Abstract: In a record player, one end of a tubular shaft is attached to a turntable. A follower member is disposed within the tubular shaft near the free end thereof such that a portion of the follower member extends beyond the shaft for engagement with the base of the player. The follower member is captured in the tubular shaft, but is free to float up and down. Disposed inside the tubular shaft is a threaded cap on which the follower member rides. The threaded cap is provided with a hex socket which is accessible from the top of the turntable through a central opening therein. A hex wrench is inserted through the tubular shaft and the cap is turned to adjust the turntable height.

Abstract: In video disc players, a turntable is raised and lowered by means of an actuating cam to transfer a record retained inside the player between the turntable and a record receiving means. A spring-loaded member is disposed underneath the turntable for engagement therewith as the turntable is lowered for reducing the force exerted by the turntable on the actuating cam.

Abstract: A stylus arm carriage is driven across the record in synchronism with the radial motion of a pickup stylus by means of a carriage drive mechanism which includes a clutch. The clutch is selectively disabled to allow motion of the carriage without hindrance by the carriage drive mechanism.

Abstract: A record cover engages a carriage-mounted pushback member to effect translation of the carriage toward the carriage starting position during insertion of a cover into the player when the pushback member is latched. When the carriage arrives at the desired position, the pushback member is unlatched to allow it to rotate out of the jacket insertion path as the jacket is further inserted into the player.

Abstract: A video disc caddy comprises a jacket and a record retaining spine. The jacket includes a U-shaped rigid frame having a peripheral edge wall and an intermediate flange extending inwardly from the edge wall at substantially right angles thereto. The intermediate flange in conjunction with the interior surfaces of the edge wall defines a pair of channels. A pair of inexpensive panels, made from sheet stock, are securely mounted in the respective channels to define a record enclosing cavity.

Abstract: In a video disc player, the turntable spindle is held in a raised position such that it is maintained in engagement with the record center hole when the turntable is lowered to transfer a spinning record from the turntable to the receiver pads. A mechanism, responsive to the insertion of an empty jacket into the player, retracts the spindle to allow the insertion of the jacket into the player free from interference with the spindle.

Abstract: In a video disc player, the turntable spindle is held in engagement with the record center hole when the turntable is lowered to transfer the record to the receiver pads. A mechanism, responsive to the insertion of an empty jacket into the player, retracts the spindle to allow insertion of the jacket into the player free from interference with the spindle.

Abstract: A stylus cleaner arm is pushed back to a retracted position when a record-bearing caddy is inserted into the player to load an enclosed record therein. The cleaner arm is held in the retracted position by the retained spine upon subsequent jacket withdrawal. The cleaner arm follows the caddy as it is withdrawn from the player until it engages a latch plate, which arrests the cleaner arm at an intermediate position. The stylus lifter gently drops a pickup stylus on the cleaner arm occupying the intermediate position as the caddy is further withdrawn from the player. The latch plate frees the cleaner arm to swing back to a standby position thereof during still further withdrawal of the caddy, thereby passing the cleaner arm underneath the stylus to wipe it clean. The stylus is raised away from the cleaner arm when the caddy is withdrawn from the player.

Abstract: In a video disc player, a stylus arm, carrying a track-following stylus at one end thereof, has its other end secured to an arm cage by a compliant member. The arm cage is translated along a path disposed radially of the disc record during playback. Pickup circuits are employed for sensing the variations in a signal representative capacitance formed between an electrode incorporated in the pickup stylus and conductive material disposed in the record to recover prerecorded information from a spiral track disposed on the record. A stylus position indicative capacitance, established between a first electrode secured to the stylus arm and coupled to the pickup circuits and a second electrode mounted to the carriage in the vicinity of the first electrode, is modulated at a given frequency rate. Circuitry is provided for sensing signals at a given frequency appearing at the output of the pickup circuits to generate a signal indicative of the position of the pickup stylus relative to the arm cage.

Abstract: A record caddy, suitable for use with a video disc player, includes a sleeve and a record retaining spine removably located therein. Disposed on the spine are latch members for releasably locking the spine to the sleeve. Latch defeat fingers, disposed in the player, are wedged between the respective spine latch fingers and interior portions of the sleeve during an occupied caddy arrival at a fully inserted position in the player, so that the spine latch fingers are deflected in a manner freeing the spine from the sleeve. The player is further equipped with spine gripper members for locking the spine to the player during such caddy arrival, whereby subsequent sleeve withdrawal removes the spine and the accompanying record from the sleeve for retention in player. To retrieve the retained record, an empty sleeve is inserted into the player.

Abstract: A disc record caddy comprises a jacket having an edge opening in communication with a record enclosing cavity, and a record retaining spine subject to insertion into the jacket. The spine defines a first portion forming a closure for the edge opening, and a further portion having a perimetrical wall defining an opening in which the enclosed record is received. A portion of the perimetrical wall disposed between the enclosed record and the closure portion of the spine defines a molded-in recess for selectively receiving a peripheral portion of the enclosed record.

