Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
l~UTOM~TIC RECORD PLAYFR
The present invention relates to automatic
record players and record changers, and more particularly,
to an automatic record tone arm drive mechanism for such
players and record changers.
Present day automatic record chanqers are much
too complicated and expensive to manufacture. For example,
the changer manufactured by BSR Ltd.l which changer consti~
tutes approximately eighty percent of the total world's
production of automatic record chanqers, has approximately
220 parts and requires a substantial amount of labor to
assemble and test these parts in order to manufacture the
complete record changer. In addition, most, if not all,
present day automatic record changers are sensitive to
warpage and bending of the metal base plate on which the
parts of the record changer are assembled. This base plate
is conventionally made of relatively thin sheet metal and
the tone arm driving and positioning mechanisms become
misaligned and malfunction when warpage or bending of the
base plate occurs, either in production, during shipping,
or after the changer has been used by the customer. Fur-
thermore, because the functions at the center of the turn
table are interconnected with the functions at the tone
arm mechanism by means of complicated linkages, and the
like, it is not possible to separately test and align the
tone arm assem~ly before it is assembled in the main base
plate. Accordin~ly, the manufacturing cost of such
arrangements is substantially increased. Also, in order
to properl~ position the tone arm over the rest post of -
the changer, most conventional changers re~uire indexing
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means associated with the tone arm ~uadrant for stopping
the tone arm over the rest post and lowering it onto the
rest post during the last record shutoff cycle. However r
such arrangements are also sensitive to warpage and bend-
of the base plate which tends to misalign the portion of
the base plate containing -the rest post with respect to
the axea at which the tone arm is rotatab:Ly mounted.
~ith regard to the velocity tri~ping arrange-
ments employed in many conventional changers, these vel-
ocity tripping arranyements usually employ two or more
parts which are frictionally interconnected and can become
randomly oriented by shock or vibration as the main gear
is detented. In order to prevent this action it is cus-
tomary to employ a relatively heavy friction force between :
the platès to prevent such misalignment. However, when
such heavy friction is emplo~ed it is difficult to trip
the changer with lightweight tone arm pressure in the
order of one gram.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a tone arm drive mechanism for an automatic record ~.
player comprising the combination of a main cycling gear,
means for rotating said gear one revolution during an
automatic cycle, and a tone arm mounted for rotation about
a fixed point which is spaced from said gear, characterized
by the provision of an elongated link member, means
connecting one end of said link member to said tone arm,
and means operative when said gear has been moved to a
predetermined position during an automatic c~cle for
interconnecting said link with said gear so that upon
further rotation of said gear said tone arm is driven
through said link and rotated about said fixed point.
--5--
It ls another object of the present inven~ion
to provide a new and impxoved tone arm driving arrangement
for use in an automatic record player or changer which is
extremely simple and reliable and provicles smooth tone arm
movements by means of a slip clutch dri~e arrangement to
permit the tone arm to be restrained. at any time and par-
ticularly at mid cycle during the last record shutof
cycle.
It is another object of the present invention
to provide a new and improved tone arm driving arrangement
for use in an automatic record player or changer which also
functions as a light force veIocity tripping mechanism
during the playing cycle.
It is a further object of the present invention
to provide a new and improved automatic record player or
changer wherein a single element is employed to inter-
connect the tone arm with a main cycling gear for con-
trolling horizon~al movement of the tone arm, this element ..
-~ also functioning as a velocity trip actuating member
during the playing cycle.
Briefly, in accordance with the present invention
an extremely simple record changer mechanism is provided
wherein only two members interconnect the ton~ arm subassem-
bly with the main cycling gear in the sPindle area of the
changer. One of these members is employed to lift and lower
the tone arm and the other member is used for the dual pur-
pose oE moving the tone arm horizontally during the record
changing cycle and also acts as a velocity trip actuating
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:
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member during the playins cycle~ Both members are designed
to avoid damage to the mechani~m i~ the tone arm is accident~
ally moved or restrained during the record changing cycle.
The presence or absence of a xecord on the spindle shel is
S sen~ed by blade means whlch is moved in the direction of the
shelf during the ini~ial portion of the record changing cy-
cle. If no record is present on the shelf, somewhat before
mid cycle the tone arm is lowered into engagement with a re-
taining no~ch on the rest post and the turntabl2 motor is
turned of at the end of this last record shutof~ cycle.
A turntable pause feature is provided by simply
applying a braking ~orce to the rim of the turntable while
the turntable hub continues to be driven, a simple wa~her oE
low ~oefficient of friction material between the turn~able
and its hub permitting the tu~ntable to ba stopped while the
: driving motor continues to rotate the turntable h~b.
The control knob normally used for ON-OFF-~EJECT
functions, is provided with a 4th position in which the rec~
ord changer repeadtedly pla~s a record on the turntable with-
out shutting off the machi.ne. This Rh'PEAT PLAY position is
reached by first moving the ~ontrol knob to the O~ or REJECT
position ~nd then mo~ing it back:~FF to a posltion ~etwPen
the O~ and OFF positions. When so mov~d, a deten~ ~orce is :
provided for the control knob and an audible click is pxoduced
to in~orm the operator thak the REPEAT PLAY position has been
reached.
The invention both as to its organization and
7--
method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereoE,
will best be Imderstood by reference to the fol.lowing specification taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the record changer of the present
invention with a portion of the turntable broken away to show a portion of
the record changing mechanism;
FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the record changer of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the tone arm subassembly o~ the
changer of FIGURE 1 when the changer is turned off;
FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the position
of the tone arm near the end of a last record shutoff cycle;
FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines
5-5 of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 5A is a fragmentary external view similar to FIGURE 5 but
taken on a larger scale;
FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 6-6
of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 7-7
of FIGURF. 2;
FIGURE 7A is a sectional view taken along the line 7A-7A in
FIGURE l; . .
FIGUR¢ 8 (located on the same sheet as Figure l? is a sectional
view taken along the lines 8-8 of FIGURE 1 and showing the tone arm drive-
trip clutch in its rest position; ..
FIGURE 9 (located on the same sheet as Figure 1) is a sectional
view similar to FIGURE 8 but showing the tone arm clutch in its tone arm
drive position;
-
FIGURE 10 (loca~ed on the same sheet as Figure 2) is a perspective
view of the velocity trip clutch employed in the changer of FIGURE l;
FIGURE ll (located on the same sheet as Figure 2) is a sectional
view taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10;
FIGURE 12 (located on the same sheet as Figure 1) is a fragmentary
plan view taken on a larger scale, showing the speed shift mechanism of the
c-nanger of FIGURE 1 in the 33 rpm position;
FIGURE 12A ~located on the same sheet as Figure 1) is a plan view
similar to FIGURE 12 but showing the speed shift mechanism in the 45 rpm
position;
FIGURE 12B (located on the same sheet as Figure 2) is a sectional
view taken along the line 12B-12B of FIGURE 12;
FIGURE 12C (located on the same sheet as Figure 2) is a sectional
view taken along the llne 12C-12C of ~IGURE 12A;
FIGURE 12D (located on the same sheet as Figure 2) is a sectional
view taken along the line 12D-12~ of FIW RE 12A;
FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating in diagrammatic
form the operation of the drive-velocity trip mechanism of the changer of
FIGURE 1 in initiating a record changing cycle and showing the main gear in
the home or detent position; .:
FIGURES 14 to 1~ are views similar to FIGURE 13 but showing the
main gear at different positions in the record changing cycl.e;
FI~RE 20 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 ~ut showing the action of
the velocity tripping mechanism of the changer of FIGURE 1 during a playing
cycle;
FIGURE 21 (located on the same sheet as Figure 6) is a fragmentary
sectlonal view taken along the lines 21-21 of FIGURE 6 and showing the tone
arm quadrant in the twelve-inch record set down positlon;
FIGURE 22 is a bottom view of the tone arm subassembly of FIGURE 3;
.''
.
FIGURE 22.~ is a view similar to FIGURE Z2 but showing the manner
in which the tone arm subassembly is assembled on the base plate;
FIGURE 23 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the tone
arm subassembly of FIGURE 3 with a portion thereof cut away to show the
operation of the cueing lever in the tone-arm-up position;
FIGURE 23~ is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line
23A-23A of FIGURE 23;
FIGURE 24 is a view similar to FIGURE 23 but shown with the cueing
lever in the tone-arm-down position;
FIGURE 25 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line
25-25 of FIGURE 5 and showing the control knob of the changer of FIGURE 1
in the OFF position;
FIGURE 25A is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 25 but
taken on a somewhat larger scale;
FIGURE 25C (located on the same sheet as Figure 27) is a perspective
view of the flat spring blocking member employed in ~he changer of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 26 is a view similar to FIGURE 25 but showing t~e control
knob in the ON position and the main cam in a last record shutoff cycle
initiating position; :
FIGURE 26A is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 26
but taken on a somewhat larger scale;
FIGURES 27, 2~ and 29 are views similar to FIGUPE 26 but showing
the main cam in different posit~ons duri~g a last record shutoff cycle;
FIGURE 27A is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line
27A-27A of FIGURE 27; ~;
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FIGURE 28A is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE ~8
but taken on a somewhat larger scaie;
FIGURE 30 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 25 but showing the
control knob in the REJECT position to initiate a record changing cycle;
FIGURE 30~ is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 30
but taken on a somewhat larger scale;
FIGURE 31 is a view similar to FIGURE 26 but showing the mechanism
in a single automatic record play position;
FIGURE 32 is a view similar to FIGURE 31 but showing the main gear
at a later point in the single record automatic play changing cycle;
FIGURES 33 and 3~ (located on the same sheet as Figure 5) are
fragmentary sectional vi.ews similar to FIGURE 5A but showing the parts in
different positions of a last record sensing cycle;
FIGURE 33A is a view si.milar to FIGURE 25 but showing the mechanism '
in a repeat play position;
FIGURE 35 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an
alternative record supporting arrangement which may be used in the changer
of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 36 is a plan view of the reeord supporting arrangement shown
in FIGURE 35;
FIGURE 37 is a side elevational view of the arrangement of FIGURE
35 when used to play se,ven-inch records with a large-hole record adaptor;
FIGURE 38 is a sectional elevational view of an alternative record
sensing arrangement of the present invention similar to FIGURE 5 of the
embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 37;
FIGURE 39 is a sectional view taken along the line 39-39 of
FIGURE 38;
~ 3
FIG. 40 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative -
tone arm drive and velocity trip actuating mechanism which can
be used in the changer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 41 is a sectiQnal view taken alonq the line
41-41 of ~'IG. 40;
FIGS. 42 and 43 are fragmentary plan views of further
alternative drive-trip arrangements simila.r to the embodiment
o f FI GS . 4 O and ~1;
FIG. 44 is a ragmentary plan view of an alternative
tone arm drive and trip actuating mechanism which can be used
in the changer of ~IG. l; .
FIG. 45 is a sectional view alonq the line 45-45 of
FIG. 44;
FIG. 46 is a sectional view along the line 46-46 of .: .
FIG. 44;
E'IG. 47 is a fxagmentary plan view of an alternative
embodiment of the invention wherein an idler wheel drive unit
is employed to rotate the turntable; and
~IG. 48 is a fragmentary plan view of a further -: :
alternative em~odiment of the invention wherein a modified
drive link arrangement is employed to move the tone arm
horizontally; and
FIG. 49 is a plan view of an alternative emhodiment
of the invention wherein a two-plate velocity tripping arrange-
~5 ment is omployed.
:
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Re~erring now to the drawings~,~ and more particu-
larly to FIGS. 1 th~oucJh 34 thereof, the automatic record
changer of the present invention is there:in illustrated a~
comprising a metal base plate indicated generally at 10 on
which is mounted a rotatable turntable indicated generally
at 12, a tone arm indicated generally at :L4, and a balance
arm indicated ~enerally at 16. The tuxntable 12 is mounted
for rotation about a centering s~indle indicated generally
at 18 on which a stack of records may be suppor~d and the
balance arm 16 moved from its rest position somewhat beyond
the position shown in FIGo 1 to a position over the records
so that these records are balancPd on the record supporting
shelf of the spindle 18.
The tone arm 14 is rotatably mounted on a tone arm
housiny subas~embly indicated generally at 20 r the housing
20 beiny provided with a rest post portion 22 which extends
upwardly from the housin~ 20 and is provided with a relatively
deep notch 24 in the top thereof within which the tone arm 14
may be seated when the record chanyer is turned off. A cueing
lever indicated generally at 26 is rotatably mounted in the
tone arm~subassembly 20 and may be moved from a y~nerally
verticaly posikion shown in FIGS. 1 and 24 to a rearward
inclined position shown in FIG. 23. When the cueing lever
26 is în the vertical position shown in FIGo 1~ it is ineffec- .
tive to lift the tone arm. ~lowever J when ~he ~ueiny lever is
moved to the rearward position it is effective to lift the
tone arm off of the record after which it ma~ be manually
placed over another selec~ion on the record or moved over
the rest post 24. Then, the cueing lever may be used manually
to lowe~r the tone arm 1~ into enyagement with a record on the :
~urntable 12; or the notch inthe rest post, as will be xeadily
understooa hy those ~killed in the art.
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3~ ~ 3
A combined speed and size control krlob 27 is
provided which i,n the illustrated embodiment is movahle
between a 33-1/3 rpm position and a 45irpm position. In
the 33-1/3 r,pm position tha tone arm 14 is automatically
adjusted to play 12-inch records and in the 45 rpm position
the tone arm is automatically adjusted to pla~ 7-inch records.
When small-hole seven-inch records are ko be pla~ed they may
be placed on the shelf of the spindle 18 and the balance arm
16 emplo~ed to balance the record stack. When large-hole
seven-inch records are employed a suitable adaptor ma~ be
placèd on the spindle 18, as will be readily understood by `~
those skilled in ~he art. In the event 10-inch 78 rpm
records are to~be~p~'a~e~, the knohs 27 may be provided
with a third detent position ahead of the 45 rpm ~osition,
as will be described in more detail hereinafter.
A multi-function control knob 29 is provided which ~'
has four positions, namelyr an OFF position~ a ~EPEAT PLAY ;
position, an ON posit,ion and a REJECT position, from front
to back of the changer. When the knob 29 is moved from the '~
O~F position ~o the ON position khe driving motor for the
turntable 12 is energized and when the knob 29 is moved to
the REJECT po~ition a record changing cycle is automatically
initiated~ In accordance with an impor~ant aspect o the
present invention, the record changer mechanism is so arranged
that when the knob 29 is first moved to the ON positi~n and
then is moved back ~o the R2PEAT PLAY position a slight detent
orce is exerted on the knob 29, which is not produced when
The knob 29 is moved from OFF to ON~ and an audible click is
produced to inform the operator that he is in the REPEAT PLAY
position. With the knob 2~ in the REPEAT PLAY position the
record changer repeatedly plays the record which i~ on the
kurntable 12. As noted above, the REPEAT P~Y position cannot
,' : .
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be reached b~ simply moving the knob 29 from the OFF position
to the adjacent REPEAT PLAY position. The knob 29 must first
be moved to the REJECT position, so that the turntable motor
is tuxned on, and ~hen moved back to the REPEAT PLAY position.
With this arrangement the single knoh 29 is employed to pro-
vide Eunctions requiring several knobs in conventional changers.
In accordance with a further important aspect of
khe present invention, the base plate 10 is provided with a
central depressed portion 28. Most of the parts of the record
chan~ing mechanism per se are mounted on the top and bottom oE
the central depressed base plate portion 28, which is eccentric
with respect to the spindle 18 to permi~ such mounting, thereby
eliminating the conventional base plate subassemblies which are
nvrmally employed to mount the operative parts of th~ record
changing mechanism. By employing the central base plake por-
tion 28 as a support for the control levers and other parts
of the record changing mechanism, the number of parts required
i$ substantially reducea and in addition the amount of time
re~uired to assemble these parts in production i8 also sub~
stantially reduced, More particularly, a cycling gear indi-
cated ~enerally at 30 is rotatahly mounted on a post 32 which
is secured in the central base plate portion 28 and extends
upwardly therefrom, the gear 30 being retained on the post 32
by any 5uitable means such as the C washer 34. A sleeve
bearing 36 is mounted in the eccen~xic portion 28 of the
ba~e plate 10 and the spindle 18 is secured within the bear~
ing 36~ A turntable hub 38 is rotatably mounted on the
sleeve bearing 36 and rests on a thrust bearing indicated
generally at 40 which is position~a~about the bottom end
of the sleeve 36 and rests on the centxal base plate porkion
2~v The hub 38 is re~ained on the bearing 36 by means of
the O-ring 37.
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In order to drive the tuxntable hub 38 a turntable
driving motor 40 ~FIG. 5) is mounted on the underside of the
base plate 10 beyond the portion 28 and the shaft 42 thereof
exten~s upwardly through an openinq 44 in th~ base ~late 10.
A drive turret havin~ a 45 rpm step 46 and a 33 rpm step 48
is mounted on the shaft 42 above the base plate 10 and a
flexible belt 50 is employed to interconnect one of the
turret steps 46, 48 with the turntable hub 38~ ~he belt 50
riding on the periphery of the hub 38
In accordance with an important aspect of the
present invention, the turntable 12 is not directly con-
nected to the turntable hu~ 38, but instead rests on a thin
and relatively wide washer 52 ~hich is positioned hetween
the upper surface of the turntable hub 38 and the bottom
surface of the turntable 12 adjacent a central depressed
portion 54 o the turntable 12. The washer 52 is made of
low coefficient of friction material, such as Teflon or
the like. With this arrangement, the turntable 12 may be
~topped during the record changing cycle~ by brake means
to be described in more detail hereinafter, so that the
turntabl~ 12 is stationary when a xecord is dropped onto
lt. This construction also penmits the turntable hub 38
to be continuously dxiven from the motor 40 during the
record changing cycle, the washer 52 providing a suffic-
iently low coefficient of friction bearing to permit stop-
ping of the turntable 12 without placing an excessi~e load on
the motor 40, and without requir~n~ disenga~ement of the
driving means between turntable and turntable hub by some
means such as elevating or lowering of either the turntable
hub 38 or the turntable 12~ A suitable turntable mat 56
may be positioned on ~he upper surface of the turntable 12
to provide a cushion for records deposited on the turntable
12. The turntable 12 is retained in the hub 38 hy means of
an O-ring 39 and the central openinq in the ~urn~able 12
rides on the upper shaft portion 41 o~ thle hub 38 which acts
as a bearing for the turntahle during braking.
