US2018881A - Automatic phonograph - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1935. E. E. COLLISON El AL AUTOMATI C PHONOGRAPH 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 9, 1931 INVENTORS. fan/mm f. (on/50M 1571? K fAfif'. BY

ATTORNEYJ Oct. 29, 1935. E. E. coLLlsbN El AL AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Sept. 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Shet 4 ATTIORNEYJ Oct. 29, 1935.

E. E. COLLISON AL AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Sept. 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYJ.

Patented .Qci. a g

PATENT OFFICE Q AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Edward E. Collison and Ralph n. Erbe, rm

Wayne, Ind., assignors to The Capehart Corpo ration, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Application September 9, 1931, Serial No. 561,898

21 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in automa :c record changing phonographs wherein a plurality of records of either the conventional ten and twelve-inch size may be 5 played, reference being particularly made to the co-pending application of Erbe, Serial No. 394,981, filed September 25, 1929.

As disclosed in the above mentioned application, the conventional ten and twelve-inch records may be promiscuously placed in the magazine whereupon the machine will reproduce them irrespective of size. may be adjusted to play a. record on first one side and then the other before returning it to the magazine; play it on one side and then return it to the magazine, and after the succeeding records have been played, play the same. on the opposite sides thereof; or it may be adjusted so as to repeat a record.

One feature of the present invention as distinguished from that disclosed in the above copending application resides in the construction and arrangement of the magazine whereby atwelve-inch record may be readily released therefrom while ten-inch records will be supported therein as will be more specifically hereinafter set forth. This eliminates any dimculty in respect to handling any quantity of records of either the ten or twelve-inch size, within a predetermined limit.

Another feature .of the invention resides in the automatic stop for placing the record changing mechanism in operation upon completion of a record. By means of thestop disclosed herein, more positive action of. the;mechanism for starting the record changing is accomplished irrespective of whether the record grooves terminate in an eccentric-or spiral groove, i. e., the same 4 mechanism operating for either type, whereas heretofore it has been the practice touse one mechanism for a spiral groove and another mechanism for an eccentric groove. .As will be hereinafter set forth more in'detail, the stop mechanism is actuated by a variation inthe inward movement of the reproducer from its movement during the reproduction. Thus. during one revolution of the turntable, if. the spiral, eccentric, or any other type of groove causes the reproducer to'm'ove inwardly beyond the pitch of the reproducing grooves, the mechanism is actuated.

' A further feature of the invention resides in the means for positioning the reproducer arm at the beginning of a record" of any size.-such as -a ten or twelve-inch record is a simple and posi- Furthermore, the machine tive manner as will be hereinafter set forth. -Associated therewith is means. for frictionally moving the reproducer toward the periphery of the record I for engagement at thebeginning thereof as distinguished from the usual spring 5 for accomplishing this purpose. Thus, the arm is swung inwardly to the record with a'positive action under control of the friction mechanism whereas with the usual spring for returning the reproducer there is no positive control therefor.

A further feature of the invention relates to' the means for positively setting the records in position to be ejected from the magazine, whereby the ejecting device will at all times have it record in position to eject regardless of the numher of records in the magazine.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the control mechanism for manually adjusting the same for playing both sides of the record before returning to the magazine, playing one side thereof and returning it to the magazine, or repeating the record as will be hereinafter set forth.

Still a further feature resides in the provision of means for feeding the reproducer from the smooth peripheral edge of the record into the beginning of the reproducing grooves with a positive movement. This is accomplished by means of a brush which immediately engages thereproducing grooves upon the reproducer being lowered into record engaging position, said brush acting to cleanse the grooves and at the same time gradually draw'the reproducer into groove env gaging position with a steady and governed; movement, as distinguished from the usual free sliding uncontrolled movement as heretofore.

The full nature of the invention will be more clearly understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the recordchang-' ing machine showing parts thereof in sect-ion.

. Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1

with the records removed, Fig. 3 is a plan view with a portion of the turntable removed and with the record magazine removed, Fig. 4 is, a sec tional view of the control for the record chang-.- ing mechanism. Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the lower portion of the mechanism, Fig; 6 is a plan view of a portion of the turntable with record and reproducer. Fig. '1 is the same as Fig. 6 showing a side elevation thereof.- Fig. 8

is an enlarged view showing the side elevation of the reproducer. Fig. 9 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of-the cam show ing the associated parts forming part of the reversing mechanism. Fig. 11 is a detail drawing of the clutch operating mechanism. Fig. 12 is an enlarged diagrammatical illustration of the various positions of the control lever. Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of the record releasing lever. Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the operating mechanism with the supporting plate and top structure removed.

Referring in detail to the drawings, at 20 is shown a base or supporting plate having depending bearing portions on which various parts of the mechanism are mounted. Disposed on a support 2| below the base or plate 20' is an electrical motor 22 to which current is supplied from any suitable source through the wires or conductors 23.

This motor, either by direct drive or through gearing if desired, drives the vertically extending spindle 24 which extends upwardly through the base or plate 28 and carries at the upper side of said plate a turntable or other record support 25. It will be obvious that since the spindle is an integral shaft, the turntable 25 will be driven as long as the motor 22 is in operation.

