US3851764A

US3851764A - Power file construction

Info

Publication number: US3851764A
Application number: US00345875A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Anders
Original assignee: Diebold Inc
Current assignee: Diebold Nixdorf Inc
Priority date: 1973-03-29
Filing date: 1973-03-29
Publication date: 1974-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-03

Abstract

A power file with a plurality of pans which are mounted on an endless conveyor for movement in a continuous orbit of travel. Side strut column members having upper and lower box members support the pans and conveyor mechanism. Verical corner posts extend from the boom to the top of the structure and a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontal cross members extend between and are attached to front and rear corner posts on each side of the structure. Diagonal bracing rods extend between the pairs of vertical posts at the front and rear of the power file and together with the corner posts and cross members form a stable frame structure. The side struts and frame structure support the weight of file and contents which is transmitted to the floor through bearing plates located at the four bottom corners of the file structure. The horizontal cross members also provide supports on which planks may be laid to provide scaffold platforms in the space ultimately occupied by the power file pans to permit workmen to assemble easily the conveyor mechanism and pan suspensions on the side strut column members. Splicing members permit several frame and strut column sections to be mounted vertically upon one another forming a power file several stories high which can be shipped in knocked-down form and assembled at an installation site.

Description

llnite Stts tent [191 Anders 1 Dee.3,1974

[ POWER FILE CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor: Walter G. Anders, Canton, Ohio [73] Assignee: Diebold Incorporated, Canton, Ohio [22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 345,875

[52] US. Cl 2l1/1.5, l98/l58,21 1/121,

312/223, 312/268 [51] Int. Cl A47f 3/08, A47f 5/03 [58] Field of Search ..211/1.5,121,122,134,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,009,582 11/1961 Degener 211/134X mounted on an endless conveyor for movement in a continuous orbit of travel. Side strut column members having upper and lower box members support the pans and conveyor mechanism. Verical corner posts extend from the boom to the top of the structure and a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontal cross members extend between and are attached to front and rear corner posts on each side of the structure. Diagonal bracing rods extend between the pairs of vertical posts at the front and rear of the power file and together with the corner posts and cross members form a stable frame structure. The side struts and frame structure support the weight of file and contents which is transmitted to the floor through bearing plates lo cated at the four bottom corners of the file structure. The horizontal cross members also provide supports on which planks may be laid to provide scaffold platforms in the space ultimately occupied by the power file pans to permit workmen to assemble easily the conveyor mechanism and pan suspensions on the side strut column members. Splicing members permit sev eral frame and strut column sections to be mounted vertically upon one another forming a power file several stories high which can be shipped in knockeddown form and assembled at an installation site.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PAIENTL 513 31974 rowan FILE coNsTRUcTtoN CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS The power file construction of the present invention is an improvement upon the structure of US. Pat. Nos. 3,199,658 and 3,321 ,260 and particularly upon the structure of US. Pat. No. 3,720,451.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved frame construction for providing additional support and stability to side strut columns used in power files. The frame also provides scaffold platforms for use during assembly of the power file. The improved power file frame enables an extended file to be constructed from a plurality of file unit column sections which can be shipped in knockeddown condition and assembled at the installation site without temporary scaffolding heretofore required.

2. Description of the Prior Art Power file frame constructions have been provided for mounting the file pans and conveyor mechanism which may be shipped in knocked-down condition for ready assembly at the location of use and which include vertical supports such as shown in Pat. Nos. 3,199,658 and 3,321,260. Such vertical supports have required a base upon which the supports are mounted in order to carry and distribute the load, thus requiring additional material and increased erection costs, and the vertical supports were not capable of supporting files more than about to 12 feet high.

Likewise, the prior vertical side columns were integral members having a length equal to the file height. When such members are 8 or more feet long, they are difficult to transport and to move within a building through elevators and doorways, even in unassembled condition detached from the conveyor mechanism and pans. Thus, such side column members may limit the height of a file installation in many buildings where ceilings otherwise would permit the installation of taller files.

It is becoming more desirable to build larger file units, some of which may extend several floors in height and which project through an opening formed in the ceiling of one room up into the room above. Existing file side column and base constructions are not feasible for such large units from the standpoint of design, strength, and size of the integral side columns required.

