US2801291A - Dictation recording system - Google Patents

Description

July 30, 1957 w. w. LOGAN 2,801,291

DICTATION RECORDING SYSTEMl I 10 ac .q/

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DICTATION RECORDING SYSTEM William W. Logan, Glen Ridge, N. J., assignor, bymesne assignments, to McGraw-Edison Company, Elgin, lll., a corporation of Delaware Application January 4, 1956, Serial No. 557,266

Claims. (Cl. 179-100.1)

This invention relates to an improvement on the multistation, remotely-controlled phonographic system described in my Patent 2,690,480, issued September 28, 1954.

The foregoing patent describes a system wherein a plurality of remote dictators stations are connectable in parallel with a single recording machine to permit private use of the machine from any one of the different stations without intrusion or interference from any of the other stations. In the present invention such multistation recording system is provided with a plurality of recording machines and with selector switches at the stations to enable a station operator to selectively connect his sta- .tion to an available machine when other machines of the `system are in use, whilestill providing complete privacy ,to each dictator in the use of his selected machine.

Itis an object of my invention to provide a multistation recording system with facility for selecting between different recording machines at each station while providing complete privacy to each user of the system.

Another object is to provide improvements in the privacy system of my aforestated patent which are adapted to maintain privacy to each user when the facility is provided at eachl station for selecting between different recording machines.

A further object is to provide a selector switch and relay unit with a novel intercoupling between the switch and relay to force release of the relay during movement of the switch from one position to another, and a further object is to provide novel control means and circuitry including such an intercoupled switch and relay.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

In the description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure l is a schematic circuit diagram of a remotelycontrolled multistation dictation-recording system having facility for selecting betweena plurality of recording machines at each station and of providing privacy to each user of the system;

Figure 2 is a side View of a station selector switch and relay unit embodied in the dictation-recording system illustrated in Figure l; and

Figures 3 and 4 are fractional sections taken respectively on the lines 3--3 and 4 4 of Figure 2.

In the following description only such portions of the recording machines are shown and described as need be considered for the purposes of the present invention, and these portions are only diagrammatically illustrated.

The illustrative embodiment shown in Figure l comprises a plurality of identical dictators stations of which two, shown by way of example, are referred to as 10a and 10b, and comprises further a plurality of attendants stations of which two, shown by way of example, are referred to as llc and 11d. At each attendants station there is a dictating machine 12 (fractionally shown) which comprises a turntable 13 driven by a motor 14 through 2 a clutch 15.' The turntable carries a record disk 16 engaged by a recording unit 17. Audio speech-representing currents are fed to this recording unit through an audio transformer 18 and a circuit 19 including an amplilier 20. A v

Each attendants station is provided with a communication or laudio circuit referred to by the number 21with the sufi-ix letter of the respective station, which serially includes the primary of the audio transformer 18. This communication circuit is used also to control the machine, and for the latter purpose it includes two seriallyconnected relays 22 and 23. Audio currents in the communication circuit are bypassed around these relays through a condenser 24. The communication circuit is energized from a low-voltage D. C. power source referred to by the terminals 25. The relays are adapted to operate at different levels of direct current established selectively at the dictators stations, as will appear. The relay 22 has contacts 26 operated at the lower current level to close a power circuit 27 serially including the motor 14. This power circuit is energized from an A. C. source represented by the terminals 28. The second relay 23 is adapted to operate at a higher current level and controls the clutch 15 as represented diagrammatically by the tie line 23a. These relays may of course perform still other control functions which need not however be herein described. For the present purposes it will be understood that the motor 14 is started when the relay 22 is operated and that the clutch 15 is engaged to start rotation of the turntable 13 when the relay 23 is operated. An energization of the communication circuit 21 at the lower current level, with resultant starting of the motor 14 or other conditioning of the machine for immediate start-stop operation, is herein considered as an activation of the dictating machine.

In the power circuit 27 and in shunt with the motor 14 is the primary of a voltage stepdown transformer 29. This transformer provides an A. C. voltage for signaling purposes as is later described.

The dictators stations 10a and 10b may be identical and therefore a description of one will sullice for both. Corresponding elements of these stations are given the same reference numbers but with the sutlix letters of the respective stations.

