US1045318A - Automatic keyboard-player. - Google Patents

Description

0. w. NYSTRD M.

AUTOMATIC KEYBOARD PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1910.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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wlTnesszs COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON. n, :4

0. W. NYSTRUM.

AUTOMATIC KEYBOARD PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1910.

1,045,318, .v Patented Nov.26, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR CARL WILHELM NYSTRtjM, OF KARLSTAD, SWEDEN.

AUTOMATIC KEYBOARD-PLAYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

Original application filed March 25, 1909, Serial No. 485,797. Divided and this application filed April 27,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL. WILHELM NYs'rRoM, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Karlstad, Sweden, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Keyboard-Players, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in improvements in apparatus for reproducing music produced on key instruments, and this application is a division of that filed by me on March 25, 1909, Serial No. 485,797.

The improvements are especially adapted to be applied to apparatus of a previously known type, consisting of a rotary cylinder or an advancing note strip on which impressions are made during the performance of a piece of music, by means of cutting tools, entering into action when the keys are depressed, said impressions consisting in lines, the lengths of which depend on how long the keys have been depressed. For reproducing said piece of music, which can be done on the same instrument or on an other key instrument, reproducing tools are made to abut against the rotary cylinder or the note strip provided with such impressions whereby, when the reproducing tools enter the said impressions, the corresponding keys are depressed by means of a lever transmission between the reproducing tools and the keys. In apparatus of this known type only one cutting tool and one reproducing tool have been used actuated from or actuating each key, and the impressions on the cylinder or the note strip have been independent of the variations of the tone intensity. It has been proposed to record and reproduce said variations by means of special devices, but such devices are very complicated and have not worked satisfactorily.

According to the beforementioned specification, two or more cutting tools are employed for eachkey, successively entering into action at different times according to the velocity with which the key is depressed, and thus two or more impressions are made on the rotating cylinder or the advancing note strip for each tone, said impressions representing the length as well as the in tensity of the tone in question.

For reproducing the piece of music according to the present invention, two or more reproducing tools are used for each Serial No. 558,024.

key, successively entering into action at different times according to the impressions on the note strip or cylinder whereby the key is depressed with more or less power.

On the drawings :Figure 1 shows the apparatus in vertical section the parts being shown in position for recording; Fig. 2 is a view from behind from the left of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a spindle on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a pair of cutting tools and their electromagnets; Fig. 5 is a side View of said pair of cutting tools; Fig. 6 shows part of the note strip with impressions thereon; Fig. 7 is a plan of a modified construction of part of the lever transmission for actuating the keys; Fig. 8 is a side view of the same; Fig. 9 is a side view of the electromagnets and the lever mechanism for actuating the keys; Fig. 10 is an elevation of the same; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the armatures and levers taken on the line A-B of Fig. 10; Fig. 11 is a plan of the reproducing tools; Fig. 12 is a vertical section of the same; Fig. 13 is a plan of the boss and the contacts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 14 is an elevation of a modified construction of the lever for actuating the keys. Fig. 15 is a modified form of the spindle which controls the movement of the key and the closing of the magnetic circuits.

1, Fig. 1, indicates the framework of the apparatus, which is adapted to be applied on a key instrument at 2. A frame 3 is adjustably jointed to the upper part of the framework of the apparatus and carries brackets 4 with bearings for three cylinders 5, 6 and 7. A strip 8 of paper, cloth or the like, coated on the one side with a thin waxlike material, is led from the cylinder 5 to the cylinder 7 over the cylinder 6. The cylinder 7 is rotated by any suitable means, not shown on the drawing, such as for instance an electromotor.

For each key two cutting tools 9. 10, Figs. 1, 4.- and 5, are arranged, projecting below the cylinder 6 so as to come into contact with the strip 8. The tools 9, 10, are carried by levers 11, 12, rocking on shafts 13, 14, and carrying armatures 15, 16, below which electromagnets 17 and 18 are placed. Said electromagnets successively are made active by means of a vertical spindle 2O resting on the key 19. In a strip 21, serving as guide for the spindles 20, two contacts 22, 23 are fixed at different heights. Above said contacts a boss 24: is placed on the spindle 20, resting on a fixed boss 25 on the spindle 20, and actuated by a spring 26, inserted between the boss 2-1 and a strip 27. The boss 21 has a conical boring 28, through which the spindle 20 passes, so that it can occupy an oblique position on the spindle. It is moreover provided with two contacts 29, 30, placed opposite to the contacts 22, 23, Fig. 13.