A reproducer 26 is used for taking the recorded matter from the records supplied to the turntable 25. This reproducer is pivotally mounted for movement in a vertical plane, on screws or other bearing means 21 carried by the arms 28 of a reproducer arm 29. Arm 29 is mounted for movement in a horizontal plane over the record and when the stylus 30 of the reproducer 26 has been brought into engagement with a record, the reproducer and arm 29 are fed across the record by contact of the stylus with the record groove. Means are provided for elevating the stylus and swinging the reproducer arm to position the stylus for engagement with the beginning of a record, as will later be demribed in detail. 1

Means are provided for supporting a plurality of records, and for feeding them one at a time to the turntable 25. 'This means includes a bracket 3| secured to the base or plate 29 as by screws 32, said bracket having a pair of upwardly curved spaced arms 33 connected and braced by a web portion spaced above the base portion 35 of the bracket. At their upper ends the arms 33-are enlarged and provide bearings 36 for short shafts or studs 31 of a record magazine or rack 38. The rack 38 is pivoted in the bearings 36 for a swinging movement.

The rack 38 is of a size to receive records of various diameters, the most common size records at the present time being those in the neighborhood of a diameter of ten inches and those having a diameter of approximately twelve inches.

Rack 38 includes a forwardly projecting flange 39, back portion and a lower cross bar 4| connecting the lower ends of the side portions of the flange 39. A sectional view of the cross bar 4| is shown in Fig. 1, and it'will be apparent that this bar is an angle bar having a substantially horizontal portion and a substantially vertical portion. Carried by the cross bar 4| at points equally spaced from its center,-are a pair of forwardly projecting pins 44 disposed to be engaged by the lower edge of a group of records to support the weightof the records in the magazine. These pinsmay be notched near their forward ends to prevent records slipping off of them.

' Formed on or secured to the back of the rack 38 are pairs of ribs 41 and 48. The rear record of those in the rack will have its upper portion in engagement with the ribs 48 when the records are stored. These ribs 48 function in the transfer of a record from the rack to the turntable 25 as will be later more fullydescribed.

Means are provided for transferring records one at a time from the rack or magazine 38 to the turntable. The first step in this operation is the separating of a record from the group of records. This requires the co-operation of the, motor. A pair of clutch elements 49 and 58 are disposed about the vertical turntable spindle 24, 1 and while the clutch element 49 is keyed to the spindle to turn with it, the clutch element 50 is free on the spindle, and normally remains stationary while the spindle revolves in it.

These clutch elements are held disengaged by the lever 52 pivoted to the bracket 53 of plate or base as at 54, said lever being normally held in position to maintain the clutch elements in disengagement by the spring 55. The opposite end of lever 52 includes a yoke. portion havingzo a pair of fingers or pins disposed in a clutch 51 of the clutch element 49. -The free end of said lever carries a core 56 of a solenoid coil 58, which, when energized, attracts the core, rocking lever 52 about its pivot 54 against the tension of the 5 spring 55 and moving clutch element 49 into clutching engagement with the clutch element 50.

With the clutch elements 49 and 50 in engagement, clutch element 50 is driven by the motor 22, which, in turn, drives the worm 59, meshing with a worm wheel 69 secured to the drive shaft 6|.

Upon the shaft 6i making one complete revolution, during which time the solenoid 58 has become deenergized, the trip 42 is brought into engagement with the pin 43 to push the red upwardly, said rod being pivotally connected with the lever 52. Thus, the lever 52 is positively forced upwardly so as to cause the clutch members 49 and 58 to become disengaged upon 40 completion of one revolution of the shaft 6!. Inasmuch as the record changing mechanism has completed its work after the one revolution, it is thereupon held inoperative since the spring 55 will normally hold the lever 52 and clutch memg5 bers out of engagement so that only the turntable is driven by the motor.

Secured to the shaft BI is a large cam 62 having in its sides cam tracks or grooves to be described, and having on its periphery a cam 63 for operating a mechanism to chop or remove,

I a record from the rack 38. A reversely curvedlever 64 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 65 to a depending bracket 66 carried by the plate or base 20. At one end lever 64 carries a roller 61 for engagement with the periphery of the cam wheel 62 and cam 63 when, it is desired to feed a record from the rack 38 to the turntable 25.

The opposite end of lever 64 is pivotally connected to an upright rod 68 passing through the base or plate 20 and through a guide means 69 secured to the upper side of the said base or plate. At its upper end the rod 68 is bent forwardly and its forward portion 10 passes through an elongated opening H in a knife or chopping lever 12. This lever 12 is pivoted intermediate its end at 13, to the cross bar 4| of the rack 38. One end of the lever 12 extends between the supporting pins 44 and '45, and this end 14 of the lever lies closely against the vertical portion 70 43 of the angle bar 4|. The rear surface of the portion 14 of lever 12 inclines downwardly, and the central portion of the vertical part of cross bar 4| is scooped out or cut away. The last record of a group. of records in the rack rests on the portion 18 of lever 12, the rear of the lower edge portion of this record being in engagement with thevertical portion of the crossbar.

. j The portion 14 of "the lever 12 is provided with a hook 1411 which engages thethree next records adjacent the record to be ejected, carrying said last three records upwardly. As it lifts, the record will be ejectedand drop over the bar ll.-

the portion .18 of the lever 12. This avoids the danger of there being so few records in the rack that they will not slide back into discharging position.

