US2378510A - Indexing device for home recorders - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1945. G. G. BROWN 2,378,510

INDEXING DEVICE FOR HOME RECORDERS Filed Jan. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Invader/- 6751 02: 8 filafl 11M $6M, m

June 19, 1945. I G. G. BROWN 2,378,510

INDEXING DEVICE FOR HOME RECORDERS Filed Jan. 14, 1942 2 SheetsSheet' 2 Patented June 1c, 194s Philco Radio and Television Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application January 14, smsims. This invention relates to phonograph apparatus, 'and mor'e especially to means iorindexing the'stylus of such apparatus in proper starti position with respect to the peripheral edge of a six andone-hali, eight, or ten-inch blank' disc, ior'example. The-invention is illustrated with and is particularly useiul in recording "apparatus, and these various sizes are most commonly used in making home recordings; However, it will be understood that, the indexing means of the pres-' ent invention is" adapted for use with records of one'size only, or of any predetermined range oi sizes,-without departing .irom thespiritoi the invention; and the invention might be modified for use with reproducing apparatus it such should bedesired."

Inimodern home-recording apparatus for phonographs, the stylus is usually located on the under sideoi the cutting arm of the phonograph in a position obscure to the person operating the apparatus. due to the width of the arm, crime position of the arm in'the cabinetor both. Thus. considerable difficulty has been encountered in placing the sharp point of the stylus on the record in proper relation to the peripheral edge thereoiior'obtaining the fullest benefit oi the normal capacity or the disc without'danser oi the stylus being placed on the rotatlns turntable oi the phonograph, beyond the edge oi the record, I

or by its being placed on the record so close to the edge thereoi that the stylus may accidentally slip on therecord onto the turntable or be engaged by the edge 0! the rotating record, which, in any case, usually ruins the stylus for immediate use.

In'theca'se oi home-recording apparatus operable-in conjunction with radio receivers adapted ior recording broadcastspickedup bythe radio, such as speeches by prominent world-famous peo-;

ple, vocal and instrumental programs, jetc., the opportunity to make a complete recording is irequently lost by the stylus being improperly placed on the record atthe beginning oi that portion oi the broadcast intended to be recorded, i

7111c primary object or the presentinvention is to provide a simple,'emcient, inexpensiveindexing mechanism ior phonograph apparatus, by which the'stylus will be properly positioned on a disc, 1. e., approximately three-sixteenths oi an inch inwardly iromthe peripheral edge 0! the record, under con'troioi the operator's sense oi reeling, rather than by sense'xoi sight.

Another object or the present inventionis to provide mechanism'oi the kind noted, 'by'which the stylus may be properly positioned on: any onebase member ll; Secured to the lower end or the a nmnber or records 0! mmrlpre 1942, Serial No. 426,781 (01. 21459) sp ective'ly, or on the. face oi a single record at any one oi a number oi cliiierent points radially spaced with respect to the axis of rotation of the record.

a Still another object oi the inventionis taprovide an indexing means, which will iunctlonin conjunction with the driving mechanism for the stylus-supporting or cutting" arm, whereby the number of working parts, and, consequently, the

cost oi manufacture, will be reduced to a mini- Stilljanother object oi the invention is to provide an indexing' means which will automatically become eiiective when the stylus-supporting arm is'liited from a normal, inoperative position oi rest and is swung across the record into starting position, and which will be automatically rendered ineiiective when the arm is lowered to bringthe stylus into engagement with the record at the indexed starting point. so as to avoid interference with the normal iunctioning oi the stylus during its period oi engagement with the record.

The indexing means of the present invention is illustrated, in accordance with the aforesaid objects, in conjunction with a special stylus-driving and controlling mechanism forming the sub- Ject matter of thepresent assignees copending application of Ingo L. Stephan, Serial No. 425,934, filed January "I, 1942.

