US3040871A - Automatic filing system - Google Patents

Description

June 26, 1962 D. 1.. LOMBARD AUTOMATIC FILING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1959 INVENTOR Daniel L. Lombard a %flggw ATTORNEY D. L. LOMBARD AUTOMATIC FILING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 26, 1962 Filed June 5, 1959 June 26, 1962 Filed. June 5, 1959 D. L. LOMBARD AUTOMATIC FILING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.3

June 26, 1962 D. 1.. LOMBARD 3,040,871

AUTOMATIC FILING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I22 I24 E Filed June 5, 1959 it dtate atent fice Efidhfiil iiatented June 26, 1962 3,040,371 AUTGMATEC FELHIG Daniel L. Lombard, Youngstown, flhio, assiguoi' to learnbard Corporation, Youngstown, Uhio, a corporation of @hio Filed June 5, 19537, Ser. No. 813,285 Claims. (Cl. res-:79

This invention relates to filing systems and more particularly to an automatic filing system which requires a minimum amount of floor space for storage.

As is well known, the usual filing cabinet consists of an outer rectangular housing measuring about five feet in height and three feet in depth. Slidably positioned within the housing are a plurality of filing drawers which may be pulled out from one face of the cabinet. Although the cabinet is only three feet deep when all of its drawers are closed, another three feet of additional floor space is required when the drawers are open resulting, of course, in wasteful use of available space. Another disadvantage of the usual filing cabinet lies in the fact that certain of its filing drawers are close to the floor, meaning that an individual using the filing cabinet will have to stoop down to take documents or other articles out of the lower drawers. Actually, only one drawer in most conventional filing cabinets is at a level where an individual may comfortably examine its contents.

The height of a filing cabinet of the type described above is limited by the height of an individual using it. Thus, the filing cabinet may be only five feet high while the room in which it is stored may be ten or twelve feet high, with the result that all of the space above the filing cabinet is wasted. This is a particularly troublesome problem where a very large number of filing cabinets are used which require an extremely large amount of floor space.

The present invention has as its principal object the provision of a filing system which requires a minimum amount of floor space and which may be of any desired height. As will become apparent from the following detailed description, the invention comprises a plurality of horizontally extending tracks spaced one above the other and supported within a housing structure. Positioned on each of these tracks for movement therealong are a plurality of filing cubicles which may be moved in succession toward the forward end of the track. A continuous conveyor having a plurality of hook devices thereon is positioned at the aforesaid forward ends of the tracks, the arrangement being such that as successive cubicles on a particular track are moved forwardly toward the end of the track, the hook devices on the conveyor engage successive cubicles and convey them to an access point where an individual may comfortably examine and pick from their contents. The hook devices are affixed to chains or other similar flexible devices which move between rotatable sprockets positioned at the top and bottom of the housing containing the aforesaid cubicles. Thus, when the hooks pick up successive cubicles they will move upwardly in a vertical direction, pass around the aforesaid sprockets and then move downwardly in front of the upwardly moving cubicles until an access point is reached, about five feet above floor level, where an operator may examine and select from the contents of the cubicle.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a filing system wherein any one of a pinrality of closely packed articles may be automatically selected and presented to an access point without disturbing the stacked articles above or below it.

The above and other objects and features of theinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which:

FEGURE 1 is a cross sectional side View of the filing system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line lib-1H of FIG. '1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the hook devices of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the aforesaid hook devices taken along line V--V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the supporting pins for the filing cubicles used in the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the filing cubicles taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 1, showing the position of the limit switch actuating cams thereon; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical control of the filing system shown herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the embodiment of the invention shown herein comprises a frame member of welded angle irons enclosed within an outer housing of sheet metal ill or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, each side of the asembly includes vertically extending channel members I12, 14, 15, 18 and 20. Between the tops and bottoms of the angle irons 12-20 are a pair of connecting angle irons 2'2 and 24. Similarly, as shown in FlGS. 2 and 3, each end of the structure is provided with horizontally extending angle irons 26 and 2 8 which, in the View shown in FIG. 2, connect the upper and lower extremities of the angle irons 26 on each side of the assembly. Supported between angle irons 1.8 and 2% on each side of the assembly are a plurality of vertically spaced plates 31 which carry bearing blocks 32 for axles 34 extending across the width of the assembly.

