US2148531A

US2148531A - Automatic record changer for phonographs

Info

Publication number: US2148531A
Application number: US33552A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin L Cartmell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-07-27
Filing date: 1935-07-27
Publication date: 1939-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 1956-02-28

Description

Feb. 28, 1939. CARTMELL 2,148,531

AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed July 27, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l- Q 1, M v R F0 0 o e L a m 0 2 Q r a & l W Q 7 In u n i Q Feb. 28, 1939. B, 1.. CARTMELL 2,148,531

AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER F OR PHONOGRAPHS Filed July 27, 1335 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 28,1939. B. CARTMELL AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER FOR PHONOGRAPHS 4 Sheets-:Shgeit 3 Filed July 27, 1935 Feb. 28, 1939. B L (:ARTMELL 2,148,531

AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed July 27, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 28,1939

ATEN AUTOMATIC nnconn CHANGER- FOR rnonocaarns Benjamin L. Cartn iell, Dayton, Ohio Application July 27, 1935, Serial No. 33,552

' 1:; Claims. 01'. 274-10) This inventionrelates'to phonogra hs, and more particularly to mechanism for utomatically interchanging records at the end of each playing period.

While the record changing mechanism, forming the subject matter hereof, is well adapted for home use, and is applicable to any disc type phonographic apparatus, the particular embodiment of the invention herein illustrated and described is especially designed for commercial use in amusement resorts, restaurants, and public places, and is therefore shown as equipped with an amplifier system and coin control means. v

The present record changing mechanism is adapted to present multiple disc records in play- .ing position by returning-the previously played record to the top of a loose stack andremoving the lowermost record of the stack for replacement of such played record.

The control mechanism is so arranged that as thereproducer arm of the phonographic apparatus approaches the center of the record, at the completion of the playing operation, it closes a make and break contact in an electrical control circuit which causes a vertical stack of reserve disc records to be played to be automatically shifted from their normal position at one side of the. phonograph playing table to a position over such table, and as the stack of records approaches the table, the previously played record is caused to be tilted upwardly into an inclined position. The stack of reserve records is then pushed beneath the uptilted played record, which falls to flat position on top of the stack.

As the stack of reserve records approaches a position of registry with the phonograph playing table, a replacement record is dropped from the bottom of the'stack on to the rotary table. The reproducer arm, which in the meantime has been returned to starting position by engagement therewith of a contact member moving with the stack of records, is then lowered on to the replacement record, as the stack of reserve records is returned to normal position in laterally offset relation with the phonograph table. The records are thus automatically interchanged and played in sequence.

In the event that it is desired to select a particular record from the stack other than the lowermost record thereof, the cycle ofinterchange operations can be repeated successively by manual operation ota selector button which closes the electrical circuit pertaining to the record changing mechanism, until the desired record is deposited upon the rotary phonograph table. Otherwise the control circuit for the record changing mechanism is automatically closed by the action of the reproducer arm at the 5 conclusion of the record playing operation to efiect an automatic exchange of the played record for the next record of the series. The actuation of the record changing mechanism, whether eifected automatically by the reproducer arm or manually by operation of a selector circuit button, does not set the phonograph table in op eration to play the positioned record. The playing of the selected record is initiated by subsequent depression of a plunger button which effects closure of the phonograph motor energizing circuit, unless in a coin controlled apparatus a number of reserve coins have been deposited,

in which event the interchange and playing of records will be automatically repeated until the coin supply is exhausted.

For commercial operation, the control circuits are so arranged that it is necessary to deposit a proper coin before the record changer actuating circuit can be closed by the selector button. However, if no selection of records is to be effected, but the record which has been previously automatically positioned is to be played, the playing button or plunger may be operated to set the apparatus in operation without manipulation of the selector. Upon depression of the playing plunger, the same coin which may have enabled the repeated operation of the record changing mechanism any number of times to bring the desired record on to the playing table 5 is also efiective to close the phonograph motor circuit. At the time the phonograph motor circuit is closed to play the record, the record changer control circuit is automatically opened to prevent the record changer being set in oper- 40 ation before the playing operation has been completed. Provision is made, however, for deposit of a reserve supply of coins which will cause the cycle of record changing and playing operations to be automatically repeated until the coin supply is exhausted. The supply of deposited coins may be held in reserve for either record selection operation and utilized one at a time for playing the records as selected, or for automatic repetition of the playing operations in which case-the records are interchanged and played in sequence.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of phonographic record changing apparatus, whereby such apparatus may not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more eficient in use, of compact form, automatic in action, and unlikely to get out of order.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a new method of interchanging records and a new sequence of operation for effecting automatic interchange thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of selecting records to be played, and to provide an improved method of controlling the interchange of records.

A further object of the invention is to provide a record changing apparatus wherein the record discs are looselyfistacked and successive records automatically removed from the stack and returned thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling the operation of the record changing mechanism by the action of the phonographic pickup arm or reproducer.

A further object of the invention is to provide selective means for presenting in playing position at will any particular record of a series without playing the records consecutively.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically preventing actuation of the record changing mechanism while the playing of a selected record is in progress.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling the pickup or reproducer arm of the phonograph by the actuation of the record changing mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for returning the reproducer arm to its starting position at the completion of a playing period, and forerepositioning the reproducer upon a replacement record preparatory to the next playing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for enabling a predetermined number of records to be automatically interchanged and played in consecutive order.

A further object of the invention is to enable the interchange and playing of records to be automatically arrested when a predetermined number of records have been consecutively played.

