US3420131A - Electronic organ preset and cancel mechanism - Google Patents

Description

ELECTRONIC ORGAN PRESE'II AND CANCEL MECHANISM Filed May 12, 1965 Jan. 7, 1969 H. M. THOMAS ET AL Sheet "hem .g m 0 er a 06:00,? 1 @Ws.

a @a mu vfln. 40 2 Wm 4 gm. mm m. II 3 E6 6 E L mm a H! 2 8 J Jan. 7, 1969 H. M. THOMAS ET AL 3,4

ELECTRONIC ORGAN PRESET AND CANCEL MECHANISM Filed May 12. 1965 Sheet Z 0 Hill Jan. 7, 1969 THOMAS ET AL 3,420,131

. ELECTRONIC ORGAN PRESET'AND CANCEL MECHANISM Sheet 3 of 4 Filed May 12, 1965 w i 2% w ww z, 7 m fi/ 6 M w w/ m fifhw H? W w 6 v w H w J Jan. 7, 1969 H. M. THOMAS ETAL 3,420,131

1 ELECTRONIC ORGAN PRESET AND CANCEL MECHANISM Filed May l2, 1965 Sheet 4 of 4 United States Patent Claims Int. Cl. Glob 3/12,G10b 3/10 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stop tablet assembly for use with an electronic musical instrument comprising a base, a plurality of stop tablets, and a rock shaft on which the stop tablets are mounted for selective manual movement from a first position to a second position. A plurality of cams mounted on a cam shaft are respectively engageable with projections extending from each of the stop tablets, so that upon the movement of said cam shaft, said cams are moved against all stop tablets in a second position, which are thereby returned to the first position. Each of the stop tablets includes a stop tablet setting means which is engaged or is not engaged by one of a plurality of operators mounted on a second rock shaft, depending on the alignment of each operator and associated stop tablet setting means. The operation of the rock shaft causes the operators aligned with a respective stop tablet setting means to move the tablets from a first to a second position.

This invention relates to the art of electronic musical instruments, and more specifically to an improved pre-set and cancel mechanism for an electronic organ.

During the playing of music arranged for an organ, it is common practice to select different organ stops for different compositions. Furthermore, it is common practice to change from one selection of voices or footages to another, often several times during the playing of a single composition. A stop tablet is provided for each voice or footage stop on an organ, and in establishing the proper combination of stops for any given composition or part thereof, it is necessary to move each stop tablet from an off to an on position. This is not particularly difficult to do before one starts to play. However, when previously selected stops must be canceled by moving the tablets to an off position, and then other tablets must be moved to an on position, all during the playing of a composition, it requires considerable skill and agility to effect the change.

In view of the foregoing, it has been known in the organ art to provide mechanisms for canceling all active stops, and to provide other mechanisms for pre-setting or D pre-selecting additional stops, whereby a single control may set several pre-selected or pre-set stops. Such mechanisms as heretofore used in the organ art have been cumbersome or expensive, or otherwise not well adapted for use in electronic organs intended for the home.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pre-set and cancel mechanism for use with electronic organs.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a pre-set and cancel mechanism for electronic organs wherein the operating or actuating parts work directly on integral or inserted portions of the stop tablets. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic organ pre-set and cancel mechanism utilizing a great many duplicated or multiple parts thereby contributing to simplicity and low cost of construction.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro- Patented Jan. 7,' 1969 vide an electronic organ pre-set and cancel mechanism which is readily adjustable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electronic organ pre-set and cancel mechanism requiring no critical tolerances.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an electronic organ pre-set and cancel mechanism wherein a common rock-shaft with operators thereon determines the stop to be set in accordance with the direction in which the shaft is rocked or rotated, and further to provide in combination therewith push button means for rocking the shaft in relatively opposite directions.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview of an electronic organ embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the organ on an enlarged scale illustrating certain aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a portion of the organ in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an underside view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 2, being taken substantially along the line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the mechanism of FIG. 2 as taken substantially along the line 5--5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5a is a perspective detail view of a portion of the mechanism of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5b is another perspective detail view of a further portion of the mechanism of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is another cross-sectional view through the mechanism of FIG. 2, being taken substantially on the line 6-6 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6a is a detail of a portion of FIG. 6, shown in perspective;

