US3897123A - Device for controlling the locking of containers on an orbitable carrier of an article storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling the locking of a container on an orbitable carrier of a mechanized file comprising a spring mounted on the carrier and held under compression by a bracket affixed to the container under a condition where the container is secured in a closed position on the carrier. In a condition where the container is not securely held in a closed position, the compressed spring acts against the container bracket to force the container outward from the carrier a predetermined distance. In this position the container interrupts a light barrier which is interlocked with the orbital control mechanism of the file so as to inhibit motion of the carrier.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 3,897,123 Schmitt July 29, 1975 DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE 3,592,521 7/1971 Cox 312/333 LOCKING 0 CONTAINERS ON AN 3,640,596 2/1972 Kanitz 312/223 ORBITABLE CARRIER OF AN ARTICLE STORAGE DEVICE Gerhard Ludwig Schmitt, Bellheim, Germany Inventor:

Sperry Rand Corporation, Blue Bell, Pa.

Filed: Apr. 23, 1974 Appl. No.: 463,330

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 25, 1973 Switzerland... 5860/73 June 7, 1973 Germany 2329127 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1965 Sturgis et al. 312/223 Primary Examiner--Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eugene T. Battjer [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for controlling the locking of a container on an orbitable carrier of a mechanized file comprising a spring mounted on the carrier and held under compression by a bracket affixed to the container under a condition where the container is secured in a closed position on the carrier. In a condition where the container is not securely held in a closed position, the compressed spring acts against the container bracket to force the container outward from the carrier a predetermined distance. In this position the container interrupts a light barrier which is interlocked with the orbital control mechanism of the file so as to inhibit motion of the carrier.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3,897, 123

SHEET 1 FIG.I

PATENTED 3.897. 123

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PATENTED JUL 2 9 I975 SHEET F I G. 4

27 23 FIG.5

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE LOCKING OF CONTAINERS ON AN ORBITABLE CARRIER OF AN ARTICLE STORAGE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for controlling the locking of containers or the like on an orbitable carrier of a mechanized article storage device.

2. Description of the Prior Art In a prior art mechanized file of the type for which the present invention was devised, the locking of containers or the like onto the carriers in readiness for orbiting motion of the file carriers is provided by means of a lock and spring bolt assembly operatively associated with the carrier and container. The lock and spring bolt assembly is released or locked by a handle on the orbitable carrier. Locking takes place on both sides of the container in such a way that on one side of the container a lock bolt enters into an opening of the carrier whereas on the other side of the container a spring biased bolt enters from the carrier into an opening of the container. Such operation of the lock and spring biased bolts is only possible when the lock bolt is in its closed or locked position because the spring biased bolt is disposed along the same axis as the lock bolt. To release the container the lock bolt on one side of the container is moved out of the closed or locked position, whereupon it presses the spring biased bolt on the other side of the container out of the opening in the container so that the container is unlocked on both sides and can be removed from the filing cabinet. As the spring biased bolt is pressed outward, it impinges on the operating bar of a switch which interrupts the carrier drive motor circuit and thus prevents motion of the carriers when any container is not in the locked position. This safety device is not suitable for very wide or somewhat flexible containers, because on such containers it is quite possible that the lock bolt could be in its extended position, corresponding to a closed or locked position of the container, and nevertheless not be in the opening of the carrier but instead be located in front of the carrier as a result of twisting or warping of the container.

In prior art mechanized files of the type described in the preceding paragraph it is also known to provide a light barrier at the operator access opening of the file to indicate when any container is protruding from an orbiting carrier. It may happen, however, particularly with either wide containers or rather flexible frame like article support structures that a container or frame will be unlocked or partially unlocked on the carrier so that it protrudes only slightly and to an amount insufficient to be detected by the light barrier. Under such condition, when the carrier is set into orbital motion, forces may act on the container or support frame to move it further off the carrier with the result that the container or frame will strike the interior of the file cabinet at some point and be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above mentioned limitations of prior art safety locking mechanisms it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for controlling the locking of containers or frames on an orbital carrier and particularly for assuring safe locking of wide or comparatively non-rigid containers or frames. This object is obtained in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention by means which moves the container out of the carrier by at least a predetermined distance into the path of a light beam if the locking mechanism does not lock or insufficiently locks the container on the carrier. Protrusion of the container or frame into the path of the light beam results in deactivation of the carrier drive thus preventing orbiting of the carrier with an unlocked container. The means for protruding an unlocked container into the path of the light beam operates satisfactorily with a container of any width or stiffness to assure safe locking to the carrier in a simple and inexpensive way. The light barrier in conjunction with which the locking mechanism operates is employed in any case as a means for protecting the hands of the operator. In other words, interruption of the light beam by the operators hands has the same effect in prohibiting motion of the carriers as does interruption of the beam by a protruding container.

