US2260655A - Time controlled annunciator - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1941. A R 2,260,655

TIME "CONTROLLED ANNUNCIATOR Filed Oct. 2, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 0a. 28, 1941. F, A, BARR 2,260,655

TIME CONTROLLED ANNUNCIATOR Filed Oct. 2, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1941. F. A. BARR 2,260,655

TIME CONTROLLED ANNUNCIATOR Filed Oct. 2, 1939 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i IIIIIIINQ Z0 fiazzazisiA flaw/ 82 g BY '81 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 28, 19 41 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,260,655 mun com'aonuin ANNUNCIATOR Francis A. Barr, Bayonne, N.-J. Application October 2, 1939, Serial No. 297,583 '2 Claims. (01.58-14) This invention relates to impro'vementsin anthe scope of the invention except as same is exnunciators and especially is concerned -with a pr s ed in h jolne l im time controlled annunciator for periodically Referring then to the drawings, making audible announcements. Figure 1 is essentially a top plan view of the It is an object of this invention to provide a preferred embodiment of the instantinvention novel and audible annunciator controlled in a new and superior. manner by a clock or the like whereby, at preselected intervals, an announcement is made.

Another object of this invention is to provide an annunciator' comprising a sound reproduction device for a cloclE-fo'r controlling same, the clock and device being interconnected whereby. the former operates to initiate and to stop operation of the latter at preselected time intervals.

Another object of this invention is to provide an annunciator of thetype hereinabove mentioned which, in operation, serves to facilitate the making of a plurality of different-announcements at spaced time intervals independently of manual operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an annunciator of the type comprising a moving sound record and a clock controlled sensing device for reading said record together with means for operating said sensing device to read a preselected announcement from said record corresponding to a preselected relative or absolute time value. f

A feature-of the novel annunciator according to this invention is that it can be operated continuously for use in announcing time intervals or in the making of other'announcements in a I predetermined sequence. This feature follows as a result of the provision in the device of novel means for restoring elements of the device to an initial position of operation. 7

An advantage of the annunciator according to the present invention is its comparativesimplicity'both from the standpoint of structure and of operation whereby both the initial cost and the likelihood of need of repair is minimized.

Other objects, advantages'and features of the new and improved time controlled annunciator according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art during the course of the following description.

In'orclerto facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of the matter of this invention, a specific embodiment thereof now preferred hereinafter will be described, it being clearly understood of course.that this embodiment ofthe present invention is provided solely by way of example and is non-limitative upon .30 designated by the numeral M.

with parts of the casing removed to expose interior structure,

Fig. 2 is essentially a vertical sectional view of 1 taken along the line 2-2, I

Fig. 3 is substantially a vertical sectional view of Fig. '1 taken along the line 3-4,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 3 taken along theline 4-4,

Fig. 5 is substantially a vertical sectional view of Fig. 4 taken along the line 5-5, n

Fig. 6 is essentially a fragmentary or detailed sectional view of Fig. 5 taken along the linei-B thereof, and I Fig. '7 is essentially a-schematic electrical cirzocuit diagram indicating electrical connections between elements of the device.

It will be apparent in .considering the drawings that the novel annunciator designated by the numeral l0 according to the present invention comprises mounted within a casing 'II a clock mechanism generally designated by the num'eral l2 having an exposed dial generally indicated by thenumeral l3 and, associated therewith, a sound reproduction device generally The sound reproduction device comprises a constant speed motor 20 for rotating a, turntable 2| mounted on the spindle 22 of the motor. The turntable is adapted to accommodate-the sound record 23 which, in the illustrated embodiment, I

' is a relatively flat disc similar to the conventional phonograph record having sound grooves or tracks formed on the surface thereof; The senslng'm'echanism "provided with a needle 25a for reading the grooves or tracks on the sound record 23 is vertically slidingly carried on thesolehoid core 26, being attached thereto by the coupling 21 substantially as shown. It will be noted that the solenoid core is normally spring-pressed up-,

wardly by the helical spring 28 whereby the coupling head 21a is. pressed against bottom portions ofthe sleeve 29 forming part of the solenoid mounting as hereinafter more fully will appear. It will be noted especially. upon reference to Fig. 1,, that the connector member 21 is substantially square in cross-sectional outline and,

accordingly, that rotative motion of the connector with respect to the sleeve 29 is substantially precluded. The solenoid core 26 normally is position'ed incoaxial relation to but not within the solenoid 30. Accordingly, when current passes .riage head 35 is pressed by a spring 38 toward the supporting frame element 48 in which ends of the rods 36 and 31 are mounted. While the rod 37- preferably is nonrotatably mounted, although, if preferred, it may be rotatably mounted, the rod 36 is freely rotatingly mounted in the frame standards 40 and 4| and is driven at a constant rate of rotation by the clock driven shaft 42 connected to the rod by the beveled gears 43 and 44.

