US719092A - Electric self-playing piano. - Google Patents

Description

No. 719,092. PATLNTLD-JAN. 27, 1903. G. H. DAVIS. l

ELECTRIC SELL' PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1399.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I0 MODEL.

@sf @Mms No. 719,092. PATENTED JAN. '27,v 1.903.

G. E. DAVIS. ELECTRIC SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLIGATION FILED um. zz. 1899. no MODEL. 4 SHEETS-s111133: z.

me Norms prreks 00,. MTD-urna.. vmsnlum'on. n. c.

PATENTED JAN'. 27, 1903;

G. H. DAVIS. ELECTRIC SELEI PLAY/ING PIANO.

APPLICATION-FILED MAB.. 22. 1899.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I0 HODEL.

3. 0 9 1.... 7... .2 N. A J D E m... N. .B T A D..

S.. I. V. A DA E nm 9m 9 0, 9 l 7 0. N

ELECTRIC SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED IAB. 2.2, 1899.

4 SHEETS-81mm 4.

I0 MODEL.

Wis',

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HOVLETT DAVIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SELF-PLAYING PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,092, dated January 27, 1903.

Application filed March 22, 1899. Serial N0. 710,046. (No model.)Y

To all LI/'71,01% it iii/ty concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE HOWLETT DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new, useful, and valuable Improvement in Electrical Self-Playing Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to electrical selfplaying pianos and similar musical instruments, and is in the nature of an improvement on the instruments for which I obtained Letters Patent of the United States on the 17th day of September, 1895, andNov'ember 10, 1896, and respectively numbered 546,582 and 570,911.

The object of the present invention is to improve, simplify, and cheapen the construction of many of the details of construction of the parts of the instruments shown and described in said Letters Patent and to improve and render certain andsatisfactory their operation, and in certain other features, as will fully hereinafter appear. Y

To these ends my invention consists in the features and in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a View in end elevation,Y partially in section, showing my improved device applied to a piano. Fig. '2 `is a bottom plan View of the music-roll holder.- an end elevation, partially in section, of the same. Fig. e is a detail view of the rewinding spring-drum. Fig. 5 isa detail perspective view of the contacts and their guard-rail viewed from the under side. Fig. 6 is a similar View of the switch-rail. Fig. 7 is a detail View of the music-roll-holder-releasing mechanism. Figs. Sand fr) are detailviews of the brake for regulating or governing the rotation of the take-up roll. Fig 10 is a detail perspective view of one of the armature-supporting springs, and Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the circuits.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l indicates au electric motor arranged in the Fig. s isbottom of the-piano and operating to drive a belt 2which passes around a pulley 3, fixed on one end of a drum 4. The ends or trunnions 5 of the drum are journaled in suitable bearings formed in metallic hangers or brackets 6, pendent from the under side of the piano-frame beneath the inner ends of lthe piano-keys 7. The hangers 6 are rigidly united by angle irons or bars 8 and 9, which taken together constitute a frame which carries or supports all the parts forming the action for operating theV piano-keys, as contradistinguished from the music-sheet holder. This frame may be quickly attached to the pianoframe by ordinary wood-screws without altering or injuring the piano-frame in any manner whatsoever. Supported on the angie-bar 8 is a series of electromagnets 10 equal in number to the number of piano-keys. The horizontal web of the angle-bar is providedv with a number of perforations, two for each magnet, and the U-shaped core or poles of the magnets are passed up through the perforations and soldered to the web, after which the helices are placed over the poles above the Web. This manner of arranging the electromagnets forms a very economical, secure, and com pact support therefor. Riveted, bolted, or otherwise suitably secured to the vertical dange of the angle-bar are a number of flat springs 11, one for each magnet, which are bentV at right angles at their upper ends to overlie the upper ends of the magnets, and to each of said springs is rigidly attached a bent or approximately right-angled armature 12, one end 13 of which depends vertically, as shown. To the lower end of the pendent arm 13 of each of the armatures is pivotally connected a shoe 14, the lower edge of` which ispreferablyslightlycurved or convexed, as at 15, and normally lies slightly above the revolving drum 4. As shown, the armature is pivoted to one corner of the upper end of the shoe, while to the opposite corner thereof is in like manner attached a'vertically-movable striker-rod 16, arranged to slide in suitable bearings of any suitable description and adapted to engage or strike the under side of the inner end of the piano-key 7, lying immediately above it. Rigidly fixed in the angle-bar 9 are a number of downwardly-projecting rods 18, which operate to IDO limit the upward movement of the armatures 12. As best shown in Fig. 10, the fiat springs 11 are made vertically adjustable by providing each with an elongated slot 17, through which the attaching-bolts pass, and the vertical portion of each of said springs is bent up at right angles on its opposite edges, as shown, to form strengthening ribs or fianges.

