US3333591A

US3333591A - Electromagnetic card file

Info

Publication number: US3333591A
Application number: US536762A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Ernest A Dahl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-03-23
Filing date: 1966-03-23
Publication date: 1967-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-01

Description

E. A. DAHL, JR

Aug. 1 i967 ELECTROMAGNETIC CARD FILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1966 QZW, MJ mm w M/w E. A. DAHL, JR

Aug. 1, 1967 ELECTROMAGNETIC v CARD FILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 23, 1966 United States Patent 3,333,591 ELECTROMAGNETIC CARD FILE Ernest A. Dahl, Jr., 729 Greenwood Ave., Wilmette, Ill. 60091 Filed Mar. 23, 1966, Ser. N0. 536,762 6 Claims. (Cl. 12916) This invention relates generally to card filing structure and more particularly to a card filing structure wherein magnetic repulsion is utilized to separate the filing cards.

Magnetic repulsion is often used to separate file cards to facilitate locating a desired card. It is a common practice, when magnetic repulsion is used to separate file cards, to mount a pair of magnets on opposite sides of the file structure as a source of a magnetic field. The magnetic field interacts with inserts of soft iron positioned between two layers of paper forming the card on which data is printed. The inserts of magnetic material in the file cards will be polarized with a similar polarity by the magnetic field. The similarly magnetized inserts will establish repelling magnetic fields which will cause the cards to separate in the manner set forth in Patent No. 2,954,032 to Ernest A. Dahl, Sr.

In using a magnetic card file, the cards are generally fanned or separated to expose the data on the cards to visual scrutiny while searching for a particular card. After the desired file card has been located, it is expedient to keep the file cards separated until the selected card is returned to its place in the file. However, the filing place for a particular card is soon lost since magnetic repulsion between the various cards will cause the file to quickly spring back or return to normal as soon as the selected card is removed from the file. Thus, the user of the file structure will not be able, without searching to determine the location from which a particular card has previously been removed.

Another problem which arises when using a magnetic card file structure concerns the filing of cards on which data is magnetically recorded. The magnetically recorded data can be easily erased or altered by bringing the file card within the influence of a magnetic field. When the file card is removed from a magnetic card file structure, it is apparent the card will pass through the field of the magnets mounted on opposite sides of the structure. The magnetic field will quickly alter the magnetically recorded data of the card.

Therefore, it is a main object of the present invention to provide a magnetic card filing structure which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of prior art structures. Specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a means for disabling the magnets of a card filing structure so that (1) cards having magnetically recorded data may be filed in the structure and (2) the cards will remain open at a filing location from which a card has been removed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magnetic card filing structure with an interlock so that data cards can be removed from the file only when the magnets have been disabled.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a file card container embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken along the line 22 showing the cross sectional structure of the file card container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the interlock mechanism for the file card container taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the interlock mecha- 3,333,591 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 nism and magnets taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of a wiring diagram for the file card structure shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, perspective view of an electromagnet utilized in the file card structure of FIG. 1.

Considering first the broad structural aspects of a preferred embodiment of the invention, a card file container 10 is utilized to store file cards 12 upon which data has been magnetically recorded. The file cards 12 have inserts 14 of a suitable magnetizable material, such as soft iron. The file card container 10 includes

electromagnets

16, 18, 20 and 22 from which magnetic fields emanate to fan or separate the file cards in the manner set forth in US. Patent 2,954,032. The electromagnets 16 to 22 are energized by means of a control switch 24 which is mounted on the side of the file container 10. The control switch 24 is normally closed to enable the magnets 16 to 22 to be energized. An interlock 26 is provided to prevent the file cards from being removed from the file container when the magnets are energized. When the interlock 26 is moved from the blocking position, shown in FIG. 2, to the release position, shown in FIG. 3, the control switch 24 is actuated to disable the electromagnets. The disabled electromagnets will not alter or erase the magnetically recorded data on the card 12 as the card is removed from the container 10. Also the cards 12 will not be fanned or separated by a magnetic field emanating from the electromagnets so that the selected file card can be easily returned to its filing position.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 in greater detail, the card file structure container 10 includes a pair of sloping end.walls 28 which are interconnected by a pair of upwardly extending

