US3129005A - Automatic phonograph - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1964 D. c. ROCKOLA AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1960 a w l 0 M F April 14, 1964 D. c. ROCKOLA AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1960 April 14., 4 D. c. ROCKOLA 3,129,005

AUTOMATIC PHONQGRAPH Fi led Dec. 29, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 14, 1964 D. c. ROCKOLA 3,129,005

AUTOMATIC PHQNOGRAPH Filed Dec. 29, 1960 5 Shee INVENTOR.

BY W, 0M

April 14, 1964 D. c. ROCKOLA 3,129,005

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 29, 1960 5 Sheet s-Sheet 5 68a 88 0 198- i 2241-: l 2 184 9g INV EN TOR.

cam-015M; a 81 49%,

United States Patent of Delaware Filed Dec. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 79,344 9 Claims. (Cl. 274-) The present invention relates to automatic phonographs, and more particularly an automatic phonograph having a novel construction and arrangement of magazine and other parts cooperating therewith in the automatic operation of the phonograph.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an automatic phonograph of the type having a circular magazine having record receiving pockets therein, opening generally radially outwardly, and rotatable on a horizontal axis for bringing the pockets selectively to an indexing position, the pockets in the lower portion of the magazine being disposed with their open sides facing downwardly, wherein novel means is provided for retaining the records in the pockets when they are so disposed with their open sides facing downwardly.

Another and more specific object is to provide an automatic phonograph of the character just above noted, wherein stationary means is provided under the magazine for retaining the records in the pockets when their open sides face downwardly, and the pockets are disposed in a novel manner so as to prevent chattering of the records when being drawn over the retaining means.

Another object is to provide an automatic phonograph having a magazine with record receiving pockets disposed at an angle to the radial and movable for presenting records in the pockets at an indexing position, and a novel arrangement of turntable and means for transferring records between a pocket of the magazine at the indexing position and the turntable, for accommodating the angular arrangement of the pockets.

A further object is to provide a novel construction of record magazine for an automatic phonograph.

A still further object is to provide an automatic phonograph having novel means for indicating which of the plurality of records contained in the phonograph is being played, when it is so played.

Another object is to provide an automatic phonograph which by its nature contains numerous operating parts, wherein the operating parts are arranged in a novel manner to achieve unusual compactness.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a phonograph embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the phonograph of FIG. 1, showing the cabinet in open position and exposing interior parts;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the chassis or main mechanical operating parts of the phonograph, most of these parts being shown at the central portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FXG. 6 is a large scale section view taken at line 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view taken at line 77 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is the view taken approximately at line 88 of FIG. 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, attention is directed first to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing an automatic phonograph embodying the features of the present invention, in its entirety, the phonograph including a cabinet 12 normally closed at its front side, or that side generally facing the observer, by panels or cabinet sections 14 and 16 which may be opened to a position similar to that of FIG. 2 for visually exposing the interior parts of the phonograph to an authorized person, such as a service man. Preferably the upper panel 16 is provided with a window 18 for exposing certain operating parts to the patron, and above this window is provided a program holding means 20 having tabs identifying the records contained in the phonograph. Selecting buttons 22 are also provided, preferably on the upper panel 16 exposed to the exterior for use by the patron in making selections of the records in the phonograph. The lower panel 14 may be provided with a grill 24 behind which, and mounted on the panel, are speakers 26. The assembly of main mechanical operating parts exposed in FIG. 2 and shown in detail in later figures is identified as a whole at 28, the compact arrangement of these mechanical operating parts constituting a principal feature of the present invention. These main operating parts include a record magazine 30, a turntable 32 with which is associated a tone arm 34, and a record transfer means indicated in its entirety at 36. Also included in the mechanical operating parts is a selector mechanism 38, and a popularity meter 40 which also includes a part of an indicator means. A cover panel or enclosure shield 42 is provided for covering certain of the operating parts just referred to but exposing other parts for the purpose of presenting to the patron the turntable and a necessary portion of the record transfer means 36, as well as a portion of the record magazine. This panel is disposed generally horizontally and is shaped to conform to the various shapes and positions of others of the parts. This cover or shield is shown in position in FIG. 1, but removed therefrom in FIG. 2.

