Record player

• US 4,734,902 A
• Filed: 05/08/1985
• Issued: 03/29/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James T. Dennis
• Original Assignee: James T. Dennis
• Inventors: Kolomayets, George, Dennis, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Application Number:
  US06/732,242
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 369/176, 369/244, 369/258, 369/263, 369/264, 369/182, 369/270, 369/271, 369/203, 369/230, 369/245
• US Class Current: 369/176
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/12 by sensing distinguishing features of or on records, e.g. diameter end mark
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/20 Driving; Starting; Stopping; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/043 using rotating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 3/085 using automatic means G11B3/095 takes precedence ; if particularly adapted for record-changers see G11B17/16 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 3/0952 using automatic means

Abstract

An auto return record player is provided which can be simply and economically adapted to function as an automatic set down player. Either the auto return player or the automatic set down player is capable of playing a record on the turntable twice and then returning the tone arm to the rest post and shutting the machine off, the tone arm being automatically set down on the lead-in groove of the record between the first and second playing cycles. The record player is of the so-called quarter panel sub base type and may be assembled in a main base or cabinet without removing the turntable from the quarter panel sub base. The record player also has a 45 rpm record adaptor which is provided with an integral stub centering spindle portion for small hole records which may be grasped to lift the adaptor to a 45 rpm large hole record playing position, the adaptor covering a separate inexpensive stub shaft which acts as a bearing for the turntable.

Claims

1. In a record player, the combination of, a rotatable turntable, means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm pivotally mounted at a point beyond said turntable and having a cartridge receiving outer end, a tone arm lift member vertically movable to engage said tone arm and raise the outer end thereof, a control knob, means responsive to movement of said control knob to a first position for moving said lift member upwardly, thereby to raise the outer end of said tone arm to a cueing position above said turntable without energizing said turntable rotating means, and means responsive to the movement of said control knob to a second position for energizing said turntable rotating means.

2. The combination of claim 1, which includes means responsive to movement of said control knob to a third position for initiating an automatic cycle in which said tone arm is automatically moved into engagement with the lead in groove of a record positioned on said turntable.

3. The combination of claim 2, which includes means responsive to movement of said control knob in said opposite position for playing a record on said turntable twice.

4. The combination of claim 1, which includes a control member interconnected with said control knob and movable in a horizontal plane when said control knob is moved to said first position, said control member having a cam surface which engages said lift member and moves it upwardly as said control knob is moved to said second position.

5. The combination of claim 4, which includes a base member, said lift member including a vertically extending flange portion slidably mounted in said base member for movement in a vertical plane, and means positioning said control member so that said cam surface engages said flange portion and moves said lift member upwardly as said control knob is moved to said first position.

6. In a record player, the combination of, a rotatable turntable, means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm pivotally mounted at a point beyond said turntable and having a cartridge receiving outer end, a tone arm lift member vertrically movable to engage said tone arm and raise the outer end thereof, a control knob, means responsive to movement of said control knob in one direction from a neutral position for moving said lift member upwardly so that the outer end of said tone arm is lifted without energizing said turntable rotating means, means responsive to the movement of said tone arm toward said turntable for energizing said turntable rotating means, and means responsive to the movement of said control knob in the opposite direction from said neutral position for energizing said turntable rotating means.

7. The combination of claim 6, which includes means responsive to said movement of said control knob in said opposite direction for initiating an automatic cycle in which said tone arm is automatically moved into engagement with the lead in groove of a record positioned on said turntable.

8. The combination of claim 6, which includes a rest post positioned beyond the edge of said turntable, said tone arm being positioned on said rest post when said control knob is in said neutral position, and means responsive to movement of said control knob in said opposite direction for playing a record on said turntable twice and returning said tone arm to said rest post.

9. The combination of claim 8, which includes means for disabling said turntable rotating means when said tone arm is returned to said rest post after the record has been played twice.

10. In a record player, the combination of, a gear, means for rotating said gear one revolution during an automatic cycle, a tone arm mounted for rotation about a fixed point which is spaced from said gear, an elongated link member, means interconnecting one end of said link member with said tone arm, a pin rotatably mounted on said gear at a point offset from the center thereof and having an opening through which said link member extends, a coil spring positioned on said pin between said link member and the upper end of said pin, and cam means on said gear and adapted to engage said link member and lift it upwardly against the force of said coil spring so that said link member is held in frictional engagement with said gear with a force sufficient to rotate said tone arm about said fixed point as said gear rotates during the automatic cycle.

