US2292564A

US2292564A - Automatic phonograph

Info

Publication number: US2292564A
Application number: US387748A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl G Johnson
Original assignee: SEEBURG J P CORP
Current assignee: J P SEEBURG Corp; SEEBURG J P CORP
Priority date: 1939-01-11
Filing date: 1941-04-09
Publication date: 1942-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 1959-08-11

Description

c. G. JQHNsoN 2,292,564 AUTOMATIC PHoNoGRAPH Original Filed Jan. 11, 1939 Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED fs'rAfrllzs- PATENT OFFICE I Auromrlc rnonocaarnf- Carl GL Johnson. Chiu, lli., assignor to J. l. Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, lli., a corporation of Illinois Original application January 1l, 1939, Serial No.

and this application Divided 1941, Serial No. 381,748

8 Claims.A (Cl. 274-10) A further object of the invention is to provide This invention relatesto automatic phonographs and is a division from my copending application Serial No. 250,311,1iled January 11,

The type of phonograph to which the present` invention relates and which is fully' described and illustrated in the aforesaid application, is that in which a plurality of records are retained above a turntable by means of one or more escape-- ment'mechanisms. .The escapement mechanisms are actuated. during the record changing, Uycle so as to drop the lowermost record which then falls down upon the turntable'where it is played.

The escapement mechanism normally com-j v 15 Figure-2' is a similarview showing the upper .prises two essential members, a lower supporting arm and a blade which is located thereabove approximately the thickness of one record. The arm and blade are connected together for simultaneous movement and during the actuation of the escapement mechanism, the upper blade enters the stack of records above the lowermost record and thereafter the lower supporting arm moves clear of the lowern'iost record so that that record aloneis released. The return of the escapement mechanism to initial position returns the supporting arm to a position below the stack of Irecords and thereafter the upper blade is withdrawn so thatpthe' next record now rests upon the lower supporting member and the upper blade is adapted to enter the stack immediately above that lowermost record onl the next/actu;

ation of the escapement mechanism.

Considerable difllculty arisen in connection Iwith escapementv mechanisms of this type in.k

which it is attempted to intermlx records -of different sizes, for example ten and twelve inch records. When the lower-most record of the stack is a ten-inch record and the record immediately above it is a twelve-inch record, then the upper blade has diiilculty. in functioning properly. In some cases the twelve-inch record is warped so that the portion which projects' beyond the tenw inch record may actually project down'below the upper surface of 'thelowermost ten-duch reci ord. Some records arewarped so .as to have, an

incipient .umbrella formation and have caused considerable trouble. deformingan'd jamming the escapement' andsomep times fracturlng the records.

All! 9,

the lowermost position.

5 other objects, advantages and espsbiuues or the invention will appear from the following description of a 'preferred lembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

1o Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of my im proved escapementmechanism in position where the upper blade is about .to clear a record of smaller size andallow the sameto drop onto the lower arm; u

blade about toenter below a larger record sup- .ported by a' record of smaller .size which rests 'onthelower arm;`

Figure 3' is a fragmentary sectional detail view zo taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, the record elevating' means being shown in normal position;

25 mechanism in podtion corresponding to that showninFigureZ;

Figure 5.1i a similar view showing um reordf elevating means in inoperative position with a. icord' of larger size resting upon the lower arm; 30' d A A g ,Figure 6isafragnientarydetail viewshowinsthe manner in which the elevating mechanism is actuated .by a record of smaller size.-

Referring to lthe drawing, Figures 1 and 2 35 show a complete escapement mechanism com- I, an upper blade II- prlsing a lower support spaced above the support l0 by a distance approximately equal to the thickness of a record.

Thearm Iliandthe blade Il aremountedona 40 vertical sleeve l2 so that they can be rotated or oscillated together aboutvthe axis of the sleeve I2.

The upper blade Il -is shown associated with a followermember Il, ,the function and. operationk of which is describedin the. parent application.

