US2596016A

US2596016A - Switching device for phonographs

Info

Publication number: US2596016A
Application number: US778543A
Authority: US
Inventors: Falk Sven Gustaf
Original assignee: Hartford National Bank and Trust Co
Current assignee: Hartford National Bank and Trust Co
Priority date: 1946-06-28
Filing date: 1947-10-08
Publication date: 1952-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1969-05-06
Also published as: DE819924C

Description

y 1952 s. G. FALK 2,596,016

SWITCHING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Oct. 8. 1947 Z&. i. 1

PICK UP ARM I 9 Z2 Z9 IILLI I I II I I I I I x I I I v j I I v x I I, I, I l I I ELECTRIC MOTOR SVEN GUST AF FALK INVENTOR.

AGENT v Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Hartford National Bank and Trust pany, Hartford, Conn., trustee Com- Application October 8, 1947, Serial No. 778,543

, In Sweden June 28, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires June 28, 1966 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to phonographs generally, and more particularly to switching devices therefor.

It is known to provide phonographs with a support for the pick-up arm thereof laterally of the turntable operatively associated therewith and to provide a switch in conjunction with said support. Such supports are usually arranged so that they are caused to assume different levels at the loaded and unloaded positions thereof. Then, the arrangement is such that the switch is actuated thereby. Thus, the current passing to the electric motor of the phonograph may be interrupted by the opening of the switch when the support is loaded by the pick-up arm bearing thereon. Contrariwise, the switch is closed to permit energization of the motor when the pick-up arm is raised from the support and the latter is thus unloaded. Certain types of phonographs may also be started by operation of a switching member specially provided for the purpose. Such members generally comprise a switching knob which is required to be pushed, for example, for closing the switch. The constructions are so designed that, when the switching member is operated, the support and the pick-up arm are raised. Furthermore, the switching member is required to be maintained depressed until the motor starts running and the mechanism lifting the pick-up arm has become operative. Otherwise if the switching member were released'prematurely, the motor would stop for the reason that the pick-up arm still bears on the support and pushes the latter downwards. This last, of course, results in that the current flowing via the switch is interrupted again. Consequently, this form of construction can hardly be considered as satisfactory.

The object of the present invention is to obtain an improvement in the said construction so that the switch may be moved, by means of the switching member, into the position interrupting the current without the position of the support being varied. For this purpose, in the device according to the invention, the system for transferring the movement between the support for the pick-up arm and the arm of the switch is provided with a snatch coupling or a coupling comparable therewith. Such a coupling is provided for permitting the switch to be moved to the position closing the current, by means of a switching member acting upon the arm of the switch. This is accomplished without the position of the support being varied since the coupling is such that it is released automatically when the switching member is moved to the position closing the current.

The snatch coupling preferably comprises two apertures formed exactly opposite one another in two plate springs or similar members. The latter are substantially parallel and constitute a transmission lever. Then, a ball, roller or similar member is provided between the plate springs, on a second transmission lever. The strength of the coupling between the springs and the ball or similar member is such that, when the switching member is operated, the resulting movement between the springs and the ball or similar member causes the coupling to be released.

The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, one embodiment thereof.

Figure 1 is a side-view of the device.

Figure 2 is, on an enlarged scale, a crosssectional view of a special part taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 showing, however, certain parts in different positions.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective fragmentary view of the holder I showing in dotted lines the relationship of the switch parts when in the closed position.

As has already been mentioned, the pick-up arm I in its position of rest bears on a support 2, provided laterally of the turntable 29, which is capable of being raised and lowered in a suitable manner. The lower extremity of the support 2 is articulated to a lever 3 which is pivoted at 4 in a support 5 which is secured to the housing 6 of the phonograph. The lever 3 is subject to the action of a spring 20 which tends to turn the lever upwards about pivot 4 and raise the support 2. The housing 6 comprises a two-part holder 1 for electrical contacts 8, as best seen in Figure 4, which may be connected to the

supply wires

25 and 26 for switching on and off the current from supply leads 21 and 28 to the electric motor 24 for the phonograph. An angular lever 2|, carrying a connector 30 which serves as a switch, is pivotally supported between the elements of the two:- part holder 1 at 22. Two parallel or substantially parallel plate springs ID are articulated to one arm of the lever 2|. The spacing of the springs is partly determined by the angular lever 2| since one arm 9 thereof extends between the springs (see Figs. 2 and '3). The spacing is adjustable by means of a connecting bolt I, passed through the springs and a nut screwed thereon. The plate springs l0 exhibit two mutually opposite apertures |2 to receive a ball I3 supported in the lever 3 which is preferably provided with a supporting clasp I4 or similar device which embraces one plate spring by an aperture 3i (Figs. 2 and 3). One arm 9 of the switch 21 comprises at its extremity a projection or lug I5 which is engaged by one of the arms of a further angular lever IS. The latter is pivoted on the support 5 at I! and serves as a switching member. For this purpose the other arm of the lever terminates in a switching knob I8. A spring I9 secured to the support 5 has a tendency to maintain the switching lever in the inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of the device described is as follows:

