US1495356A - Automatic stop for phonographs and the like - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1924 GMRAMSEY AUTOMATIC .STOP FOR PHOOGRAPHS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 13 1920 N QW S14/umida May 27 1924- G. RAMSEY AUTOMATIC STOP, FoR PHoNoGRAPl-Is AND THB LIKE Filed March 13, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Patented May 27, 1924.

NETE@ SAYES incassa GEORGE RAMSEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPI-IS AND THE LIKE.

Application led March 13, 1920.

T 0 all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE RAMsEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn. in the county of Kings, State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stops for Phonographs and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to the talking machine art and more particularly to an automatic stop for the record.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an automatic stop for talking machines and the like wherein no adjustment of parts is required other than those required for the ordinary playing of the record.

Another object of the present invention is an automatic stop for talking machines and the like wherein the record carrier is stopped shortly after the record stops playing and without any preliminary setting on the part of the operator.

A still further and important object of the present invention is an automatic stop for talking machines and the like wherein a stop-controllingmember isv movable consonantly with the movement o t a reproduccineedle and also is adapted to move inde,

pendently of said needle with the parts constructed in such manner that when the independent movement occurs the stopping mechanism is rendered inoperative.

A still further and important object ot the present invention is an automatic stop for phonographs and the like wherein a stop is operated through the medium of the ordinary commercial record and without any preliminary setting on the part of the operator. and irrespective ot the diameter of the terminating groove in the record.

A still further object of the present invention is an automatic stop adapted to be rendered operative by a movable member which is mechanically driven to vvhave a movement consonant with the movement of the needle during playing and to have a differential movement after the playing has ceased.

A still further object ot the present invention is a stop for talking machines and the like comprising an arm extending beneath the record-carrying table and being in. engagement with a lgroove beneath the table which 1s substantiallyl of the same spvv ral as the arnaud groove in the record.A

serial No. 365,475.

Another and important object of the present invention is an automatic stop for talking machines and the` like'comprising a record table provided with a groove of substantiallv the same spiral as the spiral of a standard record and with stop operating means adapted to cooperate with the said groove on the table. n

Other and further objects ot the present invention will in part be obvious and will in kpart be pointed out hereinafter in the specification following and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like parts are represented by like characters throughout the several figures thereof.

Realizing that the present invention may be embodied in constructions other than those specifically shown herewith, it is desired that the disclosure in this application shall be understood as illustrative and not to be taken in the limiting sense.

Figure l is an elevation of one type ot talking machine equipped with one embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a section taken on line A-A of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a. plan view of the construction disclosed in Figure l taken on line` B--B of Figure l. v

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic. view,v illustrating the principle of operation of -the construction disclosed in Figures land 2.

Heretofore in the art of talking machines, automatic stops have been devised which require the setting` ot the stop for each rec--y ord having a tone groove that terminates a sov different distance from the center of the recl ord than that of thel preceding record played.

.In the operation of such prior art devices, the successful operation is dependent upon the skill of the operator in setting the stop mechanism. It also entails eXtra movements in operating the device and the movements are such that the reproducing needle is usually swung over the record so that there is liability of the record being scratched unless the reproducing needle is always raised a suilicient distance to clear the record. v

The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the known art by providing an automatic stop which requires no special attention and which is automatically` set arrangement of a spiral groove beneath the record table with the spiral groove comprising substantially a projection of the spiral tone groove of a standard record and with the groove beneath the table of such length that it extends at both its outer terminus and its inner terminus beyond the length of the tone groove in the largest size of commercial records adapted for use on a particular instrument. A lever is mounted on the tone arm in such manner as to normally extend directly beneath the tone arm and to carry at its outer extremity a small shoe which is raised in contact with the table spiral when the reproducer needle is lowered into contact with the record to be played. Since the record spiral and the table spiral are the same it will be noted that the shoe and the reproducer travel toward the center of the record with the relationship between the needle and the shoe constant. Preferably the shoe is arranged directly beneath the needle. This consonant relation is maintained until the needle has traversed the tone groove at which time the needle no longer travels toward the center of the record. The table groove extending beyond the record groove causes the shoe to continue its travel thereby establishing a differential or relative movement between the shoe and the point of the needle. This differential movement is translated int mechanical movements t-o trip a suitable braking mechanism. This operation of the braking` mechanism will not occur until after the playing has terminated and will occur shortly after the playing` has terminated irrespective of the variations between the terminii of the tone grooves of the standard records.

