GB1579835A - Apparatus for automatic repeated playing of a record - Google Patents

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC REPEATED PLAYING OF A RECORD (71) We, NAHMA AG, a Swiss Body Corporate of Rainstrasse 19, 6314 Unterageri, Switzerland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for reproduction of sound or other intelligence on selected portions of one or more magnetic tapes or wires. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus which can effect one or more reproductions of intelligence which is stored on selected segments or portions of web- or wire-like carriers (hereinafter referred to as records for short).

It is already known to provide apparatus which can be combined with or incorporated in magnetic tape recorders and serve to allow for repeated reproduction of sound which is stored on magnetic tape. Certain presently known apparatus are not sufficiently sophisticated to allow for reproduction of sound on selected portions of magnetic tape, i.e., the sound which is recorded on the tape must be reproduced in its entirety especially if the tape consists of an endless tape loop.

The length of a magnetic tape is then limited, a first tape loop must be replaced with a second tape loop which is longer than the removed one if the amount of sound to be recorded is such that it cannot be stored on a relatively short tape loop.

Still further, presently known apparatus which are designed to allow for repeated reproduction of entire intelligence which is recorded on magnetic tape are not suited for a variety of purposes, for example, when a student desires to select the overall amount of intelligence which is to be stored on a tape as well as those portions of intelligence which are to be reproduced once or more than once. Still another drawback of presently known apparatus of the just outlined character is that they cannot be readily combined with or incorporated into any and all commercially available recorders.

U.S. Pat No. 3,913,133 granted Oct. 14, 1975 to Aregger (corresponding to Swiss Pat. No. 549,256) discloses a method and apparatus which allow for repeated reproduction of sound on selected portions of magnetic tape. The patented apparatus employs two counters one of which is actuated by a key or the like when the user detects the foremost part of that passage which is to be reproduced again, and the second of which is actuated by a key or the like when the user detects the end of such passage. Actuation of the second counter takes place simultaneously with reversal in the direction of tape transport. The one counter is driven by the supply reel for the tape when the supply reel pays out the tape, and the second counter is driven by the supply reel when the latter collects the tape. The one counter is gradually reset to zero while the supply reel drives the other counter, and vice versa. The counters cooperate with limit switches which control the operation of the prime mover for the reels and with means for reversing the direction in which the prime mover advances the tape.

A drawback of the just described apparatus is that they are incapable of ensuring repeated reproduction of sound on one and the same segment of magnetic tape. This is attributable to the fact that the apparatus employ two dynamic counters one of them controlling the prime mover for one reversion of the tape advance direction, independently of the actual value reached by the second counter, and vice versa. This drawback is especially serious becauses the counters receive torque by way of friction clutches. In fact, all apparatus of the above outlined character which operate with two counters one of which is gradually reset to zero while the other is driven, and vice versa, exhibit the just discussed drawback that they cannot ensure repeated reproduction of sound on one and the same portion of magnetic tape.

This applies for mechanical counters (whose inertia is quite pronounced) as well as for electronic digital counters whose accuracy is normally much more satisfactory than that of a mechanical counter. If the aforediscussed patented apparatus employs two electrical counters (e.g. digital counters), one of the counters starts to store information concerning the length of tape beginning with setting of the foremost end of the selected segment of tape while the other counter is simultaneously reset to zero and stays first at zero-value. When the direction of movement of tape is reversed on detection of the rearmost end of selected segment of the tape, the other counter begins to store information while the one counter is being reset decremented toward zero and should exactly be reset when the sound head of the recorder registers with the foremost end of the selected segment. Incremental return of one counter toward zero position begins automatically and is conditioned by reaching zero-value by the other counter. If one counter does not exactly reach the value according to the once set limit on incrementing from zero toward higher values, when the counter reaches zero, the difference of rated value and actual value of the counter being equal +h the length of the cycle (from such moment on) is changed by +2A. If the deviation is attributable to a persistent malfunction or a system error, i.e. if a first error is not compensated for by the next-following error or errors, the length of the cycle continues to increase or decrease depending on the (positive or negative) sign of the error A. The development of such errors is attributable primarily to the fact that only one of the values representing the foremost and rearmost ends of the selected segment of tape is fixed, the other one being after a first set, controlled by one of the dynamic counters in turn.

According to one aspect of the present invention provides apparatus for automatically replaying for any desired number of times any selected portion of a magnetic recording consisting of a tape or wire wherein intelligence is stored, the selected portion being of any selected length, said apparatus including respective spools which pay out and collect the tape or wire and means for driving said spools in either direction, and further comprising selection means which store a pair of physical values denoting the foremost and rearmost ends of a selected portion of tape or wire, said selection means including at least one device which is coupled to the said spools only whilst said physical values are being entered for the purpose of storing said values, monitoring means which continuously stores the angular displacement of one of the spools during the replaying of the selected portion of the tape or wire, and means providing control signals for the apparatus when the stored value corresponding to the angular displacement of said one spool subsequently matches the stored values denoting the rearmost and foremost ends of the selected portions, said signals switching the apparatus respectively into rewind mode and the play back mode.

According to another aspect the present invention provides apparatus for automatically repeatedly replaying for any desired number of times any selected portion of a magnetic recording consisting of a tape or wire wherein intelligence is stored, the selected portion being of any selected length, said apparatus including respective spools which pay out and collect the tape or wire and means for driving said spools in either direction, and further comprising selection means which enable a first and a second physical value to be entered respectively denoting the foremost and rearmost ends of a selected portion of tape or wire, said selection means including a pair of stores, monitoring means which continuously stores the angular displacement of one of the spools, means for momentarily coupling the monitoring means to first one and then the other of said stores so as to provide said first and second physical values respectively therein and means providing control signals for the apparatus when the angular displacement of the said one spool subsequently matches the second and first values stored in the said stores, said signals switching the apparatus respectively into the rewind and play back mode.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a system which includes a tape recorder and an attachment embodying one form of the invention Fig. 2 is a plan view of the attachment with its cover and certain other parts omitted, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the structure which is shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of those parts of the attachment which are omitted in Fig.

2, Fig. 5 is a partly developed and partly perspective view of the attachment and a perspective view of a portion of the tape recorder, Fig. 6 is a combined signal-flow/function block of a system resembling that whose details are shown in Figs. 1 to 5, Fig. 7 is a combined signal-flow/function block diagram of a modified system wherein the transducer comprises at least one counter, Fig. 8 is a combined signal-flow/function block of a system which constitutes a modification of the system shown in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 shows opto-electrical transducer means, as could be used in systems according to Fig. 6 to 8.

