US2645969A - Electrical musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1953 y N. l. DANIEL 1 2,645,969

ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 2, 1950 Illl l,ml

INVENTOR.

July 21, 1953 N. l. DANIEL ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 2, 1950 INVENTOR www? 455m@ 17min/47 July 21, 1953 N. 1 DANIEL ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2, 195o AMPLIFIER Patented July 21, A1951? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL MUSICAL. INSTRUMENT Nathan I. Daniel, Asbury Park, N. J.

Application June 2, 1950, Serial No. 165,853

This invention relates to improvements in musical instruments and more particularly to an electronic organ or the like.

The use of pre-recorded tones on tapes or sim,- ilar mediums has been known in the past, but instruments employing this principle have been limited in production and demand. More important objections have been the undue complexity of such instruments when they were designed to accommodate complete tonal ranges of a variety of instruments such as is recognized of an organ. Further, the action of such suggested instruments were not reliable and lacked other requirements believed to be corrected in the instrument of the instant application.

11 Claims. (Cl. 84-L28) One of the defects of prior art mechanisms was the nature and quantity of electrical pickups required in the device. I have devised a form of pick-up which is capable of' simultaneously accommodating a large number of independent note sources which may produce notes therethrough either simultaneously or individually as selected by the operator. The instrument is designed to reproduce notes of a variety of instruments, such as cello, violin, flute, etc. It will be recognized that a note reproduced by these instruments differs in its harmonics or overtones depending upon the specic instrument employed. When the note a is struck on the device, all the as of the musical instruments accommodated by the device will be prepared to close an electromagnetic circuit for rendering the note audible. However, by the particular mechanism disclosed, only the a note of a desired instrument will be permitted to complete its travel so as to close the electromagnetic circuit. Thus, the operator preselects that instrument which will be reproduced in the device, and only notes corresponding to such instruments will be applied to the electrical circuit. The device further makes possible a simplified linkage simulating that of a conveny expedient which is considered highly desirable in the art.

` The invention will be further understood from the following description and drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a simplied and diagrammatic view illustrating the key arrangement for actuating a prerecorded magnetic tape toward a pick-up.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating the action of the key.

Fig. 3`is a view taken substantially along the lines 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the lines 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the disposition of the selecting bars for reproducing the tones of desired instruments.

Fig. 6 is a View taken' substantially along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 1 j

Fig. 7 is a front `elevational' view of a single note group comprising the bars representing the same note in different instruments and which are actuated selectively.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the actuation of a note of a desired instrument while the same note of 'other instruments is disabled.

Fig. 9 is a simplified schematic view of theA electronic circuit used to amplify and audibly reproduce the desired notes.

"'Fig. 10 is a modification which may be applied to the instrumentr as illustrated in Fig. 3 for the purpose of adding of vibrato to the reproduced notes.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines lI-II of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a modified embodiment of the tape driving mechanism offering advantages which will hereinafter be set forth.

Referring to the principal embodiment and specically to Figs. 1 to 4, the device includes a plurality of tapes 20 upon which have been magnetically recorded -specic tones of specicinstruments. As an example, we may assume that six instruments may be reproduced in the device, viz., cello, violin, flute, clarinet, oboe and mandolin. Each note .will require an individual tape and therefore the note middle c, for example, will require six tapes. These tapes will preferably be disposed adjacent each other for selective actuation as will hereinafter be explained. All of the tapes are endless and will have electromagnetically recorded thereon the required note which will be done in the first instance, by any suitable means such as by master recording by a well known performer. All the tapes will be mounted on apair of rollers v2| and 22, one of which may be driven. Thus, roller. 2| is driven by motor 23 so that at all times during operation of the instrument,y all the 3 tapes are driven by motor 23. It will be understood that ordinarily reduction gearing will be employed by motor 23 and roller 2l, since it is generally desired to actuate the tapes at a speed of about 'l1/2 to 15 inches per second. The recording speed depends upon the iidelity desired while the reproducing speed must, of course, utilize the recording speed. A pressure roller 2li is employed to maintain the tapes 20 in proper driving engagement with roller 2 l. In order to keep the tapes properly spaced, a plurality of spacers 25 are provided, these serving to prevent undue lateral shifting of the tape during actuation thereof.

In the space between the rollers are disposed the pick-ups 23. It will be observed that the heads 2 o the pick-ups are considerably elongated relative to their bases. rlhe pick-ups 2t are substantially U-shaped in cross-section but the bases or bridging portion of the U are bowed out to accommodate the winding 28. The sides of the pick-up flare inwardly from the elongated heads thereof to the relatively narrow bases, and it will be observed that the heads are at least three times as long as the bases. Thus, the heads 2 may be at least 3 inches in distinction to heads employed in prior devices which were hardly more than a half inch or so. Thus, a plurality of tapes 2o may be served at any one time by one pick-up head.

