US2437557A

US2437557A - Phonographic apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2437557A
Application number: US399590A
Authority: US
Inventors: David C Rockola; Gil Irving
Original assignee: Rock Ola Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Rock Ola Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 1941-06-25
Filing date: 1941-06-25
Publication date: 1948-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1965-03-09

Description

March 9, 1948.

D. c. RocKoLA ETAL PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1.941

12 Sheets-Sheet l Marh 9, 1948. I3, ,Q RQQKQLA ETAL 2,437557 PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1941 l2 Sheets-$heet 2 March 9, 1948.

D. C. ROCKOLA ErAL PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS vFiled June 25, 1941 March 9, 1948' D. c. RocKoLA ETAL 2,4375557 PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 9 19.48- D. c. RocKQLA s -rAL 2,437,557

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Marhg, 1948. D. c. RocKoLA ETAP.

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS )y l2 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 25, 1941 Uil March 9, 1948. D. c. RocKoLA :TAL

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 March 9, 1948. D. c. RocKoLA ET. AL

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 L Irdutzy GLL March 9, 1948.

D. c. RocKoLA ET AL PHONOGRAPHI C APPARATUS Filed Junel 25, 1941 l2 Sheets-Sheet l0 March 9, 1948. D. C. ROCKOLA Em v2,431,551'

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed- June 25, 1941 12 Sheets-'Sheet 11 March 9 1.948. D. c. RocKoLA Erm.. 2,437,557

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1941 12 sheetssheet 12 Patented Mar. e, 194s MNETED STATES PATENT O F F I C E PHNO GRAPHIC APPARATUS corporation of Delaware Application June 25, 1941, Serial No. 399,590

8 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to coin-controlled sound recording and reproducing devices, and more particularly to a coin-controlled phonograph device which records sound upon a record blank, reproduces the sound record, and vends the sound record.

It has frequently 'been indicated that it would be desirable to provide a coin-controlled device whereby for a nominal sum it would be possible to make a record or" a message or greeting on a phonograph record which could be mailed or sent to a person, thereby providing a more personal and intimate touch to the message or greeting. With the advancement in the art of electrical recording and the production of inexpensive record blanks, it is now more commer- .cially feasible than heretofore to provide a mechanism or device which will mal-:e this possible. However, previous attempts at making such a mechanism have been burdened with certain disadvantages which resulted from both economical and technical diiliculties. In accordance with our invention, it is possible to build economically a device for this purpose. Furthermore, in accordance with our invention, it is possible to avoid many of the hitherto technical diiiiculties. Accordingly, we provide a coin-controlled automatic device which will supply a record blank, record sound thereon, reproduce the recorded sound, and deliver the sound record to the vendee.

It is therefore an object oi our invention to provide a new and improved coin-controlled device which will supply a record blank, record sound thereon, reproduce the recorded sound, and deliver the record.

It is a further object of our invention to provide an improved automatic mechanism for recording and reproducing sound which has a sequence operation controlling mechanism which is readily synchronized to the various operations to be performed.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an improved automatic sound recording and reproducing device which does not introduce eX- traneous sound or vibrations into the record While sound is being recorded or reproduced.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an improved automatic sound recording and reproducing device which has a sequence operation controlling mechanism which remains stationary during the sound recording and reproducing periods.

Another object oi our invention is to provide an improved record selecting and dispensing mechanism for phonographs.

Other and further objects oi' our invention are set forth in particularity in the appended claims. Our invention itself, however, may be understood best by reference to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a mechanism embodying our invention shown in a non-operating position;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are left side, rear and top views respectively oi the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show details of the record magazine advancing or lowering mechanism, Fig. 6 being viewed from the line 6-6 in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 being viewed from the line 7-1 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken substantially along the line 3-8 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the mechanism shown in Figure 8, but on a larger scale to illustrate certain details of the record release mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a partial cross sectional side view similar to Fig. 8, but showing a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 8 in the recording position;

Figs. 12 and 13 are front and side views respectively of the record carrier and release mechanism;

Fig. 1li is a top View of the turntable and recording mechanism as viewed from the line Ill-I4 in Fig. 8, but showing the recording or record-cutting arm and record carrier at the beginning of the recording period;

Fig. 15 is a partial View similar to Fig. 1li, showing the operation of the recording mechanism at the end of the recording period;

Fig. 16 is a top view explanatory of the operation of the phonograph pick-up during the repro-- ducing period;

Fig. 17 is a side view explanatory of the operation of the return of the phonograph pick-up at the end of the reproducing period;

Fig. 18 is a front view further illustrating the same operation shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 further illustrates the operation at the end of the reproducing period;

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of position retaining means on the pick-up arm along the line 20-29 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a schematic diagram showing certain electrical connections controlling the operation of the device;

Fig. 22 is a diagram illustrating the sequence of operations;

Fig. 23 shows the relation of the sequence operation cams producing the operations diagrammatically shown in Fig. 22;

Figs. 24 and 25 are fragmentary elevational views, partly in section, showing details of the mounting of the record-cutting arm, which also is shown fragmentarily, Fig, 24 showing the arm in record-cutting position and Fig. 25 showing the record-cutting arm in raised position.