The illustrated apparatus is associated with or incorporated into a commercially available tape recorder, e.g. a recorder which utilizes cassettes containing a record carrier in the form of a magnetic tape. The details of the tape recorder are shown and described only to the extent which is necessary for full understanding of the invention. The apparatus (hereinafter called attachment) serves for repeated automatic reproduction of intelligence (sound) which is stored on selected portions or segments of the tape. It is immaterial whether the tape is stored in a cassette or on rotary supply and takeup reels which are not confined in a cassette.

The tape recorder I of Fig. 1 comprises a housing which supports operating means having actuating elements including a stop button 2, a playback button 3, a fast forward transport button 4, a rapid rewind button 5, and a recording button 6. The housing of the tape recorder 1 is further formed with a socket 13 for a plug 65 which is shown in Fig. 5. The plug 65 forms part of means for starting or arresting the prime mover of the tape recorder, i.e. the motor or motors which drive the tape lengthwise, either forwardly or backwards.

The top wall of the housing of the tape recorder 1 has a recess or chamber 14 for a cassette 15. The reels in the cassette 15 can receive torque from a first rotary element or spindle 16 which can be driven in a direction to draw the tape off the supply reel and/or from a second rotary element or spindle 17 which can be driven in a direction to wind the tape onto the supply reel. The casing of the cassette 15 has two star-shaped holes for the spindles 16 and 17.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5, the attachment 10 constitutes a cover for the chamber 14 and is pivotally secured to the top wall of the housing of the tape recorder 1 by hinges including two pintles 11 and 12.

An axially movable holder 22 for two coupling pins 23 is located at the underside of the attachment 10 in such position that the pins 23 register with the hole for the spindle 16 when the attachment is moved to the operative position in which it overlies the chamber 14 and the cassette 15.

The buttons 2, 3 and 5 can be depressed by V-shaped actuating elements 7, 8 and 9 which constitute two-armed levers and are pivotable on a horizontal supporting shaft 150. The levers 7, 8 and 9 can be respectively pivoted by cams 18, 19 and 20 which are mounted on a camshaft 48 extending in parallelism with the shaft 150.

The cams 19 and 20 have a semicircular shape and are angularly offset with respect to each other. The cam 18 has two mirror symmetrical halves. The camshaft 48 can be rotated by a servomotor 60 which is shown in Fig. 5. When a lobe of the cam 18, 19 or 20 engages and pivots the lower arm of the respective lever 7, 8 or 9, the upper arm of such lever depresses the respective button 2, 3 or 5. The lever 7, 8 or 9 is pivoted anticlockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, by the restoring force of the associated buttons on the upper, larger arms 151, 152,153 of the associated levers, when the respective cam 18, 19 or 20 dis-engages its shorter lower arm. The axis of the camshaft 48 coincides with the centre of the cam 18.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the attachment 10 with the top wall or cover of its casing removed. Certain parts of the attachment 10, including a reciprocable slide or rail 100 (see Fig. 4) and knobs 121, 122, 126 (also shown in Fig. 4) have been omitted in Fig. 2 for the sake of clarity. Such parts are assumed to be located in front of the structure shown in Fig. 2 (see the line A-A which denotes the plane of Fig. 4). Those parts of the attachment 10 which are shown in Fig. 2 are assumed to be held in inoperative positions. The attachment 10 comprises a base plate 25 which is rigid with a chassis or frame 27. A shaft 26 is rotatably and axially movably journalled in the base plate 25 and chassis 27 in such a way (see Fig. 3) that one of its end portions extends outwardly beyond the chassis 27. This end portion of the shaft 26 carries the holder 22 for the coupling pins 23. The other end portion of the shaft 26 has a circumferential groove 28 outwardly adjacent to a gear 24 which can be moved into and out of mesh with a gear 30 in response to axial displacement of the shaft 26. The gear 30 is rotatably mounted on the base plate 25 and carries an eccentrically mounted blocking stud or post 45 having a semicircular crosssectional outline. The gear 24 moves into mesh with the gear 30 when the shaft 26 is moved downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 3, so that the coupling pins 23 enter the adjacent hole of the cassette 15 in the chamber 14 and can receive torque from the spindle 16.

The gear 30 can transmit torque to a gear train including gears 31, 32 and 33. The gear train 31-33 is preferably a step-down transmission and gear 33 meshes with a straight toothed rack 47 on an L-shaped carriage 35 in the frame 27. The carriage 35 is reciprocably mounted on an elongated tie rod or guide 41 whose ends are secured to the frame 27 and which is surrounded by a helical spring 40 tending to yieldably bias the carriage 35 in a direction to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. When the carriage 35 is moved in a direction to the left (i.e. when the spring 40 stores energy), the gear 30 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. When the attachment 10 is idle, the spring 40 maintains the carriage 35 in the right-hand end position or starting position of Fig. 2 whereby the right-hand edge face 38 of the carriage 35 bears against the shorter arm of an arresting lever 46 which is fulcrumed in the frame 27, as at 37.

The longer arm of the lever 46 is then substantially parallel to the tie rod 41. The free end of the longer arm of the arresting lever 46 carries a notched angular abutment or stop 49 which extends into the path of movement of the eccentric post 45 on the gear 30 and which is of electrically conductive material. The arresting lever 46 preferably consists of electrically insulating material and the shoulder in the notch of the stop 49 is preferably in line with the axis of the gear 30, such shoulder is located in the path of movement of the post 45. It will be seen that, when the attachment 10 is not in use, the carraige 35 is held in the accurately determined starting position which is defined by the arresting lever 46 and post 45.

The frame 27 further supports a second tie rod or guide 39 (see Fig. 4) which is parallel to the tie rod 41 and supports a reciprocable L-shaped reference carriage 34. A helical spring 43 (shown in Fig. 2 behind an elongated blocking bar (42) surrounds the tie rod 39 and urges the reference carriage 34 in a direction to the right, i.e. in the direction in which the carriage 35 is moved when the spring 40 is free to dissipate energy. The carriages 34 and 35 preferably consist of insulating (nonconducting) material. When the carriages 34, 35 assume the starting positions which are shown in Fig. 2, their shorter legs are adjacent to each other (between the tie rods 39 and 41) and those surfaces of the shorter legs which face each other are respectively provided with contact-springs 57, 56 which are secured to cable clamps 59, 58. The clamps 59, 58 are respectively mounted on the shorter legs of the carriages 34, 35. The contacts 57, 56 constitute a switch and are in engagement with each other when the carriages 34, 35 assume the right-hand end positions of Fig. 2. A flexible electric conductor 50 connects the clamp 59 which a metallic eyelet 55 on the base plate 25.

