US3020532A - Cuing apparatus - Google Patents

Cuing apparatus Download PDF

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US3020532A
US3020532A US694276A US69427657A US3020532A US 3020532 A US3020532 A US 3020532A US 694276 A US694276 A US 694276A US 69427657 A US69427657 A US 69427657A US 3020532 A US3020532 A US 3020532A
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control
script
display
voltage
relay
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US694276A
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Jr Hubert J Schlafly
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TELEPROMPTER CORP
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TELEPROMPTER CORP
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/222—Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment
    • H04N5/2222—Prompting

Definitions

  • This invention relates to cuing apparatus and more particularly to a cuing system controlling the synchronized presentation of a continuously moving script sheet at a plurality of remotely spaced locations.
  • each of a plurality of script display units includes a script sheet driven between supply and take-up rolls past a display station by a reversible motor. Discontinuities disposed lengthwise of the script sheets at the same points in the text thereon effect the generation of signals in each of the script display units which are used to keep the various units in step, so that all will display at any one time the same line of text.
  • One system for effecting such synchronism among a plurality of script display units is disclosed in my Patent No. 2,765,552. The present invention provides improved means to this end. I
  • FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of the components of a cuing system according to the invention including two script display units;
  • FIGS. 2a and 2b form a schematic diagram of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram of certain wave forms useful in explaining the operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 2a and 212;
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the interconnection of units according to the invention to provide a cuing system including up to six script display units
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the combination of two master control units according to the invention to provide a cuing system including up to four display units.
  • FIG. 1 a system control unit is generally indicated at 2 coupled by means of cables 3 with each of two script display units 4.
  • a hand operated control S and an over-riding hand control unit are also shown, connected by cables 12 and 14 respectively with the control unit 2.
  • a script sheet 16 is shown, bearing the text of a speaker, actor or the like. The script sheet is reversibly driven between supply and take-up spools or rolls within the display unit.
  • the hand control unit 10 includes the same speed control 13 and reversing switch 20 and, in addition, a switch S502 (FIG. 2a) by means 7 of which the hand control ti can be disabled, control of the system being thus seized by the operator of hand control 10.
  • the selector hand control unit 10 also includes a jack into which can be plugged a cablell terminating at a two position switch 13, arranged for foot operation, for example. This permits start-stop operation of the system at the speed set on speed control 18 of unit 10.
  • the control unit 2 includes the components necessary for synchronized operation of two display units.
  • the control unit 2 thus includes certain master control components, for the speed control and synchronizing functions of a system which may include two or more display units. It also includes two sets of components which may be identical. Each of these may be termed a set of display unit control components, each such set supplying the motor power, speed trim and subordinate synchronizing signals required by one display unit. Additional sets of such display unit control components may be provided in separate chassis, such chassis each advantageously including two such additionalsets, for connection by a cable to the unit 2 and to each other successively in order to permit synchronized operation in the system of a number of display units larger than two.
  • control unit 2 For control of such a system, which in a particular design may include as many as ten display units, there are provided in the control unit 2 certain operating controls in addition to the speed control 18 and reversing switch 20 of the hand control units 3 and 10 already referred to.
  • AC. power for the system is brought to a jack 5 on unit 2 through a cable 6 which includes a third conductor for connection to the building ground of the system ground, e.g. that of the chassis in all of the cable-interconnected units of the system.
  • the speed control and reversing switch of the hand controls 8 and 10 are .master controls which atiect all display units in'the system. Additional master controls are indicated in FIG. 1 at 814311, Slim and S103 on the front panel of unit 2.
  • S101 is an on-oif power switch for the entire system.
  • a panel lamp I161 indicates the position of the switch SIM and, more particularly, the existence of rectified negative bias voltage produced by unit 2 when switch S101 is closed and the unit is properly operating. I
  • S102 is a push button synchronizing relay release switch presently to be described.
  • S103 is a switch'controlling operation in all display units of lamps for illumination of the script sheet.
  • the control unit 2 also includes certain additional controls in duplicate, one for each of the two display units controlled by unit 2, these individual controls forming part of the two sets of identical display unit control components above referred to. To distinguish them, such identical components will hereinafter bear reference characters which are the same as to their units and tens digits, but different as to their hundreds digit.
  • switches S201 and S301 permit individual disconnection of the two display units 4 of FIG. 1 from the system shown in that figure, in the event of their malfunctioning, for example.
  • the connected or disconnected state of the individual units 4 is indicated at panel lamps I201 and I301, these lamps being lighted when their respective display units are disconnected by setting of the corresponding switches 82M and 8301 to the Off position, and also when the motion of the script sheets in those units respectively is temporarily halted during the periodic synchronizing operation presently to be described.
  • Switches S202 and S302 similarly each permit control, at one of the units of the lamps by means of which the script sheet at such unit is illuminated.
  • Controls and 308 are provided for operation of potentiometers which make fine adjustments in the speed of travel of the script sheets in the two display units.
  • Telephone jacks E204 and E304 may be provided to monitor with a meter the armature current of the script driving motors in the display units.
  • the electrical components of the control unit 2, display units 4 and hand controls 8 and 10 are indicated at correspondingly numbered dash line boxes.
  • the master control components of the control unit are those shown in FIG. 2a.
  • the sets of components to the left and right of the dash line AA are identical with each other, with the exception of transformer T201 and relay K201 which are not duplicated to the right of line AA.
  • Each such set provides, when connected to the components of FIG. 2a, the components necessary to synchronized operation of a display unit 4 in conjunction with another unit 4 connected to another such set which is in turn connected to the components of FIG. 2a.
  • the main power switch S101 controls the application of alternating current power, for example that of an ordinary 110 volt lighting circuit, to two condoctors 24 and 26.
  • conductors 24 and 26 supply power to a transformer T101. They also permit energization of a relay K101 upon closing of switch S502 (which is controlled by control 18 of FIG. 1), to shift control of the system from hand control unit to unit 10.
  • a further relay K102 providing for maintenance of proper synchronism among the display units upon reversal of script travel is energized upon closing of the reversing switch S401 or S501, according as switch S502 is open or closed.
  • Switches S401 and S501 are coupled to the push buttons 20 of control units 8 and in FIG. 1 respectively.
  • Master switch S103 for the script lamps in the display unit is also connected to the conductor 2-1, the lamp circuits of the display units being connected between conductors 24 and 26 through this switch.
  • conductors 24- and 26 energize transformers T201 and T301. These supply power, in a manner presently to be described, to the armatures of the driving motors 28 in the two display units 4 connected to control unit 2. Conductors 24 and 26 also energize a transformer T202 from which separate rectified direct current voltages are derived for the field windings 29 of motors 23.
  • a full wave rectifier cornprising diodes Z101 and Z102 connected to the secondary of transformer T101 generates a rectified positive 8+ voltage on a conductor 32, filtered at capacitor C101.
  • a second pair of d odes Z103 and Z104 develops a direct current voltage on the cathode of a vacuum diode V101A. This voltage is unfiltered and consequently has the shape indicated at wave form A in FIG. 3.
  • a third combination of diodes Z105, Z106, oppositely poled, develops at a conductor 55 a rectified negative B voltage, filtered at capacitor C102.
  • Lamp 1101 connected from conductor 36 to ground indicates when lighted the existence of negative bias voltage at conductor 30.
  • a capacitor C104 is connected in series with a resistor R105 between conductor 32 and ground, and the vacuum diode V101A has its anode connected to the junction of C104 and R105 and its cathode connected to ground through a resistor R102, small in comparison to R105.
  • Capacitor C10 charges exponentially toward the voltage of conductor 32 but is discharged at twice the power line frequency when the cathode of V101A is lowered toward the end of each half cycle of rectification below the voltage at the anode V101A. Consequently the anode of V101A exhibits a substantially sawtooth voltage wave form as indicated in full lines at B in FIG. 3, wherein wave form A is reproduced in dash lines for comparison.
  • This saw-tooth component is coupled through capacitor C103 to the grid of a cathode follower-connected triode V1013 where it is mixed with a DC. voltage applied to the control grid of V1018 from a potentiometer R401 in the hand control 8 or, alternatively, from a potentiometer R501 in hand control 10.
  • the taps on R401 and R501 are mechanically coupled to the speed control knobs 18 of hand controls 8 and 10 of FIG. 1 respectively.
  • R401 and R501 are otentiometers in a voltage dividing circuit extending via R101 and R109 between conductors 32 and 36, one or the other of R401 and R501 being inserted in this voltage divider accordingly as relay K101 is de-energized or energized.
  • the range of volt-ages available at the taps of R401 and R501 is adjustable at the potentiometer-connected resistance R101.
  • One or the other of the taps is connected into the grid circuit of V1018 through contacts of relay K101.
  • the voltage at the cathode of V101B is a composite one, comprising a substantially saw-toothed component as shown at wave form B of FIG. 3, superimposed on a varying DC. level determined by the setting of R401 or R501.
  • This composite voltage is employed to control the ignition phase in two pairs of grid controlled gas rectifier tubes V201, V202 and V301, V302 which supply armature current from transformers T201 and T301 respectively to the script sheet drive motors 28 in the two display units 4 shown in FIG. 2b.
  • the range of voltages available at the taps of R401 and R501 is set at R101 so that, for a range of positions of those taps beginning at the ends of R401 and R501 adjacent R109, the voltage on the cathode of V101B produces no conduction in V201, V202 and V301, V302. Under these conditions the script sheets are stationary in the display units.
  • the voltage divider circuit including R101 and R109 is opened, returning the grid of the V101B to the voltage of conductor 36. This cuts oil V101B and holds tubes V201, V202 and V301, V302 entirely nonconducting, so that the script sheet will not move in any of the display units.
  • the cathode of V1013 is connected to ground through identical voltage dividing circuits in parallel, one for each of the display units 4.
  • One of these circuits includes resistors R211 and R209 and a speed control trim potentiometer R200 whose ungrounded end is at the filtered positive direct current voltage applied to conductor 38 by rectifiers Z201 and Z202 for energization of the field circuit 29 of the motor 28 in the display unit associated with tubes V201, V202.
  • a parallel resistance capacity combination R201, C201 leads from the junction of R211 and R209 to the grids of the associated thyratrons V201, V202 through decoupling resistors R202 and R203.