Similarly, at the forward end of the assembly a plurality of plates 35 are provided which carry vertically spaced bearing blocks 36. In this case, however, as best shown in FIG. 3, the bearing blocks do not support axles extending across the length of the assembly, but rather support short shafts 38 extending outwardly from the respective bearing blocks in cantilever-beam relationship.

Extending between angle irons 16 and 18 and supported thereon are a plurality of horizontally extending tracks A, B, C, D and E each of which includes a pair of guideways 4d and 42 extending along the length of the assembly on either side thereof between the members 16 and 18. As shown in FIG. 3, each guideway 40 or 42 includes an upper surface 43 serving to support a chain 44 which moves around and between sprockets 46 and 48 which are keyed to the shafts 38 and axles 34, respectively, substantially as shown. Riveted or otherwise securely fastened to the inside of each of the chains 44 are six supporting clips 50a-50f, best shown in FIG. 1, which slide on the lower surfaces 45 of guideways 4i] and 42. Thus, as the sprockets 46 and 48 rotate in a counterclockwise direction, for example, the clips 500-50) will move to the left; whereas, when the direction of rotation of the sprockets is reversed, the clips will move to the right.

Supported on the clips 50 on either side of the horizontally extending tracks A, B, C, D and E are a plurality of filing cubicles 5211-52 For purposes of simplicity, however, only the cubicles for track C are shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 7, each filing cubicle comprises a generally rectangular open ended member or container having pins 54 extending outwardly from either side thereof. The pins 54 are adapted to fit into the clips 51 such that when chains 44 move in one direction or the other, the filing cubicles supported thereon will also move to the right or left.

Sprockets 46 and 48 are forced to rotate by means of a motor and gear reduce-r arrangement 56 which is connected through drive chain 58 to a sprocket 6% on an axle 62 which extends between bearing blocks 32 on plates 31 at the lower extremities of angle irons 1% and 20. Axle 62 is, in turn, connected through chains 6 66, 68, 70 and 72 to each of the axles 34 as best shown in FIG. 2. Chain '8, axle 62 and the chains 64-72 will move continuously. It will be noted that these chains are adapted to be rotatably connected to each of the respective axles 34 at the rear end of the assembly through clutch devices 74A-74E, each of which is actuated by an associated electrical solenoid 78A73E. Thus, in order to impart rotation to'any one of the axles 34 and its associated sprockets 48, the solenoid 73 for that particular axle must first be energized to engage clutch '74.

Supported between plates 35 at the upper and lower extremities of the forward end of the assembly (i.e., between angle irons 14 and 16) are four sprockets 80, 82, 84 and 86, best shown in FIG. 3. Sprockets 8d and 82 are supported on stub shafts 855 and 90 extending outwardly from their associated bearing blocks 89 and 91 in cantilever-beam arrangement; whereas, sprockets 8d and 86 are supported by an axle 92 extending between bearing blocks carried on the plates 34 at the bottom of the assembly. Two chains 98 and 1120 are provided for movement between and around the sprockets 811-86, substantially as shown.