A further object of the invention is to provide coin control means wherein multiple deposited coins may be consecutively utilized one at a time for selective record changing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide coin control means wherein multiple deposited coins may be consecutively utilized one at a time for successive record playing operations.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, viewed from the upper side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, viewed toward the right.

Fig. 4 is a similar transverse sectional view on the same line viewed toward the left.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. I, viewed toward the right.

carriage 8.

Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 are all longitudinal sectional views on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, the respective views showing the record changing apparatus in successive positions of adjustment.

Fig. 10 is a perspective detail view of the coin control mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the playing plunger or button for initiating the playing operation.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the playing key and associated parts.

Fig. 131s a diagrammatic view of the electrical control circuits.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the cabinet in which the phonograph apparatus and record changing mechanism is housed.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the switch mechanism for instituting operation of the record change mechanism.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

For convenience and accessibility, the various operating parts of the apparatus are mounted upon a double deck chassis which is bodily removable from the cabinet I Upon theupper deck 2 of the chassis there is mounted the rotary phonograph turn table 3 actuated by the usual driving motor 4 suspended beneath the chassis deck 2, and adjustably mounted adjacent to the turn table is the usual pickup arm or tone arm 5 provided at its free end with the usual pickup head 6 carrying the tracer needle or stylus whichengages in the customary manner the record grooves in the face of the record discs upon the turn table 3.

Also mounted upon the upper deck 2 of the chassis and normally at one side of the turn table 3 is a reciprocatory record disc magazine movable within parallel spaced guide or track rails i into and out of overlying relation with the turn table 3. The record magazine or carriage comprises a rectangular frame a including parallel side bars interconnected by transverse end bars 3b, and supported upon rollers 9 for to and fro travel movement upon the chassis deck 2 within the guide or track rail 1. At its forward end the magazine or record carrier is provided with spaced ledges or supporting lips i0 separated by an intervening space i I coincident with a shallow notch l2 in the lower margin of the forward transverse frame bar 8b, of the carrier. At its rear end the magazine or carrier is provided with an inwardly extending medial lip or ledge i3, above which is positioned a stop or abutment l4, the lower margin of which is spaced above the supporting lip or ledge H! a distance substantially equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of one record disc, but less than that of two discs.

A considerable number of reserve record discs stacked one upon another may be supported upon the inwardly projecting ledges I0 and I3 at the forward and rearward sides of the magazine or Stationarily located upon the upper deck .2 of the chassis in parallel spaced relation between the side members of the traveling magazine or rec-' ord carrier, is a pair of supporting rails l5 carried in elevated position upon posts I6 and serving to medially support the records in the event that there is any tendency of the records to sag or buckle. The elevated supporting rails l5 are stationary and the traveling magazine or record carriage moves relative thereto, carrying the record discs over such-rails. The record discs do not ordinarily contact nor slide upon the rails I5, but

normally clear such rails which are safety devices to support the lowermost disc in the event 7 zinc or carrier when the latter is in its retracted position, and also to support the discs in the event they are distorted or misshaped.

Transversely disposed in elevated relation above the traveling magazine orcarriage is a bridging bar H, carrying at a medial position thereon an the traveling magazine carriage beneath the rear the magazine carriage the lowermost disc record disc supporting ledge l3.

The actuating lever 20 is connected by a pitman or connecting rod 24 with a crank arm 25 driven by an electric motor 26 through a suitable speed reduction unit 26a. The motor energizing circuit is controlled, as hereafter descrlbed,to arrest the motor 26 when the crank arm 25 has made one complete rotation to thereby shift the magazine carriage 8 from ..its normal position at.

one side of the phonograph turn table 3 to a position over such table and then back to its normal position. During this to and fro motion of the magazine carriage, the pickup arm is raised off the played record and by engagement of the contact plate I 8 therewith is oscillated laterally to its starting position and the played record is tilted to-an inclined position permitting the magazine carriage and the reserve supply of discs to enter therebeneath, and at the limit of the travel of is deposited therefrom on to the turn table 3.

To enable the return of the pickup arm 5, the supporting post 21 upon which the arm is mounted for to and fro horizontal swinging motion, is in turn carried upon a rock shaft 28 disposed horizontally above the upper deck 2 of the chassis in suitable bearing brackets 29. The rock shaft 28 carries at its end opposite the pickup arm supporting post 21 a horizontally projecting rock arm 30 provided at its extremity with a roller 3| aligned with a cam bar 32 fixedly secured to one of the side bars 8a of the reciprocatory magazine carriage. In the initial advance movement of the magazine carriage, the tapered forward end of the cam bar 32, engaging beneath the roller 3!, lifts the rock arm 30 to oscillate the rock shaft 28, thereby tilting the supporting post 21 of the pickup arm 5 to lift the arm 5 and pickup head to elevated position above the played record upon the turn table 3. D

To facilitate this elevation of the pickup arm and minimize theload upon the traveling carriage, the rock .arm 30 is connected by a retractile spring 33 with an overhanging standard 34 which, while insufiicient to overcome the weight of the pickup arm, nevertheless augments the lifting action of the cam bar 32 as the magazine carriage advances.

During the advance of the magazine carriage by which the pickup arm is elevated from the position shown in Fig. 6, wherein the parts are illustrated in their normal or record playing relation, to that disclosed in Fig. 7, wherein the movement of the record carriage has been initiated and the pickuparm elevated, the played record A has also been lifted from the phonograph table 3 into a tilted or inclined position.