  • Control of the speed of motors 28 in the display units is effected by control of the voltage at the grids of the thyratrons pairs V201, V202 and V301 and V302. This voltage is for each thyratron pair of mixture of four component factors:
  • the saw-toothed component of voltage permits the phase at which the tubes V201, V202 and V301, V302 begin to conduct to be controlled or set to any point within the positive half cycle of the A.C. voltage applied by transformers T201 and T301 to the anodes of those tubes. This is illustrated for one of these tubes at wave form C in FIG. 3, where the A.C. Voltage at the thyratron plate is indicated at 40, the corresponding minimum grid ignition voltage at 42, and the mixed saw-tooth and DC. voltage 0 from V101B at 44 and 44 for two values of DC. component. For a grid voltage 44 the conduction phase amounts to almost 90 of the A.C. cycle, whereas for grid voltage 44' it amounts to perhaps 45.
  • the phase at which conduction is initiated is the same for both thyratrons of each pair and this phase controls the amount of current supplied to the motor armature, supply being made through a choke L201 and across capacitor C202B for one display unit 4.
  • the speed of motors 28 in both display units is basically controlled by that one of potentiometers R401 and R501 which, according to the conditionof overriding switch 22 (S502) in hand control and according to the consequent condition of relay K101, is connected to the grid of V1013.
  • the trimming potentiometers R208 and R308 are supplied. The effect of these potentiometers is to change the DC. level at the grids of the associated thyratrons as necessary to compensate for any inequalities.
  • the RC. circuits R201, C201 and R301, C301 form each a regenerative feed-back circuit which produces a very high degree of regulation in motor speed in the face of changes in motor load and of the armature current drawn in consequence thereof.
  • capacitor C201 acquires an increasing charge, with the terminal thereof adjacent the thyratron grids at positive polarity with respect to the opposite terminal, this charge being the result of the increased ionization produced in the tube by the heavier current flowing therein.
  • This charge raises the net voltage of the combined sawtooth and DC. Wave form, and its appearance at the grid of its associated thyratrons causes conduction to begin earlier in those tubes. Consequently the power delivered to the motor is increased, as is required to maintain its speed constant in spite of the greater mechanical load applied thereto.
  • the charge on capacitor C201 leaks off in part between the successive one-half cycles of the power line frequency associated with conduction in the two thyratron tubes and this rate of discharge can be controlled by adjustment of potentiometer R201, through which the discharge takes place. .By adjustment of this potentiometer the rate of discharge can be so set that the drive motor in the display unit will maintain substantially constant speed over a very wide range of armature currents.
  • the positive ion grid current which flows during conduction in the thyratrons V201 and V301 charges condenser C201 to an extent dependent upon and varying directly with average conduction in those tubes.
  • This charge raising the potential of the terminal of capacitor C201 adjacent the thyratron grids with respect to the opposite terminal, raises the grid potential in and causes earlier conduction of the thyratrons to supply more armature current as demanded by increased load'on the motor 28.
  • transformer T202 and its separate full wave rectifier circuits Z201, Z202 and Z301, Z302 for the field windings 29 in the two display units shown. Connection to the field windings is made from the rectifiers at conductor 38 in one case and at conductor 46 in the other, through the contacts of reversing relay K201.
  • This relay includes contacts for both of the display units controllable from control unit 2.
  • the mid-tap of the secondary on transformer T202 is grounded at the control unit chassis, as is also the case with transformer T101.
  • relay K201 for each of the display units is connected to ground to provide a return path for the field circuit of the associated display circuit, whatever the state of energization of relay K201 and whatever the consequent direction of current flow through the field windings.
  • One terminal of the armature in motors 28 is also connected, via cables 3 to control unit ground in view of the connection to such ground of the mid-tap on the secondary windings of transformers T201 and T301.
  • This control unit ground potential is extended to all units of system by the cables which connect them to unit 2.
  • Conductor 38 with its rectified voltage is extended into FIG. 2a to apply voltage to the actuating coil of a relay K103 forming part of the synchronizing means whereby the script sheets of the units of the system are periodically brought back into step, at such frequency in practice that the maximum departure from synchronism is negligible.
  • the circuit for energization of relay K103 is completed when tube V102, in series therewith, is brought into conduction in a manner presently to he explained.
  • synchronism is periodically established among all the display units connected to the control unit 2.
  • a conductor 50 is periodically connected to the common system ground by a discontinuity in the script sheet.
  • conductor 50 in each display unit connects with a brush 52 which makes contact with a metallic idler roller 54 at ground potential, and over which the script sheet passes, every time a discontinuity in the form of a hole in the script sheet passes under the brush.
  • I Brush 52 may be referred to as a synchronizing contact.
  • the discontinuities may, however, be of other types.
  • control unit 2 includes for each of the di play units 4 directly controlled by it a sync control grid controlled gas discharge tube,
  • Conductor 50 of one display unit connects via the cable 3 of that display unit with a conductor 48 in unit 2.
  • Conductor 48 connects, through a contact of the display unit disconnecting switch, S201, to one end of a resistor R212 the other end of which connects, through a normally closed contact 202-3 of relay K202, with a conductor 56. All contacts of the switches S201 and S301 are closed when those switches are positioned effectively to connect their display units 4 to the control unit 2.
  • Conductor 56 leads through a normally closed contact 103-2 of relay K203 (FIG. 2a) to the junction of resistors R113 and R104 which are connected in series between conductor as and ground. These resistors are proportioned to hold conductor 56 at cut-cit potential for tube V203 when contact 1034 is closed.
  • the grid of tube V102 is connected to the same negative bias at the junction of R113 and R104 through a resistor R106 of value large compared with R2112. This grid is moreover additionally connected through a conductor 58 and thence through switch $2011 to the end of R212 adjacent conductor 56. The opposite end of R212, to which conductor 40 connects, leads to the grid of V203 through a current limiting resistor R206.
  • Conductors S6 and 58 also connect, through contact 302-3 of relay K302 and through switch S301 respectively to the end of a resistor R312 of the same value as R212 and forming part of an identical synchronizing circuit for the right hand display unit 4 of FIG. 2b.
  • the display unit first to ground its contact 52 raises to zero bias the grid of its sync control tube, V203 or V303, and so brings that tube into conduction, it being noted that the actuating coils of relays K202 and K302 in the plate circuits of tubes V203 and V303 connect through contacts of switches S201 and S301 with the positive voltage conductors 33 and 46 respectively.
  • Energization of relay K202 closes normally open contact 202-1 thereon thus lighting lamp 1201 to signify that the script in the left hand unit has come to a stop, as will presently be explained.
  • a holding circuit for K202 is established through V203 by grounding of the grid of V203 through normally open contact 202-2, now closed. Opening of normally closed contact 202-3 opens the connection previously provided by relay K202, under control of the left hand display unit 4, between the negative bias conductor 56 and conductor 58.
  • energization of relay K202 opens at normally closed contact 2024 thereof the armature circuit for motor 23 in the associated display unit 4, bringing the script in that display unit to a stop.
  • Negative bias voltage is still applied however from conductor 56 to conductor 50 and hence to the grid f tube V102 through the contact 302-3 of the other display unit 4 of FIG. 2b which has not grounded its synchro nizing contact 52 at a synchronizing discontinuity in the script sheet therein.
  • this second display unit grounds its contact 52, V303 will be brought into conduction, stopping the script motion in the associated display unit and opening the connection between conductors 56 and 50 provided by relay K302 when de-energized.
  • tube V102 will be held biased off until the synchronizing contact 52 has been grounded by a script sheet discontinuity in all such additional display units.
  • all display units have grounded their contacts 52 and have consequently effected energizetion of their associated relays corresponding to relays K202 and K302 in FIG. 2b
  • the grid conductor 58 to tube V102 will be disconnected from conductor 56 and will instead be returned to ground potential through the paralleled resistors R212, R312 and corresponding resistors of additional sets of display unit control components in the system, if any. Since these resistors are small compared to resistor 106. and since they are. in parallel, the grid of tube V102 will be brought substantially to ground potential and the tube will conduct, producing energization of relay K103.
  • Opening of normally closed contact 103-1 of relay K103 disconnects from ground a conductor 60 in the common cathode circuit of sync control tubes V203, V303 and corresponding tubes in any additional sets of display unit control components which with their display units may be connected in the system.
  • This cuts off conduction in the sync control tubes and de-energizes synchronizing relays K202, K302 and corresponding additional relays, if any, and hence reactivates the motors 28 in the script display units.
  • the script sheets accordingly start moving again in all display units, in the same direction as before, and with the same line of text identically positioned in all at the viewing apertures in the display units.
  • Condenser C108 between ground and the grid of V102 prevents undesired conduction in that tube due to transients or AC.
  • pickup, and rectifiers Z203 and Z303 across the coils of relays K202, K302 act as are suppressors.
  • switches S401 and S501 When open these switches, or rather the one thereof eifectively placed in circuit by the position of switch S502 and the consequent condition of relay K101, places the voltage of conductors 24 and 26 across lamp 1401 or 1501 to indicate that the circuit of control unit 2 is set for forward direction of script travel.
  • An open condition of switches S401 and S501 correspondingly leaves relays K102 and K201 de-energized. Closing of the operative one of switches S401 and S501 instead short circuits lamp 140101" i501 and energizes relays K102 and K201.
  • Relay K102 has a set of single pole double throw contacts, one normally closed and one normally open, the movable contact blade of the set connecting to the plate of V102. Each of the fixed contacts connects to ground through a large capacitor, C or C106, shunted by a bleeder resistor. Whenever the condition of energization of relay K102 is changed upon change in direction of script travel, the plate of V102 is shifted to be connected to ground through that one of capacitors C105 and C106 which has been allowed to discharge through its bleeder resistor R111 or R112 during the interval of script travel preceding such reversal.
  • a manually operable synchronizing release switch S102 spring-loaded to open position, may be provided in parallel with V102. This switch, when closed, energizes K103, releasing all synchronizing relays such as K203 or K303 which may have been operated. For example, when making script corrections, the script sheets may be moved in a dissimilar manner in the various display units so that synchronizing relays such as K203 or K303 are energized in some units 4 while the corresponding relays in other units 4 are not so energized.
  • FIG. 2a there is shown in the master or ,selector hand control unit 10 a two-conductor jack 9' inserted in series with potentiometer R501.
  • the contacts of this jack are normally closed to complete the circuit for potentiometer R501 between conductors 32 and 36.
  • the foot switch 13 of FIG. 1 Upon insertion into the jack of a plug at the endof cable 11 the foot switch 13 of FIG. 1 is inserted electrically into this circuit to permit start-stop operation of the systemfrom that foot switch, as already described. 7
  • the signals passing between the master control components of box 2 in FIG. 2a and the two sets of display unit control components of box 2 in FIG. 2b are carried by six conductors. These comprise a conductor 68 between switch S401 or S501 and the actuating coil of relay K201, a conductor 70' between the cathode of V101b and the grid circuits of V201, V202 and V301, V302, a conductor 72 in series with themaster script light switch S103, and the conductors 60, 56 and 58 already discussed.
