US2558490A - Electrical control system for orchestral display - Google Patents

Description

J. C. KOCI ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ORCHESTRAL DISPLAY Filed Aug. 30, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 2 .1 4y 9 STAGE LIGHTS .r\.r\ L Y. 57 5; El -1& 49 64 l 60 I2 ,-49 Z1 51 a; l /46 3 67 39 4 U 3 44] 4 J via 1 \J/ 66 d 38 12% L 4 mm RECORD CHANGER AND PHONOGRAPH WITH AMPLIFIER AF AND SPEAKER In yen for June 26, 195] J. c. KOCI 2,558,490

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Patented June 26, 1951 ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ORCHESTRAL DISPLAY Jerry C. Koci, Barrington, Ill., assignor to Chicago Coin Machine Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 30, 1949, Serial No. 113,185

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrical apparatus and particularly to a mechanical orchestra attachment for use with a sound reproducing system. The invention disclosed herein is an improvement upon the matter disclosed and claimed in Peyton 2,254,089 issued August 25, 1941. In this patent there is disclosed a mechanical orchestra having one or more musicians adapted to be mechanically actuated in simulation of real musicians during sound reproduction from an electric phonograph or the like. In the system hereinafter described, suitable switching means are provided for controlling the energizetion of musicians and activation of curtain mechanism as well as stage lights in connection with sound. reproduction from an electric phonograph.

The invention generally provides for sound reproduction voice current control over the mechanical orchestra. Normally, the mechanical orchestra, is motionless and unseen when no record is being reproduced. However, upon initiation of a record playing cycle, the orchestra is animated and exhibited. Thereafter during the playing cycle, the orchestra remains animated and visible as long as voice currents are present.

In one form of the invention, voice currents exercise a direct supervisory control over the animation and exhibition of the orchestra. In another form of the invention a timer system initially takes over the supervisory control for a minimum playing time and releases control to the voice current means after the expiration of some minimum playing time.

The details of the mechanical orchestra as far as operating means for individual players are not described here and may be found in the above mentioned Peyton patent.

In order that the invention may be explained, reference will now be made to the drawings wherein Figure l is a diagrammatic showing of a system embodying one form of the invention while Figure 2 is a, diagrammatic showing of a modified form of the invention.

The system forming the subject matter of the present invention is adapted to operate with record changer IU of any type. Changer ID has plunger l l which is normally in a down position but is elevated during the time that a record is on a turntable. Plunger l l cooperates with movable contact I2 of switch l3. This switch has fixed contacts l4 and 15 with which movable contact l2 cooperates. Contact I4 is connected by 'wire I! going to wire l3 extending between junction I9 and terminal 20 of locking switch 2!.

Changer operated contact [2 is connected by wire 23 to line 24 of a power circuit. The power circuit includes line 25. Changer switch contact [5 is connected by wire 21 to a terminal of contact 3c of switch block 3!. Switch block 3| is one of two switch blocks 3| and 32 which are mechanically inter-connected to curtain 34 operated by motor 35. Switch block 3| is in the position shown when the curtain is closed and is adapted to be moved to its other position when the curtain is away from a full closed position. Similarly switch block 32 is in the position shown when the curtain is away from a, fully opened position and moved to its other position when the curtain is fully open. The means for operating the switch blocks may assume a variety of forms. Thus motor 35 will generally have a range of forward and reverse motion for operating the curtain and an arm or other means may be provided for moving between the extreme curtain positions. An example of a diagrammatic mechanism for accomplishing this is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 92,591, filed May 11, 1949.

Referring now to switch block 3|, this has movable leaves 30, 31, 38, 39 connected together by an insulating block to move as a unit. These contact leaves cooperate respectively with fixed contact leaves 4| to 44 inclusive. It will 'be noted that contact pair 39 and 44 is closed in the curtain closed position while the remaining contact leaves are open.

Contact leaf 4! is connected by wire 46 to ourtain motor 35. Contact leaf 3! is connected by wire 4'! to line wire 24 while contact leaf 42 is connected by wire 48 to stage lights 49. Contact leaf 43 is connected by wire 5! to junction I19 and also to contact leaf 52 of switch 32. Contact leaf 44 is connected to wire 48.

Switch block 32 has contact leaf 54 connected by wire 55 to one terminal of timer motor 56. Contact leaf 57 is connected to wire 48 while leaf 58 with which it cooperates is connected to wire 46. Contact leaf 6!] is connected to wire BI and to condenser 62 and shunt resistor 63. Contact leaf 64 is connected by wire 55 to wire 66 going to contact 33. It will be noted that leaves 54 and 52 form one normally closed switch while leaves 51 and 58 form another normally closed switch. Leaves 6i] and 64 form a normally open switch.

