US3630354A

US3630354A - Card storage, transfer and positioning device for use in conjunction with card retrieval apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3630354A
Application number: US48572*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard C O'brien
Original assignee: OK PARTNERSHIP
Current assignee: OK PARTNERSHIP
Priority date: 1970-04-23
Filing date: 1970-04-23
Publication date: 1971-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-28

Abstract

An improved accessory device for increasing the effective card storage capacity of retrieval systems in which edge-notched coded cards are randomly stored in face-to-face upstanding relation on a platen in a card selector apparatus. The accessory device includes a two-piece card tray having a substantially planar bottom panel against which the code-notched edges of the cards rest when stored face-to-face in a vertical disposition, and a retaining structure at least partially surrounding the upstanding cards. The retaining structure is positionable between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the bottom panel, thereby facilitating transfer of the cards between the tray and the selector. The retaining structure, when engaged with the bottom panel, cooperates therewith to store the cards in the tray. Alternatively, and when the retaining structure is in the course of being positioned between its engaged and disengaged positions relative to the panel, the retaining structure functions to transfer the cards between a position of support on the bottom panel and a position of support in the card selector. Also included are structural features for improving the positioning of cards and locking the retaining structure both relative to the selector, when the cards are in the selector and positioned by the retaining structure.

Description

United States Patent 1 3,630,354

[72] Inventor Richard C. OBrien Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles Dayton, Ohio Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church [21] Appl. No. 48,572 Attorney-Wood, Herron & Evans [22] Filed Apr. 23, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [73 A i K partnership ABSTRACT: An improved accessory device for increasing the Ci i Ohio effective card storage capacity of retrieval systems in which edge-notched coded cards are randomly stored in face-to-face upstanding relation on a platen in a card selector apparatus.

[54] CARD STORAGE, TRANSFER AND POSITIONING The accessory device includes a two-piece card tray having a DEVICE FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CARD substantially planar bottom panel against which the code- RETRIEVAL APPARATUS notched edges of the cards rest when stored face-to-face in a 5 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs. vertical disposition, and a retaining structure at least partially 52 0.5.0 209/805, sumunding upstanding cards The retaining Structure is positionable between engaged and disengaged positions rela- [51] Int. Cl B032 tive to the bottom panel thereby facilitating transfer of the 50 Field of Search 209/805 cards between my and the Select The retaining H05, 18,214,152 62 271/6213. 206/73: ture, when engaged with the bottom panel, cooperates 233/612 therewith to store the cards in the tray. Alternatively, and

when the retaining structure is in the course of being posi- [56] References Ci tioned between its engaged and disengaged positions relative to the panel, the retaining structure functions to transfer the UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 285 606 11/1966 J h t I 1 cards between a position of support on the bottom panel and a 9" 27 /62B posltlon of support in the card selector. Also included are 258,981 6/1882 53/255 structural features for improving the positioning of cards and 3,203,123 8/1965 Dommy 206/73 x locking the retaining structure both relative to the selector,

when the cards are in the selector and positioned by the retaining structure.

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sum 2 nr 6 v ,INVENTOR.

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PATENTED W228 um SHEET 3 OF 6 INVENTOR. Wan/[I fiJB/A' ATrom/Ers PAIENTEB 0EC28 Ian SHEET 5 OF 6 INVENTOR. BMW (95M ATTQKA EKS' BY Z/MX M CARD STORAGE, TRANSFER AND POSITIONING DEVICE FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CARD RETRIEVAL APPARATUS larly to an improved accessory device for card retrieval systems of the foregoing type which facilitates the deck of cards in a selector to be rapidly and easily interchanged with any one of a large number of similar decks normally stored in a bank independently of the selector, thereby effectively increasing the card storage capacity of the retrieval system from a single deck to a bank of decks.

A card retrieval system of the type with which the improved accessory device of this invention finds an extraordinarily high degree of utility is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,877 of Robert D. Parry, for ARTICLE SELECTION SYSTEM, issued Nov. 18, 1969. In the Parry system, a plurality of rectangular cards are provided, each having teeth formed along a sorting edge, preferably the bottom edge, which are selectively removable for coding purposes and which are spaced from each other by intermediate registration notches. The cards are also provided with a lock notch and removed corner section. The lock notch and removed corner section are positioned along the sorting edge between the group of removable teeth and their associated registration notches, and an adjacent transverse card edge herein termed the trailing edge."

The card further includes a ferromagnetic implant or chip mounted in the transverse edge of the card opposite the trailing edge, herein termed the leading edge.

A plurality or deck of cards, numbering up to approximately 2,000 cards, are randomly stored in face-to-face vertical relation in a card selector apparatus. The card selector apparatus is provided with a horizontally disposed planar slotted platen which supports the upstanding cards. The orientation of the platen and cards relative to each other is such that the codenotched sorting edges of the randomly stored cards rest on the platen with their sorting edges transverse to the platen slots. Disposed in the platen slots are a plurality of code, or sort, bars corresponding in number to, and aligned with, the registration notches formed by the spaces between the codenotchable teeth. The sort bars, which normally are positioned with their upper edges flush with the top surface of the platen, are selectively elevatable to an upper, or set, position wherein their upper edges protrude above the platen into the associated card registration notches of the stored cards. Located parallel to the sort bars and opposite the lock notches of the stored cards is a transversely disposed lock bar which is selectively elevatable to a card lock position. In the card lock position the lock bar is susceptive of being positioned in the lock notches of those cards whose lock notches are aligned with the lock bar. An elongated magnet is transversely disposed relative to the stored cards opposite and in alignment with the ferromagnetic chips implanted in the leading edges of the cards. The elongated magnet is mounted on a drawerlike structure for movement toward and away from the implanted ferromagnetic chips of cards positioned in their normal stored position on the platen, that is, the magnet is mounted for movement in a direction parallel to the sorting edges of the stored.

