A record player with freely pivotable pickup arm

Abstract

The invention relates to record player (1) comprising a turntable (2) for receiving and rotating a record (3), and a tonearm (4) for playing the record. The tonearm has a carrier arm (6) and a pickup arm (7) provided with a record player needle (8). The carrier arm (6) and the pickup arm (7) are pivotally connected to each other at a pivot axis (9) such that the pickup arm is freely pivotable relative to the carrier arm in a plane which is parallel with a record receiving surface (10) of the turntable (2), and when the tonearm (4) is in a position for playing the record (3), the record player needle (8) is arranged downstream the pivot axis (9) with respect to a rotation direction (16) of the turntable (2) and the carrier arm (6) is directed against the rotation direction (16) of the turntable (2).

Description

[0001]$^5(&25'^3 / $<(5 TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a record player comprising a turntable for receiving and rotating a record, and a tonearm for playing the record, wherein the tonearm has a carrier arm and a pickup arm provided with a record player needle. BACKGROUND A record player for vinyl records has a pivotable tonearm provided with a record player needle for playback of a record rotated by a turntable. When the tonearm pivots and the record player needle is moving closer to the centre of the record, the orientation of the record player needle relative to the track of the record will vary. This means that an angular error between the record player needle and the track of the record is created and this in turn has a negative impact on the sound reproduction. Further, the lateral force acting on the record player needle is increased which also degrades the sound as well as contributes to the wear of the record player needle and the record. SUMMARY An objective of the invention is to provide a record player, by which record player a record can be played while providing an improved sound reproduction. The objective is achieved by a record player comprising a turntable for receiving and rotating a record, and a tonearm for playing the record, wherein the tonearm has a carrier arm and a pickup arm provided with a record player needle, and wherein the carrier arm and the pickup arm are pivotally connected to each other at a pivot axis such that the pickup arm is freely pivotable relative to the carrier arm in a plane which is parallel with a record receiving surface of the turntable, and when the tonearm is in a position for playing the record, the record player needle is arranged downstream the pivot axis with respect to a rotation direction of the turntable and the carrier arm is directed against the rotation direction of the turntable. The invention is based on the insight that by such a record player, the pickup arm will be automatically adjusted such that a favourable angle of the record player needle relative to the record can be maintained during playing of the record. As the tonearm is moved over the record, the pickup arm is adjusted due to the force acting on the record player needle caused by the friction between the record player needle and the record when the record player needle follows the track of the record. Hereby, an optimal orientation of the pickup arm, i.e. direction from the pivot axis to the record player needle, relative to a radial direction of the record, can be maintained for providing an optimal record player needle orientation relative to the track of the record, and thereby an improved sound reproduction. Any angular error of the record player needle relative to the track of the record that arises when using a conventional tonearm can be reduced or avoided. In addition, the side force acting on the record player needle is reduced which means that no or a relatively small antiskating force has to be applied. The invention can be applied to various types of record, preferably vinyl records. Usually, the record receiving surface of the turntable is an upper horizontal surface (provided that the record player is properly installed) such that the record is positioned horizontally, which means that the pivot axis for pivoting the pickup arm relative to the carrier arm is vertical and the plane in which the pickup arm is pivotable is horizontal. According to one embodiment of the record player, the pickup arm is freely pivotable relative to the carrier arm about the pivot axis only between a first extreme position and a second extreme position, wherein a pivot interval for the pickup arm is defined by an angular distance between the first extreme position and the second extreme position, and wherein the angular distance is in the range 10-120°, preferably in the range 20-100°. By such a pivot interval, the pickup arm can assume the positions required for the different positions of the