US3097850A

US3097850A - Phonograph record-changing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3097850A
Application number: US34504A
Authority: US
Inventors: Curci Alfred
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-06-07
Filing date: 1960-06-07
Publication date: 1963-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 1980-07-16

Description

July 16, 1963 A. CURC! PHONOGRAPH RECORD-CHANGING 'APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR ALFRED CURC/ MzW l IIIIII'III I ,4; ATTORNEYS.

A. CURC] I PHONOGRAPH RECORD-CHANGING APPARATUS July 16, 1 963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7, 1960 IN V EN TOR ALFRED CUQC/ mi ddrfldz z4 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,097,850 PHONOGRAPH RECGRD-CHANGING APPARATUS Alfred Curci, 183 London Drive, Hamden, Conn. Filed June 7, 1960, Ser. No. 34,504 (Ilaims. (Cl. 274-40) This invention relates to phonograph record-changing apparatus, and it relates more particularly to recordchanging apparatus of the type in which a plurality of turntables are provided, each being movable into a recordplaying position with respect to sound-reproducing means for playing a record on the turntable. This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 746,230 filed July 2, 1958, now abandoned.

Multiple-record phonographs or sound-reproducing devices h ave not heretofore been widely employed in inexpensive products such as toys. The primary reason for this is that prior devices of this kind have been too costly to produce as toys for young children. Moreover, they have not been capable of withstanding the abuse which children usually give a mechanical toy and, therefore, are easily damaged or thrown out of adjustment so that they will not operate.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a multiple-reoord phonograph which is economical to manufiacture for use especially in toys. Another object is to provide such a device which has a simplified design and construction and does not require complicated adjustments either when it is being manufactured or when in use by the purchaser. In line with the foregoing objects, another purpose of the invention is to provide a construction permitting wide manufacturing tolerances in the dimensions of the various parts, thereby reducing cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for positively preventing damage to the sound-reproducing mechanism and records whenever a new record is selected.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a rotatable carriage is provided for moving a plurality of turntables into record-playing relationship with a sound reproducing element, such as the usual sound arm, the sound-reproducing element being arranged so that it is movable into and out of engagement with the record to be played by means of a reciprocating element which is actuated prior to rotation of the carriage in order to move the sound-reproducing element into a safe position where it is out of engagement with the records whenever a new record is selected. More specifically, a selector member and sound-arm re-setting mechanism are provided, the selector member being adapted and arranged to rotate the carriage into its record-playing positions with means interconnecting the selector member and re-setting mechanism so that the re-setting mechanism is operated upon actuation of the selector member. In order to ensure movement of the sound-reproducing element to its safe position prior to rotation of the carriage, a lost-motion connection between the selector member and the carriage is provided, whereby initial actuation of the selector member does not rotate the carriage immediately, but instead moves the sound-reproducing element to its safe position through the means interconnecting the selector member and re-setting mechanism.

In another aspect of the invention, means are provided for positively locating the turntables in record-playing position. To this end, positioning lugs are provided on the carriage in such a way that as the carriage is rotated from one record-playing position to the next, one of the positioning lugs comes into lateral abutment with the selector member, thereby arresting the carriage from further ro- 3,097,850 Patented July 16, 1963 may be moved sufficiently to bring a clearance slot formed in it into registry with said positioning lug so that, upon further movement of the selector member, the carriage is permitted to rotate as said positioning lug passes through the clearance slot. This provides a simple yet rugged and positive means by which the turntables can be brought into proper alignment with the sound-reproducing mechanism.

These and other advantages and novel aspects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description of certain embodiments of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- FIG. 1 is a plan view of the record-changing apparatus, the housing in which it is encased being shown only in part;

FIG. 2 is a perspective vew of the apparatus, partially broken away in order to expose parts thereof;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken substantiallyon the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a shut-off switch which may be employed in a modified form of the apparatus.

Solely for the sake of convenience in illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention, the multiple-record player herein described is a toy automatic phonograph cable of being adapted for use in various kinds of toys, such as a toy juke box in which any one of several records can be selected and then played by inserting a coin or similar object in a coin slot. It will be understood, therefore, that the invention is useful in connection with many other types of apparatus wherein a plurality of recorded musical pieces, vocal announcements or the like may be desired. In addition, apparatus embodying the present invention may be synchronized with some kind of action device in order to make the action more realistic. The present disclosure, therefore, of a so-called juke box type of mechanism in no way limits the scope of the invention as defined in the claims hereinafter.

