US1961972A - Apparatus for the manipulation and playing of disk records - Google Patents

Description

A. W. lNGALL.

June 5, 1934.

` APPARATUS FOR THE MANIULATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. 3l, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet l A June 5, 1934. A Wl [NGALL 1,961,972

APPARATUS FOR THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. 31, 1951 14 sheets-'sheet 2 A a; 'lnvsm'om l v I June 5, 1934.` A Wl lNGALL 1,961,972

lAPPARA'IUS FOR .THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYING oF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. 51, 1931 1.4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNvENToR. .LL-7.5. ALFRED \^l.NeALL./, :BY f 1 June 5, 1934. A. w. INGALL 1,961,972

APPARATUS FOR THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. 51. 1931 14 sheets-sheet 4 4 1N'VEN-ro.

ALFRED w. INGALL f a@ Y ATT June 5, 1934. A, W INGALL 1,961,972

APPARATUS FOR THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. 3]., 1931 14 SheeS-Sheet 5 \NvEN-ron.

A TT Ys.

A. W. INGALL June 5, 1934.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug, 5l. 1931 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 NVE'NTOR- ALFRED W. lNeALL..

ATTYS.

. June 5, 1934.

w. yINGAILL 1,961,972

APPARATUS FOR THE MANIPUDATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. 51, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 ALFRED W. NGALL.

June 5, 1934. A. w. INGALL 1,961,972

APPARATUS FOR THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. 3l, 1931` 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 A NWN-rom .14 L 245 ALFRED IN AT1-W6.

.June 5,- 1934. A. w. INGALL 1,961,972

l APPARATS FOR THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed'Aug: 5l, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 NVEN-ron.

A ALFRED W. lNe u.

l- I l D ATTN/s- APPARATUS FOR THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYljNG OF'DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. 51, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 June 5, 1934- A. w. INGALI. 1,961,972

APPARATS FOR THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. s1. 1931 14 sheets-sheet 11 lNvENroR.

i73:?:1 E'- ALFRED ING/M.

June 5, 1934. A. w. INGALL 1,961,972 APPARATUS FOR THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. 51.- 1931 14 sheets-sheet 12 E Q a eg n INVENT'OR;

m ALFRED l In wlm- Q BY www June 5, 1934. A. Wl [NGALL 1,961,972

APPARATUS FOR THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. 31, 1931 14 sheets-Sheet 1:5

INVENTQR.

` 1 gg ALPRED W. {N6/M.

. A l/f/ N N B BD10 l A-rrYs.

A. w. IN'GALL.

June 5, 1934.

APPARATUS FOR THEl MANIPULATION AND PLAYING OF DISK RECORDS Filed Aug. 51. 1931 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Patented June 5, 1,934

UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR THE MANIPULATION AND PLAYING F DISK RECORDS Alfred William Ingall, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada Application August 31, 1931, Serial No. 560,461

23 claims.

This invention relates tovimprovements in apparatus for the manipulation and playing of disk records vwith particular reference to machines adapted to successively play the records of a series placedv therein and the principal object of the present invention is to provide improvements in apparatus of this character possessing important advantages over former constructions and in which many defects and disadvantages of former apparatus are overcome and eliminated, thus improving the performance of and greatly extending the useful eld of application of these machines.

In this type of machine a largenumber of records may be placed therein and played successively in a desired order so that these machines have a wide application for use in dance halls, restaurants and such places where it is desired to have the machine continue in operation for some considerable period and with such a machine, which will operate satisfactorily, an entire opera or musical score consisting of many records may be reproduced from beginning to end without interruption and machines of this 25 type are particularly suitable for adaptation to gramophone-radio combination sets for use in the home and other places including radio broadcasting studios. l l

Among other objects and features of the present invention are to provide the followingz A machine which will be entirely automatic in operation and which will successively play all reccrdslof a series placed therein without requiring any manual attention or adjustment whatever and which will thus be particularly suited for use in a gramopho-ne-radic combination.

