Patent GB-1515121-A (GB)
Title: Gramophone equipment
IPC: G11B3/095
Filed: 1975-03-27
Abstract: 1515121 Gramophone PICO ELECTRONICS LTD 27 March 1975 13084/75 Heading G5R A gramophone comprising a photo detector arrangement movable with the gramophone pick-up arm for scanning a record surface to provide signals representing the bands between recorded tracks, a counter for counting said bands, a selector system including a memory for storing track selections and a comparator for comparing the stored selection and the count for producing a control signal for lowering the pick up at the start of a selected track. Where the gramophone is a record changer the arrangement can be combined with an arrangement for sequential selection of a record. The gramophone includes selection keyboard 15, display 14 and mode control switch 16 which in normal position controls the arrangement to play all of the tracks of a stack of records in sequence as with a normal record changer, during which time the display indicates the record and track being played. With the switch in its programme position the tracks of each record in a stack can be selected by pressing the numbered buttons. The first numbers pressed select tracks of the first record, then button NR is pressed so that track selection on the next record can take place and so on. The record number and track number is displayed as selected and then the play button is pressed to start the play sequence during which the numbers of the record and track being played are displayed. The photo electric arrangement can be carried by the pick-up cartridge and comprises a mounting strip 8 with printed conductors 8a, a light emitting diode 9a with lens 13 in passage 12a for directing light on to a record and photo detector 9b at the end of passage 12b with extension 12d which receives light reflected back from the record. The position of the arrangement relative to the pick-up stylus can be adjusted. The output of the photo detector is applied to a circuit Fig. 4 (not shown) where it is directed to different channels having different responses in dependance on whether the pick-up arm is up and being driven relatively quickly over a stationary record during track selection operation or down and being moved relatively slowly across the record by stylusgroove engagement during playback when the photo electric arrangement detects the band or the end of a recorded track. The circuit supplies the band signals to an integrated circuit, Fig. 7 (not shown), which controls the selection process in accordance with a flow chart Fig. 8 (not shown). The pick-up arm 3 is mounted on a spindle 55 rotating in bearing 57, 58 and carrying a vane structure 61 and part 63 of a clutch for coupling the spindle to a cam 77 provided with peripheral teeth for engagement with a worm 83 driven by a motor 84. The vane structure includes vanes 65, 66 co-operating with light emitting diodes 68 and photodetectors 69 to ensure by vane 65 that spurious signals from the pick-up arm photo-electric arrangement are not counted as band signals before the arrangement is over the edge of a record and to this end vane 65 is slotted to define edge positions for different size records and to ensure using vane 66 that the end of record position is signalled only when indicated by the vane and by the detection of the last band. The third vane 67 co-operates with brake arm 101 to brake the pick-up arm when it is driven across the record in scanning made. The brake is released by projection 108a on the cam during record play. The cam rotates about shaft 54 secured to a circuit board carrying a number of contacts 78-81 which can be actuated by rotation of the cam for muting, signalling tone arm position etc. The cam also operates micro switch 91 for controlling the turn-table motor to operate when the tone arm is being lowered and by means of upper cam portions 86, 87 to control raising and lowering of the pick-up arm via shaft 88. The underside of the cam includes a rib member which acts on the end of arm 97 to operate the record change at the turntable centre spindle. In a second arrangement (not shown) the photo detector for the record bands is mounted on a rail extending across the record and can be driven along the rail by a lead screw whilst supporting the pick-up arm. When a required track is detected the rail is lowered to deposit the pick-up at its start. The photo detector is then driven to the next band to await the arrival of the pick-up arm which is raised with the rail when its arrival is detected.