USRE23112E - Coin-operated voice recording - Google Patents

Description

May 10, 1949. E. M. SQUIRE COINOPERATED VOICE RECORDING MACHINE Original Filed March 9,1942

WITNESS,

Reissued May 10, 1949 COIN-OPERATED VOICE RECORDING MACHINE Edmund M. Squire, Radburn, N. J., assignor: to

The Brush Development Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Griginal No. 2,379,548, dated'J'uly 3, 1945; Serial No. 433311, March 9, 1942. Application for re-- issue June 28; 1946, Serial No; 679,971

'7 Claims.

1 I The object of my invention is to provide a suitable coin-operated mechanism for the control of a magnetic voice recording machine to the.

end that the machine may be located in a public place and serve as an amusement device, or as a device for rehearsing speech or music.

A further object of my. invention is to provide means for delaying operatmn of the machine:

until the cathodes of the electronic tubes in the amplifier of the magnetic recording. machine have reached their proper operating temperature, thus avoiding the cost of energizing the amplifier while the machine is idle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a control permitting the previous recording to be twice repeated, at the option of the user, so that a particularly pleasing recording may be repeated.

It is to be understood that magnetic tape recording devices are well known, and that the'magnetic recording. device itself is not a part of my invention.

I attain these objects by the electrical mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a schematic circuit drawing of the entire machine;

Figure 2 is a detail showing the arrangement of electrical contacts which are controlled by the magnetic tape.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts'throughout the several figures.

A thin steel tape l passes over three long roll-- ers 2 and a fourth long driver roller 3. Roller 3 is driven by belt 4 which connects itto electric motor E. Tape I is endless and is looped around the four long rollers 2 and 3 many times, crossing over at rollers E and 6. When the machine is in operation the entire length of the tape I will pass under the magnetic heads I, 8, and. 9 and this will continue repeatedly as long as the motor 5 continues to drive roller 3.

Contacts l9 and II are disposed on the machine in any convenient manner and arranged to be controlled by a notch 14 in tape I. This is best illustrated in Figure 2. A roller l3 isprovided with a circumferential slotwhich engages and guides oneedge of tape I. Roller 13 is secured by pivot IS in theyoke I! which is secured to contact arm I I by electrical insulatingmaterial ll. Roller l3'is heldin yielding engagement with tape 1 by the; action of compression spring $5.. When notch M in tape'l passes roller 13, the-roller i3 is forced by spring 25 into notch i4 and-contact arm I l is forced into engagement with contact. Ill;

Amplifier 25 may be of any desired construction. It must be adapted toamplify currents within the frequency range of the human voice, and preferably the wider frequency range of musical instruments.

Amplifier Z5 is: provided with input terminals it and Land output terminals 20 and 2 I. Terminals 23 and 24- are for the alternating current power supply to-the amplifier. Terminal 2| is groundedtothe amplifier chassis and terminal 22 is internally connected tosupply direct current from thev rectifier within. theamplifier for use as hereinafter described. To draw current from the internalrectifier, an eXternal-circuit-is established between terminals 22 and 2|.

In changing.from-recording to reproduction,.the input and output circuits of amplifier 25 are switched substantially simultaneously by relays 2t and 21 respectively, whose operating. windings 3t and 35-areconnected-in multiple. When energized; the coils of these relays are supplied with direct current by the internalrectifier of the amplifier in order to avoid electrostatic shielding problemswithrespect to the amplifier input circuit which would otherwise arise'if' the windings were energized by alternating current. of course, suitably designed and shielded alternating current relays-may be used if desired.

A microphonela is. provided for recording on the magnetic tape. A loud speaker-'30 isprovided for reproducing the recorded'sounds; The output level of loudspeaker 30-issadjustab1eby volume control 29-.

In order. to permit the use of low voltage insulation onas much of the control apparatus-as possible and particularlyto permitthe-use of low voltage Wiring. for conductors 36. to 44 inclusion, a transformer. 3'! is provided having a primary winding 32. adapted for energization by the commercial alternating currentsupply, and

3 a secondary winding 33 which delivers a low voltage, preferably about 24 volts, for the operation of the various portions of control apparatus.

