US2183607A - Sequence selector mechanism for automatic phonographs - Google Patents

Description

, Dec. 19, 1939. A EBERT ET AL 2,183,607

SEQUENCE SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAFHS Filed June 3, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 19, 1939. E. A. EBERT ET AL SEQUENCE SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPHS Filed June}, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J2 5.

Dec. 19, 1939. E. A. EBERT ET AL SEQUENCE SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR-AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPHS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1938 Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES QFFi CE TENT SEQUENCE SELECTOR MESHANISIVI FOR AUTOMATIC PHUNOGRAPHS ration of Ohio Application June 3,.

11 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in selector mechanisms for automatic multi-selective phonographs.

It has for its main object to provide a selector mechanism for automatic phonographs which is designed to effect the playing of the records in a definite order as predetermined by the choice or selection of the user, that is, to effect the sequence playing of the records in the order preselected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sequence selector for multiselective phonographs which is simple and compact in construc- .tion, reliable in operation, and which is not liable to get out of order.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of a multi-selective phonograph chassis showing our improved sequence selector applied thereto. Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is a rear view of the chassis. Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially in the plane of line 44, Figure 2. Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially in the plane of line 55, Figure l, the selector 30 elements being in their retracted or non-selective positions. Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on line t-5, Figure 5. Figure "I is a fragmentary top plan view of the selector assembly showing the selector elements in predetermined, 35 sequence-selected positions relative to the selector-drum. Figures 8, 9 and are fragmentary longitudinal sections showing the different positions of one of the selector elements, Figure 8 showing the selector element in non-selective 40 position, Figure 9 showing the selector element in its first stage of movement or partially-selective position, and Figure 10 showing the selector element in its fully selective position.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

By way of example, we have shown our sequence selector mechanism as applied to or in connection with a multi-selective phonograph of the type shown in the Wilcox Patent No. 2,002,236, dated May 21, 1935, the numeral l8 indicating the platform of the phonograph chassis, II the vertically-movable turntable, l2 the tone arm, and I3 a plurality of pivoted record carriers normally disposed in stack-like fashion at one side of the turntable and adapted to be selectively swung horizontally to a position over the turntable, whereby the latter, upon being elevated, picks the record from the carrier and brings it into playing position with the repro- 60 ducer, and after the playing of the record the 1938, Serial No. 211,620

turntable is lowered and deposits that record on it carrier, after which the latter is swung to its position in the recerd stack.

The mechanism for selectively bringing the carriers into and out of playing position forms no part of the present invention and a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary, suffice it to say, however, that this mechanism includes a cam shaft l l driven by an electric motor l5 through the medium of a worm l6 and worm wheel l: for governing the selective movements of the carriers i3 and turntable H, and a selector shaft 58 driven by the cam shaft during the selecting cycle of operations for predetermining the playing of a given selected record.

The sequence selector mechanism is operatively associated with the selector shaft E3 to govern its rotating movements and in turn control the selection of a pro-selected record for play, and is so constructed as to select a plurality of records at one time in advance and then have the machine automatically play those selected records in the same order or sequence selected by the patron. For accomplishing these ends, the sequence selector mechanism is constructed as follows:

As in the case of the Wilcox patent referred to, means are provided for stopping rotation of the selector shaft in order t control its rotation so that certain records may be selected for play and in this connection we employ, as an actuating part of such means, a plurality 'of push rods is which correspond in number to the number of records borne by the machine and which are supported for axial sliding movement in a face plate 2? at the front of the chassis, these push rods being disposed in an annular fashion about the axis of the selector shaft. Each of the push rods is provided with a pair of spaced collars 2i adapted to abut the opposite sides of the face plate for limiting its projected and retracted movements. 11 selecting records for play, these push rods are shifted to the position shown in Figure 10. Alined with these push rods for selective actuation thereby are companion selector bars or elements which functio. in connection with a slidable, rotating drum applied to the selector shaft 8, to stop the rotation of that shaft at different positions corresponding to the selector bars chosen, said drum having a radially-dispose shiftable stop-lug 2t thereon which projects forwardly from the face of the for abutting one or another of the projected selector oars to stop the rotation of the selector shaft at predetermined selected positions. These selector bars are so mounted, that with each successive selection of a plurality of records to be played by depressing the push rods l9 desired in advance of playing, the bars are successively projected in stepdike fashion one in advance of the other in predetermined spaced relation to the drum 23, whereby to present them in selected sequence into operative engagement with the drum-lug 2 to effect the playing of the records in the order selected at the push rods, each bar, together with its companion push rod, being automatically actuated to its retracted position after its selecting function has been performed. To eifect these results, the selector bars 22, which are a sectional part of the push rods I9, are mounted and guided for longitudinal and rocking movement between guide flanges 25 applied to the periphery of a shell or sleeve 26 supported concentrically about the front end of the selector shaft 58 and suitably secured to the face plate 20 or other adjacent part of the chassis. Guided for axial movement on a tubularextension 21 projected rearwardly from the face plate, and constituting a hearing or housing for the front end of the selector shaft, is a slida'ble, selector bar coupling member 28 preferably in the form of a wheel or pulley-like element whose periphery is in contiguous concentric bearing relation with the inner bore of the bar-carrying sleeve 26. In its periphery this coupling member has a longitudinal row of annular ratchet-like teeth or notches 29 with one or another of which the several selector bars are adapted to engage when moved to a selected position by the respective push rods and whereby the coupling member is adapted to be advanced a distance of one tooth by each bar selected and in step by step fashion relative to the selector shaft and the sleeve 26, a spring 30 connected to the coupling member constantly tending to urge it to its retracted or initial non-selecting position.

