US1439708A - Writing machine - Google Patents

Description

UNET

ROBERT J'. ORR, OF WOODHAVEN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SCAMMACCA, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STEPHEN WRITING MACHINE.

Application led December To aZ cham it may concern:

Be it known that I. ROBERT J. ORR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lVOOdhaven, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to writing ina-- chines, and particularly to machines for writing musical notations, the present invention being particularly adapted for use in connection with machines for writing music notation as disclosed in Patent No. 1,391,788 granted to me September 2T, 19:21, in which a writing sheet upon which the music characters and signs are to be impressed is carried by a platen to have to and fro longitudinal movement with a. platen carriage with the necessary mechanism to advance the carriage with the platen step by step letter space distances in the usual manner of typewriting machines, and in which means are provided to line space the platen at will' either forwardly or backwardly distances representative of one or more degrees, or multiples thereof, ofa. music staff.

It is the object of the invention to provide indicating means to indicate the degree of advancing or retracting movement of the platen in line space direction and the writing position or printing point of a music character indicative of a music tone upon the writing sheet or paper carried by the platen in relation to the music staff and the pitch of the tone of such music character.

It is a further object of the invention toprovide indicating means of this character arranged with representations of a pluralityY of music staffs either one of which is adapted to co-operate with the platen to indicate the extent or degree of movement of the platen in line spacing direction and the writing or printing point of a music character in predetermined position with relation to the music staff upon a. writing sheet, the tone of such character and the pitch of the tone.

@ther objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

While the present invention relates par-4 ticularly to a machine adapted for the writing of musical composition the invention is applicablev to any of the well known commercial typewriting machines utilized for 10, 1920. Serial N0. 429,621.

the production of writtenspeech by substituting for the characters representative of written speech impression making devices or characters representative of written music, and the embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in connection with the platen carriage of the well known Underwood typewriting machine, only so much of the machine having been shown as is essential to an understanding of the invention.

vIn the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this speciiication, Figure 1 is a \plan view of a platen rotatably mounted in a platen frame, only a portion of the ends being shown, with my improved indicating means applied thereto, a writing scale being shown in front elevation in relation to the platen.

Figure 2 is an end elevation looking at the left of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the platen and showing the relation ofmy improved paper shelf or table to the platen.

Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevation, partly in section, of a paper holding and feeding finger utilized in connection with the paper shelf or table.

Figure 5 is a View of the paper` linger looking at the top of Figure 4.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are plan, front and end elevations of a spring member to yieldingly hold the lingers shown in Figures 4 and 5 in adjusted position relative to the paper shelf or table.

Figure 9 is a front elevation, partly in section, to show the mounting of the indicating means and the relation thereof to the platen.

Figure 10 is a plan view to show the relation of the paper shelf or table to the platen.

Figures 11 and 12 are sectional end views taken on the lines 11-11 and 12-12 of Figure 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 13 and 14 are plan views showing in a diagrammatical manner the arrangement of the representations of music stas and symbols to denote music tones in relation to the staffs.

Figure 15 is an elevational view in section of a pointer utilized in connection-with the representations or indications of the music staffs, tones and pitch and the means to releasably retain the pointer in fixed position relative to such representations; and

Figure 16 is a plan view-of a templet to be used in connection with thepaper shelf or type carried by type bars (nsf table for manually producing music signs in connection with mechanically writtten notation.

Similar characters ofV reference designate like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

The embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings in connection with a cylindrical platen 17 fixed to an axle 17 whereby-the platen is rotatably mounted in the ends 18 of a platenframe to have to and fro movement in line spacing direction by knobs 19 secured to the ends of the platen axle, shown) being adapted to strike rearwarl y against the front of the platen as is common in front strike writing machines. ,The invention is adapted to be utilized in connection with finger key actuated means co-operating with toothed wheels or gears 20 at opposite ends of the platen, as set forth in my copending application hereinbefore referred to and to Yas which reference may befliad, to line space the platen either forwardly or backwardly predetermined distances representative 0r equivalent of one orvmore degrees of-diatonic signs above or below the initial note in the writing of a music composition, and which may be a Single degree, ora multiple of der grees, within a single octave or a multiple of octaves to enable the operator to `collect and properly arrange the different parts of a.

musical composition. y 4

The paper or writing sheet, shown in a general way at P (Figure 3) to receive the impressions upon the platen is guided be tween feed rollers .21 and the platen and around the platen by a table 22 extending betweenthe ends ofthe platen, and the platen is releasably retained in pre-determined writing position by a yielding detent 23 cooperating with one or both of the toothed wheels 20.

