US1014606A - Machine for automatically playing pianos and similar instruments. - Google Patents

Description

A. W. NUNN. MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PIANOS AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.7,1900 1,014,606., Patented Jan.9, 1912.

7 SHBETSSHEET l.

\A/ITNEJEE55:

A. "WQNU'NN. MACHINE FOR AUTOMATIGALLY PLAYING PIANOS AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7,1900.

1,014,606. Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

7 SHEETSSHEET- 2.

, A. W. NUNN.

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PIANOS AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7.1900.

17 ,014,606, Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

7 SHEETSSHEET 3.

WITIJEEEES: f i l 1 1:1 I wi iw jawcw l7 4 A. W. NUNN. MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PIANOS AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7 1900.

1,014,606. Patented Jan. :1, 1912.

7 SHEETS-SHBET 4.

MTNESSEEI I 3 INVENTEJF .XMQW

A. WJIUNN. MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PIANOS AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED 1 0v.7,1e0o.

1,014,606,, lgfientsd 5311.9,19l2.

MAW- 125555:

. I --A.rw. NUNN. I nmnm: ron mrom'rmnn PLAYING'PIANQS-AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS.

. APPLICATION FILED n0v.7,'19oo I 1 Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

7 SHEETSSHEBT 6 MAT-N55555:

.v W. NUNN. I MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLAYING PIANOS AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7,1900.

1,014,606. Patented Jan-9, 1912.

"/IIII V .lumn 1 w \A/ITIJESEEEH UNITED s'rATEs PATENTOFFICE.

ALFRED W. NUNN, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO ALFRED W. NUNN,

OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND CHARLES MASSACHUSETTS, TRUSTEES.

D. L YFOR-D, 0F WATERTOWN.

MACHINE ron AUTOMATICALLY BLAIYIIINGIPIANOS AND: SIMILAR xnsrnumnn'rs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED VViLLIAM' NUNN, a subject of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, now residing in Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Automatlcally Playing Pianos and Similar Musical.

The invention relates to the herein described improvements in machines or .devices for automatically play ng pianos, or-

gans and similar musical instruments.

The" object of the invention is to provide a complete machine or apparatus which shall not only have a superior construction and desirable arrangement of its working parts with respect to' each other and a ready accessibility to them or such of them as need most frequent inspection, adjustment or re pair, but also means bywhich the machine or apparatus as a whole is made adjustable 'to the key-board of any piano without re-v quiring any change or theremoval of any part of the piano or of the machine, and this is true as to all pianos of the market, up-

right, grand and square. v Another ob'ect of the invention is to provide means for varying the expression or striking .force of the strikers or fingers by changing at will the power applied to groups of fingers, preferably the bass and treble ranges.

Other features of my invention will be understood from the description below given and the claims.

I will now describe the invention in detail in connection with the drawings where y Figure l is a view principally in front elevation, portions of the frame and easing of the machine being removed in places to illustrate parts behind the same. Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation, parts of the frame and casing being removed to show portions of the machine in front of them. Fig. ,3 is a vertical section upon the dotted line of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a; view in plan. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views to represent port ons of the music feed and rewinding devices.

-by side.

- Fig. 7 is a view in plan of the well of the Fig. 8" is a View in section and elebellows. vation of an improved take-up roll. -Fig. 9 1s a view-in cross sectionupon the dotted line 9-9 of Fig. 8. Fig, 10 is an enlarged detail in section, showing the valves and thelr arrangement in the r respective chambers. Fig. 1 1 is an enlarged perspective of one of the pneumatic motors. Fig. 12

an enlarged perspective of one of/the strikers, a portion Of ltS strikmg arm being broken away, and Fig. 13 a section showing v the means of connection of the striker with its support. Fig. 14 is an enlarged horizontal section of the'chamber e shown in Fig.

10, two of these chambers being'shown side ,In a general Way the machine follows the operation of the machines of the market upon which the invention is an improve ment and which use pneumatic motors for operating the key-strikers, a tracker-board and a perforated paper music strip or web for controlling the action of the motors. Referring to the dra'wings:A is the tracker-board. It is mounted at or near the upper-corner ofthe main channel-board to extend diagonally forward from it. It has the usual. wind channels or ways a extending through it to 'itslower end and the curved upper surface a over which the .op-

eratingpaper strip or web A is fed. The

wind channels are connectedwith'the pri-' mary valves by means of the rubber tubes or flexible pipes or in the usual way. The

operating paper web is carried by tjh'e'roll.

Patented Jan. 9,1912; Application filed November 7, 900. Serial No. 35,715.

