US1889786A - Automatic cut-off switch - Google Patents

Description

B E. MILLS AUTOMATIC GUT-OFF SWITCH Dec. 6, 1932;

Filed Feb. 10, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 6, 1932. B. E. MILLS AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF swITcH Filed Feb. 10,1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 6, 1932. B'E. MILLS 1,889,786

AUTOMATIC CUT OFF SWITCH Filed Feb. 10, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE BERT E. KILLS, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NOVELTY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS .au'rom'rro our-Orr swnron Application filed February 10, 1930. Serial No. 427,360.

This invention relates to an automatic cutoff switch for use in connection with an automatic multiple recordphonograph.

An object of the invention is to provide in a multiple record phonograph a switch which is automatically controlled by the movement of the tone arm of the phonograph to start a record changing 0 eration.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch of this character, the action of which is equally well adapted to control a record changing operation whether the record be of the type which is terminated b aneccentric tone. groove or whether it be 0 the type having tone grooves proceeding in a normal spiral to the end of the record.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as I proceed with my specification, which taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, discloses, a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawin s:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away, showing an automatic multiple record phonograph provided with the automatic switch of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partially broken away, showing the automatic phonograph mechanism and the automatic switch, the position of the tone arm at the beginning of the record being shown in solid lines and the position of the tone arm at the end of the record being shown in dotted lines;

Fig 3 is a wiring diagram of the record changing motor circuit;

Fig. 4 is a perspective. view of the automatic cut-ofi switch, the switch being in the open position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the automatic cut-off switch, the switch being in one of the closed positions;

Fig. 6' is a broken elevational view, partly in section, showing the connection between the switch lever and the tone arm.

A series of radially disposed record supports 10 are mounted on a hub-11, which is carried by a shaft 12, the opposite ends of which are j ournaled in a pair of uprights 13 which extend upwardly from a base 14. The record supports 10 are provided with a central aperture, in which are secured sleeves 15, which are provided with s indles 16, the

spindles being adapted for ree rotation in the sleeves 15. Record supporting plates 17, for holding the records 18, are fixedly secured to the spindles 16, and the records 18 are removably secured to the record supports 17 by lock-clips 19. The records are moved to and from the playing station by a record chan ing motor'20, the armature of whichis suita ly geared to a gear wheel 21, the teeth of which enga e the links of a chain 22 which drives a sproc et wheel 23 mounted on the shaft 12.

The records are driven by a disc motor 24, which is provided with a friction drive wheel 25 which turns with the armature shaft of the motor. The peripheral edge of the record plates 17 is bevelled to afford a driving face for the friction wheel 25. The motor 24 is pivotally mounted at 26 in a'yoke 27 which is supported on the base 14.

The reproducer assembly comprises a tone arm support member 28, pivotally mounted at 29 to an upright 30 carried by the base 14; and a tone arm 31 on the outer free end of which is mounted a pick-up 32 carrying the needle 33. The tone arm 31 is connected to permit double pivotal movement relative to the tone arm support member 28. It is directly mounted on a pin 34, which permits it to pivot about a horizontal axis, and a bracket 35, which carries the pin 34, is pivotally secured at 36 to the tone "arm support member 28. This double pivotal type ofmounting permitstthe tone arm to fold back into inoperative position against the tone arm support member 28 when the reproducer assembly is tilted into semivertical osition. A

stop flange 37 limits the return pivotal movement of the tone arm as it folds back into inoperative position against the tone arm support member 28.

. Both the reproducer assembly and the disc motor 24 are arranged to be automatically -moved into and out of operative position by the movement of the record carrier. For this purpose'there is provided a cam ring 38,

which is peripherally disposed about the record supports 10 and-securedthereto by brackets 39. The cam ring 38 is rovided with a series of cam rooves 40, whic are arranged to correspon to the successive records and which are adapted, through cam action,

