US3565334A

US3565334A - Registering apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3565334A
Application number: US655116A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eugene E Reynolds
Original assignee: SCM Corp
Current assignee: SCM Corp
Priority date: 1967-07-21
Filing date: 1967-07-21
Publication date: 1971-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-23
Also published as: ES372588A1; BE718174A; DE1774575A1; ES372589A1; NL6810329A; GB1232420A; IE32356B1; ES356328A1; AT287353B; IE32356L; ES372586A1; CH515562A; FR1578268A

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanism for printing values entered in a keyboard or transmitted from a computer. Normally, values entered in a keyboard are entered in the decimal system of notation, and in the present case, decimal values are serially encoded into binary values and then serially decoded into a decimal storage mechanism. Thereafter, the decimal values are printed out in parallel. When binary coded decimal values are transmitted from a computer or other transmitter, the keyboard and encoder are bypassed. The binary values are directly decoded into the decimal system in series and printed out in parallel.

Description

United States Patent [72] inventor Eugene E. Reynolds 2,741,427 4/1956 Drake 235/155 Orangeburg, S.C. 2,945,622 7/1960 Heinze et a1. 235/155X [21] Appl. N0. 655,116 3,010,653 11/1961 Canepa 235/146 [22] Filed July 21, 1967 3,073,520 1/1963 Bilde 235/145X [45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971 E 1w C Assignee SCM Corporation Primary xammer ary ook [54] REGISTERING APPARATUS AttorneyPennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylor and Adams ABSTRACT: The invention relates to a mechanism for printing values entered in a keyboard or transmitted from a computer. Normally, values entered in a keyboard are entered in the decimal system of notation, and in the present case, decimal values are serially encoded into binary values and then serially decoded into a decimal storage mechanism. Thereafter, the decimal values are printed out in parallel. When binary coded decimal values are transmitted from a computer or other transmitter, the keyboard and encoder are bypassed. The binary values are directly decoded into the decimal system in series and printed out in parallel.

' PATENTEU FEB23 1971 SHEET 1 OF 9 INVENTOR.

EUGENE E. REYNOLDS PATENTEU F582 3 [SH SHEET 2 OF 9 INVENTOR.

EUGENE E. REYNOLDS PATENTEU mam .Y 3565,3134

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INVENTOR EUGENE E. REYNOLDS PATENTEU FEB23 19m SHEET 9 BF 9 WIN FlE 22 INVENTOR.

EUGENE F. REYNOLDS 1 REGISTERING APPARATUS SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The invention is directed to an accurate and economical medium-speed printout device which may be used for printing values selected at a keyboard or transmitted from a computer or remote device having value-transmitting capabilities.

Numerical entry keyboards, such aslcommonly provided for adding machines and calculating machinestranslate a decimal value selected at the keyboard into a rotary or linear mechanical movement which is the exact equivalent of the decimal value selected. The translating mechanism usually comprises an expensive and unweildy structure such as a plural order pin carriage, actuator selector, or the like. v

The present invention provides anew concept in serially translating values selected at a keyboard into mechanical movement of a plurality of gears forming a storage register and from which register the value is read out in parallel into a printout device. I

It has been found that plural order mechanical structures can be eliminated and that effort and time can be materially reduced by using a single encoding and decoding mechanism to serially enter values into the storage register. Furthermore, as abyproduct of the invention, binary coded decimal values from exterior sources can be entered .into the decoder alone and printed out without using the keyboard and its associated encoder.

It is therefore a primary object to provide an improved mechanism for translating keyboard selected values into (I) printed values, or (2) for transmitting these values to a computer. I

Another object is to use aportion of the improved mechanism to decode values expressed in a first system of notation, such as binary coded vdecimalyalues, into decimal values and to print out the decoded values in parallel.

Another object is to attain the foregoing objects with a mechanism that bypasses the keyboard'and the encoder during the decoding of the binary coded decimal'values.

Another object is to provide an electromagnetic decoder which is responsive to coded electrical'signals and which permits movement of an input gear to respective storage gears, one at a time, in accordance with the value of the binary coded decimal value received.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary output-producing element which is capable of sensing displacement of binary coded stop elementsand thereby produce a rotary movement corresponding to a decimal value.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a rotary output-producing element which has" a plurality of sensing means shiftable between sensing and nonsensing position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a rotary output-producing element, including a plurality of shiftable sensing means which is also capable-of being shifted to a blocking position to effect a decimal value of rotary movementof the output-producing means relative to a fixed stop. A still further object of this inventionis' 'to provide registering apparatus having a receiving means and an output-produc ing means wherein the receiving means is capable of receiving either a decimal value or a binary coded decimal value and it is capable of effecting a corresponding rotation of the outputproducing means. Y r

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved relay system which is capable of converting'a binary coded input into corresponding decimal values of output.

An important feature in this invention resides in the fact that the apparatus is of simple, compact, construction, economical of manufacture, and comparatively fast in operation.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial left-side elevation of the registering apparatus with certain parts being removed and certain parts broken away for clarity.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG."1 with certain other pans broken away.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the=registering apparatus as seen from the right of FIG. 2, with ce'rtain elements added thereto.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view as along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view'taken along lines 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged substantially vertical partial section through the machine taken transversely thereof and showing the inputgear, setting gears, and racks being in their initial or home positions.

FIG. 7 isa view similar to FIG. 6 with the carriage in a position followingthe entry of a first digit.

FIG. 8 is another view similar to that of FIG. 7 with the setting gears engaged with the racks.

FIG. 9 is a partial vertical section of the input and storage means taken longitudinally of the machine and with the parts in position corresponding to FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 with the parts in position corresponding to FIGS. 6and 7.

FIG. 11 is. an enlarged left front fragmentary perspective view showing the carriage escapement and lowering mechanism with certain parts broken away and certain parts omitted for clarity.

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary section view taken along lines 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a left front fragmentary perspective view of the carriage return mechanism with certain parts broken away and certain parts omitted for clarity.

FIG. 15 is an elevation view of the broken away for clarity.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken 15.

FIG. 17 is a top schematic development of the decoding means showing the paddle wheel pin and stop elements.

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram of the keyboard system of FIGS. 19-23 in combination with the decoding system of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of a binary keyboard encoder with certain parts broken away for clarity.

FIG. 20 is an end elevation view of FIG. 19 as seen from the right.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 2l21 of FIG. 19.

