US2290094A - Dictator's station marking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July 14, 1942. H. P. cLAusEN 2,290,094

DICTATORS STATION MARKING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 4, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet "'1 INVENTOR. 'all/5; I? C/aasen July 14,1942. H. P. CLAUSEN 2,290,094

DICTATOR S STATION .MARKING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 4, 1940 .3 She'ets-Sheet 2 'Fl n.

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. 5 INVENTOR j H nry R Clause/2 Affs.

. July 1 1 H. P. CLAUSEN 2,290,094

DICTATOR S STATION ,MARKING' MECHAQISM Filed Dec. 4, 1940 3 Shets-$heet a INVENTOR. fianryPC/ausdl? 7 BY I I Patented July 14,1942

UNITED S TATE S PATENT OFFICE D ICTATORS STATION MARKING MECHANISM Henry P. Clausen, White Plains, N. Y., assignor to The Gray Manufacturing Company, Hartford, 001111., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 4, 1940, Serial No. 368,497

I 14 Claims.

This invention is concerned with mechanism by means of which a dictator, in operating a dictation'recording machine from a point remote with respect to the recording machine, may be I provided with marking apparatus at his dictating station.

A general object of this invention may be stated to be the provision of novel marking apparatus under the direct control of a dictator operating in properly timed relation with a dictation recording machine situated at a point remote with respect to the marking apparatus and the dictator.

Afurther object of this invention is the provision of a combination of the above type which is, from the viewpoint of normal operation thereof, quite simple to operate and so interconnected as to ensure the production of an accurate marking chart which may with facility be used by the transcriber to aid him during the transcription of the sound record thus made.

The other objects of this invention, some of which will be directly referred to and others implied, will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention when taken in connection with the attached drawings illustrative of those embodiments.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement, relative location of parts, steps and series of steps, all as will be explained in full detail hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, with some parts broken away, illustrating one application of the principles of the invention herein disclosed.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modified portion of the mechanism of Figure 1, representing an alternative thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the unit comprising the marking mechanism to be situated at the dictators station.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view thereof.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a chart sheet which may be used with the device of Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 1s a diagrammatic view, with some parts broken away, of a complete system resulting from the introduction into Figure 1 of the mechanism of Figure 2.

At the outset it is to be noted that although the invention will be described in detail as a device suitable for use with dictation recording machines, it will be apparent from the nature of limited. Likewise the description will be given more directly in relation to the application of the device of this invention to a dictation machine of the type disclosed in the co-pending application of Barton A. Proctor and Ferdinand C. W. 'I'hiede, Serial No. 218,082, filed July' 8, 1938. However, when fully understood it will become apparent that the subject matter of this invention is applicable to other types of sound recording machines, as for example those which make use of a cylindrical wax record tablet.

Prior to this invention'there have been de veloped marking systems for use with dictation recording machines of such a nature that they trol thereof is effected from the dictators station by the operation of control devices.

In such systems some considerable efiort is required to learn the accurate manipulation of the controls to produce the desired result, partly because of the number thereof and partly because of the fact that the effect of the operation of these controls is not observable in normal use at the control point.

A further difliculty with such asystem is that the results of the operation of the controls not being strictly observable the dictator has no way of checking the instructions which he intended to give by the manipulation of the controls and, therefore, is led to uncertainty and often to the necessity of cluttering up the actual sound record with additional instructions which undesirably diminish the capacity of the record tablet and serve to confuse the transcriber.

Inthe light of these difiiculties an important object of this invention may be emphasized by pointing out that the mechanism thereof places the record tablet at the control point where the dictator may observe at all times the record he is making thereon and may, when he so desires, make additional explanatory pencil notations.

It is a subsidiary object of this invention to provide awrecord marking apparatus which is relatively simple to operate and simple for a novice to learn its operation.

