GB1573567A - Gramophone record players - Google Patents

Description

(54) GRAMOPHONE RECORD PLAYERS (71) We, SONY CORPORATION, a corporation organised and existing under the laws of Japan, of 7-35 Kitashinagawa-6, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to gramophone record players.

An automatic gramophone record player is known in which, upon actuation of a start lever, a tone arm is moved from a rest position located outside of the perimeter of a turntable to a predetermined set-down position of a gramophone record supported by the turntable for the commencement of a play operation, and, upon completion of a play operation, that is when the tone arm reaches an inner position corresponding to the engagement of the pickup stylus in the usual final non-recorded groove portion of the record, the tone arm is automatically led-out or returned to the rest position and the operation of the record player is terminated. With this record player, only a single play operation is obtained upon actuation of the start lever, so repeated reproduction of the same record cannot be obtained automatically.

A record player has also been proposed with an auto-repeat facility, in which the record player repeatedly reproduces the same record until the user actuates a stop or reject lever. However, this record player does not permit the user to preselect a desired number of repeated play operations.

Furthermore, a record player has been proposed in US patent no 3 827 697, in which the number of repeated play operations can be preset to a desired value. More particularly, an index wheel is manually set to a position corresponding to a desired number of repeated play operations and thereafter, at the end of each play operation, a control mechanism effects the lead-out or return movement of the tone arm to the rest position followed automatically by a lead-in movement of the tone arm to the predetermined set-down position until, at the completion of the final play operation, the tone arm is retained in the rest position. In this record player, it is not possible to effect manual operation, for example, when it is desired to reproduce only a portion of the sound recorded on a record.

Moreover, if it is desired to change the number of repeated play operations preset by manual positioning of the index wheel, the latter can only be turned in one direction, and this decreases the controllability of the record player.

According to the present invention there is provided a gramophone record player having a rotatable turntable for rotating a record disc, drive means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm assembly including a tone arm for carrying a pick-up with a stylus to track the groove of a record disc on said turntable during a play operation and being mounted for lead-in movement of said tone arm from an elevated rest position to a selected set-down position of the stylus on a record disc supported by said turntable for commencement of a play operation and for return movement of said tone arm to said rest position upon the termination of a play operation, and a control mechanism comprising: gear means selectively driven by said drive means; trip means actuable at will and upon completion of each play operation to cause a period of driving of said gear means by said drive means; lever means driven by said gear means for urging said tone arm automatically to perform said return movement and then said lead-in movement during respective portions of each period of driving of said gear means; a mode selecting member manually movable to positions for selecting stop, manual and repeat modes of operation, respectively, of the record player; latch means which is normally engaged with said mode selecting member in said position thereof for selecting said manual mode of operation, said latch means being operative when engaged to prevent said lead-in movement of said tone arm under the urging of said lever means; means for causing operation of said drive means when said mode selecting member is in any one of said positions thereof for selecting the manual and repeat modes of operation, respectively: means for disengaging said latch means in response to the disposition of the mode selecting member in each said position thereof for selecting a repeat mode of operation; and means responsive to driving of said gear means for temporarily disengaging said latch means in a concluding portion of each period of driving of said gear means following said portion thereof correspollding to the automatic lead-in movement of said tone arm so that, with said mode selecting member in the position thereof for selecting the manual mode of operation, said tone arm can then be manually led in from said rest to a manually determined set-down position on said record disc.

