Patent GB-556634-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in repeating mechanisms for gramophones for the automatic playing of several records in succession
IPC: G11B17/16
Filed: 1941-12-11
Abstract: 556,634. Automatic gramophones. INDUSTRIAKTIEBOLAGET LUXOR. Dec. 11, 1941, No. 15982. Convention date, Oct. 23, 1940. [Class 40 (ii)] A gramophone provided with automatic record changing mechanism and with repeat mechanism so constructed that when set to " repeat " position, each and every record in succession is repeated the same number of times and then automatically followed by the next record. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the automatic record changing mechanism is of the kind in which a pile of record discs 5 is supported above a turntable 9 and released one at a time by side pillars 2 each with a pair of wings 3, 4. According to the invention, the operating mechanism of the pillars comprises two adjacent parts 7, 8, one, 8, connected by a pivot to a crank 6 on the pillar, and one, 7, connected to the control mechanism, which may be as in Specification 449,987 ; and means are provided which can be set to transmit all successive movements from the part 7 to the part 8 or to suspend this transmission of movement for alternate playings or completely. For this purpose, the member 8, which is linked to the crank 6 of the pillar 2 is provided with a slot 13 through which a pin 15 on the part 7 projects, springs 22, 24 are provided to urge the member 8 to the right, and a latch 12 is pivoted at 11 on the part 8 and adapted to lock or unlock the pin 15. The position of the latch is determined by the V-shaped member 20, 21 also pivoted at 11 and by the position given by hand to a rod 16 formed with a lug 17 for engagement with the V-shaped member 20, 21 and the latch 12. The rod 16 can be set in three different positions. In the innermost position, Fig. 1, the lug 17 lies idly between the limbs 20, 21 and clear of the latch 12. With that setting, the latch 12 is always in engagement and the pillars are operated at every stage, each record being played only once. In the intermediate position of the rod 16 the lug 17 is more within the gap between the limbs 20, 21 and within reach of the limb 21, and the operation is as follows: The first stroke of the member 7 to the right drives with it the member 8 locked as before by the latch 12, but near the end of that stroke the limb 21 encounters the lug 17 and is thereby rocked clockwise. This tensions a spring 19 between the V-shaped member 20, 21 and the latch 12, so that at the end of the return stroke to the left when the pressure between the latch 12 and the pin 15 is reduced, the spring 19 turns the latch up away from the pin 15. At the next operation, therefore, the member 7 reciprocates without transmitting motion to the member 8, with the result that a fresh record is not released and the previous record is played a second time. Near the end of this stroke of the member 7 to the right, however, the pin 15 engages the limb 21 and rocks the V-shaped member 20, 21 back counterclockwise and tensions the spring 19 in the opposite direction, so that, at the end of the return stroke of the member 7 to the left, the latch 12 is turned back by the spring 19 to re-engage the pin 15. As a result of this, the next operation again changes a record and this alternation is repeated so long as the rod 16 is left in its second position. In the outermost position of the rod 16, the lug 17 bears against the part 25 of the latch 12 and holds that latch up out of engagement with the pin. The operation is then a continuous repetition of the record on the turntable. In the apparatus shown, the operating mechanism is driven by the turntable 9 when a friction pinion 10 is brought in engagement therewith, and this engagement may be brought about by the manual operation of a lever 27 pivoted at 26. To prevent operation of lever 27 except when rod 16 is set in its innermost position for successive record changes, a pin 28 is provided on the rod 16 opposite a notch 29 in the lever 27 in such a position that the counterclockwise movement of the lever 27 is prevented by the pin 28 if the lever 16 is not in the extreme innermost position shown in Fig. 1. In a modification, Figs. 3 and 4 (not shown), a latch resembling the latch 12 above is controlled by a ratchet device which can be set by a rod, somewhat resembling rod 16 above, to several positions to determine the following operations respectively : (1) continuous record changing, (2) repetition of each record once, twice, or three times before changing record, and (3) continuous repetition of record on turntable. In this modification means may be provided to cause the latch to be re-engaged when the lever 27 is operated to produce the first record changing operation ; this replaces the pin device 28 above. The present invention is applicable to the automatic gramophone described in Specification 518,205. The rods 7, 8 described above may be replaced by wheels or sectors.