In order to drive the main cycling gear 30 during
a record changing cycle, the turntable hub 38 is provided with
pinion gear teeth 58 at the bo~tom end thereof which are adap-
ted to engage the peripheral gear teeth of the gear 30O How
ever, during ~he playing cycle the gear 30 is detented in a
home position in which a mutilated portion 60 of the gear 30
is opposite the year teeth 58 so that these teeth are not in
mesh during the playing cycle.
In or~er to initiate a record chang!ing cycle, a
single velocity trip lever 62 (FIG~ 1) is pivotally mounted
on the upper face of the gear 30 by means of a pin portion
61 which is positioned within the central bore of a down-
wardly extending housing portion 63 ~FIG. 5) of the main
gear 30, the lever 62 being provided with an upstanding
flange portion 66 ~FIG. 1) in which a vertically extending
shoulder 68 is formed. The shoulder 68 i5 arranged to be
struck by a flange 70 provided on the central sleeve portion
of the turntable hub 38 above the geax 58 when the shoulder
portion 66 of the velocity trip lever 62 is moved inwardly
by a predatermined amoun~. Movement of the velocity trip
lever 62 is effec~ed at the end of the playing cycle by
means of a ~elocity tripping mechanism to be described in more
detail hereinater. As soon as the velocity trip le~eri62 has
been pivoted by an amoun~ suf~icient to bring the shoulder 68
into ~he path o the flange 70, the gear 30 is rotated by
engagement sof these members by an amount such ~ha~ the gear
teeth of -the turntable hu~ gear 58 engage the adjacent teeth
of the gear 30 and rotate the gear 30 through one revolution
during the record changing cycle.
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63~3
In accordance with an important aspect of the
present invention, rotation of the main gear 30 is employed
to effect the desired lifting and rotation of the tone a.rm
14 by means o two members which are interconnected with the
tone arm su~assembly 20 in such manner that they may be
readil~ disconnected. With this arrallgement, the tone arm
subassembly 20 may be separately manufact.ured and tested
prior to installation in the base plate 10, after which in-
stallation cunnection may be readily made to the automatic
record changing mechanism through these interconnecting ele- -
ments. Furthermore, these interconnecting elements are so
constructed that warping or bending of the base plate 10 does
not interfere with the proper operation of the changer during
the record changing cycle or introduce errors in the set down
lS adjustment of the tone axm 14 or the velocity tripping mech- :
anism therefor.
TONE ARM LIFTING MECHANISM
Considering fir~t the manner in which the ~one arm ..
~0 14 is lif~ed off of a record on the tuxntable 12 at the begin-
ning of the record changing cycle, a tone arm lift rod indica-
ted generally at 72 (FIG. 3) is provided with a right angle
end portion 74 which is mounted in spaced apart bearings in
the tone arm subassembly 20. More par~icularly, the tone arm
subassembly 20 includes a main housing 76 which is provided
with a pair o downwardly extending posts 78 and 80. A plate
82 is mounted on tha posts 78 by means of ~he screws 84 and
86 (FIG. 22~o The:housing 76 includes an upstanding portion
88 which is provided with a vertically extending bore 90
which is adatped to receive the upper end of ~he right angle
portion 7~ of the tone arm lift rod 7~. The upper end of
the bor~ 90 is arranged to form a bearing or ~he upper end
-- 1 8 ~ r~
O of the right angle portion 74 and the plate 8~ fo~ns a
lower bearing for this ri~ht angle end port.ion 74. As a
resultt the lift rod 72 is supported by these two spaced
apart bearings so that it may be smoothly raised and
lowered. The upper end of the right angle end portion
74 is ~hreaded and an adjustable cap 92 is threaded onto
the upper end of the right an~le end por~ion 74, the cap
92 being arranyed to engage the undersurfac~ of a flat
plate portion 94 of the tone arm 14.
The plate 82 is provided with a downwardly
extending ofset flange portion 96 which has an inclin~d
camming surface 98 formed in the bottom edge thereof.
The tone arm lift rod 72 is biased upwardly into engage-
ment with the camming surface 98 by means of a coil spring
100 the bottom end o which is hooked around the tone arm
lift rod 72~ The springlOO extends upwardly through an
opening 102 tFIG~ 22) formed in the plate 82 and into the
interior of an upwardly extending housing 104 ~ormed in
the plate 82. The upper end of the spring 100 is secured
to the top wall of the housing 104. The other end of the
lift rod 72 is provided with a right angle end portion 106
which is biased into engayement with a depending cam indi-
cated genexally at 108 (FIG. 7), which i~ formed in the
bottom surface of the gear 30, this biasing force being
achieved by virtue of -the upward force exerted by the
~prin 100 adjacent the inclined camming sur~ace 98 which
tends to rotate the end portion 106 of the lift rud 72 ~.
toward the centex of the gear 30.
When the gear 30 starts to rotate at the b gin-
ning o~ the record chan~ing cycle the end portion 106,
which .is continuously biased into engagement with the cam
10~ by virtue of the twisting action produced by the
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upward force of the sprin~ilO0 in relation to the inclined
cammin~ surface 98, ~ollows the portion 110 of the cam 108
with the result that the lift rod 72 is pivotecl about the
above~described bearings for the end portion 74 thereof.
However, since the spring 100 is continuously urging the
lift rod 72 upwardly, as this rod is rotated it i5 also
bodily lited upwardly as it rides along the cam surface
98. Accordingly, the end p~rtion 106 may be rotated by
an amount sufficient to parmit the lift rod 72 to be lifted up
to the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the portion 106 of the
rod 72 engages the end of the 510t 114 -~FIGllr~25~)~ in~:~h~b :~base
plate 10. The flange 96 is also provided with s~ops 111, 112
at either end o~ the cam surface 98 to limit movement of the
rod 72 during assembly. As this upward movement of the lift
rod 72 occurs, the cap 92 on the upper end of the end portion
74 o~ the lift rod engages the plate 94 and lits the tone
arm upwardly off of khe record which has just been played
on the turntable lZ. In this connection it should be noted .
that the tone arm 14 is shown in FIGS. 3 and ~ in a position
over the rest post 22. However, a similar li~ting action is
provided by the lit rod 72 when the tone arm 14 is resting
on a record seated on the kurntable 12.
The end portion 106 of the ].ift rod 7~ extends
upwardly through a slot 114 (FIG. 7) ormed in the base
plate 10 so tha~ ~he upper portlon of the end portion 106
may be biased into engagemen~ with ~he cam 108 as described
heretofore~ The spring 100 maintains the lift rod 72 in an
elevated position after the end portio~ 106 has been moved
out of engagement with the cam portion 110 so that the tone
axm remains in an elevated position during the portion of
the record changing cycle during which the next record is
being deposite~ on the turntable and the tone arm .is moved
;:
~n~
inwardly to the correct record size position, as will be
described in more detail hereinafter. However, near the
end of the record changing cycle the end portion 106 of the
lift rod 72 engages the cam portion 116 of the cam 108. The
cam portion 116 is not as steep as the cc~ portion 110 and
hence the tone arm is gently lowerecl to -t:he surface of the
record on the turntable 12 as the end portion 106 ls engaged
by the cam portion 116 and moved outwardly and the lift rod
72 is cammed down the surface 98 against the force of the
spring 100. ~ery close to the end of the record changing
cycle the end portion 106 engages an intermediate portion
118 tFIG. 26) of the cam 108. The por~ion 118 i5 formed
along an arc having the center of the gear 30 as its center
so thak the biasing foxce which is exerted by the end portion
106 on the cam 108 and hence the gear 30, is constant and min~
imized as the gear 30 approaches its home or detent position.
In this connection it will be noted that ths ~nd portion 106
moves upwardly relative to the cam portion 110 as ~he lit
rod is bodily moved upwardly at the beginning of the record
chan~ing cycle. Also the encl portion 106 i5 moved downwardly
relative to the cam portion 116 as the -tone arm is lowered~
However, no upward or downward movement of the end portion
106 relative to the cam portion 118 is experienced as the
end portion 106 traverses the cam portion 118 so that mini-
mal forces are exerted on the gear 30 as it approaches the
detent position. In this conne~tion it will be noted that
raising and lowering of the tone arm 1~ is achieved solely -
in response to rotation of the end 106 of the lift rod 72
as contxolled by the cam 108 so that an extremely simple
and yet efficient and smoothly ac-ting tone arm lift arrange
ment is provided in accordance with the present invention.
-21-
:
- . ~
Furthermore, it is pointed out that the amount of li:Et is
determined at the tone arm subassembly 20 ~y the cam sur-
face 98 and warpage of the base plate does not chan~e the
height of the tone arm lift as it would with conv~ntional
linear motion slides which are directly connected to the
main cycling gear. It is also poin-ted out that the lift
rod 72 functions smoothly with relatively little force
because the cam surface 98 is positioned quite a distance
from end portion 74 abou~ which the rod 72 pivots. This
construction permits the cam surface 98 to have a gradual
slope, whereas if this cam were placed close to the end
74 it would have to be relatively steep and substantial
additional force would be required to move along it. ~Iow-
ever, the cam surface 9~ can be spaced away from the end 74
only because spaced apart beari.ngs are provided for the end
74, as described heretofore 9 SO that the rod 72 ma~ be lifted
smoothly and with little force exertea thereon.
HORIZONTAL TONE ARM MOVEMENT
~ Considering now the manner in which ~he~::bone arm
14 is moved horizontally, in accordance with an important
aspect of the present inventi~ a-ldrive trip link 120 is
employed to intercon~ect the gear 30 with the tone arm 14
so that the tone arm is moved outwardly during the first
portion of the record changing cycle and is than movea
inwardly over the record which has been deposited on the : -
tu~ntable 12 and into engagement with the lead-in groove
o this record. The drive trip link 120 als~ acts as a
vel~city trip actuating member during the playing cycle.
The lin~ 120, which may be simply a ~tiff wire, is:con-
nected to the gear 30 at a point offset from the center
thereof by means of a clutch mechanism i ndicated ge:nerally
: at 122. The other end of the link 120 is connected to a
-22-
, 3
tone arm quadrant member 124 (FIG. 2~ which is connected to
and moves with the tone arm 14 by means to be described in
detail hereinafter. Moxe particularly, the link 120 is pro~
vided with a right angle end portion 126 which ext~nds through
5 the central openin~ in a bushing 123 which is loosely posi
tioned in a slot 130 formed in the quadrant 124. As best
illustrated in FIG. 11 the ~u~hing member 128 is provided with
a head portion 132 which rides on the upper surace of ~he
quadrant 124 beyond the edg~s of the slot 130. A light coil
spring 134 is positioned between an enlarged end portion 136
at the bottom of the bushin~ 128 and the underside of the
quadrant 124 so that a light clutch force is provided to pre-
vent the member 128 from moving within the slot 130 unless
thi~ force is overcome. However~ when the member 128 is
moved into engagement with either end of the slot 130 a posi-
tive dri~e connection is provided between the link 120 and
the quadrant 124.
Considexing now in more detail the clutch 122, an
opening 140 is form d in the main gear 30 which communicates
with a recess 142 of larger diameter on the underside o the
gear 30. A central annular wall 144 is formed in the gaar
30 ad~acent the openin~ 140 and an outer annular wall 146 i~
also formed in the ~ear 30, the outer wall 146 having a pair
of opposed cam actuating shoulders 148 and 150 ormed therein
which project upwardly above the top of the central annular
wall 144. A clutch drive pivot 152 is loosely mounted for
rotation in khe opening 140 in the ~ear 30 and is pro~ided
with a narrow slot 154 which extends upwardly from the bottom
of the member of the pivot 152 and is adapted to receive the
end portio.n of the drive-trip link 120~ The leg~ 156 and 158
which are foxmed in the pivot 152 by virtue of the slot 154
are prov~ded with offset 1exible end portions 160 and 162
-23
- , .
which terminate in feet 164 and 166 which are adapted to
engage the recess 142 of the gear 30 when the pivot 152
is moved to an elevated position within the opening 140~
The pivot 152 is also provided wi~h opposed shoulders 168
and 170 which are adapted to rest on the upper surface of
the central annular wall 14~ when the pivot 152 is in the
declutched or velocity tripping position shown in ~IGo 8~
In order to assemhle the pivot lS2 wi~hin the gear 30, the
opening 140 is provided with opposed groov~s 172 and 17~ ~FI~G.14)
which permi~ the pivot 152 ~o be inserted upwardly ~hrough
the opening 140 ater which the pivot 152 is rotated and
the end of the drive-trip link 120, which is inserted into
the groove 154 and can then rest on the upper surace of
the wall, as shown in FIG. 8.
Considering now the operation of the above-described
clu~ch 122 and dr~ve-trip link 120 in moving the tone armrl4
outwardly to the rest post 22 and then returning the tone arm
to the desired set down position during the record changing
cycle. During the initial portion of the record changing
c~cle, while the tone arm 14 is being lifted off of the
record as described heretofore, the clutch 122 does not
interconnect the gear 3Q with the link 120 so that no out-
ward movement of the tone arm is produced during the tone
arm lifting operation. This i5 because the link 120 remains
loosely posîtioned wi~hin the slot 154 of the dxive pivot
152 ~s the gear 30 is moved from the posi~ion shown in FIG.
13 to the position shown in FIG. 14. During this movement
of the gear 30 the driva pivot 152 is however rotating
slightly relative to the gear 30 since the pivot 152 is
maintained in alignment with the link 120 by virtue of the
fact that the link 120 extends through the transvarse 910t
154 in the pivot 1520
-24-
' ' ' ' ' ' ~ . :: ' :
When the gear 30 approaches the position shown in
FIG. 14 the link 120 r.ide~ up the inclined portions 180, 182
formed in the outer wall 146 and OlltO the upper surface of
the opposed shoulders 148, 150. As this occurs, the link
120 engages the top of -the groove 154 and lifts the pivot
152 upwardly until the feet 164, 166 thereof are biased into ::
engagement with the recess 142 in the gear, as shown in FIG.
9. The shoulders 148~ 150 are made of suf~icient height
that the feet 164, 166 engage the gear 30 with sufficient
force to clutch the drive-trip link to the gear 30 as the gear
continues to rotate. However, this frictional force is not
so great as to prevent the pivot 152 from rotating relative :
to the gear 30 since the pivot 152 must remain aligned w.ith
the link 120 which extends through the notch 154 thereixl,
and the other end o~ the link 120 is pivotally connected
to the quadrant 124 of the tone arm mechanism, as clescribed
in detail heretofore. During this rotary movement of the
pivot 152 with respect to the gear 30 the feet 164, 166 slip
along the surface of the recess 142 while maintaining the
above described frictional ~orce ~or the link 120.
~s soon as the link 120 is moved upwardly into
engagement with the upper surface of the shoulder~ 148, 150
the link 120 becomes clutched to the gear 30 and as the gear
continues to rotate the link 12Q moves outwarclly~ If the
velocity trip clutch bushing 128 is not positioned at the
Lear of the slot 130 in the quadrant 124, this initial out-
ward movement of the link moves the member 124 to the outer
end of slot 130 after which point the tone arm 14 iS moved
outwardly with the link 120 as the geax continuPs to rotate.
The tolle arm 14 is moved outwardly until it engages a block-
in~ shoulder 184 on the rest post 22 the shoulder 184 extend- -
ing upwardly a substantially greater distance than the inner
-25~ :
7~9~3
shoulder 186 of the rest pQSt 22. The relative position
of the link 120 and the clutch 122 as the tone arm i5 moved
into engagement with the rest post shoulder 184 is shown in
FIG. 15.
Since the tone a~m cannot move further outwardly
when it engag~s the shoulder 184, as the gear 30 continues
to rotate the clutch 122 permits such urther rotation by
slippage betw~en the link 120 and the clutch 1~2, More ~ -
particularly, while the fric~ional force with which the
feet 164, 166 engage ~he gear 30 is sufficient to move the
tone arm outwardly, as described here~ofore, this force is
not too great that it cannot be overcome when the tone arm
strikes an obstruction such as the shoulder 18~. When such
an obstruction is encountered the link 120 sli~es over the
upper surface of the shoulclers 1~8, 150 and also slides
relative to the pivot 152 by virtue of a sliding action of
the link 120 in the bottom of the groove 154. Accordingly,
as the gear ~30 continues to rotate from the position shown
in FIG. 15 to the posîti.on shown ~n FIG. 16 the clutch 122
continues to urge the tone arm against the ~houlder 184
while the l.ink 120 slides relative to the clutch 122 to
: the position shown ~n FIG. 16. However, as soon as the
link 120 rides down the inclined portions 188, 190 formed
in the outer wall 146 the feet 164, 166 of the pivot 152
are no longer biase~ into engagement with the gear 30 so
~: that the link 120 becomes disengaged from the gear 30
while the tone arm 14 ~emains in its position in contact
with the shoulder 184 of the rest post 22
~fter the gear 30 has been rotated to the posi-
tion shown in FIG. 17 the link 120 again rides up the in-
clined portions 180, 182 so that the gear 30 again becomes : .
clutched to the link 120. As the gear 30 continues to
.
-26-
, ~ .: , ,, : .
. .. .: , . . - :
rotate from the position shown in FIG. 17 to the position
shown in FIG. 18 the link 120 is first moved 50 that the
velocity trip clutch bushing 128 is moved to the forward
end of the slot 130 and there~fter the link 120 functions
to move the tone arm inwardly. By disconnecting the link
120 from the gear 30 during travel from the position shown
in FIGo 17, the tone arm can remain in its position over
the rest post for a longer period of time while the next
record i8 heing deposited on the turntable 12. I'his in-
ward movement of the tone arm ~uadrant 124 continues until
the twelve~inch record positioning shoulder 192, which is
formed in the quadrant 124, strikes the upturned flange por-
tion 194 of a size selector slide 196. The slide 196 is
manually positioned at the twelve-inch position by means to
be described in more detail hereinater. When the shoulder
192 of the quadrant 124 strikes the size selector flange
194 further inward movement o~ the tone arm is prevented.
