US2191214A - Phonograph record changing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1940. RULANNER 2,191,214

PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Raul U. Lazmev'a. v

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1940. P. u. LANNERD PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. Paul [Z Lamzzm.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1940. u, LANNERD 2,191,214

PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1934 e Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY.

1 Feb. 20, 1940. P. u. LANNERD I PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIII WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIW 4'! 7.1311111111111114 I I N VENT OR.

Paul M Lanzzerd.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1940. P. u. LANNERD 2,191,214

' PHONOGHAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM 7 Filed June 25, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 HILHx/Nlh i/ /04 1 86 87 7 INVENTOR.

9 a 1182 Paul ULannerd.

I www ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1940. p, L NNERD 2,191,214

PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Filed June 25 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 30 131 I03 Fig.17.

1 1 INVENTOR.

- Paul (1 Lan'nerd.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 ITED TA'l'ES PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Paul U. lLannerd, Elyria, Ohio, assignor to The General industries Company, Elyria, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application .lune 25, l934, Serial No. 732,248

23 Claims.

lhis invention relates to phonograph mechanisms and particularly to phonograph mechanisms whereby a plurality of records of the disc type may be played one after the other automatically.

Heretofore, phonograph mechanisms have been proposed whereby a pile or tier of disc type records on the phonograph turntable may be played one after the other. After one record has been played, the reproducing head of the phonograph. is returned to the starting point and the played record is removed from the pile, and so on until all of the records have been played.

Such prior phonographs however have been capable of automatically playing and. changing records of one size or diameter only, for example ten inch records; and when, say, twelve inch records are to be played, the mechanism must be manually controlled.

It is therefore an object of the present inven tion to provide an improved phonograph mechanism whereby a plurality or pile of disc 'type records may all be played one after the other automatically and having means adapting the mechanism to a plurality of sizes or diameters of records.

Another object is to provide a phonograph mechanism of the type referred to particularly adaptable to portable types of phonographs.

Another object is to provide an improved phonograph mechanism of the type adapted to play successively and automatically a pile or tier of disc records. 1

Another object is to provide, in a phonograph mechanism adapted to drive the turntable at a plurality of speeds to adapt it to records which have been produced at different speeds, and comprising automatic means driven from the phonograph motor to change the records automatically, improved means for operating the record changing mechanism at the same speed irrespective of the adjustably changed speed of the turntable.

Another object is to provide, in an automatic record changing phonograph mechanism, improved means for feeding the reproducing needle onto the successive records 'at the beginning thereof.

Another object is to provide an automatic phonograph mechanism of the class referred to provided with means whereby a single record may be repeatedly played; or a pile of records may be automatically played one after the other; or a single record may be played once only and thereafter the mechanism automatically stopped; and

improved means whereby 'during the playing of any one record, the playing thereof may be manually stopped.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following 5 description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 11s a top plan view of a portable phono graph embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the phonograph of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of mechanism of the phonograph of Fig. l, drawn to a larger scale, and with a phonograph disc or discs of Fig. l omitted; and illustrating the disposition of certain parts thereof when the phonograph is to play twelve inch records;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with some of the parts in different operative positions;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to a part 'oiFig. 3 with parts in different operative positions;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view to an enlarged scale taken from the plane 6--6 of Fig. 1, illustrating part of a record changing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a View, similar to Fig. 6 illustrating parts thereof in difierent positions which they assume in the operation of changing a record.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view to an enlarged scale taken from the plane 8 of Fig. 3, further illustrating the record changing mechamsm;

V Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to a part of. Fig. 3 illustrating the disposition of certain adiustably movable record changing parts when the mechanism is to play ten inch records;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale taken from the plane ill-l0 of Fig. 4, showing some parts omitted from that figure for clearness; 1

Fig. 11 is a sectional viewtaken from the plane llll of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken from the plane l2-l2 of Fig. 4 with parts omitted for clearness;

Fig. 13 is a sectionalview taken from the plane l3-l3 of Fig. 3 showing parts omitted from that figure for clearness;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a tone arm which I may employ with an adjustable stop device thereon;

Fig. 1.5 is a view similar to Fig. 14 with parts thereof in .diiferent positions;

Fig. 16 is a front elevatio'nal view of the tone arm and a. stop device which I may employ, the

a panel I3 mounted in the carrier I.

I point of the'next record of the pile.

stop device appearing as if viewed from the left end portion of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a view. similar to Fig. 16 with parts thereof in difierent positions;

Fig. 18 is a view partly diagrammatic illustrating a motor control system which I may employ;

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately from the plane I9-I9 of Fig. 3, illustrating a motor drive for the phonograph tumtable.

Fig. is a fragmentary sectional view take from the plane 202ll of Fig. 13;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane 2I of Fig. 14;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane 22 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary view similar to a part of Fig. 19 showing parts thereof in different operative positions; v

Fig. 24 is a plan view taken from the plane 24 of Fig. 23.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown in portable form a phonograph reproducing mechanism embodying my invention of the type adapted to energize a remotely disposed amplifier or loud speaker, the mechanism being housed in a carrier proper I and a cover 2 therefor, the carrier having a carrier handle 3, the cover connected thereto by hinges 5-4, and the carrier and cover being shown in solid lines in the open or operative position and in Fig. 2 the cover being shown in-the closed position in broken lines.

A motor 5 in the carrier is drivingly. connected to a turntable 6 through a two-speed drive shown separately in Fig. 19 and at either speed, the running speed may be adjustably varied for the usual purposes. a

The turntable shaft I projects upwardly through the turntable 6 far enough to center on the turntable a plurality or pile of record discs, to be played one after the other. A tone arm 9 has a reproducing head I3 provided with a needle II and is mounted to oscillate laterally and vertically upon a base I2 supported upon At l4 generally is a mechanism to be described for lifting the tone arm from the record at the completion of playing thereof and returning it to the starting During this operation. a mechanism indicated generally at I5 removes from the pile the top record which has been played and discharges it over into the cover 2-as a receptacle therefor in a manner to be described.

