US2115863A - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

May 3, 1938. M. A. LlcHTEN 2,115,853.

I RECORDING DEVICE Filed uw. 4. 1935 s sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY May 3, 1938.` f M. A. LlcHTEN RECORDING DEVICE Filed nec. 4. 1935 3 sheets-snede INVENTOR fc/Ven.

.l ATTORNEY May 3 1938?- y M. A. LICVHTEN l l .2,115,863

RECORDING DEVICE Filed Dec.y 4, 1935 's `sheets-sheet s INVENTOR wm /Yaa/'lce l /c/ fen,

ATTORNEY imoonnnve DEVICE Maurice A. leichten, Longlsland' City, N. Y., as-

signor to Fldelitone Records, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 4, 1935, SerlalNo. 52,787

'25 Claims. .(Cl. 274-9) T'hisy invention relates toV devices adapted for use in recording impulses on flexible records.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved recording means whereby variations in the characteristics of sounds reproduced from the inside and the outside of flexible records may be minimized. I

A more specic object is the provision of means whereby the depth of a sound groove engraved in exible records may be rendered more nearly uniform thruout the radial extent of the record.

A further object is the provision of means whereby sound grooves having a high degree of uniformity may be engraved on flexible records.

An additional object is the provision of improved means for supporting a flexible record.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear'hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplied in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application oi which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects ofthe invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, -in which:

` Figure 1 is a side view of one form of device embodying the invention;

Fig. .2 is a. sectional view of the record-supporting means and associated parts;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the record-supporting means reversed;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a turn-table carrying a support embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged view illustrating the stylus and the manner in which it cuts a groove at the inside of a record supported in the manner exemplied in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the manner in which the stylus -cutsa groove at the outside of a record supported in the manner exemplified in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view of the stylus;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view ofa modified( -form of deviceembodying the invention;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section along the line i3-i3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail view along the line lI-Il of Fig.' 13; and

Fig. 15 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 12 showing a further modification.

For the sake of facility of expression the term record is used herein to includerecord blanks,

,and the term sound is used herein to include impulses in the recording or reproduction of which problems similar to those presented in the recording or reproduction of sound are involved.

Flexible records have many desirable qualities for the recording and reproduction of sound.

The use of styli having no tendency to cut into the record differently at different speeds of movement has proved unsatisfactory in recording on flexible records. Moreover, the provision of a '20"A at the outside of such records, and in the quality i of the tones reproduced therefrom, as well asv other variations in quality. Dimculties have al-v so been experienced due to the fact that if the grooves at the peripheral portion of a record are made suiiiciently deep to assure against a needle jumping a groove when the record is played, and other undesirable tendencies, thereis a tendency for the grooves at the central portion of the record to undesirably converge. Accordingly, while var- ,ious improvements in the recording of sound on,

and the reproduction of sounds from, flexible records, and in increasing the uniformity of sound grooves engraved thereon may be made in accordance with the inventions disclosed and claimed in my co-pending applications, Serial No.`

654,782, filed February 2, V1933, vnow Patent No. 2,032,062, and the continuations thereof,- Serial No. 44,138, led October 9, 1935, and Serial No. 51,776, iiled November 27, 1935; additional improvements have been necessary to secure the de- ,sired quality of recording and reproduction on flexible records, and to the making of these and other improvements the present invention is directed. v

'Ihe variations in the depth of sound grooves 'at diiierent radial points in a record 'appears to be due in large measure to the differences in speed of relative movement of the record and stylus at the inside of a record where the circle of movement is small and at the outside of a record where the circle of movement is large and the speed proportionately greater. With a stylus formed and mounted so that it presents an inclined portion to the record, differences in speed will tend to cause the stylus to be pushed upwardly to different extents, so that grooves of different depths Will be cut. Another factor which appears, in some instances, to cause some variations in depth of the sound groove cut at various radial points in a record, is the difference in the tension of the material of the record at different radial points thereon. This factor appears to be present particularly in records which are drum-formed. While this factor is probably always of much less importance than the speed factor discussed above, it should nevertheless be taken into consideration. However, the problem is not additionally complicated by this factor, since it will be seen that, in general, the same problems are involved in compensating for tension factor as in compensating for speed factor.