However, since the gear 30 continues to rotate the clutch
122 again per~its sliding movement of the link 120 relative
to the shoulders 1487 150 and the pivot 152, as described
heretofore in connection with FIGS. 15 and 16. It should
be noted that as the ~ear rotates from the position shown
in FIG. 18 to the position shown in FIG. 19, a constant
pull is exerted on the link 120 so that the velocity trip
clutch bushing 128 remains posi~ioned at the forward end
of the slot 130 in the quadrant 124. The velocity tripping
mechanism is thus continuously urged to the proper reset
position of the velocity trip clutch during movement of
the gear from the position ~shown in FIG. 18 to the position
shown in FI~, 19~
When the gear 30 reaches the position shown in
FIG. 16 the link 120 rides down the shoulders 188, 190
, ' .
-27- ~
so that the gear 30 thereaft~r becomes disconnected from the
link 120 as the gear 30 is returned to the detent or horne
position shown in FIG. 1. In the detent position the l.ink
120 is completely free to move since the pivot 152 is now
supported by engagement of the shoulders 168, 170 thereof
with the upper surface of the inner wall 144. Furthermore,
the link 120 is positioned approximately rrli.dway between the
shoulders 148, 150 and rests loosely within ~he slot 15~ in
the pivot152, as shown in FIG~ 8~
VELOCITY TRIPPING MECHANISM
In accordance with an important aspect of the
present i~vention the link 120 is also used during the play-
ing cycle as a velocity trip actuating mem~er~ More parti-
cularly, the link 120 is moved to the position shown in
FIG. 1 ak the start of the playing cycle with the velocity
trip clutch membex 128 positioned at the forward end of the
slot 130. As the tone arm moves inwardly over the record
during the playing cycle the link 120 moves with ~he tone
arm quadrant 124 du0 to the light force exerted hy the
spr.ing 134 on the under side of the tone arm quadrant 124.
Thi~ light force is sufficient to move the link 120 axially
through the slot 154 in he drive pivot 152 wi.thout disturbing
khe position of t~e velocity trip clutch member 128 relative
to the slot 130. Since the link 120 rests loosely upon the
inner wall 144 of the gear 30 du~ing this movement, an ex-
tremely light clutch force can be supplied by the spring 134.
As the tone arm nears the end of the record the
link 120 is moved to a position where the end thereof engages
the upstanding flange 66 of the velocity trip lever 62 which
is pivotally mounted on the gear 30. The lever 62 is mounted
on the gear 30 so that it may be moved with a very light force
and hence the end of the link 120 moves the lever 62 without
--2g~
-
moving the bushing 128 within the slot 130~ However, as
the kone arm nears the end of the record the flange 70 on
the turntable hub strikes the edge portion 67 (E~IG. 16) oE
the flange 66 adjacent the shoulder 68 each revolution and
moves the lever 62 an~ hence khe link 120 outwarclly a slight
amount against the force o the velociky trip spring 134.
This force is, of course, not sufficien~,to interfere with
inward stylus tracking o~ the record over the la~t few
groo~es of the record. A~ a result, the bushing 128 is
moved rearwardly in the slot 130 as the last few playing
grooveS of the record are encountered.
When the runo~t groove of the record is encountered
the link 120 is moved rapidly inwardly with the tone arm so
that the lever 62 is pivoted by a substantial amount and the
shoulder 68 thereof is moved into the path of the flange 70
on the turntable hub 38O When the flange 70 strikes the
shoulder 68 the gear 30 is rotated slightly so as to initiate
a record changing cycle in the manner described in detail
heretofore. This velocity tripping action of the link 120
is made possible by virtue of the fac~ that the clutch 122
disconnects the link 120 from the year 30 in the detent
position of the gear 30 as described in detail heretofore.
In this connection it will be noted that the velocity trip
clukch connection of the link 120 to the quadrant 124 is
always reset to the maximum range during the record changing
cycle because the bushing 128 is pulled to the forward end
of the slot 130 by the link 120 as the gear 30 ro-takesO ~ur-
khermore, this resetting action lasts until near the end of
the record changing cycle when the gear 30 becomes discon-
necked fromthe link 120 (FIG. 19). This positive resettiny
of the buxhing 128 also positions the end of the link 120 ,'
correctly in relation to the tone arm 14. Accordingly, the
posikion of -the velocity tripping pawl 62 when it i5 initially
-2~-
engaged by the end of the link 120 may vary without inter-
fering with proper velocity tripping since the link is cor-
rectly reg:istered with respect to the ~one arm at the start
of the playing cycle, Elowever, the pawl 62 is prevented
from moving into the path of the flange 70 as the gear 30
is detented by proper choice of the gears 5~ and 30O Pref~
erably, the ratio of teeth 58 on the hub 38 to the ratio of
teeth on the gear 30 is such that there is an even ratio ~
plus two teeth on the gear. As the gear 3n is detented the
gears 58, 30 are timed so that the flange 70 is in the path
of the edge portion 67 of the velocity trip pawl h2 and hence
prevents the pawl 62 from moving outwardly by an amount suf-
ficient to position the shoulder 68 in the path of the 1ange
70. Preerably, the gear 58 has twenty-one teeth and the
gear 30 has 128 teeth.
It is also pointed out that the above-d~scribed
velocity trip clutch may be eliminated and the link 1~0 piv-
otally connected directly to the ~uadran~ 124. In such case
a two-part (or more) velocity trip pawl arxan~ement may be
employed instead of the single pawl 62, ~s will be readily
understood by those skilled in the art. However, such two-
plate velocity trip mechanisms are subJect to random align-
ment which is usually overcome by providing more friction
between the two plates~ When such heavy ~riction is employed,
velocity tripping with light tone arm orces in the order of
one gram or less is not possible, whereas with the velocity
tripping arrangement descri~ed in detail heretoore reliable
velocity tripping is provided with tone arm forces of less
than one gram.
The velocity ~rip~ing pawl 62 may be reset to its
initial or rest position shown in FIG. 1 by any one 5 a
number of arrangements~ One ~uch arrangement is shown in
-30-
,
FIG~ 16 wherein the intermediate portion of the link 120
is employed to reset the pawl ~2 as the gear 30 is moved
from the position shown in FIG. 16 to the position shown
in FIG. 17. More parti.cularly, as the gear 30 continues
to rotate from the position shown in FIG. lh, the inclined
top edge 200 of the flange portion 66 of the pawl 62 strikes
the link 120. As the lillk 120 cams upwardly o~er the edge
200 the pawl 62 is moved inwardly away from the edge of the
gear to the posi-tion shown in FIG. 1 as t:he link 120 rides
over the top su.rface of the flange 66~ In the alternative
the gear teeth 58 of the turntable hub 38 may engage the
outwardly projecting portion 67 of the pawl 62 and move
this pawl back to its initial position shown in FIG. :L as
the gear 30 approaches the detent position at the end of
lS the record changing cycle.
R13CORD SIZE SEI.ECTION
Considering now the manner in which the size
selector slide 196 is positioned for seven-inch or twelve-
~ inch records, it will be recall.ed from the ~eneral descrip~
tion heretofore~ that the control knob 27 is employed as a
combined record size and speed selector and may be moved :~
between either a 33-1/3 rpm position of a 45 rpm position.
The control knob 27 is connected to an arm portion 204 of
a speed-size lever 206 (FIG~ 6), the portion 204 extending
out beyond the edge of the tone arm housing 20 through a
slot 208 provided therein. The lever 206 is pivo~ally
mounted beneath the base plate 10 by means of a tongue
portion 210 which extends upwardly through an opening 212
in the base plate 10~ A spring wire 214 engages the tongue
210 on the top surface of the base plate 10, one end of the
wire 214 being provided with an offset end portion which
extends downwardly through an opening 216 in the base plate
~31-
10 and the other end of the wire 214 bein~ provlcled wi.th an
ofset end portion 218 which is positioned beneath the base
plate 10. The lever 206 is provided with an upturned flange
220 (FIG. 13) which rides in an opening 222 in the base plate
10 and is urged against the wall 224 there!of by the spring
214. The wall 224 defines a pair of detent positions for
the knob 27 ~orresponding to the twelve-inch 33-1/3 rpm posi-
tion or the seven-inch 45 rpm posi~ion. The control lever
206 is provided with a downwardly extending post 226 (FIG~ 6)
which is connec~ed to the size selector slide 196 by means
of a wire link 228. One end of the link 228 is provided
with an ofset end portion 230 which extends into an open- -
ing in the slide 196 and the other end of the wire 228 is
snapped into a groova at the bottom end o the post 226.
Movement of the size selector slide 196 is guided
by means o~ a slot 232 (FIG. 22) in the slide 196 through
which the right angle end porti.on 74 of the tone arm lift ^;~
rod 72 extends, and ~ slot 234 in the end of the size selector
slide 196 which is positioned by means of a pin portion 236
(FIG. 6) which extends downwardly fr~m a stud 238 formed in
the tone arm base member 76. The stud 238 is of rac~angular
cross section so that portions thereof adjacent th~ pin 236
act as a fulcrum for the end of the size selector slide 196~ ~ .
The slide 196 is continuously urge.d upwardly by means of a
flexible arm portion 2~0 of the plate 82, the arm 240 being
provided with the rig~.~ an~le end portion 2~2 which engages
the underside of the slide 196 ad~acen~ the fulcrum formed
by the stud 23~.
The flexihle arm 240 ~ivots ~he size selector
slide 196 about the fulcrum formed b~ the stud 238 so that
the slide 196 is biased into engagement with a pair o pro
jec~ing lu~ portions 244 (FIG. 6) formed on the opposite
sides of the right angle end portion 74 o the tone arm lift
rod 72. Accordingly, the size selector slide 196 is contin-
uously biased by the arm 240 to follow vertical movements ~f
the lift rod 72. When the lif~ rod 72 is elevated at the
S beginning of the record changing cycle ~o raise the tone
arm off of the record, as described in detail heretofore,
the size selector 196 is also permitted to move upwardly
under the slight spriny force exerted thereon hy the flexible
arm 240. At the beginning of the record changing c~cle the
tone arm quadrant 124 has not moved outwardly and hence the
upstanding flange portion 194 of the slide 1~6 initially
engages the ~mdersurface of the quadrant 124. However,
when this quadrant is moved outwardly by the link 120, as
described in detail heretofore, the size selector slide
196 is permitted to move upwardly to the position shown in
FIG. ~ wherein the slide 196 i5 disengaged from the projec-
tions 244. In the position shown in FIG. 4, the edge of
the ~lange lg4 is positioned to engage the twelve-inch .
sh~ulder 192 of the quadrant 1~4 when the to~e arm is again
moved inwardly, as described in detail heretoore in connec-
tion with FIG~ 18.
When the speed control knob 27 is turned to the
seven-inch 45 rpm position the post 22~ depending therefrom,
and hence the slide 196, is moved to the left, as viewed in
FIG. 6 so tha~ the flange portion 19~ of the slide 196 is
now positioned ~o engage the seven-inch shoulder 246 (~IG. 18)
formed int~e quadrant 12~o When the flange 194 is in engage-
ment with the shoulder 246 of the quadrant 124 during a record
changing cycle the tone arm 14 is positioned to engage the
lead-in groove of a seven-inch record positioned on the
turntable 12,
-33-
. .
As discussed generally heretofore, the record changer of the
present invention may also be arranged to play ten-inch 78 rpm records.
To this end, the quadrant 124 is provided with a shoulder 248 which is
positioned to be engaged by the flange portion 194 of the slide 196 and
position the tone arm 14 for ten-inch records. If ten-inch 78 rpm records
are to be played, the opening 222 in the base plate lO is provided with a
third detent lobe which is nearer the front of the changer than the 45 rpm
detent position. When the control lever 206 is moved to this 78 rpm position
the slide 196 is correctly positioned to engage the quadrant shoulder 248.
It will be noted that the successive detent positions of the lever 206 are
arranged in order oE increasing turntable speed rather than increasing record
size, the shoulders 192, 246 and 248 being arranged on the quadrant 124 to
correlate with the respectlve positions of the comblned speed-size control
knob 27.
When lt is desired to rotate the turntable 12 at three different
speeds, i.e. 33-1/3 rpm, 45 rpm and 78 rpm, a conventional three-speed idler
wheel drive arrangement for the rim of the turntable may be substituted for
the belt drive arrangement described heretofore. Such an idler wheel drive
arrangement is shown in Dennis United States Patent No, 3,~90,772 issued
January 20, 1970. When an idler wheel arive arrangement is employedg the
turntable brake feature described heretofore is eliminated, the washer 52
removed and the turntable 12 solidly connected to the hub 38. The control
wire 302 would then control the three-speed idler wheel shifting mechanism
shown in Dennis United States Patent No. 3,490,772 and would replace the
control wire 124 shown in this patent. ;
-34-
~,t~ ~
,'
. ~ ' . , ' ' , ~
TONE AR~S MOUMTING MFI~HANISM
Considering now the manner in which the tone arm
14 is mounted or rotational and pivotal movement on the
tone arm subassembly base member 76 r a tone arm support post
250 (FIG~ 6) is pivotally mounted between the upper end of
a sleeve housing 252 Eormed in the tone arm subassembly plate
76 and a well portion 254 formed in the support plate 82. To
this end, a yoke 256 is secured to the recessed end portion
258 of the post 250 by means of the nut 260 which is threaded
onto the upper threaded end of the post 250. The yoke 256
is provided with a slee~e portion 262 which extends downwardly
into the top of the housing 252 and is positioned between the
housing 252 and the upper end oE the post 250. The sleeve 262
thus acts as the upper bearing for the post 250. The post 250
is provided with a tapered end portion 264 which is seated in
the well 254 to provide ~he bottom pivot for the post 250, The
upper por~ion 253 of the post 250 is provided with a double D
cross section which cooperates with a similarly shaped opening
in the yoke 256 so that the yoke 256 is accurately positioned
relative to the post 2S0 when ~he sleeve 262 is inserted into :
the housing 252 and the nut 260 secured. .
The quadrantl24 is positioned between two transversely
extending blade portions 266 and 268 which are ormed integrally
with the post 250 and are pxovided with openings which are adap-
ted to xeceive the head portions 270t 272 of a set-down adjust-
ment member 2740 The member 274 is provided with an eccentric
; intermediate portion 276 which is biased into engagement with
a slot in the quadrant 124 by means of the spring 278. The upper
end of the set down adjustment member 274 extends through a slot
~80 in the upper wall of the tone arm housing 76 and is provided
with a slotted adjusbment head 282 by means o~E ~h~oh the member
274 may be rotated. The portions 266 and 26~ are connectéd by
; -35
:
integrally-formed ribs 267 and the spring 278 extends between
the ribs 267 and loads the qlla~rant 124 against the eccentric
portion 276 and -the post 250. To this end the quadrant 124
is provided with a first notch 2fi~ for the eccentric port.ion
276 and a clearance slot 171 to accommodate the ribs 267 and spr~ng
278(FIG.13)~ The quadrant 12~ is also provided with a bearing
slot 173 for the post 250~ The head portions 270, 272 ride
in arcuate slots 175 in the portions 266, 268. The quadrant
124 i5 also provided with a clearance slot 177 which permits
the tone arm lA to move relative to the lift rod 74. When
the member 274 is rotated the quadrant 1~ is moved relative
to the tone arm yoke 256 so that an adjus~ment of the set~
down position of the tone arm 14 may be madeO
The yoke 256 is provIded with the upstanding arm
portions 284, 236 and the tone arm plate 94 is provided w.ith
ear portions 238, 290 (F~G. 1) which are adapted to be moun-
ted in the upstanding arms 284, 286 of the yoke 256~ In this
connection it will be understood that any other suitable tone .
arm arrangement may be moun~ed on the post 250 insofar as the
20:1 pre~ent invention is concerned. ~Iowever, such tone arm ar- .
ran~ement must have a smooth undersurface equivalent to the
plate 94 against which the cap 92 may ride as the tone arm
14 is moved outwarclly and inwardly cluring the r~cord changing
cycle,
R~CORD SPEED SELECTION
Considering now ~he manner in which the belt 50 i5
shifted from the turret 48 to the turret 46 ! and vice versa,
in accordance with movement of the speed-size control lever
206~ the lever 206 is provided with an offset arm portion
300 (FIG. 2) to the end of which is secured a control wire
302~ ~he lever 206 is also provided with an arm 301, extend-
ing in the opposite direc~ion from the arm 300, which rides on
-36- :
. ~
the under surface of the base plate 10 and prevents the
lever ~06 from twisting as it is moved between the 33-1/3
rpm and ~S rpm positions. The wire 302 extends beneath
the base plate 10, around the depressed central base pl~te
portion 28 thereof and exkends upwardly throu~h an elong-
ated slot 304 formed in the hase plate 10. The control
wire 302 is provided with an offset end portion 306 (FIG.
12) which extends through an opening in a irst control
plate 30~ which is pivotally mounted on the upper side
of the base plate 10. More particularly, the plate 308
is provided with a downturned flange 310 whieh is posi-
tioned in a bow-tie-shaped openinq 312 in the base plate
10. A second speed cont.rol member 314 is pivotally mounted
on the plate 308 by means of a downwardly extending post
portion 316 on the member 314 which extends through a
circular bearing hole 318 in the plate 308 and through an
elongated arcuate slot 320 in the base pl~te 10. The stud
316 is ~ormed with a head portion 322 which retains a coil
spring 324 positioned between the head 322 and a washer
323 on the underside of the base plate 10. While the
members 308 and 314 are pivo~ally interconnected l~y means
of the stud 316, this stud may itself move withi~ the slot
320~ ~Iowever, the memher 314 is also provided with a guide
post 326 which extends through an elongated slot 328 in the
base plate 10.
The control ~late 308 is provi.ded with an upstand-
i~g flange 330 which includes an inclined shoulder portion
332. The shoulder portion 332 is adapted to engage the belt
50, when the belt is ridin~ on the 45 rpm turret 46, and
urge the belt 50 upwardly into engagement wi~h the 33 rpm :~
turret 48 when the control lever 27 is moved rom the 45
to the 33 rpm position~ The control member 314 is provided
~37-
with a vert.icall~ extending flange portion 33~ which termin-
ates in a curved offset end portion 336 the outer edge of
which is formed to provide an inclined s.houlder 338.
When the control knob 27 is moved ~rom the 33 rpm
position shown in FIG. 1 to the ~5 rpm position shown in FIG.
12A the resul~ant movement of the arm po:rtion 300 of the lever
206 moves the wire 302 so that ~he control plate 308 and con-
trol member 314 are moved in a scissors ~ype action from -the
position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FI~.. 12A.
