US1748515A - Sound-reproducing instrument - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 25, 1930. B. KWARTIN SOUND REPRODUCING INSTRUMENT Filed May 24. 192? z sheets-sheet 1 BERNARD KWARTIN Feb. 25, 1930. B. KWARTIN SOUND REPRODUCING INSTRUMENT Filed May 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l J! I vvlllll w u my. M m M 5 Patented Fa. 25, 1930 PA'FE T' OFFICE,

BERNARD KWARTIN, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA SOUND-REPRODUGING INSTRUMENT Application filed May 24, 1927. Serial No. 193,871;

This invention relates to sound reproducing instruments, such as talking machines, and more particularly to a regulator mechanism operable to permit the rendition of 5 compositions of greater length Without increasing the diameters ofstandard size records now in use, or to state this conversely, it is within the contemplation of this invention to be able to play records of a given diameter fog-a greaterlength of time than is now possi le. y In talking machines of the present know type it is practically impossible to record or reproduce musical compositions of any considerable length due to the fact that records of suflicient size cannot be conveniently made and also to the fact thatthe talking machines themselves are notdesigned to accommodate records the diameters of whichare excessive. As a result it has been the common practice either-to abridge and otherwise condense the longer musical compositions, which has always been unsatisfactory to the appreciative V lovers of good music, or else to provide'a H1111? tiple arrangement of records designed to permit the records to be reproduced in succession, this latter expedient being subject to numerous mechanical and other disadvantages;

In the usual type of modern record the sound grooves are in the form of a fiat spiral decreasing in diameter gradually from the outer periphery thereof to the center, and

' inasmuch as the speed of the record is constant the relative speed between the rpro ducing needle and the grooves of the record in which it moves will be greater near the periphery of the record than at the center, this relative'speed being gradually decreased as the needle moves toward said center, Obviously this means that in the vicinity of the center of the record the sound wave impressions which are capable'of'being converted into sound waves are greater in average number for each unit of length,-this'number for the same unit of length being gradually decreased as the record grooves increase in diameter. This increasing reduction in the average number of sound wave impressions per unit of length as the grooves become greater in diameter is responsible for the present practice of providing records which are only capable of reproducing compositions the time for reproduction of which is relatively short.

In order to obviate the aforementioned objections and difiiculties in the way of renderj edge of the record to the center thereof, these I grooves differing from the usual grooves in that the averagenumber ofsound waveimpressions remains constant for each unit of length of the grooves regardless of their individual diameters, that is, the length or spacing, of the sound wave impression for any given noteis the same at all points in the record grooves.

In order to most effectively utilize such a record having a constant length of impression for any given note regardless of the latters position upon the record it is necessary -to vary the speed of rotation of the record as the needle travels toward the center thereof and it accordingly becomes a further object of this invention to so control the speed of rotation of the record that exactly the same interval of time will be required for the needle to pass over any givenlength of a groove regardless of its location of the record.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a regulating mechanism arranged to be operatively associated with the mechanism for imparting rotation to a record wherein the sound wave impression for any given noteis always of the same length whereby a record of given diameter may be enabled to render compositions of consider ably greater length than has been heretofore possible.

Still another object of the invention is the u provision of a mechanism for gradually increasing the speed of rotation of the record as the reproducing needle approaches the center thereof, said mechanism including means for automatlcally resetting it prior to rendering a different composition or the same one over again.

Still further the invention has as one of its objects the arrangement of a mechanism for controlling the speed of rotation of the record, which mechanism is capable of being readily thrown out of operation during the rendering of a composition or at any other time so that records of the usual type may be rendered as desired. I 1

Other objects, and objects relating to details of construction and economy of operation, will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, arrangement and relative location of parts, all as will be explained more fully hereinafter, as illustrated in the drawings showing a preferred form of the invention, and finally" pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, which show for purposes of illustration a preferred embodiment of the principles of this invention Figure l is a top plan view of a disk type of record, approximately one half of the record showing the usual form of record provided with the ordinary sound wave impressions'and the other half showing the present form of record wherein the average number of sound wave impressions is the same for each unit of length;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus showing the regulator mechanism positioned below the turntable for supporting the record;

Figure 3 is a cross section view through the apparatus taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the regulating mechanism proper;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the regulating mechanism shown in igure 4;