The latter is also a conductor so that it electrically connects the plate 25 with the contact 57.

The arresting lever 46 is biassed anticlockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2 by a helical spring 54 which couples its longer arm to the frame 27. Thus, the spring 54 tends to move the carriages 34 and 35 in a direction to the left by urging the shorter arm of the lever 46 against the right edge face 38 of carriage 35.

The gear 30 and its eccentric post 45 consist of conductive material so that the stop 49 is electrically connected to the eyelet 55 when it engages the post 45 because the gear 30 is mounted on the base plate 25 which supports the eyelet 55.

The aforementioned blocking bar 42 has a rectangular cross-sectional outline (see Fig. 4) and is parallel with and adjacent to the tie rod 39. One side of the bar 42 lies flat against the adjacent surface of the reference carriage 34. This bar is rotatably mounted in the chassis 27 and constitutes a holding or arresting means for the carriage 34.

The means for moving the shaft 26 for the holder 22 axially comprises a shifter lever 135 which is shown in Fig. 4. The end portion 136 of the elastic longer arm 133 of the lever 135 is preferably bifurcated and extends into the circumferential groove 28 of the shaft 26. The shifter lever 135 is fulcrumed at 143 and is biased by a helical spring 134 which tends to move the gear 24 out of mesh with the gear 30.

Fig. 4 shows the aforediscussed parts 22-24, 26, 28, 34, 39, 42 and the reciprocable slide or rail 100 which has elongated slots 99 for guide pins 101 secured to the casing of the attachment 10.

The structure of Fig. 4 constitutes a control means which can actuate or deactivate the attachment 10 at the will of the operator.

The slide 100 extends at right angles to the bar 42 and has two triangular motion receiving protuberances or lugs 131, 132, relatively shallow notches 140, 141 and a deeper notch 145. The notch 145 receives the median contact 103 of a two-way control switch 98. The contact 103 can be flexed to engage the adjacent contact 104 or 105 of the switch 98. An arresting lever 130 which is fulcrumed at 130a and is biased anticlockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, by a helical spring 125 has a pointed arm 144 which can enter the notch 140 or 141 of the slide 100, depending on the position of the slide with respect to the lever 130. A helical spring 143 biases the slide 100 in a direction to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, so that the guide pins 101 normally extend into the leftmost portions of the respective slots 99.

The lever 130 co-operates with the offknob 126 which can be depressed to disengage the arm 144 from the slide 100 against the opposition of the spring 125.

When the attachment 10 is idle, the contact 103 of the two-way switch 98 engages the contact 104. The starter knob 121 cooperates with the lobe 131 of the slide 100 and is depressed when the user detects the start of that passage of recorded sound on a selected segment of the tape in the cassette 15 which is to be reproduced once or more than once. The motion terminating knob 122 co-operates with the lobe 132 and is depressed when the user detects the end of the aforementioned recorded passage. The bar 42 is connected with a leaf spring 107 which extends into the path of leftward movement of the end portion 108 of the slide 100. The configuration of co-operating inclined surfaces on the knob 121 and lobe 131 is such that, when the knob 121 is depressed, the end portion 108 of the slide 100 moves toward and just contacts the leaf spring 107, and the notch 140 is located in register with the arm 144 of the lever 130.

When the knob 122 is depressed the slide 100 moves the notch 141 into register with the arm 144 and the end portion 108 flexes the spring 107.

Fig. 5 shows the manner in which the levers 7, 8, 9 can be pivoted in order to actuate the respective buttons 2, 3 and 5.

The parts of the attachment 10 are shown in the inoperative or idle positions. The poles of a source of electrical energy are connected to two leads 92 and 94. The lead 92 is connected with a conductor 91 when the moving contact 103 of the two-way control switch 98 engages the contact 104.

The conductor 91 is electrically connected with a further conductor 93 on closing of a switch 70 whose movable contact can be displaced by a disc-shaped cam 61 on the camshaft 48 which is rotatable by the servomotor 60 through the medium of a step-down transmission or gear reducer 66.

The conductor 93 is connected to one terminal of the motor 60. Another terminal of the motor 60 is connected with the lead 94.

The contact 105 of the switch 98 is connected with the aforementioned eyelet 55 by a conductor 51. When the conductor 51 is electrically connected with the clamp 58 (via conductor 50, clamp 59 and switch 57, 56), it is connected with the conductor 93 via conductor 52 and on closing of a switch 72 whose movable contact is controlled by a second disc-shaped cam 63 on the camshaft 48.

The stop 49 of the lever 46 is connected with a conductor 53 which is connected to the movable contact of a switch 71; the moving contact of this switch is controlled by a disc-shaped cam 62 on the camshaft 48. When the cam 62 closes the switch 71, the stop 49 is connected with the conductor 93.

A switch 73 is actuatable by a discshaped cam 64 on the camshaft 48 and its contacts are connected with the aforementioned plug 65 which is insertable into the socket 13 of the housing of the tape recorder 1. The cams 61, 62, 63 are respectively formed with angularly offset Vshaped notches or recesses 80, 81, 82. The arrangement is such that the switches 70, 71, 72 respectively open when the teeth of their moving contacts are respectively free to enter the notches 80, 81, 82. The cam 64 has three notches 79, 83, 84 in angular positions respectively corresponding to those of the notches 80, 82 and 81. The switch 73 is closed when the tooth of its movable contact is free to enter one of the notches 79, 83, 84. When the attachment 10 is idle, the switch 70 is open and the switches 71-73 are closed.

The operation: The user inserts a conventional cassette 15 into the chamber 14 of the tape recorder 1 while the attachment 10 is held in the open position of Fig. 1. The attachment 10 is thereupon moved to closed position so that the coupling pins 23 of the holder 22 move into register with the spindle 16 and with the corresponding hole of the cassette 15. The plug 65 is inserted into the socket 13. The tape recorder 1 is thereupon operated in the customary way by depressing one of the buttons 26.

The playback lever 8 is depressed manually so that the machine 1 reproduces sound which is stored on the tape. The starter knob 121 is depressed when the user detects the foremost end of a sound passage which is to be reproduced once or more than once. This causes the lobe 131 to move the slide 100 in a direction to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4 or 5 and to stress the spring 143. The leftward movement of the slide 100 is terminated when its end portion 108 contacts the leaf spring 107 and the arm 144 of the arresting lever 130 enters the notch 140. Thus, the lever 130 then holds the slide 100 in the just described position. While the slide 100 moves in response to depression of the starter knob 121, the lefthand side of the lobe 131 pivots the shifter lever 135 against the opposition of the spring 134 whereby the bifurcated end portion 136 of the elastic arm 133 moves the shaft 26 axially and places the gear 24 into mesh with the gear 30. Also, the holder 22 moves away from the base plate 25 and introduces the coupling pins 23 into the respective star-shaped opening of the cassette 15 so that the shaft 26 is rotated in response to rotation of the spindle 16. The pins 23 automatically find their way into the registering opening because the opening is provided in the supply reel and the latter is rotated by the spindle 16 or by the tape.