Projecting from the inner or bottom side of each selector bar 22, about midway thereof, is a tooth 3!, which, in non-selecting position, rests on the outer surface of the sleeve 26 adjacent the rear edge thereof and clear of the coupling member 28, in the-manner shown in Figures and 8, a bow-like spring 32 acting on the outer or top face of each bar to retain it in the inclined, retracted position shown in such figures. Upon depressing a push rod to a record selecting position, the first part of the stroke causes the alining selector bar 22 to drop oif the end of the sleeve 26 to bring its tooth 3! into register and coupling engagement with an adjoining ratchet-notch 29 of the slidable coupling member 28, as shown in Figure 9. The remainder of the selective stroke imparts a simultaneous axial movement to the coupling member equal to a distance of the width of one of said grooves and brings such bar to its adjusted selected position shown in Figure 10, wherein it abuts the face of the rotatable selector drum 23 in the rotating path of its stop lug 24 to arrest the rotation of the selector shaft [3 at the predetermined radial position to select the corresponding record for play. Subsequent selections made transmit like step by step movements to the coupling member 28 and likewise to those selector bars 22 coupled therewith during previous selections to progressively project them one in advance of the other in the order selected, and during such advance of the respective coupled selector bars, the first-selected and foremost one, being in abutting engagement with the drum 23, causes such drum to be shifted rearwardly on the selector shaft against the resistance of a spring 33 which serves to constantly urge said drum to the position shown in Figure 5. By this construction, the first selector bar actuated assumes a definite projected position relative to the coupling member, the second selector bar actuated advances the coupling member one step and assumes a projected position relative to the coupling member with its front end terminating in longitudinal spaced relation to the corresponding end of the first-named selector bar a distance equal to the width of one of its notches 29, and so on for each selection, whereby each selector bar actuated advances the drum 23 and the coupling member 28 and the selected bars coupled therewith a like distance to pre-set the bars in successive stepped positions to automatically play the records in the sequence initially ordered by the selector bars, the stop lug 24 on the drum first contacting the foremost-projected or first selected bar and thereafter in successive order the second, third, etc., selected bars.

After each record-selecting operation has been performed and the selected carrier I3 is swung out of the stack for play, means are provided for automatically cancelling or restoring the companion selector bar 22 to its initial non-selecting position to clear the way for the shifting of the selector drum 23 into the path of the next-adjoining or sequence-selected selector bar. This drum has a longitudinal slot 34 therein engaging a pin 35 projecting from the selector shaft l8, and joined to the drum, to move axially therewith in response to operative shifting movements imparted to it by the selector bars and independently thereof in the opposite direction, is a radial arm 36 having a rod 31 fixed at one end thereto in parallel relation to the selector shaft and guided at its opposite end in a bearing 38 formed in the drum, as shown in Figure 5. The stop-lug 24, which abuts the selector bars to arrest the selector shaft at predetermined points, is connected to the free end of the rod 31, and includes a selectorbar-engaging abutment or side wall 39, an outwardly inclined top wall 40 engageable with the inner or lower end of a selector bar for releasing it from coupled engagement with the ratchet-like coupling member 28, and an adjustable end abutment or screw ii adapted to engage the end of a selector bar for restoring it to its non-selective position. Normally this stop-lug assumes the position shown in Figures 5 and '7, where it is in position to present its side wall 39 into the path of the first-positioned selector bar. After the selection is effected, motion is imparted to the radial arm 36 and its rod 31' axially of the selector shaft to shift the stop-lug 2G toward the selector bars 22, the registering or alining selector bar being first elevated by the lug-wall 30 to lift its tooth 3! from engagement with the notched coupling member 28 and subsequently encountered by the abutmentscrew 4| to bodily shift the bar to its initial non-selective position. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the operative, restoring stroke may be imparted to the rod 3'! at a predetermined time in the cycle of operations by an actuating lever 42 radiating from and loosely mounted on the cam shaft l4 and in coupling engagement at its free end with a grooved collar 43 on the post-bearing arm 36 and actuated in an operative stroke axially of the selector shaft by a cam Ml likewise mounted on the cam shaft. A spring G5 applied to the selector shaft l8 and interposed between the selector drum 23 and its companion arm 36 tends constantly to shift the stop lug 24 and associated parts to their retracted normal position shown in Figure 5. It will be noted that the selector drum, its arm 36 and the cam-actuated lever 52 move as a unit during the selecting strokes imparted thereto by the selector bars 22, whereby for each setting of the drum determined by the foremost projecting selector bar of a plurality selected, a companion compensating restoring stroke is adapted, in the mann r abovedescribed, to be imparted by the cam to the rod (ii to return a given selector bar to its initial position.