Cards selection in the Parry retrieval system is effected in two sequential steps, namely, an initial separation step and a further or final separation step. The initial separation step is accomplished by elevating or setting the sort bars in a pattern conforming to the removed tooth pattern of the desired card or cards, and thereafter moving the magnet a distance equal to one tooth in a direction parallel to the sorting edge. Ideally the desired cards, that is, the cards having a removed tooth pattern conforming to that of the set sort bars, shift laterally in the direction of their sorting edges a distance equal to the width of one tooth, and in so doing align their removed corner sections in the trailing edge with the lock bar. This movement is possible because the teeth of the desired cards located adjacent to the set sort bars are removed by virtue of the codenotching process. The undesired cards, that is, those cards with a nonconforming removed tooth pattern, are not free to move in a direction parallel to their sorting edge, and consequently remain stationary, leaving their trailing edge lock notches aligned with the lock bar, Once initially separated, the desired cards are further separated from the undesired cards by moving the magnet further in a direction parallel to the card-sorting edges an additional distance, the magnitude of which depends on the amount of separation between the selected and unselected cards which is ultimately desired.

However, prior to moving the magnet the additional distance necessary to effect further separation of the desired and undesired cards, the lock bar is elevated to engage the lock notches of the unselected cards which have remained stationary and aligned with the lock bar during the initial phase of magnet movement. The elevated lock bar does not engage the lock notches of the desired cards because these cards, in the course of the initial separation phase of the retrieval process, shifted laterally, that is, parallel to their sorting edges, relative to the undesired cards a distance sufficient to locate the lock bar in transverse registry with the removed corner sections of the desired cards. With the lock notches of only the undesired cards engaged by the set lock bar, the sort bars are reset and the magnet moved further in a direction parallel to the sorting edge. This further separates the desired cards from the undesired cards which are positively restrained from movement by the lock bar which engages their lock notches. Thus, the lock bar positively prevents, during the final separation step, selection of undesired cards.

The Parry card retrieval system provides rapid and reliable card retrieval to a degree heretofore unknown by virtue of its ability to simultaneously search all cards in the deck positioned in the selector and positively lock or restrain movement of undesired cards. It has been found that in certain applications the Parry system can be of even greater benefit by using a single card selector apparatus with a vastly larger number of cards than is possible to store in the card selector itself. In this way the conveniently useful storage capacity of a system using a single selector, which is more or less limited to the 2,000- card capacity of the selector apparatus itself, can be increased by a large multiple without increasing the cost of the card retrieval system, which to a large extent is determined by the cost of the card selectors. Such an increase in effective storage capacity of single selector card retrieval systems without unduly increasing the cost of the equipment utilized in the system has been accomplished by utilization of an accessory device disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Robert D. Parry, deceased, for Card Storage, Transfer, and Positioning Device for Use in Conjunction with Card Retrieval Apparatus, Ser. No. 826,090, filed May 16, 1969. The Parry accessory device permits a single card selector apparatus to be used in combination with a plurality of individual card decks normally stored in a bank independently of the card selector, the card decks each being stored in identical accessory devices, or trays, which facilitate rapid and easy interchange of the card decks with the selector.

The Parry accessory device, or tray, is generally two piece in design, including a substantially planar bottom panel against which the sorting edges of the cards rest when vertically disposed in face-to-face relation, and a retaining structure enclosing the deck of upstanding cards on three sides and the top which is positionable between an engaged and disengaged position relative to the bottom panel. The retaining structure, when engaged with the bottom panel, cooperates therewith to store the cards in the tray, and when in the course of being positioned between the engaged and disengaged positions, functions to transfer the cards between a position of support on the bottom panel and a position of support on the platen of the card selector, thereby transferring the cards between the tray and the selector.

In operation, and assuming the absence of any cards in the selector, any one of the decks of cards in the bank can be operatively positioned in the selector by merely removing from the bank the tray containing the desired deck and positioning it relative to the selector such that the bottom panel thereof is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the platen. This done, the retaining wall structure is moved relative to the bottom panel from its engaged position, wherein it cooperates with the panel to store the cards in the tray. to its disengaged position, wherein it is located in the selector. In the course of this relative movement of the bottom panel and retaining structure, the retaining structure slides the deck of cards, which it surrounds, off of the bottom panel and onto the platen of the selector, thereby completing transfer of the cards to the selector. The bottom panel is now disassociated from the selector, and card selection can commence. Transfer of the cards from the selector to the tray is effected by reversing the foregoing steps.

To facilitate positioning the bottom panel of the tray substantially coplanar to the upper surface of the platen as is useful to effect card transfer, the drawerlike structure of the Parry card selector, which mounts the transverse magnet used in selecting cards, is preferably first moved to its outermost position. In this position the drawer cooperates with the platen to support, in the desired coplanar relation, the bottom panel of the tray which is positioned thereon.

In the preferred embodiment of the Party tray, the retaining structure, which encloses the card deck on three sides and the top, is designed to be removably mounted in the selector such that horizontally extending lips projecting outwardly from opposite sides of the retaining structure slidably seat in horizontal guide slots formed in vertical guide blocks mounted to the selector platen. When so positioned, the top of the retaining structure overlies the top edges of the cards in the selector and as such limits travel of the upper edges of the cards in the vertical direction. Limitation of card movement in this manner maintains the lower sorting edges of the cards in proper relation to the platen and associated sorting bars, thereby insuring the proper interaction between the sorting edges and the sorting bars which interact with the sorting edges to retain undesired cards during the selection process.

If the top of the retaining structure which overlies the upper edges of the cards is too low relative to the platen; i.e. is insufficiently spaced therefrom, the top will clamp the cards between itself and the platen, preventing cards which should be selected from being selected. This type of missort is termed a false rejection." If the top of the retaining structure is too high, i.e. spaced too far from the platen, the cards are free to rise during the selection, disengaging their lower sorting edges from the sorting bars, permitting selection of cards which should be rejected. This type of missort is termed a false selection." To prevent false rejections and false selections, it is essential that the top of the tray which overlies the upper card edges be spaced at a fixed, predetermined distance from the platen on which the lower sorting edges of the cards rest when in the selector.

