July 5, 1960
29439861
G. E. REDFIELD
MULTI-SPEEID PHONOGRAPH RECORD PLAYER
6 Sheets-Sheet 1
Filed May 28, 1956
INVENTQR.
?mrge Z7. Xed?e/d
BY
ATTORNEY _
July 5, 1960
2,943,861
ca. E. REDFiELD
MULTI-SPEED FHONOGRAPH RECORD PLAYER
6 Sheets-Sheet 2
Filed May 28, 1956
INVENTOR.
é'wrge?. A’m’?bld
BY
July 5, 1960
2,943,861
e. E. REDFIELD
MULTI-SPEED PHONOGRAPH RECORD PLAYER
Filed May 28, 1956
6 Sheets-Sheet 4
INVENTOR.
?wrge 1'7. Z’ad?kld
BY
ATTOKIVEX
July 5, 1960
2,943,861
e. E. REDFIELD
MULTI-SPEED PHONOGRAPH RECORD PLAYER
6 Sheets-Sheet 5
Filed May 28, 1956
U“.
IN VEN TOR.
?earge??m’fi'eld
BY
July 5, 1960
2,943,861
G. E. REDFIELD
MULTI-SPEED PHONOGRAPH RECORD PLAYER
Filed May 28, 1956
6 Sheets-Sheet 6
~\W k
IN\I\I-.i\ ?
FQ\W M
IN VEN TOR.
A? 'TOKNEL’
United States
2,943,851
ice ,
Patented July 5, 196!)
speed slot type record player which has a mechanism of
simple and rugged construction. for receiving and auto
matically playing, one. at atime, either of two types of
.
a records which are to be reproduced at di?erent speeds
2,943,861
of‘ rotation and which have different diameter centering
5
MUL'H-SPEED PHONOGRAPH RECORD PLAYER
holes.
‘
»
‘
I
'
,
j
t In accordance with the‘invention, the record player ‘is
George E. ‘Red?eld, Mount Holly, N.‘.I., assignor to Radio
Corporation of America, a ‘corporation of Delaware
provided with a universal record centering system for
accurately and automatically centering either large or
Filed May 28, 1956, Ser. No. 587,695
'3 Claims. (Cl. 274-9)
10 small center hole records. The universal centering system
includes a record centering disc for large center hole
records loosely supported above the surface‘ of the turn
table. ' The record centering disc and the turntable are
relatively movable from a ?rst spaced apart or record
This invention relates to phonograph record players 15 leading position to a second record playing position where
and more particularly to multi-speed phonograph record ' the disc engages a record on the turntable. When a large
center hole record is to be played, the centering disc
players which are operable to accommodate disc type
slips through the center hole to hold the record in the
phonograph records having di?erent size center hole
proper centered position on the turntable. If the record
Developments in the phonograph art have resulted in 20 is initially positioned off-center on the turntable, the
the use not only of different playing speeds, but also of , loosely supported centering disc tilts into the large di
ameter center hole and tends to cam the record into the
different spindle openings for present day records. Cer
openings.
tain types of records such as the 78 r.p.m., 331/3 r.p.m.
and 16.6 r.p.m. records have “standard” or small .di
proper position as the turntable and centering disc are
45 r.p.m. records are extremely popular from‘ a‘corn
centering disc, and may be mounted either on the central
mercial standpoint, most multi-speed. record players
axis of the turntable or the centering member.“v
relatively moved to the record playing position. A small
ameter (.281 inch) center holes, while 45 r.p.m.rrecords 25 diameter spindle for centering small center hole records
is provided for cooperation with the turntable and the
have avlarge diameter (1.5 inch) center hole. Since the
.
I
> ‘In certain types of record players such as those of the
type having a cabinet with a lateral slot through which a
record is inserted for playing, the operating mechanism
' including the turntable and tone arm are' enclosed in
with the size of the center hole of the record on the turn
table.
