CA1119530A - Automatic record player - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure An extremely simple automatic record player mechanism is provided wherein only two members inter-connect the tone arm subassembly with the main cycling gear in the spindle area of the changer. One of these members is employed to lift and lower the tone arm and the other member is used for the dual purpose of moving the tone arm horizontally during an automatic cycle and also acts as a velocity trip actuating member during the playing cycle. Both members are designed to avoid damage to the mechanism if the tone arm is moved or restrained during an automatic cycle.

Description

~sS3~

AUTOMATIC RECORD PLAYER

The present invention relates to automatic record players, and more particularly, to a tone arm lifting mech-anism for automatic record players.
Present day automatic record changers are much too complicated and expensive to manufacture. For example, the changer manufactured by BSR Ltd., which changer consti-tutes approximately eighty percent of the total woxld's production of automatic record changers, has approximately 220 parts and requires a substantial amount of labor to assembly and test these parts in order to manufacture the complete record changer. In addition, most, if not all, present day automatic record changers are sensitive to warpage and bending of the metal base plate on which the -parts of the record changer are assembled. This base plate is conventionally made of relatively thin sheet metal and the tone arm driving and positioning mechanisms become mis-aligned and malfunction when warpage or bending of the base plate occurs, either in production, during shipping, or after the changer has been used by the customer. Further-more, because the functions at the center of the turntableare interconnected with the functions at the tone arm mech-anism by means of complicated linkages, and the like, it is not possible to separately test and align the tone arm assembly before it is assembled in the main base plate.
Accordingly, the manufacturing cost of such arrangements is substantially increased. Also, in order to properly position the tone arm over the rest post of the changer, '~F

i3~

most conventional changers require indexing means asso-ciated with the tone arm quadrant for stopping the tone arm over the rest post and lowering it onto the rest post during the last record shutoff cycle. However, such arrangements are also sensitive to warpage and bending of the base plate which tends to misalign the portion of the base plate containing the rest post with respect to the area at which the tone arm is rotatably mounted.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved automatic record changer which employs a tone arm lifting mechanism which is smooth acting, reliable in operation and may be manu-factured economically on a mass production basis.
Briefly, in accordance with the present in-vention an extremely simple record player mechanism is provided wherein only two members interconnect the tone arm subassembly with the main cycling gear in the spindle area of the changer. One of these members is employed to lift and lower the tone arm and the other member is used for the dual purpose of moving the tone arm horizontally during an automatic cycle and also acts as a velocity trip actuating member during the playing cycle. Both members are designed to avoid damage to the mechanism if the tone arm is accident-ally moved or restrained during an automatic cycle.
The invention both as to its organization and lll9S30 method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the record changer of the present invention with a portion of the turntable broken away to show a portion of the record changing mechanism;
FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the record changer of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the tone arm subassembly of the changer of FIGURE 1 when the changer is turned off;
FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the position of the tone arm near the end of a last record shutoff cycle;
FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 5A is a fragmentary external view similar to FIGURE 5 but taken on a larger scale;
FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 7A is a sectional view taken along the line 7A-7A in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 8 (on the same page as FIGURE 1) is a sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of FIGURE 1 and showing the tone arm drive-trip clutch in its rest position;
FIGURE 9 (on the same page as FIGURE 1) is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 8 but showing the tone arm clutch in its tone arm drive position;

~' 11~9~30 FIGURE 10 (on the same page as FIGURE 2) is a perspective view of the velocity trip clutch employed in the changer of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 11 (on the same page as FIGURE 2) is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10;
FIGURE 12 (on the same page as FIGURE 1) is a fragmentary plan view taken on a larger scale, showing the speed shift mechanism of the changer of FIGURE 1 in the 33 rpm position;
FIGURE 12A (on the same page as FIGURE 1) is a plan view similar to FIGURE 12 but showing the speed shift mechanism in the 45 rpm position;
FIGURE 12B (on the same page as FIGURE 2) is a sectional view taken along the line 12B-12B of FIGURE 12;
FIGURE 12C (on the same page as FIGURE 2) is a sectional view taken along the line 12C-12C of FIGURE 12A;
FIGURE 12D is a sectional view taken along the line 12D-12D of FIGURE 12A;
FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating in diagrammatic form the operation of the drive-velocity trip mechanism of the changer of FIGURE 1 in initiating a record changing cycle and showing the main gear in the home or detent position;
FIGURES 14 to 19 are views similar to FIGURE 13 but showing the main gear at different positions in the record changing cycle;
FIGURE 20 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 but showing the action of the velocity tripping mechanism of the changer of FIGURE 1 during a playing cycle;
FIGURE 21 (on the same page as FIGURE 6) is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 21-21 of FIGURE 6 and showing the tone arm quadrant in the twelve-inch record set down position;
FIGURE 22 is a bottom view of the tone arm subassembly of FIGURE 3;

_g_ ~119530 FIGURE 22A is a view similar to FIGURE 22 but showing the manner in which the tone arm subassembly is assembled on the base plate;
FIGURE 23 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the tone arm subassembly of FIGURE 3 with a portion thereof cut away to show the operation of the cueing lever in the tone-arm-up position;
FIGURE 23A is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 23A-23A of FIGURE 23;
FIGURE 24 is a view similar to FIGURE 23 but shown with the cueing lever in the tone-arm-down position;
FIGURE 25 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 25-25 of FIGURE 5 and showing the control knob of the changer of FIGURE 1 in the OFF position;
FIGURE 25A is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 25 but taken on a somewhat larger scale;
FIGURE 25C (on the same page as FIGURE 27) is a perspective view of the flat spring blocking member employed in the changer of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 26 is a view similar to FIGURE 25 but showing the control knob in the ON position and the main cam in a last record shutoff cycle initiating position;
FIGURE 26A is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIC.URE 26 but taken on a somewhat larger scale;
FIGURES 27, 28 and 29 are views similar to FIGURE 26 but showing the main cam in different positions during a last record shutoff cycle;
FIGURE 27A is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 27A-27A of FIGURE 27;
FIGURE 28A is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 28 but taken on a somewhat larger,scale;

FIGURE 30 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 25 but showing the control knob in the REJECT position to initiate a record changing cycle;
FIGURE 30A is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 30 but taken on a somewhat larger scale.
FIGURE 31 is a view similar to FIC~RE 26 but showing the mechanism in a single automatic record play position;
FIGURE 32 is a view similar to FIGURE 31 but showing the main gear at a later point in the single record automatic play changing cycle;
FIGURES 33 and 34 (on the same page as FIGURE 5) are fragmentary sectional views similar to FIGURE 5A but showing the parts in different positions of a last record sensing cycle;
FIGURE 33A is a view similar to FIGURE 25 but showing the mechanism in a repeat play position;
FIGURE 35 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an alternative record supporting arrangement which may be used in the changer of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 36 is a plan view of the record supporting arrangement shown in FIGURE 35;
FIGURE 37 is a side elevational view of the arrangement of FIGURE
35 when used to play seven-inch records with a large-hole record adaptor;
FIGURE 38 is a sectional elevational view of an alternative record sensing arrangement of the present invention similar to FIGURE 5 of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 37;
FIGURE 39 is a sectional view taken along the line 39-39 of FIGURE 38;

~, -11-~1~9530 Figure 40 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative tone arm drive and velocity trip actuating mechanism whlch can be used in the changer of Figure l;
Figure 41 is a sectional view taken along the line 41-41 of Figure 40;
Figures 42 and 4~ are fragmentary plan views of further alternative drive-trip arrangements similar to the embodiment of Figures 40 and 41;
Figure 44 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative tone arm drive and trip actuating mechanism which can be used in the changer of Figure l;
Figure 45 is a sectional view along the line 45-45 of Figure 44;
Figure 46 is a sectional view along the line 46-46 of Figure 44;
Figure 47 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein an idler wheel drive unit is employed to rotate the turntable;
Figure 48 is a fragmentary plan view of a further alternative embodi~nt of the invention wherein a modified drive link arrangement is employed to move the tone arm horizontally; and Figure 49 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein a two-plate velocity tripping arrangement is employed.

~g ~ql~530 Referring now to the drawings, and m~re particularly to Figures 1 through 34 thereof, the automatic record changer of the present invention is therein illustrated as comprising a metal base plate indicated generally at 10 on which is mounted a rotatable turntable indicated generally at 12, a tone arm indicated generally at 14, and a balance arm indicated generally at 16. m e turntable 12 is mounted for rotation about a centering spindle indicated generally at 18 on which a stack of records may be supported and the balance arm 16 moved from its rest position somewhat beyond the position shown in Figure 1 to a position over the records so that these records are balanced on the record supporting shelf of the spindle 18.
m e tone arm 14 is rotatably unted on a tone arm housing subassembly indicated generally at 20, the housing 20 being provided with a rest post portion 22 which extends upwardly from the housing 20 and is provided with a relatively deep notch 24 in the top thereof within which the tone arm 14 may be seated when the record changer is turned off. A cueing lever indicated generally at 26 is rotatably mounted in the tone arm subassembly 20 and may be moved from a generally vertical position shown in Figures 1 and 24 to a rearward inclined position shown in Figure 23. When the cueing lever 26 is in the vertical position shown in Figure 1, it is ineffective to lift the tone arm. However, when the cueing lever is moved to the rearward position it is effective to lift the tone arm off of the record after which it may be manually placed over another selection on the record or moved over the rest post 24. m en, the cueing lever may be used manually to lower the tone arm 14 into engagement with a record on the turntable 12, or the notch in the rest post, as will be readily understood by those ~killed in the art.

1~19530 A combined speed and size control knob 27 is provided which in the illustrated embcdiment is movable between a 33-1/3 rpm position and a 45 rpm position. In the 33-1/3 rpm position the tone arm 14 is automatically adjusted to play 12-inch records and in the 45 rpm position the tone arm is automatically adjusted to play 7-inch records. When small-hole seven-inch records are to be played they may be placed on the shelf of the spindle 18 and the balance arm 16 employed to balance the record stack. When large-hole seven-inch records are employed a suitable adaptor may be placed on the spindle 18, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. In the event 10-inch 78 rpm records are to be played, the knobs 27 may be provided with a third detent position ahead of the 45 rpm position, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.
A multi-function control knob 29 is provided which has four positions, namely, an OFF position, a REPEAT PLAY position, an ON
position and a REJECT position, fram front to back of the changer. When the knob 29 is moved from the OFF position to the ON position the driving motor for the turntable 12 is energized and when the knob 29 is moved to the REJECT position a record changing cycle is automatically initiated.
In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the record changer mechanism is so arranged that when the knob 29 is first moved to the ON position and then is moved back to the REPEAT PLAY
position a slight detent force is exerted on the knob 29, which is not produced when the knob 29 is moved from OFF to ON, and an ~udible click is produced to inform the operator that he is in the REPEAT PIAY position.
With the knob 29 in the REPEAT PLAY position the record changer repeatedly plays the record which is on the turntable 12. As noted akove, the REPEAT PLAY position cannot ~19S30 be reached by simply moving the knob 29 from the OFF position to the adjacent REPE~T PLAY position. me knob 29 must first be moved to the REJECT position, so that the turntable motor is turned on, and then moved back to the REPEAT PLAY position. With this arrangement the single knob 29 is employed to provide functions requiring several knobs in conventional changers.
In accordance with a further important aspect of the present invention, the base plate 10 is provided with a central depressed portion 28. Most of the parts of the record changing mechanism per se are mounted on the top and bottom of the central depressed base plate portion 28, which is eccentric with respect to the spindle 18 to permit such mounting, thereby eliminating the conventional base plate subassemblies which are normally employed to mount the operative parts of the record changing mechanism. By employing the central base plate portion 28 as a support for the control levers and other parts of the reoord changing mechanism, the number of parts required is substantially reduced and in addition the amount of time required to assemble these parts in production is also substantially reduced. More particularly, a cycling gear indicated generally at 30 is rotatably mounted on a post 32 which is secured in the central base plate portion 28 and extends upwardly there-from, the gear 30 being retained on the post 32 by any suitable means such as the C washer 34. A slePve bearing 36 is mounted in the eccentric portion 28 of the base plate 10 and the spindle 18 is secured within the be æing 36. A turntable hub 38 is rotatably mounted on the sleeve bearing 36 and rests on a thrust bearing indicated generally at 40 which is positioned akout the bottom end of the sleeve 36 and rests on the central base plate portion 28. The hub 38 is retained on the bearing 36 by means of the Oring 37.

In ordcr to dri-~e the turntable hub 38 a turntable dri~ing motor 4~ (FIG. 5) is mounted on the underside of the ~ base plate 10 beyond the portion 28 and the sha~t 42 tl~ereof !` ,'1 extends upwardly through an openin~ 44 in the base ~late 10.
; 5 A drive turret havin~ a 45 rpm step ~6 and a 33 rpm step 48 is mounted on the shaft 42 above the base plate 10 and a lexible belt 50 is employed to interconnect one of the ; ~ - turret steps 46, 48 with the turntable hub 38, the helt 50 ~ xiding on the periphery of the hub 38.
; ~ 10 In accordance with an important aspect of the ~ present invention, the turn~able 12 is not directly con-; .~ nected to the turntable hub 3~, but instead rests on a thin and relatively wide washer 52 ~hich is positioned between . j, .
; -,~ the upper surface of the turntable hub 38 and the bottom !- 1S surface of the turntable 12 adjacent a central depressed portion 54 of the turntable 12. The washer 52 is made of low coeXficient of friction materiai, such as Teflon or the li~e. With this arrangement, the turntable 12 may be : . -;
.~ stopped during the record changing cycle, by bra~e means .,..~ , 20 to be described in more detail hereinaftex, so that the turntablP 12 is stationarv when a record is dropped onto l it. This construction also permits the turntable hub 38 j ~o be continuously driven from the motor 40 during the ¦ record changing cycle, the washer 52 providing a suffic-¦ 25 iently low coefficient of friction bearing to permit stop-- ping of the turntable 12 without placing an excessive load on the ~otor 40, and without requiring disenga~ement of the driving means between turntable and turntable hub by some means such as elevating or lowering o~ either the turntable ~ 30 hub 38 or tlle turntable 12. ~ suitable turntable mat 55 '. .- may be positioned on the upper surface of the turntahle 12 i ~16 :' .

,, ., . . . , . . ,... ... ... ~ -to provide a cushion for records deposited on the turntable 12. The turntable 12 is retained in the hub 38 by means of an O-ring 39 and the central openinq in the turntable 12 rides on the upper shaft portion 41 of the hub 38 which acts : ..: . .
as a bearing for the turntable during braking.

In order to drive the main cycling gear 30 during -.... .:
a record changing cycle, the turntable hub 38 is provided ~ith pinion gear teeth 5~ at the bottom end thereof ~hich are a~lap- --..........
ted to engaye the peripheral gear teeth of the gear 30. ~io~
ever, during the playing cycle the gear 30 is detented in a --home position in which a mutilated portion 60 of the gear 30 - -is op~osite the gear teeth 5~ so that these teeth are not in --mesh during the playinc cycle. -`
. . .
In order to initiate a record changing cycle, a -;

single velocity trip lever 62 (~I~. 1) is pivotally mounted - -~
on the upper face of the ~ear 30 by means of a pin portion L'.'~
61 wl~ich is positioned within the central bore of a down- ~-wardly extending housing portion 63 (FIG. 5) of the main ~- ~
gear 30, the lever 62 being provided with an upstanding ._... ...
flange portion 66 (FIG. 1) in which a vertically exten~ing r-:-,._.-.-...::, shoulder 68 is formed. The shoulder 6~ is arranged to be str ck by a flange 70 provided on the central sleeve portion -of the turntable hub 38 ahove the gear 58 ~hen the shoulder portion 66 of the velocity trip lever 62 is moved inwardly --by a predeter ined amount. Movement of the velocity trip le~er 62 is effected at the end of the plaving cycle by means of a velocity tripping mechanism to be described in more detail her~inafter. As soon as the velocity trip lever 62 has ~een pivo ed by an amount sufficient to bring the shoulder 68 into the path of the ~lange 70, the gear 30 is rotated by engagement sof these members by a amount such that the gear tee~h o~ the turntable hub g ar 58 engage the adjacent teeth of t e gear 30 and rotate the gear 30 through one revolution during the record ch nging cycle.