In so doing the ~lange portion 330 of the control plat:e 308 is
first moved away from the belt 50 after which the flange por-
tion 336 is moved in~o en~agement with the belt 50 which is
running on the turret 48 and the inclined shoulder portion
338 of the memher 314 forces the belt downwardly over the ~5
rpm turret 46 as khe control plate 308 continues ko move out-
wardly away from the balt S0 to the position shown in FIG. 120
In a similar manner when the control knob 27 is moved from the
45 rpm position to ~he 33 rpm position, the flange portion 336 : ;
of the member 314 is firs-t moved back away from the belt $0
after which the inclined shoulder 332 of the control plate
303 engages the bel~ 50 and shi:~ts it upwardly to the 33 rpm
turret 48.
While the provision of the common control ]cnob 27
to select size and speed has certain advan~ages, i~ is also ~:
possible to control record size selection and turntable speed
selec-tion by separate controls. This modification may be
very easily accomplished with the arrangement of the present -~
invention by connecting the wire 30~ to a separate control
knob which may be located at any desired location on the
base plate 10, such as in the front right hand corner of the
base plate~ The control knob 27 then acts solely as a si~e
selec~or to select the desired record diameter.
-38-
ANTI SKATE MECHANI SM
Considerin~ now the facilities which are provided
in accordance w.ith the present invention to prevent the
needle of the tone arm 14 from skating across the initial
yrooves of the record as ~he tone arm lands on the lead-in
groove portion of the record, it will be recalled from the
above description of the size selector s:Lide 196 that this
member is biased upwardly by means of the flexible arm 240
and after the quadrant 124 has heen moved free of the right
angle flange 194 on the slide 196 this slide is moved up-
wardly by the arm 240 to the position shown in FIG. 4. When
the slide is in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 21 the
vertical edge of the flange portion 194 of the slide 196 is
positioned in the path of the quadrant 124 ancl hence the
shoulder 192 on the quadrant 124 is moved into contact with
the lower portion of this vertical edge when~,the gear is in
th~ position shown in FIG. 180
In accordance with an impor~ant aspect of the
present invention a controlled and limited skating action
is provided for the tone arm 14 after i~ lands on the record
to per~it the stylus to find the lead-in groove of the record
without skatiny acxoss the initial recorded ~roov~s of the
records. This controlled skating action is accomplished by
makiny ~he upper portion 340 of the ver~ical edge of the
flange 194 slightly inclined with respect to ~he vertical.
With such an arrangemen~, when the slide 196 is lowered .in
synchronism with the tone arm lit rod 72 at ~he end of the
record changing cycle, by engagement of the projections 244
with the upper suxface of ~he slide 196, the slide 196 is
moved downwardly as the tone arm is lowered onto the record.
The stylus ~ngages the record when the quadrant is even with ,~
- the bottom end of the inclined edge 340. Accordinyly, as ' .'
--39--
4~3
the slide 196 contin~es to be lowered the slight incline of
the edge 340 permits the quadrant 124, and hence the tone
arm 14, to skate inwardly over the slick surface of the
record in a controlled manner until i~ engages the lead-in
groove of the record. ~lowever, the tone arm is prevented
by this arrangement from skating inwardly in an uncontrolled
manner over the initial recorded grooves of the record.
This action is shown in FI~,. 21 wherein the lowered position
of the slide 196 is shown in dotted lines at 342. As the
slide 196 is lowered to the position shown at 3~2, ~he quad-
rant 124 is pe~mitted to move slightly inwardly as the shoulder -
192 thereo-f moves up the inclined edge 340 of the flange por-
tion 194 of the slide 196. In this connection it will be
understood that at the end of the record changing cycle the
slide 196 is moved downwardly by an additional amount suffic-
ient to position the ~lange 194 entirely below the bottom sur-
face of the quadrant 124 so as to permit the tone arm to move
inwardly over the record during the playing cycle. Thus, the
controlled and limited skating action of the inclined edge 340
occurs only for a brief interval a~te r the tone anm has landed
on the record.
An additional anti-skake provision may be made
whereby a constant outward bias is exerted on the tone arm
at all times. To this end, a downwardly-extending post 346
is formed on the projec~ing arm portion 268 o the tone arm
post 25Q and a spring 3~8 is connected from the bottom end
of the post 346 to a downwardly projecting post por~ion 350
ormed in the tone arm base member 76. The spring 348 exerts
a slight outward force on th~ tone arm at all times and hence
is effective to provide an additional anti-skate force on the
tone arm as it lands on the lead-in groove por~ion of ~he record.
Also, the constant bias provided by the spring 348 during the
-40-
.
' ' . ~ ~, , . -,, ' .. .. .
playing cycle is desirable Erom the standpoint of minimizing
wear on the records~ as will be readil~ understood by those
skilled in the art. It will be noted from FIG~ 22 that a5
the tone arm is mo~ed inwardly over the record, the post 346
moves in an ~rc about the center of the tone ar~ post 250 so
that thP spring 348 is not lengthened appreciably and hence
provides a substantially constant biasing force on the tone
arm 14 during the playing cycle.
When the biasing spring 348 is employed to pro~
vide a constant bias on ~he tone arm 14 at all ~imes, it
continuously tends to move ~he tone arm outwardly~ ~ccord-
ingly, when the stylus lands on the slic]c surface of the
record the spring 348 may kend to pull the tone arm 1~ of
of the record. To prevent this r a slight frictional force
1~ may be exerted on the quadrant 124 during the record chanqing
cycle. To provide such a frictional force, a plunger indica-
ted generally at 352 (FIG~ 6) is mounted in a housing portion
35~ which extends downwardly from the plate 82. The bottom
wall of the housing 354 is provided with an opening through
~0 which the end portion 356 of the plunger 352 extends. Plunger
35~ is thus captivated between quadrant 124 and the housing
354. A coil spring 358 i.5 positioned between the bottom wall
of the housing 354 and the larger diameter intermediate ~or-
tion of the plunger 352 within the housing 35~ The upper end
360 of the plunger 352 is of reduced diameter so as to define
a shoulder which is positioned below the size selector slide
196. ~hen the record changer is in a playing cycle, or is
turned o, the slide 196 is in engagement with this shoulder
and holds the plunger 352 downwardly so that the upper end of
the portion 360 thereof is posi~ioned below the bottom surface
o the quadrant 124.
-41-
When the tone arm lift rod 72 is elevated at the
beginning of a record changing cycle the size selector slide
196 is moved upwardly by an amount sufficient to permit tlle
top poxtion 360 of the plunger 352 to engage the underside
S of the quadrant 124. Accordingly, a sli~ht force is exerted, -~
by means of the spring 358, on the plunger 352 and hence
against the underside of the tone arm quadrant to provide
the desired friction during the record changing cycle~ It
will be noted that the plunger 352 is permitted to engage
the quadrant 124 even though the flange 194 of the selector
slide 196 strikes the underside of the quadrant 124. Accord-
ingly, the frictional ~orce exerted by the plunger 352 is
exerted on the tone arm as soon as it is lifted off of the
record and before it is moved outwardly by an amount suffici-
ent to clear the upstanding flange 194 of the slide 196. This
frictional force is continuously exerted on the quadrant 124
until the slide 196 has been lowered below the position indi-
cated in dotted lines at 342 in FIG. 21 so that this friction-
al force is present as the stylus lands on ~he record and en-
gages the lead-in groove thereof. This force is not removed
until the end of the record changing cycle when the upper edge
of the ~lange 194 has been moved below the q-ladrant 1240 The
rictional force exerted hy the plunger 352 on the ~uadrant
124 also unctions to smooth out movement of the tone arm 14
25 ~ during the record changing cycle. In this connection it is
polnted out that the top portion 360 of the plunger 352 also
rides in the slot 232 formed in the size selec~or slide 196
for different-sized records, as described in detail heretofore.
L~ST RECORD SENSING AND S~UT-OFF
:i'' :
In the record changer o the present invention, the
last record sensing mechanism is combined with the record
~, .
-~2 ~ -
:
- , ,
ejecting mech~nism provided at the spindle 18. With this
arrangement the balance arm may be of simple conskruction
and need not include any last record shuto:Ef facilities as
is conventional in many changers. Furthermore r by accomp-
lishing the last record sensing in the area of the spindle
18 and gear 30, the recoxd changer mechanism is substan
tially simplified and no interconnection with the tone arm
mechanism other than the above~described members 72 and
120 is required. This arrangement has the further advan
tage of rendering the record changer less sensitive to
warpage and bending of the main base plate lO:and hence
misalignment of the tone arm area with respect to the center
of the base plate.
In accordance with an important aspect of the
present invention, the last record sensing operation is
accomplished by movement of the record ejector blade in
the same direc~ion as this blade moves to eject a record
from the shelf of the spindle 18. Such an arrangement sub-
stantially simplifies ~he l~st record sensing mechanism,
as will be described in more detail hereinafterO Consid~r-
ing first the elements provided for ejecting a record from
~he shelf of the spindle 18, a push off slide 370 (FIG. 5)
is slidably mounted benea~h the central portion 28 of the
base plate 10. More paxticularlyr the slide 370 is provided
with a cam follower pin 372 which is secured to one end of
the slide 370. The pin 372 is provided with a groove 374
whi~h rides in the narrow portion of a keyhole slot 376
formed in the central portion 28 of the base plate 10.
A flange 378 extends downwardly therefrom through an opening
380~in the push~off slide 370, the flange 378 engaging the
sides of the opening 380 so that the slide is guided by means
of the flange 378 a~d slot 376 for reciprocal movement with
' :'
~C?4~3
respect to the base pla-te portion 28. A push of slicle
actuating cam indicated generally at 382 i9 formed on
the underside of the main ~ear 30 and extend~ downwardly
therefrom. The slide 370 is provided with a downturned
1ange portion 3~4 and a sprlng 386 is connected hetween
the flange 378 and the flange 38~ so as t;. bias the cam
follower pin 372 into engagement with the outer surface
of the cam 382, It will be noted that the spring 386 is
conn~cted to the ~lange 378 at a poin~ closer to the base
plate than the other end of the sprin~ 386. ~ccordingly,
the spring 386 also provides an upward bias on the slide
370.
In order to detent the main gear 30 in its home
or detent position shown .in FIG. 1 during periods between ,,
record changing cycles, a detent lever indicated generall~
at 390 (FIG. 25) is pivotally mounted on the base plate
portion 28. More particularly~ the lever 390 is provided
with a pin 392 which extends into a keyhole slot 394 ~ormed
in base plate portion 28. A detent pin 396 is secured to
an arm portion 398 o the lever 390 and extends upwardly
through the opening 114 in the base plate portion 28~ rrhe
detent pin 396 is biased into enga~ement with a main con-
trol cam indicated yeneral.ly at ~02 which is formed i.nteg-
rally with the main gear 30 and extends downwardly therefrom~
The ~ontrol cam 402 is provided with a notch portion 405
~FIG. ~6) into which the de~ent pin 396 is biased by means
o a spring 404 which is connected between a projection 406
ormed in the arm 408 of the deten~ lever 390 and an open-
ing 410 in the base plate portion 28. The spring 408 tends
~o rota~e the lever 3~0 abou~ the pivot pin 3~2 so that the
de~ent pin 396 is held in the notch 405.when the g~ar 33 is
in its home or de~ent position. The detent pin 396 i9 pro-
.
L3
vided with a groove 397 (FIG. 7)~ One ed~e of the groove
397 moves alon~ the arcuate ed~e portion 399 of the open--
ing 114 in the base plate portion 28. With -this arrange
ment the detent pin 396 is stabili~ed as t:he detent lever
390 is pivoted about the pin 392.
The push-off slide 370 is provicled with a U-shaped
end portion which defines a tab portion 412 (FIG~ 5) which
is positioned below the main portion of the push-off slide 370
and is immediately below an opening 414 inthe slide 370
through which the lower end portion 416 of a record ejector :
blade indicated generally at 418 is positioned. The blade
418 is pivotally mounted in the body of the spindle 18 by
means of a pin 420. The detent lever 390 is provided with
an offset portion 422 (FIG. 25) at the encl of the a~m 408
which extends between the push-off slide 370 and its tab portion
412, as hest illustrated in FIG. 5~ The portion 422 of the
detent lever 390 is provided with an arcuata narrow slot 424
(FIG. 25) which opens into a relatively wide slot 426~ the
intersection of the slots 424 ana 426 defining an interference ~ -
shoulder 428 in the vicinity of the end portion 416 of the
ejector blade 418.
Since the spring 404 i9 connected to the base plate
portion 28 it urges the portion 422 of the detent lever 390
upwardly into engagement with the push-off slide 370 and hence
exerts an upward bias on the slide 370 in addition to the bias
provided by the spring 386. Wi~h this arrangement the tab por- :
tion 412 of the push off slide 370 exerts a slight upward
force on the end of the recoxd ej~ctor blade portion 416.
This force is employed during the last record sensing opera-~
tion described in mora detail hereinafter. .
Considering ~rst the operation of the push-off
slide 370 in ejectin~ a record which is seated on the shelf
-45-
4~a3
430 oE the splndle 18 r and assuminq that a record changing
cycle has been initiated in the manner dessribed in detail
heretofore, the push-off slide actuating cam 382 i5 provided
with a first lobe portion 432 (FI~. 25) which functions to
move the push-off slide 370 a slight amount during ~the ini-
tial or record sensing portion of the record changing cycle.
During engagement of the pin 372 wL~h~ the lobe 432 of the
cam 3~2 the push-off slide 370 i5 moved from the position
shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FI~. 33. During
this movement the slight force which is exerted by the tab
portion 412 on the end of the record ejector blade portion
416 is insufficient to move a record seated on the shelf
430 off of this shelf. As a result, the end portion 416
remains in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 33 as the
slide 370 is moved to ~he right during engagement with the
cam lobe portion 432. During this movement of the slide 370
the ejector blade end portion 416 is not moved since the
opening 414 in the slide 370 provides clearance between the
slide 370 and the end portion 416 durin~ the record sensing
portion of the record changing cycle. However, when the pin
372 engages the record ejecting lobe portion 434 on the cam
382, so that the push-off slide 370 is moved farther to the
right as viewed in FIG. 5, the end portion 416 of the ejector
blade 418 is engaged b~ the edge of the opening 414 in the
slide 370 and is moved to the position shown in FIG. 34.
During this push-off movement of the ejector blade 418, the
upper portion 436 of the blade 41~ engages the bot~om record
seated on the shelf 430 and moves this record off of the
shelf so that the bottom record is deposited on the turntable
12~ In this connection it will be understood that the position
of the cam 382 on the gear 30 is so related to the position of
46-
the tone arm cam 108 that the tone arm 14 has been lifted
upwardly and moved outwardly heyond the edge o the record
stack beore the end portion 436 of the record ejector
blade has moved the bottom record of of the shelf 430.
After the record has been ejected the spring 386 continues
to bias the pin 372 into engagement with the c~m 382 as
the main gear 30 is rotated through the remai.nder of the
record changing cycle. If desired, the ejector blade 4].8
may be provided with an elongated vertical sl.ot for the
pin 420 and is normally spr.in~-biased so that the pin 420
is in the bottom of thi.s slot~ With such an arrangement
the ejector blade may be depressed to the level of the shelf
430 by the record stack above the ho~tom record as the bottom
record is ejected~ The weight of khe record stack is thus
removed from the upper end of the blade 418 which facilitates
return of the blade 41~ to its rest position under the ~orce
of the return spring 386 through the slide 370. Such a
spring-biased arrangement is shown and descrihed in connec-
tion with the embodiment of FIGS. 38 and 39.
Considering now the manner in which the absence
of a record on the shelf 430 is sensed in accordance with
the arrangement of the p.resent invention, the c~ntxol cam ,: '.
402 on the main gear 30 is provided with a deep notch por-
tion 440 (FIG. 25). During a normal record changing cycle,
and assumin~ a record is seated on the shelf 430, when the
gear 30 has been rotated an amount such ~hat the d~tent pin
396 is opposite the not~h:,440 the spring 404 ~ends to rotate
the detent lever 390 and move the detent pin 396 into the
notch 440 but this action is prevented b~ engagement of the
recoxd ejec~or blade portion 416 with the interference shoul~
der 428 formed in the end portion 422 of the detent ].e~er 390. : :
In this connection it will be reca].led that the light: fric-
~47-
. . . , . ~ . ~ ':
tional force exerted on the end portion 41~ hy the tab 412
is insufficient to move the ejector hlade 41~ when a record
is seated on the shelf 430~ However, if no record is pres~
enk on the shelf 430, durinq the initial record ~en~ing
S portion of the cycley i.e. during the period when the pin 372
engages the lobe 432 oE the cam 382 and the slide 370 is moved
from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in
FIGo 33, the light force exerted on the end of the record ~:
ejector blade portion 416 is suficient to move the ejector -.
blade to the dotted line position 442 shown in FIG. 33. This
movement of the bottom end of the ejector blade portion 416
causes a correspondiny movement of the upper end 436 to the
dotted line position 444 shown in FIG. 5. This last :record
sensing movement of the end portion 416 ~y engagement with ~ :
the tab 412 take~ place just prior to the poi.nt in the record
changin~ cycle at which the detent pin 396 is opposite the
notch 440. Accordingly, when the detent pin 396 encounters.
the notch 440~thé ejector blade portion 416 is now moved into
alignment with the notch 424 on the end portion ~22 of the
detent lever 390 so as to pennit the spring 404 ~o rotate
the detent lever 390 and move the deten~ pin 396 into the
hottom of the notch 440. This inward movement of the det2nt
pin 396 toward the center oE the gear 30 is employed to turn
ofE the motor 40 in accordance with a last record shut-off
mechanism which will now be descrihed.
Considering first the control linkage which is
employed to turn on and off the motor manually 7 a control
knoh 29 is connected to the end of an on-off lever 450
(~IG~ 25) which is rotatably mounted on a pin ~52~ The
pin 452 is itself connected to a switch ac~uating p:Late
456 which is positloned helow the lever ~50. The p:in 452
is provided with a groove 451 ~FIG. 25B) which rides in
: -~8-
. . .
