US2254048A - Phonographic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 26, 1941. F. E. RUNGE 2,254,048

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed May 51, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l inventor Aug. 26, F RUNGE PHONOGRAPHIIC APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 26, 1941 rnonooasrmc APPARATUS rank E. Runge, ,Oakiyn, N. 1., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application May 31, 1940, Serial No. 337,994

16 Claims.

This invention relates to phonographic apparatus, and more particularly to the carriage mechanism for supporting the cutter head in recording machines of the type adapted to record sound upon a blank disk for immediate playback.

The primary'object of my present invention is I to provide a novel cutter carriage mechanism for disk recorders which will incorporate general improvements as to operation and handling.

More particularly, it'is an object of my present invention to provide an improved, compact and foolproof carriage mechanism which may be controlled in such a manner that the careless dropping of the stylus or cutting needle on the record blank is practically impossible, whereby danger of mining the blank from this cause is avoided. Another object of my present invention is to provide improved cutter carriage mechanism and feeding meanstherefor for feeding the cutter head across the record blank which will be subject to much less wear than is characteristic of cutter feed mechanisms heretofore known.

Still another object of my present invention is. to provide an improved cutter head supporting carriage which may be easily manipulated by the user either to bring it into engagement with the record blank or to disengage it from the record blank and which will remain in any position of I provide an improved feed mechanism for the cutter head which will act in a positive manner and will not allow free movement of the carriage supporting the cutter headunless the stylus thereof is first removed from the record blank. It is also an object of my present invention to provide improved cutter head feed, mechanism as aforesaid by means of which it is possible to utilize the maximum available recording area on the blank.

- Still a further object of my present invention is to provide an improved cutter head mounting by means of which the cutter head can be quickly and easily adjusted on its carriage to insure'a proper angular relation between the cutting stylus and the surface of the record blank.

According to this invention, I mount a cylindrical supporting member on a pairof parallel guide rods for sliding movement thereon and rotatably mount on the supporting member a mounting member which pivotally supports the cutter head. Preferably, the cutter head is so mounted on its carriage that it may be adjusted angularly thereon about the tip of its stylus as I a center, whereby accurate adjustment of the needle with respect to the record blank may be obtained to thereby insure the proper cutting angle. The mounting member is comprised of two end-members which pivotally support the cutter head carriage and an intermediate member which is rotatable on said supporting member relative to said end-members. A handle carried by said intermediate member and extending radially outwardly therefrom affords means by which the mounting member may be manipulated on the supporting member. The mounting member and the cutter head are movable as a unit on the supporting member when the cutter head is raised from the record, and an "over-riding 'clutch spring interposed between the supporting member'and the mounting member is efl'ective to hold the aforesaid unit in any position of adjustment and to prevent lowering of the cutter onto the record unless the handle is manipulated to turn the aforementioned intermediate member in a manner to release the clutch spring from looking relation with the supporting member.

For driving the cutter head across the record blank, I provide a lead screw which passes through the supporting member and which constitutes the driving element for a gear carried by the supporting member and constantly in mesh with the lead screw. A suitable friction clutch, also within the supporting member, is arranged to uncouple the supporting member (and therefore the aforementioned unit) from the driven gear as soon as the cutter head is raised from the record and to recouple the supporting member to said gear when the cutter head is lowered down onto the record blank. Since the driving element and the driven element are constantly in mesh when the cutter head is disengaged from the record and subsequently returned into engagement with the record, the stylus may be brought back on exactly the same radius of the record as that from which it was removed. I also provide the aforementioned intermediate member of the mounting device and the cutter head supporting carriage with cooperative means whereby the cutter head is first raised slightly from the record prior to raising the whole aforesaid unit to inoperative position and whereby, when said unit is brought member to the driven geariust prior to engage cutter is lowered thereonto.

4 supported The novel features which I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in .the appended claims. The invention itself, however,-both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved cutter carriage supporting mechanism with the guide rods and lead screw shown in section and with the cutter head shown in operative position on a record blank,

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof taken substantially along the line II--II of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thoughout, there is shown a pair of parallel guide rods and 3 upon which is slidably mounted for longitudinal movement a supporting member 5 of cylindrical exterior form and provided with a shelf 1 and a pair of journal bearings 9 and II in which the guide rods and 3, respectively, are received, the bearing members 9 and II extending beyond the ends of the member 5. The supporting member 5 is also formed with a stepped wall I3 which is provided with a pair of openings I5 and H, the member 5 being otherwise of hollow construction and the opening IT being sufficiently large to receive a rotatably mounted lead screw I9 which on the guide rods I and 3 longitudinally along the lead screw I9 and that the lead screw l9, in suitable journal bearings (not shown), is rotatable relative to the supporting member 5 within the opening ll of the wall l3.