VIt will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that if one of the magnets 10 be energized its armature 12 Will be attracted and drawn downward, thus forcing the lower edge of the shoe 14 into contact with the drum 4, which constantly revolves in the direction of the arrow 19, whereupon the shoe will instantly be swung upwardly about its pivotal connection to the armature as a center, thrusting upward the striker-rod 16, which in turn strikes its corresponding key and sounds a note. The purpose of supporting the armatures on hat springs, as shown, instead of pivoting them, as has heretofore been customary, is to avoid the noise heretofore found to be occasioned by the pivoted armatures, for although the noise of a single armature oscillating about its pivot is but slight, yet in practice it is found that the large number of armatures, many of them operating simultaneously, and the rapidity with which they are actuated combine to create sufficient noise to interfere with the proper action of the piano and occasion annoyance. By suspending the armatures on springs, as shown, this objection is entirely avoided.

The means for automaticallyenergizing and demagnetizing the electromagnets in proper order and timed intervals to cause the strikerrod to actuate the keys of the piano will now be described.

The numeral 2O indicates the base or bottom frame of the m usic-sheet holder, which is provided at its rear end with-tenons 21, which are inserted in suitable circular recesses or sockets formed in the frame of the piano and may be further secured in place by ordinary wood-screws. The forward ends of the base or bottom frame have formed therein bearings 22 and 23, in the former of whichis journaled a short shaft 24 and in the latter is loosely arranged a screw 25. Hinged on the shaft 24 and screw 25 is the movable member of the music-sheet holder, consisting of the frame 26, in the rear ends of which is journaled the take-up roll 27, upon which the music-sheet is to be wound to play'the piano, as will hereinafter be explained. The takeup roll is provided at one end with a gearwheel 28, which is adapted to mesh with a small pinion 29, fixed on one end of a conepulley 30, which is journaled in a bearing 31, formed on the bottom frame of the sheetholder. The cone-pulley is driven by a belt l30,which passes around a similarcone-pulley 131, fixed on a shaft 132, journaled in the bracket 6 and also having fixed thereon a belt-pulley 133, which is driven by a belt 134, connected to the pulley 3 before described.

rlaoee The cone-pulley 30 through the medium of y the pinion 29 and gear-wheel 28 drives the take-up roll to advance the music sheet. Loosely journaled in the frame 26, intermediate the ends of the latter, is a copper-faced contact-roller 32. Journaled in one side of the front portion of the frame 26 is a short shaft 33, the inner end of which is furcated, as at 34, (see Fig. 2,) and on its outer end is fixed a pinion 35, that meshes with a relatively large gear-wheel 36, journaled on a stud-shaft fixed in or formed on the frame 26, which in turn meshes with an idle gear-wheel 37, that gears with a similar gear-wheel 137, fixed on the short shaft 24. Formed in the other side of the frame 26 in alinement with the furcated shaft 33 is a bearing 38, in which is adapted to be journaled one end of the delivery-roll 39, the other end 0f which is adapted to be fixed in the split or fui-cated end 34 of said shaft 33. 'lhe perforated music-sheet is wound on the roll 39 and from thence passes over the contact-roll 32, and at its end is provided with a perforation that is slipped over a hook 40 on the take-up, roll. It will be manifest that as the latter is rotated in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, the musicsheet 41 will be wound up on the take-up roll and simultaneously unwound from the delivery-rolhpassing over and rotating the contact-roll 32. It will be evident that in unwinding the music-sheet from the take-up roll when the end of the music-sheet is reached the perforated end will slip from off the hook 40 and the music-sheet be thus automatically cast off.

Arranged to rest on the periphery of the contact-roller 32, or, more properly speaking, on the music-sheet at the point where it passes over the contact-roller, isa series of contacts or brushes 42, there being one such contact or brush foreach key of the instrument to be played upon. Each brush or contact 42 preferably consists of three copper wires arranged in bunches or brush form, the wires of each bunch or brush 42 being collected and inserted at one end in a wooden bar or rail 43, and at its inserted end soldered or otherwise electrically connected to one end of a wire conductor 44, the other end of said conductor being threaded through a perforated switchrail 45, secured to the frame 2O by screws, as shown, and looped about itself and then bent back over the edge of the rail 45, as at 46, as best illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. It will be understood that each brush or contact 42 is connected in the manner described by a wire conductor 44 to the switch-rail 45, and that by looping the ends of the conductors 44 about the switch-rail in the manner described said loops form broad contact-surfaces that insure a closed and certain electrical contact with the conductors leading to the electromagnets 10, as will more fully hereinafter be made apparent. The bar or rail 43 is fixed to the front side of ametallic bar 47 by screws 48, as most plainly shown in Fig. 3, and on IOO IIO

the ends of the bar 47 are formed forwardlyprojecting ears or extensions 49, each provided with elongated slots 50. The bar 47 is Aadjustably secured to the base-frame of the music-roll holder by screws 5l. (See Fig. 2.) By loosening the screws 5l the bar 47, and with it the brushes or contacts, may be moved toward or from the contact-roller 32, whereby as the ends of the brushes or contacts wear away they may be adjusted up to the contactroller to compensate for such wear.

