EP2379340B1 - File mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a file mechanism for receiving punched documents. Said file mechanism comprises a housing (10) having spring-elastic bendable housing flanks (28). Two support rails (20, 20') are arranged in the housing (10) and can be pivoted with respect to each other in the manner of a toggle lever in the region of the mutually facing longitudinal edges (24) to form an articulated axis (22). At least two half rings (16, 16'), which are arranged at a defined longitudinal distance from one another and complement each other in pairs to form a ring (14), are rigidly connected to the support rails (20, 20'). Locking elements (32, 32'), which complement each other and are interlocked with each other around the articulated axis (22) in the closed position to prevent pivoting of the support rails (20, 20'), are arranged on the free ends of the half rings (16, 16') of at least one of the half ring pairs. In addition, at least one of the support rails (20') can be moved relative to the other support rail (20) between an overlapping and an exposed position of the locking elements (32, 32') at the start of an opening process in order to trigger an unlocking process. Conversely, the at least one support rail (20') can be moved relative to the other support rail (20) between the exposed and the overlapping position of the locking elements (32, 32') in the course of the locking process. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, only one of the support rails (20') can be moved parallel to the articulated axis (22), relative to the housing (10), and the other support rail (20) is immobile with respect thereto.

Description

The invention relates to a filing mechanism with an elongated, in cross-section C or U-shaped housing having a central housing wall and two lateral, opposite the central housing wall to form longitudinal grooves bent housing flanks, with two arranged in the housing preferably elongated mounting rails, the At their facing longitudinal edges to form a hinge axis against each other and engage with their opposite longitudinal edges in the longitudinal grooves of the housing flanks, each with at least two at their roots in a defined longitudinal distance from each other rigidly connected to the support rails and on the outside of the housing in pairs a half ring complementary to a ring, wherein the support rails are limited to a hinge axis along a pivoting path with entrainment of the half-rings between a closed position and an open position against each other and pivotally with one another pairwise complementary half-rings in their closed position locking locking mechanism.

In known ring binder mechanisms, the mounting rails are inserted into the housing so that they occupy two locking positions corresponding to the closed position and the open position. The housing acts as a spring element which fixes the half-rings in their open position and in their closed position. In the area of the inner longitudinal edges of the mounting rails there are drivers, which ensure that the two mounting rails are always butt against each other at these longitudinal edges. The support rails have the function of a sprung at the outer edges held toggle lever. The known filing mechanism also has a locking mechanism, which comprises at least one locking element, the one another Locked in pairs complementary half rings in their closed position. The closing effect is effected solely by blocking the mounting rails. This results in the region of the free ends of the half-rings only a limited closing force. In addition, the known locking mechanism has an independently operable from the support rails locking bar on which the locking rails acting against the support rails are arranged ( EP 1 189 764 B1 ).

In order to avoid these disadvantages, it has already been proposed in a file mechanism of the type specified at the beginning ( US-7,600,939 B2 ), that at the free ends of the half rings at least one of the half-ring pairs complementary, the locking mechanism forming, locked in the closed position against pivoting of the support rails around the hinge axis latch members are arranged, wherein at least one of the support rails at the beginning of an opening operation relative to the other support rail along a path of travel triggering an unlocking between an overlapping and an exposed position of the associated locking elements is movable.

document US-A-2105235 discloses a file mechanism according to the preamble of claim 1.

Proceeding from this, the present invention seeks to develop a file mechanism of the type specified, which is particularly easy and reliable to handle during the opening and closing process.

To solve this problem, the feature combination specified in claim 1 is proposed. Advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

• dass mindestens eine mit mindestens einer der Tragschienen in Wirkverbindung stehende, den Bewegungsweg und/oder den Schwenkweg der Tragschienen relativ zueinander steuernde Steuereinheit vorgesehen ist,
• dass die Tragschienen zumindest gegen Ende des Schließvorgangs und zweckmäßig auch am Anfang des Öffnungsvorgangs relativ zueinander in Richtung überlappende Position ihrer Riegelelemente unter der Einwirkung mindestens eines Federelements vorgespannt sind;
• dass ein Betätigungsorgan vorgesehen ist, das einen auf mindestens eine der Tragschienen in Öffnungsrichtung einwirkenden Öffnungsausleger aufweist, und das zusätzlich ein an mindestens einer der Tragschienen in ihrer Bewegungsrichtung parallel zur Gelenkachse angreifendes Zug- oder Schubglied aufweist;
• und dass die Tragschienen im Bereich der Gelenkachse auf die jeweils benachbarte Tragschiene übergreifende Mitnehmer aufweisen und die Öffnungs- und Schließausleger des Betätigungsorgans nur an einer der Tragschienen und das Zug- oder Schubglied des Betätigungsorgans an der jeweils anderen Tragschiene angreifen.