One area for improvement of the Parry tray which has been found to exist relates to providing the tray with an improvised means for holding to a fixed value, which is relatively independent of dimensional variations in the tray and/or selector, the upper limit of card movement in the vertical direction permitted by the top of the card retainer section of the tray when the cards and tray are in a selector. With the Parry tray wherein the retaining structure of the tray is supported in the selector by the engagement of lips formed on the retainer sides with slots formed in guide blocks mounted on the platen, the location of the retainer top which limits upward movement of the cards relative to the platen, is dependent on the distance between the platen and the guide slots formed in the blocks which are mounted on the platen, and the distance between the retainer lip and the top of the retainer. Since each of these distances is subject to variation due to normal manufacturing dimensional tolerances, in one case the variation being due to dimensional variation in the selector and in the other case to variations in the tray, it is not uncommon with Parry-type trays when in given selector to produce upper limits of card travel which are markedly different and which are not all within prescribed limits of variation, thereby leading to missorts of types noted.

it has been an objective of this invention to provide improved trays of the Parry type which can be interchanged one for another relative to a given selector and/or utilized with different selectors, without producing undesirable dimensional variation, from tray to tray and selector to selector, in the spacing between the top of the tray retainer which overlies the upper card edges and the selector platen on which the lower card-sorting edges rest. This objective has been accomplished in accordance with certain principles of this invention by providing a tray with an improved retainer having sides which (a) seat directly on the platen and (b) are spanned by a vertically adjustable horizontal reference bar overlying the upper card edges. By virtue of this unique combination of features the possible sources of variation in the spacing between the top of the retainer which limits upper travel of the cards and the platen on which the cards rest has been reduced from the two sources noted earlier, namely, variations in lip and guide slot location, to one source, namely variation in the height of the retainer sides. However, by placing the retainer on a selector platen during assembly and adjusting the reference bar in a vertical direction to the desired height or spacing above the platen, variations introduced by even this one source of error are eliminated since the retainer once so adjusted will always reproduce such reference bar height or spacing from the platen regardless of the selector with which the tray is used. Thus, a tray is provided having a retainer which is completely interchangeable with respect to selectors in that regardless of which combination of tray and selector is used, the predetermined upper limit of travel of the cards determined by the one-time factory adjustment of the vertical height of the reference bar is a constant from tray to tray and selector to selector.

An additional and also very important advantage of the improved tray of this invention is that the retainer sides, since they rest directly on the platen of the selector, can be appropriately notched along their lower platen-contacting edges at a point opposite the lock bar to thereby facilitate engagement of the elevated or set lock bar with the retainer during the final separation phase of the card selection cycle. Such engagement of the retainer and elevated lock bar prevents the return, during the final sorting phase of a card-retrieving cycle, from becoming misplaced within the selector such as could otherwise occur due to frictional drag effects exerted on the retainer by selected cards being withdrawn from the selector. Thus, by virtue of having the retainer sides rest directly on the platen, the retainer can be easily and conveniently notched to engage the lock bar and thereby maintain the retainer in position during the final phase of the card selection process in much the same manner as undesired cards are retained in the selector during the selection process.

It has been a further objective of this invention to provide an improved tray of the Parry type having a simply constructed and easily operated cover for engagement with the tray to prevent surreptitious removal of documents located within a tray stored in a bank of similar trays remote from the selector. This objective has been accomplished in accordance with certain other features of the invention by providing, in combination with a tray having an elongated rectangular bottom panel with upstanding side members and a retainer having upstanding side panels and an interconnecting back panel, a cover having (a) connected front, top and side panels adapted to enclose the side members and the otherwise open front and top of the retainer, (b) lugs extending from the coversides which engage the side members of the bottom panel to prevent relative sliding movement between the cover and bottom panel, and (c) lock members extending horizontally from the coverside panels to engage the retainer sides, thereby locking the cover relative to the retainer and, via the engaged lugs, to the bottom panel.

These and other advantages and objectives of the invention will be more readily apparent from a detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retrieval system incorporating the improved card tray of this invention.

FIGS. 2A-2E are schematic side elevational views of a card selector with which the improved tray of this invention is useful showing the relationship, during different phases of a card retrieval cycle, of the transverse magnet, lock and sorting bars, and desired and undesired cards.

FIGS. 3 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a preferred embodiment of the improved tray of this invention showing the card-retaining structure and cards thereof partially disengaged from the bottom panel of the tray.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view, partially cut away, of the tray.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the tray with the bottom panel thereof supported coplanar to the upper surface of the platen by the drawer and platen.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 are diagrammatic cross-sectional views of the tray showing the relationship of the various components thereof with respect to the selector apparatus during different phases of the process of transferring a deck of cards from the tray to the selector.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the card selector prior to a retrieval cycle.

FIG. 11 is a front plan view, partially cut away, showing the cover in locked engagement with the tray.

Referring to FIG. 1, a card retrieval system is depicted of the general type disclosed in previously referenced Parry US. Pat. No. 3,478,877. The entire disclosure of the Parry US. Pat. No. 3,478,877 is specifically incorporated herein by reference. The retrieval system of FIG. 1 is seen to include a keyboard control console 10, a card selector l2, and a bank 14 of card decks 16a, 16b stored in individual trays, to be described, which are conveniently located for easy removal in a case 18. The card selector 12 includes enclosed within a housing 13 a stationary horizontally disposed planar platen 20 which supports a deck of randomly stored vertically disposed cards 22. A transversely disposed elongated magnet 24 common to all the cards 22 and in alignment with ferromagnetic chips 23 implanted in the cards is secured to a drawerlike structure 26 for sliding movement between an outer position (FIGS. 1 and 6-9) to which desired cards are advanced in a manner to be described and an inner position (FIG. 10) in which the magnet 24 is in contact with the ferromagnetic implants 23 when the cards are stored in their normal position as shown in FIG. 1.

As best seen in FIGS. 2A-2E, the cards 22 each have a toothed sorting edge 32, preferably the lower edge thereof, provided with alternate teeth 34-1 to 34-6 and registration notches 35-1 to 35-6. Each of the teeth 34-] to 34-6 is susceptive of being encoded by selective removal, as by notching, of the respective tooth. The sorting edge 32 further includes a lock notch 36 located between a group of encodable teeth 34 and registration notches 35, and the transverse card edge 38 herein termed the trailing edge. Adjacent to the lock notch 36 is a removed portion 40 of the card located intermediate the lock notch 36 and the trailing edge 38. The card 22 further includes the ferromagnetic chip 23 implanted in the card at the corner of the sorting edge 32 and a transverse edge 44 herein termed the leading edge.