F IG. 22 is an elevation view of one from the right inFIG. 21, and

FIG. 23 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 21 showing one of the keys in a depressed position.

seen from the left and taken paddle wheel with parts along lines 16-16 of FIG.

of the key stems as seen CONTENTS GENERAL DESCRIPTION 5 the present invention comprises:

b. A storage means 30, FIGS. 1 and 2, to serve as a tempora-,

ry storage of decoded values alon g with a storage-positioning means which includes .a storage escapement means 35, 47, FIGS. 11-13, a storage-lowering means 62-66, FIGS. 1, 2, l1, and I means 74, FIG. 14, I

c. An input-producing means 105, FIGS. 3 and-6-l0, for

entering decoded values into the storage means,

.d. An output-producing means 150, FIGS. 3, 4,15 and 16 for sensing values established in the decoding means and effecting corresponding movement of the input means,

e. A receiving and decoding means -1 70, FIGS. 3, 4, and 17, for receiving and sensing binary coded electrical signals and for converting said signals -"into corresponding decimal values of mechanical, and p f. A keyboard means, FIGS. 19-23, for encoding decimal values into binary coded electrical signals.

REGISTERING AND READOUT MEANS Referring now particularly to FIGS. .1 and 2, the registering or readout means 10 includes a ten order decimal printing mechanism. The printing mechanismmay be the same general type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,057,549 to Heinrich W. Wagemann. The printing mechanism includes an ordinal series of digit-type wheels 11 each having spaced around its periphery a series of digit-type 12 ranging-in values from to 9 inclusively. Each type wheel 11 is entrained with an actuator rack 13 by rack segment 14 and attain of

gears

15 and 16. The racks 13 are supported in the registering apparatus by guide rods 17 which pass throughslots- 18 in each of the racks. A plurality of tension springs 19anchored at one end to a frame portion (not shown) and secured at their other end to each of the racks 13, urge the racks 13 toward the left as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, all ten racks 13 are restrained from such leftward motion by a permissive rod 20. The permissive rod is controlled by a pivoted link 21 and cam element 22 which is integral with the machine program shaft 99. Cycling of the program shaft 99 will be effected by an opening of a conventional machine clutch (not shown) by a solenoid 66A shown in the circuit diagram of FIGS. 27 and 28.

For an understanding of the invention, it is necessary to disclose herein only the means wherein actuator racks 13 are controlled in rearward excursion ina readout operation to rotate type wheels 11 to positions for printing in accordance with values in storage gears 37. At the completion of the rearward excursion of racks 13, the type'wheels 11 are fired to effact a printing operation by bringing the print type against a paper tape 23 carried by platen 24. At the conclusion of the printing operation, racks 13 are restored thereby rotating type wheels 11 to normal. As shown in the drawings, there are ten racks. Therefore, provision is made for a readout from ten order storage. Reference is made to the aforementioned patent for a description of the printing-operation not specifically disclosed herein.

sronaoa Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1" and 6-10, the storage means 30 comprises a carriage 31 having its sidewall 32 provided with openings (not shown) embracing rods 34 so that carriage 31 is slidable trarisverselyfon the machine on rods 34. The front of carriage 31 .is provided with ten vertically shiftable pins 35 which cooperate with an escapement to allow carriage 31 to escape to the left, order by order, as seen in FIG. 11. The escapement mechanism will be described in more detail herein below. In the sidewalls 32 of carriage 31, a shaft 36 is fixedly secured, and ten setting gears 37 are rotatably mounted side by side on shaft 36. Each of the gears 37 includes a-wide tooth or stop portion 38 which represents the 0 or home position of gears 37. Also mounted between 15, and a storage returnv carriage sidewalls 32 is a comblike stop element 39 having ten teeth 40 one. of which is projected beside each of setting gears 37 and is adapted to cooperate therewith for blocking rotation of said gears 37 against clockwise rotation (as seen in FIG. 9)

when a gear tooth stop element 38 is in abutmentthe'reagainst. Mounted on the front of carriage 31- is a laterally projecting zero suppression element 70 which cooperates with stop elements projecting vertically from each of theracks 13, in a conventional manner to hold the'racks 13 which exceed. the

number of digits entered into the storage against rearward excursion.

STORAGE ESCAPEM ENT MEANS supported in the front of the carriage 31 for vertical shifting from a first blocking position 45 (FIG. 12) to a second escapement position 46 whereby the pins-35 will pass under the stop means 44. The pins 35are spaced on the carriage when said pin is removed from a blocking position. A solenoid 47 having an armature 48 is supported on a frame portion (not shown) in .such a manner that energization of the solenoid 47 will effect movement of the armature 48 against one of the pins 35 to depress said pin from said first blocking position 45 to said escapement position 46. It is to be noted that the width of the armature 48 (FIGS. 12 and 13) is such that as long as armature 48 is held down, the right edge'of armature 48 will abut against the next pin 35 to the right and escapement of the carriage 30 to the left will not take place until solenoid 47 is deenergized to release armature 48.

Referring particularly to FIG. 12, the stop means 44 is fixed to a shaft 49 which is mounted in'a frame portion (not shown). The stop means 44 is mounted for pivotal movement from a first blocking position 50 to a second escapement position 51 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 12. A pair of

stop elements

52 and 53 are supported on the machine to limit the degree of pivotal movement of said stop means 44. A spring 54 is connected at one end to the stop element 44 and anchored at its other end to a frame portion (not shown) for urging the stop means'44 clockwise as shown in FIG. 12 to position stop 44 against stop element 52 to that the stop 44 will be in a blocking position 50. v

In one mode of operation it is desirable to escape the carriage 31 to the left, order by order, and this mode of operation will be effected by the energization of solenoid 47. In a second mode of operation, it is desirable to allow the carriage 31 to plished by energization of a solenoid 55 which will cause armature 56 to rotate stop element 44 counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 12 to move the stop44 from a blocking position 50 to an escapement position 51. The control of

solenoids

47 and 55 will be described herein below in a description of the machine operation with reference to FIG. 18.

z 4 As shown in FIGS. 11 and .12, a cam element 57 is supported on a frame portion 58 below carriage 31 and in alignment with pins 35 in such a manner that when the carriage 31 is returned rightward to its home position, the cam element 57 will return the pins 35 from their second escaping position 46 to their first blocking position 45.

STORAGE LOWERING MEANS Opposite ends of rods 34 (FIG. 2) are pivotally supported at 59 on bellcranks 60 which are pivoted at one end 61. to a frame portion (not shown) with the depending arms 62 of the bellcranks 60 being interconnected by linkage means 63. One

of the bellcranks, as seen on the right of FIG. 1, 11, and is provided with an extension 64 which is connected at 65 to a STORAGE RETURN MEANS Referring now particularly to F 1G. 14, a means is shown for returning the carriage 31 from its leftward escape position rightward to its home position. Fixed to the carriage 31 is a carriage stop bracket 71 which extends forwardly and has a notch portion 72. The stop bracket 71 controls the extreme leftward position of the carriage 31. The notch portion 72 is mounted for sliding engagement with a fixed rod 73. A clearance slide 74 is supportedon a fixed rod 75 and includes a notch portion 76. The clearance slide 74 is urged to the left as shown in FIG. 14 by a spring 77- which is connected at one end to a frame portion (not shown) and connected at the other end to clearance slide 74. The carriage stop bracket 71 and carriage notch portion 72 are located on the rod 73 in such a manner that movement of the clearance slide 74 to the right will affect a corresponding movement of the carriage 31. The clearance slide 74 is moved rightward by means of a draw band 78 which is connected by a connecting element 79 to the clearance slide 74 on one end and connected by element 80 to a moveable rod 81 on the other end. A guide pulley 82 engages an intermediate portion of draw band 78 for changing the direction of movement of the draw band from a transverse direction to a fore and aft direction. Guide pulley 82 is mounted for rotation on a roller support bracket 83 which is connected to a frame portion (not shown). The rod 81 is guided by a support element 84. The fore and aft movement of the rod 81 is controlled by a clearance lever 85 which is pivotally mounted on shaft 86 by a pair of tension springs 87 88 which is connected at one end to a frame portion (not shown) and connected at the other end to clearance

