US3152759A

US3152759A - Interlocked open keyboards with electric restoring

Info

Publication number: US3152759A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1981-10-13

Description

G. H. MAY

Oct. 13, 1964 INTERLOCKED OPEN KEYBOARDS WITH ELECTRIC RESTORING Filed OCQ. 25, 1961 cli INVENTOR GORDON H. MAY M fyM ATTORNEY FIG.5(b) F|G.5(C)

G. H. MAY

Oct. 13, 1964 INTERLOCKED OPEN KEYBOARDS WITH ELECTRIC RESTORING Filed Oct. 25 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 13, 1964 G. H. MAY 3,152,759

INTERLOCKED OPEN KEYBOARDS WITH ELECTRIC RESTORING Filed OCT.. 25, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 52 86 82 65 CME n many different designs.

United States Patent O The invention relates to keyboards, and it particularly K pertains to open keyboards for higher speed entering of data into accounting and other business machines, although it is not limited to such machines.

There are many business machines which have manually operated keyboards as the data input means. Such keyboards can be classified in many ways. For instance, adding machines are frequency classified as lll-key and til-key or full-keyboard machines. The type of keyresponse is sometimes used to classify machines having keyboards as, for example: key drive machines and conditioning key machines. At other times is it convenient to classify machines as to closed type keyboards or open type keyboards. The term closed keyboard, as used hereinafter, is construed as a keyboard that is interlocked in such a way that the operator must lift his finger from a depressed key before the next key can be depressed. This type of keyboard is slower than the open keyboard, since any possible key stroke overlap is substantially eliminated. In this type of keyboard there is no provision to insure against blank column mistakes. The term kopen keyboard as used hereinafter, is construed fas any type of keyboard which allows the operator to depress two or more keys simultaneously. Such keyboards usually have no provisions to insure against double character keying or blank column mistakes.

The invention is concerned with a hybrid type keyy board termed hereinafter an interlocked open keyboard with electric restoring, which inhibits simultaneous keying, but allows the operator to have two or more keys depressed at the same time, providing the keys were depressed in sequence. ln this keyboard double character keying is inhibited by the interlock and blank column mistakes are eliminated, since the electrically operated restore bail cannot function until an entry has been made. As used hereinafter, the term interlock is construed as any device or mechanism which makes `-it impossible to key two characters simultaneously; that is, to enter the corresponding function whether ornot more than one key may be depressed at a given time.

The prior art is replete with excellent keyboards of However, these prior yart keyboards are subject to improvement in several features. The key stroke is often overlyy stiff and frequently the design is such that servicing is diliicult and adjustments are particularly hard to carry out. Prior attempts to overcome these shortcomings have resulted in excessively complex and expensive keyboards.

. An object of the invention is to provide an open keyboard with interlocking and electrical restoring which has a good key stroke, beingy neither too sensitive nor too stili, and having good operator feedback(y n Another object of the invention kisto provide afkeyf board having all major functional parts readily accessible p for servicing, with the parts particularly simplified 'and accessible for adjustment.

l A further object of the invention is to provide a keyf board with a minimum number of parts and at lower laccon'ipanying drawing forming 3,152,759 Patented oet. 1s, issie ICB According to the invention an interlocked open keyboard with electric restoring comprises -a more or less conventional frame, a plurality of cross members in the frame, an interlock assembly on a cross member or itself a cross member, but two spring assemblies on cross members and a switch actuated by a plurality of key sections with each section having but two bars biased by resilient members ofthe two spring assemblies. Each keyk section has one key bar supported by a pair of cantilever spring portions, which preferably are parts of a unitary spring assembly, affording strictly parallel key bar translation with light, but positive key action. Each key section has one selection bar having a shoulder bearing in a home position against a cross member in the frame of the keyboard under the urging of a leaf spring portion, which may be a part of an integral assembly. The cooperating key and selection bars also have camming surfaces arranged for tripping the selection bar off the shoulder under depression of the key barfor driving the selection bar into an active position under the urging of the leaf spring portion. The camming surfaces are also arranged in such manner that while one selection bar is in the active position and all other selection bars are held out of the active position by the interlock mechanism,