The parts of the mechanical operating means are disposed in a generally transversely arranged position in such a way as to provide an unusually compact arrangement enabling the operating parts of a given size to be contained in a minimum space. This is particularly significant with relation to the record magazine 30 considering the fact that it is of drum type and in view of the great number of records which the magazine is capable of holding. in the present instance the magazine 30 has a capacity for 50 records or sides.

The record magazine 30 is positioned at one side of the cabinet and mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis that extends transversely across the cabinet. The magazine is mounted on a shaft 42 which extends to the opposite side on which a part of the selector means 38 is mounted rotatably with the magazine. The turntable 32 is disposed generally between the selector means and the magazine and it is arranged on a vertical axis, and for a purpose brought out in detail hereinbelow is disposed offset from the axis of the shaft 42 as will be seen in FIG. 4.

It will be further seen that the record transfer means 36 is arranged generally between the turntable and, the magazine, the transfer means operating to transfer records between the magazine and turntable. The popularity meter 40 is disposed toward the front side of the cabinet and thus laterally of the axis of the shaft 42 and most of the other mechanical operating parts, adjacent the midportion transversely of the cabinet.

The chassis or mechanical operating parts includes a frame 44 carrying the other parts in unified assembly, and serving as the means for supporting the chassis in the cabinet, the frame having portions secured to the adjacent wall portions of the cabinet.

Attention is directed next to the detail construction of the record magazine 30 best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The magazine includes hub means 46 made up of a pair of hub plates 48 which may be identical or symmetrical in construction and tie rods 50 connecting the plates together. Each plate is made up of a pair of halves 52 (FIG. each having a semi-cylindrical tubular element 54 from which flanges 56, one on each side, extend radially and axially. The halves 52 are fitted together with the flanges 56 is abutting relation and secured together as by bolts 58, and when they are so fitted together, the hub elements 54 are mated to form a tubular element for receiving the shaft 42. The halves are tightened sufficiently to provide the desired friction between the hub plates and the shaft for conjoint rotation, the shaft being driven by a motor as explained hereinbelow. The halves 52 of the plates are parted along a line 60 which in the radially inner portion of the plate may extend in radial direction, but which in its outer portion, as indicated in 60a, is disposed at an angle to the radial to conform to the angular disposition of the bails 64 referred to in detail hereinbelow and which, serve to form pockets 66 in the magazine for supporting records 68. Each hub plate 48 includes a central web portion 70 (FIG. 3) which extends generally radially outwardly from the tubular elements 54 and merges into an outer flange portion 72 having an inner surface 74 adapted to be engaged by the periphery of the record and which preferably is arcuate in cross-section (FIG. 3) for accommodating the curvature of the records. The tie rods 50 are provided with spacing elements 76 engaging the inner surfaces of the hub plates, and the tie rods may be riveted on their outer ends (FIG. 5) at 78 to secure the hub plates in spaced and rigid assembly.

The bails 64 referred to above are each of generally U-shaped form, as viewed tangentially, being formed of a rod or wire. The legs 79 of the U-shaped form thus provided are butted against the inner surfaces of the central portions 70 of the hub plates and secured thereto such as by soldering or welding as indicated at 80. Spacers or projections 82, which may be of a desired plastic material sufiiciently rigid for spacing the records but sufiiciently soft to avoid damage thereto, are provided on the legs 79. The pockets 66 formed between adjacent bails are thus adapted to receive the records 68, the spaces between the spacers 82 being only slightly greater than the thickness of the records, for maintaining the records closely adjacent the center portion of the pockets.