9 [The construction and operation of the indexing means of the present invention will be fully disclosed hereinaiter, reference being had to the accompanying drawinga'oi which:

Fig. 1 is avertical sectional elevation of the 85 device as applied to a conventional form of phonograph equipped with a stylus-controlling means of the aforesaid kind:

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, looking upwardly irom underneath, oi the indexing and driving 40 means shownin Fig. 1; and a Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view, from above, showing the indexing means in its relation in the driving means during the operation oi the recording apparatus.

As shown in the present drawings, base member of a conventional phonograph is inns-- trated at II; the turntable at H; the cutting stylus at I! as being carried by an electro-acoustic." transducer or cartridge l4, which, in turn,

is supported by the stylus-controlling arm n.

'rhestylus arm II is pivoted at I! to a collar it which-is securedto the upper end of a tubular stud shaft ll. f The vertical shaft i1 is rotatably .mounted in a hearing I which is secured to the shaft I1 is a stylus-driving arm I, which is provided with a segmental extension ll, the outer arcuate edge of which is adapted for frictional driving engagement with a driving pinion ll formed on a hub element 21. The hub element 21 is rotatably mounted on a pivot stud II, which is supported by a swing plate 23.

The swing plate 23 is pivoted at 22 to a subbase element 20, which is supported from the main base II by the hearing I! and screws II. The plate 28 is adapted to be swung about its pivot, under the influence of a spring 2! to maintain firm frictional drivin contact between the II of the stylus-driving arm II. p

The hub ll; of which the pinion 3! forms an integral part, is. adapted to be intermittently rotated, through a ratchet wheel II secured to the upper end oi the hub element 21, by a spring biased pawl II which is pivotally mounted on an actuating lever ii. The lever Ii is loosely mounted on a stepped portion of the hub 21 for free relative oscillation with respect thereto! pinion II and the arcuate edge of the segment The actuating lever II is oscillated normally,

during a recording operation, by a cm or eeindexing bar 00, for exerting an upward pressure on .the indexing pin I.

The upper end of the indexing pin $5 is adapted to enter one of a plurality of indexing apertures l1, It or II, formed in the driving arm I! or its segmental extension II.

The bracket 0 is provided with a pair of laterally-spaced aligning lugs or fingers 10, ll be- .tween which the bar It slides. A block or plate ll of fibre is disposed between the posts or fingers II, II, above the bar It to provide a smooth bearing surface for said bar during longitudinal shifting movement thereof.-

' From the foregoing description, taken in con- Junction with the illustrations of the drawings, it will be clear that, when starting a recording on either a six and one-half, eight or ten inch record, with the stylus am it in a position outwardly beyond the periphery oithe turntable ll,

centric disc 14 attached to the turntable II, for

concurrent rotation therewith and with a blank disc record D seated fiatly on the turntable. The cam disc 34 operates against a cam follower II which is rotatably mounted on the outer-end of the actuating lever II, a spring I! normally maintaining contact therebetween during the recording operation.

The foregoing description applies solely to the driving means for the stylus arm l3 and serves as a basis for the description of the construction and operation of the indexing ,means which forms the subject matter of-the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, a bracket "is iooseb mounted on the lower end of the vertical tubular shaft l'l, below the driving arm ll. Pivoted at II to the bracket it is a bell-crank lever It, The upper edge of one arm ll of the bell-crank lever n is adapted to be engaged by the lower rounded end of a push rod Ii, which is mounted within the bore of the tubular shaft ll. The upper rounded endof the push rod II is adapted to be engaged bythe head of an adjustable abutment screw I4, carried by the stylus arm II, in axial alignment with the shaft II which afiords" horizontal swinging movement of the arm l8, and in laterally oifset relation to the pivot I2 which afiords vertical swinging movement of the arm i3.

The second arm It of the bell'crank lever I is provided with one, or two, laterally-extending pins 81 which fit within longitudinally-elongatedslots or recesses 58 formed in a longitudinallyshiftable indexing bar OI. A spring ll, stretched between and having its opposite ends, respectively, secured'to a Part of the bracket II and apart of the indexing bar member ll, tends to maintain the indexing bar in a forward position I with respect to the axis of the shaft II.