According to the present invention there is also provided a gramophone record player having a rotatable turntable for rotating a record disc, drive means for rotating said turned table, a tone arm assembly including a tone arm for carrying a pick-up with a stylus to track the groove of a record disc on said turntable during a play operation and being mounted for lead-in movement of said tone arm from an elevated rest position to a selected set-down position of the stylus on a record disc supported by said turntable for commencement of a play operation and for return movement of said tone arm to rest position upon the termination of a play operation, and a control mechanism comprising: gear means selectively driven by said drive means; trip means actuable at will and upon completion of each play operation to cause a period of driving of said gear means by said drive means; lever means driven by said gear means for urging said tone arm automatically to effect said return movement and said lead-in movement during respective portions of each said period of driving of said gear means; latch means for preventing said lead-in movement of said tone arm under the urging of said lever means; a mode selecting member manually movable to positions for selecting stop, manual and repeat modes of operation, respectively, of the record player, said position of said mode selecting member for selecting the manual mode of operation being interposed between said positions for selecting the stop and repeat modes of operation, respectively; means for causing operation of said drive means when said mode selecting member is in any one of said positions thereof for selecting the manual and repeat modes of operation, respectively; means for disengaging said latch means in response to the disposition of said mode selecting member in each said position thereof for selecting a repeat mode of operation; means for temporarily disengaging said latch means in a concluding portion of each period of driving of said gear means following said portion thereof corresponding to the automatic lead-in movement of said tone arm so that, with said mode selecting member in the position thereof for selecting the manual mode of operation, said tone arm can be manually led-in from said rest position to a manually determined set-down position on said record disc: and means responsive to each said period of driving of said gear means for effecting the step-wise movement of said mode selecting meinle) m the direction towards said position thereof for the stop mode.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of record player according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the record player of Figure 1 as viewed from the top; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the record player of Figure 1 with part of the turntable broken away; Figure 4 is an enlarged top plan vew of part of a control mechanism of the record player of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of another part of the control mechanism.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the record player to be described comprises a chassis indicated in outline and a main shaft 1 which carries a pinion 2 a part of which is formed as a projecting pawl 3. The main shaft 1 is rotatably supported in a bracket 4 and in the chassis, and likewise a supporting shaft 5 is rotatably mounted in the bracket 4 and in the chassis.

The supporting shaft 5 carries a flat drive gear 6 of large diameter which meshes with the pinion 2 and has a gap 6a in the teeth thereof.

Attached to the drive gear 6 are first and second trips 8 and 9 which are pivotable about a pivot pin 7 independently of each other but in overlapping relation. The first trip 8 has a pawl portion 10 at one end and an actuating arm 11 at the other end. A bent end portion 8a of the actuating arm 11 extends into a slot 12 in the drive gear 6 so as to limit the range of rotation of the first trip 8. On the other hand, the second trip 9 has an elongated portion which extends adjacent to a surface of the drive gear 6, this elongated portion having a bent end portion 9a which enters a slot 13 in the drive gear 6 so as to limit the range of rotation of the second trip 9.

The drive gear 6 also carries on one surface a long pin 6b and short pins 6c and 6d. On the other surface the drive gear 6 carries a continuous cam groove 14 which is defined by two parallel ridges. Part of the bottom of the cam groove 14 is deeper than that of the other parts, and the cam groove 14 is used for controlling the lifting and lowering movements of an arm lifter to be described below.

An operating rod 15 is provided for controlling start-reject operation. The operating rod 15 is supported by a bracket 16 mounted on the chassis and is formed with a manipulating portion 1 Sa and an operating portion 1 Sb. The operating portion 15b is arranged to engage with the actuating arm 11 of the first trip 8. A pivot pin 17 is mounted on the chassis and carries a pivotable main lever 18 which is urged in the counter-clockwise direction by means of a wire spring 19. The main lever 18 has arms 18a and 18b, and the end of the arm 18a carries a pin 20 which engages in the cam groove 14.

The other arm 1 8b of the main lever 18 is formed with a projection 21 which is spaced from an extension 19a of the wire spring 19.

Supported in a suitable bearing in the chassis is a pivot pin 22 which is integral with a shaft 59 for mounting a tone arm 60. Secured to the pivot pin 22 is a sector-shaped plate 23 and a tone arm operating member 24 is rotably fitted on the pivot pin 22 in overlapping relation to the sector-shaped plate 23. The tone arm operating member 24 is of elongated shape and is arranged to determine the drop point of a stylus 65 mounted at the end of the tone arm 60 onto a record disc. An operating pin 25 is secured to the chassis in the vicinity of the pivot pin 23, and positioned on the opposite side of the pivot pin 22 from the operating pin 25 is a fine-adjustment cam 26 which is also secured to the chassis and is provided for fine adjustment of the drop point. The fine-adjust- ment cam 26 is a loose fit in an arcuate slot 27 in the sector-shaped plate 23, thereby permitting fine adjustment of the drop point. A coil spring 24a extends between the sector-shaped plate 23 and the tone arm operating member 24, and the coil spring 24a urges the tone arm operating member 24 in the counter-clockwise direction relative to the sector-shaped plate 23.