The elevation of the played record from the table 3 is effected by lifting arms 35 pivoted at 36 to the upper deck of the chassis in the path of travel of the reciprocatory magazine carriage and extending into proximity with the periphery 'of the phonograph table 3 at opposite sides thereof.

The lifting arms 35 are provided adjacent to their supporting brackets 36 with vertical inclined deflections 0r bends 31, and adjacent to their free ends they are formed with additional lateral deflections or offsets 38. At their extreme ends they are provided with pads 39 of rubber or other suitable cushion material for contact engagement with the under side of the played record A as these lifting arms are oscillated upwardly about their pivotal connection with their brackets 36.

For oscillating the lifting arms in properly timed relation with the movement of the reciprocatory magazine carriage, there are provided spring arms 40 attached to the inner sides of the side bars 8a of the magazine carriage and extending parallel therewith in inwardly spaced relation. At the ends of such spring arms 40 there are carried rollers 41 normally positioned beneath the lifting arms 35 adjacent to their pivotal connection with their brackets 36. As the magazine carriage advances, the rollers 4|, upon the spring arms 40,

engaging the inclined deflection or bends 3'! of the lifting arm 35, exert camming action thereon to lift the arms upwardly causing the padded extremities 39 to engage the played disc and lift it from the table 3 into inclined position as shown in Fig. '7.

As the magazine carriage continues to advance, it enters beneath the tilted record, as shown in Fig. 8, and the rollers 4| advancing with the carriage pass beyond the lateraLdeflections 38 of the lifting arms 35 whereupon these lifting arms may drop to their normal position upon the deck of the chassis as shown in Fig. 8.

As the point of engagement of the reciprocatory magazine carriage passes beyond the center of the disc, the latter will tilt by gravity into a horizontal position on top of the stack of reserve discs carried by the magazine carriageand will abut against the post 42 located beyond the limit of the range of travel of the magazine carriage and having a cushion head 43, preferably of rubber, which holds the elevated disc against travel movement while the magazine carriage and the stack of records therein continue to advance beneath the elevated record A.

At the limit of travel of the carriage the record has been positioned upon the top of the stack concentric with the reserve records. However, during the final approach of the magazine carriage to the limit of its range of travel, the forward transverse bar 8b thereof has passed slightly beyond astationary pin 44 located in front of the abutment post 42 which, entering through the notch 12 in the bottom of the carriage bar and through the space H between the supporting ledges thereof, will have caused the lowermost record disc of the stack to be arrested slightly before the carriage reaches the limit oi its travel and thereby pushed rearwardly relative to the carriage ofi the forward supporting ledges l0 and within the space beneath the rear abutment member l4, thereby allowing the disc to drop on to the turn table 3 in a slightly inclined position, as shown in Fig. 9, in which the center pin 45 of the turn table engages the central hole of the disc thereby preventing retractive movement of the disc with the return of the carriage.

As the carriage begins its return movement,

the lowermost disc being held by the central ,stud or pin 65 of the turn table will be withdrawn from the warmest supporting ledge E3 of .the magazine carriage and thereupon falls into playing position upon the phonograph turn table 3; The pickup arm 5, held in elevated position by the engagement of the cam bar 32 beneath the'roller 3| of the rack arm 30, having been swung laterally to its starting position by the contact of the plate l8 upon the transverse bridge bar H rests against a spring arm 46 located adjacent to the abutment post 42. This spring arm 46 is preferably deflected or curved at its upper extremity whereby, as the pickup head 6 later descends, the arm will exert a slightly tensioned camming action inwardly relative to the record to properly position the stylus of the pickup head -or retractive movement, leaves the deposited record upon the turn table and returns to its normalposition, illustrated in Fig. 6. As the magazine carriage approaches the limit of its range of retractive travel the roller 3| of the rock arm 30 passing down the inclined end of the cam bar 32 gradually lowers the pickup arm 5 until the stylus is in engagement with the newly.

deposited record. In its descent on to the record, the pickup head 6 is cammed slightly inwardly by the spring arm 46 which is tensioned somewhat by contact of the pickup head therewith to shift the head across the smooth margin ofthe disc until the stylus engages the initial record groove. At the limit of the return movement, the energizing circuit of the motor 26 is opened and the carriage comes to rest.

While the reproduction, in the present instance, is efiected electrically and amplified through a conventional vacuum tube amplifier unit 4'! connected with a typical speaker unit 48, it is to be understood that such method of electrical reproduction is not essential but the arm 5 and end 6 may be a conventional tone arm and diaphragm type reproducer well known in the phonographic art.

Electrical controL-The traveling magazine carriage is set in operation automatically to interchange the records at the end of each playing ergized to effect repetition of the record exchange in order that any desired record of the reservesupply may be positioned for playing.

At the present time most commercial phonolgraph records are provided centrally with either an eccentric or involute continuation of the record grooves of exaggerated pitch by which the pickup or tone arm, as the case may be, is given a continued oscillatory movement after the completion of the record playing period. Such continuation 'of the stylus'track upon the record is for the purpose of operating the record changing mechanism, for which purpose it is also utilize in the present instance.

For automatically setting in operation the record exchange apparatus there is provided adjacent to the pickup arm supporting post 21 an electrical circuit closer comprising two independi The contact blade 50, which is pivoted at 53, cargreater than rod connected with a rock arm 56 projecting from the pickup arm post 2?. To increase the tenacity of the friction rod 55, that portion thereof engageable within the spring fork or gripping arm 54 of the contact blade 50 is preferably, although not necessarily, rubber covered. As the pickup arm 5 travels inwardly toward the center of the record being played, the supporting post 21 rotating with the arm exerts a pulling influence through the rock arm 56 upon the friction rod 55 to draw the rod-through the spring fork or gripper arm 54 against the tension thereof, thereby tending to move the contact arm 50 about its pivotal connection 53 down wardly and'away from the second contact blade 5| 'thereby maintaining the electrical contact be- 7 tween such members open.