In the cover 2 has a false bottom I6 hingingly connected to the inside of the cover at IT and at the opposite side of the cover being hingingly connected as at I8 to a prop l9 constantly under 'the im pulsion of a spring 20. When the cover 2 is in the open position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the false bottom I6 may be operatively raised to allow the prop I9 to move counterclockwise to the position indicated thereby elevating the false bottom to a relatively steep y inclined position, upon which discs 8 discharged from the turntable 6 may be slidingly deposited. When it is desired to close thecarrier by rotating the cover to the broken-line position Fig. 2, the prop l9 may be operatively moved in under the false bottom I6 and the'discs 8 may all be placed on the turntable shaft .1 and then the cover rotated to the closed position. Ther'eupon the false bottom I6 at the end opposite the hinge I 'I will fall down upon the discs 8 and the prop I9, under the impulsion of the spring 20, will move upwardly into engagement with the inner side of the cover 2 and serve as a retaining device to prevent the discs 8- from coming off from theshaft I, causing them to be retained on the turntable 6 to prevent damage thereto which might occur if they were free to rattle around loosely within the carrier.

The reproducer head I0 is preferably of the electro-dynamic type generating current impulses and wires 2! (Fig. 13) leading from the head III through the tone arm 9 and downwardly through the base I2 are led out of the carrier I as shown in Fig. 1 and may be plugged in in a well known manner to the loud speaker or amplifier employed in connection with the apparatus.

A double cord 22 having the usual two-prong plug 23 thereon may lead into the carrier I and under the panel I3 to the, motor 5 under the control of a two-way switch 28 on the panel I3 as shown in Fig. 1 and as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 18; and as also shown in Fig. 18, the motor 5 is under-the control of a mechanismoperated switch indicated generally at 25 and to be described.

The motor 5 may be of any usual or known construction mounted in a housing indicated generally at 26, Fig. 2, and a part of which is illustrated in Fig. 19. The drive for the turntable 6 is illustrated in Fig. 19 and will now be described.

A worm 2I driven by the motor in a manner not shown but well known in the art meshes with a worm wheel 28 running idle on the shaft I and meshes with a worm wheel 29 keyed to a countershaft 33. A spur gear 3i keyed on the countershaft 30 mesheswith a spur gear 32 running idly on the shaft II. A clutch device 33 keyed or splined on the shaft I is reciprocable thereon by oscillation of a shaft 36 to engage clutch teeth .35a'nd'36 alternatively on the gears 32 and 28 respectively. 'On movement of the clutch device 33 upwardly as viewed in Fig. 19, the motor will drive the turntable Ii through the worm 2'I, gears 29, 3i, 32, clutch device -33. and shaft 3, the turntable 6 having for this purpose a hub 31 resting upon a collar 38 on the shaft, the speed .of this driving connection being a relatively low speed. Upon shifting the clutch device 33 downwardly, the drive will. be from the worm 27 through the gear 23, clutch device 33, teeth 36 and to the shaft I, and this drive will be at a relatively low speed. These speeds as well known in the art and commer= cially may be at the ratio of 33 to 78 for well known reasons.

The gear 32 has an upwardly extending hub 33 upon which is secured an upwardly open generally cup-form cam device 83 (see also Fig. 3), the cup skirt of which is approximately semi-cylindrical, the cam device it at its closed cup bottom portion being telescoped over the hub 39 and secured thereto by a screw or screws such as 4|. The upper edge 62 of the cam device is normally covered and concealed by portions of the turntable 6.

As will be apparent from the mechanism of Fig. 19, the cam device 46 is always driven at the same speed regardless of which of the two speeds of the drive are propelling the turntable 6, the device .40 being driven directly from the worm 21 through the gear 29 and gears 3| and 32. The com device as will presently .be

,ports the tone arm.

described operates the mechanism to return the tone arm and discharge the played record; and by driving it always at a constant speed, it will operate said mechanism more reliably and efflciently than if it rotated at different speeds at different times.

The shaft has a laterally extending arm 48 engaged by a horizontally oscillatable arm 44 connected to a horizontally oscillatable speed adlusting arm 45 by a vertical stub shaft 48, the arm 45 extending outwardly under the adjacent edge of the turntable 8 to render it accessible.

The support for the turntable 8 is illustrated and described more completely in the copending patent application of William A. Schmittg'en, Se rial No. 513,361, filed February 4, 1931, and the two-speed drive and clutch device 83 are more fully illustrated and described in the copending' application of Fritz Van der Woude. Serial 1510. 595,012, filed February 25, 1932, and reference may be had thereto for a complete description of these parts if desired. They constitute no essential part of the present invention except in so far as they predetermine two selective speeds for the turntable and a constant speed for the cam device 48.

The mechanism for playing a plurality of records one after the other will now be described in connection with its mode of operatic It will be assumed that'a pile of records 8-8 of the twelve inch .diameter size are placed on the turntable as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this being one of the two preferred sizes to play whichthe apparatus is provided. The motor 5 is started by throwing the switch 28 to the A" position, Figs. 1 and 3 and 18, which closes the motor circuit from the wires 22 through the. switch 24. The speed of the motor is adjusted by moving the arm 45, Figs. 1, 3 and 19, to set the motor speed to the predetermined speed of the records, the extreme speed positions of the lever 45 being determined by suitable stops l1 and 48 on the panel 13, Fig. 3, and the running or tone speed of the turntable may be adjusted by a lever 88' toward F" for faster or 3" for slower by mechanism not shown but well known in the art. One such mechanism is shown in-the patent of F. Van der Woude No. 1,936,924, issued November 28, 1933.

The head ill of the tone arm 8 may be grasped by the operator and the tone arm may be rocked upwardly and then swung laterally on the base 12 and then lowered to place the needle II in the record groove at the beginning of the record. The base construction supporting the tone arm 8 for these movements may be of any suitable construction not essential to the present invention. One form is shown in Fig. 13 and comprises an inverted cup-form sheet metal base proper 18 resting upon the panel 13 secured thereto by a plurality of screws 11, the base having an inner partition 12, and perforations at 13 in the bottom of the cups 18 and 14 spaced therefrom in the partition 12, guide oscillations of a stem 15 projected through the perforations; and a nut 18 on the lower end of the stem prevents the stem from moving outwardly from the perforations and a forked head 11 on the upper end of the stem sup- In the preferred construction, the tone arm is of inverted channel section as shown in Fig. 20 and the head 11 has upwardly projecting arms 18 -18. Pivot-pointed screws 1819 are threaded through the flanges of the channel and are seated at their pivot points in suitable recesses in the arms 18-18. The stem 18 is hollow and the. wires 2| above referred to are suitably conducted downwardly therethrough as shown in Figs. 13 and 20.

