US2302155A - Visual record selector and indicator system - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 17; 1942. c, A. TAYLOR, JR 2,302,155

VISUAL RECORD SELECTOR AND INDICATOR SYSTEM Filed June 28, 1941- 2 Sheets-Sh eet 1 INVENTOR.

O 1942. c. A. TAYLOR, JR

VISUAL RECORD SELECTOR AND INDICATOR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1941 l l l /(Mezzce w 5% 4; M

Patented Nov. 17, 1942 VISUAL RECORD SELECTOR AND INDICATOR SYSTEM Clarence A. Taylor, Jr., Dallas, 'lcx.

Application June 28, 1941, Serial No. 400,225

5 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for the visual indication on a publicly located indicator, associated with a loud speaker, of phonograph records playing and next to be played on a remotely located phonograph.

Also this invention has to do with suitable apparatus for indicating publicly a symbol associated with a particular phonograph record which is in process of playing so that such record may be instantly and accurately identified by name or title.

This invention is constructed so as to provide in one unit a publicly placed indicator combined with a loud speaker so that a guest in a place of public entertainment may quickly determine the identity and name of the musical composition or song which he is then hearing over the loud However, the invention may be operated by having the loud speaker located separately from the public indicator, and the latter be so positioned that patrons of such places as cafes, dance halls and the like may easily determine the name of the record next to be played as well as the name of the record playing.

Certain type of ordinary apparatus may have an indicator on the table of a guest or patron which shows him the number or name of the record he himself has selected to be played, but guests at other tables cannot know what is to be the next record.

Usually, however, the common form of selector at a guests table leaves no indication whatever of the forthcoming record (by number or otherwise) after the guest has pushed a selecting button. Thereafter even he has to depend on his memory for a knowledge of the record that is about to be played.

This invention is much more economical to build and therefore saves the operator considerable initial cost because record selective mechanism is found at one central point and serves all patrons while ordinary devices are very expensive for the reason that the coin box, or wall box as it is sometimes called, is filled with a great number of switches and paraphernalia which my invention makes unnecessary to install therein.

The objects of my invention are indicated in the foregoing observations concerning it. However, the general object is to provide record selecting mechanism associated with a centrally located indicator which displays an illuminated number to be found usually in the immediate vicinity of the loud speaker over which sound from a record bearing this number is being heard for the purpose of identifying such record, and

at the same time to likewise provide an illuminated number similarly located which will indicate the identity of the record shortly to be heard in play on a distantly located phonograph.

A further object of my invention is to provide mechanism whereby not only the guest making the selection but all other patrons present may know what record is forthcoming by simply glancing up at a conveniently located and illuminate-d indicator in the vicinity of the loud speaker over which the record is to be played or is being played.

No longer does the uninformed person interested in music have to ask the waiter What is the name of that record?" My invention makes this query unnecessary, Furthermore it fosters and promotes quickly an appreciation and knowledge of music by name and tune.

A typical form of my invention may be generally described as follows: A loud speaker is arranged with a series of lights of one color about it and also a series of lights of another color. Each light, of whatever color, illuminates some separate number or letter or other symbol which designates a particular record among the several records in the cabinet of a distant-phonograph. On the guest's table is an index of these records setting out the name as well as the number or symbol thereof. Associated with this index is record selecting mechanism and record indicating mechanism. The device is usually operated with a coin control so as to select a record and put it into play only after it is paid for. The illumination on the indicator is arranged about the loud speaker so as to show two things: (1) The forthcoming selection, and (2) the selection being played.

A typical example of my invention is illustrated and described in the accompanying drawings and in this specification and in the claims appended, which disclosures set forth the novelty inherent in my invention.

For the purpose of making simple and clear the essential requirements of my invention I have shown in the drawings and this specification a system having only four WhtE lights and four green ligh s capable of handling onlv four records, but in practice the system usually controls twenty or more records, together with appropriate lights.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows a typical selector h s with coin slot and selector button with program panel on the face of the box.

Figure 2 shows a typical phonograph with sections cut away to disclose the principal parts of the record selector mechanism and the indicating light controls.

Figure 3 is a typical arrangement of the loud speaker with illuminated record indicator thereabout.

Figure 4 is a complete diagram of the wiring of the system in which are indicated the essen tial switches and connections.

In the drawings the numeral l designates selector box which has thereon program panel 2, coin receptacle 3 and selector button 4. This program panel is illuminated by several electric lights 5. Within the box is a record selector switch 6 operated by the button 4. Also therein is coin switch 1.

