Drawer position sensing latch operated switch assembly

Claim 2

In combination with an enclosure structure including a slidably mounted drawer having an engaging member secured thereto, a latch apparatus for generating a signal upon latching of the drawer in a closed position within the enclosure structure comprising: a. latching means movably secured to said enclosure structure and positioned in the plane of movement of the drawer engaging member, said latching means being moved to an operating position, by the engaging member upon movement of the drawer in a drawer closing direction, conditioning the engaging member to be latched by said latching means when the engaging member is moved in a drawer open direction; b. signal generating means mounted on said enclosure structure for generating a signal when operated, said signal generating means includes an actuating member for operating said signal generating means when actuated; c. actuating means operably associated with said latching means and engageable with said actuating member, said actuating means includes a latching portion for engaging the engaging member upon movement of the drawer in a drawer closing direction, said actuating means actuating said actuating member when moved by said engaging member in a drawer open direction; d. and means engaging the drawer for normally urging the drawer in a drawer open direction, said urging means moving the drawer in a drawer open direction upon engaging of said engaging member by said actuating means whereby the engaging member is latched by said latching means and the signal generating means is operated by said actuating member.

Claim 3

The latch apparatus of claim 1 in which said latching means comprises a first latch member pivotally mounted to said enclosure structure, said latch member having a recessed portion, one end of which constitutes a blocking portion, and spring means for positioning the first latch member in the path of movement of the engaging member whereby movement of the drawer in a drawer close direction will position the engaging member within the recessed portion of said first latch member.

Claim 4

The latch apparatus of claim 2 in which the actuating means comprises a second latch member slidably mounted on said first latch member, said second latch member includes a recessed portion for engaging the engaging member upon movement of the engaging member in a drawer open direction, and said urging means comprises a spring member for normally urging the drawer in a drawer open direction whereby the engaging member will move into engagement with the blocking portion of said first latch member and move said second Latch member in a drawer open direction thereby actuating said actuating member.

Claim 5

The latch apparatus of claim 3 in which said signal generating means comprises a switch member and said actuating member comprises a switch arm normally biased in a drawer close direction.

Claim 6

The latch apparatus of claim 4 which includes selectively operable actuating means for rocking, when operated, said first latch member in a direction disengaging said engaging member from a latched position whereby said spring member will move the drawer in a drawer open direction.

Claim 7

In a data terminal device having a drawer slidably mounted for movement between an open and closed position, a mechanism for generating a signal indicating the closed position of the drawer comprising: a. engaging means secured to the rear of the drawer; b. a first movable latch member mounted in the path of movement of said engaging means, said latch member being moved by said engaging means, upon movement of the drawer in a drawer closing direction, to a first position conditioning the latch member for latching the engaging means; c. a second movable latch member being moved by said engaging means to a first position conditioning said second latch member to latch the engaging means; d. switching means for generating a signal when actuated; e. switch actuating means engaging said switching means and said second latch member for actuating said switching means when operated, said switch actuating means being operated upon movement of said second latch member in a drawer open direction; f. and urging means engaging said drawer member for normally urging said drawer member and said engaging means in a drawer open direction whereby upon movement of said first and second latch members to said first position, said urging means will move said engaging means to a latch position with said first latch member, said engaging means moving said second latch member to operate said switch actuating means.

Claim 8

In a data terminal device having a drawer slidably mounted for movement between an open and closed position, a mechanism for generating a signal indicating the closed position of the drawer comprising: a. engaging means secured to the rear of the drawer; b. a first movable latch member mounted in the path of movement of said engaging means, said latch member being moved by said engaging means, upon movement of the drawer in a drawer closing direction, to a first position conditioning the latch member for latching the engaging means; c. a second movable latch member being moved by said engaging means to a first position conditioning said second latch member to latch the engaging means; d. switching means for generating a signal when actuated; e. switch actuating means engaging said switching means and said second latch member for actuating said switching means when operated, said switch actuating means being operated upon movement of said second latch member in a drawer open direction; f. and urging means engaging said drawer member for normally urging said drawer member and said engaging means in a drawer open direction whereby upon movement of said first and second latch members to said first position, said urging means will move said engaging means to a latch position with said first latch member, said engaging means moving said second latch member to operate said switch actuating means.

