CA1119529A - Automatic record changer - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A record changing mechanism is provided wherein a centering spindle and a platform positioned beyond the edge of the turntable are employed to support a stack of large diameter records and a hold-down member is movable from a loading position to a position in engagement with the top record of a stack of large diameter records supported on said platform. The hold-down member has a portion which is positionable to support the edge of the bottom record of a stack of small diameter records.

Description

- ` -5~9 AUTO~TIC RECORD CHANGER

The present invention relates to record changers, and more particularly, to automatic record changers which are arranged to play a series of phonograph records in the order in which the records are placed on the center-ing spindle of the record changer.
Various types of record hold-down arrangements have been provided in prior art record changers. Examples of these record hold-down arrangements are shown in Schweitzer U. S. Patent No. 2,549,246, Dobrogowski U. S. Patent No. 2,803,465, Mills et al U. S. Patent No. 2,661,216, Dale U. S. Patent No. 2,651,523 and Dennis U. S. Patent No. 4,049,278.
It is an ob~ect of the present invention to provide a new and improved record hold-down arrange-ment for large diameter records which can also be used as an edge support for a stack of small diameter records.
The invention both as to its organization and '~;

method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the record changer of the present invention with a portion of the turntable broken away to show a portion of the record changing mechanism;
FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the record changer of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the tone arm subassembly of the changer of FIGURE 1 when the changer is turned off;
FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the position of the tone arm near the end of a last record shutoff cycle;
FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 5A is a fragmentary external view similar to FIGURE 5 but taken on a larger scale;
FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 7A is a sectional view taken along the line 7A-7A in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 8 (on the same page as FIGURE 1) is a sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of FIGURE 1 and showing the tone arm drive-trip clutch in its rest position;
FIGURE 9 (on the same page as FIGURE 1) is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 8 but showing the tone arm clutch in its tone arm drive position;

A

111~5~'9 FIGURE 10 (on the same page as FIGURE 2) is a perspective view of the velocity trip clutch employed in the changer of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 11 (on the same page as FIGURE 2) is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10;
FIGURE 12 (on the same page as FIGURE l) is a fragmentary plan view taken on a larger scale, showing the speed shift mechanism of the changer of FIGURE 1 in the 33 rpm position;
FIGURE 12A (on the same page as FIGURE 1) is a plan view similar to FIGURE 12 but showing the speed shift mechanism in the 45 rpm position;
FIGURE 12B (on the same page as FIGURE 2) is a sectional view taken along the line 12B-12B of FIGURE 12;
FIGURE 12C (on the same page as FIGURE 2) is a sectional view taken along the line 12C-12C of FIGURE 12A;
FIGURE 12D is a sectional view taken along the line 12D-12D of FIGURE 12A;
FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating in diagrammatic form the operation of the drive-velocity trip mechanism of the changer of FIGURE 1 in initiating a record changing cycle and showing the main gear in the home or detent position;
FIGURES 14 to 19 are views similar to FIGURE 13 but showing the main gear at different positions in the record changing cycle;
FIGURE 20 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 but showing the action of the velocity tripping mechanism of the changer of FIGURE 1 during a playing cycle;
FIGURE 21 (on the same page as FIGURE 6) is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 21-21 of FIGURE 6 and showing the tone arm quadrant in the twelve-inch record set down position;
FIGURE 22 is a bottom view of the tone arm subassembly of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 22A is a view similar to FIGURE 22 but showing the manner in which the tone arm subassembly is assembled on the base plate;
FIGURE 23 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the tone arm subassembly of FIW RE 3 with a portion thereof cut away to show the operation of the cueing lever in the tone-arm-up position;
FIGURE 23A is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 23A-23A of FIGURE 23;
FIGURE 24 is a view similar to FI W RE 23 but shown with the cueing lever in the tone-arm-down position;
FIGURE 25 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 25-25 of FIGUXE 5 and showing the control knob of the changer of FI W RE 1 in the OFF position;
FIGURE 25A is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 25 but taken on a somewhat larger scale;
FIGURE 25C (on the same page as FIGURE 27) is a perspective view of the flat spring blocking member employed in the changer of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 26 is a view similar to FIGURE 25 but showing the control knob in the ON position and the main cam in a last record shutoff cycle initiating position;
FIGURE 26A is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 26 but taken on a somewhat larger scale;
FIGURES 27, 28 and 29 are views similar to FIGURE 26 but showing the main cam in different positions during a last record shutoff cycle;
FIGURE 27A is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 27A-27A of FIGURE 27;
FIGURE 28A is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 28 but taken on a somewhat larger scale;

~' 1~195~9 FIGURE 30 is a sectional view simi:Lar to FIGURE 25 but showing the control knob in the REJECT position to initiate a record changing cycle;
FIGURE 30A is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 30 but taken on a somewhat larger scale.
FIGURE 31 is a view similar to FIGURE 26 but showing the mechanism in a single automatic record play position;
FIGURE 32 is a view similar to FIGURE 31 but showing the main gear at a later point in the single record automatic play changing cycle;
FIGURES 33 and 34 (on the same page as FIGURE 5) are fragmentary sectional views similar to FIGURE 5A but showing the parts in different positions of a last record sensing cycle;
FIGURE 33A is a view similar to FIGURE 25 but showing the mechanism in a repeat play position;
FIGURE 35 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an alternative record supporting arrangement which may be used in the changer of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 36 is a plan view of the record supporting arrangement shown in FIGURE 35;
FIGURE 37 is a side elevational view of the arrangement of FIGURE
35 when used to play seven-inch records with a large-hole record adaptor;
FIGURE 38 is a sectional elevational view of an alternative record sensing arrangement of the present invention similar to FIGURE 5 of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 37;
FIGURE 39 is a sectional view taken along the line 39-39 of FIGURE 38;

Figure 40 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative tone arm drive and velocity trip actuating mechanism which can be used in the changer of Figure l;
Figure 41 is a sectional view taken along the line 41-41 of Figure 40;
Figures 42 and 43 are fragmentary plan views of further alternative drive-trip arrangements similar to the embodiment of Figures 40 and 41;
Figure 44 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative tone arm drive and trip actuating mechanism which can be used in the changer of Figure l;
Figure 45 is a sectional view along the line 45-45 of Figure 44;
Figure 46 is a sectional view along the line 46-46 of Figure 44;
Figure 47 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein an idler wheel drive unit is employed to rotate the turntable;
Figure 48 is a fragmentary plan view of a further alternative embodiment of the invention wherein a modified drive link arrangement is employed to move the tone arm horizontally; and Figure 49 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein a two-plate velocity tripping arrangement is employed.

.~

~li9S29 Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 through 34 thereof, the automatic record changer of the present invention is therein illustrated as comprising a metal base plate indicated generally at 10 on which is mounted a rotatable turntable indicated generally at 12, a tone arm indicated generally at 14, and a balance arm indicated generally at 16. The turntable 12 is mounted for rotation about a centering spindle indicated generally at 18 on which a stack of records may be supported and the balance arm 16 moved from its rest position somewhat beyond the position shown in Figure 1 to a position over the records so that these records are balanced on the record supporting shelf of the spindle 18.
The tone arm 14 is rotatably mounted on a tone arm housing subassembly indicated generally at 20, the housing 20 being provided with a rest post portion 22 which extends upwardly from the housing 20 and is provided with a relatively deep notch 24 in the top thereof within which the tone arm 14 may be seated when the record changer is turned off. A cueing lever indicated generally at 26 is rotatably mounted in the tone arm subassembly 20 and may be moved from a generally vertical position shown in Figures 1 and 24 to a rearward inclined position shown in Figure 23. When the cueing lever 26 is in the vertical position shown in Figure 1, it is ineffective to lift the tone arm. However, when the cueing lever is moved to the rearward position it is effective to lift the tone arm off of the record after which it may be manually placed over another selection on the record or moved over the rest post 24. Then, the cueing lever may be used manually to lower the tone arm 14 into engagement with a record on the turntable 12, or the notch in the rest post, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

5~9 A combined speed and size control knob 27 is provided which in the illustrated embodiment is movable between a 33-1/3 rpm position and a 45 rpm position. In the 33-1/3 rpm position the tone arm 14 is automatically adjusted to play 12-inch records and in the 45 rpm position the tone arm is automatically adjusted to play 7-inch records. When small-hole seven-inch records are to be played they may be placed on the shelf of the spindle 18 and the balance arm 16 employed to balance the record stack. When large-hole seven-inch records are employed a suitable adaptor may be placed on the spindle 18, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. In the event 10-inch 78 rpm records are to be played, the knobs 27 may be provided with a third detent position ahead of the 45 rpm position, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.
A multi-function control knob 29 is provided which has four positions, namely~ an OFF position, a REPEAT PLAY position, an ON
position and a REJECT position, from front to back of the changer.
When the knob 29 is moved from the OFF position to the ON position the driving motor for the turntable 12 is energized and when the knob 29 is moved to the REJECT position a record changing cycle is automatically initiated. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the record changer mechanism is so arranged that when the knob 29 is first moved to the ON position and then is moved back to the REPEAT PLAY position a slight detent force is exerted on the knob 29, which is not produced when the knob 29 is moved from OFF to ON, and an audible click is produced to inform the operator that he is in the REPEAT PLAY position. With the knob 29 in the REPEAT PLAY position the record changer repeatedly plays the record which is on the turntable 12. As noted above~ the REPEAT PLAY position cannot ~195~9 be reached by simply moving the knob 29 from the OFF position to the adjacent REPEAT PLAY position. The knob 29 must first be moved to the REJECT position, so that the turntable motor is turned on, and then moved back to the REPEAT PLAY position. With this arrangement the single knob 29 is employed to provide functions requiring several knobs in conventional changers.
In accordance with a further important aspect of the present invention, the base plate 10 is provided with a central depressed portion 28. Most of the parts of the record changing mechanism per se are mounted on the top and bottom of the central depressed base plate portion 28, which is eccentric with respect to the spindle 18 to permit such mounting, thereby eliminating the conventional base plate subassemblies which are normally employed to mount the operative parts of the record changing mechanism. By employing the central base plate portion 28 as a support for the control levers and other parts of the record changing mechanism, the number of parts required is substantially reduced and in addition the amount of time required to assemble these parts in production is also substantially reduced. More particularly, a cycling gear indicated generally at 30 is rotatably mounted on a post 32 which is secured in the central base plate portion 28 and extends upwardly there-from, the gear 30 being retained on the post 32 by any suitable means such as the C washer 34. A sleeve bearing 36 is mounted in the eccentric portion 28 of the base plate 10 and the spindle 18 is secured within the bearing 36. A turntable hub 38 is rotatably mounted on the sleeve bearing 36 and rests on a thrust bearing indicated generally at 40 which is positioned about the bottom end of the sleeve 36 and rests on the central base plate portion 28. The hub 38 is retained on the bearing 36 by means of the O-ring 37.

In order to drive the turntable hub 38 a turntable driving motor 40 (FIG. 5) is mounted on the underside of the base plate 10 beyond the portion 28 and the shaft 42 thereof extends upwardly through an openinq 44 in the base plate 10. - -A drive turret having a 45 rpm step 46 and a 33 rpm step 48 is mounted on the shaft 42 above the base plate 10 and a ..........
flexible belt 50 is e~ployed to interconnect one of the ---.... ......
turret steps 46, 48 with the turntable hub 38, the belt 50 ............
riding on the periphery of the hub 38. --...... ....
In accordance with an important aspect of the --..........
present invention, the turntable 12 is not directlv con- !
nected to the turntable hub 3~, but instead rests on a thin ...........
~ d relatively wide washer 52 which is positioned between c... ...
the upper surface o' the turntable hub 38 and the bottom , -surface of the turntable 12 adjacent a central dePressed t~
r -: ~
portion 54 of the turntable 12. The washer 52 is made of ~
low coe_ficient of friction material, such as Te'lon or ~ -the like. With this arrangement, the turntable 12 may be s~opped during t e record changing cycle, by brake means ~-t~ be described in more detail hereinafter, so that the ~-.. .:
turntabl~ 12 is stationar when a record is dropped onto ~=
it. This construction also permits the turntable hub 38 , .. .
to be continuously driven from the motor 40 during the ~ .. .
~ecord changing cycle, the washer 52 pxoviding a suffic~
iently low coefficient of friction bearing to per it stop- - -........
ping of the tul-ntable 12 without placing an excessive load on .........
he motor 40, and without requiring disengaqement of the ,.,.,.,.", driving means between turntable and turntable hub by some -. .
means such as elevating or lowering of either the turntable . .. ..:
hub 38 or the turntable 12. ~ suitable turntable mat 56 ~
.:....
may be positioned on the upper surface of the turntable 12 . ..
~ .

11~952~9 to provide a cushion ~or rccords deposited on the turntable 12. The turntable 12 is retained in the hub 38 by means of .. . . ..
an'O-ring 39 and the central opening in the turntable 12 ', rides on the upper shaft portion 41 of the hub 38 which acts ''-as a bearing for the turntable during braking. '''' In order to drive the main cycling gear 30 during --"
. :. :. .
a record changing cycle, the turntable hub 38 is provided ~ith ',,,'',,',',,' pinion gear teeth 58 at the bottom end thereof which are aclap- ~
.......
ted to engage the peripheral gear teeth of the gear 30. ~io~
ever, during the playing cycle the gear 30 is detented in a --home position in which a mutilated portion 60 of the gear 30 i5 opposite the gear teeth 58 so that these teeth are not in mesh during the ~laying cycle.
In order to initiate a record changins cycle, a '' ''-single velocity trip lever 62 (~I~,. 1) is ~ivotally mounted ,,~
on the upper face of the ~ear 30 by means of a pin portion ~','','' ~ ^...
61 which is positioned within the central bore of a down-~
wardly extending housin'g portion 63 (FIG. 5) of the main ~'-,-,'--,, ,.. : .:
gear 30, the lever 62 being provided with an ups.anding ~:::,,',,-, :..-- -.._ flange portion 66 (FIG. 1) in which a vertically extending shoulder 68 is for ed. The shoulder 6~ is arranged to be = ' ~
struck by a flange 70 provided on the central sleeve portion --'~,'''',, of the turntable hub 38 above the gear 53 when the shoulder portion 66 of the velocity trip lever 62 is moved inwardly '','-by`a predeter ined amount. Movement of the velocity trip -' -lever 62 is effected at the end of t,he plaving cycle by '-'''' means of a velocity tripping mechanism to he described in more detail her~inafter. As soon as the velocity trip lever 62 has been pivo ed by an amount sufficient to bring the shouldel- 6 into the pa~h of the flange 70, the gear 30 is rotated by engagement sof these members bv an amount such that the gear teeth o~ the turntable hub gear 58 engage the adjacent teeth of t e gear 30 and rotate the gear 30 through one revolution d~ring the record c angin~ cycle.

~1195~9 In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, rotation of the main gear 30 is employed to effect the desired lifting and rotation of the tone arm -~
14 by means of two mem~ers which are interconnected with the tone arm su~assembly 20 in such manner that they mav be readily disconnected. With this arrangement, the tone arm subassembly 20 may be separately manufactured and tested ... .....
pxior to installation in the ~ase plate 10, after which in- -stallation connection may be readily made to the automa~ic ---record changing mechanism through these interconnecting ele-ments. Furthermore, these interconnecting elements are so ---constructed that ~arping or bending of the base plate 10 does - -not interfere with the proper operation o~ the changer during the record changing cycle or introduce errors in the set down ~ -adjustment of the tone arm 14 or the velocity tripping mech- r~
anism therefor. ~
.. ..
TQNE A~ LIFTI~G l~l~.CHA~IlISr~

Considering first the manner in which the tone arm t -=
~ .. .
14 is lifted off of a record on the turntable 12 at the begin~
ning of the record chanqing c~cle, a tone arm lift rod indica-ted generally at 72 (FIG. 3) is provided with a right angle en~ portion 74 which is mounted in spaced apart bearings in the tone arm subasse bly 20. ~lore particularly, the tone arm --~
....
subasse ~ ly 20 includes a main housing 76 wllich is provided - - - -.
with a pair of downwardly extending posts 78 and 80. A plate ---82 is mounted on the posts 78 }~`1 means of the screws 84 and 86 (FIG. 22). The housing 76 inc~udes an upstanding portion 8~ which is provided with a vertically extending bore 90 which is adatped to receive the upper end of the right angle portion 7~ of the tone ar lift rod 72. The upper end of the bore gO is arranged to form a bearing for the upper end i -18 ~1195~9 of the right anglc portion 74 and the plate 82 orms a lower bearing for this right angle end portion 74. ~s a result, the lift rod 72 is supported by these two spaced - -. .
apart bearings so that it may be smoothly raised and ~
...:..-....
lowered. The upper end of the right angle end portion -.. .
74 is threaded and an adjustable cap 92 is threadcd onto .. .:
the upper end of the right angle end portion 74, the cap --..
92 being arranged to engage the undersurface of a flat ---. :.::
plate portion 94 of the tone arm 14. - -.. .
The plate 82 is pro~rided ~ith a downwardly -~
. .- . . .
extending offset flange portion 96 which has an inclined ca ~ ing surface 98 for~ed in the bottom edge thereof. c -~
~.=.-The tone arm lift rod 72 is biased upt~ardly into engage- --..........
ment with the camming surface 98 by means of a coil s~ring ,~
100 the bottom end of ~hich is hooked around the tone arm c ..... ...
lift rod 72. The springlOO extends upwardly through an r::::, ::
opening 102 (FIG. 22) formed in the plate 82 and into the ~: -..... ..
interior of an upwardly extendin~ housing 104 formed in ' ~
~ . ., the plate 82. The upper end of the spring 100 is secured to the top wall of the housina 104. The other en~ of the ~:
c:~
lift rod 72 is provided with a right angle end portion 106 L,,~,~,-.
l :-..:

which is biased into engagement with a depending cam indi- r.-...... -'' cated generally at 108 (FIG. 7), which is formed in the .:.:
bottom surface of the gear 30, this biasing force being , 2S achieved by virtue of the upward force exerted by the ... . .:
sprin 100 adjacent the inclined cam ing surface 98 which - ~
-..:.~
tends to rotate the end portion 106 of the lift rod 72 .
toward the center of the gear 30.
.... - .
When the gear 30 starts to rotate at the begin- -.. .:
ning of the record changing cycle the end portion 106, - which is continuously biased into engagement ~ith the cam .. :-.. ::
108 by virtue of the twisting action produced by the ..

