US2224358A

US2224358A - Sound reproducing means

Info

Publication number: US2224358A
Application number: US290616A
Authority: US
Inventors: Quisling Sverre
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-08-17
Filing date: 1939-08-17
Publication date: 1940-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1957-12-10

Description

Dec. 10, 1940.

Filed Aug. 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AMPLIFIER Dec. 10, 1940. s; QUISLING SOUND REPRODUCING MEANS Filed Aug. 17. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments, and more particularly to an instrument in which recorded tones or musical numbers are selec tively produced by manipulation of a keyboard 5 or push button control system.

Heretofore instruments of this type have been quite complicated, and one of the objects of this invention is to simplify the structure and at the same time produce a more satisfactory machine.

Another object of this invention is to produce instruments having electrical operated mechanisms for causing/ the recorded vibration of a sound track to be transmitted directly mechanically through a phonographic record disk to a microphone and then amplified.

Machines or instruments of this type have heretofore all depended on a large number of diaphragms or a large number of individual pick-up devices, whereas in my invention the sound recording tracks on a phonographic plate are transmitted directly, from the plate itself acting as the diaphragm or sound conducting means for a plurality of sound tracks, to the microphone or other amplifying means. This eliminates expensive apparatus which can easily get out of order.

In. all prior phonographic pickup machines the records rotate and the needle or other friction activated pointed means operating in a sound track remain stationary and for that reason any flaw in the needle or like means, or in the way it is connected, is transmitted to the diaphragm and causes unwanted extraneous sounds. This possibility is eliminated in my invention where the record acting as its own diaphragm or vibration conducting means' is held firmly, and only the impact friction vibration of the needle or like meansis recorded, thus giving a much.

the voice, comet, flute, organ, saxophone, violin,

cello, clarinet, etc. or any combination thereof.

Still another object of my invention is to provide means whereby a great range of tones may be accommodated in a relatively small space, thereby permitting the construction of a compact machine.

Another object of my phonographic reproducing means is to provide means for reproducing a relatively large number of selections from a single record, each selection having a sound track of the same type now employed on phonographic disk records-only such a record should be preferably of a larger size and the sound track so arranged that the disk need rotate less rapidlyjust a few revolutions being necessary for a complete selection. In this manner a great number of selection might be played, if desired, without changing records. This would be valuable in the construction of various coin musical phonographs such as those that are now used in dance halls, ice-cream parlors, etc.

All one would have to do would be to depress a desired key or push button to automaticallyplay any desired selection without changing records as in present-day phonographic reproducing instruments.

With these and other objects in view, which 1 will appear as the description proceeds, my in-.' vention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticview of one form 'of: musical instrument constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the reproducing unit shown partly in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the reproducing unit taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the reproducing unit; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a double reproducing unit, the units being oppositely disposed to a common microphone.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Fig. .1 shows diagrammatically the entire layout of one -possible' form that my invention may take. A. keyboard I is arranged to control a series of solenoids 2 for selectively moving any one of a series of needles 3 into and out of engagement with its respective sound track on a phonograph record 4. Vibrations produced by the needle: travelling on the undulating track of the record is mechanically transmitted to a microphone 5 which is in circuit with an amplifier 5 and a loudspeaker I.

Thus, when a key of the keyboard i is pressed vidual pickup diaphragms for each sound track record having the tones of a different instrument or combination of instruments, a voice or chorus of voices, may be put on the machine, or a rec- 0rd having a number of different selections thereon may also be used if desired. The lower 'end the usual procedure of having a rotating record \.\pf the cone is closed by a diaphragm 32 screwed and a stationary pickup needle has been reversed. The needles 3 and their controlling solenoids 2 are carried by a disk 8 mounted on a shaft 9 of an electric motor I0. The casing of the motor In is rigidly secured in a frame II which may be used to hold the mechanism in a suitable cabinet, not shown. As the solenoids 2 are carried by the rotating disk 3 and are actuated by movement of the keys of the stationary keyboard I, sliding contacts must be employed to bring the current to the solenoids. Secured to the periphery of the disk 8 to rotate therewith is an insulated cylindrical member 12 having gathering rings 13 spaced along its outer surface, each of the rings having a spring pressed brush 14 in sliding contact insulated bracket 16 secured to the frame 11.

Electrical current tooperate the machine is brought from a source of power through the wire l1 to a master switch l8. Wire 19 tapped to wire l1 connects to the motor I0, and wire 20 connects the'motor to the return line 2|. Thus, whenever the switch I8 is closed, the motor will operate to rotate the disk 8 and the needles carried thereby. A wire 22 joined to the line 11 carries current to one side of a switch 23, actuated by a key on the keyboard 1. Each key is operatively connected to a switch 23 and when a.