to control the tilting movement of both the reproducer assembly and the disc jmotor 24. The tilting movement of the reproducer assembly is efiected by a lever 41 which is pivotally mounted at 42 to an upright 43 carried by the base 14. The upper end of the lever 41 is provided with a hook portion 42, which is arranged to engage a stud 43 on the record support member 28, and the lower end of the lever 41 is provided with a cam roller 44, which is arranged to drop into the cam grooves 40 to permit the lever 41 and the tone arm support member 28 to pivot into -opera-. tive position. The movement of the disc I motor 24 is efiected by a cam stud 45 which is carried on an apron 46, said apron being fixedly secured to the shell of the motor. The cam stud 45 is positioned to engage a cam groove 46 which is formed in the lever 41, so that the turning movement of said lever controls both the movement of the reproducer assembly and the disc motor 24. It will beunderstood that upon movement of the record carrier after the completion of the playing of a record, the

lever 41 will be turned in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 1, which movement will turn both the reproducer assembly and the disc motor 28 into inoperative position.

If desired, selector mechanism may be provided for permitting the playing of a desired record. Referring to Fig. 1, a suitable mechashown) carried by the carrier shaft 12.

When the circuit is broken by the selector ele ments the armature-50 drops and allows the latch 47 to fall, which disengages the cam roller 44. The selector mechanism just referred to forms the subject matter of my 00- nding application, Serial No. 427,359, filed F ebruary 10, 1930. Y

The movement of the tone arm 31 is arranged to automatically start a' record changing operation upon the completion of the.

playing of a record. The mechanism for this purpose consists of an automatic cut-ofi switch which is actuated by the movement of the tone arm 31 to complete the circuit through the record changing motor 20.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, the automatic cut-.ofiz switch. comprises a switch lever 51 which is pivotally mounted them inwardly against the switch plate 53.

Depending lugs 63 and 64, carried by the switch arms 54 and 55, respectively, engage the edge of the switch plate 53 and hold the switch arms in spaced-apart relation. The

switch lever 51 is normally held approximately midway between the adjacent switch arms by a spring 65 which is connected at one end to the free end of the lever 51 and at the other end to a fixed point 66 on the switch plate 53. The free end of the switch lever 51 is provided with a depending lug 67 which extends through a slot 68 in the switch plate 53, said lug serving as a connecting terminal for a conductor 68' which extends below the switch plate 53 to the terminal pivot 52; A'conductor 69, extending below the switch plate 53, connects the switch arms 54 and 55.

The inner free end of the switch lever 51 is provided with a toothed rack 70 which is adjustably secured to the lever by the screws 71. The tone arm 31 carries an extension 72 on the end of .which is secured a bracket 73 which carries a pawl 74, said pawl having pivotal connection'at 75 with the bracket 73. A sto upper edge of the pawl 4 engages aprojection 77 on the bracket 73 to prevent excessive turning of the pawl when the tone arm is raised. P

As the tone arm 31 progresses across the face of the record the across the teeth of the-rack 70 and the switch lever 51 remains in neutral position. If the 76 carried on the.

pawl 74 rides freely record is of the type in which the tone grooves 1 F progress in a uniform spiral to the innermost groove as shown at 78,- (Fig. 2) the pawl 74 will progress across the rack 70 until it engages a stop 79, as shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the switch lever 51 will be turned until the contact 60 engages the contact 58, where uponthe circuit through the record changing motor 20 will be com leted and a record changing operation will e started. If, on the other'hand, the record is of the type in which the tone grooves terminate in an ec-. centric, g'roove'as shown at 80, (Fig.. 2) the awl 74 will pass over the teeth on the rack 0 until the eccentric groove is reached by the needle, whereupon the reverse throw caused by movement of the needle in the eccentric groove will cause the pawl 74 to em gage the teeth on the rack 70, which in turn pivots the switch lever 51.unt il the contact 61 engages the contact 59, whereupon the cir cuit through the record changing motor 20.

is completed and a record changing operation is started.

hen the tone arm 31 is tilted sufiiciently to remove the pawl 74 from the rack 70, the switch lever 51 will return to tion. I employ a running switch for carrying the circuit of the record changing motor after the motor has been started by the automatic cut-oil switch just described. Re;

ferring to Fig. 1, this switch-comprises, a

switch arm 81 which is pivotally secured at 82 to an insulation plate 83, said plate being secured to the upright and a contact 84 mounted on the insulation plate 83. The upper end of the switch lever 81 is provided with a contact 85 and the lower end of the lever is arranged to engage a shoe 86, which is carried by the lever 41. As the lever 41.