lAs stated it is an object of the present invention to provide means to facilitate the Y downward and forward toward the platen with the leading edge of the shelf above the line of writing on the platen. This shelf is preferably made of sheet material with the side edges bent up at right angles to provide guide ledges 25 for the side edges of the paper. The longitudinal edge of the shelf is curled downwardly or curved, as*` at 26, to engage over studs 27 carried by brackets 28 secured to and projecting upwardly from the l' platen frame ends, said studs extending inwardly parallel with the platen. By so mountlng the shelf it is adapted to be adj usted to throw the leading edge thereof into or out of engagement with the platen. To maintain the writing sheet in Contact and flat against the shelf as it is fed by the platen and feed rollers 21 rollers 29, shown as two in number, are provided to engage with the top of the paper shelf. These rollers 29 are carried by resilient arms or fingers 30 mounted on a rod 31 extending longitudinally above the shelf and rotatably supported at its ends in the shelf ledges 25. To maintain these fingers in position on the rod to yieldingly urge the rollers 29 a ainst the paper shelf, the rod has a flattene portion 32 with which the free ends of both lspring members 33 (Figures 6, 7 and 8) carried by the fingers is adapted to normally engage. By this arrangement the fingers may be rotated on the rod independently of each other to throw either one or both of the rollers into or out of engagement with the paper shelf, and to adjust the fingers along the rod. The bow spring members are arranged with clips 34 adapted to engage in openin s 35 (Figure 5) in the fingers 30 and may e bent over as shown at 36 (Figure 4) to secure them to said fingers.

To throw both of the fingers simultaneously out of or into engagement with the paper shelf a finger lever 37 is secured to one end of the rod outside of a shelf ledge 25, this finger lever being made of resilient material to operate as a detent to retain the rod and fingers in position with the rollers in or out of engagement with the paper shelf. For this purpose the finger lever has a protuberance 38 extending laterally thereof toward the shelf ledge and when the rollers are in engagement with the paper shelf engages in a perforation in the shelf ledge, and when the rod is adjusted to position with the fingers held in position with the rollers out of engagement with the paper shelf said yprotuberance engages with the top of the shelf ledge. To prevent throwing the roller carrying fingers too far back an ear 39 is bent laterally from the shelf ledge to serve as a stop for the finger lever.

To reinforce the action of finger lever 37 l curvilinear edge 7 0 of regular form to serve as a guiding edge for a pencil, en or stylus in the writing of s lurs and t e like, and

v provided to gauge or indicate the position' at the left hand end with an irregular curved edge 71" to facilitate the writing of braces to connect staffs. The templet also has portions stamped therefrom to provide interior 'regular curved edges 72, 73 and an irregular curved edge 74. The templet is also arranged with a straight line 75 extending longitudinally and substantially centrally thereof whereby to parallel the templet with the staff lines on the writing sheet to facilitate the marking or writing of angular lines. One ofthe longitudinal edges is provided with graduated sectional representation of spaces, bars and forms of music notation. In use the templet is placed over the paper on the paper shelf after the mechanically written music notation has been impressed thereon to mark on the sheet slurs and the like to tie or connect such music notes as it is desired. By the arrangement of the fingers 30 carrying the rollers 29 the writing sheet is held fiat and firmly against the table permitting of the templet to be used effectively as a tracing instrument in conjunction with a pencil, pen or stylus.