FIG. 7 is a bottom front view of the mechanism under consideration, as taken substantially along the line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a view somewhat similar to FIG. 7 partially in section, being taken somewhat further into the mechanism as along the line 88 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 9 is an underside view of the mechanism in section, as taken substantially along the lines 99 in FIG. 11;

FIG.- 10 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the base plate of the mechanism under consideration;

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line 11-11 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing the parts in a different position of operation;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a stop tablet and the operating extension thereof;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a stop tablet without the extension; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a spring detent cooperable with the stop tablet of FIG. 14.

Referring now in greater particularity to the figures, and first to FIG. 1, there will be seen an electronic organ constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The organ includes a case or a cabinet 22 having a music rack, 24 at the top thereof. The organ includes a plurality of lower manual or keyboard stop tablets 26, a plurality of upper manual or keyboard stop tablets 28, a plurality of pedal stop tablets 30, and additional miscellaneous stop tablets 32. The organ further includes an upper manual or keyboard 34, comprising a plurality of keys, and a similar lower manual or keyboard 36. In addition, the organ comprises a plurality of pedals 38, and also a swell-pedal 40 for controlling the overall volume. Loud speakers (not shown) are supported behind a grill cloth 42.

The present invention resides in the construction of the sets of stop tablets 26, 28 and 30. Reference hereinafter will be made to the lower keyboard stop tablets 26 as exemplary, it being understood that the upper keyboard stop tablets 28 and the pedal stop tablets 30 are similarly constructed and arranged. The stop tablets 26, as may be seen in FIG. 2, are mounted on a steel or other suitable sheet metal base plate 44. This base plate is not seen in FIG. 1, since there is a cover plate 46 lying over it. The stop tablets 26 are of molded plastic construction, and all are pivoted in aligment on a pivot rod or rock shaft 48 by means hereinafter to be described, and bottom in either of two positions against a felt pad 49. Each of the stop tablets corresponds to an organ voice or footage, and one of the stop tablets comprises a volume control for the lower keyboard to provide either normal volume or full volume, the latter lending emphasis to the lower keyboard.

Spaced up from the bottom longitudinal edge 50 of the base plate 44, the base plate is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced rectangular apertures 52, see FIGS. 8-12. Each of the apertures 52 has a tongue 54 extending thereinto and apertured at 57. Three of the tongues 54, specifically those at the right and left ends of the group of stop tablets 26 and one intermediate one serve to support rock shaft brackets 56, see FIGS. 11 and 12. Each of the brackets 56 comprises a foot 58 secured against the top of the tongue and adjacent portion of the base plate 44 by a screw 60 extending up through the corresponding aperture 54 and tapped into the foot 58. Each bracket further includes an upstanding flange 62 having an aperture 64 adjacent its upper end. The apertures of the three brackets are aligned, and the rock shaft 48 is received in the apertures 64 and supported by the brackets 56. This rock shaft extends substantially from end to end of the row of stop tablets 26.

Each of the stop tablets 26 is of molded plastic construction, the details of which are readily seen in FIGS. 1l-14. Each stop tablet is of hollow, inverted, box-like construction, being open at the bottom, and having bottom edges 66 and 68 forming an obtuse angle with one another, and provided for tipping of the stop tablets about the rock shaft 48 to bottom on the felt pad 49, the sidewalls of the stop tablets being apertured at 70 to receive the rock shaft. Each stop tablet is provided on opposite sides with integral depending detent extensions 72 having points 74 at the lower extremities thereof. The detents 72 are for cooperation with springs 76 for holding the stop tablets in either of two tipped or rocked positions. Each spring 76, as best seen in FIGS. 11, 12 and 15, comprises an apertured base 78 held to the underside of the base plate 44 by means such as rivets or screws 80. Each spring further includes a pair of parallel legs or tongues 82 having upward latching projection 84 at the extremities thereof. The latching projections 84 are positioned for cooperation with the detent projections 72 of the stop tablets, and it will be understood that there is one spring member 76 for each two stop tablets, each tongue 82 overlapping adjacent sides of the adjacent apertures 52 in the base plate. Thus, only one detent 72 of each stop tablet is used. However, it is economically more feasible to provide the two since only one mold is needed instead of two, and since this allows placement of a stop tablet in position with any aperture 52.

Each detent 72 forms a projection on the inside of the adjacent sidewall of the stop tablet, thus providing additional reasons for having two detents. The detents are joined by a transverse wall 85, and this transverse wall is paralleled by a pair of narrow flanges 87 projecting in from each sidewall and forming retaining channels with the wall 85.

The channels between the walls 85 and flanges 87 of the stop tablets are used to mount switch actuators 86, best seen in FIGS. 8 and 11-13. The switch actuators are of molded plastic construction, and each includes an upper web 88 with side stiffening flanges 90 and an intermediate stiffening rib 92 thereon. The side stiffening flanges 90 are received in the channels between the wall 85 and flanges 87 to retain the switch actuators respectively in place in the stop tablets. A suitable adhesive may also be used if desired or necessary.

The web is provided with an offset at 94, and then continues down as a lower web portion 96. The lower web section or portion 96 is provided with three longitudinally extending slots 97 opening at the lower end of the web. As will be seen particularly in FIG. 8, the switch actuator 86 narrows a short distance below the stop tablet, and then flares out again at the lower web portion 96.

The back surface of the web offset 94 and lower portion 96 is provided with a cancel flange 98 having a cam edge 100. This flange serves both to reinforce the web and as a bearing surface for a canceling member as will be set forth hereinafter. The cancel flange 98 is located along the left edge of the switch operator as viewed in FIG. 8, and there is no comparable cancel flange along the right edge thereof.

Immediately above the offset web 94 the stiffening flanges 90 are provided with protuberances forming heels 102. The left-most of the heels 102 terminates at a shoulder at the top of the offset as indicated by the dash line at 104 in FIGS. 11 and 12. A setting flange 106 extends down from the right-most of the heels 102 and terminates on the lower web portion 96, somewhat at the same level as the bottom edge of the cancel flange 98.

Three like molded plastic brackets 108, comprising webs and reinforcing flanges, the specific details of which are not here particularly important, are secured in spaced relation to the underside of the base plate 44 by means such as screws 110 passing through suitable apertured structure of the brackets and tapped into apertures in the plate. The back edge of each of the brackets (the right edge as viewed in FIGS. 11 and 12) is provided with spacer protuberances 112. A printed circuit board 114 is suitably apertured to fit over the protuberances 112, and sheet metal fasteners 116 are crimped or otherwise suitably secured on the projections 112 to hold the printed circuit board in place. The printed circuit board is disposed perpendicular to the base plate 44, both being inclined and the proper positions thereof being shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The printed circuit board is provided with a plurality of circuit elements or electrical components 118 as shown generally in FIGS. 4 and 7, for example. Such components include resistors, capacitors, and in some instances additional circuit components such as diodes or transistors. The specific components are not important to the present case except that it is to be borne in mind that they are present.

A printed circuit board 114 is provided with a plurality of flexible wire contacts 120 extending from the board and cooperating with the switch actuators 86. Specifically, the contact wires 120 are received in the slots 97 of the switch actuators. There may be any of one, two or three contact wires associated with each switch actuator. The switch actuators normally do not bear down against the contact wires with the stop tablets in the off position as shown in Fig. 11. When the stop tablets are moved to the on position of FIG. 12, the actuators move so as to bottom the wires 120 in the slots 97, and hence to deflect the wires down as in FIG. 12.

The brackets 108 are provided with spaced apertures, like apertures being aligned, which receive and mount rods 122 and 124. The upper contact rod 122 is provided with conductive inserts 126 in its underside position for engagement by the contacts 120 in the position of the parts as shown in FIG. 11, while the lower contact rod 124 is provided with conductive inserts 128 which are respectively engaged by the contact wires 120 when the wires are respectively deflected down by operation of the corresponding stop tablets 26. In accordance with the specific example of the present invention, there is but a single upper conductive insert 126, while there are many lower contacts axially spaced from one another in the form of spaced contact wires 128. The contact rods 122 and 124 are formed of a suitable insulating material, a glass fiber reinformed resin being preferred, and the rods are provided with milled grooves to receive the contact wires 126 and 128 which may be held in place by a suitable cement, or otherwise.

The structure as heretofore shown and described is capable of operating in the usual way, i.e., the stop tablets are set respectively by hand, either to on or off position. The structure for automatic operation, namely pre-setting and canceling is described hereinafter.

A cancel rock shaft 130 passes through suitable apertures in the upper right corners of the brackets 108, the apertures not being shown herein. The rock shaft is journaled at the left end in a plastic bearing (not shown) set in the left-most of the brackets 108. At the right end the cancel rock shaft i journ'aled in a plastic bearing block 132 (FIGS. 3, 5, and 8). The bearing block includes a body 134 held againstthe underside of the base plate 44 by a screw 136 extending through the body and tapped into the base plate. A finger 138 on the body extends through an aperture 138 in the base plate for aid in locating the bearing block and holding it in proper position. The bearing block also includes a flange in which the rock shaft 130 is journaled, the flange being identified by a numeral 140. C-washers or snap rings 142 (FIG. 8) are provided on the rock shaft 130 on opposite sides of the flange 140 to position the rock shaft properly in axial direction.

The rock shaft 130 is provided with a plurality of cams 144 (FIGS. 4, 11 and 12) in axially spaced relation thereon. Each of the cams 144 is provided with a generally downwardly extending lobe 146, and at its upper end with a bore 148 having an integral key 150 extending thereinto and received in a longitudinal keyway 152 in the rock shaft. The cams are of molded plastic construction, and are somewhat resilient in nature. Each cam has a pair of jaws 154 extending to the right from the bore 148 and having an opening 156 between them. This opening extends from the bore out to the right margin of the jaws. The inherent resiliency of the cams causes them to grip lightly on the rock shaft 130 for sliding back and forth into proper adjusted position. A spring metal, generally C-sha-ped clip 158 grips over each pair of jaws after installation of each cam in order more firmly and securely to hold the cams in position. As will be seen in FIG. 4, each cam has a dimension in the axial direction of the rock shaft 130 which is on the order of the corresponding dimension of the switch actuators 86. Accordingly, precise axial positioning of each cam relative to the respective actuator is not necessary in order to insure proper engagement of a cam with the respective actuator flange 98 cam edge 100, as is shown in broken lines in FIG. 11.

A crank 160 (FIGS. 3, 7 and 8) is pinned to the end of the rock shaft 130 as at 162, and is provided with a crank pin 164. A spring 166 is stretched horizontally to the rear from the crank pin and is anchored on a subbracket 168 (FIGS. 3 and 4) extending to the rear from a vertical bracket 170 secured to the underside of the base plate 44 by means such as screws 172. A suitable hole 173 is provided in the bracket 170 for passage of the spring 166.

A bracket 174 in the form of a vertical plate with a foot 176 thereon is held on the base plate 44 by means such as screws 178 in depending relation, parallel to the bracket 170. The bracket 174 is provided with three horizontally spaced circular apertures 180 (FIGS. 4 and 6) and a plastic guide plate 182 is secured to the front of the bracket by suitable means such as rivets 184, the plastic plate 182 having circular holes 186 aligned with the holes 180. Three horizontally spaced vertically oriented slots 188 are provided in the bracket respectively in alignment with the holes 180, 186. A plastic guide plate 190 is fixed to the back of the bracket 170 by means such as rivets (not shown), and this plastic guide plate is provided with vertical slots 192 respectively in alignment with the slots 188. It will be understood that the slots 188 are slightly oversized with regard to the slots 192, while the holes likewise are slightly oversized with regard to the holes 186, whereby it is the plastic guide plates that serve as guides for parts hereinafter to be set forth, whereby to avoid any noise or wear against the metal plates.

The aligned holes 186 and slots 192 respectively guide three operating members to be discussed hereinafter one by one. The first such operating member to be taken up comprises a cancel member 194 seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The cancel member includes a plate-like preferably steel bar 196 slidably mounted at its rear end in the corresponding slot 192. A stop member 198 is secured on thi bar near the back end thereof by means such as a set screw 200. The stop member 198 conveniently is of a relatively soft metal such as aluminum. A felt pad 202 is incorporated between the stopmember 198 and the plastic strip for sound deadening and shock absorbing purposes. The bar 196 is apertured near its upper rear corner at 204, and a generally vertical spring 206 extends from this aperture to an aperture in a down-turned flange 208 at the back of the base plate 44. In extending down from the flange 208, the spring 206 actually extends somewhat to the rear (to the right in FIG. 3) so as to apply a forward biasing force to the operator 194, as well as to hold the rear portion of the bar'196 up against the top edge of the slot 192 in the plastic plate 190, thus to preclude rattling around of the bar in the slot.

The bar 196 is provided at a longitudinally intermediate position with an upstanding ear or tab 210, the significance of which will be set forth hereinafter. Beneath the ear or tab there is a rearwardly oriented hook 212 depending from the lower edge of the bar 196. The hook 212 has no significance 0n the operator 194, but is provided only for uniformity of parts, in order that certain parts can be made identical to avoid the necessity of separate dies and stamping operations. At the forward end of the bar there is an upstanding extension 214 having a forward projection 216 received in a plastic button 218. The plastic button is of substantially cylindrical configuration, but tapers slightly toward the outer end. This button is slidably guided in the corresponding hole 186 in the plastic plate 182. It will be understood that a push endwise on the button 218 will move the operator 194 rearwardly until such time as the upper projection 210 engages a felt pad 220 on the front face oftthe bracket 17 0.

A sheet metal bracket222 (FIGS. 3 and 4) has a flat plate portion 224 secured to the underside of the base plate 44 by means such as screws 226. The bracket 222 further has a right angle flange 228 depending at right angles from the base plate 44 and carrying at the bottom end thereof a grooved pulley 230 rotatably mounted on a stud 232 projecting laterally from the flange 228.

A ball chain 234 passes over the pulley and has one end secured by a clevis 236 to a pin 238 secured in an aperture in the upstanding projection 210 on the bar 196. The opposite end of the chain 234 is secured by a clevis 240 to the crank pin 164 on the crank 160. Also secured to this crank pin is the horizontal spring 166 previously mentioned. As will be apparent, the chain and pulley act as a force or motion reverser and the spring 166 normally holds the operator 194 in its full forward position as determined by the stop member 198. Whenever the button 218 is pushed, this button hereinafter being referred to as a cancel button, the operator 194 moves rearwardly and through the pulley and chain arrangement pulls on the crank 160 to rock the rock shaft in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 3, 11 and 12, thus to move the cams 144 from the rest position as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 in solid lines to the broken line position of FIG. 11. The cams in so moving engage the cam edges 100 of any of the switch actuators 86 that are in the switch operating position, as shown in FIG. 12, thereby to return the switch actuators and the respective stop tablets 26 to the off position shown in FIG. 11.

The remaining two operators are similar to the operator 194 just described, and hence will be described only rather briefly. The next operator to the left may be seen particularly in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5b and is identified by the numeral 242. It includes a bar 244 similar in shape to the bar 196, having an upward biasing spring 246 at the rear thereof, with a stop 248 and a felt pad 250 limiting forward movement. The operator 242 at the front end has a button 252 similar to the button 218, and labeled with a II as may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5b. This button comprises a pre-set button, as will be set forth in greater particularity hereinafter. One departure from the previously described operator is that immediately to the rear of the button the bar 244 has an upstanding arm 254 having a felt pad 256 wrapped around it and held in place by suitable means such as a rivet 258. The base plate 44 is apertured at 260 to provide clearance for the upper end of the arm 254 and the felt pad 258. Finally, there is a substantially horizontal spring 262 stretched from a hole in the front bracket 174 and engaged over the hook 264 on the bottom of the bar 244. There is again an upstanding central projection 266 engageable with a felt pad 268 on the bracket 170 serving as a stop in the rearward direction.

The third operator is identical with the first or cancel operator previously discussed, and this may be seen in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 6a. The third operator is identified by numeral 270, and includes a bar 272 having a central upstanding stop 274 engageable with a felt pad 276 against the bracket 170. The horizontal spring 278 is stretched from the front bracket 174 over the hook 280 at the bottom of the bar, and a stop 282 is fixed near the back of the bar and a felt pad 284 is provided, as before. And upward and somewhat forward biasing spring 286 is stretched between the upper rear corner of the bar 272 and the down-turned flange 208 of the base plate 44. At the front, the upward extension 288 of the bar is provided with a felt pad 290 held in place by means such as a rivet 292. The plastic push button 294 is of similar construction to the two mentioned heretofore, but is labeled with a I.

A stop setting rock shaft 296 is disposed to the left on the switch actuators 86 as viewed in FIGS. 11 and 12, the stop setting rock shaft being seen also in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7. The rock shaft is journaled at the left end (considering orientation as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 7) in a plastic bearing (not shown) set in an aperture in the left-most bracket 108. The stop setting rock shaft 296 passes through apertures in the other two brackets 108, and at the right end is journaled in a plastic bracket 298. This plastic bracket has a base or block portion 300 held against the base plate 44 by means such as a screw 302 and upstanding locator fingers 304 extending through suitable apertures 306 in thebase plate. The bracket also includes a vertical flange 308 in which the rock shaft 296 is specifically journaled. Split ring or C-washers '310 are received in suitable grooves in the rock shaft 296 on opposite sides of the flanges 308 to locate the rock shaft axially.

Located at the right end of the rock shaft 296 as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 7 there is a rocking cam 312. This cam may be seen in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9, but is best seen in FIG. 5a. The cam 312 includes a central cylindrical body portion 314 suitably pinned to the end of the rock shaft 296 as at 316. The cam is an integral plastic molding, and further includes a I lobe 318 on the lower left portion thereof as viewed in FIGS. 5, 5a and 6. The lower I lobe 318 is in the form of a cylindrical segment somewhat over degrees in arcuate extent and lying in the lower right quadrant as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6. The lobe extends to the left as viewed in FIGS. 4, 5a, 7 and 9 and is aligned with the projection 288 and felt 290 thereon of the I operator 270. The lobe 218 further has a horizontal rearward extension 320 apertured for receipt of a spring 322 stretch between the extension and the rear bracket to hold the cam and rock shaft in the center or neutral position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for example.

The cam further includes a II or upper lobe 324, extending to the right in FIGS. 4, 7 and 9, and lying generally in the upper right quadrant as seen in FIG. 5. The upper of II cam lobe 324 is positioned for engagement by the felt pad 256 on the arm 254 of the II operator 242. Thus, the rock shaft is capable of being rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 5, 6, 11 and 12 upon depression of the II push button 252, and, conversely, the rock shaft is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction when the I push button 294 is pushed or depressed.

The rock shaft 296 is provided with a plurality of axially spaced rocker cams 326, best seen when considering FIGS. 11 and 12 in connection with FIG. 7. Each rocker cam comprises a central body 328 having a longitudinal bore 330 opening radially through a slot 332 between a pair of jaws 334. A generally C-shaped spring metal clip 336 grips over the jaws to hold each rocker cam securely in place on the rock shaft. As will be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the rock shaft is provided with a longitudinal keyway 338, and an integral tongue 340 on each rocker cam extends into this keyway to insure proper rotational positioning.

Each cam 326 further has an upstanding arm 342 with a toe 344 at the upper end thereof projecting toward the heel 102 of the corresponding switch actuator 86. As will be seen particularly in FIG. 7, the arm 342 and also the toe 344 are only about half or less the total axial dimention of the cam, and capable of lining up at any given time with only one of the heels 102 of a switch actuator 86. When it is intended for this toe to operate a switch actuator, then the toe is opposite the switch actuator heel 102 above the bottom line or shoulder 104.

Each cam 326 further has a. depending arm 346 of the same width as the remainder of the cam exclusive of the arm 342, and the depending arm is reinforced by a longitudinal flange '348 extending radially of the rock shaft 296. At the lower end of the arm 346 there is a foot 350 extending toward the setting flange 106.

Each cam, depending on its axial position relative to the adjacent and corresponding switch actuator 86, is capable of setting a stop when pivoted in one direction or the other, or both. Thus, if it is desired for a particular stop tablet to be operated upon the pressing of the I button 284, the foot 350 of the rocker cam 326 corresponding thereto is positioned opposite the setting flange 106 of the corresponding switch actuator 86. Thus, when the rock shaft 296 is rocked in the counter-clockwise position to lift the feet 350 of all of the cams thereon upward in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in broken lines in FIG. 12, any foot 350 that is aligned with the corresponding setting flange 106 will engage the corresponding flange, and consequently move the switch actuator 86 and corresponding stop tablet 26 to the on position as shown in FIG. 12.

Conversely, for any stop tablet that is to be moved to the on position upon depression of the II push button 252, the foot 344 will be aligned with a corresponding heel 102. If the stop tablet is to respond only to the II push button 252, then the heel with which the foot is aligned is the one above the bottom line or shoulder 104. The relative dimensions are such that counter-clockwise pivoting of the rock shaft causes the corresponding foot 350 to miss the corresponding setting flange 106, it being kept in mind that there is only one such flange, and it is on the axially opposite end of the switch actuator from the heel 102 just above the shoulder 104. Thus, for every foot 344 and heel 102 is so aligned depression of the II button 252 will cause setting of the corresponding stop tablet and switch' actuator as the cams 326 move to the clockwise broken .line position of FIG. 12. Since the upstanding finger 342 is no more than half the axial thickness-,of the depending finger 346, any rocker cam 326 can be positionedaxially for the [lower foot 350 to engage the setting flange 106, with the upper foot 344 either passing by the heel '102 in the plane of the flange 106 or engaging this heel," as may be desired.

Thus, proper axial setting of a cam allows a push button and the ciforresponding switch actuator to be set by rotation of the rock shaft 296 in a counter-clockwise direction under the influence of the I push button 294, or upon movement of the rock shaft in a clockwise direction under the ififluence of the II push button 252., or upon rocking of the rock shaft in either direction. Alternatively, the cams are sufiiciently narrow axially that they can be aligned respectabily with the center lines of the actuators 86, and have more effect on the actuators upon rocking of the rock shaft in either direction. It will be understood thatfthe rocker cams are held firmly enough in position on the rock shaft that they will not migrate axially of their own accord. However, the frictional grip can be fairly readily overcome by a push with a finger or a simple tool, whereby it is a simple matter for a service man or any other skilled person adjustably to pre-set the stops that will be brought into operation upon depression of either of the'push buttons I and II. It will be obvious that the push button C cancels Whatever selections have been made, whether they have been made manually, or by one or the other of the push buttons, I and II.

This invention, is claimed as follows:

1. A stop tablet assembly for use with an electronic musical instrument comprising: a base, a plurality of stop tablets, each of said stop tablets having a depending operating projection thereon, means movably mounting said stop tablets on said base, said stop tablets being selectively, manually movable from a first position to a second position; common means including a plurality of cams and a cam shaft on which said cams are mounted, said cams respectively being engageable with said depending stop ta'blet projections that are in said second position, and means for operating said common means to move said cams against the depending projections of said stop tablets in said second position simultaneously to return any and all stop tablets in said second position to said first position.

2. A stop tablet assembly for use with an electronic musical instrument comprising a base, a plurality of stop tablets, each of said stop tablets having an abutment, means movably mounting said stop tablets on said base, said stop tablets being selectively manually movable from a first position to a second position, and a plurality of operating means, one for each stop tablet and positioned for engagement with the respective abutment, means for respectively adjusting the position of said operating means to engage or not engage the corresponding abutment, and means for simultaneously moving all of said operating means to set selected stop tablets the abutments of which are engaged by said operating means from said first position to said second position.

3. A stop tablet assembly for use with an electronic musical instrument comprising a base, a plurality of stop tablets, means movably mounting said stop tablets on said base, said stop tablets being: selectively manually movable from a first position to a second position, a rock shaft, means rockably supporting said rock shaft from said base adjacent all of said stop tablets, each of said stop tablets having a stop tablet setting means thereon with two spaced positions of engagement, operating means mounted on said rock shaft and comprising a plurality of axially spaced operators each having two contact areas respectively on opposite sides of said rock shaft and respectively engageable with the two spaced positions of engagement of such stop tablet setting means, rocking of said rock shaft in one direction being effective to engage one of said operator contact areas with one of the positions of engagement of the stop tablet setting means, rocking of said rock shaft in the other direction being effective to engage the second operator contact area with the other of the spaced positions of engagement of said stop tablet setting means, either being effective to move a stop tablet from the first position to the second position, and manually operable means for rocking said rock shaft.

4. A stop..tablet assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least one of each corresponding stop tablet setting means and operating means is axially asymmetrical, permitting relative axial positioning for engaging in only one direction of rocking of said rock shaft and not in the other.

5. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein both of each corresponding stop tablet setting means and operating means are axially asymmetrical.

6. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 3 and further including two manually operable members respectively connected to rock said rock shaft in relatively opposite directions.

7. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said two manually operable members comprise two push buttons.

8. A stop tablet assembly for use with an electronic musical instrument comprising: a base, a plurality of stop tablets, a rock shaft rockably mounted on said base, said stop tablets being mounted on said rock shaft and each being selectively, manually movable from a first position to a second position, each of said stop tablets having tablet setting means thereon, a plurality of operating means, there being one such operating means for each tablet setting means, means for respectively positioning any of said stop tablet setting means and corresponding operating means axially relative to one another to engage or completely to avoid contact therebetween, and means for rocking said rock shaft, simultaneously to move all of said operating means, said operating means moving into engagement with those of the tablet setting means with which they are aligned and thereby moving the tablets from said first position to said second position.

9. A stop tablet assembly for use with an electronic musical instrument comprising a base, a plurality of stop tablets, means'movably mounting said stop tablets on said base, said stop; tablets being selectively, manually movable from a first position to a second position, common means operably connected to all of said stop tablets, means for operating said common means to return any and all stop tablets in said second position simultaneously to said first position, stop tablet setting means on each of said tablets, setting operating means having a plurality of operators, one for each stop tablet setting means, means for supporting said operating means from said base including means for respectively positioning said operating means to engage or not to engage the corresponding stop tablet setting means, means for simultaneously moving all of said operators to set selected stop tablets engaged thereby from said first position to said second position, said common means comprising a rock shaft and a plurality of cams thereon respectively positioned for engagement with the stop tablet setting means, said setting operating means comprising a second rock shaft with said plurality of axially disposed operators mounted thereon, each of said operators having a pair of contact areas relatively on opposite sides of said second rock shaft and selectively capable of engaging a corresponding stop tablet setting means upon rocking said rock shaft in either of a first or second direction, and

1 l i 12 means for rocking said rock shaft in either direction. 1,462,429 7/1923 Verlinden 84345 10. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 9 1,725,576 8/ 1929 Flaherty 84345 wherein each cam and each operator comprises a molded 1,725,706 8/ 1929 Flaherty 84345 plastic member having a bore receiving the respective rock 1,901,552 3/ 1933 Dargis 84345 shaft and having a radial opening from said bore with 5 2,576,764 11/1951 Mork 841.19 radial projections on either side of said opening, and a 3,187,618 6/1965 Hohos 843'41 spring clip received on said radial projections and gripping said cams and operators in position on the respec- STEPHEN J. TOMSKY, Primary Examiner.

tive rock shafts.

0 S. A. WAL, Asszstant EJCCUTHIZBI.

References Cited US Cl, X,R,

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,131,814 3/1915 Austin 84345 1,253,685 1/1918 Hagstrom 84345

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