As shown and described, the rails 43 and 45 are removably attached to the frame 20, and this is important, for in practice the conductors 44 may be assembled and secured in place on the rails before the latter are attached to the frame 20, thus rendering the operation of wiring simple, easy, and convenient, after which the whole series of wires may be assembled in place at one operation by merely securing the rails 43 and 45 in place.

.Heretofore it has been found in practice that the slender copper wires forming the brushes or contacts 42 are constantly being bent, deflected, or disarranged from one cause or another in such manner that they fail to make proper electrical contact with the contact-roller 32 when it is their duty to do so, and in order to protect and guard the free ends of the said contacts vor brushesand at all times maintain them in alinement with one another I provide the following means: Disposed longitudinally over the free ends of the contacts 42, and consequently over the contactroller 32, is a bar 52, preferably formed of wood, said bar or rail being attached at its opposite ends by screws 53 to the free ends of springs 54, said springs at their other ends being fixed to the base-frame 2O of the music-roll holder. The forward edge of the bar or rail 52 is formed with a depending flange 55, and the springs 54, when the contact-roller is not in operative position, force said bar or rail down against the free end of the contacts or brushes, the iiange 55 overlapping their extremities, thus protecting said brushes or contacts against being accidentally bent or deflected from their true positions. NVhen the frame 26 is swung up into position to cause the contact-roller 32 to bear against the free ends of the contacts or brushes 42, as will hereinafter be described, the sides of said frame abut the screws 53 of the guard-rail 52 and raise the latter out of engagement with the contacts or brushes. Secured at one end to the frame 26 by a screw 56 is a spring-contact 57, which at its free end constantly bears against one end of the contact-roller 32, thus placing said roller in electrical contact with said frame.

As before described, the music-roll-holder frame 26 is hinged at its front end, as at 24 and 25, to the base-frame 20, and said musicroll-holder frame is held in its raised position by depending beveled catches or hooks 58, that are adapted to hook under projections 59, formed on the opposite sides of the frame 26. Said catches or hooks 5S are formed on and depend from the opposite ends of a bar 60 and are each pivoted intermediate their ends on screws 6l, screwed into the sides of the frame 20. Arranged to move longitudinallyin bearings 62, formed on the frame 2O and transversely to the bar 60, is a rod 63, which intermediate its ends is provided with a depending pin 64, which engages a perforation in the bar 60. About the rod 63 is coiled a spring 65, one end of which bears against the rearmost bearing 62 and the other end against the pin 66, fixed in or on said rod. Said spring operates to thrust the rod 63 forward, and thus hold the catches 58 in engagement with the projections 59, thereby maintaining the frame 26 in its raised position. The forward end of the rod 63 is provided with the knob 67, by means of which the rod may be thrust rearwardly to disengage the catches and drop the frame 26, for the purpose hereinafter explained. Fixed on the rod 63 is an armature l68, which normally depends in front of the electromagnet 69, which is connected by a wire to a contact 7l, adapted to contact with the contact-roller 32, the other conductor 72 terminating in a loop 73 on 'the switch-rail 45. Formed on one side of the base-frame 20 is a horizontally-extending plate or flat projection 74, on the lower side of which is secured a sheet of insulating material 76. Threaded through suitable perforations in the insulating sheet or plate 76 is a resistance-coil 77, one end of which is soldered or otherwise electrically connected to the plate or projection 74, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. ll, and hence is in electrical connection with the frame 20. A sheet of insulating material (not shown) is arranged between the sheet or plate 76 and the convolutions of the resistance-coil and the plate 74 to insulate said coil from the lastnamed plate.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the convolutions of the rheostat or resistance-coil 77 are arranged in the arc of a circle, vand adapted to sweep over said coil is a switch-lever or` pivoted arm 78, which is pivoted at one end to the insulating-plates and 76 and at its other end is provided with a contact 79, adapted to make electrical contact with any one of the convolutions of the resistance-coil 77. The arm or lever 78 is connected to one end of a wire conductor 80, the other end of which terminates in a loop 8l on the switchrail 45. Pivoted to the plate 74 and in electrical contact therewith', and hence also in electrical` contact with the frame 20, is a switch-lever 82, which normally rests in electrical contact with a switch-bar 83, secured to the insulating-plate 76. An inclined shoulder 84 is formed on the edge of the plate 74, upon which the switch-lever 82 is adapted to ride when turned in the proper direction, and thus be thrown out of electrical contact with the switch-bar 83. To the opposite end of the switch-lever 82 is attached an up- IOO IIO

the battery.

t xHaces' wardly-projecting U-shaped belt-shifting arm 85, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which embraces the opposite sides of the belt 130, connecting the cone-pulleys 30 and 131, the operation of which will hereinafter be explained.

