Video disc stylus retractor

In a system for recovering prerecorded information from a disc record, having a spiral information track thereon, by a track-following stylus when said stylus engages said information track and relative stylus/record velocity is established, a combination comprising:

• a stylus arm having a longitudinal axis and having the track-following stylus mounted at a first end thereof;
• means for yieldably supporting the end of the stylus arm remote from the first end, said means providing pivotal motion of the first end of the stylus arm thereabout;
• means for selectively lowering the stylus to the disc record and lifting the stylus from the disc record including:
• a. a longitudinal member substantially parallel to said stylus arm, said member being pivotally mounted at a first end so that a second end thereof can move in a direction toward and away from said disc;
• b. a flexible filament having first and second ends at least one of which is attached to the second end of the longitudinal member and suspended therefrom, in the form of a catenary and arranged to engage and support in the vertex thereof the stylus arm in proximity to the first end of the stylus arm in cooperation with the longitudinal member;
• c. selectively actuated means for imparting pivotal motion in one direction to the longitudinal member such that said filament is ultimately disengaged from the stylus arm thereby permitting engagement of the stylus and the record, said selectively actuated means providing pivotal motion in another direction to the longitudinal member to cause disengagement of the stylus and the record at selected times.

A cartridge for reception in a carriage mechanism and for supporting a stylus assembly of the type used in recovering prerecorded information contained in a spiral track, disposed on a record disc, by a track-following stylus, comprising:

• a stylus arm having said stylus mounted at a first end and having a second end;
• a generally longitudinal protective enclosure for the stylus arm assembly, said enclosure having an opening through which the stylus arm may protrude;
• means for mounting the second end of the stylus arm in said enclosure in a generally parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure and providing pivotal motion thereabout;
• a rigid member having a first end pivotally mounted to the enclosure in general proximity to the means for mounting the stylus arm and having a second end extending toward the first end of the stylus arm;
• a flexible filament having at least one end attached to the second end of the rigid member, said filament generally hanging in catenary-like form, and arranged for engaging and supporting the stylus arm at a point near the stylus and for normally holding the stylus within the confines of the enclosure.

A cartridge for reception in a carriage mechanism and for supporting a stylus assembly of the type used in recovering prerecorded information contained in a spiral track, disposed on a record disc, by a track-following stylus, comprising:

• a stylus arm having said stylus mounted at a first end and having a second end;
• a generally longitudinal protective enclosure for the stylus arm assembly, said enclosure having an opening through which the stylus arm may protrude;
• means for mounting the second end of the stylus arm in said enclosure in a generally parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure and providing pivotal motion thereabout;
• a rigid member having a first end pivotally mounted to the enclosure in general proximity to the means for mounting the stylus arm and having a second end extending toward the first end of the stylus arm;
• a flexible filament having at least one end attached to the second end of the rigid member, said filament generally hanging in catenary-like form, and arranged for engaging and supporting the stylus arm at a point near the stylus and for normally holding the stylus within the confines of the enclosure;
• a spring for imparting angular motion about an axis, axially mounted concentric with the pivot point of the rigid member, said spring having an extension oriented radially from the pivot point and arranged to releasably engage the rigid member for rotating said rigid member about its pivot point and holding the stylus within the enclosure;
• and
• a rotatable member pivotally mounted to said enclosure in proximity to said spring extension;
• said rotatable member having a first end bearing on the spring extension and a second end partially extending outside the cartridge enclosure, the second end of the rotatable member being arranged to engage and bear on a surface of the carriage mechanism upon insertion of the cartridge in the carriage whereby the rotatable member is caused to rotate and engage the spring extension such that the spring extension is disengaged from the rigid member.