Therefore, the spindle 16 drives the gear 30 which, in turn, transmits torque to the gear train 31-33 whose gear 33 moves the rack 47 and hence the carriage 35 in a direction to the left to stress the spring 40. The construction of the two-way control switch 98 is such that its contact 103 continues to engage the contact 104 while the arm 144 extends into the notch 140 of the slide 100.

The motor 60 is still idle because the switch 70 is open, i.e., the conductor 91 is disconnected from the lead 93.

During reproduction bf sound which is stored on the tape, the spindle 16 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. Consequently, and as mentioned above, the rack 47 moves the carriage 35 against the opposition of the spring 40 as soon as the spindle 16 begins to rotate the shaft 26 via coupling pins 23. The shorter leg of the carriage 35 bears against the shorter leg of the carriage 34 and pushes the latter against the opposition of the spring 43. Fig. 2 shows that, when the spindle 16 rotates the gear 24 in a counterclockwise direction, the gear 30 is driven clockwise and moves the post 45 away from the stop 49 on the lever 46. The ratio of the step-down transmission or gear train 31-33 between the gear 30 and the rack 47 is preferably such that the translatory movement of rack 47 in a direction to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, suffices to enable the lever 46 to move the stop 49 out of the path of the post 45 before the gear 30 completes a full revolution. The lever 46 is biased anticlockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, by the spring 54. Consequently, the path for the post 45 is free or unobstructed not later than when the gear 30 completes one full revolution in a clockwise direction.

The rear or trailing end of that sound passage which is to be reproduced once or more than once is determined by depressing the motion terminating knob 122. The lobe 132 then shifts the slide 100 in a direction to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4 or 5, so that the arm 144 of the lever 130 enters the notch 141. The end portion 108 of the slide 100 thereby flexes the leaf spring 107 which latter turns or tends to turn the bar 42 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4. The bar 42 is immediately adjacent the reference carriage 34 and, when it turns or tends to turn in response to flexing of the leaf spring 107, it causes the carriage 34 to bear against the tie rod 39 with a force which suffices to prevent further sliding movement of the carriage 34 along the tie rod 39. Thus, the spring 107 co-operates with the bar 42 to block further movement of the carriage 34 and to positively hold the carriage 34 in the selected position. The arresting or holding action remains unchanged because the arm 144 of the lever 130 extends into the notch 141 and maintains the slide 100 in the position which the slide assumes on depression of the motion terminating knob 122.

The contact 103 of the control switch 98 is disengaged from the contact 104 and engages the contact 105 when the user depresses the knob 122 and the slide 100 assumes that position in which the arm 144 extends into the notch 141. Consequently the contacts 103 and 105 complete a circuit including the lead 92, conductor 51, eyelet 55, conductor 50, clamp 59, switch 56, 57, clamp 58, conductor 52, switch 72 and conductor 93, i.e., the circuit of the motor 60 is completed and the transmission 66 drives the camshaft 48. The latter rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from the right-hand side of Fig. 5, and causes the cam 64 to immediately open the switch 73. This results in immediate stoppage of the tape drive means in the casing of the tape recorder 1 (note that the plug 65 in the socket 13 is in circuit with such drive means).

In order to ensure that the drive means of the tape recorder 1 is arrested not later than when the bar 42 blocks further translatory movement of the carriage 34 (this could happen because the motor 60 is started with a certain delay following depression of the key 122), the slide 100 is preferably configurated in such a way that the contact 103 of the control switch 98 is moved into engagement with the contact 105 before the arm 144 of the lever 130 enters the notch 141, i.e., before the end portion 108 of the slide 100 flexes the leaf spring 107 to the extent which is necessary to block further translatory movement of the carriage 34. In other words, the drive means of the tape recorder I is arrested no rotation of the camshaft 48, the cam 18 pivots the lever 7 so that the upper arm 151 of the lever 7 depresses the button 2.

During the next-following stage of rotation of the camshaft 48, the cam 20 causes the arm 153 of the lever 9 to depress the button 5. The buttons 2--6 are biased to their extended (non-depressed) positions by suitable springs (not shown) so that the button 2 returns to the extended position when the lever 9 depresses the button 5.

Such movements of the levers 7 and 9 are terminated before the notches 82, 83 of the cams 63 and 64 respectively reach the teeth of movable contacts of the respective switches 72 and 73. Thus, the tape recorder 1 is ready for rapid rewinding of magnetic tape onto the supply reel (spindle 16).

However, the drive means of the tape recorder 1 is still idle because the switch 73 is open.

When the notch 82 of the cam 63 reaches the movable contact of the switch 72, the latter opens to thus arrest the motor 60. At the same time, the notch 83 of the cam 64 reaches the moving contact of the switch 73 and allows the moving contact to engage the other contact so that the switch 73 closes and completes the circuit of the tape drive means. Since the button 5 is still depressed by the lever 9, the tape in the cassette 15 is rapidly rewound onto the supply reel. This causes the spindle 16 to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. The pins 23 transmit torque to the gears 24, 30 and 31-33. The gear 30 is driven counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig.

2, so that the rack 47 moves the carriage 35 in a direction to the right, i.e., the spring 40 is free to expand. The switch 56, 57 opens because the blocking bar 42 holds the carriage 34 against movement under the bias of the spring 43. The rewinding of magnetic tape onto the supply reel in the cassette 15 continues until the right edge face 38 of the carriage 35 reaches the shorter arm of and pivots the lever 46 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, i.e., the spring 54 stores energy and the stop 49 returns into the path of movement of the post 45 on the gear 30. That position of the gear 30 in which the post 45 re-engages the shoulder of the stop 49 corresponds to the desired starting position of the tape for renewed reproduction of sound on a selected segment of the tape.

When the post 45 engages the stop 49, the circuit of the motor 60 is completed via lead 92, contacts 103, 105 of the control switch 98, conductor 51, eyelet 55, base plate 25, gear 30, post 45, stop 49, conductor 53, switch 71 and conductor 93. The motor 60 causes the transmission 66 to rotate the camshaft 48 whereby the cam 64 immediately opens the switch 73 to arrest the drive means of the tape recorder 1. It might be desirable to open the circuit of the tape drive means shortly prior to actual stoppage thereof; this reduces the wear upon such drive means.