The bails 64, as will be noted from FIG. 5, are disposed at an angle to the radial for positioning the pockets at a similar angle for enabling utilization of a novel type of record retention means which is in the form of a stationary band or strip of steel 84. This band encompasses at least the lower half of the magazine and is closely adjacent circular path of the outer end edges of the bails, being spaced outwardly therefrom preferably only a short distance so as to directly engage the outer peripheries of the records and retain the records in snug position in the pockets of the magazine. This band is secured at its ends to elements 86 of the frame 44 by suitable means.

Upon rotation of the magazine in the proper direction which is counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5, as indicated by the arrow 88, the records are drawn along the band 84 in a dragging effect due to the inclination of the records relative to the radial, and this arrangement prevents chattering of the records which may otherwise occur such as if the records were radially arranged. It is to be noted that the pockets and the records held therein are inclined rearwardly, or away from the direction of rotation of the magazine.

Due to the inclination of the pockets and the records held therein, it will be understood that the pocket at the topmost position of the magazine will not be vertical, but the vertical position of the record occurs in a position offset from the vertical plane 90 containing the axis of the magazine. This position is shown in FIG. 5 where the record 68a is shown in vertical position, and the distance between this record and the vertical plane in which it is disposed is that distance which the turntable 32 is offset from the same plane 90, or offset from the axis of the shaft 42. The record transfer means 36 is oriented according to this plane which includes the record 68a and the axis of the turntable, as explained fully hereinbelow. The position of the pocket 66a, and consequently of the record 68a therein, may be referred to as an indexing position from which the record is trans ferred between the magazine and the turntable.

As noted above, the shaft 42 extends across the machine and through the selector means 38. The selector means 38 is disclosed and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 94,739, filed March 10, 1961, to which reference may be made for complete details thereof, but for purposes of the present invention it may be stated that it includes a central disc or drum 92 having a plurality of selector levers or pins 94 and includes a write-in carriage 96 and read-out carriage 98. The selector levers 94 are set up into active position by the write-in carriage 96 and are sensed and returned to normal inactive position by the read-out carriage 98, these two carriages rotating about the axis of the shaft 42 for the purpose stated. The read-out carriage 98 is mounted on the shaft 42 for rotation or swinging motion therewith, while the write-in carriage 96 is movable relatively to that shaft and not fixed thereto, although swinging or sweeping about that shaft. The write-in carriage 96 is driven by a motor 100 through gearing 102 connected with an arm 104 of the carriage 96. In response to rotation of the magazine 30 and thus the shaft 42, the read-out carriage 96 sweeps about that shaft, while the disc or drum 92 remains stationary.

The operation of the turntable 32 and the tone arm 34 may be as described in my previous United States Letters Patent No. 2,804,307, dated August 27, 1957, and the details thereof need not be entered into here. It will be noted, however, that the table 32 may be driven by a motor 106.

The operation in general of the record transfer means 36 also may be similar to that disclosed in my abovementioned prior patent as to its sequence of openating steps, but its relation to the magazine and turntable, particularly as respects its position relative thereto, is novel in the present invention. The record transfer means is driven by a motor 108 and is controlled by the movements of the magazine 30. The magazine is driven through a gear 110 fixedly secured on the shaft 42, by a pinion 112 on the drive shaft of a motor 114. The record transfer means as well as other parts of the mechanism are controlled in reversing fashion by the magazine through a reversing means shown in FIG. 5. The gear 110 is provided with cam tracks or canals 116 in which is positioned a follower or canal boat 118. This reversing means is disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 848,373, filed October 23, 1959, now Patent No. 3,030,116, to which reference may be made for complete details thereof. The cam tracks are provided with a switch-over portion 120, arranged so that the follower 118 in passing through the switch-over portion moves alternately into the inner and outer cam track respectively in successive rotations of the magazine which rotates always in the same direction. The follower 118 is pivotally mounted on an arm 122 pivotally supported at one end on a fixed element 124. In response to movement of the follower 118 into the inner and outer cam tracks successively, the arm 122 is swung upwardly or downwardly (FIG. 5) and this action is utilized for causing the reversing movements in the elements controlled thereby.