lever stud elements

89, 90. The lower end of clearance lever 85 is connected to rod 81 by a hook 91 and stud 92. Movement of the clearance lever 81 in a clockwise direction is blocked by a cam 93which engages a roller 94. The roller 94 is journaled on a roller lever 95 which is pivotally mounted on shaft'96 at one end and connected by a link 97 to'the clearance lever 85 at the other end. The cam 93 includes a notched portion 98 which will cooperate with roller 94 to allow rotation of the clearance lever 85 about shaft 86 which will in turn pull the rod 81 rearwardly causing a rightward movement of clearance slide 74 on rod 73 to effect movement of the carriage 31 rightward to its home position. The cam 93 is mounted on the I I machine program shaft 99 which is-controlled by a conventional machine clutch mechanism (not shown) during the cycling of the machine. In one mode of operation, it is necessary to disable the storage return mechanism and this is done by link 93A which is pivotally mounted on shaft 99 and controlled by a solenoid 93B. Whenever solenoid 93B is energized, link 93A will be rotated clockwise around shaft 99 to thereby cause a link projecting portion93C to move into the path of roller 94 to clock movement of roller 94 into cam notch portion 98. The operation of shaft 99 and the control of solenoid 93B will be described more fully herein below in the description of the machine operation.

INPUT MEANS Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 and 6-10, an input shaft 101 is journaled in frame portions 102-104. Shaft 101 is supported parallel to shaft 36 and setting gears 37 and has fixed thereto intermediate its ends an input gear 105. Shaft 101 and input gear 105 are mounted directly above storage means 30 whereby input gear 105 will be in mesh with the leftmost setting gear 37 of the storage means 30 (as seen in FIGS. 3 and 6) when the storage means is in the home position. Mounted on input shaft 101 on each side of input gear 105 is a setting gear detent or aligning

means

106, 107 which has a tooth-engaging

portion

108, 109 cut longitudinally thereon as seen in FIGS. 5-8. When setting gears 37 of storage means 30 are in the rightmost or home position (as seen in FIGS. 2 and 6) setting gears 37 are urged into contact with the tooth-engaging portion 108 by spring 67 (FIG. 2) which is connected to the lower end 64 of bellcrank 60. The tooth-engaging portion 108 (FIG. 5) will hold all the setting gears in alignment and in their home or zero position and will also allow setting gears 30 to slide laterally thereon as carriage 31 is escaped to the left, order by order. As each of setting gears 37 move off the tooth-engaging portion 108 to a position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to become engaged with the input gear, this will then allow rotation of setting gear 37 by input gear 105 to a selected position. Further escapement of the carriage to the left brings settinggears 57 into contact with a tooth-engaging portion 109 in gear alignment element 107 (FIG. 7) which holds the setting gear in its position until the carriage is lowered by solenoid 66 to bring the setting gears 37 into engagement with gear segment 13A on racks 13 for a readout of the storage. Input shaft 101 is driven by a gear 110 fixed to the left end of shaft 101 as seen in FIG.3. Gear 110 is in mesh with an idler gear 111 which is joumaled on a stud 112 mounted on frame portion 102. The drive is delivered to idler gear 111 by a gear 113. journaled on shaft 114 and fixed to a paddle wheel 151 which will be described herein below.

OUTPUT PRODUCING MEANS 114 and driven through belt 115 and pulley 116 by a motor (not shown). There is a predetermined amount of friction between paddle wheel 151 and shaft 114 so that paddle wheel 151 will be driven therewith when it is not blocked against rotation. Paddle wheel 151 has a plurality of radially extending pins 152 mounted in a radial groove 153. Each of the pins 152 includes an ear portion 154 and a flexible portion 155. Pins 152 are held in the paddle wheel groove 153 by paddle wheel shoulder portion 156 which abuts against pin ear portions 154. The pins are adapted to be moved into one of two selected positions as shown in FIG. 16, and are held in either of the selected positions by a paddle wheel detent surface 157 cooperating with the pin flexible portion 155. Mounted on the RECEIVING AND DECODING MEANS Referring now particularly to FIGS 3, 4 and 17, the decoding means includes a plurality of

stop elements

171, 172, 173, 174, and radially spaced and arranged around the circumference of the paddle wheel as shown in FIG. 4. Each of the

stops

171, 172, etc. is fixed to a

shaft

181, 182, etc., respectively joumaled in

frame portions

102A, 103. Mounted on shaft 186 adjacent stop 171 is a'pin-positioning element 176 used to control introduction of odd values, the operation of which will be described more fully herein below in the description of the receiving means. Stop 171 and element 176 are provided with integral ear portions 171A and 176A having connected therebetween a tension spring 177. The stops are positioned relative to the paddle wheel 151 so that in one position of said pins 152 the plane of rotation of said pins will be axially spaced from said stops as indicated by pin 152A and in the other position of said pins the plane of rotation will be coplanar with said stops as indicated by pin 1528 (FIG. 17). Mounted adjacent stop 175 is a fixedstop 190. Assuming a friction drive being constantly exerted on paddle wheel 151 in the direction of the arrow, then from the above description, it can be seen that by positioning pins 152 coplanar with said stops that the paddle wheel will be blocked against rotation. The width of stop 171 is detailed so that when his removed from the path of said pins the paddle wheel 151 will be allowed to rotate with continuously driven shaft 114 to transmit a one tooth movement tothe input gear 105. The remaining stops 172, 173, 174, 175, are detailed in width to each represent a two tooth movement when they are removed from the path of said pinsThus by moving selected ones of said stops any number from to 9, inclusively, can be transmitted to the paddle wheel and the input gear 105.

