Record changer

A record changer for a record playing apparatus of the type including a center spindle on which records are adapted to be held and then dropped onto a turntable to be played, includes a tone arm for reproducing signals which are recorded on a record, dropped onto the turntable, a detecting device for detecting the position of the tone arm, an operating mechanism for controlling the operation of the record changer when the detecting device detects that the tone arm is in an inoperative position, and a device for stopping the operation of the record changer during operation of the operating means when the detecting device detects that the tone arm is in an operative position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to record playing apparatus, and more 
particularly to a record playing apparatus with an automatic record 
changer of the type in which a record is held on a center spindle and is 
made to drop onto a turntable to be played. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
One type of conventional record changer with a center spindle is disclosed 
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,418 to H. J. Fortune et al. The center spindle of 
the changer functions to support and drop records in sequence by means of 
a mechanism within the center support which senses the presence or absence 
of a record for controlling an automatic shut-off mechanism. Along with 
aforementioned center support for dropping and sensing the records, there 
is also provided an edge support for the sole purpose of balancing the 
records. The tone arm is also balanced by a counterweight which is 
resiliently supported from the tone arm in all directions of relative 
movement between the tone arm and the counterweight. 
However, the conventional record changer disclosed therein is purely 
mechanically arranged. With such mechanical arrangement, there are 
provided a start button and a stop button, the former of which is pushed 
when it is intended to play the record and the latter of which is pushed 
when it is intended to stop the record playing operation. With this 
construction, however, it is intended to keep the number of the operating 
buttons at a minimum and accordingly the operability of the apparatus is 
not at an optimum level. 
Moreover, in this record changer, the returning mechanism of the tone arm 
and the dropping mechanism of the records are interlocked so that a record 
always drops when the tone arm is automatically returned. This results in 
the dropping of a record, even when the automatic-returning operation is 
performed in response to a stop command. In order to provide a safe 
operation, the lead-in operation is performed only upon a subsequent start 
initiation after at least the drive mechanism performs an 
automatic-returning operation. As a result, a problem occurs in that the 
record which has dropped in response to the drop command fails to be 
played. In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to manually 
perform the return operation after the system has been set in a 
non-automatic or manual mode and after the power supply circuit has been 
broken. However, this method is not preferred because it is inferior in 
operability. 
Furthermore, in order to perform a manual operation as well as an automatic 
changing operation in the record changer having a construction thus far 
described, there is provided an operating button for selecting the 
automatic and manual modes so that the automatic operation can be 
performed, when it is shifted to the automatic mode, whereas the manual 
operation can be performed when it is shifted to the manual mode. In other 
words, the automatic and manual operations operate absolutely independent 
of each other and cannot be interchanged. As a result, the operability of 
such record changer is inferior, and a large number of operating buttons 
must be used. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved 
record changer that avoids the above-mentioned difficulties encountered 
with the prior art. 
More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
improved record changer which has excellent operating characteristics. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a record changer 
which has a reduced number of operating buttons but can perform a number 
of complicated operations. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a record changer 
with a single operating mechanism which can function as a drive mechanism 
and a stop mechanism. 
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a record 
changer wherein records are prevented from dropping down from the center 
spindle when the tone arm is returned during the stopping operation. 
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a record 
changer which can be manually operated, and in which the manual operation 
can be easily interchanged with the automatic operation. 
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a record playing 
apparatus of the type including a center spindle on which records are 
adapted to be held and then dropped onto a turntable to be played, 
includes a tone arm for reproducing signals recorded on the records as 
they are dropped onto the turntable; detecting means for detecting the 
position of the tone arm; operating means for controlling the operation of 
the record playing apparatus when the detecting means detects that the 
tone arm is in an inoperative position; and means for stopping the 
operation of the record changer during operation of the operating means 
when said detecting means detects that the tone arm is in an operative 
position. 
