Head Shell Overhang Regulation via Segmented Cylinder Grooves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head shells lack an efficient mechanism for regulating overhang, particularly levelness, which can lead to tracking errors and sound quality degradation, posing challenges for both novice and experienced users due to the need for additional components and complex adjustments.

Innovation Solution

The head shell incorporates a screw guide groove on the cylinder's external surface and a regulating groove on the head shell main body, allowing for precise adjustment of the head shell's position relative to the cylinder, enabling easy and accurate regulation of overhang and levelness through visual alignment of the regulating groove and projection part.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the head shell main body is made movable in both axial and circumferential directions for overhang regulation, then overhang adjustment capability is improved, but the head shell main body rotates easily during regulation causing levelness issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverhang adjustment capabilityVSAvoidlevelness stability during regulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The movable connection between head shell main body and cylinder is segmented into two independent regulatory mechanisms: one for axial movement (overhang regulation) and one for circumferential rotation (levelness regulation). This segmentation allows each function to be controlled separately, preventing interference between the two regulatory operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A levelness regulation mechanism acts as an intermediary between the head shell main body and cylinder, providing controlled circumferential rotation capability. This intermediary ensures that levelness adjustment occurs in a controlled manner rather than allowing free rotation, thereby maintaining stability during overhang regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If visual observation is used for levelness regulation, then no additional components are needed, but regulation accuracy and ease are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of additional componentsVSAvoidlevelness regulation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Visual indicators (such as colored marks or contrasting visual features) are provided on the head shell main body and/or cylinder to enable accurate levelness regulation through visual observation. These visual indicators change position relative to each other during rotation, providing clear visual feedback when the correct levelness alignment is achieved, thereby improving regulation accuracy without requiring external levels or complex additional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Measurement precision

If a level is used for levelness regulation, then regulation accuracy is improved, but the operation becomes troublesome and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelevelness regulation accuracyVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The head shell assembly performs its own levelness regulation through integrated visual indicators that eliminate the need for external levels or specialized tools. The visual indicators are built into the structure, allowing any user to easily regulate levelness through simple visual alignment, thereby achieving high regulation accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Adaptability or versatility

If the head shell main body is movable with respect to the cylinder, then overhang regulation is enabled, but productivity decreases due to additional components and processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverhang regulation capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The overhang regulation mechanism and levelness regulation mechanism are merged into an integrated system where both functions share common structural elements. The movable connection between head shell main body and cylinder serves dual purposes: enabling overhang adjustment through axial movement and levelness adjustment through controlled circumferential rotation. This merging reduces the need for separate independent mechanisms, thereby maintaining productivity while achieving full regulatory capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3736810B1Head shell
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 AUDIO TECHNICA CORP
  • EP3736810B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3736810B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3736810B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A head shell enabling easy and accurate regulation of overhang is provided. Ahead shell is attachable to and detachable from a connector of a tone arm of a record player, and holds a pickup cartridge. The head shell includes a cylinder attachable to and detachable from the connector, a head shell main body held to the cylinder, and a fixing screw capable of fixing the head shell main body to the cylinder. The cylinder includes a cylindrical cylinder external circumferential surface and a groove disposed on the cylinder external circumferential surface along an axial direction of the cylinder. A space is defined between the fixing screw and the groove in a circumferential direction of the cylinder.