Contact leaf 39 is connected by wire ill to musicians motor T! for actuating the automatons while line wire 24 is connected to display lights 12. Motors 35, H and 56 and lights 49 and 12 are connected to common wire 13 going to one 3 terminal of filament winding 14, the other terminal of which is connected to line 24. Winding I4 cooperates with transformer secondary 15 for energizing heater I9 of rectifier ll.

Rectifier 11 has anode I9 connected by tap 89 to potentiometer resistor 9| connected across secondary 82 of audio-frequency transformer 83. Resistor 8| has one terminal connected through resistor Bli to point 86. Point 86 forms one terminal of a relay having winding 88 shunted by condenser 89. Relay winding 98 is connected to cathode 99 of rectifier TI. Cathode '99 is also connected to condenser 82 and resistor 83.

Relay winding 88 cooperates with movable relay contact 92 normally resting against contact 93 connected to the winding and movable to of)?- normal contact 94. Movable contact 92 is connected to wire 89 while off-normal contact as is connected by wire 95 to switch contact 98 and wire 19. Contact 96 cooperates with movable contact 91 connected to fixed contact 98 and junction 29. Movable contact 99 connected to wire 55 cooperates with fixed contact 98. Movable contacts 99 and 9'! are tied together and operated by cam I99 driven by timer motor 56. Motor 56 is preferably a clock motor with suitable gearin so that cam I99 turns at a slow speed, about one turn in two minutes.

The operation of the system will now be explained. When changer I9 operates to select a record, rod I I will be elevated and remain in elevated position during the time that the selected record is playing. When rod I I is elevated, movable contact I2 moves to fixed contact I4. This circuit may be traced from line wire 24 to wire 23, movable contact l2, fixed contact I9, wire I! to wire I8 and wire 5| to contact 52 In the normal position of the system, the curtains are closed and switch block 32 is in the position shown with contact 52 touching movable contact 54. The circuit therefore continues from contact 54 along wire 55 to motor 58 along wire F3 to line wire 25. Thus timer motor 58 will become energized and turn cam I99 in a clockwisedirection. After cam I99 has turned a few degrees, switch block 2I willbe closed. This will result in switch leaves 52 and 54 bein by-passed as far as the timer motor is concerned and the circuit continuing from wire 51 to wire I8 and junction 29 to contact leaf 98 and movable contact 99 then to timer motor 58 and along wire 13 to line wire 25. V I 7 After timer motor 56 has started and closed the cam contacts, the timer motor will continue to operate independently of switch block 32. The closure of the contacts by cam I99 will also result in a circuit being established from wire I! through wire I8 to movable contact 91 and fixed contact 99 to wire I9 and contact leaf 39 of switch block CH, The circuit continues from contact leaf 39 to fixed contact 44 to wire 48 through stage lights 49 and line wire'25. Thus stage lights 49 will be lit. A circuit will also be established from wire 48 to movable contact 51 of switch block 32, fixed contact 58 to curtain motor 25. Thus curtain motor 35 will start to operate. As disclosed more fully in the copending application of Jerry C. Koci, Serial No. 92,591, filed May 11, 1949, after curtain motor 35 has begun to operate to move the curtain from the closed position, switch block 3I has its position changed after the curtain has started to open but before it has reached a fully opened position and switch block 32 is changed after the curtain has reached a fully opened position. Upon reverse movement to close, the curtain, switch block 32 will be changed first to be followed by switch block 3 I. Hence curtain motor 35 will be energized until the curtain is in a fully opened position. When the curtain has finally reached its opened position and switch block 32 has been changed, contacts El and 58 open to cut curtain motor 35 off.

When curtain motor 35 has moved the curtain to a fully opened position, switch block 3i has also been changed from the position shown. Thus, the circuit for stage lights 99 will remain closed by virtue of the closure of contacts 3'! and 42, this circuit being traced from line 29 to wire 91, contact 31, contact 92 to wire 49 and stage lights 49 back to line wire 29.

