GB2077022A - Phonograph apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A gramophone turntable 36 is driven by an electric motor 22 through an idler wheel which is drawn into engagement by the magnetic field of the motor 22. Also described are tone arm motion control, record drop, shut-off system, tone arm cuing, record changer and manual reject features, stiff, resilient wires being used to control a number of these features. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Phonograph apparatus This invention is directed to phonograph apparatus and, more particularly, to a combination turntable and record changer that accommodates at least two different speed records, and the like.

The need to provide reliable and inexpensive phonograph apparatus that can raise and lower the tone arm and change records for any one of a number of record speeds swiftly and noiselessly is a matter of substantial technical and commercial importance.

Illustratively, in an automatic record changer, the tone arm that supports the stylus or "needle" cartridge should, at the beginning of play, lower onto the record with a slow but smooth and gentle action and, at the end of play, lift sharply and swiftly from the phonograph record. The record changing operation also should take place with å rnini- mum amount of noise in order to eliminate the usual background clicks and clatter that ordinarily accompany the mechanical operations that are required to deposit a record on a turntable. These mechanical functions, moreover, are characterized by a profusion of linkages, levers, stops and the like, all of which combine not only to increase manufacturing costs, but also to produce noisy and unreliable operation, as well as expensive and complicated repair.

Typical prior art phonographs have a number of other defects that are almost of a classical nature. For instance, accidentally applied pressure forcing the tone arm down toward the turntable mainplate during the record changing cycle often causes the mechanism to jam permanently.

There is an even further need for a relatively inexpensive tone arm cuing system that will provide a smooth and graceful tone arm movement when the tone arm is manually manipulated. A recital of the many additional difficulties that confront the design of a truly acceptable record changing apparatus is informative, in that they have been solved in the prior art, if at all, only through the adoption of complicated designs that are replete with an abundance of expensive, specially designed parts. Thus, a mechanism that will suitably wedge the idler wheel between the turntable and the drive shaft for the turntable motor to provide a. full range of turntable speed selections is a typical source of design difficulty that is solved through complicated electromechanical structures.

-Ordinarily, a centrally disposed spindle on the turntable shaft houses a push-off mechanism that enables each of a series of records in a pre-loaded stack on the spindle to drop, in turn, onto the turntable for play. This is a delicate and costly mechanism that is a frequent source of malfunction.

Automatic "last record shut-off" is another source of design difficulty. This feature ordinarily would prevent the phonograph stylus from riding in the trip groove of the last record and generating irritating combination of repeated "click" and groove noises. Inexpensive phonographs heretofore ignored this problem and the more expensive devices overcame the problem only through elaborate mechanical devices that were an important element of the overall phonograph cost.

"Manual record reject" features that permit the tone arm to bypass one or more records in a preloaded stack on the spindle in order to play a particular record within that stack also has presented a difficult design problem. In the prior art, this difficulty has been overcome through, once more, a "brute force" approach of complicated mechanical structures.

The following patents are illustrative of these prior art attempts to cope with the foregoing difficulties: United States Patent Number 4,000,906 granted January 4, 1977 to T. F. Kolosko et al. for "Two-speed Automatic Phonograph" discloses a retractable guide in a phonograph turntable for accommodating 45 rpm records as well as 33 1/3 rpm records.

United States Patent Number 4,071,252 granted January 31, 1978 to D. M. Gillespie for "Fluidically Driven Turntable" shows a fluid coupling that drives a phonograph turntable.

United States Patent Number 4,078,807 granted March 14, 1978 to H.A. Sherwood for "Phonograph Record Player" shows a tone arm which is radially spring biased and that is maintained against the action of the spring in the grooves of the record throughout the record play.

United States Patent Number 4,079,946 granted March 21, 1978 for "Turntable Assembly for Phonograph Records" discloses a rubber or elastically flexible sheet overlaying a substantial portion of the rotatable turntable to provide a cushioned vibration-damping record supporting surface which conforms closely to the undersurface of a phonograph record.

United States Patent Number 4,082,293 granted April 4, 1978 to J.E.K.M. Schouwenaars for "Phonograph Record Player or Changer" is directed to a turntable spindle that has an upper sleeve bearing in which two portions extend toward the center of the bearing bore to absorb transverse forces in a manner that reduces "wow" and "flutter".

United States Patent Number 4,094,511 granted June 13, 1978 to E. Richter et al. for "Belt-Driven Record Player" discloses a belt and pulley drive system for a phonograph turntable.

United States Patent Number 4,100,465 granted July 11, 1978 to S. Hagino for "Turntable Speed Control System" describes a magnetized ring and energized core synchronizer combination for stabilising turntable speed.

None of these patents however have provided a truly satisfactory apparatus for overcoming the foregoing problems with an inexp#ensive and reliable turntable and tone arm control mechanism.

These and other problems that have beset the prior art are overcome to a large extent through the practice of the invention.

Illustratively, a cam gear mounted on the bottom of the turntable has a protruding cam follower that bears against one of the inner arms of a horizontally pivoted V-shaped member. This member thus pivots in one direction to drive a tone arm lift link. In accordance with a feature of the invention this lift link is formed from a stiff and resilient wire to permit the tone arm to be forced down during those portions of the cycle in which the arm otherwise would be up without damaging the tone arm lift link or jamming the mechanism. The operative end of the lift link has a reentrant bend that is received in a vertical slot provided in one end of the tone arm lift- rod in order to raise the tone arm to a predetermined height.

The cam follower on the cam gear now is shifted away from that arm of the member to provide a dwell time that enables a record to come down onto the turntable before the tone arm shifts into registry with the record groove.

Once the record has come down onto the turntable, the cam follower on the rotatingcam gear presses against the arcuate portion of a question mark shaped tone arm actuator.

This actuator has an elongated mounting aperture at the approximate mid-point of its straight shank to enable the actuator to pivot in the horizontal plane. A friction pad of cork or the like, at the operative end of this shank bears against and rotates the tone arm hub to provide the proper radially outward sweep of the tone arm and its stylus to its most outward position. The elongation in the tone arm mounting aperture is another interesting facet of the- invention in that it provides a limited degree of extra travel for the tone arm actuator, should the friction pad deform and become somewhat thinner through repeated use.

Continued rotation of the cam follower against the arcuate portion of the tone arm actuator now compels the actuator to pivot in an opposite direction, causing the friction pad also to rotate the tone arm hub in the opposite direction which, in turn, pivots the raised tone arm radially inward toward the turntable spindle.

The friction pad, moreover, is connected to one end of a torsion spring, the other end of this spring being secured to the record #changer mainplate. This spring loaded arrangement assures a good, noncritical engagement between the friction pad and the tone arm hub during hub'-rotation in either direction whenever the hub and the friction pad are in contact. In this respect, even though tone arm motion has terminated, the friction pad-may continue to travel without forcing or, otherwise affecting tone arm movement. In this way broad tolerances and consequent manufacturing efficiencies are incorporated in the device.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, an automatic idler engagement arm -is provided to drive the turntable in a manner that overcomes the elaborate drive belt and pully systems that heretofore have character ized the prior art. Typically, an automatic idler engagement arm is spring biased to disen gage the idler drive wheel from the turntable.

