US2098216A - Robot phonograph - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 9

ROBOT PHONOGRAPH Filed March 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Algaf J VE'NTOR:

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 9, 1937.

1.. J. ANDRES ROBOT PHONOGRAPH' Filed March 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

Mfd mze ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ma'tle instrument Company, Gratin Begins? Mich, n eorporation of Miehigan :1 relates to improv ments '11 ns, now known as I .01 therefore pro :ceomplishing such *natien oneg construe :1, actzcal ole e by the elir' h are likely to get out of 411133 invention, in connection with drawings L elevation of 2 detail section of the drum winding as texen on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; e ls iiagrammatic view and wiring dia gram in eonnection with the section taken on the M of Fig". 1;

a is n eection taken on the line 4---# of Fig. mi

Fig, 5 is a circuit diagram of certain wiring ecnnections hetween the drums.

In the present invention the contact maker comprises e. double drum mechanism which is connected to the same shaft which drives the phonograph turntable so that it is easily synchronlzed with a record carried thereon. The

post a- I A d5 members and J5 nermelly engageme with each other emi the gear meshes y a somewhat 'wi e1 spur pinion 23 fixed tn the turntable 5 so that the er 13 will 011 tinue engagement with mien when the clutch member H is move out of engagement with the clutch member 55.

To disconnect the clutch members a remote control means comprising a relay 21 mounted in the casing l attracts the end of the lever 89 when energized, raising the gear i3 and the upper clutch member i4. When the clutch mem" bers are connected the commutator drum 8 is rotated synchronously with the record on the turntable.

Arranged in a spiral or helix on the periphery of drum 8 are a plurality of evenly spaced contact lugs or fingers 2! with a similar series of contact lugs on the other drum t. These lugs successively close a series of switches it and ill. at the outer sides of the drums t and 9 respectively, insulatingly mounted upon vertical bars 28 extending between the casing i and the plate i2. These switches comprisecooperating spring fingers it and it insulatingly mounted on the vertical bars 28 and normally separated but pressed together to make contact when the corresponding lugs on the drums move in contact with cam projections 31] provided on the inner fingers iii which ride on the surfaces of the drums.

To rotate the second drum 9 one step at each complete rotation of the cylinder t, a gear 32 is pinned to the lower end of shaft Ml which meshes with the pinion fixed to a shaft Sit carried by the lower plate it. Also fixed to the shaft 36 is a flanged member 35 having a Geneva movement drive pin 3% and a locking cam Elli which cooperate with a Geneva wheel iii fixed to the shaft ill of the other commutator drum t. The drum 9 is therefore rotated from one lug or contact 25 to the next one to close the succeeding switch it while the drum 8 is moving toopen the last of its series of switches it and to again close the first switch of its series.

Connected at one end to the lower clutch member l5 which is fixed to the shaft it is a spiral spring 39 and the other end of the spring is anchored to apost it fixed in the casing i. The spring is wound to increase its tension as the first contact drum 8 is driven by the pinion connected to the turntable. The Geneva mechanism is reversible and to reset the commutator drums to starting position the outer end of the lever 09 is depressed manually or by energizing the relay 2d. This releases the clutchpconnection between the members it and it and permits the spring 39 to unwind and rotate the contact drums reversely to'starting position. To retard .the counter-rotation of the first drum t a spring pressed pawl ll engages teeth of a ratchet gear 32 to provide an escapement and a pawl (til mounted on the lower plate it engages a stop M in connection with the second drum ii when it is returned and reaches its starting position.

A simple multiple contact construction is thus provided; no operating wiring or relays are required and to connect the control circuits which are to be used it is only necessary to connect the corresponding switches of the two drums to prepare for a particular record.

The necessary wiring for connecting any number of these devices for operation by the contacts of the drums t and d is extremely simple as will be apparent by reference to the schematic circuit diagram as shown in Fig. 4. The two contact drums are represented by commutators h and 9 respectively; the contact fingers til which are joined together in each of the series are represented by contact arms til and 38 and the open contacts 29 are represented by the circles of contact points 8' and t".

A source of current supply represented by a battery it! is connected between the joined inner contact fingers th and it. In actual practice, connections are made only to the contacts it it is desired to use but for the sake of illustration a bank of twenty contacts or switches it is illustrated. One wire is connected to each one of the switch contacts 8 of which a group tit only is indicated; and a similar bank of conductors i'i is connected to the second series of drum con-. tacts ii With contacts closed at both number one contacts of each drum. 9. number one conaoaaeie v trol circuit is made'up by" connecting across the corresponding number one contact wires 46 and ii. A circuit will then be closed from the battery to the number one switchoflthe drum t corresponding wire it through the number one con-- trol circuit to the wire ti and number one contact of the second drum st and: thence back to the battery. 4

If there are twenty control circuits on each drum the first twenty control circuits are made available by connecting the circuits between each of the wires it to the numberone wire M; the