Claim 9

In a housing which slidably supports a drawer between an open and closed position wherein the drawer has an engaging portion, a switch actuating latch mechanism for latching the drawer in the closed position comprising: a. a first latching member movably secured to the housing adjacent the engaging portion of the drawer, said first latching member being engaged and moved to a first position by the engaging portion of the drawer upon movement of the drawer in a drawer close direction, said first position conditioning the first latching member for latching the engaging portion upon movement of the drawer in a drawer open direction; b. a second latching member movably mounted on said first latching member, said second latching member being moved to the first position by the first latching member upon movement of the drawer in a drawer close direction, said first position conditioning the second latching member for movement by the engaging portion in a drawer open direction upon movement of the drawer in a drawer open direction; c. switch means for generating a signal when operated; d. a switch operating member engaging said switch means for operating said switch means when moved in a drawer open direction, said switch operating member engaging said second latching member; e. and resilient means engaging the drawer for normally urging the drawer in a drawer open direction, whereby upon the movement of said first and second latching member to said first position, said resilient means will move the drawer in a drawer open direction allowing said engaging portion to move into a latched position with said first latching member and said switch operating member through said second latching member to operate said switch means.

Claim 10

In a housing which slidably supports a drawer between an open and closed position wherein the drawer has an engaging portion, a switch actuating latch mechanism for latching the drawer in the closed position comprising: a. a first latching member movably secured to the housing adjacent the engaging portion of the drawer, said first latching member being engaged and moved to a first position by the engaging portion of the drawer upon movement of the drawer in a drawer close direction, said first position conditioning the first latching member for latching the engaging portion upon movement of the drawer in a drawer open direction; b. a second latching member movably mounted on said first latching member, said second latching member being moved to the first position by the first latching member upon movement of the drawer in a drawer close direction, said first position conditioning the second latching member for movement by the engaging portion in a drawer open direction upon movement of the drawer in a drawer open direction; c. switch means for generating a signal when operated; d. a switch operating member engaging said switch means for operating said switch means when moved in a drawer open direction, said switch operating member engaging said second latching member; e. and resilient means engaging the drawer for normally urging the drawer in a drawer open direction, whereby upon the movement of said first and second latching member to said first position, said resilient means will move the drawer in a drawer open direction allowing said engaging portion to move into a latched position with said first latching member and said switch operating member through said second latching member to operate said switch means.

Claim 13

In combination with a housing including a slidably mounted drawer having an L-shaped anchor member secured to the rear thereof, a switch actuating latch apparatus for generating a signal upon the position of the drawer in a closed position comprising: a. a latch member pivotally mounted to the housing, said latch member having a first latching portion; b. a first resilient member engaging said latch member for normally urging said latch member to a position in the path of movement of the L-shaped anchor member, whereby said latch member will be moved, by said anchor member upon movement of the drawer in a drawer closing direction, to a first position conditioning said anchor member to be latched by said latch member upon movement of the drawer in a drawer open direction; c. a switch actuating member slidably mounted on said latch member and having a second latching portion for latching the anchor member upon movement of the latch member to said first position; d. a switch member positioned adjacent said switch actuating member, said switch member generating a signal when operated; e. a movable switch actuating arm engaging said switch member for operating said switch member when moved in a drawer open direction, said actuating arm being normally biased in a drawer close direction and engaging said switch actuating member for biasing said actuating member in a drawer close direction to latch the anchor member when in said first position; f. and a second resilient member engaging the drawer for urging the drawer in a drawer open direction whereby upon movement of the latch member and the switch actuating member to said first position, said second resilient member will move the drawer in a drawer open direction thereby latching said anchor member and operating said switch member.

