US1793762A - Call recorder for telephone systems - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1931. R. TILDEN ET AL CALL RECORDER FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Original Filed June 17, 1925 FIG] 8 wR n & fi N l 2 53 m m a N: f mw 6 V w 2 a 2 l V! F E A T TORNEV Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBBINSTILDEN AND THOMA$ A. TILDEN, OF HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA CALL RECORDER FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Application fi1ed J'une 1 7, 1926, Serial No. 116,590. Renewed NovemberS, 1928.

' This invention relates to electric signaling devices and has special reference to a call recorder whereby one telephone station may call a second station and record, at the 5 called station an indication, by dots, dashes,

perforations or otherwise the number or characteristic of the station which has called.

In'other words, the invention embodies means for receiving and making a permanent record at a telephone station of the calls received from other stations and also indicating onsuch permanent record the station from which a call has been received, so that theuser of the telephone station, in the event of his or her absence therefrom, may upon their return, atonce perceive not only the number of calls that have come in, but also the telephone numbers of the stations from which said calls have been made and the order in which they have been made.

This device is preferable with automatic or machine switching equipment, that is, equipment that uses a calli'ng device or other forms of impulse transmitters, senders or circuit breakers on telephone stations for setting up and-operating apparatus in a proper manner for connecting one station with any other station in the exchange or system, automatically, without the aid of human operators.

The purpose of the invention is to enable a telephone subscriber or station to call any other telephone subscriber or station in that particular city or system and register at the 5 called station, by means of dots, dashes or otherwise the number of the station calling. The device is prferably connected in parallel j with the users telephone as an extension, and

using the same'line as that connected to the regular or main station.

The principle involved is to indicate on a suitable surface such as a strip of paper an "impression disclosing, upon the receipt of a telephone call, the number or other char- 4 acteristic of the calling station. For instance, the telephone number of the calling station may be automatically printed or written in the form of code-indications; these code indications may be in theform of dots or dashes. 4 For instance, the arrangement may be such that a telephone numbered 34:52 calling a station equipped with the device described here in will register on a strip or ribbon of paper, the proper number of marks and spaces, as hereafter explained in detail, which can be readily'interpreted to read 3452.

Long distance operators in the central office, or any other particular operator, employee or ioilicial of the telephone company could register their number by the machine as in the same case of any regular calling telephone station. It could also be used in private systems, and could be used to replace complaint operators whose duties are to record telephones in trouble as subscribers re- 05 port the The invention employs peculiar circuit arrangements which involve slight changes in the circuit of certain equipment (connectors) of the Strowger automatic equipment 7 and also of similar changes in other types of automatic or machine switching equipment. However, the changes made do not impair in the slightest degree the successful operation of such equipments nor does it take away any of its particular features or improvements; nor do these minor changes effect transmission over its circuit, or complicate it, to any noticeable extent. Such minor changes to be made by the operating telephone company only in the group or groups having access to the lines connecting with the'machine described herein.

It is noted that the use of this device is entirely under the control of the subscriber at able switch, connect the device for service when he leaves his office or house and during his presence at such oifice or house may disconnect the same. v

Business men in their offices, and any other class'of men and women anywhere, may leave their oflices or other places equipped with this machine described herein and all incoming calls will be registered and re-' corded in a permanent form in their proper order, automatically, during their absence,

thusdispensing with, in many cases a clerk left merely to answer and record telephone calls.

The principal and most important objects of the invention are to provide an improved and novel construction of a device ofthis character to render the same, by improyed means, capable of recording in a permanent manner code indications of the number of a-calling station; to improve and simplify. the wiring of such a device; to provide an improved means in a device of this character for operating same bythe regular operating exchange battery, thus eliminating any local battery at subscribers premises; to provide means for indicating back to the calling subscriber that he is connected with a station that has a device as described there in; and in general to provide a very simple, reliable and highly efiicient device; indicating on-a permanent record the code numbers of all subscribers stations calling his station. With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimedz Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of the apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 shows a difi'erent arrangement accomplishing the same result;

Fig. 3 shows'a further modification applicable to the arrangements shown in Figs.

