US2508715A - Phonograph apparatus - Google Patents

Phonograph apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US2508715A
US2508715A US588924A US58892445A US2508715A US 2508715 A US2508715 A US 2508715A US 588924 A US588924 A US 588924A US 58892445 A US58892445 A US 58892445A US 2508715 A US2508715 A US 2508715A
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United States
Prior art keywords
record
turntable
feeler
door
tone arm
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US588924A
Inventor
Emil I Harman
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Space Systems Loral LLC
Original Assignee
Philco Ford Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority to GB615993D priority Critical patent/GB615993A/en
Application filed by Philco Ford Corp filed Critical Philco Ford Corp
Priority to US588924A priority patent/US2508715A/en
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Publication of US2508715A publication Critical patent/US2508715A/en
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B17/00Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
    • G11B17/02Details
    • G11B17/04Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit
    • G11B17/05Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit specially adapted for discs not contained within cartridges
    • G11B17/051Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means
    • G11B17/0515Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means adapted for discs of different sizes
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B17/00Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
    • G11B17/02Details
    • G11B17/04Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit
    • G11B17/0401Details
    • G11B17/0405Closing mechanism, e.g. door
    • G11B17/0407Closing mechanism, e.g. door controlling the loading of the record carrier
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B3/00Recording by mechanical cutting, deforming or pressing, e.g. of grooves or pits; Reproducing by mechanical sensing; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B3/02Arrangements of heads
    • G11B3/08Raising, lowering, traversing otherwise than for transducing, arresting, or holding-up heads against record carriers
    • G11B3/085Raising, lowering, traversing otherwise than for transducing, arresting, or holding-up heads against record carriers using automatic means
    • G11B3/08503Control of drive of the head
    • G11B3/08506Control of drive of the head for pivoting pick-up arms
    • G11B3/08509Control of drive of the head for pivoting pick-up arms using mechanical detecting means
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B33/00Constructional parts, details or accessories not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
    • G11B33/02Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon
    • G11B33/06Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon combined with other apparatus having a different main function

Definitions

  • This invention relates to phonographs and more specifically to a novel phonograph apparatus which is adapted to play records with a minimum of efiort on the part of the operator.
  • One object of the present invention is to provide a novel phonograph apparatus in which the operating parts are not accessible, and in the use of which it is only necessary to insert and remove records through a door-closed restricted aperture of slot-like form, and to operate the door.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a phonograph apparatus in which the operating parts are enclosed at all times within a housing or enclosure having a restricted opening for inserting and removing records, and the said parts are actuated from outside said housing b means of a manual control member which is preferably a door or lid adapted to conceal said opening.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide a phonograph apparatus of this character in which the tone arm and the turntable driving means are controlled or actuated in response to the Opening and closing movements of a door or lid associated with the record-insertion opening.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a phonograph apparatus of the stated character which is adapted to play different sized records without any further efiort on the part of the user. This is accomplished by the provision of a novel feeler mechanism and stop arrangement which automatically limits the movement of the tone arm according to the size of the record inserted in the aforementioned opening.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement, including the feeler mechanism and stop means adjustable thereby, for positioning an inserted record on the turntable.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a radio-phonograph combination embodying the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken vertically through the same
  • Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing the phonograph apparatus in plan
  • Fig. 4. is a perspective view of a slide member which serves to actuate the parts as previously mentioned;
  • Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the cord and pulley arrangement employed
  • Fig. 6 shows the phonograph apparatus in side elevation with the door in closed position, and with a small sized record on the turntable;
  • Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 'll of Fig. 3, showing the parts in the positions which they assume when the door is opened and a large size record is inserted;
  • I Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view showing more clearly the receding spindle arrangement which is preferably employed;
  • Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the feeler mechanism
  • Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view showing the latch member of the sam mechanism in a different position than that of Fig. 9;
  • Fig. 11 is a detail view of the switch mechanism which controls the turntable operation, said view being taken along line H-il of Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 12 is a view of the same mechanism taken from the left side of Fig. 11;
  • Fig. 13 is a plan view of the same mechanism ⁇ Figs. 14 and 15 are explanatory views showing how the switch is operated;
  • Fig. 16 is a plan view similar to Fig, 3, showing a modified form of the feeler mechanism
  • Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view of the latch member in a difierent position than that of Fig. 16;
  • Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the phonograph apparatus.
  • Fig. 19 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, showing certain parts of the feeler mechanism
  • Fig. 20 is a detail sectional view taken along line 20-20 of Fig. 19;
  • Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the apparatus, showing the tone arm actuating mechanism in the course of operation;
  • Fig. 22 is a plan view of the operating mechanism which adapts the apparatus for the playing of different sized records
  • Fig. 23 is a perspective view illustrating further the tone arm controlling mechanism
  • Fig. 24 is a detail sectional view taken along line 2424 of Fig. 23;
  • Fig. 25 is an exploded view illustrating certain parts of the apparatus.
  • the novel phonograph apparatus of the present invention is shown embodied in a radio-phonograph combination comprising a cabinet l, radio receiver 2 and its associated dial 3 and control knobs 4, phonograph apparatus 5, and loudspeaker 6.
  • the phonograph mechanism is supported by a horizontal shelf or panel 1 within the cabinet.
  • the phonograph tone arm and turntable are shown at 8 and 9, respectively.
  • the phonograph apparatus is inaccessible to the user, and provision is made for the playing of successive-records simply by inserting them into a restricted slot-like opening adjacent the turntable 9, and by operating a door associated with said opening.
  • a front wall member H which forms a part of the cabinet structure and which has the record-insertion opening Ill therein.
  • a record I2 is shown on the turntable, and it will be noted that the record protrudes from the opening [I] into a recess l3 provided in member II.
  • the purpose of this arrangement is to enable insertion and removal of the record as will be obvious.
  • phonograph apparatus is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as a part of a radio-phonograph combination, it need not be associated with a radio receiver, as will be well understood.
  • the turntable 9 is arranged in relation to the restricted opening l9 so that the upper surface of the turntable is slightly above the bottom surface of the opening. This permits the record i2 to rotate freely with the turntable. It will be noted also that the door it has a recess Is to accommodate a larger sized record represented in dot and dash outline at i2.
  • a guide member II is securedto wall H and extends therefrom above the turntable as shown.
  • This member may take the form of a strip or plate of metal or other material, and its purpose is to insure proper insertion of the record, as will be seen later.
  • the record is centered on the turntable by means of a central spindle l6 (Fig. '7) which is automatically retracted in response to opening movement of the door M, as will be described further hereinafter.
  • the turntable is supported by means of a bearing structure 17 carried by the supporting shelf or panel I.
  • the details of the bearing structure are unimportant except hat it may be noted thatthe record-centering spindle I6 is slidably mounted within the same structure.
  • the turntable is driven in conventional manner (see Fig.
  • a driving friction wheel 18 which is mounted on a pivoted bracket [9 and is maintained in engagement with the turntable flange by a springZll, one end of which is attached to the bracket l9 while the other end is secured to a stationary pin 2
  • Th wheel i8 is driven by a smaller wheel or roller 22 which in turn is suitably driven by the driving motor unit 23.
  • I'he tone arm 8 is mounted at the upper end. of a spindle 24 (see Fig. 6) which is rotatably supported by a hollow post 25 mounted on the supporting panel I, so that the tone arm adapted to move laterally or horizontally with The tone arm is pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivot 9 so as to be vertically movable with respect to the record.
  • the tone arm carries a suitable pick-up which may be of conventional form and which includes the usual needle or stylus 2%.
  • an extending arm 2'5 the purpose of which is to actuate a switch mechanism 28 at the end of the playing of a record so as to automatically stop the rotation of the turntable, as will be further described hereinafter.
  • the operating ports are controlled by the movements of the door i i.
  • a slide member 29 (see Fig. 4), which is slidably supported by the supporting panel.
  • Member 29 has slots 36. and Si therein, by means of which it is slidably supported for rectilinear movement forwardly and rearwardly.
  • the supporting arrangement for the slide member 29 may in clude a pair of fastening elements, such as screws 32 and 35, which are carried by the supporting panel i and which extend through the slots 38 and 31 respectively.
  • the slide member 29 hasa depending lug 34 to which one end oi aconnccting link 35 is piv otally connected.
  • the other end of link 35 is pivotally connected to the door I4 at a point -36 (see Fig. 6) offset from the hinge or pivot 3'! of the door.
  • the link 35 is pulled forwardly so as to move the slide member 29 from the position of Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 7 and when the door i closed, the said parts are moved in the reverse direction so that the slide member *9 moves to the position of Fig. 6.
  • An important feature of the apparatus provided by the present invention is the control of the various moving parts by a single movable memher, in this instance the slide member 29, which is actuated by the door.
  • Fig. 6 there is provided at the rear of the tone arm 8 an extending lug 38 carrying a screw as to which one end of a flexible cord is attached.
  • the cord passes around a pair of pulleys ti and 42, and its other end is attached to one "end of a helical spring 43 Whose other end is secured to a screw 44 carried by a depending lug 35 on the slide member 29-.
  • the pulleys ii and *42 see Fig.
  • the bracket 53 has cord guiding and retaining portions 4i and 42' as clearly shown in Fig. 5.
  • the pulleys are so arranged that when a pull is exerted on the cord as by the forward movement of the slide member 29, the tone arm 'is subjected to both vertical and horizontal force components which lift the tone arm off of the record and swing it laterally toa position in which it may be lowered onto the next record.
  • the horizontal pivot '8 of the tone arm is 'so arranged in relation to the vertical :pivotal support that the vertical force component is effective to lift the needle or stylus off the record before the tone arm is moved laterally, thus preventing scr-atching of the record.
  • the phonographapparatus provided in accordance with the invention is adapted to condition-itself automatically for the playing of different sized records. Since records are commonly-made in two sizes, inch and 12 inch respectively, "the apparatus is preferably designed to playsu'ch records. This feature of the invention involves the provisionp'f a feeler mechanism now to-be-described. "Specific features of this mechanism are claimed in the abovementioned Thompson application. As 'sheivn'in FigB, this -me'c'liahism”may comprise a pair of ii-shaped members 4 i and 48 pivotally supported at the upper side of supporting panel i at points is and efi respectively.
  • a stop 5? is arranged so as to be engagea-ble by arm '54 and serves to limit the inward movement of the two arms.
  • each of the forward-1y extending arms 54 and 55 carries a roller 58 and 59 for engagement with an inserted record as hereinafter described.
  • the arm '55 also carries a post 60 which serves as a positioning or indexing means for the tone arm, so as to govern the record-commensing position of the tone arm according to the size of the record which it is desired to play in any instance.
  • a covering 6'! on the upper part of post ts may be used to cushion the tone arm when it engages the post.
  • the connecting pin 53 for the feel'er members '41 and H8 is movably mounted ina slot 62 provided in the supporting panel 1.
  • the pivot pin has .a projection 63 which is e'ngageable'by ala'tch member 6'4 (see Figs. 9 and 10) which is pivotally carried at the underside of the supporting panel at 65.
