US3768623A

US3768623A - Keyboard control unit

Info

Publication number: US3768623A
Application number: US00132640A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Asahi; K Hozumi
Original assignee: Silver Seiko Ltd
Current assignee: Silver Seiko Ltd
Priority date: 1970-04-11
Filing date: 1971-04-09
Publication date: 1973-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-30
Also published as: FR2089583A5; SE367495B; JPS5110734B1; DE2117885A1; GB1345592A; DE2117885B2

Abstract

A keyboard control unit in a data applying machine for controlling a data applying mechanism for applying data to a data carrier which comprises a plurality of first elements provided on a key-operated member and a plurality of second elements connected to said data applying mechanism, at least one of the element groups being manually displaceable in an engageable position and in an unengageable position with the other. With such a keyboard control unit, the control of the data applying mechanism can be effected through a mechanical engaging relations between the first and the second elements and varying of said control can be easily effected by varying said engaging relation according to a code system of a data reading machine employed.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Asahi et al.

1 Oct. 30, 1973 KEYBOARD CONTROL UNIT [75] inventors: Tetsuma Asahi; Norio l i a segawaj Kaoru Hozumi, all of Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Silver Seiko Co., Ltd., Tokyo,

Japan [22.] Filed: Apr. 9, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 132,640

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 11, 1970 Japan. 45/36d i [52] U.S. CL... 197/19, 197/17 [51] Int. Cl. B4lj 5/30 [58] Field Of Search 197/17, 19, 20, 98,

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,612,240 10/1971 Parker 197/19 X 3,269,509 8/1966 Smith 197/17 X 3,317,020 5/1967 Nitschke..... 197/17 X 3,165,190 1/1965 Wenczel 197/19 3,189,153 6/1965 Barnard et al. 197/98 3,306,417 2/1967 Gassino et al. 197/ 17 3,422,946 1/1969 Rekewitz 197/19 3,060,272 10/1962 Bacon et al.... 197/19 3/1965 Greene 197/19 Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Assistant Examiner-R. T. Rader AttorneyWoodhams, Blanchard & Flynn 57 ABSTRACT 'A keyboard control unit in a data applying machine for controlling a data applying mechanism for apply- 7 ing data to a data carrier which comprises a plurality of the data applying mechanism can be effected through a mechanical engaging relations between the first and the second elements and varying of said control can be easily effected by varying said engaging relation according to a code system of a data reading machine employed.

18 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBCI 30 I973 SHEEIIOF 8- TQI INVENTORY Tersumn Hsflm ATTORNEY PAIENIEDocr 30 ms SHEET 3 0F 8 INVENTOR No R10 Heynu).

F Q/w Hozum ATI'O PAIENIEnnmuma I 3.768.623

SHEET 8 0F 8 FIG. 14C

91 F |G.|4B

F I G. 16

KEY BOARD CODE CONVERTER INVENTORS KEYBOARD CONTROL UNIT This invention relates to a keyboard control unit in a data applying machine for controlling the operation of a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier, and more particularly to a keyboard control unit of the kind which is capable of producing, upon key operation, a

code in any desired code system through a mechanical medium.

According to a conventional data applying machine, the data applied on the data carrier on the machine is restricted to that of a predetermined system of code. For example, a conventional perforation machine can merely provide a perforated data tape having thereon a combination of perforations in accordance with a predetermined system of code. With such conventional machine, the combination of the perforations, namely the predetermined system of code is absolutely impossible to change it into another one and therefore it is necessary to additionally employ a code converter for converting the predetermined system of code to another one, leading to disadvantage from the view points of simplicity in operation and economy. Furthermore, with the conventional machines, there are required a number of code bars which are different in shape from one another, thus causing the manufacture of machine to be industrially uneconomical.

Whereas, there has been proposed another type keyboard control unit including an electrical means, in which a code system may be changed to another one. In this connection, it is to be noted that employing such an electrical means brings some disadvantages with respect to the stability or the accuracy of the operation and the cost of manufacturing.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard control unit in a data applying machine for controlling the operation of a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier which is capable of varying the control of the data applying mechanism to apply data in any desired system of code to said data carrier.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a keyboard control unit which is capable of varying the control of a data applying mechanism through asimple manual Operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a keyboard control unit of the character described, which is composed of reduced kinds of parts easy to manufacture and assemble, thus facilitating a mass production of the unit and lowering the cost thereof.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a tape perforating machine by which a perforated input data tape for computers can be obtained in any desired system of code requiredfor the computer employed, thereby enabling necessity of additionally providing a code converter in or independent of the computer to be eliminated.

Essentially, according to the present invention, there is provided a keyboard control unit in a data applying machine for controlling a data applying mechanism for applying data to a data carrier comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of key-operated members connected to and displaceable upon operation of said keys, a plurality of bar members each rotatable around an axis along the length thereof and connected to the data applying mechanism for controlling the operation thereof, a plurality of first elements provided on each of said key-operated members, a plurality of second elements provided on each of said bar members, each element of at least one of the groups of the elements consisting of the first elements and the second elements being manually displaceable with respect to its associated member to a position in which it is engageable with a predetermined element of the other group of elements and another position in which is is unengageable with said predetermined element, and means for locking the displaceable elements on and with respect to the associated emembers thereby to enable the latter to move together with the former, said bar members being selectively driven by the displacement of the keyoperated member according to a prdetermined engaging relation between said both members at the first and second elements to rotate around said axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.

