US2318526A - Indicating device - Google Patents

Description

May 4, 1943. D. c. RocKLA 3 52 I INDICATING DEVICE I Filed De 1 193 9 4 Sheets-Sheet y 1943- D. c. ROCKOLA 2,3l8,526 INDIGATING DEvIcE I Filed Dec. 1, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m, I Eli s y 1943. D. c. ROKOLA INDICATNG DEVICE Filed Dec. l, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 4, 1943 INDICATING DEVICE David C. Rockola, Chicago, lll., assignor to Rock- Ola Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a 'corporation o! Delaware Application December 1939, Serial No. 301638 Clains. (Cl.274-) This invention relates to indicatng devices and more particularly to indicating devices of a character adapted to bei utilized in connection with selective apparatus for counting and recording the number of Operations of selected parts of the said apparatus.

Although not necessarily. limited thereto, the indicating device disclosed herein is illustrated as applied to, and is particularly adapted for use with, a multi-record phonograph for count-,

ing and recording the number of times eachol a plurality of records is selected and played.

It is an important factor. in amusement and other vending apparatus to have accurate knowledge of the popularity of selected items in the locality in which the' apparatus is located. This not only enables the operator of the apparatus accurately to 'determine the wear which has e been inflicted upon certain parts, such as phonograph records, for making replacements of worn parts or records, but also very materially aids in the selection of replacement parts or records of popular type.

An object of this invention is to provide amechanism adapted to be utilized on a `s"e1ecof a portion 'of the actuating mechanism for the phonograph shown in Flg. 1, with the section taken substantially along a line 2-2 of Fig. 3 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side sectional view of the record selector mechanism of the phonograph shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the section taken substantially on a line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

' Figs. 4 and 5 ar fragmentary front-and ra' sectional views taken substantially on lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 3 respectively, in the directions of the arrows and including views of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken approximatelyon a. line 6-6 of Fig. 4, in the direction of the arrows and showing the parts in one operating position.

Fig. 7 is a fragm entary sectional view taken on approximately the ,same line as Fig. 6, showing some of the partsin different Operating po-' sitions.

tive multi-record phonograph for indicating the y relative popularity of the selected records.

Another object' of this invention is to provide a registering mechanism operatively assoe ciated with the record selector of a selectivetype of multi-record phonograph for visibly in-. dicating the popularity of each of the records on the phonograph by indicating the number of times each record is played.

V Another object of this` invention is to pro-` vide a popularity indicator for a multi-record phonograph which is easily and quickly reset when th phonograph is serviced.

Another object of this invention is to provide an indicating device for indicating the popularity of the records of a selective type of multi-record phonograph which is controlled and actuated by the record selector of the phonograph and which will not interfere with 'the record selecting operation of the selector.

Other objects of the invention relate to varil ous features of Construction and arrangement of parts'which 'will beapparent from acon- Vsideration of the following Vspecification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l'is a horizontal cross section of a phonograph of the type with which a preferred embodiment of my invention is adapted to be util ized. V

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary -cross sectional view Fig. 8 is a. fragmentary top elevationof a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and embodying' a preferred form of this invention. a

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of 'a part of the apparatus embodied in a preferred form of this invention.

The illustrated phonograph is of the type shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. &159.834; issued to Paul H. Smyth,

Jr., on May 23, 1939, for Phonograph. Since certain elements, assemblies and Operations of the phonograph have been illustrated and described'in detail in the above mentioned patent, they will be more briey and generally described herein to emphasize the adaptation of this invention thereto.

General As shown in Fig. 1, the phonograph comprises a casing or cabinet A of suitable construction for accommodating a chassis or frame B.

As shown in Fig. 1; the chassis B includes a mounting panel E commonly referred to as a motor board which carries above the mountlng panel a turntable G; record playing or reproducing means H; a record carrier supporting or mount- 'ing' assembly I; a plurality of pivoted,-ring- I shaped record carriers or trays J arranged one" above the other n column or stack relationship, and swingable to and from co'operative relationship with the turntable G; and members K and L providing individual supports for each record carrier J at the end thereof opposite the mountmeans H to its starting position upon the completion of the reproduction ofa record: and various control devices.

Phonographs of the class to which this invenor stud s on the rotating master cam M engages the reproducer return means U and moves it to swing the disc |3 in a direction which returns it to the starting position.

