US2034224A - Program device for player musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1936.l W, J, BUTLER 29349224 y PROGRAM DEVICE FOR PLAYER MUSICALINSTRUMENTS Filed June 15, 1934 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED TATES PATENT OFFICE PROGRAM DEVICE FOR PLAYER- MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 7 Claims.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a program device for musical instruments whereby a plurality of power player musical instruments of different type may be l started successively, each at a denite timed interval after the starting of another and stopped, each at the conclusion of the rendition of a record; whereby an electrically operated power player musical instrument may be started successively at timed intervals; and whereby said instruments, or any of them, may be controlled electrically from a distant point.

Various other objects of my invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the particular embodiment thereof selected for more fully disclosing the principles underlying the same.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specicatiom- Figure 1 is a diagram of apparatus and certain arrangements embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a detail of construction.

In the particular drawing selected for more ully disclosing the principle of my invention, I0 is a horometric device such as an electric clock of any suitable type having a rotor II and a held structure I2 provided with a coil I3. In Figure l the horometer is shown in side elevation. Connected in any suitable manner for actuation by the horometer is a switching device herein shown as a mercury switch I4 disposed in the tilting cradle I5, pivotally connected at I6 to a suitable framework, said cradle having two upstanding arms I'I, I8 at its respective ends. While various means may be employed for tilting the switch I4 at the proper times, I have shown for the purpose of more clearly disclosing the invention a spring-retracted lever I9 pivoted at 2t and arranged to coact with the arm il' of the cradle for tilting the mercury switch to circuit-closing position (Fig. l) when the head 2l of said lever is moved by any suitable appliance actuated by the horometer. The cradle having no retractile means, the switch I4 will remain in circuit-closing position until tilted to circuit-opening position by means hereinafter described, and vice versa. As shown in the drawing, the hororneter is connected through a gear train 22 and worin gears 23, 24 with the vertical sleeve 25 to which are secured radially-extending blades arranged in sets herein shown as four in number. The rst set consists of a single blade 26 which is of greater vertical height than any of the blades of the other sets and performs the function of actuating the lever I9 once every hour. The second set consists in the present instance of two blades it, 2, the blade 21 being of less vertical height than the blade 26. The set consisting of the blades 29 and 2l actuates the lever I9 every half hour. The third set in the present instance consists of four blades 26, 2l, 28, 29. The blades are oi less vertical height than the blades 23, 2l 4and the set consisting of the blades 26, 28, 2l, 29 actuates said lever I9 every quarter hour. The fourth set of blades comprises the blades already mentioned and four other blades 39, 3i, 32 and 33, each being of less vertical height than the blades 28, 29 and with the four blades already mentioned performing the function of actuating the lever I9 on every eighth hour. The sleeve 25 is arranged to rotate about the internally-threaded sleeve 34, restrained from rotational movement and arranged to be moved vertically by the screw 35 which terminates in the knob 36, said knob 355 being disposed on the top of the casing 31 which encloses the horometric control.

The upper and lower ends of the sleeve 25 are provided with nanges which extend over the inner threaded sleeve 34, so that by turning the knob 33 the latter is raised and lowered, thereby raising and lowering the four sets of blades above described and placing any desired set in suitable position for co-action with the head 2l of the lever I9.

As explained in detail in my prior Patent 1,783,375, December 2, 1930, it is desirable to actuate player musical instruments at definite timed intervals so that there will be an appreciable interval after the conclusion of the rendition of a record before the beginning of another; I have ascertained that it is desirable artistically to play such instruments of different type alternately or successively, each at a definite timed interval after the starting of another, with an appreciable time interval after the conclusion of the rendition of a record by another (which is herein called alterna-te operation) or else to start one instrument at successive denite time intervals and another immediately after the conclusion of the rendition of a record by said instrument (which is herein called paired operation).

Before describing in detail alternate and paired operation I shall explain the circuit arrangements whereby a power player instrument such as a pneumatically operated piano is started at successive definite time intervals, with an appreciable interval between the conclusion of the rendition of one record and the playing of another.

