US729988A - Transposing device for mechanical musical instruments. - Google Patents

Description

1 WIiNESSES: f

No. 729,988. PATENTED 11mm; 1903.

. P. L.. YOUNG. TRANSPOSING DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL MUSIGAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION I'ILBII APR. 9, 1902.

I0 MODEL.

IIUDUDDOODDODOUHGUD GOHOHQDIOBDDDD UBDDBUBIIBDOBB INVENTOR I W: rum

ms ATTORNEYS m: NORRIS vrrzns c0. PHOYO-LIYNO., WASHINGYON, o. r.

-cal longitudinal sectional view of a music-roll UNITED STATES Patented JuneZ2, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

IRANSPOSING DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '729,98 8,dated June 2,1903- Application filed April 9, 1902;

To rtZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, :FRANOIS LINcoLN YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, resid-- ing in London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transposing Devices for Mechanical lWIusical'Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanical musical instruments,and particularly to means whereby a music-sheet employed in such instrument may be moved or shifted in order that the musical composition cut therein may be played in different keys.

I will describe a mechanical musical instrumeht embodying my invention and then point out the novel features thereof in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a mechanical musical instrument embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertiembodied in my invention. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the music-roll shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4B is a detail sectional view of a portion of a tracker and music-sheet. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4., but showing a different or transposed position of the music-sheet.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawmgs.

My invention is here shown as being applied to a mechanical musical instrument of the type comprising strikers which are adapted to operate upon a keyboard musical instrument.

My invention is equally applicable to mechanical musical instruments comprising sound-producing devices. I

A designates a casing of a mechanical musical instrument, whichincloses the operative parts thereof. B designates a tracker, and C D music and take-up rolls, respectively, arranged on opposite sides of the tracker. The roll 0 is ordinarily termed a music-roll and the roll I) a take up roll. The tracker B is here shown as being in the form of a board and as having a plurality of ducts or openings b. It will be understood that when the music-sheet 0, carried by the music-r0110, travels over the tracker B pneumatics and con-' 'fore, that by comitant parts are moved to operate the Serial Ila-102,001. (N0 model.)

strikers or to permit of the sound-producing devices comprised in the casing A speaking.

As shown in the drawings, the tracker B controls a greater number of tones than is cut in the perforated music-sheet. Preferably those ducts or openings 1) in the tracker-board which are not to be controlled by the musicsheet will be stopped or closed in order that the tones controlled through these openings shall not be sounded. It will be seen, thereshifting or moving the musicsheet longitudinally of the tracker-board the composition may be played in different keys or transposed. In other words, when the m usic'sheet travels over the tracker-board in one path it acts to control certain tones which constitute one key. If the music-sheet is shifted to one side of this path which COHSIJI. tutes a different key, the m usic-sheet will control different tones.

I accomplish the shifting or moving of the music-sheet in a direction longitudinal of the music-roll and relatively to the journals of the music-roll by means on the music-roll and preferably extraneous to the music-sheet or any part movable in such longitudinal direction with it. The mu sic-sheetis preferably wound upon a hollow core 0 which can be slipped on and off the body of the music-roll 0. Thus the same music-roll can be used for different music-sheets. The core 0 is provided with some means for holding it against relative rotation on the body of the music-roll, and these means may conveniently consist of a key 0 on the core 0 engaging in a slot 0 provided in the body of the music-roll. In order that the music-sheet can be slipped on and off the body of the music-roll, one of the flanges of the music-roll C is made removable.

The music-roll G is here shown as comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion 0, at one end of which is a flange c, a shaft 0 which extends through the body portion c,and means- Which provide for a movement of the body portion longitudinally of the shaft. The ends of the shaft constitute the journals for the music-roll.

c designates a plug the body portion a, and threaded to receive the second flange 0 provided in one end of exteriorly screw- The screw-thread on the plug also provides for an adjustment of the flange. The plug 0 is provided with a slot 0 which is in alinement with the slot C in the body portion of the music-roll. The plug 0 also serves as a hearing for one end of the shaft.