, -19- ~

... . . .

11~'35~9 upt~ard force of the s~ring 100 in relation to the inclined ca~ ing surface 98, follows the portion 110 of the cam 108 with the result that the lift rod 72 is pivoted about the above-described bearings for the end portion 74 thereof.
.
However, since the spring 100 is continuously urging the --lift rod 72 upwardly, as this rod is rotated it is also -bodily llfted upwardly as it rides along the cam surface --98. Accordingly, the end portion 106 may be rotated by ~- --..,,,.,.,.,.,.,:, an mount sufficient to permit the lift rod 72 to be lifted up - -to the position shown in ~IG. 4 ~herein the portion 106 of the - --rod 72 engages the end of the slot 114 (FIG. 25) in the hase plate 10. The flange 96 is also provided with sto~s 111, 112 at either end of the cam surface 98 to limit movement o the rod 72 during assembly. ~s this uward movement of the lift rod 72 occurs, the cap 92 on the upper end of the end portion - -74 of the lift rod engages the plate 94 and lifts the tone -arm upwardly off of the record which has just heen played on the turntable 12. In this connection it should be noted , ...
that the tone ar 14 is sho~n in FIGS. 3 and a in a position ....- ...
over the rest post 22. I~o~ever, a similar liftin~ action is --provided by the lift rod 72 when the tone arm 14 is restina -on a record seated on the turntable 12. --The end portion 106 of the lift rod 72 extends --, .. -., upwardly through a slot 114 ~FI~. 7) formed in the base plate 10 so that the upper portion of the end portion 106 may be biased into engagement with the cam 08 as described heretofore. The spring 100 maintains the lift rod 72 in an elevated position after the end portion 106 has been moved out of engagement with the cam portion 110 so that the tone arm remains in an elevated position during the portion of the record changing cycle durlng which the next record is being deposited on the turnta~le and the tone arm is moved :

; -20 s 1~9529 `
inwardly to the correct record si~e position, as ~iill be described in m~re detail hereinafter. However, near ~ e end of the record changing cycle the end portion 106 of the lift rod 72 engages the cam portion 116 of the cam 108. The --5 cam portion 116 is not as steep as the cam portion 110 and -hence the tone arm is gently lowered to the surface of the record on the turntable 12 as the end portion 106 is engaged by the cam portion 116 and moved outwardly and the lift rod 72 is cammed do~m the surface 98 against the force of the spring 100. Very close to the end of the record changing cycle the end portion 106 enga~es an intermediate portion 118 (FIG. 26) of the cam 108. The portion 118 is formed , =
along an arc having the center of the gear 30 as its center -: .
so that the biasing force ~hich is exerted by the end portion 106 on the cam 108 and hence the gear 30, is constant and min- - -. .
imized as the gear 30 approaches its home or detent position.
In this connection it will be noted that the end portion ln6 ---moves upwardly relative to the cam portion 110 as the lift rod is bodily moved upwaxdly at the beginning of the record changing cycle. Also the end portion 106 is moved downwar~ly relative to the cam portion llG as the tone arm is lowered.
However, no upward or downward movement of the end portion 106 relative to the cam portion 118 is experienced as the end portion 106 traverses the cam portion 118 so that mini-mal forces are exerted on the gear 30 as it approaches the detent position. In this connection it will be noted that raising and lowering of the tone ar 14 is achieved solely in response to rotation of the end 106 of the lift rod 72 --~
as controlled by the c m 108 so that an e~.tremely simple and yet eficient and smoothly acting tone arm lift arrange-- ment is provided in accordance with the present invention.

i 1119S,~9 Furthermore, it is pointcd out that the amount of lift is determined at the tone arm subassembly 20 by the cam sur-face 98 and warpa~e of the base plate does not change the height of the tone arm lift as it ~ould with conventional linear motion slides which are directly connected to the main cycling gear. It is also pointed out that the lift ~-- -rod 72 functions smoothly ~ith relativelv little force because the cam surface 98 is ~ositioned quite a distance r'~
from end portion 74 ahout which the rod 72 pivots. This construction permits the cam surface 98 to have a qradual `-slope, whereas if this c~m were placed close to the end --74 it would have to be relatively steep and subs-;antial --additional force would be re~uired to move along it. J]ow-ever, the cam surface 9~ can be spaced away from the end 74 only because spaced apart bearings are provi~ed for the end 74, as described heretofore, so that the rod 72 may be lifted ~--smoothly and with little force eYerted thereon.

HORIZONT~L TO~ A ~ ~O~ ENT ---C~nsidering no~ the manner in which the tone arm 14 is moved horizontally, in accor~ance with an important aspect of he present invention a drive trip link 120 is employed to interconnect the gear 30 with the tone a ~ 14 r"=","
- so that the tone a ~ is moved outwardly during the first ---portion of the record changing cycle and is then moved -inwardly over the record which has been de~osited on the --turntable 12 and into enga~ement with the leac-in ~roove of this record. The drive trip linl 120 also acts as a velocity rip actuating me ~ er d~ring the playing cycle.
The link 120, which may be simply a stiff wire, is con-nectec~ to the gear 30 at a point offset from the center thereof ~y means of a clutch mechanism indicated generally at 122. The othe~ end of the link 120 is connected to a i `? lll9SZ9 `

tone arm ~uadrant member 124 (FIG. 2) which is connected to and moves with the tone arm 14 by means to be described in detail hereinater. More particularly, the lin); 120 is pro- -vided with a right angle end portion 126 which extends through the central opening in a bushing 128 which is loosely posi- -tioned in a slot 130 formed in the quadrant 124. As best illustrated in FIG. 11 the bushing member 128 is provided with a head portion 132 which rides on the upper surface of the quadrant 124 beyond the edges of the slot 130. ~ light coil ...... ..
spring 134 is positioned between an enlarged end portion 136 at the bottom of the bushin~ 12S and the underside of the ~uadrant 124 so that a light clutch force is provided to pre~
vent the member 128 from moving within the slot 130 unless --this force is overcome. However when the member 128 is moved into engagement with either end of the slot 130 a posi- - -, . -. . .-:, tive drive connection is provided between the link 120 and --E:.' :'.'','.'.
the quadrant 124. ~-Considering now in more detail the clutch 122, an L--opening 140 is formed in the main gear 30 which communicates t~
with a recess 142 of larger diameter on the underside of the ~-, .. ...
gear 30. A central annular wall 144 is formed in the gear . -:: . ,.
30 adjacent the opening 140 and an outer annular ~all 146 is -..... .....
als for ed in the gear 30, the outer wall 146 having a pair -~-........
of opposed cam actuating shoulders 148 and 150 formed therein ::::::
which project upwardly above the top of the central annular ~
wall 144. A clutch drive pivot 152 is loosely mounted for rotation in the opening 140 in the gear 30 and is provided --with a narrow slot 154 which extends upwardly from the bottom ....- .. .-.
of the member of the pivot 152 and is adapted to receive the end portion of the drive-trip link 120. The legs 15G and 1;8 -which are formed in the pivot 152 by virtue o the slot 154 .-are provided with offset fle~ible end portions lG0 and 162 .
... . . . . . . . . .. .

which terminate in feet 164 and i66 which are adapted to engage the recess 142 of the gear 30 when the pivot 152 .
is moved to an elevated position within the opening 140.
: ..: . ..
The pivot 152 is also provided ~ith opposed shoulders 168 and 170 which are adapted to rest on the upper surface of . .
the central annular wall 144 when the pivot 152 is in the declutched or velocity tripping position shown in FIG. 8.
In order to assemble the pivot 152 within the gear 3~ the .... .
opening 140 is provided with o~posed grooves 1~2 and 17~ IG.14) --which permit the pivot 152 to he inserted upwardly through the`opening 140 after ~lhich the pivot 152 is rotated and .: .-.
the end of the drive-trip link 120 which is inserted into . .
the groove 154 and can then rest on the upper surface of ,........
the ~tall as shown in PIG. 8. --Considering now the operation of the above-described ~ -............
clutch~122 and dxive-trip lin} 120 in moving the ~one a ~ 14 - -- ....
outwardly to t~le rest post 22 and then returning the tone arm r~
to the desired set down position during the record changing -:
, . . .
cycle. During the initial portion of the record changing -.
cycle while the tone arm 14 is being lifted o~f of the ~
L... .:::
record as described heretofore the clutch 122 does not ,...- ,, interconnect the gear 30 Witl the link 120 so that no out- --ward movement of the tone a ~ is produced during the tone a ~ lifting operation. This is because the lin~ 120 remains loosely positioned uithin the slot 154 of the drive pivot ---152 as the gear 30 is moved from the position shown in FIG. --13 to the position shown in FIG. 14. During this movement - -of the gear 30 the drive pivot 152 is however rotating slightly relative to the gear 30 since the pivot 152 is :
maintained in alignment with the lin~ 120 by virtue of the fact that the link 120 extends through the transverse slot . -15~ in the pivot 152.

~il95Z9 l~hen the gear 30 approaches the position shown in FIG. 14-the lin~ 120 rides up the inclined portions 1~0, 182 . . .
formed in the outer wall 146 and onto the upper surface of -: -..... -:
the opposed shoulders 14~, 150. As this occurs, the lin~
: :-.
120 engages the top of the groove 154 and lifts the pivot -;
152 upwardly until the feet 164, 166 thereof are biased into ,.,", engagement with the recess 142 in the gear, as shown in PIG.
9. The shoulders 14~, 150 are made of sufficient height ............
that tlle feet 164, 166 engage the gear 30 with sufficient force to clutch the drive-trip lin); to the gear 30 as the gear . -.
continues to rotate. However, this frictional force is not so great as to prevent the pivot 152 from rotating relative -.. ...
to the gear 30 since the pivot 152 must remain alisned t~ith the lin~ 120 which extends through the notch 154 therein, .. ...
and the other end of the lin~ 120 is pivotally connected -:
to the quadrant 124 of the tone arm mechanism, as described -.
-in detail heretofore. During this rotary movement of the pivot 152 with respect to the gear 30 the feet 164, 166 slip r''.'';''''' : ' ~'""".'.''':
along the surface of the recess 142 while maintaining the ' -~
above-described frictional force for the lin~ 120.
-..-....:..
: As soon as the link 1~0 is moved upwardl~ into ~ --. .
engagement with the upper surface of the shoulders 148, 150 the link 120 becomes clutched to the gear 30 and as the gear -----:.. -:
continues to rotate the link 120 moves outwardly. If the velocity tri~ clutch bushing 128 is not positioned at the -- -rear of the slot 130 in the quadrant 124, this initial out- --ward movement of the lin~ moves the member 129 to the outer : . .: .
end of slot 130 after which point the tone ar 14 is moved outwardly with the lin~- 120 as the gear continues to rotate.
The tone arm 14 is moved outwardly until it engages a bloc~-ing shoulder 184 on the rest post 22 the shoulder 1~4 e~tend-ing upwardly a substantially greater distance th~n the inner ..: ..

l~9S2~
shoulder 186 o~ the rest post 22. The relative position of the link 120 and thc clutch 122 as the tone arm is moved into engagement with the rest post shoulder 184 is shown in ..
FIG. 15.
Since the tone arm cannot move further outwardly when it engages the shoulder 184, as the gear 30 continues to rotate the clutch 122 permits such further rotation by slippage between the lin}~ 120 and the clutch 122. More ~ --particularly, while the frictional force with which the ;: .:.....
feet 164, 166 engage the gear 30 is sufficient to move the .
tone arm outwardly, as descrihed heretofore, this force is not too great that it cannot ~e overcome ~hen the tone arm .:,:.
strikes an obstruction such as the shoulder 184. l1hen such an obstruction is encountered the lin}; 120 slides over the ,. . .
upper surface of-the shoulders 148, 150 and also slides r relative to the pivot 152 by virtue of a sliding action of the link 120 in the bottom of the qroove 154. ~ccordingl~, r as the gear 30 continues to rotate from the ~osition shown ~ . .--. . .
in FIG. 15 to the position shown in FIG. 16 the clutch 122 ~ --... .
continues to urge the tone arm against the shoulder 18~
.....
while the link 120 slides relative to the clutch 122 to ~: -...........
- the position shown in FI~. 16. However, as soon as the ~
link 120 rides down the inclined portions 188, 190 formed ~--- in the outer wall 1~6 the feet 164, 166 of the pivot 152 are no longer biased in~o engagement with the gear 30 so --that the link 120 becomes disengaged from the gear 30 . . . -while the tone arm 14 remains in its position in contact with the shoulder 184 of the rest post 22.
. . .
After the gear 30 has been rotated to the posi---tion shown in FIG. 17 the link 120 again r des up the in clined portions 180, 182 so that the gear 30 again becomes clutched to the link 120. ~s the gear 30 continues to j -26-;~ ) r 11~9529 rotate from the position shown in FIG. 17 to the position shown in FIG. 18 the lin~ 120 is first moved so that the velocity trip clutch bushing 128 is moved to the fon~ard ','',, end of the slot 130 and thereafter the lin~ 120 functions ',''''' to move the tone,arm inwardly. By disconnectins the lin~
.:..:...- .
120 from the ~ear 30 during travel from the position shown ''', in FIG. 17, the tone arm can remain in its position over ,',-,,,~' the rest post for a longer period of time while tlle next ,,' ,' record is bein~ deposited on the tuxntable 12. This in~
ward movement of the tone arm ~uadrant 124 continues until the twelve-inch record positioning shoulder 192, which is '' formed in the quadrant 124, strikes the upturned flange por- ',-'' tion 194 o, a size selector slide 196. mhe slide 196 is ',,,',', manually positioned at the twelve-inch position by means to ,-,' be described in more detail hereinafter. ~ihen the shoulder -''~
~,.. ,.:,,.
192 of the quadrant 124 strikes the size selector flange r 194 further inward movement of the tone arm is prevented. ,,,''',' .:,:.,.
However, since the gear 30 continues to rotate the clutch ',,''',,'''' ~..,-..-,:,, 12Z again per~its sliding movement of the linX~ l~n relative ',,,', to the shoulders 14~, 150 and the ~ivot 152, as described '-~
heretofore in connection with FIGS. 15 and 16. It should , be noted that as the gear rotates from the position shown .',-,'''', , , .
in FIG. 18 to the position sho~m in FIG. 19, a constant '-'`',' -pul'l is exerted on the link 120 so that the velocity trip ,~
''clutch bushing 128 remains positioned at the for~ard end ',''''' of the slot 130 in the quadrant 124. The velocity tripping ,'',,''' mechanism is thus continuously urged to the proper reset ,'',,' position of the velocity trip clutch during movement of the gear from the position sho~m in FIG. 18 to the position shown in FIG. 19.
When the gear 30 reaches the position shown in ',' FIG. 16 the lin~ 120 rides down the shoulders 188, 190 i -27-~ 35Z9;
so that the gear 30 thereafter becomes disconnected from the link 120 as the gear 30 is returned to the detent or home ....
p-osition shown in FIG. 1. In the detent position the link 120 is completely free to move since the pivot 152 is now '.,.',' supported by engagement of the shoulders 168, 170 thereof .......
with the upper surface of the inner wall 144. Furthermore, .,.-',.. -the lin~ 120 is positioned approximately mid~Jay hetween the .,,.. '''.
shoulders 148, 150 and rests loosely within the slot 154 in '.. '.... '.
the pivot152, as shown in FIG. ~. -.. -.,'.,.-.
.....
VELOCITY TRIPPING MECHANIS~I -'."'".~
' In accordance with an important aspect of the ......
,....
present invention the link 120 is also used durin~ the pl2y- . -ing cycle as a velocity trip actuating member. ~ore parti- ,''''.. ',,-'.
cularly, the link 120 is moved to the position shown ln .,-.... '''.-FIG. 1 at the start of the playing cycle with the velocity .. -.-trip clutch member 128 positioned at the forward end o the ' -..,....' .--. . .
slot 130. As the tone arm moves in~ardly over the record - ..............
during the playing cycle the link 120 moves with the tone ,,.. ','.,.,' ..... :.. .
arm quadrant.124 due to the light force exerted bv the .~
;......
spring 134 on the under side of the tone arm quadrant 124. .'',.. -'',.'.'-'.' This light force is sufficient to move the link 120 axially ,''.'.. '.'...... ' .......
through the slot 154 in,he drive pivot 152 without disturbing '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'~
,- .:: ., the,position of the velocity trip clutch member 128 relative ' ,. to the slot 130. Since the link 120.rests looselv upon the ''~
. . .
inner ~7all 144 of the gear 30 during,this movement, an ex- ,,,,'.......... '~
tremely light clutch force can be supplied by the spring 134.
As the tone arm nears the end of the record the ., ::
lin~ 120 is moved to a position where the end thereof engages ',''.'-'.
the upstanding flange 66 of the velocity trip lever 62 which ':'-.'' :....
is pivotally mounted on the gear 30. The lever 62 is mounted ''.. ., on the gear 30 so that it may be moved with a very light force ,'.. ' and hence the end of the link 120 moves the lever 62 without '

-2~-.
~9529 moving the bushing 128 within the sloL 130. ~lowever, as the tone arm nears the end of the record the flange 70 on the turntable hub stri~es the edge portion 67 (FIG. 16) of the flange 66 adjacent the shoulder 68 each revolution and moves the lever 62 and hence the link 120 out~Jardly a slight -amount against the force of the velocity trip spring 134. -...-....
This force is, of course, not sufficient to interfere with --inward stylus tracking of the record over the last fet~ -.-. - .
grooves of the record. As a result, the hushing 128 is . . . -- - . .
moved rearwardly in the slot 130 as the last fe~ playing grooves of the record are encountered.
When the runout groove of the record is encountered the link 120 is moved ra?idly int~ardlv with the tone arm so that the lever 62 is pivoted by a substantial amount and the shoulder 68 thereof is moved into the path of the flange 70 on the turntable hub 38. ~Jhen the flange 70 stri~es the -- -shoulder 68 the gear 30 is rotated slightly so as to initiate ~-a record changing cycle in ~he manner described in detail --.:. . .-.-.-,, heretofore. This velocity tripping action of the link 120 ' =~
, .. .....
~0 is made possible by virtue of the fact that the clutch 122 , ~-disconnects the link 120 from the ~ear 30 in the detent position of the gear 30 as described in detail heretofore. ~ -In this connection it will be noted that the velocity trip clutch connection of the lin} 120 to the quadrant 124 is always r~set to the maximu range during the record changing cycle because the bushing 128 is pulled to the fo~Jard end of the slot 130 by the lin~ 120 as the gear 30 rotates. Fur-thermore, this resetting action lasts until near the end of he record changing cycle when the gear 30 becomes discon-nected fr~ the lin~ 120 (FIG. 19). This positive resetting of the bushing 128 also positions the end of the lin}; 120 correctly in relation to the tone arm 14. Accordingly, the osition of the velocity tripping pawl 62 when it is initially , . . .. . . . . .. . , , . .. . , . _ . . . .

