US1568659A - Tracking mechanism for music sheets - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 5 1926.

T. DANQUARD TRACKING MECHANISM FOR MUSIC SHEETS 2 Shea ts-Shaat 1 33 30 nfl l l a 1 lllrwl m m w w Original Filed NOV. 4, 1921 Jan. 5 1926.

T. DANQUARD TRACKING MECHANISM FOR MUSIC SHEETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed NOV. 4, 1921 MN M Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS DANQUARD, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AUTO PNEUMATIC ACTION COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TRACKING MECHANISM FOR MUSIC SHEETS.

Original application filed November 4, 1921, Serial No. 512,886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS DAN UARD. a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Tracking Mechanism for Music Sheets, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a division of the application for patent filed by me November 4, 1921, Serial No. 512,886 on a tracking mechanism for music sheets.

The object of this invention is to improve the operation of the automatic tracking mechanism employed in automatically operated musical instruments for keeping the perforated music sheet in proper lateral position on the apertured tracker bar, par ticularly when the music sheet is being rewound on the music spoolv Automatic tracking mechanisms are now extensively employed but difficulty is encountered when using such. devices in rewinding the music sheet on the music spool, because such rewinding usually takes place at such high speed that the automatic tracking mechanism does not have time to operate properly.

To overcome this difficulty, I have provided a locking mechanism which holds the automatic tracking mechanism out of operation during rewinding which mechanism is also arranged so as to center the music spool or bring the same to an intermediate position and lock the same in such position during rewinding.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying-two sheets of drawings, in which Fig. l is a front elevation partly in diagram illustrating the application of my invention to a well known form of automatic tracking mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the pneumatics employed in such tracking mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line 4l-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the shut-off valve;

Fig. 6 is a plan of the shut-off valve seat; and

Divided and this application filed July Serial No. 653,686.

Flg. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line 77 of Fig. 5.

The invention will be best understood by a detailed description.

Referring to the drawings and in detail,

A designates the apertured tracker bar over which the perforated music sheet B is drawn from the music spool C by a take-up roll D, these parts being arranged in the usual spool box E. A gear 10 is mounted on the take-up roll or theshaft thereof and is engaged by a driving pinion 11 secured on the end of a shaft 12 which can slide in its bearings in the spool box and in a framework 13 secured to the side of the spool box. A pinion 14: is mounted on the end of this shaft and is driven by a chain 15 carried around the pinion 16 of the motor. A clutch 17 is mounted on the shaft 12. A gear 18 is loosely fitted on the shaft 12 and journalled in the frame 13 and the same carries a clutch or pin 19 which the clutch 17 can engage. A chain 20 is carried around said gear 18 and a pinion 21 on the shaft of the right hand music spool clutch or bearing. A shifter lever 22 is pivoted on the frame and engages the clutch 17. This shifter lever is connected by a link 23, armed shaft 24, link 25, pivot-ed lever 26, link 27 to the reroll lever 28 pivoted in the usual manner, generally in the key bed of the instrument. This reroll lever connects by a link 29, lever 30 and link 31 to the motor governor and also by link 32 to a valve 33 arranged in a valve box 34 which valve is used to connect the player action to the exhaust.

hen the reroll lever is in the position shown in the drawings, the action will be connected to the suction or exhaust, and the motor will be operated at a governed speed to rotate the take-up roll D to draw the music sheet forward over the tracker. hen the reroll lever is shifted to the left the music spool will be rotated from the mot-or at a high speed as the motor gover nor is cut out and direct connection is made thereto and at the same time the pneumatic action will be cut out of operation by the valve This will cause the to operate together by a bar 87, extending from which is a link 38 which is attached to a pivoted bell crank lever 39, which is connected by a link 10 to a. cam 41 mounted ona shaft 4-2. This cam 41 engages'the end of the right hand music spool clutch or bearing 13. The left hand music spool clutch or bearing 4-4 is engaged by a spring 45 which normally tends to force the music spool to the right. The tracker bar is provided with two outer guide openu'igs 46-+46 and with two inner guide openings 47-47, the same being connected by pipes or tubes e1604-.($0 and 470 470 to the valve box F of the tracking mechanism. There are two valve mechanisms arranged in said box, one for each shifting pneumatic, the right hand one being illustrated in detail. The tube 460 for this valve mechanism is connected by passages under a diaphragm valve 48 and the tube 470 for this valve mechanism is connected by passages to the top of adiaphragm 49 connected to operate the diaphragm valve LS. A passage with a bleed 50 extends from under the diaphragm valve 618 under a diaphragm 51 which controls a double valve 52. An exhaust or suction passage is connected by a pipe 54: to the suction or exhaust. hen all of the guide openings in the tracker bar are closed by the music sheet the diaphragm valves 48t8 will remain down and the doublevalves 52 willalso remain down and the suction or. exhaust will be connected with both tracker pneumatics 35-36 and as they are opposed they will be locked in central or intermediate position. \Vhen the music sheet wanders from one side far enough to uncover one of the guide openings l6, air will be admitted under the diaphragm valve 48- and then under the diaphragm 51 lifting a double valve 52 and connectingthe shifter pneumatic controlled thereby to the atmosphere. This will allow the shifter pneumatics to operate just the right distance to shift the music sheet automatically laterally on the tracker bar just the proper distance to insure correct registration during the forward travel. This operation will take place with an expanded or wide, music sheet.