another associated key bar may be depressed to drive the cooperating selection bar against the interlock under the urging of one of the two spring assemblies in a ready position in readiness for immediate movement into the active position upon restoration of the previously activated selection bar by the electric restoring bail. Preferably a resilient extension of the one of the cantilever spring members is used to perform the functions of tripping the selection bar olic the shoulder bearing on the cross mernber in the frame and bowing to permit depressing the associated key bar and readying the selection bar formovement into the active position. Y f

The keyboards according to the inventionare particularly suitable, although not limited to, the operation of switching matrices of the types involving electric magnetic or optic circuit paths, andffurther according to the invention an electric switch contact assembly comprises a plurality of contact bars, preferably having silver alloy blade strips for making the actual contact with silver alloy blades carried by the selection bars. The Contact making blades on the selection bars are molded in insulating material and comprise a comb shaped silver alloy,y blade strip. Pilotholes in the insulating material permit the drilling out of portions of the comb to isolate portions of the contact making blades from the remainder of the i comb assembly and drilling of other holes into whichr wiresmay be soldered to connect groups of isolated blade portions in the insulating material to provide special quate space is permitted for entering the necessary tools `and jigs, while at the same time retainingthe compactness and simplicity of the principal structure.

' ln order that important advantages of the invention may be readily attanedin practice, several preferred em-v bodiments of the invention, given by Way of Vexamples,

only, are described hereinafter with *reference to the tion and in which:

FIG. l isfan assembly l View offa keyboard according to the invention; n f

a partk of the speciica-k FlG. 2 is an illustration of a key section and the operation thereof according to the invention:

FIG. 3 is an illustration of another key section according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows details of key sections as shown assembled in FlG. l; and

FIG. is an illustration of electric switch contact parts according to the invention.

FIG. 1 depicts an open keyboard according to the invention having a plurality of keys l@ interlocked so that only one key may be completely depressed at a given instant to actuate electric contacts i2 or perform some other desired function, examples of which will be described hereinafter. One of the remaining keys l@ may also be depressed after restoration of the rst key to the home position; a further key itl may be depressed after restoration of the one key; and soon. The restoring mechanism conventionally restores much faster than the normal keying speed of the operator so 4that the maximum key stroke overlap is available without slowing the keying speed. According to the invention the keyboard is arranged so that a later operated key will complete the desired function immediately upon the restoration of the earlier operated key.

Because the operators of accounting and other machines having such keyboards usually refer to the Visible buttons or key tops themselves as keys, the key tops 14 were generally indicated as keys it?, but hereinafter the buttons themselves will be referred to as key tops lid, and the term keys will be used only in a general sense.

A keyboard according to the invention is arranged in a more or less conventional frame i6, of which a backplate 18 and one end plate i9 only are partially shown, with lfour cross members 2li-24. The key bar cross members 2l and 22 have a plurality of parallel arranged slots 3i and 32, respectively, arranged therein to receive key bars 36. The key bars 3b are urged upward in the

operating slots

31 and 32 by means of a resilient member assembly having cantilever restoring spring portions 4l and 42. A number of selection bars 46 are arranged for horizontal movement in

confining slots

33 and 34 in sclection bar cross members 25 and Z4, respectively. The selection bars do are urged `forward by means of a resilient member assembly having driving spring fingers 52. A conventional ball interlock assembly shown as comprising the cross member 23 having a raceway 56 in which a plurality of balls 5S permits only one of the selection bars 46 to be moved downward into the tripped position off the cross member 23. No other one of the selection bars 46 can be propelled into the downward position until the previously activated selection bar 46 is restored by means of a restoring bail ed, which is arranged to return the selection bar lo to the home position against the bias of the resilient member 52.