vertical sidewalls

30 and 32. The end walls 28 and

sidewalls

30 and 32 are interconnected by a base wall 34 upon which the lower edges of the file cards 12 rest. The electromagnets 16 to 22 are mounted in

rectangular housings

36 and 38 which are formed on an upper portion of the

sidewalls

30 and 32. The tops of the

housings

36 and 38 are covered by a pair of

flanges

40 and 42 which are integrally formed with the

sidewalls

30 and 32. The

flanges

40 and 42, as will be explained in greater detail subsequently, form a mounting platform for the actuator assembly 26. Wires for the electromagnets 16 to 22 are positioned in a transversely extending duct or housing 44 which is mounted along a front portion of the card file structure 10. As will be seen from an inspection of FIG. 3, the wiring duct or housing 44 interconnects the two

magnet housings

36 and 38.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the electromagnets 16 and 20 are connected to the top of the housing 36 by screws 46. While only two of the magnets, magnets 16 and 20, have been shown in detail, it will be apparent that the magnets 18 and 22 are similar in both their construction and mounting. Magnets 16 and 20 are mounted adjacent to each other and have a combined length which extends for substantially the entire length of the file container 10. Since the magnets 18 and 22 are similarly mounted, a uniform magnetic field will be formed along the entire length of both sides of the file container 10 by the electromagnets 16 to 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the electromagnets 16 to 22 include

coils

48, 50, 52 and 54 which are wound around the generally U-shaped core pieces of the electromagnets. Coils 48 to 54 are connected to the control switch 24 by wires 56. The wires 56 are connected to a suitable source of electrical power, preferably volts A.C. current, by a cord 58 having a connection plug 60. Since the switch 24 is normally closed the coils 48 to 54 will be normally energized.

The energizing of the coils 48 to 54 also energizes a signal light 62 to inform the user that the card file structure is presently drawing electrical power. As the electromagnets draw power, they will, due to the electrical current in the coils 48 to 54, be heated. If the card file container is left plugged in for a long period of time, for example overnight, the electromagnets may overheat and cause a safety hazard. Therefore a suitable thermostatic switch 64 is provided to interrupt the circuit when the temperature of the coils 48 to 54 exceeds a predetermined maximum value. The light 62 and thermostatic switch 64 are both enclosed in a housing 66, see FIG. 3, which is connected to the flange 42 of the housing 38.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4-, the interlock 26 is mounted on

brackets

68 and 70 which are positioned at opposite end portions of the housing 36. An interlock plate 72 is connected at opposite ends to the

brackets

68 and 70 by means of depending tabs or

cars

74 and 76. Friction forces between the

tabs

74 and 76 and the

brackets

68 and 70 normally retain the mounting plate in a horizontal blocking position as shown in FIG. 2. When the interlock plate 72 is in the horizontal blocking position, it will be positioned directly above an upper edge 78 of the file cards 12. It is apparent from an inspection of FIG. 2 that the file cards 12 cannot be withdrawn from the file container since the interlock plate 72 will engage the edge 78 of the cards to block their upward movement.

A longitudinally extending actuator handle 80 is integrally formed with the interlock plate 72. By depressing the handle 80 downwardly, as shown in FIG. 3, the interlock plate 72 is pivoted or rotated upwardly or away from file cards 12 so that the file cards can be withdrawn from the file container 10. Since the actuator handle 80 extends for the entire length of the interlock plate 72, a person using the card file structure 10 can easily rotate the interlock plate to the release position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 to remove a file card 12. The handle 80 includes an outer hook or lip 82 which extends for substantially the entire length of the handle and provides a surface against which the file card structure user may press to rotate the interlock plate back to the blocking position. As the interlock plate 72 is rotated back to the blocking position (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 3), it will engage a stop member 84 which is positioned adjacent to the front of the file container 10. When the bottom surface of the interlock plate 72 contacts an upper edge portion of the stop 84 the pivoting movement of the interlock plate 72 will be terminated.