Now, when the cam 83 strikes the roller 81,

lever 84 will be rocked on its. pivot 85 wing downwardly on the rod or upright 88, r g

lever 12 about its pivot 13 to elevate the endpor-A tion 14 of lever 12. This operation of course elevates the last record in the rack, and owing to the incline of the rear of knife portion 14 and the cut-awayportion of bar 4|, the record slides receiving the shaft GI.

downwardly out of the rack and lands with its lower edge resting on spaced cushioning pads 15.

The next step is to move the record from the pads 15 to the turntable. To accomplish this, the cam wheel 62 is provided with a cam groove 18 in which is disposed a pin 11 carried by an arm 18 slotted at its-lower end as at 19, the slot At its upper end, the member 18 is pivotally connected as at 88 to a lever 8I secured at its upper end to a shaft .82 supported by brackets depending from the lower side of the plate 28.- Also secured to the shaft 82 is a segmental gear 88 spaced along the shaft from the lever 8I and having teeth in mesh with a segmental gear 88 formed on the underside of a rearwardly extending tongue or projection 81 of a record carrying and pan 88.

This pan as is pivotally mounted on brackets- 88 projecting upwardly from the plate 28, and is adapted to be swung on said pivotal mounting through an rare from the full line position to a dotted line position surrounding and below the turntable 25. Whena record has been removed from the group and is resting on the pads 15, the rearwardly. extendingtongue portion 81 of pan 88.is disposed below these pads, the pan" 88 being in thefull line-position -of Fig. 1. As the pan swings downwardly on its pivot 89 toward the dotted line position, the tongue or extension 81 swinging upwardly between the pads 15; en-

gages the lower edge of the record and elevates it. w

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the pads 15 are mounted in a well below the planeof the plate 28, said pads being separated to permit the tongue 81 to passbetween them to a lowerlevel so that as it is caused to rise, it will be below the bottom edge of the record supported by the pads which it will enga e and elevate upon the downward movement of thepan 88.. As shown in Figs. 1

= and 2,-the rack is provided with an inwardly directed tongue 39a extending downwardly from the-topportion thereof suflicient to permit the top edge of either the ten or twelve-inch records to rest thereagainst when supported in the rack. -When the ejected record is dropped onto 'the pad 15 in-the well as shown in Fig. 1, it falls guiding means or below said tongue out of engagement therewith so that the upper edge of the ejected record bears against the felt cushion 38b while it is supported against the upwardly extending support 38:; at

the bottom thereof.

Said support 380 is rigidly mounted upon the plate 28 at the rear of the magazine as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. .Upon the record beingelevat-ed as above described by thetongue 81, the ejected record will be pushed upwardly into the pocket formed by the tongue 38a entirely free from the records in the rack so that it may be freely caused to slide onto the turntable as hereinafter set forth;

As the pan 88 moves downwardly, the rack 38 is swung in the bearings 38 toward the turntable to slide a new record thereon. For the ment of the beam 83, the beam having a slot 84 through'which the shaft 8| passes. At its upper end the beam 83 is pivotally connected to one arm of a. bell crank lever 95 pivoted as at 98 on the bracket 81 depending from the plate 28. The opposite end or arm of bell crank 95 is pivotaily connected as at 98 to a. link 88 pivotally connected at its upper end to a bracket I88 rigidly secured to the rack 38. It will be apparent that the bracket I88 is disposed on the rack 38 rearwardly of the pivot studs or shafts 31, and that when the member 83 is moved forwardly by engagement of the pin 8| in the cam groove 98, the bell crank lever will be rocked, and operating through the link 88, will rock the rack 38.

The rack 38 of course, swungon itspivot after a record has been chopped out of the rack and after the tongue -or extension 81 of pan 88 has engaged and elevated the record from the pads 15. The rear portion or back 48 of the rack 38 flares outwardly as at I82, and the upper portion of the record being moved is, of course, in contact with the back of the rack.

Now, asthe pan 88 moves downwardly on its pivots, the record sl des forwardly on the pan,

and movement of the rack 38 assists in the initial forward movement of the record and maintains one edge of the record elevated, as the other edge extending through the pan engages and slides across. the surface of the turntable. The turntable is revolving, but the record is held from the pan, and its further forward movement will be stopped. Now, as the rack 38 swings back, the cam 62 having completed one-half of a revolution, the rear edge'of the records is gradually lowered (as the flared portion I 82 moves from under the record) into position, the front edge -of the record being engaged and stopped by the" wall I83 of the pan, whereby the record is let down properly centered on the turntable.

By way of explanation it may be noted that' the edge of the record comes into engagement with the turntable on the opposite side of the lateral movement due to the revolving of the i the record across it. This material gives suflicient traction and the record does not slip on it when in playing position.

When records of larger diameter are to be played, they slide over the wall I03 owing to their large diameter, and their forward edges contact with the wall I06, the arc of which is struck on a' radius equalto the radius of a record of large diameter. This wall I06 limits the forward movement of a record of large diameter, and as the rack 33 swings back to the positionillustrated in Fig. 1, the record of large diameter is let down onto the turntable properly centered.

After the record is positioned on the turntable, the arm 29 is swung to position-the stylus 30 at the beginning of the record. As will later be eX- plained in detail, at the end of a record this arm 29 is elevated and swung to carry the reproducer- 26 beyond the periphery of the record. The elevating means for this purpose comprises a cam I01 having a notch or depressed portion in which the lower end of an extension IIO of a rod or shaft II I, attached to or formed with the lower end of the arm, rests.

