Patent GB-168921-A (GB)
Title: A machine to produce song, speech, or other sound in connection with cinematographic displays, and the like
IPC: G03B31/00
Filed: 1920-03-10
Abstract: 168,921. Mosley, F. E. March 10, 1920. Rotary distributors; contacts. -Relates to apparatus for synchronizing one or more talking machines with a kinematograph projector, in which the talking machines are driven intermittently under control of means actuated automatically from a moving part of the kinematograph machine, so that each talking machine is operated only when it is required to reproduce. According to the invention, the talking-machines are actuated from a continuouslv operative driver independent of the kinematograph machine, and are coupled to and uncoupled from the driver at times determined by the travel of a moving part of the kinematographic machine. In the form shown, a shaft 15, Fig. 2, driven from the film-feeding spindle of a kinematographic projector, drives, through bevel and worm gearing, a shaft 3 carrying a commutator drum 1, the drive being disconnectible by manually displacing the worm shaft 6 to withdraw the worm 5 from the worm wheel 4. The commutator comprises metallic rings 31, equal in number to the talking machines to be controlled, fixed on the drum 1 and insulated from one another, each ring carrying on its periphery a number of conducting segments separated by segments of insulation, as shown in Fig. 5. The rings 31 are electrically connected to terminals 36 on a plain conducting ring 33 mounted between insulating rings on the shaft 3. Spring-controlled brushes 43, Fig. 7, press against the rings 31, and a spring-controlled brush 49, Fig. 8, presses against the ring 33. The brushes 43 are separately connected to one pole of a battery, the other pole of which is connected to the brush 49. The talking machines are driven from a common shaft 56, Fig. 9, rotated by gearing from a continuously running pulley 59. In the drive of each machine is a pinion 63, feathered on its shaft 62, and displaceable therealong by a spring-controlled lever 69 actuated by the armature 71 of an electromagnet 72, the coils of which are included in the circuit of the corresponding commutator ring 31. As the commutator is driven from the kinematographic machine, the various electromagnets are intermittently energized, and the drive pinions 63 are correspondingly thrown intermittently into and out of gear, thereby causing intermittent operation of the various record turntables 67. Each turntable carries a pin 74 engaging a hole in the record disc, so that this may be placed in one position only on the turntable; and each turntable is arrested always in the same position by a catch 75 on the turntable adapted to engage a detent 76 operated by the lever 69. The commutator drum is readily removable from the shaft 3 when a nut 28 and washer 30 have been removed; and it can be secured to the shaft 3 in only one angular position. The shaft 3 carries a disc 22 having a notch in its periphery adapted to be engaged by a spring pin 24 on a fixed part, so that the shaft when at rest may always be turned into the same starting position by manual rotation of a milled head 25.