More specifically, a preferred means for causing protrusion of an unlocked container comprises at least one spring, which is mounted on the carrier and which is compressed only in the last phase of the closing motion of the container. The resistance offered by the spring in the last phase of the closing motion also serves the function of acting to damp the container motion to inhibit impact closing. The principal function of the spring when compressed, however, is to force the container outwardly if the operator has not pushed it in sufficiently to properly lock. Preferably, on very wide containers a spring is provided on each side of the container so that if the container is skewed and locking takes place only on one side, the unlocked side will be pushed out sufficiently to interrupt the light beam of the light barrier.

Heretofore, particularly troublesome problems were experienced in locating suspension folders in article storage devices because suspension folders are typically held in a container designed as a frame which is open at both the top and bottom. The frames are customarily mounted on an orbitable carrier by means of respective telescopic guides disposed on opposite sides of the frame and affixed to the carrier. Because of the low stiffness of the frames, however, safe locking was a problem with the aforedescribed prior art safety locking device and thus it was found advisable, in spite of the high cost of telescopic guides, to construct small frames capable of supporting only a limited number of parallel rows of suspension folders, generally only two rows per frame. By use of the present invention construction of wide frames is permissible and thus more than two rows of suspension folders are readily accommodated in a single frame. The safety locking spring arrangement of the present invention incorporating a spring on each side of a frame assures, irrespective of the non rigidity of the frame, that if only one-sided locking of the frame occurs the other side will be pressed by its associated spring to force the unlocked side into the region of the light barrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a mechanized article storage device having orbitable carriers on which are mounted drawer-like containers or frames for holding suspension files.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame incorporated in the mechanized device of FIG. 1 and adapted to receive three rows of suspension files, the telescopic guides for the frame being visible on one side thereof.

FIG. 3 is a partial top view of a frame in the locked position on an orbitable carrier of the article storage device, and particularly illustrating means for pressing the frame out of the carrier when locking does not take place.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the frame front wall particularly illustrating the container or frame locking and releasing mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a portion of a carrier and associated frame of the storage device of FIG. 1 illustrating one of the frames in a skewed position such as to be unlocked on one side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows an article storage device 11 with carriers l3 capable of being moved in an orbital path as is well known in the mechanized file art so that any selected carrier can be positioned above the posting board 14 at the opening in the front of the device. The article storage device 11 is designed as a filing cabinet for suspension files 15. It would also be possible to design only a single carrier 13 for receiving suspension files, and to use the other carriers for other purposes. To receive suspension files 15, the present embodiment of the invention provides two containers in one carrier.

Referring to FIG. 2, the containers have the form of a rectangular frame 17 which is open at the top and at the bottom to receive three parallel rows of suspension files 15. On both sides of the carrier, telescopic guides 19 are provided which are fastened at the frame 17 and at the carrier 13. The guides permit a full extension of the frame 17 from the carrier 13 so that all suspension files are freely accessible. Rails 21 located at a distance from each other across the width of frame 17 permit suspension of the suspension files 15. To lock the frame 17 with the carrier 13, lock bolts 23 are provided on both sides of the frame. The lock bolts can be operated by a mechanism actuatable by a slide 25 at the handle 26. The lock bolt actuating mechanism will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to FIG. 4.

As FIG. 3 shows, the lock bolts 23 engage a part 27 mounted on the carrier 13 for the purpose of locking the frame 17 to the carrier. A part 27 is mounted on the carrier adjacent each side of the frame to provide locking of the frame on both sides. The inclined surface 28 on part 27 causes the lock bolts 23 to be moved sideways, that is parallel to the front wall of the frame, as the frame is pushed to a closed position, until the frame is fully closed on the carrier and the lock bolts then engage behind part 27 and hold the frame in a locked position.

A principal feature of the invention is the means shown in FIG. 3 which acts to push the frame 17 out of the carrier 13 by at least a predetermined distance if no locking of the lock bolt 23 with the part 27 takes place. This means comprises a compression spring 31 and a bracket 33 mounted on the frame 17. As the frame is pushed into a closed position bracket 33 acts to compress the compression spring 31 shortly before the frame is completely closed into the carrier 13. The compression spring 31 is concentrically located on a rod 35 comprising a collar 37 and is axially movable in a bracket 39 mounted on the carrier 13.