The head I1 has a bracket 88 extending therefrom, Fig. 13, supporting a pivot pin 81 to be referred to.

As will now be apparent, the tone arm may swing laterally by rotating the head 11 and stem 15' and may swing vertically on the pivot screws 18-'I8. The movements of the tone arm 8 may be counter-balanced by a weight 82 rearwardly of the pivot bearings 18-18.

The needle now follows the groove of the record and the record is played, the needle ultimately reaching the inner termination of the record generally at the central portionof the disc. It will pointed. A triangular shaped arm 54 extends laterally from the lever 5| and a tension spring 85 hooked at one end into the arm 54 and at the other end hooked'into an eye 56 on the panel exerts resilient force tending to rotate the lever 5| counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3. Rotation is prevented by a dog 51 on the lever 5| engaged with a notch 58 on a lever 59 extending transversely of the lever 5| and pivotally connected at 88 to the panel I3. Thelever 58 is resiliently constrained in the counter-clockwise direction by a tension spring 8| hooked at one end into the lever and at the other and hooked into an eye 62 r on the panel.

at one end and at its opposite end extends under the lever 58 and has a V-notch in the and providing a pair of oppositely inclined cam surfaces I 85 and. A cam follower pin 61 on the lever 88 is normally disposed in the notch between the cam faces 85 and 66. The cam arm 88 thereon extending upwardly therefrom.

Reference may be had to these parts also in Figs. 5, 10, 11 and 12.

As-shown in Fig. 3, a finger movablewith 83 has apost the tone arm 8 will move toward the post 88 and ultimately'engage the same, but before describing the action thereof, the finger 88 will be more fully described in connection with Figs. 11, 12 and 13. A three-fingered element 85 is pivotally supported on the pin BI and comprises three fin gers extending forwardly from the pivot, an upper finger 88, an intermediate finger 81 and the lowermost finger being the finger 84. A tension spring 88 is connected at its upper end to the element 85 and at its lower end to the bracket 88 forwardly of the pivot 81 and thus resiliently constrains the element 85 to rock counter-clockwise around the pivot 81 as viewed in Fig. 13.

' .A bracket 89 is secured transversely in the tone engage the panel I3.

the tension of the spring 6|.

Upon the lower end of the finger 84 on the under side thereof is a foot 92 and a roller 93. During playing of the recordin the normal po: sition of the tone arm, the foot 92 rests upon the upper side of the lever 59 as shown in Figs.

11 and 13. As above mentioned, in connection with Fig. 3, the finger 84 thus moves laterally bodily with the tqne arm 9 and when the reproducing needlereaches the spiral terminal groove of the record and the finger 84 is given an accelerated final movement, it engages the post 88 and moves the cam arm 53 with it, causing.

-the cam face 55 to slide upon the pin 51 thereby moving the lever 59 about the pivot pin 60 disengaging-the notch 58 from the dog 51 against 'I'i1ereupon,-the spring 55 rocks moving the pointed end 53 to the broken line position, disposing the point thereof in the path' lever 59. The free end of the lever 59 has a depending cam portion 95 terminating in a straight portion 98 normally projecting through a perforation 91' in the panel I3. The movement of the lever 5| causes the roller 94 to ride over the cam portion 95 onto the straight portion 98',

' moving the lever 59 from the position of Fig. 11

to that of Fig. 12. To facilitate this elevating 'movement of the lever 59, the pin 60 above referred to on which the lever pivots, extends loosely through a perforation in the lever and the lever has a pair of depending ears 98-98 (see Figs. 3, 11, 12 and 13), rounded to rockingly As the lever .59 rises, it raises the roller 93 thereon and with it the 'iinger 84, Figs. 10 and 12, and by the engagement of the intermediate finger 81 with the bracket 89 as described in connection with Fig. 13, raises the tone arm, supporting it by the roller 93 on the inclined lever 59. By the action of gravity, the roller 93 rolls downwardly on the lever 59 rocking the tone arm laterally around the base I2 and] at the same time lowering it toward the record.

During these operations the lever 5I is retain'ed in its oscillated position of Fig. 4 by the .point 53 slidingly engaging the rotating cam device edge 42. A spring 99, Figs. 3 and 4, hooked at one end into the armf54 and at the other end into the eye 58, is put under tension by the rocking of the lever 5| and when the cam device edge 42 leaves the point 53 of the lever, the spring 99 will return the lever 5| and associated parts from the position of Fig. 4

to-that of Fig. 3, the throw effected by the spring 99 and the inertia of the parts being sufficient to rock the lever 5| to're-engage the dog 51 with the notch 58 against the slight tension thereby created in the spring 55, thus restoring the parts I for a second operation.

As the tone arm swings laterally toward the starting point as above referred to, it is first positively stopped and then gradually and gently lowered to position the needle upon the next record, by the mechanism now to be described, the record which has just been played having in the meantime been removed from the pile by mechanism later to be considered.

the lever 5|,

On the outer end of the lever 5| 'is a roller 94-engaging the under side of' the Projecting upwardly through the panel I3 is a piston rod I80, Figs. 3, 10, and 11, vertically reciprocably guided in a sleeve IOI threaded through the panel I3 and vertically adjustably secured by a nut I02. Adjacent the upper end of the rod I a collar I03 is press-fitted onto the rod. A cup-form head I04 having an upwardly outwardly flaring skirt has the cup bottom perforated as at I whereby the bottom is telescoped over the upper end of the rod I00 and rests upon the collar I03. At the upper end of the rod is a receptacle I08 in which is seated a friction pad- III! of rubber, leather or the like. A compression spring I08 telescoped over the rod and abutting at opposite ends upon the receptacle I08 and upon the cup bottom resiliently constrains the cup-form head I04 to an upright position but permitting it resiliently yieldingly to be tipped on the collar I03 as shown I enlarged to form a cylinder I09 and the rod I00 extends downwardly into the cylinder and on its lower end carries a weight IIO projecting downwardly out of the cylinder; and clamped between the shoulder III on the rod and the weight H0 is a cup-form piston II2 of leather or like material adapted to sealingly engage the inner wall of the cylinder I09 when moving downwardly and to create a partial vacuum in the cylinder above the piston but adapted to move upwardly without retardation except by negligible friction. A pad H3 in the upper end movement of the piston rod and piston.