Abstract: In a video disc player, a carriage is subject to translatory motion in correlation with radial motion of a playback stylus relative to a disc record disposed on a rotatable turntable. A stylus arm carrying the stylus at one end thereof has the other end secured to the carriage by means of a compliant rubber coupler. A magnetic element is disposed on the stylus arm near its free end. An electromagnet is fixedly mounted in the carriage adjacent to the stylus arm-mounted, magnetic element. The electromagnet is selectively actuated to cause a change in the radial location of the stylus.

Abstract: In a video disc player, a carriage is subject to translatory motion in correlation with radial motion of a playback stylus relative to a disc record. A stylus arm carrying the stylus at one end thereof has the other end pivotally secured to the carriage. A permanent magnet is mounted on the stylus arm near its free end. A pair of spaced coils having non-magnetic cores are disposed on the carriage such that the stylus arm-mounted magnet is interposed therebetween. The coils are selectively energized to change the radial location of the stylus relative to the record.

Abstract: A record side identification apparatus for a video disc player comprises a sensing member which is deflected to a first position and a second position in response to insertion of a video disc caddy into the player with a given side thereof respectively facing upward and downward. The deflected sensing member is depressed to illuminate the respective one of a pair of record side identification lights on the front instrument panel of the player during further insertion of the caddy into the player.

Abstract: A video disc player includes a turntable for centering and rotatably supporting a record for playback. A pickup stylus for recovering information stored on a turntable-supported record is mounted in a compartment provided in a carriage. A common drive belt is provided for selectively translating the carriage. The player is equipped with a first drive mechanism for utilizing the common drive belt for translating the carriage during playback toward the turntable center at a speed correlated to the speed of rotation of the turntable while stylus/record engagement is permitted. A second drive mechanism is employed for utilizing the common drive belt for translating the carriage during active searching toward and away from the turntable center at a speed independent of the speed of rotation of the turntable while the stylus is riding on the record.

Abstract: A video record player includes a common drive belt for selectively translating a pickup stylus carriage. The player is equipped with a first drive mechanism, including a turntable-driven pulley, for utilizing the common drive belt for translating the carriage during playback toward the center of a turntable at a speed correlated to the speed of rotation of the turntable while stylus/record engagement is effected. The first drive mechanism includes a slip clutch interposed between the common drive belt and the turntable-driven pulley. In such players, a record caddy is used to push the carriage back to a starting position away from the turntable center, when it is at a position other than at the starting position during a caddy insertion into the player.

Abstract: A player, such as a video disc player, comprises a decorative cover member having a top wall, a separable trough member having perimetrical side walls and a separable base member having a bottom wall. The trough member provides mountings for a turntable, a turntable drive mechanism, a signal pickup, a pickup carriage, a carriage translating mechanism and operating controls. The base member provides mountings for signal processing circuits disposed on a printed circuit board and for external connection to the player. The decorative cover member, the trough member and the base member are subject to assembly in which the top wall of the cover member, the perimetrical side walls of the trough member and the bottom wall of the base member, respectively, form the top wall, the side walls and the bottom wall of the player assembly. A flexible cable connects the trough member with the base member.

Abstract: A video record player includes a common drive belt for selectively translating a pickup stylus carriage. The player is equipped with a first drive mechanism, including a turntable-driven pulley, for utilizing the common drive belt for translating the carriage during playback toward the center of a turntable at a speed correlated to the speed of rotation of the turntable while stylus/record engagement is effected. A manually-actuated second drive mechanism is employed for utilizing the common drive belt for translating the carriage during active searching toward and away from the turntable center at a speed independent of the speed of rotation of the turntable while the stylus is in engagement with the record.

Abstract: A video record player includes a common drive belt for selectively translating a pickup stylus carriage. The player is equipped with a first drive mechanism, including a turntable-driven pulley, for utilizing the common drive belt for translating the carriage during playback toward the center of a turntable at a speed correlated to the speed of rotation of the turntable while stylus/record engagement is effected. The first drive mechanism includes a slip clutch interposed between the common drive belt and the turntable-driven pulley. In such players, a record caddy is used to push the carriage back to a starting position away from the turntable center, when it is at a position other than at the starting position during a caddy insertion into the player.

Abstract: To load a record into a player a record caddy is inserted into the player housing through an input slot. The player is equipped with rails for guiding caddy insertion along a path. A record extracting mechanism mounted in the player removes the enclosed record from the caddy during subsequent caddy withdrawal. A platform mounted in the housing is subject to motion between an elevated position and a depressed position. The record is transferred to a turntable for rotation therewith when the platform is depressed. The player is further equipped with a second set of rails for guiding a signal pickup carriage along a second path disposed parallel to the caddy path. A translating apparatus drives the pickup carriage along the carriage guiding rails. Both the caddy guiding rails and the carriage guiding rails are integrally secured to the platform.