US757874A - Roll for music-controllers. - Google Patents

Description

No. 757,874. PATENTED APR. 19, 1904. A. ANDERSON. ROLL FOR MUSIC CONTROLLERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented April- 19, 1904.

PATENT ()FFICE.

ALFRED ANDERSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS W. CARTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

nou. eon MUSIC-CONTROLLERS.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 757,874, dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed July 20, L903. Serial No. 166,260. (No model.)

To all 1071,0772 it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED ANDERSON, a

citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates to a controller-roll,.

so called, for receiving and holding the long perforated controllensheets used'for operating automatically pianolas and similar instruments. Such rolls are used in" the playing instruments as a means for holding the control? ler-sheet while itis being unwound from it and also as a means for receiving the controllersheet after it has been used and for holding it wound when removed from the machine and Such rolls have generally been fixed retaining-flanges at each end. They have further been provided at each end with a pin for mounting them in the playing instrument. It has been found, however, that a roll'having no provision for extension between the flanges is not desirable, because the paper of the controller-sheet is not always accurately cut to fit the space between the flanges and because the paper varies in width according to the moistureof the atmosphere about it, so that if out on a dry day to accurately fit the rollspace between the flanges the roll upon a moist day would be somewhat wider and would bind against the flanges sufliciently to interfere somewhat with its unrolling and also subsequently with its rolling up. There would be a tendency to drag'in the first instance and to broom up on the edge in the second or to narrow some of the note-perforations by causing the paper to fold or crease along such lines, which are lines of least resistance. On the other hand, paper out on a moist day to fit the rolls between the flanges would upon a dry day shrink sufliciently to draw away from one .or' both flanges enough tomake the flanges lose their primary object of governing the po- A sition of the strip with respect to the tracker' board. It will beunderstood, of course, that for good,and accurate playing- .it is essential that the note-perforations in the controller- 'sheet should always register centrally with the holes of the tracker-board for which theywere intended in passing over the board and: that any dispositionof the paper to expand, contract, or crease which is not controlled is liable to change this relationship of the note perforations to the tracker-boardholes enough to even cause the note-perforations not only to partly register With them, which is not especially desirable, but not register with them at all, which of course would "produce discord and is to be avoided. My invention is designed not only to provide means for controlling these vagaries of the controller-sheet, but

it also may provide a structure for receivingand holding controller-sheets which intention ally vary in width when such variation is of ali mited degree.

I prefer to carry my invention into efiect by not departing materially from the common form of roll, and I accomplish this end by first making the roll in the ordinary way that is, with a wooden spindle for receiving.

the-paper sheet and flanges at each end of the spindle, fixed to it, and the usu'al'pins for mounting the roll in the instrument. The spindle of the roll thus formed is divided into lengths by saw cuts. The cut entering one side ofv the spindle first curves inward to near the center thereof, then extends outward lengthwise it, then turns upon itself and retraces its course in opposing'curves to the opin the spindle a somewhat long tongue ofithe diameter of the spindle in thickness and formed so as to have a narrow portion or neck the lines of which diverge outwardly beyond the posite side of the spindle, thereby producing the neck of the tongue, and rounded surfac'es the reverse inshap of those extending from the neck outward.- This gives the spindle an opportunity for elongation between the flanges 'wi-thout separation and withoutweakening the spindle and also without forming in the surface of the spindlea depressed area of any appreciable extent in it which the first winds of the sheetjcan enter, {The-spindle, while it this.

in handling the roll asthoughit were not out. The out also is of advantage in ,,many instances, in that it permits the roll' to run truer in the machine than if it did not exist, many of the spindles, having a disposition to warp.

out of true after-they have been turned; but by the cut described the warped spindle may -be used and will run true}. I ,pre'fer'to make as this" will tend'to strengthen the spindle the cut on -the line of some imperfection or knot and near one end thereof; 1 also preferto inclose. the spindleat the cut. by ashortf sleeve, preferably of paper, fastened to, the

b te the curve of the spindle. The tongue has spindle upon one side of the out or the other,

without interfering witll its vi'rtues- The inner end of the sheet is attached, preferably,; to the partof'the' spindle to which the sleeve .is securedand to .thesleeve. It may or may not be attached to the portionof the spindle which extends beyond the sleeve andto which the sleeve is not-scour v :j

A feat re of myfinvention rendering it"pe culiarly-yaluable to'the' artrelates .to the manner in which itmay be incorporated in' 'spindlesof varying lengths. Controller-rolls are made in lengths usually running. from eight inches upward to'two or more times that amount, although, of course, there are no definite limits. The longer the roll the greater will be-the-totai expansion or contraction of the controller-sheet thereon due to atmospheric'changes; 'It is to be noted that the more tapering or the less abrupt are the curves of; the cut "dividing myspindle the greater will be the player relative movement of its two sections for a, given clearance or width of cut. Therefore by so dividing the shorter spindles that the curve of the tongue is quite sharply defined and by' dividing the longer spindles on lines more nearly parallel to their axes --I exactly provide the necessary movement'in each case. I will now describe the invention in con- 'junctionlwith-the drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein-.' V

Figure 1 is a view of the complete roll, representing its structure and also the part which forms the sleeve. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view to better show the portion of the roll to which which forms the tongue-holder and also showing the sleeve, the end of a controller-sheet, and aflange,

Referring to the drawings, A represents the spindle of the roll,.A and A its flanges, and

a and a, the piiis by which it is mounted in the playing instrument. The flanges arc fixed to the spindle, and the spindle is susceptible 'of elongation by virtue of the recess (0 shapedto form upon the section a of the spindle'the tongue '20 and upon the section a of the spindie the tongue-holder a. This recess may be of such width and shape where desired as to' give any desired extent of elongation t0 the spindle between theflanges A and A and the width and shape of the recess govern the extent to which the tongue may be moved.

lengthwise its holder. The tonguea is rep ,resentedin thickness as of the diameter of the 'spindle'and as having curved sides to conform the neck. a and the head or enlargement a,

rounded, as represented. The holder a has the 'enlargeme'nt'a toreceive the head a of the tongue and the contracted part a to hold the neck of the tongue, and the tongue and holder are adapted to slide upon each other.- I prefer that the' tongue and holder be located near "one end of the roll, although this is not neces- 4 :sary.

