US797389A

US797389A - Self-playing piano.

Info

Publication number: US797389A
Application number: US23636604A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Wieser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1904-12-10
Filing date: 1904-12-10
Publication date: 1905-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1922-08-15

Description

No. 797,389] PATENTEDAUG. 15, 1905. J. WIES'BR.

SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DEGJO, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

moazw. u GRAN/M cow, Puam-umomwnaas. WASHINGTON, u. c.

No. 797,389. P'ATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

J. WIESER. SELF PLAYING-1 PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DEO..10,,1'904.

7 SHEETS-SBBET Z m/newt No. 797,389. PATENTED AUG.15, 1905.

' J. WIESER.

SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.10. 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3 PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

J. WIESER. SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.10, 1904.

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PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

J. WIESER.

SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.10,1904.

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No.797,sa9. PATENTED AUG. 15, 1-905.

- J. WIESER.

SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DEU.10. 1004.

7 SHBETS-SHBET 6 Ammzw. a. owmm c0. PNDTO-LIINDGRAPNERS. msmnmcm. n. c.

PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

J. WIESER. SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.10, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

ANDREW a GRANADA ca. r-uomumomlvusns, WASWNGYON, n a

JOSEPH l/VIESER, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

SELF-PLAYING PIANO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed December 10,1904. Serial No. 236,366.

To all whom, it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH WVInsnR. a citi- Zen of the United States, residing in New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self Playing Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in self-playing pianos which are adapted to be played at will either manually or automatically by means of a system of pneumaticallyoperated devices controlled by a perforated music-sheet, a pneumatic motor, and a suitable wind-chest and motor-bellows, the actuating devices being located in the lower part of the piano-case in front of the soundingboard and string-frame and in the upper part of the case in front of the tuning-pins and respectively above and below the keyboard in such a manner that they do not interfere with the actions of the piano and the manual playing of the same; and among the objects of the invention is the provision of pneumatic valve-actions which are more accessible for cleaning and repairs than those now in use, it being possible to remove the valve, diaphragm, and diaphragm-bed from each of the improved valve-actions independently of the others by the unloosening of one or more screws or similar fastenings at the front part of the same, said valve-actions being so arranged as to be readily accessible from the front of the piano.

The'invcntion also contemplates the provision of improved means for controlling the valve-actions bellows in such a manner as to make use of the same in rewinding the music-sheet after the selection has been played, so that the rewinding of the sheet takes place very rapidly as comp red with the unwinding thereof, whereby little time is lost in making ready for the insertion of a new sheet, and the performer is thus enabled to render the selections in rapid succession when desired.

With these and other ad vantagesin view the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved self-playing piano, showing the same in closed position. Fig. 2 is also a front elevation with the front part of the case removed, so as to show the pneumatic-operating mechanisms below the keyboard, the tracker, music-sheet, and

receiving-rolls and the motor for actuating the music-sheet located at the upper part of the piano. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical transverse section on line 3 3, Fig. 2, showing the valve between the pneumatic valve-actions and the motor for actuating the music-sheet. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the entire piano and the pneumatic self-playing attachments arranged in the same on line 4 4, Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are details showing the connection of the key-levers with their intermediate actuating-levers. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section drawn on a larger scale and showing the lever mechanisms for controlling the expression-slides, the dampers, and the strokes of the hammers from the front rail of the keyboard. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of portions of the actuatinglever mechanisms shown in Fig. 7, showing their arrangement below the keybottom. Fig. 9 is a detail front elevation, partly in section, of the pnetunatic-valve-actionchests and the pneumatics controlled by the same and their valve connection with the pneumatic motor for unwinding and rewinding the music-sheet. Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse section on line 10 10, Fig. 9. Figs. 11 and 12 are detail plan views showing the dilferent positions of the valve controlling the valve-actions and the motor for driving and rewinding the musicsheet. Fig. 18 is a vertical tranverse section through one of the pneumatic valve-actions and lifter-operating pneumatics; Fig. let, a front elevation of the pneumatic valve-actions with some of the front walls removed to show the interior construction. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a set of pneumatic valve-actions, showing the construction of the same. Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19 are details of the individual parts of one of the pneumatic valveactions, and Fig. 20 is a perspective view of one of the pneumatics operated by the valveactions.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Any approved construction of upright piano may be employed for my self-playing piano, the pneumatic valve-actions for operating the keys being located below the key-bottom in front of the sounding-board and string-frame and connected by intermediate lever mechanisms with the under side of the front ends of the key-levers of the piano. The intermediate lever mechanisms are connected with the actuating-pneumatics which are located below the valve-actions, by means of lifters that are supported on the front ends of the pneumatics,

