US1088884A - Pneumato-electric tracker-bar for musical instruments. - Google Patents

Pneumato-electric tracker-bar for musical instruments. Download PDF

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US1088884A
US1088884A US70499412A US1912704994A US1088884A US 1088884 A US1088884 A US 1088884A US 70499412 A US70499412 A US 70499412A US 1912704994 A US1912704994 A US 1912704994A US 1088884 A US1088884 A US 1088884A
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tracker
electric
music
pneumato
contacts
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US70499412A
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Charles W Dorricott
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ELECTRELLE Co
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ELECTRELLE Co
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G10MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10FAUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
    • G10F1/00Automatic musical instruments
    • G10F1/02Pianofortes with keyboard
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S200/00Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
    • Y10S200/03Coin operated

Definitions

  • This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electro-mechanically controlled playing mechanism for musical instruments, such as pianos, and has to do more especially with an improved construction of pneumato-electric tracker or reader for controlling the operation of the playing mechanism.
  • One of the chief objects of the present invention is to provide a pneumato-elcctric tracker of normal width capable of use with either 65 or 88 note music and which shall be so simple and compact in construction that it may be associated with the known forms of movable music roll holders without materially altering their construction,
  • the tracker itself containing not only the electric contacts and adjusting means therefor, but also a special construction of pneumatic for actuating the contacts, the tracker as a unit being readily attachable to known forms of music roll holders, such for instance as those constructed to be moved from a osition of rest back under the key-bed o a piano to an operative position forward thereof where the music-sheet will be in full view of the performer during playing, this being made possible by reason of the special construction of the tracker and the compact grouping of the parts therein.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically cutting off the air communication with the air-chamber in the tracker when the music sheet rewinding mechanism is thrown into operation, whereby the playing mechanism will not be actuated during the rewinding of the music sheet from the take-up roll back onto the music spool or delivery roll.
  • a still further purpose of the invention is to provide a simplified construction of circuit wiring between the electriccontact's car ried by the tracker and the several electromagnets of the player mechanism, the construction including a cable-conductor and an interposed electric coupling made of separable members so constructed and arranged that the tracker and one member of the said coupling may be assembled as a unit for subsequent attachment to a piano, which latter has attached, at some convenient place thereon, the other member of the said coupling, whereby the labor and expense of applying the whole player mechanism to a piano are greatly simplified and reduced.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view or layout of an electro-mechanically operated, playing mechanism having associatedthercwith a pneumato-electric tracker constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View of a musicroll holder of the movable type shown associated with the key-bed of a piano.
  • Fig. 3 is a transverse section takenthrough the pneumato-eleclric tracker of the present invention.
  • Fig. at is a plan view looking into the tracker from the rear, the rear cover plate of the tracker being removed.
  • Fig. 5 is an elevation of a part of the music roll holder looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2.
  • Fig. 6 is a. top-plan view, partly in section, of a partvof the music roll holder.
  • Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly in section, of a portion of th tracker showing the rewindmechanism, and the cut-off valve for the air chamber in the tracker.
  • Fig. 8 is an enlarged section of oneof the Pneumatics and its coiiperating contacts.
  • Fi 9 is a perspective view of a slightly modi ed way of con- .structing the Pneumatics.
  • Fig.910 is a transverse, sectional view-of the electric cable conctar.
  • the reference numeral 1 designates generally the tracker presently to be described-in detail, and in which there is an airchamber 5 maintained under-tension bynany suitable QrmiQf rpumpZ-l fromwhich a pipe 3 leads to a valve box tassociatcd with the music roll holder, presently to beadescribed, ands frorn which valve box a branch pipe 5 leads to the air chamber in the tracker.
  • the pump 2- in the instance shown, is driven from the shaft 6 of an electric motor 7 by the belt 8 carried over a pulley on the shaft 6, and another pulley onthe shaft 9 of the pump 2.
  • the reference numeral 10 designates a music sheet which passes from the delivery roll or music spool 12 over the tracker 1, to the take-up roll 13, said take-up roll being mounted on a shaft 14 carrying a worm gear 15in mesh with the worm 16 driven by a disk 17, the periphery of which is in frictional contact with afriction disk 18, driven by a belt 19 from the shaft 6 of the electric motor 7 the belt in the present instance being shown as passing over a pulley 20 on the shaft 6.
  • the friction wheel 17 as is usual in constructions of this kind, is so mounted that it may be moved back and forth over the face of the friction disk 18 in order to vary the speed of the take-up roll during the playing of the instrument, in order to change the tempo as desired.v
  • the shaft 14 of the take-up roll has fixed thereto a gear wheel 21 adapted to mesh with a laterally shiftable clutch-pinion 22, and through the medium of sprocket chain gearin 23 the music-sheet may be rewound from the take-up roll 13 back onto the delivery roll 12, the latter being removably mounted in end-bearings carried by the music-roll-holder as usual andwell known.
  • the pinion 22 has a clutch associated therewith, and said pinion is shifted into and out of gear with the wheel 21 by means of a clutch-shifter 25, said shifter being actuated by the inclined face 26 of a rotatable block 26 actuated by a suitable mechanism presently to be described, and said block also has a cam extension 81, adapted toactuate a cutoff valve 27' in the valve box 4 to cut off'the air supply or exhaust from the air-tension chamber in the tracker during the rewinding of the music sheet, so that the playing mechanism will not be actuated during such rewind.