The outer or forward end of the indexing-bar I v I is bifurcated at ll to span a circular portion 02, of reduced diameter, of the h b 21, within an annular groove 83 formed in said hub member.

Spaced" inwardly from its bifurcated end II, the bar II is provided with a vertical bearing "a for slidably supporting an axially-movable indexing pin ll. The head of the indexingpin Ii is engaged by one end of a fiat spring I, the opposite end of which isrigidly secured to the and with the driving sector 4| in the position arm ill; in' a position radially disposed with respect to the axis of the shaft I! which corresponds to ths radius of the arc, swung from the center of. the shaft l1, on which the indexing indentations or openings 61, II and it are formed inthe drivingarm ll.

The stylus-support ng arm it is then manually swung inwardly over the turntable ll (carrying with it the indexing sector I!) to place the stylus II in proper position on the record D' adjacent the peripheral edge of the record, which may be oi a six and one-half, eight, or ten inch diameter, as desired. If, for example, a ten inch record is to be made, the manual swinging of the stylus arm II will be stopped, or further inward movement thereof resisted to an extent to be felt by the person swinging the am It, byreason of the indexing opening 01 in sector III of the driving arm ll being the first of the index spots 61, it and N to be brought into. alignment with the indexing pin It. The upper rounded end of the indexing pin I will be projected, by the spring. into said index opening 81. The relative positioning of the aperture .1 is such that the stylus will then be in correct position with respect to the peripheral edge of the ten inch disc D for beginning the formation or av continu'ously spiral sound groove in'the I face of the record I).

The pressure of the spring fingerflfis such that the operator will be aware of a definite resistance to further swinging movement of the stylus arm It and thus realise that the first indexing position, for aten inch record, has been reached.

when the pin a registers" with the. hole 81,

with the ten inch record on the turntable H, the

stylus arm II is then lowered. In so doing, the

abutment ll; carried by the arm, forces the push ,rod ll downwardly, against the action of the spring II, and rock the bell-crank lever 82 about its pivot ll. Rocking of the bell-crank leverinthismannermovestbeindexingbar" $3,878,510 y, i; e; toward the shai't 'l'l, a ainst the actionot the spring II, which causes the indexing pin OI to be moved out or the indexing sn r 1 ture II to a position inwardly beyond the radius on which the openings ll, Ilandllare formed," I

as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the bifurcated or iorked [end I oijthe bar Ill permitting suchinward longitudinal shifting of the indexing bar".

When the 'ten .inch recording is completed,

thearm ll'is again raisedfto swing the stylus outwardly beyond ,the peripheral edge of the record, 13,- the elements reassuming the general relationship s o n F1 31 at the start oi the outward movement 7 oi the stylus-supporting arm when the'stylus arm, nfa in its extreme out- 7 horizontal movement thereof for indicating" illustrating the principles of the invention only,

and are not to be considered asfpia'c'ing any limi tations on the invention aside from the scope or the appended claims, as dictated the prior art.

I claim: 1 In a phonograph apparatus employing a disc record and a stylu manually movablehorizontally across and vertically with respect to said a record from a" rest position tree of the record to an operating position in contact with the record, indexing means including-one element connected to said stylus and controlled exclusively by sum arrival of the stylus at a point in vertical reglowered position oi rest, the bearing; pad ll on the stylus-supporting arm lt bears 1 against therest fllwhich iscarried or h ll, and which may be adjusted'to suchan elevation as to prevent the point orthe stylus ll from striking'or restlngpn llfunder.

e-heir men record is) such circumstances.