as shown in Figs. 2 and 4- A tracker 'l. is arranged in the upper part of the case in the space in front of the tuning-pins and made accessible through an opening in the frontvall of the case, which opening may be closed by a sliding or hinged door, as desired. The

- tracker T is supported in inclined position between two upright partitions t. which are supported on a horizontal shelf t and connected by arear board 6 the ends of the shelf being attached by screws to cleats Z3, arranged on the side walls of the piano-ease C. In place of attaching the shelf 6 by screws it may be hinged to the front ends of the cleats t or otherwise connected with the upper part of the'case, so as to be adapted to be removed either bodily therefrom or turned on its hinge connection over the front wall of the case so as to give access to the tuning-pins when the piano is to be tuned. The music-sheet roll R, with the musicsheet wound thereon, is supported in the usual manner above thetracker, while the receiving-roll R is located below the tracker, a curved wall R extending from the shelf 2? around the receivingroll and above the tracker back of the music-sheet roll R to the rear board i The tracker Tis provided with the usual ducts, which are connected at the base of the tracker by means of flexible tubes 6*, that are conducted in the space back of the wall R first through a perforated rail 6, located below the shelf 6, then overaroundedoff rail t, that is supported at the rear of a front board t of the shelf,through the perforations of a rail t located above the key-levers, then through the side recesses 25" at the rear parts of the key-levers K, and through openings 25 in the key-bottom K to the different pneumatic valve-actions V, which are arranged in three superposed rows below the key-bottom in front of the lower part of the stringframe.

The flexible tubes t", by which the trackerducts are connected with the individual pneumatic valve-actions, are supported in front of e the piano-actions proper, but in such a manner as not to interfere with the proper working of the same. The flexible tubes t are arranged closely together below the tracker-inclosing frame and conducted through two rows of set-off or staggered holes in the rail 25. they are spread in lateral direction into one plane and supported by the perforations of the rail i above the rear parts of the keylevers, as shown in Fig. 2. For permitting the removal of the tracker T, with the music-sheet and receiving-rolls, the motor M, and the supporting-shelf 15, when tuning the piano it is necessary to make the flexible tubes t in two sections and connect them by tubular couplings 0, which are located at a short distance below the tracker-inclosing frame. By detaching the upper tube-sections from the couplings in the lower tube sections the After passing over the round-off rail 25" tracker-shelf, with its accessories and the upper sections of the flexible tubes, can be removed bodily and placed on a table or other support or lowered over the front of the case, so that the tuner has free access to the tuning-pins for tuning the piano. hen the tuning is completed, the tracker-sl'lelf, with its accessories, is replaced in position and the upper tube-sections recoupled with the lower sections, which can be quickly accomplished, and restores the connection of the flexible tubes.

The tracker T, the musicsheet roll, and the receiving-roll are of the usual construction. The music-sheet roll is inserted and supported in the usual manner in cups at the upper part of the tracker-supporting frame, the musicsheet being guided over the orifices in the face of the tracker and connected by an eye at its end with a hook located in a central recess of the receiving-roll R, so as to be unwound from the music-roll and wound up on the receiving-roll during the playing of the piece of music. The door C in the front wall of the piano-case is placed in open position when the piece of music is played, so that the person operating the instrument can follow the expression-line on the music-sheet and regulate thereby the expression by the pedals in connection with different expression devices which are operated by suitable levers at the front part of the keyboard.

