US2796308A - Power driven multiple revolving card files - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1957 E. E. KNITTEL v 2,796,308

PowER DRIVEN MULTIPLE REvoLvING CARD FILES Filed Nov. a, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 1 A #Mmmm 512M/emi lul ATToR/vfy June 18, 1957 E. E. KNITTEL 2,796,308

POWER DRIVEN MULTIPLE REVOLVINGvl CARD FILES Filed Nov. 8, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illllllllmnunum INVENToR. Erm! E. Kniffel ,L. ATTORNEY June 18, 1957 E. E. KNITTEL 2,795,308

POWER DEIvEN MULTIPLE EEvoLvING CARD FILES Filed NOV. 8,l 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 EmL'l E Kniffel BY v IN VEN TOR.

June 18, 1957 E, E- KN|TTE| 2,796,308

POWER DRIVEN MULTIPLE REVOLVING CARD FILES Filed Nov. 8, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 L.; A TTORNEY June 18, 1957 E. E. KNrrTEL 2,796,308

POWER DRIvEN MULTIPLE REvoLvING CARD-FILES Filed Nov. 8, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. EmL'Z E. Km'el BY I - #19M 6, MM.

H ATTORNEY rs A .2,796,308

l Patented June 18,' 1957 POWER DRn/EN MULTIPLE REvoLvING CARD FILES Emil E. Knittel, Malvern@ N. Y.

Application November 8, 1955, Seriai No. 545,7@

Claims. (Cl. S12- 186) This invention `relates to improvements in card files of the type comprising a substantially vertically disposed wheel having individual tile card containing compartments in its periphery.. The tile cards are of conventional rectangular form and require no special configuration in order to attach them to the wheel, but an endless Ibelt eX- tending around the lower portion of the periphery of the wheel prevents the cards from falling out of the compartments. Card files of the aforementioned type form the subject matter of my earlier Patents Nos. 2,418,357 `and 2,517,678.

.For business establishments requiring a great number of iile cards, such as insurance companies, banks, railroads, parts departments, it is desirable to keep all the lile cards -on as vsmall a floor space as possible and in such a way that each tile card is readily accessible for inspection and removal. It is further desirable to operate card carrying Wheels by power, for example by means of an electric motor and in such a way that each car-d retaining compartment can quickly be moved into the position lin which the operator can inspect and remove a particular iile card or in which a new tile car-d can be inserted in its proper space.

The invention provides an improved rotary .card le lof lthe aforementioned type having a large capacity Vfor iile cards. A plurality of wheels are assembled side by side on a suitable common support, `for example, a 'common shaft. According t-o the invention, power means are provided for operating each of the wheels.

The power drive and is controls are .so arranged that ithe several wheels of the multiple card le may lbe operated independently by several operators at the same time, yand each Wheel may be operated in lboth directions of r0- tation, top going or top coming, so as to bring any desired ,card compartment before the operator by a rota- Ition of the wheel not exceeding one-half of one revolution.

The invention further provides numerous `improvements and renements which make it possible t-o repair and replace individual belts without disturbing the entire jassembly, improvements which permit the 'tile to operate smoothly and without disturbance even if 'not properly leveled and other improvements which permit ready assembly of a multiple card le lof any desired number of units from standardized parts.

These and vari-ous other objects, features and advantages of this invent-ion will appear more fully from the detailed rdescr'qation Which follows, accompanied by drawings showing, .for the `purpose of illustration, a preferred embodiment of 'the invention. The 'invention also resides in 'certain new and original features of construction and combination of elements hereinaftery set forth and-claimed. Although the characteristic features of `this invention which are believed to be novel will be particul'arly'pointed out in the claims appended-hereto, its objects and .advantages and the manner in which it may be carriedout, may be better understood by referring to the (follow-ing description 'taken in connection 'with the accompany dra-W- ings [forming a part of it, in which:

Fig. .l is a perspective view of a multiple card le containing eight vvheels and individual controls therefor;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the card til-e of Fig. l, after removal of the enclosure to expose the power drive;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a driving and card retaining belt, looking at the top rear portion of the ii'le;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the belt mechanism and a portion of its drive, the mechanism `of Fig. 4 being below the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, at theV bottom rear portion of the file; y

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the front portion of the tile, showing the front drive shaft and certain ope-rating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a single section of the front drive shat and associated controls; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a structural drive unit for one wheel comprising a front drive shaft section, `a rear drive shaft section and joint controls for both.

-In the following vdescription and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, are intended to be generic in their application. Corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts in 'the several figures of the drawings.

