Improvements in Griphophones.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
Improvements in Griphophones.
I, GEORGE WASHINGTON MOORE, of Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States
of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has relation to phonographs, graphophones, and other sound
recording and reproducing instruments; and it has for its object generally to
improve the construction of the means heretofore employed for supporting a
plurality of phonogram-cylinders so that any one of them may, by the movement
of the lever, be brought into operative relationship with the rotary device of the
apparatus and take the place of the one previously engaged herewith. The
specific objects and the advantages of the invention will readily appear from
the following description.
The invention consists in certain peculiarities in the construction, arrangement
and combination of the several parts, substantially as hereinafter described and
pointed out in the subjoined claims.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,
Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a phonograph embodying my improvements,
with one of the shafts carrying the phonogram-cylinders in operative relationship
with the main operating shaft.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, with all of the phonogram-cylinder
shafts out of engagement with the main operating shaft.
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the forward disc and the cylinders and their
shafts.
Figure 5 is a side view of the lever mechanism for operating the cylinders to
bring one of the latter out, and another into operative relationship with the main
operating shaft.
Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a detailed view of parts of the phonogram-cylinders and lever
mechanism therefor showing in dotted lines the position of the parts when said
lever mechanism has pushed said cylinders longitudinally upon shaft B.
Figure 8 is a detailed view showing the connection of dog L with lever H.
Figure 9 is an end view of one of the shafts supporting a phonogram-cylinder,
showing the series of openings therein.
The same letters of reference designate the same parts in the several figures.
A designates the shaft of a phonograph, graphophone, or other sound recording
or reproducing machine, which shaft is driven by the usual, or any suitable means
and revolves the phonogram-cylinder for the purpose of recording sound waves
thereupon, or of re-producing the recorded sound waves.
B designates a stationary bar or axle, upon which is mounted a frame embodying
two discs and C₁, that are movable longitudinally upon, as well as being
rotatable around said bar or axle. These discs support the journaled shafts 1, 2, 3,
aud 4 to which are respectively secured the tapered cylinders D, D', D and D³
which carry the tablets d, d¹, d and d³ upon which the sound waves are recorded.
One end of each of said cylinders has a threaded engagement with its shaft while

page_text: its opposite end is provided with a split and tapered threaded thimble which
embraces the shaft and is held closely thereto by a threaded nut d. This con-
struction is very advantageous because it enables the cylinders to be most nicely
and accurately adjusted upon their respective shafts and rigidly held in their
adjusted position. The extremities of the shafts are also formed with tapering
recesses, of which those at one end receive the tapering ends of pins c' and those
at the other end receive pins a and a projecting from the adjacent end of the
rotating shaft A. It will be obvious that when one of the shafts 1, 2, 3 and 4 is
attached to the shaft A, the former with its cylinder and tablet is revolved with
the latter, while the others of said first mentioned shafts remain stationary. The
pins c¹ serve as center-pins upon which the respective shafts 1, 2, 3, and 4 rotate,
and said center-pins are removably attached to the disc C¹ by screws c. If it
is desirable or necessary to change the cylinder, such change may be accomplished.
after the shaft and cylinder have been removed from the machine by unscrewing
nut d and the cylinder, in the order named, and by screwing another upon the shaft
and a nut upon the thimble thereof. The axle B is also removably supported in
position, as will readily be seen by an inspection of the accompanying drawings.
To remove a cylinder and its shaft from the machine, it is only necessary to
release the center-pin engaging one end of said shaft from engagement with the
screw, by loosening the latter, and then to slide the cylinder and its shaft
end wise until said shaft is disengaged from the driving shaft, which movement is
permitted by reason of the fact that the center-pin may slide outward within its
opening in disc C'.
The series of circularly arranged recesses in the end of each shaft 1, 2, 3, and 4,
that receive the pin a' projecting from shaft A are set closely together, as shown
in Fig. 9, and they are preferably reamed out so that the walls between them present
sharp edges, as by such construction the pin a' will be caused unfailingly to enter
one of said recesses when the shaft provided with the latter is brought into
operative relationship with the shaft A provided with the former.
Disc C is provided with a plurality of recesses E, corresponding in number and
position with the phonogram-cylinders, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Said recesses
receive, one at a time, a tapered projection F extending from the adjacent part of
the frame of the phonograph. A suitable spring C2, preferably of the form shown,
engages disc C¹ and exerts a pressure which keeps the pins and recesses above
mentioned normally in engagement with each other.
Arranging the spring C2 so that it presses the discs and the parts carried thereby
toward the driving shaft is productive of important advantages, in that with such
construction one spring only is necessary and the lever mechanism need only be
of such nature that it will force the discs etc., first longitudinally to disengage the
pins and recesses from each other and then rotatively until the shaft of the
desired cylinder is opposite the main driving shaft.
The means for effecting the combined movement of the discs and parts carried"
thereby will now be described.
Formed in the face of disc C is a circular groove G within which are a series
of teeth g corresponding in number with the number of phonogram cylinders
employed and relatively so arranged in the groove G as respectively to register
with the space between the two cylinders.
H designates a normally vertical lever the upper end of which is loosely sleeved
upon a stud h, projecting from the phonograph frame, and the lower end of which
is connected with an approximately horizontal pivoted link I having a slide J
which travels in guides ; secured to the under side of the phonograph table or
support and is provided with the outwardly extending operating handle K. A
dog L projects diagonally from said lever into the groove G in the disc C, and a.
projection M enters a groove m in the phonograph-frame and guides the lever in
its movement. The dog L is secured to the lever H by a ball and socket, or other,
suitable joint which will enable its free end to travel freely in the circular
groove G, and to said ball is secured one end of a pin the other end of which

