US3488100A - Filing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1970 Q S ETAL 3,48,13

FILING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31. 1968 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jam.6,1970 G ASSM N ETAL 3,488,100

FILING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F' IG, F

35 Q MOVEME r 01/75 710.

Jan. 6, 1970 Filed Jan. 31, 1968 J. GLASSMAN ET AL FILING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. J

' Jan. 6, 1970' J. IGLASSMAN ET AL 3,488,100

FILING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 51, 1968 United States Patent 3,488,100 FILING APPARATUS Joel Glassman, 1709 Graybar Lane, Nashville, Tenn. 37215, and Gilbert F. Jonas, Nashville, Tenn.; said Jonas assignor to said Glassman Filed Jan. 31, 1968, Ser. No. 702,054 Int. Cl. A47b 81/00, 63/00; A47f 3/08 US. Cl. 312-223 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved filing arrangement includes file storage compartments, and a non-load bearing storage enclosure, which are movable relative to each other. The arrangement assures easy and convenient access to a desired storage compartment, and efficiently utilizes the available filing floor space.

This invention relates to oflice equipment and, more specifically, to improved filing apparatus which efficiently utilizes storage space, and which facilitates access to desired storage contents.

While much attention has been directed to improving and automating office business equipment such as tabulators, calculators, typewriters, and the like, the significant and costly problem of physically storing business and other records has improved very little of late. The amount of space required to store a given document may be significantly reduced by transforming the information thereon into a microfilm or magnetic tape record. However, this transformation process is relatively expensive and time consuming, and the resulting records themselves must typically be stored in a filing cabinet, drawer, or the like, as were (or possibly still are) the original documents.

A close examination reveals that filing drawers in fact suffer from several disadvantages rendering them far from ideal. First, there is an inefficient use of space. To make all papers accessible in a drawer, twice the drawer length plus room for the document retriever must be provided in expensive floor space. Secondly, vertical space utility is limited to that which can physically be reached and viewed by the user. Without the cumbersome use of a ladder or stool, four feet is the maximum height usable. In a room with eight foot ceilings, half of the vertical space is wasted.

Then also, the physical effort required to pull out filing drawers is substantial. Girls, who do most of the filing work, find it very tiring to pull and push drawers which often weigh well over fifty pounds when fully loaded. Even when relatively sophisticated track systems are employed, considerable force is required to overcome simple inertia. One publicized attempt to solve this problem is the tilt drawer. While mechanically simpler than the pull-out dra'wer, space requirements are the same and the mass needed to be moved is greater. Whereas pull drawers will average half open when used, tilt drawers must be opened fully regardless of the position of the item to be filted or located.

In addition, access to, and selection of a drawer of filed material is basically a visual and musclar function, and is not readily adaptable to automatic search. Finally, the position of a person who is doing the file work is awkward and embarrassing when using any but the top drawers.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved filing apparatus.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide filing apparatus which efliciently utilizes floor space, and which is easily and conveniently operated and readily adapted for automated search.

3,488,100 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 The above and other objects of the present invention are realized in an illustrative improved filing arrangement comprising a plurality of contiguous filing units each including a plurality of file compartments defined by parallel vertical divider plates. Two selectively engageable tambour type doors are adapted to slide on a track about the storage compartments until the door junction is in front of a desired compartment as determined via a viewing aperture in one door. The doors, which are nonload bearing, are then separated to provide access to the desired compartment. If desired, door movement may be electrically automated.

In other embodiments of our invention, differing apparatus is utilized to similarly provide relative movement between file containing compartments and non-load bearing door apertures, or the like.