The operation of the device will now be described. lVhen the key 19 is depressed, the spindle 20 descends by its own weight and under the influence of the spring 26, whereby at first the contact'22 is caused to abut againstthe contact 29. Hereby an electric circuit is closed through the electromagnet 17, which attracts the armature 15 on the lever 11, so that the cutting tool 9 makes an impression 31 on the note strip 8, Fig. 6. During the continued motion downward of the key 19 the boss 2 is placed in an oblique position, so that the contact 23 is caused to abut against the contact 30, whereby the electric circuit is closed through the electromagnet 18, which attracts its armature 16, causing the cutting tool 10 to make an impression on the note strip 8. It will be obvious that the more forcibly the key 19 is depressed, the shorter time will elapse between the moment when the cutting tool 9 enters into action to the momentwhen the cutting tool 10 enters into acton, and the length of the impression made by the cut ting tool 10 thus will come more and more near the length of the impression made by the cutting tool 9, as indicated at 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 3S and 39, 40, in which latter case the key 19 is depressed so powerfully, that is, so fortissimo, that the cutting tools 9 and 10 have entered into action almost simultaneously. Provided thata device such as the described one is applied for each key, impressions are made on the note strip, during the performance of a piece of music. indicating the length of the tones played by the length of the impressions, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, as well as the strength of the tones by the length of the impressions 32, 3 t, 36, 38, 40.

In order to record the variations of the intensity of the tones more completely, more than two cutting tools, each combined with an electromagnet, which is made active by closing an electric contact, may be provided, the electric contacts being closed successively during the depression of the key. By these means for each tone played a number of im pressions of differentlengths are made on the note strip, whereby the difference of length between the impressions is the smaller, the more powerful the key is depressed.

For reproducing the piece of music recorded in the manner just described, on the same key instrument or on another key instrument, a number of reproducing tools corresponding to the number of cutting tools is employed for each key, said reproducing tools being caused to enter into the impressions on the note strip 8 made by the cutting tools, after that said strip has been wound back again upon the cylinder 5, whereby the reproducing tools in a previously known manner close electric circuits through elec tromagnets, which depress the key through a suitable lever connection.

Each reproducing tool comprises two parallel springs 41, 12, Figs. 11 and 12, the upper one 41 of which is bent in U-t'orm. The springs 41, 42 form electric contacts .3, 4% at their ends. The spring t2 carries a pin 4.5, passing through a hole in an arcshaped part 46 of the upper spring -11. Two such reproducing tools et7, 48, are provided, actuating one and the same key, and they are all arranged in an adjustable frame 19. which is placed in such a position to the cylinder 6 which, during the reproduction is moved over to the position shown with dotted lines in Fig. 1, that the pins -15 abut against the note band 8.

Each pair 17, 48, of reproducing tools is electrically connected with a pair of electromagnets 50, 51, Figs. 9 and 10. The armature 52 of the electromagnet 50 is carried by a. lever 53, rocking on the shaft 54. The armature 55 of the second electromagnet 51 is carried by a lever 56, also rocking on said shaft 5 1. To the lever 56 is jointed a lever 57, the shorter arm 58 of which rests against the upper end of the spindle 20. The lever 57 carries at its end an arc-shaped piece 59 placed in front of a rotating cylinder 60. The armatures and 55 are adjustably arranged on the upper parts 61, 62 ot' the levers 53, 56, said upper parts 61 and 62 being bent at right angles to said levers. For the sake of clearness, the adjusting means are shown only for the armature 52. It coinprises a screw 63 engaging a threaded hole in the center of the armature 52 and passes through a hole in the part 61 and controlled by a spring 64. Two pins 65 prevent swinging movement of the armature. The lever 53 is provided with a projection 66, through which extends a screw 67 resting on the lever 56.

The reproducing device now described acts in the following manner. The frame 49 is adjusted so that the pins 4-5 are resting on the note strip 8, and so that they are put in line with the impressions 31, 32, 33, on said note-strip. For each pair of impressions 31, 32, 33, 3st, one pair of reproducing tools 17, 4:8 and pins t5 are provided. hen, during the motion of the note strip 8, the pin 45 belonging to a reproducing tool, say the reproducing tool 48, enters an impression, say the impression 31, the contacts 13, 14 are closed, whereby the electric circuit is closed through the electromagnet 50, which attracts its armature 52 against the action of the spring 68. Thus the lever 53 is turned, taking with it by means of the screw (37 the lever 56, which brings the areshaped piece 59 in contact with the rotating cylinder 60. The lever 57 is thereby turned upward, whereby the spindle 20 is depressed and the key, on which the spindle 20 rests, is depressed. The armature 52 is adjusted in such a way that the piece 59 is pressed with a very slight pressure against the cylinder 60. During the continued motion of the note strip 8 the pin 45 belonging to the second reproducing tool 47 of the pair in question will enter the second impression 32 belong ing to the same tone, whereby in an analogous manner the electromagnet 51, which is electrically connected with said tool, is made active. It thus attracts its armature and presses the piece 59 more energetically against the rotating cylinder 60, whereby the spindle 20 is depressed more energetically and the tone is struck more intensely. The tone thus will be struck with the same touch, that is indicated by the impressions on the note strip for that tone, and as said impressions represent the length and touch of the tone played during the performance of the piece of music, the said tone will be reproduced with the same length and touch.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a modified arrangement of the arc-shaped piece 59 by means of which a less energetic movement of the key is obtained. The lever 57 carrying the arcshaped piece 59 is jointed to the lever 56 as before, but the arm 58 resting upon the spindle 20 constitutes a separate lever, which is jointed to the lever 57 at 69. The lever 57 is provided with a projecting arm 70, to which is fixed a spring 71, the other end of which is fixed to the rim 58. When the are 59 is lifted by the rotating cylinder 60, the strength of the spring 71 must be overcome before the arm 58 can depress the spindle 20.