When the rotating master cam M has completed its movement of the i'ollower S, circuit control means eflects interruption of the circuit including the cam driving means NA and that including the tumtable rotating means O, wheretion relates are usually, but not necessarily, controlled by coin operated or coin !reed means.

Upon being started, the turntable rotating means O is connected in circuit with a suitable source of electrical energy. suitable control means also connects the cam driving means N in circuit with the source of energy. The master cam M is thereby rotated and effects the rotatio'n oi' a The rotating master cam M,' by engaging the cam follower S, raises the reciprocable slide R.. which carries with it the turntable reciprocating arm T and thereby raises the rotating turntable G. If one of the record carriers J is in the position of cooperation with the turntable, the tumtable, during its last described movement, passes through the carrier J and removes the record therefrom. The tumtable continues its' 4 movement to bring the record into engagement with the record reproducer means H tor reproduction. l v

- When the master cam M has rotated sufliciently to bring' the turntable G into playing position,

the cam shait I l has rotated to effect opening of the circuit, including the cam driving means v N. The cam M 'thereupon ceasesto rotate. and

the reproducer means H reproduces the record which is on the turntable G. In playing the record. th'e reproducer means H swings inwardly toward the center oi the record being played and thus rotates a shai't I2`, shown' 'in Fig. 2,

` which is connected with the reproducer means H and drivingly engageable with a disc 3 which is carried on the shait I2. The disc |3 constitutes a part of the' control mechanism of the phonograph and has 'an Operating projection* s' thereon which, during the rotation of the'shaft 82 by the playing movement of the reproducer means H, swings toward the reproducer return means U.

When 'the reproduction of the record is completed by the reproducer means H, the shait |2 has rotated' the disc !3 until the proje'ction I! is adjacent the reproducer means U. At this stage of the operation, the control meansnf the phon'ograph again connects the cam driving means N in circuit with the source of energy to again cause that cam driving mean to rotate the master cam M and its shaft ll. When the rotation of the master'cam M is thus resumed,-the cam toliower S which is engaged bythe cam track and the reciprocable slide R which carries the !ollower S are moved by the cam in a direction to cause the turn'table reciprocating arm T to move the turntable G away from the reproducer means H and back thrbugh the positioned record car-- rier J so as to deposit the 'reproduced record thereon. Meanwhile, and after the reproduced record has thus been moved out of reproducing engagement with the reproducer means H, a pin 'shaft ll on which the master cam M is fixed.

upon the foregoing cycle may be repeated by subsequent Operations.

In the'phonograph disclosed herin, the record ca'rriers J are pivoted on a post i'l between the successive discs a and the mounting assembly. Each record carrier ;has an arm or projection IS extending beyond the periphery of the discs s at the side of the assembly I opposite the record carriers proper. The arms or projections El cooperate with releasable record carrier looking means for releasablyiocking each record carrier in stacked position. p

Record carrier locking and releas'ng means The latch member 20 is pivoted on each arm 6| outwardly oi the discs s. Each latch member 20 has integrally formed thereon a laterally extending flnger 22. The flngers 22 are selective ly operable by a selector 23 carried at an end of a rockable and longitudinally reciprocable shaft 24 which is slidably joumaledas at 25 in a selector control frame V suitably secured to the front of the chassis B, as shown in Flgs.

f 1' and 2. The selector 23 is of plate-like construction' having a cam surface 26 on the outer end of an arm 21 which is rockable with the shaft Upon operation SW; selector 23, the surface- 26 engages the finger 22 of one of the latch members 20 to cam the latch member about its pivot; When any latch member' 20 is thus released, the angularity or its finger 22 and the shape of the cam surface 28 cause the record carrier arm IS carrying the released latch member 20 to swing about the pivot post H to' its position in alignment with the turntable.

Record carrier swing'ng means The record carrier swinging means includes 'a swingable yoke-like member 28 having an arm fixed' on an end of the pivot post l'l at one end of the assembly I and extending radially outwardly therefrom beyond the periphery of the 'discs I 8; a-leg 29, and a leg 30 connected at one end to the leg 29 and extending therefrom to the pivot post l'l to which it is secured as shown.

at 32 in"Fig. 2.