On energizing the turntable motor, however, the automatic idler engagement arm is mag netically attracted to the laminated field plates of the motor. This magnetic attraction not only overcomes the biasing spring but also suitably wedges the idler wheel between the motor shaft and the turntable drive rim. Turn ing off the power to the motor immediately denergizes the field, enabling the biasing spring to pull the idler engagement arm in the opposite direction and disengage the idler wheel from the turntable and the motor shaft.

In this way a simple, positive turntable drive control is provided that avoids the usual wir ing off the power to the motor immediately deenergizes the field, enabling the biasing spring to pull the idler engagement arm in the disengagement during long periods of motor deenergization. This feature prevents the for mation of flat spots or other undesirable idler wheel deformations that otherwise would be caused by long wedging contact with the shaft and the turntable.

The motor shaft, moreover, illustrates an additional aspect of the invention. To provide turntable speeds for the usual 45 rpm (revolu tions per minute) and 33 1/3 rpm records, the portion of the shaft that contacts the idler wheel has two separate diameters. One diam eter portion of the shaft, when driving the idler wheel, rotates the turntable at 33 1/3 rpm. Another diameter portion of the shaft, also when driving the idler wheel, rotates the turntable at 45 rpm. The invention provides for a stiff but resilient wire idler link that is connected on one end to a three position rotary knob.

This knob, in sequence, energizes the turn table motor and then selects 33 1/3 rpm or 45 rpm turntable speeds. As the knob is rotated to the 33 1/3 rpm turntable speed position, the operative end of the wire idler link is suitably wedged under a vertically movable link that supports the idler wheel.

Suitably wedging the operative end of the wire idler link moves the vertically moveable link a sufficient distance to align the idler wheel with the portion of the motor shaft diameter that is appropriate to 33 1/3 rpm turntable speed. Shifting the knob to the 45 rpm turntable speed position presses a vertically sloped portion of the wire idler link under the vertically movable link, thereby moving that link further in a vertical direction to align the idler wheel with the portion of the motor shaft diameter that is appropriate to a 45 rpm turntable speed. In this manner, a simple, inexpensive structure provides a range of turntable speeds.

To permit the tone arm to set down properly on a 12" diameter (33 1/3 rpm) or on a 7" diameter (45 rpm) record, a horizontally disposed hub disk is secured to the tone arm hub underneath the mainplate. An infinitely fine adjustment setdown control is fitted into the hub disk between the disk and the bottom surface of the mainplate away from exposure to casual tampering. The control, moreover, protrudes above the surface of a larger elongated sleeve on the upper surface of the tone arm hub disk, which sleeve initiates end of play function.

A tone arm setdown slelector arm, pivoted in the horizontal plane at the bottom surface of the mainplate, has one operative end in contact with a portion of the turntable speed selector knob. Depending on the turntable speed chosen, the knob pivots the setdown selector arm through a few degrees.

The other operative end of the setdown selector arm is provided with a two-step cut away surface, each of these surfaces being specific to a particular record diameter (or turntable speed). Thus, depending on the turntable speed chosen, the setdown control moves into engagement with one of the two cutaway steps as the tone arm moves laterally under the force applied by the friction pad.

Contact between the setdown control and the appropriate step arrests the further lateral movement of the tone arm, resulting in either a 12" diameter or 7" diameter tone arm set down.

An additional facet of the invention is the vertical movement of the tone arm selector arm to permit, after the tone arm has been set down, free lateral tone arm travel in the play mode. To accomplish this, the tone arm selector arm is bent downwardly near the stepped area to insure that the selected stepped area is interposed directly into the path of the advancing setdown control to produce the desired tone arm set down.

A small, vertically disposed tab on the tone arm actuator, however, moves in a horizontal plane to engage the bent surface of the tone arm and to lift this bent portion above the setdown control. The tone arm selector arm remains#raised in the foregoing manner until the record changer is cycled manually or automatically to the commencement of tone arm operation, whereupon the tab on the tone arm actuator shifts out of engagement with the tone arm selector arm. In this condition the appropriately chosen stepped portion of the selector arm is once more placed into the path of the setdown control on the tone arm hub disk.

Another economical and ingenious feature of the invention is embodied in the record changer apparatus. To reduce costs a center spindle is provided with an upper spindle pawl. The pawl simplifies removing the records from the turntable. The uppermost third of the spindle, however, is provided with a bend that offsets the spindle toward a record shelf post.

The vertically oriented record shelf post stands upon the upper surface of the mainplate near the tone arm hub. The shelf post is hollow and has a generally vertically disposed record push arm that is mounted within for pivotal movement. Near the top of the record shelf post, moreover, a generally annular record shelf flange protrudes in a radial horizontal direction. A recess is formed in the flange, on the side that is oriented toward the spindle and the edge of the turntable in order to receive the edge, or edges of one or more records stacked upon the upper third of the spindle.

The flange has a groove that accommodates a horizontally disposed push-finger that is yoked to the upper end of the record push arm in order to selectively protrude out onto the recess when activated. Consequently, as the upper half of the record push arm is pivoted toward the spindle, the horizontal push-finger slides in the groove in the record shelf toward the spindle, Thus activated, the push finger pushes the edge of the lowermost record in the stack off the shelf to permit the record to come down directly onto the turntable, or onto the uppermost record on the turntable.

To provide a more interesting and different appearance for the record changer, and to permit each of the records to come down more quietly, the record shelf flange is significantly lower than the center of the spindle.

This relative arrangment causes the stack of unplayed records to rest in the load position at an angle relative to the plane of the turntable.

Proper timing for the record to come down is provided by a linkage that joins the lowermost end of the record push arm to the tone arm actuator inthe general vicinity of that actuator's pivot point. Thus, as the tone arm actuator moves to shift the tone arm out and over the tone arm rest, the actuator also pivots the record push arm to shove the edge of the lowermost record in the unplayed stack off the record shelf flange.

When the last record has come down onto the turntable, a generally U-shaped record stabilizer that had borne down upon the up permost record in the unplayed stack swings or pivots downwardly below the level of the record shelf flange. A flange on the downwardly pivoted record stabilizer forces a small diameter rod in a downward direction to initiate automatic shut off.

It will be recalled that the set down control on the tone arm hub disk protruded upwardly from an elongated sleeve. Automatic shut off depends on the tone arm set down selector arm being placed in the path of this sleeve.

Thus, during the time that the record changer is in cycle to enable another record to come down after the last record has already come down, the tone arm set down selector arm protrudes into the path of the sleeve on the hub disk. This action keeps the tone arm over the tone arm rest through the end of the cycle as described below.