A size-setting lever 28 is rotatable about the pivot pin 17 and is operatable to determine the drop point depending on the diameter of a record disc. The size-setting lever 28 is formed with a cam aperture 29 and a cam portion 30 at one end. The cam aperture 29 is formed with two cam surfaces 29a and 29b, while the cam portion 30 is formed with two cam surfaces 3 0a and 30b. The other end of the size-setting lever 28 extends partly around the supporting shaft 5 in approximate coincidence with the periphery of the drive gear 6. A movable size selector pin 31, the position of which is dependent on the diameter of a record disc mounted on a turntable 53 engages with the cam surfaces 29a and 29b and the position of the size selector pin 31 determines the extent to which the size-setting lever 28 can rotate. A spring 32 urges the size-setting lever 28 to rotate in the clockwise direction.

As best seen in Figure 4, a Y-shaped repeat feed lever is rotatably mounted on the pivot pin 17 and one end of one arm 33a of the repeat feed lever 33 projects towards the supporting shaft 5 (see Figure 2). The arm 33a is formed with a straight cam surface .34, a Vshaped cam surface 35 and an arcuate cam surface 36, which are contiguous with one another. Secured to another arm 33b of the repeat feed lever 33 is a repeat feed member 38 which is urged to rotate by a coil spring 37. A pin 29 secured to the repeat feed member 38 extends through an aperture in the chassis so as to operate a repeat feed plate to be described below. A coil spring 40 (see Figure 1) urges the repeat feed lever 33 to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction. A pin 41 secured on the arm 33b of the repeat feed lever 33 contacts one arm 44a of a deformed-Y-shaped arm stop 44 which is urged to rotate in the clockwise direction about a pivot pin 43 by a coil spring 42. Another arm 44b of the arm stop 44 has a hook portion 45, and a pin 46 projects from a root portion 44c of the arm stop 44 and engages a cam portion of the repeat feed plate 75, to be described below.

As seen for example in Figure 1, a switch operating plate 47 is rotatably supported on the pivot pin 17, and a coil spring 47a extends between the repeat feed lever 33 and the switch operating plate 47, thereby urging the switch operating plate 47 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction relative to the repeat feed lever 33. Secured to the switch operating plate 47 is a microswitch 48 also seen in Figure 5, while an operating element 48a of the microswitch 48 is covered by ah operating plate 48b.

A pin 33c is secured to the repeat feed lever 33 and also a pin secured on a lifter plate to be described below are arranged to engage the operating plate 48b. As seen in Figure 1 there is also mounted on the chassis a speed changeover switch 49 and a drive motor 50. A hydraulic lifter shaft 51 is arranged to engage the under-surface of the main lever 18 and is urged upwards by the action of a spring so as to contact this under-surface at all times.

As previously mentioned, Figure 3, to which particular reference is now made, is a top plan view of the record player. A centre shaft 52 is secured to the main shaft 1 and the turntable 53 is supported by the centre shaft 52. The drive motor 50 has a drive shaft 54, and a belt 56 is trained around the drive shaft 54 and a circular turntable pulley 55 secured to the turntable 53, so that the turntable 53 can be rotated at a required speed. A size-selector member 57 carries the previously-mentioned size-selector pin 31. The size-selector member 57 detects the diameter of the record disc mounted on the turntable 53, that is to say, determines whether the record disc is a longplaying record or an extended-play record, and is rotated about a pivot pin 58 to the right or left in dependence on the diameter of the record disc. As previously mentioned, the shaft 59 is secured to the pivot pin 22 and supports the tone arm 60. The shaft 59 supports brackets 61, and the tone arm 60 is rotatably supported in the vertical plane by a supporting plate 63 which cooperates with the pivots 62 secured to the brackets 61. At the free end of the tone arm 60 is a cartridge shell 64 which carries the stylus 65. An arm rest plate 66 has an arm rest 68, while an aperture 67 is provided in the chassis to guide the pin 39. A lifter plate 69 directly supports the tone arm 60, the end portion of the lifter plate 69 being secured to the hydraulic lifter shaft 51.

As also seen in Figure 5, a cam member 70 having a flat under-surface is secured to a flange on the hydraulic lifter shaft 51. A guide cam 72 has a slot 71 through which the hydraulic lifter shaft 51 extends, and also a built-up cam surface 72b formed on a part of the guide cam 72 and which increases in thickness along the length of the slot 71. The guide cam 72 supports the cam member 70. A switch operating projection 73 extends from the guide cam 72 and a coil spring 74 urges the guide cam 72 to rotate about a pivot pin 72a in the clockwise direction.