The pneumatic motor M is made of any approved construction and supported on the supporting-shelf alongside of the tracker-inclosing frame, as shown in Fig. 2, its driving crank-shaft in, being connected by a suitable clutch m with the shaft of the transmittinggearing m which is arranged on the adjacent partition 25 of the shelf and by which rotary motion is transmitted either to the shaft of the receiving-roll R or to the shaft of the music-roll R, according as the piece of music is to be played or the musicsheet is to be rewound on the music-sheet roll.

The lay-actuating vireo/Lander. --Below each row of val ve-aetions is located a corresponding number of pneumatics V, the movable members of which are connected by three groups of upright lifters Lof different lengths with the rear ends of the key-operating levers L, said levers being fulcrumed on the under side of the key-bottom and connected at their front ends by pull-wires L with the underside of the front ends of the key-levers K. The connection of the intermediate levers L with the key-bottom K is shown in detail in Fig. 6, while the connection of the pull-wires with the key-levers K is shown in detail in Fig. 5. The fulcrum connection of the intermediate key-operating levers L consists of a pivot (Z, which turns in bearings of front and rear blocks (Z (Z of which the rear block (Z is attached to the under side of the key-bottom K, while the front block cl is attached by a screw d" at its lower end to the rear block (Z' and retained at its upper rabbeted end by a recessed block (Z attached to the key-bottom. The key-operating levers L swing between two sets of blocks cl d so as to have free turning motion on their pivots. The pullwires L by which the front ends of the levers L are connected with the front ends of the key-levers K, are provided at their upper ends with rounded-off leather buttons 6, which are supported on felt strips 6, arranged in recesses at the under sides of the key levers. The felt strips 6 are supported on small blocks if, that are provided with tapering openings for permitting the free motion of the pull- Wires L said blocks being located in recesses at the under side of the front ends of the keylevers below the strips and attached thereto by fastening-screws Z2 as shown in Fig. 5.

Below the superposed rows of valve-actions and their pneumatics are arranged three suction-bellows B B B by which the air is exhausted from the wind-chests of the three rows of valve-actions and from the bellows of the pneumatic motor M, which actuates the music-sheet. The suction-bellows Bis connected with the motor M, the suction-bellows B with the wind-chests of the valve-actions, while the suction-bellows B serves as a reserve bellows for the bellows B, the three bellows B B B being arranged in front of the lower part of the string-frame in the lower part of the case. In the space back of the string-frame between the supporting-braces of the string-frame and sounding-board are arranged tWo bellows-pumps B, which are operated by foot-o perated pumping-pedals B arranged at the base of the piano-case sidewise of the ordinary pedals of the piano and connected by intermediate lever mechanism with the bellows B. The bellows-pumps B are connected by suitable ducts I) with the bellows B B B The construction of the pedals B and their connection with the powerbellows forms the subject-matter of a separate application and will not therefore be described in detail.

