US3599988A

US3599988A - Semiautomatic phonograph with radial arm

Info

Publication number: US3599988A
Application number: US884883A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elwood G Norris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-11-15
Filing date: 1969-12-15
Publication date: 1971-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-17

Abstract

A phonograph record-playing mechanism having a pickup head supported for relative movement on a tone arm which remains fixed during record play in combination with selectively operable mechanism for moving the arm and head into and out of recordplaying position. A cam and lever system causes all of the necessary movements to rotate the arm into and away from recordplaying position as well as for tilting the head assembly into and away from record-playing position relative to the arm. A pause control lever serves to disengage the needle from a record so that a person can interrupt the playing of a record at one instant in time and then at a later time reengage the needle with the exact groove from which it was previously disengaged. A single pushbutton switch controls an electric circuit in a manner which initiates the playing of a record and also serves to control a reject cycle. The apparatus is usable for playing records of different diameters.

Description

United States Patent |72| lnventor Elwood G. Norris Seattle, Wash.

[21 Appl. No. 884,883

[22] Filed Dec. 15, i969 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [73] Assignee Elwood G. Norris Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 785,555, Dec. 20, 1968, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 600,338, Nov. 15, 1966, now Patent No. 3,418,435.

[54] SEMIAUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH WITH RADIAL 3,305,238 211967 Carlson 3,418,435 12/1968 Norris ABSTRACT: A phonograph record-playing mechanism having a pickup head supported for relative movement on a tone arm which remains fixed during record play in combination with selectively operable mechanism for moving the arm and head into and out of record-playing position. A cam and lever system causes all of the necessary movements to rotate the arm into and away from record-playing position as well as for tilting the head assembly into and away from record-playing position relative to the arm. A pause control lever serves to disengage the needle from a record so that a person can interrupt the playing of a record at one instant in time and then at a later time reengage the needle with the exact groove from which it was previously disengaged. A single pushbutton switch controls an electric circuit in a manner which initiates the playing of a record and also serves to control a reject cycle. The apparatus is usable for playing records of different diameters.

PATENIED AUG 1 71971 v sum 1 BF 5 INVENTOR. [114 000 6': #01866 PATENTED AUG I 7 I971 SHEET 3 OF 5 SEMIAUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPI-I WITH RADIAL ARM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 785,555 filed on Dec. 20, I968 entitled "Radial Arm Phonograph with Record Changer" which is in turn a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 600,338 filed Nov. l5, I966 (now U.S. Pat. No. 3,4I8,435). Said application Ser. No. 600,338 was a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 398,838 filed Aug. 17, 1964.

The background and desirable feature of having a record playing mechanism wherein the record engaging element (such as a needle) moves in a true radial path across the record are discussed in my above-referred-to copending application. The same will therefore not be repeated herein. However as seen in my copending application the sound-reproducing art still typically requires a substantial number of moving components for a completely automatic apparatus to be provided. In addition to the market which exists for completely automatic record changers there is also a substantial market for devices known as semiautomatic changers wherein an operator manually places each record in record-playing position on a rotatable turntable and then manually initiates the record-playing cycle. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a very high quality sound-reproducing apparatus utilizing a radial tone arm and head moving relative thereto and including a mechanism for responding to the operation of a single switch to cause selective positioning of the arm and head over a record.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a semiautomatic phonograph-record-playing mechanism having a control member associated therewith which permits an operator to interrupt the playing of a record and then reinitiate the playing of the record with the sound stylus engaging the record at the exact groove where the playing was previously interrupted. Another object is to provide such an apparatus which includes such an apparatus which includes a visual indicator telling an operator that the mechanism is in its pause mode.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lowcost semiautomatic phonograph record changer mechanism.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention the head and radial arm assembly of my copending application are under the control of a single main cam assembly having elements associated therewith for causing selective rotation of the arm about its butt end and for causing selective movement of the head relative to the arm. The main cam assembly in the preferred embodiment is adapted for powered rotation through 360with surfaces being thereon for selective elevation of the shaft which controls pivoting of the head into and out of recordplaying position. The shaft which controls rotation of the pulley having the flexible cord associated therewith for positioning the head on the arm is controlled by another cam surface in a manner which causes the head to be reeled in and out at the proper times during a cycle. An additional cam surface causes selective operation of the shafi secured to the arm assembly so that the arm is rotated to a record-playing position over the record and back to its home position at appropriate times.

