Improvements in and connected with Phonographs and like Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Phonographs and like
Apparatus.
I, LOUIS ROSENTHAL, of 6, Rückertstrasse, Frankfort-on-Maine, in the (Jerman.
Empire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to phonographs and like apparatus and has for one of
its objects to provide means whereby on the insertion of a coin, or token, a crank,
or equivalent operating device is put into such connection with the winding
mechanism of a spring-motor actuating the phonograph, or the like, that
the said motor can be wound up. The motor is stopped by a lever mechanism
which is connected with or operates, a lever which is depressed by the weight
of the ear piece, or pieces, when it, or they, is or are suspended therefrom,
thereby stopping the motor. When the ear piece, or pieces, is, or are, removed
the lever rises and releases the motor which then operates the phonograph or the
like. On the spring barrel of the motor, or other suitable moving part, is a pro-
jection, which, after the spring has been wound up, separates the connection
between the crank, or the like and the motor and thus prevents the apparatus
from being again wound up, without the insertion of another coin, or token. A
lever or the like may be combined with the motor by means of which lever or
the like when the winding is effected a bell or other signal will be actuated to
indicate that the apparatus is ready for use.
A further object of my invention is to provide means to deaden, or prevent as
far as possible extraneous sounds in phonographs and like instruments. For
this purpose the record tablet or cylinder is arranged upon a vertical or upright
shaft or spindle, which runs in a guide or foot-step bearing and is during the
operation of the apparatus, forced into the said bearing by the action of a worm,
mounted on the said shaft or spindle, with which worm, a worm wheel, driven by
the motor, gears so as to cause the shaft, or spindle to be depressed in the
bearing, by which means a braking effect is obtained such that disturbing vibra-
tions in the mechanism are prevented, or much lessened.
"The whole apparatus when arranged for being actuated by a coin, or token,
as aforesaid, may be arranged in a casing which may be similar to that of a tele-
phonic instrument, which my instrument can be made to resemble in appearance
especially if the crank, or operating device, and the ear piece, or pieces, and
also the signal bell (if used) be shaped and arranged like those of a telephone.
An incandescent lamp may be arranged in the casing, which said lamp is main-
tained at incandescence whilst the phonograph is actuated by the circuit of the
said lamp being completed on the insertion of a coin or token. By this means
a picture having reference to the work of the phonograph or the like, or an adver-
tisement, can be exhibited.
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Phonographs and like
Apparatus.
I, LOUIS ROSENTHAL, of 6, Rückertstrasse, Frankfort-on-Maine, in the German
Empire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to phonographs and like apparatus and has for one of
its objects to provide means whereby on the insertion of a coin, or token, a crank,
or equivalent operating device is put into such connection with the winding
mechanism of a spring or other motor actuating the phonograph, or the like, that
the said motor can be wound up. The motor is stopped by a lever mechanism,
which, is connected with, or operates a lever which is depressed by the weight
of the ear piece, or pieces, when it, or they, is, or are, suspended therefrom,
thereby stopping the motor. When the ear piece, or pieces, is, or are, removed,
the lever rises and releases the motor which then operates the phonograph, or the
like. On the spring barrel of the motor, or other suitable moving part, is a pro-
jection which, after the spring has been wound up, separates the connection
between the crank, or the like, and the motor, and thus prevents the apparatus
from being again wound up, without the insertion of another coin, or token. A
lever, or the like, may be combined with the motor, by means of which lever, or
the like, when the winding is effected, a bell or other visible or audible signal
will be actuated to indicate that the apparatus is ready for use.
A further object of my invention is to provide means to deaden, or prevent, as
far as possible, extraneous sounds in phonographs and like instruments. For
this purpose the record tablet, or cylinder, is arranged upon a vertical, or upright,
shaft, or spindle, which runs in a guide, or foot-step bearing and is, during the
operation of the apparatus, forced into the said bearing by the action of a worm,
mounted on the said shaft or spindle, with which worm a worm wheel, driven by
the motor, gears, so as to cause the shaft, or spindle, to be depressed in the
bearing, by which means a braking effect is obtained such that disturbing vibra-
tions in the mechanism are prevented, or much lessened.
