US3612240A

US3612240A - Key-responsive switching mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3612240A
Application number: US7169A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph L Parker
Original assignee: Litton Business Systems Inc
Current assignee: TRIUMPH-ADLER AG A CORP OF GERMANY; Western Atlas Inc
Priority date: 1970-01-30
Filing date: 1970-01-30
Publication date: 1971-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-12

Abstract

A code-generating keyboard mechanism wherein during downstrokes of control keys an element is pivotally deflected to store spring energy and then is freed suddenly for operation by the stored spring energy in a defined swinging path to effect one or a combination of switching operations for remote control of machine elements.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Ralph L. Parker Rockville, Conn. App]. No. 7,169 7' Filed Jan. 30, 1970 Patented Oct. 12, 197 1 Assignee Litton Business System, Inc.

New York, N.Y.

KEY-RESPONSIVE SWITCHING MECHANISM 14 Claims, 16 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 197/98, 178/17 C, 197/19, 200/160, 235/145, 340/347 AD Int. Cl B4 lj 5/08 Field of Search 340/347;

235/145; 74/469; 197/l4,98, 18, 19,20; 178/17 A, 17 C; 200/160 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,927,761 9/1933 Tauschek 197/14 3,257,536 6/1966 Smith 200/160 3,439,118 4/1969 Howard et al. 178/17 FORElGN PATENTS 440,419 12/ l 967 Switzerland 200/160 Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Attorney-Joseph R. Spalla ABSTRACT: A code-generating keyboard mechanism wherein during downstrokes of control keys an element is pivotally deflected to store spring energy and then is freed suddenly for operation by the stored spring energy in a defined swinging path to effect one or a combination of switching operations for remote control of machine elements.

PATENTED UBHZISII 3.612.240

SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR RALPH L. PARKER Fig.6 BY W ATTORNEY PATENTED 0m 1 2 I97;

SHEEI 2 [IF 2 KEY-RESPONSIVE SWITCHING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to keyboards which by operations of keys therein causes one or a combination of signal outputs for control of associated devices which may be remotely situated and may consist of machinery for producing visually readable record or sensible records, or both.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the invention to provide simple and efficient keyboard controlled apparatus for causing through switch means one or a combination of electrical signal outputs, suddenly, in response to key operations through spring energy which is stored incidental to such operations, such signal outputs being caused transitorily and independently of whether the operator dwells on the operated key or quickly releases it.

The invention is featured in various embodiments which have underlying it the principle just mentioned. In all the various embodiments, the key-operable members carry each pivotally swingable thereon an element which is spring biased in one pivotal direction on such member to abut normally a limit stop. Each said member when key operated, causes its element by deflecting contact with a frame supported part to effect a deflection thereof on said member counter to said spring bias to store spring energy. Suddenly, as each key operable member substantially reaches the conclusion of its operating stroke, its related switch-operating element becomes free to be spring drawn about its pivot to the said limit stop and thereby is instrumental to cause one or more switch operations. The invention includes provision to block the restoration of the stated element by the key operable member until said element has been fully spring moved against said limit stop.

According to the simplest embodiment of the invention the stated element is operative to close one switch only. In other embodiments of the invention each of the stated element has or is in control of a sector which has one or more tines distributed thereon to operate coding bails selectively which in turn control each a coding switch for transmission of code signals to be utilized for control of apparatus at remote locations.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. I is a sectional side view illustrating in normal condition a key-operable element having association with a deflector tooth bar and a spring for control of an output switch;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the deflector tooth bar shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear view showing one key-operable element in normal position;

FIG. 4 is a similar to FIG. 3 but shows the key-operable element downwardly actuated;

FIG. 5 shows the key-operable element returning toward normal position and being laterally deflected;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing a detail of support of the key-operable element;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of the invention wherein a key-operable element carries a permanent magnet for controlling effect on a reed switch;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary rear view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of the invention with the parts in normal condition, wherein keyoperable elements have tines for control of switch-controlling bails;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of a further modified form of the invention, in normal condition, showing a tinebearing element which is transitorily operable by a key operable element to operate switch-controlling bails;

FIG.. II is similar to FIG. 10, but the parts are in a partially operated condition;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation of a further modified form of the invention, in a normal state, wherein a key operableelement has light-intercepting fingers for control of light channels in a baffle leaf bar to control signal outputs;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the baffle leaf bar;