Fixed to the base-frame 2O and suitably insulated from one another are two spring-contacts 86, one of which is connected by wire conductor 87 to the switch-bar 83, and the other is connected to a similar conductor 88, that terminates in a loop 89 on the switchrail 45. On the forward end of the movable part 26 of the music-sheet holder is fixed a metallic pin or projection 90, which when the music-roll holder is swung up into position enters between and engages both the springcontacts 86 and places the conductors 87 and 8S in electrical contact.

Fixed to the upper ends of the brackets 6 is a bar 91, of insulating material, preferably wood, to which are secured by screws 92 spring-contacts 93, there being one such contact for each of the brushes 42 and its corresponding conductor 44. Similar spring-contacts 172, 181, and 189 are also secured to the bar 91. When the music-roll holder and its base-frame are inserted in place, the springcoutacts 93 each automatically makes electrical contact with one of the loops 46, forming the terminals of the conductors 44, connected with the brushes, and in like manner the contact 172 is placed in electrical contact with the conductor 72, leading to the armature controlling the catches operating to hold the music-roll holderelevated. The contact l81is placed in electrical contact with the conductor 80, leading to the rheostat, and the conductor 189 in contact with the conductor 88, leading through the frame of the music-roll holder, and conductor 87 to the switch-bar.

The numeral 95 indicates a battery or other suitable source of electricity one terminal 96 of which passes through the motor l and from thence to the contact 181, while the other terminal 97 leads from the contact 189 back to A number of conductors 98 also lead from the conductor 96, each passing through one of the electromagnets 10 and thence to one of the contacts 93. A third conductor 99 leads from the conductor 96 to the con-tact 172.

The operation of the invention so far as described is as follows: The electric current passes from the generator 95 over the conductor 96, through the motor l, thence over conductor 80, through the rheostat 77 to the switch-lever 82, through the conductor 87, contacts 86, and connector 90, conductor 88, and thence back to the generator over conductor 97, thus putting the motor into opera- The motor drives the shaft 4 in the di- Assuming that tion. rection shown by the arrow.

unwind the sheet from the delivery-roller 39, drawing it over the contact-roller 32. As a perforated portion of the music-sheet passes beneath any one of the brushes or contacts 42 the free end of the latter will make electrical contact with the contact-roller The circuit will then be completed from the generator over the conductor 96 98, through an electromagnet 10, conductor 44, the brush 42, contact-roller 32, frame 26, conductor 88, and back over the conductor 97 to the generator. The electromagnet 10 will thus be energized, drawing down its armature 12 and throwing the shoe 14 into frictional contact with the rotating drum 4, which will immediately operate to swing said shoe up about its pivotal point, thus thrusting up the striker-rod 16 and actuating the corresponding key 17 to sound a note. When the music-sheet moves forward to again interpose itself between the end of the brush and the contact-roller, the circuit will be broken at such point, dema-gnetizing the magnet and restoring the parts to their former positions. As before stated, there is one such brush, magnet, and circuit for each key of the instrument, and they will be each operated at such times to sound the note as may be determined by the perfora'tions in the music-sheet in the manner well understood by those skilled in the art. When the end of the music-sheet is reached, an appropriately-placed perforation therein will come opposite the contact 71, whereupon a circuit will immediately be completed from the generator over the conductor 99, conductor 72, through the electromagnet 69, conductor 70, contact 7l, contact-roller 32, frame 26, conductor 88, and thence back over the conductor 97 to the generator. The electromagnet 69 will be thus energized, retracting the rod 63 and disengaging the catches 58 from the projections 59, whereupon the frame 26 will immediately swing down by gravity, withdrawing the pin or projection 90 from between the Contact 86, breaking the circuit at this point and throwing the motor out of operation.

It will be evident that by turning the pivoted arm 78 to the right or left more or less of the convolutions of the coil 77 will be thrown into the motor-circuit, thereby altering the resistance, and consequently regulating the speed of the motor. As the force with which the strikerrods are thrust upward against the keys depends to some extent upon the rapidity with which the drum 4 revolves, (the faster the rotation ot the drum the more forcibly said rods being thrust upward, and consequently the louder the notes,) the volume ot the sound-of the instrument may in a measure be controlled by regulating the speed of the motor by means of the rheostat.