Vmultipart frame 3|, which supports the various elements of the mechanism. A supply of phonograph record blanks 32 is contained in a record blank magazine 33 supported between suitable magazine guides 33, 34a which preferably are integral extended portions of the frame 3|. The record magazine 33 supplies a single record at a time to a record carrier 35 which slidingly receives the record blank, and lowers the record blank onto a turntable 33. Upon positioning the Vrecord blank upon the turntable 36 a sound recording arm 3l is lowered into position. A suitable microphone 38 (Fig. 2) conveniently mounted on the cabinet 30 receives the sound which when amplied actuates the stylus of the recording arm 3l to produce on the record blank a record of the sound. When a record is completed the record cutting arm 37 is removed from the record and a sound reproducing arm or phonograph pick-up 39 is lowered upon the record until the recorded sound thereon has been played back. Upon completion of the reproduction of the sound record, the pick-up arm 33 is removed from the record and the record carrier 35 removes the record from the turntable by raising the carrier to its former position. At Vthis point, a recordv retaining member 40 is retracted so as to permit the record to slide toward the'front of the machine lonto a chute 4| which extends 4to the exterior of the cabinet or case 3.

The record

magazine guide members

33, 34a have mounted thereon a cross-member H2 which supports a record retaining rod member 43. At the lower extremity of the rod 43 is provided a record release or discharging means M controlled by a lever 45 and a connecting pitman d6, the operation of which will subsequently be described in greater detail. Each of the phonograph record blanks 32 is supported by the record magazine 33 by means of a plurality of spaced shelf members 4l located on opposite sides of the` magazine. These shelf members 4l are located at an angle to the horizontal thereby to support the records at an angle so that they bear against the record retaining rod 3 and are slidingly discharged by gravity when released by the record discharging means M to the record carrier 35. The record carrier 35 is pivotally mounted at one edge thereof by suitable pivot supporting means 48 mounted on the frame 3|. The record carrier 35 is` normally positioned at an angle corresponding to the angle of the phonograph record'blanks. This is accomplished by a crank member 49 attached along `one side of the record carrier. turntable 36 which in the present invention is slightly smaller than the diameter` of the records carried by the record magazine 3S. This turntable 36 in the embodiment shown is superimposed upon a phonograph turntable 50 which is part of a conventional phonograph turntable mechanism of the rim-drive type commonly in use for making sound records or recording sound. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, rim-drive turntables of this `type have certain advantages and the use of such'a device. in the The frame 3| supports the phonograph bottom side of the cutter arm 3l.

present embodiment is expedient both from economic and technical considerations. This arrangement further has the advantage that if at any time it is desired to vend records of a different diameter, it would only be necessary to change the smaller turntable 35 and no changes would be necessary in the turntable actuating mechanism. The turntable 33 is provided with a spring actuated record engaging stop 5| which shortly after a record blank has been placed on the turntable engages one of a plurality of holes located near the center of the record blank. Thus, the record blank is positively anchored to a turntable 35 thus insuring even and faithful recording of the sound. The rim of the turntable 5l! as may be seen in Figs. 8 and il is driven by a motor 52. A cutter arm feed screw 53 is driven by the turntable 53 through a suitable gear arrangement such as shown in Figs. 8 and 11. The cutter arm feed screw 53 is selectively engaged by a follower member 5d which is attached to an arm 55 securedto a pivot shaft 56 attached to one end of the cutter arm 3l. The pivot shaft 56 is journalled in a bearing post member 5l mounted upon the frame 3|. The arm 55 is biased into position by a spiral spring 53. The spring 59 surrounds that portion of the Pivot shaft 5S which is located between the end of the arm 55 and the frame 3|.

By referring particularly to Figures 24 and 25,

as well as Figures 1, 2, 3 and 8, it will'be seenl that the upper extremity of the shaft 53 is provided with a block or member |36 which sup- Yports an arm |31 having adjacent one end thereof an adjustable stop or set screw |38. The record cutting arm 3l is pivotally mounted on the member` |35 by a suitable pivotal bearing |39. A U-shaped wire member Ml is pivotally connected to the cutterv arm 3l adjacent the under side thereof at 5|) between the pivotal support |39 and the bearing support 57. The U-shaped wire-like member lill is retained within a suitable groove or passageway M2 in the top of the collar-like portion |43 of the bearing member 5l which is xedly mounted on the supporting plate or frame 3|.

The sequence operation shaft 65 will cause actuation of the cam follower 98 which in turn will move the rod lill in an upward direction thereby engaging the bearing plate lilZ on the When the rod ||l| moves upwardly against the plate |32, the cutter arm 3l will pivot about the pivotal bearing |39 thus moving the pivotal connection 55 of the U-shaped member Ml upwardly so that the member IM will produce a thrust against the collar U53 in the groove |42. This in turn will cause the pivot |39 to be moved upwardly with the result that the shaft 53 is ymoved upwardly thus compressing the spring 53 and moving the arm 55 a sufficient distance to cause the screw feed following member 56 to become disengaged from the feed screw 53.

