US1206987A

US1206987A - Dictating phonograph system.

Info

Publication number: US1206987A
Application number: US87210714A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry P Clausen
Original assignee: Western Electric Co Inc
Current assignee: AT&T Corp
Priority date: 1914-11-14
Filing date: 1914-11-14
Publication date: 1916-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1933-12-05

Description

H. P. CLAUSEN.

DICTATING PHONOGRAPH SYSTEM;

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I4. 19M.

1,206,987. Patented Dec. 5,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T l N a) R VV/fnesses: Q I ln venfo 992 We Henry B C/ausen $3 534 by r Air UNITED STATES PATENT ormcn.

HENRY P. CLAUSEN, OF MOUNT VERNON, YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DICTATING PHONOGRAPH SYSTEM.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Application filed November 14, 1914. Serial No. 872,107.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, HENRY P. CLAUSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of \Vestchester and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dictating Phonograph Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to a dicta-ting phonograph system, and more particularly to an arrangement of circuits and apparatus therefor, including telephone transmitters and speech recording phonographs. Its general object is the provision of a simple and easily operated means-through which dictation may be recorded upon a phonograph without requiring of the dictator the labor and attention heretofore commonly required in the use of such apparatus.

Heretofore it has been in general necessary for the user of such apparatus to insert a phonographic cylinder into the machine, arrange for the proper setting of the recording stylus, and, when the cylinder has been completely filled with dictated matter, remove the cylinder from the machine and insert another cylinder before proceeding with dictation of additional matter. This labor is of such a character that it seriously distracts the attention of the dictator and prevents his giving proper thought to the subject matter of lllS dictation.

My invention is designed to obviate the necessity, on the part of the dictator, of performing any other labor than he would naturally perform when the matter is dictated directly to a stcnographer.

Another object of my invention is to permit the centralizing of all machines used for recording and reproducing the dictated matter, the equipment at the dictators desk consisting of a suitably arranged transmitter and a push button or the like which may be' so arranged as to leave the dictators hands entirely free when not occupied I in starting or stopping the machine. It is obvious that the. centralizing of the recording machines permits a. number of dictating stations, for example six or more, to be served by a lesser number of recording equipments; for example two or three, it being only necessary to provide means for permitting the interconnection of the dietators circuit with .that of the recording machines. An attendant, who may also be the transcriber of the recorded matter, takes care of changing the records and of the establishment of necessary circuit connections, so that a dictator may dictate continuously. for any desired length of time without interruption.

My invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichthe variations in the current supply to the dictators circuit being inductively reproduced through the transformer C, in the circuit of the phonographic recording apparatus. Two of Such phonographic devices, D and G, are shown, provided, respectively, with driving means E and H 'and recording apparatus F and I. The

recording apparatus F and I of the phonographic devices actuate the'switching apparatus J and K, respectively, when the recorders approach the end of the record receiving cylinders, to switch the connection from the phonograph whose cylinder is filled with the dictated matter to a phonograph of the group having an empty cylinder. The switches J and K control the energization of the relays M and N, which in turn control the driving devices E and H, respectively, and also control the connection of the circuits of the recorders F and I, respectively, to the dictators line. The circuits of the relays M and N are also under the control of a switching apparatus L which is set in one of a plurality of possible positions when moved into position by one of a plurality of electromagnets controlling the position of this switching apparatus. The arts D, E, F, J and M are duplicated in t e parts G, H, I, K and N and may be further duplicated as desired, each set of such parts being represented by a position of the switching arrangement L.

