Abstract: A thermal transfer printer including a thermal head for generating heat in accordance with a desired print pattern, a platen having a surface for supporting an ink-sheet and paper, the ink-sheet and paper being pressed by the thermal head on the platen surface so that ink from the ink-sheet is transferred to the paper, a paper supply for storing and supplying paper, an ink-sheet supply and drive for storing and supplying an ink-sheet, the ink-sheet supply and drive driving the ink-sheet to move in accordance with the movement of the paper, a paper drive arranged between the platen and the paper supply, the paper drive driving the paper by the required length according to the position of the paper relative to the position of the platen, and a paper tension device for applying suitable tension to the paper at least between the platen and the paper drive so that the length by which the paper drive drives the paper is identical with the length by which the paper moves on the platen.

Abstract: A one-way clutch is provided between a constant torque spring motor and a turn table. A locking projection in the one-way clutch acts to engage, through a rotatable locking piece, a locking face facing to the opposite direction of rotation of the record disc for reproducing sounds.By virtue of this locking driving force of the constant torque spring motor is transmitted to the turn table, while in the winding operation, applied force can be released by the slant face inclined toward the direction of rotation of the record disc and thereby can be disconnected with the turn table. Due to this simple construction, a one-way clutch applicable to this kind of constant torque spring motor for use in a sound reproducing device can be easily fabricated and assembled. In order to prevent any harmful frictional slippage of the pickup on the face of record disc by reverse turning of an indexing disc, another one-way clutch of similar construction is disposed between the indexing disc and the face plate.

Abstract: A winding knob and a winding wheel for winding a drive spring are received in alignment around and along the center shaft and are capable of being coupled together in both directions of winding and their axial movement. A reverse slippage restraining post or plunger is disposed between the winding wheel and a record disc axially movable along the center shaft. The record disc is resiliently urged toward a pickup.The reverse slippage restraining post or plunger engages a locking piece provided on the record disc when it is pushed forward by the winding wheel when the winding knob is pushed forward in its first winding, while it is pushed back when the record disc is moved away from the record disc by the depression of a starting post, and is released from the engagement with the locking piece to permit rotation of the record disc when the record disc reverts back to its undepressed position when the depression on the start post is released.

Abstract: In order to perform selective sound reproduction from a plurality of recorded grooves on a record disc, a stopper block for stopping a record disc at a position where starting point of the record disc is able to engage the reproduction stylus of a pickup is disposed on the reverse side of the record disc. A plurality of locking bars corresponding to the number of recorded grooves are distributed along a circle concentric with the record disc and the circle has a radius smaller than the radius of the record disc.The locking bars are urged by a flat spring having radial teeth fixed around a shaft holder for receiving the center shaft toward direction, and are normally held by the spring apart from the stopper block. The center shaft as a center of rotation of the record disc is normally biased by a spring toward retracted direction and engages the locking bars through a manipulating member.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for electromagnetically imparting stylus force for sound reproducing device comprising an inhibit circuit for shock noise of the reproducing stylus. A selected one of start switches is actuated to start a motor to drive a recorded disc. A rotary contact provided on the rotating recorded disc engage a plurality of fixed contacts arranged such that there is a predetermined positional relationship between the fixed contacts and a position toward which a pickup is lowered so that the pickup may engage the reproduction start point of a specified one of recorded grooves provided circumferentially on the recorded disc, whereby an electromagnetic actuator is actuated in accordance with the timing of engagement between the rotary contact and the specified fixe contact which corresponding to the selected start switch. When the actuator is actuated, an armature of the actuator imparts stylus force upon the pickup. The actuator is held in its actuated status by a self holding transistor circuit.

Abstract: Before starting a sound reproduction, a distance between a record disc and a sound transmitting member which is disposed on a tone arm for pushing the tone arm, is held by a movable blade of an electromagnetic actuator.When a rotary switch attached beneath the record disc rotates by the rotation of the record disc and contacts one of a plurality of fixed contacts which have been positioned to satisfy a predetermined locational relationship with respect to a portion on which the pickup descends before it enters the starting point of the selected record groove, the electromagnetic actuator is energized to release its support of the sound transmitting member or the record disc.By virtue of this construction the tone arm of the pickup is engaged with the specific record groove of the record disc at a point before it reaches the starting point of the specific record groove.

Abstract: A simplified record player constructed such that the driving force from a motor is transmitted through a drive shaft to a tubular shaft which is capable of being coupled to the drive shaft so as to be rotated therewith, but only in the direction of rotation. The tubular shaft is normally biased in an axial direction away from the drive shaft. The tubular shaft has facing downwardly a directed stepped portion formed at its outer periphery. A latch shaft having an upper end face, an annular flange formed at its outer periphery and an upwardly facing stepped portion is fitted about the periphery of the tubular shaft. A coil spring supported by a washer is disposed around the tubular shaft and urges the latch shaft at the flange such that the stepped portion of the latch shaft abuts against the stepped portion of the tubular shaft. A push button is mounted to the top of the tubular shaft and includes within its interior a plurality of roller-type record retaining pieces.

Abstract: A sound reproducing device is driven by an electric motor powered by a cell or battery. The lead wires extending between the battery and the electric motor are securedly connected at their points of junction by either the resilient forces exerted by the lead wires themselves which exhibit spring properties and/or by a biasing force applied by the casing assembly of the reproducing device, itself. Furthermore, the spring-like lead wires are, also, utilized to define a spring acting stop switch operable for both starting and stopping of the sound reproduction, and particularly, to form an electrical switch(es) interconnected with a cover lid. Owing to the simplified construction as mentioned above, the electrical circuit of the device of this kind can be readily arranged in the device accompanied by superior electrical characteristics.

