US2790644A

US2790644A - Machine for playing disk-type phonograph records

Info

Publication number: US2790644A
Application number: US285120A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schweitzer Erich
Original assignee: Markel Electric Products Inc
Current assignee: Markel Electric Products Inc
Priority date: 1952-04-30
Filing date: 1952-04-30
Publication date: 1957-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-30

Description

April 30, 1957 E. SCHWEITZER 2,790,644

MACHINE FOR PLAYING DISK-TYPE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed April so, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 liliilmillllszllml INVENTOR. w 'zummm cikaz 194m- I w mwi j ATTOR/Vf Y5.

pril 30, 1957 E. SCHWEITZER 2,790,644

MACHINE FOR PLAYING DISK-TYPE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed April 30, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORWE Y6 United States Patent MACHINE FOR PLAYING DISK-TYPE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Erich Schweitzer, Kenmore,-N. Y., assiguor to Markel Electric Products,.Inc., Buffalo, N.'-Y., a corporation of New York Application April 30, 1952, SeriaYN'o; 285,120

6 Claims. (Cl. 274-) This invention relatesto a. machine: for playing disktype phonograph records and more particularly. to such a machine of the type. shownin the Ansley.- Patent No. 2,555,895 and the Wilber- Patent No. 2,555,910, both dated June 5, 1951 which automatically playsa succession of such records on both faces thereof, the machine preferably also being adapted however, under manual control, for the playing of records singly; for the playing of records each on one'face only;,and for manual rejection of the playing of any. faceof any record as may be desired.

In common with the above patentaimportant objectsof the present invention'are to provide such. a machine which does. not requirean increase in-the size of the cabinet, as compared with a drop recordplayer playing a succession or records from one side only; in which there is no interference with thefree loadingor. unloading of records; in which the reversal in rotation of the record whenplayed fromitsopposite sides iseifected by a simple groupof wheels drivenby; the-turntableor from played records on the turntable; in which the records are turned at the same speed in either direction ofrotation and in which wheel slippageis reduced to a minimum; which is adapted to most standard types of record players in converting the same to a machine which will play the records from both sides thereof; which is gentle in its action to avoidrecord. wear and breakage; which is extremely low in costandpermitsthe manufacture'and sale of a drop; type record changer which will play both sides of the records at only a slight addition to similar machines for automatically playing the records from only one side thereof; and which is extremely simple and rugged in construction and will stand up. under conditions of severe and constant use without gettingou-t of order This counterbalancing also reduces wear, both of the records and also of the mechanism;

Another specific object of the invention'is-to provide a mechanism composed'o't parts "that can readily be machined and assembled at'loW cost and which are rugged anddurable both individuallyantl also intheir' assembled relation. 7

Another specific object' is to use the-vertical movement or the posts to effect the turning movement thereof.

Another important specific object is to provide a record player capable of playing both-sides of a stack of records which canreadily be 'converted to'a single side record playerzbythe elimination of: additional partswhich make it capable of pl'ayinghoth sides of the records: By this the manufacturencan produce both types from 2,790,644 Patented Apr. 30, 1957 the sameparts and merely use additional'partstoproduce the two side player.

Another specific object of the present invention is to avoid the interconnecting linkage, shown in these said patents, between the posts carrying these wheels, and to provide a mechanism for moving each post which is independent of the similar mechanisms for moving the uniformly synchronized movement of all of the posts and wheels.

Another object of the invention is to'provide'a simple adjustment for the effect of the springsused to counterassociated with each of the posts'carrying the wheels which provide reversal and rotation of the records.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontalsection taken on line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary bottomplanzview particularly showing the mechanism for actuating oneof the posts.

The operating parts of the record changer'are shownas mounted on a bed plate 10 which is generally' square' in plan and is shown as havinga marginal flange'll and A horizontal, relatively thick metal subplate 20 is arranged below the bed plate 10 in spaced relation thereto and is fixed to this bed plate by three metal brackets 21= spaced generally uniformly about the well or recess 12. Each of these brackets extends radially-and has an upper horizontal part 22 which is suitably secured to the und'erside of the bed plate 10, a central vertical part 23 which is arranged alongside the vertical wall 15 of the well 12- and a horizontal inner part 24 whichis arranged under and projects beyond the lower circular flange 16. of. the well 12 toward the axis of the turntable 13. The subplate 20 is secured to the lower inner ends of each of the three brackets 21 by a pair of bolts 25 passing through each bracket'Zl and the subplate 20 and these bolts"25- are provided with nuts 26. The downwardly spaced relationof the subplate 20 is maintained by a spacing sleeve '28 surrounding each of the bolts 25;

The subplate 26 is provided with a circular hole'30 concentric with the axis of rotation with the turntable-13. On the subplate, concentric with this hole 34), is mounted an upstanding sleeve 31 having a bore 32'of approximately.

the same size as the hole 30. Thisupstanding sleeve 31 is provided with a circular base 33 resting on the. subplate and this circular base 33 has an upstandingrim 34.