A wire switchlink connects the toggle switch for the turntable drive motor at the three position knob to the tone arm set down cut away step are of the set down selector arm. This switch link, moreover, passes through an aperture in a small, upwardly bent guide tab. Further in this respect, a shut off toggle also intrudes into the path of the tone arm actuator arm when the record stabilizer reaches its lowermost position.

Illustratively, as the record stabilizer presses the small diameter rod downwardly, the lower end of this rod protrudes below the mainplate.

This protrusion is sufficiently great that it arrests further horizontal movement of a horizontally pivoted tone arm set down support arm. This support arm ordinarily sustains the tone arm set down selector arm in its proper set down position through each cycle of the record changer. As this support arm is restricted to move below the tone arm set down selector arm to support that selector arm, however, then the set down selector arm is vertically lowered to engage the elongated sleeve on the hub disk. In these circumstances, the tone arm is kept over the tone armrest and the wire switch link is a#ctivated to shift the turntable motor switch to the "off" position.

These and other advantages of the invention are described in more complete detail in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The scope of the invention however, is limited only by the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Figure 1 is a top view of the phonograph apparatus shown schematically and having some elements as the turntable, records and tone arm omitted for the purpose of added clarification; Figure 2 is a side elevation taken along the line A-A of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows; Figure 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 in full section taken along the line BB of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows; Figure 4 is another side elevation of Fig. 1 taken along the line CC and viewed in the direction of the arrows; Figure 4A is a detail view of a portion of the record change mechanism; Figure 4B is a detail view of a record change mechanism accessory; Figure 4C is a plan view of a push finger for use in connection with the record change mechanism;; Figure 5 is a schematic subassembly drawing of a tone arm lift link connection for use in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1; Figure 6 is a schematic assembly drawing of a tone arm actuator for use in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a turntable drive speed change mechanism for use in connection with the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1; Figure 8 is a detailed drawing of a linkage for selectively engaging the turntable idler wheel;# Figure 9 is a detailed drawing of an alternate linkage for engaging the turntable drive idler wheel; Figure 10 is a bottom detail view of the tone arm shaft activating mechanism;; Figure 11 is a bottom detail view of a record speed change and tone arm setdown control knob for use in connection with the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1; Figure 12 is a schematic detail view of a tone arm setdown control linkage; Figure 13 is a perspective view of a record stabilizer and automatic turntable shut-off system; Figure 14 is a plan view of a removable extension arm to accommodate seven inch diameter records; Figure t5 is a schematic perspective view of a linkage for providing manual cuing for the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1; Figure 16 is a profile view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, adapted to accept seven inch diameter records; and Figure 17 is a perspective view of an improved tone arm set down arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRE FERRED EMBODIMENT Fig. 1 shows a mainplate 20 which sup- ports a number of mechanisms for regulating the operation of a phonograph turntable and a phonograph tone arm 21 (Fig. 2). As best shown in Fig. 1 these mechanisms comprise the turntable drive motor assembly 22, the tone arm control cam and gear structure 23, the tone arm lift off and set down assembly 24, the record change and speed control knob assembly 25 and the record pushoff assembly 26. For simplification and ease in description each of these system sub-assemblies will be described individually to facilitate the understanding of the overall record change structure.

TURNTABLE DRIVE MOTOR ASSEMBLY As shown in Fig. 1, the turntable drive motor 27 is a two pole motor with a 3/8" thick laminated steel field magnet 30. The motor is mounted on the bottom of the main plate 20 through bolts and rubber grommets, of which grommet 31 is typical. When energized the turntable motor 27 rotates a motor drive shaft 32. The drive shaft 32 has an enlarged diameter portion 33 for rotating the turntable at one speed, and a significantly smaller diameter portion 34 for rotating the turntable at a relatively lower speed.

Horizontally mounted idler wheel 35 is suitably wedged between either the largediameter portion 33 or the smaller diameter portion 34 of the motor drive shaft 32 and the inner surface of a vertically oriented cylindrical flange 36 on the turntable.

As is best illustrated in Fig. 7, the idler wheel 35 is mounted for rotation on an idler link 37. The idler link 37 is, in turn, free to pivot inal horizontal plane because it is attached by means of a large head rivet 40 to a Delrin (Registered Trade Mark) member 41.

The member 41 is vertically movable on a post 42, of which one end of the post is secured to the mainplate 20. In this manner the idler link 37 and the member 41 are capable of vertically moving the idler wheel 35 in order to engage the periphery of the idler wheel 35 with the larger diameter portion 33 (Fig. 1) or the smaller diameter portion 34 of the motor drive shaft 32.

Turning once more to Fig. 7, it can be seen that a flexible steel rod 43 is provided on one end with a 1 80' return bend that partially encircles the vertical post 42. The return bend, moreover, on the rod 43 also is provided with a vertically offset portion 44. The opposite end of the rod 43 is, as illustrated in Fig. 1, connected on the underside of the mainplate 20 to the periphery of a three position step switch or knob 45.

Thus, in response to rotation of the knob 45, the vertically offset portion 44 (Fig. 7) of the rod 43 is moved under the member 41 in order to raise the idler wheel 35 to contact the smaller diameter portion 34 (Fig. 1) of the motor drive shaft 32. By shifting the position of the switch 45 once more, the vertically offset portion 44 is withdrawn from the gap between the member 41 and the surface of the mainplate in order to allow the vertically offset portion 44 to protrude beyond the member 41 and to enable the member 41, the idler link 37 and the idler wheel 35 to shift toward the mainplate 20 thereby enabling the idler wheel 35 to bear against portion 33 (Fig. 1) of the motor drive shaft 32 that has been enlarged through the attachment of a circumferential sleeve.

It will be recalled that the idler wheel 35, the idler link 37 and the Delrin member 41 were connected by means of the rivet 40 to enable the idler link and the idler wheel to pivot in a horizontal plane. In this way the idler wheel 35 is suitably wedged between the desired portion of the drive shaft 32 and the flange 36 on the turntable to produce a specific record turntable speed. To produce this action and in accordance with the feature of the invention, attention is invited to Fig. 2 which shows the turntable drive motor assembly 22 attached to the mainplate 20 by means of the bolted grommet 31. As illustrated, a T shaped arm 46 is mounted in an inverted position relative to the mainplate 20.

The end of the shank of the T has a hole 47 that provides a connnection for a spring (not shown in Fig. 2). Ordinarily, this spring tends to pivot the arm 46 out of the plane of Fig. 2 of the drawing toward the viewer relative to an end of the arm 46. Turning once more to Fig. 1 of the drawing, it can be seen that the arm 46 is pivoted away from the stacked plate field magnet 30 of the turntable drive motor assembly 22 through the action of the spring (not shown in Fig. 1) which is connected to the hole 47 (also not shown in Fig.

