US468503A - lochmann - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. I 0. P. LOGHMANN.

MUSIGAL BOX. No. 468,503. Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

OSKAR PAUL LOOHMANN, OF GOHLIS, GERMANY.

MUSICAL BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,503, dated February 9, 1892.

Application filed July 15, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSKAR PAUL LOCH- MANN, a subject of the King of Prussia, residing at Gohlis, Leipsic, in the Kingdom of Saxony, German'Empire, have invented new and useful Improvements in or relating to Musical Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanical musical instruments, and espe-' cially to that class known heretofore in which music-plates of different diameters, according to the length of the time, canbe applied for operating the metal tongues or reeds.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple means for holding such plates of different diameters, so as to act on the tone-producing devices and also to provide means for using rectilinear musicsheets on the same instrument.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view of my improved musical box. Fig. 2 isa plan view of the same, parts being broken out. Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal sectional view showing a modified construction. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing another modification, and Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 4.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The metal tongues or reeds a are actuated by small spur-wheels b in the usual way these wheels being turned by the pins of the tune plate 0. The tune plate a is secured to the bar d, so that when said bar descends upon the upper plate f of the instrument the pins of the plate 0 take up their operative positionnamely, that in which they will act upon the spur-wheels b. The plate 0 receives rotary motion from thegear-Wheel g, which is itself rotated either by hand, clock-work, or any other suitable motor. The wheel 9 gears with a toothed crown g, provided on the tune plate, and thus causes this plate 0 to turn on its spindle h. The bar 61 is provided with a number of openings it" 1?, arranged in succession and ata grad ually-increasing distance from the gear-wheel In the example shown the tune-plate is se cured to the bar 61 by a set-screw h, fitting the screw-threaded opening 11. The next size of Serial No. 399,588. (No model.)

plate is similarly secured by means of a screw fitting the opening 2', and for the third size the screw will be inserted into the opening i WVhateverthe size 'of the plate it will be seen that the toothed crown g'remains at the same distance from the plate, so that the circumferential speed of the tune-plates of different dimensions remains equal in all cases, and therefore the speed with which the plate travels over the wheels I? is the same. Therefore whatever the size of the tune-plate the piece of music thereon will always be properly timed.

The tune-plates employed in this instrument may be adapted to move in a straight line. For this purpose the plates c, Fig. 2, on one side are provided with teeth or equiva lent g gearing with the wheel 9. When this wheel 9 turns, the plate 0' is drawn along rectilinearly over the wheels I). To guide these plates 0, suitable guides are provided on the top plate f of the casing, between which the plate is caused to travel, so that it cannot be displaced laterally. One guide-rail k is permanently secured to the top plate f, while the other Z is connected with the bar d by means of a hinge, so that it may be turned down when required for use. WVhen the bar d is pressed down, the guide-rail Z takes up its position upon the top plate f and guides that side of the tune-plate on which are situated the teeth g This movable arrangement of the guide-rail is necessary to allow of said guide-rail being removed when rotary tuneplates are used, with the motion of which it would otherwise interfere.

The method of securing the tune-plate to t the bar d isvery convenient. The bar cl is first simply turned up, the plate, of a suitable size, is secured thereto by the insertion of the screw h into the corresponding opening, and by then turning down the bar d upon the plate f the tune-plate is at once brought to the proper position for playing.

It will be understood thatinstead of securing the screw-spindle h of the tune-plate to a bar, such as d, it may be secured directly to the top plate f, as shown in Fig. 8, in which case the openings 2', t", and i for the reception of the screw 71. are formed at the desired distances apart in the said top plate f. It will also be understood that instead of securing the guide-rail Z to the bar d said guide-rail may be fixed to the under side of the top plate f of the instrument and may be raised or lowered through a slot provided in that plate; or the guide-rail Z may be secured to the top platef in any other suitable manner. As regards the other guide-plate 70, it is not essential that it should be secured to the plate f permanently, as it may also be removable, if preferred.

If desired, the rotary tune-plates may be operated through their edges, in which case these edges are suitably toothed and thrown into gear with another toothed wheel. The plates adapted for rectilinear motion may similarly be toothed along their longitudinal edges and operated by suitable gearing.

The following modification (illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanyingdrawings) may also 'be applied to the above-described instrument. The bar d carries a movable carriage d, having an opening provided with threads, into which the screw it is screwed.

In using tune-plates of different sizes the carriage d is correspondingly displaced on the bar (Z and fixed in its position by any suitable device. The larger the employed tune-plates the more the axis of revolution h, carried by the'ca'rriage, will be distant from the toothed wheel g.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performethl declare'that whatI claim is 1. In a mechanical music-box, the combination, with a casing, of ahinged bar, a screw held in said bar and forming the pivot for a circular music-sheet, and means for holding said screw on said bar at different lengths from the ends of the bar, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a music-box mechanism and easing, of a hinged rail on the top of the casing, which hinged rail is provided with a number of screw-apertures, a pivot adapted to be screwed into said apertures, and a music-sheet adapted to rotate on said pivot, substantially as set forth.

3. In a musical box, the combination, with a music-producing mechanism and casing, of a hinged bar on the top of the casing, an adjustable pivot secured on said bar, and a guide-piece'hinged to the top of said bar and extending transversely over the same, substantially as set forth.

4. In a musical box, the combination, with a music-producing mechanism, of a casing, a toothed wheel in said casing, and a musicsheet having a row of apertures adapted to receive the'teeth of said toothed wheel, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed 'my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSKAR PAUL LOCII-MANN.

Witnesses:

CARL BORNGRAEBER, ERNST LooHMANN.

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