The general construction and operation of the soundreproducing device, including the re-setting mechanism therefor, employed in connection with the present invention, is similar to that disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 28,486 filed May 11, 1960, now Patent No. 3,055,664.

Referring now to the drawings, the recordaplaying and changing mechanism is indicated as being encased in a plastic housing 10, only pant of which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Housing 10 may include a transparent cover to permit the operating mechanism to be examined visually while safeguarding it against being tampered with. A rectangular frame 12 fixed within housing 10 provides support for the record-changing apparatus, including a turntable carriage 14 rotatably mounted on a central post 16 fixed in frame 12 by any suitable means, such as riveting or welding. Oarr-iage 14 is in this instance a circular disk, adjacent the periphery of which are rotatably mounted four record turntables 18 for rotation in a plane parallel to the plane of carriage .14. While for illustration purposes, four turntables are shown, it is apparent that a larger or smaller number of turntables could be provided. Moreover, if desired, the turntables could be overlapped in order to save space or to increase the number of records that can be played by a unit of given size. It will also be under-stood that instead of a circular carriage 14 as shown, this member couid, in order to save weight and material, be spiderslra-p-ed with a turntable 18 mounted at the outer end of each of its radially extending arms.

Each turntable 1-8 is freely rotatable on a shaft 20 fixed at equally spaced points around the periphery of carriage 14 and is adapted to removably support a record 22 on its upper surface. Turntables 18 are provided on their peripheries with drive-tires 24 arranged for frictional engagement successively with the driveshaft 26 of a motor 28 resiliently mounted at one end of frame 12. As carriage 14 is intermittently rotated, each turntable 18 is moved in turn into operative relation with drive-shaft 26 in order to rotate the record which is to be played. Consequently, only the turntable in record-playing position will rotate when motor 28 is energized. As best shown in FIG. 1, motor 28 is pivotally mounted on a delta-shaped bracket 30 extending outwardly of frame 12. Bnacket 30 is fastened to frame 12 on vibration-dampening rubber mounts 32 by means of screws 34. A suitable spring, such as leaf spring 36 shown in FIG. 1, urges drive motor 28 into constant frictional engagement with each turntable 18 so that the turntable in record-playing position may be rotated at a uniform speed.

Records 22 are desirably removably secured to turntables 18 by suitable means, such as screws 37 extending through the central section of each record and threaded into the upper surface of the turntable. Extending upwardly from and fixed to each turntable is an eccentrically positioned stud 38, which projects above record 22 for cooperative engagement with a reciprocating element or slide 40 for resetting the sound arm as disclosed in my above mentioned Patent No. 3,055,664. While slide 40 is guided in the upper portion of central post 16 for reciprocal movement only, its forward end is resilient so that it can be deflected laterally, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, into the path of stud 38 upon completion of the record. When this occurs, stud 38 drives slide 40 rearwardly (to the left as viewed in FIG. 3) operating the re-setting mechanism. As slide 48 moves to the rear, a cam notch 42 in the upper edge of slide 40 causes a friction-reducing ball 44 and lift-pin 46 in the upper end of post 16 to move upward. The upper end of lift-pin 46 presses against the underside of a sound arm 48 pivoted rearwardly of lift-pin 46 to a bracket 50 supported on central post 16. Upward movement of lift-pin 46, therefore, raises sound arm 48 moving its record-playing needle 52 out of engagement with the record 22 just played.

The sound-reproducing member illustrated is more or less conventional, consisting of a sound-box 54 similar to the device shown in my aforesaid application. Other sound-reproducing means such as an electronic pick-up could of course be used, if desired. In order that the apparatus can be mounted vertically as well as horizontally, sound-arm 48 is in this instance urged into record-playing position by a spring 56 adjacent its pivotal connection with bracket 44. As best seen in FIG. 2, mounting bracket 44 is pivotally supported on post 16 by means of its vertically spaced

tabs

57, 58 through which post 16 extends. Bracket 44 is therefore cable of pivoting about a vertical axis so that sound-arm 48 can swing parallel to records 22 between the start and finish positions on each record. A trip-lug 59 on the underside of sound-box 54 engages the resilient portion of slide 40 as sound-arm 48 reaches the finish position on the record. Further movement of the sound-arm in that direction as its needle 52 follows the finishing grooves at the center of the record, deflects the end of slide 40 into the path of stud 38 on the turntable.

