US3311211A - Keyboard sequence discriminator with different codes for upper and lower case - Google Patents

Keyboard sequence discriminator with different codes for upper and lower case Download PDF

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Publication number
US3311211A
US3311211A US520774A US52077466A US3311211A US 3311211 A US3311211 A US 3311211A US 520774 A US520774 A US 520774A US 52077466 A US52077466 A US 52077466A US 3311211 A US3311211 A US 3311211A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
link
movement
operative position
keyboard
interposer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US520774A
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English (en)
Inventor
John O Schaefer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Business Machines Corp
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International Business Machines Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Business Machines Corp filed Critical International Business Machines Corp
Priority to US520774A priority Critical patent/US3311211A/en
Priority to BE692037D priority patent/BE692037A/xx
Priority to GB095/67A priority patent/GB1154112A/en
Priority to FR8284A priority patent/FR1508600A/fr
Priority to NL6700514A priority patent/NL6700514A/xx
Priority to SE00435/67A priority patent/SE326721B/xx
Priority to CH52567A priority patent/CH443358A/de
Priority to DEJ32768A priority patent/DE1274594B/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3311211A publication Critical patent/US3311211A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J7/00—Type-selecting or type-actuating mechanisms
    • B41J7/02—Type-lever actuating mechanisms
    • B41J7/30—Preventing rebound or clash of levers or type members
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J5/00—Devices or arrangements for controlling character selection
    • B41J5/08—Character or syllable selected by means of keys or keyboards of the typewriter type
    • B41J5/18—Locks
    • B41J5/22—Interlocks between keys, e.g. without detent arrangements
    • B41J5/24—Interlocks between keys, e.g. without detent arrangements with detent arrangements