,
the narrow portion of a keyhole slot 454 ~ormed in the ba~e
plate portion 28. A flat spring blocking member 458 is posi-
tione~ between the lever 450 and the plate 456 and is secured
to -the pin 4S~. More particularly, the pin 452 is provided
with a ~irst portion 453 o~ reduced diameter on whicll the
on-off lever 450 is pivotally mounted. The pin 452 is also
provided with a por~ion 455 of still sma:Ller diameter which
defines a shoulder 457 a~ainst which the blocking member 458
and s~itcll actuating plate 456 are held bY staking the end
of the pin 452 so that the memhers 452, 456 and 458 move to-
gether. The plate 456 carries a pair of switch actuat:ing arms
460 and 462 which are positioned on either side o the actuat-
ing button 46~ of a slide switch indicated generally at 466.
The on-off lever 450 i.s provided with an upwardly extending
tongue ~ortion 468 which extends into a trian~ularly shaped
opening 470 in the base plate portion 2~. The switch actuak-
ing plàte 456 is provided with a projecting lu~ portion 472
to which one end of a spring 474 is connected, the o~her end
of the spring 474 being connected ~o an opening 476 (FIG. 1)
in the base plate portion 28. The on-of lever 45n is pro-
vided with a shoulder 47~, FIG. 27 which is normally held in
engagement with an upturned flange portion 480 on the switch
actuatiny plate 456. In the OFF position of the control knob
29 the spring 474 functions to rotate the plate 456 so that
the flange 480 thereof i5 in engagement wi-th th~ shoulder 47~ ..
and the lever 450 is also rotated until the tongue 468 hits one
end of the slot 470, In the OFF position of the plate 456 the
arm 460 retains the switch button 464 of the switch 466 in the
OFF position shown in FIG. 25.
The switch actuatin~ plate 456 is provided with an
upturned right angle flange porkion 482 which extencls upwardly
through a notch 483 ~FIG. 25C) in ~.he blocking member 458 and -~
~9- .
an irregularly-shaped opening 484 in the base plate portion 28.
In the OFF position of the lever 450 one edge of the flange
482 rides on the curved edge portion or shoulder 486 of the
opening 484 and is positioned s~stantially away from a right
angle edge portion 488 of the opening 484, the surfaces 486
and 488 forming an essentially right-angled shoulder or corner.
When the lever 450 is moved upwardly ~as viewed in FIG. 25)
toward the ON position the lever 450 ancl plate 456 move as a
unit so that the flange 482 rides along the surface 486. E~ow-
ever, as soon as the edge of the flange 482 is moved heyond the
edge of the curved surface 486 the spring 474 moves the plate
456 with a snap action to the ON position shown in FIG~ 26 as
the piD 452 moves to the bottom of the elongated slot 454. At
the same time, the arm 462 of the plate 456 engages the button
464 and moves the switch 466 to the ON position with a ~uick
snap action movement. During this mo~ement of the plate 456 :;
the flan~e 482 drops down beside the surface 488 of the base ..
plate opening 484. As soon as the flange 482 moves beyond ..
the edge of the curved surface 486 the linkage 450, 456 act-
ually pivots about the end of the on~of lever 450 which is
being held by the operator. However, the flangef:
482-is biased into~engagement with the
surface 488 by the s~ring 474 and holds the lever 450 in the
detented ON position.
When the control knob 29 is moved from the ON to
the OFF position manually the on-off lever 450 rotates about
: the tonque 468 as a fulcrum and lifts the pivot pin 452
within the notch 454. However, until the flange 482 has
been movea inwardly by an amount su~ficient to clear the
inner edge of the surface 488 the sp~ing 474 is unahle to
rotate the plate 456 and actuate the switch 464. Accordingly,
it is not until the plate 456 has b~en moved inwaraly by an
amount sufficient to :~ause the ~lange 482 thereof to engage
: -50- -
- , ~ . . ~
the curved surface 486 that the spring 474 then rotates the
plate 456 about the pin 452 with a snap ac~ion and the arm
460 at this time moves the button 464 50 that the switch 466
is turned to the OFF position~ It will be noted that the
above described on oEf control linkage is effective to pro-
vide a snap action actuation of the swit:ch 4 6 6 so that a
relatively simple and inexpensive sl.ide switch 466 may be
employed to turn on and off the motor 40. A more expensive
switch would be required if the on-ofE control linkage were
such that the switch 466 could be held momentarily in a mid
position which could cause damage to th~ switch contacts.
However, with the above-described control linkacJe o~ the
present invention it is impossible for the operator by move-
ment of the control knob 29 to position the switch ~66 in a
position intermediate the ON or the OFF posi.tions due to the
above described snap action of the flange 482 with respect
to the shoulder 486, 488.
Considering now the automa~ic shut-of~ meehanism
of the present in~ention which cooperates with the above-
described on-off control linkage to turn off the machine
when the Aetent pin 396 enters the notch 440 in the~control
cam 402, it is first noted that this shut-off action is
accomplished during the same record changing cycle duriny
which the absenee of a record on the shelf 430 is de~ected `
by movement of the end portion 416 cluring the sensing portion
o the reeord ehanging cycle. As deseribed generally hereto-
fore, the ton~ arm 14 is moved outwardly during the record
changing cycle until it ~trikes the back wall 184 of the
tone axm rest post 22~ during the mid portion of the record
changing cycle. In accordance with an important ~eature of
the present invention the tone arm is low~red durincJ the
period when it is in engacJament with the back wall l.84 of
-51-
~C~3
the rest post 22 so that the to~e arm is lowered into the
notch 24 during the mid portion of the last record shut-o~f
cycle. Furthermore~ the tone arm remains in this somewhat
lowered position during the remainder of a last record
shutqoff cycle 50 that the tone arm is not moved ~ack in-
wardly as the gear 30 rotates back to its detent position,
-the clutch l22 slipping during this motion of the gear 30,
as descrihed in detail heretofore. Such an arrangement
has the advan~age that a set-down or rest post~position
for ~he tone arm is not re~uired on the quadrant 124 or
elsewhere with the attendant difficulties of aligning such
a rest post position with the tone arm mechanism.
In order to lower the tone arm to an interm~di- -ate position within the resk post notch 24 after the tone -
arm has engaged the back wall 18~, a tone arm latch member
indicated generally at 490 (FI~. 25) i5 pivotally mountecl
on the detent pin 396. More particularly, the detent pin ~;~
396, which is staked to the detent lever 390 is provided
with a shoulder portion ~92 tFIG. 7) on which the tone arm
latch 490 is pivotally mounted, the latch 490 bein~ preferably
made o~ thin spring stock, or the like. The tone arm latch
490 is provided with an inwardly extending hook portion 494
(FIG. 25) and an extension arm portion 496 which is adapted
to engage a downturned flanqe portion 498 of the base plate
por~ion 28 when the detent pin 296 enters the notch 440.
The tone arm latch 390 i~ also provided with an arm portion
500 which rides on the sur~ace 502 of the detent lever 390
to stabilize the tone arm latch 49n during pivotal movement
thereof~
~5 described generally heretofore, during the
first portion of the recoxd changing cycle the tone arm
~i~t rod 72 is moved inwardly as the end 106 thereof
.~
~52-
~ 3
follows the cam portion 110 on the gear 30. However, as
the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440 the hook portion
494 of the tone arm latch 490 is moved inwardly to a point
inside the end porti.on 106 of the lift rod 72 and as the
S arm 496 of the tone arm la-tch 490 engages the flange 4g8
the tone arm latch 490 is pivoted so that the hook portion
494 thereof is in alignment with the lift rod end portion
106 as shown in FIG. 26. ~ccordingly, as the detent pin 396
moves out of the notch 440 to the position shown .in FIG. 27
the hoo~ portion 4~4 engages the lift rod end por-t:ion 106
and moves it outwardly to the intermediate posi~ion s:hown
in ~IG. 27 ~t this point in the record changing cycle, .
the tone arm 14 has already been lifted from -khe record
and moved outwardly into contact wi~h the bac}~ wall 184
of the rest post 22. ~ccordin~ly, when the lift rod end
portion 106 is moved outwardly by engagement with the hook
portion ~94 of the tone arm latch 490 the tone arm is immedi-
ately lowered into the notch 24 in the rest post 22. The
detent pin 396 continues to ride on ~e periphery of the
contxol cam 402 with the ~èsult that ~he latch ~90 holds -the
lift rod 72 in the position sho~n in FIG. 27 until the end
portion 106 of the rod 72 is engaged ~y the cam portion 116
near the end of the record changin~ cycle. When the end
portion 106 enga~es the cam 116 the tone arm lift rod 72 is
moved further down the inclined camming surface 93 and the
end portion 74 thereof is lowered while the tone arm remains
in the notch 2a of the rest post 22
In order to actuate ~he on-off contxol linkage
450, 456 to turn off ~he motor 40 when the detent pin 396
enters the .notch 440, a shut-off latch indicated generally
at 510 (FIG. 25) .is also pivotally mounted on the detent
pin 396 and rotates on a shoulder formed by the recluced
-53-
`
end portion 512 (FIG~ 7) of the detent pin, the shut-o~f
latch being retained on the encl portion S12 hy means of
the C washer 51~. The shut~off latch 510 is providecl with
a clearance opening 516 (FIG. 25) to accommodate movemenk
of the lift rod end por-tion 106 and includes a first arm
extension 518 which terminates in a hook portion 520, and
an offset arm extension 522. Both of the arms 518 and 522
oE the latch 510 are positioned in a slot 52~ formed in a
downturned flange portion 526 of the base plat~ por~ion 2~.
Also, the tip portion 528 of the switch actuating plate 456
also extends through the slot 524. The switch actuating
plate 456 is also proYided with a hook portion 530 immedi-
ately adjacent the inclined end portion 532 of the flat
spring blockiny member 45~. The flat spring hlocking member
458, which is positioned between the on-off lever 450 and
the switch actuating plate ~56 is provided wi~h a notch to
receive the right angle flange 482 of the switch ac~uating
plate 456 so that the members 456 and 458 move together.
However, the flat spring blocking member 458 is provided
with an offset flange 534 which spaces the intermediate
portion 536 of the flat spring member 458 below the plane
of the members 456 and 51~.
During a normal record changing cycle the shut-of
latch 510 is never moved to a position in which the hook por-
tion 520 thereof can become aligned with the hook po~tion
530 on th~ switch actua~ing plate 456. This is because the
detent pin 396 never enters the notch 440 during a normal
record changing cycle, as described in detail heretofore.
However, when the detent pin 396 enters the notch 440 the
shut off latch 510 is moved so that the arm 518 thereof ex-
ten~s further throu~h the slot 5240 Also, when the detent
pin 396 entexs the notch 44U the tone arm latch 490 is pivoted
-54-
. . : . . ... .
~a~ 3
by engagement of the arm ~96 khereof with the flange 498,
as described heretofore~ When the tone arm latch 490
pivots, a downturned flange portion 538 (FIG. 25) ~hereof
engages the edge 540 of the shut-off latch 510 and pivots :it
about the detent pin 396 to the position shown in FIG. 26.
In -this position the hook port:ion 520 is positioned
in alignment with the hook portion 530 Oll the switch actuat-
in~ plate 456. Accordingly, as the de-tent pi.n 396 moves out
of the notch 440, i,e~ from the posi~ion shown in FIG. 26
~o the position show~ in FIG. 27 the hook portion 520 raises
the .inclined end portion 532 of the flat spring 458, moves
into engagement with the hook portion 530 and after engage~
ment of the members 520 and 530 lifts the on-off linkage ;.
450, ~56 slightly so that the pivot pin 452 is moved upwardly
in the keyhole slot ~5A to the position shown in FIG. 27.
By positionin~ all of the members 522, 528 and 518 in the com-
mon slot 52~ the engagemen~ ana hooking of the members 520
and 530 is insured without misalignment during a shut-off
cycle.
The members 520 and 530 remain in the above-
described hooked position as the cletent pin 396 rides
around the peripher~ of the con~rol cam 402. IIowever,
near the end of the record changing cycle the detent pin
396 encounters an outwardly projecting inclined portion
54~ (FIG. 27) of the control cam 402 which functions -to
move the switch actuating plate 456 toward the center of
the gear 30 by an amount sufficient ~hat the Elange ~82
thereof is moved inwardly be~ond the end of the surfac~
488 in the base plate portion 28. When this occurs,
the spring 474 exerts a sidewise pressure on the inter-
connec~ad membexs 510 and 456 which is sufficient to mo~e
the edge of the flanye 482 to the right to the position
-55
.
4~3
shown in FIG. 28/ so that the ed~e of the 1an~e 4~2 is
now above the forward edge of the curved surface 486
while the shut-off latch 510 remains in latched engage~
ment with the switch actuating plate 4S6. Howeve.r, the
arm 522 of the latch 510 engages the end of the slot
524 in the flange 526 and blocks the arm 5~8 of the plate
456 so that the plate '156 is prevented from rotating to
the OFF position and the motor 40 continues to be energized.
It is necessary to continue ener~iæation of the motor 40
because the disclosed belt drive of the turn~able 12 has
relatively little coast af~er the motor is de energized
and the gear 30 might not be returned to the notch 405.
If an idler wheel drive arrangement i5 employed for the
turntable 12 considerable coast is provided so that the
motor could be turned of~ earlier in the cycle.
As the gear 30 continues to rotate the detent
pin 396 moves down the inclined portion 54.4 (FIG. 27~ of .
the control cam 402. Durin~ this movemen~ ~he edge of
the flange 482 on the switch actuating plate 456 strikes
the curved surface 486 which blocks urther movem~nt o
the hook portion 530 while tbe hook portion 520 of the shut-
o~ latch 510 continues to move away from the hook 530. As
soon as the latch portions 520, 530 become disengagea, the
spring 474 rotate.s the switch actuating plate 456 while
~5 the edge of the flange 482 rides on the curved surface
486 as a pivot. During this rotation of the switch act-
uating plate 456 the arm 460 thereo~:}enga~es the switch
button 464 and moves the slide switch 466 in a snap action
to the OFF position, as illustrated in FIG. 29. When the
switch 466 is opened the motor 40 is de-energized and the
gear 30 is moved into the deten~ notch 405 on the control
cam 402 by the force exerted thereon from the spring 404
-56-
.. . .
through the detent levex 390 and the detent pin 396J As
discussed gPnerally here-tof`ore, there is an extremely light
load on the gear 30 at this point in the recorcl changing
cycle so as to insure that the detent pin 396 en~ers -the
home or detent notch 405 in the cam 402. As the switch
actuating plate 456 is ~hus moved to the OFF position the
flange portion 480 thereof engages the shoulder 482 on the
on-off lever 450 and moves this lever to the OFF posit.ion
in unison, as shown in FIG. 29.
io M~NUAL REJECT MECH~NISM
Considering no~ the manner in which a record
changing cycle may be manually initia~ed by moviny the
control knob 29 beyond the ON position to the REJECT posi-
tion, reference may be had to FIG. 30 wherein the on-off
lever 450 is shown in full lines in the REJECT position.
In this pOSitiOII of the lever 450 the switch actuating
plate 456~ which rotates with the lever 450, is moved by
an amount such that the flange 482 thereof is moved into
engagement with a downturned ~lange 560 (~IG. 7Aj on the
velocity tripping member 6~. The flange 560 extends through
an opening 562 (FIG. 1) .in the gear 30 and is provided with
an offset end portion 564 which is adapted to be engaged by
the flange 482 when this flange is moved -to the ~EJECT position
~hown in FIG. 30. When the lever 450 is moved to the REJECT ~:
position the velocity tripping member 62 is moved by an
amount suf~icient to bring the shoulder 68 thereof in~o
the path of the flange 70 on the turntable hub so that a
record changing cycle is initiated in the manner described
in detail heretoforeD As soon as the control knob ~9 is
released, the spring 474 rotatas the linkage 456 r 450 back
~57- :
, . . ' ' ' . , ~
to the ON position sho~n in FIG. 31 wherein the side of the
flange 4~2 engages the surface 4~8 of the opening 4~4 in
the base plate portion 2~, The :lever 450 is thus restrained
or detented in the ON position.
SINGLE RECORD PL~Y ARRANG:EMENrr
In order to provide single record play facilities
in a simple and economical manner so thak a single recorcl
may be placed on the turntable 12 and played automatically
after which the changer i5 shilt off~ movement of the control
knob 29 to thè REJECT posi.tion is employed to disa~le the
automatic shut-of latch 510 durin~ the record changing
c~cle which is initiated by movement of the knob 29 to the
REJECT positi~n. Such action is necessary because when a
sinyle record is playecl no record is positionecl on the record
shelf 430 and hence the automatic shut-off mechanism would
function immediately to turn off the changer if the auto-
matic shut-off latch 510 were not disabled. More particu-
larlyt when the control ]~nob 29 is moved to the REJEC~ posi-
tion the tip portion 528 of the switch actuating plate 456
engages the edge 568 (FIG. 30~ of the arm portion 518 of tha
shut-off latch 510 and pivots the shut-off latch 510 about
the detent pin 396 so that the shut-off latch 510 $~ moved
to the end of the slot 524 in the flange 526, as shown in
FIG. 3~. In this position o-E the shut-ofE latch 510, a
shoulder portion 570 thereo~ is positioned above ~he end
of the slot 524. When the control knob 29 is .released after
being moved to the reject position the spring 474 returns
the lever 450 back to the ON position but the shut-off~:.
latch 510 remains i~ the positi.on shown in FIG~ 30 with
~he shoulder 570 above the end of the slot 524. Accord-~:
ingly, during the record changing cycle which is ini.tiated
~ ` .
_5~_
. . -' .
after the single record has heen placed on the turntable
but before it has been played, when the gear 30 i3 rotated
an amount sufficient to bri.ng the detent pin 396 opposite
the notch 440, as shown in FI~;. 31 the detent lever 390 is
pivotecl only slightly until the shoulder 570 engages the
end of the slot 524 ln the flange 526 after wh.ch engage-
ment the detent pin 396 is prevented from moving into the
notch 440 in the control cam ~02. Accordin~ly, the shut-off
latch 510 is blocked by engagement of the shoulder 570 with
the flange 526 so that ths latch 510 is not pivoted and the
hooked portion 520 thereof aoes not engage the hook portion
530 of the Switch actuating plate 456. The r~cord changing
cycle thus proceeds normally as the detent pin 396 moves
into engagement with the control cam 402 at the far side of
the notch ~40. However, as the record is bein~ moved off
of the shelf ~30 by the blade 41n (approximately micl cycle)
the flange 384 on the pushoff slide 370 engages the edge
portion 572 of the ~hut-off latch 510 and pivots the shut-
off latch 510 about the detent pin 396 to the position shown
in FIG. 32~ The shut-off latch 510 is thus positioned so
that the shoulder 570 thereo~ is positioned out of alignment
with the end of the slot 524 in the flange 526. : :
However, this movement of the shut-off latch 510
occurs after the detent pin 396 is well past the notch 440 r
so that the manhally initiated.record changin~ cycle is com~
pleted in a normal manner. ~ccordingly, during the manually
initiated cycle the latching members 520 r 530 are prevented
from becoming interconnected so that the control linlcage
remains in the ON position and the single record on the turn~
table is played during the follow.ing playing cycle. ~IoweverJ
after this record is played a record changing cycle is auto- :
matically initiated and since there is no record p:resent on
59- .