A mounted onsuitab le' stands back of the tracker-boardand in the usual way and it 1 is drawn and taken up by the take-up spool A mounted in front of" below the tracker-board and below'the'iipper surface of the channel-board. This-arrangement of tracker-board, roll and'take-upis a desirableone because .itreduces the height of the I machine. The take-up spool is operated in A .the usual way from the wind or other motor,

the connection being by means of the gear a on the take-up spool shaft, pinionafithe shaft a the sprocket wheel a, sprocket chain a sprocket wheela on a shaft a driven by the wind motor. This is the usual method of turning the take-up spool but any other equivalent mechanisl'n may be used for operating it with this exception that the piniona. is loose on its shaft instead of bemg fixed to it and for the purpose of pergutting the sameshaft to be used in rewindingthepaper upon the original. roll in this manner: The shaftbears a sprocket wheel a- (see Fig. 5) which is loose upon it.

Both it and the pinion a have members of a clutch upon their Opposing faces represented -m thls instance as provided by projecting pins. Between them on the shaft is a section e of aclutchmovable lengthwise the shaft but keyed to the shaft to be turned by it. This clutch. has 'two clutch faces a 'and afl-one of which. is adapted to engage the clutch of the pinion a when moved into contact with it andthe other to engage the clutch of the sprocket wheel (1 when moved int'o contact with it. The movement of the clutch into. engagement with one moves it When moved into engagement with the" sprocket out of engagement with the other.

- wheel the sprocket wheel is caused to revolve and to turn the sprocket chain which connects it with the sprocket wheel on the rewinding mechanism, (see Fig. 5). The

't2lk6-l1p spool is of ordinary construction cesses in the core, a, e the friction springs any part.

excepting that the end-sections or sleeves, which aremovable lengthwise the core for the purpose of adjustment to paper varying in width, are held in their adjusted positions upon the core by friction springs which are attached to the core, extend lengthwise the core in a recess therein and havetheir free ends bent inward into an inwardextension of the recess. The spring is shaped to exert an upward pressure against the inner surface of the sleeve and thereby holds it from slipping on the core while it permits it to be readily moved upon the core in either direction and without releasing or operating In the drawings (1 a represent the sleeves, a the core, a", e the-re- .containedii-n said recesses, the end a or" each being fast to the core, the end a of each being free and the section a of each bearingagainst the inner surface of its re spective sleeve with any desired stress.

Before describing the valve action I will describe the general arrangement of the channel-boards and primary and secondary valves, fingers, finger supports and the pneumatic motors with respect to each other.

B is the main channel-board. This is Vertically arranged near the front of the machine in front of the vertical arms of the strikers,below the upper level of the strikers B and which extends horizontally fromand above the primary and sccondaryvalve chambers. The channel-board may be said tp .be in two parts or sections, viz: the vertical partwhich I have lettered B and the horizontal part which T have lettered near the top of the verticahpart. These sections of the channel-board inclose on the front and top a space or chamber B in which are arranged the pneumatic motors for operating the key strikers or fingers, the top section of said channel board being removable in order that the motors and fingers may be easily accessible in case of need ful repair. 1 The strikers have a right angular shape, one arm horizontally extending backwardfrom their pivotal point and the other arnrextending downward from the pivotal point back of the pneumatic motors.

In the drawings C represents the angular strikers or fingers, c the. horizontal, backward extending arms having the striker ends or projections 0 'upontheir under surfaces; 0 is the downward vertical arm- .of

each striker. Each striker is independently pivoted to an individual support C which is detachably secured to the section B of the channel-board by a screw. 0 A port-ion of each support bears on the top of the channel-board section Bahd a portion forms a shoulder ctwhich bears'against the back edge of the channel-board and each support is slotted to provide a recess for receiving the finger and a supporting arm upon each side thereof, (see Figs. 12 and 13). Each striker and its support are together indef' pendently removable from the channel board by simply unscrewing the fastening screw 0 They are so shaped, arranged and mounted upon the upper surface of the channel-board as ,to be accessible without the removal of any part of the machine.-

represents the pneumatic motors, E the line of primary valve chambers, valves and diaphragms and F the line of secondary valve chambers and valves.

Fig. 3 well shows the arrangement and relation of both sections of the channelboard, the strikers, the pneumatic motors,

the primary valves and the secondary valves 1 with respect to each other, the top ofthe.

machine, its back, its front and the reservoirs, and clearly represents theircompact compass and relation to each other and accessibility.

, The pneumatic motors D are attached to' the machine in the following way: The front line is attached to the back side of the ver tical section B of the channel-board and also from ordinary motors in that theyare smaller and yet have the same compess or capacity and power. This result is I obtained-because the two sides of' each-motm are connected at their hinged end by a .soi leather ior flexible. hinge which is attached to the inu er surfacesof the sides and the whole is-the i covered bya leather'or flexible covering, (see Fig..11).' This pro 1 0 vid'es a construction in which no part of the leather covering is'between the sides of the;

- motor at any t1me and th'e'sides can therefore be. closed completely; ;together and the entire capacity of themotorcan be em-' arm of the striker by a pull rod 01 attached atone end to the moving side of the motor and at its other end to the lower end of the finger, (see Fig. 3). There are three different-- lengths of rods, the front motors 189 lrequiring,of course, longer rods, the second if line rods of intermediate length and the back .line the shortest lengths. The ex- Jkaustion ofair from the motors actuates the fin ers'by causing the'fsides of the motors 8H0 e-moved to the fixed sides and thereby 'the'de pending arms of the strikers lforwar d. The return of air to the motors finger rm in a manner to permit it to be slipped downward and disengaged from the arm without removing the adjusting or stop nuts on the'rods. It will be understood that i the back end of each. rod is threaded and carries two nuts, (see Fig. 3) one of which bears against the front face of the finger arm and the other against the back face Qthe'rebfThe front end of each rod is se-.