Alever II4, Figs. 10, 11 and 12 (see also Fig. 4) extends transversely under the panel I3 spaced therefro and at one end is supported by a screw II5 projected through a suitable perforationin'the lever and threaded into the panel I3 and having a lock nut I I6 to adjustably position it. A sleeve II! is provided on the screw II5 between the lever H4 and the panel I3 and.

' lever 59, extends downwardly therefrom through a perforation I in the panel I3, at its lower end is projected through a suitable perforation in the lever H4 and under the latter lever has a pair of nuts I2I threaded on the hanger II9, the nuts supporting the lever II4 on the hanger adjustably. The free end of the lever H4 is bent downwardly and has a lever portion I22 extending under the cylinder I09 and adapted to support the weight I I0 and thereby the piston rod 100 and associated parts above described.

When the lever 59 above described is in its untrippedor lower position, Figs. 3 and 11, the weight H0 and head I04 are in a lower position, the weight IIO lowering the parts to this position by depressing the piston II2, the tendency to create vacuum thereby being relieved by air flowing downwardly through the guide I0Iv through clearance space I23 around the piston rod I00. When the lever 59 is raised in the man- .ner above described to the positions of Figs. 4,

I of'the cylinder I09 cushions and stops upward engage the lower end of the weight I I and raise the same and therewith the piston rod I00 and head I04 to the position of Figs. 10 and 12, the movement being unretarded due to the cup construction of the piston II2 as well known in the art.

When the tone arm 9 is swung laterally as above described by the roller 93 rolling down the incline of the lever 59, the tone arm will first be stopped upon the elevated head I04 by stop means on the tone arm to be described and then will be supported upon the pad 101 on the piston rod I00 and, the lever 59 being again returned to its depressed position (by the restoring of the lever 5 I to its position of Fig. 3 as above described), the weight of the tone arm will move the piston rod I00 downwardly with a retarded motion due to the partial vacuum in the cylinder I09 above described and gently lower the needle upon the record disc.

The stop means for stopping the tone arm against the head I 04 will now be described in connection with Figs. 10 and 14 to 17 inclusive. The

bracket 09 above described has a finger I23 extending laterally from the tone arm. A screw I24 having an enlarged head I25 is projected downwardly through a slot I25 in the bracket 89, the head I25 overlapping the slot, and below the bracket 80 the screw is telescoped through a sleeve I21 abutting at its upper end upon'the under side of the bracket and at its lower end abutting upon a stop element I20. A pair of nuts I29 locked on the lower end of the screw I24 maintains the parts assembled as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 21. The stop element I28 is thus pivotally movable on the screw I24 and comprises a finger I29 and a pair of stop portions I30 and I3I at different distances from the rotational axis of the screw I24. A lug I32 is also formed on the stop element I28.

' When the stop element I28 is rocked clockwise, the lug I32 engages a portion of the tone arm 9 as shown in Fig. 14 and then the stop portion I30 is disposed to engage the head I04 to stop the lateral swing of the tone arm in the position for large size or twelve inch records. When the stop element I28 is rocked on the screw I24 to move the lug I32 away from the tone arm 0,

the lug I32 will engage an abutment portion I33 on the finger I23 to position the stop portion I3! in position to engage the head I04 to position the tone arm for smaller or ten inch records.

To adjustably move both of the stop portions I30 and I3I, a screw I34 is projected through a perforation in one of the flanges of the channelform tone arm 9 as shown in Figs. 10 and 14, and is threaded into the head I25 of the screw I24 and upon turning the screw I34, the head I25 of the screw and therewith the screw itself and thus the pivotal point of the stop element I28, may be adjustably moved forwardly or backwardly in the slot I26 to adjustably position the stops.

When'the stop portions are set for the larger records as shown in Fig. 14, and when the stop portion I30 engages the head I04, the finger I23 will be lowered upon the pad I0'I as indicated in Fig. 14; and when the stop portion I3I is set in position to stop the arm as shown in Fig. 15, the finger I29 will be lowered upon the head I04 as shown in Fig. 15.

Thus, the lateral swing of the tone arm will be stopped to position the tonev arm for either of the two sizes of records as described. When the stop portions engage the head I04, they will rock the same laterally due to the action of the spring I08 above described, and the head I04 will be tilted as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, where the stop portion I31! is shown engaging the head. The

frictional engagement of the pad till with the.

under side of the finger B29 will prevent the spring I00 from restoring thehead M4 to its vertical or symmetrical position, the parts re maining as illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17.

The weight of the tone arm now depresses the piston rod I00 to lower the tone arm needle upon the record, and the needle II will engage the record as shown in Fig. 17. The weight Il0, Fig. 10, will then continue to move the head downwardly until the friction between the pad I0! and the finger I29 is relieved. At this time it will be understood that the record 0 is rotating and preferably the needle II is on a marginal part of the record radially outwardly from the beginning of the record groove; the needle thus floats unguided on the record. The spring I08 now acts to rock' the head I04 to its normal vertical position from the solid line to the broken line positions of Fig. 17, exertinga gentle lateral swinging movement upon the tone arm through the stop portion I3I and gently moving the needle II from its solid line to'its broken line position, Fig. 17, to movefit into the beginning of the record groove. Thus, the needle is not lowered into the groove directly but is gently fed thereinto from the marginal part of the record. As will now be apparent, the needle will be lowered upon the marginal part of the record adjacent the beginning of the groove, whether it be a twelve inch or a ten inch record as predetermined by the stop device above described. And, the distance from the point of engagement of the needle with the record and the beginning groove of the record may be predetermined by adjusting the screw H34 as above described to adjust the stops.

