GB599743A - Automatic phonograph - Google Patents

Abstract

599,743. Magazine gramophones. THIGGS, W. W. (Farnsworth Television & Radio Corporation). June 12, 1945, No. 14894. [Class 40 (ii)] In a magazine gramophone of the type in which records are stored above the turntable on diametrically opposite supports, the said supports are of unequal height and have sliding members which alternately displace the lowermost record in opposite horizontal directions to effect disengagement from the shelves of the supports, after which it is received by an elevating member which lowers the record to a horizontal position and then releases it on to the turntable. During a record-changing cycle, controlled by a cycling cam-disc 120, the slidable member 53 of the support 34, Fig. 5, moves inwards to displace the edge of the lowermost record from the fixed shelf 37A so that it falls on to a secondary shelf 55 which is fixed to the slidable member 53. Immediately afterwards a slidable member 87 (or 88 when records of the larger size are in use) of the support 35 moves inwards to displace the other edge of the record from the shelf 38A (or 38B) so that it falls on to a member 91, which meanwhile has taken up the position shown in Fig. 6, but which is almost immediately lowered again so that the hole in the centre of the record engages the conical tip 45 of the turntable spindle 44. Almost immediately the secondary shaft 55 is completely withdrawn so that the edge of the record leaves the secondary shelf 55. At the same time, the supporting member 91, influenced by the groove 97 in the post 92, swings clear of the record and allows it to drop on to the turntable 15, Fig. 7. Provision for records of alternative size is made by a manual control which causes the support 35 to be rotated 90 degrees, the support 34 moved inwards or outwards by an appropriate amount, and the pick-up arm starting point modified, as described with reference to Fig. 4 (not shown). Details are also given of the pick-up arm control and automatic initiation mechanism which is operated by the quickening of the pick-up traverse at the run-off groove. Driving is effected by a friction-pulley in contact with the inner part of the turntable rim.