A repeat feed plate 75 is movable back and forth on the chassis between positions, reading from the top in Figure 1 or the bottom in Figure 3, corresponding to continuous play operations, three, two and one play operations, manual operation and stop respectively. Guide slots 76 and 77 in the repeat feed plate 75 cooperate with guide pins 78 and 79 respectively secured on the chassis, so as to guide the longitudinal movement of the repeat feed plate 75. As seen for example in Figure 3, there are provided along the left-hand edge of the repeat feed plate 75 a saw-tooth cam portion 80, a straight cam portion 81 immediately adjoining the saw-tooth cam portion 81, and then a sliding-position-determining cam portion 82 immediately adjoining the straight cam portion 81. A steel ball 91 which is resiliently loaded by a spring (not shown) is engageable with the groove portions of the sliding-position-deter- mining cam portion 82, so as to set the abovementioned positions of the repeat feed plate 75 precisely, while the pin 39 engages with the saw-tooth cam portion 80. Provided on the right-hand edge of the repeat feed plate 75 are a straight cam portion 83 and a recessed cam portion 84 immediately adjoining the straight cam portion 83, while the pin 46 (Figure 1) projecting from the root portion 44c of the arm stop 44 slidingly contacts the cam portions 83 and 84. In addition, secured to the upper end of the repeat feed plate 75 as seen in Figure 3, and also as shown in Figure 5, is a hook 75a which engages a pin 72c on the guide cam 72 for the purpose of returning the guide cam 72 to a predetermined position. An operating member 85 is provided for the speed changeover switch 49.

When, as shown in Figure 2, the repeat feed plate 75 is in the stop position, a power source for the drive motor 50 is turned off and the lifter plate 69 is in the up position. When the repeat feed plate 75 is moved by one step to the manual position, then the power source is turned on and the lifter plate assumes the down position. Further step-wise movement of the repeat feed plate position it in the automatic repeat play operation positions previously mentioned. When the repeat feed plate 75 is put into an automatic repeat position, then the guide cam 72 rotates in the clockwise direction about the pivot pin 72a under the action of the coil spring 74, with the result that the switch operating projection 73 pushes the operating plate 48b of the microswitch (Figure 5) to bring the microswitch 48 to the closed position.

Electric power is then supplied from the power source to the drive motor 50, so that the turntable 53 is rotated through the action of the drive shaft 54 and the rubber belt 56. The rotational speed of the turntable 53 has been selected to correspond to the speed for a record disc to be played by operation of the operating member 85 to control the speed changeover switch 49.

The operating rod 15, which is provided for start-reject operation, is then operated so as to rotate the operating portion 1 Sb, with the result that the actuating arm 11 of the first trip 8 is rotated about the pivot pin 7 in the clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. At this time, the pawl portion 10 of the first trip 8 engages the projecting pawl 3 of the pinion 2 which is being rotated with the turntable 53 by the motor 50, so that the projecting pawl 3 pushes the pawl portion 10. As a result, the drive gear 6 is rotated in the clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, so that the gear teeth dajacent to the gap 6a mesh with the pinion 2 so that the drive gear 6 continues to rotate. The rotation of the drive gear 6 causes the long pin 6b engaging the V-shaped cam surface 35 of the repeat feed lever 33 to be disengaged from the V-shaped cam portion 35, so that the repeat feed lever 33 is rotated about the pivot pin 17 in the clockwise direction.

However, after this disengagement, the repeat feed lever 33 is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction through a large angle, after which the short pins 6b and 6e on the drive gear 6 are guided along the arcuate edge of the sizesetting lever 28. At the same time, the rotation of the drive gear 6 causes the pin 20 to be guided along the cam groove 14.