Referring now particularly to F 1G. 17, the receiving means includes the binary combination of 1, 2, 4, 8

solenoids

201, 202, 204, and 208 which are connected by elements 220 to

shafis

186, 184, 183, and 185 respectively. Mounted on frame 102A, l03adjacent element 176 is a ,go'lstop 171 which is connected by shaft 181 to solenoid 209, for receiving the go" signal. Thus it can be seen that energization of selected ones of

solenoids

202, 204, and 208 by receiving electrical pulses in a binary code, that throughshafts 18 4, 183, and 185 respectively, that selected ones of said

stop elements

172, 173, 174, and 175 are removed from the path of said paddle wheel, and that by receiving a go signal to solenoid 209 that the "go stop 171 will be removed to allow rotation of said paddle wheel 151with continuously driven shaft 114. The go stop is connected by spring 177 to pin positioning element 176, and thus element 176 will tend to be moved to the right along with stop 171 whenever the go" solenoid 209 is energized. The stop 171, is moved rightward whenever any digital value is to be entered even if such value is zero. in other words, the stop 171 is associated with the escapement mechanism or the fact that a digit is being entered into the machine. Movement of element 176 to the right will also move pin 152A to the right or in a coplanar position with

stops

172, 173, 174, and 175. If pin 152A is moved to the right and on top of stop 172 it will be obvious that rightward movement of

stop

172, 173, 174, and 175 each permits an additional two steps of

movement corresponding tovalues

2, 4, 6, and 8. To control entry of an odd I value, the No. 1 solenoid 201 is energized which holds the pin positioning element 176 against' 'rightward movement by spring 177, and thus pin 1520 becomes the controlling pin which abuts a stop l72 -l75 to cause entry of a

value

1, 3, 5, 7, or 9.

1n the entry of decimal values 0 to 9, inclusive, the control 1 sliding movement on shaft 182. Fixed to shaft 182 adjacent link 210 is a collar and pin element 212. Mounted on

shafts

183, 184, and 185 is a second link 213 fixed to shaft 185 by an integral collar and pin element 214. Said second link is mounted for free-sliding movement on

shafts

183, 184. Fixed on

shafts

183, 184, adjacent link 213 are collar and pin

elements

215, 216, respectively. Mounted on shafts182, 183, and 184 is a third link 217, fixed to shaft 184 by an integral collar and pin element 218, with said third link mounted on

shafts

182 and 183 for free-sliding movement. Fixed to shafts 182 adjacent link 217 is collar and pin elements 219. Thus it can be seen that by moving selected one of shafts 18 1, 182, etc., to the right as seen in FIG. 24, that various combinations of the stop elements will be moved out of the path of rotation of said paddlewheel for allowing the paddle wheel to rotate a predetermined distance to enter the selected number through 1 input gear 105 into the storage means.

If the number to be entered is zero, a pulse is received in the go" solenoid 209 which will move stop 171 to the right (FIG. 17) and at the same time pin-positioning element 176 will be moved rightward by spring 177. Since pin 152A is in the path of element 176, it will be moved from a noncoplanar to a coplanar position with stops 172, 173, etc., and in this position pin 152A will contact stop 172. Thus it can be seen that the paddle wheel and pins will not'be allowed to move in the direction of the arrow from the position shown.

lf the number to be entered is one, a pulse is received to energize the No. 1 solenoid 201 which will hold pin-positioning element 176 against rightward movement by spring 177 when stop 171 is moved rightward after receiving a go" signal, and therefore pin 152C willbe allowed to move in the direction of the arrow against stop 172. This will transmit a one-tooth movement through the paddle wheel 151 to input gear 105.

1f the number to be entered is a two, then a pulse is received to energize the No. 2 solenoid 202 which will move stop 172 by link 217 rightward. When a go" signal is received to move stop 171 rightward, it will also move pin 152A to the right by I a three-tooth movement to input gear 105.

If the number to be entered is a four, then a pulse is received to energize the No; 4' solenoid 204, thus moving stop 173 rightward and at the same time through link 210 moving stop 172 rightward. Since a pulse was not received in solenoid No. 1, the pin-positioning element 176 will move rightward with go" stop 171 to move pin 152A into said coplanar position. Pin 152A will then be allowed to move in the direction of the arrow against stop 174 to transmit a four-tooth movement to the input gear 105.

If the number to be entered is a five, then a pulse is received to energize solenoid No. l and solenoid No. 4, thus moving stops 172 and 173 rightward, and since the No. 1 solenoid was energized to hold element 176, pin 152C will be allowed to move against stop 174 transmitting a five-tooth movement to input gear 105. j v

If the number to be entered is a six, men a pulse is received to energize solenoid No. 2 and solenoid No. 4 thus moving

stops

172, 173, and 174 rightward, and since the No. 1 solenoid was not energized, the pin-positioning element 176 will move rightward with go" stop 171 to move pin 152A into said coplanar position. Pin 152A will then be allowed to move in the direction of the arrow against stop 175 to transmit a sixtooth movement to input gear 105.

if the number to be entered is a seven, then a pulse is received to energize solenoid No. l, solenoid No. 2, and sole- ..noid No. 4 thus moving stops1i72, 173, and 174 rightward;

and since-the No. 1 solenoid was energized to hold element 176, pin 152C will be allowed to move in the direction of the arrow against stop 175 transmitting a seventooth movement to input gear 105.

If the number to be entered is an eight, then a pulse is received to energize solenoid No. 8, thus through

linkage

210 and 213 moving

stops

172, 173, 174, and 175 rightward; and since the No. l'solenoid was not energized, the pin-positioning element 176 will move rightward with "go" stop 171 to move pin 152A into said coplanar position. Pin 152A will then be allowed to move in the direction of the arrow against fixed stop 7 190 to transmit an eight-tooth movement to input gear If the number to be entered is a nine, then a pulse is received to energize solenoid No. 1 and solenoid No. 8 thus moving

stops

172, 173, 174, and rightward; and since the No. 1 solenoid was energized to hold element 176, pin 152C will be allowed to move in H6 dFection of the arrow against fixed stop 190 to transmit a nine-tooth movement to input gear 150.

Attention is again invited to the fact that the pins 152 are radially extending from paddle wheel 151 journaled on continuously driven shaft 114 having a sufficient amount of friction therebetween to cause the paddle wheel 151 to be driven when released by

stops

171, 172, etc. Further, after the

stops

171, 172, 173, 174, and 175 have been released from rightward movement to return to their home position (as shown in FIG. 24), any pin 152 in the path of said stops will be moved by said stops back to a noncoplanar position.

It will be obvious that values may be entered successively in the storage gears 37 (FIG. 3) by moving the carriage 31 to the left relative to the stationary input gear 150, or they may be so entered by fixing the carriage 31 and moving the single input gear relative to the gears 37. Values transmitted from computers usually are transmitted from a storage register or delay line in serial fashion. Since the full capacity of the register is transmitted, including nonsignificant higher order zeros, it is of no consequence whether transmission is from lowest to highest orders or vice versa.

The operation of the elements previously described are in response to a binary code in which the solenoids operate directly on the settable elements to ensure that a coded input will result in the decimal output representative of that code. It should be obvious, however, that the transition from a binary input value to a decimal value may be accomplished in the electrical circuitry associated with the input to thereby directly set the elements in decimal form.