  • The. driving mechanism'and the: rewinding mechanism for the note sheet may be of any preferred construction, the showing here being more or less conventional, and merely by way 0.f.lll ⁇ 1SiIati0D.”'-Th8 purpose of the showing is to illustrate the feature-bf the cut-off valve and the rewindingimechanism, J with the means common to both for automatically operatingthe valve to cut off the communication betweem fthepump and the the instance shown comprises arotary shaft 28 driven by means of aibelt'29 from'a pulley on the shaft 60f the motor-7, the said shaft being constantly rotated at a high speed.
  • each friction-shoe is suspended from an armature 31 adapted to be energized by an electro-magnet 32,'all the magnets being in circuit with.
  • the wire 33 being a common return wire leading from the tracker, and the cable of wires 33* leading from the several contact fingers in the tracker, presently to be described, through the magnets 32 to the battery or other source of power.
  • the tracker or reader of the present in vention comprises a face-plate 35, having the usual tracker-ducts 36, and end-walls 37, preferably formed integral with the said face-plate, the latter being shown as provided with longitudinal flanges 38, to which are removably attached the sidewalls 39, to which latter is removably attached a rearwall 40, the said faceplate, end, side and rear walls, forming a hollow box-like structure constituting the air-tension chamber 5*, maintained under air-tension by means of the pump 2, which has communication therewith by means of the conduit 3, valvebox 4, and pipe 5, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1.
  • This box-like structure is preferably made entirely of metal and the Walls are made removable in order that access may be readily had to the interior parts comprising the pneumatics and electric cont-act 4 members nowto be described.
  • Fig. 3 Grouped withinv the tracker ina con; venient and compact manner, .as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, are three longitudi; nally arranged rows or series of pneumatics comprising cups 42, preferably made of metal, each row facing one of the removable walls of the tracker,. there being a tube 43,
  • the particular manner of grouping the cups provides a very compact arrangement and enables a full complement of 88 pneumatics to be located within.
  • vices of this kind especially ,where they are to be associated with a movable music-rollholder mounted to be moved back under the key-bed of a piano when not in use, it being understood that the item of knee-roomis of material importance.
  • Figs. 3, 4 and 8 the latter figure showing a single cuppneumatic and its associated contacts.
  • the numeral 42 designates one of the cups which is formed with an internal annular shoulder 44, the upper end of the cup being closed by means of a membrane diaphragm 45, which is secured in place by means of a metal ring 46, this construction enabling the parts to be readily assembled without the use of glue.
  • the diaphragm 45 has a button 47, attached to its outer face, the said button and diaphragm being pierced with a small bleed-hole 48, which latter enables the diaphragm to act very quickly under air impulses and thus it is possible to obtain excellent results in repetition when playing.
  • a valve 49 Arranged within the cup and preferably attached to the inner face of the diaphragm so as to alternately open and close the bleed-opening 48, is a valve 49, the latter serving to prevent said opening from becoming choked or clogged with the fine particles of lint or as; sucked in through the tracker ducts during playing.
  • the valve 49 may be in the form of a flexible flap attached at one end to the inner face of the diaphragm 45, as shown in Fig. 8, or it may be in the form of a disk arranged loosely within the cup, as shown in Fig. 3. Both forms have proven thoroughly practical for the purposes for which they are provided.
  • each diaphragm Cooperating with the button 47, of each diaphragm is a movable contact finger 50, preferably formed of a narrow strip of thin sheet metal and preferably curved as shown, the free end of which normally rests upon the said button and the opposite end of which is attached to a strip of insulating material 51, extending longitudinally of the tracker, there being two of such strips employed in the construction as shown in Figs.
  • each contact finger 50 Cooperating with the free end of each contact finger 50, is a stationary, but adjustable contact pin 55, a row of said pins passing through and having threaded connection with each of the removable metal walls 39 and 40, of the tracker, each pin having an end exposedoutside the tracker-bar and provided with a screw-driver notch or other tool-engaging portion whereby it may be readily turned to bring its inner end in proper cooperative adjustment with its associated contact finger 50 without opening the tracker, a lock-nut being threaded on each pin to set the same after adjustment has een made.
  • Figs. 3 and 4.1 have shown the pneu- I may form these cups by providing cupped openings in a solid bar 42 as illustrated in Fig. 9, it being understood that three such bars will be employed in the structure, the bars being grouped in the same manner in which the cups are grouped as illustrated in Fig. 3.
  • the electric coupler 54 heretofore referred to, is illustrated in detail in Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawing and comprises in the instance shown a substantially H-shaped base-member 55, preferably made of some suitable nonconducting material, secured by screws 56, preferably to the underside of the key-bed of the piano in close proximity to the mus-ic-roll-holder and where ready access thereto may be had.
  • the cross-web 57 of the base member carries two rows of yieldable contact members shown as :consisting of headed bolts 58, normally urged in one direction by means of the coil springs 59, each bolt carrying a stop-nut 60, to limit itsmovement in one direct-ion.
  • the said yieldable contact members are each electricall-y connected to one of the circuit wires 33 leading to the magnets 32, of the electromechanically operated mechanism for the sound-producing devices of the piano, the said wires being arranged in two cables 61,
  • a removable cap member 62 of insulating material, said cap-member being secured 1n place by means-of screws 63.
  • This cap member 62 carries two rows of metal nuts or disks 64, through the threaded.