  • This latch member is shaped .as illustrated and has a recess 65 into which the projection 63 may enter, as shown in Fig. 10.
  • the latch memher 6 3 also has a slot "61 through which a pin 68 on the slide member 29 extends.
  • the record 42 shown in solid lines, is a small sized record, -e.-g. a 10inch record. Normally thefeeler-armsid and -55 are positioned in their innermost positions, as shown in :Fig. 3, and the pin 53 .is removed from the latch :member 64.
  • the rollers 58 and 59 are spaced apart sufiicientlyso that a 10 inch record may be inserted between them without actuating the fe'eler mechanism, as may-be seen in Fig. 3.
  • the rollers are .freeofath'e edge of the record.
  • the stop 51. which establishes the innermost position "of the rollers, tis eccentric in form and may beadjusted to ;provide thedesiredclearance between the rollersandthe record.
  • the pin '53 moves forwardly .in the slot 62, bringing the projection 63 of said 'pin 'int'o the position shown in Fig. 9. .At-this time, the feeler'ar'm's are being held in their outer position by thelarger record 12', as shown by theitsolid lirre illustration in Fig. 9.
  • the slide member :29 moves the latch "member $4 to the position of Fig. -10.
  • the latch member thus latches the feeler arm's in theirouter position and it is also shaped so as to "cam the'jpin projection 63 slightly forward'an'd thereby "move 'thefe'el'er arms-a little-rurtherputwardly so thattheroliers 88 and 59 are free of the record I2, as shown by the broken line representation of the arm 54 in Fig. 9.
  • the latch member 64 is returned to the position of Fig. 9, and when the record I2 is removed, the feeler arms return to their inner positions.
  • the feeler arms are moved outwardly sufficiently to clear the record as soon as the door is closed, and when the door is opened the record is removed, the feeler arms return to their normal inner position.
  • One purpose of the feeler arm movement is to position the tone arm indexing post 60 so that the tone arm will be properly indexed for the different sized records.
  • the post 68 is positioned as shown in Fig. 3 so as to index the tone arm for the smaller sized records, but when a larger sized record is inserted, the indexing post is moved outwardly to a position in which it indexes the tone arm for the larger sized record.
  • the centering spindle It has its upper end tapered and it is carried by a rod 69 which is slidably mounted within the turntable bearing structure [1. At its lower end, the rod 69 carries a block 70 from one side of which projects a pin H The latter is disposed in a cam slot '12 (see Fig. 4) of 9, depending plate 13 formed integrally with the slide member 29.
  • the cam slot 12 is so shaped that it lowers and raises the centering spindle (B in response to opening and closing movements of the door Hi. When the door is closed, the pin 1
  • this rear stop structure comprises a stationary stop 14 mounted on the supporting panel I and a movable stop '15 pivotally mounted on the stationary stop at 15.
  • Movable stop is generally of U shape and has downwardly extending arms 11. The ends of these arms are interconnected with the pin 53 which intercom nects the arms 5i and 52 of the feeler mechanism, as previously described.
  • the pin 53 has an upper projection 18, and a connecting element 19 serves to interconnect the arms ll with the said upper projection of the pin 53.
  • the element 19 may take the form of a piece of stiff wire or a bendable rod whose intermediate portion encircles the projection 18 and whose ends are secured to the arms 11.
  • the pin 53 When the feeler mechanism is in the normal position for the playing of smaller sized records, as previously described, the pin 53 is at the rear of slot 62 and the movable stop 15 is in operative position, as shown in Fig. 6, and serves to limit the movement of a record during insertion thereof. However, when the feeler mechanism is actuated by the insertion of a larger sized record, as previously described, the pin 53 moves forwardly in slot 62 and raises the stop 15 to an inoperative position, as shown in Fig. '7. The stationary stop 74 is then effective to limit the movement of the larger sized record as the latter is inserted. It should be noted that the movable stop 75 is raised before the edge of the record reaches the location of the stop structure.
  • either sized record is approximately centered on the turntable, and when the center spindle 16 moves upward to its operative position, its tapered end enters the center hole of the record and the spindle centers the record exactly on the turntable.
  • the switch mechanism 28 hereinbefore mentioned, the purpose thereof is to automatically stop the turntable at the end of the playing of a record, and to control the rotation of the turntable in response to movement of the door M.
  • the switch mechanism per se is claimed in the above-mentioned Thompson application.
  • the switch mechanism is shown in detail in Figs. 11 to 15 to Which reference may now be had.
  • This mechanism comprises an inverted U-shaped supporting bracket '86 secured to the underside of the supporting panel 1, the under surface of which is represented by the dot-anddash horizontal line in Figs. 11 and 12.
  • the bracket 88 carries a rotatable shaft 8
  • a mercury switch M is carried by a supporting member 85 which is mounted on one end of the shaft 8
  • Member '85 extends upwardly from the axis of rotation and carries a pin 88 at its upper end, upon which an actuating element 89 is pivotally mounted. The pivot point is above the center of mass of element 89, so that the latter normally assumes a vertical position.
  • the upper end of element '89 is provided with a friction hood 90 preferably formed of rubber or like material.
  • the element 89 functions cooperatively with the previously mentioned arm 21 to actuate the switch mechanism at the end of the playing of a record, as will be described presently.
  • a resilient member 8 l which may take the form of a piece of spring wire or the like, is secured to the bracket 88 at 92 and is wound about a supporting projection or finger 93 on the bracket 80, and has its lower end portion in frictional engagement with the shaft 8! so as to impose a frictional drag on the shaft and thus tends to oppose rotation of the shaft. The purpose of this will appear presently.
  • a resilient finger 9A which is engageable by a cam member 95 (see Fig. 4) formed integrally with the slide member '29, the purpose of which will also appear presently.
  • the arm 21, which extends from the lower end of the tone arm-supporting spindle 24, has an enlarged end forming a plate 96 which is adapted to engage the friction hood 99, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15.
  • the arm 21 is so positioned in relation to the tone arm *8 that the plate 96 engages the friction hood 90 when the needle or stylus engages the eccentric groove at the end of a record, the said groove being shown in Fig. 3 at 91.
  • the eccentricity of the groove 91 may vary from one record to another, and the switch mechanism is designed to insure operation of the switch regardless of such variation.
  • the operation of the switch mechanism may best be explained with specific reference to Figs. 12 to 15.
  • the mercury switch 84 is connected in circuit with the turntable driving motor so as to control the operation thereof, and during playing of a record, the switch is in the position of Figs. 12 and 14 in which it is closed, so that the turntable driving motor is energized.
  • the element 89 Prior to the engagement of plate 96 with the friction hood 99, the element 89 is vertically positioned, as shown in Fig. 12, due to the fact that its supporting pin 88 is above its center of mass.
  • the plates 96 As the needle or stylus approaches the eccentric groove at the end of the record, the plates 96, moving from left to right, as viewed in Figs 12, 14 and 15, engages the friction hood 9! and defiects the element 89 to a position such as shown in Fig. 14.
  • the stylus enters the eccentric groove at the end of the record, the plate 96 moves back and forth, as indicated by the double head arrow in Figs. 14 and 15. The range of this oscillatory motion of the plate 96 is indicated by the dotted line representation in Fig.
  • the cam member 95 is in the left hand position shown in Figs. 11 and 13.
  • the cam member 95 moves to the right hand position shown in dotted outline in Figs. 11 and 13, and during such movement the upper surface of the inclined cam member engages the end portion of resilient finger 94.
  • cam member 95 functions, in response to movement of the door I 6, to insure that the switch 84 is opened and to close the switch so as to start rotation of the turntable when the door is closed.
  • the switch mechanism 28 opens the switch 81!. to stop the turntable in the manner just described.
  • the slide member 29 moves forwardly, and in doing so it performs several functions. It lifts the tone arm 9 off of the record and moves it to a starting position above the marginal portion of the record through the action of the cord and pulley arrangement, as hereinbefore described. It also moves the latch member 64 (Figs. 9 and 10) to an ineffective position. It also lowers the record centering spindle It to its inoperative position. It also insures that the motor switch 84 is opened.
  • the user may now remove the record which has just been played and insert a new record.
  • the feeler mechanism is not actuated but the other parts are actuated in response to closing movement of the door 14.
  • the rollers 58 and 59 and the stop E5 serve to center the record approximately, as previously described.
  • the rearward movement of slide member 29 raises the centering spindle l6, closes switch 84 to start rotation of the turntable, and lowers the tone arm to bring the stylus into engagement with the mar inal portion of the record.
  • the parts are so designed that these functions are performed in the order named.
  • the spindle is exactly centers the record so that it is free of contact with the feeler rollers and the rear stop. The o erating cycle is now repeated.
  • the feeler mechanism is actuated, causing pin 53 to move forwardly in its slot 62 and thus moving the stop 15 to an inop erative position, as shown in Fig. 7.
  • the approximate centering of the record is then effected by the stationary stop M in cooperation with the rollers 59 and 59.
  • the pin 53 is latched in its forward position by the latch member 55 and is also cammed by the latch member sufiiciently to disengage the rollers 58 and 59 from the edge of the record, as previ-- ously described. with reference to Figs. 9 and 10.
  • the parts are actuated in the same manner reardless of the size of the inserted record.
  • Figs 16 and 17 there is shown a modification of the feeler mechanism, by means of which a possible objection of the previously-described mechanism is eliminated.
  • the feeler arm rollers 58 and 59 (see Fig. 3) are disposed at the widest part of the record, and if the record should strike the rear stop with considerable force, the record might rebound outwardly and the center hole thereof might not be substantially aligned with the centering spindle.
  • the modification of Figs. 16 and 17 prevents this from happening.
  • the feeler arms 54a and 55a (the latter carrying the tone arm positioning post 6011) are extended forwardly so that the rollers 58a and 59a.
  • the feeler mechanism is actuated by both the smaller and larger sized records, and the latch member 6011 is provided with two recesses 98 and 99 so as to latch the feeler arms in different positions for the different sized records.
  • the different sized records are shown for comparison at I2 and I2. If a smaller sized record is inserted, the feeler arms are inwardly disposed and the pin 53 is in the rearward end of its slot 62.
  • the pin projection 83 enters recess 99 when the latch member 64a is moved to its operative position, and the feeler arms are latched and are also moved outwardly a slight amount to disengage the rollers from the record, by virtue of slight camming of the pin projection 63 as it moves into recess 99.
  • feeler arms 54a and 55a are moved outwardly, causing the pin 53 to move to the forward end of its slot 62 in which it is positioned to enter the recess 98.
  • the feeler arms are latched and are moved outwardly a slight amount to disengage the rollers 58a and 59a from the record, by reason of the camming of the pin projection 63 as it moves in recess 98.
  • the modified feeler mechanism of Figs. 16 and 1'7 may be employed in the apparatus of the previous figures without changing the other parts, since such modification merely involves extension of the feeler arms and a different design of the latch member.
  • Figs. 18 to 24 there is illustrated another embodiment of the phonograph apparatus embodying the features of the present invention.