Spaced around each of the chains $8 and 160 are a plurality of hook devices 102. Each of the hook devices 102 on chain 98, for example, is in horizontal alignment with a corresponding hook device on the other chain 100 whereby the pins 54 on filing cubicles 52, may be inserted into each pair of horizontally aligned hooks 102 on the chains 98 and 100. In FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be seen that each of the hook devices 102 comprises a plate 104 adapted to be securely fastened to the side of the chain 98 or 101) by means of rivets or other similar fastening devices which pass through holes 1% and 108. As shown, the plateltld is generally U-shaped in configuration, having a generally circular opening 11% therein which is broken at one point in its circumference to permit the entrance of the hooks 54 on filing cubicles 52. Rotatable within circular opening 111) is a U-shaped twopiece bronze member 112 having an inner portion 114 which rotates on the periphery of opening 111} and a flanged portion 116 which overlaps one side of the plate 104. A second U-shaped member 118, riveted or otherwise securely fastened to member 112, completes the assembly. It can be seen that the members 112 and 118 rotate as a unit within circular opening 1111 while flange 116 and the outer edge of member 118 act to restrict transverse movement within the opening. Provided within members 112 and 118 is an opening 120 adapted to receive the reduced diameter portion 122 of pins 54 as best shown in FIG. 6. The sides of the reduced diameter portion 122 are flat whereby the pin may easily slide into opening 120. The outer extremities of pins 54, generally indicated 124 in FIG. 6, are round and are adapted to slide into clips 50 during the time that the filing cubicles are positioned on tracks 40 and 42.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that as the hook devices 102.travel upwardly to the right of sprockets 80 and 84 as shown in FIG. 1, the opening 120 will face upwardly to receive the pins 54. When, however, the pins rotate around sprocket 80 when a filing cubicle is not deposited therein and start their downward path of travel, the opennig 120 faces downwardly. However, due to the fact that members 112 and 118 can rotate within the opening 110 as shown in FIG. 4, they will rotate through 180 as the hook device travels over any one of the sprockets with a filing cubicle deposited therein. This will, of course, effectively lock the cubicle within the hook device since the top of the U-shaped opening 121) in members 112 and 118 then faces the bottom of plate 104, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Obviously, when the hook devices travel downwardly and around sprocket 34 or 86 at the bottom of the assembly with a filing cubicle deposited thereon, the members 112 and 113 will again rotate through 180 whereby the top of the U-shaped opening in members 112 and 118 will again be in alignment with the top of circular opening to permit the pins 54 and filing cubicles 52 to be lifted therefrom.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that motor and gear reducer 56 is also connected through chain 126 to a sprocket 128 (FIG. 3) which is keyed or otherwisesecurely fastened to the axle 92 at the bottom of the assembly. Thus, as long as the motor and gear reducer 56 are running, they will continuously rotate axle '92 and sprockets SW86 to cause the chains 98 and 104 to continuously move between and around the sprockets.

It can be seen in FIG. 1 that when each of the clips Sun-511 on track E, for example, moves to the left to the position shown by the dotted lines indicated by numeral 130, the clip will be in direct alignment with a hook device 102 passing thereby on chain 98 or 101 In this regard, the chains 93 and 109 are positioned with respect to chains 44 so that the hook devices 102 will pass in between clips 50 and closely adjacent thereto. Thus, if portions 124 of the pins 54 (FIG. 6) on the filing cubicle are deposited in clips 50 while in the position indicated by numeral 130, and the chains 98 and 100 are caused to move in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1, the filing cubicle positioned at 130 on the clip will be picked up by hook devices 192 on the chains 98 and 1110. In this process the U-shaped openings. 120

in the hooks slide over the reduced diameter portions 122 of pins 54 (FIG. 6) and moved upwardly in a vertical direction until the cubicle reaches the upper sprockets 80 and 82. The filing cubicle will then move around these sprockets and move downwardly in a vertical direction until it reaches an access door generally indicated at 132 which is about five feet above floor level.

Supported between the sides of the plates 35 at the forward end of the assembly and intermediate the upwardly and downwardly moving portions of chains 98 and 1% is a structure 129 fabricated from angle irons. Carried on the back of the structure 129 are a pair of guide rails 131 which serve to guide the cubicles 52 as they are elevated by chains 98 and 10 In this respect, rollers 133 on the bottom of each cubicle ride along the guide rails 131 as the cubicles are moved upwardly. It will be noted that the pins 54 on each cubicle are off-center, thereby insuring that the left end of each cubicle, which carries rollers 133, will swing into engagement with the guide rails. In front of the structure 129 is a plate 135 securely fastened thereto.

It will be noted in FIGS. 1 and 7 that each of the filing cubicles on each set of tracks 40 and 42 has a cam surface 136 afiixed to its rear surface. Each of these cam surfaces is adapted to cooperate with a limit switch 138 on plate 135 as shown in FIG. 3 to stop the chains 93 and 11th when a predetermined selected filing cubicle reaches the access door 132. Thus, each of six limit switches 138(1-138 is adapted to cooperate with an associated one of the cam surfaces 136a.136e on the cubicles positioned on each set of tracks 40 and 42. In this respect, the filing cubicle 52a shown in FIG. 1 has its cam surface 136a positioned so as to engage the limit switch 138a shown in FIG. 3. Simi1arly,,filing cubicle 52b has its cam surface 13611 positioned to engage limit switch 138]); filing cubicle 520 has its cam surface 136a positioned to engage limit switch 138a; and so on.