Furthermore, when a flexible record is resiliently supported it tends to form a hollow under the stylus, the conformation of which is to a certain extent a factor in the way the stylus rides.

With the foregoing and other considerations in view, the present invention contemplates the provision of means whereby the factor or factors tending to cause differences in the depth of the sound groove at different radial points may be compensated for, and the cutting effect of .the stylus made substantially uniform thruout the radial extent of a flexible record.

In accordance with the invention the angularity of the stylus may be varied at different radial points on the record so as to compensate for the difference in speed, and, if desired, also of other factors of diierence, between the central portion and the peripheral portion of the record. -This may be accomplished by altering the height of the pivot point of the stylus carrier as it moves across a record, but it is preferably accomplished by supporting the record differently at different radial points. The supporting means may be arranged to present the record to the stylus at higher points toward the outside of the record than near the inside of the record, and preferably at continuously higher points.

When such a support is.used for a record on which the sound groove is engraved by a stylus which is resiliently carried, as in my said copending applications, there is the additional advantage that the tensionof the elastic or other member from which the stylus or stylus carrier is hung is relieved to a somewhat greater extent at the outside of a record than at the inside, so as to put a greater weight onthe stylus, which further assists in compensating for the difference in cut due to the difference in speed at different radial points, and this eiIect may be utilized in compensating for the speed difference. In this connection it is to be observed that while the preferred constructions which are particularly exemplified provide means whereby the stylus is caused to bear differently upon the record at different radial points principally, at least by'a variation in the angularity of the' stylus,` the invention in its broader aspects embraces constructions whereby the Astylus is caused to bear difierently upon the record at different radial points principally, at least, by varying the weight on the stylus, as by relieving the tension of a re silient stylus-supporting member; for instance, either by the provision of means to effect a continuous alteration of a tension-adjusting means or by the provision of a support which will relieve the tension sufficiently to compensate for the speed factor, as' for example, in constructions wherein the stylus is vertically but not angularly adjustable; and in accordance with the invention there may be provided means to cause the stylus to bear differently on the record by an alteration of the effective weight on the stylus. However, causing the stylus to bear differently on the record by an alteration of the angularity of the stylus combines simplicity with a highdegree of certainty and practicality.

In accordance with the invention also there may be provided various features of construction including the provision of a reversible record support adapted for use with records driven at different speeds, or of records of different composition, the provision of air-cushioning means to support a record, and the provision of means whereby the record may be supported under the stylus at a single point throughout the radial movement of the stylus.

An exceedingly simple form of record support for use in a device embodying the invention in its preferred form, is one the surface of which rises from an inner portion of the record to an outer portion. As above indicated, however, the invention in its broader aspects contemplates the provision of means of any of a variety of types,

certain of which are particularly exemplified hereinafter, for altering the cutting effect of the stylus as it moves across the record, so as to produce a groove of substantially uniform depth ried a stationary record-supporting table 'I which is carried on the pointed ends of the` posts thru the medium of rubber members 8. Records on the table 1 are rotated by a member 49 carrying driving pins I0 and a center pin II extendinginto openings I2 and I3, respectively, in the record. The members is carried on a shaft I4 rotated by'a fly-wheel I5 driven from one' or another of motors I'S and I'I`adapted to rotate the record at speeds which are relatively high and low respectively, in accordance with said application, Serial No. 51,776. The sound groove is engraved by a sylusy I8 carried by a sound head I9 which is pivotally supported onv a horizontal pivot 20 disposed above the position in which the record is supported and at a distance not greatly removed from the stylus. The pivot 20 connects the stylus carrier with an arm 2| which is supported for vertical slidingmovement on a bracket 22. Suitable adjustment of the vertical position 'of the arm 2| and consequently of the pivot point may be made by an adjusting screw 22a thru the medium of a suitable gear and rack in accordance with said application, Serial No. 44,138. From the bracket 22 there extends an arm,23 carrying an adjustable pin 24 from which the cation, Serial No. 44,1138. The shaft 28 is driven thru the-medium of a belt and pulley from a worm shaft 29 meshing with a worm 30 on the shaft i4 as set forth in said application, Serial No. 44,138.