35
son operating the record player. _ Since it‘ is ‘desirable
to adapt such record players for the reproduction of} large
40
records of other turntable speeds, it is necessary. to pro
vide a record centering mechanism which insures that .
eitherv the large or small center hole records‘will be 30C“?
rately centered on the, record player turntable without
relying on the accuracy of an operator in the placement 45
of the record over a turntable centering. spindle.
7
It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide
additional objects andpadvantages thereof, will best be
understood from the following description when read in
connection with thepaccompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a two-speed slot type
record player constructed in accordance with the inven- -
tion and showing a record in the record playing position;
Figure 2‘ is ‘a side elevational view of the record player
inet removed to show certain constructional details of
the record playing mechanism in the record loading posi
a universal record centering device for multi-speed record
diameter or large (15 inch) diameter center holes ‘are 50
accurately and automatically centered when generally
tion;
-
~>
_.
‘
Figure 3 is a similar side elevational view of the rec
0rd player of Figure 1, with said mechanism shown in the
7 I _ .
Another object of this invention is to providehan im
’
‘ shown in Figure l, on an enlarged scale, having the cab
players wherein records having either small (.281 inch)
placed on the turntable of therecord player.
’
The novel features that are considered characteristic
of this invention are set forth with particularity in the
appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as
to its organization and method of operation, as well as
the cabinet, and need not be easily accessible to the per
center hole 45 rpm. records as well as small center hole
'
rotated at di?erent speeds’for reproduction; a ‘sensing
mechanism is provided to automatically control- the speed
of rotation of the record player turntable in accordance
toone or more of the other small diameter center hole
type records.
'
. Since the different size center hole records must be
include provisions for playing these records in addition
‘
record playing position;
i
'
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the record centering
proved multi-speed record player wherein the speed of
rotation of the record player turntable is automatically 55 system and automatic speed control sensing member
taken along the section lines 4-4 of Figure 10 and
controlled in accordance with the diameter of the center
hole of a record on the turntable.
Still another object of this invention is to provide
showing the relative positions of these parts with a large
center hole record in the record playing position;
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the turntable driving
mechanism, taken along the section lines 5——5 of Fig
an improved'multi-speed record player for either of two
types of records which are to be reproduced at di?erent 60
ure l0;
speeds of rotation and which have di?erent diameter
Figure 6 is a plan view of the record player shown-in
center holes wherein either of said types of records are
the preceding ?gures in which the turntable driving mech
automatically centered on the record player turntable,
anism is. set to automatically drive the ‘turntable at a
and the speed of rotation of the turntable is automatically
selected in accordance with the diameter of the center 65 speed which is controlled by the diameter of the center
hole of a record on theturntable;
,
;
hole of the record on the turntable.
_'
,
further object of this invention is to provide a two
Figure 7 is another plan view of the'record player,
1-1
in the bearing 51. The bearing 51 is mounted on the
motorboard 26 and a C washer 55 is fastened in a groove
on the shaft 53 to hold the turntable in place.
The
turntable is preferably of large enough diameter to cover
at leastpthe label portion ofthe phonograph record, but
in general the actual diameter is not critical, and it is pri
marily a design consideration. ‘In the present example,
the‘ turntable 50 may be; considered to: be driven‘ at
drivesystem including a' turntable‘drive motor 52 which
is supported on a motor mounting plate '54. The motor
'mounting plate 54. is .af?xed to downwardly extending
?anges 56 from the motor-board '26.’ Rubber grommets
58 are inserted between the’. ?anges 56 and‘tthe motor . .
cooperating lever 92 which is pivotally mounted on the
motorboard 26. A spring 94 is connected between the
lever and the motorboard to urge one end of the lever
92 into one or the other of the notches 88 and 90 to
retain the plate 78 in the selected position.