A pause control lever serves to reversely rotate the main control cam assembly so that the pickup head is disengaged from the record without the head being reeled in or out and without the arm undergoing any rotation about its butt end. The pause control lever accomplishes this function by disengaging the drive assembly from the main control cam. If an operator moves the pause control lever at a time when there is no record being played the main control cam is moved to close the main operating switch assembly and thereby operate an indicating light to advise the operator of the status of the equipment.

The above advantages and objects ofthe invention will be more clearly understood from the following description when read with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the tone arm and main cam assembly associated therewith for operating the arm and the head at appropriate times.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main cam assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. I but showing the parts in their relative positions after the mechanism has been operated and with the head in its record-playing position.

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the parts in their relative positions as illustrated in FIG. 3 during the playing ofa record.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 3 but showing the pans in their positions after the pause control lever has been operated.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the pause lever and its associated linkages which serve to disengage the drive mechanism from the main cam and for reverse rotating the main cam.

FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIGS. 2 and 4 but showing the parts in their positions after the pause lever has been operated.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 showing the parts at an intermediate stage of having the head reeled to its home position following the completion of a record-playing cycle.

FIG. 9 is a plan view similar to FIGS. 2, 4 and 7 but showing the parts in their positions as illustrated in FIG. 8 as the head is being reeled to its home position.

FIG. 10 is a5 elevation view partially in cross section illustrating the arrangement of the components on the main support assembly for a turntable.

FIG. 11 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electric controls, and FIG. 12 is an elevation view of the head in its rotated position on the arm.

Turning now to FIG. 1 together with FIGS. 10 and 12 it will be seen that the record player of the present invention includes a turntable 13 having a record 10 supported thereon with the spindle I1 passing through the usual hole in the record II]. The main support housing 12 supports the various components in the manner illustrated in FIG. 10 and as disclosed in greater detail in my above-referred-to copending application. The turntable 13 is rotated by any conventional mechanism known in the art, as for example that disclosed in my above-referred-to copending application, and thus further details of the turntable drive mechanism are not included herein.

A U-shaped tone arm 17 is shown as positioned over a disctype record 10 (FIG. 3) for the playing of the record. The pickup head 15 transits along the primary tone arm leg 17A in a radial direction from its initial position adjacent the tone arm support housing 18 (FIG. 10) to its end-of-play position approaching the center spindle II. The stylus 16 is supported by pickup head I5 and thus as the stylus tracks along the groove of the record 10 in a radial path the pickup head 15 moves along the leg 17A ofthe tone arm.

During the playing ofa record as the pickup head 15 moves along tone arm leg 17A a magnet 28 (FIG. 10) mounted in the pickup head comes into alignment with a magnetic reed switch 27 so that an electric circuit described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 11 will be operated. As a result of the operation of this circuit the cam and linkage assemblies described hereinafter are brought into operation so that the head is pivoted about the leg 17A to a position where the needle 16 is disengaged from the record. The head is then reeled toward its initial position as illustrated in FIG. 10 and the arm assembly is rotated to the position of FIG. I.

Leg 17A of radial tone arm [7 is rotatably supported in the housing 18 by the bushing 2] which extends through and is illustrated as being formed as part of the housing 18. The secondary tone arm leg 17B is rotatably supported inside the leg 17A with the portion of the leg 178 which is not disposed inside the leg l7A passing through a slot 18A in the housing 18. A projection 15A on the end of the pickup head 15 which is remote from the end having the stylus l6 projecting therefrom and associated drive is selectively engageable with an endless flexible drive member 30 housed within the leg 178. It will be seen that rotation of the leg 173 relative to the leg 17A will bring the leg 17B from its dotted line position of FIG. 12 to its solid-line position where the flexible drive member shown as the cord 30 engages the lug 15A. It will be seen from FIG. 12 that a slot 17C extends along the lower surface of the leg 17B and permits engagement between the projection 15A and the drive member 30.

The endless cord passes around the control pulley 31 which is supported for rotation by the support member 32 having both ends of the leg 17B of the tone arm assembly secured thereto. The control pulley 31 is coupled by the spring drive member 33 to the drive shaft 34 which is housed within and rotatable relative to the arm support rod 35.