The phonograph pick-up or reproducing arm 33 is pivotally supported at 6| on a member 52 which in turn is pivotally supported on a post 53 mounted upon the frame 3l. The member 32 extends through an opening I9 in the frame 3l and carries an arm |2i which is utilized to start a driving motor for the sequence operation controlling mechanism at the end of the reproduction of a phonograph record. rlhe pick-up arm 39 is supported by and lowered into playing position by a rod B which is operated from the sequence mechanism. The frame 3| is provided :theme57 4with the shaft 65, best illustrated in Figs. 2 and `3, upon which a plurality of sequence operation controlling cams i3d, S8, 3d, 95, |2i, |23, and |33 :are mounted. These cams in one complete revolution of the shaft be control a complete sequence of operations beginning at the time when .one of the records 3?. is released 'from the record magazine 33 onto the record carrier 35 until the record has been out, reproduced, and discharged from the record carrier 35 into the chute lll". Another shaft @t is also supported from the frame 3| and this shaft is provided with a plurality of cranks or levers 32, t?, 39, and M5 each having at one extremity thereof a cam follower cooperating with a particular one of the sequence cams mounted upon the shaft The other ei:- tremities of the levers mounted upon the shaft 55 are generally connected to rods or pitmans which control the operation of and the position of such members as the record carrier 35, the record cutter 3l, the pick-up arm 39 and the record retaining member dit, The shaft 65 is driven by means of a belt ii'l engaging a pulley 68 (Fig. 3) which is suitably xed on the shaft The belt 6i is driven by a pulley 7d connected through gearing (not shown) to an electric motor 59, the energization of which is controlled (Fig. 2l) by a coin or check chute, by a cam on the shaft and by switches, hereinafter further referred to, operated in response to the movements of the ends of the recorder cutting arm and the pick-up arm when these arms reach the end of the record. This particular cooperation of these various members will subsequently become apparent.

By referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7, the mechanism for advancing the record magazine will be readily understood. The magazine 33 which is mounted between the guides Sil, Cita in the frame 3| is supported from a lower cross member of the frame 3i by means of a jack screw arrangement. rihis jack screw comprises a threaded member 'ii passing through a threaded opening Ii in the frame 3i shown in Fig. 3 and being rotated by means of a keyway 'l2 and a cooperating key t3. The threads of the jack screw member li are surrounded by a collar member 'id which is provided with ratchet teeth l. The collar member ifi is supported from the frame 3i by means of a forked collar l. A pawl ll is supported by a member mounted within an annular recess on the collar member itl. The pawl il is biased into position by a spring i3. The pawl i7 and the member it constitute a ratchet mechanism which is actuated by a pitman Gl. The pitman 3| is pivotally connected to one end of a iever or crank S2 supported by the shaft 35. rhe other end of the lever 82 is provided with a cam follower 23 which engages a four-lobed sequence controlling cam S4 which is Xed to the cam shaft d5. rihe lever 33 is spring biased by a suitable spring means such as 83. fn the particular arrangement shown the record magazine 33 is advanced to the next position during the sequence cycle by an amount sufficient to prepare the next record for discharge onto the record carrier In this particular instance the distances between the records, the pitch of the jack screw 7i, and the number of ratchet teeth iii bear such a relation to each other that the four-lobed cam 3ft causes the cam follower 33 to actuate the arm t2 four times during a sequence cycle period. it will be noticed that the cam is of unequal conguration so that during a portion of the revolution of the cam 84 no ratchet action takes place. It is to be understood, however, as-will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, that with different distances between the records, a different .pitch for the threads of the jack screw, and a different number of ratchet teeth, the conguration of the cam and the operation of the ratchet mechanism would be modied accordingly so as to advance or lower the record blank magazine 33 a distance sufcient to provide for the release, in the next sequence cycle. Yof the next 'record blank in the magazine.

The operation which releases a record blank 32 from the magazine 33 will be better understood by reference to Fig. 8 which is a cross-sectional view along the line 8 8 of Fig. l. The magazine 33 in Fig. 8 is shown in a position intermediate the limits of travel of the magazine so that only the upper portion of the magazine now contains phonograph record blanks 32. As has been stated in connection with Figs. l to e, the record blanks are supported from shelf-like members 4! arranged at an angle to the horizontal so that the front edge of each of the records engages the record retaining member or rod This rod 43, however, does not extend down so far as to Contact all of the records, but to permit a few of the records to be free of the end of the rod 43. When the leading edges of he lowermost records remaining in the record magazine 33 have passed the lower extremity of the rod 63, the sides or one side oi these lower records is engaged by afrecord stop bracket 86 mounted at one side of the magazine guide 34. By referring to Figs. 9 and l0, which are enlarged views of this portion of Fig. 8, it will readily become apparent how the lowermost records are retained in position by this member 86. The bottom record is retained in the magazine by the record release member lil which is actuated by one extremity of the lever 45 supported at an intermediate point thereon from the cross member 52. This particular relation of elements may best be observed by reference to Fig. 1. In Figs. l and 2 it will furthermore become apparent that one extremity of t.v e lever 45 which actuates the record release niember ed is controlled 'by the pitman 4t. This pitman E5 is connected to one end of a crank meinber 3l which is mounted upon the shaft ESS. This member 3l is provided with a cam follower di which engages the cam 88 of one of the sequence lcams mounted upon the shaft 65. As soon as the sequence operation motor is energized by the introduction of a check or coin in the coin chute, the cam t8 begins to move and it is in such position as to actuate the rod i3 thereby causing the member 44 to be raised, thus releasing the lowermost record in the magazine 33 onto an apron 89 from which the record slides onto the record carrier 35. The record carrier slidingly receives the record blank and is subsequently lowered in position over and alongside the turntable 33 thereby placing the record blank in position for further operation of the mechanism. The record carrier 35 which is pivoted onthe pivot-supporting means 48 is actuated by a pitman 3| connected to a crank 92 which is mounted upon the shaft 66. The other extremity of the crank 92 is provided with a cam follower 33 which engages a sequence operation cam ed mounted upon the cam shaft t5. As the record carrier is lowered into position, the cam shaft Et is rotated thus rotating a cam 95 which engages one arm 36 of an electric switch which controls the energization of the phonograph turntable motor 52. As the cam shaft 55 rotates, a cam brings about actuation of a cam follower 98 of a lever 95 which is connected to a rod mi. The rod itil engages a bearing plate H32 attached to the under side of the record cutting arm 3l. At the proper time in the sequence operation, the rod lili is lowered so as to permit the stylus |03 of the cutting arm 37 to engage the phonograph record blank which has been placed upon the turntable 3B. Substantially ooncomitantly with this engagement of the stylus 103 with the blank the record engaging stop 5l finds one of the holes near the center of the record blank, thereby securely fastening the record to the turntable 35, so that the record blank moves in synchronism with the turntable.