In re-setting the sound-arm after a record has been played, movement of slide 40 rearwardly under the urge of stud 38 on the rotating turntable first lifts the soundarm off the record and then, by engagement of a laterally extending arm 60 on one side of slide 40 with bracket 44, swings the sound-arm in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 to its starting position where needle 52 may be lowered directly onto the starting grooves in the record. Sound-arm 48 is located in the starting position by means of a stop-elementi62 consisting of an upwardly and inwardly extending bar, the inner end of which is in position for engagement by the side of sound-box 54 at its starting position. It will be noted that lifting cam 42 and arm 60 are located on slide 40 such that the slide moves rearwardly a predetermined amount before its arm 60 engages bracket 44 so that during this initial movement of slide 40, cam 42 raises sound-arm 48 out of engagement with the record.

As may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 sound-arm bracket 44 is spaced from the upper surface of carriage 14 by a sleeve 63 surrounding the mid-portion of central post 16. Bracket 44 is held down against sleeve 63 by a unique assembly spring 64 which, as will be more apparent hereinafter, also serves to limit the forward travel of slide 40. Spring 64 is desirably formed out of a suitable length of spring wire bent generally U-shaped at its mid-portion with its ends bent at right angles inwardly toward each other so that they fit from opposite sides of post 16 through

holes

66 and 68 extending transversely through post 16. The lower hole 68 passes through spacing sleeve 63 so that when one end of assembly spring 64 extends through hole 68, sleeve 63 is fixed on post 16 preventing any tendency for rotational movement of carriage 14 to be transmitted through sleeve 63 to the sound-arm bracket 44. The upper hole 66 for the opposite end of assembly spring 64 is located just above the lower edge of the reciprocating slide 46', and a notch 70 is provided therein through which the end portion of spring 64 extends. The rear end of notch 78 abuts against spring 64 when slide 40 is in its forward non-operative position, thereby limiting the forward travel of slide 40. Notch 70 is made long enough to allow slide 40 to move rearwardly a sufiicient distance so that the sound-arm is assuredly brought into engagement with its positioning stop-element 62, whereupon further rearward travel of slide 40 is arrested.

Assembly spring 64 is also provided adjacent its upper end with an elbow 72 extending downwardly from hole 66 into contact with the upper side of the lower tab 58 of bracket 44. When spring 64 is in its assembled position as shown, elbow '72 presses down against tab 58 thereby holding bracket 44 down on spacer sleeve 63, while permitting bracket 44 to pivot on post 16. In order to prevent accidental displacement of assembly spring 64 and to ensure that its elbow 72 holds bracket 44 down properly, its ends are stressed toward each other both vertically and horizontally.

Coming now to the way in which carriage 14 is rotated in order to change the record to be played, a carriagerotating plate or indexing device 74 is mounted for pivotal movement about post 16 on the underside of carriage 14, the lower end of post 16 being enlarged to form an upwardly facing annular shoulder 76 against which plate 74 bears. As may be best seen in FIG. 2, plate 74 has integrally formed at one point in its periphery an upwardly urged pawl 78 adapted to cooperate with a plurality of slots 80 in carriage 14 circularly disposed about central post 16 at the same distance therefrom as pawl 78. Upon pivotal movement of plate 74 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, pawl 78 moves upwardly into one of slots 80, which correspond in number and spacing with turntables 18, until its leading end comes into engagement with the opposite edge 82 of slot 80, whereupon it rotates carriage 14 clockwise shifting one of the turntables out of record-playing position and moving the next into place.

