US2517678A - Rotary card filing device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 8, 1950 E. E. KNITTEL.

ROTARY CARD FILING DEVICE Filed Feb. 1, I94? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [MIL E. KN/TTEL ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1950 E. E. KNITTEL ROTARY CARD FILING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1947 j m 5 w INVENTOR [MIL E. KN/TTEL ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1950 ROTARY CARD FILINGDEVICE Emil Knittel, Malverne, N. Y. Application February 1, 1947, Serial No.725,949

5 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for filing cards, and the like and more particularlyto ro-,

tary. filing devices. 1

AsI pointed out inmy application Serial No.

564,563 filed November 22, 1944, now Patent Number 2,418,357, it is not uncommon practice in many types of businesses to have -a filing system wherein information, data or records are. kept on individual cards. The cards may be used for various purposes and it is customarytokeep them in a, systematiclmanner in files where they may be referred to conveniently. In some systems. it

is necessary to remove and replace the cards from time to time for one purpose or another.

In that application I showed a filing cabinet having a rotary drum which is provided with an annular recessin which to insert cards to be filed and I disclosed therein the use of an end lessybelt having one of its runs adjacent the underside of the drum to prevent the cards in the recess from falling out when the drum is rotated. Since filing that application I havemade im-- provements upon my original disclosure, the features of which are advantageous in the construction ofcertain types of filing cabinets which lembody an endless belt. v

The embodiments disclosed herein utilize the principle of an endless belt to prevent cards from falling away from the drum, which principle is disclosed in my above-mentioned appli cationibut the arrangement of the upper run or runs of the endless belt or belts may be modified. In addition I have provided atvery simple yet most effective arrangement for mounting the bearings which; support the drum axle for rotation which at the same time provides for strengthening the side walls of .the cabinet enclosing the drum. Also included is the provision of ,an at.-

tractive yet light hand ring forthe card filing drum which has been found to be desirablein some types now in commercialproduction. Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed out in the claims appended hereto,

its objects and advantages; and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, inwhich Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation partly broken away to expose a cross-section ofa filingcabinet in accordance with my invention showing a single belt arrangement and, .among other things, the

means for mounting the drum axle bearings Fig. 3 is a partial view in cross-section to larger scale. showing the hand ring and the way itfis; secured to a drumsidewall disk; i i i a I Fig. 4 is a partial ,viewto largerscale showing the shape of the c'ompartment-formin'gymezn bers and the way they .are secured tothe drum side wall disks; y y l y Fig. 5 is a viewin crosssection of a filing cabi l net showing the manner of mounting. the endless belt or belts so-ithat their upper runsjlmaybe.

"positioned above the axis of rotation of the drum cry of sidejwall disk Z2 extenlds outwardly lfroin axle 2,5 to which the side disks the View being online 5-5 of Fig.6; and v Fig. 6 is aplan view of Fig. 5 with the top fwau of the enclosure cabinetremoved at line 6-6 of, Fig.5. H

Referringnowmore particularly to Figs. 1 to; 4, there is shown a drum l0 having card filingl compartments at its periphery; The drum is: mounted for rotation within a box-shaped cabia} net or housing I I Anendless belt 12 having .one, of its runs adjacent the compartmentsis provided, to prevent cardsmountedcn the drum from 'fall ing out of thecoinpartments when the compartments are below the axis of the drum.

The enclosure cabinet. I l is made of sheet in et-L51;

preferably of lig ht weight; It comprises side walls r l3 and; end walls l5. and I6 havinginturnedi fiangesto iorm base. members H and i8, and a, topywall l9 The top wall is provided with an. opening 20, through drumextendsl .v v i a The. drum, designated generally by reference numeral in, comprises a sidebdiskll, a side disk 22 and a cylindrical ring, or band 23,...it being noted that the diameter ofithe band :23 is less; than the diameter of the sidewall disks and when}, mounted as shown there is provided an annular recess 24. The drum maybe so designed that. the recess has a, width and depth to accqmmo j date any givengsizeyof cards. The drum bases V 2l and22arel se cured. Mounted in the recess and circumferen j tially SD vQ dab utthedrum are compartment-g forming plates .26. 'Ifhese plates together with the side Wall disksZl and ZZYand fiat ring at the periphery ofthedrum ill. n n