  • the housing or cabinet is not fully shown.
  • the front portion of the housing is shown at I00, with which there is associated a movable door or closure member IIII which is pivotally supported on brackets I02 secured to a mounting panel I03, the latter being fixedly mounted within the housing structure in any suitable manner.
  • the housing or cabinet is provided with a slot-like recordinsertion opening I04 to which access is had by moving the door II" to the open position shown in Fig. 18.
  • the door When the door is in its closed position, as indicated by the broken line representation in Fig. 18, it conceals the opening I04.
  • the record-supporting turntable I05 is rotatably mounted on the supporting panel I03 by means of a suitable bearing structure I06.
  • the turntable may be driven by means of a driving motor unit I01 in conventional fashion.
  • the record centering spindle I08 is stationary, and it is necessary to insert the record, shown at I09, in an inclined position. Consequently the slot I04 must be of greater depth than that provided in the'previously described apparatus.
  • the parts are so dimensioned that when a record is inserted in an inclined position, as shown in dot and dash outline in Fig. 18, the record clears the top of the spindle I08 and engages the rear portion of the turntable, so that the record may he slid inwardly until it engages a stop hereinafter described and then lowered into place.
  • the tone arm H0 is rigidly mounted at the upper end of a supporting spindle which is slidably and rotatably mounted within a hollow supporting post III.
  • the lower end of the tone arm supporting spindle is visible in Figs. 18, 21 and 23 and is designated II2.
  • Extending laterally from the lower portion of the tone arm supporting spindle are arms H3 and H4 (see Fig. 23), the purpose of which is to effect and control movement of the tone arm as hereinafter described.
  • the tone arm carries a suitable pick-up including the usual needle or stylus II 5.
  • the tone arm is actuated and the rotation of the turntable is controlled by the movements of the door IOI through a link I I6, one end of which is pivotally secured to the door structure at 1, and the other end of which is pivotally secured to a slide member H8 at II9 (see Figs. 21 and 23).
  • the slide member H8 is slideably mounted on a depending stationary bracket I20 by means of pins I2I on the bracket and associated slots I22 in the slide member.
  • This slide member has a flange I23 (see Fig. 18) which extends beneath the supporting bracket I20, and which carries a cam member I24 having an inclined surface I25.
  • the flange and cam member are engaged by the lower end of the tone arm supporting spindle and serve to raise and lower the tone arm as the slide II8 moves forwardly and rearwardly in response to opening and closing of the door IOI.
  • a second slide member I26 Adjacent the slide H8 is a second slide member I26 having slots I21 through which the pins I 2I extend.
  • This second slide member is urged forwardly by a spring I28 having one end secured to 2.
  • the forward movement of the second slide member I26 is limited by a pin I3! thereon which rides in a slot I3I' in the first slide member I I 8.
  • the bracket I20 and the slide members H8 and I26 (see Fig. 25) have aligned openings therein, designated I 32, I33, and I34 respectively, through which the arm IM projects, as may be seen in Figs. 21 and 23.
  • the opening in the slide member I26 is normally ofiset forwardly with respect to the opening in the adjacent slide member I I8, as may be seen in Fig. 23.
  • the purpose of the 76 structure just described is to move the tone arm 13 laterally through the medium of arm H4 as will be seen more clearly later.
  • the slide member IIB also serves to operate a switch which controls the turntable driving motor.
  • the slide member is provided with a projection E35 which is adapted to operate a push-button switch I35 (Figs. 18 and 25) which is mounted on bracket I253.
  • the switch is normally closed, and when the slide H8 moves forwardly, as the door is opened, the projection 135 engages the switch and thus opens it.
  • the projection I55 moves away from the switch and the latter closes.
  • a feeler mechanism which is engageable by the record.
  • This mechanism includes the mechanical linkages and parts shown in Fig. 22 which is a plan view of the parts immediately below the supporting panel 593, the latter being shown in dot and dash outline.
  • Fig. 22 is a plan view of the parts immediately below the supporting panel 593, the latter being shown in dot and dash outline.
  • a pair of L-shaped slides 35 and 31 having pins H18 and use which extend through slots me and Mi, respectively, in the supporting panel M33.
  • the two slides are urged toward one another by a spring I42 having its opposite ends secured to the slides at I43 and M respectively.
  • the two slides are movable in a horizontal plane parallel to the supporting panel 93 and they are normally maintained in inner positions by the spring I42.
  • the outermost pins I38 and H9 carry plates M5 and I46 (Figs. 19 and 21) on which there are fixedly mounted feeler members i4! and I48 which are shaped to receive an inserted record.
  • the feeler members have channels M9 and I58 for receiving a record and for guiding it inwardly, as shown in Fig. 18.
  • the plates M5 and M5 carry latch members 55! and I52 each of which has a pivot, as shown at I53 in the left hand portion of Fig. 19, and an associated biasing spring 55d. members are adapted to cooperate with keeper in the form of lugs E55 and the turned up from the mounting panel I93.
  • the latch members carry upstanding pins i5?
  • a lever I6! is pivotally secured to the supporting panel I03 at I62.
  • the lever IIiI carries a pin !63 which projects upwardly through an arcuate slot Hi l in the panel I03. This pin serves as a rear stop for the inserted record, and it facilitates positioning of the record on the turntable.
  • the lever 45! is moved to position the pin I63 by means of a link l55, one end of which is pivotally secured to the lever IBI at I68.
  • the opposite end of link I65 is pivotally attached to links I61 and I68 by means of a connecting pin 159 which is supported and guided by a slot I in the sup porting panel I 03.
  • Links I6! and I 58 are pivotally connected to slides I35 and I 3! at HI and H2 respectively.
  • the links I61 and I68 have a special purpose, as will be seen presently.
  • An arm I13 has one end pivotally supported by the tone arm supporting post and has a slot The latch I'M at its opposite end through which one of the pins I39 extends.
  • the purpose of arm I13 is to support certain elements which function cooperatively with the arm H3 (see Fig. 23) to govern the movement of the tone arm III).
  • the arm I13 carries a depending finger I and it also carries a resiliently mounted detent member H6. The latter is mounted on a resilient plate I'll which is secured to arm I13 in spaced relation thereto by means of a supporting block E'IB.
  • a screw I it carried by arm I73 (see Fig. 24) extends through an opening in member H6 and serves as a support and stop therefor.
  • the elements I75 and I16 are formed to provide a recess or space I8!) (see Fig. 24) into which the end of arm 5 I3 is adapted to enter.
  • the latch members ifii and E52 are normally free of their respective keepers $55 and the feeler members Id? and hang disposed in their inner positions shown in dot and dash outline in Fig. 19.
  • the pin is normally disposed in the forward portion of its slot by reason of the disposition of the associated controlling mechanism. In such condition of the parts, if a smaller sized record (e. g. a lo inch record) is inserted, the pins l5? and lbs merely serve in cooperation with pin 5553' to facilitate the centering of the record.
  • the arm I I 3 is elevated. lvieanwhile, the slide member I25 engages arm t id and swings the tone arm outward, at the same time moving arm IE3 inward toward the stop member
  • the arm H3 engages the lower inclined edge of member ill; and raises the same slightly against the resilience of plate l'il'.
  • the arm disengages member lit which snaps back to its normal position, so that the arm is then retained in the recess or space we.
  • the tone arm is then positioned above the marginal portion of the record ready to commence the playing of a new record.
  • the forward movement of the slide member IIB also opens the push-button switch for the turntable driving motor so as to deenergize the motor and stop the rotation of the turntable.
  • the user Having opened the door till, the user removes the played record by tilting it suiliciently to disengage it from the centering pin and then pulling it outwardly through the slot opening its, as may be seen clearly from Fig. 18.
  • the user inserts a new record which enters the recesses i 39 and iii! of the ieeler members. Assuming first that the user inserts another smaller sized record, 1. e. a
  • the peripheral edge of the record will engage the pins I51 and I58 which cooperate with the rear pin I63 to guide the record into place on the turntable.
  • the feeler members I4? and I48 may be slightly deflected outward from their inner positions shown in dot and dash outline in Fig. 19, but such deflection is insufficient to cause latching of the latch members i 5! and I52 which are disengaged from their keepers or detents I55 and I56.
  • the reason for the auxiliary slide member I will now be more clearly seen.
  • the range of movement of the slide member H8 is fixed, since it corresponds to the movement of the door I51 I.
  • the range of horizontal movement of the tone arm varies according to the different sized records.
  • the auxiliary slide member I26 compensates for this difference between the ranges of movement of said parts.
  • the links I61 and I68 (Fig. 22) have a special purpose. These links not only form a part of the mechanism which positions pin I63 and arm I13 according to the size of an inserted record, but they also prevent improper operation of the said mechanism in the event that a smaller sized record is pushed against one of the feeler members M1 or I48 with considerable force. Due to the employment of the two links, the mechanism cannot be operated, by pressure on one feeler member, sufficiently to latch in the position for a larger sized record. Thus, the employment of the two links prevents improper operation of the mechanism by a smaller sized record as above mentioned.
  • pins I51 and I58 16 and the feeler members I41 and I48 are disposed forwardly of the widest portion of an inserted record, and therefore these elements prevent rebounding of a record as previously described with reference to Figs. 16 and 17.
  • an enclosure having a restricted opening through which centrally-apertured disk records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin located centrally of said turntable for engagement with the central aperture of a record, a pick-up device arranged within said enclosure for movement into and out of engagement with a record on the turntable, manually-operable means for moving said pick-up device from a record-finishing position to a record-commencing position, adjustable stop means for controlling the record-commencing position of said pick-up device according to the size of an inserted record, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record according to the size thereof, a feeler mechanism operatively interconnected with both of the aforementioned stop means to adjust them according to the size of an inserted record, said feeler mechanism including a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide and to arrest an inserted record for engagement by said pin, means normally locating said feel
  • an enclosure having a restricted opening through which centrally-apertured disk records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin located centrally of said turntable for engagement with the central aperture of a record, a tone arm mounted within said enclosure for record-playing movement in cooperation with said turntable, manually-operable means for moving said tone arm from a record-finishing position to a record-commencing position, an adjustable stop for controlling the record-commencing position of said tone arm according to the size of an inserted record, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record according to the size thereof, a feeler mechanism operatively interconnected with said stop and said stop means to adjust them according to the size of an inserted record, said feeler mechanism including a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide and to arrest an inserted record for engagement by said pin, means normally locating said feeler members and said record stop means radially 17 from
  • an enclosure having a restricted opening through which records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin associated with said turntable, a pick-up device arran ed within said enclosure for movement into and out of engagement with a record on the turntable, a hinged door on said enclosure adapted to conceal said Opening when in closed position, means operable by said door for moving said pick-up device from a record-finishing position to a record-commencing position, adjustable stop means for controlling the record-commencing position of said pick-up device according to the size of an inserted record, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record according to the size thereof, afeeler mechanism operatively interconnected with both of the aforementioned stop means to adjust them according to the size of an inserted record, said feeler mechanism including a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide and to arrest an inserted record for engagement by said pin, said pin
  • a phonograph apparatus an enclosure having a restricted opening through which records may be inserted and removed, a recordsupporting turntable arranged Within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a recordcentering pin associated with said turntable, a tone arm mounted within said enclosure for record-playing movement in cooperation with said turntable, a hinged door on said enclosure adapted to conceal said opening when in closed position, means operable by said door for moving said tone arm from a record-finishing position to a recordcommencing position, an adjustable stop for controlling the record-commencing position of said tone arm according to the size of an inserted record, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record according to the size thereof, a feeler mechanism operatively interconnected with said stop and said stop means to adjust them according to the size of an inserted record, said feeler mechanism including a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide and to arrest an inserted record for engagement by said pin, said pin upon engagement with a smaller sized record serving to disengage such record from said feeler
  • an enclosure having a restricted opening through which records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin associated with said turntable, driving means for said turntable, a pick-up device arranged within said enclosure for movement into and out of engagement with a record on the turntable, a hinged door on said enclosure adapted to conceal said opening when in closed position, means operable by said door for moving said pick-up device from a record-finishing position to a recordcommencing position, means operable by said door for controlling said driving means so as to cause operation thereof only when said door closed.