Carriage-rotating plate 74 is desirably stamped from a suitable flat piece of resilient steel with its pawl 78 bent upwardly so as to engage in slots 80 in carriage 14. Formed integrally with plate 74 is an outwardly extending lever-arm 84, the free end of which cooperates with a selector bar 86 disposed below carriage 14 for reciprocal movement so as to pivot plate 74, thereby intermittently rotating carriage 1-4. Selector bar 86 is supported adjacent opposite ends in guide brackets 88 and 9t rigidly secured to frame 12 and is provided with an elongated opening 92 through which lever-arm 84 extends. Upon reciprocal movement of selector bar 86, plate 74 is rocked back and forth around central post 16. It will of course be understood that instead of providing lever-arm 84, with which carriage-rotating plate 74 is rocked by means of selector bar 86, a suitable rack and pinion arrangement interconnecting these members could be used, if desired.

Since in this instance four turntables 18 are provided, selector bar 86 must have a sufficiently long throw to retate plate 74 through at least 90 of arc in order to move the next record into playing position. When selector bar 86 is moved rearward ly through its full throw shifting the next record into position under the sound-box, it is then returned to its normal forward or home position ready to repeat the operation. On the return throw, pawl 78 is resiliently depressed by the lower surface of carriage 14 as the pawl moves back out of the slot 80. Pawl 78 then snaps into the succeeding slot 80 and is retracted somewhat back of the edge 82 thereof, as shown in FIG. 1, leaving an appreciable gap between them so that rotation of carriage 14 is delayed during the initial rearward movement of selector bar 86 for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.

Selector bar 86 is provided near slot 92 with a laterally extending lug 94, which engages guide bracket 90 in order to limit the forward movement of bar 86. In addition, a similar lug 96 may be provided toward the opposite end of bar 86 for limiting its throw in this direction. However, as will be apparent hereinafter, lug 96 is not necessary in the particular apparatus shown because the throw of selector bar 86 is limited by other means. Moreover, the return throw of bar 86 can be limited by engagement of lever-arm 84 with bracket 90, or if desired by abutment of a hand knob 98 (FIG. 1) with the housing Knob 98, or some similar manipulating device, is provided for the purpose of facilitating withdrawal of selector bar 86.

In order to ensure complete return of the selector bar 86 to its normal, home position, a coil spring 100 is stretched between a depending lug 10-2 on the underside of rotating plate 74 and an upwardly projecting post 104 fastened to frame 12. Spring 100* is located on the opposite side of plate 74 from selector bar 86 so that it will rotate plate 74 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 upon release of selector bar 86 after it has been drawn outward to change records. If desired, the selector bar 86 may be power driven, as for example by substituting a suitable electrical solenoid in place of the hand knob 98.

Carriage 14 is releasably restrained in its indexed positions for properly playing each of the available records by means of a detent spring 106 mounted on frame 12 and having a V-sha-ped end-portion 108 adapted to engage similarly shaped notches 110 on the periphery of carriage 14. Notches 110 are spaced at intervals corresponding to the spacing of turntables 18 such that when each turntable is in record-playing position deten-t spring '106 is located in one of the notches 110, thereby holding the carriage in place. In order to more positively position and latch carriage 14 in each of its record-playing positions, depending lugs 112 are provided on the underside of carriage 14 and project down far enough so that they will engage the upper marginal edge-portion of selector bar 86. Lugs 112 are, in this instance, four in number and are located such that when each of the turntables 18 is in record-playing position at least one of lugs 112 is in lateral engagement with selector bar 86. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, carriage 14 is positively prevented from rotating in its normal clockwise directions by means of lug 112. Furthermore, in this particular case the next lug 112" is also located adjacent the outer side of selector bar 86 when the carriage is in a record-playing position. Since lug 112 is blocked by selector bar 86 from moving in a counterclockwise direction, the carriage is 6 also positively prevented from rotating in that direction. It will be seen therefore that under these circumstances carriage 14 is locked against rotation in both directions.

However, as has already been mentioned, selector bar 86 is permitted limited movement outwardly due to the spaced relation of the end of pawl 78 and the opposing edge 82 of slot 80 in carriage 14. This limited outward movement of selector bar 86 allows a clearance notch 114 in the upper edge of bar 86 to move into registry with positioning lug 112 so that it can pass over bar 86 when pawl 78 comes into contact with edge 82 of slot 80 and rotates carriage -14 as hereinbefore described. On further outward movement of the selector bar 86, the clearance notch 1'14 moves to the outer side of the circular path of lugs 112, such that it is out of registry with the next positioning lug 112" which, consequently, engages selector bar 86 inwardly of notch 114 and positively stops further rotation of carriage 14 in that direction. The selector bar 86 is then released and drawn by return spring 108 back to its home position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with a pair of the positioning lugs 112 again locking carriage '14 in position.

