US2045873A - Keyboard mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1936. E. RELLER KEYBOARD MECHANISM Filed Oct. 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 30, 1936. E. L. RELLER KEYBOARD MECHANISM Filed Oct. 10, .1932

5 Sheets-Sheet '2 wsmx Lap-:2

June 30, 1936. E. L. RELLER I KEYBOARD MECHANISM Filed Oct. 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fiwen/ar E. L. RELLER 2,045,873 KEYBOARD MECHANISM Filed Oct. 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 30, 1936.

June 30,- 193s. E L RELLER 2,045,873

KEYBOARD MECHANI SM Fil ed Oct. 10, .1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 MMMMMHHH 1 Patented June 30, 19 36 I filial 1511 KEYBOARD MECHANISM Overland, Mo.

Application October 10, 1932, Serial No. 637,144

15 Claims.

This invention relates generally to keyboard mechanisms, and has more particular reference to a keyboard mechanism adapted especially, though not exclusively for use in connection with I name and address printing-plate-making machines. 4

p In the making of name and address printing plates, the trade demands that the typography on the plate be in both upper and lower-case characters as occasion may require. Heretofore, however, so far as I am aware, keyboard mechanisms proposed for use with printingplate-making machines of the type described have necessitated the use of a separate key for each and every upper and lower-case character, so that, for example, approximately eighty keys, or what is known as a double-keyboard, is required in such machines to provide the requisite selection of dies for making the plate, which is too large a keyboard for speed and facility in the use of such a machine.

My invention has hence for its prime object the provision of a key-board mechanism adapted to operate, for example, an eighty-die plate-making machine, that is to say, a plate-making machine employing all the letters of the alphabet in both capital and small letters, as well as the usual figures and other characters commonly employed in a typewriter, with merely forty keys on the keyboard, a key for a particular letter being readily coupled selectively with either an upper or a lower case die as occasion may require, thus greatly expediting the employment of the platemaking machine for its intended purpose.

My invention has for further objects the provision of a mechanism including a plurality of keys arranged in a keyboard for operation like a typewriting machine for controlling the operation of a normally rotating member, as a register-wheel or the like, for accurately stopping the wheel and for locking the same in selected position; the provision, in such mechanism, of safety devices whereby merely one key may be operated at a time; the provision, in an apparatus of the character described of an arrangement whereby the several groups of mechanisms will operate outin the claims.

7 In the accompanying drawings (five sheets) Figure 1 is aside elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a keyboard mechanism of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top-plan view of the machine, portions thereof being broken away and other 5. parts shown in section;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken approximately along the line 3-3, Figure 2; the mechanism being shown in association with a rotatory so-called printing- 10 plate impression head;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken approximately along the line 44, Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along the line 5-5, Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken approximately along the line 6-6,

'Figure 3; and

Figure '7 is a view of a portion of Figure 3, showing one of the keys manipulated in operative position, portions of the mechanism operable responsively to manipulation of the key being shown and other parts removed.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawings, the main frame A of the machine comprises a box-like structure composed of a pair of spaced side-walls l, 2, connected at their upper margins by an approximately horizontal plate or top-wall 3, the side walls I, 2, being provided with pads or feet for attachment of the frame to a suitable support, not shown.

Disposed suitably, transversely between the side-walls E, 2, is a shaft or rod 4, on which is pivotally mounted a spaced series of key-bars designated generally by the reference-character B, suitable washers 5 serving for spacing the bars B on the shaft G.

The main or shank-portions 6 of the bars B extend forwardly from the shaft 6 in substantially parallel relation to a suitable point, and are then bent or ofiset more or less toward one another at various angles for disposing the front ends of the bars B in a compact group projecting different distances beyond the frame A, the so-offset portions of the bars B having guiding co-operation with a suitable so -called comb 1, disposed transversely between the side-walls l, 2, for maintaining the bars B in approximate parallelism. The comb l includes a horizontal leg or stop against which the respective bars B are tensionally biased by a spring 8 engaging the forward end of the shank 6 and depending from a suitable angle-shaped member 9 transversely 1 mounted between the frame-walls I, 2, as best seen in Figure 2.