Arranged within the bore 32 of this upstanding sleeve 31 is the reduced lower end 35 of'a stationary centeripost spindle 36, the upper end 38 of this spindle being enlarged, thereby to form a'shoulder- 39 resting on theup'per'en'd of the upstanding sleeve '31. The'lower reduced end 35" of the center post spindle 36 is threaded, as indicated at 40, and on this threaded portion is screwed a sleeve nut 41. The upper end of this sleeve nut is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange 42 which seats against the underside of the subplate 20. It will be seen that when this sleeve nut is tightened against the underside of the subplate 20, it fixedly attaches the center post spindle 36, as well as the upstanding sleeve 31, rigidly to the subplate t 20.

The'turntable 13 is provided with a center hole 45 through which the turntable spindle 36 projects upwardly a substantial distance above the turntable. Concentric with this hole the turntable is provided with a depending hub 46 having a concentric through bore 48. The lower end of the turntable hub 46 rests on the upper race of a ball bearing 49, the lower race resting on a gear 50 which in turn rests on the upstanding rim 34 of the base 33 of the upstanding sleeve 31. The turntable is preferably provided with a conventional rim drive (not shown).

The records 53 to be played are of conventional form,

each having, as shown in Fig. 1, a center hole 54 and each having, on its opposite sides, a marginal starting groove 55 leading to a spiral playing groove 56 and which latter terminates in an eccentric circular groove 58 at the center of the record.

Any form of mechanism can be provided for supporting a stack 59 of such records 53 above and concentric with the turntable and for releasing the lowermost record from the stack to fall toward the turntable. The mechanism for this purpose shown comprises a horizontal offset 60 provided at the upper end 38 of the stationary spindle 36 so as to provide a moon-shaped shoulder 61 for supporting the lowermost record of the stack 59 threaded on the upper offset 60 of this spindle. On the side opposite the shoulder 61 the lower end of the offset 60 is provided with a curving indent 62, this curving indent facilitating the removal of the stack of played records from the turntable 13. To insure that the lowermost record of the stack 59 properly seats on the shoulder 61 when the stack is threaded on the center post spindle, its ofliset 60 is provided with a vertically sliding sleeve 63 the lower end of which rests on a seat 64 and the opposite lower part of which extends around and renders inopera: tive the indent 62 when the stack of records are being placed upon the shoulder 61. The vertical spacing of the shoulders 61 and 64 is slightly more than a record thickness. To retain this sleeve 63 on the offset 60, this offset is provided with a vertical slot 65 into which a tent 66 of the sleeve 63 projects, this slot 65 terminating short of the top of the otfset 60 so that this sleeve cannot be removed upwardly from the offset.

\ The successive dropping of the lowermost record from the stack 59 is effected by a sleeve 68 having an upper reduced part 69 closely fitting the upper enlarged part 38 of the center post spindle 36. The upper end of this sleeve 68 is flush with the moon-shaped seat 61 of the center. post 36 and on one side an upstanding finger 70 projects above this seat 61. The lower end 71 of this record changing sleeve 68 is enlarged to fit around the upstanding sleeve 31 and also to closely fit the bore 48 of the turntable hub 46. The lower end of this enlarged part7l of the sleeve 68 rests on the base 33 of the upstanding sleeve31 and is fast to the gear 50 through a key 72. This gear 50 meshes with a gear 73 which is actuated through a mechanism (not shown) to turn the gear 5t) and sleeve 68 360 in proper sequence to drop the lowermost record 53 of the stack 59 into playing position. The first 180 of this rotation of the sleeve 68 actuates the finger 70 so as to shift the lowermost record of the stack 59 into a position concentric with the sleeve 68 whereupon it drops toward the turntable 13. The sue ceeding 180 rotation of the finger 70 brings it back to enter, the center hole 54 of the next lowermost. record of the stack for a repetition of this cycle.

The records 53 on or above the turntable 13 are shown as played by a pick-up 75 at the outer end of a tone arm 76. For the purpose of the invention the pick-up 75 is shown as having one stylus 78 extending downwardly and another stylus 78a extending upwardly. Each stylus can, of course, be of any suitable form and is conventionally shown as being in the form of a needle. The opposite end 79 of the tone arm 76 is pivotally mounted, in the usual manner, so that its outer end is capable of vertical and horizontal movement to play records arranged concentric with the axis of the turntable 13. This mounting for the tone arm, as well as the mechanism for automatically moving the tone arm away from the record, following the playing of this record and also shifting it horizontally to the inoperative position shown and returning it to a position to engage one of its styluses 78 or 7811 with the starting groove 55 of the next record to be played forms no part of the present invention and hence is not shown.