1n choosing an instrument for disclosingr the particular embodiment of the presentinvention, it is illustrated as connected to a tone arm which is both vertically and horizontally movable. The invention, however, contemplates applying the mechanism to tone arms which have one portion horizontally movable and another portion ver:- tically movable. I

Referring now to the particular embodiment illustrated, the tone arm 1 carries a reproducer 2 which is equipped with a needle 4 adapted to engage the tone groove in a record 5 which is mounted upon a usual type of turntable 6. This turntable may be driven in any well known manner in view of the fact that the driving mechanism is not specifically considered in connection with the present invention. The tone arm carries a bracket 7 to which is pivoted a lever arm 8 by means of a suitable hinge 9. The hinge is so located that the lever arm 8 has a slight oscillatory movement in a vertical plane only. Preferably` a small track 10 is mounted adjacent the base 11 of the tone arm 1 in such manner as to be adjustable toward and from the tone arm base. The lever arm 8 preferably carries a small roller 12 which may be secured by a small stub screw 14 with vthe roller travelling upon the track 10 so that the track 10 acts as a fulcrum against which the lever arm 8 may rock. Preferably the forward end of the lever arm 8 carries a bell crank 15 in the outer end of which is mounted a small slice 16 of hard wood or other substantially anti-frictional material. Adjacent this bell crank the lever arm is provided with a stop 17. A tripping arm 18 is also mounted on the lever arm 8 adjacent the inner end of the lever arm and the said bell crank is connected with the tripping arm 18 by a link 19. The tripping arm 18 is connected to a small contractile spring 20 which is anchored to the lever arm 8 in such manner as normally to place the link 19 under compression thereby normally maintaining the shoe-carrying arm of the bell crank against the stop 17 of the lever arm 8 so that the shoe-carrying arm is practically an extension of the lever arm 8. It is to be noted that the lever arm 8 lat all times is directly beneath the tone arm 1 and that the lever arm 8 is rigidly held against horizontal movement, but that the bell crank arm may turn upon its pivot. The under portion of the turntable 6 is provided with a spiral groove 21 which is cut at such a pitch as to be substantially identical with the pitch of a standard record groove 22. This groove may be cut directly into the turntable itself, but preferably it is cut in a plate 211 which is attached to the under portion of the turntable. The standard commercial records are provided with means which control the reproducer needle after the needle passes from the tone groove and in one form of standard record the tone groove 22 leads to a concentric groove 25 so that after the needle has finished playing it enters this concentric groove, and consequently ceases lateral movement.

The tripping arm 18 is provided with a finger 26 which extends adjacent the arm 27 of the brake 28. This b-rake mechanism may comprise a bell crank arm carrying the arms 27 and 28 and pivoted at 29 with an overthrow spring construction 30 which normally maintains the arm 28 against the stop 31, and when the finger 26 from the tripping arm 18 bears against the arm 27 of the brake mechanism the spring overthrow construction is operated to bring the brake in contact with the turntable.

In the operation of the device it will be noted that by lifting the reproducer to position to begin playing, the hinge 9 will move forwardly in the arc of acircle'thereby causing the shoe 16 to be disengaged from the spiral 21 in the control plate 24 and since the lever arm S is rigid in a horizontal direction the arm maintains its position under the tone arm l as the tone arm is swung outwardly to position the needle at the beginning of the tone groove. As soon as the needle is set in the groove the track 1() is adjusted to press the shoe 16 into engagement with the spiral 21. After the track is once adjusted to cause this relation no further adjustment is required. It now will be noted that the shoe 16 is directly beneath the point of the needle 4 and as the turntable revolves the shoe and needle maintain the consonant relationship with one over the other until the needle enters the circular groove 25, (see Fig. 3) at which time the reproducer arm no longer swings but the shoe 16 continues inwardly. This inward movement of the shoe 16 carries the parts to the position shown in dotted lines in F igure E2 thereby causing the finger 26 to set the brake mechanism to stop the record. The curve on the face of the brake arm 27 is such as to permit the 'linger 26 to pass the brake at all times when the reproducer arm is moved horizontally over the record.

