Patent GB-1386329-A (GB)
Title: Code keyboard for typewriters and similar office machines
IPC: B41J25/02
Filed: 1972-06-09
Abstract: 1386329 Selective printing ING C OLIVETTI & C Spa 9 June 1972 [11 June 1971] 26992/72 Heading B6F An encoding keyboard comprises slides 101 coacting with code bars 43, the slides being biased by springs 114 such that on depression of a key 44, 45 or 46, latching elements 98, 99 are disengaged to permit the slide 101 to be displaced rightwardly, such movement acting to engage a clutch (169, Fig. 3, not shown) whereby a bail 117 drives the slide 101 in the reverse direction to set the code bars 43. The springs 114 act on rockers 109, the one corresponding to a released slide 101 rocking about a projection 111 and urging the slide forwardly while a projection 116 enters the path of the bail 117. The rightward movement of the slide 101 displaces a lever 142 against a spring 152 whereby the clutch (169) is engaged. Repeat action prevention.-The keys 44-46 act through stems 61 on arms 77 of release levers 78 which engage levers 89 formed with latch elements 98 through pins 87. On leftward code bar setting movement of a slider 101, the corresponding lever 78 is displaced leftwardly by engagement of projection 100 on slide 101 with projection 92 of lever 89 and through pin 87. Consequently if the key is held depressed, a projection 83 on the arm 77 engages the side 84 of the actuating element 82 of the keystem, so permitting clockwise rotation of the levers 78, 89 and arresting the slider 101 against a repeat action cycle. Repeat action.-Selected keys 44 are depressible to an increased extent against a flexible strip 183 to bring the projection 83 of the associated lever 78 into contact with a holding surface 191 of the keystem which prevents clockwise rotation of the levers 78, 89 and permits rightward motion of the slider 101 after a first cycle so as to initiate a repeat action cycle. Such keys are formed without a pin 78 which limits the extent by which the key may be depressed. Interlocks.-When two keys are depressed simultaneously, a cycle stops with the two released sliders 101 being urged by the bail 117 to rotate at least one code bar 43 in contrary directions, thus deactivating the mechanism. A reactivating key (451, Fig. 1, not shown) is provided which acts on a first slide (452, Fig. 14, not shown) which may have a normal function when the keyboard is in active state, and through that slide on a second slide (464, Figs. 13, 14, not shown) by which the lever 142, Fig. 2, and the remaining links in the control linkage between the lever 142 and bail 117, are re-set. Functions control; space bar action.-Each code bar 43 corresponds to a function code slide 304, 378, 379, Fig. 8, which determines which of a series of sensing arms 308, 377, 381 is operative on key depression. In particular, when a character key is depressed, at least one of the arms 377, 381 is arrested so that a strike clutch slide 391 is free to pivot clockwise about 375 when a bail 368 is lowered, owing to a projection 388 not being raised to block a projection 389 on the slide 391. The slide 39I acts when displaced rightwardly by a bail 312 to engage a strike clutch 53 to cause impressions. The slide 391 also acts to engage a letter space clutch 58 to operate the machine escapement mechanism. For a function operation such as space bar depression, the projection 388 blocks the slide 391 to prevent impression action, but another clutch slide 370 or 420 operates. The latter space clutch slide 420 acts on the clutch 58 to cause letter spacing.