Patent GB-311713-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to talking machines
IPC: G11B17/00
Filed: 1928-09-21
Abstract: 311,713. Davies, J. Sept. 21, 1928. Magazine gramophones. Consists in a magazine gramophone wherein records are transferred to and removed from the turntable by a tiltable platform normally surrounding the turntable, the platorm being tilted when a record has been played, so as to separate the tone-arm from the turntable, and allow the played record to slide off the platform, whereupon a fresh record is released from the magazine and placed on the turntable when the platform resumes its normal position. The size of the incoming record determines the initial position of the tone-arm. In the machine shown, the tone-arm 1 is pivoted at 2 on an apertured member 6 which is hinged at 7 and normally surrounds the turntable 9. Two electromotors 11, 12 are provided, the motor 11 serving to drive the turntable, and the motor 12 serving, through the action of a crank 13 and rod 14, to tilt the member 6 to the position shown in dotted lines (Fig 1) and move it back again to an horizontal plane. The circuits of the motors include switches which are controlled by an arm 17 projecting down from the tone-arm, the arrangement being such that the circuit of the driving-motor 11 remains closed during the playing of a record, but is opened as soon as the tone-arm reaches its innermost position, whereupon the circuit of the motor 12 is closed. Guides 33, 34, adapted to receive a ten-inch or a twelve-inch record respectively, are provided an the member 6, and pivoted spring fingers 35, 36 are also arranged thereon so as to lie normally in the position shown in Fig. 3, the fingers carrying studs, 35<1>, 36<1> which can move in slots 37, 38. A spring-controlled arm 28, pivoted on the underside of the member 6, has an upturned end 31 which by engagement with an arm 18 moving with the tone-arm determines the correct starting position for the sound-box when a teninch record is to be played. When, however, a twelve-inch record is received by the platform 6 from the magazine, the record engages an upstanding pin 29 on the arm 28, and pushes the arm aside, so that the tone-arm can move further outwards until the arm 18 reaches a stop 32. The magazine is shown in Fig. 5 as toroidal structure, divided into compartments 40, 40', and mounted in bearings so that it can rotate about the gramophone mechanism. The records are placed in the compartments below a plane A-A, and are' retained by a shield 41. The operation is as follows. When a record, initially placed on the turntable, has been played, the motor 12 tilts the platform, 6, and with it the tone-arm and sound-box. The first effect of this movement is to raise the sound-box clear of the record, so that the tone-arm swings outwards until the arm 18 meets the stop 31. The member 6 then lifts the record off the turntable, and when the angle of tilt is sufficient the record slides off into the first empty compartment 40<1>. At the same time, an extension 44<1> on the part 6 actuates a pawl 43, which shifts the magazine round sufficiently to allow a fresh record to pass out and slide on to the platform 6. If the record is a large one, it moves the arm 28, as explained above, to allow the tone-arm to swing out further to the appropriate position. The platform is then lowered, and moves down below the level of the turntable, on which the record is left, with the spring fingers 35, 36 beneath the edge of the record. The arm 17 switches off the motor 12 and starts the motor 11, and the new record is then played. With the arrangement shown, both sides of each record are eventually played. Fig. 6 shows a modification wherein unplayed records are stored in an inclined position in a magazine U, whence they are released singly by any suitable mechanism on to the platform 6 when this rises to the fully tilted position. The records are discharged, when played, to a separate receptacle P.