GB1590514A

GB1590514A - Control mechanisms for record players

Info

Publication number: GB1590514A
Application number: GB2592679A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Braun GmbH
Current assignee: Braun GmbH
Priority date: 1977-03-19
Filing date: 1978-03-07
Publication date: 1981-06-03

Description

(54) CONTROL MECHANISMS FOR RECORD PLAYERS (71) We, BRAUN AKTIENGESELL SCHAFT, a body corporate orgaised and existing under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, of 22 Riisselsheimer Strasse, 6 Frankfurt/Main, Federal Republic of Germany, 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 a control mechanism for raising, swinging and lowering the pickup arm of record players.

In general a record player is put into operation by operating a mechanical switch having a lock-down member. To a certain extent this lock-down member acts as a register which for a predeterminable time supplies a control command. The turntable and pickup arm are set in motion on the basis of this control command. The drive for the turntable and pickup arm can be coupled by means of mechanical connecting members, but it is also possible to separate the two drives.

A control mechanism for raising, swinging and lowering the pickup arm of record players is known in which different drives are provided for the turntable and pickup arm (German Patent Specification No.

1917241). In said control mechanism the raising of the pickup arm is brought about 1by means of an electronic contact switch by merely touching a handle, which can be a knob or slider and lowering or swinging is brought about in each case by a separate electromechanical arrangement. It is disadvantageous that a knob or slider is provided for swinging the pickup arm.

The present invention aims to provide control mechanisms for record players permitting an easier control of movements of the pickup arm.

According to the invention, there is provided a control mechanism for raising, swinging and lowering the pick-up arm of a record player, wherein the control mechanism includes a plurality of touch-responsive switches which are arranged, when touched in a predetermined sequence, to initiate raising of the pick-up arm, swinging of the pick-up arm in either of two desired directions and subsequent lowering of said pickup arm.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a first touch-responsive switch is provided whose contact raises the pick-up arm and whose non-contact lowers it again; a second touch-responsive switch is provided whose contact swings the raised pick-up arm in a first direction; and a third touchresponsive switch is provided whose contact swings the raised pick-up arm in a second direction.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, a first touch-responsive switch is provided whose contacting leads to the raising of the pick-up arm, the latter remaining in the raised position and then moves inwards; a second touch-responsive switch is provided whose contacting raises the pick-up arm, which remains in the raised position and moves outwards; and a third touchresponsive switch is provided, whose contacting lowers the pick-up arm.

The touch-responsive switches may contain pressure-responsive contacts whereby the speed of movement of the pick-up arm can be controlled by the pressure applied to said touch-responsive switches.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, a first touch-responsive switch is provided, whose contacting causes the pickup arm to be raised and moved outwards at a first speed; a second touch-responsive switch is provided, whose contacting causes the pick-up arm to be raised and moved outwards at a second speed; a third touchresponsive switch is provided, whose contacting causes the pick-up arm to be raised and moved inwards at a first speed; a fourth touch-responsive switch is provided, whose contacting causes the pick-up arm to be raised and moved inwards at a second speed; and a fifth touch-responsive switch is provided, whose contacting causes the pick-up arm to be lowered.

In all of the embodiments, the touchresponsive switches may comprise flat keys or discs and may be juxtaposed.

The advantage obtained with the invention is in particular that the record player pick-up arm can be easily controlled.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a record player having one embodiment of a control mechanism according to the invention in the form of linear control buttons or discs for the record player pick-up arm; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a record player fitted with another form of control mechanism according to the invention; Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 but showing a modification thereof; and Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a circuit for the control mechanism shown in Figure 3.

In the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a record player 1, having a base 2 and a lid 3.

On base 2 are provided a turntable 4, pick-up arm 5 and various keys 6, 7, 8 for controlling various functions of the record player such as the speed of rotation of the turntable 4. The base 2 also carries a control mechanism in the form of three contact buttons 34, 35, 36 which comprise touch-responsive switches.

The central button 35 serves to raise and lower pick-up arm 5, whilst the outer buttons 34, 36 are used for swinging movement of said pick-up arm. In operation, the button 35 is pressed to raise the pick-up arm whereupon the button 34 can be pressed to cause swinging movement of the pick-up arm to the left as viewed in Figure -1 or towards the turntable 4. Release of the buttons 34 and 35 will cause movement of the pick-up arm to stop and lowering of said arm onto a record on the turntable. At the end of playing the record, the button 35 is again pressed to raise the pick-up arm and the button 36 is pressed to cause the arm to swing to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 or away from the turntable 4 to return the pick-up arm to its initial position which is shown in Fig. 1.

If the raising and swinging movements are desired to be variable, the contact buttons 34, 35 and 36 may contain pressure-responsive switches.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a control mechanism according to the invention in conjunction with a record player 50, which has a lid 51 and a base 52, a pick-up arm 53 and turntable 4 as the essential components thereof.