For clarity the invention will be described now with reference to figures showing but one or two key sections. The term key section as employed herein is construed to be that portion of a keyboard comprising a key top, a key bar, a selection bar, and a proportionate part of each of the cross members, spring assemblies, interlock assembly and switch assembly, as necessary to perform the desired function.

FIG. 2 shows a key section according to the invention. rlhe key bar 3e' has depending pin portions el and 62 which are inserted in holes in the cantilever spring portions 4l', 42' of a unitary spring assembly Atl. The spring assembly [fi-tl supports the key bar 35 and urges it into the home position at the top of the confining slots 3l and 32 in the crossbars 2l and 22, and further confines the movement of key bar 36 to strictly vertical movement. All of the key bars 36 in the switchboard arrangement are identical, except for the location of the key stem and the surmounting key top le. As shown, the key top lllis almost directly over the support pins 61 and 62, but as also shown in phantom other key stem positions are used without detracting from the parallel translation afforded by the cantilever spring members 4l and 42. The key bars 36 are readily removed and inserted into the keyboard arrangement without diiculty by the technician. it is merely necessary to deect the spring members 41', ft2 to disengage the support pin portions 61' and 62', and move the key bar 36 to the rear far enough to remove it from the forward cross member slot 31; no special tools are needed. A depending portion 64' of the key bar 36 having a camming surface 65 isl arranged to trip the selection bar lid' off of a camming surfaced shoulder portion 66 of the cross member 54 of the interlock assembly where it is urged to the home position by the resilient spring member 52', which is held to the frame by a cross member 23. As shown in FIG. 2'(b) a depression of the key top 14 moves the key bar 36 downward and the tip of the camming portion 65' nudges the selection bar 46 oh the shoulder permitting it to go forward under urging of the resilient member 52', and allowing it to drop down between the' balls 58 provided no other selection bar is so active. Depressing any other key top 14 will be of no' avail since the ball interlock assembly will prevent the corresponding selection bar 46 from entering the interlock and going downward to trip and uncover the apertures in the light switch l2'. Pressure need not be removed from the other key top lkhowever, as the camming surfaces 65' and 6e are arranged to permit the tip portion of the camming surface 65 to move downward into the space formed 1by `forcing the selection bar 46 rearward due to the camming surface 65 against the urging of the resilient member 52. Thus the selection bar 46' is conditioned for entry into the ball interlock upon restoration by the restoringbail titl', since the selection bar 46 will move forward off the camming surface 65 of the depending portion 64' andi go into the active position under the influence of the resilient member 52. Thus it is possible t'o depress keys in succession on` an open keyboard according to the invention resulting in higher speed keying being possible than with a closed keyboard, and without the danger of double character keying.

As also shownin FIG. 2 the open keyboard according to the invention is arranged to operate alight switch 12' wherein light from a lamp 7l is switched by means of a shutter 72 through apertures 73 onto photoresponsive elements 74. Obviously other switch assemblies may be operat'ed by the selection bars 46', such as for example the electric contact' switch assembly l2 as shown in FIGS. l and 41, and the conventional magnetic switch array (not shown) comprising windings and movable cores arranged to be positioned by the selection bars. f

FIG. 3 illustrates another form of the open keyboard according to the invention which operates similar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2,' the principal difference ly-V ing in the construction of the spring assembly wherein the resilient spring member 52 is an extending portion of the cantilever support spring member 42". A depending portion 64" with a camming surface 65 is present as before, for cooperation with a camming surface in a notch 66" in the selective bar 4b" in the same manner as for that shownin FIG. 2'.