As the camshaft 48 rotates, the cam 18 causes the lever 7 to depress the button 2.

In response to continuing rotation of the camshaft 48, the cam 19 causes the arm 152 of the lever 8 to depress the button 3 so that the tape recorder 1 is set for reproduction of sound on the aforediscussed selected segment of the magnetic tape. It is preferred to select the configuration and angular positions of the cams 18-20 on the camshaft 48 in such a way that the transition from depression of the button 2 to depression of the button 3 or 4 (or vice versa) takes place gradually. This reduces the likelihood of generation of noise which could be bothersome to the user, for example, to a student who wishes to listen again to a selected passage of sound which is recorded on the magnetic tape.

The just described stages of operation are completed before the notch 81 of the cam 62 reaches the tooth on the moving contact of the switch 71 and allows the latter to open, and before the notch 84 of the cam 64 allows the switch 73 to close.

When the switch 71 opens, the circuit of the motor 60 opens and the camshaft 48 is arrested. This takes place simultaneously with closing of the switch 73 which completes the circuit of the tape drive means. The lever 8 maintains the playback button 3 in depressed position so that the tape recorder 1 reproduces the sound which is recorded on the selected segment of magnetic tape. The gear 24 is rotated anticlockwise and drives the gear 30 in a clockwise direction. Therefore, the post 45 moves away from the stop 49. Also, the gear train 31-33 causes the rack 47 to move the carriage 35 away from the right-hand end position, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the spring 54 moves the stop 49 away from the path of movement of the post 45. When the carriage 35 reaches the carriage 34 (which is still blocked by the bar 42), the switch 56, 57 closes to complete the circuit of the motor 60 via 58, 52 and 72. Thus, the carriage 35 comes to a halt at the exact moment when the reproduction of sound on the selected segment of magnetic tape in the cassette 15 is completed.

Since the motor 60 is on, the camshaft 48 rotates the cams 6(w64 whereby the cam 64 immediately opens the switch 73 to open the circuit of the tape drive means. The cam 18 causes the lever 7 to depress the stop button 2 and the cam 20 thereupon causes the lever 9 to depress the rapid rewind button 5. The movements of the levers 7 and 9 in a direction to depress the respective buttons 2 and 5 are terminated before the cam 63 opens the switch 72 to thereby arrest the motor 60. Such opening of the switch 72 takes place simultaneously with closing of the switch 73 (because the notch 83 of the cam 64 allows the movable contact of the switch 73 to engage the other contact). Thus, the drive means of the tape recorder 1 is on and, since the button 5 is depressed, the aforediscussed segment of magnetic tape is rapidly rewound onto the supply reel in the casing of the cassette 15.

The reproduction of sound on the selected segment of magnetic tape is thereupon repeated in the aforediscussed manner as often as the user desires.

If the user wishes to avoid further automatic reproduction of sound on a selected segment of the tape, the off-knob 126 is depressed whereby the arm 144 of the lever 130 is expelled from the notch 141 of the slide 100 and the spring 143 is free to contract and to return the slide to the starting position of Fig. 4. The end portion 108 of the slide 100 is disengaged from the leaf spring 107 and the bar 42 ceases to block the reference carriage 34. The spring 143 is strong enough to cause the inclined cam faces of the lobes 131, 132 to return the knobs 121, 122 to the extended positions of Fig. 4. The spring 134 maintains the shorter arm of the shifter lever 135 in contact with the adiacent edge face of the lobe 131 so that the end portion 136 of the arm 133 raises the shaft 26 and disengages the coupling pins 23 from the spindle 16. Thus, the gear 24 is disengaged from the gear 30 and the springs 40 and 43 are free to return the respective carriages 35, 34 to the starting positions shown in Fig. 2. The slide 100 returns the contact 103 of the control switch 98 into engagement with the contact 104 so that the circuit of the motor 60 is completed via 91, 70, 92. The motor 60 drives the camshaft 48 until the cam 61 allows the switch 70 to open and to thus arrest the motor 60. This completes the return movement of all components of the attachment 10 to their idle positions. The tape recorder 1 is automatically set for reproduction of sound even if the repetition of reproduction of sound on a selected segment of the tape is terminated during rewinding of tape onto the supply reel because, when the cam 61 reaches the angular position of Fig. 5 to open the switch 70, the levers 8 and 9 have caused the rewinding of tape onto the supply reel and set the tape recorder I for playback.

As mentioned above, the springs 40 and 43 are free to expand as soon as the coupling pins 23 are disengaged from the spindle 16. The carriage 35 then maintains the lever 46 in the position of Fig. 2, i.e., the shoulder of the stop 49 extends into the path of movement of the post 45. The user is free to depress any selected button (2--6) of the tape recorder 1.

A different segment of the tape in the cassette 15 can be selected for repeated reproduction of sound thereon in the previously described manner. Thus, the user first depresses the starter knob 121 at the start of reproduction of freshly selected sound passage, and the user depresses the motion terminating knob 122 when the playback of the selected sound passage is completed.

In accordance with a modification, the starter key 121 can be omitted if the attachment is designed in such a way that the coupling pins 23 automatically engage with the spindle 16 (or with a part which receives torque from the spindle 16, when the attachment is moved from the open position of Fig. 1 to the closed position in which it overlies the chamber 14 for the cassette 15, i.e. in this case the start position for repeated replay is merely set by moving attachment 10 to the closed position at the appropriate point on the tape. This results in substantial simplification of the attachment because the shaft 26 need not be mounted for movement along its axis but is merely rotatable in the base plate 25 and/or frame 27 while the gear 24 remains in permanent mesh with the gear 30.

Fig. 6 is a diagram wherein the reference character 200 denotes a rotary element (corresponding to or constituting the spindle 16 or 17) whose angular displacement 9 results in the generation of information (signal) which is transmitted to the input of a transducer (or converter) 202 (corresponding to the parts 3033, 35, 47) in response to closing of a switch S (corresponding to the starter knob 121).

The output of the transducer 202 begins to transmit information as soon as the switch Si closes (such information denotes bodily displacement or translatory movement of the carriages 35, 34 from their starting positions subsequent to engagement of coupling pins 23 with the spindle 16, i.e.

subsequent to actuation or depression of the starter knob 121). The value of the aforementioned transmitted information is proportional to the angular displacement of the rotary element subsequent to closing of the switch S,. With reference to the embodiment which is shown in Figs. 1--5, this means that the extent of translatory movement of the carriages 34, 35 from the starting position of Fig. 2 is proportional to that angular displacement of the shaft 26 subsequent to depression of the starter knob 121. The value of information a at the output of the transducer 203 corresponds to #O wherein O denotes the total angular displacement of rotary element 200 (corresponding to the spindle 16) up to the time of closing of the switch Si. The output of transducer 202 statistically equals zero at the closing of the switch Sl.