~ \
lll9S30 . In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, rotation of the ~ain gear 30 is employed to effect the desired lifting and rotation of the tone arm .-.... -.-.. '''-.
..........
14 by means of two members W)liCh are interconnected with the '..... ,',,''.'.' tone arm subassembly 20 in such manner that they mav be , ,,,-',',.,,.,,' readily disconnected. With this arrangement, the tone arm ,'.'.. -,.'.. `
subassembly 20 may be separately manufactured and tested ,..... .-.'' . . =.
prior to installation in the base plate 10, a'ter which in- .'.-,-.'.
stallation connection may be readily made to the automatic ,,-',.-'--'.
record changing mechanism throuqh these interconnecting ele- .~'... ,.'."',.'.-' ments. Furthermore, these interconnecting ele~ents are so .-.... -.. -.. .'.' constructed that warping or bending of the base plate 10 does ,........ ... --.
.. ..
not interfere with the proper operation o' the changer during '~
the record changing cycle or introduce errors in the set down ~,-......... ',~., adjustment.of the tone arm 14 or the velocity tripping mech- .. -.~
~- :: ...-.-:
anism therefor. ~

TONE A~ LIFTING ~,CHAllISM ~.--.-.. -- ,- .
-..,..-...-,., Considering first the manner in which the tone arm .. -.--.
14 is lifted off of a record on the turntable 12 at the begin- .,.--.
..-.~
ning of the record chanqing cycle, a tone arm lift rod indica- ,_~,,-,,, ,-ted generally at 72 (FIG. 3) is provided witX a right angle ~
- . i. :
en~ portion 74 which is mounted in spaced apart ~eari.ngs in :.~
. . :~
the tone arm subasse bly 20. ~lore particularly, the tone arm '-subassem ly 20 includes a main housing 76 which is provided ''.'''''.. '' with a pair of downwardly extending,posts 78 and 80. A plate -'''' 8 is mounted on the posts 78 by means of the screws 84 and 86 (FIG. 22). The housing 76 includes an upstanding portion 88 which is provided with a vertically e~tending bore 90 3~ which is adatped to receive the upper end of the right angle .......
portion 7~ of the tone ar lift rod 72. The upper cnd of . .
the bore 90 is arranged to for a bearing for the upper end i , -18-i30 i of the right angle portion 74 and the plate 82 orms a lower bearing for this right angle end portion 74. ~s a result, the lift rod 72 is supported by these two spaced apart bearings so that it may be smoothly raised and . :
lowered. The upper end of the right angle end portion -.... -74 is threaded and an adjustable cap 92 is threaded onto .-the upper end of the right angle end portion 74, the cap ... --92 being arranged to engage the undersurface of a flat .--plate portion 94 of the tone arm 14. .... -The plate 82 is pro~ided tJith a downwardly .~--extending offset flange portion 96 which has an inclined ca ~ ing surface 98 for~ed in the bottom edge thereof. .-The tone arm lift rod 72 is biased upwardly into engage~
ment with the camming surface 98 by means of a coil spring .---100 the bottom end of which is hooked around the tone arm . :
,.-..
lift rod 72. The springlOO extends upwardly through an ....... -opening 102 (FIG. 22) formed in the plate 82 and into the . .-.-.
interior of an upwardly extendin~ housing 104.formed in the plate 82. The upper end of the s~ring 100 is secured ~
to the top wall of the housing 104. The other end of the ~
lift rod 72 is provided with a right angle end portion 106 . -~-which is biased into enga~ement with a depending cam indi~
cated generally at 108 (FIG. 7), which is for ed in the bottom surface of the gear 30, this biasing force bein~
, 25 achieved by virtue of the upward force e~erted by the .-sprin 100 adjacent the inclined ca ~ ing surface 98 which .~
tends to rotate the end portion 106 of the lift rod 72 .-.
toward the center of the gear 30.
When the gear 30 starts to rotate at the begin-ning of the record changing cycle the end portion 106, which s continuously biased into engagement with the cam 108 by virtue of the twisting actio~ produced by the -19- j ... . . . . .. . . ... .

~95,3~

up~iard force of the spring 100 in relation to the inclined c mming surface 98, follows the portion 110 of the cam 108 with the result that the lift rod 72 is pivoted about the --above-described bearings for the end portion 7~ thereof. -However, since the spring 100 is continuously urging the lift rod 72 up~ardly, as this rod is rotated it is also bodily lifted upwardly as it rides along the cam surface ... .:...
98. Accordingly, the end portion 106 may be rotated bv --. -- ....
an amount sufficienL to permit the lift rod 72 to be lifted up - -to the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the portion 106 of the rod 72 enga~es the end of the slot 114 (FIG. 25) in the base plate 10. The flange 96 is also provided with s~o~s 111 112 at either end of the cam surface 9~ to limit movemen~ Or the rod 72 during assembly. ~s this upward movement of the lift ~~
i .- . .-rod 72 occurs, the cap 92 on the upper end of the end portion ---:.....
74 of the lift rod engages the plate 94 and lifts the tone --...... -:::-::
arm upwardly off of the record which has just been played ---on the turntable 12. In this connection it shoulA be noted ,...: .. .
that the tone arm 14 is sho~m in FIGS. 3 and A in a position ~--~....= .
over the rest post 22. I~o~ever, a ~imilar lifting action is ' --provided by the lift rod 72 when the tone arm 14 is resting ~ -on a record seated on the turntable 12. - -The end portion 106 of the lift rod 72 extends -.. . , :=.-.. :
upwardl~ through a slot 114 (FI~. 7) for~ed in the base ~~
plate 10 so that the upper portion of the end portion 106 may be biased into engagement with the cam 108 as described heretofore. The spring 100 maintains the lift rod 72 in an elevated position after the end portion 106 has been moved out of engagement with the cam portion 110 so that the tone arm remains in an elevated position during the portion of the record changing cycle during which the next record is being deposited on the turnta le and the tone arm is moved 1~9530 `
inwardly to the correct record size position,,as will be describ'ed in more detail herelnafter. However, near the end of the record changing cycle the end portion 106 of the -,',,'',',, ".,,..,,.,."
lift rod 72 engages the cam portion 116 of the cam 108. The ',''-''' . -... .
cam portion 116 is not as steep as the cam portion 110 and ,,'''' hence the tone arm is gently lowered to the surface of the record on the turntahle 12 as the end portion 106 is engaged -~s _.
by the cam portion 116 and moved outwardly and the lift rod ',,,'' 72 is cammed dotm the surface 98 against the force of the , ''''~
spring 100. Very close to the end of the record changing -'-,,'' cycle the end portion 106 en~a~es an intermediate portion ,---118 (FIG. 26) of the cam 108. The portion 118 is formed j -along an arc having the center of the gear 30 as its center ',,,',-' so that the biasing force ~hich is exerte2 by the end portion ',,",,,'',",,106 on the cam 108 and hence the gear 30, is constant and min~
imized as the gear 30 approaches its home or detent position. -'''' In this connection it wlll be noted that the end portion 106 moves upwardly relative to the cam portion 110 as the lift ,, ~-rod is bodily moved upwardly at the beginning of the record ~''-''', changing cycle. Also the end portion 106 is moved downwardly -. ^.. .
rélative to the cam portion 116 as the tone arm is lowered. '''',, .-._- .::
However, no upward or downward movement of the end portion ,',,-''-'' 106 relative to the cam portion 118 is experienced as the ',,,,',, end portion 106 traverses the cam portion 118 so that mini- ''''-,',,',' mal ~orces are exerted on the gear 30 as it approaches the ,'''',-', detent position. In this connection it will be noted that '''''''' raising and lowering of the tone ar 14 is achieved solely in response to rotation of the end 106 of the lift rod 72 as controlled by the cam 108 so that an eY~tremely simple 30 ' and yet efficient and smoothly acting tone arm lift arrange-ment is provided in accordance with the present inven ion.

53~

Furthermore it is pointed out that the ~mount of lift is determined at the tone arm subassembly 20 by the cam sur- -.......
face 98 and warpage of the base plate does not change the ---. -. . =
height of the tone arm lift as it would with conventional :-.:-.:
linear motion slides which are directly connecte-l t~ the ..........
main cycling gear. It is also pointed o~lt that the lift -rod 72 functions smoothly with relativelv little force ---....
because the cam surface 98 is positioned quite a distance ..
..... --from end portion 74 about ~7hich the rod 72 pivots. This construction permits the cam surface 98 to have a qradual ...-....
slope whereas if this cam were placed close to the end -:-74 it t~ould have to be relatively steep and subs~antial i~
additional force would be required to move along it. Jlow- E.
~::...::::-ever tlle cam surface 9~ can be spaced a-7ay from the end 74 .. --only because spaced apart bearinys are provided for the end 74 as described heretofore so that the rod 72 may be li.~ted smoothly and with little f~rce e~erted thereon.
. -.... -.......
HORI ZOI~T~.L TO.~E ~R~I ~J0~7EI`1ENT .. ..
......
.-:.-.-..-Considering now the ~anner in which the tone arm --::. ..
14 is moved horizontally in accordance with an important ~-aspect of he present invention a drive trip link 120 is i-employed to interconnect the aear 30 with the tone ar 14 ~-- , .
so that the tone a ~ is moved outwardly during the first -, portion of the record changing cycle and is then moved -. . .: . .
inwardly over the record which has been deposited on the turntable 12 and into engagement with the lead-in groove ...:
of this record. The drive trip link 120 also acts as ~
...... -velocity trip actuating mem er during the playing cycle.
The link 120 which may be simply a stiff wire is con~
nected to the gear 30 at a point offset from the center .
thereof ~y means of a clu-ch mechanism indicated genel-al y ::;
at 122. The other end of the link 120 is connected to a 53~ ' tone arm quadrant member 124 (FIG. 2) which is connected to and moves with the tone arm 14 by means to be described in =
detail hereinafter. More particularly, the lin~ 120 is pro- -vided with a right angle end portion 126 which extends through the central opening in a bushing 128 ~hich is loosely posi-........
tioned in a slot 130 formed in the quadrant 124. As best -. ...
illustrated in FIG. 11 the bushing member 12~ is provided ~ith -:,..-:.:. :.-a head portion 132 which rides on the upper surface of the -------...-.....
quadrant 124 beyond the edgcs of the slot 130. ~ ht coil spring 134 is positioned between an enlarged end portion 136 --.
at the bottom of the bushing 128 and the underside of the ~uadrant 124 so that a light clutcil force is provided to pre~
,...........
vent the member 128 from moving within the slot 130 unless --.. ~ ........
this force is overcome. However, ~hen the member 128 is ----..:. -..:.
lS moved into engagement with either end of the slot 130 a posi-..... -.. :
tive drive connection is provided between the link 120 and --:. ..--. -the quadrant 124. -........
Considering now in more detail the clutch 122, an ..-..-:..:.-..
opening 140 is formed in the main gear 30 which communicates with a recess 142 of larger diameter on the underside of the ~--....
gear 30. A central annular wall 144 is formed in the gear ...... ..
30 adjacent the opening 140 and an outer annular wall 146 is alsO formed in the gear 30, the outer wall 146 having a pair of opposed cam actuating shoulders 148 and 150 formed therein -which project upwardly above the top of the central annular - -wall 144. A clutch drive pivot 152 is loosely ~ounted for -rotation in the opening 140 in the gear 30 and is provided with a narrow slot 154 which extends upwardly from the bottom . .~
of the member of the pivot 152 and is adapted to receive the end portion of the drive-trip link 120. The legs 156 and 158 . .
which are formed in the pivot 152 by virtue of the slot 154 are provided with offset fle~ible end portions 160 and 162 . . .

; -23- l ... . . . . . . . . . . . .

which te minate in feet 164 and 166 which are adapted to engage the recess 1~2 of the gear 30 when the pivot 152 is moved to an elevated position within the opening 1~0.
.
The pivot 152 is also provided with opposed shoulders 168 and 170 which are adapted to rest on the upper surface of ' --the central annular wall 144 ~7hen the ~ivot 152 is in the ''' declutched or velocity tripping position shown in FIG. 8.
In order to assemble the pivot 152 within the year 30, tlle ' ''"--opening 140 is provided t~ith opDosed grooves 172 and 17~l (FIG.14) which permit the pivot 152 to be inserted upwardly through the'opening 140 after t~hicll tlle ~ivot 152 is rotated and the end OL the drive-trip link 1 0 whicll is inserted into '-'''' the groove 154 and can then rest on the upper sur'ace of ~- '''' the wall, as shown in FIG. %. ''---Considering now the operation of the above-described '~
clutch~122 and drive-trip link 120 in moving the tone arm 14 .=
outwardly to the rest post 22 and then returning the tone arm ~''' to the desired set do n position during the record changing E ::
cycle. During the initial portion of the record changing - , cycle, while the tone arm 14 is being lifted off of the ~''''_''' .-.,~
record as described heretofore, the clutch 122 does not interconnect the gear 30 with the link 120 so that no out- ' ward movement of the tone arm is produced during the tone ar lifting operation. This is because the lin}~ 120 remains loosely positioned within the slot 154 of the drive pivot ''--' 152 as the gear 30 is moved from the position shown in FIG. ~'' 13 to the position sho-~n in FIG. 14. During this movement -~
of the gear 30 the drive pivot 152 i5 ho~ever rotating ''-'''' slightly relative to the gear 30 since the pivot 152 is maintained in alignment with the lin~ 120 by virtue of the '''~
fact that the link 120 extends throush the transverse slot 15~ in the pivot 152.

i -24-11~9530 I~hen the gear 30 approaches the position shown in FIG. 14.the lin~ 120 rides up the inclined portions 1~0, 182 ,...
formed in the outer wall 1~6 and onto the upper surface of the opposed shoulders 14~, 150. As this OCCUl^S, the lin~
120 engages the top of the groove 15fi and lifts the pivot -.
152 up~J~rdly until the feet 164, 166 thereof are biased into .. -~
.:....
engagement with the recess 142 in the gear, as shown in FIG. -. .::: .
9. The sho~llders 14~, 150 are made of sufficient height -.
.., .,.: ....
that the feet 164, 166 engage the gear 30 with sufficient .-.. --.:. :. --.:
force to clutch the drive-trip lin]~ to the gear 3~ as the gear continues to rotate. However, this frictional force is not : -.........
so great as to prevent the pivot 152 from rotating relative -.
.. ......
to the gear 30 since the pivot 152 must remain alisned "ith :.:.-.
the lin~ 120 which extends through the notch 154 therein, :;.-..::
and the other end of the link 120 is pivotally connected -.::
to the quadrant 124 of the tone arm mechanism, as described ... -i' ' .''' .
in detail here.ofore. During this rotary movement Oc the ' pivot 152 with respect to the gear 30 the feet 1~, 166 slip ~ `---~... .
along the surface of the recess 142 while maintaining the ~ .
~, above-described frictional force for the lin~ 120.
F..'.'..:::::.
As soon as the link 120 is moved up~ardl~ into , .. :
engagement with the upper surface of the shoulders 1~8, 150 the link 120 becomes clutched to the gear 30 and as the gear .. -continues to rotate the link 120 moves outwardly. If the .
velocity tri~ clutch bushing 12~ is not positioned at the -: .
rear of the slot 130 in the quadrant 124, this initial out- .
ward movement o the lin~ moves the member 124 to the outer -end of slot 130 after which point the tone arm 14 is moved out~ardly with the lin~ 120 as the gear continues to rotate.
The tone arm 14 is moved outwardly until it engages a bloc~
ing shoulder 184 on the rest post 22 the shoulder 1~4 extend-ing upwardly a su~stantially greater distance than the inner .
.

~1~9530 shoulder 186 of the rest post 22. The relative position of the link 120 and the clutch 122 as the tone arm is moved into enga~ement with the rest post shoulder 184 is shown in -FIG. 15. .. ..
Since the tone arm cannot move further outwardly when it engages the shoulder 184, as the gear 30 continues . ...
to rotate the clutch 122 permits such further rotation by ......
..::.....
slippage between the lin}; 120 and the clutch 122. ~lore .-particularly, t~hile the frictional force with which the feet 164, 166 engage the gear 30 is sufficient to move the .
tone arm outwardl~, as descrihed heretofore, this force is ..
not too great that.it cannot he overcomc- when the tone arm :.: ....- .
strikes an obstruction such as the shoulder 184. I~hen such ~.. -an obstruction is encountered the link 120 slides over the !, upper surface of-the shoulders 148, 150 and also slides .. -.
relative to the pivot 152 by virtue of a sliding action of E
~- .-the link 120 in the bottom of the ~roove 154. ~ccordingl~, t. :~
aS the gear 30 continues to rotate from the POsitiOn shown -~
in FIG. lS to the position shown in FIG. 16 the clutch 122 .
continues to urge the tone arm against the shoulder 18 while the linX 120 slides relative to the clutch 122 to the position shown in FIG. 16. However, as soon as the link 120 rides down the inclined portions 188, 190 formed l . in the outer wall 1~6 the feet 164, 166 of the pivot 152 t.,,", are no longer biased in~o engagement with the gear 30 so ..
that the link 120 becomes disengaged from the ~ear 30 ..
while the tone arm 14 remains in its position in contact .. -with the shoulder 184 of the rest post 22. .-.
After the gear 30 has been rotated to the posi~
tion shown in FIG. 17 the lin}~ 120 again rides up the in~
clined portions 180, 182 so that the gear 30 again becomes clutched to the link 120. ~s the gear 30 continues to --::

~ -26- 1 rotate from the position shown in FIG. 17 to the position shown in FIG. 18 the link 120 is first moved so that the velocity trip clutch bushing 128 is moved to the for7ard --.
. -end of the slot 130 and thereafter the lin~ 120 functions .. -to move the tone.arm inwardly. By disconnecting the lin~
.:::.:.,.::
120 from the gear 30 during travel from the position shown :~.. -in FIG. 17, the tone ar can remain in its position over the rest post for a longer period of time while the next .....
record is being deposited on the turntable 1~. This in- ......
ward movement of the tone arm ~uadrant 124 continues until the twelve-inch record positioning shoulder 192, t7hich is .. ~
formed in the quadrant 124, strikes the upturned flange por-tion 194 of a size selector slide 196. mhe slide 196 is ..
manually positioned at the tt7elve-inch poC.ition by means to be described in more detail hereinafter. ~hen the shoulder ,... -.
-192 of the quadrant 124 strikes the size selector flange ~~
194 further inward movement of the tone arm is ~revented. . . .-However, since the gear 30 continues to rotate the clutch ,-122 again permits sliding movement of the link 1~0 relative ~--..._ to the shoulders 148, 150 and the pivot 152, as described ,~

heretofore in connection with FIGS. 15 and 16. It should ... --..........
be noted that as the gear rotates from the position shot7n ..... -.-.....
~ in FIG. 1~ to the position sho~m in FIG. 19, a constant .

: pull is exerted on the link 120 so that the velocity trip -.
.-:.-.:
clutch bushing 128 remains positioned at the for~ard end .~

-of the slot 130 in the quadrant 124. The velocity tripping ..... -.
-mechanism is thus continuously urged to the proper reset .... -position of the velocity trip clutch during movement of .
the gear from the position sho m in FIG. 18 to the position .-. . :. -shown in FIG. 19. .. -.

when the gear 30 reaches the position shown in ..

FIG. 16 the link 120 rides down the shoulders 188, 130 ; -27-....