'45 'Ihe follower I3 is pivotally mounted on the sleeve Il and is normally held away from. the records by means ofaspring I4.- Y

It will be that the escapement -isjlocated to'one side of .a turntable The principal object o1 the' present invention 50 il. Thus, two orfmore of the escapement mechais to provide means whereby`a record of larser size in the second position from the bottom of the stackis elevated away from a mailer lowermost record o as to permit -the upper blade-to enter the stack clear of the largerl record.

nisms may be located the turntable to i support a stack of records mounted above and in alisnment with the turntable Il.

as runydwnbeavm the parent appneaucn.' 5l the turntable I8 has an elongated spindle which projects upwardly beyond the arm I and blade Il so that it passes through the central openings of a stack of records normally supported on the support I D.

-Means (not shown) are provided for periodically oscillating the sleeve I2 to eiect the deposition of a record from the stack supported on the escapement mechanisms onto the record. It may 'here be noted that the arm IU lies normally in position indicated at I0 in Figures 2 and 6 and in this position the blade II and follower I3 are clear of the records which are' supported exclusively upon the arms I0.

When the sleeve I2 is swung in the clockwise direction as viewed in Figure l, the blade II, being approximately one record thickness above the arm I 0, comes into contact with the stack of records at a position above the lowermost record and it enters into the stack above the lowermost record. In Figure 1 I have shown the blade II on the point of entering the stack' above a it entering the stack above a twelve-inch record.

It will readily be understood that continued clockwise movement of the sleeve I2 brings the arm I0 clear of the lowermost record so that this record is free to fall downwardly upon the turntable, being guided by the elongated spindle which passes through its central opening. The movement of the sleeve I2 is.now reversed so that the arm I0 is brought beneath the stack of records and in spaced relation theretoowing to the absence of the previous lowermostv record. 'Ihis reverse or return movement of the sleeve I2 brings the blade II clear ofthe lowermost record so that the stack of records is then yfree to fall the thickness of one record'until it rests upon the arms I0 in the position I0'.

` ten-inch record while in Figure 2 I have shown twelve-inch record are warped downwardly into the path of the blade II. '10 prevent these diiiculties, I prefer to provide each' arm I0 with elevating means which are inoperative when the lowermost record is a twelve-inch record and which are rendered operative when the lowermost record is a ten-inch record, so as to elevate somewhat the second record from the bottom, if that record isl a twelve-inch record.

For this purpose, each arm I0 is preferably provided with a longitudinal slot 2|. Adjacent the outer end of the arm I0, that arm is provided with an inferior recess 22 which conimuncates with the slot 2|. Within the innermost end of each slot 2|, is pivotally mounted an elevating. member 23 which is somewhat elongated and is pivoted near one end within the slot so that it can be swung upwardly, as shown in Figure 4, to project above the arm I0 a distance somewhat more than the thickness of a record. It will readily be understood, with reference to Figure 4, that the blade l I can move freely in between the space between the two records shown in this gure when the second lowermost record is elevated in this manner.

Th'e'member 23 may suitably be of oval form. An actuating member 24, suitably of T-shape, is pivotally'connected to the elevating member 23 to effect its swinging movement. The actuating member is normally biassed outwardly and upwardly, as shown in Figure 3, by means of a Spring Zi-Which is connected to the arm I0 at imputer-.end 4and to a. downwardly projecting It may here be noted that the return movement of the blade II brings it into engagement with the follower I3, this engagement being frictional as described in the parent application;v

When the blade II moves into .contact with the. stack ofrecords and is about to enter above the lowermost record, the follower I3 is arrested by engagement with the lowermost record as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the blade II moves into the stack and clears the follower I3. When this occurs, the spring I4 returns the follower I3 to its initial position which is defined by an abutment I9 which engages stops in a standard in which the sleeve I2 is mounted.

'I'he element I6, as is fully explained in the parent application, controls the disposition of the player arm, depending upon the size of the record, this mechanism being either,manually controlled or automatically controlled by the member I6. The follower end I1 which is adapted to engage a member I8 to terminate the operation of the phonograph when the follower I3 does not engage arecord of either of the two sizes for is intended.