The invention is concerned with the mechanism for receiving, rotating, and releasing a record dropped from the shoulder 61, particularly, but not necessarily, to permit playing of both sides of a succession of records. This mechanism is shown as constructed as follows:

Three rubber tired wheels 80, are provided each of which is mounted for free rotation on the end of a corresponding arm 81, each arm forming a continuation of the upper end of a corresponding vertically sliding post 82. Each of these posts 82 is slidingly journalled in a corresponding vertical bearing 83, in the upper end 84 of a sleeve 85 extending through

holes

86 and 88 in the bed plate 16) and bracket 21, respectively. This sleeve is centrally provided with a radially outwardly projecting flange 89 which rests against and is secured to the underside of the corresponding bracket 21. The lower end 90 of this sleeve 85 projects downwardly from this flange 89 and its lower extremity is reduced to provide a downwardly facing annular shoulder 91. A collar 92 is fitted over this reduced lower end of the sleeve 85 against the downwardly facing sleeve 91 and this collar is shown as retained in position by a split retaining ring 93 provided in an annular groove at the lower extremity of the sleeve 85.

A grooved sleeve 95 is slidingly and rotatably fitted in the lower end 90 of this fixed sleeve 85 and closely fits the lower end of the corresponding vertically sliding post 82. The lower end of each sliding post 82 projects below its grooved sleeve 95 and has fastened thereto a retaining ring or washer 96, preferably by a retaining head 98 at the lower end of each post 82. A small helical compression spring 99 surrounds the lower end of each post 82 and is interposed between the lower end of the corresponding grooved sleeve 95 and the retaining ring or washer 96 so as to bias the grooved sleeve 95 upwardly and the center post 82 downwardly with reference to each other. Each grooved sleeve 95 is so biased upwardly against a cross pin 100 through each sliding post 82, this cross pin normally resting in a pair of radial V-grooves 101 in the upper end of the grooved sleeve 95 as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Each arm 81 is arranged at a slight angle to the horizontal so that its outer end is disposed below the upper end of the post 82 and so that the three wheels 80 are arranged in slight angleto the vertical.

The mounting for each post 82 permits its wheel 80 to be raised and lowered from the full line to the dot dash line position shown in Fig. 2 and also permits the post 82 to swing the wheel from this dot dash line position to the dotted line position shown in this figure. The three posts 82 are arranged adjacent the rim of the turntable 13 at three points around this rim so that the wheels 80 can be swung to a position in which their axes substantially intersect one another adjacent the axis of rotation of the turntable so as to be-capable of supporting and '(together with the grooved sleeve slots 112 permits such adjustment. 'screws 113: can be tightened to maintain such adjustment.

grooves is provided with an upper vertical part and a-lower helical .part.106, this lower helical part forming a downwardcontinuation of the straight upper vertical part and terminating at the lower; edge of the sleeve 95 at a position approximately 180 opposite the upper vertical straight part.

Ahorizontalscrew -108 fits in a threaded hole 169 through the collar 92, asbestshown in Fig. 3, and is provided atits outer end witha lock nut 116 tightening against the outer face of this collar 95. The inner re- 'duced end'lll of this'screw is rounded and closely fits the face groove 103 of the grooved sleeve 95. The inclined sides 104 of this face groove 95 and this rounding head 111 of the -screw108 permits of obtaining a very fine tolerance Qtherebetween. Thus with this arrangement'the screw 108 can be tightened until its rounding head 111 seizes the inclined side walls 104 of the groove 103. The screw108 can then be backed off a fraction of a turnuntil its rounding head 111 just clears the inclined sidewalls 104: of the groove 103. The lock nut 110 can then be tightened and in this position of the parts a sliding fit is obtained between each groove 103 and the rounding head 111-of the screw 108 while at the same time there'is substantially no play which would permit an undesired horizontal oscillation of the post '82. It will also be seen that when each post 82 is lifted the rounding head 111 of its'screw 108 will ride along the upper vertical straight part 105 of the groove 103. When, however, this rounding head 1110f the screw 108 encounters the lower helical part 106 of the groove 103 it will turn the groovedsleeve 95' as a result of its upward motion. This turning movement of the grooved sleeve 95 is transmitted to its:post182 through the cross pin 100 fitted in the V.-grooves v101 at the upper end of each grooved sleeve 95.

.A feature of ithe invention resides in the screw 108 extending through.ahorizonatllyoversize hole 112 in the sleeve 85 and the proviso of a separate set screw'113 in the collar 92 and which tightens against the sleeve 85, as

.besttshownin Fig. 3. 'With this'arrangement the individual wheel arms 81canbe adjusted so that all the wheels swing .uniformly to proper centered position. Thus the set screws 113.canbe loosened and the collars 92 and sliding post 82) of the wheel arms'81'rotated relative to the fixed sleeve 85 until the wheels80areiproperly positioned when The horizontally. elongatedv holes or Therefore the set brought together.

