Patent GB-1358032-A (GB)
Title: Magnetic tape cartridge dialer
IPC: H04M1/276
Filed: 1972-10-12
Abstract: 1358032 Repertory dialler A FAYE 12 Oct 1972 47177/72 Headings H4K and H4J [Also in Division G5] An automatic dialling machine incorporates a plurality of cartridge recorders which may be energized successively in order to set up a sequence of outgoing calls. A cartridge recorder is one having a motor driven capstan that cooperates with a pinch roller so as to drive a continuous loop of magnetic tape, the roller and tape being located in a cartridge that is insertable into the recorder. A stack of such recorders may act as a plinth for a desk set (Fig. 5, not shown). One recorder may be used to record each call number as it is dialled, the previous number being erased, so that a busy line can be easily reaccessed. The recorder (Fig. 2) contains a motor 105 and a belt driven capstan 103; read/write heads 104<SP>1</SP> and 104 which co-operate with separate tracks on a tape and which are selectable as to mode and track by associated push-button switches; a contact pair 107, 107<SP>1</SP> which enable a control relay when they are short circuited by the insertion of a cartridge; and a contact pair 108, 108<SP>1</SP> which enable a motor stopping relay when they are short circuited by a metal insert in the tape. The cartridge (Fig. 4) incorporates a reel 201 carrying an endless tape 210 which is fed from its innermost turn around pressure pads 209<SP>1</SP>, 209 and a pinch roller 204 to its outermost turn; a spring urged rocking lever 205 carrying a detent 207 which is freed from the reel's ratchet teeth 203 when the roller is urged against the capstan upon insertion into the recorder; and contact pads 213 and 212 for engaging the aforementioned contact pairs in the recorder. Recording/play back.-The appropriate mode and track are chosen by operation of the selection keys whereby an oscillator 6 (Fig. 1) or a transistor amplifier 5 is coupled via selector 4 to a desired head in a selected one of the recorders and a mode indicator lamp is energized therein. The mode is also selected by a three-position switch 70-75 so as either to couple a relay 610 into the dialling circuit whereby dial breaks interrupt the relay and so cause bursts of tone to be recorded or to couple a relay 510 to the line so as to repeat the tone bursts read-out from a tape to the tone as interruptions thereof. Relay 76 is operative to temporarily by-pass the recording/ play-back circuit. When a sequence of numbers is to be called, the handset is taken off-hook and a relay in the first recorder is enabled by operation of a pushbutton so as to energize its motor when dialling tone is detected. After dialling out, the metal strip on the tape closes contacts 108, 108<SP>1</SP> thereby enabling a second relay which disables the first relay so interrupting the drive to the motor and enables a corresponding first relay in another recorder via a contact. The second relay also enables a timer so that following a predetermined delay or following a predetermined number of bursts of ringing tone a third relay may be energized to simulate hang-up and then removal of the handset whereby in response to dial tone the prepared second recorder is enabled. It may be noted that the metal strip on the tape clears the contacts 108, 108<SP>1</SP> before the motor has actually ceased driving the tape so as not to interfere with subsequent operation of the machine. An indicator may be coupled to the playback head so as to count the number of outgoing pulses and to display the transmitted number. When one recorder is used for storing the currently dialled number one of its heads is coupled to an erase source 8 so as to remove any number previously recorded.