  • the A.C. supply voltage is passed from FIG. 2a to FIG. 2b by conductors 24 and 26 and, in the particular embodiment illustrated a rectified supply voltage for the sync release tube V102 is passed from FIG. 2b to FIG. 2a by a conductor 38.
  • the signalcarrying conductors 68, 70, 72, 60, 56 and 58, a conductor 74 establishing at system ground potential the chassis grounds of FIGS. 2a and 2b and also the A.C. power conductors 24 and 26 required for energization of such a duplication of the components of box 2 in FIG. 2b are brought out to a connector or socket 76 shown in FIG. 2b.
  • a cable with a suitable plug may be fitted into connector 76 to terminate in a chassis (not shown in FIG. 2a, 2b) duplicating the components of box 2 in FIG.
  • duplicating the components of box 2 in FIG. 2b itself includes a socket the pins or conductors of which are in parallel with those of the cable last mentioned, the conductors 68, 70, 72, 74, 60, 56, 58, 24 and 26 of FIGS. 21: and 2b may be extended from that chassis through a further cable to still another chassis duplicating a second time the components of box 2 in FIG. 2b, and so on up to the limit of load which the master control components of FIG. 2a can sustain.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic showing of a cuing system according to the invention capable of effecting synchronizcd operation of as many as six display units. Five are there shown.
  • a control unit is shown at 2, with cables 3 connecting to two display units 4 and with cables I2 and 14 connecting to control units 8 and 10 in the same manner as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the control unit 2 of FIG. 4 is indicated at its right-hand side as including a socket '76 as above mentioned, into which there fits a plug 73 whose cable 80 connects into achassis 82 which duplicates the components shown within box 2 in FIG. 2b.
  • This unit 82 which may be termed a cuing control unit to distinguish it from the complete control unit 2, is electrically identical with the components within box 2 in FIG.
  • Going control unit 82 includes a socket 76 into which fits the plug 78 of another cable 80 terminating at a second cuing control unit 82, shown in FIG. 4 as controlling a single display unit 4.
  • control unit 2 Whenever a control unit 2 is to function for the overall control of cuing system, AC. power is fed to it at its jack 5, and its master and display unit control components are interconnected via the cable 88 as above described. This is the arrangement illustrated for the single control unit 2 of FIG. 4.
  • the upper control unit 2 is serving to operate the system there illustrated, and its master and display unit control components are accordingly interconnected by a plugging of the cable 88 of that unit into connector 84 of that unit.
  • the lower control unit 2 of FIG. 5 is however being used only for its display unit control components. Consequently that unit receives no power at its power input jack 5, and its cable 88 instead of being connected to the connector 84 of its own master control components, is connected to the connector 7 6 of the upper control unit 2.
  • the sets of display unit control components need not be provided in pairs, either in the unit 2 of FIG. 211 or in the unit 82 of FIG. 4. Instead, they may be assembled in separate units including only those components to the left or right of the line AA within box 2 in FIG. 2b, such a chassis however including a source of field excitation voltage such as transformer T262 and one of the rectifier combinations Z201, Z202 or Z301, Z302 and also a reversing relay such as K201 with one of the sets of contacts thereof.
  • a source of field excitation voltage such as transformer T262 and one of the rectifier combinations Z201, Z202 or Z301, Z302
  • K201 reversing relay
  • Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, a conductor, and a switch operable upon passage of each of said discontinuities past a location fixed with reference to said coupling means, said control means including for each of said display means an electron discharge tube controlling, according to its state of conduction, the application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means, and means responsive to operation of the associated one of said switches to change the state of conduction in the associated one of said tubes, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device controlling, according to its state of conduction, the state of conduction in said tubes, and means to change the state of conduction in said device responsive to change in the state of conduction in all of said tubes by operation of their respective switches.
  • Cning apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, a conductor, a
  • said control means including for each of said display means an electron discharge tube controlling, according to its state of conduction, the application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means, and means responsive to operation of the associated one of said switches to change the state of conduction in the associated one of said tubes, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device cont-rolling, according to its state of con duction, the state of conduction in said tubes, means to change the state of conduction in said device responsive to change in the state of conduction in all of said tubes by operation of their respective switches, and means to hold said device in its state of conduction so changed so long as any of said switches is operated.
  • Cning apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, a conductor, and a switch operable upon passage of each of said discontinuities past a location fixed with reference to said coupling means, said control means including for each of said dis play means an electron discharge tube permitting, when non-conducting, application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means, and means responsive to operation of the associated one of said switches to bring said tube into conduction, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device permitting, when non-conducting, conduction in said tubes, and means responsive to conduction in all of said tubes to establish conduction in said device.
  • Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and 'a control means, each of said display means including a motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, a conductor, a switch operable upon passage of each of said discontinuities past a location fixed with reference to said coupling means, said control means including for each of said display means an electron discharge tube permitting, when nonconducting, application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means, and means responsive to operation of the associated one of said switches to bring said tube into conduction, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device permitting, when non-conducting, conduction in said tubes, means responsive to conduction in all of said tubes to establish conduction in said device, and means responsive to conduction in said device to prevent conduction in said tubes so long as any of said switches is operated.
  • Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, a conductor, and means to connect said conductor to a common point of fixed potential upon passage of each of a plurality of discontinuities in said script sheet past a display station, said control means including for each of said display means an electron discharge tube effecting, when nonconducting, application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means, and means responsive to connection of said conductor to said point of fixed potential to bring said tube into conduction, said control means further including for said display means collectively a source of bias voltage negative with respect to said fixed potential, and an electron discharge device permitting, when non-conducting, conduction in said tubes and application of said bias voltage to said tube individually. and to said device through parallel circuits completed one for each of said tubes when non-conducting, whereby said device is rendered conducting in response to conduction in all of said tubes
  • Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a controlmeans, each of said display means including a motor coupled to a script sheet,a conductor, and means to connect said conductor to a com mon point of fixed potential upon passage of each of a plurality of discontinuities in said script sheet past a display station, said control means including for each-of said display means an electron discharge tube having cathode, anode and control electrodes, and means responsive to connection of said conductor to said point of fixed potential to bring said tube into conduction, said control means further including, for said display means collectively, a source of bias voltage negative with respect to said fixed potential, and an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control electrodes, each of said tubes, when non-conducting, effecting application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means and permitting connection of said negative bias voltage through a separate circuit to the control electrode of said electron discharge device, said discharge device permitting, ,when non-conducting, conduction in said tubes and connection of said source of negative
  • Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means each including a motor coupled to a script sheet, a conductor, and means to connect said conductor to' a common point of fixed potential upon passage of each of a plurality of discontinuities in said script sheet past a display station, said apparatus further comprising a control means including for each of said'display means an electron discharge tube having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a relay actuable upon conduction in said tube, said relay controlling application of power to said drive motor, a resistor in the grid circuit of said tube, means connecting said conductor to the grid side of said resistor, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a source of cut off bias voltage for said device and tubes negative with respect to said fixed potential, a largeresistor connecting the control grid of said device to said source, a relay actuable upon conduction in said device, firstconducting means connecting the control grid of said device to the ends of all
  • Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means each including a motor coupled to a script sheet, a conductonand means to connect said conductor to a common point of fixed potential upon passage of each of a plurality of discontinuities in said script sheet past a display station, said apparatus further comprising a control means including for each of said display means an electron discharge tube having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a relay actuable upon conduction in-saicl tube, said relay controlling application of power to said drive motor, a resistor in the grid circuit of said tube, means connecting said conductor to the grid side of said resistor, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a source of cut ofi bias voltage for said device and tubes negativewith respect to said fixed potential, a large resistor connecting the control grid of said device to said source, a relay actuable upon conduction in said device,
  • first conducting means connecting the control grid of said device to the ends of all of said first-named resistors remote from the grid circuits of said tubes, second conducting means connecting said source to said first conducting means through contacts on said last-named relay and through contacts on all of said first-named relays, and third conducting means completing the external anodecathode paths of said tubes through contacts of said lastnamed relay.
  • a cuing system comprising a plurality of display means and a control means, each of said display means including a direct current motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, said control means including for each of said display means a grid controlled rectifier connected between a source of voltage alternating with respect to a point of fixed poten* tial and one end of a driving circuit of said motor the other end of which connects to said point of fixed potential, said control means further including means to superimpose on a variable voltage unidirectional with respect to said fixed potential a substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage having a repetition rate of twice the frequency of said alternating voltage, and means to apply a voltage representative of the sum of said saw-tooth and unidirectional voltages between the control grids of said rectifiers and said point of fixed potential.
  • a cuing, system comprising a pluralityof display means and a control means, each of said'display means including a direct current motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said sheet to said motor, said control means including for each of said display means a grid controlled rectifier connected between a source ofvoltage alternating with respect to a point of fixed potential and one end of a driving circuit of said motor the other end of which is connected to said point of fixed potential, a parallel resistance-capacity circuit in series with the control grid of said rectifier, and a voltage divider circuit into which said parallel circuit is tapped, said control means further including means to superimpose on a variable voltage unidirectional with respect to said fixed potential a substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage having a repeti tion rate of twice the frequency of said alternating voltage, and means to apply across said voltage divider circuits a voltage representative of the sum of said saw-tooth and unidirectional voltages.
  • a cuing system comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a' direct current motor, said control means including means to generate from an alternating current voltage a substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage having a repetition rate of twice the frequency of said alternating voltage and means to superimpose said saw-tooth voltage on a voltage of adjustable value and fixed polarity with respect to a point of fixed potential, said control means further including for each of said display means a grid controlled gas discharge tube having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, said tube having its anodecathodejpath connected between a source of alternating current potential of said frequency and one end of a driving circuit for said motor the other end of which is connected to said point of fixed potential, said control means further including for each of said display means a parallel combination of resistance and capacity connected in series with the control grid circuit of said'tube, and
  • a cuing system comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a direct current motor, said control means including means to generate from an alternating current voltage a' substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage having a repetition rate of twice the frequency of said alternating voltage and means to superimpose said sawtooth voltage on a voltage of adjustable value and fixed polarity with respect to a point of fixed potential, said control means further including for each of said display means a grid controlled gas discharge tube having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, said tube having its anode-cathode path connected between a source of alternating current potential of said frequency and one end oi the armature circuit of said motor the other end of said armature circuit connecting to said point of fixed potential, said control means further including for each of said display means a parallel combination of resistance and capacity connected in series with the control grid circuit of said tube, and means to apply the sum of said saw-tooth and variable direct current voltages between the ends of said parallel circuits remote from said control grid
  • a cuing system comprising a control unit and a plurality of script display units, each of said display units including a reversible script driving motor adapted to be coupled to a script sheet and means to develop a signal at spaced points along said sheet as moved by said motor past a display station, said control unit including in each of said display units a pair of grid controlled gas discharge rectifier tubes driven in opposite phase on their plates from a source of alternating current potential, said tubes having their anode-cathode paths connected in parallel in the armature circuit of one of said motors, the tubes of each of said pairs having in a common grid circuit a parallel combination of resistance and capacity, said control circuit including means to apply between the ends of said parallel circuits remote from the grids of said rectifier pairs and a point of fixed potential a substantially sawtooth voltage of twice the frequency of said alternating current potential superimposed on an adjustable direct current voltage.