The mechanism for lifting: each of the three posts 82 is preferably constructed as follows these mechanisms being identical in construction:

The numeral 115 represents a U-shaped bracket the upper cross part of which is secured, as by

bolts

116 and 118, to the subplate 20, a metal spacer 119 being shown ..as interposed between theseparts. .The depending side legs120 of this bracket are generally radially disposed with reference to the axis of the turntable 13 and carry, on the side adjacent the axis of the turntable, a pivot -pin121. On this pivot pin is pivoted the inner channel 'arm '122 of a jointed arm structure, this inner part of which is shown asbeing U-shaped in cross section, the upstanding flanges 1'23 carrying,'adjacent the axis of the turntable, a pivot -pin 124. A roller is mounted on .this pi vot 12 4. .This rollersengages the underside of a vverticallyfslidingi followers126, preferably in the.:form of ..a.collar slidable on the.sleeve;nut-41;. and having a lower -mechanism which supports this wheel.

radially outwardly I projecting flange "127 'which engages is raised and lowered in synchronism with other operations of the record changer and for this purpose is shown as provided with a roller 128 mounted ona pin projecting radially outwardly from the hub of this follower 126. The upper surface of this roller is engaged by a circular face cam 129 depending from a gear 130 nearthe teeth thereof. This gear can be rotated by anysuitable mechanism (not shown). In order to preventrotation of the follower 126 a depending post 131 is suitably secured to the underside of the bed plate 20 andis arranged-in a notch 132 provided in the flange'129 of this'follower, as best shown in Fig. 6.

Each inner channel bar 122 also carries a .horizontal pivot pin 133 extending through its upstanding flanges 123, this pivot pin preferably being located close to the supporting bracket 115 at the end of this channelibar remote from the pivot pin 124. A secondv outer channel .arm 134 is provided as an adjustable extension of the first or inner channel arm 122 so that thesetwo channel

arms

122, 134 jointly provide a jointed arm structure. For this purpose the second or outer channel arm 134 is arranged with its flanges 135 projecting downwardly and embraces the upstanding flanges 123 of the first or inner channel arm 122. These flanges 135 of the second or outer channel arm 134 are also extended to provide'ears 136 and the pivot pin 133 extends through these ears and through the flanges 123 of thefirst or inner channel arm 122 embraced thereby.

The oppositeends of the depending flanges 1350f this second channel arm 134 are alsoextended in theiform of cars 138 which carry a pivot pin 1'39. On:each'of these pivot pins is mounted a rol1er;140 whichengages the head 98 at the lower end of the corresponding post 82.

A screw M1 extends through the crosspart of the first or inner channel arm 122 near the outerendthereof. The shank of this screw screws against the cross part of the companion second or outer channel arm 134. ,A look nut 142 is also provided which tightens against the underside of the cross part of the firstor inner channel arm 122.

A particular feature of the inventionresides in "the counterbalancing of the weight of each wheel '80rand' the To this rendza counterbalancing spring 145 is provided'ibetween eachtof the inner channel arms 122 and the subplate 20. Each of these springs can be in the form of 'a-helical tension spring the lower end of which is threaded througha hole 146 in one flange 123 of the corresponding inner channel arm 122 and the upper end of which'can be threaded through a hole in a strip of bendable metal 148 projecting out from the underside of the filler piece 119:and secured to the underside of this filler piece by the bolt 116. *By

- bending the free end of the bendableextension 148 up or down the effect of the tension spring 145* canbe varied to effect the desired degree of counterbalance of each wheel 80 and its associated post and the lifting mechanism for this post.

Operation The general operation of the record changer is described in greater detail in the said patents first referred to and to which reference is made for a more detailed description. In general, in'the starting position the wheels 80 are in an elevated position and swung-to -a position out of the record zone, asillustrated by full lines in Fig. 1, and the tone arm 76 is heldwith each

stylus

78, 78a in vertical .alinemen't with the starting ,groove 55 of the lowermost record 53, supported on .the

centerpost'spindle 36. No records are .showneon the turntable 13 although the presence of the. stack of records on .the turntable would not affect the-operation except thatthe wheels 80 would be driven from the topmost record 53 of this stack instead of from the turntable directly, and the record placed on the wheels, as hereinafter described, would, of course, be placed at a higher elevation.

In this starting position the wheels 80 are in the elevated position shown by dot dash lines in Fig. 2 and the posts 82 are also elevated. To support these wheels and posts in this elevated position at the start of the sequence, the salient part of the downwardly facing face cam 129 is in engagementwith the roller 128 on the follower 126 and accordingly this follower is held in a depressed position as compared with the showing in Fig. 2. This depressed position of the follower also holds the three rollers 125 in a depressed position thereby hold ing the inner ends of the three jointed

arms

122, 134 in a depressed position and holding the rollers 140 at the outer ends of these jointed

structures

122, 134 in an elevated position, these jointed arm structures pivoting around the pivot pins 121 in the fixed brackets 115.