Key sections according to the invention as illustrated in the keyboard arrangement of FlG. 1 are shown in elevation of FIG. 4. As before, the key bars 36' are supported for strictly vertical translation by spring members il and 42 and the selection bars are urged forward by means of a resilient member 52. Two bars are shown in FIG. 4, the off bar designated 46a and the near bar designated 4511. Each of the selection bars 46 has a shoulder 66 which is urged up against theV cross member 23 in which the raceway S6 for the balls 58v of the ball interlock assembly is arranged. A spring extension S2 of the spring 42 rests in la notch 84 of the selection bars 46. When a key bar 36 is depressed the extension spring S2 forces the near selection bar 46h olf the shoulder 6(,L permitting an upper blade to enter the ball interlockA t3 and allowing the switch 12 to be operated if there is room in the ball interlock for the blade 85 toenter. According to the invention the Spring extension 82 bows sulhciently, in FIG. 4(1)), to liex over the camming surface 65 of the near key bar 36h and the surface 84 of the near selection bar 4Gb when the latter is prevented from entering the ball interlock by the prior entrance of the off selection bar 46a. The spring extension 82 iiexes sufficiently to yallow the depression of the key top llb and permit restoration of the olic selection bar 46a by the'restoring bail 6), and the near selection barn/15b remains above the bail 60' as the ball interlock will only permit it to enter a short distance as long asthe oil selection bar 46a is in the interlock. The

clined surface of the restoring bail 60 assisting it in its movement to the home position enabling the subsequent entrance of the near selection bar 4611 into the ball interlock in the desired sequence.

The electric switch 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, comprises complementary silver alloy comb shaped electric Contact members 9d and 91. The xed Contact members @il are held in J shaped bus bars 92, and the movable contact members 91 are embedded in ank insulating member 93 molded to the permutation bars 46 with the teeth or contact making blades 94 protruding. The movable blades 94 make or break contact as desired with the fixed contact making blades 95' made of silver alloy and held in electric circuit bus bars 92, as shown. The blades 95 which are not required for making the desired coding for a particular switching system are removed in manufacture or in the iield as convenient, the structure according to the invention readily lending itself to such alteration.

As thus far described the switch 12 comprises xed and movable contacts for connection by those skilled in the art tosatisty the requirements of the equipment at hand. In a common arrangement, for example, a commoncontact member94 is connected to a common bus 92e for applying electric currentto others of the busses g2 as may be desired. According to the invention, however, dilierent connections of bus bars 'may be elected. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, two ot the teeth 94s of the comb member 91 may be isolated from the comb by drilingV through holes 9o `for which pilot depressions '96p have been molded in the insulating member 93. The

Wire is soldered to the isolated teeth 94s in holes 99 on the opposite side which are drilled out as needed, pilot holes 99p having been molded in the member 93.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that those skilled'in the art many make various changes in the form and details without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

l. LAn interlocked open ,keyboard having a frame, a plurality of key sections and a switch assembly arranged in said trarne and amechanical interlock assembly permitting but one of said key sections to be operated to an active state at any one time, each key section comprising a key bar arranged insaid frame for movement in` one direction, a key stem andr afkey top mounted on said key bar, first resilient means urging said key bar to ak `home position and confining vthe movement of said key bar to a single degree of freedom, a selection bar arranged in said frame in the same plane of movement as that of said key bar for movement in another direction and coupled to said switch apparatus, and second resilient means urging said selectionbar in said other direction into 'a home position and toward an active position, said `selection and key barshaving cooperating camming surfaces arranged to trip said selection ba'r for movement to said active position as permitted by said interlock assembly and to hold said selection bar in readiness for said movement against additional deflection of one of said g resilient means in the event said selection bar is locked out by said assembly.

2. An open keyboard having n y.

a frame,

a key bar arranged in said frame for movement f given direction,

a resilient member urging said key bar into a home position, n

a selectionbar arranged for movement in a predeter mined direction in response to the movement of said key bar,

a further resilient member urging said selection bar in said predetermined direction into a home position and into an active position in responsefto movement of said key bar, f

camming elements arranged on said key and selection bars and operative against the resilience of one of said resilient members for permitting the movement of said key bar and restraining the movement of said selection bar into said active position, and

utilization apparatus actuated by said selection bar.

