Patent GB-1183244-A (GB)
Title: Automatic Phonographs
Inventor: CORBETT MICHAEL JAMES
IPC: G11B17/30
Filed: 1968-02-28
Abstract: 1,183,244. Automatic phonographs. WURLITZER CO. 28 Feb., 1968 [1 March, 1967], No. 9645/68. Heading G5R. An automatic phonograph comprises a base, a record magazine and a record selection accumulator both supported by the base, a sensor arm connected to the magazine and rotated to sense record selections registered in the accumulator, and a counter assembly actuated on each revolution of the sensor arm, rotation of the sensor arm being maintained until the counter assembly has been actuated a predetermined number of times after the sensor arm senses a registration. A record changer assembly 30, in which the invention may be applied, is shown in Fig. 1 and comprises a base 32, a record magazine 34 containing records 38, a record transfer assembly 46, a turntable 52 with motor 56 and tone arm 60, and a control mechanism 64 for co-ordinating movement of transfer assembly 46, turntable 52 and tone arm 60. As shown in Fig. 3, the record magazine 34 containing records 38 is supported on the base 32, to the underside of which is secured a counter assembly 124 (shown from underneath in Fig. 5). A record selection accumulator 74 is also secured to the underside of the base and registers selections of records; a sensor arm assembly 70 for sensing the record selections is secured to the shaft 72 of the record magazine for rotation with the magazine by motor 84 driving ring gear 86. Selection of records is effected by control circuitry (not described) which, together with the accumulator 74 and a rotatable actuator assembly 94 (see below) preferably comprise a unit described in detail and claimed in Specification 1,183,242. The accumulator 74 includes an annular array of magnetically-susceptible pin members 92 which are movable from a lower (normal) position to an upper (signalling) position. The pin members are in two sets-one set, associated with one side of all the records, is located to be raised into the path of a switch arm 132, while the other set, associated with the other side of all the records, is located to be raised into the path of a switch arm 136. Whenever a particular side of a particular record is selected, an electromagnet 100 on the rotating actuator assembly 94 is energized at the appropriate point of rotation to attract, and thereby initiate the automatic raising of, the appropriate pin 92. The actuator assembly 94 is connected to a shaft 95 and rotated when necessary by a drive assembly independent of the sensor arm assembly 70; it includes other features described later. The sensor arm assembly 70, Figs. 3 and 5, includes sensing switches 128, 130, connected to switch arms 132 and 136 respectively, and a " pin member return " assembly 140 which restores pins to their normal positions after sensing by the switches. Operation, and counter construction.-When a record selection is made by a customer, rotation of actuator assembly 94 is begun, and during its rotation electromagnet 100 is energized to move the appropriate pin member 92 to signalling position, the assembly 94 continuing to rotate to a " home " position. During rotation, contacts 116, 118, Fig. 3, on actuator assembly 94, engage fixed contacts to energize an electromagnet 170 forming part of the counter assembly 124, Fig. 5, to reset a ratchet and double pawl mechanism to the " initial " position (Fig. 6, not shown) where a switch 214 is closed. The now-closed switch 214 energizes motor 84, Fig. 3, to drive magazine 34 and sensor arm assembly 70 in a counter-clockwise direction 196 as seen from underneath in Fig. 5. When a switch arm, 132 or 136, Fig. 3, engages a raised pin 92, control circuitry is energized to stop rotation of magazine 34 and sensor assembly 70, to transfer a record to turntable 52 and cause it to be played and then returned to the magazine, and finally to resume rotation of magazine 34 and sensor assembly 70. At the end of the first complete revolution of sensor assembly 70 an arm 190, Fig. 5, projecting from the assembly, trips the ratchet and pawl mechanism of counter 124 to an intermediate position where switch 214 is still closed. If no further selection has been made, a second complete revolution of sensor assembly 70 and magazine 34 takes place, at the end of which arm 190 trips the ratchet and pawl mechanism to the final position of Fig. 5, at which the mechanism opens switch 214, with consequent stopping of sensor assembly 70 in the position then shown. If the customer selects a second record during the second revolution of sensor assembly 70, electromagnet 170 will be energized to reset the ratchet and pawl mechanism to the "initial" position again. The sensor assembly 70 will now complete its second revolution and, at the end of it, index the counter to the " intermediate " position and start a third revolution. During the third revolution the sensor assembly 70 will sense, and initiate playing of, the second record. At the end of the third revolution the counter 124 will be indexed to the final position of Fig. 6 (not shown), once more and the sensor assembly 70 will stop. The ratchet and pawl mechanism may be constructed to provide more than one " intermediate " position of the counter 124.