Rotatably mounted on the exterior, cylindrical surface of the supporting member 5 is a cutter head mountinggenerally designated as 20 and constituted by a pair of end-members 2| and an intermediate member 23, the end-members 2| each being provided with a downwardly extending arm 25 and being connected together at the arms 25 by means of a screw 21 and at the top by means of a cross-piece or plate 29 and screws 3|. Longitudinal movement of the mounting 2|] on the supporting member 5 is prevented by engagement of inwardly directed flanges 2|a. of the end pieces 2| with the ends of the supporting member 5. Although the whole mounting 20 is rotatable on the supporting member 5 as a unit, the intermediate member 23 is itself movable on the mounting 5 relative to the endmembers 2| for a purpose to be presently set forth in greater detail.

Pivotally mounted on conically tipped bearing pins 33 which are carriedby the arms 25 is a' carriage 35 having a rearwardly and upwardly extending arm 31 terminating in a toe 39, a forwardly and'upwardly extending arm 4| provided with a pair of screws and nuts 43, and also a forward extension Secured to the back of a cutter head or other suitable sound translating device '41 which carries a stylus 49 is a rearwardly, and downwardly extending bracket 5| formed with an arcuate slot 53 which has as its center the tip of the stylus 49. By loosening the screws and nuts 43, which pass through the arcuate slot 53, the bracket 5| may be adjusted on the arm 4|' about the tip of the stylus 49 to provide the proper angular relation between the stylus 49 and a record blank R supported on a turntable T and with which the stylus 49 is in engagement in operative position. A coil spring 55 having one'end fixed to the extension 45 of the carriage 35 and its other end secured to an adjusting screw 5'! received in a bracket 59 on one of the members 2| and manipulated by means of a thumb-nut 6| serves to counter-balance the weight of the cutter head 41 and the carriage 35. By adjustment of the thumb nut 6|, the depth of cut of the stylus 49 in the record blank B. may also be controlled.

Rotatably mounted on the shelf 1 of the supporting member 5, ,as by means-of a floating pin 63 having an enlarged head, and in constant mesh with the lead screw I9, is a gear 65 which is constantly driven by the lead screw l9, the lower end of the pin 63 being received in an enlarged opening 66 in the plate I to permit the pin 63 to float somewhat (see Fig. 3). A resilient clutch element 61 shaped substantially as shown in Figure 6 and comprising a back wall 61a, a vertical wide wall 61b bent forwardly from the back wall 61a, and a horizontal plate 610 also bent forwardly from the back wall 61a is secured. to the wall |3 of the supporting member 5, as by means of a screw 69 passing through the wall 61b and threaded into the opening l5. The horizontal plate 610 of the clutch member 61 extends over the top surface of the gear 65,

as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, a friction washer 66 being preferably interposed between the plate 610 and the top surface of the gear 65, and a second friction washer 10 being preferably interposed between the lower surface of the gear 65 and the shelf I. The resilience of the clutch member 61 causes it to constantly force the pin 63 in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 6 about the side wall 6'"), thereby holding the gear 65 firmly in mesh with the lead screw 9.

As soon as power is supplied to the lead screw I9, it begins to rotate in its bearings and immediately drives the gear 65 to cause it to rotate on its shaft or pin 63. The clutch member 61, being formed of resilient material, is also so biased that the plate 610 thereof tends to move out of contact with the friction washer 68, so that normally rotation of the gear 65 does not serve to transmit power to the supporting member 5 through the clutch 61. When, however, suflicient pressure is applied to the plate 610 to press it firmly against the friction washer 68 and the gear 65, it is obvious that a coupling will be provided between the gear 65 and the supporting member 5 to cause the supporting member 5 and the parts carried thereby to move longitudinally along the guide rods and 3 and the lead screw l9, whereby to feed the cutter head 41 radially across the record blank R. For this purpose, there 'is provided in the supporting member 5 a bore H into which the enlarged head of the pin 33 extends and in which are carried a coil spring 13 resting on the head of the pin 33 and a ball element 15 resting on the upper end of the coil spring 13. The intermediate member 23 of the mounting 23 is provided on its inner surface with a circumferentially extending recess or relief 11 which tapers off at its ends and into which the spring 13 is adapted to press the ball 15 when the intermediate member 23 is rotated on the supporting member 5, as by means of a handle 13 which may be threadedly received in an opening 3| in themember 23. ,When the cutter head 41 is in the operative position shown'in Figure 1, the