` 1119529 .
engaqed by the end of the lin}~ 120 may va ~ without intcr-fering with proper velocity tripping since the link is cor-rectly registered with respect to the tone arm at the start of the playing cycle. However, the pawl 62 is prevented from moving into the path of the flange 70 as the gear 30 is detented by proper choice of the gears 58 and 30. Pref-erably, the ratio of teeth 5~ on the hub 38 to the ratio of teeth on the gear 30 is such that there is an even ratio plus two teeth on the gear. As the gear 30 is detented the -gears 58, 30 are timed so that the flange 70 is in the path of the edge portion 67 of the velocity trip pawl 62 an~ hence prevents the pawl 62 from moving outwardly by an amount su -ficient to position the shoulder 68 in the path of the flange --70. Preferablv, the gear 58 has twenty-one teeth and the gear 30 has 128 teeth. ..
. _.::
It is also pointed out that the above-described - -velocity trip clutch may be eliminated and the link 120 piv- - - --otally connected directly to the quadrant 124. In such case ---a two-par~ ~or more) velocity trip pawl arrangement may be employed instead of the single pawl 62, as will be readilv --understood by those skilled in the art. However, such two~
plate velocity trip mechanisms are subject to random align- ~--. .--ment which is usually overcome hy providing more friction -~
between the two plates. hen such heavy friction is employed, velocity tripping with light tone arm forces in the order of one gram or less is not possible, hereas with the velocity tripping arrangement described in detail heretofore reliable -velocity tripping is provided with tone arm forces of less than one gram.
The velccity trip~ing pa~l 62 may be reset to its initial or rest position shown in FIG. 1 by any one of a number of arrangements. One such arrangement is shown in .. . . .. ... . ... . . . . . ... .

lil95zg FIG. 16 7herein the intermediate portion of the link 120 is employed to reset the pawl 62 as the gear 30 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 16 to the position shot~n in ~IG. 17. More particularly, as the gear 30 continues to rotate from the position shown in FIG. 16, the inclined top edge 200 of the flange portion 66 of the pawl 62 strikes -,- . - .
the lin 120. As the link 120 cams upwardly over the edge ---200 the pa-71 62 is moved inwardly away from the edge of the gear to the position shown in FIG. 1 as the link 120 rides --over the top surface of the flange 66. In the alternative -~ -, the gear teeth 58 of the turntahle hub 38 may enqage the outwardlv projecting portion 67 of the pawl 62 and move i-.- . ''.,'':
this pawl back to its initial position shown in FI~. 1 as r. . .
the gear 30 approaches the detent position at the end of ~ -the record changing cycle. F:::-~:::.-.::.::.
~ CORD SIZE SE~ECTIO~
~. . . -- . .
Considering now the manner in which the size r`
selector slide 196 is positioned for seven-inch or twelve- ~ ;
inch records, it will be recalled from the general descri~
tion heretofore, that the control ~nob 27 is emploved as a co ~ ined record size and speed selector and may be moved --between either a 33-1/3 rpm position of a 45 rpm position. ~ --The control knob 27 is connected to an a ~ portion 204 of a speed-size lever 206 (FIG. 6), the portion 204 extending out beyond the edge of the tone arm-housing 20 through a slot 208 provided therein. The lever 206 is pivotally mounted beneath the base plate 10 by means of a tongue portion 210 which e~tends upwardly through an opening 212 in the base plate 10. A spring wire 214 engages the tongue 210 on the top surface of the hase plate 10, one end of the w-re 214 being provided with an offset end portion which - .
extends downwardly throu~h an opening 21G in the base plate ~195~9 10 and the other end of the wire 214 being provided with an offset end portion 21~ tYhich is positioned beneath the base plate 10. The lever 2OG is provided ~ith an upturned flange 220 (~IG. 13) which rides in an opening 222 in the base plate -10 and is urged against the ~all 224 thereof by th~ spring --219. The wall 224 defines a pair of detent positions for - :
the knob 27 corresponding to the twelve-inch 33-1/3 rpm posi- : -tion or the seven-inch 45 rPm POsition. The control lever .:. ,-.-.....
206 is provided with a do~nwardly extendina post 26 (FIG. 6) which is connected to the size selector slide 196 bv means of a wire link 228. One end of the link 228 is ~rovided with an offset end portion 230 which extends into an open- - -~
...... ::-ing in the slide 196 and the other end of the wire 228 is snappe~ into a groove at the botto~ end of the post 226.
2~ovement of the si2e selector slide 196 is gui~ed --by means of a slot 232 (FIG. 22) in the slide 196 through which the right angle end portion 74 of the tone arm lift ---~
rod 72 extends, and a slot 234 in the end of the size selector ----slide 196 which is positioned bv means of a pin portion 236 --(FIG. 6) which extends downwardly from a stud 238 formed in the tone arm base member 76. The stud 238 is of rectangular ~--cross section so that portions thereof adjacent the pin 236 -. -act as a fulcrum for the end of the size selector slide 196. : -:.... -.-.
The slide 196 is continuously urged upwardly by means of a . .
flexible arm portion 240 of the plate 82, the arm 240 being provided with the right angle end portion 2~2 which engages .
the underside of the slide 196 adjacent the fulcrum formed --. ....
by the stud 238. ---The flexible arm 240 pivots the si~e selector --~
slide 196 about the fulcrum formed by the stud 238 so that -~
the slide 196 is biased into en~agement ~ith a pair of pro- -jecting lu~ portions 2~4 (FIG. 6) formed on the o~posite lil9529 sides of the right angle end portion 74 of the tone ar lift rod 72. Accordingly, the size selector slide 196 is contin- .....
uously biased by the arm 240 to follow vertical movements of ..... -....:
the lift rod 72. When the lift rod 72 is elevated at the -. .
beginning of the record chan~ing cycle to raise the tone .~
arm off of the record, as described in detail heretofore, .. - .
- . .: ,.
the size selector 196 is also permitted to move upwardly ...
under the slight sprin~ force e~erted thereon bv the flexible .-arm 240. At the beginning of the record chan~in~ c~.~cle the tone arm quadrant 124 has not moved outwardly and hence the upstanding flange portion 194 of the slide 196 initially .. --engages the undersurface of the quadrant 124. ~lowever, .. ~.. -when this quadrant is moved out~ardly by the link 1?.0, as ....... -described in detail heretofore, the size selector slide .... -.
196 is pe ~ itted to move up~7ardly to the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the slide 196 is disengaged from the projec~
tions 244. In the position sho~m in ~IG. 4, the edge of .... -.-the flange 194 is positioned to engage the twelve-inch .- .
shoulder 192 of the quadrant 124 when the tone ar is again .-moved inwardly, as described in detail heretofore in connec- r.~
.. . :-:
-` ti~n with FIG. 18. - --.
When the speed control ~nob 27 is turned to the ... ~
seven-inch 45 rpm position the post 226 depending therefrom, ~
and hence the slide 196, is moved to the left, as viewed in .~
FIG. 6 so that the flange portion 194 of the slide 196 is -now positioned to engage the seven-inch shoulder 2~6 (FIG. 18) ..... -formed in ~e quadrant 12~. When the flange 194 is in engage-ment with the shoulder 246 of the quadrant 124 during a record changing cycle the tone ar 14 is positioned to engage the lead-in groove of a seven-inch record positioned on the turntable 12.

i~lgS~;'9 As discussed generally heretofore, the record changer of the present invention may also be arranged to play ten-inch 78 rpm records. To this end, the quadrant 124 is provided with a shoulder 248 which is positioned to be engaged by the flange portion 194 of the slide 196 and position the tone arm 14 for ten-inch records. If ten-inch 78 rpm records are to be played, the opening 222 in the base plate 10 is provided with a third detent lobe which is nearer the front of the changer than the 45 rpm detent position.
When the control lever 206 is moved to this 78 rpm position the slide 196 is correctly positioned to engage the quadrant shoulder 248. It will be noted that the successive detent positions of the lever 206 are arranged in order of increasing turntable speed rather than increasing record size, the shoulders 192, 246 and 248 being arranged on the quadrant 124 to correlate with the respective positions of the combined speed-size control knob 27.
When it is desired to rotate the turntable 12 at three different speeds, i.e. 33-1/3 rpm, 45 rpm and 78 rpm, a conventional three-speed idler wheel drive arrangement for the rim of the turntable may be substituted for the belt drive arrangement described heretofore. Such an idler wheel drive arrangement is shown in Dennis United States Patent No. 3,490,772 issued January 20, 1970. When an idler wheel drive arrangement is employed, the turntable brake feature described heretofore is eliminated, the washer 52 removed and the turntable 12 solidly connected to the hub 38. The control wire 302 would then control the three-speed idler wheel shifting mechanism shown in Dennis United States Patent No. 3,490,772 and would replace the control wire 124 shown in this patent.

~`

lll95Z9 `

TONE ~1 MOUNTING ~C~NISM

...........
Considerin~ now the manner in which the tone arm 14 is mounted for rotational and pivotal movement on the tone arm subassembly base member 76, a tone ar support post 250 (FIG. 6) is pivotally mounted between the upper end of -a sleeve housing 252 formed in the tone arm subassembly plate 76 and a well portion 254 for ed in the support plate 82. To --this end, a yoke 256 is secured to the recessed end portion 258 of the post 250 by means of the nut 260 which is threaded onto the upper threaded end of the post 250. The voke 256 is provided with a sleeve portion 262 which extends down-72rdly into the top of the housing 252 and is positioned between the t'-~
housing 252 and the upper end of the post 250. The sleeve 262 ,-thus ac.s as the upper bearing for the post 250. The post 250 is provided with a tapered end portion 264 tlhich is seated in ~-the weli 254 to Provide the bottom pivot for the post 250. The ~-upper portion 258 of the post 250 is provided with a double D --cross section which coo~erates ~,Yith a similarly shaped o~ening -in the yoke 256 so that the yoke 256 is accurately positioned relative to the post 250 when the sleeve 262 is inserted into the housing 252 and the nut 260 secured. 'F',::.,:.. ',::''.:,:
The quadrantl24 is positioned between two transversely ~..
extending blade portions 266 and 268 which are for ed integrally r-,''',:'.' with the post 250 and are provided with openings which are adap- -.... :...... .:
ted to receive the head portions 270, 272 of a set-down adjust-ment me er 274. The me ber 274 is provided with an eccentric intermediate portion 276 which is biased into engagement with a slot in the quadrant 124 by means of the spring 278. The upper end of the set-down adjustment member 274 extends through a slot 280 in the upper wall of the tone arm housing 76 and is Drovided with a slotted adjustment head 282 by means of which the member --274 may be rotated. The portions 266 and 2G8 are connected by ~195~9 integrally-formed ribs 267 and the spring 27~ e~tends between the ribs 267 and loads the quadrant 124 against the eccentric :.:::::::. ::
portion 276 and the post 250. To this end the quadrant 124 . -is provided with a first notch 269 for the eccentric portion ........
276 and a clearance slot 171 to accommodate the ribs 267 and spring ;
. . -., .
278(FIG.13). The quadrant 12~ is also provided with a bearing .-:: . .
slot 173 for the post 250. The head portions 270, 272 ride , ...........
in arcuate slots 175 in the portions 266, 26~. The quadrant ..-.- :..
124 is also provided with a clearance slot 177 which permits --.- .. ..
the tone arm 14 to move relative to the lift rod 74. ~hen -..:
the member 274 is rotated the quadrant 1~4 is moved relative .::.: :.:
to the tone arm yoke 256 so that an adjustment of the set~
........
down position of the tone arm 14 may be made. t',',''.'.,,''.,',','.,' ........ , _ The yoke 256 is provided ~tith the upstanding arm - -,.. .....
portions 284, 286 and the tone arm plate 94 is provided with , -! .. : .
- ear portions 288, 290 (FIG. 1) which are adapted to be moun-~ ... ...
tea in the upstanding a ~s 284, 2~6 of the yoke 56. In this ' --1.::.'':''.'' connection it will be understood that any other suitable tone arm arrangement may be mounted on the post 250 insofar as the '---~ .... .
present invention is concerned. ~lowever, such tone arm ar- E:

~ .... --rangement must have a smooth undersurface equivalent to the t-',,,,=,, ,.-.. '.. '' plate 94 against which the cap 92 may ride as the tone arm ---j 14 is moved outwardly and inwardly during ~e record changing L-y .- - ..
cycle. --: .:
.....
~ CORD SPEED SELECTION . :
: .. -.:
. :- .:
Considering now the manner in which the belt 50 is ... .
shifted from the turret 48 to the turret 46, and vice versa, ..... .
in accordance with movement of the speed-size control lever 206, the lever 206 is provided with an offset arm portion 300 (FIG. 2) to the end of which-is secured a control wire 302. ~he lever 206 is also provided with an arm 301, e~tend-ing in the opposite direction from the ar 300, ~hich rides on ; -36-1~19529 .

the under surface of the base pIate 10 and prevents the lever 206 from twisting as it is moved between the 33-1/3 ,-, rpm and 45 rpm positions. The wire 302 extends beneath ',''''', the base plate 10, around the depressed central base plate ','',',,'', portion 28 thereof and extends upwardly through an elong- '-''''''' ated slot 304 formed in the base plate 10. The control ---wire 302 is provided with an offset end portion 306 (FIG. '''''-...........
12) which extends through an opening in a first control ',', plate 308 which is pivotally mounted on the u~per side ,',',,,',~
of the base plate 10. ~lore particularly, the plate 308 is provided with a downturned flange 310 which is posi- -,,'''-tioned in a bow-tie-shaped opening 312 in the base plate ''''~
10. A second speed control member 314 is pivotally mounted on the plate 308 by means of a downwardly extending post -portion 316 on the member 314 which extends through a ~,'',';
circular bearing hole 318 in the plate 308 and through an r'.',,,','".,',', elongated arcuate,slot 320 in the base plate 10. The stud l:
316 is formed with a head portion 322 which retains a coil ~,,,,',',,,' spring 324 positioned between the head 322 and a washer 323 on the underside of the base plate 10. While the me~ ers 308 and 314 are pivotally interconnected by means ~,'',, of the stud 316, this stud may itself move within the slot 320. However, the me ~ er 314 is also provided with a guide t~
post 326 which extends through an elongated slot 328 in the ~, base plate 10. ',',-,,,,,-The control plate 308 is provided with an upstand~
ing flange 330 which includes an inc-lined shoulder portion 332. The shoulder portion 332 is adapted to engage the belt -~
50, when the belt is riding on the 45 rpm turret 46, and urge the belt 50 upwardly into engagement with the 33 rpm turret 48 when the control lever 27 is moved fro~ the 45 to the 33 rpm position. The co trol me ~ er 3 4 is provided 195~9 ~ ~

with a vertically extending flange portion 334 ~hich termin-ates in a curved offset end portion 336 the outer ed~e of :
which is formed to provide an inclined shoulder 338.
. .
When the control ~;nob 27 is moved from the 33 rpm , -. .
position sho~rn in FIG. 1 to the 45 rpm position sho~n in FIG.
.-12A the resultant movement of the arm portion 300 o the lever ~
,.-.. ..
206 moves the wire 302 so that the control plate 308 and con-trol member 314 are moved in a scissors type action from the --....
position sho~n in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FI~. 12~.
. ..: ..-.
In so doing the flange portion 330 of the control plate 308 is first moved away from the belt 50 after ~hich the flange por- -. ..
tion 336 is moved into engagement with the belt S0 ~hich is ....... :,::
running on the turret 48 and the inclined shoulder portion -:-...: .:,:
338 of the member 31~ forces the belt do~mwardly over the ~5 :: :: ,.
rpm turret 46 as the control plate 308 continues to move out- !~.,.',',-'.".',,',,-, .::::-::':
wardly away from the belt 50 to the position sho~m in ~IG. 12.
!...,.: :
In a similar manner ~Jhen the control knob 27 is moved from the --! .. ,,'.', ....
45 rpm position to the 33 rpm position, the flange portion 336 i-!''''-''''.
of the me~her 314 is first moved back a~?ay from the ~elt 50 :: -.::.
after which the inclined shoulder 332 of the control plate .-,..::..
308 engages the belt 50 and shifts it upwardlv to tne 33 r~m . . .- .
turret 48. -~7hile the provision of the co~mon control ]cnob 27 -... .
to select size and speed has certain advantages, it is also -possible to control record size selection and turntahle speed - -selection by separate controls. This modification may be -~
........
very easily accomplished ~Jith the arrangement of the present -invention by connecting the ~ire 302 to a separate control -~
knob which may be located at any desired location on the -~
. ~ ~
base plate 10, such as in the front right hand corner of the base plate. The control };nob 27 then acts solely as a size selector to select the desired record diameter.
.