It is anticipated that the transducer or input element may be associated with various peripheral equipment such as a remote keyboard, punches tape, or computer storage. In some cases it might be more expedient to effect the translation from one code to another in the associated input mechanism rather than the setting elements themselves. In the case of a remote decimal input, for example, the solenoids associated with the input mechanism may be operated directly by a transducer with the output from a computer being decoded in such a manner as to directly set the decimal solenoid associated with the particular code combination.

KEYBOARD ENCODER As previously stated, the receiving and decoding means shown in both of the above illustrated embodiments can be operated from a remote source with coded information such as a punched tape, computer, or possibly a keyboard either internal or remote thereto. Such a keyboard is shown in FIGS. 19-23.

A row of four

switches

288, 289, 290, and 291 are provided to operate the

solenoids

201, 202, 204, 208 of FIG. 17. A series of upwardly extending levers 292-299 is mounted on shaft 300. All of the levers are freely mounted on the shaft 300, except lever 292, which is integral with the shaft and the levers 293 which are loosely keyed to the shaft (as shown in FIG. 21) so that counterclockwise rocking of any of the levers 293 will impart a counterclockwise movement to the lever 292. All the levers are spring urged'clockwise by a leaf spring element 304 having a plurality of spring fingers 305 one of which is associated with each of the levers on the shaft 300. Each of the switches 288-291, inclusive, is a normally closed switch which is opened by the pressure of the leaf spring forcing levers 192, 196, 197, and 198 against the arm of the switch. Counterclockwise rocking of the associated lever, therefore, will serve to close each of said switches.

A bail 306 extends across all of the levers and is pivoted on the shaft 300 through means of the supports 307. A normally opened switch 308 shown in FIGS. 19, 21, and .23 is positioned to be contacted by the bail 306 for closing switch 308. The closing of the switch 308 serves to apply a go signal to thereby operate selected ones of the solenoids 225 or solenoid 209 after the selected binary combination has been established by the closing ofswitches 288-291. Referring to FIG. 23, it can be seen that the counterclockwise rocking of selected

levers

292, 296, 297, and 298 will serve to close the corresponding switches 288-291 during the first part of said counterclockwise movement and this would serve to establish the selected binary value. Further counterclockwise rocking of the said levers would serve to rock the bail 306 counterclockwise and close the switch 308. It can be seen that even though a binary value will be established by a partial depression of one of the keys to close switches 288-291, that no work will be done until a key has been fully depressed to cause bail 306 to close switch 308.

Means for rocking levers 292-299 are shown in FIGS. 19, 21, and 23 as cords 309 secured at 310 to each of said levers. There is one cord 309A underlying each horizontal row of keys 282. Each of the cords 309A is associated with a lever 293, which is keyed to the shaft 300; therefore, any one of levers 293 being rocked leftward will serve to rock the lever 292 leftward to signal a binary one (1). The cords 309A are moved downward in the first row by the number one and number three keys, in the second row by the number five key and in the third row by the number seven and nine keys. The cords associated with each row extend under all of the keys 282 of that row and are selectively pulled by means of notches shown in FIG. 22. The bottom part of each keystem 282 overlies the cords and where a cord is to be operated by a keystem there is a shallow notch 311 in the bottom part of the keystem 282 and where a cord is not to be pulled down with the depression of a key, a deeper notch 312 lies over the cord in that position to allow the free movement downward of the key 282 without affecting the cord. The keys are supported on the cords and maintained against rotation by the

notches

311 and 312 and are held upward against the top plate 312A as shown in FIGS. 21 and 23 by the action of a spring (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 a cord 3098 is connected to the lever 294 and is operated by the number two and the number three keys. Operation of the number three key will, therefore, rock both of the

levers

293 and 294 counterclockwise to close the number two switch 289 and the number one switch 288. The cord 309C operates the number four lever 296 directly associated with the number four switch 290. The cord 309D operates the number eight lever 298 to directly control the number eight switch 291. The six key, which should close two switches, the four and the two, is connected by cord 309E to a lever 295 which has an extension arm 295A overlying the number four and the number two levers, respectively. Movement of the lever number 295 will therefore serve to operate the number two and four switches. The cord 309E underlies the number six key. Similarly a lever 297 is connected by a cord 309F to be operated by the number seven key and has an extension arm 297A which overlies lever 295 to operate the four, and two switches. The overlying

arms

295A and 297A are more clearly shown in FIG. 20. Since the number two and four

levers

294, 296 will be operated by the overlying

arms

295A and 297A when the number seven key is depressed, the looseness in the cord caused by counterclockwise rocking of the

lever

294 and 296 will be taken out by a spring 313 connected through beads 314 to the cords 3098 and 309C. The

Y bead will tend to serve as a fixed connection against rightward movement of said cords when the number two and four keys are operated directly, but leftward movement of said cords will be allowed through the springs 313 when the

lever

294, 296 are operated indirectly.

All the other cords 309A and 309D-309G are connected on the left to a fixed frame at 315.

A zero key is provided which will operate cord 309G connected to lever 299 freely mounted on shaft 300. Counterclockwise movement of lever 299 will rotate bail 306 to close switch 308 for operation of the escapement mechanism shown in FIG. 1, and to operate either the solenoid 226 shown in FIG. 26 or go stop 171 shown in FIG. 17.

The above described keyboard has been schematically illustrated in the circuit diagram of FIG. 18 and will be further ll described hereinbelow in the operating description of the machine.

OPERATION ly to provide for the correct operation of the input mechanism. Also shown in FIG. are the keys 282 which serve to close the switches to therespective solenoids, as well as the bail 306, which operates a switch 308 to provide the go signal which serves to enter the value into the input only when akey is completely depressed. Upon completion of the entry of a value into the input unit, a print key 500 is operated which serves to cycle the machine to print the value and clear the input storage mechanism for a new entry. Shown in the wiring diagram is a plus source 502 with parallel leads to each of the solenoids representing a binary'digit. Combinations of these binary digits to control the entry of the correct decimal value maybe operated by the circuit shown by the closing of the correct switches representing that combination through the depression of a single key. For example, the number 2 key 282 will serve to close the switch 289 which completes a circuit from the power source 502 through the lead 589 to the ground 600. This energizes the solenoid 202 which perfonns the function as previously described.

