US1879291A - Phonograph - Google Patents

Description

P 1932. L. E. JOHNSON ET AL 1,379,291-

PHONOGRAPH Filed Sept. 12. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

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6 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. E. JOHNSON ET AL Filed Sept. '12. 1928 Sept. 27, 1932.

m s 4 v mww/m r 'lvfl b4 Sept. 7, 1932- L. E. JOHNSON ET AL PHONOGRAPH Filed Sept. 12, 1928 6 SheetsSheet 3 S .E T l w.

P 1932- L. E. JOHNSOIQ ET AL f 1,879,291-

PHONOGRAPH Filed Sept. 12. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 P 27, 1932- L. E. JOHNSCSN ET AL 9 PHOKOGRAPH fl Filed Sept. 12, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet -6 z 4/ g 4 W! Wrro ays.

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATEN -pence LLOYD ELIEB JOHNSON, ARTHUR BENJAMIN WINCH-ELL, FLOYD W, HARDICKQAND FRED W. BILLIG, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASS IGN ORS, BY MESH E ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE SPABKS-WITHINGTON COMPANY, OF J'ACKSQ'N, HIQHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO rncivoenarn Application filed September 12, 1928. Serial No. 305,880.

vancing the tone arm to engage its reproducer with the record on the disk; means for restoring the tone arm to its neutral posigroove thereby adapting the machine for v automatically playing records of varying dition; means controlled by the swinging movement of the tone arm at the'end of the record for tilting the disk on the revolving table sufiiciently to allow said disk to be thrown laterally from the table by centrifugal force; means for supporting one or more additional record disks coaxial with and above the rotary table, and means for transferring the disks one by one from the supporting means to the table, together with other minor but important details of construction coordinated with the mechanisms above described for increasing the efliciency of the machine as a whole.

The main object is to'produce a simple, compact and eflicient machine of this char- -acter in which all of the mechanisms above referred to are entirely automatic-in their operations,thus permitting an indefinite number of records to be played in sequence without any manual efiort other than the operation of the motor controller at the beginning and ending of the entertainment. 7

One of the specific objects is to utilize the rotary motion of the table as a part of the means for displacing'the records therefrom.

by centrifugal force immediately following the run-out of each record.

Another specific object is to efiect the axial transfer of the record-disks from the storage spindle to the table without appreciable noise or impairment of the record.

' ure 1.

A. further object resides in the production" of mechanism automatically actuated by and in accordance with the size of certain record disks for automatically causing the tone-arm to properly adjust it'self to the necessary rato bring the needle carried by the tone arm a into contact beginning of the record 1 dial distance from the axis of the turn table Figure 6;

ameters. V

A further object resides in the provision of mechanism brought into operation manually- 2;;

for causing the rejection and discharge of any record from the turn tablewhich the o erator does not desire to play, or to continue to play, and to thereby effect the transfer of another record disk tothe turn table.

A further advantage resides the com pactness of the apparatus; and more articularly in the fact that the swingable t iltable tone arm is partially positioned within and projects outwardly through the hollow bracket which carries the record-supporting spindle.

A further object resides in the productionv of a novel clutch mechanism automatically operated at the conclusion of theplaying of.

each record for causing the actuation of mechanism for shiftingthe tone arm, remov ing the record, transferring another record to the turn table and then moving the tone arm to initial playinggposition.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the machine will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings: I

embodying the various features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on a reduced scale taken 2-2, Figured Figure?) is an enlarged vertical -sectional view taken in the plane of line Figure 4; is a detail vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 44, Figure 6.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken the plane of line 55, Figure 1. 1 V I Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of line 6-v.-6,'Fi gure 3.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view, partly in elevation, takenin the plane ofline 7'7,

8 is a detail horizontal sectional Figure 1 is a top plan of the working unit in the plane of line Q the supporting spindle together with the weighted follower engaging the uppermost disk, the dotted lines indicating the position. of the transfer mechanism just after releasing the lowermost disk.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 11-11, Fi ure 1.

igure 12 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 12-12, Figure 2.

The associated mechanisms forming the subject matter of the present invention are assembled in properly coordinated relation upon a horizontal supporting plate or shelf 1- to form a unitary article of manufacture capable of being installed in any suitable cabinet or housing, and include in their organization a supporting frame -2- of cast metal or other suitable material having a substantially flat top portion bolted or otherwise secured to the underside of the shelf 1- for receiving and supporting va- .rious mechanisms employed in the operation of the machine.

Rotary disk carrier The individual record disk as a to be played is supported upon the upper surface of a rotary circular table -3 which is removably mounted on the upper end of anupright tubular shaft .4.- in clutch-engagement with a collar 4 which is secured to the shaft by a set screw 4 to rotate the table in a horizontal plane just above the upper surface of the shelf 1, said table being provided with a padded upper surface 3 of felt or equivalent material to form a cushion seat to frictionally engage and rot-ate the disk with the table, the disk wbeing centered upon the table and held against lateral displacement therefrom by a centering pin hereinafter described as a part of the transfer mechani'sm, see Figures 5 and 12-.

The tubular shaft 4 is j ournaled in vertically spaced lower and upper bearings 5 and 5- in the frame -'2', Figure 5, and is provided with a central lengthwise guide opening therethrough from end to end for receiving and guiding a vertically reciprocating transfer device hereinafter" described.

' induction type is mounted on the frame 2 and is provided with an armature disk 7- directly connected to the shaft --4- by means of a set screw 8, Figure 5, said motor I having separate pairs of opposed fields -9- mountedupon the frame 2 at opposite sides of and equal distances from the axis of the shaft 4 with the poles of the fields of each pair in magnetic relation to the armature disk 7 as shown more clearly in Figures 6, 8 and 9.