The present invention is primarily concerned with means which will now be described for effecting the elevation of a record of larger size in the second lowermost position from a recordl ofsmaller size in the lowermost position. It will, of course, be understood that any records above the second lowermost are at the same time elevated. l

Ifthe lowermost record on the stack is a teninch record and the record immediately thereabove is a twelve-inch record, diftlculties may be experienced if the marginal portions of the mi underside of the arm I0 within the recess 22.

farm 2,6?01.' Jtheactuating member 24. When thus -biassedgfthe arm 21 of the actuating member M ,.D

ts upwardly above the surface of the nd is locatedat the outer end of the shownin Figure 3. The upward projece' actuating member 24. This pin extends ch side beyond the slot 2I and engages the 4When arecord has been dropped onto the turn- I3 carries a projecting i which the phonograph the .t ble and the arms I I) and II are moving in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2. so as to drop the remaining stack of .records onto the arms I 0, then the lowermost record of the stack supported on the arms II, drops downwardy beyond the upwardly projecting arm 21, as will be best seen in Figures 1 and 2. Consequently, the arm 21 is moved into its inoperative position, shown in Figure 5. If the lowermost record vis a twelve-inch record, the

arm 21 remains in its depressed position when I the arm I0 reaches its nal position which is shownat IIIin Figure 2. If, however, the lowermost record' is a ten-inch record, the arm 21 clearsit in the nal position I 0' of the arm I 0 (Figure 6) so that the arm 21 moves upwardly into the position shown in Figure 3.

During the next record-changing cycle, the arm 21 engages the periphery 0f the lowermost ten-inch record and the member 24 is displaced from its position shown in Figure 3 to its position shown in Figure 4. As a result, the elevating members 23 are moved out into elevating position.

In the event that the next superior record is a twelve-inch record, it -is engaged by the elevating members-23 and -said next superior record and the records resting upon it are elevated in the manner shown in Figure 4.

I t is to be noted from Figure 2, that the arm moving inwardly in the clockwise direction. becomes located below the marginal portion of twelve-inch record while the same is still the arm 21 is limited by a pin 28 mounted.

accompanying claims.

' thereon,

Y phonographs comprising an upper and a'lower i vertically and in the direction oi movement to said lowermost ranged togbebrought .into actuating engagement elevated by the engagement o! the arm 21 with the lowermost ten-inch record. consequently. even if the twelve-inch record is badly warped. itwillbeclearofthearmsl.

Although the invention has been described in connection with speciilc details oi a preferred embodiment thereof, it must` be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in vso far as set forth in the Having thus described my invention,- what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An escapement mechanism for automatic phonograpms comprising an upper and a lower supporting member connected vtogether for simultaneous movement. said members being spaced vertically and in the direction of movement to serve as an escapement for droppin! the lowermost record of a stack of records resting abutment means on the lower. member periphery o! a record of adapted to engage the l lesser size-during the record-dropping cycle, and

elevating means located beyond'said record and controlled by said abutment means whereby a record of larger size immediately above the lowermost record may be elevated from the lowermost re'cord.

2. AAn escapement mechanism for automatic supporting member connected together for simultaneousmovement, said members being spaced serve as an escapement for dropping the lowermostrecord of a stack of records resting thereon, record having a longitudinal communicating with in said recess rslot and an inferior recess said slot, an actuatingmember having an upwardlydirected arm adapted to be projected through the slot above thesurface of said lowermost member,l a spring biassing said actuating member 'to its outermost and uppermost position, means on said actuating member preventing an excessive upward movement of said arm, an elevating-member pivotally Vmounted in said slot and normally below the upper surface of said lower member, and means connectsaid actuating member and said elevating member whereby the latter is swung upwardly when the actuating member is moved inwardly, said slot being located so that the upwardly directed arm of the actuating member engages the periphery of a record of lesserl size during the record-changing cycle and effects the movement of the elevating member'to elevating posi- 55 ton,said elevating member being arranged to. engage the marginal portion of a record of larger In an escapement mechanism for automatic phonographs comprising a lower supporting so member adapted to support a stack of records thereabove and an upper supporting member conne'cted to said lower supporting member forv simultaneous movement therewith, the upper member being adapted to enter said stack oi.' 65 records above the lowermost record whereby said lowermost record is released from the stack, in combination, elevating means for elevating larger records only in the next to lowermost position in the stack, and actuating means associated with said supporting "members for actuating -said elevating means, said actuating means being arthe vrecord discharging movement of said members to 'eect Y combination,