  • adjustable op mea f controlling h record-co en n p it on of said P kevice according to the size of an inserted record, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion oi a record according to the size thereof, a feeler mechanism operatively interconnected with o of th aic em ed stop means to adjust em a co din t the si e o an serted record, said feeler mechanism including a pair of feeler members cooperative with said reco d s p me n to guide and o a t an nserted record fo eng em n b s id in, s d p n upon en agement with a smal er si d rec rd serving to disengage such record from said feeler memb s a om sa d ec r s op ans, s i feele m m ers being movable b an
  • an enclosure having a restricted opening through which centrally-apertured disk records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin located centrally of said turntable for engagement with the central aperture of a record, a tone arm mounted within said enclosure for record-playing movement in cooperation with said turntable, manually-operable means for moving said tone arm from a record-finishing position to a record-commencing position, an adjustable tone arm stop for controlling the record-commencing position of said tone arm, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record, a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide an inserted record into position on said turntable for engagement by said pin, mechanism providing mechanical interconnection between said feeler members, said tone arm stop and said record stop means, whereby said feeler members serve additionally to control the adjustment of said tone arm stop and said record stop means, means normally locating said feeler members and said record stop means radially from the
  • a phonograph apparatus an enclosure having a restricted opening through which records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a tone arm mounted within said enclosure for record-playing movement in cooperation with said turntable, a hinged door on said enclosure adapted to conceal said opening when in closed position, means operable by said door for moving said tone arm from a record-finishing position to a record-commencing position, an adjustable tone arm stop for controlling the record-commencing position of said tone arm, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record, a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide an inserted record into position on said turntable, and mechanism providing mechanical interconnection between said feeler members, said tone arm stop and said record stop means, whereby said feeler members serve additionally to control the adjustment of said tone arm stop and said record stop means.
  • a phonograph apparatus an enclosure having a restricted opening through which records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin associated with said turntable, a tone arm mounted within said enclosure for record-playing movement in cooperation with said turntable, a hinged door on said enclosure adapted to conceal said opening when in closed position, means operable by said door for moving said tone arm from a record-finishing position to a recordcommencing position, an adjustable tone arm stop for controlling the record-commencing position of said tone arm, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record, a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide an inserted record into position on said turntable for engagement by said pin, mechanism providing mechanical interconnection between said feeler members, said tone arm stop and said record stop means, whereby said feeler members serve additionally to control the adjustment of said tone arm stop and said record stop means, said pin upon engagement with a smaller sized record serving to disengage such record from said

Landscapes

  • Holding Or Fastening Of Disk On Rotational Shaft (AREA)

Description

May 23, 1950 E. l. HARMAN PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet l y 950 E. I. HARMAN I 2,508,715
PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1950 E. HARMAN 2,508,715
' PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 w. Q K
E. l. HARMAN PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS May 23, 1950 '9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 18, 1945 E- HARMAN PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 18, 1945 May 23, 1950 E. 1. HARMAN PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 18, 1945 May 23, 1950 E. 1. HARMAN PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS 9 SheetsSheet 8 Filed April 18, 1945 May 23, 1950 E. HARMAN 2,508,715
PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented May 23, 1950 PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS Emil I. Harman, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania Application April 18, 1945, Serial No. 588,924
8 Claims. 1
This invention relates to phonographs and more specifically to a novel phonograph apparatus which is adapted to play records with a minimum of efiort on the part of the operator.
It has been proposed heretofore to construct a phonograph in which the tone arm and the turntable drivin means are controlled in response to manual movement of a member, so that the user has only to operate the said member and to insert and remove records. For example, in my copending application, No. 524,043, filed February 26, 1944, now Patent No. 2,475,744, issued July 12, 1949, there is disclosed a phonograph apparatus in which a drawer is opened to afford access to the mechanism, and the tone arm and turntable driving means are controlled in response to movement of the drawer. Other prior devices of this same general character have been proposed, in which a lid or the like affords access to the mechanism, and in which the tone arm and turntable driving means are controlled in response to movement of such member.
While such devices require little effort on the part or" the user, they are subject to the objection that the operating parts are accessible and may be tampered with. Children especially are prone to tamper with the parts which are thus subject to possible damage. Moreover, no provision is made in some of these prior devices for the playing of different sized records, and in those instances in which there is such provision, it is necessary for the user to perform an additional manual operation in order to adapt the phonograph for the playing of records of a particular size.
One object of the present invention is to provide a novel phonograph apparatus in which the operating parts are not accessible, and in the use of which it is only necessary to insert and remove records through a door-closed restricted aperture of slot-like form, and to operate the door.
Another object of the invention is to provide a phonograph apparatus in which the operating parts are enclosed at all times within a housing or enclosure having a restricted opening for inserting and removing records, and the said parts are actuated from outside said housing b means of a manual control member which is preferably a door or lid adapted to conceal said opening.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a phonograph apparatus of this character in which the tone arm and the turntable driving means are controlled or actuated in response to the Opening and closing movements of a door or lid associated with the record-insertion opening.
A further object of the invention is to provide a phonograph apparatus of the stated character which is adapted to play different sized records without any further efiort on the part of the user. This is accomplished by the provision of a novel feeler mechanism and stop arrangement which automatically limits the movement of the tone arm according to the size of the record inserted in the aforementioned opening.
A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement, including the feeler mechanism and stop means adjustable thereby, for positioning an inserted record on the turntable.
Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a radio-phonograph combination embodying the invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken vertically through the same;
Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing the phonograph apparatus in plan;
Fig. 4. is a perspective view of a slide member which serves to actuate the parts as previously mentioned;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the cord and pulley arrangement employed;
Fig. 6 shows the phonograph apparatus in side elevation with the door in closed position, and with a small sized record on the turntable;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 'll of Fig. 3, showing the parts in the positions which they assume when the door is opened and a large size record is inserted;
I Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view showing more clearly the receding spindle arrangement which is preferably employed;
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the feeler mechanism;
Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view showing the latch member of the sam mechanism in a different position than that of Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a detail view of the switch mechanism which controls the turntable operation, said view being taken along line H-il of Fig. 3;
Fig. 12 is a view of the same mechanism taken from the left side of Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 is a plan view of the same mechanism} Figs. 14 and 15 are explanatory views showing how the switch is operated;
Fig. 16 is a plan view similar to Fig, 3, showing a modified form of the feeler mechanism;
Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view of the latch member in a difierent position than that of Fig. 16;
Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the phonograph apparatus;
Fig. 19 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, showing certain parts of the feeler mechanism;
Fig. 20 is a detail sectional view taken along line 20-20 of Fig. 19;
Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the apparatus, showing the tone arm actuating mechanism in the course of operation;
Fig. 22 is a plan view of the operating mechanism which adapts the apparatus for the playing of different sized records;
Fig. 23 is a perspective view illustrating further the tone arm controlling mechanism;
Fig. 24 is a detail sectional view taken along line 2424 of Fig. 23; and
Fig. 25 is an exploded view illustrating certain parts of the apparatus.
The apparatus first to be described not onli embodies the novel features of the present invention but also embodies certain features and specific structures which are not claimed herein but are claimed in a copending application of E. 0. Beaver, Serial No. 589,017, filed April 18, 1945, now U. S. Patent No. 2,485,575, and a copending' application of E. 0. Thompson, Serial No. 589,019, filed April 13, 1945.
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the novel phonograph apparatus of the present invention is shown embodied in a radio-phonograph combination comprising a cabinet l, radio receiver 2 and its associated dial 3 and control knobs 4, phonograph apparatus 5, and loudspeaker 6. The phonograph mechanism is supported by a horizontal shelf or panel 1 within the cabinet. The phonograph tone arm and turntable are shown at 8 and 9, respectively. In accordance with the present invention, the phonograph apparatus is inaccessible to the user, and provision is made for the playing of successive-records simply by inserting them into a restricted slot-like opening adjacent the turntable 9, and by operating a door associated with said opening. To this end, there is provided a front wall member H which forms a part of the cabinet structure and which has the record-insertion opening Ill therein. A record I2 is shown on the turntable, and it will be noted that the record protrudes from the opening [I] into a recess l3 provided in member II. The purpose of this arrangement is to enable insertion and removal of the record as will be obvious. Adjacent the recess 13, and hingedly mounted on the outer part of the cabinet, is a manually operable door M which occupies the door opening when in closed position. When closed, the door conceals the record-insertion opening [0, and when opened it affords access to the said opening. As previously mentioned, the movement of the door serves to control the tone arm and the turntable.
It will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 2, and from the description thus far, that the phonograph apparatus is fully protected against accidental misuse or abuse, there being no reason for access to the parts since the user is required only to operate the door M and to insert and remove records.
While the phonograph apparatus is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as a part of a radio-phonograph combination, it need not be associated with a radio receiver, as will be well understood.
Referring now to Figs. 3 to 10, these figures respect to a record on the turntable.
illustrate the mechanism by which the tone arm and turntable are controlled by the door l4, and they also illustrate the mechanism by which the apparatus is adapted to play different sized records Without any further effort on the part of the user. As shown most clearly in Fig. 6, the turntable 9 is arranged in relation to the restricted opening l9 so that the upper surface of the turntable is slightly above the bottom surface of the opening. This permits the record i2 to rotate freely with the turntable. It will be noted also that the door it has a recess Is to accommodate a larger sized record represented in dot and dash outline at i2. A guide member II is securedto wall H and extends therefrom above the turntable as shown. This member may take the form of a strip or plate of metal or other material, and its purpose is to insure proper insertion of the record, as will be seen later. The record is centered on the turntable by means of a central spindle l6 (Fig. '7) which is automatically retracted in response to opening movement of the door M, as will be described further hereinafter. As shown in Fig. 8, the turntable is supported by means of a bearing structure 17 carried by the supporting shelf or panel I. The details of the bearing structure are unimportant except hat it may be noted thatthe record-centering spindle I6 is slidably mounted within the same structure. The turntable is driven in conventional manner (see Fig. 3) by means of a driving friction wheel 18 which is mounted on a pivoted bracket [9 and is maintained in engagement with the turntable flange by a springZll, one end of which is attached to the bracket l9 while the other end is secured to a stationary pin 2| on the supporting panel I. Th wheel i8 is driven by a smaller wheel or roller 22 which in turn is suitably driven by the driving motor unit 23.