.-cured to the motor in-the same way. To A permit this downward removal of the rod from the finger arm, thefinger arm is provided with a slot 0 (see Fig. 12) in its lower end opening downward. Each slot 0 1s made slightly less in width than the diameter of the connecting rod cl, a circular enlargement q" being rovided in the slot to give the rods (1 a-sllght transverse play.

By this construction the rods d may be readily inserted and removed from the a e represents the diaphragm chamber-with 'whlch each wind-way of the tracker-board is causes: the movable sides to assume their ,air and to open. the port fingers o andjthe analogous construction on the motors-without removing thefff-nuts by springingends of the fingers slightly so as to widen. he slot 0' and release the connecting rod from the circular enlargement, the rod," o f course, being of proper diameter to'slide easily out from the slot. The fingers are movedbackward against the stop rail c 'which keeps the fingers inline'and'at a proper height with regard to'the keys of the piano." 1' I will now describe the primary valves, valve chambers and diaphragms and manner of their operation i freely and at all times connected b'y'apassage in the connecting tube (see Figsifiand e is a flexible diaphragm in' thel'diaphragm. chamber; the diaphragm chamberis, oblong in shape, being wider fro m front to back than from side to side and the" diaphragm is of corresponding 7 shape.' 'It' is attached to the upper end of thejvalvespindle e which carries the valves 0 ef'contr'olling respectively the. ports 6 and e of the channel 6 The chambers,[ftand E are vacuum chambers, each belng connected with the exhaust mechanism below described.

The operation of the 'valve so far "is this Vhen a wil'id-passage aof the trackerboard is open the ingoing atmosphere presses the diaphragm e downward causing the upper valve to close thepo'rte between it and the channel a and to open the port-e between the channel 67 and the outer air anda't the same time to slightly compress the spring 6 (see Fig. 10).- This restores atmospheric pressure in the channel "6 which 1 5 raises the diaphragm f of the secondary valve f thereby causing the said valve tobe moved-upward to open the port f be tween the secondary air chamber f and the channel f leading to the pneumaticmotor and closing the port f to the outer air thereby putting the pneumatic motor in communication with the vacuum chamber f through the said channel and the connec tions from said channel with the motor, the said channel connecting at points f f with the. front line of motors ancliat pointsf with the second line of motors and at 'pointsf? with the third line of motors. Vhen, hoyy ever, a wind-way of the tracker-boardhis.120

.both sides of the diaphragm e and permits the spring 0 tomove the diaphragm and valverods and valvesupward to close the: lower port e of the channel 6; to the outen 6 between said channel and the primary air chamber. The closing of the port 6 of the channel 6 to the outer air and the opening ofthe connection The primary air chamber E is connected 4 with the mam reservoir G by, means of the conducting passages g, in" the pipes 9 one at each end of the air chamber and which. extend to a vertical conductor opening at its lower end by a horizontal-passage into the main reservoir. The secondary air chamber f? is connected with both the main reservoirG and the reservoir G as follows with the main reservoir G by means of the channel H (see Fig. 2); the openings between this channel and the air chamber f are controlled by means of two slide valves H H One of the openings connects with the portion of the apparatus which operates the treble range of fingers only and the other with the portion of the apparatus which operates the bass fingers only.

: It should be understood that the second ary air chamber is in two parts, being separat-edby a partition X at or near the center.

of its length or upon a line to correspond with the line of division between the treble register and the bass register. By moving the valve H that portion of the secondary air chamber which connects with the motors operating the treble register is connected with the main reservoir G; by movingthe slide H that portion of the secondary air chamber which connects with the motors which operate the bass register of fingers is connected with the main reservoir." Both passages may be opened at the same time connecting the main reservoir to all the motors and both passages may be closed. The extent of the vacuum will vary, of course, according to the extent of movement of the slide and the consequent variations in the areas of the ports. It is more perfect, of

course, when the passages are wide open.

The reservoir G? in which the vacuum is lighter is connected by means of the as sage g with a chamber .9 which opens into the secondary air chamber. This chamber 9 is arranged to span the 'line of division between the two sections of the secondary air chamber and ,connect with both by means of-two holes 9, one for eachsection,

one of which holesas shown in Fig. 3. Each (if-these holes hasf-amheekvalve g .which is the base J, (see Fig.

'ber- J but not being connected w operated by variations in pressure so that when stronger vacuum is employed upon motor and wind engine may be used. The

reservoirs, however, have important improvements and also the bellows which operate them.