carrier arm at the same time as any accidental placement of the record player needle upstream the pivot axis, when the tonearm is positioned on the record, can be avoided. For example, from a start position where the pickup arm and the carrier arm are in parallel, the pickup arm can be pivotable both clockwise and counterclockwise. As an example only, the pickup arm is pivotable 15° in both direction from the start position which corresponds to a pivot interval of 30°. According to a further embodiment of the record player, the pickup arm is arranged at a first end of the carrier arm, and at a second end of the carrier arm, opposite to the first end, the carrier arm is pivotable relative to the turntable about a further pivot axis which is parallel with said pivot axis. Hereby, the tonearm can be moved by pivoting relative to the turntable (and the record) at the same time as the pickup arm can pivot relative to the carrier arm. Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematical view from above showing a record player with a turntable and a tonearm, Fig.2A is an enlarged view of a front part of the tonearm illustrated in Fig.1, Fig.2B is a side view of the tonearm shown in Fig.2A, and Fig.3 is a schematical view showing the geometry of the tonearm for different positions of the tonearm relative to a record rotated by the turntable. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows a record player 1. Although in the following mainly the most relevant parts and components are described, it is stressed that the record player can comprise any further component usually used for record players known by the skilled person. The record player 1 comprises a turntable 2 for receiving and rotating a record 3, and a tonearm 4 for playing the record 3. The turntable 2 is rotatably arranged on a base 5. In Fig. 1, the record 3 is placed on the turntable 2 and the tonearm 4 is arranged in a position for playing the record 3. The tonearm 4 has a carrier arm 6 and a pickup arm 7 provided with a record player needle 8 or pickup. The carrier arm 6 and the pickup arm 7 are pivotally connected to each other at a pivot axis 9 such that the pickup arm 7 is freely pivotable relative to the carrier arm 6 in a plane which is parallel with a record receiving surface 10 of the turntable 2. The surface 10 is usually an upper horizontal surface for receiving the record 3. The plane can be defined by an X-axis and Y-axis of a cartesian coordinate system as illustrated in Fig. 1. The plane is suitably substantially horizontal when the record player 1 is properly installed. By freely pivotable is meant that the pivot position of the pickup arm 7 relative to the carrier arm 6 is only determined by self-centering due to the friction force between the record player needle 8 and the record 3. No lever or link arm system has to be used for guiding the pickup arm 7 to the desired pivot position. Preferably, a first end 11 of the pickup arm 7 is pivotally connected to the carrier arm 6 and at a second end 12 of the pickup arm 7, opposite to the first end 11, the pickup arm 7 is provided with the record player needle 8. Further, the pickup arm 7 is suitably arranged at a first end 13 of the carrier arm 6, and at a second end 14 of the carrier arm 6, opposite to the first end 13, the carrier arm 6 is suitable pivotable relative to the turntable 2 about a further pivot axis 15 which is parallel with said pivot axis 9. In the example embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the tonearm 4 is pivotally arranged on the base 5. As also shown in Fig.1, when the tonearm 4 is in a position for playing the record 3, the record player needle 8 is arranged downstream the pivot axis 9 with respect to a rotation direction 16 of the turntable 2. In other words, the pickup arm 7 with the record player needle 8 will drag behind the pivot axis 9 when the record 3 is rotated. Further, the carrier arm 6 is directed against the rotation direction 16 of the turntable. In other words, the direction from the further pivot axis 15 of the tonearm 4 towards the pickup arm pivot axis 9, can be divided into direction components, where one direction component is directed against the rotation direction 16 of the turntable 2. Since the rotation direction 16 of the turntable 2 (and the record) is clockwise in Fig. 1, and the tonearm pivot axis 15 is arranged to the right of the turntable 2 at the same level as or above a centre line 17 of the turntable 2, this means that the pickup arm pivot axis 9 is positioned on the upper half of the record 3 with respect to the turntable centre line 17 in the example embodiment illustrated in Fig.1. Fig. 2A is an enlarged view of a front part of the tonearm 4. As an example, the pickup arm 7 can be freely pivotable relative to the carrier arm 6 about the pivot axis 9 only between a first extreme position 18 and