3. An interlocked open keyboard having a frame, f

a key bar arranged in said frame for movement in a given direction, l y

a resilient member restraining said key bar movement to said given direction and urging said key bar into a yhome position,

a selection bar arranged for movement in a predetermined direction in response to the movement of said key bar,

ina

a further resilient member urging said selection bar in said predetermined direction into a home position and into an active position in response to movemen of said key bar,

camming elements arranged on said key and selection' an interlock restraining the movement of said selection y bar into said active position, and utilization apparatus to be actuated by said selection bar.

4. An interlocked open keyboard having a frame, a

plurality of keyrsections and utilization apparatus arranged in said frame and mechanical interlock means permitting but one oi said key sections to be operated to a completely active state at any one time, each key section comprising a key bar arranged in said frame for substantially vertical movement, a key stem and a key top mounted on said key bar, first resilient means urging said key bar upward to a home position and conning the movement of said key bar to a single degree of freedom, a selection bar substantially horizontal movement in the same plane of movement as that of said key bar, a potential energy path opening and closing utilization structure arranged in said frame and coupled to said' selection bar, and second resilientlmeans urgingrk said selection bar in substantially horizontal movement into a home position and in response l to depression of said key bar toward an active position,.

saidV select1on and key bars having cooperating camming f surfaces arranged to initiate movement of said selection bar toward said active position with additional deiiection of one of said resilient means in the event said selection bar is locked outy by vsaid interlock means.

5. An interlocked open keyboard having a frame, a plurality of key sectionsy and utilization apparatus arranged in said frame and mechanical interlock means permitting but one of said key sections to be operated to a completely active state at any one time, each key section comprising a key bar arranged in said frame for substan. tially vert1cal movement, a key stem and a key top mounted on said key bar, irst resilient means urging said key har upward to a home position and conlining the movement of said key bar to a single degree of freedom, a vselection bar underlying said key bar and arranged in said :frame for substantially horizontal movement in the same plane of movement as that of said key bar, a potential energy path opening and closing utilization structure arranged in said frame and coupled to said selection bar, and second resilient means urging said selection bar in substantially horizontal movement into a home position and in response to depression ot said key bar toward an active position, said selection and key bars having cooperating camming surfaces arranged to initiate movement of said selection bar into said interlock means prior to forward movement into said active position under urging by said second resilient means.

6. An interlocked open keyboard including a frame, two pairs of cross members arranged parallel to each other in said frame and having a multiple of elongated slots there. in arranged parallel to each other, a multiple of key bars arranged for movement in one direction in corresponding slots of one of said pairs of cross members and having key stems thereon, a like multiple of selection bars a1'- ranged in substantially the same plane as said key bars for movement in a direction substantially normal to said one direction in corresponding slots of the other of said pairs of cross members, said selection bars having shoulders thereon normally bearing on one of the other of said pairs of cross members, said bars having cooperative camming surfaces thereon, an assembly oi dual-leaf springs arranged on one of said cross members supporting and urging said key bars upwardly to a home position and having extensions thereon individually contacting correspending selection bars, an assembly of single-leaf springs urging said selection bars against said one other cross member in said other direction, said springs being the sole means for retaining said bars in said corresponding slots, a mechanical interlock assembly arranged on said other cross member for receiving but one of said selection bars at any one time, key tops individual to and arranged on said key stems, and a switch assembly arranged to be operated by movement of said selection bars.