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will 
be apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative 
embodiment which is to be read in connection with the accompanying 
drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, a record player 
with an automatic record changer embodying the present invention has a top 
panel 1 which is formed with a large circular opening 2. In this opening 
2, there is arranged a turntable 3 which is fit on a center shaft 4 such 
that the former frictionally engages with the latter. A center spindle 5 
is detachably mounted in center shaft 4. At one side of turntable 3 and at 
a position above panel 1, there is arranged a tone arm 6 which is adapted 
to be rotated by a swing shaft 7, and a cartridge 8 is attached to the 
leading end of tone arm 6. Tone arm 6, in turn, is supported at an 
intermediate position thereon on an arm rest 9 when in its rest position. 
A front panel of the record player is equipped with a start/stop switch 10, 
and arranged in a row adjacent tone arm 6 on the aforementioned panel 1, 
there are provided a record size selecting switch 11, a speed selecting 
switch 12 and a repeat switch 13. An operating lever 14 is further 
arranged on panel 1 so as to manually operate a tone arm lifter 15. 
The inner mechanism of the record player will now be described with 
reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. A brake plate 16 is fixed to swing shaft 7 of 
the aforementioned tone arm 6, and a lead-in lever 17 and a size reset 
lever 18 are rotatably mounted on swing shaft 7 so as to overlap brake 
plate 16. Lead-in lever 17 is connected to brake plate 16 by means of a 
coil spring 19. Lead-in lever 17 is also integrally provided with a 
projection 20, which is operative to push an arm switch 22 fixedly held on 
a supporting plate 21. At one side of the aforementioned brake plate 16, 
there are arranged a brake lever 23 and an actuating lever 24, both of 
which are rotatably supported by a common pivot pin 25. Moreover, a coil 
spring 26 is attached to one end of actuating lever 24, and a compression 
coil spring 27 is interposed between brake lever 23 and actuating lever 
24. 
Below turntable 3, there is arranged a main lever 28 which is rotatably 
supported by means of a pivot pin 29. An actuating lever 30 is held by 
means of a pin 31 on the leading end of lever 28 and is adapted to be 
reversed by means of a reverse lever 32 to thereby effect a toggle motion. 
The reverse lever 32 is supported on main lever 28 through a pin 33 and is 
biased in the counter-clockwise direction of FIG. 2 by a compression coil 
spring 34. On the upper side of main lever 28, is attached a cam plate 35 
which is made of a synthetic resin material, and which has its cam portion 
36 abutting against the side portion of a lifter lever 37. This lifter 
lever 37 has its leg portion rotatably supported (for vertical movement) 
by a pin 38 and its leading or free end portion abutting against the lower 
end of the support shaft for the aforementioned arm lifter 15. 
At one side of main lever 28, there is arranged a size cam 40 which is 
rotatably supported by means of a pivot pin 39. Size cam 40 has one side 
thereof formed with two stepped portions 41 and 42, which are adapted to 
abut against an arm portion 43 of the aforementioned lead-in lever 17 to 
thereby effect a record size selection operation. Size cam 40 is further 
formed with three wall portions 46, 47 and 48 which are adapted to abut 
against the operating element 45 of a rotary plunger 44 which is adapted 
to move in three positions. The size cam 40 thus constructed is connected 
by means of a pin 49 to one end of a rod 50, the other end of which is 
connected by means of a pin 51 to a feedback lever 52. The feedback lever 
52 is rotatably supported by means of a pin 53 and has secured to its 
leading or free end an upstanding pin 54 adapted to abut against a first 
small cam portion 56 which is formed on the underside of a cam plate 55. 
This cam plate 55 is formed on its outer peripheral portion with a second 
cam portion 57 which is adapted to abut against the leading end pin 59 of 
an actuating lever 58. 
By means of a pin 61 supporting actuating lever 58, there is also rotatably 
supported a detecting lever 60, which has a projection 62 integrally 
formed thereon and which is adapted to push a switch 63 for detecting the 
presence or absence of a record. Detecting lever 60 and the aforementioned 
actuating lever 58 are connected together by means of a coil spring 64. 
Above the aforementioned cam plate 55, there is arranged in an overlapping 
manner a drive gear 65, both of which are fixed to a common pivot pin 66. 