That is, the motor disk 7 is adapted to revolve in a horizontal plane at right angles to the shaft 4- between the poles of the opposite pairs of field magnets 9 which are mounted in suitable supporting frames 10, adjacent the lower and upper faces of the contiguous portions of the disk -T as shown more clearly in Figures 3, 5 and 6, the field supporting frames 10 being bolted or otherwise secured to the frame 2- as shown in Figures 6 and 9. v

The speed of rotation of the shaft -4 and parts carried thereby is regulated by means of a centrifugal governor 11- operatively mounted upon a horizontal spindle 12 which is journaled in adjustable bearlngs 13 on the adjacent portion of the frame 2 and is operatively connected by gearing -14 to the upright shaft -4- for receiving rotary motion therefrom as shown more clearly in Figure 8 and partially in Figure 5. y

The inner end of the governor 11- is movable axially under the centrifugal move ment of governor weights and is provided with a friction disk 15, adapted to be engaged by a brake shoe 16 on one end of a lever 17 which is pivoted at 18 to the lower portion of the frame 2, as shown in Figures 5 and 8.

The lever -l7- shown more clearly in Figure 6, extends laterally, upwardlv and forwardly from the pivot -18-- and has its upper forward end bifurcated to form 0pposlte extensions 19 and 19' for re ceiving between them an eccentric member :20 one of the extensions as 19' bemg pivoted at 21 to the lever 17 some distance to the rear of the eccentric 20 and is yieldingly connected to the opposite extension by a coil spring 22 for yieldingly holding the extensions 19' and 19' in engagement with the peripheryof the eccentric.

This eccentric is secured to the lower end of a spindle 23 which is journaled in a suitable bearing in the shelf 1 and extends some distance above the upper surface thereof to be operated by hand for rocking the lever -1(- about its pivot 18 and thereby varying the position of the brake shoe -16 relatively to the friction disk 15 as may be required to further regulate the speed of rotation of the shaft 4 and table 3 carried thereby.

It is evident, however, that any other suitable speed control means may be substituted for that described without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Tone arm A tone-arm A of any suitable construction is supported at one end to swing horizontally about a vertical axis and also to swing vertically about ahorizontal axis and carries at its other end a reproducer '-B, preferably of the electric vibrator type, adapted to engage the spiral record of the disk on the table 3 thereby causing the tone arm to swing inwardly toward the center of the table in the usual manner as the disk is rotated. Y

As illustrated, the rear upright portion of the elbow-section of the tone-arm is secured by screws 24 to an upright hollow extension 24, both of which are revolubly supported in an upright bearing 25 to permit the tone arm to swing horizontally, said'elbow section and bearing being provided with coaxial centering posts 25 and 24" telescoping with each other to form additional bearing for the tone arm.

The bearing member 25 is secured by screws 26 to an underlying coaxial basering 2(3 having diametrically opposite pendant lugs 27 pivoted to adjacent trunnions '2T' on the frame 2 to permit said base and tone-arm carried thereby to tilt vertically for engaging and disengaging the reproducer with and from the record, see Figures 3 and l.

The upright portion of the tone-arm A and its extension -24r together with the bearing member 25 and its supporting base 26 are arranged in relatively larger registering openings in the shelf 1- and frame 2 to permit the compound swinging movements of the tone-arm about the axes of the bearings -25 and 27' while the opening in the base-ring 26 through which the cxtension-2l projects is sufliciently large to allow free rotation of the tone arm therein.

The supporting ring 26 for the tonearm A is provided at one side with a pendant arm 28extending downwardly at the rear and some distance below the lower end of the extension 24 and carrying at its lower end a rigid forwardly projecting rod 28' adapted to ride upon the upper cam face 29 of a rotary cam wheel 29 which is securedto the intermediate.

portion of an upright rotary shaft 30 for controlling the vertical rockingmovement of the tone-arm, see Figures 3 and 8.

The shaft -30 isjournaled in vertically spaced bearings 31 in the frame 2 and is adaptedto be driven intermittingly by and in synchronism with the shaft 4- .through the medium of a train of gears control of a'clutch 35,Figures 5 and.12.

The gear 32- is loosely mounted on the shaft 4- between the bearing '-5- and collar 4' to mesh with the gear -33 which, together with the pinion '33- are loosely mounted on an upright stud -36 on the frame 2- while the gear 34 is secured to, the shaft 30 and meshes with the pinion '33-', Figs. 5 and 12.

The lower end of the collar 4 is provided with peripheral clutch teeth 37encircled by aclutch lever 38 which is fulcrumed at one ,end at 39 to a laterally projecting flange -33- on the upper end of the pinion 32 at one side of said pinion and its other end extended some distance beyond the opposite side of the pinion and provided with a tooth 38 movable into and out of engagement with the clutch teeth 37 as the free end of the lever is rocked vertically in a manner presently described, for locking and releasing the pinion -32 to and from the shaft 4 and thereby controlling the rotation of the shaft 30-.

The angular movement of the tone arm A,- about its vertical axis is coordinated with its vertical movement in such manner that it is moved from its extreme outer or starting position into position for engaging the needle of its reproducer with the beginn ng of the record at the time the cam wheel 29 will be in position to allow the tone arm to tilt downwardly to engage the needle with the record which then continues the angular movement of the tone arm to the end ofthe record. Immediately preceding the tilting of the tone arm to engage its needle with the recfrom the clutch teeth 37 of the collar 34' thereby stopping the rotation of the shaft -30 and parts carried thereby with the rod 28' resting on the lower side of the cam wheel 29- and this relation is maintained during the playing of the record or until the needle of the tone arm reaches the end of the record at which time the needle automatically rides from the record into engagement with an eccentric groove surrounding the axis of the record thereby causing more or less rapid angular vibration of the tone arm.

This more or less rapid angular vibration of the tone arm brings into action mechanism by which the clutch lever 38 is allowed to drop by its own weight into engagement with the clutch teeth 37 of the collar -.4 for again rotating the shaft -30 and parts carried thereby which causes the cam wheel 29 to tilt the tone arm upwardly away from the record ready for returning the tone arm to its startingposition by a mechanism presently described.

starting position into position for engaging its needle with the record and for returning the tone arm to its starting position at the end of the run-out of the record comprises a. horizontal longitudinally movable pitmanlink 40-, Figure 6, having its rear end pivoted at 40 to a relatively short crank arm -41 on the lower end of the extension -24- Figure 4 of the tone arm and having its other end extended across the upper face of the gear -34 Figure 3 and provided with a lengthwise slot 42 for receiving a pin 43 which is eccentrically secured to the upper face of said gear for orbital movement about the axis thereof, see Figures 2, 3, 4 and 6. v

The rear end of the slot 42.is closed to form a shoulder 44 at the rear side of the axis of the shaft -30 to be engaged by the crank pin -43 as the gear -3t is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow for returning the tone arm from its.

extreme innermost position at the end of the record to its outer starting position immediately following the lifting of the tone arm from the record by the cam .29.