  • a cuing system comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, said display means including each a script driving motor coupled to a script sheet, a conductor, and means to connect said conductor to a point of common fixed potential upon passage past a display station of each of a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise of said sheet, said control means including for each of said display units an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a relay actuable upon conduction in said device, and a resistor connected between said conductor and one of a first pair of contacts of said relay closed for the non-conducting condition of said device, said relay including further contacts which for the non-conducting condition of said device complete the energizing circuit of said motor, said conductor leading to the grid circuit of said device, said control means further including an electron tube having anode, cathode and control electrodes, a relay actuable upon conductoin in said tube, a source of cut off bias voltage for said devices and tube negative with respect to said
  • a cuing system comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, said display means including each a script driving motor coupled to a script sheet, a conductor, and means to connect said conductor to a point of common fixed potential upon passage past ra display station of each of a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise of said sheet, said control means iniii eluding for each of said display means an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a relay energizable upon conduction in said device, and a resistor connected between said conductor and one of a first pair of normally closed contacts of said relay, said relay including further normally closed contacts in the energizing current of said motor, said conductor leading to the grid circuit of said device, said control means further including an electron tube having anode, cathode and control electrodes, a relay energizable upon conduction in said tube, a source of cut off bias voltage for said devices and tube negative with respect to said fixed potential,
  • Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means therefor, each of said display means including a motor for driving past a display station a script sheet having discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof and a switch actuable by said discontinuities successively, said control means comprising an electron discharge tube having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a source of cut off bias voltage, means including a resistor connecting the control grid of said tube to said source, a relay actuable upon conduction in said tube to open two pairs of contacts of said relay, said apparatus further comprising, for each of said units, an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a relay actuable in response to conduction in said device to open two pairs of contacts of such relay of which one is in the energizing circuit of said motor, the control grid of said device being connected to said source through a resistor smaller than said first-named resistor and through the other of said last and one of said first named pairs of contacts, means responsive to actuation of
  • a cuing system comprising a plurality of script display units each including an electric motor coupled to a script sheet and means to develop a signal at spaced points along said script sheet as moved by said motor past a display station, said cuing system further comprising a control unit including for each of said display units two grid controlled gas rectifiers connected in the armature circuit of said motor and driven in opposite phase on their plates from a source of alternating current voltage, a parallel resistance-capacity circuit in the common grid circuit of said rectifiers, a relay through a first pair of normally closed contacts of which passes the armature circuit of said motor, a gas triode having its plate-cathode conduction path in series with the activating coil of said relay, a resistor in the grid circuit of said triode, means to apply said signals as unbiasing signals between said resistor and the control grid of said triode, said control unit further including for said display units collectively means to generate, on a direct current voltage of variable value, a substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage at twice the frequency of said alternating current
  • a cuing system comprising a plurality of script display units each including an electric motor coupled to a, script sheet "and means to develop a signal at spaced points along said script sheet as moved by said motor past a display station, said cuing system further comprising a control unit including for each of said display units two grid controlled gas rectifiers connected in the armature circuit of said motor and driven in opposite phase on their plates from a source of alternating current voltage, a parallel resistance-capacity circuit in the common grid circuit of said rectifiers, a relay through a first pair of normally closed contacts of which passes the armature circuit of said motor, a gas triode having its plate-cathode conduction path in series with the actuating coil of said relay, a resistor in the grid circuit of said triode, means to apply said signals as unbiasing signals between said resistor and the control grid of said triode, said control unit further including for said display units collectively means to generate, on a direct current voltage of variable value, a substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage at twice the frequency of said

Description

1962 H. J. SCHLAFLY, JR 3,020,532
CUING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 4, 1957 mOnm NONm ATTORNEYS Feb. 6, 1962 H. J. SCHLAFLY, JR 3,020,532
CUING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 13 2 CJ;ER%% L%LY JR clos 005 y I ATTORNEYS Feb. 6, 1962 H. J. SCHLAFLY, JR 3,020,532
CUING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 4, 1957 ..ll llllllllllillllll B528 025/ Mmfimmo mam QNQE L mll HUBERT J. SCHLAFLY, JR. I MM M5m- 1 1 N V EN TOR.
ATTORNEYS Ni. u
1962 H. J. SCHLAFLY, JR 3,020,532
CUING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4; 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. HUB ERT J. SCHLAFLY,JR.
BY P w, MB -1+ AZTTORNE s United States Patent 3,020,532 CUING APPARATUS I Hubert J. Schlafly, Jr., Hollis, N.Y., assignor to Teleprompter Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 694,276 18 Claims. (Cl. 340-334) This invention relates to cuing apparatus and more particularly to a cuing system controlling the synchronized presentation of a continuously moving script sheet at a plurality of remotely spaced locations. In a cuing system according to the invention, each of a plurality of script display units includes a script sheet driven between supply and take-up rolls past a display station by a reversible motor. Discontinuities disposed lengthwise of the script sheets at the same points in the text thereon effect the generation of signals in each of the script display units which are used to keep the various units in step, so that all will display at any one time the same line of text. One system for effecting such synchronism among a plurality of script display units is disclosed in my Patent No. 2,765,552. The present invention provides improved means to this end. I
It further provides means whereby the speeds of the driving motors in all display units may be closely matched and simultaneously varied over a wide range, and means for regulating the speed of the individual display units despite variations in load imposed by them on their respective drive motors.
The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of the components of a cuing system according to the invention including two script display units;
FIGS. 2a and 2b form a schematic diagram of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram of certain wave forms useful in explaining the operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 2a and 212;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the interconnection of units according to the invention to provide a cuing system including up to six script display units, and p FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the combination of two master control units according to the invention to provide a cuing system including up to four display units.
In FIG. 1 a system control unit is generally indicated at 2 coupled by means of cables 3 with each of two script display units 4. A hand operated control S and an over-riding hand control unit are also shown, connected by cables 12 and 14 respectively with the control unit 2. In each of the display units 4 a script sheet 16 is shown, bearing the text of a speaker, actor or the like. The script sheet is reversibly driven between supply and take-up spools or rolls within the display unit. Electrical discontinuities are provided periodically lengthwise of the script sheets 16, conveniently one in the same position on each panel thereof, the script sheets being advantageously manufactured in fan-folded form with interleaved carbon and copy sheets so that a plurality of sheets 16 may be produced in a single typewriting operaice in the speed of advance of the script sheet of all display units, and a two position push button switch 20 permits simultaneous reversal of the direction of travel of the sheet at all display units. The hand control unit 10 includes the same speed control 13 and reversing switch 20 and, in addition, a switch S502 (FIG. 2a) by means 7 of which the hand control ti can be disabled, control of the system being thus seized by the operator of hand control 10. The selector hand control unit 10 also includes a jack into which can be plugged a cablell terminating at a two position switch 13, arranged for foot operation, for example. This permits start-stop operation of the system at the speed set on speed control 18 of unit 10.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the control unit 2, with one of the controls 8 and 10, includes the components necessary for synchronized operation of two display units. The control unit 2 thus includes certain master control components, for the speed control and synchronizing functions of a system which may include two or more display units. It also includes two sets of components which may be identical. Each of these may be termed a set of display unit control components, each such set supplying the motor power, speed trim and subordinate synchronizing signals required by one display unit. Additional sets of such display unit control components may be provided in separate chassis, such chassis each advantageously including two such additionalsets, for connection by a cable to the unit 2 and to each other successively in order to permit synchronized operation in the system of a number of display units larger than two.
For control of such a system, which in a particular design may include as many as ten display units, there are provided in the control unit 2 certain operating controls in addition to the speed control 18 and reversing switch 20 of the hand control units 3 and 10 already referred to. Referring to FIG. 2a, AC. power for the system is brought to a jack 5 on unit 2 through a cable 6 which includes a third conductor for connection to the building ground of the system ground, e.g. that of the chassis in all of the cable-interconnected units of the system. The speed control and reversing switch of the hand controls 8 and 10 are .master controls which atiect all display units in'the system. Additional master controls are indicated in FIG. 1 at 814311, Slim and S103 on the front panel of unit 2. S101 is an on-oif power switch for the entire system. A panel lamp I161 indicates the position of the switch SIM and, more particularly, the existence of rectified negative bias voltage produced by unit 2 when switch S101 is closed and the unit is properly operating. I
S102 is a push button synchronizing relay release switch presently to be described. S103 is a switch'controlling operation in all display units of lamps for illumination of the script sheet.
, The control unit 2 also includes certain additional controls in duplicate, one for each of the two display units controlled by unit 2, these individual controls forming part of the two sets of identical display unit control components above referred to. To distinguish them, such identical components will hereinafter bear reference characters which are the same as to their units and tens digits, but different as to their hundreds digit.
Thus switches S201 and S301 permit individual disconnection of the two display units 4 of FIG. 1 from the system shown in that figure, in the event of their malfunctioning, for example. The connected or disconnected state of the individual units 4 is indicated at panel lamps I201 and I301, these lamps being lighted when their respective display units are disconnected by setting of the corresponding switches 82M and 8301 to the Off position, and also when the motion of the script sheets in those units respectively is temporarily halted during the periodic synchronizing operation presently to be described.
Switches S202 and S302 similarly each permit control, at one of the units of the lamps by means of which the script sheet at such unit is illuminated.
Controls and 308 are provided for operation of potentiometers which make fine adjustments in the speed of travel of the script sheets in the two display units.
Telephone jacks E204 and E304 may be provided to monitor with a meter the armature current of the script driving motors in the display units.