The bars B carry at their ends upstanding leg portions, as at I6, of different heights for the different levers B, each leg I6 carrying a key II, the several keys II being arranged in four ascending steps or banks in a manner similar to a typewriter keyboard, as will readily be understood frorn Figures 2 and 3.

At its forward end the shank-portion 6 of each bar B pivotally supports a swingable depending A-shaped so-called coupling frame I2, the opposite legs thereof being provided with opposing terminal stops or shoulders I3, I4, respectively, and the medial portion of the frame I2 being bifurcated by a suitably shaped slot I5, as best seen in Figure 3.

Extending transversely through the slots I5 of the series of frames I2 is. a shifter-bar or shaft I6 supported at its endson and by a pair of arms or cranks I! in turn depending from a shaft I8 oscillatably supported between the frame sidewalls I, 2. Extending forwardly from each crank I1 is a shifter-arm I9 terminating in an upstanding leg on which is mounted a shifter-key 26, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3. Additional springs 8 engaged between the spring support 9 and the levers I9 serve for biasing the latter up wardly on the comb I for normally disposing the shifter-bar I6 in forwardly swung position in the machine, as seen in Figure 3.

Disposed transversely between the Walls I, 2, is a bar or support 2 I, on which is mounted another comb-member 22, the fingers thereof projecting upwardly between and having guiding co-operation with the respective key-bars B for spacing and aligning the same in the machine. Pivotally mounted on the base-portion of the member 22 is a longitudinal series of so-called stroke-lock dogs 23, each terminating in a rounded or V- shaped nose or end, presented upwardly toward and between respective pairs of the key-bars B, the latter being adapted respectively for descending between a pair of the dogs 23 on operative manipulation of the keys II, as will presently appear, and best seen in Figure 6.

However, on entry of a particular key-bar B in and between a pair of the adjacent dogs 23, the latter are caused to swingably shift or incline from'their vertical centers in opposite directions, each dog 23 being adapted, on such inclination to one side or the other of its vertical center, for impinging and shifting in like direction the next-adjacent dog of the series, the latter dog in turn throwing its neighboring dog in like manner, and so on to the end of the series.

The terminal dog 23 of the series impinges the particular one of a pair of suitable stops or pins 24 projecting from the comb-member 22 at the opposite ends of the series, the series of dogs 23 then reclining, one upon the other in close or abutting relation, in opposite directions from the point of entry thereinto of the particular keybar B, for effectively preventing the entry of any other key-bar B into and between the stroke-lock dogs 23, until the former bar B is raised or removed from engagement with its'partioular pair of engaged dogs 23, as will be understood from Figure 6.

Upstanding from each key-bar B intermediate the ends of the shank 6 is a lug or stop -25, the series of stop-lugs 25 having co-operative engagement with a latch-bar 26 extending transversely in themachine and supported for oscillation toward and from the series of stops 25 by means of trunnions 2I rotarily engaging the frame walls I, 2, as best seen in Figure 6.

Intermediate its ends the latch-bar 26 is provided with a rearwardly extending lip or triparm 28, and a spring or tension member 29 is engaged between the arm 28 and the springsupport 9 for biasing the latch-bar 26 normally on the front face of the lugs 25. Each lug 25 is provided with an upwardly presented shoulder as shown, which, when a particular key-bar B is depressed for entering into the series of dogs 23, rides under the lower edge of the bar 26 for latching engagement therewith for retaining the bar B in such depressed or manipulated position pending tripping-oscillation of the bar 26 as will presently more particularly appear, and as shown in dot-dash lines in Figure '7. Disposed transversely between side-walls I, 2, in suitable vertically spaced relation beneath the shaft 4, is a shaft or rod 30 on which is pivotally mounted a series of successive pairs of forwardly extending so-called stop-levers C, D, the stoplevers C being respectively disposed in substantially vertical registration with a corresponding 2 key-bar B, and the stop-levers D being disposed intermediate the levers C, as best seen in Figures 2 and 6, suitable washers 3| serving for spacing the levers C, D, on the shaft 30, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Intermediate their ends the levers C, D, guidingly engage a so-called comb 32 depending from the support member 2I, whereby the levers C, D, are maintained in substantial parallelism, the

levers C, D, being normally tensionally impinged or biased on the bottom face of the bar 2| by means of suitable springs 33 attached alternately to the opposite margins of a spring-support 34 disposed transversely between the frame walls I, 2, as best seen in Figure 3. a 7

