Coded file locator system

Claim 2

An automated file locator system for at least one file holder, said file holder having a housing and at least one folder carrier for holding a plurality of folders, said folder carrier being movable between an open and a closed position, comprising: a machine-readable code mounted on each of said folders; at least one code-reading means mounted on said housing adjacent said carrier, said code-reading means positioned on said housing such that movement of said carrier between the open and closed positions causes said code-reading means to automatically scan the machine-readable codes on said folders, said code-reading means generating signals corresponding to said codes in response to the scanning thereof; and control means for receiving the signals from said code-reading means and indicating that a folder with a particular code is located in said folder carrier.

Claim 3

A file locator system as in claim 1 wherein said file holder has a plurality of folder carriers.

Claim 4

A file locator system as in claim 2 wherein the code on each of said folders is unique.

Claim 5

A file locator system as in claim 3 wherein said folder carriers are drawers and said file holder is a file cabinet.

Claim 6

A file locator system as in claim 4, said system having a plurality of file holders, each file holder having at least one indicator connected to said control means.

Claim 7

A file locator system as in claim 5 wherein said control means is an electronic data storage and retrieval means.

Claim 8

A file locator system as in claim 6 wherein said data storage and retrieval means is at least one computer connected to a memory device.

Claim 9

A file locator system as in claim 7 wherein said file folders are hanging folders, said folders suspended transverse to a direction of travel of said drawers.

Claim 10

A file locator system as in claim 8 wherein said machine readable code is a bar code, said code being embedded in an interchangeable tab attached to a top surface of said folders.

Claim 11

A file locator system as in claim 7, said code-reading means having two indicators for receiving signals from said control means and a button for sending control signals to said control means.

Claim 12

A file locator system as in claim 10, wherein one of said indicators is energized by said control means when a particular folder in said carrier is adjacent said code-reading means on which said one of said indicators is mounted.

Claim 13

A file locator system as in claim 4, wherein each of said at least one code-reading means is an infrared scanner.

Claim 14

A file locator system as in claim 12, wherein each of said at least one scanner is located above a corresponding one of said drawers on the exterior of said housing.

Claim 15

A file locator system as in claim 12, wherein each of said at least one scanner is located above a corresponding one of said drawers on the interior of said housing.

Claim 16

A file locator system as in claim 12 wherein said machine-readable code is a bar code.

Claim 17

A file locator system as in claim 1, further comprising a carrier-mounted machine-readable code mounted within each carrier, said carrier-mounted code being scanned along with said machine-readable code, and stored by said data storage and retrieval means.

Claim 18

An automated file locator system for a plurality file cabinets, each of said file cabinets having a housing and a plurality of drawers for holding a plurality of folders, said drawers being movable between an open and a closed position, said folders comprising hanging folders suspended transverse to a direction of travel of said drawers, said system comprising: a unique machine-readable code mounted on each of said folders, wherein said machine readable code is a bar code embedded in an interchangeable tab attached to a top surface of said folders; at least one code-reading means mounted on said housing adjacent a corresponding drawer, said at least one code-reading means positioned on said housing such that movement of said drawer between the open and closed positions causes said code-reading means to scan the machine-readable codes on said folders, said code-reading means generating signals corresponding to said codes in response to the scanning thereof; at least one computer connected to a memory device for receiving the signals from said code-reading means and indicating that a folder with a particular code is located in said drawer, each of said file cabinets having at least one indicator connected to said at least one computer; and at least one remote code-reading means mounted remote from said housing and outputting signals to said at least one computer when said bar code on one of said folders passes by one of said remote code-reading means.

Claim 19

An automated file locator system for a plurality file cabinets, each of said file cabinets having a housing and a plurality of drawers for holding a plurality of folders, said drawers being movable between an open and a closed position, said folders comprising hanging folders suspended transverse to a direction of travel of said drawers, said system comprising: a unique machine-readable code mounted on each of said folders, wherein said machine readable code is a bar code embedded in an interchangeable tab attached to a top surface of said folders; at least one code-reading means mounted on said housing adjacent a corresponding drawer, said at least one code-reading means positioned on said housing such that movement of said drawer between the open and closed positions causes said code-reading means to scan the machine-readable codes on said folders, said code-reading means generating signals corresponding to said codes in response to the scanning thereof; at least one computer connected to a memory device for receiving the signals from said code-reading means and indicating that a folder with a particular code is located in said drawer, each of said file cabinets having at least one indicator connected to said at least one computer; and at least one remote code-reading means mounted remote from said housing and outputting signals to said at least one computer when said bar code on one of said folders passes by one of said remote code-reading means.