Each of the three reservoirs'G, G G has a fixed, flat, stationary base J of the full size of the reservoir. It also has a movable flat top j which is adapted to be moved toward and from the base J. It is provided with flexible, air tight sides j and with passages 7' through the base J by means of which the'chamber of each reservoir is'ex. hausted of air by the exh'aust'bellows K, K As there are 'three reservoirs represented there are shown three sets of passages j in 7). It will be understood that one set communicates with the reservoir Gr, the second with the reservoir G and the third with the reservoir G The base J torni's the top of an air chamber J which is common to all the reservoirs. The reservoir G is ce nnected with the passage H by means of the passages j extending through the base J and the horizontal passage 7' in the air chamber J the said passage 7' being contained in the ai that the reservoir G reaches their. by means of passages 7' j. Th G? is connected with the passage;

Fig. l) by means of'the passages"; in the base J- and the passage 7' contained in the air. chamber J (see Fig. 7). By making the reservoirs of the shape and construction described their capacity is doubled, that is, as compared with the ordinary type of reservoir which is hinged at one side. This is due to the fact that the entire movable side or top moves the same distance with regard to the 'base. so that all port-ions of the reser voir within it are of equal capacity. This permits the-reservoirs to be arranged horizontally near the base of the apparatus and to thus economize space and is one. of the means by which 'it becomes possible to obtain the compact arrangement of motors, channels and strikers above described.-

It will be understood that in operation air 1 is drawn from the reservoirs by the bellows and thatthe reservoirs act to operate the motors by drawing air from the connecting channels and that this action of the reservoirs is obtained by the use of springs which are compressed by the bellows and which act to 'distend the reservoirs jand cause them to suck or draw air-from the channels. The reservoir :6: owes its power to the 'fact that its springs are heavier than those used in the light reservoirs. -Any type of. spring for accomplishing this purpose may be used and I have represented in Fig. 1 the spring J 2 which is a common form of spring only more powe' Jul than is usually employed jfOI this purpose. In order-that m the reservoirs G, G may be shut of]? from the effect of the heavypressure caused in exhausting the heavy reservoir I have provided all the movable tops 7' of the reservoirs G G with the valve J upon their under surface and which valve is adapted to be moved against the base J and close the outlets or passages j so that when the said reservoirs G, G are in actiontheir tops are drawn down to the base, their pastion between their chambers with the high pressure reservoir G. not used there would be no difference 1n the pressure of the threev reservoirs. I have embodied the same principle of construc:

tion in the bellows and for. the same reasons, toincrease their capacity without increasing their area and to economize space.

The top' 70 of each bellows is the bottomboard of the air chamberJ able bottom of each bellows and k is the flexible side and end walls. Vertical movement is gn en to each bottom by means. of the pedals 16 one for each 'bellows, pivoted at In? to the base of the machine and bearing a airst an anti-friction roll 70 at the outer eiid of a rock-lever 10 which is pivoted at 76'.

Each rock-lever is connected with the movable bottom of-the bellows by a connecting rod 10 (see Fig. 3.). A spring 70 acting through the leverla pivoted at 70 and operating against the rock-lever serves to return the bottom to its highest or normal position as well as to return the pedals.

The operation of this'part of the machine is as'follows: The operator by his feet works the pedals k 70 up and down and causes the air to be exhaustd'trom the reservoirs, the I reservoirs G power is by v power'approximating the light and fromheavy to light as may be desired. Qf course the bellows are connected with the air chamber J in the usual way I have provided the machine with means for vertical adjustment. This is accomplished by means of the threaded spindles m upon the lqwer ends of which are mounted ing mechanism,

sion, the lever N 'sagesj? are closed and there is no connec- If these valves were chamber with the airchamber-1?] in Fig. 10, but is not shown in l igv3 'because.,

.1 .90 that by the ia'rrange'rnent,-, of the fingers or strikers, their wind-motors is the mov- G to be, practically closed and 1 the passages connecting them with the bellows shut as aboveexplained. This pro acts as itis required by the use of the con-,

these valves graduated from a the caster. rolls They are attached to 1 each corner of theframe of the machi'neby brackets'm and m?. The bracket .m?=-holds-- a worm-nut m :having an'int'erior threadg through which the threaded-.1spindle'mgex tends. The worm-nut is'turnedby'a worm:

m whichengages the "worm andis'iadapted' to -'-be t i1 rned from outside the, ease-byga Wrench. 51 prefer to couple'th'e twospindles'.

at. eachlend together 'by the common .worm'w rosettes.

Sh ft m operating (W0 WOI1I1S, one

lnFig.

time of the music-feeding engine,v,the levers,

,1 the levers Nb rilaa the i-ev ialis-f the Clever-1 1 N 1 controls the N N control the bass'and trebleexpres-;-

pression levers, are of the ordinary :type a l are connected inthe ordinary way;

, controls the: operation or: the loud pedal; of thepiano. =Thesi'e' .l evers-w and connections, excepting, o.f;.c'ourse-,;the err- The by-pass connecting the passage is so sm'alL'.