The whole apparatus, when arranged for being actuated by a coin, or token
as aforesaid, may be arranged in a casing which may be similar to that of a tele-
phonic instrument which my instrument can be made to resemble in appearance
especially if the crank, or operating device, and the ear piece, or pieces, and
also the signal bell (if used) be shaped and arranged like those of a telephone thus
facilitating its use by the public.
An incandescent lamp may be arranged in the casing, which said lamp is main-
tained at incandescence whilst the phonograph is actuated by the circuit of the
said lamp being completed on the insertion of a coin or token. By this means
a picture having reference to the work of the phonograph or the like, or an adver-
tisement can be exhibited.
The apparatus with its mechanism is illustrated in the accompanying drawing,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a plan of the whole apparatus with top carriage and sound box
removed.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus showing the transporting carriage.
Fig. 3 shows in perspective the stopping mechanism employed.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the carriage with roller hereinafter described.
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the apparatus shewing the hopper g for the recep-
tion of a coin, and the sound box h.

page_text: Fig. 7 shows in elevation the end of the driving crank with its connecting tappet
and wheel gearing therewith.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view shewing the releasing mechanism for the toothed
wheel.
Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 10 illustrates a regulator or governor employed for controlling the clock-
work.
Fig. 11 is an interior elevation of the upper portion of the casing with door
opened shewing the bell-or-gong-and-hammer, hook levers for the ear pieces and
the electric lighting device and connections.
Fig. 12 is an external perspective view of the whole apparatus enclosed in its
casing, and
Fig. 13 illustrates the arrangement of gearing drawn to a larger scale employed
for preventing disturbing noises while the instrument is in use.
The
The coin on being passed through the slot A provided in the casing, drops into
the hopper, g, on the end of one arm of a lever n, depressing the said arm and
thereby raising the other arm which is provided with a counterweight o.
lever in this movement by means of a connection p draws up a lever q causing a
bolt r, to rise (Figs. 2, 5, and 8) and release a bolt 28 which bolt under the
influence of a spring s (Fig. 1) mounted thereon and previously kept in compres
sion moves forward a toothed wheel loose on a spindle by means of a forked
lever 29 on the said bolt 28 so that a tappet k mounted on a boss on the crank k
Fig. 7 is caused to enter a recess in the said wheel which is now locked with
and can be rotated by a crank handle on the said crank ¹. The revolving
toothed wheel drives a toothed wheel u by means of the intermediate toothed
cylinder whereby the spring in the spring barrel a (Fig. 1) is wound up, which
on being released, in the manner hereinafter described turns by means of the
toothed wheel d (Fig. 13) mounted on the barrel and the worm c mounted on
the shaft Z¹ the sound plate z and thus reproduces the sounds; the worm wheel y
on the shaft Z gears with the worm y¹ on the governor spindle and so drives
the governor 12.
The clockwork is released in the following manner;-
Upon an extension of the winding shaft 1 of the spring barrel a cam disc 2
(Figs. 1, 9) is mounted, the cam 3 of which, upon each revolution of the disc,
turns a star wheel 4 adjacent thereto, to the extent of one tooth. As the cam 3
engages with the last tooth of the said star wheel 4, a cam or tappet 5, mounted
thereon meets a pin 7, fast on a bolt 6, and in its movement pushes the bolt
forward, against the action of a coiled spring 8, in such a manner that the said
bolt comes into the position represented in Fig. 9.
On the front part of the bolt 6 a slide bolt 9 is pivotally secured, which is
adapted to fall into a tumbler 10 fixed on the base plate of the apparatus thereby
retaining the bolt 6 in its forward position. On the bolt 6 a spring 11 is
arranged which checks the regulator 12 of the clockwork which is released by
pushing the bolt 6 forward. On the bolt 6 is also a pin 13 which can strike
against a nose 14* of a hinged piece 14 when the said bolt is moved to the left
The hinged piece 14 is loosely pivoted on the lever 15 so that when the pin 13
catches against the nose 14* in its movement to the left the lever 15 is caused to
rock on its pivot whereby the bell (Fig. 11) is caused to ring by the connection m¹
the sounding of which bell indicates the moment at which the user should unhook
the ear piece as the mechanism will now be ready to start. If subsequently the
ear piece is removed from its hook a and so the weight on the lever b and line 61
removed the spring 17 connected with an angle piece 16, pulls back a bolt 18.
