US2979336A

US2979336A - Turntables for automatic recordchanging phonographs and driving mechanism therefor

Info

Publication number: US2979336A
Application number: US604239A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred G Ristau; Arnold E Ristau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-08-15
Filing date: 1956-08-15
Publication date: 1961-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 1978-04-11

Description

April 11, 1961 A. G. RISTAU ET AL 2,979,336

TURNTABLES FOR AUTOMATIC RECORD-CHANGING PHONOGRAPHS AND DRIVING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Aug. 15. 1956 2 Sheet Sheet 1 HTTORNEQ-S'.

Aprll 11, 1961 A. G. RISTAU ETAL 2,979,336

TURNTABLES FOR AUTOMATIC RECORD-CHANGING PHONOGRAPHS AND DRI ING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Aug. 15. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hill ll IHII II II I ll United States Patent TURNTABLES FOR AUTOMATIC RECORD- CHANGING PHONOGRAPHS AND DRIVING MECHANISM THEREFOR Alfred G. Ristau and Arnoldv E. Ristau, both of i 329 Taylor St., Kaukauna, Wis.

Filed Aug. 15, 1956, Ser. No. 604,239

6 Claims. (Cl. 274) This invention relates to improvements in turntables for automatic record-changing phonographs and driving mechanism therefor.

One type of automatic phonograph utilizes a recordholding wheel which is disposed in a vertical plane for rotation on a horizontal axis. This wheel is provided with radially projecting arms which support records. In most phonographs of this type it is necessary to provide complicated mechanism. for temporarily removing the record from a turntable arm in order to play the same, and where a reverse side has been selected, it is necessary to have the record automatically turned before it is played. I

It is a general object of the present invention to provide .an improved arrangement wherein novel turntables smaller than the records to be played, are rotatably sup ported by the record-holding wheel, and wherein there is novel driving mechanism independent of the record-holding wheel which is shiftable into position to drive a selected turntable.

A further object of the invention is toprovide an improved turntable construction for apparatus as above described wherein each turntable has novel means for releasably locking a record thereto whereby records may be removed from and replaced on the record-holding wheel with a minimum of clearance between turntables on the wheel. Thus a large capacity machine with a relatively small record-holding wheel is provided.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as above described wherein the records are securely held to the turntables both when a turntable is in upright position, as well as when it is inverted, the said holding being accomplished without utilizing any record-holding bolts on theturntables. A more specific object of the invention is to provide simple mechanism for releasably holding a record on a turntable which includes the use of locking means projecting radially from the periphery of the turntable hub, the said means being positioned to engage the outer face of a record, around the margin of itscentral opening-to releasably clamp said record against the turntable.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus as above described including novel turntables and driving mechanism therefor, which apparatus permits the playing of either side of a record while the, turntable is in upright position without removing the record from the record-holding wheel, there being novel driving mecha: ni'sm separate from the record-holding wheel which'is shiftable into-engagement with a selected turntable to drive the latter while either side of a record is being played. 1 j

Other objects of the invention are to provide a construction as above described which is relatively simple and inexpensive, which is foolproof in operation, and which is well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view, the inven tion consists of the improved turntables for automatic record-changing phonographs and driving mechanism therefor, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view looking principally at the periphery of a record-holding wheel showing records thereon, one of which is being played;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the same parts looking more at the front. of the record-holding wheel, some of the records being removed and the turntable driving mechanism being in operative position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the turntables, a fragment of a record being shown in position; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a record-holding wheel which is mounted for rotation in a vertical plane on a'horizontal axis (not shown). This general type of wheel is well known in the art and it is not necessary to describe it in detail. The record-holding wheel 10 includes radially outwardly projecting arms 11, each of which carries a spindle 12 at its outer end on which a turntable 13 is rotatably mounted, the spindle having a head 14 which holds the turntable in position, even when it is'inverted.

'While the arms 11 project from the periphery of the- Wheel 10 all the way around its circumference, only a few havebeen shown in the drawings.

Each turntable has its main portion provided with a peripheral edge 15' and there is a central hub 16. The

hub 16 illustrated is of a size to fit within the central hole 17 of a 45 rpm. record 18. Such record has a sound track 19 which terminates short of the periphery 15 of the turntable as at 20. The sound track on-the underside of each record is similarly located so that the underside can be completely played while the record is on the turntable, as will be hereinafter described, without interference from the turntable. p

The hub portion 16 of each turntable has a plurality of radial bores 21 extending inwardly from the periphery 22 of the hub. 120 apart. Within each bore is a spring 23 which is normally compressed to urge a ball 24 toth'e outward position of Figs. 3 and 4, the outer end of each bore 21 being peened over as at 25. so that the diameter of the hole is just less than the diameter of the ball to Y prevent loss of the ball while permitting a substantial amount of the ball to project externally., The construction is such that the outer surface of that portion. of the ing. The arrangement is such that when a ball 24 is fully extended, the distance between 'itslowermost por tion and the face of the turntable is slightly less than the thickness of a recordwThus when .a record is in place as in Fig. 4, the balls are pushed slightly inwardly from their fully extended positionand yieldingly and wedgingly exert pressure on the upper edge of the margin 17 of a' record. The construction is such. that a record is placed on a turntablevby. snappingtit down past the balls 24, the balls yielding inwardly against; the" springs 23 as the record passes over them'and then be-;

ing urged outwardly to 'yieldingly wedgehthe record against the face of the turntableinthe manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4.1 a