Figure 6 is aview similar to Figure 5 but showing the parts of the mechanism in nonoperative relation; and v Figure 7 is an end view of the mechanism showing the means for resetting and maintaining the parts of the mechanism in operative relation;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of an apparatus showing .a modified arrangement of the regulator mechanism therein;

Figure 9 is a cross section View taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8; v

Figure 10 is. a top plan view of an apparatus showing still another modified arrangement of the regulator mechanism therein and Figure 11 is a cross section view taken on the line 11--11 of Figure 10.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1, it will besee'n that the invention is predicated upon the use of a record of the. disk type and in which the soundwave 1m-' pressions corresponding to a glven note are of the same length throughout the record. The record, designated generally by the reference at the center.

means numeral 10, is, for purposes of illustration, divided substantially into two sections a and 72; section a showing the usual record and section 6 showing the form of record with which this invention is concerned. In the usual record it will be seen that the sound wave impressions are arranged in the form of a fiat spiral, the number of these impressions per unit of length being less as the diameters of the playing grooves increase, this being necessary due to the fact that while the speed of rotation of the record remains substantially constant during the entire rendition of the compositionthe relative speed of the reproducing needle with respect to the record is greater near the periphery of the record than This decreasing number of sound wave impressions per unit of length as the diameters of the playing grooves increase, is shown more or less diagrammatically in section a of the record shown in Figure 1.

On the other hand, the record with which this invention is concerned, while of the same general form as the record just described, difi'ers therefrom in that the average number of sound wave impressions per unit of length is substantially constant over the entire playing surface of the record. It will be evident that by choosing as the average number of such impressions per unit of length that number' which is greatest in the usual form of record, or in other words, by choosing a pitch between the sound wave impressions ordinarily found only in the playing groove of the'smallest diameter on the usual record, it becomes possible to provide a record, the playing surface of which is provided with a much greater total number of sound wave impressions. This uniformity in the average number of sound wave impressions per unit of length over the entire playing surface of the record is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in section b of the record shown in Figure 1, and it will be obvious that with such a record it will be possible to render compositions of considerably greater length than was possible heretofore without necessitating any increase in the size of records now in general use.

In order to most effectively utilize such a record having a constant average number of sound wave impressions per unit of length,

it is necessary to vary the speed of rotation of the record as the reproducing needle travels toward the center thereof so that exactly the same interval of time will be required for the needle to pass over any given length of a playing groove regardless of its dismachine 11 above the upper surface of which is rotatably mounted the turn-table 12 for supporting the record to be pla ed. This turn-table is actuated by the usua operating motor 13 suitably geared or otherwise connected to the turn-table shaft 14. This operating motor 13 is mounted in the usual manner in compartment 15 provided below the turntable 12. Disposed to one side of and suitably geared to the motor 13 or to the turn-table shaft 14 by a train of gears 16, 17 and 18 is a screw19, the gear 18 being rigidly secured to the upper end of the screw 19 as most clearly appears in Figure 3. This screw is rotatably supported at its upper end in any suitable manner such that upon rotation of the turn-table shaft 14 the screw will also be rotated through the gears 17-18, it being of course understood that any other means may be employedfor entraining the screw with" the motor 13 'or the turn-table shaft 14.

Pivoted as at 20, upon a fixed support or bracket 20' is a lever designated generallyby the reference numeral 21, the ends of this lever projecting in opposite directions from its pivotal point of suspension. The shorter branch 22 of this lever is provided with a spring pressed plunger or brake finger 23, the spring 24 tending normally toforce the head 25 of the plunger upwardly" and into braking engagement with the turn-table 12 in the manner most clearly shown in Fig ure 3.

The longer branch 26 of the lever is preferably in the form of a pair of pivotally connected arms 27 and 28 tending normally to be forced apart by the action of, a leaf spring 29 secured to the arm 28 with its free end bearing against the opposite arm 27. Intermediate the ends of the arm 27-28 of the lever 21, are a pair of substantially semicircular members 30 and 31, the member 30 being pivotally supported upon the arm 27 by a laterally extending bearing pin 32, and the member 31 being in turn, pivotally supported'upon the arm by a similar bearing pin 33. These bearing pins 32 and 33 project through suitable apertures provided in the arms 27 and 28 and are provided with enlargements on their projecting ends to prevent their being laterally displaced with re spect to said arms. Each of the members 30 and 31 are also provided with longitudinally extending fingers 34, and to one of these fingers is secured a pin 35, the free end of which projects through the other finger in such manner as to eifectually preclude any possibility of these fingers being relatively shifted out of parallelism.

