US2014525A - Telephone apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 17, 1935. c. L. GOODRUM 2,014,525

TELEPHONE APPARATUS Filed May 12, 19353 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

CLOCK MECHANISM POLAR/ZED 2 *1 INVENTOR C. L. GOODRUM ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 193 c. GOODRUM TELEPHONE APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CL GOOD/PUM A TTORNEV M' 1935 c. L. GOODRUM TELEPHONE APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 III s gmlm lAll/ENTOR v C L. GOODRUM A 7' TOR/VL Y Patented Sept. 17, 1935 M i'i' STAT PATENT OFFHIE TELEPHONE APPARATUS Application May 12, 1933, Serial No. 670,690

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to telephone systems and more particularly to dial systems arranged for measured service.

The object of this invention is to provide more reliable and satisfactory equipment at the subscribers station for automatically recording the calls made by a subscriber and the duration of each answered call, the records thus obtained serving as the basis for billing the subscriber.

According to this invention, a call recording mechanism is provided at each subscribers station. The mechanism is of the tape recording type provided with apparatus for making a perforated record of the data necessary to bill the calls made from the station.

According to one feature of the invention, said call recording mechanism is arranged to perforate the tape to record the number dialed upon the origination of a call and the duration of each answer call, the tape being advanced after the called subscriber answers, one step for each unit period during which the talking connection is maintained.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means to perforate the tape to indicate no-charge if the call is a no -charge call or if the calling party releases the connection before the call is answered.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision. of a number of energy storing devices in said mechanism whereby the energy stored therein is used for operating the tape advancing and tape perforating devices, the manipulation of the calling dial being conditioned by the storage of energy in said storing devices.

Briefly considered, the invention is a recording mechanism for recording on a moving tape (1) a perforation for each digit of the number dialed, (2) a perforation indicating whether or not the wanted subscriber has answered (3) another perforation indicating the termination of a connection. The entire mechanism may be placed within the base of an ordinary telephone stand and provided with external means for supplying energy to the several energy storing devices contained within the mechanism and from which the tape advancing and tape perforating devices obtain the requisite power for the performance 50 of their separate operations. In the present embodiment of the invention said energy storing devices comprise spring motors which are wound up through suitable winding gears by a winding shaft manipulated by the subscriber prior to 55 dialing the called number, although any other suitable energy supplying means may be employed with equal advantage.

In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, therefore, after the subscriber has removed his receiver from the switchhook, the 5 winding shaft is rotated and allowed to return to normal, after which he may proceed to dial the called number in the usual way. The energy thus stored in the power springs of the separate motors is then utilized during the establishment 10 of the connection and afterwards for operating the tape advancing device and the separate punch perforators to record on said tape the information above mentioned.

A clearer conception of the scope and purpose 15 of the invention will be obtained from a consideration of the following description and appended claims taken in connection with the attached drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side view assembly taken along sec- 20 tion line l-l of Fig. 2 of the recording mechanism that comprises the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view along section line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the power storing and tape control devices; 25

Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed front and side views, respectively, of the Winding gear of a typical power storing device;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the latching mechanisms for controlling the tape punching and the dial 30 locking device;

Fig. 6 is a detailed front view of the dial control punch locking fixture taken along section line fi-5 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a detailed front view of a dial control 35 fixture taken along section line l-l of Fig. 5.

Referring to the figures, the two wheels l9!) and NH represent the pay-out and take-up reels, respectively, for the recording tape H32. Takeup reel i9! is geared to a spring motor H59 so 40 that, at the proper time, wheel l9! may be revolved in the direction shown for winding up the tape as it is propelled by sprocket or tape-advance wheel W8. The tape advance wheel liiil is provided with projections Nil around its periphcry for engaging the feed holes of the tape (not shown). This wheel is rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft its. At one side of said wheel Hi8 (right side in Fig. 1) a ratchet wheel ml is mounted rotatably on shaft m3 and is rigidly connected to gear )2 which, in turn, is in mesh with gear m5. Gear 565 is rotatable in the direction of the arrow by a clock controlled power spring encased within shell I29 when the device is timing a call. A pawl Hi8, mounted 'on wheel I00, is held in engagement with the teeth of wheel I81 by a spring so that when wheel I01 rotates, it drives wheel I00, but when it is at rest does not interfere with the rotation of wheel I00 by other means, pawl I08 in this case riding idly over the teeth of wheel I01.