However, when the playing stylus, carried by the pickup head 6, passes beyond the record grooves of the disc and into the eccentric or blade 50 to make contact with the blade 5| and thereby close the actuating motor circuit.

turers are not provided with continuing eccentric grooves necessary to produce the reversal of the pickup arm movement necessary to elevate the contact blade 50 and close the motor control cir- M cuit, therefore, to make the apparatus universal and. enable the control circuit to be closed to efiect interchange of records regardless of the type of. record being played, thecircuit closer blade 5| is provided with an upstanding portion 58 projectinginto the path of a dependent vane or contact portion 59 carried upon the friction actuating rod 55. This contact vane 59 is adjustable longitudinally of the actuating rod 55 by adjustment of the nuts 66, screw threaded thereon at opposite sides of the contact vane. As the playing stylus reaches the end of the record groove in the disc record the contact vane 59 will engage the upstanding portion 58 and by continued movement of the pickup arm and the rod 55 the contact blade 5| will be depressed against the yielding resistance of an L-shaped elevating spring 6| secured to the mounting block 52 at the side opposite the

contact blades

50 and 5| and having its lateral arm extending transarm 54. When the record disc is of different type wherein no limited reversal movement of the pick- -'up arm iseffected, the continued inner movement of the pickup arm will cause the contact blade 5| to be depressed against the tension of the spring 6| into engagement with the contact blade 56 by the continued pulling effort upon the operator rod 55 which is transmitted to the contact vane59 and projecting portion 58 to the circuit closing blade 5|.

As is illustrated in the circuit diagram, Fig. l3,

30 Phonographic records of certain manufacthe operating current is supplied from the power line 62 for the various electrical operations, the voltage of which is reduced through the transformer 64 to a shunt circuit in which is included the automatic switch heretofore described. As shown in the circuit diagram, one contact blade of the circuit closer 59-51 is connected through the line 63 with one output terminal of the transformer 64. The other contact blade of such circuit closer is-connected through the line 65 with electro-magnet coils 66 which are in turn connected through the line 61 with the opposite terminal of the transformer. The closing of this circuit energizes the electro-magnet 66 to attract its armature 68, best illustrated in Fig. 2. The armature bar 68 is pivoted at its lower end to the free end of'a lever 69 which is pivoted at i9 and capable of limited oscillatory movement against the tension of a retracting spring IL.

The armature bar 66 normally supports in an elevated position a circuit closer arm 72 which normally rests upon a stud or pin 13 projecting from the armature bar 68. The armature bar 66 is provided with a retracting spring 14, against the tension of which the armature bar is retracted by the energization of the electro-magnet 66 to withdraw the supporting pin 13 from beneath the circuit closing arm 12 allowing the arm 72 to drop by gravity into closing contact with a stationary terminal i5. The closing of the contacts 12 and 15 closes the motor energizing circuit through the line 16 from the transformer 64 to the circuit closing arm 12 and thence from the contact 15 through the line 11 to the actuating motor 26, the opposite side of which is connected through the line 78 to the opposite-terminal of the transformer 64.

The motor circuit being thus closed, the motor 26 is energized to actuate the parts through one complete rotation of the driving crank arm 25 which is connected through the link 24 and arm 26 with the magazine carriage to effect one complete advance and return movement of the latter, during which the previously played record is removed from the table 3 and the succeeding lowermost record is deposited thereon.

As the driving crank 25 completes its rotary motion, a contact finger 19, carried by the motor shaft and rotating in unison with the crank arm 25, contacts a cam surface 86 upon the lower side of the pivoted lever 69 beyond its pivotal point 79. This engagement of the contact finger #9 with the cam surface 89 oscillates the lever 69 against the tension of its retracting spring II to draw the armature bar 66 downwardly until the pin 73 then resting against the end of the circuit closing arm 12 may pass beneath such arm under influence of the retractile spring 14 connected to the armature bar 68. As the contact finger 19 passes'beyond the cam surface 80, the spring 1 I, returning the oscillated arm 69 and the armature bar 68 upwardly, will cause the circuit closing arm 12 to be lifted by the pin 13 from its closing engagement with the contact terminal I5, thereby again opening the motor energizing circuit and the parts will come to rest at the completion of one cycle of record'changing operation with the magazine carriage in its normal retracted position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

By the means thus described the control circuit is closed at the end of the playing operation to energize the electro-magnet 66, which in turn effects the closingof the motor energizing circuit to set in operation the motor 26 to actuate the record changing apparatus through one cycle of operation, thereby automatically changing the next record of the series for the previously played record.

It may be desired, however, to play some particular record of the reserve supply other than the next of the series. Means is therefore provided for effecting repetition of the record exchange operation until the desired record disc is deposited upon the rotaryphonograph table 3. To this end there is provided a manually operated depressible, circuit closing button 62 connected at one side with the line 65 leading to the electromagnet coils 66 and then through the line 61 to one side of the transformer and connected at its opposite side through a line 86, which in turn connects through included circuit closing elements with the line EB'cQmmunicating with the opposite terminal of the transformer 66.

