Drive control mechanism for a phonograph

An improved drive control mechanism for a turntable of a phonograph having an off position, a 331/3 rpm drive position, and a 45 rpm drive position comprising:

• a drive motor;
• a drive shaft driven by said drive motor and having first and second vertically spaced drive portions of different diameters;
• a rotatable puck interposed between said drive portions and said turntable for selectively drivingly connecting and disconnecting said drive portions to said turntable;
• a fixed platform;
• a control lever slidably movable on said platform and having a first cam surface on one side thereof, a second cam surface on the upper surface thereof, and an elongated slot extending through said lever and said second cam surface, said control lever having a handle for moving said control lever between said off, 331/3 rpm and 45 rpm positions;
• an upwardly extending post secured to said platform and extending through said slot, said post having a shoulder;
• a plate having first, second and third spaced apart portions with said first portion thereof pivotally mounted on said post, said first portion further being interposed between said upper surface and said shoulder;
• an arm having one end rotatably supporting said puck, and its opposite end pivotally connected to said second portion of said plate;
• a cam follower pin depending from said third portion of said plate for engagement with said first cam surface for moving said puck into and out of engagement with said first and second drive portions upon movement of said control lever between said off, 331/3 rpm and 45 rpm positions;
• a cam follower surface on said first plate portion slidably engaging said upper surface of said lever and said second cam surface for raising and lowering said plate and said puck into and out of vertical alignment with said first and second drive portions in timed relation with said in and out movement of said puck upon movement of said lever between said 331/3 rpm and 45 rpm positions;
• a first spring interposed between said post shoulder and said first plate portion for urging said cam follower surface into engagement with said upper surface of said lever;
• and
• a second spring for biasing said puck toward said drive portions and said turntable for drivingly connecting said drive portions to said turntable, and for urging said cam follower pin into engagement with said first cam surface.