- . - ,
-. , . -: . . :
:. ~ ' . ~
the spindle shelf 430 an automatic shut-off cyc:Le is per-
formed in a manner identlcal to that described in detail
heretofore so that the machine is turned off after the
single record is played.
It will be noted that when the control knob 29
is in the OFF position the end portion 528 O:e the switch
actuating plate 4S6 engages the extension anm 522 of the
shut-off latch 510 and holds the shut-o-ff latch in the posi-
tion shown in FIG. 25~ In this position the shoulder portion
570 of the shut-of~ latch 510 is positioned well away ~rom
the end o~ the slot 524 in the flange 5260 This collstruction
ensures that the shut-off latch 510 :is not inadvertently
moved so that the shoulder 570 becomes aligned with the end
of the slot 524 as the record changer is carried about. When
the on-of~ lever 450 is therea~er moved to the ON position
there is no danger that the shoulder 570 will become latched
against the edge of the slot 52~ in the ~lange 526 and dis-
able the last record shut-o~f mechanism so that the machine
would not automatically shu-t off a~ter the last record has
been played.
It should also be noted tha~ in the arrangement
of the present invention a single record may be placed on
the turntable the control knoh 29 moved to the ON position
~but not to the REJECT position) and the tone arm 14 manu-
ally placed on the record. Vnder these conditions, the
machine will play the record placed on the turntable and
then ~hut-off automatically. This is due to the fact that
when the tone arm 14 is thus manually placed on the record
to initiate a playing cycle there is no preceding record
changing cycle during which i~ is necessary to block the
shut-off latch S10. The record changing cycle which
EollowS playin~ o~ the single record i~ an automatic
-60~
- : .
shut-off cycle since no record is present on the shel~ 430.
On the other hand, when a single record play is initiated by
moving the control knob 29 to the REJECT position, an auto-
matic record changing cycle is initiated before the single
S record .is played and it is then necessary to blocl~ the
shut-off latch 510, by engagement of the shoulder 570 with
the edge of the slot 524, to prevent the machine from being
shut off before the record is played.
REPEAT PLAY ARRANGEMENT
In accordance with an important aspect of the
present invention, the control knob 29 is provided with a
REPEAT PLAY position which is inter~ediate the ON and OFF
positions of the lever 450. When the control knob 29 is
moved first to the ON position and then is moved approxi-
mately halfway back to the OFF position a detent force is
exerted on the control knob 29 and an audible click is pro-
duced to inform the operator that the REPEAT PLAY position
has been reached. When the control knob 29 is thus moved
first to the REPEAT PLAY position, either a single record
placed on the turntable 12 may be repla~ed repeatedly, or
if a stack of records is on the spindle 18 the stack of rec-
ords will be played and then the last record will be played .:
repeatedly. This repeated play of a record on the turntable
will continue until control knob 29 is moved either -to the ON
position or the OFF position. To accomplish these objectives,
the shut-off latch 510 is blocked when the control knob 29 is
moved to the intermediate REPEAT PLAY position so that the
changer will continue to play a record on the turntable 12
without turning the motor 40 off. More particularly, assuming
that the control knob is in the ON position and that the tone
arm 14 has been placed on the record, when the control knob 29
-61-
- i5 moved toward the O~F position the on~off lever 450 is
pivoted by engagement o:E the tab 468 thereof with the edge
of the openinq 470 in the base plate so that the switch
actuating plate 456 is moved in a translatory manner as
the flange 482 moves along the surface 488 and the pivot
pin 452 moves up within the narrow portion of the keyhole
slot ~54.
The on~of lever 450 is provided with an extension
arm 574 (FIG. 2S) which includes a hook portion 576 which is
adapted to en~age the end of a repeat play control wire 578.
The arm 574 is bent downwardly so that it is in horizontal
alignment with the arm 518 of the shut-off latch 510. The
wire ~78 is positioned beneath the base plate portion 28
but above the plate 45h and rests on the upper surface of
a downwardly offset tongue portion 577 of the base plate
portion 28. The wire 578 is provided with a downturned
right angle end portion 579 which is positioned in the path ~;
of the hook portion 576 as the lever 450 is rotated. An in- . ~
te~mediate portion 580 of the wire 578 is positioned on top ~::
of the base plate portion 28 and is secured within a notch
581 in the base plate portion 28 and a hole 583 therein, the
end 585 of the portion 5~0 extending down through the hole
583, 50 that the wire 578 is prevented from movin~ length-
wise while at the same time permitting the wire 578 to be
flexed sideways. The intermediate portion 580 of the wire
578 also serves the additional unction of retaining the
pivot pin 452 within the keyhole slot 454. Accordingly, as
the on-off lever 450 is moved from the ON position toward
the REPEAT PLAY position the outer edge of the hook 576
engages the side of the end portion 579 of the repeat wire
S78 and flexes the wire 578 so that it moves sidewise away
from the base of ~he ton~ue 577. However, when the lever
-62
450 reaches the REPEAT PI.AY position midwav between the ON
and OFE` positions the wire end 579 snaps into the hook por-
tion 576 and the wi.re 578 moves bac}; against the base of
the tongue 577 ~iving an audible click as this occurs~ ~h~
end portion 579 of the repeat wire 578 is thus positioned
~ithin the hook portion 576 of the f].ange! 574. Wh~n the lever
450 is released the spring 474 urges the hook por~ion 576 into
engagement with the end portion 579 of the wire 578 so that the
plate 456 is held in the position shown in FIG. 33A in which
the flange ~82 is still in engagement with the surface 488
so that a detent orce is provided which holds the lever 450
in the REPEAT PLAY position. When the lever 4sn is thus held
by the wire 578 in the position shown in FIG. 33A, the end
surface 582 (FXG. 26) of the arm 574 is position~d in abut-
ting relationship to the end sur~ace 584 on the extension
arm 518 of the shut-off Latch 510. Accordingly, during any
succeeding xecord Changing cycle, when the detent pin 396
attempts to move into the notch 440 in ~he control cam 402
-the end surfaces 582, 584 meet and ~he shut-off latch 510
is blocked so that the detent pin 396 is prevented from
entering the notch 440. When the shut-off latch 510 is
hlocked the hoolc portion 520 thereof is not moved into
alignment with the hook por~ion 530 un the switch actuating
plate 456. Accordingly, the on-off lever 450 is not actua-
ted to the OFF position and the switch 466 remains on~ This
action occurs during each succeeding record changing cycle ;-:
. so that the record on the turntable is repeatedly played
until the control knob 29 is moved either to the ON position
or to the VFF position.
Considering ~he operation of the mechanism when
the control knob 2g .is moved from the REPE~T PI,~ position
to the OFF position, during such movement ~he on-off lever
-63-
450 is rotated about the tab 468 as a pivot and th~ flange
487 is moved upwardly by an amount sufficient to clear the
upper ed~e of the surface 488 so that ~he above~described
snap-action m~vement of the swi~ch actuat:ing plate 45~ i5
provided by ~he spring 474 and khe switch 466 is turncd of~
During this movement of the lever 450 the hook por~ion 576
thereof moves away ~rom the end portion 57~ of the control
wi.re 578. On the other hand, i the confrol kn~b-29 is
moved back to the ON position from the ~EPEAT PLAY position,
the on-off lever 450 pivots about the tongue 46g and the
hook portion 576 thereo~ cams past theend portion ~79 of
the control wire 578. As soon as the hook 576 moves past
the end portion 579 the spring 474 urges the pin ~52 to the
bottom o~ the slot 454 so that the flange 482 of the p].ate
456 moves back down the surface ~8~ to the ON posit.ion shown
in FIG. 26.
The last record shut-off facilities will then
function normally when the ~nob 29 is moved back to the ON
position so that the machine is shut off duri~g the record
changing cycle which ensues after the knob is moved back
to -the ON position, as descrihed in detail heretofore.
CUEING LEVE~ OP~R~TION
Considering now the manner in which ~he cueing
lever 26 functions to raise and lower the tone arm 14 man-
ually, in accordance with an impor~ant aspec~ of the present
invent.ion a simple tone arm actuating mechanism is provided~
for relatively quickly lifting the ~one arm 14 upwardly off
of a record in respo~se to movement o~ the cueincJ lever 26
to a generally horizontal position while at the same time
proviclincJ a relatively gradual lowering of the tone arm
when t}le cueing lever 26 is moved to the su~stantially
vertical position shown in FIG. 24. More particularly,
-64-
-: , .
a flat spring 590 is provlded with a hifurcated end portion
592 which is seated in a notch 594 (FIG. 23A) in a cwe lever
lift rod 596. The lit rod 596 is mountecl in a vertically
extending bore 59~ formed in -the housing portion 88 of the
tone arm subassemhly hase 76. The lift rocl 5~6 extends
throu(3h the clearance slot 177 in the quaclrant 124 and a
~asher 597 is positioned on the rod 596 below the quadrant
124 and is held against a shoulder in the rod 5~6 by means
of a coil s~ring 599 which is positioned hetween the washer
597 and the end portion 601 of the rod 596. In the lowered
position of the rod 596 shown in FIG. 6 the end portion 601
extends into a clearance opening in the plate 82.
The lift rod 596 is provided with transverse
grooves 600 within which is positioned a viscous material
and the fit bekween the li~t rod 596 and the bore 598 is
relatively close so that a dash pot type of action is pro-
duced in response to forces exerted on the post 596 by the
spring 590. The flat spring 590 extends beneath a downwardly
extendin~ flan~e portion 602 of the base 76 and the hor:izontal
portion 604 o~ the cueing lever 26 is provided with an offset
central portion 606 which engages the underside of the spring
590 between the post 596 and the flange 602~ ~ right angle
end poxtion 605 of the lever 26 is retained in a suitable
recess in the base 76. The end of the spring 590 is secured
to the tone arm subassembly base 76 by any suitable means
which provides adjustment of the flexure of this spring.
In FIG. Z3 an arrangement is shown wherein a screw 608 is
threaded into a depending boss 610 on ~he mem~er 76. The
head of the screw 608 is adjustable from beneath the record
changer and as the screw i9 tightened the spring 590 .is
flexed around the transverse partition 602.
-65-
In the alternative arrangement shown in FIG. 2~
a scre~ 612 is threaded throu~h the hoss 610 and ls secured
in any suitable manner -to the end of -the spring 590. The
screw 612 is provided with a head portion 614 which is
accessible from the top of the tone arm subassembly so
that adjustment of the cueing lever setdown s~eed can be
made without removing the changer from its housing.
~Ihen the cueing lever 26 is moved from the tone
arm down position shown in FIGS. 6 and 24 to the tone arm
up position shown in FIG. 23, the intermediate o~set portion
606 of the lever 26 is rotated into engagement with the under
side of the spring 590 and exerts an upward force on ~e lift
rod 596 so that this rod moves upwardly and the top end there-
of engages the underside of the plate 94 on the tone arm so
that the tone arm is liEted off of the recorcl. The force
exerted by the sprin~ 590 in lifting the tone arm is rela~
tively great as compared wi-th the lowering force exerted by
the spring 590 because the offset portion 606 of the cueing
lever 26 acts as a temporary fulcrum to raise the tone arm
and this ~ulcrum is relatively close to the lift rod 596.
~ith this relatively short fulcrum the spring 590 is rela~
tively stifE and a relatively quick tone arm lifting action
is provided. When the lift rod 596 is moved upwardly, the
washer 597 engages ths underside of the quadrant 124 as the
spring 599 is depressed 50 that a frictional drag is exerted
on the tone arm 14. This frictional drag is sufficient to
prevent the tone arm lA from moving outwardly under the force
of the constant bias spring 348 when the tone arm i5 lifted off
of or lowered onto a record. In less ex~pen`sive changer modelst
the constant bias spring 34 8 may be eliminated, In such case,
the spring 599 and washer 5~7 may be eliminated. Also, the
flange ~52 and spring 358 may be e~iminated if the spring
-66-
L3
;....... 348 is not used. The viscous materi~l in the ~rooves 600
may also be eliminated in such a low-cost changer so that
the tone arm 14 is raisecl and lowPred directly. This
change is made possible in the arran~ement of the present
invention because the separate lift rods 74 and 596 are
provided for automatic and manual operation, resp~ctively.
When it is desired to lower the tone arm onto the
the record, the cueincJ lever 26 is moved from the tone arm
up position shown in FIG. 23 to the tone arm down position
shown in FIGo 24~ When this occurs the offset portion 606
is removed from benea~h the spring 590r As soon as the in- .
termediate portion 606 ceases to en~age the underside of the ~:
spring 590 a new fulcrum point is established for the spring
which is the transverse partition 602. Since the partition
602 is spaced a substantially ~reater distance from the lift
rod 596 than the of.~set portion 606 ~ a relatively smaller
sprin~ force is exerted on the lift rod 596 to move this rod
downwardly within the bore 598 against the action o-f the viscous
material in the grooves 600~ Accordingly, the tone ar~ is
very gentl~ and smoothly lowexed onto the record or into en
gagement with the rest post 22 when the cueing lever is moved
to the tone arm down position. As discussed heretofore the
screw 608/ or the screw 612, can be adjusted so as to provide
a desired degree of flexure of the spring 590 and hence an
adjustment of the set down speed of the tone arm.
TURNTABLlE B:RAKINC', ARR~NGEME:NT :
It will be recalled from the preceding general
description that facilities are provided in accordanc2
with the present inventi.on for stopping the ~urn~able 12
durin~ the record changin~ cycle so that this turntable
is stationary as a new record is deposited thexeon. Fur- . :
-6~- .
,
thermore, this turntable braking action is accomplishecl
without de-energi~in~ the motor ~0 and without raising 03-
lowering the turntable 120 In order to accomplish these
objectives, a tone arm brake lever indicated generally ak
620 tFIG. 1) is pivotally mounted on a post 622 mounted in
the base plate central portion 2~. The brake lever 620 is
provided with an arm 624 which extends inwardly over a bEake
control c~m track 626 on the upper surface of the main gear
30 and is provided with a pair of downwardly extending pro~ .
jections 628 and 630 which are positioned on opposite sides
of the cam track 626. The o~her arm 632 of the lever 620
is flexible and carries a transverse end portion 63a at the
outer end -thereof to which is secured a turntable brake pad
636 which is adapted to engage the inside of the rim of the
lS turntable 12. As the CJear 30 rotates during the record
chan~in~ cycle the brake lever 620 foll.ows the contour o~
the cam track 626 due to ~he follower action of the pins
628, 630. .
When ~he ~ear 30 is detented in the home position ~:
shown in FIG. 1, the lever 620 is positioned so that the
pad 636 is not in engagement with the rim of the turntable
12~ However~ when a record changin~ cycle is initiated and
the gear 30 starts -to rota~.e, the pins 628, 630 cause the
lever 620 to move in accordance with th~ contour of the cam
track 626. ~en the portion 638 of the cam track is encoun-
tere~ the brake lever 620 is pivoted so that the arm 632
thereof is moved outwardly and the pad 636 is moved into
engagement with the turntable rim as the arm 632 flexes
slightly to produce a sprin~ biasing furce urging the pad
636 into engagement with the turntable rim with a predeter-
mined force. Afte~n~ the record has heen deposited on the
turntable ~he portion 640 of ~he cam ~rack 626 is encountered
6~-
~6~4~L3
by the pin 628, 630 so that the brake lever 62Q 1~ pivotec~
about the post 622 and the pacl 636 is removed fxom the turn-
table rim.
In accordance with an importan~ feature of the
presen-t invention there is no spring biasing force contin-
uously exerted on the brake lever 620. q~his is because a
sufficient spring force is provided by flexure of the arm
632 when the pad 636 is urged into engagement with tha turn-
table rim. When the l~ver is pivoted so that the pacl 636
does not engage the turntable rim there is no bias exerted
on the main gear 30 through the brake lever 620. Accord~
ingly, as the main gear 30 approaches the detent notch 405 -~
of the control cam 402 the brake lever 620 does not intro-
duce any frictional force which would prevent this gear
from moving to its detent position aftar the teeth oE the
gear 30 have become disengaged with the turntable hub teeth
58 as the notch 60 is encountered.
As described generally heretofore, when the turn-
table 12 is stopped by engagement of the brake pad 636
th~rewith, the turntable hub 38 continues to be rotated
by the belt 50 while the low coefficient of friction washer
52 provides slippage between the upper surface of the turn-
table hub 38 and the undersurface of the turntable 12. The
turntable 12 and mat 56 are also provided with a slight
~5 clearance between the turntable hub 38 and the central open-
ings therein so as to permit ~he turntable to be stopped
while the hub 38 continues to rotate.
ALTERNATE. RECORD SUPPORTING ARRAMGEMENT
As discussed generally heretofore, the ~alance arm
16 may be of conventional construction and does not include
~69-
last record shut-off facilities hecause detection o~ the
last record is sensed by movement of the spindle blade 41~,
as discussed in detail heretofore. In FIGS. 35 to 37, in-
clusive, an alternative arrangement for supportin~ hoth
~welve-inch and seven-inch records i9 shown which may be
preferable in certain instances. Referring to these fig-
ures, a post 650 is mounted on the base plate 10 by means
of a p~ir of screws 652 which extend up through a locating
plate 654 positioned beneath the hase p:Late 10 and through
the opening 656 in the base plate 10 into the base of the
pos~650. By using the locating plate 65~, the opening 656
may be such as to accommoda~e the balance arm 16 so that
either type of record support may be used alternatively
without ma~or record changer re-desiqn.