1~19529 `` ' A~TI-SI~TE ~1~C~IAI~ISM

Considering now the facilities t~hich are provided . .
in accordance with the present invention to prevent the . .
- needle of the tone arm 14 from s}~ating across the initial ..::...:::
grooves of the record as the tone arm lands on the lead-in --...-.:......
groove portion of the record, it ~ill be recalled from the .......
above description of the size selector slide 196 that this -:
me ber is biased upwardly by means of the flexible arm 240 - -and after the quadrant 124 has heen moved free of the right l:
~
angle flange 194 on the slide 196 this slide is no~ed up~
r wardly by the arm 240 to the position sho~;m in FIG. 4. T;lhen '~
~.-:::: ::
the slide is in the position sho-ln in FIGS. 4 and 21 the ~ :
vertical edge of the flange portion 194 of the slide 196 is ~ --positioned in the path of the ~uadrant 124 an~ hence the ~-shoulder 192 on the quadrant 12~ is moved into contact with .-.. -.:.:.:
the lower portion of this vertical edqe when the gear is in -,:.".,","''.', the position shown in FIG. 18.
In accordance with an iM?ortant aspect of the ~
,.,,:,., ,.".
present invention a controlled and limited s)~ating action ~
.... - -.
is provided for the tone arm 14 after it lands on the recora ~
~
to permit the stylus to find the lead-in ~roove of the record ~ -without sl~ating across the initial recorded grooves ol the ~~
records. This controlled skating action is accom~lished by ;, ma~ing the upper portion 340 of the vertical edge of the :: - .:-.
flange 194 slightly inclined ~ith respect to the vertical. -: .:
With such an arrangernent, ~hen the siide 196 is lot~ered in . . -synchronism ~ith the tone ar lift rod 72 at the end of the --. . .
record changing cycle, by enga~ement of the projections 244 - . . ~
with the upper surface o' the slide 196, the slide 196 is moved down~ardly as the tone arm s lot~ered onto the record.
The stylus en~ages the record t~hen the ~uadrant is even with the bottom end of the inclincd edge 340. ~ccordinqly, as ~ -39-lll~S29 the slide 196 continues to ~e los~ered the slight incline of the ed~e 340 permits the quaarant 124, and hence the tone -.. -.. ..
arm 14, to s);ate inwardly over the slick surface of the record in a controlled manner until it engages the lead-in 5 groove of the record. ~owever, the tone arm is prevented ..........
by this arrangement from skating-in~ardly in an uncontrolled manner over the initial recorded groo~es of ~he record.
....-This action is shown in FI~. 21 wherein the lowered position .........
of the slide 196 is shown in dottcd lines at 342. ~s the slide 196 is lot~ered to the position shown at 342, the ~uad-...
rant 124 is permitted to move slightl~ inwardlv as the shoulder ...... -.--:
192 thereof moves uP the inclined edge 340 of the flange por-tion 194 of the 51ide 196. In this connection it ~ill be .-. .:.
understood that at the end of the record changing c~cle the F. ' --''::
slide 196 is moved down~ardly by an additional a~ount suffic- ~ --ient to position the flange 194 entirely belo~ the botto~ sur- --face of the quadrant 124 so as to permit the tone arm to move i :.
inwardly over the record durinq the playinq cvcle. ~hus, the ~-L...,.. _..
controlled and limited s~;atinq action of the inclined edge 340 L-.-..:....
occurs only for a brief interval a~te r the tone arm has lande(l r''',''''' - on the record.
.:..: .....
An additional anti-skate provision may be made whereby a constant out~ard bias is exerted on the tone arm at all times. To this end~ a down~ardly-eYtending post 3~6 --.
is formed on the projecting arm portion 26~ of the tone arm --. .- . .-post 250 and a spring 348 is connected from the bottom end ::
of the post 346 to a downwardly projecting post portion 350 formed in the tone arm base me~ber 76. The spring 34~ e~.erts a slight out~ard force on the tone arm at all times and hence --is effective to provide an additiollal anti-s~ate force on the --tone arm as it lands on the lead-in groove portion of the record.
~lso, t}le constant ~ias provided by the spring 348 during the ; -40-playing cycle is desirable from the standpoint o~ minimizing wear on the records, as will be readil~ understood ~y those skilled in the art. It will be noted from FIG. 22 that as the tone arm is moved inwardly over the record, the post 3~6 moves in an arc about the center of the tone arm post 250 so that the spring 3~8 is not lengtilened appreciably and hence , .:, provides a substantially constant biasinq foxce on the tone ---, .- ...:... .
arm 14 during the plavinq cs~cle. --When the biasing sprin~ 343 is employe~ to ~ro-vide a constant bias on the tone arm 14 at all ti~es, it -continuously t~nds to mo~e the tone arm out-Jardly. ~ccord- --ingly, when the stvlus lands on the slic~; surCace of the l~
..
record the spring 348 may tend to pull the tone arm 1~ o f l--of the record. To prevent this, a slight frictional force ~--14 may be exerted on the quadrant 124 durin~ the record chanaing ~
~.".,,"...-,...
cycle. To provide such a frictional force, a plunger indica- ~-ted generally at 352 (FI~. 6) is mounted in a housing portion 35~ ~hich extends do~n~ardly from the ~late 82. The ~ottom ~--wall of the housing 354 is provided ~ith an o~ening throuah which the end portion 356 OL the plunger 352 ex~ends. Plun~er l: :
352 is thus captivated bet~een ~uadrant 124 and the housing 354. A coil spring 35~ is positioned bet~een the bottom wall of the housing 354 and the larger diameter intermediate por~
tion o~ the plunger 352 within the housin~ 354. The upper end 360 of the plunger 352 is of reduced diameter so as to define a shoulder which is positioned belo-~ the size selector slide --196. ~?hen the record changer is in a playing cycle, or is -~
turned off the slide 196 is in engagement with this shoulder and holds the plunger 352 down~ardly so that the u~per end of --the portion 360 thereo~ is positioned belo~ the bottom surface of the ~uadrant 12~

111S~5~

When the tone arm lift rod 72 is elevated at the beginning of a record changing cycle the size selector slide 196 is moved upwardly by an amount sufficient to permit the top portion 360 of the plunger 352 to engage the underside of the quadrant 124. Accordingly, a slight force is exerted, by means of the spring 358, on the plunger 352 and hence against the underside of the tone arm quadrant to provide the desired friction during the record changing cycle. It will be noted that the plunger 352 is permitted to engage the quadrant 124 even though the flange 194 of the selector slide 196 strikes the underside of the quadrant 124. Accordingly, the frictional force exerted by the plunger 352 is exerted on the tone arm as soon as it is lifted off of the record and before it is moved outwardly by an amount sufficient to clear the upstanding flange 194 of the slide 196. This frictional force is continuously exerted on the quadrant 124 until the slide 196 has been lowered below the position indicated in dotted lines at 342 in Figure 21 so that this frictional force is present as the stylus lands on the record and engages the lead-in groove thereof. This force is not removed until the end of the record changing cycle when the upper edge of the flange 194 has been moved below the quadrant 124.

The frictional force exerted by the plunger 352 on the quadrant 124 also functions to smooth out movement of the tone arm 14 during the record changing cycle. In this connection it is pointed out that the top portion 360 of the plunger 352 also rides in the slot 232 formed in the size selector slide 196 for different-sized records, as described in detail heretofore.
LAST RECORD SENSING AND SHUT-OFF
In the record changer of the present invention, the last record sensing mechanism is combined with the record 5~

ejecting mechanism provided at the spindle 18. With this arrangement the balance arm may be of simple construction and need not include any last record shutoff facilities as is conventional in many changers.
Furthermore, by accomplishing the last record sensing in the area of the spindle 18 and gear 30, the record changer mechanism is substantially simplified and no interconnection with the tone arm mechanism other than the above-described members 72 and 120 is required. This arrangement has the further advantage of rendering the record changer less sensitive to warpage and bending of the main base plate 10 and hence misalignment of the tone arm area with respect to the center of the base pla~e.
In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the last record sensing operation is accomplished by movement of the record ejector blade in the same direction as this blade moves to eject a record from the shelf of the spindle 18. Such an arrangement substantially simplifies the last record sensing mechanism, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Considering first the elements provided for ejecting a record from the shelf of the spindle 18, a push-off slide 370 ~Figure 5) is slidably mounted beneath the central portion 28 of the base plate 10. More particularly, the slide 370 is provided with a cam follower pin 372 which is secured to one end of the slide 370. The pin 372 is provided with a groove 374 which rides in the narrow portion of a keyhole slot 376 formed in the central portion 28 of the base plate 10.
A flange 378 extends downwardly therefrom through an opening 380 in the push-off slide 370, the flange 378 engaging the sides of the opening 380 so that the slide is guided by means of the flange 378 and slot 376 for reciprocal movement with 1~195~9 respect to the base plate portion 28. A push-off slide actuating cam indicated generally at 382 is formed on the underside of the main gear 30 and extends downwardly therefrom~ The slide 370 is provided with a downturned flange portion 384 and a spring 386 is connected between the flange 378 and the flange 384 so as to bias the cam follower pin 372 into engagement with the outer surface of the cam 382. It will be noted that the spring 386 is connected to the flange 378 at a point closer to the base plate than the other end of the spring 386. Accordingly, the spring 386 also provides an upward bias on the slide 370.
In order to detent the main gear 30 in its home or detent position shown in Figure 1 during periods between record changing cycles, a detent lever indicated generally at 390 ~Figure 25) is pivotally mounted on the base plate portion 28. More particularly, the lever 390 is provided with a pin 392 which extends into a keyhole slot 394 formed in base plate portion 28. A detent pin 396 is secured to an arm portion 398 of the lever 390 and extends upwardly through the opening 114 in the base plate portion 28. The detent pin 396 is biased into engagement with a main control cam indicated generally at 402 which is formed integrally with the main gear 30 and extends downwardly there-from. The control cam 402 is provided with a notch portion 405 (Figure 26) into which the detent pin 396 is biased by means of a spring 404 which is connected between a projection 406 formed in the arm 408 of the detent lever 390 and an opening in the base plate portion 28. The spring 408 tends to rotate the lever 390 about the pivot pin 392 so that the detent pin 396 is held in the notch 405 when the gear 30 is in its home or detent position. The detent pin 390 is pro-11~95,~9 vided with a groove 397 (Figure 7). One edge of the groove 397 moves along the arcuate edge portion 39~ of the opening 114 in the base plate portion 28. With this arrangement the detent pin 396 is stabilized as the detent lever 390 is pivoted about the pin 302.
The push off slide 370 is provided with a U-shaped end portion which defines a tab portion 412 ~Figure 5) which is positioned below the main portion of the push-off slide 370 and is immediately below an opening 414 in the slide 370 through which the lower end portion 416 of a record ejector blade indicated generally at 418 is positioned. The blade 418 is pivotally mounted in the body of the spindle 18 by means of a pin 420. The detent lever 390 is provided with an offset portion 422 (Figure 25) at the end of the arm 408 which extends between the push-off slide 370 and its tab portion 412, as best illustrated in Figure 5. The portion 422 of the detent lever 390 is provided with an arcuate narrow slot 424 (Figure 25 which opens into a relatively wide slot 426, the intersection of the slots 424 and 426 defining an interference shoulder 428 in the vicinity of the end portion 416 of the ejector blade 418.
Since the spring 404 is connected to the base plate portion 28 it urges the portion 422 of the detent lever 390 upwardly into engagement with the push-off slide 370 and hence exerts an upward bias on the slide 370 in addition to the bias provided by the spring 386.
With this arrangement the tab portion 412 of the push-off slide 370 exerts a slight upward force on the end of the record ejector blade portion 416. This force is employed during the last record sensing operation described in more detail hereinafter.
Considering first the operation of the push-off slide 370 in ejecting a record which is seated on the shelf 1~9529 430 of the spindle 18, and assuming that a record changing cycle has been initiated in the manner described in detail heretofore, the push-off slide actuating cam 302 is provided with a first lobe portion 432 ~Figure 25) which functions to move the push-off slide 370 a slight amount during the initial or record sensing portion of the record changing cycle. During engagement of the pin 372 with the lobe 432 of the cam 382 the push-off slide 370 is moved from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 33. During this movement the slight force which is exerted by the tab portion 412 on the end of the record ejector blade portion 416 is insufficient to move a record seated on the shelf 430 off of this shelf. As a result, the end portion 416 remains in the position shown in full lines in Figure 33 as the slide 370 is moved to the right during engagement with the cam lobe portion 432.
During this movement of the slide 370 the ejector blade end portion 416 is not moved since the opening 414 in the slide 370 provides clearance between the slide 370 and the end portion 416 during the record sensing portion of the record changing cycle. However, when the pin 372 engages the record ejecting lobe portion 434 on the cam 382, so that the push-off slide 370 is moved farther to the right as viewed in Figure 5, the end portion 416 of the ejector blade 418 is engaged by the edge of the opening 414 in the slide 370 and is moved to the position shown in Figure 34. During this push-off movement of the ejector blade 418, the upper portion 436 of the blade 418 engages the bottom record sea~ed on the shelf 430 and moves this record off of the shelf so that the bottom record is deposited on the turntable 12. In this connection it will be understood that the position of the cam 382 on the gear 30 is so related to the position of 1~195Z9 the tone arm cam 108 that the tone arm 14 has been lifted upwardly and moved outwardly beyond the edge of the record stack before the end portion 436 of the record ejector blade has moved the bottom record off of the shelf 430. After the record has been ejected the spring 386 continues to bias the pin 372 into engagement with the cam 382 as the main gear 30 is rotated through the remainder of the record changing cycle. If desired, the ejector blade 418 may be provided with an elongated vertical slot for the pin 420 and is normally spring-biased so that the pin 420 is in the bottom of this slot. With such an arrangement the ejector blade may be depressed to the level of the shelf 430 by the record stack above the bottom record as the bottom record is ejected. The weight of the record stack is thus removed from the upper end of the blade 418 which facilitates return of the blade 418 to its rest position under the force of the return spring 386 through the slide 370. Such a spring-biased arrangement is shown and described in connection with the embodiment of Figures 38 and 39.
Considering now the manner in which the absence of a record on the shelf 430 is sensed in accordance with the arrangement of the present invention, the control cam 402 on the main gear 30 is provided with a deep notch portion 440 (Figure 25). During a normal record changing cycle, and assuming a record is seated on the shelf 430, when the gear 30 has been rotated an amount such that the detent pin 396 is opposite the notch 440 the spring 404 tends to rotate the detent lever 390 and move the detent pin 396 into the notch 440 but this action is prevented by engagement of the record ejector blade portion 416 with the interference shoulder 428 formed in the end portion 422 of the detent lever 392. In this connection it will be recalled that the light fric-., , ,j, 5~9 tional force exerted on the end portion 416 by the tab 412 is insufficient to move the ejector blade 418 when a record is seated on the shelf 430. However, if no record is present on the shelf 430, during the initial record sensing portion of the cycle, i.e. during the period when the pin 372 engages the lobe 432 of the cam 382 and the slide 370 is moved from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 33, the light force exerted on the end of the record ejector blade portion 416 is sufficient to move the ejector blade to the dotted line position 442 shown in Figure 33. This movement of the bottom end of the ejector blade portion 416 causes a corresponding movement of the upper end 436 to the dotted line position 444 shown in Figure 5. This last record sensing movement of the end portion 416 by engagement with the tab 412 takes place just prior to the point in the record changing cycle at which the detent pin 396 is opposite the notch 440. Accordingly, when the detent pin 396 encounters the notch 440 the ejector blade portion 416 is now moved into alignment with the notch 424 on the end portion 422 of the detent lever 390 so as to permit the spring 404 to rotate the detent lever 390 and move the detent pin 396 into the bottom of the notch 440. This inward movement of the detent pin 396 toward the center of the gear 30 is employed to turn off the motor 40 in accordance with a last record shut-off mechanism which will now be described.
Considering first the control linkage which is employed to turn on and off the motor manually, a control knob 29 is connected to the end of an on-off lever 450 ~Figure 25) which is rotatably mounted on a pin 452. The pin 452 is itself connected to a switch actuating plate 456 which is positioned below the lever 450. The pin 452 is provided with a groove 451 (Figure 25B) which rides in S~9 the narrow portion of a keyhole slot 454 formed in the base plate portion 28. A flat spring blocking member 458 is positioned between the lever 450 and the plate 456 and is secured to the pin 452. More particularly, the pin 452 is provided with a first portion 453 of reduced diameter on which the on-off lever 450 is pivotally mounted. The pin 452 is also provided with a portion 455 of still smaller diameter which defines a shoulder 457 against which the blocking member 458 and switch actuating plate 456 are held by staking the end of the pin 452 so that the members 452, 456 and 458 move together. The plate 456 carries a pair of switch actuating arms 460 and 462 which are positioned on either side of the actuating button 464 of a slide switch indicated generally at 466. The on-off lever 450 is provided with an upwardly extending tongue portion 468 which extends into a triangularly shaped opening 470 in the base plate portion 28. The switch acuating plate 456 is provided with a projecting lug portion 472 to which one end of a spring 474 is connected, the other end of the spring 474 being connected to an opening 476 ~Figure 1) in the base plate portion 28. The on-off lever 450 is provided with a shoulder 478, Figure 27 which is normally held in engagement with an upturned flange portion 480 on the switch actuating plate 456. In the OFF position of the control knob 29 the spring 474 functions to rotate the plate 456 so that the flange 480 thereof is in engagement with the shoulder 478 and the lever 450 is also rotated until the tongue 468 hits one end of the slot 470. In the OFF position of the plate 456 the arm 460 retains the switch button 464 of the switch 466 in the OFF position shown in Figure 25.
The switch actuating plate 456 is provided with an upturned right angle flange portion 482 which extends upwardly through a notch 483 (Figure 25C) in the blocking member 458 and 111~5~9 an irregularly-shaped opening 484 in the base plate portion 28. In the OFF position of the lever 450 one edge of the flange 482 rides on the curved edge portion or shoulder 486 of the opening 484 and is positioned substantially away from a right angle edge portion 488 of the opening 434, the surfaces 486 and 488 forming an essentially right-angled shoulder or corner. When the lever 450 is moved upwardly ~as viewed in Figure 25) toward the ON position the lever 450 and plate 456 move as a unit so that the flange 482 rides along the surface 486. However, as soon as the edge of the flange 482 is moved beyond the edge of the curved surface 486 the spring 474 moves the plate 456 with a snap action to the ON position shown in Figure 26 as the pin 452 moves to the bottom of the elongated slot 454. At the same time, the arm 462 of the plate 456 engages the button 464 and moves the switch 466 to the ON position with a quick snap action movement. During this movement of the plate 456 the flange 482 drops down beside the surface 488 of the base plate opening 484. As soon as the flange 482 moves beyond the edges of the curved surface 486 the linkage 450, 456 actually pivots about the end of the on-off lever 450 which is being held by the operator. However, the flange 482 is biased into engagement with the surface 488 by the spring 474 and holds the lever 450 in the detented ON position.
When the control knob 29 is moved from the ON to the OFF
position manually the on-off lever 450 rotates about the tongue 468 as a fulcrum and lifts the pivot pin 452 within the notch 454. However, until the flange 482 has been moved inwardly by an amount sufficient to clear the inner edge of the surface 488 the spring 474 is unable to rotate the plate 456 and actuate the switch 464. Accordingly, it is not until the plate 456 has been moved inwardly by an amount sufficient to cause the flange 482 thereof to engage S~9 the curved surface 486 that the spring 474 then rotates the plate 456 about the pin 452 with a snap action and the arm 460 at this time moves the button 464 so that the switch 466 is turned to the OFF position.
It will be noted that the above-described on-off control linkage is effective to provide a snap action actuation of the switch 466 so that a relatively simple and inexpensive slide switch 466 may be employed to turn on and off the motor 40. A more expensive switch would be required if the on-off control linkage were such that the switch 466 could be held momentarily in a mid position which could cause damage to the switch contacts. However, with the above-described control linkage of the present invention it is impossible for the operator by movement of the control knob 29 to position the switch 466 in a position intermediate the ON or the OFF positions due to the above described snap action of the flange 482 with respect to the shoulder 486, 488.
Considering now the automatic shut-off mechanism of the present invention which cooperates with the above-described on-off control linkage to turn off the machine when the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440 in the control cam 402, it is first noted that this shut-off action is accomplished during the same record changing cycle during which the absence of a record on the shelf 430 is detected by movement of the end portion 416 during the sensing portion of the record changing cycle. As described generally heretofore, the tone arm 14 is moved outwardly during the record changing cycle until it strikes the back wall 184 of the tone arm rest post 22, during the mid portion of the record changing cycle. In accordance with an important feature of the present invention the tone arm is lowered during the period when it is in engagement with the back wall 184 of lll~S~