I'he tone arm 8 is mounted at the upper end. of a spindle 24 (see Fig. 6) which is rotatably supported by a hollow post 25 mounted on the supporting panel I, so that the tone arm adapted to move laterally or horizontally with The tone arm is pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivot 9 so as to be vertically movable with respect to the record. At it free end the tone arm carries a suitable pick-up which may be of conventional form and which includes the usual needle or stylus 2%. t the lower end of the tone armcarrying spindle 24, there is provided an extending arm 2'5, the purpose of which is to actuate a switch mechanism 28 at the end of the playing of a record so as to automatically stop the rotation of the turntable, as will be further described hereinafter.
As previously mentioned, the operating ports are controlled by the movements of the door i i. To this end, there is provided at the under side of the supporting panel i a slide member 29 (see Fig. 4), which is slidably supported by the supporting panel. Member 29 has slots 36. and Si therein, by means of which it is slidably supported for rectilinear movement forwardly and rearwardly. As shown in Fig. '7, the supporting arrangement for the slide member 29 may in clude a pair of fastening elements, such as screws 32 and 35, which are carried by the supporting panel i and which extend through the slots 38 and 31 respectively. Thus it will be seen that the slide member 29 is supported for guided movement in the manner stated. At its forward.
end the slide member 29 hasa depending lug 34 to which one end oi aconnccting link 35 is piv otally connected. The other end of link 35 is pivotally connected to the door I4 at a point -36 (see Fig. 6) offset from the hinge or pivot 3'! of the door. When the door is opened, the link 35 is pulled forwardly so as to move the slide member 29 from the position of Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 7 and when the door i closed, the said parts are moved in the reverse direction so that the slide member *9 moves to the position of Fig. 6. An important feature of the apparatus provided by the present invention is the control of the various moving parts by a single movable memher, in this instance the slide member 29, which is actuated by the door.
Referring to the actuation of the tone arm 8 by the movement of the slide member 29, while various means might be employed for this purpose, it is preferred to employ the mechanism now to be described which is claimed in the above-mentioned Deaver patent. clearly shown in Fig. 6, there is provided at the rear of the tone arm 8 an extending lug 38 carrying a screw as to which one end of a flexible cord is attached. The cord passes around a pair of pulleys ti and 42, and its other end is attached to one "end of a helical spring 43 Whose other end is secured to a screw 44 carried by a depending lug 35 on the slide member 29-. The pulleys ii and *42 (see Fig. are rotatably mounted on a bracket 56 secured to the under side 'of the supporting panel 1. The bracket 53 has cord guiding and retaining portions 4i and 42' as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The pulleys are so arranged that when a pull is exerted on the cord as by the forward movement of the slide member 29, the tone arm 'is subjected to both vertical and horizontal force components which lift the tone arm off of the record and swing it laterally toa position in which it may be lowered onto the next record. Furthermore, the horizontal pivot '8 of the tone arm is 'so arranged in relation to the vertical :pivotal support that the vertical force component is effective to lift the needle or stylus off the record before the tone arm is moved laterally, thus preventing scr-atching of the record. When the slide member 255 is in its rearward position, i. e. when the door it is closed, there is no tension on the spring 53 and the tone arm is in its operative posh tion. When the slide member is in its forward position, i. e. when the door M is open, the spring 3-3 is placed under tension and the tone arm i raised. The 'tehsion'of the spring urges the tone arm-laterally against a-sto'p, as will be described further hereinafter.
As previously mentioned, the phonographapparatus provided in accordance with the invention is adapted to condition-itself automatically for the playing of different sized records. Since records are commonly-made in two sizes, inch and 12 inch respectively, "the apparatus is preferably designed to playsu'ch records. This feature of the invention involves the provisionp'f a feeler mechanism now to-be-described. "Specific features of this mechanism are claimed in the abovementioned Thompson application. As 'sheivn'in FigB, this -me'c'liahism"may comprise a pair of ii-shaped members 4 i and 48 pivotally supported at the upper side of supporting panel i at points is and efi respectively. These'feeler members are'arranged assho'wn and their inwardly extending arms "5| and--52 are pivotally connected together by a' movable pin 53, as shown most clearly in Figsii and 7. To permit free movement or the feeler'members about-pivots 6 and 5|), the arms 5| and 52 may have slightly elongated openings for the pin 53, as shown in Fig. 9. The forwardly extending arms, 54 and 55 of the said feeler members are interconnected by means of a spring 56 which urges the said arms toward one another. H
A stop 5? is arranged so as to be engagea-ble by arm '54 and serves to limit the inward movement of the two arms. At their outer ends, each of the forward- 1y extending arms 54 and 55 carries a roller 58 and 59 for engagement with an inserted record as hereinafter described.
The arm '55 also carries a post 60 which serves as a positioning or indexing means for the tone arm, so as to govern the record-commensing position of the tone arm according to the size of the record which it is desired to play in any instance. A covering 6'! on the upper part of post ts may be used to cushion the tone arm when it engages the post.
As shown in Figs. 3 and '7 the connecting pin 53 for the feel'er members '41 and H8 is movably mounted ina slot 62 provided in the supporting panel 1. At its lower end the pivot pin has .a projection 63 which is e'ngageable'by ala'tch member 6'4 (see Figs. 9 and 10) which is pivotally carried at the underside of the supporting panel at 65. This latch member is shaped .as illustrated and has a recess 65 into which the projection 63 may enter, as shown in Fig. 10. The latch memher 6 3 also has a slot "61 through which a pin 68 on the slide member 29 extends. By means of this interconnection between the latch member 6 3 and the slide member 29, the former .isrotated about the pivot '65 during movement :of theslide member. The purpose of the structure justdescribed will be apparent presently. v In Figs. 3 and 6 the record 42, shown in solid lines, is a small sized record, -e.-g. a 10inch record. Normally thefeeler-armsid and -55 are positioned in their innermost positions, as shown in :Fig. 3, and the pin 53 .is removed from the latch :member 64. In this condition of the apparatus, the rollers 58 and 59 are spaced apart sufiicientlyso that a 10 inch record may be inserted between them without actuating the fe'eler mechanism, as may-be seen in Fig. 3. When the record is .in place on the turntable, the rollers are .freeofath'e edge of the record. The stop 51. which establishes the innermost position "of the rollers, tis eccentric in form and may beadjusted to ;provide thedesiredclearance between the rollersandthe record.
When a larger sized record, e.. g. a 112 inch record, is inserted, it engages the rollers 158 and 5S and moves the feeler arms:outwardlyaas shown in dot and dash outline in Fig. =3, wherein :thed'arger sized-record is shown in dot-sand rdash outline=at l2. At-this time, the door l liiisinecessarilyxopen and-the slide member-:29 has moved forwardly so that the latch member ?.is in therposit'ionnr Fig. 9. As the feeler arms move ioutwardiy, the pin '53 moves forwardly .in the slot 62, bringing the projection 63 of said 'pin 'int'o the position shown in Fig. 9. .At-this time, the feeler'ar'm's are being held in their outer position by thelarger record 12', as shown by theitsolid lirre illustration in Fig. 9. When the door is closed, the slide member :29 moves the latch "member $4 to the position of Fig. -10. The latch member thus latches the feeler arm's in theirouter position and it is also shaped so as to "cam the'jpin projection 63 slightly forward'an'd thereby "move 'thefe'el'er arms-a little-rurtherputwardly so thattheroliers 88 and 59 are free of the record I2, as shown by the broken line representation of the arm 54 in Fig. 9. When the door is opened, following the playing of the record, the latch member 64 is returned to the position of Fig. 9, and when the record I2 is removed, the feeler arms return to their inner positions. Thus, each time a larger sized record is inserted, the feeler arms are moved outwardly sufficiently to clear the record as soon as the door is closed, and when the door is opened the record is removed, the feeler arms return to their normal inner position.
One purpose of the feeler arm movement is to position the tone arm indexing post 60 so that the tone arm will be properly indexed for the different sized records. Normally the post 68 is positioned as shown in Fig. 3 so as to index the tone arm for the smaller sized records, but when a larger sized record is inserted, the indexing post is moved outwardly to a position in which it indexes the tone arm for the larger sized record.
As previously mentioned, provision is made in the apparatus under discussion for causing the record-centering spindle IE to recede in response to opening movement of the door I4. This feature is claimed in the above-mentioned Thompson application. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the centering spindle is lowered from its operative position to an inoperative position, in which its upper end is flush with or slightly below the surface of the turntable 9. This withdrawal of the centering spindle facilitates insertion and removal of the records, and it permits the employment of a narrower record-insertion slot than would otherwise be permissible, since it permits the insertion and removal of records in a horizontal plane immediately above the turntable and does not require any tilting or inclination of the record. This will be seen more clearly from the subsequent description of another embodiment in which a stationary spindle is employed.
Referring to Figs. '7 and 8, the centering spindle It has its upper end tapered and it is carried by a rod 69 which is slidably mounted within the turntable bearing structure [1. At its lower end, the rod 69 carries a block 70 from one side of which projects a pin H The latter is disposed in a cam slot '12 (see Fig. 4) of 9, depending plate 13 formed integrally with the slide member 29. The cam slot 12 is so shaped that it lowers and raises the centering spindle (B in response to opening and closing movements of the door Hi. When the door is closed, the pin 1| is in the higher portion of the cam slot 12, as shown in Fig. 6, and the centering pin is in its operative position. When the door is opened, the forward movement of the cam slot 12 lowers the spindle It to its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 7, at which time the pin H is in the lower part of the cam slot 72. When the door is again closed, the inclined portion of the cam slot 12 moves the spindle-carrying rod 69 upwardly to return the spindle Hi to its operative position.
When a, record is inserted, at which time the door 14 is open and the centering spindle 16 is in inoperative position, the record is approximately centered on the turntable by the rollers 58 and 59 on feeler arms 54 and 55 and also by a rear stop structure now to be described. Referring to Figs. 3, 6 and 7, this rear stop structure comprises a stationary stop 14 mounted on the supporting panel I and a movable stop '15 pivotally mounted on the stationary stop at 15. Movable stop is generally of U shape and has downwardly extending arms 11. The ends of these arms are interconnected with the pin 53 which intercom nects the arms 5i and 52 of the feeler mechanism, as previously described. To this end, the pin 53 has an upper projection 18, and a connecting element 19 serves to interconnect the arms ll with the said upper projection of the pin 53. As illustrated, the element 19 may take the form of a piece of stiff wire or a bendable rod whose intermediate portion encircles the projection 18 and whose ends are secured to the arms 11. By means of this structure, the movable stop 15 is actuated in response to movement of the pivot pin 53.
