Electronic interlock for storage assemblies with communication

A file cabinet assembly (100) comprising:

• housing means (12, 112) defining an enclosure;
• a plurality of storage units (14, 114) slideably supported by said housing means (12, 112) for sliding between a closed position and an open position;
• a plurality of electronically controlled independent locking means (16, 116) for receiving power and each operatively associated with one of said storage units (14, 114) and having a locked condition for contacting and locking said storage units (14, 114) in said closed position in response to a lock signal and having an unlocked condition for unlocking and allowing said storage units (14, 114) to slide to said open position in response to an unlock signal and for maintaining said storage units (14, 114) in said closed position and locked in response to discontinuation of power,
• electrical control means (18, 100) connected to said locking means (16, 116) for locking and unlocking said locking means (16, 116);
• said control means (18, 110) including input means (20, 120) for receiving an input code, data memory means separate from said input means (20, 120) for storing an access code, said sensing means (34, 134) including a plurality of sensors each associated with at least one of said storage units (14, 114) for each producing a close signal when said storage unit (14, 114) is in said closed position and for producing an open signal when said storage unit (14, 114) is in said open position, position means (154) operatively connected to said sensing means for receiving all of said close and open signals and for producing an enable signal when only said close signals are received and for producing a disable signal when at least one of said open signals is received, and processor means connected to said input means (20, 120) and said data memory means (22, 162) and said position means and connected independently to each of said locking means for receiving and comparing said access code with said input code to produce said unlock signal to only one of said locking means when said access code equals said input code and said enable signal is received and for limiting opening to only one of said storage units (14, 114) while the remaining storage units (14, 114) are maintained in said closed position with the associated locking means (16, 116) locked so that all of said storage units (14, 114) must be in the closed position in order to unlock said only one storage unit (14, 114) and move said only one storage unit to the open position.

A method of providing limited access to a file cabinet assembly (10, 100) having a plurality of storage units (14, 114) moveable between a closed position and an open position within a housing (12, 112), the method including the steps of:

• receiving power,
• storing a plurality of access codes,
• receiving an input code,
• sensing the position of all of the storage units (14, 114) and producing an electrical position signal indicative of the positions,
• producing an electrical enable signal only when all of the storage units (14, 114) are in the closed position based on the position signals,
• producing an electrical disable signal when at least one of the storage units (14, 114) is in the open position,
• locking the storage units (14, 114) by electrical control in the closed position when the input code is not equal to the access code,
• locking the storage units (14, 114) when power is discontinued,
• comparing the input code to the stored access codes,
• independently unlocking only one of the storage units (14, 114) by electrical control from the closed position when the input code equals the access code and the enable signal is produced and power is received, and
• retaining the remaining storage units (14, 114) locking so that all of the storage units must be in the closed position to allow only one storage unit to be opened.

A method of providing limited access to a file cabinet assembly (10, 100) having a plurality of storage units (14, 114) moveable between a closed position and an open position within a housing (12, 112), the method including the steps of:

• receiving power,
• storing an access code,
• receiving an input code,
• individually sensing the position of each of the storage units (14, 114) and producing an electrical signal for each storage unit indicative of the position thereof producing a plurality of open and close signals depending on the associated position of the storage unit between either open or close,
• receiving all of the individual open and close signals,
• producing a separate and remote electrical enable signal only when all of the received signals are close signals and all of the storage units (14, 114) are in the closed position,
• producing an electrical disable signal when at least one of the received signals is an open signal and at least one of the storage units (14, 114) is in the open position,
• receiving the enable or disable signal and locking the storage units (14, 114) by electrical control in the closed position when the input code is not equal to the access code,
• locking the storage units (14, 114) when power is discontinued,
• independently unlocking only one of the storage units (14, 114) by electrical control from the closed position when the input code equals the access code and the enable signal is produced and power is received, and
• retaining the remaining storage units (14, 114) locked so that all of the storage units must be in the closed position to allow only one storage unit to be opened.

A file cabinet assembly (100) comprising:

• housing means (12, 112) defining an enclosure;
• a plurality of storage units (14, 114) supported by said housing means (12, 112) for moving between a closed position and an open position;
• electronically controlled locking means (16, 116) for receiving power and operatively associated with each of said storage units (14, 114) and having a locked condition for contacting and locking said storage units (14, 114) in said closed position in response to a lock signal and having an unlocked condition for unlocking and allowing said storage units (14, 114) to move to said open position in response to an unlock signal and for maintaining said storage units (14, 114) in said closed position and locked in response to discontinuation of power;
• electrical control means (18, 110) connected to said locking means (16, 116) for locking and unlocking said locking means (16, 116);
• said control means (18, 110) including electronic input means (20, 120) for receiving an input code, electronic data memory means separate from said input means (20, 120) for storing a plurality of access codes, electronic sensing means operatively connected to said storage units for producing an electrical signal indicative of the respective storage unit being in the closed position or open position, history memory means for storing operational information regarding reception of an input code and use of said access codes and a subsequent opening of a storage unit, processor means operatively connected to said input means (20, 120) and said data memory means (22, 162) and said history memory means and said locking means for receiving and comparing said input code with said access codes to produce said unlock signal to only one of said locking means when said access code equals said input code and all of said storage units are in said closed position allow opening of one of said storage units when said input code has a predetermined relationship with said access codes and to store the occurrence of the relationship and access code and sensed opening of a storage unit in said history memory means for subsequent electronic recall and for limiting opening to only one of said storage units while the remaining storage units are maintained in said closed position with the associated locking means locked so that all of said storage units must be in the closed position in order to unlock a storage unit.

A file cabinet assembly (100) comprising:

• housing means (12, 112) defining an enclosure;
• a plurality of storage units (14, 114) supported by a housing means (12, 112) for moving between a closed position and open position;
• electronically controlled locking means (16, 116) for receiving power and operatively associated with each of said storage units (14, 114) and having a locked condition for contacting and locking said storage units (14, 114) in said closed position in response to a lock signal and having an unlocked condition for unlocking and allowing said storage units (14, 114) to move to said open position in response to an unlock signal and for maintaining said storage units (14, 114) in said closed position and locked in response to discontinuation of power;
• electrical control means (18, 110) connected to said locking means (16, 116) for locking and unlocking said locking means (16, 116);
• said control means (18,110) including electronic input means (20, 120) for receiving an input code, electronic data memory means for storing a plurality of access codes, electronic sensing means for producing an electrical signal indicative of the respective storage unit being in the closed position or open position, interface means for communication with an external computer to transfer information therewith, and processor means operatively connected with said input means and said data memory means and said interface means for receiving and comparing said input code with said access codes to produce said unlock signal to only one of said locking means when said access code equals said input code to allow opening of one of said storage units when said input code has a predetermined relationship with said access codes and for communicating information and said access codes with the external computer through control of said interface means and for limiting opening to only one of said storage units while the remaining storage units are maintained in said closed position with the associated locking means locked so that all of said storage units must be in the closed position in order to unlock a storage unit.