The means for moving the body portion of the roll longitudinally of the shaft are here shown as comprising a sleeve 0, having a spiral groove 0, into which a projection 0 carried by the body portion 0, projects. The sleeve 0 is provided with a flange 0 by means of which the sleeve is rotated.

0 designates a flange which is fixed upon the end of the shaft and between which and the flange c a spring c is placed. It will be seen, therefore, that upon a rotation of the sleeve 0 the body 0, and consequently the music-sheet, will be moved longitudinally of the shaft 0 In order that a correct registry may be had between the perforations in the music-sheet and the openings in the trackerboard, asuitable scale is provided. The scale is here shown as consisting of a mark or other characterf on the flange 0 and a number of marks or charactersf, which are arranged around the flange 0 Thus it will be seen that by bringing any one of the marks f into registry with the markfthe body of the musicrcll and the m usic-sheet will be moved a certain predetermined distance.

It is obvious that instead of moving the body of the music-roll relatively to its journal ends the music-sheet may be moved along the body of the roll.

The music-roll O isjournaled in bearings 61 d, which may be of the usual construction, and one of which-as, for example, (Zis a yielding bearing in order that the m nsic-roll may be removed.

The take-up roll D is provided with an adjustable hook (I in order that a central pull will be exerted on the music-sheet. The adjustment of the hook maybe accomplished by mounting the hook upon a cylinder (1 or by having it form part of the cylinder d and having the cylinder movable longitudinally of the body of the roll. d designates the adjustable flanges for the take-up roll. The usual mechanism is provided for rotating the take-up roll to wind the music-sheet upon it and also to rewind the music-sheet upon the music-roll. The music-roll is also adapted for use in connection with music-sheets which are cut to include all of the ducts or openings in the tracker-board. The removable flange of the music-roll can be adjusted to provide for expansion and contraction of the musicsheet, and the means for shifting or moving the music-sheet can be used to adjust the roll, and thereby have the perforations in the music-sheet correctly register with the openings in the tracker-board.

What I claim as my invention is- I. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a m usic-roll carrying a musicsheet, means on the music-roll and extraneous to the music-sheet or any part moving with it in adjusting, for causing the adjustment of the m usicsheet longitudinally of the music-roll, a trackerboard,and a take-up roll.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a music-spool, a shaft extending through the music-spool, means for adjusting the music-spool longitudinally of the said shaft, a tracker, and a take-up roll having flanges adjustable lengthwise of the same.

3. A music-roll for mechanical musical instruments comprising a body portion, a shaft extending through said body portion, and internal means intermediate the shaft and body portion for causing a movement of the body longitudinally of the shaft.

4. A music-roll comprising a body portion, a removable flange at one end thereof, journals for the body and means for moving the body and flange relatively to the journals.

5. A music-roll comprising a tubular body having a relatively adjustable flange mounted on one end thereof, and a music-sheet removably held on said body.

6. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a music-roll, a flange on one end thereof, a music-sheet thereon, a take-up roll, a tracker, means on the music-roll for adjusting the music-sheet longitudinally of the tracker and comprising a flange alongside of the other flange, and a scale for noting the amount of adjustment, the cooperating parts of which scale are located on the two flanges, substantially for the purposes set forth.

7. A music-roll for mechanical musical instruments, having two parts, one of which is adjustable relatively to the other longitudinally of the roll and to one of which the music-sheet is applied, and rotary means for adjusting one of the said parts relative to the other to shift the music-sheet longitudinally.

8. A music-roll for mechanical musical instruments having two parts, one of which is adjustable relatively to the other longitudinally of the roll and to one of which the music-sheet is applied, and controlled means for engaging the part movable with the musicsheet and fixing the music-sheet when so adjusted against movement longitudinally of 115 the music-roll.

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

FRANCIS LIN OOLN YOUNG.

Witnesses:

OWEN WARD, CLARENCE R. OoMiis.

IIO

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