Improvements in Coin-freed Grammophones.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-freed Grammophones.
A communication to me from the MUSIкWERKE ORPHEUS, LUDWIG & Co.,
Command. Gesellschaft, of Leipzig Neuschönefeld, in the Empire of
Germany.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Chartered Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, 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, and accompanying drawings, that is to say:-
:-
This invention has for its object improvements in grammophones automatically
set in action by the introduction of a predetermined coin, a disc operated by
clockwork being set free by the introduction of the coin, the movement of the
clockwork also effecting the shifting of the vibrating sound disc and the parts.
connected with it, so that after each performance they are brought back to their
starting point, in readiness for the insertion of a fresh coin. As only a single
driving movement is required for the entire mechanism, the whole apparatus is
very simple as compared with grammophones as heretofore used, whilst greater
certainty in operation, as well as durability, are attained.
In the accompanying drawings, which are in illustration of the invention;
Figures 1 to 3 show the apparatus at rest, and Figures 4 to 6 after it has been in
operation for a short time.
Figures 1 and 4 are transverse sections, Figures 2 and 5 vertical, and Figures 3
and 6 horizontal sections.
The case a containing the sounding disc, which is fixed upon the sound dis-
tributor b, is with the latter carried in the usual way by two pivotted arms.c moving
at right angles to each other which are supported by means of a roller d upon a
curved lever e pivotted at one end so that it can rise and fall. The free end of
this lever is supported by a rod or link f which is pivotted to one arm of a lever g,
the other arm of which is connected to, or pressed down by, one end of a lever
the other end of which is turned down and rests upon the upper surface of a
disc k, which is made to revolve by the clockwork which drives the grammophone
disc s, so that it makes exactly one revolution whilst the apparatus is in action
during the time allowed by the payment of the coin.
The disc k is provided near its edge with an inclined cam I, and also with a hole
or depression m. The cam acts upon the lever i, whilst the hole m allows the free
turned-down and weighted end n of the lever n to hold the disc and prevent its
revolution until the weight of an inserted coin upon the other end of the arm raises
he end n and frees the disc k. The lever n also carries fixed to it an arm or
letent the end of which when the lever is raised enters the path of a fly q
Iriven in the usual way by the clockwork, and stops it. When a coin is again
nserted, the fly g is released as well as the disc k. The operation of the apparatus
s as follows: The determined coin having been inserted, the hooked end n¹ of

page_text: In
the releasing lever n is withdrawn from the depression m in the disc k, and at the
same time the arm p is withdrawn from the path of the fly 9 which is set free.
The clockwork accordingly starts, and the disc k commences to revolve; and
as the cam upon it moves round, the end of the lever i is set free and comes down
and rests upon the disc k, thereby allowing the sounding disc and case a and
the needle point to descend by their own weight upon the grammophone disc s.
order that the needle point may come down exactly at the proper place, the down-
ward movement may be regulated by a suitably arranged stop or guide which, as
well as the needle point itself, may be made adjustable. The clockwork is
arranged, by the ordinary well-known means, so that the grammophone disc is
stopped as soon as the disc k has made a complete revolution, the free end of the
lever i, which up to then has rested upon the surface of the disc k, being raised by
the cam l, and the free end of the curved lever e on which the sound distributor
and the sounding disc and needle point rest, being raised. The curved lever e
itself takes an inclined position, instead of remaining horizontal, and the trumpet
or sound distributor b and sounding disc and case a roll back by their own weight
to the starting point whilst the turned-down end of the releasing lever enters
the depression or hole m in the disc k, the end of the arm q again coming into the
path of the fly 9 and stopping its revolution. Everything is thus brought back to
the starting point, ready for a repetition of the operation, on the insertion of
another coin.
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 grammophone, in which the starting and stopping
of the clockwork driving the grammophone disc, and the movement of the sounding
disc and the parts connected with it, are effected and regulated, by the insertion
of a predetermined coin, substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In a grammophone of the kind claimed in Claim 1, the disc k set in revolu-
tion by clockwork, and having a depression or hole m in which engages the turned-
down end n¹ of a lever n operated to release the disc by the weight of an inserted
coin, and a cam on the disc k, which raises one end of a lever i the other end
of which supports a lever g connected with a curved pivotted lever e upon which
the sound distributor b and the vibrating sounding disc and case a, are supported
and travel, substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated.
Dated this 25th day of August 1898.
EDWARDS AND CO.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.