Definitions

  • Skilled keyboard operators such as typists in the case of a typewriter keyboard, are capable of very rapid, short character sequence entries.
  • a familiar sequence of two characters e.g., T, H
  • the typists average speed is only 5 characters per second. It is desirable that a keyboard be capable of receiving such a data surge without confusion as to the sequence of entry, in order to take full advantage of the typists skill and not to interfere with the typists rhythm.
  • Keyboard controlled mechanism often operates in fixed cycles that exceed average typing speeds, but for practical purposes do not exceed the possible flurry speeds. In such cyclically operating mechanisms there is ordinarily only a short early portion of the cycle during which key entry information can be received.
  • a sequence discriminator thus must prevent presentation of two conflicting data items during the data reception period of the cycle. Also, the discriminator must permit storage of the second of two data items immediately after the data reception period of the cycle. Key sequence discrimination, as currently practiced, is limited in speed principally by structural limitations of the apparatus.
  • An important object of my invention has thus been to provide a keyboard having an inherently fast, error free, acceptance of data by sequential finger action.
  • My invention employs a direct key-operated control link that is filtered through a ball interlock to prevent simultaneous multiple key operation.
  • a separate probe for data entry is activated by operation of the control link, but is free for limited movement relative thereto.
  • a cycle is initiated by activation of any probe.
  • probe controlled encoding mechanism moves from its normal probe receptive condition to a nonreceptive condition, thus terminating the period during which data can be received.
  • my sequence discriminator can permit operation of a second control link.
  • the speed of discrimination is accomplished by the use of a plurality of independently flexible, straight leaf springs, each of which cooperates with respective control links to remove an operated control link from the ball interlock without interferring with the operation of a second control link.
  • the control links are operated by movement in one direction that is at an angle relative to the straight leaf spring, and are removed from the ball interlock by movement along a path substantially lengthwise of the straight leaf springs.
  • the column strength of the leaf springs permits transfer of force therethrough for removal of a control link from the ball interlock.
  • the fiexure strength, or rather weakness of the leaf spring relative to nonaxial loadings thereon prevents the leaf springs from interfering with the second operated control link.
  • FIGURE 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a keyboard constructed in accordance with this invention wherein duplicated parts are omitted for the sake of clarity;
  • FIGURES 2 and 3 are operational views of the sequence discriminating mechanism as shown in FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 4 is a top or plan view of leaf spring restore fingers showing a preferred detail of their construction.
  • a keyboard encoder K is schematically shown as controlling a cyclically operable data utilization mechanism, such as typewriter character selecting mechanism 10 like that fully shown and described in U.S. Patent 2,919,002 entitled, Selection Mechanism for a Single Printing Element Typewriter, issued to L. E. Palmer, Dec. 29, 1959.
  • the character selecting function of the printer is controlled by character selecting latches 11 and printer shift mechanism 12.
  • the operating cycle of the printer is generated by a one revolution clutch 13 that is controlled by a positively restored clutch latch mechanism 14.
  • the keyboard K includes a plurality of normally nonoperative key levers 20 for controlling character print and operational functions. Finger pads or buttons 21 thereon, are arranged in a plurality of rows as is common with stenographic typewriters.
  • the keyboard K also includes a shift key 22 for controlling operation of the shift mechanism 12.
  • the key levers 2% are pivotally mounted at their rear ends by a C-slot portion 23 that spans a flange edge 33. or" a substantially stationary typewriter frame structure 3d.
  • the key levers are loosely held in place by a removable holding or retaining bar 32 that limits forward sliding movement of the C-slot portion 23.
  • Upward movement of each key lever Ztl is limited by a down wardly turned leg portion 24 which terminates in a hook 25 that is engaged by a frame-mounted holding or retaining bar 33. It will be appreciated that key levers 2% are each readily removable for modification, substitution, or repair, simply by removal of retaining bars 32 and 33.
  • Each keylever 20 when depressed to its operative position, moves a sequence discriminating and actuating interposer or control link 41 by a primary dobber 26, to actuate a probe or data entry member 5'0 to an active position wherein it inhibits the cyclic movement of selected slides 66 as determined by long and short slots 61 therein.
  • Each slide 61 ⁇ which is permitted to move, operates an associated character selecting latch 11 to control character selection.
  • the slides 60 are capable of being probed in two different directions for generating different coded outputs, depending upon the direction of probing.
  • the probing direction is conveniently selected by a preliminary shift status, thus permitting the encoding of shift related information, such as print head velocity, in addition to basic character identification information.
  • the interposer or control link 40 for each key lever 20 is supported by stationary post 34 and elongated slot 41 for motion along a first ordinate M and a second ordinate M
  • a leaf spring 42 biases the interposer 4t and key lever 20 upwardly along ordinate M to a non-operative position against a limit stop bar 35.
  • the interposer 40 has a forward flange or tooth 43 which activates a ball interlock mechanism of wellknown construction when moved downwardly thereinto upon key depression.
  • the ball interlock 79 is capable of receiving only one tooth 43 at any given time.
  • Downward movement of the interposer 40 along ordinate M is simultaneously transferred to the probe member 50 through a slidable rotatable coupling 51 between the interposer 4t ⁇ and a positioning arm 52 of the probe member 50.