the rest post 22 so that the tone arm is lowered into the notch 24 during the mid portion of the last record shut-off cycle. Furthermore, the tone arm remains in this somewhat lowered position during the remainder of a last record shut-off cycle so that the tone arm is not moved back inwardly as the gear 30 rotates back to its detent position, the clutch 122 slipping during this motion of the gear 30, as described in detail heretofore. Such an arrangement has the advantage that a set-down or rest post position for the tone arm is not required on the quadrant 124 or elsewhere with the attendant difficulties of aligning such a rest post position with the tone arm mechanism.
In order to lower the tone arm to an intermediate position within the rest post notch 24 after the tone arm has engaged the back wall 184, a tone arm latch member indicated generally at 490 ~Figure 25) is pivotally mounted on the detent pin 396. More particularly, the detent pin 396, which is staked to the detent lever 390 is provided with a shoulder portion 492 (Figure 7) on which the tone arm latch 490 is pivotally mounted, the latch 490 being preferably made of thin spring stock, or the like. The tone arm latch 490 is provided with an inwardly extending hook portion 494 (Figure 25) and an extension arm portion 496 which is adapted to engage a downturned flange portion 498 of the base plate portion 28 when the detent pin 296 enters the notch 440. The tone arm latch 390 is also provided with an arm portion 500 which rides on the surface 502 of the detent lever 390 to stabilize the tone arm latch 490 during pivotal movement thereof.
As described generally heretofore, during the first portion of the record changing cycle the tone arm lift rod 72 is moved inwardly as the end 106 thereof al~a~

2~

follows the cam portion 110 on the gear 30. However, as the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440 the hook portion 494 of the tone arm latch 490 is moved inwardly to a point inside the end portion 106 of the lift rod 72 and as the arm 496 of the tone arm latch 490 engages the flange 498 the tone arm latch 490 is pivoted so that the hook portion 494 thereof is in alignment with the lift rod end portion 106 as shown in Figure 26.
Accordingly, as the detent pin 396 moves out of the notch 440 to the position shown in Figure 27 the hook portion 494 engages the lift rod end portion 106 and moves it outwardly to the intermediate position shown in Figure 27. At this point in the record changing cycle, the tone arm 14 has already been lifted from the record and moved outwardly into contact with the back wall 184 of the rest post 22. Accordingly, when the lift rod end portion 106 is moved outwardly by engagement with the hook portion 494 of the tone arm latch 490 the tone arm is immediately lowered into the notch 24 in the rest post 22. The detent pin 396 continues to ride on the periphery of the control cam 402 with the result that the latch 490 holds the lift rod 72 in the position shown in Figure 27 until the end portion 106 of the rod 72 is engaged by the cam portion 116 near the end of the record changing cycle. When the end portion 106 engages the cam 116 the tone arm lift rod 72 is moved further down the inclined camming surface 98 and the end portion 74 thereof is lowered while the tone arm remains in the notch 24 of the rest post 22.
In order to actuate the on-off control linkage 450, 456 to turn off the motor 40 when the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440, a shut-off latch indicated generally at 510 ~Figure 25) is also pivotally mounted on the detent pin 396 and rotates on a shoulder formed by the reduced ~ ., '9 end portion 512 ~Figure 7) of the detent pin, the shut-off latch being retained on the end portion 512 by means of the C washer 514. The shu~-off latch 510 is provided with a clearance opening 516 (Figure 25) to accommodate movement of the lift rod end portion 106 and includes a first arm extension 518 which tern~inates in a hook portion 520, and an offset arm extension 522. Both of the arms 518 and 522 of the latch 510 are positioned in a slot 524 formed in a downturned flange portion 526 of the base plate portion 28. Also, the tip portion 528 of the switch actuating plate 456 also extends through the slot 524. The switch actuating plate 456 is also provided with a hook portion 530 immediately adjacent the inclined end portion 532 of the flat spring blocking member 458. The flat spring blocking member 458, which is positioned between the on-off lever 450 and the switch actuating plate 456 is provided with a notch to receive the right angle flange 482 of the switch actuating - plate 456 so that the members 456 and 458 move together. However, the flat spring blocking member 458 is provided with an offset flange 534 which spaces the intermediate portion 536 of the flat spring member 458 below the plane of the members 456 and 518.
During a normal record changing cycle the shut-off latch 510 is never moved to a position in which the hook portion 520 thereof can become aligned with the hook portion 530 on the switch actuating plate 456.
This is because the detent pin 396 never enters the notch 440 during a normal record changing cycle, as described in detail heretofore. However, when the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440 the shut-off latch 510 is moved so that the arm 518 thereof extends further through the slot 524.
Also, when the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440 the tone arm latch 490 is pivoted 1~195~9 by engagement of the arm 496 thereof with the flange 498, as described heretofore. When the tone arm latch 490 pivots, a downturned flange portion 538 (Figure 25) thereof engages the edge 540 of the shut-off latch 510 and pivots it about the detent pin 396 to the position shown in Figure 26.
In this position the hook portion 520 is positioned in alignment with the hook portion 530 on the switch actuating plate 456. Accordingly, as the detent pin 396 moves out of the notch 440, i.e. from the position shown in Figure 26 to the position shown in Figure 27 the hook portion 520 raises the inclined end portion 532 of the flat spring 458, moves into engagement with the hook portion 530 and after engagement of the members 520 and 530 lifts the on-off linkage 450, 456 slightly so that the pivot pin 452 is moved upwardly in the keyhole slot 454 to the position shown in Figure 27. By positioning all of the members 522, 528 and 518 in the common slot 524 the engagement and hooking of the members 520 and 530 is insured without misalignment during a shut-off cycle.
The members 520 and 530 remain in the above-described hooked position as the detent pin 396 rides around the periphery of the control cam 402. However, near the end of the record changing cycle the detent pin 396 encounters an outwardly projecting inclined portion 542 ~Figure 27) of the control cam 402 which functions to move the switch actuating plate 456 toward the center of the gear 30 by an amount sufficient that the flange 482 thereof is moved inwardly beyond the end of the surface 488 in the base plate portion 28. When this occurs, the spring 474 exerts a sidewise pressure on the interconnected members 510 and 456 which is sufficient to move the edge of the flange 482 to the right to the position lll~Ci~9 shown in Figure 28, so that the edge of the flange 482 is now above the forward edge of the curved surface 48fi while the shut-off latch 510 remains in latched engagement with the switch actuating plate 456. However, the arm 522 of the latch 510 engages the end of the slot 524 in the flange 526 and blocks the arm 528 of the plate 456 so that the plate 456 is prevented from rotating to the OFF position and the motor 40 continues to be energized. It is necessary to continue energization of the motor 40 because the disclosed belt drive of the turntable 12 has relatively little coast after the motor is de-energized and the gear 30 might not be returned to the notch 405. If an idler wheel drive arrangement is employed for the turntable 12 considerable coast is provided so that the motor could be turned off earlier in the cycle.
As the gear 30 continues to rotate the detent pin 396 moves down the inclined portion 544 (Figure 27) of the control cam 402. During this movement the edge of the flange 482 on the switch actuating plate 456 strikes the curved surface 486 which blocks further movement of the hook portion 530 while the hook portion 520 of the shut-off latch 510 continues to move away from the hook 530. As soon as the latch portions 520, 530 become disengaged~ the spring 474 rotates the switch actuating plate 456 while the edge of the flange 482 rides on the curved surface 486 as a pivot. During this rotation of the switch actuating plate 456 the arm 460 thereof engages the switch button 464 and moves the slide switch 466 in a snap action to the OFF position, as illustrated in Figure 29. When the switch 466 is opened the motor 40 is de-energized and the gear 30 is moved into the detent notch 405 on the control cam 402 by the force exerted thereon from the spring 404 5~

through the detent lever 390 and the detent pin 396. As discussed generally heretofore, there is an extremely light ioad on the gear 30 at this point in the record changing cycle so as to insure that the detent pin 396 enters the home or detent notch 405 in the cam 402. As the switch actuating plate 456 is thus moved to the OFF position the flange portion 480 thereof engages the shoulder 482 on the on-off lever 450 and moves this lever to the OFF position in unison, as shown in Figure 29.
MANUAL REJECT MECHANISM
Considering now the manner in which a record changing cycle may be manually initiated by moving the control knob 29 beyond the ON
position to the REJECT position, reference may be had to Figure 30 wherein the on-off lever 450 is shown in full lines in the REJECT position.
In this position of the lever 450 the switch actuating plate 456, which rotates with the lever 450, is moved by an amount such that the flange 482 thereof is moved into engagement with a downturned flange 560 (Figure 7A) on the velocity tripping member 62. The flange 560 extends through an opening 562 ~Figure 1) in the gear 30 and is provided with an offset end portion 564 which is adapted to be engaged by the flange 482 when this flange is moved to the REJECT position shown in Figure 30.

When the lever 450 is moved to the REJECT position the velocity tripping member 62 is moved by an amount sufficient to bring the shoulder 68 thereof into the path of the flange 70 on the turntable hub so that a record changing cycle is initiated in the manner described in detail heretofore.
As soon as the control knob 29 is released, the spring 474 rotates the linkage 456, 450 back 1~19S29 to the ON position sho~m in PI~. 31 wherein the siAe of the flange 4~2 engages the surface 4~ of the openin~ 4~9 in ~
the base plate portion 2g. The lever 450 is thus restrained .-or detented in the ON position. .........
..........
.: ,,, SINGLE ~ CORD PLAY AR ~N~E~IENT
.. . .
In order to provide single record pla~ facilities in a sim~le and economical manner so that a single record .... ~
may be placed on the turntahle 1~ and played automaticall~ .-after which the changer is shut off, movement of the control kno~ 29 to the ~ JECT position is e~].oved to disc;ble the .
auto3~atic shut-off latch 510 during the record chan~-n~ r~
cycle ~hich is initiated by movement of the ~:nob 29 to the ~JE~T position. Such action is necessary because wllen a sinqle record is played no record is ~ositioned on the record =.
shelf 430 and hence the automatic shut-off mechanism ~-~ould function i~me~iately to turn off the changer if the auto-matic shut-off latch 510 were not disabled. 25Ore particu~
- larly, when the control ~;nob ~ is moved to the ~J~Cm posi-tion the tip portion 52~ of the switch actuating plate 456 ~.-=.. ~
engages the ed~e 568 (FIG. 30) of the arm portion 51a o the ~ ~--shut-off latch 510 and pivots the shut-off latch 510 about .... -.-- the detent-pin 396 so that the shut-off latch 510 is moved ...
to the end of the slot 524 in the flange 526, as shown in .~
FIG. 30. In this position of the shut-off la~ch 510, a .. .-.
shoulder portion 570 thereof is positioned above the end .-.
of the slot 524. When the control knob 29 is released after being moved to the reject position the spring 474 returns the lever 450 bac); to the Oll position but the sh~ off latch 510 emains in the position sho~n in FIG. 30 with .-the shoulder 570 above the end of the slot 524. ~ccord- .... -.
ingly, during the record changing cycle which is initiated . .--~8- ~

~195Z~ ~

after the single record has been placed on the turntable but before it has been played, when the gear 30 i.s rotated an amount sufficient to bring the detent pin 396 opposite the notch 440, as shown in ~I~,. 31 the detent lever 390 is ... -.
.. . .
pivoted only slightly until the shoulder 570 engages the .. -.

end of the slot 524 in the flange 52G after which engage- - -.-..-.....
ment the detent pin 39~ is prevented from movinq into th~

notch 440 in the control cam 402. Accordingly, the shut-o f .-....... -....: ...
latch 510 is blocked by engagement of the shoulde~ 570 with the flan~e 526 so that the latch 510 is not pivoted and the .-hoo~ed portion 520 thereof does not engage the hoo); portion 530 of the S~litch actuating plate 456. The record chanoing .
cycle thus proceeds normallv as the detent pin 396 moves into engagement ~Yith the control cam 402 at the far side of ....
the notch ~40. Ho~ever, as the record is beina moved off o, the shelf ~30 by the blade 413 (appro~imatelv mid cvcle) the flange 384 on the pushoff slide 370 enqages the edge ......
portion 5~2 of the shut-of~ latch 510 and pivots the shut- .......
- ~.
off latch 510 about the detent pin 396 to the position shown --.--.:
. . .--in FIG. 32. The shut-off latch 510 is thus positioned so L--.:
that the shoulder 570 thereof is positioned out of alignment with the end of the slot 52~ in the flange 526.
However, this movement of the shut-off latch 510 occurs after the detent pin 396 is well past the notch 440, --so that the manl~ally initiated record changing cycle is cor- ....... -.

pleted in a normal manner. Accordingly, during the manually -.. -initiated cycle the latching members 520, 530 are prevented rom becoming interconnected so that the control linkage remains in the Ol~ position and the single record on the turn-table is played during the follo~ing playing cycle. I~O~J ver, a~ter this record is played a recorA changinq cycle is auto- - --matically initiated and since there is no record present on ..