The dictators operating equipment at each dictators station, described for example with reference to the station 10a, comprises a handpiece 31a of the usual telephone variety including as transducer elements a carbon button microphone 32a and a receiver 33a. The microphone 32a is connectable across the communication crcuit at the dictators station through a manual record switch 34a and a double-pole on-olf station switch 38a having a pole 39a in each line of the communication circuit. Both poles are closed with their respective contacts when the station switch is in on position and are broken therefrom when the station switch is in off position. The receiver 33a is connectable across the same communication circuit at the dictators station by closure of the station switch but this connection is made through a condenser 35a and a resistor 36a. Additionally, there is a resistor 37a at the dictators station which is in parallel with the series arrangement of microphone 32a and switch 34a, as well as with the series arrangement of receiver 33a, condenser 35a and resistor 36a.

At least one of the movable pole elements 39a of the station switch 38a is associated with a support for the handpiece 31a as, for example, by providing it with a hook-shaped extension 40a adapted to receive the handpiece and support it when the station switch is not in use. The pole elements of the station switch are urged upwardly into closed positions by the spring 41a, but when the handpiece is placed on the support 40a the weight thereof is sutiicient to overcome the spring and to hold the station switch open.

Each dictators station has a link circuit designated by the number 21 with the suffix letter of the respective station. Interposed between the on-oif station switch and the link circuit 21a of station 10a are the poles 51a and 52a of a privacy relay 50a, and interposed between'the link circuit v21a and the main communication circuits of the respective machines is a selector switch SM connectable selectively to respective branches leading off from the main communication circuits and referred to by the number 21 with the suiiix letters of the respective dictators and attendants stations. For instance, the selector switch 100a of the dictators station 10a is connectable to branch 211,1c leading to the communication circuit of the attendants station llc or to the branch circuit'21zfzd leading to the dictators station 11d. Thus, when the station switch is closed and the privacy relay is operated, the resistor 37a completes a direct current connection across that one of the main communication circuits 21 to' which the respective selector switch is connected. Such direct current connection across the main communication circuit causes current to flow therein at the `lower current level from the source 25 to operate the relay/'22. Such operation of this relay activates the machine as is hereinbefore described. If the record switch 34a is also closed, the resultant parallel connection of the carbon button microphone 32a across the resistor 37a steps up the flow of current to a higher level to operate also the relay 2 3. Operation of this relay engages the clutch to start the machine running.

Each recording machine has a signal-control circuit designated by the number 30 with the suffix letter of the respective attendants station. Leading from each signalcontrol circuit to each dictators station is a branch signal circuit designated by the number 30 with the suflix letters of the respective attendants and dictators stations. For instance, there are two such branch signal circuits leading to the station 10a designated as 30ac and 30nd. Each branch signal circuit serially includes a signal lamp and an adjustable resistor designated respectively by the numbers-I2 andv101 with the suflix letters of the respective attendants and dictators stations. The adjustable series resistor is provided as a means for compens ating for differences in the resistances of different lengths of lines between the stations.

yEach main signal-control circuit of the respective machines is normally connected across the D. C. source 25 through the'poles 61 and 62 of switches constituting part of a relay 59. The coil of this relay is connected across lthe secondary of the signal transformer 29 through a rectifier 60 so that the relay 5,9 will be operated when power is supplied to the transformer-which will occur when the recording vmachine is activated as has been explained, When the relay 59 is operated, the poles 6l and 2 are moved to connect the signal-control circuit across the secondary of the signal transformer 29. Thus, until a machine is activated a D. C. potential is applied to the signal-control circuit, and when the machine is activated an A. C. potential is applied to this circuit. In order that the D. C. voltage may not operate the signal lamp at any of the dictators stations, a rectifier is connected in series with each lamp but in opposite polarity to the voltage applied in the circuit from the D. C. source 25, the rectiiier being referred to by the number 102 with the suftix letters of the respective dictators and'attendants stations.