The record-supporting table 1 carries recordsupporting means, indicated at 3l, and formed, in accordance with the invention, to provide an f, upwardly and outwardly inclined support for a apart as the stylus moves inwardly, as' the case flexible record.

'I'he stylus I8 is formed to present an inclined portion at its tip to the body of the record. As exemplified, the stylus is of the general character of a stylus as disclosed and claimed in my said co-pending application, Serial No. 44,138, and is formed with a plane forward face 32, and with converging lateral faces 33 extending downwardly to the tip and joined by a short rounded surface at the very end. The rear of the stylus is cut away at a suitable'angle-33 in the present instance-to form an upwardly inclined rear face 34 which provides a clearance angle. At its lowermost forward point the stylus is cut away to provide an inclinedsurface 35. The angleline 36 at the upper edge of the inclined face l35 serves to cut into the body of the record so' that the stylus will-strip a thread therefrom. 'Ihe inclined face 35 preferably forms an angle with the horizontal (when the stylus is vertical) which is in the neighborhood of 10 to 20, and as exemplified, is near to the latter gure. The face 35 is ordinarily of very slight extent, but is sufficient to causev considerable variation in the amount in which the stylus digs into the record at different speeds. In the present instance the edge S6 may be about .0003 of an inch above the lowermost Y point on the stylus when the stylus isvertical.

depth of the grooves which it is desired to but,

and other considerations. Grooves about .002 of an inch in depth are often desirable in flexible records which are about..01 of an inch in thickness. When'a record is too hard or brittle, as is the casein many cellulose-ester records, the records may be softened by a suitable solution before cutting. f

As the portion of the stylus above the edge 36 cuts `a thread from the record, the inclined portion 35 below the edge 38 serves to press down-l ward upon the body of the record underneath the stylus. It will accordingly be apparent that the surface 35 meeting the body of the record at an angle serves to exert a lifting action on the stylus, which lifting action varies' principallyv with the speed and with the angularity oi' the stylus, and accordingly of the face 35, with respect to the record. According1y, by bringing the pivot point of the stylus and the record support nearer to each other as the stylus moves outwardly, or further may be,-e. g., by inclining the supporting surface for the record upwardly, as in Figs. 1 to 3,-the

angularity of the inclined surface 35 will be varied -in which the stylus is cut, and various other factors. One of such factors is the speed of rotation of the record, which ordinarily will be varied for the cutting of records of different diameters. In the cutting of larger records, it is common practice to rotate the record at a lower speed, since under many conditions high speeds would be too,

great for effective action near the outside of the record. Since the rotative speed is less, the difference between the linear speed of movementv at an inner point and the linear speed of movement at a point a given distance outwardly thereof is likewise less, and, accordingly, when a`record is being rotated at a lowerspeed, as for instance when a larger record is being cut under ordinary conditions, the inclination of the upper surface of the supportingV pad will be less than the inclination of a pad adapted for use in the cutting of smaller recordsat a higher speed. Since it is often desirable that a single machine be adapted for use in cutting of both large and small records, the supporting means 3| is-of a reversible i nature having one surface 38 which has a relatively large degree of inclination to adapt it for supporting records-such as small records-which are to be rotated at a high speed, as by the motor i6, and a surface 38a which has a relatively small degree of inclination' to adapt it to be utilized to support records lsuch as-large records which are adapted to be rotated more slowly, as by the motor il. These surfaces are provided in the present instance by layers 39 and 39a of felt-like material whichin the present instance are mounted on layers 40 and 40a of soft rubber which are united, A

by means of layers 4i and 4| a of hard rubber, to a disk 42 of metal, such, for instance, as (aluminum. Such a construction may be readily formed by vulcanizing the hard rubber layers on lthe metal disk, vulcanizing the soft rubber layers thereon, cutting the soft rubber layers away so as to give their surface the desired inclination for the surfaces 33 and 38a and securing layers of felt thereon, and provides a resilient support or a particularly satisfactory nature. If desired, a

single removable, felt-like layer may be disposed upon whichever of the layers 40 and 40a is uppermost, or, if a reversible unitis not desired, soft rubber or other disks having the proper inclination may be utilized interchangeably, with, prefer- 1ipresent time, it is -to be understood-that the invention is adapted for use with exible records of a variety of types, including gelatine records and others.