- In order eral movement in the direction of the side surfaces of the tongue, I prefer that the holder and tongue be coveredby a-sleeve B, prefer-' J ably of paper of one or more thicknesses'and preferably attached to the part a of the spindle by adhesive material, but not-attached to thepart a. While I have represented the sleeve as attached to the 'part a, it may be attached to the .part a instead.

The inner end 0 of the controller-sheetC is preferably attached to the portion of the spindle to which the sleeve B'is secured and to the sleeve,.alth0ugh I do not confine myself to this method of'attaching it to the spindle.-

It will beunderstood that the controllersheet serves to automatically vary and control the distance between the two flanges A and A of the roll as it is wound upon the roll and that the spindle of the roll elorigates or shortens to the variationsin the width of the controller-sheet and to the length of the roll in -which the sheet is wound; also, that the usual yielding bearing in the playing instrument, which receives and holds tlie'roll while the sides of'which are inwardly and outwardly thatthe two parts of the spindle .may be prevented from having the slight lat-' the sheet-is being unwound from it and also while it is being wound upon it c after it has beenplayed, serves to exert and maintain a closing pressure upon the ;two flanges of the roll, whereby one of the flanges while in the machine is caused to be pressed toward the other, and that this assists in maintaining the flanges of the roll in a governing relation to the edge of the controller-sheet 'while it is being played and also while it is being rewound.

While I have described one method of forming the tongue and its holder in the spindle, I would not be understood as limiting myself to such method, but can use any other that will secure the result above specified.

The possible shapes in which the interlocking tongues and recesses may be cut are too nu mcrous to be mentioned, but they obviously fall within the scope of my invention.

I have implied that the tongue and holder were formed in the spindle after the flanges were attached to the spindle, and while this is a desirable method of providing the roll with-means for the variation of its flanges yet the spindle may be provided with the tongue and holder before the flanges are secured to it.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A roll for holding music controller-sheets herein described, the same comprisinga spindle, flanges and rolbbearing pins, the spindle having means for its elongation or contraction provided by a cut formed therein to separate the spindle into two parts and provide one part with a tongue and the other part with atongueholder, the tongue and tongue holder so formed as to have a restricted movement longitudinally with respect to each other.

2. A roll for holding music controller-sheets herein described, the same comprising a spindle, flanges and roll-bearing pins, the spindle having interlocking means for its elongation or contraction comprising a tongue having a head upon one "part of the spindle and a holder shaped to receive and contain the tongue and head upon another part of the spindle, the

holder, tongue and head being'from side to side of the diameter of the spindle and being shaped throughout to the size of the remainder of the spindle. i

3. A roll for hold ing music controller-sheets herein described, the same comprising a spindle in two parts, each of which has a flange and a roll-bearing, and one of which parts has a tongue and neck formed at its end, and the other of which has a tongue-holder atits end formed to,receive and hold the tongue and permit its restricted longitudinal movement therein.

4. A roll for holding music controller-sheets, the same comprising aspindle, flanges and rollbeari-ng pins, the spindle having interlocking means for its elongation or contraction and a reinforcing-sleeve applied tothe roll over the interlocking means and secured to the spindle in a manner to permit of said elongation or contraction.

6. A roll for holding music controller-sheets, the same comprisinga spindle, flanges and rollbearing pins, the spindle having integral, interlocking means for its elongation or contraction, and a rein't'orcing-sleeve covering said integral, interlocking means.

7. A roll for holding music controller-sheets, the same comprising a spindle, flanges a ndrollbearingpins, and the spindle having integral, interlocking means for its elongation or contraction, a sleeve covering said means and attached to a portion of said spindle, and a controller-sheet adapted to be wound upon the spindle, attached by its inner end to a portion of the spindle and to the sleeve.

8. A roll for holding music controller-sheets, the same comprising a spindle, flanges,and rollbearing pins, the spindle being in a plurality of sections, said sections having interlocking means, permitting of their restricted relative movement along the axis of the spindle, and' of their free disengagement upon relative movement in another direction.

9. A roll the spindle of which is formed in a plurality of sections, said sections having in" terlocking means permitting of their restricted relative movement along the axis of the spin- ,dle and of their free disengagement in another direction.

10. A roll the spindle of which is formed in a plurality of sections, said sections having intel-locking means preventing their relative rotation while permitting of their restricted relative movement along the axis of the spindle and'of their free disengagement upon relative movement in another direction.

11, A roll the spindle of which is formed in a plurality of sections, the ends of the opposing sections of shapes to interlock by means of a tongue on the one section anda recess in the' other section, said tongue extending from the spindle-sectio nas a relativelynarrow shank and broadening beyond the shank, the tongue and recess being ofa relative length and shape ment of said means transverse to-the axis-0f" inent of said means transverse to the axis of the spindle. I the-spindle, and a controller-sheet, the inner IO '1 13. Ahroll for holding music glonlg'ollen end of 'which is attached to the said spindle. sleets, t e same comprisingaspin e, anges I and roll-bearing pins, the spindle having in- R ANDERSON tegral interlocking means permitting of its Witnessesz restricted elongation and contraction and of F. RAYMOND, 2d, its free dismemberment upon'arelative m Ve- J; M. DOLAN.

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