When the cards 22 are in their normal unselected position on the platen 20 of the selector 12, the registration notches 35-1 to 35-6 and the lock notch 36 are aligned with a plurality of transversely disposed sort bars 48-1 to 48-6 and the lock bar 50 which are disposed transverse to, and in common with, all the cards. Both the sorting bars 48-] to 48-6 and the lock bar 50 are appropriately positioned in slots formed in the upper surface of the platen 20. The bars 48-] to 48-6 and 50 are elevatable from a reset position wherein their upper edges are flush with the upper surface of the platen to a set position wherein they enter their associated notches 35-1 to 35-6, and 36, respectively, of cards located in the storage position. Elevation of the bars 48-1 to 48-6 and 50 is effected by solenoids (not shown) controlled by the keyboard console 10.

To select a card or cards 22 having a particular code, for example, a card 22a having teeth 34-2 and 34-6 removed, from among a group of cards 22b not having teeth 34-2 and 34-6 removed, the appropriate sort bars 48 are elevated to the set position. Specifically, sort bars 48-2 and 48-6 corresponding to the removed tooth pattern of the desired card 220 are elevated to the position shown in FIG. 28. With the sort bars 48-2 and 48-6 in a set position, the desired cards 22a having teeth 34-2 and 34-6 removed can be laterally shifted in the direction 46a of arrow 46 a distance equal to the width of one tooth, to produce an initial separation of the desired cards from the undesired cards. However, the undesired cards 22b not having tooth 34-2 and/or tooth 34-6 removed are restrained from lateral movement in the direction 46a of arrow 46 by one or both of the set or elevated sort bars 48-2 and 48-6, which, in the set position, mechanically interfere with the unremoved teeth 34-2 and 34-6 of the undesired cards 22!).

With the sort bars 48-2 and 48-6 conforming to the removed tooth pattern of the desired card 22a in the set position, the magnet 24 is shifted in the direction 460 of arrow 46 a distance equal to the width of one tooth to the position shown in FIG. 2C. Those cards free to shift, namely, the desired cards 22a move with the magnet 24 a distance of one tooth width, effecting an initial separation of the desired and undesired cards. Movement of the desired cards 22a in this fashion aligns the removed portion 40 of the desired cards in front of the lock bar 50. The undesired cards 22b do not move in the direction 46a of arrow 46 by reason of the engagement of one or more of their unremoved teeth 34-2 and 34-6 with the set sort bars 46-2 and 46-6, respectively. Consequently, the lock notches 36 of the undesired cards 22 b remain aligned with the lock bar 50.

Further separation of the desired cards 22a from the undesired cards 22b is effected by elevating to a set position the lock bar 50, and to an unset position the sort bars 48-2 and 48-6, as shown in FIG. 2D. Setting lock bar 50 positively prevents the undesired cards 22b from moving in response to the continued movement of the magnet 24 in the direction 46a of arrow 46. Resetting or lowering the set sort bars 48-2 and 48-6 after the initial card separation phase enables the selected cards 22a to continue movement in the direction 46a of arrow 46 in response to movement of the magnet 24 in this direction, the desired cards 220 being free to move in this direction by reason of the removed portion 40 thereof being aligned with the elevated or set lock bar 50. With the lock bar 50 set and the sort bars 48 all in their lower, reset position, the magnet 24 is advanced further in the direction 46a of arrow 46 to the position shown in FIG. 2E, further separating the desired cards 22a from the undesired cards 22b.

The improved trays of this invention in which the decks of cards 16a, 16b are individually stored in the bank 14 and which are used to transfer the cards from the bank to the selector 12 are best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-6. Referring to these figures the trays are seen to include a substantially planar bottom panel 51 and a card-retaining structure, or retainer, 52. The bottom panel 51 is generally rectangular in shape having a length substantially coextensive with the length of the platen 20 of the selector l2, and a width slightly in excess of the length of the sorting edge 32 of a card 22 as best shown in FIG. 6. The bottom panel 51 of the tray is preferably fabricated of sheet metal and provided with an elongated parallel lip 54 which projects downwardly from the panel SI at the rear edge thereof. The vertical dimension of the read lip 54 is selected such that the upper surface 55 of the panel 51 is coplanar with the upper surface 56 of the platen 20 when the lower edge of the lip 54 rests on a suitably disposed transverse ledge 57 formed in the front edge of the platen by removal of the corner thereof and the front edge 53 rests on a suitably vertically located, rearwardly projecting ledge 59 formed in the drawer 26.

The bottom panel 51 is also provided with horizontal reinforcing

bars

60, 61, and 62 fixedly secured to the bottom surface thereof at points adjacent the front edge 53, middle, and rear lip 54 of the front panel, respectively. Vertical side mem bers 63, 63 of composite sheet metal construction, are fixedly secured to and extend from opposite side edges 65, 65 of the bottom panel 51. The

side members

63, 63 each have outwardly horizontally extending

lips

66, 66 which function as carrying handles, and inwardly horizontally extending

lips

67, 67 the function of which will become apparent hereafter.

The retaining structure 52 includes spaced parallel upstanding opposite sheet

metal side panels

70, 70, and integral rear and

top panels

73 and 75, respectively, connecting the side panels. A horizontal rod 76 about which the forward edge 75a of the top panel 75 is partially wrapped connects the

opposite side panels

70, 70 at their upper edge regions substantially midway between the front and back thereof in a manner such that the upper regions of the side panels are urged toward each other sandwiching the leading edge of the top panel therebetween. A horizontal rod 77 about which the lower edge 73a of the rear panel 73 is partially wrapped connects the

opposite side panels

70, 70 at their rear edge regions near the bottom thereof in a manner such that the rear regions of the side panels are urged toward each other sandwiching the rear panel therebetween. A plurality of clamp strips 79 of angulated cross section are secured along their upper edge regions 79a to the inside lower margin of the rear panel 73 by suitable means such as spot welds. The lower edge regions 79b of strips 79 clamp the rod 77 to the lower edge region of the rear panel 73.

Positioned between the

side panels

70 and 70 of the retaining structure 52 are a plurality of partitions or divider panels 78, which when the cards are both stored in the tray and operatively supported on the platen 20 in the selector 12, as well as when the cards are being transferred between the selector and tray, function to maintain the cards in a substantially vertical position. To secure the partition 78 in operative association with the retaining structure 52, the partitions are fabricated in pairs from C-shaped sheet metal blanks with each leg of the blank constituting a partition. The central section 80 of the C-shaped sheet metal blank is secured to the rear panel 73 to fixedly mount the partitions 78 to the retainer 52.