turns to raise the reproducer assembly into inoperative position the switch arm 81, under proper spring action, is turned by movement of the lever 41, and the circuit through the record changing motor 20 is completed through the contacts 84 and 85.. When the reproducer assembly is lowered, preparatory to the playing of a record, the running switch will be opened by the action of the shoe 86 on the lower end of the switch arm 81 and the record carrier will be stopped'at the playing station.

A wiring diagram for the record changing motor circuit is shown in Fig. 3. The automatic cut-ofit' switch is inserted in one side of the line and theruiming switch is placed across the line between the automatic cut-ofi switch and the record changing motor 20.

The circuit through the motor 20, therefore, may be completed through the automatic cutoff switch even though-the running switch is open. By the time the automatic cut-ofi switch has been opened by the removal of the pawl 74 from the rack 7 0,.the running switch has been closed and the circuit is completed through the motor 20 even matic cut-oil switch is open.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstandin only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire-to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic phonograph, the combination with a tone arm and electrically operated means for eilecting a record change, of mechanism for starting operation of said record change means upon termination of the 7 playing of a record, said mechanism comprising a pair of spaced switch arms, a switch lever fulcrumed between said arms and having contact elements for engaging said arms close a circuit for energizing said record neutral. posi-" though the autochange means, and'means affording operative connection between said lever and the tone arm whereby upon uniform movement of the tone arm to the end of a record said lever is pivoted in direction to contact with one of said arms,- said connecting means being further operative to pivot sa1d lever in direction to contact with the other arm upon reverse movement of the tone arm at the end of a record. Y

2. The combination with the tone arm of an automatic multiple record phonograph of an automatic cut-01f switch actuated by movement of said tone arm to start a record changing operation, said switch including a switch arm adapted to start said record changing operation upon uniform movement of said tone arm to the end of a record, a second switch arm adapted to start said record changing operation upon reverse movement of said tone arm at the end of a record, a switch lever having contacts for engaging said arms, and means afi'ording operative connection between said lever and the tone arm cwhereby movement" of the latter pivots said lever into contact with one or the other of said arms depending upon the direction of movement of end of a record.

3. The combination with the tone arm of an-automatic multiple record phonograph of an automatic cut-off switch. actuated by movement of said tone arm to start a record changing operation, said switch comprising a double-contact switch lever operatively connected with said tone arm, a switch arm positioned adjacent said switch lever and adapted to make contact therewith upon movement of said lever in one direction, and a second switch arm positioned adjacent said switch lever and adapted to make contact g playing of a record, said mechanism includmg a pair of spaced switch arms, a switch lever fulcrumed between sa1d arms and havthe tone arm at the ing contact elements for engaging said arms Y to close a circuit for energizing said record change means, connection between said lever and the tone arm whereby said lever is moved in direction to contact-one of said arms upon uniform movement of the tone arm to the end of a record, said connecting means being further operative to move said leverin direction/to contact with the other of said arms upon reverse movement of the tone arm at the end .of a record, and a running switch arranged in parallel circuit relation to said starting switch mechanism for maintaining a circuit andmeans afiordlng operative.

"and pawl being arranged to pivot said lever through the record change mechanism following movement of the starting switch mechanism to open circuit position.

5. In an automatic phono aph, the com-' binationwith a tone arm an electrically operated means for effecting a record change, of switch mechanism for starting operation of said record change means upon termination of the playing of a record, said mechanism comprising a pair of spaced switch arms, a switch lever fulcrumed between said arms and having contact elements for engaging said arms to close a circuit for ener-- gizing sald record change means, a rack bar carried by said lever, a pawl carried by the tone arm for engaging said bar, said rack in one direction to efli'ect contact with one of said arms upon uniform movement of the tone arm to the end of a record, and in the opposite direction to effect contact with the other of said arms upon reverse movement of the tone arm at the end of a record.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.v BERT E. MILLS.

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