Fiche storage and cleaning apparatus

Claim 2

A fiche storage unit comprising a plurality of trays stacked together to define a column of storage sections for storing fiche, a top cover member secured on the upper member of the stack of trays, said members defining between them a horizontal slot of sufficient length for receiving one of said fiche, a push plate positioned in said slot for limited vertical movement between said members, said push plate and one of said members having parallel lEdges at their outer extremities, and cleaning elements mounted on said ledges for wiping a fiche that has been inserted between said push plate and said one member.

Claim 3

The fiche storage unit that is defined in claim 1, wherein spring means are operatively positioned between said push plate and one of said members for urging said push plate toward the other member.

Claim 4

The fiche storage unit that is defined in claim 2, wherein said top member has a hole through its upper surface and said push plate has a push button projecting through said hole for pushing the push plate against said one member.

Claim 5

The fiche storage unit that is defined in claim 1, wherein each of said cleaning elements comprises a C-shaped strip enclosing the edge of the ledge on which it is mounted, and a cleaning material secured to the exposed surface of said strip.

Claim 6

The fiche storage unit that is defined in claim 1, wherein said column has a plurality of sides, and storage sections open to each of said sides to provide a multiplicity of storage spaces for fiche.

Claim 7

The fiche storage unit that is defined in claim 5, wherein said column of storage sections are mounted on a turntable base.

Claim 8

A fiche storage section comprising a plurality of trays stacked together to define a vertical column for storing fiche, each tray having a generally square frame, a horizontal surface of each of only two opposite sides of the frame being recessed, the vertical extent of each recess being less than the thickness of the frame, said trays being stacked alternately at right angles to one another so that the recessed sides of the frame of one tray are positioned adjacent to the other sides of the frame of the next succeeding tray, said trays when so stacked having complementary interfitting portions on the upper and lower portions of the frames securing the frames together and defining a horizontal slot at each recess into which a fiche can be inserted for storage in a flat condition.

Claim 9

A fiche storage section comprising a plurality of trays stacked together to define a vertical column for storing fiche, each tray having a generally square frame, a horizontal surface of each of only two opposite sides of the frame being recessed, the vertical extent of each recess being less than the thickness of the frame, said trays being stacked alternately at right angles to one another so that the recessed sides of the frame of one tray are positioned adjacent to the other sides of the frame of the next succeeding tray, said trays when so stacked having complementary interfitting portions on the upper and lower portions of the frames securing the frames together and defining a horizontal slot at each recess into which a fiche can be inserted for storage in a flat condition.

Claim 10

The fiche storage section that is defined in claim 7, wherein ledges project outwardly from opposite sides of each frame, said ledges being in the plane of the complementary interfitting portion which defines the lower surface of the slot into which fiche can be inserted.

Claim 11

The fiche storage section that is defined in claim 7, wherein each tray has supporting surfaces which are inward extensions of the recesses in said opposite sides, and each tray has rails in complementary relation to the supporting surfaces of the next succeeding tray to define therewith a storage space of limited depth for maintaining said fiche flat.

Claim 12

The fiche storage section that is defined in claim 9, wherein abutments are located on each tray to limit the inward insertion of fiche into each storage space.

Claim 13

The fiche storage section that is defined in claim 7, wherein each tray has a spring element positioned inward of each recess and in the path of insertion of the fiche for resiliently retaining the fiche in its inserted position.

Claim 14

The fiche storage section that is defined in claim 7, wherein each tray is an integral one-piece structure of organic plastic material.

Claim 15

A fiche storage section comprising a plurality of trays stacked together to define a vertical column for storing fiche, each tray being an integral one-piece structure of organic plastic material and having a generally square frame with a horizontal surface of each of two opposite sides of the frame being recessed, said trays being stacked alternately at right angles to one another so that the recessed sides of the frame of one tray are positioned adjacent to the other sides of the frame of the next succeeding tray, said trays when so stacked having complementary interfitting portions on the upper and lower portions of the frames securing the frames together and defining a horizontal slot at each recess into which a fiche can be inserted for storage, ledges projecting outwardly from each frame from the lower surfaces of the slots, supporting surfaces extendIng inwardly from said lower surfaces, and rails projecting from each frame in complementary relation to the supporting surfaces of the next succeeding tray to define therewith a storage space of limited depth for maintaining the fiche flat, each tray also having an abutment to limit the inward insertion of fiche into each storage space and a spring element for resiliently retaining the fiche in its inserted position.