that a gelatin recordreqwresless inclination It is to be noted in this connection u in the supporting surface, other conditions being equal, than does a cellulose acetate record.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the surface 38 is uppermost and a record 31, which may be a 12" drum-formed cellulose acetate record, is disposed thereon, and the motor I5, which may be adapted to drive the record at 78 R. P. M. isengaged. In Fig. 3 the surface 38a is uppermost and a record 31a, which may be a 16" drum-formed cellulose acetate record is disposed thereon, and the motor I1, which may be adapted to drive the record at 331/3 R.. P. M. is engaged.

-As exemplified, the height of the supporting surfaces for the record increases substantially uniformly from a point where the first groove is to be cut, to a point where the last groove is to bel cut, but other modifications may be made to take care of the various factors which may enter into the cutting effect. Also there are instances wherein it is not of major importance that the height of the support alter at points near -the center of the record, and, in such instances the upward inclination of the support may begin at a point suitably spaced from the line where the innermost groove is cut.

It will be appreciated that while greatly superior results can be obtained by the use of a stationary support in accordance with said co-pending application, Serial No. 654,782, the invention is not limited to the use of such a support. There is exemplified in Fig. 4 a construction wherein there is provided a rotatable shaft 45 carrying 'a j turn-table 46, the upper portion of which is provided by a pad 41 which is preferably composed of resilient material-for instance, felt material-' and the upper surface of which is inclined somewhat upwardly toward its periphery to support a record 31 under a stylus which may be carried by suitable mechanism, such for instance as that exemplified in Fig. 1, or disclosed in various of my co-pending applications herein referred to. The degree of inclination of the surface oi the pad 41 is exemplified as similar to the degree of inclina- -tion of the surface 38, although, as above indicated, the degree of inclination will vary considerably under various conditions and with the use `of styli and other elements of varying character.

The relative position of the record and the point at which the stylus is pivoted may be altered in various ways other than by the provision of a support having an inclined surface. In Figs. 8 and 9 there is exemplified onetype of construction to this end, wherein a portion of a supporting table is cut out under the radial path of movement of the stylus, so that a flexible record will be pressed into the slot so formed bythe weight of the stylus carrier. In accordance with the invention the slot is made wider at its inner portion than at its outer portion. As shown inA Figs. 8 and 9 there is provided a pad 49,which ness. This pad 49 has a fiat upper surface, and has formed therein a radial slot 50 the edgesof which are outwardly converging lines. The dimensions and increment in width toward the interior'of the slot will vary considerably depending on the type of record to be employed, but the increment oi' spread will be slight. The exemplified pad may be embodied in a machine such as shown in Fig. 1. In operation the record v5I will be pressed down between the edges of the slot by the stylus I8 to a considerable extent near the interior of the record, where vthe slot is relatively wide, and to a lesser extent near the outside ot the record, where the slot is relatively support.

annees narrow, so that the point of actual support under the stylus will be nearer to the pivot point of the stylus carrier at an inner point on the record than at an outer point.

In Figs. 10 and 11, there is shown a device combining the features of Fig. 1 and of Figs. 8 and 9. In this exempliiication, a pad 49o is provided with a slot 50c, the sides of which converge somewhat in an outward direction, and the surface of which increases somewhat in height in an outward direction, as will be seen from Fig. 11. decrease in width of the slot outwardly is not as great as was the case in Figs. 8 and 9, and the increase in height outwardly is not as great as was the case if no slot were provided. The two inwardly from the vertical, as it moves inwardly,

as the case may be).

In Figs. 12-14, there is shown an arrangement wherein a single point of support of the record is maintained under the stylus without variation during the movement of the stylus across the record. By such means, the depth of the groove is unaffected by irregular variations in the record Except as indicated, the machine exemplified in Figs. 12-14 is similar to the machine shown in Fig. 1, and the parts thereof which are unmodified are designated by similar reference numerals.

In the present exemplilcation, the supporting table 1d carries a layer 60 of soft rubber and a layer 6I of felt, each of said layers being removably mounted. The layer 6I provides a supporting surface 62 which, in the present instance, increases in height toward its periphery and 'has generally the same conformation as the surface 32. Each of the member 1d, 60 and 6I are cut away radially of the record to provide a recess 63 in which there may move a supporting element 64 adopted to support the portion of the record beneath the stylus I8.- The supporting element 64 comprises, in the present instance, a rigid member 65 carrying a layer 66 of soft rubber and a layer 61 of felt. In order to move the element 64 at the same speed as the stylus, there is provided a. forked member 68 fitting over a flange 69 on an arm 10 extending from the bracket 22; and the forked member is connected with the element 64 by means of an arm 1I slidably mounted in a frame member 12, and carrying arm 13 to which there is pivotally connected at 14 a link 15 which is pivotally connected at 16 to a pair of prongs 11 depending from 'the member 65.y The ,member 65 is formed'with a squared opening fitting over an inclined square rod 19 which is pivotally secured to the table 1d by a screw 80, and is adjustably secured in a vertical slot BI in the frame member 12 by means of a set screw 82. By loosening the screw 82, the rod 19 may be adjusted for whatever inclination is desired to give a uniform cut in the particular type of record on which the recording operation is being carried out, and the screw tightened to hold the rod The rmly in its adjusted position. Notches or other means may be provided to assist in the firm holding action if desired. As-"wiil be apparent the removable pads 60 and 6I may be replaced, when A desired, so as to provide a surface 62 the depth of i erably made to correspond, so that the element 64 will not be out of line with the edges of the surface 62. As will be apparent the element 64 will receive the pressure of the stylus at a single point 83 thereon at all times, since the member from which the stylus is hung and the element 64 moves in synchronism.

As above indicated, it is not essential in order to vary the relative support of the stylus and of the record, that the record-support be so formed that its distance from the stylus--support will vary at different radial points on the record, it being possible to form the stylus-support in such manner that this distance will be varied.

In Fig. 15 there is shown an arrangement similar to that of Figs. 12-14 wherein the members 60 and 6| are replaced by members 60e and 6Ie which present a fiat surface 62e to the record and wherein the rod 19 extends horizontally. In

this instance the stylus supporting means includes 22e,simi1ar to the bracket 22, will be lowered as it is moved toward the periphery of the record.

.It will be appreciated that similar results may be obtained by the provision of means for .continuously turning the adjusting screw 22a, but

the means exemplied in Fig. '15 is of greater simplicity. It will also be understood that means for varying 4the height of the pivot point may be utilized with constructions such as shown in Figs.

1-3, 4, 8 9, audio-11, as well as in the construcf tion shown in Fig. 14.

While, in those embodiments of the invention particularly exemplified, the distance between the pivot point of the stylus carrier and the point at which the tip of the stylus is supported by the record decreases outwardly from an inner point on the record to an outer point, dueto the fact that the pivot point of the stylus carrier is over the part of the record which has just beencut, in accordance with ordinary practice, to give a smooth cutting action; it is to be understood that the principles of the invention are applicable to `constructions wherein'the desired change in angularity may be obtained by' increasing such distance outwardly from an inner point on the record, as by providing a downwardly inclined support, a radial slot which increases outwardly, orl

supporting means lwhich tends to raise a stylus carrier in an outward direction. It is also 'to be understood that, as .above indicated, the stylus a may be moved either. outwardly or inwardly across the record, and such expressions as increasing in height outwardly, decreasing in width outwardly, etc., are to be understood as the equivalent of "decreasing in height inwardly*"increasing in width inwardly, etc.

Moreover, while the axis of rotative movement will commonly be vertical, it will be appreciated that the invention is adapted to be embodied in apparatus wherein such axis is otherwise disabove construction and different embodiments oi!` the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingl sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover vall of the lgeneric,

the record, means to move said stylus across the lrecord, and means to alter the angularity of the stylus with respect to the vertical during its movement radial of the record so as to compensate for the tendency'of the stylus to cut a lighter' groove at an outer point on the record than at an inner point due to the greater speed of movement at said outer point.

2. In a recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus, means to support said stylus, said stylus presenting an inclined portion at its tip tothe body of the record, means to cause-said stylus to move across a record, and means to support a record, at least one, of said supporting means being arranged to cause the stylus to assume different angular positions with'respect to the'vertical at diierent radial points on the record. l y

3. In Aa recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus, means to support said stylus, said stylus presenting -an inclined portion at its tipv -to the body of the record, means to cause said stylus to move across a record, and means `to resilientlysupport a record, at least one of said supporting means beingarranged to cause the stylus to assume different angular positions with respect to thevertical at difrerentradial points on the record.

4. In a recording device, record-rotating means, `record-supporting means,`a stylus car- Y rier -mounted on a substantially horizontal pivot disposed above the record, and means tosupport said pivot, at least one said supporting means being arranged to cause the stylus to assume different angular positions with respect to the verf tical at different radial positions on the record.

`5. In a recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus, a stylus carrier, means to pivotally support said stylus carrier, said stylus being adapted to cut into the recordv to a greater extent when the stylus carrier has been swung upwardly on its pivot than when it has been swung downwardly on its pivot, and record-supporting means, saidsuppor'tingmeans being arranged to be increasingly nearer each-'other from an inner position to an outer position` with respect to the record.

6. In a recording device, record-erotating,

means, a stylus, a pivotally mounted styluscar-l rier, said stylus being adapted to cut into the record to a greater extent when the stylus carrier has been swung upwardly on its pivot than whenI it has been swung downwardly on its pivot, and record-'supporting means adapted to support a flexible record under said/stylus at increasingly higher points from an inner portion of the record to an outer -portion of the` record.

7. In a device fo'r recording sound on iiexible records, record-supporting means comprising a reversible member having on one side a supporting surface of one conformation and on the other 9. In a recording device, means to rotate a flexible record, means to drive said record-rotating means at two different speeds, and recordsupporting means comprising a reversible member, one side of the reversible member having a resilient supporting surface which is inclined slightly upwardly from an inner point to an outer point to one extent, and the other side of the reversible member having a resilient supporting surface which is inclined slightly upwardly from an inner point to an outer point to another extent.

10. In a recording device, means to rotate a flexible record, means to drive .the record-rotating means attwo different speeds, a stylus having a degree of ilatness at its point and having a tendency to ride up on the record, a stylus carrierl mounted on a substantially horizontal pivot,-

means to move the stylus carrier across a record, and record-supporting means comprising a reversible member, one side of the reversible Amember having a resilient supporting surface which is inclined slightly upwardly from an inner point to an outer point to one extent, and the other side of the reversible member having a resilient supporting surface whichy is inclined slightly upwardly from an inner point to an outer point to another extent.

l1. A stationary support for a flexible record formed with a generally radial cut-away portion into which a flexible record can yield under the pressure of a stylus moving therealcross.

12. In a recording device, recordrotating means, a stylus, a pivoted stylus carrier, means to move the stylus carrier across a record, and a stationary record support having a portion cut away to permit the record to yield under the pressure of a stylus moving thereacross, said cutaway portion expanding in width from one radial portion thereon to another radial portion thereon.

