US2639663A - Keyboard construction for check writers, etc. - Google Patents

Description

May 26,- 1953 I J w n- E 2,639,663

v KEYBOARD CONSTRUCTION FOR CHECK WRITERS, ETC

Filed D80. 3, 1947 s Sheets-Shet 1 May 26, 1953 J. WHITAKER KEYBOARD CONSTRUCTION FOR CHECK WRITERS, ETC

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1947 May 26, 1953 J. WHITAKER 2,639,663

KEYBOARD CONSTRUCTION FOR CHECK WRITERS, ETC

Filed Dec. 5, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented May 26, 1953 KEYBOARD CONSTRUCTION FOR CHECK WRITERS, ETC.

John Whitaker, North Wales, Pa., assignor to Safeguard Corporation, Lansdale, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application December 3, 1947, Serial No. 789,381

7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in keyboard construction for use with checkwriters, calculating machines, or in any instance where it is desirable to set up a number of characters, elements, holes, spots, etc., selectively in predetermined relation to each other as, for example, on a common printing line, in a device having the characters, etc. arranged in series each consisting of a plurality of such characters, etc. disposed in spaced linear relation to each other on a separate carrier and wherein carriers are movable in and along parallel adjacent paths which intersect the line in which the selections from the several series are to be assembled.

More particularly, the present invention relates to the provision in keyboards of the type described of novel means for visibly indicating to the operator of the machine the characters, etc. which, by operation of selected keys, have been disposed in predetermined relation to each other as, for example, a common printing line.

The keyboard construction of the present invention is particularly adaptable for use with a checkwriter of the general character disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,794,266, dated February 24, 1931, for controlling the relative longitudinal movement of a group of type bars which respectively carry a series of numerical printing characters in relatively spaced relation to each other along each of the bars.

Keyboards of the general type comprehended by the present invention have been in use for some time but they are characterized by at least one disadvantage in that after selected keys have been operated to set-up the machine preparatory to a printing or like operation, it is difficult from a position above the board to readily check and ascertain that the proper keys desired have been set because it is quite difficult to distinguish the keys on the board which have been set from those which have not been set.

With this in mind, the present invention has for its principal object the provision in a keyboard of the type described of novel means for visibly indicating to the operator of the machine just what keys have been operated in order that the operator readily may check the correctness of the set-up of the machine prior to operating the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel indicating means as set forth which is of relatively simplified and inexpensive construe tion, and which is entirely efiicient and efiective in operation and use.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a checkwriting machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the checkwriter as viewed from line 2-2, Fig. 1, with a portion of the keyboard broken away to show certain details of underlying mechanisms which operate with and are controlled by the keyboard;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation taken through the keyboard of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a detached view in perspective showing the construction and arrangement of certain detail parts of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of one of the keys of the keyboard with the key in the raised inoperative position.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing the key in the depressed or operative position;

Fig. '7 is an inverted plan view of the forward portion of the keyboard detached from the checkwriter as viewed from, line 1-1, Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is a detached view in perspective of mechanism for clearing the keyboard for a succeeding operation each time the machine is operated.

Referring now more particularly tothe drawings, the present invention is illustrated in conjunction with a checkwriter machine comprising a base structure A in which a printing and scarifying platen, the main shaft, and other operating mechanisms of the device are enclosed; an upper superstructure B in which the printing elements, the actuating means therefor, and the type-inking apparatus are enclosed; a slot C between the base and superstructure and into which a check or other paper is adapted to be placed and positioned for printing; a keyboard assembly D superimposed on the superstructure B for controlling the selection and positioning of the printing elements; and an operating handle E by which movement of the printing elements into alignment on the printing line, the inking of the characters, printing of the check, and clearing of the keyboard is accomplished, for example, as described in the aforesaid Patent No. 1,794,266.

With reference more particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the top of the superstructure B is closed by a plate l which constitutes the foundation structure of the keyboard D, and supported on this plate In in spaced parallel relation thereto is a cover plate H that underlies large opening in a rectangular frame member I 2 having edge portions l3 which curve downwardly as shown and seat upon curved edge portions of the aforesaid plate Hi.