The file construction shown in Pat. No. 3,720,451 provides a satisfactory solution to some of these abovedescribed problems. There are difficulties, however, involved in erecting, assembling and installing power files which are 16 to 20 feet high in that it is necessary to erect temporary scaffolding completely around the power file structure to enable assembly of the power file components such as the conveyor mechanism. Also, these prior power files require in many instances the attachment of the file to a wall or other support to provide sufficient stability to the assembled file to prevent it from tipping.

Very often these power files are erected in occupied buildings in existing file and supply rooms and are incorporated with existing filing equipment where space is at a premium. Therefore, it becomes very difficult, without removing existing equipment, to have sufficient space to erect the temporary scaffolding which is necessary for assembling the file. Likewise, additional support means such as a Wall is not available or there is not sufficient access space to attach the power file to the available support. Thus, the use of such files at 10- cations in the center of a room or between access aisles, for instance, in a large warehouse where a wall is not adjacent to the erected file, is not possible.

Therefore, a need has existed for a power file construction which achieves all of the advantages of the prior power file equipment such as shown in Pat. No. 3,720,451, but which can be erected without substantial adjacent scaffolding, which eliminates the need for attaching the file to an adjacent building wall, and which provides a very stable power file structure which may be free standing and accessible from all sides of the file.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objectives of the invention include providing a power file construction having improved side column support assemblies upon which the pans and conveyor mechanisms are mounted, in which vertical corner posts extend between the top and bottom of the structure, and in which a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontal cross members extend between the vertical posts to form supports on which planks may be laid to provide scaffold platforms in the space ultimately occupied by the high power file pans to permit workmen to easily assemble the conveyor mechanism and pan suspensions on the end columns without the heretofore required separate scaffolding; providing a power file construction in which diagonal bracing rods extend from side to side between the front pair and rear pair of vertical corner posts and together with the side column support assemblies provide a very stable structure which may be free standing and accessible from every side; providing a power file construction in which the vertical side column support assemblies may be formed in sections in convenient lengths which may be moved easily through doorways, and carried by elevators within buildings and then spliced together and extend upward to form a modular file several stories high; and providing a power file construction composed of a number of subassemblies which may be assembled readily at the location of file use, and which results in a simplified, rigid, stable, free standing power file construction.

These objectives and advantages are obtained by the power file construction, the general nature of which may be stated as including in a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on power driven endless conveyor carried by side column support means for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by the power means to a work station location, the support means including; upper and lower box-like header and footer members and a vertical strut column extending between and attached to said boxlike header and footer members at each side of the file, splice means connecting together two adjacent aligned vertical columns one of top of the other, vertically extending corner post means located at each file corner and attached to the footer members at the front and rear of the footer; second splice means connecting two adjacent aligned vertical corner posts together, first bracing rod means extending between the front pair of vertical end posts and second bracing rod means extending between the rear pair of vertical end posts; a plurality of vertically spaced cross members extending between and secured to the front and rear vertical end posts and the strut column of each side column support means, bottom frame means carrying said side column support means, and bracing plate means located adjacent each corner of the file, the bottom frame located and bearing on the bearing plate means to place the file load on the bearing plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles is set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings, and is particularly and distinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

FIG. I is a diagrammatic perspective view of the improved power file construction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the power file construction with the cabinet enclosure removed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the power file construction shown in FIG. 2 with the pans and pan supporting conveyor mechanism removed therefrom;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the power file frame and side strut assemblies shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5, FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of arrows 66, FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view with portions broken away and in section, taken on line '77, FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 88, FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper righthand corner of the power file frame assembly shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of arrows III-J0, FIG. 9;

FIG. II is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lefthand vertical end post splice and diagonal brace assembly shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 12-12, FIG. 11;

FIG. I3 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a vertical end post splice assembly; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary section view taken on line l4I4, FIG. 3.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The improved power file construction is indicated at 1 (FIG. 1) and includes a front wall 2, end walls 3 and top wall 4. Front wall 2 is provided with an access opening 5 which may be closed by a suitable door 6. A molding trim 7 may surround opening 5.

Power file 1 has a pair of upright side column support assemblies generally indicated at 8 and 9 which are located at the right and lefthand ends, respectively, of file 1 within the cabinet walls (FIG. 2). Support assemblies 8 and 9 are the main supporting members for file l and support the file load. Support assemblies 8 and 9 are mounted on a bottom frame which includes corner bearing plates 10. Bearing plates 10 are generally rectangular metal plates which distribute the file load over a sufficiently large floor area.