In a general sense it may be stated that thecombination of this invention consists of marking apparatus operating in conjunction with the sound recording machine, even though the be widely spaced, in such manner that the dictator the mechanism disclosed that its use is not so ISIS will know at all times the condition of the record tablet. In other words, the dictator is provided with a visual indication of the amount of the record tablet used up, and the amount remaining. In addition, he has a visible indication of the various record data which he has recorded. This is all accomplished in such manner that any transcriber can take any record tablet and correction data sheet and reproduce a correct transcription of the recorded matter with ease. To sum up and emphasize the simplicity of the control mechanism, for a combination in accordance with this invention, there is provided at the dictators station a control for starting and stopping the machine, and easily distinguishable controls for making the correct indication marks on the record or correction sheet.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown the mechanism of this invention in combination with a sufiicient showing of a, sound recording machine to establish the operative relationship therebetween in accordance with this invention. lhe full details of a sound recording machine of the type diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 1 are disclosed in the above-mentioned co-pending application.

It is to be noted that the sound recording portion of the apparatus is intended but need not necessarily be located at a point remote with respect to the dictators station, and the portion of the mechanism to be placed thereat. A combination of this type is adapted particularly for use in large organizations where a central station is provided for a number of sound recording machines. and provision is made throughout the adjacent offices for the operation thereof from any one of those offices. Each of the ofiices will 'be provided with the simple device illustrated in Figures 3 and a, a sound pick-up device such as a microphone, and a small push-button control board.

As illustrated in Figure l, the sound machine includes a vertical rotatable spindle l, having a toothed support 2 on the upper end thereof upon which a suitable record tablet 3 may be impaled for rotation thereof. As disclosed in the abovementioned application, the record tablet may be in the form of a disc of thin, transparent cellulose acetate, smooth on both sides, and having a central aperture for interlocking engagement with the spindle l,

The spindle l is journalled in a carriage ti which is mounted for rectilinear movement back and forth on any suitable support (not shown). Connected to the carriage l is a threaded rod 6 which meshes with a worm wheel 5 secured on the shaft i. Ihe rod 6 is engaged by a threaded fixed half-nut l so that as the rod 6 revolves it will move to the right or left depending upon its wheel I i also journalled for rotation. As disclosed in the above-mentioned application, the friction wheel ii is journalled on a support (not shown) so that thewheel rnay be moved into engagement with the record tablet 5:3, when it is desired to cause it to rotate, so as to hold it against the driving wheel 12.

The record tablet is engaged on its upper surface by the stylus of a sound recording device I3 which is diagrammatically illustrated as of the piezo-electric crystal type. The flexible record tablet 3 is backed up opposite the stylus by means of a hardened rotatable platen or anvil M. In order to record with this device a fresh record tablet 3 is applied to the spindle l and the carriage 4 moved to the extreme right, in which position the stylus of the recording device l3 will engage the tablet at a point near its center. -With wheel l2 revolving and wheel ii in contact with the tablet 3, the tablet will be caused to revolve and as a result rod 6 will revolve through the interconnection of spindle l with rod 6 by-the worm wheel 5.

The rotation of rod 6 will cause its traverse to the left because nut l is fixed. Thus carriage Q will traverse to the left, carrying spindle l which is at the same time revolving on its longitudinal 7 axis. As the sound recording device is operated, it being of course connected to a suitable pick-up device including a microphone, a spiral sound record will be impressed on the tablet 3 in the form of a plurality of successive convolutions of gradually increasing diameter until the record tablet is used up. The record groove will, of course; terminate at a point adjacent the peripheryof the record tablet 3.

As shown, the carriage t is grounded. The lower end of spindle l is provided with a contact it for engagement once for every revolution of the spindle l with a contact it mounted on the carriage i on a suitable insulating support ll. Contact i8 is connected by wire it to one terminal of an electromagnet H8. The other terminal of the magnet is connected by wire it to a suitable current source 33 which is grounded as shown. Magnet 98' operates a switch [18 one pose to be described.