Disposed about the shaft III is a collar II4 between the upper flange II5 of which, and the plate 20, is disposed a coil spring H6. The coil spring surrounds the shaft I I I and obviously will be compressed on the collar II 4 being elevated. A second collar II1 surrounds the extension H0, and is keyed to turn with it, but is slidable along the extension. A light coil spring H8 is. disposed between the collars I I4 and I I1, and about the extension of the shaft III.

Rigid with the collar 1 I1 is a bent rod H9 including a horizontal portion and a depending portion. Secured on the shaft 6I adjacent the cam I01 is a second cam I25 including an arcuate portion, an upstanding arm I21 and a lateral flange or wing I28. The portion forming the arm I21 and wing I28 is secured to the arcuate portion.

Assumingthat the clutch elements 49 and 50 have been brought into engagement, shaft 6I will be driven as previously described, and during the first part of its movement, cam I01 will cause the extension IIO of shaft III to ride upwardly out of the notch I09 compressing the springs II6 I g and I8. As extension I I0 reachesthe high point of .the cam, the reproducer and stylus have, of course, been so elevated that the stylus is no longer in contact with the record.

' At this time arm I21 also turning with the shaft 6|, engages the substantially horizontal portion I20 of rod I I9 forcing the rod to move in an arc,

the center of which is the extension IIO. This movement of the rod is transmitted by collar I I1, extension H0, and shaft III to the reproducer arm, swinging the reproducer to a position beyond the edge of the record. Spring II6 being compressed, frlctionally resists this movement, prevents the arm 29 'frombeing thrown outward with a sudden uncontrolled movement, and results in the arm being given a steady outward movement by continual contact with the cam.

After the rod I I9 has been moved outwardly a predetermined distance, it moves out of the range of the arm I21. At this point rod II9 will be engaged by the arcuate surface of the cam I25 which will serve to hold the rod in its outermost position during the time it is in contact with said surface. It will be understood that the cams are continually turning, and when the end of said areuate surface is reached, the wing or lateral portion I28 will engage the vertical portion of rod I I9,.and gradually permit this rod to swing back towards its normal position as it moves outwardly toward the free end of portion I28. During this latter-movement the arm 29 is swinging inwardly to bring the reproducer to the beginning of the record.

For the purpose of swinging the arm 29 and reproducer to starting position at the edge of the record, there is provided a friction clutch I2I having a leather friction face I26 adapted to engage the beveled friction surface on the collar H1. The arcuate friction surface I26 terminates in the reduced portion indicated by I26a' so that there will be frictional engagement of the clutch only throughout the predetermined length of the friction surface I26. Thus, while the arm is being swung outwardly the clutch will in effect be released since there will be no engagement between" the friction surface I26 and the drum.

But after it has reached its outward position and is ready to be swung into record engagement,

the clutch, which is rotated with the shaft 6 I, will engage to swing the arm inwardly. When the arm is arrested at its proper position for either a ten or twelve-inch record, the friction of the clutch surfaces is overcome thereby so as to cause 30 the clutch to slip during its continued engagement between the frictional surfaces. Thus, through this clutching action, the reproducer arm is swung inwardly with a positive and steady movement and at a speed depending upon the speed of rotation of the shaft 6 I. When it reaches the limit of its inward movement, the clutch merely slips until it becomes disengaged by reaching the end of the friction surface I26. As previously stated, cam I01 is eccentric and the reproducer arm starts to descend immediately after it reaches the high point II2. However, by the time extension IIO recedes from the high point, the reproducer is at the edge of the record.

For limiting the inward movement of the arm 5 under the action of the friction clutch-IZI, there is provided a horizontal arm I 30 having a vertical extension I3I pivotally mounted in the plate 20. Secured thereto, there is a horizontal arm I32 extending under the plate 30 which is movable between the fixed pins I33 and I34, depending from said plate. Said .arm is yieldingly held against the pin I 34 by the spring I35 so as to normally maintain the arm I30 at its extreme outward position from the edge of the record.

The arm I30 is provided with a downwardly extending pin I36 on the end thereof, and an upwardly and forwardly extending stop member I31 reproducer arm 29, there is a finger I38 so positioned as to engage with the member I 31 when the reproducer arm is in raised position and freely pass thereunder when the arm is in lowered position. The pin I 33 is so positioned that when'a ten-inch record is on the turntable, it will allow the arm I30 to be swung inwardly with the re? producer arm through the contact of the finger I38 with the member I31 to the proper position for lowering the reproducer into record engaging position. At this point the reproducer arm-will be arrested so that the reproducer is over the beginning of a record as it is lowered. Upon the reproducer being lowered into engagement with the record in its arrested position, the finger I30 wardly until the depending pin I engages the edge of the twelve-inch record, whereupon the reproducer arm will be arrested and the reproducer dropped into engagement with the record, freeing the finger- I38 from engagement with the member I31. As above described,- when the reproducer arm is arrested by the arm I30, the clutch I2 I will slip until released as above described. It may also be noted that the cam [01 which acts to elevate and lower the reproducer is so formed that when the reproducer swings outwardly, the finger I38 will pass over the member I31, but the reproducer arm will be lowered by the said cam surface to permit engagement of the finger and said member in proper time to move the lever inwardly therewith. I

Mounted on the inner side of the reproducer, there is a brush. I38 supported on the end of an arm I which is yieldingly held in contact with the surface of the recordby the spring I4I. Thus, when the reproducer is lowered into record engagement, the brush which precedes the stylus will engage the reproducing grooves and not only cleanse them ahead of the stylus but principally will act to gradually draw the stylus inwardly from the smooth peripheral surface of the record to groove engagement. This will prevent the stylus from slipping over the smooth peripheral surface into a sudden and jarring engagement with the first groove of the record.