... . ..... .. . . .

S~

the spindle shelf 430 an automatic shut-off cycle is performed in a manner identical to that described in detail heretofore so that the machine is turned off after the single record is played.
It will be noted that when the control knob 29 is in the OFF
position the end portion 528 of the switch actuating plate 456 engages the extension arm 522 of the shut-off latch 510 and holds the shut-off latch in the position shown in Figure 25. In this position the shoulder portion 570 of the shut-off latch 510 is positioned well away from the end of the slot 524 in the flange 526. This construction ensures that the shut-off latch 510 is not inadvertently moved so that the shoulder 570 becomes aligned with the end of the slot 524 as the record changer is carried about. When the on-off lever 450 is thereafter moved to the ON position there is no danger that the shoulder 570 will become latched against the edge of the slot 524 in the flange 526 and disable the last record shut-off mechanism so that the machine would not automatically shut off after the last record has been played.
It should also be noted that in the arrangement of the present invention a single record may be placed on the turntable the control knob 29 moved to the ON position (but not to the REJECT position) and the tone arm 14 manually placed on the record. Under these conditions, the machine will play the record placed on the turntable and then shut-off automatically. This is due to the fact that when the tone arm 14 is thus manually placed on the record to initiate a playing cycle there is no preceding record changing cycle during which it is necessary to block the shut-off latch 510. The record changing cycle which follows playing of the single record is an automatic shut-off cycle since no record is present on the shelf 430. On the other hand, when a single record play is initiated by moving the control knob 29 to the REJECT position, an automatic record changing cycle is initiated before the single record is played and it is then necessary to block the shut-off latch 510, by engagement of the shoulder 570 with the edge of the slot 524, to prevent the machine from being shut off before the record is played.
REPEAT PLAY ARRANGEMENT
In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the control knob 29 is provided with a REPEAT PLAY position which is intermediate the ON and OFF positions of the lever 450. When the control knob 29 is moved first to the ON position and then is moved approximately halfway back to the OFF position a detent force is exerted on the control knob 29 and an audible click is produced to inform the operator that the REPEAT PLAY position has been reached. When the control knob 29 is thus moved first to the REPEAT PLAY position, either a single record placed on the turntable 12 may be replayed repeatedly, or if a stack of records is on the spindle 18 the stack of records will be played and then the last record will be played repeatedly. This repeated play of a record on the turntable will continue until control knob 29 is moved either to the ON position or the OFF position. To accomplish these objectives, the shut-off latch 510 is blocked when the control knob 29 is moved to the intermediate REPEAT PLAY position so that the changer will continue to play a record on the turntable 12 without turning the motor 40 off.
More particularlyJ assuming that the control knob is in the ON position and that the tone arm 14 has been placed on the record, when the control knob 29 ~r ~

5~9 is moved toward the OFF position the on-off lever 450 is pivoted by engagement of the tab 468 thereof with the edge of the opening 470 in the base plate so that the switch actuating plate 456 is moved in a translatory manner as the flange 482 moves along the surface 488 and the pivot pin 452 moves up within the narrow portion of the keyhole slot 454.
The on-off lever 450 is provided with an extension arm 574 (Figure 26) which includes a hook portion 576 which is adapted to engage the end of a repeat play control wire 578. The arm 574 is bent downwardly so that it is in horizontal alignment with the arm 518 of the shut-off latch 510. The wire 578 is positioned beneath the base plate portion 28 but above the plate 456 and rests on the upper surface of a downwardly offset tongue portion 577 of the base plate portion 28. The wire 578 is provided with a downturned right angle end portion 579 which is positioned in the path of the hook portion 576 as the lever 450 is rotated. An intermediate portion 580 of the wire 578 is positioned on top of the base plate portion 28 and is secured within a notch 581 in ~he base plate portion 28 and a hole 583 therein, the end 585 of the portion 580 extending down through the hole 583, so that the wire 578 is prevented from moving length-wise while at the same time permitting the wire 578 to be flexed sideways. The intermediate portion 580 of the wire 578 also serves the additional function of retaining the pivot pin 452 within the keyhole slot 454.
Accordingly, as the on-off lever 450 is moved from the ON position toward the REPEAT PLAY position the outer edge of the hook 576 engages the side of the end portion 579 of the repeat wire 578 and flexes the wire 57B
so that it moves sidewise away from the base of the tongue 577. However, when the lever . .

450 reaches the ~ PEAT PLAY position midway between the ON
and OFF positions the wire end 579 snaps into the hook por - :~
tion 576 and the wire 578 moves back against the base of the tongue 577 giving an audible click as this occurs. The :.~.. . :.~..
end portion 579 of the repeat wire 578 is thus positioned ....-....~
within the hook portion 576 of the flange 574. ~hen the lever -:
450 is released the spring 474 urges the hook portion 576 into ............
engagement with the end portion 579 of the wire 578 so that the plate 456 is held in the position skown in FIG. 33A in which the flange 482 is still in engagement with the surface 488 so that a detent force is provided which holds the lever 950 ~. .. .
in the EPEAT P ~ Y position. I~hen the lever 450 is thus held E :
by the wire 578 in the position shown in FIG. 33A, the end t'''~
i.. :
surface 582 (FIG. 26) of the arm 574 is positioned in abut~
~ .-..-.-....
ting relationship to the end surface 584 on the extension arm 518 of the shut-off latch 510; Accordingly, during any ~ --i ... .: .
succeeding record Changing cycle, when the detent pin 396 attempts to move into the notch 440 in the control cam 402 e end surfaces 582, 584 meet and the shut-off latch 510 -........ :
is blocked so that the detent pin 396 is prevented from ....
entering the notch 440. ~ en the shut-off latch 510 is l--~ =.
blocked the hook portion 520 thereof is not moved into ~. .. .. ~
alignment with the hook portion 530 on the switch actuating plate 456. Accordingly, the on-off lever 450 is not actua-ted to the OFF position and the switch 466 remains on. This : . ....
action occurs during each succeeding record changing cycle so that the record on the turntable is repeatedly played until the control knob 29 is moved either to the ON position - - ..
or to the OFF position.

Considering the operation of the mechanism when the control knob 29 is moved from the EPEAT P ~Y position -to the OFF position, during such movement the on-off lever 5~9 450 is rotated about the tab 468 as a pivot and the flange 482 is moved upwardly by an amount sufficient to clear the upper edge of the surface 488 so that the above-described snap-action movement of the switch actuat-ing plate 456 is provided by the spring 474 and the switch 466 is turned off. During this movement of the lever 450 the hook portion 576 thereof moves away from the end portion 579 of the control wire 578. On the other hand, if the control knob 29 is moved back to the ON position from the REPEAT PLAY position, the on-off lever 450 pivots about the tongue 468 and the hook portion 576 thereof cams past the end portion 579 of the control wire 578. As soon as the hook 576 moves past the end portion 579 the spring 474 urges the pin 452 to the bottom of the slot 454 so that the flange 482 of the plate 456 moves back down the surface 438 to the ON position shown in Figure 26.
The last record shut-off facilities will then function normally when the knob 29 is moved back to the ON position so that the machine is shut off during the record changing cycle which ensues after the knob is moved back to the ON position, as described in detail heretofore.
CUEING LEVER OPERATION
Considering now the manner in which the cueing lever 26 functions to raise and lower the tone arm 14 manually, in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention a simple tone arm actuating mechanism is provided for relatively quickly lifting the tone arm 14 upwardly off of a record in response to movement of the cueing lever 26 to a generally horizontal position while at the same time providing a relatively gradual lowering of the tone arm when the cueing lever 26 is moved to the substantially vertical position shown in Figure 24.
More particularly, 5~9 a flat spring 590 is provided with a bifurcated end portion 592 which is seated in a notch 594 (Figure 23A) in a cue lever lift rod 596. The lift rod 596 is mounted in a vertically extending bore 598 formed in the housing portion 88 of the tone arm subassembly base 76. The lift rod 596 extends through the clearance slot 177 in the quadrant 124 and a washer 597 is positioned on the rod 596 below the quadrant 124 and is held against a shoulder in the rod 596 by means of a coil spring 599 which is positioned between the washer 597 and the end portion 601 of the rod 596. In the lowered position of the rod 596 shown in Figure 6 the end portion 601 extends into a clearance opening in the plate 82.
The lift rod 596 is provided with transverse grooves 600 within which is positioned a viscous material and the fit between the lift rod 596 and the bore 598 is relatively close so that a dash pot type of action is produced in response to forces exerted on the post 596 by the spring 590. The flat spring 590 extends beneath a downwardly extending flange portion 602 of the base 76 and the horizontal portion 604 of the cueing lever 26 is provided with an offset central portion 606 which engages the underside of the spring 590 between the post 596 and the flange 602. A right angle end portion 605 of the lever 26 is retained in a suitable recess in the base 76. The end of the spring 590 is secured to the tone arm subassembly base 76 by any suitable means which provides adjustment of the flexure of this spring. In Figure 23 an arrangement is shown wherein a screw 608 is threaded into a depending boss 610 on the member 76. The head of the screw 608 is adjustable from beneath the record changer and as the screw is tightened the spring 590 is flexed around the transverse partition 602.

,, ~

~ \

l~l95Z9 In the alternative arrangement shown in Figure 24 a screw 612 is threaded through the boss 610 and is secured in any suitable manner to the end of the spring 590. The screw 612 is provided with a head portion 614 which is accessible from the top of the tone arm subassembly so that adjustment of the cueing lever setdown speed can be made without removing the changer from its housing.
When the cueing lever 26 is moved from the tone arm down position shown in Figures 6 and 24 to the tone arm up position shown in Figure 23, the intermediate offset portion 606 of the lever 26 is rotated into engagement with the underside of the spring 590 and exerts an upward force on the lift rod 596 so that this rod moves upwardly and the top end thereof engages the underside of the plate 94 on the tone arm so that the tone arm is lifted off of the record. The force exerted by the spring 590 in lifting the tone arm is relatively great as compared with the lowering force exerted by the spring 590 because the offset portion 606 of the cueing lever 26 acts as a temporary fulcrum to raise the tone arm and this fulcrum is relatively close to the lift rod 596.
With this relatively short fulcrum the spring 590 is relatively stiff and a relatively quick tone arm lifting action is provided. When the lift rod 596 is moved upwardly, the washer 597 engages the underside of the quadrant 124 as the spring 599 is depressed so that a frictional drag is exerted on the tone arm 14. This frictional drag is sufficient to prevent the tone arm 14 from moving outwardly under the force of the constant bias spring 348 when the tone arm is lifted off of or lowered onto a record. In less expensive changer models, the constant bias spring 348 may be eliminated. In such case, the spring 599 and washer 597 may be eliminated. Also, the flange 352 and spring 358 may be eliminated if the spring lll9SZ~

34~ is not used. The viscous material in the grooves 600 may also be eliminated in such a low-cost changer so .hat the tone ann 14 is -aised and lowered directlv. This change is made possible in the arrangement of the present invention because the separate lift rods 74 and 596 are provided for automatic and manual o?eration, ~espectively.
. ....
l~en it is desired to lower the tone arm onto the .- . . ,.~ .
the record, the cueing lever 26 is moved from the tone arm ~ -~
:::::::::::::
up positio~ shown in FIG. 23 to the tone arm down position -shown in FIG. 24. When this occurs the offset portion 606 - -is removed from beneath the spring 590. As soon as the in- -.:. .
termediate portion 606 ceases to engaae the underside of the --s~ring 590 a new fulcrum point is established for the spring ~ .......
which is the transverse partition 602. Since the partition -:.::..:.,.:-602 is spaced a substantially greater distance from the lift rod 596 than the offset portion 606, a relatively smaller ~ ~
spring force is exerted on the lift rod 596 to move this rod -., ,...:.:
downwardly within the bore 598 against the action of the viscous ~
.:: :..:: ..
material in the grooves 600. Accordingly, the tone arm is .-very gently and smoothly lowered onto the record or into en- -gagement with the rest post 22 when the cueing lever is moved ---to the tone arm down position. As discussed heretofore the -screw 608, or the screw 612, can be adjusted so as to provide ..........
a desired degree of flexure of the spring 590 and hence an --adjus,ment of the set down speed of the tone arm. -TV?~7TABLE BRA~ING ~RR~NGEMENT

It will be recalled from the preceding general description that facilities are provided in accordance with the present invention for stopping the turntable 12 during the record changing cycle so that this turntable is stationary as a new record is deposited thereon. Fur-111~5;29 thermore, this turntable braking action is acco~plished without de-energizing the ~o~or ~0 an~ ~ithou~ raisin~ or -lo~ering the turntable 12. In order to accom?lish these objectives, a tone arm brake lever indicated generally at 62Q (FIG. 1) is pivotall~r mounte~ on a Post 622 mounted in the base plate central portion 2~. The brake lever 620 is provided with an arm 624 ~hich extends in~ardl~ over a b~a~;e control cam trac~ 626 on the upper surlace of the main gear 30 an~ is providec~ with a pair of do~nwardly e~;tending pro-jections G23 anci 630 which are ~ositioned on o?posite sides of the cam trac~ 626. The other arm 632 of the lever 620 is ~le~ible ancd carries a ~ransverse encl ~ortion 63~ at the outer end tllereof to whic}~ is secured a turnta~le brake ~a~
636 ~hich is adapted to engage the insice of the rirl of the turntable 12. As the gear 30 rotates during the recor~ ; -changing cycle the br~Xe lever 620 follo~s the contour of the cam track 626 due to tile follo~er action of the pins 628, 630.
~hen the ~ear 30 is detented in the ho~e position sho~Jn in ~IG. 1, the lever 620 is positioned so ~hat the pad 636 is not in engagement with the rim of the turntable 12. However, when a record changin~ cycle is initiatecl and the gear 3~ starts to rotate, the pins 628, 630 cause the lever 620 to move in accor~ance tlith the cortour of the cam track 626. l~hen the portion 63~ of the cam track is encoun~
tered the bra~e lever 620 is pivote~ so that the arr~ 632 thereof i.s rloved out~.ardlv and the paci 636 is ~oved into eng~gement ~7ith the turntahle rim as the ar~ 632 fle~.es sli~htly to procluce a spring biasing furce urging the pad 636 into engagement ~ith the turnta~le rim ~7ith a 7~redeter-~ined force. After the record has heen deposi.ed on the turntable the portion 640 of the ca~ track 626 is encountered l:ll9S29 `

by the pin 628, 630 so that the brake lever 620 is pivoted about the post 622 and the pad 636 is removed from the turn~
table rim. -In accordance with an important feature of the present invention there is no spring biasing force contin-... .
uously exerted on the brale lever 620. This is because a -.~
sufficient spring force is provided by ~lexure of the arm ~-532 ~hen the ~ad 636 is uraed into engagement ~ith the turn- -..: . .
table rim. When the lever is pivoted so that the ~acl 636 -does not engaqe the turntahle ri~ there is no ~ias exerted -;~
on the main gear 30 throu~h the brake lever 620. Accord-ingly, as the main gear 30 approaches the detent notch 405 --of the control cam 402 the brake lever 620 does not intro-duce any frictional force which would prevent this aear from movina to its detent Dosition after the teeth of the gear 30 have become disengaged with the turntable huh teeth -~
~S as the notch 60 i5 encountered. -As described generally heretofore, when the turn-. .
table 12 is sto~ed by enga~ement of the brake pad 636 -, . .
therewith, the turntable hub 38 continues to be rotated by the belt 50 while the lo~ coefficient of friction washer -; -. ~-52 provides sli3page between the u~per surface of the turn-table hub 38 and the undersurface of the turntable 12. The -turntable 12 and mat 56 are also provided with a sli~ht clearance between the turntable hub 38 and the central open- ~-ings therein so as to permit the turntable to be stopped ~:hile the hub 38 continues to rotate.