Each pair of stop-levers C, D, is operatively associated with a particular key-bar B, and for such purpose the pair of levers C, D, are extended forwardly from the shaft 30 for embracing a corresponding coupling-frame I2 of the particular key-bar B. From the end of the lever C a stoppin 35 projects toward the opposing face of the lever D, and from the lever D a stop-pin 36 projects toward the lever C, the pins 35, 36, being. spaced longitudinally of the levers C, D, and disposed in the swingable path of movement of the stops I3, I4, of the coupling-frame I2, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3.

Normally, the coupler I2 is disposed with its stop I3 in registration with the pin 36 of the lever D, the pin 35 of the lever C being then in registration with the slot I5 of the coupler I2, whereby, on manipulation of the key-bar B for depressing the same toward the levers C, D, the; coupler I2 will co-operate with the pin 36 for in turn depressing or oscillating the lever D about the shaft 30, as seen in Figure 7, the pin :35 finding clearance from the coupler I2 by entering the slot I5 thereof.

However, by manipulation of the shifter-lever I9, the shifter-bar I6 may be shifted rearwardly for correspondingly swinging the coupler I2and disposing its stop I4 'in registration with the pin 35, so that the key-bar B will then, when depressed, actuate the other lever C, the pin 36 in its turn entering partially into the slot I5 of the coupler I2. Thus, it will be seen the key-bars B, as a group may be selectively-coupled with the group of levers D, or'alternatively, with the group 15 bf levers C, at the option of the person operating the machine, for purposes presently appearing.

Rearwardly inclinably depending from each lever C, or D, as the case may be, isan arm 3'! provided with a longitudinally spaced pair of pins 38 for working in slots "39 of a s1ide-mem ber 40 mounted fiatwi'se on'the arm 31, the slide 40 carrying at its lower end a striker or stopblock 4|, as best seen in Figures 3 and 5.

The slide 49 of a respective lever C is provided with a forwardly projecting lug 42 to which is attached the lower end of a spring or tensional member 43 whose upper end is attached as at 44 to the body of the lever C, for normally biasing the stop-block M upwardly upon the arm 31'. For a similar purpose, the slide 48 of a respective lever D is provided with a lug 45, extending more forwardly than the lug 42, and likewise engaged by the lowerend of a spring 43 whose upper end is secured as at 48 tothe body of the lever D, as best seen in Figure 3.

E designates a so-called stop-cylinder mounted on, for revolution with, a shaft ll suitably journaled in and through the frame walls I, 2. Mounted on the'periphery of the cylinder E is a suitable spiral stop-member providing a series of teeth 48 arranged in a helical series about the circumference of the cylinder E, the number of teeth or stops 48 being equal to the combined numbers of levers C, D, and the diametrical plane of each stop 48 being disposed in registration with a corresponding strike-block M of a particular lever C or D, as the case may be, and as best seen in Figures 3 and 4.

One end of the shaft 41 is extended through the frame-wall I and has suitably keyed thereto a gear 49 which meshes with a pinion 50, mounted on the end of an approximately horizontal shaft 5| rotarily, also, projecting through the wall I. The shaft 5| supports, interiorly the wall I, a bevel-gear 52, which meshes with a bevelgear 53 mounted on one end of a drive-shaft 54 rotarily supported insuitable manner from and by the frame-wall l for projecting its other end rearwardly from the frame A, where the shaft 54 supports a pulley 55 engaged by a belt 55 for operative connection of the shaft 54 with a suitable prime-mover, as an electric-motor or the like, not shown.

The bevel gear 53 also meshes with a bevel pinion 51 mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft 58 rotarily supported in suitable manner in the machine, theshaft 58'projecting a suitable distance above the top-wall 3 of the frame A, and carrying at its upper end a face-plate 59 provided with a pair of diametrically'disposed upstanding pins 68.