Claim 20

A file cabinet for use in an automated file locator system having a plurality of file folders, said folders each having a machine-readable code, comprising: at least one folder carrier, said carrier movably mounted within said cabinet; and at least one code-reading means mounted adjacent said carrier and positioned to automatically read said codes in response to movement of said carrier within said housing.

Claim 21

A file cabinet for use in an automated file locator system having a plurality of file folders, said folders each having a machine-readable code, comprising: at least one folder carrier, said carrier movably mounted within said cabinet; and at least one code-reading means mounted adjacent said carrier and positioned to automatically read said codes in response to movement of said carrier within said housing.

Claim 24

The method of claim 19 which further comprises mounted at least one remote code-reading means remote from said file cabinet, and outputting said code and said location from the remote code-reading means to a computer when one of said folders passes by said remote code-reading means.

Claim 25

An automated file locator system for a file cabinet having a housing and a plurality of drawers for holding a plurality of folders, said drawers being movable between an open and a closed position, said folders comprising hanging folders suspended transverse to a direction of travel of said drawers, said system comprising: a unique machine-readable code mounted on each of said folders; at least one code-reading means mounted on said housing adjacent a corresponding drawer, said at least one code-reading means positioned on said housing such that movement of said drawer between the open and closed positions causes said code-reading means to scan the machine-readable codes on said folders, said code-reading means generating signals corresponding to said codes in response to the scanning thereof; at least one computer connected to a memory device for receiving the signals from said code-reading means and indicating that a folder with a particular code is located in said drawer, each of said file cabinets having at least one indicator connected to said at least one computer; and at least one remote code-reading means mounted remote from said housing and outputting signals to said at least one computer when said bar code on one of said folders passes by one of said remote code-reading means.

Claim 26

An automated file locator system for a file cabinet having a housing and a plurality of drawers for holding a plurality of folders, said drawers being movable between an open and a closed position, said folders comprising hanging folders suspended transverse to a direction of travel of said drawers, said system comprising: a unique machine-readable code mounted on each of said folders; at least one code-reading means mounted on said housing adjacent a corresponding drawer, said at least one code-reading means positioned on said housing such that movement of said drawer between the open and closed positions causes said code-reading means to scan the machine-readable codes on said folders, said code-reading means generating signals corresponding to said codes in response to the scanning thereof; at least one computer connected to a memory device for receiving the signals from said code-reading means and indicating that a folder with a particular code is located in said drawer, each of said file cabinets having at least one indicator connected to said at least one computer; and at least one remote code-reading means mounted remote from said housing and outputting signals to said at least one computer when said bar code on one of said folders passes by one of said remote code-reading means.

Claim 27

The system of claim 21 wherein the code mounted on each folder is a bar code embedded in an interchangeable tab attached to a top surface of the folder.

Claim 28

The system of claim 21 wherein the code is automatically scanned by the code-reading means in response to movement of the drawer in the cabinet.

Claim 29

An automated file location system comprising: a plurality of drawers; a plurality of scanners, each of said scanners adjacent to a corresponding one of said drawers; and a plurality of file folders wherein each drawer contains at least one of said file folders, each of said file folders having a detachable tab on a top surface of said folder, wherein a machine-readable code is formed on said tab, said code supplying information to said system through one of said scanners when one of said drawers is moved past said one of said scanners.

Claim 30

An automated file location system comprising: a plurality of drawers; a plurality of scanners, each of said scanners adjacent to a corresponding one of said drawers; and a plurality of file folders wherein each drawer contains at least one of said file folders, each of said file folders having a detachable tab on a top surface of said folder, wherein a machine-readable code is formed on said tab, said code supplying information to said system through one of said scanners when one of said drawers is moved past said one of said scanners.