,, .In carrying out the objects of this invention, in Figure 1, there is providedan ordinary double pole switch or key 1 to which is connected the line'wires 2 and 3 leading to the particular subscribers station The telephone instruments themselves are not here shown as they do not enter directly into the invention, although certain parts ofsuch instruments do co-operate with the invention, but as these parts are of wellknown forms it has not been deemed necessary to show drawing thereof, the showing beingrestricted to a diagrammatic illustration. F romthis switch 1 leads a wire 4 which is 'connected to oneterminal of the winding of tact spring 9 of relay coil 5.'- There is also provided another armature 10 which is held normally against stop 11 by the tension of spring 12; there is a bushing 13 for holding down contact spring 9, so its contacts will remain in a make position as long as armature 10 is being energized by coil 5. The make contact 14 is connected by a wire 15 to the condenser 7,. This condenser 7 also has area another'wire 16 leading to contact spring 17, i which when in normal position makes contact with switch contact spring 18 and over Wire 19 to one terminal of the winding of coil 20, thence over wire 21 to contact spring 22, which, when in'its make position, establishes connection with contact spring 23, thence over wire 24 to the other terminal of coil 20, over wire 25 back to the double pole switch 1. Armature 26 operated by magnet 5 is normally held against adjustable stop 27 by tension of spring 28. At one end of the armature 26 is a recording means 29 arranged to press against tape 30 upon energi- -zation of magnet 5. The time wheel 31 meshes with wheels 32, 33 and 34, and carries a cam 35 arranged to trip releasing arm ;36 at each complete revolution. This releasing arm carries an insulated bushing 37 at one end designed to break contact springs 17 and 18. At the otherv end of this releasing arm 36 is a dog 38, spring 39 holding releasing arm'36 normally against stop 40.

The operation of the apparatus as constructed in follows;

Switch or key 1 connects or disconnects the telephone number recording apparatus from the subscribers line. switch is in the closed position (as is shown on drawing) ringing current from the central oflice or exchange intended to signal the called subscribers bells, will attract the armature 9 of coil 5 over this circuit: Wire 2, switch 1, wire 25, coil 20, wire 19', contacts 18 and 17 in the normal or-closed position, wire 16, condenser 7 wire 6, coil 5, wire 4, switch 1, and wire 3. Armature 9 is under verylight spring tension, and will make with contact 1 spring'll, during this ringing period. I This will short out the condenser 7', over wire 8, contacts 9 and 14 and wire 15.

Shorting out this condenser will now cause the connector or similar equipment in centraloffice to cut off the alternating ringing current and substitute direct current, or reguaccordance with Figure 1 is as l r exchange battery current. Coil 5' will now If the key or.

14. Armature 10 will catch in the d0g38 and I thus remains until dog 38 is restored, regardless'of any changes in the subscribers line circuit or any variation or cessation in the current flowing through coil 5. Armature 10- releases wheel 32, which starts to rotate in the direction shown on drawing by arrow.

Wheels 32, 33, 34 and 31, together with paper plete revolution during the same period of time, so that always when wheel 31 is in the position shown on drawing; wheel 32 shall also be in the position shown.

7 This will permit wheel 32 and paper thrust rollers 41 and 42 to rotate for a short time after cam on wheel 31 has caused bushing 37 to open springs 17 and 18 by means of the insulated bushing 37, thus causing an open 1 space to appear on the paper tape 30 showing the division between a complete operation of the device or the registration of a complete call number'and also more readily permits the user to tear off and observe the code indications recorded" thereon by thrusting the paper and indications out.

The speed ofrotation of wheels 32, 33, 34 and 31, and the paper thrust rollers 41 and 42 is governed and is adjustable so that the proper time for recording the number will elapse before the release of the machine as presently described, in.

order that the calling subscriber may have suificient time to dial his own telephone number. varying from 2 to 10 digits according to the size of the exchange connected with. Cogs on wheel 34 will move spring 22 rapidly to close and open with contact 23. This will alternately short out coil 20, which will produce a distinctly audible and recognizable tone back to the calling subscriber, notifying him that the station called has a machine of the character described herein and has connected itself and is ready to receive his number. The calling subscriber, without restoring his receiver to the hook now proceeds to dial his own number. The calling device, impulse sender or contact breaker, on his telephone rapidlyopens and closes the line circuit a number of times corresponding to the number dialled. If the .dial is turned to 3, the circuit is opened three times; if to 7 then it will be opened seven ti cession. These impulses originating at the calling subscribers calling device, and com- 7 ing over the line to the called station will operate armature 26 of coil 5, moving this armature backward and forward in accordance with the number dialled. Armature 26 carries a recording means 29 which will make a record of the number dialled on the strip of moving paper 30. This strip of paper 30 moves continuously and evenly across the re cording means 29, speed governed and powered by suitable governor and clockworlnand this continuous, even movement will cause all short open spaces between the short dash marks or dots (these spaces representing the digit dialled) to be similar and easily interpreted. A short dash or dot will appear sepmes in rapid suctelephone.

arating the open spaces that correspond to the digit recorded. For example: three short open spaces between long dashes represent the figure three. A long dash (many times longer than the short dash referred to above) will appear separating a digit of the complete call number. A long open space (many times longer than the short open space representing impulses forming the digit dialled) appearing on the paper denotes the division between complete call numbers. These long dashes separating digits of the call number and the long open spaces separating the complete call numbers are so much greater. in length that no confusion could exist in distinguishing the code.

