US3306691A - Power file safety construction - Google Patents

Description

1957 c. D, GRABER ETAL. 3,306,691

POWER FILE SAFETY CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1965 INVENTORS CARL D.GRABER. LEOJ.GROSSWI LLER,JR.. THOMAS H.KENNY and HERBERT C.OBERM|LLER ATTORNEYS c. D. GRABER ETAL 3,306,691

ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 POWER FILE SAFETY CONSTRUCTION Feb. 28, W67

D. GRABER ETAL 3,306,691

POWER FILE SAFETY CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet a TRANSFORMER 72 7O FUSE rvvvx MAGNET 79 r 63 M 66 54-1 If 76 a1 8O 3UR| zoRl uR2 60 AUTO I 75 MANUAL LS4 2 77 78 3DR| ZURI 2 INVENTORS cARuiGRABERLEo J. GROSSWlLLERJR. THOMAS H.KENNXundHERBERTQOBERMILLER ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 c. D. GRABER ETAL. 3,306,691

POWER FILE SAFETY CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 20, 1965 INVENTORS CARL D.GRABER. LEO J.GROSSW|LLER.JR.. THOMAS H. KENNY,ond HERBERT C.OBERMILLER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,306,691 POWER FILE SAFETY CGNSTRUCTION Carl D. Graher, Orrville, Leo J. Grosswiller, Jr., East Canton, Thomas H. Kenny, Navarre, and Herbert C. Ohermiller, Canton, Ohio, assignors to Diehold, Incorporated, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Qhio Filed Aug. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 481,259

Claims. (Cl. 312-423) The invention relates to mechanized elevator or power filing appliances of a type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyer for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by conveyer drive'power means at a work station, and in which a drawer, which may be latched in closed or retracted position, is supported on each pan on suspension mechanism which permits the drawer to be moved between retracted and extended positions at the work station; and more particularly the invention relates to safety mechanism at the work station arranged cooperatively with and actuated by the individual drawer latch mechanism on any pan to prevent operation of the conveyer drive power means when any drawer is unlatched or out of retracted position in the region of the work station.

Safety devices for preventing operation of a power file when a drawer thereof is extended into the access open ing at a work station have been provided in mechanized power files such as in Patent No. 3,166,366. However, the operation of such prior safety devices depends upon providing each of the many pans supporting drawers on the conveyer with a separate switch, associated with thedrawer latch and connected through a trolley device with the conveyor motor circuit to render the motor inoperative when any drawer latch is released or any drawer is moved out of retracted position.

This separate latch switch in such prior constructions on each pan associated with each file drawer is a normally-open switch when the drawer is closed and latched in closed position. Any such switch closes a circuit to actuate a relay which cuts off power to the conveyer drive motor when any drawer is unlatched.

Such prior power file safety devices thus comprise a substantial cost factor in the cost of the file because of requiring a large number of relatively expensive latch switches, one for each pan and because of the potentially high maintenance cost since any one of the multitude of latch switches may be subject to failure at any time. Another factor in the potentially high maintenance costs involves maintaining careful adjustments of the latch switch with respect to the pan, movable drawer, and latch mechanism for each drawer and switch to assure proper functioning of the safety device.

Finally, proper operation of the safety device requires supplying power to a circuit completed through the mechanism and wiring carried by each pan. This arrangement does not provide fail-safe control since a broken wire in any pan circuit or a failure of any switch on any pan will prevent operation of the safety device in instances where such operation is called for, until the circuit or switch is repaired.

Accordingly, objects of the present invention are to provide safety mechanism for a power file of the type described which is completely fail-safe in operation; which requires only one switch rather than a large number of switches for safety operation, thus drastically reducing initial and maintenance costs for the safety system; which eliminates special electrical circuitry and the necessity of supplying electrical power to wiring and circuitry components carried by each pan-drawer assembly; which eliminates the necessity of frequent adjustment of switches and switch actuators on each pan-drawer assembly to maintain proper functioning of the safety system; which does 3,396,691 Patented Feb. 28, 19 67 not require frequent critical adjustment to be made on the single switch and actuating mechanism for the safety system; which properly functions as a safety mechanism even if there is power failure, a broken wire or a faulty switch in the safety system; and which eliminates difficulties heretofore encountered in the art, achieves the stated objects in a simple, effective and inexpensive manner, and solves problems and satisfies needs existing in the art.

