Improvements in Multiple Mandrel Attachments for Phonographs and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Multiple Mandrel Attachments for Phonographs
and the like.
I, ARTHUR BREMER ROBINSON, a Citizen of the United States, residing in Clough
Street, in the Town of Dickinson, County of Stark, and State of North Dakota,
Pharmacist, 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide improved means for supporting a
plurality of record cylinders for use in phonographs, graphophones, and the like,
in such manner that any one of them may by very simple means be brought into
operative relation with the mechanism for rotating it relatively to the recorder
or reproducer.
In carrying out my invention I provide a reel comprising a shaft, a disk, and
lateral supports for the mandrels, and to the shaft I apply a handle for turning
it, and an indicator for designating the position of the several mandrels. A spring
moves the reel in one direction, while by means of the handle the reel may be
moved against the force of the spring in the opposite direction. Devices are
employed for locking the reel in the position in which it is adjusted, and cach
mandrel shaft is provided with clutch mechanism by means of which it may be
connected with a power shaft which drives the shaft of the mandrel carrying the
cylinder which is adjusted to position adjacent to the recorder or reproducer. The
details of construction will be hereinafter specified.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of an apparatus
adapted to support and operate a plurality of record cylinders.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the reel.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus, with some of the parts broken away
or removed.
Fig. 4 is a detail view in section of the devices for stopping and holding a reel
while one of the record cylinders is being rotated.
Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the clutch mechanism for connecting the
power shaft with the mandrel shaft of the cylinder which has been adjusted to
position adjacent to the recorder or reproducer.
Fig. 7 is an end view of one member of the clutch, and
Fig. 8 is an end view of the other member thereof.
The bed-plate, A, is provided with a standard, B, through which extends a
shaft, C, which may be called the reel shaft, or magazine shaft, inasmuch as the
reel carries a plurality of cylinders. One end of the shaft is supported in bearings
in the standard, B, while the opposite end is secured to a hub, d, on a disk, D).
The hub, l, is provided with a recess, , into which extends a stud, E, projecting
from an upright frame piece, F, which projects upwardly from an elevated
frame, G, mounted on the bed-plate, A. The shaft, C, is provided with a
handle, H, by means of which it may be turned in either direction. The shaft,
it will be observed, is thus supported at opposite ends and held in proper align-
077

page_text: Between the
ment, and when the shaft is turned the disk, D, turns with it.
standard, B, and the hub, d, is interposed a coiled spring, I, which is placed
under proper tension to normally push the shaft, C, to the right, as viewed in the
drawings. When the shaft is pulled to the left by means of the handle, H, it puts
the spring under compression, and when the handle is released the spring returns
the shaft to its original position. The disk, D, carries a series of laterally pro-
jecting sleeves, J, which are parallel with each other and project inwardly and
are parallel with the shaft, C. Mandrel shafts, K, extend through the sleeves, J,
and these shafts support the mandrels, L, for the record cylinders. The sleeves, J,
are held in place by means of set-screws, j, extending inwardly from the periphery
of the disk, D, and these set-screws also extend into annular grooves, k, on the
shafts, K. Thus both the sleeves, J, and mandrel shafts, K, are held firmly in
position on the disk, D, and they may be readily removed therefrom when desired
by loosening the set-screws, j. By properly manipulating the set-screws either
the shafts, K, together with the mandrels, L, may be removed, or both the
shafts, K, and sleeves, J, may be removed together from the disk.
The disk, D, is provided with a series of apertures, M, there being one for each
mandrel, and the frame, F, is provided with a stop-pin, f, adapted to enter the
apertures. When the stop-pin, f, is engaged with one of the apertures in the
manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the reel cannot rotate, but if the shaft, C,
is drawn to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, against the force of the spring, I, the
disk will be withdrawn from the stop-pin, and the reel may be turned in either
direction to the desired extent.
In order to drive the mandrels, I provide a power shaft, N, which may be driven
in any suitable way. This shaft at its inner or left-hand end is recessed at n,
and within this recess is a sliding clutch block, n. Between the inner end of
the clutch block and the end of the recess is interposed a coiled spring, 2, which
normally forces the block outwards towards the shaft, K. The inward and outward
movement of the clutch-block is limited by a pin, ³, which operates in a slot, n³,
in the clutch block. At its extreme left-hand end, as viewed in Fig. 1, the clutch
block is provided with a recess, m, which fits the correspondingly shaped end, m',
of the shaft, K. When the two are interlocked, there is a practically rigid con-
nection between the shaft, K, and the power shaft, so that when the power shaft
is driven the mandrel shaft and the parts carried thereby will be correspondingly
driven. The front end of the magazine shaft, C, is provided with an indicator, O,
which consists of a hub, o, provided with a series of radial pointers, o', there being
one for each mandrel. In connection with the pointers I employ a pin, o², which
is fixed to the casing and is stationary. The position of the mandrels within the
casing may thus be readily indicated and any particular one of the mandrels
may thus be brought into place by suitably manipulating the handle, HI, until the
desired pointer comes opposite the pin, o. By the arrangement shown, not only
can the record cylinders be successively brought into position for operation, but
they can be readily removed and replaced without disarranging other parts of the
mechanism. The mandrel shafts, K, and the sleeves, J, are attached at only one
end of the disk, D. By omitting part of the front casing, as indicated in Fig. 3,
the cylinders might be slid onto and off the mandrels without removing the
shafts, K, or the sleeves, J.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination of a supporting frame, a reel comprising a shaft, a disk,
and laterally projecting sleeves, a series of mandrels each having a mandrel shaft
fitting a sleeve, devices for detachably securing the mandrel shafts to the sleeves,
a power shaft and devices for clutching the power shaft to a mandrel shaft.
2. The combination of a supporting fråme, a magazine shaft mounted in
bearings therein, a disk secured to the shaft, a spring for moving the shaft in

page_text: one direction, a series of sleeves detachably secured to the disk and projecting
laterally therefrom, a series of mandrels each having a shaft detachably connected
with a sleeve, means for turning the magazine shaft, a power shaft, and devices
for clutching the mandrel shaft to the power shaft.
3. The combination of a supporting frame, a magazine shaft mounted in bearings
therein, a disk having a hub attached to the magazine shaft, a spring surrounding
the shaft, a handle on the shaft for moving it longitudinally against the force
of the spring and for turning it, an indicator on the shaft adjacent to the handle,
a series of sleeves detachably secured to the disk and projecting laterally there-
from, a series of mandrels each having a shaft, detachably connected with a sleeve,
a power shaft and devices for clutching a mandrel shaft with the power shaft.
4. An apparatus for supporting and moving a plurality of phonograph cylinders,
substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of August 1899.