Continuing with the operation of the system, closure of cam operated contacts 99 and 9! will also establish a circuit for musicians motor Ii. Thus beginning with wire Il, the circuit continues to wire I8, junction point 29, contacts 91 and 98, wire I9, musicians motor ll and line wire 25. Assuming that sound reproduction is occurring from the record, audio-frequency energy taken from a suitable point on the amplifier is fed to transformer 33. econdary winding 82 develops an alternating potential across the terminals of resistor 8I. Tap 89 feeds alternating energy to rectifier ll so that a pulsating direct current through relay winding 99 is provided. Condenser 89 prevents the relay from chattering. When relay windin 89 is energized, relay contact 92 is pulled up against contact 99. This effectively places a short across contacts 91 and 98 of the cam operated switch. This ma be traced as follows: contact 99 to wire 95, contact 99, contact 92, wire 95, contact 38, contact 93, wire 5| to junction I9 and then wire I8 to contact 97. Thus after cam I99 has made a complete turn, motor 59shuts itself off with the cam driven contacts being opened. The time of revolution of cam I99 is set to be less than the shortest record which is to be played, this time being of the order of about two minutes. It will be remembered that switch contacts 52 and 54 are open with the curtain open so that when timer motor 58 has turned cam I99 almost a complete revolution, the cam-operated switch contacts will open and open the circuit for the timer motor. Thus when relay winding 88 is energized, the entire power circuit for operating the musicians motor may be traced as follows: from line wire 29 to wire 23, movable changer contact I2, fixed contact It, wire IT to junction I9, wire 5i to switch leaf 93, switch leaf 38, wire 66 to relay contact 92, relay contact 99 along wire to wire "I9 and. then to motor ll and back to line wire 25.

Continuing the operation of the system, let it be assumed that the record is finished and the changer is operating. In order to prevent momentary operation of relay 89, resistor 83 and condenser 62 are provided, this combination preferably having a time constant of the order of about ten seconds. 7

Assuming now that the record reproduction is through and no more audio-frequency currents are being fed to transformer 83, relay winding 88 releases the relay so that movable contact 92 drops back to the position shown against normal contact 93. Thus the shunt around cam-operated contacts 99 and 91 is broken. In order to prevent false relay operation from noise currents when no record reproductionoccurs, condenser 62 is connected across relay winding 88. This circuit may be traced as follows: condenser 62 to wire 9i, contacts 89 and 84 (thecurtain is still open and the record changer is beginning to opcrate), wire 65, wire 66, contacts 92 and 93 to relay winding 88 and thence to condenser 62. Condenser 62 has a large capacitance, such as about 100 m.m.f. so that transients are effectively by-passed across relay winding 88.

When changer I I] has removed a record, contact l2 drops against I5 and closes a circuit for the curtain motor as follows: line 24, wire 23, contacts l2 and I5, wire 21, contacts 36 and 4|, wire 46, motor 35 and line 25. When the curtain has closed, switch block 3| is changed to out motor 35 out.

Timer motor 56 and. cam operated contacts 98 and 99 are provided for the purpose of determining a minimum time before a curtain closing part of the cycle may be initiated. The timer motor and its associated parts may be omitted if desired and reliance had upon the presence of audiofrequency currents due to phonograph reproduction for maintaining the automatons in animated condition. Thus referring to Figure 2, a modified system is shown wherein corresponding portions of the circuit bear similar primed numbers.

Audio-frequency transformer 83 is preferably disposed in the speaker circuit. Thus resistors H6 and III are connected into line H3 going to primary H4 of transformer 83. Cooperating with resistors HI] and III are wipers H5 and H8 coupled together to function as a unit. It will be noted that resistors I I6 and I I I are in reversed relation and together with the wipers provide a so-called L pad type of volume control. Wire I I8 is connected to wipers H5 and I I6 and goes to speaker H9. The other terminal of speaker H9 is connected to resistor III. By virtue of this arrangement a substantially constant impedance in series with primary H4 is provided and thus a substantially constant level of audio-frequency energy will be present in primary I I4.

Transformer secondary 82 has resistor 8| connected across the same with wiper 80 connected to anode 19 of diode rectifier TI. The remaining diode connections are generally the same as in Figure 1. However, in Figure 2, heater 16 of the rectifier is adapted to be supplied by Hi) volt current obtained by wires I22 connected to wire 13 and I23 connected to line wire 24. It will be noted that the circuits connected to the diode rectifier have been eliminated and simplified with the relay now being asimple relay with the normal contact dead.

Referring to switch block 32, it will be noted that leaves 57 and 58 are the only ones remaining, these being connected respectively to 48 and 46 going to the stage lights and curtain motor. Similarly switch block 3! has been simplified by the omission of contact leaves 43 and 38 in Figure 1 together with their associated wiring. It will be noted that wire ll of contact I4 is joined to wire 66 going to relay contact 92.

The operation of the system shown in Figure 2 will now be explained. Assuming that a record changer cycle has been initiated and that a record is being played, push rod II will be elevated so that movable contact I2 will close against fixed contact I4. A circuit will be established from line wire 24 to wire 23, contacts I2 and I4, wire I'I, wire 66' to relay contact 92. Upon the presence of audio-frequency energy in primary I I4, this being connected to the phonograph reproducer amplifier, it will be apparent that relay 88' will be energized to draw relay contact 92 against fixed contact 94'. Hence the circuit from relay contact 92 will continue after the music has started to fixed contact 94 wire 95 to Wire 6 to switch leaves 39' and 44 of switch block 3| then to wire 48 through stage lights 49 to line wire 25. At the same time another circuit will be established from wire 48 through closed contact leaves 51' and 58 of switch block 3 2 to wire 46 then through curtain motor 35 to line wire 25. Thus'curtain motor 35 will have its circuit closed and start to operate.