The support rod 35 has the plate 36 secured thereto which, as seen in FIG. 10, is also secured by members 18B to the housing 18. Thus when shaft 35 is rotated the housing 18 and arm 17 are rotated. Also as seen in FIG. 10 the shaft 35 has a locking collar 35C thereon which holds the shaft in position on the auxiliary support frame 128 fitted into an opening in the main base 12. As seen in FIG. 10 the diameter of the shaft 35 is reduced at the upper surface of support 128 and thus the upper surface and the hole through the support 128 acts as a bearing and support for the rod 35 and the housing 18 carried thereby.

As seen in FIG. 1 a main control cam member 40 is supported for rotation on the shaft 41 which extends downwardly from the main support base 12 (FIG. 10). A clip and bearing assembly 42 (FIG. 10) holds the main cam assembly to the shaft 41. The main control cam 40 is conveniently manufactured of a durable plastic material using injection molding techniques and is provided with first and second cam surfaces 43 and 44. A switch control cam 45 is carried with the main cam 40 by virtue of the connecting sleeve 46 to which the switch cam 45 is rigidly secured. The sleeve 46 is rigidly secured to the elevated center portion 47 of the main control cam 40. An electric motor 48 has an ofi'set output drive shaft 49 which carries a friction roller 50 adapted to engage the outer periphery 40A of the main cam and cause the same to be rotated whenever the motor 48 is energized and the drive roller 50 is engaged with the cam 40.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and I0 a motor support frame 51 is supported by

shafts

52 and 53 beneath the main support base 12. The motor housing has an ear 48A through which the shaft 53 passes so that the motor 48 is adapted for pivotal movement around the shaft 53 while being slidably supported on the support frame 51. A spring 54 secured to the anchor shaft 55 constantly urges the motor toward the main cam 40 so that the drive roller 50 is normally engaged with the cam 40.

A drag or brake arm 56 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 53 and carries a brake pad 57 to provide a restraining force on the cam 40 so that positive control over the position of the cam 40 is maintained.

A momentary closure pushbutton switch 60 is pushed when electric energy is to be provided from the power supply 61 to the motor 48 (FIG. 11). An indicating light 62 connected in parallel with the motor is illuminated whenever the motor circuit is completed. As seen in FIG. I! the magnetic switch contacts 27A are in parallel with the pushbutton switch contacts 60. A set of contacts 64 controlled by cam 45 are in parallel circuit arrangement with the pushbutton switch. The switch SW1 controls the energization of the turntable motor 63.

The parts are shown in FIGS. I and 2 in their initial and nonoperating positions with the tone arm rotated away from the record and with the pickup head 15 reeled to its innermost position. This innermost position is determined by the positioning of the adjustable stop member 67 movably secured to the exterior of the leg 17A of the tone arm. Due to the yielding nature of the drive provided by the endless cord to the head I5 the stop member 67 can be positioned at any selected position on leg 17A. The assembly can thus be used with records of various diameters simply by positioning the stop member 67 at the appropriate location on the leg 17A. It will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the electrical contacts 64 are open due to the position of the high point on cam 45.

When the pushbutton 60 is operated the motor 48 is energized and hence the friction drive member 50 serves to rotate the cam 40 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Immediately upon rotation of the cam 40 the cam follower arm 65 engaged with the cam 45 drops off the high point of the cam 45 causing contacts 64 to close\ The motor 48 then remains energized even through the pushbutton 60 is released. The pushbutton 60 is a spring-return pushbutton so that when the operator removes his finger the switch 60 is opened.

As the motor continues to rotate the cam 40 the upstanding post 66 carried by the main cam 40 engages the lever arm 67 which is rigidly secured to the support post 35. Thus as the cam 40 rotates from its position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 the post 35 will be rotated clockwise and the tone arm assembly will be rotated to its record-playing position over the record as illustrated in FIG. 3. A portion of the lever 67 is in the form of a very light spring steel member 67Av As best seen in FIG. 4 the post 66 flexes the spring 67A as the arm assembly is rotated to its most clockwise position and then bypasses the end of the spring 67A. In FIG. 4 the lever 67 is shown in dotted lines to illustrate its starting position and then is shown in solid lines to illustrate its final position during the playing of a record. The inter mediate dotted line position of the post 66 and of the end of the spring 67A is included to make clear the manner in which the post 66 bypasses the end of the spring 67A.