Sensors 55, 56 and 57, which when contacted start a switching operation, are arranged on the top of the base 52. If, for example, the sensor 55 is contacted, the turntable 54 rotates at 33 revolutions per minute, whilst a contacting of sensor 56 leads to the turntable 54 being rotated at 45 revolutions per minute. If sensor 57 is contacted, the turntable 54 is stopped. On simultaneously contacting sensors 55 and 56, the turntable rotates at 45 revolutions per minute but the pick-up arm is set down as if a 30cm record had been put on the turntable.

In addition to the sensors 55, 56 and 57, three further sensors in the form of touchresponsive switches 58, 59 and 60 are provided for operating the pick-up arm 53, whereby sensor 59 is used for the inward swinging of the pick-up arm 53. If the sensor 59 is contacted, the pick-up arm is raised and remains in its raised position, whereby it moves towards the turntable 54 at a clearly defined speed. In order to lower the pickup arm 53 again, the sensor 58 is contacted. The pick-up arm 53 can be raised by contacting the sensor 60 and is moved outwards at a clearly defined speed.

Figure 3 shows a control mechanism differing from that shown in Figure 2 in that the pick-up arm can be swung at two different speeds, as well as at the sum and differential speed of the two speeds. In this case, five different sensors in the form of touch-responsive switches 58, 61, 62, 63 and 64 are provided.

On contacting the sensor 61, the pick-up arm 53 is swung rapidly inwards, whereas contacting of sensor 62 brings about a slow inward swing thereof. Sensors 63 and 64 are responsible for the outward swinging of the pick-up.arm 53. Sensor 64 causes a rapid swinging and sensor 63 a slow swinging thereof. As in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the raised pick-up arm 53 can be lowered by contacting sensor 58.

Figure 4 shows an electrical circuit by means of which the functions described in conjunction with Figure 3 can be realised.

By means of in each case one electrode, the sensors 61, 62, 63, 64 are applied to a voltage U via a respective diode 65, 66, 67, 68 and a respective resistor 69, 70, 71, 72, whilst being applied to earth 73 with the other electrode thereof. A capacitor 74, 75, 76, 77, is in each case arranged parallel to the series circuits, comprising sensors 61--64 and diodes 6568. The anodes of diodes 65--68 and capacitors 74--77 are applied, respectively, to NOR gates 78, 79, 80, 81, whereof NOR gate 78 is applied to earth 73 via a first resistor 82 and a second resistor 83, whilst the second NOR gate 79 is applied to earth via a resistor 84 and the second resistor 83.

The output of NOR gate 80 is also applied to earth 73 via resistors 85, 86. The same applies with regard to NOR gate 81, which is applied to earth via resistors 87, 86. In each case, resistors 82 and 84 or 85 and 87 are interconnected by means of two diodes 88, 89, or 90, 91 connected back-to-back, whereby the cathodes of diodes 88 to 91 lead to a pick-up arm lift, which can be for example a hot wire lift.

From the connection point of resistors 82, 83 and 84 a connection leads to the negative input of an operational amplifier 92 in whose feedback path are provided two resistors 93, 94. The positive input of said operational amplifier 92 is connected to the connection point of resistors 85, 86 and 87, whilst its output leads to a pick-up arm drive for swinging the pick-up arm.

If sensor 61 is contacted NOR gate 78 is connected through and power is supplied to the pick-up arm lift across diode 88. Resistor 82 is simultaneously applied to voltage U and a current flows across resistor 83 which leads to a voltage at the negative input of operational amplifier 92. The operational amplifier 92 then supplies a current to the pick-up arm drive which leads to a rapid inward swing.

Substantially the same takes place on contacting the sensor 62 but in this case resistor 84 which has a higher resistance value than resistor 82 is made live. As a result, a smaller voltage acts on the negative input of operational amplifier 92, i.e. the pick-up arm drive is driven with a smaller current for swinging purposes. When both sensors 61, 62 are contacted, the currents flowing across resistors 82 and 84 are summated, so that the sum voltage occurs at the negative input of operational amplifier 92 and only the sum current acts on the pick-up arm dnve.

The functions described in connection with the inwardly directed swinging process apply correspondingly for the outwardly directed swinging process brought about by sensors 63 and 64. As a voltage hereby acts on the positive input of the operational amplifier, it supplies a current with a reverse sign at its output. If simultaneously two sensors are contacted, with which different swinging directions are associated, the associated currents are subtracted in the operational amplifier 92 and the pick-up arm is driven with the differential output current.

The subject matter of this application has been divided out of the subject matter of the complete specification of our co-pending Application No. 8950/78 (Serial No.

1,590,513).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A control mechanism for raising, swinging and lowering the pick-up arm of a record player, wherein the control mechanism includes a plurality of touch-responsive switches which are arranged, when touched in a predetermined sequence, to initiate raising of the pick-up arm, swinging of the pick-up arm in either of two desired directions and subsequent lowering of said pickup arm.