The wiring circuits entering box I are three in number, each circuit having the common wire 8. Wire 9 completes the circuit illuminating the box. Wire l completes the coin trip circuit. Wire ll completes the record selecting circuit to switch 6.

The loud speaker I 2 may be conveniently located as respects the public indicator [3, but in the preferred form the latter is built around the former as shown in Figure 3.

A series of illuminated numbers l4 (as many or as few as desired) are displayed as a part of the public indicator. They may be arranged in a circle, as shown; or they may be arranged in vertical horizontal rows. But however arranged each such number represents a separate record which may be played by the phonograph and each such separate number is indicated again opposite the name of the appropriate record on the program in panel 2.

Two separate lighting circuits are arranged to illuminate the numbers l4 with different colored lights. For instance the lights on one such circuit may be white and these are indicated with the numeral I5. The lights on the other circuit may be green and these are indicated with the numeral l6.

In Figure 3 the green light is shown to be illuminating record number 3, and the white light is illuminating record number 1.

The green light shows that record number 3 is being played. The white light shows that record number 1 has been selected to be played and may be shortly heard.

Circuit I! connects the loud speaker l2 to the amplifier (not shown) within the phonograph cabinet. An extension 8a of line 8 furnishes the common wire to complete the lighting circuits to the indicating numbers in public indicator i3.

Circuits to white lights is are completed by wires l8, I9, and 2| which lead from switches controlling the same, the contact points of such switches being numbered l8s, l9s, 20s, and Us respectively. The switch mechanism for controlling these green lights and contacting these contact points may be located in convenient proximity to the phonograph or within the phonograph cabinet as may phase the operator.

Wires leading from green lights [6 are shown as 22, 23, 24 and respectively; and such wires lead to switches 22s, 23s, 24s and 25s respectively. The last group of switches are more conveniently located within the phonograph cabinet 26 because they are brought into operation only during the period in which a phonograph record is actually playing.

Control mechanism for selecting a record may be of standard design and construction such as may easily be obtained on the market for this purpose. An important part of such mechanism is commonly known as the selector-solenoid assembly 21 which operates to bring into play the desired record after deposit of a coin. In this assembly solenoid 28 may be energized only after the closure of switch 29. Likewise solenoid 30 is associated with switch 3|, and solenoid 32 with switch 33 and solenoid 34 with switch 35. In assembly 21 there is thus found a separate solenoid associated with each record; and when one of such solenoids is activated it selects the particular record with which it is associated and no other. This mechanism for so doing is standard equipment on the market, the details of which it is not thought necessary to here describe. However, the diagrammatic arrangement of this assembly is set out in Figure 4 and illustrated again in Figure 2.

Within the phonograph cabinet 26 is a motor 36 which when put in motion by switches associated with the coin switch 1 furnishes the motive power for placing a record in proper position and for playing the record.

Within circuit l0 leading from coin switch I is a solenoid 31 which operates switches 38 and 39, the former closing to energize wire 40 which furnishes current to assembly 21; while the closing of switch 39 puts motor 36 in operation.

The incoming electric power used for the operation of this entire invention is shown as moving along wires 4| and 42 and is usually received at 110 volts. A transformer 43 reduces voltage to all lights and to all solenoids in the system except solenoids in assembly 21.

Switching unit 44 is comprised of magnet 45, armature 46, ratchet 41 and switch arm 48. A spring 49 normally prevents engagement between 45 and 46, 46 being mounted on pin 50 and having a dog 5| extending therebeyond so positioned that when 45 is energized 46 is drawn thereagainst and dog 5i operates against a tooth on ratchet 41 to cause the ratchet to move clockwise the distance of one notch.

Beneath switch arm 48 are two contact points, the outermost making contact with l8s, I9s, 20s and 21s, and the innermost making contact with points 29, 3|, 33 and 35.

When a record is brought into play it moves horizontally along one of a series of grooves 52 until it strikes a switch at the end of such groove. These groove switches are shown as 22s, 23s, 24s and 255.

My invention is operated as follows:

A patron making a tentative selection may cause several numbers (illuminated with light of a distinctive color, as with white light, for instance) to appear in succession about the loud speaker; and the last illuminated number tells him and others what his selection finally is. Meanwhile (or presently) a colored light, perhaps green, steadily burns opposite the number of the record actually playing. This is the manner in which guests are informed concerning music presently playing in addition to giving them the identity of a forthcoming selection.