In order that the tempo or rapidity with which the notes are sounded may be rendered independent of the rapidity with which the motor is driven, I have provided the arrangement of cone-pulleys and belt-shifter described. It will be readily understood that IOO IIO

by turning the switch-lever 82 in one direction or the other the belt 130 will be shifted on the cone-pulleys by the shifter-arm S5 to cause the music-sheet to be moved faster or slower independently of the speed of the motor, and hence regulate the rapidity with which the key-actuating circuits are closed. This movement of the switch-lever 82 does not affect the motor, as said switch-lever makes contact with the switch-bar 83 at any point to which it may be moved to shift the belt, and it is only when the switch-lever is forced so far to one side as to ride up on the inclined shoulder Si that it is moved out of contact with the switch-bar and breaks the motor-circuit. The switch-lever thus performs a twofold function. It controls through themedium of the belt shifter-arm S5 the speed at which the music-sheet travels and also operates to throw the motor into and outof operation.

There now remains only to be described the mechanism for rewinding the music-sheet after it has been unwound from the deliveryroll onto the take-up roll.

Depending from the rear end of the baseframe 20 is a bracket-arm 100, in which is fixed a shaft 101. A sleeve 102 has a loose bearing on the shaft 101, and rotatably arranged on said sleeve is a drum 103, in which is arranged a convolute spring 104, one end of which is fixed, as at 105, to the drum and the other end to the sleeve 102. On the inner or rear end of the sleeve is fixed a ratchetwheel 106, which is engaged by a pawl 107, pivoted to the bracket-arm vand operating to prevent the sleeve from rotating in one direction. One edge of the periphery of the drum 103 is toothed, as at 108, and meshes with a pinion 109, fixed on one end of the shaft 110, journaled in suitable bearings on one side of the frame 20. On the opposite or front end of the shaft 110 is fixed a beveled pinion 111, that meshes with a corresponding beveled pinion 112, fixed on the short shaft 24, before mentioned. The delivery-roll 36 being fixed in the bifurcated end of the shaft 34, it is manifest that said shaft is rotated as the music-sheet is unwound from the delivery-roll onto the take-up roll and through the medium of the gears 35, 36, 37, and 137 rotates the short shaft 24. The latter rotates the shaft 110, which in its turn rotates the drum 103 and winds np the spring 104, the pawl 107 holding the sleeve 102 against rotation, thus storing up power to rewind the musicsheet. Vhen the end of the music-sheet is reached and the music-roll-holder frame is dropped down in the manner before described, thus throwing the gear-wheel 28 on the take-up roller out of gear with the pinion 29 on the cone-pulley 30, the drum is instantly rotated by its spring in the reverse direction to that before described and through the described intermediate gearing immediately rotates the delivery-roller to rewind thereon the musicsheet, which slips off the hook 4:0 when its end is reached. When the drum is unwound under the influence of its spring, the pawl slips idly over the ratchet 106, permitting the sleeve 102 to rotate with it, thus preventing the acquired momentum of the drum from expanding or unwinding the spring too far, which would have a tendency to break it. The music-roll may then be removed and another substituted, when it is merely necessary to lift or swing the music-roll-holder frame up into place, when the circuit is again established through the contact S6 and, if the switch be closed, starts the instrument again playing. There being no tension on the takenp roll when the music-,roll-holder frame is dropped or swung down, as described, the spring-drum will manifestly operate to wind u p the music-sheet on the delivery-roll very quickly, and in order to retard such action and prevent damage to the music-sheet I provide the take-up roll 27 with a centrifugal brake mechanism. 8 and 9 of the drawings.) Referring to said figures, the numeral 113 indicates a cap arranged opposite one end of the take-np roller 27 and fixed in any suitable manner against rotation. In the present instance the cap 113 is shown as being fitted over a boss 114, formed on the inner face of one of the sides of the frame 26, through which passes the journal pin or screw 115, on which the adjacent end of the take-up roller is journaled. Driven in said end of the takeup roller are pins 116, on which are pivoted cam-shaped brake-shoes 117, which when the take-up roller is rotated too fast by the deliveryroller as the latter is actuated by the springdrum to rewind the music-sheet are thrown outward against the rim of the cap 113 by centrifugal force and operate to retard the movement of the rewinding mechanism. Springs 118 are attached at one end to the free ends of the brake-shoes 117 and at their other ends two pins 119 in the ends of the take-up roller and normally operate to hold the brakeshoes out of contact with the cap 113. By retarding the rotation of the take-up roll in the manner described not only is liability of damage to the music-sheet avoided, but the latter is also caused to be rewound tightly and uniformly on the delivery-roll, which is very important to insure the proper operation of the playing mechanism.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Inarewindingdeviceformusic-rollholders for self-playing instruments, the combination with a delivery-roll and take-up roll, means for driving the take-up roll, and means for disconnecting the driving mechanism from the talle-up roll to permit the latter to run free, of a spring-drum and intermediate gearing operating to transmit rotary movement from the delivery-roll to the drum to wind up the spring, the arrangement being suchthat as the music-sheet is unwound from the delivery-roll the spring is wound up and (Best ill nstrated in Figs.