Thus when the button 82 is depressed and the circuit closed through the coils 66, the armature bar 66 will be attracted to release the circuit closing arm 12 which, by its descent into engagement with the terminal 15, closes the circuit through the actuating motor 26 to operate the record exchange apparatus as before described. This manually operated button 82 may be depressed any number of times to repeat the record exchange operation until the desired record has been selected and deposited upon the rotary table 3.

The desired record, having been selected and deposited, the turn table actuating motor 3 is then set in operation by closing an additional circuit closer 95 included in a-motor energizing circuit comprising the

lines

96, 81 and 68 by which the turn table motor 4 is bridged across the power line 62. At the completion of the playing period, the circuit closer 85 is opened automatically to deenergize the turn table motor 4 by the movement of the magazine carriage actuating arm 29. This is effected by a rock shaft 99 journalled in spaced upright supports 99 and 9| and having at its extremity an extended rock arm 92, extending into the path of a stud or roller 93 carried by the arm 20 by which the magazine carriage is reciprocated.

The rock shaft 89 also carries a short rock arm 94 to which is pivoted a pawl 95 engageable with a vertically moving rack bar 96. In the drawings, the rack bar 96 has been illustrated as provided with a series of spaced studs or pins 91' projecting perpendicular to the plane of the bar 96 with which the pawl 95 engages. The pawl 95 is pivoted to the arm 94 for idle oscillation in one direction. I

As the elongated rock arm 92 is elevated by the action of the magazine carriage operating am 29, the short rock arm 94 is depressed, causing the pawl 95 to move idly over one of the pins or teeth 91 of the rack bar against the yielding resistance of a retracting spring 98 which tends to return the rock shaft 89 and the

arms

92 and 94. As the magazine carriage operating arm 29 returns to normal position at the completion of the record changing operation, it permits the elongated rock arm 92 and with it the shaft 89 to likewise return to normal under influence of the retracting spring 98. However, during this return movement the pawl 95 will have engaged beneath one of the projecting pins or teeth 91 of the reciprocatory rack bar 96, and the return I movement of the shaft 89 and arm 94 will serve This reciprocatory rack bar 96, slidingly mounted in suitable ways 99, has operative connection with 7 between succeeding studs or teeth 91.

the circuit closer 85 pertaining to the phonograph motor circuit. Pivotally connected to the circuit closer arm 85 is a vertically moving bar I00, from which projects upward a rod or stem I0i, the upper end of which is bent laterally to form a hook or ofiset which overhangs a pin I02 projecting from the lower end of the reciprocatory rack bar 90. As the rack bar 96 approaches the upper limit of its range of travel under influence of the elevating pawl 95, the pin I 02 engaging beneath the ofiset upper end or hook of the stem I M draws the circuit closer arm 05 upwardly thereby opening the motor circuit and arresting the rotation of the table 0.

The vertically moving bar I00, connected to the circuit breaker arm 85, also controls a circuit closer in the selector control circuit line 83. This circuit make and break device comprises a pivoted contact arm I00, one extremity of which extends within the path of the vertically moving bar I00 and is engaged thereby to open the selector control circuit 'line when the playing circuit is closed by the descent of the circuit closing arm 85. To the contrary, the opening of the playing switch by the elevation of the rack bar upon completion of the cycle of operation, as before described, will allow the circuit closer H03 to automatically close the selector circuit. Thus the circuit closer 85 in the phonograph motor circuit and the circuit closer I03 in the selector button circuit, controlled by the button 02 operate alternately, that is, when one of these circuit closers is open the other is closed and vice versa. By this means it is impossible to operate the selector button 82 to set in operation the record changing apparatus until the playing of the record has been completed and the record changing apparatus control circuit has been auto-- matically closed by the movement of the pickup arm 5, and conversely the operation of the circuit closer 85 to set in operation the phonograph turn table automatically opens the contact I03 and renders the manual selector button 821 ineffective.

The opening and closing of the phonograph motor circuit, and incidental thereto the opening and closing of the manual selector circuit, is controlled entirely by the vertical adjustment of the rack bar 90 which, as before described, engages at its upper limit of range of travel with the stem 5.05 to lift the contact 85 and bar I00.

Therack bar 96 descends within its ways 99 by gravity and such descent is controlled by an oscillatory escapement pallet I05 which is piv-- oted at I06 and subject to retractive influence of a spring IN. The escapement device is provided with two spaced teeth I08 engageable alternately with the teeth or studs 91 of the vertically moving rack bar 96, and also is provided with an operating arm I09 terminating in a slightly distance until arrested by the escapement device.

At each oscillation of the escapement device I05 the rack bar will be allowed to drop the distance of one predetermined step as defined by the space Thus by operating the escapement device several times in succession and allowing the rack bar to deaieaeai scend a like number of steps or spaces, the playing control switch 85 will not be opened until the rack bar has been again elevated through a like number of steps or spaces whereby the extended pin I02 will again engage and elevate the stem IN to again open the contact 05. Inasmuch as the rack bar 90 is elevated only one step or space at each operation of the rock shaft 09 and pawl arm 96, it necessarily follows that the cycle of operation of playing and interchanging records will be repeated as many times as the rack bar has been permitted to descend through succeeding steps or spaces and in turn this corresponds to the number of times the escapement device 005 has been actuated.