The post 650 is provided with a pair of arm por
tions 658 and 660 at the upper end thereof which extend
outwardl.y at right angles to each other and are adapted
to support s stack of twelve~inch records 662 on t~e tips
of the arm portion 658 and 660. A hold down member 663
provided with short parallel axms 664 is slidably and rota
tably mounted in the pos~ 650. More particularly, the membar
663 is secured to a post 666 which extends through an open-
ing in the top wall 663 of the post 650 and through an open-
in~ in the locator plate 654 which acts as the bottom heariny
for ~he shaft 666. A spring 670 is positioned between the
locator plate 654 and a C washer 672 positioned on the end
of the shaft 666 so that a continuous downward bias is exerted
on the member 663. The post 666 is provided with a first
spline 674 which is relatively long and extends through a
cooperating groove in ~he top wall 663 of -the post 650 so
as to locate the member 663 in th~ position shown in FIGS.
35 and 36. Howev~r, when the memher 663 is lifted upwardly
-70~
by an amount sufficient to clear khe spline 67~ from the
~op wall 668 the member 663 may be rotated to a record
loacling position so that a stack of twelve-.inch records
may be positioned on the plat~orm arm~ 658, 660.
Aftex the records have been positi~ne~l on the
platform arms 65~, 660 the member 663 i.s moved ko th~
central position shown in FIGSo 35 and 36 and is lowerecl
until centrally located hold-down portions676 thereof
are in engagement with the top record o-E the stack of
twelve-inch records supported on the a.rms 658, 660. The
portion 676 is positioned hetween the arms 658, 660 50
that a relatively wide support with good clamping action is
providecl by the sprir~ 670 so as to hold a stack o twelve-
inch records on the arms 658, 660. I~ will be noted that
during the playing of twelve-inch records the arms 66~ do
not engage the twelve inch record stack.
In accordance with an important aspect oE the
, present invention, the centerin~ spindle 653 which is
: employed in the embodiment o FIGS. 35 to 37, inclusive7
is particularlY adapted to function with the ~latform sup-
porting arms 658, 660 without requiring an inclined upper
portion for the centering spindle immediately b~low the
shelf thereof. Conventional centering spindles which func-
tion with an edge--type platform support usually ha~e an in-
clined upper portion so that when the record is e~ected ik
will strike an inclined portion of the centering spindle,
thereby facilitating movement of the bottom xecord off of
the platform edye suppoxt~ ~owever, such a cen~eri.ng spindle
i5 quite expensive to manufacture.
The centering spindle 653 is provided with a ~.
stra.ight,spindle body having a milled slot 665 therein
; which is adapted to receive ~he blacle 655 which act~ both
-71-
as a last-record sensor and as a record ejecting member to
eject the bottom record off of the shelf 430 o the spindle
&65. The blade 655 is provided w.ith a lower end portion 667
which corresponds to the end portion 416 of the blade 418 in
the embodimellt of FIGS. l to 34, inclusive~ The end portion
667 is moved to a last record sensing position Isim.ilar to
the position 442 shown in FIG. 33) in the ahsence of a rec-
ord on the shelf 430. Also, the end portion 416 is actuated
by the pushoff slide 370 to eject a record off of the shelf
430 of the s~indle 653 durin~ the record ejecting port.ion of
the racord changing cycle. However, the upper end of the
blade 655 is provided with an outwardly inclined forward
edge 659 which extends outwardly beyond the edge o the
shelf 430 when the blade 655 is moved by engayement with
the pushoff slide 370 to eject a record. Accordingly, as
the bottom record .is moved off of the p].atform arms 658,
660 the centerin~ aperture of the bottom reco~d rides down
the inclined edge 659 of ~hel~lade 655 and is pulled away
from the ends of the support arms 658, 660, In order to per-
mit this sidewise movement of the bottom record immediately
after it is ejected from the shalf 430, the spindle body of
the spindle 653 is provided with a no-tch or undercut portion
657 so that a recess is provided ~m ~he spindle body opposite . .:
the forward edge of the shelf 430 to permit the hottom record
to follow the inclined surface 659 of the blade 655. The
notch 657 can be milled in the spindle body at the same time
the slot 655 is formed. A re~ainer blade 651 is slidably
mounted in the upper end of the spindle body by means o
the pins 661 and is arranged to engage all but the hottom-
mos~ record seated on the shelf 430 so that the records
above the bottom xecord are not ejected with the hottom
record/ as will be readily ~mderstood by those sk.illed
~72-
in the ark. The upper end of the }.)l.ade 655 ls also pro
vided with a notch or recess 669 in the rear edge thereof
so that ~hen the blade 655 is moved to the record eject.iny
position the recess 669 and the notch 657 in the spindle
body cooperate to permit the above~described sideward move~
ment of the ~ottom record as it follows the slopin~ :Eorward
edge 659 of the blade 655.
The purpose of providing ~he inclined forward
edge 6S9 of the blade 655 is to assist the bottom record
in moving off of the support arms 658, 660, and gives
greater tolerance to the posi~ioning of the post 650 with
respect to the centering spindle 653. If the inclined
edge portion 659 is no~ employed then it would be neces- :
sary to adjust the position of the platform 650 with respect
to the spindle 653 c1uring the manufacture of each record
changer, which would be an extremely expensive operation.
On the other hand, the centering spindle 653~ which may be
~ed by simple milling opera~ions, is considerably simpler
than spindles having inclined upper portions which require . ~ .:
bending operations to form tha same~
In accordance with an important aspect oE the
present invention, when it is desired to pla~ seven-inch
records with the arrangement shown in FIGS. 35 to 37, the
member 663 is lowered until a second spline 678 enyages
the top wall 668 of the post 650, i.er the position shown
in ~IG. 37. In this position the tip portions 680 of the
arms 664 are positioned at the correct level to support
the edge of the bottom record of a stack of seven-inch
large-hole records when a 45 rpm adap~or indica~ed generally
at 682 is positioned on ~e spindle 18u The adaptor 682 may
be o the type described in Dennis IJni~ed States Patent No~
3,5~9,0&0 and reference may be had to this patent or a
-73-
detailad description thereo. I-lowever, for the purposes o:E
the present invention lt is pointed ou-t that the bottom rec-
ord Qf the seven-inch large-hole recorA stack is seated on
the shelf 430 of the spindle 653 and the outer edge portion
of this record rests on the tip portions 680 of the arms 664.
By employing the spaced-apart short arms 664 as a support
for the 45 rpm records a relatively s-table support is pro-
vided without requiring the use of any hold-down arm on the
top of a seven-inch large-hole record stack.
The inclined interferenc~ shouldex portion 68
of the adaptor 682 is parti.cularly important when last
record sensing is accomplished by means of movement of the
ejector blade ~55 o the spindle 653in the direction o the
shelf 430, as described in detail hereto:Eore. During the
early sensing portion of the record changing cycle the blade
655 is moved against the inner edge of the bottom record
seated on the shelf 430. ~hen a relatively lightweigh~ rec-
ord is positioned on the shelf 43n and the arm portion 680,~:
the force with which -the ejector blade 65S engac~es ~he inner
edge of ~he bottom record on the sheIf 430 during th~ sensing
portion of the record changing cycle may be sufficient to
cause ejection of a record prematurel~. However, the in-
clined intererence shoulder 684 provides an additional ob-
st~cle which must be overcome by a substantially larger force
than that produced during the sensing portion of the record -
changing cycleO Of course, when the bottom end portion 416 ~: .
of the e~ector blade 655 is engaged by the back Pdge of the
opening 414 in the pushof slide 370, as shown in FIG~. 33
and 34, a positive drive action is providecl for the ejector
blade ~5~; which then moves the seven-inch record off of the
shelf 430 against the blockincJ action of the interference
shoulder 6~4. In this connection it should he notecl that
`
-7~ .
the stack of seven-inch lar~e-hole record.s may be suPporte~1
on a shelf pro~ided on the adaptor 682 rather than on the
shelf 430 of the centering spindle 6~,3~ An aclaptor pro-
vic~ed with a shelf for supporting large-ho:Le records is
shown, for e~ample, in hrahulec United States Patent No.
3,191,9~1~
ALTERNATE l,AST R~CORD SEN~ING AP~RANGEMENT
In FIGS. 38 and 39 there is shown an alternative
last record snesing embodiment of the present invention
wherein a last record sensing force which is somewhat
greater than the force employed in the embodiment of FI(,S.
1 to 34 r inclusive, may he utilized without causing ejec-
tion of the hottom record during the last record sensing
operation.
Referring to these figures, two relatively thin
blades 418a and 418b are mounted on the common pivot 420
within the body of the spindle 18A. The upper portion of
the body of the spindle 18A is milled to provide a slot
689 for receiving the upper portions of the blades 418a,
418b and the lower portion of the spindle body is provided
with a bore 691 which communicates with the slot 689. The
irst pivotally mounted blade 418a acts as a record ejector
blade to eject the bottom record seated on the shelf 430
off of this shelf. ~Iowever, th~ bottom portion 416a o-f the
blade 418a does nct extend below the bot~om surface o the
pushoff slide 370a. Also, the blade 418a i5 biased ~o its
rear position shown in full lines in FIG~ 38 by means of a
flat spring 690 which is positioned between a shoulder 694
formed in the back edge of ~he blade 418a and an opening
692 in the lower portion of the spindle body. The spri.ng
-75-
...
L3L3
690 continuously urges the ejector blade rearwarclly away
from the shelf 430 but is overccme by engagement of the
bottom end portion 416a with the pushoff sLidP 37Oa during
the record ejecting portion of a record changing cycle, as
described in detail h~retofore.
The pushoff slide 370a is substalltially identical
to the slide 370 descri~ea in detail heretofore except for
th~ fact that the tab portion 412 of the slide 370 is elim-
inated in the embodiment of ~IGS. 38 and 3g. Also~ the
spring 386 may be somewhat lighter in ~e embodiment o
FIGS. 38 and 39 since it is aided by the s~ring 690 insofar
as biasing the ejector blade 418a to its rear position is
concerned. In other respects, the record chang0r employed
in the embodirnent of FIGS. 38 and 39 may be iclelltical to
the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 34, inclusive, described in
detail heretofore.
The second blade ~18b is also pivotally mounted
on the same pin 420 within the body of the spindle 18a and
acts solely as a record sensing blade to sense the presence
or absence of a record on ~e shel 430 during the initial
sensiny portion oE the record changing cycle. The end por-
tion 416b of the blade 418b doe5 extend downwardly below
the bottom surface of the slide 370a and into the slot 426
in the offset portion 422 of the detent lever 390. The end
portion 416b thus aats as a blocking member for the detent
lever 390, in the same manner as the end portion 416 of ~he
blade 418 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 34, inclusive,
previously described, during record changing cycles other
than a last record shut off cycle. A second flat sprin~
696 is positioned ~etween an ou~wardly formed notch portion
698 in the body of the spindle 18a and a shoulder portion
700 formed in the forward edge o the sensin~ blade 418b~
-7
.
The notch 698 is formed in the spindle body a~ter the central
bore is made by .inserting a tool through the openin~ 692 and
deforming the wall o:E the spindle body outwardly as will be
readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The sprinq 696
continuously exerts a force on the blade 4:L8h tending to move
the upper end of this blade in tha direction of the :record
supporting shelf 4300 IIowe~er, the force exerted by the : -
spring 696 on the blade 41~b is somewhat les~ than the force
exe.rted by the spring 690 on the blade 418a.
Both of the blades 418a and 418b are provided with
elongated slots 695 within which the common pin 420 is locatedO
A single spring 697 is positioned in the slots 695 and normally
urges the pin 420 to the bot~om of these slots. Such construc-
tion permits the blades 418a and 418b to be depressed by the `.
records above the bottom record when the bottom recorcl is
ejectecl from the shelf 430, as di~cussed heretofore in con-
nection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to $4, inclusive.
Preferably, the slots 695 are slightly wider at the top to
accommodate movement of the blade 418b relative to the blade
418a when the absence of a record on the shelf 430 is sense~ .:
by movement of the blade 418b.
If a record is present on the shel 430, during
the initial sensing portion o~ the record changing cycle
the sprinq 696 urges the upper end of the sensing blade into
engagmeent with the edge of the bottom record adjacen~ the
shel~ 430 while at the same time the spring 690 urges the
upper end of the ejector blade 418a into engagement with the
OypOSite edge of the bottom record~ Since the spring 690 is
stronger than the spring 696, the sensing blade 418b is unable
to move the bottom record off of the shelf 430 and ~heblades
418a and 418b remain in substantial alignment during the
sensing po~tion of the record changing cycle. Accordingly,
: -77~
in the embodimerlt Qf FIGS. 38 and 39 a substantial force may
be exerted on the sensin~ blade 418b to move this hlade in
~he absence of a record on ~he shel~ ~30 while at the same
time positively insuring that the force exerted by the hlade
418h on a recGrd seated on the shelf ~30 will not be su~fic-
ient to eject the record, due to the larc~ :Eorce exerted on
the back edge of the bottom record by the l.~ector blade 41%a~
Assuming still that a record is positioned on the
shelf 430, as the record changing cycle continues after the
last record sansing portion thereof, t~e end portion 416a
is enyaged by the back ed~e of the opening 414 in the slide
370a so that the hlade 418a is moved into engagement with
the bottom record on the shel:E 430 and moves it off o the
shelf and onto the turntable 12. As this occurs, the blade
418h is continuously urged in the direction of the shelf ~30
by the spring 696 and hence follows movement of the ~jector
blade 418a as it moves the bottom record off of tha shelf
430~
As soon as the last record is moved off of the
shelf 430, the sensing blade 418b is moved to the last
record shut-off position shown in full lines in FIG. 38 by
the spring 696. The last record is not moved off of the
shelf 430 before the detent pin 396 has passed -the notch
440 in the cam 402 so that even though the bottom portion
416b of the bl~de 418b i5 moved out of its bloc~ing position
with respect to the detent lever portion 422 no last record shut-
off cycle is established and the last record is thereafter
played in the normal manner. However, during the last record
sensing portion vf the next record changing cycle the de~ent
pin 396 is permitted to enter the notch 440 and a shut-off
cycle is set up so that the changer is turned off at the end
of this cycle, as described in detail heretofo.re. During
-7~
,
.
- ~ ..
this shut-off cycle the ejector blade 418a is moved by
engagement of the end 416a thereof with the back edge of
the opening 414 in the slide 370a but this movement has
no effect on the last record shut-off mechanism since the
end portion 416a of the bla~e 418a is cut off and does not
extend into the path of the detent lever 390.
The embodiment of FIGS. 38 and 39 is particularly
adapted for use in situations where there is little or no
clamping force on the record stack. For example~ the two-
blade arrangement of FIGS. 38 and 39 is particularly adap-
ted for use in the arrangement of FIGS. 35 and 36 when small-
hole 45 rpm records are played, as is customary in Europe,
for example. To play such records no large-hole record
adaptor is re~uired and the recoxd stack is supported on
the shelf 430 oE the spindle 18a and the end portions 680
of the arms 664, it being noted that the arms 664 will have
to be longer bv an amount equal to one-half of the diameter
o the large-hole centering aperture when small-hole 45 rpm
records are to be pla~ed, as will be readily understood by
those skilled in the art.
When a single 45 rpm record which is of relatively
little welght, rests on the arms 664 a relatively light sens-
ing force must be used with the single blade embodiment of
FIGS. 1 to 34, inclusive, to be sure that the record is not
moved off of the shelf 430 during the sensing operation.
However, with the two-blade arrangement of FIGS. 38 and 39
the e~ector blade 418a functions to hold a lightweight record
in the shelf 430 even though the sensing blade is urged against
the opposite edge of the record with a substantial sensing
force. Since no adaptor is used with such an arrangement,
the two-blade embodiment of FIGS. 38 and 39 is ~articularly
desirable because the action of the ejector blade 418a in
~79-
.~
. . :-- . : . . . -, . . -
a3
holding records on the shelf ta};es the place of the inter-
ference shoulder 6~ when a 4~ .rpm adaptor is used as de-
sc~ibed heretQfore in connection with FIG. 37. rIoweverr it
will be unclerstood that the two-blade embodiment of FIGS.
38 and 39 may be useful in any arrangement where little or
no clamping force is exerted on the xecord stack, either in
the spindle area or at the ed~e of the record stack.
In accordance with a further aspect of the inven-
tion, the tone arm subassembly 20 includes an audio clip
indicated generally at 704 (FIGS. 4 and 22) on which the
female type electrical receptacles 706 and 708 are positioned.
The clip 704 comprises a flat panel of electrically insulating
material which slides within a slot in a downwardly extending
portion 7].0 of the tone arm subassembly base 76, the other end
of the clip 704 heing supported in a notch in the p].ate 82.
With this arrangement the phonograph pickup supported on the
forward end o the tone arm 1~ may be electrically connected
to the receptacles 696, 6~8 and the entire tone arm subassembly
20 may be manufactured as a unit and tested electrica~ly before
it is installed in the base plate 10. Ins~allation of the com-
pletely assembled and tested subassembly 20 on the base plate
10 is conveniently accomplished by providing the openings 776,
778 and 780 (FIG. 22A) in the base plate 10. The lift rod 72
is ~irst inse~ed is first inserted into the opening 776 and
the housing 76 is p~ovided with depending off~et ~eet 782 and
784 which interlock ~Jith the corresponding edge portions 786
: and 788 of the opening 776. The bottom edge of the housing
76 rests on the upper surface of the base plate 10 and the
subassembly 20 is secured to the base plate by means of
screws which are inserted throu~h the openings 790 in the
base plate 10 and into the housing 76. The drive-tri.p link
120 is then connected to the quadrant 124 by simply inserting
: the end portion 126 into the hushing 128~ as shown in FIG. 11.
-80-
, ~
. ~ . . . .................. . .
~ . ~ . ~ . -. ,
Referring now to FIGSv 40 and 41 of the drawings
an alternative tone arm drive and velocity trip actua-ting
arrangement is shown therein which may be used in place of
the arrangement describe~ in detail heretofore in connec-
tion with the em~odiment of FIGS. 1 to 34, inclusive. In
this alternative embodiment the drive-trip link 120a i9
connected to the tone arm ~uadrant 124 by means of the bush-
ing 132 which i5 positioned within the elongated slot 130 in
the tone arm quadrant 124, as described in detail heretofore.