A depending foot or actuator lever 86 is connected to the lower surface of the interlock plate 72 at the forward end of the plate. The foot or actuating lever 84 contacts a pin 88 which is slidably mounted in the electromagnet housing 36 to open the normally closed switch 24. When the interlock 26 is moved from the blocking position, shown in FIG. 2, to the release position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, the foot or lever 86 will contact the pin 88 to actuate the switch 24. When the switch 24 is actuated, the coils 48 to 54 of the electromagnets will be deenergized to disable the electromagnets 16 to 22. The disabling of the electromagnets 16 to 22 will eliminate the magnetic field which had been separating the file cards 12.

For purposes of affording a more complete understanding of the invention, it is advantageous now to provide a functional description of the mode in which the component parts thus far identified operate. When the interlock 26 is pivoted to the blocking position, shown in FIG. 2, the interlock plate 72 will be positioned directly above the upper edge 78 of the file cards so that they cannot be removed from the container 10. With the interlock 26 in the blocking position, the switch 24 will be closed and the

electromagnets

16 and 22 will be energized. Magnetic fields will then emanate from the energized electromagnets. Since the inserts 14 of magnetic material are magnetized by the fields emanating from the electromagnets 16 to 24, the file cards 12 will be fanned or separated. If a file card 12 were to be withdrawn from a file container 10, while the electromagnets 16 to 22 are energized, the filing position from which the card was wit-hdrawn would be quickly lost since the adjacent cards would fan into the filing place under the influence of the repelling magnetic inserts 14. Also, the magnetically recorded data on the file cards 12 would be erased or altered, by the magnetic fields emanating from the electromagnets 16 to 22, as the card was removed. However, the interlock 26 prevents the file cards 12 from being withdrawn from the file container 10 when the electromagnets are energized.

When a file card is to be removed from a file container 10, the interlock handle is depresed to pivot the interlock to the release position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 3. As the interlock 26 is rotated to the release position, the depending lever or foot 86 will depress sliding pin 88 to actuate the switch 24 to the open position to disable the electromagnets 16 to 24. When the electromagnets 16 to 24 are disabled, the file card 12 may be removed from the file container 10 without altering any magnetic data which is recorded on the card 12.

Since the electromagnets 16 to 22 were disabled as the card was removed from the file container, the cards 12 remaining in the file container will lay open to mark the filing position from which the selected card was removed. Thus the refiling of the selected card will be greatly facilitate since the file will remain open to indicate its filing position. After the card has been inserted into the container, the side hook or lip 82 of the actuator handle 89 is grasped to swing the interlock to the blocking position. As the interlock place 72 swings downwardly to the blocking position, it will be engaged by an upper edge of the stop 84 to terminate the pivoting movement when the interlock plate 72 is substantially horizontal. As the interlock plate 72 is swung to the blocking position, the foot or lever 86 will release the pin 88 so that the switch will again close to energize the electromagnets 16 to 22. Since the magnets have been energized, the magnetic file cards 12 will be fanned or separated to facilitate the location of another file card.

The construction of the electromagnets 16 to 22 is similar to that of the electromagnet shown in FIG. 6. The electromagnets are fabricated with a core 90 which has a pair of substantially

parallel side members

92 and 94. The

side members

92 and 94 are interconnected by a base member 96 around which a coil 98, similar to the coils 48 to 54, is wound. The electromagnet has a length 100 which is considerably greater than the width 102 of the magnet. Since the length is greater than the width, there will be formed a magnetic field which will flow from one side member 94 to the other side member 92. This magnetic field will be substantially uniform over the entire length of the electromagnet so that all of the file cards 12 will be subjected to a relatively uniform field. It will be apparent that if the width is greater than the length the magnetic field would not be uniform due to variations in the magnetic field at the relatively close ends of the magnet.