A portion of drive gear 65, is toothed on its outer circumference and, is 
further formed with a toothless or notched portion 67. The drive gear 65 
thus formed is constructed so that it can engage with a pinion 68 which is 
fixed to the aforementioned center shaft 4. Further, center shaft 4 has 
integrally formed on its outer circumference a pawl 69, which is adapted 
to abut against the leading or free end of a start lever 70 which is 
supported by means of a pin 71 on the upper peripheral surface of drive 
gear 65. Below start lever 70, there is arranged an actuating lever 72 
also supported on drive gear 65 by means of common pin 71. Actuating lever 
72 has an upstanding pin 73 which is inserted into an opening 74 formed in 
start lever 70. Actuating lever 72 also integrally formed with a downward 
projection 75 which is positioned to face a land 77 formed at the leading 
or free end of a trigger lever 76. This trigger lever 76 is rotatably 
supported by a pin 78, and a pin 79 mounted on lever 76 is adapted to be 
pushed or biased by a plunger lever 80. Plunger lever 80 has its leading 
or free end formed with a projection 81 which coacts with the rod of a 
plunger 82. 
The aforementioned drive gear 65 has its lower surface formed with a cam 
groove 83 which is adapted to engage with a pin 84 secured at the free end 
of the aforementioned main lever 28. Moreover, main lever 28 has its 
leading or free end formed with a tab 85 which is adapted to push a 
microswitch 86. A downwardly extending pin 87 is also secured to main 
lever 28 and is adapted to push or bias the free end portion of the 
aforementioned actuating lever 24. Adjacent one side of drive gear 65, 
there is arranged a motor 88, by which the aforementioned turntable 3 is 
rotationally driven by means of a belt 90 which runs on a pulley 89 of 
motor 88. 
The center spindle 5 which is attached to the aforementioned center shaft 4 
will now be described. The spindle 5 is molded of a synthetic resin such 
as a polyphenylene sulfide resin and is formed with a split slit 91 over 
its entire length, as shown in FIG. 6. Moreover, center spindle 5 is 
resiliently deformable in the radial direction by the action of slit 91 
and is press-fit in a sleeve 92 which is fixed to the frame of the record 
player through the bore of center shaft 4. In slit 91, there is arranged a 
spindle lever 93, which is formed with a radial groove 94 adapted to 
receive a ring 95 whereby to rotatably support lever 93. Ring 95 is 
preferably an O-ring which is made of a synthetic resin or synthetic 
rubber and which is also fit in a groove 96 formed in the outer 
circumference of center spindle 5. Moreover, lever 93 has its lower 
portion extending through sleeve 92 and is loosely fit in a rectangular 
hole 97 of the aforementioned actuating lever 58 and is fit in small hole 
98 of the detecting lever 60. At the upper portion of slit 91, on the 
other hand, there is slidably held by means of a pair of pins 99 a guide 
lever 100. Further, the aforementioned spindle lever 93 is formed above 
groove 94 with a projection 140 which is fit in a notch 141 of sleeve 92 
to thereby regulate the rotational position of center spindle 5. The 
aforementioned O-ring 95 functions as a click or snap in mechanism for the 
press-fit of sleeve 92. In this manner, center spindle 5 is detachable so 
that the record player can be used as a conventional record player by 
removing center spindle 5 and replacing it with a conventional small 
spindle (not shown). 
The control circuit of the record player for the construction thus far 
described now be described with reference to FIG. 4. The repeat switch 13, 
cam switch 86, record presence or absence detecting microswitch 63 and arm 
switch 22 thus far described are respectively connected with a main line 
101. As a result, these electric parts are supplied with power at a 
constant voltage from input terminal 102 of main line 101. The start/stop 
switch 10 has its paired contacts connected with the common contact of 
speed selecting switch 12 and one contact of cam switch 86, respectively. 
Also, coil of the motor 88 has one terminal connected with main line 101 
and its other terminal connected through the collector-emitter path of a 
transistor 103 to a ground line 104. The transistor 103 is connected so 
that it may be controlled by transistors 105 and 106. On the other hand, 
the aforementioned speed selecting switch 12 is connected so that it may 
control the short-circuiting of two lines of the coil of the 
aforementioned motor 88. 