One of the features of this arrangement is in that the individual solenoids are operated prior to the release of the go stop which is shown in this FlG.'as the go solenoid 209. This operation is performed as follows: the bail 306 normally positions against the various switches 288 to 291 inclusive to hold these switches open. As the bail is' moved leftward, the switches will close and this will immediately operate the

binary solenoids

201, 202, 204, and 208. Energization of these solenoids does not affect any function until and unless the key is fully depressed. The bail 306 accomplishes this by contacting switch 308 which is closed when the bail reaches its leftmost position. At this time the individual solenoids are all in an operative position and serve to control the stops to correctly enter the amount. The closing of the switch 308 will provide a ground for the circuit which includes power source 502, lead 509, solenoid 209, lead509, switch 308, lead 508, and solenoid 47 to ground. This solenoid 47 serves to escape the carriage to the next position to effect a new entry. It will be recalled, however, that as long as the solenoid 47 is energized, the carriage does not escape but remains substantially in the position it had attained and will escape following the release of the solenoid 47. The go solenoid 209 therefore serves to release the paddle wheel 151 for the proper input and the solenoid 47 will hold the carriage momentarily while the paddle wheel is advanced to represent the decimal digit representing the summation of the

binary solenoids

1, 2, 4, or 8 as described. When the digit key is'relea'sed, therefore, the carriage will then be positioned for acceptance of a new digit to the input. I

As described in connection with the zero key, the zero key 283 will serve only to close the switch 308 and operate the go". However, if none of the numeral solenoids are in opera tive position, no input will result but through the operation of the solenoid 47 the carriage will escape to the left one order for entry of the next digit.

Upon completion of the setup of the digits representing a value to be printed, the print key 500 is depressed and the circuitry for performingthe print operation is shown in FIG. 27. Depression of the print key 500 serves to open the machine clutch and to lower the previously set'gears 37 into engagement with the print racks 13. The print operation consists of a reciprocation of the racks 13 as above described and during the rearward excursion of racks 13, the extent of the movement is limited by the previously set gears 37 which were angularly positioned through the keyboard. During this rearward excursion of racks 13 the gears 37 are held in engagement with these racks but are disengaged during the return of the racks to their home position. The normal machine cycling will therefore serve to position racks 13, then print, then'retum racks 13 to home position.'At the termination of the rearward excursion of racks 13 however, gears 37 are positioned at zero by virtue of having been driven against zero stop 40. The disengagement of racks 13 therefore, at this point will leave gears 37 at zero position and carriage will then be returned to its rightmost position as described above in the normal cycling of the machine. As shown in FIG. 18, the solenoid 66A serves to open the machine clutch and the solenoid 66, which serves to hold the gears in engagement with the racks, are energized by a source 550 which circuit is closed by the depression of the print key 500 and provides a circuit to the ground 561. The opening of the machine clutch serves to rotate the cam 552 and the rotation of this cam will therefore serve to hold the

solenoids

66 and 66A energized for one-half of the machine cycle. This is accomplished through a switch 560 and through the operating arm 558. Arm 558 is pivoted at 556 and has a roller 557 in contact with the cam 552. As cam 552 rotates counterclockwise a spring will rock lever 554 counterclockwise due to the contour of the cam and this will close switch 560. Switch 560 is held closed until the rearward excursion of racks 13 has been completed, atwhich time switch 560 is opened and gears 37 will be disengaged from racks 13 and the machine clutch element will be free to drop in and stop the operation of the machine after a single cycle.

In connection with the descriptions of the keyboards as shown in FIGS. 17, and 19-23, I have shown utility of the paddle wheel input mechanism used both for direct entry of decimal values to control the position of the pins 152 of the paddle wheel 151 or the utilization of coded information through solenoids 201-208 to position the stops 171-176 of the paddle wheel to permit angular advancement of paddle wheel 151 to a position representative of a decimal digit entered. It is obvious that a keyboard as shown in FIGS. 19-23 and the wiring diagram associated with it as shown in FIG. 18 can be utilized efficiently in a single machine which performs a printing operation as a result of information manually entered through the keyboard.

It can also be seen in connection with the keyboard that direct utilization of the closureof switches to operate individual solenoids selectively from one to nine to position the pins 152 for angular displacement of paddle wheel 151 would result in a low-cost printing machine where a single printer which is capable of accepting manual input is required. The provision of such a machine as a single unit and for a single purpose would not require that the machine be capable of automatic operation at relatively high speeds. It is, however, an object of the invention to provide a machine which is capable of adaptability to either manual input or automatic input at a relatively high speed and that such input may be entered directly through a keyboard at the machine or through a remote keyboard with manual entry and that such machines shall be capable also of receiving information from a punched tape or the like for automatic operation. A punched tape unit may be associated closely with the print unit or remotely from the unit. Furthermore, printing on two machines from a single source such as a keyboard or a tape reader is possible. The adaptability of each machine to a different type of operation without changing the machine itself except for adding on the units to provide the adaptationis a feature of this invention. For example, it can be seen that directly operating numeral solenoids to position the input mechanism would not need to contain the decoding for binary input unless it were desirable to receive infon'nation from another source which normally comes in by code, such as a punched tape. A purchase of such a machine, however, may at any time later add the electrical decoding system without any change to the machine itself or its operating characteristics. The type of machine which might be normally purchased by persons to fill the present needs may very well be called upon to provide additional type of service as the needs of the purchaser change. For example, manual input requirements are such that the type of machine to be used would be relatively slow in acceptance of such input, whereas the automatic input from a remote source would change the requirements for a high-speed acceptance of input information. The mode of operation of the machine, therefore, will be such that the speed requirements of both types of input will be satisfied. It is also noted that the location of the remote source of input information would have a bearing on the type of operation most desirable for a particular machine. For this reason l am mentioning the complete adaptability of two different types of machines to operate together in a system.

The present invention thus provides a printing system, operable from either an internal or external code-producing unit or from either an internal or external direct decimal entry unit. Also, the invention contemplates both an electrical and an electromechanical decoding device, operable from a keyboard or similar unit. Further, the invention provides a keyboard encoder capable of the simultaneous application of coded pulses to operate one or more printing units, or a computer or the like.

While the form of the apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A code conversion apparatus comprising:

a. a mechanism for entering a value expressed in a first radix,

b. a decoder operable under control of said entering mechanism for establishing a plural order representation of a value expressed in a second radix,

c. a register having a plurality of gears for receiving values expressed in said second radix,

d. a unitary drive gear for serially entering said ordinal values in said register gears, said drive gear being advanced selective amounts in serial fashion in each order of the register by said plural order representation of said decoded value,

c. means supporting said register and said drive gear for lateral movement relative to each other whereby said drive gear can be operatively associated with each of said register gears, and,

f. means for effecting a step by step ordinal movement between said register and said drive gear in response to operation of said decoder.

2. A code conversion apparatus as defined in claim 1 including:

a. a plurality of print wheels,

b. means for transferring, in parallel, a value from said register into said print wheels, and

c. a print mechanism operable under control of said print wheels to print out the value expressed in second radix.

3. A code conversion apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a keyboard for entering a value expressed in said second radix into an encoder which translates the entered value into a value expressed in said first radix.

4. A code conversion device as defined in claim 3 including a value transmission means operable in response to said encoder for transmitting values, expressed in said first radix, to a utilization means extraneous to said apparatus.

5. A code conversion apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a value transmission means for receiving, from a device extraneous to said apparatus, a value expressed in said first radix.