A complete understanding of the present invention, and of the above and other objects, features and advantages thereof will be gained from a consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof presented hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE A depicts a first improved filing arrangement embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE B depicts separator members included in the arrangement of FIG. A;

FIGURE C comprises two views of a door portion of the arrangement of FIG. A;

FIGURE D illustrates electronic apparatus for automating the filing arrangement of FIG. A

FIGURE E depicts a second improved filing arrangement embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE F comprises a file compartment employed in the arrangement of FIG. E;

FIGURE G illustrates in detail file actuating apparatus employed in the arrangement of FIG. E;

FIGURE H depicts electronic apparatus employed in conjunction with the filing arrangement of FIG. E;

FIGURE J depicts a plurality of storage compartments and rotational apparatus employed in the filing arrangement of FIG. K;

FIGURE K illustrates a third improved filing arrangement embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE L depicts a plurality of contiguous filing arrangements of the type shown in FIG. M; and

FIGURE M illustrates a fourth improved filing arrangement embodying the principles of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. A, there is shown two vertically stacked filing units illustrating the concepts of the present invention. Each filing unit includes left and right rolling flexible doors 1L and 1R which slide in tracks forming an integral part of each filing cabinet. Four rollers 2 are employed to facilitate the passage of the doors 1L and 1R around the cabinet corners. Filed material is located or inserted in the cabinet by selectively sliding the doors 1L and 1R in the manner described hereinafter.

Each filing cabinet, formed to any desired geometry from standardized end plates 3 and variable width channels 4, includes a plurality of vertical divider plates 5 illustrated in FIG. B. Each divider 5 includes semi-circular tabs 6 which fit openings 7 and slots 8 in the cabinet bottom plate. The slots 8 and tabs 6 permit positioning of the dividers 5 in any horizontal relationship and density, accommodating the desired number and thickness of files 9 between adjacent elemen s. The dividers 5 also include index tabs 10 which provide space and visual reference notes identifying the contents of the associated filing compartment. Half-moon cutouts in the divider walls permit easy grasping of the file contents.

The left cover IL in each unit includes a vertical member 12 having a cutout 11 therein, as illustrated in FIG. C. Also included in the vertical member 12 is a socket 13 which is part of a catch system. The index tabs 10 on the dividers are visible through the cutout 11 when the doors 1L and 1R are closed. On the corresponding vertical bar 12 of the right door 1R is a handle 14 and a push button 15 which selectively actuates a catch 16 to engage the socket 13.

To operate the filing arrangement of FIGS. A-C the doors 1L and IR are latched together and slid left or right until the desired subject index on the corresponding divider 5 appears in the cutout 11 of the left door member 12. The button is depressed to release the right door 1R, permitting the doors 1L and IR to be separated to the extent desired. Material can then be inserted or extracted from the exposed compartment(s).

In the use of the above-described filing arrangement, the only space required is that of the file itself and the person using it. No additional space need be provided for drawer pullout or tilting. Since the contents are viewed from the front rather than from the top, as is the case for a conventional drawer, the filing units can be stacked higher than drawer files.

Moreover, there is no off-center movement of heavy weight, as in drawer files, thus eliminating the chance of tip-over and making possible lighter, less expensive files. Further in this regard, little effort is needed to use the file. Only the light, flexible doors 1L and IR are moved, requiring just the slightest pressure. There is no need to move a whole drawer full of papers to get or file one folder.

The small amount of energy needed to gain access to all filed material readily facilitates automation. An illustrative electric circuit for accomplishing this is shown in FIG. D.

A direct current motor 17 is coupled to one of the corner rollers 2 via a speed reduction gear box 18 to turn this roller, and thereby also the engaged sliding doors 1L and IR. Line voltage is reduced in a transformer 19 and rectified by one of two diodes 20 in a circuit configuration which permits motor voltage polarity reversal, via the last actuated limit transfer switches 21L or 21R. In particular, if the engaged door members 12 move all the way to the left, the limit switch 21L reverses current direction and therefore the direction of rotation of the motor 17, the reducer 18, and the roller 2. When the doors 1L and IR then move all the way to the right, the limit switch 21R again changes door direction.

A dial 22 on the cabinet face turns a disc switch 23 which has one open contact position 24. Around the disc are a plurality of contact positions in one-to-one correspondence with the vertical file compartment dividers 5. also, on the base of each divider 5 is an electrical contact 25 which brushes a contact 26 on one of the door members 12. As long as the contact 26 engages a divider 5 terminal 25 not connected to the void disc switch position, the motor 17 is energized via an activated relay 27. A switch 28 is included in the door socket 13 to keep the motor idle until the doors 1L and IR are closed.

