US855672A - Automatic piano. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

R. A. RODESCH.

AUTOMATIC PIANO.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY so, 190e.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

MMM

#Zi/POTW' No. 855,672. PATBNTED JUNE 4, 1907.

R. A. RODBSCH.

AUTUMATIC PIANO. APPLIoA'rIoN HLBD JULYso, 190e.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Joly. 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. RODESCII, OF DIXON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RODESCII PIANO AND PLAYER CO., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

lAUTOIVIA'li'lG PIANO.

Patented J' une 4, 1907.

Original application tiled September. 11, 1905, Serial No. 277,814. Divided and this application led July 30,1906. Serial No. 328,402.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. Ronnscii, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dixon, in the county of Lee and State ot' Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Pianos, of which the following is a speciiication.

rlhis is a divisional application of my applieation filed September 11, 1905, Serial Number 277,b14.y

This invention relates to that class of automatic piano players in which a pneumatically actuated playing mechanism is controlled by a traveling perforated music sheet or like controlling means; and vthe present improvement relates particularly to improved means `for adjusting the rolls and music sheet with relation to the tracker board and has for its object to provide a simple and eiiicient structural formation and combination of parts whereby the` take-up and rewind rolls with the music sheet are adjusted or transposed laterallyT with relation to the tracker board in an accurate and convenient manner, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings t-Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation oi' an upright piano, having the present improvement applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged frag- 'mentary front elevation, illustrating the arrangement oi the tracker board, music sheet carrying mechanism, etc.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in both views. l

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the carrying frame of the tracker board, take-up and rewind rolls and their usual accessories. In the construction shown, such frame is arranged in the upper Jortion of the piano-casing to the rear of t ie upper front board ot such casing, and is madeJI vertically adiustable so that when the hinged cover oi the piano casing is thrown back, said carrying frame can be raised above the top of the piano into a convenient position to display 'to view the music or controlling sheet as it passes over the tracker board. The described arran ement and vertical adjustment of the sai carrying -frame is claimed in my conianion application, of even date herewith Serial Number 328,401.

2 .is the tracker board of any usual construction carried by the frame `1; such tracker board willhave the usual series of air inlet passages connected by a series of yipes or ducts 3, with a corresponding series o passages in the end trunks 4 the series of passages in said end trunks have connection in turn by a series of pipes c; ducts 5, with the usual corresponding series of passages in the exhaust chest of the pneumatic playing mechanism which contains the primary pneumatics, as fully set forth in my afore-v said companion application, Serial Number sesam.

6 is the take-up roll, and 7 the rewind roll, for the usual perforated music or controlling sheet. Such rolls ar arran 'ed at opposite sides of the tracker board and are adapted to move and guide the perforated music sheet over the openings or passages in said tracker board, as usual in the present type of selfplaying pianos, and to this end a suitable spring or other equivalent motor, not shown, will be operatively connected to a pulley 8 carried by said frame i, and having operative connection in turn with said rolls.

In the present improvement the holding centers 9` at the inner ends of the rolls G and are journaled in and extend through an end of the frame 1 and are adapted to yield under the iniiuence ot' a spring 1() secured to said end to permit of a limited longitudinall adliustment ot said rolls in eil'ectmg an adliustment of the perforated music or controlling sheet with relation to the tracker board.

11 is a yoke member having an adjustment in the opposite ends of the irame 1 longitudinally with the rolls, and provided with journal sleeves 1ia adapted to afford bearings for the operating shafts 12 and 13 of said rolls; such yoke is adapted to have endwise bearing against the adjacent ends of the rolls as to resist the end thrust of the same due to the spring lO before described.

14 is an adjusting screw secured to the adjacent end of the frame and projecting through the yoke, and i4 isv a nut' working upon the screw and bearing against the yoke member by which adjustment is iniparted to thc yoke member 11 longitudinally with the rolls.

15 is a board or rail carrying the end trunks Li, before described, and in turn attaclied to the side cheeks 16 secured in a per- IOO 17'are screws by `which the rail and end 'trunks 4 are .secured to the side cheeks 16, in

a readily detachable manner.

18 are depending rack bars at the respective ends of the frame 1, moving in suitable guides in the board or rail 15 aforesaid, so as to be guided vertically. n

19 is a spring vroll journaled on the board or rail 15, and provided with pinions 20, engaging the aforesaid rack bars 18, the ar rangement being such that the spring tension ofthe roll 19 will eounterbalance the Weight of the frame 1, and the parts mounted thereon, and so that said frame will remain at any vertical adjustment at which it may be placed by the operator.

Having thus fully described my said invention, What I claiin as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In an automatic piano, the combination of a carrying frame, a fixed tracker board seof 'July 1906.

cured to the carrying frame, take up and rewind rolls arranged in a longitudinally adjustable relation to the tracker board, holding and sliding centers for the rolls mounted. in one end ol the carrying frame, a sliring secured to the said end and pressing against the holding centers so as to move said rolls in one direction, a slidable yoke member 'for the rolls having journaled sleeves whereby it is mounted in the other end of the carrying frame, a screw seeured to the carrying frame and extending through the yoke member and a nut adjustable upon the screw and bearing against the yoke member for moving said rolls in an opposite direction.V

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 27th day ROBERT-A. RODESCH. Witnesses:

ROBERT BURNS,

HENRY MOE.

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