  • the pump 2 serves to maintain the chamher 5 in the tracker under constant airtension or suction, and whenever any of the perforations in the music sheet 10 register with any of the tracker ducts 36 the diaphragms correspondin to the vented ducts will be drawn outwar by means of the air tension in the chamber 5 and through the buttons 47 move the free ends of the contact fingers 50 into contact with the contact-pins 55, completing the electric circuits to the proper magnets 32 to energize said magnets, which will throw the friction shoes 30 into contact with the revolvin shaft 28, and through said shoes and shaft actuate the sound producing mechanism of the piano in the usual way,
  • the air tension 0 amber 41 of the'tracker is common to all the pneumatic cups 42 and their associated diaphragms, and this provides a very simple and compact arrangement, enabling the neumatics to be made comparatively small so that the tracker as a whole need not be any-longer, deeper, or wider, than the ordinary form of pneumatic tracker now used and employed in connection with self playingmusical instruments of the pneumatic type, and enabling the tracker to be associated with the'usual and well-known forms of music roll holdersnow in use, and which are adapted to be moved to an inoperative position back under the key-bed or forward thereofin front of the" keys of the piano as illustrated in Fig.2 ⁇ of
  • this music-roll holder comprises in part end-members '70 having rearwardly extendin arms 71, pivoted at 72 to a plate 73, slldablymounted in guideovays 74 secured to the under side of the piano key-bed" 75.
  • the music roll holder is maintained in playing position by means of a spring latch 76'. -When out of use the roll holder assumes the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 2. I do not claim the music roll holder per se in this application, as the same will form the subject matter of another application for-patent, the showing here being merely by way of illustration to show the improved tracker in association with a bodily movable music-roll holder.
  • the tracker is moved longitudinally in'either direction by means of a knurled disk 78 car- 'ried by a screw 7 9, which screw has engagement with an end of the tracker and a side member of the music roll holder as more "clearly shown in Figs.
  • a pneumato-electricf tracker comprising a hollow-member" havingthe usual tracker ducts and an air chamber therein, a"
  • a hollow memberv constituting p Q chamber said: tracker having the; usual p H I tracker-ducts andprovided withremovable Beingfurther proplurality of movable contact members mounted within the tracker, pneumatics for actuating said contacts, said neumatics being located within the tracker and having communication with the tracker ducts, and a plurality of fixed contacts adjustably mounted in an outer wall of the tracker for cooperation with the movable'contact members, said fixed contacts, each having a tool engaging portion exposed outside the tracker for the purpose described.
  • a pneumato-electric tracker comprising a hollow-member having the usual tracker ducts and an air chamber therein, a plurality of movable contact members mounted within the tracker, pneumatics for actuating said contact members, said pneumatics being located within the tracker and having communication with said ducts, and a plurality of fixed contacts projecting'through an outer wall of the tracker, said fixed contacts being adjustably mounted for coa'ction with the said movable contact members.
  • a pneumato-el'ectric tracker comprising a hollow-'member constituting an air chamber, said tracker having the usual tracker ducts, and provided withremovable side and bottom walls, separate/r. rows of diaphragm pneumatics located within the tracker, the diaphragms of each row of pneumatics facing one'of the said removable wal ls"of the tracker and said neumatics communicating with said ducts, a plurality of movable contact springs located within the tracker and each having its free end overhanging one ofthe said diaphragms, and a plurality of fixed contacts passing 30 .bearings a.valve controlled,conduit leading through the said removable walls and each having its inner end mounted for coaction with one of the said movable contacts, said fixed contacts being adjustable toward and from the movable contacts.
  • a pneumato-electric tracker comprising a hollow member having the usual tracker ducts and an air chamber, a plurality of movable contacts mounted within the tra ker, diaphragmneumatics located within the tracker for actuating said contacts, the diaphragms ofsaid neumatics,
  • a. pneumatoeelectric tracker havingl an air chamber, also-icarried by the music r0 holder,v driving means. forthe take-up roll and rewinding meansfor one of the end tothe air chamber in the tracker, said ,conu nd. i s -.va ve ingicarri d by. a d m ya h 4 the r911'hcldcr;-;and .,m nual1y p ablem n lsocarri dbyt rollh ldcr for throwing the rewindin in 1 r,- ut.
  • A. music roll holder having a pneumato electric tracken reniovably; "attached thereto, said tracker comprisinga, hollow member having the usual tracker ducts and a air hamber, a plur ity of pn um tl In said m er, said neumatic v ng c mmunication with sand ducts, a plurality of movable contacts in said chamber actuated:
  • a music roll holder having a pneu- ,mato-electric tracker removably attached thereto, said tracker comprising a hollow member having the usual tracker ducts and an air chambena plurality of pneumatics in said chamber, said pneumatics havin communication with said ducts, a plura ity of movable contacts in said chamber actuated by said neumatics, a lurality of fixed contacts coiiperating wit the said movable contacts, awcable of circuit wires, each wire of the cable connected to one of said movable contacts, and an electric coupling memher having separate terminals to which the opposite ends of said wires. are connected,
  • said coupling member embodying a plate carrying separate contact elements.