, ‘ '
V 7
As .mentioned above, the plate 78 terminates" in' a
pointer 86 which extends over the control lever 18. ‘Suit
able .indicia such as “16.6,” “A,” and “45’? may be. in
scribed’ on the top surface ,of the control lever :18qto
indicate, the speed‘ of operation of the‘ turntable.‘ In‘the
“16.6” position the‘turntable will be‘ rotated, at 16,6
r.p.1_n., andin the “45‘? position, the turntable will be
‘rotated-at ‘45 _r.p.m.'_ If the pointer is set to the “A” posi
tion, the speed at which the‘ turntable is rotated will be
mounting plate 54 tojisolate. the motorboard insofar as 15 automatically determined in accordance with. the size of
possible from motor vibration.
‘
. I -
the center hole of a record on the turntable 50, as will
be explained hereinafter. '
Referring now to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 along with the
The record player of the invention is operable to auto
preceding ?gures, the motor 52 is provided with a drive
matically center small diameter (.281 inch) center hole
shaft 60 which engages and drives the large diameter
surface 62 of a stepped pulley 61. The stepped pulley 20 records, or large diameter (1.5 inch) center hole records
on the turntable 50 when the records are inserted through
61 which also includes a smaller diameter turntable driv
the slot in the front panel of the cabinet 10. As a record
ing surface 64 is mounted for rotation on a stud 66
which is fastened to one end of a pivotally mounted
lever 68. The lever 68 provides a ?oating mount for
is inserted for playing, the general position of the record
with respect to the turntable is controlled by the slots 12
the stepped pulley 61 since the lever is loosely fastened 25 and the guide pins 96 which extend downwardly from, a
to the motorboard 26 by a screw 70 which extends
bracket 98. The bracket 98 is an integral part of the
through an elongated slot in the free end thereof, therebyr
to permit both longiudinal and pivotal movement. A
center of the turntable 50.
record player supporting frame 28 and projects over the
.
A relatively heavy centering disc 1150 is loosely sup
portedby
a pin lél2from the bracket 98 in a position
30
' board 26 so .that the idler wheel 62 and turntable drive
generally over the central axis of the turntable 50.‘ The
roller. 64 are?rmly pulled into engagement ‘with the
centering member ‘has apwell-rounded pilot 103_at the
motor drive shaft 69 and the outer rim of the turntable
bottom thereof which is ‘slightly less‘ than one and a half
50 respectively for driving the turntable at‘ 45'r.p.m.
inches in diameter, and‘ adapted to slip’ into the central
.A second stepped pulley 73 which includes a large
spring 72. is fastened between the lever 68 and the motor
diameter driving surface '74 and a second smaller diam 35 aperture of a large center hole record placed on the turn
table 50. A'well 104 is provided in- the turntable ‘5,0
eter turntable driving surface 76 is mounted on the piv
otally movable plate .78 by a stud 80. The plate 78 is
fastened atone end thereof to the motorboard 26 by a
for receiving that portion of the centering pilot‘103'which
extends through the record thereby insuring that. ‘the
centering member 100, and a record 105, referring par
loosely driven rivet 82, and urged in a clockwise direc
tion by a spring 84. The plate 78 is provided witlra 40 ticularly to Figure 4, are accurately centered on the turn
table. The loose ?t between the centering member 100
forwardly extending portionwhich terminates in a pointer
and the pin 102 permits the centering member to rotate
86 which extends over the control lever 18 to be avail
freely with the‘record 1G5, and the Weight of the center
able to ‘a person operating'the record player for the
ing member on the record helps to prevent slippage be
purpose of manually selecting the speed of operation of
p
.
45, tween the turntable 5G and the record 1015.
the turntable 50, as will'be explained hereinafter.