If an eight ora six V to be recorded, the same operations, as previously noted, are i'ollowedthrough; However; when the v stylus comes into position for a ten inch record.- the indexing pin "would again enter the lower end of the indexing aperture't'l. but, if an ei ht inch record, ior exa mple, is to be made, continued movement inwardly or the arm I 3 will cause the index pin II to ride out oithe ten inch istry with said operating position, and means including a member connected to said stylus-andv controlled'exclusivel'y bysaid vertical movement Y for cooperation with said element to eflect'the indication of. arrival of the stylus at said-point while the stylus is raised oil the record and for rendering said indexing meansineflective when said stylus is lowered into contact with the 2. In a phonofiraph apparatusemploying a disc r record and a stylus manually movable horizontally across and vertically downward with respect to said record from a re'stposltion free of the record'to an'operating position in contact withthe record, indexing mechanism for establishing aperture 11 into-contact with the under I" side of the am Is.- to bear against the underside I of the arm, on the are 01, the, apertures .1, ll and es, until the indexing pin is snaps into'th fi ht inch indexing'aperture It. I

Ii' a sixgand one-hall inch record 'istoibe recorded, iurthe'r continued swinging of the l3 inwardly will cause the pin ll to ride out oi the eight inch indexing aperture Cl and along the underside or the arm ll, into then: and onehali' inch indexing aperture It. Then, as the arm I3 is lowered about its pivot II, to bring'the stylus ll into contact with the record I), the bar ll be shifted inwardly from the. position ahownin Figzl to that shown in Fig. 3,;wherein 1 the indexing pin II is drawn'out or aperture ll said contact at a predetermined point spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of the record comprising means including one element connected to said stylus and movable through a preh determined path in response to horizontal move- 'men t oi the stylus, and intercepting means ineluding one member connected to said stylus and cooperative with said element'oi said first means and responsive to upward vertical movement of the stylus in conjunction with horizontal movement oi the-stylus to eflect indexing of the stylus in alignment with said operating position and thereafter responsive to downward movement of the stylus to render-said indexing mechanism ineiiective. a v

,3. In a phonograph apparatus employing a disc 8 record and a stylus manually movable horizontally across and vve'rticallywith respect to said record from ,a rest position free of the record to an operating position in contact with the record,

indexing mechanism for establishing said contact 1 at a predetermined polnt spaced inwardly from While the invention has been described in cone nection with the indexing ofthe stylus on records of-diflerent diameters, respectively, the principles or the invention'are equailyapplicable to indexin: the stylus at diflerent' distances inwardly the peripheral 3edgeloi a single'frecord.

or more separate inderings therebetween'; s desired. such an mplication or theinventio'n has special-utility in the vhome for recording short sow. recitations sayin s ofsmall children, for example. or for otherdesired purpose? v The ioregoinldescriptiomand the constructhe drawings, while disclosing a practical term or the invention. are provided for the peripheral edge of the record comprising means including one element connected to said stylus and'movable through a predetermined path -in response to horizontal-movement of the stylus and intercepting means including one member connected to said stylus and cooperative withsaid element of said first means and movable into and out of said path in response to vertical movement of the stylus. a

7,4, In a phonograph apparatus'employing va disc record and a stylus manually movable horizontally acros and vertically withrespect to said record from-a rest position tree of the record to an operating position. in contact with the record, indexing mechanismior establishing said contact at a predetermined point spaced inwardlyfrom the peripheral edge of the record vcomprising means including one element connected to said a stylus and, movable through a predetermined path in to, horizontal movement 01 the stylus and intercepting means including one member connected to said stylus and cooperative with said element of said first means and yieldablysupportedinsaidpath.

5. Inc. phonograph apparatus employing a disc record and a stylus manually movable horizontally across and vertically with respect to said record from a rest position free oi the record to an operating position in contact with the record, indexing mechanism for establishing said contact at a predetermined point spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of the record comprising means including one element movable through a predetermined path in response to horizontal movement oi the stylus, intercepting means including one element in said path and cooperative with said first means a yieldable support forone of said elements, and one of said elements including a plurality of position indicators engageable consecutively with the other of said elements.