When the on-off station switch 38a of station 10a is rst closed while theselector switch100a is in a position corresponding to an unactivated machine, say the machine of the attendants station 11C, the privacy relay 50a is not yet operated but the coil of this privacy relay is connected in a circuit across the signal control circuit 30C of that machine via a branch circuit.54ac leading from the signal control circuit 30C to the selector switch 100a,

a link circuit 54a interconnecting two poles of the selector switch a with the upper contacts associated with the poles 51a and 52a of the privacy relay (which link circuit serially includes the coil of the privacy relay and a resistor 55a), the station switch 38a and the resistor 37a. Since the potential source 25 is then connected across the signal-control circuit of that relay, the privacy relay is operated. As this privacy relay is operated, the poles 51a and 52a of the privacyrelay are moved to shift the connection of the resistor 37a from the signal-control circuit 30C to the link circuit 21a now connected to the communication-control circuit 21C. This completes the latter circuit to cause the relay 22 to operate. Operation of this relay closes the power switch 26 to start the motor and to provide power to the signal transformer 29. Power from the secondary of the signal transformer then operates the relay S9 through the rectifier 60. As the relay 59 is operated, the signal-control circuit 30C is disconnected from the D. C. power source 25 and is connected to the secondary of the transformer 29 to provide the signal circuit'with A. `C. power. vAlthough the privacy relay 50a is one operable only by direct current, this relay was connected across the circuit 54a via its pole 53a and a rectifier 58a when the privacy relay was operated. The A. C. voltage on the signal control circuit 30t` is therefore effective to maintain the privacy relay operated by virtue of the holding circuit completed by the closure of the pole 53a with its associated contact. A filter condenser 56a is connected in shunt with the relay coil to smooth out the intermittent pulses supplied to the coil of the relay through the rectifier 58a.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that closing the station switch 38a when the selector switch 10011 is in a position corresponding to an idle machine serves to connect the `resistor 37a across the communication control circuit of that machine, to energize the privacy relay 50a of the dictators station and to activate the machine, which activation operates the relay 59 to shift the signalcontrol circuit of that machine from the D. C. source 25 to the signal transformer 29 to provide this circuit with A. C. power. Upon energization of the signal-control circuit by A. C. power, the signal lamp corresponding to that machine now lights because the rectifier in the branch signal circuit passes current to the lamp'. Similarly, the lamps at all other dictators stations corresponding to that machine will now also be lit to give indication at all other stations that that particular machine is in use.

Once a dictators station is so operatively connected to an available machine to activate the same, that machine can be started and stopped at will by pressing and releasing the record switch 34a. Dictation spoken into the microphone 32a will be then amplified by the amplifier 20 and recorded on the record by the recorder 17.

At the dictators station 10h there is also a normallyopen4 listen switchV 43a' operable to interconnect the negative side of the communication-control circuit at the dictators station with one line of each of the branch signal circuits at the dictators station. When the listen switch is closed while the station 10a is connected to the machine at the attendants station llc, a circuit is completed lfrom the positive side of the D. C. source 25 through a record-reproduce relay 44 via a lead 103, the coil of the relay 44, lead 104, pole 61 of the relay 59, one side of the signal control circuit 30C, one side of the branch circuit 541m and of the link circuit 54a via the third pole from the top of the selector switch 100a, the listen switch 43a, one pole of Ithe station switch 33a, a pole 52a of the privacy relay 50a, negative side of the branch circuits 21a andA 21ac via the second pole from the top of the selector switch 100a, and the negative side of the communication control circuit 21C to the negative side of the source 25.. The relay 44 has a double-pole switch 45 for shifting the connection of the audio transformer 18 from the recording lines 19 to a pair of reproducing lines 46 which are connected through an amplifier 47 to a reproducer 48. This reproducer normally engages the record disk and is moved with the recorder 17 at a trailing distance therefrom (it will be understood that the recorder 17 and reproducer 48 may be lifted from the record disk as for purposes of making a record change, but that the means for doing this need not be herein described). The relay 44 has also an operative connection With the clutch as represented by the tie line 44a, which is for the purpose of engaging the clutch to start record rotation whenever the listen switch 43a is closed while the di-ctators station is operatively connected with one of the recording machines.