  • the probe member 50 includes a pair of oppositely directed latch fingers 53 and 54 having respcctive top or latch-active edges 53a and 54a, and end or latch-inactive edges 53b and 54b.
  • top edges 53:: and 54a cooperate with a stationary frame-mounted bracket 36 and an opening 37 therein to latch the interposer 40 in its operative position against the bias of the spring 42.
  • the end edges 53b and 54b cooperate alternately with the bracket 36 to latch the probe member 59 against a status data bias means provided by a shiftable leaf spring 12a or other resilient urging means.
  • Each probe member 59 includes a clutch actuating portion 16 which employs the motion of the probe member moving to its active position to initiate operation of a printing cycle by picking the clutch latch 14 through a control bail 17, bell crank 18 and transfer bar 19.
  • picking of the cycle clutch latch 14 causes rotation of the various operational shafts within the printer by connecting them through cams, secondary clutches, etc., to a continuously rotating power supply (not shown).
  • One function of the printer is to restore the keyboard mechanism to its original condition to permit entry of further data.
  • Keyboard restoration is accomplished by moving a previously activated interposer 40 leftwardly along ordinate M first to remove it from the ball interlock 70, and, second to release latch fingers 53 and 54 to permit upward restoration along ordinate M
  • shaft 71 carrying a cycle time operated restore cam 72 that operates on a follower lever 73 to control the reciprocation of a restore bail 74.
  • the cam 72 has a first, quick-rise surface portion 75 for deactivating the ball interlock 7 a dwell portion 76, during the operation of which the character selecting movement of slides 60 is completed; and a probe and interposer unlatching rise surface portion 77.
  • the restore bail 74 is connected to the various interposers by force transfer means, including independent elongated leaf spring restore fingers 78, which extend substantially in the direction of ordinate M and are movable longitudinally by bail 74 along a rectilinear path 79.
  • Each interposer 49 includes a projecting corner or shoulder portion 44 having a force receiving edge surface extending substantially normal to ordinate M
  • the edge surface 45 of each interposer when operative, lies in the path 79 of its associated finger 78, which, due to its columnar strength, will transfer moving force thereto.
  • the fingers 78 are thin in the direction of ordinate M and are laterally undercut near their base (FIGURE 4) to provide a bending stress concentration section 78a.
  • the fingers 78 deflect freely upon engagement by an interposer 40 moving along ordinate M
  • the normal operation of the restore fingers 78 is shown in FIGURE 2.
  • An interposer 40 has been moved from its dotted line position to its depressed position wherein its flange 43 is engaging and thereby activating the ball interlock 70.
  • Its associated restore finger 78 has just begun to move and is about to engage the shoulder 44 of the interposer. Further movement of the restore finger 78 in the direction of the arrow will drive the interposer 40 to the left of FIGURE 2 inasmuch as the cohunn strength of the finger 73 is selected to resist buckling under the loading required for this operation.
  • FIGURE 3 shows a second interposer 40 that has been depressed at some time shortly after the interposer of FIGURE 2 has "been driven from the ball interlock 70.
  • spring restore finger 73 lies in the downward path of the second interposer 40, and downward movement thereof is not inhibited since the bending strength of the restore finger 78 in the vertical plane is low.
  • interposer 40 also displaces an interposer actuating surface 48 thereof from under the primary dobber 26.
  • the interposer 40 will fully cycle, restoring the probe member 50 to its inactive position, but will itself come to rest against a shoulder 27 of the dobber 26 under the urging of spring 81.
  • the keylever 20 is prevented from transferring any downward force to the interposer 4G by a limit stop lug 28 that engages a stationary frame part 38. Accordingly, the key lever 20, in its position as limited by lug 28, cannot again operate the interposer 40 until it is first released permitting the full restoration of interposer actuating surface 48 into cooperative alignment with the primary dobber 26.
  • the keylevers 20 each include a secondary dobber 29 that is normally prevented from engaging actuating surface 48 by the stop lug 27.
  • the left hand keylever 20 has been modified by substitution of a coil spring 27a for the lug 27.
  • the modified keylever 20 thus can be forced beyond its previous limit to bring secondary dobber 29 into engagement with surface 48 to cause repeat actions of the interposer 40 and probe 50 by holding the interposer 40 at the bottom of its movement along ordinate M Touch control
  • the feel of various key buttons 21 tends to vary due to the difference in mechanical advantage provided by the distance of the key button from the various reaction force points.
  • the principal forces involved in this keyboard are the spring 42, the frictional force between the latch surfaces 53b and 54b, and the latch bracket 36. All of these forces act through the dobber 26 of the key levers 20.
  • trimming springs 90 are provided and engage a tab 91 of the key levers 20 which provides an initial deflection reaction and corresponding resilient force in the springs 96.
  • the width of each Spring 99 is selected by determining the desired feel force increase between the stroke limits, considering the location of its associated keybutton.
  • the initial feel-force or resistance is controlled by the length of tabs 91, again considering the location of its associated keybutton.
  • An operator touch control lever 92 is also provided to vary the initial feel across the entire keyboard by pivoting the springs 90 as a group through crank arm 93.
  • the touch control mechanism is held in any given position by suitable detent or friction means (not shown).