A machine which will be applicable for use both with the mechanical vibratory reproduction of sound as in the ordinary gramophone or with the electrical reproduction of sound as in the radio. A machine which will automatically handle and play records of various diameters successively without requiring any manual adjustment on account of change of record diameter but in which the record itself in its passage through the ma'- chine constitutes the medium by which suchv necessary adjustments are attained.

A machine which will automatically handle -doublesided records so as to playY both sides thereof.

A machine which will, while being primarily designed for the automatic handling and playing of th sides of double-sided'records, be readily `adaptable to playing and handling-singlesided records. 'N'

'with an. inner high pitch spiral at the inner end contact between records during the operation of A machine which Will handle any type of record successfully so that it is immaterial to the successful automatic operation of the machine Whether the records therein are or are not formed of the sound groove, thus enabling the machine to play successfully all records of various patterns or types in this respect.

A machine which will not only accommodate itself to the playing of records o f various diameters, such for instance as 10 i-nc'h and l2inch size, but in which provision is made whereby slightl variations in the diameters of these regular sizes, as actually voccurs in records on the market, will not interfere with the successful operation of the machine.

A machine in which the records are fed to and removed from the turntable individually so that there is only one record on the turntable. at any one time, leach record being automatically removed from the turntable after having ,been played. v

As a result of the feature set forth in the preceding paragraph, making the capacity of the machine dependent only upon the number of S0 records in the record magazine thereof and not in any way dependent upon the lengthof the centre pin of the turntable.

To entirely eliminate all surface rubbing` or the machine.

An electrically operated .machine in which the presence of a record in proper operative position therein is a necessary and vital link in the continued operation of the machine so that, alter the playing of the last of a series of records all the electric circuits in the machine are automatically opened and the entire machine must come to rest.

A machine in which, after one side of a record has been played, the record is automatically re-` moved from the turntable, turned over side for` side, replaced upon the turntable with its'second side up, which second side is then presented to the sound reproducing mechanism, played, and -nally removed from the turntable.

Record handling and playing apparatus such that the record will be safeguarded to the maximum degree from any possibility of damage or injury during theoperation ofthe machine.

An improved construction which will llend itself to'incorporaton in machines of a Wide range of capacity. l 1,

A machine of simple and inexpensive construc- 11v` tion and yet of exceptional efficiency and perfection of operation.

The present invention consists of record holding and manipulating apparatus co-operating with record playingmechanism and electrical circuits and apparatus, all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention showing the main frame of the machine, an outer enclosing Acasing being omitted with the exception of portions of the top and bottom thereof which are shown in section. In this view a beam forming part of the apparatus and mounted for oscillation vertically, which beam carries a record yholding turntable, is shown at an intermediate lpoint of its vertical movement and a record in position to be picked up thereby is shown suspended in proper position in a cradle forming part of the apparatus. For convenience of description the near side of the machine as seen in this view will be hereinafter referred to as the left side of the machine while the left and right ends as seen in this view will be referred to as the front and rear ends of the machine, the side of the machine remote from the observer in this view being referred to as the right side of the machine.

Figure 2 is a front end elevation looking in the 'direction of the arrow `2 in Figure l, the parts being in thepositions shown in Figure 1 and the enclosing casing of the machine being in section.

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation of the machine looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Figure 1, the parts being in the positions shown in Figure 1 and the enclosing casing of the machine being in section. Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the lne'4-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, a portion only of the top and bottom of the enclosing casing being shown.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of thc machine, the parts being in the positions shown in Figure l and the enclosing casing being entirely omitted. Figure 6 is a horizontal section through the machine taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 1 looking downwardly' in the direction of the arrows and the enclosing casing again being omitted.