It will be noted from FIG. 1 that a limit switch 14013 is positioned on structure 129 at the left end of the track E. Another limit switch 142E is provided adjacent one of the guideways 40 or 42 to engage each of the clips 5ha5tlf as it passes thereby. In this manner, when a clip 50 passes by limit switch 142E it willbe momentarily closed. Limit switch 1 MB is provided at the bottom of chains 93 and 1% to engage each of the hook devices hi2 as it passes thereby. Limit switch 146E, positioned at the right end of the track E, is adapted to be actuated when the clip Silf furtherest to the right travels to the position shown in FIG. 1. Finally, limit switch 143E, also positioned at the right end of the track E, is adapted to be actuated when the clip 50a furthest to the left travels around the sprocket 46 and reaches the point where limit switch 148E is positioned. At this point all of the clips Sim-50 will have traveled around sprocket 4d and the complete set of six cubicles on the track E will have been emptied onto the hook devices 102 carried on chains 98 and 1%. Although only one set of limit switches have been shown and described herein for track E, it will be understood that a similar set of limit switches is provided for each of the tracks A-D.

The electrical control for the apparatus of FIGS. 1-6, as applied to track *E, for example, is schematically illustrated in FIG. 8. A source of electrical potential, not shown, is adapted to be connected to terminals 150 and 152. Motor 56 is provided with a forward winding 151 and reverse winding 153, respectively. Forward Winding 151 is adapted to be connected to terminals 150 and 152 through any one of the normally open contacts W of push-button switches Edda-154 and the normally closed contacts of the limit switches 138a-fl38f positioned on structure 129 in front of the access door 132. Similarly, the reverse winding 153 for motor 55 is adapted to be connected to terminals 156 and 152 through any of the normally open contacts Y of pushbutton switches 11-1544 and the normally closed upper contacts of limit switch 146E which is positioned at the right end of the track as shown in FIG. 1. The clutch energizing solenoid 78E has two windings 155 and 157 thereon. Winding 155 is adapted to be connected to terminals 151 and 152 through any one of the normally open contacts X of push-button switches E ia-15 i the normally closed contacts of limit switch 140E, and the normally closed contacts of limit switch 148E. Solenoid 78E may also be energized by winding 157 through any one of the normally open contacts Z of push-button switches 1541:1454 the normally closed lower contacts of limit switch 14613, and two parallel current paths one of which includes the normally closed contacts of limit switch 14213 and the other of which includes the normall'y open contacts of limit switch 144E.

In operation, if it is desired to present the filing cubicle 52f on track E to the access door 132, the push-button switch 1154 will be depressed whereby its contacts W and X will close. Contacts Y and Z, however, will remain open. Closure of contacts W will complete the circuit to the forward winding 151 of motor 56, whereby the motor will rotate in one direction to move chains 98 and 160 in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 1. As contacts X of push-button switch 154f close, they complete a circuit through winding 155 of solenoid 78E so that clutch 74E will be engaged to cause its associated chains 44 on tracks E to move in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 1. The action will continue until the first filing cubicle 52a strikes limit switch Milli. This opens limit switch 140E, thereby breaking the circuit to winding 155 on solenoid 78B and disengaging clutch ME to stop the counterclockwise movement of the chains 44. Chains 98 and Hill, however, will continue to move in a counterclockwise direction so that one set of the hook devices iliiZ. will engage the pins 54 on the first filing cubicle 52a and elevate it in a. vertical direction.