lThe operation just concluded is shown in Fig. 11 wherein the stylus M33 now engages the particular record blank 52 shown as 15G in Fig. 11. it will be seen that the record-engaging stop 5i now extends through a hole near the center of the record lil. By referring to Fig. 11, it will be seen that the arm 55 secured to the pivot shaft 55 upon which the cutting arm 3l is mounted has Abeen lowered so that the feed screw 53 is engaged by the screw follower 54 carried by the arm 55.

The record retaining member l5 of the record carrier operates to stop and position the record blank which is slidingly received thereon from the magazine 33 by means of the apron 89. The record retaining member d therefore prevents the record blank from sliding down any further on the record carrier This member i0 engages one edge of the record blank |56, and it is desired to withdraw or retract this member l5 so that it no longer engages the edge of the record 55. as shown in Fig. 11. The member 45 is an upturned portion of an arm 55, normally biased by a spring 55', which is pivoted at 156 shown in Fig. 13 along one side of the record carrier 35. The arm 55 is provided with a projecting portion iii which is arranged to engage a release stop E55 mounted upon the base or frame 3l alongside the record carrier 35 and the turntable. When the extremity Iii? is engaged by the stop member itt, the record retaining member comprising the elements di?, 55, and I'! assume the position shown in the dotted line in Fig. 12. The record retaining member is further provided with another portion i553 which extends at right angles to the portion i5?. rlhis portion |59 is arranged to be engaged by a trip lever i I l which is pivoted at H2 adjacent the frame 3i and which is suitably biased by a spring such as H3. The other extremity of the trip lever iii is provided with a cam follower portion iii which engages an operating cam abutment H5 therefor which projects laterally from the surface of the sequence operating cam E23 that is mounted on shaft 55. When the sound has been recorded upon the record blank, and the sound reproduced, and the arms have been raised from the record, the record carrier 35 is again raised to its normal position which is at an angle to the horizontal. In order to release the record-from the record carrier, the cam iid engages the cam follower portion of the trip lever i i i, moving it to the dotted line position of Fig. 12 thereby retracting the record retaining member il@ to permit the record to be slidingly discharged into the chute lli which extends to the exterior of the cabinet of the mechanism. Fig. 13 is a side View of Fig. 12 and serves to illustrate still further the location of the various components of the record retaining member and the cooperating parts `such as the stop-|55 and the tripV arm Hl.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the operation of the mechanism during the period when sound is being recorded upon a phonograph record blank. The position of the various elements of the magazine shown in Fig. 14 is the position 'assumed at the beginning of the recording period. The cutting arm 3l which is pivotally supported by the shaft 56 is moved into the initial position by the lowering of the rod Sill, also shown in Fig. 8. The shaft 56 is connected to the arm 55 which is engageable by a U-shaped member H5 supported at one end of a lever H25 pivoted at H6. The other end of the lever |25 is provided with a bifurcated portion ill, each portion of which is provided with suitable cam followers 250 and 20|, respectively, which engage cam surfaces H8 and H9 of a sequence operation cam I2! mounted upon the shaft 55. The action of the sequence operation cam iZl upon the cam followers at the extremities of the bifurcated portion H1 of the lever E25 is such that adjustable stops H5 located adjacent the outer extremity of the lever l2@ engage a portion of the arm 55 thus causing the free end of the cutter arm 3l to be moved inwardly toward the center of the turntable at the same time that the arm is being lowered into position. The arm 31 in normal non-operating position is located along one side of the record carrier 35 and must be moved into the proximity of the outer edge ofthe record blank IM at the time that the recording period is about to begin.

The position of the sequence cam IZI and the corresponding positions of the lever |25 and the free end of the cutting arm 3l are shown in Fig. 15. From examination of this figure it will further be seen that a projecting member H6 mounted on the free end of the arm 55 is now in engagement with a toggle arm or lever arrangement iil' which is pivotally mounted at Mii so that one extremity of the lever H'l' is in engagement with the end of the electric switch arm St. This engagement of the arm 55 which operates in accordance with the position of the cutter arm 3l is such as to close the circuit of the electric switch 55 thereby causing the cam shaft motor 59 to be energized thus starting the sequence operation mechanism which will cause the cutter arm 3i to be raised from the record and the sequence operation cam 12| will move the free end of thecutter arm 37 towards the outside away from the center of the turntable so that at a subsequent time the record carrier 35 may be raised to a normal position. l