IOO

IIO

operates, when the driving mechanism is disconnected from the take-up roll to rewind the music-sheeton the delivery-roll, substantially as described.

2. In a rewinding device for m usic-roll holders for self-playing instruments, the combination with a delivery-roll, of a sleeve loosely journaledon asupport and having Xed thereon a ratchet-wheel, a pavvl engaging said ratchet-wheel and operating to prevent the sleeve from turning in one direction, a drum loosely mounted on said sleeve, a coiled spring arrangedin said drum and attached at one end to the drum and at its other end to the sleeve, and intermediate gearing connecting the said drum and delivery-roll,whereby when the music-sheet is unwound from the delivery-roll the spring is Wound up and operates when the music-sheet is released to rewind it on the delivery-roll, substantially as described.

3. In arewinding device for music-roll holders for self-playing instruments, the combination with a delivery-roll, of a sleeve loosely journaled on a support and having iiXed thereon a ratchet-wheel, a pawl engaging said ratchet-wheel and operating to prevent the sleeve from turning in one direction, a drum loosely mounted on the sleeve and toothed upon its periphery, a coiled spring arranged in said drum and attached at one end to the drum and at its other end to the sleeve, a shaft arranged parallel to the axis of the drum and provided with a gear-wheel meshing with the toothed periphery of the drum, and a train of gearing arranged to transmit motion between said shaft and the deliveryroller, substantially as described and for the purpose specied.;

4. In a music-roll holder for self-playing instruments, the combination with a frame carrying a delivery-roll and a take-up' roll, and rewinding mechanism for rewinding the music-Sheet from the take-up roll onto the delivery-roll, of a cap carried by said frame and fixed opposite one end of the take-up roll, and brakeshoes pivoted to the end of the take-up roll and arranged to be thrown outward against the rim of said cap by centrifugal force and retard the rotation of the takeup roll during the rewinding operation, substantially as described.

5. In a music-roll holderfor self-playing instruments, the combination with a movable frame carrying a delivery-roll and a take-up roll and rewinding mechanism for rewinding the music-sheet from the take-up roll onto the delivery-roll, of a cap Xed opposite one end of the take-up roll, brake-shoes pivoted to the ends of the take-up roll and arranged to be thrown outward by centrifugal force against the rim of the cap and retard the rotation of the take-up roll during the rewinding operation, and springs for normally holding said brake-shoes out of contact with said cap, substantially as described. v

6. In a music-roll holder for self-playing mechanism for rewinding the music-sheet v onto the delivery-roll when the take-up roll is thrown out of operation, and means partly carried by the take-up roll and partly by the movable member of the music-holder for retarding the rotation of the said take-up roll during the rewinding operation,substantially as described.

7. In a music-roll holder for self-playing instruments, the combination with a movable frame carrying a delivery-roll and a take-up roll, of mechanism for rotating the take-np roll to wind the music-sheet thereon from off the delivery roll, means for throwing the take-up roll out of gear with its driving mechanism, means for rewinding the music-sheet onto the delivery-roll when the take-up roll is thrown out of operation, and means partly carried by the take-up roll and partly by the movable frame for retarding the rotation of said take-up roll during the rewinding operation, substantially as described.

8. In a sheet-roll holder for electrical selfplaying instruments, the combination With the contact-roller and means for feeding the sheet thereover, of a bar carrying a plurality of contacts or brushes adapted to contact with the contact-roller, a switch-rail, and conductors each connected at one end with one of the brushes and at its other end looped about the switch-rail and projecting beyond the edge ot the latter to form a bare contact, said switchrail and contact-carrying bar, together With the conductors attached thereto,beingremov ably secured to the frame of the said rollholder, substantially as described.

9. In a sheet-roll holder for electrical selfplaying instruments, the combination with the contact-roller and means for feeding the sheet thereover, of a bar carrying a plurality ofcontacts or brushes adapted to contact with the contact-roller, a perforated switch-rail, a plurality of wire conductors connected respectively at one end to said contacts or brushes and at their other ends threaded through and looped about said switch-rail to form contacts, substantially as described.