Support assembly 8 includes an upright column channel strut member 11 having upper and

lower channel portions

12 and 13 spliced together at 14. Top and bottom open box-shaped header and

footer members

15 and 16, respectively, are attached to channel

portions

12 and 13 preferably by spot welding. Column channel 11, and top and bottom box-

like members

15 and 16 are similar to the channel strut members described in Pat. No. 3,720,451. Channel member 11 also may be a single unit without a splice therein for smaller power file constructions which may have a height of 10 feet or less.

Header member 15 includes a vertical mounting wall 17 which is spot welded to web 18 of upper channel portion 12 and has top and bottom flanges 19 and 20 and side flanges 21, all of which project outwardly from wall 17. Flange 20 is provided with a cutout portion 20a through which channel portion 12 extends.

Footer member 16 includes a vertical mounting wall 22 to which channel web 23 of lower channel portion 13 is spot welded, and has top and

side flanges

24 and 25, respectively, which project outwardly from wall 22. Top flange 24 is formed with a cutout portion 26 through which channel portion 13 extends. A bottom flange 27 (FIG. 8) projects inwardly from the bottom of wall 22. Footer 16 is generally similar to footer 39, however footer 16 is right-handed and footer 39 is lefthanded.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 which show footer 39, an L-shaped member 30 is connected to bottom flange 27a and with leg 31 of member 30 resting upon the top ofbearing plate-l0. Leg 31 terminates in upwardly bent flange 32 which in turn terminates in outwardly formed lip 33. Bottom flange 27a, L-shaped member 30, leg 31, flange 32 and lip 33 of footer member 39 are similar to the respective parts of footer member 16, except leg 31 of footer member 39 is longer than the corresponding leg of footer 16 to provide space for mounting a the power and drive means for the conveyor.

Bolts 36 (FIG. 5) extend through openings in

bottom flanges

27 and 27a and matching legs 31, and through slots 37 formed in bearing plates 10 to anchor the side column support assemblies to the supporting floor on which the file is placed.

Lefthand support assembly 9 (FIG. 2) includes a column channel member 38, footer member 39 and a header member 40 attached thereto. Header member 40 and column channel member 38 of support unit 9 are similar to header member 15 and column channel 11, respectively, of support unit 8 and need not be described in detail.

In accordance with the invention, upright support assembly 8 includes front and rear vertical corner posts 41 and 42, respectively, and a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending cross members 43-49 extending therebetween (FIG. 2). Cross members 43-49 are attached as by welding at each end to corner

posts

41 and 42 and are also attached to channels 11. Support unit 9 is similar to support unit 8 and includes front and rear vertical support posts and 51 and a plurality of horizontal cross members 52-58. The end posts and connected cross members form a frame which when attached to the side strut columns provide a rigid, stable side column assembly.

Cross members 43-49 extend continuously between corner posts 41 and 42 and are attached to the outer sides of channels 11 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, so not to interfere with the conveyor mechanism located inwardly of channels 11. The top surfaces of cross members 43-49 provide sufficient flat horizontal surfaces between corner posts 41-42 and vertical channels 11 for receiving construction planks 110 (FIGS. 3 and 4), the purposes of which are discussed more fully below.

End posts 41 and 42 preferably are hollow, rectangular-shaped tubular members and are attached by bolts 59 to side flanges 25 of footer 16 (FIG. 8). Access is gained to the interior of

posts

41 and 42 for installing bolts 59 through enlarged openings 60, one of which is shown in FIG. 2, formed in the outer wall of the post opposite the installed bolt location. Openings 60 preferably are closed by plugs during final assembly.

Bottom Z-shaped stringer members 61 extend between

footer members

16 and 39 and are attached to vertical end posts 41 and 42 by bolts 62 which extend through end plates 63. Plates 63 are welded to the ends of stringers 61 adjacent posts 41 and 42 (FIGS. 2 and 8).

End posts 50 and 51 are bolted to the side flanges 21 of footer member 39 in a similar manner as end posts 41 and 42 are bolted to flanges 21 of footer 16. Stringer members 61 are formed with a cutout portion 64 in the top stringer flanges 65 (FIGS. 2-and 5) through which posts 50 and 51 extend and abut insert plates 35. Plates 35 in turn are supported by bearing plates 10. End plates 66 are welded to stringers 61 on both sides of cutout portion 64 through which bolts 68 extend securing

posts

50 and 51 therebetween.

