GB966554A - Automatic gramophones - Google Patents

Abstract

966, 554. Juke-boxes. WURLITZER CO. Feb. 1, 1961 [Feb. 1, 1960], No. 3814/61. Heading G5R. A toroidal record magazine 18 is mounted on the end of a vertical shaft 78, which is rotated to bring a chosen record to a transfer position 24 where an arm 94 lifts it and pushes it up a shoot 100 to a play position 26 where it is located by a conical plunger 28 on the end of a playing mandrel 30, selectively driven in either direction by a pair of motors 210, 212. As the plunger 28 engages, a spring 38 causes dogs 40 to clamp the record against a mandrel flange 42 where it can be engaged by one or other of two pick-ups 112, 114, Fig. 4. Selector mechanism. The record chosen is in dependence on the raised one of a number of members 50, 52 arranged in two concentric circles on a stationary plate 56. The members 50, 52 may be tripped into an upper protruding position under the influence of springs 64 by inward pressure applied at the lower end in the direction of the arrow 65. The protruding member 50 or 52 intercepts a pin 44 or 46 on a plate 48 during its rotation with the magazine 18 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, so that the rotation of plate 48, and with it the magazine, is immediately arrested. Playing mechanism. To initiate play, a plate 76 driving the plate 48, through a spring 72, performs a slight extra movement determined by the setting of a stop in 84, and this extra movement causes a switch 88 to be operated to start the record playing mechanism and, in particular, to cause the link 92 to be released whereby the arm 94 moves the chosen record to the playing position. Playing either sides of records. Both pick-up arms 112, 114 until play is initiated are held away from the record 22, against the tension of springs, by cam operated levers 156, 138, respectively, and are locked in such position by catch levers 162, 170, respectively. If it is a member 50 which has been tripped, i. e. one of the members 50 on the outer concentric circle, a bellcrank lever 194 on plate 48 will be caused to operate a switch 180 and close the circuit of a solenoid 176 whereby catch lever 170 is released to permit pick-up arm 114 to be lowered under the influence of a cam 134. At the same time motor 212 is switched on to cause the appropriate direction of rotation of the record 22. Similarly, if it is one of the members 52 which has been tripped, a switch 178 is operated to release pick-up arm 112 and to start motor 210 in the opposite direction to motor 212. Stop mechanism. At the end of playing, a limit switch (e.g. 132), is operated by the limiting swing of the pick-up (e.g. 114), which causes the pick-up arm in use to be lifted and returned to the initial position and the record released so that it returns to its original position in the magazine. Should the record fail to return, the shoot 100 will tilt and a safety switch then stops the machine.