10. In a music-roll holder for electrical selfplaying instruments, the combination with the contact-roller and means for feeding the music sheet thereover, of a plurality of brushes or cont-acts adapted to contact at their free ends with said contact-roller, and a yielding guard-rail arranged to normally lie over and project in front of the free ends of said brushes or contacts, substantially as described.

ll. In a music-roll holder for electrical selfplaying instruments, the combination with IIO IZO

the contact-roller and means for feeding the music sheet thereover, of a plurality of brushes or contacts adapted to contact at i heir free ends with said contact-roller, and a yieldingguard-rail arranged to normally lie against the free ends ot the brushes or contacts and provided with a depending flange arranged to normally project in front of and below the said free ends ot' the brushes or contacts, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

12. In a music-roll holder for electrical selfplaying instruments, the combination with a contact-roller and means for feeding the music-sheet thereover, oi' a plurality of brushes or contacts adapted to contact at their free ends with said contact-roller, means for raising and lowering said contact-roller into and out of engagement with said brushes or contacts, and a yielding guard-rail arranged to normally lie over and against the free ends of the brushes or contacts but yielding and moving away from them when the contactroller is thrown into engagement therewith, substantially as described.

13. In a music-roll holder for electrical selfplaying instruments, the combination with the contact-roller and means for feeding the music sheet thereover, of a plurality of brushes or contacts adapted to contact at their free ends with said contact-roller, means for raising and lowering said contact-roller into and out of engagement with said brushes or contacts, and the guard-rail supported at its opposite ends on springs and arranged to normally lie over and against the free ends of the brushes orcontacts, butyielding and moving away from them when the contact-roller is thrown into engagement therewith, substantially as described.

let. In a music-roll holder for electricalseltplaying instruments, the combination with the contact-roller and means for feeding the music sheet thereover, of a plurality of brushes or contacts adapted to contact at their free ends with said contact-roller, means for raising and lowering said contact-roller into and out of engagement with said brushes or contacts, a guard-rail and springs each attached at one end to the music-roll-holder frame, and attached at their other ends to the opposite end of the guard-rail b v screws, said guard normally lying over and against the ends of the brushes or contacts but yielding and moving away therefrom when the contact-roller frame strikes said screws in the act of engaging the brushes or contacts, substantially as described.

l5. In an electrical self-playinginstrument, the combination with electrically-operated mechanism for actuating the keys and an electrical motor for driving said mechanism, of a music-sheet-feeding mechanism for controlling the key-actuating mechanism, two reversely-arranged cone-pulleys and intermediate belt connections driven by the electric motor for operating the music-sheet-feeding mechanism, a pivoted switch-lever for throwing the motor into and out of circuit, and a belt-shifter mounted on one end of and movable with the switch-lever and operated by the latter to shift the belt on the cone-pulleys and regulate the speed of the music-sheet-feeding mechanism, .substantially as described.

1G. In an electrical self-playing instrument, the combination with a base-plate carrying a plurality of electrical contacts or brushes, of a music-sheet-roll holder hinged to the baseplate and carrying a contact-roller adapted to contact with said contacts or brushes and mechanism for feeding the music-sheet over said roller, electrically-operated mechanism controlled by said music-sheet for actuating the key-operating mechanism, and a circuitbreaker operating, when the said hinged music-sheet-roll holder is swung down from normal position, to break the circuit controlling the said electrically operated mechanism, substantially as described.

17. In an electrical self-playinginstrument, the combination with a base-plate carrying a plurality of electrical contacts or brushes, of a music-sheet-roll holder hinged to the baseplate and carrying a contact-roller adapted to make electrical contact with said contacts or brushes, mechanism for feeding the musicsheet over said roller, electrically-operated mechanism controlled by said music-sheet for actuating the key-operating mechanism, two spring-contacts carried by said base-plate and insulated from each other and forming the terminals of the electric circuit for the said operating mechanism, and a metallic projection carried by said hinged roll-holder and operating, When the latter is in operative position to close the circuit between said springcontacts, substantially as described.

18. In an electrical self-playing instrument, the combination with a music sheet roll holder normally operating to move out of operative position when released, mechanism for retaining said roll-holder in operative position, and electrically-operated mechanism for releasing the roll-holder to permit it to drop from its operative position, of an electrically-operated action controlled by said music-sheet for actuating the keys of the instrument, and a circuit-breaker operating when the roll-holder is dropped to throw the said electrically-operated action out of operation, substantially as described. K

19. In an electrical self-playing instrument, the combination With'electrically-operated mechanism for actuating the keys of the instru ment, of electromagnets fixed upon a support, and their armatures, for controlling said mechanism, each of said electromagnets comprising a U-shaped core having its ends inserted or passed through suitable perforations formed in said support, and soldered to the latter, and the helices arranged over the free ends of the core upon the side of the support opposite the bend in the core, substantially as described.

IIO

20. In an electricalself-playinginstrument, the combination with the electrically-operated mechanism for actuating the keys of the instrument, of a perforated supporting bar or rail, electromagnets supported thereon for controlling the said mechanism, each of said electromagnets comprising a U-shaped'core having Aits ends passed through two of the said perforations in the supporting bar or rail, and having its helices fixed on the ends ofthe said core on the side of the supporting bar or rail opposite to the bend in the core, substantially as described.