-'It will be seen is i ShQWIlZZ and the air-exhausting devices with relation to each other an unobstructedspacebelow the strikers is obtained "ofsuch extent and;

size that the machine is adapted to be moved I into operativerelation withthekeys of-fany piano wthout requiring that any part of thej. piano be removed or cut away to permit to be accomplished. This is dueto thepe culiar arrangement of the operative parts:

of the machine with respect to each, other, a

In Fig. 3 I have'shown means ,fofiadjust ing the position both vertically zontally of the connecting-device which actu ates. the pedal of the piano. v

Having thus fully described inven-. A

tion, I claim and desire tosecureby' Letters y Patent of the United States 1.-. In a machine for playing 'pia'n other musical instruments, the key-s 1k Wing aneuhrly arrang d.Withjfre: I

other and p'lvoted t or spect to each their point'of divergence in a manner; to j causethe striking armsjto'extend ba ward horizontally, and the power-receivin 'arms to extend downward vertica1ly,.'in com-j f bination with a series of pneumati'c'm otors,"

one for. each key front of its striker with'its..movab1 ,gid

striker, each located in r 12c toward thevertical arm of said striker, 'andl a rod connecting each-motor with its sftriker,' and means for operating saidmotor, by each motor will pull its,str1ker to cause its action upon the piano key, as described."

her

2. In a machine for playing pianos'jand pneumatic motors I the like, the combination of a channel board having a horizontal portion; a series of I supported fromi the under scribed. 3. In amachine for playing pianos or the:

nel board, a series of strikers having arms angularly arranged with respect to each other, each striker being separately pivotally mounted upon the rear edge of, said channel board, its horizontal striking' arm extend ing rearward and its vertical arms extending downward substantially parallel with said pneumatic motors, a rod connecting each motor with its striker, and ,means whereby like, the combination with a tracker board and paperrolls, of a supporting rail located in rear of said tracker board and paper rolls,

.a series of independent striker supporters,

one for each striker mounted on the upper rearward surface of said rail, each having an exposed movable fastener for attaching one of said strikers thereto, and exposed movable fastener for attaching said supporter to'said rail, whereby each separate striker maybe reached and removed without removing either of the others and with out interfering with said tracker board and paper rolls, as described.

- 4. In a machine for playing pianos and other musical instruments, in combination with a tracker board and. paper rolls, a supporting rail located in rear of said'tracker board and paper rolls, a series of striker supports each having two projecting portions between which and to which a striker may be pivoted, a striker pivoted to each support, and a'series of pneumatic motors located in front of said strikers,'and'means connecting said strikers to said motors whereby the action of each motor upon said strike the riker will cause said striker to "no key, as described.

In amachine for playing pianos and ther musical instruments, a channel board,

;- -and a series of striker supports each having "a seat to rest upon the upper surface of said I channel board, and a shoulder to bear against an edge ofsaid channel board, and

-means for attaching said supportto said channel board whereby said support is held against said channel board and prevented from moving laterally thereon, in combination wlth a series of strlkers each striker be ing supported in its support, and means whereby each striker is operated, and a tracker board and its paper rolls, said tracker board and paper rolls being located in front of the rear edge of. said channel board, whereby each striker may be reached without disturbing said tracker board and rolls, as described.

6. In a machine for playing pianos and the like, the combination of a rail, a striker support having a seat and shoulder forfitting said rail and mounted thereon, means for attaching it to said rail, said seat and shoulder preventingsaid support from movlevel of said rail, ,and a each motor is operated as dea the like,

.;.;.having a horizontal portion, a tracker board projecting diagonally from the front edge ing about a center, said support having arms forming. a recess toreceive a portion striker and extending downwardbelo striker pivoted said arms below the level of said rail whereby the upper edge of the striking end of said striker isbrought onto substantially a horizontal level with the upper edge of said rail, as and for the purposes described.-

' 7. In a machine. for playing pianos and the combination of a channel board thereof, twopal, side of said tracker roll being mounted tion of said channel" board and in front of its rear edge, and a series of strikers mounted on the rear edge of said channel board, said tracker board, said upper music roll, said channel board and said line of strikers forming the upper portion of said machine 1 whereby the line of strikers is exposed, easy of access for repairs and the like, as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a machine for playing pianos and other musical instruments, the combination of a-channel-board or rail at the top of the machine, a line of horizontal striker supports attached to the upper surface of the channel-board or rail and'extending backward horizontally therefrom, each of which supports is made accessible without the removal of any fixed covering device, and a line of strikers pivoted to said supports.

9. In a machine for playing pianosand the like, the combination of a channel board having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion arranged to form a motor-holding chamber in front of the strikcrs, the motors contained in said chambers and strikers arranged in rear of said motors and connecting devices connecting said strikers with said motors, whereby the movement of each motor will be communicated in a horizontal line with its striker to cause the striking end of said striker to make a vertical movement, as set forth.

