Patent GB-191304300-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Automatic Phonographs.
Inventor: SCOTT HARRY TYRELL
Filed: 1913-02-19
Granted: 1914-02-19
Abstract: 4300. Scott, H. T., and Patterson, L. J. April 11, 1912, [Convention date]. Multiple machines; mandrels; driving; feedmotions.-In automatic multiple phonographs in which a number of vertically-arranged records are successively lifted from a table to a position adjacent to the reproducer for performance and then restored, as described, for instance, in Specification 12,167/12, a differential device consisting of a screw and nut is provided for effecting these movements. The record may thus be rapidly raised into position by rotating a screw-threaded shaft through a nut held stationary ; then be slowly fed downwards for the reproduction by the nut being also rotated, but at a slightly greater rate, and finally be restored to the table by stopping the rotition of the shaft and co tinuing to rotate the nut. The records 28, Fig. 1, rest upon annular ledges 26 formed on a table 24, which is mounted on a spindle 30, and is rotated step by step so as to bring the records successively above the mandrel, a roller-ended spring bolt 35 securing registration. The apertures 26<a> in the table are sufficiently large to allo the mandrel to pass through. The shaft 41 of the mandrel 40, Fig. 2, engages with a nut 42, and is also supported by an extended sleeve 44 within a bearing 45. This sleeve carries the fly-wheel 46, and is formed with gear-teeth 47, which engage with a gearwheel 112 on a sliding shaft 83, which shaft also carries a gear-wheel 113 for driving the nut 42 at a slightly different gear ratio. The sleeve 44 also carries a clutch-dog 48 engageable with a part 49 on a sleeve 50 sliding on a sleeve 51 which is capable of rotation only. The sleeve 50 is controlled by a rod 62, which is spring-pressed into engagement with a screw-thread 60 on the sleeve, but is held out by a stop-rod 66 which engages a notch 64, until it is drawn by a collar 71, Fig. 1, on the mandrel-shaft operating a bell-crank lever 70, 68. The rod 62 terminates in a slotted plate 75, Fig. 5, having a lug 78 operated by an arm 79 on a collar 76, so that, when in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the rod 62 is withdrawn from engagement with the screw-thread 60. The arm 79 is moved by a push rod 80 controlled by a cam 82, sliding on, but keyed to, the differential shaft 83, and usually located above the rod 80, which can be locked by a rod 87 hanging from a lever 89 and entering a slot 86. The cam is raised and held up by operating a control rod 97 bearing an inclined yoke 96, Fig. 8, which acts upon a collar 95 on the sleeve which carries the cam, this movement breaking the motor circuit at 98, 99. The motor will continue to run until the parallel contact 103 is broken by the mandrel reaching its lowest position, and depressing the lever 89. The machine is shown in Fig. 2 near the end of the return movement of the mandrel. The frictionally-driven fly-wheel 46 is rotating the sleeve 44, the mandrel-shaft is not rotating, since the clutch 48, 49 is out, while the nut is being rotated through the gearing shown, thus bringing the shaft rapidly down. At the end of this movement, the collar 120 depresses the lever 89, which lowers the shaft 83 and disengages the gears 113, 114 which drive the nut, a spring 131 applying the brake 130 thereto. The rod 104 is also depressed, and held down by a spring lever 133 engaging in the slot 132. The lever 89 is thus also retained. The gears 47, 112 being still in mesh, the shaft 83 continues to rotate, so that the cam 82, now in its lowered position, moves over the rod 80, this operation rotating the record table one step by the action of a pawl 79<a> upon a ratchet-wheel on the spindle 30, and also drawing out the rod 62 until it is caught by the rod 66. The sleeve 50, being now released by the nose 61, falls, and the clutch 48, 49 engages, thus rotating the mandrelshaft, which rises rapidly into the reproducing position, picking up a fresh record as it passes through the table. In its course, the collar 71 operates the lever 68, which withdraws the rod 66, but, as the rod 62 is still held over by the arm 79, which is itself locked by the rod 87 engaging in the recess 86 in the rod 80, the rod 66 re-engages. At the end of its movement, the collar 71 pushes aside the end 136 of the lever 133, releasing the rod 104, and allowing the lever 89 to rise, rotation of the nut and the differential feed for the reproduction period now commencing. A bevelled projection 157 is simultaneously raised clear of a radial arm 158 on a rock-shaft 150 which is moved by a spring 154 to swing the stylus 23<a> against the record. At the end of the reproduction period, the collar 71 again operates the bent lever 130, 68 to withdraw the catch-rod 66, and the auxiliary detent-rod 87 being now lifted by lever 89, the rod 62 is released to engage with the thread on the sleeve 50 and so separate the clutch members 48, 49. A projection on the sleeve 50 operates a lever 155 having a bevelled end which engages a projection 156 on the rock-shaft 150 to swing the stylus away from the record. The shaft is now stopped, and the rotating nut runs it back rapidly to its lowest position, whereupon the operations are repeated. The mandrel has a slightly excessive upward range, and when stops check the record in correct position for commencing, the shaft slides partly through the mandrel, the pawl 180 riding up the rack 181. When the mandrel returns, the sleeve 120 releases the pawl, and the mandrel is restored. The manual control of the machine is as follows : To repeat one record, a push rod 161 is employed which holds out the pawl engaging the feed-ratchet. To stop the performance of one record and proceed with the next, a push-rod 171 having a bevelled end is operated to depress the catch-rod 66, whereupon the rod 62 immediately enters and raises the clutchsleeve 50. The push-rod 97 above referred to stops the machine at the end of the record then being performed. A modified form of shaft bearing is shown in Fig. 11. The shaft 41<a> is mounted in a bearing-sleeve 200, and around the nut 42<a> is a sleeve 201 keyed thereto, and carrying the gear teeth 114<a>.