a record of largersizein the .next to lowermost position.

Y 4. In an t m for automatic pbs comprising a lower supporting records member adapted to support a stack of combination,y elevating means -for elevatingv larger records only in the next to lowermost position in the stack, and actuating means associatedl with said 'supporting means7 for actuating said elevating means, said actuating means being arranged to be brought into actuating engage, ment with ing movement of said members to eiiect elevation oi a. record of largerv size in the next to lowermost position, said actuating means being arranged to be rendered-inoperative by a record o f larger size inthe lowermost position in the stack.

5. In van escapement mechanism for auto.- matic phonographs comprising a lower supporting member adapted to support a stack 'of records thereabove-and an upper supporting member said stack during the recorddischarg-l connected to said lower supporting member for simultaneous movement therewith, the' upper member records above the lowermost record whereby said lowermost record is released `/from the stack, 'in elevating means for elevating larger records only in the next to lowermost position in the stack, andactuating means associated with said supporting member ioractuating said elevating means, said actuating means being arranged to be brought into engagementl with a record of smaller size in the lowermost position of the stack during the record-discharging movement of said members to be actuated by -said engagement to eiect elevation of a record of larger size in the next to lowermost position.

6. In an escapement mechanism for automatic phonographs comprising a lower supporting member adapted to support a stack of records thereabovel and an upper supporting member .connected to said lower supporting member for simultaneous movement therewith, the upper member beingV adapted to enter said stack of Vrecords above the lowermost record whereby said lowermostrecord is released from the stack, in combination, elevating means for elevating larger records only in the next to vlowermost position inthe stack, and actuating means associated with said supporting member for actuating said elevating means, said actuating means being arranged to be brought into engagement with a record oi smaller 'size in the lowermost position of the stack during the record-discharging movement of Vsaid members to be actuated by said engagement to eect elevation of a record oi larger size in the next tolowermost position, said actuating' means being arranged to be rendered inoperative by a record of larger size in the lowermost position.

7. In an escapement mechanism for automatic phonographs' comprising a lower supporting member adapted to support a stack ot records thereabove and an upper' supporting member connected to said lower supporting member for simultaneous movement therewith, the upper member being adaptedto enter said stack of records above the lowermost record whereby said being adapted to enter said stack of lowermost record is released from the stack, in' combination, elevating means for elevating larger records only in the next to lowermost position in the stack, and actuating means therefor, said elevating and actuating means being carried by and movable with said supporting members, said actuating member being arranged to engage the periphery oi the lowermost record of a smaller size to effect operation of said elevating means.

8. In an escapement mechanism for automatic phonographs comprising a lower supporting member-adapted to support a stack of records thereabove and an upper supporting member connected to said lower supporting member for simultaneous movement therewith ,the upper member being adapted to enter said stack of records above the lowermost record whereby said lowermost record is released from the stack, in combination, larger records only in the next to lowermost position in the stack, and actuating means therefor, said elevating and actuating means being carried by and movable with said supporting members, said actuating member being arranged to engage the periphery of the lowermost record of a smaller size to effect operation of said elevating means, said actuating means being normally'located below records of larger size and beyond records of smaller size, said actuating means beingarranged to be depressed and rendered inoperative by a record of larger size in the lowermost position.

' CARL G. JOHNSON.

elevating means for elevating