Fig. 16 illustrates the operation occurring during the period when the sound recorded upon the record blank is being reproduced. The solid line position of the pick-up arm 39 shows that the reproduction period has just been ended whereas the dotted line position of the arm shows the position at the beginning of the reproducing period. The pick-up arm 35 is pivotally supported at the points 5i which are a portion of the member 52 supported by the pivot post 63 mounted upon the frame 3i. As stated previously, a portion of the member E2 extends through the base 3! through an opening 52 therein. Extending through the opening 52' is the member 62 to which is attached an arm 12E as shown in this figure and in Figs. l'l and i8. The extremity 202 of the arm 26', which may be provided with an adjustable stop 'Z5-3, engages a contact arm of an electrical switch i222 which is connected to energize the cam shaft motor or sequence operation motor 55 at the end of the reproducing period. 1n connection with the positioning and the return of the cutter arm 31 itwill be recalled that the sequence operating cam i2! was not simple since it had a plurality of surfaces, and the operation of returning the cutter arm 31 to non-operating position required several operating elements. n order to simplify such structure, thus gaining an economic advantage, the arrangement for returning the pick-up arm to its normal nonoperating position was devised which is shown in iligs. 17, i8, and 19. Referring more particularly to Fig. 17, it will be seen that the cam shaft f5 is shown with a sequence operation member having a cam surface i E4 and a cam surface 8d. Interposed between these cam surfaces is a cam surface |23 which is engaged by a cam foliower i261 connected to a crank |25, one extremity of which is connected to the rod The rod S55 upon actuation raises the pick-up arm 39 off the record by engaging a bearing surface E26 which is positioned on the underside of the arm 39. After the arm 39 has been raised oif the record, the record carrier 35 is also raised, thus removing the record from the turntable 3G. rEhe record carrier 35 is so related relative to thearm 39 that a portion thereof engages one of the undersides or edges of the pick-up arm as, for example, the edge 52E'. As the carrier S5 continues to rise, the contact of the edge |21 with one edge of the carrier 35 causes the arm 39 to be moved toward the front of the mechanism until the end of the rod engages a detent |23 formed in the bearing surface member 25 as shown in Fig. 2G. The relation occurring during this operation is further illustrated in Fig. 18 which shows how the arm 3S is engaged by the extremity of the rod bfi to raise it from the record and how one edge l2? of the pick-up arm is engaged by the right hand edge of the record carrier 35.

Ey dotted lines in Fig. 19 the pick-up larm St is shown to be at the end of the record. By solid lines the arm 3Q is shown in its position just shortly after the reproducing period and just prior to the time that one edge of the record carrier is about to engage one edge |21 of the pick-up arm A sectional view along the lines cf this figure, as shown in Fig, 20, illustrat-es how the end of the rod @a engages the 23 in the bearing member IZS so as to d o retain the arm in its normally noncperalng position at the end of the action of the iecor carrier-.35 upon the edge l2? of the arm 35i.

The operation of the automatic sound recording reproducing mechanism is initiated by the insertion of a coin in a coin chute i2i3 diagraniniaticaily represented in Fig. 2l, and conveniently located with respect to the apparatus, not specifically shown therein, is provided th a contact arm iid connected in .an electrical circ-n energized from a suitable source of energy iti which supplies energy to the cam shaft motor G2 the turntable motor The coin passing through the chute |29 closes the circuit one side of the source of energy i3! through a of cont cts |29', iii, and through the cam shaft motor to the other side of the circuit As the cam shaft or sequence operation motor begins to rotate, the sequence operation earn shaft 65 is rotated thereby causing the sequence operation cam mounted thereon to close the circuit of electric switch ic. suitable means, not shown but generally weil known to those skilled in the art, the coin in the coin chute is released and the contacts thereof opened. The circuit through the motor, however, is now closed by means .of the .contacts 2%,

l0 266, of the switch arm 96. The cam shaft motor 69 continues to operate until the record cutting arm 31 has been moved into position at which time the indentation |32 on the cam 95 reaches the contact portion 24 of the switch arm 9S thereby opening the contacts 288, 209 of this switch. While the cam shaft b5 has been rotating through approximately 1SG degrees, the turntable motor 52 has been energized at a point about 9|) degrees of this rotation by means of a sequence operation cam |33 which controls the operation of an electric switch |30, the contacts of which control the energization of the turntable motor 52. The turntable motor now being energized feeds the cutter arm across the record until the arm reaches the inner edge of the record whereupon the toggle lever H'i connected to the cutter arm 31 engages the adjustable abutment screw 25S of the switch arm 9S thereby again energizing the cam shaft motor 69. This causes rotation of the sequence operation shaft E5 which raises the cutter arm 37 oif the record and disengages the contacting toggle lever` I l1 connected to this arm from the outer extremity of the electric switch 96. The pick-up arm 39 is now lowered into position on the phonograph record and this operation is completed by the time that the indentation |34 on the sequence operation cam 95 has reached the contact portion of the switch arm thereby-deenergizing the sequence operation motor 69. The turntable motor 52 is still energized, thus permitting the phonograph pick-up arm 39 `to reproduce the record until it has reached the end of the record, at which time an arm |21' attached to the pick-up arm te engages the abutment screw 2li of switch arm |22 to close contacts 2|2 and 2|3 thereof which again energizes the sequence operation motor 69, thus causing the seduence operation cam shaft again to be rotated. This rotation, of course, again closes the contacts 228, 209 of the electric switch S5 which remain closed until the indentation |35 on the sequence operation cam 25 reaches the contact portion of the switch arm thereby deenergzing the sequence operation motor 69.