The aforementioned three-position plunger 44 is conrolled through size 
selecting switch 11 and a transistor 108, the latter, in turn being 
controlled by the output of a logic circuit 107. Logic circuit 107 is 
constructed of two NAND gates 109 and 110, four NOR gates 111, 112, 113 
and 114, and a flip-flop 115, with the latter flip-flop 115 having its 
output terminal connected to the base of transistor 108. On the other 
hand, the aforementioned plunger 82 is connected to the collector of 
transistor 106. 
The operation of the record player having the construction thus far 
described will now be described in the order of operations shown in the 
flow chart of FIG. 5. 
First, if start/stop switch 10 on the front panel is pushed and operated 
during the rest condition of the record player, as shown in FIG. 1, the 
paired contacts of switch 10, as shown in FIG. 4, are rendered conductive 
so that power is fed from main line 101 through cam switch 86 and 
start/stop switch 10 to the base of transistor 105 to thereby render this 
transistor conductive. The transistors 106 and 103 are therefore also 
rendered conductive whereby the motor 88 starts to rotate by the switching 
operation of transistor 103. On the other hand, since transistor 106 is 
conductive, electric power is fed from a main line 116 to plunger 82 so 
that plunger 82 becomes energized. After this action, as will be described 
later, microswitch 86 is changed-over in accordance with the 
later-described rotation of drive gear 65 thereby to disconnect main line 
101 from the base of transistor 105. However, before switch 86 is 
switched, a condenser 117 is charged so that plunger 82 is maintained in 
its energized condition for a time period corresponding to a time constant 
which is determined by a time constant circuit composed of condenser 117 
and a resistor 118. 
When plunger 82 is energized, projection 81 is biased or pushed, as shown 
in FIG. 7, so that plunger 80 is swung counter-clockwise about pivot pin 
78 to thereby push or bias pin 79. The trigger lever 76 is therefore swung 
counterclockwise about pin 78 so that its projection 77 pushes projection 
75 of actuating lever 72. As a result, lever 72 is swung about pin 71 so 
that pin 73, in turn, swings start lever 70 counter-clockwise, as shown in 
FIG. 7, about pin 71 through opening 74. At this time, pinion 68 has 
already been rotationally driven throug belt 90 and turntable 3 by means 
of motor 88. As a result, pawl 69, which is formed on pinion 68, pushes 
the leading or free end of start lever 70. Since lever 70 is supported by 
drive gear 65, drive gear 65 starts to rotate. The notched portion 67 of 
gear 65 is then displaced from its initial position, so that gear 65 
engages pinion 68 whereby the rotating force is transmitted from pinion 68 
to drive gear 65. 
When drive gear 65 starts to rotate, main lever 28, which engages with cam 
groove 83 of gear 65 through pin 84, starts to swing counter-clockwise, as 
viewed in FIG. 8, about pivot pin 29. Tab 85 of lever 28 then disengages 
from microswitch 86 so as to change over this switch to the position 
opposite to that shown in FIG. 4. As a result, a control voltage is fed 
directly to base of transistor 103 from the main line 101 through switch 
86 so that motor 88 continues its rotation (as shown in FIG. 4). Moreover, 
in accordance with the swinging motion of lever 28, pin 87 pushes or 
biases actuating lever 24, as shown in FIG. 8, so that brake lever 23 is 
swung counter-clockwise about pin 25 to thereby force a brake pad 119 into 
contact with brake lever 16. In this manner, swinging operation of the 
tone arm 6 is smoothly performed. 
In accordance with the aforementioned swinging motion of main lever 28, 
moreover, cam portion 36 of cam plate 35 which is mounted on lever 28 
pushes up and swings lifter lever 37 about pin 38 as shown in FIG. 9. As a 
result, arm lifter 15 pushes up tone arm 6 so that tone arm 6 performs its 
arm-up motion so as to leave arm rest 9. 
While drive gear 65 rotates 180 degrees in the counter-clockwise direction 
from its start position, main lever 28 is swung counter-clockwise. This 
swinging direction is the same as that necessary to return tone arm 6. 
