Patent GB-383341-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to gramophones
IPC: G11B17/02
Filed: 1931-09-07
Abstract: 383,341. Gramophones. SLATER, G., 14, Rivelin Place, Old Brumby, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. Sept. 7, 1931, No. 25042. [Class 40 (ii).] Relates to gramophones which are provided with means whereby the following operations are automatically effected : (1) raising the soundbox from the record, (2) swinging the tone-arm clear of the turntable, (3) lifting a record from the turntable and redepositing it in inverted position on the turntable, and (4) repositioning of the sound-box. The invention consists of the provision of a vertically moving operating tube 1, Figs. 1 and 4, adapted to be automatically put into or out of operative association with the gramophone motor so as to effect the desired' operations by means of flexible cables. The means for lifting the record consist of an arc-shaped member 53, Fig. 2, which has record-engaging jaws 54, and is mounted on a spindle 50 which is rotatable in a tubular member 46 having trunnions 45 whereby this member is slidable in an inclined forked member 43 carried at the upper end of the tube 1 as shown in Fig. 4. The member 46 also has a rearwardly extending part 46a which is slidable and vertically rotatable between a pair of trunnions 51. The tube 1, Figs. 1 and 4, carries three vertical fins 4, 5, 6 which are adapted when the tube is raised, to engage and lift levers 10, 11, 12 respectively. These levers are connected with flexible cables 13, 14, 15 to effect respectively the raising of the sound-box 13a by means of a lever 57, outward swinging of the tonearm 14a by means of a rod 59, and lifting of the record from the turntable spindle by the coaction of a collar on the turn-table spindle with rods extending through the turntable and connected to a record-lifting disc 22, Fig. 2. The tone-arm carries a depending finger 26, Figs. 1 and 3, adapted, during playing of a record, to move gradually a forked member 27, which is mounted for horizontal and vertical swinging movement, along a slide 32 against the return action of a striker 28 on the turntable rim. At the end of the record, the increased inward movement of the tone-arm forces the member 27 over the edge of the slide 32 and causes the arm 31 of the member 27 to be engaged by the striker 28 so that the fork member 27 and slide 32 are returned. A rod 35 carried bv the slide 32 therebv causes a cam 55 to be disengaged from an upstanding projection 56 on a gear segment 36 which thereupon drops into its position in the gear wheel 37 in engagement with a gear wheel 38 driven from the gramophone motor. Consequent rotation of the gear wheel 37 causes a crank 40 on the shaft of the gear wheel to operate a flexible cable 41 to lift the operating tube 1 so that the cables 13, 14, 15 operate in correct sequence to lift the sound-box, return the tone-arm, and lift the record from the turntable. The forked member 44, in its upward movement, first moves the member 46 and thereby the record gripper 53 so that the record is engaged by the members 54. Continued upward movement of the member 44 swings the member 46, the record gripper 53 and the record upwardly about the trunnions 51. During this movement, a wire 48 connected between a stationary point and a rotatable pawl 47 on the member 46 becomes tautened and causes the pawl 47 to rotate a ratchet wheel 49 and also the spindle 50 of the record gripper 53 so that the record is turned into a vertical plane where it overbalances and swings into inverted position. At this time the crank 40 has made half a revolution so that the tube 1 is then lowered to effect lowering of the record lifting disc 53, deposition of the record on the turntabic, positioning of the tone-arm in playing position, and lowering of the sound-box. The gear wheel 37 has then made one complete revolution, and the segment 36 is then lifted by engagement of its upward projection 56 with the cam 55 so that rotation of the gear wheel ceases. A flap 61, Fig. 3, which is arranged to permit the passage of an arm 60 movable with the tone-arm on the outward movement of the latter, arrests the inward movement of the tone-arm at its correct position over the record and is then lifted by the coaction of a. cam 62 on the gear wheel 37 with a lever 63. A pivoted lever 66 co-operates with the flap 61 to stop the tonearm in position for playing records of either of two sizes. The lever 66 is normally maintained in position for playing smaller sized records by means of a spring 67a, and links 65b, 67 extending between the lever 66 and a shaft 65, and the setting of the shaft 65 for such records tensions a spring 65a connected with the tonearm spindle 59 to compensate for the additional distance the tone-arm is to be returned. For such records, a supplementary crescent-shaped record gripper is detachably mounted within the gripper 53. For larger records, the supplementary gripper is detached and its ends are adapted to engage respectively the upper end 66b of the lever 66 and a peg 69 on the motorboard so as to move the lever 66 against the flap 61. In this position, the lever 66 and links 65b, 67 slightly rotate the shaft 65 and relax to some extent the effect of the spring 65a on the tone-arm spindle 59. The cable 41 may take the form of a thin flexible strip of slightly dished section.