. circuits 2i-dfi by connectingacross from each iii In operation with the parts in normal position, the turntable t is put into operation to play a record and the first drum 8 is continuously rotated in synchronized relation with the playing of the record to close its' serles of switches in progressive relation. At each complete rotation of the first drum the seconddrum is partially rotated to close a succeeding switch of its series. During the second actuation of the first series of switches'on the drum t the second switch of the" second series of the drum 9 is closed; At the third actuation, the third switch of the second drum is closed; and so on until each switch of the first series has been closed in relation with 'each switch of the second series;

As the operation of a different controlcircuit is thus possible at each closing of the switches in the first series the control circuits may be operated at a large number of closely spaced intervals during the playing of a record. A great amount of wiring is thus-eliminated. The only fixed wiring is the connections between the jointed contacts of the two series of switches and the battery; and the circuits actually used are merely connected between the open ccntacts of the corresponding switches to the device which is to be operated at that time.

When the clutch operating lever it is moved either manuallyor by the relay M to release the clutch elements it and i5 the spring 39 returns the drums to their original or starting position and the operation of the record may be repeated either by closing a switch each time the record is to be played or by automatically repeating the phonograph operation. A simple circuit arrangement for carrying out this operation is shown more clearly in Fig. 3.-

In the type of phonograph illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 there is a motor 4 for driving the turntable and a motor 5t! mounted below the arm 2 having a driven shaft 59 operating a gearing for actuating the pick-up arm. 2 to and from operating position as it passes over the record. The specific structure of this pick-up arm drive is not essential to an understanding of the invention, a particular form of such a drive being shown in my co-pending application for Record repeater, Se-

rial No. 89,049, filed July 6, 1936, but the necessary' mains 5i and 52 and a main switch 53. l'he motor 50 receives current from the main 55 through conductors 54 and by way of a divided circuit comprising a conductor 55 in which is a mo- 5 mentary or continuous operation switch 56 and conductors 521 in which there is a switch 58 actuated by a periodic shaft 58 on the pick-up arm carriage which makesone complete turn for each movement up the pick-up arm as driven by the motor M. This shaft carries a'cam' 50 having a flat or dwell portion 81 engaged by a spring contact member 52 which closes the switch 58 when the spring finger 52 rides on the circular portion of the cam but allows the switch to open when the spring finger rests on the fiat or dwell portion ti. this divided circuit containing the two switches 56 58 is connected to the opposite main 52 by a conductor fia-through a mercury limit switch. 54 which is a part of the cut-oil closed in one limiting position tomake a connection to the motor 50. Also conmooted parallel with the motor 50 by con ouctor." G5 and 66 the relay M which operates ver 59.

a connection with the clutch lever is is switch l having a spring contact memvezl by the lever ill to open the switch when t e relay 24 is energized. The terminalsof this switch are shown connected by conductors "i2 and 32B one side of the battery 45 and to one the switches 2'! while the other side of the battery connected to one of the other switches 2E3 conductor H. The opening of this switch thereforeprevents the supply of cur-1 rent from the battery to any of the circuits closed the 3 and 9 and therefore prevents the establishment of ircuits through the drum con 'tacts wl the drums are being restored by the spring to their original or starting position.

T L or the turntable motor is first startc arm motor 5!! actuates the pickengage a record on the turntable and ".e pick-up arm is in place this motor e63. 'mti'i desires; to again operate the lifting it from the record and re '0 starting position. .lt is at this tioe lay 24 is actuateol, releasing clutch lowing the drums anti Si return Eng position. v I gfizhe parts diagrammatically shown 1!; in the ordinary position of to start the phonograph, the switch 6Q 61, the closing of the main switch 53; "i9 phonograph motor 8 4. operation cloup arm. motor $0 started by modepres sing the switch 5S which will through the motor Ell from the hrougl: conductors fi, 5%, switch 5S, t s so and switch 84 to the other main 5 motor will operate the shaft moves single wiper clesire.

this time the relay 2% the main 5i throilg conductors 5-K, 55,, 66, and switch to the other main 52 the l9 operated to open clutch moon witch 86 engaged at or near we record closes a circuit through the 5 icon 58 to motor for operating pick-up arm and energizing the magnet 24 to restore the drums 8 and 5 to their starting points as above explained.

If it is desired to continuously repeat the same record the switch is permanently closed so that after the cycle of operations is completed for playing the record, which would ordinarily bring the cam 60 to the position as shown in Fig. 3, in which case the switch 58 would be open, another energizing circuit is closed through the motor and through the switch 55 by way of cor: doctors 54, 55, 63 and limit switch 61, which restarts the motor 50 and repeats the operation automaticaily as long' as the switch 56 remains closeci.