However, since at this time, tone arm 6 is already in its rest position, 
no motion thereof takes place to thereby effect an idle motion. In 
accordance with the swinging motion of main lever 28, actuating lever 30 
is caused to push or bias pin 120 of lead-in lever 17. Since, however, 
tone arm 6 cannot be swung any more in the counter-clockwise direction as 
a result of a stopper mechanism (not shown), a large pressure is exerted 
upon actuating lever 30 so that this lever 30 is moved in the reverse or 
counter-clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 10. Specifically, FIG. 10 
shows the toggle mechanism for performing such reversing operation. When 
actuating lever 30 abuts against pin 120, it is swung, as indicated in 
broken lines in the same Figure, against the action of roller 121 of 
reverse lever 32 so that roller 121 is relatively moved from a center 
recess 122 to a recess 123 at one side by the pushing or biasing force of 
compression coil spring 34. Incidentally, lever 30 is formed with another 
recess 124 at the other side. When main lever 28 is further swung, 
actuating lever 30 on main lever 28 abuts against a reset plate 125 
whereby actuating lever 30 is reset to its original position, as indicated 
by the solid lines in FIG. 10. Thus, preparation is made for the 
subsequent lead-in operation. Incidentally, reset of the lever 30, which 
has been reversed to a position indicated by dotted lines, is performed by 
a pin 142 which is anchored on supporting plate 21. 
In accordance with the aforementioned forward swinging motion of main lever 
28, projection 126 thereof disengages from projection 127 of size cam 40 
whereby to free cam 40 for its swinging motion. In accordance with the 
aforementioned rotation of drive gear 65, small cam 56 of cam plate 55 is 
rotated together therewith to push or bias pin 54 of feedback lever 52. As 
a result, size cam 40 rotates once by means of rod 50 in a clockwise 
direction, as viewed in FIG. 11, about pivot pin 39. When pin 54 slides 
over plateau of the cam 56, feedback lever 52 is swung counter-clockwise 
about pin 53 whereby to free size cam 40 is swung by means of link 50 
counter-clockwise about pivot pin 39. As a result, size cam 40 is set so 
that its wall portion 46 or 48 is in abutting engagement with operating 
element 45 of three-position plunger 44. 
The operation of three-position plunger 44 as controlled by the circuit 
shown in FIG. 4 will now be discussed. In particular, when main lever 28 
is rotated switch 86 is turned on. When switch 86 is turned ON, electric 
power is fed from main line 101 through switch 86 to the base of 
transistor 108 to rendered transistor 108 conductive. Then, electric power 
is fed through transistor 108 and switch 11 to three-position plunger 44 
whereby plunger 44 is rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise in accordance 
with the operated position of switch 11. 
In accordance with the aforementioned rotation of drive gear 65, the second 
larger cam portion 57 of cam plate 55 is rotated. Cam portion 57, in turn 
pushes pin 59 to swing actuating lever 58 counter-clockwise, as viewed in 
FIG. 12. At this time, however, detecting lever 60, which is connected to 
actuating lever 58 through spring 64 and which has its small hole 98 
arranged in engaging relation with the lower end of spindle lever 93, is 
restricted in movement by spindle lever 93, the latter having its upper 
end abutting against the wall of center hole 129 of the lowermost record 
130 placed on center spindle 5. This means that lever 60 is not rotated in 
the direction indicated by dot-dash lines in FIG. 6. As a result, 
detecting lever 60 does not swing counter-clockwise about pin 61, as 
indicated by dot-dash lins in FIG. 12, and its projection 62 does not push 
or bias microswitch 63. Accordingly, the presence of a record 130 is 
detected. At this time, since detecting lever 60 is not swung, spring 64 
is extended so that only actuating lever 58 is swung. 
When pin 59 of the actuating lever 58 slides over the plateau of cam 
portion 57, lever 58 is then swung clockwise about pin 61 by the action of 
a compression coil spring 128. Then, pin 58a of lever 58 pushes on the 
side of detecting lever 60 to thereby swing the same clockwise. 