A
spindle
166
for
‘centering
smalldiameter
center
hole
In the extreme clockwise position of the plate 78, the
records is' centrally mounted on the turntablei5i). As
large diameter driving surface 74 bears. against an inter
shown more particularly in Figure 8, a record 1137 of this
mediate, portion of the stepped pulley 61 forcing the
type is centered on the spindle 1G6, and the record center‘:
stepped pulley to the position shown in Figure 7 Where
ing member ltlti'rests on top of the record. ,A suitable
the smaller diameter, turntable driving surface 64 no 50 recess
is provided in the bottom of the record centering
longer engages the outer
of the turntable 50.‘ In this
member 100 for receiving the spindle 106, when the turn-.
position the turntable driving surface 76 of the stepped
pulley 73 engages the inside of the depending turntable
?ange to drive the turntable at 16.6 r.p.m. For the
table is moved into the record playing position.
7
When a record is inserted through the loading slot for
16.6 r.p.m. operation, the stepped pulley 61 operates as 55 playing, it may not be accurately centered on the turn
an idler to'transmit motion from the motor drive shaft
60‘ to the steppedppulley 73. ‘ Itcan be seen that the
. table.. As the motorboard 26 is moved upwardly to the
record playing- position, with an 'uncentered large center
hole record on the turntable, the rounded or ‘pilot portion
163 of the centering member 101) will fall ortilt into the
the stepped pulley 61. _ However, the turntable continues
to. rotate in the proper direction‘ since the drive rollers 60 center hole exerting an additional force which tends to
stepped pulley '73 rotates in the‘opposite direction from
64 and'76 bear against opposite sides of the depending
turntable ?ange in their respective driving positions.
earn the record into the centered ‘position. >However,
evenif the record is too far-o?-center topermit this to
It is understood that any other desired combination
happen, in the record playing position, the turntable driv
of driving speeds for the turntable may be used by proper
ing motor is energized, and an improperly centered record
selection of the dimensions’ of the stepped pulleys 61 65 will rotate eccentrically. The eccentric motion of the
and 73.
.
As the detent plate 7 8 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise
direction, the; stepped pulley 73 is moved out of engage
ment with/the ‘stepped pulley 61 and the turntable 50,
record causes it to strike the guide pins 96 or the edges
of the slot portion 14- to position the record on the turn
table. The weight of the centering member 109 holds
the record ?rmly on the turntable causing the record to
' and the turntable driving surface 64 on the stepped pulley 70 seek the proper centered position either on the spindle 16
'61 is‘urged into engagement with the outer rim of the
for small diameter records, or the pilot 103 for large
turntable byfthe spring 72. The plate 78 may be held in
diameter records. ~ With this universal centering system,
this saunter-clockwise position against the force of the '
it has been found that ‘a record which is as far off-center
spi’ingt84 by a detent mechanism comprising a pair of
notches‘ as and 96 on an edge of ‘the plate 78 and a 75 as possible within the limits set by the guide'pins ‘land
' esteem
will be aeetttetely centered in eheettetter ‘v
1.221s!) that
the absetiee
the phenegrephireeesd
the playing’pestit.it>hg the tone arm. 116 will b
'
' ' "
biased tewarti the starting positiehet the_.».r'ight
Of theeahihet .10- ‘.Aetehe arm step'member',‘
ritislh‘iehtbetltlii extehsis '
5
t
_
v
V
,.
a,
i
v
_
,
.
grid/‘player;
the
~
a
, either
vitif12leye1r
ltirgeisehter.
is set
holeto'45autometieally
‘r-plnii retards‘elentersahi
Qrfsmell I l
,. ei‘he his
.11!) beneath the tutnteble end is spun; biased tip my
hele tee-mm.
~
' The teesen' for alsieihel dlhg e
the 16-6' and
sntieipete
the 45
user-p-m.
