US2336777A

US2336777A - Transcription system

Info

Publication number: US2336777A
Application number: US447539A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clausen Henry Peter
Original assignee: Gray Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Gray Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1942-06-18
Filing date: 1942-06-18
Publication date: 1943-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 1960-12-14

Description

Dec. 14, 1943. CLAUSEN TRANSCRIPTION SYSTEM Filed Jun; 18, 1942 oosvoatwn an: a um-max IN V EN TOR.

5 I? C/ausen QMJ- dQQ Patented Dec. 14, 1943 iCE 2,336,777 TRANSCRIPTION SYSTEM Henry Peter Clausen. White Plains. N.

signor to The Gray Hartford, Conn., a c

Y.. as-

Manufacturing Company, orporation of Connecticut Application June 18, 1942, Serial No. 447,539 Claims. (01. 179-100.2)

This invention relates to improvements in sound transcription systems of the type commonly employed for converting recorded dictated matter into audible sounds for use particularly in the typing thereof.

One object of this invention is to provide a system employing a sound reproducing machine and a sound recordingand reproducing monitoring machine operating in conjunction therewith so thatwhen the sound reproducing machine is stopped in the event the transcriber runs behind, the monitoring machine will automatically reproduce a predetermined amount of the record reproduced from the former machine immediately prior to the stopping thereof so that the transcriber will have a repetition of recorded matter which will permit her to catch up.

A further object of this invention is the provision in such a system of means for applying a signal of a particular frequency to the monitoring machine at the time the main machine is stopped which actuates a control device at the end of the reproduction from the monitoring machine for automatically starting the main machine from the point where it previously had stopped,

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of electro-mechanical controls actuated by the starting and stopping mechanism of the main machine for effecting the above and additional functions.

Other and more detailed objects of this invention will be apparent from the following disclosure thereof in connection with the attached drawing.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location of parts. all as will be fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing the single figure is a schematic and diagrammatic layout of the subject matter of this invention.

In the transcription of dictation records, it frequently happens that the transcriber, for one reason or another, falls behind the reproducing machine in her typing or transcribing of the matter recorded thereon. In that event with some machines it is necessary to stop them and readjust them so as to repeat the recorded matter a sufiicient distance back so that the transcriber may pick up the thread of dictation. This is a cumbersome time consuming operation which greatly interferes with eflicient transcription.

In accordance with this invention, the main reproducing machine is associated with an auxiliary monitoring machine capable of temporarily recording the dictation reproduced from the main machine and reproducing it when required. The reproduction from the temporary record is ar ranged to lag that of the main reproduction and the monitoring machine is interconnected with the starting and stopping mechanism of the main machine so that when it is stopped, matter previously reproduced by the main machine is again reproduced by the monitoring machine. As a further refinement of this invention, means is provided for applying a signal of a particular frequency upon the temporary record at the time the main machine is stopped which signal is used to actuate an automatic control for again starting the main machine at the end of the reproduction from the monitoring machine.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the main recording machine illustrated is of a particular type such as that illustrated in United States Patent No. 2,296,870, issued September 29, 1942. It will be at once apparent to those skilled in the art, however, as the description proceeds that the combination of the invention is independent of the particular type of main reproducing machine. The machine illustrated in part here, but in full in said patent, includes a carriage I which is capable of rectilinear motion along a suitable support. Journalled on the carriage is a vertical spindle 2 upon which the record 3 containing the dictation to be transcribed is mounted and to which it is keyed for rotation therewith. The record 3 may be a rigid self-supporting record of Wax, metal and the like or it may be of thin flexible material such as cellulose acetate. Mounted on the spindle i is a worm 4 which meshes with the threads of a shaft 5 journalled on the carriage I for rotation thereon and for axial movement with the carriage. The threaded shaft 5 is engageable by a. fixed nut 6 so that as the shaft revolves it is caused to slowly progress in an axial direction. The operation of these parts is accomplished by means of a power driven friction drive roller 7 engaging the under surface of the record 3. The roller 1 cooperates with an idle roller amounted on a lever l0 pivotally mounted at H. When the lever IO as shown, the record 3 is stationary even though the drive wheel 1 is revolving. In order to set the reproducing machine in operation, lever H3 is swung down so that the idle roller 8 frictionally clamps the record 3 against the revolving roller 1. The result is that the record 3 is caused to revolve carrying with it spindle 2 and worm 4. The rotation of the worm causes the shaft 5 to is in raised position ord at its innermost point.

