Electrical interlock

Claim 1

An electrical interlock for inhibiting the plugging and unplugging of a package (30) containing electronic components when power is on in a machine (10). said machine (10) having means (23) for electrically connecting said package (30) thereto, and an externally available power receptacle (14), said interlock being characterized m that it includes : a bellcrank (40) mounted for rotation adjacent said power receptacle (14). said bellcrank (40) Including a remote and distal end portion. said distal end portion including a cam follower ( 4 1) for engagement with the plug end (13a) of a line cord (13), and a first opening (46) m said machine (10) adjacent said remote end portion of said bellcrank ( 4 0); means (16) in said machine (10) for receiving a pluggaole package (30), said pluggable package including means (37a. 37b) defining a laterally extending aperture (38) therein having a first end (36a) alignable with said first opening (46) when said package (30) is plugged into said machine (10); a locking bar (50) slidably disposed in said aperture (38) in said package (30) and including means (51) to bias said locking bar (50) in a first position at least substantially self contained within said pluggable package (30) when the plug end (13a) of said line cord (13) is disengaged from said power receptacle (14); a second opening (47) in said machine (10) spaced apart from said first opening ( 4 6) and aligned with a second end (36b) of said aperture (38) in said package (30), whereby, upon insertion of the plug end (13a) of said line cord (13) into said power receptacle (14), said cam follower portion (41) of said bellcrank ( 4 0) is engaged by said plug end (13a) causing rotation of said bellcrank (40) and effecting engagement of said remote end portion (45) of said bellcrank (40) with said locking bar (50), causing said locking bar (50) to move to a second position engageable in said second opening (47) in said machine and locking said pluggable package (30) in said machine (10).