US705772A

US705772A - Apparatus for reproducing phonograms.

Info

Publication number: US705772A
Application number: US9211002A
Authority: US
Inventors: William F Messer
Original assignee: Lambert Co
Current assignee: Lambert Co
Priority date: 1902-02-01
Filing date: 1902-02-01
Publication date: 1902-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 1919-07-29

Description

No. 705,772. Patented July 29, |902.

W. F. MESSER. Y

APPARATUS'FR REPRODUGING PHUNOGBAMS.

(Application led Feb. 1," 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. MESSER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TC THE LAMBERT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.`

APPARATUS FOR RE-PRDUCIING PHONO-G RAM S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,772, dated July 29, 1902. Application filed February 1,1902- Serial Nm 92,110. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern;- v

Be it known that I, WILLIAM' F. MESSER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Reproducing Phonograms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of apparatus by which duplicate phonographic records in any desired number may be iliade, and particularly to the production of what are termed indestructible records or .rec`

of the base and head, so as to sealthe'pres` sure-chamber whilepressure is being applied to force the record-cylinder `against the ma` trix and hold the record-cylinder suiiiciently outof intimate contact with the matrix at each end to permit the escape of air from between the ends of the record-cylinder and matrix until the entire outer surface ofthe cylinder has been pressed against the innerV base,`"connect surface of the matrix. 4

Other objects will appear from an inspection of the drawingand the following description and claims.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical side elevation in section of one style of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my improvements.

In constructing a machine in accordance with my improvements and using the same I provide a matrix a of the desired size, shape, and strength and which is preferably formed in the manner shown and described in Patent No. 645,920, issued to Thomas B. Lambert.

March 20, 1900. The nfatrix is in the form of a hollow cylinder open at both ends and is provided on its inner surface with soundrecord indentations--that is to say, it has :negative indentations corresponding to those upon the original sound-Arecord-so that when the record-blank receives the imprint of the inner surface of the4 matrix it becomes a duplicateof the original or master record. This matrix isplaeed in an upright position upon a base b, which forms a closure for one end of the matrix, the natural irregularities of the end of the matrix and surface of the base forming anoutlet sufficient to permit the air to escape from between the blank record and matrix. The matrix is surrounded by an encircling metallic shell c, between which and thecmatrix a backing 8, of plaster-of-paris or similar material, is placed for holding the lmatrix in place and affording the desired and necessary rigidityand strength to withstand the pressuresincident to its operative use. A'movable headportion d is provided and mounted abovethe matrix by means of a stem f, extending therefrom through a bearing g in a stationary head e. The stem of the movable head may be integral therewith or connected thereto, as shown, by suitable means, such asthe lug g upon the head, fitted into a slot or notch It in the stem and held in place fin such stem by a set-screw t, connecting the lug and` stem. A transverse perforation j is made inthe stem of the movable head adapted to receive a wedge It, which contacts with the stationary head, and thereby holds the stem and movable head in the desired position with relation to the matrix. A rigid standard Zand bottom portion m, both preferably integral with the stationary head and such head and base and hold them in fixed rigid relation to each other and should be of sufficient strength to holdthe movable head in position against the pressure to be applied between such head and base. The movable head is made of such diameter as to leave a space n between it and the matrix whenboth are in operative position, thus permitting the air to escape from between the v record-blank and. the matrix when pressure is appliedto the inner side of the recordblank. By this arrangement a chamber is formed between the matrix,the movable head, and the base, which chamber is provided with vents n and n' at the top and bottom of the matrix. A blank record-cylinder o, of celluloid or similar material, is then placed within the chamber with its respective ends in contact with the head and base. An inner pres- IOO sure-chamber p is thus formed between the record-cylinder and the head and base portion, which is or becomes hermetically sealed upon the admission of steam under pressure thereto, as hereinafter described. It is desirable to first soften the record-cylinder, so that it may be expanded against the recordsurface of the matrix. In order to accomplish this, a heated iiuid, preferably steam under about fifty pounds pressure to the square inch, is forced into the record-chamber through a pressure-supply pipe q, which is lconnected by means of a branch pipe r with a suitable source of steam-supply. The steam is permitted to escape through an eX- haust-pipe s, connected with the outer air by means of a pipe t. The steam is kept at a substantially uniform pressure within the record-chamber, so as to by means of its peculiar heating qualities and other actions soften the record and force it out against the inner indented surface of the matrix. After this has been accomplished the steam-supply is shut olf by means of a valve u, and a snpply of cold air under pressure is permitted to enter through the supply-pipe g by opening the valve c on a second branch pipe w, which connects with a source of cool air under pressure and keeps up as great or a greater pressure than before. A valve y on the exhaustpipe may be left open, so that all moisture and steam are blown out of the cylinderformed by the record. When the steam has been blownout, the next step is to close the valve y and permit cool air under pressure to remain in the record-chamber until such blank record is sufficiently cooled and hardened.

Thus cooled and shrunk it is easily removedV without collapsing.