11. The combination of claim 10, which includes a washer positioned on said pin between said link member and said coil spring and wherein said cam means comprises a pair of upstanding ledges on said gear which are positioned on opposite sides of said pin, said washer being biased against a shoulder on said pin by said coil spring and lifted off of said shoulder by engagement of said link member with said upstanding ledges.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said pin is loosely mounted in an opening in said gear and is provided with a rigid head portion adapted to engage the underside of said gear when said washer is lifted off of said shoulder, said pin having a pair of outwardly projecting lugs which engage the upper side of said gear to loosely retain said pin within said opening when said link member is out of engagement with said ledges.

13. The combination of claim 11, wherein said pin is provided with a second shoulder adjacent the upper end thereof, and said coil spring is positioned between said second shoulder and said washer and urges said washer against said first named shoulder.

14. In a record player, the combination of, a rotatable turntable, a tone arm pivotally mounted beyond the edge of said turntable, and a velocity tripping mechanism responsive to movement of said tone arm during the playing of a record on said turntable, said velocity tripping mechanism comprising a first member rotatable about an axis, a second member pivotally mounted on said first member for rotation relative to first member about said axis, said members having a first point of frictional contact spaced away from said axis and a second point of frictional contact near said axis, a tension coil spring extending parallel to said axis and having the ends thereof connected to said first and second members at points between said first and second points of frictional contact so that the tension of said spring holds said first and second members together with a slight force, means for moving said first and second members about said axis in one direction as the tone arm moves inwardly over the record, and means for moving said second member a predetermined amount in the opposite direction relative to said first member each revolution of said turntable by overcoming said slight force exerted therebetween by said tension coil spring.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein said axis about which said first and second members are rotatable coincides with the pivotal axis of said tone arm.

16. The combination of claim 14, wherein said first member comprises a flat plate connected to said tone arm and having an upstanding rib spaced from the axis of said tone arm, and said second member comprises a hub portion mounted on said plate for rotation about said tone arm axis and a radially extending arm portion the outer end of which rests on said upstanding rib, said tension spring being connected to said arm portion between said outer end and said hub portion.

17. The combination of claim 16, wherein said upstanding rib has upstanding lug portions at the ends thereof which limit the extent of movement of said arm portion along said rib.

18. In a record player, the combination of, a gear, a rotatable turntable, means for rotating said gear one revolution during an automatic shut-off cycle, a pivotally mounted tone arm, an elongated link member, means for interconnecting one end of said link member with said tone arm, means operative during said shut-off cycle for frictionally connecting the other end of said link member to said gear so that as said gear rotates during said shut-off cycle said tone arm is moved outwardly, said link member being disengaged from said gear and moving with said tone arm during the playing of a record on said turntable, velocity tripping means responsive to said movement of said link member during the playing of a record for initiating said automatic shut-off cycle, said interconnecting means including a first member movable with said tone arm, a second member connected to said one end of said link member and movable relative to said first member about the axis of said tone arm, said second member frictionally engaging said first member at two spaced apart points, a third member movable with said tone arm, and a tension coil spring connected to said second member between said spaced apart points and connected to said third member at a point below said first and second members so that the tension of said spring holds said first and second members in frictional engagement at said spaced apart points.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein said tension spring extends between said second and third members through a clearance slot in said first member.

20. The combination of claim 18, wherein said tension coil spring has a large number of turns, so that small variations in the tension thereof can be readily obtained by adjusting the number of turn thereof.

21. In a record player, the combination of a base member, a stub shaft supported on said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, a turntable rotatably mounted on said stub shaft and having a recess and a central hub portion at the center thereof, an integrally formed 45 rpm adapter positioned in said recess to cover said stub shaft and having a cylindrical upwardly projecting portion at the center thereof, said adapter having a centering sleeve engaging the outer periphery of said central hub portion and being movable from a lower position in which said projecting portion extends above the upper surface of said turntable and acts as a centering spindle for a small hole record positioned on said turntable to an upper position in which a wider portion of said adapter extends above the upper surface of said turntable and acts as a centering spindle for a large hole 45 rpm record positioned on said turntable, said turntable having an opening formed therein beneath said adapter, said adapter having a resilient retaining leg extending through said opening for preventing said adapter from being removed from said recess.

22. The combination of claim 21, wherein said wider portion of said adapter is positioned at or below the surface of said turntable when said adapter is positioned in said lower position and substantially fill said recess.

23. The combination of claim 21, which includes means responsive to rotation of said adapter relative to said turntable while adapter asaid member is in said upper position for retaining said adapter in said upper position.

24. A record player as recited in claim 21 wherein said adapter has a plurality of positioning feet extending therefrom, said positioning feet engaging said turntable within said recess when said adapter is in the lower position.

25. The combination of claim 21, which includes means for retaining said adapter within said recess while permitting movement thereof between said upper and lower positions.