For instituting action of the record changing mechanism upon completion of the record, in-

'cluding raising of the reproducer therefrom and swinging it beyond the periphery thereof, there is provided upon the shaft 24 a peripheral lug I42 which rotates therewith. Slidably mounted upon the plate 20 and below the turntable 25 there is a bar I43 elongated slots I44 for guiding it while permitting longitudinal movement in respect to the guide pins I45. Said bar has a projection I45 adjacent the outer end thereof. The guide pins I45 are mounted upon a supporting lever I41 which is pivoted on the pin I48 mounted on the plate 20. The bar I43 is yieldingly maintained at its outward position by the spring I49 connected between the free end thereof and the free end of thesupportinglever I41. In frictional contact with said lever at its pivotal mounting through the .medium of a cork washer I50, there is an operating lever I5I having a projection extending upwardly through an arcuate slotin the bracket I52 secured to the reproducerarm 28. The levers I41 and I5I are yieldingly held in frictional engagement through the medium of thecork washer by the sprln",

I53. The bar I43 has a'downwardly extending projection I54 which passes through an opening in the plate 20. The lower end of said projection is provided with a contact member I55 adapted to make contactwith the terminal I550, the contact therebetween closing the circuit through the solenoid 58. v

In operation, it will be understood that the reproducerarm moves toward the center of therecord at a predetermined speed covered'by the pitch of the record grooves and the speed of the turntable. Thus, upon each complete rotation of the record, thereproducer will have moved inj wardly toward the center of the recordby an, L

the stoppin I56 so as to permit the lug I42 to 5v pass said projection. 1 During'the following revolution, the reproducer arm will return the bar back to normal position through-the medium of the bracket I52 and levers 'I41and I5I. But

said arm will have moved the lever back only 10 far-enoughby reason of the slight'pitch of the I record groove where the lug I42 will again en-, gage the outer surface of the projection I. This action will continue, i. e., lug I42 pushing the bar outwardly and passing the projection, and said arm returning it again to normal po-' sition until the end of the record is reached. Thereupon, the pitch of the grooves will be suddenly and greatly increased owing to the usual eccentric or spiralgroove at the end of the rec-20 0rd. When the reproducer passes into one of those grooves, it causes said arm to throw the bar toward the lug I42 so that upon its next revolution it will not merely engage and brush bythe outer surface of the projection I45, but-25 .throw the clutchv members 49 and 50 into engagement and start the operation of the record changing mechanism as above described. After 35 the lug I42 has passed the projection and caused the above operation, the bar will then be brought back to normal position by the spring I49 ready for the next cycle of operation. But in the meantime, the record changing mechanism will 0 have been setinto motion by the engagement of the clutch members 49 and 50, so that the reproducer is'raised and swung outwardly followed by the changing, reversing or repeating of the record as above described. l 45 After the coil.58 has acted to couple the clutching elements 49 and 50, the sliding beam 18 is operated by the pin 11 in the cam groove 16 to rock the pan 88. In its upward movement the pan takes the playedrecord 01f the turn- 50 table by'lifting it on the surface I04 if it is a II)" record, or lifting it on the surface I05 if it is a 12" record. It will be apparent that in its full line position, (Fig. 1), the pan 88 is tilting rearwardly, and the'record it has taken from 55 the tm'ntable will be dropped onto the supporting pins 44 and 45 of the rack. In the meantime, the rear record '1 the supply in the rack is being chopped out and dropped onto the cushions or pads 15. 5

Means are provided for reversing a record whereby both sides ofthe record are played before the record is returned to the rack. To this end a gear I66 is securedvto shaft 6|, and meshes with a larger gear' I61 secured on a, short shaft 65 I58. The relationship between gears I55 and I51 is such that gear I66 makes two complete revolutionsfor each complete revolution of gear I51. I Shaft I58, [is rotatably' mounted in the frame pieces I58 and I10.- i [I Slidably mounted on one end of the shaftIIiB is a cam I1Ihaving a sleeve I12 provided with a groove I13 in which-engagejpins. I14 carried by the lower yoked end of a lever I15. At'its upper end this lever is secured ,toa md or shaft I16 extending forwardly of the machine. The

rod I16 runs to the forward portion of the ma chine where it is operated by a control lever I51 pivoted to the plate 28 at I58. The control lever is so arranged that when moved to the left, it will push the rod I16 forward. Now, when the clutching elements 49 and 58 are engaged, and the shaft 6| rotated, shaft I68 will likewise be rotated owing to the meshing gears I66 and I61. During the first complete revolution of shafts 6I a new record will be fed to the turntable as previously described. However, during the second rotation of the shaft 6|, that is, when a record has been played on one side, and pan 88 is moving to return the record to the magazine, the cam I1I will be rotated to a position to engage and swing outwardly an arm I19 pivotally mounted on a short shaft I80.