As the main cam 40 rotates from its FIG. I to its FIG. 3 position it will be seen that the cam surface 43 rides under the lower end 34A of the shaft 34 which is coupled with the drive pulley 31. Due to the tension in the spring 33 and the weight of the parts the shaft 34 is always urged downwardly toward the main cam assembly 40. The angular position of the cam surface 43 relative to the position of the post 66 is such that the tone arm is rotated to its clockwise record-playing position before the shaft 34 is elevated. Thus as the tone arm reaches its clockwise position the shaft 34 undergoes its elevation movement and hence the leg I78 of the tone arm assembly is rotated counterclockwise away from its restraining engagement with the pickup head 15. The pickup head 15 therefore moves to its record-engaging position as illustrated in FIG. 3 as a result of the shaft 34 being elevated to its maximum position where it sits on the flat top surface of the cam surface 43.

It should be noted that when the main control assembly 40 has been rotated to the position indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4 the switch control cam 45 has again opened the electrical contacts 64 and hence the drive motor 48 is deenergized. Thus the components remain in the positions indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the head 15 moving radially across the record as the actual record-playing operation takes place. Then when the magnet 28 becomes aligned with the magnetic reed switch 27 it will be seen from FIG. 11 that the contacts 27A will be closed and hence the motor 48 will again be energized. Immediately upon energization of the motor 48 the contacts 64 will be closed so that the main control cam 40 will continue to be driven.

Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 9 the parts are shown in their relative positions when the main control cam 40 is being driven by the motor 48 following energization of the motor by closure of the magnetic reed switch contacts 27A. It will be observed that as soon as the main control cam 40 rotates clockwise from its FIG. 3 position the lower end 34A of the shaft 34 rides down the trailing ramp of the cam surface 43 so that the leg I7B of the tone arm rotates into the position shown in FIG. 12 where the endless cord 30 engages the lug 15A on the pickup head. As the main control cam 40 continues its rotation it will be seen in FIG. 8 that the drive wheel 348 secured to the lower end of the shaft 34 is engaged by the inner arcuate surface of the cam 70. The inner surface of the cam 70 lies along the circumference of a circle having its center point at the center of rotation of the main cam 40 and thus it will be seen that as the cam 40 rotates clockwise the shaft 34 will be rotated clockwise and hence the pickup head will be reeled toward the housing 18 in the manner indicated in FIG. 8. This rotation of the cam 40 continues until the cam reaches its initial position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the main cam assembly reaches its initial position it will be seen that the cam 45 opens the contacts 64. The motor is therefore deenergized and the components remain in the position indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 until the pushbutton 60 is again operated.

It should be noted that as the cam 40 rotates from its FIG. 4 position to its FIG. 9 position and back to its FIG. 2 position the second upstanding post 91 carried by the maincontrol cam 40 will engage the innermost end 67B of the lever arm 67 secured to the shaft 35 which controls the position of the tone arm. As a result the post 91 positively drives the tone arm assembly counterclockwise to its initial position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at the end of a record-playing cycle. As seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and II] the end 67C of the lever arm 67 carries a small magnet 37 which is aligned with the adjustable screw 38 sup ported by the bracket 39 depending from the frame 12. When the arm assembly is in the record play position of FIG. 4 the magnet 37 holds the arm and shaft 35 in their most clockwise position under a small restraining force. It has been found in practice that when the arm and shaft 35 are in their home" position of FIG. 2 no restraining force is needed, although the same could readily be provided if desired.

It will be observed that if the pushbutton 60 is operated during the playing of a record (FIGS. 3 and 4) the motor 48 will be energized and a reject cycle will occur since the drive roller 50 is engaged with the main cam plate 40. Thus the switch 60 serves two functions and no added mechanism is needed for the initiation ofa reject cycle.

The record-changing mechanism of the present invention incorporates the unique feature whereby the user is able to interrupt the playing of a record and then reinstitute the playing of the record with the stylus reengaging the same groove from which it was disengaged when the operator interrupted the playing function. Such a feature is particularly advantageous in that if, for example, a person must answer the telephone or perform some other function while listening to a record, he is able to interrupt the playing cycle and return and have the record resume at the exact point of interruption.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be recalled that these figures show the apparatus in the condition wherein the stylus is engaged with a groove on the record and the record playing operation is taking place. At this time the drive motor is deenergized since the cam-controlled contacts 64 are open. Turning now in particular to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 10 it will be seen that a pause control lever 80 is supported by a pivot pin 81 on the main support member I2. The lower end of the pause control lever 80 carries a cam block 82 having a beveled surface 82A which extends downwardly and to the right from the front end 828 of the cam block when in its position as illustrated in FIG. 6. The normal or unoperated position of the pause lever 80 is illustrated in FIG. 10 and also in dashed lines in FIG. 6. When the lever is moved to its upright position as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be seen that the nose 82B of the cam block 82 will engage the upper end 84A of the lever 84 which is pivoted at 85 on the support member 86 extending downwardly from the main base 12. The lever 84 is thereby moved counterclockwise and is locked in such position due to the angled face 82A on the cam block 82 acting like a toggle.