The front end of the slot 42- is also closed and provided with transversely spaced shoulders 4:5 and y15' at the front side of said axis and at different distances from the shoulder 4&' for engagement by the crank pin 43- to vary the arc of movement of the tone arm from its starting position to its record engaging position as may be' required for records of different diameters. That is, the records to be played may vary in diameter from ten inch to twelve inch and vice versa and, therefore, the angular movement of the tone arm from its starting position to its record engaging position for a twelve inch record is less than that required for a ten inch record and the engagement ofthe crank pin 4-3 with the shoulder 45 farthest from the shoulder 4.4 causes less endwise movement of the link 4() and consequently less angular movement of the tone arm than would be the case ifthe pin 43 engaged the other shoulder 45' and is used for effecting the lesser angular movement of the tone arm for the twelve inch records.

On the other hand, the engagement of the pin 43 with the shoulder -45 which is at a less distance from the shoulder -4A than the shoulder 45' causes a greater endwise movement of the link -40- and resultant greater angular movement of the tone arm to conform to the requirements for the ten inch records.

This angular movement of the tone arm takes place only when the shaft Z 3O with the gear 34 thereon is rotated 1n the direction indicated by the arrow. Figure. 6, the mechanism being normally adjusted to effect the maximum angular movements of the tone pin 43 is adapted to engage the shoulder -45 for effecting the maximum lengthwise movement of the link 40 and tone arm A from its starting position to its record engaging position but in case the twelve inch record is to be played means is provided for slightly shifting the link 40 upon its pivot 40- to cause the pin -43-' to engage the shoulder 45-.

For this latter purpose a cord or cable -46 is passed over a horizontal drum 47 which is journaled on the underside of the frame 2 some distance to the inner side of the link 40, said cable having one end attached at 46' to the intermediate portion of the link 40 between the pivot 40 and shoulder 44 and its other end operatively connected to a weight 48 which is secured by a set screw -48 to the lower-end of an upright rod 49 as shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 11.

The rod 49- is guided in vertical spaced openings in the frame 2 and a lug 50 on an upwardly projecting hollow bracket 51 which is secured to the shelf -lto extend upwardly therefrom and around the elbow section of the tone arm -A as shown more clearly in Figures 1, 3, 5, 6 and 11.

A weighted lever 52 is pivoted near one end at 53 to the lug 50, Figure 11, to rock vertically to and from a substantially horizontal position and has its shorter arm provided with a detent 54= normally engaging an annular shoulder 49 on the upper portion of the rod 49-, Figure 11.

The longer arm of the weighted lever 52- is sufficiently heavy to normally hold the detent 5& in engagement with the shoulder 'l9. The shorter arm of the lever -52 is also provided with a downwardly and inwardly projecting spring arm -55 having a horizontal offset portion '55 in a plane between the top of the table 3 and lowermost record disk aon the storage spindle hereinafter described, said offset por tion 5 5 being disposed in the path of movement of the outer edge of the twelve inch records to be engaged thereby as the records are transferred from the storage spindle to the table 3.

In other words, the offset 55 is disposed in a vertical plane some distance beyond the adjacent edges of the ten inch records to allow the latter to be transferred from the storage spindle to the table3 without centact'therewith, the lower end of the spring arm -55 below the offset portion --55 being inclined downwardly and outwardly beyond the periphery of the twelve inch records so as to permit the latter to be lifted from the action of the weighted end of the lever When a twelve inch record is being transferred from the storage spindle to the table 33 its outer edge engages the ledge -55 thereby rocking the weighted end of the lever -52 upwardly resulting 'in the tripping of the detent .54- and thus permitting the rod 49 with the weight 44.- thereon to drop by gravity.

This descent of the rod 49- and weight 48 operates the cord --46 over the roller 47 to draw the slotted end of the link 40 inwardly thereby causing the pin 43- during its rotation with the gear 34 to ride against the outer wall of the slot -.l2 and thereby to assure the engagement of the pin -43 with the shoulder 45 as the gear continues its rotation.

As the pin 4 1 continues to rotate from the position shown in Figure 6 in the direction indicated by the arrow it will be brought against the upper end of the outer wall of the slot 42 in the link --40 thereby rocking said link toward the right hand of said figure about its pivot l0 to cause a-corresponding movement of the cord or cable -4fi and rod 4.9 for raising said rod against the action of its weight 48 sufiicient to cause its shoulder 49 to be engaged with the' detent 54. which is forced into engagement with said shoulder by the weighted arm -5Z thereby placing the shoulder of the arm -55 in position to receive the twelve-inch records.

On the other hand, when the rod 49 and link 48 are held in their upward position by engagement of the detent 54 with the shoulder 49- on the rod 49 the tension of the cord 46-- will be released thereby releasing the inward draft upon the lever 40 so that as the pin 43- revolves downwardly below the horizontalplane of the axis of the shaft -30 it will engage the inner wall of the slot -42 and then ride the ends of the segment as shown in Figure 9.

for limiting'the angular movement of the tone arm, the segment 57 being concentric with the axis of the extension 21 and secured by screws 58 to the frame 2- as shown in Figure 6.

The shoulders 45 and 45' are arranged in such relation to the shoulder '4l4- and to the crank pin 43 as to cause said crank pin to first move the link 40 endwise from its starting position shown Figure 6 and thereby to effect a corres nding angular movement of the tone arm om its startin position into position for engage-' ment with the beginning of the record of the disk a on the revolving table 3, this movement being elfected by the engagement of the crank pin 43 with one or the other of the shoulders 45 or 45 according to the diameter of the disk to be played.

After the crank arm has completed its initial angular movement as just described the shaft 30-- and parts carried thereby including the crank pin. -43 will be brought to rest by the tripping of the clutch lever 38- and these arts will remain at rest while the record is ing played but immediately following the run-out of the record,'at which time the tone arm will have reached approximatelythe limit of its incarried thereby will be again rotated to cause the crank pin 43- to engage the shoulder 44- and thereby to restore the tone arm to its starting position ready for a repetition of the operations of the tone arm.