~9S30 -so that the gear 30 thereafter becomes disconnected from the link 120 as the gear 30 is returned to the detent or home position shown in FIG. 1. In the detent position the link -.''.,,' 120 is co~pletely free to move since the pivot 152 is now .''', supported by engagement of the shoulders 168, 170 thereof .... -,.. -with the upper surface of the inner wall 144. Furthermore, .. ~
.:.. -..... ::
the link 120 is positioned approximately midway hetwe~n the ,... ',.. ,.'''' shoulders 148, 150 and rests loosely within the slot 154 in .-.'-',.'.. ,.'.' ,.,: . .
the pivot152, as shown in FIG. 8. -.-.-VELOCITY TRIPPING MECHANIS~
...........
In accordance with an important aspect of the ............
present invention the link 120 is also used during the play- .,'.'.. -.'.'.. -.. ' ing cycle as a velocity trip actuating member. ~lore parti- .. ,-',.. -.'' ..... :.:
cularly, the link 120 is moved to the position shown ln '~-.. '.'.-.. ' FIG, 1 at the start of the playing cycle with the velocity .-trip clutch member 128 positioned at the forward end o the ' 1.,,,,"",....slot 130. As the tone arm moves in~ardly over the record .''.,.,..... -.....
during the playing cycle the lin~ 120 moves ~ith the tone ''~''.:.'.
;.... -arm ~uadrant.124 due to the light force exerted bv the ~,,:',-,:.:'::, spring 134 on ~he under side of the tone arm quadrant 124. r,,",-This light force is sufficient to move the link 120 axially '-''.' through the slot 154 in,he drive pivot 152 without disturbing .,.,,,"",' the,position of the velocity trip clutch mem er 128 relative '~'-,-.'.-.. to,the slot 130. Since the link 120.rests looselv upon the .. '.~
inner wall 144 of the gear 30 during,this movement, an ex- ,'.. '--''.-' tremely light clutch force can be supplied by the spring 134. .-.'''.
As the tone arm nears the end of the record the lin~ 120 is moved to a position where the end thereof engages the upstanding flange 66 of the velocity trip lever 62 which is pivotally mounted on the gear 30. The lever 62 is mounted on the gear 30 so that it may be moved with a very light force and hence the end of the link 120 moves the lever 62 without -28- , 530 .

moving the bushing 128 within the slot 130. Ilowever, as the tone arm nears the end of the record the flange 70 on - the turntable hub stril~es the edge portion 67 (FIG. 16) of --the flange 66 adjacent the shoulder 68 each revolution and moves the lever 62 and hence the link 120 outwardly a slight amount against the force of the velocity trip spring 134. -This force is, of course, not sufficient to interfere ~ith -inward stylus trac};ing of the record over the last few --grooves of the record. As a result, the hushing 128 is --moved rearwardly in the slot 130 as the last few playing ---grooves of the record are encountered. - -When the runout groove of the record is encountered `
the link 120 is moved ra?idly in~7ardlv with the tone arm so .
that the lever 62 is pivoted by a substantial amount and the --shoulder 68 thereof is moved into the path of the Llange 70 - -on the turntable hub 38. ~Jhen the flange 70 strikes the -shoulder 68 the gear 30 is rotated slightly so as to initiate t'''.''"'-".'' a record changing cycle in the manner described in detail heretofore. This velocity trippin~ action of the link 120 -is made possible by virtue of the fact that the clutch 122 ~r -disconnects the link 120 from the ~ear 30 in the detent t=
:.. -position of the gear 30 as described in detail heretofore.
In this connection it will ~e noted that the velocity trip ~ ~~
clutch connection of the lin)~ 120 to the quadrant 124 is always reset to the maxim ~ range during the record changing cycle because the bushing 128 is pulled to the for~ard end of the slot 130 by the lin~ 120 as the gear 30 rotates. Fur-thermore, this resetting action lasts until near the end of t e record changing cycle when the gear 30 becomes discon-nected fr~ t]-e lin~ 120 (FIG. 19). This positive resetting of the bushing 128 also positions the end of the lin~- 120 correctly in relation to the tone arm 14. Accordingly, the osition of the velocity tripping pawl 62 when it is initially .. . .. ., . . . .. . , ., . . ... , . . _ , . . .

engaged by the end of the lin}; 120 may vary wi~hout intcr-fering with proper velocity tripping since the link is cor-rectly registered with respect to the tone arm at the start - -of the playing cycle. ~owever, the pawl 62 is prevented from moving into the path of the flange 70 as the gear 30 .
. .
is detented by proper choice of the gears 58 and 30. Pref- -erably, the ratio of teeth 58 on the hub 38 to the ratio of --teeth on the gear 30 is such that there is arl even ratio ..... :.. ::
plus two teeth on the gear. As the gear 30 is detented the gears 58, 30 are timed so that the flange 70 is in the path - -of the edge portion 67 of the velocity trip pa~tl 62 and hence prevents the pawl 62 fro~ moving outwardly by an amount suf-ficient to position the shoulder 68 in the Dath of the flange -70. Preferably, the gear 58 has twenty-one teeth and the gear 30 has 128 teeth. -. -:......
It is also pointed out that the above-described velocity trip clutch may be eliminated and the link 1?0. PiV- -.-::..: .: .
otally connected directly to the quadrant 124. In such case a two-part (or more) velocity trip pawl arrangement may be emPloyed instead of the single pawl 62, as will be readilv understood by those skilled in the art. However, such t~o-. ..-plate velocity trip mechanisms are subject to random align-ment which is usually overcome by providing more friction between the two plates. ~ en such heavy friction is employed, -velocity tripping with light tone arm forces in the order of one gram or less is not possible, whereas with the velocity tripping arrangement described in detail heretofore reliable velocity tripping is provided with tone arm forces of less than one gram.
The velocity tripning pa~l 62 may be reset to its initial or rest position shown in FIG. 1 by any one of a n ~ ber of arrangements. One such arrangement is shown in ..........

... . . . .. .

FIG. 16 wherein the intermediate portion of the link 120 is employed to reset thc pawl 62 as the gear 30 is moved :..... ~
from the position shown in FIG. 16 to the position sho~n : -in ~IG. 17. ~lore particularl~, as the gear 30 continues -to rotate from the position shown in FIG. 16, the inclined , .,.,.,,.,- ,.....
top edge 200 OL the flange portion 6~ of the pawl 62 strikes -:-...... -.
the link 120. As the link 120 cams upwardly over the edge 200 the pawl 62 is moved in-~ardly away from the e~lge of the ..........
gear to the position shown in FIG. 1 as the link 120 rides .-.-.. .
over the top surface of the flange 66. In the alternative - --... - .
the gear teeth 58 of the turntable hub 38 may engage the ---outwardlv projecting portion 67 of the pawl 62 and move . ..- .
this pawl back to its initial position shown in FI~,. 1 as : .. -.. ...
the gear 30 approaches the detent position at the end of ---the record changing cycle. --, ...,. ,:.~
r ... ~ ........
~ CORD SIZE SELECTIO`L~ -Considering now the manner in which the size .... .......
.........
selector slide 196 is positioned for seven-inch or twelve~
j .-,-, .
inch records, it will be recalle~ from the general descrip- ~i r..........
tion heretofore, that the control ~.nob 27 is emploved as a -combined record size and s~eed selector and may be moved -between either a 33-1/3 rpm position of a 45 rpm position.
~he control knob 27 is connected to an arm portion 204 of -:
a speed-size lever 206 (FIG. 6), the portion 204 extending out bevond the e~ge of the tone a ~ housing 20 through a ..,: ..:
slot 208 provided therein. The lever 206 is pivotally mounted beneath the base plate 10 by means of a tonsue portion 210 which extends upwardly through an opening 212 in the base plate 10. A spring wire 214 engages the tongue 210 on the top surface of the hase plate 10, one end of the wire 214 being provided with an offset end portion which extends doYmwardly through an opening 21G in the base plate ~1~953~

10 and the other end of the wire 214 being provided with an offset end portion 218 which is positioned beneath the base -,,:..: ....
plate 10. The lever 20G is provided with an upturned flange --... ..
.. ...
220 (FIG. 13) which rides in an opening 222 in the base plate ..... -,. ..
10 and is urged against the wall 224 thereof by the spring .... :
.............
214. The wall 224 defines a pair of detent positions for . .
the knob 27 corresponding to the twelve-inch 33-1/3 rpm posi- :
.:......
tion or the seven-inch 45 rpm position. The control lever --...:,-.:: ..:
206 is provided with a do~mwardly e~tendina post .26 (FIG. 6) ...
which is connected to the size selector slide 196 by means ....
,.,,, ., .."
of a wire link 228. One end of the link 228 is ~rovided ... . .
with an offset end portion 230 ~hich e~tends into an open- ..... -..:-:-::,. ..
ing in the slide 1~6 and the other end of the wire 228 is i.:
snappe~ into a groove at the bottom end of the ~ost 226. .. ~
~ovement of the size selector slide 196 is guided ' ~ - .. . .
by means of a slot 232 (FIG. 22) in the slide 196 through t which the right angle end portion 74 of the tone arm lift ~, .-..-...-,,,-rod 72 extends, and a slot 234 in the end of the size selector ~ ::
~... :
slide 196 which is positioned bv means of a pin portion 236 L'''-''' ,....-(FIG. 6) which extends downwardly from a stud 23R formed in ,-~-..-, ~ e tone arm base me ~ er 76. The stud 238 is of rectangular ..... .

cross section so that portions thereof adjacent the pin 236 t-:.. :
- . ~.'.':.
act as a fulcrum for the end of the size selector slide 196.
,~,, ,: .
. The slide 196 is continuously urged upwardly by means of a flexib]e ar portion 2~0 of the plate 82, the arm 240 being ......
.. . ...-.
provided with the right anqle end portion 42 which engages .
.
the underside of the slide 196 adjacent the fulcrum formed --by the stud 238.
The flexible arm 240 pivots the size selector ........
slide 196 about the fulcrum formed by the stud 238 so that the slide 196 is biased into engagement with a pair of pro-:
jecting lug portions 244 (FIG. 6) formed on the o~posite ~119530 sides of the right angle end portion 79 of the tone arm lift rod 72. Accordingly, the size selector slide 196 is contin~
: ,.-.... ~
uously biased by the arm 240 to follow vertical movements of . ~
the lift rod 72. When the lift rod 72 is elevated at the . .`
..........
beginning of the record changing cycle to raise the tone .. -.
arm off of the record, as described in detail heretofore, .-...... -.... ~
the size selector 196 is also permitted to move upwardly -... -.:. ..
under the slight spring force exerted thereon bv the flexihle .-..... `
arm 240. At the beginning of the record changing c~.~cle the tone arm quadrant 124 has not moved outwardly and hence the - -upstanding flange portion 194 of the slide 196 initially .... -engages the undersurface of the quadrant 124. ~lowever, ..... --.
when this quadrant is moved outwardly by the link 120, as describeà in detail heretofore, the size selector sli~e r._....~
196 is permitted to move upwardly to the position shown in --...........
FIG. 4 wherein the slide 196 is disengaged from the projec~
tions 244. In the position shown in FIG. 4, the edge of .`
the flange 194 is positioned to engage the twelve-inch .. `.. .`
~,,,....,~
shoulder 192 of the quadrant 124 when the tone arm is again ... ~-~
moved inwardly, as described in detail heretofore in connec- .~.. -~
....... ~
tion with FIG. 18.
hen the speed contr31 knob 27 is turned to the .~
seven-inch 45 rpm position the post 226 depending therefrom, .. --and hence the slide 19~, is moved to the left, as viewed in .... -.-FIG. 6 so that the flange portion 194 of the slide 196 is .. ~
now positioned to engage the seven-inch shoulder 2~6 (FIG. 18) -`
fo-med int e quadrant 124. When the flange 194 is in engage-ment with the shoulder 246 of the quadrant 124 during a record changing cycle the tone ar 14 is positioned to engage the lead-in groove of a seven-inch record positioned on the turn'able 12.

-` ~11953~) As discussed generally heretofore, the record changer of the present invention may also be arranged to play ten-inch 78 rpm records. To this end, the quadrant 124 is provided with a shoulder 248 which is positioned to be engaged by the flange portion 194 of the slide 196 and position the tone arm 14 for ten-inch records. If ten-inch 78 rpm records are to be played, the opening 222 in the base plate 10 is provided with a third detent lobe which is nearer the front of the changer than the 45 rpm detent position.
When the control lever 206 is moved to this 78 rpm position the slide 196 is correctly positioned to engage the quadrant shoulder 248. It will be noted that the successive deten~ positions of the lever 206 are arranged in order of increasing turntable speed rather than increasing record size, the shoulders 192, 246 and 248 being arranged on the quadrant 124 to correlate with the respective positions of the combined speed-size control knob 27.
When it is desired to rotate the turntable 12 at three different speeds, i.e. 33-1/3 rpm, 45 rpm and 78 rpm, a conventional three-speed idler wheel drive arrangement for the rim of the turntable may be substituted for the belt drive arrangement described heretofore. Such an idler wheel drive arrangement is shown in Dennis United States Patent No. 3,490,772 issued January 20, 1970. When an idler wheel drive arrangement is employed, the turntable brake feature described heretofore is eliminated, the washer 52 removed and the turntable 12 solidly connected to the hub 38. The control wire 302 would then control the three-speed idler wheel shifting mechanism shown in Dennis United States Patent No. 3,490,772 and would replace the control wire 124 shown in this patent.