The members 30 and 31 are each interiorly threaded so that when the arms 27- and 28 are in the position shown in Figure 5, the members constitute in effect a nut arranged to ride up on the screw 19 as the latter rotates in the manner above described. It will be apparent that as this nut, consisting of the members 30 and 31, rides up on the screw 19 the lever 21 will turn on its pivot 20 to decrease the compressive force exerted by the spring 24 upon the head 25 of the brake member so that the speed of rotation of the turntable may be increased as the reproducing needle approaches the center of the record. In order to insure a vertical movement of the nut members 30 and 31 so that the common axis of the latter is atall times coaxial with the axis of the screw 19 the arms 27 and 28 of the lever are provided with slots 36 to accommodate the relative lateral displacement of these-arms with respect to the bearing pins 32 and 33 of the members 30 and 31 respectively; Also, in order to further insure positionment of the members 30 and 31 such that their common axis is at all times maintained coincidental with the axis of the screw 19, there is provided a leaf spring 37, one end of which is fixed to the arm 27 as at 38 and the other and free end thereof freely engages the end of the finger 34 of the member 30. This spring 37 is designed to exert force in a direction to constantly maintain the fingers 34 extending in a direction substantially at right angles to the screw 19, no matter whether the lever 21 be at the beginning or at the end of its stroke. In order to prevent the spring 37 from forcing the fingers 34 beyond the horizontal when the lever is in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 a limiting stop 38 is provided, this stop projecting inwardly from the arm 28 and underlying both of the fingers 34.

During the normal upward travel of the lever arms 27-28, the members 30 and 31 are of course maintained in threaded engagement with the screw 19, this engagement being insured by means of a keeper 39 arranged to embrace the free ends of the arms 27 and 28. The free ends of these arms are of substantially reduced cross section but in the vicinity of the keeper'39 are formed with enlarge ments 40 to provide; a greater engaging surat 41 upon the outer side of one of these enlargements 40, the keeper being further provided with lateral extensions 42 and 43 for the purpose to be presentlyexplained. In

the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 the fort upon the turntable 12 and accordingly the speed of zrotation of the latter is lowest for' this position of the lever. As the lever turns upon its pivot 20 by the action of the nut members 30-31 riding up on the rotating screw 19 the arm 22 of the lever is shifted in. a direction to decrease the compressive force exerted by the spring 24 with the result that the speed of rotation of the turntable and the record which is supported thereon will be gradually increased, this speed atlever 21 operates with maximum braking eftaim'ng its'maximum simultaneously as the nut members 30-31 reach the upper limit of their travel and the reproducing needle apthis keeper extension 42 so that when ens gaged by the latter the keeper is swung on its pivot 41 out of engagement with the enlargements 4() of the pivotally connected arms 27 and 28 of the lever. The leaf spring 29 then immediately effects relative separation of these arms tofree the nut members 3031 from the screw 19 and the spring 45 then pulls the lever back into its starting position.

During' this return movement of the lever '21 the free ends of the arms 27 and 28 are forced inwardly toward each other by the action of a guiding device comprising a pair of inclined members 46 fixed in position as shown most clearly in Figures 3 and 7. The free ends of the arms 27 and 28 ride down between the mem ers 46 and when they have been so forced together the base of the keeper 39 engages a lower stop member 47, thereby causing the keeper to be swung on its pivot 41 into keeping engagement with the enlarge ments 40. The nut members 30-31 will then have come into threaded engagement with the lower threads on the screw 19 such that upon starting the motor 13 the screw will again cause the members 30-31 to ride upwardly thereon in the manner described hereinbefore.

In o'rder to readily render the mechanism inoperative during the rendition of a composition or at any other time the relatively long extension 43 on the keeper 39 is pro-- Vided, this extension being preferably projected outwardly through an arcuate slot 48 in the side wall of the chamber 15 of the apparatus. By means of this arrangement the projecting end or knob of the extenslon 43 may be employed to trip the keeper 39 and so permit the pivotally connected arms 2728 to be immediately forced apart by the action of the leaf spring 29. It will be evident that upon separation of the arms 2728 the nut members 3031 W111 be removed from threaded engagement with the screw 19 so as to enable the spring 45 to draw the lever 21 into initial starting position, the members 46 and the stop 47 again cooperating with the free ends bf the arms 27-28 to reset the mechanism for further operation.

