US1622814A - Phonograph - Google Patents

Description

March 29,1927. 1,622,814

F.J.SEABOLT PHONOGRAPH Filed Sept. 2 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 1\ Fly].

, 1,622,814 F. J. SEABOLT v PHQNOGRAPH March 29, 1927.

Filed Sept. 2.3, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 18.

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March 29, 1927.

F. J. SEABOLT Fly 12.

Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

FRA NK J. SEABOLT, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE PHONOGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

' rnonosnarn.

r Application filed September 23, 1919. Serial No. 325,766.

My .invention relates to'the control of phonographs and th'e" like, and provides means whereby a device of this character vmay be caused to automatically repeat its operation. It also provides means whereby different records, which are automatically shifted, may be played.

. My invention is well adapted to phonographs in which a spring motor for operating the machine is electrically wound although it is not limited to this particular application. In my previous application, Serial No. 247,908, filed August 2, 1918, I

- havedescribed and claimed means whereby upon the completion of a record the spring .motor is automatically wound and the tone arm returned, with the needle lifted, to its or am initial position. In said application I have described and claimed means whereby the playing of the record will be repeated automaticallyregardless of the size of the record or the pitch of the threads (number of lines per inch) there being no other manual operation than that of the starting lever.

In one aspect of my present invention it comprises improvements upon the arrangement disclosed in said application, such improvements including the use of mechanical means for bringing about the desired results instead of the electrical or electro-magnetic means therein disclosed. It also includes other important features which will be more particularly .pointed out hereinafter.

In another aspect my invention comprises a phonograph or the like which is entirely automatic, that is, successive records will be played without the intervention of the operator. .This automatic feature is well adapted for use in connection with the repeating arrangement, since, in one embodiment of my invention, the. records are automatically shifted while the machine is being wound and the tone arm returned with the needle lifted. Furthermore, by the use of myrepeating arrangement records of various sizes may be shifted and played with no other manual control than that of the starting lever. By the use of my invention a stack of records of any size may be placed in position and the machine started, whereupon the records will be successively shifted to playing position and finally deposited in a stack at another point. When the last record in the stack has been played the operation will cease.

,ing of the needle with the tone arm returning that disclosed in my application above re My invention will be more clearly understood from the following specification in which I have shown my invention embodied in concrete form for purposes of illustration.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my' invention in concrete form Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of. the arrangement of parts and showing the circuit connections. Fig. 2 shows the details of the arrangement for securing the switch operating member to the tone arm and simultaneously starting the machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Figs. {1, 5 and 6 show the members for interlocking the lift mechanism. Fig. 7 shows a clutch operated by the brake lever. Fig. 8 shows a modified arrangement for closing the motor circuit when the machine is stopped. Fig. 9 is a plan view of an automatic machine embodying my invention. Fig. 10 is an elevation of the same. Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive show details of the feeding magazine. Figs.

15 and 16 show details of the receiving magazine. Figs. 17 and 18 show details ,of the of circuits.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the general arrangement is similar to ferred to. The spring motor for the phonograph is represented at 10 as driving the rotatable table 11, through worm gearing 12, in the usual. manner. The electric motor for winding the spring motor is shown at 13, the winding being done through worm 14 on the motor shaft and worm wheel 15 on the spring arbor 16. The contacts for controlling the motor circuit are represented at 17 and 18 respectively, contact 17 being driven by the spring motor through worm 19, gears 19', 20, 21 and 22 and sleeve23, while contact '18 is driven by the electric motor from worm 24 secured to arbor 16 and worm wheel 25 secured to shaft 26 which 100 passes through sleeve 23. These two contacts 17 and 18 both have the same gear relation with their respective driving members, that is, the gearrelation between contact 17 and the drum of the spring motor 105' a certain number of turns in driving the 110 shifting finger, and Fig. 19 shows a diagramv table 11, the contact 17 will be turned a certain portion of a revolution and if the arbor 16 is given the same number of turns to restore the spring tension, the contact 18 will be moved exactly the same portion of a revolution as contact 17 and in the same direction. Contact 17 is a metallic disk having a. brush 27 engaging its edge and provided with an eccentric rib 28 of insulating material enclosing an insulating section 29 on the disk. Contact 18 comprises a similar metallic disk having a brush 30 engaging its edge and a spring finger 31 engagin the disk of the contact 17. This spring nger is arranged to be deflected by the rib 28 so as to snap from the insulating section 29 to the metallic surface and vice versa. This form of contacting device is fully described in my Patent No. 1,180,743, and other patents and, consequently, needs no more detailed description. The result of all this is that if there were no other control for the motor 13 than the sliding contacts 17 and 18, when the motor circuit is closed by the spring finger 31 snapping over onto the metallic portion of the disk which it engages, the spring would be wound up by just the amount which it had run down. If,

however, the motor circuit should be open at another point when the contact is made, the electric motor will not, of course, be energized but the contacts willcontinue in sliding engagement until the circuit is c0mpletcd at the other point. In my present arrangement the motor circuit is controlled by a switch 32 associated with the brake lever 33 of the machine. This switch 32 is closed only when the brake is applied to stop the machine so that, if the spring motor has run down far enough to close the contacts 17--18, if the brake lever is operated to stop the machine, the motor 13 will be energized and wind the spring to its original tension at which point the motor circuit will be opened at the contacts 1718. This rewinding arrangement is covered by my previous application, Serial No. 26,059, filed May 5, 1915.