When the frame is extended or opened from the locked position the collar 37 is pressed with a bias against an arm 40 of the bracket 39. As the frame 17 is pushed into a closed position the bracket 33 hits the rod 35 causing rod 35 to compress the compression spring 31 which acts to damp the closing motion of frame 17. If frame 17 is closed sufficiently so that lock bolt 23 engages part 27, the compression spring 31 remains in the position shown in FIG. 3. However, if the lock bolt 23 does not engage behind part 27 the frame is forced outward a predetermined distance relative to the carrier by compression spring 31. As a result, a part 30 of the handle 27 or a part of the frame 17 will be located in the light beam 41 of a light barrier consisting of the light emitter 43 and the light receiver 44, as shown in FIG. 5. Under such condition, the light barrier acts in conventional manner as is well known to those skilled in the art to prevent orbiting of the carrier 13 by precluding energization of the carrier drive motor and thus assuring that orbital carrier motion can only take place when the frame 17 is safely locked. The light barrier which operates in conjunction with the safety locking mechanism may be the conventional light barrier which is used to protect the operator. It is-not important whether interruption of the light beam takes place immediately or only after orbiting of the carrier has begun which may be permissible depending on the location of the light barrier at the access opening of the file cabinet.

A light barrier which responds to only a partial interruption of the light beam is of particular utility, for instance one which will be activated when an object is projecting approximately only 5mm into a highly directional light beam. Clearly, reproducibility of the switching function is significant with regard to satisfactory operation of the light beam. Suitable reproducibility can be obtained by use of a light emitting solid state element, e.g., a gallium arsenide diode, as the light emitter 43, the gallium arsenide diode being energized by a stabilized voltage to assure that the light emitter 43 has a relatively constant luminosity. Solid state elements are also preferred in that they are not subject to substantial luminosity changes due to aging as is the case with conventional incandescent lamps.

A typical container locking and releasing mechanism is shown in FIG. 4. This mechanism is located on the back side 18 of the front wall of frame 17. The slide 25 comprises a bent (horizontal) portion 51 which functions to actuate two bell cranks 53 pivotable about points 54 to withdraw the lock bolts 23 against the bias of springs 55 (only one shown). Each spring is connected at one end to a member 57 secured to the back side 18 of the frame front wall and at the other end to the lock rod so as normally to be under compression and acting to force the lock rods outward parallel to the frame front wall. By moving the slide 25 upward the lock bolts 23 are pulled inward toward handle 26 so as to become disengaged from the parts 27 and permit the frames to be pulled out from the parts 27 and permit the frames to be pulled out from the carrier.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for controlling the locking of a container or the like on an orbitable carrier of an article storage device, said apparatus comprising:

locking means including a pair of lock bolts mounted on the front of the container and movable relative to the associated carrier for engagement therewith when the container is in a fully closed position so as to lock the container to the carrier,

means including a pair of spring actuated members each affixed to the carrier adjacent a respective side of the container for acting against the container as it approaches the fully closed position so that if the container does not lock to the carrier, the spring actuated members force the container outward to protrude from the front of the carrier a predetermined distance, and

light barrier means including a light source and a light detector disposed on opposite sides of the carrier adjacent the front of the article storage device,

means further includes a manually operable slide for 10 disengaging the lock bolts from the carrier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slide of the locking means is disposed in operative connection with two bell cranks and associated springs which act to move the lock bolts into a locked position when a container is fully closed on a carrier.

Claims (3)

1. Apparatus for controlling the locking of a container or the like on an orbitable carrier of an article storage device, said apparatus comprising: locking means including a pair of lock bolts mounted on the front of the container and movable relative to the associated carrier for engagement therewith when the container is in a fully closed position so as to lock the container to the carrier, means including a pair of spring actuated members each affixed to the carrier adjacent a respective side of the container for acting against the container as it approaches the fully closed position so that if the container does not lock to the carrier, the spring actuated members force the container outward to protrude from the front of the carrier a predetermined distance, and light barrier means including a light source and a light detector disposed on opposite sides of the carrier adjacent the front of the article storage device, the light detector normally receiving light from the light source in a locked condition of the container to enable orbital motion of the carrier but the container acting when protruding from the carrier to block the light path from the light source to the detector and thereby inhibit orbital motion of the carrier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the locking means further includes a manually operable slide for disengaging the lock bolts from the carrier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slide of the locking means is disposed in operative connection with two bell cranks and associated springs which act to move the lock bolts into a locked position when a container is fully closed on a carrier.

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