Side-sliding storage rack for 3480 cartridges

Abstract

In accordance with the invention, cartridge storage racks are subject to being arranged end-to-end and back-to-back in stationary rows; and, adapted to be mounted to slide alongside the front of each row are similar racks. The number of stationary racks, without disturbing existing racks, may be extended to the extent of room space; and track elements may be added as needed to the extent of the rows of stationary racks for sliding thereon additional slide racks. The slide racks are subject to sliding relative to the stationary racks in such manner as not to block full access of an individual to the stationary racks; and means is provided whereby the slide racks are subject to being braked against over-travel relative to the stationary racks. The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/003,277, filed Dec. 10, 1993, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An extendable assembly of cartridge storage stationary racks and a cartridge storage slide rack that is slidable relative to the stationary racks, the assembly comprising: multiple stationary racks, removable brackets connecting the stationary racks in end-to-end relation, a roller engageable channel track mounted along a top wall of each stationary rack in end-to-end abutting relation with similar tracks mounted along the top walls of neighboring stationary racks, each track being open along its top and at its ends to provide a continuous channel track with adjoining tracks; a separate base upon which each stationary rack is individually mounted, each base having a shoulder extending along a front of the rack mounted upon the base and having a shoulder extending along a rear of the rack; a separate rail track unit supported upon the shoulder fronting each stationary rack, each rail track unit having a front wall and a top wall extending rearwardly from the front wall, means securing the top wall to the stationary rack, the top wall having a narrow raised portion extending along a front edge thereof, and means connecting the rail track units end-to-end whereby the narrow raised portions of the several units provide a continuous rail track fronting the stationary racks; a cartridge storage slidable rack unit comprising a slide rack for the storage thereon of cartridges, peripherally grooved rollers mounted to a bottom wall of the slide rack engaged for rolling along the rail track, and strap elements extending rearwardly from a top wall of the slide rack supporting rollers depending into the channel track, whereby the cartridge storage slidable rack unit is slidable along the rail and channel tracks, and whereby the assembly is adapted to have additional slidable cartridge storage rack units added to it by entering the depending rollers of the additional rack units into the channel track through an open end of the channel track and by seating the peripherally grooved rollers of the additional rack units onto the rail track. 
     
     
       2. An extendable assembly as in claim 1, wherein the assembly is adapted to have additional stationary cartridge storage racks, together with associated channel tracks, bases and rail track units joined in extension of corresponding elements in the manner set forth in claim 1. 
     
     
       3. An extendable assembly as in claim 1, wherein rubber bumpers are mounted upon opposed end walls of the slidable cartridge storage rack units, the bumpers serving to soften impact of one of the slidable cartridge storage rack units relative to another in the event of overtravel of a unit, and the bumpers further serving to effect a space between neighboring slidable cartridge storage rack units allowing insertion into the space of a worker's hand for manually sliding one of the units along the tracks. 
     
     
       4. An extendable assembly as in claim 1, wherein the bases supporting the stationary racks extend rearwardly of the stationary racks, and a duplicate of the assembly is mounted upon the extended bases. 
     
     
       5. An extendable assembly as in claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a brake member carried by the slidable cartridge storage rack unit and a stop member mounted to a stationary rack, the brake member having a padded flange and the stop member having a flange with which a pad of the padded flange is frictionally engageable to brake the slidable rack unit against movement beyond a predetermined distance. 
     
     
       6. An assembly comprising a row of cartridge storage stationary racks .Iadd.including upper and lower wall areas.Iaddend.;   roller engageable track means mounted in end-to-end relation to .Iadd.both .Iaddend.upper and lower wall areas of the stationary racks;   a slidable cartridge storage rack carrying rollers engaged with the track means and slidable by means of the rollers along the track means relative to the stationary racks;   and brake means carried by the slidable rack having a padded flange adapted for frictional cooperation with a flange of a stop member mounted to a stationary rack to effect stopping of travel of the slidable rack beyond a predetermined distance.   
     
     
       7. An assembly as in claim 6, wherein means is provided for extending the assembly to include additional stationary racks and complementary roller engageable track means. 
     
     
       8. In an assembly including an elongated stationary unit and a slidable unit fronting the stationary unit and slidable relative to the stationary unit, means for braking movement of the slidable unit beyond a predetermined distance relative to the stationary unit, the braking means comprising: a stop member of U-form having a back wall mounted to an end area of the stationary unit and having a longitudinally extending flat upper wall; and a brake pad member having a vertical wall mounted to the slidable unit, the vertical wall terminated at a bottom end thereof in a longitudinally extending flat flange upon an inner face of which a brake pad is mounted, wherein the brake pad is adapted to obtain friction engagement with the longitudinally extending flat upper wall of the stop member upon the slidable unit moving a predetermined distance relative to the stationary unit and in doing so to stop further movement of the slidable unit. 
     
     
       9. A method for forming an extendable row of cartridge storage stationary racks and associated cartridge storage slidable racks that are slidable along a pair of tracks relative to the stationary racks, the method comprising: providing a first individual cartridge storage stationary rack; fastening a spacer element to an end wall of the stationary rack and also fastening the said spacer element to an opposed end wall of a succeeding second stationary rack; similarly fastening spacer elements to extend the second stationary rack with successive additional stationary racks; mounting along an upper front area of each of the stationary racks an open ended roller engageable channel track of a length to abut an open end of a next adjoining channel track so as to form a continuous channel track along the stationary racks; mounting along a base front of each stationary rack a roller engageable rail track of a length to abut an end of a next adjoining rail track so as to form a continuous rail track along the stationary racks parallel to the continuous channel track; providing one or more individual cartridge storage slidable racks; engaging for travel along the continuous channel track rollers extending off the upper back of each slidable rack; and engaging for travel along the continuous rail track peripherally grooved rollers mounted to the underside of each slidable rack.