  • a keyboard for entering data into a cyclically operable data utilization mechanism comprising: a plurality of manually operable keybuttons movable individually from a normally non'operative position to an operative position, an input control mechanism associated with each keybutton for transferring keybutton data to the utilization mechanism, each control mechanism comprising: a control link, means supporting the link for movement along two substantially different ordinates, means normally retaining the link in a non-operative position, the link being normally operatively connected to its associated keybutton for movement along one of the ordinates to an operative position upon operation of said associated keybutton, means for latching the link in its operative position upon movement thereto, the latching means being releaseable upon predetermined movement of the link along the other of the ordinates, and means operative at a predetermined time in the cycle of the utilization mechanism for moving an operative link along the other ordinate and including force transfer means between the utilization mechanism and each of the links comprising:
  • a projecting corner portion formed on the control link defining a force receiving edge surface that is substantially normal to the other ordinate, said corner portion lying normally out of the path of said leaf spring when the link is in its non-operative position and lying in the path of said leaf spring when the link is in its operative position.
  • each of said elongated leaf springs is laterally undercut at a location along its length to provide an efiective section of bending stress concentration.
  • a keyboard as defined in claim 1 further comprising:
  • interlock means operable when activated to prevent movement of any control link from its non-operative to its operative position, said interlock means being activated upon movement of any control link from its non-operative to its operative position and deactivated by a second predetermined movement of the link along the other of the ordinates, said second predetermined movement being of less magnitude than the latch releasing predetermined movement.
  • a keyboard as defined in claim 3 wherein the cyclic link moving means further comprises:
  • cam cyclically operable cam, and follower means operatively connected thereto for controlled movement thereby, said follower means being connected to all of said leaf springs for delivering cam controlled motion thereto, said cam including a first surface portion that is operative during an early part of the utilization mechanism cycle to move the link along the other ordinate at least by said second predetermined movement.
  • a dwell surface portion positioned between said first and second surface portions.
  • a keyboard for entering data into a cyclically operable data utilization mechanism comprising a plurality of manually operable key buttons movable individually from a normally nonoperative position to an operative position, an input control mechanism associated with each keybutton for transferring key button data to the utilization mechanism, each control mechanism comprising a control link, means supporting the link for movement along two substantially different ordinates, means normally retaining the link in a non-operative position, the link being normally operatively connected to its associated key button for movement along one of the ordihates to an operative position upon operation of said associated keybutton, a data entry member operatively connected in force transfer relationship with the control link for movement thereby from an inactive position to an active position and vice versa, means for latching the link and data entry member in their respective operative and active positions upon movement thereto, the latching means being releaseable upon predetermined movement of the link along the other of the ordinates, and means operative at a predetermined time in the cycle of the utilization mechanism for moving the link along the other ordinate and including
  • a projecting corner portion formed on the control link defining a force receiving edge surface that is substantially normal to the other ordinate, said corner portion lying normally out of the path of said leaf spring when the link is in its nonoperative position and lying in the path of said leaf spring when the link is in its operative position.
  • a keyboard as defined in claim 5 further comprising:
  • interlock means operable when activated to prevent movement of any link from its nonoperative to its operative position, said interlock being activated upon movement of any link from its nonoperative to its operative position and deactivated by a second predetermined movement of the link along said other ordinate, said second predetermined movement being of less magnitude than said latch releasing predetermined movement whereby said interlock is deactivated prior to movement of said data entry member from its active to its inactive position.
  • a keyboard as defined in claim 5 further comprismeans responsive to the activation of one data entry member for preventing activation of a second data entry member.
  • the data input control mechanism comprising a plurality of control links, means supporting each of said links for movement along two substantially different ordinates, means normally retaining said links in nonoperative positions, means for moving each of said links selectively along one of said ordinates to an operative position, means for latching each of said links in its operative position upon movement thereto, the latching means for each of said links being releasable upon predetermined movement thereof along the other of said ordinates, and means operative at a predetermined time in the cycle of the utilization mechanism for moving an operative link along said other ordinate and including force transfer means between the utilization mechanism and each of said links comprising:
  • a projecting corner portion formed on the control link defining a force receiving edge surface that is substantially normal to said other ordinate, said corner portion lying normally out of the path of said leaf spring when the link is in its nonoperative position and lying in the path of said leaf spring when the link is in its operative position.
  • each of said elongated leaf springs is laterally undercut at a location along its length to provide an effective section of bending stress concentration.
  • Data entry means as defined in claim 8 further comprising:
  • interlocks means operable when activated to prevent movement of any control link from its nonoperative to its operative position, said interlock being activated upon movement of any control link from its nonoperative to its operative position and deactivated by a second predetermined movement of the link along the other of said ordinates, said second predetermined movement being of less magnitude than said latch releasing predetermined movement.