These and other objects and advantages apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims, may be obtained, the stated results achieved, and the described difliculties overcome by the apparatus, combinations, parts, elements, subcombinations, arrangements and constructions which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, a preferred embodiment of which illustrative of the best mode in which applicants have con-, templated applying the principlesis set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the improved safety construction for elevator or power files of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyer mechanism for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by conveyer drive power means at a work station, and in which a drawer, which may be latched in a closed or retracted position, is supported on each pan on suspension mechanism which permits the drawer to be moved between retracted and extended positions through an access opening at the work station, may be stated in general terms as including drawer latch mechanism mounted on each pan-drawer assembly, safety actuator rod means mounted on each pan-drawer assembly movable from retracted to extended position upon unlatching the latch mechanism for such pandrawer assembly; the safety rod means for each pandrawer assembly when in extended position being located in a zone at one end of the pan-drawer assemblies parallel with the path of travel of the file conveyer mechanism; trip-bar means mounted for movement on the file between normal and actuated positions adjacent the work station access opening and extending parallel with the path transverse in said zone by said safety rod means during movement of the conveyer past said access open.- ing; said trip-bar means being spring-biased to normal position and when in normal position being adapted to be engaged and moved to actuated position upon movement to extended position of the safety rod means of any pan-drawer assembly when the latter is located at an accessible position at the work station; preferably magnetic means for bringing the trip-bar means to rent at normal position upon spring-biased movement thereof from actuated position; a single normally closed safety switch mounted adjacent and adapted to be engaged and actuated to open position by said trip-bar means whenever-the trip-bar means is moved from normal to actuated position; and electrical circuitry and components connecting said safety switch and the conveyer drive power means whereby when any drawer located at an accessible position at the work station is unlatched or located out of retracted position opening of said switch by the extended safety rod means and actuated trip-bar means prevents operation of the conveyer drive power means.

By way of example, an embodiment of the improved power file safety construction is shown in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof in which:

FIGURE 1 is a persepctive view of a power filing appliance equipped with the improved safety construction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation with parts broken away and in vertical section at various locations looking from the right side of FIG. 1 and showing several pans with movable drawers adjacent an access opening at a work station;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view with parts broken away looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3, FIG. 2, showing a drawer of a pan-drawer assembly in retracted and latched position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3 illustrating the drawer unlatched and being moved through the file access opening toward extended position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation with parts broken away looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5, FIG. 2, omitting the closure for the access opening and illustrating several drawers accessible at the work station;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the safety construction showing the trip-bar means in normal position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the tripbar means in actuated position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of certain of the parts shown in FIG. 6 with the trip-bar in normal position;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of certain of the parts in FIG. 8 looking toward the left of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 1tl10, FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a section taken on the line 11-11, FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a section taken on the line 12-12, FIG. 8; and

FIG. 13 is a wiring diagram for the safety construction.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The improved power file safety construction is illustrated and described in the drawings in connection with a power file of the general type shown in the K-rug et al. Patent No. 3,166,366. However, it is to be understood that the'improved safety construction may be incorporated in other power or elevator files such as shown in Patents Nos. 2,940,810, 3,186,783, 3,198,894, or 3,199,658 or in power files equipped with drawer ejector-retractor mechanism as shown in the copending Krug et al. application Serial No. 446,682.

A power file is indicated generally at 1 and may include a housing or cabinet 2, the front wall of which may be provided with an opening 3 above a counter or Work station 4. A pair of conveyor chains 5 trained over sprockets 6 and 7 mounted on upright support members 8 carried at 9 within housing 2 mount a series of pans 16' for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel.