On the opposite side of wheel I00 (left side in Fig. 1) is a second ratchet wheel I04 that is likewise rotatably mounted on shaft I03. Wheel I09 is also rotatably mounted on shaft I03 adjacent to wheel I44 but is not rigidly connected to it. Wheel I39 carries a projection H0 that is positioned between pins III and H2 fixed on the side of ratchet wheel I 34, and normally in engagement with pin III. Wheel I09 is provided with gear teeth by means of which it is driven by gear wheel H5 mounted on shaft H6 and driven through gears H4 and H3 from the dial shaft IE1 of the calling dial H8. A pawl I06, also mounted on wheel I00, engages the ratchet teeth of wheel I04. Now when dial H8 is operated, assuming that the winding shaft H6 has been previously rotated as described hereinafter, rotation is imparted to shaft H6 through gears H3 and H4 and hence to gear H5. Since gear H5 is permanently meshed with gear wheel I09, said wheel rotates in the direction of the arrow, and, when the dial has moved the amount allowed in the excess of the impulse motion, projection H0 engages pin H2 so that thereafter wheel I09 drives wheel I00 through the engagement of wheel I04 with pawl I 06. On the return movement of the dial wheel, wheel I09 rotates in the opposite direction and projection H0 engages pin IH, thus returning wheel I04 to its original position, the teeth of Wheel I04 passing under pawl I06 without effect. Thus, at each operation of the dial, wheel I00 is operated to advance the tape a number of feed holes corresponding to the value of the digit dialed and a punch I91 is operated to perforate a hole opposite the last feed hole of the tape corresponding to the last impulse of the dial, as more completely described hereinafter. When wheel I00 is rotated by ratchet wheel I01, pawl I96 rides over the teeth of wheel I04 without effect.

There are four separate spring motor boxes, namely, I2I, I39, I20 and I all controlled from shaft I 22 as described hereinafter; box I20 further containing a suitable clock mechanisms Each of the boxes mentioned is geared to a part of the mechanism for the purpose of supplying power thereto when required for operation, as described hereinafter.

The construction of any of these spring motors is typified by that identified as I23 and shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. On the fixed shaft I28 are rotatably mounted the spring box and gear I21. Box I23 contains a spiral spring I30 one end of which is fastened to the shaft I20 and the other to box I23. On the side next to gear I21, box I23 is provided with ratchet teeth which are engaged by a pawl I23 attached to gear I21. When the spring un- Winds, box I 23 is rotated in the direction of the arrow and drives gear I21 through pawl I29, thus supplying power to any mechanism meshed to gear I21. When box I23 rotates in the opposite direction, spring I30 is wound and the teeth pass under pawl I29 without effect. On the periphery of box I23 are formed gear teeth I2I which mesh with the teeth of gear wheel I24 that is loosely mounted on shaft I22, said shaft also carrying winding gear I3I for rotating spring box I20 through gears I25 and I26 and winding gear I40 for rotating spring box I39, and beveled gear I31 with the latter of which is meshed a pinion gear on shaft I30 for driving gear box I50 through gears I44 and I93. These separate gear mechanisms are for the purpose of supplying power to other independent spring mechanisms I20, I39 and E50, respectively.

Shaft I22 may be rotated manually by a crank I32 or other suitable means. It carries projections I36, I35, I18 and I34, the first of which can engage with a lug I33 on gear I24, the second with lug I80 on gear I31, the third with lug ISI on gear I 40 and the last with lug I84 on gear I3I. The movement of shaft I22 is limited by stops to less than one complete revolution, and the gears I24, 31, I49 and I3I are so proportioned that the movement of shaft I22, from normal to extreme position, will wind fully the spring in every one of the gear boxes I23, I25, I30 and I50. When for instance, spring I30 in box I23 is unwound sufliciently to require full winding, lug I33 engages projection I 36. In the same way, as each of the springs in every other gear box unwinds to require full winding, each of the lugs connected to the respective winding gears engages its respective projection on shaft I22. When shaft I22 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, projection I36 engages lug I33 and rotates gears I24 and I2I and, therefore, box I23 in the proper direction to Wind up spring I30. The amount of motion of shaft I22 required before projection I36 and lug I33, and every other pair of projections and lugs engage depends on how far springs I30 in each of the boxes have unwound since the last winding. Thus, a single operation of shaft I22 fully winds up all the springs regardless of the relative amount of operation of the devices driven by each of them. 4