On this bolt 18 is a spring 19 which, as it slides back, will on its part release the
regulator 12.
The sound box h which had been previously held in an upward or raised posi-

page_text: tion by a pin 21 projecting from one of a set of levers 20 bearing upon a cam 22
of a cam disc 23 (Figs. 2 and 5) is now lowered by the rotation of the cam
disc 23 so that its stylus h¹ rests upon the sound plate z and remains upon the
said sound plate until the cam disc 23 has completed its revolution when the
pin 21 is again raised by the cam 22.
to
(Fig. 7) becomes disengaged
until by the insertion of a
The bolt 28 is then stopped
compression and the toothed
The spring barrel a simultaneously by the aid of the gearing 12 turns the
toothed cylinder 24 mounted loosely upon a shaft, and this cylinder by the aid
of an intermediate toothed wheel 25 rotates a curved drum 26. This latter-is-so
arranged as to push a sliding rod 27 against the bolt 28 (see Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 8)
when the spring barrel begins to unwind. The bolt 28 so pushed back by means
of a forked lever 29 actuated by the same, then causes the toothed wheel
retire in such a manner that the pink of the crank
from the said wheel and the crank again runs idle,
fresh coin the toothed wheel can again be operated.
by the aid of the sliding bolt r the spring s being in
wheel is retained in its inoperative position.
Against the curved edge of the drum 26 a roller or pin f (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) is
applied which is mounted on a carriage e for transporting the sound box h and
which moves the carriage forward as the drum is rotated. When, the carriage
has reached its outermost point the roller f becomes free upon further rotation of
the drum 26 and the carriage e and the sound box are returned to their original
positions by the spiral spring 30. At the same time the carriage e releases the
sliding bolt 9 (Figs. 2, 3 and 9) by the action of a noose 31 mounted on the said
carriage striking a rocking piece 9* on the said bolt 9 and so raising the same
from the catch 10 whereupon the bolt G falls back under the action of the
spring 8 and again stops the regulator 12 and the clockwork connected therewith
by means of the spring 11 passing between the weighted arms of the said regu-
lator. The rocking piece is provided with a stop on one side and a bent wire
on the other to limit its movement in either direction (Figs. 3 and 9).
further stoppage of the mechanism is then effected in the manner already
described by placing the car piece on the hook a.
The
e
In order to prevent the regulator 12 and jointly therewith the clock work from
being stopped by the spring 19 owing to the premature hooking of the ear piece
on its lever the double lever 16 is retained during the action of the clock-work
by an oscillating trap 32 (Figs. 1 and 2) pivotally mounted on the frame work
of the apparatus. The said trap in its normal position retains the bolt 18 by its
face contacting with the shoulder 18* on the end of the said bolt; but when the
carriage e has completed its return journey, its edge strikes against the trap
bringing the opening therein 32 into a position to allow of the bolt 18 passing
through (Fig. 3), whereupon the regulator is locked by the spring 19 passing
between the weighted arms of the same.
To ensure a support for the sound box while not impeding its lateral move-
ments, its bracket 33 is held in position at both sides by means of a spring or
springs (Fig. 6).
The general operation of apparatus as a whole is as follows-
By the insertion of a coin into the slot A of the apparatus the lever u is rocked
on its pivot raising the lever q and bolt r so that the bolt 28 is released and moved
by the springs (previously in compression) and the forked lever 29 on the said
bolt 28 causes the toothed wheel to engage with the crank . The clockwork
can then be wound up. The release of the clockwork takes place after a complete
revolution of the star wheel 4 by the withdrawal of the spring 11 on the bolt 6
and the spring 19 on the bolt 18 the latter movement being effected by the
removal of the car piece from its hook as already described, the movement of
the bolt 6 also rings the bell e informing the user that the phonograph is ready
to commence working. On the release of the regulator the shaft z¹ with its
sound plate z is rotated by the clockwork, the sound box is also lowered with

page_text: r
its stylus so that the latter rests on the said sound plate this movement being
effected by the rotation of the cam disc 23 through gearing a 24, 25 the pin 21
dropping from the cam 22, Fig. 5. At the same time the curved drum 26 is
rotated whereby through the rod 27 the bolt 28 is pushed back, being retained
by the bolt and the toothed wheel is again disengaged from the crank k. The
curved drum in its rotation causes through the bolt f the requisite forward move-
ment of the carriage e and sound box h, the return of the same being obtained by
the spring 30; in this backward movement the noose 31 on the carriage e releases
the bolt 9 so that the spring 11 again comes against the regulator and stops the
clockwork.