Each pan 10 is mounted at each end on a pair of arms 11 fixed to a chain 5 and the arms 11 pivotally support an end of a pan 10 at .12. A stabilizing arm 13 is fixed to each end of each pan 10 having a roller 14 at its other end. Rollers 14 engage and are guided in movement around the upper and lower ends of the path of conveyer travel by semicircular guide channels 15 and 16 to maintain the pans 10 in a horizontal position throughout the upper and lower ends of the orbit of travel on conveyer 5 when traveling around the sprockets 6 and 7. Horizontol positioning of the pans 10 is maintained during travel in the vertical flights between sprockets 6 and 7 by engagement of a V-ear .17 at each end of one pan with the pivot shafts 12 of the pan next below.

Conveyor 5 is driven in a suitable manner from drive means 18 which may include a reversing motor, operated preferably by selector switches and a rotary selector control switch, not shown, of a type such as disclosed in Patent No. 3,198,894. The construction and operation of the conveyer, housing, etc. also briefly described herein may be of the type shown in Patent No. 3,199,658.

Power files such as shown in Patent Nos. 3,166,366, 3,198,894 and 3,199,658, comprise a plurality of pans mounted on an endless conveyer for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel. Any selected pan is delivered by power operation of the conveyer opposite the work station 4. When delivered opposite such work station, a drawer on a suspension mechanism on its pan can be moved manually between a retracted and an extended position such as shown in dot-dash lines at 19 in FIG. 2, and likewise can be moved manually from extended position 19 to a retracted position located in the path of the orbit of travel, such as shown in the full line position of pans 10 in FIG. 2. Alternatively, such drawers may be moved between extended and retracted positions by power mechanism such as shown in said application Serial No. 446,682.

Whether the drawers are moved between extended and retracted positions manually or by power operated mechanism, it is vital, to prevent damage to the file, that a safety mechanism be incorporated in the file construction to prevent operation of conveyer 5 and motor 18 whenever any drawer in any pan 1%) is not lached in retracted position.

In accordance with the invention, such safety operation of power file 1 is accomplished by the improved safety construction best shown in detail in FIGS. 3 to 12 wherein the safety mechanism is generally indicated at 20.

Each file pan 10 mounted on the conveyer has a drawer 21 mounted by a usual suspension generally indicated at 22 on the pan 10 so that drawer 21 may be moved to an extended position as indicated at 19 in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 also showing a drawer 21 partially moved from retracted toward extended position. Drawer movement may be acomplished by grasping (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) the downturned handle flange 23 of movable drawer handle 24 which is normally spring-pressed rearwardly of the drawer and pan by a spring 25 as shown in FIG. 3. A latch release actuator lug 26 projects to one side of slide handle 24 near the front of the handle in position to engage a lever 27 pivotally mounted at 28 on the base of pan 10 (FIG. 4). Lever 27 is formed with a downwardly projecting pin 28a adjacent its free end which is engaged in slot 29 formed in interlock slide 30 slidably mounted in a channel 31 in the base of pan 10. Interlock slide 30 is fixed to one end of a latch and safety actuator rod 32 which is normally spring-pressed by spring 33 toward the left of the pan 10 and drawer 21. Rod 32 also preferably carries a stop collar 34 slidable in channel 31 near the right-hand end of pan 10. A stop lug 35 is formed on interlock member 30 projecting upwardly therefrom as shown in FIG. 4.

When slide handle 24 is in the position of FIG. 3 and drawer 21 is closed, rod 32 is spring-pressed toward the left and stop 3-5 is in front of an elongated lock bar 36 mounted on the undersurface of drawer 21. Also, stop collar 34 is in front of a downturned stop car 37 mounted on the undersurface of drawer 21 (FIG. 3). Thus, stop members 35 and 34, when engaging members 36 and 37, respectively, latch the drawer and prevent drawer 21 from being moved outward until such time as rod 32 is moved to the position of FIG. 4 from the position of FIG. 3 in order to remove stop members 35 and 34 from in front of stop bar 36 and stop lug 37.

Movement of rod 32 to the right is accomplished by moving slide handle 24 forwardly of drawer 21 against the pressure of spring '25 from the position of FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4. Lug 26 engages lever 27 and swings the same so that pin 28a in slot 29 of interlock member 30 moves rod 32 to the right. When this movement of the interlock mechanism has taken place, the drawer 21 may be moved outwardly of its carrying pan 10 supported on suspension mechanism 22. After drawer 21 moves forwardly on pan 10 from the in position of FIG. 3 toward an extended or out position as illustrated in FIG. 4, stop bar 36 engages stop lug 35 on interlock member 30 to hold rod 32 projected toward the right.