The operation of the apparatus heretofore described may be better understood by reference to Figs. 22 and 23 which serve to illustrate the sequence of operation performed in a complete cycle. Fig. 22 gives a diagrammatic indication of the sequence of operations occurring during a complete 360 degree rotation of the sequence operation cam shaft t5. rThe relation of the various sequence operation cams to each other isbelieved to become more apparent by the representation as shown in Fig. 23 wherein the sequence operation cam members have been arranged along a center line representing the cam shaft 65. The positions of these cams as shown in the figure is the position assumed at the beginning of a cycle of the sequence operation. In the diagram shown in Fig. 22 the sequence of operations may be followed by reading at the various points indicated in a clockwise direction. During the previous cycle of operations the record release mechanism comprising the record retaining member fifi, the lever iii, and the cam surface I itl, as may be viewed from Fig. 12, are just about lcompleting the operation. At the time that a coin is inserted in the coin chute of the mechanism which coin chute |22, diagrammatically represented in Fig. 21, may be located at any convenient point on the cabinet or case 30 housing the mechanism, the sequence operation motor 69 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, is energized,

decreti* l l thereby causing the sequence operation cam shaft 65, Fig. 2, to be rotated. The initial portion of the rotation of the cam shaft causes the sequence operation cam member 95 to close the electric switch 96, as is apparent from Figs. 8, 21 and 23. At the same time the sequence operation cam 88 i@ engaged by the cam follower 81 which actuates the rod 46 attached to one end of the lever 45, therother end of which controls the position of the record release member 44, as may be seen from Figs. 1 and 3. The member 44, having been raised. permits a phonograph record blank 32 to be slidingly discharged across the apron 89 onto the record carrier 35 and this operation is completed during a rotation of 25 degrees of the cam shaft 65. During the next 35 degrees rotation A of the cam shaft 65, the record release member 44 is being returned to its former position and lalso the record carrier 35 is being lowered down, over and alongside of the turntable 36. At the end of another 15 degrees of rotation of the cam shaft 65 the record discharging member 44 Vhas completed its return to its former position and at the same time a cycle` of operations is initiated to move the record magazine 33 into position so as to be ready to discharge another record blank at the beginning of the next cycle of operation. This advancement of the magazine 33 by the mechanism shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 continues through the next 100 degrees of rotation of the shaft 65. is discontinued through the 5 degree dwell and again continued for a 40 degree period, then discontinued for a 5 degree dwell, and again continued for 115 degrees of rotation of the cam shaft 55. l

The record carrier 35 is now being lowered to a position alongside of the turntable 36, but before the record is placed in contact with the turntable, the turntable is energized after a 15 degree rotation of the cam shaft 55. After 5 degrees more rotation, the cutter arm 31 begins to move in toward the record since the carrier 35 has been lowered suciently to be a considerable distance past the end of the cutter arm 31. This operation of the cutter moving in toward the outer edge of the record blank such as |94 is illustrated in Fig. 14 wherefrom it will be seen that the cutter arm 31 is fastened to the pivot post 56 which has attached thereto a lever 55. The lever 55 is actuated by the contact portion on a lever arm pivoted at H6 and having bifurcated extremities H1, each of which is provided with a cam follower for engaging the cam surfaces I I8 and ||9 which are mounted on either side of the sequence operation cam member |2I. The movement 0f the cutter arm 31 from a position such as shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 14. requires 40 degrees rotation Vof the cam shaft 65. During the rst 15 degrees of this 40 degrees period of rotation, the record carrier 35 has been 1owered alongside of the turntable 36 thereby positioning a record blank such as |04 upon the turntable. The record cutter 31 now moves down so that the stylus |93 may contact the surface of the phonograph record blank. By referring to Fig. 8,7it will be seen that the under side of the record cutting arm 31 is provided with a contact surface |32 which is engaged by a shaft or rod lill, which is attached at the other extremity thereofl to a crank 93. The crank 99 which isV mounted upon the shaft 55 is provided with a cam follower 38 which engages the sequence operation cam 91 which is mounted upon the shaft 65. If the phonograph record blank |54 has not yet been securely anchored to the turn'- table 33 by the pin 5|, the pressure ofthe stylus |03 of the record cutter 31 will exert sufficient pressure so as to slow down the rotation of the phonograph record blank suihciently to permit the pin 5| to seek one of the holes in the record blank and to project through suchhole thereby anchoring the record upon the turntable. In order to provide for this operation and to permit the stylus |33 to start to cut a groove in the phonograph record blank, a 40 degree rotation of the cam shaft 55 is permitted.

Fig. 21 only shows so much of an electrical circuit as is deemed necessary to understand the operation of the mechanism herein disclosed and to that extent there has been shown a circuit including the cam shaft motor 59 and the turn table motor 52 together with the associated control switches. The circuit, therefore, does not show the conventional electrical equipment required for the operation of the microphone 33. the record cutter 31 and the record reproducing arm S9 since such arrangements are well-known by those skilled in the art. Obviously, of course, when the switch controlled by the coin chute |29 is first actuated, an electrical circuit would also be complete for such electrical equipment to warm up the speech amplifier and to produce a signal to the vendee of the machine when the machine is in condition for receiving sound and for recording the sound upon the record blank which has been positioned upon the turn table 35.

The cam shaft remains stationary during the recording operation. At the end of the recording operation the sequence operation motor 69 is again energized by the closing of the electric switch 95. This switch 55 is closed in response to the travel of the phonograph cutting -arm 31 to the end of the record as is shown in Fig. 15. The lever arm 55 attached to the pivot shaft 55 is provided with a projection at one extremity thereof which engages a lever H1 pivoted at H8 so that the lever H1 engages the outer extremity of the electric switch arm thereby energizing the cam shaft motor 59. During the next 5 degrees the sequence operation cams are so designed as to permit a 5 degree dwell. After the 5 degree rotation the cutter arm 31 is raised from the record by the action of the sequence operation cam 91 against the cam follower 98 which is located at one extremity of the crank 99. The crank 39 raises the rod El! thereby engaging the surface |92 which is located on the under side of the record cutting arm 31.