Pivotally connected with the outer swinging end portion of the arm 122 is a vertical link 126 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 which, due to rising movement of the lever, actuates a bell crank lever 128, to one arm of which is pivotally connected one end of a link 130 utilized in connection with the indicator means, a portion of which is included in the popularity meter 40 as described hereinbelow.

Also pivotally connected with the arm 122 is a vertical link 132 (FIGS. 4 and 5) connected with linkage (not shown but disclosed in my above-mentioned patent) having pins 133 cooperating respectively with two grooves 135 in a record turning cam 134 which is included in the record transferring means.

The record transferring means 36 includes an arm 136 bearing the record turning cam 134 and rotatable or rockable in each of opposite directions about an axis indicated at 138 ('FIG. 3) and lying in the vertical plane 90 which contains the record 68a at the indexing position and the axis of the turntable. The arm 136 and its axis 138 swing in the plane 90 as explained below. Mounted on the arm 136 is a gripper arm 138 adapted to grip a record in the magazine and transfer it to the turntable, and to return it from the turntable to the magazine. The arm 136 is mounted in a hub member 140 rockable about a horizontal axis 141 disposed transversely of the shaft 42, or from front to rear of the cabinet. Upon operation of the record transferring means, the hub member 140 is rocked about its axis 141 through the medium of gearing 142 driven from the motor 108. The gripper arm carrying a record is rotated about that horizontal axis in clockwise direction (FIG. 3), the arm 136 swinging in the plane 90, and in that movement one or the other of the control pins 133 engages in the corresponding groove 113 5 in the record return cam 134 and rotates the arm 136 in the corresponding direction about the axis 138 for placing the respective side of the transferred record upwardly, when the record is placed on the turntable. The record return cam 134 is moved to the one or the other of opposite positions according to the position of the control arm 122 (FIG. 5) which in turn is positioned according to the position of the follower 118 in the cam track-s 116. In one revolution of the magazine, the arm will be in a lower position, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, and any record transferred from the magazine to the turntable during this revolution of the magazine will be placed on the turntable with a corresponding side, e.g., its obverse side, facing upwardly. Similarly when the lever 1 22 is in its opposite position, the operation will result in any record transferred in that succeeding revolution of the magazine being placed with the opposite side, e.g., its reverse side, facing upwardly.

.The record transferring means 36 is advantageously arranged for positioning relative to the horizontal and vertical and as such the gripper arm 138 assumes a vertical position when gripping a record in the pocket 66a in the indexing position, or returning it thereto, while it assumes a horizontal position when placing the record on the turntable or removing it therefrom. Hence, the gripper arm 138 in such vertical position is oifset from the axis of rotation of the magazine. Similarly the turntable is positioned with its vertical axis disposed in the same plane with the record 68a and the gripper arm so as to enable the gripper arm to be swung in a direction perpendicular to the shaft 42.

Attention is directed next to the popularity meter 40, the detail construction of which is best illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. The popularity meter 41 includes a drum type rotary member 144 having a hub portion 146 fixedly secured to a rotary shaft 148 disposed in horizontal position and extending transversely of the shaft 42, i.e., in front to rear direction of the cabinet. This shaft 148 is journalled in a fixed element 150 (FIG. 4) which is a portion of the fixed frame 44, and on the opposite end from the member 144 is a bevelled gear 152 meshing with a similar bevelled gear 154 fixedly secured on the shaft 42. Thus upon rotation of the magazine and thus the shaft 42, the shaft 148 is rotated, and the gears 1'52 and 154 are of the same size so that the member 144 of the popularity meter rotates in 1 to 1 relation with the magazine, for the specific purpose of indicating which records in the magazine are at the indexing position at specific times. The rotary member 144 has a web portion 156 radiating from the hub portion which merges into a flange 158 extending in axial direction. The outer surface of the flange 158 is provided with indicia 160 for identifying the records in the magazine. These indicia include a plurality of circumferentially spaced units 160a, each of which includes a pair of axially aligned indicating elements 16%. The units 160a individually indicate records while the elements 1 60b indicate respective sides of that record as will be explained more fully hereinbelow.

