Apparatus and method for cutting record discs

Claim 1

A method for the production of a record disc having a spiral groove of a large number of turns which turns are divided into a plurality of bands each band containing a repeated message, each message of which band starts at approximately the same radial position on the disc, comprising the steps of: a. providing a recording device; b. recording a plurality of messages on the recording device; c. providing a cycling recording media; d. playing the recording device to reproduce a first message and recording the reproduced first message on the cycling recording media; said recording starting at approximately one particular point of the cycling media; e. providing a record groove cutter; f. controlling the record groove cutter and the cycling media so that they cycle together; g. using the cycling first message of the recording media for a predetermined number of successive cycles for cutting that number of turns into the record disc; h. playing the recording device to produce a second message while erasing the first message on the cycling media and recording the second message thereon, and i. using the cycling second message of the recording media for a predetermined number of cycles for cutting a second plurality of turns into the disc, the recording of said second message starting at approximately the same particular point of the cycling media as the first message; whereby successive messages recorded on the disc start at approximately the same radial position.

Claim 2

A method for the production of a record disc having a spiral groove of a large number of turns which turns are divided into a plurality of bands each band containing a repeated message, each message of which band starts at approximately the same radial position on the disc, comprising the steps of: a. providing a recording device; b. recording a plurality of messages on the recording device; c. providing a cycling recording media; d. playing the recording device to reproduce a first message and recording the reproduced first message on the cycling recording media; said recording starting at approximately one particular point of the cycling media; e. providing a record groove cutter; f. controlling the record groove cutter and the cycling media so that they cycle together; g. using the cycling first message of the recording media for a predetermined number of successive cycles for cutting that number of turns into the record disc; h. playing the recording device to produce a second message while erasing the first message on the cycling media and recording the second message thereon, and i. using the cycling second message of the recording media for a predetermined number of cycles for cutting a second plurality of turns into the disc, the recording of said second message starting at approximately the same particular point of the cycling media as the first message; whereby successive messages recorded on the disc start at approximately the same radial position.

Claim 3

An apparatus for the cutting of record discs comprising: a record lathe having a turntable for rotation and a cutting head; and a recording and playing device comprising: an erasable recording cycling media, an input for receiving messages and recording them on said media, an erase input for erasing any messages thereon and a play output for reproducing any messages, said cycling media having a cycle equal to the cycle of the turntable of said lathe, and means for coupling the play output of said cycling media to the cutting head of said lathe for the transfer of messages thereto so that those messages may be cut into a record disc with each beginning after approximately the same radial position of the record disc; whereby messages may be erasably recorded on said cycling media and repeatedly cut in successive turns into a record disc on the turntable by the cutting head.

Claim 4

An apparatus for the cutting of record discs comprising: a record lathe having a turntable for rotation and a cutting head; and a recording and playing device comprising: an erasable recording cycling media, an input for receiving messages and recording them on said media, an erase input for erasing any messages thereon and a play output for reproducing any messages, said cycling media having a cycle equal to the cycle of the turntable of said lathe, and means for coupling the play output of said cycling media to the cutting head of said lathe for the transfer of messages thereto so that those messages may be cut into a record disc with each beginning after approximately the same radial position of the record disc; whereby messages may be erasably recorded on said cycling media and repeatedly cut in successive turns into a record disc on the turntable by the cutting head.

Claim 7

A system for the production of a message bearing tape and the automatic cutting of a record dIsc of the type having a plurality of successive message bands each having a predetermined number of repeated messages in adjacent grooves thereof, with each message thereof starting at a predetermined angular position on said record and ending in less than one cycle thereof, comprising: a first stage (10'') for the production of a magnetic tape having a plurality of successful messages thereon, each of which has a ''''stop'''' tone signal preceeding it, comprising: a tape recorder (12) capable of recording on a magnetic tape (15) and equipped with a recording head (16) at one point in the tape transport and an erase head at another point (18) in the tape transport, said another point being located at a tape travel distance away from said one point approximately equal to the length of travel of the tape during the predetermined maximum message period; a message station (22) at which oral messages are converted to electronic signals which are coupled to said recording head of said tape recorder; and a judging station (24) which has means for producing a ''''stop'''' low frequency tone electric signal which is coupled to the recording head for recording on said tape and which has means for producing an erase signal coupled to said erase head for erasing the stop signal should the message run over time or otherwise not be successful; a second stage (10'''') for the cutting of the disc from the tape produced in the first stage, comprising: a tape player (32) having a playing head (34) for playing said tape (15) having a tape transport that is controlled to drive and not to drive said tape at a playing speed; means (48) for controlling said tape transport, including means coupled to said tape playing head including a low pass filter (201, 202) and amplifier devices (195, 190) for selecting the ''''stop'''' signal and amplifying it, and a means (107, 107A) for stopping the tape drive of said tape player (32) when a ''''stop'''' signal is sensed; and means (70, 54, 92, 96) for repeatedly cutting for a predetermined number of times each of the individual messages played off of the tape onto a record disc and for generating a command signal to said tape player-tape drive mechanism, whereby a message is played and the drive mechanism advances the tape until the next ''''stop'''' signal is sensed by said tape transport controlling means.