10. In a machine for playing pianos and the like, the combination of channel boards arranged in angular relation to each other to form a motor-holding chamber in front of the strikers, a series of strikers pivotally mounted upon the rear edge ofthe horizontal portion of said channel board, a series of motors located parallel with the vertical portion of said channelboard and suspended from the horizontal portion of said channel off channel-boards: arranged in an angular" relatlo'nte each, other to form amotor-hold- 'ing chamber,- a., series of motors contained 'IIL'SaIdI chambenandna series of str kers located in reanofsaid motors, a-series of horizontal pull rods each connecting a-.mo-.

tor. with one hof said strikers, whereby a movement. of-the .rear face of eachmotor. give a: forward actuatingmoyementto itsst-rikenas and-tor the purposes described. 122 jIn-a machine for playing pianos and the like,--in combinatioma support, a line' ofstrikers mounted on said support, a-series of 'motors arranged .in parallellines and suspendedfromthe under side of said support,

, each motor being connec'tedwith one of said 'strikers,and a channel board having aver-v -'ti'calport on located in frontof said motors f and --"means for pneumatically connecting said channel board with said motors, a's de--' f 1311 In a machine forplaying pianos and other musical instruments. the combination of 'a channel-board "vertically. arranged near:- the"upper' part of the machine, a channel-:

board" e t-endin'g' backward horizontally.

from the mnerside of the verticalchannelboard'at or' n'ear it s top, strikers carried by. saidc'lastna'm ed or horizontal channelboard, rails below said last-named or hori." 'z'ontal channel-board carrying motors, mo tors"carrie'd u' on the backside of said firstnamed or vertical channel-board,thje strikers strikers;

. andconne'ctioiisEbetween then otors and theas. 14; In a machine for playing pianos and 1 other" musical instruments,'- the combination int channel-boards disposed-in the upper partot the 'mach'ne to. form a motor-holding chamber open at its back and in line with the strikers',' the strikers, motors contained Y infsaid chamber' with their hinged ends.up

permol't and means connecting the lower ends of their movable sides with the strikers.

15. In a machine for playing pianos and other musical instruments, thecombmatlon .of an angularstriker, a support'for thesa me 'disposed tolhold'the, striker with one arm extending backward horizontally and one ,arm extending downward vertically and amotor in front of the vertical arm haying. its hinged. end uppermost and means con necting z-its movable "arm of thestriker.

nether-musical instruments,- the combination side with fthe vertical 16.. In a machine forplayingpianos and of a striker, a support for the same disposed to-hold the striker with a'narm' extending backward ,horizontaly,

and a motor having its: hinged end uppermost, .and means con-I necting its movable side with said Striker, as setfortln i I 17'. .Ina machine for playing pianos and the like, inrombination with a trackerboard and paper rolls, a-rail located 111 rear of said tracker. board and paper rolls, series of, str 1ker supports' .located on the upper side thereof, a series. of strikers each pivotally mounted in one of said supports, and I .havlng .anoperating. arm depending therefrom,-aseries of. pneumatic motors located intfront oftheoperating arms-of said strikers each havlnga depending arm in line with the 7 operating arm of one of. said strikers,

the operat ng garm of each strikerbeing. slotted at its lowerend, a rod connecting.

the operating-arm of' cach striker with its motor, apa r of clamping nuts located on said rod, one on each side of said operating arm adaptedto clamp said rod to said operating arm whereby the loosening of the means of connection between any of said striker'arms andfsa'id-rail and ofgone or both' of its clamping nu-ts will, enable said striker to be. removed .from' said machine without'interfering with said tracker board,

said rolls, or said' 'motors, as described. 1 l8. In.a.machine for playing pianos andthe like, the. combination ota pivoted striker having-a vertical operating arm, a motor. located in front otsaid striker hinged at one -"end,.said' hinged end being in substantially thesame horizontal plane with the pivot-of ,said.striker,- its movable side being provided with an arm projecting from ts lower: edge having a longitudinal its length and having a circular enlargement betaeen its ends, in combination with a'n operatiug ,rod having a diameter slightly greater than =the-width ofsaid slot passing slot of substantially equal width throughout i through said slot and having upon it a pair of said arm and adapted to bind said rod thereto, the otherend of said rod being connected to the operating arm. of said striker,

o f --clampin{. nuts one located on each side and. means for operating said motor, as and forthe purposesdescribed.

"1 9.'In a mach ne forplayingipianos andthe like, the combination; of a rail, lines of pneumatic 'motors, means for supporting from their upper ends, said means lying in substantially the .same plane said motors,

with .said rail, asries of strikers pivotally mounted on said. rail, and connections between the. motors and str1kers, eachmotor linesj'with theirhinged ends uppermost and in iront of the strikers with the strikers hav-- ing vertiral .-;rms parallel wit the motors and horizontal connection. co necting the 10 en ends of the arms with the lower end or the motors. I

21. In amachine for playi os and other musical instruments, the combma l n of channel-boards, the lines of pneumatic motors vertically arranged with their hinged ends uppermost upon one side of one of the '20 corners of said channel-hoard, and one of said rolls being located belowsaid tracker board; and the other horizontally in line with it, as and for the purposes described.