6. In a phonograph apparatus employing a disk record and a stylus manually movable horizontally across and vertically with respect to said record from a rest position free of the record to an operating position in contact with the record; indexing means including two independently movable cooperating stop members, means operatively. connecting one of said members to said stylus to be responsive to said horizontal movement for indicating arrival of the stylus atfla point in vertical registry with said opezating position, and separate means operatively connecting the other of said members to said stylus to be responsive to said vertical movement for rendering said indexing means ineiiective when said stylus is lowered into contact with the recrd,

7. In a phonograph apparatus employing a stylus, means including a pivoted arm for supporting said stylus and mounted for movement across and perpendicular to a record from a rest position. to an operative position, indexing means remoteiv situated with respect to said stylussupporting arm for stopping the movement of mid supporting means across the record at predetermined points spaced from said rest position comprising an element in the form oi a second arm movable in the record crossing direction with said stylus-supporting arm, a relatively fixed element, relatively spaced indentations on one of said elements, a detent on the other of said elements for engaging said indentations consecutively, and means comprising a train of component links and levers operatively connecting said stylus-supporting arm and one 01 said elements of said indexing means responsive to said perpendicular movement of the stylus-supporting means for eilecting disengagement oi the detent from any one oi! the indentations engaged thfilfiby.

8. In a phonograph apparatus employing a stylus, means including a pivoted arm for supporting said stylus and mounted for movement across and perpendicular to a record from a rest position to an operative position, indexing means remotely situated with respect to said stylussupporting arm for stopping the movement of said supporting means across the record at predetermined points spaced from said rest position comprising an element in the form of a second arm movable in the record crossing direction with said stylus supporting arm, a relatively fixed element. relatively spaced indentations arranged in a line on one of said elements, a detent on the other 0! said elements for interengagement with said indentations consecutively, and meanscomprising a train of component links and levers operatively connecting said stylus-supporting arm and one of said elements of said indexing means responsive to said perpendicular movement of the stylus-supporting means for shifting one oi said elements crosswise to said line for electing alignment and disalignment of the detent and indentations.

across the record at predetermined points comprising an element in the form of a second arm movable in the record crossing direction with said stylus-supporting arm, a relatively fixed element spaced from said rest position, relatively spaced indentations arranged in a line on one of said elements, a detent on the other oi. said elements for engaging said indentations consecutively, and means comprising a train of component links and levers operatively connecting said stylus-supportingarm and one of said elements of said indexing means operable by said perpendicular movement or the stylus-supporting means for shifting one of said element radially with respect to the pivotal axis 01' said stylus support across said line for eiiecting alignment and disalignment oi the detect and indentations.

10. In a phonograph apparatus employing a stylus, means pivotally supporting said stylus and mounted for movement across and perpendicular to a record from a rest position to an operative position, indexing means for stopping the movement of said supporting means across the record at predetermined point spaced from said rest position comprising an element movable with said stylus-supporting means, a relatively fixed element, relatively spaced indentations on one of said elements, a detent on the other of said elements for engaging said indentations consecutively, means operable by said perpendicular movement of the stylus supporting means for shifting one oi said elements radially with respect to the pivotal axis of said stylus supporting means comprising a rod engagcable at one end with said supporting means, and means engageable with the opposite end of said rod for effecting said radial shitting movement of said one element and consequent alignment and disalignment of the detent and indentations.

'11. In a phonograph apparatus employing a stylus, means pivotally supporting said stylus for movement inwardly across and perpendicular to a record from a rest DO tion to an operative position, indexing means for'stopplng said movement at predetermined points spaced from said rest position comprising an element movable with said stylus, a relatively fixed element, relatively spaced indentation on one of said elements, a detent on the other of said elements for engagement with said indentations consecutively, means responsive to said perpendicular movement of the stylus support for shiftingonc otsaid elements radially with respect to the pivotal axis of said stylus support for eflecting alignment and disaligmnent of the detent and indentations, comprising a rod engageable at one end with said support, and a bell-crank lever engageable with the oppomte end of said rod and connected to the element adapted to be shifted.