However, in the embodiment of FIGS. 40 and 41 an alternative
clutch arrangement is employed to interconnect ~he lin3c 120a
with ~he main cycling gear 3Q~. More particularly, the end
of the link 120a is formed in a modified hairpin shape t~
provide a relatively wide slot 720 and a somewhat narrower
]5 slot 722, the end portion 724 of the link 120 being secured
to the main portion of the link by any suitable means, such
as welding or brazing. A drive pin 726 may be rotatably
mounted in the gear 30a and retalned on the gear 30a hy
means of the retainin~ washer 728. The U-shaped end portion
730 o the link 120a rides on ~he upper surface of an annular
wall portion 732 formed in the gear 30a and ex~endin~ upward-
ly Erom the upper sur~ace thereof.
The drive pin 726 is provided with an enlarged head
portion 734 which is positioned over the end portion 730 of
the drive link 120a ~o retain it in place while permitting
longitudinal and rotary motion thereof with respect to khe
gear 30a. Sufficien~ vertical clearance is provided between
the head portion 73~ and the link 120a so that when the gear
30a is in ~he detent position shown in FIG~ 40 the link 120a
is not in~erconnected with the gear 30a and the end portion
730 may be moved forwardly toward the flange 66 as the tone
arm moves inwardly over the record during the playinc~ cycle.
,
3C?~13
When the encl portion 730 enga~es the flange ~6, the lin~
120a is effective to move the velocit~ tripping pawl 62 to
the record changing cycle initiating position, as clescrihecl
in detail heretofore in connection with the embodirnent of
S FIGS, 1 to 34, inclusive~ In the al~ernative, the pin 726
may be Eormed integrally with the gear 30a and suitahle
means provided for retaining the link 120a on the pin 726.
The diameter of the drive pin 726 is substantially i
less than the width of the slot 720 in the drive link 120a.
Accordin~ly, during the first por-tion of the record changing
cycle while the tone arm is bein~ lifted o~ of the record,
the link 120a is not interconnected with the gear 30aO How-
ever, when the pin 726 engages the narrower slot portion 722
of the link 12Qa the pin 726 becomes wedged into the slot
722 and interconnects the gear 30a with the tone a~n quad-
rant 124 50 that the tone arm is moved outwardl~. When the
tone anm strikes the hlocking portion 184 of the rest post
22 the tone arm cannot move outwardly ~ny further and the
drive pin 726 slips within the slot 722 of the link 120a as
the gear 30 continue~ to rotatPr ~uring the latter half of
the record changing cycle the drive pin 726 is moved in the
opposite direction and func~ions to move the tone arm quad-
rant 124 inwardly until the shoulder 192 thereof en~ages the
size selector slide flange 194. When thi~ occurs the pin 726
again slips within the slot 722 while the ~one arm remains
positioned for engagement with a twelve-inch record. Thls
actionncontinues until the pin 726 is moved into the lar~er
slot 720 of the link 120a whereupon the link 120a becomes
disconnected from the gear 30a as this gear moves to its
home or detant position. It will be noted that in tlle embodi
ment of FIGS. 4Q and 41, the clutching action which intercon-
nects the gear 38 with the link 120a is accomplished without
requiring vertical movement o~ the drive pin 726.
-~2-
.
In FIGSo 42 and 43 alternative tone arm drive and
velocity trip actuating arrangements are showrl wherein the
drive link 120b is providecl w.ith a single elongated narrow
slot 740, the U-shaped en~ portion 742 of the link :L20b being
employed as a velocity tripping member whi.ch enga~es the
flange 66 of the pawl 62 to initiate a record changing cycle
when the gear is located in the de~ent position shown in FIG~
42. In the embodiment of FIG 42 a drive pin 744 is provided
with a head portion 746 which is posi.tioned over the U-shaped
end portion 742 of the lin]c 120h to retain this lin]c on the
upper surface of the wall 732. However, the drive pin 744
is solidly secured to the cycling gear, by any suitable means,
so that as this gear rotates the cross section presented to
the slot 740 changes. As this cross-sectional dimensiGn in-
creases, the pin 744 becomes wedged into the slot 740 and a
driving connection is established between the cycling gear
and the link 12Ob so that the tone arm is moved outwardly.
However, when the tone arm strikes the arm portion 184 of
the rest post 22, the pin 744 slips within the slot 740 to
provide the necessary slip clutch action as the cycling
gear continues to rotate. When the cycling ~ear is in the
detent position the pin 7~ is completely disconnected from
the link 120b so that this link may be used as a velocity
trip actuating member, as described in deta.i.l heretofore
in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 34, inclu-
sive. In the embodiment o:E FIG. ~2 -the pin 744 is provided
with a ~-shaped cross sectionO In the embodiment oE FIG.
43 the pin 744 is provided with a diamond-shaped cross sec~
tion. In both of these embod~ments the chang.in~ cross-
sectional dimension of the pin 7~14 relative to the width
of the slot 740, as the main cycling gear rotates, pro
duces the nece~sary wedging action to interconnect the
cycling gear with the link 120b.
-83-
O ReferrincJ now to FI~S. 44 to ~h, inclusive, an
alter~ative tone arm drive anc1 velocity trip actuating
arrangement is shown wherein a drive trip link 120c is
employed to interconnect the main cycling year 30c with
the tone arm quadrant 12A. In the embodirnent of FIGS.
44 to 46, inclusive, khe e]ongated slot 130 in the quad-
rant 124 is eliminated and the link 120c :is pivotally con~
nected directl~ to the quadrank 12~ through the bushing 128
without permittin~ any lost motion between these memhers.
A drive pin 750 is rotatably mounked in an opening 752
formed in the gear 30c and is provided with a transverse
slot 754 within which the end por-tion of the drive link
120c extends. The gear 30c is providecl with an upstandiny
annular wall por-tion 756 adjacent the opening 752 and the
lin]c 120 rides on the upper sur~ace of the wall 756. The
pin 750 is providecl with flexible leg portions 758 and 760
which terminate in feet 762 and 764 whi~h are adapted to
engage the underside of the gear 3~ within a recess 766
formed therein~
When the main cycling gear 30c is positioned in
its home or detent position sho~n in FIG. 44 the pin 750
is positioned so that the arcuate bottom surface 768 there-
of is in engagement with an upturned flange portion 770 pro- -
vided on the base plate portion 28, as shown in FIG. 45.
In this position of the gear 30c the pin 750 is held in an
upper position within khe opening 752 so ~hat the link 120c
rides loosely within the opening 754 in the pin 750~ Accorcl-
inglyJ during the playing cycle ~he link 120c is free to
mov~ within the slok 754 as khe tone arm moves inwaxdly over ~'
the record. In this connec~ion it will be notecl that the
opening 754 in khe pin 750 is of sufficient wiclkh to permit
the slight sideward movement of khe link 120c as the tone
arm is moved to ~he runout yroove of the recorcl~
-8~-
In the embo~iment shown in FIGS. 44 to 46, inclu-
sive~ the tone arm tripping arrangement does not include a
velocity trip clutch connection between the link 120c and
the cluadrant 124. Accordingly, this embodime~t is arranged
~o provide a change cycle ini~iatin~ action which is re6pon-
sive to the position of the tone arm rather than to the change
in velocity when the tone arm engages the runout groove of a
record. Thus, the link 120c is made of the correct len~th
so that when the tone arm reaches the runout groove of a
recoxd on the turntable the end o the link 120c will engage
the flange 66 and move the pawl 62 into the path of the
1ange 70 thereby initiating a record chan~ing cycle. In
the alternative, a photo-electric sensing and tripping ar~
rangement may be employed which is responsive to movement
lS of the link 120c to a predetermined point during the play-
ing cycle, as will be readily understood by those skilled
in the art. It will also be understood that a velocity
trip clutch including the members 128~ 130 and 134 may be
employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 44 to 46 if desired so
that a velocity tripping action is provided as described in
detail heretoore in connection with the embodimen-t of FI(1S.
1 to 34, inclusive.
CGnsidering now the operation of the slip clutch
connection between the gear 30c and the link 120c in the
embodiment o~ FIGS. 4~l to 46, inclusive, after the gear 30c
has rotated an amount sufficient to permit lifting oP the
tone arm, the pin 750 is moved away from the flange 770 on
the base plate portion 28 and assumes the position shown in
FIG. 46. In this position the flexible leg portions 758,
760 urge the pin 750 downwardly within the opening 752 so
that the link 120c is gripped between the upper wall of the
slot 754 and the upper surface of the annular wall 7~6.
-g5-
~ccordingly~ as the gear 30c continues to move ~he tone
arm 14 is moved outwardly until it engayes the upstanding
blocking portion 184 of the tone arm rest 22~ When the
tone arm ls moved into engagement w,ith the portion .L84
the link 120c slips with respect to the flange 770, as
described in detail heretofore in connection wlth the
embodiment of FIGS. l:to 34 r incluslve.
If cdesired, the link 120c may be disconnected
from the gear 30c during the mid portion of the record changing
cycle so that the tone a.rm can remain in its outward position
adjacent the rest post 22 as lony as possible hefore it is '::'
moved inwardly to the edge of a twelve-inch recnrd. More
particularly, a second arcuate upstanding flange 772 may be
ormed in the base plate portion 2g ,in the path of the pin :
750~ When the gear 30c has ro~ated somewhat less than 180
degrees the surface 76E of the pin 7S0 i5 lifted to a posi-
tion similar to FIG. 45 in which the link 120c is no longer ,~
c~amped between the upper suxface of the slot 754 and the
upper surfaces of the annular wall 756~ A~ter the gear 30c :~.
has rotated by an amount suficient to move the pin 750 away
~rom the flange 772 the pin 750 again assumes a position
similar to that shown in FIG. 46 and moves the tone arm in-
wardl~ until the shoulder 1~2 engages the flange 194 on the
size selector slide 196. ~fter the tone arm is thus restrained
at the correct twelve inch record position, the link 120c
slips with respect to the pin 750 as the gear 30c continues
to rotate. As the home or detent position of the year 30c
is reached, the pin 750 engages the surace 774 cf the flange
770 so that the pin 750 is lif~ed to the position shown in
FXG. 45 wherein the link 120c is disconnected from the gear
.~Oc and may be used for a velocity trip actuating cperation
during the playing cycle.
-~6-
In FIG. 47 o:E the d:rawings, an alternative embodi
ment of the present inventio71 is disclosed wherei.n the turn~
table hub 38 i5 driven by an idler wheel arrangement rather
than the belt drive of the ernbodiment of FIGS. l to 34, in-
clusive. Referring -to FIG~ 47, an idler wheel 794 is rota-
tably mounted on an arm 796 which is itself pivotally mounted
on a pin 798 in the end of a member 800 of U-shaped cross
section. The member 800 is pivotally mounted on a post 802
which is mounted on the base plate lOa and extends through
a slot 804 in a multi-level positioning member 806 which is
slidably mounted on the base plate lOa. The control wire
302a, which is sim:ilar to the wire 302 in the embodiment
of FIGS. l to 34, is connected to one end of the member 806.
The idler wheel arrant3ement is generally similar to the
idler wheel drive mechanism shown in Dennis United States
Patent No. 3,490t772 and re:Eerence may be had to this patent
~or a detailed description thereof. ~Iowever, for the purpose
of the present invention it may be stated that when ~he con-
trol wire 302a is moved to different speed posit.ions/ the
member 800 is moved up and down the post 802 by engagement
of an adjustment screw 808 with the multi-level surface o~
the member 306. ~s a result, the idler wheel 794 is moved
intv enyagement with different steps on a multi-step turret
810 positioned on the upper end of the shaft of the turntable
driving motor. The idler wheel 794 is biased~in~o wadging ~.:
engagement with the outer edge of the turntable hub 38 and
the turret 8lO by means of a spring 8l2 which is connected
from the arm 796 to the base plate lOa. In th~ embodiment
of FIG. ~7, the other portions of the automatic record
changer are identical to ~hat described in detail hereto- :
fore in connection wi-th ~IG~. l to 34. Accordin~ly, the
turntable 12 may be stopped during the record cha:nging
:. . .: .
~7-
. . . : . , . . : : .
a3
cycle, by means of the brake member h20, while the idlex
wheel 794 continues to drive the hub 3~ and the washer 5~
provides slippage between the members 38 ancl 12~ It will
be noted that the change from belt drive of the hub 38, as .in
S FIGS. 1 to 34, inclusive, to the idler wheel drive oE the hub
38 in FIG. ~7 ma~ ~e made ver~ simply and economicallY with
no changes in the automatic record changing mechanism itself~
This simplification is made possible by driving the hub 38
by engagement with the outer periphery thereof. In conven-
1~ t.ional changers the idler wheel engages the inner surface of
the turntable rim to drive the turntable.
In FIG. ~8 an alternative embodiment of the inven-
tion is disclosed wherein separate tone arm drive means and
velocity tr:ipping means are employeA. Refe.rring to th.is fig-
ure, the slip clutch 122 on the main cycling gear 30d is em-
ployed to connect a drive link 120d to the tone arm quadran-t
124d for moving the tone arm horizontally but a separate vel
- ocity tripping arrangement is employed to initiate a record
changing cycle. In the emhocliment of FIG. 4g the quadrant
124d is provided with a rectan~ular opening 820 within which
is posi-tioned the downturnecl right angle end portion of the
drive link 120d. The link 1.20d is held at the correct level
for encJagement with the openinq 820 b~ means o a nember 822
which extends downwardly ~rom the upper wall,of the-housing
76 and is provided with an openln~ 8~ withi~ which
the intermediate portion of the link 120d is positioned~
In the embodiment of ~IG. 48 the link 120d i5 only
employed to move the tone arm and other velocity tripping
means are employed to initiate a record changing cYcle
For example, the velocity tripping arrangement shown in
Dennis United States patent application Serial No~ 432J089
filed January 9, 1974 may be employed. :[n such case a
--g8~
velocity tripping arm, simllar to the arm 338 in said
application, is mounted for rotation about the t:one arm
pivot and is frictionally connected to the tone arm,
said arm beinq arranged to en~age the flange portion 560
of the trip pawl 62 in the embodiment of FIGS . 1 to 3~l
o~ the present invention~ In o-ther respects the embodi-
ment of FIG. 48 ma~ be identical to the embodiment of
FIGS~ 1 to 34 described in detail heretofore.
In the embodiment of FIG. 4 8, when the gear
30 has moved ~o a position corresponding to FIG. 14, the
clutch 122 connects the gear 30 to the link 120d. As the
link 120d starts to move outwardly from ~e position shown
in full lines in FIG. 48 there is no movement of the quad-
rant 124d until the end of the link 120d enga~3es the back
lS edge 826 of the openin~ S20 in the quadrant 124d. When
this occurs, the link 120d moves the quadrant 124d, and
the tone arm 14, outwardly to the position shown in dotted
lines in FIG. 4 8 at which position the tone a~m engages the
blockin~ por-tion 184 of the rest post 22 and during further
outward movement of th2 link 120d the clutch 122 sliPs, as
described in detail heretofore. During the retuxn motion of
the link 120d the quadrant 124d is not moved until the end
of the link 120d enga~es the forward edge ~28 of the open
iny ~20 whereupon the quadrant 124d is moved inwardly un~il
the shoulder 192 en~ages the slide 196 at the twelve-inch
recoxd position and the clutch 122 slips as the gear 30
continues -to move back to its deten~ position, as described
in detail heretofore in connection with FIG5. 13 to 19~
inclusive. During the playin~ cycle the quadrant 124d is
moved inwardly as the tone arm mo~es inwardly over the
record. ~uring ~his mo~ement the quadrant 124d is com
pletely disconnected from the link 120d so that no loading
'.
_~9_ : :
', . .' ~ ' ' ''
from the link 120d is placed on the tone arm, the opening
820 in the quadrant 124d providing this lost motion con-
nection between the q~ladrant 124d and the link 120d during
the entire playing cycle.
In FIG. 49 of the drawings an alternative embodi-
ment of the invention is disclosed wherein a two-plate vel-
ocity trippinq mechanism is employed in place of the pla-te
62 and clutch member 132 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to
34, inclusive. Referring to FIG. 49, a drive-trip link 120f
is connected to the main gear 30 through the clutch members
122 as the gear 30 rotates, as described in detail hereto~
fore. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 49~ the end o~ -
the link 120f is pivotally connected to the quadrant 124
but the slot 130 is eliminated so that there is no lost
motion between the members 120f and 124. A two-plate veloc-
ity tripping mechanism is mounted on the gear 30, this mech-
anism comprising a bottom plate 852 and top plate 62a. The
-top plate 62a is provided with a pin 61a which extends
through a hole in the bottom plate 852 and into an opening
in the gear 30 so that the members 62a and 852 are each piv-
otally mounted for rotation about the axis of the pin 61a.
The bottom plate 852 is provided with a pair of upstanding
ears 850 and 856 which limit movement of the bottom plate
852 relative to the top plate 62a. The bottom plate 852 is
provided with a flange 854 which is adapted to be engaged
by the end of the link 120f. The plate 62a includes the
downturned flange 560 which extends through the opening 562
in the gear 30 and has a shoulder 68a which is adapted to
be engaged by the flange 70.
Near the end of the playing cycle the end of the
link 120f engages the flange 854 and moves both members 62a
--~0-- ~
~r~
~f:~
~Q~3
and 852 toward the centering spindle. However, the flange
70 engages the plate 62a behind the shoulder 68a thereof
and moves the top plate 62a back slightly while the plate
62a slips with respect to -the bottom plate 852. When the
run-out groove is encountered, the link 120f moves both
members toward the spindle by an amount sufficiant that
the flange 70 engages the shoulder 68a on the top plate
62a and moves the gear 30 so that a record changing cycle
is initiated. During the record chan~ing cycle the members
62a and 852 are reset to their desired positions by engage-
ment with the teeth of -the gear 58 on the turntable hub.
The bottom plate 852 is provided with a protruding portion
858 which is first en~aged by the teeth of the gear 58 so
that the ear 856 is reset to a position in en~agement with
one side of the member 62a. Thereafter, the members 62a
and 852 are mo~ed together to a position in which the
shoulder 68a is positioned out of the path of the flange
70. It will be seen that the embodiment of FIG. 49 pro-
vides a lost motion connection between the link l~Of and
the plate 62a instead of the lost motion connection at
the other end of the link 120 provided by the slot 130 in
the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 34~ inclusive. In other
respects the embodiments of FIG. 49 os identical to that
of FIGS. 1 to 34, inclusive.
:,
- 9 1~
,.", ;....
.