-23. In' amachine for playing pianos and the like, a combination of the tracker board,

pneumatic motors, exhausting devices,a series of diaphragm chambers connected with I said tracker board, a primary air chamber located thereunder, a series of primary diaphragmseach separating said primary air chamber from one of saiddiaphragmchambers, a secondary air chamber loc'ated on the same level with said primary air chamber and the rear thereof, a series of channels 10- cated below said primary and secondary air" chambers and. connected to said primary air chamber, a series of secondary diaphragms each separating one of said channels from said secondary air chamber, and a series of '40 motor channels connecting said secondary air chamberwith said motors, a series of primary valve structures each carried by one of said primary diaphragms and comprising a valve closing an opening between -said primary air chamber and one of said first named channels and asecond valve closing an opening between. said first named channel and the atmosphere, and a series ofsecondary valve structure's each carried by one of said secondary diaphragms and comprising a valve located above it closing an opening between said secondarylair chamber'and a motor channel and a second valve closing an opening between said motor channel and the atmosphere all arranged together and operating as described.

24. In a machine for playing pianos and other musical instrmnents, the combination of the strikers having striking arms extendeo ing. backward horizontally, and operating I arms extending downward vertically,- a "channel-board, said strikers beingpivoted thereto at the junction of said striker and operating arms, pneumatic motors support- ,65 ed from the undersideof'said channel-board;

- a t and in front of said operating arms, and connections between said motors and said oper-- ating arms, whereby the strikers are caused to have striking impulses by a drawing action upon said operating arms, and are lifted by a pushing movement against saidarms,

In a machine for playing pianos and the like, a channel board having a horizontal section and a vertical' section, a series of strikers mounted on the rear edge of said horizontal section and havihg a horizontal striker arm extending rearward, a-vertical power arm extending downward,--a serles of;

pneumatic motors hangmg from the under ,sidefiofsaid horizontal sectlon of said channel board infront of the line of strikers,

each placed with its movable side toward the line of strikers, a, series of connecting rods each connecting the movable side of one of said motors with-its striker, and'a' stop raillocated in rear of the lower ends of said strikers, whereby each movement of each motor will be communicated-to its striker and said stop will serve not only to limit the rearward movement of the p'ower"90 arm .of thestriker, but also the opening movement-of the motor, as set forth.

26. In a machine for playing pianos and other musical instruments, the. combination of the channel-boards arranged in two sec- '95 tions, one horizontal, the other vertical, said sections beingconnected with each other, a

series of strikers pivotally connected to the upper .rear edge of the horizontal section of a said channel-board, pneumatic motors a r-- I00 ranged below said horizontal section of said channel board and between its verticalsection and said strikers, connections betweensaid pneumatlc motors and said strikers, and v pneumatic means for operating said motors,

as and for the purposes described. a 27. In a machine for playing pianos and the like, the combination of a primary and secondary air-chamber located side by side,

said secondary'air-chamberbeing provided with a series ofopenings closed by d1aphragms adapted to operate valves connected. therewith, said opemngs each lead ng to a channel connecting said secondary airchamberwith said primary air-chamber, a series of diaphragm chambers, a series of diaphragmsseparating] said "diaphragm chambers from said primary ainchamber, a series of openings-each. leading from said primary air-chamber to said channel and 1,20

controlled by a valve connected with one of saidv diaphragms, two sets of channels, one leading from said secondary air-chamber to feed the motors, the other leading to the tracker board, a series of motors located in rear of said channels, a channel board, a series of strikers mounted uponthe rear side of the upper portion of said channel board,

and a tracker board mounted upon the front side of said channel board, all as described. 1:30

23. Ina machine for pIaying pianos and other musical instruments, the combination of a, asewhavlng an air chamber whichis connected with the air chambers of..the machineby passages,.two air-exhausting reservoirs connected with the chamber in the base and by separate passages with the said' airchambers of the machine, air-exhausting devices for operating both exhausting reservoirsfand-avalvecarried by one ofthe eitreservoirsadapted to close achan nel connecting it with the other exhausting reservoir when the pressure thereon exceeds in front of them, the air channels, passages and valves arranged immediately below them, the said operativeparts of the device being contained in the upper portion of.

.the machine, one or more airreservoirs and one or more exhausting bellows, one arranged over the other and each having sides or ends which are movable uniformly throughout their extent from their base or support. I v v w 31, In a machine for playing pianos and other musical instruments, the combination of the air-exhausting bellows, its movable side, all the -parts of which are uniformly movable with respect to its base and means for moving the side comprising a lever, a 6 link connecting the lever with the movable side and a pedal, the upper end of which is supported with a moving contact by said 1ink,.its lower end being hinged to the base of the machine, whereby the lower the, pedal is depressed the nearer sald link s brought to the hinge of said pedal, asdescribed. v

32. In a machine for playing pianos -and other musical instruments, thecombination 56 of the fingers or strikers, thepneumatic.

