Patent GB-921763-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to filing cabinets and systems
Inventor: MCHOUSTON ANGUS MCKICHNIE
IPC: B42F15/06
Filed: 1958-08-06
Abstract: 921,763. Filing papers. SWALLOW & HICKS Ltd. Aug. 6, 1959 [Aug. 6, 1958], No. 25266/58. Class 146 (1). A filing cabinet wherein folders are supported vertically, is provided with means for raising and lowering the folders, which is adapted to be positioned below a predetermined folder. The cabinet 31, Fig. 8, is provided with spaced rails 1b supporting folders 1 separated by aligned partitions at each side of the cabinet. The folders are lifted by a bar 3 suspended by cords 16 from pulleys 14. The latter are carried on blocks 13, slidably mounted on shafts 6, and are provided with keyways sliding on correspondingly shaped shafts 4, 5 so as to be rotatable therewith. The shafts 4, 5 are interconnected by an endless chain 26 passing around chain wheels 24a and are rotated by means of a hand wheel 22, whereby the cords 16 are wound on to the pulleys 14 to raise the bar 3. The blocks 13 are secured to vertical members 12, bent up at their lower ends to support the bar 3 in its lowermost position. The vertical members are moved, to position the bar beneath the required folder, by a push bar 2. A ratchet wheel 27 is secured to the shaft 4 and engaged by a pawl 28 to prevent the bar 3 descending under the weight of a folder when the hand wheel 22 is released. The pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel by a vertically movable knob 29. In an alternative arrangement, Fig. 6, a predetermined folder is raised by sliders each side of the folder having projections extending beneath the spine of the folder. The sliders are movable along bars 16, positioned adjacent the lower lateral edges of the folders by slotted strips 6 engaging pins 13 thereon. Each strip 6 is carried from a block 7 movable along a screw rod 8 and a smooth guide rod 9. The screw rods 8 are interconnected by an endless chain 11 passing around sprocket wheels at their rear ends, whereby they are rotated in unison by a hand wheel 2, to position the strips 6 adjacent the required folder. Each bar 16 is carried by two cords passing over pulleys 17, mounted on the guide rod 9, under pulleys 18 and attached to a pulley 19. The pulleys 19, one at each side of the cabinet, are mounted on a cross-shaft 27. The latter is rotated via bevel gearing by a foot pedal 23 to raise a predetermined folder. The bars 16 are prevented from swaying during their vertical movement by rollers 20 at each end engaging the cabinet walls. A plunger 34 is depressed to disengage a pawl, from a ratchet wheel 29 on the shaft 27 when it is desired to lower a folder. To facilitate positioning of the sliders beneath the desired folder, one of the strips 6 has a pointer 5 at its upper end co-operating with an index along the side of the cabinet. In a modification, the handle 2 is replaced by an electric motor. The foot treadle mechanism may be dispensed with and the strips 6 provided with bearings at their lower ends to support a cross-shaft having left and right-hand screw threads for operating a lazy tongs movement to raise or lower a folder. The shaft is rotated by a hand or motor-operated means. Alternatively, Fig. 3, the required folder is lifted by lazy tongs 107 supported on a shaft 111 having left and righthand screw threads and rotated by a motor 110. The tongs are positioned beneath the required folder by a hand wheel 3 which moves blocks 104 along screw rods 106 under the control of guide rods 105. The lazy tongs may be operated by manual means as above, Fig. 4 (not shown).