In Figure 1 the pin 20 is shown as being guided by a deep bottom portion of the cam groove 14. As a result, the hydraulic lifter shaft 51 engaging the arm 1 8b of the main lever 18 is moved upwards in Figure 1, so that the lifter plate 69 remains in the down position. As the drive gear 6 rotates, the depth of the cam groove 14 becomes less, so that the pin 20 is lifted and raises the arm 1 8a of the main lever 18. It follows that the hydraulic lifter shaft 51 is pushed downwards in Figure 1, and the lifter plate 69 gradually moves upwards. Accordingly, the tone arm 60 mounted on the lifter plate 69 is lifted. Then the projection 21 on the main lever 18 contacts the operating pin 25 on the tone arm operating member 24, so that the tone arm 60 is moved back under the action of the tone arm operating member 24 and the sector-shaped plate 23. The tone arm operating member 24 cooperates with the sector-shaped plate 23 with the aid of the coil spring 24a, so that even in the event of over-stroke of the tone arm operating member 24, the tone arm 60 is moved safely and positively.

Further rotation of the drive gear 6 causes the pin 20 to reach an angle portion 1 4a of the cam groove 14, so that the rotation of the main lever 18 is reversed. That is to say, the main lever 18 is then rotated in the clockwise direction, and then the extension l9a of the wire spring 19 contacts the operating pin 25 (Figure 1), thereby rotating the tone arm operating member 24 in the counter-clockwise direction, that is to say in the direction to rotate the tone arm 60 in the lead-in direction.

Immediately prior to the lead-in movement of the tone arm 60, the size-setting lever 28, the movement of which have been limited by the long pin 6b and the short pins 6c and 6d rotates in the clockwise direction under the action of the coil spring 32. The rotation of the tone arm 60 is determined by the engagement of the size-selector pin 31 with either of the cam surfaces 29a ro 29b and this determines the drop point of the stylus 65 on the record disc. The tone arm operating member 24 is protected from undue stress resulting from an over-stroke by means of the wire spring 19 associated with the main lever 18. In this manner, the lead-in operation of the tone arm 60 is completed. Thereafter, the size-setting lever 28 is returned to the appropriate position by means of the short pin 6d, and then the long pin 6b on the drive gear 6 pushes the stright cam surface 34 on the arm 33a of the repeat feed lever 33, whereby the repeat feed lever 33 is rotated about the pivot pin 17 in the clockwise direction. As a result, the pin 39 pushes the saw-tooth cam portion 80 of the repeat feed plate 75, to move the repeat feed plate by one position in the direction corresponding to decrease in the number of repeat play operations. In other words, the number stored in the mechanical repeat memory is counted down by one. At this time, the pin 20 on the main lever 18 enters the deep bottom portion of the cam groove 14 to lower the lifter plate 69 for lowering the tone arm 60. At this time, the drive gear 6 completes one cycle of rotation, and the gap 6a reaches the pinion 2, thereby stopping rotation of the pinion 2.

Thus, the turntable 53 alone rotates, so as to continue playing the record disc.

When the stylus 65 runs into the non-recorded groove portion of the record disc, a tip portion 24c of the tone arm operating member 24 pushes the bent end portion 9a of the second trip 9 and the first trip 8 rotates so that the drive gear 6 is again rotated. As a result, the main lever 18 is rotated and the projection 21 pushes the operating pin 25 on the tone arm operating member 24, so that the tone arm operating member 24 is rotated so that the tone arm 60 is guided onto the arm rest 68. However, as the drive gear 6 continues to rotate, the tone arm 60 is again driven in the lead-in direction by the main lever 18, thus starting the second play operation.

The operation continues as described above until the end of the final automatic play operation, whereupon the repeat feed plate 75 is shifted to the manual position, and the pin 46 on the arm stop 44 is guided by the recessed cam portion 84 of the repeat feed plate 75, so that the arm stop 44 remains in the position to which it has been rotated in the clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 3. When the stylus 65 reaches the non-recorded groove portion of the record disc, the projection 21 on the tone arm operating member 24 engages the hook portion 45, so that the movement of the tone arm operating member 24 in the lead-in direction is locked. Accordingly, despite the rotation of the drive gear 6, the tone arm operating member 24 will not move in the lead-in direction. However, the continuing rotation of the drive gear 6 causes the tone arm operating member 24 to be shifted to a position causing switch off of the power source. Moreover, the engagement of the long pin 6b with the V-shaped cam surface 35 in the repeat feed lever 33, the pin 41 on the repeat feed lever 33 engages the edge of the arm 44a of the arm stop 44, thereby rotating the arm stop 44 in the counter-clockwise direction, so that a projection 24b (Figure 4) is disengaged from the hook portion 45. The effect of this is that if the user then desires to move the tone arm 60 manually, this is perfectly possible.

