US3691286A

US3691286A - Musical box movement

Info

Publication number: US3691286A
Application number: US212164A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fumito Komatsu; Goro Adachi
Original assignee: Sankyo Seiki Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nidec Instruments Corp
Priority date: 1970-12-25
Filing date: 1971-12-27
Publication date: 1972-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-12
Also published as: IT939192B; DE2149442C3; ES199987U; DE2149442A1; DE2149442B2; GB1341312A; ES199987Y; CH528125A

Abstract

A music box movement for playing a musical score provided in a tape or band in the form of perforations therein. The members required for playback or sound-reproduction of the tape are arranged in parallel manner on a horizontal die-cast base frame so that the movement can be incorporated in a jewel-box or the like.

Description

United States Patent Komatsu et a1.

[ 1 Sept. 12, 1972 [54] MUSICAL BOX MOVEMENT [72] Inventors: Fumito Komatsu; Goro Adachi, both of Nagano, Japan [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Keisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho, Suwa-gun, Nagano, Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 212,164

301 Foreign Application Priority um Dec. 25, 1970 Japan ..45/140554 [52] US. Cl ..84/101, 84/97 [51] Int. Cl ..Gl0f U015 [58] Field of Search ..84/94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 624,655 5/1899 Jacot ..84/98 657,096 9/1900 Diezemann ..84/98 3,470,784 10/1969 Shiina ..84/101 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 70,822 3/1892 Germany ..84/97 11,160 9/1895 Sweden ..84/101 Primary Examiner--Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales Attorney-Eric H. Waters et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A music box movement for playing a musical score provided in a tape or band in the form of perforations therein. The members required for playback or soundreproduction of the tape are arranged in parallel manner on a horizontal die-cast base frame so that the movement can be incorporated in a jewel-box or the like.

16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures llllll PATENTEDSEP 12 m2 sum 3 or 4 PATENTED SEP 12 m2 SHEEI '4 [1F 4 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present device relates to improvements in a music box movement for playing a band or tape having perforations therein and corresponding to a melody.

An object of the invention is to provide a music box movement in which the mechanical components required for sound reproduction of the melody on the tape are assembled in a compact manner to allow the musical box to be built in a jewel box or the like.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a music box movement for playing a musical tape, comprising a die-cast horizontal frame having a guideway for said musical tape, a reed plate arranged on said guideway, and means comprising a set of pinned discs and a pressure roller opposite said pinned discs, the arrangement being such that when the tape is inserted in said guideway and moved forwardly through said pinned discs and pressure roller the perforations in said tape may engage the pins on said pinned discs to cause the pins to engage corresponding reeds on the reed plate and produce the melody on the tape.

Other advantages, features and objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a music. box incorporating a music box movement according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly-broken away and insection, for illustration of the interior arrangement of the music box movement;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in section of said movement;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a disc and a spacer element employed in the movement;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure roller;

and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the discs and roller explanatory of the operation of the music box movement according to the present device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawing is shown a die-cast horizontal frame 1 supporting a seat portion 2 on which a reed plate 3 is secured by a screw 4 in parallel relation to the frame 1. A flat plate 6 is arranged above the reed plate 3 in substantially parallel relation with the latter and the plate 6 is secured by a screw 5 to the frame 1. Arranged above the fiat plate 3 is an alignment member 7 which provides a horizontal guideway 9 for a musical score tape a. The horizontal guideway 9 opens at its left end into a funnel-shaped inlet 8 and it extends at its right end to a 1 and a plurality of discs 14 are mounted on the shaft 13.. Each disc 14 has four circumferentially spaced,

radially extending pins 14'. The discs 14 are supported in juxtaposition on the shaft 13 for relative rotation, and a plurality of resilient spacer discs 15 made of a synthetic resin are fixed on shaft 13 such that discs 15 are each interposed between two adjacent discs 14 so as to maintain the discs 14 with a fixed spacing corresponding to the space between any two adjacent staff lines on the musical tape. The roller 10 is arranged such that the circumferentially spaced pins 14' contact the reeds of the reed plate 3 upon rotation of the roller. The discs 15 frictionally engage the roller 10 and the discs 14, and the frictional engagement between the discs 14 and the spacer discs 15 is determined such that, when no resistant force is applied to the discs 14, the rotation of the shaft can produce rotation of the pinned discs together with the spacer discs, however, when a force due to absence of the perforations, or the member 7 is applied to the pinned discs, these pinned discs are prevented from rotating together with the shaft or spacer discs.

The pressure roller 11 is provided on its periphery with axially spaced annular grooves 16 forming a plu- -rality of axially spaced annular lands 17. The pressure roller 11 is positioned so that its annular grooves 16 are each opposed to the pins 14' on the discs 14 while its annular lands 17 are interdigitated between discs 14 and each makes contact with the spacer discs 15. The pressure roller 11 is made of elastic material. The shaft of the roller 10 and the shaft of the pressure roller 11 are provided with

respective gear wheels

18 and 19 which are in mesh with one another. The gear wheel 18 is operatively connected to a reduction gear mechanism 20 driven from a motor M.

A portion of the shaft 13 of the roller 10, on which the gear wheel 18 is to be fitted, is partially cut away at 13' to provide a substantially rectangular profile in cross section as shown in FIG. 7. On the other hand, the center bore 18' of the gear wheel 18 has a cross-sectional profile which is similar to that of the shaft portion 13' but wider than such portion. Thus, the shaft 13 of the roller may rotate with respect to the gear wheel 18 through a fixed angular range. It will be understood that the rotation of the gear wheel 18 causes the roller 10 to commence rotation with a predetermined time delay.

Mounted on the frame 1 is a switching mechanism S which comprises a stationary contact element 21, and a movable contact element 21' facing the stationary contact element. the movable contact element 21 is extended along the guideway 9 to the center of a vertical line passing through the axes of

rollers

10 and 11.

The alignment member 7 has transversely spaced lugs 22 which are respectively pivotally supported in V- shaped notches 23 provided at the rearmost ends of the side walls 12.

The alignment member 7 is provided with a comblike free end 24, and a plurality of plate portions 25 extended forwardly and downwardly at a particular angle from the remainder of the alignment member. The alignment member 7 is positioned so that its comb-like free and 24 overhangs the roller 10 in a cantilever manner while the plate portions 25 extend into recessed portions 26 in the plate 6. The alignment member .7 is normally urged downwards by the action of a U-shaped spring 27 which extends across the side walls of the frame above the alignment member 7. The comb-like free end 24 of the alignment member 7 normally rests on the roller 10 to block movement of the pins 14' and thereby prevent the discs 14 from undergoing rotation. The discs in this condition are in a common angular position with a respective pin in abutment with free end 24.

Referring further to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 28 represents a bearing made of resilient material arranged at each side wall 12 of the frame 1.

The bearings 28 support the opposite ends of the.

shafts of

rollers

10 and 11 so as to resiliently urge the shafts towards one another.

Preferably the reed plate 3 is arranged in a slightly inclined attitude with respect to the horizontal as shown in FIG. 3 in phantom lines whereby the reeds of the reed plate engage the pins 14 of the discs 14 with a larger contact orengaging area to reduce the wear of the pins.

The operation of the music box will be hereinafter described in detail.

Upon-insertion of the musical tape a into the entrance port 8 of the tape guideway 9, the leading end of the tape moves the plate portions 25 upwardly, the latter having been positioned in the tape path. The leading end of the musical tape is then further advanced and nipped between the pressure roller 11 and roller 10. When the plate portions 25 are pushed upwardly by insertion of the tape, the alignment member .7 undergoes a swinging movement around the pivot supports at notches 23 against the opposition of the force of the spring 27. Thus, the discs 14 are freed from contact with the comb-like free ends 24 of the alignment member to become freely rotatable.

Thereupon, the leading end of the tape moves the movable contact element 21' upwardly towards its opposed stationary contact element to close the switch S which in turn closes an electric circuit for energizing the motor M. Both the roller 10 and pressure roller 11 are driven in rotation from the motor M through the reduction gear mechanism whereby the musical tape is advanced between the roller 10 and the pressure roller 11 so that the perforations in the tape engage the pins 14' on the discs 14 to cause the discs to rotate whereby the reeds are contacted by the pins 14' on the pinned discs 14 to play the melody.

More specifically, the discs 14 are disposed one for each It line on the tape, and the angular positions of the discs 14 are such that one of the pins 14 of each thereof is located to engage a perforation in the corresponding staff line in the tape when the perforation passes thereover. Thereupon, the disc is rotated through 90 so that the next pin is ready to engage the next perforation. In the course of rotation of the discs a corresponding sound is produced by the associated reed. By placement of the positions of the perforations on the lines of the tape and adjustment of the sound values of the reeds, a melody can be reproduced. It is to be understood that when no perforation appears for a particular disc, the tape passes over such disc without producing rotation thereof.

From FIG. 7, it will be seen that there is no danger that the travel of the musical tape may be impeded by the discs since the pins on the discs can pass through the respective annular grooves 15 in the pressure roller.

When the trailing end of the musical tape finally passes the plate portions 25, the plate portions 25 are moved downwardly into the recessed portions 26 whereby the alignment member 7 undergoes downward swinging movement to its initial position so that the comb-like free end 24 of the alignment member is brought into engagement with .the pins 14' of the discs 14 to block rotation of the discs. Thereafter, when the trailing end of the tape passes from the movable contact element 21', the motor M is de-energized and the discs are kept in aligned angular position in which the pins 14' are abutted against the comb-like free end of the alignment member. The musical box movement is now ready for introduction of another tape.

In accordance with the present invention, the horizontal die-cast base frame is parallel with the parts or members required for play-back or sound reproduction of the tape, such parts including the reed plate, guideway for the tape and the combination of the pressure roller and opposed roller with pinned discs for receiving and advancing the inserted tape while making engagement of the pins with the perforations in the tape and correspondingcontact with the reeds. Accordingly, such music box may be-made with as little height as possible in order to permit it to be incorporated into a jewel box or the like.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the invention is capable of modification and variation within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for producing sound in accordance with an arrangement of perforations on at least one line in an elongate band, said apparatus comprising a drive means for longitudinal advancement of said band including a pair of rotatable rollers for advancing the band therebetween, a freely rotatable disc coaxially mounted with one of said rollers and including radial pins positioned to engage perforations in the band to produce rotation of the disc, and sound producing means adjacent said disc for being contacted by said pins, when said disc is rotated, to produce sound.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the other of said rollers is provided with an annular groove in which said pins are received during rotation of said disc.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising means for driving the rollers in rotation, and means for initiating drive of the rollers before the band has entered between the rollers.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising a plurality of said discs spaced along the axis of said one roller, means fixed to said one roller and interposed between adjacent discs to axially position the discs and engage in pressure contact with the other roller to advance the band therebetween, said other roller having one of said annular grooves for each disc.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means interposed between adjacent discs comprises spacer members, said other roller and spacer members being made of elastic material.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said rollers are horizontally supported and said sound producing means comprises a reed plate with a reed for each disc.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein four of said pins are mounted on each disc at 90 intervals. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising means defining a guideway for passage of said band to said rollers, said reed plate extending substantially parallel to said guideway.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 comprising alignment means for blocking rotation of said discs, and means in the guideway in the path of travel of the band for acting on the alignment means to unblock rotation of the discs when the band is advanced in said guideway.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a drive gear and means drivingly coupling said drive gear and said one rotatable roller with pre-determined limited angular free movement therebetween.

11. In a music box for producing sound in accordance with an arrangement of perforations in an elongate band, said music box having a frame, a horizontal shaft journalled in said frame for rotation, a plurality of rotatable discs each including circumferentially spaced, radial pins thereon, said discs being supported in juxtaposition on said shaft in relatively rotatable manner, a plurality of spacer discs fixed on said shaft between adjacent discs and in frictional engagement therewith, a reed plate including reeds arranged in opposition to said discs so as to be contacted by the pins on the latter, whereby travel of the band on said discs produces sound in relation to the location of the perforations, an improvement comprising a second shaft arranged in parallel relation to said horizontal shaft, a pressure roller mounted on said second shaft and provided with axially-spaced annular grooves for permitting free movement therein of said pins on said discs, said pressure roller including axially spaced annular lands interdigitated with said discs in opposition to said spacer discs to pinch said band therebetween, and means for driving at least one of said shafts in rotation to move said band.

12. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 comprising, means for actuating the driving means prior to the time when the leading end of said band reaches between said spacers and said pressure roller, said reed plate being arranged such that, when any one pin on a selected disc is abutted against its corresponding reed, one additional pin on the same disc is in the front of the center of said pressure roller whereby when the leading end of thetravelling band pushes said pin to touch the reed, the rotatable discs are rotated in unison by said driving means.

13. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 comprising a guideway for said band extending perpendicularly to a plane passing through the axes of said shafts, said reed plate being substantially parallel to said guideway.

14, An improvement as claimed in claim 11 wherein the driving means comprises a gear wheel on said shaft with the rotatable discs with pins, said gear wheel being mounted on said shaft for a predetermined limited angular free movement with respect to said shaft.

5. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 wherein said pressure roller and spacer discs are both made of an elastic substance.

16. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 comprising means resiliently urging said shafts against one another.

Claims

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein four of said pins are mounted on each disc at 90* intervals.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising means defining a guideway for passage of said band to said rollers, said reed plate extending substantially parallel to said guideway.

12. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 comprising, means for actuating the driving means prior to the time when the leading end of said band reaches between said spacers and said pressure roller, said reed plate being arranged such that, when any one pin on a selected disc is abutted against its corresponding reed, one additional pin on the same disc is in the front of the center of said pressure roller whereby when the leading end of the travelling band pushes said pin to touch the reed, the rotatable discs are rotated in unison by said driving means.

14. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 wherein the driving means comprises a gear wheel on said shaft with the rotatable discs with pins, said gear wheel being mounted on said shaft for a predetermined limited angular free movement with respect to said shaft.

15. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 wherein said pressure roller and spacer discs are both made of an elastic substance.