The information a is transmitted directly to the corresponding input of an information comparing control unit 203 (functionally corresponding to the carriages 34, 35 comparison being performed by switch 56, 57 and lever 46 respectively stop 49 and post 45) which controls the mode of operation of the tape recorder 204 (corresponding to 1). The information a is further transmitted to a first storage 205 by way of a second switch S2. The storage 205 corresponds to the reference carriage 34 and the carrier of information a is the contacting carriage 35 which therefor moves the carriage 34 from the starting position of Fig. 2 in response to start of rotation of the shaft 26. The switch S2 of Fig. 6 is actually analogous to the terminating knob 122, the movement of the carriage 35, in analogy to information a, being transmitted to the reference carriage 34 (storage 205) until said knob 122 is depressed. The signal at output 206 of the storage 205 equals its input signal only as long as the switch S2 is closed, i.e. in the analogous case, as long as the carriage 35 pushes the carriage 34 along the tie rod 39.

A second storage 207 (corresponding to the lever 46 with stop 49) has an output 208 which is also connected to the control unit 203. The storage 207 stores statically information whose value is zero. Reaching of the same value by the signal a (analogously the movement of carriage 35 to that position) denotes that that position of magnetic tape in the cassette 15 according to trailing end of the selected segment is again reached. The lever 46 denotes permanently said position.

The operation of the attachment and tape recorder 204 of Fig. 6 is clearly analogous to the operation of the structure which is shown in Figs. 1--5. The information (O) represents the angular displacement of rotary element 200 or the shaft 26 subsequent to closing of the switch Si (which is equivalent to depressing the knob 121, so placing the gear 24 into mesh with the gear 30). This information is proportional with the value a (+t,bo) at the output of the transducer 202 (corresponding to the extent of translatory movement of the storage carriage 34 from its starting position). In other words, the output of the transducer 202 (gear train or transmission 31-33) begins to transmit information related to the subsequent displacement of element 200 (or shaft 26) as the switch Sl closes. Likewise, the extent of displacement of the carriage 35 from its starting position equals a (u O) whereby a (#uO)=0 at the starting position.

The signal a (O) is stored in the storage 205 whilst the switch S2 is closed; this is equivalent to the extent of translatory movement of carriage 35 from its starting or zero position being stored in the translatory movement of carriage 34.

The switch S2 is open when the information transmitted to storage 205 reaches for the first time that position which is to represent the end of the sound passage to be now reproduced. This is equivalent to depressing knob 122. The value of information which is then stored in the storage 205 equals a (eO) wherein eMbe equals the absolute angular displacement of the rotary element 200 (or shaft 26) up to the time of stoppage of the carriage 34, i.e.

up to the time of depression of the motion terminating key 122. Opening of the switch S2 actuates the control unit 203, i.e. the contact 103 of the two-way switch 98 engages the contact 105.

At just this time, the value of information transmitted from transducer 202 to the control unit 203 equals the from now on fixed value at the output 206 of the storage 205, this causes the recorder 204 to start at the beginning of the repetition cycle the tape in reverse. Therefore, the value of information a (u,bSlo) decreases toward zero which corresponds to the fixed value denoted by the signal at the output 208 of the storage 207 (or the position of lever 46).

Analogously, the carriage 34 remains in the selected new fixed position under the action of the blocking bar 42 and the carriage 35 moves back toward the starting position or toward position of lever 46 because the supply reel in the cassette 15 collects magnetic tape and the shaft 26 causes the rack 47 to move in a direction to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. When the value of information a (#0) reaches zero value (this is the intensity of signal at the output 208 of the storage 207), the control unit 203 actuates the tape recorder 204 to begin with renewed reproduction of sound on the selected segment of magnetic tape.

This corresponds to re-engagement of the stop 49 on the arresting lever 46 with the post 45 of the gear 30 when the carriage 35 reassumes the starting position of Fig. 2.

Thus the difference of output of storage 207 and signal a (O) is zero.

An examination of Fig. 6 shows that it would also be possible not to couple the storage 205 to the transducer 202 when the start-point of the repetition cycle is detected and not to have the storage 205 synchronously following the output signal of the transducer from the start-point of this cycle, but only to load said storage by a momentary closing of the switch S2 when the end-point of the sequence is detected.

In the mechanical realization according to the Figures 4 and 5 this latter technique could be realized by holding the carriage 34 fixed during movement of the monitoring carriage 35 from the start-point towards the end-point and to have the carriage 34 propelled on the monitoring carriage, e.g.

by spring force when the end-point is detected.

It is clear that the rearmost end or endpoint of the sequence to be repeated may be altered at operator's will keeping the foremost end unchanged. Each actuation of switch S2 will load the momentarily output signal of transducer 202 to the storage 205 and start rewind operation. Thus, a student who desires to learn a particular passage of relatively long text by heart can successively lengthen the sequence he listens to.

Fig. 6 further shows that an electromechanical transducer (202) can be readily replaced with a host of other transducers or other arrangements, e.g.

with an optoelectrical transducer or a transducer which is assembled of electronic components. Also, such different types of transducers can be combined with (or they may incorporate) purely mechanical components. For example, the transducer 202 (or the equivalent gear train 31-33) which converts an angular movement (of 200 or 26) into a signal or equivalent translatory movement (of 47, 35) can be replaced with an optoelectronic transducer, as shown in Fig. 9. This would mean that angular movement of the element 200 (26) would be monitored by optical means like an encoded disk 300 and light emitting diode 303 and opto-electrical converter means as a phototransistor 305, the latter would convert optical signals into electric signals e.g. an impulse sequence. The number of pulses is then indicative of the angular displacement of the rotary element 200. Such a construction may employ a counter 307 receiving the pulses via switch S2. The stored number of pulses in the storage 205 is determined by the motion terminating knob 122, i.e. this number will be dependent on selection of the interval which elapses between the actuation of knob 121 (Sl) and subsequent actuation of the knob 122 (S2).

The diagram of Fig. 7 shows, very schematically, a first modification of the system of Fig. 6. All such parts which are identical with or clearly analogous to corresponding parts of the system of Fig. 6 are denoted by similar reference characters. The values corresponding to the start and termination of repeated reproduction of intelligence are selected and stored in a somewhat different way.