Loosely secured on the post [1 adjacent 'the i leg 30 is a bell crank lever %provided with' a cam'rolleor follower 34 depending therefrom into a cam groove 35 on the 'master cam M and with a pair of spaced upstanding lugs 36. Each lug 38 carries an `a`djustable screw 31 tor cooperating with acrank arm sa; the crank Sabeing connected to the angle leg 30. As the cam from the'path of the turntable and toward the stack-of record carriers. The hell cranklver 33 has a leg 39 provided with a cam surface I! engageable by a cam stud or follower 42 on the master cam M for moving the bell crank lever to move the cam follower sl by substantially "dead center" position 43 in the cam groove 33. When a record carrier has been swung to its position of alignment with the turntable, it is held in that position by the yoke member 23. The screws 31 may be adjusted to adjust the record carrier in delivery position to alignment with the turntable.

selector rocking means For rocking the selector 23 to release one of the latch members 20, the selector shaft 24 is provided with a keyway extending longitudinally thereof for cooperation with any suitable keying means of a cam lever 44 on the shaft 24. The cam lever 44 is secured against reciprocable movement therewith at a level slightly above the master cam M by a bracket 4l secured at 45 to the selector control frame V. The keyway and the keying means permit the shaft 24 to reciprocate longitudinally thereof relative to the cam lever 44, and provide a driving connection between the cam lever and the shaft, whereby the shaft may be rocked about its longitudinal axis when the cam lever is operated.

The cam lever,44 has a cam surface 46 engageable by the cam follower 42 and a stud or pin 41 on the cam .M, after the follower 42 has ing with the cam M, has moved beyond the cam surface 46.

selector reciprocating means A reciprocable plate-like slide ,member 49 is provided with a plurality of bifurcated lugs 50 at its opposite sides for slidably engaging the opposite faces of a pair of spaced guide rails 52 suitably secured 'to rearwardly proicting studs 53 of the selector control {rame V. The rear face of the slide plate 49 is formed with an out- '-`standing transverse rib 54 at one side of a rectangular aperture or slot 55 in the plate 49 and a pair of spaced iugs `55 at the other side of the aperture 55 to facilitate rotatably securing the selector shaft 24 to the slide plate 49.

In securing the selector-shaft24 to the slide plate 49, the lower end of the shaft is positioned between the lugs 56 in such a manner that an arm 51 fixed on the shaft is positioned' between the rib 54 and the l-ugs 55 and extends into the aperture 55 in the slide plate, whereby the shaft and slide plate will reciprocate together. The arm 51 is rockable with the shaft 24 and, during the rotation of the shaft for Operating the selector 23 to release a latch member 20, the outer or free end of the arm swings through the aperture or slot 55 to a position forwardly of the slide plate 49 for a purpose which will be described. If desired, a strap 66 may be bridged between the rear ends of the spaced lugs 53 for retaining the lower end of the selector shaft between the lugs. i

For reciprocating the slide' plate 49 so as to r'ciprocate the selector shaft 24, the slide plate provided with a cam roller or follower 59 projecting rearwardly from its rear face. The roller i! .ia adapted to cooperate with a cam shaped' vrailifl which is preferablyintegral with the barrel cam M, and is carried peripherally outwardiy thereof by a radial arm 32 and a turnthe record carrier is being returned to the stack by the cam M, the cam rail 69 is adapted to raise the slide plate 49 and the .selector shaft 24 sumciently to move the selector 23 above the level of the uppermost latch member releasing finger 22, where the selector is normally held during lnoperative periods of the phonograph by engagement between the cam follower 59 and the cam rail 30. Upon starting the phonograph, the cam-rail 69 permits rapid and silent lowering of the cam follower 39 and hence the slide plate 43, the selector shaft 24, and the selector 23 before the selector 23 is rotated in a latch member releasing direction by the roliers or pins 42 and 41 and the cam lever 44.

selector control The selector control comprises operable means for stopping the selector 23 at the elevation of a desired latch member releasing flnger 22, automatically Operating means for restoring the operable means during the operation of the latch member releasing finger 22 by the selector 23 at that elevation, automatically Operating means for supporting the selector at that elevation after the operable means is restored, and the selector frame V including the selector shaft journal 23 and the studs 33 and, -as already explained, suitably secured to the main frame B.