With construction it will be seen that the of a record i completed, and that while the drums are being returned to their starting posi tion the energizing circuit for the drum contacts is opened.

ii. In a; multiple contactor for a robot phono= graph. having aturntable for playing a record, a commutator geared to the turntable to make a plurality of revolutions during the playing of the record, a second commutator, and mechanical means actuated by the first commutator having circuits dependent upon the first commutator for partially rotating the second commutator at each revolution oft'ne first commutator.

2. "ms. multiple contactor for a robot phonograph having a turntable for playing a record, a rotary commutator geared to the turntable to rotate therewith, and a second commutator driv en intermittently by the first commutator to con nect the first commutator electrically to a oifierent series of control circuits at each. revoluti 11 thereof eventsmay be caused to occur any one o. a plurality of closely spaced during playing of a record by interconnec tions between the commutators.

3. In multiple contactor for a. robot olrcnograph a turntable for playing a record, oorrunutator geared to the turntable plurality revolutions during the playing of a record, second commutator for closing cir cuits depentiing also upon the first commutato and Geneva movement driving connectio tween the commutators so that the second mutate is rotateci one space at each revolution of the conimutator.-

in, multiple contactor for a robot phonm graph having a turntable for playing a 21923623 acomm'utator driven by the turntable make plurality of revolutions during the playing of a recorifi, a second commutator, a Geneva znovcment gearing connecting the commutators so that the second commutator is rotated to make a contact each revolution of the first commu tater, a clock spring tensionecl by the rotation first commutator, pawl for stopping coun ovement second commutator at the position, and means for disconnecting the commutator from the turntable to ailow spri g to rotate the comniutators back the starting position.

5.. a multiple contactor for a robot phonegrapuo. turntable having a pinion, a commu tater, a gear meshing with the pinion, a clutch for connecting the commutator to the gear, a, torque spring connected to the commutator, and mm for stopping the return movement of the coutator under the action of the spring'when the ciutch is released so that the commutator will thereby be returned to its starting position and thus reset for the next playing of the record.

6. A multiple contactor comprising two commutators, a series of switches related with each commutator, a source of electrical energy, one sided each series of switches being joined and connected together through said source, and means for partially actuating. the second com mutator to close anew switch thereof in series with a circuit including said source oi energy and a switch of the first commutator at each complete actuation of the first commutator.

7. in a multiple contactonthe combination of two rotatably mounted drums, a series of switches related with each drum so that the switches of each series are closed successively by rotating the corresponding drum, and means for rotating one drum, the other drum being partially rotated progressively by the one drum and the switches of "both determining the circuits closed.

ii. The combination oi a pair of cylinders each having a helicallyarranged series of contact lugs, a row of switch members arranged longitudinally along each cylinder so that the switches in each row are closed successively by the lugs of their related cylinders, 'a plurality of control circuits, one side of said switches being connected together and through a source of electrical energy, and said circuits being connected between the open sides of the two rows of switches, and means for partially rotating one cylinder progressively in relation to the rotation of the other cylinder.

9. in a multipie contactor 'for a robot phonograph having a turntable for playing a record, commutating means for successively energizing a plurality of control circuits in coordination with the playing of the record, said means comprising a pair of rotary commutators each having a plurality of spaced contact fingers, the first commutator being driven continuously through a phi-- a rotary coutator having a plurality of spaced contacts for energizing controlledcircuits in coaoaaara ordination with the playing of the record, the commutator being geared to the turntable; and a second commutator also having a plurality of spaced contacts and driven through an arc corresponding to the spaces between the contacts at each complete revolution of the first commutator to .aflord connections from the first commutator contacts to a difierent series of circuits at each revolution thereof so that actions may be thereby initiated at any one of a plurality of closely spaced intervals during the playing oi a record.

ii. In a multiple .contactor for a robot phonograph having a turntable for playing a record, a commutator, a clutch for connecting the commutator to rotate with theturntable, a second commutator, an intermittent gearing connecting the commutatcrs so that the second commutator is rotated to make a new contact at each rotation of the first commutator, means for returning the commutators to an initial starting position corresponding with the starting position of the record, and means to release the clutch when the record is played to ,enable the spring to return the drums to their starting position.

12. In a multiple contactor for a robot phonograph having a turntable for playing a record, a pick-up arm and'a motor for moving it to and from record engaging position, a plurality of commutators driven by the turntable, each having a series of contacts, intermittent gearing connecting the commutators, a clutch for connecting the commutators to the turntable, and a. relay actuated when the pick-up arm motor is actuated to release the clutch, and means for returning the commutators to initial position when the relay is actuated.

a diiienent series of control circuits at each rotation thereof, a source of current supply connected between the contacts of the commutators and including a separately operable switch, a clutch mechanism for releasing the connection of the first commutator to the turntable including an operating lever which controls the said separate switch, and a relay for actuating the lever to release the clutch and open the said switch when the relay is energized.

LLOYD J. ANDRES.

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