The invention provides

• at least one control unit which is operatively connected to at least one of the mounting rails and which controls the movement path and / or the pivoting travel of the mounting rails relative to one another is provided,
• that the support rails are biased at least towards the end of the closing operation and expediently also at the beginning of the opening operation relative to each other in the direction of overlapping position of their locking elements under the action of at least one spring element;
• that an actuating member is provided which has an opening arm acting on at least one of the support rails in the opening direction, and which additionally has a pull or push member acting on at least one of the support rails in its direction of movement parallel to the hinge axis;
• and that the support rails have in the region of the hinge axis on the respective adjacent support rail cross-driver and attack the opening and closing arm of the actuator only on one of the support rails and the pull or push member of the actuator to the respective other support rail.

The control unit ensures that the movement sequence can be better controlled, especially during the closing process. For this purpose, the control unit can be designed so that it releases during the closing process in the manner of a sequential control in a first phase, the relative pivoting of the support rails about the hinge axis parallel with this movement path, until the support rails with their half-rings in the exposed position of the locking elements have come into the closed position, and in a second phase, the relative movement of the support rails parallel to the hinge axis with locked pivoting this releases until the locking elements have reached their locking position.

Deviating from this, the support rails can be relative to each other already in the overlapping position of their locking elements before the end of a closing operation, so that the half-rings lock their locking elements at the end of the closing operation to form a positive and non-positive connection with each other.

To define the above terms, the following should also be stated: In the "overlapping position", the ends of the half-rings carrying the locking elements are aligned with one another; the locking elements are locked in this position in the closed position of the support rails or locked outside their closed position with aligned half-rings. In the "exposed position", the ends of the half-rings carrying the locking elements are offset relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the mounting rails or are rotated relative to one another. The locking elements in this position release the opening and closing path of the mounting rails with their half rings.

The control unit is expediently additionally designed so that it releases the relative movement path of the movable support rail parallel to the hinge axis during the opening process in the manner of a sequential control in a first phase, wherein the pivoting of the support rails around the hinge axis remains restricted until the locking elements of the half rings out of engagement have reached their exposed position, and in a second phase of the opening operation releases the relative pivoting of the support rails about the hinge axis until reaching the open position while blocking the path of movement of the movable support rail parallel to the hinge axis in the overlapping position of the locking elements.

Advantageously, the actuating member additionally has a locking arm acting on at least one of the mounting rails in the closing direction. In this case, it is advantageous if the opening and closing arms of the actuator engage only on one of the support rails and the pull or push member of the actuator only on the respective other support rail.

In all these cases, the at least one support rail is displaceable relative to the other support rail parallel to the hinge axis. In this case, the half rings of the mounting rails preferably engage through housing openings to the outside, wherein the housing openings for the half rings, which are arranged on the support rail displaceable relative to the housing, as the displacement between the exposed and the overlapping position of the associated locking elements delimiting elongated holes are formed ,

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control unit comprises a guide slot preferably arranged fixed to the housing and arranged on one of the support rail in the vicinity of the hinge axis, engaging in the guide slot or against this fitting slide, which may be formed, for example, as bent on the mounting rail tab. Accordingly, the guide slot on a the movement path and / or the pivoting path guiding track for the sliding gate on.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the support rails in the region of the hinge axis on the respective adjacent support rail cross-driver and that the opening and closing arms of the actuator only on one of the support rails and the pull or push member of the actuator only at the other Attacking the mounting rail.

Advantageously, the support rail connected to the tension member is spring-supported against the pulling direction of the tension member.

Fig. 1a

bis c ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer Ordnermechanik nach der Erfingdung in geschlossenem Zustand in einer Draufsicht, einer teilweise aufgebrochenen Seitenansicht und einer Stirnseitenansicht;

Fig. 2a

und b eine schaubildliche Untenansicht und eine schaubildliche Draufsicht der mit den Tragschienen verbunden Halbringe der Ordnermechanik nach Fig. 1a bis c;

Fig. 2c

bis g diverse Details der Ordnermechanik nach Fig. 1a bis c;

Fig. 2h

einen Querschnitt durch das Gehäuse der Ordnermechanik;

Fig. 3a

bis d zwei schaubildliche Darstellungen und zwei Seitenansichten des Betätigungsorgans der Ordnermechanik nach Fig. 1 und 2;

Fig. 4a

bis g diverse Ansichten und Ausschnitte der Ordnermechanik nach Fig. 1a bis c in der verriegelten Schließstellung der Halbringe und der Tragschienen;

Fig. 5a

bis g diverse Ansichten und Ausschnitte der Ordnermechanik entsprechend den Darstellungen der Fig. 4a bis g in der entriegelten Schließstellung der Halbringe und Tragschienen;

Fig. 6a

bis f diverse Ansichten und Ausschnitte der Ordnermechanik entsprechend den Darstellungen der Fig. 4a bis f in der Offenstellung der Halbringe und Tragschienen;

Fig. 7a

und b zwei schaubildliche Detaildarstellungen der Ordnermechanik mit zwei Varianten für das Schub- und Zugelement zwischen Betätigungsorgan und verschiebbarer Tragschiene;