108 are in the lower helical portions 106 of the grooves 103 in the grooved sleeves 95 and under these conditions the arms 81 are arranged generally tangential to the records and out of the record zone as illustrated by full lines in Fig. 1.

The arms 81 of the several posts 82, together with the rubber tired wheels 80 carried thereby, are then swung inwardly so that their axes are arranged substantially to intersect one another adjacent the axis of the turntable 13 and these wheels 80 are also lowered so as to engage the turntable and be driven thereby. same time the centerpost escapement is manipulated so as to drop the lowermost record 53 from the overhead stack 59 onto the wheels 80 as they are moving inwardly and are lowering to engage the turntable.

To effect this rotation and lowering movement of the posts 82 the gear 130 is turned so as to move the receding portion of its downwardly directed face cam 129 into engagement with the roller 128. This permits this roller 128, together with its follower 126, to rise toward the full line positionshown in Fig. 2. In this upward movement of the follower 126 it slides on the sleeve nut 41 and is prevented from turning by the fixed depending post131 extending through the edge notch 132 in the flange 127. of this follower. This rising movement of the follower126-permits upward movement of the rollers 125 at the inner ends of the three jointed

arm structures

122, 134, these jointed arms pivoting about the pivot pins 121 carried by the depending U-shaped brackets 115. This permitted upward movement of the inner ends of these jointed arm structures 122,134 provides the simultaneous downward movement of the rollers 140 at the outer ends of these jointed arms. Since the posts 82 are directly supported on these rollers 140, this downward movement of these rollers 140 at the outer ends of the jointed

arm structures

122, 134 provides a simultaneous downward movement of all of the posts 82.

As these posts 82 move downwardly, a similar downward movement of the grooved sleeves 95 surrounding these posts is effected, these sleeves 95 being prevented from turning relative to their posts 82 by the pins 100 resting in the V'shaped radial grooves 101 at the upper ends of these posts. Accordingly the downward movement of these posts 82 is transmitted to the grooved sleeves 95 and since the rounding heads 111 of the screws 108 are now in engagement with the helical lower portions 106 of the grooves in these grooved sleeves, the downward movement of these grooved sleeves results in a corresponding turning movement of these sleeves as determined by the lead and pitch of the helical lower por' tions 106 of these grooves.

At the This turning movement of these grooved sleeves is transmitted, through the pins resting in the V-shaped grooves 101, to the posts 82 and the lead of the helical portions 106 of these grooves 103 is such that as the posts 82 lower, the arms 81 on the upper ends thereof are swung toward one another, together with the wheels 80, under the stack 59 of records 53.

While the wheels 80 are so moving into the record zone, the gear 73 is turned so as to turn the gear 50 180. This rotates the sleeve 68 which is fixed to this gear 50 and causes the finger 70 in the upper end of this sleeve, and which is arranged in the hole 54 of the lowermost record 53, to move 180 from the full line position shown in Fig. 2 and thereby shift this lowermost record to a position in axial alinement with the sleeve 68. When this occurs this lowermost record drops and falls on the rubber tires of the three wheels 80. The rotation of the sleeve 68 is then continued for another 180 to cause the finger 70 to enter the hole 54 of the now lowermost record 53 of the stack 59 preparatory to releasing another record from this stack.

As the downward movement of the posts 82 continues, the rounding heads 111 of the screws 108 enter the upper upright portions of the grooves 103 in the grooved sleeve 95. Following this is no further turning movement, of course, of the grooved sleeves 95 or the posts 82 occurs and at this time the arms 81 of the several posts 82 are accurately alined with reference to the axis of the turntable 13. This accurate alinement is such that the axes of these arms 82 substantially intersect one another adjacent the axis of the turntable although it has been found that it is not desirable to have the axes of these arms actually intersect one another at the axis of the turntable.

Since no further turning movement of the grooved sleeves 95 and posts '82 occurs as the posts continue their downward movement, the wheels 80 descend in a vertical path until they engage first the upwardly directed stylus 78a of the tone arm 76 and then the upper surface of the turntable 13. If a stack of played records is present on the turntable 13 the tires of the wheels will engage the upper face of the uppermost record of this stack, but since the upper portions 104 of the grooves 103 are vertical this condition does not alfect the accurate positioning of the arms 81 and wheels 80 of the posts 82.

When the tires of the wheels 80 engage the upper surface of the rotating turntable 13, they are, of course, rotated by the frictional contact therebetween. Since the record is supported on the upper surface of these wheels, this record will likewise be rotated by frictional contact with these wheels. Accordingly the record will be rotated about the axis of rotation of the turntable 13 but in reverse direction. Since the record is being played from its underside, it will be seen that this reverse rotation is in the proper direction to effect reproduction by the stylus 78a in its starting groove and that this stylus will travel along the groove and properly track toward the center of the record.