Claim 8

A system for the production of a message bearing tape and the automatic cutting of a record dIsc of the type having a plurality of successive message bands each having a predetermined number of repeated messages in adjacent grooves thereof, with each message thereof starting at a predetermined angular position on said record and ending in less than one cycle thereof, comprising: a first stage (10'') for the production of a magnetic tape having a plurality of successful messages thereon, each of which has a ''''stop'''' tone signal preceeding it, comprising: a tape recorder (12) capable of recording on a magnetic tape (15) and equipped with a recording head (16) at one point in the tape transport and an erase head at another point (18) in the tape transport, said another point being located at a tape travel distance away from said one point approximately equal to the length of travel of the tape during the predetermined maximum message period; a message station (22) at which oral messages are converted to electronic signals which are coupled to said recording head of said tape recorder; and a judging station (24) which has means for producing a ''''stop'''' low frequency tone electric signal which is coupled to the recording head for recording on said tape and which has means for producing an erase signal coupled to said erase head for erasing the stop signal should the message run over time or otherwise not be successful; a second stage (10'''') for the cutting of the disc from the tape produced in the first stage, comprising: a tape player (32) having a playing head (34) for playing said tape (15) having a tape transport that is controlled to drive and not to drive said tape at a playing speed; means (48) for controlling said tape transport, including means coupled to said tape playing head including a low pass filter (201, 202) and amplifier devices (195, 190) for selecting the ''''stop'''' signal and amplifying it, and a means (107, 107A) for stopping the tape drive of said tape player (32) when a ''''stop'''' signal is sensed; and means (70, 54, 92, 96) for repeatedly cutting for a predetermined number of times each of the individual messages played off of the tape onto a record disc and for generating a command signal to said tape player-tape drive mechanism, whereby a message is played and the drive mechanism advances the tape until the next ''''stop'''' signal is sensed by said tape transport controlling means.

Claim 11

A system for the cutting of a phonograph record disc comprising: a source of pre-timed maximum length messages, means for activating said message source to produce sequentially different pre-timed messages, each upon a command signal, a record disc-cutting lathe having a rotating turntable for supporting a record disc and a cutting head for cutting recording grooves therein, means including a cycling magnetic recording media, an erase unit for erasing any signals thereon, a record unit for recording thereon and a play unit for picking up any signals thereon, said cycling magnetic recording media having a cycle related to the rotating cycle of said turntable and said play unit being actively coupled to said cutting head to transfer information thereto for recording thereby in the record grooves; and pre-programed means for coupling and de-coupling said message source to said magnetic recording media, for commanding said source to produce a message for recording on said magnetic recording media, and for operating said erase unit whereby successive messages may be transferred to said cycling magnetic recording media and repeatedly cut into the record by said lathe for a predetermined number of times.

Claim 12

A system for the cutting of a phonograph record disc comprising: a source of pre-timed maximum length messages, means for activating said message source to produce sequentially different pre-timed messages, each upon a command signal, a record disc-cutting lathe having a rotating turntable for supporting a record disc and a cutting head for cutting recording grooves therein, means including a cycling magnetic recording media, an erase unit for erasing any signals thereon, a record unit for recording thereon and a play unit for picking up any signals thereon, said cycling magnetic recording media having a cycle related to the rotating cycle of said turntable and said play unit being actively coupled to said cutting head to transfer information thereto for recording thereby in the record grooves; and pre-programed means for coupling and de-coupling said message source to said magnetic recording media, for commanding said source to produce a message for recording on said magnetic recording media, and for operating said erase unit whereby successive messages may be transferred to said cycling magnetic recording media and repeatedly cut into the record by said lathe for a predetermined number of times.