recess 11 is located somewhat totheleft of the through the clutch 31 to the supporting member 5, and therefore the supporting member and the parts carried thereby will cease movement along the guide rods I and 3 and the lead screw I3. Upon returning the handle 13 to the position of Fig. l, the reverse action will, of course, take when the handle 13 is raised toward the position shown in Figure 4, the intermediate member 23 of the mounting 23 immediately begins to rotate on the supporting member I and the relief or recess 11 is brought over the ball 15'. Just prior to this, the play between the roller 35. and the toe 33 has been taken up and the roller acts upon the toe 33 to cam the carriage 35 clockwise about its pivots 33 to thereby disengage and slightly raise the stylus 43 from the record blank R. Since the ball 15 is now in the recess 11 and pressure on the clutch plate 31c has been relieved,

the coupling between the driven gear 35 and the,

supporting member 5 is broken, and the carriage mounting will no longer move longitudinally along the lead screw 33 in response thereto,-notwithstanding the fact that the gear 35 continues to rotate. Movement of the handle 13 upwardly causes almost immediate engagement of the shoulder I'3I of the member 23 with the end J31 of the spring I33 and continued'movement of the member 23 thereafter causes the spring I33 to tend to unwind and thereby relieve its grip from thesupporting member 5 so that the mounting member 23 thereafter is free to rotate without binding on the supporting member 5. Continued rotation of the intermediate member 23 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 1 and a, will cause the short end I35 of the spring I33 to slip under the cross piece 23 and the long end I31- thereof to catch up with and engage the crossplace and the supporting member 5 will again be coupled to the gear 35 to resume movement of the cutter head 41 radially across the record blank R. The intermediate member 23 of the mounting I 23 is also provided-with a circumferentially ex tending slot 33 into which the toe 33 may extend and in which is carried a roller 35 rotatably supings 33 in the member 23. -At one end, the memhead 41 may be'raised to a point remote from ported on a rod 31 which extends throughope'm,

her 23 is cut away longitudinally and circum-' stopped within thelimits of movement afl'orded i'erentially to form arecess ,3I terminating in shoulders 33 and 35. At its opposite end, the member 23 is recessed diametrically and circumferentially to' provide an annular recessed portion 31 having a somewhat larger diameter than the remaining portion of the member 23. The latter end of the member 23 is also provided with alongitudinal recess 33 terminating in shoulders- 33 -and IN. A coil spring I33, having its ends I35 and I31 turned substantially radially outwardly, is received in the recessed portion 31 and is therefore interposed between the portion- 31 of j piece 23. Thus, rotationjof the end-members 2I and the intermediate member 23 of the mounting" 23, the carriage 35, and the cutter head .41, all as a unit, will be effected, whereby the-cutter the record-blankR, as shown in Figure-4. Move-' 'ment of the aforementioned unit in a clockwise direction, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, is limited by engagement of the shoulder 35 of the member 23 with the stop pin I33. If the handle 13 is by the shoulders 33 and-35 'inicooperationwith the stop pin I33, the spring I33-will immediately.

contract again to grip the supporting member 5 with suflicient force to 'releasablyflock the as- 'sembly in the adjusted position, so that there'is no danger of the cutter head falling back down onto the record blank and causing injury to eithe shoulder 33 engages the adjacent end I35 of the intermediate member 23 and the external surface of the supporting member 5'. The inside diameter of the coil I33 is slightly smaller than the external diameter of the supporting memberthe spring I33 and again, therefore, tends to unwind the spring I33. It will be noted that even in the fully raised position of the cutter head shown in Figure 4, the arms 25, are located below the horizontal "diameter passing through the through the recess 33 with the end I35 thereof I occupying a position adjacent the shoulder 33 and the end I31 thereof, which is somewhat longer than the end I35, occupying a position adja-v center of the supporting member 5. Consequently, as the handle- 13 is returned toward'the lowered position of Fig. 1, the. assembly constituted by the end members 2| of the mounting 23, the carriage 35 and the cutter head 41 will follow the intermediate member 23 of the mounting23 under the influence of gravity, and this action 7 will continue until the cross-piece or plate 23 has engaged the stop pin I33, whereupon further counter-clockwise rotation of the entLmembers 2I will be prevented. 'The stylus 43 will not, however, be in engagement with the record blank R at this time because the roller 35 will still be inengagement with the toe 33. Also, the ball 15 will still be in the recess. 11 and the supporting member '5 will not be clutched to the driven gear 35.