The limit switch 146E will remain closed until the first filing cubicle 52a is elevated to the point where its lower edge passes the limit switch. Thereafter, the limit switch MiiE will again close, winding 155 on solenoid 73E will be energized, and clutch 74E will engage to again move the cubicles 5222-52) to the left on track E, as shown in PEG. 1, until the next filing cubicle 52b strikes the limit switch l itiE. The limit switch E will again remain open until the next successive set of hook devices 192 on chains 98 and 1% elevates the filing cubicle 521). Thus, each of the filing cubicles will be moved to the left in succession and picked up by hook device full on the chains 9% and iiiii until limit switch M813 opens or chains and iliiil stop so that a filing cubicle holds limit switch JAiiE open indefinitely. Limit switch 13% will, of course, open when the cam surface 13-6 on filing cubicle 52f makes contact with it in front of the access door 132, thereby breaking the circuit to the forward winding of motor 56 and stopping chains 93 and iii-ii. The filing cubicle 52 from track B will thus remain in front of the access door where an operator may examine and select from its contents until the push-button switch 154i is actuated to return it to track E in a manner hereinafter described. If the first clip 5% on track E should travel to the point where it engages limit switch 148E, it will open this limit switch and deenergize winding of solenoid 78E to insure that the clips will not travel further in a counterclockwise direction. As will be understood, any one of the filing cubicles 5211-52 on track E may be presented to the access door 132 by merely depressing the appropriate push-button switch 154al5' if.

To return the filing cubicle 52] to track E, switch 154] may be pulled upwardly, as shown in FIG. 8, to open contacts W and X and close contacts Y and Z. With contacts Y closed, the reverse winding 153 of motor 56 is connected to terminals 15h and 152 so that the direction of rotation of the motor 56 will be reversed and the chains 98 and 1% will move in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1. At the same time, contact Z of switch 15 will complete the circuit to the winding of solenoid 78E so that clutch 7 3E will engage to force the chains 44 to rotate in a clockwise direction. This action will continue until the clip 50 reaches the position 13% and strikes limit switch 142E. This will open the limit switch 142E and break the circuit to winding 157 on solenoid 78E so that chains 44 will stop. Chains 98 and 100, however, will continue to travel in a clockwise. direction until the hook devices 102 carrying one of the cubicles deposit the pins 54 on clips 5%. As the hook device 102) on chain ltitl which carried the aforesaid cubicle continues to move downwardly, it will close limit switch 144E, thereby again completing the circuit to winding lid? on solenoid 78E and causing chains 44 to again move in a clockwise direction. The limit switch 144E will be held closed by the hook device 192 for a time sufiicient to permit the clip 5% to pass by limit switch M2. Thereafter, limit switch 142E will again close its contacts and complete the circuit to winding 157 on solenoid 73E even though limit switch 144E opens after the hook device 162 on chain 10% passes thereby. When the next clip 5% reaches position 130 limit switch 142E will again be opened to break the circuit to winding 157 on solenoid 78E and chains 44 will again stop until the next filing cubicle is deposited in the clips She and the hook device M2 carrying this cubicle strikes limit switch 144E. Thus, the chains 44 will move successive clips smear into alignment with hook devices M2 on the chains 93 and 1% as the filing cubicles are again loaded back onto the track E. After all of the filing cubicles have thus been returned to the track, the clip Silf will strike limit switch 146.5 which will open'its contacts and break the circuit to motor 56 and winding 157 on solenoid 7813. Thus, at this point the filing cubicles have all been returned to their track and the motor 56 is stopped. Although each filing cubicle may not now be in the same chps Elia-5'9 that it was in before the cycle, it makes no difference Si; ce, regardless of how the cubicles are positioned on the track, the cycle of operation will always stop when the cubicle having the cam thereon associated with the particular push button depressed reaches access door 132. It will be understood, of course, that the circuitry shown in FIG. 8 will be duplicated for each of the tracks A, B, C and D whereby any one of the filing cubicles may be presented to the access door 132.

Although the invention has been shown in connection.

with a certain specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made to suit requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,

I claim as my invention:

1. An automatic filing system adapted to convey any one of a plurality of filing cubicles to a predetermined position comprising, in combination, a plurality of parallel and horizontally extending tracks spaced one above the other, a plurality of filing cubicles arranged for horizontal movement along each of said tracks, conveyor means on said tracks for moving each of said filing cubicles toward the forward end of its associated track, supporting pins extending outwardly from either side of each of said filing cubicles and adapted to engage the conveyor means, said conveyor means being reversible to move the filing cubicles toward the rearward end of their associated track, a pair of chain members movable around and between vertically spaced sprockets rotatable about horizontal axes, the path of said chain members being such that they pass between the forward ends of said tracks, a plurality of spaced hook devices fastened to said chains and adapted to engage the supporting pins on successive ones of said filing cubicles as they are moved toward the forward end of their associated track by said conveyor means, each of said hook devices comprising a first member secured to an associated one of said chains and having a generally circular opening therein which is broken at one point in its circumference to permit the entrance of a supporting pin on a filing cubicle, each of said hook devices also including a U-shaped member rotatable on the periphery of the circular opening in said first member whereby the first member may rotate around the U-shaped member as the chain travels around a sprocket, and means for stopping said conveyor means when each successive cubicle on a track reaches its forward end until the hook devices on said chain members engage the cubicle and convey it in a vertical direction.

