Patent GB-788053-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for reproducing phonograph records
IPC: G11B17/16
Filed: 1953-04-27
Abstract: 788,053. Automatic gramophones. HANSEN, H. C. April 27, 1954 [April 27, 1953], No. 11632/53. Class 40 (2). An indexing device for a phonograph in which the stylus is automatically fed to the starting groove of a record, comprises a supporting member and a trailing member, said members being movable from a projecting position below the stylus point to a position higher than the stylus point to lower the stylus into the groove when the said supporting member passes over the edge of the record. In all the embodiments the supporting member comprises a wheel which causes the pick-up to move automatically outwardly across the record. In the first embodiment, Fig. 7, the supporting wheel 26 is mounted on the end of an arm 38 having an inclined slot 40 which engages a fixed pin 42 so that it may be held back by a spring 48 to a pick-up supporting position. The angle that the axis of the wheel is mounted causes the pick-up to move outwardly across the record. When the wheel 26 drops over the edge of the record, a friction member 56 mounted on the arm 38 comes into contact with the record and moves the arm 38 forward until its notched end 44 drops behind a pin 46, so that both wheel 26 and member 56 are retracted to allow the stylus to contact the record. In a further embodiment giving a more rapid action to prevent overshooting the edge of the record when higherspeed records are used, the friction member 28, Figs. 10 and 14, is mounted on an arm 136 pivoted at 152 on frame 122 pivoted at 126 and carrying the wheel 26. In the operative position the upper end of arm 136 is held upwards against a notch 150 in a plate 146 by a spring 154. This embodiment employs a turnover type pick-up cartridge with two styli controlled by spindle through aperture 112. Tripping of the friction member 28 causes the arm 136 to snap up into notch 148 in plate 146. In a modification of this embodiment, Fig. 22, the friction member 28 is replaced by a wheel 260 set at an angle such that when it first comes into contact with the record a slight inward movement of the pick-up arm is caused until a slot 262a therein comes into alignment with a finger 264 projecting downwardly from the outer casing 212, and the device is thereby operated. The wheel 260 is normally maintained at an angle of rotation of about 90 degrees from the tripping position by a weight 278 or helical spring. This embodiment also employs a double stylus pick-up cartridge 222 controlled by a knob 204. In all embodiments the supporting member 26 is restored to its supporting position by means of a lever 30 which may be operated manually, or automatically in an automatic record player, by a member 320, Fig. 24, each time the pick-up arm is swung outwardly during a record-changing cycle. Fig. 9 shows a method by which the supporting member is restored by the tap-tap lever of an automatic stop mechanism. Figs. 25 to 36 (Figs. 26 and 31 only shown) illustrate a record changer mechanism employing an indexing device as above, and having a control cam-disc, substantially as described in Specification 757,303 but in which a cam groove 676 feeds the pick-up arm inwardly over the record before lowering it at a radius from the record centre within the diameter of the smallest record to be played but outside the maximum radius at which the tap-tap trip lever is operative. The said trip lever comprises a main member 610 pivoted at a fixed point 600 and having a part 610 thereon slidable endwise against a spring 614. The tripping of the end 630 against a projection 622 on the turntable shaft 534 causes an ear 611 on the opposite end of part 610 to engage a pin 620 on cam-disc 526 and give it an initial movement to start an auto. matic cycle, in the manner described in the abovementioned Specification. At the conclusion of the cycle the pin 620 passes behind a downwardly extended flap 603 on lever 601 and restores it to its initial position in which part 610 rests against a fixed stop 626. The control bar 538 is substantially similar to that shown in the abovementioned Specification, but is provided with a hand lever control 588, for STOP, START and REJECT positions. Movement to position I moves the control bar 538 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 26, and closes the snap action switch 580 controlling the driving motor. Under such circumstances, a small initial rotation of the cam disc has already normally been made at the conclusion of the last operation of the machine, the engagement of a lug 539 on control bar 538 having engaged a pin 592 on the cam-disc 526 to avert it and to open switch 580, and to leave jockey wheel.532 in driving engagement with shaft 534 and cam-disc 526. Movement of lever 588 to position I therefore sets the apparatus in motion for the first record to be lowered to the turntable to be played. Movement of lever 588 to position II causes a record being played to be rejected by moving the control bar 538 far enough to initiate the rotation of cam-disc 526 by the engagement of a leaf spring 594 thereon with a recess 596 in the said cam-disc 526, but does not operate switch 580. Movement of lever 588 to the position III initiates the automatic cycle but also rocks the control bar 538 so that the lug 539 engages pin 592 and stops the machine. An alternative arrangement to the lever 588 to operate control bar 538 is described with reference to Fig. 31, in which push buttons are employed. Specifications 757,378 and 788,054 also are referred to.