The

side panels

70, 70 are each provided on their lower edges with front and

rear feet

85 and 86, respectively, secured by screws 87 which pass through holes formed in the feet and threadly engage the

panels

70, 70. The lowermost edge of

panels

70, 70 seat on horizontal ledges 85a and 86a formed in

feet

85 and 86, respectively.

Feet

85 and 86 are seated directly on the upper surface 56 of the platen 20 when the retainer 52 is positioned in the selector, as well as seat directly on the upper surface 55 of the bottom panel 51 when the retainer and bottom panel are assembled. The

feet

85 and 86 preferably are fabricated of low-friction material, such as Teflon, to facilitate sliding the retainer on and off the Teflon, 20 and bottom panel 51. Both the front and

rear feet

85 and 86 are provided with notches 88. Notches 88 are spaced at horizontal intervals equal to that of the sort bars 48 of the selector, and have notch heights, or depths, at least equal to the vertical displacement above the upper surface 56 of platen 20 of the upper edge ofa set, or elevated, sort bar 48. The rear feet 86 are provided with a rearmost notch 89 of depth at least equal to the vertical displacement above the upper surface 56 of platen 20 of the upper edge of the lock bar 50 when in its set, or elevated, position. The notches 88 and notch 89 are located relative to the lower rear vertical edge portions 90 of the

side panels

70, 70 such that when the retainer 52 is in its operative position in the selector 12 and edge portions abut the vertically extending rear wall 91 disposed transverse of the platen 20 parallel to the sort and lock bars 48 and 50, the notches 88 and notch 89 overlie the sort bars 48 and lock bar 50, respectively.

To facilitate adjustment of the

feet

85 and 86 in a horizontal direction parallel to the

side panels

70, 70, the holes in

feet

85 and 86 through which the screws 87 pass are dimensioned to be oversized relative to the screw shank, allowing limited relative movement in a horizontal direction parallel to the

side panels

70, 70 between the feet and the screw and side panel combination.

Feet

85 and 86 are provided with horizontal ledges 85a and 860 which, when the retainer 52 is positioned on the bottom panel 51, underlie the inwardly extending

lips

67, 67 with which they are respectively proximately associated. The underlying relationship of the ledges 85a and 86a of

retainer feet

85 and 86 relative to

lips

67, 67 of bottom panel 51 limit upward vertical movement of the retainer 52 relative to the bottom panel 51 when the retainer overlies the bottom panel.

A reference bar 95 interconnects and spans the

side panels

70, 70 at the upper rear region thereof. The reference bar 95 is secured between the inner surfaces of the

side panels

70, 70 by means of

screws

96,96 which pass through vertical

elongated slots

97, 97 formed in the side panels and threadly engage holes axially disposed in bar 95. The

elongated slots

97, 97, in which the

screws

96, 96 are free to slide vertically when loosened, facilitate adjustment of the vertical displacement x between the upper surface 56 of the platen and the lowermost surface of the bar 95 when the retainer 52 is operatively positioned in the selector 12 with its

feet

85, 86 in direct contact with the upper surface 56 of the platen. ln practice the bar 95 is adjusted at the time of tray manufacture by placing the retainer 52 in a selector with

feet

85, 86 directly on platen surface 56. With the retainer 52 and selector 12 so positioned, the bar 95 is fixed in position via screws 96, 96 relative to the platen surface 56 at a vertical height x, the height at being established by using gage blocks, or the like, placed on platen surface 56 at a point underlying the bar 95. Once the bar 95 is set at the desired height x and fixed relative to

side panels

70, 70 by tightening

screws

96, 96, the bar 95 will always be located at the proper height relative to the upper platen surface regardless of the particular selector in which the retainer is placed. Thus, by virtue of seating the

side panels

70, 70 via

feet

85, 86 directly on the platen surface 56 and providing the bar 95 whose vertical position can be preset at the time of manufacture at a desired height x relative to the upper platen surface 56, and hence relative to the

feet

85, 86 and

side panels

70, 70, the upper limit of travel in the vertical direction of the upper edges of cards located in a selector in which the retainer 52 is positioned is constant at a predetermined distance above the upper platen surface regardless of the particular retainer sued with a given selector or vice versa.

To permit individual cards 22 to be selectively inserted into or removed from a deck when the deck is stored in the tray, a pivotal handle 108 is provided. The handle 108 includes a horizontal central portion 109 disposed transversely to the partitions 78 and

side panels

70 and 70. Handle 108 also includes a pair of

parallel end sections

110, 110 which at one end are pivotally mounted to the

side panels

70, 70 by pins 111 and at the other end secured to the opposite ends of the center portion 109. The pivotal handle 108 is movable between a lower position depicted in solid lines in FIG. 3, wherein insertion or removal of cards from the deck stored in the tray is prevented, and an upper position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3 wherein card insertion and/or removal from the deck is possible. in the lower position downward pivotal movement is limited by engagement of

pins

112, 112 fixed to and projecting horizontally outwardly from

arms

110, 110 and

open slots

113, 113 formed in the

upper edges

66, 66 of the

side members

63, 63 of the bottom panel 51. Engagement of

pins

112, 112 and

slots

113, 113 also functions to prevent relative sliding motion between a retainer 52 and a bottom panel 51 when the former is positioned in overlying relationship to one latter with retainer feet ledges 85a, 86a underlying

bottom panel lips

67,67.

Assuming the selector 12 is devoid of cards 22 and of the retaining structure 52, a deck of cards 22 stored in a tray located remotely from the selector 12 in the case 18 is transferred to the selector in operative relationship with the platen 20, sorting bars 48, and lock bar 50 in a manner to be described. Specifically, the tray containing the deck to be transferred is removed from the case 18 and brought to the selector 12 and the drawer 26 is moved to its outer position. The tray is then positioned in the selector 12 as shown best in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 with the lower edge of lip 54 resting on ledge 57 formed in platen 20 and the front edge 53 of panel 51 resting on inwardly extending ledge 59 of drawer 26. With the bottom panel of the tray so positioned, the upper surface 55 thereof is substantially coplanar with the upper surface 56 of the selector platen.

