Code keyboard for typewriters and similar office machines

Claim 2

Code keyboard for typewriters and other office machines with keyboards, comprising a plurality of keys, a series of code bars, a plurality of setting elements for said code bars individually associated with said keys, a starting clutch, a starting member to actuate said starting clutch for a cycle, and a common setting member controlled by said starting clutch to shift said setting elements individually in a first direction for setting said code bars in accordance with the depressed one of said keys, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a plurality of springs operatively connected with said setting elements for urging individually said setting elements in a direction opposite to said first direction, b. hook means associated with said keys for normally holding at rest said setting elements in opposition to the action of said springs and for releasing said setting elements when said keys are depressed, whereby a released one of said setTing elements is shifted in said opposite direction by the corresponding one of said springs, said starting member being disposed into the path of said setting element on said opposite direction to activate said starting clutch for said cycle, c. and intermediate means operatively connected to said setting elements for causing said common setting member to shift in said first direction only said released one of said setting elements.

Claim 3

Keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate means comprise a series of rocking levers individually connected to said setting elements to shift them in the said opposite direction with the aid of the said corresponding springs, the rocking lever corresponding to said released setting element being brought into the path of said setting member to cause said setting member to shift said released setting element in the said first direction by means of said rocking lever connected thereto.

Claim 4

Keyboard according to claim 2, wherein said springs are individually connected to said rocking levers, said rocking levers being fulcrumed and slidable on a fixed frame of the keyboard, a first part of said rocking levers urging said corresponding setting elements in the said opposite direction and a second part of each one of said rocking levers being arrestable in the course of rotation by a portion of the corresponding setting element.

Claim 5

Keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said hook means is slidable in the frame and cooperates with a first part of said key when depressed to release said setting elements, said setting elements having trailing means for carrying said corresponding hook means along in said first direction whereby said hook means release said first part of said keys, said keys having moreover a second non-operative part adapted to arrest said hook means in an unshifted position, if the key is still in the depressed position after the setting process, as a result of which a repetition of the setting process is prevented.

Claim 6

Keyboard as in claim 4, wherein said hook means comprises a hook for each one of said setting elements and a release element connected to said hook as to rotate therewith and to slide in the frame independently thereof, spring means being provided for bringing said release element back to an unrotated position and for urging it in the said opposite direction towards a non operative position, said spring means bringing said hook back into the normal inoperative position independently of said release element.

Claim 7

Keyboard according to claim 5, wherein said hook can turn in the frame to release said corresponding setting element, and is normally arrested against the frame, said hook being connected to said release element to carry it along in the said first direction, and said trailing means comprising a shoulder of the corresponding setting element and a projection of said hook adapted to co-operate with said shoulder.

Claim 8

Keyboard according to claim 6, wherein said hook and said release element are substantially flat and are connected by a pin and slot, said spring means being constituted by leaf springs acting on substantially like cam parts of said hook and of said release element, the said first part of the corresponding key being adapted to act on one end of said release element against the action of said leaf spring.

Claim 9

Keyboard according to claim 4, wherein at least one key can be depressed for an extra stroke greater than a predetermined stroke, a third part of said one key keeping said hook means turned during the movement of said hook means in the said first direction in the case of depression for the said extra stroke for a repeated operation.

Claim 10

Keyboard according to claim 8, wherein said keys are upwardly biased by corresponding restoring springs and are distributed in a plurality of parallel rows, further comprising a strip fixed to the frame and deformable elastically, said one key cooperating with said strip during the said extra stroke as a result of whIch said one key is subject to the supplementary restoring action of said strip.

Claim 11

Keyboard according to claim 9, wherein said keys are carried by shanks slidable vertically and individually in corresponding slots in the frame, said strip being constituted by an elastic material anchored to the frame by means of a return spring, said keys in the same row having in their shanks openings through which extends said strip, and a top edge of said keys bending the strip into the said slots during the said extra stoke.

Claim 12

Keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said common setting member is shiftable by a setting spring to shift said released setting elements in the said first direction, said starting member being constituted by a universal bar adapted to be shifted by said released setting elements during the shifting in the said opposite direction to activate the starting clutch, and comprising an arrest means for said common setting member, said arrest means being releasable by said universal bar simultaneously with the activation of said clutch, so that the shifting of the released setting element in the said first direction commences before the beginning of the said cycle.