Mounted on a suitable support, such as a pair of parallel rods 25 and 2a, is a carriage or arm 26 which has a passage through it in which the threaded shaft 22 lies, without contacting it. The carriage 2 5 is connected by a spring 2? having one end fixed which acts to draw the carriage to the left. A pawl or finger 28 is mounted on the carriage 2 5 and engages the threads 23. Also mounted on the carriage 2 3 are the marking devices 29 and 30 which may be in the form of punches for the purpose of making holes through or marks in a correction tab or sheet 30 mounted thereunder. Returning to the magnet it, it will be seen that one terminal is grounded while the other terminal is connected through a control switch 36 to the current source The mechanism comprising the elements it, 20, 22, 24, 25, 2E and 3!! and connected parts comprises a simple unit which is to be mounted in a suitable housing 3?? (see Figures 3 and a forming part of the device to be located at the dictators station. This housing is part of a board or support 38 on which the record sheet 30 is to be placed when in use. When so placed it lies under the carriage 2d and the marking devices 29 and 383 mounted thereon. These consist of plunger-operated punches 29' and 363' respectively, arranged so they may punch a hole in that part of the record sheet 3| over. which they lie at the time they are operated. The record sheet 3| may be made of paper and has a series of vertical and horizontal lines in a preferred form as shown in Figure 5.

' In use the sheet is folded along the line 35 so that the end portion thereabove lies directly under the portion below the line 35. Thus a hole punched in the sheet will go through both superposed parts, of the sheet. When thus folded both the top and bottom parts of the sheet have two horizontal spaces which are provided with suitable indicia such as Cor to in dicate correction marks and Fin to indicate finish marks. It will be seen that the marking device 29 traverses the correction space while the marker 30 traverses the finish space. The sheet 3I has a portion in which any additional notations may be made by the dictator. The unit shown in Figures 3 and 4 is placed at the dictators station and is connected by wires to the dictation machine. There will, of course, be provided. controls for starting and stopping the dictation machine which have not been shown as not being necessary to a disclosure of this invention.

In describing the operation of the complete system it will first be recalled how the dictation machine operates. The rotation of spindle I will cause the regularly intermittent engagement of contact I5 with contact I6. At each engagement a circuit will be completed from the grounded terminal of the current source 23 through the grounded carriage 4, spindle l, contact I5, contact I6, wire I8, magnet I8, wire I8", back to the current source. Upon each energization of the magnet I8 switch I8 will close, completing a circuit from the grounded side of the current source 33 through switch I8 wire I 8.', magnet I9 and back to the current source 33.

Each energization of magnet I9 will cause the pawl 20 to impart a'predetermined increment of rotation to the shaft 22 through the pawl and ratchet 20 and 2I. The relay of which magnet I8 is a part should preferably be of the delayed release type so that its energization will not be of such a short duration that magnet I9 will not have an opportunity to correctly operate the pawl 20. Switch I8 will be held closed sufficiently long so that pawl 20 may properly rotate the shaft 22. shaft 22 will permit the gradual traverse of the carriage 24 to the left in Figures 1 and 3, under the urging of spring 21. Thus the carriage 24 will move synchronously with the carriage 4 and the record tablet 3.

It follows, therefore, that the position of the carriage 24 is a direct indication of the relative position of the stylus of the recording device I3 on the record tablet 3. At any position of carriage 24 the dictator may, if he has a correction to follow in the dictation, operate the punch 29 to indicate that fact on the chart 3|. If the dictator finishes a particular piece of dictation he may operate the punch 30 to indicate that fact and the relative point where it occurs. In

addition he may add any explanatory notes on the bottom of the chart, as viewed in Figure 3, in

the proper transverse position with respect to the relative point on the sound record to which it applies. When the carriage 24 has travelled completely across the chart 3| the record tablet 3 is full. The chart may then be removed'from The resultant rotation of its support and delivered to the transcription room, for attachment or other suitable association with its related record tablet.

At the time of transcription the transcriber will tear off the portion above the line 35 which in practice'may be perforated and apply it to a provided portion of the transcribing machine and the travelling pointer thereof so that as the record tablet is reproduced the pointer will traverse the data sheet and give ample indication of the approach of corrections or of the finish of a particular piece of dictation. The transcriber will use the remaining portion of th chart for the additional notations on it. This portion will have the same relatively positioned punch marks in it as did the smaller portion so that the relationship of the two parts may be easily ascertained.