\Vhile the motor is winding the spring, it is likewise turning the tone arm back to its original position. This is accomplished by a gear 34 driven from the arbor 16 through bevel gears 35, shaft 36, bevel pinion 37 and bevel gear 38. The gear 34 is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with gear sector 39. To this end gear 38, which drives gear 34, is adapted to rotate slightly about pinion 37, so that gear 34 will be rotated into and out of engagement with sector '39. As shown the bearing 40 for gear 38-is rotatably mounted on shaft 36. A projection 41 from the end of the bearing 40 is employed to throw the gear 34 into mesh with sector 39 in a manner hereindescribed.

In order to lift the needle when the 1110- tor is energized and before the turning movement of the tone arm is begun, I provide 7 43 back of which are driving pins 44. Each.

of these pawls is so mounted that when it reaches a substantially vertical position above the center of the disk it will drop over away from its driving pm if there is nothing to prevent it. If, however, the pivoted lever 45 should be in the position shown in the drawing it will be engaged by the pawl and turned on its pivot. Lever 45 is connected by link 46 with a lever 47 mounted on a shaft 48 and a latch 49 is adapted to engage lever 47 and hold it when moved by the pawl 43 to the position shown in-dotted lines. It will be understood, of course, that one pawl will do the lifting but it may be preferable to employ two or even more pawls so that the lifting will be done promptly after the motor starts. The latch is moved to release the lever 47 by arm 50 operated in a manner hereinafter described.

Mounted on shaft 48 are the members 51 and 52 which lift the needle and engage the projection 41 to throw the gear 34 into mesh with gear sector 39. In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 I have shown these two parts 51 and 52 cooperating with each other. Member 51, shaped as shownin Fig. 4, is secured to shaft 48 and acts as a carrier for part 52 which is shaped as shown in Fig. 6. Part 52 is pivoted to part 51 at 53 and is provided with lugs carrying a pin 54 to which the end'of a band 55, which lifts the needle, is secured. The other end of the band is secured to the pivot of the reproducer and needle so that the needle will be lifted when the band is drawn as will be readily understood. The

part 52 has a face 57 which engages the projection 41 to throw the gear 34 into mesh with sector 39, but this will only occur provided there is a pull on band due to the lifting of the needle. Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 it will be obvious that as member 51 is rotated in a clockwise direction by shaft 48, if there is a. strain on hand 55, the part 52 will maintain its position with reference to part 51, this strain keeping a lug 58 on part 52 against the part 51. This lug, of course, prevents the turning of the part 52 in a counter clockwise direction and causes the lifting of the needle. The projection 41 will accordingly be moved as shown in dotted lines (Fig. 5). If, however, there should be no pull on the band 55, due for instance to a breakage of the band or its connections, as the member 51 is turned, the member 52 will simply turn on its pivot 53 as shown in Fig. 6, and the projection 41 will not be moved. The result will be that if the lifting band or its connection is broken so as not to lift the needle,'the tone arm will not be turned, notwithstanding the fact that the motor winds the spring and the shaft 48 is turned and latched. Inorder to slightlyretard the dropping of the needle I provide the dash pot 48.

'lurning now to the means for limiting the return movement of the tone arm so. that it will always come back to the osition from which it started regardless of t e size of the record or the number of lines. per inch on the record, it willbe seen, that I have provided a switch which I shall designate as a whole as 59. The contacts 60 of this switch are in a parallel circuit with the contacts 32 and therefore in series with the contacts 1718. It the switch 59 is opened, therefore, the winding motor will stop. Likewise if the contacts 1718 are closed, (and they will close beforea record is completed, the sooner after the starting of the record the better) when the switch 59 is closed the motor 13 will operate. It is this switch 59 which controls the motor when the machine isrunning. To this-end'I so arrange the parts that while the machine is running the cir- 4 cuit will not be opened at contacts 1718 becausethe switch'59 will open the circuit before the spring has been wound up far enough to open the contacts 1718. Then the machine is stopped, however, andthe circuit closed at contacts 32 the motor will wind the spring to its original tension since the winding will then be controlled by contacts 17-4-18 as before described, but the needle will not be lifted nor the tone arm turned.