7. An interlocked open keyboard comprising, a frame having parallel cross members each having a like plurality of elongated slots arranged parallel to each other, a number of key bars arranged in pairs of said slots, a key top for each key bar, an assembly bearing a pair of cantilever spring members for each of said key bars arranged on one of said cross members in Contact with the associated key bars urging it to a home position and confining its movement to a single degree of freedom, an interlock assembly having a number of slots therein, a like number of selection bars arranged in pairs of said slots for movement in a direction substantially normal to the direction of movement of said key bars and in substantially the same plane as the associated key bar, each selection bar having a shoulder portion bearing against a common cross member in the home position and a blade portion extending into said interlock assembly, said interlock assembly being arranged to permit but one f said selection bars to move to the active position at any one operation, an assembly bearing a number of spring members arranged on one of said cross members urging said selection bars into said home position and toward said active position, each of said pairs of cantilever spring members having an extension extending toward the associated selection bar, each of said selection bars having a camming surface underlying the associated cantilever spring extension and arranged to trip said selection bar shoulder oit said cross-bar and to permit said extension to bow in the event said selection bar is locked out of movement into said interlock mechanism, a restorbail arranged crosswise of said frame for restoring said selection bars to said home position, and an electric contact switching assembly operated by said selection bars comprising a number of sets of contact members underlying said selection bars, each of said sets of contact members being in comb-like coniiguration extending across and beneath said selection bars, a like number of sets of interconnect members, each arranged on an associated selection bar and being in the form of a comb-like conieuration having teeth arranged in proximity to the teeth of said contact members for selective contact and interconnecting of the sets of contact members.

8. An open keyboard having a frame,

a key bar arranged in said frame for movement in a given direction,

a resilient member urging said key bar into a home position,

a further resilient member urging said selection bar in said predetermined direction into a home position and into an active position in response to movement of said key bar,

camming elements arranged on said key and selection bars and operative against the resilience of one of said resilient members for permitting the movement of said key bar and restraining the movement of said selection bar into said active position,

an electric switch actuated by said selection bar,

said switch comprising a plurality of fixed contact members arranged in linear relationship to said selection bar, and

a plurality of moving contact members, comprising an elongated comb-like structure of contact making material molded in an elongated insulating structure carried by said selection bar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,069,674 MacNeill Dec. 18, 1962 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0E CORRECTION Patent No. 3,152,759 October 13, 1964 Gordon Herbert May It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Lette-rs Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 56, after "bar", second occurrence, insert underlying said key bar and arranged in said frame for Signed and sealed this 9th day of February 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER y EDWARD J. BRENNER Aitesting Officer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No., 3, 152,759 October 13, 1964 Gordon Herbert May g It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patentshould read as corrected below.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST WQ SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. AN INTERLOCKED OPEN KEYBOARD HAVING A FRAME, A PLURALITY OF KEY SECTIONS AND A SWITCH ASSEMBLY ARRANGED IN SAID FRAME AND A MECHANICAL INTERLOCK ASSEMBLY PERMITTING BUT ONE OF SAID KEY SECTIONS TO BE OPERATED TO AN ACTIVE STATE AT ONE TIME, EACH KEY SECTION COMPRISING A KEY BAR ARRANGED IN SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION, A KEY STEM AND A KEY TOP MOUNTED ON SAID KEY BAR, FIRST RESILIENT MEANS URGING SAID KEY BAR TO A HOME POSITION AND CONFINING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID KEY BAR TO A SINGLE DEGREE OF FREEDOM, A SELECTION BAR ARRANGED IN SAID FRAME IN THE SAME PLANE OF MOVEMENT AS THAT OF SAID KEY BAR FOR MOVEMENT IN ANOTHER DIRECTION AND COUPLED TO SAID SWITCH APPARATUS, AND SECOND RESILIENT MEANS URGING SAID SELECTION BAR IN SAID OTHER DIRECTION INTO A HOME POSITION AND TOWARD AN ACTIVE POSITION, SAID SELECTION AND KEY BARS HAVING COOPERATING CAMMING SURFACES ARRANGED TO TRIP SAID SELECTION BAR FOR MOVEMENT TO SAID ACTIVE POSITION AS PERMITTED BY SAID INTERLOCK ASSEMBLY AND TO HOLD SAID SELECTION BAR IN READINESS FOR SAID MOVEMENT AGAINST ADDITIONAL DEFLECTION OF ONE OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS IN THE EVENT SAID SELECTION BAR IS LOCKED OUT BY SAID ASSEMBLY.