As operable'means for stopping the selector 23 at the elevation of a desired latch member releasing flnger 22, the horizontal pivoted plate 64 is swingably carried at the upper end of the slide plate 43 by upstanding arms 65 at opposite' ends of the plate 64, pivoted to upstanding lugs 63 at opposite sides of the slide plate 43'. A depending finger 61 at the rear side of the plate 34 is engageable with the upper portion of the slide plate 43' for limiting the rotation cf the plate 64 in one direction. v

A`plurality of reciprocable rods 63, one for each record carrier J. are reciprocablefone or serted through an aperture' 13, in a rectangular plate 14 until the fiange 69 has passed through that aperture, whereupon each rod is moved bcdily transversely of the plate 14 into a smaller aperture 15 in the plate adjacent the aperture 13, and providing a bayonet type of aperture therewith. The rods are slidable in that .position between positions of engagement between the rear face of the plate 14 and the flange 69 and between the front face of the plate 14 and the flange 19.

For each rod 63, there is an aperture 13 in a front'selector !rame member 11 and that aperture 16 is enlarged as at 13 rearwardly of the front face of the frame member 11 to provide an internal shoulder 1-9. The rods 63 assembled to the plate 14 may be inserted in the respective enlarged portions 13- of th apertures 16, and moved forwardiy until the flanges 12 abnt the shoulders 19. m that position the forward ends of the rods 69 extend forwardly of the selector !rame member 11 to. provide push buttons for Operating the rods. The plate is movably carried rearwardly. of the frarne member 11 by pins 30 vners and slidably receivable in sockets in the frame member 11. A coil spring 82 is placed on each pin 80 between the plate '!4 and the !rame member '!l' for yieldably holding the plate spaced rearwardly of the frame member '!1 and between the fianges 69 and of the respective rods 68. A spring urged pin 83 extends into each enlarged portion '!8 of each aperture 16 between the flanges 10 and '!2 for limiting the reciprocable movement of the rods 68.

The rods 68 may be individually moved intothe path ofthe pivoted plate 64 by pushing them inwardly with respect to the frame member li. For restoring the rods to their outer positions, the cancellation rod 64 is provided which has a fiange portion 85 reciprocable in a passage 86 in the frame member 1'! and which has a shank portion 81 extending forwardly through an aperture 88 outside and forwardly of the frame member '!'I'where the shank portion is equipped with an Operating push button handle. The shank portion 91 is engageable with i one end of a lever 89 which is pivoted intermesition; Upon release of the cancellation rod, the

springs 82 return the plate 14 to its initial position causing the plate through the connection 93 to restore the lever 89 and the cancellation rod 84 to their ipitial positions. A plurality oi rods 68 may be moved simultaneously into the path of the pivoted plate 64 by pushing outwardly on a pin 94. v

As the slide plate 49 moves upwardly. the pivrod 68, if more than one of the rods has been operated. such stopping of the plate 64 stops the downward movement of the slide plate 49, thus stopping the selector 23 at the elevation of the latch member releasing finger 22 controlling the record carrier corresponding to the effective push rod 68. If none of the rods 68 has been operated, the plate 64 in its downward move- `ment will be stopped just above the ,pin 94 at the lower end of the travel of the slide plate 49.

For automatically restoring each rod 68 to its outer or non-selecting position after it has been eii'ective to stop the' selector at the desired elevatioma plate I 04 is pivoted as at !03 at its lower end to forwardly extending lugs !05 at opposite sides of the forwardface of the slide plate 49. That plate !04 extends upwardly along the slide plate to the upper end thereof, where the plate is provided with a forwardly extending ledge or other projection !06 spaced below the pivoted plate 64 such a distance that when the plate 64 engages a rod 68, the projection !06 is at the same level as the end of the rod and is engageable therewith when the plate !04 is swung forwardly about its pivot !03. At the lower end of its travel with the plate 49, the projection !06 is engageable with the pin 94. The plate !04 ing through apertures !!2 and !!3 in the respecoted 'plate 64 will engage the inner end or ends of any of the rods 68 which may have been pushed inw'ardly as described above. and will be swung downwardly from a horizontal position by such engagement. The assure its return to the horizontal position, at which the flnger 61 engaging with the upper end of the slide plate 49 serves as a limiting stopjthe cam follower 59 is -preferably mounted on a depending arm 95 of a bell crank lever.- The bell crank lever is pivoted 'as at 96 on the inner face of the slide plate 49' and has another arm 9'! pivotally connected to a bar 98 which'is reciprocably secured to the rear face of the slide plate 49 by a pin 99 passing through an elongated aperture !00 in the bar 98 and into the slide plate. -The upper end of the bar 98 is turned outwardly into the space between the slide plate 49 and the pivoted plate 64 to provide a horizontal arm !02. As the slide plate is moved upwardly, the cam rail 60 engages the cam follower 59 so as to hold the bell crank lever in a position at which. the arm !02 permits the downward swinging 'of the pivoted plate 64 when it engages one of the operated rods 68. As the follower 59 starts down, it is cammed about the pivot 96 causing the arm 91 -of the bell crank lever to raise the bar 98 until the horizontal arm !02 levels the pivoted plate 64.