As shown on the drawing, the recording device as well as the reproducing device is undetachably fixed in the apparatus, which thus serves for recording as Well as for reproducing a piece of music. Obviously, the reproducing device may be attached to a special frame, which can be applied to a key instrument, whereas the recording device may be attached to another frame. The advantage of the arrangement as shown is that the adjustment of the different parts is unnecessary each time a piece of music is to be reproduced.

To enable an adjustment of the spirfil'es 20 according to the unevenness of the key board, the spindles are made in two parts, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which are connected by means of sleeve 72, which can be tightened at its upper part. When the sleeve 72 is loosened so that the upper part of the spindle is free, a spring 74 inserted between a boss 73 and the sleeve 72 presses the parts of the spindle from one another, so that the lower part of the spindle is caused to rest firmly on the key 19. In the same manner as described such variations, which are performed by means of the pedals, can be recorded and reproduced. For this purpose spindles, such as described, are connected with the pedals, acting upon cutting tools and acted upon by reproducing tools of the construction described.

Fig. 1 shows an arrangement in which the lever carries a spring'actuated areshaped piece 59 constructed as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, whereas the lever 56 carries another arc-shaped piece 75 constructed in the manner shown in Fig. 9, both of said pieces actuating one end and the same spindle 20. In this case the projection 66 and the screw 67 are omitted. In operation the piece 59 is first brought in contact with the rotating cylinder 60, whereby the key is depressed softly, and then the piece 75 enters into action, causing the key to be depressed forcibly. The two pieces thus enter into action in succession, and the interval of time depends upon the impressions recorded from the key in question.

Fig. 15 shows a device for enlarging the movements of the key in order to get the proper movement of the spindle 20. The spindle 20 is shown resting on the outer end of a lever 76 rocking on 77, and between said lever and the key 19 at a point near to the rocking point 77 a spindle 78 is inserted.

I claim as my invention 1. In an automatic keyboard player, in combination, a spindle adapted to actuate the key, a lever engaging said spindle and adapted to actuate the same, said lever com prising an arc-shaped end, a rotating cylinder operatively associated with said arcshaped end, a plurality of levers for moving said first mentioned lever to cause the areshaped end thereof to engage said cylinder, and means controlled by the music strip for successively actuating said second mentioned levers, whereby said arc-shaped end will be pressed against said cylinder with increas mg pressure.

2. In an automatic keyboard player, in combination, a spindle adapted to actuate the key, a plurality of levers, a spindle-actuating lever mounted to be moved by said plurality of levers, said spindle-actuating lever having one of its ends engaging said spindle and having its other end arc-shaped, a rotating cylinder operatively associated with said arc-shaped end and against which said arc-shaped end is adapted to be moved, and means controlled by the music-strip for successively moving said plurality of levers.

3. In an automatic keyboard player, in

combination, a spindle adapted to actuate the key, a plurality of levers, a spindle-ao tuating lever mounted to be moved by said plurality of levers, said spindl actuating; lever having one of its ends engaging said spindle and having its oth r end arc-shaped, a rotating cylinder operativelv associated vvith said arc-shaped end and against which said arc-shaped end adapted to be moved, said plurality of levers being mounted to move through ditterent distances, an armature carried by each of said plurality of levers, an electro-magnet operatively associated with each of said arn'iatures, and means controlled by the music strip successively to energize said electro-magn-et whereby said levers Will be successively moved through their allotted distances.

i. in an automatic keyboard player, in combination, -"oindle adapted to actuate when said magnets are energized, and means controlled by the music strip successively to energize said electro-magnets.

5. In an automatic keyboard player, in combination, a spindle adapted to actuate the key, a lover, a second lever, said first mentioned lever being provided with a portion engaging said second mentioned lever \vhereby movement of said first lever Will cause a corresponding movement of said second lever, a spindle actuating lever carried by said second mentioned lever and having one of its ends engaging said spimlle and its other end arc-shaped, a rotating cylinder operatively associated with said arc-shaped end and against which said arc-shaped end is adapted to be moved, an armature carried by each of said first mentioned levers, an electroanagnet operatively associated with each armature, the distances between the armature on said first mentioned lever and its associated electro-magnet being than the distance between the armature on said second lever and its associated clectro-magnet, and means controlled by the music strip for successively energizing the magnet as sociated with the first lever and then the magnet associated with the second lever.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence oi? two subscribing Witnesses.

CARL WILHELM NYsTnoM.

Witnesses llhiLniziriin BOMAN, T. EKEBOHM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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