Figure7 is a horizontal section to a larger scale taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 1 looking downwardly in the" direction of the arrows and the enclosing casing again being omitted. I

Figure l8 is a detached fragmentary -perspective detail view vshowing portions of the main frame A.of the machine together with ratchet mechanism for oscillating certain record holding channels to turn the record during the operation ofv the machine and also a pivoted lever cov-operating with a ratchet operated dog for controlling the movement of a record holding magazine in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 9 is a horizontal section to a larger scale taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 1, the enclosing casing of the machine again being omitted.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional detail show thrust collar shown in Figures 10 and 11,

which will be referred to throughout as its turned over or discharging position.

Figure 14 is an elevation ofv Figure 13 looking towards the left in the direction of the arrow 14.

Figure 15 is a section on the line 15-15 of Figure 13 looking in the direction of the arrow.

This View illustrates a pulley and cable arrangement employed for oscillating or turning the record holding channels forming: part of the improved apparatus and in this view one of the pulleys is shown in the position it occupies when the record channels are in their receiving positions. There is a similar cable and pulley arrangement at each side of the machine associated with each of the pair of record holding channels and this View illustrates that at the left side of the machine as shown in Figures 13 and 14.

Figure 16 is a top planview of a pickup arm and associated parts together with a portion of the main frame of the machine.

Figure 17 is an elevation of the pickup arm and associated parts looking in the direction of the arrow 17 in Figure 16, a pivoted lever being shown broken intermediately and a portion of the main frame and an electro-magnet carried thereby being broken away and indicated in broken lines so as not to obscure the parts therebehind.

Figure 17A is a fragmentary end elevation of the pickup arm looking in the direction of the arrow in Figure 17, showing the manner of mounting the arm and limiting the arc through which it may swing.

Figure 18 is an elevation of a pivoted stop lever operatively associated with the pickup arm, the view being taken looking in the direction of the arrow 18 in Figure 16, and the pickup arm being shown in cross-section, a portion only of an electromagnet associated with this pivoted lever being shown.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary elevational view of the free end of an oscillating beam forming part of the improved apparatus showing a switch carried thereby for controlling the circuit to a turntable motor forming part of the machine. In the position shown the beam is in a downwardly inclined position and the switch is in its normally closed position in which the circuit to the turntable motor is closed.

Figure 19A is another fragmentary elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 19 but showing in this instance the beam in its fully raised position and with a pickupV forming part of the invention resting upon the switch whereby its weight opens the switch to open the circuit to the turntable motor Figure 20 is an elevational view of a panel upon which is mounted certain circuit controlling mechanism, a portion of a metal cradle being broken away to show a metal ball carried therein.

Figure 21 is a longitudinal section through the cradle shown in Figure 20 showing the interior .baffled construction thereof and the metal' ball carried therein.

Figure 22 is a fragmentary elevational detail to a larger scale looking in the direction of the ar- Leonora 'row 22 in Figure 9, showing trip mechanism forming' part of the magazine operating ymechanism. of the present invention, a portion of the main frame of the machine being shown in section and a slotted bracketN carried by the frame being shown partly in section.

Figure 23 is an' elevational detail of the left hand one of a pair of opposed record holding channels (shown in Figures 13 and i4) the View being taken similarly to Figure 14 but the channel in this case being shown in full lines in its lturned over or 'discharging position and a portion of a stationary discharge slide or guide apron being shown at the right. In this position a pin is spring-held in engagement with an arcuate slot in the pulleys for locking the channel in turned over position. In this View the receiving position of the record holding channel is indicated in broken lines. j

Figure 24 is an end elevation looking from the rear end of the machine, of the record holding channels in their turned over dischargingpositions (as shown in full lines in Figure 23) showing the manner in which a record being lifted by the ascending turntable operates to swingv the vchannels about their hinged connections to permit the record to be lifted from the channels preparatory to its-being carried into its playing position in the machine.