The angular displacement of the rotary element 200 (which may again constitute the spindle for the supply or takeup reel of a cassette or the shaft 26 of Fig. 2) is monitored and a corresponding information is transmitted to the input of a transducer 202 which transmits information a (e) proportional with angular displacement of the element 200. The output of the transducer 202 transmits the information to the corresponding input of a unit 203 which controls the operation of the tape recorder 204. The system further comprises a storing means including two storages 205, 207 which respectively receive information from the output of the transducer 202 in response to short-lasting closing of switches S3 and S4. The outputs 206, 208 of the storages 205, 207 are connected to the corresponding inputs of the control unit 203.

When the switch S3 is closed, the storage 205 receives and stores information whose value is indicative of the momentary characteristic (e.g. intensity) of the output signal a (e). Closing of the switch S4 enables the storage 207 to receive and store information whose value is indicative of the momentary characteristic of the signal a (,b). The signals which are transmitted to the storages 205 and 207 respectively determine the start and end of reproduction of intelligence on the selected segment of the tape. The control unit 203 is started in response to closing of that switch which transmits the end signal of intelligence to one of the storages.

In contrast to the embodiments of Figs.

1--5 or Fig. 6, the storages 205 and 207 of Fig. 7 store information which is respectively indicative of the absolute value of angular displacement of the element 200 up to the time of closing of the switches S3 and S4. To this end, the output of the transducer 202 must transmit signals which, at any given moment, are single valued for each total angular displacement of the element 200 irrespectively of its movementperiodicity. This can be readily achieved by employing a transducer 202 comprising an up/down counter for forward/reverse movement of the tape which counts the increments of angular displacement of the element 200 irrespective of the speed and/or eventual interruptions of rotation.

For example, if the transducer 202 of Fig. 7 is an electrooptical transducer which converts information representing angular displacement of the element 200 into electrical signals whereby each bit of information represents an angular displacement of the element 200 of about one degree, the transducer may comprise two 8-bit counters (one for increments of a revolution and the other for complete revolutions). This ensures adequate reproducibility within the range of up to 256 revolutions of the element 200.

The system of Fig. 7 exhibits the advantage that, once the selection of starting and terminal points of the segment containing intelligence which is to be reproduced (once or more than once) is completed, one can repeat the reproduction as often as desired regardless of whether the tape has been advanced beyond such segment between successive repeat reproductions of selected intelligence. The information which is stored in the storages 205, 207 of Fig. 7 is erased only when the user so desires, e.g. in response to depression of the off-knob 126 or an analogous signal erasing or storage evacuating device.

Fig. 8 shows a further system which renders it possible to freely select the timing of start and termination of repeat operation. The angular displacement + of the rotary element 200 is monitored by a transducer 202 whose output is connected with the control unit 203 for the tape recorder 204. The information a (elm) at the output of the transducer 202 is proportional to the information Br. The storages 205, 207 can be set by means of switches S3, S4 as in the system of Fig. 7 or they can be set externally, independent of tape movement (as indicated by the arrows 205a, 207a) to store information which corresponds with the information a (+) and respectively determines the end and the start of the tape segment, preselected to be later repeated.

It is often desirable to provide means for furnishing visually observable indications of the information which is stored in the storing means 205, 207 as well as of the information a (). To this end, the system of Fig. 8, includes a preferably digital readout device 210 having three sections which are respectively connected with the storages 205, 207 and the output of the transducer 202. These sections furnish visually detectable indications of the external setting of storages 205, 207 and the value of information a (rCI) at the output of the transducer 202.

The provision of means 205a, 207a for supplying repeat cycle start and termination signals necessitates the provision of a discrete automatic starter unit 212 for the control unit 203. The unit 212 starts the control unit 203 when the value of the information a (e,b) matches the fixed value of information according to the end of the preselected tape segment. The unit 212 may constitute a comparator amplifier whose inputs are connected with the storage 205 storing the end-of-segment information on the one hand and with the output of the transducer 202 on the other hand. This enables the unit 212 to start the control unit 203 for the tape recorder 204 when the information a () at the output of the transducer 202 matches the information at the output of the storage 205.

The recorder-attachment combination of Fig. 8 exhibits the advantage that, once the user has set the storages 205, 207 (via S3 and S4 or 205a, 207a) during a first listening to the recording on the magnetic tape of the recorder 204, the corresponding settings can be recorded on a suitable storage medium, e.g. by writing them down on a piece of paper. This renders it possible to renew the setting of the storages 205, 207 during a later reproduction of intelligence on the same tape. In other words, the tape can be removed from the recorder and reinserted into the recorder at a late time whereby the information pertaining to the setting of storages 205, 207 can be used again to again repeat the reproduction of the same sound passage on a given segment of the tape as before.

By embodying the features of the system of Fig. 7, the system of Fig. 8 can receive information from the output of the transducer 202 via S3 and S4 or from sources 205a, 207a.

This renders it possible to select the timing of the start and termination of reproduction of intelligence on a given segment of the tape in the same way as described in connection with Fig. 7 to record the corresponding data on a suitable carrier (e.g. by writing down the setting of those portions of the device 210 which indicate the value of information respectively transmitted to the storage 205, 207 on closing of the switches S3 and S4, and to use such data for renewed setting of storages 205, 207 (via 205a, 207a) at a later time). If desired, the just discussed data regarding the setting of storages 205, 207 can be stored on a separate track of the magnetic tape in the recorder 204. The data which are stored on the discrete track of the tape can be detected by the reproducing head or heads of the tape recorder and applied to the storages 205, 207 (at 205a, 207a) directly by the reproducing head or heads. It has to be pointed out, that all described systems provide storage means for start-and endinformation with respect to a tape sequence to be repeated, said storage means acting as fixed values.

It will be readily appreciated that the heretofore described and shown embodiments constitute but a few of recorder-attachment combinations which can be constructed and assembled in accordance with the broadest aspects of the invention. A feature common to all of the embodiments is as mentioned that the system comprises two storages for reception of information whose value remains unchanged irrespective of the number of repeat cycles. This ensures that errors which arise due to the delay with which a tape recorder reacts in response to transmission or control signals cannot be totalized to cause a shifting and/or change in the length of segments containing intelligence which is to be reproduced again either once or more than once.

Otherwise stated, each repeat cycle is not affected by eventual inaccuracies in the start and/or termination of the preceding cycle or cycles because each cycle is started in response to detection of the same start signal (storage 205) and each cycle is terminated in response to detection of the same end signal (storage 207).

