RECORD PLAYBACK COUNTER

Abstract: A counter for use with a video tape recorder indicates the number of times the tape has been, at least substantially, played. The counting is achieved mechanically, electro-mechanically, or electronically. The video cassette casing (1) includes a mechanical counting device in the form of an arm (5) pivoted at a point (6). Pivoted arm (5) terminates in a camming head (7) in contact with the surface of the outer turn of tape on the hub (4). This contact being at the point (8) before the tape is played. After commencement of play, the diameter of the tape portion on take-up reel hub (4) increases and moves arm (5) through an arc (10). When a predetermined number of degrees of arc has been traversed by arm (5), a trip means of a counting mechanism is activated indicating that the tape has been substantially played. Alternatively, the counter may use a capacitive sensor and a logic chip to count crenellations on a tape reel periphery and store the number of tape plays.

Description: RECORD PLAYBACK COUNTER TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to recording/playback devices, and more particularly to a device for ascertaining the number of times a recording has been played or used. The invention has especial application in the field of video cassette rental. Rental of recorded matter is developing rapidly; the estimated retail turnover of video cassette rental already compares favourably with the gross proceeds from book publishing and record manufacturing. Commercial record rental is not widespread but this state of affairs may well alter in the light of increasing production of the so-called "compact discs". Like video cassettes, these are relatively expensive and rental may increasingly become an attractive alternative to outright purchase. If an analogy can be drawn between a "blockbuster" film costing many millions of dollars to make and an author's manuscript, then 'a rented video . cassette can be equated with such an " article as a hardback edition of a book in a lending library or in a book exchange establishment. The studios and major distributors initially completely failed to see that, in allowing the sale or rental of these copies of the original film - purely as a sideline, they thought - they were shifting the very foundation of their enterprise. Unfortunately, this sideline is becoming the mainline, and the more quickly the screen production business recognises the fact and restructures itself on a new foundation, the less damage it will suffer. The studios and major distributors, then, clearly fell into the trap of perceiving video as a sideline or ancillary market. That mistake allowed them to acquiesce in the establishment of a system of video distribution that effectively subsidises the end user. At first, exhibitors were able to recoup that subsidy from cinema audiences by raising seat prices but, in ever increasing numbers, cinema goers have left the ranks of the subsidy payers to join those of the subsidy receivers, that is to' say, the renters of video cassettes. It is a well-recognised fundamental rule of economic viability that it must be the end user who pays, but in the video cassette business the great problem is how is the end user to be made to pay? At present the "video revolution" is in what may aptly be termed its lending library phase, and an essential problem at the moment is that it is not ascertainable whether, or how often, a video tape has been played. It was basically this fact that aborted initial attempts to charge "per rental". There was no way of monitoring cassettes to ascertain whether a video tape had been run through once or a hundred times. Screen production businesses normally sell tapes to video rental outlets for the highest price they are able to get. This is not in the interest of the sellers because the price must be kept low - uneconomically so - in order to discourage the all-too-prevalent pirate organisations and to keep down to a reasonable level the amount of capital required to stock a video rental business. On the other hand, this price is still relatively high from the point of view of the video shop owner and so discourages him from distributing as many copies of any particular tape as he would like to. Thus, in the long term, nobody benefits. BACKGROUND ART It is clearly desirable, then, that video cassettes should be provided with some kind of built-in play-counting device and two systems have so far been proposed one being the so-called "R-Cassette" developed in the U.S.A. in 1981. This enables a video cassette intended for rental to lock automatically after one viewing. The cassette can only be rewound by using a special device, supplied only to dealers, which is linked up to a central computer that records each "use", thus enabling an exact calculation to be made of the number of times the video has been hired. This system would also enable payments to ' be made to copyright owners, calculated on a per rental basis. The theoretical advantages may be obvious but the conception is quite impractical from a manufacturing point of view. The other system is known as the "Screen Key Card" system and operates by recording the material to be rented on cassette in a scrambled form. Customers are issued with a card containing a de-scrambling code which must be used in order to gain access to the video tape. Thi * jS card also contains coded details of the subscriber's name, address, etc, thus enabling identification, invoicing and payment for each rental use. Each time the customer rents, the relevant de-scrambling code is programmed into the card and each time the de-scrambler is activated an electronic mark is made on the de-scrambled material. This system, however, requires special and .complex hardware. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is thus an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages, and to this end there is provided a video device having, within a casing thereof, means to automatically count the number of times that pre-recorded material of the device has been, at least substantially, played. A "video device" may be defined as meaning "... a video cassette or video disc embodying the film which is sold or rented to the public for home use only by means of a playback device directly connected to or forming an integral part of a television receiver or device". As will be appreciated, the above statement of the invention relates to "purpose-built" cassettes, perhaps identified by bar code means but, in a second aspect, the invention may equally well relate to the modification of existing cassettes. In this second aspect, therefore, there may be provided, installable within a casing of a video device, means to automatically count the number of times that pre-recorded material of the device has been, at least substantially, played. Counting may be achieved mechanically,- electro-mechanically, electronically etc., and in this latter regard the invention may consist in a video device including a capacitive sensor and a logic chip adapted to count crenellations on a tape reel periphery to thereby sense movement a particular frequency band covering a range of speeds consistent with the play mode; a second sensor for energising of the circuit; a timer chip pre-set to programme duration of play and triggered by the logic chip, the timer chip being adapted to time substantially total play frequency duration to produce a threshold signal via the logic chip; total number of tape plays being recorded and/or displayed for a set hire period and progessive total number of tape plays being stored for subsequent information retrieval. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order that the reader may gain a better understanding of the present invention, certain preferred embodiments thereof will be hereinafter described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a simple mechanical embodiment; Figure 2 shows a suitable ratchet counting mechanism; Figure 3 illustrates a drum counter; Figure 4 is an illustration of a tape counter; and Figure 5 illustrates an exploded view of the actuator assembly of a further embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 shows a simple mechanical embodiment. In this drawing, a video cassette casing is generally referenced 1. It has a magnetic-tape guidance assembly 2, a delivery reel hub 3 and a take-up reel hub 4. When a tape is played, the diameter of the reel centered on take-up hub 4 increases while that on delivery hub 3 simultaneously decreases. When the tape has been fully played, it is rewound back onto delivery hub 3. It might be noted that the distance "d", that is to say, between the two reeled portions of tape at any point of play , is not constant. At "half-way play" position this distance is very slightly less than it is at "full-play" or "start-of-play" positions. Moreover, the distance "d" varies slightly between the "Beta" and "VHS" systems and therefore the inventive counting device is adapted to be able to be employed in both kinds of video cassettes by selecting the minimum average distance for "d" in respect of both systems. The mechanical counting device of this embodiment includes an arm 5 pivoted within casing 1 at a point 6 equidistant between hubs 3 and 4. Pivoted arm 5 terminates in a camming head 7 and may be spring-urged to maintain it in constant contact with the surface of the outer turn of tape on hub 4, this contact being initially at the point 8 on broken circle 9 which represents the minimum tape diameter on hub 4. After commencement of play, the diameter of the tape portion on take-up reel hub 4 increases and moves arm 5 through an arc indicated by the curved arrow 10. When a predetermined number of degrees of arc has been traversed by pivoted arm 5, this latter activates a trip means of a counting mechanism to thereby indicate that the tape has been played, or substantially played, on time. Ideally, this count is initiated when, say, from about 50% to about 90% of the tape has run through. On the rewinding of the tape back onto delivery hub 3, a ratchet-and-pawl assembly may ensure that the "rewind" is not counted as being a "play" . Alternatively, the trip means may be activated to count both winds and re-winds, the pair of counts therefore representing one play of the tape. In other words the counting device will thus record the number of times that a consumer has benefitted by the playing of the video tape cassette. T/AU86/00107 Figure 2 shows a suitable counting mechanism which includes a planar cover plate 11 adapted to be accommodated within a video cassette casing, as that generally referenced* 1 in Figure 1. In this embodiment the arm is pivoted at point 12 coaxial with a counter-actuating pawl member 13 which is arranged so as to rotate as the arm moves through its arc in response to change in reel diameter. When a predetermined number of degrees of arc has been tranversed, the tip of pawl member 13 contacts a tooth of a peripherally-toothed counter ring 14 and counts one play. When a hundred plays have been counted, a lug 15 on the inner periphery of ring 14 meshes with a co-acting lug on the periphery of