If on the other hand, the user does not move the tone arm 60 to start another lead-in operation, the rotation of the drive gear 60 causes the long pin 6b to push the stright cam surface 34 of the repeat feed lever 33, thereby rotating the repeat feed lever 33. Additionally, the pin 39 pushes the repeat feed plate 75, so that the repeat feed plate 75 is returned to the stop position. In this case, the guide cam 72 is returned to the initial position also, by means of the repeat feed plate 75, and the switch operating projection 73 disengages from the microswitch 48, so that the power source is turned off. The long pin 6b engages the V-shaped cam surface 35 so as to lock the drive gear 6.

As a further possibility, if the repeat feed plate 75 is shifted to the manual position or the stop position when the tone arm 60 is on the arm rest 68, then the pin 46 on the arm stop 44 is guided by means of the recessed cam portion 84, so that the arm stop 44 is rotated about the pivot pin 43 in the clockwise direction, and hence the hook portion 45 engages with the projection 24b. Accordingly, even if the operating rod 15 is operated in the manual mode so as to drive the drive gear 6 as has been described above, the main lever 18 to be rotated by the cam groove 14 absorbs positional variation due to the cam groove 14 by means of the wire spring 19, so that the hook portion 45 limits the movement of the projection 24b. Accordingly, when operated manually, even if the operating rod 15 is operated, the tone arm 60 will not go into a lead-in operation.

Finally, referring to Figure 4, if the repeat feed plate 75 is moved to the continuous or infinite repeat position, the hook portion 45 of the arm stop 44 is brought to a position K3, so as to be kept away from the projection 24b and thus free to move. Subsequently, when the repeat feed plate 75 is moved to the manual or stop position, the hook portion 45 moves towards a position Ki. When the drive gear 6 is not in the automatic play operation position, then the pin 41 on the repeat feed lever 33 remains in a position C2, the movement of the arm stop 44 is limited in the position C2, the end of the arm 44a remains in a position K"2, and the tone arm operating member 24 is free to move. Moreover, after start of automatic play operation, the pin 41 on the repeat feed lever 75 remains in a position Cl, so that the arm stop 44 assumes the positions K"1 and K1.

In the position K1, the projection 24b on the tone arm operating member 24 returns to the position preventing initiation of a lead-in operation.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A gramophone record player having a rotatable turntable for rotating a record disc, drive means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm assembly including a tone arm for carrying a pick-up with a stylus to track the groove of a record disc on said turntable during a play operation and being mounted for lead-in movement of said tone arm from an elevated rest position to a selected set-down position of the stylus on a record disc supported by said turntable for comm