The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specification disclose certain specific details ofthe invention for the purposeof explanation of broader aspects of the invention, but it is understood that details maybe modied in various respects without departure from the principles of the invention and that the invention may be embodied in other forms than the one shown.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l shows a ymultiple card file comprising eight units enclosed within acabinet 11.. The cabinetis constructed from a structuralsup porting framework 12 covered bysuitable cover plates 13. Eightwheels 14 are mounted in vthe cabinet rv11 for coaxial rotation about a substantially horizontal axis.

Each wheel comprises individual peripheral compartments 1,5 containing file cards '16. The compartments are formed by transverse partitions V17 preferably provided with tab 'projections 18. The tab projections have a depressed central portion 1'9 for purposes which will later become apparent.

Each wheel is provided with a control handle '20 which, as Wil-l later be described, has three principal positions, one position in which a respective wheel moves towards the operator, i. e. top coming, a second position in which the wheel'move's away from the operator, i. e., top going, and Va third position in which the wheel is arrested to be immovable.

In front of the controls ashelf 21 is arranged which normally constitutes a part of fthe cover assembly, further cover Ypanels being visible at 22. Thecabinet 11 has aprojection 23 which houses the drive mechanism as will present-1y be seen.

Figure '2 shows 'the housing portion '23 vafter removal of the cover plates. The endmost wheel 1-4 is visible and so is a common horizontal shaft A24 on which all the individual wheels are supported in the framework 112 for cov-axial rotation.

Amotor 25 drives areduction gear 26 from which two low fspeed lshafts extend, 'one low speed shaft being visible a't 27. The low yspeed -s'haft 27 drives aright angle4 gear 28 for operating afront drive shaft 29. A rear drive Ishaft 3i) is driven through a similar angle gear which is not visible, since it 4lies behind the motor.

The file cards '16 are retained in the wheels by endlessl belts "31. The belts, of which one is visible in Figure '2,

- extend' over, and engage, the depressedcentral portion 19 of thetab projections 18 of the wheel and are kept taut about the wheel by appropriate belt tensioning means later to be described.

The cards rest against the bottom of the individual compartments and against the partitions within the upper portion of the wheel. Within the lower portion of the wheel the cards, following gravity, slide awayfrom the compartment bottom and come to rest against that portion of the belt which extends over the partitions. The rst function of the belt`31 is, therefore, to retain the file cards in the wheel. A further function of the belt is to drive the wheel in one direction or the other, as desired by the operator. For this purpose the belt extends overidler pulleys 32 and 33 mounted on thedrive shafts 29 and 30, respectively. In Figure 2 only theidler pulley 32 is visible. Each idler pulley is combined with a clutch mechanism which is so constructed that either thefront pulley 32 may be driven by thefront shaft 29, resulting in rotation of the wheel in one direction, or that therear pulley 33 is driven by the rear shaft resulting in rotation of the .wheel in the opposite direction. Y

Figure 3 illustrates the portion of thebelts 31 at which the belts are turned back on themselves. The illustrated portion is at the rear of the cabinet and comprises guide pulleys 34 and returnpulleys 35 mounted onsuitable lstub shafts 36 on structural elements of theframework 12. A similar pair of guide and return pulleys is mounted at the front of the cabinet, and it is now apparent that theendless belts 31 are folded backo work 12 within which therear drive shaft 30 extends 2 from one end to the other. The drive shaft is preferably constructed in individual sections, there being one section for each wheel. Each section has an individual supportingbearing 36 mounted on atransverse framework member 37. Each shaft section is fitted withshaft couplings 38 for connection with the adjoining shaft section in order vto drive the next section or in order to be driven thereby. The shaft couplings comprisemale members 39 having projectingpins 40 andfemale coupling elements 41 having atsides 42 against which the pins rest.

The use of sectional short drive shafts in place of solid long drive shafts offers several advantages. In the first place, it simplifies the construction of multiple iile units in that drive shafts of different lengths are not required, since as many shaft sections can be put end to en d as there are wheels.

Secondly, the installation and removal of individual endless belts is accomplished without difficulty by removing only one shaft section, or a portion thereof, for example, a shaft coupling.

A third advantage arises from the fact that no increase in bearing friction or binding of the drive shafts in the bearings is likely to occur in the event the cabinet is not properly leveled.

The mechanism shown in Figure 4 comprises belt tensioning pulleys 43 mounted on pivota'lly supportedarms 44 biased in a downward direction by tensioning springs 45. Thebelt 31 extending downwardly from pulley 34 (Fig. 3) first runs over the tensioningpulley 43, then over aguide pulley 46 and finally over vthe rear idlerpulley 33.