From the Joregoing descriptiony it will be noted that the present invention provides an automatic stop which will always set the broke mechanism irrespective of the point of termination of the tone groove and without any preliminary setting by the operator.

that I claim is: y

1. An automatic stop for talking machines and the like comprising a movable tone arm carrying a reproducer, a rotatable record support, means carried by said support and having a spiral groove, a shoe in engagement with said spiral groove, brake mecha-` nism capable of stopping rotation of said record support, and means operably connecting said shoe with said brake in such manner that said brake is rendered operative when said shoe is moving while the reproducer is stationary.

2. An auton'iatic st Op fortalking machines and the like comprising a movable tone arm carrying a reproducer, a rotatable record support, adapted to carry a record upon its upper surface, spiral groove carried by and beneath the record support, a shoe in engagement with said spiral groove, bra-ke' mechanism capable of stopping rotation of said record support, and means operably connecting said shoe with said brake in such manner that said brake is rendered operative when said shoe is moving while the reproducer is stationary.

3. An automatic stop for talking machines and the like comprising a movable tone arm carrying a reproducer, a rotatable record support, movable means having a spiral groove comprising a projection of the spiral of a standard record tone groove and adapted to be rotated at the same speed as the record support, a shoe in engagement with saidv spiral groove, brake mechanism capable of stopping rotation of said record support, and means operably connecting said shoe with said brake in such manner thaty said brake is rendered operative when said shoe is moving laterally while the reproducer is stationary.

4. An automatic stop for talking machines and the like comprising a movable tone arm carrying a reproducer, a rotatable record support adapted to carry a record upon its upper surface, a spiral groove carried by and beneath the record support, a shoe, means to raise said shoeinto engagement with said spiral groove, brake mechanism capable of stopping rotation of said record support, and means operably connecting said shoe with said brake in such manner that said brake is rendered operative when said shoe is moving while the reproducer is stationary. i

5. A talking machine and the like comprising a swinging tone arm, a reproducer carried by said tone arm, a record support adapted to rotate, means having a spiral groove and adapted to be rotated when said record support rotates, an arm carried by said tone arm, a shoe supported by said arm, means for causing said shoe to engage said spiral groove when the needle of the reprodueer is in engagement. with thetone groove of the record, brake mechanism for the record support, and means operatively connected with said shoe to trip said brake mechanism when said shoe is moving while the reproducer is stationary.

6. A talking machine and the like comprising a swinging tone arm, a reproducer carried vby said tone arm, a record support adapted to rotate, means having a spiral groove and adapted to be rotated when said record support rotates, an arm carried by said tone arm, a shoe supported by said arm` means for causing said shoe to engage said spiral groove when the needle ot the reproducer is in engagement with the tone groove of the record and to disengage said shoe when the needle is raised, brake mechanism for lthe record support, and moans operatively connected with said shoe to trip said brake mechanism when said shoe is moving while the reproducer is stationary.

7. An automatic stop for talking machines and the like comprising a rotating record, stop mechanism, a swinging member carrying a reprodncer. an arm mounted upon said member, means for causing the reproducerto move laterally when playing and to cease lateral movement when the playing is tinished, means beneath the record for causing said arm to move at thel same rate and in the same direction as the movement of said reproducer and to continue to move after the reproducer has stopped movement, de-

vices for operating the stop mechanism when the arm is moving while the reproducer is stationary.

8. An automatic stop tor talking machines and the like comprising a rotating record, stop mechanism, a swinging member carrying a reproducer, a swinging arm carried by said member, means comprising a spiral groove in the record 'tor causing the reproducer to move laterally when playing and to cease lateral movement when the playing is finished, means comprising another spiral groove tor causing said swinging arm to move at the same rate and in the same direction as the movement ot said reproducer and to continue to move after the reproducer has stopped movement, and devices for operating the stop mechanism when the arm is moving while the reproducer is stationary.