The pivotal handle 108 is now raised sufficiently to disengage

pins

112, 112 from

slits

113, 113, thereby permitting the retainer 52 to be moved rearwardly relative to the bottom panel 51. However, the pivotal handle 108, while raised to disengage

pins

112, 112 and

slots

113, 113 is kept at a point such that central arm 109 remains low enough to abut the leading edges 44 of the cards when the arm 109 is urged rearwardly in a direction parallel to the sorting edges of the cards. As the arm 109 is urged rearwardly, the retainer

side panel feet

85 and 86 slide off the bottom panel 51 and onto the platen surface 56, causing the retaining structure 52 to move from a position overlying the panel 51 to a position overlying the platen 20. Additionally as the arm 109 is urged rearwardly, it abuts the leading edges 44 of the cards 22 initially supported by the upper surface 55 of the bottom panel 51, causing them to slide along with the retainer 52 from the bottom panel onto the upper surface 56 of the platen 20, as shown best in FIG. 8. Rearward movement of the arm 109 is continued until the

rear edge portions

90, 90 of the side panels abut rear platen wall 91. At this point the retainer 52 is properly located in the selector 12 with

notches

88 and 89 properly overlying sorting bars 48 and lock bar 50. Also, the reference bar 95 is positioned above platen surface 56 at the preset distance x to limit upward travel of the cards.

When the retaining structure 52 and the cards carried thereby have moved from the position shown in FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIG. 8, the bottom panel 51 may be removed from its position supported by the

ledges

57 and 59, and the pivotal handle 108 can be swung from its slightly elevated position shown in FIG. 8 to its upper position shown in FIG. 9. With the bottom panel 51 removed and the pivotal handle 108 in its upper position, as best seen in FIG. 9, the drawer 26 can be returned to its innermost position with the magnet 24 thereof contacting the ferromagnetic implants 23 of the cards 22, as best shown in FIG. 10, which will fore any protruding cards rearwardly so that their rear edges 38 will engage the abutment 91, wherein the code notches 35 and lock notch 36 of the cards 22 properly overlie the sort bars 48 and lock bar 50. With the drawer 26 and magnet 24 so positioned, the card selection cycle described previously in connection with FIG. 2A-2E may be initiated.

Transfer of cards from the selector to the tray for storage in the case 18 is accomplished by performing the foregoing steps in reverse order.

A cover 120 adapted to securely enclose a tray 16 disassociated from the selector 12 to prevent removal of cards 22 from such tray is provided. The tray cover includes integral sheet metal top and

opposite side panels

121 and 122, 122. Top cover panel 121 is dimensioned to at least overlie the area defined by the spaced upper edges of opposite

retainer side panels

70, 70. The upper edge of the rear panel 73 which spans the upper edges of the

retainer side panels

70, 70 at the rear thereof, and an imaginary line joining the upper front corners of opposite

retainer side panels

70, 70. The

cover side panels

122, 122 are designed to enclose the major portion of the

retainer side panels

70, 70 when the cover is positioned as shown in FIG. 11 with cover top panel 121 overlying the top 75 of the retainer 52. The cover also includes a front panel 124 secured at its top and opposite side edges to the front edges of the top panel 121 and

side panels

122, 122 respectively. The front panel 124 is designed to enclose the otherwise open front of the retainer 52 adjacent the leading edges 44 of cards 22 stored in the tray.

Depending

lugs

122a, 122a integral with an extending from the lower edges of

cover side panels

122, 122 are provided to engage appropriately located

mating slots

126, 126 formed in

bottom panel

67, 67 when the cover 120 is positioned on the tray as shown in FIG. 11. With

lugs

122a, 122a engaged with

slots

126, 126, the cover 120 can not be moved away from the bottom panel 51 in direction parallel to the bottom edges of the cover side panels.

To prevent movement of the cover 120 in an upward or vertical direction away from the retainer 52, once positioned on the tray to enclose it,

lock devices

127, 127 are provided in the the cover top 121. The

lock devices

127, 127 are conventional key-operated locks having bolts 308, 308 which are selectively bidirectionally driven in either of two opposite directions depicted by arrows and 131 by appropriate turning of a key (not shown) insertable in the

lock devices

127, 127. When the

bolts

128, 128 are driven in the direction of arrow 131, they enter

slots

129, 129 formed in the upper front comers of

retainer side panels

70, 70 as best shown in FIG. 11, to lock the cover 120 relative to the retainer 52 over which it is positioned to enclose the same. Movement of

bolts

128, 128 in the direction of

arrows

130, 130 disengages the bolts from their

respective slots

129, 129 to unlock the cover 120 from the retainer 52.

When the cover 120 is positioned to enclose the tray, movement of the bottom panel 51 vertically downwardly and away from the cover top 121 is prevented by the engagement of

lips

67, 67 of the bottom

panel side members

63, 63 which overlie ledges 85a, 86a of

retainer feet

85, 86, the retainer itself being locked to the cover 120 against movement in any direction by engagement of

lock bolts

128, 128 with cooperating retainer

side panel slots

129, 129. The bottom panel, of course, cannot move away from the cover 120 in a direction parallel to the bottom edges of

cover side panels

122, 122 due to engagement of

lugs

122a, 122a in cooperating

slots

126, 126 formed in

bottom panel lips

67,67.

When the cover 300 is positioned to enclose the tray, the handle 108 is disposed in its lower position shown in FIG. 3. In such position, arms 110 extend parallel to

bottom panel lips

67, 67, projecting through cutout slots 135, formed in the lower corners of cover front panel 124. Also, with arms 110 in such lowered position, pins 112, 112 engage

slots

113, 113 formed in

lips

66, 66 to further lock the bottom panel 51 and retainer 52 against relative sliding movement in a direction parallel to the lower edges of

retainer side panels

70, 70.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in association with coded cards having planar faces and an edge which in at least one operative orientation are disposed in substantially parallel noncoplanar relationship with their edges aligned, said apparatus comprising:

a card-selecting mechanism including a planar card-supporting surface for supporting a plurality of coded cards which are disposed in at least one operative orientation perpendicular to said planar surface and in parallel noncoplanar relationship to each other with their edges aligned,

a multipurpose device for storing cards independently of said card-selecting mechanism with their faces disposed in parallel noncoplanar relationship and their edges aligned, and for transferring said cards to and from said card-selecting mechanism wherein said cards are supported by said card-supporting surface, said device including,

a. a planar panel relative to which cards can move when being transferred between said device and said planar surface of said card-selecting mechanism, and

b. retaining structure at least partially enclosing said cards and positionable between an engaged and disengaged position relative to said panel, and cooperating when engaged with said panel, to store said cards and, when in the course of being positioned between said engaged and disengaged positions, to move said cards relative to said planar panel and thereby transfer said cards between storage in said device and support by said card-supporting structure, respectively, said retaining structure including 1. interconnected spaced opposite side panels each having an edge engageable in direct contact with said planar card-supporting surface when said retaining structure is positioned in said selector, and