The rear idler pulley normally turns free on thedrive shaft section 30, but may be driven thereby by means of a clutch.

The clutch comprises a drivingelement 47 which is keyed for rotation, but is laterally slidable on the drive shaft. The driving element is provided with laterally projecting drive pins 48 which may engage appropriately shaped `lateral pockets 49 in theidler pulley 33.

In the position shown in Figure 4 the two elements of the clutch, theidler pulley 33 and the drivingelements 47, are disengaged and thewheels 14 are at rest. If the drivingelement 47 on the clutch is slid to the left to engage the lateral pockets of theidler pulley 33, the idler pulley is positively driven, resulting in a corresponding rotation of thewheel 14.

The operating mechanism for engaging and disengaging the clutch by a lateral movement of the drivingelement 47 comprises a claw 50 pivotally mounted at 51 and provided withstuds 52 riding in aperipheral groove 53 of the drivingelement 47.

The claw forms one end of a bell cranklever 54 from which an operating rod 5S extends to a similar clutch mechanism associated with thefront drive shaft 29.

The front drive shaft is similarly constructed as the rear drive shaft. The individual sections of thefront drive shaft 29 are mounted inindividual bearings 136 near the front end of thetransverse framework members 37. The several sections of theshaft 29 are interconnected byshaft couplings 138 comprisingmale elements 139 withpins 140 andfemale elements 141 engaged by thepins 140.

The idler pulleys 32 turn freely on thefront drive shaft 29 and havelateral pockets 149 for engagement by drive pins (not visible) of drivingclutch elements 147 keyed and laterally slidable on theshaft sections 29.

Bell crank levers 154 are provided for engaging and disengaging the clutches which consist of drivingelements 147 and idler pulleys 32. Thestuds 152 in theclaw portion 150 of the bell crank levers 154 engage aperipheral groove 153 in therdriving element 147.

The front drive shaft assembly further comprises a brake and operating linkage which are best explained by referring to Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 6 shows thebearing 136 for thedrive shaft 29. Alateral bracket 56 is secured to thebearing 136 near its base and supports the bell cranklever 154 about itspivotal axis 151. The bell crank lever has anoperating link 57 connected thereto at 58. The link is substantially J-shaped and its other end engages apin 59 which is fixed in aplate 60 and extends tluough it. The plate itself is pivotally mounted at 61 (Fig. 7) to a transversetop arm 62 of thebearing 136.

As is also apparent from Figure 7, an operatingrod 63 extends upwardly from, and is pivotally connected to, thepin 59, so that an upward pull on the rod causes theplate 60 to turn counterclockwisely as viewed in Figure 7. Such movement is transmitted to the bell cranklever 154 by thelink 57 and causes engagement of the clutch'147, 32.

Theplate 60 carries a further pivot 64 to which thehorizontal operating rod 55 is connected. The operatingrod 55, as previously explained, operates the clutch on the rear shaft.

. The assembly shown in Figure 6 comprises a brake acting on theidler pulley 32. Abrake shoe 65 is pivotally mounted on thebearing 136 at 66 and is normally depressed into the position in which theidler pulley 32 is arrested. For this purpose aspring 67 is mounted on astud 68 extending upwardly from the lateraltop arm 62. The tension of the spring is adjustable by anut 69 and the lower end of the spring bears against abrake lever 70. The front end of the brake lever carries acam follower 71 and the lever is provided with a bore suficiently largel to permit thestud 68 to pass through the brake lever freely without interfering with the tilting motion of thebrake lever 70 about itspivot 72 on thearm 62.

Abolt 73 is screwed intobrake lever 70 and passes through an appropriate bore in thearm 62. The lower end of thebolt 73 rests against thebrake shoe 65.

Thecam follower 71 of the brake lever may be engaged by acam 74 which is fast on the rear surface of therotatable plate 60. The curvature of thecam is such that upon lifting of thepin 59 portions of increasingly larger radius engage the cam follower, thereby lifting thebrake lever 70 and releasing thebrake shoe 65. The same rotation of the plate A60 causes engagement of theidler pulley 32 by the drivingelement 147 of the clutch.