  • a music roll holder having a pneumato-electric tracker removably attached thereto, said, i tracker comprising. a. hollow member having the usual tracker ducts and anlair chamber, a plurality of pneumatics in said chamber, sa d pneumatics communieating with saidducts, a plurality of move conta t in "said, ch er a t t y said neumatics, a ,luralityoi fixed contacts caidfmovable contacts,
  • ,site ends of ,siidfivirqis are co'rii walksted, sa1d an'air chamber, a plurality of pneumatics 'insaid chamber, said pneumatics communieating with said ducts, a plurality of movable" contacts in said chamber actuated by said neumatics, aplurality of fixed'contacts cooperating with ing separate terminals to which the opposite ends of said wires are connected, said coupling member comprisin a strip of insulatlng material, and a p uralit-y of contact pins adjustably mounted in said plate, said pins being electrically connected to the wires of the cable.
  • saidmovabl contacts a cable of circuit wires, each wire of the cable connectedto one of "said movable contacts', and an electric coupling member havstrument embodying a plurality of electrohaving terminals said last named coupling magnets and an electric coupling member member being adapted to be cooperatively including electric terminals, one for each of associated with the first named coupling said manets, a pneumato-electric tracker member.

Description

C. W. DORRIGOTT.
PNEUMATO ELECTRIC TRACKER BAR FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 21, 1912.
1,088,884. Patented Mar. 3, 1914.
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G. W. DORRICOTT.
PNEUMATO ELECTRIC TRACKER BAR FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21, 1912.
1,088,884. Patented Mar. 3, 1914.
4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.
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, glwvwwboz [Zarle Mjarzzknt C. W. DORRICOTT.
PNEUMATO ELECTRIC TRACKER BAR FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21,1912.
1,088,884. Patented Mar. 3, 1914.
4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.
%%wt 1 g m QWM Q [jar/6f app/mm;
COLUMBIA PuNockAPH co, \vAsMlNm'oN. n. c.
C. W. DORRIGOTT.
PNEUMATO ELECTRIC TRACKER BAR FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
APPLICATION PXLED JUNE 21, 1912.
1,088,884, Patented Mar. 3, 1914.
4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.
ngsxwl COLUMBIA PLANOGNAPH c0.. wAsmNoToN. u. c.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
CHARLES W. DORRICOTT, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 ELEC- TRELLE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Specification of Letters Patent.
Patented lllar. 3, 1914.
Application filed June 21, 1912. Serial No. 704,994.
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, CHARLES W. DORRI- oorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumato-Electric Tracker- Bars for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electro-mechanically controlled playing mechanism for musical instruments, such as pianos, and has to do more especially with an improved construction of pneumato-electric tracker or reader for controlling the operation of the playing mechanism.
Heretofore, and prior to this invention, the usual manner of energizing the electromechanically controlled playingmechanism of a musical instrument, was through the medium of an electric tracker or reader comprising a contact bar or roll, and a series of cooperating selector fingers, between which bar or roll and fingers the perforated music sheet is caused to travel, the said bar'or roll and the selector fingers being included in circuit With the electro-mechanically controlled playing mechanism. This type of electrical .tracker or reader while satisfactory in many respects, is, nevertheless, attendant withmore. or less serious objections especially where 88 note music is employed, and this has led to the adoption of the type of pneumato-electric tracker such as forms the subject matter of the present application.
Some attempts have heretofore been made to provide pneumato-electric trackers, but so far as I am aware none of these prior devices have gone into practical use for several important reasons, among which may be mentioned the fact that in the prior devices no means were provided for permitting ready adjustment of the numerous electric contacts, which is a matter of great importance in devices of this kind, and furthermore, the prior constructions were not sufliciently compact to meet the present demands of the trade, nor were the pneumatics employed sufiiciently sensitive or active to give proper repetition in playing, which is a matter of prime importance in the present advanced stage of the player-piano.
One of the chief objects of the present invention is to provide a pneumato-elcctric tracker of normal width capable of use with either 65 or 88 note music and which shall be so simple and compact in construction that it may be associated with the known forms of movable music roll holders without materially altering their construction,
the tracker itself containing not only the electric contacts and adjusting means therefor, but also a special construction of pneumatic for actuating the contacts, the tracker as a unit being readily attachable to known forms of music roll holders, such for instance as those constructed to be moved from a osition of rest back under the key-bed o a piano to an operative position forward thereof where the music-sheet will be in full view of the performer during playing, this being made possible by reason of the special construction of the tracker and the compact grouping of the parts therein.
A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically cutting off the air communication with the air-chamber in the tracker when the music sheet rewinding mechanism is thrown into operation, whereby the playing mechanism will not be actuated during the rewinding of the music sheet from the take-up roll back onto the music spool or delivery roll.
.A still further purpose of the invention is to provide a simplified construction of circuit wiring between the electriccontact's car ried by the tracker and the several electromagnets of the player mechanism, the construction including a cable-conductor and an interposed electric coupling made of separable members so constructed and arranged that the tracker and one member of the said coupling may be assembled as a unit for subsequent attachment to a piano, which latter has attached, at some convenient place thereon, the other member of the said coupling, whereby the labor and expense of applying the whole player mechanism to a piano are greatly simplified and reduced.
