Improvements in Devices for Changing the Needles of Sound Reproducing Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
..
Improvements in Devices for Changing the Needles of Sound
Reproducing Apparatus.
I, GUSTAV KORYTOWSKI, of Leipzig, Neuschönefeld, Eisenbahnstrasse 66-74,
in the Empire of Germany, Director of a Company, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The sound producing device in grammophones phonographs and like apparatus
is ordinarily provided with a needle which follows the sound grooves and such
needle is liable to wear, the wear being in some of the apparatus, especially in
grammophones a rapid one, thus necessitating frequent changing and conse-
quently also means to enable this to be effected.
It is preferable to connect the needle not directly upon the membrane of the
sound producer but to carry it in a lever arm attached by one end forming a
tubular holder in which the needle is fixed by means of a screw or the like.
Owing to the delicate mechanism of the sound producer a certain skill is
required for inserting and fixing the needle which therefore can not be done by
everyone.
According to this invention the releasing of the needle is effected by a single
pressure of the finger, or in automatic apparatus the pressure may be given by
a lever suitably operated.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:-
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the sound producer.
Figure 2 is a cross-section through the axis of the lower needle.
Figure 3 shows the arrangement of a locking spring, and
Figure 4 is a section through the magazine.
To the sound-producer e with membrane d is attached the needle-holder b in
the tubular ende of which is disposed the needle i secured by a screw k. The
needle transmits the movement it receives from the membrane d to the
cylinder W. At the rear of the tubular holder c is the magazine a a containing
a number of reserve needles i and a spring controlled plate o bearing down upon
the needles so as to keep the lowermost needle exactly in the axial line of the
tubular holder c. Behind the needle and in the axial line therewith is dis-
posed a plunger rod f so that by pressure being exerted upon the head or button
of this rod the tracer is advanced into the tubular holder c by pushing out
the needle therefrom.
On freeing the head of the rod the spring a returns it into its normal
position while the needles i in the magazine a are moved downwards by the
spring controlled plate o, thus bringing a fresh needle into position ready for
insertion. It is necessary to first loosen the screw previous to pushing out the
old needle and after insertion of a new needle to tighten the screw and care must
also be had to prevent the needle advancing too far in the tube c.
To this end the front portion of the tube c is made thinner than its rear
portion and is slit so as to act somewhat like springs and prevent the needle
from falling out.
The set screw which fixes the needle by a turn in the direction indicated

page_text: by the arrow Figure 2 is formed with
The plunger rod f is fitted with an arm
the pin m thereby loosening the screw
advanced to push the needle i¹.
a spring lever-arm carrying a pin m.
which moves with the rod f and strikes
before the plunger rod f has sufficiently
Obviously the screw k may be operated by other means such as by a toothed
rack, eccentric or the like.
Care has to be taken to prevent the lowermost needle from being in contact
with the operative needle as thereby the reproduced sound would be affected.
This is effected by a spring with nose p which enters sidewise into the maga-
zine a and retains the needle as shown at Figure 3.
The spring yields under the pressure of the plunger rodf but at the return
of this latter it re-enters the magazine.
It is preferable to construct the front of the magazine with an open space s
between two strips tt (Figure 4) so as to allow of readily ascertaining the number
of needles contained therein and if needed to enable the plate o to be pushed
down in order to completely empty the magazine. The magazine a may be made
removable from the sound-producer c so as to facilitate refilling. This may be
effected by fixing the lower end of the magazine into a U-shaped socket and then
locking it in position by hooks or other suitable means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
-:
1. In a reproducer for talking machines carrying a plurality of needles, means
for putting said needles into position, one after another, to reproduce sound.
2. In a reproducer for talking machines, a magazine containing a number of
reproducing needles, and means for putting said needles into position, one after
another, to reproduce sound.
3. In a reproducer for talking machines, a magazine attached to the sound
box and containing a number of reproducing needles, and means for putting said
needles into position, one after another, to reproduce sound.
4. In a reproducer for talking machines, a magazine attached to the sound
box and containing a number of reproducing needles, a needle holder, and means
for feeding said needles to the needle holder, consecutively.
5. In a reproducer for talking machines, a magazine attached to the sound
box, a plurality of reproducing needles contained in said magazine under tension,
a needle holder aligned with the lowermost needle, and means for feeding said
needles to the needle holder, consecutively.
6. In a reproducer for talking machines, a magazine attached to the sound box,
a plurality of reproducing needles contained in said magazine, a needle holder,
means for keeping the lowermost needle in axial alignment therewith, and plunger
mechanism for causing the needles to be inserted in the needle holder, one after
another, in position to reproduce sound.
7. In a reproducer for talking machines, a magazine attached to the sound
box, a plurality of reproducing needles contained in said magazine, a clamping
needle holder, a plunger device, and means connected with the needle holder
whereby when the plunger is actuated the used needle is released and a new one
substituted.
8. In a reproducer for talking machines, a magazine attached to the sound
box, a plurality of reproducing needles contained in said magazine, a clamping
needle holder, a plunger device axially aligned with said needle holder and the
lowermost needle, means connected with the needle holder whereby when the
plunger is actuated the used needle is released and a new one substituted, and
suitable means to prevent a second needle working forward while a needle is
operating.
9. A needle holder consisting of a split tubular member having a clamping
set-screw operated by an eccentric.

page_text: 10. A needle holder consisting of a tubular member split longitudinally and
slightly tapered and having a clamping spring set-screw operated by an eccentric.
11. A magazine for talking machines containing a plurality of superposed
needles under tension.
12. A magazine for talking machines, adapted and arranged to contain a
plurality of needles and having a sight opening, a spring block bearing upon said
needles, and a lateral slot near the base of said magazine, with a reed or spring
having a projection normally bearing upon the lowermost needle to hold same
in position.
13. The split needle holder e having spring pressed set screw and the
eccentric m, in combination with the spring-pressed plunger f in axial alignment
with said needle holder and having an arm / adapted when said plunger is de-
pressed to actuate the eccentric.
14. The combination in a talking machine, of a reproducer having a magazine
provided with a sight extending the length thereof and with a slot near its lower
end, a plurality of reproducing needles contained in said magazine, a clamping
needle holder, a plunger device axially aligned with said needle holder and the
lowermost needle, means connected with the needle holder whereby when the
plunger is actuated the used needle is discarded and a new one substituted there-
for, and a spring having a projection located in said slot and normally tending
to prevent a second needle working forward while a needle is operating.
15. The combination, in a talking machine, of a reproducer having a magazine
attached to the sound box and provided with a sight extending the length there-
of and with a slot near its lower end, a removable connection between the maga-
zine and the second box, a plurality of reproducing needles contained in said
magazine, a clamping needle-holder, a plunger device axially aligned with said
needle holder and with the lowermost needle, means connected with the needle
holder whereby when the plunger is actuated the used needle is discarded and a
new one substituted therefor, and a spring having a nose or projection located
in said slot and normally tending to prevent a second needle from working for-
ward while a needle is operating.
11
1 11900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.