At the time that the cutting arm 31 is being raised from the record, the pick-up arm 39 is being lowered as will be apparent in Fig. 17. The pick-up arm 39 is normally positioned so that the stylus thereof is above the outer edge of a phonograph record as will be apparent from Fig. 4. While Fig. 17 shows the operation occurring during the return of the phonograph pick-up arm 39 to its normal position, reference may be made thereto in order to readily see the parts involved in the operation of lowering the phonograph pick-up arm 39 onto the phonograph record. The sequence operation cam |23 bearing against the cam follower |24 which is mounted on the arm |25 serves to actuate the rod 64 bearing against the contact surface |35 mounted on the under side of the pick-up arm 39. As the rod 54 is retracted the end of the arm 39 is lowered onto the record. At the end of 40 degrees this pick-up arm is in position and the cam shaft 55 is stopped. The shaft remains stopped during the reproducing period. Whenthe pick-up armr39 reaches:

the endof the record, as is shown in Fig. 16, the'y lever |21'l actuated by the pick-up operatesto close the electric switch 22 thereby energizing the sequence operation motor te', as is apparent: from Fig. 21, When the cam shaft dii is again rotated', the pick-up arm is again raised. from the record` by means of the rod dfi and at. the same` time the record cutter 3l' is moved from its raised' position, corresponding to the position in Fig. 15, to a position correspond-- ing' to the; position shown in Fig. 4. rhis is brought about bythe operation ci certain eiements best seen in Fig. 15. The lever 55 attached to the record cutters? by means of the pivot shaft 56 is now engaged by one of the contact members Hwhich is mounted upon the leverv ld, which asY has been pointed out above, is pivoted at HE and has the bifurcated extremities lll' provided withA contact followers which engage the cam surfaces |18 and H9. The cam surfaces cause the arm pivoted at l I8 tobe moved so as to moveV the lever 55 attached to the record cutter 3l toward the outer edge-of the frame 3i thereby returning the cutter arm 31 to a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 4.

While this latter operation is beingv completed, the' carrier 35 begins to move upwardly after a 20 degree interval; This operation can best be followed by referring to Fig. 8 wherein it will be seen that the sequence operation cam iid mounted upon the shaft 65 engages the cam follower S3 mountedfat'one end of the leverl S2 which in turn actuates the pitman 9i. The pitman iii is pivotally connected at 139 atV one side of the record carrier 35. The period during which the carrier is raised from alongside of the turntable to the positionshown in Fig'. 8 requires a 55l degree period. Shortly after the record carrier 35 starts to raise, a degree period, the turntable 3e is stoppedy by the operation of the cam surface 33 which permits the contacts of electric switch 1.30, shown in Fig. 21, to be opened. After a 5: degree interval the phonograph pick-up arm starts to move up off the record and 5 degrees later the cutter is beginning to move out.

While the record carrier is on its way up, a short time before it has reached its maximum position, a 5 degree'interval, the record retaining member 4l is being actuated. This will be apparent from Fig. 12 wherein it will be seen that the lever H l is engaging a portion of the sequence operation cam surface lili thereby actuating the member H39 which causes the r cord retainer Kioto be withdrawn. The complete withdrawal of the record retainer member do is completed within ar degree period or a 5 degree period after the record carrier has reacheds uppermost position. The phonograph record thereupon slides off the carrier 35 onto the chute di which extendsrto the outside of the cabinet or case 3!) asis apparent from Fig. The sequence operation. motor 63 continues tor be energizedy and during thefnext degree period there ord release member 4i! is permitted to return to its normal position; and also during this same period the latter portion of the sequence operation of the recordv magazine positioning means, shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, is being complete parefor the release in the next sequence cycle the next blank in the record During thefollowing 10 degree period the record release of the record retaining member iliii has completed its operation and the camshaft e5 is rotated sufficiently to permit. theV indentation 135 on the se.-

1 start the segu-elfico operation 1.4 quence operation cam y to reach the contact member of theV electric switch arm 96 thereby deenergizingr the sequence operation motor te and completing the cycle of operation.

It is to be understood, however, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, that while we; for the. purpose of readily and conveniently iilustrating our invention, have shown the invention embodied in but one particular mechanism, that our invention is not to be limited thereby, since it. will be apparent that other and further modifications may be made therein and that other instrumentalities may be employed in performing the operations as is commensurate with the true spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

What We claim as new and desire to Letters Patent of the United States is:

i. In a sound recording and reproducing device, the combination which comprises a hous ing, a supporting mounted in tle housing, a turntable mounted the support ig frame, means for operating the turntable, recordcutting arinmounted on the frame acont to the turntable, a record picli-up ar -i also mounted on the frame adjac nt to the tu ntabie, a sequence operation. controlling mechanism operatively connected to the cutting arm and to the pick-up arm, means operated by the said inechai 'sm for stopping the said mechanism Whe' efe... one oi the said arms moved to initial operating position relative to the means connected to e is and cperabie responsively to the movN i of the said ends of their respect t turntable adjacent to the record carrier, means for rotating the turntable, for supplying successive record blanks from the magazine to the turntable, a record-cuttiog arm located jacent to the said turntable and adapted op erate on a record blank on the turntable to out a sound track. therein, a record arm adjacent to the said turntable adapte-d to operate in the said sound track for reproducing the sound recorded in the sound ti" ck, a sequence controiling mechanism. operatively connected to the cutting erm the pick-no mechanism operated by the sequence con trolling mechanism for positioning arm the picl -up arm relative turntable, instrumenta les connected to and operated by ne sequence opera ng controlling mechanism for stopping said latter mechanism whenever one ci the said aims o operating position relative tur de, and connected to the said s opeative responsively to the moverme' 1 the said arms to the end erating positions to start the sv trolling mechanism.

in a soundnecorc" reproducing device, the combil ation whom comprises a.