12. In a recording apparatus for phonographs employing a groove-cutting stylus, moans pivotally supporting said stylus for movement across prising indexing means and and'perpendicular to a record from a rest position to an operative position, indexing means for stopping said movement at predetermined points spaced from said rest position, comprising an element movable with said stylus, a relatively fixed element, relatively spaced indentations on one of said elementaa detent on the other of said elements for engagement with said indentations consecutively, means responsive to said perpendicular movement of the stylus support for shifting one of said elements radially with respect to the pivotal axis of said stylus support for eiiecting alignment and disalignment of the detent and indentations, comprising a rod engageable,

at one end with said support, a bell-crank lever enla eable with the opposite end of said rod and connected to said shiftable element and resilient means for urging said radial movementin one direction.

18. In a recording apparatus for phonographs' employing a stylus for cutting a sounigroove in' a record, a shaft, an arm secured to one end of the shaft and supporting the stylus for swinging.

movement over and perpendicular to the record from a rest position to an operative position, an

index arm secured to the 'shaft for swinging movement concurrently with said stylus-supporting arm, a post radially disposed with respect to said shaft, an index bar radially disposed with respect to said shaft andsaid post and slidably supported at one endby said post, 'a bell-crank lever supporting and connected to said bar adiacent said shaft, a push rod coaxial with and axially slidable 'in said shaft withone end 'engasing said bell-crank lever and its opposite end engageable by said stylus-supporting arm, a detent carried by said bar adjacent said index arm, and

. a plurality of indentations in said index arm relatively spaced on an arc concentricto said shaft, saidbarbeing shiftable radially with respect to said shaft and carrying said detent into and out of circular ali nment with said are in response to perpendicular movements of said stylus-sup- 14. In a recording apparatus for phonographs employing a stylus movable from a position "08 a record to aposition "on" the record manualb' and thereafter across the record under power to cute sound groove therein, said apparatus com H (giving means for the stylus including-an element ommon to both *iaid means, means operatively connecting said common element with said stylus for concurrent movement between said on and o positions /or the stylus means engageable with said com mon element to indicate registry oi the stylus with said fon" position, and means engageable with said common element for driving the stylus across the record.

15. In a'recording apparatus for phonolraphs 4 employing a stylus movable from a position "of!" a record to a position "on the record manually and thereafter across the record under power to cut a sound groove therein, said apparatus com-- prising indexing means and driving means for the stylus including an element common to both said means, means operatively connecting said prising indexing means and driving means for the a stylus including an element common to bothsaidmeans. means operatively connecting said common element with said stylus for concurrent movement between said fon" and ofl positions of the stylus means including an element engageable with said common element at one of a plurality of predetermined points on said common element to indicate registry of the stylus with said on" position for one of a plurality of diiferently sized records, and means engageable with said common element for driving the stylus across the record.

1']. In a recording apparatus for phonographs employing a stylus movable from a position ofP' a record to a position on" a record manually and thereafter across the record under power to cut a sound groove in the record, said apparatus comprising a pivoted arm for supporting said stylus, a second arm operatively connected to said stylussupporting arm to pivot therewith, intercepting means in thepath of said second arm to indicate arrival of the stylus at said "on" position, and rotary means engageable with said second arm to drive said stylus across the record.

18. In a recording apparatus for phonographs employing a stylus movable from a position "01!" a record to apposition "011 a record manually and thereafter across the record under power to cut a sound groove in the record, said apparatus comprising a pivoted arm for supporting said tylus, a second arm operatively connected to said stylus-supporting arm to pivot therewith. resilient intercepting means projecting into the path of said second arm to indicate arrival of the stylus at a plurality of "on" positions conseeutively, and rotary means engageable with i said second arm to drive said stylus across the GILBERT .G.

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