. An arrangement of relays 0 controls the o eration of alarms P and Q. The alarm P is operated when either one or both of the plu'inographic cylinders are completely filled with dictated matter, for it is obviously necessary that when both cylinders are filled and the dictator desires that further matters shall be re-recorded, eitherone or both of the cylinders be replaced with an empty cylinder by the attendant. It is desirable, however, that when one cylinder has been filled the change be made. Therefore the alarm P is arranged to operate when one cylinder becomes full and continues to operate so long as the dictator continues to leave the dictating station apparatus in its operated position. Should it occur, however, that no attendant is hresent and both cylinders are filled, then the alarm Q at the dictators station A will operate, giving a positive signal to the dictator that no further matter can be taken care of. A signal lamp R is provided at the dictators station A, which lamp, when it burns, serves as an assurance to the 'dictatomthat the matter is being properly recorded.

A description in detail of the operation of the aforementioned apparatus and the circuits therefor will now be given. Assuming that all the apparatus is in normal position and that empty cylinders are in both phonographic apparatus D, G, a person desiring to dictate from station A will press a button 1, thereby closing contacts 2 and 3. The closure of contact 2 closes the circuit of the dictators transmitter set as follows from battery S over wire 4, wire 5, including a coil 6 of transformer C, switch arm 7, contact 2 of push button 1, transmitter 8, switch arm 9, coil 10 of transformer C, and wire 11 to batteryl' The closure of contact 3 closes a circuit for the relay M, as follows: from battery 5 over wires 4 and 12, signal lamp R, wire 13, contact 3, wire 14, switch arm 15, wire 16, wire 17, cont: at 18, wire 19, winding 20 of relay M, wire 21, contact 22, switch arm 23, wire 24, relay 25,

wires

26 and 51, to battery. The result of the establishment of this circuit is to cause the relay M, and also relay 25 ofthe relay structure 0, to become energized. r

When relay M-responds, contact 27 in the circuit of the driving device E, and contacts. 28 and 29 in the circuit of the recording device F aret-hereby closed. The closure of contact 27 closes a circuit as follows: from battery S over wires 4, 4, 30 and 31, through motor mechanism or drive device E, wire 32, contact. 27, wire 34, to battery S. The establishment of this circuit causes the drive deviceEto get into action and rotate the 1igylinder; of the phonographic apparatus.

The closure of contacts 28 and 29, due

aaoaeea to the aforementioned energization of relay phcnographic recorder coil F, wire 36, contact 28, wire 38, coil 39 of transformer C, condenser 40, coilz41 of transformer 0, wire 42 and back to contact 29. This places the dictators telephone circuit in inductive connection with the phonographic apparatus and the dictator may proceed to speak into the transmitter, which will result in the spoken word being recorded in the wellknown manner upon the phonographic cylinder.

Should the dictator release the button 1 at a moment when he is not ready to proceed with the dictation, the consequent opening of contact 3 will cause the relay M to become de'nergized and this will result in the phonograph driving mechanism E ceasing to operate, but starting again upon the dictator again pressing the push button 1 when again ready to proceed with the work.

When the recorder F reaches its outermost position, that is, the position in which the cylinder is practically filled with dictated matter, the switch J is operated to close contact 44 and to open contact 18. This results in automatically shifting the dictators transmitter circuit from one phonograph recorder circuit to another, and

'manner that there will not be any break in the continuity of the matter dictated. The opening of contact 18, which is in the circuit of the magnet M, results in removing current from said magnet M. This magnet, however, is made of the slow, release type so that it will not immediately return to its normal position. Therefore, the driving mechanism E will remain in operation for an appreciable length of time after contact 18 has been opened.

The shifting of the circuit, due to the op eration of the switch J will now be described. When contact 44 is closed by the above-mentioned operation of theswitch J, the following circuit. is established: from battery S, over wires 4 and 12, signal R, wire 13, contact 3, wire 14, switch arm 15, wire 16, the current dividing at thispoint, one path being over wire 17, contact 44,wire 46, magnet 47 of switching device L, wire 48, wire 49 through winding of alarmrelay 50 and Wire 51 to battery. The resultant energization of the magnet 47 causes the switch arm 23 of the switching device L to move to its other position and thereby to fclose the contact 57 in the circuit of the relay N. Theother branch of the circuit dividing at the junction point between wires 16 and 17 is as follows: over wire 52, contact 53, wire '55, winding 56 of magnet N, contact 57 of switch L, blade" 23 of switch L, wire 24, alarm relay 25,

wires

26 and 51 to battery. The establishment of-this circuitcauses relay N to operate and closethe circuit of the drive device H of the phonograph cylinder G as follows: from battery S, wires 4, 4',

30 and 58, driving device H, wire 59, contact 60 of relay N, wires 33 and 34, to battery.