These and other objects and features of this invention will be better understood upon consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a keyboard control unit embodying the present invention which is employed in a typewriting and perforating machine;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a data applying mechanism employed in a typewriting and perforating machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a coding unit employed in a typewriting and perforating machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an engaging piece and a collar of the coding unit shown in FIG. 3, showing the state in which the engaging piece and the collar are mounted on a bar member;

FIG. 5A is a front view of the engaging piece shown in FIG. 4 and 5B is a side view thereof;

FIG. 6A is a front view of the collar as shown in FIG. 4 and 6B is a side view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of another form of coding unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of an engaging piece and a locking piece of the coding unit shown in FIG. 7, showing the state in which the engaging piece and the locking piece are mounted on a bar member;

FIG. 9A is a front view of the engaging piece shown in FIG. 8 and 9B is a side view thereof;

FIG. 10A is a front view of the locking piece and 10B is a side view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of another from of keyboard control unit employed in a typewriting and perforating machine;

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of still another form of keyboard control unit employed in a typewriting and perforating machine;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of an engaging member employed in the keyboard control unit shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14A is an enlarged top view of the engaging member shown in FIG. 13, 14B is a plan view of an engaging plate thereof and 14C'is a side view of a leaf spring employed in the engaging member, partly shown;

FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of still another form of coding unit, shown together with an electric data applying mechanism attached thereto;

FIG. 16 is a schematic sectional view taken along line 16 16 of FIG. and

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a code conversion system which may be employed in association with the data applying mechanism shown in FIG. 15.

In the drawings and the following descriptions, like portions or parts are denoted by like numerals or characters.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 6, there is illustrated a keyboard control unit embodying the present invention in the form of an electric typewriting and perforating machine in which a perforated data tape can be obtained by a data applying mechanism or punch mechanism. In the present embodiment, varying of the control for the punch mechanism is effected by shifting second elements from engageable position with first elements to unengageable position therewith or vice versa according to a code system required.

Numeral 1 designates a body of a typewriting and tape perforating machine and numeral 2 incidates keys such as digit keys of a numeric type, letter keys of a full key type, or function keys, provided on the machine body 1 at its front portion. Numeral 3 designates key levers as many as said keys 2. Tail portions 4 of said key levers are pivoted at 7 and forward portions 5 thereof said key 2 or said key lever 3 to rotate against the action of a spring 12 said hanging lever 9 counterclockwise in FIG. 1 around a fulcrum pin 11 mounted on a key-operated member or sublever 18 fulcrumed at 19.

Numeral 13 designates a drive shaft provided with wings l4 and 14 which is adapted to continuously rotate in the direction of arrow 15 by a motor (not shown) through a reduction mechanism (not shown).

In this connection, when said hanging lever 9 is rotated as mentioned above, its lower projection 16 is lowered to enter within the region of rotation of said

wings

14 and 14 and accordingly is caused to be struck by either one of said wings 14 and 14'. The hanging lever 9 is then pushed in the direction of arrow 17 owing to the rotation of said drive shaft 13 so that the sublever 18 associated therewith, is resultantly rotated in the direction of arrow 20 around 19. Instantly either one of said

wings

14 and 14 of the drive shaft 13 gets over and then off the lower projection 16 of the hanging lever 9, the pushing action by the drive shaft 13 against said sublever 18 is lost. Each of the sublevers 18 has a sectoral portion with a plurality of first elements or fingers 21 extending radially from the arcuate outer periphery thereof.

Upon the rotation of said sublever 18, a universal bar 22 of a universal bail is moved pivotally at 19 to operate a clutch (not shown) for connecting said drive shaft 13 to a driving shaft 57 of a punch mechanism. As a result, said driving shaft 57 is rotated one complete rotation, in the manner as mentioned later.

Numeral 23 indicates type levers respectively corresponding to the associated keys 2 and connected to the respective sublevers or actuator levers 18 by respective links 24. When the sublever or actuator lever 18 is rotated in the direction of arrow mark 20 owing to the rotation of the drive shaft 13, the corresponding type lever 23 is turned counterclockwise in FIG. 1 around 25 as in a conventional type lever segment, to perform a typing on a paper 27 rolled on a platen 26 of a conventional platen carriage. The hanging lever 9, sublever l8 and type lever 23 return to their original positions as shown in FIG. 1, respectively, by the action of the spring 12 after completion of the typing.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, each of bar members 28 is provided with a groove or keyway 29 along the length thereof. On each bar member 28 are mounted a plural ity of second elements or engaging pieces 34 and collars 37 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. Said engaging pieces 34 are mounted on each of their associated members or bar members 28 at one portion thereof near to a side wall 31 as mentioned below. Each enaging piece 34 is provided with an outwardly extending finger 35, a center hole which fits to the bar member 28 and a projection 36 extending inwardly of said center hole from the bar member. Said projection 36 fits to said groove 29 of the bar 28 whereby the engaging piece 34 is manually movable on and removable from the bar member 28 in the longitudinal direction of the latter, and it is rotatable together with the bar member 28 through engagement of the projection 36 of the former with the grooved portion of the latter. Said projection 36 of the engaging piece 34 and the groove 29 of the bar member 28 act as a means for locking the engaging piece on the bar member 28 in the direction of rotation of the latter. Alternatively, the bar member 28, the center hole of the engaging piece 34 and the center hole of the fixing means may respectively be formed in square, round and square to obtain the same effect. The engaging piece 34 and the collar or spacing member 37 have a similar length in the longitudinal direction of the bar member 28 when mounted on the latter, said length being determined according to the pitch or spacing between said sublevers 18. Engaging pieces 34 and collars 37, when mounted on a bar 28, are each aligned with a sublever 18, the fingers 35 of the engaging pieces being each directed towards the aligned sublever 18. The engaging pieces 34 are mounted on each of the bar members 28 at the positions aligned with the respectively confronting sublevers 18. In case the sublevers 18 are replaced by a conventional code bar as employed in an encoding device, the engaging members are provided in the position aligned with projections or teeth of said code bar. In this connection, some of the engaging pieces 34 may be omitted according to the codes corresponding to the keys associated with the respective sublevers 18. Thus, a set of engaging pieces 34 and collars 37 are arranged on every bar 28 in accordance with the code system or type of code employed. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bar members 28 which are arranged in parallel are rotatably supported by a pair of side walls 31 and 31' and are disposed adjacent the periphery of the sector portion of sublever 18, being disposed in an arcuate path generated about the pivot 19. Said