If, a narrower music sheet is employed, when the same is in normal position the guide openings 46% will both be uncovered lifting both valves 52 and connecting both shifter pneumatics to the atmosnheie If such music sheet should wander laterally one inner guide opening will be uncovered which will let air down on a diaphragm 45), will close the diaphragm valve -18 and will. allow the double valve 52 controlled thereby to drop, thus connecting the proper shifter pneumatic to the suction so that the shifter pneumatics will operate to make just the right adjustment to keep the music sheet in proper registration.

This mechanism is of a well known type and works substantially on the plan shown by the patent granted in my name No. 1,187,975, June 20, 1916. \Vhile this well known form of automatic tracking mechanism is illustrated, it is to be understood that my improvements hereinafter described can be applied to and used in combination with many other forms of automatic tracking mechanir'ems.

To provide for the centralizing and locking functions previously described for use in connection with any suitable automatic trackil'ig mechanism the follmving devices are provided.

It will be seen that the pipes 4(SO4(50 and 4TO- 170 are connected to a rotary valve which is arranged on a seat 61 fastened on top of the valve box F. This valve seat 61 has holes extending down into the valve box so that when the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 7 the pipes 4L60460 and 470-4170 will be connected to the *alve box F in the proper manner. The valve is held on said valve stem by a screw and a spring 63. The valve is provided with an arm 6% which is connected to some suitable point in the linkwork controlled by the reroll lever such as, for example links (340, lever 641, shaft 642, lever 643, link 64% as indicated in Fig. 1. Stops 65 65 may be arranged to be engaged by an arm 66 extending from the valve. These parts are arranged so that when the music sheet is being drawn forward for playing, the pipes 460460 and 470-470 are properly connected to the valve box F but so that when the reroll lever is shifted for rewinding all the connection between the pipes 460-460 and 470470 is cut off. This is the same action as if all the guide openings in the tracker bar were closed by the music sheet. The diaphragm valves 428-48 will remain down and the double valves (SQ-52 will also remain down and the suction or exhaust will be connected with both tracker pneumatics 3536 as they are opposed. When the exhaust or suction is on both pneumatics as thus described, if one pneumatic is open more than the other the flexible leaf or fold at the bottom of such pneumatic will have a larger area than the flexible leaf or fold in the other pneumatic. Hence the suction on the more extended fold or leaf w'll act on the pneumatics and will cause them to assume an intermediate or practically central position and will lock them in such position. Thus, when the rewinding takes place the music sheet will be accurately drawn or wound on the music spool.

The details and arrangements herein shown and described may be greatly varied by a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination of an apertured tracker bar, means for drawing a perforated music sheet from the music spool over the tracker bar for playing, means for rotating the music spool for rewinding, an au tomatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the music sheet in proper lateral position on the tracker while tracking forward consisting of two opposed shifter pneumatics, valves for controlling the same, guide openings controlled by the music sheet, connections therefrom to said valves, and means for closing the communication between the guide openings and the valves during the rewinding action.

2. The combination of an apertured tracker bar, means for drawing a perforated music sheet from the music spool forward over the tracker bar for playing or for rotating the music spool for rewinding,

mechanism for causing this means to operate either way, an automatic tracker mechanism for maintaining the music sheet in proper lateral position while traveling forward consisting of two opposed shifter pneumatics, the valves for controlling the same, guide openings controlled by the music sheet, connections therefrom to said valves, and valve mechanism for opening and closing communication between said guide openings and valves operated by the mechanism which controls the action of the music sheet forwarding or rewinding means.

3. The combination expressed in the above claim 2, the valve mechanism consisting of a rotary valve to which the connections from the guide openings are attached.

4. The combination expressed in the above claim 2, the valve mechanism consisting of a valve seat having openings to control said valves, and a rotary valve on said valve seat having passage to which the connections from the guide openings are at tached, said valve being movable to operative and inoperative positions and said passages being aligned with said seat openings in the operative position of said valve and being closed by the valve seat in the inoperative position of said valve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

THOMAS DANQUARD.

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