Thus, when the slide plate 49, and hence the selector, are moving downwardly, .the pivoted plate 64 is in a horizontal position and the plate 64 will engage and be arrested by the rod 68 that is operated, or by the uppermost operated to return the plate !04, the arm -51, and the i tive plates 49 and !04 and a coil spring !!4 on the pin forwardly of the plate !04 between a fixed abutment l !5 at the forward end of the pin and a slidable abutment !i 6 adjacent the plate !04.

Rotation of the selector shaft 24 in a direction to move the selector 23 for Operating a. latch member releasing finger 22 causes the arm 51 at the lower er'd of the selector shaft to Swing through the registering apertures 55 and !01 in the slide plate 49 .and the plate !04' into engagement with the resiliently held strip !08 and to swing the`plate !04 forwardly about its pivot !03 'against the action of the spring I! 4. The forward swinging of the plate !04 causes the projection !06 at the upper end thereof to engage the 94 and to move that pinin a direction to move a' plurality of rods 68 into the path of the pivoted plate 64. The spring I !4 is adapted automatically selector shaft 24 to their initial positions.

For supporting the selector at any of its elevations after the rod 68.15 thus restored, and until the selector is subsequently actuated by the cam rail 60, there is formed along' an edge of one of the guide rails 52 a rack !!1, a cam surface !!8 at the upper end of the rack !I 1 and aca'm surface !!9 at the lower end of the' rack !!'I at the edge of the guide rail. Cooperating with the rack is a reciprocable pawl !22 slidably mounted on the rear face of the slide plate 49 by the pins 99 and !!0 passing through elongated apertures ment with a flnger !21 of a spring urged lever !20. The lever' !20 is pivoted as at !29 on the r forward face ot the pivoted plate !04 in' such `a portion of the slide plate 49, the pawl !22 engages the cam and is canmed longitudinally to a position at which the slot !29 registers with the finger !21 of the spring urged lever !20. The flnger !21 thereupon springs rearwardly into latching engagement. in the slot !26, for holding the pawl in a position such that the pawl is beyond the extremities ot the teeth oi the rack !!1.

During the owering oi the slide plate 49, the pawl !22 does not engage the rack !1. When the pivoted plate !04 is, however, swung rearwardly, as already described, tor restoring the rod 68 which isergaging theplate 04, the lever !20 moves rearwardly, disengaging the pawl !22, whereupon the spring !29 draws the pawl !22 intosupporting engagement with the rack I! 'I to hold the slide plate 49,` the selector shait and the selector in their respective positions after the rod 99, which has been effective to arrest them in those positions, is restored.

Phonograph operation In the normal non-playing position of the phonograph, the record carriers J are in stack; the turntable G is down; the reproducer H is in the starting position shown in Flg. 1; the slide plate 49 is raised to such an' elevation that the selector 23 is at a level above that oi the uppermost flnger 22, and the pawl !22 has been cammed out beyond the teeth oi the rack where it is latched by the flnger !21 engaging in the slot !29: and the cam iollowers 42 and* 41 are in the position shown in Fig. 2. p s

The phonograph may be started by a suitable coin or token operated' apparatus such as that dlsclosed in the Patent No. 2,159.834. The rods 99 may be operated before or aiter'starting. One or more rods 68 are moved inwardly into the path of the pivoted plate 04, or to the selecting position. When the driving means N is energized, it causes the rotation oi' the master cam M which carries the cam iollowers 42 and 41, and the driving means o is energized to rotate the turntable G.