In order to enable others skilled in the art to clearly understand, make and use the invention, I will now describe the same in detail reference being bad for this purpose to the accompanying drawings, whercin- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view or layout of an electro-mechanically operated, playing mechanism having associatedthercwith a pneumato-electric tracker constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View of a musicroll holder of the movable type shown associated with the key-bed of a piano. Fig. 3 is a transverse section takenthrough the pneumato-eleclric tracker of the present invention. Fig. at is a plan view looking into the tracker from the rear, the rear cover plate of the tracker being removed. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a part of the music roll holder looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a. top-plan view, partly in section, of a partvof the music roll holder. Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly in section, of a portion of th tracker showing the rewindmechanism, and the cut-off valve for the air chamber in the tracker. Fig. 8 is an enlarged section of oneof the Pneumatics and its coiiperating contacts. Fi 9 is a perspective view of a slightly modi ed way of con- .structing the Pneumatics. Fig.910 is a transverse, sectional view-of the electric cable conctar.
Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 the reference numeral 1 designates generally the tracker presently to be described-in detail, and in which there is an airchamber 5 maintained under-tension bynany suitable QrmiQf rpumpZ-l fromwhich a pipe 3 leads to a valve box tassociatcd with the music roll holder, presently to beadescribed, ands frorn which valve box a branch pipe 5 leads to the air chamber in the tracker. The pump 2- in the instance shown, is driven from the shaft 6 of an electric motor 7 by the belt 8 carried over a pulley on the shaft 6, and another pulley onthe shaft 9 of the pump 2.
The reference numeral 10 designates a music sheet which passes from the delivery roll or music spool 12 over the tracker 1, to the take-up roll 13, said take-up roll being mounted on a shaft 14 carrying a worm gear 15in mesh with the worm 16 driven by a disk 17, the periphery of which is in frictional contact with afriction disk 18, driven by a belt 19 from the shaft 6 of the electric motor 7 the belt in the present instance being shown as passing over a pulley 20 on the shaft 6. The friction wheel 17 as is usual in constructions of this kind, is so mounted that it may be moved back and forth over the face of the friction disk 18 in order to vary the speed of the take-up roll during the playing of the instrument, in order to change the tempo as desired.v
The shaft 14 of the take-up roll has fixed thereto a gear wheel 21 adapted to mesh with a laterally shiftable clutch-pinion 22, and through the medium of sprocket chain gearin 23 the music-sheet may be rewound from the take-up roll 13 back onto the delivery roll 12, the latter being removably mounted in end-bearings carried by the music-roll-holder as usual andwell known. The pinion 22 has a clutch associated therewith, and said pinion is shifted into and out of gear with the wheel 21 by means of a clutch-shifter 25, said shifter being actuated by the inclined face 26 of a rotatable block 26 actuated by a suitable mechanism presently to be described, and said block also has a cam extension 81, adapted toactuate a cutoff valve 27' in the valve box 4 to cut off'the air supply or exhaust from the air-tension chamber in the tracker during the rewinding of the music sheet, so that the playing mechanism will not be actuated during such rewind. v
The. driving mechanism'and the: rewinding mechanism for the note sheet may be of any preferred construction, the showing here being more or less conventional, and merely by way 0.f.lll\1SiIati0D."'-Th8 purpose of the showing is to illustrate the feature-bf the cut-off valve and the rewindingimechanism, J with the means common to both for automatically operatingthe valve to cut off the communication betweem fthepump and the the instance shown comprises arotary shaft 28 driven by means of aibelt'29 from'a pulley on the shaft 60f the motor-7, the said shaft being constantly rotated at a high speed. Above the shaft 28 and normally out of contact with the periphery thereof, are a plurality of pivoted friction shoes, one to be associated with each unit of the hammer act iating mechanism of the piano,-or such thereof as are to. be automatically actuated, I by any suitable andwell known connection. Each friction-shoe is suspended from an armature 31 adapted to be energized by an electro-magnet 32,'all the magnets being in circuit with. a battery or; other suitable source of power 33, and said magnets by means of the wire 33 and cable 33 being also in circuit with the several contacts in the pneumato-electric tracker 1 now to be described, the wire 33 being a common return wire leading from the tracker, and the cable of wires 33* leading from the several contact fingers in the tracker, presently to be described, through the magnets 32 to the battery or other source of power.
The tracker or reader of the present in vention comprises a face-plate 35, having the usual tracker-ducts 36, and end-walls 37, preferably formed integral with the said face-plate, the latter being shown as provided with longitudinal flanges 38, to which are removably attached the sidewalls 39, to which latter is removably attached a rearwall 40, the said faceplate, end, side and rear walls, forming a hollow box-like structure constituting the air-tension chamber 5*, maintained under air-tension by means of the pump 2, which has communication therewith by means of the conduit 3, valvebox 4, and pipe 5, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1. This box-like structure is preferably made entirely of metal and the Walls are made removable in order that access may be readily had to the interior parts comprising the pneumatics and electric cont-act 4 members nowto be described. I, v
Grouped withinv the tracker ina con; venient and compact manner, .as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, are three longitudi; nally arranged rows or series of pneumatics comprising cups 42, preferably made of metal, each row facing one of the removable walls of the tracker,. there being a tube 43,
leading from the end of each cup to its. ap-
propriate duct-opening 36, in the face-plate 35, of the tracker. The particular manner of grouping the cups provides a very compact arrangement and enables a full complement of 88 pneumatics to be located within.
a tracker-bar of standard length width and depth, which is an important ffactor in de-,
vices of this kind especially ,where they are to be associated with a movable music-rollholder mounted to be moved back under the key-bed of a piano when not in use, it being understood that the item of knee-roomis of material importance.
