US2319946A

US2319946A - Selector mechanism for automatic phonographs

Info

Publication number: US2319946A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred H Osborne; Charles J Hull
Original assignee: Wurlitzer Co
Current assignee: Wurlitzer Co
Priority date: 1940-04-11
Filing date: 1941-06-19
Publication date: 1943-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1960-05-25

Description

y 5, 1943. F. H. OSBORNE 5m 2,319,946

SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPHS Original Filed April 11, 1940 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1

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May 25, 1943. F. H. OSBORNE EI'AL 2,319,946

SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC PHONQGRAPHS Original Filed April 11, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

27.617 fl. 0550mm. (wk: 65 J? #04 L.

Patented May 25, 1943 SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPHS Fred H. Osborne, Snyder, and Charles J. Hull,

Bnfialo, N. Y., assignors to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporatron Original application April 11, 1940, Serial No. 329,070, now Patent No. 2,287,560, dated June 23, 1942. Divided and this application June 19, 1941, Serial No. 398,694

2 Claims.

This invention relates to the selector mechanism for an automatic phonograph which may be associated directly with the record changing mechanism thereof or remotely positioned with respect thereto, and whereby any number of records may be simultaneously selected for play. This application is a division of our application,

Letters Patent No. 2,287,560, granted June 23,

1942, entitled Automatic phonograph.

The object of this feature of the invention is to provide an effective control, either localized or remote, whereby the operator of the automatic phonograph may place as many selections as desired, either simultaneously in a group or individually, with the result that the records so selected will be called out for play in turn and in the order of their position in the magazine until all selections have been completed. Such mechanism has heretofore been known as a "multiselector. r 7

In such selectors, and as provided in this invention, the control mechanism is automatically released and returned to inoperative position upon the record selection being completed, or wherein it is desired to change the selection or selections after having been made, they may be returned to initial inoperative position by operating a cancelling device in the form of a master switch.

One feature of the invention resides in the provision of an electrically-actuated solenoid associated with each selector switch for releasing the switch actuator selector button upon the circuit controlled by said switch being closed. Thus, immediately upon the selector switchhaving performed its function in selecting the record to be placed for reproduction, its associated solenoid will simultaneously be energized to open said v switch and return the selector button to it initial inoperative position.

Another feature of the invention resides in the cancelling device or masterswitch, which, upon manual manipulation, will close the circuit through all of said solenoids to eiiect the open- Another feature of the invention resides in the mechanical structure and operation of the selector button and push rod operable to close the selector switch and be held in switch closing position until releasedby the associated solenoid.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fi l is an elevational view of a selector switch and actuator in released position.

Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. 1 showing the selector switch in actuated position and an associated wiring diagram.

Fig. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram showing electrical circuits for controlling the record selecting and changing mechanism.

This invention, relating to selector mechanism for an automatic phonograph, is applicable to any suitable record changer wherein the records and record transfer mechanism are movable relative to each other to present a selected record for reproduction. For example, reference is made herein to a record changer as disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 2,287,560, issued June 23, 1942, of which this application is a division. However, this invention is not limited to use in connection with the therein disclosed record changer.

For selecting one or more records for play there is provided a selector mechanism comprising a series of record selecting switches 330, each of said switches 330 controlling an independent circuit, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In each of said circuits and in series with each of the record selecting switches 330, there is provided a solenoid 335, a contact member serving as a circuit controlling switch 323, and a manually controlled cancelling switch 334. Each of said circuits has its source of power in the common

secondary windings

328, 329, which in turn are energized from a source of electric current, as shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent. Also, energized and operated by said source of current and in a separate circuit therewith, there is an glectric motor -2l and a master control switch In addition to the above, there is provided for the purpose set forth in the above-mentioned Letters Patent a control switch I45 actuated by the record changing mechanism, a cam 48 rotated in timed relation with the operation of the record changing mechanism for effecting the opening and closing of the switch 320. In series with the switch 320 there is provided a solenoid I34 for controlling the pawl MI in the manner and for the purpose as more particularly set forth in the above-mentioned Letters Patent.

Slidably mounted upon a suitable panel 336 the e is a series of movable members in the form of push buttons 331, one for each record ofthe record changing machine to be selected for play, each of said push buttons being manually operable to switch closing position against the ten-- sion of spring 339. One of said selector buttons is provided for each of the series of switches 330. Said selector buttons 331 are each mounted upon a plunger slidable through a frame 338 being normally retained in inoperative position by the spring 339 mounted upon the plunger intermediate the frame and push button. The inner end of each of said plungers is then in position to engage one element ofswitch 330 for moving it against its inherent spring tension into contacting engageme'. I; with the other member of said switch for closing the switch when in operated position through the manual'pushing of the push button. Upon return of the push button and plunger when released, the inherent spring tension of the switch members 330 will cause them to separate and open the switch to break the circuit therethrough.