Thecam 74 is symmetrical with respect to the position shown in Figure 6 so that depression of the pin 59' also causes the brake to be released. Referring now torFigure 7 it is seen that depression of thepin 59 causes the horizontal rod 55'to move to the left thereby engaging the clutch on the rear shaft f As itis clearly visible in Figure 6, the drivingelement 147 of the clutch has as much freedom to travel to the left as it has freedom to 'travel to the right in its fully engaged position. This freedom of Vmovement is required because of the alternate engagement'of the clutches on the front shaft and on the rear shaft. Engagement of the rear clutch causes ther drivingelement 147 of the front clutch to move farther away from theidler pulley 32 and engagement of the fr ont clutch causes the drivingelement 47 of the rear clutch to move farther away from theidler pulley 33. l

Turning now to Figure 5, it is readily seen that the operating lever or handle has three principal positions. Thehandle 20 is mounted on aplate 75 which is secured to the top of an arm 76 pivotally mounted in theframework 12 at 77. The arm 76 carries a pin 78 to which the operatingrod 63 is linked. j y

Movement of the control handle 20 away from the operator causes lifting of the operatingrod 63 and engagement of the clutch on the front shaft. The front shaft turns in counterclockwise direction looking at the shaft from the right angle gear 2S and causes the wheel to move away from the operator, in other words top going.

If the operator pulls thehandle 20 towards her, the clutch on the rear shaft is engaged, causing the wheel to turn towards the operator, i. e., top coming. In the central position in which the handle is upright both clutches are disengaged and the wheel is arrested by the brake operating on theidler pulley 32. j

As seen in Figure 5, the belt is trained around two pulleys at the operators side, areturn pulley 135 and aguide pulley 136.

The motor runs continuously and permits independent operation of each of the wheels by appropriate actuation of the control handles 20.

The drive is smooth and without jarring even though clutches of the pin-type are employed. Smoothness of the drive is insured by the frictional engagement between the belt and the idler pulleys and by the resiliency inherent in any flexible belt.

What is claimed is:

l. A multiple rotary card file comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels having peripheral compartments for file cards; means for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a common substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each wheel, said belt extending over the compartments within the lower portion of the respective wheel to retain cards therein; a pair of drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions; individual clutches for each of said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of said shafts and the other to produce top going and top coming rotation of the respective wheel; and individual control means, one for each wheel, for operating the respective clutch to drive the wheel from one shaft or the other.

2. A multiple rotary card le comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels having peripheral compartments for file cards; means for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a common substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each wheel, said belt extending over the compartments within the lower portion of the respectivewheels to retain cards therein; a pair of drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions; clutch means for each ofl said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of the said shafts and the other to produce top going and top coming rotation of the respective wheels; a brake for each of said wheels; means for normally biasing said brake towards its arresting position; and joint .control means, one for each Wheel, for actuating said clutch meanspand the respective brake.

3. A multiple rotary card tile' comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels having peripheral comy partments for file cards; a common shaft for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each.l wheel, said belt extending over the compartments within the lower portion of the respective wheel to retain cards therein; a pair of drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions; clutch means for each of said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of said drive shafts or the other; a brake for each of said wheels; and joint control means, one for each Wheel, for actuating said clutch means and the respective brake.

4. A rotary card le comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of Wheels having peripheral compartments for le cards; a common shaft for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each of said wheels, said belt extending over the compartment within the lower portion of the respective wheels to retain cards therein; a pair of drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions; clutch means for each of said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of said drive shafts or the other; a brake for each of said Wheels; means for normally biasing said brake towards its arresting position; and joint control means, one for each wheel, for actuating said clutch means and the respective brake, the control means having three positions, one position in which the clutch means is in engagement with one of said drive shafts, another position in which said clutch means is in engagement with the other drive shaft, and an. intermediate rest position in which the brake arrests the wheel.

5, A multiple rotary card file comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a peripheral recess and comprising transverse partitions for divi-ding said recess into individual compartments for file cards; a common shaft for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each of said wheels; pulleys in said structure around which pulleys said belt is trained, the run of said belt including a substantially U-shaped portion extending about, and engaging, said partitions Within the lower portion of the wheel to retain file car-ds therein; a pair of sectional drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions, there being one section of each of the drive shafts for each wheel, said sectional drive shafts comprising shaft couplings for connecting the sections of each shaft together; clutch means for each of said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of the respective drive sha-fts or the other; and manual control means, one for each wheel, for actuating said clutch means to drive the respective wheel belt from one of said drive shafts or the other, said control means and cl-utch means having a neutral position in which the belt is disengaged from the drive shafts.