Likewise contacts 61 211M162 of relay N are closed by the energization of said relay,

thereby connecting the recorder of the phonographic apparatus G to the dictators circuit over wires 63 and 64. r

It will benoted that when switch J of the phonographic apparatus D operated, it rei so" sulted in removing current from the relay M and therefore started to' perform the first operation necessary for stopping the rotation l of the phonographic apparatus D. At the same time the operation of said switchresulted in placing current upon magnet 47 of the switch L, which in turn resulted in drawing the-switch arm 23 over to the opposite side, thereby opening contact 22 and closing contact 57. The closure of contact 57 permitted the relay N to operate; The moment that this relay responds the driving mechanism H comes into action. It, wi1l be noted; as hereinbefore stated, that relay M,

- even though its circuit'was openedwhen re- 'switches J and K are operated.

' cylinder of a is therefore lay N was cut into service, is of slow'release. Therefore there is a delayed stoppage of phonograph apparatus D, which overlaps the starting perio of phonographic apparatus G. For a short time, for example, onehalf of-ya second, the dictated matter will therefore appear upon both cylinders D and G, thus providing theoverlapping period a necessary to avoid any stoppage in the dlctation of-the matter to be recorded. 7

As hereinbefore stated, the signal P is arranged to'operate when either or both of the I If the switch J is in its operated position, andthe the phonographic apparatus D filled, the alarm P will sound, due to the flow of current over the following path: from battery S over wires 4, 4 and 65, alarm signal P, wire66, wire 67,

A contact 68,

wires

69 and 51 to battery. Should both records be full, that is, sh'ould switches J and K both stand operated, when the dictator presses button 1, relay 25 is not energized," since its circuit is not closed at either

contact

18 or 53.. Therefore contact 70 is closed, withthe result that alarm signal Q Will'sound so long as the push button l is pressed, the following being the circuit through said alarm' signal: from battery S, over wires 4 and 71,'signal Q, switch arm 73, wire 74, contact 70, wire 75, wire 67, contact 68, wire 69, wire 51 to battery. It will be observed that while signal Q, operates, signal P also operates, but that signal P may operate when one only of the phonograph apparatus requires a change of cylinders. It is only when all of the phonograph apparatus connectedto the dictators circuit'is full that the signal Q, operates.

I have described the operation when switch J is in its operated position and switch K is in either its non-operated or operated position. If it be assumed that the switch J is in its normal position and that the switch K is then operated by .the cylinder of G becoming filled, the consequent closure of contact 76 results in throwing the arm 23 of the'switching device L to the right. The circuit for effecting this movement of the arm 23 is as follows: from battery S,-over wires 4 and 12, signal R, Wire 13, contact 3, wire 14, switch arm 15, .wire 16, wire 52, contact 76, wire 77, magnet 78, wire 49, relay 50 and wire 51 to battery.

The magnet 78 being thereby energized to move the arm 23 to close the circuit ofthe relay M at contact 22, the necessary circuits for starting the driving mechanism of the apparatus D and for switching'the -dicta tors transmitter circuit to the circuit of the recording device F are established, as will be readily understood from the foregoing description. It thus appears that when eitherof the phonograph cylinders is filled, the dictator is automatically connected to another phonograph of the group, provided there is one ready to'record his dictation.

