US2366458A - Device for reproducing recorded communications - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1945. B. A. PROCTOR 2,366,458

DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING' RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BarfanAProc for ATTORNEYS Jan. 2, 1945. B. A. PROCTOR DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 N HHI m d Y n INVENTOR Barron AP/"oc fo/ Jan. 2, 1945. B. A. PROCTOR DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING' RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Barron A. Procror 01m 7101413 ATTORNEYS Jan. 2, 1945. B. A. PROCTOR DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941 9 Sheecg-Sheefc 4 NE U INVENTOR fid/TOHAP/OC/"Ol BY ATTORNEYS Jan. 2, 1945. r B A, PROCTOR 2,366,458

DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 w INVENTOR Barron AFmcfor ATTORN EYS WQ W Jan. 2, 1945. B. A. PROCTOR 2,366,453

DEVICE FOR REPRODUQING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS I Filed May 14, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 um r cm a m E O mw m m s w d BY m B Jan. 2, 1945. B. A. PROCTOR 2,366,458

DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATION s 9 Sheets- Sheet 7 RC mm my ATTORNEYS ,Jan. 2, 1945. I B. A. PROCTOR DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941- 9 Sheets-Sheet s f 0 Rm M or E M m A 0 N m n E .J/ A m v 5 m E d I \s g I Q 3 QM E r E 3 M EQQT o wk Q 5 Q Q\\ QN QM M /v mg 4 a b Q Rv S & n/.\. 4 19 3, L T 5 3 D n w 4 T11. 0 Q

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Jan. 2, 1945. B. A. PROCTOR 2,366,458

DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 I zaz AAAlllAll vvnvnlnr 4f\ E5 xvvevvvvvvx N m & g Q

'INVENTOR. Barron A. Procfar ATTORNE Y5 Patented Jan. 2, 1945 DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Barton A. Proctor, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to B. A. Proctor Company, Inc.,,New York, N. Y. 7 a corporation of New York Application May 14, 1941, Serial No. 393,344

22 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for reproducing communications such as letters, memoranda, etc., which have been previously recordedon a record, to an operator who may then transcribe such communications by means of a typewriter or other writing device. The invention is an improvement on the reproducing device disclosed in patent application Ser. No. 218,082, filed on July 18, 1938, in the names of Barton A. Proctor and Ferdinand C. W. Thiede, now Patent No. 2,296,870 issued Sept. 29, 1942. In said application a recording and reproducing machine is shown for recording communications on a very thin flexible record which is frictionally driven at a constant linear speed by means of a pair of friction rollers which engage the upper and lower surfaces of the record at opposite points. Both the upper and lower feed rollers are driven at a constant speed by 'means of an electric motor and pulley and belt driving connections therebetween, which serve to rotate the feed rollers in opposite directions. The matter recorded, on a record is reproduced at the same speed at which it was recorded so that it is necessary for the operator to transcribe the recorded communication at this same speed. Since some operators naturally work faster 'thanothers, this arrangement makes it diflicult'for a slow operator who may not be able to transcribe the reproduced communication at such a high speed, resulting possibly in errors in the transcription and also omission of some portions of the communication therefrom.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to provide means whereby the reproduction and transcription of recorded communications may be done at any desired speed which may be best suited to the operator. For this purpose a variable speed frictional driving gear is provided between an electric motor and a feed roller which drives the record, a convenient control means being provided whereby the operator may readily change the gear ratio and thereby cause the reproduction of the communication to be effected at any desired speed.

When the reproduction is effected at different speeds, as determined by the individual operator, it has been observed that there is a change in vollime "and also in the pitch of the reproduced sound, the volume tending to decrease and the pitch to become lower as the-speed of the record and the reproduction is decreased. It is a further object of the invention to provide compensating means for overcoming these changes in volume and pitch. This is effected by means of a control device associated with an amplifier which amplifies the reproduced signals, the control device permitting the volume and the pitch of the reproduced sound to be set at any desired level.

In the aforementioned application a flexible record-is shown mounted on a vertical record spindle which is in turn rotatably mounted in a traveling carriage which moves the record side wise in a direction away from the reproducing stylus. The motion of the record carriage is caused by a feed screw rotatably supported in the record carriage and a cooperating half-nut formed on the end of a pivoted arm and adapted to be brought into engagement with the feed screw to cause the sidewise feed of the record carriage. The feed screw isconstantly rotated in one direction by means of a pair of gears, one of which is secured to the record spindle and the other to the feed screw. The record is bent about and supported by a stationary curved supporting plate shaped like a turtle-back, which record support is in turn supported on a metallic framework which also serves to support the electric motor. It is found that small vibrations of the motor itself tend to be imparted to the metallic framework and the turtle-back supporting plate and through the latter to the record itself, any vibrations thus imparted tending to distort the reproduced sound. It is also found that minor variations in the speed of the motor which naturally occur during the operation thereof and, in the case of a synchronous motor, may be due to hunting, also tend to be communicated to the record spindle and the record itself, such variations in speed tending to still further distort the reproduced signal. It is an object of the present inventionto overcome the distortions caused by the vibration of the motor itself by mounting it in such a manner that any vibrations thereof will not be communicated to the frame of the machine and to the turtle-back support for the record. For this purpose provision is made for mounting the motor on a plurality of rubber supporting posts or blocks which absorb the motor vibrations. For the purpose of dampening out the minor variations in speed of the motor shaft, it is a furtherobject of the invention to provide a yielding driving connection between such shaft and the record'driving gearing. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention such a yielding driving connection is shown in the form of a flexible rubber sleeve which connects the motor shaft to the variable speed gearing by which the record spindle is driven.

