Patent GB-1062045-A (GB)
Title: Prepayment apparatus for the distribution of postcards carrying a sound record
IPC: G07F11/72
Filed: 1963-11-27
Abstract: 1,062,045. Disc recording and playback apparatus. PRIPART S.A. Nov. 27, 1963 [Nov. 30, 1962], No. 46832/63. Heading G5R. A postcard is provided on part of one side with a sheet of plastic material provided with an impressed groove, and a sound message is recorded in the groove using a heated stylus. The material may be polyvinyl chloride, and means may be provided for heating the area preceding the recording area. The recording stylus may be a sapphire needle having a point provided with a flat surface inclined at between 15 degrees and 20 degrees to the groove, and with flat surface inclined at 3-5 degrees to the normal to the groove, the sides of the point being inclined at the angle of the groove which may be about 85 degrees. The postcards may be stored in a coin-freed vending apparatus associated with a recording/playback apparatus so that when a postcard is selected a relay sets the recording apparatus to a ready position. The postcard is then pushed through a slot 7, Fig. 4, into a guide 22 secured to a turntable 21; the end of the postcard pushes a movable part 23a of the guide to operate a switch (not shown) which causes a motor M12 driving a cam-shaft 33 to rotate in the record direction. Rotation of cam 32 by the cam-shaft 33 lowers an arm 29, Fig. 5, so that a feeler 35 passes through an aperture provided in the centre of the record part of the postcard. If the feeler is obstructed a switch (not shown) is operated to prevent further operation of the recording apparatus and light a warning lamp. The position of the postcard should then be corrected and a push-button operated to resume the recording operation. When a cam 37, Fig. 7, is rotated 90 degrees clockwise, the recording stylus arm 40 is lowered so that its stylus 17 contacts the record. Rotation of a third cam 38, Fig. 4, by 90 degrees operates a relay which switches off motor M12, starts the motor Mp driving the turntable, connects a microphone through an amplifier to the record head, and switches on a lamp and a clock. At the end of a recording the arm 40 meets a terminal switch C which energizes a relay 27 so that its armature 27a engages a notch 21a in the turntable. Movement of the armature 27a causes motor Mp to be switched off and motor M12 to rotate back to its initial position thereby lifting the recording arm 40. Rotation of cam 37 causes projections (not shown in Fig. 7) on the cam to engage a cam 42a and thereby rotate arm 40 horizontally so that it is returned to its initial position. Finally a relay 24 is energized to eject the postcard. Playback is initiated by insertion of a coin in a playback slot, which conditions motor M12 to rotate in the opposite direction so that cam 37 lowers the playback arm 39 instead of the recording arm; the operation is otherwise similar to the recording. Whilst recording a pause switch may be operated to suspend recording. This causes relay R1, Fig. 7, to lift the recording head 18 clear of the record and relay R2 to apply a brake to the shaft 42 to prevent horizontal rotation of the recording arm. At the same time an electromagnet 69, Fig. 5, releases an arm 65 attached to a plate 60 which is caused to be driven by the turntable 21 as a result of the energization of relay R3. When the pause switch is released a subsequent engagement of arm 65 with a blade 66 operates a switch which releases relays R1-R3 and allows the recording to be resumed at the same angular position of the turntable as where it was interrupted.