The cal vacations (and their pnewnmtica- Each row of valve-actions V is supported on a shelf a, which is attached to a transverse rear rail a by a glue joint or otherwise. Each shelf a is of suflicient length so as to support a plurality of pneumatic valve-aetions V and is inclined at its under side, so that its thickness increases from the front toward the rear. The rail (1/ is provided with a longitudinal groove (6 for inserting and supporting the rabbeted rear edge of the stationary members of the key-actuating bellows or pneumatics V. The front portion of the stationary member of each pneumatic V is attached by a cleat a and connecting-screw (0* with the front end of the shelf a, as shown clearly in Figs. 13 and 15. The movable mem her or lid of each pneumatic V is provided at its front end with a perforated projection or seat for the lifter L, by which motion is transmitted to the corresponding key-lever K, said lifter being provided at its lower end with the usual felt or other button and a pin a that passes through the perforation of the seat (6 as shown in Figs. 13 and let. Each valve-action V is composed of two chambers which are formed of three sectionsa bottom section (2, an intermediate section or partition f, and a top section or cover *which are built up on the shelf a, the bottom section being composed of a detachable diaphragm-bed, which is clearly shown in Figs. 13 and 19 and which is provided with front and rear rabbeted edges 0 a, the rear edge being engaged when placed in position by a rabbeted edge a, while the front edge is engaged by a transversely-recessed detachable front wall or lid 6" of the lower chamber which is attached to the front end of the partition e between twoadjacent val ve-actions by fastening-screws 0 The recess of the lid (2* is closed at both ends by wooden plugs 0 The diaphragmbed is provided with the usual diaphragm a and with a center opening below the same, the center opening communicating with a duct 0 in the shelf (1,, said duct being connected at its rear end with the lower end of one of the flexible tubes 6" leading to the corresponding duct in the tracker, so that when air is admitted by one of the perforations of the music-sheet through the duct of the tracker the diaphragn'i on the diaphragm-bed is lifted for actuating the valves. The diaphragm a carries a button or block a, which serves as a seat for the lower end of the stem of the valve arranged above the same. A small horizontal vent-hole a", contracted at its front end, extends through the diaphragmbed a, so as to permit the slow and gradual return of the diaphragm into its normal position on the bed after it has been lifted by the pressure of the atmosphere. In the upper chamber of each valve-action are located the valves f f, the lower valve f closing normally the opening f in the horizontal partitionf and the upper valve f closing intermittently the opening 9 in the cover r of the valve-action. The partitions 0 between the lower chambers are permanently attached to the shelf by glue joints. while the side and rear walls of the upper chamber are formed of a recessed block which is shown clearly in Fig. 13. Thefrontor lid of the upper chamber is detachable, like the front or lid e" of the lower chamber, and retained on the front faces of the side walls by fasteningscrews 9', one of which is arranged between two adjacent lids in such a manner as to retain two of the same, while the rabbeted rear edges of the cover 1 of each valve-action are retained by a rabbeted cleat attached to the rear part of the block g by a fasteningscrew 7. Each lid 7 is provided at its upper edge with a ledge for retaining the cover 7, and to said ledge is glued a layer of felt on which rests the lid of the pneumatic of the valve-action in the next superposed row of valve-actions. The stem f" of the valves f" f is threaded, so as to permit the adjustment of the valves on the same to the exact position required. "he faces of the valves are provided with layers of leather for producing the tight closing of the openings in the intermediate partition f and cover r of the valveaction, a suitable leather button separating the valves from each other. The upper valve f has free play on the upper end of the valvestem f owing to the provision of a conical center hole in said valve, which engages said stem and allows said valve to.adjust itself thereby tightly to the opening in the cover The upper end of the valve-stemf is guided in a perforation of a cross-strip f that is secured flush into the cover 9 of the casing of the valve-action. By loosening the screws of the lids and detaching the front walls of the lower and upper chambers of each valve-action the diaphragm-bed e, the cover 9 of the casing, and the valves can be removed, so that these parts, as well as the interior of the valvecasing, can be readily cleaned of dust and the parts repaired, if required. The parts of the valve action are then replaced and secured in position by the fastening-screws. In this manner all the valve-actions of each row can be readily assembled on their shelf and placed in position in the piano-case or removed from the case for cleaning and repairing the valvecasing, which can be conveniently accomplished owing to the ready accessibility of the individual parts of each valve-action. The upper chamber is connected by a duct it with the pneumatic V, located below the valve-action, as shown in Fig. 1, while the lower chamher is connected by a channel it with the wind-chest on, that extends longitudinally along the rear parts of all the valve-actions supported in a row on the shelf a. The connecting-channels 7t between the lower chamber and the wind-chest w can be shut off partly or entirely by means of an expression-slide 71?, that is provided with as many openings it" as there are valve-actions. The openings of the expression-slide register with the channels h when full suction action is to be exerted on the same, but are partly or entirely closed by operating an expression-lever Z on the front rail of the keyboard so that the expression-slide can be moved in the recessed side wall of the wind-chest 20 so as to bring its openings more or less into register with the channels leading to the lower chamber of the valve-casing and regulate thereby the energy or power of the pneumatics on the keyactuating lever mechanism according as a forte or piano expression is to be produced by the keys.