Referring to FlGS. 2a and 2b, the electrical components of the control unit 2, display units 4 and hand controls 8 and 10 are indicated at correspondingly numbered dash line boxes. The master control components of the control unit are those shown in FIG. 2a. In F16. 2b, and Within the portion of box 2 in that figure, the sets of components to the left and right of the dash line AA are identical with each other, with the exception of transformer T201 and relay K201 which are not duplicated to the right of line AA. Each such set provides, when connected to the components of FIG. 2a, the components necessary to synchronized operation of a display unit 4 in conjunction with another unit 4 connected to another such set which is in turn connected to the components of FIG. 2a.
In FIG. 2a the main power switch S101 controls the application of alternating current power, for example that of an ordinary 110 volt lighting circuit, to two condoctors 24 and 26.
In FIG. 2a, conductors 24 and 26 supply power to a transformer T101. They also permit energization of a relay K101 upon closing of switch S502 (which is controlled by control 18 of FIG. 1), to shift control of the system from hand control unit to unit 10. A further relay K102 providing for maintenance of proper synchronism among the display units upon reversal of script travel is energized upon closing of the reversing switch S401 or S501, according as switch S502 is open or closed. Switches S401 and S501 are coupled to the push buttons 20 of control units 8 and in FIG. 1 respectively. Master switch S103 for the script lamps in the display unit is also connected to the conductor 2-1, the lamp circuits of the display units being connected between conductors 24 and 26 through this switch.
In FlG. 2b, conductors 24- and 26 energize transformers T201 and T301. These supply power, in a manner presently to be described, to the armatures of the driving motors 28 in the two display units 4 connected to control unit 2. Conductors 24 and 26 also energize a transformer T202 from which separate rectified direct current voltages are derived for the field windings 29 of motors 23.
Referring again to FIG. 2a, .a full wave rectifier cornprising diodes Z101 and Z102 connected to the secondary of transformer T101 generates a rectified positive 8+ voltage on a conductor 32, filtered at capacitor C101. A second pair of d odes Z103 and Z104 develops a direct current voltage on the cathode of a vacuum diode V101A. This voltage is unfiltered and consequently has the shape indicated at wave form A in FIG. 3. A third combination of diodes Z105, Z106, oppositely poled, develops at a conductor 55 a rectified negative B voltage, filtered at capacitor C102. Lamp 1101 connected from conductor 36 to ground indicates when lighted the existence of negative bias voltage at conductor 30.
A capacitor C104 is connected in series with a resistor R105 between conductor 32 and ground, and the vacuum diode V101A has its anode connected to the junction of C104 and R105 and its cathode connected to ground through a resistor R102, small in comparison to R105.
Capacitor C10 charges exponentially toward the voltage of conductor 32 but is discharged at twice the power line frequency when the cathode of V101A is lowered toward the end of each half cycle of rectification below the voltage at the anode V101A. Consequently the anode of V101A exhibits a substantially sawtooth voltage wave form as indicated in full lines at B in FIG. 3, wherein wave form A is reproduced in dash lines for comparison.
This saw-tooth component is coupled through capacitor C103 to the grid of a cathode follower-connected triode V1013 where it is mixed with a DC. voltage applied to the control grid of V1018 from a potentiometer R401 in the hand control 8 or, alternatively, from a potentiometer R501 in hand control 10. The taps on R401 and R501 are mechanically coupled to the speed control knobs 18 of hand controls 8 and 10 of FIG. 1 respectively. R401 and R501 are otentiometers in a voltage dividing circuit extending via R101 and R109 between conductors 32 and 36, one or the other of R401 and R501 being inserted in this voltage divider accordingly as relay K101 is de-energized or energized. The range of volt-ages available at the taps of R401 and R501 is adjustable at the potentiometer-connected resistance R101. One or the other of the taps is connected into the grid circuit of V1018 through contacts of relay K101. The voltage at the cathode of V101B is a composite one, comprising a substantially saw-toothed component as shown at wave form B of FIG. 3, superimposed on a varying DC. level determined by the setting of R401 or R501.
This composite voltage, provided at low impedance from the cathode follower source of V1013, is employed to control the ignition phase in two pairs of grid controlled gas rectifier tubes V201, V202 and V301, V302 which supply armature current from transformers T201 and T301 respectively to the script sheet drive motors 28 in the two display units 4 shown in FIG. 2b. The range of voltages available at the taps of R401 and R501 is set at R101 so that, for a range of positions of those taps beginning at the ends of R401 and R501 adjacent R109, the voltage on the cathode of V101B produces no conduction in V201, V202 and V301, V302. Under these conditions the script sheets are stationary in the display units.
It may be noted that upon disconnection of the hand controls 8 and 10 at their cables 12 and 14, the voltage divider circuit including R101 and R109 is opened, returning the grid of the V101B to the voltage of conductor 36. This cuts oil V101B and holds tubes V201, V202 and V301, V302 entirely nonconducting, so that the script sheet will not move in any of the display units.
For control of the amount of conduction in thyratrons V201, V202 and V301, V302 and hence of the amount of current supplied to the script driving motors, the cathode of V1013 is connected to ground through identical voltage dividing circuits in parallel, one for each of the display units 4. One of these circuits includes resistors R211 and R209 and a speed control trim potentiometer R200 whose ungrounded end is at the filtered positive direct current voltage applied to conductor 38 by rectifiers Z201 and Z202 for energization of the field circuit 29 of the motor 28 in the display unit associated with tubes V201, V202. A parallel resistance capacity combination R201, C201 leads from the junction of R211 and R209 to the grids of the associated thyratrons V201, V202 through decoupling resistors R202 and R203.
Control of the speed of motors 28 in the display units is effected by control of the voltage at the grids of the thyratrons pairs V201, V202 and V301 and V302. This voltage is for each thyratron pair of mixture of four component factors:
(1) A direct current voltage level set at the hand control potentiometer R401 or R501. This voltage is the main speed determining factor and acts on all display units.
(2) The saw-tooth voltage in V101A as reproduced in the cathode of: V1013, likewise acting on all display units.
(3) The setting of speed trim potentiometers R208 and R308, individual to the two'display units shown. (4) A regenerative feed-back voltage, individual to each display unit, developed for one display unit at R201, C201 and for the other at R301, C301.
The saw-toothed component of voltage permits the phase at which the tubes V201, V202 and V301, V302 begin to conduct to be controlled or set to any point within the positive half cycle of the A.C. voltage applied by transformers T201 and T301 to the anodes of those tubes. This is illustrated for one of these tubes at wave form C in FIG. 3, where the A.C. Voltage at the thyratron plate is indicated at 40, the corresponding minimum grid ignition voltage at 42, and the mixed saw-tooth and DC. voltage 0 from V101B at 44 and 44 for two values of DC. component. For a grid voltage 44 the conduction phase amounts to almost 90 of the A.C. cycle, whereas for grid voltage 44' it amounts to perhaps 45. The phase at which conduction is initiated is the same for both thyratrons of each pair and this phase controls the amount of current supplied to the motor armature, supply being made through a choke L201 and across capacitor C202B for one display unit 4. Thus the speed of motors 28 in both display units is basically controlled by that one of potentiometers R401 and R501 which, according to the conditionof overriding switch 22 (S502) in hand control and according to the consequent condition of relay K101, is connected to the grid of V1013. I
To compensate for inequalities characteristic of dilferent display units, for example of the friction in their supply and take-up spools and also to compensate for inequalities among the motor armature supply thyratrons, the trimming potentiometers R208 and R308 are supplied. The effect of these potentiometers is to change the DC. level at the grids of the associated thyratrons as necessary to compensate for any inequalities.
The RC. circuits R201, C201 and R301, C301 form each a regenerative feed-back circuit which produces a very high degree of regulation in motor speed in the face of changes in motor load and of the armature current drawn in consequence thereof.
With increase in current drawn by the motor armature in a display unit 4, for example the one to the left in FIG. 2b, capacitor C201 acquires an increasing charge, with the terminal thereof adjacent the thyratron grids at positive polarity with respect to the opposite terminal, this charge being the result of the increased ionization produced in the tube by the heavier current flowing therein. This charge raises the net voltage of the combined sawtooth and DC. Wave form, and its appearance at the grid of its associated thyratrons causes conduction to begin earlier in those tubes. Consequently the power delivered to the motor is increased, as is required to maintain its speed constant in spite of the greater mechanical load applied thereto.
The charge on capacitor C201 leaks off in part between the successive one-half cycles of the power line frequency associated with conduction in the two thyratron tubes and this rate of discharge can be controlled by adjustment of potentiometer R201, through which the discharge takes place. .By adjustment of this potentiometer the rate of discharge can be so set that the drive motor in the display unit will maintain substantially constant speed over a very wide range of armature currents.
Otherwise stated, the positive ion grid current which flows during conduction in the thyratrons V201 and V301 charges condenser C201 to an extent dependent upon and varying directly with average conduction in those tubes. This charge, raising the potential of the terminal of capacitor C201 adjacent the thyratron grids with respect to the opposite terminal, raises the grid potential in and causes earlier conduction of the thyratrons to supply more armature current as demanded by increased load'on the motor 28.
The operation of R301, C301 and R308in controlling conduction in V301 and V302 for speed control of the script in the right hand display unit of FIG. 2b is exactly similar.
Reference has already been made to transformer T202 and its separate full wave rectifier circuits Z201, Z202 and Z301, Z302 for the field windings 29 in the two display units shown. Connection to the field windings is made from the rectifiers at conductor 38 in one case and at conductor 46 in the other, through the contacts of reversing relay K201. This relay includes contacts for both of the display units controllable from control unit 2. The mid-tap of the secondary on transformer T202 is grounded at the control unit chassis, as is also the case with transformer T101. Hence, one normally open and one normally closed contact on relay K201 for each of the display units is connected to ground to provide a return path for the field circuit of the associated display circuit, whatever the state of energization of relay K201 and whatever the consequent direction of current flow through the field windings.
One terminal of the armature in motors 28 is also connected, via cables 3 to control unit ground in view of the connection to such ground of the mid-tap on the secondary windings of transformers T201 and T301. This control unit ground potential is extended to all units of system by the cables which connect them to unit 2.
Conductor 38 with its rectified voltage is extended into FIG. 2a to apply voltage to the actuating coil of a relay K103 forming part of the synchronizing means whereby the script sheets of the units of the system are periodically brought back into step, at such frequency in practice that the maximum departure from synchronism is negligible. The circuit for energization of relay K103 is completed when tube V102, in series therewith, is brought into conduction in a manner presently to he explained.