To operate the system the dial 22 is rotated such that the switch void 24 is positioned to identify the desired divider position, and the doors 1L and IR are closed. If the doors are not at the proper position, they will move left or right depending upon the position of limit switch 21 from previous use. The doors 1L and IR will move, right, left or both, until the contact 26 engages the contact 25 on the selected divider 5. Such electric search permits files to be made in great length, occupying a side of a room if desired. The desired file compartment can be determined from an index or otherwise and dialed via the element 22, without any visual reference to the files. The doors 1L and IR will automatically move to the proper position. In addition to the obvious convenience, the likelihood of misfiling is greatly reduced.

In contrast to the moving door-fixed divider filing arrangement of FIGS. A-D, FIG. E depicts a second ill st at ve fil g arrang e t emb dy g a fixed doormoving divider mechanism. The filing cabinet includes two rows of filing dividers (compartments) 29, each row including one compartment less than a full complement. As shown in FIG. F, each compartment 29 is basically a rectangular sleeve with a supporting stud and roller 30 in the top center. At the bottom of the compartment 29 is a tray having a pull-out tab 31. Further, a door 32 is included in the center front of the cabinet for access to the several compartments 29.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. E, the divider compartments 29 are free to move from right to left in the front; from left to right in the rear; from front to back on the left; and from back to front on the right. More specifically, if a compartment 29a is moved forward and a compartment 29b moved backward coincidentally therewith, then the divider 29a can move to the left, one position at a time, with all the other front dividers. Similarly, the compartment 29b can be shifted, along with all other rear dividers, towards the right. The above-described movement can be effected in a continuous manner, in

effect moving the divider compartments 29' in a rectangular pattern, presenting each file in sequence to the door position.

Apparatus for accomplishing this motion pattern may advantageously be included in a tray disposed above the compartment enclosure, as shown in FIG. E, and in more particular detail in FIG. G. The stud and roller 30 of each compartment 29 (FIG. F) support the dividers in a groove 33 in the top tray. The groove 33 forms an island center section which is held in position by two support brackets 34 on either side thereof. For purposes of clarity, only one bracket 34 is shown in FIGS. E and G.

vThe center island supports a continuous cog belt 35 which includes notches of a half circle configuration. The radius of the notches is advantageously made the same as that of the divider rollers 30. The cog belt 35 is positioned by guide rollers 36 and 37, and driven by a motor 38 through reduction gears 39 and a sprocket 40. A cog belt position sensor 41 is turned by a belt and cog system 42 via an idling sprocket 43.

The sensor 41 turns about the same axis as a selector thumb wheel 44. The thumb wheel 44 includes a single brush contact 45 and a detent 46 (see FIG. H), and is characterized by a number of indentations on the periphery thereof corresponding to the number of file dividers 29. The sensor wheel 41 makes one revolution for each complete rectangular loop translation of the cog belt 35. The wheel 41 includes thereon a conducting circular commutator, in contact with the brush 45, which has a removed section equivalent to one increment of divider movement within the file cabinet.

The electrical movement actuating circuit is shown in H, and includes a switch 47 which is interlocked With thedoor 32 so that the motor 38 will not be energized unless the door is closed. When the thumb dial 44 is turned to a number identifying a particular compartment 29, the brush 45 makes contact with the commutator on the sensor wheel 41, thereby starting the motor 38. The enabled motor 38 turns the cog belt 35, and thus the belt 42 and the sensor 41, until the void sensor commutator segment touches the brush 45 thus stopping the motor.

As the motor 38 runs, it cyclically translates the file compartments 29. In particular, it is observed than there are single belt 35 guide pulleys 36 at a first pair of diagonal island corners while, at the opposite-diagonal corners, there are a pair of guide pulleys 37. The pulleys 36 and 37 are arranged such that the cog belt 35 comes in contact with the divider rollers 30 at these points simultaneously. The dual guide pulleys 37 also keep the belt 35 in contact with the divider rollers 30 for a distance of one compartment space across the front and back of the case. It is also noted that the cog belt 35 disengages rollers 30 on the file dividers 29 after the dividers 29 pass by the guides 37, and reside in the right-most position in the front row and le t-most position in the rear row.