The next series of impulses coming over the line from the calling subscribers dial, representing the second digit dialled, will be recorded on the moving paper tape 30 in like manner and so on until the calling subscriber has dialled his complete number. To illustrate this arrangement in a general way we will suppose Numbers 23l.and 425 desire to record their numbers with this device, the marks on the paper ribbon will be as follows tinue to rotate until wheel 31 makes its complete revolution and cam 35 operates to restore dog 38 and opencontacts l7 and 18. Armature 10, released by dog 38, restores to normal position, opening contacts 9 and 14, and in a short interval catches in stop cam of wheel 32, preventing further rotation of wheel 32 and its associated clockwork, wheels 33, 34, 31 and rollers 41 and 42. Wheel 31 is timed in its relation to wheel 32 so that the restoring cam 35 on wheel 31 rotates far enough to permit dog 38 to rest against stop 40 or in the position shown on drawing.

e recording'device is now fully released and in normal or idle position, ready for another call to come in and be recorded. It will be noted that condenser 7, while readily permitting the passage of alternating current such as the ringing current intended to signal the called subscribers bells, it opens the circuit with reference to direct current, exchange batter y ilor regular exchange operating current. ere is sufficient impedance in coil 5 to not afi'ect transmission of conversation over the subscribers telephone, if he should accidentally leave the switch 1 in the closed position while he is present near the recording device, and desire to answer the Of course during his absence from the telephone, as previously explained he will leave switch 1 in the closed position.

nected to one terminal of slow releasing re- This device maybe connected to the line in such a manner that when the receiver hook is lifted to use the telephone, the recordingv device will be disconnected from the line.

If desired, wheel34 or.whee1 25, depending upon whether apparatus similar to that shown inFigure 1 or in Figure 2 is employed, a could have a portion of its periphery beyond the point shown in contact with the tone generating springs, smooth or free from teeth in order that a'few seconds could elapse before the tone was placed on the line back to the calling subscriber. This would permit the called subscriber to answer the telephone after his bells had rung once, provided he 7 happened to be present and desired to do so,

' itive of the subscribers loop. From switch or key 103 a wire 104 is lead which is conlay coil 105. Another terminal of this co-il connects over wire 106 with condenser 107 and with armature 108. From the other terminal of condenser 107 leads a wire 109 connecting with one terminal of winding on inkwriter coil magnet 110; the other terminal of this inkwriter magnet-is connected by wire'lll to switch103. Also connecting with condenser 107 is a wire 112 which leads to contact 113; I From contact 114 is a wire 115 leading to contact 116 of relay 105. Relay. coil "105 has a third' terminal connected to wire 117 and to (contact 118. Contact 118 operates to make with contact 119 and is connected by wire 120 to wire 104. Coil 105 pperates dog 121 normally held against stop 122 by the tension of spring 123. Dog 121 is pivoted at 122a and is designed to catch instop pin 124a of wheel 124. Wheel 125 carries a pinion 1-26 designed to mesh in the outer gear of wheeds 124 and 127. Wheel 127 has aflixed a cam or post 128 which operates at eachrevolutiommovable arm 129 be-- ing normally held against stop 130 by the spring 131. This movable arm 129 carriesaj bushing 132 at one end for breaking contacts 113 and 114. Upon energization of ink- 1 writer coil110 armature 133 is pulled away from adjustable stop 134 and against tension of spring 135 causing recording means 136 to record on tape 137 the electrical impulses received. Two rubber faced rollers 138 and from paper roll 140, through recording Switch or key 103 is used to connect or disconnect the recording device from subscribers line 101 and 102. With this switch in the closed or make position, ringing current from the central office intended to signal the bells of the called party, energizes coil 105 attracting armature 108 (which is a Very light-armature under little tension) and moving'same to connect with its make contact 116. Tracing this circuit from switch 103: Wire 111, winding of coil 110, wire 109, condenser 107, wire 106, winding of coil 105,

wire 104, to switch 103. A rmature 133 of coil 110 is under sufficient tehsion not to operate at this time with ringing current. When armature 108 makes with contact116, a circuit is closed over wire 115, contact 114,

and with movable arm 129 in normalposi tion, contact 113, wire 112 and to wire 109, cutting off central office ringing current and causingconnector or other apparatus in cen-- tral oflice 'to furnish regular direct current in'kwriter magnetllO to energize their armatures. At this period dog 121 releases wheel 124, also setting. into motion wheels 125 and exchange battery causingrela'y coil 105 and 127 and paper extracting rollers 138 and 139,