It is to be noted that the two sections of Figure 1 connected by the dotted portions of conductors 35 to 44 inclusive comprise the magnetic tape machine in one part and the coin control apparatus in the other part. By the use of low voltage in this interconnecting wiring, these two portions may be separated by a convenient distance, which will permit the more bulky magnetic recording device to be placed in an inconspicuous location while the coin control mechanism is placed for convenient access by the public. In this case, microphone 28 and loudspeaker 35, together with volume control 25 should be located near the coin control apparatus.

A coin chute is disposed to receive coins which will deflect lever 35 in the course of their passage along chute 45. Lever 45 is normally held in yielding engagement with fixed stop pin 41 by retractile spring 48. When a coin drops in chute 45, contact lever 46 momentarily engages fixed contact 49, returning thereafter to its original position, When the contact 49 is engaged by contact lever 46, a circuit is established from transformer secondary winding 33, along conductors 40, D, and 51, relay winding 52 of relay resistor 54, contact arm 46, contact 45, conductors 55, 56, 51 and 4| back to the other side of transformer secondary Winding 33. This energizes relay 53, causing it to operate. The resistance of resistor 54 is as low as possible, but high enough so that no injury would result to either contacts 46-49, or contacts Ill-l i, if transformer secondary winding 33 were short-circuited through these contacts, momentarily.

Operation of relay 52, closes a circuit from transformer secondary winding 33 along conductors 45, 58, 5|, relay winding 52, contacts 58-59, conductor 65, winding 5| of relay 55, and conductors 52, 63, 51 and 4| back to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. This would result in the operation of relay 55, except for the fact that coin contacts 46-49 are still closed and a substantial short circuit is maintained around relay winding 6| via conductor 65 contacts 58-55, conductor 54, resistor 54, coin contacts 46-49, and conductors 55, 33, and 62.

The resistance value of resistor 54 should be sufr ficiently low so that there will not be sufficient voltage drop across it under the preceding conditions to cause operation of relay 5B. As soon as coin contact 43 disengages contact 49, this shortcircuit path will be opened, and relay Ell will operate in series with relay 53, the circuit being established from secondary winding 33 along conductors 4D, 50, 5|, winding 52, contacts 58-59, conductor 65, winding 5|, and conductors 52, 63, 51 and 4| back to the other side of secondary winding 33. Under this condition, it will be noted that both relays 53 and 55 are now operated, and their respective armatures attracted.

When the machine is idle, lamp 12 is lighted intermittently in series with flasher button 13. This is designed to attract the attention of the public. Any other device such as a sign or an audible signal may be readily substituted for lamp 12, and flasher button 13. The circuit for lamp 12, which indicates the idle condition, is established from transformer winding 33, along conductors 4U, 50, and 80, closed relay contacts 118-19, conductor 11, closed relay contacts 15-14, conductor 82, flasher button 13, and conductor 8|, The circuit is completed along conductors 83, 84,

' of relay winding NH.

E3, 51 and 4| back to the other side of winding 33. Cpening of contacts 15-14 upon energization of relay 5t, breaks this circuit and extinguishes the idle condition indicator lamp 12. It is apparent that the circuit previously traced will cause standby lamp 835 to be energized by closure of contacts 15-15, which accompanies the opening of contacts 15-14. The purpose of standby lamp is to indicate that the machine is ready to function, as soon as the vacuum tube cathodes of amplifier 25 are heated and ready for operation.

When relay 53 is operated upon closure of coin contacts 43-59, it closes its contacts 59-10. This has the effect of establishing a circuit from transformer secondary winding 33 along conductors 45, 33, winding 68 of relay 51, conductor 36, relay contacts 89-15, conductors 1|, 56, 51 and 4|, back to the other side of winding 33. Relay 51 is of the mechanically latched type, being provided with a contact closing winding or operating windin and a contact opening or tripping winding 853. An impulse to winding 65 will close the contacts and they will remain closed until winding 55 is energized. Relays of this type are Well known, and it is not important to the operation of the circuit herein described What will occur if both windings should be energized simultaneously. It should be noted that winding 68 should be capable of intermittent energization without overheating, because as will appear later, this winding will be energized during the first passage of tape past magnetic heads 1, 8, and ti, and will be deenergized during the second such passage. This is not true of winding 85, nor of windings 88 and 89 of relay 31, because these latter windings receive only momentary impulses.