As the motor 38 starts, the divider rollers 30 associated with the compartments 29a and 29b are in a position to be moved clockwise by the cog belt 35. Under urging of the belt 35, the divider 29b moves from front to back at the left and, simultaneously therewith, the compartment 29a moves to the front at the right side of the composite filing cabinet.

As the belt 35 and rollers 30 reach the island corner with the two guide rollers 37, the divider 29b is moved one space to the right in the rear row, and the divider 29a moves one space to the left in the front row. As these two dividers move across, they push the other elements 29 ahead of them until the front one in each row, associated with the rollers 30c and 30d in FIG. G, assume the positions formerly occupied by the dividers 29a and 29b. The cog belt 35 disengages the dividers 29a and 29b when the rollers 30 thereof reach the positions 30c and 30 of FIG. G.

The above-described motion continues until the commutator on the sensor 41, turned by the belt 42, has its open segment aligned with the brush 45. The motor 38 then stops, and the desired file compartment 29 is behind the door 32. Opening the door 32 gives access to the divider tray tab 31 which may be pulled to bring forward the filed material.

Accordingly, the above-described filing arrangement of FIGS. E-H can be of any desired length. Also, a plurality of such units can be stacked as high as can be reached.

A third illustrative improved filing arrangement which also embodies the principles of moving divider compartments is shown in FIG. K, with the divider and divider conveying apparatus being more particularly illustrated in FIG. J. In this arrangement, a plurality of rectangular divider sleeves 48 are hung on cog belt supported pivot bars 49.

A selection dial 50 is mounted on the file cabinet, and operates like the element 44 of FIGS. E, G and H. In brief, a commutator (not shown) including a void position is driven by the cog belt 51, and makes one complete revolution with each complete revolution of the belt. A drive motor 52 is mounted on top of the filing apparatus, and the motor actuating circuit is the same as that shown in FIG. H for the filing embodiment of FIGS. E-H. The motor 52 turns the cog belts (one disposed on either side of the support rods 49) via gearing apparatus 55 and 56. Since the sleeve 48 supporting bars 49 travel on a larger radius as they rotate about support and drive sprockets 53, those dividers 48 changing direction move further and faster, advancing away from following dividers thus preventing interference.

As was the case for the embodiment of FIGS. E-H, the sleeve 48 identified by the setting of dial 50 in FIG. K will reside behind a door 54 when the motor 52 stops. File folders can be removed by simply opening the door 54, and pulling a tray tab 57. It is observed that the filing arrangement of FIGS. J-K can extend from floor to ceiling. Many such organizations can occupy a small wall space, yielding maximum storage capacity in minimum space with easy and rapid access.

The vertical divider translating filing arrangement of FIGS. J-K need not be motorized, nor is such an arrangement restricted to legal or letter size shape or space. The dividers 48 can be sized to accommodate engineering drawings, punch cards, microfilm cartridges, aperture cards or the like, this size variance feature also accruing to the other filing embodiments herein.

A non-motorized vertical divider translating filing arrangement sized for microfilm cartridges is depicted in FIG. L, with the details of a particular vertical unit being more particularly shown in FIG. M. A carriage 50 is mounted for vertical translation inside a vertical cabine unit, with the carriage 50 being one-half the height of the cabinet. Behind the carriage 50 is a counterweight 59 which counter balances the carriage and its contents acting through pulleys 60 and a cable 61.

The carriage 50 is divided into levels, spaced a sufiicient distance apart to accommodate a single tape cartridge. Each level is equipped with a pullout tray 62 having a U- shaped knob 64 in front thereof which is adapted to vertically translate through a slot 63 running from top to bottom in the file cabinet. Integral with the knobs 64 are pullout rings 65, and the knobs may have number or other identifying characters thereon.