' The switch 59 is-operated by the movement of the tone arm. It is operated in one direction (to close the motor circuit) by a lug 61 fixed to the tone arm, and in the opposite direction (to open the motor circuit) by a member or lug 62 which is secured to the tone arm when the machine is started and while it is running, but which, when the machine is stopped, is released from the tone arm. The member 62 is secured to the tone arm in the position in which it opens the switch 59 so that when the tone arm returns to that position, carrying with it the member 62, the switch 59 will be opened and the winding stopped. \Vhen the motor is stopped the latch 49 is likewise moved to release the arm 47.Wl'1l0l1 allows' the needle to drop and the gear 34 to leave sector 39. In order to securethe member 62 to the tone arm I provide the arrangement shown in detail in'Figs. 2 and 3. The member is secured to a ring 63 which loosely surrounds the. tone arm and is adapted to be clutched to the tone arm by the operation of the. lever 64 which also acts as the starting lever of the machine. In the arrangement shown I employ a spring bale 65 which surrounds the to e arm and is loca ed in a g oove 66 on the tone arm.- ,The ends of this bale 65 are connected with the lever 64 which is pivoted to lugs 67 at 68 on the ring 63. The arrange ment is such that as the lever 64 isthrown back to the position shown in Fig. 2, the spring bale 65 and the ring 63 are clutched to the tone arm by a toggle action. lVhen the connection point of the bale to: the lever passes below the pivotal point 68 of the lever, the lever is stopped by a lug 69 andthe ring 63 carrying the member 62, the bale 65 and the lever 64 are all clutched to the tone arm. As shown, the lever 64 projects upward through the cover board 70. -This cover boardfis slotted at 71 to permit the lever 64 to travel with the tone arm but prevents the lever from being operated to release the parts from the tone arm and stop the machine until the tone arm is brought back to its initial position. If it were possible to throw the,lever 64 in any position and stop the machine, the member62 would be left in an intermediate position so that upon again starting it would not be in a proper position to operate the switch 59. It will be understood, of course, that when the machine is stopped and the lever 64 and associated parts are unclutched from the tone arm, these parts are perfectly free from the tone arm. In order, therefore, to hold them in proper position I employ a holding device which I have shown inthe form of a clip 72 into which the lever 64 is thrown in the off position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The connection between the operating lever 64 and the brake lever 33 ,is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As shown,'this brake lever is of the usual type, that is, it-

is spring applied when the operated portion is thrown over center. The operated end is in the form of a yoke 72' into which a pro je'ction 73 on the lever 64 enters when the latter is in its starting position. As shown, there is no connection between the starting lever .64 and the brake lever during the playing ofa record or at least after the tone arm has moved a short distance. There. is no means other than the lever 64 for operating the brake, however, the latter, as shown, being on the under side of the 'cover board-70. p

The operating lever 64 also operates the clutch '16 between the arbor 16 and the disk 42. When lever 64 is thrown to stop the machine the motor completes the winding of the spring, but at this time it is unnecessary and in the present arrangement undesirable to have the needle lifted and the tone arm clutch thrown in. I accordingly unclutch the, disk 42 from the arbor 16 whenthe lever 64 is thrown to stop the machine. This I do through a lever 64'- connected with the yoke 72 of the brake lever.-.: Lever 64' actuates sliding clutch member 65 through connection 66' (Fig. 7 As shown, when the lever 64 is thrown to the OK or braking position, the clutch member 65 is thrown out of engagement with its cooperating member on the disk 42. When the lever 64 is thrown to start the machine the clutch is thrown in. p

- The switch 59 I have shown as of the overcenter spring type and comprises an operat ing lever 74 '(Fig. 3) and a switch lever 75 pivoted at 76. WVhen the operating lever 74 is thrown so as to throw the point of attachqnent of the spring thereto over center, the

switch will be operated in a well understood manner. The operating member 62 for the switch normally rests against a pin 7 7 on the switch operating lever 74, the latter being in is reached.

the position in which the switch lever 75 will be thrown to open position. It will be understood, of course, that this pin 77 is also engaged by the'lug 61 to throw the switch to closed position when the end of a record Secured to the operating member of the switch lever 75 is a rod 75 which carries the arm 50.

. operation of the machine as thus far described will be as follows: A record being placed on the machine, the operator first places the needle on the record in the usual way as shown in Fig. 1, the table of course being stationary. The operator now merely v starts the machine in the usual way by throwing the lever 64 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The operation of the lever 64 not only starts the .machine but also clutches the switch operating member 62 to the tone arm, it being in the position shown in Fig.3. The disk 42 is also clutched to arbor 16. The machine now starts and the tone arm carries with it the member 62, the operating lever 64 also moving with the tone arm. When the end of the record is reached the tone arm is thrown over to the circular groove 79 and the lug 61 closes the switch 59. The motor circult is now closed from line a through the contacts l7-18 which are now closed, through the motor 13, switch contacts 60 of switch 59 and back to the other side of the line b. When the motor starts'to operate, the needle is lifted through the pawl 43 and gears 34 and 39 are thrown into mesh to turn the tone arm back. The latch 49 holds the parts in this position. Ag. before stated the gear relation between the spring arbor and the tone arm is such that the latter is returned to its original position before the motor has completed the winding operation, that is, before the circuit has been broken at contacts 17-18. As the tone arm returns, the member 62 engages the pin 77 of switch 59 and when the tone arm reaches its original position, the switch arm 74 snaps over to the open position. At the same time the latch 49 is operated to release the needle and also the gear 34 from engagement with sector 39. The motor and tone arm, therefore, stop and the needle is low- .ered to the record with a slightly retarded movement. The record is now played again as before and when the end is reached the tone arm is returned in the manner above described. To stop the machine at any time, the tone arm must first be turned back to its original position, that is, until the member 62 engages the pin 77 of the switch 59, the reproducer' of course being turned back on to the tone arm in the usual way. The lever 64 may now be thrown to stop the machine and simultaneously unclutch the operating'lever and associated parts from the tone arm, also release the disk 42 from the spring arbor 16. In the off position lever 64 will be held by the clip 72. It will thus be seen that the needle will always return to its starting point, and the spring will be wound at each return, but will be fully wound when the machine is stopped.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modification in which instead of closing contacts when the stopping lever is operated, they are closed when the reproducer is turned back on to the tone arm. The contacts 32', therefore, correspond with contacts 32 in Fig. 1. The sub stitution of this arrangement for that of Fig. 1 would involve no other change.