side walls

31 and 31 are removably attached to a frame member 30 by four bolts and nuts 30'. The side wall 31 is provided with a pair of threaded holes 33' and a pair of positioning recesses 32. The side wall 31 is also provided with similar threaded holes and positioning recesses (not shown). Each ofa pair of side frames 33 of the machine (one of said side frames is illustrated in FIG. 3) is provided with a pair of holes 33'a which are somewhat larger, for adjustment, than said threaded holes 33' of the side wall 31' and also with a pair of positioning studs 32'a. The side wall 31 may be fixed by means of the threaded holes 33' and screws or bolts through the holes 33'a with said recesses 32 of the

side wall

31 or 31 receiving said positioning studs 32a. The side wall 31 may also be fixed in the same manner. Thus, the side walls 31 and 31' fixed to said frame member and bar members 28 are removably attached to the machine body 1. Said

side walls

31 and 31, frame member 30, bar members 28, etc., constitute a unit A which will be hereafter referred to as coding unit. Thus, the coding unit is removable from the machine body 1. On the portion of each bar member 28 near to the side wall 31', apart from the engaging pieces 34 and collars 37 arranged as mentioned' before, is mounted a working piece 34' formed similar to the engaging piece 34. The positions of working pieces 34' in the length of the bars 28 are different from one another, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

In this embodiment, the fingers 21 are formed integrally with their associated member or sublever 18.

The finger of each engaging piece 34 is engageable with one of the fingers 21 of the corresponding sublever 18. Through such an engagement of the engaging piece 34 with the finger 21, said finger 21 or the sublever 18 is connected to the bar member 28 on which said engaging piece 34 is mounted to rotate said bar member 28 upon an operation of the key associated therewith and a resultant displacement of the key operated member, or the sublever 18. Said displacement of the key operated member is perpendicular to the axis of said bar member 28. y

In the present embodiment, each of the bar members 28, each of the levers 39 and each of punch pins except a punch pin for a feed hole, corresponds to one another. However, there may be provided a corresponding bar member 28 and a corresponding lever 39 to a punch pin for a feed hole.

It is therefore easily understood that one or more engaging pieces 34 are necessary for one bar member 28 at its portion near to said side wall 31 but that one working piece 34' is sufficient for one bar member 28 or for a corresponding lever 39 at its portion near to said side wall 31.

It will thus be seen that when the sublever 18 is rotated upon the depression of the associated key 2, the bar members 28 are selectively rotated through the engaging pieces 34 in the engageable positions. Resultantly, the corresponding levers 39 are turned counterclockwise in FIG. 2 around 38 and accordingly levers 40 associated therewith clockwise around 41. The links 42 associated with said levers 40 are then pulled, to rotate associated bell cranks 43 around 44 clockwise in FIG. 2 against the actions of springs 45. When the bell crank 43 is rotated as mentioned above to lower, a bit, its bent portion 46, a lever 47 is rotated clockwise around 48 by the action of a spring 49. The bent portion 46 of said bell crank 43 rests against said lever 47, at the lowest position of its locking edge 47, owing to friction therebetween.

Numeral 50 designates a hook member having a projection 53 which is in an engageable position with a hanging portion 55 of a reciprocating lever 54 when said lever 47 is kept in its normal position as shown in FIG. 2. Said hook member 50 is always urged to rotate counterclockwise around 52 by the action of a spring but normally positioned as shown in FIG. 2 since its bent portion 51 engages with the lever 47. Whereas, in such a state in which the lever 47 is kept in the rotated position as mentioned above, the projection 53 of the hook member is in its lowered position where it is not engageable with the hanging portion of the reciprocating lever 54.

After the hook member 50 has been lowered as mentioned above, the driving shaft 57 is caused to rotate through the operation of the aforementioned clutch. The clutch employed in the present embodiment is a so-called half-rotation clutch which becomes inoperative after completion of one half-rotation. The driving shaft 57 is rotated one complete rotation with the l-rotation of the drive shaft 13 (by means of pulleys and a belt). During the complete rotation of said driving shaft 57, a frame member 56 is laterally reciprocated by the action of an eccentric cam provided on said driving shaft 57. Meanwhile, said reciprocating lever 54, which is, in this instance, not prevented from advancing by said projection 53, performs its reciprocal movement to operate a punch pin through a connecting link 58 and a rotatable member 59 to effect a perforating operation on the paper tape in cooperation with a die. On the other hand, the reciprocating lever 54, which is, in this instance, engaged with the projection 53, is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the punch pin 60 is not driven, so that perforation is not effected. Thus, a perforating operation is performed, based on a code corresponding to the key depressed. After completion of the perforating operation, a clear bail 61 controlled by a cam mounted on the shaft 57 is operated to lift the right end portions of the levers 47 which were in the lowered position to return said levers 47 to their original positions as depicted in FIG. 2 for cancelling the displacement of the hook member 50. The associated levers 40 and 39 and bar members 28 are returned to their original positions by the action of the springs 45. Another spring may be provided in association with each of levers 40 or bar members 28 to return the latter to its normal position. Then, the tape t is fed by one pitch of frames by a tape feeding sprocket in cooperation with a cam (not shown) mounted on the driving shaft 57 for the following perforation. In this connection, for the feed hole, there may be provided no projection as denoted by numeral 53 so that said reciprocating lever 54 can be reciprocated by every key operation to operate the punch pin for the feed hole.

The foregoing description is concerned with a tape perforating machine employing a keyboard control unit according to the present invention and, in the following, said keyboard control unit is explained more in detail.

In the present keyboard control unit, a combination of perforations per frame perforated by depression of a key, namely, a code system, is easily varied to another code corresponding to a code system of a perforated tape reading machine by varying an engaging relation between the sublevers l8 and the bar member 28.

When it is required to vary a code system according to a code system of a tape reading machine employed, in the present embodiment, the coding unit A is removed off from the body of the typewriting and tape perforating machine prior to setting or resetting the second elements, or the engaging pieces 34 in the engageable positions and the collars 37 in the unengageable positions according to the code system of said type reading machine by removing said engaging pieces and said collars from the bar members and remounting them on said bar members in the lateral direction.