To prevent the dial II 8 from being operated until winding shaft I22 has been rotated, the following mechanism is provided: A shaft I45 (see Figs. 5 and 7) suitably supported for rotation carries a bell crank lever having arms I 41 and I48, projecting at right angles to each other about the axis of rotation. The lever is normally held in the position shown in Fig. '1 by the spring I98 the other end of which is attached to stop member I56. The latch I81, pivoted at I6I to a suitable support, is engaged by an extension rod I 42 of the switchhook I52 of the telephone set so that, when the receiver is removed, latch I81 is lowered to a position to engage a projection I43 on arm I48 to hold said arm in its operated position. When, at the time that the winding mechanism is being wound up, shaft I22 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow, arm I46 engages arm I41 of the bell crank lever and rotates arm I48 so that if the receiver is off the hook, latch I81 engages the projection I 43 on arm I48. The forcing down of arm I48 brings spring latch I53 on arm I48 into a position to engage arm I46 on the return of shaft I22 to its normal position and prevents said shaft from operating again until latch I81 has been disengaged from arm I48 by the subscriber restoring the receiver. The movement of arm I 48 through a pin and cam slot connection with lever I moves the free end of lever I55 down. When shaft I22 returns to normal under the power stored in spring I49 and after arm I48 has been latched in its operated position, the edge I54 of cam I 46 engages the depressed end of lever I55 and forces it over, moving stop member I 56, to which it is pivotally connected, out of engagement with the lug I51 which is attached to the dial shaft H6 and whose engagement with member I56 prevents the operation of the dial. Thus, it is necessary to remove the receiver, then operate the winding shaft I22 of the spring motors to its full extent and allow it to return to normal before the calling dial can be operated. When arm I42 is raised at the time that the subscriber removes his receiver from the hook, the spring latch I5! is moved intoa position to engage beneath the end of armature I19 (see Fig. 2) of the polarized magnet I59 which operates when the called party answers to hold said armature in an operated position even after the magnet releases, which it does when the called subscriber restores.

The number punching mechanism (see Figs. 5 and 6) comprises a rotatable shaft I63 supported on suitable bearings to which are rigidly attached cam I64, gear I65 and an escapement wheel I66. The spring motor I23, connected therewith through gear I21 which meshes with gear I65, supplies power for rotating shaft I63. A punch I91 (see Fig. 2) is operable by cam I64 for perforating the tape, the guides and anvil for which are not shown in detail, being such as are used in telegraph tape perforators. Wheel I66 carries two lugs I61 and I68 which engage the teeth of the escapement I69. Normally, wheel I66 is prevented from rotating by lug I66 engaging the escapement I69. This escapement is connected to one end of a pivoted lever I19 the other end of which engages a dog III operated by the dial shaft I I6. When the dial is moved out of its normal position, escapement I69 rocks in a clockwise direction releasing lug I68 and engaging lug I61. When the dial returns to normal, it restores I69 to the position shown, releasing lug I61 so that shaft I63 makes a complete revolution under spring power before it is stopped by lug I68 engaging the .escapement I69. Lugs I61 and I68 and the corresponding escapement teeth are so staggered as to permit wheel I66 to make a complete revolution. As shaft I66 revolves, cam I64 operates punch I91 to perforate the tape for every return of the dial.

The conversation recorder comprises a shaft I12, which corresponds to shaft I63 of the number punch, to which is rigidly attached a gear I13 through which it is driven by the spring motor I69 by means of gear wheel I94 and the escapement wheel I14 for controlling its motion. It also carries a cam I15 which is free to slide upon the shaft but rotates with it. In its normal position with respect to shaft I12 cam I15 is in a position to operate punch I16 (see Fig. 1) when the cam is rotated to perforate the tape to indicate that the called subscriber has not answered; or in the case of a free call such as an official call, it indicates the same thing so that when the perforated tape is passed through the tabulating mechanism the call will not be charged.

