EP1226978B1 - File mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The closing mechanism for a loose leaf document holder in a file consists of a fixing plate (1) with arches rods having fixed (2) and moving (3) sections, the latter having a sprung operating member (4) controlled by a lever (6) pivoted to the plate. The plate is made with a stop (9) adjacent to the lever pivot to limit the movement of the operating member from the spring in the open position. The stop is in the form of a tongue made by simultaneous cutting and folding operations when the fixing plate is stamped.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of office equipment, including filing, in particular leverage binders, and relates to a closure mechanism for filing cabinet.

Closure mechanisms for filing cabinet generally consist of two fixed pins mounted on a base plate and two movable movable pins, via a pivoting lever, from a closed position to an open position. In the closed position, the free ends of the movable pins bear on the free ends of the fixed pins and constitute a closed guide for turning perforated sheets from one side of the file to the other.

The existing mechanisms have, however, the disadvantage of not allowing, in the open position, to insert perforated sheets, to move them from one stack to another without closing the mechanism. Indeed, the pivoting lever, which is relatively long and folded at its end to facilitate its maneuver, externally strikes one of the movable pins, or is in the space between the free ends of the movable pins and fixed pins.

To obviate this drawback, it has been proposed, according to EP-A-0 207 059, a closing mechanism of this type allowing, while using a pivoting lever of known type and easy and practical use, to turn over sheets retained by the fixed pins, in order to make them pass on the movable pins without having to close each time the closing mechanism to bring the pivoting lever into an erasure position does not prevent said flipping of the sheets.

There remains, however, a risk that the pivoting lever passes hard between the fixed and movable pins and must be slightly deflected elastically from its pivot plane.

It has also been proposed, by FR-A-2 672 244, a closing mechanism lever for a monoblock binder having, near its axis of articulation, an actuating spout, its free gripping portion being offset in alignment with respect to to the plane passing through the articulation and the actuating nose and relative to the bearing of said articulation.

Such a closing mechanism lever has, however, the disadvantage of being relatively complex in manufacture and requiring precise mounting on the mounting plate of the mechanism in the binder.

In addition, known lever mechanisms do not make it possible to obtain opening distances between the movable pins and the important fixed pins, so that manipulations of documents to be taken out or inserted or passed from one side to the other. other are relatively difficult.

The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by providing a closure mechanism for a file to obtain easy passage of the lever from its service position closing the pins to a rotated position of 180 °, opening said pins.

Its object is indeed a closure mechanism for a folder, essentially consisting of a fixing plate carrying fixed pins and movable pins interconnected by a maneuvering section loaded by a spring, these movable pins being operated by intermediate lever articulated on the fixing plate and acting on the operating section on the opposite side of the spring, said lever having a free gripping portion offset in alignment with respect to the plane passing through its articulation on the fixing plate, characterized in that the fixing plate is provided, near the axis of articulation of the lever, a stop limiting the pivoting of the actuating section against the action of the spring, in the open position of the movable pins.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un mécanisme de fermeture pour classeur conforme à l'invention, en position de fermeture des broches mobiles, et
• la figure 2 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1 représentant le mécanisme en position d'ouverture des broches mobiles.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure mechanism for a file according to the invention, in the closed position of the movable pins, and
• Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing the mechanism in the open position of the movable pins.

Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings show a closure mechanism for a folder, which essentially consists of a fixing plate 1 carrying fixed pins 2 and movable pins 3 interconnected by a maneuvering section 4 loaded by a spring 5 These movable pins 3 are operated by means of a lever 6 articulated on the fixing plate 1 and acting on the operating section 4 on the side opposite the spring 5, said lever 6 having a part free gripping 7 offset in alignment with respect to the plane passing through its hinge 8 on the fixing plate 1.

According to the invention, the fixing plate 1 is provided, near the articulation axis 8 of the lever 6, with a stop 9 for limiting the pivoting of the operating section 4 against the action of the spring 5, opening position of the movable pins 3.

The offset in alignment of the free gripping portion 7 of the lever 6 allows, in known manner, a mounting of the latter such that said portion 7 is closer to the fixed pins 2 and that during an opening maneuver pins movable 3 said portion 7 easily passes between the ends of the fixed pins and movable pins to fold substantially at 180 ° relative to its closed position of said pins. Such a rotation of the lever then allows the passage of sheets on one side of the rings, each constituted by a fixed pin and a movable pin, to the other, in the open position of the latter, the lever not touching said rings when its pivoting and causing no discomfort for maneuvering the leaves.

The stop 9 for limiting the pivoting of the operating section 4 against the action of the spring 5, in the open position of the movable pins 3 is advantageously constituted by a tongue projecting laterally on a wall 10 of the attachment plate 1, s extending in a direction substantially parallel to that of the pins 2 and 3 and forming the support of the hinge axis 8 of the lever 6, this projecting tongue extending above and at a distance from the maneuvering section 4 connecting the movable pins 3, in the closed position of the latter.

Preferably, the protruding tongue forming the abutment 9 for limiting the pivoting of the operating section 4 against the action of the spring 5, in the open position of the movable pins 3, is produced by simultaneous cutting and folding during the operations of In addition, this tongue or stop 9 extends at a considerable distance from the operating section 4 corresponding to a maximum displacement of the spring 5. This distance allowing maximum movement of the spring 5 is simply determined by the maximum arc of displacement that can make the section 4 without risk of spring recoil 5.

It follows from this embodiment that a maximum opening of the pins can be obtained, thus facilitating the maneuvers of setting up, removing and moving the sheets.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to achieve a closure mechanism for leverage binder, simple constitution, can easily be achieved in large series and low cost. In addition, this mechanism makes it possible to obtain a gap between pins that is much greater than that usually available.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawing. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (4)

1. File mechanism, essentially consisting of a fixing plate (1) bearing fixed pins (2) and moving pins (3) connected to one another by a manipulation section (4) springloaded by a spring (5), the said moving pins (3) being operated by a level (6) articulated on the fixing plate (1) which acts upon the manipulation section (4) on the side opposite to the spring (5), the said level (6) having a free portion (7) for gripping offset in alignment relative to the plane passing through its articulation (8) on the fixing plate (1), characterised in that the fixing plate (1) is provided near the articulation axis (8) of the lever (6) with an end-stop (9) which restricts the pivoting of the manipulation section (4) against the action of the spring (5), in the open position of the moving pins (3).
2. File mechanism according to Claim 1, characterised in that the end-stop (9) that restricts the pivoting of the manipulation section (4) against the action of the spring (5) in the open position of the moving pins (3) consists of a tab which projects laterally on a wall (10) of the fixing plate (1) and extends in a direction substantially parallel to that of the pins (2 and 3), forming the support of the articulation axis (8) of the lever (6), the said projecting tab extending above and a distance away from the manipulation section (4) that connects the moving pins (3) in the closing position of the latter.
3. File mechanism according to Claim 2, characterised in that the projecting tab that forms the end-stop (9) which restricts the pivoting of the manipulation section (4) against the action of the spring (5) in the open position of the moving pins (3), is made by simultaneous cutting out and bending during the operation of stamping out the fixing plate (1).
4. File mechanism according to either of Claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the tab or end-stop (9) extends at a considerable distance from the manipulation section (4), which corresponds to the maximum displacement of the spring (5).

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