When it is realized that the adjacent convolutions of the spiral record grooves on the record tablet 3 are spaced about 0.01 inch, in a practical embodiment of the machine, it will be seen that the mechanism to be placed at the dictators station must be extremely precise in construction and adjustment in order to cause synchronous movement of the carriage 24 with respect to the carriage 4 when using the mechanism so far described. In order to eliminate this problem, which is a problem only in that it adds to the expense of the machine, the modified structure of Figure 2 is provided.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the mechanism includes the magnet I8 with its wire 3 which is intended to be connected to the contact I6. The magnet I8 of Figure 2 is the same magnet as that bearing the same number in Figure 1 and will of course take its place. One contact of switch I8- is grounded as before, while the other contact is connected by the wire I8 to a magnet 40, the

other terminal of which is connected to the wheel 42 is free to rotate on a shaft 43 but is connected thereto by a spring 44.

A contact arm 45, is connected to the ratchet wheel 42 for rotation with it. The shaft .43 is connected to one terminal of a magnet 46, the other terminal of which is connected to the wire Magnet 46 operates a pawl 50 which also cooperates with the ratchet wheel 42 in a manner so as not to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel 42 in a clockwise direction by the pawl 4|. However, the pawl 50 holds the ratchet wheel against counter-clockwise rotation as long as it is in engagement therewith.

A contact positioned to'be engaged by the contact finger 45 is connected to wire I8" which will be connected to the same terminal of magnet I9 as is the wire I8" of Figure 1. The other terminal of magnet I9 will be connected to the current source 33 as before. Likewise, as before, the relay of which magnet I8 is a part is of the delayed release type. Figure 6 diagrammatically illustrates the system of Figure 1 as modified by the addition of the mechanism of Figure 2, as

explained above. 7

In beginning the description of the operation of this modification it will be noted that shaft 43, the ratchet 42, and contact finger 45 while ent from an examination of the circuits. As the recording machine operates and contacts it and i6 engage at regular intervals, magnet it will be energized, as before, with the result that switch It will intermittently close, and magnet 4i} will be intermittently energized.

Upon deenergization thereof the pawl 4| will cause the step-by-step clockwise rotation of ratchet wheel 62 and contact finger &5 putting spring at under gradually increasing tension. Pawl 50 will prevent the reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel 32 and finger d5. As arranged contact finger at will not engage the contact connected to wire it" until the tenth impulse or energization of magnet d8. Upon the tenth impulse contact finger l5 will complete the circuit including wire iii, causing energization of the magnet l9 and hence a single step movement of shaft 22 in the desired amount.

It will be seen that magnet d8 will be in circuit with magnet iii-at the time the circuit is completed, with the result that pawl Ell is pulled out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 42. However, the ratchet wheel 62 isstill not released because itis held against counter-clockwiserotation by the pawl 4i because the energization of magnet all is maintained a predetermined period of time as a result of the fact that relay i8 is of the delayed release type, Thus adequate time is allowed for the complete actuation of shaft 22 by the pawl 2t. However upon the deenergization of the magnet hit! at switch id pawl ll will release the ratchet wheel 52 with the result that tensioned'spring 5% will snap the ratchet 42 and contact finger d5 back to initial position, breaking the circuit to magnet l9. carriage 26 will only be given an incremr-mt of movement one step for every ten revolutidns of the record tablet 33.

By properly proportioning the parts, the movement of carriage 2 1 in each step may be any desired amount Within reasonable limits. The accuracy of construction of the mechanism for advancing the carriage 2% need not therefore be as great as in the previous arrangement without interfering with the correct functioning of the apparatus. It is apparent, of course, that when a new record tablet 3 is placed on the recording machine the carriage 2 5 may be readily moved back to its starting position at the right, because pawl 28 may ride over the threads 23 in the reverse direction. In accordance with well known principles 2. spring (not shown) may act on the pawl 28 to ensure proper functioning thereof.

From the above description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles of this invention are capable of embodiment in various physical forms. I do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given for purposes of illustration, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the type described, the combination including means for supporting a record tablet on which a record is to be made, means for impressing a record on said tablet, means for causing relative movement of said means, a marking mechanism, and electrical means interconnecting said marking mechanism with said record supporting means and operated as a result of said relative movement for indicating at a remote point the relative position between said first two means.