As the arm I19 is moved outwardly byvcam I1I, it imparts to the rod I82 a sliding movement through a housing I83. At itsforward end, rod I82 (Fig. 14) is pivotally connected to an arm I84 of a member I 85 including a gear segment I86. This gear segment is in mesh with a pinion I81 secured on a shaft I88 extending through the plate 20 and cut away at opposite sides at its upper end to provide a lug I89 (Fig. 2).

As rod I82 is pushed, it rotates the member I85 against the action of a spring I98 to rotate the pinion I81 and shaft I 88. Also, the member I85 carries a finger piece I9I which, when the member is rotated, engages an arm I92 secured to the lower end of the rod 68. As member I92 is moved by engagement of the finger I9I therewith, rod 68 will be rocked carrying with it the reversely curved lever 64. This rod is slidably mounted on its pivot 65 (Fig. 1) and held in normal position by a coil spring I93. Thus, the lever may be caused to slide laterally on its pivot on compressing this spring. Such movement of the lever will carry the roller 61 out of the path of the cam 62 so that the knife or chopping lever 12 will not be actuated to remove a record from the reservoir on the rotation of cam 62.

Above the plate 20 the stud portion I89 of the shaft I88 enters a notch in the lower end of a stud I94 journaled in a bearing I95. ,To the [upper end of the stud I94 is secured an arm I96 offset downwardly, and at its free end carrying a reversing member I98 including a flexible plate-like portion I99 and a spring frame member 288 connected with the member I99 as at 20I, and also by the spring piece 282. At its lower end, the frame-like member 288 is free of the plate-like member I99 and normally sets forwardly thereof.

When the member I85 is rotated as previously described, and rotates the pinion I81 and shaft I88, the reversing member I98 will be swung from a position at one side of the rack, in which position it slopes rearwardly, to a position in front 'of the rack. Now, as the pan 88 acts to return a record to the rack, the record will be disposed against the member I98, which will cause it to slide back onto the turntable in reversed position owing to the fact that it cannot enter the rack. It is assisted in its sliding action by the lowering movement of the pan 88. Owing to its construction and mounting, the frame member 280 is resilient, and as the record is placed against it, is compressed but prevents the record from resting on the pins 44 and 45.

4 After the record has been returned to the turn-- table in reversed position, the reversing member I98 is swung back to its original or normal posiuninterrupted by the reversing member.

If it is desired to repeat a record, the lever I51 is moved to the right, thereby engaging through the medium of a pin I68 the beveled end of the lever I6I pivoted to the plate 28 connected with 15 'the rod I62 which actuates the clutch member I63 keyed to the shaft 82. The cooperating clutch member I64 is secured to the segmental gear 94. Thus, in this position of the lever, upon the record being completed and the record changing 20 mechanism set into operation so as toraise the reproducer arm and move it into its cycle of operations for starting a new record, the pan 88 will not be operated for removing the record from the turntable, the record remaining in 25 playing position thereon to be repeated. At the' same time, the movement of the lever to repeating position will actuate the rod I16 in the same manner as it is actuated when the lever is moved to the opposite side for playing both sides of the 30 record. As above described, this will cause the reversing member to swing into reversing position, but it will prevent actuation of the knife or chopping lever 12 so that the new record will not be discharged from the rack. 35

In operation, a predetermined number of records of either ten or twelve-inch diameter is placed in the rack and a record of any size placed upon the turntable. A master switch is closed to place the motor 22 in circuit with a source of 40 power, not shown herein, so that the turntable starts to rotate. The record changing mechanism and particularly the cam 62 is in such a position with the clutch members 49 and 58 in engagement that said mechanism will operate to 45 drive the clutch I2I for swinging the reproducer arm toward the record until it is stopped by engagement of the lever I32 with the pin I33 if a ten-inch record; or if a twelve-inch record, the

engagement of the pin I36 with the periphery 50 the reproducer into engagement with the record so as to drop the finger I38 below the member I31. The record will thereupon'be reproduced.

During reproduction of the record and upon 55 each revolution thereof, the lug I42 will strike the bar I43 and pass by the same, said bar being returned by the inward movement of the reproducer the distance of the pitch of the recordgrooves. When the pitch is suddenly increased 60 by the eccentric or spiral inner groove, the reproducer will throw the bar so far forwardly as to cause the lug to push the same rearwardly, thereby closing the circuit through the solenoid 58. Upon the circuit being closed through the 65 solenoid, the clutch members 49 and 58 are brought into engagement. Almost immediately the circuit is broken by the spring I49 returning the bar I43 to normal position. But the undercut on the clutch teeth, coupled with the driving 70 force of the motor and resistance of the mechanism, retains said members in engagement so that the mechanism is driven through one complete revolution.

At the end of that revolution, the clutch members are disconnected by the trip 42 at which time the reproducer is in record playing position and theme'chanismcomes to rest. r If it is desired to discharge a record before completion of its reproduction, the solenoid 58 may be energized by a .push button. as is well known in the art and is disclosed in the'above mentioned application.

' In normal position with the lever I51, in ce ntral position one side of .a record will be played,

w whereupon the record changing mechanism will return it to the rack, remove a new record therefrom and place it upon the turntable through the action of the pan 88 and lever 12.