Hollow rectangular stringers 70 extend between the tops of front end posts 41 and 50, and between the tops of rear end posts 42 and 51 (FIG. 2) and are attached thereto, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. A Z-shaped reinforcing rod attachment plate 71 is mounted on post 51 by pairs of

bolts

72 and 73. A pair of reinforcing

angles

74 and 75 have oblong-shaped

nuts

76 and 77 welded thereon which are engaged by

bolts

72 and 73, respectively, to hold

angles

74 and 75 within post 51 and secure plate.71 to post 51. Stringer 70 is welded to the inwardly extending leg 78 of plate 71.

A flange 79 is formed on the outer end of plate 71 having a bolt hole 80 formed therein for attaching side panels 3 tothe side column assemblies.

The ends of stringers 70 are attached to end

posts

41, 42 and 50 in the same manner as described above for post 51, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Interior stretcher members 81 (FIGS. 2 and 4) are I attached to webs 18 of channels 11 and 38 by bolts 82 to provide additional strength and reinforcing for file construction 1.

The outer ends of horizontal cross members 43-49 and 52-58 are welded at 85 (as shown for cross member 58 in FIG. 9) to their respective vertical end posts 41-42 and 50-51. The center portions of the cross members are welded to plates 86 (FIG. 14) which in turn are secured by bolts 87 to flange legs 88 of channel members 11 and 38.

End posts 41-42 and 50-51 and side column channel members 11 and 38 usually will be unitary members for erection of power files not exceeding ten feet in height. Upper modular power file units of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 feet may be spliced to the top of such a 10 foot section to form l2, 14, etc. feet high files.

The splicing means 14 for channel members 11 and 38 is similar to the structure shown in Pat. No. 3,720,451 in which asmall section of channel 90, having a cross-sectional size and configuration similar to that of channel members 11 and 38, are aligned with the abutting channel ends and secured thereto by bolt 91 (FIG. 2).

The splicing means for rear end post 42, which is similar to the other three end posts, is shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. A pair of reinforcing

angles

92 and 93 is mounted within abutting

sections

42a and 42b of post 42 by bolts 94 and 95, respectively.

Oblong nuts

96 and 97 are welded to

angles

92 and 93 for engagement by the threaded ends of bolts 94 and 95. Thus, angles 92 and 93 are telescoped within

post sections

42a and 42b securely joining the post sections upon tightening of bolts 94 and 95.

Z-shaped reinforcing rod attachment plates 98 are mounted on posts 41-42 and 50-51 adjacent the splice location between upper and lower sections thereof by bolts 94 and (FIGS. 11 and 12). Flanges 99 extend outwardly from the ends of plates 98 forattachment of the file side panels 3 thereto. Theinner ends of plates 98 terminate in trapezoidal-shaped portions 100. Tubular members 101 also may be welded to plate portions and extend between side column assemblies 8 and 9 to provide increased rigidity and stability to file 1.

Pairs of diagonal reinforcing

bars

102 and 103 extend between the upper and lower portions (FIG. 4) of side column assemblies 8 and 9 across the rear of file 1. A similar pair of

bars

102 and 103 extend between the upper portions of assemblies 8 and 9 across the front of file 1.

Threaded ends of

bars

102 and 103 extend through holes in legs 105 of brackets 106 and are adjustably mounted therein by pairs of nuts 104. Brackets 106 are each formed with an anlarged hole 107 through which a lug 108 extends to attach bracket 106 on the respective reinforcing bar attachment plates 71 and 98 (FIG. 11).

Attachment plate 71 at the four top frame corners have a single lug 108 welded thereon, whereas intermediate plates 98 have two lugs 108 welded thereon. L- shaped brackets 109 are attached to vertical posts 41-42 and 50-51 at the lower ends thereof and a lug 108 is welded thereon (FIGS. 2 and 4).

In final assembled form no diagonal reinforcing

rods

102 and 103 extend across the lower front portion of file 1 as shown in FIG. 2 since the pan access opening 5 is located in this area. Such reinforcing rods, however, may be installed across this area during erection of file 1 to provide additional rigidity during assembly.

The power and drive mechanism, pan suspension and conveyor means, and pan construction is similar to that described in Pat. No. 3,720,451 and is partially shown in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8. Such mechanisms are not described in detail, but may be mounted on side strut 11 and 38 in a manner similar to the disclosure of Patent No. 3,720,451.