As apparent from the foregoing description, according to the instant embodiment of the present invention in which second elements or engaging pieces operable in the engaging relation with first elements are slidable on said bar members in its longitudinal direction, varying of the code system or the combination of perforations perforated by depression of a key is easily effected according to a code system of a'tape reading machine by setting and resetting said engaging pieces in the engageable positions required. Further in the pres ent embodiment the keyboard control unit can be readily dismantled. Therefore, such an operation to vary a code system is carried out easier and repair of a possible trouble between the first and the second elements is also made easier.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 to 10, there is illustrated a modification of the foregoing keyboard control unit which is capable of setting and fixing engaging pieces in engageable positions with first elements in cooperation with fixing pieces without removing off said engaging pieces from bar members on which said engaging pieces are mounted.

In the present embodiment, alike the first embodiment, a coding unit B as shown in FIG. 7 is composed of bar members 38,

side walls

31 and 31 and a frame member 30.

As different from said first embodiment, a second element or an engaging piece 62 is fixed, in an engageable position with a first element, by means of a fixing or locking piece 63 in cooperation with a stopper 67 and a spring 68. Said engaging piece 62 is rotatable around the axis of the bar member 28 and slidable in its longitudinal direction. The fixing piece 63 is mounted on the bar member 28 in combination with the engaging piece 62 to lock said engaging piece 62 selectively in either an engageable position or an unengageable position. A projection 64 formed on the inner surface of said fixing piece 63 engages with a groove 29 of the bar member 28 to prevent said fixing piece 63 from rotating around said bar member 28 but allow said fixing piece 63 to slide on said bar member 28 in its longitudinal direction. Pairs of engaging piece 62 and fixing piece 63 as many as the number of the keys 2 are preliminarily mounted on each bar member 28 and urged in the longitudinal direction of each bar member by the compression spring 68. The stopper 67 is fixed on each bar member 28 in a predetermined position.

In this connection, for setting the engaging piece 62 in the engageable position with a confronting finger 21 of a sublever 18 corresponding thereto, said engaging piece 62 is locked by the fixing piece 63 by engaging its

projections

65 and 65 with grooves 66 and 66' of the engaging piece 62, thus preventing said engaging piece 62 from being rotated with respect to the bar member.

Thus, the bar members 28 are connected with the corresponding sublevers 18, which are in the engaging relation with the engaging pieces 62 mounted on said bar members 38. On the other hand, when it is required to reset said engaging piece 62 into unengageable position for varying a code system, said engaging piece 62 is to be disengaged from the fixing piece 63 against the action of the spring 68 and then manually mated by 180 to depose its engaging end portion in a diametrically opposite position. Then, the abovementioned engaging relation between the bar member 28 on which the engaging piece 62 is mounted and the sublever 18 is cancelled.

It is apparent from the above description of the present embodiment that the relation between the first elements and the second elements as mentioned above may be exchanged to obtain the similar effects.

Other types of fixing means than the fixing piece 63 may, of course, be alternatively employed, for instance, a protuberance formed on the engaging piece 62 and engageable with the groove 29 of the bar member 28. For fixing the engaging piece 62, further alternatively, the bar member 28 may be threaded in the radial direction and the engaging piece 62 is threaded or holed in the radial direction so that said engaging piece 62 is fixed to said bar member 28 by a screw.

Referring to FIG. 1 1, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard control unit in which varying the control for a data applying mechanism is effected by setting or resetting first elements in an engageable or unengageable position with second elements, as different from the foregoing embodiments, according to a code system of a tape reading machine employed.

Numeral 70 designates key-operated members of the present keyboard control unit, each of which includes a plate 71, a plurality of engaging pieces or first elements 72, a plurality of fixing springs 73, a plurality of stopper pins 74 and a plurality of pivoting pins 75. Said plate 71 is supported vertically by a supporting rod 78 and 78' extending through

elongated slots

77 and 77 formed on the key operated plate 71 at its end portions. Each of said key-operated members 70 is associated with a key 2 and a sublever 18 to be displaced in the direction of arrow 76, by a predetermined length of the

elongated slots

77 and 77, upon actuation of the corresponding key 2.

A coding unit 79 of the present key-board control unit comprises bar members 80 and engaging plates or second elements 81 secured to said bar members 80 and are disposed perpendicularly to the movement of said key-operated member 70. Alike the foregoing embodiments 79, there are provided second elements 81 as many as the number of codes, eight second elements in the present embodiment.

Each second element 81 is normally positioned so as to direct upwardly, and adapted to be rotated in the direction of arrow 82 around an axis along the length, through the engaging relation between the first element or the engaging piece 72 set in an engageable position and the second element or the engaging plate 81, upon the displacement of the key-operated member 70 in the direction of arrow 76.

To one or both terminals of each second element 81 is connected an adequate means for receiving the rotation of said second element, such as a punch pin controlling solenoid circuit, or a magnetic tape recorder.

The engaging pieces or the first elements 72 which are in the engaging relation with the second element 81 are provided as mamy as the number of codes, or the number of the second elements 81, on every bar member 80. Each of said engaging pieces 72 is rotatably pivoted by the pivoting pin and pressed at its one end by the fixing spring 73 which is secured to the keyoperated plate 71 to lock said end of the engaging piece 72 above or below a curved portion of said spring 73.

When said engaging piece 72 is fixed with its one end locked above the curved portion of the spring 73, it other end or its engaging end, projects downwardly below said keyoperated plate 71 into the engageable position with the engaging plate 81 as shown by the first, third, seventh or eighth engaging piece from the left in FIG. 11. Whereas, when said engaging piece 72 is fixed with its one end locked below said curved portion of the spring 73, it engaging end is kept in the unengageable position with the engaging plate 81 as shown by the rest engaging pieces 72. The engaging piece 72 can be easily set or reset into either one of the above-mentioned two positions by a manual operation, depending upon a code system of a data applying machine.

The stopper pin 74 acts to prevent the engaging piece 72 from being rotated clockwise in FIG. 11. Thus, the engaging piece 72 of the key-operated member 70 which is in the engageable position can rotate the bar member 80.

In the present keyboard control unit as mentioned above, a key operation is changed into a code as will be explained in the following.