Fig. 8a

und b einen schaubildlichen Ausschnitt der Tragschienen mit eingelegtem langgestrecktem Gelenkelemente sowie das langgestreckte Gelenkelement allein in vergrößerter schaubildlicher Darstellung;

Fig. 9a

und b einen schaubildlichen Ausschnitt der Tragschienen mit eingelegten, als Rollkörper ausgebildeten Gelenkelementen sowie eines der Gelenkelemente allein in vergrößerter schaubildlicher Darstellung;

Fig. 10a

eine schaubildliche Darstellung einer Ordnermechanik mit einer schwenkbaren Tragschienenpartie;

Fig. 10b

eine Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 10a mit abgenommenem Gehäuse;

Fig. 10c bis d und f bis k

diverse Details der Ordnermechanik nach Fig.10a und b teilweise in schaubildlicher Darstellung und teilweise in Seitenansichten;

Fig. 11a bis c

eine Untenansicht, eine Draufsicht und eine ausschnittsweise Seitenansicht der Ordnermechanik nach Fig. 10a und b im verriegelten Schließzustand der Tragschienen und der Halbringe;

Fig. 12a bis c

eine Untenansicht, eine Draufsicht und eine Seitenansicht der Ordnermechanik nach Fig. 10a und b teilweise mit abgenommenem Gehäuse in entriegelter Schließstellung der schwenkbaren Tragschienenpartie und des zugehörigen Halbrings;

Fig. 13a und b

je eine Darstellung entsprechend den Fig. 12b und c in der Offenstellung der Tragschienen und der Halbringe;

Fig. 14a und b

je eine Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 13a und b bei in der Offenstellung der Tragschienen und der Tragringe zurückgeschwenkter Tragschienenpartie;

Fig. 15a

eine schaubildliche Darstellung einer Ordnermechanik bei abgenommenem Gehäuse mit drei schwenkbaren Tragschienenpartien für drei verriegelbare Halbringe im verriegelten Schließzustand;

Fig. 15b bis d

drei Bauteile der Ordnermechanik nach Fig. 15a in schaubildlicher Darstellung;

Fig. 16a

eine Draufsicht auf die Ordnermechanik nach Fig. 15a bei abgenommenen Gehäuse in verriegelter Schließstellung der Tragschienenpartien und der zugehörigen Halbringe;

Fig. 16b

eine Draufsicht entsprechend Fig. 16a in entriegelter Schließstellung der Tragschienenpartien und der zugehörigen Halbringe;

Fig. 17a bis d

einen Ausschnitt einer Ordnermechanik mit liegendem Betätigungshebel in verriegelter Schließstellung, in entriegelter Schließstellung, in entriegelter Offenstellung und erneut in entriegelter Schließstellung;

Fig. 18a bis d

schaubildliche Darstellungen der Ordnermechanik gemäß Fig. 17a bis d ohne Gehäuse in der Verriegelungsstellung und der Entriegelungsstellung des Betätigungshebels;

Fig. 19a und b

zwei Untenansichten eines Details mit den Hebelstellungen gemäß Fig. 18a und 18b;

Fig. 20a und b

zwei weitere Detaildarstellungen des Betätigungshebels und des dem Betätigungshebel gegenüberliegenden Tragschienenendes.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments schematically illustrated in the drawing. Show it

Fig. 1a

to c, an embodiment of a folder mechanism according to the invention in the closed state in a plan view, a partially broken side view and an end view;

Fig. 2a

and b is a perspective bottom view and a diagrammatic plan view of the half rails of the filing mechanism connected to the carrier rails Fig. 1a to c;

Fig. 2c

to g various details of the file mechanism Fig. 1a to c;

Fig. 2h

a cross section through the housing of the filing mechanism;

Fig. 3a

to d two perspective views and two side views of the actuator of the filing mechanism according to Fig. 1 and 2 ;

Fig. 4a

to g various views and sections of the file mechanism Fig. 1a to c in the locked closed position of the half rings and the mounting rails;

Fig. 5a

to g various views and excerpts of the folder mechanism according to the representations of Fig. 4a to g in the unlocked closed position of the half rings and mounting rails;

Fig. 6a

to f various views and excerpts of the folder mechanics according to the representations of the Fig. 4a to f in the open position of the half rings and mounting rails;

Fig. 7a

and b shows two perspective detailed representations of the filing mechanism with two variants for the push and pull element between the actuating member and displaceable mounting rail;

Fig. 8a

and b is a perspective cutout of the mounting rails with inserted elongate joint elements and the elongate joint element alone in an enlarged perspective view;

Fig. 9a

and b is a perspective cutout of the mounting rails with inlaid, formed as a rolling body hinge elements and one of the joint elements alone in an enlarged perspective view;

Fig. 10a

a perspective view of a file mechanism with a pivotable mounting rail section;

Fig. 10b

a representation accordingly Fig. 10a with removed housing;

Fig. 10c to d and f to k

various details of the file mechanism Fig.10a and b partly in perspective and partly in side views;

Fig. 11a to c

a bottom view, a plan view and a partial side view of the filing mechanism according to Fig. 10a and b in the locked closed state of the mounting rails and the half rings;