Freely rotarily mounted on the shaft 58 beneath the face-plate 59 is a spur-pinion 6i, carrying a pair of upstanding pins 62 disposed diametrically on the pinion 8| and in quadrature or right-angularly with respect to the pins 56 of the'face-plate 59. The pins 62 project loosely upwardly through suitable apertures 63 in the face-plate 59, and suitable springs or tensionalmembers 64 are connected between each pin 62 and an adjacent pin 60 on the face-plate 59 for effecting a yielding connection between the faceplate 59 and the pinion M, as best seen in Figures 1 and2. v Y i v The spur-pinion 6| meshes with a ring gear 85 suitably supported on a register-wheel or indexing gear F disposed in a suitable recess provided in thetop frame-wall 3, the wheel F being preferably mounted on a shaft 66 support'edat its 'inder-carried stop 88 lower end on a stud-pin 8i mounted through the floor of the recess as seen in Figure 3, the upper endof the shaft 66 being supported by any suitable bearing means, not shown.

The wheel F is provided with a circumferential series of wedge-shaped or acuminate indexingteeth '68, equal in number to the series of stops 88 on the cylinder E, the several gears and pinions 4958, 52-53, 5351, and iii-65, being of such relativedimensions as to eifect one revolution of the wheel F for each revolution of the stop-cylinder E.

A head 89, having an acuminate-or wedgeshaped point 18 presented toward the teeth 68 of the wheel F, is disposed for suitable movement in a suitable aperture ll provided in the frame topwall 3; A suitable bracket '82 dependsfrom the wall 3' and has a way 73 in which the head 69 is guidingly mounted for engagement of its wedge-point 18 with and between a particular pair of teeth 88 on movement of the head 69 toward the wheel F, the head 89 being mounted on one or the upstanding arm of a bell crank lever 74 rockably'mounted on a shaft '55 supported in suitable bearings 18 depending from the frame top-wall 3, as best seen in Figure 3.

The other or horizontal arm of the bell-crank M is engaged, as at ill, by the lower end of a spring or resilient link-connection 18, the upper end thereof being attached to the end of a crank 19 mounted on a rockable-shaft 80 disposed transversely of and between the frame walls I, 2, as best seen in Figures 2, 3 and 6.

Adjacent the respective frame-walls I, 2, the shaft 88 carries a crank 8i pivotally engaging the upper end of a vertical link 82, as seen in Figure 6, the lower ends of the links 82 pivotally engaging cranks 83 mounted on a shaft 84 disposed transversely in and between the framewalls I, 2, the cranks 83 each being extended rearwardly as by arms Supported by and between the swingable ends of the crank-arms 85 is a shaft or trip bar 88 disposed transversely of and subjacent to the series of strikerblocks 5! of the levers C, D, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3.

As has been said, manipulation or depression of a particular key-bar B will effect swingable movement of the corresponding lever C, or D, according to the position of the frame l2, responsive to manipulation, if any, of the shifterrod it. Thus, as best seen in Figure 7, manipulation of a particular key-bar B will swingably depress the correspondingly associated lever D, for example, causing its carried stop-block 4| to be advanced toward the cylinder E for disposition or projection into the path of the cylaligned with. that particular lever D.

It follows, therefore, that rotation of the cylinder E will effect engagement of the particular stop 88' with the so-projected block ll, and,

since the cylinder E is continuously under ro-- tatory bias imparted by the belt 55 to the pulley 55, the stop 48 will, on impinging the block 8!,

shift the latter'downwardly from the lever-arm wings 88 adapted for slidably engaging the op.- posite end blocks M of the bank of levers C, D, for retaining the same in proper alignment with the cylinder E.

In order to prevent a shock to the mechanism on stoppage of the cylinder E, I prefer to pro vide a suitable form of cylinder-brake comprising in the present instance, a pair of brake-drums 89 each mounted on a respective end of the cylinder E, as seen in Figure 4, each drum 89 being interiorly equipped with a pair of opposing arcuate brake-shoes 99, suitably anchored as at 9I to the respective side-walls I 2, of the frame A. At its free end, each shoe 99 terminates in lug 92, the opposing lugs 92 being normally biased one toward the other in brakereleased manner by means of a spring or tensional member 93 mounted on a suitable retaining member or bolt 94 passed through the lugs 92, as best seen in Figure 1.