Thus, any drawer 21 may be released from latched position when in, by forward movement of slide handle 24, either by manually grasping the handle flange 23 to pull the handle forwardly or.by pushing the rear of the handle 24 when the drawer is ejected by pow-er means. During initial movement of slide handle 24 as described, the drawer first is unlatched. Then drawer movement from in to out position is accomplished. After nnlatching, control rod 32 is interlocked and held in the projected position shown in FIG. 4 by stop bar 36 until the drawer is returned again to in position and latched in such position.

The improved safety mechanism 20 is actuated by the actuator head 38 on actuator bar 3-2 carried by pan and head 38 projects beyond the right-hand end of pan 10 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Safety mechanism 20 includes a channel base member 39 having a web portion 40, a long leg 41 and a short leg 42. Leg 41 of member 39 is bolted at its upper end by bolts 43 to an upper pad mounting member 44 bolted at 4-5 (FIG. 5) to file support member 8; and the lower end of leg 41 of member 39 -is bolted at 46 to a lower pad mounting member 47 (FIGS. 3 and 4) also bolted at 48 to support member 8. A trip-bar member 49 is pivotally mounted at 50 and 51 on member 39 and is spring-biased to normal position '(FIG. 6) by spring 52 extending between a clip 53 mounted on trip-bar 49 and an angle clip 54 mounted on the leg 41 of member 39 (FIG. 11). Member 49 when moved to normal position of FIG. 6 by spring 52, engages cushion pads 55 and 56 between the flange 57 of member 49 and web 40 of member 39. An angle bracket 58 is mounted on flange 57 of member 49 adapted to engage roller 59 of safety switch 60 when in normal position of FIG. 6 and adapted to release switch roller 59 when member 49 is moved to the angled or actuated position of FIG. 7. Switch 60 is mounted on an angle bracket 61 carried by web 40 of member 39.

Another angle clip 62 preferably projects from flange 57 of member 49 below spring mounting clip 53 (FIG. 8). Clip 6-2 is in position to be attracted and engaged by electromagnet 63 mounted on bracket means 64 (FIG. 10) carried by web member 40 and projecting through an aperture 65 formed in web member 40. A rectifier 66 also is preferably mounted at 67 on bracket means 64 immediately adjacent electromagnet 63 for supplying dire-ct currentto energize the electromagnet 63 when desired.

Trip-bar 49 has a generally vertically extending shoe portion 68 located as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, in a position to be engaged by any actuator head 38 on any actuator bar on any pan 10. Shoe portion 68 preferably terminates at its upper and lower ends in angular por- I tions 69.

. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the actuator head 33 of any actuator baror rod 32 when in extended position is located in a zone at one end of the pan-drawer assemblies parallel with the path of travel of the conveyer mechanism. Furthermore, the elongated trip-bar shoe 6 8 also extends parallel with the path traversed in said zone by said safety rod means during movement of the conveyer past the access opening 3. Also, the trip-bar member 49 is mounted onits pivots 50 and 51 for movement between the normal position of FIG. 6 and the actuated position of FIG. 7. When in normal position, the trip-bar shoe 6-8 is adapted to be engaged and moved to actuated position upon movement to extended position of the actuator head 38 of any safety rod member 32 of any pan-drawer assembly when any such pan-drawer assembly is located at an accessible position at the work station.

. That is, referring to FIG. 5, the trip-bar shoe 68 extends beyond the upper and lower boundaries of access opening 3 of the file. Thus, when any drawer handle 23-24 of any drawer accessible at opening 3 can be reached and manipulated to unlatch the drawer, the actuator head 38 of latch bar 32 of such drawer will engage safety shoe 68 and move it to actuated position of FIG. 7 when the drawer is unlatched.