Fig. 12a to c

a bottom view, a plan view and a side view of the filing mechanism after Fig. 10a and b partially with removed housing in unlocked closed position of the pivoting mounting rail and the associated half-ring;

Fig. 13a and b

depending on a representation according to the Fig. 12b and c in the open position of the mounting rails and the half rings;

Fig. 14a and b

depending on a representation accordingly Fig. 13a and b in the open position of the mounting rails and the support rings swung back mounting rail part;

Fig. 15a

a perspective view of a file mechanism with removed housing with three pivoting mounting rail sections for three lockable half-rings in the locked closed state;

Fig. 15b to d

three components of the file mechanism after Fig. 15a in a perspective view;

Fig. 16a

a plan view of the file mechanism after Fig. 15a with removed housing in the locked closed position of the carrier rail parts and the associated half-rings;

Fig. 16b

a plan view accordingly Fig. 16a in unlocked closed position of the carrier rail parts and the associated half-rings;

Fig. 17a to d

a section of a file mechanism with horizontal operating lever in the locked closed position, in the unlocked closed position, in the unlocked open position and again in the unlocked closed position;

Fig. 18a to d

perspective illustrations of the file mechanism according to Fig. 17a to d without housing in the locking position and the unlocking position of the actuating lever;

Fig. 19a and b

two bottom views of a detail with the lever positions according to Figs. 18a and 18b ;

Fig. 20a and b

two more detailed views of the operating lever and the operating lever opposite the rail end.

The file mechanisms shown in the drawing are intended primarily for receiving loose perforated sheets, such as documents or printed matter. Each file mechanism comprises a cross-sectionally C-shaped housing 10, which is a central housing wall 11 and two lateral, opposite the central housing wall 11 with the formation of bearing grooves 26 bent housing flanks 28 comprises ( Fig. 2h ). In addition, in the embodiments shown, three arranged in a defined longitudinal distance from one another, through openings 12,12 'in the housing 10 and by way of pairing to a ring 14 complementary half rings 16,16' and an actuator 18,118 are provided for opening and closing the rings. The pairwise to the ring 14 complementary half rings 16,16 'are fixed with its root 19,19' rigidly to two support rails 20,20 ', at their mutually facing inner longitudinal edges 24 to form a hinge axis 22 directly or via at least one hinge element 23 ', 23 "bear indirectly against each other and engage with their opposite outer longitudinal edges 25 in the mutually facing bearing grooves 26 which are embossed into the housing flanks 28.

This in Fig. 8a and b shown joint element 23 'is elongated and has a double-T-shaped profile, while the in Fig. 9a and b shown as rolling elements formed hinge elements 23 "spaced from one another between the longitudinal edges 24 facing each other and have a double-T-shaped outline.The hinge elements 23 'are preferably made of an elastomeric material, while the hinge elements 23" consist of a metal can.
The support rails 20,20 'are inserted into the housing 10 so that they can assume two stable end positions, namely a closed position in which the half rings form a closed ring 14 ( Fig. 4a ) and an open position in which the half rings 16, 16 'are open at their free ends ( Fig. 6a ). The housing can act as a spring element which fixes the half rings 16, 16 'in their open position and in their closed position. In the region of the inner longitudinal edges 24 of the support rails 20,20 'are drivers 30 or the joint elements 23', 23 ", which ensure that the two support rails 20,20 'there are always butt against each other. The support rails 20,20 'have the function of a hinged to the outer longitudinal edges 25 toggle lever. Thus, the support rails 20,20 'can be pivoted about their hinge axis 22 with entrainment of the half rings 16,16' limited between the open position and the closed position against each other.

In addition, a locking mechanism is provided which locks the pairwise complementary half rings 16,16 'in its closed position. A special feature of the invention is that the locking mechanism at the free ends of the half rings 16,16 'at least one of the half-ring pairs complementary, locked in the closed position against pivoting of the support rails 20,20' about the hinge axis 22 with each other hook-like locking elements 32,32 'formed in the material of the half-rings. In order to perform an opening operation by pivoting the support rails 20,20 ', additional precautions are taken to ensure that at the beginning of an opening operation unlocking the locking elements 32,32' is triggered, so that the pivoting of the support rails about its hinge axis 22nd is released. For unlocking there are several possibilities according to the invention, which will be explained in more detail below with reference to the various embodiments.