The escapement I11, which cooperates with escapement wheel I14 on shaft I12, functions to release shaft I12 for a complete revolution in much the same manner as escapement I69 controls the release of shaft I66. The escapement is mounted on a shaft I62 which is rotatable against the tension of torsion spring I96. For

' rocking the escapement I11 to release its upper arm from one pin of escapement wheel I14, as viewed from Fig. 2, the escapement I11 is provided with a projection I81 which is engaged by a spring latch I66 pivoted to one end of a rod I85 which slides on a support I95. The lower end of rod I85 is pivoted to one end of the armature I19 of magnet I59. When the called subscriber answers magnet I59 operates its armature I19 which is held in its operated position, since the calling subscribers receiver is off the switchhook, by the 5 engagement of one end of the armature with the spring latch I5I carried by rod I42. Through rod I65 and the engagement of spring latch I86 with lug I81 of escapement I11, the armature also rocks the escapement to release its upper arm from one pin of escapement wheel I14 and to engage its lower arm with a second pin on wheel I14. The shaft I12 is thereby permitted to rotate a small fraction of a revolution under the driving power of spring box I39. As rod I85 continues its movement, it disengages its spring latch I86 from lug I81 and the torsion spring I96 returns the escapement I11 to its initial position thereby disengaging its lower arm from the second pin of escapement wheel I14. Shaft I12 is now per- 20 mitted to rotate the remainder of a complete revolution or until the first pin on escapement wheel I14 re-engages the upper arm of escapement I11. At the same time that the armature I19 of magnet I59 operated the escapement through rod I35, it also swung the forked arm I82, rigidly attached thereto, to slide the cam I15 along shaft I12 out of alignment with punch I16 and into alignment with punch I88 so that, upon the rotation of shaft I12 as just described, the cam I15 operates the punch I83 to perforate the tape as an indication that the called subscriber has responded and that timing for the call has started. Also pivotally connected to armature I19 is a slidable rod I98 which carries on its upper end a detent pawl @ngaging with ratchet teeth I19 of the clock spring box I26. When magnet I59 operates upon the response of the called subscriber, in addition to the function previously described, it releases the detent from the ratchet teeth M9 whereby the spring in box I26 under clock control rotates gear I65 to rotate, in turn, gear I62 and ratchet wheel I91. Ratchet wheel I91, by its engagement with the feed sprocket wheel I06 through pawl I91, rotates the wheel I66 at a predetermined rate until the call is terminated. The sprocket wheel thus advances the tape I92 through the die block associated with the punches I91, I16 and I89, the tape being wound on take up reel I9I driven by the spring of spring box I56.

When the conversation is terminated the calling and called subscribers restore their receivers to the switchhooks. The restoration of the called subscribers receiver releases magnet I59, but its armature I19 is held in its operated position through the engagement thereof with spring latch I5I on rod I42 until the calling subscriber restores his receiver to switchhook I52 thereby depressing rod I42. The restoration of armature I19 to normal now re-engages the detent pawl on rod I88 to arrest further advance of the tape I92, restores the rod I85 to its normal position and, through arm I82, slides the cam I15 on shaft I12 into its normal position where it will, on a subsequent rotation, operate punch I16. The de- 5 pression of rod I42 by lug I6I carried thereby depresses one end of lever I66 which is freely pivoted on shaft I63 between two collars as disclosed more clearly in Fig. 5. The lever I66 is thereby rocked on shaft I63 so that its other end engages with 70.

cam I89 fixed to shaft I62 and thereby rotates shaft I62 and escapement I11. The upper arm of escapement I11 is now disengaged from one pin of escapement wheel I14 to allow shaft I12 to rotate through another complete revolution. As

shaft I12 rotates, cam I15 operates punch I16 to perforate the tape as an indication that the call has terminated.

The depression of rod I42 also removes latch I87 from engagement with lug I43 of the bell crank lever and the lever is then restored to its normal position by spring I88 releasing the latch I53 from cam M6 to free the winding shaft I22 for rotation and to restore the stop arm I56 to normal to again lock the dial shaft I I6.