13; In' a recording device', record-rotating means, a stylus, a pivotally mounted stylus vcarrier, said stylus being adapted to cut into the record to a greater extent when the stylusv carrier has been swungI upwardly on its pivot than when it has been swung downwardly on its pivot, and record-supporting means adapted to support a flexible record undersaid stylus at increasingly higher points from an inner portion of the record to an outer portion of the record, said supporting means having a cut away portion adapted to permit a record to yield under the pressure of a stylus moving thereacross and decreasing in width from aninner portion to an outer portion.

14. In a recording device, means to support a flexible record, a stylus presenting an inclined portion at its tip to the body .of the record, a

- able supporting element in unison in said generally radial direction during the rotation of the record, and means to vary the angularity of the stylus with respect to the vertical during such radial movement.

15. In a recording device, means to support a flexible circular record, a stylus, a stylus Vcarrier mounted on a substantially horizontal pivot, said supporting means comprisinga stationary supporting member and a supporting element movable in a direction generally radial of the record, means to rotate the record, and means to move said stylus carrier and said movable supporting element in unison in said generally radial direction and to alter thekrelative distance between .said pivot and said movable supporting element during the rotation of the record to cause the stylus to cut a uniform groove in the record.

16. In a device for recording sound on flexible records, record-rotating means, a stylus presenting an inclined portion at its tip to the body of the record, means tor move said stylus across the record, and means to alter the angularity of the stylus with respect to the vertical during its movement radial of the record so as to compensate for the tendency of the stylus to` cut a lighter groove at an outer point on the record than at an inner point due to the greater speed of movement at'said outer point, said altering means comprising a resilient record support providing a supporting surface which is higher at an outer point than at an inner point. i

17. A device for recording sound on flexible records comprising a stationary support formedl with a generallyradially cut-away portion decreasing in width from an inner point to an outer point and into which a flexible record can yield under the pressure of a stylus moving therevacross above said cut-away portion.

for the tendency of the stylus to cut a lighter. groove at an outer point on the record than at an inner point due to the greater speed of movement at said outer point.

19. In a sound-recording device, record-rotating means,- pivotally mounted means, a stylus `carried by. said pivotally mounted means and preas to-compensate for the tendency of the stylus to cut a` lighter groove at an outer point on the record than at an inner point due to the greater speed of movement at said outer point.

20. Inra sound-recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus adapted to present a forward face to a record-rotated by said record-rotating means, said face terminating in a cutting edge from which there extends a downwardly and rearwardly inclined lower surface, means to cause said stylus to move across said record, and means to alterthe amount of inclination of said lower'- surface during the movement of the stylus across the record.

21. In a sound-recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus adapted to present a forward face to a record rotated by said record-rotating 15 said stylus to move across said record,'and means to alter the amount of inclination of said lower means, seid 'fece terminating in ja uiting edge fromwhich there extends a downwardly and rearwardlyinclinefd lower surface, means to cause said stylus to move. across said record, and meansfrom whichv there extends a downwardly and therecord, said altering means comprising sup' rearwardly inclined lower surface, means' to cause surface during the movement of the stylus across porting means formed with a radial recess'expanding in Width' from one radial portion thereof pivotally carry said stylus.

.to another'radial portion thereof, and means to 23. In a sound-recording device, record-rotate ing means, a stylus adapted to present a forward face to a, record rotated by said record-rotating means, said face terminating in ya' cutting edge from which there extends a downwardly and rearwardly inclined lower` surface, means toy cause said stylus to move across said record, and means to 'alter the amount of inclination of said lower surface during` the movement of the stylus across the record, said altering means comprising an element from which said stylus is pivotally supported and a record-supporting" element, and means t0 A -cause said elements to approach each other or to diverge from each other during the movement of the stylus across a record on said support.

24. In a sound-recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus, means to move said stylus 1 acrossthe record, and meansto vary the effective weight on the stylus in a regular manner during its movement across the'record. 25. In a sound-recording device, record-rotating means, a stylus presenting an inclined portion at its tipto bodyolwthe record, means-to resilientlysupport said stylus, means to mover said lstylus across the record, and record-supporting means `for varying the tension of said resilient' means. during the movement of the stylus 25 across the record.

MAURICE A.-LICHTEN.

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