Qt smell
Positions
eetiter‘hele
tor the45.11.17.431
pointer 86
reeerds
by a spring 112 which bears ‘against the hqttgh't 9f the
' heiising L10 and e cellar 114 0h the Pin
lEor "smell center hole .resqtds,
,
lly setto e “Ahpesitihn es imiieeiteti v ' "
1[ levies 18
PO$.iti0h;..tlié» ’
siteh
hppetthest msitiqh
45 rtptnt- ireeetads with center hqle adeptetstht
lerse eenter hele, 16-6, rem-‘records, i
.ef the Pin .198 is limited by the heed'iilh-whieh h ars
'- '
f
'
A record is then insertesi for. playing when the meme
asei'nst the betteth or the housing 110 as .shewh tit Pie; so beard,
and. turntable are pivoted to ‘the lhwet resort!’
tire 8. For
condition, the heetl 109 9f the Pit-1198 is
Pesitiened to strike, with .retatioh 9f. the thrhtable, ah‘
tipstemiihg end 93 0f the deteht lever when the white;
86 vis set for automatic operation. When the head ;1__(_)_9 2.5
105 the pin 198 strikes the end 93: ‘of the lever 9.2, the
' lever Pivets on its axis in e eloclswise direction, releas
ing ‘the plate 78, which in turn then pulled under ?ge
three eithe spring 84 in e eleelswise direetieh to set the
ehitletl'ente
ltietiihgv Position
the turntable
as shownbyill.the‘Figure
limitations
2- I'he
of the
record
record
leading, slot 1:2 and the guidepins 96 which extentldewm
Wsrsily item the bracket 98, émd a step provided by the
motorboard ?ange 30, The control lever
then ifnag= '
.hally raised, until theleteh 20 snaps into place 911 the -
sloti edge ‘19- ‘The movement 0f the motoiboattl‘ 2.6 t0
thihtahle drive for .166, .r-p-tn- operation,
’
30
a large diameter sehtei helereserd is positieheti '
91.1 the t't'itnteléle 5th the sehtering hiethbei i091 extends
the upper pesitien eehbe used’. desired, t9 aethetes
switch! net ‘shown; to" energizelthe turntable dtiyeth
52‘ tel'tetete the ttttntable ahtl. the record th' e0
shewns it»? example in the’ eeeehtiihe-lepplisatismof, :B
'ihteithe. tllzhteble-well 1,94 depressing the Pill .108.- .As
iaminYR- ltcaisohz Sets .NQ, 453,555.; i'lhe-piekunlliii
shown inFjgnre 4, the headlmeofihepm 10s 'is as; ‘ stylus
ofthe tone enh'll? engages the leetl-iherdevefbfil
35
t pressed ‘far enough to pass beneath’ the end .93 of the
the. teserd in the uppet-pesitien Qf themeterbdattl 6.; '
lever ‘9241's the turntable rotates; and therefore the lever
‘and follows the‘groove'towar'd's the center of the eco j; '
will continue to hold the, plate~78 in the position '
7 shown injFigure 6. Intthis position the turntable drive
is
To turn the record player o? at any time during/the‘
ireeerd playing cycle,» the latch 20 is‘ mamielly depressed
t0 release‘ it from the edge 19 thereby‘ allowing theih on 7
mechanism is set. for 45 rpm,’ operation which is
the correct’ speed ‘for large center hole reeords of the 40 board and turntable, to fall to the lower reeord l0‘ " g '
type etirrently being mait'?faetured and sold- - For the
e.Position;
tripping31f;
mechahismrsitniler
howeve'rt the record
tethe
is played
trippihgemeehe
to eqmplet'ioh;
sni
_l,6l6'r.p.rn. or 55.12pm. positions of the pointer 86 as
shown in, Figljres 7 ‘and 10; respectively; the end 93 of’
shewn. and described in. the aforesaid eependingehpi " ‘
~ ‘the lever, 92 is pivoted out of the path oi the head‘109
of the pin108} _
tehe
f
its itivetelly'siipeettee eheehdthere
the latch
Of Benjamin
20 attdpermit
R-fCarsQn
the they
meterbfoard
be'prdyitled
to falll
to. ' . the‘
45 tion.