Accordingly, at this time, the two levers 58 and 60 are swung together 
clockwise, as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 12. Spindle lever 93, 
which has its lower end in engaging relation with the small hole 98 of 
detecting lever 60, is thus swung clockwise, as indicated by the broken 
lines in FIG. 6, about ring 95. As a result, the upper end of lever 93 
pushes or biases the inner circumference of center hole 129 of the lower 
most record 130 to thereby to to move this record 130 rightwardly, as 
viewed in FIG. 6. As a result, the lowermost record 130 is released from 
its engagement with the edge 131 of center spindle 5 to cause it to drop 
along center spindle 5 until it is placed upon turntable 3. 
The operations thus far described are performed during the front or first 
half rotation of drive gear 65. Since, however, gear 65 is formed with 
only one toothless or notched portion 67, it continues its rotation. 
During this time, the lead-in operation of tone arm 6 is accomplished. By 
means of the rear or second half rotation of drive gear 65, main lever 28, 
which engages with cam groove 83 of gear 65 through pin 84, is swung 
clockwise about pivot pin 29 from the position indicated at solid lines in 
FIG. 8, to the position as indicated by dot-dash lines. Actuating lever 
30, which is supported on lever 28, pushes pin 120 to thereby swing 
lead-in lever 17 clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 8, about swing shaft 7. 
Since this swinging motion of lever 17 is transmitted to brake plate 16 by 
means of a projection 132 formed on brake plate 16 and since brake plate 
16 itself is fixed to swing shaft 7 of tone arm 6, tone arm 6 is swung 
clockwise about swing shaft 7, thus effecting the lead-in operation. 
When stylus carried on the cartridge 8 at the leading end of tone arm 6 is 
brought to the position corresponding to the groove at the 
circumferentially outermost position of record 130 by the swinging motion 
of tone arm 6, arm 43 of lead-in lever 17 abuts against the stepped 
portion 41 or 42 of size cam 40, which has been swung to a predetermined 
position by rotary plunger 44, as shown in FIG. 11. Lead-in lever 17 
therefore is stopped from rotating. Accordingly, tone arm 6 is also 
stopped from its swinging motion. It should be appreciated that the 
stepped portion 41 or 42 of size cam 40 with which arm 43 is brought into 
abutting engagement is determined in accordance with the direction that 
rotary plunger 44 is rotated in accordance with the selecting operation of 
size selected switch 11. 
When tone arm 6 has its lead-in position regulated by size cam 40 such that 
it is stopped from its swinging motion, actuating lever 30 has a large 
biasing force applied so that it is reversed, as indicated by dot-dash 
lines in FIG. 10. As a result, only main lever 28 continues in its 
swinging motion. By this swinging motion of main lever 28, the position of 
cam portion 36 of cam plate 35 on lever 28 is changed from that indicated 
by dot-dash lines in FIG. 9 to that indicated at solid lines so as to 
lower tone arm 6. As a result, the stylus carried on cartridge 8 at the 
leading end of tone arm 6 is brought into contact with the record 130 
placed upon turntable 3. The record playing operation is thereby started. 
When drive gear 65 is rotated one revolution so that main lever 28 is 
returned to its initial position shown in FIG. 3, tab 85 thereof pushes or 
actuates switch 86. In this condition, drive gear 65 is stopped from 
rotating by the action of its notched portion 67. As a result, switch 86 
is pushed or actuated, and the output of switch 86 resets flip-flop 115 
through NOR gate 114 to thereby render transistor 108 inoperative. As a 
result, rotary plunger 44 is returned to its neutral position. Hence, main 
lever 28 is returned to the position shown in FIG. 3, and moreover, 
projection 126 of lever 28 pushes projection 127 to return size cam 40 to 
its original position. As a result, tone arm 6 is not prevented from being 
swung by size cam 40 while the record is being played. 