The function and operation of the pick-up heads will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Briefly, each pick-up head comprises a magnetizable body or core which supports the winding 28 and which is formed with parallel, elongated pole pieces and spaced to form a gap. Winding 28 is adapted to be energized and connected in any conventional manner so that movement of the pre-recorded magnetized tape across any portion oi the elongated gap between the elongated pole pieces of the pick-up head, will, by electromagnetic induction produced by the magnetic patterns on the tape along its length, vary the currents in the winding. These variations may be amplied and reproduced audibly by a. loud-speaker as will be evident.

When the operator plays the device, he will first have selected the particular instrumentsto be reproduced by means to be hereinafter described. For example, in Fig. 1, an instrument selector bar 39 is disclosed vwhich serves this purpose. Assuming now that bar 30 has been actuated to release the notes of a selected instrument, the operator will strike key 3l. This will ca-use bar or rod 32 to pivot toward tape 2li so as to press it againstl the head 2l of the pick-up 26. This action is illustrated in Fig. 2, where a felt pad 33 is illustrated as pressing against the tape 2G, the opposite face or" the tape then pressing against the head 2l of the pick-up to close the electromagnetic circuit and audibly reproduce the note. It will be understood that at all times the tape 20 is travelling in the endless oval illustrated.

I shall now describe the means whereby the dierent instruments are pre-selected. Referring to Fig. 5, each note in each instrument may be formed as a unit 35 with bars 32 representing the diferent instruments. The bars are made of varying lengths in order to facilitate instrument selection. All six bars of note unit 35 represent notes of the same fundamental Yfrequency but of dierent instruments. They are not reeds but are merely used as motion transmitting elements.

All the units .are aligned as f illustrated in Fig. 5. The connecting or top portions of the mounted units are shown removed as are the keys in order to clarify the illustration. Each rod 32 is provided with a disabling link 36 which permits or prevents rod 32 from being actuated by movement of the key. Link 33 is formed with an end latch 31 which engages the rod 32 and it is supported by a pivot on arelease bar 39. Each link 36 is further pivoted on rod 45 which is connected to a pivot rod mounting bar Al.

There are provided six release bars 39 as illustrated in Fig. 5. Each release bar represents a particular instrument and the links 33 thereon are disposed so as to latch onto the particular rod 32 oi unit representing that particular instrument. Referring to Fig. G, the full line position of the links illustrates the latching or disabling of the rst of the rods 32 in any unit, i. e., rod representing note a. Below the release bar 3e illustrated in Fig. 6 are the other release bars to which are connected lengths 3S which latch onto the remaining notes.

When the operator selects a particular instrument to be reproduced, he will slide the selected one of the release bars 3Q in the direction shown in arrow shown in Fig. 6. This will cause the link to pivot on pivot 38 as well as pivot t@ so that the latch 3l will become displaced and release the rst rod 32. The other rods 32 will still be latched so that only one middle c note oi" the unit is released. Of course, the oprator may shift another release bar so that two notes can be released for the purpose oi combining tl e effects of different instruments. Referring to Fig. 8, it will be observed there that the six links 3% and release bars 3Q are vertically arranged at different levels while each link engages one rod of the note unit. The rst pivot rod 355 is, oi course, more elongated than the other pivot rods for the unit, such other pivot rods being behind the one illustrated in Fig. 8. The bottom link is shown as having released the iirst and most elongated rod 32. Accordingly, when the key 3i ls depressed so as to pivot about rod 35, it will urge all the rods 32 outwardly, but the first five eing restrained by the links will merely lex without swinging outwardly. On the contrary, the released rod 32 will be permitted to swing outwardly as illustrated in Fig. 8 and the pad .33 will bear against the tape 2S so as to urge it against the gap in pick-up 2S and close the electromagnetic circuit. rhis will cause a specific note of a specific instrument to be sounded as will hereinafter be set forth. It will be understood that the tape 20 is travelling when pressed against the pick-up by pad 33 and it continues to travel at the proper speed when so pressed.

Referring to Fig. 9, there is disclosed a plurality of windings 28. The outputs of the respective pick-ups appear in the windings 28, three or which are shown to correspond to the number of pick-ups shown in Fig. 3, but which may be more numerous in the complete device. The outputs oi the pick-ups 28 are red in parallel to preampliiler tubes 5t', 5l and 52, the outputs of which are connected through condenser 53 to an ampliiier 5K5 and a speaker it is well known that music is often rendered more pleasing by the addition of a vibrato or trernolo effect thereto. This effect can be achieved by either varying the volume at a low frequency rate such as 3 to 20 cycles per second `or varying the frequency slightly at the same rate.

In' the instant .,application, I disclose a'method of varying the frequency periodically to slight degrees above and below the fundamental. This is accomplished by employing the motor 23, through its shaft 69, to drive an eccentric 5I. Eccentricl peripherally drives a second eccentric 62. It is obvious that the eccentric outer edge E3 of eccentric 6l will rotate at a greater rate of speed than the opposite edge and' that the eccentric (i2 will be accordingly driven periodically faster and slower as it is rotated by the eccentric 5l. This will cause the tapes 2i) to be accelerated and retarded pericdically. ySuch variations will be effectedA at a vibrato frequency rate, viz., 3 to 20 cycles per second. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that as the speed of rotation of the tapes 2i? is varied, the frequency recordedl thereon will be slightly modified so as to produce a vibrato eiect. y y

In Fig. l2 is illustrated a modied form of driving means aswell as a modified form of tapes. Thus frames 'lil are provided and are integrally connected by a bar il. Tapes 12 are secured at their top and bottom edges to the top and bottom frame members of the frame lil.

These tapes 'l2 will not be endless but will tere minate as illustrated. Bar li is provided with a plurality of bearings 13. Means are provided to reciprocally engage end bearings i3 so that gr'.

the bar 'H may be vertically reciprocated f-or eiecting longitudinal movement of the frames and of the ltape 'I2 accordingly. The central bearings 'F3 ride over the rod "itl so as to render support to thelcenter of the frame struc ture.

Driving power for the frames and tapes originates in the motor 'F5 which drives bevel gear 'I6 and shaft il. A collar l connects the double screw post 7S to shaft TE. The end bearing 'i3 which embraces post 'i9 is formed with an internal pin, not shown, which rides in the perpendicularly arranged screw grooves on p-ost 19. When post 'F9 is rotated, the end bearing will be drawn in one direction or another, depending upon which of the two grooves it is in; Continued rotation of post 'E3 will effect a vertical reciprocation of the end bearing i3 and` of the frame structure. This type of action will be Well understood by those skilled in such mechanical devices, the principle being widely employed in a level wind as used on fishing reels. However, other means which are obvious could be used to effect vertical reciprocation of the frame structure. Such other means could be a rack and pinion drive, the rack replacing post lil and a pin being secured to a motor shaft as will be evident. In order to produce stable operation, gear I6 drives another gear 8B, shaft 953 and bevel gear Si. Gear 9| drives bevel gear S2 which then rotates double screw post 93 for actu.- ating the other end of the frame structure.

A plurality of pick-up heads will be maintained adjacent the tapes 'i2 and the same key action illustrated in Fig. 8 will be employed to press the tapes against the heads of the pick-up. The same units will be employed and Will be operated as hereinabove described.

It will be noted that the key action is not electrical but purely mechanical. This not only simplifies the structure in that no electrical contacts are required, but it provides a more important eifect in attaining realism. Thus, the rate of attack more accurately simulates conventional instruments. I have determined that an attack effected by electrical contacts is in#i ferior to the type herein described in that it is unduly precipitous. On the other hand, the mechanical action herein described' more. truly simulates manual action, although such mechanical action is used, as aforesaid, to bring the tapes and pick-ups into electrically translating relationship. In fact, it is practical and probably desirable to interpose a dash-pot between the depending portion of key 3l and the bridging portion of unit 35 so as to produce a realistic Adelay between the striking of the key and the actuation of the rods.

The character of the tape which may be em.- ployed will be evident to those skilled in the art. Generally, such tape comprises a flexible base such as paper upon which a layer of finely powdered crystalline magnetic particles is impressed as by a coating.

, What is claimed :is: Y t

l. A musical instrument comprising a plurality of aligned flexible, endless tapes maintained in oval form and having audio frequency notes mag-v netically recorded thereon, a pair of spaced parallel rollers within said tapes and extending parallel to the alignment of the tapes and bearing against the respective oval ends thereof for maintaining the tapes in oval form, driving means for actuating one of said rollers so as to cause said tapes to travel at .a desired speed, pick-up means disposed Within the ovals formed by the tapes and pressure means outside of said ovals for selectively pressing against said vtapes and bringing them into contact with said pick-up means. Y i. f

2. A musical instrument `comprising a plurality of aligned tapes having audio frequency notes magnetically recorded thereon, driving means for actuating said tapes at a desired rate of travel, pick-up means normally maintained spaced from said tapes and being operative to electrically translate said notes when electromagnetic contact with said tapes is established, pressure means to effect such contact between selected tapes and said pick-up means, said contact effecting means comprising a striking key, a plurality of rods actuated by said key, each of said rods serving to effect contact between a specific tape and said pick-up means, each of the tapes served by said rods having recorded thereon the same note fundamental but of different harmonic content, and disabling bars respectively connectable to each of said rods for engaging the rod and preventing the specific tape served thereby from contacting said pick-up means when the key is struck.

3. A musical instrument according to claim 2 and wherein each of said rods is of progressively varying lengths and each of said disabling bars are vertically mounted in respect to each other.

4. A musical instrument according to claim 3 and including at least one latch on each disabling bar and normally engaging one of said rods and means to selectively disengage said latch from said rod before the key is struck.

5. A musical instrument according to claim 4 and wherein said latch is pivoted at one end thereof to said disabling bar, a pivot bar, said latch being pivoted at its center to said pivot bar.

6. A musical instrument comprising a plurality of aligned tapes having audio frequency notes magnetically recorded thereon, at least one frame for said tapes, said tapes being secured to the top and bottom edges of said frame and extending thereacross, driving means for reciprocating said frame at a desired rate of travel and so .that said tapes travel therewith, pick-up means nor- =mally maintained spaced from a plurality of said tapes and being operative to electrically tranclate such tones when electromagnetic contact with one or more of said plurality of tapes is established, and means to eiiect such contact between selected tapes and said pick-up means while said tapes are travelling.

7. A musical instrument according to claim 6 and wherein a plurality of said frames are interconnected and are vertically reciprocated by said driving means, said pick-up means including elongated pick-up heads disposed adjacent to said tapes.

8. A musical instrument comprising a plurality of aligned tapes having audio frequency tones magnetically recorded thereon, supporting means for said tapes, driving means for actuating said supporting means so as to cause said tapes to travel at a desired rate of speed, pick-up means normally maintained spaced from a plurality of said tapes and being operative to electrically translate said tones when electromagnetic contact with one or more of said plurality of tapes is connected, means to eiect such Contact between selected tapes and said pick-up means, and means to vary the transmission speed between said driving means and said supporting means at a vibrato frequency rate.

9. A musical instrument according to claim 8 and wherein said driving means comprises a motor, a shaft for said motor, an eccentric mounted on said shaft so as to be driven thereby, and a wheel peripherally driven by said eccentric whereby said wheel rotates at faster and slower speeds depending upon its momentary contact with the periphery of said eccentric, said wheel being connected to said supporting means so as to transmit the driving power thereto.

10. In a musical instrument comprising a plurality of aligned tapes having audio frequency notes magnetically recorded thereon, driving means for actuating said tapes at a desired rate of travel, and pick-up means normally main tained spaced from said tapes and being operative to electrically translate said notes when electromagnetic contact with one or more of said plurality of tapes is made, the combination therewith of a striking key, a plurality of rods interconnected to form an integral unit, said unit being adapted to be actuated by said key for reducing the spacing between a specific tape and said pickup means so as to physically bring them into a translating relationship, a plurality of rods of said unit representing the same note of diierent musical instruments, each tape served by said plurality of rods representing the same note having pre-recorded thereon tones of said different musical instruments, and means to disable the action or" some of said rods so as to prevent the specic tapes served thereby from approaching said pick-up means when the key is struck.

11. A musical instrument comprising a plurality of aligned tapes having audio frequency notes magnetically recorded thereon, driving means for actuating said tapes at a desired rate of travel, pick-up means normally maintained spaced from a plurality of said tapes and being operative to electrically translate said notes when electromagnetic contact with one or more of said plurality of tapes is made, means to effect a translating relationship between selected tapes and said pick-up means by reducing the normal spacing therebetween, said last named means comprising a striking key, and a rod actuated by said key, actuation of said rod serving to reduce the spacing between a specic tape and said pick-up means so as t0 physically bring them into translating relationship, said pickup means comprising U-shaped magnetic pick-ups having elongated heads at the free ends of each arm of the U, constricted bridging portions between said arms, and windings formed around said constricted bridging portions, said elongated heads being adapted to extend across, sa as to serve, a plurality of said tapes.

NATHAN I. DANTEL.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,785,915 Robb Dec. 23, 1930 2,544,722 Pattyn Mar. 13, 1951 2,549,145 Vagtborg Apr. 17, 1951

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