Token operated control system for a multitrack tape cartridge player

Claim 2

For use with a multi-track tape cartridge reproducing device having circuitry for reproducing from magnetically recorded signals on a plurality of tracks equivalent electric signals in response to the application of electric power signals to a power signal input terminal, programming means for sequentially accessing different ones of said plurality of tracks for reproduction, said programming means having a control signal input terminal and a plurality of indicator terminals for indicating accessed tracks, and means for indicating the end of each of said tracks; a token operated control system for enabling manual selection of a single track for reproduction and for providing automatic termination of track reproduction at the end of a given track, said control system comprising: first and second electrical power input terminal means; a first plurality of manually operable switch means adapted to be coupled to said first and second electrical power input terminal means for specifying a different track for reproduction, each of said switch means having an OFF and an ON position; seek means coupled to said first electrical power input terminal means and responsive to the operation of any one of said switch means to the ON position for generating control signals adapted to be coupled to said control signal input terminal of said programming means to sequentially access said plurality of tracks; reproduction enable means adapted to be coupled to said programming means indicator terminals for disabling said seek means and for applying electrical power to said power signal input terminal of said reproducing device after the track specified by the operated one of said switch means has been accessed; reset means adapted to be coupled to said track end indicating means for resetting said operated one of said switch means to the OFF position and for disabling said plurality of switch means and said reproduction enable means after the selected track has been reproduced; token switch means for enabling said first plurality of switch means, said seek means and said reproduction enable means in response to the insertion of a predetermined token therein; and lock means coupled to said first plurality of switch means and said reset means for preventing manual operation of said first plurality of switch means when said first plurality of switch means have been disabled until a token is subsequently inserted into said token switch means.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 further including a plurality of track indicator lamp means each coupled to a different one of said plurality of switch means and said second electrical power input terminal means for providing a visible indication of the track specified for reproduction when the associated switch means is placed in the ON positon after being enabled by said token switch means.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein said system further includes a second operator signal lamp means coupled to said second electrical power input terminal means via said reset means for providing an indication that said first plurality of switch means, said seek means and said reproduction enable means are disabled.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 wherein said seek means comprising means for generating sequential electrical stepping signals for said programming means.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4 wherein said stepping signal generating means includes a charging circuit, and first relay means having a coil with a first end coupled to a reference potential and a second end, a movable contact blade coupled via said switch means and said reset means to said first electrical power input terminal means, a normally open stationary contact coupled to said control signal input terminal of said programming means and a normally closed stationary contact coupled to a second end of said coil and said charging circuit, said charging circuit being coupled to said second end of said coil.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 wherein said seek means further includes second relay means having a coil with a first end coupled via said switch means and said reset means to said first electrical power input terminal means and a second end coupled to said operated one of said switch means, a movable contact blade coupled via said operated one of said plurality of switch means and said reset means to said first electrical power input terminal means, a first stationary contact blade coupled to said movable contact blade of said first relay means, and a second stationary contact blade; and wherein said reproduction enable means includes third relay means having a coil with a first end coupled via said reset means to said first electrical power input terminal means and a second end, a movable contact blade coupled via said reset means to said first electrical power input terminal means, a first stationary contact blade coupled to said movable contact blade of said second relay means via said operated one of said plurality of switch means and a second stationary contact blade coupled to said power signal input terminal of said reproducing device; a relay switch means having a first terminal coupled to said second end of said relay coil and a second terminal coupled to said reference potential and a control terminal coupled to said second contact blade of said second relay means.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6 wherein said system further includes first stationary contact blade of said third relay means for providing a visible indication that said first plurality of switch means is enabled for operation.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1 wherein said token operated control system is adapted for use with first and second multitrack tape cartridge reproducing devices of the type specified and further includes: a second plurality of manually operated switch means for specifying operation of one of said first and second reproducing devices; said seek means being responsive to the operation of one of each of said first and second plurality of switch means to the ON position for enabling the programming means of the selected reproducing device to sequentially access said plurality of tracks of the selected reproducing device; said reproduction enable means including means for coupling said first electrical power input terminal means to said power signal input terminal of said selected one of said reproducing devices after the specified track has been accessed; and said token switch means including means for enabling said second plurality of switch means in response to the insertion of said predetermined token therein.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 8 further including a plurality of track indicator lamp means each coupled to a different one of said first plurality of switch means for providing a visible indication of the track specified for reproduction when the associated switch means is placed in the ON position after being enabled by said token switch means; and a plurality of reproducing device indicator lamp means for providing a visible indication of the reproducing device specified by said second plurality of switch means.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8 further including audio transducer means for converting said equivalent electrical signals to audible signals, said transducer means including input terminal means adapted to be coupled to said reproducing devices; and wherein said reproduction enable means includes means for coupling the equivalent electrical signals from the selected one of said reproducing devices to said input terminal means of said audio transducer means.