In transcribing a recorded communication from a record. it is desirable for the operator to be able toback space the record with reference to the reproducer in order to repeat a portion thereof which was indistinct or not fully understood. It is an important object of the invention to provide means whereby such back spacing may be effected by different amounts whereby the record may be moved back a distance corresponding to any desired number of grooves thereon so as to secure the reproduction of the communication recorded in such grooves. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this object is secured by causing the record carriage to be moved.in a direction opposite to its normal direction by rotating the carriage feed screw in a direction opposite to normal. This object is secured by providing a reverse feed means which includes a releasable clutch which is arranged to break the normal driving connection between the record spindle and the carriage feed screw, a suitable electric control device being provided to permit the operation of the clutch by the operator from a point remote from the reproducing machine if so desired. It is a further important feature ofthe invention that this electrical condirection to normal so as to back space the record carriage and the record., In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the half-nut is maintained continually in engagement with the carriage feed screw while reproducing or back spacing and cooperates therewith to effect the forward movement and back spacing of the record.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of means for permitting the threads in the half-nut which cooperates with the carriage feed screw to come into proper engagement with those of the feed screw when the half-nut is lowered into operative position to cause the feed of the record carriage. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, such means comprises a floating mounting for the arm which carries the half-nut, which mounting is arranged to permit a slight sidewise movement of the arm in either direction along the feed screw in order to secure proper engagement of the threads on the halfnut with those of the feed screw. Associated with such floating mounting, a suitable stop means is disclosed to limit the sidewise movement of the half-nut and arm so as to cause the desired sidewise movement of the record carriage.

A cognate object of the invention is the provision of a mounting means for the movable arm which carries the half-nut which permits longitudinal movement of the arm in its pivotal support to accommodate slight differences between the distance between the pivotal support of the arm and the carriage feed screw in diflerent machines. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, such mounting means comprises an elongated slot formed in the arm in the lengthwise direction thereof, and a pivotally mounted shaft having a flat portion thereof disposed in said slot, the length of the flat portion being somewhat less than the length of the arm slot. fl

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for permitting a slight sidewise movement of the reproducer and its supporting arm s that the reproducer stylus may become properly seated in the sound track of the record when the reproducer arm is lowered into position for reproduction. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, such mounting means comprises a pair of oppositely disposed'balls which are so arranged as to adequately support the reproducer arm while still permitting a slight side-' wise movement thereof. It is found that such balls are also eflective in assisting in the prevention of small vibrations of the frame of the reproducing machine to the reproducer thereof, thus aiding in the prevention of distortion of the reproduced sound.

In cases where the thin flexible records are provided with inwardly projecting teeth which tightly engage correspondingly shaped teeth formed in the record spindle, there is a strong tendency for the two parts to resist separation, which may cause some difllculty in eifecting the removal of a record from the record spindle. It is accordingly another object of the invention to provide suitable means for readily stripping the "record from the record spindle. In the illustrated embodiment, such means comprises a slidable connecting device between the record spindle itself and a cap member or stripper mounted on the top thereof and which is provided with pro- Jecting teeth which engage with those of the record, the cap member being depressed by the operator to move it downwardly thus disengaging its teeth from the record. The adjacent portion of the record is meanwhile supported on the turtle-back support.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of dual control means for lifting the reproducer to disengage its stylus from the record. In the illustrated embodiment, one such control means is like that shown in application Serial No. 281,811, filed June 29, 1939 in the name of Barton A. Proctor, and comprises a cam and an associated lifting arm which lifts the reproducer, the cam being manually operated by a control knob under the control of the operator, who positions the control knob ,in a, vertical neutral position when he desires to remove a record or to stop the feed of a record for an appreciable period of time. The other control means, which is a feature of the present invention, is arranged to be automatically operated by the back spacing device above referred to and serves to lift the reproducer and disengage its stylus from the record for only a brief interval while the record carriage is being moved backwards to effect the back spacing operation.

In order to provide a proper support for the portion of the record containing the sound track portion which is in engagement with the reproducer stylus, it is another object of the invention to provide a suitable platen roller arranged to engage the under side of the record in a region opposite the stylus. A slidable mounting means is provided for pivotally supporting the platen roller at any desired level, suitable locking means being provided for locking the mounting means in any desired position in a slideway formed in a; stationary frame member. This arrangement permits the level of the platen roller to be readily adjusted to secure the optimum'reproducing action of the stylus and to accommodate records of difierent thickness in the reproducing machine. 1

Other objects of the invention will become ap- Fig. 2 is an end view, partly in section of the reproducing machine shown 'in Fig. 1, the section being taken on the line 22 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the reproducing machine shown in Fig. 1 taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 7 showing the variable speed driving gearing and the device for effecting the back spacing;

Fig. 4 is a sectional top plan view showing certain portions of the machine shown in Fig. 1 and taken on the section line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional side view showing a portion of the machine frame, and the carriage feed mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 taken on the section line 6-6 thereof; I

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional front view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 taken on the sectio line 1-? thereof;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional front view showing the novel means for connecting the record to the record spindle and stripping it therefrom Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of the reproducer supporting arm and the novel means for supporting the same;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional front view'showing certain parts comprising the upper portion of the reproducer machine;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line iI-I'I of Fig. 12 showing the clutch for connecting the carriage driving gear with the carriage feed screw, the clutch being shown in its released position;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I2I2 of Fig. 11, showing a portion of the clutch device shown therein in its holding position;

Fig. 13 is a skeleton side view showing the back spacer mechanism of Fig. 2 at the limit of its operated position and the reproducer lifted automatically;

Fig. 14 is a skeleton side view showing portions of the record and carriage feed mechanisms in.