The improved pneumatic valve-action is operated in the usual manner. As soon as one of the openings in the perforated music-sheet passes over the corresponding tracker-duct atmospheric pressure is established in the channel below the diaphragm, so that the same is instantly lifted by the suction action in the lower chamber and thereby the lower valve raised from its seat in the partition and the upper valve pressed against its seat in the cover. This permits the suction action of the wind-chest under the action of the suctionbellows B to actuate the movable lid of the pneumatic V and operate by the intermediate lever mechanism the corresponding key of the piano or other instrument. As soon as the tracker-duct is closed by the music-sheet the action of the atmospheric pressure on the diaphragm is interrupted and the same quickly returned to its bed by the escape of the air through the duct 6" in the bed. Simultaneously the valves are returned to their former position, so that the lower valve closes the opening in the partition and the upper valve opens the openings in the cover, producing thereby the extension of the pneumatic.

The mechanism for operating simultaneously the expression-slides of the different rows of valve-actions so as to vary the potency of the pneumatics is shown in Figs. 2 and 7 and consists of a lever mechanism interposed between the shiftable exrn'ession-lever l and the expression slides h". This mechanism consists of a rod 7L1, connected with the lower end of the lever 1, an elbow lever 71;, fulcrumed to the under side of the key-bottom, a rod a, which is guided in a keeper if on the key-bottom and pivoted at its rear end to a crank h on the upper end of an upright red A", that is supported in step and neck bearings located at theleft-hand end of the valveactions. The upright rod it is provided with three arms 7L which are pivoted to the ends of the expression-slides it, so as to shift the slides simultaneously in one or the opposite direction by the shifting of the expressionlever l in one or the opposite direction. The shifting of the expression-lever moves the expression-slides to a greater or less extent and operates thereby the valve-actions and pneumatics and the keys connected with the same with greater or less force, so as to correspond to the touch of the fingers on the keys and the greater or lesser force exerted by them when the piano is played manually.

In addition to the expression-slides of the primary valve-actions by which the stroke of the keylevers is regulated two additional expression-

levers

2 and 3 are arranged on the front rail of the case below the key-bottom, one lever for actuating, in connection with intermediate lever mechanism, the dampers and removing them from the strings, the second lever for moving, in connection with intermediate lever mechanism, the hammer-rail and bringing thereby the hammers closer to or farther away from the strings, so as to regulate thereby the stroke of the same.

The dmnper-actuating owe/Lane's???-This mechanism is shown in Figs. 2 and 7. It consists of a lever 01, fulcrumed to the under side of the key-bottom and connected at its end by a pull-rod n, passing through a hole in the key-bottom, with a lever if, that is pivoted at its rear end to the upper side of the key-bottom. A second pull-rod n is pivoted to the lever a and connected at its upper end by buttons 11* with alever n fulcrumed to the upright standard a of the action-frame of the piano. The rear end of the fulcrumed lever a is connected by a pivot-rod n with the lower end of an elbow-lever a the upper end of which is pivoted to the end of the main action-rail a. To the opposite end of the main action-rail 12. 1s pivoted a similar elbow-lever, both elbowlevers supporting a rod a, which engages the lower ends of the damper-levers when the lever n is actuated by pressure on its end 2. All the damper-levers are then simultaneously actuated and the dampers D removed from the strings, so as to permit the full vibrations of the strings under the blows of the hammers in the same manner as by the damper-pedal when the piano is played manually.

The ltcmmner mil shifting 71wc/L(mism,. The stroke of the hammers is regulated by the movable hammer-rail 9', as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The hammer-rail is operated by the end 3 of the hammer-rail-shifting lever 1", Which is fulcrumed adjacent to and parallel W th the dam per-actuating lever 91 at the under side of the key-bottom. A DLIll-IOClI CODIIGCtS the end of the lever r and passes through a hole of the key-bottom to a lever P, which is fulcrumed to the upper side of the key-bottom and connected at its rear end by a push-rod r with the lower arm-of an elbow-lever 9', that is fulcrumed to the upper part of the standard of the action-frame, the upper arm of which is attached to the hammer-rail '1'. The opposite end of the hammer-rail r is also attached to a similar lever '1', so that the hammer-rail is moved forward more or less under the action of the lever r for diminishing the stroke of the hammers more or less and reducing thereby the force by which they strike the strings, so that a reduced tone volume is obtained whenever this is desired by the player for producing the proper effect in playing a piece of music.

