US1394804A - Automatic universal reproducer and tone-arm - Google Patents

Description

c. BENDEH. AUTOMATIC UNIVERSAL REP-BODUCER AND TONE AHM. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9,1920.

1,394,804. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

INVENTOR @man cendez:

UNITED STATES CHRISTIAN C. BENDER, `OlE" SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

AUTOMATIC UNIVERSAL REPRODUCER AND TONE-ARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Application led February 9, 1920. Serial No. 357,433.

T 0 (1U whom it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, .CHRISTIAN C. BENDER,

'a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Seattle, county of King, and State of ldlashington, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsI in Automatic Universal Reproducers and Tone-Arms, of which the following is aI specification.

My invention relates to phonograph reproducers, and tone-arms, intended for playing all of the principal types of records now on the market, and may be called a universal phonograph. A

It is my object to produce a phonograph which will play all of the principal types and classes of records now existent under the conditions best suited for their reproduction,/especially regarding position 'and pressure of the needle upon the record, and without the necessity of changing needles when adapting the phonograph for a different'type of record.

Two faults are common to practically all of the reproducers which attempt to play all records, and at least one of the two occurs in all of them, Either the person playing the phonograph must change needles whenever it is desired to play a different type of record, or, after changing the reproducer to present a different type of needle, they must perform a second operationthey must vary the weight of the outer end of the tone-arm, or in some other way!` change the pressure of the needle upon the record. If this second operation is left to be performed by the usual unskilled operator, it will in many cases be overlooked, and the record will not be reproduced under conditions necessary to bring abo-ut the best results. If the means for changing the pressure upon the record is automatically operated when the reproducer is moved to bring a new needle into playing position, so that Vthe pressure of the needle upon the record always corresponds to the pressure required for playing with the needle then in playing position, one operation produces all of the chan es required, and the possibilities of a mista e are eliminated.

.It should ,be `understood in this connection that there are two general types of records, the hill-and-dale type,v and the lateral-cut type. The hill-and-dale type is further subdivided into two classes, one requiring .a

heavy pressure of the needle upon the .rec'

0rd, and the other requiring alight pressure,

The Pathe record is one of the first class, and the Edison one of the second. The Victor and Columbia records are of the lateralcut type, and require an intermediate pressure.

Associated with my object stated above is another, to keep the needle always properly centered upon the record; that is, upon an arc drawn from the vertical pivot of the t0ne-arm as a center, through the axis of the turntable and record, no matter at what v playing angle it is turned to the record.

Another object is to produce an automatically operating universal reproducer which will be so constructed that it lcan not easily be tampered with.

Other objects will appear from. an inspection of the accompanying drawings, speciication, and claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in a form which is now preferred by me, though it will be evident that changes in construction and design may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as defined by the claims.

My invention comprises those novel features which are shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the specification, and defined by the claims terminating the same.

Figure 1 isa plan view of an embodiment of my invention, part of a guard casing being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of my invention, parts of the guard casing being shown in section and the reproducer being shown in an intermediate position between a change from the playing position of one needle to the playing position of another.

Fig. 3 is a detail view, showing a reproducer in section and with the playing needle in its proper playing position.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the reproducer and associated parts, taken from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 2, a portion of the tone-arm being shown in section and the guard casing being omitted.

The tone-arm 1 may be of anystandard or usual construction andwould be mounted, as is common in such tone-arms, for horizontal rotation about its base 10, and also for 'vertical movement from this point. At its the tone-arm for rotation about its own axis,`

and also'for bodily rotation about another,

an inclined axis.

' The constructlon of the reproducer 2 in so far as the reproducing mechanism, the

needle holders 20 and the like parts, are conce1-ned, may be of any suitable or ordinary construction. Instead of one needle holder, however, I provide a plurality of these. In the form shown in the accompanying illustration I have provided three of these needle holders. Their position relative to the reproducer may be arranged as is found best suited to the proper reproduction of the record which they are designed to play.

In each of the needle holders 20 I secure a suitable playing needle, but for each needle holder I provide a different style of needle. In one I may provide a needle P with ball point and adaptedfor playing a round groove, hill-and-dale type of record, as the 4Pathe record. In the needle holder opposite the needle P I may place a needle E, whichhas a sharp point and is adapted for playing the fine grooved hill-and-dale record such as the Edison record. Between the positions of the needles P and E I will position a needle holder for receivin 4the needle V. This needle is of a type suitable for playing lateral-cut records such as the Victor or Columbia records. It is ",obvious that more needle holders for'holding other types of needles may be employed if desired and also, if desired, the reproducer might be made with any one of the needles just described omitted.