The mechanism for removing the played record from the pile will now be described. As described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4, when the lever 51 was rocked around the pivot 52 to elevate the tone arm and return it to the beginning of the next record, the arm 54 on the lever 5! was likewise given a rocking movement around the pivot'52 from the position of Fig. 3

from an elongated plate I35, the post having a section of reduced diameter 240 extending downwardly through a perforation in the plate I39 and on through, Fig. 8, a handle element I40 having a laterally extending handle MI, and on through a perforation in the panel I3. A-

resilient friction washer I42 expandingly engages the under side of the panel I3 and a collar I43 on the extension 240, whereby the post I30, plate I39 and handle element I40 are all resiliently held downwardly upon the top of the panel I3.

The handle element I40 is pivoted as at I44 to the panel i3 and may be oscillated thereon, for a purpose to be described. The post extension 240 passes through the handle element I40 at a point laterally or eccentric to the pivot I44. v An upstanding abutment I45 is mounted -on the plate I39 adjacent the post I30. At the top of the post i38 is pivoted on a transverse pin 6, a record-lifting arm I41, the arm I4'I being vertically oscillatable on the pivot I46 and laterally oscillatable with the post I38. The arm A finger II extends laterally from the arm i41. Forwardly from the pivot I46 the arm I41 has a finger I52 bent downwardly as at I53 and outwardly therefrom bent upwardly as at I54; and pivoted upon the arm at I55 is a second finger I56, and a spring I51 wound around the pivot I55, secured at one end to the arm I41 as at I58 and at its free end I59 engaging a portion of the finger I56 rearwardly of the pivot 555 to resiliently hold the finger I56 against the finger I52.

The parts just described are tragmentarily shown in Figs. 6 and '7 in connection with which the operation of these parts will now be described.

Upon oscillatory or rocking movement of the arm 54 as above described, the link I35 will rock the arm I31 and therewith the record-lifting arm M1. The end portion I54 of the arm is thereby brought around into engagement with the upper side of the uppermost record of the pile of records 8-8 and rides thereupon; and

sliding thereover, causes the pointed end I60 of the finger I56 to be inserted under the uppermost record. Continued movement of the arm I41 will bring the finger I5I into engagement with the abutment I and continued movement will cause the arm I41 to be rocked around the pivot I46 to elevate its outer end,'moving the parts from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 7, lifting the engaged side of the record.

The'parts are now in the position of Figs. 4 and 7 and are held in that position during the continued rotation of the cam edge 42, Fig. 4. The edge of the record diametrically opposite the engaged edge is resting upon the next record immediately thereunder which is rotating, and this supported edge of the record is carried around by the underlying record, the record pivoting on the fingers I56 and I52, and ultimately drops over into the cover 2 as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

After this has been done, the rotating cam edge 42 of Fig. 4 passes from under the pointed end 53 of the lever 5I and the parts return to the position of Fig. 3 and the tone arm is returned to the starting point and lowered upon the next record of the pile.

Where the records are twelve inch records, the above described operation may be performed with the parts in the positions of Figs. 3,. 4, and 6 to 8. Where the smaller or ten inch size record is to be played, the parts are adjustably moved to the position of Fig. 9 by rotating the handle Hi from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 9. By this movement, the post extension I40 is oscillated around the pivot I44 from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 9, giving a longitudinal movement to the plate I39. The movement of the plate is guided by the extension 240 projecting through a circular slot I6I in the panel I3 and by a pin or like projection I62 on the plate projectingdownwardly through a radial slot I63 in the panel I3. Thus, by

throwing the handle I4I from'side to side, the

adjusteii position of the fingers, they are securely retained in their adjusted position by a spring I64 secured at one end to a stud I65, Fig. 8, on the lower side of the panel I3 and hooked at the other end in a cotter pin or other eye I66 secured to the lower end of the extension I40, the spring thus holding theextension 240 securely in one or the other of the ends of the circular slot I6I.

By the mechanism and functions described, the pile of records may be played one after the other, and, one after the other, discharged from the pile into the receptacle or cover. When the lastrecord on the turntable alone remains, the record-lifting arm I41 will not pick up the last record because the downward movement of the arm around the pivot I46 will be stopped by the stud I49 on the arm engaging the post I38, whereby the fingers I56 and I53 will swing above the last record without engaging it. The tone arm however will be returned to the starting Point as before so that the last record of the Pile will be repeatedly played until the mechanism is manually stopped.

To stop the mechanism, the switch 24 may be thrown to the other or M position. This will break the motor circuit, Fig. 18, at the contacts 264264 on the switch 24. This is preferably done while the last record is being played. The motor is thereafter during the playing-of the last record supplied with current from the mains 22, Fig. 18, through wires 265-265 to the mechanism operated switch shown generally at 25. This switch comprises a pan-form base 266 preferably formed from sheet metal having flanges I61 adapted to be secured to the under side of the panel I3 and having a depressed portion I68 between the flanges. A pair of resilient switch arms I69 and I10 are secured to a plate "I, for example by rivets not shown, insulated from each other and from the plate I1I by suitable insulation. A screw I12 is projected through the side wall of the pan, Fig. 22, and through a sleeve I13 and threaded into the plate Hi, the end of the sleeve engaging the wall of the pan being rounded as at I14. A second screw I15 is projected through the pan wall and through a spring I16 and threaded into the plate "I. The spring I16 and the sleeve I13 position the two switch arms I69 and I10, and by turning the screw I15, the switch arms may be rocked around the position to dispose the extension I19 in the path of a pin or like projection I80 on the lever 5i, Figs. 3 and 18, so that movement of the lever' 5I may cause the pin I80 to engage the extension I19 and bend the switch arm I10 to disengage the contacts I11 and I18. For this purpose, a curved slot III is provided in the panel I3 for the pin I80 to travel in.

When the switch 24 has opened the contacts 264264, the current through the motor 5 and the wires 265-265 flows through the switch arms I69 and I10 and through the contacts I11-I18. When the last record therefore has been played and the mechanism is tripped as above described and the switch arm 5| is rocked around the pivot 52, the pin I80 will move the switch arm I18 to break the circuit at the contacts I'll-I18 and open the motor circuit.

The motor circuit will be opened while the arm is being rocked on its pivot 52 and before the point 58 has ridden up on the cam edge 42, Figs.