which are operated by spring power or other suitable means. These wheels and rollers are geared tb each other and are timedor speed regulated by governing means. Wheel 125 by teeth on its periphery causes impulse making spring 118.to make and brake contacts' 118 and 119, thereby shorting out part of coil winding 105, over wires 117 and 120 causing a tone to be placed upon the line I which tone is heard by the calling subscriber and thereby assuring him that the telephone station he has called has-a device of the characterdescribed herein, and notifying him that such device is'inreadiness to receive and record his telephone number or'code designation. .Without hanging up, the calling party now proceeds to dial his own telephone number These electrical impulses sent out from his impulse sender or calling device energizing and deenergizing coil 110 in accordance with these impulses and thereby causing armature 133 with its recording finger 136 to'make suitablelindications on tape 137.

These indications on tape 137 are in the form of marks and spaces, and will always appear in a similar manner and are easily interpreted. Rely coil 105- being slow releasing does not respond to these impulses but willhold its armature 108 and releasing dog 121 in the energized position, allowing wheels 124, 125 and 127 and rollers 138 and 139 to continue their rotation. These wheels and After the calling subscriber has dialled his own number, he will restore his receiver to the hook, clearing his line. The recording device releases and clears out any remaining apparatus participating .in the connection as follows:

When cam post 128 moves arm 129 the circuit is opened at contacts 113 and 114, thereby deenergizing coil 105 and magnet 110 causing their armatures to restore to normal position and allowing releasing dog 121 to catch in tooth of wheel 124 a short time later to allow rollers 138 and 139 to rotate for an instant after recording finger 136 has restored; this causes an open space to appear on the tape separating complete call numbers and also more readily permits the user to tear ofi and observethe code indications recorded thereon by thrusting the paper indications out. This stops the rotation of the timing wheels and the recording tape, which are geared together.

If desired to work this device on ground ringing duplex lines, wire 106 from coil 105 would be connected to ground through a condenser.

Figure 3 shows how the recording finger may be attached to the armature in such manner as to mark or print on the paper ribbon when in the released, inactive or normal position. This arrangement is applicableto the apparatus as shown in Figure 1 or as shown in Figure 2. I

- In Figure 3, 201 is the magnet operating the recording means. 202 is an armature pivoted at 203 and normally held against adjdstable stop 204 by the tension of spring 205. Attached to this armature 202 is a recording finger 206 which normally, or when magnet 201 is not excited, presses against paper ribbon 207. This paper ribbon is carried on a roll 208 and guided past the adjustable table 209 by rollers 210. The rubber faced rollers 211 and 212 rotate with the clockwork and pull the paper ribbon 207 past recording finger 2 06 as well as guide and thrust, the free end of paper out into clear view. 7

shown in Figure 3 will differ from that shown and explained under Figures 1 and 2 only in the printing or marking on the paper ribbon. The marks and spaces appearing on the paper ribbon will be reversed in Figure 3. Marks will be substituted for spaces and spaces will be substituted for marks. To use the same example as previously selected: Suppose that Numbers 231 and 425 desire to record their numbers with this device the inarks onthe paper ribbon will be as folows:-

Since themind and eye are usually trained to observe marks rather than the lack of them or spaces, it may be preferable to use this arrangement over that shown in Figures 1 and 2, as it may be more readily understood by the subscriber, though it will necessitate the obvious change in the ordinary commercial form of inkwriter or similar machine. Such machines are usually constructed to make an indication on the paper ribbon when the operating magnet is energized rather than deenergized as is the case with apparatus shown constructed with the Figure 3 modification. Since the equipment shown in Figure 3 is exactly like that previously explained in detail under explanations of Figures 1 and 2, it is not deemed necessary to repeat the operation in detail. This change in the construction of the recording mechanism will cause the recorded numbers to appear according, to this method: The number of short dashes separated by short spaces in a series, will indicate the digit; a longer distinguishable open space will separate the digits in a call number, and-a longer distinguishable dash mark will separate complete call numbers from each other. 7

A more elaborate arrangement combined with the special features shown in our application Serial Number 40,90O filed July 1, 1925, for Letters Patent in telephone call recorders, could be obtained by connecting a local battery or an additional source of battery and repeating impulses originating at the calling station, over a local circuit by an additional impulse repeating relay. Since this arrangement would still record the number of the calling station in the form of marks and open spaces instead of actual figures as shown in the application above referred to, it appears, on account of the greater simplicity and for economic reasons the device shown in Figures 1, 2 and- 3 of this application is superior without additional battery, operating simply as an extension on the regular main telephone line.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the matep ,.rial spirit thereof. It is not therefore de- The operation of the recordlng device as sired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed. The expression number of the calling telephone station, or similar expression, in the claims, is used as a brief expression to indicate the individual designation of the calling telephone station whatever that may be, whether numbers, words, letters or a combination of any or all of these, or any other individual designation of a telephone that may be chosen.