. aforementioned patent applications for reproducing letters, memoranda or other signals recorded on'thin flexible records formed of cellulose acetate or other suitable flexible material. The reproducing device is mounted in a casing I formed of thin sheet metal and provided with suitable supporting fe t 2, a record support 3 shaped like a turtle-back being supported on the back support 3 for engaging the lower portions of the record to maintain it in flexed condition against the support 3. The record 4 is driven, through gearing to be described, by means of an electric motor I having a driv shaft 8. In order to prevent vibrations set up in the motor from being communicated to the casing I and hence to the record 4, provision is made for resiliently mounting the motor in the casing I so that the motor may move slightly with refence to the casing. This resilient mounting means comprises a pair of angle'shaped brackets 9 secured to each end of th frame of the motor by the screws I 0, the brackets Q being secured to a air of spaced metal bars II and I2. The ends of the supporting bars It and I2 rest on the cylindrical rubber blocks I3, each block i3 being secured in position on the base I4 of the casing I by means of a screw I5 and nut 66, each screw l5 passing through a block 53 and bar II or I2. Vibrations of the motor '8 are absorbed or damped out by the rubber blocks I3 and thus prevented from reaching the casing l and record supporting plat 3, and hence the record 4. This arrangement thus prevents any such vibrations from causing distortion in the reproduction.

casing I and serving to support the flexible rec- 0rd 4, front and rear guide members 5 and 6 being provided at spaced distances from the turtle- Referring to Fig. 6, the motor shaft 8 is connected to a worm shaft I? by means of a yieldable connei ting device in the form of a cylin-= drical rubber sleeve I8 which fits over the end of the shaft I1 and whose opposite end fits over the end of a stub shaft I9 which is formed on the end of a metal sleeve 20 bored to receive the motor shaft 8 and secured thereto by a screw 2|. The shafts H and I9 are bored to receive screws 22 and 23 which pass through the sleeve J8 and secure its opposite ends to the respective shafts. Minor variations in speed of the motor cause the rubber sleeve I8. to twist angularly more or less and thus absorb such variations in speed. It is also to be noted that any vertical or sidewise vibrations of the motor shaft 8 will cause the sleeve I8 to bend slightly transversely of its length, thus preventing such vibrations from being communicated to the worm shaft I1 and by the latter to the framework of the machine and hence to the record 4.

Variable speed record drive Referring to Figs. 3, 6 and 7, th worm shaft II carries a worm 24 which meshes with a worm gear 25 secured to a shaft 26 which is journaled in a bracket 21 secured to and extendingfrom a plate 28 which extends from the front. to the rear of the casing I. A friction gear 29 is rotatably connected with the shaft 26 by means of a spline 30, the gear'29 being provided at its lower end with a reduced hub portion 3| grooved,

as at 32, to receive the forked end of a shifter.

arm 33. The shifter arm 33 is formed integral with a traveling nut 34 adapted to'receive a threaded shaft 35 journaled at its opposite ends in the bracket 21. The shaft 35 is rotated by means of a pair of bevel gears 363'I, the gear 31 being secured to the end of a shaft 38 which is journaled in the bracket 21 and extends through the front wall of the casing I where it is provided with a control knob 39. The friction gear 29 bears against the face of a driven friction gear or disc 40 rotatably connected to a feed roller shaft 4| as by means of a spline 42. The shaft 4| is journaled in a pair of spaced lugs 43 formed on a supporting fram 45 having parallel end walls 46 and 41 (see Fig. 6), the

I, as at 48. Th shaft 4I carries'at one end a friction roller 49 which extends through a slot 58 formed in the record supporting plate 8 and engages the lower surface of the record 4 for driving the same (see Figs. 1, 2 and 7). Cooperating with the feed roller 49 in driving the record is an idler friction roller 5| which engages the upper surface of the record at a point directly opposite the roller 49, the idler roller 5I being secured to a shaft 52 which is journaled in a'pair of spaced lugs 5954 formed on a pivotally supported frame 55, see Figs. 4 and 7. From the described arrangement it will be seen that the speed of the lower feed roller 49 and of the record may be varied within wide limits according to the ca acity or desire of the operator according to the adjustment of the control knob 39, adjustment of this knob in one direction serving to adjust the friction gear 29 radially inward along the friction disc 48 to increase the speed of the roller 49 and the record 4, and adjustment of the control knob 39 in an opposite direction serving to adjust the gear 29 outwardly along the disc 48 to decrease the speed of roller 49 and the record. At any given adjustment of the knob 39, however, the feed of the record proceeds at a constant linear speed as the center of the record is moved away from a reproducer 58 by means to be later described.