FIG. 14 is a front sectional view of the baffle leaf bar;

FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of a modified form of a key-operable element which includes a flexing pin support thereon; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional rear view showing the key-operable element of FIG. 15 returning toward normal position.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, a lever member 10 with a key button 12 thereon, has pivotal support on a fulcrum rod 11, and is depressible from the shown normal position. There are a multiplicity of such lever members 10 in a laterally spaced arrangement, and the key buttons 12 may be arranged as in a conventional typewriter or in general accord with keyboards of other office machines. For vertical guidance the operable members 10 have at their front ends a transverse comb member 14. Springs 13 individual to the members 10 have anchorages on the comb member 14 and urge such members upwardly to their normal positions, wherein they have upward contact at 15 in the top ends of the slots of the comb member 14.

Each key-operable member 10 carries pivotally on a headed stud 16, downwardly reaching therefrom, an element 17 which has a tine end 19 for operating a switch 20, and further has a laterally projecting pin 18 in a position normally posed clear over a deflector face 21, the latter, see FIG. 2, beingprovided on laterally spaced teeth 22 on a transverse bar 23. Between the teeth 22 the elements 17 have some capacity for sidewise displacement. The elements 17, under the urge of the springs 25, bear normally resiliently forwardly against the bases of the slots 24 see FIG. 1, and the springs have anchorages on a frame-supported transverse bar 26 at locations to afford a leftward bias if viewed directionally from the left side of FIG. 1. Thus, all elements I7 are constantly urged to bear also normally leftwardly to contact the right sides of the teeth 22 and consequently the pins 18 on the elements 17 are normally posed over the deflector faces 21, see particularly FIGS. 1 and 3.

The main portion of each element 17 is slightly offset from the side of the member 10 to which it is attached by the headed stud 16. Such offset mounting arises due to two narrow-ended ears 27 on the elements 17 which are slightly offset toward their related members 10. It will be seen that the ears 27 are arranged and are cooperative with the heads of the studs 16 to allow some sidewise swinging movement of the elements 17 on the members 10 about the points of contact afforded by said ears 27, substantially without skewing in reference to such contacts.

When any key-operable member 10 is operated downwardly from its normal position seen in FIG. 1, its related element 17 by coaction of its pin 18 with the deflector face 21 on the bar 23 is deflected rightwardly away from the base of its slot 24. In being so deflected the spring 25 is extended and stores energy until the pin 18 moves below the extremity of the tooth 22, at which time the tine end 19 on the element 17 reaches the position indicated at 19' and the key-operable member 10 becomes arrested by a cushioning stop 29 supported by the lower end of the comb member 14. Now, suddenly under the influence of the spring 25, the element 17 swings forwardly to the limit afforded by the base of the slot 24. In executing such swinging movement the time-end 19 of the element 17 engages and wipes at about a 45angle over an electrically insulated end 30 of a resilient switch closing finger 31 and clear off the end thereof, to the position indicated at 19". During such operation, the switch closing finger 31 makes transitory contact with a companion switch finger 32 to transmit a signal causing a remotely situated device, not

' shown, to respond operatively.

When the element 17 is in the opposition wherein its tine 19 has the position 19", the pin 18 of the element 17 has the position under its related tooth 22 as indicated at 18", and as the key 12 is released the pin 18 moves upwardly into a cam notch 33 provided in its related tooth 22 and by contact with the cam face thereof causes it and the element 17 to be cammed laterally about the points of contacts which the ears 27 have with the member 10, When the pin 18 moves above the deflector face 21, the spring 25 will cause the element to assume its normal position with the pin 18 against posed over the deflector face 21.

Each deflector tooth 22 has a full width bottom face 34 between its pointed bottom end and the stated cam notch 33. Therefor, each element 17, while it is moved by its spring 25 for effecting an operation of its related switch 20, is blocked against upward movement. It follows thus that if a key 12 is very momentarily operated, a proper and reliable switchoperating excursion of the element 17 is nevertheless assured.