What is claimed is: V

1. In a common battery electro-mechanical switching telephone system having a regular exchange battery, means operated by the regular central oflice exchange battery for indicating the number characteristic of the calling telephone station at the called station,

such number characteristic being shown in a similar manner by marks and open spaces on suitable material, and means for releasing the number indicating apparatus. 7

2. Ina common battery electro-mechanical switching telephone system havin a regular exchange battery, means operated %y the regular central oflice battery for recording by a suitably powered inkwriter, marks and open spaces representing in a uniform code .the number characteristic of the calling telephone station, .at the called telephone station, and means for releasing the recording means.

- 3. In a common battery automatic electromechanical switching telephone system having a regular exchange battery and ringing current, means operated by the regular central oifice exchange ringing and battery current for recording the number of the calling telephone station at the called telephone staing device and is in readiness toreceive and tion in the-form of a uniform code of open spaces and marks on suitable material, and means for releasing the number recording means.

4. In a common battery electro-mechanical switching telephone system having a regular exchange. battery and ringing-current, means operated by the regular central oflice exchange ringing and battery currents for recording the number of the calling telephone station at thecalled telephone station, and means for informing the calling telephone station that the called-station is equipped with a record- 7 record the number of the calling station.

5' In a common battery electro-mechanical switching telephone system having a regular exchange battery current, means operated by the regular central office exchange common battery current for recording the number of a calling telephone station at the called telephone station, and means operable after a suitable interval of time, for releasing said number recording apparatus.

6. In a common battery electro-mechanical switching telephone system having a regular exchange battery current, means operated by the regular central oflice exchange common battery currentfor recording the number of the calling telephone station at the called telephone station, and means operable after a predetermined interval oftime for releasing said number recording device.

7 In a common battery electro-mechanical switching telephone system having a regular exchange battery current, means operated by weaves the regular central ofice exchange common battery current for recording the number of the calling telephone station at the called telephone station, means operable aftera suitable interval of time for releasing said number recording apparatus, and means for automati- -cally placing the line in condition to receive number characteristic of a calling station, and

means for setting the recording device into operation by use of the regular exchange ringing current.

9. In a common battery .electro-mechanical switching telephone system having a regular exchange battery current,'means operated by the regular central ofice exchange battery current for indicating the number tion at the called telephone station, such number characteristics being. shown in a similar manner by marks and open spaces on a suitable material, and means for rendering the recorded number visible from-the exterior of the recording device.

10. In a common battery electro-mechanicharacteristic of the calling telephone sta- 11. ha common battery electro-mechani-" cal switching telephone system having a regular exchange battery current, means oper-! ated by the regular central oflice exchange battery current for recording marks and open spaces representin acteristic of the calhng telephone station at the called tele hone station, and means for opening the clrcuit to the regular operating exchange direct current, but providing a path for alternating ringing current to set the recording device into operation.

12. In a common battery electro-mechani cal switching telephone system having a regular exchange battery current, means operated by the-regular exchange common battery current for indicating'the number char acteristic of the calling telephone station at the called telephone station, such number characteristic being shown at the called telethe number char-v phone station by marks and open spaces impressed on a suitable surface, and meansfor providing distinguishable separation spaces between digits in a call number, and means for providing a more distinguishable separation space between-complete call numbers. I

13. In a common battery electro-inechanical switching telephone system having a regular exchange battery curre nt, means operated by the regular central oifice exchan e common battery current for indicating t e number characteristic of a calling telephone station at a'called telephone station, such number characteristics being shown by marks and open spaces impressed on a suitable surface, and means for feeding the said suitable surface through the recording device at a governed uniform speed while the re: cording device is in operation to cause the indications thereon to constantly appear uniformly spaced with relation to each other.

14. In a common battery electro-mechanical switching telephone system having a regular exchange battery current, means oper- 'tem.

ated by the regular central; ofiice exchange common battery current for recording by means of a suitably powered inkwriter, marks and open spaces representing in a uniform code the number characteristic of a calling telephone station at the called telephone station, and means for connecting and disconmeeting the recording device rom the sys- In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have signed our names to this specification. y

' ROBBINS TILDEN.

THOMAS A. TILDEN'.

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