exceeded in the form shown in fig5 the gear chain 70 is operative to act upon the shaft 38 when the card 10 moves in either direction so that the speed of the card 10 is controlled both as it moves into the path 20 14 and out of the path 20 14 the gear chain 70 or the first gear wheel 68 can comprise a ratchet mechanism whereby the speed controlling function is provided only when the shaft 38 moves in one of its two directions so that the card 10 can be controlled either when it enters the path 20 14 or as it is ejected from the path 20 14 alternatively the gear teeth 66 on the shaft 38 may be ratchet teeth and the teeth on the first gear wheel 68 may similarly be ratchet teeth designed to cooperate with the shaft 38 such that opposition to the motion of the shaft 38 only occurs in a preferred direction the controller 36 shown in fig5 thus serves to control the rate of energy change in the spring or springs 46 either as the card 10 is inserted into the path 20 14 or as the card 10 is ejected from the path 20 14 or both fig6 shows a second preferred embodiment of the controller 36 otherwise shown in fig1 to 4 the shaft 38 passes through a closed.