Sound teacher

Claim 2

A tape recording system comprising: a master tape having recorded thereon a plurality of items, successive items being separated by a gap of predetermined length; an endless student tape; a storage device for said master tape; a take up device for said master tape; a storage bin for said student tape; a transient bin for said studEnt tape; means for at will reading out an item from said master tape while transferring a length of said master tape from said storage device to said take up device; a gap detector for monitoring items read out from said master tape and detecting a gap between successive items; manually actuable means having first and second conditions; circuit means responsive to a detection of a gap when said manually actuable means is in said first condition for stopping said master tape, and responsive to said manually actuable means in said second condition to inhibit stopping said master tape in response to gap detection; means for at will recording an item on said student tape; and means for automatically reading out an item recorded on said student tape immediately upon completion of recording that item.

Claim 3

The tape recording system according to claim 1 further comprising plural mode selection means including first means actuable in a first system mode for transferring said length of said master tape from said take up device to said storage device during recording of an item on said student tape, and means for automatically reading out the recorded item on said length of master tape after the item recorded on said student tape is automatically read out.

Claim 4

The tape recording system according to claim 1 further comprising means for at will recording items on said master tape, and actuable switch means for automatically inserting gaps of at least said predetermined length between items thus recorded on said master tape.

Claim 5

The tape recording system according to claim 1 comprising momentarily actuable means to effect transfer of a complete recorded item from said take up device to said storage device for said master tape.

Claim 6

A tape recording system comprising: a master tape having information signal recorded thereon in the form of a plurality of information items, successive items being separated by a gap of predetermined length in said information signal; an endless student tape; a storage device for said master tape; a take-up device for said master tape; a storage location for said student tape; a normally empty transient bin for said student tape; means for initiating transfer of master tape from said storage device to said take up device at predetermined speed while reading out information signal recorded on the transferred tape; a gap detector for monitoring the information signal read out from said master tape and providing a control signal upon detecting a gap of at least said predetermined length between information items in the information signal being read out; manually actuable switch means having first and second positions; circuit means responsive to said switch means in said first position and the simultaneous presence of said control signal for terminating transfer of said master tape from said storage device to said take up device, and responsive to said switch means in said second position to continue said transfer of said master irrespective of said control signal; means for at will recording an item on said student tape and transferring the tape containing that item to said transient bin from said storage location; and means for reading out an item recorded on said student tape immediately after that item is recorded and transferring the student tape as it is read out back to said storage location from said transient bin.

Claim 7

A tape recording system comprising: a master tape having information signal recorded thereon in the form of a plurality of information items, successive items being separated by a gap of predetermined length in said information signal; an endless student tape; a storage device for said master tape; a take-up device for said master tape; a storage location for said student tape; a normally empty transient bin for said student tape; means for initiating transfer of master tape from said storage device to said take up device at predetermined speed while reading out information signal recorded on the transferred tape; a gap detector for monitoring the information signal read out from said master tape and providing a control signal upon detecting a gap of at least said predetermined length between information items in the information signal being read out; manually actuable switch means having first and second positions; circuit means responsive to said switch means in said first position and the simultaneous presence of said control signal for terminating transfer of said master tape from said storage device to said take up device, and responsive to said switch means in said second position to continue said transfer of said master irrespective of said control signal; means for at will recording an item on said student tape and transferring the tape containing that item to said transient bin from said storage location; and means for reading out an item recorded on said student tape immediately after that item is recorded and transferring the student tape as it is read out back to said storage location from said transient bin.

Claim 8

The system according to claim 5 wherein said circuit means additionally includes means responsive to said switch means in said first position and simultaneous presence of said control signal for initiating a reverse transfer of said master tape from said take-up device to said storage device wherein said gap detector includes means for providing said control signal upon detecting a gap of at least said pre-determined length in said information signal during reverse transfer of said master tape, and wherein said circuit means further inCludes means responsive to the presence of said control signal during reverse transfer of said master tape for terminating said reverse transfer.

Claim 9

The system according to claim 6 wherein said circuit means further includes means responsive to the absence of student tape from said transient bin combined with the master tape in a state of rest following a reverse transfer for initiating a forward transfer of said master tape from said storage device to said take-up device while reading out information signal recorded on the transferred tape.

Claim 10

The system according to claim 7 wherein said circuit means further comprises means responsive to a reverse transfer of a single master tape item followed by a forward transfer of that master tape item for inhibiting the effect of said control signal upon detection of the gap following that master tape item such that the forward transfer is permitted to continue and the next master tape item is read out.

Claim 11

The system according to claim 5 wherein said circuit means further comprises means responsive to the termination of student tape transfer from said transient bin to said storage location and the resulting absence of student tape from said transient bin for re-initiating transfer of said master tape from said storage device to said take-up device.