6. A multiple rotary card tile comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a peripheral recess and comprising transverse partitions for dividing said recess into individual compartments for file cards; a common shaft for supporting said wheels in said e structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each of said Wheels; pulleys in said structure around which pulleys said belt is trained, the run of said belt including a substantially U-shaped portion extending about, and engaging, said partitions within the lower portion of the wheel to retain iile cards therein; a pair of sectional drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis, said -drive shafts being geared to turn in opposite directions, there being one section of each of the drive shafts for each wheel, said sectional drive shafts comprising shaft couplings for connecting the sections of each shaft together; clutch means for each of said wheels for driving the respective belt from one of the respective drive shafts or the other; a brake for each of said wheels; means for normally biasing said brake towards its arresting position; and a joint manual control means, one for each wheel, for actuating said clutch means and said brake, said control means having three positions, one position in which the brake is released and the clutch means engages said belt with one of said drive shafts, another position in which the brake is released and said clutch means engages said belt with the other drive shaft, and an intermediate rest position in which the clutch is disengaged and the brake arrests the wheel.

7. A structural unit for multiple rotary card files in which a plurality of wheels are mounted, side by side, in a supporting structure for independent rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said wheels having peripheral compartments for tile cards, said structural unit comprising, at least one such wheel; an endless belt extending over the compartments within the lower portion of the wheel to retain cards therein; two drive shaft sections; shaft couplings on the drive shaft sections for provi-ding driving engagement with corresponding adjacent drive sha-ft sections of other wheels; a belt pulley idling on each of said drive shaft sections; a clutch on each of said drive shaft sections for engaging and disengaging the respective belt pulley; and joint control means for said clutches, said control means having three positions, a first position in which one clutch is engaged, a second position in which the other clutch is engaged, and an intermediate position in which both clutches are disengaged.

8. A structural unit for multiple rotary card files in which a plurality of wheels are mounted side by side in a supporting structure for independent rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, v said wheels having peripheral compartments for file cards, said structural unit comprising, at least one such wheel; an endless belt extending over the compartments Within the lower portion of the wheel to retain cards therein; two drive shaft sections; shaft couplings on the drive shaft sections for providing driving engagement with corresponding adjacent drive shaft sections of other wheels; a belt pulley idling on each of said drive shaft sections; a clutch on each of said drive shaft section for engaging and disengaging the respective belt pulley; a brake for one of said belt pulleys; means for normally biasing said brake towards its arresting position; and joint control means for said clutches and said brakes, said control means having three positions, a lirst position in which one clutch is engaged CII e and the brake is released, a second position in which the other clutch is engaged and the brake is released, and an intermediate position in which both clutches are disengaged and the brake is applied.

9. A rotary card file comprising a supporting structure; a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a peripheral recess and comprising ytransverse partitions for dividing said recess into individual compartments for file cards; a comrnon shaft for supporting said Wheels in said structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each of said wheel; pulleys in said structure around which pulleys said belt is trained, the run of said belt including a substantially U-shaped portion extending about, and engaging, said partitions within the lower portion of the wheel to retain file cards therein; a pair of drive v shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis; an

idler belt pulley on each of said drive shaft for each of said belts; a clutch on each of said drive shafts for each of said idler pulleys; and joint control means, one for each Wheel, for actuating the two clutches for the respective idler belt pulleys, the control means having three positions, one position in which one clutch is engaged and the other clutch is disengaged, another position in which said one clutch is disengaged and said other clutch is engaged, and a third position in which both clutches are disengaged and the idler pulleys are at rest on the rotating drive shafts.

l0. A rotary card tile comprising, a supporting structure; a plurality of Wheels, each wheel having a peripheral recess and comprising transverse partitions for dividing said recess into individual compartments for lile cards; a common shaft for supporting said wheels in said structure for turning about a substantially horizontal axis; an endless belt for each of said wheel; pulleys in said structure around which pulleys said belt is trained, the

run of said belt including a substantially Uwshaped portion extending about, and engaging, said partitions within the lower portion of the wheel to retain le cards therein, a pair of drive shafts extending substantially parallel to said axis; an idler belt pulley on each of said drive shaft for each of said belts; a clutch on eachof said drive shafts for each of said idler pulleys; a brake for each of said wheels, said brake being associated with one of said idler pulleys; and joint control means, one for each wheel, for actuating the two clutches for the respective idler belt pulleys and said brake, the control means having three positions, one position in which one clutch is engaged, the other clutch is disengaged and the brake is released, another position in which said one clutch is disengaged, said other clutch is engaged, and said brake is released, and a third position in which both clutches are disengaged and the brake is applied, in which last named position both idler pulleys are at rest on the rotating drive shafts.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,394,448 Sitney Oct. 18, 1921 2,136,454 Miller Nov. l5 1938v 2,235,736 Bruen Mar. 18, 1941 2,698,212 Sevebeck Dec. 28, 1954 4T, mw),

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