The shaft 30 and parts carried thereby are rotated one revolution at a time and are stopped at the end of such revolution but in Figure 6 the gear 34 is shown as just about to complete its revolution but has not yet been stopped, the remaining part of the revolution being employed for returning the ward movement, the shaft '30 and parts tone arm from its extreme outward position shown in Figure 6 to its record engaging position.

During this initial inward movement of the tone arm the high part of the cam wheel -29 will have moved out of registration and the low side of the cam will have moved mto registration with the rod -28 to permit the downward movement of the rod -28 thereon and resultant downward tilting movement of the tone arm tobring the needle b into' record.

While the low side of the cam 29 is still registered with the rod -28 suitable mechanism including the clutch lever 38-- Wlll be automatically brought into action to engagement with the interrupt the further rotation of the shaft- 30 during the complete run-out of the record or until the tone arm reaches its extreme limit of inward angular movement.

As the tone arm is moved from its extreme outer position to its extreme inner position the link be moved forwardly to bring its shoulder -44 nearer to the axis of the gear -34- ready to be engaged by the pm 43 durmg the next cycle of rotation of the shaft 30 for'restoring the tone arm to its record engaging position.

The means for holding and tripping the clutch lever 38- and'also the means for locking and releasing the shaft 30 and parts carried thereby are coordinated in such manner that immediately upon the engagement of the clutch lever 38- with its come panion clutch 37- the locking member for vthe shaft will be released to allow the rotation thereof and parts carried thereby.

'C'lutak control A bell crank lever '60, Figures 6 and 12, is pivoted at to the underside of the frame 2- to swing about a horizontal axis and has one of its arms -61 extended horizontally beneath the frame to be engaged /-61'- is provided with'a curved cam faTce-- by an operating lever -62 and itsv other arm 61'- extended through an openingvin the frame 2- and movable into and out of the path of movement of the outer end of the clutch lever '38- to automatically trip the latter from its clutch engaging position at the beginning of the playing of the record and to hold said clutch lever in its inoperative position during the playing of said record and also to automatically release the clutchlever to permit it to return to its clutchengaging position at the end of the run-out of the tone arm on the record. s

- For this purpose the upper end of the arm -63 along and upon which the outer end of the clutch lever --38- is adapted to ride when the arm 61' is moved into the path of the outer end of the lever '38-', said arm 61'-- being provided with a stop shoulder 63' adapted to be engaged by the outer end of theic'lutch lever 38- to limit the angular movement of said clutch lever about the axis of the shaft as soon as it has been tripped from its clutch engagingposition as shown by dotted lines in Figure 12.

' The bell crank arm 61-' is normally spring pressed toward the outer end of the clutch lever -38-- by means of a coiled spring 64 having one end connected to a post -64"-- onthe arm 61 of the lever 60 and its other end connected to a stationary post 64" on the underside of the frame -*2' as shown in Figure 12. v

The operating lever 62- extends forwardly and rearwardly of the machine and is.

pivoted intermediate its ends at 62'+ Figures 6 and.7, to the underside of the being extended directly under the arm -61 of the bell cranklever 60 while the rear end is provided with a laterally projecting flange 65 having a serrated or rou hened upper surface adapted to be engage by a rubber tip cam-shaped rider -66-- on the outer end of a crank arm 67-- which is secured by clamping screws 67'- to the lower end of the extension-24- of the tone arm as shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 6,

The cam rider 66 is pivoted at 66" V to the outer end of the crank arm 67 to swing freely about a horizontal axis and has ame 2, the front end of said operating lever its lower end preferably made of soft rubber which is of suflicient weight to cause it.

to trail with an oscillatory motion from the roughened upper surface-of the flange 65- as the crank arm 67 is oscillated back and forth by the corresponding oscillatory move? holes in the crank arms --67 and 41- for receiving the clamping bolts -67' being elongated circumferentially to permit limited circumferential adjustments of said crank arms as may be required for properly timing the angular movements of the tone armand tripping of the clutch lever --38-".

Ihe crank arm +67 is shown inFigure 6 in the position it assumes when the tone armis at the limit of its outward swinging movement, while the serrated flange --65-- on the lever 62- is in about the position which the rider 66% on the crank arm -6' 'l' assumes when the tone arm is at the limit of its inward movement or at the end of the playing of the record with the needle b in engagement with the eccentric groove in the record disk; 1 This engagement of the eedle --b with the eccentric groove in the revolving record disk causes more or less rapid angular oscil- 1 lation of the tone arm A-- and crank arm 67 thereby caus' g the cam -6'6-' to ride upon'the serra ed upper face of the flange 65- to produce corresponding oscillation of the lever 62--about its pivot This oscillation .of the lever 62-- causes its front end to engage the arm -61- of the bell crank lever --60- for forcing the other arm fi1' out of the path of the outer end of the clutch lever --'38- thereby allowing the'clutchlever to'drop by its own weight lnto'engagement with the clutch teeth -37- of the'collar --4' for rotating the gear train and thereby rotating the shaft --30- and parts carried thereby for return ing the tone arm to its starting position and also effecting the initial angular movement of the tone arminwardly from its starting position a sufiicient distance to engage its needle -b with the beginning of the record on the table 3 ready for a repetition of the playing operation on another record.

Means is provided for stopping the rotation of the shaft 30'- and parts carried thereby as soon as the tone arm has been shifted from its extreme outward position to its record engaging position and for this.

, gaging position.

purpose the shaft 30- is provided with a disk -68, Figures 3 and 5, having a notch or recess -69 in its underside opening through the periphery thereof, Figure 5,'for receiving one end of a horizontal laterally extending locking lever 70- which is pivoted intermediate its ends at 70 Figure 6 to the underside of the frame 2 to rock vertically and has its other end 7l extended beneath and in close proximity to the underside of the operating lever 62 between the pivot 62 and bell crank lever for causing the outer end of the lever -70 to enter the notch 69 in the disk -68-- im-' *mediately following the operation of the bellcrank-lever -60- to its clutch lever tripping position.