3 and 4; and thus the torque required to rock the arm 5| and extend the spring-99 and raise the lever 59 and the tone arm therewith, will be load imposed upon the motor through the cam device 40 to absorb the rotational kinetic energy of the motor remaining therein after the current thereto has been broken so very little kinetic energy will be left in the motor after the point 53 of the lever has engaged the circular periphery of the cam edge 42; and the slight braking effect thereof will be sufficient to bring the motor fully to rest with the lever 5I in the position of Fig. 4. The tone arm, however, may return to the starting position.

The above description of the operation of the mechanism applies to records having a spiral terminal groove at the center of the record, giving to the tone arm an accelerated impulse of movement at the end of the record groove.

Where the other common commercial type of record is used, namely that having an eccentric terminal groove, the operation is similar to that above described after the apparatus is tripped. But to trip the apparatus the following means are utilized.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 11, when the tone arm has been moved toward the center by the playing of the record, the finger 84 moving with the tone arm moves toward the post 68. On the extreme forward end of the finger 84 is a downwardly projecting pawl I82 in the form of a pin with a pointed end. The upper side of the cam arm 63 is provided with a ratchet plate I83 having transverse serrations I84 therein. The pawl 84 idly ratchets over these serrations during movement of the tone arm while playing, being resiliently maintained in engagement therewith by the spring 88 above described which resiliently rocks the three-pronged element 85.

When the eccentric terminal groove has been reached by the needle, the tone arm will thereby be given a small lateral. oscillatory movement as the record rotates, and this movement is transmitted to the pawl I82 and ratchet plate I84 and moves the cam arm 63 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3, causing the cam face 65 to slide on the cam follower 51 to rock the lever 59 as above described to trip the mechanism. To facilitate this action, the plate I84 may be given saw-tooth form serrations as shown in Fig. 11 whereby the pawl I82 may move freely thereover toward the post 88 but upon movement in the other direction will move the cam arm 63.

At any time during the playing of a record, whether it be a record on a pile of records or whether it be'a single record, the mechanism may be stopped by manually rocking the lever 59 around the pivot 68 by means of a finger piece or lug I85 (see Fig. 3). pile of records, the record will be discharged from the pile without completing the same and the tone arm will be returned to the starting point of the next record.

If, however, it be desired merely to stop the machine completely, the lever 58 may be tripped by the finger piece I85 and the switch 24 may be thrown to the M position. Thereupon, the record'in the pile being played will be discharged, the tone arm will .be returned to the starting point 'of the next .record and the machine will If the record be one in a If, however, it be desired to play the single record only once, the switch 24 may be set in the M position whereupon when the record has been completed and the mechanism has tripped, the motor circuit will be opened as described above, the tone arm will be returned to the starting position and the phonograph will stop.

Likewise, while during the playing of a single record the mechanism may be trippedat anypoint of the playing by operation of the finger piece I85. In such cases, if the switch 28 be in the "A position, the playing will be interrupted and the tone arm will be returned to the start and the record will be started again; but if the switch 24 be in the M position, the tone arm will be returned to the start but the motor will stop and the playing discontinued.

In some cases it has been found that disc records are slightly warped and therefore the topmost record may not engage the record thereunder by which it is rotated, except at a few points, and thus it may slip on the record supporting it causing distortion in the reproduction of the record.

In order to further insure that the top-most record, the one being played, will be positively driven, I prefer to provide means for frictionally engaging the driving shaft with the record. The upper end of the shaft I, telescoped through the central perforations of the records such as the perforations I88-I88, Fig. 19, has a longitudinal slot I89 therein. A wire I88 is projected through the shaft at a pointbelow the end thereof and the end wrapped around the shaft as shown at I9I, Fig. 24, and then the wire is bent upwardly, outwardly inclined as shown at I82, and the upper end is again .bent downwardly as at I93 disposing itjwithin a bore I 85 in the end of the shaft. An upwardly outwardly inclined inwardly radially yieldable spring is thus provided and when the pile of records is placed on the turntable telescoped over the shaft, the spring I92 will engage the periphery of the central hole of the uppermost record as shown in Fig. 19. The friction provided thereby will assist in rotatably driving the top-most record.

The spring I92 is so formed that it will be bent resiliently into the slot by the periphery of the record hole when the top-most record is telescoped thereover, and the upper end of the wire may be provided with an inclined portion I94 to facilitate guiding it into the hole of the record.

As the successive records are played and removed from the pile, the spring portion I92 may resiliently bend farther out ofthe slot to engage the remaining upper-most record until the sec- 1 0nd record from the last as shown in 28 is frictionally engaged thereby. The last record may have sufficient frictional drive from the turntable so that the spring I92 may not be needed to drive it, but if preferred, the springportion I92 may be formed to expand outwardly sufficiently.

to engage even the last record of the pile.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described. Many modifications and changes may be made within spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a phonograph mechanism, a record supporting turntable, a laterally swingable tone arm having a record reproducing needle, an electric motor for driving the turnable when energized, a

source of current and an energizing circuit for the motor, a switch controlling the circuit, an automatic mechanism for removing the tone arm to a non-reproducing position after reproducing the record and comprising a mechanism element having a normal and an operated position, a trip mechanism actuated by movement of the tone arm at the end of the record reproduction to effect movement of the said mechanism element to its operated position, means operated by the motor for moving the mechanism element from its operated position to actuate the automatic mechanism and for operating the switch to de-energize the motor and thereby stop the turntable, and support means for the tone arm to lower the tone arm from a non-reproducing position to engage the needle with peripheral portions of the record disc, and means to swing the tone arm tone arm at the end of a record reproduction to effect movement of the said mechanism element to its operated position, ineans operated by the motor for moving the mechanism element from its operated position to actuate the automatic mechanism and for operating the switch to'de needle into the record groove.