In Figs. 9 to 1.9 I have shown an arrangement for automatically changing records. In this arrangement I have utilized the repeating phonograph above described although my invention ie not limited to the use of this phonograph. In this arrangement it will be observed that a stack of records is placed at one side of the phonograph table from which the records are automatically fed to the table and then automatically transferred to the other side of the table. While the tone arm is being returned with the needle lifted to its initial'position, the record is shifted to the right and another record is moved from the left to the table to take its place. Vhen the needle drops, therefore, in its initial position instead of repeating a record, the new record shall have taken its place. To this end all of the records of a certain diameter should have the thread begin at substantially the same distance from the edge of the record. Instead of this a spiral thread of steep pitch, not shown, such as is employed at the middle of the record, as shown'in Fig. 1, could be employed which would start at the proper distance from the edge and end 'at the beginning of the regular record thread; I prefer, however, to have the regular thread begin at the proper distance from the edge of the record since this caneasily be done in making the record.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, it will be seen that a stack of records of a certain size is placed in the magazine at 80. This magazine will hold records of any standard size which are centered in the magazine by a pin 81. The records are automatically fed to the level of the table, that is, when 3. record is withdrawn another takes its place, in a manner hereinafter described. At 82 is another magazine for receiving the records after they have been played. In other words, the stack of records is transferred from to 82. For accomplishing this purpose I employ, in the particular arrangement shown, an arm 83 having a pin 84 at its outer end which registers with the center hole in the record. This arm is moved by an electric motor 85 (Fig. 19) which is energized when the needle is lifted. The stopping of this motor, however, is controlled by the motor itself after it has made a predetermined number of revolutions. When the motor starts, therefore, it always makes a definite number of revolutions before stopping and in doing so causes the arm 83 to go through its complete cycle. During the playing of the record the arm is in its central position as shown in the drawing, the pin on its end acting as the centering pin instead of the usual pin on the table. When the shifting motor 85 is started, it first moves the arm, and with it the record which has been played, to the right as far as the magazine at 82. The

arm then starts to the left, leaving the record behind in the magazine. The arm now moves over to the center of the records in the magazine 80 and the pin drops into'the center hole in the top record. The arm now moves back to the right, carrying with it the top record and finally stops at the playing position on the table. All this takes place while the tone arm is being returned with the needle lifted and the spring motor is being wound. The arrangement of the pin in the end of the arm is shown in Figs. 17

and 18. This pin is hinged at 86 so that it will glide over the record when the arm is moved to theleft, but when the arm is moved to the right it assumes a vertical position. This pin may have the surface which bears on the surface of the record of some material which will not scratch the record although this may not be necessary since the pressure of the pin on the record will be very light.

In order to bring about the cycle of operation of the arm as above described I employ a mutilated annular gear 87 which is driven slowly by the motor. The reduction gearing between the motor and this annular gear is such that the motor in making its predetermined number of revolutions turns the annular gear through one complete turn. The pinion 88 which drives the arm 83 is engaged on one side by the teeth of the annular gear at to turn the arm in one direction (to the right) and-on its opposite sideby teeth 89 to turn the arm in the other direction (to the left). The number of teeth at 89 are sufficient tocarry the arm from the center over to the magazine at the right, while the teeth at 90 will carry the arm from that point over to the center of the records in the magazine 80. The teeth at 91 will then carry the arm from that point back to the playing osition, thus completing the cycle during w ich the annular gear has made a complete turn.