Supposing that the parts of the device occupy the positions shown in Figure l, in which the pick-up arm I bears on the support 2 and pushes the latter downwards, and that the angular lever 2| with the connector 30 thereon serving as the switch is adjusted to occupy the position interrupting the current, so that the motor 2 for the phonograph is switched ofi'. If, now, the motor 24 is desired to be started by means of the switching lever IE, it is only necessary for the knob I8 to be displaced to the left in Fig. 1, so that the arm of the angular lever 16 which is secured to the spring I9, raises the projection or lug I5 and the arm 9 of the switch is moved from the position interrupting the current into the position where the connector 36 bridges contacts 3 closing the current as best seen in Figure 4. At the same time the plate springs I0 are lifted without the lever 3 being turned on the pivot 4 thereof and the support 2 raised, which is possible owing to the fact that the strength of the coupling I2, i3 between the plate springs l9 and the lever 3 in relation to the force acting upon the coupling due to the pressure exerted on the support 2 by the pick-up arm I, is such that the plate springs ill 'slide upward over the ball I3 (see Fig. 3) whereby the former are forced apart. The resulting position of the

switch parts

8, 8, 30 in which the current is closed is maintained when the knob IE is released and the switching lever I6 is restored to its inoperative position by the spring I9. When the phonograph is started in this way the pick-up arm I, as is well-known, is lifted from the sup port 2 and moved across the record to be played, so that the spring 20 is capable of raising the support 2. Consequently, the lever 3 is turned upwards about pivot 4 and the ball l3, snatches again in the apertures 52. When after playing the pick-up arm I is moved in known manner back to the support 2, the latter is pushed downwards by the pick-up arm I against the action of the spring 20, so that the lever 3 turns downwards again. During this operation the coupling between the ball I3 and the apertures I2 is maintained so that the plate springs Ill are also pulled downwards and the arm 9 of the switch and the connector 30 thereon is changed over to the position interrupting the current as shown in Fig. l. Thereupon the described process may be repeated and each time the knob l8 may be released after the switch has been operated. It is evident that the construction of the snatch coupling may be modified in different ways without deviating thereby from the principle of the inventive idea. v

What I claim is:

1. A switching device for phonographs comprising a support located laterally of the turntable of the phonograph and further adapted to support the pick-up arm thereof when the pickup arm is in the rest position, first means movably mounting said support for permitting substantially vertically reciprocatory movement thereof whereby weight of the pick-up arm on said support will move said support downwardly, means biasing said support upwardly, an electric motor adapted to drive the turntable of the phonograph, switch contact means operatively associated with said electric motor, a switch member mounted for movement to a position to bridge said contact means, manual means for moving said. switch member to said contact bridging position, mechanical linkage means connecting said support to said switch member so that downward movement of said support moves said switch member out of said contact bridging position, said mechanical linkage comprising a snatch coupling connecting the switch member to said first means whereby movement of said switch member by said manual means to said contact bridging position takes place even when said support is kept in the down position. 2. A switching device for phonographs comprising a support located laterally of the turntable of the phonograph and further adapted to support the pick-up arm thereof when the pickup arm is in the rest position, means movably mounting said support for permitting substantially vertically reciprocatory movement thereof whereby weight of the pick-up arm on said support will move said support downwardly, means biasing said support upwardly, an electric motor adapted to drive the turntable of the phonograph, switch contact means operatively associated with said electric motor, a switch member mounted for movement to a position to bridge said contact means, manual means for moving said switch member to said contact bridging position, mechanical linkage means connecting said support to said switch member so that downward movement of said support moves said switch member out of said contact bridging position, said mechanical linkage means comprising as one transmission element, a pair of plate springs fastened together at one portion thereof and arranged substantially parallel to each other and having at another portion thereof an aperture in each which are in alignment with each other, and as another transmission element, a lever on which is mounted a protuberance element, said protuberance element being located between said plate springs and normally riding in the apertures of said plate springs, the strength of the plate springs being of a predetermined value so that upon operation of manual means when said support is maintained in down position, the'protuberance is permitted to disengage from the apertures in said plate springs, wherebythe coupling between said support and switch member is broken.

3. A phonograph comprising a turntable, a pick-up arm movable to operative relationship with said turntable and to a rest position out of said operative relationship, a support provided laterally of said turntable and positioned to sup.- port said pick-up arm when said pick-up arm is in said rest position, first means movably mounting said support for permitting substantially vertically reciprocatory movement thereof whereby the weight of the pick-up arm on said support when so positioned moves said support downwardly, means biasing said support upwardly,'an electric motor for driving said turntable, switch contact means operatively associated with said electric motor, a switch member mounted for movement to a position to bridge said contact means, manual means for moving said switch member to said contact bridging position, mechanical linkage means connecting said support to said switch member so that downward movement of said support actuates said switch member out of said contact bridging position, said mechanical linkage comprising a snatch coupling connecting the switch member to said first means whereby movement of said switch member by said manual means to said contact bridging position takes place even when said support is kept in the down position.

4. A phonograph comprising a turntable, a pick-up arm movable to operative relationship with said turntable and to a rest position out of said operative relationship, a support provided laterally of said turntable and positioned to support said pick-up arm when said pick-up arm is in said rest position, means movably mounting said support for permitting substantially vertically reciprocatory movement thereof whereby the weight of the pick-up arm on said support when so positioned moves said support downwardly, means biasing said support upwardly, an electric motor for driving said turntable, switch contact means operatively associated with said electric motor, a switch member mounted for movement to a position to bridge said contact means, manual means for moving said switch member to said contact bridging position, mechanical linkage means connecting said support to said switch member so that downward movement of said support moves said switch member out of said contact bridging position, said mechanical linkage means comprising as one transmission element, a pair of plate springs fastened together at one portion thereof and arranged substantially parallel to each other and having at another portion thereof an aperture in each which are in alignment with each other, and as another transmission element, a lever on which is mounted a protuberance element, said protuberance element being located between said plate springs and normally riding in the apertures of said plate springs, the strength of the plate springs being of a predetermined value so that upon operation of manual means when said support is maintained in down position, the protuberance is permitted to disengage from the apertures in said plate springs, whereby the coupling between said support and switch member is broken.

SVEN GUSTAF FALK.

No references cited.