.

``` ` ` 111953C~

TONE A~l ~50U~TING ~,CIi~NISM

Considering now the manner in which the tone arm --14 is mounted for rotational and pivotal movement on the --tone arm subassembly base member 76, a tone arm support post 250 (FIG. 6) is pivotally mounted between the upper end of a sleeve housing 252 formed in the tone arm subassembly plate 76 and a well portion 254 formed in the support plate 82. To - -this end, a yoke 256 is secure2 to the recessed end portion -258 of the post 250 bv means of the nut 260 which is threaded - -onto the upper threaded end of the post 250. The yoke 256 is provided with a sleeve portion 262 which extends down-72rdly , -into the top of the housing 252 and is positioned beti~een the --.. . .-.
housing 252 and the upper end of the post 250. The sleeve 262 , -.
thus acts as the upper bearing for the post 250. The post 250 is provided with a tapered end portion 264 which is seated in the well 254 to provide the bottom pivot for the post 250. The upper portion 258 of the post 250 is provided with a double D
cross section ~Jhich cooperates with a similarly shaoed ooening E~
in the yoke 256 so that the yoke 256 is accurately positioned relative to the post 250 when the sleeve 262 is inserted into ,, ~.,=,.........
the housing 252 and the nut 260 secured.
The quadrantl24 is positioned between two transversely -extendin~ blade portions 266 and 268 which are formed integrally --with the post 250 and are provided with openings which are adap- --ted to receive the head portions 270, 272 of a set-down adjust- - -ment m ber 274. The me ber 274 is provided with an eccentric , intermediate portion 276 which is biased into engagement with a slot in the quadrant 124 by means of the spring 278. The upper end of the set-down adjustment member 274 extends through a slot 280 in the upper wall of the tone a ~ housin~ 76 and is ~rovided with a slotted adjustment head 282 by means of which the member 274 may be rotated. The portions 266 and 268 are connected hy integrally-formed ribs 267 and the spring 278 extends between the ribs 267 and loads the quadrant 124 against the eccentric portion 276 and the post 250. To this end the quadrant 124 is provided with a first notch 269 for the eccentric portion 276 and a clearance slot 171 to accommodate the ribs 267 and spring ' .. -278~FIG.13). The quadrant 12~ is also provided with a bearing '''' ...: :.
slot 173 for the post 250. The head portions 270, 272 ride ''''`
. ....
in arcuate slots 175 in the portions 266, 268. The quadrant :... .
124 is also provided with a clearance slot 177 which per its ,-' . :... -the tone arm 14 to move relative to the lift rod 74. ~hen '-'''''`
the member 274 is rotated the ~uadrant 124 is moved relative '''',':' to the tone arm yoke 256 so that an aajustment of the set~
..... ,: , down position of the tone arm 14 may be made.
t.... `
The yo~e 256 is provided ~lith the upstanding ar }
t. :.. :.
portions 284, 286 and the tone arm plate 94 is provided with ear portions 288, 290 (FIG. 1) which are adapted to be moun-.:.....
ted in the upstanding ar s 284, 2~6 of the yoXe 56. In'.his ,-connection it will be understood that anv other suitable tone - -,: ..-.... -arm arrangement may be mounted on the post 250 insofar as the '-''-:'' , 20: present invention is concerned. ~lowever, such tone ar ar- ''''"'-_ -.-rangement must have a smooth undersurface equivalent to the ",", pl~te 94 against which he cap 92 may ride as the tone arm ,, 14 is moved outwardly and inwardly during the record changing ' ',~
cycle.
....
25' ~ CO D SPEED SFLECTION .~

............
Considering now the manner in which the belt 50 is ' ', ' shifted from the turre 48 to the turret 46, and vice versa, in accordance with movement of the speed-size control lever 206, the lever 206 is,provided with an offset arm portion 300 (FIG. 2) to the end of which is secured a control wire 302. The lever 206 is also provided with an arm 301, extend-ng in the opposite dir~ction from the arm 300, which rides on ~ 111953~ ` ' the under surface of the base pIate 10 and prevents the lever 206 from ti~isting as it is moved between the 33-1/3 "", ::.::: ...:
rpm and 45 rpm positions. The wire 302 extends beneath .-'.'.',','.,'.','.
. -the base plate 10, around the depressed central base plate ',,',-,,'-.',.
.. . .
portion 28 thereof and extends upwardly through an elong- ''','.''.'.' :....::..-ated slot 304 formed in the base plate 10. The control ,-::::::::::::
wire 302 is provided with an offset end portion 306 (FIG. -.,.. ,-.. -, ...... .
12) which extends through an opening in a first control .'',,',',','.', plate 308 which is pivotally mounted on the upper side ,''.'',,.
. . .-..
of the base plate 10. ~lore particularly, the plate 308 ,-,-,--.'.,' -is provided with a downturned flan~e 310 which is posi- ','.. ,,~
tioned in a bow-tie-shaped opening 312 in the base plate ,F",,.""", 10. A second speed control member 314 is pivotally mounted .. ',','.'-on the plate 308 by means of a downwardly extending post , porti.on 316 on the member 314 which extends through a ~',-circular bearing hole 318 in the plate 308 and through an elongated arcuate,slot 320 in the base plate 10. The stud F
316 is formed with a head portion 322 which retains a coil spring 324 positioned between the head 322 and a washer ~ . ......
323 on the underside of the base plate 10. While the ~
..
members 308 and 314 are pivotally interconnected by means .,-. .-.-.. .: . .
of the stud 316, this stud may itself move within the slot '..... -. ..~
320. However, the me ~ er 314 is also provided with a guide ,,.,.. .,-1 .=--.
post 326 which extends through an elongated slot 328 in the i - ..
base plate 10. - .. ,",,,-,'.,'.
::.:.. .::
The control plate 308 is provided with an upstand- ''.''''-,.' . .- .- .
ing flange 330 which includes an inc-lined shoulder portion . :. -~32. The shoulder portion 332 is adapted to engage the belt ....
50, when the belt is riding on the 45 rpm turret 46, and , 30 urge the belt 50 upwardly into engagement with the 33 rpm turret 48 when the control lever 27 is moved from the 45 ':' : .
to the 33 rpm position. The control mem er 314 is provided , 1~19530 `~

with a vertically extending flange portion 334 which termin-ates in a curved offset end portion 336 the outer ed~e of :::::::: .
which is formed to provide an inclined shoulder 338.
. .. ~
When the control );nob 27 is moved from the 33 rpm - ~
.. ..~.
position sho~n in FIG. 1 to the 45 rpm position shown in FIG.
.
12A the resultant movement of the arm portion 300 of the lever .............
206 moves the wire 302 so that the control plate 308 and con-....
trol member 314 are moved in a scissors type action from the . . .
position sho-m in FIG. 1 to the position shown in ~Ir~. 12~. --In so doing the flange portion 330 of the control plate 308 is : -::::.:.:-. .
first moved away from the belt 50 after which the flange ?or-tion 336 is moved into en~agement with the belt 50 which is . -. .
running on the turret 48 and the inclined shoulder ~ortion --: . .
- 338 of the me~ber 314 forces the belt do~mwardly over the ~5 rpm turret 46 as the control plate 308 continues to move out-. .
wardly away from the belt 50 to the position sho~m in ~IG. 12.
In a similar manner ~hen the control };nob 27 is mo~ed from the ......
- 45 rpm position to the 33 rpm position, the flange portion 336 ,~
of the me~her 314 is first moved back at~ay from the helt 50 t :.:... -after which the inclined shoulder 332 of the control plate ...=. -: .

308 engages the belt 50 and shifts it upwar~lv to tne 33 rpm ....
turret 48.
::::::::
. .
~Ihile the provision of the co~mon control ]cnob 27 -- -to select size and speed has certain advantages, it is also ... ....
possible to control record size selection and turntahle speed - -selection by separate controls. This modification may be ---:: -..... .
very easily acco~plished tJith the arrangement of the present invention by connecting the wire 302 to a separate control knob which may be located at any desired location on the - --. .
base plate 10, such as in the front right hand corner of the base plate. ~he control ~;nob 27 then acts solely as a size --~
selector to select the desired record diameter.

1~19530 ANTI-SlC~T~ MECilA~ISM

Considering no7 the facilities 7hich are provided '''' in accordance \7ith the present invention to prevent the ''''-needle of the tone arm 14 from skating across the initial '''''-. . .
grooves of the record as the tone arm lands on the lead-in ,.. ~
groove portion of the record, it ~7ill be recalle~ from the above description of the size selector slide 196 that this '' '-member is biased up~7arclly by means of the flexible arm 240 '~'-'''''' and after the quadrant 124 has ~een moved free of the right '~
angle flange 194 on the slide 196 this slide is moved uP~
....... ~
wardly by the arm 240 to the position sho~:m in FIG. 4. ';'hen ~- ~
, the slide is in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 21 the vertical edge OL the flange portion 194 of the slide 196 is E ---positioned in the path of the quadrant 124 and hence the ~''''''-' shoulder 192 on the quadrant 12~ is moved into contact with the low'er portion of this vertical edge when the aear is in the position sho~m in FIG. 18.
:.'.:.'.'.'.'..-'-.
In accordance with an im~ortant aspect of the present invention a controlled and limited sl;ating action !~- -is provided for the tone a ~ 14 after it lands on the record to permit the stylus to find the lead-in groove of the record l ' without sl;ating across the initial recorded grooves of the ''''~
records. This controlled s}~ating action is accomPlished by ''''-' ma~ing the upper portion 340 of the vertical edge of the ''''''~'' flange 194 slightly inclined ~Jith respect to the vertical. ''''''''-'' With such an arrangement, ~hen the slide 196 is lo~ered in synchronism ~7ith the tone a ~ lift rod 72 at the end of the record changing cycle, by engagement of the projections 244 ' with the upper surface Or the slide 196, the slide 196 is 30 ' moved down~7ardly as tlle tone arm is lowered onto the record.
The stylus engages the record when the quadrant is'even ~7ith tl?e bottom end of the inclincd edge 340. ~ccordingly, as ~ ! `
~ 1119530 the slide 196 continues to be lo~ered the slight incline of the edge 340 permits the quadrant 124, and hence the tone -. -.:
arm 19, to s)iate inwardly over the slicl surface of the record in a controlled manner until it engages the lead-in :
groove of the record. T~owever, the tone arm is ~revented -. ...........
by this arrangement from s]~ating inwardly in an uncontrolled .... .: ..
manner over the initial recorded grooves of the record.
.. .....
This action is sho~m in FI~. 21 wherein the lo~-ered position -:
..............
of the slide 196 is shown in dottcd lines at 342. ~s the ---slide 196 is lowered to the position shown at 342, ~he ~uad- ---;:.-.-..-..-:.
rant 124 is permitted to move sli~htl~ in~ardlv as the shoulder - -1~2 thereof ~oves up the incline~ edge 340 of the flange por- E
tion 194 of the slide 196. In this connection i. will be ---,.- . .
understood that at the end of the record changinq cycle the it -.:.. -.--.-:
15 slide 196 is moved down~ardly by an additional a~ount suffic-.. . --.
ient to position the flange 194 entirely belo~ the bottom sur-- , ~
face of the quadrant 124 so as to permit the tone arm to move inwardlv over the record durinq the plavin~ c~cle. Thus, the ~
controlled and limited s~:atinq action of the inclined edge 340 ~ --~.....
20 occurs only for a brief interval afte r the tone arm has landed t ,::::::. -- on the record. -~
An additional anti-skate provision may be made whereby a constant outward bias is exerted on the tone arm ~ --at all times. To this end, a downwardly-e~tending post 346 t;'.'_,."",, 25 is formed on the projectincJ arm portion 268 of the tone arm ---post 250 and a spring 348 is connected from the ~ottom end of tl~e post 346 to a down~ardly projecting post portion 350 :--. ~
formed in the tone arm base member 76. The spring 34~ e~erts ::
. . - . .-.:
a slight out~ard force on the tone arm at all times and hence 30 is effective to provide an adc~itional anti-s}~ate force on the tone arm as it lands on ~he lead-in groove portion of the record.
~lso, the constant bias provided by the spring 34~ during the -~

-4~-~1~9530 playing c~cle is dcsirable from the standpoint of minimizing wear on the records, as t~ill be readily understood by those skilled in the art. It will be notcd from FIG. 22 that as the tone arm is moved inwardly over the record, the post 3~6 moves in an arc about the center of the tone arm Post 250 so that the spring 3A 8 is not leng~ilened appreciably and hence - -provides a substantially constant biasinq force on the tone arm 14 during the pla~inq cycle. ~ -l~hen the biasing sprin~ 3~ 3 is employe~ to pro- --.. ..::
vide a constant bias on the tone ar 14 at all ti~es, it l-continuously tends to mo~e the tone arm out~iardl~ ccord-ingly, when the stylus lands on the slic} sur'ace of the ~,, ,.,. ,:,, record the spring 348 may tend to pull the tone ~rm lA of' of the record. To prevent this, a sliqht frictional force 14 may be exerted on the quadrant 124 durin~ the record chan~ing ~ -~,.,,:.,:.,,,.-,, cycle. ~o provide such a frictional 'orce, a Plunaer indica-ted generally at 352 (PI~. 6) ~s ~ounted in a housin~ ~ortion 35~ t-hich extends dotm~ardly from the ~late 82. The bottom wall of the housing 354 is provided t-ith an o~ening throuah -~
which the end portion 356 of the plunger 352 extends. Plun~er ~--1.._..' .....
352 is thus captivated bet~leen quadrant 124 and the housing t~
354. A coil spring 35~ is positioned between the hottom wall o the housing 354 and the larger diameter intermediate por- i -tion o~ the plunger 352 within the housin~ 35~. lhe upper end -360 of the plunger 352 is of reduced diameter so as to define ---a shoulder t~hich is positioned belo-~ the size selector slide -196. ~7hen the record changer is in a playin~ cycle, or is turned of, the slide 196 is in engagement with this shoulder and holds the plunger 352 down~-ardly so that the u-per end of the portion 360 thercof is positioned bclotJ the bottom surface of the ~uadrant 12~.

~9530 When the tone arm lift rod 72 is elevated at the keginning of a record changing cycle the size selector slide 196 is ved upwardly by an amount sufficient to permit the top portion 360 of the plunger 352 to engage the underside of the quadrant 124. Accordingly, a slight force is exerted, by means of the spring 358, on the plunger 352 and hence against the underside of the tone arm quadrant to provide the desired friction during the record changing cycle. It will be noted that the plunger 352 is permitted to engage the quadrant 124 even though the flange 194 of the selector slide 196 strikes the underside of the quadrant 124. Accordingly, the frictional force exerted by the plunger 352 is exerted on the tone arm as soon as it is lifted off of the record and before it is moved outwardly by an amount sufficient to clear the upstanding flange 194 of the slide 136. This frictional force is continuously exerted on the quadrant 124 until the slide 196 has been lowered below the position indicated in dotted lines at 342 in Figure 21 so that this frictional force is present as the stylus lands on the record and engages the lead-in groove thereof. This force is not removed until the end of the record changing cycle when the upper edge of the flange 194 has been moved kelow the quadrant 124. The frictional force exerted by the plunger 352 on th~ quadrant 124 also functions to smooth out movement of the tone arm 14 during the record changing cycle. In this connection it is pointed out that the top portion 360 of the plunger 352 also rides in the slot 232 formed in the size selector slide 196 for different-sized records, as described in detail heretofore.
LAST RECORD SENSING AND SHUTOFF
In the record changer of the present invention, the last record sensing mechanism is ccmbined with the record ~i9~3~D

ejecting mechanism provided at the spindle 18. With this arrangement the balarlce arm may be of simple construction and need not include any last record shutoff facilities as is conventional in many changers.
Furthermore, by accomplishing the last record sensing in the area of the spir~le 18 and gear 30, the record changer r~chanism is substantially simplified and no intercor~nection with the tone arm mechanism other than the above-described members 72 and 120 is re~uired. This arrangement has the further advantage of rendering the record changer less sensitive to warpage and bending of the main base plate 10 arld hence misalignment of the tone arm area with respect to the center of the base plate.
In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the last record sensing operation is accomplished by movement of the record ejector blade in the same direction as this blade moves to eject a record from the shelf of the spindle 18. Such an arrangement substantially simplifies the last record sensing mechanism, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Considering first the elements provided for ejecting a record from the shelf of the spindle 18, a push-off slide 370 (Figure 5) is slidably mounted beneath the central portion 28 of the base plate 10. More particularly, the slide 370 is provided with a cam follower pin 372 which is secured to one end of the slide 370. The pin 372 is provided with a groove 374 which rides in the narrow portion of a keyhole slot 376 formed in the central portion 28 of the base plate 10.
A flange 378 extends dcwnwardly therefrom through an opening 380 in the push-off slide 370, the flange 378 engaging the sides of the opening 380 so that the slide is guided by means of the flange 378 and slot 376 for reciprocal movement with respect to the base plate portion 28. A push-off slide actuating cam indicated generally at 382 is formed on the under~ide of the main gear 30 and extends dcwnwardly therefrom. The slide 370 is provided with a downturned flange portion 384 and a spring 386 is connected between the flange 378 and the flange 384 so as to bias the cam follower pin 372 into engagement with the outer surface of the cam 382. It will be noted that the spring 386 is connected to the flange 378 at a point closer to the base plate than the other end of the spring 386. Accordingly, the spring 386 also provides an upward bias on the slide 370.
In order to detent the main g OE 30 in its home or detent position shown in Figure 1 during periods between record changing cycles, a detent lever indicated generally at 390 (Figure 25) is pivotally unted on the base plate portion 28. Mbre particularly, the lever 390 is provided with a pin 392 which extends into a keyhole slot 394 formed in base plate portion 28. A detent pin 396 is secured to an arm portion 398 of the lever 390 and extends upwardly through the opening 114 in the base plate portion 28. The detent pin 396 is biased into engagement with a main control cam indicated generally at 402 which is formed integrally with the main gear 30 and extends dcwnwardly therefrom. The control cam 402 is provided with a notch portion 405 (Figure 26) into which the detent pin 396 is biased by means of a spring 404 which is connected between a projection 406 formed in the a~m 408 of the detent lever 390 and an opening in the base plate portion 28. m e spring 408 tends to rotate the lever 390 about the pivot pin 392 so that the detent pin 396 is held in the notch 405 when the gear 30 is in its home or detent position. The detent pin 390 ls pro-vided with a groove 397 (Figure 7). One edge of the groove 397 moves along the arcuate edge portion 399 of the opening 114 in the base plate portion 28. With this arrangement the detent pin 396 is stabilized as the detent lever 390 is pivoted about the pin 302.
me push-off slide 370 is provided with a U-shaped end portion which defines a tab portion 412 (Figure 5) which is positioned below the main portion of the push-off slide 370 and is immediately below an opening 414 in the slide 370 through which the lower end portion 416 of a record ejector blade indicated generally at 418 is positioned. me blade 418 is pivotally mounted in the bcdy of the spindle 18 by means of a pin 420. The detent lever 390 is provided with an offset portion 422 (Figure 25) at the end of the anm 408 which extends between the push-off slide 370 and its tab portion 412, as best illustrated in Figure 5. The portion 422 of the detent lever 390 is provided with an arcuate narrow slot 424 (Figure 25 which opens into a relatively wide slot 426, the intersection of the slots 424 and 426 defining an interference shoulder 428 in the vicinity of the end portion 416 of the ejector blade 418.
Since the spring 404 is connected to the base plate portion 28 it urges the portion 422 of the detent lever 390 upwardly into engagement with the push-off slide 370 and hence exerts an upward bias on the slide 370 in addition to the bias provided by the spring 386. With this arrangement the tab portion 412 of the push-off slide 370 exerts a slight upward force on the end of the record ejector blade portion 416. This force is employed during the last record sensing operation described in more detail hereinafter.
Oonsidering first the operation of the push-off slide 370 in ejecting a record which is seated on the shelf ~953~

430 of the spindle 18, and assuming that a record changing cycle has been initiated in the manner described in detail heretofore, the push-off slide actuating cam 302 is provided with a first lobe portion 432 (Figure 25) which functions to move the push-off slide 370 a slight amount during the initial or record sensing portion of the record changing cycle. During engagement of the pin 372 with the lobe 432 of the cam 382 the push-off slide 370 is moved from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 33. During this movement the slight force which is exerted by the tab portion 412 on the end of the record ejector blade portion 416 is insufficient to move a record seated on the shelf 430 off of this shelf. As a result, the end portion 416 remains in the position shown in full lines in Figure 33 as the slide 370 is moved to the right during engagement with the cam lobe portion 432.