With this arrangement it is unnecessary to bolt It is preferred to use threebores 1 ords in position, as has heretofore been customary. Furthermore, with the present arrangement a large number of radial arms 11 may be used with the turntables close together, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The turntables can be close because of the fact that only a small amount of clearance is necessary in order to remove a record from or replace it on a turntable due to the novel snap connection.

Suitably mounted adjacent the periphery of the record holding wheel is horizontally shiftable turntable driving mechanism 26. This mechanism may include a horizontal plate 27 suitably mounted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane on the axis of a pin 28 mounted for rotation in a bearing 29. Rotatably mounted on the plate 27 and suitably driven from any source such as a source of rotation beneath the plate and swingable therewith is a wheel 30 having frictional engagement with the periphery of another wheel 31 also rotatably mountedon the plate 27. Rigid with the wheel 31 is a gear 32 which is in constant mesh with a gear 33 also rotatably mounted on the plate 27. Rigid with the gear 33 is an upwardly projecting hub 34 carrying a small friction wheel 35.

The friction wheel 35 is so located in elevation that when the plate 27 is swung horizontally into position between records on the record-holding wheel, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the wheel will drivingly engage the periphery 15 of whatever turntable is in playing position to drive the latter.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the playing mechanism 36 is of any well known type, and includes an upper tone arm 37 and a lowertone arm 38. There is also ineluded well known mechanism whereby either the upper tone arm may be caused to play the top side of a record or the lower tone arm to play the underside.

Operation Summarizing the operation, the record-holding wheel 10 is rotated by any well known means to bring a selected turntable into playing position. This rotation takes place while the supporting plate 27 for the driving mechanism is swung outwardly so as to be free of interferenee with movement of the turntables and records when the wheel 10 is selectively rotated. After a selected turntable is in position, the plate 27 is swung into the position of Fig. 2 to drive the selected turntable. Thereafter the selected

tone arm

37 or 38 is swung from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. l to play whatever side of the record the selectedpieee is on.

When the playing of the record has been completed, the tone arms are retracted and the driving mechanism 27 is swung out of the way so that the record-holding wheel may be shifted to bring another record into playing position.

The wheel 10 and its turntables may be quickly loaded with records by merely snapping the records into position as shown and heretofore described. Records may be removed and changed just as easily. Due to the novel snap action it is unnecessary to provide enough clearance for the finger manipulation or tools between turntables. Therefore, relatively little clearance 39 between turntables is required. Thus a large number of records may be carried on a relatively small wheel 10.

Due to the particular arrangement whereby the records are played without being removed from the wheel,

complicated record-removing and turning mechanism is eliminated. The snap balls hold the records firmly even when the turntables are in inverted position on the other side of the circle from that shown in the drawing.

The arrangement is also such that a, selected turntable is driven in a simple manner while either side of the record is being played, and either side may be played wihout in any way changing the position of the recor Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What We claim is:

1. In an automatic phonograph having a record shifting wheel disposed in a vertical plane and provided with radially projecting arms, a turntable rotatably supported on each arm near its outer end, each turntable having a peripheral edge rotatable to a position beyond the outer end of the arm and having means insertable through the central hole of a record and being of substantially less diameter than the record to be supported thereon so that there will be a substantial exposed record area on the turntable supported side of the record beyond the periphery of the turntable which is unobstructed, a plate pivoted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane into and out of an inwardly lapping position between records on ad jacent turntables of the wheel, a source of rotation carried by said swingable plate and having inner and outer positions both of which are beyond the periphery of records on the turntable, a rotatable driving member rotatably carried by said plate and positioned for movement with a portion of the plate from an external position clear of the records to a position between records and overlapped thereby where said driving member is engageable with said periphery of a turntable which is in playing position, and transmission means between said source of rotation and driving member carried by said plate and swingable therewith.

2. In an automatic phonograph having a record shitting wheel disposed in a vertical plane and provided with radially projecting arms, a turntable rotatably supported on each arm, each turntable having a peripheral edge and being of substantially less diameter than the record to be supported thereon so that there will be a substantial exposed record area on the turntable supported side of the record beyond the periphery of the turntable which is unobstructed and said turntable having means insertable through the central hole of a record, playing mechanism including upper and lower tone arms positioned for engagement with a selected side of a selected record outwardly of the periphery of the turntable, a plate pivoted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane into and out of an inwardly lapping position between records on adjacent turntables of the wheel, source of rotation carried by said swingable plate and having inner and outer positions both of which are beyond the peripheries of records on the turntable, a rotatable driving member rotatably carried by said plate and positioned for movement with a portion of the plate from an external position clear of the records to a position between records where said driving member is engageable with the periphery of a turntable which is in playing position, transmission means between said source of rotation and driving member carried by said plate and swingable therewith, said swingable plate and transmission means being positioned clear of the upper and lower tone arms so that either side of a record may be played without interference.