Figures 8 to .10 show modified arrangements of the speed controlling mechanism, the arrangements differing from that shown in Figures 2 and 3 in that the lever 21 oscillates in a substantally horizontal plane rather than in a vertical plane. In Figures 8 and 9 it will be seen that the'talking machine 50 is of the type wherein isemployed a speed regulator in the form of a centrifugal governor 51 suitably geared to the shaft 52 of the turn-table 53. This governor 51 is provided with a disk 54 arranged for rotation with the governor but longitudinally slidable with respect thereto, all in the manner Well'known in the art. By means of a worm 55 on the turntable shaft 52 and a' worm wheel 56 arranged for entrainment with said worm a suitable drive is provided for imparting rotation to the main screw 57 supported for rotation-in any suitable manner, as the shaft 52 is rotated, it being understood that in this arragement the screw 57 lies with its axis substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of the turntable.

The lever 58 which cooperates with this screw 57 is similar in substantially every respect to the lever 21 shown in Figures 2-7, the only difference being in the form of the shorter branch 59 thereof. Instead of the spring pressed brake finger hereinbefore described, this branch 59 is provided with a laterally extending finger 60 arranged in such manner that its free end bears constantly against the face of the governor disk 54. It will be apparent that as the lever 58 rides along the screw 57 this finger 60 will bear the cabinet, in this instance the slot 61-within v which the trip finger of the keeper moves is formed in the top wall thereof.

While in-the arran ement first described the upper stop 44 (see igure 3) was relatively fixed,in the arrangement shown in Figures 8 and 9 there is provided an adjustable stop 62 comprising a sleeve '63 adjustable longitudinally along its axis by means of the bevel gears 64 and 65, the latter being actuated by a thumb screw 66 projecting above the surface of the top wall of the cabinet and to one side of the turntable 53. It will be obvious that the provision of such an adjustable stop makes it possible to automatically effect the resetting of the mechanism at any desired point on the record, this being often desirable where the composition ends some distance from the center of the record. It is .to be understood of course that the stop 44 shown in Figure 3 may be made adjustable in substantially the same manner and for the same purpose.

Figures and 11 show still another arrangement wherein the regulating mechanism acts directly upon the shaft of the turntable. This shaft 67 is provided with an enlargement 68 against which the brakin member 69 acts, the free end 7 0 of this mem er being of substantially semi-circular shape in order to provide a greater bearing surface. It will be noticed that in this arrangement the driving connection between the turntable shaft and the main screw is identical with that shown in Figure 8, as are the resetting devices. On the other hand, the braking mechanism is substantially similar in construction and in operation to that shown and described in con nection with the arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 3, the only departure being that the brake member in this latter instance acts I directly upon the turntable shaft rather than upon the turntable.

Not only is it possible by means of the invention hereinbefore described'to render compositions of considerably greater length than has been practicable heretofore, but the invention also reduces the noise and other disturbing sounds which are produced when the usual records are played, this noise being especially pronounced in these records when the reproducing needle is traveling in the outer runs of the playing groove wherein the sound wave impressions average less in number per unit of length and are therefore spaced farther apart.- In the form of record with which this invention is concerned, these soundwave impressions are uniformly spaced in the impression groove; that is,their averagenumher per unit of length is constant, and accordingly there is at no timeduring the rendition of the composition any considerable space between sound wave impressions which must be passed over by the reproducing needle.

While several different arrangements have been shown and described, it will of course be understood that still other arrangements may be devised from time to time for attaining the results desired without, however, departing from the principles or spirit of this inventlon and it is accordingly intended to claim this invention broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claims. 1

What is claimed as new and useful is 1. In a talking machine, in combination, a turntable for supporting a record to be played by a reproducing unit operatively associated therewith, power means for imparting rotation to said turntable, and means operated solely by said power means and independently of said reproducing unit for gradually increasing the speed of rotation of'said turntable as the reproducing unit travels from the outer periphery of said record to the center thereof.

2. In a talking machine, in combination, a turntable for supporting a record to be in limits upon rotation'of said screw,

played. power means for rotating said turntable at substantially constant speed, and a regulating mechanism operable solely by said power means to gradually vary the speed of rotation of said turntable from a lesser speed to said constant speed.