During this movement of the slide 370 the ejector blade end portion 416 is not moved since the opening 414 in the slide 370 provides clearance between the slide 370 and the end portion 416 during the record sensing portion of the record changing cycle. However, when the pin 372 engages the record ejecting lobe portion 434 on the cam 382, so that the push-off slide 370 is moved farther to the right as viewed in Figure 5, the end portion 416 of the ejector blade 418 is engaged by the edge of the opening 414 in the slide 370 and is moved to the position shown in Fig~re 34. During this push-off movement of the ejector blade 418, the upper portion 436 of the blade 418 engages the kottom record seated on the shelf 430 and moves this record off of the shelf so that the bottom record is deposited on the turntable 12. In this connection it will be understood that the position of the cam 382 on the gear 30 is so related to the position of 1~9530 the tone arm cam 108 that the tone arm 14 has been lifted upwardly and moved outwardly beyond the edge of the record stack before the end portion 436 of the record ejector blade has moved the bottom record off of the shelf 430. After the record has been ejected the spring 386 continues to bias the pin 372 into engagement with the cam 382 as the main gear 30 is rotated through the remainder of the record changing cycle. If desired, the ejector blade 418 may be provided with an elongated vertical slot for the pin 420 and is normally spring-biased so that the pin 420 is in the bottom of this slot. With such an arrangement the ejector blade may be depressed to the level of the shelf 430 by the record stack above the bottom record as the bottGm record is ejected.
The weight of the record stack is thus removed fram the upper end of the blade 418 which facilitates return of the blade 418 to its rest posi.tion under the force of the return spring 386 through the slide 370. Such a spring-biased arrangement is shown and described in connection with the embcdiment of Figures 38 and 39.
Considering now the manner in which the absence of a record on the shelf 430 is sensed in accordance with the arrangement of the present invention, the control cam 402 on the main gear 30 is provided with a deep notch portion 440 (Figure 25). During a normal record changing cycle, and assuming a record is seated on the shelf 430, when the g~r 30 has been rotated an amount such that the detent pin 396 is opposite the notch 440 the spring 404 tends to rotate the detent lever 390 and move the detent pin 396 into the notch 440 but this action is prevented by engagement of the record ejector blade portion 416 with the interference shoulder 428 formed in the end portion 422 of the detent lever 392. In this connection it will be recalled that the light fric-,~ . .
ii.. ~

~1~9530 tional force exerted on the end portion 416 by the tab 412 is insufficient to move the ejector blade 418 when a record is seated on the shelf 430.
However, if no record is present on the shelf 430, during the initial record sensing portion of the cycle, i.e. during the period when the pin 372 engages the lobe 432 of the cam 382 and the slide 370 is moved from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position s~own in Figure 33, the light force exerted on the end of the record ejector blade portion 416 is sufficient to move the ejector blade to the dotted line position 442 shown in Figure 33. This vement of the bottom end of the ejector blade portion 416 causes a corresponding movement of the upper end 436 to the dotted line position 444 shown in Figure 5. This last record sensing movement of the end portion 416 by engagement with the tab 412 takes place just prior to the point in the record changing cycle at which the detent pin 396 is opposite the notch 440. Accordingly, when the detent pin 396 encounters the notch 440 the ejector blade portion 416 is now moved into alignment with the notch 424 on the end portion 422 of the detent lever 390 so as to permit the spring 404 to rotate the detent lever 390 and move the detent pin 396 into the bottom of the notch 440. This inward movement of the detent pin 396 toward the center of the gear 30 is employed to turn off the motor 40 in accordance with a last record shut-off mechanism which will now be described.
Considering first the control linkage which is employed to turn on and off the motor manually, a control knob ~9 is connected to the end of an on-off lever 450 (Figure 25) which is rotatably mounted on a pin 452. The pin 452 is itself connected to a switch actuating plate 456 which is positioned below the lever 450. The pin 452 is provided with a groove 451 ~Figure 25B) which rides in ~9530 the narrow portion of a keyhole slot 454 formed in the base plate portion 28. A flat spring blocking member 458 is positioned between the lever 450 and the plate 456 and is secured to the pin 452. MDre particularly, the pin 452 is provided wi-th a first portion 453 of reduced diameter on which the on-off lever 450 is pivotally mounted. The pin 452 is also provided with a portion 455 of still smaller diameter which defines a shoulder 457 against which the blocking member 458 and switch actuating plate 456 are held by staking the end of the pin 452 so that the members 452, 456 and 458 move together. The plate 456 carries a pair of switch actuating arms 460 and 462 which are positioned on either side of the actuating button 464 of a slide switch indicated generally at 466. The on-off lever 450 is provided with an upwardly extending tongue portion 468 which extends into a triangularly shaped opening 470 in the base plate portion 28. me switch acuating plate 456 is provided with a projecting lug portion 472 to which one end of a spring 474 is connected, the other end of the spring 474 being connected to an opening 476 (Figure 1) in the base plate portion 28. The on-off lever 450 is provided with a shoulder 478, Figure 27 which is normally held in engagement with an upturned flange portion 480 on the switch actuating plate 456. In the OFF position of the control knob 29 the spring 474 functions to rotate the plate 456 so that the flange 480 thereof is in engagement with the shoulder 478 and the lever 450 is also rotated until the tongue 468 hits one end of the slot 470. In the OFF position of the plate 456 the arm 460 retains the switch button 464 of the switch 466 in the OFF position shown in Figure 25.
The switch actuating plate 456 is provided with an upturned right angle flange portion 482 which extends upwardly through a notch 483 (Figure 25C) in the blocking member 458 and ~9530 an irregularly-shaped opening 484 in the base plate portion 28. In the OFF position of the lever 450 one edge of the flange 482 rides on the curved edge portion or shoulder 486 of the opening 484 and is positioned substantially away from a right angle edge portion 488 of the opening 434, the surfaces 486 and 488 forming an essentially right-angled shoulder or corner. ~hen the lever 450 is moved upwardly (as viewed in Figure 25) toward the ON position the lever 450 and plate 456 move as a unit so that the flange 482 rides along the surface 486. However, as soon as the edge of the flange 482 is moved beyond the edge of the curved surfaoe 486 the spring 474 moves the plate 456 with a snap action to the ON position shown in Figure 26 as the pin 452 moves to the bottom of the elongated slot 454. At the same time, the arm 462 of the plate 456 engages the button 464 and moves the switch 466 to the ON position with a quick snap action movement. During this movement of the plate 456 the flange 482 drops down beside the surface 488 of the base plate opening 484. As soon as the flange 482 moves beyond the edges of the curved surface 486 the linkage 450, 456 actually pivots about the end of the onoff lever 450 which is being held by the operator. However, the flange 482 is biased into engagement with the surface 488 by the spring 474 and holds the lever 450 in the detented ON position.
When the control knob 29 is moved from the ON to the OFF
position manually the on-off lever 450 rotates about the tongue 468 as a fulcrum and lifts the pivot pin 452 within the notch 454. However, until the flange 482 has been moved inwardly by an amount sufficient to clear the inner edge of the surface 488 the spring 474 is unable to rotate the plate 456 and actuate the switch 464. Accordingly, it is not until the plate 456 has been moved inwardly by an amount sufficient to cause the flange 482 thereof to engage ll~9S30 the curved surface 486 that the spring 474 then rotates the plate 456 about the pin 452 with a snap action and the arm 460 at this time moves the button 464 so that the switch 466 is turned to the OFF position. It will be noted that the above-described on-off control linkage is effective to provide a snap action actuation of the switch 466 so that a relatively simple and inexpensive slide switch 466 may be employed to turn on and off the motor 40. A more expensive switch would be required if the on-off control linkage were such that the switch 466 could be held mDmentarily in a mid position which could cause damage to the switch contacts.
However, with the above-described control linkage of the present invention it is impossible for the operator by movement of the control knob 29 to position the switch 466 in a position intermediate the ON or the OFF
positions due to the above described snap action of the flange 482 with respect to the shoulder 486, 488.
Considering now the automatic shut-off mechanism of the present invention which cooperates with the above-described on-off control linkage to turn off the machine when the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440 in the control cam 402, it is first noted that this shut-off action is accomplished during the same record changing cycle during which the absence of a record on the shelf 430 is detected by movement of the end portion 416 during the sensing portion of the record changing cycle. As de Æ ibed generally heretofore, the tone arm 14 is moved outwardly during the record changing cycle until it strikes the hack wall 184 of the tone arm rest post 22, during the mid portion of the record changing cycle. In accordance with an important feature of the present invention the tone arm is lowered during the period when it is in engagement with the back wall 184 of j the rest post 22 so that the tone arm is lowered into the notch 24 during the mid portion of the last record shut-off cycle. Furthermore, the tone arm remains in this scmewhat lowered position during the remainder of a last record shut-off cycle so that the tone arm is not moved back inwardly as the gear 30 rotates back to its detent position, the clutch 122 slipping during this motion of the gear 30, as described in detail heretofore. Such an arrangement has the advantage that a set-down or rest post position for the tone arm is not required on the quadrant 124 or elsewhere with the attendant difficulties of aligning such a rest post position with the tone arm mechanism.
In order to lower the tone arm to an intermediate position within the rest post notch 24 after the tone arm has engaged the back wall 184, a tone arm latch member indicated generally at 490 (Figure 25) is pivotally mounted on the detent pin 396. More particularly, the detent pin 396, which is staked to the detent lever 390 is prDvided with a shoulder portion 492 (Fig~re 7) on which the tone arm latch 490 is pivotally mounted, the latch 490 being preferably made of thin spring stock, or the like. me tone arm latch 490 is provided with an inwardly extending hook portion 494 (Figure 25) and an extension arm portion 496 which is adapted to engage a dcwnturned flange portion 498 of the base plate portion 28 when the detent pin 296 enters the notch 440. me tone arm latch 390 is also provided with an arm portion 500 which rides on the surface 502 of the detent lever 390 to stabilize the tone arm latch 490 during pivotal movement thereof.
As described generally heretofore, during the first portion of the record changing cycle the tone arm lift rod 72 is moved inwardly as the end 106 thereof - \
~9530 follows the cam portion 110 on the gear 30. However, as the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440 the hook portion 494 of the tone arm latch 490 is moved inwardly to a point inside the end portion 106 of the lift rod 72 and as the arm 496 of the tone arm latch 490 engages the flange 498 the tone arm latch 490 is pivoted so that the hook portion 494 thereof is in alignment with the lift rod end portion 106 as shown in Figure 26.
Accordingly, as the detent pin 396 moves out of the notch 440 to the position shown in Figure 27 the hook portion 494 engages the lift rod end portion 106 and moves it outwardly to the intermediate position shown in Figure 27. At this point in the record changing cycle, the tone arm 14 has already been lifted from the record and moved outwardly into contact with the back wall 184 of the rest post 22. Accordingly, when the lift rod end portion 106 is moved outwardly by engagement with the hook portion 494 of the tone arm latch 490 the tone arm is immediately lowered into the notch 24 in the rest post 22. The detent pin 396 continues to ride on the periphery of the control cam 402 with the result that the latch 490 holds the llft rod 72 in the position shown in Figure 27 until the end portion 106 of the rod 72 is engaged by the cam portion 116 near the end of the record changing cycle. When the end portion 106 engages the cam 116 the tone arm lift rod 72 is moved further down the inclined camming surface 98 and the end portion 74 thereof is lowered while the tone arm remains in the notch 24 of the rest post 22.
In order to actuate the on-off control linkage 450, 456 to turn off the motor 40 when the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440, a shut-off latch indicated generally at 510 (Figure 25) is also pivotally mounted on the detent pin 396 and rotates on a shoulder formed by the reduced ~gS30 end portion 512 (Figure 7) of the detent pin, the shut-off latch being retained on the end portion 512 by means of the C washer 514. The shut-off latch 510 is pr~vided with a clearance opening 516 (Figure 25) to accommodate movement of the lift rod end portion 106 and includes a first arm extension 518 which terminates in a hook portion 520, and an offset arm extension 522. Both of the a.nms 518 and 522 of the latch 510 are positioned in a slot 524 formed in a downturned flange portion 526 of the base plate portion 28. Also, the tip portion 528 of the switch actuating plate 456 also extends through the slot 524. The switch actuating plate 456 is also provided with a hook portion 530 immediately adjacent the inclined end portion 532 of the flat spring blocking member 458. m e flat spring blocking member 458, which is positioned ketween the on-off lever 450 and the switch actuating plate 456 is provided with a notch to receive the right angle flange 482 of the switch actuating plate 456 so that the members 456 and 458 move together. Hcwever, the flat spring blocking member 458 is provided with an offset flange 534 which spaces the intermediate portion 536 of the flat spring memker 458 below the plane of the members 456 and 518.
During a normal record changing cycle the shut-off latch 510 is never moved to a position in which the hook portion 520 thereof can become aligned with the hook portion 530 on the switch actuating plate 456. This is because the detent pin 396 never enters the notch 440 during a normal record changing cycle, as described in detail heretofore.
However, when the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440 the shut-off latch 510 is moved so that the arm 518 thereof extends further through the slot 524. Also, when the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440 the tone arm latch 490 is pivoted -~9530 by engagement of the arm 4g6 thereof with the flange 498, as described heretofore. When the tone arm latch 490 pivots, a downturned flange portion 538 (Figure 25) thereof engages the edge 540 of the shut-off latch 510 and pivots it about the detent pin 396 to the position shown in Figure 26.
In this position the hook portion 520 is positioned in alignment with the hook portion 530 on the switch actuating plate 456. Accordingly, as the detent pin 396 moves out of the notch 440, i.e. from the position shown in Figure 26 to the position shown in Figure 27 the hook portion 520 raises the inclined end portion 532 of the flat spring 458, moves into engagement with the hook portion 530 and after engagement of the members 520 and 530 lifts the on-off linkage 450, 456 slightly so that the pivot pin 452 is moved upwardly in the keyhole slot 454 to the position shown in Figure 27. By positioning all of the members 522, 528 and 518 in the common slot 524 the engagement and hooking of the members 520 and 530 is insured without misalignment during a shut-off cycle.
The members 520 and 530 remain in the akove-described hooked position as the detent pin 396 rides around the periphery of the control cam 402. However, near the end of the record changing cycle the detent pin 396 encounters an outwardly projecting inclined portion 542 (Figure 27) of the control cam 402 which functions to move the switch actuating plate 456 toward the center of the gear 30 by an amount sufficient that the flange 482 thereof is moved inwardly beyond the end of the surfa oe 488 in the base plate portion 28. When this occurs, the spring 474 exerts a sidewise pressure on the interconnected members 510 and 456 which is sufficient to move the edge of the flange 482 to the right to the position ~19530 shown in Figure 28, so that the edge of the flange 482 is now above the forward edge of the curved surface 486 while the shut-off latch 510 remains in latched engagement with the switch actuating platc 456.
However, the arm 522 of the latch 510 engages the end of the slot 524 in the flange 526 and blocks the arm 528 of the plate 456 so that the plate 456 is prevented from rotating to the OFF position and the motor 40 continues to be energized. It is necessary to continue energization of the motor 40 because the disclosed belt drive of the turntable 12 has relatively little coast after the motor is de-energized and the gear 30 might not be returned to the notch 405. If an idler wheel drive arrangement is employed for the turntable 12 considerable coast is provided so that the motor could be turned off earlier in the cycle.
As the gear 30 continues to rotate the detent pin 396 moves down the inclined portion 544 (Figure 27) of the control cam 402.
During this movement the edge of the flange 482 on the switch actuating plate 456 strikes the curved surface 486 which blocks further moven~ent of the hook portion 530 while the hook portion 520 of the shut-off latch 510 continues to move away from the hook 530. As soon as the latch portions 520, 530 become disengaged, the spring 474 rotates the switch actuating plate 456 while the edge of the flange 482 rides on the curved surface 486 as a pivot. During this rotation of the switch actuating plate 456 the arm 460 thereof engages the switch button 464 and ~oves the slide switch 466 in a snap action to the OFF position, as illustrated in Figure 29. When the switch 466 is opened the motor 40 is de-energized and the gear 30 is moved into the detent notch 405 on the control cam 402 by the force exerted thereon from the spring 404 S~

through the detent lever 390 and the detent pin 396. As discussed generally heretofore, there is an extremely light load on the gear 30 at this point in the record changing cycle so as to insure that the detent pin 396 enters the home or detent notch 405 in the cam 402. As the switch actuating plate 456 is thus moved to the OFF position the flange portion 480 thereof engages the shoulder 482 on the on-off lever 450 and moves this lever to the OFF position in unison, as shown in Figure 29.
MANUAL REJECT MECHPNISM
Considering now the manner in which a record changing cycle may be manually initiated by moving the control knob 29 beyond the ON
position to the REJECT position, reference may be had to Figure 30 wherein the on-off lever 450 is shown in full lines in the REJECT position.
In this position of the lever 450 the switch actuating plate 456, which rotates with the lever 450, is moved by an amount such that the flange 482 thereof is moved into engagement with a downturned flange 560 (Figure 7A) on the velocity tripping member 62. The flange 560 extends through an opening 562 (Figure 1) in the gear 30 and is provided with an offset end portion 564 which is adapted to be engaged by the flange 482 when this flange is moved to the REJ~CT position shown in Figure 30.
When the lever 450 is moved to the REJECT position the velocity tripping member 62 is moved by an amount sufficient to bring the shoulder 68 thereof into the path of the flange 70 on the turntable hub so that a record changing cycle is initiated in the manner descriked in detail heretofore. As soon as the control knob 29 is released, the spring 474 rotates the linkage 456, 450 back $30 `
to the ON position sho~m in ~IG. 31 wherein the sidc of the flange 4~ enga~es the surface 43g of the opening 4~4 in the base plate portion 2~. The lever 450 i5 thus restrained :-:
.::::::.-or detented in the O~ position.
...:. :. .
, .:
SI~GLE RECORD PLAY ~R~N~E~IENT
.. .. .
.......
In order to provide single record plav facilities in a simple and economical manner so that a single record ..... ... :
may he placed on the turntahle 1~ and played auto~aticallJ -~-after t~hich the changer is shut off movement of the control knob 29 to the R~J~CT nosition is er~oved to disable the . -auto~atic shut-off latch 51n during the recor~ changillg cycle t.hich is initiated by movement of the l-nob 2~ to the ...-..
REJECT positi~n. Such action is nccessary hecause t~ en a sinqle record is played no record is positioned on the record ~-:--:-shelf 430 and hence the automatic shut-off mechanism ~iould .: .
function i~me~iately to turn off the changer i the auto- -.........
matic shut-off latch 510 were not disa}~led. I5Ore particu- --. . . .. . -.
larly, when the control 3~nob 2~ is moved to the RrJ~Cm poci-. . .
tion the tip portion 52~ of the switch actuating p)ate 456 r=:
enga~es the ed~e 568 (FIG. 30) of the arm portion 51~ of the :.-.:: ::..
shut-off latch 510 and pivots the shut-off latch 510 about - -. . - .
the detent pin 396 so that the sh~tt-off latch 510 is moved c r.-:; .