Since each privacy relay is operable only by la direct current and an effect of operatively connecting a dictators station to an available machine is to shift the power supply for the signal-control circuit from a D. C. to an A. C. source, it follows that once a machine is activated, any attempt at another dictators station to connect that station to a machine already in use will not result in the privacy relay of -that station being operated. Since operation of the privacy relay of a dictators station is necessary to enable a dictators audio and control equipment to be operatively connected via the respective communication-control circuit to a recording machine, it follows tha-t no dictator can operatively connect his station equipment to a machine already in use either to listen in to the dictation being recorded or reproduced or to interfere in any way with the operation or control of that machine.

The Iforegoing privacy system is entirely foolproof when a plurality of dictators stations are connectable to only a single recording machine. However, when there are provided a plurality of recording machines and each dictators station is provided with a selector switch to enable selective connection of a dictators station with those machines, the foregoing privacy system may fail under certain conditions. For instance, if a dictators station is connected to one machine and some other dictators station is connected to another machine corresponding to an adjacent position of the selector switch of the first dictators station, a quick shift of that selector switch to the adjacent position may not cause the privacy relay of the first station to drop out, notwithstanding that power to the privacy relay is cut off momentarily during movement of the Selector switch between positions, because of magnetic retentivity tending to hold the relay operated. As a result, connection is made to the other activated machine while the rst dictators privacy relay is still operated. station thus receives holding current from the other machine via the holding circuit of the privacy relay as soon as the selector switch makes connection with the other machine. Since the privacy relay is operated, a complete operative connection of the first dictators station is made to the other machine already in use.

In order to prevent such defeating of the privacy larrangement, l provide at each dictators `station a mechanical coupling between the pole members of the selector switch and the armature of the respective privacy relay whi-ch is adapted forcibly to move the armature out of operated position as the selector switch is shifted from one position to the next. This mechanical coupling is indicated only diagrammatically in Figure l and there referred to by the number 104 with the suix letter of the dictators station; however, this coupling is fully shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

As indicated in Figure 2, the selector switch 100 may be of the wafer, rotary type having poles mounted on a shaft 165. This shaft is rotatably mounted in two frame plates 106 and 107 and is operable by a knob 10S. Bracket/ed to the back plate 107 is the privacy relay 50 comprising a coil 109 having a central magnetic core 110 projecting slightly beyond the coil at one end. Connected to the other end of this core is an L-shaped magnetic frame 111 which extends along the length of the coil. Pivoted at 112 to this frame is a magnetic armature 113 which overlies the projecting end ofthe core 110 and The privacy relay of the first dictators is attracted thereagainst asthe'coil is energized. This armature is provided with side arms 114 and 115 which extend lengthwise of the coil. The side arm 114 is provided for operating the switch poles 51, 52 and 53 mounted in an insulating stack 116, the connection of the side arm to these poles being via an insulating button 117 between the arm and the pole 53 and further insulating buttons 118 and 119 between the successive pole members. The other arm 115 underlies a transverse cantilever spring 120 secured at 121 to the plate 107. Above the spring in spaced relation thereto is a lug 122 bent over from the frame plate 107. This lug is provided with an oversized aperture for receiving loosely a ball 123 that lies on an intermediate portion of the spring 120. This ball is interposed between this intermediate portion of the spring 120 and the notched periphery of a disk 124 mounted on the shaft of the selector switch. The disk has three notches 125 (Figure 4) corresponding to the three positions of the selector switch indicated in Figure l. l'n any one position of the selector switch the ball 123 engages the corresponding notch 125 and by its contact with the upwardly-urged spring 120 holds the spring in position wherein the free end thereof just clears the arm of the armature of the privacy relay when the armature is actuated. However, upon shifting the selector switch from one position to the next the pole rides over the land between successive notches 125 to cam the spring momentarily downwardly against the arm 115 whereby to forcibly move the armature out of operated position. Thus it is assured that the privacy relay will be in unoperated position prior to the instant the selector switch is shifted to -a machine already in use, with the result that operative connection to that machine is normally prevented.