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  • Mechanical Control Devices (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
US520774A 1966-01-14 1966-01-14 Keyboard sequence discriminator with different codes for upper and lower case Expired - Lifetime US3311211A (en)

Priority Applications (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US520774A US3311211A (en) 1966-01-14 1966-01-14 Keyboard sequence discriminator with different codes for upper and lower case
BE692037D BE692037A (fr) 1966-01-14 1966-12-30
GB095/67A GB1154112A (en) 1966-01-14 1967-01-03 Selecting Mechanism and Keyboard Incorporating such Mechanism.
FR8284A FR1508600A (fr) 1966-01-14 1967-01-11 Discriminateur de séquence de clavier
NL6700514A NL6700514A (fr) 1966-01-14 1967-01-12
SE00435/67A SE326721B (fr) 1966-01-14 1967-01-12
CH52567A CH443358A (de) 1966-01-14 1967-01-13 Tastenwerk für kraftangetriebene Schreib- und ähnliche Maschinen
DEJ32768A DE1274594B (de) 1966-01-14 1967-01-14 Vorrichtung zur selbsttaetigen Steuerung der Typenanschlagfolge bei von Hand betaetigbaren, kraftangetriebenen Schreib- und aehnlichen Maschinen

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US520774A US3311211A (en) 1966-01-14 1966-01-14 Keyboard sequence discriminator with different codes for upper and lower case

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US3311211A true US3311211A (en) 1967-03-28

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US520774A Expired - Lifetime US3311211A (en) 1966-01-14 1966-01-14 Keyboard sequence discriminator with different codes for upper and lower case

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US (1) US3311211A (fr)
BE (1) BE692037A (fr)
CH (1) CH443358A (fr)
DE (1) DE1274594B (fr)
FR (1) FR1508600A (fr)
GB (1) GB1154112A (fr)
NL (1) NL6700514A (fr)
SE (1) SE326721B (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3524527A (en) * 1967-11-22 1970-08-18 Ibm Alternate character selection mechanism for typewriters
US3568811A (en) * 1968-09-20 1971-03-09 Litton Business Systems Inc Memory system for an electric typewriter
US3630336A (en) * 1970-04-15 1971-12-28 Ibm Proportional spacing printer incorporating word underscore control
US3718243A (en) * 1970-11-13 1973-02-27 Olympia Werke Ag Apparatus for storing typing commands given in too rapid succession by keys
US3844397A (en) * 1971-11-23 1974-10-29 Redactron Corp Automatic underlining in an automated typewriter system

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE32240E (en) * 1976-06-17 1986-09-02 Loctite Corporation Self-emulsifying anaerobic composition

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2879876A (en) * 1955-11-17 1959-03-31 Ibm Single element printing machine
US2919002A (en) * 1957-04-19 1959-12-29 Ibm Selection mechanism for a single printing element typewriter
US3135371A (en) * 1963-03-18 1964-06-02 Ibm Means to prevent machine operation upon depression of plural keys

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1207942B (de) * 1961-07-14 1965-12-30 Ibm Vorrichtung zur selbsttaetigen Steuerung der Typenanschlagfolge bei von Hand betaetigbaren kraftangetriebenen Schreibmaschinen

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2879876A (en) * 1955-11-17 1959-03-31 Ibm Single element printing machine
US2919002A (en) * 1957-04-19 1959-12-29 Ibm Selection mechanism for a single printing element typewriter
US3135371A (en) * 1963-03-18 1964-06-02 Ibm Means to prevent machine operation upon depression of plural keys

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3524527A (en) * 1967-11-22 1970-08-18 Ibm Alternate character selection mechanism for typewriters
US3568811A (en) * 1968-09-20 1971-03-09 Litton Business Systems Inc Memory system for an electric typewriter
US3630336A (en) * 1970-04-15 1971-12-28 Ibm Proportional spacing printer incorporating word underscore control
US3718243A (en) * 1970-11-13 1973-02-27 Olympia Werke Ag Apparatus for storing typing commands given in too rapid succession by keys
US3844397A (en) * 1971-11-23 1974-10-29 Redactron Corp Automatic underlining in an automated typewriter system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1274594B (de) 1968-08-08
NL6700514A (fr) 1967-07-17
BE692037A (fr) 1967-05-29
GB1154112A (en) 1969-06-04
CH443358A (de) 1967-09-15
FR1508600A (fr) 1968-01-05
SE326721B (fr) 1970-08-03

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