to the end of the slot 524 in the flange 526, as shot~n in i~ -PIG. 30. In this position of the shut-off latch 510, a shoulder portion 570 thereof is positioned above the end of the slot 52~. When the control kno~ 29 is released after - -.. -~
being moved to the reject position the spring ~574 returns - -~
the lever 450 bac~ to the Oll position but the shuL-off latch 510 remains in the position shown in FIG. 30 ~Jith the shoulder 570 above the end of the slot 52~. ~ccord-ingly, during the record changing cycle which is initiated I

530 ` I
after the single record has been placed on the turntable but before it has i~een played, Jhen the gear 30 is rotated an amount sufficient to ~ring the detent pln 3~6 opposite -...........
the notch 440, as shown in rI,. 31 the detent lever 390 is -:
pivoted only slightly until the shoulder 570 engages the end of the slot 524 in the flange 52G after which engage- -ment the detent pin 396 is prevented from movin~ into the -- -notch 440 in the control cam ~02. Accordingly, the shut-o~f latch 510 is bloc)ied by engagement of the shoulde2 570 with lO the flange 526 so that the latch 510 is not pivoted and the ^
hooked portion 520 thereof does not enqage the hoo}; ?ortion 530 of the S~7itch actuating pl.te 456. The record chan~ing - cycle thus proceeds nor~all~y as the detent ?in 396 rnoves -~
into engagement ~ith the control cam 402 at the far side of ._ ..., .._.
15 the notch ~40. 3O~ever, as the record is beina moved of~
of the shelf~30 by the blade 418 (approAimatelv mid cycle) the flange 384 on the pushoff slide 370 enaaaes the edge portion 572 of the shut-off latch 510 and pivots the shut-off latch 510 about the detent pin 396 to the position sho~n 20 in FIG. 32. The shut-off latch 510 is thus ~ositioned so that the shoulder 570 thereof is positioned out of align.nent r:~
with the end of the slot 52~ in the flange 526.
..... = .
However, this movement of the shut-off latch 510 ...: ..-..:
occurs after the detent pin 396 is ~ell past the notch 4-~0, - -25 so that the manually initiated record changing cycle is com-pleted in a normal manner. Accordingly, durin~ the manually initiated cycle the latching mernbers 520, 530 are prevented from becoming interconnected so that the control linkage remains in the ON position and the single record on the turn-~0 table is played during the follot~ing playing cycle. l3O~ever, after this record is playe~ a r cor~ changing cycle is auto-atically initiated and since there is no record resent on I' ... . ..... . . . .

~9530 the spindle shelf 430 an automatic shut--off cycle is performed in a manner identical to that described in detail heretofore so that the machine is turned off after the single record is played.
It will be noted that when the control knob 29 is in the OFF
position the end portion 528 of the switch actuating plate 456 engages the extension arm 522 of the shut-off latch 510 and holds the shut-off latch in the position shown in Figure 25. In this position the shoulder portion 570 of the shut-off latch 510 is positioned well away from the end of the slot 524 in the flange 526. This construction ensures that the shut-off latch 510 is not inadvertently moved so that the shoulder 570 becomes aligned with the end of the slot 524 as the record changer is carried about. When the on-off lever 450 is thereafter moved to the ON position there is no danger that the shoulder 570 will become latched against the edge of the slot 524 in the flange 526 and disable the last record shut-off mechanism so that the machine wDuld not automatically shut off after the last record has been played.
It should also be noted that in the arrangement of the present invention a single record may be placed on the turntable the control knob 29 moved to the ON position (but not to the REJECT position) and the tone arm 14 manually placed on the record. Under these conditions, the machine will play the record placed on the turntable and then shut-off automatically. m is is due to the fact that when the tone arm 14 is thus manually placed on the record to initiate a playing cycle there is no preceding record changing cycle during which it is necessary to block the shut-off latch 510. m e record changing cycle which follows playing of the single record is an automatic ~' .
~ - 60 -~1~9530 shut-off cyele since no record is present on the shelf 430. On the other hand, when a single record play is initiated by moving the control knob 29 to the REJECT position, an automatic record changing cycle is initiated before the single record is played and it is then necessary to block the shut-off latch 510, by engagement of the shoulder 570 with the edge of the slot 524, to prevent the machine from being shut off before the record is played.
REPEAT PLAY ARRANGEMENT
In accordan oe with an important aspect of the present invention, the control knob 29 is provided with a REPEAT PL~Y position which is intermediate the ON and OFF positions of the lever 450~ When the control knob 29 is moved first to the ON position and then is moved approximately halfway back to the OFF position a detent for oe is exerted on the control knob 29 and an audible click is produced to inform the operator that the REPEAT PL~Y position has been reached. When the control knob 29 is thus moved first to the ~EPEAT PL~Y position, either a single record placed on the turntable 12 may be replayed repeatedly, or if a stack of records is on the spindle 18 the stack of records will be played and then the last record will be played repeatedly. This repeated play of a record on the turntable will continue until eontrol knob 29 is moved either to the ON position or the OFF position. To accomplish these objectives, the shut-off lateh 510 is bloeked when the eontrol knob 29 is mDved to the intermediate REPEAT PLAY position so that the changer will eontinue to play a record on the turntable 12 without turning the motor 40 off.
More partieularly, assuming that the control knob is in the ON position and that the tone arm 14 has been placed on the record, when the eontrol knob 29 11~9530 is moved toward the OFF position the on-off lever 450 is pivoted by engagement of the tab 468 thereof with the edge of the opening 470 in the base plate so that the switch actuating plate 456 is moved in a translatory mlnner as the flange 482 moves along the surface 488 and the pivot pin 452 moves up within the narrow portion of the keyhole slot 454.
The on-off lever 450 is provided with an extension arm 574 (Figure 26) which includes a hook portion 576 which is adapted to engage the end of a repeat play control wire 578. The arm 574 is bent downwardly so that it is in horizontal alignment with the arm 518 of the shut-off latch 510. The wire 578 is positioned beneath the base plate portion 28 but above the plate 456 and rests on the upper surface of a downwardly offset tongue portion 577 of the base plate portion 28. The wire 578 is provided with a dcwnturned right angle end portion 579 which is positioned in the path of the hook portion 576 as the lever 450 is rotated. An intermediate portion 580 of the wire 578 is positioned on top of the base plate portion 28 and is secured within a notch 581 in the base plate portion 28 and a hole 583 therein, the end 585 of the portion 580 extending down through the hole 583, so that the wire 578 is prevented from moving length-wise while at the same time permitting the wire 578 to be flexed sideways. The intermediate portion 580 of the wire 578 also serves the additional function of retaining the pi~t pin 452 within the keyhole slot 454. Accordingly, as the on-off lever 450 is moved from the ON position toward the REPEAT PLAY position the outer edge of the hook 576 engages the side of -the end portion 579 of the repeat wire 578 and flexes the wire 57B so that it moves sidewise away from the base of the tongue 577. However, when the lever 450 reaches the ~ P~AT PLAL' position midway hetween the ON
and OFF positions the wire end 579 snaps into the hook por-:.: .
tion 576 and the wire 57~ moves back against the base of --........
the tongue 577 giving an audible click as this occurs. The -~
end portion 579 of the repeat wire 578 is thus positioned .. :..::.
within the hook portion 576 of the flange 574. l~en the lever - .... ::
450 is released the spring 479 urges the hook portion 576 into engagement with the end portion 579 of the wire 578 so that the --,... .-::
plate 456 is held in the position shown in FIG. 33A in which -the flange 482 is still in engagement with the surface 488 - j :::. .
so that a detent force is provided which holds the lever 450 t 1 :
in the ~ PEAT P ~ Y position. I~hen the lever 450 is thus held ,' ~, ..:.....
by the wire 578 in the position shown in FIG. 33A, the end r.'.'.:.. :.. -.. -~:::_ ..::.:
surface 582 (FIG. 26) of the arm 574 is positioned in abut-t:.. - .................................................................................. :
ting relationship to the end surface 584 on the extension ---.: ..: .-arm 518 of the shut-off latch 510. Accordingly, during any succeeding record Changing cycle, when the detent pin 396 -i ..:.:
attempts to move into the notch 440 in the control cam 402 j~ ,.. ..
the end surfaces 582, 584 meet and the shut-off latch 510 tt -is blocked so that the detent pin 396 is prevented from ~..-...:...-.-.:
entering the notch 440. When the shut-off latch 510 is -, blocked the hook portion 520 thereof is not moved into ::-~
............
alignment with the hook portion 530 on the switch actuating --plate 456. Accordingly, the on-off lever 450 is not actua- -ted to the OFF position and the switch 466 remains on. This ..........
action occurs during each succeeding record changing cycle : -. ....
so that the record on the turntable is repeatedly played .. =
until the control knob 29 is moved either to the ON position ... . .
or to the OFF position.
Considering the operation of the mechanism when ......... ~
the control knob 29 is moved from the REPEAT P AY position -to the OFF position, dur ng such movement the on-off lever 1~9'530 450 is rotated about the tab 468 as a pivot and the flange 482 is moved upwardly by an amount sufficient to clear the upper edge of the surface 488 so that the above-described snap-action movement of the switch actuating plate 456 is provided by the spring 474 and the switch 466 is turned off. Dul^ing this movement of the lever 450 the hook portion 576 thereof moves away fr~n the end portion 579 of the control wire 578. On the other hand, if the control knob 29 is m~ved back to the ON position fr~n the REPEAT PLAY position, the on-off lever 450 pivots about the tongue 468 and the hook portion 576 thereof cams past the end portion 579 of the control wire 578. As soon as the hook 576 moves past the end portion 579 the spring 474 urges the pin 452 to the kott~n of the slot 454 so that the flange 482 of the plate 456 moves back down the surfa oe 438 to the ON position shown in Figure 26.
The last record shut~off facilities will then function normally when the knob 29 is moved back to the ON position so that the machine is shut off during the record changing cycle which ensues after the knob is moved back to the ON position, as described in detail heretofore.
CUEING LEVER OPERATION
Considering now the manner in which the cueing lever 26 functions to raise and lower the tone arm 14 manually, in accordan oe with an important aspect of the present invention a simple tone arm actuating mechanism is provided for relatively quickly lifting the tone arm 14 upwardly off of a record in response to movement of the cueing lever 26 to a generally horizontal position while at the same time providing a relatively gradual lowering of the tone arm when the cueing lever 26 is moved to the substantially vertical position shown in Figure ~4. More particularly, ~li9S3~

a flat spring 590 is provided with a bifurcated end portion 592 which is seated in a notch 594 (Figure 23A) in a cue lever lift rod 596. The lift rod 596 is mounted in a vertically extending bore 598 formed in the housing portion 88 of the tone arm subassembly base 76. The lift rod 596 extends through the clearance slot 177 in the quadrant 124 and a washer 597 is positioned on the rod 596 below the quadrant 124 and is held against a shoulder in the rod 596 by means of a coil spring 599 which is positioned between the washer 597 and the end portion 601 of the rod 596. In the lowered position of the rod 596 shown in Figure 6 the end portion 601 extends into a clearance opening in the plate 82.
The lift rod 596 is provided with transverse grooves 600 within which is positioned a viscous material and the fit between -the lift rod 596 and the bore 598 is relatively close so that a dash pot type of action is produced in response to forces exerted on the post 596 by the spring 590. The flat spring 590 extends beneath a downwardly extending flange portion 602 of the base 76 and the horizontal portion 604 of the cueing lever 26 is provided with an offset central portion 606 which engages the underside of the spring 590 between the post 596 and the flange 602. A right angle end portion 605 of the lever 26 is retained in a suitable recess in the base 76. The end of the spring 590 is secured to the tone arm subassembly base 76 by any suitable means which provides adjustment of the flexure of this spring. In Figure 23 an arrangement is shown wherein a screw 608 is threaded into a depending boss 610 on the mem~er 76. The head of the screw 608 is adjustable from beneath the record changer and as the screw is tightened the spring 590 is flexed around the transverse partition 602.

.~ - 65 -.9530 In the alternative arrangement shown in Figure 24 a screw 612 is threaded through the boss 610 and is secured in any suitable manner to the end of the spring 590. m e screw 612 is provided with a head portion 614 which is accessible fram the top of the tone arm subassembly so that adjust~ent of the cueing lever setdcwn speed can be made without removing the changer from its housing.
When the cueing lever 26 is moved frcm the tone arm down position shown in Figures 6 and 24 to the tone arm up position shown in Figure 23, the intenmediate offset portion 606 of the lever 26 is rotated into engagement with the underside of the spring 590 and exerts an upward force on the lift rod 596 so that this rod moves upwardly and the top end thereof engages the underside of the plate 94 on the tone arm so that the tone arm is lifted off of the record. The force exerted by the spring 590 in lifting the tone arm is relatively great as o~mpared with the lcwering force exerted by the spring 590 because the offset portion 606 of the cueing lever 26 acts as a temporary fulcrum to raise the tone arm and this fulcrum is relatively close to the lift rod 596. With this relatively short fulcrum the spring 590 is relatively stiff and a relatively quick tone arm lifting action is p~ovided. When the lift rod 596 is moved up~ardly, the washer 597 engages the underside of the quadrant 124 as the spring 599 is depressed so that a frictional drag is exerted on the tone arm 14. This frictional drag is sufficient to prevent the tone arm 14 frcm moving outwardly under the force of the constant bias spring 348 when the tone arm is lifted off of or lowered onto a record. In less expensive changer ~cdels, the constant bias spring 348 may be eliminated. In such case, the spring 599 and washer 597 may be eliminated.
Also, the flange 352 and spring 358 may be eliminated if the spring ~119530 348 is not used. The viscous material in the grooves 6~0 may also be eliminated in such a lo~-cos~ changer so that the tone arm 14 is raised and lowered directly. This change is made possible in the arrangement of the present invention because the separate lift rods 74 and 596 are provided for automatic and manual o?eration, respectively. -.-~hen it is desired to lower the tone arm onto the the record, the cueing lever 26 is moved from the tone arm --up position shown in FIG. 23 to the tone arm down position - -shown in FIG. 24. When this occurs the offset portion 506 is removed from beneath the spring 590. As soon as the in- --termediate portion 606 ceases to engaae the underside of the -spring 590 a new fulcrum point is established for the spring -which is the transverse partition 602. Since the partition 602 is spaced a substantially greater distance from the lift -rod 596 than the offset portion 606, a relatively smaller spring force is exerted on the lift rod 596 to move this rod downwardly within the bore 598 against the action of the viscous -material in the grooves 600. Accordingly, the tone arm is very gently and smoothly lowered onto the record or into en-gagement with the rest post 22 when the cueing lever is moved -to the tone arm down position. As discussed heretofore the screw 608, or the screw 612, can be adjusted so as to provide a desired degree of flexure of the sprinq 590 and hence an adjus~ument of the set down speed of the tone arm. --TU~NTABLE BRA~ING ARR~NGE~ENT ~-It ~ill be recalled from the preceding general ~:
description that facilities are provided in accordance wiLh the present invention for stopping the turntable 12 during the record changing cycle so that this turntable is s~ationary 2S a new record is deposited thereon. Fur-1~1953(D
thermore, this turnta~le bra};ing action is accomplished without de-energi~ing the motor ~0 and t7i.hou~ raising or lo~ering the turntable 12. In order to accom?lish these objectives, a tone arm brake lever indicated generally at 62Q (FIG. 1) is pivotally mounted on a post 622 mounted in ............................................................................. ::. .
the base plate central portion 2~. The brake lever 620 is ....-..
provided with an arm 624 ~hich extends inwa~dly over a bra};e control cam trac~ 626 on the upper surface of the rnain gear 30 and is providecl with a pair of do~n~Jar~ly e~;tending pro--jections 62~ and 630 which are positionec1 on op7?osite sides of the cam track 626. The other an~ 632 o the lever 620 -. ~
is rlexible an~7~ carries a transverse enc7 portion 63~ at the outer end thereof to which is secured a turntal~le bra}-e pa~ -~
636 ~7hich is adapted to engage the insi~e of the ri7m of the turntable 12. As the gear 30 rotates during the record ---changing cycle the brake lever 620 follo-~s the contour of the can track 626 due to the follo~7er action o the pins 628, 630. -T~hen the ~ear 30 is detented in the ho7~e position ~-~
........
sho~n in FI5. 1, the lever 620 is positioned so ~hat the pad 636 is not in engagement with the rim of the turntable .. .
12. ~owever, ~hen a record chan~ing cycle is initiated and the gear 3~ starts to rotate, the pins 628, 630 cause the ~.. ~
lever 620 to move in accordance ~ith the cor.tour of the cam ---track 626. l~hen the portion 63~ of the cam track is encoun~
tered the ~rake lever 620 is pivote~ so that the a m 632 thereof is move~ out~ardly and the pad 636 is moved into engagement ~!ith the turntable rim as the arm 632 ile:es sli~htly to produce a spring biasing furce urging the pad 636 into engagement ~!ith the turnt2ble riM with a predeter-mine~ force. After the record has heen deposi-ed on the turntable the portion 640 of the cam trac}: 626 is encountered by the pin 628, 630 so that the brake lever 620 is pivoted about the post 622 and the pad 636 is removed 'rom the turn-table rim.
In accordance with an important fea.ure of the present invention there is no spring biasing force contin- -uously exerted on the brh)~e lever 620. This is because a -sufficient spring force is provided by flexure of the arm 632 when the pad 636 is ur~ed into engagement with the turn- -~
table rim. When the lever is Divoted so that the ~acl 636 does not enqaqe the turnta~le ri~ there is no bias exerted ---on the ~ain gear 30 throu~h the brake lever 620. Accord-ingly, as the main gear 30 approaches the detent notch 4ns . .
of the control cam 402 the bra~e lever 620 does not intro- -duce any frictional force which would prevent this gear --from movina to its detent Dosition after the teeth of the gear 30 have become disengaged with the turnta~le hub teeth 5S as the notch 60 is encountered.
As described generallv heretofore, wllen the turn- -table 12 is sto~ped by engagement of the brake pad 636 therewith, the turntable hub 38 continues to be rotated by the belt 50 while the lo-~ coefficient of friction washer 52 provides slippage between the upper surface of the turn- -table hub 38 and the undersurface of the turntable 12. The turntable 12 and mat 56 are also ~rovided with a slia,ht clearance between the turntable hub 38 and the central open-ings therein so as to permit the turn,able to be stopped .~hile the hub 38 continues to rota,e.

ALTE~ATE, ~,CORD SUPPORTI.~G A~R~JGE!;~T

As discussed aenerally heretofore, the balance arm 16 may ~e of conveiltional construction and does not include `` ` ` 11~9530 last record shut-off facilities because detection of the last record is sensed by movement of the spindle blade 918, . -as discussed in detail heretofore. In ~IGS. 35 to 37, in-....:..:,....
clusive, an alternative arrangement for supportinq both ..... ::
twelve-inch and seven-inch records is shown which may be ..-........
preferable in certain instances. Referring to these fig-....:...:
ures, a post 650 is mounted on the base plate 10 by means - . . .
of a pair of screws 652 which extend up through a locating --.. .. ....
plate 654 positioned beneath the base plate 10 and through .-, the opening 656 in the base platc 10 into the base of the ~ -,.:
post~650. By using the locatin~ plate 65~, the opening 656 '-...-......
may be such as to acco modate the balance ar~ 16 so that ,... ..
either type of record support may be used alterna~ively . . ::
without major record chanqer re-design.
Th~ post 650 is provided with a pair of arrn por- -tions 653 and 660 at the upper end thereof which extend ~- `
E
out~lardly at right angles to each other and are ada~ted L----, -:.. .: . .
to support s stack of twelve-inch records 662 on the tips ~
t::::::::-:
of the arm portion 658 and 660. A hold down mer~er 663 ........
provided with short parallel arrns 664 is slidably and rota- --E~
tablv mounted in the post 650. More particularly, the member F
663 is secured to a post 666 which e~tends throuqh an o~en- ~::~:
- ~. ..