1) of the arm 46. In these circumstances, upon.energizing the turntable drive motor assembly 22, a magnetic field is established through the field magnet 30 which draws free end 51 of the arm 46 toward the field magnet 30. Although not shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the opposite end of the spring that is connected to the hold 47 in the arm 46, is attached to the idler link 37. Thus as the arm 46 is pivoted toward the field magnet 30, it draws with it the idler link 37 an its associated idler wheel 35. In this way the idler wheel 35 is suitably wedged between the motor drive shaft 32 and the inner surface of the flange 36 on the turntable.Thus, in accordance with the invention, not only is an inexpensive technique provided for changing the record speed but this technique also provides a simple and reliable method for appropriately wedging the idler wheel between the motor drive shaft and the turntable that does not require a profusion of specially designed parts.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a typical arm 46 for use in the structure described above. A sound attenuating pad 46' is shown on one of the limber of the "tee" to attenuate noise in record player operation. An alternative embodiment of the arm 46A, moreover is illustrated in Fig. 9.

TONE ARM CAM AND GEAR STRUCTURE Attention now is invited to the tone arm cam and gear structure 23. As illustrated in Fig. 1, a central spindle 52 for the turntable is provided, on the underside of the turntable, with a gear 53. Eccentrically mounted relative to the spindle 52 on the mainplate 20 is a cam gear 54 Note that a sector 55 of the gear teeth have been removed from the cam gear 54. Teeth 56 on the cam gear 54, as described subsequently in more complete detail, mesh with and are driven by the gear teeth 53 on the central spindle 52.

A V shaped member 57 is superimposed under the cam gear 54 and is mounted by means of a pivot 60 on the mainplate 20.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the apex of the V shaped member 57 is adjacent to the spindle 52 in contrast to arms 61 and 62 that form the divergent sides of the V shaped member 57. These arms generally underlay the cam gear 54. The inner edges of the arms 61 and 62, moreover, each have respective vertically oriented flanges 63, 64, that engage a vertically oriented stud 65 on the cam gear 54.

A shoulder rivet 66 is secured to the arm 61 of the member 57 in order to attach one end of a music wire link 67 to the member.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the wire link 67- is supported in a wire lift support 70. The end of the wire link 67 that is not attached to the V shaped member 57 (not shown in Fig. 5) has a reentrant bend 71 that is received in a vertical slot 72 which is formed in a vertically positioned tone arm lift rod 73.

The tone arm lift rod 73 (Fig. 1) is mounted for vertical motion relative to the rodoaxis in the mainplate 20. The tone arm lift rod 73, moreover, is provided with a horizontally disposed crescent shaped member 74. In these circumstances, as the stud 65 rotates with the cam gear 54, the stud bears against the flange 63 on the V shaped member arm 61 to press the music wire link 67 to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawing. This movement of the link 67 causes the tone arm lift rod 73 to rise vertically from the mainplate 20, thereby lifting the tone arm with it in the same direction. The tone arm remains in the raised position under the control of the tone arm lift rod 73 at the limit of its vertical extension.

As the stud 65 however, continues to rotate with the cam gear 54, the stud bears against the flange 64 on the arm 62 of the V shaped member and pivots the member to the viewer's left in Fig. 1. Accordingly, the music wire link 67 is now drawn to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawing as the V shaped member 57 pivots in a counterclockwise direction in a horizontal plane. This motion inexorably draws the tone arm lift rod 73 down into the undersurface of the mainplate 20.

The fact that the tone arm lifts faster from the record upon leaving the record and sets down more slowly and gracefully onto the record because of the V shaped configuration of the tone arm lift system is an important and attractive feature of this invention. Further in this respect, if the tone arm lift rod 73 is inadvertently jammed down when it should be in the vertically raised position, the resilient nature of the music wire link 76 absorbs this force and movement, thereby preventing the tone arm lift rod mechanism from becoming permanently jammed.

TONE ARM LATERAL MOTION CONTROL As best shown in Fig. 1, lateral side-to-side motion of the tone arm is controlled, in general, by means of a tone arm actuator arm 75.

In a horizontal plane, the tone arm actuator arm 75 has the general shape of a question mark. The shank of the question mark has, at essentially its midpoint, an elongated mounting hole that accomodates a pivot pin 76 which enables the tone arm actuator arm 75 to rotate laterally in the horizontal plane as well as to have some freedom of movement in the direction of the shank axis. The generally semicircular portion of the tone arm actuator arm 75 is disposed between the V shaped member 57 and the mainplate 20. The tone arm actuator arm 75 is, in fact, between the plane of the arms 61 and 62 and the cam gear 54. Tight spring pressure, moreover, presses the generally semi-circular portion of the arm 75 against a flat portion of the central spindle 52.In this way, in normal circumstances, the sector 55 of pressing teeth on the cam gear 54 is in registry with the gear 53 on the central spindle 52.

Further in this respect, the tone arm actuator arm 75 has a vertically oriented flange, 77 that provides a bearing suface for the stud 65 on the cam gear 54 when, in the course of the rotation of the cam gear 54, the stud 65 is rotated into contact with the flange 77 on the tone arm actuator arm 75.

The end of the straight shank on the tone arm actuator arm 75 terminates in an arcuate bearing surface 80. A friction pad 81 of cork, or the like, is fixed to the exposed end of the bearing surface 80. This end of the tone actuator 75, moreover, is spring loaded (not shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing) to press the tone arm actuator arm 75 toward axis 82 of the cam gear 54.

As the stud 65 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction it ultimately bears against the flange 77 on the tone arm actuator arm 75 in order to press the tone arm actuator arm 75 away from the axis 82 of the cam gear 54. This pressure against the force of the spring (not shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing) that is mounted at the bearing surface 80 of the tone arm actuator arm 75 causes the friction pad 81 to press against a tone arm hub 83 (illustrated in Fig. 3).

As the friction pad 81 of the tone arm actuator arm 75 pivots out of the plane of Fig. 3 of the drawing in a direction toward the observer, the friction pad 81 compels the tone arm hub 83 to move a tone arm 84 that is mounted on the opposite side of the mainplate 20 to move away from the central spindle 52.

In these circumstances the tone arm 21 moves toward a tone arm rest area that is located beyond the periphery of turntable 85.

After the tone arm actuator arm 75 has completed the movement of the bearing surface 80 out of the plane of the drawing in a direction toward the observer, any additional motion in the same direction of the bearing surface 80 does not cause further tone arm movement. In this way the mechanism automatically adjusts to a wide range of manufacturing tolerances.

Further rotation of the cam gear 54 (Fig. 1) causes the stud 65 (Fig. 1) to bear against the arcuate end of the flanged portion of the tone arm actuator arm 75. This new engagement causes the tone arm actuator arm 75 to pivot in the opposite direction that is, the bearing surface 80 and its associated friction pad 81 to pivot out of the plane of Fig. 3 of the drawing in a direction that is away from the observer.

The friction pad 81 in these circumstances once more engages the surface of the tone arm hub 83. In this instance, however, the tone arm hub 83 rotates in a direction that is oppoisite to that which shifted the tone arm 21 away from the spindle 52. Thus, in this situation the tone arm 21 shifts back toward the spindle 52.