, record, and manually operable means on said movement of the handle 19 will move the intermediate member 23 to a position such that the adjacent bevelled end of the recess 11 will apply pressure to the ball 15 and the spring 13 will be compressed to force the clutch plate 610 into engagement with the friction washer 68 and the gear 65. At this time, the roller 85 is still in engagement with the toe 39, and immediately after the clutch plate 610 has been engaged firmly with the gear 65, the roller 85, receding from the' to 39, will permit the gradual lowering of the cutter head 41 to cause the cutting stylus to gently engage the record blank, after which the roller 85 moves out of engagement with the toe 39 and the handle 19 will come to rest by reason of the engagement of the shoulder 93 against the stop pin I09. Thus, radial movement of the cutter head 41 across the record blank R will commence at substantially the same instant that the stylus 49 is brought into engagement with the record blank and no loss of the -recording area on the record blank will result.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have provided an improved cutter carriage mechanism which is positive in action and which incorporates a number of novel features. By having the gear 65 constantly in engagement with the I lead screw l9, longer life of the mechanism is assured by reason of the fact that each portion of the gear 65 suffers less wear than does the conventional half-nut follower of the prior art mechanisms. Moreover, there is never any clashing of gears with my improved arrangement because the gear 65 and the lead screw l9 are never out of mesh. In addition, it will be obvious that it is possible, with my improved cutter carriage mechanism, to pick up or resume recording at substantially the point where it was last left upon returning th stylus 49 to operative position after first having-been removed from the record blank, depending upon the skillof the operator.

Although I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, it 'will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other modifications, as well as changes in the one herein described, are possible. I therefore desire that my invention shall not be limited except insofar as'is made necessary by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: v 1. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of guide means, a supporting member slidably carried on said guide means, a mounting rotatable on said supporting member, and a sound translating device pivotally carried by said mounting, said sound translating device being pivotally movable on said mounting relative to said supporting member andbeing rotatable as a unit with said mounting on said supporting member. I

2. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of guide means, a supporting member slidably carried on said guide means, a mounting rotatable on said supporting member, a sound translating device pivotally carried by said mounting and adapted to have cooperative engagement with a record, means on said mounting cooperatively associated with said sound translating device for effecting initial movement of said sound translating device on said mounting to effect disengagement of said device from the mounting for thereafter rotating said sound translating device and said mounting as a unit on 'said supporting means to remove said device from ably carried on saidguide means, a mounting rotatable on said supporting member, a sound translating device pivotally carried I by said mounting and adapted to have cooperative engagement with a record, means on said mounting cooperatively associated with said sound translating device for effecting initial movement of said sound translating device on said mounting to effect disengagement of said device from the record, manually operable means on said mounting for thereafter rotating said sound translating device and said mounting as a unit on said supporting means to remove said device from adjacent the record to a point relatively remote therefrom, and means for releasably holding said unit in any selected position on said supporting member.

4. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of guide means, a supporting member slidably carried on said guide means, a mounting rotatable on said supporting member, a sound translating device pivotally carried by said mounting and adapted to have cooperative engagement with a record, means on said mounting cooperativelyassociated with said sound translating device for effecting initial movement of said sound translating device onsaid mounting to effect disengagement of said device from the record, manually operable means on said mounting. for thereafter rotating said sound translating device and said mounting as a unit on said supporting means to remove said device from adjacent the record to a point relatively remote therefrom, and a spring clutch interposed between said supporting member and said mounting for releasably holding said unit in any preselected position on said supporting member.

5. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of guide means, a supporting member slidably carried on said guide means, a mounting rotatable on said supporting member, a-carriage pivotally carried by said mounting, a sound translating device carried by said carriage and adapted to have cooperative engagement with a record, said mounting including relatively movable members one of which includes means for actuating said carriage to raise said sound translating device slightly from the record upon initial movement of said last named member on said supporting member, and means for thereafter effecting movement of said mounting,said carriage and said sound translating device as a unit to remove said sound translating device from adjacent the record to a point'remote therefrom.

6. The invention set forth in claim 5 characterized by the addition of a spring clutch interposed between said mounting and said supporting member for releasably holding said unit in any preselected position on said supporting member.

I. The invention set forth in claim 5 characterized in that said mounting has an annular recess therein terminating in circumferentially rotated on said supporting member, one or the other of said shoulders engages the adjacent of said offset ends to slightly expand said spring and loosen said spring from said supporting member to permit free rotation of said unit on said supporting member, said spring contracting again when rotation of said unit on said supporting member has ceased to thereby again grip said supporting member and-releasably lock said unit in the position to which it has been moved.

8. The invention set forth in claim 5 characterized by the addition of cooperative means on said supporting member and on said mounting for limiting the rotation of said mounting on said supporting member.

9. The invention set forth in claim 5 charac-. terized in that said mounting comprises a pair of end members coupled together for unitary movement, said end members pivotally carrying said carriage, and an intermediate member rotatable on said supporting member relative to said end members, said intermediate member including the means for actuating said carriage, characterized further in that said intermediate member is provided with a recess terminating in a pair of circumferentially spaced shoulders, and characterized further by the addition of a stop pin on said supporting member extending through said recess for engagement by said shoulders to limit the rotation of said mounting on said supporting member.

10. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of a driving member, a driven member as-- sociated therewith, a sound translating device, and clutch means for either coupling said device to or uncoupling said device from said driven 'ment between said driving member and said device at will.

12. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of a lead screw constituting a driving member, a gear in constant engagement with said lead screw and adapted to be driven thereby,'a

sound translating device, and clutch means for either coupling said device to or uncoupling said device from said gear whereby to either eifect or break driving engagement between said lead screw and said device at will.

13. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of guide means, asupporting member slidably carried on said guide means, a mounting rotatable on said supporting member, a sound translating device carried by said mounting, a

rotatable lead screw extending through said sup- 70 mounting said device on said carriage for anporting member and constituting a driving member, said supporting member, mounting and sound translating device being movable as a unit on said guide means longitudinally along said lead screw, 'a gear. carried by said supporting member, said gear being in constant mesh with said lead screw and being driven thereby, and clutch means carried by said supporting mem- 5 ber for. either coupling said supporting member toor uncoupling said supporting member from said gear whereby to either efiect driving engagement between said lead screw and said supporting member to cause said unit to move along said guide means, or to break driving engagement between said lead screw and said supporting member to permit rotation of said lead screw independently of said unit.

14. In phonographic apparatus, the combina- 1 tion of guide means, a supporting member slidgagement with a record, means for moving said gear carried by said supporting member, said gear, being in constant mesh with said lead screw and being driven thereby, and a clutch carried by said supporting member for either coupling said supporting member to or uncoupling said supporting member from said gear at will whereby to control the driving coupling between said unit and said lead screw, said second named means including a portion associated with said clutch and arranged to uncouple said supporting member from said gear when said device is disengaged from the record and to couple said sup- 40 porting member to said gear when said device is brought into engagement with the record.

15. The invention set forth in claim 14 characterized in that said mounting includes a pair of end'members which pivotally carry said sound translating deviceand an intermediate member rotatable on said supporting member relative to saidend members, characterizedfurther in that said intermediate member is provided with a relief, characterized further in that said support- 5 ing member is provided with a bore, characterized further by the addition of a compression coil spring in said bore and-a ball element supported by saidcoil spring, and characterized still further in that said clutch comprises a resilient element fixed to said supporting member and having a surface adapted to lie against a face of said gear, said coil spring being arranged to normally press said element against said gear to frictionally couple said element to said gear, and

said relief being so located in said intermediate member that, upon rotation thereof on said supporting member in a predetermined direction, said ball will be forced thereinto whereby to relieve the compression on said coil spring andthereby 5 relieve the pressure of said element against said ear.

16. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of a carriage, a sound translating device including a stylus, and means for adjustably gular adjustment of said device about the tip of said stylus as a center. a

FRANK E. RUNGE.

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