That is, the more or less ,rapid oscillatory motion of the lever 62 is utilized to transmit similar oscillatory motion to the bellcrank-lever 60 to assure the position of the arm 61 of the bell-crank-lever in the path of the outer end of the then revolving clutch lever 38 so that the latter may ride upon the cam surface 63 on the arm 61'- to trip the clutch lever.

At the time of the tripping of the clutch lever 38 the front end of the lever 62 will have been forced downwardly by the action of the cam rider -66 on the rough ened surface of the flange of the lever 62 thereby causing the intermediate portion of the lever 62 to engage and depress the underlying portion of the locking lever and causing the other end of the locking lever to be forced into the notch 69 as soonas saidnotch is registered with the locking end of the lever ,70.

These operations are timed to take place at the end of each revolution of the shaft 30 and parts carried thereby or at the instant the tone arm is moved inwardly from its extreme outer position to its record en- The cam surfaces -"-29' Figures 8 and 9 are arranged in circumferentially spaced relation, one of the cam surfaces being arranged to allow the tone arm to drop into engagement with the record as the tone arm approaches its inward movement from its extreme outward position to its record engaging position and to bring the other cam 29- into close proximity to the rod 28 at aboutthe time the locking lever -70 Figures 3 and 6 is forced into-locking engagement with the notch 69 Figures 3 and 5 on the disk 68 so that as soon as the tone arm finishes its record run-out the last-named cam 29'- will be in position to immediatelyengage the rod -28-,- for raising the tone arm out of engagement with the record when the locking lever r-70- is released from its locking position in the mannerpreviouslyc described v The arm 61- .of the bell-crank-lever 60- is normally in position to trip the clutch lever 38 as shown by dotted lines in Figure 12 during the playing of the record thereby causing the arm ,6'l of the bellcrank-lever 60- to depressthe front .end of the operating lever fi2 by reason of the action of the spring 64.

It, therefore, follows that if the bell-cranklever 60- is rocked from its. normal position shown by dotted lines in Figure 12 to the position shown by full lines it will relcase the clutch lever 38 for engagement with its companion clutch teeth 37 to cause the angular movement of the tone arm through the medium of the gear train and link 10.

Suitable means is provided for effecting this release operation of the bell-crank-lever 60' at the will of the operator and for this vpurpose the lever 62 is provided with a forwardly extending branch 62" adapted to be engaged by one end of a hand lever '72- which is pivoted intermediate its ends at -72' to the underside of the frame 2- and has its other end provided with operating button -73- extending through an opening in the adjacent poi'tion of the shelf 1 as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and v 6 whereby the depression of the button ,7 3 will lift the other end of the lever 72 and front end of the lever 62 to cause the latter to engage and trip the bell-crank-lever .60 out of the path of movement of the clutch lever -38 to allow the latter to drop to its clutch engaging'position which, in turn,

causes the operation ofthe gear train and shaft 30- to return the tone arm to its starting position.

Record displacer Suitable means is provided for automatically displacing the played record from the table 3 immediately following the return of the tone arm A. to its starting position.

For this purpose a lever -74-, Figure 9,

is pivoted intermediate its ends at -74'- to to enable the roller 76 to engage the underside ofthe record as the arm +75 is raised from its normal position.

The other arm of the lever 74. is provided with a lateral offset 7'T--e-, projecting beneath the marginal edge of the disk .'68' v and adaptedIto' be engaged by a ,V-shaped cam 78- onthe' underside of said disk in the shelf land frame 2 for tilting the revolving rec ord disk on the table -3 out of engagement with its'centering pin and thereby allowing the record disk to be thrown laterally from the table by centrifugal force against a padded deflector plate 79- which is secured to the upper surface of the shelf 1 some distance to the rear of the revolvin table -3- and record carried thereby Figure 1 so that as the record is thrown from the revolving table by centrifugal force its periphery will roll against the deflecting plate -79- which, in turn, not only checks the centrifugal movement of the disk but deflects it laterally to a suitable receptacle, not shown, for reuse when desired.

' The record-displacing operation of the lever -74 is timed to take place immediately following the run-out of the tone-arm on the record and inasmuchas the displacing of the record is substantially instantaneous the cam -7 8- is made relatively short but abrupt peripherally to ermit the lever 74- to return to its starting position im.

mediately following the displacing operation.

It, therefore, follows that the movement V of the cam 78 which rotates with the shaft 30- will be coordinated with the operating mechanism for the tone arm in such manner as to effect the displacement of the played record from the table 3- immediately upon the return of the tone arm 'to itsstarting position "at which time the space above the table is free from obstructions to permit free displacement of the record from and the replacement of an additional record upon the table.

Record transfer Immediately following the displacement of the played record from the table 3- and while the tone arm is still in its extreme ontward position a new record is automatically placed upon the table by a suitable mechanism which is also coordinated with the record displacing means and also with the tone arm operating meansin a manner presently described.

The hollow bracket 51, mentioned, is angular and compr1ses a hollow upright portion C-and a horizontal portion C, the upright portion --C being secured by screws 0 to the frame 2 and shelf 1- to extend upwardly some distance above the shelf and to inclose the elbow section of the tone arm -A- in spaced relation thereto as shown more clearly in Figure 3, the front side of the upright portion O- being providedwlth a laterally c through which the horizontal portion of the previously tends, said opening -o'- being of sufficient slze to permit free angular movement of the tone arm without contact with any portion of v the bracket 51, see Figure 3.

The upper horizontal portion C" of the hollow bracket 51 extends forwardly across the produced axis of the table --3 but in a plane some distance above said table for receiving and supporting a record-supporting spindle 80 which extends downwardly from the front end of the supporting arm C' coaxial with the axis of the work table -3 as shown in Figures 1, 3'and 5.

The record spindle 80 is removably supported in an upright bearing -80 in the front end of the arm -C and is normally held against downward displacement by a sliding pawl S1 movable in a lengthwise guide opening in the arm C and normally spring pressed by means of a coiled spring82' into an annular groove 83 in the adjacent portion of the spindle 80, said sliding pawl having a lengthwise slot 84 through which the spindle extends and is provided at its forward end with a finger piece .85 by which the pawl may be pressed inwardly against the 'action of the spring 82 to release the pawl 81- from engagement in the groove 80- and thereby to permit the downward displacement ofthe spindle 80- when desired, see Figure 3, said plunger being held against outward displacement by a stop screw 81' engaging in a lengthwise slot'in the lower side of the 4 plunger, Figure 3.