A linkage member 87 pivotally secured to the upper end 84A of the lever 84 is connected at its left end to the pin 483 on the motor housing. The arrangement is such that when the pause lever is moved to its upright position as illustrated in FIG. 6 the linkage 87 will be driven to the left and the motor will be driven leftwardly to the position indicated in FIG. 7. It will be seen in FIG. 7 that the drive roller 50 has been moved away from its position of engagement with the main control cam 40. Thus it will be seen that when the pause lever is operated the drive motor is effectively disengaged from the main control cam and hence even though the motor remains energized it does not drive the main control cam.

Referring further to FIGS. 6 and 10 it will be seen that when the lever is moved to its upright position the lever 84 is rocked counterclockwise so that the end 848 thereof engages the cam surface 90A on the cam block 90 which serves also as the support base for the post 66 which has previously been described. As a result of the movement of the end 848 on the lever 84 to a vertical position it will be seen that the cam surface 90A will be engaged by the lower end of the lever 84 and hence the main control cam 40 will be rotated counterclockwise to the position illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. As a result of this reverse rotation of the main cam 40 it will be observed in FIGS. 5 and 7 that the lower end 34A of the shaft 34 rides down the leading edge of the cam 43 and hence the shaft 34 is lowered. As previously described, lowering of the shaft 34 causes leg 17B of the tone arm assembly to be rotated clockwise as seen from the right end thereof in FIG. 5 and hence into the position illustrated in FIG. 12. It will be observed that the shaft 34 is not rotated and hence even though the pickup head is pivoted away from having the stylus engaged with the record the head is not reeled toward the housing 18.

In summary it will be seen that when the stylus is engaged with the record with the parts in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the pause lever is then operated. the following events occur: the motor drive roller 50 is disengaged from the main cam 40, the main cam 40 is rotated counterclockwise to the position illustrated in FIG. 7 so that the contacts 64 are closed, and the shaft 34 rides down the ramp of the cam 43 causing the stylus to be pivoted away from engagement with the record. Since the contacts 64 are closed the light 62 is illuminated and the motor 48 is energized even though the motor is not effectively coupled with the main cam 40 for driving the same.

When the pause lever 80 is then returned to its position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6 and as seen in FIG. 10 the spring 54 serves to pull the motor assembly to the right until the drive roller 50 engages the cam 40 causing the cam 40 to be rotated clockwise in the manner previously described. The spring 54 also serves to move the lever 84 clockwise to its initial position as illustrated in FIG. 10. Since the motor is again effectively coupled with the cam 40 it would rotate clockwise to the position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 so that the shaft 34 again rides up the ramp of the cam 43 causing the pickup head to be lowered for engagement of the record by the stylus and hence playing of the record would continue.

From the above it will be observed that when the pause control lever 80 is operated the motor 48 is effectively disengaged from the main control cam 40. Thus the possibility exists that an operator could operate the pause control lever 80 at a time when the mechanism is in its home position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. If this occurred and the operator then operated the switch 60 the motor would not be effective to drive the cam 40. In order to provide an operator with a visual indication that the pause lever 80 has been operated when the apparatus is in its initial position of FIGS. 1 and 2 the cam member 44 on the main control cam 40 has a hooked or arcuate end portion 44A which is engageable by the lower end 8413 of the lever 84 if the pause lever 80 is operated when the apparatus is in its home position of FIGS. 1 and 2. It will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 that if the pause lever 80 is operated at that time the lower end 84B on lever 84 will engage the arcuate portion 44A on cam 44 causing the main control cam 40 to be rotated counterclockwise by a small amount. The amount of this counterclockwise rotation is sufficient to cause cam contacts 64 to be closed and hence the indicator light 62 will be illuminated and the motor 48 will be energized. Thus an operator will be provided with an indication that the pause control lever has been operated. Upon returning the pause control lever to its unoperated position it will be seen that the motor 48 would immediately be effective to rotate the cam 40 by a slight amount clockwise so that the cam contacts 64 would be opened. Hence the apparatus would be returned to its normal home condition ready for the operator to initiate the playing of a record by the depression of the pushbutton 60.