3. In an automatic phonograph for use with twosided records having a clear circular space within the soundtrack on each side, a shiftable turntable support provided with spaced multiple turntables,.each turntable having a peripheral edge and being of substantially less diameter than the record to be supported thereon so that there will be a substantial exposed record area on the turntable supported side of the record beyond the periphery of the turntable which is unobstructed and said turntable having means inserta'ole through the central hole of a record, playing mechanism including upper and lower tone arms positioned for engagement with a selected side of a selected record outwardly of the periphery of the turntable, a plate pivoted for swinging movement into and out of an inwardly lapping position between records on adjacent turntables, a source of rotation carried by said swingable plate and having inner and outer positions both of which are beyond the peripheries of records on the turntable, a rotatable friction wheel rotatably carried by said plate and positioned for movement with a portion of the plate from an external position clear of the records to a position where it is overlapped by and between records and where said friction wheel is engageable with the periphery of a turntable which is in playing position, transmission means between said source of rotation and the friction wheel carried by said plate and swingable therewith, said swingable plate and transmission means being positioned clear of the upper and lower tone arms so that either side of a record may be played Without interference, said turntables being of less external diameter than the smallest diameter of the soundtrack of the records to be used thereon so as to fit within the circular space within the soundtrack.

4. In an automatic phonograph having a record shifting wheel disposed in a vertical plane and provided with radially projecting arms, a turntable rotatably supported on each arm nears its outer end, a record on each turntable, each turntable having a circular driving portion and having means inserted through the central hole of a record so that there will be a substantial exposed record area on the turntable supported side of the record beyond the periphery of the turntable which is unobstructed, each turntable being of substantially less diameter than the diameter of the record thereon and driving means pivotally supported for swinging movement in a direction parallel with the face of a record on said turntable into and out of operative position overlapping the periphery of such record in an inward direction and having a rotatable driving element positioned for engagement with the circular driving portion of the turntable when the driving means is in said operative position.

5. In an automatic phonograph for use with two-sided records having a clear circular space within the sound track, a turntable supporting arm, a turntable rotatably supported on said arm, each turntable having a circular driving portion and having means insertable through the central hole of a record, playing mechanism including upper and lower tone arms supported for alternative engagement with the upper or lower side of a record while the latter is in the same position on the turntable, driving means pivotally supported for swinging movement in a direction parallel with the face of a record on said turntable into and out of operative position overlapping the periphery of such record in an inward direction and having a rotatable driving element rotatably carried by said driving means and positioned for movement with a portion of the driving means from an external position clear of the records to an overlapped position between records where said driving element is positioned for engagement with the circular driving portion of the turntable when the driving means is in said operative position, said swingable driving means being positioned clear of the turntable supporting arm and clear of the upper and lower tone arms so that either side of a record may be played without interference, said turntable being of less external diameter than the smallest diameter of the sound track of the records to be used thereon so as to fit within the circular space within the sound track on the underside of the record so as not to interfere with the playing of the record from beneath by the lower tone arm.

6. In an automatic phonograph for use with two-sided records having a clear circular space within the sound track on each side thereof, a shiftable turntable support provided with spaced multiple turntables, each turntable having a circular driving portion and having means insertable through the central hole of a record, playing mechanism including upper and lower tone arms positioned for selective engagement with the upper or lower side of a selected record while the record is in the same position on the turntable, and driving means pivoted for swinging movement into and out of an inward lapping position between records on adjacent turntables and having a rotatable driving element rotatably carried by said pivoted driving means and positioned for movement with a portion of the pivoted driving means from an external position clear of the records to a position between records and overlapped thereby where said driving element is engageable with the circular driving portion of a turntable which is in playing position when said driving means is swung into operative position to drive said tumtable, said driving means being positioned clear of the upper and lower tone arms so that either side of a record may be played without interference, said turntables being of less external diameter than the smallest diameter of the sound track of the records to be used thereon so as to fit within the circular space within the sound track on the underside of the record and so as not to interfere with the playing of the record from beneath by the lower tone arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 908,778 Lamb Ian. 5, 1909 1,395,035 Briggs Oct. 25, 1921 1,451,282 Thon Apr. 10, 1923 1,843,140 Mills Feb. 2, 1932 1,904,490 Mallina Apr. 18, 1933 1,924,620 Mills Aug. 29, 1933 2,068,449 Downs Jan. 19, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 198,698 Great Britain Feb. 21, 1924 598,584 Germany June 15, 1934