Claims (16)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of the repeat feed plate 75, and the switch operating projection 73 disengages from the microswitch 48, so that the power source is turned off. The long pin 6b engages the V-shaped cam surface 35 so as to lock the drive gear 6. As a further possibility, if the repeat feed plate 75 is shifted to the manual position or the stop position when the tone arm 60 is on the arm rest 68, then the pin 46 on the arm stop 44 is guided by means of the recessed cam portion 84, so that the arm stop 44 is rotated about the pivot pin 43 in the clockwise direction, and hence the hook portion 45 engages with the projection 24b. Accordingly, even if the operating rod 15 is operated in the manual mode so as to drive the drive gear 6 as has been described above, the main lever 18 to be rotated by the cam groove 14 absorbs positional variation due to the cam groove 14 by means of the wire spring 19, so that the hook portion 45 limits the movement of the projection 24b. Accordingly, when operated manually, even if the operating rod 15 is operated, the tone arm 60 will not go into a lead-in operation. Finally, referring to Figure 4, if the repeat feed plate 75 is moved to the continuous or infinite repeat position, the hook portion 45 of the arm stop 44 is brought to a position K3, so as to be kept away from the projection 24b and thus free to move. Subsequently, when the repeat feed plate 75 is moved to the manual or stop position, the hook portion 45 moves towards a position Ki. When the drive gear 6 is not in the automatic play operation position, then the pin 41 on the repeat feed lever 33 remains in a position C2, the movement of the arm stop 44 is limited in the position C2, the end of the arm 44a remains in a position K"2, and the tone arm operating member 24 is free to move. Moreover, after start of automatic play operation, the pin 41 on the repeat feed lever 75 remains in a position Cl, so that the arm stop 44 assumes the positions K"1 and K1. In the position K1, the projection 24b on the tone arm operating member 24 returns to the position preventing initiation of a lead-in operation. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A gramophone record player having a rotatable turntable for rotating a record disc, drive means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm assembly including a tone arm for carrying a pick-up with a stylus to track the groove of a record disc on said turntable during a play operation and being mounted for lead-in movement of said tone arm from an elevated rest position to a selected set-down position of the stylus on a record disc supported by said turntable for commencement of a play operation and for return movement of said tone arm to said rest position upon the termination of a play operation, and a control mechanism comprising: gear means selectively driven by said drive means; trip means actuable at will and upon completion of each play operation to cause a period of driving of said gear means by said drive means; lever means driven by said gear means for urging said tone arm automatically to perform said return movement and then said lead-in movement during respective portions of each period of driving of said gear means; a mode selecting member manually movable to positions for selecting stop, manual and repeat modes of operation, respectively, of the record player; latch means which is normally engaged with said mode selecting member in said position thereof for selecting said manual mode of operation, said latch means being operative when engaged to prevent said lead-in movement of said tone arm under the urging of said lever means; means for causing operation of said drive means when said mode selecting member is in any one of said positions thereof for selecting the manual and repeat modes of operation, respectively; means for disengaging said latch means in response to the disposition of the mode selecting member in each said position thereof for selecting a repeat mode of operation; and means responsive to driving of said gear means for temporarily disengaging said latch means in a concluding portion of each period of driving of said gear means following said portion thereof corresponding to the automatic lead-in movement of said tone arm so that, with said mode selecting member in the position thereof for selecting the manual mode of operation, said tone arm can then be manually led in from said rest to a manually determined set-down position on said record disc.

2. A gramophone record player having a rotatable turntable for rotating a record disc, drive means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm assembly including a tone arm for carrying a pick-up with a stylus to track the groove of a record disc on said turntable during a play operation and being mounted for lead-in movement of said tone arm from an elevated rest position to a selected set-down position of the stylus on a record disc supported by said turntable for commencement of a play operation and for return movement of said tone arm to said rest position upon the termination of a play operation, and a control mechanism comprising: gear means selectively driven by said drive means; trip means actuable at will and upon completion of each play operation to cause a period of driving of said gear means by said drive means; lever means driven by said gear means for urging said tone arm automatically to effect said return movement and said lead-in move

ment during respective portions of each said period of driving of said gear means; latch means for preventing said lead-in movement of said tone arm under the urging of said lever means; a mode selecting member manually movable to positions for selecting stop, manual and repeat modes of operation, respectively, of the record player, said position of said mode selecting member for selecting the manual mode of operation being interposed between said positions for selecting the stop and repeat modes of operation, respectively; means for causing operation of said drive means when said mode selecting member is in any one of said positions thereof for selecting the manual and repeat modes of operation, respectively; means for disengaging said latch means in response to the disposition of said mode selecting member in each said position thereof for selecting a repeat mode of operation; means for temporarily disengaging said latch means in a concluding portion of each period of driving of said gear means following said portion thereof corresponding to the automatic lead-in movement of said tone arm so that, with said mode selecting member in the position thereof for selecting the manual mode of operation, said tone arm can be manually led-in from said rest position to a manually determined setdown position on said record disc; and means responsive to each said period of driving of said gear means for effecting the step-wise movement of said mode selecting member in the direction towards said position thereof for the stop mode.

3. A record player according to claim 2 wherein said mode selecting member has a plurality of positions thereof for selecting repeat modes of operation and which, considered in the direction opposed to said direction of step-wise movement, provide progressively mcreasing mlmbers of repeated play operations.

4. A record player according to claim 3 wherein said mode selecting member has means thereon for preventing said step-wise movement thereof when said mode selecting member is disposed in the one of said plurality of positions for selecting repeat modes of operation which is furthest from said position for selecting the stop mode, so that said one position for selecting a repeat mode of operation corresponds to indefinitely repeated play operations.

5. A record player according to claim 4 further comprising detent means for releasably holding said mode selecting member in each of said positions thereof.