Disposed between the lugs 92 and rotarily mounted on a suitable pin 95 projecting from the frame wall I, or 2, as the case may be, is a rotary cam 96 from which forwardly projects a suitably curved lever 91. A red 98 is supported by and between the free ends of the levers 91 for disposition in the path of movement of the swingable depending portions of the levers C, D, as best seen in Figure 3, whereby, on manipulative actuation of any one of said levers, the cam 98 will be revolved for spreading the lugs 92 apart and for more or less frictionally engaging the shoes 99 with the drums 89, thus eifectiyely retarding the rotary motion of the cylinder E.

The cylinder E being brought to rest, the pulley 55 likewise comes to a standstill and the belt 56, slipping frictionally on the pulley 55, acts for holding the cylinder E in stopped position against the tension of the spring 43.

It may here be said that, normally, the springs 64 act for biasing the pins 92 upon the wall of the respective apertures 63 in the face-plate 59 so that the rotary bias of the belt 56 on the pulley 55 is transmitted directly from the face plate 59 through the pins 92 to the pinion BI for rotating the wheel F in synchronism with the cylinder E. However, when the cylinder E comes to rest, the springs 64 yield for allowing the pins 62 to shift in the apertures 93, thereby substantially effecting an absorption of the shock of retardation of movement of the wheel F and any apparatus that may be attached thereto.

The stop-bar 81 is located in such position in the frame A that, when movement of the cylinder E is arrested by impingement of a particular block M with the bar 81, the notch betwee a corresponding or related particular pair of teeth 68 of the wheel F will be disposed in registration with the wedge I9 of the head 59, as best seen in Figure 2.

During the movement .of the block 4| toward and upon the stop-bar 81, the rod 86 is impinged by the block 4! and shifted downwardly for, in turn, oscillating the shaft 89, in clockwise direction, reference being made to Figure 3, for movement of the crank IS in upward direction, and in turn effecting movement of the head 99 toward the wheel F for entrance of the wedge I9 into and between the particular pair of teeth 68 of the wheel F that may at the moment he positioned in registration with the head 69, whereby the wheel F is accurately centered or disposed in particular, predetermined, position with respect to the axis of the machine.

Projecting from the shaft 89 isan arm 99 which carries a screw or other like trip member I99 adjustably mounted in and through the arm 99 for depending therefrom in registration with the lip 28 of the latch-bar 2B, the trip-member I99 being disposed for engagement with the lip 28 on clockwise or wheel-centering oscillation of the shaft 89 for tilting or swinging the latch bar 26 from the lugs 25, that is, from the posltion shown by dot-rdash lines in Figure '7 to that shown by solid lines in the same figure, for releasing or unlatching the particular key B which at the particular moment is retained in depressed position by the latchebar 2B.

The particular key B, being thus released from constraint of the latch-bar 26, is by its spring 8 drawn or retracted upwardly to normal position, for, in turn, releasing the particular associated lever, as D in Figure '7, the spring 33 of the latter then drawing the lever D upwardly and swinging the block III away from the cylinder E, the block 4 I, on disengagement thereof from the particular stop 48 of the cylinder E then being drawn also upwardly to normal position by its spring 43.

Projecting forwardly from each link 82 is a lug or stop II9 for engaging the upper face of the spring support 34, a spring or tensional member I I9 being engaged between the end of the crank 8| and the spring-support 34 for normally biasing thestop I I9 toward the member 34, whereby, on retraction of the block 4| on the lever C, or D, as the case may be, the rod 86 is moved upwardly, the link 82 is moved downwardly until the stop H9 engages the member 34, the shaft 89 .is reversely oscillated to its former or initial position, and the wedge 191s withdrawn from the wheel F, the belt 59 being then again eifective for rotation of the cylinders E and wheel F until such time as another key-bar B is depressed, when the foregoing operations are repeated.