In the circuit arrangements shown in the drawing which is to be considered as illustrative merely and not restrictive, the main or on-off switch 40 and the piano and interval switches 4i, 42 are closed, thereby closing and opening certain circuits and initiating a train of operations as follows: The closing of the double pole switch 4| closes the following circuit: From the contact point 43 to the solenoid 44 and thence to one side of the plug 45 connected to a Vsuitable source such as a house lighting system, then through the switch 40, to the point 46 and thence by the conductor 4'! back to the switch 4i. The closure of said circuit causes the momentary energization of the solenoid 44 so designed that the plunger is advanced beyond its central position and immediately falls back to such position. The switch 48 is thus momentarily closed by said solenoid core and immediately thereafter opened whereby an impulse of current is sent over the following circuit: From the point 49 to the switch 40, plug 45 and thence by conductor 50 through the lefthand coil of the relay or starting controller 5l the two coils of which are identical and then back by conductor 52 to said switch 48. The energization of said coil of said relay 5| swings the armature 53 to the left and closes the fourblade switch at the points 54, 55, whereupon the following two circuits are closed: (l) From one side of the switch 54 by the conductor 56 to the motor 5l and then by the conductor 50 to one side of the supply line and thence via the switch 40 and conductor 58 to the other side of said switch 54; (2) from the switch 55 by the conductor 55 to the righthand coil of the relay 5l, thence by the lead 50 to the supply line 50, the switch 40, point 46, conductor 4l, switch 4|, contact point 6|, switch points 62, closed in the manner hereinafter set forth, points 63, 64 and thence by lead 55 to the switch points 55. The two coils of the relay 5l Y being identical it will be clear that upon the simultaneous energization thereof the armature 53 will remain in whatever position it occupied at the time of such energization.

'Ihe closure of circuit (1) above traced results in the energization of the motor 51 connected by gear train 55 to the rotating cam 61 whereby the switch 52 is closed irrespective of the initial angular position of said cam. The closure of circuit (2) traced above and the resultant energization of the righthand coil of relay 5| open the circuit of said motor at the switch points 54, thereby causing the cam 67 to remain in position to maintain the switch 62 closed, and simultaneously opens the circuit 0I" said righthand winding of the relay 5I at the switch points 55. The closure of the switch 68 effected as aforesaid by the cam 61 closes the circuit of the pianoactuating motor as follows: From the switch points 68 by the line 69 to the piano motor 10 and thence by the conductor 'H and point 'I2 to the plug 45, switch 40, mercury switch I4 and finally via lead 'i3 back to the switch 68.

It will be understood of course that the horometer controls not only the intervals between the starting of the piano motor but also the instant of time at which the instrument is started in the rst instance. For example, if it is desired to play a given instrument on the quarter hours beginning at 11:00 oclock a. m., not only is the knob 36 turned to such position that the lever I9 will be actuated on the quarter hours, but also Va future start apparatus, not shown because points 'i4 by conductor l5 to the lefthand coil of the relay 5l, via the point lli', and thence by conductors 55 and 53 to the plug 45 and switch 46, conductor 5S, point 'il and thence back by conductor 13 to said switch points 74; and (2) from the switch points 'i5 by conductors 75 and to the interval switch 42, thence by conductoil 3l to point 82 and then by conductor 83 to the magnet 84, then back to said switch points l5 by conductor 85, plug 45, switch 40, conductors 58 and '18.

The closing of circuit (l) traced above and the resultant energization of the lefthand winding of the relay 5i eiiects the closure of the switches 54, 55, as above explained, causing the cam 5l to rotate suiiiciently to clear the switches 52, 5S and immediately thereafter the switches 14, 'i5 are opened by the pneumatic 13. The armature 53 remaining in its lefthand position and the switches 54, 55 remaining closed, the cam will continue to rotate until it again closes the switches 62, 68 whereupon, as above described, the circuit of the motor 51 will be opened. The closure of circuit (2) above traced and the resultant energization of the magnet 34 effects the tilting of the cradle l5 and the mercury switch E4 carried thereby downwardly or counterclockwise about its pivot l5 through the intermediary of the armature 85 and the pin 8l' projecting laterally from the arm i8. Such counterclockwise tilting of said switch opens the circuit of the piano motor 10. The switch I4 will remain in circuit-opening position until the cradle is again tilted in a clockwise direction by the arm i9. At the end of the next quarter hour, in the instance herein assumed, the cycle of operations above set forth is repeated.