The popularity meter insofar as its function in indicating the popularity of the records played is similar in essential respects to that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 826,669, filed July 13, 1959, now Patent No. 3,074,725, although the specific construction of the present popularity meter is different in arrangement. A plurality of indicating members 162 are provided, one for each of the pockets in the magazine, and hence one for each of the records in those pockets, in the present instance there being 50 such indicating elements. Each indicating member 162 is in the form of a circular member having a finger element 164 projectable through an aperture 166 in the web portion 156. This finger element is relatively elongated, and of narrow dimensions, and forms an extension of a segment 168 which is a substantial portion of a circle and has a central pivoting element 179 by which it is mounted in the member 144. On the outer curved periphery of the segment 168 is a plurality of teeth 172 and sleeved over the finger element 164 is a compression spring 174 compressed between the web element 156 and a shoulder 176 formed by the segment 168.

The web element 156 is provided with a circular rib 178 having a groove 180 in its extended surface, this surface being perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 148. The various elements 162 are provided with apertures 182 in their central portions 170 and these central portions are fitted in radial slots 184 in the bead 178. The members 162 are mounted on a circular wire 186 which is received in the apertures 182 and fitted in the groove 180. The wire is held in the groove by a plurality of fingers 188 overlying the groove which form extensions of a retainer 190 having an axially extending flange 192 fitted to the outer surface of the bead 178 and a radial flange 194 fitted to the web portion 156 and secured thereto by a plurality of screws 196.

The indicating elements 162 are advanced by a means to be described fully hereinbelow but which includes a single actuating finger 198 (FIG. 6) which engages in successive ones of the teeth 172 and upon actuation of that finger in the intended direction which is radially outwardly or to the left as viewed in FIG. 6, it advances the indicating member 162 that is then indexed in position in register therewith, in the corresponding direction or in counterclockwise direction as viewed in that figure, with the result that the extension or finger 164 is projected through the aperture 166 in corresponding amounts. For each actuation of the actuating finger 198, the member 162 in register therewith is advanced a distance corresponding to one tooth 172. The members 162 are retained in advanced position by means of fingers 200, which are 50 in number, one being provided for each of the members 162. These fingers 200 are radial extensions of the plate or wafer 202 secured between an annular securing plate 204 and a planar element 266 constituting a central web portion of a member 208, the web portion 206 merging into an inclined portion 210 which in turn merges into an axially extending flange 212. The portions 210 and 212 of this member are provided with slots 214, one receiving each of the members 162, the marginal edges of the slots serving as means for guiding the members 162. The annular plate 204 and the web element 206 are secured together by a shouldered stud 216 having a reduced threaded portion projected through apertures in the elements 206 and 204 as well as the plate 262 and provided with a nut 218 for securing those members in rigid assembly. The stud 216 is slidably mounted in a bore 22!), the opposite end of the stud being fitted in a push button 222 biased outwardly or toward the observer (FIG. 6) by a compression spring 224 compressed between the central hub portion 146 and the push button. Upon depression of the push button as by the thumb, it is moved in the corresponding direction or away from the observer in FIG. 6 and through the medium of the stud 216 moves the assembly of elements 296, 202 and 204 and particularly the member 202 in the same direction to release the fingers 209 from the teeth 1'72 and permit the indicating members 162 to be moved to retracted position (clockwise-4 1G. 6) under the action of the compression springs 174. This movement of the member 202 and the fingers 260 moves the actuating finger 198 out of engagement with the teeth 172.