It will be noted in FIG. 2 that in order to let lugs 112 clear the far end 116 of selector :bar 86 as they revolve in a clockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 1, the upper edge of this section of bar 86 is cut away a sufficient distance back from its end to provide clearance for the next lug to move to the outer side of selector bar 86 when the latter has been withdrawn almost to its outer limit of travel. As will be seen in FIG. 1, return of the selector bar to its normal position blocks the two lugs 112 located on its outer side so that the carriage can not turn. In practice, however, the primary function of position lugs 112 is to stop the movement of carriage 14 when it reaches a record-playing position. The detent spring 106 will then ordinarily sufiice to hold the carriage in place so that positive locking of the carriage against reverse rotation is not essential. Accordingly, the selector bar 86 may be arranged or the lugs 112 positioned such that they clear the end 116 of selector bar 86 at all times.

One of the reasons for making the selector bar move independently of carriage 14 during its initial outward movement will be readily apparent from the foregoing description of one form of positioning and latching means for the carriage.

Adjacent the inner side of bracket 88, selector bar 86 is provided on its upper edge with a recess 118, forming a cam surface arranged to coact with a crank 120; in order to rock the latter a predetermined distance when the selector bar 86 is drawn outwardly. Crank 120 is desirably formed from a suitable round steel rod having one end bent to form a crank-arm 122 which rests in recess 1 18 when selector bar 86 is in its normal position. The shank of crank 120 is journaled for rocking movement in the rearw-ardly extending legs 124 of a U-shaped bracket fixed to the outer side of bracket 88. A lever 126 is rigidly secured, as by means of a setscrew 128 at its lower end to the end of crank 120 which extends to the far side of legs 124, as viewed in FIG. 2. Lever 1'26, therefore, swings with crank 120 as it is rocked by cam 118 during the initial outward movement of selector bar 86.

A vertical slot in the upper end of lever 126 is adapted to loosely receive the end of an extension of the reciprocating slide 40 in the hereinbefore described sound arm re-setting mechanism. Slide 40 extends at this end through a suitable guide-slot in an upright portion 131 of bracket 88. A transverse pin is fixed in the portion of slide 40 projecting outwardly of lever 126, the

ends of pin 130 extending out on both sides of slide 40 for engagement by lever 126 when it is pivoted backwardly by crank 120. With this arrangement counterclockwise movement of lever 126 (FIG. 3) will draw slide 9 outwardly a predetermined distance, thereby lifting the sound-arm 48 out of contact with the record and swinging it to its starting position as hereinbefore described. Since this action takes place during the initial outward movement of selector bar 86, the sound-reproducing mechanism is automatically placed in a safe position out of contact with any of the records before the carriage is rotated to shift the positions of the records. It will be further appreciated therefore why it is important for the pawl 78 of the carriage rotating plate 74 to be delayed in engaging and rotating carriage 14 upon actuation of selector bar 86. It will also be noted that at any time when it is desired to change the record, even if the record is only partially played, manipulation of selector bar 86 always first lifts the sound-arm 48 to a safe position before the carriage 14 is rotated. This ensures that no damage will be done to the sound mechanism or to the records when the carriage is rotated in order to position a new record.

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the reciprocating slide 40 of the re-setting mechanism is constantly urged forwardly by a return spring 132 into its normal inoperative position. However, it may be desirable in certain cases to let slide 40 remain in its rearward position until a record is to be played, so that the needle 52 on the sound-arm is held out of engagement with the records at all times except when a record is actually being played. In that event the return spring 132 is omitted and means for moving slide 40 forwardly is provided instead. The extension of slide 40 is cut-away on its underside at 134 in order to permit studs 38 on the turntables 18 to pass under slide 40 when the carriage is shifted.