Turning now to the details of the magazines, the magazine 80 is shown in Figs. 11 14. It comprises a casing 92 in the top of the cabinet 93 having its top flush with the top of the phonograph table at 94. 4 Within this casing is a platform 95 upon which the records to be played are stacked. The centering pin 81 is mounted on this platform, the

pin passing through the center holes in the successive records. This piri 'is vertically movable a slight distance because it should be high enough to center the last record when the magazine is filled, but must be out of the way when the top record is drawn off. A sliding frame consisting of the three rods 96, 97 and 98mounted on a base 99 is arranged to be moved upward from ts lowermost position, shown in Fig. 11, to its uppermost position, shown in Fig. 12, where it is held by the spring pressed balls 100. Secured to the platform 95 is a U-shaped memher 101 which passes freely through the base 99. When the frame is raised, therefore, the base engages the platform and lifts it to the position shown in Fig. 12. 7

Between the bottom of the U-shaped piece 101- andthe bottom of the casing is a spring 102 which forces the stack of records upward when one has been removed. Hinged to the top of rod 96 isa cover plate 103 which acts as a stop and can be swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 14. This cover is held down by a rod 104 having a loop 105 in its middle portion and having its ends bent into the form of cranks 105' adapted to engage. with hooks 106 on the tops of rods 97 and 98. It will be obvious that by turning the rod 104 from the position shown in Figs. 11 and 13 until the loop 105 is vertical, as shown in Fig. 14, the cranked ends will pass from under the hooks and assume a horizontal position against the cover. In this position the cranks'will clear the hooks when the coveris' turned on its hinge.- Secured to the under side of the base 99 is a bracket 107 which supports the pin 81 through a spring 108, the rod being provided with a collar 109 upon which the spring bears. When the frame is up as shown in Figs.

" 12 and 14, the pin extends upward to the cover-plate 103, but when the frame is pushed down, as shown in Fig. 11, a pivoted lever 110 on the under side of the base 99 engages a stationary lug 111 on the casing, forcing the inner end of the lever which projections 112 on the casing. These hooks have finger grips and are hung so as to automatically engage their projections when the frame is pushed down. To lift the frame the finger grips on the hooks are taken hold of and by pulling upward the hooks are disengaged. from the projections and the frame may be pulled up and latched by the balls 100.

To load the magazine, therefore, the frame is raised to the position shown in Figs. 12 and 14, and the cover plate is swung to the vertical position. Ihe records are now stacked on to the platform 95, the centering pin passing through the holes in the records. As many records as desired, up to the capacity of the magazine may be put in. In Fig.12 I have shown, for purposes of illustration, themagazine only partially filled. The cover is now clamped down and the frame pushed downward overcoming the locking balls 100. As the frame moves downward, the platform 95, which is spring pressed upward, does not move until the cover plate reaches the records. From then on, the records and platform also move compressing the spring 102. Of course, if the magazine had been filled, the records would have moved at once. reaches the bottom, it is latched as shown in Fig. 12, the centeringpin 81 being in the meantime moved downward to the posi' tion shown in dotted lines in Fig.11 as above described. It will be obvious now that if the top record is drawn out, the platform will be moved upward by the spring 102 so that the next record will be in the place of the one removed. lVhen the last record is removed, the contacts 113 (Fig. 11) will be bridged by contact 114 to stop the machine as hereinafter described.

The magazine 82 is shown in Figs. 15 and 16. It consists of a platform 115 spring pressed upward by a spring 116. When there are no records in the magazine the When the frame platform 115 is flush with the rotating table. WVhen a record is moved onto the platform it passes under a guide 115 pivoted at 116.

The ends of this guide are turned upward as shown so as to start the record under the guide and the spring 116 then yields to force the record downward so that its upper surface is at the level of the table or below. Each end of the guide is divided into two fingers 117 and 118 which may yield somewhat. Fingers 117 are a little higher than fingers 118 and are for engaging a smaller record at its edge, whereas fingers 118 engage a larger record at its edge. When a large record enters the maga-- zine, therefore, the fingers 118 engage it at its edge and press it downward, the fingers 117 not engaging the record, but when a smaller record enters, the fingers 117 engage it and force it down, the fingers 118 not engaging it. The guide 115 is held in place by a latch 119 having an operating handle 120. The latch and handle, as shown, are on a resilient support so that when the guide is forced downward the latch 119 will automatically lock it. To remove the records, the handle 120 is pulled to the rightand the guide 115 lifted. When the magazine is filled with records to its limit, the contacts 121 are bridged by a contact 122 to stop the machine as hereinafter described.