2. A control mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a first touch-responsive switch is provided whose contact raises the pick-up arm and whose non-contact lowers it again; a second touch-responsive switch is provided whose contact swings the raised pick-up arm in a first direction; and a third touch-responsive switch is provided whose contact swings the raised pick-up arm in a second direction.

3. A control mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a first touch-responsive switch is provided whose contacting leads to the raising of the pick-up arm, the latter remaining in the raised position and then moves inwards; a second touch-responsive switch is provided whose contacting raises the pick-up arm, which remains in the raised position and moves outwards; and a third touch-responsive switch is provided, whose contacting lowers the pick-up arm.

4. A control mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the touchresponsive switches contain pressure-responsive contacts whereby the speed of movement of the pick-up arm can be controlled by the pressure applied to said touch-responsive switches.

5. A control mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a first touch-responsive switch is provided, whose contacting causes the pick-up arm to be raised and moved outwards at a first speed; a second touchresponsive switch is provided, whose contacting causes the pick-up arm to be raised and moved outwards at a second speed; a third touch-responsive switch is provided, whose contacting causes the pick-up arm to be raised and moved inwards at a first speed; a fourth touch-responsive switch is provided, whose contacting causes the pick-up arm to be raised and moved inwards at a second speed; and a fifth touch-responsive switch is provided, whose contacting causes the pickup arm to be lowered.

6. A control mechanism according to claim 5, wherein in the case of simultaneous contacting of the first and second switches, or in the case of simultaneous contacting of the third and fourth contact switches, the pickup arm moves outwards or inwards with the sum of the first and second speeds respectively.

7. A control mechanism according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein, in the case of simultaneous contacting of the third and second contact switches or the first and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The output of NOR gate 80 is also applied to earth 73 via resistors 85, 86. The same applies with regard to NOR gate 81, which is applied to earth via resistors 87, 86. In each case, resistors 82 and 84 or 85 and 87 are interconnected by means of two diodes 88, 89, or 90, 91 connected back-to-back, whereby the cathodes of diodes 88 to 91 lead to a pick-up arm lift, which can be for example a hot wire lift. From the connection point of resistors 82, 83 and 84 a connection leads to the negative input of an operational amplifier 92 in whose feedback path are provided two resistors 93, 94. The positive input of said operational amplifier 92 is connected to the connection point of resistors 85, 86 and 87, whilst its output leads to a pick-up arm drive for swinging the pick-up arm. If sensor 61 is contacted NOR gate 78 is connected through and power is supplied to the pick-up arm lift across diode 88. Resistor 82 is simultaneously applied to voltage U and a current flows across resistor 83 which leads to a voltage at the negative input of operational amplifier 92. The operational amplifier 92 then supplies a current to the pick-up arm drive which leads to a rapid inward swing. Substantially the same takes place on contacting the sensor 62 but in this case resistor 84 which has a higher resistance value than resistor 82 is made live. As a result, a smaller voltage acts on the negative input of operational amplifier 92, i.e. the pick-up arm drive is driven with a smaller current for swinging purposes. When both sensors 61, 62 are contacted, the currents flowing across resistors 82 and 84 are summated, so that the sum voltage occurs at the negative input of operational amplifier 92 and only the sum current acts on the pick-up arm dnve. The functions described in connection with the inwardly directed swinging process apply correspondingly for the outwardly directed swinging process brought about by sensors 63 and 64. As a voltage hereby acts on the positive input of the operational amplifier, it supplies a current with a reverse sign at its output. If simultaneously two sensors are contacted, with which different swinging directions are associated, the associated currents are subtracted in the operational amplifier 92 and the pick-up arm is driven with the differential output current. The subject matter of this application has been divided out of the subject matter of the complete specification of our co-pending Application No. 8950/78 (Serial No. 1,590,513). WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A control mechanism for raising, swinging and lowering the pick-up arm of a record player, wherein the control mechanism includes a plurality of touch-responsive switches which are arranged, when touched in a predetermined sequence, to initiate raising of the pick-up arm, swinging of the pick-up arm in either of two desired directions and subsequent lowering of said pickup arm.

fourth contact switches, the pick-up arm moves inwards or outwards with the difference between the associated outward and inward speeds.

8. A control mechanism according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said first, second, third and fourth touch-responsive switches comprise contact sensors each of which is connected to a respective NOR gate and a respective diode.

9. A control mechanism according to claim X, wherein a respective resistor is connected to each of said contact sensors, each said resistor being connected to an associated input of an operational amplifier which is associated with the rotational direction of the corresponding sensor and the output of said operational amplifier being connected to a drive for swinging the pick-up arm.

10. A control mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the touchresponsive switches comprise flat keys or discs.

I I. A control mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the touchresponsive switches are juxtaposed.

12. A control mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to Figure I of the drawings.

13. A control mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to any one of Figures 2 to 4 of the drawings.