The electromagnet 63 operates to bring the trip-bar 49 to rest at normal position whenever the trip-bar is moved by spring 52 from actuated position of FIG. 7 to normal position of FIG. 6. Normally the electromagnet 63 is deenergized when trip-bar 49 is in normal position. How ever, whenever trip-bar 49 is moved to actuated position, circuitry and electrical components connected with electromagnet 63 complete a circuit thereto and energize the magnet. Then, whenever the actuator head 38 which is holding the trip-bar 49 in actuated position of FIG. 7, is released by closing of a drawer whose actuator head 38 is projected, spring 52 will suddenly and quickly move the trip-bar 49 back to normal position of FIG. 6. The suddenness of this movement and the strength of spring 52 may cause trip-bar 49 to bounce or vibrate until it comes to rest at normal position. The energized electromagnet 63 which attracts and holds clip 62 on trip-bar 49 whenever the trip-bar is moved to normal position prevents such trip-bar vibration. Upon reaching normal trip-bar position, power to electromagnet 63 is cut out so as to deenergize magnet 63 as soon as trip-bar shoe 68 has come to rest at normal position. Usual electrical delay means may be introduced into the circuitry for magnet 63 to momentarily delay deenergization of magnet 63 for a short period of time after trip-bar 49 has come to rest at normal position.

Safety switch 60 is electrically connected in control circuits to the drive motor means and power means 18, and switch 60 is normally closed. Thus, when trip bar 49 is moved to actuated position of FIG. 7, car 58 releases roller 59 of switch 60 permitting switch 60 to open thereby opening the circuit to the motor and power means 18, and stopping power drive for the conveyer mechanism. Thus, movement of the conveyer is prevented whenever any drawer is unlatched because such unlatching projects an actuator head 38 on the pan carrying the unlatched drawer to a position to move trip-bar 49 to the actuated position of FIG. 7.

These relationships provide fall-safe operation of the safety device since the effectiveness of the safety device is not dependent upon energizing a circuit when the safety device is actuated. Rather, its effectiveness depends upon opening the motor drive circuit by opening switch 60. Accordingly, power failure, or failure of a wire or a switch in the circuit in which switch 60 is located also will prevent operation of the drive motor.

The operation of the improved construction with reference to the control circuitry may be understood with reference to the simplified wiring diagram of FIG. 13. Whenever the conveyor is stopped and the access opening 3 open at the work station 4, a drawer 21 on any panlt) may be unlatched-and pulled or ejected to an extended position. Upon nnlatching, the actuator head 38 on the actuator rod 32 for such pan-drawer assembly is moved to the position of FIG. 7, moving trip-bar 49 to release roller 59 of switch 60. Switch 60 is preferably a double throw switch having one blade or contact LS42 that is normally closed when the trip-bar 49 is in the position of FIG. 6, and the other blade LS41 of which is normally open. Release of roller 59 of switch 60 permits LS42 to open and LS41 to close as shown in FIG. 13.

Low voltage control circuit power is supplied. from transformer 70 connected with power supply lines 71 and 72 to the control circuit through output lines 73 and 74. Line '73 may be connected through line 75 with an alternate action automatic-manual switch 76. When switch 76 is actuated to close manual contacts 77 and 78, it completes either of two circuits to start the conveyer drive motor for either up or down movement of the conveyer. One circuit includes up relay URZ, an interlock relay 2DR1v and holding contacts 3UR1 for the up relay.

7 The other circuit includes down relay DR2, an interlock relay ZURI and holding contacts 3DR1 for the down relay. Either of the two circuits is completed from contact 78 to blade LS42 of switch 60.

Thus, when blade 60 is opened by actuation of tripbar 49, neither relay UR2 or DR2 can be energized for actuation of the conveyer drive means 13. When either UR2 or DRZ is energized, it completes a circuit in the usual manner to the selected winding of the drive motor to drive the conveyer in the up or down direction depending upon whether the up relay UR2 or down relay DR2 is energized. Interlock relays ZDRI and ZURl are normally closed as shown. Whenever down relay DRZ is energized, interlock relay 2DR1 is energized to open, thus preventing up relay UR2 from being energized. Similarly, ZURI opens when UR2 is energized to prevent DR2 from being energized. 3UR1 are holding contacts for the UR2 relay which are closed when UR2 is energized and which open when the circuit to UR2 is opened as by opening blade LSd-Z of switch 60. Similarly, SDRii are then holding contacts for down relay DR2.