~LTEI?~l~Tr, ~,CORD SUPPORTI~G ~RAl`lGE~.E~lT

As discussed qenerally heretofore, the balance a-m 16 may be of conventional construction and does not include ` 111952~ ~

last recorcl shut-off facilities because detection of the ll last record is sensed by movement of the spin.dle blade 418, ... -.
as discussed in detail heretofore. In ~IGS. 35 to 37, in- .. -- -clusive, an alternative arrangement for supporting hoth ...
twelve-inch and seven-inch records is shown which may be preferable in certain instances. Referrin~ to these fig- .-.. -.. -ures a post 650 is mounted on the base plate 10 bv means ........ -.
.,.. .-..
of a pair of screws 652 which extend up throu~h a locatinq ........
plate 654 positioned beneath the base plate 10 and throuqh --the opening 656 in the base ~late 10 into the base of the .... -..........
post 650. B~ using the locating plate 65~, the o?ening 656 may be such as to accomrnodate the balance arm 16 so that ~...... -.. -L .. ~
either type of record support rnay ~e used alternatively .-.--..... .-.-............
without major record chanqer re-design.
......... ....
Th~ post 650 is provided with a ~air of arm por-..-. .- ..-:
tions 653 and 660 at the upper end thereof which extend ....
E.~
out~lardl~ at right angles to each other and are ada~ted '--- -........ ...
to support s stack of twelve-inch records 662 on the ti~s ;------of the arm portion 658 and 660. A hold down me ~ er 663 ~.----1.:-provided with short parallel ar s 664 is slidably and rota-~
tablv mounted in the post 650. ~Sore particularly the member t 653 is secured to a post 666 which extends through an open-1:'`':'' :--ing in the top wall 668 of the post 650 and throuah an oPen-in~ in the locator plate 654 which acts as the bottom bearing : ....... :
for the shaft S66. A spring 670 is positioned l~etween the ..... -~ . .

locator plate 654 and a C ~7asher 672 ~ositioned on the end ::::::::::::::
of the shaft 666 so that a continuous down~?ard bias is exerted .
. on the member 663. The post 666 is provided with a first .~
- -spline 674 which is relatively long and extends through a cooperating groove in the top wall 663 of the post 650 so as to locate the member 6f,3 in the position shown in FIGS. :.
: . -35 and 36. ~lo~ever, wh~n the member 663 is lifted upwardly ......

` 111952~ ~

by an amount sufficient to clear the spline 67~ from the top wall 668 the member 663 may be rotated to a record loading position so that a stack of twelve-incll records - -may be positioned on the platform arms 658, 660.
After the records have been positionecl on the platform arms 658, 660 the member 663 is moved to tlte ---... ...
central position shown in FI~S. 35 ancl 36 and is lowered - -~
until centrally located hold-do~m portions676 thereof are in engagement with the top record of the stack of - --twelve-inch records supported on the arms 653, 660. The t~
portion 676 is positioned between the arms 658, 650 so t that a relatively wide support with good clamping action is ~ ~-E :.:.-. :..-.:-provided by the snri~ 670 so as to hold a stack of twelve- L
inch records on the arms 658, 660. It t~ill be noted that during the playing of twelve-inch records the arms 66~ do F:-:::
..........
not engage the t~elve-inch record stack. :
:..-:...- .-.
In accordance with an important aspect of the -_-present invention, the centering sDindle 653 which is emnloyed in the e ~ odiment of FIGS. 35 to 37, inclusive, is particularly adapted to function with the Platform sup- --.... ...
porting arms 658, 660 without requiring an inclined un~er ~ =
...... -. 1 portion for the centering spindle i~ ediately below the -shelf thereof. Conventional centering spindles wllich func-tion with an ed~e-type platfor support usually have an in-clined upper portion so that when the record is e~ected it will strike an inclined portion of the centering sPindle, thereby ~acilitating movement of the bottom record off of the platfo ~ edge support. Ho~ever, such a centering sPindle is quite e~pensive to manufacture.
The centering spindle 653 is provided with a straight s~in~le body having a milled slot 665 therein which is ada~ted to receive the blade 655 which acts both 1~195~9 as a last-record sensor and as a record ejecting member to eject the bottom record off of the shelf 430 of the spindle -, ..:. :. -.:
665. The blade 655 is provided with a lower end portion 667 -~ - -which corresponds to the end portion 416 of the blade 418 in '-'''''''--,' . .
the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 34, inclusive. The end portion ,'''''''' .. .......
667 is moved to a last record sensing position (similar to -'-',, the position 442 shown in FIG. 33) in the absence of a rec~
~. . -,:- -,, ord on the shelf 430. Also, the end portion 416 is actuated - -~
..:..:..:..:, by the pushoff slide 370 to eject a record off of the shelf -, :. , .
430 of the spinale 653 during the record ejecting portion of "'--'-''`
...:-:..:
the record changing cycle. However, the upper end of the ~",',', ~ .:..---.-:
blade 655 is provided'with an outwardly inclined forward ,','',',,' edge 659 which extends outwardly beyond the edge of the ~,','-''--',,-,, ~-. .-..
shelf 430 when the blade 655 is moved by engagement with ~-,-,'',-the pushoff slide 370 to eject a record. Accordingly, as .-. _ .-.
the bottom record is moved off of the platform arms 658, ", 660 the centering aperture of the bottom reco d rides down ,,~, .-.... --the inclined edge 659 of ~he ~lade 655 and is pulled away - from the ends of the support arms 658, 660. In order to per-= .--mit this sidewise movement of the bottom record immediately , .
after it is ejected from the shelf 430, the spindle body of .-.. -the spindle 653 is provided with a notch or undercut portion ,,~
657 so that a recess is provided ~ 'the spindle body opposite i~ ",~
the forward edge of the shelf 430 to permit the bottom record ~',-- 25 to follow the inclined surface 659 of the blade 655. The ,-,',',',-::::::::::::
notch 657 can be milled in the spindle body at the same time ',''''~
the slot 655 is fo ~ed. A retainer blade 651 is slidably mounted in the upDer end of the spindle body by means of the pins 661 and is arranged to engage all but the bo'tom-most record seated on the shelf 430 so that the records above the bottom record are not ejected with the bottom record, as will be readily understood by those skilled ','' 5~

in the art. The upper end of the hlade 655 is also pro-vided with a notch or recess 669 in the rear ~dge thereof so that ~hen the blade 655 is moved to the record ejecting position the recess 669 and the notch 657 in the spindle body cooperate to permit the above-described sideward move-ment of the bottom record as it follows the sloping fo ~ ard ---edge 659 of the blade 655. --... ...... :^
The purpose of providing the inclined forward ._ ...._ ._.
edge 659 of the blade 655 is to ~ssist the bottom record in moving off of the support ar~s 653, 660, and ~ives - -greater tolerance to the positioning of the post 650 with respect to the centering spindle 653. If the inclined .... . ...
edge portion 659 is not emploved then it would be neces-- -...-.:.-. .
sarv to adjust the position of the platform 650 with respect ~ --to the spindle 653 during the manufacture of each record :-....:..
changer, which would be an extremely expensive operation. t., On the other hand, the centerin~ spindle 653, which may be ~ed by si~ple milling operations, is considerablv simpler than spindles having inclined upner portions which require - ----,. . ...
bending operations to for the same. ~
~. .....
In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, when it is desired to play seven-inch records with the arrangement shown in FI~S. 35 to 37, the member 663 is lowered until a second spline 678 engages the top wall 668 of the post 650, i.e. the position shown in FIG. 37. In this position the tip portions 680 of the arms 664 are positioned at the ccrrect level to support the edge of the bottom record of a s ac}; of seven-inch large-hole records when a 45 rpm adaptor indicated generally at 6~2 is positioned onthe spindle 18. The adaptor 6~2 may be of the type described in Dennis United States Patent No.

3,689,080 and reference may be had to this patent for a . 1~19S~9 . detailed description thereof. However, for the purposes of - the present invention it is pointed out that-the bottom rec~
ord of the seven-inch large-hole record stack is seated on ...
the shelf 430 of the spindle 653 and the outer edge portion ... -of this record rests on the tip portions 680 of the arms 664. .....
By employing the spaced-apart short arms 564 as a supDort .. :......
for the 45 rpm records a relatively stable support is pro-vided without requiring the use of any hold-down arm on the ... -.-top of a seven-inch large-hole record stack. .~.--The inclined interference shoulder nortion 6~4 ... -.. -r.. :.. -of the adaptor 682 is particularly important when last .-record sensing is accomplished by means of movement of the -.
ejector blade 655 of the spindle 653in the direction of the ...:
shelf 430, as described in detail heretofore. During the ........
early sensing portion of the record chanqing cvcle the blade t::::::-::::::
655 is moved against the inner edge of the bottom record seated on the shelf -430. I~hen a rclatively lightweight rec- ,.. ~
ord is positioned on the shelf 430 and the arm portion G80, ~-the force with which the ejector blade 655 engages the inner .. .
.. :-, ::~
edge of the bottom record on the shelf 430 during the sensina ....
- portion of the record changing cycle may be sufficient to cause ejection of a record prematurel~. However, the in-clined interference shoulder 6~4 provides an additional ob- r~
stacle which must be overcome by a substantially larger force "--than that produced during the sensing portion of the record ......
changing cycle. Of course, when the bottom end portion 416 .. ~--.
of the ejector blade 655 is enga~ed by the bac]- edge of the .-opening 414 in the pushoff slide 370, as sho~n in FIG~. 33 and 34, a positive drive action is provided for the ejector blade G55 which then moves the seven-inch record off of the shelf 430 against the blocking action of the interference shoulder 6~4. In this connection it should be noted that -7~-the stack of seven-inch large-hole records may be supported on a shelf provided on the adaptor 682 rather than on the shelf 430 of the centering spindle 653. An adaptor provided with a shelf for supporting large-hole records is shown, for example, in Krahulec United States Patent No.
3,191,941.
ALTERNATE LAST RECORD SENSING ARRANGEMENT
In Figures 38 and 39 there is shown an alternative last record sensing embodiment of the present invention wherein a last record sensing force which is somewhat greater than the force employed in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive, may be utilized without causing ejection of the bottom record during the last record sensing operation.
Referring to these figures, two relatively thin blades 418a and 418b are mounted on the common pivot 420 within the body of the spindle 18A. The upper portion of the body of the spindle 18A is milled to provide a slot 689 for receiving the upper portions of the blades 418a, 418b and the lower portion of the spindle body is provided with a bore 691 which communicates with the slot 689. The first pivotally mounted blade 418a acts as a record ejector blade to eject the bottom record seated on the shelf 430 off of this shelf. However, the bottom portion 416a of the blade 418a does not extend below the bottom surface of the pushoff slide 370a. Also, the blade 418a is biased to its rear postiion shown in full lines in Figure 38 by means of a flat spring 690 which is positioned between a shoulder 694 formed in the back edge of the blade 418a and an opening 692 in the lower portion of the spindle body. The spring ~ 52~

690 continuously urges the ejector blade rearwardly away from the shelf 430 but is overcome by engagement of the bottom end portion 416a with the pushoff slide 370a during the record ejecting portion of a record changing cycle, as described in detail heretofore.
The pushoff slide 370a is substantially identical to the slide 370 described in detail heretofore except for the fact that the tab portion 412 of the slide 370 is eliminated in the embodiment of Figures 38 and 39.
Also, the spring 386 may be somewhat lighter in the embodiment of Figures 38 and 39 since it is aided by the spring 690 insofar as biasing the ejector blade 418a to its rear position is concerned. In other respects, the record changer employed in the embodiment of Figures 38 and 39 may be identical to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive, described in detail heretofore.
The second blade 418b is also pivotally mounted on the same pin 420 within the body of the spindle 18a and acts solely as a record sensing blade to sense the presence or absence of a record on the shelf 430 during the initial sensing portion of the record changing cycle.
The end portion 416b of the blade 418b does extend downwardly below the bottom surface of the slide 370a and into the slot 426 in the offset portion 422 of the detent lever 390. The end portion 416b thus acts as a blocking member for the detent lever 390, in the same manner as the end portion 416 of the blade 418 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive, previously described, during record changing cycles other than a last record shut-off cycle. A second flat spring 696 is positioned between an outwardly formed notch portion 698 in the body of the spindle 18a and a shoulder portion 700 formed in the forward edge of the sensing blade 418b.

,.~ A~

1~:195~'9 The notch 698 is formed in the spindle body after the central bore is made by inserting a tool through the opening 692 and deforming the wall of the spindle body outwardly as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The spring 696 continuously exerts a force on the blade 418b tending to move the upper end of this blade in the direction of the record supporting shelf 430. However, the force exerted by the spring 696 on the blade 418b is somewhat less than the force exerted by the spring 690 on the blade 418a.
Both of the blades 418a and 418b are provided with elongated slots 695 within which the common pin 420 is located. A single spring 697 is positioned in the slots 695 and normally urges the pin 420 to the bottom of these slots. Such construction permits the blades 418a and 418b to be depressed by the records above the bottom record when the bottom record is ejected from the shelf 430, as discussed heretofore in connection with the embodiments of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. Preferably, the slots 695 are slightly wider at the top to accommodate movement of the blade 418b relative to the blade 418a when the absence of a record on the shelf 430 is sensed by movement of the blade 418b.
If a record is present on the shelf 430, during the initial sensing portion of the record changing cycle the spring 696 urges the upper end of the sensing blade into engagment with the edge of the bottom record adjacent the shelf 430 while at the same time the spring 690 urges the upper end of the ejector blade 418a into engagement with the opposite edge of the bottom record. Since the spring 690 is stronger than the spring 696, the sensing blade 418b is unable to move the bottom record off of the shelf 430 and the blades 418a and 418b remain in substantial alignment during the sensing portion of the record changing cycle. Accordingly, S~9 in the embodiments of Figures 38 and 39 a substantial force may be exerted on the sensing blade 418b to move this blade in the absence of a record on the shelf 430 while at the same time positively insuring that the force exerted by the blade 418b on a record seated on the shelf 430 will not be sufficient to eject the record, due to the large force exerted on the back edge of the bottom record by the ejector blade 418a.
Assuming still that a record is positioned on the shelf 430, as the record changing cycle continues after the last record sensing portion thereof, the end portion 416a is engaged by the back edge of the opening 414 in the slide 370a so that the blade 418a is moved into engagement with the bottom record on the shelf 430 and moves it off of the shelf and onto the turntable 12. As this occurs, the blade 418b is continuously urged in the direction of the shelf 430 by the spring 696 and hence follows movement of the ejector blade 418a as it moves the bottom record off of the shelf 430.
As soon as the last record is moved off of the shelf 430, the sensing blade 418b is moved to the last record shut-off position shown in full lines in Figure 38 by the spring 696. The last record is not moved off of the shelf 430 before the detent pin 396 has passed the notch 440 in the cam 402 so that even though the bottom portion 416b of the blade 418b is moved out of its blocking position with respect to the detent lever portion 422 no last record shut-off cycle is established and the last record is thereafter played in the normal manner. However, during the last record sensing portion of the next record changing cycle the detent pin 396 is permitted to enter the notch 440 and a shut-off cycle is set up so that the changer is turned off at the end of this cycle, as described in detail heretofore. During 5~9 this shut-off cycle the ejector blade 418a is moved by engagement of the end 416a thereof with the back edge of the opening 414 in the slide 370a but this movement has no effect on the last record shut-off mechanism since the end portion 416a of the blade 418a is cut off and does not extend into the path of the detent lever 390.
The embodiments of Figures 38 and 39 is particularly adapted for use in situations where there is little or no clamping force on the record stack. For example, the two-blade arrangement of Figures 38 and 39 is particularly adapted for use in the arrangement of Figures 35 and 36 when small-hole 45 rpm records are played, as is customary in Europe, for example. To play such records no large-hole record adaptor is required and the record stack is supported on the shelf 430 of the spindle 18a and the end portions 680 of the arms 664, it being noted that the arms 664 will have to be longer by an amount equal to one-half of the diameter of the large-hole centering aperture when small-hole 45 rpm records are to be played, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.
When a single 45 rpm record which is of relatively little weight, rests on the arms 664 a relatively light sensing force must be used with the single blade embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive, ~o be sure that the record is not moved off of the shelf 430 during the sensing operation. However, with the two-blade arrangment of Figures 38 and 39 the ejector blade 418a functions to hold a lightweight record in the shelf 430 even though the sensing blade is urged against the opposite edge of the record with a substantial sensing force. Since no adaptor is used with such an arrangement, the two-blade embodiments of Figures 38 and 39 is particularly desirable because the action of the ejector blade 418a in 11~9529 holding records on the shelf takes the place of the interference shoulder 684 when a 45 rpm adaptor is used as described heretofore in connection with Figure 37. However, it will be understood that the two-blade embodiments of Figures 38 and 39 may be useful in any arrangement where little or no clamping force is exerted on the record stack, either in the spindle area or at the edge of the record stack.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the tone arm subassembly 20 includes an audio chip indicated generally at 704 ~Figures 4 and 22) on which the female type electrical receptacles 706 and 708 are positioned. The clip 704 comprises a flat panel of electrically insulating material which slides within a slot in a downwardly extending portion 710 of the tone arm subassembly base 76, the other end of the clip 704 being supported in a notch in the plate 82. With this arrangement the phonograph pickup supported on the forward end of the tone arm 14 may be electrically connected to the receptacles 696, 698 and the entire tone arm subassembly 20 may be manufactured as a unit and tested electrically before it is installed in the base plate 10. Installation of the com~
pletely assembled and tested subassembly 20 on the base plate 10 is conveniently accomplished by providing the openings 776, 778 and 780 ~Figure 22A) in the base plate 10. The lift rod 72 is first inserted into the opening 776 and the housing 76 is provided with depending offset feet 782 and 784 which interlock with the corresponding edge portions 786 and 788 of the opening 776. The bottom edge of the housing 76 rests on the upper surface of the base plate 10 and the subassembly 20 is secured to the base plate by means of screws which are inserted through the openings 790 in the base plate 10 and into the housing 76.
The drive-trip link 120 is then connected to the quadrant 124 by simply inserting the end portion 126 into the bushing 128, as shown in Figure 11.