page_text: extends through a slit in the socket so that the dog will thereby be prevented from
turning out of position which would disengage it from said groove. The dog is
also engaged by a spring L' of suitable construction, which tends to hold its free
end within groove G, so that it will accomplish its function more efficiently, and at
the same time permits it to move upon its joint l.
From the foregoing the operation of my invention will be readily understood to
be as follows. In Fig. 1 shaft 1 is shown engaged with shaft A. When it is
desired to bring another shaft, as for example 2, into operative relationship with
said operating shaft, the operator pulls handle K toward him, thus turning lever H
upon its fulcrum and causing dog L first to traverse groove G until it is brought
into engagement with the adjacent tooth g, and then gradually to overcome the
power of spring C2 and turn upon its joint 7 and assume a position at substantially
right angles with said lever H, thereby forcing said discs C and C₁ longitudinally
upon axle B and disengaging said cylinder shaft 1 from the driving shaft and
disc C from projection F. Further outward movement of the handle rotates said
discs around said axle and brings the next shaft 2 in line with the driving shaft.
At this point movement of the handle may be automatically stopped by any
suitable means, such as the adjustable collar arranged to engage the frame of the
machine. A spring will preferably be provided, so arranged that the operator
may now release the handle and the lever mechanism will automatically be returned
to its normal position. During this return movement of the lever mechanism, the
free end of the dog moves backward in the groove G and rides over the next
succeeding tooth 9 and stops in position which will enable it to engage said tooth
when another cylinder is to be brought into operation. When the handle is
released, spring C³ forces the discs longitudinally toward the driving shaft and
pins a, a¹ and F are caused to engage their respective recesses in the end of said
shaft 2 and face of disc C.
..
The pin F and recesses E above referred to are important and advantageous
elements of my construction as they co-act to turn the discs etc. so as to bring the
pins of shaft A into direct alignment with the recesses in the adjacent cylinder-
shaft (1, 2, 3, and 4) when the latter is brought to within, say one-sixteenth of an
inch of its proper position by the means above specified. In order to cause said
pin F positively and properly to engage said recess E when the latter is brought
to it by the rotation of the disc, said pin is made considerably longer than pin a on
shaft A and supplemental recesses e are formed in the face of disc C. These
supplemental recesses are arranged concentric with recess G and communicate
respectively with a recess E and are of gradually increasing depth from their
outer ends to the latter.
N designates shields which are arranged to partly encircle the cylinders and
serve to keep the particles of wax cut from one cylinder from falling on to another.
These shields extend throughout the whole length of their respective cylinders
and empty their contents when their mouths open downward.
While I have shown four cylinders I wish it understood that the use of any
number more than one is. contemplated by me. I also wish it understood that
while the construction herein shown and described is preferred by me to all others
with which I have experimented, yet many of its details may be varied without
departing from the spirit of my invention and the liberty to vary such details
I therefore reserve to myself.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I deciare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination with the
driving shaft having pins projecting from one end, an axle, discs rotatably and
slidably mounted upon said axle and formed with recesses and supplemental
recesses, said supplemental recesses communicating with said first-mentioned