G designates a practical example of a normally rotating mechanism, comprising, in the present instance, a so-called, printing-plate impression device composed of an upper head or drum I9'I carrying a series of circumferentially arranged reciprocable punches I92, and a lower head or drum I93 carrying a corresponding series of circu nferentially arranged reciprocable dies I94 each in vertical registration with a respective punch I92, the numbers of pairs of members I92, I94, being equal to the number of teeth 68 of the wheel F.

I95 designates a WOI'ks-S'LIPDOT'I? on which the work I96, as a printing-plate or the like, is mounted, the support I95 having an aperture I95 def ning a station, as may be said, to which a particular pair of punch and die members l9'2, I94, is to be selectively brought or positioned, suitable strikers or plungers I92, I94, engageable respectively with the punch I92 and die I94, being operable, by means not shown, for moving the punch and the die one toward the other for engaging the work for forming the selected typo.- graphical or other desired impression in the plate I96, the mechanism G being provided also with a suitable feeder I91 actuable, by means not shown, for shifting the work I95 one space or stop at a time in proper sequence with the operation of the machine, well known to those skilled in the art and readily understood from Figures 3 and 6. I

Mounted on the shaft 89 is a crank I98 to the swingable end of which is connected a link or plunger I99, having suitable'connection, by means not shown, with the mechanism G, of which it suffices here merely to say that, whenthe shaft a particular key II, an upper-case character 80 is oscillated in clockwise direction, reference being made to Figures 3 and 7, the plunger I00 is shifted upwardly for effecting actuation of both the strikers I02, I04, and the feeder I0'I,for imprinting a character on the work I06 and feeding the same one step or space on the work-support I05. 7

If desired, a dash-pot or other suitable timedelay device may be incorporated in the mechanism, although, in the present instance, the

plunger I09, it may here be said, acts for preventing movement of the shaft 80 under bias of the spring 0', until the impression-making operation is completed; in practice, the interval of delay thus provided for is of very small duration.

A plunger III is reciprocably mounted in and through the frame-top wall 3, and is biased as by a suitably mounted spring or tensional member III, for movement normally in downward direction, the plunger I I I having a collar II I engageable with the upper face of the wall 3 for limiting the downward movement'of the plunger therein. The lower end of the plunger III is pivotally engaged with a crank IIZ projecting from a shaft II3 mounted transversely between the frame walls I, 2, the shaft I I3 carrying a pair of forwardly extending arms III for supporting a socalled space-bar II5 disposed transversely and forwardly of the bank of key-bars B, as clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3.

The plunger I II is suitably connected by means not shown, with the mechanism G whereby, on depression of the spacer-bar II5, the plunger III is operated for effecting actuation of the feeder I01 for moving the work I06 one space on the support I05, no impression, however, being made on the plate or work I06, for providing a space in the typographical matter being impressed on the work.

In the use and operation of my invention, and having particular reference, as an example, to the mechanism G, as shown in the drawings, it will be observed that there are forty of the keybars B, that is to say, the keyboard has merely a single key for each respective letter of the alphabet, and fourteen keys for the other usual typographical characters corresponding to the conventional typewriter keyboard. Likewise, there are forty of the levers C and forty of the levers D, the levers C corresponding to uppercase characters, and the levers D corresponding to lower-case characters of the keyboard members B. Similarly, there are eighty stops 48 on the cylinder E, and, correspondingly, eighty teeth 68 on the register-wheel F. Finally, there are eighty pairs of punch and die-members I02, I04, of the mechanism G, each pair of opposingly movable members I02, I04, comprising a die as may be said, the dies being mounted in the diehead structure "II, I 03, in a series of pairs of dies carrying characters of the alphabet, one dieof each pair carrying a lower-case character and the other die of the pair carrying an uppercase character of a particular letter of the alphabet.

The foregoing several members and elements are so related and arranged that each key II is effective for controlling the operation of both the upper andlower case dies of a particular letter of the alphabet, the keys II being normally coupled to the levers D, whereby, on depressing a particular key I I, normally a lower-case character will be imprinted on the work I05. However, by manipulating the shifter key 20, the keys II may be coupled to the levers C, whereby, on depressing will be imprinted on the work I06. Likewise, by manipulating the spacer bar II5, a space will be provided on the work I06 between the characters imprinted thereon.