3. In a talking machine, in combination, a

turntable for supporting a record .to be played, power means for rotating said turntable at a definite speed, a screw driven by said power means, and means operable solely by the rotation of said screw to vary the rotative speed of said turntable.

4. In a talking machine, in combination, a turntable for supporting a record to be played, power means for rotating said turntable, a screw driven by said power means, a lever arranged for actuation by said screw,

and a brake member carried b said lever and arranged to control the spec of rotation of said turntable, said lever being adapted to gradually decrease the effective braking action of said member as said lever is actuated by said screw.

5. In a talking machine, in combination, a turntable for supporting a record to be played, pow-er means for imparting rotation to said turntable, a screw driven'by said power means, and a pivotally supported lever, one arm of which is arranged to travel on said screw and the other arm of which operates as abrake to control the speed of rotation of said turntable, said speed being gradually increased as the composition playedupon said record approaches its end.

6. In a talking machine, in combination, a turntable for supporting a record to be played, power means for imparting rotation to said turntable, a rotatable screw driven by said power means, a speed regulating brake actuated through the rotation of said screw to permit the speed of rotation of said turntable to be gradually increased, andmeans for automatically resetting said brake to exert maximum braking effort upon said turntable for supporting a record to be played, power means for imparting a definite speed of rotation to said turntable a speed regulating mechanism consisting of a rotatablescrew driven by said power means and a pivoted lever arranged for oscillation withsaid lever being maintained in threaded engagement with said screw during the entire extent of its travel in one direction.-

8. In a talking machine, in combination, a turntable for supporting a record to be played, power means for imparting a definite speed of rotation to said turntable, a screw operatively associated with said power means for rotation thereby, and a lever pivotally suspended for oscil ation in the plane of the axis of said screw, one branchof said lever comprising a pair of hinged arms provided with nut members arranged for threaded engagement with said screw and means for constantly maintaining said nut members with their common axis coincidental with the axis of said screw.

9. In a talking machine, in combination, a turntable for supporting a record to be played, power means for imparting a definite speed of rotation to said turntable, a screw. operatively associated with said power means, for rotation thereby, and a lever pivotally suspended for oscillation in the plane of the axis of said screw, one branch of said lever comprising a pair of hinged arms 'provided with nutmembers arranged for threaded engagement with said screw and means for constantly maintaining said nut members with their common axiscoincidental with the axis of said screw, the other branchof said lever being provided with a brake finger for regulating. the speed of rotation of said turntable as said nut members travel I upon said screw.

10. In a talking machine, in combination, a turntable for supporting a record to be played, power means for imparting a definite speed of rotation to said turntable, a screw operatively associated with said power means for rotation thereby, a brake lever having threaded engagement with said screw and arranged to be shifted in position upon rotation of the latter, means for automatically to permit the speed of rotation of said record to be increased to said definite speed as a maximum as the reproducing needle travels toward the center thereof.

13. In a talking machine, a rotatable turntable for supporting a disc record wherein the sound wave impression for a given sound occupies approximately the same linear space throughout the length of the playing groove and which record is adapted to be played by a reproducing needle arranged to travel in said groove, power means for rotating said table and said record, and a. speed regulator mechanism operable by said power means independently of said needle for so controlling the speed of rotation of the record that approximately the same interval of time is re-' quired for the needle to pass over any given length of a groove irrespective of its radial distance from the center of the record.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

BERNARD KWARTIN.

effecting disengagement of said lever from said screw when the lever reaches the limit of its stroke, and means for automatically returning said lever to its normal starting position. i

11. In a talking machine, in combination, a turntable for supporting a record to be played, power means for rotating said turntable, a screw operatively associated with said power means for rotation thereby, a brake lever normally in threaded engagement with said screw for permitting the speed of rotation of said turntable to be increased as the lever travels upon said screw, said lever consisting of a pair of pivotally connected arms, means tending to effect separation of said arms, a keeper for maintaining said arms in threaded engagement with said screw, and a stop means'arranged to trip saidkeeper whereby to permit disengagement of said lever from said screw. c

12. In a talking machine, a turntable for supporting a disc record wherein the sound wave impression for a given sound occupies approximately the same linear space throughout the length of the playing groove and which record is adapted to be played by a reproducing needle arranged to travel in said groove, power means for rotating said turntable and record at a definite speed, and v a regulator mechanism operable by said power means and independently of saidneedle

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