When the record 53 is being played on the wheels 80 the additional load of the three wheels 80 is placed on the motor and hence the motor slows up and this slowing up is compensated for by arranging these wheels 80 at the angle to the vertical as shown and which angularity results in a step-up drive rotating the record 53 on the wheels 80 at a higher speed than the turntable 13. This driving of this record on the wheels 80 at a higher speed than the turntable exactly compensates for the slowing down of the motor under the increased load of the wheels 80 so that in actual practice the record 53 played on the wheels 80 is driven at the same speed as the record 53 played on the turntable 13.

When the stylus 78a reaches the central part of the eccentric groove 58 on the underside of the record being played a trip of any suitable form (not shown) operates a mechanism to rotate the gear- 130 a .half turn.. This rotates the downwardly directly face cam 129 on, this gear and brings the roller 128 progressively into engage? ment with the salient portion of the downwardly directed face cam 129.

This forces this roller, together with its follower 126 downwardly along the sleeve nut 41. This downward movement of this follower forces the rollers 125 at the inner ends of the jointed

arm structures

122, 134 downwardly and hence forces the rollers 140 at the outer ends of these jointed

arm structures

122, 134 upwardly, these jointed arm structures pivoting around the fixed pivots 121. The upward movement of the rollers 140 at the outer ends of these jointed

arm structures

122, 134 moves the several posts 82 upwardly, this upward movement of these posts being transmitted through the washers 96 and springs 99 to the grooved sleeves 95 surrounding these posts. These grooved sleeves 95 are also prevented from turning relative to these posts by the cross pins 100 in the V-shaped grooves 101 in these sleeves.

This upward movement of these posts 82 causes a simultaneous upward movement of the three wheels 80 and immediately breaks the driving contact between thesewheels and the turntable 13 so that these wheels, and the record 53 supported thereon, only continue to rotatethrough such momentum of these parts as exists. Since at this time the rounding heads 111 of the screws 108 are in the upper vertical parts 104 of the grooves 103 in the grooved sleeves 95, the record is raised directly upwardly and maintained concentric with the axis of the turntable 13. Accordingly there is no tendency for the stylus 78a to be shifted from the inner end 58 of the groove 56 on the underside of the record 53 and to scratch the record or become displaced. As the wheels continue to rise the record rises above thestylus 78a and loses contact therewith. At this time a mechanism (not shown) initiates the movement-of the tone arm 76 out of the record zone and toward the full line position shown in Fig. 1.

As the posts 82 continue to rise, therounding heads 111 of the screws 108 enter the helical portions 106 of the grooves 103 in the grooved-sleeves 95. Accordingly further upward movement of these grooved sleeves 95 causes them to turn and this turningimovement is transmitted through the pins 100, to the posts 82 andlso asto swing the arms 81 at the upper ends of these posts outwardly toward'the full lineposition shown-in-Fig. 1.

As the wheels 80 so movetowardthe full linesposition shownin Fig. 1, the opposing portions of their peripheriespresent a widening funnelshaped support for the edge of the record 53 carried by the wheels 80. As this funnel shaped support widens, through: the spreading of the wheels 80, the, recordis gently loweredtuntil it reaches alinement with the axes of the .wheels, when it drops from .the opposing edges of the wheels .80 on: to the turntable 13.

The tone-arm 76 is then swung inwardly to position its stylus 78 above the starting groove. onthe upper face of the record 53'now. on the turntable. Following this the tone arm 76 is lowered so that its stylus 784enters the starting groove 55 of this record. Thestylus 78 accordingly follows the groove on the upper side of the record 53' on the turntable, and this stylus tracks along th'isgroove until it reaches the central groove 58 of this record. 7

When the stylus 78' reaches this central eccentric groove 58, a trip device (not shown) is actuated toelfect raising the tone arm 76 and swing itback to the'full line position shown in Fig. 1, this being the starting po sition assumed in this description. This cycle of operation-is then-repeated, the stack 59' .of-..records 53 -being played 'successively. eachufirst on its underside andthen on \itsupper face until the entire. stack has "been played. When; this-:o ecurs,=: the; stack of played" ;records; on the turntable 13 is manually lifted to remove the same;

When the uppermost recordvofthis stack encountersrthe lower end of the sleeve, 63 on: the upperolfsetend 60 of the centerpost stem 36, this sleeve is lifted to expose the curving recess 62. As the records successively pass this curving recess they are successively shifted laterally by the curvature of this recess into alinement with the offset 60 and hence this offset presents no substantial interference with thefree removal of the stack of played records fromthe turntable 13. 1