Claim 12

For use with a multi-track tape cartridge reproducing device having circuitry for reproducing from magnetically recorded signals on a plurality of tracks equivalent electric signals in response to the application of electric power signals to a power signal input terminal, programming means for sequentially accessing different ones of said plurality of tracks for reproduction, said programming means having a control signal input terminal and a plurality of indicator terminals for indicating accessed tracks, and means for indicating the end of each of said tracks; a token operated control system for enabling manual selection of a single track for reproduction and for providing automatic termination of track reproduction at the end of a given track, said control system comprising: first and second electrical power input terminal means; a plurality of manually operable switch means adapted to be coupled to said first and second electrical power input terminal means for specifying a different track for reproduction, each of said switch means having an OFF and an ON position; seek means coupled to said first electrical power input terminal means and responsive to the operation of any one of said switch means to the ON position for generating control signals adapted to be coupled to said control signal input terminal of said programming means to sequentially access said plurality of tracks, said seek means including means for generating sequential electrical stepping signals for said programming means, said stepping signal generating means having a charging circuit, and first relay means having a coil with a first end coupled to a reference potential and a second end, a movable contact blade coupled via said switch means and said reproduction enable means to said first electrical power input terminal means, a normally open stationary contact coupled to said control signal input terminal of said programming means and a normally closed stationary contact coupled to a second end of said coil and said charging circuit, said charging circuit being coupled to said second end of said coil; reproduction enable means adapted to be coupled to said programming means indicator terminals for disabling said seek means and for applying electrical power to said power signal input terminal of said reproducing device after the track specified by the operated one of said switch means has been accessed; reset means adapted to be coupled to said track end indicating means for resetting said operated one of said switch means to the OFF position and for disabling said plurality of switch means and said reproduction enable means after the selected track has been reproduced; and token switch means for enabling said plurality of switch means, said seek means and said reproduction enable means in response to the insertion of a predetermined token therein.

Claim 13

For use with a multi-track tape cartridge reproducing device having circuitry for reproducing from magnetically recorded signals on a plurality of tracks equivalent electric signals in response to the application of electric power signals to a power signal input terminal, programming means for sequentially accessing different ones of said plurality of tracks for reproduction, said programming means having a control signal input terminal and a plurality of indicator terminals for indicating accessed tracks, and means for indicating the end of each of said tracks; a token operated control system for enabling manual selection of a single track for reproduction and for providing automatic termination of track reproduction at the end of a given track, said control system comprising: first and second electrical power input terminal means; a plurality of manually operable switch means adapted to be coupled to said first and second electrical power input terminal means for specifying a different track for reproduction, each of said switch means having an OFF and an ON position; seek means coupled to said first electrical power input terminal means and responsive to the operation of any one of said switch means to the ON position for generating control signals adapted to be coupled to said control signal input terminal of said programming means to sequentially access said plurality of tracks, said seek means including means for generating sequential electrical stepping signals for said programming means, said stepping signal generating means having a charging circuit, and first relay means having a coil with a first end coupled to a reference potential and a second end, a movable contact blade coupled via said switch means and said reproduction enable means to said first electrical power input terminal means, a normally open stationary contact coupled to said control signal input terminal of said programming means and a normally closed stationary contact coupled to a second end of said coil and said charging circuit, said charging circuit being coupled to said second end of said coil; reproduction enable means adapted to be coupled to said programming means indicator terminals for disabling said seek means and for applying electrical power to said power signal input terminal of said reproducing device after the track specified by the operated one of said switch means has been accessed; reset means adapted to be coupled to said track end indicating means for resetting said operated one of said switch means to the OFF position and for disabling said plurality of switch means and said reproduction enable means after the selected track has been reproduced; and token switch means for enabling said plurality of switch means, said seek means and said reproduction enable means in response to the insertion of a predetermined token therein.