revolve with the result that the carriage progresses as mentioned above. In the complete machine, nut 6 may be raised so that the carriage can be slid to the extreme right whereupon the stylus of the reproducing head 9 engages the rec- As reproduction progresses the record 3, while revolving, moves radially to the left so that at the end of the reproduction the stylus of the reproducing head is at the periphery of the record. The reproducing head 9 may be of any suitable type, such as electromagnet or the piezo electric crystal type.

At I2 is the starting and stopping control switch for the main reproducing machine, the fixed contact of which is grounded as shown. Its movable contact is connected by a wire I3 to one terminal of a slow release relay I4, the other terminal of which is connected to a suitably grounded current source. A switch I5 forms part of this relay and has its movable contact grounded as shown. Its fixed contact is connected by a wire I6 to the lever I0. When the lever is in raised position, as shown, it engages a fixed contact I! which is connected by a wire I8 to one terminal of a magnet I9 which when energized draws the lever I9 downward so that its roller 8 engages the record 3. In actual use the axis of lever I9 will be at right angles to the paper so that the axis of roller 8 is parallel to the axis of roller I as shown. The lever II] has been swung around, however, for simplicity in the diagrammatic illustration of the drawing. The other terminal of magnet I9 is connected to a suitably grounded current source. Lever I0 is so mounted and constructed that upon operation to either position it will remain there until operated to its other po-. sition.

At 29 is diagrammatically illustrated the auxiliary monitoring machine which is preferably and therefore illustrated as of the magnetic wire or tape type. It includes a pair of pulleys 2! and 22 mounted for rotation by a suitable power source, not shown. An endless wire or tape 23 of magnetic material passes around these pulleys and is driven as a belt. Machines of this type are known in various forms and full detail herein is not necessary therefore. One terminal of a recording head 24 is grounded and the other terminal is connected by a wire to the movable contact of a switch 25. by a wire 21 which connects to the output circuit wire 28 of a suitable amplifier 39 which in turn is connected to a grounded head phone or other sound reproducing device 29. The amplifier is preferably of the vacuum tube type, many suitable forms of which are well known. The input terminal of the amplifier 39 is: connected by a wire 3| to the movable contact of a switch 32 mounted upon an operating member 34 which is pivotally connected at 35 to the lever II). The lower fixed contact of switch 32 is connected by a wire 36 to one terminal of the grounded repro ducing head 3'! of the auxiliary or monitoring machine. The upper fixed contact of switch is connected by wire 33 to the grounded recording head 9.

The movable contact of switch 38, mounted on the operator 34, is connected to a grounded source of energy 39 for supplying a neutralizing current through wire 49 to the ground wipeout device II associated with the wire 23. Another switch 42 is provided having its movable contact mounted on the operator 34 and grounded as shown. The fixed contact of this switch is connected by a wire 43 to a slow release solenoid 26 the Its fixed contact is connected other terminal of which is connected to a suitable grounded current source. The plunger 44 of this solenoid operates the movable member of switch 25. On its upper end is pivotally mounted a small bellcrank lever 44 positioned to close a switch 46 in a manner to be described. The fixed contact of this switch is connected by wire 41 to the wire 3|. A suitably grounded source of alternating current I9 is connected to the movable contact of switch 46. When solenoid 26 is energized the plunger 44 moves upwardly but the bellcrank does not close switch 46 because it may pivot on the switch 24. When the solenoid 2B is deenergized its plunger descends slowly and at the proper point in its descent switch 46 is momentarily closed so that the signal source I0 is connected momentarily to the input of the amplifier 30 for a purpose to be described later.

At 48 is a grounded pickup device associated with the tape 23 and tuned or adjusted so as to respond to a signal of a particular and lim ted frequency. Th1s pickup device is connected to the input of another amplifier 49 which likewise may be and is preferably of the vacuum tube type. The output of this amplifier is connected to the wire I3 as shown.

