Teaching machines

Claim 2

A learning aid comprising means defining an observation window, support means adapted to support carrier means having a plurality of items of visual information thereon, drive means operable to move carrier means supported by said support means to present sequentially said items so that they can be viewed through said window, control means operable to cause intermittent operation of the drive means to provide a dwell period of predetermined duration each time an item is presented for viewing through said window, sound reproduction means operable to reproduce prerecorded audible signals, and operating means arranged to initiate operation of the sound reproduction means during each dwell period and including timing means operable to determine the portion of each dwell period for which the sound reproduction means remains operative, the operating means being responsive to the condition of said drive means to render said sound reproduction means inoperative while the drive means is effective in moving the carrier means.

Claim 3

A learning aid as claimed in claim 1 and comprising also sound recording and reproducing apparatus arranged such that sounds recorded thereon are automatically reproduced after a predetermined delay, and manually operable means for rendering said sound recording and reproducing apparatus operative to record, indicator means responsive to the condition of said sound reproduction means being provided to indicate the portion of each dwell period for which said sound reproduction means is inoperative so that said manually operable means may then be operated.

Claim 4

A learning aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said timing means is adjustable to permit variation of the portion of each dwell period for which said sound reproduction means remains operative.

Claim 5

A learning aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein both said operating means and said drive means are operable by electric power, and said control means comprises switch means by way of which electric power is fed alternatively to said drive means or to said operating means, said switch means being responsive to cam means which are driven by said drive means simultaneously with said carrier means, said cam means being effective to operate said switch means to switch power from said drive means to said operating means when said carrier means has been moved a predetermined amount.

Claim 6

A learning aid comprising means defining an observation window, carrier means to carry a plurality of items of visual information, electrically operable drive means operable to move the carrier means to present sequentially said items so that they can be viewed through said window, control means operable to cause cyclic operation of said drive means, each cycle of saId operation comprising a drive period in which the drive means is effective to move the carrier means, and a dwell period during which the drive means is ineffective to drive the carrier means and an item is presented for viewing through said window, sound reproduction means operable to reproduce audible signals, electrically operable operating means for said sound reproduction means, said control means comprising switch means by way of which electric power is fed alternatively to said drive means or to said operating means whereby said sound reproduction means is rendered operative at the start of each dwell period, and said operating means comprising timing means to determine the portion of each dwell period for which said sound reproduction means is maintained in the operative condition.

Claim 7

A learning aid comprising means defining an observation window, carrier means to carry a plurality of items of visual information, electrically operable drive means operable to move the carrier means to present sequentially said items so that they can be viewed through said window, control means operable to cause cyclic operation of said drive means, each cycle of saId operation comprising a drive period in which the drive means is effective to move the carrier means, and a dwell period during which the drive means is ineffective to drive the carrier means and an item is presented for viewing through said window, sound reproduction means operable to reproduce audible signals, electrically operable operating means for said sound reproduction means, said control means comprising switch means by way of which electric power is fed alternatively to said drive means or to said operating means whereby said sound reproduction means is rendered operative at the start of each dwell period, and said operating means comprising timing means to determine the portion of each dwell period for which said sound reproduction means is maintained in the operative condition.

Claim 8

A learning aid as claimed in claim 5 and comprising also sound recording and reproducing apparatus arranged such that sounds recorded thereon are automatically reproduced after a predetermined delay, and manually operable means for rendering said sound recording and reproducing apparatus operative to record, speaker means common to said sound reproduction means and said sound recording and reproducing apparatus, and indicator means responsive to said timing means to indicate the expiry of the portion of each dwell period for which said sound reproduction means is maintained in the operative condition.

Claim 9

A learning aid as claimed in claim 5 wherein said control means includes further timing means effective to determine the length of said dwell period.

Claim 10

A learning aid as claimed in claim 5 wherein said switch means is responsive to cam means which is driven by said drive means simultaneously with said carrier means and is effective to cause operation of said switch means to switch power to said operating means when said carrier means has been moved by a predetermined amount.