Energization of winding 58 causes U-shaped contacts 35 to engage stationary contacts 91 and 52 establishing a circuit from power supply conductor 93, along conductor 94, closed contacts QZ-tii-lli and conductor 35 to power supply terminal 23 of amplifier 25. The other power supply terminal 24 of amplifier 25 is permanently connected to power supply conductor 95 by conductors 91 and 56. This causes energization of amplifier 25.

When the vacuum tube cathodes in amplifier 25 have become heated, a limited amount of direct current will be available at terminals 2| and 22 of said amplifier. The internal arrangements within the amplifier 25 are such that terminals 2| and 22 may be short circuited Without injury to any of the apparatus, by provision of suitable current limiting resistors within the amplifier. The current strength is adequate to energize relays 34 and 35 and to energize the obliterating magnetic head 1. The potential appearing across terminals 2i and 22 when the amplifier has reached its operating condition is transmitted from terminal 2| along conductors 99, I55, and 43 to winding ||J| of relay Hi2, and from terminal 22 along conductor 45 and through resistor I03 to the other side The operating characteristics of relay 5G2 and the value of resistance of resistor its are so adjusted that relay I52 will not operate until the cathodes of the vacuum tubes within amplifier 25 have reached their proper operating temperature, and it is also so adjusted with respect to relays 26 and 21 so that it operates substantially simultaneously therewith.

Upon operation of relay I92, it breaks contacts H35 and I54 and closes contacts I04 and H36. This establishes a circuit from transformer secondary winding 33 along conductors 40 and H11, winding 88 of relay 81, conductor 31, closed contacts l III--Ill9"ofrelay I08, conductor II2, closed contacts I94-Ill6 of relay I02, conductor H3, and conductor 4! back to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. This circuit energizes relay winding 88, and relay 81 latches in its operated position closing its contacts II4-I I6 and II5I I'I.

Closure of contacts Il4'-I I6 establishes a circuit from power conductor 93 along conductor 94, through closed contacts 92--9U-9I of relay 61, conductor H8, closed relay contacts II4-I I6, and conductor II9 to motor 5. The other terminal of motor 5 is permanently connected to the other side of the power supply via conductors I29, 91; and 96. This causes motor 5 to operate, driving roller 3 and carrying endless magnetic recording tape I around and over the other rollers. Thus, it will be seen that tape I does not move until amplifier 25 is ready for operation, and that thereafter tape I passes at substantially constant speedrunder the magnetic heads I, 9, and 9.

Upon the operation of relay 8?, contacts I I5-I H were also closed. This established a circuit from' transformer secondary winding 33 along conductors to and I2l, closed relay conv tacts II5--II'I, conductors 33 and I22, winding I23 of relay I98, conductor I24, and conductor 4! back to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. This operated relay I98, breaking the circuit ofcontacts Ill9l IE3 and closing the circuit or contacts I09-I I I.

A circuit is now established from transformer secondary winding 33, along conductors I25 to indicating lamp I26 and COIltillLlil'ig along conductor I28 to electric time indicator I2'l'. The

circuit is completed via conductors I29, Iiil, closed relay contacts I I I-II!9, conductor H2, closed relay contacts IDS-484, conductor H3, and conductor M to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. Time indicator N1 is an electric clock mechanism of the self starting type, having its period for one revolution correspond.- ing approximately to the time required for tape I to travel once though the recording machine. The machine is now in condition to receive and record speech or music. Relays 26 and ill are energized connecting input terminals I3 and I9 of amplifier 25 to microphone .28 and the output terminal 2|) to recording magnetic head 9. As tape 'I passes under head 9, the variations in magnetic strength will be retained and will influence reproducing head 8 at a later time during reproduction. obliterating head I is energized with steady direct current and removes from tape I any remnant magnetic influences remaining from the previous recording before the new recording is impressed upon the tape by recording head 9. Indicating lamp I26 informs the user of the machine that the machine is in condition for recording and time indicator I21 permits the user to adjust his recording interval to terminate at the end of the recording cycle.