In order to start an electrically-operated power player musical instrument, for example, an electrically-operated automatic record-shifting phonograph, the switch 88 is closed and thereupon the circuit shifts and the series of operations above described are effected with the exception that the cam 5l is stopped at the position shown to close the switches 55, and if such instrument is to be started at successive definite timed intervals the switch 9i as well as the switch 38, is closed, with the result above set forth in connection with the description or" the pneumatic instrument control operation. Upon the completion of the rendition of a record the switches 52, Q3 are briefly closed mechanically by a lug 54 afXed to a suitable portion 55 of the auto-matic record-shifting device, with the result above set forth in connection with the switches 14, l5.

By means of the switch g5 any other type of power player musical instrument such as a pipe organ may be controlled continuously in the manner above described in connection the control of the piano by means of the switch 4i alone, or by closing the switches Q1 and S5 may be controlled at successive timed intervals, in the manner above described in connection with the control of' the piano and the phonograph when the switches 42 and Si are closed in conjunction with the switches 4l and 88, respectively. At the conclusion of the rendition of a record by an organ or other instrument controlled by the switch 5S, the switches 98, S9 effect the stopping of said instrument in the manner above set forth in connection with the switches 74, 'l5 and 9', 93 by a pneumatic |00, or other suitable device.

The circuit-changing switches are automatically opened immediately after each shift of the control of the horometer from one instrument to another in order to clear the circuits and restore the same to normal condition.

Pleasing eifects may be obtained by arranging matters so that at a given hour a power player musical instrument of one type will start and then stop at the conclusion of theI rendition of its rst record and an instrument of another type will start at a definite timed interval after the starting of the instrument rst mentioned and at an appreciable interval after the conclusion of the rendition of a record by the latter, the rst instrument again playing at a definite interval after the starting of the second, and the cycle continuing. This mode of operation I term alternate. Specically, if the knob 35 is set on the quarter hour so that the blades 26, 28, 21 and 29 are placed at the height to co-operate with the head 2| of the lever |9, the future starting device set at 1:00 oclock p. m. and the switches 4I, 42, 88 and 9| closed, the piano will render a composition at 1:00 p. m. for, say, four minutes, there will then be an interval of silence for eleven minutes, the phonograph will then begin its rendition at 1:15 and will stop, say, at 1:18, there will then be a period o-f silence until 1:30, whereupon the piano will again start its next number and play until 1:35, for example, there will be a period of silence until 1:45 whereupon the phonograph will start its next rendition, and so on. If three power player musical instruments such as a piano, a phonograph and an organ are employed, as indicated in Fig. 1, these instruments are started successively, each at a definite timed interval after the starting of another and are stopped by the means above described, each at the conclusion of the rendition of its record, there being an appreciable interval after the conclusion of the rendition of a record by any instrument before the starting of the next.

Another novel and pleasing effect can be obtained by setting the apparatus to start two instruments successively, one immediately after the conclusion of the rendition of a record by the other, and then after an interval of silence repeating the operation. For example, if the piano switch 4|, the phonograph switch 88 and the interval switch 9| are closed, the switch 42 remaining open, and the knob 35 set as before, for starting an instrument on the quarter hour, the piano will be started at the time indicated by the future starting device, say at 2:00 oclock p. m., and will play, say, three minutes, whereupon the phonograph will start immediately after the conclusion of the rendition of the record by the piano and will continue to play for say three minutes. There will then be an interval of silence until 2:15 whereupon the paired operation will be repeated, and so on. The most pleasing way to employ paired control is to have both instruments play the same composition, the second rendition of such composition being termed an echo.