6. A record player according to claim 3 wherein said means for effecting step-wise movement of said mode selecting member incoudes a saw-tooth cam portion disposed along an edge of said mode selecting member in said direction of movement thereof, pawl means normally spaced from said edge of said mode selecting member to permit the manual movement of said mode selecting member to any one of said positions of said mode selecting member, and means responsive to said concluding portion of each period of operation of said gear means for imparting an operative stroke to said pawl means by which said pawl means acts against saw-tooth cam portion for effecting said step-wise movement.

7. A record player according to claim 6 wherein said saw-tooth cam portion is disposed along said mode selecting member so as to be out of range of said operative stroke of said pawl means in the position of said mode selecting member for selecting the stop mode and also in the one of said plurality of positions for selecting repeat modes which is furthest from said position for selecting the stop mode so that, when said mode selecting member is in said one position, said step-wise movement is prevented and the play operation is repeated indefinitely.

8. A record player according to claim 7 wherein said gear means includes a drive pinion rotatable control gear having peripheral teeth with a gap therein facing towards said pinion in a stop position of said control gear, and a continuous cam having a lead-out portion followed by a lead-in portion; said trip means is mounted on said control gear and is operative on each actuation angularly to displace said control gear from said stop position for engaging said peripheral teeth with said pinion and thereby causing a revolution of said control gear corresponding to said period of operation; said tone arm assembly further includes an operating arm coupled with said tone arm; and said lever means includes a cam follower pin successively engaging said lead-in and lead-out portions of said cam during each revolution of said control gear for effecting corresponding lead-in and lead-out movements of said lever means, means on said lever means engageable during said leadout movement of said lever means for effecting said return movement of said tone arm, and resilient means on said lever means engageable with said operating arm during said lead-in movement of said lever means for urging said lead-in movement of said tone arm.

9. A record player according to claim 8 wherein said latch means is engageable with said operating arm for preventing said lead-in movement of said tone arm, and said operating arm is engageable with said trip means for actuating said trip means when the position of said tone arm corresponds to said completion of a play operation.

10. A record player according to claim 8 wherein said means for imparting an operative stroke to said pawl means includes a pivoted repeat feed lever carrying said pawl means and having a cam surface, and a projection on said control gear engageable with said cam surface for effecting an angular displacement of said repeat feed lever following the engagement of said cam follower pin with said lead-in portion of said cam on said control gear and by which said operative stroke is imparted to said pawl means.

11. A recording player according to claim 10 wherein said repeat feed lever further has a notch following said cam surface and receiving said projection on said control gear in said stop position on said control gear, and spring means acting on said repeat feed lever in the direction to urge said cam surface and said notch against said projection on said control gear, thereby to prevent inadvertent movement of said control gear from said stop position.

12. A record player according to claim 11 wherein said means for temporarily disengaging said latch means includes a disengaging member on said repeat feed lever acting on said latch means for disengaging said latch means in response to the reception of said projection in said notch of said repeat feed lever.

13. A record player according to claim 10 wherein said means for causing operation of said drive means includes switch means having a normally open condition for halting the operation of said drive means, means acted upon by said mode selecting member for closing said switch means when said mode selecting member is in any one of said positions thereof for selecting the manual and repeat modes of operation, and means for closing said switch means during each revolution of said control gear.

14. A record player according to claim 13 wherein said means for closing said switch means during each revolution of said control gear includes a switch actuating member on said repeat feed lever, a pivoted switch support lever carrying said switch means, spring means urging said switch support lever in the direction to engage said switch means with said switch actuating member for closing said switch means, and means on said switch support lever engageable by said projection on said control gear in said stop position of said control gear for displacing said switch support lever in a direction to separate said switch means from said switch actuating member and thereby achieve said normally open condition of said switch means with said mode selecting member in the stop mode position.

15. A record player according to claim 2 further comprising arm lifting means actuable by said lever means for raising said tone arm during said return movement and said lead-in movement, and wherein said means for causing operation of said drive means includes switch means having a normally open condition for rendering said drive means inoperative, a control lever having a switch actuating portion engageable with said switch means for closing said switch means and causing operation of said drive means, means acting on said control lever for disengaging said switch actuating portion from said switch means in response to the disposition of said mode selecting member in the stop mode position, and means acting on said control lever for engaging said switch actuating portion with said switch means upon movement of said mode selecting member away from said stop mode position; and wherein said control lever has cam means thereon acting on said arm lifting means to hold said tone arm in a raised position when said mode selecting member is in said stop mode position.

16. A gramophone record player substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.