The electrical circuit and controls for starting and automatically stopping drive motor 28 are best seen in FIG. 1, wherein flashlight batteries 136 are shown mounted on the underside of frame 12. One terminal of motor 28 is grounded to frame 12 by means of wire 138, while the other terminal of the motor is connected to batteries 136 by a wire 140. The opposite terminal of batteries 136 is wired to a normally open single-pole switch 142 and then to a starting switch 144 through

wires

146 and 148. Switch 142 is closed only when selector bar 86 is in its home position, the end 116 thereof engaging an insulated portion of one of the resilient blades of this switch moving its contact into closed position. Switch 142 de-energizes motor 28' as the records are being changed thereby conserving the batteries.

Starting switch 144' consists of an insulated pivot arm 150 freely pivoted on the shank of crank 120 between mounting legs 124. Wire 148 from switch 142 is soldered to a metal contact 152 having a laterally projecting portion adapted to make electrical contact with the outwardly projecting end of reciprocating slide 40 when pivot arm 150 is swung inwardly toward upright 131 of bracket 88. Such contact with slide 40 completes the circuit to motor 28, provided switch 142 is closed by selector bar 86. In order to prevent accidental displacement of pivot arm 150 from either its open or closed position, a detent spring 154 is mounted on upright 131 and has an inwardly projecting hump 156 at its mid-section resiliently restraining pivotal movement of arm 150. The outer end of detent spring 154 is bent in back of pivot arm 150, thereby limiting the outward movement of this member.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that by simply closing starting switch 144 the record in playing position is played. Since in this case slide 40 is moved to its forward position by means of return spring 132, the sound-arm is normally in its record-engaging position and rotation of the turntable causes the record to be played. Upon completion of the record, sound-arm 48 is re-set as stud 38 moves slide 40 rearwardly as hereinbefore described. It will be noted, however, that rearward movement of slide 40 causes pivot arm 150 to be swung back over hump 156 on detent 154, and when slide 40 moves forward under the urge of spring 132, pivot arm 150 remains back permitting the rear end of slide 40 to move out of engagement with switch contact 152 breaking the motor circuit and causing the device to stop.

A new record may then be selected by drawing selector bar outwardly in the manner already described. Or, if desired, the same record can be played over again simply by closing starting switch 144 without changing records. Moreover, if during the playing of a record it is desired to shut off the device or to change records, the selector bar 86 can be manipulated, thereby simultaneously withdrawing slide 40 to re-set sound-arm 48 at its starting position and, upon return of slide 40 to its forward position de-energizing drive motor 28 as just described. It will be noted that so long as selector bar 86 is withdrawn from its home position, crank holds slide 40 in its rearward position so that sound-arm 48 is out of contact with the records.

In a slightly modified form of the apparatus, return spring 132 for slide 40 is omitted so that slide 40 remains in its rearward position until moved forward by some external means, such as a push button or electrical solenoid (not shown). A shut-off switch 158 (FIG. 4) is then provided on the stop-element 62 for actuation by soundbox 54 when in its starting position. Since starting switch 144 and switch 142 serve no useful purpose in this arrangement, they may both be eliminated. Shut-off switch 158 is normally closed, having a resilient lea-f contact 160 urged into engagement with a fixed contact 162 mounted near the end of stop-element 62. Contact 162 is insulated from stop-element 62, while contact 160 is grounded to frame 12 through stop-element 62, which may be formed from uitable rigid sheet metal or bar stock. Contact 162 is connected directly to batteries 136 in place of the wire 146 in the previous circuit described. The free end of resilient leaf contact 160 is bent upwardly and extends somewhat beyond the end of stop-element 62 for engagement with the upper edge of sound-box 54 when the latter is in its raised starting position directly over the starting grooves on record 22. Movement of sound-box 54 to this position cams contact 160 out of engagement with contact 162, breaking the circuit and de-energizing motor 28.

Thus modified, the apparatus operates in the following manner. Slide 40 is located in its rearward position when the apparatus is not operating, with sound-arm 48 and its sound-box 54 held out of engagement with the record, as shown in FIG. 4. In this position, carriage 14' may be rotated to change the records completely independently of the sound-reproducing mechanism. When it i desired .to play a record, slide 40 is moved forwardly lowering sound-arm 48 onto the record. This moves sound-box 54 out of engagement with contact 160 of shut-off switch 158 energizing motor 28 to rotate the turntable and play the record. When the sound-arm is re-set, either by actuation of the selector bar 86 or automatically by stud 38 on completion of the record, sound-box 54 again opens shut-off switch 158 stopping drive-motor 28.