When curtain motor 35 has fully opened the curtains, contacts 51 and 58 will be opened thus stopping motor 35. At the same time, another circuit from wire I0 through musicians motor 15 to line wire 25' will be established and energize the musicians. By virtue of the L pad volume arrangement, an adequate level of audiofrequency energy will be maintained to insure that the relay will remain closed during phonograph reproduction under all conditions or positions of the volume control. When phonograph reproduction ceases, relay 88 will be opened to cut off the power to musicians motor 15 and to stage lights 49. At the same time, changer II] will operate causing rod II to drop and complete a circuit between fixed contact I5 and movable contact I2. This will establish a power circuit for curtain motor 35 as follows: line wire 24, wire 23", contacts I2 and I5, wire 21, contacts 30 and 41', wire 46, curtain motor 35 and line wire 25'. When the curtain has reached a closed position, contacts 30 and 4| will open and the system will revert to the condition in Figure 2.

It is understood that the system shown in each figure includes a complete phonograph with reproducer, amplifier and speaker. The L pad volume control shown in Figure 2 is preferably included in the system of Figure 1.

What is claimed is:

1. In a system of the character described, a mechanical orchestra, a curtain for said orchestra, an electric motor for animating said mechanical orchestra and electric motor mean for moving said curtain for controlling the display of the orchestra, an electric phonograph, means controlled by the initiation of a record playing cycle in said electric phonograph for energizing the animating motor and for energizing the curtain motor so as to exhibit the animated orchestra, means for deenergizing said curtain motor after said curtain has reached an orchestra displaying position, a voice current responsive relay system, connections between said relay system and the electric phonograph, means controlled by said voice current responsive relay system for deenergizing the orchestra animating motor and for energizing the curtain moving motor to terminate the display upon the cessation of voice currents, and means for deenergizing said curtain display motor after said curtain has reached an orchestra concealing position.

2. In a system of the character described, a mechanical orchestra, a curtain for said orchestra, an electric motor for animating said mechanical orchestra, a motor for opening or closing said curtain for displaying or hiding said. archestra, an electric phonograph, means responsive to the initiation of a record playing cycle in said electric phonograph for energizing the orchestra animating motor and for energizing the curtain motor to open the curtain and display the orchestra, means for deenergizing said curtain moving motor after said curtain has reached an orchestra displaying position, a voice current responsive relay system, connections between said relay system and said electric phonograph so that said system is supplied with voice currents from the electric phonograph and connections between said relay system and said two motors, said relay sys-'- tem connections to said motors providing for a closed circuit for the orchestra motor and an open circuit for the curtain moving motor in the voice current energized position of the relay system and providing for an open circuit for the orchestra motor and a closed circuit for the curtain moving motor in the voice current deenergized position of the relay system, and switch means for opening the circuit of the curtain moving motor after said curtain has been moved to an orchestra-com cealing position upon the cessation of voice cur rents.

3. In a system of the character described, 9. mechanical orchestra, a curtain for said orchestra, an electric motor for animating said mechanical orchestra, an electric motor for o ening or closing said curtain in connection with displaying the orchestra, an electric phonograph, means responsive to the initiation of a record playing cycle in said electric phonograph for errergizing said orchestra animating motor and for energizing the curtain motor to open the curtain and display the orchestra, means for deenergizing said curtain moving motor after said curtain has reached an orchestra displaying position, a voice current responsive relay system, connections be tween said electric phonograph and said relay system so that said system is supplied by voice currents from the electric phonograph, connections between said relay system and said two motors, said relay system connections to said motors 8 in voice current energizing position providing for a closed circuit forthe orchestra motor and an open circuit for the curtain moving motor and in the voice current deenergized position providing for an open circuit for the orchestra motor and a closed circuit for the curtain moving motor, timin g means including switch contacts, connections between said timing switch contacts and said relay-system so that when said timing system is operative said relay system is maintained in a voice current responsive condition and means for rendering said timing means operative at the beginning of a record playing cycle and for a predetermined minimum time and means for opening the circuit of the curtain moving motor when 'saideurtain has reached a closed position in a curtam closing operation.

4, The system according to claim 3 wherein said timing means comprises a timing motor and contacts driven by said motor and connections for shorting out the voice current relay during the timing cycle.

JERRY C. KOCI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENT S

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