Monitoring arrangement for electronic file folder locator system

Abstract

This invention relates to a monitoring arrangement for a hanging file folder for identifying information contained in an electronic file folder locator system. A hanging file folder, as known in the art, includes a pair of laterally extending support bars along a pair of upper edges of the file folder wherein each upper edge is formed with a channel for holding a respective support bar, and the file folder is formed with a plurality of apertures into one of the upper edge channels at a plurality of spaced locations along that channel. The monitoring arrangement comprises a pair of parallel, substantially horizontal, support rails spaced apart within a file cabinet to suspend the file folder therebetween. Further, there is provided a file folder label holder containing an addressable switch and a memory storing identifying information unique to the file folder, the label holder having a tab adapted to extend into a file folder upper edge aperture for mounting the label holder to the file folder, and a first pair of conductive lines extending along at least one of the support rails and adapted for connection to a communications bus of the electronic file folder locator system. Finally, a second pair of conductive lines are provided to extend along the one support bar within its channel of the file folder having the plurality of apertures, the second pair of conductive lines being located on the one support bar for contact with respective ones of the first pair of conductive lines when the file folder is supported on the pair of support rails, and circuitry within the label holder coupled to the addressable switch and the memory.