Referring now to the coin-operating arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, this is shown in connection with apparatus in which slide 40 is spring-urged to its forward position each time the sound-arm is re-set. However, it will be appreciated that the coin-operating mechanism may be employed just as well to move slide 40 forwardly in order to start the record player. A push-button is provided at the free end of an inwardly bendable arm 172 formed integrally in the wall of housing 10 adjacent starting switch 144. On the inner surface of the free end of arm 172 is formed a coin-slot 174 for the reception of a coin or similar object. Coin-slot 174 is open both top and bottom so that a coin can be inserted into it at the top and dropped out below. Aligned apertures 176 in both side walls of coin-slot 174 are provided such that when arm 170 is moved inwardly toward pivot arm 150, apertures 176 receive a rearwardly projecting pushrod 178 mounted on the upper end of pivot arm 150.

Apertures 176 are smaller in diameter than the coin used. An inwardly extending flange or shelf 180 is disposed adjacent the lower edge of arm 172 so that upon depositing a coin C in slot 174, the coin is retained therein until arm 172 is bent inwardly moving coin-slot 174 off shelf 180 whereupon the coin will drop out of slot 174 into a coin box 182 in the lower portion of housing 10. When coin-slot 174 is empty push-button 17d and arm 172 may be pressed inwardly without closing starting switch 144 due to the fact that push-rod 178 extends freely through apertures 176. However, upon deposit of a coin in slot 174, inward movement of arm 172 brings the coin into engagement with push-rod 178 and moves pivot arm 150 inwardly closing switch 144 to start the record player. If it is desired to use this coin-operating device with the modified form of the apparatus in which slide 40 is moved forwardly to start the record player, it is only necessary to mount push-rod 178 on the end of slide 40 instead of on starting switch 144.

What is claimed is:

1. In a phonograph record-changing apparatus including a rotatably supported carriage, a plurality of record turntables mounted on said carriage such that each turntable may be brought into a record-playing position by rotational movement of said carriage, and a sound-reproducing element movable into and out of sound-produc ing engagement with a record on the turntable in said record-playing position, the combination therewith of a reciprocating element supported for reciprocal movement with respect to the turntable in said record-playing position, said reciprocating element having means for moving said sound-reproducing element out of engagement with said record upon movement of said reciprocating element in one direction, and means for moving said reciprocating element in said direction prior to rotation of said carriage for selecting another record.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said reciprocating element comprises a selector member having means for rotating said carriage.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said reciprocating element includes means for swinging said sound-reproducing element to a starting position upon movement of said reciprocating element in said one direction, and each of said turntables is provided With means for moving said reciprocating element in said direction.

4. In a phonograph record-changing apparatus including a rotatably supported carriage, a plurality of record turntables mounted on said carriage and a sound-reproducing element movable into and out of sound-producing engagement with a record on a selected one of said turntables, the combination therewith of a selector member for rotating said carriages into a plurality of indexed positions in which said turntables are each selectively located in a record-playing position, means for re-setting said sound-reproducing element, means interconnecting said selector member and said re-setting means whereby upon selecting another record said selector member also actuates said re-setting means, and lost-motion means interconnecting said selector member and said carriage such that upon manipulation of said selector member rotation of said carriage is deferred until said sound-reproducing element is moved out of engagement with said record.

5. The combination defined in claim 1, which further includes means for moving said reciprocating element in the opposite direction, as Well as means for actuating a recordplaying cycle when said reciprocating element is moved in said opposite direction.

6. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein said lost-motion means comprises a pawl movable with said selector member and a plurality of ratchet surfaces dis posed on said carriage for engagement by said pawl, said pawl being normally spaced a predetermined distance from the ratchet surface to be next engaged by it so that said selector member must be initially moved a predetermined distance in order to bring said pawl into engagement with said ratchet surface, said means interconnecting said selector member and said re-setting means being adapted and arranged to actuate said re-setting means during such initial movement of said selector member.