At the in Fig. 1 to 8 shown embodiment, one of the support rails 20 'parallel to the hinge axis 22 relative to the housing 10 is displaceable, while the other support rail 20 is opposite thereto immovable. The displacement of the first support rail 20 'is made possible in that the openings 12' in the housing 10, through which the associated half-rings 16 'pass outwardly, are formed as slots (see. Fig. 1 a) ,

With this provision, it is possible that the one support rail 20 'at the beginning of an opening operation relative to the other support rail 20 by triggering an unlocking between an overlapping position ( Fig. 4c ) and an exposed position ( Fig. 5c ) of its locking elements 32, 32 'is displaceable in order to move the half rings 16, 16' into their open position (FIG. Fig. 6c ) to be able to pivot. Conversely, in the course of a closing operation, the support rail 20 'is moved relative to the other support rail 20 between the exposed and the overlapping position of its locking elements 32,32'. This can be done either by the fact that at the end of the closing operation, the support rail 20 'relative to the other support rail 20 between the exposed and the overlapping position of the locking elements 32,32' is moved. In principle, it is also possible for the mounting rail 20 'to be in the overlapping position of the locking elements 32, 32' even before reaching the closed position, and for the half rings 16, 16 'to reach the closed position of the mounting rails with their locking elements 32, 32' with the formation of a positive and non-positive connection by utilizing the inherent elasticity of the half rings 16,16 'engage each other.

In order to be able to coordinate the movement path of the displaceable support rail 20 'parallel to the articulation axis 22 and the mutual pivotal movement of the support rails 20, 20' around the articulation axis 22 in the above sense during the opening and closing process, the in Fig. 1 to 8 shown embodiment, a control unit 34 is provided, which is fixed to the housing and which has a guide slot with a guide section 36 and 38 for a near the hinge axis 22 on the sliding support rail 20 'arranged, designed as a tab sliding member 40.

The control unit 34 is designed so that during the opening process in a first phase, the movement path of the support rail 20 'with his Glide bar 40 along the guide path 38 parallel to the hinge axis 22 releases and blocks the pivoting or at least restricts until the locking elements 32,32 'of the half rings 16,16' disengaged, and in a second phase releases the pivoting path to the open position and the Movement path in the direction of overlapping position of the locking elements by the transversely to the hinge axis 22 extending guide path 36 for the sliding member 40 blocks. Conversely, the control member 34 ensures that during the closing process in a first phase of the movement path of the support rail 20 'is blocked by the guide member 40 via the guide member 36 until the support rails have arrived with their half-rings 16,16' in the closed position, and in one second phase of the movement in the direction of overlapping position of the locking elements 32,32 'along the guide path 38 is released until the locking elements 32,32' have come into their overlapping and locked position. In order for the locking to take place automatically during the closing operation, the displaceable support rail 20 'is pretensioned at least during the opening or closing operation in the direction of overlapping position by a tension spring 42 clamped between the control unit 34 and the support rail 20' at the suspension points 42 ', 42 " (see. Fig. 2b, c such as Fig. 4f, 5f, 6f ).

The bias of the tension spring 42 is carried out primarily during the opening process via the actuator 18. The actuator 18 has for this purpose on the displaceable mounting rail 20 'attacking coupling point 44. At the in Fig. 4g and 7a the embodiment shown, the coupling point 44 is formed on the actuating member 18 as a slot in which the displaceable support rail 20 'engages with its bent end 46 with a certain play. At the in Fig. 7b shown modified embodiment, the coupling point 44 additionally comprises an existing of a bent wire tension member 48 which extends between a lever arm 50 of the actuating member 18 and a slot opening 52 in the slidable mounting rail 20 'extends. This side of the actuator 18 is exclusively for the displacement of the support rail 20 'determined.

On the other side of the actuating member 18 are an opening arm 54 and a locking arm 56, which include a gap 59 for receiving the free end 58 of the non-displaceable mounting rail 20 ( 4e, 5e, 6e ). The triggering of the pivoting movement of the support rails 20,20 'is thus effected exclusively via the non-displaceable support rail 20, which is coupled in the joint region via the drivers 30 or the joint elements 23', 23 "to the displaceable support rail 20 ' Actuator 18 is dimensioned so that the above-described and in the Fig. 4f, 5f and 6f sketched sequence control is possible during the opening process. The actuating member 18 is designed as a pivotable about an axis transverse to the hinge axis 22, the central housing wall 11 substantially parallel axis of rotation 60 pivotable actuating lever.

As a result, the actuating member 18 so in the opening and closing direction two effective in different angular positions actuating positions for a subsequent operation of the support rails 20,20 ', wherein the support rail 20' for the purpose of unlocking and locking the locking members 32 in the direction of the hinge axis 22nd is moved and the support rail 20 for the purpose of performing an opening and closing movement of the half rings 16,16 'about the hinge axis 22 with entrainment of the support rail 20' is pivoted.