The cylinder 45 essentially fixedly mounted on the rod 36 and rotatable therewith is freely rotatably received within the opening 41 of the carriage head 35 in a manner such that the carriage can freely slide along the cylinder while the latter is being rotated. A continuous cam slot comprising the leading groove 48 and a return groove 49 is formed in the cylinder 45 and a cam rider 46 is'mounted in parts of the carriage head 35 for engagement with tle cam slot. It will be evident that as the cylinder 45 rotates, the cam rider 46 will ride in the lead groove 48, thereby causing the carriage 35 to move oppositely to the direction of action of the spring 38 until such time as the cam rider enters the return groove 49, whereupon the carriage head will be returned to starting position by action of the spring 38. It is to be noted that, as the carriage head 35 moves, the sound amplifying arm 25b connected with the pickup head 25 hereinabove described likewise is moved laterally. It is to be noted that the motion of the cam rider 46 within the cam grooves causes the pickup head 25 to traverse the record 23 and, at such times as current passes through the solenoid 30, to ride the grooves or tracks of the sound record and read same.

The hereinabove mentioned clock mechanism and the electrical control switches associated therewith generally designated by the numeral l2 will now be described, reference ,being made especially to Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 wherein features of the switch mechanism best are illustrated. Initially it should be noted that the clock mechanism 50 mounted on the frame 5| is provided with a gear 52 carried on the hour shaft thereof which, engaging with the teeth of the gear 53 mounted on the shaft 42, causes uniform constant motion of the cam hereinabove described. The shaft 55 carrying the minute hand of the clock is extended backwardly from the clock mechanism and carries fixedly mounted thereon and electrically insulated therefrom an intrinsically resilient switch arm 51, one end of which rides on a continuous annulus 58 of electrically conductive material mounted upon-an electrically insulative disc 59 supported on standards 60 attached to the rear of the clock casing. The preferred and illustrated mode of mounting the arm 5'! upon the shaft 55, comprises a bushing 65 formed of electrically insulated material attached to the arm by rivets 66 and held upon the shaft 55 by a nut 61 essentially as shown. The opposite end of the arm 51 rides upon a plurality of groups of contact elements, one of which is generally designated by the numeral 69.

Reference is now made especially to Fig. 6 wherein details of a typical one of the groups of contact elements best are illustrated. It will be noted that the group generally designated by the numeral 69 comprises a post 10 formed of electrically conductive material mounted in parts of the electrically insulative disc 59 and interconnected by the annulus 68, as hereinafter more fully will appear, slotted along its axis to receive a sheath 1| of insulative material within which is positioned the contact member 12. It is especially to be noted that, as the end of the arms 51 passes over the beveled top of the post 10, electrical contact is established between the arm and the post and also between the arm and the centrally located contact element 12. It is further to be noted that the width of the end of the arm 51 is such with relation to the beveled end of the post 10 that, as the arm traverses the post end, electrical contact is established between the arm and the post before, during and after the contact is established between the arm and the contact element 12. connected each with the other by the annulus 68 above mentioned upon which the end of the arm 51 rides. It of course will be understood that the post ends are beveled to facilitate free travel of the arm end thereover. The centrally located contact elements 12 are formed integral with and interconnected by the annulus 11, it being noted that the contact elements are formed by a right angle band and radially inwardly extending arms formed on said annulus. It is further to be noted that the groups of contact elements are arcuately spaced and that each is traversed by the end of the arm 51 successively and at predetermined time intervals between the elements depending upon the spacing of the elements.