It will benotedj that the periphery of side wall disk 2i is outwardlyandthen inwardly rollecljto; form a rounded peripheral edge 28. y The periphform a plurality of card filing compartmentsiz'l.

the center-@iurther than does the periphery 1-5: f k 1 an t erm ei in an an u u 2 which servesasfa means forsecuring a hand OFFICE which the upper part ostni truded plastic tubing material which may be formed into a ring to register with the periphery of the drum disk. To secure it to the disk an annular groove 3| is milled in the side wall of the ring-shaped tube 30 and the hand ring is fastened by screws 32 to the flat part 29 which registers with the groove 3 I.

The compartment-forming plates 26 are of a width to set snugly within the recess '24 and they have a height so that-the upper edge 33 is about flush with the peripheral edge 28 of disk 2 I. The height of the plates 26 is such as to accommodate the height of cards to be filed on the drum and the Width of the compartments, that is; the width of the recess 24, corresponds to the width of the cards. It is to be particularly noted that the outer edge of each plate has a projection 34which provides a bearing surface 35 upon which the run 36 of the belt I2 rides. These projections 34 with their bearing surfaces contacting the run 36 of the'b'elt'eliminate's an undue pressure on the cards 3I in the lower part ofthe'drum as the arrangement is such thatthefpres'sure of the belt is against theplatestfi and the cards in the lower dompartmentsm'ay rest on the belt.

The endless belt I2 is trained over ballbearing, rollers 40 and 4| mounted in brackets secured td c'rcass pieces 132 and "43 and'oversimilar rollers 4 4 and 45 "mounted in. brackets secured to the b'a'se'rn'emb'ers Ilian'd I18 respectively. The belt isendlessj and may be 'ofjany' suitable material but preferably of rubberized composition having sIdfme elasticity but whichwill not be materially affec ed by temperature or humidity changes.

It will be observed that the belt is so arranged that'a'substantial run'is adjacent to and in contactwith the p'lates 25, it being necessary to ha've meme-lent length of ,run that the belt lies adjac entthat arc of the drum" belowits axis so that cards will not fall out of their compartments whenthe drumds" rotated or when the compare mehts'are' under the axis b1 the drum.

The drum I is 50 mounted in the cabinet that asubstantial'len'gth of, arc above its axis extends through'the opening20 in the top wall of the cabinet. Thus cards in the compartmen'ts in thisupper are are accessible for r'ernoval'or replacement or to be otherwise handled. The inner edges offcards 31' in these compartments rest onthe band'23. It will be understood fromvthe foregoingthat theouter edges of the cards in the cornpaitments below the axis rest on the belt and the cards are thereby retained in their compartments. Consequently, the cards neednot be provided with holes, slots or other means for holdiiifg them on the-drum.

Inasmuch as there is a considerable weight to be'carried when the filing" dru'mis provided with a'iull complement of c'ardsandit is desirable to construct even the larger I sizes of' cabinets of lightweight sheet metal, I have provided simple yet' effectiveframe members for mounting the bearings which carry the drum axle which in turn carries the weight of the drum. At the sametime the sidewalls ofthe cabinet are strengthened byv the frame members which carry the bearings. The journals 49 at the ends of the drum axle 25 extendinto and ride in bearings 50 and I. These bearings are of the self-lubricating type and have a'sir'nple tubular shape. The bearings 50 and 5! are carried on vertical angle iron-framing mem- Hers 52, 52 and 53, 53secur'ed to thecabinet side walls I4 and I3 respectively. To hold the bearings in place on these angle irons theflanges are pressed out as shown in Fig. 1 to 'form' a cupshaped cavity 48 to receive and hold the bearing. Thus, for example, flange 54 is pressed out at 55 and flange 56 is pressed out at 51 to conform with the exterior shape of the bearing so that the bearing 5I can be merely pressed into the cavity 43 and it will be retained there. This arrangement provides a very strong, rugged construction.