It will be recalled that the tone arm actuator arm 75 is spring biased in a compound direction to position the bearing surface 80 and the friction pad 81 on the end of the tone arm actuator arm 75 out of contact with the tone arm hub 83 when the tone arm actuator arm 75 is not being pivoted by the combined motion of the cam gear 54 and the stud 65.

In this condition the cam gear 54 (Fig. 1) is in its nonfunctioning position with the recessed portion 55, from which some gear teeth have been removed being in alignment with the gear teeth 53 on the central spindle 52. This particular combination is perhaps best illustrated in Fig. 6, which shows the cam gear 54 and the associated stud 65 relative to the tone arm actuator arm 75.

An elongated mounting hole 84 enables the tone arm actuating arm 75 to pivot against the force applied by a compound spring 86.

One end of the spring is attached to the bearing surface 80, the other end of the spring being attached to the mainplate 20 (not shown in Fig. 6). This structural combination, as hereinbefore mentione#d, enables the friction pad 81 to bear against the tone arm hub 83 (shown in Fig. 3) only when the stud 65 is engaged with the arcuate portion of the tone arm actuator arm 75.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, it will be recalled that the tone arm actuator arm mounting hole 84 (Fig. 6) is elongated, the major axis of elongation being parallel with the axis of the shank of the tone actuator arm 75. This elongation of the mounting hole 84 permits the compound spring 86 to press the tone arm actuator arm 75 out of the plane of Fig. 3 of the drawing in a direction that is away from the observer.

The elongated mounting hole 84 also presses the bearing surface 80 and the friction pad 81 toward the tone arm hub disk 83 at this same time. In this way a firm, noncritical engagement between the friction pad 81 and the tone arm hub disk 83 is assured in a manner that improves the efficiency of the tone arm clutch movement.

AUTOMATIC TONE ARM LIFT-OFF AND SET DOWN ASSEMBLY Attention now is invited to Fig. 1 which shows the tone arm lift-off and set-down assembly 24. As illustrated schematically in Fig.

12 a tone arm set-down arm 87 is provided with a generally centrally disposed pivot aperture 90. The aperture 90 mounts the arm 87 on the mainplate 20 (Fig. 1) and permits the arm 87 to pivot in the horizontal plane. The arm 87 bears against the periphery of the portion of the three position knob 45 that protrudes below the upper surface of the mainplate 20. The knob 45 controls the speed selection for the record player. As shown, the knob 45 has a flattened cam surface 91 that presses against one side of the horizontally and pivotally mounted tone arm set-down arm 87. In this way, the knob 45 enables the arm 87 to pivot in a horizontal plane through a few degrees, depending on the contact between the adjacent portion of the tone arm set-down arm 87 and the arcuate portion or the flattened cam surface 90 of the knob.

The opposite end of the arm 87 (Fig. 1) terminates over the tone arm hub 83 (Fig.

12). The tone arm set-down arm 87 is in fact spaced above the tone arm actuator arm 75.

This vertical separation enables a stud (not shown in Fig. 1) that is staked vertically on the tone arm actuator arm 75 to move with the arm 75 under the tone arm set-down arm 87. Thus the vertical stud raises the arm 87 above the tone arm hub 83 as will be described subsequently in more complete detail.

Turning once more to Fig. 12, the portion of the setdown arm 87 which is positioned above the tone arm hub 83 is shown to have an arcuate, downward bend 92. Beyond the bend 92, in a direction toward the end of the arm 87, the portion of the arm that is spaced above the tone-arm hub 83 has a pair of notches 93, 94, that are formed in the side of the arm 87 which is adjacent to the vertically oriented tone arm shaft 95.

As described subsequently in more complete detail, the notch 93 controls the setdown function for the tone arm with respect to 12 inch diameter records. The notch 94, in contrast, controls the set-down motion of the tone arm 21 (not shown in Fig. 12) for 7 inch diameter records.

An elongated sleeve 96 is fixed to the surface of the tone arm hub disk 83. The elongated sleeve 96 is in general vertical registration with the notches 93 and 94 and also is adjacent to the tone arm set-down arm 87. Disposed within the sleeve 96, moreover, and protruding above the sleeve 96 in a direction toward the arm 87 is a smaller setdown control 97. The set-down control 97, moreover, has an infinitely fine range of adjustment with the elongated slot in the sleeve 96, the proper position of the control 97 first being determined before it finally is fixed in place.

In operation, and as best shown in Fig. 11, the cam surface 91 on the record speed selection knob 45 presses against the side of the tone arm set-down arm 87 to pivot the notch 93 (Fig. 10) into registration with the set-down control 97. on the tone arm hub disk 83. Fig. 10 shows the relative orientation of the bent portion 92 of the tone arm set-down arm with respect to the tone arm hub disk 83 and the tone arm actuator arm 75. Thus, in operation and depending on the direction of side-wise movement of the tone arm set-down arm 87 that is established by the cam surface 91 of the three position knob 45 (Fig. 11) the notch 93 (for a twelve inch record) as shown in Fig. 10 or the notch 94 (to accomodate a seven inch diameter record) is pressed into engagement with the set-down control 97 on the tone arm hub 83.

In these circumstances, as the friction pad 81 (Fig. 10) drives the tone arm hub disk 83, the sleeve 96 (Fig. 12) on the tone arm hub disk 83 engages the predetermined notch 93 or 94 to stop lateral movement of the tone arm 21 (Fig. 3) at a place appropriate to the record diameter. Arresting the side-wise motion of the tone arm results in a suitable set down for the tone arm 21 that matches either a twelve inch or-a seven inch diameter record.

The bent portion 92 assures a constant downward movement of the set-down arm 87 toward the tone arm hub disk 83. This configuration aligns the appropriate notch 93 or 94 with the path of the set-down control 97.

The tone arm set-down arm 87 not only moves in a sidewise or lateral direction but also moves vertically (Figs. 1, 10 and 12).

The vertical movement of the arm 87 elevates the notches 93 and 94 after the set down function described above has been achieved in order to enable the tone arm to operate in its play mode. Note in this respect that a suitable tone arm set-down is achieved for this device by coating the tone arm shaft 95 with a high viscosity silicone damping fluid. This vertical motion of the set-down arm 87, as mentioned before, is accomplished by means of the inwardly bent portion 92 of the arm 87.

When in the down, or low position, the preselected notch 93 or 94 (depending on record diameter) is aligned with the path of the set-down control 97 on the tone arm hub disk 83. Thus, setting the preselected notch into the path of the hub disk sleeve 96, and the consequent engagement causes a tone arm set-down.

Subsequently, the notch in the tone arm set-down arm 87 is vertically raised above the sleeve 96 and the set-down control 97 to permit free travel of the tone arm. This vertical lifting of the arm 87 is accomplished by means of the small stud which, it will be recalled, was staked vertically into the top section of the tone arm actuator arm 75 (Fig.

1). The stud on the tone arm actuator arm 75 moves in a horizontal plane with the arm 75 in order to engage the underside of the bent portion 92 of the set-down arm 87 and lift the arm 87 above the sleeve 86 and the setdown control 97.