lt will be observed that with the apparatus of the present invention it is a simple matter to use the equipment for records of varying diameter. To this end an additional arcuate cam similar to the cam 44 can be provided radially inward from the cam 44 so that the head will be driven radially outward across a record to a selected point. A stop control member located inside the tone arm or on the exterior surface thereof is then utilized to stop the travel of the head 15 at a point corresponding to the initiation of the playing of a record. Then as the head 15 is lowered by rotation of the leg 178 the head would clear such an abutment and continue in its radial tracking mode as the record play continues. Such an additional abutment member would have a bypass capability so that it would not interfere with the head as it is being reeled toward the housing 18.

There has thus been disclosed an improvement record-playing assembly which is particularly well adapted for satisfying the semiautomatic record changing market. While the invention has been disclosed with reference to the presently preferred embodiment it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for retrieving data from a record member comprising in combination: a tone arm; pickup head means supported on said arm and movable relative thereto during the retrieval of data, said head means having stylus means carried therewith for selective engagement with the record member for the retrieval of data; arm support means coupled to said arm adjacent one end thereof, said support means including means rotatably supporting said arm for movement from a first nonplay position wherein said arm is not disposed above the record member to a second position wherein said arm is located above the record member, said support means further including means operable to move said arm from said second to a third position wherein the styles is in engagement with the record member; main control cam means supported for rotation and having a first surface engageable with a first portion of said arm support means for moving said am between said first and second positions and having a second surface engageable with a second portion of said arm support means for moving said arm between said second and third positions; pickup head drive means including a member positioned adjacent said cam means and responsive to rotation of said cam means to move said head means along said tone arm; and drive means coupled with said cam means including a first selectively operable control member for selective operation of said drive means to rotate said cam means.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cam means comprises a main control cam assembly disposed beneath the lower end of said arm support means, wherein said arm support means comprises first and second concentric shafts with the second shaft being located inside the first shaft with said first shaft being supported for rotation to move the arm between said first and second positions and said second shaft being movable inside said first shaft for moving said arm between said second and third positions; said tone arm com prises a first elongated rod disposed inside a second rod and said pickup head is movable along said second rod during the playing of a record; and said pickup head drive means includes an elongated flexible head drive member disposed inside said first rod and coupled with said second shaft to undergo movement when said second shaft is rotated.

3. A control apparatus for a phonograph record mechanism having a tone arm and head assembly wherein the head assembly translates along the tone arm during the playing of a record comprising in combination: a first support member having the tone arm secured thereto and including means supporting said first support member for rotation between first and second positions to move the tone arm between play and nonplay positions; a control shaft disposed adjacent said first support member and having a head-positioning drive member coupled therewith, said head-positioning drive member being responsive to rotation of said control shaft to move said head longitudinally along said tone arm; main control cam means having a first drive member selectively engageable with the lower end of said control shaft and operative upon movement from a first to a second position to elevate said shaft; said main control cam means having a second drive member selectively engageable with said first support member and operable upon movement from a first to a second position to move said tone arm from its play to its nonplay position; and electrically operated drive means coupled with said main control cam means.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 including first drive control means disabling said drive means when said second drive member reaches its said second position.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including second drive control means responsive to said head assembly reaching a selected position on said tone arm for enabling said drive means irrespective of the condition of said first drive control means, to cause rotation of said main control cam means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including means for selectively rotating said main control cam means in a second direction.