After the tape I has traveled substantially once through the machine, notch It in tape I passes under roller I3 causing a momentary closure of contacts II and I9. At the instant of closure, a circuit is established from transformer secondary winding 33, along conductors 40 and I3 I, tape contacts II-l|l, conductor 42, closed contacts I3-3*-I34 of relay 69, conductors !35 and E5, closed contacts 58-59 of relay 53 and its winding 52, and conductors 5I, 59 back to conductor 49 again, short circuiting relay winding 52 and thereby releasing relay 53. Relay 60 is held operated by the following circuit: starting from transformer secondary winding 33, conductors "40'and I31,- tape contacts II-I0 conductor 42'; closed contacts I33-l34 of relay 6!], conductor I35, winding iii, and conductors 52, E3, 51 and'4l to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. Because the circuit just traced includes tape: contacts II-Ill, it will open when contacts" II---l%' open and release relay 5B. Relays 53"and' 69' are now both released and in condition to'be re-operated by coin contacts 46 and 49. No-provision isincluded for storing coin impulses but mechanism to perform this function may be readily added if desired.

Upon the release of relay 53, a circuit is established from ground terminal 2i of amplifier 25 along conductors 93, I99, I3, I35, closed relay contacts l3'I-I38, and conductors I39, I49, and 44 back to the direct current supply terminal 22 of amplifier 25. This short circuits the direct current supply, releasing relays 25 and 22 and deenergized obliterating heat I. Reproducing head 8 is now connected to amplifier input terminals IB and I9. Output terminal 29 is connected to volume control 29 and loudspeaker St the other side of the output circuit being ground terminal 2!, which is permanently connected via conductors 99, me and I4l. The tape 1 now imparts to magnetic reproducing head 8 the impulses which it previously received from recording head 9, and the reproduced sounds issue from loudspeaker 39 after amplification by amplifier 25. By provision of suitable equalizers, a single magnetic head may be used for both recording and reproduction, but separate heads have been indicated for the purpose of simplifying the showing of the recording machine.

Tape I will continue again through the machine and after substantially all of the previously recorded sounds have been reproduced, notch I43- in tape I will again pass under roller I3, and contacts Ill and I I will again momentarily engage each other. This will send an impulse from transformer secondary winding along conductors 4E1, I3I, tape contacts lEi-i l, conductor 42, closed relay contacts I33-I32 of relay 69, and conductors I42, 39'and M5 to tripping or releasing windings 83 and 85 of relays 3 and 51 respectively. The impulse also is carried via conductor I43 to electromagnetic counter IM. This registers one count on counter I44 and trips relays 8! and 6'! into their normal or released condition, deenergizing amplifier 25 and motor 5 and opening the circuit of coil I23 of relay we. The other side of transformer winding 33 is connected to tripping windings 85 and 89 via conductors 4i and I45, and to counter I44 via conductor .1. This stops the machine and it is then ready to be used again.

A switch I4! is provided to obtain a reproduction of the sounds recorded without making a new recording, by eliminating the recording period from the cycle. When closed, and when the machine is operating so that relay winding I23 of relay I98 is energized, the switch It! will shortcircuit direct current supply terminals 2i and 22 of amplifier 25 via conductors 44, M0, closed relay contacts I5I-I5ll of relay I98, conductor I49, switch I41 and conductors I48, I39, 43, I99, and 99.

Whenever terminals 22 and 2i are short-circuited, the recording'machine is'in the reproducing condition because no energy is available for obliterating head 'I or for relays 25 and 21. In addition, relay I92 is deenergized, closing contacts I04 and I05 and lighting reproducing indicating light I52 through a circuit starting at transformer secondary winding 33, conductors til, izl, closed contacts lI-I I! of relay 81, conductors so and I53, lamp I52, conductors I 54, closed contacts I05-lll4 of relay I02, and conductors H3 and H to the other side of transformer secondary Winding 33. Switch I41 does not interfere with start ing of the machine, because relay its is released except while the machine is running and does not connect switch I41 until relay N32 has already performed its starting function.