6. A registering apparatus capable of serially receiving a set of information in a first predetermined code in the form of electrical signals of input and producing parallel readout of said set of information in a second predetermined code, the improvement comprising, in combination:

a. receiving means mounted on said registering apparatus for serially receiving said electrical signals in said first predetennined code;

' b. decoding means mounted on said registering apparatus for converting said electrical signals of said first predetermined code into degrees of rotary output movement representative of said second predetermined code, in response to operation of said receiving means,

c. storage means mounted on said registering apparatus, said storage means including means for serially receiving said degrees of rotary movement representative of said second predetermined code; and,

6. input means mounted on said registering apparatus and operatively associated with said decoding means and said storage means for transferring serially said degrees of rotary output movement from said decoding means to said storage means.

7. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said storage means includes a series of ordinally arranged value storage elements.

8. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said input means and said storage means are mounted for lateral shifting movement relative to each other to permit said rotary output movement to be transferred serially into said valued storage elements.

9. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said input means is provided with means for holding said input means in a laterally set position, and means operatively associated with said storage means for shifting said storage means laterally relative to said input means, order by order, so that said rotary output movement can be entered serially into said value storage elements.

10. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said decoding means includes a wheel having a series of circumferentially positioned and laterally shiftable pin elements and a series of stop elements positioned in the path of movement of said pin elements for blocking rotation of said wheel.

11. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which said storage means includes a laterally shiftable carriage having an ordinal series of settable gears.

12. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which said receiving means includes a series of electromagnetic actuators for moving selected ones of said stop elements out of the path of movement of said pins in accordance with input information represented in said first predetermined code form, and means for rotating said wheel in response to movement of selected ones of said stop elements.

13. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said first predetermined code form is a binary code and wherein said stop elements are detailed in width so that selected combinations of said stop elements will allow sufficient rotary movement of said wheel to produce output information representative of decimal values 0 to 9 inclusive.

14. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said entering means includes an input gear driven by said wheel.

15. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said actuators include an ordinal series of racks, and wherein said registering elements include an ordinal series of print wheels having decimal values 0 to 9 inclusive thereon.

l6.-A registering apparatus as defined in claim 6 including readout means mounted on said registering apparatus and operatively associated with said storage means for effecting a parallel readout of said second predetermined code of information contained in said storage means.

17. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said readout means includes an ordinal series of registering elements, and an ordinal series of actuator means positioned in said registering apparatus for transferring said output information in parallel from each of said value storage elements to each of said registering elements.

18. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said input means includes an input gear and wherein said storage means includes a laterally shiftable carriage having an ordinal series of settable storage gears.

19. A code conversion apparatus characterized by a first mechanical means including a rotatably moveable wheel having a series of pins mounted adjacent the circumference thereof, a second mechanical-means including a plurality of mechanical stop elements positioned'in the path of said pins for blocking rotary movement of said wheel, electromagnetic actuator means for moving selected ones of said mechanical stop elements out of the path of said pins in accordance with input information represented in a first predetermined code form, means for effecting rotation of said wheel under control of movement of selected ones of said mechanical stop elements, said pins being moveable between two positions, one position in which the path of movement of the pins is in alignment with the mechanical stop elements when the latter are in their blocking position, and asecond position in which the path of movement of the pin is .out of alignment with the mechanical stop elements when the latter are in their blocking position, and means for producing output information representative of a second predetermined code form in response to rotary movement of said first mechanical means.

20. A code conversionappa'ratus as described in claim 19 further characterized in that said apparatus includes a moveable element for moving a pin from its first position into its second position in responseto an input signal so as to permit the wheel to rotate through a greater angle than would otherwise be allowed by the stop elements.

21. A code conversion apparatus, as described in claim 20 further characterized in that said apparatus includes means for returning any pin from its second position to its first position after said pin has moved past said stop elements.

22. A code conversion apparatus as described in claim 20 further characterized in that said first predetermined code form is a binary code and wherein said stop elements are graduated so that movement of selected'combinations of said stop elements permit predetermined rotary movement of said wheel to produce output information represented by decimal values -9 inclusive.

23. A keyboard-coding unit comprising:

a. a plurality of switch-actuating elements mounted for limited movement, I b. a plurality of switches, one for each point of the code handled, positioned for actuation by movement of said elements, i

c. a plurality of flexible elements detailed to have a maximum effective length, with one end of each said flexible elements mounted to provide an'effective anchor against at least one direction ofmotion and the other end of each of said flexible elements connected to at least one of said switch-actuating elements for imparting motion thereto,

. and

d. a plurality of keystems supported for movement in response to manual selection, with each of said keystems having portions engaging portions of at least one of said flexible elements whereby movement of said keystem will reduce the effective length of said flexible element to impart motion to said switch actuation element.

24. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 23 in which said switch-actuating elements are mounted on a rotatably moveable shaft with at least one of saidelements fixed to said shaft.

25. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 24 in which a first group of said switch actuating elements are mounted on said shaft for limited rotary movement in one direction and fixed relative to said shaft for movement in an opposite direction with a second group of said switch-actuating elements being rotatably mounted on said shaft for relative movement in either direction.

26. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 25 in which certain of said switch actuation elements are provided with means overlapping certain other of said switch-actuating elements so that movement of said certain of said switch-actuating elements in one direction will move certain other switchactuating elements to thereby actuate a combination of said switches.

27. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 23 in which said keystems are positioned to engage more than one of said flexible elements so that a combination of said switches can be actuated.

28. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 24 in which each of said keystems is provided with a combination of deep and shallow notches with a shallow notch engaging a flexible element where a switch is to be closed by actuation of said keystem, and a deep notch engaging a flexible element where a switch is to remain open by actuation of said keystem.

29. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 25 in which said keyboard comprises a plurality of rows of keystems with at least two flexible elements engaging all the keystems in one row.

30. A keyboard-coding unitas defined in claim 23 in which an interlocking means is operatively associated with all of said keystems to prevent simultaneous actuation of more than one keystem.

31. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 30 in which said interlocking means includes a flexible interlocking element engaging a portion of all of said keystems and wherein said flexible interlocking element is provided with a detailed maximum effective length with said flexible interlocking element supported for a limited movement equal to the amount of movement of one keystem during actuation so that actuation of one keystem will efi'ect the maximum movement allowed of the flexible interlocking element thereby blocking actuation of another keystem.

32. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 31 in which yieldable means is operatively associated with said flexible interlocking element for returning said flexible interlocking ele- -ment to said maximum effective length after a keystem has been released from actuation to thereby return an actuated keystem to a nonactuated position.