'table mounted on the ord-cutting arm neunte frame. adjacentV to. the tuA supporting 1tatie, a record pickup arm mounted on the frame adjacent to the turntable, a sequence operation controlling mechanism connected to the cutting arm and to the pick-up arm, a motor for driving the said sequence loperation controlling mechanism, instrumentalities connecting the said sequence operation controlling mechanism with the cutting arm and with the pick-up arm, the said instrumentalities being operated by the said sequence operation controlling mechanism, an electric circuit for the said motor, a switch in the said circuit operated by the said sequence operation controlling mechanism for stopping the motor whenever one of the arms is moved tov an initial operating position relative to the turntable, means connected to and operable responsively to the movement of the record-cutting arm t the end of its operating travel for closing the switch to start the motor, and means connected to and operative responsively t0 the movement of the record pick-up arm to the end of its operating travel to close the motor circuit.

4. n a sound-recording and reproducing device, the combination of a housing, a supporting frame in the housing, a turntable mounted on the supporting frame, a record-cutting arm mounted o-n the frame adjacent to the turntable, a record pick-up arm mounted on the frame and positioned adjacent to the turntable, means for operating the turntable, a record blank magazine mounted on the supporting frame and adapted to hold a series of record blanks from a bottom record blank to a top record blank, a guide frame carried by the supporting frame for receiving record blanks in succession from the magazine, means supported by the guide frame for retaining in position a majority of the record blanks, means supported by the supporting frame adjacent to the guide frame for engaging the edges of a plurality of blanks adjacent to the bottom blank in the said magazine, sequence operation controlling mechanism carried by the supporting frame and operatively connected to the said record-cutting arm and pick-up arm, record releasing means engaging the bottom record blank in the magazine, instrumentalities connected to and operated by the said sequence operation controlling mechanism for actuating the said record releasing means to release the bottom record blank in the magazine, mechanism connected to the magazine guide frame for subsequently lowering the latter a distance suiiicient to enable the said bottom record blank to be placed on the turntable and to bring the succeeding blank in the magazine to released position, record carrier means for positioning the record blank from the guide frame onto the turntable, a motor in the housing for driving the sequence operati-on controlling mechanism, means for starting the motor, and mechanism operated by the sequence operation controlling mechanism for starting the turntable, for operating the record blank positi-oning means, for positioning the record blank on the turntable, for positioning the recordingcutting arm o-n the record blank, and for stopping the sequence operation controlling mechanism, means carried by the supporting frame connected to the cutting arm and operable responsively to the movement of the said cutting arm to the end of its travel across the record blank for starting the motor for operating the sequence operation controlling mechanism, means connected to and operated by the said sequence operation controlling mechanismv for positioning the record pick-up arm and for stopping the said motor for the sequence operation controlling mechanism, means carried by the supporting frame connected to the pick-up arm and operable responsively to the movement of the said pick-up arm at the end of travel of the pick-up arm for starting the motor for the sequence operation controlling mechanism, and instrumentalities thereupon operated by the said sequence operation co-ntrolling mechanism for stopping the turntable, for raising the pick-up arm from the record, for causing the record carrier to remove the record from the turntable and to discharge the record fro-m the housing and for stopping the motor for the sequence operati-on controlling mechanism.

5. Mechanism for making and dispensing phonograph records which comprises, in combination a housing, a supporting frame mounted in the housing, a record blank magazine mounted on the supporting frame, a record carrier mounted on the supporting frame adjacent to the magazine, means for discharging a record blank from the magazine on the carrier, a turntable mounted on the supporting frame adapted to receive in series record blanks from the carrier, operating mechanism for the turntable, a record-cutting arm also mounted on the supporting frame Iadjacent to the turntable, a sequence operation controlling mechanism operatively oonnected to the record-cutting arm, a motor for driving the said sequence operation controlling mechanism, means for starting the said motor, instrumentalities connected to and operated by the sequence operation controlling mechanism for operating the record blank discharging means, mechanism also operated by the said sequence operation controlling mechanism for causing the record carrier to lower a record blank onto the turntable, for starting the said turntable, for positioning the record-cutting arm, and for stopping the sequence operation controlling mechanism, means operable responsively to movement of the cutting arm to the end of its travel across the record blank for starting the motor for the sequence operation controlling mechanism, instrumentalities thereupon operated by the sequence operation controlling mechanism for positioning the record pick-up arm and ior stopping the sequence operation controlling mechanism, means operable responsively to movement of the pick-up arm at the end of the record for starting the sequence operation controlling mechanism, and means thereupon operated by the said sequence operation controlling mechanism for stopping the turntable, for raising said pick-up arm from the record, for causing the record carrier to remove the record from the turntable and to discharge the record from the housing, and for stopping the sequence operation controlling mechanism.

6. Mechanism for making and dispensing phonograph records, comprising, in combination, a housing, a supporting frame mounted in the housing, a record blanklmagazine mounted on the supporting frame, a record carrier also mounted on the supporting frame adjacent to the record blank magazine, mechanism for discharging a record blank from the magazine onto the carrier, a turntable mounted on the supporting frame adapted to receive in series record blanks from the record carrier, operating mechanism for the turntable, a record-cutting arm mounted on the supporting frame adjacent to the turntable, a record pick-up arm also