It will be noted that the pin 18 on the element 17 and the deflecting face 21 on the frame supported tooth, constitute means, oppositely carried on the frame and the element 17, having a normal correlation to cause in an operating stroke of the key operable member a deflection of the element 17 away from a stop means (base of slots 24) thereby to store energy in a spring means 25, so that such spring means at the conclusion of the operating stroke of said member 10 causes said oppositely carried means to assume relative positions to cause said element 17 to become pivotally operated by the power stored in said spring means 25.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 an element 17a similar to the element 17, instead of having a tine 19, carries a small permanent magnet 35 which as the element 17a is actuated by the spring 25, moves from the position indicated at 35' to the position indicated at 35", and thereby acts by the flux of the magnet 35 on two switch reeds 36 contained within a capsule 37 to draw them transitorily into closed switch relation. The mode of operation of the element 17a in FIGS. 7 and 8 is the same as that of element 17 described in reference to FIGS. 1, to 6, in-

clusive.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 9, an element 17b has a mode of operation similar to the element 17 shown in FIG. 1, but has at its extending end a sector 39 concentrically arranged about the pivot stud l6, and having tines 49 thereon which are generally in a radiating relation to the pivot stud 16. There is one element 17b for each key-operable member 10 and they are arranged in a single row. Parallel to the row of elements 17b and substantially grouped concentrically around the points about which the elements 17b upon downward operation are pivotally movable by their springs 25, there area series of coding bails in the form of blades 41 which at opposite ends, as indicated at 42 have pivotal support in brackets, the latter of which are not shown.

Each bail blade 41 has a radially extending arm 43 carrying a permanent magnet 44 for acting on two normally separated switch reeds 46 contained in a frame supported capsule 47.

Each bail blade 41 under the urge of an individual spring 48 stands normally clockwise urged to the limit of a frame supported stop pin 49.

Depending on the coding output which is required to occur under control of each particular key 12, each sector 39 has one or more tines 40 in appropriate locations to operate an appropriate combination of coding blades 41. As each element 17b is being downwardly actuated, the tines 40 thereon become positioned rightwardly adjacent to their related bail blades. Furthermore, each time when the pin 18 on a key operated element 17b clears the pointed edge of its associated tooth 22, such key-operated element becomes actuated by its spring 25, so that the tines 40 thereon will act on their related bail blades 41. The latter are preferably arranged to swing out of the operating paths of the tines 40 before the elements 17b become fully operated by their springs 25, so that they will restore promptly and independently of whether the key 12 is held depressed. Obviously, the switch reeds 46 are thus giving momentary signal outputs.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 10 and 1 1 there are a row of sectors 50 carried on a pivot rod 51 and each sector has one or more tines 52 and also an arm 53, operable by a tine 19c on an element 170 which is substantially like the element 17 in FIG. 1. Parallel to the row of sectors 50 and grouped concentrically about the pivot rod 51, there are a series of bail blades 55 which at opposite ends have pivotal support as at 56 in a bracket, not shown. The blades 55, similar to the blades 41 in FIG. 9, have each an arm 57 carrying a permanent magnet 58. The latter are individually associated with pairs of normally separated switch reeds 60 contained in a frame supported capsule 61. Springs 62 urge the blades 55 counterclockwise to their normal positions against stop pins 63. The sectors 50, through individual springs 65 stand normally clockwise urged. against a common stationary stop rod 64.

The element 170, consequential to being downwardly operated, in the same manner as the element 17 of FIG. 1, becomes rearwardly deflected by the coaction of its pin 18 with the deflecting face 21. Thus, at the end of the down movement of the element 170, it's tine 19c becomes located just rightwardly of the nose on the sector arm 53, as indicated in FIG. 10. Then, because the pin 18 reaches a position below the tooth 22, the element 170 becomes suddenly spring-drawn leftwardly and its tine 19c will act on the arm 53 to operate its sector 50 counterclockwise. Now having reference to FIG. 1 I, it will be seen that when any sector 50 reaches a position in which its tines 52 have rocked their related blades 55 to bring their magnets 58 midways of the capsules 61, the tine 19c on the element 17c will slip over the end of the sector arm 53. Thus, as the element 17c moves leftwardly against the base of the slot 24, the operated sector 50 becomes spring restored against the stop rod 64. In order to restrict the sectors 50 and associated bail blades 55 against excessive extent operations, the latter have frame supported stops 59 associated with them. The sectors 50 are operated very briefly so that the coding outputs caused by the reeds 60 are momentary.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 pertain to a further modified form of the invention in which elements 171! have sector portions 66 with light shutter tongues 67. The sector portions 66 are of every light structure and reach down between light baffle leaves 69 of a stationary transverse bar 70, said leaves 69 having light channelling holes 71 arranged in straight rows therethrough, parallel to and concentrically about an axis where the studs 16 are when the members 10 supporting them are operated. Into the holes 71 of the baffle leaves 69 at one end of the bar 70, one or more light sources 72 send light rays through said channels. At each hole 71 beyond the baffle leaf 69 at the other end of the bar there is a photoconductive cell 73 which is sensitive to a given change of potential in its light-sensitive circuit to produce a coding signal output in a conductor 74.