Abstract: The casing of a sound reproducing device defines the upper and lower bearings for directly receiving a shaft of a driving motor, as well as the outer shell for enclosing the rotor of the motor. This arrangement provides a motor assembly without the need for separate outer shell and separate brackets which are ordinarily indispensable with motors. The rotor hereof has a commutator being matingly electrically and slidably contractable with a pair of brushes fabricated from a metal wire. The free end of each wire comprises the brush, and the remaining portion thereof acts as a lead wire integral with the brush. The contact surfaces of the brushes and the commutator can be displaced or shifted by moving the two mating parts relative to each other for preventing defective starting due to poor electrical connection.

Abstract: Disclosed is a simplified structure of a toy phonograph in which the output shaft of a motor is selectively put into engagement with the rim of a record disc to drive the latter. A tone arm is provided above the record disc, so that the record disc may be contacted by a stylus carried by the tone arm, when moved axially by the output shaft of the motor brought into driving engagement therewith. The motor is biased for pivotal movement into engagement with the record disc, by means of springs which are retained by terminals of the motor. The springs are made of a conductive and resilient material, for playing a role of lead wire for supplying the motor with power. The springs include a plus side and a minus side springs, one of which is adapted to be separated from the associated motor terminal in the course of the pivotal movement of the motor, to serve as a source switch.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically returning a tone arm of a toy phonograph from the final to the starting positions of a reproduction. A swingable rod is provided for lifting an intermediate sound transmitting body which usually depresses the tone arm, when the tone arm has been brought to the final position of the reproduction, so as to allow the reproducing needle carried by the tone arm to be disengaged from the recording groove, thereby enabling the tone arm to return. The upward movement of the swingable rod is initiated by an engagement of the rod with a cam contour formed on the drive shaft for the record disc. In order that the swingable rod may correctly ride on the cam contour, so as to be lifted by the latter to make the tone arm free from the depressing force of the intermediate sound transmitting body, there is provided a buffer resilient body adapted to absorb the movement of the swingable rod and the movement of the tone arm which presses the rod toward the cam.

Abstract: A toy record player having an upwardly biassed, vertically moveable shaft, the upper end of which defines a push button for starting the player and which, also, is a record holder for holding and rotating a record disc. The record disc has a plurality of recording grooves on its lower face and carries marks representing the starting position of respective recording grooves on its upper face. A stylus point, which indicates the position of a tone arm, is carried thereby. The stylus is upwardly directed to confront the lower face of the record disc. Depression of the push button closes a circuit for a driving motor as well as lowering a record disc into engagement with the stylus. As the tone arm is driven to the final position of sound reproduction, it presses a latch to disengage the latter from a circumferential groove, so that the shaft is allowed to be returned upwardly, by the bias, to reset the player to its starting condition.

Abstract: A phonograph for use with a record cartridge wherein a disc record is attached to a sheet-like record holder, comprises a cartridge holder mounted on a casing for immovably holding the record cartridge with its record facing downwardly. Within the casing, a motor-driven turntable is rotatably mounted under the cartridge holder, and a speaker cone is mounted further under the turntable in concentric, back-to-back relationship for simultaneous rotation therewith. A tone arm pivoted eccentrically on the turntable has a reproducing stylus extending upwardly therefrom for engagement with a record groove of the record cartridge. The vibrations set up in the reproducing stylus during rotation of the turntable relative to the record cartridge are transmitted to the speaker cone via a vibration transmitter rod mounted on the turntable.

Abstract: A phonograph of the type wherein a plastics-made tone arm having an upstanding stylus mounted thereon is pivoted eccentrically on a turntable or rotor, under which a speaker is mounted concentrically for simultaneous rotation therewith relative to a record immovably supported above the turntable. Also mounted on the turntable is a metal-made vibration transmitter rod which is substantially pivotally supported at one end and which rests, at a point intermediate both ends thereof, on the armature of the speaker partly exposed through an aperture in the turntable. The tone arm has its free end resting on the vibration transmitter rod for sliding movement, during playback, from the other end of the rod toward its point of contact with the speaker armature.

Abstract: A switch mechanism for a phonograph disposed in an openable and closable casing having a movable contact piece and a pivotally movable pick-up bracket. The contact piece, which is in electrical communication with a source of power, is moved by a pivotally movable pick-up bracket to break the electrical circuit. The switch mechanism, also, includes a switch actuator which pushes the contact piece from the same direction as the pick-up bracket. A pawl is mounted onto the casing and is movable therewithin. When the casing is closed, the pawl pushes the switch actuator away from the contact piece to permit the circuit to be closed.

Abstract: A toy phonograph of the type having an annular outer record, and an inner record arranged concentrically inwardly of the outer record for simultaneous rotation therewith, with the outer record having its grooved top surface disposed slightly higher than that of the inner record. For shifting a reproducing stylus from the outer to the inner record across a spacing therebetween during playback, a shift stylus is carried by a pickup arm at the rear of the reproducing stylus. Shorter than the reproducing stylus, the shift stylus is adapted to ride in a groove in the outer record to permit the reproducing stylus to be carried across the spacing between the records by the pickup arm. The reproducing stylus engages and starts following a groove in the inner record as the shift stylus leaves the outer record.

Abstract: In a phonograph of the type wherein, during playback, a pickup arm travels in sliding contact with an overlying intermediate vibrator for transmission of stylus vibrations thereto, a lever is fulcrumed at its intermediate point on the intermediate vibrator. A constant force is applied to one end of the lever, as by a spring, and the other lever end is urged against a loudspeaker diaphragm rigidly supported by the phonograph casing, so that the vibrations of the intermediate vibrator are transmitted via the lever to the diaphragm to cause same to produce corresponding sound waves. Preferably, the distance between the said other end and fulcrum of the lever is at least equal to the distance between the said one end and fulcrum of the lever.