In this manner the set-down arm 87 remains vertically spaced above the set-down control 97 because the small stud on the tone arm actuator arm 75 presses the set-down arm 87 vertically upward during record play until the record changer is manually or automatically put into cycle, as subsequently described in more complete detail. Thus, at the beginning of the record cycle the tone arm actuator arm 75, as previously described, acts to rotate the tone arm hub disk 83. In this status the small stud on the tone arm actuator arm 75 is disengaged from the set-down arm 87 thereby enabling the predetermined notch 93 or 94 to enter the path of the hub disk set-down control 97.In these circumstances, the tone arm 21 is lifted abruptly, cleanly, and swiftly from the record surface and shifted radially outward to the tone arm rest area as described in connection with the tone arm cam and gear structure assembly 23 (Fig.

1).

An improved tone arm set-down arm 87A is shown in Fig. 17. As illustrated, the arm 87A has notches 93A and 94A which serve the same functions as the notches 93 and 94 that were described in connection with Figs. 10 and 12. A tail 98, however, is added to the very end of the tone arm set-down arm 87A, the tail 98 being bent arcuately toward the tone arm hub disk 83 (shown in Fig. 12) to extend somewhat, the inclined surface of the arm 87A.

The improvement added by the tail 98 is the greater mechanical clearance it provides between the moving parts and greater flexibility in adjustment that it offers. The tone arm clutch action moreover, is less critical and also results in a delayed operation of the power switch at automatic phonograph shut-off as described subsequently in more complete detail.

RECORD PUSH-OFF ASSEMBLY The central spindle 52, best shown in Fig.

3, and in keeping with the feature of the invention does not house a complicated, expensive and difficult to maintain record pushoff mechanism. Instead, the central spindle 52 comprises a solid shaft which is received within a turntable bearing 100. The vertically uppermost third of the spindle 52 forms an offset crank that has a 15 angle. The offset crank portion 101 is oriented towards a record lowering structure 105.

Turning now to Fig. 4, an upper spindle pawl is shown linked to the spindle 52 to simplify removal of record 103 and one or more of the records in a stack 104 that rests upon the turntable 85. The record lowering structure 105 engages a peripheral portion of the record 103. A portion of the periphery of the record 103 rests on a shelf 106 that is somewhat lower than the offset crank portion of the central spindle 52. Thus, the record shelf 106 (which is illustrated in this instance accommodating 12 inch diameter records) is formed near the top of a tube 107.

As shown in broken lines in Fig. 4A, a groove 110 is formed in the upper surface of the record shelf 106. The groove 110, moreover, is in radial alignment with the record 103 (Fig. 4) and is oriented toward the center of the spindle 52. The groove, in turn, provides a guide for a push finger 111 (Fig. 4C). The push finger has a straight shank that is received within the groove 110. The end of the push finger 111 however, that protrudes into the hollow center of the tube 107 has an eye 11 2. The central aperture of the eye 11 2 receives the uppermost end or a vertically oriented push arm 113 that is mounted by means of a pivot at its vertical midpoint within the hollow central portion of the tube 107.

As shown in Fig. 4A, the vertically lowermost portion of the push arm 113 is provided with an aperture 114 that is the part of the push arm which protrudes from the hollow center of the lower end of the tube 107. The aperture 114 couples the push arm 113 to the tone arm actuator arm 75 through a wire link that is connected to the tone arm actuator arm 75 near the horizontal pivot 76 (Fig. 1) for the arm 75.

This coupling, when the tone arm actuator arm 75 moves to shift the tone arm out and over the tone arm rest, also actuates the record push arm 113 (Fig. 4A) at the same time to push record 103 (Fig. 4) off a shoulder 115 on the central spindle 52 to enable the record 103 to come along the central spindle shaft 52 to the top of the record stack 104, or the turntable 85, as the case may be. This specific configuration enables the general appearance of the record changer to be quite different from that observed in other products.

Primarily, the records rest at an acute angle relative to the horizontal when stacked on the central spindle 52. The actual lowering of a record onto the turntable 85 or the stack 104, moreover, is very quiet in view of the low force that is required to accomplish the pushoff. Further in this regard, the light weight of the record, the retarding effect of the bend in the spindle shaft 52 and the air cushion that is established under the downwardly moving record all combine to provide an almost noiseless record change.

Attention now is invited to Figs. 4B and 16 which show a seven inch record adapter attachment 116 for installation on the top of the tube 107 in order to accommodate smaller diameter records on the record player.

Accordingly, an aperture 117 is formed in one end of the generally crescent shaped attachment 11 6. The diameter of the aperture 11 7 matches the outer diameter of extension 120 that is formed on the top of the tube 107. As illustrated in Fig. 4A the extension 120 also has a hollow interior to accommodate the vertical tip of the push-arm 11 3. An elongated record push finger 121 is received in a groove 122 that is formed in the upper surface of the attachment 116. The elongated push finger 121, moreover, protrudes into the aperture 117 and extends to a recessed record shelf 123 that is formed at the opposite extremity of the crescent shaped adapter attachment 116.

Within the aperture 117 the push finger 121 has a stop 124 that engages a compression spring 125 between the stop 124 and the inner side of the aperture 11 7. The push arm 113 bears against the stop 124 to overcome the force of the compression spring 125. This causes the push finger 121 to travel in a radial direction within the groove 122 relative to the center of the seven inch record which is supported on the record shelf 123. Thus, the function and operation of the seven inch record adaptor attachment 116 is similar in operation to that which was described in connection with the 12 inch record push off construction illustrated in Fig. 4A.

Fig. 14 shows a seven inch record adapter 116' which is similar in function to the adapter 116 which was shown and described in connection with Fig. 4B.

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF SYSTEM The automatic shut-off system for the record player accomplishes two important functions. First, this automatic feature of the invention operates a toggle switch on the mainplate in order to de-energize the turntable motor assembly 22 (Fig. 1). Secondly, this automatic shut-off system keeps the tone arm 21 over the tone arm rest to the end of the record play cycle and until the record player shuts off automatically.

As~best shown in Fig. 13, a U shaped record sensor 126 is pivotally mounted on the tube 107 that comprises the main portion of the structure for the record changer system.

The record sensor 126 is pivoted to swing vertically relative to the outer surface of the tube 707. The sensor 126, moreover extends beyond the record shelf 106, to, in its middle position, swings radially inw-ard toward the center of the record, or stack of records on the central spindle 52 (not shown in Fig. 13).

Thus, the record sensor 126 provides not only the dual purpose of stabilizing the 12 inch diameter records that are supported on the shelf 106, and as described in more detail subsequently, also provides a structure for sensing the play of the last record that comes down onto the turntable. A vertically oriented rod 127 (Figs. 1 and 4) is mounted in axial alignment with the tube 107. The upper end of the rod 127 is located slightly below the upper s#urface of the last record 103 shown in Fig. 4. As the last record 103 comes down onto.the top of the stack 104, the recordsensor 126 pivots downwardly below the level of the record shelf 106. A limb of the record sensor as it swings downwardly engages and presses the rod 127 vertically downward to initiate automatic record player shut-off.