As all the pneumatics of each row or se ries and their associated contacts are alike in construction, a description of one will sufiice for all and to this end attention is directed more particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 8, the latter figure showing a single cuppneumatic and its associated contacts. In this figure the numeral 42, designates one of the cups which is formed with an internal annular shoulder 44, the upper end of the cup being closed by means of a membrane diaphragm 45, which is secured in place by means of a metal ring 46, this construction enabling the parts to be readily assembled without the use of glue. The diaphragm 45, has a button 47, attached to its outer face, the said button and diaphragm being pierced with a small bleed-hole 48, which latter enables the diaphragm to act very quickly under air impulses and thus it is possible to obtain excellent results in repetition when playing. Arranged within the cup and preferably attached to the inner face of the diaphragm so as to alternately open and close the bleed-opening 48, is a valve 49, the latter serving to prevent said opening from becoming choked or clogged with the fine particles of lint or as; sucked in through the tracker ducts during playing. The valve 49, may be in the form of a flexible flap attached at one end to the inner face of the diaphragm 45, as shown in Fig. 8, or it may be in the form of a disk arranged loosely within the cup, as shown in Fig. 3. Both forms have proven thoroughly practical for the purposes for which they are provided.
Cooperating with the button 47, of each diaphragm is a movable contact finger 50, preferably formed of a narrow strip of thin sheet metal and preferably curved as shown, the free end of which normally rests upon the said button and the opposite end of which is attached to a strip of insulating material 51, extending longitudinally of the tracker, there being two of such strips employed in the construction as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, said strips carrying all the movable contact fingers for all the pneumatics, the alternate fingers of each strip being arranged at, right angles to each other,.so that some ofthe fingers will cooperate with one row of pneumatics while the others will 00- operate with another row; thus by this ar rangement the two strips 51, carry all the fingers for the three rows of pneumatics and space is economized resulting ina compact structure. 7, Arranged "alongside each strip 51,,isa cable section 52, terminating in the common cable of wires 53, leading to the electric coupling 54, Fig. 1, presently to be described, the wires of the cable sections 52, being soldered or otherwise connected to the contact fingers 50, as more-clearly shown in Fig. 3.
Cooperating with the free end of each contact finger 50, is a stationary, but adjustable contact pin 55, a row of said pins passing through and having threaded connection with each of the removable metal walls 39 and 40, of the tracker, each pin having an end exposedoutside the tracker-bar and provided with a screw-driver notch or other tool-engaging portion whereby it may be readily turned to bring its inner end in proper cooperative adjustment with its associated contact finger 50 without opening the tracker, a lock-nut being threaded on each pin to set the same after adjustment has een made.
In Figs. 3 and 4.1 have shown the pneu- I may form these cups by providing cupped openings in a solid bar 42 as illustrated in Fig. 9, it being understood that three such bars will be employed in the structure, the bars being grouped in the same manner in which the cups are grouped as illustrated in Fig. 3.
The electric coupler 54, heretofore referred to, is illustrated in detail in Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawing and comprises in the instance shown a substantially H-shaped base-member 55, preferably made of some suitable nonconducting material, secured by screws 56, preferably to the underside of the key-bed of the piano in close proximity to the mus-ic-roll-holder and where ready access thereto may be had. The cross-web 57 of the base member carries two rows of yieldable contact members shown as :consisting of headed bolts 58, normally urged in one direction by means of the coil springs 59, each bolt carrying a stop-nut 60, to limit itsmovement in one direct-ion. The said yieldable contact members are each electricall-y connected to one of the circuit wires 33 leading to the magnets 32, of the electromechanically operated mechanism for the sound-producing devices of the piano, the said wires being arranged in two cables 61,
supported by the said base-member 55, of
the coupling. Associated with the said base member 55, is a removable cap member 62, of insulating material, said cap-member being secured 1n place by means-of screws 63. This cap member 62, carries two rows of metal nuts or disks 64, through the threaded.
op'enings of-which pass the threaded contact screws '6'5, the inner'ends of said screws mak ingcontact with! the heads of the yieldable contact members 58. The contact screws 65,
ai'e in circuitwith the several contact fingers 50, in the tracker,- the connection being made by' m eans'of the two cable sections 66-, carried by the cap member 62, the individual wires-of which are connected respectively to the several nuts or disks 64. This construction provides a separable coupling made up of two'plate members, one of which is a removable member connected by a cable with the tracker and carrying one set of the two-part contacts of the coupling, hence the tracker with its contacts and the said removable member of the coupling with its contacts, may all be assembled or made up at the factory and afterward easily and quickly attached to a piano. This results in a great saving of time and labor and materially reduces the cost of installation of the attachment in a piano and furthermore enables the tracker and its associated contact coupling member being shipped together as a unit, either as a part of the music roll holder or separate therefrom.