The operation of this transcription system will now be set forth indetail. The transcriber operator places the record 3 to be transcribed on the main machine and adjusts it so that the reproducing head 9 is at the beginning of the record to be reproduced. The auxiliary machine 29 is set in operation by energizing its drive motor and allowed to run continuously during normal use. The transcriber adjusts her head set 29 and takes her position before a typewriter. When she is ready to start transcribing she momentarily closes the start switch I2. This completes a circuit in the obvious manner to the slow release relay I4 which closes the switch I5. The closing of switch I5 energizes the solenoid I9 in an obvious manner. Relay I4 is of the slow release type so that the magnet i9 will remain energized long enough to effect the downward positioning of lever III. This movement of lever I0 closes

switches

38 and 42 and closes switch 32 on its upper contact while breaking the connecting circuit at its lower contact.

Since the record 3 is gripped between the rollers I and 8 (roller 1 being revolved continuously by its motor) record 3 begins to revolve.

'The record thereon is converted by the reproducing head 9 into electrical currents which flow through wire 33, switch 92, the amplifier 39 and wire 28 to the head set 29 so that the transcriber hears the reproduction of the record.

The closing of switch 42 previously energized solenoid 26 so that switch 25 is closed and the bellcrank is above the movable contact of switch 46. Thus the output of amplifier 39 is also delivered from wire 28 through wire 2'! and switch 25 to the recorder 24. Thus the same record which is being heard in the head set 29 is being recorded on the tape 23. At this time switch 38 is also closed so that the neutralizing current from the source 39 is supplied to the wipeout device 4| to continuously neutralize previously recorded matter on the tape 23 so that the tape in reaching the recorder 24 is magnetically neutral.

Should the transcriber fall behind the reproduction of the main record. she may at any time and as required again momentarily close switch l2 to energize relay l4 and close switch 15. The closing of switch now completes a circuit through lever I El and the lower contact 52 to wire 51 and the magnet 50. The energiZatiOn of this magnet raises lever it] so that the main record 3 stops immediately. As another result of the movement of lever l0. switches 42 and 38 open while switch 32 closes on its lower contact. The opening of switch 42 deenergizes solenoid 26 so that its plunger slowly descends so as to first momentarily close switch 46. The closing of switch 45 supplies a signal of particular frequency through wire 41 to the input of amplifier 30 which in turn impresses it through Wires 28 and 27 and switch to the recording head 24 by means of which it is recorded on the tape 23. Just after the impression of the frequency signal on tape 23 switch 25 opens as the result of the final descent of plunger 44. These parts are so timed that almost immediately upon the stopping of the recording on the tape 23 from the main mashine the frequency signal is applied to the tape. The opening of switch 38 has, of course, deenergized the wipeout device. The closing of switch 32 on its lower contact causes the signal on the tape 23 to be picked up by the reproducing head 3! and supplied to the input of amplifier so that the transcriber now hears again the reproduction of a predetermined amount of the record last heard from the main record 3. The pickup device 3! may be positioned alon the tape 23.50 that the amount of matter repeated can be varied. The amount of this material is represented by that recorded on the portion of the wire extending from the recorder 24 to the pickup 37 at the moment of changing over. The operator may, therefore, pick up the reproduction at thepoint where she lost the thread and proceed with her transcription. At the end of this re-reproduction, the portion of the tape 23 upon which the frequency signal is impressed reaches the timed pickup device 48 supplying a signal to the input of amplifier 49 which is repeated from its input to wire l3 so that relay I4 is operated to close switch IS. The closing of switch l5 starts the main reproducing machine in the manner previously described so that reproduction from the main record 3 begins again. Of course, the shifting of

switches

32, 38 and 42 set up circuits as previously described so that a temporary record is again made on the monitoring machine of the new reproduction. At the end Of the transcription the momentary closing of switch l2 stops the main machine and if the operator is through for the time being the circuits for the motors driving the pulley I and the auxiliary machine may be opened.

From the above description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject matter of this invention may readily be embodied in other physical forms and I do not therefore desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure given for purposes of illustration but rather to the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. In a sound reproducing machine the combination including a main machine for converting a permanent sound record into audible sounds, an auxiliary recording and reproducing machine, means for connectin the main machine to said auxiliary machine so as to continuously reproduce thereon the record from the main machine, means for reproducing the record from said auxiliary machine and means for simultaneously stopping said main machine and rendering the reproducing means of said auxiliary machine operative.

