US1154189A - Rerolling mechanism for musical instruments. - Google Patents

Description

J. F. MACKIN.

REROLLING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2I. m0.

1,1 54,189. PatentedSept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. F. MACKlN.

REROLLING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.21.1910.

1,1 54,189. Patentedsept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEE12.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MENTS, TO LAWRENCE MAXWELL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

R EROLLING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

Application filed April 21, 1910. Serial No. 556,658.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. MACKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rerolling Mechanism for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to a re-rolling device for a musical instrument controlled by a perforated music sheet.

The principal objects of the invention are to furnish practicable means for automatically reversing the rolling apparatus when the music sheet is almost entirely unrolled from the music roll so as to cause the same to be automatically re-rolled after the selection is played; to providemeans for automatically stopping the motor when the roll; has been rewound; and to provide for accomplishing these results without the use of any extra perforations, or cuts either in the tracker or music sheet.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a tracker box showing other parts of a musical instrument partly in diagrammatic form.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the tracker box. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the rolls and connected parts on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is an elevation of part of the rerolling connections. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the parts shown at the bottom 'of Fig.1, and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same on enlarged scale with parts in section.

The instrument is shown as having a tracker box 10provided as usual with a music spool or roll 11 having spindles 12 and with a take-up spool or roll 13 having a gear 14. The shaft 15 for operating the music and take-up spools is operated in any desired way. It is provided with a pinion 16'meshing with the gear 14 for operating. the take-up roll and is also provided with a sprocket wheel 17 which operates a sprocket'wheel 18 on the spindle 12 and which is designed to be put into operation. to re-roll by means of a link 19 for 1noving a clutch 20 as is well understood in this art. This link is operated by a pneumatic conducting material shown as of cylindrical form; This is attached by means of a screw or pivot 29 longitudinally located with respect to'the tube 25 so that it can have a slight turning motion thereon. On the cylindrical insulating member 28 are two metallic rings 30 insulated from each other by the wooden cylinder, each connected with one of the wires 26.

On the music spool is a thin flexible tightfitting band or contact piece 31 of copper or other conducting material. This band may be removed or put on any music spool very easily without in any way cutting or impairing the spool or the paper. Obviously, it serves to complete the electric circuit between the two rings 30, when the music sheet has been unwound sufficiently to allow the two conducting rings 30 to come down on the spool. This results in establishing a current through a battery 40 and electromagnet 41. This magnet is provided with a leather-faced metallic armature 42 which is moved by the energizing of the magnet away from a port 43 so as to permit air to enter the same. This raises a diaphragm 44, the other side of which is in communication with an exhaust chamber 45. This in turn raises a double valve 46 and brings a passage 47 into communication with the chamber 45 through a port 48 and closes a port 49 to the outside air. This connects the exhaust chamber 45 with the bellows 21 and collapses the same which then operate the link 19 in an obvious manner to connect up the driving shaft 15 with the spindle 12 so as to operate the re-rolling mechanism.

On the bottom of the tracker box is a tube 50 similar to the pivoted tube 25 and having an insulating roll 51 on the end provided with two metallic rings 52. This is adapted to be held away from the take-up spool 13 by the paper but is counterbalanced so as to come into contact therewith when the paper is unwound, as shown in Fig. 1. At this time the two metallic rings 52 come into cont-act with a metallic contact piece 53 on the take-up spool which may extend all the way, or only part way, around the spool, as desired. If it extends only part way around it should have a certain relationship to the hook which engages the eye in the end of the music sheet, so that it will be in position to engage the rings 52 when the expiring end of the music sheet is in the desired position. lVhen the sheet is entirely rerolled, an electric contact is made at this point which completes an electric circuit 55, the two terminals of which are the rings 52, and energizes a magnet 56. This magnet operates to raise an armature 57 to release a knife blade switch 58 to permit a spring 59 to draw it out and break the contact, thus breaking a motor circuit '60, which is connected with the motor 61, that operates the shaft 15.

lVhen it is desired to start the machine, a knob 62 is pressed against the spring 59 which brings the knife blade switch into position to make the circuit. It is then held in that position by the gravity armature 57 in an obvious manner. The operation will be obvious.

A music spool 11 is inserted in the cabinet preparatory to playing, with its hook or eye in engagement with the hook 54. The button 62 is then pressed and the motor circuit is thus completed, thus starting the spool 13 into rotation. The first revolution of the spool brings the music sheet between the contact plate 53 and the rings 52 so that the armature 57 will drop to hold the knife blade-switch in closed position so that the finger can be removed from the button 62. The music sheet continues to wind up on the take-up spool until the selection has been played. At this point the music sheet on the spool 11 uncovers the contact piece 31 thereby completing the electrical circuit 26 and connecting the bellows 21 with the exhaust, as has been explained. This operates the re-roll connections and the music sheet starts back so as to rewind on the music spool 11.. As the last turn of the music sheet leaves the spool 13 it uncovers the contact piece 53 and the rings 52 come into engagement with it so as to complete the electrical circuit 55. This raises the armature 57 which permits the spring 59 to act to break the motor circuit and stop the motor.

lVhile I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, I am aware that many modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction shown and described, but

lVhat I do claim is 1. As an article of manufacture, a nonconducting music spool for a musical instrmnent, said spool having a metallic electrical conducting plate thereon located entirely between the ends of the spool so asto be covered by the music sheet at all times during playing and to be uncovered by the sheet only when the sheet is substantially unwound from the spool.

2. The combination with a non-conducting rotatable take-up spool having a metallic contact piece thereon, of a pivoted arm having two electric terminals thereon insulated from each other and engaging the sheet on the spool, a circuit connected with said terminals, and means in said circuit for controlling the stopping of the rotation of said spool.