When it is desired to pla'y both sides of a record before returning it to the rack, the lever is moved to one extreme position which will actuate the rod I16 and through said rod will swing the record reversing member in front of the rack so as to 20 catch the record when carried to a reversing position by the pan 88, and cause the record to slide onto the turntable in reverse position. The action of this mechanism will throw the record discharging lever 12 out of operation so that a new record will not be discharged from the rack.

When it is desired to repeat a record, the lever I51. is thrown to the reverse position whichwill operate both the rod I16 and the lever IBI which acts to prevent operation of the record discharge lever 12 so that a new record will not be released from the rack, and also prevents operation of the pan 88 so that the record to be repeated will remain upon the turntable. Thereupon, the rack will swing in its normal manner, the record referent sizes in substantially upright position, said 45 magazine including a back rest, a downwardly extending support for the upper edges of said records spaced from the back rest, andmeans for releasing a record from said support to permit it to drop against said back rest-and be moved 50 between said back rest and support whereby said record will be freed from the remainingrecords in the magazine and said remaining records will be supported by said support in spaced relation to said back rest. 7

55 2. In a phonograph, the combination with a rotatable turntable, of a pivotally mounted magazine for retaining a plurality of records of different sizes, said magazine including a back rest,

means for supporting a plurality of records in 60 substantially upright positionjn said magazine,

means for releasing one of said records and permitting it to drop against said back rest and below the remaining records, means forelevating said released record on said back rest! free from 65 and in spaced relation to the records in said magazine, and a downwardly extending support inclined toward said back rest with its lower edge spaced therefrom forsupporting said remaining records in spaced relation'thereto.

70 3. In a phonograph, the combination with a rotatable turntable, of a pivotally mounted magj azine for retaining a plurality of records of different sizes, said magazine including a back rest,-

. a plate upon which said magazine and turntable 75 are mounted, a well extending below-the level of said plate, means for releasing a record from said magazine for permittingiit to drop into said well, and means for raising 'said'released record'from the well on said 1 back rest in spaced relation to; the remaining records. v 5

4. In .a phonograph, the combination with a adapted to rest in spaced relation to said back '7 rest, means for releasing a record from said mag- 15 azine to drop into said well free from-said downwardly extending support and the remaining records supported thereby, and means for elevating said released record on said back rest behind said downwardly extending support. 20

5. In a phonograph, the combination with a turntable and reproducer, of mechanism for automatically disengaging said reproducer from the record, including a member for initiating the actuation of said mechanism, means for striking 25 said member periodically in timed relation to the movement of the turntable, and means connecting said member with said reproducer for returning it to position to be ineifectively struck by said means upon the reproducer being moved 30 a predetermined distance by the pitch of the reproducinggrooves of the record, and effectively struck by said means for initiating the actuation of said mechanism upon being moved to a greater distance by the greater movement of said reproducer upon reaching record grooves having a greater pitch.- t

6. In a phonograph, the combination with a turntable. and reproducer, of mechanism for au tomatically disengaging said reproducer from the 40 record, including a member movable toward and away from the center of said turntable, means on said reproducer for moving it toward said turntable during each revolution thereof to the extent of the pitch of the reproducing grooves,

.for initiating the actuation of said mechanism upon said member being moved by said reproducer a greater distance toward the center of said turntable through an increase in pitch of the record grooves.

r 7. Ina. phonograph, the combination with a turntable and reproducer, of a means for automatically disengagingsaid reproducer from the record, including a pivoted member, means'on said member for initiating the actuation ,of said mechanism, means for causing said reproducer to move said member toward the center of the turntable the distance ,of the record groove'pitch in each revolution of the turntable, and a projection for engaging and swinging said .member outwardly therefrom periodically in timed relation to the movement of said turntable, said projection and initiating means being' so related as to interlock and cause the ,disengagement of the reproducer upon said member being moved a greater distance by the' ord, including a pivoted lever, means for frictionally connecting said lever with the reproducer for moving it inwardly toward the center of said turntable therewith, a bar slidably mounted upon said lever provided with a projection thereon, and a lug adapted to engage with said projection for forcing said bar and lever outwardly periodically in timedrelation to the movement of the tumtable when returned by the frictional engagement thereof to a predetermined position governed by the pitch of the record grooves, said projection and lug being so related as to interlock upon said lever being moved inwardly to a greater distance by grooves of greater pitch, whereby said lug will the periphery thereof, a pivot lever positioned in the path of the reproducer adapted to be engaged thereby and moved toward the periphery of the record, a projection on said lever for engaging the periphery of the record so as to arrest the inward movement ,of the reproducer thereabove, said lever and reproducer being adapted to become disengaged upon lowering of the-reproducer into engagement with the record, and means for swinging the lever away therefrom upon said disengagement.

l0. In an automatic phonograph, the combination with a rotatable turntable, of a magazine for containing a plurality of records in substantially upright'position, of means for engaging the peripheral edges and supporting said records in said magazine, a member for ejecting one of said records therefrom for transfer to said turntable, and means associated with said ejecting member for engaging a plurality of records adjacent the lower edge of the record to be ejected for moving them to ejecting position.