2. In a system of the type described the combination comprising means for audibly reproducing a sound record from a permanent record tablet, a combined auxiliary sound recording and reproducing machine connected to said first machine whereby the record of the first machine is continuously recorded on the auxiliary machine during reproduction, means for starting and stopping said main machine and means actuated simultaneously therewith for reproducing the record on said auxiliary machine.

3. In a system of the type described the combination comprising means for audibly reproducing a sound record from a permanent record tablet, a combined auxiliary soundrecording and reproducing machine connected to said first ma chine whereb the record of the first machine is continuously recorded on the auxiliary machine during reproduction, means for startin and stopping said main machine, means actuated simultaneously therewith for reproducing the record on said auxiliary machine and means for applying a frequency signal to said auxiliary machine upon the stopping of said main machine.

4. In a system of the type described the combination comprising means for audibly reproducing a sound record from a permanent record tablet, a combined auxiliary sound recording and reproducing machine connected to said first machine whereby the record of the first machin is continuously recorded on the auxiliary machine during reproduction, means for starting and stopping said main machine, means actuated simultaneously therewith for reproducing the record on said auxiliary machine, means for applying a frequency signal to said auxiliary machine upon the stopping of said main machine and means actuated by th frequency signal on said auxiliary machine for starting the operation of said main machine upon completion of the reproduction from said auxiliary machine.

5. In a system of the type described the com bination comprising means for converting a permanent sound record into audible sounds, means for starting and stopping said first means. means for continuously recording the record of the main machine, means for audibly repr0duc ing the record of the recording machine, and means actuated by said starting and stopping means for conditioning said recording and reproducing means for recording and reproducing respectively.

6. In a system of the type. described the combination comprising means for converting a permanent sound record into audible sounds, means for starting and stopping said first means, means for recording from the record of the main machine, means for audibly reproducing the rerecorded record, means actuated by said starting and stopping means for conditioning said recording and reproducing means for recording upon starting said first means and for conditioning said recording and reproducing means for reproducing immediately upon stopping of said first means.

'7. In a system of the type described the com bination comprising means for converting a permanent sound record into audible sounds, means for starting and stopping said first means, means for recording and reproducing the record of the main machine, means actuated by said starting and stopping means for conditioning said recording and reproducing means for recording and for conditioning said recording and reproducing means for reproducing immediately upon stopping of said first means and means for applying a frequency signal to said recording and reproducing means upon the stoppage of said first means.

8. In a system of the type described the combination comprising means for converting a permanent sound record into audible sounds, means for starting and stopping said first means, means for recording and reproducing the record of the main machine, means actuated by said starting and stopping means for conditioning said recording and reproducing means for recording and for conditioning said recording and reproducing means for reproducing immediately upon stopping of said first means and means for applying a frequency signal to said recording and reproducing means upon the stoppage of said first means and means actuated by said frequency signal for operating said starting means to start said first means upon the completion of the reproduction of the record on said recording and reproducing means.

9. In a transcription system the combination comprising means including a pick-up device for converting a permanent record into electrical currents, a recording machine, an amplifier, means for starting and stopping said first means, a sound reproducing device and means including circuits actuated by said starting and stopping means for connecting said pick-up device to the input of said amplifier and said recording machine and said sound reproducing device to the output of said amplifier whereby the record of said first means is simultaneously reproduced audibly and recorded on said recording machine, and means also controlled by said starting and stopping means for energizing the sound reproducing device from said recording machine through said amplifier when said first means is stopped.

10. In a transcription system the combination comprising means including a pick-up device for converting a permanent record into electrical currents, a recording machine, an amplifier, means for starting and stopping said first means, a sound reproducing device and means including circuits actuated by said starting and stopping means for connecting said pick-up device to the input of said amplifier and said recording machine and said sound reproducing device to the output of said amplifier whereby the record of said first means is simultaneously reproduced audibly and recorded on said recording machine, means also controlled by said starting and stopping means for energizing the sound reproducing device from said recording machine through said amplifier when said first means is stopped, means for applying a signal to said recording machine at the time of stopping said first means. and means controlled by said signal for actuating said starting means to start said first means at the end of the recording on said recording machine.

HENRY PETER CLAUSEN.