vIn operation the writing sheet or paper is arranged ,with the regularly ruled and conventional music staff', and to accurately and correctly position notes, leger lines and other music characters by name and degree within such staff and in the blank spaces above and below the same at will, means are of the regularly ruled-music staff on the writing sheet on the platen with relation to the printing point on the platen, the vposition of the music character or note indicative of a music tone upon such staff', or in position above or below the staff, and the pitch of said tone. The embodiment o'f this indicating means illustrated in the drawings comprises a pair of heads-or wheels 42, 43, mounted on a platen axle 17 at opposite ends of the platen outside of the ends of the platen frame and within the platen rotating knobs 19. vllhese heads as shown in Figure 9 are mounted' upon the axle by sleeves 44 and are confined between collars 45 fixed to the sleeves and to reduced portions 46 of the platen knobs but of greater diameter to support the same upon the sleeve 44 and knob portions 46, the portion of the' bore of larger diameter co-operating .withY the knob portions ofy reduced diameter to provide a recess for the engagement of an expansionsprlng 47 coiled about the sleeve y and confined between the shoulder formed by the lportion of the bore in the head of reduced diameter and a washer 48 abutting against the reduced portion of the platen knob, the tension of the springl urging the wheel in a direction toJ frictionally engage the collar 45 wherebv said heads4 will participate in the rotative movement of the platen, and are adapted to have rotative adjustment relativeto the platen for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Eachof the heads is arranged as a variable staff, tone and pitch indicator and for this purpose each head is provided with representations of a plurality of music staffs circumferentially arranged around the periphery of the wheels with symbols of music tones `in relation to th e staffs, th e staffs consisting of letters or the names of notes and indicating the steps or degrees of the staffs, and each lettered step or degree being num-4 bered to indicate the degree of platen rotation vnecessary to position the platen to write or print a music character or note indicative of a selected tone 1n proper relation to the music stati' on the Writing sheet. The indicator or gauge 42 is provided with the G or treble clef and the F or bass clef'stai's, as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 13, and representative of 7;?, octaves jor the music arrangement of a pianoforte. The lettered or note named system of each stai is arranged with a system of numeral digits beginning vvlthl zeroin the first letteredv space or note name of either sta-fi', the initial note position in the G or treble clef staff' being note F and in the F or bass clef staff A., and which is theinitial music character printing position of the writing sheet-on the platen and in relation with which the writing sheet is aligned with the Writing scale 49 positioned with relation to the writ-- ing line on the platen as shown in Figure 1,

of rotation of the platen will be readily ascertained by the number adjacent the selected note name A, for example.

The music staffs are arranged around the periphery of the head and to posit-ion the same in the range ofvvision of the operator the head is mounted upon the platen axle in thefmanner hereinbefore described to permit of rotative adjustment of the head relative v to t-he platen, and the pointer is adjustable relative to the positioning of the respective staffs to facilitate the observing of the staffs and the positioning of the platen. For this purpose the pointer carrying arm 51 has adjustment between a. pair of stops 53 and is releasably retained in position by a spring infiuenced detent 54 engaging in either one of a. pair of recesses 52 in the platen frame end.

The representations of the G and F clef staffs are arranged as multiple octave staffs,

and to indicate the pitch 0f any selected tone or note name in either of the octaves of the staffs a pitch indicator is provided and is arranged at the inner end of the -head 42 having representations of the treble and bass clef staffs, as shown at 55 and A56 in Figure 11. The position of a selected tone or note Aname with relation to the pitch indicator is indicated by the pointer 50, the pointer being made of transparent material, such as celluloid, or of cut out. and open frame metal structure, to permit of the ready observation of the pitch indicator through the same. 6

The hea-d 43 is arranged in a manner similar t0 the arrangement of the staffs on the head 42 and just described except that said head has the representations of the tenor, alto and soprano staffs, as indicated in a diagrammatic manner at`57, 58 and 59 in Figure 14. The sition of the Writing sheet on the platen re ative to the printing pointl is indicated on the representations of the music staifs by a pointer 50', similar in structure to the pointer 50, but said pointer is adjustable to three positions relative to the representations of the music staffs between a pair of stops 53', and releasably retained in either of such positions by the detent engagin in either one of three recesses 60 in the p aten fame end. The head having the representations of the tenor, alto and so# prano sta's is provided with means to indicate the pitch of any selected tone or note name in either of the tenor, altoor soprano stads, and is arranged atthe inner end of the head carrying said stail representations, as shown at 61, 62 and 63 in Figure 1 2, and the position of a selected tone or note name with relation to said pitch indications fis ind icated by the pointer 50.

The lettered or note name portion of the.

tenor, alto and soprano staffs Vare also ar ranged with the system of numbers beginning with zeroV in the first lettered space or note name of each of the staffs, such initial position in the soprano staff 59 being indicated by the note name D, in the alto staff 58 by the note name G, and in the tenor staf 57 by the note name E.