11. In an automatic phonograph, the combination with a rotatable turntable, of a magazine for containing a group of records supported upon their lower edge in substantially vertical position,

an ejector for engaging and ejecting the record at one end of the group, and means associated with said ejector for simultaneously engaging the peripheral edge of an adjacent record and moving it into position to be next ejected.

12. In an automatic phonograph, the combination with a rotatable turntable of a magazine for containing a group of records supported upon their lower edge in substantially vertical position, an ejector for engaging and ejecting the record at one end of the group, and a hook-like member to the magazine after reproduction, whereby said mechanism will normally return a record to the magazine after reproduction of one side thereof in reversed position for causing the reverse side of said record to be played after having passed through said magazine and returned to the tumtable, means associated with said mechanism and operable to immediately reverse said record for causing the reverse side thereof to play before passing through said magazine, means for rendering said record changing mechanism and re-.

ing a plurality of records therein, mechanism for transferring records from said magazine to the turntable for reproduction and from the turntable to the magazine after reproduction, whereby said mechanism will normally return a record to the magazine after reproduction of one side thereof in reversed position for causing the reverse side of said record to be played after having passed through said magazine and returned to the turntable, means associated with said mechanism and operable to immediately reverse said record for causing the reverse side thereof to play v before passing through said magazine, means for rendering said record changing mechanism and reversing means inoperative for causing the record on said turntable'to be repeated, and manually operated means for'controlling said mechanism and reversing means, whereby said reversing means may be rendered inoperative to permit a record to return to the magazine upon the playing of one side thereof, or rendered operative for reversing a record to immediately play the opposite side thereof, or render said record changing mechanism inoperative to repeat the record on the turntable.

15. In a phonograph, the combination with a turntable and reproducer, of mechanism for automatically disengaging said reproducer from the record, including a membermovable in opposite directions, means associated with said reproducer for moving it in one direction during each revolution of said turntable to the extent of the pitch of the reproducing grooves on said record, and means for moving said member in the opposite direction periodically in timed relation to the movement of said turntable, said member and last-mentioned means being so related as to cause engagement thereof for initiating the actuation of said mechanism upon said member being moved by said reproducer a greater than normal distance by an increase in the pitch of the record grooves.

16. In a phonograph-the combination with a turntable and reproducer of, mechanism for automatically disengaging said reproducer from the record, including a pivoted member, means for causing said reproducer to move said member in one direction the distance of the normal record groove pitch on each revolution of the turntable, and a projection for engaging and swinging said member in the other direction periodically in timed relation to the movement of said turntable,

said projection and member being so related as' 75 y aoiassa to' initiate the actuation of said mechanism upm said member being moved to a greater than normal distance by the repr ucer through engagement with record grooves o greater pitch.

17. In a phonograph, the combinationwith a turntable and reproducer, o! mechanism for automatically disenga in said reproducer from the record, including a member, means for moving said member in one direction to the extent of the normal pitch of a spiral groove on the record being reproduced, means for periodically moving said member in the other direction in timed relation to the movement of the turntable, and means associated with said member for acsaid normal pitch of the record groove in said first-mentioned direction.

18. In a phonograph, 'the combination with a.

turntable and reproducer, oi mechanism for automatically disengaging said reproducer from the record, including a pivotallymoimted arm trio-,1 tionally actuated by the reprodueer to move therewith in traversing the spiral groove of normal pitch on the, record being reproduced, means periodically in timed relation to the movement of said table for moving said member in the oppomte direction against the triotional resistance caused by movement of the reproducer, and means for actuating said mechanismupon saidmemberbeingmoved throughthe medium of the reproducer operating in a section of the record groove having a greater pitch than normal to an extreme pontion between its saidperiodic' movements.

19. In a phonograph, the combination with a.

turntableand'reproducer, of mechanism 1m automatically disenga ing S d reproducer from the record, including a'member' for initiating the- 40 actuation of said mechanism; an element period sitiontobeefl fi ivelr struckbysaidelement for initiating the-actuation of said mechanism when the reproducer is moved abnormally by entering that portion of the groove having a greater than I normal pitch.

20.,In a phonograph, the combination with a turntable and reproducer, of mechanism for au- 5 tomatically disengaging said reproducer from the record, including a striking elementmovable with the-movement of said turntable, a movable member adapted to be in position to be periodically [struck by said element, a yielding connection be- 10 tween said movable member and reproducer for mentioned directionwhen said-member hasbeen v moved by the normal pitch of the groove and 20 said element will move said member in a different direction when said'member has been moved a greater distance by the terminal groove oi a rec-' ord having a greater pitch, and means controlled by said member ,in its movement in the last- 25 mentioned direction for actuating said mechaimam.

21. In a phonograph, the combination with a turntable and reproducer, oi mechanism for antomatically disengaging said reproducer from the record, including a striking element movable with the movement oi said tm'ntable, a member movable toward and away trom the path of movemeat or said element adapted to assume two positions in said path, in the first or which po-. sitloms it will'bemoved fromsaid path when struck by said element and in the second of which it will be moved in another direction when ,so struck, meanscontrolledbythemovementoisaid member in the last-mentioned direction for-initido sting the actuation of saidmechanismand a' yielding connection between the reproducer and saidmemberrormovingthesameonlytosaid firstpositionasthereproducermovesthrough the recordin'ggroove or normal pitch and to the "s second position when the reproducer ismovedby the'terminalgrooveotgreaterpitch. a

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