Normally the various light channels are all open, and all the signal conductors 74 are thus functionally dead. Upon operation of any element 17d downwardly by the key-operable members, all the shutter tongues 67 thereon, in reference to the illustration in FIG. 12, first take up ineffective positions rightwardly to their related light channel holes 71. Thereupon, immediately the operated element 17d swings leftwardly and the various shutter tongues 67 thereon move across their related holes' 71 to effect momentary light passage interruptions in their respectively related light channels, whereby brief coding outputs result over appropriate conductors 74. Such outputs in known manner are amplified into stronger control signals.

The elements 17d, while swinging to transitorily shut off the light channels are in close contact with their respective baffle leaves 69. During the upward restoring stroke of the element 66 it is deflected by the cam face 33 so that the baffle fingers 67 move away from their related baffle walls 69. However, this does not affect the passage of light through the channels.

In FIGS. and 16 a further modified form of a coding elehowever, can restore from its operated position without requiring lateral swinging movement in the slots 24. For this purpose, a thin spring tongue 76 in the element He carries a pin 78 which normally projects out of the plane of the main body of the element 172, as is evident from FIG. 15. The main body of the element 172 is always movably confined between the teeth 22 of the bar 23, as is evident from FIG. 16. Thus, it will be seen, that during the upstroke of the element [7e the pin 78 meets the cam face 33 and because such pin is on the flexible leaf 76, it becomes deflected for it and the leaf 76 to move upwardly inside the confines between the teeth 22. If desired, the leaf 76 may be substantially inflexible and hingedly carried on the element l7e, and spring urged thereon for its pin 78 to project normally into overlying relation with the deflector face 21, except when moving upwardly and being deflected by the cam face 33.

Obviously the embodiment featured in FIGS. 15 and 16 is applicable to all other embodiments of the invention.

In reference to the various embodiments of the invention which involve coding tines differently arranged thereon, it is to be noted that the sectors may each have one tine related to each bail blade, and that the latter may have notches appropriately provided thereon to provide appropriate coding conditions.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a key operable member which is adapted for limited operation in an operating plane and is biased to restore to a normal position on a frame,

an element pivotally carried on said member for movement from a normal position generally in the operating plane of said member and extending from said member in the general direction in which it is movable thereby,

spring means biasing said element on said member in one pivotal direction,

stop means against which said element normally rests pivotally biased by said spring means,

means oppositely carried on said frame and said element having a normal correlation to cause in an operating stroke of said member a deflection of said element away from said stop means thereby to store energy in said spring means, and then at the conclusion of said operating stroke assuming relative positions to free said element to become pivotally operated against said stop means by the stored power in said spring means and meanwhile to block said element against restoration by said member until it comes against said stop means,

electric circuit means,

means responsive to the operation of said element by said spring means to pulse said circuit means,

and bypass means to allow the restoration of said element to its normal position upon it being moved bysaid spring means against said stop means and attendant thereto to reestablish the normal correlation of the means which are oppositely carried on the frame and said element.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, said circuit means including a switch means having a resiliently displaceable part which is adapted to be acted upon transitorily by said element to close said switch means momentarily while such element is moved by said spring means toward said stop means.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, said element having a switch-operating portion, the displaceable part of said switch means being biased to an open switch position and arranged relatively to said switch-operating portion of said element to be first operated and then cleared during the operation of the element toward said stop means.

4. The invention defined in claim I, said bypass means comprising a cam face on the frame for effecting during the restoration of said element a deflection of the means carried by said element to bypass the means carried by the frame and permit said element to resume its normal position.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, said means on said element being a lateral protuberance, said means on said frame being a deflecting face which has said protuberance normally overlying it and which during the operating stroke of-said member cooperates wit said protuberance to deflectpivotally said element away from said stop means, said bypassmeans comprising a cam face on the frame to deflect said protuberance and to allow the restoration of the element so that the protuberance finally comes against into normal relation with the deflecting face.