According to another feature of the present invention, synchronism is periodically established among all the display units connected to the control unit 2. In each display unit a conductor 50 is periodically connected to the common system ground by a discontinuity in the script sheet. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, conductor 50 in each display unit connects with a brush 52 which makes contact with a metallic idler roller 54 at ground potential, and over which the script sheet passes, every time a discontinuity in the form of a hole in the script sheet passes under the brush. I Brush 52 may be referred to as a synchronizing contact. The discontinuities may, however, be of other types. I I
These discontinuities are disposed, as has already been stated, opposite the same points in the text on the script sheets at all display units. Minor variations in speed of travel of the script sheet. in the various display units results in the grounding of their contacts 52 at slightly different times. The apparatus of the invention produces de-energization of the drive motors in the display units successively as they respectively ground their contacts 52, until all drive motors have been de-energized, whereupon all display units start off together again. The entire process takes place so rapidly that thehalting of the script sheets is hardly noticeable to the persons who read them.
For this synchronizing operation the control unit 2 includes for each of the di play units 4 directly controlled by it a sync control grid controlled gas discharge tube,
V203 and V303 in FIG. 2b, and a synchronizing relay having its actuating coil in series with the plate cathode conduction path of that tube. In FIG. 2b these relays are indicated at K202 and K302. A single one of these combinations only will be described.
Conductor 50 of one display unit, the left hand one in FIG. 2b, say, connects via the cable 3 of that display unit with a conductor 48 in unit 2. Conductor 48 connects, through a contact of the display unit disconnecting switch, S201, to one end of a resistor R212 the other end of which connects, through a normally closed contact 202-3 of relay K202, with a conductor 56. All contacts of the switches S201 and S301 are closed when those switches are positioned effectively to connect their display units 4 to the control unit 2.
Conductor 56 leads through a normally closed contact 103-2 of relay K203 (FIG. 2a) to the junction of resistors R113 and R104 which are connected in series between conductor as and ground. These resistors are proportioned to hold conductor 56 at cut-cit potential for tube V203 when contact 1034 is closed.
The grid of tube V102 is connected to the same negative bias at the junction of R113 and R104 through a resistor R106 of value large compared with R2112. This grid is moreover additionally connected through a conductor 58 and thence through switch $2011 to the end of R212 adjacent conductor 56. The opposite end of R212, to which conductor 40 connects, leads to the grid of V203 through a current limiting resistor R206.
Conductors S6 and 58 also connect, through contact 302-3 of relay K302 and through switch S301 respectively to the end of a resistor R312 of the same value as R212 and forming part of an identical synchronizing circuit for the right hand display unit 4 of FIG. 2b.
The display unit first to ground its contact 52 raises to zero bias the grid of its sync control tube, V203 or V303, and so brings that tube into conduction, it being noted that the actuating coils of relays K202 and K302 in the plate circuits of tubes V203 and V303 connect through contacts of switches S201 and S301 with the positive voltage conductors 33 and 46 respectively.
With conduction in the sync control tube associated with the display unit first to ground its synchronizing contact 52, V203 say, the relay K202 for that display unit will be energized.
Energization of relay K202 closes normally open contact 202-1 thereon thus lighting lamp 1201 to signify that the script in the left hand unit has come to a stop, as will presently be explained. In addition a holding circuit for K202 is established through V203 by grounding of the grid of V203 through normally open contact 202-2, now closed. Opening of normally closed contact 202-3 opens the connection previously provided by relay K202, under control of the left hand display unit 4, between the negative bias conductor 56 and conductor 58. In addition, energization of relay K202 opens at normally closed contact 2024 thereof the armature circuit for motor 23 in the associated display unit 4, bringing the script in that display unit to a stop.
Negative bias voltage is still applied however from conductor 56 to conductor 50 and hence to the grid f tube V102 through the contact 302-3 of the other display unit 4 of FIG. 2b which has not grounded its synchro nizing contact 52 at a synchronizing discontinuity in the script sheet therein. When this second display unit grounds its contact 52, V303 will be brought into conduction, stopping the script motion in the associated display unit and opening the connection between conductors 56 and 50 provided by relay K302 when de-energized.
If additional display units are provided in the system for operation through an additional set or sets of the components shown to the left or right of the line A--A in box 2 of FIG. 2b, tube V102 will be held biased off until the synchronizing contact 52 has been grounded by a script sheet discontinuity in all such additional display units. When, however, all display units have grounded their contacts 52 and have consequently effected energizetion of their associated relays corresponding to relays K202 and K302 in FIG. 2b, the grid conductor 58 to tube V102 will be disconnected from conductor 56 and will instead be returned to ground potential through the paralleled resistors R212, R312 and corresponding resistors of additional sets of display unit control components in the system, if any. Since these resistors are small compared to resistor 106. and since they are. in parallel, the grid of tube V102 will be brought substantially to ground potential and the tube will conduct, producing energization of relay K103.
Opening of normally closed contact 103-1 of relay K103 disconnects from ground a conductor 60 in the common cathode circuit of sync control tubes V203, V303 and corresponding tubes in any additional sets of display unit control components which with their display units may be connected in the system. This cuts off conduction in the sync control tubes and de-energizes synchronizing relays K202, K302 and corresponding additional relays, if any, and hence reactivates the motors 28 in the script display units. The script sheets accordingly start moving again in all display units, in the same direction as before, and with the same line of text identically positioned in all at the viewing apertures in the display units.
Opening of normally closed contact 103-2 on relay K103 disconnects conductor 56 from its negative bias source. This prevents tube V102 from being returned to cut-off by connection of conductor 53 to conductor 55 through the now again de-energized relays K202, K302 and the like. Instead, the grid of tube V102 is held at ground potential so long as any of the synchronizing contacts 52 is grounded by virtue of the voltage divider constituted by R106 and the resistor corresponding to R212 at the display unit whose contact 52 remains so grounded, the resistors R212, R312 and the like being individually small compared to R106.
When the contacts 52 in both display units of FIG. 2b, and of other display units which may be included in the system, have been disconnected from their rollers 54 by motion of their script sheets, the grid of V102 will be returned to cut-off potential through R106. This deenergizes relay K103, restores conductor 56 to cut-off potential and re-establishes the common cathode circuit for the sync control tubes. The control unit 2 is accordingly ready to synchronize the display units 4 once more as soon as any one of them again grounds its contact 52.
Condenser C108 between ground and the grid of V102 prevents undesired conduction in that tube due to transients or AC. pickup, and rectifiers Z203 and Z303 across the coils of relays K202, K302 act as are suppressors.
Reference has already been made to the script reversing switches S401 and S501. When open these switches, or rather the one thereof eifectively placed in circuit by the position of switch S502 and the consequent condition of relay K101, places the voltage of conductors 24 and 26 across lamp 1401 or 1501 to indicate that the circuit of control unit 2 is set for forward direction of script travel. An open condition of switches S401 and S501 correspondingly leaves relays K102 and K201 de-energized. Closing of the operative one of switches S401 and S501 instead short circuits lamp 140101" i501 and energizes relays K102 and K201.
If the direction of script movement were to be reversed by closing of switch S401 or S501 and consequent energization of relay K201 during the synchronizing process, i.e. when any of the lamps, i201, 1301 or the like is on, the script sheets might, with the circuit as thus far described, be thrown out of synchronism to the extent of the separation of two adjacent discontinuities on the script sheets, the display units having come to a stop synchronizing on one discontinuity and the others on an adjacent discontinuity. This is prevented by a reverse release circuit comprising relay K102 (FIG. 2a) which is energized upon closing of either of the reversing switches S401 and S501.
Relay K102 has a set of single pole double throw contacts, one normally closed and one normally open, the movable contact blade of the set connecting to the plate of V102. Each of the fixed contacts connects to ground through a large capacitor, C or C106, shunted by a bleeder resistor. Whenever the condition of energization of relay K102 is changed upon change in direction of script travel, the plate of V102 is shifted to be connected to ground through that one of capacitors C105 and C106 which has been allowed to discharge through its bleeder resistor R111 or R112 during the interval of script travel preceding such reversal. The charging of the capacitor to the voltage on conductor 38 eifects momentarily energization of relay K103 even though tube V102 remains non-conducting. By cutting oti conduction in their sync control tubes such as V203 or V303 of the display units shown in FIG. 2b, such energization releases and restarts the script motors 28 in all display units which had stopped their script sheets when switch S401 or S501 was shifted to effect the reversal of script travel in question. Accordingly, the armature circuit is maintained substantially uninterrupted for the drive motors in all display units and all display units immediately begin to move their script sheets in the opposite direction. In this way it is insured that irrespective of the time of reversal the next synchronizing cycle will take place in all display units at discontinuities similarly positioned with respect to the text on the script sheets therein.
A manually operable synchronizing release switch S102, spring-loaded to open position, may be provided in parallel with V102. This switch, when closed, energizes K103, releasing all synchronizing relays such as K203 or K303 which may have been operated. For example, when making script corrections, the script sheets may be moved in a dissimilar manner in the various display units so that synchronizing relays such as K203 or K303 are energized in some units 4 while the corresponding relays in other units 4 are not so energized. If the script sheets in such units are then manually returned to position the contacts 54 therein between the same pair of adjacent discontinuities on their script sheets as in the other display units and if switch S102 is then momentarily closed, proper synchronisrn will be re-established as soon as motorized operation is resumed by advancing of the speed control R401 or R501 to a position at which armature current flows in the rectifier pairs such as V201,
, V202 and V301, V302.
In FIG. 2a there is shown in the master or ,selector hand control unit 10 a two-conductor jack 9' inserted in series with potentiometer R501. The contacts of this jack are normally closed to complete the circuit for potentiometer R501 between conductors 32 and 36. Upon insertion into the jack of a plug at the endof cable 11 the foot switch 13 of FIG. 1 is inserted electrically into this circuit to permit start-stop operation of the systemfrom that foot switch, as already described. 7
Reference has already been made to the ability of the master control components of dash line box 2 in FIG. 2a to control sets of display unit control components additional to the two such sets shown within box 2 in FIG. 2b, and through such additional sets, additional display units 4 to permit the assembly of a cuing system according to the invention including more than two display units. This may be done either (as shown in FIG. 4) by means of separate units or chassis duplicating the components of box 2 in FIG. 2b or (as shown in FIG. by means of one or more additional complete control units 2. To permit the assembly of such a cuing system the control unit 2' is provided with a number of connectors.