’ ‘iii in the upper PilfiiQHiQf theeabihet 10 iii shehe than:
Liter thetthestyhis 0i. e ,Pielsue; 'er, sattridgeillts carried
'
~
reeetd leading position, so that the resend nieyfth'en
hetethovedthrhtlshtheslot
If the ireeqrd' inserted through
12-‘ the ILeQQrdlO
i ‘ "
jaitltlie .free‘eedief the tehe him is 'Pe'sitieheti-ebeve the. is @245 r-p-tn- .reeqrd having a large dienietere
fle -1n_ gg'oovefof ‘the’ recordiitrg beiplayedf v.Apairtsoif 5.0 the pilet'ltl-t 0f theeenterihg member’ 100 slips;
> edleadslZ? connect the pickéup cartridge, which
>_
V
V
_V
_,e crystallor cerfamie'typ\e,"fofexample2 tolthe
l's'hield'e‘d an‘di‘ lead 24 as shown in Figure 1. The tone
ermine. is pivetelly mounted, on the shaft 1.22, the shaft 7
the v'et-ihttsll hPQItIIIQ of thev reebrd'iht'h ’ meiwe
around the. eetiteh of the tumt‘able?L-te aeewtately
the reserd on ‘the, ttlrhtable. ~ When’ the Pilot 193 e
the well liééi-fthe'pin 108 is ~clep1'essed and theqll
v
being supported by the rieceid player supporting frame 55 102 of‘ the pin‘ 108 moves to avposition rbelow‘thepwd 51 _'
323; A‘weightjl24, is fastened to the rearfend of the tone
Marni ‘116 by a screw "125. ‘The weight ‘124 is longitudinally '
adjustable along the rear end‘of the tone arm'to a posi}
' tion at which‘ theitone'artn is laterally balanced.
e
.93 of the lever 92vso that the end 973 will pass between > '1
the bottom’ of the, housing‘lll) and the head '109"o_f,ttl1_e ' '
pill 1&8 as the turntable'rotates. The lever Q‘Z'thQseQnF; ‘V
tihues to hold’ the plate~78 in the initial'position'ivhich "
Since the tone arm itself'is'no't pivotally movable in ,60' is set to drive'theturntable 50 at 45 12pm. . g t e
Va vertical'plane, the pickup is suppbrted at one end of Y’ a ,When. atsmall center hole f16.6,r.p.m. recordfvl
a ‘lever 127 which is‘ pivotally mounted :at the freeiend
serted through the loading slot>12,.it is centered on
‘oi the‘ gene-ermine ‘to permit vthe pickup 'to'move in a ' turntable by the spindlelll?t The eentering membei" '
verticaldireetionrrwhen the phonographrecord is brought 7 t 71.09 .rests.-0tt top Oi’the. teeetd, theweight thereot insure,
_ intoteontact'thei'ewi-th. ‘A spring 128 is connected with
ihg ti'?itn'tlriyihg‘ehgagemeht between the ,treeerd. end
the other‘ end of the lever- '127' to bias the pickugo in a '
digestion toward the record with a force su?ieient to pro
vide the proper st'ylusl tracking pressure so that the'stylus
;
follow the'record-grooves. This tone arm structure
is particularly designed'for vehicular use,'and is adapted _ 70
to, maintain the pickup 11.8’ in correetitraeking relation ‘
the teserti when'the'turntable isfnet level; and
Y: en theyehiele makes qttieh twin, etc.
it t
the turntable 50. ' Since the pilot 7103 of the centering I e i
member» let} (lees net extendihto the hirntehle welllil'i; 1.; i l
the pin‘ '10s is not, depressed, and the.’ head‘ 1019 etithe - l ;
12in ithhts ~against the bottom ef 'thehousing .110.’ Under 7‘
these Conditions, the head 109 bf the pin‘ 10% is his
"
tien t0 stiike the end'93 ‘of’. the1lever"9,2_ the
1;
'tetstes
When the pih'hits the lever 9;, the levee is‘
Itated. in aisleekwise directionegaihst‘the-fbiee '0,
A snrisnsi- net shewnt is esttheeteti between-the iteeerd ‘ spring. 94 thereby releasing the'plate'ls whieh is n
75 hythe spring '84 iii? eleelswise: direction to the 1:65;
Qieyet suphertingtrshee 2H8, ehti-the tone emgiyet
Hi5.