3. In a musical instrument, the combina tion of a music spool, a take-up spool, a note sheet, a shaft, and means for connecting the shaft either with the take-up spool or the music spool, with electro magnetic means supported independent of the note sheet whereby when the note sheet is unwound from the music spool the said connecting means will be operated to connect the shaft with the music spool, and electro magnetic means independent of the note sheet whereby when the note sheet leaves the take-up spool the shaft will be stopped.

4. In a musical instrument, the combination of a music spool having a metallic contacting member thereon in position to be covered by the music sheet at all times when the latter is wound upon the spool, a pair of contact members insulated from each other in position to engage the said contact member when the music sheet is unrollcd there from, and means electrically controlled thereby for reenrolling the sheet onthe spool.

5. In a musical instrument, the combination of a motor, a music spool, pneumatic means for connecting the motor with the music spool to rewind the sheet thereon, electromagnetic means for controlling the operation of said pneumatic means, an electrical circuit for energizing the electro magnetic means having two terminals normally insulated from each other and located in position to engage the music spool, and means on the music spool for electrically connecting said terminals when the music sheet is unrolled therefrom and they come into contact therewith.

6. In a musical instrument, the combination of a shaft, a music spool, means for connecting the shaft with the music spool for rewinding the sheet on the music spool, a pneumatic having means for operating said connecting means, an electromagnet having an armature, an air conduit norsaid connecting means,

mally closed by said armature and adapted when openedby the energizing of the magnet, to connect said pneumatic with a source of exhaust, two terminals normally insulated from each other and connected with the circuit of the electro-magnet, and means whereby when the music sheet is unrolled from the spool said terminals will be connected with each other to energize the magnet and start the re-rolling operation.

7. In a musical instrument, the combina tion of a music spool for a note sheet, a takeup spool, a power shaft, means whereby the shaft can be connected either with the takeup spool or music spool, means for op rating an electrical circuit for controlling said operating means, means supported independent of the note sheet whereby when the note sheet on the music spool is unrolled therefrom, said circuit will be completed and the connecting means will connect the shaft with the music spool to rewind the same, and means whereby when the end of the note sheet leaves the take-up spoolthe power shaft will be stopped.

8. In a musical instrument, the combination of a music spool, a take-up spool, a shaft, and means for connecting the shaft either with the take-up spool or the music spool, with means whereby when the music sheet is unwound from the music spool the said connecting means will be operated to connect the shaft with the music spool, a motor for operating said shaft, an electrical circuit for the motor having two terminals insulated from each other, a metallic plate on the take-up spool adapted to connect said terminals, when the note-sheet leaves the take-up spool, and means whereby the shaft will be stopped when said plate connects with said terminals.

9. In a musical instrument, the combination of a take-up spool, a metallic contact piece thereon adapted to be covered by the note sheet when wound upon the spool, a movable member having two terminals insulated from each other in position to engage said piece when the music sheet is unwound so as to uncover the same, an electro-magnet, an electrical circuit connecting said electromagnet with said terminals, a motor-circuit, a switch in the motor circuit, means constantly tending to open said switch, and an armature for said magnet having means for holding said switch closed except when said magnet is energized and arranged to release it when attracted by the magnet.

10. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a roll for a perforated music strip; a metallic surface covering a portion of said roll; a perforated music strip attached to said roll, said strip being adapted to uncover portions of said metallic surface when said strip is entirely unrolled;

metallic pieces adapted to make a running electric contact with said metallic surface when the same is uncovered by said strip and mounted to permit the several turns of said strip when on said roll to lie between said metallic surface and said pieces; an electric motor; an electro-magnetic circuit breaker, electric connections between said metallic pieces and the coils of the electromagnet of said circuit-breaker said connections including a source of electricity; electrical connections between the armature ter minals of said motor and said circuitbreaker; and mechanical connections between the shaft of said motor and said roll.

11. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a music roll; a take-up roll, a metallic surface on each of said rolls; a perforated music-strip having one end attached to each of said rolls, portions of said ends being adapted to expose parts of said metallic surfaces when said strip is entirely unrolled; a pair of insulated metallic pieces supported near each of said rolls and adapted to make a running electric contact with the metal surface on each of said rolls when the same are exposed by the cut-away ends of said music strip, and mounted to permit the several turns of said strip when on said rolls to lie between said surfaces and said pieces; two motors; two electro-magnets for controlling the operation of said motors respectively; electrical connections between the metallic pieces near said music roll and the coils of one of the electro-magnets, said connections including a source of electricity; mechanical connections between the mo tor controlled by the last named electromagnet and said music roll; electrical connections between the metallic pieces near said take-up roll and the coils of the other electro-magnet, said last named connections including a source of electricity; and mechanical connections between the shaft of one of the motors and the take-up roll.

12. In a musical instrument, the combination of a movable member having two terminals separated from each other, an electro-magnet, an electrical circuit of which said electro-magnet and said terminals form parts, a motor circuit, a switch in the motor circuit, means constantly tending to open said switch, an armature for said magnet having means for holding said switch closed except when the magnet is energized and arranged to release it when the armature is attracted by the magnet, and means for con necting said terminals whereby the magnet will be energized.

13. In a musical instrument, the combination with a takeup spool, of a member having two terminals separated from each other, an electromagnet, an electrical circuit including said electromagnet and terminals, whereby the electromagnet will be energized when the terminals are electrically connected, a motor circuit, a switch in the motor circuit, a spring for normally opening said switch, an armature for said magnet having means for holding the switch closed against the action of sand spring and arranged to move into aposition to release the switch When attracted by the electromagnet, andvmeans on the take-up spool for connect- 10 ing said terminals and thus completing the motor circuit when the music sheet is un Wound from said spool to expose the lust named means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing 15 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by nddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

wdlhington, D. 0-

Images