This mode of control may be extended of course to include three or more instruments of diierent type such as the piano, the phonograph and the organ, as indicated in Fig. 1, in which case switches 4|, 88, 96 and 91 will be closed, if the sequence of play is to be piano, phonograph and organ, although as will readily be understood any other sequence can be used.

This system of switches makes possible the playing of any instrument, either continuously or with intervals between each number, and also makes possible the setting up of the variety of program combinations at will.

Inasmuch as the horometer is arranged tc operate on the hour or even divisions thereof, it can be used to advantage in the timing of radio programs.

It will be understood of course that in the shown in the drawing the worm wheel 24 one complete revolution .every hour.

Obviously the switches 4|, 43, 88, 9|, 95, 97 and 40, and the horometric control apparatus may be suitably enclosed in a housing and located at a point remote from the instruments and the rest of the system, or as indicated by the breaks mi, the entire system, suitably housed, may be located at a distant point for the remote control or the instruments.

Having thus described an illustrative embodiment of my invention without limiting myself thereto, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A program ,device for musical instruments comprising in combination a plurality of power player musical instruments of different type, a horometer, a starting controller, means for initially setting said controller to place one of said instruments under the control of said horometer means controlled by said horometer for starting said instruments successively to render records each at a denite time interval after the starting of another, instrument-actuated means for stopping said instruments, each at the conclusion of a record, and means actuated simultaneously with the last mentioned means for setting said starting controller to place another of said instruments under the control of said horometer.

2. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combination two power player musical instruments of diierent type, a horometer, a starting controller, means for initially setting said controller to place one of said instruments under the control of said horometer, means controlled by said horometer for starting said instruments alternately to render records, each at a definite time interval after the starting of another, instrument-actuated means for stopping said instruments, each at the conclusion of a record, and means actuated simultaneously with the last mentioned means for setting said starting controller to place another of said instruments under the control of said horometer.,

3. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combination a plurality of power player musical instruments of different type, a horometer, a starting controller, means for initially setting said controller to place an instrument of one type under the control of said horometer, means controlled by said horometer for starting said instrument at successive denite time intervals to render records, instrumentactuated means for stopping said instrument at the conclusion of each record and for simultaneously resetting said starting controller to effect the starting of an instrument of another type immediately after the stopping of the instrument iirst mentioned.

4. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combination a plurality of power player musical instruments of different type, a horometer, a starting controller, means for initially setting said controller to place one of said instruments under the control of said horometer, means controlled by said horometer for starting said instrument to render a record, instrumentactuated means for stopping said instrument at the conclusion of the rendition of such record and for simultaneously resetting said starting controller to eect the starting of another of said instruments immediately after the stopping of the instrument rst mentioned.

5. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combination a plurality of power player musical instruments of different type, a horometer, and means controlled by said liorometer for starting said instruments at predetermined times, said means comprising two oppositely disposed electromagnets, an armature mounted for oscillation between said electromagnets, an instrument-actuated limitV switch controlling the circuit of one of said electromagnets, a plurality of instrument-selector switches, one for each of said instruments, an electromagnetic device for actuating said instrument-selector switches successively, and means actuated by said armature for controlling said electromagnetic device.

6. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combination a plurality of power player musical instruments and means for starting said instruments successively to render records, each at a definite time interval after the starting of another, said means comprising a plurality of instrument-selector switches, one for each of said musical instruments, two oppositelydisposed electromagnets, an armature mounted for actuation by said electromagnets, a normallyopen switch closed by said armature when actuated by one of said electromagnets, normallyopen switches disposed for actuation simultaneously with said instrument-selector switches, respectively, a circuit connecting the winding of the other of said electromagnets with said normally-open switches and means for successively actuating said instrument-selector switches.

'7. A program device for musical instruments comprising in combination a power player musical instrument, a horometer, a starting controller,

means for initially setting said controller to place said musical instrument under the control of said horometer, means controlled by said horometer for starting said instrument at successive denite time intervals to render records, instrumentactuated means for stopping said instrument at the conclusion of the rendition of a record, and means actuated simultaneously with the last mentioned means for setting said starting controller to place said instrument again under the control of said horometer.

WILLARD J. BUTLER.

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