26. In a record player, the combination of a base member, a stub shaft supported on said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, a turntable rotatably mounted on said stub shaft and having a recess and a central hub portion at the center thereof, an integrally formed 45 rpm adapter positioned in said recess and having a large diameter portion which substantially fills said recess and covers said stub shaft, said adapter having a cylindrical portion of small diameter extending upwardly from said large diameter portion at the center thereof, said adapter having a centering sleeve engaging said central hub portion and being positionable in either lower position in which said large diameter portion is at or below the upper surface of said turntable and said projecting portion extends above the upper surface of said turntable and acts as a centering spindle for small hole record positioned on said turntable or in a upper position in which said large diameter portion extends above the upper surface of said turntable and acts as a centering spindle for a large hole 45 rpm record positioned on said turntable.

27. The combination to claim 26, which includes means responsive to rotation of said adapter relative to said turntable while said adapter is in said upper position for retaining said adapter in said upper position.

28. The combination of claim 26, which includes means for retaining said adapter within said recess while permitting movement thereof between said upper and lower positions.

29. In a record player the combination of, a main base structure, a sub base carrying a rotatable turntable a tone arm positioned to engage a record on said turntable and a motor for rotating said turntable, said sub base extending outwardly beyond the edge of said turntable through an arc of less than 120 degrees, and means for solidly securing said sub base to said main base structure without requiring said turntable to be removed from said sub base, said last named means comprising at least one screw which is accessible through an opening in said turntable, wherein said turntable has a recess in the central portion thereof, a 45 rpm large hole record adaptor normally filling said recess, said adaptor being removable to provide access to said one screw through said recess, thereby to permit said sub base to be secured to said main base structure without removing said turntable.

30. The combination of claim 29, wherein said opening in said turntable is in the bottom wall of said recess.

31. The combination of claim 29, wherein said opening is in the central portion of said turntable, and removable means for covering said turntable opening.

32. The combination of claim 31, wherein said removable means comprises a 45 rpm large hole record adaptor.

38. A record player as set forth in claim 31, wherein said control arm is provided with a cam portion, and a lift member positioned to be engaged by said cam portion as said control arm is pivotally moved at the beginning of said shut-off cycle and adapted to raise said tone arm off of a record positioned on said turntable.

39. A record player according to claim 38, wherein said control track is shaped to move said cam portion out of engagement with said lift member during the mid portion of said shut-off cycle so that said tone arm is lowered onto said rest post during said mid portion of said shut-off cycle, and means for retaining said tone arm positioned on said rest post during the remainder of said shut-off cycle.

33. In a record player the combination of, a main base structure, a sub base carrying a rotatable turntable a tone arm positioned to engage a record on said turntable and a motor for rotating said turntable, said sub base extending outwardly beyond the edge of said turntable through an arc of less than 120 degrees, a plurality of mounting springs positioned between said sub base and said main base structure for resiliently mounting said sub base on said main base structure, and a plurality of transit screws threadingly mounted in said sub base and extending through openings in said main base structure to engage the underside thereof, said transit screws being rotatable to clamp said sub base solidly to said main base structure against the force of said mounting springs, thereby to prevent damage to said record player during movement or shipment thereof, at least one of said transit screws being accessible through an opening in said turntable so that said transit screws may be tightened or released without removing said turntable from said sub base, wherein said turntable has a recess in the central portion thereof, a 45 rpm large hole record adaptor normally filling said recess, said adaptor being removable to provide access to said one transit screw through said recess.

34. The combination of claim 33, wherein said opening in said turntable is in the bottom wall of said recess.

35. The combination of claim 33 wherein said opening is in the central portion of said turntable, and removable means for covering said turntable opening.

36. The combination of claim 35, wherein said removable means comprises a 45 rpm large hole record adaptor.

37. In a record player, the combination of, a base member, a turntable rotatably mounted on said base member, a rest post positioned beyond the edge of said turntable, a tone arm positioned on said base member beyond the edge of said turntable and carrying a control member, a gear mounted on said base member and driven from said turntable during an automatic shut-off cycle, a control arm pivotally mounted on said base member and having a portion biased into engagement with a control track on said gear, thereby to produce pivotal movement of said control arm as said gear is rotated, said control arm carrying a shut-off switch which is positioned in engagement with said control member when said gear is at rest and said tone arm is positioned on said rest post so that said shut-off switch is open, said shut-off switch being closed when said tone arm is moved off of said rest post and said control member is moved out of engagement with said shut-off switch, means for rotating said turntable during periods when said switch is closed, means for initiating an automatic shut-off cycle when a record positioned on said turntable has been played during which shut-off cycle said gear is rotated one revolution, and means operative during said automatic shut-off cycle for positioning said tone arm on said rest post so that said switch is opened when said gear is returned to said rest position at the end of said automatic shut-off cycle wherein said control arm includes a pin biased into engagement with a detent notch portion of said control track when said gear is in said rest position, said gear also having a second control track for controlling movement of said control arm so that said tone arm is not positioned on said rest post, and means for positioning said pin in said second control track, said player further including means defining a vertical opening in said base member, a mounting pin connected to said control arm and loosely positioned in said opening to provide said pivotal mounting for said control arm, and a spring means connected between said base member and said control arm for urging said control arm in the direction to maintain said shut off switch open when said gear is at rest and said tone arm is positioned on said rest post, said spring means also biasing said pin upwardly into engagement with either said first control track or said second control track.