When the feeler mechanism is in the normal position for the playing of smaller sized records, as previously described, the pin 53 is at the rear of slot 62 and the movable stop 15 is in operative position, as shown in Fig. 6, and serves to limit the movement of a record during insertion thereof. However, when the feeler mechanism is actuated by the insertion of a larger sized record, as previously described, the pin 53 moves forwardly in slot 62 and raises the stop 15 to an inoperative position, as shown in Fig. '7. The stationary stop 74 is then effective to limit the movement of the larger sized record as the latter is inserted. It should be noted that the movable stop 75 is raised before the edge of the record reaches the location of the stop structure.
By means of this arrangement, either sized record is approximately centered on the turntable, and when the center spindle 16 moves upward to its operative position, its tapered end enters the center hole of the record and the spindle centers the record exactly on the turntable.
Referring now to the switch mechanism 28 hereinbefore mentioned, the purpose thereof is to automatically stop the turntable at the end of the playing of a record, and to control the rotation of the turntable in response to movement of the door M. The switch mechanism per se is claimed in the above-mentioned Thompson application. The switch mechanism is shown in detail in Figs. 11 to 15 to Which reference may now be had. This mechanism comprises an inverted U-shaped supporting bracket '86 secured to the underside of the supporting panel 1, the under surface of which is represented by the dot-anddash horizontal line in Figs. 11 and 12. The bracket 88 carries a rotatable shaft 8| which is suitably journaled in bearings 82 and 83 which may form integral parts of the supporting bracket. A mercury switch M is carried by a supporting member 85 which is mounted on one end of the shaft 8| so as to be rotatable therewith. A pair of stops 8B and 8?, formed integrally with the supporting bracket 80, serve to limit the movement of the switch-supporting member 85 as shown in Fig. 12. Member '85 extends upwardly from the axis of rotation and carries a pin 88 at its upper end, upon which an actuating element 89 is pivotally mounted. The pivot point is above the center of mass of element 89, so that the latter normally assumes a vertical position. The upper end of element '89 is provided with a friction hood 90 preferably formed of rubber or like material. The element 89 functions cooperatively with the previously mentioned arm 21 to actuate the switch mechanism at the end of the playing of a record, as will be described presently.
A resilient member 8 l, which may take the form of a piece of spring wire or the like, is secured to the bracket 88 at 92 and is wound about a supporting projection or finger 93 on the bracket 80, and has its lower end portion in frictional engagement with the shaft 8! so as to impose a frictional drag on the shaft and thus tends to oppose rotation of the shaft. The purpose of this will appear presently. At the end of shaft 8| opposite the switch 84!, there is provided a resilient finger 9A which is engageable by a cam member 95 (see Fig. 4) formed integrally with the slide member '29, the purpose of which will also appear presently.
Referring again to Fig. 3, the arm 21, which extends from the lower end of the tone arm-supporting spindle 24, has an enlarged end forming a plate 96 which is adapted to engage the friction hood 99, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. The arm 21 is so positioned in relation to the tone arm *8 that the plate 96 engages the friction hood 90 when the needle or stylus engages the eccentric groove at the end of a record, the said groove being shown in Fig. 3 at 91. The eccentricity of the groove 91 may vary from one record to another, and the switch mechanism is designed to insure operation of the switch regardless of such variation.
The operation of the switch mechanism may best be explained with specific reference to Figs. 12 to 15. The mercury switch 84 is connected in circuit with the turntable driving motor so as to control the operation thereof, and during playing of a record, the switch is in the position of Figs. 12 and 14 in which it is closed, so that the turntable driving motor is energized.
Prior to the engagement of plate 96 with the friction hood 99, the element 89 is vertically positioned, as shown in Fig. 12, due to the fact that its supporting pin 88 is above its center of mass. As the needle or stylus approaches the eccentric groove at the end of the record, the plates 96, moving from left to right, as viewed in Figs 12, 14 and 15, engages the friction hood 9!! and defiects the element 89 to a position such as shown in Fig. 14. When the stylus enters the eccentric groove at the end of the record, the plate 96 moves back and forth, as indicated by the double head arrow in Figs. 14 and 15. The range of this oscillatory motion of the plate 96 is indicated by the dotted line representation in Fig. 13 and the associated double head arrow. Movement of the plate 96 toward the left in Figs. 1a and 15 causes application of a force to the pin 89 through the upper portion of element 89, which force moves the switch support 85 counterclockwise from the position of Fig. 14, as shown in Fig. 15. If the eccentricity of the record groove is relatively great, the first left-hand movement of plate 96 may move switch 84 sufficiently to open it. If the groove eccentricity is not so great, the element 99 is stepped progressively toward the left as shown in Fig. 15, thereby moving the switch progressively until it opens. Thus the switch is opened even though the eccentricity f the record groove may vary from one record to the next. The friction drag element 91 serves to maintain the switch in any position to which it is moved.
During the playing of a record, the cam member 95 is in the left hand position shown in Figs. 11 and 13. When the door M is opened, after the playing of a record, the cam member 95 moves to the right hand position shown in dotted outline in Figs. 11 and 13, and during such movement the upper surface of the inclined cam member engages the end portion of resilient finger 94. This would effect actuation of the switch mechanism to open the switch 8 if the switch had not already been opened by the action of the plate 96, as above described. Consequently, the resilient finger 9 being in a raised position, is engaged 10 by the upper part of cam member and is deflected sufficiently to enable its end portion to ride over the upper part of the cam member as the latter moves to the right hand position shown.
When the door it is closed to initiate the play ing of another record, the cam member 95 moves to the left hand position shown in Figs. 11 and 13. During this movement, the lower face of the inclined cam member engages the finger 94 and moves it downwardly, thus causing rotation of shaft Si in a direction to close the switch 84 and this energize the turntable driving motor. Dur ing this operation, the resilient finger 99 rides over the lower portion of the inclined cam member 95 to the position shown in Fig. 11.
Thus the cam member 95 functions, in response to movement of the door I 6, to insure that the switch 84 is opened and to close the switch so as to start rotation of the turntable when the door is closed.
Considering the operation of the phonograph apparatus as a whole, let us assume that a record is being played, the door It being closed. At the end of the playing of the record, the switch mechanism 28 opens the switch 81!. to stop the turntable in the manner just described. When the door it is opened to remove the record which has just been played and to insert a new record, the slide member 29 moves forwardly, and in doing so it performs several functions. It lifts the tone arm 9 off of the record and moves it to a starting position above the marginal portion of the record through the action of the cord and pulley arrangement, as hereinbefore described. It also moves the latch member 64 (Figs. 9 and 10) to an ineffective position. It also lowers the record centering spindle It to its inoperative position. It also insures that the motor switch 84 is opened.
The user may now remove the record which has just been played and insert a new record. Assuming that a smaller sized record is inserted, the feeler mechanism is not actuated but the other parts are actuated in response to closing movement of the door 14. During the insertion of the smaller sized record, the rollers 58 and 59 and the stop E5 serve to center the record approximately, as previously described. When the door it is closed, the rearward movement of slide member 29 raises the centering spindle l6, closes switch 84 to start rotation of the turntable, and lowers the tone arm to bring the stylus into engagement with the mar inal portion of the record. The parts are so designed that these functions are performed in the order named. The spindle is exactly centers the record so that it is free of contact with the feeler rollers and the rear stop. The o erating cycle is now repeated.
Suppose however, that a larger sized record is inserted. In such case the feeler mechanism is actuated, causing pin 53 to move forwardly in its slot 62 and thus moving the stop 15 to an inop erative position, as shown in Fig. 7. The approximate centering of the record is then effected by the stationary stop M in cooperation with the rollers 59 and 59. When the door [4 is closed, the pin 53 is latched in its forward position by the latch member 55 and is also cammed by the latch member sufiiciently to disengage the rollers 58 and 59 from the edge of the record, as previ-- ously described. with reference to Figs. 9 and 10. Aside from the operation of the feeler mechanism, the parts are actuated in the same manner reardless of the size of the inserted record.
While it has been assumed that the user deisires to change records, as will usually be the case, in some instances the user may desire to repeat the playing of a record. In such case he simply opens the door I 4 and then closes it without changing records. The opening and closing movements of the door effect automatic operation of the parts to repeat the playing of the record, as will be obvious from the foregoing description.
It should be noted also that the playing of a record may be interrupted at any time merely by opening the door I4, in which case the cam member 95 will open switch 84 as hereinbefore described.
In Figs 16 and 17 there is shown a modification of the feeler mechanism, by means of which a possible objection of the previously-described mechanism is eliminated. In the apparatus hereinbefore described, the feeler arm rollers 58 and 59 (see Fig. 3) are disposed at the widest part of the record, and if the record should strike the rear stop with considerable force, the record might rebound outwardly and the center hole thereof might not be substantially aligned with the centering spindle. The modification of Figs. 16 and 17 prevents this from happening. As may be seen in Fig. 16 the feeler arms 54a and 55a (the latter carrying the tone arm positioning post 6011) are extended forwardly so that the rollers 58a and 59a. are disposed forwardly beyond the widest portion of an inserted record. This arrangement prevents the record from rebounding as above-mentioned. In this instance, the feeler mechanism is actuated by both the smaller and larger sized records, and the latch member 6011 is provided with two recesses 98 and 99 so as to latch the feeler arms in different positions for the different sized records. The different sized records are shown for comparison at I2 and I2. If a smaller sized record is inserted, the feeler arms are inwardly disposed and the pin 53 is in the rearward end of its slot 62. Accordingly, the pin projection 83 enters recess 99 when the latch member 64a is moved to its operative position, and the feeler arms are latched and are also moved outwardly a slight amount to disengage the rollers from the record, by virtue of slight camming of the pin projection 63 as it moves into recess 99.
When a larger sized record is inserted, the
feeler arms 54a and 55a are moved outwardly, causing the pin 53 to move to the forward end of its slot 62 in which it is positioned to enter the recess 98. When the latch member 64a is moved to its operative position, the feeler arms are latched and are moved outwardly a slight amount to disengage the rollers 58a and 59a from the record, by reason of the camming of the pin projection 63 as it moves in recess 98. The modified feeler mechanism of Figs. 16 and 1'7 may be employed in the apparatus of the previous figures without changing the other parts, since such modification merely involves extension of the feeler arms and a different design of the latch member.
In Figs. 18 to 24 there is illustrated another embodiment of the phonograph apparatus embodying the features of the present invention. For the sake of simplicity, the housing or cabinet is not fully shown. Referring to Fig. 18, the front portion of the housing is shown at I00, with which there is associated a movable door or closure member IIII which is pivotally supported on brackets I02 secured to a mounting panel I03, the latter being fixedly mounted within the housing structure in any suitable manner. The housing or cabinet is provided with a slot-like recordinsertion opening I04 to which access is had by moving the door II" to the open position shown in Fig. 18. When the door is in its closed position, as indicated by the broken line representation in Fig. 18, it conceals the opening I04.