The cam rail 60 cooperating with the cam !ollowers 59 lowers the slide plate 49, and with it the. selector shaft 24 and the selector 23 until the pivoted plate 04 engages the uppermost rod 90 which has been moved to the selecting position. Iino rod 89 is in a selecting position, or i! the rod 90 corresponding to the lowermost record carrier J is in a selecting position, the slide plate 49-is selector 22 to operate the latch member releasing flnger 22 at the same level. In that 'manua the selected record carrier J is disengaged from the disc !0. The rocking movement of the selector shaft 24 causes the arm 51 to swing the plate !04 forwardly so that the projection' 06 restores the rod il which has arrested the slide plate 49, the selector shatt 24, and the selector' 23.

If none of the upper rods 69 has been moved to a selecting position so that the slide plate 49 descends to its lowermost position, the rocking movement of the selector shaft 24 causes the selector to operate the latch member reieasing finger 22 corresponding to the. lowermost record carrier J to disengage that record carrier'from the disc !9. In additi, such rocking movement oi' the selector shaft 24 in its lowermost position and operates the pin 94 for moving a plurality of rods 68 to their selecting positions.

Upon the restoration of one of the rods 69 to its non-selecting position, out of the path of the pivoted plate 94, as described above, the slide plate 49 does not lower the selector 23, for the reason that upon the forward swinging of the plate !04 to restore a rod 6!! and/or to.operate the pin 94, the finger !21 is withdrawn from the slot !26 in the pawi !22, which is thereupon moved into supporting engagement with the rack !!1 by the spring !25. In that manner, the slide plate 49, the selector shaft 24, and the selector 23 are latched at the elevations at which they were last efiective until the cam rail 60 next actuates the foilower 59 to elevate the selector 23 to its level above the uppermost finger 22.

After the release of the selected record carrier J and after it is engaged with the swingabie memlowered to its lowermost position. In that manner, the slide plate 49 is brought to rest' with the selector 23 at the level oi the latch member releasing flnger 22 corresponding to the rod 90 engaged by the pivoted plate 64 and to the record carrier J releasably latched in stack by the latch member controlled by that flnger' 22 When the slide plate 49 descends to its lowermost position,

`the selector 23 is lowered to the level of the lowerto raise the reciprocable slide R, which carries.

with it the turntable raising arm T, so as to raise the rotating turntable G through the selected rec- 'ord carrier J. The turntable is thus raised to remove the selected record from the record carrier in alignment with the turntable and to present that record for reproduction by the reproducer means H. In that reproducing position,

'means de-energizes the cam driving means N to cause the cam M to cease rotating.

When the reproducer means H reaches the end of a. record or groove in reproducing that record, means' again connects the cam driving means N in circuit with its energy supply source and again causes the driving means N to rotate the master cam M. When the cam M thus' resumes its rotation, it actuates the cam follower S and the slide R to lower the turntable G. L After the turntable has thus been moved away from the reproducer means H, the reproducer return means U returns the reproducer means H to' its starting position, and the turntable deposits the reproduced record on the 'record carrier rrom which it was Originally` removed and which has been held in delivery position during thelreproduction of the record by the engagement oi the cam follower 34 in the cam groove of the master cam M. i

After the reproduced record is deposited on the record carrier, the cam groove 35 actuates the cam follower 34 to swng the swngable mem.

ber 28 away from its delivery position. In thus swinging, the member 28 swings the arm in a- -tremites of the rack teeth. At that position of the pawl !22, the slot !26 in the pawl registers with the finger !21 of the spring urged lever !28 and the finger enters the slot to latch the pawl at the position at which it will not engage the teeth of the rack !!1 until the plate !04 is again operated for restoring a rod 68 or for Operating the pin 49 as already'described. The slide plate 49 is held in that raised position by the engagement of the 'cam follower 59 on the cam rail 60.

In that position of the slide plate 49, 'the selector 23 is at its level above the uppermost latch member releasing flnge- 22. v

When the selector 23 has been elevated, as just described, after the return of the reproduced record to the stack, control means stops the phonograph when the pre-selected number oi records has been reproduced; If fewer than that number of records has been reproduced, the foregoing cycle is repeated until the pre-selected .number is fully reproduced.