The reproducer 2 being rotatable about its-own axis, any one of the needles P, V, or E may be presented to a record R. To properly position needles P and E for the hilland-dale records the reproducer may be turned bodily in its pivot 12 to present lthe needle at the proper angle to the record. The angle ofthe pivot axis at 12 may be so arranged that in turning the reproducer bodily about this axis the needle point will always remain at the same distance from the vertical axis of the tone-arm, at 10, so that the needles will properly center upon the record; that is, they will always be upon an arc drawn from the vertical axis of the tone-arm as a center through the center of rotation of the record R. If desired a handle 21 may be secured to the reproducer to turn it and also a suitable -guard 22 may be secured upon the elbow 11, surrounding the reproducer and its needles, so that the operator will not injure himself upon any of the projecting needles, and also to prevent more'than one needle from projecting toward the record at any time.

As the tone-arm 1 is mountedA in its base 10 for vertlcalmovement, the downward pressure at its end will depend upon the length of the tone-arm and upon the downward forces at its end, and whatever resistance may be employed counter to thel downward force at its end. rlhe pressure at the outer end of the tone-arm may be varied either by lengthening the tone-arm' or by varying the resistance to the downward pressure,- assuming that the downward forces, due to the weight of the parts at the outer end of the tone-arm, are constant. As a means of varying the resistance to the downward pressure at the outer end of the tone-arm I may 'employ a weight 3 which is secured to move toward and from the outer end of the tone-arm. As herein shown the weight 3 is adjustably mounted by means of the set screw 30 upon the outer end of an arm 31 which is pivoted at 32 upon the base of the tone-arm for movement toward and from its outer end. A quadrant or retaining bar 33 may be employed to guide the arm 31, as desired.

The movement of the weight 3 is arranged to be automatically controlled by the movement of the reproducer 2 to bring one or the other of the needles into playing position. Any suitable or desirable means may be employed to effect this automatic actuation. The means herein shown comprises a groove 23 in one face of the reproducer and a cam follower 24 secured upon the outer end of an arm 25, which is actuated byv said cam groove 23. The inner end of the arm 25 is connected by means of the link 26 with the arm 31, so that reciprocation of the arm 25 will move the weight 3 forward and backward. The cam groove 23 is eccentric of the pivot axis of the reproducer so that rotation of the latter will cause the rod 25 to reciprocate, thus automatically changing the position of the weight 3 with the rotation of the reproducer 2 to present a new needle to the record.

As it is necessary, in order to secure the best results from the hill-and-dale type of records which are played by the needles P and E, to rotate the reproducer bodily to present the needle at the proper angle to the record, the cam follower 24 must be disengageable from the cam groove 23, in the .form of construction herein shown, in order to permit this rotation of the reproducer. .The means which I have shown herein for permitting disengagement of the groove 23 by the `follower 24 comprises a series of notches 26 so placed that when the needles e pivot axis of the reproducer.

a To hold the rod 25 in Iixed'position it may should be freely releasable with the further movement of the rod.

It is one of my objects to make the device entirely automatic so that the operator will need to adjust no parts of the device. In order that it may not be tampered with by unskilled operators I may inclose the device in a case 17. so that all ofthe working parts are inclosed. The casing 17 may be secured to the tone-arm 1 or in any other suitable manner. To permit the cam follower 24 to engage in the cam groove 23, a slot 29 may be cut in the guard casing 22.

In operation, when'it is desired to change the reproducer to play a different style of record, it. must first be rotated bodily if in the position shown in Fig. 3 to bring the l cam roller 24 back into the groove 23. -The reproducer may then be rotated by the handle 21 to a position where the desired needle will be presented tothe record. If it is .desired to change to a Victor type of record the reproducer is rotated until needle V is resented in playing position to the record.

he cam follower 24 will have been moved through its communication with the groove 23 into a position midway between its extreme inner and its extreme outer position. Thusthe weight 3 will have been moved through its connection 'with the inner end of the rod 25 to a position midway between its extreme positions `and will have no effect in varying the resistance to the downward pressure of the needle upon the record.' If the normal resistance of the tone-arm is so proportioned that the pressure at the needle is normally the pressure required for Victor records, with the weight 3 in its intermediate position the pressure ofthe needle upon the record will be just the proper amount.

It will be noted also that with needle V in playing position the roller 24 is midway between` two notches 26. In this position the roller cannot be disengaged from the groove 23 and the reproducer cannot be swung bodily into the position required for hilland-dale records. This prevents the possi! bility of an error in positioning the reproducer for lateral-cut records. It will be necessary, however, for the operator always to rotate the reproducer into the position re quired for the hill-and-dale type.

lWith the wei ht 3 in its extreme rear po sition as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will operate through its connection with the tonearm through the link 26 and rod 25 to increase the resistance to the downward pressure at the outer 'end of the tone-arm, and will, in effect, lighten the tone-arm. This causes a lighter pressure of the needle upon the record, which is the condition most favorable for playing Edison records. `With the weight 3 in its extreme forward position it will operate through the same connections to increase the weight upon the outer end of the tone-arm so that the needle will press most heavily upon the record.4 This is the condition required' for playing Pathe records to the best advantage. -This position is shown in Fig. 3.