A particular feature of the invention resides in the counterbalancing springs 145. The weight of the wheels 80, the posts 82, andthe

jointedarm structures

122, 134 are effectively counterbalanced by the tension of these springs so as to reduce wear of both the wheels and also the records 53 but more particularly to insure a faithful reproduction of the records. and substantially free from so-called wows. It has been found that by counterbalancing these parts so as to insure a very light contact between the undersides of the'wheels 80and the turntable .13 or the uppermost record supported by the turntable, a record supported .on these wheels 80 will be driven at a uniform speed and is not subject to minor acceleration or deceleration as develop the so-c alled wows in the reproduction. This feature of the invention is particularly important where the record being played are warped so as to have an undulating surface. The degree of counterbalance of these springs 145 can readily be adjusted by bending the bendable extensions 148 to which the upper ends of these springs are anchored either up or down as maybe required.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the use of the jointed

arm structures

122, 134 and in having the adjusting screws 141 to adjust the angular relation of these two

sections

122, 134 of the jointed arm structures. By adjusting these screws 141 the position of the outer rollers 140 canbe accurately adjusted with reference to theinner rollers 1250f these jointed-arms. Accordingly through these adjusting screws the movement of the several wheels 80 can be exactly synchronized with reference to one another so. that all of these wheels are at the same elevation when the record is dropped from the overhead stack 59 and also so that all of these wheels engage the turntable 13, or the uppermost record supported thereon, at exactly the same time.

A further important feature is the ability to readily synchronize the wheels 80 so that all of these wheels move to theproper. operative position. Thus in setting up the-player, before the set screws 113 (Fig. 3) are tightened, the arms 81' carrying the wheels 80 together with the sliding posts 82, groovedsleeves 95 and collars 92) are swung. to properly position the wheels. Such swinging relative to the fixed sleevesis-permitted by the horizontally elongated slots112 (Fig. 3). The set screws 113 are then tightened to maintain such adjustment.

It will be seen that the'present invention provides a device of the character described which is composed of simple and rugged parts which can be easily machined at low cost and in which proper adjustment is readily effected and whichadjustment will not changein normal use of the record changer.

I claim:

1. In a disk record player, the combination of a. stationary support, a plurality of vertical sleeve members carried by said support inannular arrangementabout the generally vertical "playing axis of the records, a post member slidi-ngly and rotatablymounted ineach of saidsleeve members, a generally horizontal army at the upper end 'of each-ofsaid post'members, a wheel'rotatably mounted at-theouter end of each of' said arms a rotating'drive member on-said support below and'engageable with at leastoneof said wheels to rot-atethesame, a generally helical lgroove-in each of one of said members-concentric therewith,'- a: projection'on :each :of the :otherrof said' menu hers-and projecting intothe correspondinghelical groove; eachrof :said helical grooves beingtarranged to transmit the lowering movement of itspost member-into a turning movement thereof in a direction to move its. said arm toward said axis inrwhich'direction. a record placed on said wheels concentric with said axis will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and means arrangedto simultaneously raise and lower said post members, comprising an arm structure associated with each of said post members and eacharr'n structure having its "inner end arranged under said support t'o project'radia'lly from said axisand' each and structure having'its'outer end operatively connected with .the"lower end of a corresponding post member, a horizontal pivot connecting each of said arm structures-to said support at a point adjacent to but spacedfrom the extremity of said inner end, and means adjacent said axis and arranged to raise aridlower thesaidinner ends of said arm structures in unison. i

' 2. In a disk record player, the combination of a stationary support, a plurality'of vertical sleeve members carried by said'support in annular arrangement about the generally vertical playing axis of the records, a post member'slidingly and rotatably mounted at each of said sleeve members, a generally horizontal armat the upper end of each 'of said post members, a' wheel rotatably mounted at the outer end of each of said arms, a rotating drive member on said support below and engageable with at least one of said wheels to rotate the same, a generally helical groove in each of one of said members concentric therewith, a projection on each of the other of said members and projecting into the corresponding helical groove, each of said helical grooves being arranged to transmit the lowering movement of its post member into a turning movement thereof in a direction to move its said arm toward said axis in which direction a record placed on said wheels concentric with said axis 'will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and means arranged to simultaneously raise and lower said post members, comprising an arm structure associated with each 'of said post members and each arm structure having its inner end arranged under said support to project'radially from said axis and each arm structure having its outer end operatively connected with the lower end of a corresponding post member, a horizontal pivot connecting each of said arm structures to said support at a point adjacent to but spaced from the extremity of said inner end, and means adjacent said axis and arranged to raise and lower the said inner ends of said arm structures in unison, comprising a vertically movable follower sleeve concentric with said axis and having an undersurface engageable with the said inner ends of said arm structures, and means arranged to raise and lower said follower sleeve.