2. An automatic filing system adapted to convey any one of a plurality of filing cubicles to a predetermined position comprising, in combination, a plurality of parallel and horizontally extending tracks spaced one above the other, a pair of continuous conveyors on either side of said tracks, a plurality of slotted receptacles spaced along each of said continuous conveyors and afiixed thereto, a plurality of filing cubicles, supporting pins on said cubicles extending horizontally outwardly therefrom and adapted to slide into said receptacles, means for moving said continuous conveyors whereby the filing cubicles carried thereby are moved toward one end of the tracks, a pair of chain members positioned at the said one end of the tracks and adapted to move around and between ertically spaced sprockets rotatable about horizontal axes, the path of said chain members being such that they pass between the forward ends of said continuous conveyors, and a plurality of spaced hook devices fastened to said chain members, each of said hookdevices comprising a first member fixed to an associated one of said chain members and a second member rotatable on said first member and adapted to engage the supporting pins on successive ones of said filing cubicles as they move toward the said one ends of their associated tracks, the arrangement being such that the supporting pins will be transferred from the receptacles on the conveyors to :the rotatable second members of the hook devices on the chain members as the chain members pass between the forward ends of the conveyors.

3. In an automatic filing system or the like, a pair of spaced chain devices adapted to move a plurality of filing cubicles along a horizontal path, projections extending outwardly from opposite sides of each filing cubicle, means on said chain devices for engaging said projections and supporting said filing cubicles, a second pair of spaced chain devices adapted to move in a vertical direction,

' hook devices on said second pair of chain devices, each of said hook devices comprising a first member secured to an associated one of said second chain devices and having a generally circular opening therein which is broken at one point in its circumference to permit the entrance of a projection on a filing cubicle, each of said hook devices further including a U-shaped member rotatable on the periphery of the circular opening in the first member and adapted to receive a projection on a filing cubicle, whereby the filling cubicle may be maintained in an upright position regardless of the path of travel of said second pair of chain devices, and means for moving the respective pairs of chain devices whereby a filing cubicle moving in a horizontal direction on said first pair of chain devices may be transferred to said hook devices on the second pair of chain devices and elevated in a vertical direction.

4. In an automatic filing system, a plurality of vertically spaced tracks, a plurality of filing cubicles positioned on each of said tracks for movement therealong in a substantially horizontal direction, an endless conveyor positioned to travel past one end of each of said tracks, said conveyor comprising at least one chain device movable around and between vertically spaced sprockets rotatable about horizontal axes, and hook devices on the chain device for engaging successive cubicles on any one of said tracks as the cubicles move toward the said one end of the track, each of said hook devices comprising a first member fixed to said chain device and a second member rotatable on said first member about a horizontal axis, such that the cubicles on the track will be engaged by'the rotatable second members of the hook devices in succession and conveyed upwardly in a vertical direction and then downwardly after passing around the upper one of said sprockets, with the cubicles being maintained in an upright position, said downward movement continuing until the lower one of said sprockets is reached where upon the cubicle will pass around the said lower sprocket and again move upwardly with the cubicles again being maintained in an upright position.

5. The combination claimed in claim 4 and including a plurality of horizontally spaced limit switches positioned along the path of travel of said cubicles as they move downwardly on said conveyor, a cam surface on each of said cubicles positioned to engage a particular one of said limit switches as it passes thereby, and means for stopping said conveyor when a selected one of said limit switches closes as its associated cubicle passes thereby.

References (lited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,072,007 Hick Sept. 2, 1913 1,441,661 Ohurch Jan. 9, 1923 1,837,605 Baker Dec. 22, 1931 2,724,482 De Francisci Nov. 22, 1955 2,823,811 Temple Feb. 18, 1958

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