6. The invention defined in claim 1, said circuit means comprising a pair of normally separated switch reeds supported on the frame, and a permanent magnet carried on said element so that during the movement of the latter by said spring means the magnet has a transitory contact making influence on said switch reeds.

7. In combination with a row of adjacently spaced 'keyoperable members which are limitedly operable and biased to restore to normal positions on a frame,

elements individually pivotally carried on said members in a row to more in parallel planes and extending normally from said members uniformly in the. general direction in which they are operable,

springs individual to said elements to bias them" in one pivotal direction on said members,

stop means against which said elements are pivotally biased to stand normally aligned in a row,

means individually related to said elements and oppositely carried on said frame and said elements, having normal correlations to effect in an operating stroke of any of said members first a deflection of the related element pivotally away from said stop means and then at the conclusion of said operating stroke to permit a movement of the deflected element by its spring against said stop means and meanwhile to block said element against restoration by its related member until it contactsby said stop means,

means to facilitate after movement of each element against said stop means the restoration of any of said elements by its related member with attendant establishment of normal correlations of said related means which are .oppositely on the frame and said elements,

a series of balls extending parallel to saidrows of elements and substantially grouped in an arrangement concentric in respect to the points about which the elements are pivotally movable by their springs,

and tines on said elements arranged for cooperation with said bails to be operative discretely on said bails'as said elements are operated by their springs against the stop means.

8. The invention defined in claim 7, and switch means individually responsive to the operations of the different bails.

9. The invention defined in claim 8, wherein each. of said switch means comprises a pair of normally separatedswitch reeds on the frame and further comprises on each bail a permanent magnet operable with it to cause acontact making effect on the related reeds as each bail is being operated,

10. The invention defined in claim 7, wherein a restoring spring is associated with each bail, and wherein'the tins on said elements relative to the bails are arrangedsso that when each element is moved by its spring toward the stop means, its tines first impart operating movements to the bails and then move clear thereof to allow the operated bails to become restored by their springs.

11. In combination with a row of adjacently spaced keyoperable members which are limitedly operable and biasedto restore to normal positions on a frame,

primary elements individually pivotally carried on said members in a row to move in parallelplanes and.extending normally uniformly from said members in the general direction in which they are operable,

springs individual to said elements to bias them in one pivotal direction on said members stop means against which said elements are pivotally biased to stand normally aligned in a row,

means individually related to said primary elements and oppositely carried on said frame and said primary elements, having normal correlations to effect in an operating stroke of any of said members first a deflection of the related element pivotally away from said stop means and then at the conclusion of said operating stroke to permit movement of the deflected primary element by its spring against said stop means and meanwhile to block said primary element against restoration by its related member until it contacts said stop means,

means to facilitate after movement of any element against said stop means the restoration of such element by its related member with attendant establishment of normal correlations of said related means which are oppositely on the frame and said elements,

a tine-bearing secondary element operable by each one of said primary elements as each of the latter is being actuated by its spring against the stop means, said secondary elements being arranged in a row parallel to the row of primary elements,

a spring to return each of the secondary elements to a normal position,

means cooperative between each primary element and the secondary element associated with each primary element to first operate the secondary element by its related primary element and then release the secondary element for restoration by its spring,

and a series of bails extending parallel to the row of tinebearing secondary elements for selective operation by the tines on said secondary elements.

12. ln combination with a row of adjacently spaced keyoperable members which are limited operable and biased to restore to normal positions on a frame,

elements individually pivotally carried on said members in a row to move in parallel planes and extending normally from said members uniformly in the general direction in which they are operable,

springs individual to said elements to bias them in one pivotal direction on said members,

stop means against which said elements are pivotally biased to rest normally aligned in a row,

means individually related to said elements and oppositely carried on said frame and said elements, having normal correlations to effect in an operating stroke of any of said members first a deflection of the related element pivotally away from said stop means and then at the conclusion of said operating stroke to permit a movement of the deflected element by its spring against said stop means meanwhile to block said element by its spring against said stop means meanwhile to block said element against a restoration by its related member until it contacts said stop means,

means to facilitate after movement of each element against said stop means the restoration of any of said elements by its related member with attendant establishment of normal correlations of said related means which are oppositely carried on the frame and said elements,

a shutter member operable by each element and having shutter tongues thereon representative of discrete coding Y outputs to be obtained,

a series of baffle leaves between which said shutter members are movable, said baffle leaves having sets of corresponding holes affording normally open light channels therethrough individually related to different coding outputs to be obtained,

a photoconductive cell at one end of each light channel,

said tongues being arranged relative to the holes in said baffle leaves so that during spring-urged movement of any of said elements one or more of said tongues move across their related light channels to cause a change of potential in the circuits of their related photoconductive cell.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12, wherein each element has unitary with it one of the shutter members.