3. In a phonograph mechanism, a record supporting turntable, a tone arm having a record reproducing needle, an electric motor for driving the turntable when energized, a source of current and an energizing circuit for the motor, a

switch controlling the circuit, an automatic mechanism for elevating and swinging the tone arm to a non-reproducing position after reproducing the record and comprising a mechanism element having a normal and an operated position, a trip mechanism actuated by movement of the tone arm at the end of a record reproduction to efiect movement of the said mechanism ele-.

ment to its operated position, means operated by the motor for moving the mechanism element from its operated position to actuate the automatic mechanism and for operating the switch to tie-energize the motor and thereby stop the tumtable, a manually operable maintaining switch for optionally maintaining energization of the motor to effect continuous driving of the turntable, the automatic mechanism comprising means to restore the mechanism element to its normal position and re-set the trip mechanism upon return of the arm to non-reproducing position, supporting means for the arm to lower the tone arm from a non-reproducing position to en-- gage the needle with peripheral portions 01 the disc record, and means to swing the tone arm laterally toward the record to move the recordengaging needle into the record groove.

4. In a phonograph mechanism comprising a vertically swingable tone arm, an element comprising upper, lower and intermediate fingers pivotally connected to the tone arm to oscillate on a generally horizontal axis, a stop associated with the tone arm disposed between the upper and intermediate fingers, a spring urging the element in a direction to engage the upper finger with the stop whereby the tone arm when elevated man- 'ually may left the element bodily, and automatic mechanism adapted to engage the lower finger to elevate it to engage the intermediate finger with the stop to thereby elevate the tone arm.

5., In a phonograph mechanism of the class described, a stationary stop element, a tone arm,

' a supporting element adjustably movable on the arm, a movable stop element pivoted to the supporting element, provided with a plurality of stop portions at different distances from the pivot axis adapted selectively to be pivotally moved into position to engage the stationary stop element to laterally selectively position the tone arm, means for adjusting the stop portions comprising means for adjustably shifting the movable supporting element relative to the tone arm.

6. In a phonograph mechanism of the class described, a stationary stop element, a tone arm, a supporting element adjustably movable on the arm, a movable stop element pivoted to the supporting element, provided with a plurality of stop portions at difierent distances from the pivot axis 7 adapted selectively to be pivotally moved into position to engage'the stationary stop element to laterally selectively position the tone arm, means for adjusting the stop portions comprising a screw anchored against longitudinal movement and threaded into a portion of the suppporting element for adjustably shifting the supporting element relative to the tone arm.

7. In an automatic phonograph mechanism comprising a groove-record supporting turntable and a tone arm having a reproducing needle, support means for supporting the tone arm above a record-starting position comprising a stop element and a finger element supported on the arm, a support having a supporting portion engaging the finger element and having a laterally resiliently yieldable stop portion for engaging the stop element, the support being depressible to lower the arm to engage the needle with the marginal portion of the record, the yieldable stop portion exerting lateral thrust on the lowered arm to move the needle laterally into the record groove, and means frictionally engaging the supporting portion and finger element to prevent lateral movement of the arm by the yieldable stop portion while the arm is in the supported position.

8. In an automatic phonograph mechanism of the disc changing type, a turntable adapted to support a pile of records, a main support, a mech- 7,

anism including base movable on the support, and a record-removing mechanism on the base, a handle element pivoted on the main support, a pivot connection between the handle element and the base eccentric of the handle element pivot, a reciprocable guide for the base on the main support whereby when'the handle element is oscillatably moved the base and record-remov ing mechanism may be moved bodily on the main support toward and from the turntable to posh tion the record-removing. mechanism for operation upon records oi different diameters.

ll. In a phonograph mechanism, a turntable, a driving shaft having an end portion extending therefrom adapted to be telescoped by the end thereof through the center holes of a pile of disc records, and means on the shaft portion to trictionallyengage the records by their central hole peripheries comprising a resilient element having a portion rigidly secured to the shaft end pertion at a point spaced from its disc telescoping end and having a tree portion extending toward and'beyond the shaft end and yieldable inwardly radially oi the shaft end portion and having an inclined portion for guiding the disc record center holes on to the shaft end.

16. in a phonograph mechanism, a turntable, a driving shaft having an end portion adapted to be telescoped by the end thereof through the center holes or. a pile of disc records, automatic means for successively removing the successively uppermost record after being played, and means on the shaft to frlctionally engage the successive uppermost record by the periphery oi its center hole comprising a resilient element having a portion rigidly secured to the shaft end portion at a point spaced from its disc telescoping end and having a free portion extending toward and beyond the shaft end and yieldable inwardly radially of the shaft end portion and having an inclined portion for guiding the disc rec- 0rd center holes on to the shaft end.

i 11. In a phonographmechanism comprising a vertically manually swingable tone arm, a tone arm elevating mechanism element, a pivoted ele-- ment pivotally supported on a generally horizontal pivot axis, stop means on the arm and pivoted element to stop pivotal movement thereof in opposite direction from intermediate positions, means yieldably constraining the pivoted element to pivotally move in one direction and causing it, in an intermediate position, to engage the elevating mechanism element, mechanism means to elevate the elevating element to first move the pivoted element from its intermediate position to its stopped position in one direction and upon further movement to cause it to elevate the tone arm, and, upon manually effected elevational movement of the tone arm,- the constraining means maintaining the pivoted element in its stopped position in the other direction whereby, upon further manual elevational movement of the tone arm, the pivot element is engaged by the tone arm stop means effecting continuous pivotal movement of the pivot element in said other direction.

12. In an automatic phonograph mechanism of the type comprising a turntable and a record reproducing tone arm, a turntable drive shaft, an automatic mechanism for returning the tone arm. to a non-reproducing position after a rec- 0rd reproduction, comprising a rotary element coaxial with the drive shaft provided with means to actuate the automatic mechanism and having an optimum mechanism actuating speed, a power supplying motor, power transmission mechanism supplying motor power to the drive at a plurality of difierent speeds selectively and supplying power to the rotary element at the said optimum speed concurrently with each se lectlve speed.