Means is preferably provided for the purpose of interrupting the driving engagement between the friction gear 29 and the disc 48 when the operator wishes to stop the feed of the record without stopping the motor 'I. The nieans disclosed for this purpose in Figs. 2. 4, 6 and 7 comprises a sleeve 51 slidable on the shaft 4| and bearing against a washer 58. The diameter of the end of the sleeve is reduced to provide a shoulder 58a against which is seated one end of a spiral compression spring 59, the other end of which bears against the disc 48. The sleeve 51 carries a pair of oppositely disposed pins 88 which are seated in recesses provided in the forked arms 8I formed on the end of a rock arm 52, this arm being secured to a, shaft 83 pivotally mounted in the frame 45. The shaft 53 carries at its rear end an upwardly extending bent arm 54 having a-projecting pin 55 arranged to engage an inclined cam groove 85 formed'in a cam member 51 secured to a shaft 58 journaled at its opposite ends in the end walls 59-18 of a frame H which is disposed in the upper part of the casing I. Shaft 58 is rotated by means of a helical gear I2 secured thereto, this gear meshing with a helical gear I3 secured to a shaft I4 which extends through the front of the casing I. The shaft I4 is journaled in a cross bar I5 which serves to connect the end walls 59-18 of the frame II, as shown in Fig. 4, and has secured to its front end an-operating handle I5. With the handle IS in its horizontal position in engagement with a stop pin 11 carried by an upper wall of the casing I, for reproduction, as shown in Fig. 4 and in dash lines in Fig. 7, the pin 55 and the sleeve 51 are in their extreme rightward positions, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, so that the spring 59 is strongly compressed and biases the disc 48 into firm driving engagement with the friction drive gear 29 to cause ,rotation of the feed roller 49 and the record 4. Upon throwing the operating handl I5 into its vertical or neutral position against a stop pin 'l'la, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. the pin 55 is moved leftward by the cam groove 85 thereby causing the sleeve 51 to move away from the disc 48 and release the compression on the spring 59 to such an extent that the disc 48 is no longer driven.

stoppage of the disc 48 discontinues the rotation of the lower feed roller 49 and of the record 4. Movement of the handle 18 into its neutral position also raises the idler roller 5| clear of the record in the following manner, see Figs. 2 and 4. The frame 55 is pivotally supported on a shaft I9 which extends between the end walls 59 and I8 of the frame II and is provided with a rearwardly extending tail piece I9 which is biased toward the shaft 58' by means of a spring 88, one end of which is secured to the end of tailpiece I9 and the other end of which is secured to a pin 8| carried by the frame 1 I. Th shaft 88 is provided with a cam 82 arranged to engage the tail piece I9 and lower it, thus raising the roller 5I clear of the record, as the shaft 58 is rotated in response to the movement of the control handle I8 into its vertical or neutral position. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the cam 82 is clear of the tail piece I9 when the control handle I5 is in its reproducing position, the friction roller 5| being firmly biased against the upper surface of the record under the action of the spring 88.

Reproducing device Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 7, the reproducer 58 is secured to one side of a pivoted arm 88 and is provided with a stylus 84, the reproducer itself preferably being of the crystal type. as disclosed in the aforementioned application Serial No. 218,082. A platen roller 85 engages the lower surface of the record 4 in a region opposite or slightly rearwardly of the stylus 84, the platen roller being secured to a shaft 88 which is pivotally mounted in a supporting bearing block 81, which in turn is mounted for slight vertical adjustment in a guideway 88 formed in the frame 45. A securing screw and nut.88a is provided for locking the block 81 in its adjusted position. The platen roller 85 may be of the type disclosed in the aforementioned application Serial No. 218,082, or of any other desired construction.

The reproducer arm 83 is shown in Figs. 4 and 9 as being in turn supported for slight sidewise movement on an arm 89 carried by a pivot pin 98, which is in turn secured to the side frame 59. The pivotal connections between the reproducer arm 83 and arm 89 are shown in Fig. 9 and comprise a pair of oppositely disposed recesses 9I formed in a projecting lug 92 formed on the arm 89. Each of the recesses 9I carries a ball 99, th balls 93 being arranged for engagement by the recessed ends of a pair of short screws 84 threaded into the end of the arm 88, which is cut away, as at 95, to clear the lug 92. A pair of lock screws 98 are provided for engagement with the screws 94 to secure the latter in their adjusted position.

In order to raise and lower the reproducer 58, the arm 83 is provided, as shown in-Flgs. 4 and .7,

with a generally hook shaped arm 91 comprising in the manner above described. This means comprises a rock arm I82 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin I83 carried by the side frame'member 89, see Figs. 1 and 4. The

front end of the arm I02 is adapted to engage the lower side of the arm IN and elevate the same under the action of a cam I04 which is secured to the shaft 63 and engages the arm I02, these parts being shown with the reproducer 56 in its elevated position in Fig. 14.

Record carrilwe feed As shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. the record 4 is fed sidewise at a uniform speed under the stylus 84 by means of a record feed carriage I which comprises the end plates I06-I01 which are connected together by an angle bar I08, the plate I06 being cut away to receive a pair of meshing helical gears I09I I0, the latter gear being secured to a vertical record spindle I I [which is journaled in the frame member I06. As shown more clearly in Fig. 8, the up er end of the spindle III is provided with an elongated slot II2 adapted to slidably receive a pin II3 which is carried by a cap member II4 bored to receive the spindle III. The

cap H4 at its lower portion has formed thereon about its periphery a series of outwardly projecting teeth 5 adapted to engage between a series of similar inwardly projecting teeth I I6 formed on the record 4. The teeth II6 may be slightly longer than the depth of the spaces between the teeth II5 so that the ends of the teeth II6 on the I06 of the carriage as by the screws I34. Rotation of the gear I09 is transmitted to the carriage record will bend slightly upwards when the rec- ,ord is pushed onto the spindle, thereby securing it firmly in position and biasing its lower surface into engagement with a washer I IL A sleeve H8 is bored to receive the spindle I II and is formed near its center with a projecting shoulder II9 which is seated in an opening I20 provided in the upper end of the carriage frame I 06. A compression spring I2I biases the cap member II4 upward toward its normal topmost position, with the teeth II5 disposed above the turtle back support 3 to engage the teeth II6 of the record. After the reproduction of a record is completed,

I it may be readily stripped from the record spindle by the operator merely pressing the cap I down along the spindle againstthe action of the spring I2I, the sleeve 8 serving to limit the downward motion of the cap II 4. The central portion of the record 4 is supported by theadjacent portion of the turtle-back 3 during the stripping action. The central flat top portion of the turtle-back 3 is provided with an elongated slot I22, as shown in Fig. 4, to permit the passage of the cap H4 and washer II1 along the machine during the feed of the record carriage I05. As shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 10, the record carriage is slidablealong a pair of parallel rods I23I24, the upper rod I23 passing through the end plates I06 and I01 and having its right end anchored in the side frame 46. The lower rod I24 has itsright end anchored in the lower end of the side frame 41, as at I25, and the opposite ends of the guide rods I23-I24 are connected together'by a tie rod I28. The end plate I06 of the record carriage is provided with a notch I21, see Fig. 1, to receive the rod I24, which thus guides the record carriage.

' As shown in Figs. 1, 10, 11 and 15, the record carriage is provided with a threaded feed screw I28 whose opposite ends a e journaled in the carriage frame members I06-I01 and whose left end Is extended through the gear wheel I09 and provided with a recess I29 adapted to receive a thrust ball I30 which bears against a recessed screw I 3I threaded into a thrust. bar I32 whose center portion is bent outwardly as indicated at I33 and whose ends are secured to the end wall in an elongated sleeve I54, see Fig. 6 also, which feed screw I28 by means of a clutch device I35 which comprises a sleeve I36 to which the gear I09 is secured and which is provided on its periphery with a series of teeth I31. Secured to the shaft I28, as by a pin I38, is a collar I39 provided at each of its opposite sides with a pair of spaced ears I40, I4I between which is pivotally mounted, on the pins I42, a pair of clutch levers I43 provided at one end with a clutch tooth I44 adapted to engage with the teeth I31 and thereby cause rotation of the feed screw I28 upon the rotation of the gear I09. The clutch'levers I43 are biased inwardly toward clutching position by means of a spring I45 of the shape shown in Fig. 12,'the ends I46 of the spring being bent in the form of a U-shape to engage the inner surfaces of the levers I43. To disengage the clutch, the outer ends of the levers I43 are moved inwardly by means of a clutch control lever I41 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin I48 which passes through a block I49 secured to the side of the lever I41, the pivot pin I 48 being in turn carried by a lug I50 which extends from the side frame I06 of the carriage. The clutch lever I41 is provided at its outer end with an elongated notch adapted to receive the flat end portion I5I Of a shaft I52 to which is secured a projecting pin I53. The shaft I52 is mounted for sliding engagement is provided with a thrust collar I arranged to engage the frame member I06. The end of the sleeve I54 is provided .with an inclined cam surface I56 which is adapted upon a slight rotation of the sleeve I54 to move the pin I53 outwardly from the position in Fig. 6 into the position shown in Fig. 11 to thereby cause the lever I41 to re-. lease the clutch. Rotation of the shaft I52 during this operation is prevented by reason of the lever I41 engagingthe flat end portion I5I of the shaft I52. Upon rotation of the sleeve I54 in the opposite direction, the pin I53 rides down the cam I56 and the clutch is engaged, the teeth I44 being biased into engagement with the clutch teeth I31 by means of the spring I45. It will be understood that the clutch is normally engaged during the forward feed of the record, but is disengaged as in Fi 11 to avoid reverse rotation of the record during a back spacing operation of the carriage hereinafter described.

To cause the longitudinal travel of the record carriage I05 in response to the rotation of the feed screw I28, and referring to Figures 1, 5, 6 and 10, a pivoted arm I51 is provided on its outer end with a threaded portion forming a half-nut I58 adaptedto be urged into engagement with the threadsof the shaft I28 by means of a sprin I59, the upper end of which is connected to the end of the arm I51 and the lower end of which is connected to a pin I60 secured to the frame member 41. The inner end of the arm I51 i provided with a horizontal-notch or slot, as indicated at I6I, adapted to receive the flattened end I62 of a shaft I63 which is pivotally supported in the frame plates 46 and 41. A pin I64 passes through the shaft end I82 and retains the arm I 51 in position on the shaft axially thereof. The arrangement described provides a floating connection between the shaft I63 and the arm I51, permitting the latter to move sidewise to a limited extent in order that the threads of the half-nut I58 may come into proper registry with those on the shaft I28 as the half-nut is lowered into carriage feeding position. A suitable stop device is provided to limit the sidewise motion of the arm I81 to a rather small amount, the stop device comprising a plate I88 whose upper end I88 is slotted to receive the arm I81 and whose lower end is secured to the plate 41 by means of the screw I81.

Thefioating connection described also permits the arm I81 to move longitudinally a slight amount on the flat portion I82 .of the supporting shaft I88, so that the threads on the half-nut portion I88 may come into proper registry with those on the screw shaft I28 even though in different machines the distance between the axes of shafts I28 and I83 should vary slightly.

It will be understood that during the reproduction of a record, the rotation of the record and the record spindle III by the gearing above described will cause the record 4 and record carriage I88 to be moved leftward by the feed screw I28 and its cooperating half-nut I88. This transports the center of the record away from the reproducing stylus 84 so that the center portion of the record between the record spindle and the stylus is maintained under tension, with the beneficial effects described in the aforementioned application. Means is provided for disengaging the half-nut I88 from the feed screw I28 so that the record carriage I88 may be slid back along the guide rods I28 and I24 to its initial position after the completion of a record for the reproduction of the next record which has been placed on the record spindle. This disengaging means comprises a cam I88, see Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 10, secured to the shaft 88 and which engages the upper end of a rocker arm I88 secured to the shaft I88 so that operation of the arm I88 by the cam 88 I88 causes the disengagement of the half-nut 188 from the carriage feed screw I28.

Back spacing device There are times when it is desirable for the user of the machine to be able to go back a short distance and have a small portion of the communication recorded on a record repeatedbefore continuing with the transcription. Provision is accordingly made for reversing the feed of the record carriage and moving it and the record backwards under the reproducing stylus. The provision for back spacing further includes means for raising the reproducing stylus away from the surface of the record and maintaining it in an elevated position clear of the record during the back spacing operation, thereby eliminating the possibility of objectionable scratching of the record by the stylus.

Referring to Figures 3, 7, 13 and 15 the back spacing device comprise a solenoid I18 having a supporting frame "I, this frame being in turn supported on an angle bracket I12 secured to the bottom of the frame 48, as by the screws I18. Current is supplied to the coil I14 of the solenoid through an energizing circuit comprising the leads I18 and a push button switch I18 (Fig. 16) Movable within the solenoid coil I14 is a plunger I11 suspended on a pivoted rocker arm I18 through the link I18. A spring I88 serves to hold the plunger I11 in its normally elevated position as shown in Figure 3, one end of the spring being secured to the arm I18 and its lower end to a projecting lug I8I formed on the supporting bracket I12. The spring I88 serves to bias the arm I18 into engagement with a stop device, shown as a bracket I82 which is secured to the supporting bracket I12 as by means of a screw I88. The rocker arm I18 i pivotally supported on a supporting screw I84 threaded 1 180 the plate 28, and the outer end of the arm I18 is connected to a rock arm I88 by means of a connecting link I88. The arm I88 is secured to the end of a shaft I81, as by means of a pin I88 (Fig. 18) to oscillate the shaft I81 for a purpose to be later described. The right-hand end of the shaft I81 passes through and is iournaled in the supporting frame 48 and. the plate 28. The outer end of the arm I88 bears against a bent rocker arm I88 which i pivotally supported on a screw I88 threaded into the plate 28, the lower end of the rocker arm I88 being biased against the arm I88 by means of spring I8I, one end of which is secured to the arm I 88, and the other end of which is hooked over a pin I82 secured to the plate 28. The upper end of the rocker arm I88 is adapted to engage an arm I88 of a bail I84, the arm I88 of which is pivotally supported on a screw I88 threaded into the plate 28 and the oppositely disposed arm I88 (Figs. 1 and 4) of which'is pivoted on a screw I81 which is threaded into the frame plate 88. The bail arms I88 and I88 are connected together by means of a straight rod I88. The rod I88 is adapted to engage the under surface of the rearwardly extending portion 88 of the arm I8l, which is attached to the reproducer arm 83, for the purpose of raising this arm and the reproducer 88 so that the reproducer stylus 84 is lifted clear of the record, as shown in Figure 13.

Means is provided for returning the repro-, ducer 88 to its normal central position should it not be in such position at the time its stylus is lifted clear of the record. This reproducer positioning means, as shown in Figures 4 and '1, comprises a block I88 which is secured to the pivoted frame 88 and which is provided with a slot, shaped as shown in Figure 7, and having an enlarged lower portion 288 and a narrow upper a portion 281 which latter is adapted to loosely receive the forwardly extending portion 88 of the arm I8I. It will readily be understood that as the bail I84 is lifted in response to the actuation of the relay I 18, that the reproducer 88 will be raised so that its stylus 84 is elevated clear of the record 4 and that the marginal portion of the slot 288-2M will serve to move the arm IN and also the reproducer to its normal central position, as the straight portion 88 of said arm is raised into the narrow portion 28I of the slot. It will also be understood that as the stylus 84 is automatically returned to the surface of the record at the termination of the back spacing operation, the reproducer is permitted to move slightly sidewise to permit proper engagement of the stylus 84 with the record groove, the enlarged portion 288 of the slot in the block I88 permitting such sidewise motion of the arm IN and the reproducer 88.

Referring to Figures 13 and 15, the right end of the sleeve I84 is provided with a square aperture 282 to slidingly receive a square portion 288 formed on the shaft I81 and extending along the major portion' thereof. The end of the sleeve I84 has secured thereto, as by a screw 284, an arm 288 whose lower end is connected to a pawl 288 by means of curved links 281, see Figure 13. The pawl 288 is provided with a tooth 288 adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 288 formed on a ratchet wheel 2I8 which is secured to the end of the feed screw shaft I28, as by means of a pin 2I I. The pawl 288 is pivoted on a pin 2I2 extending between a pair of pawl carrying arms 2I8 which are loosely received on the end of the feed screw shaft I28 on oppoaseacce site sides of the ratchet wheel 2I0. A suitable stop device is provided to limit the return movement of the pawl 206 and the levers 2I3 under the action of the spring I80, the stop device herein disclosed comprising a curved plate 2I4 secured to the end wall I01 of the record carriage as by thescrews 2I5, which plate is provided with a projecting lug 2I6 against which the pawl levers 2I3 engage. It will also be noted that upon the levers 2I3 engaging the stop lug 2I6, a slight further movement of the link 201 under the action of the spring I80 causes the tooth 208 of the pawl to be lifted clear of'the ratchet tooth 209 with which it was engaged, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the rotation of thefeed I28 in the normal direction by means of the driv ng connections hereinbefore described. The distance to which the record carriage I05 is moved backwards by the reverse rotation of the feed screw I28 for each actuation of the solenoid I and the pawl 208 may correspond to one groove on the record or to 2, 3 or more grooves, as desired. It will also be understood that as the arm I85 is returned to its initial position by the spring I80, the reproducer 56 is again lowered so that its stylus 84 again comes into engagement with the grooveof the record after t-e record carriage has been moved back the desired amount. Furthermore, the return of the lever I85 to its initial position causes the sleeve I54 to be rocked so as to permit the pin I53 to ride down the cam I56 and thereby cause the feeding of the record to be resumed in t e normal direction by the engagement of the clutch I35 in the .manner above described." It will be observed that I the back spacing device disclosed provides means whereby any desired amount of back spacing on the record may be secured. Since each operation of the switch- I16 causes a single actuat on of the solenoid plunger I11 and a'corresponding amount of back spacing, it follows that to secure double the normal back spacing, the operator would merely operate the switch I16 twice. each actuation causing the pawl 208 to rotate the ratchet wheel 2I0 and carriage feed screw I28 by an amount corresponding to the normal back spacing distance. In Figure 13 the parts of the back spacing mechanism are shown in their positions corresponding to the extreme lower position of the plunger I11 and with thestylus 84 entirely clear of the record 4.

It has been found that as the record carriage I05 is moved toward the right during a back spacing operation (Fig. 15), there is a tendency for the sleeve I54 to bind at 202 on the square portion 203 of the shaft I81 and thus prevent the return of the record carriage. This objectionable feature has been overcome .by the arrangement disclosed in Figures 3 and 15, in which provision is made for permitting a slight endwise motion of the shaft I81 with the record carriage I05 during the back spacing operation; For this purpose the end of shaft I81 is seated against a bent spring 2I1 whose lower end is secured to the plate 28, as by a screw 2I8. As the parts of the record carriage including the feedscrew I28 are moved to their extreme positions, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 15 during a back spacing operation, the shaft-l81 is displaced a corresponding distance to the right, causing the spring 2 I 1 to be bent into the position shown in dot and dash lines. Upon the return of the shaft I81 to its normal angular position (Fir. 3) it is returned axially to its normal position in the sleeve I54 under the action of the spring 2".

. Amplifying device Suitably mounted in the base of the casing I (Fig. 1) is an amplifying device 2l8 for amplifying the electrical currents generated by the reproducer 56, this amplifier being provided with a tone control knob 220, and a volume control knob 22I. The electrical circuit of the amplifier 2| 9 is diagrammatically shown in Figure 16 and corresponds generally to that disclosed in the aforesaid application Serial No. 218,082. The

amplifier comprises the vacuum tubes 222 and v 223, the late circuit of tube 222 being resistance coupled to the grid circuit of tube 223 through the circuit shown comprising the resistors 224 and 225 and the condenser 226. Energizing current is supplied to the amplifying tube circuits by means of a rectifier tube 221 and a filter circuit 228, alternating current being supplied to the rectifier 221 from the same alternating current mains 229 which supply the electric motor 1, a suitable control switch 280 for the motor being provided, as shown. The amplified communication may be listened to by an operator who is provided with an ear phone 23I which may be connected to the plate circuit of the tube 223 by means of a jack 232 and condenser 233. The recorded communication, as heard by the operator in the ear phones 23I, may be transcribed on a suitable typewriter or other writing device. Where it is desired to have the reproduction listened to by more than a single person, this may be done by means of a loud speaker 234 which may be connected to the output circuit of the tube 223 by means of a step-up transformer 235 and a jack 236. As shown, the amplifier tubes 222-223 and the rectifier tube 221 are of the metal type and their shells are grounded, as shown.

Any decrease or increase in the volume of the reproduced sound caused by the adjustment of the friction roller 29 to rotate friction disc 40 and the record 4 at a lower or higher speed, may be compensated for by adjustment of the volume control knob 22I which is connected to the control grid of the tube 222 and which serves to f slower or fast-er speed may be compensated for by the adjustment of the tone control knob 220 which is arranged to adjust a movable contact 239 along a resistor 240, this resistor having a condenser 2 of rather small capacity shunted across its terminals. The condenser '24I together with the resistor 240 andthe adjustable contact 239 constitute a tone control circuit for effecting a change in the pitch of the recorded sound as reproduced in the telephone 23I or the loud speaker 234. Current may be supplied from the output terminals of the filter 228 to the leads I15 and the solenoid I10, as shown in Figure 16.

While the invention has been illustrated in connection with a reproducing machine for thin flexible records which are bent over a curved support during reproduction, it is to be understood that maintained flat during reproduction and also to the reproduction of thicker, rigid records of the type usually employed inphonograph machines.

I have described what i believe to be embodiments of my invention. 32 however, to be confined to the embcmm shown but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sound translating device which includes means for supporting a thin, flexible disc record and a stylus for engaging the surface of the record, in combination, a friction roller arranged to engage a face of the record to rotate it, constant speed power operated means for driving the roller, a variable speed transmission gearing arranged to selectively rotate the friction roller at any one of a plurality of constant angular reproducing velocities from the power operated means and control means for the variable speed gearing settable by the operator to determine the reproducing speed of the record relative to the stylus.

2. A sound translating device as set forth. in claim 1 in which the variable speed gearing comprises a friction disc connected to the friction roller, a second friction disc having its peripheral margin in engagement with a face of the first disc, and the control means includes means for adjusting the second friction disc inwardly towards the center of the first disc.

3. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 1 in which the variable speed gearing comprises a friction disc connected to the friction roller, a second friction disc having its peripheral margin arranged to engage a face of the first disc, yielding means arranged to bias the first named disc into engagement with the peripheral margin of the second friction disc, and the control means includes means for adjusting the second friction disc inwardly towards the center of the first disc.

4. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 1 in which the variable speed gearing comprises a friction disc connected to the friction roller, a second friction disc having its peripheral margin in engagement with a face of the first disc, and the control means includes means for adjusting the second friction disc inwardly towards the center of the first disc and cam controlled means for decreasing the frictional driving engagement between said discs.

5. In a sound translating device, the combination of a, vertical record-engaging spindle, means for rotating said spindle, a spindle transporting carriage, a screw mounted in said carriage and connected to be driven by said spindle, a member provided with a threaded portion, a floating mounting for said member constructed and arranged to permit the threaded portion thereof to be moved longitudinally by said screw as the said threaded portion comes into engagement with the screw, means for selectively moving the threaded portion of said member into or out of engagement with said screw, and a stylus arranged to engage the record.

6. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 5 in which a stop device is arranged to engage said member to limit the motion of the threaded portion thereof along the screw.

'7. In a sound translating device, the combination of means for rotatably supporting a disc record having a sound groove therein, power operated means for rotating the record, a reproducer provided with a record-engaging stylus, an arm rigidly secured to said reproducer for supporting the same, a support for the arm, means for positively effecting relative movement of the support and the record for reproducing and a pair of substantially vertically aligned bearings carried by the support and engaging spaced apart points near the end of said arm for pivotaily supporting the same to thereby permit the proper engagement of the stylus with the groove in the record,

8. A sound translating device as set forth in claim '7 in which the aligned bearings consist of upper and lower balls seated in recesses formed in the arm.

9. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 7 in which the arm support which carries the pair of bearings is a second arm, and a further horizontally disposed support is provided to support the second arm for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis.

10. Means for driving the record spindle of a sound translating device comprising, a thin flexible disc record provided at its center with a non-circular opening, a cap member mounted for longitudinal movement on the upper end of the record spindle and having a peripheral portion shaped to snugly engage the marginal portion of the opening in the record, and a rotatable driving connection between the cap member and the record spindle for all positions of the cap member on the said spindle whereby the record may be stripped from the record-engaging portion of the cap member in response to the downward movement of the cap member along the record spindle.

11. 'jA record spindle driving means as set forth in claim 10 in which the record spindle passes 12. A record spindle driving means as set forth in claim 10 in which a compression springis disposed under the cap member for biasing the cap member upwardly along the record spindle:

13. In a sound translating device having record supporting means, in combination, a reproducer having a, stylus adapted to engage a rec- 0rd groove and dual control means for lifting the reproducer to a position where its stylus is clear of the record for all positions of the record, one of said dual control means comprising a cam, a control handle adapted to be manually operated connected to rotate said cam and the other control means comprising an arm connected to the reproducer .and an electromagnet arranged to actuate said arm.

14:. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 13 in which the control handle, cam and electromagnet are disposed closely adjacent to the record and supported on a single supporting casing.

.15. In a sound translating device, the combinationof a record carriage supported for sidewise movement, a vertical record spindle mounted in said carriage and adapted to have a disc record impaled thereon, power operated means for rotating the record spindle, a screw mounted in said record carriage and carried therewith, a driving connection between the record spindle and screw arranged to rotate the screw in one direction, a member provided with a threaded portion, means for selectively moving the threaded portion of said member into engagement with the screw to thereby cause sidewise feeding of the record carriage and record spindle in a normal direction and means for rotating the screw in the opposite direction to thereby reverse the movement or the record carriage in the opposite,

feed of the record carriage and record spindle,

comprising driving means substantially fixed against movement with the carriage and driven means movable by and with the carriage.

16. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 15 in which the driving connection between the record spindle and screw comprises a clutch and the means for rotating the screw in the opposite direction is arranged to release the clutch.

1'7. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 15 in which the means for rotating the screw in the opposite direction comprises a ratchet wheel connected to the screw and a pawl arranged to rotate the ratchet wheel in one direction only.

18. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 15 in which the means for rotating the screw in the opposite direction comprises an electomagnet and means controlled by said electromagnet for automatically interrupting the driving connection between the record spindle, and feed screw.

19. In a sound translating device, the combination of a record carriage supported for sidewise movement, a vertical record spindle mounted in direction during the continued rotation of the record in said one direction.

, it, power operated means for rotating the friction roller, a stylus arranged to engage the upper surface of the record, a rotatable platen roller, a slidable support in which the platen roller is pivotally mounted for adjustment in a substantially vertical plane and means for locking the slidable support at a desired adjusted position.

21. In a sound translating device, the combination of a disc record, a stylus arranged to engage the record, a record transporting carriage and means for rotating the record and transporting the record carriage, said means comprising a rotatable feed screw mounted in the record carriage, a control member provided with a threaded portion and a slidable support supporting the control member for sliding movement lengthwise of the feed screw to permit said memher to be moved transversely by said feed screw as the threads thereof come into registry with those of the feed screw.

22. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 21 in which the support for the control

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