40. A record player according to claim 37, wherein said second control track includes a second detent notch in radial alignment with said first named notch, a control knob, and means responsive to movement of said control knob for moving said pin into said second detent notch.

41. A record player according to claim 40, wherein said second control track is positioned inside first control track on said gear.

42. A record player according to claim 40 wherein said second control track is positioned above said first control track, and means for biasing said pin upwardly so that said movement of said control knob causes said pin to engage said second notch.

43. A record player according to claim 37, which includes means for interconnecting said first and second control tracks so that after said pin traverses said second control track it is automatically moved into engagement with said notch in said first named control track.

44. A record player according to claim 43, wherein said second control track includes a second detent notch in radial alignment with said first named notch on said gear, a control knob, and means responsive to movement of said control knob for moving said pin into said second notch.

45. A record player according to claim 43, wherein said second control track is positioned inside of and above said first named control track, and means for biasing said pin upwardly so that said movement of said control knob causes said pin to move inwardly and upwardly on said gear and engage said second notch.

46. In a record player, the combination of, a base member, a turntable rotatably mounted on said base member, a rest post positioned beyond the edge of said turntable, a tone arm positioned on said base member beyond the edge of said turntable and carrying a control member, a gear mounted on said base member and driven from said turntable during during an automatic shut-off cycle, a control arm pivotally mounted on said base structure and having a pin in engagement with a control track on said gear, said control arm carrying a shut-off switch comprising a pair of spring arms normally biased to a closed position, said control track positioning said control arm so that one of said spring arms is in engagement with said control member when said gear is at rest and said tone arm is positioned on said rest post, thereby to open said shut-off switch, said shut-off switch being closed when said tone arm is moved off of said rest post and said control member is moved out of engagement with said one spring arm, means for rotating said turntable during periods when said switch is closed, and means for urging said pin into engagement with said control track with a force sufficient to overcome the normal biasing force of said spring arm and hold said shut off switch open when said gear is at rest and said tone arm is positioned on said rest post, said record player further including spring means connected between said control arm and said base member to provide said force, means defining a vertical opening in said base member, a mounting pin connected to said control arm and loosely positioned in said opening to provide said pivotal mounting for said control arm, said spring means also biasing said pin upwardly into engagement with the underside of said gear.

47. A record player according to claim 46, which includes spring means connected between said control arm and said base member to provide said force.

48. A record player according to claim 47, wherein said spring means comprises a torsion coil spring having one arm in engagement with said base member and the other arm in engagement with said control arm.

49. A record player according to claim 48, wherein said second control track is positioned above and inside of said first named control track, and said interconnecting means comprises a ramp portion on said gear and leading from the final portion of said second control track to said notch on said first control track.

50. In a record player the combination of, a main base structure, a sub base carrying a rotatable turntable a tone arm positioned to engage a record on said turntable and a motor for rotating said turntable, said sub base extending outwardly beyond the edge of said turntable and means for solidly securing said sub base to said main base structure without requiring said turntable to be removed from said sub base, said least named means comprising at least one screw which is accessible through an opening in said turntable, wherein said turntable has a recess in the central portion thereof, a 45 rpm large hole record adaptor normally filling said recess, said adaptor being removable to provide access to said one screw through said recess, thereby to permit said sub base to be secured to said main base structure without removing said turntable.

51. In a record player the combination of, a main base structure, a sub base carrying a rotatable turntable a tone arm positioned to engage a record on said turntable and a motor for rotating said turntable, said sub base extending outwardly beyond the edge of said turntable a plurality of mounting springs positioned between said sub base and said main base structure for resiliently mounting said sub base on said main base structure, and a plurality of transit screws threadingly mounted in said sub base and extending through openings in said main base structure to engage the underside thereof, said transit screws being rotatable to clamp said sub base solidly to said main base structure against the force of said mounting springs, thereby to prevent damage to said record player during movement or shipment thereof, at least one of said transit screws being accessible through an opening in said turntable so that said transit screws may be tightened or released without removing said turntable from said sub base, wherein said turntable has a recess in the central portion thereof, a 45 rpm large hole record adaptor normally filling said recess, said adaptor being removable to provide access to said one transit screw through said recess.