The means for advancing the members 162 includes the actuating finger 1% described above and this means is shown best in FIGS. 4 and 7. This finger 198 is mounted on a swinging link 226 pivoted at 228 on a fixed element 230 of the frame 44. Pivotally connected with the swinging link 226 is a link 232 which extends transversely of the shaft 42, or in front to rear direction with respect to the cabinet and in the space between the turntable or at least the operating shaft on which it is mounted, and the selector means 38. The opposite end of the link 232 is connected to one end of an actuating lever 234 for movement longitudinally of the link in response to swinging movements of the lever. Preferably a pair of collars 236 are fitted on the link 232 on opposite sides of the end of the lever and a compression spring 238 is sleeved over the link 232 between a fixed element on that link and the lever. The lever 234 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 249 on a fixed element 242 of the frame and its opposite end 244 is in position for engagement by a camming element 246 on a gear 243 which is part of the operating mechanism moved by the hub 140 of the record transferring means. Upon movement of the hub 14% and consequent movement of the gripper arm 138 in the record transferring means, as described above, the camming element 246 is rotated about the axis 141 of the hub 140 and moved into engagement with the end 244 of the lever 234. This movement swings the lever 234 in clockwise direction (FIG. 4) and its opposite swinging end moves the link 232 toward the observer and thus swings the swinging link 226 (FIG. 7) in counter-clockwise direction with consequent movement of the actuating finger 1% and advancement of the indicating member 162 (FIG. 6).

The movement of the gripper arm 138 in forward and magazine to the turntable and return, and this cycle of movement results in one movement of the lever 234 and I thus of the actuating finger 198. Therefore the indicating member 162 corresponding to the record transferred is advanced one notch for each time that it is placed on the turntable. Accordingly it will be understood that the indicating members 162 indicate, due to their degree of projection through the apertures 166, the number of times the corresponding records have been played and hence their popularity. In my said copending application referred to above, Serial No. 826,669, the indicating elements of the popularity meter are projected in radial directions while in the present instance these elements are projected in circular direction, but the principles in the popularity meter are essentially the same and are claimed in said copending application.

The link 13!) referred to above is utilized for actuating a member 250 which cooperates with the indicia 160 for indicating which side of the selected record is being played. This member 250 is in the form of a beil crank lever having one arm 252 connected to the link 13% with compression springs 254 interposed for absorbing lost motion or play between the members. The member 259 is pivoted at 256 on a fixed member of the frame and its opposite arm 258 is provided with an aperture 260 positioned for overlying the outer surface of the rotatable member 144 for cooperating with the indicia 160. The link 139, as explained above, is actuated by the reversing mechanism acting through the arm 122, i.e., upon vertical movements of the swinging end of that lever, the link 130 is moved horizontally to the right or left (FIG. 4) for moving the member 259. Specifically when the lever 122 is raised, the link 13%) is moved to the right (FIG. 4) which swings the member 250 in clockwise direction. The position of the member 256 in either of its opposite positions determines the aperture 260 over one or the other of the elements 166]) forming any one of the units 169a. For example, when the lever 122 (FIG. 5) is down, the member 250 may assume its position shown in FIG. 4 in which the aperture 260 is over one element 16Gb. In FIG. 4, this is positioned over the inscription A1 which would indicate a particular side of a record in a particular pocket of the magazine. In the next rotation of the magazine the reversing mechanism will be in its opposite position and the member 250 similarly will be in the opposite position, or rotated in clockwise direction from that position shown in FIG. 4 whereupon the aperture 269 would be over the inscription B1 for indicating the corresponding side of the record.

The outer surface of the rotatable member 144 and the right-hand portion of the arm 253 of the member 250 are preferably exposed to observation by the patron, such as by through an aperture 262 formed in the cover plate 42 (FIG. 1). However, the remainder of the popularity meter 40 is preferably out of sight from the patron, such as below the cover plate 42, and is exposed only to a necessary person, such as the service man, when the cabinet is opened.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

I claim:

1. In an automatic phonograph, a magazine rotatable on a horizontal axis and having a plurality of record receiving pockets on its periphery having a radial component of direction but disposed tangent to a base circle concentric with the axis of rotation, said pockets being open at their radially outer ends, the magazine being rotatable for selectively presenting the pockets and the records therein at an indexing position, each pocket and the record therein when in said indexing position being disposed in vertical position adjacent the top of the magazine, a horizontal turntable, gripper mechanism for transferring a record between a pocket at said indexing position and the turntable, including a gripper arm having a reference plane in which it lies and movable between a first position in which said plane is disposed vertically and the gripper arm is operative for gripping and removing a record from a pocket at said indexing position and placing it thereinto, and a second position in which said plane is disposed horizontally and the gripper arm is operative for placing a gripped record on the turntable and removing it therefrom, and stationary means for retaining records in the pockets in the lower part of the magazine.