aw
eluding asubstantially horizontal rotatableturntable, ‘said
turntable driving position, and ‘the turntable will be driven
cabinet. having a slot in one side thereof adjacent said
_ rotatable turntable and through which recordsare in
at the proper playing speed for the normal small center
hole seven-inch record.
After the completion of playing of a 16.6 r.p.m. rec
ord, the motorboard 26 falls to the record loading posi
' serted for playing, the combination of means for guiding
a record manually inserted through said slot to a posi
tion as aforesaid. As the motorboard falls, a tab 140
on the pivoted plate 78 strikes an inclined member 142
beyond the periphery of and parallel to the axis of a
tion over said- turntable comprising guide pins extending
record positioned on said turntable, a weighted ?rst, rec
. 0rd centering ‘member-loosely supported for pivotal and
which is mounted on the record player frame 28 driving
the plate 78 back to the position‘ where the end of the
lever 92 engages the detent 90. Thus in the record load 10 rotational motion "above said turntable and having a
rounded bottom end portion of a dimension for entry
ing position of the motorboard 26, the turntable driving
into the center hole of large center hole records and a
mechanism is reset to the 45 r.p.m. position, and in the
?anged portion of larger dimension than the center hole
“A” or automatic position of the pointer 86, the turn
table speed will be controlled by the size of the record
placed on the turntable as aforesaid.
'
-
of large center hole records positioned above said end
15 portion, means providing a central well in said turntable
for receiving and aligning said rounded end portion with
The record centering member and automatic speed
changing mechanism of the invention may assume alter
native forms. For example, with reference to Figures
11 and 12, the spindle 106' is mounted in the central
axis of the centering member 100' and extends down 20
wardly therefrom, so that as the motorboard is raised to
a central axis of said turntable, means providing relative
movement between said ?rst record centering member
and said turntable from a spaced-apart record loading
position to an adjacent record playing position wherein
said rounded end portion extends into said turntable well
to center a large center hole record positioned on said
turntable and means providing a second record centering
record centering member 100' may slip into the center
member comprising a spindle supported on and extending
hole of the record and accurately centers the record on
the turntable 50'. For example, in Figure 11, a small 25 along the central axis of said turntable, said spindle having
a portion of a dimension for entry into the center hole of
center hole record 107' is positioned on the turntable 50’,
small center hole records, the ?anged portion of said
and the spindle 106' extends through the center of the
?rst centering member engaging and resting on the top
record and into a guide hole in the center of the turn
surface of a large center hole record to be played, and
table 50’ to accurately position the record 107' on the
turntable. The weight of the centering member 100' 30 the rounded bottom end portion of said ?rst centering
member engaging and resting on the top surface of a
serves to minimize the record slippage by insuring ?rm
small center hole record to be played.
contact between the record 107’ and the turntable 50'.
2. In a phonograph record player 'for accommodating
A modi?cation of the automatic speed changing mecha
either large center hole records or small center hole
nism is also shown in Figure 11 wherein the pin 108’ is
limited in its upward movement by the small center hole 35 records, the combination of a ?rst record centering mem
ber having a pilot portion of a dimension for entry into
record on the turntable. In this position the head 109'
the center hole of large center hole records, a rotatable
of the pin 108' is on the same vertical level as the end
turntable for supporting a record to be played and hav
93’ of the lever 92' so that continued rotation of the turn
ing a central well therein for receiving and aligning said
table will cause the pin 108 to strike the lever 92’ there
the record playing position, the spindle 166’ and/or the
‘by releasing the plate 78' and setting the turntable drive 40 pilot portion with the central axis of said turntable,
means loosely supporting said ?rst centering member
mechanism for 16.6 r.p.m. operation.