The folder mechanism after Fig. 10a to 14b differs from the embodiment described above in that only the middle half-ring pair 16,16 'is provided with mutually complementary locking elements 32,32' at their free ends and that a half-ring 16 'of this half-ring pair with its root 19' at one opposite immovable Support rail 20 rotatable mounting rail section 62 of the support rail 20 'is fixed. The mounting rail 20 'also includes a non-displaceable mounting rail body 64. As out Fig. 11b, 12b . 13a and 14a can be seen, the two arranged on the mounting rail body 64 outer half pairs 16 ", 16 '" each acting only in the longitudinal direction wedge lock 66, which dissolves during pivoting of the support rails 20,20' without a cross-locking and closes. In the middle region, the carrier rail main body 64 has a narrow web 65 on which the carrier rail section 62 can slide. The mounting rail part 62 is supported with a sliding shoe 63 on the inner longitudinal edge 24 of the support rail 20 so that both a longitudinal guide along the longitudinal edge 24 and a pivoting engagement about the hinge axis 22 is ensured. In addition, the carriers 30 on the carrier rail main body 64 ensure that the carrier rails 20, 20 'always abut against each other at their longitudinal edges 24. The DIN rail 62 has at its outer edge two more support tabs 67 ', 67 ", with which it engages in the mounted state in corresponding bearing recesses 69', 69" of the housing 10 and is secured there against displacement. Further, a spring element 76 is integrally formed on the mounting rail portion 62, with which the mounting rail portion 62 is supported in the interior of the housing edge 28 so that a resilient bias in the direction of the overlapping position of the locking element 32 'takes place (see. Fig. 11 a, b as well Fig. 12a . b ).

The half-ring 16 'is by rotating the mounting rail portion 62 by triggering a locking or unlocking of the associated locking elements 32,32' of an overlapping, parallel to the other half-ring 16 aligned position ( Fig. 11b) in an opposite to the other half-ring 16 angled exposed position ( Fig. 12b ) limited pivoting. In the exposed position, the locking elements 32,32 'out of engagement, so that the half rings 16,16' by pivoting the two support rails 20,20 'order the hinge axis 22 in their in Fig. 13a shown open position can be pivoted.

The actuation of the pivotable mounting rail portion 62 via a pull rod 68 which extends between a lever arm 70 of the lever-shaped actuating member 18 and a slot opening 72 in the mounting rail portion 62. The locking and unlocking of the locking elements 32,32 'on the pivotable mounting rail part 62 on the one hand and the opening and closing movement of the half rings 16,16' by mutual pivoting of the support rails 20,20 'takes place here in the manner of a sequence control on the actuator 18th The different positions of the actuator 18 in the course of the sequence control result, for example, from the sequence of figures 11, 12, 13 and 14. The movement sequence between the Fig. 11a . b and 12a . b shows the unlocking process and between Fig. 12a . b and 13a, b the actual opening process. Another special feature of this locking device is that the actuating member 18 can be pivoted back from the open position to its original position without causing a closing movement of the half rings 16, 16 '( Fig. 14a, b ). In the latter process, the mounting rail portion 62 is pivoted back with the associated half-ring 16 'in its initial position, so that an alignment of the half-rings 16,16' and thus easy handling when loading the mechanism is achieved with records. The outer half-ring pairs 16 ", 16"'arranged on the carrier rail body 64 undergo no rotation during the opening and closing operation. They are at their wedge lock 66 when pivoting the support rails 20,20 'solved without cross-locking and closed.

The actual closing of the half rings 16,16 ', 16 ", 16"' is not via the actuator 18, but by squeezing one of the half-ring pairs in the closing direction. It comes in the closed position to mutual latching of the locking elements 32,32 'in the in Fig. 11 shown detent position. Accordingly, the actuator 18 has in this embodiment, only one voltage applied to the support rail 20 opening boom 54. The locking boom is here in terms of manual operation during the closing process unnecessary.

The in the Fig. 15a to 16b Folder mechanism shown is a modification of the file mechanism after 10 to 14 , The essential difference is that in this case all three half-ring pairs at the ends of their half-rings 16, 16 'have locking elements 32, 32', which in the closed position of the half-rings 16, 16 'lock each individual half-ring pair against an opening operation. The elongated support rail 20 is also arranged immovably in the housing 10 here. The support rail 20 ', however, is composed of three opposite the support rail 20 pivotable mounting rail sections 62, to which in each case one of the half rings 16' of each half-ring pair is fixed with its root 19 '. The mounting rail body accordingly 10 to 14 is dispensable in this case. The mounting rail parts 62 are each supported by a sliding shoe 63 on the longitudinal edge 24 of the adjacent mounting rail 20 and engage with their support projections 67 ', 67 "in bearing recesses (not shown) of the adjacent housing flank are supported on the longitudinal side edge 24 of the adjacent support rail 20 in such a way that they are prestressed in the direction of overlapping position of the locking elements 32, 32 '.The support rail parts 62 are displaced via a common linkage 74 by means of the actuating member 18 between an overlapping position (FIG. Fig. 16a ) and an exposed position ( Fig. 16b ) of the locking elements 32 'pivoted. The actuator 18 in this case has a double function. First, by pivoting the mounting rail section 62, it performs an unlocking operation between the overlapping position (FIG. Fig. 16a ) and the exposed position ( Fig. 16b ) out. Upon further depression of the actuating member 18, an opening arm 54 arranged on the actuating member ensures that the mounting rails 20, 20 'are pivoted relative to one another about their joint axis 22 while the half rings 16, 16' are spread apart. The opening procedure is similar to that in the previous embodiment according to FIG Fig. 12b and 13a , Since a locking arm is also missing here, can be effected by pivoting back the actuator 18 in the starting position an aligned alignment of the angled half-rings 16 'relative to the half-rings 16, which allow easier insertion of documents. During the closing process, one of the half-ring pairs is pressed against one another by hand until the half-rings 16, 16 'engage in one another at their locking elements 32, 32' ( Fig. 16a ).

