Control device for controlling the movement of pickup arm of record player or the like

Abstract

A control device for controlling the movement of the pickup arm of a record player or the like. This device comprises: a movable member; a motor for driving this movable member; a relative position detecting means for optically detecting the horizontal relative positions of the pickup arm and the movable member and for conrolling, by the output signal of the detecting means, the direction as well as the speed of rotation of the motor to thereby cause the movable member to move while keeping a certain distance from the pickup arm; and a lifter means provided on the movable member and adapted to be actuated at a desired position of the pickup arm for lifting up this pickup arm and holding same at its uplifted positions. This control device will not be brought into mechanical connection with the pickup arm during the period other than the period during which time the device is controlling the movement of the pickup arm. And also, the pickup arm position may be detected through the detection of the position of the movable member, by the use of any desired means, without any interference in the free movement of the pickup arm. Thus, this device never interferes with the free movement of the pickup arm.