ing in the top wall G68 of the post 650 and through an open-in~ in the locator plate 654 which acts as the bottom ~earing for the shaft 666. A spring 670 is positioned 1~et~leen the locator plate 654 and a C ~asher 672 Positioned on the end of the shaft 666 so that a continuous downward bias is exerted .
on the member 663. The post 666 is provided with a firs spline 674 which is rclatively long and e~tends through a -.
cooperatin~ groove in the top wall 66~ of the post 650 so as to locate the member 663 in the position sho-7n in FIGS.
35 and 36. Ho~!ever, whcn the member 663 is lifted upwardly 19S30 ``

by an amount sufficient to clear the spline 67~ from the top wall 668 the member 663 may be rotated to a record ...
loading position so that a stack of twelve-inch records may be positioned on the platform arms 658, 660. .-After the records have heen positioned on the ...... -.
platform arms 658, 660 the member 663 is moved to the .........
central position shown in FI~S. 35 and 36 and is lowered .........
.... ..
until centrally located hold-do~m portions676 thereof .....
are in engagement with the top record of the stac~ of .-.
twelve-inch records supported on the arms 658, 66~. The .
portion 67G is positioned between the arms 658, 660 so .- -that a relatively wide support with good clampins action is ..... --.
provided by the spri~ 670 so as to hold a stack of twelve- r: :.::.:::
inch records on .he arms 658, 660. It will be noted that ~... -E.~
during the playing of t~elve-inch records the arms 664 do E,,.,"-,,,,-"
E,....-.,.',.,:,.',.,,:
not engage the t~elve-inch record stack.
In accordance with an important aspect of the .--present invention, the centering s~indle 653 which is .-.. --...-., .
emoloyed in the embodiment of FIGS. 35 to 37, inclusive, .
is particularly adapted to function with the Platform sup- ....
porting arms 658, 660 without reauiring an inclined upper ~
portion for the centering spindle i mediately below the ......
shelf thereof. Conventional centering spindles-which func- .. ~
tion with an edge-type platform support usually have an in- ,r,,",,~,", clined upper portion so that when the record is e~ected it ...
will strike an inclined portion of the centering spindle, therehy facilitating movement of the bottom record off of the platform edge support. ~owever, such a centering s~indle is quite e~pensive to manufac~ure.
The centering spindle 653 is provided ~ith a straight spindle body having a milled slot 665 therein which is ada~ted to receive the blade 655 which acts both . ':-1~9530 as a last-record sensor and as a record ejecting member to eject the bottom record off of the shelf 430 of the spindle - :
665. The blade 655 is provided with a lower end portion 667 ...... ..
which corresponds to the end portion 416 of the blade 418 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 34, inclusive. The end portion 667 is moved to a last record sensing position (similar to -~
.. .--......
the position 442 shown in FIG. 33) in the absence of a rec~
ord on the shelf 430. Also, the end portion 416 is actuated -~~
by the pushoff slide 370 to eject a record off of the shelf ~-.. .
,... .. .
430 of the spindle 653 during the record ejecting portion of '-the record changing cycle. However, the upper end of the blade 655 is provided with an outwardly inclined forward ~...-:- .-.:
edge 659 which extends outwardly beyond the edge of the shelf 430 when the blade 655 is moved by engagement with E----the pushoff slide 370 to eject a record. Accordingly, as :....-....
the bottom record is moved off of the platform arms 658, , . ..
660 the centering aperture of the bottom reco~d rides down ~- --.-.-.-. -.-. -..--the inclined edge 659 of bhe blade 655 and is pulled away :....-....--.::
from the ends of the support arms 658, 660. In order to per- ~ -mit this sidewise movement of the bottom record im ediately ---.... -.
after it is ejected from the shelf 430, the spindle body of .:.... --the spindle 653 is provided with a notch or undercut portion -,.
657 so that a recess is provided ~n the spindle body opposite the forward edge of the shelf 430 to pe ~ it the bottom record l --.- ....-to follow the inclined surface 659 of the blade 655. The - -notch 657 can be milled in the spindle body at the same time :- .:.-...:
the slot 655 is formed. A retainer blade 651 is slidably .. - .
mounted in the upper end of the s~indle body by means of :
.. - .
the pins 661 and is arranged to ensage all but the bottom-most record seated on the shelf 430 so that the records above the bottom record are not ejected with the bottom :,: . . ' record, as will be readily understood by those s}~illed - -in the art. The upper end of the blade 655 is also pro-vided with a notch or recess 669 in the rear edge thereof -~
so that ~hen the blade 655 is moved to the record ejecting --............
position the recess 66~ and the notch 657 in the spindle body cooperate to permit the above-described sideward move-ment of the bottom record as it follot~s the sloping for~ard :.:: ,.
edge 659 of the blade 655. ::
.-...-....::
The purpose of providin~ the inclined forward . .
edge 659 of the blade 655 is to assist the bottom record -...........
in moving off of the support arms 658, 660, and gives greater tolerance to the positionina of the post 650 with ...............
respect to the centering spindle 653. If the inclined ,...........
edge portion 659 is not emploved then it would be neces- ---..:-.-:. .- .
sary to adjust the position of the platform 650 with respect ----:. ::..-. ..
to the soindle 653 during the manufacture of each record . ....
changer, which would be an e~tremely expensive operation.
.....
On the othe. hand, the centerina spindle 653, which may be :---, .... .
- folmed by simple milling operations, is considerably simpler ~..............
than spindles having inclined up~er portions which require ~- --- ,-- .. ..
bending operations to for the sa e. ,~
~.
In accordance with an important aspect of the ~ ::-present invention, when it is desired to play seven-inch records with the arrangement shown in FI~S. 35 to 37, the : ::: ::..:.
member 663 is lowered until a second spline 678 engages the top wall 668 of the post 650, i.e. the position sho~m in FIG. 37. In this position the tip portions 680 of the .
arms 664 are positioned at the correct level to support the edge of the bottom record of a stac~; of seven-inch large-hole records when a 45 r~m adaptor indicated generally at 682 is positioned onthe spindle 18. The adaptor 682 may be of the type described in Dennis United States Patent No.
, .:.
3,689,080 and reference may be had to this patent for a ----1~19530 detailed description thereof. However, for the purposes of the present invention it is pointed out that the bottom rec~
ord of the seven-inch large-hole record stack is seated on -~
the shelf 430 of the spindle 653 and the outer edge portion - --of this record rests on the tip portions 680 of the arms 664. ---.... ..
By employin~ the spaced-apart short arms 664 as a sup~ort --. . .
for the 45 rpm records a relativelv stable support is pro- -vided without requiring the us~ of any hold-down arm on the --~
top of a seven-inch large-hole record stack. ~--The inclined interference shoulder nortion 6~4 . .
of the adaptor 682 is ~articularly important when last ,` -record sensing is acco~plished by means of movement of the r,,',.,.. ,"",'' ejector blade 655 of the spindle 653in the direction of the :
shelf 430, as described in ~etail heretofore. Durin~ the ~-early sensing portion of the record changing cvcle the blade 655 is moved against the inner ed~e of the bottom record seated on the shelf -430. I~hen a relatively li~ht~7eiqht rec- ~-- ord is positioned on the shelf 430 and the arm portion G80, . .. : .
the force with which the ejector blade 655 engages the inner

2~ e~ge of the bottom record on the shelf 430 during the sensing portion of the record changing cycle may be sufficient to cause ejection of a record prematurely. However, the in-clined interference shoulder 604 provides an additional ob~
~- stacle which must be overcome by a substantially larger force than that produced during the sensing portion of the reco-d changing cvcle. Of course, when the bottom end portion 416 --~
of the ejector blade 655 is engaged by the bac]: edge of the opening 414 in the pushoff slide 370, as shown in FIG~. 33 --~
and 34, a positive drive action is provided for the ejector ---blade 655 which then moves the seven-inch record off of the --~
shelf 430 against the blocklng action of the interference -~
shoulder 684. In this connection it should be noted that --1~19530 the stack of seven-inch large-hole records may be supForted on a shelf provided on the adaptor 682 rather than on the shelf 430 of the centering spindle 653. An adaptor provided with a shelf for supporting large-hole records is shown, for example, in Krahulec United States Patent No.

3,191,941.
ALTERN~IE LAST RECORD SENSING PlUU~ YENr In Figures 38 and 39 there is shown an alternative last record sensing emkodiment of the present invention wherein a last record sensing force which is somewhat greater than the force employed in the embodlment of Figures l to 34, inclusive, may be utilized without causing ejection of the bottom record during the last record sensin~
operation.
Referring to these figures, tw~ relatively thin blades 418a and 418b are mounted on the common pivot 420 within the body of the spindle 18A. m e upper portion of the body of the spindle 18A is milled to provide a slot 689 for receiving the upper portions of the blades 41 &, 418b and the lcwer portion of the spindle body is provided with a bore 691 which communicates with the slot 689. The first pivotally mounted blade 418a acts as a record ejector blade to eject the bottcm record seated on the shelf 430 off of this shelf. However, the bottom portion 416a of the blade 418a does not extend below the bottom surface of the pushoff slide 370a. Also, the blade 418a is biased to its rear postiion shown in full lines in Fig~re 38 by means of a flat spring 690 which is positioned between a shoulder 694 formed in the back edge of the blade 418a and an opening 692 in the lower portion of the spindle body. m e spring .~

1~9530 690 continuously urges the ejector blade rearwardly away from the shelf 430 but is overcome by engagement of the bottom end portion 416a with the pushoff slide 370a during the record ejecting portion of a record changing cycle, as described in detail heretofore.
The pushoff slide 370a is substantially identical to the slide 370 described in detail heretofore except for the fact that the tab portion 412 of the slide 370 is eliminated in the enbodlment of Figures 38 and 39. Also, the spring 386 may be somewhat lighter in the emkodiment of Figures 38 and 39 since it is aided by the spring 690 insofar as biasing the ejector blade 418a to its rear position is concerned. In other respects, the record changer employed in the embodlmi nt of Figures 38 and 39 may be identical to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive, described in detail heretofore.
The se~ond blade 418b is also pivotally mounted on the same pin 420 within the body of the spindle 18a and acts solely as a record sensing blade to sense the presence or absence of a record on the shelf 430 during the initial sensing p~rtion of the record changing cycle. The end portion 416b of the blade 418b does extend dcwnwardly ~elow the bottom surfa oe of the slide 370a and into the slot 426 in the offset portion 422 of the detent lever 390. The end portion 416b thus acts as a blocking me~ker for the detent lever 390, in the same manner as the end portion 416 of the blade 418 in the ent~xL~n~nt of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive, previously described, during record changing cycles other than a last record shut-off cycle. A second flat spring 696 is positioned between an outwardly formed notch portion 698 in the body of the spindle 18a and a shoulder portion 700 formed in the forward edge of the sensing blade 418b.

~i~9530 m e notch 98 is formed in the spindle body after the central bore is made by inserting a tool through the opening 692 and deformang the wall of the spindle body outwardly as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. m e spring 696 continuously exerts a force on the blade 418b tending to move the upper end of this blade in the direction of the record supporting shelf 430. However, the force exerted by the spring 696 on the blade 418b is somewhat less than the force exerted by the spring 690 on the blade 418a.
Both of the blades 418a and 418b are provided with elongated slots 695 within which the cowmon pin 420 is located. A single spring 697 is positioned in the slots 695 and normally urges the pin 420 to the bottom of these slots. Such construction permits the blades 418a and 418b to be depressed by the reoords above the kottam record when the bottom reoord is ejected fram the shelf 430, as discussed heretofore in connection with the embodi:ents of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. Preferably, the slots 695 are slightly wider at the top to acoommodate movement of the blade 418b relative to the blade 418a when the absenoe of a reoord on the shelf 430 is sensed by movement of the blade 418b.
If a reoord is present on the shelf 430, during the initial sensing portion of the record changing cycle the spring 696 urges the upper end of the sensing blade into engagment with the edge of the bottom record adjaoent the shelf 430 while at the same time the spring 690 urges the upper end of the ejector blade 418a into engagement with the opposite edge of the bottom record. Since the spring 690 is stronger than the spring 696, the sensing blade 418b is unable to move the bottom reoord off of the shelf 430 and the blades 418a and 418b remain in substantial alignment during the sensing portion of the record changing cycle. Acoordingly, 5~0 in the e~kodiments of Figures 38 and 39 a substantial force may be exerted on the sensing blade 418b to move this blade in the absence of a record on the shelf 430 while at the same time positively insurin~ that the force exerted ~y the blade 418b on a record seated on the shelf 430 will not be sufficient to eject the record, due to the large force exerted on the back edge of the bottom record by the ejector blade 418a.
Assuming still that a record is positioned on the shelf 430, as the record changing cycle continues after the last record sensing portion thereof, the end portion 416a is engaged by the back edge of the opening 414 in the slide 370a so that the blade 418a is moved into engagement with the bottom record on the shelf 430 and moves it off of the shelf and onto the turntable 12. As this occurs, the blade 418b is continuously urged in the direction of the shelf 430 by the spring 696 and hence follows movement of the ejector blade 418a as it moves the bottom record off of the shelf 430.
As soon as the last record is moved off of the shelf 430, the sensing blade 418b is moved to the last record shut-off position shown in full lines in Figure 38 by the spring 696. The last record is not moved off of the shelf 430 kefore the detent pin 396 has passed the notch 440 in the cam 402 so that even though the bottom portion 416b of the blade 418b is moved out of its blocking position with respect to the detent lever portion 422 no last record shut-off cycle is established and the last record is thereafter played in the normal manner. However, during the last record sensing portion of the next record changing cycle the detent pin 396 is permitted to enter the notch 440 and a shut-off cycle is set up so that the changer is turned off at the end of this cycle, as described in detail heretofore. During ~9530 this shut-off cycle the ejector blade 418a is mGved by engagement of the end 416a thereof with the back edge of the opening 414 in the slide 370a but this movement has no effect on the last record shut-off mechanism since the end portion 416a of the blade 418a is cut off and does not extend into the path of the detent lever 390.
m e emkodiments of Figures 38 and 39 is particularly adapted for u æ in situations where there is little or no clamping force on the record stack. For example, the tw~-blade arrangement of Figures 38 and 39 is particularly adapted for u æ in the arrangement of Figures 35 and 36 when small-hole 45 rpm records are played, as is customary in Europe, for example. Tb play such records no large-hole record adaptor is required and the record stack is supported on the shelf 430 of the spindle 18a and the end portions 680 of the arms 664, it being noted that the arms 664 will have to be longer by an amount equal to one-half of the diameter of the large-hole centering aperture when small-hole 45 rpm records are to be played, as will be readily understo~d by tho æ
skilled in the art.
When a single 45 rpm record which is of relatively little weight, rests on the arms 664 a relatively light æ nsing foroe must be u æ d with the single blade embodlme~t of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive, to be sure that the record is not moved off of the shelf 430 during the sensing operation. However, with the two-blade arrangment of Figures 38 and 39 the ejector blade 418a functions to hold a lightweight record in the shelf 430 even though the ænsing blade is urged against the opposite edge of the record with a substantial ænsing force. Since no adaptor is used with such an arrangement, the twD-blade entxxl~ne~ts of Figures 38 and 39 is particularly desirable because the action of the ejector blade 418a in ~1~9530 holding records on the shelf takes the place of the interference shoulder 684 when a 45 rpm adaptor is used as described here-tofore in connection with Figure 37. However, it will be understood that the two-blade emkodiments of Figures 38 and 39 may be useful in any arrangement where little or no clamping for oe is exerted on the record stack, either in the spindle area or at the edge of the record stack.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the tone arm subassembly 20 includes an audio chip indicated generally at 704 (Figures 4 and 22) on which the female type electrical receptacles 706 and 708 are positioned. The clip 704 comprises a flat panel of electrically insulating material which slides within a slot in a downwardly extending portion 710 of the tone arm subassembly base 76, the other end of the clip 704 being supported in a notch in the plate 82. With this arrangement the phonograph pickup supported on the forward end of the tone arm 14 may be electrically connected to the receptacles 696, 698 and the entire tone arm subassembly 20 may be manufactured as a unit and tested electrically before it is installed in the base plate 10. Installation of the com-pletely assembled and tested subassembly 20 on the base plate 10 is o~nveniently accomplished by providing the openings 776, 778 and 780 (Figure 22~) in the base plate 10. The lift rod 72 is first inserted into the opening 776 and the housing 76 is provided with depending offset feet 782 and 784 which interlock with the corresponding edge portions 786 and 788 of the opening 776. m e bottom edge of the housing 76 rests on the upper surfa oe of the base plate 10 and the subassembly 20 is secured to the base plate by means of screws which are inserted through the openings 790 in the base plate 10 and into the housing 76.
m e drive-trip link 120 is then connected to the quadrant 124 by simply inserting the end portion 126 into the bushing 128, as shown in Figure 11.

5i3~

Referring now to Figures 40 and 41 of the drawings an alternative tone arm drive and velocity trip actuating arrangement is shown therein which may be used in place of the æ rangement described in detail heretofore in connection with the embodlments of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. In this alternative embodlment the drive-trip link 120a is connected to the tone arm quadrant 124 by means of the bushing 132 which is positioned within the elongated slot 130 in the tone arm quadrant 124, as described in detail heretofore. However, in the embodiment of Figures 40 aLnd 41 an alternative clutch æ rangement is employed to interoonnect the link 120a with the main cycling ge æ 30a. Mbre particularly, the end of the link 120a is formed in a modified hairpin shape to provide a relatively wide slot 720 and a somewhat narxcwer slot 722, the end portion 724 of the link 120 being secured to the main portion of the link by any suitable means, such as welding or brazing. A drive pin 726 may be rotatably mounted in the ge æ 30a and retained on the ge æ 30a by means of the retaining washer 728. The U-shaped end portion 730 of the link 120a rides on the upper surface of an annul æ wall portion 732 formed in the gear 30a and extending upw æ dly from the upper surface.
m e drive pin 726 is provided with an enlarged head portion 734 which is positioned over the end portion 730 of the drive link 120a to retain it in place while permitting longitudinal and rot æ y motion thereof with respect to the ge æ 30a. Sufficient vertical clearance is provided between the head portion 734 and the link 120a so that when the gear 30a is in the detent position shown in Figure 40 the link 120a is not interconnected with the gear 30a and the end portion 730 may be moved forw æ dly tow æ d the flange 66 as the tone arm moves inwardly over the record during the playing cycle.

When the end portion 730 engages the flange 66, the link 120a is effective to move the velocity tripping pawl 62 to the record changing cycle initiating position, as described in detail heretofore in connection with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. In the alternative, the pin 726 may be formed integrally with the gear 30a and suitable means provided for retaining the link 120a on the pin 726.