In accordance with the invention, corner posts 41-42 and 50-51 together with cross members 43-49 and 5258 form a stable frame structure which is connected to side column strut members formed by header members l and 40,

footer members

16 and 39, and column channels 11 and 38. This assembled structure (FIGS. 3 and 4) together with diagonal reinforcing

bars

102 and 103,

horizontal stringers

61, 70, 81 and 101 form a highly stable, rigid, free standing structure for supporting the entire file weight and the contents thereof.

The frame structure supplies sufficient rigidity to column members 11 and 38 to prevent buckling thereof when a several story high power file is mounted thereon without requiring column members 11 and 38 to be of such an extreme size and thickness to be unmanageable and unsuitable. Furthermore, the end post and cross members provide increased rigidity in the forward and rearward direction so that the danger of the file tipping due to unbalanced loads in the file pans during orbital movement is greatly reduced. The need for attachemnt of the file to an additional support structure other than to the support floor is thereby eliminated.

An important advantage achieved by the improved power file construction of the invention is the use of the frame cross members to provide scaffold platforms. Planks 110 (dot-dash lines, FIGS. 3 and 4) are supported by the cross members and extend between side column support assemblies 8 and 9 at one or more cross member locations. The side frames thus provide a scaffold whereby the workmen in erecting the file, and in particular in installing the conveyor mechanism and pan supporting means, can stand on planks 110 and easily assembly nearly all the necessary components even at the tile top without requiring separate scaffolds to be erected around the file as heretofore required. This elimination of erecting separate scaffolds greatly reduces the tile erection time and consequently the cost thereof.

Another advantage of the improved power file construction is that the side frame structures provide greater stability and support for the

file walls

2, 3 and 4 without hanging them in cantilever-like fashion from long struts extending outwardly from the main vertical channel members.

Accordingly, the invention provides an extremely efficient mechanized power file of simple construction which may be shipped in knocked-down condition and readily erected with a minimum of expense and difficulty; provides a file construction which supports the load on the side column assemblies eliminating an enlarged base, thus reducing material and installation costs; provides a file construction in which the improved side column assemblies can be shipped in sections capable of being moved through usual building doorways and elevators and spliced together at the installation site to form an extended file several stories high; provides an improved file supporting assembly which is extremely free standing, stable, rigid and strong, and which serves as a scaffold during erection eliminating the need of erecting additional scaffolding surrounding the file structure; and provides such a construction which is effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient in assembly, operation and use, and which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices,

and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.

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

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of the construction shown or described. For example, throughout the description, references have been made to spot welding. It should be understood that other equivalent forms of welding or other means of attachment, such as rivets or nuts and bolts can be employed as fastening or securing means.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved power file construction is constructed, assembled and operated, the characteristics of the new construction, and the advantages, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a generally upright power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel; in which any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station location; in v which the support means includes header and footer members and vertical column means extending from the bottom to the top of the file, and between and is attached to said header and footer members at each side of said file; and in which the conveyor is supported by the support means; the improvement which includes:

a. bottom frame means defining a generally rectangularly shaped base area having front and rear corners;

b. corner posts located adjacent each corner secured at their lower ends to the bottom frame means and extending vertically to the file top, said corner posts being spaced forwardly and rearwardly from the vertical column means;

c. a plurality of horizontal cross members extending continuously between and rigidly secured to one of the front and one of the rear corner posts at intervals spaced vertically along the length of the corner posts on both sides of the file;

d. the cross members having planar, uninterrupted top surfaces, being free of protuberances and the like the top surfaces of selected cross members being horizontally aligned with the top surfaces of other selected cross members located on the opposite side of the tile;

e. the cross members being secured intermediate their ends to the outer surface of the vertical column means at spaced intervals throughout the column means length;

f. the top surfaces of the cross members being generally horizontally flat between the corner posts and the vertical column means and adapted to receive and support construction platforms extending horizontally between selected cross members on opposite sides of the file during file erection;

g. brace means extending between and secured to at least the rear corner posts; and

h. the vertical column means, corner posts, cross members, bottom frame means and brace means comprising a file frame to support the entire file load on a supporting surface.

2. Power file construction as set forth in claim 1 in which the lower ends of the corner posts are secured to the footer members.

3. Power file construction as set forth in claim 1 in which the bottom frame means includes front and rear stringer members and elongated side members connected at their ends to the ends of the stringer members to form a generally rectangular base frame and in which the lower ends of the corner posts are mounted on the base frame.

4. Power file construction as set forth in claim 3 in which the bottom frame means is mounted on bearing plates located adjacent the four corners of the bottom frame means to support the file load on the supporting surface.