The pump 2 serves to maintain the chamher 5 in the tracker under constant airtension or suction, and whenever any of the perforations in the music sheet 10 register with any of the tracker ducts 36 the diaphragms correspondin to the vented ducts will be drawn outwar by means of the air tension in the chamber 5 and through the buttons 47 move the free ends of the contact fingers 50 into contact with the contact-pins 55, completing the electric circuits to the proper magnets 32 to energize said magnets, which will throw the friction shoes 30 into contact with the revolvin shaft 28, and through said shoes and shaft actuate the sound producing mechanism of the piano in the usual way,
As will be seen b referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the air tension 0 amber 41 of the'tracker is common to all the pneumatic cups 42 and their associated diaphragms, and this provides a very simple and compact arrangement, enabling the neumatics to be made comparatively small so that the tracker as a whole need not be any-longer, deeper, or wider, than the ordinary form of pneumatic tracker now used and employed in connection with self playingmusical instruments of the pneumatic type, and enabling the tracker to be associated with the'usual and well-known forms of music roll holdersnow in use, and which are adapted to be moved to an inoperative position back under the key-bed or forward thereofin front of the" keys of the piano as illustrated in Fig.2}of
the'accompanying drawings l' "This compact arrangement of the parts is an important feature of the present-*' invention' and is made possible by reason of thep eculiar form and arrangement of pneumat cs "and tacts employed. 4
in Fig. 2 of the drawing this music-roll holder comprises in part end-members '70 having rearwardly extendin arms 71, pivoted at 72 to a plate 73, slldablymounted in guideovays 74 secured to the under side of the piano key-bed" 75. The music roll holder is maintained in playing position by means of a spring latch 76'. -When out of use the roll holder assumes the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 2. I do not claim the music roll holder per se in this application, as the same will form the subject matter of another application for-patent, the showing here being merely by way of illustration to show the improved tracker in association with a bodily movable music-roll holder.
It is important in these tracker-bar constructions that provision be made for adjusting the tracker-bar longitudinally from 5'0 I V I,
cause the inclined face 26 f the block 26 time to time or laterally with reference to the direction of travel of the music-sheet in order that the perforations in the music sheet will at all times accurately register 5 with the tracker ducts, and to accomplish this end I have provided the end members 70 of the roll-holder with open ended boxes 77, having removable cap-pieCes'as more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6-, the "opposite ends of the tracker being slidably supported in said boxes'77. These boxes serve 'to support and guide the tracker during adjustment. The tracker is moved longitudinally in'either direction by means of a knurled disk 78 car- 'ried by a screw 7 9, which screw has engagement with an end of the tracker and a side member of the music roll holder as more "clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6; Obviously by rotating the screw 79 through the medium of the knurled disk the tracker may be shifted laterally to cause the ducts in the tracker to regist'er' accurately with the per forations in the music'sheetf As heretofore pointed out a suitable re- 'winding mechanism isf'employed to rewind themusic" sheet fr'o'm' oifthe take-up rollha-ck {onto the delivery spool; and associated cut-'ofi' valve 'W h"th .i$fe ther i to cutoff the air tension supply from the air tension a of the "tracker, this cut- :1 ae ha isa and he" to,1a ifemore "clea as, actu l-matching pinio aa'a naihe bl vided cam-shaped exten i 3 2;.-
i la ql s Q? 6 aw ,andjcover the or 'pem'ng8 i'n'g'to the fair tension 'cramt rpi the cker, the cutofi valve 27 being normally "urged outward yi a s of 'a'sp 83-} tw pp sent from the construction shown that wheni ever" the hand lever 80f'ismoved1 so as to to shiftthe clutch pinion 22 to cau e the rewindingmechanismto thrown intooperationjthe cam extension "81,1 will, simultaneou's ly with such movement move the cut-0E valve 27 inward, "so as to "close the jpor't opening "82, int-he valvebox 4, and thus I cut self ',the airjsupplv or exhaust from the .t a, ham g the tracker. i v
What I claim is:- p i A pneumato-electricf tracker comprising a hollow-member" havingthe usual tracker ducts and an air chamber therein, a"
ing a hollow memberv constituting p Q chamber; said: tracker having the; usual p H I tracker-ducts andprovided withremovable Beingfurther proplurality of movable contact members mounted within the tracker, pneumatics for actuating said contacts, said neumatics being located within the tracker and having communication with the tracker ducts, and a plurality of fixed contacts adjustably mounted in an outer wall of the tracker for cooperation with the movable'contact members, said fixed contacts, each having a tool engaging portion exposed outside the tracker for the purpose described.
2. A pneumato-electric tracker comprising a hollow-member having the usual tracker ducts and an air chamber therein, a plurality of movable contact members mounted within the tracker, pneumatics for actuating said contact members, said pneumatics being located within the tracker and having communication with said ducts, and a plurality of fixed contacts projecting'through an outer wall of the tracker, said fixed contacts being adjustably mounted for coa'ction with the said movable contact members.
tracker ducts and an air chamber therein, a
plurality of movable contact members mounted within the tracker, pueumatics for actuating said contact members, said pneumatics being located within the tracker and having communication with'said ducts, a. plurality of fixed contact pins projecting through an outer wall of the trackeri for cd i action" withlthe movable contact members, i and means 'for 'adjustably supporting the contact pins' 4QA' pneumato-electric tracker comprisan air 'sidefand bottom walls, a plurality of ="1i1ovable contact members located within the tracker, neumatics for actuating f'said contacts also located within the tracker and having communication with said ducts, and 'a 'plurality'of fixed contacts adjusta-bly car riedby-the removable walls and each having a tool, engaging portionprojecti'ng outside the tracker, said fixed contacts adapted for coactionwith the movable contacts.
5; A pneumato-el'ectric tracker comprising a hollow-'member constituting an air chamber, said tracker having the usual tracker ducts, and provided withremovable side and bottom walls, separate/r. rows of diaphragm pneumatics located within the tracker, the diaphragms of each row of pneumatics facing one'of the said removable wal ls"of the tracker and said neumatics communicating with said ducts, a plurality of movable contact springs located within the tracker and each having its free end overhanging one ofthe said diaphragms, and a plurality of fixed contacts passing 30 .bearings a.valve controlled,conduit leading through the said removable walls and each having its inner end mounted for coaction with one of the said movable contacts, said fixed contacts being adjustable toward and from the movable contacts.