7. A phonograph record apparatus comprising in combina tion: a turntable adapted to support a phonograph record; a turntable drive apparatus for rotating said turntable; tone arm means including a first rod and rod support means supporting said rod near one end thereof at a location adjacent said turntable for rotation about a first axis which is perpendicular to the plane of said turntable; pickup head means supported on said first rod and having stylus means associated therewith which is engageable and nonengageable with a phonograph record on said turntable when said head means is respectively in first and second positions on said first rod; pickup head drive means extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rod and having first and second positions relative to said rod, said head drive means being respectively engaged and disengaged with said head means when said head means is in its said second and first positions; a drive shaft having a drive member on one end thereof engaged with said head drive means for operating the same when said shaft is rotated; main cam means supported for rotation adjacent said rod support means and having first drive means engageable with said rod support means and operable upon rotation of said cam means to move said tone arm between first and second positions, second drive means engageable with said drive shaft and operable upon rotation of said cam means to move said head drive means between its said first and second positions, and third drive means engageable with said drive shaft and operable to rotate said shaft when said main cam means is rotated; and power means connected to said main cam means for selective rotation of said cam means, said power means including a first manually operable control member.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said power means includes an electric motor and a rotatable drive shaft driven thereby, a control circuit for said motor including first switch means, and first switch control means carried by said main cam means operable to control the condition of said first switch means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 including second switch means, and means carried by said pickup head for controlling said second switch means in accordance with the lateral position of said pickup head on said rod.

[0. The apparatus of claim 8 including pause control means for selectively rotating said cam means to a predetermined position wherein said second drive means engages said drive shaft to hold said head drive means in its said second position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: said pause control means includes means operating to disengage said power means from said cam means, and wherein said first switch power means from said cam means.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said power means includes an electric motor having an output drive shaft, said shaft being selectively movable into and out of engagement with said cam means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for retrieving data from a record member comprising in combination: a tone arm; pickup head means supported on said arm and movable relative thereto during the retrieval of data, said head means having stylus means carried therewith for selective engagement with the record member for the retrieval of data; arm support means coupled to said arm adjacent one end thereof, said support means including means rotatably supporting said arm for movement from a first nonplay position wherein said arm is not disposed above the record member to a second position wherein said arm is located above the record member, said support means further including means operable to move said arm from said second to a third position wherein the styles is in engagement with the record member; main control cam means supported for rotation and having a first surface engageable with a first portion of said arm support means for moving said arm between said first and second positions and having a second surface engageable with a second portion of said arm support means for moving said arm between said second and third positions; pickup head drive means including a member positioned adjacent said cam means and responsive to rotation of said cam means to move said head means along said tone arm; and drive means coupled with said cam means including a first selectively operable control member for selective operation of said drive means to rotate said cam means.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cam means comprises a main control cam assembly disposed beneath the lower end of said arm support means, wherein said arm support means comprises first and second concentric shafts with the second shaft being located inside the first shaft with said first shaft being supported for rotation to move the arm between said first and second positions and said second shaft being movable inside said first shaft for moving said arm between said second and third positions; said tone arm comprises a first elongated rod disposed inside a second rod and said pickup head is movable along said second rod during the playing of a record; and said pickup head drive means includes an elongated flexible head drive member disposed inside said first rod and coupled with said second shaft to undergo movement when said second shaft is rotated.

7. A phonograph record apparatus comprising in combination: a turntable adapted to support a phonograph record; a turntable drive apparatus for rotating said turntable; tone arm means including a first rod and rod support means supporting said rod near one end thereof at a location adjacent said turntable for rotation about a first axis which is perpendicular to the plane of said turntable; pickup head means supported on said first rod and having stylus means associated therewith which is engageable and nonengageable with a phonograph record on said turntable when said head means is respectively in first and second positions on said first rod; pickup head drive means extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rod and having first and second positions relative to said rod, said head drive means being respectively engaged and disengaged with said head means when said head means is in its said second and first positions; a drive shaft having a drive member on one end thereof engaged with said head drive means for operating the same when said shaft is rotated; main cam means supported for rotation adjacent said rod support means and having first drive means engageable with said rod support means and operable upon rotation of said cam means to move said tone arm between first and second positions, second drive means engageable with said drive shaft and operable upon rotation of said cam means to move said head drive means between its said first and second positions, and third drive means engageable with said drive shaft and operable to rotate said shaft when said main cam means is rotated; and power means connected to said main cam means for selective rotation of said cam means, said power means including a first manually operable control member.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 including pause control means for selectively rotating said cam means to a predetermined position wherein said second drive means engages said drive shaft to hold said head drive means in its said second position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: said pause control means includes means operating to disengage said power means from said cam means, and wherein said first switch means is closed when said cam means is moved to its said predetermined position by said pause control means.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said power means operates to rotate said cam means in a first direction, and said pause control means includes lever means for rotating said cam means in a second direction and for disengaging said power means from said cam means.