Immediately below each plunger there is an armature 340 in position to be attracted by the solenoid 335, but "normally maintained in spaced relation thereto by the spring 3. Said spring is connected at one end to the frame 338 and at the other end to the armature. Near the end of the plunger there is provided a shoulder 342 will be opened upon the solenoid 335 being energized.

The solenoid will become energized for open ing the selecting switch upon the circuit therethrough being completed through the contact 323. This occurs when the-record selected by the closing of the particular circuit has been presented for play. In presenting the selected record for play, the shaft I2I driven by the motor 2| is rotated a predetermined distance to present the selected record. Said shaft I2I carries with it the switch member or contact arm 321. Said arm is arranged to successively engage each of the contact members 323, thereby comprising a plurality of successively actuated circuit controlling switches, one for each circuit controlled by a record selecting switch 330. Thus, when the shaft I20 is rotated to a position to present the selected record for play, it will thereupon close the circuit through the corresponding record selecting switch 330 by contact of the arm 321,

This has the eifect of energizing the solenoid 330 to release the plunger, opening the corresponding record selecting switch 330 and permit the push button 321 to be returned to its normal position. However, it will be understood that the circuit is thus closed only when in timed relation with the proper operation of the record changer to present the selected record for play through the control of cam 43 acting W011 the switch 320, cam 48 being driven by a shaft 45 which in turn is driven by the motor 2|.

5 330 to energize their respective solenoids 335 and Further control, asset forth in said above-mentioned Letters Patent is caused by the solenoid I34 being energized upon the closing of said circuit to release the pawl I4I. While said cam 48 holds the switch 320 closed, the switch I45 is closed by pressure of a suitable contact member comprising a part of the record changing mechanism, as more particularly set forth in said Letters Patent.

In each of the circuits there is provided a manually controlled cancelling switch 334, which switch likewise has the effect of closing the circuit throughthe solenoid 335for returning the circuit to normally open position and the push button to its normal position. As shown in Fig. 3, there is provided a seriesof contacts, one for each circuit, so that manual operation of switch 334 simultaneously closes each circuit and energizes each of the solenoids 335, in which the record selecting switch 330 and the cam actuated switch 320 have been closed. Thus, assuming that a number of plungers 321 have been operated to close a selected number of switches 330, upon switches 320 or I45 being closed, the cancellingswitch may be operated to effect all .of such closed circuits for returning them to normal open position.

The circuit contacts 323 are arranged in such record identified with said contact. Thus, inv

operation, in selecting a plurality of records for play, their correspon'ding push buttons 331 are pushed inwardly so as to be latched in positionfor closing their respective switches 330. Said switches will remain closed, if not cancelled in the meantime, until the corresponding record has been presented for play by rotation of the shaft I2I.. At that point'shaft I2I willhave caused the arm 321 to engage the contact 323. Then upon the proper timing of the mechanism for effecting record selection, the switch 320 will be closed to complete the circuit throu h the solenoid 335. Thereupon, the plunger will be released, the record having been selected and presented for play, the switch 330 opened and the plunger returned to normal position.

Upon the completion of the playing of the record, the shaft I2I will again be rotated until arm 321 engages the next contact of a circuit in which the switch 330 has been closed, thereby eflecting the next record selection. If, however, in the meantime selections have been made which are not desired, and before the selection and laying of the record, the cancelling switch 334 may be manually operated to close the circuit in the same manner as the arm 321 through its contact 323. Since such cancelling switch 334 is common to all circuits, it will close thecircuit through all those circuits having a closed switch eflect the opening of the closed switches 330 and the return of the corresponding push buttons 331 to normal position.

The invention claimed is:

1. A selector mechanism for automatic phonographs including a plurality of record selecting switches, an electric circuit for each of said switches, a plurality of circuit controlling switches, one for each circuit, a movable member operable to progressively close said circuit controlling switches, means operable to drive said switch closing position and movable for the release thcreof upon its associated solenoid bein energized.

2. A selector mechanism for automatic phonographs including a plurality of record selectin switches, an electric circuit for each of said switches, a plurality of circuit controlling switches, one for each circuit, a movable member operable to progressively close said circuit controlling switches, means operable to drive said member, a spring pressed manually operable plunger associated with each of said selecting switches movable against spring tension to close its said selecting switch, a solenoid in each of said circuits adapted to be energized upon its circuit being closed by movement of said member into position to close its controlling switch. a latch associated with each of said plungers normally operable to retain its associated plunger in switch closing position and movable for the release thereof upon its associated solenoid being energized, and a manually controlled cancelling switch movable to complete all circuits in which selecting switches have previously been closed for energizing their respective solenoids and thereby effect the opening of said closed selecting switches.

FRED H. OSBORNE.

CHARLES J. HULL.