US1058041A - Indicator for note-sheets. - Google Patents

Description

T. DANQUARD. INDICATOR FOR NOTE SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.18, 1909.

` 1,058,041.v Patented Apr. s. 1913.

UNITED sTArns ragrnnr ernten.

THOMAS DANQUARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR AUTO PNEUMATTC ACTION CO., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INDICATOR FOR NOTE-SHEETS.

To all whom it may concern y Be it known that I, THOMAS DANQUARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at N ew York in `the r:ounty of New York and. State of ew York, have invented a new and useful Indicator for Note-Sheets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic musical instruments in which a note sloeet travels over a tracker. Y

'T he principal object of the invention is to provide means whereby the deviation of the note sheet from its normal track will be indicated in an unmistakable manner and at the same time the direction of deviation will be shown. l

In a player piano, particularly one using an eighty-eight note tracker With a hand adjusting device, the operator has to keep hisl attention constant-ly on the music sheet to note when it deviat-es from its proper path. This is very difficult and he often fails t note the deviation until his attention is called to it by the improper operation of the instrument. This is particularly the case where there isnot very good light and it is extremely hard for theoperator to tell when slight deviation has occurred or to tell to vwhich side the paper moves. The-latter, of

course, is absolutely necessary to know how to operate the guiding device properly. By the use of this invention these di'tliculties are entirely avoided.

lifeterence is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is a trout elevation ot a tracker box and connected parts showing a preferred en'ibodiment. oil the invention applied thereto with the note sheet in its proper posit-ion.I Figi 2 is a fragmentary view of the tracker' thereotl .showing` how the device indicates the deviation of the sheet. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view ot' the tracker box taken just above the tracker, and Fig. 4 is an end View of a portion thcreol.

The invention is illustrated as applied to an instrument, either a player or automatic piano, which is provided with a tracker box lt), tracker ll, music spools 12 for carrying the music sheet 15S, and a hand-adjusting device ift by which the music sheet can he brought into proper registration with the tracker when it deviates. It. will he under.- stood ot `course that the invention is equally applicable to that class ol instruments in Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led August 18, 1909.

Patented Apr. 8,1913.

serial 110,513,394.

which the tracker is moved instead of the sheet to cause registration.

In order to provide for indicating the di rection and extent of deviation of themusic sheet, means is provided in the tracker box and adjacent to one or both edges ot the music sheet, by which the position of the edge will be readily apparent to the eye. This means, in the form illustrated in the drawings, consists of an indicator 15 mounted adjacent to the tracker and in tact pret erably directly on the front or working face thereof. This indicator preferably is made of a.I color or appearance contrasting with that of the tracker so that it can readily be observed. It maybe in the form of a continuous or interrupted mark, line, or set of characters on the tracker, but it preferably consists of a piece of material inserted into the tracker, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 3. If the tracker is made of metal, yellow or white, it is. preferred t0 use a black material for thel indicators, as for example,

hard rubber, or a dark metal, so as to give a. high contrast in colors.

This indicator can be located on both sides of the music sheet and near the opposite ends of the tracker, as shown.

Although different forms and positions ot' the indicators are permissible, it is preferred to make them rhomboidal and of equal size and t0 place them in oppositely angular positions both making the same angle with the longitudinal axis of the tracker so that the deviation of the sheet will be more clearly indicated by the relative sizes of the triangles which appear at the two sides ot the sheet. This is clearly indicated in Fig. '2.

lt. will be observed that particularly with the preferred form of the invention the dcviee is of such a character that it will not readily be obliterated by the use of the instruimnnt and that when the 'paper is in normal position the two triangles of contrasting n'iaterial will appear ot' equal size on both sides, but as soon as the paper travels out ot its normal path, the difference in size otl the triangles will readily be noticed even in a poorly lighted room or at -eon.

siderable distance, without subjecting the cye to any particular strain. On account. ot the fact that a'triangle shows on each side any deviation will not. onlyy vary the width ot' the visible portion, but also its length, and when tho length becomes constant the shape will be varied, that is, the figure -will change from a triangle to a trapeaoid. With this arrangement, the operator can see at a glance, without much special attention, when the paper travels out of its proper path and in which direction it deviates so that he can work the shifting device ac` curately. ln this way the operator can detect any deviation without being obliged to watch closely the perforations in the paper and the openings of the tracker.

I am aware that many modilications can be made in the form of the invention shown without departing from the .scope of, the same as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction shown and described, but

Vhat I do claim is l. As an article of manufacture, a tracker box having a tracker, a music sheet, and two narrow indicators on the working face of the tracker under the edges of the music. sheet of a color contrasting,` with that ot the working face of the tracker and having their outer edges converging toward one side of the tracker and making the saine angle with the longitudinal axis of the tracker on opposite sides thereof.

2. As an article of manufacture a tracker box for a pneumatic musical instrument having a tracker over which a music sheet is adapted to pass, and two narrow indicaters located in the plane of the Workin tace of the tracker, one at each end thereo cach inclined at substantially the same angle to the longitudinal axis of the tracker and in the ath of the edges of the sheet, and so locatedpas to be partially and equally cov ered by the sheet when in normal or tracking position to expose triangular portions of the indicators, said indicators being; rhomboidal in form, of equal size, and of a color contrasting with that of the working face of the tracker.

3. As an article of manufacture a tracker for a music sheet having in the plane of the .tace thereof in position to come under the edges of the music sheet when in normal or tracking position7 a pair of narrow equal and rhomboidal indicators contrasting in color from that ot the working :tace of the tracker and having their sides inclined at substantially7 the same angle to the longitudinal axis of the tracker, whereby triangular portions of said indicators will be exposed when the sheet is in normal position.

In testimony whereof l'. have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS DANQUARD.

Witnesses z C. irl. JOHNSTON, YV. E. RaMMnLKni/ir.

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