5. Power file construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said brace means includes at least one elongated rod means secured at one end to the upper end of one of the rear corner posts, and on which the other end of the rod means is secured to a lower position on the other rear corner post.

6. Power file construction as set forth in claim 5 in which the brace means includes a pair of crossed rod means on the front and rear of the file.

7. Power file construction as set forth in claim 1 in which each of the corner posts and each of the vertical column means are formed of a plurality of lengths; and

in which splice means connect the plurality of lengths at positions intermediate the top and the bottom of the file.

8. Power file construction as set forth in claim 7 in which each of the plurality of lengths form modules which are adapted to be placed, one on top of another, and in which the modules are connected together by the splice means.

9. Power file construction as set forth in claim 8 in which each module has brace means extending between at least the rear corner posts.

10. In a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor carried by side column support means for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station, and in which the support means includes upper and lower box-like header and footer members and a vertical strut column extending between and attached to said header and footer members at each side of the file; the combination of vertically extending corner post means located at each file corner and mounted on the footer members at the front and rear of the file; said post means being spaced forwardly and rearwardly from the vertical strut column and extending to and connected with said header members; a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal cross members extending continuously between and rigidly secured to the front and rear vertical corner post means, said cross members being secured intermediate their ends to the outer surface of the vertical strut column at spaced intervals throughout the column length; the cross members having planar, uninterrupted top surfaces being free of protuberances and the like, with the top surfaces of selected cross members being horizontally aligned with the top surfaces of other selected cross members located on the opposite side of the file; the top surfaces of the cross members providing a generally horizontally flat surface between the corner posts and the vertical column adapted to receive andsupport construction platforms extending horizontally between selected cross members on opposite sides of the file during file erection; brace means extending between said corner post means across the front and rear of the file; and bottom frame means supporting said side column support means.

Claims

1. In a generally upright power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel; in which any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station location; in which the support means includes header and footer members and vertical column means extending from the bottom to the top of the file, and between and is attached to said header and footer members at each side of said file; and in which the conveyor is supported by the support means; the improvement which includes: a. bottom frame means defining a generally rectangularly shaped base area having front and rear corners; b. corner posts located adjacent each corner secured at their lower ends to the bottom frame means and extending vertically to the file top, said corner posts being spaced forwardly and rearwardly from the vertical column means; c. a plurality of horizontal cross members extending continuously between and rigidly secured to one of the front and one of the rear corner posts at intervals spaced vertically along the length of the corner posts on both sides of the file; d. the cross members having planar, uninterrupted top surfaces, being free of protuberances and the like the top surfaces of selected cross members being horizontally aligned with the top surfaces of other selected cross members located on the opposite side of the file; e. the cross members being secureD intermediate their ends to the outer surface of the vertical column means at spaced intervals throughout the column means length; f. the top surfaces of the cross members being generally horizontally flat between the corner posts and the vertical column means and adapted to receive and support construction platforms extending horizontally between selected cross members on opposite sides of the file during file erection; g. brace means extending between and secured to at least the rear corner posts; and h. the vertical column means, corner posts, cross members, bottom frame means and brace means comprising a file frame to support the entire file load on a supporting surface.

7. Power file construction as set forth in claim 1 in which each of the corner posts and each of the vertical column means are formed of a plurality of lengths; and in which splice means connect the plurality of lengths at positions intermediate the top and the bottom of the file.

10. In a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor carried by side column support means for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station, and in which the support means includes upper and lower box-like header and footer members and a vertical strut column extending between and attached to said header and footer members at each side of the file; the combination of vertically extending corner post means located at each file corner and mounted on the footer members at the front and rear of the file; said post means being spaced forwardly and rearwardly from the vertical strut column and extending to and connected with said header members; a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal cross members extending continuously between and rigidly secured to the front and rear vertical corner post means, said cross members being secured intermediate their ends to the outer surface of the vertical strut column at spaced intervals throughout the column length; the cross members having planar, uninterrupted top surfaces being free of protuberances and the like, with the top surfaces of selected cross members being horizontally aligned with the top surfaces of other selected cross members located on the opposite side of the file; the top surfaces of the cross members providing a generally horizontally flat surface between the corner posts and the vertical column adapted to receive and support cOnstruction platforms extending horizontally between selected cross members on opposite sides of the file during file erection; brace means extending between said corner post means across the front and rear of the file; and bottom frame means supporting said side column support means.