13. In an automatic phonograph comprising a disc record and a vertically mov able and horizontally swingable r-cord. repro ducing tone-arm having a reproducing needle, vertically movable tone-arm support stop means vertically movable with the support movable laterally thereof by contact with. tone arm, resilient means associated with the means opposing lateral movement thereof, means for elevating the support and for elevating the tone arm at the end of a record reproduction and tar swinging the tone-arm laterally to cause to be stopped after contacting the stop means and et iecting lateral movement thereof to be tim ported in elevated position by the support, the support being then movable downwardly, an escapernent device comprising the sole means retarding its downward movement, -e down ward movement oi the support de ositing the tone arm needle upon the ungrooveo margin of the record and permitting the stop ns to then force the tone arm laterally toward he rec 0rd groove, and the support continuing move to a more depressed position.

it. in an automatic phonograph mechanism comprising a disc record turntable, and a ver tically movable and horizontally swingable rec ord reproducing tone arm having a reproducing needle, a vertically movable tone arm support, stop means vertically movable with the support and movable laterally thereof bycontact with the tone arm, resilient means associated with the stop means and opposing lateral movement thereof, means for elevating the tone arm at the end of a record reproduction and. for the swing ing the tone arm laterally to cause it to be supported in elevated position by the support, the swinging movement of the tone arm effecting lateral movement of the stop means and being stopped thereby, the support being then movable downwardly, an air escapement device comprising the sole means for retarding its downward movement, and the downward movement of the support continuing beyond the downward move ment of the tone arm upon engagement of the tone arm needle with the record ungrooved margin whereby the stop means will be urged laterally in a reverse direction moving the tone arm needle laterally into the record groove.

15. In an automatic phonograph mechanism comprising a vertically movable and horizontally swingable record reproducing tone arm, a vertically movable tone arm support, means for olevating the support and for elevating the tone arm at the end of a record reproduction and then for swinging the tone arm laterally to cause it to be supported in an elevated position by the support, the swinging movement of the tone arm being stopped by contact with the support, the support being movable downwardly, and an air escapement device for retarding the downward moveinent of the support comprising a weighted piston secured to the lower end of the support and movable within a cylinder provided with an air vent.

16. In an automatic phonograph mechanism needle, a vertically movable tone arm support, means for elevating the support and for elevating the tone arm at the end of a record reproduction, and then for swinging the tone arm laterally to cause the tone arm to be supported in an elevated position by the support, the swinging move ment of the tone arm being stopped by contact with the support, the support being movable downwardly, an air escapement device retarding downward movement of the support, said device comprising a weighted piston secured to the lower end of the support and movable within a cylinder, air vent means for the cylinder, and the downward movement of the support extending beyond the downward movement of the tone arm sufficiently to deposit the tone arm needle on the record and to then clear the support from contact with the tone arm.

1'7. In an automatic record reproducing mechanism, a tone-arm-lowering device comprising a reciprocably movable member for receiving and lowering the tone-arm onto a record, means for restricting the lowering'speed of said member, said member being constructed and arranged to move to a position free of engagement with the tone-arm when the latter engages the record,

means for urging the tone-arm inward radially of the record whenthe tone-arm is free of said memb'en means for raising said tone-arm and moving it radially outward upon completion of the reproduction of the record, means forraising said member to a position to receive said tonearm, and a linkage between said last two means to effect simultaneous operation thereof.

18. In an automatic phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a turntable carried by said frame, a tone-arm swingable over said turntable, a tonearm-lowering post adjacent to said turntable, a lifting mechanism for lifting the tone-arm-lowering post to a position to receive the tone-arm after the completion of the playing of the record and for subsequently withdrawing support from the tone-arm-lowering post, a tone-arm lifting mechanism for lifting the tone-arm from the record after the playing thereof and swinging it into engagement with the tone-arm lowering post, and a dash-pot for restricting the lowering speed of the tone-arm-lowering post as it lowers the tone-arm onto a record after the withdrawal of the support for the post.

19. In an automatic phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a turntable carried by said frame, a tone-arm swingable laterally over the turntable, a stop member on said tone-arm, a tone-arm elevating mechanism for raising the tone-arm from a record after the completion of the playing thereof and for swinging it to an elevated recordstarting position, a tone-arm-lowering'device for receiving the tone-arm in the elevated record starting position andfor lowering it onto a record, comprising a tone-arm-lowering post normally out of engagement with the tone-arm, a dash-pot mechanism for restricting the lowering speed of the post, and a lifting mechanism interconnected with the tone-arm elevating mechanism for lifting the post to position it to receive the tone-arm with the stop on the tone-arm engaging the head of the post, and for subsequently withdrawing support from the lowering post .to permit it to lower the tone-arm onto the record.

20. In an automatic phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a turntable carried by said frame, a tone-arm swingable laterally over the turntable,

' secured to the lower end of the post and movable a tone-arm swingable laterally over the turntable,

a stop member on said tone-arm, a tone-arm elevating mechanism for raising the tone-arm from a record after the completion of the playing thereof and for swinging it to an elevated record-starting position, a tone-arm-lowering device for receiving the tone-arm in the elevated record-starting position and for lowering it onto a record, comprising a tone-arm-lowering post normally out of' engagement with the tone-arm, an air escapement device for restricting the lowering speed of the post having a weighted piston secured to the lower end of the post and movable within a cylinder provided with an air vent, and a lifting mechanism interconnected with the tone-arm-elevating mechanism for lifting the post to position it to receive the tone-arm with the stop on the tone-arm engaging the head of the post, and for subsequently withdrawing support from the lowering post to permit it to lower the tone-arm onto the record, the downward movement of the post extending beyond the downward movement of the tone-arm sufficiently to deposit the tone-arm needle on the record and then clear the post from contact with the tonearm.

22. In an automatic record-reproducing mechanism a tone-arm-lowering device comprising a reciprocably movable post for receiving a tonearm, means for moving said post downward to a position free of said tone-arm, to thus place the tone-arm on a record, a dash-pot for restricting the lowering speed of said post, and a laterally displaceable resiliently mounted member on said post for urging the tone-arm inward radially of the record when the tone-arm is free of said post.

23. In an automatic record-reproducing mechanism, a tone-arm-lowering device, comprising a reciprocable member having an end adapted to receive and support the tone-arm, a flared member loosely carried by said reciprocable member and adapted for lateral engagement by said tonearm, and spring means arranged cooperatively with the flared member so as to resist displacement thereof and to urge said flared member to normal position, whereby said displaceable member when laterally displaced by the tone-arm exerts pressure thereon to urge the tone-arm into initial reproducing position when the tonearm engages a record to be reproduced.

PAUL U. LANNERD.

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