9. An automatic stop for talking machines and the like comprising a rotating record, stop mechanism, a swinging member carrying a. reproducer, a vertically swinging arm carried by said member, .means comprising a spiral groove in the record tor causing the reproducer to move laterally when playing and to cease lateral movement when the playing is linished, means comprising another spiral groove tor causing said swinging arm to move at the same rate and in the same direction as the movement of Said reproducer and to continue to move after the reproducer has stopped movement, and devices tor operating the stop mechanism when the arm is moving While the reproducer is stationary.v

10. An automatic stop Jfor talking ina-- .chines and the like comprising a rotating record, stop mechanism, a swinging member carrying a reproducer, a vertically swinging arm pivoted to said member, means tor causing the reproducer to move laterally when playing and to cease lateral movement when the playing is linished, a member having a spiral groove therein, means comprising a shoe in engagement with the said spiral for causing said swinging arm to continue to move after the reproducer has stopped movement, and devices for operating the stop mechanism when the arm is moving while the reproducer is stationary.

11. An automatic stop for talking machines and the like comprising a rotating record, stop mechanism, a swinging member carrying a reproducer, a vertically swinging arm pivoted to said member and restricted to move laterally with the swinging member,

. means for causing the reproducer to move laterally when playing and to cease lateral movement when the playing is finished, a bell crank on the swinging arm, means for causing one end ol' the bell crank to move at the same rate and in the same direction as the movement of said reproducer and to conafter the reproducer has tinue to move 1 stopped movement, and devices for operating the stop mechanisnii when the bell crank is moving while the reprodueer is stationary.

l2. ...Ain automatic stop for phonographs comprising a record table provided with a spiral groove having substantially the same pitch as the tone groove of a standard record, and means cooperating with the spiral groove to stop the rotation of the record table when a suitable record has been played.

13. A n automatic stop tor phonographs comprising a tone arm, a record table provided with a spiral. groove having substantially the same pitch standard record, and means carried by the tone arm and cooperating with the spiral groove to stop tl e rotation of the record table when a suitable record has been played.

lll. in automatic stop tor talking machines or the like comprising a record having a spiral tone groove, a table for supporting and rotating said record and being provided with a spiral groove, a brake mecha-- nism for stopping the rotation oli said table, a reproducer having a needle guided by said tone groove, and means guided bythe spiral groove and adapted to trip said brake mechanism when said needle reaches a predetermined position relative to said means.

l5. Ain automatic stop for talking machines or the like comprising a record having a spiral tone groove, a table for supporting and rotating said record and being provided with a spiral groove, a brake mechanism for stopping the rotation ot said table, a reproducer having a needle guided by said tone groove, and means comprising a shoe guided by the spiral groove and adapted to trip said brake mechanism when said needle reaches al predetermined position relative to said means.

16. An automatic stop tor talking machines or the like comprising a record having a tone groove, a table for supporting and rotatingA said record and being provided on the under side with a spiral groove, a brake mechanism `tor stopping the rotation of said table, a reproducer having a needle guided by said tone groove, and means guided by the spiral groove and adapted to trip said brake mechanism when said needle and said means travel laterally at different rates.

17. An automatic stop for a talking machine or the like comprising a rotating record, a needle groove in said record, a spiral control groove of the same pitch as the needle groove, a brake mechanism, sound reproducing means, control means'tor the brake mechanism operated by the control groove, and devices elitective to operate the brake mechanism when there is a differential lateral movement between. the two said means,

the tone groove of aY 18. An automatic stop for a talking machine or the like comprising a rotating record having a tone groove therein, a brake mechanism, sound-reproducing means, a spiral control groove longer than the tone groove and having the same pitch as the tone groove, control means for the brake mechanism having an engagement with the spiral groove, and devices effective to operate the brake mechanism when a predetermined relation has been reached between the two said means.