The diameter of the drive pin 726 is substantially less than the width of the slot 720 in the drive link 120a. Accordingly, during the first portion of the record changing cycle while the tone arm is being lifted off of the record, the link 120a is not interconnected with the gear 30a. However, when the pin 726 engages the narrower slot portion 722 of the link 120a the pin 726 becomes wedged into the slot 722 and interconnects the gear 30a with the tone arm quadrant 124 so that the tone arm is moved outwardly. When the tone arms strikes the blocking portion 184 of the rest post 22 the tone arm cannot move outwardly any further and the drive pin 726 slips within the slot 722 of the link 120a as the gear 30 continues to rotate. During the latter half of the record changing cycle the drive pin 726 is moved in the opposite direction and functions to move the tone arm quadrant 124 inwardly until the shoulder 192 thereof engages the size selector slide flange 194. When this occurs the pin 726 again slips within the slot 722 while the tone arm remains positioned for engagement with a twelve-inch record. This action continues until the pin 726 is moved into the larger slot 720 of the link 120a whereupon the link 120a becomes disconnected from the gear 30a as this g~r ves to its home or detent position. It will be noted that in the embodiment of Fig~res 40 and 41, the clutching action which interconnects the gear 38 with the link 120a is accomplished without requiring vertical movement of the drive pin 726.

~19530 In Figures 42 and 43 alternative tone arm drive and velocity trip actuating arrangements are shown wherein the drive link 120b is provided with a single elongated narrow slot 740, the U-shaped end portion 742 of the link 120b being employed as a velocity tripping member which engages the flange 66 of the pawl 62 to initiate a record changing cycle when the gear is located in the detent position shown in Figure 42. In the emkodiment of Figure 42 a drive pin 744 is provided with a head portion 746 which is positioned over the U-shaped end portion 742 of the link 120b to retain this link on the upper surface of the wall 732. However, the drive pin 744 is solidly secured to the cycling gF~r, by any suitable means, so that as this gear rotates the cross section presented to the slot 740 changes. As this cross-sectional dimension increases, the pin 744 becomes wedged into the slot 740 and a driving connection is established between the cycling gear and the link 120b so that the tone arm is moved outwardly However, when the tone arm strikes the arm portion 184 of the rest post 22, the pin 744 slips within the slot 740 to provide the necessary slip clutch action as the cycling gear continues to rotate. When the cycling gear is in the detent position the pin 744 is completely disconnected fr~m the link 120b so that this link may be used as a velocity trip actuating m~mber, as described in detail heretofore in connection with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. In the embodiTent of Figure 42 the pin 744 is provided with a D-shaped cross-section. In the embodlmert of Figure 43 the pin 744 is provided with a diamond-shaped cross-section. In both of these embodiments the changing cross-sectional dimension of the pin 744 relative to the width of the slot 740, as the ma~ cycling gear rotates, produces the necessary wedging action to interconnect the cycling gear with the link 120b.

Referring now to Figures 44 to 46, inclusive, an alternative tone arm drive and velocity trip actuating arrangement is shown wherein a drive trip link 120c is employed to intero~nnect the main cycling gear 30c with the tone arm quadrant 124. In the emtodlment of Figures 44 to 46, inclusive, the elongated slot 130 in the quadrant 124 is eliminated and the link 120c is pivotally connected directly to the quadrant 124 through the bushing 128 without permitting any lost motion ketween these m~mbers. A drive pin 750 is rotatably mounted in an opening 752 formed in the gear 30c and is provided with a transverse slot 754 within which the end portion of the drive link 120c extends. m e gear 30c is provided with an upstanding annular wall portion 756 adjacent the o~ening 752 and the link 120 rides on the upper surface of the wall 756. The pin 750 is provided with flexible leg portions 758 and 760 which terminate in feet 762 and 764 which are adapted to engage the underside of the gear 30c within a recess 766 formed therein.
When the main cycling gear 30c is positioned in its home or detent position shown in Figure 44 the pin 750 is positioned so that the arcuate bottom surface 768 thereof is in engagement with an upturned flange portion 770 provided on the kase plate portion 28, as shown in Figure 45. In this position of the gear 30c the pin 750 is held in an upper position within the opening 752 so that the link 120c rides loosely within the opening 754 in the pin 750. Accordingly, during the playing cycle the link 120c is free to move within the slot 754 as the tone arm moves inwardly over the record. In this connection it will ke noted that the opening 754 in the pin 750 is of sufficient width to permit the slight sideward movement of the link 120c as the tone arm is moved to the runout groove of the record.

~9S30 In the embodiments shown in Figures 44 to 46, inclusive, the tone arm tripping arrangement does not include a velocity trip clutch connection between the lir~ 120c and the quadrant 124. Accordingly, this embodiment is arranged to provide a change cycle initiating action which is responsive to the position of the tone arm rather than to the change in velocity when the tone arm engages the runout groove of a record. Thus, the lir~ 120c is made of the correct length so that when the tone arm reaches the runout grcove of a record on the turntable the end of the link 120c will engage the flange 66 and move the pawl 62 into the path of the flange 70 thereby initiating a record changing cycle.
In the alternative, a photo-electric sensing and tripping arrangement may be employed which is responsive to movement of the link 120c to a predetermined point during the playing cycle, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. It will also be understood that a velocity trip clutch including the memkers 128, 130 and 134 may be employed in the embodiment of Figures 44 to 46 if desired so that a velocity tripping action is provided as described in detail heretofore in connection with the entxxl~melts of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive.
Considering now the operation of the slip clutch connection between the gear 30c and the link 120c in the emkodiment of Figures 44 to 46, inclusive, after the gear 30c has rotated an amount sufficient to permit lifting of the tone arm, the pin 750 is moved away frcm the flange 770 on the base plate portion 28 and assumes the position shown in Figure 46. In this position the flexible leg portions 758, 760 urge the pin 750 downwardly within the opening 752 so that the link 120c is gripped between the upper wall of the slot 754 and the upper surfa oe of the annular wall 756.

Accordingly, as the gear 30c continues to move the tone arm 14 is moved outwardly until it engages the upstanding blocking portion 184 of the tone arm rest 22. When the tone arm is moved into engagement with the portion 184 the link 120c slips with respect to the flange 770, as described in detail heretofore in connection with the embodlment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive.
If desired, the link 120c may be disconnected from the gear 30c during the mid portion of the record changing cycle so that the tone arm can remain in its outward position adjacent the rest post 22 as long as possible before it is moved inwardly to the edge of a twelve-inch record. M~re particularly, a second arcuate upstanding flange 772 may be formed in the base plate portion 28 in the path of the pin 750.
When the gear 30c has rotated somewhat less than 180 degrees the surfa oe 768 of the pin 750 is lifted to a position similar to Figure 45 in which the link 120c is no longer clamped between the upper surfa oe of the slot 754 and the upper surfaces of the annular wall 756. After the gear 30c has rotated by an amount sufficient to move the pin 750 away from the flange 772 the pin 750 again assumes a position similar to that shown in Figure 46 and moves the tone arm inwardly until the shoulder 192 engages the flange 194 on the size selector slide 196. After the tone arm is thus restrained at the correct twelve-inch record position, the link 120c slips with respect to the pin 750 as the g OE 30c continues to rotate. As the home or detent position of the gear 30c is reached, the pin 750 engages the surface 774 of the flange 770 so that the pin 750 is lifted to the position shown in Figure 45 wherein the link 120c is disconnected frDm the gear 30c and may be used for a velocity trip actuating operation during the playing cycle.

In Figure 47 of the drawings, an alternative em~odiment of the present invention is disclosed wherein the turntable hub 38 is driven by an idler wheel arrangement rather than the belt drive of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. Referring to Figure 47, an idler wheel 794 is rotatably mounted on an arm 796 which is itself pivotally mounted on a pin 798 in the end of a mem~er 800 of U-shaped cross-section. The member 800 is pivotally m~unted on a post 802 which is mounted on the base plate lOa and extends through a slot 804 in a multi-level positioning memker 806 which is slidably mounted on the base plate lOa. me control wire 302a, which is similar to the wire 302 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, is connected to one end of the member 806. The idler wheel arrangement is generally similar to the idler wheel drive m~chanism shown in Dennis United States Patent ND. 3,490,772 and reference may be had to this patent for a detailed description thereof. However, for the purpose of the present invention it may be stated that when the control wire 302a is moved to different speed positions, the member 800 is moved up and down the post 802 by engagement of an adjustment screw 808 with the multi-level surface of the member 806. As a result, the idler wheel 794 is m~ved into engagement with different steps on a multi-step turret 810 positioned on the upper end of the shaft of the turntable driving motor. The idler wheel 794 is biased into wedging engagement with the outer edge of the turntable hub 38 and the turret 810 by means of a spring 812 which is connected from the arm 796 to the base plate lOa. In the embodlm0nt of Figure 47, the other portions of the automatic record changer are identical to that described in detail heretofore in connection with Figures l to 34.
Accordingly, the turntable 12 may be stopped during the reoord changing cycle, by means of the brake member 620, while the idler wheel 794 continues to drive the hub 38 and the washer 52 provides slippage between the members 38 and 12. It will be noted that the change from belt drive of the hub 38, as in FIGURES 1 to 34, inclusive, to the idler wheel drive of the hub 38 in FIGURE 47 may be made very simply and economically with no changes in the automatic record changing mechanism itself. This simplification is made possible by driving the hub 38 by engagement with the outer periphery thereof.
In conventional changers the idler wheel engages the inner surface of the turntable rim to drive the turntable.
In FIGURE 48 an alternative embodiment of the invention i5 disclosed wherein separate tone arm drive means and velocity tripping means are employed. Referring to this figure, the slip clutch 122 on the main cycling gear 30d is employed to connect a drive link 120d to the tone arm quadrant 124d for moving the tone arm horizontally but a separate velocity tripping arrangement is employed to initiate a record changing cycle. In the embodi-ment of FIGURE 48 the quadrant 124d is provided with a rectangular opening 820 within which is positioned the downturned right angle end portion of the drive link 120d. The link 120d is held at the correct level for engagement with the opening 820 by means of a member 822 which extends downwardly from the upper wall of the housing 76 and is provided with an opening 8~4 within which the intermediate portion of the link 120d is positioned.
In the embodiment of FIGURE 48 the link 120d is only employed to move the tone arm and other velocity tripping means are employed to initiate a record changing cycle. For example, the velocity tripping arrangement shown in Dennis United States patent 4,049,278 dated September 20, 1978 may be employed. In such case a ~' ~19530 velocity tripping arm, simil æ to the arm 338 in said application, is mounted for rotation akout the tone arm pivot and is frictionally connected to the tone arm, said arm k~ing arranged to engage the flange portion 560 of the trip pawl 62 in the embodlment of Figures 1 to 34 of the present invention. In other respects the embodlment of Figure 48 may be identical to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34 described in detail heretofore.
In the embodlment of Figure 48, when the gear 30 has moved to a position corresponding to Figure 14, the clutch 122 connects the gear 30 to the link 120d. As the link 120d starts to move outwardly fron the position shown in full lines in Figure 48 there is no movement of the quadrant 124d until the end of the link 120d engages the kack edge 826 of the opening 820 in the quadrant 124d. When this occurs, the link 120d moves the quadrant 124d, and the tone arm 14, outwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 48 at which position the tone arm engages the blocking portion 184 of the rest post 22 and during further outward movement of the link 120d the clutch 122 slips, as descriked in detail heretofore. During the return motion of the link 120d the quadrant 124d is not moved until the end of the link 120d engages the forward edge 828 of the opening 820 whereupon the quadrant 124d is moved inwardly until the shoulder 192 engages the slide 196 at the twelve-inch record position and the clutch 122 slips as the gear 30 continues to move back to its detent position, as descriked in detail heretofore in connection with Figures 13 to 19, inclusive. During the playing cycle the quadrant 124d is moved inwardly as the tone arm moves inwardly over the record. During this movement the quadrant 124d is oompletely disconnected from the link 120d so that no loading ~19S30 from the link 120d is placed on the tone arm, the opening 820 in the quadrant 124d providing this lost mDtion connection between the quadrant 124d and the link 120d during the entire playing cycle.
In Figure 49 of the drawings an alternative embollment of the invention is disclosed wherein a two-plate velocity tripping mechanism is employed in place of the plate 62 and clutch member 132 in the ~Ttn11ment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. Referring to Figure 49, a drive-trip link 120f is connected to the main gear 30 through the clutch me~bers 122 as the gear 30 rotates, as described in detail heretofore. However, in the embodimYnt of Figure 49, the end of the link 120f is piv~tally connected to the quadrant 124 but the slot 130 is eliminated so that there is no lost tion between the members 120f and 124. A twD-plate velocity tripping mechanism is m,ounted on the gear 30, this mechanism comprising a bottom plate 852 and top plate 62a. me top plate 62a is provided with a pin 61a which extends through a hole in the bottom plate 852 and into an opening in the gear 30 so that the members 62a and 852 are each pivotally mounted for rotation about the axis of the pin 61a.
The bottom plate 852 is provided with a pair of upstanding ears 850 and 856 which limit movement of the bottom plate 852 relative to the top plate 62a. m e bottom plate 852 is provided with a flange 854 which is adapted to be engaged by the end of the link 120f. The plate 62a includes the downturned flange 560 which extends through the opening 562 in the gear 30 and has a shoulder 68a which is adapted to be engaged by the flange 70.
Near the end of the playing cycle the end of the link 120f engages the flange 854 and moves both members 62a ~9530 and 852 toward the centering spindle. However, the -flange 70 engages the plate 62a behind the shoulder 68a thereof and moves the top plate 62a back slightly while the plate 62a slips with respect to the bottom plate 852. When the run-out groove is encountered, the link 120f m~ves both members toward the spindle by an amount sufficient that the flange 70 engages the shoulder 68a on the top plate 62a and moves the gear 30 so that a record changing cycle is initiated. During the record changing cycle the members 62a and 852 are reset to their desired positions by engagement with the teeth of the gear 58 on the turntable hub. The bottom plate 852 is provided with a protruding portion 858 which is first engaged by the teeth of the gear 58 so that the ear 856 is reset to a position in engagement with one side of the member 62a. Thereafter, the members 62a and 852 are moved together to a position in which the shoulder 68a is positioned out of the path of the flange 7Q. It will be seen that the enkodiment of Figure 49 provides a lost motion connection between the link 120f and the plate 62a instead of the lost m~tion connection at the other end of the link 120 provided by the slot ~30 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. In other respects the en~xlbments of Figure 49 is identical to that of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive.
While there have been illustrated and described various entxx~n3nts of the present in~ention, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modification as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. An automatic record player, comprising in its mechanism a tone arm, means for mounting the tone arm for rotation about a fixed point, a tone arm lift rod having a substantially right-angle end portion, bearing means for mounting said right-angle end portion for rotation about a vertical axis, means defining a shoulder extending generally transversely of the lift rod and spaced from said right-angle end portion, means for biasing said lift rod into engagement with said shoulder, said shoulder being inclined with respect to the horizontal so that said biasing means tends to rotate the lift rod about the said right-angle end portion as the lift rod is moved bodily along the shoulder, and means operative during an automatic cycle for control-ling rotation of the lift rod, thereby controlling vertical movement of said right-angle end portion and raising and lowering of the tone arm.

2. A record player accoring to claim 1, which includes a main cycling gear means for rotating this gear one revolution during an automatic cycle, and tone arm lift cam means on the gear, the lift rod being held in engagement with said lift cam means by the said bias so that rotation of the lift rod is controlled by the lift cam means as the gear rotates during an automatic cycle.

3. A record player according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein means for biasing the lift rod is connected to the lift rod between said right angle end portion and said shoulder.

4. A record player according to claim 1, which includes a cap member which is positioned on the upper end of the said right angle end portion and is adjustable with respect thereto, adjustment of the cap member controlling the height to which the tone arm is lifted.

5. A record player according to claim 1, which includes means defining an abutment at the upper end of the said inclined shoulder, which abutment limits rotary motion of the lift rod by engagement therewith during assembly.

6. A record player according to claim 1, which includes support means for the tone arm, which support means also provide the said bearing for the said right-angle end portion.

7. A record player according to claim 6, wherein the said inclined shoulder forms a part of the said support means.

8. A record player according to claim 7, which includes a spring connected between the said support means and a point on the lift rod between said right-angle end portion and the said shoulder.

9. A record player according to claim 1, which includes a main cycling gear, means for rotating said gear one revolution during an automatic cycle, a cam on said gear and having a notch therein, a pivotally mounted cam follower member, means for biasing said member into engage-ment with said cam, means operative during an automatic shutoff cycle and responsive to movement of said cam follower out of said notch for rotating said lift rod in the direction to lower said right angle end portion, thereby to lower said tone arm during said automatic shutoff cycle.

10. A record player according to claim 9, wherein said tone arm is lowered during the mid portion of said automatic shutoff cycle.

11. A record player according to claim 9, which includes a tone arm rest post, said tone arm being lowered into engagement with said rest post during the mid portion of said automatic shutoff cycle.

12. A record player according to claim 2, wherein said gear includes a second cam having a notch therein, a pivotally mounted cam follower biased into engagement with said second cam, and means operative independently of said tone arm lift cam during an automatic shutoff cycle and responsive to movement of said cam follower out of said notch for engaging said lift rod and rotating the same in the direction to lower said right angle end portion, thereby to lower said tone arm during said automatic shutoff cycle.

13. In a record player, the combination of a tone arm, means for mounting said tone arm for rotation about a fixed point, a tone arm lift rod having a gener-ally horizontal intermediate horizontal portion and a right angle portion at one end thereof, bearing means for mounting said right angle end portion for rotation about a vertical axis, means defining a shoulder extend-ing generally transversely of said intermediate portion and spaced from said right-angle end portion, means for biasing said intermediate portion into engagement with said shoulder, said shoulder being inclined with respect to the horizontal, and means adapted to engage the other end of said lift rod and rotate the same while said lift rod is moved bodily vertically as said intermediate portion moves along said shoulder, and means responsive to said vertical movement of said lift rod for producing a corresponding vertical movement of said tone arm.

14. The combination of claim 13, which includes a main cycling gear, means for rotating said gear one revolution during an automatic cycle, and tone arm lift cam means on said gear, said other end of said lift rod being held in engagement with said tone arm lift cam means so that rotation of said lift rod is controlled by said tone arm lift cam means as the gear rotates during an automatic cycle.