Otherwise the signal Q, operates to warn and sub-alarm signal -8O. The attendants or attention is then drawn to-the necessity for establishing a dictating circuit and she may then place the set of plugs T into one set of the switching jacks Uconnecting toan idle recording group.- As is also shownin Fig. 2, instead of the switching plugs an ordinary switch B, such as is shown in Fig. 1, may be used, the. signal mechanism operating similarly to that just described and the attendant, when responding, placing the ,switch into connection with an idle phono-- graphic recording circuit. Fig. 2 also shows another -set of plugs corresponding to another dictating station, said set having its sub-alarm 81 under the control of relay What is claimed is: Y 7 1. In a dictating phonograph system, a dictators transmitter set, a group of-ponotransmitter and said apparatus in succes 'sion.

2. In .a dictating phonograph system, a .dictators transmitter set, a group'of phonoeluding a slow-acting relay for automatiicallyshittingthe connection between said transmitter and one of said apparatus to another, said relay being associated with one .ofsa'id apparatus and arranged to con-.

trol the connection between its associated apparatus and the transmitter. In a dictating-phonograph system, a n

dictators transmitter set, a groupiof phono graphic recording apparatus, a plurality of slow-acting relays, one provided for each apparatus, means including said relays for establishing a connection between said trans- I established between said f as mitter and anyone ofsaid apparatus, each of said relays being arranged to momen tarily maintain the connection between the transmitter set andv the apparatus associated with s id relay, after a connection has been other apparatus. r K t 4. In a dictating phonograph system, a

tablishing connection between said transmitter and any one'of saidap'paratus, each of such relays being associated with one apparatus and arranged to maintain a connection between its associated apparatus and said transmitter, means operative upon complete operation of one oit'said apparatus for caustransmitter and ana ing a relay associated therewith to sever the connection between the said apparatus and transmitter, and 'meansjncluding the relay I associated wi h another apparatus for transapparatus, 3

fer-ring the nnection to the last mentioned 5. In a dictating phonograph system, the combination or a Vdictators'station provided with a transmitter set, an. attendants station provided witha group of phon'ographic recording devices, aicircuit connecting said dictators station with said attendants station, an electromagnetically-operated con- ,tactadevice for placingsaidrecording devices one at a time in an operative relation with said transmitter set, and means automatically operatedupon the "completion of ,the operation of one oi? said recording detart vices for operating the contact device to I I tablishing a connection between said trans.

mitterset and one of said apparatus, autpmatic 'me'ans'for transferring said connec- I tion from one apparatus to the other, and means associated with the first-mentioned means for maintaining the first mentioned v graphic recordlng apparat'ns, and means 1n connection for a shortperiod of time after the operation of saidautomatic means;

7. In a dictating phonograph system, a.

'dictators. telephone line, a plurality of phonographid recording apparatus, means for extending said line to said apparatus, a

relay for each of said apparatus controlling the connection of the extended line to its associated apparatus, and means determined by the position of-each one of said plurality of apparatus for operating one' of said of said connection from one apparatus to v the other, and means controlled by said p1urality of apparatus for operating said device. v 1

' 9. a In a dictatingphonograph system, a dictating transmitter set, a group of phonographic recording apparatus, and meansm- ,cluding a plurality of slow-acting relays for I automatically establishing a'connection be-' tween said transmitter and said apparatus in succession, said relays being assoclated,

one with each of said apparatus, and ar ranged to control the connection between its associated apparatus and the, transmitter.

10; lin a dictating phonograph system,-a

dictating transmitter set, a plurality of i phonographic recording apparatus, means including slow-acting relays'tor automati-' cally connecting said tramsomitter to said apparatus in rotation, each it said relays being associated with one of said apparatus and arranged to control the operation of its associated apparatus.-. v In witness whereof, hereunto subscribe myname this 13th day of November, A l). 1914. v 1 I Witnesses: E, EDLER,

K. L. STAHLQ [nanny nxotansnnf a