Thus, record 130 dropped onto turntable 3 is reproduced. During this 
reproduction operation, tone arm 6 is gradually guided to the center of 
record 130 by the spiral groove thereon while it is being swung. When the 
stylus of cartridge 8 comes to the groove closest to the center of record 
130, projection 133 of lead-in lever 17 pushes tab 134 of trigger lever 
76, as shown in FIG. 13, in accordance with the swinging motion of tone 
arm 6. Then, similar to the case in which the aforementioned plunger 82 is 
energized, pinion 68 and drive gear 65 are brought into engagement with 
each other by actuating lever 72 and start lever 70 so that drive gear 65 
starts to rotate again. During the front or first half rotation of drive 
gear 65, main lever 28 is swung counter-clockwise, as shown in FIG. 8, 
about pin 29 to perform the arm-up operation by means of cam portion 36 of 
lever 28. At this time, moreover, since tone arm 6 is in its forward swung 
position, actuating lever 30 on lever 28 pushes pin 120 to thereby return 
tone arm 6 to its original radial position through lead-in lever 17. 
Moreover, the presence or absence of record 130 on center spindle 5 is 
detected at the same time when tone arm 6 begins its returns operation. 
This detection is the same as the aforementioned first detecting operation 
and is performed by actuating lever 58 and detecting lever 60 through cam 
portion 57 of cam plate 55 which is made rotatable with the drive gear 65. 
Unless microswitch 63 is pushed by projection 62 of detecting lever 60, 
record 130 is still detected as being present. After tone arm 6 has been 
completely returned by actuating lever 30, detecting lever 60 is swung 
backwardly, as shown in FIG. 6, to cause another record 130 drop from 
spindle 5 onto turntable 3. 
When tone arm 6 is completely returned, actuating lever 30 on the 
aforementioned main lever 28 is subjected to a large force so that it is 
reversed, as shown in FIG. 10. Moreover, when main lever 28 is swung, it 
abuts against reset plate 125 so as to reset the same. On the other hand, 
if main lever 28 is swung backward during the subsequent rear or second 
half rotation of drive gear 65, then actuating lever 30 pushes lead-in 
lever 17 through the pin 120 to lead in tone arm 6. Tone arm 6 is then 
lowered by cam portion 36 on main lever 28 so that the record 130 which 
has newly dropped onto turntable 3 is played. So long as a record 130 is 
present on center spindle 5, it is caused to be dropped and played. 
After the playing operation of the aforementioned first record 130 has been 
finished, it is detected whether or not any record 130 remains on center 
spindle 5. If it is detected that there is no record 130 remaining, the 
aforementioned detecting lever 60 is swung together with actuating lever 
58 counter-clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 12, so that its projection 62 
pushes switch 63. Accordingly, it is detected that there is no record 130 
remaining on center spindle 5. Then, switch 63 is turned OFF, as shown in 
FIG. 4, and the input to NOR gate 112 is changed from a logic level "1" 
state to a logic level "0" state so that the output of flip-flop 115 is 
inverted and transistor is rendered inoperative. The power supply to the 
three-position plunger 44 is therefore interrupted so that its operating 
element 45 is returned to its neutral position. Accordingly, size cam 40 
is set at the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 11, so that the 
leading end of an arm 135, which is formed on size cam 40, as shown in 
FIG. 14, is shifted to position where it abuts against protrusion 136 of 
size reset lever 18. Even if main lever 28 is swung backward in this 
condition, actuating lever 30 first buts against a pin 136 of size reset 
lever 18 so that it is subjected to a large force until it is reversed. 
More specifically, main lever 28 does not lead in tone arm 6 through 
lead-in lever 17, but rather, tone arm 6 resides in its arm rest position. 
Moreover, since tone arm 6 is held on arm rest 9, microswitch 22 is turned 
OFF. When drive gear 65 is rotated one revolution, cam switch 86 is turned 
OFF so that transistor 103 is rendered inoperative. As a result, motor 88 
stops its rotation so that the record player as a whole is brought into 
its rest condition. 
On the other hand, if repeat switch 13 is pushed, even if it is detected 
that there is no record 130 present on center spindle 5, one input 
terminal of NAND gate 110 shown in FIG. 4 is at level "0". As a result, 
even if switch 63 is turned ON, the output of 115 is not inverted so that 
transistor 18 remains in its conductive condition. As a result, 
three-position plunger 44 is continuously fed electric power from the 
power source so that size cam 40 is held in the position indicated either 
by dot-dash lines or by solid lines in FIG. 11. Consequently, the tone arm 
6 is led in so that the record 130 on the turntable is played again. In 
other words, a repeat operation is performed. This operation is continued 
as many times as desired as long as start/stop switch 10 is not actuated. 