When a key is operated, the key-operated member 70 associated therewith is moved in the direction of arrow 76 pursuant to the guide by the

slots

77 and 77 in cooperation with the shafts 78 and 78'. The second elements 81 corresponding to the respective engaging pieces 72 which are locked in the engageable position are rotated in the direction of arrow 82 together with bar members 80. In FIG. 11, the first, third, seventh and eighth bar members 80 from the left are thus rotated. Thus, the key operation is transmitted to some above-mentioned data applying mechanism, such as a punch pin controlling solenoid circuit, or a magnetic tape recorder.

The key-operated member and the second elements, after transmitting the key-operation to the data applying mechanism, return to their respective original positions by some adequate means, to prepare for a further key operation.

Since the second element is adapted to be rotated together with a bar member 80, to transmit a key operation to the data applying mechanism directly by the displacement of the first element, the key operation is easily coded.

An operation required for varying a code system into another one or how to make a code belonging to another code system by an operation of the key as mentioned above is explained in the following.

The first elements 72 previously set according to one code system and required to be reset according to a code system of a newly employed data reading machine, are to be deposed from the engageable position to the unengageable position or vice versa upon comparison between the former code system and the latter code system.

Stated illustratively, provided that the first, third, seventh and eighth engaging pieces 72 are required to be set in the engageable positions, as shown in FIG. 11, for coding a numeral 1 in A type code system, the second and sixth engaging pieces 72 are to be set into the engageable position and the third and seventh engaging pieces 72 are to be reset into the unengageable position in order to vary such a code system into another B type code system in which the first, second, sixth and eighth engaging pieces are required to be in the engageable positions for coding a numeral 1. For other first elements or for coding other numerals, a similar operation is required to vary a code system. Thus, code variation is easily performed by a simple manual operation.

As apparent from the foregoing, according to the present embodiment of this invention, a keyboard control unit which comprises a plurality of key-operated member displacement in the longitudinal direction thereof upon depression of keys and a plurality of second elements adapted to be selectively actuated upon displacement of the key-operated members according to the engaging relation between first elements mounted on said key-operated members and engaging plates or the second elements to convey key depression to a data applying mechanism, each of said first elements or engaging pieces being locatable either in an engageable position or an unengageable position with the engaging plates or the second elements in cooperation with fixing means provided on the key-operated members, so that such engaging relation between the first and the second elements is variable by selectively setting or resetting said engaging pieces in the engageable position to arbitrarily vary a code system. Therefore, variation of a code system can be effected according to necessity by either a manufacturer or a user. The present keyboard control unit in a data applying machine eliminates possible necessity of replacing a data applying machine, a whole keyboard control unit or a part thereof with another, depending upon a code system of a data reading machine. The above-mentioned character is not only advantageous for the user but also convenient for the manufacturer to mass-produce it. The present keyboard control unit has a further advantage that code variation is effected only by a mechanical means without employing any electrical means such as a switch or a diode, to manufacture the unit at a reasonable cost.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 to 14, there is illustrated a still further embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard control unit in which varying the control for a data applying mechanism is effected by setting or resetting second elements in engageable or unengageable position with first elements without removing a coding unit from a machine body.

Numeral 83 designates a key operated plate displaceable upon operation of a corresponding key 2", and supported vertically by supporting

shafts

85 and 85 Each of said key-operated member 83 is adapted to be displaced in the direction of arrow 86 pursuant to the guide by elongated slots 84 and 84' formed on said plate 83 near its end portions, in cooperation with the supporting shafts 85 and 85'. In the present embodiment, eight engaging projections or first elements 87 are formed on said key-operated plate 83 along one longituidnal edge thereof which are engageable with the corresponding second elements 90, respectively, to

rotate them. However, according to a code system,

five, six or a desired number of projections may be alternatively formed on the plate 83.

A coding unit 88 comprises a tubular member or a bar member 89, a plurality of engaging plates or tubular members 89 are provided as many as the number of the first elements. Said tubular member 89 is supported rotatably around its axis and has T-shaped slots 92 formed in the longitudinal direction thereof each of which faces the confronting projection 87 and elongated slots 93 formed on the tubular member 89 diametrically opposite the respective T-shaped slots 92. In the top view of the slots as shown in FIG. 14A, the rectangular portion of the slot 92 is just over the slot 93. The retangular portions of the slots 92 and the slots 93 are formed, in size, enough to receive the engaging plate 90 in the width and length. The recessed portion 92 of the slots 92 is formed just enough to receive the

portion

90 or 90 narrowed by

recesses

94 and 95 formed on the side of the engaging plate 90. Said engaging plate 90 is locked in either an upper position or a lower position with reference to the tubular member 89 in the engaging relation between the recessed portion 92 and the narrowed

portion

90 or 90".

To ensure the fixing of the engaging plates 90 in either of the above-mentioned two positions with reference to the tubular member 89, the spring member 91 is provided with tongues 96 in the positions confronting the

respective slots

92 or 93. The tongues 96 act to press the respective engaging plates 90 and lock them in the recessed portions 92' of the slots.

The slits between the respective tongues 96' of the spring members 91 are, in length, three fourths the width thereof, which serve to operate the tongues independently of each other and increase the resiliency of the respective tongues 96.

In virtue of the action by the tongue 96 of the spring member 91, the engaging plate 90 is securely held in either the upper position or the lower position and not displaced unless a power enough to overcome the pressure of the spring member 91 is applied to the upper portion of the engaging plate 90.

Coding operation is performed as follows.

When the key 2" is depressed, one of key operated members 83 which is associated therewith is displaced, through a sublever, or an actuator lever 18"]in the direction of arrow 86. Upon the displacement of the keyoperated member 83, the engaging plates 90 facing the projections or the first elements 87 and set in the upper positions are engaged at their operating ends 90" with said projections 87. Then, the tubular members 89 having the above-mentioned engaging plates 90 are rotated in the direction of arrow 97.