The treble or G staf and the soprano sta, are also provided with the numeral digit 8? with dots above the same, as shown at 64 and 65, and are written in relation to' the three lined octave. and are to indicate that the music characters being written are in an octave higher than the three'lined octave. The bass or F sta is also provided with the numeral digit 8 with dots below theA same as' shown at 66rand are written in relation tothe contra octave and indicatethat the music characters being written are in an octave lower than the contra octave.

sition of writing on the sheet In .operation the writing sheet or paper with the regular ruled and conventional music staff printed thereon is inserted between the feed rollers 21 and the platen and the first line of the treble staff on such sheet is aligned 'with the Writin line scale 49, with the pointer 50 adjuste to the position with the detent 54 engaging in the forward recess 52 in the platen frame end, as shown in Figure 10. The indicator or gauge wheel 42 is thenadjusted relative to the platen to bring the representation of the treble staiI into the range of vision of the operator and 4set so that the note name F or one lined F and the numeral zero are in register with the pointer 50 when the indicator will be in position relative to the writing position of the sheet on the platen to begin writing of music characters in the treble staf. In the Writingy of music characters with the writing sheet adjusted to the writing position on the platen and `coinciding with the zero indication' on the gauge or indicator the `writing of higher notes are acts of addition and the writing of succeeding lower notes are acts of subtraction. However,

dicatorby Azero and one line F, to position the platen with the writing sheet to write the note E represented on the indicator by two lined E in the fourth space of the staff,

which is six degrees above zero, and indicates that the platen is to be retracted six degrees. To adjust the writing sheet to then write the note three lined C which is located on the second leger line above the sta shown on the indicator as ll-C, and five degrees above the representation of the note 2 lined E or 6 E on the indicator in the fourth space of the music staH and in that case the platen must be retracted've degrees to position the same to write the note three lined C, shown as ll-C on the indicator. Assuming that three lined C or 11-0 hasv been written, to

position the platen and writing sheet to write the musiccharacter denoted by 7 F oli-the indicator, which is on the fifth line of the stad and four degrees below the note s indication 11-C, this "indicates that the platen must be advanced four degrees.V To write the music cltaizacterY indicated at 2 D or one lined D below zero on the initial quires the advancing of the platen two degrees. To then write the music character represented by small A or 5 A on the indicator Which is on the second leger line below the staffl and three degrees below 2 D, indicating that the platen must be advanced three degrees or steps to position the Writing sheet in proper relation to the Writing line to Write such selected music character, and so on. To combine notes above with notes beloW the zero position is an act of addition.

Assuming the music character represented by one lined A or 2 A has been written which is above the zero position, and it is desired to then Write the music character indicated by one lined C or 3 C, it is necessary to add the increase of 2 A above Zero and the decrease of 3 C below zero, which is 5 and indicates that the platen is to be advanced five degrees to Write the character 3 C.

After completion of the Writing of the music characters of the treble staff to Write music characters of the bass or F staff the platen is adjusted until the first line of the bass staff on the Writing sheet is in line with the writing line scale 49 when the pointer 50 is adjusted to engage the rear stop 53 with the detent 54 in engagement Wit-h the rear recess, and the indicator or gauge 42 is adjusted rotatably relative to the platen to bring the representations of the bass staff into perspective and set so that the first space of the staff represented by zero A is in register with the pointer indicating the initial writing position and from which position the Writing of the music is proceeded with in a manner as set forth in connection with the G or treble staff.

When Writing music, such as old music and madrigals, in connection with the tenor, alto or soprano music staffs the indicator 43 with the representations of the variable staff, tone and pitch indications is utilized in a manner similar to that described in connection with the G or treble staff. The indicator 43 can 4also be used to Write music notation in the C clef for violas, alto trombones, violincellos, tenor trombones, bassoons, etc.

To facilitate the Writing of the music to readily ascertain the Writing posit-ion of the music character from the variable staff, tone and pitch indicator, the staff and the places above and below the staff, as Well as the lines or graduations and Symbols are arranged in contrasting colors on the indicator.' All of the lines and symbols may be black, the field of staffs white, the field above the staffs orange and the field below the staifs green, thereby enabling the eye to readily distinguish the nine tones of the regular staffs from the tones above and below the same on the indicator.

Variations may be resorted to Within the scope of the invention and portions of the invention may be used Without others.

Havingv thus described my invention I claim.

1. In a Writing machine, the combination with a platen and means to move the same to and fro predetermined variable distances in line space direction, of a gauge to participate in the line spacing movement of the platen and arranged with indicia to indicate the Writing position on the platen of a music character indicative of a tone. its position relative to the music staff and the pitch thereof.

2. In a Writing machine. the combination with a platen and means to line space the platen to and fro predetermined variable distances. of a gauge participating in the line spacing movement of the platen and arranged With indicia, and a pointer to cooperate With the gauge to indicate on the gauge the Writing position on the platen of a music character indicative of a tone relative to the music staff and the pitch thereof.