It should be noted here that the repeat operation is to be performed only 
when there is no record 130 remaining on center spindle 5. 
In the record player thus far described, the record playing operation is 
not performed if the tone arm is not at its rest or inoperative position 
when start/stop switch 10 is pushed to effect the automatic playing 
operation. More specifically, since arm switch 22 is not turned OFF when 
start/stop switch 10 is turned ON the output of switch 22 is fed to NAND 
gate 109 so that the output of flip-flop 115 is inverted. As a result, 
transistor 108 is rendered inoperative so that no electric power is fed to 
three-position plunger 44. As a result, similar to the case in which there 
are no records 130 present on spindle 5 and in which repeat switch 13 is 
not pushed, size reset lever 18 is mechanically locked by cam 40 so that 
tone arm 6 is not led in. In particular start/stop switch 10 is pushed to 
rotate drive gear 65 so that tone arm 6 is held in its arm rest position 
after it has been returned. 
In record player thus far described, if the start/stop switch 10 is pushed 
during the record playing operation, this operation is also ended. More 
specifically, if start/stop switch 10 is pushed during the record playing 
operation, switch 10 generates a stop signal, which is dominant over all 
other signals to effect the stop condition. This operation is similar to 
the case in which tone arm 6 is not at its rest position during the 
aforementioned starting operation. Accordingly, plunger 82 is energized, 
when start/stop switch 10 is turned ON, to thereby effect one rotation of 
drive gear 65. At this time, however, since the record is being played, 
arm switch 22 is turned ON so that electric power is not fed to 
three-position plunger 44. As a result, nothing but the automatic return 
operation is performed so that tone arm 6 is swung to its rest position. 
Tone arm 6 is held in its rest position, as shown in FIG. 14, by the 
actions of size cam 40 and size reset lever 18 after it has been returned. 
In other words, in this case, the rear half rotation of drive gear 65 is 
idle so that the record player is brought into its stop condition. It 
should, be noted that switch 10 therefore selectively acts as a start 
switch and as a stop switch. 
Moreover, even if a record 130 is left on center spindle 5 during the 
stopping operation, the record never drops onto turntable 3. In other 
words, since three-position plunger 44 is deenergized, size cam 40 is held 
in the position shown in FIG. 14. This position of size cam 40 is fed back 
through rod 50 to feedback lever 52 so that the leading end portion 138 of 
lever 52 takes a position facing projection 139 of actuating lever 58. As 
a result, neither actuating lever 58 nor detecting lever 60 can swing any 
more in the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 14, about the pin 61, 
so that record 130 is not dropped on turntable 3. The prevention of that 
dropping operation is always performed during operations in which size cam 
40 takes the position shown in FIG. 14 to thereby block tone arm 6 from 
being led in. As a result, no record 130 drops unless the record playing 
operation is performed. 
In record player thus far described, moreover, the tone arm 6 can be 
manually operated to play the records without the need of a change-over 
switch between the automatic and manual operations. More specifically, 
when the tone arm 6 is led in by a manual operation, lead-in lever 17 is 
swung to turn on switch 22 shown in FIG. 4 so that motor 88 is driven 
through the transistor 103. As a result, the record playing operation is 
started. Moreover, since the positions of switch 22 and cam switch 86 at 
that time are the same as that during the automatic operation and since 
the operating mechanisms are similar to those used during the automatic 
operation, the automatic operation is thereafter continued to effect the 
automatic changing operation or the automatic repeat operation. 
If tone arm 6 is returned to its arm rest position by a manual operation 
during the automatic playing operation, the stop condition is 
automatically performed. More specifically, if tone arm 6 is manually 
returned, lead-in lever 17 also returned so that its projection 20 pushes 
arm switch 22. Switch 22 is then turned OFF so that transistor 103 is also 
rendered inoperative. As a result, motor 88 is stopped so that turntable 3 
is accordingly stopped. 
Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the present invention 
with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that 
the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various 
changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the 
art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined 
in the appended claims.