The escapement device is operated by means of a depressible playing key or plunger l l i having on its inner end a cam portion H2 engageable with the curved plate N0 of the escapement arm I09 to depress the arm and operate the escapement to permit the descent of the rack bar 00 one step or space at each operation of the playing key or plunger Ill. Each time the playing key or plunger HI is depressed, the rack bar 90 is allowed to descend one space or step. Consequently if the playing key or plunger Ill is depressed but once the apparatus will be set in operation and upon the completion of the playing of the record then upon the turntable 3, the record changing apparatus will be operated through a complete cycle to exchange the record, replacing it with the next record of the series, and the apparatus will come to rest with the circuit closer 85 of the phonograph motor is elevated by the return of the rack bar 90 to its uppermost position by the action of the pawl 05.

However, if the playing key or plunger Mi is depressed a number of times in succession, the escapement I05 being operated at each depression to permit the descent of the rack bar an additional step or space from which it is returned one step or space at each actuation of the elevating pawl 95, the apparatus will operate but the record will not be played until the playing key or plunger III is depressed. However, the playing key or plunger may be depressed any number of times to effect automatic repetition of the cycle of operation by which succeeding records are deposited upon the turn table 3 played and removed therefrom, and until such sequence of records has been completed, the selector button 82 remains ineffective due to the fact that the circuit closer I03 is maintained open so long as the contact 85 is closed.

The.construction and operation as heretofore described is that for home use or for uncontrolled and unrestricted interexchange and playing of records.

For use, however, in public places the construction illustrated and as heretofore described is easily and conveniently adapted for commercial exploitation through coin control operation. In lieu of depressing the escapement arm I09 by the camming action of the playing key or plunger III, the escapement may be operated by the weight of a dropping coin, but before the coin is released for impingement upon the escapement operating plate III), it is'temporarily arrested by a pair of spaced contacts in the line 83 of the selector circuit to temporarily close the selector circuit so that the button 82 may be operated any desired number of timesto select a particular record to be played, the presence of the coin being necessary to close this circuit.

After the selection has been made, the coin is dislodged from the spaced selector circuit terminals by depression of a playing key or plunger and is caused to fall upon the escapement operating plate II I] whereupon the operation is as before described.

Such coin control system is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 wherein H3 is a coin chute leading downwardly in a somewhat inclined direction from the exterior of the cabinet i. Projecting into the path of the coin as it passes from the lower end of the inclined coin chute H3 are two spaced electrical terminals H4 connected into the line 83 of the selector circuit, as shown in Fig. 13, which intercepts the descending coin and upon which the coin temporarily lodges. The engagement of the coin H5 with thespaced electrical terminals M4 closes the selector circuit therebetween and renders the selector button 82 eifective for repeated operation of the record changing apparatus so long as the coin IIS remains in bridging relation with the terminal stud II4.

A hook-shaped spring finger IIG, secured to the rear side of the coin chute and terminal support I I1, extends about the margin of the support I I I and overhangs the deposited coin H5 the front of the cabinet I is adapted upon depression to flex the spring finger H6 sufliciently to cause the stud I I8 carried thereby to push the coin off the supporting electrical terminals H4. The dislodged coin then falls through a bottomless guide chute i I9, beneath which the operator plate I III of the escapement device'extends. The

coin IIS, dislodged from the selector circuit terminals Ill falling through the guide chute I I9, impinges upon the plate I ID with sufiicient force to depress the escapement device I05 against the tension oi its retracting spring I01 and thereby releases the rack bar 96 for descent through one step or space.

If only a single coin is deposited in this manher, the apparatus will be operated through but a single cycle of operation and will come to rest Y when one record has been played and another has been substituted therefor preparatory to the, next playing operation. However, any number of coins may be deposited in succession without waiting for the completion of any playing period. The deposit of each coin will operate the escapement to permit descent of the rack bar 96 through one additional step or space andthereafter the cycle'of bperation will be repeated as many times as tliere have been coins deposited, i

The coin chute I I3 which extends to the exterior of the cabinet I to) receive the deposited coins is suificiently long that a number of coins may be retained therein, the lowermost of which will rest on and bridge the terminals H4 thereby enabling the changing apparatus motor circuit to be closed by depression of the button 82. The

remainder of the deposited coin supply will be supported on the lowermost coin. As the plunger la is depressed the lowermost coinwill be dislodged from the contacts I I4 and fall onto the escapement pallet H2 to actuate the control bar escapement, and the next succeeding coin in the chute H3 will take its place bridging the termirials H4. Thus a reserve supply of coins may be deposited in the chute and. used each in turn to enable repetitious operation of the record changing apparatus to select particular records out of their sequential arrangement in the magazine carriage. In lieu of holding the supply of coins in reserve for record selecting purposes, a series of coins may be consecutively deposited through the chute into the apparatus by repeated operation of the playing plunger Ilia, even while the apparatus is in operation. Each coin falling on the pallet H2 will operate the escapement I05 to advance the control member 96 one step. The rack bar 96 may thus be advanced a succession of steps by deposit of a like number of coins, thereby causing continuous repetition of the playing operation and record changing operation until the rack bar has been retracted a like number of steps, by the pawl 95, which operates the rack bar one step, once for each record changed, until the control bar is returned to normal. However when the control bar 95 is fully retracted and the button 82 is depressed to select a record the retracting means 92-94 and 85 will operate idly.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into eiiect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Aphonographic apparatus including a record disc receiving turn table and a swinging pickvup arm cooperating with a disc record thereon,

