Patent GB-633086-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to filing cabinets and like appliances
IPC: A47B63/06
Filed: 1946-11-30
Abstract: 633,086. Filing paper. BERTELLO, E. Nov. 30. 1946, No. 35557. [Class 146 (i)] A filing cabinet or like appliance comprises a rotor driven by an electric motor and divided into sectors, the drive of the rotor being controlled by electromechanical devices and an associated selector mechanism so as to cause any pre-selected sector to be presented to a fixed station when the rotor comes to rest, characterized in that each rotor sector carries a box, and in that the box of the selected sector presented to the fixed station is automatically projected into a position in which it extends outwardly from the periphery of the rotor by the operation of a spring-loaded box actuating frame. A rotor 35, Fig. 1, comprises a number of compartments S each carrying a box 103 and is driven by an electric motor M in known manner by a clutch 64 which frictionally engages the rim of the motor. Boxes 103 are selected by a keyboard provided with a " tens " and " units " row of keys I which may be locked in the depressed position until released by a cam mechanism 7 operated through a pawl and ratchet 8 by an electro-magnet 9. A pair of racks 12, 121, Fig. 5, are advanced until they contact the depressed keys 1 by pinions 13 controlled by a clutch 15 comprising spring-controlled arms 18 held apart by a distance piece 21. actuated by the electro-magnet 9. The rack 121 corresponding to the " tens " keys carries with it a screw 24, block 26 and rack 27, and the rack 12 corresponding to the " units " key operates gearing 25 causing an advance of the block 26 and rack 27 proportional to its displacement allowed by the " units " key. The rack 27 drives a pinion 28 mounted on a shaft 31 which carries a contact ring 29 which rotates an insulated sector 30 into the position selected by the keys 1, and a contact ring 32 is rotated synchronously with the drum 35 until a brush carried by the drum reaches the insulated sector 30 whereupon the electric circuit is broken. The electro-magnet 9 returns to its initial position thus releasing the keys 1 and disconnecting the clutch 15 by means of the distance piece 21. The drum is stopped by means of pins 9 on the drum 35 co-operating with a catch having a spring-loaded jaw which is actuated by the electromagnet 9. Racks 57, 571 are driven by pinions 75, 751, Fig. 9, which are in turn driven by pinions 72 and 74, and the pinion 721 respectively. A clutch mechanism mounted on a shaft 58 comprises slidable cones 76 .... 79 which co-operate with fingers 73, 70, 731 and 701 which can engage and disengage the wheels 69 and 71, 691 and 71<SP>1</SP>. The wheels 69 and 691 are secured to drums 65, 65<SP>1</SP> which wind flexible strips 66, 661 tensioned by springs 67, 671. The cones which are slidable on the shaft 58 are actuated axially by fingers 80 carried by a rod 81 controlled by an auxiliary electro-magnet 84, through levers 83, 82, the lever 82 being also connected by a lever 86 to the electro-magnet 9. When the rod 81 is in its intermediate position A, fingers 70, 70<SP>1</SP> engage cog wheels 71, 71<SP>1</SP> so that as shaft 58 is driven by gearing 59, 63 the bands 66, 661 are wound on the drums 65, 651. When the motor circuit is broken the fingers 80 are moved by the electro-magnet 9 into the position B, causing the finger 70 lifted by the cone 77 to disengage the wheel 71 and the finger 73 engages the wheel 69 of the drum 65 which is rotated by the action of the spring 67 thus causing rack 57 to be driven by gearing 72, 74, 75, causing the box-actuating frame to project the required box outwardly. A similar mechanism for returning boxes is operated by the rack 571 and controlled by a key 99, Fig. 9. To operate the device to bring a required box to the fixed station the switch'R, Fig. 8, is closed and the appropriate " tens " and " units " keys are depressed, the circuit of the primary electro-magnet E is closed by a switch P which in turn closes circuits K and K<SP>1</SP>, i. e., the motor and secondary electro-magnet circuits. The racks 12 and 121 are moved by the pinions 13 into engagement with the depressed keys 1, while the contact ring 29 is rotated until the contact ring 32 reaches the insulated sector 30 of the ring 29 so that circuit K" is interrupted causing the electromagnet 9 to return to its original position and the motor M to be stopped, the electro-magnet 9 actuates a stop while the rack 57 is released by a catch 54. The required box 103 is projected by the rack 57, while the racks 12 and 12<SP>1</SP> are returned by counterweights. The projected box is returned by depressing a key 99 thus causing the rack 57 to close a switch 88 so as to leave the appliance ready for use.