US3768623A — Keyboard control unit

Claim 1

Independent Claim 314 words

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.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 314 words

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.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 111 words

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.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 122 words

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.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 95 words

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.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 51 words

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.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 43 words

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.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 88 words

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.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 83 words

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.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 47 words

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.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 81 words

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.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 150 words

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.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 150 words

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.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 66 words

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.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 234 words

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.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 234 words

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.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 175 words

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.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 175 words

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.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 42 words

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.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 282 words

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.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 282 words

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.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 73 words

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.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 227 words

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.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 227 words

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.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-10-29	1977-04-30	1977-10-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-10-29	1981-04-30	1981-10-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-10-29	1985-04-30	1985-10-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Keyboard control unit

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