- .motors arranged in front of the fingers or strikers, the channel-boards arranged above and in front of the motors, the upper board being removable to provide accessibility to 60 the pneumaticmotors.

33. In a machine for playing pianos and the like, an angular channel board having a horizontal top portion and a vertical front ortion, a series oflprimary valves mounted 6 6 just below said channel-board, each carry- 29.7111 aemachine playing pianos. and

.jscribed.

illlg a d rhreg a tr r boa-e andta a rles ,of wind passages each connectingisaid tracker with one of said. diaphragms,said diaphragms being supported ,in thehase oi] the vertical port1on of said channel-board W and in thedfront of said machine, and iiijr. single line, whereby "they .are'rendered easily: accessible, as and for the purposes 1 ascribed. 1, Z i,

34. In a machine 'for'playingj -pianos and; a

the like,- a'series of strikers suitably sup,

ported and located in line, a series of pneu matic motors located in two or more tiers in; front of said strikers whereby each "motor lies in front ofits ownstriker, primary and secondary air H chambers. locatedbelow 7 said pneumatic I motors in the same horizontal plane, a series of diaphragmehambers, and 'Valve controlling diaphragms rectangular in shape arranged horizontally in-the same plane and having theirgreatest diameters crosswise the line Iupon ,which,they are a r-a ,ranged, each diaphragm (:arrying'a'primaryvalve, and each I-diaphragm lying in 'subj-Q stantially thesame vertical plane with", of said strikers, means for operatingijjeach f diaphragm, whereby motion is communi cated to the valves connected therewith and air passages-provided with openings co trolled by said valves" .whereby the motion of each diaphragm causes theope'ration of one of 'said motors and its striker ia's'de 35.- Ina machine'for pianos-and 'thelike, a channel board having a horizon 1% tal section and a vertical section, and a tracker, jboard projecting. cornerwise from the junction of said sections of saidjcha'nn t 1 board, two paper rolls, onelocated on biacli' side of said tracker board and in close pro?" eggs, imity thereto, a series of strikers arranged along the rear edge ofisaid channel board,

a series of pneumatic motors, arranged upon the underside of the hori? )ntal'section' of said channel board and' in front of said 11 strikers, aseries of diaphragm chambers located in line upon'the fart-her side of the vertical section of said channel. board from said strikers, a series of di aphragms eachdiaphragm' closing one side of its Elia-" 5 36. In a machinefor playing pianos and 12 5 the like, aseries of angular striking fingers.

each having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, a' series of "pneumatic motors, located infront of said-strikers, and a stop located at' the lower extremity of said striklso 2.5 with the pneumatic motors, its exhaust pasersand adapted to engage with all of them, alharranged together, substantially as described, whereby there is an unobstructed I space below the horizontal portions of said fingers of sufliclent extent to anowvsaid fingers to project over the key-board of the Plano, and said stop to project under said key-board, for the purposes set forth.

g 37 In a machine for playing pianos and other musical instruments, the combination of'the fingers or strikers, the pneumatic motors, a sectional air chamber, channels c011- i'necting it with the motors, air exhaust reser- -voirs of different powers connected with sections of said air chamber, the lesser of which exhausts automatically and the greater of whichexhausts at the will of the operator, the secondary valves controlling the action. of the motors, the primary valves control ling the action of the secondary valves and .the air chamber of which is connected with the reservoir of higher power.

38. In a machine for playing pianos and other musical instruments, the combination of the sectional'air chamber f connected sage g, a check valve 9 for each passage, the exhaust passage H connected with each of the s'ectionsof the air chamber and the Valves -I-I H one of which controls the connection of the passage H with one section of the air chamber and the other of which controls the connection between the passage Hand the other section.

'39. The combination of an exhaust'chamber, two bellows of diflerent power, pas- 'sages connecting the said bellows *with said exhaust chamber, means to open. and close one of said passages, and pneumatically operated means to automatically open and close the other of said passages.

40.'The combination. of a sectional exstronger bellows and said exhaust chamber,

and means for automatically controlling the passages between the weaker of said bellows and said exhaust chamber in a manner whereby a more complete connection between either section of the said exhaust chamber and the said stronger bellows may interrupt theconnection betweenthe section of the exhaust chamber so connected and the weaker bellows, thus establishing a difference of. pressure 1n the two sectlons of said exhaust chamber.

42. In a piano player, two bellows of dif- I ferent power, an'exhaust chamber, passages connecting said bellows with said exhaust chamber, means to open and close one of said passages, pneumatically operated means to automatically open and close the other ofsaid passages, in combination-with motors, passages connecting said exhaust chamber with said motors, valves located and adapted to control the pressure in said passages, a tracker board, wind passages in said tracker board, and valves adapted to be moved by change of pressure insaid wind passages.

- l ALFRED W. NUNN.- Witnesses:

F; F. RAYMOND, 2d, CHAs. D. Lxrom).

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