It will then be seen that my invention accomplishesits objects, and provides a keyboard mechanism for use especially though not exclusively,

in connection with a printing-plate-making machine having a die-head containing a series of dies carrying characters including capital and small letters of the alphabet, and a keyboard wherein one key in the keyboard will selectively actuate both the capital and small letter dies of a particular letter of the alphabet.

However, I do not wish to be limited in the use of my invention to the particular embodiment of mechanism G as shown, but may employ my improved keyboard mechanism also for any purpose where a normally rotating member, for example,

is to be selectively stopped, my invention provid ing in such case a keyboard and means responsive to actuation of the keyboard for stopping said member in selected position.

It will be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts of my improved keyboard mechanism may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principles of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.-

1. In a mechanism of the character described, in combinatiom'a rotary member, a stop on the member, a swingable arm for registration with the stop, means for shifting the arm for disp0s ing the same in the path of the stop, means operable for latching the arm in shifted position, and means for unlatching the arm responsive to engagement thereof with the stop.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination, a rotary member, a stop on the member, a swingable arm, an element shiftable for longitudinal movement on the arm, means for shifting the arm for disposing the element in the path of the stop for movement of the element responsively to engagement thereof with the stop,

and means for limiting the movement of the element for arresting the rotary motion'of said member.

3. In a mechanism of the character described,

in combination, a rotary cylinder, stops disposed on the cylinder, a plurality of shiftable arms, an-

element carried by each arm for registration with a respective stop, a key-member selectively operable for shifting a respective arm for disposing its carried element in the path of the corresponding stop, means for releasably latching the key-member in operated position, and means actuable responsively to engagement of the element with the stop for releasing the latchingmeans from the key-member.

4. In a keyboard mechanism for use with. a printing-plate-making machine having a die head provided with a series of pairs of movably mounted dies carrying characters of the alphabet and wherein one die of each pair carries a lower-case character and the other die of the pair carries an upper-case character of a particular letter of the alphabet, in combination, a series of keymembers each associated with a pair of said dies, and mechanism incl'uding a bifurcated frame, and levers selectively actuable by the bifurcated frame responsive-to operation of a particular key-member for respectively operating an upper or lowercase die of a corresponding pair thereof.

5. In combination, a key-board having merely a single key for each respective letter of the alphabet, a die-head havingtme'rely a single row of individual dies for each respective upper and lower-case character of the letters of the alphabet, mechanism for selectively effecting operation of a particular die, and means including series of bifurcated frames and pairs of levers alternatively cooperable with the respective frames in response to actuation of a particular key .for alternatively selecting an upper or lower-case die of the corresponding letter of the alphabet.

6. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination, a rotary member, a stop on the member, a swingable arm, an element shiftable on the arm, means for shifting the arm for disposing the element in the path of the stop for movement of the element responsively to engagement thereof with the stop, and braking means including a member actuable responsively to engagement thereof by the shifted arm for retarding motion of the rotary member.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination a rotary cylinder, series of stops on the cylinder, series of shiftable arms, a movable element carried by each armfor registration with a'respective stop, a key member selec-' tively operable for shifting a respective arm for disposing its carried element in the path'of the corresponding stop, means for-releasably latching the key member ,in operated position, means actuable responsively'to engagement of the element with the stop for releasing the latching means from the key member, and braking means including a member actuable responsively to engagement thereofby the shifted arm-for retarding motion of the cylinder;

8. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination, a rotary member, a stop'on said member, a swingable arm, an element movable on the arm, means forshifting the arm for disposing the element in the'path of the stop, means operable for latching the arm in shifted position, and means for unlatching the arm responsively to movement of the element on engagement there- 'of with the stop.

9. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination, a rotary member, a stop-on said member, a shiftable arm, an element movable on the arm, means for shifting the arm for disposing the element inthe path of the stop, means for releasably 'latching'the arm in shifted position, means actuable responsively to movement of the element on engagement thereof with the stop for unlatching the arm, and braking means including a member engageable by and actuable responsively to movement of the arm for retarding motion of the rotary member. 1

10. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination, a rotary member, a stop on said member, a shiftable arm, an element movable on the arm, means for shifting the arm for disposing the element in the path of the stop, means for releasably latching the arm in shifted "position, means actuable responsively to movement of the element on engagement thereof With'the stop for unlatching the arm, braking means including a member engageable by and actuable responsively to movement of the arm for retarding motion of the rotary member, and means for limiting the movement of the element. 4

11. In combination, a key -board having merely a single key for each respective letter of the alphabet, a die-head having merely a single row of individual dies for each respective upper and lower case character of the letters of the alphabet,

mechanism for selectively effecting operation of -a particular die, means including series of bifurcated frames and pairs of levers alternatively actuable by the respective frames in response to' actuation of a particular key for alternatively selecting an upper or lower case die of the correspond- :ing letter of'the alphabet, means for latching a selected lever in actuated position, and means for unlatching the lever responsively to actuation of the die-operating mechanism.

12. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination, a rotary die-head, series of dies carried by the head, a register wheel having pairs of teeth each corresponding to a die in the head, an element engageable with said wheel, a rotary cylinder having series of stops each corresponding to a pair of said teeth, means for'actuating the die-head, the wheel and the cylinder in unison, means including a member shiftable for engagement with a-particular stop of the cylinder 'forarresting the motion thereof for stopping the head and the wheel in predetermined position, means for latching said member in shifted position, and means operable responsively to engagement of said member with the stop for concurrently engaging said element with a corresponding pair of the teeth of the wheel and releasing said member from the latching means.

13. In a mechanism of the character described,

in combination, a frame including a work-support, a rotary diehead, a series of dies carried by the head, a register-wheel having pairs of teeth each pair of teeth corresponding to a respective die in the head, an element engageable with said wheel, a rotary cylinder having a series of stops each stop corresponding to a pair of said teeth, means for actuating the die-head, the wheel, and the cylinder in unison, means including a member shiftable for engagement with a particular 'stop of the cylinder for arresting the motion thereof for stopping the head and the wheel in predetermined position in the frame, means for latching said member in shifted position, means responsive to shifting movement'of said member for retarding motion of the cylinder, and means operable responsively to engagement of said member with the stop for, concurrently engaging said element with a corresponding pair of the teeth of the wheel for temporarily retaining the die-head in registration with the work-support, and releasing said member from the latching means for in turn releasing the cylinder from the retarding means.

14. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination, a frame including a work-support, a rotary die-head, a series of dies carried by the head, a register-wheel having pairs of teeth each pair of teeth corresponding to a respective diein the head, a rotary cylinder having a series of stops each corresponding to a pair of said teeth, means for actuating the die-head, the wheel, and the cylinder in unison, a plurality of elements respectively movable toward the cylinder for engaging a corresponding stop thereof, means for supporting said elements for shiftable movement responsive to engagement thereof with the stop on the cylinder, means for limiting the movement of said element for arresting the motion of the cylinder for stopping the head and the wheel in predetermined position in the frame, means responsive to movement of any of said elements and including 75 a member engageable with a corresponding pair of the teeth of the wheel for temporarily retaining the die-head in registration with the worksupport, and means responsive to movement of an element toward the cylinder for retarding the motion of the cylinder.

15. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination, a frame including a work-support, a rotary die-head, a series of dies carried by the head, a register-wheel having pairs of teeth each pair of teeth corresponding to a respective die in the head, a rotary cylinder having a series of stops each corresponding to a pair of said teeth, means for actuating the die-head, the wheel and the cylinder in unison, a series of members respectively actuable for disposition in the path of a corresponding stop on the cylinder, means for latching a member in actuated position, means for arresting the motion of the cylinder responsively to engagement of a member with a corresponding stop for stopping the head and the wheel in predetermined position in the frame, an element for engaging the Wheel in stopped position, and means also responsive to engagement of a member with its stop for concurrently releasing said member from the latching means and engaging said element with a corresponding pair of the teeth of the wheel for retaining the diehead in stopped position.

EDWIN L. HELLER.

Images