3. In a Writing machine, the combination With a platen and .means to advance and retract the platen predetermined variable line space distances, of anV indicator participating in the movement of the platen arranged with representations of a music staff, music tones in relation to said staff and the pitch of the tones relative to the staff to indicate the Writing position of a music character on the platen in predetermined relation to the staff and the pitch thereof.

4. In a Writing machine, a rotatable platen, means to rotatively advance and retract the platen variable predetermined line space distances, a gauge participating in the movement of the platen arranged vvith representations of a music. staff. music tones in relation to said staff and the pitch of the tones, and a fixed pointer to co-operate with the gauge to indicate on the gauge the Writing` position on the platen of a music character in predetermined relation to the staff and the pitch thereof.

5. In a Writing machine. a platen. means to advance and retract the platen predetermined line space distances, and an indicator participating in the movement of the platen arranged with representations of a multiple octave music statt7 and indications of music tones in relation thereto Withfindications of the pitch of the tone relative to either of the octaves of the staff to indicate the Writing position on the platen of a music character in predetermined relation to either octave of the stati1 and the pitch of the tone.

6. In a writing machine, a rotatable plat en, means to rotatively advance and retract the platen variable predetermined line space distances, and a gauge participating in the movement of the platen arranged with reprelation to the respective staffs and the pitch of said tones in relation to the octaves to indicate the Writing position on the platen of a music character with relation to either of the octa-ves of the respective stalls and the pitch of said tone.

7. In a writing machine, a rotatable plat# en; means to rotatively advance and retract the platen variable predetermined line space distances, a gauge participating in the movement of the platen .arranged with representations of a plurality. of multiple octave music stas with symbols of music tones in relation to the sta-ifs and the pitch of said tones in relation to the octaves, and a pointer to co-operate with either of said music stalls to indicate the Writing position on the platen of a music character with relation to either of the octaves of the respective stais and the pitch of said tone, said pointer being adjustable relative to the music staffs of the gauge for the purpose specified. L

S. In a Writing machine, a platen; means to advance and retract the platen variable line space distances; and a pair of indicators participating in the movement of the platen, each indicator arranged with the representations of a music staff and symbols of music tones in relation to the respective staffs and the pitch of said tones for the purpose specied.

9. In a writing machine, a platen; means to advance and retract the platen variable vline space distances; and a pair of indicators participating in the movement of the platen, each indicator being arranged with representations of multiple octave music staffs with symbols of music tones in relai tion to the octaves of the stail's and the pitch of said tones in relationto the octaves to indicate on the platen the ivrlting position vof the music character indicative of a predetermined tone on either oct-ave lof a staff and the pitch of the tone.

10. In a writing machine, a platen rotatable to and fro predetermined distances in line space direction, a circular head rotatable with the platen having representations of a music staff circumferentiallv arranged around the periphery gauged to coincide with the line space movement of the platen, and symbols of music tones in rela-tion to the sta 11. In a writing machine, a platen rotatable to and fro predetermined distances in line space direction, a circular head rotatable with the platen having representations of a music staf circumferentially arranged around the periphery gauged to coincide with the line space movement of the platen, and symbols of music tones in relation to the sta-il", and pitch indications circularly arranged at the end of the head in relation to the music stad.

1Q. In a Writing machine, a platen rotatable to and fro predetermined distances in line space direction, a circular head rotatable with the pla-ten having representations of a music staH circumferentially arranged around the periphery gauged to coincide with the line space movement of the platen and symbols of music tones in relation to the staff, and pitch indications circularly arranged at`the end of the head in relation to the music staff, and a pointer to cooperate with the representations of the music staff, tones and pitch on the head to india plurality of music staffs circumferentially arranged around the periphery with symbols of music tones in relationthereto, and pitch indications of said tones relative to the respective stais circularly arranged at the end of the vhead, and a pointer to co-operate with the representations of the staffs, tones and pitch on said head/to indicate the writing position on the platen of a predetermined music character with relation to either of the staffs and the pitch thereof, said pointer having adjustment relative to the music staffs for the purpose specilied.

14. In a Writing machine, a platen rota.- table lto and ro predetermined line space distances, a. pair of heads located at opposite ends of the platen and adapted to participate in the rotative movement of the platen, each of said -heads being arranged with represent-ations of a music stail with symbols of music tones in relation to the stai and the pitch of said tones, and a pointer to co-operate with the representations on the.

ROBERT J. ORR.

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