Mobile filing system with active-passive operator safety

Apparatus for filing selected media comprising:

• a. at least one mobile carriage in which the selected media is filed;
• b. motor means for rolling the mobile carriage along a floor to open and close an aisle adjacent the mobile carriage in response to receiving a command;
• c. camera means mounted to the mobile carriage for continuously producing images of the aisle;
• d. grabber means for capturing selected images from the camera means;
• and
• e. computer means for storing and comparing the selected images captured by the grabber means, and for commanding the motor means to enable or prevent rolling of the mobile carriage in response to the comparison of the selected images.

A method of protecting persons and objects associated with a mobile filing system having at least one mobile carriage comprising the steps of:

• a. rolling the mobile carriage to fully open an aisle adjacent the mobile carriage;
• b. continuously producing video images of the aisle;
• c. supervising the aisle to assure no person or object is in the aisle;
• d. capturing a first image of the open supervised aisle and storing the first image;
• e. removing supervision of the aisle and thereby enabling persons and objects to be in the aisle;
• f. commanding the mobile carriage to roll to close the aisle and immediately capturing a second image of the open unsupervised aisle;
• g. comparing the second image with the first image;
• and
• h. enabling the mobile carriage to roll to close the aisle in response to the second image having less than a predetermined difference from the first image.

In a mobile filing system having shelving that files selected media therein and a mobile carriage that cooperates with the shelving to open and close an aisle therebetween in response to rolling of the mobile carriage, a method of safely controlling the mobile carriage comprising the steps of:

• a. continuously producing video images of the aisle and of the filed media;
• b. supervising the aisle and assuring that no person or object is in the aisle;
• c. rolling the mobile carriage to a first aisle configuration;
• d. capturing a supervised image of the aisle and of the filed media at the first aisle configuration;
• e. removing supervision of the aisle and thereby enabling persons and objects to enter the aisle;
• f. capturing an operational image of the aisle and of the filed media at the first configuration of the aisle;
• g. comparing the supervised and operational images taken at the first aisle configuration;
• and
• h. enabling the mobile carriage to roll and closing the aisle in response to the supervised and operational images having less than a predetermined difference between them.