During the working of the apparatus an electric light (Figure 11) may be
brought to incandescence so that any suitable graphic representation picture or
advertisement will become illuminated thereby in front of the user. This is
effected in the following manner:-
The cam disc 23 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) which is made of a good conductor of elec-
tricity is connected with one (+) pole of a battery B, mounted on a bracket B
in the upper part of the casing Fig. 11. The other (-) pole of the battery is
connected with a spring contact 34 having its upper end bearing against the cam
disc 23. The incandescent lamp d is placed in the circuit of the battery as indi-
cated in Fig. 11. The said disc 23 is provided at one part of its surface with an
ebonite plate 35 which only comes against the contact 34 when the mechanism
and the disc are at rest, so breaking the circuit. When the disc 23 begins to
rotate, the plate 35 leaves the contact 34 which latter will now come against the
metal of the disc so completing the circuit and lighting the lamp and illuminating
the picture or advertisement placed in front thereof.
In phonographs, as hitherto constructed, it has been found that the trans-
mission of motion from the spring barrel (or the drum when a weight is used)
to the plate or the cylinder, by means of gear wheels and also the unavoidable
jerks occurring as the spring unwinds, gave rise to shocks or concussions or
vibration during the reproduction of sounds. The interposition of elastic dampers
to keep the sensitive parts separate has had little or no remedial effect.
The device represented in Figure 13 removes this objection; it consists of the
worm c on the shaft z¹ which carries the sound plate z one end of which shaft
turns in a step-bearing 23; the said worm engages a worm wheel on the shaft
of the spring barrel as already described the spirals or convolutions of the said
worm c being so arranged that, when in motion, they tend to press the shaft z¹
downwards and firmly against the step-bearing 2.
The motion of the spring barrel, instead of being transmitted to the main shaft
direct, may be conveyed thereto through the medium of suitable gear-wheels, the
only essential conditions being that a worm mounted upon the shaft may engage
with a part of machinery provided with correspondingly directed spirals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. An automatic coin-freed instrument adapted to serve as a phonograph,
graphophone, gramophone, echo-graph or any other sound reproducing apparatus,
wherein the insertion of a coin or token causes the winding-up device of a motor
controlling the operating mechanism, (no matter whether such motor be operated
by a spring or by weights)-to move into engagement with a winding-up
mechanism or crank arranged outside the apparatus, and wherein, after the motor
has been wound up, the removal of the ear-piece from the hook arranged upon the
releasing lever, causes the mechanism to be freed and the instrument to come into
operation substantially as described.
2. The combination of the coupling gear between the motor and the winding-up
mechanism or crank, and connecting mechanism operated by a coin or token so
arranged that when the coupling is out of gear, the winding-up mechanism or

page_text: crank may be turned either to the left or to the right without any action on the
apparatus substantially as described.
3. In apparatus of the type described, the combination with the winding-up
mechanism of an audible or visible indicating device which is adapted to operate
under the action of the winding-up crank, to indicate when the motor is fully
wound up substantially as set forth.
4. In automatic coin-freed apparatus as described in the first claiming clause
the combination with the motor of a battery in the circuit of which is an incan-
descent electric lamp which, effects the illumination of a graphic representation,
picture or advertisement, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. In apparatus of the kind hereinbefore described, the combination with a
motor of a worm wheel gearing with a worm on the shaft carrying the sound
plate, working in a footstep bearing for preventing shocks or jerks substantially
as hereinbefore described.
6. An instrument of the kind hereinbefore described enclosed in a case so as to
resemble and to be used in a similar manner as telephonic apparatus substantially
as set forth and shewn in Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a coin-freed phono-
graphic or like apparatus substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
Thatod this 1st day of March 1800
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents..