US242857A - Mechanical musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

(Nc Model.)

0. H. ARNO.

Mechanical Musical Instrument. No. 242,857. Patented June L4, 1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER H. ARNO, OF WILMINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN AUTOMATIC ORGAN COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,857, dated June 14, 1881.

Application filed February Q3, 1881.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER H. ARNO, of VilnIington, in the county of Middlesex and State ot' Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in M eehanical Musical Instrulnents, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanical musical instruments in which a strip ot' perforated paper, as it is caused to be moved along in any suitable manner, opens and closes, or causes to be opened and closed,

air-passages con uectin g musical reeds with the 5o from end to end. This block M has a series of l exert a yielding pressure, but it is preferable roo bellows, whereby the reeds are caused to sound according to the perforations ot said strip.

The Inanner ot carrying out my invention will be fully hereinafter described in detail, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying` plate ot drawings this invention is illustrated, Figure 1 being a vertical transverse section of a mechanical inusical instrument constructed according to this invention and as inclosed in a casing; Fig. 2, an end View of the reed-block and traine to which itis hinged. Fig. 3 is a detail front view and partial section of the reed-block and the working parts of the instrument on a smaller scale. Fig. 4 is a plan view ot the saine.

In the drawings, A represents a box or casing inclosing the working parts of this invention. The construction ot' this easing forms no part of this invention.

B B are vertical feed-bellows, arranged in pairs side by side and against each side of a l'orcebellows, C, one part, D, of which is arranged to open from and close upon the other part, E, in the operation of the bellows, the part E being stationary, and at its upper end is attached to a horizontal board, F, fastened by screws to the inside of the box A. The several feed-bellows at each end are driven from a common driving-shaft, G, by means of a crank-arm, H, and connecting-rods J, severally arranged together as ordinarily, and the l'orcebellows opens against a spriu g, a, at each end thereof.

K is an elongated slot in the board F, opening into the chamber L of the force-bellows, and M a block, which covers the open slot K (No model.)

vertical chambers, b, arranged side byside and in a vertical plane coincident with the plane ot' the open slot K, and at their lower ends, c, they severally open and communicate with the said open slot Kleading to the chamber of the forcebellows. Each chamber b is provided with a reed, N, the heel cl ot' which reed is at or toward the open lower end, c, of the chamber I), and these reeds open to a common chamber, O, of the block, covered by a sheet, P, ot' wire- 6o gauze, tacked or otherwise suitably secured in place. The block M is hung at each end by an elongated ear-piece or loop, f, upon a wire rod, g, which runslengthwise ot the block,and is within a groove, h, thereof", and at each end is hung to an upright, Q., ofthe board F. This wire rod,intermediate of its lengtl1,passesun der a cross-pin, Z, and thence over raised surfaces or rests m in the blockgroove 71, and between such cross-pin, in either one or botlrdi- 7o rections, it is bent or otherwise shaped to exert a yielding and elastic pressui e in a downward direction upon the block, and thus hold it in' close .contact with the face ot' the board F, about the slotted opening K thereof. The perforated paper strip passes between this block M and the board F, and thus rows of pertoratious and unperl'orated portions are made to pass between the slotted passage K for the air from the force-bellows to pass to the 8o reed-openings thereto, securing thereby the sounding ot' the reeds in accordance with said rows of perforations in the strip. This travel ot' the paper strip is secured by the rota-tion ot' the feed-rollers R S, of which S is on the 85 driving-shaft G, and at the same time the bellows are operated. This hanging of the reedblock M, herein described, enables the reedblock to be swung into and out ot its position over the air-passage leading from the force- 9o bellows, and when in position over the said air-passage, because of the described arrangement of the spring-rod g, it is caused to press with a yielding and elastic pressure upon the paper strip passing under and between it and the said air-passage.

The hanging of the reed-block M, as above described, obviously is not dependent upon thearrangemeut of one part ot' the hinge to to adapt the parts to exert a yielding pressure, as stated.

The swinging ot' the reedblock enables the paper strip to be readily placed in position over the air-passage K, between the feed-rolls, when, if the block be at rest upon the paper strip, the forward movement of the paper will draw it into its position over the air-passage, where, under the continued movement of the paper, it will remain, because of the then abutting of the block against stationary blocks T, suitably located therefor.

The wire-gauze P protects the reeds against the entrance of dust and otherwise guards them against injury, while at the same time it otlers no obstruction to the passage ot' the sound of the reeds; and,in lieu of wire-gauze, any material suitably perforated can be used, wire-gauze, however, being preferable for obvious reasons.

The placing ot' the reeds with their heels t0- ward the open lower ends, c, ot their respective chambers secures to the reeds, in the passage ofthe air from the bellows through them, better, freer, and stronger vibrations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, :ts-

1. In a mechanical musical instrument, the reed-block provided with air-chambers and reeds, and having' its upper longitudinal end suspended on suitable pivots arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described, whereby said reed-block can be freely swung laterally and entirely disengaged or removed from the music-sheet and the test on which the latter travels without disturbing any portion ofthe apparatus, for the purpose of bringing the air-chambers o1' the reed-block into and out ot' line with the air-passage leading to the bellows.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, the reed-block provided with air-chambers and reeds, and having its upper longitudinal edge suspended upon a longitudinal spring which exerts a downward pressure on the block, and on which the latter can be freely swung laterally and entirely disengaged or removed from the music-sheet and the rest on which thelatter travels without disturbing any part ot' the apparatus, for the purpose ot' bringing the air-chambers of the reed-block into and out of line with the passage leading tothe bellows, as set forth.

3. rIhe reed-block M, having air-chambers I) and reeds N, and hung by hinges to suitable supports, in combination with abutments T, arranged as described, whereby the block can be swung into and out ot' position in relation to an air-passage, K, and when in its normal position rest against said abutments, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whcreoiI have hereunto set my hand in the presence ot` two subscribing witnesses.

OLIVER H. ARNO.

Witnesses:

EDWIN W. BnowN, WiLLrAM S. BnLLows.

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