It may be noted also that plates 26 are provided with projections '58, one or more on each side edge. In assembling the drum these projections extend through registering radially disposed apertures 60 in the side wall disks 2I' and 22 and. are thenpeened over as shown at 59. This arrangement provides a drum of great strength even though lightweight aluminum sheet metal is used I in its construction.

size because in other types suffi'cient space must be allowed on the drum to fasten the-cards to'it and thisoften requires a distortion of the cards.

In my device this drawback is eliminated. Whenj it is desired to move any compartment to" the upper part of the cabinet so that the cards" in that compartment will be exposed at the opening 2!! allthat need be done is to rotate the drum.

This is facilitated by using the hand ring 30..

Those cards which are in the compartments below the axis can not 'fall out as they 'ride along 'oni't he run 36 or the belt I2 adjacent the compartments, it being understood, of course,that thebelt moves along "with the rotation of the drum. It' maybe noted also that the cabinet is mounted on casters n so that it may be moved with facility from'place to place.

To illustrate the feature of an endless belt ar- 40" rangem'ent wherein one run of the beltis adjacent theperiphery of the drum and extending'below its axis while the upper run extends across the cabinet above the drum axis, I have chosen to Y show in Figs. 5 and 6 a cabinet having two end-. less belts. It'will be understood, however, that this arrangement may be adapted to a single belt cabinet.

Asshown, the cabinet comprises side walls H3 and H4, endv walls H5 and H6, and a removable top' wall H9. The top wall has an opening I20 through which the top part of drum I I0 extends. The end walls have inturned flanges forming base members H1 and H8.

The drum. I'ID comprises two side disks I2I and I22 each alike and similar to disk 2| shownin Fig.2. A cylindrical band I23 providing an annular' recess I24 within which are a plurality of circumferentially spaced compartment-forming members I26 to form a plurality of card compartments I2! around the periphery of the drum.

The drum is secured to an axle I25 mounted so that its journals rotate in bearings I5-I mounted in cups I48 formed in the. flanges of channel irons 154w and 1541), arranged in similar'fashion" as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It is to be noted, however, that the axle I25 extends through side wall H4 to'provide a stub shaft I25a to which is secured a hand wheel I39.

' Stantial run lies adjacent the card compartv Thus upon rotation of the hand wheel, the drum rotates.

mentsnnder the drum and the other run returns across the upper part of the cabinet above the drum axis. This arrangement includes a pair ofliorizontally disposed shafts 200 and 20! mounted to rotate in bearings 203 secured to the side walls H3 and H4 of the cabinet. To shaft 20| are secured a pair of flanged rollers 204 and 205 and to shaft 200 are secured a pair of like rollers206 and 201. These shafts 200 and 2M are located a short distance below the top wall I IQ of the cabinet. Mounted for rotation in brackets 208 secured to the end walls H5 and H6 are two pairs ,offlanged rollers 209 and 2I0; and 2H and,

2|2. I These rollers are mounted to rotate with theirQaxes vertically disposed. It will be noted,

that these rollers 200 to 2| 2 are also located a slight distance below the top wall I I9 of the cabinet.

An endless belt designated generally by reference character 2| 3 is trained over rollers 204, 206, 209 and 2m and a similar endless belt 214 is trained over rollers 205, 201, 2 and H2. Inasmuch as each of these belts operatesin the same way except that one is on one side of the drum and the other on the other side of the drum, it will suifice to describe belt 2 M. This belt as will be observed in the drawings has lower run 2l5 extending under the drum adjacent the compartments, the belt then goes over roller 205 where it twists and then rides over roller 212, the upper run 216 then extends along the length of the cabinet over roller 2| I and then twists to go over roller 201. The arrangement of belt 213 is the same on the other side of the cabinet except that it is trained over rollers 204, 206, 209 and H0; the upper run 2l6a extending across the cabinet above the axis of the drum.

The provision of two belts as shown is very desirable in certain types of larger cabinets. It will be noted also that all the rollers are accessible by merely removing the top plate I I9 from the cabinet.