As a result, here the actuating member 18 only in the opening direction two effective in different angular positions actuating positions for a subsequent operation of the pivotable mounting rail parts 62 on the one hand and the opening movement of the support rails 20,20 'on the other. In the closing direction only the mounting rail parts 62 and the associated half rings 16,16 'are pivoted back to their original position, while the actual closing movement is performed by squeezing one of the half-ring pairs by hand.

A folder mechanism is in Fig. 17a to 20b shown. The with their roots 19,19 'directly to the support rails 20,20' fixed half-ring pairs 16,16 'are there at their free ends with mutually complementary, locked in the closed position against pivoting of the support rails 20,20' about the hinge axis 22 with each other Bar elements 32,32 'provided. In order to unlock the locking elements 32,32 ', both support rails 20,20' in opposite directions to each other and relative to the housing 10 by means of an actuating member 118 slidably. The actuating member 118 is there as extending transversely to the hinge axis 22, formed to the central housing wall 11 substantially vertical pivot axis 80 pivotable actuating lever. The actuator 118 engages with two lateral spaced from the hinge axis 22, in the direction of support rails 20,20 'bent tabs 82,82' in each open-edged recess 84,84 'of the support rails 20,20' and is on the two sides under relative displacement of the support rails 20,20 'limited pivoting. The actuator 118 is exclusively intended here, the half rings 16,16 'in the sense of Figs. 17a and 17b to lock or unlock. For this purpose, the support rails 20,20 'on the bent tabs 82,82' in the sense of Fig. 18a and b such as 19a and b shifted against each other. The actual opening and closing operation of the half rings 16, 16 'takes place by hand via the half rings themselves ( Fig. 17c and d and 18c and d). Since between the support rails 20,20 'the hinge axis 22 bridging driver 30 are arranged, only one of the half rings 16,16' must be pivoted relative to the housing 10 during the opening and closing operation. The other half rings are taken over the associated support rails 20,20 '(see. Fig. 20b ). In the pivot axis 80 of the actuator 118 is a relative to the housing 10 rotatable hinge pin 86, from which the tabs 82.82 'protrude radially. The pivoting movement is limited by a slot 88 relative to a housing-fixed pin 90. In the overlapping position of the locking elements 32, 32 ', the actuating member 118 can be locked on the housing 10 (FIG. Fig. 17a ). For this purpose, a latching tongue 92 formed on the housing 10 is provided, which engages in the locking position in a latching recess 94 of the actuating member 118.

In summary, the following should be noted: The invention relates to a file mechanism according to claim 1 for receiving punched documents.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

casing

11

central housing wall

12.12 '

housing openings

14

ring

16,16 ', 16 ", 16"'

half rings

18

actuator

19.19 '

root

20.20 '

mounting rails

22

joint axis

23 ', 23 "

joint elements

24

inner longitudinal edges

25

outer longitudinal edges

26

storage trays

28

case sides

30

takeaway

32.32 '

locking elements

34

control unit

36

stop route

38

guide path

40

sliding member

42

mainspring

42 ', 42 "

hook-in points

44

coupling point

46

flap

48

tension member

50

lever arm

52

Slot opening

54

opening boom

56

closing boom

58

free end

60

axis of rotation

62

Rail section

63

shoe

64

Rail body

65

web

66

wedge lock

67 ', 67 "

supporting lugs

68

tension element

69 ', 69 "

bearing recesses

70

lever arm

72

slot opening

74

linkage

76

spring elements

80

swivel axis

82.82 '

tabs

84.84 '

recesses

86

hinge pins

88

Long hole

90

spigot

92

catch tongue

94

recess

118

actuator

Claims (19)