Popularityind'ctor structure In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a popularity indicator X is secured to the selector control frame V and actuated by the record selecting means. A plate !32 is secured to' the selector control frame V by screws such as !33,

or other suitable'fastening means. -The popu- 'larity indicator X has end plates !34 and !35 at opp'osite ends thereof. which end plates'have integral brackets such as !36 thereon secured to the plate !32 by bolts such as !31 and !33, or

other suitable fastening means. The end plates !34 and !35 are secured together in spaced relation by tubular spacers !33 and !40, which have:

shats such as !42 'and !43 extending therethrough. with nuts, !44 and !45 threaded on to theends thereof to hold the end plates in position against the ends oi' the spacers !39 and !40. A -shat !46 is rotatably supported by the end plates !34 and !35 and has a knob !41 on one end thereof for manual rotation of the sham' A number of individual indicating elements !43 which is preferably equal to the number of record carriers or trays J, is rotatably mounted on the shaft !46. The indicating 'elements '!43 are preierably substantially dish shaped and are mounted one adjacent the other for individual rotation about the shait !46. The spacing o! the indicating elements !43 along the shaft !46 is accomplished by a plurality ot spacing washers pin !14 by a Washer !16 and cooperating cotter !43. one of which is secured to each of the indicating elements. and is such that it corresponds to the spacing of the record carriers J and the spacing ot the steps ot the selector shatt !or selecting the various record carriers J. The shaft !46 is held in position with respect to the end plates !34 and !36 by a screw'lso, which extends through the end ot plate' !34 and is threaded into the shaft !46. i 4

'outwardly on one side thereof.

the indicating elements cooperate with inwardly' Each of the indicating elements has integral ratchet teeth !52 on the edge thereof. For each of the ratchet 'teeth the indicating elements preferably have indicating or calibration marks and corresponding counter numbers suchas those indicated at !53. A plurality of spring'fingers !54 are clamped between a yoke !55 and a clamping strip !56: the spring fingers being spaced so that they are adjacent each of the indicating elements. The yoke !55 is rotatably secured to the end plates !34 and !35 by rivets such as !51 and !58, or other suitable means. A tension spring !59 has one end secured to a lug !60 on the yoke !55 and the other end anchored to a lug !62 on the end plate !34, so that the spring !59 normally biases the spring fingers !54 into engagement with the ratchet teeth !52. Integral portions !63 and !64 of the yoke !55 cooperate with the lug !62 to provide stops for limitingthe movement of the yoke !55 with or against the biasing force of the spring' !59. An extension !65 on the yoke !55 provides a manual actuating handle for the yoke to facilitate the movement of the yoke against the biasing force of the spring !59, which movement releases the indicating elements from engagement bythe spring flngers !54. Each oi the indicatingelements !46 has an integral lug !66 projecting These lu'gs on projecting fingers !61 on a strip !68 which is secured to the end plates !34 and !35 by screws such as !69. The lugs !66 are adapted to strike the fingers !61 to limit the movement of the indicating elements in either direction to an amount somewhat less than onecomplete revolution.

The strip !08 has an outwardIy projecting portion !10, which is preferably somewhat' ofl'set with respect to the rest of the strip. A pawl !12 is pivotally supported on a stud !13. which stud is secured to the projecting portion !10 of the strip !08. A second pin !14 is secured to the projecting portion !10 of the strip !06 and extends' through a slot in the pawl !12. A compression spring !15 is held in place around the pin !11. This compression spring !15 urges the pawl !12 toward. the projecting portion !10 of the strip !06. The slot through which the pin !14 extends is sufliciently wide-to permit some' movement of the pawl !12 about the pivot stud !13. The pawl !12 has an edge !18 which is I adapted to engage the .ratchet teeth !52 of the indicating elements' !48. A tension spring !19 has one end secured to a. lug !80 on the end of the pawl !12 and the other end anchored to a' `lug !32 on the slide plat 49. -This spring !19 biases the edge !18 of the pawl !12 into engagement with the ratchet teeth !52 on the indi- 'cating-elements !43. The movement of the pawl 4 mined by the length of the pawl !12. The length of that pawl is such that when the selector shaft 24 is in a position for selecting the lowermost p record carrier J. the edge !13 en gages the loweredge I'll of the pawl Il! engages other predetermined indicating elements !48.

operation of the popularity indicator When the selector shaft 24 moves longitudinally and then rotates to select a predetermined record carrier corresponding to a selected record, as has been previously described, the arm 51 moves the strip !08 and the integral extension I" thereon. The movement oi' the strip I and the projecting portion !10 is away from the shaft 24. This movement actuates the pawl !12 to rotate the indicating element corresponding to the selected record, which is engaged by the edge I" of the pawl. A lug !83 on the pawl !12 cooperates with a stop strip IM, which is anchored between the brackets !36 to limit the movement of the pawl z so that the actuated indicating element is moved'only one digit or tooth. The spring fingers !54 hold the indiin response to actuation by the pawl I'I2, the

spirit of the invention.