page_text: recesses and being of gradually increasing depth, a pin designed to engage
said recesses, and the cylinder shafts, carried by said discs and formed with
recesses to receive the pins of the driving shaft, substantially as described.
2. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination with the
driving shaft, of the journaled cylinder shaft having means for locking it to said
driving shaft and exteriorly threaded near one end, the cylinder adjustably
mounted upon said cylinder shaft and revolved therewith, said cylinder having
threads at one end engaging the threads of its shaft and provided with a split and
tapered thimble at its other end through which said shaft extends, and a threaded nut
engaging said thimble and forcing the same against said shaft, substantially as
described.
3. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination with the
driving shaft, the cylinder shaft, detachably engaged with said driving shaft and
threaded near one end, and slidably supported center-pins, of the cylinder,
threaded at one end to engage said threaded end of its shaft and having its other
end provided with a split tapered thimble having threads on its outside, and the
threaded nut engaging said thimble, substantially as described.
4. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of a
plurality of phonogram-cylinders, and shields partly encircling said cylinders and
preventing the wax cut from one dropping onto another, substantially as
described.
5. The combination with the driving shaft of a sound recording and reproducing
machine, of an axle, discs rotatably and slidably mounted upon said axle, one of
said discs having a circular groove and teeth in said groove, a spring engaging
one of said discs, cylinder-carrying shafts carried by said driving shaft, a dog the
end of which is adapted to traverse said groove and to engage the teeth, and a
lever to which said dog is jointed, substantially as described.
6. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination with the
driving shaft, the rotatable and slidable discs, one of said discs having a circular
groove provided with teeth, a spring engaging the other disc, and the cylinder
shafts designed to be detachably locked to said driving shaft, of a pawl engaging
said groove and teeth, and means for operating said pawl to move said dises
and shafts away from the driving shaft and then to rotate them, substantially as
described.
7. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination with the
driving shaft, an axle, a frame loosely mounted upon said axle, a plurality of
phonogram-cylinders carried by said frame, and means for locking said cylinders
one at a time to said shaft, of mechanism for bringing a different cylinder into
operative relationship with said shaft, consisting of a lever mechanism for forcing
the frame longitudinally upon the axle to disengage the cylinder from the shaft
and then move it rotatably around said axle until the proper cylinder has been
brought opposite said shaft, and a spring engaging the end of the frame remote
from the driving shaft and operating to push said frame toward said shaft,
substantially as described.
8. The combination with the driving shaft, having pins a and a¹ projecting from
one of its ends, of a longitudinally movable and rotative frame, and the phonogram-
cylinder shafts carried by said frame and each having in one end a main recess to
receive pin a and a circular series of closely set recesses to receive pin a', sub-
stantially as described and for the purpose specified.
a
9. The combination with the driving shaft of a sound recording and reproducing
machine, of the rotative and slidable plates carrying plurality of phonogram-
cylinders, one of said plates having recesses corresponding in number with the
number of phonogram-cylinders, and also having supplemental recesses of
gradually increasing depth communicating with said first mentioned recesses, a
projection from the phonograph frame designed to enter said recesses, and means
for pressing the plates toward said projection, substantially as described.

page_text: 10. The combination with the driving shaft of a sound recording and reproducing
machine, discs rotatably and slidably mounted upon said axle, one of said discs
having a circular groove and teeth in said groove, cylinder-carrying shafts carried
by said discs and provided with means for locking them to said driving shaft, a
pivoted lever, a dog having a ball and socket connection with said lever, a spring.
engaging said dog, and an operating handle connected with said lever, substantially
as specified.
11. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination with a
longitudinally movable and rotative frame, provided with a plurality of cylinder-
carrying shafts, of a lever mechanism for moving said frame longitudinally and
rotatively, said lever mechanism embodying a dog having one end engaged with
said frame, a pivoted lever to which the other end of said dog is jointed, and an.
operating handle for said lever, substantially as specified.
12. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination with a
rotative frame carrying a plurality of cylinder supporting shafts and with the
phonogram table having guides, of a slide traveling in said guides, a lever-
connected with said frame, a link connecting the lower end of said lever with the
slide, and a handle for operating said slide.
13. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of a table
having a groove m, a frame carrying a plurality of cylinder-supporting shafts, said
frame having one of its ends formed with a groove provided with teeth, an axle
upon which said frame is loosely mounted, a lever having a projection extending
into the said groove in the table, a normally inclined dog pivoted to said lever and
extending into the said groove in the frame, and mechanism operating said lever to.
cause the dog first to assume a horizontal position, and then to rotate, substantially
as described.
14. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of a spring-
pressed frame provided with a plurality of cylinder-carrying shafts and rotatably
and suitably mounted upon its support, said frame having its end remote from the
spring provided with teeth, a normally inclined dog engaging said teeth, and means
for causing said dog first to assume horizontal position and then to rotate,.
substantially as described.
15. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of the
frame, the driving shaft, the revoluble discs, the journaled cylinder shafts carried
by said discs, and a projection from the frame, the inner ends of the cylinder
shafts being formed to present locking surfaces to the adjacent end of the driving
shaft, and the inner of said discs having recesses co-operating with the pro-
jection from the frame to guide the cylinder shafts into engagement with the
driving shaft.
16. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination with the
frame, the driving shaft, the revoluble discs, the journaled cylinder-shafts,
carried by said discs and having their inuer ends formed to lock with the
adjacent end of the driving shaft, and a lever mechanism for bringing a
different cylinder to the driving shaft, of a spring and guiding means operating
to cause the cylinder-shaft brought adjacent to the driving shaft to engage the
same.
17. The combination with the slidable and revoluble frame, the plurality of
cylinders carried thereby, and the spring pressing said frame in one direction, of
a lever, an operating handle connected with said lever, and a dog, one end
of which engages the end of the frame remote from the spring and the other
end of which has a ball and socket connection with said lever, said dog having
a pin extending through a slot in the wall of the socket, for the purpose
specified.
18. The combination with the slidable and revoluble frame, the plurality of
cylinders carried thereby, and a spring pressing said frame in one direction, of
a lever an operating handle therefor, a dog, one end of which engages the end
of the frame remote from the spring and the other end of which has a ball

page_text: and socket connection with said lever, a pin extending from the ball through a slot
in the wall of the socket, and a spring engaging said dog.
Dated this 29th September 1896.
CHARLES JUNGE,
Agent for Applicant.