Figure 25 is a top plan View showing the man-` v ner in which-the records are held within and en-` gage stops provided upon a channelled cradle forming part of the improved apparatus. In this view a portion only-of each of the arms of the.

cradle is shown A small size record held in the cradle is shown in full lines, alarger size record being shown in broken lines, there being separate channelled portions of the cradle for each size record.

pivotally mounted 'in the free end of a beam -in accordance with the present invention, the beam being in raised position' in which a record carried by the turntable is in playing position in the machine, a near end. of the beam being omitted and some parts being in section and also showing, a stoparm carried by the turntable unit for Figure 28 is a diagrammaticv side elevatioir showing .a modified form of apparatus for oscillating the record holding lchannels.

Figure 29 is a wiring diagram showing schematically the electrical circuits and connections used in the improved machine and in this diagram for the purpose of clearness the volt power circuits are shown in full li'nes while associated low voltage battery circuits'lare shown in broken lines.

In the'drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views and, while generally reference numerals are employed to indicate the various parts, reference letters are used in some cases toindicate certain units of the apparatus, which units may comprise a number of component parts, the reference letter in any case indicating the 'unit collectively and the reference numerals indicating the individual component parts thereof. V

The improved apparatus of the present invention comprises a complete and self-contained machine which may conveniently be mounted within and upon a main frame and enclosed within a suitable casing, the essential elements of the apparatus being. certain` novel record holding,

manipulating and changing apparatus co-operatof the present invention has been entirely omitted v and therefore Vthe scope of the invention is not intended to be in any way limited thereby.

Stated very briefly and incompletely the improved apparatus Vfunctions somewhat as follows:-

There is provided ayrecord holding magazine comprising two sections, one for the records about to be played and the other for the reception of records after having been played together with record handling and manipulating apparatus for properly. directing the record in its passage .through the machine; also an electrically rotated turntable adapted to descend and ascend during the operation ci the machine and a main electric motor serving as a source of driving power for the entire machine excepting only the rotation of the turntable which is provided for by a' sepa- Figure 26 is a side elevation of a turntable unit rate turntable motor. operatively associated vwith the turntable is a pickup arm adapted to operatively engage a reoo-rdrto be played, when the turntable is in its raised playing'position and the record to be played is supported thereon and rotating therewith.

When it is d'esred to set the machine in operation, all the records to be played are inserted in proper order in that section of the magazine intended for the records to be played and the machine isset in operation. In due course the first record of the series to-be played is fed from the magazine and placed upon the ascending turntable and raised thereon into playing position, in which position the lpickup needle properly engages the record grooves and the record is played, the turntable remaining elevated in its raised playing position during the entire playing of therecord.

At the conclusion'of the playing of the record the turntable commences to descend in which operation the record moves away from the pickup arm which immediately swings outwardly into proper position to properly engage the next record presented thereto. As the turntable descends the played record is removed therefrom, turned -over side for side so as to present its unplayed side uppermost and upon the turntable ascending this turned-over record is picked up thereby and'carried ,upwardly into playing position inV turntable remaining once againin its raised playing position during the entire playing of the record at the end of which it again descends` and ice ies

as the record descends away from the pickup arm, the latter again swings outwardly into proper position to commence playing the next record. As the turntable continues its descent the played record is removed therefrom and deposited in that section of the magazine reserved for played records and the next record is fed from the section of the magazine containing unplayed records to be, in due course, picked up by the turntable, have both sides thereof played, and finally to be deposited in that section of the magazine reserved for played records.

This operation continues until all the records have been played and deposited in the section reserved for played records at the conclusion of which the entire mechanism automatically comes to rest.

In thc form illustrated the improved apparatus comprises a main frame A within and within which the entire mechanism ls mounted. Mounted for vertical movement within the frame A is a record holding magazine B having an upper 'v section and a lower section and associated with these upper and lower magazine sections respectively are upper and lower stationary channelled slides or guide aprons C and D, while mounted `within the frame for oscillation about a horizontal axis and operatively associated with the upper stationary slide C is a channelled cradle E. Mounted within the frame A for oscillation about a horizontal axis is a beam F and pivotally carried at the free end of this beam F is a turntable unit G. Mounted within the frame A for oscillation about horizontal axes are a pair of opposed record holding channels H. lA reversing motor I forms a drive for the machine and included in the electrical apparatus is a special form of switch K for reversing the connections to the starting coils of this motor I. Mounted within the frame A for proper co-operation with-the records when in playing position in the machine is a pickup arm or tone arm L.

For convenience of description the left hand end of the machine as viewed in Figure 1, that is the end at which the magazine B is located, will be referred to throughout as the front end of the machine while the right hand end, as viewed in Figure 1, will be referred to throughout as the rear end of the machine and movement or distance measuredA from left to right in Figure 1 will be spoken of as movement rearwardly and distance measured rearwardly respectively. Also the near side of the machine, as viewed in Figure l, will be referred to as the left side of the machine.

The main frame A of the machine may be suitably enclosed within any suitable casing 50 and supported upon castors 51. Therecord holding magazine B is mounted for movement vertically within the frame A and comprises an upper magazine section 52 and a lower magazine section 53 spaced some distance below the upper section 52.

The sections 52 and' 53are. of, box like form open at their front and rear faces and are rigidly secured together by strips 54 which not only accurately space the two sections 52 and 53'but form them into a rigid magazine the two sections of which are in vertical alignment.-

Rigidly secured Within thev main frame A at the right and left sides of the magazine B and extending practically the entire height of the frame are rigid guide rods 55 which are secured to the frame at their top and bottom ends by U-bolts 56 (see Figure 6).

Secured to each of the magazine sections 52 megeve and 53 at each side thereof and intermediately of the height of each section are two spaced apart angles 57, the laterally projecting arms of which are spaced apart sufficiently to form. a guideway through which the guide rods 55 extend so that these angles 57 cri-operating with the guide rods 55 constitute guide means for the magazine B whereby vertical movement of the magazine is permitted but no rotational movement thereof is possible, the angles 57 engaging the rods 55 and sliding therealong upon vertical movement of the magazine but effectively preventing any rom tationa-l movement of the magazine.

Extending centrally from the bottoni. of lower magazine section 53 and engaging a .foot bearing 58 therein is a magazine supporting rod 59 which serves as a support for the magazine, as will be hereinafter explained. This rod 59 is l drilled with a series of axially spaced apart orifices within which are secured pins 6G, loot-h ends of each of these pins projecting beyond the circumference of the rod 59, as clearly shown in Figure 10. The rod 59 is rigidly secured with respect to the magazine so that there can be no rotation thereof relatively to the magazine and .L

the pins 60 are all in alignment and are disposed transversely of the machine, that is in a right and left direction.

The frame A is provided with an orice 61 (see Figure 10) through which the rod 59 extends and mounted upon the frame `A con.- centrically with this orice 61 is a rotatable slotted thrust collar 62 having a central orifice 63 through which the rod 59 extends. This thrust collar 62 is rotatably mounted upon the frame A l by means of a anged annular tting 64 secured upon the frame A bymeans of suitable screws or nails 65 extending through oriiiced lugs 66 carried by the fitting 64 and also mounted within this fitting 64 and beneath the collar 62 is a roller thrust bearing 67 which rotatably supports the collar 62 and takes the downward thrust thereof. The construction is such that the fitting 66 serves as a common mounting for both the collar 62 and the roller thrust bearing 67.

The collar 62 is formed with a novel arrangement of slots comprising a pair of diametrically opposed axially disposed slots 68 and a pair of diametrically opposed obliquely disposed slots 69, the slots 68 and 69 being spaced apart circumferentially of the collar 62 and being of such dimensions as to accommodate and permit passage -therethrough of the projecting ends of the pins 60 during the operation of the device, as will hereinafter be explained.

The collar 62 is so positioned with respect to the rod 59 that when the magazine is in normal supported position (as shown in Figures 9 and 10) the projecting ends of one of the pins 60 which is then operative will rest upon a. solid portion of the upper face of the collar 62 intermediately between the slots 68 and 69, as clearly shown in Figure 9, in .whichpostion it will be clear that vdescent of the rod 59 and therefore of the magazine B is positively prevented by the engagement of the ends of this pin 60 with the solid portion of the collar 62.