Mounted for axial movement through suitable openings provided in the cover plate H is a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of columns a, ii, 0, d, c, J, g and h extending transversely of the machine and each including a plurality of keys 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 21, 28 and 29 respectively, marked individually with characters in the form of digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 as indicated, for example in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

With reference to Figs. 3,4 and'5 ofthe drawings, each of the keys 2! et seq. is provided at its lower or inner end with a coaxially projectng pin 3| that projects loosely through an openng 32 which is provided in the fiat portion 33 of an actuator element 34. The pin 31 is retained against withdrawal from the opening 32 by means of an enlarged head portion 35 on the pin. Projecting downwardly from the rearward edge of the portion 33 of the actuator element 34, at each of the opposite sides thereof, is a lug 35 which .isadapted to pass through an opening 3? provided in the plate 10. Each lug 35 is notched as indicated at 38 to provide a hook at each side of the element 3& by which said element is pivotally connected to the plate 10. At a predetermined point transversely of the element portion 33 on the free end thereof the element 34 is provided with a depending tongue 39 which is adapted to pass through an opening 48 provided in the plate [0. Each tongue 39 is provided with a notch 4| which engages with the shoulder '42 formed by one end of the opening 44] through which the tongue 39 projects.

The shoulders formed by the notch 41 and the shoulder 62 normally are maintained incontact with each other by a bow-spring 43 which is confined between the plate 10 and the underside of the fiat portion 33 of the element 34. The spring 43 tends to urge the element 34 and its associated key upwardly from the depressed position thereof shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown ir which is the inoperative position.

Slidably mounted on the underside of the plate iii in parallel relation to each of column keys 2i et seq. is a locking slide 45 which is provided with projecting portions or ofisets 46 disposed respectively for engagement with the tongues 35 or" the actuator elements 34 associated with the keys in each such column. The tongue 39 of each element 34 is provided with a shoulder 4'! which, when the key is depressed thereby actuating the element 34 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, engages the underside of the corresponding or adjacent projectionor offset 45 of the slide 35 as indicated in said Fig. 6, thereby retaining the element 34 and its associated key in its depressed condition with the tongue 39 thereof in projected position for controlling positioning of the associated type bar (not shown).

In order to efiect locking of the keys and associated actuators 34 in the-depressed or operative position as described, the slide is first actuated to the left with respect to Fig. 5 by an inclined surface 43 of the tongue 39 engaging the edge 49 of the adjacent projection or offset 46 of the slide 45. As each key and actuator is moved from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. '6, this inclined surface 48 of the tongue 39 moves the slide 45 to the left with respect to the drawings until the shoulder 4'? is depressed. below the plane of the underside of the slide 45 whereupon the said slide is moved in the right hand direction by a spring 55 to engage the slide projection or ofiset it over the tongue shoulder 4'l'. The spring 50 in the present instance is bent around and anchored by hooks 5i secured to the underside of the plate Ill and passes around lugs 52 formed on the forward ends of the slides 45, respectively.

After any one key in any one column has been depressed and locked by the associated slide 45, the depression of any other key in that particular column will effect movement of the slide in the left hand section with respect to the drawings, causing the release of a previously depressed key in thesame column so that errors in selection occurring in any one of the columns may be readily corrected at any time prior to commencement of operating movement of the handle E in the counterclockwise direction from its inoperative position shown in Fig. 1.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided at one side of the fiat portion 33 of each of the actuator elements 34 an upstanding lug or standard 55 which has its upper or free end slotted or notched as indicated at 58 to receive therein a correspondingly notched or bifurcated end portion 5'1 of an indicator strip 53. As shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the slotted or bifurcated end portion 51 f the indicator strip 58 is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the elongated main body portion 58 of said strip, and the other or free end of the strip lies in therplane of the strip main body portion 59 and is enlarged laterally to provide a flat head portion 60 for reception of suitable markings of indicia corresponding to the marking of the particular key with which the strip 58 is associated.