There remains still some possibility that if a dictator is using one of the recording machines while another machine corresponding to an adjacent position on the dictators selector switch is alsoin use, and the dictator thereupon plays his switch back and forth between the positions corresponding to the two machines in use, the armature of his privacy relay may rebound into actuated position at the instant theselector switch is connected to the other machine because the energy stored in the capacitor 56a and coil 50a will not have had time to dissipate during the shifting of the selector switch. This would result in the privacy relay immediately finding holding current and in the dictator making operative connection with the other machine notwithstanding the forced shifting of the armature of his privacy relay out of operated position during the shifting of the selector switch. However, the forced return of the armature of the privacy relay by the means hereinbefore described does reduce the inductance of the relay coil and allow 'a more rapid discharge of the condenser 56a. The discharge of the condenser may, however, be still further accelerated by breaking the connection of the condenser across the relay coil and then connecting it across a low resistance discharge circuit momentarily during the shifting of the selector switch from one position to the next as is disclosed and claimed in the pending application Serial No. 573,360 of Richard Kobler and Martin J. Kutik, filed March 23, 1956, and entitled Dictation Recording System. For this purpose there is provided a switch 126a coupled to the selector switch 100:1 as diagrammatically represented by the tie line 131:1. This switch is normally positioned to complete the shunt connection of the condenser 56a across the coil of the privacy relay. Upon operating the disabling switch the shunt condenser is shifted from the relay coil to a discharge circuit serially including a current-limiting resistor 127a. For purposes of operating the switch 126a from the shaft of the selector switch, the switch elements are mounted in an insulating stack 128 which in turn is mounted on a lug 129 of the frame plate 107. The central blade of the switch 126 serves as the pole member and is urged upwardly to make contact withthe upper bladel in the normal position of the switch shown inl Figure l. Staked to this central blade is an insulatingl stud 130` which passes freely through an aperturedY portion of the upper blade; into contact with the under side of` the spring 120. When the spring 126 is cammed downwardly during transit of the selector switch from one position to the next, the central blade is shifted to break contact with the upper blade and to make contact with the lower blade respectively to disconnect the shunt condenser from the relay coil' and to discharge the condenser.

` The embodiment of my invention herein particularly' shown and described is intended to be illustrative and not limitative of my invention since the same is subject to changes and modifications without departureV from the scope of my invention, which'i endeavor to express according to the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a remotely-controlled phonographic system including a plurality of attendants stations each including a dictatingmachine having an `audio circuit and means for activatingthe` machine', and a plurality of dictators stations each provided with station equipment including a transducer 'and an on-oiiE station switch: the combination of branch circuits leading from eachofsaid machines to each of said stations; a Selector switch at each dictators station for selecting' said branch circuits re-spectively; means `for operatively connecting a dictators station via the respectively selected branch circuit to a dictating machine when the respective station switch is moved to on position, comprising a relay for each of Isaid dictators stations, means for supplying operating current to said relay via the station switch and selector switch only upon closing the station switch while the machine corresponding to the `selected branch -circuit is not activated, and circuit means conditioned by operation of said relay for making connection of the dictators station to said machine and for preventing connectioncof any other of said dictators stations to said machine; and means controlled by each of said selector switches for forcibly lshifting therelay of the respective station out of operated position as an incident of shifting the selector switchv from one position to the next.

2. In a remotely-controlled phonographic system including a plurality of attendants stations each including a dictating machine having an audio circuit and means for activating the machine, and a plurality of dictators stations each provided with station equipment including a transducer and an on-ot station switch: the combination of branch circuits leadingl from each of said machines to each of said stations; a rselector switch at each dictators station for` selecting said. branch circuits respectively; meansfor operatively connecting a dictators station via the respectively selected branch circuit to a dictatingmachine when the respective station switch is moved to on position, comprising/a relay for each of saidV dictators stations, means for supplying operatingV current to said relay via thestation switch andy selector switch only upon closing the station Switch while the machine corresponding tothe selected branch circuit is not activated, and circuit means conditioned by operation of-said relay for making connection of the dictators station to said machine and for preventing connection of any other of said dictators stations to said machine; condensers shunting respectively-the operating coils of said relays; and means controlled by each of said selector switches for breaking the current supply momentarily to the respective relay and accelerating discharge. of the respective condenser as the selector switch is shifted from one position to the next.