Whenever LS42 has opened by actuation of trip-bar 49, LS4-1l closes. This switch blade LS4-1 is connected between power supply lines 73 and 74 with rectifier 66 which, when energized, supplies direct current through lines 79 and 8t) to electromagnet 63.

Thus, whenever the trip-bar 49 is in the position of FIG. 7, magnet 63 is energized. When trip-bar 49 is suddenly released, spring 52 moves trip-bar 49 back to the position of FIG. 6 and the magnet attracts and holds trip-bar 49 in normal position against vibrating. When trip-bar 49 reaches the normal position of FIG. 6, roller 59 of switch 60 is engaged actuating the switch to close contacts LS42 permitting the conveyer motor to be energized and interrupting power supply to the rectifier 66. Magnet 63, however, is subject to residual magnetism after being energized when power supply thereto is cut off. This residual magnetism is sufficient, for a short period of time, to hold the trip-bar 49 in normal position until its movement is brought to rest. Thereafter, the residual magnetism dissipates permitting the trip-bar 49 again to be moved to actuated position upon engagement by any actuator head 38.

The automatic-manual switch '76, if actuated to automatic position, completes a circuit to line 81. which may be connected to suitable selector button and rotary switch circuits, not shown, for automatic operation of the file to deliver any pan to the work station upon pressing a selector button corresponding to the pan. These arrangements are illustrated in Patents Nos. 3,198,- 894 and 3,166,366 and in said application Serial No. 446,682.

As indicated, only one switch 6% is required to serve as a safety device for all pan-drawer assemblies in the file thus minimizing the cost of and maintenance expense for the safety mechanism.

In addition, no adjustments that need to be made within close limits with extreme care are required since the safety mechanism structure provides for considerable movement (FIGS. 6 and 7) of both the actuator head 38 of the pan-drawer latch actuator rod 32 and also considerable movement of the movable trip-bar 49.

Accordingly, the improved construction provides a simple and readily operated safety mechanism for power files of the character described; provides a construction that avoids the various difficulties and eliminates the problems involved in the construction and operation of prior safety mechanisms; and provides a new construction achieving the objects set forth and accomplishing the many new functions and results described, thereby solving problems existing in the art.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond ;the requirements of the prior .art, because such terms 8 are used for descriptive purposes and are 'intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact structures shown, because the various parts, components and mechanisms may be varied to provide other structural embodimnets, without departing from the fundamental concepts, aspects and principles of the invention.

Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the construction, assembly, characteristics, operation and use of a preferred form thereof, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful discoveries, principles, apparatus, combinations, parts, elements, subcombinations, structures and cooperative relationships, and mechanical equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Safety construction for a power file of a type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyer mechanism for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by conveyer drive power means at a work station, and in which a drawer which may be latched in retracted position is supported on each pan as a pan-drawer assembly on suspension mechanism which permits the drawer to be moved between retracted and extended positions through a file access opening provided in the file case at the work station; including drawer latch mechanism mounted on each pan-drawer assembly; safety actuator rod means operatively connected with the latch mechanism mounted on each pan-drawer assembly movable from retracted to extended position upon unlatching the latch mechanism for such pan-drawer assembly; the safety rod means for each pan-drawer assembly when in extended position being located in a zone at one end of the pan-drawer assemblies parallel with the path of travel of the file conveyer mechanism; trip-bar means mounted for movement on the file between normal and actuated positions adjacent the work station access opening and extending parallel with the path transversed in said zone by said safety rod means during movement of the conveyer past said access opening; said trip-bar means being spring-biased to normal position and when in normal position being adapted to be engaged and moved to actuated position upon movement to extended position of the safety rod means of any pan-drawer assembly when the latter is located at an accessible position at the work sta tion; a single safety switch means mounted adjacent the trip-bar means and held in normally closed position by said trip-bar means when the latter is in normal position; said safety switch means being released by said trip-bar means to open whenever the trip-bar means is moved from normal to actuated position; and electrical control circuitry connecting said safety switch means and the conveyer drive power means; whereby when any drawer located at an accessible position at the work station is un latched, opening of said switch by the extended safety rod means and actuated trip-bar means prevents operation of the conveyer drive power means.