1. File mechanism having an elongate, cross-sectionally C-shaped or U-shaped housing (10), which has a central housing wall (11) and two lateral housing flanks (28) which are bent in relation to the central housing wall (11) to form bearing channels (26), having two elongate carrying rails (20, 20') which are arranged in the housing (10), butt against one another directly or indirectly, along their facing longitudinal edges (24), to form an articulation axis (22) and have their remote longitudinal edges (25) engaging in the bearing channels (26) of the housing flanks (28), having in each case at least two half-rings (16, 16') which are connected rigidly to the carrying rails (20, 20') at their root (19, 19'), at a defined longitudinal spacing from one another, and supplement one another in pairs, on the outside of the housing (10), to form a ring (14), wherein the carrying rails (20, 20') can be pivoted in relation to one another to a limited extent about the articulation axis (22) along a pivoting path, with the half-rings (16, 16') being carried along between a closed position and an open position, and having a locking mechanism, by means of which the half-rings (16, 16') which supplement one another in pairs are arrested in their closed position, wherein complementary catch elements (32, 32') are arranged at the free ends of the half-rings (16, 16') of at least one of the pairs of half-rings, these catch elements forming the locking mechanism and, in the closed position, being locked to one another to prevent pivoting of the carrying rails (20, 20') about the articulation axis (22), wherein at least one of the carrying rails (20'), at the beginning of an opening operation, can be moved relative to the other carrying rail (20) along a movement path, this triggering an unlocking action between an overlapping position and a freeing position of the associated catch elements (32, 32'), and wherein at least one control unit (34) is provided, this control unit being in operative connection with at least one of the carrying rails and controlling the movement path and/or the pivoting path of the carrying rails relative to one another, wherein an actuating device (18) is provided in addition, this device having an opening extension arm (54), which acts on at least one of the carrying rails (20) in the opening direction, and wherein the carrying rails (20, 20'), in the region of the articulation axis (22), have drivers (30), which engage over the respectively adjacent carrying rail, characterized in that the carrying rails (20, 20'), at least towards the end of the closing operation, are prestressed relative to one another, under the action of at least one spring element, in the direction of the overlapping position of their catch elements (32, 32'), and in that the actuating device, in addition, has a pulling or pushing member (48) which acts on at least one of the carrying rails (20') in the movement direction of the latter parallel to the articulation axis (22).
2. File mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one control unit (34) is designed such that during the closing operation, in the manner of sequential control, in a first phase it releases the pivoting path of the carrying rails (20, 20') relative to one another about the articulation axis (22), with a limited movement path parallel to the latter, until the carrying rails, with their half-rings (16, 16') in the freeing position of the catch elements (32, 32'), have passed into the closed position, and in a second phase it releases the movement path of the carrying rails (20, 20') relative to one another parallel to the articulation axis (22), with the pivoting path about the latter blocked, until the catch elements (32, 32') have passed into their locking position.
3. File mechanism according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one control unit (34) is designed such that during the opening operation, in the manner of sequential control, in a first phase it releases the movement path of the carrying rails (20, 20') relative to one another parallel to the articulation axis, with the pivoting path about the latter blocked, until the catch elements (32, 32') of the half-rings (16, 16') have disengaged into their freeing position, and in a second phase it releases the pivoting path of the carrying rails (20, 20') relative to one another about the articulation axis (22) from the closed position thereof into the open position and limits the movement path parallel to the articulation axis (22) in the direction of the overlapping position of their catch elements (32, 32').
4. File mechanism according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuating device (18), in addition, has a closing extension arm (56), which acts on at least one of the carrying rails in the closing direction.
5. File mechanism according to Claim 4, characterized in that the opening and closing extension arms (54, 56) of the actuating device act only on one of the carrying rails (20), and the pulling or pushing member (48) of the actuating device (18) acts only on the respectively other carrying rail (20').
6. File mechanism according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control unit comprises a guide track (36, 38) and a sliding device (40), which is arranged on one of the carrying rails (20'), in the vicinity of the articulation axis (22), and engages in the guide track (36, 38) or butts against the same.
7. File mechanism according to Claim 6, characterized in that the guide track is arranged on the housing.
8. File mechanism according to either of Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the guide track (36, 38) has a guide route for the sliding device, this guide route controlling the movement path and/or the pivoting path.
9. File mechanism according to one of Claims 5 to 8, characterized in that a clearance for movement is formed between the pulling or pushing member (48), on the one hand, and the opening and closing extension arms (54, 56), on the other hand.
10. File mechanism according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the carrying rail (20'), which is connected to the pulling or pushing member (48), is subjected to the action of the at least one spring element.
11. File mechanism according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the spring element is designed as a tension spring, of which one end is connected to one of the carrying rails and the other end is connected to the housing, preferably to the guide track.
12. File mechanism according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the actuating device (18) is designed as an actuating lever which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation (60) which runs transversely to the articulation axis (22) and is essentially parallel to the central housing wall (11).
13. File mechanism according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the pulling or pushing member (48) comprises a lever arm (50) which is coupled in a form-fitting manner to a lug (46), which is arranged rigidly on the relevant carrying rail (20').
14. File mechanism according to Claim 13, characterized in that the lever arm (50) has a coupling location (44) which is designed as a slot or pocket and in which the lug (46), which is bent through an angle of 80° to 100° from the carrying rail, engages with clearance for actuation.
15. File mechanism according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the pulling or pushing member (48) forms a tie rod, which is fitted on a lever arm (50) of the actuating device (18) and on the relevant carrying rail (20'), preferably with clearance for actuation.
16. File mechanism according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that a spring element is integrated in the pulling or pushing member (48).
17. File mechanism according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that, in the region of the articulation axis (22), at least one articulation element (23', 23") is introduced loosely between the carrying rails (20, 20'), the articulation element engaging in a form-fitting manner around the adjacent longitudinal edges (24) of the carrying rails.
18. File mechanism according to Claim 17, characterized in that the articulation element (23') is designed as an elongate bead-like moulding, preferably made of an elastomer material.
19. File mechanism according to Claim 18, characterized in that the at least one articulation element (23") is designed as a rolling body, preferably made of metal.

Images