33. An electromechanical data processing terminal which comprises:

I. an input means comprising:

a. a plurality of keys moveable for entering sequentially into the terminal a set of information containing at least one unit of information in a first predetermined code form, and

b. an encoder cooperating in combination with the keys for encoding, in the same sequential order, the set of information into a corresponding set of electrical signals in a second predetermined code form,

11. a decoding section operable upon receiving electrical signals initiated from the input means, said decoding section comprising:

c. a plurality of decoding elements connected cooperatively to receive electrical signals in the second predetermined code form and responsive thereto to generate a set of output information in the first code form corresponding to and in the same sequential order as the electrical signals, and

d. a register having a plurality of storage elements each engaged to receive sequentially one unit of the set of output information from the decoding elements, and

III. a printout section comprising:

e. a set of printing elements in the first code form each corresponding to and capable of receiving the information in one of said storage elements of said register,

a transfer mechanism, actuable after the storage elements have completed the receipt of the set of output information from the decoding elements, for transferring simultaneously the contents of the register to the corresponding printing elements thereby selecting the printing elements corresponding to the set of output information for a printing operation,

,g. a record material disposed in printing relationship with the printing elements, and

a printing actuator moveably mounted in spaced relationship with the printing elements to print the information therein onto said material.

Claims

1. A code conversion apparatus comprising: a. a mechanism for entering a value expressed in a first radix, b. a decoder operable under control of said entering mechanism for establishing a plural order representation of a value expressed in a second radix, c. a register having a plurality of gears for receiving values expressed in said second radix, d. a unitary drive gear for serially entering said ordinal values in said register gears, said drive gear being advanced selective amounts in serial fashion in each order of the register by said plural order representation of said decoded value, e. means supporting said register and said drive gear for lateral movement relative to each other whereby said drive gear can be operatively associated with each of said register gears, and, f. means for effecting a step by step ordinal movement between said register and said drive gear in response to operation of said decoder.

2. A code conversion apparatus as defined in claim 1 including: a. a plurality of print wheels, b. means for transferring, in parallel, a value from said register into said print wheels, and c. a print mechanism operable under control of said print wheels to print out the value expressed in second radix.

6. A registering apparatus capable of serially receiving a set of information in a first predetermined code in the form of electrical signals of input and producing parallel readout of said set of information in a second predetermined code, the improvement comprising, in combination: a. receiving means mounted on said registering apparatus for serially receiving said electrical signals in said first predetermined code; b. decoding means mounted on said registering apparatus for converting said electrical signals of said first predetermined code into degrees of rotary output movement representative of said second predetermined code, in response to operation of said receiving means, c. storage means mounted on said registering apparatus, said storage means including means for serially receiving said degrees of rotary movement representative of said second predetermined code; and, d. input means mounted on said registering apparatus and operatively associated with said decoding means and said storage means for transferring serially said degrees of rotary output movement from said decoding means to said storage means.

16. A registering apparatus as defined in claim 6 including readout means mounted on said registering apparatus and operatively associated with said storage means for effecting a parallel readout of said second predetermined code of information contained in said storage means.

19. A code conversion apparatus characterized by a first mechanical means including a rotatably moveable wheel having a series of pins mounted adjacent the circumference thereof, a second mechanical means including a plurality of mechanical stop elements positioned in the path of said pins for blocking rotary movement of said wheel, electromagnetic actuator means for moving selected ones of said mechanical stop elements out of the path of said pins in accordance with input information represented in a first predetermined code form, means for effecting rotation of said wheel under control of movement of selected ones of said mechanical stop elements, said pins being moveable between two positions, one position in which the path of movement of the pins is in alignment with the mechanical stop elements when the latter are in their blocking position, and a second position in which the path of movement of the pin is out of alignment with the mechanical stop elements when the latter are in their blocking position, and means for producing output information representative of a second predetermined code form in response to rotary movement of said first mechanical means.

20. A code conversion apparatus as described in claim 19 further characterized in that said apparatus includes a moveable element for moving a pin from its first position into its second position in response to an input signal so as to permit the wheel to rotate through a greater angle than would otherwise be allowed by the stop elements.

21. A code conversion apparatus as describEd in claim 20 further characterized in that said apparatus includes means for returning any pin from its second position to its first position after said pin has moved past said stop elements.

22. A code conversion apparatus as described in claim 20 further characterized in that said first predetermined code form is a binary code and wherein said stop elements are graduated so that movement of selected combinations of said stop elements permit predetermined rotary movement of said wheel to produce output information represented by decimal values 0-9 inclusive.

23. A keyboard-coding unit comprising: a. a plurality of switch-actuating elements mounted for limited movement, b. a plurality of switches, one for each point of the code handled, positioned for actuation by movement of said elements, c. a plurality of flexible elements detailed to have a maximum effective length, with one end of each said flexible elements mounted to provide an effective anchor against at least one direction of motion and the other end of each of said flexible elements connected to at least one of said switch-actuating elements for imparting motion thereto, and d. a plurality of keystems supported for movement in response to manual selection, with each of said keystems having portions engaging portions of at least one of said flexible elements whereby movement of said keystem will reduce the effective length of said flexible element to impart motion to said switch actuation element.

24. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 23 in which said switch-actuating elements are mounted on a rotatably moveable shaft with at least one of said elements fixed to said shaft.

26. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 25 in which certain of said switch actuation elements are provided with means overlapping certain other of said switch-actuating elements so that movement of said certain of said switch-actuating elements in one direction will move certain other switch-actuating elements to thereby actuate a combination of said switches.

30. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 23 in which an interlocking means is operatively associated with all of said keystems to prevent simultaneous actuation of more than one keystem.

31. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 30 in which said interlocking means includes a flexible interlocking element engaging a portion of all of said keystems and wherein said flexible interlocking element is provided with a detailed maximum effective length with said flexible interlocking element supported for a limited movement equal to the amount of movement of one keystem during actuation so that actuation of one keystem will effect the maximum movement allowed of the flexible interlocking element thereby blocking actuation of another keystem.

32. A keyboard-coding unit as defined in claim 31 in which yieldable means is operatively associated with said flexible interlocking element for returning said flexible interlocking element to said maximum effective length after a keystem has been released from actuation to thereby return an actuated keystem to a nonactuated position.

33. An electromechanical data processing terminal which comprises: I. an input means comprising: a. a plurality of keys moveable for entering sequentially into the terminal a set of information containing at least one unit of information in a first predetermined code form, and b. an encoder cooperating in combination with the keys for encoding, in the same sequential order, the set of information into a corresponding set of electrical signals in a second predetermined code form, II. a decoding section operable upon receiving electrical signals initiated from the input means, said decoding section comprising: c. a plurality of decoding elements connected cooperatively to receive electrical signals in the second predetermined code form and responsive thereto to generate a set of output information in the first code form corresponding to and in the same sequential order as the electrical signals, and d. a register having a plurality of storage elements each engaged to receive sequentially one unit of the set of output information from the decoding elements, and III. a printout section comprising: e. a set of printing elements in the first code form each corresponding to and capable of receiving the information in one of said storage elements of said register, f. a transfer mechanism, actuable after the storage elements have completed the receipt of the set of output information from the decoding elements, for transferring simultaneously the contents of the register to the corresponding printing elements thereby selecting the printing elements corresponding to the set of output information for a printing operation, g. a record material disposed in printing relationship with the printing elements, and h. a printing actuator moveably mounted in spaced relationship with the printing elements to print the information therein onto said material.