2. The invention set out in claim 1 wherein the turntable is disposed on a vertical axis and is so positioned that said axis lies in a common plane with a record in the pocket at said indexing position, said plane being displaced laterally from the axis of the magazine.

3. The invention set out in claim 2 wherein the gripper 9 arm is disposed between the turntable and the pocket at said indexing position and the axis about which it moves between said vertical and horizontal position lies in said vertical plane.

4. In a phonograph, a drum type magazine having a plurality of dividers extending outwardly from a central portion at an inclination to the radial, forming similarly inclined pockets which are open at their outer ends, the magazine being mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, stationary means for retaining the records in the pockets in the lower portion of the magazine, a turntable, and means for transferring records between the magazine and the turntable.

5. In an automatic phonograph, a magazine rotatable in a predetermined direction about a horizontal axis and having a plurality of pockets distributed about its periphery and disposed tangent to a base circle concentric with said axis, and means for retaining records in the pockets including a stationary band extending under and closely adjacent to the lower portion of the magazine, the inclination of the pockets being in such direction that the radially outer ends thereof are trailingly offset from the radii containing the radially inner ends, relative to said direction of rotation, a turntable, and means for transferring records between the magazine and the turntable.

6. A magazine for a phonograph comprising a hub having a central axis of rotation and a plurality of bails secured thereto and distributed around the periphery thereof, the bails forming record receiving pockets between adjacent ones and being so disposed that the pockets have a radial component of direction but are positioned tangent to a base circle concentric with said axis, the pockets being open at the radially outer ends.

7. The invention set out in claim 6 in combination with bracket means and a band secured at its ends to the bracket means and encompassing substantially half of the periphery of the magazine whereby to enable mounting of the magazine for rotation on a horizontal axis with the band disposed therebelow and the band will be eifective for retaining records in the pockets in the lower portion of the magazine.

8. A record magazine comprising a hub including a pair of axially aligned generally parallel plates and a plurality of generally U-shaped bails each having a pair of spaced legs, the bails being butted to interfacing surfaces of the plates respectively and secured thereto, and the bails extending outwardly at an acute angle to the radial and forming outwardly opening record pockets between adjacent bails.

9. The invention set out in claim 8 wherein each hub plate is made up of a pair of halves each having a halftubular element and side flanges extending therefrom, the half-tubular elements, when the halves are fitted together, form a tubular member for receiving a shaft for mounting the magazine on the shaft and the respective flanges mutually abut, and means is provided for securing the flanges together and thereby the halves together, the radially outer portions of the halves being divided along lines following generally the inclination of the bails relative to the radial.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,007,638 Carmes July 9, 1935 2,839,305 Andres June 17, 1958 2,804,307 Rockola Aug. 27, 1957 2,969,240 Vandorzee I an. 24, 1961

Claims (1)

1. 4. IN A PHONOGRAPH, A DRUM TYPE MAGAZINE HAVING A PLURALITY OF DIVIDERS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM A CENTRAL PORTION AT AN INCLINATION TO THE RADIAL, FORMING SIMILARLY INCLINED POCKETS WHICH ARE OPEN AT THEIR OUTER ENDS, THE MAGAZINE BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS, STATIONARY MEANS FOR RETAINING THE RECORDS IN THE POCKETS IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE MAGAZINE, A TURNTABLE, AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING RECORDS BETWEEN THE MAGAZINE AND THE TURNTABLE.

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