Claim 12

The system according to claim 5 further comprising: first selectively actuable means for recording items of input information signal on said master tape while transferring said master tape to said take-up device; second selectively actuable means operable during recording of signal on said master tape for inserting gaps of at least said predetermined length between items of information signal being recorded on said master tape; and means operable during recording of signal on said master tape for automatically stopping said tape in response to a pause of predetermined duration in said input signal in the absence of actuation of said second selectively actuable means, said pause of predetermined duration corresponding to a length on said master tape which is shorter than said gap of predetermined length.

Claim 13

The system according to claim 5 further comprising: a plurality of mode-selection switches arranged to be actuated one at a time; further means responsive to said mode selection switches for effectuating system operational modes corresponding to the actuated mode-selection switch, said further circuit means comprising: first mode control means responsive to actuation of a first of said mode-selection switches for controlling said circuit means to terminate all transfers of said master tape between said storage device and said take-up device whenever said control signal is present and said manually actuable means is in said first position; and second mode control means responsive to actuation of a second of said mode-selection switches for controlling said circuit means to count the number of times said control signal is generated while said manually actuable means is in said first position, said second control means including means for terminating forward transfer of said master tape from said storage device to said take-up device only in response to alternate generations of said control signal while said manually actuable means is in said first position.

Claim 14

A magnetic tape machine for teaching a student operator, said machine being of the type which includes a master tape upon which spaced audio lesson segments are recorded, a storage device for said master tape, a take-up device for said master tape, means for transferring said master tape in both directions between said storage and take-up devices, means for playing back the lesson segments recorded on said master tape during forward transfer of said master tape from said storage device to said take-up device, an endless student tape, a storage bin normally storing said student tape, a transient bin for said student tape, operator-actuable student record control means foR transferring a portion of student tape from said storage bin to said transient bin while recording operator-initiated sounds thereon, and means responsive to termination of a transfer of a portion of said student tape into said transient bin for automatically transferring that portion of said student tape back into said storage bin while playing back the sounds recorded thereon, said machine being characterized by: a first actuable pause control switch; a gap detector for detecting the presence of a gap of predetermined length between lesson segments on a portion of master tape being transferred; and pause control means for automatically terminating forward transfer of said master tape upon detection of a predetermined number of said gaps of predetermined length while said pause control switch is actuated.

Claim 15

A magnetic tape machine for teaching a student operator, said machine being of the type which includes a master tape upon which spaced audio lesson segments are recorded, a storage device for said master tape, a take-up device for said master tape, means for transferring said master tape in both directions between said storage and take-up devices, means for playing back the lesson segments recorded on said master tape during forward transfer of said master tape from said storage device to said take-up device, an endless student tape, a storage bin normally storing said student tape, a transient bin for said student tape, operator-actuable student record control means foR transferring a portion of student tape from said storage bin to said transient bin while recording operator-initiated sounds thereon, and means responsive to termination of a transfer of a portion of said student tape into said transient bin for automatically transferring that portion of said student tape back into said storage bin while playing back the sounds recorded thereon, said machine being characterized by: a first actuable pause control switch; a gap detector for detecting the presence of a gap of predetermined length between lesson segments on a portion of master tape being transferred; and pause control means for automatically terminating forward transfer of said master tape upon detection of a predetermined number of said gaps of predetermined length while said pause control switch is actuated.

Claim 16

The machine according to claim 12 further characterized by at least two distinct operational modes; in a first of said modes successive lesson segments being spaced by a gap of at least said predetermined length and intended to be repeated by a student on said student tape; in a second mode said lesson segments comprising a series of alternating questions and answers, each answer being spaced from the preceding and following questions by a gap of at least said predetermined length; said system including: first actuable mode selection means for operating said system in said first mode, said first mode selection means comprising: first circuit means for transferring while playing back a length of said master tape corresponding to one lesson segment from said storage device to said take-up device, said first circuit means being operatively connected with said pause control means to automatically terminate transfer of said master tape after said one lesson has been transferred; means for reverse-transferring the length of said master tape corresponding to said one recorded lesson segment back to said storage device from said take-up device in response to actuation of said student record control means; means responsive to transfer of student tape into said transient bin and the subsequent transfer of student tape out of said transient bin for re-transferring while playing back the previously reverse-transferred length of master tape corresponding to said one lesson segment; and means for inhibiting said pause control means to prevent automatic termination of transfer of said re-transferred length of tape, corresponding to said one lesson segment, upon detection of a gap of said predetermined length between said one lesson segment and the next succeeding lesson segment; second actuable mode selection means for operating said system in said second mode, said second actuable mode selection means being actuable alternatively to said first mode selection means and comprising: means for operating said first circuit means and said pause control means to transfer and playback a length of said master tape corresponding to a question lesson segment and terminating transfer upon completion of playback of said question; and means responsive to transfer of student tape into said transient bin and the subsequent transfer of student tape out of said transient bin for transferring and playing back a length of said master tape corresponding to the answer following said question.