As shown in the drawings, the recordcyl inder is for many purposes preferably made with internal end lianges 2 and 3, and when thin material is used, as above suggested, such iianges are softened as well as the body of the record by the admission of steam under pressure. When steam under pressure is admitted, they are immediately softened and forced against the head on one end and the base on the other, and some of the fluid under pressure naturally escapes around such end before the hermetical seals are formed. If this liuid under pressure is not taken care of immediatelythat is, permitted to escape from all contact with the record-surface--or if it is allowed to get between the record and the matrix, there is great danger of the surface of the phonogram being either destroyed or so impaired that it is of little or no value. It becomes necessary, therefore, to provide means by which all fluid, such as air or steam, outside of the hermetically-sealed chamber may be immediately permitted to escape and that the end flanges be hermetically sealed to the head and base as quickly and firmly as possible. In order to accomplish these re sults', the head portion is provided with perforations 4, arranged in a circle adjacent to the inner edge of the r'ecord and at the desired distance from its outer edge. An annular groove 5 is thus provided in the inner surface of the head, into which the perforations open. In the same manner as labove described in connection with the head and for the same purposes with relation to the opposite end iiange and base portion perforations 6 and an annular groove 7 are provided in the inner surface of the base portion. By means of these perforations in the head and base, in connection with the other elements described, when fluid under pressure, such .as steam, is admitted to the pressure-chamber formed Within the record-cylinder it follows the path of least resistance and presses toward the perforations in the head and base, carrying the adjacent anges of the recordcylinder with it, pressing them tightly in place against the end walls or base and head, and forming a sealed chamber. The perforations being left open throughout the opera tion of completing the record, the flanges are thus held in position to prevent the escape of steam or other fluid from the chamber within the record-cylinder by forming a sealed connection between the record-cylinder and the head and base. It should be understood, however, that the perforations in the' head and base should only be sufficiently large to permit the desired yielding of the recordblank and prevent the escape of the fluid by blowing a puncture through the material of which the iiange is formed. I find in practice that perforations one-ftieth of an inch in diameter serve the purpose. An annular space one five-thousandth of an inch wide is sufficient between the head and matrix to permit the air to escape from between the recordcylinder and matrix and may be formed by either making the head of such diameter as to leave a sufficient space or by holding the head a sufficient distance from the matrix to leave a space of the desired size. I prefer, however, to employ a head of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of'the matrix. It will be also readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the annular groove in either the head or base would operate with more or less success to hold the end anges and thereby the ends of the record-cylinder in place with one vent or perforation communicating with such groove; but I prefer to employ a plurality of perforations or Vents.

I claim- 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical matrix,a base portion at one end thereof arranged to contact with the end of a blank record-cylinder, and a head portion arranged in contact with the other end of the record-cylinder and provided with outlet means communicating with the inner surface of such head and extending to the outer surface of such record-cylinder, substantially as described.

In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical matrix,a base IOO I IO

portion at one end thereof arranged to contact with the end of a blank record-cylinder and provided with outlet means communieating with the inner surface'of such base and extending to the outer surface of such recordcylinder, and a head portion arranged in contact With the other end of the blank recordcylinder, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged to contact with the end of a blank record-cylinder and provided With perforations extending through such base and communicating with the inner surface thereof, and a head portion arranged in contact with the other end of the blank record-cylinder and provided with perforations in such head communicating with the inner surface thereof, substantially as de scribed.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged to contact With the end of a blank record-cylinder ar ranged Within the matrix and provided With a groove in its inner surface and perforated outlet means through such base communicating with the groove,and a h ead portion arranged at the other end of the record-cylinder forming in connection with the record-cylinder and base a pressure-chamber, substantially as de scribed.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged to contact With the end of a record-cylinder and provided With a groove in its inner surface and with outlet means through such base communicating with such groove, and a head portion arranged in contact With the other end of the record-cylinder and provided with a groove in its inner surface and with outlet means through such head communicating With the groove, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus ofthe class described, the combination of a cylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged to contact With the end of a blank record-cylinder, and a head portion arranged in contact with the other end of the blank record-cylinder and providing an opening communicating with the inner surface of the matrix outside of the record-cylinder and provided with perforations communicating with the inner surface 0f such head, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged to contact with the end of a blank record-cylinder and provide a vent communicating With the inner surfaces of the matrix and provided with outlet means communicating with the inner surface of such base and extending to the outer surface of such record-cylinder, and a head portion arranged in contact with the other end of the record-cylinder to form in connection with the record-cylinder and base a chamber Within such record-cylinder, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged to contact with the end of a blank record-cylinder having inwardly extending end flanges, a head portion arranged in contact with the inner iiange on the other end of the record-cylinder provided with perforations communieating with the inner surface of such head at points adjacent to the inner edge of such end iange and extending to the outer surface of such record-cylinder, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical matrix, a base portion arranged at the end thereof in contact with the end portion of a blank recordcylinder having inwardly-extending flanges, such basek portion being provided with perforations communicating with the inner surface thereof at points adjacent to the inner edge of the end ange of the record-cylinder, and

a head portion arranged in contact with the opposite end of the record-cylinder and the end flange thereon and provided with perforations through such head communicating with the inner surface of the head at points adjacent to the inner edge of such end flange, substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical matrix, a base portion arranged at one end thereof in contact With the end of a blank record-cylinder and provided with perforations extending through such base and communicating With the inner surface thereof, a head portion arranged in contact with the other end of the blank record-cylinder and provided with perforations in such head communicating With the space between it and the record-cylinder, a frame for holding the base in position, and means for admitting fluid under pressure to the chamber formed Within the record-cylinder between the base and head, substantially as described.

1l. In an apparatus of the class described, a movable head portion-adapted to close the end of a blank record-cylinder and provided With perforations through such head portion communicating with the inner surface there of and extending to the outer surface of such record-cylinder, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a base portion adapted to close one end of a blank record-cylinder to be operated upon and provided With perforations through such base portion communicating with the inner surface thereof and extending to the outer surface of such record-cylinder, substantially as described.

WILLIAM F. MESSER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS E. SHERIDAN, HARRY IRWIN CnoMnR.

IOO