with the record, a distance suflicient to permit the carriage and supply of discs carried thereby to enter beneath the elevated record disc, a contact portion upon the traveling carriage engageable with the pick-up arm for returning the arm to graphic record discs are to be deposited upon and removed from a phonographic turn table whereon they are operatively engaged by a phonographic pick-up arm, a traveling magazine carriage for a stack of superposed record discs movable to and fro into and out of overlying rela-' tion with the phonographic turn table, elevator means operable by advance movement of the traveling magazine into overlying relation with the turntable for raising a previously deposited record from the turntable, fore and aft supporting ledges on the carriage engaged by thelowermost disc of the supply stack for'removably supporting the superposed record discs thereon, the rearward ledge being of greater length than the forward ledge, stop means engaged by the lowermost disc of the stack before the carriage reaches the limit of its forward travel for arresting the lowermost record disc substantially in registry I with the phonographic turn table while the continuedadvance of the carriage withdraws the forward supporting ledge from thereunder permitting the lowermost disc to descend onto the turn table, the rear supporting ledge being withdrawn from under the lowermost record upon return movement of the carriage leaving the record in playing position upon the turn table, I

3. In an apparatus wherein successive phonographic record discs are to be deposited upon and removed from a phonographic turn table whereon they are operatively engaged by a phonographic pick-up arm, a traveling magazine carriage for a stack of superposed record discs, means for advancing the carriage into and out of overhanging relation with the turn table, a discharge outlet in the bottom of the magazine through which record discs are successively dropped vertically onto the turn table when in registry therewith, means for releasing the 'record discs one by one from the bottom of the stack onto the turn table when in such overlying position, elevator means operable by the advance movement of the carriage for raising a previously deposited record from the turn table into an inclined position prior to the engagement therewith of the carriage and associated parts traveling with the carriage to permit the carriage and supply stack of records to advance thereunder whereby the record thus removed from the turn table will be received on top of the supply stack.

4. In an apparatus wherein successive phonographic record discs are to be deposited upon and removed from a phonographic turn table whereon they are operatively engaged by a phonographic pick-up arm, a mounting for said arm upon which the pick-up arm is mounted for both vertically swinging and horizontally swinging motion, a traveling magazine carriage for a supply stack of superposed record discs movable into and out of overlying relation with the turn table,

record elevating means operable to lift'a record anteater the stack preparatory to deposit thereof upon the turn table when the magazine carriage is in overlying relation with the turn table, and means operated by the travel of the carriage for initially elevating the pick-up arm through its vertical swinging movement and by further travel motion thereof shift the elevated pick-up arm through its horizontal movement to starting position.

5. In an apparatus wherein successive phonographic record discs are to be deposited upon and removed from a phonographic turn table whereon they are operatively engaged by a phonographic pick-up arm, a traveling magazine carriage for a supply stack of superposed record discs movable to and fro into and out of overlying relation with the turn table, tilting means operated in unison with the travel of the carriage for elevating one edge of a record disc from the turn table to inclined position thereabove in advance of its engagement by the carriage or associated traveling parts whereby the carriage and stack of records carried thereby may enter therebeneath, disc releasing means for dis= lodging the lowermost record disc of the stack by the continuing advance movement of the carriage when positioned over the table, means for initially elevating and subsequently shifting the pick-up arm from finish to starting-position in unison with the movement of the carriage, and

actuating means for the apparatus.

6. A phonographic apparatus wherein a swing= ing pick-up arm coacts with a record disc upon a turn table, characterized by a traveling magazine carriage for a supply of record discs adapted to receive a played record disc from the turn table and deposit a succeeding record disc thereon, an actuating motor for said traveling carriage, an electrical energizing circuit for the motor, a make and break device in said circuit controlled by the pick-up arm, a slidable friction rod connecting the make and break device and the pick-up arm and initially adjusting the make and break device through infiuence of frictional resistance to sliding motion of the connecting rod by its initial movement in either direction and upon further "movement of the pick-up arm slidingly movable i thereto against the influence of the frictionai resistance during further movement of the rod in the same direction, and means for transmitting reciprocatory motion to the rod.

8. A phonographic apparatus wherein a swinging pick-up arm coacts with the record disc upon a turntable characterized by an electric circuit, a make and break control device therefor including two relatively movable contact members either of which is movable independently of the other into and out of circuit closing relation therewith, a reciprocatory actuating member having operative relation with both movable contact members and by its motion in one direction actuating one contact member into circuit closing wherein a succession of disc records are to be successively deposited upon and removed from 'a phonograph turn table characterized by an actuating motor for the turntable, a manually controlledelectrical energizing circuit for the tumtable motor, a traveling magazine carriage movable to and fro into and out of overlying relation with the phonograph turn table,'record disc removing and depositing means associated therewith the depositing means including oppositely disposed ledges from which the record is dislodged for deposit on the turn table in response to the combined fore and aft movement of the magazine carriage, an actuating motor therefor, an electrical energizing circuit for the record changing means motor, a manually operated circuit closer and an automatically operated circuit closer either ,of which will set the latter motor in operation to actuate the apparatus through a single cycle of operation, means for automatically opening the circuit at the end of a single cycle of operation initiated by either circuit closer the re-v spective motor circuits being controlled independently of each other. 1

10. A phonographic record changing apparatus wherein a succession of disc records are to be successively deposited upon and removed from a phonograph turn table characterized by an actuating motor for the turntable, a manually controlled electrical energizing circuit for the turntable motor, a traveling magazine carriage movable to and fro into and out of overlying relation with the phonograph turn table, record disc removing and depositing means associated therewith, the depositing means'including oppositely disposed ledges from which a record is dislodged for deposit on the turntable in response to the combined fore and aft movement of themagazine carriage, an actuating motor therefor, an electrical energizing circuitv for the motor, two

independently operated circuit closers in said clr-- cuit, one of'said circuit closers being automatically actuated by the movement of the pick-up arm to set the motor in operation to'effect an exchange of records at the completion of a playing period, and means actuated by the" manual operation of the second circuit closer for effecting repetition of the record exchange operation without playing operation of the deposited record, the turn table motor circuit and the record changing means motor circuit being independ-' ently controlled.