The rev/1611112 714 madam 11mm for the wmsics/tccL This mechanism is shown in Figs. 2, 9, 10, 11, and 12. The motor-bellows B is connected with the motor by a duct 2'. controlled by a slide-valve '21, which is inclosed by a casing 71 said casing being connected by two ports i 2? with the duct 21. The lower port 6 is of T or other shape, increasing in width from its lower to its upper end, as shown in Fig. 10. The slide-valve z" is connected by a bail at its upper end, a rod i, elbow-levers 2' and d and the front rail of the keyboard. By shifting the lever 4 the slide-valve a" is shifted in upward or downward direction, and thereby a greater or smaller degree of suction action exerted on the pneumatic motor M, so that the speed of the same, and thereby the speed of the music-sheet in passing over the tracker increased or decreased. The duct 2' is connected by a flexible tube i above the slide-valve to the bellows of the motor M, as shown in Fig. 2. hen it is desired to rewind the music-sheet after the piece has been played, an auxiliaryslide-valve a, which is arranged alongside of the motorbellows B, is opened, so that the combined suction force ofthe motor-bellows, action-bellows B, and reserve-bellows B can be utilized for operating the motor M, so as to increase the speed of the same in unwinding the musicsheet from the receiving-roll and rewinding it on the music-sheet roll. The bellows B is in permanent communication with the motor through the channel c', as before explained. The bellows B and B communicate by means of a transverse channel a as indicated in full lines in Fig. 10 and in dotted lines in Fig. 9, with a suction casing or box a, and suction is exerted on the valve-actions by means of said bellows through a channel i (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10,) which leads upwardly from the casing 21 to the valve-actions, as indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 9. The chamber or casing a is therefore in connection with the valve-actions, and it is also in communication with the motor by means of a horizontal channel 10 which is connected with ahorizontal bend in the channel c', as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. In order to cause the suction of the bellows B and B to be cut off from the valve-actions and transferred to the motor, the valve a is provided. This valve is slidable horizontally above the casing a and provided with an opening a, which is adapted to register when said valve is in inward position with the opening in the casing which communicates with the horizontal channel a, thereby controlling the passage of the suction-air through said channel. The valve u is adapted to cover the. channel 2 in its inward position. It is therefore obvious that when the valve '11 is in its outward position, as shown in Fig. 11, the bellows B and B are in communication with the valve-actions through the channel 7 This is the position of the valve when the piano is playing. \Vhen the piece of music has been played and it is desired to rewind the music-sheet at increased speed, the valve 1! is pushed inwardly, thereby cutting off the bellows B and B from the valve-actions by covering the channel W, as shown in Fig. 12. In this position, however, the opening u in said valve registers with the channel 10 which communicates by means of the channel with the motor. The suction action of the valve-action bellows is therefore communicated from the suction casing or chamber a to the channels a and and to motor, so that in addition to the motor-bellows B, which is in permanent connection with the motor and not affected in any way by the movement of the valve u, the valveaction bellows are also acting on the motor, thus effecting the actuation of the same at greatly increased speed, whereby the musicsheet is rapidly rewound. The mechanism for operating the valve a is clearly shown in Fig. 3 and consists of an elbow-lever wa which is connected in any suitable way (not shown in detail) with the lugs u" of the valve :1, these lugs being shown clearly in Figs. 11 and 12. A vertical rod 10 is fixed at the lower portion thereof to the elbow-lever a and at the upper end thereof to a second elbow-lever a, which is pivoted to the piano, as shown in Fig. 3, and operated by a sliding operating-rod a, guided in keepers u, said rod being provided at its front portion at the front of the piano with a hook and handle 5. By actuating the rod a the rod 14 is rocked by means of the elbow-lever a, thereby actuating the elbow-lever a and consequently pushing in or Withdrawing the valve a, as the case may be.