Claim 14

In combination with a housing including a slidably mounted drawer having an L-shaped anchor member secured to the rear thereof, a switch actuating latch apparatus for generating a signal upon the position of the drawer in a closed position comprising: a. a latch member pivotally mounted to the housing, said latch member having a first latching portion; b. a first resilient member engaging said latch member for normally urging said latch member to a position in the path of movement of the L-shaped anchor member, whereby said latch member will be moved, by said anchor member upon movement of the drawer in a drawer closing direction, to a first position conditioning said anchor member to be latched by said latch member upon movement of the drawer in a drawer open direction; c. a switch actuating member slidably mounted on said latch member and having a second latching portion for latching the anchor member upon movement of the latch member to said first position; d. a switch member positioned adjacent said switch actuating member, said switch member generating a signal when operated; e. a movable switch actuating arm engaging said switch member for operating said switch member when moved in a drawer open direction, said actuating arm being normally biased in a drawer close direction and engaging said switch actuating member for biasing said actuating member in a drawer close direction to latch the anchor member when in said first position; f. and a second resilient member engaging the drawer for urging the drawer in a drawer open direction whereby upon movement of the latch member and the switch actuating member to said first position, said second resilient member will move the drawer in a drawer open direction thereby latching said anchor member and operating said switch member.

Claim 15

The latch apparatus of claim 9 which includes a selectively operable actuating means engaging said latch member for pivoting said latch member, when operated, in a direction to release the anchor member from said latch member whereby said second resilient member will move the drawer to an open position.

Claim 16

A latch apparatus for actuating a switch upon latching a drawer in a closed position within an enclosure, the drawer having an anchor member on its rear portion comprising: a. a first latch member pivotally mounted on the enclosure; b. a first spring member engaging said latch member for normally positioning the latch member in the path of movement of the anchor member whereby upon movement of the drawer in a closed direction, the anchor member will engage and pivot the latch member to a first position conditioning the latch member to latch the anchor member upon movement of the drawer in an open direction; c. a second latch member slidably mounted on said first latch member for latching the anchor member when moved to said first position by said first latch member, said second latch member having an actuating portion; d. a switch member positioned adjacent the second latch member; e. a switch operating member engaging said switch member for operating said switch member when moved in a drawer open direction, said operating member being normally biased in a drawer closing direction and engaging the actuating portion of said second latch member thereby slidably moving the second latch member in a drawer closing direction to latch the anchor member when in said first position; f. and a second spring member engaging the enclosure and the drawer for normally urging the drawer in an open direction whereby upon movement of said first and second latch member to said first position, said second spring member will move the drawer in a drawer open direction thereby latching the anchOr member and operating said switch member.

Claim 17

A latch apparatus for actuating a switch upon latching a drawer in a closed position within an enclosure, the drawer having an anchor member on its rear portion comprising: a. a first latch member pivotally mounted on the enclosure; b. a first spring member engaging said latch member for normally positioning the latch member in the path of movement of the anchor member whereby upon movement of the drawer in a closed direction, the anchor member will engage and pivot the latch member to a first position conditioning the latch member to latch the anchor member upon movement of the drawer in an open direction; c. a second latch member slidably mounted on said first latch member for latching the anchor member when moved to said first position by said first latch member, said second latch member having an actuating portion; d. a switch member positioned adjacent the second latch member; e. a switch operating member engaging said switch member for operating said switch member when moved in a drawer open direction, said operating member being normally biased in a drawer closing direction and engaging the actuating portion of said second latch member thereby slidably moving the second latch member in a drawer closing direction to latch the anchor member when in said first position; f. and a second spring member engaging the enclosure and the drawer for normally urging the drawer in an open direction whereby upon movement of said first and second latch member to said first position, said second spring member will move the drawer in a drawer open direction thereby latching the anchOr member and operating said switch member.

Claim 18

The latch apparatus of claim 11 which includes a link member engaging said first latch member and a solenoid operated drive member engaging said link member for moving said link member and said first latch member, upon operation of the solenoid, in a direction releasing the anchor member from a latched position whereby said second spring member will move the drawer to an open position.