2. an elongated reference member spanning said side panels and spaced uniformly along its length from the plane of said lower side panel edges at a predetermined distance correlated to the height of said cards, said reference member limiting movement of said cards in a direction perpendicularly away from said card-supporting surface when cards are positioned between said side panels and said retainer is in said selector with said side panel edges in direct contact with said planar surface.

Apparatus for use in association with coded cards having planar faces and an edge which in at least one operative orientation are disposed in parallel noncoplanar relationship with their edges aligned, said apparatus comprising:

card-selecting mechanism including a card-supporting planar surface for supporting a plurality of coded cards which are disposed in at least one operative orientation in parallel noncoplanar relationship with their edges aligned, said card-selecting mechanism having an elongated lock bar selectively movable to a set position projecting above said card-supporting surface, multipurpose device for storing cards independently of said card-selecting mechanism, said cards being stored with their faces disposed in parallel noncoplanar relationship and their edges aligned, and for transferring said cards to and their edges aligned, and for transferring said cards to and from said card-selecting mechanism wherein said cards are supported by said card-supporting surface, said device including:

1. a planar panel relative to which cards can move when being transferred between said device and said planar surface of said card-selecting mechanism, and

2. retaining structure at least partially enclosing said cards and positionable between an engaged and disengaged position relative to said panel, and cooperating when engaged with said panel, to store said cards and, when in the course of being positioned between said engaged and disengaged positions, to move said cards relative to said planar panel and thereby transfer said cards between storage in said device and support by said card-supporting structure, respectively, said retaining structure including a. interconnected opposite sidewalls collectively at least partially surrounding a plurality of said cards and susceptive of being alternatively removably positioned in said selector with the lower edges of said sidewalls in direct contact with said card-supporting surface and positioned independently of said selector to facilitate storage of cards by said supporting surface of said selector and remote from said selector, respectively, said sidewall lower edges being provided with means to engage said lock bar when in said set position to prevent movement of said retaining structure relative to said card supporting surface of said selector, and

. an elongated reference member spanning said side panels and spaced uniformly along its length from the plane of said lower side panel edges at a predetermined distance correlated to the height of said cards, said reference member limiting movement of said cardsupporting surface when cards are positioned between said side panels and said retaineris in said selector with said side panel edges in contact with said planar surface. 3. A multipurpose device for storing and transferring cards having a sorting edge notched in a coded pattern which is useful with a card-selecting mechanism having a card-supporting surface for slidably engaging the sorting edges of cards disposed perpendicularly thereto with their edges aligned and further having sorting bars selectively elevatable above said supporting surface into engagement with the notched sorting edges of cards supported on said supporting surface. said device comprising:

a planar panel relative to which the sorting edges of cards perpendicularly disposed thereto are adapted to slide when cards are transferred between storage in said device and support by said supporting surface in said selector, said panel having opposite side members each with inwardly projecting lips,

a retaining structure positionable between engaged and disengaged positions relative to said panel, said retaining structure including opposite sidewalls having outwardly projecting lips and a rear wall, said walls being susceptive of disposition perpendicular to said panel with said sidewalls disposed between said side members and said outwardly projecting lips underlying said inwardly projecting lips when said retaining structure and panel are engaged, and susceptive of disposition perpendicular to said supporting surface with the lower edges of said sidewalls in direct contact with said supporting surface when said retaining structure and panel are disengaged and said retaining structure is in said card-selecting mechanism, cover configured to enclose at least a portion of said retaining structure,

movable lock bolts mounted to said cover for selectively engaging said retaining structure sidewalls when said cover encloses said portion of said retaining structure, and

detents fixed to one of said cover and panel when said cover encloses said portion of said retaining structure to prevent relative movement between said panel and said bolt-engaged cover and retaining structure sidewalls.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said cover includes opposite sidewalls adapted to enclose said retaining structure sidewalls, and wherein said detents extend from the lower edge regions of said cover sidewalls, and wherein said slots are formed in said inwardly extending lips of said panel side members.

5. For use with a card selector apparatus having a planar platen with sorting bars and a lock bar which are selectively elevatable above said planar platen to select cards having code notches along a sorting edge thereof, said cards being stored in upstanding face-to-face relation with said sorting edges resting on said platen, the combination comprising a planar panel having spaced parallel upstanding opposite side members,

a retainer having spaced parallel upstanding opposite sidewalls and an upstanding rear wall spanning said sidewalls adjacent the rear vertical edges thereof, said retainer side and rear walls being fixed relative to each other, said retainer being positionable overlying said panel with said sidewalls between and adjacent said side members and positionable overlying said planar platen with said sidewalls in direct contact with at least a portion of said platen,

notch means associated with said retainer sidewalls to permit said sorting and lock bars, when said retainer overlies said platen, to be elevated without mechanical interference and to prevent sliding movement between said platen and said retainer,

means associated with said sidewalls and side members to limit relative movement of said retainer and panel, when in overlying relation, to sliding movement in a direction UNEEED STATES PATENT @FHQE @ERTEEQATE CQRREEQ'EMN Patent No. 3 F630 Dated December 28 197].