3. Ina remotely-controlled phonographic system including a plurality ofattendants stations each including a dictating machine having an audio circuit and means for activating thefmaehine, and a plurality of dictators stationseach provided with Vstation equipment including a transducer and an on-oifstation switch: the combination. of normally-open branch circuits. leading from' each oflsaid machines to each of said stations; a selector switch at eachV dictators station for` selecting said branch circuits respectively; means for connecting the equipment of a dictators station via the respectively selected branch circuit to a dictating machine when the respective station switch is moved to on position, comprising a relay for each of said dictators stations, means for operating said relay only upon closing the station switch. while the machine corresponding to the selected branch circuit is not activated, and circuit means conditioned by operation of said relay for making connection to said machine and for preventing connection ofv any other of said stations to said machine; a condenser for each of said relays connected in shunt withthe coil thereof; and means operatively coupled to each of said selector Switches for causing the respective relay to be returned to unoperated position as the selector switch is shifted out of an operate position.

4. In combination: a plurality of electrical relays, a circuit system comprising a plurality of stations each including one of said relays, aplurality of branch circuits leading from each of said stations and a selector switch for selec-tively connecting the station to said branch circuits respectively; means for causing operation of the relay of a station upon operative connection of the station to one of said branch circuits; and means operatively coupled to each of said selector switches for forcibly shifting the respective relay out of operated position upon shifting the selector switch from one position to the next.

5. In a circuitvsystem: the combination of a plurality of operable machines; a plurality of control stations each havingY a plurali-ty of branch circuits leading to said machines respectively, a selector switch for connecting the stationV to said respective branch circuits, a relay connected in the circuit system; means to operate a relay according to whether or not the station is connected to an idle one of said machines by said selector switch; and means operative upon the relay at a station being in operated position when the respective selector switch is shifted from one position to `the next for forcibly momentarily shifting the relay to unoperated position.

6. In a circuit system: the combination of a plurality of operable machines; a plurality of control stations each having a plurality of branch circuits leading to said machines respectively, a selector switch for connecting the station to said respective branch circuits, a relay connected in the circuit system; means to operate a relay according to whether or no-t the station is connected to an idle, one of said machines by said selector switch; and means operative upon the relay at a station being in operated position when the respective selector switch is shifted from one position to the nex-t for breaking the energizing circuit of the relay.

7. In a circuit system: the combination of a plurality of operable machines; a plurality of control stations; a plurality of branch circuits leading from each station -to said machines respectively; a selector switch for each station for connecting the station to its branch circuits respectively; a relay at each station having an armature and operable switch contacts; a holding circuit for each relay including a pair of its switch contacts and rendered eiective when the relay is operated; circuit means for causing a relay to be operated upon connection of the respective station by its selector switch to an idle one of said machines; and means operative upon shifting a selector switch of any one of said stations while the respective relay is operated for moving the armature of the relay to break the holding circuit during movement of the selector switch from one position to the next.

8. In a system of the character described including a plurality of dictators stations and a plurality of dictating machines: the combination of means for activating said machines respectively from each dictators station including a relay at the station, means for operating the relay, and means forl making operative connection to an idle machine when the relay is operated; a circuit for each relay including a pair of the contacts of the relay for holding the relay energized when a machine is activated from the respective dictators station; a selector device at each dictators station for selecting between said machines; and a connection between said selector device and the armature of said relay, said connection i11- cluding a cam element eiective, when the selector device is shifted from one position to the next, to forcibly move the armature and break the holding contacts of said re lay.

9. In a system of the character described including a plurality of dictators stations and a plurality of recording machines each connectable to any one of said stations: the combination of a selector device at each of said stations operahle to select any one of said machines; a privacy circuit arrangement in said system for preventing a dictator a-t one station from making connection with a machine already activated, said privacy arrangement including a relay at each of said stations, means to cause 10 the relay to be energized when its respective station is operatively connected to a selec-ted one of said machines and means effective upon operation of the relay to cause all of the relays of the other stations to become disabled with respect to the selected machine; and means operable by each of said selector devices for positively returning the respective relay to unoperated position as the selector device is shifted from one position to the next.

10. An electrical switching device comprising a selector switch having an element movable into selected switch positions; a frame for said selector switch; a relay mounted on said frame and comprising an armature normally in a released position; and means mechanically intercoupling said movable element of said selector switch and said armature for causing said armature, upon operating said selector switch While said relay is energized, to be forcibly released during shift of the selector switch from one position to the next.

No references cited.

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