14. In combination with a key-operable member which is adapted for limited operation in any operating plane and is biased to restore to a normal position on a frame spring means biasing said element on said member in one pivotal direction,

stop means against which said element rests normally pivotally biased by said spring means,

means guiding said element for movement in a given plane,

a protuberance on said element projecting normally to one lateral side thereof,

means carrying said protuberance laterally deflectable on said element to recede into said lateral side of the latter,

a stationary deflecting tooth for engagement by said protuberance during the operation of said member to deflect the element in its operating plane pivotally away from said stop means, and then at the conclusion of the operating stroke to permit a sudden movement of the element by its spring means against said stop means, said tooth laterally facing said element on the side from which said protuberance is normally projecting,

a recessed cam face on the lower side of the tooth facing said element laterally to deflect said protuberance and its carrying means laterally on said element to allow said member and its element to restore, said protuberance then assuming automatically its normal position over the deflecting tooth,

electric circuit means,

and means responsive to the operation of said element against said stop means to pulse said circuit means.

Claims

1. In combination with a key operable member which is adapted for limited operation in an operating plane and is biased to restore to a normal position on a frame, an element pivotally carried on said member for movement from a normal position generally in the operating plane of said member and extending from said member in the general direction in which it is movable thereby, spring means biasing said element on said member in one pivotal direction, stop means against which said element normally rests pivotally biased by said spring means, means oppositely carried on said frame and said element having a normal correlation to cause in an operating stroke of said member a deflection of said element away from said stop means thereby to store energy in said spring means, and then at the conclusion of said operating stroke assuming relative positions to free said element to become pivotally operated against said stop means by the stored power in said spring means and meanwhile to block said element against restoration by said member until it comes against said stop means, electric circuit means, means responsive to the operation of said element by said spring means to pulse said circuit means, and bypass means to allow the restoration of said element to its normal position upon it being moved by said spring means against said stop means and attendant thereto to reestablish the normal correlation of the means which are oppositely carried on the frame and said element.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, said bypass means comprising a cam face on the frame for effecting during the restoration of said element a deflection of the means carried by said element to bypass the means carried by the frame and permit said element to resume its normal position.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, said means on said element being a lateral protuberance, said means on said frame being a deflecting face which has said protuberance normally overlying it and which during the operating stroke of said member cooperates wit said protuberance to deflect pivotally said element away from said stop means, said bypass means comprising a cam face on the frame to deflect said protuberance and to allow the restoration of the element so that the protuberance finally comes against into normal relation with the deflecting face.

7. In combination with a row of adjacently spaced key-operable members which are limitedly operable and biased to restore to normal positions on a frame, elements individually pivotally carried on said members in a row to more in parallel planes and extending normally from said members uniformly in the general direction in which they are operable, springs individual to said elements to bias them in one pivotal direction on said members, stop means against which said elements are pivotally biased to stand normally aligned in a row, means individually related to said elements and oppositely carried on said frame and said elements, having normal correlations to effect in an operating stroke of any of said members first a deflection of the related element pivotally away from said stop means and then at the conclusion of said operating stroke to permit a movement of the deflected element by its spring against said stop means and meanwhile to block said element against restoration by its related member until it contacts by said stop means, means to facilitate after movement of each element against said stop means the restoration of any of said elements by its related member with attendant establishment of normal correlations of said related means which are oppositely on the frame and said elements, a series of bails extending parallel to said rows of elements and substantially grouped in an arrangement concentric in respect to the points about which the elements are pivotally movable by their springs, and tines on said elements arranged for cooperation with said bails to be operative discretely on said bails as said elements are operated by their springs against the stop means.