Inventor(s) h r (L OBrien It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

11, Lines M) and' fl. (Claim 22$ after earde to" delete --and their edgee aligned,; and fer transferring said cards to--;

Column 11, Line 75 (Claim 2} 9 after "said" ineert --cards in a direction perpendieularly away from eaid-;

Column- 12," Linef3'. (Claim 2) F after "in" insert -:direct--;

Collumn 12, Line M (Claim 3:} after "panel" imeert for engaging cooperating elotefem'aed in the other of said cover and panel-.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of May 59729 IISEAL} attest:

EDWARD MQFLETCHEm JR ROBERT GQTTSGIEALK attesting {)ffic gg Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (IO-69} USCOMM-DC 50376-P69 ILS. QOVITRNHENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 O3GIS-334

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in association with coded cards having planar faces and an edge which in at least one operative orientation are disposed in substantially parallel noncoplanar relationship with their edges aligned, said apparatus comprising: a card-selecting mechanism including a planar card-supporting surface for supporting a plurality of coded cards which are disposed in at least one operative orientation perpendicular to said planar surface and in parallel noncoplanar relationship to each other with their edges aligned, a multipurpose device for storing cards independently of said card-selecting mechanism with their faces disposed in parallel noncoplanar relationship and their edges aligned, and for transferring said cards to and from said card-selecting mechanism wherein said cards are supported by said cardsupporting surface, said device including, a. a planar panel relative to which cards can move when being transferred between said device and said planar surface of said card-selecting mechanism, and b. retaining structure at least partially enclosing said cards and positionable between an engaged and disengaged position relative to said panel, and cooperating when engaged with said panel, to store said cards and, when in the course of being positioned between said engaged and disengaged positions, to move said cards relative to said planar panel and thereby transfer said cards between storage in said device and support by said card-supporting structure, respectively, said retaining structure including 1. interconnected spaced opposite side panels each having an edge engageable in direct contact with said planar cardsupporting surface when said retaining structure is positioned in said selector, and 2. an elongated reference member spanning said side panels and spaced uniformly along its length from the plane of said lower side panel edges at a predetermined distance correlated to the height of said cards, said reference member limiting movement of said cards in a direction perpendicularly away from said card-supporting surface when cards are positioned between said side panels and said retainer is in said selector with said side panel edges in direct contact with said planar surface.

2. Apparatus for use in association with coded cards having planar faces and an edge which in at least one operative orientation are disposed in parallel noncoplanar relationship with their edges aligned, said apparatus comprising: a card-selecting mechanism including a card-supporting planar surface for supporting a plurality of coded cards which are disposed in at least one operative orientation in parallel noncoplanar relationship with their edges aligned, said card-selecting mechanism having an elongated lock bar selectively movable to a set position projecting above said card-supporting surface, a multipurpose device for storing cards independently of said card-selecting mechanism, said cards being stored with their faces disposed in parallel noncoplanar relationship and their edges aligned, and for transferring said cards to and from said card-selecting mechanism wherein said cards are supported by said card-supporting surface, said device including:

2. retaining structure at least partially enclosing said cards and positionable between an engaged and disengaged position relative to said panel, and cooperatiNg when engaged with said panel, to store said cards and, when in the course of being positioned between said engaged and disengaged positions, to move said cards relative to said planar panel and thereby transfer said cards between storage in said device and support by said card-supporting structure, respectively, said retaining structure including a. interconnected opposite sidewalls collectively at least partially surrounding a plurality of said cards and susceptive of being alternatively removably positioned in said selector with the lower edges of said sidewalls in direct contact with said card-supporting surface and positioned independently of said selector to facilitate storage of cards by said supporting surface of said selector and remote from said selector, respectively, said sidewall lower edges being provided with means to engage said lock bar when in said set position to prevent movement of said retaining structure relative to said card supporting surface of said selector, and b. an elongated reference member spanning said side panels and spaced uniformly along its length from the plane of said lower side panel edges at a predetermined distance correlated to the height of said cards, said reference member limiting movement of said cards in a direction perpendicularly away from said card-supporting surface when cards are positioned between said side panels and said retainer is in said selector with said side panel edges in direct contact with said planar surface.

3. A multipurpose device for storing and transferring cards having a sorting edge notched in a coded pattern which is useful with a card-selecting mechanism having a card-supporting surface for slidably engaging the sorting edges of cards disposed perpendicularly thereto with their edges aligned and further having sorting bars selectively elevatable above said supporting surface into engagement with the notched sorting edges of cards supported on said supporting surface, said device comprising: a planar panel relative to which the sorting edges of cards perpendicularly disposed thereto are adapted to slide when cards are transferred between storage in said device and support by said supporting surface in said selector, said panel having opposite side members each with inwardly projecting lips, a retaining structure positionable between engaged and disengaged positions relative to said panel, said retaining structure including opposite sidewalls having outwardly projecting lips and a rear wall, said walls being susceptive of disposition perpendicular to said panel with said sidewalls disposed between said side members and said outwardly projecting lips underlying said inwardly projecting lips when said retaining structure and panel are engaged, and susceptive of disposition perpendicular to said supporting surface with the lower edges of said sidewalls in direct contact with said supporting surface when said retaining structure and panel are disengaged and said retaining structure is in said card-selecting mechanism, a cover configured to enclose at least a portion of said retaining structure, movable lock bolts mounted to said cover for selectively engaging said retaining structure sidewalls when said cover encloses said portion of said retaining structure, and detents fixed to one of said cover and panel for engaging cooperating slots formed in the other of said cover and panel when said cover encloses said portion of said retaining structure to prevent relative movement between said panel and said bolt-engaged cover and retaining structure sidewalls.

5. For use with a card selector apparatus having a planar platen with sorting bars and a lock bar which are selectively elevatable above said planar platen to select cards having code notches along a sorting edge thereof, said cards being stored in upstanding face-to-face relation with said sorting edges resting on said platen, the combination comprising a planar panel having spaced parallel upstanding opposite side members, a retainer having spaced parallel upstanding opposite sidewalls and an upstanding rear wall spanning said sidewalls adjacent the rear vertical edges thereof, said retainer side and rear walls being fixed relative to each other, said retainer being positionable overlying said panel with said sidewalls between and adjacent said side members and positionable overlying said planar platen with said sidewalls in direct contact with at least a portion of said platen, notch means associated with said retainer sidewalls to permit said sorting and lock bars, when said retainer overlies said platen, to be elevated without mechanical interference and to prevent sliding movement between said platen and said retainer, means associated with said sidewalls and side members to limit relative movement of said retainer and panel, when in overlying relation, to sliding movement in a direction parallel to both said panel and said sidewalls and members, and an elongated reference member interconnecting said retainer sidewalls, said reference member, when said retainer sidewalls directly contact said platen, being uniformly spaced from said platen along its length.