The selector boxes I being located usually on or in convenient proximity to the tables of the guests are so placed that a patron may readily read the names of the records as they appear on program panel 2. The guest decides which record he desires to hear. We will assume that it is record number 3. He then looks at public indicator 13. One number on that indicator is always illuminated with a white light. If the number so illuminated happens to be number 3 all the operator has to do is drop a coin in coin slot 3. If some other number than 3 is illuminated, say number 4, for instance, the operator presses the selector button on the selector box. This will cause the white light to move in clockwise fashion to the next number on the public indicator which, on the simplified drawings, appears in Figure 3 as number 1. Then the operator presses the button again and the white light moves to number 2. He presses it one more time and the light moves to number 3, his selection, whereupon he drops his nickel.

It is to be noted that when the selector button 4 is manually operated it closes switch 6 whereupon current flows through circuit H and energizes magnet 45 so that armature 4B is drawn thereagainst. Armature 46 being mounted on pin 50 so that the movement of this armature toward the magnet forces dog 5| into contact with a tooth on ratchet 41, and full movement of this armature causes switch arm 48 to move in clockwise direction and come to rest with its contact points on the next pair of switches encountered while moving in this clockwise direction. Each manipulation of selector button 4 causes this switch arm 48 to move to the next pair of switches. It will be found that this switch arm has come to rest upon switches 20 and 33 when record number 3 is selected. The operation of switch 20s causes a white light 15 to show around number 3 on the public indicator; and the operation of switch 33 causes solenoid 32 to operate a select record number 3 for playing (but this record will not play until a nickle is dropped in the slot).

When the nickle passes through coin receptacle 3 it operates switch 1. This allows current to flow to solenoid 31 which operates switches 38 and 39, the latter being the switch to motor 36 which is put in operation when this switch is closed.

When switch 38 is thus closed it energizes selector-solenoid assembly 27 and causes an upward movement of a pin from the particular solenoid associated with record number 3 so that such record is selected to be played and is caused to move out along one of the slots 52. This record will then strike and operate switch 24s; and the operation of this last named switch causes a green light [6 to illuminate the number 3 on the public indicator l3.

The record selecting mechanism associated with solenoid-selector 21 for the purpose of bringing the proper record into play is standard mechanism long upon the market and its operation has become almost as commonplace as the operation of an electric motor, the details of which it is believed unnecessary to recount here.

Thus it will be seen that at the will of the operator a white light may be caused to illuminate any one of the many numbers appearing on the public indicator and such illumination shows as well to all the people present in the establishment where my invention is located as to the operator-patron what record is next immediately available for playing upon the deposit of a coin, that is to say, what record has been selected for playing. Likewise the record actually in process some Room of playing is indicated by a green light during the time the record is in play. Such information is an attraction to the establishment employing my invention and is a convenience and advan tags to the patrons of such an establishment.

I claim:

1. In a record selecting and identifying device ahphongggaph, electricaLmeans..ior selecting a record for play thereon, a visual indicator having symbols thereon for the identification oir ecords available for'play, means for illuminatingwith a lig h t 'oLone color the symbol associated with the .record selected for playing and means for illuminating with a light of another color the symbol associated with the record actually playing.

2. In a public indicating system a centrally located phonograph record indicator having arbitrary symbols thereon, separate pairs of electric lights of diverse colors capable of illuminating each of said symbols, remote means for successively energizing one Of each pair of lights and electrically operated automatic switch means for energizing separately the other light of said pair.

3. In combination a phonograph, a separately located loud speaker connected thereto by electric circuit, record selecting means associated with the phonograph, a public record indicator associated with the loud speaker, arbitrary symbols on said indicator each adapted to indicate a separate record, means for separately illuminating each of said symbols with lights of any one color for indicating the record then sounding over the loud speaker and additional means for separately illuminating said symbols with lights of a diilerent color to indicate the record next to be heard.

4. In a system for publicly indicating phonograph records a loudspeaker, a public indicator in immediate proximity therewith, a series of symbols on said indicator identifying records available for playhylsaidep gnograph, an electric lightlig circuit having separateglobes for illuminating each of said symbols, another lighting circuit for separately illuminating each of said symbols with a color differing from that of the lights of the first circuit.

5. In a public entertainment system phonoraph, -a o lpnerated,switghfori ting p ay thereofifaiseries of electrical switches for selecting records for play on the phonograph, a distantly and publicly located loud speaker, an electrical circuit connecting phonograph and loud speaker so that the play of the former may be heard over the latter, a publicly located indicator associated with the loud speaker and having a series of arbitrary symbols thereon, each designating a separate phonograph record, a pair of separately colored electric lights adjacent to each symbol, an electrical circuit between the phonograph and the indicator whereby a light of one color is illuminated to indicate the record actually playing over the loud speaker and a separate circuit of like character adapted to illuminate a light of different color to indicate the record selected to be next played.

CLARENCE A. TAYLOR, JR.

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