Claim 16

A fiche storage section comprising a plurality of trays stacked together to define a vertical column for storing fiche, each tray being an integral one-piece structure of organic plastic material and having a generally square frame with a horizontal surface of each of two opposite sides of the frame being recessed, said trays being stacked alternately at right angles to one another so that the recessed sides of the frame of one tray are positioned adjacent to the other sides of the frame of the next succeeding tray, said trays when so stacked having complementary interfitting portions on the upper and lower portions of the frames securing the frames together and defining a horizontal slot at each recess into which a fiche can be inserted for storage, ledges projecting outwardly from each frame from the lower surfaces of the slots, supporting surfaces extendIng inwardly from said lower surfaces, and rails projecting from each frame in complementary relation to the supporting surfaces of the next succeeding tray to define therewith a storage space of limited depth for maintaining the fiche flat, each tray also having an abutment to limit the inward insertion of fiche into each storage space and a spring element for resiliently retaining the fiche in its inserted position.

Claim 17

A tray for a fiche storage unit comprising a square frame with pairs of opposite sides, the upper surface of one pair of opposite sides of the frame being recessed, a ledge projecting outwardly and a supporting surface projecting inwardly from each recessed portion of said one pair of sides, each said supporting surface having a transverse abutment at its inner end, the other pair of opposite sides of the frame having a lower surface with a downwardly projecting portion generally complementary in shape to the recessed portion of the upper surface, rails extending inwardly from each projecting portion and being generally complementary in shape to said supporting surfaces and spring blades aligned generally with said rails and projecting downwardly beyond the lower surface of said rails.

Claim 18

A tray for a fiche storage unit comprising a square frame with pairs of opposite sides, the upper surface of one pair of opposite sides of the frame being recessed, a ledge projecting outwardly and a supporting surface projecting inwardly from each recessed portion of said one pair of sides, each said supporting surface having a transverse abutment at its inner end, the other pair of opposite sides of the frame having a lower surface with a downwardly projecting portion generally complementary in shape to the recessed portion of the upper surface, rails extending inwardly from each projecting portion and being generally complementary in shape to said supporting surfaces and spring blades aligned generally with said rails and projecting downwardly beyond the lower surface of said rails.

Claim 19

A tray as is defined in claim 14, wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the frame has complementary portions for interfitting with corresponding portions of other trays stacked alternately at right angles to one another.

Claim 20

A tray as is defined in claim 15, which is an integral one-piece structure of organic plastic material.

Claim 21

A fiche storage unit comprising a plurality of trays stacked together to define a vertical column for storing fiche, each tray having a generally square frame with a horizontal surface of each of two opposite sides of the frame being recessed, said trays being stacked alternately at right angles to one another so that the recessed sides of the frame of one tray are positioned adjacent to the other sides of the frame of the next succeeding tray, and trays when so stacked having complementary interfitting portions on the upper and lower portions of the frames securing the frames together and defining a horizontal slot at each recess into which a fiche can be inserted for storage in a flat condition between adjacent trays, a top member secured on the upper member of the stack of trays, said members defining between them a horizontal slot of sufficient length for receiving one of said fiche, a push plate positioned in said slot for limited vertical movement between said members, said push plate and one of said members having parallel ledges at their outer extremities, and cleaning elements mounted on said ledges for wiping a fiche that has been inserted between said push plate and said one member.

Claim 22

A fiche storage unit comprising a plurality of trays stacked together to define a vertical column for storing fiche, each tray having a generally square frame with a horizontal surface of each of two opposite sides of the frame being recessed, said trays being stacked alternately at right angles to one another so that the recessed sides of the frame of one tray are positioned adjacent to the other sides of the frame of the next succeeding tray, and trays when so stacked having complementary interfitting portions on the upper and lower portions of the frames securing the frames together and defining a horizontal slot at each recess into which a fiche can be inserted for storage in a flat condition between adjacent trays, a top member secured on the upper member of the stack of trays, said members defining between them a horizontal slot of sufficient length for receiving one of said fiche, a push plate positioned in said slot for limited vertical movement between said members, said push plate and one of said members having parallel ledges at their outer extremities, and cleaning elements mounted on said ledges for wiping a fiche that has been inserted between said push plate and said one member.

Claim 23

The fiche storage unit that is defined in claim 17, wherein said column of storage sections is mounted on a turntable base.

Claim 24

The fiche storage unit that is defined in claim 18, wherein said turntable base comprises two plates in overlying relationship having facing concentric annular races, a plurality of balls in said races, and a pin connecting said plates at their center for relative rotation.