This downward movement of the rod 127 blocks the lateral movement of a tone arm setdown support arm 130 which is mounted for movement in a horizontal plane underneath the mainplate 20, as best shown in Fig. 10.

Stopping the lateral movement of the support arm 130 in the foregoing manner keeps the tone arm set-down arm 87 in its proper set-down position for every cycle of the record changer. However, as the support arm 130 is restricted to move below the tone arm setdown arm 87 in order to support the arm 87, then the set-down arm 87 is forced to a level that causes the arm 87 to engage the large elongated sleeve 96 (Fig. 12). This engagement between the tone arm 87 and the sleeve 96 keeps the tone arm 21 over the tone arm rest and shifts the position of the power switch to an "off" position.

The automatic shut-off, as applied to the operation of power toggle switch 131 (Fig.

11) is a function of the motion of a wire linkage## 132 which extends to the area of the tone arm notches 93, 94 (Fig. 12) that has a small tab 133 to which the wire linkage 132 is attached. The small tab, which is perpendicular to the surface of the tone arm, is provided with an aperture whi#ch accepts and guides the wire linkage 132 after it passes through the mounting hole. A shut-off toggle 134, in response to motion of the shut-off wire linkage 132, moves into the path of the tone arm actuator arm 87 (Fig. 10) after the last record play is registered by the record sensor 126. In these circumstances, the wire linkage 132 (Figs. 10 and 11) bears against the power toggle switch 131 and causes it to shift its position and open the circuit that supplies power to the turntable drive motor ; assembly 22 (Fig. 2).In this manner the record player system is deactivated.

To provide an end-of-play feature for records of smaller than 12" diameter a twoposition key (not shown in the drawing) is attached to the exposed end of the rod 127.

Thus, to terminate play at the end of a 7" diameter record, it is only necessary to press downwardly on the key and twist it to lock it into the lowermost position. Thus locked down, the key depresses the rod 127 which, as described above, initiates end-of-play functions that turn off the record player.

TONE ARM CUING In accordance with another feature of the invention two techniques are provided for cuin-g the tone arm. Both of these techniques, moreover, are inexpensive to manufacture and are relatively trouble-free in operation and maintenance.

It will be recalled, that a high viscosity silicone damping fluid is applied to the tone arm shaft 95 (Fig. 3). Near the portion of the tone arm 21 that is close to the shaft 95, a music wire spring loop that has a hooklike section (not shown in Fig. 3) is provided. This hooklike section extends below the crescent shaped member 74 (Fig. 1) and provides a clearance of about 3/32 inch between the hook and the adjacent crescent 74.

Schematically, the hook 135 is shown in Fig. 1 in engagement with the crescent shaped member 74. This clearance permits free travel of the tone arm (not shown in Fig.

1) while the system is in the record play operating mode. Once the tone arm is lifted manually, however, the crescent lift member 74, engaged by the hook, also is lifted beyond its normal lift point. The crescent lift member then lowers the tone arm gracefully onto the record surface because of the viscous, retarding effect of the silicone damping fluid, upon manually releasing the tone arm.

The second tone arm cuing system is best illustrated in Fig. 15. This cuing system is controlled by means of a toggle lever 136 (Fig. 2) that is pivotally mounted on the record player. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 15, the toggle lever is connected to a lower, flat portion of a horizontally moveable ramp 137 The ramp 137 is supported underneath thë mainplate 20# by means of a support bracket 140 which has an arm 141 that sustains the ramp 137 for horizontal sliding movement.

The support bracket 140, moreover is riveted, spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to the lower surface of the mainplate 20.

The lowermost end of the tone arm lift rod 73 rests upon an angularly sloping portion 142 of the ramp 137. Thus, as the ramp 137 is moved horizontally in the direction of arrow 143, the tone arm lift rod 73 is raised or lowered in the vertical direction. This particular structural arrangement has an excellent control "feel" and lifts the tone arm (not shown in Fig. 15)to a suitable height through pivotal movement of the toggle 136 (Fig. 2).

In this way, the tone arm can be shifted to an elevated position for any desired length of time, without any further manipulation. This second technique smoothly lifts the tone arm from the record surface and lowers the tone arm gracefully onto the record surface because of the silicone damping fluid on the surface of the tone arm lift member 74 (not shown in Fig. 2).

AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER VELOCITY TRIP AND MANUAL REJECT Means also are provided to shift the tone arm to the tone arm rest area and to enable another record to come down onto the turntable at the end of record play. Alternatively, these means also enable the record player to terminate operation in the manner previously described after the, last record has dropped to the turntable and its play is completed.

As best shown in Fig. 1, a stiff wire extends from the tone arm hub 83 to a lower trip plate 144. The lower trip plate 144 has# a vertical tab 145 that is positioned near the peripheral gear teeth 146 of the cam gear 54.

Adjacent, moreover, to the gear teeth 53 on the central spindle 52 is an upper trip plate 146 that is mounted over the lower trip plate 144. Both of the trip plates 144 and 146 share a common pivot 147 that joins the two plates 144 and 146 to the bottom of the mainplate 20. The upper trip plate 146 also has an upright, vertically oriented tab 150. A single gear tooth, moreover, is provided on the central spindle between the gear teeth 53 and the turntable.

In operation, under the force applied by the resilient wire rod, the upper trip plate 146 is pressed toward and engages the turntable gear 53 through the vertically oriented tab 150. The tooth that is interposed between the turntable and the gear teeth 53 sweeps the top plate tab 150 of the oncoming top plate 146 in a backward or reverse direction with each revolution of the spindle 52, except as subsequently noted. Thus, every revolution of the turntable gear sweeps the top plate backward slightly to prevent the record changer mechanism from going into the cycle that is controlled by the initiation of the rotation of the cam gear 54.

Once, however, the tone arm travel toward the trip groove in the record occurs, the top plate tab 150 is not swept out of the way by the gear tooth on the spindle 52 but fully engages the turntable gear segment 53 and thereby causes the cam gear teeth 54 to mesh with the gear teeth 53 on the central spindle 52. Thus, with the teeth of the cam gear meshed with the rotating spindle's gear teeth 53, the stud 66 begins to rotate with respect to the V shaped member 57 and the tone arm actuator arm 75. This motion cycles the system through the tone arm lift, record change and tone arm set-down actions, or alternatively, if the recod sensor 126 (Fig. 4) has dropped below the level of the record shelf 106, initiates the de-energization of an entire record player.

MANUAL REJECT To manually reject a record it is only necessary to put the turntable mechanism into cycle. To accomplish this, a music wire, or other suitably stiff, resilient rod 151 is connected from the record change and speed control knob 25 to abut the tab 150 on the upper trip plate 146. This stiff but resilient wire 151 extends beneath the turntable and passes through an opening provided in the side of the turntable well (not shown in Fig.