6. A pneumato-electric tracker comprising a hollow member having the usual tracker ducts and an air chamber, a plurality of movable contacts mounted within the tra ker, diaphragmneumatics located within the tracker for actuating said contacts, the diaphragms ofsaid neumatics,
' roll holder, a. pneumatoeelectric tracker havingl an air chamber, also-icarried by the music r0 holder,v driving means. forthe take-up roll and rewinding meansfor one of the end tothe air chamber in the tracker, said ,conu nd. i s -.va ve ingicarri d by. a d m ya h 4 the r911'hcldcr;-;and .,m nual1y p ablem n lsocarri dbyt rollh ldcr for throwing the rewindin in 1 r,- ut. t sav -a.hi;c.1 .1',.,\, v ne al meicn er, C10? alrb-wn ro, 5 "i -mAln sicrl T 'ncat jithe ke s-bed of anew to. a positi n forward) h reo 1a tak n ro l an end ea ng for a'm si tsP oI arried .bylthc roll holder, ajpneurnatdelectrictrackcr havkil 411 air Cham r: alsc ca'rried by the music o der, d ivi g: mcan gifcr, he ake- P r an ir in ng mea s" o one' tthq' n bearings, a v lve' or cn rc ng the air the tracker, means for. throwing the rewindns m nism ,-int0 operati n and; mul aneou'sly .operati thcacut-ofi valve, and a manually opera '1eYQl'3gOmmQl1 "liO b0th .9. A. music roll holderhaving a pneumato electric tracken reniovably; "attached thereto, said tracker comprisinga, hollow member having the usual tracker ducts and a air hamber, a plur ity of pn um tl In said m er, said neumatic v ng c mmunication with sand ducts, a plurality of movable contacts in said chamber actuated:
by aid Pneumat s, a plu al ty Qt fixed con cooperating. 1 ca of icir'cm I niechaniSm' Pl e: v i 12."..A",n1u,s ic-. roll"holder having a pneu- 'mato electric tracker removably attached thereto, said tracker comprising. a" hollow member-having the usual tracker ducts'and tacts cooperating with the said movable contacts, a cable of circuit wires, each wires of the cable connected to one of said movable contacts, and an electric coupling member having separate terminals to which the opposite ends of said wires are connected.
10. A music roll holder having a pneu- ,mato-electric tracker removably attached thereto, said tracker comprising a hollow member having the usual tracker ducts and an air chambena plurality of pneumatics in said chamber, said pneumatics havin communication with said ducts, a plura ity of movable contacts in said chamber actuated by said neumatics, a lurality of fixed contacts coiiperating wit the said movable contacts, awcable of circuit wires, each wire of the cable connected to one of said movable contacts, and an electric coupling memher having separate terminals to which the opposite ends of said wires. are connected,
said coupling member embodying a plate carrying separate contact elements.
'11, A music roll holder having a pneumato-electric tracker removably attached thereto, said, i tracker comprising. a. hollow member having the usual tracker ducts and anlair chamber, a plurality of pneumatics in said chamber, sa d pneumatics communieating with saidducts, a plurality of move conta t in "said, ch er a t t y said neumatics, a ,luralityoi fixed contacts caidfmovable contacts,
.lres each wire of; the
cableconnected t e said, movable comtact s, and an electric cduplingimember having separa e-terminals: to which the oppo-.
,site ends of ,siidfivirqis are co'riilegtted, sa1d an'air chamber, a plurality of pneumatics 'insaid chamber, said pneumatics communieating with said ducts, a plurality of movable" contacts in said chamber actuated by said neumatics, aplurality of fixed'contacts cooperating with ing separate terminals to which the opposite ends of said wires are connected, said coupling member comprisin a strip of insulatlng material, and a p uralit-y of contact pins adjustably mounted in said plate, said pins being electrically connected to the wires of the cable.
13,, combination with electrically operated playing mechanism for a musical in;
ta t.
e saidmovabl contacts, a cable of circuit wires, each wire of the cable connectedto one of "said movable contacts', and an electric coupling member havstrument embodying a plurality of electrohaving terminals said last named coupling magnets and an electric coupling member member being adapted to be cooperatively including electric terminals, one for each of associated with the first named coupling said manets, a pneumato-electric tracker member.
having t e usual tracker ducts and an air In testimony whereof I have hereunto set chamber, a plurality of pneumatically acmy hand in presence of two subscribing tuated contact members within the tracker, witnesses. a plurality of cooperating contacts carried CHARLES W. DORRICOTT. by the tracker, a cable of wires leading from Witnesses:
NAOMI SLo'rrnR, C. E. SCHAEFFER.
the said movable contacts, said cable of wires terminating in an electric coupling member Conic: of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0."
US70499412A 1912-06-21 1912-06-21 Pneumato-electric tracker-bar for musical instruments. Expired - Lifetime US1088884A (en)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3685383A (en) * 1969-06-13 1972-08-22 Dale Electronics Switching apparatus for a player piano

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3685383A (en) * 1969-06-13 1972-08-22 Dale Electronics Switching apparatus for a player piano

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