GB1179786A - A System for Controlling a Traverse in an Arrangement for Automatic Fetching and Replacing Files in Archives - Google Patents

Abstract

1,179,786. Filing papers; selector mechanism. ARENCO ELECTRONICS A.B. 20 March, 1967 [25 March, 1966], No. 12899/67. Heading B6E. A file-selecting and replacing mechanism in a store of files 2 suspended on rails in filing cabinets 1 movable by a pneumatic piston 3 and connecting rod 4 comprises a traverse 6 movable on a pair of rails 5 extending respectively on either side of a row of the cabinets 1 and supporting a carriage 7 movable transversely of the cabinet row, the carriage 7 supporting a vertically movable carrier 8 which is provided with file grippers 42. The selector mechanism deposits the file 2 in a conveyer 9. The selector mechanism includes a memory 10 (Fig. 2) which on receipt of a selecting signal generates outputs which are supplied to logic circuits associated with filing cabinet, filing row and filing column in a cabinet as well as a file code. The memory also produces an output on a line 11 which is fed to a decoder 12 having output lines 13, 30 which correspond to selection or replacing functions and which control a series of logic circuits 27 which control the successive operations of the selecting and replacing mechanism. To select a file 2 the reader 19, on the carriage 7 is activated to read off coded characters 20 on the filing cabinets in consequence of which the traverse 6 moves in one or other direction towards the filing cabinet 1 selected by the memory 10 (Fig. 2). When the selected filing cabinet 1 is detected by the reader 19 the traverse 6 is stopped and a signal enables a reader 24 which scans marks 23 on the filing cabinet and simultaneously raises the carrier 8 to a level corresponding to the shelf in the selected filing cabinet. The reader 24 then emits a signal which actuates the air cylinder 3 to move the selected cabinet 1 and associated cabinets to the left to provide a passage along which the carriage 7 may be moved under the control of a further reader 37 scanning marks 38 depending from the traverse 6 and representing columns in the filing cabinets 1. When the reader 37 reaches the predetermined column it emits a signal to drive the carriage 7 past the files 2 in the columns so that a reader 41 associated with the carrier 8 can detect the file carrying the selected code number. Further signals are generated in succession to arrest the carriage 7 in front of the selected file 2, the traverse 6 is moved towards the file to enable the grippers 42 to engage the file whereupon the grippers are closed and raised by device 47 to lift the file off the suspension hooks. The traverse is then moved back to remove the file from the cabinet, the carrier 8 is lowered to a level required for deposition of the file in the conveyer 9 and the carriage 7 and traverse 6 driven in succession to present the file above the conveyer 9, whereupon the grippers are released. Replacement of files suspended in a temporary cabinet (not shown) is effected in reverse order, a reader first sensing the code on the spine of the file and then passing it on to the memory 10 (Fig. 2), which energizes the necessary circuits including the file replacement output line 30.