Patent GB-833935-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to devices for making announcements in vehicles
IPC: B66B3/00
Filed: 1957-12-20
Abstract: 833,935. Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus. PHILIPS ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES Ltd. Dec. 20, 1957 [Dec. 21, 1956], No. 39661/57. Class 40 (2). [Also in Groups XIX and XXX] A device for automatically making announcements in passenger lifts and other passenger conveyances travelling along a given route past various stops, comprises a magnetic sound apparatus, an amplifier, and a loud-speaker, the announcements being recorded on a tape in the sequence of the various parts of the route, the tape being provided with indicating means which provides a signal to a control apparatus which causes the tape to stop after each announcement. As shown, a passenger lift cage 1 has a loud-speaker 5, signal lamp 6 and buttons 3, 4 for controlling up and down movement respectively of the lift. A magnetic soundreproducing apparatus comprises an endless loop of single-track magnetic tape 7 driven by a continuously rotating driving roller 8 urged against the tape by a roller 9 rocked towards the tape by an electromagnet 10. The tape 7 carries on its side remote from a reproducing head 11, a layer of conductive metal foil having interruptions such as 14. Alternatively, the tape may be transparent with a magnetizable layer with interruptions that can be detected by a photo-electric cell. Tape contacts 13 engage the layer of metal foil. In operation, the button 3 is pressed to cause the lift to ascend, thus energizing a relay A having holding contacts a2. Relay contacts a3 energize the electromagnet 10 to initiate tape movement. The head 11, connected to an amplifier 12 scans the tape, the output from the amplifier being fed to the loud-speaker 5 through normally closed contacts r3 of relay R. Relay contacts a1 are closed upon energization of relay A to energize the winding VW of a rotary selector having arms a and b. When the announcement appropriate to the next floor of the building served by the lift has been made an interruption 14 passes under the contacts 13. The arms a and b of the selector, upon the consequent de-energization of relay A and winding VW, move one step; the arm a engages a further contact connected to a relay S while arm b engages a contact connected to a lamp T. These operations are repeated as the lift moves from floor to floor in an upward direction. Should the lift move downwards by operation of the button 4, before reaching the top floor the tape 7 is returned to its initial position without any announcements being made. Button 4 energizes a relay R having holding contacts r1 and lights the lamp 6 and a lamp 15 which indicates to the lift operator that the sound recording apparatus is being returned to its initial position. The relay A is energized through contacts r2 whereupon the tape 7 is moved as previously described; the open contacts r3 of relay R open to prevent signals from the amplifier 12 reaching the loud-speaker. The relay A is de-energized when the contacts 13 engage an interruption 14, whereupon the arms a and b of the rotary selector each move one step in the rearward direction. The relay A is re-energized when the interruption 14 has passed the contacts. These operations are repeated until the tape reaches its initial position and the lamps 6 and 15 are extinguished upon opening of contact r1. In a modification, the tape carries two sound tracks, the direction of tape travel being reversible. Separate reproducing heads are provided for scanning the tape during its forward and reverse movements. A roller engaging the tape may be driven in either direction by a reversible electric motor or a continuously rotating motor having an electromechanical reversing arrangement. The reversible motor and the reproducing heads are controlled by two relays energized separately upon operating the up or down control button of the lift. In a modification, the tape movement may be controlled by pulses recorded on the tape and sensed by a separate scanning head or the head 11, in the latter case the voltage pulses are separated from those of the recorded text of the announcements by a filter.