Claim 13

Keyboard for typewriters and other office machines comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of setting elements individually associated with said keys, each of said setting elements being selectable by the corresponding one of said keys when depressed, a common setting member for setting said selected setting element, a starting clutch operable when engaged for a cycle to control said common setting member through an intermediate member positioned by a driven shaft of said clutch, a starting element acting on said clutch for holding it disengaged, yieldable means yieldingly acting on said starting element for moving it to a predetermined position to engage said clutch, a latch normally holding said starting element against the action of said yieldable means, and a common bar operated by said selected setting element to release said latch, wherein the improvement comprises: first linkage means connecting said starting element with said setting member so that said yieldable means cause said common setting means to initiate the setting of said selected setting element before the engagement of said clutch, and second linkage means connecting said intermediate member with said common setting member through a lost motion connection, for causing said common setting member to complete the setting of said selected setting element during said cycle.

Claim 14

Keyboard for typewriters and other office machines comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of setting elements individually associated with said keys, each of said setting elements being selectable by the corresponding one of said keys when depressed, a common setting member for setting said selected setting element, a starting clutch operable when engaged for a cycle to control said common setting member through an intermediate member positioned by a driven shaft of said clutch, a starting element acting on said clutch for holding it disengaged, yieldable means yieldingly acting on said starting element for moving it to a predetermined position to engage said clutch, a latch normally holding said starting element against the action of said yieldable means, and a common bar operated by said selected setting element to release said latch, wherein the improvement comprises: first linkage means connecting said starting element with said setting member so that said yieldable means cause said common setting means to initiate the setting of said selected setting element before the engagement of said clutch, and second linkage means connecting said intermediate member with said common setting member through a lost motion connection, for causing said common setting member to complete the setting of said selected setting element during said cycle.

Claim 15

Keyboard according to claim 12, wherein said first linkage means comprise a rod connecting said setting member to a rocking lever which is normally kept under the control of said latch and in turn retains a control tooth of said clutch to keep said clutch disengaged.

Claim 16

Keyboard according to claim 12, wherein said intermediate member is constituted by a reloading cam follower lever which co-operates with a corresponding cam carried by a driven part of said clutch, said second linkage means comprising a crank connecting said setting member with a reloading connecting rod, and said lost motion connection is constituted by a pin and slot connection connecting said reloading rod with said cam follower lever.

Claim 17

Code keyboard for typewriters and other office machines with keyboard having a plurality of keys, a series of code bars, a plurality of setting element each of said setting element being selectable by the corresponding one of said keys when depressed, a starting clutch actuatable for a cycle on depression of each of said keys, a common setting member adapted to shift said selected setting element in a setting direction for setting said code bars in accordance with said depressed key, driving means controlled by said clutch for driving said setting member, said driving means being yieldable to permit said setting member to be arrested before the end of its stroke in the case of simultaneous selection of a plurality of selected setting elements and to prevent the setting of said code bars, and a locking element shiftable at the beginning of said cycle to temporarily prevent any further starting of said clutch, said setting member deactivating said locking element at the end of its stroke, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a reactivation slider similar to said setting elements and adapted, when released, by a corresponding reactivation key to bring said locking element back to an inoperative position, said reactivation slider moreover reactivating said starting clutch, b. stop means for said reactivation slider adapted to arrest said setting member so as to shift said reactivation slider in said setting direction for a reactivation stroke sufficient to bring said reactivation slider back under the control of said reactivation key, but insufficient to set said code bars, c. and release means controlled by said reactivation element when said reactivation slider is shifted in said setting direction to bring said locking element back to said inoperative position independently of said setting member.

Claim 18

Code keyboard for typewriters and other office machines with keyboard having a plurality of keys, a series of code bars, a plurality of setting element each of said setting element being selectable by the corresponding one of said keys when depressed, a starting clutch actuatable for a cycle on depression of each of said keys, a common setting member adapted to shift said selected setting element in a setting direction for setting said code bars in accordance with said depressed key, driving means controlled by said clutch for driving said setting member, said driving means being yieldable to permit said setting member to be arrested before the end of its stroke in the case of simultaneous selection of a plurality of selected setting elements and to prevent the setting of said code bars, and a locking element shiftable at the beginning of said cycle to temporarily prevent any further starting of said clutch, said setting member deactivating said locking element at the end of its stroke, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a reactivation slider similar to said setting elements and adapted, when released, by a corresponding reactivation key to bring said locking element back to an inoperative position, said reactivation slider moreover reactivating said starting clutch, b. stop means for said reactivation slider adapted to arrest said setting member so as to shift said reactivation slider in said setting direction for a reactivation stroke sufficient to bring said reactivation slider back under the control of said reactivation key, but insufficient to set said code bars, c. and release means controlled by said reactivation element when said reactivation slider is shifted in said setting direction to bring said locking element back to said inoperative position independently of said setting member.