The improved system can be used by students and music lovers as well as for a host of other purposes. For example, the magnetic tape can store information in the form of digital data which can be recorded on one or more tracks of the tape, or in the form of a pulse-code modulated signal. The modulation techniques for magnetic tape signals are well known to persons skilled in the art. Finally, it is also within the purview of the invention to install the storage or storages and the corresponding control unit at a locus which is remote from the tape recorder. This is advisable when the improved attachment is used to ensure repeat reproduction of intelligence which is stored on several tapes,

Claims (27)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. system comprises two storages for reception of information whose value remains unchanged irrespective of the number of repeat cycles. This ensures that errors which arise due to the delay with which a tape recorder reacts in response to transmission or control signals cannot be totalized to cause a shifting and/or change in the length of segments containing intelligence which is to be reproduced again either once or more than once. Otherwise stated, each repeat cycle is not affected by eventual inaccuracies in the start and/or termination of the preceding cycle or cycles because each cycle is started in response to detection of the same start signal (storage 205) and each cycle is terminated in response to detection of the same end signal (storage 207). The improved system can be used by students and music lovers as well as for a host of other purposes. For example, the magnetic tape can store information in the form of digital data which can be recorded on one or more tracks of the tape, or in the form of a pulse-code modulated signal. The modulation techniques for magnetic tape signals are well known to persons skilled in the art. Finally, it is also within the purview of the invention to install the storage or storages and the corresponding control unit at a locus which is remote from the tape recorder. This is advisable when the improved attachment is used to ensure repeat reproduction of intelligence which is stored on several tapes, each in a different recorder. The exact manner in which a single attachment can be combined with several tape recorders to transmit appropriate start and stop signals for repeat cycles will be readily conceived by those possessing the necessary skill in this art. Reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 2,800,531. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for automatically repeatedly replaying for any desired number of times any selected portion of a magnetic recording consisting of a tape or wire wherein intelligence is stored, the selected portion being of any selected length, said apparatus including respective spools which pay out and collect the tape or wire and means for driving said spools in either direction, and further comprising selection means which store a pair of physical values denoting the foremost and rearmost ends of a selected portion of tape and wire, said selection means including at least one device which is coupled to the said spools only whilst said physical values are being entered for the purpose of storing said values, monitoring means which continuously stores the angular displacement of one of the spools during the replaying of the selected portion of the tape or wire, and means providing control signals for the apparatus when the stored value corresponding to the angular displacement of said one spool subsequently matches the stored values denoting the rearmost and foremost ends of the selected portions, said signals switching the apparatus respectively into rewind mode and the play back mode.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising means for selectively coupling said monitoring means to said spools.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said monitoring means comprise a mechanical/mechanical motion converter.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein said monitoring means comprise a gear train.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 further comprising operator actuated means for coupling said gear train with said spools.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the output of the gear train comprises a first movable member acting on a second movable member so as to store one of said values.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the first movable member is displaced against a force exerted by a spring.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the value stored by the second movable member is the value denoting the rearmost end of the tape or wire portion.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 6 or any claim appendant thereto, wherein the first said movable member comprises a mobile monitoring carriage which is movable as a function of change in the position of the tape or wire.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the spools are coupled to a mechanical arresting member and further comprising a feed-back member movable by said monitoring carriage, said feed-back member constituting a mechanical stop cooperating with said arresting member.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, when appendant to Claim 2, wherein the second movable member comprises a storing carriage which is movable by said monitoring carriage, and further comprising arresting means for arresting the storing carriage in a position corresponding to the rearmost end position of the tape or wire portion to be repeated.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, comprising means for yieldably biasing said

storing carriage towards said monitoring carriage.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 11 or Claim 12, further comprising two pairs of electrical contacts actuatable by said monitoring carriage, one of said pairs of contacts being actuated when said monitoring carriage reaches said storage carriage and the other pair of said contacts being actuated when said monitoring carriage assumes a pre-selected position, said pairs of contacts controlling the play, stop and rewind operations of the apparatus.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto comprising means for manually coupling said monitoring means to said spools, said monitoring means providing output signals varying proportionally with the extent of angular displacement of the spools subsequent to coupling with said monitoring means.

15. Apparatus for automatically repeatedly replaying for any desired number of times any selected portion of a magnetic recording consisting of a tape or wire wherein intelligence is stored, the selected portion being of any selected length, said apparatus including respective spools which pay out and collect the tape or wire and means for driving said spools in either direction, and further comprising selection means which enable a first and a second physical value to be entered respectively denoting the foremost and rearmost ends of a selected portion of tape or wire, said selection means including a pair of stores, monitoring means which continuously stores the angular displacement of one of the spools, means for momentarily coupling the monitoring means to first one and then the other of said stores so as to provide said first and second physical values respectively therein and means providing control signals for the apparatus when the angular displacement of the said one spool subsequently matches the second and first values stored in the said stores, said signals switching the apparatus respectively into the rewind and play back mode.

16. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1, 2, 14 and 15, wherein the input of said selection means and the ouptut of said monitoring means are temporarily connectable to transmit, momentarily, output signals of the monitoring means as the values to be stored denoting the said ends of the selected portion of tape or wire.

17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the selection means includes two stores, one for storing the value denoting the foremost and one for storing the value denoting the rearmost end of a selected portion of tape or wire.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 17 when appended to any of Claims 1,2,14,15 and 16, wherein said stores have input means for the reception of said values independently of the momentary position of said tape or wire.

19. Apparatus according to any preceding claim except Claims 3 to 13 comprising means for providing a visual indication of the stored values.

20. Apparatus according to any preceding claim except Claims 3 to 13 further comprising visual indicating means for providing a visual indication of the instantaneous tape or wire position.

21. Apparatus according to Claim 19 or 20, wherein said indicating means displays digitally controlled numerical figures.

22. Apparatus according to any preceding claim except Claims 3 to 13 wherein said monitoring means comprise an opto-electrical transducer.

23. Apparatus according to any preceding claim except Claims 3 to 13 wherein said monitoring means comprise at least one electronic counter.

24. Apparatus according to Claim 17 or any claim appendant thereto wherein said values are entered in said stores as digital data and said monitoring means convert the momentary tape position into digital signals which are compared with the values entered in the said stores for a match.

25. Apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising operating means including keys for controlling the drive to the spools and the playback and rewind modes of operation, and control means incorporating a motor driven rotary cam shaft having cams for actuating said keys.

26. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said spools are coupled to arresting means and wherein said control signal providing means include stop signal generating means, and wherein feed-back means are provided having an input coupled to said stop signal generating means and an output coupled to said arresting means for arresting said spools in response to said stop signal.

27. Apparatus according to Claim I and substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 6, Figure 7 or Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.