A weighted follower 86 is slidably and rotatably mounted upon the spindle 80- and is provided with a central conical recess 86' in its lower side adapted to receive a 10b 1 radially projecting stop shoulder 87- on the lower portion of the spindle to prevent sliding movement of the'pawl 88-by en-- gagement with the ends of the slot 88'-.

' The pawl 88- is arranged to slide freely in the groove 80- and to drop by its own weight to its lowermost position with its lower end normally projecting beyond the lower end of the spindle 80 and termi- Ynating in a pointed extremity -88 Figures 3 and 10, for engagement with the upper end of a transfer spindle 90, presently described. f

The guide groove 8 0 for the j pawl -88 is open at one side of the spindle to receive and support a plurality of, (any reasonable number) the record disks a which are provided with central circular apertures of slightly larger diameter than that of the spindle 80- to permit the record disks to be easily placed upon and displaced from the spindle in a manner presently described, see Figure 10.

The outer side of the spindle 80- opposite the stop shoulder 87- is provided with a recess 91 forming shoulders 92 and 92 in vertically spaced relation corresponding approximately to the combined thicknesses of three or four of the record disks atemporarily stored upon the spindle 80-, for receiving adjacent inner portions of the disks as they are successively displaced downwardly from the spindle, see Figures 3, 5 and 10. r

The shoulder 87- projects laterally from the periphery .of the spindle a distance corresponding approximately to the radial depth of the recess 91, Figures 3 and 10, so that the combined radial depths of the projection S7 and inner wall of the recess 9l are approximately equal to the diameter of the spindle, the upper face of the shoulder 87 being beveled upwardly and inwardly while the shoulder 92 at the lower end of the recess is disposed in a plane at substantially right angles to the axis of the spindle for engaging and supporting the lowermost record a.

In like manner the edge of the pawl -88- opposite the sto shoulder 87- is provided with the lengt wise recess -93 of substantially the same length and radial depth as the recess -9l to normally register with the last-named recess when the pawl 88- is in its lowermost position, the lower end wall 94- of the recess -93 being beveled outwardly and downwardly to form a cam surface whereby when the pawl is raised the lowermost disk a will be shifted laterallyto disengage it from the shoul der 92- of the spindle and thereb to allow the lowermost -record disk to downwardly from the lower end of thespindle while the next succeeding disk will automatically drop into the position occupied by the previously displaced disk.

The cam shoulder 87 is disposed in a plane above the shoulder 92- a distance somewhat greater than the thickness ofone e of the record disks and between the lower and upper ends of the recesses 91- and 93 so that as the disks aabove the I shoulder 87- are fed downwardly along the spindle by their own weight aided by the weight of the follower 86- they are automatically deflected laterally by the shoulder -87 thereby causing the opposite walls of the apertures in the disks to enter the recesses 91- and 93-.

Under these conditions the lowermost disk will rest upon the shoulder 92- and will thereby serve'to support the superposed disks against relatively downward movement until the pawl 88 is moved upwardly at which time the cam face --94 on the pawl 88 will engage the adjacent wall of the central aperture of the lowermost disk for moving the same laterally until its apertureis registered with the lower end of the spindle thus permitting the automatic downward displacement of the lowermost disk from the spindle, it being understood that the remaining superposed disks will gradually feed downwardly by their own weight aided by the follower -86 and will be successively held against displacement from the lower-end of the disk by the stop shoulder 92 until released by successive upward movements of the pawl --88 by the operating spindle 90-, previously mentioned.

The spindle 90 extends entirely through the tubular table-supporting shaft 4 and some distance beyond the lower and upper ends thereof, the upper end of the spindle being provided with a supplemental table 95 of relatively smaller diameter than but coaxial with the main record supporting table '-3, said supplemental table being adapted to normally rest in a central circular recess 96- in the upper face of the table 3 as shown more clearly in Figure 5.

, This supplemental table 95- is of substantially the same thickness as the recess 96 and is provided with a padded upper surface similar to the surface 3 and normally in the same horizontal plane so that the record when'being played may rest firmly upon both of the tables -3 and 95. The upper end of the spindle 90-- pro j ects a sufficient distance above the upper end of the supplemental table -.95- to form a centering pin adapted to enter the central apertures of the record disks for holding them coaxial with the table 3- against lateral displacement and is provided with a central V-shaped recess 97 Figure 5 adapted to engage the pointed lower end 88"-- of the pawl -88v as the spindle 90 with the supplemental table 95- thereon is raised to its record receiving position shown by dotted lines in Figure 5 and also in Figure 10.

The spindle 90+- with the supplemental table 95 carrying a record disk ais adapted to move downwardly. to its normal position by its own weight under suitable control of the lifting mechanism presently the cam described.

The lower end of the spindle 90- is provided with a vertically adjustable tappet 98 adapted to be directly engaged by one end of a lever 99 which is pivoted at 100 to an extension 2" of the frame -2, Figure 5, and has its other end provided with a lateral offset 101 normally bearing against the lower face of a cam plate '102'on the lowerend of the shaft 30- and adapted to be engaged by a V-shaped cam -103 projecting downwardly'from plate 102 near the periphery thereof as shown in Figures 3, 5 and 9, saidcam plate being secured to the shaft -30 to rotate therewith.

The inner end of the lever'99-- is curved at 99 to engage the lower face of the tappet 98- as it is .rocked upwardly by the action of the cam 103 on the offset -101 on the outer end of the lever as shown by dotted lines in Figure 5. i

The cam 103 and lever 99 are arranged to move the spindle '90, with the supplemental table 95- thereon upwardly a distance sulficient to engage the upper recess 97 of the spindle 90 with the lower pointed end of the pawl '88 and to lift said pawl a distance sufiicient to release the lowermost record disk a/ from the lower end of the storage spindle 80 in the manner presently-described so that the released record can be supported upon thesuppleplacement of' the previously displaced record Y from the'table 3 in the manner previously described. 7

The cam 103- is, therefore, arranged and timed to effect the transfer of the record from the storage spindle 80 to the table 3- immediately following the angular movement of the tone arm TA from the end of its playing position to its extreme outer position so that the transfer may be made withoutin anyway interfering with the tone arm. Y

The motor 6 and vibrator of the reproducer B may be electrically connected to anysuitable sou'rce'of current supply not shown, through the medium of an electric switch S- shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 is-provided with a self-opening operating lever s and adetent s for holding the lever s in its switch closing position, said detent being adapted to be op erated by hand for releasing the switch lever -s.