It will be observed that the signals passing between the master control components of box 2 in FIG. 2a and the two sets of display unit control components of box 2 in FIG. 2b are carried by six conductors. These comprise a conductor 68 between switch S401 or S501 and the actuating coil of relay K201, a conductor 70' between the cathode of V101b and the grid circuits of V201, V202 and V301, V302, a conductor 72 in series with themaster script light switch S103, and the conductors 60, 56 and 58 already discussed. The A.C. supply voltage is passed from FIG. 2a to FIG. 2b by conductors 24 and 26 and, in the particular embodiment illustrated a rectified supply voltage for the sync release tube V102 is passed from FIG. 2b to FIG. 2a by a conductor 38.
To permit the inclusion of additional display units in the cuing system of FIGS. 2a, 2b by duplication of the display unit control components of FIG. 2b, the signalcarrying conductors 68, 70, 72, 60, 56 and 58, a conductor 74 establishing at system ground potential the chassis grounds of FIGS. 2a and 2b and also the A.C. power conductors 24 and 26 required for energization of such a duplication of the components of box 2 in FIG. 2b are brought out to a connector or socket 76 shown in FIG. 2b. A cable with a suitable plug may be fitted into connector 76 to terminate in a chassis (not shown in FIG. 2a, 2b) duplicating the components of box 2 in FIG. 2b, thus permitting synchronized operation of as many as four display units. If such a chassis, duplicating the components of box 2 in FIG. 2b, itself includes a socket the pins or conductors of which are in parallel with those of the cable last mentioned, the conductors 68, 70, 72, 74, 60, 56, 58, 24 and 26 of FIGS. 21: and 2b may be extended from that chassis through a further cable to still another chassis duplicating a second time the components of box 2 in FIG. 2b, and so on up to the limit of load which the master control components of FIG. 2a can sustain.
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic showing of a cuing system according to the invention capable of effecting synchronizcd operation of as many as six display units. Five are there shown. In FIG. 4 a control unit is shown at 2, with cables 3 connecting to two display units 4 and with cables I2 and 14 connecting to control units 8 and 10 in the same manner as shown in FIG. 1. The control unit 2 of FIG. 4 is indicated at its right-hand side as including a socket '76 as above mentioned, into which there fits a plug 73 whose cable 80 connects into achassis 82 which duplicates the components shown within box 2 in FIG. 2b. This unit 82, which may be termed a cuing control unit to distinguish it from the complete control unit 2, is electrically identical with the components within box 2 in FIG. 2b. It is coupled by two cables 3 to the third and fourth display units 4 of the system of FIG. 4. Going control unit 82 includes a socket 76 into which fits the plug 78 of another cable 80 terminating at a second cuing control unit 82, shown in FIG. 4 as controlling a single display unit 4. I
To permit the assembly of a cuing system capable of eiiecting synchronized operation of more than two display units by using two or morecomplete control units 2, as diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 5, provision is made whereby upon such combination of two complete control units 2 there may be energized the master control components of only one of these two control units 2. To this end the conductors 68, 70, 72, 74, 60, 56, 58, 24 and 26 are extended within each control unit 2 from the master control components of box 2 in FIG. 2a to the display unit control components of box 2 in FIG. 215 via a detachable cable 88. Conductor 38 may be omitted from cable 88 and permanently wired between the actuating coil of relay K103 and the output of rectifier combination Z201, Z202. While this arrangement will, in a cuing system such as that of FIG. 5, apply plate voltage to the sync release tube V102 in control units 2 which are being employed for their display unit control components only, such as the lower control unit 2 in FIG. 5, this is without effect on the system and entails no power drain since the filament of that tube will not be energized. Filament circuits have for simplicity been omitted from FIGS. 2a and 2b. They are preferably so arranged however that the filaments of tubes in FIG. 2a are energized from windings 011 transformer T101. 1 The filaments of the tubes in FIG. 2b to the left andright of line A-A, belonging to the two sets of display unit control components of FIG. 2b, are energized from windings on transformers T201 and T301 respectively. These conductors are brought,
1 1 from their related circuit elements in FIG. 2a, to a socket 34- into which fits a plug 36 at one end of a nine conductor cable 88 whose other end extends these conductors to their related circuit elements in FIG. 2b.
Whenever a control unit 2 is to function for the overall control of cuing system, AC. power is fed to it at its jack 5, and its master and display unit control components are interconnected via the cable 88 as above described. This is the arrangement illustrated for the single control unit 2 of FIG. 4.
In FIG. 5, the upper control unit 2 is serving to operate the system there illustrated, and its master and display unit control components are accordingly interconnected by a plugging of the cable 88 of that unit into connector 84 of that unit. The lower control unit 2 of FIG. 5 is however being used only for its display unit control components. Consequently that unit receives no power at its power input jack 5, and its cable 88 instead of being connected to the connector 84 of its own master control components, is connected to the connector 7 6 of the upper control unit 2.
Of course, the sets of display unit control components need not be provided in pairs, either in the unit 2 of FIG. 211 or in the unit 82 of FIG. 4. Instead, they may be assembled in separate units including only those components to the left or right of the line AA within box 2 in FIG. 2b, such a chassis however including a source of field excitation voltage such as transformer T262 and one of the rectifier combinations Z201, Z202 or Z301, Z302 and also a reversing relay such as K201 with one of the sets of contacts thereof. In FIG. 2b it is simply for reasons of economy and simplicity that both rectifier combinations are fed from a single transformer and that a single relay K101 operates the field circuit reversing contacts for the two sets of display unit control components to the left and right of the line AA. Indeed the packaging of the components of a system according to the invention may be very different from that which has been shown and described herein. Thus the sets of display unit control components may be physically associated with the display units which they control. Usually, however, it is desirable to make the display units as light and compact as possible and hence to dispose the display unit control components elsewhere.
The invention may be embodied in apparatus differing in other ways from that which has been shown and described herein, the invention itself being set forth in the appended claims.
I claim:
1. Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, a conductor, and a switch operable upon passage of each of said discontinuities past a location fixed with reference to said coupling means, said control means including for each of said display means an electron discharge tube controlling, according to its state of conduction, the application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means, and means responsive to operation of the associated one of said switches to change the state of conduction in the associated one of said tubes, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device controlling, according to its state of conduction, the state of conduction in said tubes, and means to change the state of conduction in said device responsive to change in the state of conduction in all of said tubes by operation of their respective switches.
2. Cning apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, a conductor, a
switch operable upon passage of each of said discontinuities past a location fixed with reference to said coupling means, said control means including for each of said display means an electron discharge tube controlling, according to its state of conduction, the application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means, and means responsive to operation of the associated one of said switches to change the state of conduction in the associated one of said tubes, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device cont-rolling, according to its state of con duction, the state of conduction in said tubes, means to change the state of conduction in said device responsive to change in the state of conduction in all of said tubes by operation of their respective switches, and means to hold said device in its state of conduction so changed so long as any of said switches is operated.
3. Cning apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, a conductor, and a switch operable upon passage of each of said discontinuities past a location fixed with reference to said coupling means, said control means including for each of said dis play means an electron discharge tube permitting, when non-conducting, application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means, and means responsive to operation of the associated one of said switches to bring said tube into conduction, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device permitting, when non-conducting, conduction in said tubes, and means responsive to conduction in all of said tubes to establish conduction in said device.
4. Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and 'a control means, each of said display means including a motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, a conductor, a switch operable upon passage of each of said discontinuities past a location fixed with reference to said coupling means, said control means including for each of said display means an electron discharge tube permitting, when nonconducting, application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means, and means responsive to operation of the associated one of said switches to bring said tube into conduction, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device permitting, when non-conducting, conduction in said tubes, means responsive to conduction in all of said tubes to establish conduction in said device, and means responsive to conduction in said device to prevent conduction in said tubes so long as any of said switches is operated.
5. Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, a conductor, and means to connect said conductor to a common point of fixed potential upon passage of each of a plurality of discontinuities in said script sheet past a display station, said control means including for each of said display means an electron discharge tube effecting, when nonconducting, application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means, and means responsive to connection of said conductor to said point of fixed potential to bring said tube into conduction, said control means further including for said display means collectively a source of bias voltage negative with respect to said fixed potential, and an electron discharge device permitting, when non-conducting, conduction in said tubes and application of said bias voltage to said tube individually. and to said device through parallel circuits completed one for each of said tubes when non-conducting, whereby said device is rendered conducting in response to conduction in all of said tubes andsaid tubes are thereupon extinguished. t
6. Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a controlmeans, each of said display means including a motor coupled to a script sheet,a conductor, and means to connect said conductor to a com mon point of fixed potential upon passage of each of a plurality of discontinuities in said script sheet past a display station, said control means including for each-of said display means an electron discharge tube having cathode, anode and control electrodes, and means responsive to connection of said conductor to said point of fixed potential to bring said tube into conduction, said control means further including, for said display means collectively, a source of bias voltage negative with respect to said fixed potential, and an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control electrodes, each of said tubes, when non-conducting, effecting application of power to the motor in the associated one of said display means and permitting connection of said negative bias voltage through a separate circuit to the control electrode of said electron discharge device, said discharge device permitting, ,when non-conducting, conduction in said tubes and connection of said source of negative voltage to the inputs to said separate circuits, said control means further including for each of said display units means connecting said conductor to the control grid of'said device through a resistance.
7. Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means each including a motor coupled to a script sheet, a conductor, and means to connect said conductor to' a common point of fixed potential upon passage of each of a plurality of discontinuities in said script sheet past a display station, said apparatus further comprising a control means including for each of said'display means an electron discharge tube having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a relay actuable upon conduction in said tube, said relay controlling application of power to said drive motor, a resistor in the grid circuit of said tube, means connecting said conductor to the grid side of said resistor, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a source of cut off bias voltage for said device and tubes negative with respect to said fixed potential, a largeresistor connecting the control grid of said device to said source, a relay actuable upon conduction in said device, firstconducting means connecting the control grid of said device to the ends of all of said first-named resistors remote from the grid circuits of said tubes, second conduoting means connecting said source to said first conducting means through contacts on said last-named relay and through contacts on all of said first-named relays, and third conducting means completing the external anode cathode paths of said tubes through contacts of said lastnamed relay. p i r 8. Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means each including a motor coupled to a script sheet, a conductonand means to connect said conductor to a common point of fixed potential upon passage of each of a plurality of discontinuities in said script sheet past a display station, said apparatus further comprising a control means including for each of said display means an electron discharge tube having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a relay actuable upon conduction in-saicl tube, said relay controlling application of power to said drive motor, a resistor in the grid circuit of said tube, means connecting said conductor to the grid side of said resistor, said control means further including for said display means collectively an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a source of cut ofi bias voltage for said device and tubes negativewith respect to said fixed potential, a large resistor connecting the control grid of said device to said source, a relay actuable upon conduction in said device,
first conducting means connecting the control grid of said device to the ends of all of said first-named resistors remote from the grid circuits of said tubes, second conducting means connecting said source to said first conducting means through contacts on said last-named relay and through contacts on all of said first-named relays, and third conducting means completing the external anodecathode paths of said tubes through contacts of said lastnamed relay.