The record-supporting turntable I05 is rotatably mounted on the supporting panel I03 by means of a suitable bearing structure I06. The turntable may be driven by means of a driving motor unit I01 in conventional fashion. In this instance the record centering spindle I08 is stationary, and it is necessary to insert the record, shown at I09, in an inclined position. Consequently the slot I04 must be of greater depth than that provided in the'previously described apparatus. The parts are so dimensioned that when a record is inserted in an inclined position, as shown in dot and dash outline in Fig. 18, the record clears the top of the spindle I08 and engages the rear portion of the turntable, so that the record may he slid inwardly until it engages a stop hereinafter described and then lowered into place.
The tone arm H0 is rigidly mounted at the upper end of a supporting spindle which is slidably and rotatably mounted within a hollow supporting post III. The lower end of the tone arm supporting spindle is visible in Figs. 18, 21 and 23 and is designated II2. Extending laterally from the lower portion of the tone arm supporting spindle are arms H3 and H4 (see Fig. 23), the purpose of which is to effect and control movement of the tone arm as hereinafter described. At its free end the tone arm carries a suitable pick-up including the usual needle or stylus II 5.
The tone arm is actuated and the rotation of the turntable is controlled by the movements of the door IOI through a link I I6, one end of which is pivotally secured to the door structure at 1, and the other end of which is pivotally secured to a slide member H8 at II9 (see Figs. 21 and 23). The slide member H8 is slideably mounted on a depending stationary bracket I20 by means of pins I2I on the bracket and associated slots I22 in the slide member. This slide member has a flange I23 (see Fig. 18) which extends beneath the supporting bracket I20, and which carries a cam member I24 having an inclined surface I25. The flange and cam member are engaged by the lower end of the tone arm supporting spindle and serve to raise and lower the tone arm as the slide II8 moves forwardly and rearwardly in response to opening and closing of the door IOI.
Adjacent the slide H8 is a second slide member I26 having slots I21 through which the pins I 2I extend. This second slide member is urged forwardly by a spring I28 having one end secured to 2. lug I29 on the said slide member and having its other end secured to a lug I30 on the slide member H8. The forward movement of the second slide member I26 is limited by a pin I3! thereon which rides in a slot I3I' in the first slide member I I 8.
The bracket I20 and the slide members H8 and I26 (see Fig. 25) have aligned openings therein, designated I 32, I33, and I34 respectively, through which the arm IM projects, as may be seen in Figs. 21 and 23. The opening in the slide member I26 is normally ofiset forwardly with respect to the opening in the adjacent slide member I I8, as may be seen in Fig. 23. The purpose of the 76 structure just described is to move the tone arm 13 laterally through the medium of arm H4 as will be seen more clearly later.
The slide member IIB also serves to operate a switch which controls the turntable driving motor. To this end, the slide member is provided with a projection E35 which is adapted to operate a push-button switch I35 (Figs. 18 and 25) which is mounted on bracket I253. The switch is normally closed, and when the slide H8 moves forwardly, as the door is opened, the projection 135 engages the switch and thus opens it. When the door is closed and the slide member moves rearwardly, the projection I55 moves away from the switch and the latter closes.
As in the previously described embodiment, provision is made for adjustment of the parts according to the size of the inserted record, by means of a feeler mechanism which is engageable by the record. This mechanism includes the mechanical linkages and parts shown in Fig. 22 which is a plan view of the parts immediately below the supporting panel 593, the latter being shown in dot and dash outline. At the front of the supporting panel there are provided a pair of L-shaped slides 35 and 31 having pins H18 and use which extend through slots me and Mi, respectively, in the supporting panel M33. The two slides are urged toward one another by a spring I42 having its opposite ends secured to the slides at I43 and M respectively. Thus the two slides are movable in a horizontal plane parallel to the supporting panel 93 and they are normally maintained in inner positions by the spring I42.
Above the supporting panel M3 the outermost pins I38 and H9 carry plates M5 and I46 (Figs. 19 and 21) on which there are fixedly mounted feeler members i4! and I48 which are shaped to receive an inserted record. The feeler members have channels M9 and I58 for receiving a record and for guiding it inwardly, as shown in Fig. 18. The plates M5 and M5 carry latch members 55! and I52 each of which has a pivot, as shown at I53 in the left hand portion of Fig. 19, and an associated biasing spring 55d. members are adapted to cooperate with keeper in the form of lugs E55 and the turned up from the mounting panel I93. The latch members carry upstanding pins i5? and IE8 which extend through arcuate slots I52 and I60 in the feeler members I4 and M8. As may be seen in Fig. 21, the pins 551 and I58 are disposed in the reconil-receiving channels M9 and 559 so as to be engageable by the edge of an inserted record. The aurpose of this arrangement will be understood presently.
Referring again to Fig. .22 a lever I6! is pivotally secured to the supporting panel I03 at I62. At one end, the lever IIiI carries a pin !63 which projects upwardly through an arcuate slot Hi l in the panel I03. This pin serves as a rear stop for the inserted record, and it facilitates positioning of the record on the turntable. The lever 45! is moved to position the pin I63 by means of a link l55, one end of which is pivotally secured to the lever IBI at I68. The opposite end of link I65 is pivotally attached to links I61 and I68 by means of a connecting pin 159 which is supported and guided by a slot I in the sup porting panel I 03. Links I6! and I 58 are pivotally connected to slides I35 and I 3! at HI and H2 respectively. The links I61 and I68 have a special purpose, as will be seen presently.
An arm I13 has one end pivotally supported by the tone arm supporting post and has a slot The latch I'M at its opposite end through which one of the pins I39 extends. The purpose of arm I13 is to support certain elements which function cooperatively with the arm H3 (see Fig. 23) to govern the movement of the tone arm III). Referring to Fig. 23, the arm I13 carries a depending finger I and it also carries a resiliently mounted detent member H6. The latter is mounted on a resilient plate I'll which is secured to arm I13 in spaced relation thereto by means of a supporting block E'IB. A screw I it carried by arm I73 (see Fig. 24) extends through an opening in member H6 and serves as a support and stop therefor. The elements I75 and I16 are formed to provide a recess or space I8!) (see Fig. 24) into which the end of arm 5 I3 is adapted to enter.
Considering the operation of the apparatus, the latch members ifii and E52 are normally free of their respective keepers $55 and the feeler members Id? and hang disposed in their inner positions shown in dot and dash outline in Fig. 19. The pin is normally disposed in the forward portion of its slot by reason of the disposition of the associated controlling mechanism. In such condition of the parts, if a smaller sized record (e. g. a lo inch record) is inserted, the pins l5? and lbs merely serve in cooperation with pin 5553' to facilitate the centering of the record.
For convenience of description it may be assumed that a smaller sized record is being played, the door iii! being closed and the slide members H3 and 126 being rearwardly disposed. As the stylus moves inwardly over the record, the arm I it moves outwardly (see Fig. 23) adjacent to the extending portion of H5. At the end of the playing of the record the user opens the door I iii which pulls the slide member M8 forward by exerting a pulling force on link H6. The slide member I253 also moves forwardly by virtue of its spring connection to slide member H8. As the slide member lit moves forwardly the lower end N2 of the tone arm supporting spindle rides up the inclined cam surface I25, thus raising the tone arm so as to disengage the stylus H5 from the record. At the same time, the arm I I 3 is elevated. lvieanwhile, the slide member I25 engages arm t id and swings the tone arm outward, at the same time moving arm IE3 inward toward the stop member As the arm H3 approaches member tie it engages the lower inclined edge of member ill; and raises the same slightly against the resilience of plate l'il'. When arm H3 engages the stop member lie, the arm disengages member lit which snaps back to its normal position, so that the arm is then retained in the recess or space we. The tone arm is then positioned above the marginal portion of the record ready to commence the playing of a new record.
In the meantime, the forward movement of the slide member IIB also opens the push-button switch for the turntable driving motor so as to deenergize the motor and stop the rotation of the turntable.
Having opened the door till, the user removes the played record by tilting it suiliciently to disengage it from the centering pin and then pulling it outwardly through the slot opening its, as may be seen clearly from Fig. 18. The user inserts a new record which enters the recesses i 39 and iii!) of the ieeler members. Assuming first that the user inserts another smaller sized record, 1. e. a
10 inch record, the peripheral edge of the record will engage the pins I51 and I58 which cooperate with the rear pin I63 to guide the record into place on the turntable. During the insertion of the record, the feeler members I4? and I48 may be slightly deflected outward from their inner positions shown in dot and dash outline in Fig. 19, but such deflection is insufficient to cause latching of the latch members i 5! and I52 which are disengaged from their keepers or detents I55 and I56. When the record is in place on the turntable, it is free of the pins and feeler members so that it is free to rotate.
When the user closes the door iii], the slide members H8 and I26 are moved rearwardly, thereby closing the switch for the turntable driving motor and lowering the tone arm to bring the stylus I I5 into engagement with the marginal portion of the record. As the tone arm supporting spindle is lowered the arm I23 moves downward, as shown in Fig. 24 so that it is free of the detent member I15. The playing of the new record then commences, and the operating cycle is repeated.
Suppose now that the playing of a record has just finished, and that the user removes the record and inserts a larger sized record. As the larger sized record engages pins I51 and I58, it moves the feeler members I41 and III-8 outward sufiiciently to cause latch members I 5! and I52 to engage their keepers I55 and I58, as shown in Fig. 19. The outward movement of members I33 and I31 (see Fig. 22) actuates lever IEI clockwise about its pivot I62, through the action of links 165, I61 and I68, thereby moving the pin I63 to a new position corresponding to the larger sized record. At the same time the arm !13 is moved counterclockwise about its pivot. Since the arm H3 (Fig. 23) is then retained by members I15 and I16 this arm is also moved counterclockwise, causing the tone arm to move outward to a new position for the commencement of the larger sized record. When the record is in place on the turntable, it is free of the pins and feeler members.
When the record is removed after the playing thereof, it engages pins I51 and 58 and deflects the latch members I 5! and I52 and disengages them from the keepers or detents I55 and E56, whereupon the feeler members Hi1 and I48 move to their inner positions. The apparatus is then ready to receive a new record of either size.
The reason for the auxiliary slide member I will now be more clearly seen. The range of movement of the slide member H8 is fixed, since it corresponds to the movement of the door I51 I. On. the other hand, the range of horizontal movement of the tone arm varies according to the different sized records. The auxiliary slide member I26 compensates for this difference between the ranges of movement of said parts.
As stated previously, the links I61 and I68 (Fig. 22) have a special purpose. These links not only form a part of the mechanism which positions pin I63 and arm I13 according to the size of an inserted record, but they also prevent improper operation of the said mechanism in the event that a smaller sized record is pushed against one of the feeler members M1 or I48 with considerable force. Due to the employment of the two links, the mechanism cannot be operated, by pressure on one feeler member, sufficiently to latch in the position for a larger sized record. Thus, the employment of the two links prevents improper operation of the mechanism by a smaller sized record as above mentioned.