Claim 19

Keyboard according to claim 15, wherein said setting elements are normally held in an inoperative position by said plurality of keys against the action of corresponding springs, said springs urging said setting elements toward a released position on depression of said plurality of keys, and wherein said common setting member is shifted by a setting spring, said setting member being connected by means of a connecting rod to a reloading cam rotated by said starting clutch, when actuated, said connecting rod being adapted to be shifted positively by means of a reactivation cam also rotated by said clutch to actuate said setting member so as to shift in the said setting direction said plurality of released setting elements when released owing to the depression of said keys after the deactivation of said starting clutch, said reactivation cam shifting said released setting elements for a stroke smaller than or equal to the said reactivation stroke, but sufficient to bring said plurality of released setting elements back to said inoperative position under the control of said keys.

Claim 20

Keyboard according to claim 15, wherein said release means comprise a release lever adapted to be rotated by said reactivation slider during the said reactivation stroke.

Claim 21

Keyboard according to claim 15, comprising a plurality of springs operatively connected with said setting elements for urging individually said setting elements in a direction opposite to said setting direction, hook means associated to said keys for normally holding at rest said setting elements in opposition to the action of the said springs and for releasing said setting elements when said keys are depressed, whereby a released one of said setting elements is shifted in the said opposite direction by the corresponding one of said springs, a starting element being disposed on the path of said setting element on said opposite direction as to be shifted by said released one of said setting elements to activate said starting clutch for said cycle, and means for permitting said common setting member to shift only said released one of said setting elements thus shifted in the said opposite direction, and wherein said reactivation key retains a further setting element of said plurality, said further setting element being adapted to activate said starting clutch and to set said code bars in accordance with a combination representing a character or a function, first retaining means operatively connected with said further setting element normally retaining said reactivation slider, said retaining means releasing said reactivation slider when said further element is released in consequence of the depression of said reactivation key, second retaining means operatively connected with said locking element being normally adapted to arrest said reaction slider in the said opposite direction and releasing said reactivation slider wHen said locking element is shifted for preventing the starting of said clutch.

Claim 22

Keyboard according to claim 18, wherein a regeneration cam carried by a driven part of said clutch is adapted to control the position of said reactivation slider temporarily during the setting cycle started by said reactivation key independently from said common setting member.

Claim 23

Keyboard according to claim 1, comprising a series of code sliders, said code sliders being settable by said code bars in combinations representing characters to be printed and/or functions to be performed, a plurality of sensing elements for sensing said code sliders, a plurality of command sliders associated with said sensing elements, one of said command sliders being adapted to carry out a command for printing the respective character on recognition by said setting elements of character combinations of said code sliders, while the others of said command sliders being adapted for command the respective functions on recognition by said setting elements of function combinations of said code sliders, a cyclically actuated command bail adapted to control said sensing elements, said command sliders being prearrangeable by springs in a selection under the control of said sensing elements and being then shifted in a command direction by means of the said command bail, and wherein said command bail is actuated by said starting clutch to shift said command sliders during said cycle.

Claim 24

Keyboard according to claim 20, wherein said command sliders carry out the commands through the medium of at least one cyclic command clutch, and wherein said command sliders are adapted to follow said sensing elements by means of said springs, and comprising a reloading bail for retaining said sensing elements, in a rest position against the action of further springs a retaining tooth normally engaging said reloading bail in an inoperative position, and means connecting said common bail with said tooth for releasing said reloading bail from said retaining tooth and cam means positioned by a driven part of the same command clutch to cause said reloading bail to bring said command sliders back to rest and said retaining tooth to re-engage said reloading bail.

Claim 25

Keyboard according to claim 21, wherein the sensing element associated with said one of said command sliders, on recognition of the said character combinations, is adapted to keep the other sensing elements in an inoperative position to prevent said other respective command sliders from carrying out the said function commands.

Claim 26

Keyboard according to claim 20, wherein said command bail controls a spring-loaded positioning element adapted to correct the position of said code sliders and to keep said code sliders in position during the sensing operation by the said sensing elements.

Claim 27

Keyboard according to claim 20, comprising driving means for said common setting member, said driving means allowing said setting member to be arrested on said first direction for a stroke insufficient to set said code bars in the case of simultaneous release of a plurality of said setting elements, a function cam carried by a driven part of said starting clutch, a function lever co-operating negatively with said function cam for driving said command bail, a stop member and reloading means connected with said setting member to shift said stop member, said function lever being adapted to leave said function cam and to be arrested temporarily against said stop member during the said setting process, said reloading means shifting said stop member to release said function lever for the setting stroke of said setting member, whereby said function lever remains arrested against said stop member in the event of said insufficient stroke of said setting member to prevent said printing and function commands.

Claim 28

Keyboard according to claim 1, wherein a decoding apparatus carries out on a type-carrying element of the machine the selection of the type corresponding to said coMbinations, said decoder being activated by the driven part of said starting clutch to select the said type during said cycle.