a second extreme position 19. In Fig. 2A, the pickup arm 7 is positioned in the first extreme position 18 and the second extreme position 19 is indicated by dashed lines. A pivot interval α for the pickup arm is defined by an angular distance between the first extreme position 18 and the second extreme position 19. Such angular distance α can suitably be in the range 10-120°, preferably in the range 20-100°. In Fig. 2, the angular distance is ±30° relative the carrier arm 6, i.e. α=60°. The pickup arm pivot axis 9 can be obtained by a bearing 20, such as a ball bearing, which has low resistance to rotation. The limitation of the pivot interval α for allowing pivoting of the pickup arm 7 only between the first extreme position 18 and the second extreme position 19, can be achieved by stops (not shown) arranged on the pickup arm 7 and / or the carrier arm 6. As shown in Fig. 2B showing the tonearm 4 in a side view, in the vertical direction (Z- direction) the pickup arm 7 is suitably arranged below the carrier arm 6, i.e. between the carrier arm 6 and the turntable 2 (record 3). Fig.3 shows the geometry of the tonearm 4 for some different positions of the tonearm 4 relative to a record 3 rotated by the turntable 2. In a first position, the pickup arm 7 is pivoted counterclockwise relative to the carrier arm 6 by an angle β1. In a second position where the tonearm 4 has been pivoted closer to the centre of the record 3, the pickup arm 7 is parallel to the carrier arm 6. In a third position where the tonearm 4 has been pivoted even closer to the centre of the record 3, the pickup arm 7 is pivoted clockwise relative to the carrier arm 6 by an angle β2. As appears from Fig.3, in all positions of the tonearm 4, the direction from the pivot axis 9 of the pickup arm to the record player needle 8, with respect to a radius 21 of the record 3 (passing the centre 22 of the record 3), can be maintained. This direction is substantially perpendicular to the radius 21 of the record 3 as illustrated. In this way, the orientation of the record player needle 8 arranged on the pickup arm 7 relative to a track 23 of the record 3 can be substantially maintained while the tonearm 4 is pivoting over the record 3 towards the centre 22 of the record 3 when the record 3 is played. As an example only, the position of the further pivot axis 15, the distance between the pivot axis 9 and the further pivot axis 15, and the distance between the pivot axis 9 and the record player needle 8, can be adapted such that a circular arc which the record player needle 8 follows when the tonearm 4 is pivoted, will pass through the centre 22 of the turntable 2. For example, the ratio between the length from the pivot axis 9 to the further pivot axis 15, and the length from the pivot axis 9 to the record player needle 8, can be approximately 6:1, such as lengths 240 mm and 40 mm, respectively. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A record player (1) comprising a turntable (2) for receiving and rotating a record (3), and a tonearm (4) for playing the record, wherein the tonearm has a carrier arm (6) and a pickup arm (7) provided with a record player needle (8), characterized in that the carrier arm (6) and the pickup arm (7) are pivotally connected to each other at a pivot axis (9) such that the pickup arm is freely pivotable relative to the carrier arm in a plane which is parallel with a record receiving surface (10) of the turntable (2), and when the tonearm (4) is in a position for playing the record (3), the record player needle (8) is arranged downstream the pivot axis (9) with respect to a rotation direction (16) of the turntable (2) and the carrier arm (6) is directed against the rotation direction (16) of the turntable (2).

2. A record player according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (9) is vertical and the plane is horizontal.

3. A record player according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pickup arm (7) is freely pivotable relative to the carrier arm (6) about the pivot axis (9) only between a first extreme position (18) and a second extreme position (19), wherein a pivot interval (α) for the pickup arm (7) is defined by an angular distance between the first extreme position and the second extreme position, the angular distance being in the range 10-120°.

4. A record player according to claim 3, characterized in that the angular distance is in the range 20-100°.

5. A record player according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the pickup arm (7) is arranged at a first end (13) of the carrier arm (6), and at a second end (14) of the carrier arm (6), opposite to the first end (13), the carrier arm (6) is pivotable relative to the turntable (2) about a further pivot axis (15) which is parallel with said pivot axis (9).

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