Claim 17

The machine according to claim 12 further characterized by at least two distinct operational modes; in a first of said modes successive lesson segments being spaced by a gap of at least said predetermined length and intended to be repeated by a student on said student tape; in a second mode said lesson segments comprising a series of alternating questions and answers, each answer being spaced from the preceding question by a gap of at least said predetermined length and being followed by the next question without a gap of said predetermined length, said system including: first actuable mode selection means for operating said system in said first mode, said first mode selection means comprising: first circuit means for transferring while playing back a length of said master tape corresponding to one lesson segment from said storage device to said take-up device, said first circuit means being operatively connected with said pause control means to automatically terminate transfer of said master tape after said one lesson has been transferred; means for reverse-transferring the length of said master tape corresponding to said one recorded lesson segment back to said storage device from said take-up device in response to actuation of said student record control means; means responsive to transfer of student tape into said transient bin and the subsequent transfer of student tape out of said transient bin for re-transferring while playing back the previously reverse-transferred length of master tape corresponding to said one lesson segment; and means for inhibiting said pause control means to prevent automatic termination of transfer of said re-transferred length of tape, corresponding to said one lesson segment, upon detection of a gap of said predetermined length between said one lesson segment and the next succeeding lesson segment; second actuable mode selection means for operating said system in said second mode, said second actuable mode selection means being actuable alternatively to said first mode selection means and comprising: means for operating said first circuit means and said pause control means to transfer and playback a length of said master tape corresponding to a question lesson segment and terminating transfer upon completion of playback of said question; and means responsive to transfer of student tape into said transient bin and the subsequent transfer of student tape out of said transient bin for transferring and playing back a length of said master tape corresponding to the answer following said question.

Claim 18

The machine according to claim 12 further characterized by at least one operational mode in which successive lesson segments are spaced by a gap of at least said predetermined length and are intended to be repeated by a student on said student tape, said system including: actuable mode selection means for operating said system in said operational mode, said mode selection means comprising: first circuit means for transferring while playing back a length of said master tape corresponding to one lesson segment from said storage device to said take-up device, said first circuit means being operatively connected with said pause control means to automatically terminate transfer of said master tape after said one lesson segment has been transferred; means for reverse-transferring the length of said master tape corresponding to said one recorded lesson segment back to said storage device from said take-up device in response to actuation of said student record control means; means for selectively transferring student tape into said transient bin and enabling recording by the student on the tape being transferred into said transient bin; and means responsive to termination of transfer of student tape into said transient bin for automatically playing back in succession said one recorded lesson segment and the student recording on the tape in said transient bin.

Claim 19

A magnetic tape teaching machine of the type wherein a master tape has a plurality of lesson segments recorded thereon, said message segments being spaced by a gap of at least a predetermined length, said machine being characterized by: first selectively actuable means for recording said lesson segments in the form of input information signal onto said master tape while transferring said tape along a prescribed path at predetermined speed; second selectively actuable means for inserting said gaps of predetermined length between lesson segments, said second selectively actuable means comprising means for selectively transferring at least said predetermined lenGth of said master tape along said prescribed path while inhibiting recording on the transferred predetermined length of master tape; and further comprising: means operable during recording of input signal onto said master tape in the absence of actuation of said second selectively actuable means and responsive to pauses of predetermined time duration in said input signal for temporarily terminating transfer of said master tape until the input signal is restored, the product of said predetermined time duration and said predetermined speed being less than said gap of predetermined length.

Claim 20

A magnetic tape teaching machine of the type wherein a master tape has a plurality of lesson segments recorded thereon, said message segments being spaced by a gap of at least a predetermined length, said machine being characterized by: first selectively actuable means for recording said lesson segments in the form of input information signal onto said master tape while transferring said tape along a prescribed path at predetermined speed; second selectively actuable means for inserting said gaps of predetermined length between lesson segments, said second selectively actuable means comprising means for selectively transferring at least said predetermined lenGth of said master tape along said prescribed path while inhibiting recording on the transferred predetermined length of master tape; and further comprising: means operable during recording of input signal onto said master tape in the absence of actuation of said second selectively actuable means and responsive to pauses of predetermined time duration in said input signal for temporarily terminating transfer of said master tape until the input signal is restored, the product of said predetermined time duration and said predetermined speed being less than said gap of predetermined length.