above said turntable, means providing relative movement
With reference to Figure 12 when a large diameter
between said ?rst record centering member and said
center hole record is positioned on the turntable 50', the
turntable from a spaced apart record loading position
pilot 103' of the centering member 100' slips through
the central aperture of the record 105' into the well 104', 45 to an adjacent record playing position wherein said pilot
portion extends into said turntable well to center a large _
thereby centering thev record, on the turntable. In this
center hole record positioned on said turntable, and
embodiment of the invention, the centering member 100'
means
providing a second record centering member com
is provided with an annular slot in the bottom surface
prising a spindle mounted on said turntable at the cen
thereof for receiving the top, end of the‘ pin 1%’. Thus,
for 45 r.p.m. large centerhole records, the pin 108 moves 50 -tral axis thereof and having a portion of a‘ dimension
for entry into the center hole of small center hole records
under the force of the spring 112’ into asecond upper
aligned with the central axis of said turntable in said
position with the end thereof extending into the annular
record playing position to center small center hole rec
slot. In this position the head 109' of the pin 108' will
ords positioned in said turntable, said ?rst centering mem
abut the bottom surface of the housing 110’ and will be
in a position not to strike the lever 93' upon rotation of 55 her being positioned by said supporting means for en
gaging and resting on the top surface of a small center
the turntable 50’. Accordingly, the speed change mecha
hole record to be played.
nism will remain set for 45 r.p.m. operation. The con
struction of a record player incorporating the modi?ed
'
'
3. In a phonograph record player for playing either
large center hole records or small center hole records,
the combination with a rotatable turntable for supporting
centering and speed changing mechanism is otherwise
the same as that described with reference to Figures 1 60
a record to be played, of a ?rst record centering member
and 10 above.
for
insertion into the center hole of large center hole
It can be seen in accordance with the foregoing that
records, means loosely supporting said centering member
above said turntable, means for relatively moving said
in accordance with the invention an improved phono
graph record player has been provided which has an ex
tremely simpli?ed operating mechanism for accommodat
ing either of two types of records which are to be repro- '
duced at different speeds of rotation and which have
different diameter center holes by automatically centering
either type of said records on the record player turntable
and automatically controlling the turntable speed in ac
cordance with the diameter of the center hole of the
record positioned on the turntable.
What is claimed is:
'
1. In a slot type phonograph record player of the type
having a cabinet enclosing record playing mechanism in
?rst record centering member and said turntable between v
65
a spaced apart position for loading a record on said turn-V
table and an adjacent record playing position wherein
said ?rst record centering member is operable to center
a large center hole record positioned on the turntabler
and means providing a second record centering-member
comprising a spindle mounted on said turntable at the
central axis thereof for insertion into the center hole of
small center hole records, said second record centering
member being aligned with the central axis of said turn
75 table in said record playing position to center a small
mags;
'
1I
,
7
center hole record positioned on said turntable in aid
s?paeegi HPKItfPQSitiQ?, said ?rst rgco'rd centering member
being Positionegi, byvsa’id supporting meansv for engaging
and ‘resting on the'topr syrfage offya small QeIIfQ'IfIZhOIéI '- ligfeféhseé?ited in the ?le, of this'rpiatlentl '
4'
I'UNIIED STATESQPATENTSJ,
- ‘722517342321;
,
12 7
2,570,210’
2,673,089
2,689,734
r
Thompson ______'_ ____ __'_.__' Feb; 23,1954 '
Osborne '_____‘__
___;Mar,r 2351354 '
Wennerbo'et an}. .;
-?-f Sept-T21’ 19514‘
_1_____ ‘Nov. '2, ‘1954'