The manner in which the above described sound reproduction device and clock control mechanism are concatenated for the operation of the former by the latter will now be described, reference being made especially to Fig. '7 wherein it will be noted that the clock motor 50 normally is connected across the power lines and 8| but that a switch 82 is interposed in the line 80 to permit interconnection of other parts of the device from the power lines. A relay 83 controls connection of the phonograph motor 20 to the lines 890 and 8| whereby, when the switch 82 is closed, the line 80a possesses equal potential with respect to the line 8| as is possessed by the line 80 with respect thereto. The relay 83 operates from the output lines 84 of the transformer 85 and current is supplied to the relay through the annulus 58, arm 51 and contact elements forming part of the posts 16 or, in other words, the relay functions whenever the end of the arm 57 makes contact with one of the beveled end portions of a post 10. Hence it will be apparent that the relay is closed and the phonograph motor 20 operates at all times when the end of the arm 51 is in electrical contact with any one of the groups of contact elements, one of which is designated by the numeral 69.

As has been hereinabove observed, contact is established between the end of the arm 5! and parts of the posts, one of which is designated by the numeral 10, before, during and after the establishment of electrical contact between the arm end and the centrally located contact elements,

The posts are electrically one of which is designated by the numeral 12p It will be noted by referring to the circuit diagram of Fig. 7 that when the arm end contacts the centrally located contact element, connection 'is established between the output lines 84 of the transformer 85 and the solenoid 30, thereby causing the core 26 thereof to be drawn within the solenoid against the action of the spring 28.

Having thus described the structural features of the novel time controlled annunciator according to the present invention, its mode of operation next will be described. As was above noted, the clock motor 50 operates continuously, being connected to the power lines 80 and 8l.- Closing of the switch 82 supplies power to the transformer 85 and also, upon closing of the relay 83, supplies power to the phonograph motor 20. Inasmuch as the arm 51 is driven byv the minute shaft of the clock 50, eventually the end of the/arm will engage and make electrical contact with one of the beveled ends of a post 10, thereby causing operation of the relay 83 and starting of the phonograph motor 20. As the end of the arm 51 passes over the post end, electrical contact is established between the arm and the centrally located contact element 12 whereby current passes from the transformer 85 to the solenoid 30 drawing the core thereof downwardly and causing the stylus or needle 25a to sense sound tracks or grooves in the record 23. The solenoid core is held within the solenoid until such time as the end of the contact arm passes from a centrally located contact 12, at which time action of the spring 28 causes the solenoid core to move upwardly, thereby raising the pickup head from the record. The phonograph motor "functions until such time as the end of the arm 51 ceases to make contact with parts of the post 10.

It will be evident from the foregoing that time spaced announcements can be made by means of this annunciator and that a series of different announcements can be made inasmuch as the pickup head 25 is moved across the sound record by time controlled mechanism with the result that the sound track beneath the pickup head is different fromthe sound track beneath the pickup head at other times.

Having thus described the present invention,

what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a time controlled annunciator of the type including a rotatable support for a sound producing record, a carriage mounted on a horizontal bar extending across the record, a spring surrounding the bar for normally holding the carriage adjacent the edge of the record, a sensing device carried by the carriage for reading said record, a solenoid for raising and lowering said sensing device off and on the record, a motor for driving said record, a clock, a switch operated by the clock for controlling the solenoid and the motor', a sleeve passing through the carriage and continuously-rotated by the clock, a spiral groove in the sleeve and a straight return groove connecting the ends of the spiral groove, a projection carried by the carriage and travelling in said grooves, whereby the carriage is moved across the record by its engagement with the spiral groove and rapidly returns to its normal position under tension of the spring when the projection enters the straight groove.

2. In a time controlled annunciator of the type including a rotatable support for a sound producing record, a carriage mounted on a horizontal bar extending across the record, a spring surroundingthe bar and engaging the carriage for normally holding the same adjacent the edge of the record, a sensing device carried by the carriage for reading the record, a solenoid for-raising and lowering the sensing device off and on the record, a'motor for driving the record support, a clock mechanism, a switch operated by the clock mechanism for simultaneously starting the motor and energizing the solenoid, a rotatable sleeve passing through the carriage and supporting one end thereof, means operated by the clock mechanism for continuously rotating the sleeve, said sleeve having a spiral groove and a straight return groove connecting the ends ofthe spiral groove, a projection carried by the carriage and travelling in said grooves, whereby the carriage is gradually moved across the, record against the spring by the spiral groove and is rapidly returned by the spring when the projection enters the straight return groove.

-FRANCIS A. BARR.

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