912,859. Filing papers. CONDI-GARRTGA, M. Feb. 5, 1959, No. 4107/59. Class 146 (1) [Also in Group XIX] A rotary filing apparatus for index cards or the like, wherein the cards are contained in peripheral compartments of the apparatus, is provided with means for selecting a compart ment of the apparatus to come to rest at an operating station and movable fingers positioned at the operating station for exposing any card in the selected compartment. The cards 8 are retained in position during rotation by a U- shaped support member 3 pivoted to a bridge member 1. The latter is secured in the closed position by a spring-loaded catch 6 against the action of a spring 15. A compressor 9 is connected to the bridge member 1 by a lever 11 and pin-and-slot connection 10, 10<SP>1</SP> to act on the cards in unison with the support member 3. Alternatively, the bridge member 1 is replaced by a pair of arms pivotally mounted on a spindle extending below the floor of the compartment and the lever 11 connected to an extension of the arms below the spindle. In another embodiment, the cards are maintained in position by two plates hinged to the side walls of the compartment and interconnected by spring- loaded levers whereby the plates are actuated together, Fig. 4 (not shown). The plates are held in the closed position by a spring-loaded compressor seated in L-shaped slots in the plates. In a further embodiment, the support members comprise fixed plates secured to tl e side walls of the compartments, said fixed plates being shorter than the side walls, and a compressor actuated by a curved lever acting on a cam surface secured to the inner wall of the outer casing of the apparatus. Associated with each compartment is a stop 37 at its periphery and a stop 36 spaced a predetermined distance from the periphery. To select a compartment, the appropriate key 38 is depressed to release a spring- loaded catch 40, which pivots to rotate a roller 45 about a shaft 44<SP>1</SP>, and to rock a retaining mechanism 47, 471 to an inoperative position by means of a spindle 39 striking a pivoted plate 46 extending beneath the spindles. The retaining mechanism comprises two elements 47, 47<SP>1</SP> pivotally connected at 51, the element 47 being rotatably mounted on a spindle 47<SP>11</SP>. Movement of the element 47<SP>1</SP> is controlled by damping springs 52. Two wings 49, 50 project from the upper end of'the element 47<SP>1</SP>, the wing 49 being pivotally mounted and urged towards the position shown by a spring 48<SP>1</SP>. The apparatus rotates until the appropriate stop 36 strikes the projecting roller 45 and pushes it back to its retracted position, thereby raising the rod 39 and allowing the plate 46 to pivot upwardly. The retaining mechanism is rotated by the spring 48 to its operative position and traps the stop 37 of the selected compartment. The cards are profiled along their upper edges, Fig. 8, and a predetermined card exposed by means of swinging fingers 63 operated by keys 55. Each finger 63 is pivoted to a key 55 at 56 and provided with cam surfaces 64, 71 engaging a fixed bar 62. An L-shaped lever 60 is connected to the finger by a link 59 and to the key by a spring 61. As the key is moved down the slot 68, the finger is constrained to move downwardly and rotate clockwise to a position in front of the stack of cards by engagement of the cam surface 64 with the bar 62 and the spring 61 is tensioned. Further depression of the key moves the upper cam surface 71 below and into engagement with the bar 62 and due to the tension in the spring 61, the finger rotates anticlockwise along a channel formed by the edge profiles in the cards until the finger strikes an unprofiled card, whereupon the finger continues to move downwardly between said card and the preceding cards until the lever 60 strikes the bottom of the slot 68. The link 59 then constrains the finger to rotate clockwise once more to move the preceding cards forwardly to expose said card. The desired card is exposed by the actuation of one or more keys in order. A retaining element 69, pivoted to a rearward extension of the key 55, is provided with a lug 70, which mounts the cam surface 71 at the moment the finger 57 commences its clockwise movement to move the cards forwardly. A tension-spring 73 is connected between the retaining element and the rear of the casing 54 to return the key and finger to their original positions on releasing the key. The retaining element prevents anticlockwise rotation of the finger during said return movement to ensure that the upper end of the finger is returned to the right of the bar 62, in which position movement of the upper curved edge of the retaining element along the bar 62, pivots the retaining element to release the finger from the lug 70.