While two electromagnets have been utilized on each side of the card file structure 10, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a single long electromagnet could equally as well be used. In a preferred embodiment two electromagnets are utilized since it has been found that the heating and hysteresis losses with two magnets of a relatively short length is less than the losses which are incurred with a single long magnet. In the preferred embodiment slots or apertures 104 are provided in the

side members

92 and 94 of the core piece 90. The slots 104 break up the hysteresis currents which are set up in the core and tend to reduce the hysteresis losses when the magnets are energized.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it should be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made; and it is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the appended claims any such modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A card file structure including a file container having first and second spaced apart sidewalls, first magnet means mounted adjacent to said first sidewall, second magnet means mounted adjacent to said second sidewall, file card means juxtaposed in said container intermediate said first and second magnet means, said file card means adapted to contain magnetically recorded data, said file card means having portions of a magnetizable material positioned adjacent said first and second magnet means, magnet control means mounted on said file container for movement from a first neutral position wherein said portions of magnetizable material are magnetized by magnetic fields emanating from said first and second magnet means to a second disabling position wherein said portions of magnetizable material are free from the influence of the magnetic fields of said first and second magnet means, said control means in said second position eliminating the magnetic field from said first and second magnetic means from between said first and second sidewalls of said file container to prevent altering of magnetic data on said file card means while said file card means are being withdrawn from the container, interlock means mounted on said file container for movement from a first position blocking the removal of said file card means from said file container to a second release position enabling said file card means to be removed from said file card container, and actuator means mounted on said file container, said actuator means interconnecting said control means and interlock means to move said control means from said first neutral position to said second disabling position when said interlock means is moved from said first blocking position to said second release position, whereby said file card means can only be removed from said file container when the magnetic fields from said first and second magnet means have been disabled.

2. A card file structure including a file container having first and second spaced apart sidewalls, first electromagnet means mounted adjacent to said first sidewall, second electromagnet means mounted adjacent to said second sidewall, file card means juxtaposed in said container intermediate said first and second electromagnet means, said file card means having portions of a magnetizable material positioned adjacent said first and second electromagnet means, magnet control means mounted on said file container for moving from a first neutral position wherein said portions of magnetizable material are magnetized by magnetic fields emanating from said first and second electromagnet means to a second disabling position wherein said portions of magnetizable material are free from the influence of the magnetic fields of said first and second electromagnet means, said control means including circuit means for connecting said electromagnets to a source of electrical power and switch means for interrupting said circuit means to disconnect said electromagnets from said source of power when said control means is in said second disabling position, interlock means mounted on said file container for movement from a first position blocking the removal of said file card means from said file container to a second release position enabling said file card means to be removed from said file card container, and actuator means mounted on said file container, said actuator means interconnecting said control means and interlock means to move said control means from said first neutral position to said second disabling position when said interlock means is moved from said first blocking position to said second release position, whereby said file car-d means can only be removed from said file container when the magnetic fields from said first and second electromagnet means have been disabled.

3. A card file structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein; said circuit means includes signal means to indicate when said electromagnets are energized by the source of electrical power, and thermal electric switch means to disconnect said electromagnets from said source of power when the temperature of said electromagnets exceeds a predetermined amount.

4. A card file structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein; said first magnet means includes a plurality of adjacent electromagnets and said second magnet means includes a plurality of adjacent electromagnets.

5. A card file structure including a file container having first and second spaced apart sidewalls, first magnet means mounted adjacent to said first sidewall, second magnet means mounted adjacent to said second sidewall, file card means juxtaposed in said container intermediate said first and second magnet means, said file card means having portions of a magnetizable material positioned adjacent said first and second magnet means, magnet control means mounted on said file container for movement from a first neutral position wherein said portions of magnetizable material are magnetized by magnetic fields emanating from said first and second magnet means to a second disabling position wherein said portions of magnetizable material are free from the influence of the magnetic fields of said first and second magnet means, interlock means mounted on said file container for movement from a first position blocking the removal of said file card means from said file container to a second release position enabling said file card means to be removed from said file card container, said interlock means includes an interlock plate extending for substantially the entire length of said file container, said plate being located in a generally horizontal position adjacent to an uppermost edge portion of said file card means when said interlock means is in said first blocking position to prevent the removal of a file card from said container, and actuator means mounted on said file container, said actuator means interconnecting said control means and interlock means to move said control means from said first neutral position to said second disabling position when said interlock means is moved from said first blocking position to said second release position, whereby said file card means can only be removed from said file container when the magnetic fields from said first and second magnet means have been disabled.