7. In a phonograph record-changing apparatus including a rotatably supported carriage, a plurality of record turntables mounted on said carriage and a sound-reproducing element movable into and out of sound-producing engagement with a record on a selected one of said turntables, the combination therewith of a selector member for rotating said carriage into a plurality of indexed positions in which said turntables are each selectively located in a record-playing position, said selector member comprising an elongated part mounted for longitudinal reciprocal movement adjacent said carriage and having means for rotating said carriage during movement of said selector member in one direction, said carriage being provided with circumferentially spaced positioning lugs located on a surface adjacent said selector member such that said positioning lugs are laterally engageable with said selector member in order to limit the rotational movement of said carriage and to position said carriage in each of its several recordaplaying positions, said selector member having a clearance notch for allowing said positioning lugs to pass said selector member so that said carriage can rotate, said clearance notch being located on said selector member so as to lie in the path of said positioning lugs when said selector member is moved a predetermined distance in said one direction.

8. An automatic phonograph apparatus comprising a frame, power-drive means mounted on said frame, a sound-reproducing element movably mounted on said frame together with a carriage rotatably supported on said frame, a plurality of record turntables rotatably mounted on said carriage, detent means mounted on said frame releasably latching said carriage in any one of a plurality of positions in which one of said turntables is in an operative position relative to said power-drive means for rotation thereby, a selector member reciprocably mounted on said frame and having means for intermittently shifting said carriage whereby any one of said record turntables is brought into said operative position, re-setting means for automatically elevating and shifting said sound-reproducing element to a non-play position, means interconnecting said selector member and re-setting means operable upon selecting another record to actuate said resetting means, switch means supported by said frame for operative engagement by said sound-reproducing element when in its non-play position for rendering said powerdrive means inactive, and lost-motion-connection-means between said selector member and said indexing means whereby said sound-reproducing element is removed from contact with the record in said operative position before said carriage is shifted.

9. A phonograph record-changing apparatus comprising in combination a central mounting post, a soundreproducing element and a turntable carriage element both pivotally mounted on said post in spaced relation to each other, said carriage element being arranged to rotatably support a plurality of turntables, a spacer sleeve disposed on said post between said elements, a reciprocating element mounted on said post for reciprocal movement relative thereto and coacting with said sound-reproducing element to re-set said sound-reproducing element to a starting position, and a wire-like assembly member having one end extending through said post and cooperating with said reciprocating element to limit the reciprocal movement thereof, the other end of said assembly member extending through and immovably connecting said post and spacer sleeve, and an intermediate portion of said assembly member resiliently urging said sound-reproducing element against said spacer sleeve.

10. An automatic phonograph apparatus comprising in combination a frame, a record turntable rotatably sup- 1 1 1 2 ported by said frame, electrical power means for rotating gagement of said sound-reproducing element with said said turn-table, a sound-reproducing element movably stop-elementfor operating said switch. mounted on said frame into and out of engagement with a record on said turntable, a stop-element fixed on said Referemeg Cited in the file of this Patent frame for arresting movement of said sound-reproducing 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS element, means for moving said sound-reproducing element out of engagement with said record and for swing- 1,355,081 Isley Oct. 5, 1920 ing it into engagement with said stop-element, a switch 1,395,035 Briggs Oct. 25, 1921 mounted on said stop-element for controlling the power 1,727,263 Yeager et a1. Sept. 3, 1929 to said power means, and cam means operable upon en- 10 1,780,437 Mills Nov. 4, 1930

Claims

1. IN A PHONOGRAPH RECORD-CHANGING APPARATUS INCLUDING A ROTATABLY SUPPORTED CARRIAGE, A PLURALITY OF RECORD TURNTABLES MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE SUCH THAT EACH TURNTABLE MAY BE BROUGHT INTO A RECORD-PLAYING POSITION BY ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE, AND A SOUND-REPRODUCING ELEMENT MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF SOUND-PRODUCING ENGAGEMENT WITH A RECORD ON THE TURNTABLE IN SAID RECORD-PLAYING POSITION, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A RECIPROCATING ELEMENT SUPPORTED FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE TURNTABLE IN SAID RECORD-PLAYING POSITION, SAID RECIPROCATING ELEMENT HAVING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SOUND-REPRODUCING ELEMENT OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RECORD UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID RECIPROCATING ELEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID RECIPROCATING ELEMENT IN SAID DIRECTION PRIOR TO ROTATION OF SAID CARRIAGE FOR SELECTING ANOTHER RECORD.