9. The invention defined in claim 8, wherein each of said switch means comprises a pair of normally separated switch reeds on the frame and further comprises on each bail a permanent magnet operable with it to cause a contact making effect on the related reeds as each bail is being operated.

10. The invention defined in claim 7, wherein a restoring spring is associated with each bail, and wherein the tins on said elements relative to the bails are arranged so that when each element is moved by its spring toward the stop means, its tines first impart operating movements to the bails and then move clear thereof to allow the operated bails to become restored by their springs.

11. In combination with a row of adjacently spaced key-operable members which are limitedly operable and biased to restore to normal positions on a frame, primary elements individually pivotally carried on said members in a row to move in parallel planes and extending normally uniformly from said members in the general direction in which they are operable, springs individual to said elements to bias them in one pivotal direction on said members stop means against which said elements are pivotally biased to stand normally aligned in a row, means individually related to said primary elements and oppositely carried on said frame and said primary elements, having normal correlations to effect in an operating stroke of any of said members first a deflection of the related element pivotally away from said stop means and then at the conclusion of said operating stroke to permit movement of the deflected primary element by its spring against said stop means and meanwhile to block said primary element against restoration by its related member until it contacts said stop means, means to facilitate after movement of any element against said stop means the restoration of such element by its related member with attendant establishment of normal correlations of said related means which are oppositely on the frame and said elements, a tine-bearing secondary element operable by each one of said primary elements as each of the latter is being actuated by its spring against the stop means, said secondary elements being arranged in a row parallel to the row of primary elements, a spring to return each of the secondary elements to a normal position, means cooperative between each primary element and the secondary element associated with each primary element to first operate the secondary element by its related primary element and then release the secondary element for restoration by its spring, and a series of bails extending parallel to the row of tine-bearing secondary elements for selective operation by the tines on said secondary elements.

12. In combination with a row of adjacently spaced key-operable members which are limited operable and biased to restore to normal positions on a frame, elements individually pivotally carried on said members in a row to move in parallel planes and extending normally from said members uniformly in the general direction in which they are operable, springs individual to said elements to bias them in one pivotal direction on said members, stop means against which said elements are pivotally biased to rest normally aligned in a row, means individually related to said elements and oppositely carried on said frame and said elements, having normal correlations to effect in an operating stroke of any of said members first a deflection of the related element pivotally away from said stop means and then at the conclusion of said operating stroke to permit a movement of the deflected element by its spring against said stop means meanwhile to block said element by its spring against said stop means meanwhile to block said element against a restoration by its related member until it contacts said stop means, means to facilitate after movement of each element against said stop mEans the restoration of any of said elements by its related member with attendant establishment of normal correlations of said related means which are oppositely carried on the frame and said elements, a shutter member operable by each element and having shutter tongues thereon representative of discrete coding outputs to be obtained, a series of baffle leaves between which said shutter members are movable, said baffle leaves having sets of corresponding holes affording normally open light channels therethrough individually related to different coding outputs to be obtained, a photoconductive cell at one end of each light channel, said tongues being arranged relative to the holes in said baffle leaves so that during spring-urged movement of any of said elements one or more of said tongues move across their related light channels to cause a change of potential in the circuits of their related photoconductive cell.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12, wherein each element has unitary with it one of the shutter members. 14. In combination with a key-operable member which is adapted for limited operation in any operating plane and is biased to restore to a normal position on a frame an element pivotally carried on said member for movement from a normal position generally in the operating plane of said member and extending from said member in the general direction in which it is movable thereby, spring means biasing said element on said member in one pivotal direction, stop means against which said element rests normally pivotally biased by said spring means, means guiding said element for movement in a given plane, a protuberance on said element projecting normally to one lateral side thereof, means carrying said protuberance laterally deflectable on said element to recede into said lateral side of the latter, a stationary deflecting tooth for engagement by said protuberance during the operation of said member to deflect the element in its operating plane pivotally away from said stop means, and then at the conclusion of the operating stroke to permit a sudden movement of the element by its spring means against said stop means, said tooth laterally facing said element on the side from which said protuberance is normally projecting, a recessed cam face on the lower side of the tooth facing said element laterally to deflect said protuberance and its carrying means laterally on said element to allow said member and its element to restore, said protuberance then assuming automatically its normal position over the deflecting tooth, electric circuit means, and means responsive to the operation of said element against said stop means to pulse said circuit means.