Each selector bar 252 has a shoulder fil thereon immediately to the rear of its tooth 3i which serves, in the projected position of the bar in coupling engagement with a companion groove 26 in the coupling member 28, to hold the coupling member out beyond the sleeve 25 so that the next succeeding groove in such member is exposed and in position to receive the next projected selector barv This second bar, when projected, enters the exposed groove by the action of the bowed spring 532 and its shoulder 35 is in position to hold the coupling member out for coupling engagement with the next selector bar and so on. The shoulder of the last selector bar pushed of a group is the only shoulder that functions to maintain the coupling member in its selector bar displacing position, until after all the selections are played, and then finally on restoring the last selector bar to its initial position, the coupling member is pulled forward by reason of its spring 33.

We claim as our invention:

In automatic phonograph, a plurality of movable record carriers mounted for selective movement to and from an operative record-playing position, individually--movable selector eans corresponding in number to the record carriers for simultaneously selectin at will a plurality of records to be played, COll'1 lion selector elements corresponding in number to disposed for actuation by said individually movable selector means to predetermined selective positions, a shiftable coupling member disposed in operative relation with said selector elements and engageable therewith during their movements to selective positions to successively advance the coupling member jointly as a unit with the selector elements a given distance for each selection made, whereby said elements are adjusted in predetermined sequeues-selective positions relative to one another, means governed by said selector elements for controlling the selection of the companion carriers.

2. In automatic phonograph, a plurality of selective record carriers, a turntable, and means for controlling the selection of records in operative relation with the turntable comprising a selector shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means governed by said shaft for actuating the record carriers to a selective position, and means for stopping the rotation of said shaft at certain points corresponding to the record selected consisting means rotatable with the selector shaft and axially adjustable relatively thereto, individually-adjustable selector means corresponding in number to the record carriers for selecting at will a plurality of records to be played and projectible in predetermined sequence to a position in the path of said means rotatable with said shaft, and shiftable means common to and disposed for coupling engagement with said selector when the latter are adjused to their at-Will selected positions for governing their subsequent successive movements to predetermined positions to selectively play the records in the or der selected.

3. In an automatic phonograph, a plurality of selective record carriers, a turntable, and means for controlling the selection of records in operative relation with the turntable comprising a selector shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means governed by said shaft for actuating the record carriers to a selective position, and means for stopping the rotation of said shaft at certain points corresponding to the records selected consisting of means rotatable with the selector shaft and axially adjustable relatively thereto, individually adjustable annularly arranged means corresponding in number to the record carriers for selecting at will a plurality of records to be played and projectible in predetermined sequence to a po tion the path said means rotatable with and adjustable member disposed in cooperative-relation with said selecting means for succes e coupling engagement therewith and. for actuation thereby when such selecting means are adjusted to their at-will selected positions to successively advance the adjustable men her as unit with the coupled selectin means a given distance for each selection made, whereby the latter are adjusted in predetermined space: relation to said means rotatable with. the selector shaft.

4. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable shaft for controlling the selection of records, means rotatable with said shaft for stopping its rotation at selected positions, a plurality of selector elements corresponding in number to the records and each individually movable to a predetermined initial selecting position and projectible to positions in the path of and for sequential operative engagement with said stopping means rotatable with said shaft, and a shiftable coupling member common to said selector elements disposed in operative relation therewith and having means thereon for interloclnng engagement with the selector elements fo bodily and successively advancing initially-selected elements a given distance toward said stopping means with each movement of subsequent selector elements to their initial selecting positions.

5. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable shaft for controlling the selection of records, means rotatable with said shaft for stopping its rotation at selected positions, a plurality of selector elements corresponding in number to the records and each individually movable to a predetermined initial selecting position and projectible to other positions in the path of and for sequential operative engagement with said stcp-- ping means rotatable with said shaft, each of the selector elements having a tooth thereon, and a shiftable coupling member common to said selector elements having a row of notches therein with one or another of which the teeth of such e ements are adapted to interlock when initiallyselected positions for bodily and successively vancing in step by step fashion with each mov ment of subsequent selector elements to th r initial selecting positions, initially selected elements for sequential operative engagement with said stopping means.

6. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable shaft for controlling the selection of records, means rotatable with said shaft for stopping the rotation thereof at selected positions, a plurality of selector elements corresponding in number to the records and each movable individually to a predetermined initial selecting position and projectible in sequence to other positions in the path of said stopping means rotatable with the shaft, a shiftable coupling member disposed in operative relation with the selector elements and having means thereon for interlocking engagement with said selector elements for bodily and successively advancing initially-selected elements a given distance toward said stop means rotatable with said shaft with each movement of subsequent selector elements to their initial selecting positions, and means engageable with said selector elements for successively retracting them to their non-selective positions after their companion records have been selected for play.

7. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable shaft for controlling the selection of records having a stop member mounted thereon for rotation therewith for stopping its rotation at selected positions and free to slide axially thereof, a spring for normally urging said stop member in one direction axially of the shaft, a plurality of selector elements corresponding in number to the records and each projectible individually to a predetermined initial selecting position and successively to other positions for sequential operative relation with said stop member to arrest the rotation of said shaft, a shiftable coupling member disposed in operative relation with the selector elements for actuation thereby and having means thereon for interlocking engagement with said elements for bodily and successively advancing initially selected elements a given distance toward said stop member at each projection of subsequent selector elements to their initial selecting positions, whereby a pre-selected group of such elements are selectively disposed with their stop-member engaging ends in receding spaced relation at different predetermined distances from the stop member to control the sequence playing of the corresponding records, and means applied to said stop member and engageable with said selector elements for successively returning them to their non-selective positions after their corresponding records have been selected for play.

8. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable shaft for controlling the selection of records, and means for stopping the rotation of said shaft at certain points to control the sequence playing of records selected comprising m ans rotatable with said shaft and slidable therealong and having a stop member projecting therefrom, a fixed frame disposed at one side of said rotatable means, a plurality of projectible selector bars guided on said frame for movement in predetermined sequence to a position in the path of said stop member, and means slidable axially of the shaft for coupling a projected selector bar thereto to move therewith, said slidable means and said selector bars having companion inter-engaging coupling elements thereon for causing the successive advancement of the slidable coupling means and selector elements coupled therewith a predetermined distance durlng each projection of a selector element to a record-seiecting position.

9. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable shaft for controlling the selection of records, and means for stopping the rotation of said shaft at certain points to control the sequence playing of records selected comprising means rotatable with said shaft and slidable therealong and having a stop member projecting therefrom, a fixed frame disposed at one side of said rotatable means, a slidable coupling member mounted for movement axially of the shaft and having a spring for yieldingly resisting its advancement in a direction toward said stopping means, said coupling member having a row of notches therein, and a plurality of projectible selector bars guided on said frame for lateral and longitudinal movement to a position in the path of said stop member and each having spring means for urging such bars laterally into latching engagement with one or another of the notches in said coupling member for coupling the same therewith upon the projection of said bars to an initial selecting position.

10. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable shaft for controlling the selection of records, and means for stopping the rotation of said shaft at certain points to control the sequence playing of records selected comprising means rotatable with said shaft and slidable therealong and having a displaceable stop member thereon movable to a predetermined position relative to said rotatable means, a fixed frame disposed at one side of said rotatable means, a slidable coupling member mounted for movement axially of said shaft relative to said frame to sequence selecting positions and having a row of notches therein, a plurality of projectable selector bars guided on said frame for lateral and longitudinal movement relative thereto to sequence selecting positions in the path of said stop member and each having yieldable means for urging such bars laterally into latching engagement with one or another of the notches in said coupling member for coupling the same therewith upon the projection of said bars to an initial selecting position, said bars in their non-selective positions engaging said frame and supported thereby clear of the notched coupling member, said stop member having abutments thereon engageable with the underside and adjoining end of a projected selector bar for elevating such bar clear of said coupling member and for shifting said bar longitudinally to its initial non-selecting position, respectively, and means for actuating said displaceable stop member at a predetermined time into and out of operative restoring engagement with said selector bars.

11. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable shaft controlling the selection of records, a drum rotatable with and adjustable axially of said,

shaft and having a displaceable stop member mounted thereon for movement relative thereto and in a plane substantially parallel to the shaftaxis, a plurality of sequence selector elements each movable to a predetermined selective position for engagement with said stop member for stop- 'in abutting engagement with a selector element to shift the latter to its initial non-selecting position.

EDWARD A. EBERT. NELSON J. GLEISER.

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