Mechanized file carrier stabilization system

Claim 1

Mechanized filing apparatus of the type in which a plurality of article storage carriers are controllably conveyed along a closed loop path for selectively positioning the carriers at a work station adjacent the apparatus, comprising: a plurality of carriers each having a lateral shelf member and a pair of side members spaced along and extending transversely of the shelf member for holding and storing articles, a conveyor assembly for conveying the carriers along the closed loop path, including first and second pairs of vertically spaced wheels laterally separated from one another, a first flexible member extending around and riding on the first pair of wheels, a second flexible member extending around and riding on the second pair of wheels, and means for pivotally suspending each carrier from the flexible members including a pair of suspension arms connected from spaced points along the first flexible member to a rod extending laterally from one side member of the carrier and another pair of suspension arms connected from spaced points along the second flexible member to a rod extending laterally from the other side member of the carrier, each carrier having a first pair of rollers mounted in diagonally disposed relation to one another on the one side member of said carrier and having a second pair of rollers mounted in diagonally disposed relation to one another on the other side member of said carrier, the diagonal disposition of said second pair of rollers being transverse to the diagonal disposition of said first pair of rollers, and track means positioned adjacent the carrier side members for guiding the rollers to limit the tilt of the carriers while moving around the closed loop path, said track means including upper first and second track sections and lower first and second track sections disposed in discontinuous nonoverlapping relation to one another in a vertically oriented plane adjacent the one side member of the carriers, adjacent ends of the upper first and second track sections being spaced along one-half of an upper curved portion of the closed loop path about the upper wheels, adjacent ends of the lower first and second track sections being spaced along one-half of a lower curved portion of the closed loop path about the lower wheels and diagonally opposite the adjacent ends of the upper first and second track sections, said upper and lower first and second track sections being arranged such that as each carrier moves along upper and lower curved portions of the closed loop path one roller of said one side member is guided by the first track sections and the diagonally disposed roller of said one side member is guided by the second track sections, said track means further including upper third and fourth track sections and lower third and fourth track sections disposed in discontinuous nonoverlapping relation to one another in a vertically oriented plane adjacent the other side member of the carriers, adjacent ends of the upper third and fourth track sections being spaced along the other half of the upper curved portion of the closed loop path along which the upper first and second track sections are spaced and adjacent ends of the lower third and fourth track sections being spaced along the other half of the lower curved portion of the closed loop path along which the lower first and second track sections are spaced, said upper and lower third and fourth track sections being arranged such that as each carrier moves along the upper and lower curved portions of the closed loop path one roller of said other side member is guided by the third track sections and the diagonally disposed roller of said other side member is guided by the fourth track sections.