3. In a disk record player, the combination of a stationary support, a plurality of vertical sleeve members carried by said support in annular arrangement about the generally vertical playing axis of the records, a post member slidingly and rotatably mounted in each of said sleeve members, a generally horizontal arm at-the upper end of each of said post members, a wheel rotatably mounted at the outer end of each of said arms, a rotating drive member on said support below and engageablewith at least one of said wheels to rotate the same, agenerally helical groove in each of one of said members concentric therewith, a projection on each of the other of said members and projecting intothe corresponding helical groove, each of said helical grooves being arranged to transmit the loweringmovernent of its post member'into a turning movement thereof in a direction'to move its said arm toward said axis in which direction a record placed on said wheels concentric with said axis will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and means ar ranged to simultaneously raise and lower said post mem bers, -comprising ,an arm'structure associated with each of said vpost members and eacharm structure having its inner end. arranged under said support to' project radially from saidaxis andeachaa'rm structure having its outer end operatively connected with the lower end of a corre sponding post member, a horizontal pivot connecting each of said arm structures to said support at a point adjaccnt to but spaced from the extremity of said inner end, and means adjacent said axis and arranged to raise and lower the said inner ends of said arm structures in unison, comprising a roller at the said inner end of each of said arm structures, a vertically movable follower sleeve concentric with said axis and having an undersurface engageable with said rollers, and means arranged to raise and lower said follower sleeve.

4. In a disk record player, the combination of a stationary support, a plurality of vertical sleeve members carried by said support in annular arrangement about the generally vertical playing axis of the records, a post member slidingly and rotatably mounted in each of said sleeve members, a generally horizontal arm at the upper end of each of said post members, a wheel rotatably mounted at the outer end of each of said arms, a rotating drive member on said support below and engageable with at least one of said wheels to rotate the same, a generally helical groove in each of one of said members concentric therewith, a projection on each of the other of said members and projecting into the corresponding helical groove, each of said helical grooves being arranged to transmit the lowering movement of its post member into turning movement thereof in a direction to move its said arm toward said axis in which direction a record placed on said wheels concentric with said axis will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and means arranged to simultaneously raise and lower said post members, comprising an arm structure associated with each of said post members and each arm structure having its inner end arranged under said support to project radially from said axis and each arm structure having its outer end operatively connected with the lower end of a corresponding post member, a horizontal pivot connecting each of said arm structures to said support at a point adjacent to but spaced from the extremity of said inner end, means adjacent said axis and arranged to raise and lower the said inner ends of said arm structures in unison, and a counterbalancing spring interposed between said support and each of said arm structures and biasing the outer ends of said arm structures upwardly.

5. In a disk record player, the combination of a stationary support, a plurality of vertical sleeve members carried by said support in annular arrangement about the generally vertical playing axis of the records, a post member slidingly and rotatably mounted in each of said sleeve members, a generally horizontal arm at the upper end of each of said post members, a wheel rotatably mounted at the outer end of each of said arms, a rotating drive member on said support below and engageable with at least one of said wheels to rotate the same, a generally helical groove in each of one of said members concentric therewith, a projection on each of the other of said members and projecting into the corresponding helical groove, each of said helical grooves being arranged to transmit the lowering movement of its post member into a turning movement thereof in a direction to move its said arm toward saidaxis in which direction a record placed on said wheels concentric with said axis will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and means arranged to simultaneously raise and lower said post members, comprising a plurality of jointed arms arranged under said support to project radially from said axis and each jointed arm having its outer end operatively connected with the lower end of a corresponding post member, each of said jointed arms comprising an inner section, an outer section, a horizontal pivot connecting adjacent ends of said sections, and means arranged to adjust the relative angularity of said sections about the connecting pivot, a horizontal pivot connecting a central part of each of said jointed arms to said support, and means adjacent 13 said axis and arranged to raise and lower the inner ends of said jointed arms in unison.

6. In a disk record player, the combination of a stationary support, a plurality of vertical sleeve members carried by said support in annular arrangement about the generally vertical playing axis of the records, a post member slidingly and rotatably mounted in each of said sleeve members, a generally horizontal arm at the upper end of each of said post members, a wheel rotatably mounted at the outer end of each of said arms, a rotating drive member on said support below and engageable with at least one of said wheels to rotate the same, a generally helical groove in each of one of said members concentric therewith, a projection on each of the other of said members and projecting into the corresponding helical groove, each of said helical grooves being arranged to transmit the lowering movement of its post member into a turning movement thereof in a direction to move its said arm toward said axis in which direction a record placed on said wheels concentric with said axis will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and means arranged to simultaneously raise and lower said post members, comprising a plurality of jointed arms arranged under said support to project radially from said axis and each jointed am having its outer end operatively connected with the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,512,121 Thevenaz June 20, 1950 2,555,910 Wilber June 5, 1951 2,611,619 Cambron et a1. Sept. 23, 1952 2,621,933 Fordeck Dec. 16, 1952 2,637,559 Stolberg May 5, 1953 2,639,155 Groves May 19, 1953 2,661,217 Bidinger Dec. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 382,276 Great Britain Oct. 17, 1932