The strips 58 are of different lengths according to the position on the keyboard of the particular key with which each strip is associated. Thus, each indicator strip 58 is of such length that upon actuation of its associated key into the operative position shown in 6 of the drawings, the head portion 60 thereof will be moved into a projected position with respect to the other indicator strips associated with the same column of keys and disposed in underlying relation with a window opening 6! provided in the cover frame l2 so that the marking or character on the head portion 6B of the strip is clearly visible and apparent to the operator of the machine. When all of the indicator strips 58 associated with a given column of keys are in the inoperative or retracted position, the digit 0 marked on the upper surface of a transverse channel 39 is exposed to view through the window SI as shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that when any one of the keys 2! et seq. in any of the columns a, b, c, d, e, f, g, or it is actuated to the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the indicator strip 58 associated therewith likewise is actuated to project the head portion 66 thereof into position underlying the win-' dow opening 6| so that the character thereon, which corresponds to the characterappearing on the key depressed, is plainly visible to the operator of the machine so that he can readily observe that the correct key has been actuated and the machine correctly set up or, conversely, that an error has been made in settin up the machine. Thus, for example, in the event that the key 22 of column b and the key 24 of column e are actuated, representing the characters 2 and 4, respectively, the associated indicator strips 58 will be actuated to position their head portions 60 beneath the window opening 6| so that the corresponding characters 2 and 4, respectively, thereon, are plainly visible to the operator of the machine in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

All selections on the keyboard may be removed or canceled and the keyboard cleared by moving the handle E in the clockwise direction from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose a release bar 62 is provided and extends transversely across the machine in the superstructure B adjacent the lugs 52 on the slides 45 as indicated in Fig. 3. One end of the release bar 62 is slidably mounted in a guideway 63 secured to the side wall of the superstructure and the other end of said bar 62 is integrally connected with a slide bar 64 which is provided with depending lugs 65 and 66, respectively, slidably mounted on a bar 61. A spring 68 disposed between the lug 66 and a fixed part of the machine in the superstructure 13 tends to remove the release bar 62 into an inoperative position, i. e. to the right with respect to Fig. 3 of the drawings. The lug 66 is provided with a lateral projection 69 which extends outwardly through a slot or opening formed in the side wall of the superstructure B and is arranged to be engaged by a cam surface ll formed on the operating handle E of the machine and arranged so that when the handle is moved in the clockwise direction from its inoperative position shown in Fig. 1, the cam surface ll engages the projection 69 thereby actuating the release bar 62 to engage all of the lugs 52 on the slides 45 and move all of said slides simultaneously in the lefthand direction with respect to Fig. 3 of the drawings. This causes the shoulders ll of each and all of the depressed key actuator elements 34 to be released from the slides 45 whence they are raised immediately to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings by their respective bow-springs 43. Release of the actuator elements to their inoperative positions as described operates also to withdraw the projected associated indicator strips 58 so that the character bearing head portions 60 thereof are withdrawn from view beneath the window opening.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides, in a keyboard for checkwriters and like machines, novel means for visibly indicating to the operator of the machine just what keys have been operated in order that the operator may readily check the correctness of the set-up of the machine prior to operating the same. In addition, the present invention provides a novel indicating means as set forth which is of relatively simplified and inexpensive construction, and is entirely eflicient and effective in operation and use.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure, and changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of columns each comprising a series of independently operable selector keys individually marked with predetermined indicia, an actuator element operatively associated with each key and movable therewith between inoperative and operative positions, indicator means connected to each of said actuator elements and marked with indicia corresponding to the indicia on the associated key, each said indicator means in the inoperative position of its actuator element being disposed in a retracted position with its indicia concealed from view and actuable by the actuator element into a projected position with its indicia exposed to view, a longitudinally extending locking slide for each column of keys, and means on said actuator elements cooperable with said slides to retain the selected actuator elements in operative position with the associated indicator means disposed for view by the operator.

2. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of columns each comprising a series of independently operable selector keys individually marked with predetermined indicia, an actuator element operatively associated with each key and movable therewith between inoperative and operative positions, indicator means connected to each of said actuator elements and marked with indicia corresponding to the indicia on the associated key, each said indicator means in the inoperative position of its actuator element being disposed in a retracted position with its indicia concealed from view and actuable by the actuator element into a projected position with its indicia exposed to view, a longitudinally extending locking slide for each column of keys, means on said actuator elements cooperable with said slides to retain the selected actuator elements in operative position with the associated indicator means disposed for view by the operator, an operating handle, and means operable by movement of said handle in one direction for releasing selected keys from their operative positions and simultaneously withdrawing the associated indicator means from view.

3. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of columns each comprising a series of independently operable selector keys individually marked with predetermined indicia and independently movable from normally inoperative to operative positions, an actuator element operatively associated with each key and actuable thereby from inoperative to operative positions, spring means biasing said actuator elements and keys to inoperative position, indicator means connected to each of said actuator elements and marked with indicia corresponding to the indicia on the associated key, each said indicator means in the inoperative position of its actuator element and key being disposed in a retracted position with its indicia concealed from view and upon movement of the key to its operative position being actuable by the actuator element into a projected position with its indicia exposed to View, a longitudally extending locking slide for each column of keys, means on said actuator elements cooperable with said slides to retain the selected actuator elements and keys in operative position with the associated indicator means disposed for view, an operating handle, and means operable by movement of said handle in one direction for releasing said selected actuator elements and keys from their operative positions and simultaneously withdrawing the associated indicator means from View.

4. In a keyboard mechanism, a cover member having a window opening therein, a plurality of columns each comprising a series of independently operable selector keys associated with said cover individually marked with predetermined indicia, an actuator element operatively associated with each key and movable therewith between inopcrati' e and operative positions, indicator means connected to each of said actuator elements and marked with indicia correspondin to the indicia on the associated key, each sale. 1" dicatoi means in the inoperative posi- J. tion of its actuator element being in a retracted ion with its 'indicia removed from view through st window opening and actuable by the actuator element into a projected position with the indicla thereon disposed to view beneath to window opening, a longitudinally extending locking slide for each column or" keys, and means on actuator elements cooperable with said slides to retain selected actuator elements in operative position with the associated indicator means disposed to View through said window.

In a keyboard mechanism, a cover member having a window opening therein, a plurality of columns each comprising a series of independ cntly operable selector keys associated with said cover and individually marked with predetermined indicia, an actuator element operatively associated with each key and movable therewith between inoperative and operative positions, in dicator means connected to each of said actuator elements and marked with indicia corresponding to the indicia on the associated key, each said indicator means in the inoperative position of its actuator element being in a retracted position with its indicia removed from View through said window op ning and actuable by the actuator element into projected position with the thereon disposed to view beneath the w ndow opening, a longitudinally extending locking slide for column of keys, means on said actuator elements ccoperable with said slides to retain selected actuator elements in operative position with the associated indicator means disposed to View through said Window, an operating handle, and means operable by movement of said handle in one direction for releasing selected keys from their operative positions and simultaneously drawing the associated indicator means from view through said window opening.

G. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of columns each comprising a series of independently operable selector keys individually marked with predetermined indicia, an actuator element operatively associated with each key and movable therewith between inoperative to operative positions, an elongated indicator strip connected at one end to each of said actuator elements and having their other ends marked with indicia corresponding to the indicia on the associated key, each said indicator strip in the inoperative position of its actuator element being in a retracted position with its indicia removed from view through said window opening and actuable by the actuator element into a projected position with the indicia thereon disposed to view beneath the window opening, a longitudinally extending locking slide for each column of keys, and means on said actuator elements cooperable with said slides to retain selected actuator elements in operative position with the associated indicator means disposed for view.

7. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of columns each comprising a series of independently operable selector keys individually marked with predetermined indicia, an actuator element operatively associated with each key and movable therewith between inoperative to operative positions, an elongated indicator strip connected at one end to each of said actuator elements and having their other ends marked with indicia corresponding to the indicia on the associated key, each said indicator strip in the inoperative position of its actuator element being in a retracted position with its indicia removed from view through said window opening and actuable by the actuator element into a projected position with the indicia thereon disposed to view beneath the window opening, a longitudinally extending locking slide for each column of keys, means on said actuator elements cooperable with said slides to retain selected actuator elements in operative position with the associated indicator means disposed for view, and means for releasing keys from their operative positions and simultaneously withdrawing the associated indicator means from view.

JOHN WHITAKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,321,348 Willis Nov. 11, 1919 1,575,885 Woodward Mar. 9, 1926 1,783,182 Carlson Dec. 2, 1930 1,787,234 Bohrer Dec. 30, 1930 1,792,644 Kuhrt Feb. 17, 1931 1,794,266 Whitaker Feb. 24, 1931 1,916,538 Smith July 4, 1933 1,941,318 Payne Dec. 26, 1933

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