1~195~9 Referring now to Figures 40 and 41 of the drawings an alternative tone arm drive and velocity trip actuating arrangement is shown therein which may be used in place of the arrangement described in detail heretofore in connection with the embodiments of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. In this alternative embodiment the drive-trip link 120a is connected to the tone arm quadrant 124 by means of the bushing 132 which is positioned within the elongated slot 130 in the tone arm quadrant 124, as described in detail heretofore. However, in the embodiment of Figures 40 and 41 an alternative clutch arrangement is employed to interconnect the link 120a with the main cycling gear 30a. More particularly, the end of the link 120a is formed in a modified hairpin shape to provide a relatively wide slot 720 and a somewhat narrower slot 722, the end portion 724 of the link 120 being secured to the main portion of the link by any suitable means, such as welding or brazing. A drive pin 726 may be rotatably mounted in the gear 30a and retained on the gear 30a by means of the retaining washer 728. The U-shaped end portion 730 of the link 120a rides on the upper surface of an annular wall portion 732 formed in the gear 30a and extending upwardly from the upper surface.
The drive pin 726 is provided with an enlarged head portion 734 which is positioned over the end portion 730 of the drive link 120a to retain it in place while permitting longitudinal and rotary motion thereof with respect to the gear 30a. Sufficient vertical clearance is provided between the head portion 734 and the link 120a so that when the gear 30a is in the detent position shown in Figure 40 the link 120a is not interconnected with the gear 30a and the end portion 730 may be moved forwardly toward the flange 66 as the tone arm moves inwardly over the record during the playing cycle.

Sx:9 When the end portion 730 engages the flange 66, the link 120a is effective to move the velocity tripping pawl 62 to the record changing cycle initiating position, as described in detail heretofore in connection with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. In the alternative, the pin 726 may be formed integrally with the gear 30a and suitable means provided for retaining the link 120a on the pin 726.
The diameter of the drive pin 726 is substantially less than the width of the slot 720 in the drive link 120a. Accordingly, during the first portion of the record changing cycle while the tone arm is being lifted off of the record, the link 120a is not interconnected with the gear 30a. However, when the pin 726 engages the narrower slot portion 722 of the link 120a the pin 726 becomes wedged into the slot 722 and interconnects the gear 30a with the tone arm quadrant 124 so that the tone arm is moved outwardly. When the tone arms strikes the blocking portion 184 of the rest post 22 the tone arm cannot move outwardly any further and the drive pin 726 slips within the slot 722 of the link 120a as the gear 30 continues to rotate. During the latter half of the record changing cycle the drive pin 726 is moved in the opposite direction and functions to move the tone arm quadrant 124 inwardly until the shoulder 192 thereof engages the size selector slide flange 194. When this occurs the pin 726 again slips within the slot 722 while the tone arm remains positioned for engagement with a twelve-inch record. This action continues until the pin 726 is moved into the larger slot 720 of the link 120a whereupon the link 120a becomes disconnected from the gear 30a as this gear moves to its home or detent position. It will be noted that in the embodiment of Figures 40 and 41, the clutching action which interconnects the gear 38 with the link 120a is accomplished without requiring vertical movement of the drive pin 726.

S;~

In Figures 42 and 43 alternative tone arm drive and velocity trip actuating arrangements are shown wherein the drive link 120b is provided with a single elongated narrow slot 740, the U-shaped end portion 742 of the link 120b being employed as a velocity tripping member which engages the flange 66 of the pawl 62 to initiate a record changing cycle when the gear is located in the detent position shown in Figure 42. In the embodiment of Figure 42 a drive pin 744 is provided with a head portion 746 which is positioned over the U-shaped end portion 742 of the link 120b to retain this link on the upper surface of the wall 732. However, the drive pin 744 is solidly secured to the cycling gear, by any suitable means, so that as this gear rotates the cross section presented to the slot 740 changes. As this cross-sectional dimension increases, the pin 744 becomes wedged into the slot 740 and a driving connection is established between the cycling gear and the link 120b so that the tone arm is moved outwardly. However, when the tone arm strikes the arm portion 184 of the rest post 22, the pin 744 slips within the slot 740 to provide the necessary slip clutch action as the cycling gear continues to rotate. When the cycling gear is in the detent position the pin 744 is completely disconnected from the link 120b so that this link may be used as a velocity trip actuating member, as described in detail heretofore in connection with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. In ~he embodiment of Figure 42 the pin 744 is provided with a D-shaped cross-section. In the embodiment of Figure 43 the pin 744 is provided with a diamond-shaped cross-section. In both of these embodiments the changing cross-sectional dimension of the pin 744 relative to the width of the slot 740, as the main cycling gear rotates, produces the necessary wedging action to interconnect the cycling gear with the link 120b.

lil~S~9 Referring now to Figures 44 to 46, inclusive, an alternative tone arm drive and velocity trip actuating arrangement is shown wherein a drive trip link 120c is employed to interconnect the ma.in cycling gear 30c wi.th the tone arm quadrant 124. In the embodimen-t of Figures 44 to 46, inclusive, the elongated slot 130 in the quadrant 124 is eliminated and the link 120c is pivotally connected directly to the quadrant 124 through the bushing 128 without permitting any lost motion between these members. A drive pin 750 is rotatably mounted in an opening 752 formed in the gear 30c and is provided with a transverse slot 754 within which the end portion of the drive link 120c extends. The gear 30c is provided with an upstanding annular wall portion 756 adjacent the opening 752 and the link 120 rides on the upper surface of the wall 756. The pin 750 is provided with flexible leg portions 758 and 760 which terminate in feet 762 and 764 which are adapted to engage the underside of the gear 30c within a recess 766 formed therein.
When the main cycling gear 30c is positioned in its home or detent position shown in Figure 44 the pin 750 is positioned so that the arcuate bottom surface 768 thereof is in engagement with an upturned flange portion 770 provided on the base plate portion 28, as shown in Figure 45. In this position of the gear 30c the pin 750 is held in an upper position within the opening 752 so that the link 120c rides loosely within the opening 754 in the pin 750. Accordingly, during the playing cycle the link 120c is free to move within the slot 754 as the tone arm moves inwardly over the record. In this connection it will be noted that the opening 754 in the pin 750 is of sufficient width to permit the slight sideward movement of the link 120c as the tone arm is moved to the runout groove of the record.

~119S29 In the embodiments shown in Figures 44 to 46, inclusive, the tone arm tripping arrangement does not include a velocity trip clutch connection between the link 120c and the quadrant 124. Accordingly, this embodiment is arranged to provide a change cycle initiating action which is responsive to the position of the tone arm rather than to the change in velocity when the tone arm engages the runout groove of a record. Thus, the link 120c is made of the correct length so that when the tone arm reaches the runout groove of a record on the turntable the end of the link 120c will engage the flange 66 and move the pawl 62 into the path of the flange 70 thereby initiating a record changing cycle. In the alternative, a photo-electric sensing and tripping arrangement may be employed which is responsive to movement of the link 120c to a predetermined point during the playing cycle, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. It will also be understood that a velocity trip clutch including the members 128, 130 and 134 may be employed in the embodiment of Figures 44 to 46 if desired so that a velocity tripping action is provided as described in detail heretofore in connection with the embodiments of Figures 1 to 34~ inclusive.
Considering now the operation of the slip clutch connection between the gear 30c and the link 120c in the embodiment of Figures 44 to 46, inclusive, after the gear 30c has rotated an amount sufficient to permit lifting of the tone arm, the pin 750 is moved away from the flange 770 on the base plate portion 28 and assumes the position shown in Figure 46. In this position the flexible leg portions 758, 760 urge the pin 750 downwardly within the opening 752 so that the link 120c is gripped between the upper wall of the slot 754 and the upper surface of the annular wall 756.

Accordingly, as the gear 30c continues to mo-ve the tone arm 14 is moved outwardly until it engages the upstanding blocking portion 184 of the tone arm rest 22. When the tone a-rm is moved into engagement with the portion 184 the link 120c slips with respect to the flange 770, as described in detail heretofore in connection with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive.
If desired, the link 120c may be disconnected from the gear 30c during the mid portion of the record changing cycle so that the tone arm can remain in its outward position adjacent the rest post 22 as long as possible before it is moved inwardly to the edge of a twelve-inch record. More particularly, a second arcuate upstanding flange 772 may be formed in the base plate portion 28 in ~he path of the pin 750.
When the gear 30c has rotated somewhat less than 180 degrees the surface 768 of the pin 750 is lifted to a position similar to Figure 45 in which the link 120c is no longer clamped between the upper surface of the slot 754 and the upper surfaces of the annular wall 756. After the gear 30c has rotated by an amount sufficient to move the pin 750 away from the flange 772 the pin 750 again assumes a position similar to that shown in Figure 46 and moves the tone arm inwardly until the shoulder 192 engages the flange 194 on the size selector slide 196. After the tone arm is thus restrained at the correct twelve-inch record position, the link 120c slips with respect to the pin 750 as the gear 30c continues to rotate. As the home or detent position of the gear 30c is reached, the pin 750 engages the surface 774 of the flange 770 so that the pin 750 is lifted to the position shown in Figure 45 wherein the link 120c is disconnected from the gear 30c and may be used for a velocity trip actuating operation during the playing cycle.

s~9 In Figure 47 o-f the drawings, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is disclosed wherein the turntable hub 38 is driven by an idler wheel arrangement rather than the belt drive of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. Referring to Figure 47, an idler wheel 794 is rotatably mounted on an arm 796 which is itself pivotally mounted on a pin 798 in the end of a member 800 of U-shaped cross-section. The member 800 is pivotally mounted on a post 802 which is mounted on the base plate lOa and extends through a slot 804 in a multi-level positioning member 806 which is slidably mounted on the base plate lOa. The control wire 302a, which is similar to the wire 302 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, is connected to one end of the member 806. The idler wheel arrangement is generally similar to the idler wheel drive mechanism shown in Dennis United States Patent No. 3,490,772 and reference may be had to this patent for a detailed description thereof. However, for the purpose of the present invention it may be stated that when the control wire 302a is moved to different speed positions, the member 800 is moved up and down the post 802 by engagement of an adjustment screw 808 with the multi-level surface of the member 806. As a result, the idler wheel 794 is moved into engagement with different steps on a multi-step turret 810 positioned on the upper end of the shaft of the turntable driving motor. The idler wheel 794 is biased into wedging engagement with the outer edge of the turntable hub 38 and the turret 810 by means of a spring 812 which is connected from the arm 796 to the base plate lOa~ In the embodiment of Figure 47, the other portions of the automatic record changer are identical to that described in detail heretofore in connection with Figures 1 to 34.
Accordingly, the turntable 12 may be stopped during the record changing 2~

cycle, by means of the brake member 620, while the idler wheel 794 continues to drive the hub 38 and the washer 52 provides slippage between the members 38 and 12. It will be noted that the change from belt drive of the hub 38, as in FIGURES 1 to 34, inclusive, to the idler wheel drive of the hub 38 in FIGURE 47 may be made very simply and economically with no changes in the automatic record changing mechanism itselE. This simplification is made possible by driving the hub 38 by engagement with the outer periphery thereof.
In conventional changers the idler wheel engages the inner surface of the turntable rim to drive the turntable.
In FIGURE 48 an alternative embodiment of the invention is disclosed wherein separate tone arm drive means and velocity tripping means are employed. Referring to this figure, the slip clutch 122 on the main cycling gear 30d is employed to connect a drive link 120d to the tone arm quadrant 124d for moving the tone arm horizontally but a separate velocity tripping arrangement is employed to initiate a record changing cycle. In the embodi-ment of FIGURE 48 the quadrant 124d is provided with a rectangular opening 820 within which is positioned the downturned right angle end portion of the drive link 120d. The link 120d is held at the correct level for engagement with the opening 820 by means of a member 822 which extends downwardly from the upper wall of the housing 76 and is provided with an opening 824 within which the intermediate portion of the link 120d is positioned.
In the embodiment of FIGURE 48 the link 120d is only employed to move the tone arm and other velocity tripping means are employed to initiate a record changing cycle. For example, the velocity tripping arrangement shown in Dennis United States patent 4,049,278 dated September 20, 1978 may be employed. In such case a ,,~

5`~'~

velocity tripping arm, similar to the arm 338 in said application, is mounted for rotation about the tone arm pivot and is frictionally connected to the tone arm, said arm being arranged to engage the flange portion 560 of the trip pawl 62 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34 of the present invention. In other respects the embodiment of Figure 48 may be identical to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34 described in detail heretofore.
In the embodiment of Figure 48, when the gear 30 has moved to a position corresponding to Figure 14, the clutch 122 connects the gear 30 to the link 120d. As the link 120d starts to move outwardly from the position shown in full lines in Figure 48 there is no movement of the quadrant 124d until the end of the link 120d engages the back edge 826 of the opening 820 in the quadrant 124d. When this occurs, the link 120d moves the quadrant 124d, and the tone arm 14, outwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 48 at which position the tone arm engages the blocking portion 184 of the rest post 22 and during further outward movement of the link 120d the clutch 122 slips, as described in detail heretofore. During the return motion of the link 120d the quadrant 124d is not moved until the end of the link 120d engages the forward edge 828 of the opening 820 whereupon the quadran~
124d is moved inwardly until the shoulder 192 engages the slide 196 at the twelve-inch record position and the clutch 122 slips as the gear 30 continues to move back to its detent position, as described in detail heretofore in connection with Figures 13 to 19, inclusive. During the playing cycle the quadrant 124d is moved inwardly as the tone arm moves inwardly over the record. During this movemen* the quadrant 124d is completely disconnected from the link 120d so that no loading S~9 from the link 120d is placed on the tone arm, the opening 820 in the quadrant 124d providing this lost motion connection between the quadrant 124d and the link 120d during the entire playing cycle.
In Figure 49 of the drawings an alternative embodiment of the invention is disclosed wherein a two-plate velocity tripping mechanism is employed in place of the plate 62 and clutch member 132 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. Referring to Figure 49, a drive-trip link 120f is connected to the main gear 30 through the clutch members 122 as the gear 30 rotates, as described in detail heretofore. However, in the embodiment of Figure 49, the end of the link 120f is pivotally connected to the quadrant 124 but the slot 130 is eliminated so that there is no lost motion between the members 120f and 124. A two-plate velocity tripping mechanism is mounted on the gear 30, this mechanism comprising a bottom plate 852 and top plate 62a. The top plate 62a is provided with a pin 61a which extends through a hole in the bottom plate 852 and into an opening in the gear 30 so that the members 62a and 852 are each pivotally mounted for rotation about the axis of the pin 61a.
The bottom plate 852 is provided with a pair of upstanding ears 850 and 856 which limit movement of the bottom plate 852 relative to the top plate 62a. The bottom plate 852 is provided with a flange 854 which is adapted to be engaged by the end of the link 120f. The plate 62a includes the downturned flange 560 which extends through the opening 562 in the gear 30 and has a shoulder 68a which is adapted to be engaged by the flange 70.
Near the end of the playing cycle the end of the link 120f engages the flange 854 and moves both members 62a 11~95~9 and 852 toward the centering spindle. However, the flange 70 engages the plate 62a behind the shoulder 68a thereof and moves the top plate 62a back slightly while the plate 62a slips with respect to the bottom plate 852. When the run-out groove is encountered, the link 120f moves both members toward the spindle by an amount sufficient that the flange 70 engages the shoulder 68a on the top plate 62a and moves the gear 30 so that a record changing cycle is initiated. During the record changing cycle the members 62a and 852 are reset to their desired positions by engagement with the teeth of the gear 58 on the turntable hub. The bottom plate 852 is provided with a protruding portion 858 which is first engaged by the teeth of the gear 58 so that the ear 856 is reset to a position in engagement with one side of the member 62a. Thereafter, the members 62a and 852 are moved together to a position in which the shoulder 68a is positioned out of the path of the flange 70. It will be seen that the embodiment of Figure 49 provides a lost motion connection between the link 120f and the plate 62a instead of the lost motion connection at the other end of the link 120 provided by the slot 130 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive. In other respects the embodiments of Figure 49 is identical to that of Figures 1 to 34, inclusive.
While there have been illustrated and described various embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modification as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. In an automatic record changer, the combination of, a turntable, a centering spindle positioned at the center of said turntable and having a shelf on which a stack of relatively large diameter records may be supported, a platform positioned beyond the edge of said turntable for supporting the edge of a stack of large diameter records seated on said shelf, a hold-down member movable from a loading position to a position in engagement with the edge of the top record of a large diameter record stack supported on said platform, and means for moving the bottom record of said large diameter record stack off of said shelf and onto said turntable during an automatic record changing cycle, said hold-down member having a portion which is positionable to support the edge of the bottom record of a stack of relatively small diameter records.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said platform is fixed and said means for moving the bottom record off of said shelf includes an ejector blade mounted on said spindle and having an upper portion adapted to engage the edge of the centering aperture of the bottom record of a stack of records seated on said shelf.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said small diameter records have relatively large centering apertures, and an adaptor positioned on said spindle for centering said stack of small diameter records which is supported by said hold-down member portion in offset relation to said spindle.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said spindle includes an ejector blade mounted on said spindle and having an upper portion adapted to engage the edge of the centering aperture of bottom record of said stack of small diameter records.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein the bottom record of said stack of small diameter records which is centered by said adaptor is supported on said shelf and on said hold-down arm portion, and said spindle includes an ejector blade mounted on said spindle and having an upper portion adapted to engage the edge of the centering aperture of said small diameter bottom record and move said bottom record off of said shelf and said hold-down arm portion during the record changing cycle.