19. An automatic stop for a talking machine or the like comprising a rotating record, a brake mechanism, sound reproducing means, a spiral groove beneath the record and having the same pitch as the tone groove in the record, control means for the brake mechanism operating upon the spiral groove, and devices effective to operate the brake mechanism when there is a differential lateral movement between the two said means.

20. An automatic stop for a talking machine or the like comprising a rotating record, a needle groove in said record, a brake mechanism, sound reproducing means, a spiral groove having a length greater than the needle groove, control means for the brake mechanism operated by the spiral groove, and devices effective to operate the brake mechanism when the control means is controlled by the portion of the spiral groove which exceeds the length of the tone groove.

21. An automatic stop for a talking machine or the like *comprising a rotating record, a needle groove in said record, a brake mechanism, sound reproducing means, control means for the brake mechanism comprising a spiral groove beneath the record and of the same pitch as the record groove, a shoe in engagement with the spiral groove, and means for tripping the brake mechanism when the shoe moves relatively to the sound reproducing means.

22. In an attachment for phonographs, stop means including an element constrained to respond to the movements of the reproducer relatively to the record, and controlling means therefor including a revoluble element other than the record but revoluble with the latter, the said firstmentioned element being engageable with said revoluble element to eli'ect the stop action. the first mentioned element being disengageable from said revoluble element by the lifting of the reproducer.

23. An attachment for phonographs comprising stop means including an element constrained to respond to the movements of the reproducer, and means independent of the record adapted to co-act with said element for eecting the stopping action upon the completion of the playing of the record,

together with an element movable with the reproducer and the first element, and movable independently ofthe first element to effect the stopping action.

24. In a phonograph attachment of the class described, automatic stop means, and actuating means therefor independent of the phonograph record, said stop means including a style adapted to be engaged by said actuating means and movable with the reproducer as well as movable independently of its movement with the reproducer to engage said actuating means.

25. In a phonograph attachment of the class described, stop means including an element constrained to respond to the setting and playing movements of the reproducer, and a stop actuating element revoluble with the revolving movement of the record and engageable by said first-mentioned element for controlling said stop means and causing it to function upon the completion of the playing movement of the reproducer by a movement of said first element in addition to the movement of said element with said reproducer.

26. In a phonograph attachment of the class described, a grooved element, means to revolve said grooved element with the revolving of the phonograph record, and stop means including a member engageable by said grooved element to be actuated thereby and cause the stop means to function'by a continued movement of the engaged member in the same direction upon the completion of the playing of the record.

27. In a phonograph attachment of the class described, stop means including an element constrained to have vertical movement responsive to the setting of the phonograph needle, and the lifting thereof from the record, and to have lateral movement respon-` sive to the lateral playing movement of the needle, a style carried by said element adapted to have movement relatively thereto, and means to effect a stop action by said relative movement of the style; together with controlling means independent of the` record to cause said relative movement of the style when the lateral playing movement of the needle is completed.

28. In an attachment for phonographs, an element constrained to respond to the movements of the tone arm relatively to the record in playing, members on said element and controlling means, vsaid controlling means moving with the revolving of' the record and having a movement beyond the movement of the needle toward the center of the record in playing to impart relative movement to said members; together with a stop device subject to said relative movement of said members.

29. In a phonograph attachment of the class described, a stop device, and automatic controlling means therefor controlled by the setting of [he needle for playing and 'free of engagenlent with the record groove, the stop device and controlling means being (lisengagealole by the lifting of the i'eproclucer from the record.

30. ln a phonograph attachment7 stop means including an element constrained to partake of the movements of LLhe tone arm to be thereby automatically se?l with the setting of jshe tone arm and needle for playing, a revoluhle clemenJ independent of the phonograph record, and engageahle with said inst-mentioned element to control said stop means and cauce the latter to 'function upon the completion of the playing of die record7 Said Stop means including a pivoterl element adapted to exert braking action on said revoluble controllingelement.

3l. in automatic stop for talking maI chincs and the like comprising a rotating record, a brake, a reproducer movable over said record While playing and Stationary to Said record when the playing has finished, and. means automatically sei; and automaticall)V opeiaerl to set: the brake when the playing is finished.

GEORGE RAMSET.

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