a hundred-plays counter ring 16 which may be adapted to count up to, say, 399 plays. On the rewinding of the tape back onto the delivery hub, this ratchet-and-pawl arrangement ensures that the "rewind" is not counted as being a play. In the further embodiment shown in Figure 3, the device includes a pair of pivoted arms 17, 18 which operate to measure the diameter of the reel of tape, a drum counter 19 moves accordingly on its axis of rotation 20 to count plays. Yet a further mechanical embodiment is to be seen in Figure 4; here, a pivotted arm 21 senses the change in diameter of the reel. Arm 21 is provided with a finger 22 adapted to engage with a tape 23 of a tape-counter device 24. In another embodiment there is provided an actuator assembly of the type illustrated in Figure 5. The actuator assembly is adapted to be housed within the video cassette casing between the delivery/take-up reels and the bottom face of the cassette casing. The actuator assembly/counter assembly comprises a top cover plate 25 slidably engaged to a stationary or fixed bottom cover plate 26. The top cover plate 25 comprises two eccentric or eliptical openings 27 and 28 to allow for movement of the top cover plate relative to the hubs of the delivery and take up reels. Tongue members 29 an 30 on the top cover plate are adapted to engage the elongate slot 31 in the bottom cover plate and help facilitate the top cover plate's slidable engagement with the bottom cover plate. On the upper face (not shown) of the top cover plate 25 is arranged a frame 32 comprising two arcuate members spaced from the outer periphery of magnetic tape on the delivery and take up reels, said arcuate members being rigidly connected via a bridging member axially aligned with a notional line running through the axial centres of the two reel hubs. The arcuate members are affixed to tab extensions on the top cover plate. The arcuate members contain spring plate members adapted to contact the outer periphery of tape on either the delivery reel or the take up reel. The whole top cover plate assembly or carriage is thus adapted for movement as magnetic tape is transferred from one reel to the other. The counter assembly comprises a units counting wheel 33 and a hundreds counting wheel 34, both with indicia indicated adjacent the outer peripheral edge. The units counting wheel comprises 100 slots 35 spaced 3.6° apart, each slot except one being 3.0mm x 1mm, with the remaining slot 36 being 8.0mm x 1mm; this latter slot allows for engagement of the hundreds counting wheel when the units counting wheel has passed through one rotation. The hundreds counting wheel is provided with a series of five slots 37 spaced 4° apart. A series of six spaced tabs 38 about an inner periphery of the bottom cover plate provide a bearing or hub for the units counting wheel, and a further series of six tabs 39 spaced outwardly therefrom provide a bearing or hub for the hundreds counting wheel. The indicia on the counting wheel(s), corresponding to the number of plays of the video cassette are readable through window 40, which has a corresponding window opening in the bottom face of the video cassette casing. The slots 35 to 37 of the counting wheels are engaged by tongue means (not shown) depressed and depending from the lower surface of the top cover plate 25. The combination of these slots and the tongue means provides a ratchet-and-pawl arrangement for rotation of the counting wheels according to the number of plays. On the rewinding of the tape back onto the delivery hub, this ratchet-and-pawl arrangement ensures that the "rewind" is not counted as being a play. All components can be manufactured from plastics material. In this embodiment, the top and bottom cover plates, and the counting wheels, can all be fabricated from 0.08 polyester. While the foregoing description has been couched in terms of mechanical counting, counting may nevertheless be achieved electro-mechanicall , electrically, electronically " or, indeed, by any feasible means. For example, the inventive device may utilise the crenellations that are provided on a tape reel to facilitate braking operation; a capacitive sensor and an IC logic chip sense movement in a particular frequency band which covers the range of speed consistent with play mode. Rewind frequency produces the signal to provide a null or unity input. Upon threading tension, a second sensor energises the circuit. A timer chip pre-set to programme duration is triggered by the logic chip and times out the total play frequency duration, producing a threshold signal to display via the logic chip adding the appropriate count to the display when the cassette is rewound or removed from the cassette player. The total tape plays are recorded and/or displayed for the hire period and the progressive total for the cassette is stored for retrieval by the owner. Memory output may be visual or electronic, however, preferred is direct reading by computers. When a cassette is returned and "plugged in" to the shop's computer which outputs data like title, number of plays, etc. The computer calculates hire charge from data on royalty, cost recovery or the like. Hirer's account is debited and royalty transferred. Total tape wear is accurately known since total footage past the heads is known. The above described electronics can be run on a watch battery or rechargeable cell. Thus it will be realised that the inventive means to automatically count the number of times that pre-recorded material has been played, or substantially played, may take several forms, as:- (a) sensing tape "play" tension against time; (b) sensing spool rotation against time; (c) sensing number of spool rotations electronically; (d) sensing tape movement by capacitance against time; that is to say, footage played; (e) sensing electromagnetic radiation of player against time. There again, change in diameter of a' tape reel may equally well be sensed optically, magnetically, by capacitance, etc. - - <• It is further contemplated that the present invention will actively encourage all distributors to ensure that all video copies of new films and all new copies of old films are made on counter-fitted cassettes, as such is obviously very much in their own interests. There again, purchasers of new cassettes, whether pre-recorded or blank, may well regard a counter as a desirable "extra", enabling them to keep track of tape and/or head wear. Installation of the inventive counters will permit all supplies of new and replacement cassettes to be based on fee-per-use contracts, thus making the proposition highly attractive to video shop operators by substantially reducing their initial outlay and so allowing them to carry more copies of successful films and a greater variety of films in general. It is envisaged that the first application of this invention will be to the licensing for use and renting of video cassettes, but that subsequent applications will include all electronic, electromagnetic and light-spectrum recording media. Although this invention has been described above with reference to video cassettes, the principles thereof are equally applicable to audio cassettes and cartridges and the like. From the above-going, the reader will readily appreciate that video cassettes incorporating counting devices according to the present invention will provide the public with a new or much-improved article or, at the very least, offer to it a useful and attractive choice. Although the invention has been described above with reference to examples and to preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The above description is therefore to be considered in all respects, illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A video device (as hereinbefore defined) having, within a casing thereof, means to automatically count the number of times that pre-recorded material of the device 5 . * has been, at least substantially, played. 2. Installable within a casing of a video device (as hereinbefore defined), means to automatically count the number of times that pre-recorded material of the device has been, at least substantially, played. 10 3. The video device of claim 1 or claim 2, being a video cassette. 4. The video device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein counting is achieved mechanically, electro- mechanically, or electronically. 15 5. The video device of claim 3, including at least one pivoted arm spring-urged so as to maintain constant contact with the surface of an outer turn of tape on a reel hub of said device, playing of said tape causing said arm to move through an arc about its pivot point; the arrangement being 20 such that, when a predetermined number of degrees of arc has been traversed by said arm, said arm activates a trip means of a counting' echanism to thereby indicate that said tape has been played, at least substantially, one time. 6. The video device of claim 5 wherein said counting 25 mechanism includes a counter-actuating pawl member associated with said at least one pivoted arm, a co-acting single-play, peripherally-toothed, counter ring associated with the wheel hub of said device and a hundred plays counter ring also associated with the said reel hub and 30 moving within said single play counter ring. 7. The video device of claim 5, wherein said counting mechanism is constituted by a tape-counter activated by at least said one arm. 8. The video device of claim 5, wherein said counting 35 mechanism is continued by a drum-counter activated by said at least one arm. - - 86/0.107 9. The video device of claim 4, including a slidable carriage adapted to maintain contact with the surface of an outer turn of tape on a reel hub of said device, playing of said tape causing slidable movement of the carriage; one or 5 more rotatable counter gear wheels having indicia thereon; and counter gear wheel actuating means associated with said carriage and adapted to come into contact with said one or more counter wheels, whereby slidable movement of said carriage through a predetermined distance causes rotation of 10 one or more of said counting wheels to indicate one play of said device. 10. The video device is claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, including, in combination, a capacitive sensor and a logic chip adapated to count crenellations on a tape reel 15 perhipery to thereby sense movement in a peculiar frequency band covering a range of speeds consistent with the playing mode; a second sensor for energising of the circuit; a timer chip pre-set to programme duration of play and triggered by said logic chip, said timer chip being adapted to time 20 substantially total play frequency duration to produce a threshold signal via said logic chip; total number of tape plays being recorded and/or displayed for a set hire period and progressive total number of tape plays being stored for subsequent information retrieval.

Inventors: WEILEY JOHN FRANCIS, WEILEY, JOHN, FRANCIS
Applicants: PORT JACKSON FILM PRODUCTION P, WEILEY JOHN FRANCIS, PORT JACKSON FILM PROD, WEILEY, JOHN, FRANCIS
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G11B23
IPC codes: G06K19, G11B15, G11B19, G11B23, G11B33