Operation: My improved self-playing piano is operated in substantially the same manner as other self-playing attachments heretofore designed. Whenever it is to be played the music-sheet roll for the piece to be played is inserted into position above the tracker, the end of the music-sheet being passed over the face of the tracker and connected to the hook on the receiving-roll. The shifting-lever 4c is then operated so that the connection with the pneumatic motor is established. The pumping-pedals are then operated in the usual manner, so that the bellows-pumps, and by the same the motor action and reserve-bellows, are operated and suction applied to the motor and valve-actions. The piece of music is played as its perforations pass over the face of the tracker by the actuations of the valve-actions, pneumaties, and key-lever mechanisms. The expression is regulated,primarily, by the shifting-lever 1, by which the expression-slides of the valve-actions are operated, and, secondarily, by damper-operating lever 2 and the hammer-rail-operating lever 3, by which the dampers are removed from the strings and the stroke of the hammers regulated so that different expression effects and tone volumes are obtained. The speed of the motor is regulated by the shifting-lever at, which actuates the valve by which the suction action of the motor is controlled. hen the piece has been played, the transmitting-gear is shifted so that the power of the crank-shaft of the pneumatic motor is transferred to the shaft of the music-sheet roll, while the receiving-roll is disconnected from the transmitting-gear. The speed-increasing valve is then operated by the actuation of the hook-rod 5, so that the suction action is shutoff from the valve-actions and transferred to the motor in addition to the suction action exerted thereon by its bellows. This imparts increased speed to the motor and accelerates the unwinding of the music-sheet from the receiving-roll and its transfer to the mnsicshcet roll, which is then removed and a new roll inserted. \Vhen the playing of the piano is to be interrupted, the music-sheet roll is removed and the panel in front of the tracker closed, while the pedals are folded up against the lower part of the piano-case and then likewise inclosed by suitable sliding panel in the lower part of the piano-case.

Having thus described my invention, I. claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a self-playing piano, a valve-action having a detachable front wall for the valvechamber thereof provided at its upper portion with a ledge, a lid or cover for said chamber retained at one edge by said ledge, and means for retaining the opposite edge of said lid or cover, but permitting the removal thereof upon the detachl'nent of said front wall.

2. In a self-playing piano, a valve-action having a detachable front wall for the valvechamber thereof provided at its upper portion with a ledge, a lid or cover for said chamber retained at one edge by said ledge and provided with a rabbeted rear edge, and a cleat overhanging and retaining said rear edge, but permitting the removal of said lid or cover when said front wall is detached.

3. In a self-playing piano, a valve-action having a detachable front wall provided with a groove, and a diaphragm-bed engaging said groove and positioned thereby, said diaphragm-bed being freely removable upon the detachment of said front wall.

a. In a self-playing piano, a valve-action having a detachable front wall provided with a transverse groove, and a diaphragm-bed having a rabbeted edge engaging said groove, said diaphragm-bed being retained by the latter but freely removable upon the detachment of said front wall.

5. In a self-playing piano, a valve-action having a diaphragm-bed mounted in the diaphragm-chamber thereof and provided with a vertical opening, said diaphragm-bed being spaced from the front wall of said chamber and provided with a duct of less diameter than said vertical opening leading from the latter to the front face of said diaphragm-bed.

(5. In a self-playing piano, the combination, with the motor-bellows and the ELClllOl'l-IJQllOWS, of a channel connecting the motor-bellows with the motor, a second channel coimecting the action-bellows with the valve-actions, a suction-chamber in between and in communication with said action-bellows and the valve actions, a third channel leading from said chamber to said first-mentioned channel, and a valve operable to close said second channel and to permit the passage of suction-air from the acti0n-bellows through said suction-chamber to said third channel and thence to the motor.

7. In a self-playing piano, the combination,

with the motor, a suction-chamber, a channel connecting said action-bellows with said suction-chamber, a channel connectingsaid chamber with said valve actions, an auxiliary channel leading from said chamber to said first-named channel, and a slide-valve for closing the channel connecting the suction-chamber with the valve-actions and provided with an opening adapted to register with said auxiliary channel and permit the passage of suction-air from said motor through said suctionchamber to said action-bellows when the communication between the action-bellows and the valve-actions is cut off.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH WIESER.

Witnesses:

PAUL GoErnL, HENRY J. SUHRBIER.