As has been described, upon dropping a coin, a person may make a recording and hear it played back once. If he so desires, he may close switch I41, and by dropping another coin, hear the same recording repeated twice. There is a delay after each dropping of a coin, until the amplifier is ready for operation. This waiting period is indicated by the standby pilot lamp, and as soon as the machine is running, either the recording lamp, or the reproducing lamp will be lighted, depending upon the posi .n of switch i i-i during the first half of the cycle, and the reproducing lamp will always be lighted during the second half of the cycle. Although the specific apparatus above described utilizes a notch in the magnetic tape, it is to be understood that suitable timing mechanism or other automatic means responsive to operation of the machine may be utilized to practice the invention.

I claim:

1. In. a recording and reproducing machine having a record structure forming an endless flexible magnetic recording medium and includ ing a control element, manual starting means, and control means including means operable by said control element and responsive to each pas sage of said medium through said machine, whereby the completion of the first passage of said medium will condition saidmachine for reproducing and the completion of the second such passage will automatically stop said machine.

2. In a magnetic recording device, comprising and endless flexible magnetic recording medium, manual operation initiating means, automatic means responsive to said operation initiating means and to successive passages of said recording medium through said machine, and additional manually controlled means, whereby after initiation of operation by said first named manual means recording or reproduction is under control of said second manually controlled means, and after the first passage of said medium through said machine, reproduction will be regardless of the condition of said second manually controlled means, and after the second such passage the machine will automatically stop.

3. In a recording and reproducing machine, a record structure providing an endless elongated magnetizable and demagnetizable recording medium and including a control element, means operable to initiate the running of said recording medium, control means including means operable by said control element and switching means operative during said running and adapted to condition said machine for recording during the first passage through said machine of said recording medium, said control means operating to condition said machine for reproducing after said first passage of said recording medium and to stop said running at or about the completion of the second passage of said recording medium through said machine.

4. In a recording and reproducing machine having a record structure forming an endless flexible/magnetic recording medium and including a control element, starting means, and control means including means operable by said control element and responsive to each passage of said medium through said machine, whereby the completion of the first passage of said medium will condition said machine for reproducing and the completion of the second such passage will stop said machine.

5. In a recording and reproducing machine, a record structure providing an endless elongated magnetizab le and demagnetizable recording meincluding a control element, means operable to initiate the running of said recording medium, control means including means operable by said control element and switching means operative during said running and adapted to condition said machine for recording during the first passage through said machine of said recording medium, said control means operating to condition said machine for reproducing after said first passage of said recording medium, said control means including means responsive to the substantial completion or the second passage of said recording medium through said machine and disposed to terminate said running of said recording medium.

6. In a recordi for magnetically as recording and reproducing apparatus transducing record signals, such magnetic signals or reproducing the cally recorded signals, a record structure 9; a cyclically operative magnetizable recording medium and including a control element, record transducing means for carrying on record transducing operations while said recording medium moves past said transducing means, guide means including impelling means for guiding and impelling said recording medium past said transducin during a predetermined number of passage cycles of a substantially complete passage of the recording medium past said transducing means, and in combination therewith control means including means operable by said control element for causing said apparatus to perform with said recording medium record transducing operations during a predetermined number of passage cycles and to thereafter stop the motion of said recording medium, said control means including means for causing said apparatus to perform at least one signal recording operation during at least a part of one passage cycle of said recording medium.

'7. In a recording and reproducing apparatus for magnetically transducing record signals, such as recording magnetic signals or reproducing the magnetically recorded signals, a record structure providing an endlessly operative magnetizable recording medium and including a control element, record transducing means for carrying on record transducing operations while said recording medium moves past said transducing means, guide means including impelling means for guiding and impelling said recording medium past said transducing means during a predetermined number of passage cycles of a substantially complete passage or" the recording medium past said transducing means, and in combination therewith control means including means operable by said control element for causing said apparatus to perform with said recording medium record transducing operations during a predetermined number of passage cycles and to thereafter stop the motion of said recording medium, said control means including means for causing said apparatus to per- 9 form at least one signal recording operation dur- Number ing one passage cycle of said recording medium. 1,166,925 EDMUND M. SQUIRE. 1,853,960 2,002,352 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,079,959 The following references are of record in the 2,335,701 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 34,422

873,083 Poulsen et a] 1. Dec. 10, 1907 Name Date Ober Jan. 4, 1916 Cunningham Apr. 12, 1932 Owens May 21, 1935 Fear May 11, 1937 Halsteacl Sept. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Netherlands Aug. 15, 1934

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