2l. In anelectricalself-playinginstrument, the combination with electricallyoperated mechanism for actuating the keys of the instrument, of electromagnets and their armatures for controlling said mechanism, supports for said armatures, each consisting of a iiat spring adjustably fixed at one end to a support and bent at the other end at a right angle to lie opposite the core of the electromagnet, the armature being fixed to the free end of said spring, substantially as described.

22. In anelectricalself-playinginstrument, the combination with electrically-operated mechanism for actuating the keys of instrument, of electroni-aguets and their armatures for controlling said mechanism, supports for said armatures, each consisting of a fiat spring provided at one end with an elongated slot, and a screw passed through said slot and screwed into a ixed support for adjustably supporting said spring, the free end of the spring being bent at a right angle to its fixed end and lying opposite the end of the core of the magnet, the armature being fixed to said free end, substantially as described.

23. In an elect1'icalselfplayinginstrument, the combination with electrically-operated mechanism for actuating the keys of the instrument, of electromagnets and their armatures for controllingsaidmechanism,andsup ports for said armatures, each consisting of a flat spring adjustably fixed at one end to a support and bent at its other end at a right angle to lie opposite the core of the electromagnet and having the armature xed to said bent end, the fixed end of said spring being provided at its opposite edges with upturned iianges to add strength and stiffness to the spring, substantially as described.

24E. The combination with a plurality of contacts or brushes, of a roller movable to and from said brushes on one side, and a guardrail movable to and from the brushes on the other side, said guard-rail being moved away from the brushes by the roller when the latter is brought into contact with said brushes, substantially as described.

25. The combination with a plurality of contacts or brushes, of a movable guard-rail arranged to bear on one side of Ithe brushes, a movable contact-roller arranged to bear on the opposite side of the brushes, and means for moving the guard-rail away from the brushes when the contact-roller is moved into contact with said brushes, substantially as described.

2G. In an electrical self-playing instrument, the combination with a m usic-sheet-roll holder normally acting to move out of operative position when released, mechanism for retaining said roll-holder in operative position, and means for releasing the roll-holder to permit it to move from its operative position, of an electrically-operated action controlled by a music-sheet for actuating the self-playing instrument, and a circuit-breaker operating when the roll-holder is moved out of operative position to throw the said electrically-operated action out of operation.

27. In an electrical self-playinginstrument, the combination with a plurality1 of contacts, of a music-roll holder movable to and from said contacts and carrying a contact-roller adapted to contact with said contacts, and mechanism for feeding the music-sheet over said roller, electrically-operated mechanism controlled by said music-sheet for actuating the key-operating mechanism, and a circuitbreaker operating when the music-roll holder is moved out of operative position to break the circuit controlling the said electricallyoperated mechanism.

2S. In an electrical self-playing instrument, the combination with a music-sheet-roll holder arranged to move out of operative position, mechanism for retaining said roll-holder in operative position, and electrically-operated mechanism for releasing the roll-holder to permitit to move out of its operative position, of an electrically-operated action controlled by said music-sheet for actuating the keys of the instrument, and a circuit-breaker operating When the roll-holder is moved from its operative position to throw the said electrically-operated action out of operation.

29. In a rewinding device for music-rolls, the combination with a delivery-roll, of a sleeve journaled on a support and freely rotatable in one direction, means for holding said sleeve against movement in the opposite direction, a drum loosely mounted on said sleeve, a coiled spring arranged in said drum and attached at one end to the drum and at its other end to the sleeve, and intermediate gearing connecting said drum and deliveryroll, whereby when the music-sheet is unwound from the delivery-roll the spring is wound up and operates when the music-sheet is released to rewind it on the delivery-roll.

30. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a tracker-range, a traveling web mounted on rollers, a frame on which said rollers are journaled, means for unwinding said web, a spring-impelled rewinding mechanism for said web, and a brake device adaptedto retard a carrying-roll of said web and automatically controlled by the rewinding mechanism.

31. In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination with a rotary drum, of a plurality of friction-shoes arranged adjacent to IOO IIO

said drum, and adapted to be brought into contact therewith, means operated by said shoes for actuating the keys of a musical instrument, a perforated music-sheet for controlling the action of the shoes, a motor for rotating the drum and for advancing the music-sheet, means for regulating the speed of rotation of the drum whereby the action of the shoes and the force of the stroke of the 1o keys may be varied, and independent means for controlling the speed of travel of the rnusic-sheet.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

G. HOWLETT DAVIS.

Witnesses:

WALTER M. FLEMING. CHAs. P. FLEMING.

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