2. In a machine of the type described, the combination including means for supporting a record aee oaa tablet on which a record is to be made, means for impressing a record on said tablet, means for causing relative movement of said means, a marking mechanism, and means interconnecting said marking mechanism with said record supporting means for indicating at a remote point the relative position between said first two means, said marking means including a pair of independently operable marking devices for recording two sets of data relative to the record on the tablet.

3. In a machine of the type described, the combination including a carriage having a rotatable Thus the record tablet support, a sound recording device for impressing a record on the tablet, means for effecting movement of said carriage with respect to the sound recording device, a marking device to be positioned remotely with respect to said prior mechanism, and electromagnetically controlled means operated by said rotatable support for effecting simultaneous movement of said marking means.

4. In. a machine of the type described, the combination including a carriage for supporting a record tablet, a sound recording device for impressing a record on the tablet, means for effecting movement of said carriage with respect to the sound recording device, a marking device to be positioned remotely with respect to said prior record tablet support, means for operating said' marking device, and means for energizing said marking device operating means with successive impulses, one for each rotation of the record tablet support.

6. In a' machine of the type described, the combination including a rotatable record support, a sound recording head, means for effecting relative movement between said record support and sound recording head, a marking device, electromagnetic means for effecting step-by-step movement of the marking device, and means operated by the rotatable support for repeatedly energizing said electromagnetic means as the record tablet revolves, whereby the instantaneous relative position between the recording head and the record tablet is indicated by the marking device.

7. In a machine of the type described, the combination including a rotatable record support, a sound recording head, means for efiecting relative movement between the record support and the sound recording head, a switch operated by the record support so as to be closed for each revolution thereof, a marking device, and means for efiecting. operation of the marking device in timed relation to the movement of the record support including means for storing a predetere mined number of impulses whereby the marking device is given an increment of movement for a predetermined number of revolutions of the record support.

8. In a machine of the type described, the combination including a carriage having a record support journalled thereon, means for causing movement of said carriage, a sound recording head-positioned to engage the record tablet when mounted on said record support, a control device operated intermittently once for each revolution of said record support,'a marking device, and

means controlled by said, control device for operating said marking device in timed relation with said carriage.

9. In a machine of the type described, the combination including a carriage having a record support joumalled thereon, means for causing movement of said carriage, a sound recording head positioned to engage the record tablet when mounted on said record support, a control device operated once for each revolution of said record support, a marking device, and means controlled by said control device for operating said marking device in timed relation with said carriage, said marking device including a rotatably supported threaded shaft, a carriage slidably mounted with respect to said threaded shaft, and means interconnecting the threaded shaft with said carriage whereby rotation of the threaded shaft causes movement of said carriage.

'10. In a machine of the type described the combination including a fixed recording head, a movable carriage, a rotatable record supporting spindle mounted on said carriage, a marking device supported for movement with respect to a chart, means for causing movement of saidmark- 40 saidspindle.

erated by said supportingmeans for moving the marking device in timed relation with said support, said marking device serving to indicate the position of the recording head on the record tablet, andmeans at the sound recording device and connected to the marking device for operating the marking device at will. I

12. In a machine of the type described, the combination including means for supporting and rotating a record tablet, a sound recording device positioned to engage the record tablet to impress a sound record thereon, means for effecting relative movement between both of said means, a marking device adapted to be situated remotely with respect to said previous elements, means for operating the marking device to indicate th instantaneous relative position between said recording device and the record tablet, and means operated by said means for effecting said relative movement to energize said last means.

13. In a machine of the type described, the combination including a fixed recording head, a movable carriage, a rotatable record supporting spindle mounted on said carriage, a marking device supported for movement with respect to a chart, means for causing movement of said marking device, and means including an energizing device operated by said splndle for energizing said ,last means once for each rotation of said spindle.

14. In a machine of the type described, the combination including a fixed recording head, a movable carriage, a rotatable record supporting spindle mounted on" said carriage, a marking device supported for movement with respect to a chart, means for causing movement of said marking device, and means operated by said spindle for energizing said last means so that the marking device is given one increment of movement for a predetermined plurality of revolutions of HENRY P. CLAUSEN.

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