Patent GB-312196-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in gramophones, and the like instruments
IPC: G11B17/00
Filed: 1927-11-19
Abstract: 312,196. August, J. R. C. Nov. 19, 1927. Magazine gramophones.-A magazine gramophone is constructed to play a pre-selected sequence of records, selection being effected by a device comprising a series of stops positioned on a moving carrier so that their setting in one direction, e.g. vertical, corresponds to the records in the magazine and in another direction, e.g. horizontal, to the sequence of playing. The stops are set by a series of press buttons corresponding to the records in the magazine. The successive positions of the selecting device effects a step-bystep rotation of a commutator which controls the various movements of mechanism to traverse grippers so that they are brought opposite to the corresponding record, then moved to grip the record and withdraw it from the pile, and subsequently moved to place it on the turntable, reverse movements effecting return of the record to the magazine. Provision is made whereby either or both sides of any selected record will be played according to the setting of further press buttons. As shown, the records 11, Fig. 1, are retained, by spring-supported ball studs engaging their centres, on trays 5 in a magazine 4. The selector comprises a series of toothed discs 33, Figs. 1, 3 and 8, corresponding to the records and fixed on a spindle 35 within a casing 137 provided with a vertical slot 138 at the rear and the press buttons 21 - - at the front and supported in an enclosing cabinet. Depression of a selected button depresses a ball-ended spring plunger 30 so that a lug 21 thereon engages the teeth of a disc and also completes a circuit at contacts 37, 38 to an electromagnet which through a pawl and ratchet steps the spindle 35 round for the space of one tooth of a disc 33 and carries the ball plunger within the casing which retains the lug in engagement with the teeth. The buttons may now be depressed in any desired sequence to advance the spindle 35 further steps, the numbers of steps being indicated by the disc 41 through a window in the cabinet. When the order or sequence has been thus arranged, the ball plunger of the disc 33 corresponding to the first record to be played is brought opposite to the slot 138 in the casing by means of a ratchet wheel 45 actuated by a pawl operated electromagnetically from a press button switch. The record transferring carriage 10 is normally at rest in its upper position with a finger 39 thereon projecting into the slot 138 in the casing 137, and on starting the machine by closing a main switch, a circuit is completed through contacts 67, 68 on a commutator, shown developed in Fig. 12, to a motor 12 on the carriage which is thereby moved downwardly until the finger 39 contacts the first stop set by the selector and now protruding into the slot 138. This completes a circuit to an electromagnet to rotate the commutator a step whereby the motor 12 is stopped with the record grippers 8, 9 on the carriage opposite to the first record of the predetermined selection, and contacts 69, 70 on the commutator complete a circuit to start a motor 20 so as to traverse the carriage along guides 17, 18 towards the record magazine until trigger mechanism 71 engages adjustable stops 72 whereby the grippers 8, 9 are projected to engage the record by their resilient shoes or linings. In this position the carriage meets a contact 91, Fig. 1, to effect a further stepping of the commutator whereby through contacts 89, 90 the motor 20 is driven in the reverse direction to withdraw the carriage and record into contact with the ballended plunger in the slot 138, whereupon the commutator is again stepped so that contacts 92 cause the motor 12 on the carriage 10 to be driven in the reverse direction and carry the record opposite to the turntable 3, contacts 93, 94 then meeting to step the commutator again so that contacts 95 cause operation of the motor 20 to deposit the record on the turntable and by again meeting contact 91 further step forward the commutator so that its contacts 96 effect reversal of the motor 20. Abutments 72 effect release of the record from the grippers. After playing, the tone-arm rides up a cam and completes a circuit to step the commutator and start the motor 20 to operate the carriage for removing the record. If it is desired to play the reverse side of the record, pegs 52, 54 carried by wheels 53 on the spindle 35 can be depressed separately by push buttons 23, 24, or collectively by button 25, whereby the commutator is stepped so that other contacts on the commutator move the carriage and record forward again, and tables 104, Fig. 1, are raised by an electromagnet to contact rollers 105 on the gripper spindles so as to turn over the record in its movement. The further stepping of the commutator by the closure of circuits by the movements of the carriage effect the playing of the succeeding records of the predetermined sequence. The apparatus may be controlled from a distance from press-buttons in parallel with the control buttons on the cabinet.