6. A card file structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein; said interlock means further includes mounting bracket means connected to said file container to pivotably mount said interlock plate for movement from said first blocking position to said second release position, stop means supported by said file container for limiting the pivoting movement of said interlock plate when said plate is in said first blocking position to prevent said plate from pivoting into contact with said file card means, and protruding handle means connected to said interlock plate to facilitate the pivoting of said plate from said first blocking position to said second release position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,341,639 2/1944 Mathiesen 12916 2,495,490 1/1950 Whitson 12916.1 2,698,212 12/ 1954 Sevebeck l29l6 X 2,722,936 11/1955 Mathiesen 129-16 2,984,243 5/ 1961 Mathiesen 129-16 3,073,313 1/1963 Mittag 12.9-16.1

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A CARD FILE STRUCTURE INCLUDING A FILE CONTAINER HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SPACED APART SIDEWALLS, FIRST MAGNET MEANS MOUNTED ADJACENT TO SAID FIRST SIDEWALL, SECOND MAGNET MEANS MOUNTED ADJACENT TO SAID SECOND SIDEWALL, FILE CARD MEANS JUXTAPOSED IN SAID CONTAINER INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND MAGNET MEANS, SAID FILE CARD MEANS ADAPTED TO CONTAIN MAGNETICALLY RECORDED DATA, SAID FILE CARD MEANS HAVING PORTIONS OF A MAGNETIZABLE MATERIAL POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID FIRST AND SECOND MAGNET MEANS, MAGNET CONTROL MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FILE CONTAINER FOR MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST NEUTRAL POSITION WHEREIN SAID PORTIONS OF MAGNETIZABLE MATERIAL ARE MAGNETIZED BY MAGNETIC FIELDS EMANATING FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND MAGNET MEANS TO A SECOND DISABLING POSITION WHEREIN SAID PORTIONS OF MAGNETIZABLE MATERIAL ARE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF THE MAGNETIC FIELDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MAGNET MEANS, SAID CONTROL MEANS IN SAID SECOND POSITION ELIMINATING THE MAGNETIC FIELD FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND MAGNETIC MEANS FROM BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDEWALLS OF SAID FILE CONTAINER TO PREVENT ALTERING OF MAGNETIC DATA ON SAID FILE CARD MEANS WHILE SAID FILE CARD MEANS ARE BEING WITHDRAWN FROM THE CONTAINER, INTERLOCK MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FILE CONTAINER FOR MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST POSITION BLOCKING THE REMOVAL OF SAID FILE CARD MEANS FROM SAID FILE CONTAINER TO A SECOND RELEASE POSITION ENABLING SAID FILE CARD MEANS TO BE REMOVED FROM SAID FILE CARD CONTAINER, AND ACTUATOR MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID FILE CONTAINER, SAID ACTUATOR MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID CONTROL MEANS AND INTERLOCK MEANS TO MOVE SAID CONTROL MEANS FROM SAID FIRST NEUTRAL POSITION TO SAID SECOND DISABLING POSITION WHEN SAID INTERLOCK MEANS IS MOVED FROM SAID FIRST BLOCKING POSITION TO SAID SECOND RELEASE POSITION, WHEREBY SAID FILE CARD MEANS CAN ONLY BE REMOVED FROM SAID FILE CONTAINER WHEN THE MAGNETIC FIELDS FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND MAGNET MEANS HAVE BEEN DISABLED.