Y 11. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with a phonographic turn table, an actuating motor therefor, a traveling record magazine carriage, an actuating motor for shifting the magazine carriage into and out of record changing relation with the turn table, an electric circuit, for energizing each motor, a circuit breaker in the phonographic motor circuit, a second circuit breaker in the magazine carriage motor circuit, a control member 'for the circuitbreakers movable through successive steps first in one direction and then in the other, manual means for eifecting step by step movement of the controlmember in one direction by the initial movement of which the circu closer pertaining to the magazine carriage motor is opened and the circuit breaker pertaining tothe turn table motor is closed, means independently of' said circuit breaker for closing the magazine carriage motor circuit at the completion of a, record playing operation, means actuated by the magazine carriage motor for retracting the control'member, the final movement of which operatesto open the turn table motor circuit breaker and close the magazine carriage motor circuit breaker, preparatory to another cycle of operations.

12. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with a phonographic turn table, an actuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit for said turntable motor, including'a circuit breaker, of a record changer apparatus, an actuating motor therefor, an energizing circuit for said changing apparatus motor, including a manually operable circuit closer and automatically operable circuit closer means in the changing apparatus motor circuit, manually controlled means for closing the turn table motor circuit breaker and simultaneously opening the changing apparatus motor circuit to prevent actuation of the record changing apparatus during operation of the phonographic turn table, means for closing the changing apparatus motor circuit at the end of the period of operation of the turn table, and means actuated by the changing apparatus motor effective to open the turn table motor circuit and by step motion and means for retracting the control member through reverse step by step motion under influence of the record changing apparatus motor, alternating circuit breakers in the turn table motor circuit and the changing apparatus circuit operated to close the turn table motor circuit and open the changing apparatus motor on cuit upon. the initial movement of the control member from unoperated position and to open the turn table motor circuit and close the changingapparatus motor circuit upon its final retractive movement into'normal position.

1'4. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with a phonographic turn-table, an actuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit for."

said turn table motor including a circuit breaker, of a record changing apparatus, an actuating motor therefor, an energizing circuit for said.

changing apparatus motor, manual means for closing the changing apparatus motor circuit at will independently of the closing of the turn table motor circuit to eifect repetitious operation of the record changing apparatus, means operative upon the closing of the turntable motor circuit rendering the manual changing apparatus circuit closing means ineflective and thereby preventing manual closing of the changing apparatus motor circuit during operation of the turn table motor, and means restoring the changing apparatus motor circuit to manual control at the completion of the period of operationof the turn table motor. 7 f

15. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with-a phonog'raphic turn table, an ac-' tuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit for the turn table motor, of a record changing apparatus, an actuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit for the changing apparatus motor, alternately opened and closed circuit breakers in the respective circuits, a common control member therefor operable at the will of the operator for closing the turn table motor circuit and opening the changing apparatus motor circuit to prevent the operation of the record changing apparatus while the turn table is in operation, means for closing the changing apparatus motor circuit at the completion of the: period of motor operation of the turn table, means actuated by the changing apparatus motor for restoring the common control member, and thereby reversing the circuit breakers to-open the turn table motor circuit and close the changing apparatus motor circuit preparatory to the next cycle of operation, and manual means for closing the changing apparatus motor circuit in initiating operation of the record changing apparatus independently of the operation of said common control member.

16. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with a phonographic turn table, an actuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit for the turn table motor, ofa record changing apparatus, an actuating motor therefor and an, energizing circuit for the changing apparatus motor, a reciprocatory rack bar, an escapement 'mechanism under control of the operator forcontrolling movement of the bar through a step by step motion, actuating means operated by the changing apparatus motor for restoring the rack bar through a step by step motion, alternately opened and closed circuit breakers in the respective motor circuits alternated by the reciprocatory movements of the rack bar.

17. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with a-phonographic turn table, an actuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit for the turn table motor, a record changing apparatus, an actuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit for the changing apparatus motor, alternately opened and closed circuit breakers in the respective circuits, a normally open circuit closer in the changing apparatus motor circuit, manually operable electro-magnetio means for efiecting the closure of such circuit closer to set in operation the changing apparatus motor,.and means operated by the motor for automatically opening said circuit closer at the end of the cycle of operation of the record changing apparatus.

18. In -a phonographic apparatus, a motor driven turn table, a motor actuated record changing apparatus, independently operable motors for the turn table and the record changing apparatus, electrical control circuits for the respective motors, independently operable manual circuit closers in the respective circuits operable to repetitiously close the record changing apparatus motor circuit, an automatically operated circuit closer in the control circuit for the record changing apparatus motor closed at the completion of a playing period for effecting automatic change of record, and means effective to prevent closing of the record changing apparatus motor circuit during the playing period initiated by the closing of the turn table motor circuit.

19. A phonographic apparatus wherein a swinging pick-up arm coacts with a record disc upon a turntable, characterized by a record changing mechanism, including an actuating motor, an electrical control circuit for the motor,

closed while said rod continues to move in said reverse direction relative thereto.

' BENJAMIN L. CARTMEIL.