The foregoing operations have resulted in the punching of a perforation by punch I91 for each digit dialed indicative of the designation of the line called, the punching of a perforation by punch I83 upon the response of the called subscriber if the call was successfully completed, or by punch I'I6 if the called subscriber did not answer, and the punching of a perforation by punch I16 upon the restoration of the calling and called subscribers receiver to their switchhooks. The spacing between the perforations punched by punchers I83 and I15 on a successful call through the advance of the tape by clock controlled spring box I is therefore a'measure of the duration of the call.

On unsuccessful calls the shaft H2 is released by escapement I'I'I through the operation of lever I60 and cam I89 when the calling subscriber restores his receiver and makes but a single revolution. Since magnet I 59 is not operated cam I75 is effective to operate punch I'IB for perforating on the tape I92 an indication of a no answer call.

The tape is in this manner perforated to make a record of all calls made during a billing period and may be used by the operating telephone company in conjunction with a suitable tabulating printer to prepare a bill for the services rendered.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telephone system, a calling station, a dial at said calling station for dialing the digits of the designation of a desired station, and a recording mechanism at said calling station comprising a tape, means responsive to the operation of the dial in dialing each digit of the designation for advancing said tape an amount indicative of the value of the digit dialed, means for perforating said tape at the conclusion of each advance movement thereof, clock controlled means for further advancing said tape, means rendered operative upon the response of the called station for perforating said tape in a distinctive manner and to thereupon release said clock controlled means to advance said tape at a predetermined rate, and means controlled upon the termination of the call for arresting the further advance of said tape and for perforating said tape in a further distinctive manner, the spacing between the last two mentioned perforations being indicative of the duration of the call.

2. The combination of a call recording mechanism with an automatic telephone station provided with a calling device, said mechanism comprising a tape perforating device, a tape, energy storing means coupled to said perforating device, means responsive to the operation of said calling device for operating said tape perforating device to perforate said tape by energy supplied to said device from said energy storing means through said coupling and means responsive to the absence of energy in said energy storing means for rendering said calling device inoperative.

3. In a telephone system, a telephone station, a dial at said station capable of generating a series of impulses, and a call recording mechanism for said station comprising a tape, a tape advancing device, a tape perforating device, an energy storing means, an energy transmitting means for storing energy into said storing means, 10 coupling means between said storing means and said tape advancing device and said tape perforating device, means responsive to the storage of energy in said storing means by the operation of said energy transmitting means for rendering 15 said dial effective for operation, and means responsive to the operation of said dial for releasing the energy stored in said storing means through said coupling means to operate said tape advancing device for advancing said tape a length 20 proportional to the number of impulses generated by said dial and to operate said tape perforating device for perforating said tape at the time the last impulse of a series of impulses is generated by said dial. 25

4. In a telephone system, a telephone station,

a dial at said station, and a call recording mechanism in association therewith at said station, said call recording mechanism comprising a shaft, and means responsive to the operation of said shaft for rendering said dial operative.

5. In a call recording mechanism for recording calls established to called lines under the control of a dial at the station of a calling line, a magnet connected to said calling line and responsive to the answer of a called subscriber, a tape advancing device, and a tape perforating device com prising a first punch responsive to the manipulation of said dial for perforating a hole in said tape at the end of each series of impulses generated from said dial, a second punch responsive to the operation of said magnet when said called subscriber answers for perforating a hole in said tape to indicate the starting of the talking connection and a third punch responsive to the restoration of the receiver of said calling telephone station for perforating a hole in said tape to indicate said restoration.

6. The combination in a call recording mechanism for an automatic telephone station of a tape, a tape advancing device and means responsive to the establishment of a talking connection between said telephone station and another station for operating said tape advancing device to advance said tape in proportion to the time during which said connection is maintained.

'7. The combination in a call recording mechanism for an automatic telephone station of a tape, a tape advancing device, a timing device, energy storing means, said means being coupled to said tape advancing device, and means responsive to the establishment of a talking connection between said station and another station for releasing the energy in said storing means for operating said tape advancing device to advance said tape in intervals measured by said timing device during the time that said connection is maintained.

CHARLES L. GOODRUM.

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