The thickness of the collar 62 and the axial spacing of adjacent pins 60 is such that there is just sufficientclearance between adjacent pins 60 to accommodate the collar 62 therebetween so that, as clearly shown in Figure 10, when one of the pins 60 isengaging the top of the collar 62, the next lower pin 60 is engaging the bottom face of the collar.

CII A lli recieve Rigidly secured to the collar 62 is an arm 79 by which the collar 62 is rotated during the operation of the device, as will hereinafter be explained.

Slidahly mounted within oriiiced brackets 7l and 72 rigidly carried by the main frame A is a bar 73 adjacent to one end of which is provided, in the bottom edge of the har, .a notch 74 into which thel free end of the arm is adapted to engage to operatively connect the bar 73 with the arm 79 (see Figure 22). The orice 33t in the bracket 7l through which the bar 73 extends is elongated so as to permit lifting of this end of the bar 73 to permit disengagement of the arm 70 from the notch 74, as is necessary at a certain point in the operation of the device. The opposite end of the bar 73 is connected through a turnbuckle 75 with a cable 76, which cable passes over a pulley 77 and upwardly to be connected to one end 78 of a lever 79, which lever is pivotecl intermediately of its length at 8O and the free end 8i of which is adapted to be depressed by a ratchet operated dog 82, as will hereinafter be explained.

A coil sprin 83 has one end connected to the frame A and the other end to the bar 73 (see Figures l and 9) so that this spring operates to normally hold the free end of the bar 'Z3 downwardly against the arm 70 and to maintain engagement between the notch 'le and the arm 70 when the parts are in proper position to permit this and also to draw the bar 73 forwardly (see Figures l, 9 and 22)' and to maintain the .cable 76 taut.

There is provided for co-operation with the lever 79 a stop pin 811 for limiting the downward oscillation ci' the end 78 of the lever to which the cable 76 is attached (see Figure 8) anc". the spring 83 operates to pull the cablel 76 and bar 73 forwardly and to maintain the lever 79 noru inaily in abutment with the stop 8d except when the lever is oscillatedby the depression ci" its free end 8l by the dog 82 at which time the lever 79 moves upwardly away from the stop 84 and thecable 7G and bar 73 are drawn rearwardly.

Pivotally mounted upon the arm 79 is a bent lever 85 which is pivotedy intermediately at 86 (see Figure 22) to a lug 87 secured to the upper face of the arm 70, one end of the lever 85 being iformed with an offset lug 88 overlying the bar 73 at a point measured forwardly of the notch 74: while the other end yof the lever 85 has connected thereto a cable 89 which passes over a `pulley 90 and has its other end connected to a foot treadle 91, A coil spring 92 (see Figures l and 9) has one end secured tothe frame A and the other end secured-to the thrust collar 62.

The function of the notched bar 73, the notch "Ill of which is normally held in engagement with the arm 79, is at certain desired points in the operation of the device to cause counter-clockwise rotation of the collar 62, as viewed in Figure 9, to place the obliquely disposed slots 69 in the collar 62 in registration with the projecting ends ci the pins 69.

The function of the lever 85'with the cable 89 connecting it to the foot'treadle 9i is to fcaus e clockwise rotation of the collar 62, as viewed in Figure 9, at another point in the operation of the device so as to bring the axial slots 68 in the collar 62 into registration with the projecting ends of the pins 60, which clockwise rotation is accomplished by depressing the treadle 91, as will be hereinafter explained.

The upper and lower magazine sections 52 .and

clined channelled slide or guide apron C, the in- 53 are formed respectively with a series of uninforrnly spaced apart inclined shelves 93 and 9d iorming therebetween a series of uniformly spaced record holding compartments 99 and 99. rihese shelves 93 and 9a extend forwardly and rearwardly through the front and rear faces of the box sections 52 and 53. The shelves 93 inV the upper magazine section 52 are inclined downwardly and; rearwardly so as to he adapted to deliver records therefrom rearwardly into the machine during the operation thereof, while the shelves 94 in the lower magazine section 59 are inclined downwardly and forwardly of the ma= chine so as to be adapted to -receive records dee' livered thereto during the operation of the ma chine, as hereinafter explained.

Spaced rearwardly from the .upper magazine section 5 2 are two vertical rods 97 rigidly secured in the frame A and disposed'respectively adjacent to the right and left hand side of the magazine 95 section 52, which rods form stops against which records 98 placed in the upper magazine section and indicated in broken lines in Figure l are adapted to abut so that these rods 97 constitute stop means for holding the records 98 in the inclined compartments 95 of the upper magazine section. It will, of course, be clear that in the absence of some such stop means, since the shelves 93 are inclineddownwardly, any records placed therein would otherwise simply slide rearwardly therefrom unless this sliding movement were prevented.

Spaced forwardly from the front of the lower l magazine section 53 isa vertical stop 'har 99 rigidly secured to the magazine, which har 99 'im forms a stop means against which records de-s posited in the lower magazine section 59 strike to prevent these records from sliding out through the front ends ofY the lower magazine confipartal ments 99.

l'The stop membersA 97 and 99 are very similar in function except for one dierence which is that the lower stop bar 99 is carried rigidly by the magazine B and moves therewith while the upper stop bars 97 are carried rigidly by the frame A and therefore do not move with the magazine so that in the operation of the device i the upper magazine section 52 moves relatively to these stop rods 97, which feature is of importance in the successful operation of the device, as will be hereinafter explained.

Associated with the upper magazine .section 92 and spaced slightly to the rear thereof is an up per stationary downwardly and rearwardly inclination of which is the same as that of the slides 93 in this magazinesectionand this apron C is adapted to cca-operate with the slides 93 in the operation of the device to form a slide or guide apron over which the record in passing from the upper magazine section rearwardly into the machine is supported and guided as will be hereinafter explained.

The guide apron C isof channelled construc tion and in the form illustrated is provided with an outer pair of channelled guideways 100 spaced sufficiently apart to constitute guides forl the largest size record to be handled in the machine, say a l2 inch record, and with an innerV set of channelled guideways 101 spaced suiliciently far apart to form guideways for a smaller record to be accommodated in the machine, sa'y a l0 inch record, there being, therefore, a separate channelled guideway in this apron adapted to accomits modate each individual size of record to be handled in the machine.

The stop rods 97 are of such length that their lower ends terminate slightly above the upper channelled guide apron C so as to permit a record being discharged from the upper magazine section to slide upon the guideway C beneath the lower ends of these guide rods when the magazine is in position for discharging such record. lThis feature will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.

Associated with the lower magazine section 53 and spaced slightly to the rear thereof is a lower stationary downwardly and forwardly inclined channelled slide or guide apron D the inclination of which is the same as thatof the slides 94 in this lower magazine section and this apron is adapted to co-operate with the slides 94 in the operation of the device to form a slide or guide apron over which the record will pass andi be delivered from the machine after having been played therein to be deposited in one of the cornpartrnents 96 of the lower magazine section 53, the passage of this'record outwardly through the front end of the magazine section 53 being prevented by the stop bar 99 against which the record strikes.

The lower guide apron D is of similar channelled formation as the upper apron C, being formed with large and small or outer and inner channels 102 and 103 respectively of proper width to accommodate the dierent sized records to be handled in the machine.

Both the upper and lower guide aprons C and D are rigidly carried by the frame A and inconnection with the outer or larger channel in the upper apron C is provided a spring switch M, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. This switch M comprises a spring blade 104 overlying the 12 inch outer channelled guideway 100 and normally upwardly inclined with respect thereto, this blade being insulated from the channel and having an arm 105 projecting laterally therefrom through a notched portion 106` in the side of the apron C (see Figure 27) Cooperating with the spring blades 104 and 105 is a fixed switch blade 107 secured to the frame A and insulated therefrom. Circuit wires 108 and 109 are connected respectively with the switch blades 104 and 107 and the arm 105 of the blade 104 overlies, but is normally spaced upwardly from, the stationary blade 107 so that the electric circuit containing the wires 108 and 109 is normally open and is closed by the depression of the blade 104 and with it the arm 105 so that this latter makes contact with the fixed blade 107. The function of this switch M in the operation of the device will be fully explained hereinafter.

Associated with the upper guide apron C is a cradle E which cradle comprises the two side arms 110 rigidly secured at their upper ends to a cross-rod 111, which cross-rod ls suitably journalled at each end thereof in the frame A and is disposed horizontally thereof so that the cradle E is journalled within the main. frame A for oscillation about a horizontal axis. The side arms 110 of the cradle E are bent rearwardly intermediately of their length at 112 to form rearwardly extending portions 113 and the lower extremities of these rearwardly inclined portions 113 are bent inwardly towards each other at 114, (see Figure 3), which portions 114 are horizontal, and rigidly secured to each of the portions 114 is a channelled portion 115 formed with large and small channelled portions 116 and 117 of similar spacythe cradle moves into naciera ing and form. to those of the upper channelled slide C and are adapted to accommodate and hold the different sized records during the operation of the machine.

ntermediately of the length of the arms 110 of the cradle are transverse strengthening crossarms 118 and 119 for the purpose of stiffening and strengthening the cradle. The cradle is adapted to oscillate within the machine about the horizontal cross-rod lll from a forward raised position, in which the channelled portions 116 and 117 of the cradle are in abutment with and in alignment with the channelled portions 100 and 101 of the upper guide apron C, to a rearward, lower position in which the channelled portions 116 and 117 of the cradle are adapted "to support a record carried thereby in proper position to be picked up by the turntable during the operation of the device, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The channelled portions 116 and 11;' of the cradle are tted with stops 120 and 121 respectively adjacent to their rear ends which stops hold the record in position therein (see Figure 25) Secured to arms 122 and 123 respectively, carried by the cross-rod 111 are counterweights 124 and 125 adapted to control the motion of the cradle so that when a record is delivered to the cradle it will move from its forward raised position to its lowered rearward position under the weight of the record and when the record is removed from the cradle the cradle will automatically return to its forward raised position. In other words the counterweights 124 and 125 are so positioned and adjusted that the weight of a record delivered to the cradle is sufricient to lower the cradle and when the cradle is relieved of the weight of the record it will automatically return to its forward raised position.

Associated with the cradle and secured to the 1; frame A is a stop 126 against which one of the side arms 110 of the cradle abuts when the cradle moves into its forward raised position, thus limiting the forward movement of the cradle. Also associated with the cradle are stops 127 iixedly secured to the main frame A and so positioned that the lower. rearwardly bent portions 113 of the cradle come into abutment therewith when its lowered rearward position so that these stops 127 form means for limiting the rearward movement of the cradle and accurately positioning it in its descent in a proper position within the machine.

Extending transversely of the machine adjacent to the rear end thereof and journalled within the main frame A is what may be termed a main shaft 128 and rigidly carried by this shaft is the beam F, which beam comprises a pair of spaced apart parallel forwardly directed arms 129, the rear ends of which arms extend through the shaft 128 and are secured by nuts 130.

Boltedbetween theforward ends of the arms 129 is the turntable unit G, the construction of which will be presently explained, andextending between the arms 129 intermediately of their length is a cross tie rod 131. Secured to each of the rods 129 intermediately of the length thereof and extending laterally outward therefrom is a lug 132. l

Suitably mounted upon the frame A is a main drive motor I and journalled within the main frame A at the rear end thereof are upper and lower shafts 133 and 134, the lower shaft 134 rigidly carrying a pair of cone pulleys 135 and 136. Extending rearwardly from the main shaft 15@

Images