While two belts have been shown in the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6 it will be understood that a, single belt might be used in which case the lower run adjacent the compartments at the lower part of the drum would preferably be centered as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this case all that is required is to locate a single flanged roller, such as roller 205, in the center of shaft and a. like roller in the center of shaft 200, In

this case the pair of rollers 209 and 210 or the pair of rollers 2H and 2l2 can be dispensed with.

To operate the device shown in Figs. 5 andfi, the drum may be rotated as in the case of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, and the hand wheel I30 may be used to facilitate the movement. Upon rotation of the drum any underside compartments may be brought to the top where the cards therein are readily accessible for removal or replacement or other handling. It will be apparent that cards in the compartments at the lower part of the drum are kept from falling out by the run of the belt lying adjacent these compartments and when the drum is rotated the endless belt or belts, as the case may be, move along with the periphery of the drum. Casters Ml are provided to facilitate moving the cabinet from place to place.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalent of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

l, A rotary card filing device comprising, a l

support; a drum mounted on said support for ro-j of substantially radially extendin partition members mounted between said flanges for subdividing the said annular space into individual card compartments, said partition members hav- V ing an upper edge portion protruding above the 1 "'upper edge of cards in said compartments; an

endless belt trained around the lower portion of said drum and engaging said partition members at their protruding edge portions; and means for supporting said belt on said support for freedom to move with said drum when the drum is rotated, said supporting means tensioning the belt to bear against said partition members, said belt tension being sustained by said partition members, cards in said compartments being relieved from the belt tension.

2. A rotary card filing device comprising, a cabinet; a drum mounted in said cabinet for rotation about a substantially horizontal drum axis, said drum having an annular recess about its periphery; an endless belt trained around the lower portion of said drum; a plurality of substantially radially extending partition members circumferentially spaced in said recess for subdividing said recess into a plurality of card compartments adapted to hold file cards, said par tition members having an upper edge portion for engaging said belt within said lower portion of the drum and spacing said belt from the bottom of said compartments a distance greater than the height of the cards, whereby the belt tension is sustained by said partition members and the cards in said compartments are relieved from the belt tension.

' 3. A rotary card filing device comprising, a support; a drum mounted on said support for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said drum including a pair of lateral flanges providing between them a circumferential annular space adapted to receive file cards; a plurality of substantiall radially extending partitions mounted between said flanges for subdividing the said annular space into a plurality of individual card compartments, said partitions having tab portions projecting above the remainder of the upper edge of the partition; an endless belt trained around the lower portion of said drum :and engaging said partition at their respective tab portions: and means for supporting said belt on said support for freedom to move with said drum when the drum is rotated, said supporting means tensioning the belt to bear against said tab portions, the belt tension being sustained by said partitions and cards in said compartments being relieved from the belt tension.

4. A rotary card filing device which comprises an enclosing cabinet having side walls, end walls, and a top wall having an aperture therein; a drum having an annular recess about its periphery; frame members secured to said side walls; bearings supported by said frame members for mounting said drum in said cabinet for turning about a substantially horizontal axis, the top portion of the drum protruding through said apertures; an endless belt train-ed around the lower portion of said drum; rollers supporting said belt in said cabinet under tenslonand with freedom to move with said drum when the drum is rotated; a-plurality of substantially radially extending: partition members circumferentially, spaced: in said recess for subdividing said recess into va plurality of; card compartments adaptedto holdfile cards,- said. partition members having annpper-ed-ge portion forengaging. said belt within said lower;

portion of the drum (andspacing said beltfrom EMIL E. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordinzthe'iri.

the bottom of said compartments-a.distance 10;.fi1e of this patent:

greater than the height of the cards, whereby the belt tension is sustained-by saidipartition members and thecards in said compartmentsarerelieved from the belt tensionr 5.- A, rotary cardfiling deviceas set forth in 15 claim 4 :in which =the-endless belt is trained over i UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,030,898 Langdale July 2,1912 i 2,235,736 Bruen Mar. 18, 1941- 2,418,357 Knittel Apr. .1, 1947"

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