key is pressed its respective switch is closed. The opposite side of the switch is connected to the brush holder by means of the wire 24. Current from the brush is picked up by a gathering ring l3 connected to a solenoid 2 which solenoid is grounded to the disk 8. Shaft 9 carrying the disk 8 has an insulated core 25 connected to the return line 2| in order to complete the circuit. The needles 3 have the upper portion of their shank enlarged to form a sliding armature 26 for the solenoids .2, and when a key on the keyboard I is pressed closing its respective switch, current flows through the line energizing a solenoid and drawing down its armature thereby pressing the needle firmly against its sound track on the rec- 50 ord'4. Between the shoulder on the needle and 'a recess 43 formed in the disk 3 is placed a. spring 44 surrounding the needle 3 to lift the needle from the sound track on the record when a key is released and the solenoid deenergiz ed. 5 The sound tracks on the record 4 may be made in the form of closed circles or concentric rings. If in the form of closed circles, each circle.may carry the recorded tone of a single note in the chromatic scale produced by any. particular inw strument. If in concentric rings as on standard v To accomplish this, the vibratory chamber. or-

cone 21 has a flanged annular head 28 provided 'm'with an'annular seat 29 for the record. A plurality of sliding lugs 30 are-spaced about the upper flange of the annulus 23 and held in adjusted position by wing nuts 3|. By loosening the. wing nuts 31 and sliding back-the lugs 30, the

record may be lifted from-its seat and another or otherwise secured to the cone. The center of this diaphragm is secured to the diaphragm 33 of r a microphone 5.

The microphone 5 and the vibratory cone 21 are held in a frame 34 hingedly connected to the main frame ll asat 35. This allows the vibratory chamber to be rotated from beneath the needles in order to change the record. To insure perfect alignment of the record with respect to the needles, a snap ball catch 36 is positioned on the frame 34 on the opposite side from the hinges and a companion keeper 31 is secured to the main frame H.

The upper portion of the frame 34 is provided with a ring seat 33 having an annular resilient cushion 38 therein which carries the vibratory chamber 21.

In operation, pressing a key on the keyboard I closes a switch 23 which energizes a solenoid 2, drawing down a needle 3 into firm engagement with a sound track on the record. As the needle is held firmly against the sound track on the record, the undulating track will cause the record and the vibratory chamber to which it is fixed to vibrate at the frequency of thetone recorded on the sound ,track. The resilient cushion 39 allows the entire vibratory chamber to vibrate freely. These vibrations are transmitted by the diaphragm 32 to the microphone 5, from which the vibrations are transmitted to the amplifier ii where the tones are stepped upto any desired volume. These tones are then emitted by the speaker 1. v

Only so much of a machine has been shown and described as is necessary to disclose an operative structure. In the drawings only a few gathering rings and solenoids have been shown, but it is obvious that a great number of solenoids can be distributed about the disk-"8 at difierent radial distances from the center. In this way records having a considerable number of sound tracks can be used with the same number of solenoids and needles placed in the rotating dis for each track.

In Fig. 5 is shown diagrammatically a machine having two reproduction units 40 and 4| oppositely disposed at the sides of a microphone 42. With this construction a greater number'of tones may be used on records of two different instruments or combination of instruments or even voices may be reproduced together.

While my invention has been described particularly for use as a musical instrument, using a piano keyboard, it is quite obvious that my invention also has great application in the phonograph fleld. For example; on a single large rec- 0rd may be reproduced many pieces, any one of which may be selected and played as often as desired by merely pushing a push button control.

This has application in thecoin-operated phonographs now in vogue. Thus a series of selections may be placed on a single large record and the need of changing records is obviated all one need do is depress the proper key for any and as many selectionssas desired.

The term needle" as employed in the specification and claims is defined as meaning to include all like means used to vibrate along the undulated track of a sound reproducing record.

The term phonograph as used in this specification and claims is defined broadly as synonymous with sound record reproducing means.

While my invention has been particularly described with reference to one embodiment thereof it is quite obvious that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as described and claimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In an activating means for causing a 'stationary sound reproducing plate having undulated sound tracks thereon to vibrate, a rotatable disc carrying at least onesolenoid with a stylus operable as a sliding armature, an insulated cylindrical member also mounted on said rotatable disc, said cylindrical member having gathering rings placed around the periphery of said cylinder, said gathering rings having spring pressed brushes in sliding contact therewith, said brushes adapted to be selectively electrically energized to conduct electric. impulses to said rings and said rings being wired to conduct said impulses to said solenoids to control the position of said stylus acting as armatures therein.

2. In an activating means for setting a stationary reproducing plate having undulated sound tracks thereon in vibration, at least one needle-like member adapted to operate as a sliding" armature of a solenoid, at least one such solenoid and needle-like member mounted on a rotatable disc, an insulated cylindrical member also mounted on said rotatable disc, gathering rings mounted on the outer surface of said insulated cylinder, and spring pressed brushes in sliding contact with said gathering rings.

3. In an activating means for'setting a sta-.

tionary reproducing plate having undulated sound tracks thereon in vibration, at least one needle-like member adapted to operate as a sliding armature of a solenoid, at least one such solenoid and needle-like member mounted on a rotatable disc, an insulated cylindrical member also mounted'on said rotatable disc, gathering rings mounted on the outer surface of said insulated cylinder, and spring ,pressed brushes in sliding contact with said gathering rings, and a keyboard adapted to selectively electrically energize and convey electric impulses through said brushes to said gathering rings to said solenoids and magnetically position said needle-like members to cause them to contact or withdraw from the undulated tracks of said sound reproducing plate when said disc is rotated.

4. A rotatable disc with an insulated cylinder mounted thereon, said insulated cylinder having gathering rings mounted around the periphery thereof and spring pressed brushes in contact with said rings for being selectively energized, solenoids mounted on said disc, said solenoids carrying at least one needle-like member acting as an armature, the position of which can be varied by selectively energizing electrically, one position being such that said needle-like member will contact the undulated track of a sound reproducing plate.

' SVERRE QUISLING.