At the midpoint of the file cabinet is a spring biased door 66 having the same vertical dimension as one carriage storage level. To operate the file, the desired storage level is identified, as by referring to an index. The carriage 58 containing the material is moved up or down by pressure applied to the appropriate U knob 64. When the tray is in line with the door 66, the tray is pulled forward, opening the door and exposing the file content.

While the manually operated file of FIGS. L and M has material stored in only half its volume, the additional half, providing movement space, typically comprises space which is awkward to otherwise use, and which would likely be lost. Hence, there is no real penalty. Gained instead is rapid and effortless file access. Moreover, the embodiment of FIGS. L and M can be automated in the manner described above, and a full complement of storage levels employed.

'It is to be understood that the above-described improved filing embodiments are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Numerous other arrangements and modifications thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in a filing arrangement, divider means for storing material, said divider means defining a plurality of distinct storage locations, cover means including door means for accessing one of said storage locations, means for mounting said cover means about said divider means, said mounting means including means for permitting relative translation between said cover means and said divider means, said divider means including a plurality of parallel divider members, said cover means including two selectively engagea'ble rolling flexible doors mounted in tracks for rotation about said divider members, roller means for facilitating the rotation of said cover about said divider members, automated access means including motor means for rotating said cover means, means for sensing the position of said cover relative to said divider members, and means for de-energizing said motor when the junction of said doors is positioned by the desired one of said divider means.

2. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said position sensing means includes an electrical contact on each of said divider members, and a contact in sliding engagement therewith mounted on said cover means, and wherein said motor de-energizing means includescommutating means with an adjustable void location corresponding to the desired one of said divider members.

3. A combination as in claim 2 further comprising visual means mounted on said divider members, a cutaway viewing aperture included in said cover means, latching means for selectively engaging said doors, and a motor de-energizing switch interlocked with said latching means.

4. In combination in a filing arrangement, divider means for storing material, said divider means defining a plurality of distinct storage locations, cover means including door means for accessing one of said storage locations, means for mounting said cover means about said divider means, said mounting means including means for permitting relative translation between said cover means and said divider means, said cover means comprising a filing enclosure having a door therein, wherein said divider means includes a plurality of divider compartments, wherein said mounting means includes means for mounting each of said compartments for translation through a closed path which includes an excursion past said enclosure door, and selectively energized means for translating said compartments through said closed path.

5. A combination as in claim 4 wherein said divider compartments each include a roller and stud portion, and wherein said mounting means includes means having a groove therein to define said closed path, said roller and stud portion of said compartments passing through said groove.

6. A combination as in claim 5 further comprising a cog belt for selectively engaging said compartment roller and stud portion, and a motor and sprocket for selectively driving said cog belt.

7. A combination as in claim 6 further comprising means for sensing the position of said compartments, means for selecting a desired compartment, and means for de-energizing said cog belt driving motor when the desired compartment is positioned by said door.

8. A combination as in claim 7 wherein said position sensing means comprises a commutator coupled to said cog belt, said commutator including a void portion, and wherein said motor de-energizing means includes a contact connected to said commutator.

9. A combination as in claim 4 wherein said compartment mounting and translating means includes cog belt means, and rod means for supporting said compartments, said rod means being affixed to said cog belt means, and motor means for driving said belt means.

10. In combination in a filing arrangement, divider means for storing material, said divider means defining a plurality of distinct storage locations, cover means including door means for accessing one of said storage locations, means for mounting said cover means about said divider means, said mounting means including means for permitting relative translation between said cover means and said divider means, said cover means comprising a plane having a slot therein, and wherein said divider means comprises a carriage including a plurality of compartments therein, each of said carriage compartments including a tray therein, said trayseach including a knob thereon adapted to translate through said vertical slot in said cover, said coveralso including a door. of a size corresponding to the size of each of said'carriage compartments.

11. A combination as in claim 10 wherein'said carriage is substantially one-half the size of said cover, and further comprising means for counterbalancing said carriage.

References Cited v UNITED STATES PATENTS CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R. 312 1s3, 266

Images