagement by a card to prevent damage of said card.

Claim 17

In data card handling apparatus having card feeding means, card reading means, transport means for engaging and positively driving successive cards from said feeding means past said reading means, and a card stacker for receiving cards edgewise from said transport means, said stacker means including walls defining an inlet for cards, a base wall below said inlet, and rotary screw means engageable by said cards as they successively move while engaged by said transport means from said inlet to said base wall for shifting preceding cards from the path of on-coming cards, said screw means including a resilient, spring wire wound in a loose helix, said spring wires being yieldable upon edge engagement by a card to prevent damage of said card.

Claim 18

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 14, an inclined wall between said inlet and said base wall engageable by the leading edge of successive cards for decelerating said cards.

Claim 19

In data card handling apparatus comprising a card feeding station adapted to receive a stack of cards, a reading station having means for reading the cards, a receiver for cards which have been read, transport means for moving cards successively from said feeding station past said reading station to said receiver in a path Determined at said feeding station, and drive means for said transport means, said feeding station having a card aligning surface engageable by the cards in said stack means for aligning the cards with said means for reading the cards, jostling means for agitating the card in said aligning means, and means for introducing successive cards to said transport means for movement in said path past said reading station, said aligning means including a guide surface disposed at an angle to the vertical, said jostling means including a member movably mounted adjacent to said guide surface for movement towards and away from said cards, and actuator means for moving said member independently of said drive means to agitate said cards into edge engagement with said guide surface, means providing an angular wall portion remote from said transport means to engage the cards and feather the stack of cards with the card nearest said transport means having a leading edge extending toward said transport means, and means operable in response to movement of said member to effect engagement of the leading edge of said nearest card with said transport means and transport of said lowermost card from said feeding station past said reading station.

Claim 20

In data card handling apparatus comprising a card feeding station adapted to receive a stack of cards, a reading station having means for reading the cards, a receiver for cards which have been read, transport means for moving cards successively from said feeding station past said reading station to said receiver in a path Determined at said feeding station, and drive means for said transport means, said feeding station having a card aligning surface engageable by the cards in said stack means for aligning the cards with said means for reading the cards, jostling means for agitating the card in said aligning means, and means for introducing successive cards to said transport means for movement in said path past said reading station, said aligning means including a guide surface disposed at an angle to the vertical, said jostling means including a member movably mounted adjacent to said guide surface for movement towards and away from said cards, and actuator means for moving said member independently of said drive means to agitate said cards into edge engagement with said guide surface, means providing an angular wall portion remote from said transport means to engage the cards and feather the stack of cards with the card nearest said transport means having a leading edge extending toward said transport means, and means operable in response to movement of said member to effect engagement of the leading edge of said nearest card with said transport means and transport of said lowermost card from said feeding station past said reading station.

Claim 21

In data card handling apparatus comprising: a card feeding station adapted to receive a stack of cards, a reading station having means for reading the cards, a receiver for cards which have been read, transport means for moving cards successively from said feeding station past said reading station to said receiver, said transport means including a friction feed roll and pressure applying means engageable with successive cards to press the cards into engagement with said friction feed roll, drive means for continuously rotating said feed roll, said feeding station having at least one card guide surface extending vertically and engageable by the side edges of the cards in said stack for aligning the cards with said means for reading the cards, jostling means for vertically agitating the cards, said jostling means including a plate for supporting the stack of cards, said plate extending on a plane normal to the guide surface, means mounting said plate for vertical card agitating movement beneath said cards, means for moving said plate independently of said drive means, means for providing an inclined surface remote from said transport means to feather the stack of cards with the lowermost card having a leading edge nearest said transport means, and means operable in response to each movement of said plate to effect engagement of said leading edge of successive cards between said friction feed roll and said pressure applying means and transport of said lowermost card from said feeding station past said reading station.

Claim 22

In data card handling apparatus comprising: a card feeding station adapted to receive a stack of cards, a reading station having means for reading the cards, a receiver for cards which have been read, transport means for moving cards successively from said feeding station past said reading station to said receiver, said transport means including a friction feed roll and pressure applying means engageable with successive cards to press the cards into engagement with said friction feed roll, drive means for continuously rotating said feed roll, said feeding station having at least one card guide surface extending vertically and engageable by the side edges of the cards in said stack for aligning the cards with said means for reading the cards, jostling means for vertically agitating the cards, said jostling means including a plate for supporting the stack of cards, said plate extending on a plane normal to the guide surface, means mounting said plate for vertical card agitating movement beneath said cards, means for moving said plate independently of said drive means, means for providing an inclined surface remote from said transport means to feather the stack of cards with the lowermost card having a leading edge nearest said transport means, and means operable in response to each movement of said plate to effect engagement of said leading edge of successive cards between said friction feed roll and said pressure applying means and transport of said lowermost card from said feeding station past said reading station.

Claim 23

In data card handling apparatus as defined in claim 17, said means operable in response to each movement of said plate comprising a projection on said plate extending towards said feed roll, said feed roll having a reduced diameter portion receiving said projection, said projection being engageable with the leading edge of successive cards to move the latter and said pressure applying means away from said feed roll upon movement of said plate in one direction and said projection allowing the leading edge of the lowermost card to engage said feed roll upon movement of said plate in the other direction.