It will be thus seen in FIG. 12 that when the keyoperated member 83 is displaced, the fourth, fifth and eighth tubular members 89 are rotated and their rotations are transmitted to some adequate data applying mechanism connected to the respective tubular members 89, such as a solenoid circuit for controlling a punch pin in a tape perforating machine, or a control circuit for a magnetic taper recorder. Accordingly, it is to be noted that the keyboard control unit of the present invention is applicable for various purposes.

The tubular member 89, after being rotated to transmit a key depression to a data applying mechanism, returns to its original position through an appropriate means connected to the tubular member 89. The keyoperated member 83 also returns to its original position by an adequate means to prepare for a further key operation.

An operation required for varying a code system or how to make a code belonging to different code system by an operation of the key as mentioned above is explained in the following.

As mentioned above, a coding operation is effected depending upon the engaging relation between the engaging projections 87 of thc key-operated member 83 which is displaceable upon the key-operation and the second elements 90. Therefore, said second elements or engaging plates are positioned either in the upper engageable positions or in the lower unengageable positions according to the required code system, varying the engaging relation between the first and the

second elements

87 and 90, to convert a code system.

More particularly, the engaging plate 90 required to change its position is manually forced back to the rectangular portion of the slot 92 against the action of the spring member 91 to shift said engaging plate 90 downwardly or upwardly to position its narrowed

portion

90 or 90" in the recessed portion 92. Similar operations are repeated for the engaging plates 90 which are required to change their position to vary a code system.

Thus, the keyboard control unit according to the present invention is capable of applying a code of any code system to a data reading machine.

As can be easily understood from the foregoing description, according to the present embodiment, varying a control of a data applying mechanism is effected easily without removing a coding unit from a data applying machine.

In this connection, it is to be noted that bar members as employed in the first and the second embodiments may be arranged horizontally, alike the present embodiment, by making some modification in a structure of the keyboard control unit.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, there is illustrated a further modification of the keyboard control unit in which the data applying mechanism of the data applying machine is controlled by electrical or electromechanical means. For the purpose, there are provided a plurality of contact switch means on a coding unit C similar to the coding unit B shown in FIG. 7.

Levers

98, 98', 98" as many as the number of bar members which are quite similar to those employed in the foregoing embodiment are respectively provided with

projections

100, 100', 100 which are respectively engageable with the corresponding working pieces mounted on said bar members and

crooked projections

101, 101, 101" which operate corresponding

contacts

102, 102, 102" respectively, when displaced. Said

contacts

102, 102', 102" are normally kept opened by contact holders 103, I03, 103" and connected to a connector 104 through lead wires. The lead wires from the respective contacts of each switch means are connected to 105 and 105, respectively. Said connector 104 is further connected to a magnetic tape recorder or a solenoid type perforator.

In case the present keyboard control unit is connected to a magnetic tape recorder having eight heads, eight-parallel-track code is recorded on a magnetic tape. While, said keyboard control unit is connected to a magnetic taper recorder having a single head, a code converter is employed between said keyboard control unit and said magnetic tape recorder for converting a parallel multi-unit code to another serial multi-unit code, as shown in FIG. 17.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

We claim:

1. In a data applying machine having a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier, a keyboard control unit for controlling said mechanism, said keyboard control unit comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of key-operated members connected to and displaceable upon operation of said keys, a plurality of elongated bar members each rotatable around the longitudinally extending axis thereof and means connecting said bar members to said data applying mechanism for controlling the operation thereof, and code means coacting between said key-operated members and said bar members for causing rotation of said bar members in response to displacement of said key-operated members by said keys;

said code means including a group of first elements with a plurality of said first elements being mounted on each of said key-operated members, a group of second elements with a plurality of said second elements being mounted on each of said bar members, and means mounting the elements associated with one group on the respective members for permitting said elements associated with said one group to be individually manually displacable with respect to aid respective members between a first position in which said elements associated with said one group are individually engageable with a selected element associated with the other group and a second position in which said elements associated with said one group are not engageable with said selected elements of said other group, and means for holding said elements of said one group on and with respect to the respective members to enable said elements of said one group and said respective members to move togehter as a unit, whereby said bar members are selectively driven by the displacement of the key-operated members according to the predetermined engaging relationship between said first and second elements to cause said bar members to rotate around the axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said first elements are fixedly secured to the respective keyoperated members, and wherein said second elements are rotatably mounted on their respective bar members for rotation relative to said bar members about the longitudinally extending axes thereof, each of said second elements being selectively manually swingable relative to its respective bar member about the longitudinal axis thereof between said first and second positions, said first and second positions being angularly displaced from one another, each of said second elements having a radially projecting portion adapted for engagement with a selective one of said first elements when said second elements are in said first position.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said holding means includes a locking element disposed adjacent each of said second elements, said locking elements being nonrotatably secured to'the respective bar members, each said locking element and an associated second element having locking means coacting therebetween for nonrotatably interconnecting said locking element and said second element together when said second element is in either of said first and second positions, said second element being axially movable relative to its respective locking element so as to disconnect said locking means for enabling said second ele ment to be selectively angularly rotated between said first and second positions, and biassing means normally resiliently urging said second element and said locking element axially toward one another.

4. A machine according to claim 2, wherein each key-operated member comprises a lever member mounted for swinging movement within a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinally extending axes of said bar members, said lever member having an arcuate segment with a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers projecting radially from the outer periphery thereof, said fingers comprising said first elements, and said plurality of bar members being disposed adjacent the outer periphery of said arcuate segment and being positioned along an arcuate path generated substantially about the center of rotation of said lever member.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said first elements are mounted for rotatable movement on said key-operated members, each of said first elements being individually selectively rotatable between said first and second positions relative to the respective keyoperated member, said first and second positions being angularly spaced from one another.

- 6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said holding means comprises spring detent means mounted on said key-operated member and coacting with each of said first members for resiliently maintaining each of said first members in either of said first or second positions.

7. A machine according to claim 5, wherein each of said key-operated members is mounted for reciprocating movement within a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinally extending axes of said bar members, said bar members being disposed in substantially parallel and adjacent side-by-side relationship so as to extend along one edge of said key-operated member, and a plurality of said first elements being disposed within a row on each of said key-operated members, the first elements within each row being disposed with the rotational axes thereof being substantially parallel.

8. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said second elements are movably mounted on the respective bar members for movement between said first and second positions with respect to said bar members, and means mounting said second elements on said bar members for enabling said second elements to be individually and selectively moved radially relative to the respective bar members between said first and second positions, said second position being spaced radially inwardly from said first position relative to the respective bar member.

9. A machine according to claim 8, wherein the second elements are nonrotatably fixed relative to the respective bar members, and spring means coacting between said second elements and the respective bar members for resiliently maintaining said second elements in either of the selected first or second positions.

10. A machine according to claim 9, wherein said second elements comprise plate-like members which extend through a slot formed in the respective bar member and project radially from the respective bar member, the respective bar member having a hollow portion formed therein in the vicinity of the plate-like member and said spring means being disposed within said hollow portion and coacting between said platelike member and said bar member for maintaining said platelike member in the selected first or second position.

11. In a data applying machine having a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier, a keyboard control unit for controlling said mechanism comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of key-operated members connected to and displaceable upon operation of said keys and each having a plurality of engaging members attached thereto and a plurality of bars each rotatable around the longitudinal axis thereof and connected to said data applying mechanism, means movably mounting each of said engaging members on its respective key-operated member for permitting each engaging member to be individually and selectively manually displaced between a first position in which it is engageable with one of said bars and a second position in which it is not engageable with said bars, the bars being selectively driven according to the displacement of the keyoperated member to rotate around axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.

12. A keyboard control unit as claimed in claim 11 wherein resilient means is provided adjacent each of said engaging members for holding the engaging member alternatively in the first and the second positions, and stopper means mounted on the key-operated member and coacting with each said engaging member for holding the engaging member in the engageable position when said engaging member engages on of said bars.

13. In a data applying machine having a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier, a keyboard control unit for controlling said mechanism comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of key-operated members arranged in parallel and each connected to a corresponding key, each of said key-operated members having a plurality of fingers projecting therefrom, support frame means removable from a machine frame, a plurality of bars rotatably supported by and removable from said support frame means and arranged in parallel with each other so as to be positioned transversely to said keyoperated members when said frame means is fixed to the machine frame, a plurality of engaging members nonrotatably mounted on and rotatable together with said bars and removable therefrom in the longitudinal direction thereof said key-operated members being displaceable perpendicularly to said bar members, each of said engaging members having a radial projection which is engageable by a finger of a key-operated member when said support frame means is fixed to the machine frame, and spacing members mounted on and removable from said bars and each having a width similar to that of said engaging members, said bars having the engaging members and the spacing members alternatively mounted thereon, said bars being selectively driven at the engaging members thereof according to the displacement of the key-operated member to rotate around the axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.

14. In a data applying machine having a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier, a keyboard control unit for controlling said mechanism comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of key-operated members connected to and displaceable upon operation of said keys and each having a plurality of fingers extending therefrom, a plurality of bars rotatable around the longitudinal axes thereof and connected to said data applying mechanism, each of said bars having a plurality of axially spaced slots extending radially thereof, and a plurality of engaging plates inserted in'said slots of said bars and each plate being individually and selectively manually adjustable in the radial direction with respect to the bar between an outer position in.which it is engageable at an end portion thereof by a finger of a keyoperated member and an inner position in which it is not engageable with said finger, said bars being selectively driven according to the displacement of a keyoperated member to rotate around the axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.

15. A keyboard control unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of the bars has a resilient member inserted in a center hole thereof, said resilient member engaging one of said plates for holding same in either the inner or outer positions.

16. In a data applying machine having a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier, a keyboard control unit for controlling said mechanism comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of key-operated members connected to and displaceable upon operation of said keys and each having a plurality of fingers extending therefrom, a plurality of bars each rotatable around the longitudinal axis thereof and connected to said data applying mechanism for controlling the operation of the latter, a plurality of engaging members each axially slidably mounted on and rotatable relative to said bars and each having a projection, a respective engaging member of a bar corresponding to a respective finger of a key-operated member, a plurality of locking members axially slidably mounted on and nonrotatably connected with said bars, releasable coupling means coacting between each locking member and one of said engaging members for nonrotatably connecting said engaging member to said bar to permit co-rotation thereof, the coupling of the engaging member with the corresponding locking member being manually releasable due to said engaging member and the corresponding locking member being relatively axially moved away from one another, and means for positioning said coupled engaging members on the bars in the position in which said engaging members are aligned with said key-operated members, each said engaging member being selectively and individually manually rotatable relative to its respective bar between a first position in which its projection is engageable with said finger and a second position in which its projection is not engageable with said finger, said bars being selectively driven according to the displacement of a key-operated member to rotate around said axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.

17. A keyboard control unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the positioning means comprises resilient means for urging one of said engaging members and its corresponding locking member in the longitudinal direction of the bar, and stop means provided on the bar for holding the engaging member and the corresponding locking member in position on the bar, the resilient means urging the engaging member and its corresponding locking member against said stop means.

18. In a data applying machine having a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier and a typewriter arrangement for writing the data which comprises a plurality of type levers, a keyboard control unit for controlling said data applying mechanism comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of actuator levers for driving said type levers, means for driving said actuator 1evers, each respective actuator lever being driven by a respective key on said keyboard, a plurality of slidable members connected to said actuator levers so as to be driven by the latter to slide in the longitudinal direction and each having a plurality of fingers provided thereon, a plurality of bars connected to said data applying mechanism for controlling the operation of the latter and each rotatable around the longitudinal axis thereof, and a plurality of engaging members mounted on and rotatable with said bars, means mounting each of said engaging members on its respective bar for permitting each engaging member to be individually and selectively manually adjusted between a first position in which it is engageable with a finger to the slidable member and a second position in which it is not engageable with said finger, whereby said bars are selectively driven by the slidable member upon operation of the key to rotate around the axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 768 623 Dated October 30 1973 lnventol-(s) Tetsuma Asahi, Norio Hasegawa and Kaoru Hozumi It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 13, line 27; change "aid" to -said--.

line 37; change "togehter" to -together--.