2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the trip-bar means is pivotally mounted within the file case adjacent the access opening at one side of the conveyer mechanism; in which the file case is formed with upper and lower access opening boundaries; in which the tripbar means include a shoe extending parallel with the path transversed by said safety rod means during movement of the pan-drawer assemblies on the conveyer mechanism past the access opening; and in which said shoe extends beyond said upper and lower access opening boundaries; whereby when any drawer accessible at the access opening is unlatched, the safety rod means for such drawer engages the trip-bar shoe and moves the latter to actuated position releasing the safety switch means to open.

3. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the tripbar means includes a base member mounted on the file, a trip-bar member pivotally mounted on the base member having a shoe extending parallel with the path of travel of the conveyer mechanism past the access opening, and spring means tensioned between the base and trip-bar members holding the trip-bar member springabiased in normal position adjacent but spaced from the path transversed by the safety rod means on the pan-drawer lassemblies; and in which the safety switch means is mounted on said base member and engaged by said trip-bar member to hold the switch normally closed when the trip-bar member is in normal position.

4. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the tripbar member is provided with a flange located adjacent the base member when the trip-bar member is in normal position; and in which cushion means are engaged between the flange and base member to cushion spring-tensioned movement of the flange toward the base member when the trip-bar member is moved by the spring means from actuated to normal position.

5. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the tripbar means includes a base member mounted on the file, a trip-bar member pivotally mounted on the base member on a generally vertically extending taxis adjacent the access opening and having a shoe extending generally vertically parallel with the path of travel of the conveyer mechanism past the access opening; the shoe moving away from the conveyer pan-drawer assemblies located adjacent the access opening when the trip-bar member pivots on the base member from normal to actuated position; and spring means tensioned between the base and trip-bar members holding the trip-bar member spring-biased to normal position adjacent but spaced from the path transversed by the safety rod means on the pan-drawer assemblies.

6. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the trip-bar means includes a base member mounted on the file, a trip-bar member pivotally mounted on the base member having a shoe extending parallel with the path of travel of the conveyer mechanism past the access opening; in which the safety switch means is mounted on the base member; and in which the trip-bar member is provided with a bracket engaging and holding the safety switch means normally closed when the trip-bar member is spring-biased to normal position.

7. The construction defined in claim 1 including electromagnet means mounted on the trip-bar means energized when the trip bar means is out of normal position to magnetically attract and bring the trip-bar means to rest at normal position upon release of the trip-bar means for spring-biased movement from actuated to normal position.

St The construction defined in claim 7 in which the control circuitry includes magnet switch means, and in which the magnet switch means is open when the safety switch means is closed and the magnet switch means is closed when the safety switch means is open.

9. The construction defined in claim 8 in which the electromagnet means is energized by direct current when the magnet switch means is closed, and in which residual magnetism in the electromagnet means brings the trip-bar means to rest at normal position by magnetic attraction after the magnet switch means has been opened upon spring-tensioned movement of the trip-bar means to normal position.