iailure of operation of the indicating element does not interfere with the selection and reproduction of a record. In such an instance the compression spring !15 gives to allow movement of the strip Ilia and the projecting portion no, though the movement of the pawl |`|2 is stopped, When any one of the indicating elements MB is moved to a position corresponding to the highest number that can be registered on the element, the lug [65 engages one of the fingers IS'I to stop further movement of the indicating element in the same direction This indicates that the record corresponding to the indicating element has been played as many or more times than the indicating element is apable of registering, while if movement of the indicating element were not stopped by the' lug !66, that indicating element would start a recount and would not show the first revolution.

To facilitate resetting of the indicating elements to their zero position, when the phonograph is serviced, the indicating elements Ils are freed from engagement by the spring fingers I" by manual movement of the yoke 155 and all o! the indicating elements are turned to their zero position by manual rotation of the shaft 146 which is eiected by the rotation of the knob I". The indicating elements Ms are stopped in their zero position by the engagement of the lugs ISS with their cooperating fingers IG'I. The normal positions of rest ot the projecting portion l'lfl of the strip losand the pawl I'll are indicated in 'Figura 6; while the positions of the proiecting portion' I'll! and pawl [12 at the limit of their movement for selecting a record and Operating an indicating element are indicated in Figure '7. The release of the indicating elements from the spring fingers !54 is indicated in Figure 8.

While I- have shown and described a specific embodiment of the invention for the purpose oi illustration, it will be apparent that changes may be made therein without departing from the I claim:

1. In 'a multi-record phonograph of the typ adapted for selective reproduction of the records, the combination comprising a part of the phonograph niechanism movable linearly to pre- 'determined positions in the selection of records for reproduction, means rotating said part upon reaching one of the 'predetermined positions, indicating means 'having individually rotatable counting elements linearly spaced in'positions corresponding to said predetermined positions. said counting elements having ratchet teeth thereon, and a pawl actuated by rotary move ment of said part for moving a predetermined one of said counting elements a predetermined amount-upon rotary movement of said part, said pawl being resiliently supported to prevent failure of movement of said counting element from interfering with rotary movement of said pawl.

2. In a multi-record phonograph of the type including a plurality of spaced record c riers and a movable selector element movable to a position corresponding to the position of the selected record carrier comprising, in combination, a rotatably supported indicator shaft, a

number of indicating elements corresponding to the number of record carriers mounted on said shaft for individual rotation with respect thei-eto and spaced to correspond to the spacing of the record carriers, a single pawl movable with the movable selector element and adapted to be actuated thereby to individually rotate one of the indicating elements a predetermined amount, means for holding the indicating elements in positions to which they are actuated by the pawl, means for simultaneously manually releasing said means for holding the indicating elements, and means for simultaneously returning the indicating elements to predetermined corresponding positions upon manual release of the said means for holding them.

3. In a multi-record phonograph of the type adapted for selective reproduction of records the combination comprising means `carrying a plurality of records, record selector means including automatically driven elements for selecting records and delivering them for reproduction, indicating means including an actuated element and actuated by an automatically driven element of the record selector means for indicating the relative popularity of the phonograph records carried by the carrying means by indicating the number of times each of the records is selected by the selector means, and resilient means compr'ising a part of said actuated element for preventing the failure of operation of the indicating means !rom interfering with the operation of the selector means. i

4. In a multi-record phonograph of the type 'adapted for selective reproduction of records, the

' combination comprising means carrying a plurality of phonograph records, record selector means including automatically driven elements tor selecting records for reproduction, indicating means including a plurality of independently movable indicating elements and movable pawl means actuated by a driven element of the record selector means for indicating the relative popu-- rality of phonograph records. record selector means comprising movable parts for selecting and delivering records for reproduction, indicating means including a plurality of substantially circular indicating elements maintained for independent rotation on a common shaft, and movable pawl means actuated by the record selector means to rotate the indicating elements and thereby indicate th relative popularity of the phonograph records carried by the carrying means by indicating the number of times each of the records is selected by the selector means. means comprislng a resilient element included in said pawl means and adapted to give to prevent ailure of rotation of an indioating element from DAVID C. ROCKOLA.

Images