1).

The orientation of the record reject wire 151 is established by means of a guide (Also not shown in Fig. 1) that permits free travel of the wire in a positive direction toward the reject tab 150 on the upper trip plate 146. As best shown in Fig. 1 in the normal, nonactuating position of the reject wire 151, the wire is spaced a short distance from the adjacent surface of the tab 150. As the record change and speed control knob 25, however, is rotated about its axis in a clockwise direction, the record reject wire 151 is pressed against the adjacent face of the tab 150. This clockwise motion of the knob 25 pushes the record reject wire 151 into engagement with the tab 150 to cause the upper trip plate 146 to move into the path of the cam gear 54. In this manner the gears 53 and 54 are meshed together for the manual reject function.

Thus, there are provided in accordance with this invention several important improvements. Typically, the jam-proof record change mechanism uses inexpensive and easily manufactured parts. Tone arm movement, moreover, permits automatic compensation for changes in the shape of the friction pad which drives the tone arm. A number of functions are carried out by means of inexpensive and readily manufactured stiff wire rods. Among many of the other features of the invention are the structure by which the magnetized field for the motor that drives the turntable also draws the idler gear into driving contact with the turntable. Consequently, the invention produces a more efficient, less expensive and more easy to maintain record player than existing devices.

Claims (18)

1. A record playing apparatus comprising, a motor having an energizable magnetic field, a turntable for supporting a record to be played on the apparatus, and an idler wheel for driving said turntable, said idler wheel being driven by said motor and drawn into engagement with said turntable under the influence of said magnetic field.

2. A record player according to Claim 1 wherein said motor further comprises a shaft having at least two diameters, each of said diameters being individual to a respective turntable speed, and said idler wheel being mounted for selective engagement with each of said shaft diameters in order to drive saidturntable at each of said respective turntable speeds.

3. A record player according to Claim 2 wherein said idler wheel is mounted for movement parallel with said shaft for selective engagement with said shaft diameters, and a rod for wedging said idler wheel into the selective shaft diameter engagements.

4. A record playing apparatus comprising a turntable, a central spindle gear for rotation with said turntable, a cam gear for selective engagement with said spindle gear, a stud on said cam gear for rotation therewith, a member superimposed on said cam gear for pivotal motion in a plane parallel with said cam gear upon engagement with said stud, a tone arm lift rod, and a resilient link connecting said superimposed member with said tone arm lift rod for producing linear movement of said lift rod in response to said pivotal motion of said superimposed member:

5.A record playing apparatus comprising a turntable, a central spindle gear for rotation with said turntable, a cam gear for selective engagement with said spindle gear, a stud on said cam gear for rotation therewith, a tone arm actuator arm disposed in a plane generally parallel with said cam gear, and having a portion overlaying said cam gear for movement with said stud, said actuator arm having an elongated hole for pivotal connection to the record playing apparatus, a friction pad on a portion of said tone arm actuator arm, and a tone arm hub in contact with said friction pad for rotation in response to movement of said tone arm actuator arm, said elongated hole establishing noncritical contact between said friction pad and said tone arm hub in order to compensate for variations in the contact therebetween.

6. A record player according to Claim 5 further comprising, spring means for biasing said friction pad against said tone arm hub.

7. A record playing apparatus comprising, a tone arm set-down arm mounted on the record player for pivotal movement relative thereto, a cam for engagement with said setdown arm and for pivotally moving said arm, said set-down arm also having at least two notched sufaces formed thereon, each of said notches being individual to a specific record diameter, a rotatable tone arm hub adjacentto said notches, a pin protruding from said tone arm hub for engagement with said notches in order to arrest said tone arm hub rotation, said notches being shifted selectively into contact with said pin in response to said engage: ment between said cam and said set-down arm.

8. A record player according to Claim 7 further comprising a tone arm actuator arm adjacent to said set-down arm, said tone arm actuator arm rotating said tone arm hub, a stud on said tone arm actuator arm for bearing against said set-down arm and disengaging said set-down arm notches from said pin during record play to enable said tone arm hub to rotate.

9. A record playing apparatus comprising, a turntable, a central spindle for supporting at least one record above the turntable, a record drop structure on the record player and spaced from the periphery of said turntable, said drop structure having a shelf formed thereon for supporting an edge of the record and having a groove formed therein, said groove being- generally in alignment with a radius of the record, a push finger slidably received in said groove for selectively pushing the record from the shelf, a push arm within the record drop structure for slidably moving said push finger within said groove and a tone arm actuator arm for activating said push arm at end of record play in order to drop the record on said turntable.

10. A record player according to Claim 9 further comprising a resilient link between the push arm and the tone arm actuator arm.

11. A record player according to Claim 9 further comprising a crescent shaped attachment for connection to said record drop structure, said attachment protruding over said turntable and having a record shelf for supporting a portion of an edge of the record, a groove formed in said attachment in general alignment with a radius of the record, an elongated push finger slidably received within said groove for selectively pushing the record off said record shelf, a stop formed on said push finger for engaging a spring to disengage said elongated push finger from the record and to provide a bearing surface for said push'arm.

12. A record playing apparatus comprising a record drop structure for supporting an edge of at least one record thereon, a record sensor mounted on said record drop structure for engagement with the record supported, thereon, a rod in alignment with said record sensor on the playing apparatus and movable relative to the playing apparatus when said sensor contacts the rod after the record has been disengaged from said record drop structure, a tone arm set-down support arm laterally movable relative to the rod for replaying the record, said movable rod restraining said set-down support arm lateral motion in order to prevent the record replay and deactivate the record playing apparatus.

13. A record playing apparatus comprising, a tone arm, a hook attached to said tone arm, a tone arm lift mechanism adjacent to said hook and spaced therefrom for selectively raising said tone arm and permitting the record play, said hook selectively engaging said tone arm lift mechanism when said tone arm is raised a predetermined distance to enable said tone arm lift mechanism to permit said tone arm to bear against the record.

14. A record playing apparatus comprising, a tone arm, a tone arm lift mechanism for selectively raising said tone arm and permitting the record play, and a ramp in engagement with said tone arm lift mechanism and movable relative thereto for raising said tone arm to a predetermined height to enable said tone arm to remain at an elevated position and to bear against the record.

15. A record player according to Claim 14 further comprising a toggle pivotally mounted to the record playing apparatus for moving said ramp relative to the tone arm lift mechanism in order to raise said tone arm a predetermined distance.

16. A record playing apparatus comprising a turntable, a central spindle gear for rotation with said turntable, a cam gear for selectively meshing with said central spindle in order to turn the record playing apparatus off, a pair of trip plates for meshing said gears together, and a tone arm for contact with the record and for movement across the surface thereof, said tone arm at the termination of its movement across the surface of the record causing at least one of said trip plates to mesh said gears together and initiate new record play and termination of the record playing.

17. A record player according to Claim 16 further comprising a resilient member for manually enabling at least one of said trip plates to mesh said gears together.

18. A record playing apparatus, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.