Operation Assuming that the storage spindle 80 is loaded with a plurality of ten inch and twelve inch records, the outlines of which are indicated by the vertical lines mand 2 respectively in Figure 11 and that the table 3 with a record thereon is being rotated at a certain speed determined by the position of the governor controlling eccentric -20, Figure 6,, and that the tone arm --A has been shifted from its extreme outward position shown in Figures 1 and 5 into position to engage its needle b with the rec 0rd of the record disk a on the table 3-, then under these conditions the shaft 30- and cam disks 29, 68 and -102 thereon will be at rest and the tone arm will be gradually shifted by the record to the inner end thereof. l

At this time the trailer -66 on the outer end of the crank 67- will have been brought into contact with the flange 65 on the lever 62 and at the same time the needle b will have been brought into engagement with the eccentric groove on the revolving disk (1' on the table 3 for producing more or less rapid angular oscillation of the crank arm '67- and incidentally causing the trailer 66- to ride against the roughened surface of the flange 65-- for imparting similar vertical oscillation to the lever 62.

These oscillations of the lever 62 cause 'allows it to disengage from the notch or recess 69- in the disk -68.

Immediately following this tripping of the clutch lever 38- rotary motion is transmitted from the motor shaft 4- to the shaft 30- thereby causing the cam 29 to rock the tone arm upwardly away from the-record through the medium of the rod 28' on the lower extension of the tone arm. 4 I

Immediately following this, raising of the tone arm the latter will be shifted from its innermost position to its extreme outer position and return to its record engaging position-by the engagement of the eccentric pin -43 with the shoulder 44 of the lever 40 and then the re-engagement of the pin 43- with the shoulder -45- or .45' according to the diameter of the-record which is to be played.

As soon as the tone arm has been returned to its extreme outer position the cam 78- operates the lever -74- to tilt the record ,-99 to force the spindle 90- upwardly into engagement with the pawl--88-- thereby raising said pawl and allowing the lower record a to be deposited therefrom on to the upper surface of the supplemental table --95 in the manner prevlously described, the spindle 90- being then returned to its starting position for depositing the record upon the table -3- ready for a repetition of the operations previously described.

Immediately following the release of the clutch lever -38 to its clutch engaging position at the end of the run-out of the tone arm on the record, said clutch lever is rotated out of the path of the arm 61- of the bell-crank-lever which is then returned to its innermost position shown by.

dotted lines in Figure 12 by the spring '-64-.

Then, as the clutch lever -38 in its clutch engaging position completes one revolution its outer end will ride upon the cam face 63- of the bell-crank-lever '-60 to again trip the clutch lever from its clutch engaging position for stopping the further rotation of the train of gears, and shaft 30'driven thereby.

This inward rocking movement of the upper arm of the bell-crank-lever -60 by the s ring -64= causes the arm -61- of said ll crank lever to engage and depress the front end of the lever .62- which, in

turn engages and depresses the outer end ofthe locking lever to bring its inner end into more or less frictional contact with the underside of the disk 68-- ready to engage in the notch or recess .-69 of said disk -68- as soon as the shaft -3()- completes one revolution or one cycle of operation.

During this cycle of operation of the shaft 30 the tone arm will have been shifted from its extreme inner position at the inner end of the record to its extreme outward position and back again to its record engaging position thus completing the cycle of operation of the tone arm.

While the tone arm is being moved from its extreme outward 1position to its record engaging position t e high side of the cam 29 will have passed the adjacent end of the rod -28'- on the lower end of the extension of the tone arm to allow said tone arm to rock downwardly to engage its needle '-bwith the record ready for a repetition of the operationsof the tone arm, displacing mechanism, and transfer mechanism as heroinbefore described.

It is evident from the foregoing description that during the run-out of the tone arm on the record the shaft 30 and parts carried thereby will be at rest and that its rotation begins when the tone arm reaches its innermost position on the record and ends with the shifting of the tone arm from its extreme inner position to its extreme outer position andreturn to its record engaging position during which time the. played rec'- ord will be displaced from the table -3- and replaced by another record from the storage spindle 80 on to the table through the medium of the vertically movable spindle '90- and supplemental table 95.

The mechanisms shown and described are articularly efficient in carrying out the ob- ]ects of the invention but various changes may be made in the detail construction of these mechanisms without departing from the spirit of this invention.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a phonograph of the record disk type, a rotary table for supporting the disk to be played, means for rotating the table, a storage spindle above and co-axial with the table for supporting a plurality of disks one above the other and provided with a shoulder normally holding the lowermost disk against downward displacement from said spindle, and means reciprocally movable between said table and spindle for releasing the lowermost disk from said shoulder and transferring it to the table.

2. In a phonograph of the record disk type, a rotary table for supporting the disk tobe played, means for rotating the table, a stordisk from said shoulder and allowing it to drop onto said transfer device.

3. In a phonograph of the character described, .a rotary table for supporting the disk to be played, means for rotating the table, a storage spindle for a plurality of disks spaced above and substantially coaxial with the axis of the table, a transfer device reciprocally movable vertically through the intervening space between the table and storage spindle for conveying the released disk from said spindle onto the table, and means actuated by the upward movement of the transfer device for releasing the lowermost disk from the spindle and allowing it to drop onto the transfer device.

4. In a phonograph of the'character described, a rotary table for supporting the disk to be played, means for rotating the table, opposed lower and upper spindles coaxial with the axis of the table, the lower spindle being movable axially toward and from the upper spindle, means on the upper spindle for supporting a plurality of disks one above the other, means actuated by the approach of the lower spindle toward the upper spindle for releasing the lowermost disk from its supporting spindle, and means on the lower spindle for receiving the released disk and conveying it onto the table.

