Improvements in Files and Indexes.
Year: 1892

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Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1892
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COME DELE
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Improvements in Files and Indexes.
1, ALEXANDER JOSEPH RUDOLPH, of 1221 Filbert Street, in the City and
County of San Francisco, State of California, United States of America, Librariad;
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:
5.
1:
My invention relates to a device which I call a continuous file and index.
: It consists of a series of cards, the faces of which are adapted to receive the
slips containing the subject matter of the index, said cards being hinged or linked
together at their edges to form an endless flexible belt, and in conjunction with
these cards, pins projecting from the ends of certain ones and a support upon
which these pins are carried, so that the cards hang in folds of any desired length
upon the support..
10:
+
With this device I employ one or more. drums or other means for moving the
index sheets from one side to the other of the suspending frame, so as to expose
any one or more of the indexes for inspection...
Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my
invention:
2: 1:4
Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a means by which my invention is
carried out with two drums..
5.
Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating a means by which my invention is
.carried out with one drum.
A, A are a series of leaves or cards made of any suitable material, sufficiently
inflexible, and of a size suitable for the purpose. to which they are to be applied.
Each of the cards has fastened upon its opposite edges, small reinforce strips
extending from end to end so as to form channels or grooves for the introduction
of any cards, samples, or other device, which are to be carried by these holders or
index cards, the design being to so arrange these holders that the slips are easily
"inserted or removed, and an index can thus be constantly kept up, increased, altered
to suit varying conditions, while remaining alphabetically perfect.
The edges of these cards are linked together as shewn at C so that they
have a free motion about these links which may be of any suitable or desired
construction..
24
D.are drums of any suitable rectangular or polygonal shape, the faces being of
such size as to receive one of these.cards each..
These drums having shafts at the opposite ends which are journaled in suitable
supports; on one side of each drum. a-chain-wheel L is mounted on the shaft and
over both wheels passes a chain-belt, K, and by means of a crank E, or other
suitable mechanism, the shaft. and the drums may be turned simultaneously in
either direction.
....
It will be understood that no chain-wheel or chain-belt are necessary if one drum
only is employed.
At certain intervals, rods or wires. G are fixed to the edges of cards 80 as to
project slightly beyond the ends.
At each end of the-frame-work upon which the drums are supported, is fixed a
curved supporting..yoke H., These yokes are fastened to the frame-work, and may
bo of any suitable or proper shape.
tru
Inthe present caseul havo, shewa them in the form of curved segments, and they

page_text: are near enough to the ends of the cards so that the projecting rods G will drop
upon these yokes and slide down to the lowest point, or until the suspended sheet
comes in contact with those next.
These pins may be so situated as to contain any number of the folded sheets
between them, as 8, 10, 14, 20, or any other number:
3.
The cards A have holes a made-in them corresponding with pins I projecting
from the faces of the drums, and as each card passes over the drum or drums, these
holes register upon their pitis, thus keeping the line of cards in proper direction.
As the cards pass over the drums they will drop down in folds. until a card
arrives which has the projecting pins G. These pins falling into the supporting
yoke H will then slide down toward the lower part, and a double fold of cards
will remain suspended between each set of pins. If there are ten cards between
the pins, then the double sheet will contain five each. If there are fourteen
between the pins, it will contain seven and so on, the suspended sheets being as
long as may be found convenient or suitable.
the greater number of
the cards may be suspended from the support, it only
sufficient space below for the length of the depending sheets. As they lie closely
together, it will be seen that they occupy but little space, and are very easily
handled. :
The greater the distance between the suspending pinnecessary to provide a
When the drums are rotated, they will immediately begin to draw the cards up
from either side, according to the direction of their rotation, and the surface of
each card is presented upon the top for inspection, passing over the anti-friction
roller J and over the other drum to the other side, dropping down and hanging.as
previously described.
If only one drum is employed, as shewn in Figure 2, it will be preferable to
form inclined surfaces on each side of the drum, over which surface the cards may
pass freely and with little friction. Anti-friction rollers may be used or not as
found necessary or desirable.
The whole device may be enclosed either so as to be invisible, or with glass sides,
and a glass top is preferably provided through which the cards may be inspected
without opening the case or handling them.
By this construction I greatly simplify the construction of an index with. few
working parts, and an ability to increase it to any extent and still keep up the
alphabetical order.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. A continuous file or index consisting of a series of cards or holders linked
together at their edges to form an endless flexible chain, rods or hangers projecting
from the ends of the cards at certain intervals, and yokes adapted to receive
these rods and suspend the cards in successive sheets, substantially as herein
described.
2. A continuous file or index consisting of a series of cards or holders having
their edges flexible connected together to form an endless series or chain, rods or
hangers projecting from the ends of cards at certain intervals, yokes so fixed as to
receive the rods or hangers and suspend the cards therefrom in folded sheets,
in combination with polygonal drums, the faces of which correspond with the
shape of the cards, and guides with which the cards engage as they pass over
the drums, and a means by which the drums are rotated, substantially as herein
described.
3. A continuous file or index consisting of a series of cards or holders linked
together at their edges to form an endless flexible chain, rods or hangers projecting
from the ends of the cards at certain intervals, yokes adapted to receive these rods
and sitspend the cards in sheets, and a-mechanism by which..these cards. are

page_text: transferred singly and successively from one side to the other and exposed for
inspection, substantially as herein described.
Dated the 27th day of September 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.