10. In a power file of a type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyer mechanism for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by conveyer drive power means at a work station. and in which a drawer which may be latched in retracted position is supported on each pan as a pan-drawer assembly on suspension mechanism which permits the drawer to be moved between retracted and extended positions through a file access opening provided in the file case at the work station; the combination of a safety switch mounted within the file case; electric control circuitry connecting the safety switch and the conveyer drive power means operable to permit operation of the conveyer drive power means when the switch is closed and to prevent operation of the conveyer drive power means when the switch is open; trip-bar means pivotally mounted in the file case adjacent the work station access opening having an elongated shoe extending parallel with the path of travel of said pan-drawer assemblies during movement thereof past the access opening; said trip-bar means shoe being movable between a normal position engaging and holding said switch closed, and an actuated position releasing said switch means to open; spring means urging said trip-bar means to normal position; safety rod actuator means mounted on each pandrawer assembly spring-biased from retracted to extended position whenever the drawer of the assembly is unlatched; the safety rod means of any unlatched pandrawer assembly accessible at the access opening engaging the trip-bar means shoe and moving the trip-bar means shoe to actuated position; and electro-magnet means mounted on the trip-bar means energized when the shoe is out of normal position to magnetically attract and bring the shoe to rest at normal position upon release of the trip-bar means for spring-biased movement from actuated to normal position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,166,366 1/1965 Krug et a1 312-223 3,199,658 8/1965 Graber 198-137 3,236,577 2/1966 Anders et 'al 312223 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. SAFETY CONSTRUCTION FOR A POWER FILE OF A TYPE IN WHICH A PLURALITY OF PANS ARE MOUNTED ON AN ENDLESS CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR MOVEMENT IN EITHER DIRECTION IN A CONTINUOUS ORBIT OF TRAVEL AND ANY SELECTED PAN IS DELIVERED BY CONVEYER DRIVE POWER MEANS AT A WORK STATION, AND IN WHICH A DRAWER WHICH MAY BE LATCHED IN RETRACTED POSITION IS SUPPORTED ON EACH PAN AS A PAN-DRAWER ASSEMBLY ON SUSPENSION MECHANISM WHICH PERMITS THE DRAWER TO BE MOVED BETWEEN RETRACTED AND EXTENDED POSITIONS THROUGH A FILE ACCESS OPENING PROVIDED IN THE FILE CASE AT THE WORK STATION; INCLUDING DRAWER LATCH MECHANISM MOUNTED ON EACH PAN-DRAWER ASSEMBLY; SAFETY ACTUATOR ROD MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH THE LATCH MECHANISM MOUNTED ON EACH PAN-DRAWER ASSEMBLY MOVABLE FROM RETRACTED TO EXTENDED POSITION UPON UNLATCHING THE LATCH MECHANISM FOR SUCH PAN-DRAWER ASSEMBLY; THE SAFETY ROD MEANS FOR EACH PAN-DRAWER ASSEMBLY WHEN IN EXTENDED POSITION BEING LOCATED IN A ZONE AT ONE END OF THE PAN-DRAWER ASSEMBLIES PARALLEL WITH THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE FILE CONVEYER MECHANISM; TRIP-BAR MEANS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT ON THE FILE BETWEEN NORMAL AND ACTUATED POSITIONS ADJACENT THE WORK STATION ACCESS OPENING AND EXTENDING PARALLEL WITH THE PATH TRANSVERSED IN SAID ZONE BY SAID SAFETY ROD MEANS DURING MOVEMENT OF THE CONVEYER PAST SAID ACCESS OPENING; SAID TRIP-BAR MEANS BEING SPRING-BIASED TO NORMAL POSITION AND WHEN IN NORMAL POSITION BEING ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED AND MOVED TO ACTUATED POSITION UPON MOVEMENT TO EXTENDED POSITION OF THE SAFETY ROD MEANS OF ANY PAN-DRAWER ASSEMBLY WHEN THE LATTER IS LOCATED AT AN ACCESSIBLE POSITION AT THE WORK STATION; A SINGLE SAFETY SWITCH MEANS MOUNTED ADJACENT THE TRIP-BAR MEANS AND HELD IN NORMALLY CLOSED POSITION BY SAID TRIP-BAR MEANS WHEN THE LATTER IS IN NORMAL POSITION; SAID SAFETY SWITCH MEANS BEING RELEASED BY SAID TRIP-BAR MEANS TO OPEN WHENEVER THE TRIP-BAR MEANS IS MOVED FROM NORMAL TO ACTUATED POSITION; AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL CIRCUITRY CONNECTING SAID SAFETY SWITCH MEANS AND THE CONVEYER DRIVE POWER MEANS; WHEREBY WHEN ANY DRAWER LOCATED AT AN ACCESSIBLE POSITION AT THE WORK STATION IS UNLATCHED, OPENING OF SAID SWITCH BY THE EXTENDED SAFETY ROD MEANS AND ACTUATED TRIP-BAR MEANS PREVENTS OPERATION OF THE CONVEYER DRIVE POWER MEANS.

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