It might be found desirable to employ two needles of the type for playing lateral-cut records, one being of the style known as soft .opposite position.

What I claim as my'invention is: 1. In a phonograph, a reproducer having a single diaphragm and adapted to receive simultaneously three independent needles therein, said reproducer being movable to bring any one of said needles into operable position, and means operable through the movement of said reproducer when the latter is connected thereto for changing the pressure of said needles upon the record.

2. In a phonograph, a tone-arm pivoted for vertical movement, a reproducer adapted to receive a plurality of playing needles, and rotatably mounted upon the outer end of said tone-arm, a lever, a weight secured upon said lever outward of its pivot, said weight being movable toward and from the outer end of the tone-arm, and means adapted to be operatively connected to the reproducer, and'operable by rotation of the reproducer for moving said lever and weight.

3. In a phonograph, a tone-arm pivoted for vertical movement, a reproducer adapted to receive a plurality of playing needles and rotatably mounted upon the outer end of Said tone-arm, a lever pivoted upon a horizontal axis near the base of the tonearm for movement toward and from the outer end thereof, a weight secured upon said lever outward of its pivot, and means adapted to be operatively connected to the reproducer, and operable by rotation' of the toy receive a plurality of independent playing needles and rotatably mounted upon the outer end of said tone-arm, a rod extending outwardly adjacent said tone-arm, a cam roller carried upon the outer end of said rod, said reproducer having a cam groove therein eccentric to its axis of rotation, and adapted to receive said cam roller, and means operated by the inner end of said rod for varying the downward pressure at-the outer end vof said tone-arm.

5. In a phonograph, a tone-arm pivoted for vertical movement, a reproducer adapted to receive a plurality of independent playing needles and rotatably mounted upon the outer end of said tone-arm, -a lever lpivoted upon the tone-arm for movement toward and from the outer end thereof, a weight sereproducer being selectively movable 'to v thereto for changing the cured upon said lever outward of its pivot, a rod having one end connected to said lever, and a cam roller carried upon the outer end ofsaid rod, saidv reproducer havingva cam groove therein eccentric of its axis of rotation, and adapted to receive said cam roller. 6. Ina phonograph, a reproducer having a single diaphragm and adapted to receive simultaneously a plurality of independent playing needles differing in requiring each a different pressure upon the record", said brlng any one of said needles into playing position relative to a record, and means controlled by the change in position of said0 needles when thev reproducer is connected pressure of the needles upon v the record. v

7. Ina honograph, a tone-arm, a repro.

' ducer having a pluralityv of needle holders each adapted to receive a needle for playing a diferenttype'of record, said reproducer being pivoted upon the outer end of said,

1tone-arm for rotation upon its own axis and for rotation `bodily about another axis, and

means controlled bythe rotationof said reproducer aboutits own axis when the reproducer is connected thereto for changing the pressure of the needles upon the record.

Y 8. In a phonograph, a tone-arm, a reproducer having a plurality of needle holders each adapted to receive a needle for playing a different type of record, said reproducer being vplvoted upon the outer end of the tone-arm for rotation upon its own axis and for rotation bodily about another axis, said reproducer having a cam groove eccentrically placed relative to its axis, a rod extending outwardly adjacent the outer end of the tone-arm, a cam follower upon the outer end of said rod adapted to be engaged lin said cam groove, and adapted to be disengaged therefrom by bodily rotation of the reproducer about its second-mentioned axis, and means operable by the movement of said rod for changing the pressure of the needle then presented in playing position of the recor 9. In a phonograph, a tone-arm, a reproducer pivotally mounted thereon and having a plurality of needle-holders adapted to hold each a diii'erent type of needle, said reproducer being rotatable to bring a selected needle' into playing position relative to a record, and a guard carried by said'tone-arm and surrounding said reproducer to permit the protrusion of one needle f only at one time.

10. In a phonograph, a tone-arm pivoted for vertical movement, a reproducer including a single diaphragm upon the outer end of said-tone-arm adapted toy receive Aa plurality of diferentneedles, andv movablegselectively to present any one needle in playing position, means for changing the downward pressure of said needles upon the record comprising a weight movable lengthwise ,of said tone-arm, andv means adapted to'fcorineet said reproducer and said, weight to change the position of the weightautomaticallyas the position of the reproducer is changed, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a phonograph, a reproducerhaving a single diaphragm and adapted-,to receive simultaneouslytwo independent needles for playing. hill-and-dale type records, said needles varying in requiring different pressures upon the record, said reproducer being movable to bring either one of said needles into operative position, and a weight movable with the rotationl of the reproducer when the latter is connected thereto to change the pressure of said needles upon the record. A A

Signed at Seattle, King county, Washington this 31 da of January, 1920.

C RISTIAN C. BENDER.

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