It is to be noted further that pins I51 and I58 16 and the feeler members I41 and I48 are disposed forwardly of the widest portion of an inserted record, and therefore these elements prevent rebounding of a record as previously described with reference to Figs. 16 and 17.
The invention has now been fully described with reference to the illustrated embodiments. It will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to the specific forms shown but is capable of various modifications within the scope of the appended claims.
I claim:
1. In a phonograph apparatus, an enclosure having a restricted opening through which centrally-apertured disk records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin located centrally of said turntable for engagement with the central aperture of a record, a pick-up device arranged within said enclosure for movement into and out of engagement with a record on the turntable, manually-operable means for moving said pick-up device from a record-finishing position to a record-commencing position, adjustable stop means for controlling the record-commencing position of said pick-up device according to the size of an inserted record, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record according to the size thereof, a feeler mechanism operatively interconnected with both of the aforementioned stop means to adjust them according to the size of an inserted record, said feeler mechanism including a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide and to arrest an inserted record for engagement by said pin, means normally locating said feeler members and said record stop means radially from the center of said turntable at a distance slightly greater than the radius of a smaller sized record, said pin upon engagement with a smaller sized record serving to center such record and disengage it from said feeler members and from said record stop means, said feeler membess beingmovable by an inserted larger sized record to adjust the two stop means, and means for latching said feeler mechanism, with said feeler members and said record stop means in positions to be free of the larger sized record, when such record is centered on the turntable by said pin.
2. In a phonograph apparatus, an enclosure having a restricted opening through which centrally-apertured disk records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin located centrally of said turntable for engagement with the central aperture of a record, a tone arm mounted within said enclosure for record-playing movement in cooperation with said turntable, manually-operable means for moving said tone arm from a record-finishing position to a record-commencing position, an adjustable stop for controlling the record-commencing position of said tone arm according to the size of an inserted record, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record according to the size thereof, a feeler mechanism operatively interconnected with said stop and said stop means to adjust them according to the size of an inserted record, said feeler mechanism including a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide and to arrest an inserted record for engagement by said pin, means normally locating said feeler members and said record stop means radially 17 from the center of said turntable at a distance slightly greater than the radius o a sm zed r d, d pi upon engagement with a smalle sized record serving to center such record and disengage it from said feeler members an f o said record stop means, sai feeler members bein ovable by an inserted larger siz d rec rd to adjust said stop and said stop means, and means for latching said e l r mechan sm, with said feeler members and said record stop means in positions to be free of the larger sized record, when such record is centered on the turntable by said pin.
3. In a phonograph apparatus, an enclosure having a restricted opening through which records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin associated with said turntable, a pick-up device arran ed within said enclosure for movement into and out of engagement with a record on the turntable, a hinged door on said enclosure adapted to conceal said Opening when in closed position, means operable by said door for moving said pick-up device from a record-finishing position to a record-commencing position, adjustable stop means for controlling the record-commencing position of said pick-up device according to the size of an inserted record, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record according to the size thereof, afeeler mechanism operatively interconnected with both of the aforementioned stop means to adjust them according to the size of an inserted record, said feeler mechanism including a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide and to arrest an inserted record for engagement by said pin, said pin upon engagement with a smaller sized record serving to disengage, such record from said feeler members and from said record stop means, said feeler members being movable by an inserted larger sized record to adjust the two stop means, and means for latching said feeler mechanism, with said feeler members and said record stop means in positions to be free of the larger sized record, when such record is centered on the turntable by said pin.
4. In a phonograph apparatus, an enclosure having a restricted opening through which records may be inserted and removed, a recordsupporting turntable arranged Within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a recordcentering pin associated with said turntable, a tone arm mounted within said enclosure for record-playing movement in cooperation with said turntable, a hinged door on said enclosure adapted to conceal said opening when in closed position, means operable by said door for moving said tone arm from a record-finishing position to a recordcommencing position, an adjustable stop for controlling the record-commencing position of said tone arm according to the size of an inserted record, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record according to the size thereof, a feeler mechanism operatively interconnected with said stop and said stop means to adjust them according to the size of an inserted record, said feeler mechanism including a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide and to arrest an inserted record for engagement by said pin, said pin upon engagement with a smaller sized record serving to disengage such record from said feeler members and from said record stop means, said feeler members being movable by an inserted larger sized record to adjust said stop and said stop means, and means for latching said feeler mechanism, with said feeler members and said record stop means in positions to be free of the larger sized record, when such record is centered on the turntable by said pin.
5. In a phonograph apparatus, an enclosure having a restricted opening through which records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin associated with said turntable, driving means for said turntable, a pick-up device arranged within said enclosure for movement into and out of engagement with a record on the turntable, a hinged door on said enclosure adapted to conceal said opening when in closed position, means operable by said door for moving said pick-up device from a record-finishing position to a recordcommencing position, means operable by said door for controlling said driving means so as to cause operation thereof only when said door closed. adjustable op mea f controlling h record-co en n p it on of said P kevice according to the size of an inserted record, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion oi a record according to the size thereof, a feeler mechanism operatively interconnected with o of th aic em ed stop means to adjust em a co din t the si e o an serted record, said feeler mechanism including a pair of feeler members cooperative with said reco d s p me n to guide and o a t an nserted record fo eng em n b s id in, s d p n upon en agement with a smal er si d rec rd serving to disengage such record from said feeler memb s a om sa d ec r s op ans, s i feele m m ers being movable b an inserted larger sized record to adjust the two stop means, and means for latching said feeler mechanism, with said feeler members and said record stop means in positions to be free of the larger sized record, when such record is centered on the turntable by said pin.
6. In a phonograph apparatus, an enclosure having a restricted opening through which centrally-apertured disk records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin located centrally of said turntable for engagement with the central aperture of a record, a tone arm mounted within said enclosure for record-playing movement in cooperation with said turntable, manually-operable means for moving said tone arm from a record-finishing position to a record-commencing position, an adjustable tone arm stop for controlling the record-commencing position of said tone arm, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record, a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide an inserted record into position on said turntable for engagement by said pin, mechanism providing mechanical interconnection between said feeler members, said tone arm stop and said record stop means, whereby said feeler members serve additionally to control the adjustment of said tone arm stop and said record stop means, means normally locating said feeler members and said record stop means radially from the center of said turntable at a distance slightly greater than the radius of a smaller sized record, said pin upon engagement with a smaller sized record serving to center such record and disengage it from said feeler members and from said record stop means, and means for latching said feeler members and said record stop means in positions free of a larger sized record when such a record is centered on the turntable by said pin.
7. In a phonograph apparatus, an enclosure having a restricted opening through which records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a tone arm mounted within said enclosure for record-playing movement in cooperation with said turntable, a hinged door on said enclosure adapted to conceal said opening when in closed position, means operable by said door for moving said tone arm from a record-finishing position to a record-commencing position, an adjustable tone arm stop for controlling the record-commencing position of said tone arm, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record, a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide an inserted record into position on said turntable, and mechanism providing mechanical interconnection between said feeler members, said tone arm stop and said record stop means, whereby said feeler members serve additionally to control the adjustment of said tone arm stop and said record stop means.
8. In a phonograph apparatus, an enclosure having a restricted opening through which records may be inserted and removed, a record-supporting turntable arranged within said enclosure to receive an inserted record, a record-centering pin associated with said turntable, a tone arm mounted within said enclosure for record-playing movement in cooperation with said turntable, a hinged door on said enclosure adapted to conceal said opening when in closed position, means operable by said door for moving said tone arm from a record-finishing position to a recordcommencing position, an adjustable tone arm stop for controlling the record-commencing position of said tone arm, adjustable record stop means for limiting the insertion of a record, a pair of feeler members cooperative with said record stop means to guide an inserted record into position on said turntable for engagement by said pin, mechanism providing mechanical interconnection between said feeler members, said tone arm stop and said record stop means, whereby said feeler members serve additionally to control the adjustment of said tone arm stop and said record stop means, said pin upon engagement with a smaller sized record serving to disengage such record from said feeler members and from said record stop means, and means for latching said feeler members and said record stop means in positions free of a larger sized record when such a record is centered on the turntable by said pin.
EMIL I. HARMAN.
REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,100,686 Collaro et al Nov. 30, 1937 2,166,986 Dally July 25, 1939 2,219,230 Krouse Oct. 22, 1940 2,263,643 Offen Nov. 25, 1941 2,309,352 Ofien Jan, 26, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 539,492 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1941 114,471 Australia Dec. 23, 1941
US588924A 1945-04-18 1945-04-18 Phonograph apparatus Expired - Lifetime US2508715A (en)

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US2955826A (en) * 1955-11-18 1960-10-11 Admiral Corp Automatic record player
US3256024A (en) * 1962-03-06 1966-06-14 Playskool Mfg Company Phonograph
US3802710A (en) * 1971-01-16 1974-04-09 Zanussi A Spa Industrie Record player having an automatic record-positioning mechanism
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US4523306A (en) * 1983-01-28 1985-06-11 Staar S. A. Record loading apparatus for a slot type record player
US4627042A (en) * 1982-12-28 1986-12-02 Sony Corporation Loading apparatus for a disc
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US5056077A (en) * 1989-03-03 1991-10-08 Pioneer Electronic Corporation Centering mechanism for automotive disc player
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US2219230A (en) * 1938-07-14 1940-10-22 Earnest J Krause Phonograph pickup
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US2955826A (en) * 1955-11-18 1960-10-11 Admiral Corp Automatic record player
US3256024A (en) * 1962-03-06 1966-06-14 Playskool Mfg Company Phonograph
US3802710A (en) * 1971-01-16 1974-04-09 Zanussi A Spa Industrie Record player having an automatic record-positioning mechanism
US3934883A (en) * 1974-01-10 1976-01-27 Chambers Robert L Disk record player
FR2525796A1 (en) * 1982-04-23 1983-10-28 Staar Sa AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR DISK ROTATING THE OPERATIVE POSITIONING OF A DISK
US4498162A (en) * 1982-04-23 1985-02-05 Staar S. A. Automatic disc loading apparatus
US4627042A (en) * 1982-12-28 1986-12-02 Sony Corporation Loading apparatus for a disc
US4523306A (en) * 1983-01-28 1985-06-11 Staar S. A. Record loading apparatus for a slot type record player
EP0286770A2 (en) * 1987-04-13 1988-10-19 Staar Societe Anonyme Device for automatically centering discs with different diameters on the loading means of a disc player
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EP0286770A3 (en) * 1987-04-13 1989-01-11 Staar Societe Anonyme Device for automatically centering discs with different diameters on the loading means of a disc player
US5056077A (en) * 1989-03-03 1991-10-08 Pioneer Electronic Corporation Centering mechanism for automotive disc player
EP2803070A4 (en) * 2012-01-11 2016-06-15 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Disc visible type disc drive apparatus

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