Patent GB-822114-A (GB)
Title: Record-tape music box
IPC: G11B33/06
Filed: 1957-09-10
Abstract: 822,114. Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus. VERSHOVEN, W. Sept. 10, 1957 [Sept. 19, 1956], No. 28502/57. Class 40 (2). In a record tape apparatus for the reproduction of one or more hundreds of records, the records are contained in a single tape having ten tracks, or a multiple thereof, each divided into ten or less sections to each of which a record is allotted, a single transducer being provided for all of the ten or more tracks, the selection of a record, following the insertion of a coin, being performed by a first turning of a selection dial which causes the transducer to be moved to a particular track, and a second turning of the dial whereby the appropriate section of the tape is brought in front of the transducer by means of short contact strips on the tape at the beginning of each section. In the embodiment described, a music box, Figs. 1 and 2, employs two tapes, each carrying a hundred record sections, located on ten tracks which are divided into ten sections, one transducer being provided for each tape. Selection of one or other tape and transducer is effected by operation of a coloured key 14 or 16 on a control panel 3, and indicated by a lamp 13 or 15, respectively. The tracks are designated by the letters A to K and the sections thereon the numbers 1 to 10 so that when a selector dial 7 marked with letters and numbers is given a first rotation to a letter corresponding to a desired track, the impulses produced in a relay 85-1 from a track selector 56 operate a ratchet 85-3 to move the transducer to the appropriate track. Similarly, upon the second rotation of the selector dial 7 to a number corresponding to a desired section, a section selector 61 is operated and a follower selector 78 is stepwise turned forward and backward by means of contact strips 1 to 10 on the tape and closes the circuit for stopping the tape as soon as the follower selector senses on the section selector released for playback and prepared by means of impulses during the second turning of the dial. As soon as the follower selector reaches a position corresponding to the setting of the section selector, the forward and backward run of the tape is switched off and the tape drive changed to slow play-back movement. The driving of the tape and the clutches effecting same follow normal practice and are described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 (not shown). Contacts 1a to 10a at the end of each section cause the interruption of the drive of the tape when a particular record has been played. With the aid of duplicate track and section selectors a preselection of record sections may be made before or during playing of a particular record piece, a number of presetting relays forming a memory device being energized according to the value of coins inserted, and controlled by an allotment selector 57 and releasing selector 73. Details of the circuits of the aforementioned relays are described with reference to Fig. 5 (not shown). An extra track O is provided on the tape for recording and playing back sound recorded from a microphone 8 and initiated by a recording button 17, the contacts 11 and 12 on the tape controlling the recording play-back selector 92 for setting the tape drive for recording, fast rewind and play-back. The contacts 0 to 13 at the end of the tape effect reverse drive. The control panel also carries an indicator disc 9, the appropriate letters 12 and numbers 11 of which are illuminated to show the particular record being played. Luminous windows 19, 21, 22 contain the captions " Please select," " Please do not select " and " Please do not insert," respectively. Remote control panels similar to panel 3 are also provided. When a coin is inserted in slot 6 " Please select " lights up on the appertaining panel, while all other panels indicate " Do not insert." As soon as all the preselective pairs 56, 61 have been occupied, should a coin be inserted, the appertaining board shows " Please do not select," and the remote board again shows " Please do not insert." As soon as a record piece is finished the signal " Please select " flashes up again. Similar windows 23, 24, 25 are provided for recording and playback containing the inscriptions " Recording," " Recording occupied " and " Playback," which operations may only take place at the main apparatus.