Col. 15, line 31; change "on" to -one-.

Col. 18, line 5; change "to" to -of--.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April 19%..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I LFLETCHER TR. O. MARSHALL DANII Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. In a data applying machine having a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier, a keyboard control unit for controlling said mechanism, said keyboard control unit comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of key-operated members connected to and displaceable upon operation of said keys, a plurality of elongated bar members each rotatable around the longitudinally extending axis thereof and means connecting said bar members to said data applying mechanism for controlling the operation thereof, and code means coacting between said key-operated members and said bar members for causing rotation of said bar members in response to displacement of said key-operated members by said keys; said code means including a group of first elements with a plurality of said first elements being mounted on each of said key-operated members, a group of second elements with a plurality of said second elements being Mounted on each of said bar members, and means mounting the elements associated with one group on the respective members for permitting said elements associated with said one group to be individually manually displacable with respect to aid respective members between a first position in which said elements associated with said one group are individually engageable with a selected element associated with the other group and a second position in which said elements associated with said one group are not engageable with said selected elements of said other group, and means for holding said elements of said one group on and with respect to the respective members to enable said elements of said one group and said respective members to move togehter as a unit, whereby said bar members are selectively driven by the displacement of the key-operated members according to the predetermined engaging relationship between said first and second elements to cause said bar members to rotate around the axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said first elements are fixedly secured to the respective key-operated members, and wherein said second elements are rotatably mounted on their respective bar members for rotation relative to said bar members about the longitudinally extending axes thereof, each of said second elements being selectively manually swingable relative to its respective bar member about the longitudinal axis thereof between said first and second positions, said first and second positions being angularly displaced from one another, each of said second elements having a radially projecting portion adapted for engagement with a selective one of said first elements when said second elements are in said first position.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said holding means includes a locking element disposed adjacent each of said second elements, said locking elements being nonrotatably secured to the respective bar members, each said locking element and an associated second element having locking means coacting therebetween for nonrotatably interconnecting said locking element and said second element together when said second element is in either of said first and second positions, said second element being axially movable relative to its respective locking element so as to disconnect said locking means for enabling said second element to be selectively angularly rotated between said first and second positions, and biassing means normally resiliently urging said second element and said locking element axially toward one another.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said first elements are mounted for rotatable movement on said key-operated members, each of said first elements being individually selectively rotatable between said first and second positions relative to the respective key-operated member, said first and second positions being angularly spaced from one another.

6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said holding means comprises spring detent means mounted on said key-operated member and coacting with each of said first members for resiliently maintaining each of said first members in either of said first or second positions.

10. A machine according to claim 9, wherein said second elements comprise plate-like members which extend through a slot formed in the respective bar member and project radially from the respective bar member, the respective bar member having a hollow portion formed therein in the vicinity of the plate-like member and said spring means being disposed within said hollow portion and coacting between said plate-like member and said bar member for maintaining said plate-like member in the selected first or second position.

11. In a data applying machine having a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier, a keyboard control unit for controlling said mechanism comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of key-operated members connected to and displaceable upon operation of said keys and each having a plurality of engaging members attached thereto and a plurality of bars each rotatable around the longitudinal axis thereof and connected to said data applying mechanism, means movably mounting each of said engaging members on its respective key-operated member for permitting each engaging member to be individually and selectively manually displaced between a first position in which it is engageable with one of said bars and a second position in which it is not engageable with said bars, the bars being selectively driven according to the displacement of the key-operated member to rotate around axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.

13. In a data applying machine having a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier, a keyboard control unit for controlling said mechanism comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of key-operated members arranged in parallel and each connected to a corresponding key, each of said key-operated members having a plurality of fingers projecting therefrom, support frame means removable from a machine frame, a plurality of bars rotatably supported by and removable from said support frame means and arranged in parallel with each other so as to be positioned transversely to said key-operated members when said frame means is fixed to the machine frame, a plurality of engaging members nonrotatably mounted on and rotatable together with said bars and removable therefrom in the longitudinAl direction thereof said key-operated members being displaceable perpendicularly to said bar members, each of said engaging members having a radial projection which is engageable by a finger of a key-operated member when said support frame means is fixed to the machine frame, and spacing members mounted on and removable from said bars and each having a width similar to that of said engaging members, said bars having the engaging members and the spacing members alternatively mounted thereon, said bars being selectively driven at the engaging members thereof according to the displacement of the key-operated member to rotate around the axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.

14. In a data applying machine having a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier, a keyboard control unit for controlling said mechanism comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of key-operated members connected to and displaceable upon operation of said keys and each having a plurality of fingers extending therefrom, a plurality of bars rotatable around the longitudinal axes thereof and connected to said data applying mechanism, each of said bars having a plurality of axially spaced slots extending radially thereof, and a plurality of engaging plates inserted in said slots of said bars and each plate being individually and selectively manually adjustable in the radial direction with respect to the bar between an outer position in which it is engageable at an end portion thereof by a finger of a key-operated member and an inner position in which it is not engageable with said finger, said bars being selectively driven according to the displacement of a key-operated member to rotate around the axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.

18. In a data applying machine having a mechanism for applying data on a data carrier and a typewriter arrangement for writing the data which comprises a plurality of type levers, a keyboard control unit for controlling said data applying mechanism comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of actuator levers for driving said type levers, means for driving said actuator levers, each respective actuator lever being driven by a respective key on said keyboard, a plurality of slidable members connected to said actuator levers so as to be driven by the latter to slide in the longitudinal direction and each having a plurality of fingers provided thereon, a plurality of bars connected to said data applying mechanism for controlling the operation of the latter and each rotatable around the longitudinal axis thereof, and a plurality of engaging members mounted on and rotatable with said bars, means mounting each of said engaging members on its respective bar for permitting each engaging member to be individually and selectively manually adjusted between a first position in which it is engageable with a finger of the slidable member and a second position in which it is not engageable with said finger, whereby said bars are selectively driven by the slidable member upon operation of the key to rotate around the axes thereof to control the operation of said data applying mechanism.