9. A cuing system comprising a plurality of display means and a control means, each of said display means including a direct current motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said script sheet to said motor, said control means including for each of said display means a grid controlled rectifier connected between a source of voltage alternating with respect to a point of fixed poten* tial and one end of a driving circuit of said motor the other end of which connects to said point of fixed potential, said control means further including means to superimpose on a variable voltage unidirectional with respect to said fixed potential a substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage having a repetition rate of twice the frequency of said alternating voltage, and means to apply a voltage representative of the sum of said saw-tooth and unidirectional voltages between the control grids of said rectifiers and said point of fixed potential.
10. A cuing, system comprising a pluralityof display means and a control means, each of said'display means including a direct current motor, a script sheet having a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof, means coupling said sheet to said motor, said control means including for each of said display means a grid controlled rectifier connected between a source ofvoltage alternating with respect to a point of fixed potential and one end of a driving circuit of said motor the other end of which is connected to said point of fixed potential, a parallel resistance-capacity circuit in series with the control grid of said rectifier, and a voltage divider circuit into which said parallel circuit is tapped, said control means further including means to superimpose on a variable voltage unidirectional with respect to said fixed potential a substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage having a repeti tion rate of twice the frequency of said alternating voltage, and means to apply across said voltage divider circuits a voltage representative of the sum of said saw-tooth and unidirectional voltages.
11. A cuing system comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a' direct current motor, said control means including means to generate from an alternating current voltage a substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage having a repetition rate of twice the frequency of said alternating voltage and means to superimpose said saw-tooth voltage on a voltage of adjustable value and fixed polarity with respect to a point of fixed potential, said control means further including for each of said display means a grid controlled gas discharge tube having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, said tube having its anodecathodejpath connected between a source of alternating current potential of said frequency and one end of a driving circuit for said motor the other end of which is connected to said point of fixed potential, said control means further including for each of said display means a parallel combination of resistance and capacity connected in series with the control grid circuit of said'tube, and
means to apply a voltage representative of the sum of said saw-tooth and variable direct current voltages between the end of said parallel circuit remote from said control grid and said point of fixed potential. i
12. A cuing system comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, each of said display means including a direct current motor, said control means including means to generate from an alternating current voltage a' substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage having a repetition rate of twice the frequency of said alternating voltage and means to superimpose said sawtooth voltage on a voltage of adjustable value and fixed polarity with respect to a point of fixed potential, said control means further including for each of said display means a grid controlled gas discharge tube having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, said tube having its anode-cathode path connected between a source of alternating current potential of said frequency and one end oi the armature circuit of said motor the other end of said armature circuit connecting to said point of fixed potential, said control means further including for each of said display means a parallel combination of resistance and capacity connected in series with the control grid circuit of said tube, and means to apply the sum of said saw-tooth and variable direct current voltages between the ends of said parallel circuits remote from said control grid and said point of fixed potential.
13. A cuing system comprising a control unit and a plurality of script display units, each of said display units including a reversible script driving motor adapted to be coupled to a script sheet and means to develop a signal at spaced points along said sheet as moved by said motor past a display station, said control unit including in each of said display units a pair of grid controlled gas discharge rectifier tubes driven in opposite phase on their plates from a source of alternating current potential, said tubes having their anode-cathode paths connected in parallel in the armature circuit of one of said motors, the tubes of each of said pairs having in a common grid circuit a parallel combination of resistance and capacity, said control circuit including means to apply between the ends of said parallel circuits remote from the grids of said rectifier pairs and a point of fixed potential a substantially sawtooth voltage of twice the frequency of said alternating current potential superimposed on an adjustable direct current voltage.
14. A cuing system comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, said display means including each a script driving motor coupled to a script sheet, a conductor, and means to connect said conductor to a point of common fixed potential upon passage past a display station of each of a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise of said sheet, said control means including for each of said display units an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a relay actuable upon conduction in said device, and a resistor connected between said conductor and one of a first pair of contacts of said relay closed for the non-conducting condition of said device, said relay including further contacts which for the non-conducting condition of said device complete the energizing circuit of said motor, said conductor leading to the grid circuit of said device, said control means further including an electron tube having anode, cathode and control electrodes, a relay actuable upon conductoin in said tube, a source of cut off bias voltage for said devices and tube negative with respect to said fixed potential, means including a large resistor connecting the control electrode of said tube to said source, first conducting means connecting said source to the other contact of each of said first pairs of contacts, second conducting means connecting the control grid of said tube with each of said one contacts of said first pairs of contacts and a third conducting means in the cathode circuits of said devices, said last-named conducting means including contacts in the relay actuable upon conduction in said tube, said lastnamed contacts being closed for the nonconducting condition of said tube.
15. A cuing system comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means, said display means including each a script driving motor coupled to a script sheet, a conductor, and means to connect said conductor to a point of common fixed potential upon passage past ra display station of each of a plurality of discontinuities disposed lengthwise of said sheet, said control means iniii eluding for each of said display means an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a relay energizable upon conduction in said device, and a resistor connected between said conductor and one of a first pair of normally closed contacts of said relay, said relay including further normally closed contacts in the energizing current of said motor, said conductor leading to the grid circuit of said device, said control means further including an electron tube having anode, cathode and control electrodes, a relay energizable upon conduction in said tube, a source of cut off bias voltage for said devices and tube negative with respect to said fixed potential, means including a large resistor connecting the control electrode of said tube to said source, first conducting means connecting said source to the other contact of each of said first pairs of contacts through normally closed contacts of said last-named relay, second conducting means connecting the control grid of said tube with each of said one contacts of said first pairs of contacts, and a third conducting means in the cathode circuits of said devices, said last-named conducting means including normally closed contacts on said last-named relay.
16. Cuing apparatus comprising a plurality of script display means and a control means therefor, each of said display means including a motor for driving past a display station a script sheet having discontinuities disposed lengthwise thereof and a switch actuable by said discontinuities successively, said control means comprising an electron discharge tube having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a source of cut off bias voltage, means including a resistor connecting the control grid of said tube to said source, a relay actuable upon conduction in said tube to open two pairs of contacts of said relay, said apparatus further comprising, for each of said units, an electron discharge device having anode, cathode and control grid electrodes, a relay actuable in response to conduction in said device to open two pairs of contacts of such relay of which one is in the energizing circuit of said motor, the control grid of said device being connected to said source through a resistor smaller than said first-named resistor and through the other of said last and one of said first named pairs of contacts, means responsive to actuation of said switch to bring said device in the conduction, means connecting the control grid of said tube to the ends of said last-named resistors remote from the control grids of said devices, and means completing the external anode, cathode conduction paths of said devices through the others of said first-named pairs of contacts.
17. A cuing system comprising a plurality of script display units each including an electric motor coupled to a script sheet and means to develop a signal at spaced points along said script sheet as moved by said motor past a display station, said cuing system further comprising a control unit including for each of said display units two grid controlled gas rectifiers connected in the armature circuit of said motor and driven in opposite phase on their plates from a source of alternating current voltage, a parallel resistance-capacity circuit in the common grid circuit of said rectifiers, a relay through a first pair of normally closed contacts of which passes the armature circuit of said motor, a gas triode having its plate-cathode conduction path in series with the activating coil of said relay, a resistor in the grid circuit of said triode, means to apply said signals as unbiasing signals between said resistor and the control grid of said triode, said control unit further including for said display units collectively means to generate, on a direct current voltage of variable value, a substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage at twice the frequency of said alternating current voltage and to apply the sum of said variable and saw-tooth voltages between a point of fixed potential and the ends of said parallel circuits remote from the grids of said rectifiers, a gastriode tube, a relay energizable upon conduction in said tube, a resistor of larger value than said first-named resistors coupling the control grid of said tube to a source of cut off bias, conducting means connecting said source through a second pair of normally closed contacts on each of said first-named relays to the ends of said firstnamed resistors remote from the grids of their associated gas triodes, conducting means including a second pairof normally closed contacts on said last-named relay in the cathode circuits of all of said gas triodes, and conducting means connecting the control grid of said tube to the ends of said small resistors remote from the grids of their associated gas triodes.
18. A cuing system comprising a plurality of script display units each including an electric motor coupled to a, script sheet "and means to develop a signal at spaced points along said script sheet as moved by said motor past a display station, said cuing system further comprising a control unit including for each of said display units two grid controlled gas rectifiers connected in the armature circuit of said motor and driven in opposite phase on their plates from a source of alternating current voltage, a parallel resistance-capacity circuit in the common grid circuit of said rectifiers, a relay through a first pair of normally closed contacts of which passes the armature circuit of said motor, a gas triode having its plate-cathode conduction path in series with the actuating coil of said relay, a resistor in the grid circuit of said triode, means to apply said signals as unbiasing signals between said resistor and the control grid of said triode, said control unit further including for said display units collectively means to generate, on a direct current voltage of variable value, a substantially saw-tooth shaped voltage at twice the frequency of said alternating current voltage and to apply the sum of said variable and saw-tooth voltages between a point of fixed potential and the ends of said parallel circuits remote from the grids of said rectifiers, a gas triode tube, a relay energizable upon conduction in said tube, a resistor of larger value than said first-named resistors coupling the control grid of said tube to a source of cut off bias, conducting means connecting said source through a first pair of normally closed contacts on said last-named relay and through a second pair of normally closed contacts on each of said first-named relays to the ends of said first-named resistors remote from the grids of their associated gas triodes, conducting means including a second pair of norm-ally closed contacts onsaid last-named relay in the cathode circuits of all of said gas triodes, and conducting means connecting the control grid of said tube to the ends of said small resistors remote from the grids of their associated gas triodes.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,359,014 Ward Sept, 26, 1944 2,422,149 Unkles June 10, 1947 2,444,796 Whalley July 6, 1948 2,737,619 Shank Mar. 6, 1956 2,737,622 Jelinck Mar. 6, 1956 2,760,137 Andrews Aug. 21, 1956 2,780,763 Hertwig Feb. 5, 1957 2,799,820 Gutterman July 16, 1957 2,848,671 McDonald Aug. 19, 1958
US694276A 1957-11-04 1957-11-04 Cuing apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3020532A (en)

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US2760137A (en) * 1952-08-30 1956-08-21 Rca Corp Motor control for synchronizing web feed
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