5. In a phonograph of the character described, a rotary table for supporting the disk to be played, means for rotating the table, a spindle supported in a plane above and coaxial with the axis of the table and provided with means for releasably supporting a plurality of disks one above the other, a cam slidable lengthwise of and upon the lower endof the spindle for releasing the lowermost disk therefrom, and a transfer.-

ring device reciprocally movable verticallytoward and from the spindle and adapted to operate said cam to its record releasing position during-its upward movement, said transfer device having means for receiving and supporting the released record for transferring it tothe table upon its downward movement. a v

6. In a phonograph of the character described, a vertically disposed spindle for receiving and supporting a plurality of records, said spindle having a lengthwise recess in one side and a cam projection on its opposite side of approximately the same radial depth as the recess to cause the disks registering therewith to enter the recess and to rest upon the lower end wall of said recess, the lower end of the cam being dis osed n a plane above the lower end wall 0 the recess, and a cam member slidable endwiseof and upon the lower end of the spindle for engaging and shifting the lowermost disk out of engagement with the lower end wall of the recess to allow said disk to drop by its own weight from the lower end of the spindle.

7 In a phonograph of the character described, an upright storage spindle adapted to receive and support a plurality of record disks one above the other and provided with a stop shoulder for engaging the lower face of the lowermost disk for holding all of the disks against downward movement, movable means for displacing the lowermost disk rotatable in a plane below and coaxial with i the spindle, and vertically movable means for receiving the record displaced from the spindle and conveying it to the surface of the table.

8. In a phonograph of the character described, a rotary table for supporting the disk to be played, a storage spindle for a pluralitv of disks co-axial with and spaced above the table, means for rotating the table, a transfer device reciprocally slidable vertically in a central opening in the table coaxial therewith for transferrin a record from a plane above the table to and upon the upper surface of said table, and means actuated by the transfer device for releasing the lowermost record from said spindle.

9. In a phonograph of the character described, 21 frame, an upright tubular shaft journaled in the frame, a plurality of record disks, a table mounted on the upper end of the shaft to rotate therewith, a storage spindle for the disks co-axial with and above the table means for rotating the shaft, a vertically slidable spindle guided within the tubular shaft and having its upper end provided with a supplemental record support in table movable to and from the horizontafplane of the first-named table, means for moving the spindle with the supplemental table thereon upwardly, and means actuated by the upward movement of the second named spindle for releasing the lowermost disk from the storage spindle upon the supplemental table.

'10. Ina phonograph of the character described, a plurality of record disks, a table rotatable about a vertical axis and provided with a central opening therethrough, a storage spindle for the disks spaced vertically from said table co-axial therewith, asupplemental table reciprocally movable vertically across said space and provided with a guide stem slidable in the central opening in the first-named table, and means actuated by said stem for releasing the lowermost disk from the storage spindle and allowing it to drop upon the supplemental table when the latter is elevated.

11. In a phonograph of the character described, a rotary table adapted to receive and support one record only at a time, means for rotating the table with the'record thereon, means for displacing the played record from the table, a storage spindle for supporting a plurality of additional records one above the other in a plane above and coaxial with the axis of the rotation of the table, and vertically 'slidablemeans for releasin the lowermost additional record from said supporting means and conveying it to the table immediately following the displacement of the first-named record from the table.

12. In a phonograph of the record disk type, a rotary turn table for supporting the initial operating position of the tone arm radially of. the turn table, said means ineluding a rod and an arm provided with a latch normally engaging said rod.

13. In a phonograph of the record disk type, a rotary turn table for supporting the disk to be played, a tone arm, mechanism for carrying one or more disks, mechanism for transferring the disk from said carrying mechanism to the turn table, and means having a portion in the path of movement of a disk as transferred for determining the ini-,

tial operating position of the tone arm radi ally of the turn table, said means including a link for shifting the tone arm having two shouldered portions, means for engaging either of said shouldered portions, a rod, an arm having a latch normally engaging said rod and connections between said rod. and said link whereby the position of the rod determines the shoulder of said link which is engaged by said means.

14. In a phonograph of the record disk type, a supporting plate, a hollow bracket having an upright portion and a horizontal portion extending over the plate, record-supporting means carried by said horizontal portion, a tone arm journaled within the upright portion and projecting outwardly through an opening in one side of the upright portion, said tone arm beingadapted to swing laterally in said opening. a

15. In a phonograph, a supporting memher, a hollow bracket rising from the sup porting member and having an opening,

the first, including clutch elements, and mechanism for separating said clutching elements after a single rotation of said second shaft.

17. A phonograph comprising a constantly rotating shaft, a turn table driven thereby, a storage spindle for the record disks co-axial with the table, a tone arm, a second shaft adapted for intermittent rotation, means including cams carried by the second shaft for effecting removal of a record from said turn table and for effecting the transfer of another record to the turn table, mechanism for'driving the second shaft from the first including clutch elements, mechanism for separating said clutching elementsafter a single rotation of said second shaft, and means operating in connection with said second shaft for tilting the tone arm.

18; A phonograph comprising a constantly rotating shaft, a turn table driven thereby, a storage spindle for the record dlsks co-axlal with the table, a tone arm, a secondshaft adapted for intermittent rotation, cams carried by the second shaft for effecting removal of a record from said turn table and for effecting the transfer of another record to the turn table, mechanism for drivingthe second shaft from the first shaft including clutching elements, mechanism for separating said clutch elements after a single rotation of said second shaft. and means operating in connection with said second shaft for tilting the tone arm and for moving the tone arm laterally. L In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 30th day of August 1928.

LLOYD ELMER JOHNSON. ARTHUR BENJAMIN VVINCHELL. FLOYD W. HARDICK. Y FRED W. BILLIG.

through its wall, a record-supporting member carried by said hollow-arm, a tone arm having a portion positioned within the hollow bracket and another portion projecting outwardly through said opening,'and suping. 16. A phonograph comprising a constantly.

porting means for said tone arm permitting yertical tilting movement and lateral swingmg'movement of the tone-arm in said openrotating shaft, a turn table driven thereby, a

storage spindle for the record disks co-axial with the table, a tone arm, a second shaft adapted for intermittent rotation, means including cams carried by the second shaft for effecting removal of a record from said turn table and for effecting the transfer of another record from said spindle onto the turn table, mechanism for driving the second shaft from

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