In Fig. 19 I have shown a diagram of the circuit connections for the record shifting motor. This motor is energized when the reproducer reaches the end of the record, so as to close contacts 123, these being closed when the switch 59 (Fig. 1) is closed. In order to insure, however, that the shifting motor is not operated until the needle is lifted I have its circuit also controlled by contacts 124 which are closed when the clutch gears 34 and 39 (Fig. 1) are thrown in. In other words, contacts 123 and 124 must both be clo ed before the motor can start. I also provide a push button switch 125 controlled by the operator. If this switch 125 is closed when the contacts 123 and 124 are closed, the motor will start, but if the switch 125 is open, the motor will not start and the record will be repeated instead of a new record taking its place. In other words, by pushing the button B (Fig. 10) the record will be repeated and by pushing button A the record will be automatically shifted. l/Vhen the motor starts it makes its own circuit at commutator 126 which short circuits contacts 123,124 and switch 125. This commutator is geared to the motor so as to make one revolution while the motor is rotating sufficiently to give the arm 83 a complete cycle. Slip ring 127 of this commutator is provided with an insulating section 128 so that when the brush 129 runs on to this insulating section the motor will stop, since in the meantime contacts 123 have been opened by the turning back of the reproducer. The motor will, therefore, when once started continue to run until a'cycle is completed. In order to stop the machine when the last record is removed or when the receiving magazine is filled I provide a second brake 130 operated by an electromagnet 131. This electromagnet is energized either when contacts 113 of magazine 80 are closed by contact 114 which happens when the last record is removed or when contacts 121 of receiving magazine 82 are bridged by contact 122 which happens when the magazine is filled. When the electrou'iagriet 131 is energized, it throws on the brake 130 which is of the over-center spring type and at the same time opens its own circuit at contacts 132 so that the current will be cut off the magnet. Between the brake 130 and the main brake is an interlocking rod 133 having a pin and 'rilot connection with the brake lever at 134. The arrangement-is such that the brake 33 normally operates back and forth without being aii'ectod by brake 130, but it brake 130 is thrown on by its operating magnet, it will be thrown off by throwing the main brake 33 on. In other words, if the machine is stopped automatically by either of the magazine switches,,to start the machine again the magazine switch which has closed should be opened either by putting a record or records in magazine 80 or taking records out of magazine 82, as the case may be, and then throwing the main brake 33 to OK position. The stopping of the machine will not, of course, prevent the shifting motor from completing its cycle and bringing the arm 83 to its central or normal position. It will thus be seen that by placing a record on the table and putting records into magazine 80., the throwing of the starting lever 64 to l starting position will start the operation and the records will be successively played and deliveredto receiving magazine. 82 until the machine is stopped either manually by the starting lever 64 or automatically by the magazine switclres asabove described. It will be understood, of course, that the machine may play individual records in the usual way, the button R being pressed. The records may be changed by moving them off the table to the right and may be inserted by sliding them on to the table from the left. It may be desirable in order to prevent the possible scratching of the records to have the outer edge of the records raised slightly or thickened at the edges and the center of the record might be similarly thickened. The pressure on the records in the magazine is very light, however, and nothing of this kind may be necessary.

WVhile I have described my invention as I embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it should thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of my invention. the scope of which is setforth in the annexed claims.

Whatl claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The'combination with a'phonograph or the like for playing disc records of a stack of records arranged adjacent to the phonograph, means for biasing the records towards a position to be shifted, a stop engaged by the exposed record in shifting position so that when that record is removed the stack of records will automatically move to bring the next record to shifting position, and means for automatically shifting the exposed records successively from the-stack to playing position on the table and then shifting them from playing position.

2. The combination with a phonograph for playing disc records, of a stack of records adjacent to the phonograph table, means for successively feeding the records upward Whenever the top record is removed inany manner so that the top record is at the level of the table and means for successively shifting the top records to the table and then shifting them Oh? the table.

3. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing diskrecords at a fixed level, of means for supporting a stack of records adjacent the phonograph table with the bottom surface of the top record at substantially the level of the table, means for feeding the records to maintain this condi tion as successive records are removed in any manner and means. for automatically shitting the top record to playing position on the table.

4. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a stack of records in contact with each other arranged on one side of the table and mechanism for automatically and successively sliding records from the stack to playing position on the table and then sliding them to the other side of the table.

5. The combination'with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a magazine of records in contact with each other on one side of the table and mechanism set into operation upon the completion of a record for automatically sliding the played record off the table to the other side thereof and sliding another record onto the table from ranged adj aoent thereto, means whereby upon the removal of the top record. of the stack in any manner the next record automatically takes its place and mechanism set into operation upon the completion of a record for replacing the played record by the top record of the stack.

7. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a stack of records in contact with each other arranged adjacent thereto, and mechanism set into operation upon the completion of a record for automatically shifting the top record horizontally olf the stack to the table and shifting the played record ofi' the table.

8. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of an electric motor energized to make a predetermined number of revolutions independently of the phonograph mechanism upon the -completion of a record and record shifting means operated by said motor.

9. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a member movable back and forth above the table of the phonograph and normally in the center thereof and means whereby upon 'the completion of a record the member is so moved to shift a record oil the table and replace it by another.

10. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of an oscillating mechanism operated through a definite cycle upon the completion of a record and means whereby said mechanism in its movement shifts the record and replaces it by another taken from a stack of records.

11. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of an oscillating mechanism operated through a definite cycle upon the completion of a record and a pin carried by said mechanism and normally centering the record on the table, said pin acting to shift the record ofl the table and replace it by another record.

12. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a member provided with means for engaging the center of a record and normally centering a record on the rotating table, and driving means for said member whereby upon the completion of a record the record will be shifted off the table and the centering means will engage a new record and move it to playing position on the table.

13. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of an oscillating mechanism operated through a definite cycle upon the completion of a record and a pin carried by said mechanism and normally centering the record on a table, said pin acting to shift the record onto the ta le.

14. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a magazine for holding a stack of records arranged adjacent the rotating table thereof and oscillating mechanism operated through a definite cycle upon the completion of a record and carrying a pin which normally centers the record on the table, said pin acting to shift the top record horizontally off the stack of records and onto the table.

15. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records of a record shifting and centering mechanism and means whereby upon the completion of a record the said mechanism is set into operation to shift the played record from the table, move a new record onto the table and maintain it in central position thereon.

16. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a pin normally centering a record upon the rotating table and mechanism set in operation upon the completion of a record for moving said pin to engage a new record and return with the record to itsnormal position.

17. The combination with a phonograph or the like of means for causing a return movement of the tone arm upon the comple tion of a record, a switch for limiting the return movement of'the tone arm, an operating member for said switch'normally in operative position with reference to the switch, means for securing the operating member to the tone arm upon the starting of the phonograph and means for preventing the stopping of the phonograph and the release of the operating member until the tone arm is returned to its normal position.

18. The combination with a phonograph or the like of means for causing a return movement of the tone arm upon the completion of a record, a switch for limiting the return movement of the tone arm, an operating member for said switch normally in operative position with reference to the switch, means for securing the operating member to the tone arm upon the starting of the phonograph and means for holding the operating member in'its operative position when the phonograph is stopped.

19. The combination witlra phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a stack of records adjacent the table having ,the top record at substantially the level of the table and means for automatically sliding the top record off the stack and into playing position on the table.

20. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a stack of records adjacent the table having the top record at substantially the level of the table and means for automatically sliding theplayed record off the table and sliding the top record off the stack and into playing position on the table.

21. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records,of means for holding a plurality of superimposed recv ords adjacent the table and means for sliding played records ofi the table and sliding the superimposed records successively from the top to playing position.

22. Thecombination with a phonograph or the like for playing disk records of a member projecting into the center hole of a record during the playing ofthe record and means whereby when the playing of a record is completed, the member is automatically moved to slide the record off the table and'shift anew record to playing position. v

23. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disk records of means for holding a stack-of records adjacent the phonograph table and means for sliding the played record oif the table upon its completion and sliding the top record off the stack and on to the table.

24. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disk records of amember movable across the phonograph table and back, means for removing said membcr,'a pin carried by said member for entering the center hole of a record and shifting the record to and from the table when the member moves in one direction, said pin moving out of the hole and sliding on the face of the record when the member is moved in the opposite direction.

25. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disk records, of a member movable across the phonograph table and back, a pin carried by said member for entering the center hole of a record and moving it in one direction but leaving the record behind when the member is moved in the opposite direction and means whereby when the playing of a record is completed the member is moved to shift the record off the table, returns to the opposite side of the table and shifts a new record to playing position.

, 26. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records of a movable member, oscillating mechanism -for operating said member through a predetermined cycle upon the completion of a record, an element connected with said member andnormally entering the center hole of the record on the table and means whereby upon the movement of said member in one direction the element leaves the record behind but when it moves in the opposite direction it carries the record with it.

27. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of means for suppdrting a stack of records adjacent to the table and oscillating means for shifting the played record and shifting a new record from the stack to replace it.

28. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a v membenoscillated in a horizontal-plane above theftable thereof, a stack of records adjacent to the table and means whereby the movement of the member back and forth throughout a predetermined cycle shifts a record off the table and replaces it by a record from the stack. 29. The combination with a phonograph or the like, of a member oscillated through it moves the record with it when it moves in one direction but leaves the hole so that the record remains stationary when it moves in the opposite direction. I 30. The combination with the usual phonograph havinga table rotating in a fixed plane, for playing disc records, of a magazine for a stack of records adjacent the table of the phonograph and means whereby whenever the top record of the stack is removed in any manner the next record is automatically moved to replace it.

31. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a stack of records adjacent the table, a stop, means for forcing said stack of records against said stop so that the exposed record always comes to a definite position with reference to the table as successive records are removed from the stack and .means for automatically shifting the exposedrecords to the table to be played and then off the table.

32. The combination with a phonograph for playing disc records, of a stack of records adjacent the table, means for maintaining the top record at substantially the level of the table as successive records are removed from the top, and means for successively shifting the top records to the table to be playedand then off the table, the movement of the records to and from the table being entirely in a horizontal direction.

33. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a record shifting member, an electric motor energized upon the completion of a record, driving connections between the motor and the member whereby upon the energization of the motor the member will shift the played record to one side of the table and then move to the opposite side of the table, engage a record and move it to playing position on the table and means for automatically,deenergizing the motor upon the completion of the cycle.

34. The combination with a phonograph, ofa magazine for unplayed records adjacent the phonograph table, means whereby the records are automatically fed forward as successive records are removed so that the exposed record'in the magazine always antomatically assumes a definite positi n with reference to the table, a receptacle for played records below the level of the table and means whereby upon the completion of a record the played record will be shifted to the receptacle and a new record will be shifted from the magazine to, the table.

35. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a stack of records arranged adjacent to the" position and means for automatically main-' taining the cooperative relation between the shifting member and the exposed record, regardless of the number of records removed or the method of removing them. whereby the records in the stack may be changed at any time. 7

36. The combination with a phonograph for playing disc records, of a stack of records adjacent to the. phonograph table, meansfor successively feeding the records forward so that the exposed record is always in a definite position with reference to the table and means for successively shifting the top records with their body portion supported from below to the table and then sh1 ing them oif the table.

37. The combination with a phonograph or the like 'for playin disc records, of a magazine of records ad acent the table. a receptacle for'played records, a record shifting member normally in shifting position at the table and movable back and forth between the table and the magazine and means whereby upon completion of a record the member is so moved to shift a record off the table and replace it by another from the magazine.

38. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc .records, of a stack of records adjacent the table, a mechanism for shifting records while mechanically supported from below operated through a definite cycle upon the completion of a record and means whereby said mechanism in its movement replaces the record on the table by another taken from the stack.

39. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a magazine of records adjacent thereto,- a

member for shifting records while supported from below, normally arran ed to permit a record to be manually placed in playing position upon the phonograph table, and means whereby upon the completion of a record, the member is moved to replace the played record by another taken from the stack.

40. The combination with a phonograph or the like-for playing disc records, of a shifting member movable back and forth above the table of the phonograph and nor;

or the like for playing disc records, of a mally in shifting position with reference to the record on the table and means whereby upon the completion of a record the member is so moved to shift a record off the table and replace it by another. 1

41. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a stack of records adjacent the phonograplu, table, a record shifting member movable between the phonograph table and the stack of records and cooperating with the stack to move the exposed record from the stack to the table while supported from below, the member being so arranged that a record may be manually placed in playing position and the records in the stack may be changed at will and means for automatically moving the member to shift records upon the completion of a record.

42. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a magazine of records ad acent thereto, mechanism automatically operated upon the completion of a record to replace the played record by a record from the magazine, and means controlled by the withdrawal of records from the magazine andindependent of the number of operations of the replacing mechanism for stopping the phonograph.

- 43. The combination with a phonograph including a tone arm and means for centering a record on the rotating table so that a record may be manually placed thereon and the needle of the tone arm manually applied thereto to play the record, of a stack of non-magnetic records arranged adjacent the table and biased so that, regardless of changes in the records the exposed record always assumes the same definite position with reference to the table and means whereby upon the completion of a record on the table it is automatically replaced by the exposed record from the stack.

44. The combination with a phonograph Hill member movable back and forth above the table of the phonograph and normally concentrically located with reference thereto and means whereby upon the completion of a record the member is so moved to shift a record off the table and replace it by another.

45. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records of a magazine of records ad acent thereto, a receptacle for playedrecords, a pivoted shifting member normally at the rotating table in shifting position so that a record may be manually placed on the table and played, and means whereby upon the completion of the record on the table, the member is moved to shift the record while supported from below to the receptacle, and return to normal position with a record from the magazine which' it places centrally upon thetable.

46. The combination with a phonograph or the like'for playing disc records, of a stack of, records adjacent thereto, aistop, means for biasing said records against the stop so that regardless of changes in the records 'theexposed record always assumes the same definite position, a pivoted shifting member normally at the rotating table in shifting position so that a record may be .-manually placed upon the table and movable into cooperative relation with the ex posed record whereby a record may be manually removed from the stack at any time and placed upon the table without interfering with the cooperative relationship and means whereby upon the completion of a record on the table, the member is moved to shift the record from the table and replace it by the exposed record.

47. The combination with a phonograph forplaying disc records and a tone arm cooperating therewith, of a magazine for such records adjacent to the turn table and means whereby when a record is placed upon the table and the machine started, the record will be automatically shifted while .supported from below off the table when it is completed, a new'record from the magazine shifted to replace it and the tone arm returned to the starting position of the replacmg record.

48. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a magazine for records adjacent thereto record shifting mechanism cooperating therewith set into operation upon the completion of a record on the phonograph turn table whereby said record is-replaced by a record from the magazine, means for returning the tone arm to the starting position of the record on the turn table-and manually controlled means for rendering the shifting mechanism inoperative whereby the record on the turn table may be repeated.

49. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records of a stack of records adjacent thereto and biased so that regardless of changes in the records the exposed record always assumes the same definite position, a shifting member normally at the rotating table in shifting posh tion so that a record may be manually placed upon the'table and movable into operative relation with the exposed record,

a receptacle for played records, and means,

shifting position so that a record may be manually placed upon the table and mov able into cooperative relation with the exposed record, a receptacle for played records, and means whereby upon the completion of a record on the table, the member ,iS moved while supported from below to shift the record from the ,table so as to cause it to slide into the receptacle and be replaced by the exposed reco In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of September, 1919.

.. FRANK J. SEABOLT.

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