US923147A - Combined electrical piano playing and recording attachment. - Google Patents

Description

G'. H. DAVIS. I COMBINED ELECTRICAL PIANO PLAYING AND RECORDING ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION I'ILED NOV. 26, 1901.

- Patented June 1,1909.

5 SHEBTS-SHEET l.l

nNvENToR eoye//wiaawgl ATTORNEY G. H. MVIS. COMBINBD'ELBCTRICAL PIANO PLAYING AND RECORDING ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED .NOV.`26, 1901.

5 SHEETS'SHBET 2.

mvENoR ATTORNEY .\\\\N MN... frl f ANN.

' y Gr. H. DAVIS.

GOMBINED ELECTRICAL PIANO PLAYING AND RECQRDING. ATTACHMENT.

APPLIoA'lIoN FILED Nv. 26, 1901.

923, 147. Patented June 1,1909.

.In 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wai/2. T @Elf-1 .Hifi/I Gr. H. DAVIS. GAL lPIAN() PLAYINCx AND RECORDING ATTAGHM ENT.

COMBINED BLBGTRI Patented June 1, 1909.

A Y APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1901. 923,147.

all.

G. H. BAY/Is.

COMBINED ELECTRICAL PIANO PLAYINGl AND RECORDING ATTACHMENT. y

.A APBLIOATION FILED N ov. 2 6, 1901. v 923,147. Pa-tentedJune 1.1909. -f

NQ' *5 SHEETS-sursis. T M L? wnNEssEs:

UNirED STATES PATENTDFFEE? GEone'E'HowLErr DAvis, or wEs'r ORANGE, -NEW JERSEY.

COMBINED LEQTRICAL vlPlirll'O PLAYINGAND RECORDING ATTAQHIIENT.

p Np. 923,147.

To all .whomit may cofriciirn:l

Be Vit known that' I,v GEORGE 1HowLErr DAVIS, acitizen of the UnitedStates, resid- `ing at Test Oranfre, in the county of Essex music manually .performed upon the piano,

holding the and vice versa; second;- zto provide means for throwing the key-actuating means out of action when the attachment is converted into .a music recorder; third; tov iovide means' n *for counterbalancmg. the

riction shoes; rovide lmeans for positively iriction shoes out of action and out of contact .with their propellingy means when the mechanism is used as a recorder fourth; to

solely; fth; to provide a-'rest-rail or supportior the friction shoes when the latter are thrown Ainto contact with their propelling lmeans. during the playing operation.

Theinvention also has for' its object to l provide certain other improvements in thel construction and arrangement of various de- .tails of the-apparatus which4 will fully hereinaiter appear...)` y i f l `o these ends-my invention consists in the features' and in the construction, combinae tionvarrangement of parts hereinafter 'describedand particularly pointed` out in the specification, whereinclaims, reference. being had to the accom-I panying drawings forming a part of' this showing my attachment applied thereto, some of the parts being shownin section and .others broken away to avoid confusion in the showing. Fig. Z is a view in iront elevation thereof, some of the parts being 'omitted to avoid confusion in the showing.

Fig..3 is a detail view of one of the shoes. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustratinor the electric circuits. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal'- view of the music sheet holder, showing the roll-holder partially drawn'out. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line --I of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 `is a bottom plan view of the music-Sheet holder.

Fig. 8 is an end view of i Specification of Letters Patent.

-take-up roller.

'eure l1` is an end elevation of a piano key-` board Aiaairemteii-.June 1, '1909.

1 appiition inea November 26,1901. serial Nofsassr.

the same, portions being shown in section.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the frame'carrying the contact roller. illustrating the manner of journalingfthe de-4 livery roller. Fig. 11 is a detail view of roll carrier-extension latch. Fig. 12 'is a -side View of the music sheet holder, showing the i Fig. 10 is a detail view mechanism for varying the speed at which the `music s heet is driven. Fig. 13 is a detail view showing the gearing connected to the Fie. 14 is a detail sectional view ofthe switch-bar andthe coacting con tacts. l A

Before proceeding to describe the construetion of my improved attachment I will explain` that it relates to that class of piano playing attachments wherein a perforated music sheet is caused to travel over a metallic "roller which forms part of an' electric circuit,l a series of .metallic fingers or brushes, termed selectors'resting o n the music sheet at, the point whereit passes over the contact roller.

Said selectors are equal in number 'tol the piano keys and a conducting Wire leads from each selector' to an electro-magnet, therebeing one electro-magnet for each piano key.

Each of'said magnets controls mechanism .for actuating' its correspondingpiano key, .the construction of which is such that when any particular magnet is energized it puts iii operation the corresponding actuating mechanisni and operates its piano key to sound a note. Conducting wires lead lroni each electro-magnet to a"batter.\` or other (electric.

generator and from the latter a conducting wire-leads to the contact roller. lt loliows,

` therefore, that as long as an iinperl'orate poi'- tion oi the music sheet lies between the scf. lectors and the contact roller the circuits will be broken by the `music sheet and none of thc|` piano keys will be actuated. heno-ver .a perforated portion-oi the music sheet, how` ever; comes between the end of any one of the selectors and the contact roller said selector will immediately,7 spring into contacty with said roller and close the circuit through a corresponding magnet and actuate {iii-- responding piano key. This broad principi@l oi' operation is common to alltlie several self-playing musical instruments liereiiihufore referred-to, and is only llii'icilv outlined herein to `enable the present invoiitieii io be more readily understood.

Referring to the drawings the numeral l lindicates a druin one end of which is journaled iii one ol a pair oipmetallic hangers ,or

ioo

.ica

brackets 2, pendent from a wooden base 3 s'e-' cured to Athe underside of the keyboard 4 of a piano, and the other end of said drum isjournaledin aball bearing 5 supported by the motor frame, as willmore fully hereinafter appear. The hangers 2 are rigidly united by an angle-iron or bar 6 L shaped in cross-section, said hangers and angle iron 'forming a frame which lsupports all the parts forming the action for operating .the piano keys, as contradistinguished from the music sheet holder and its connected parts. Supported on the angle-iron 6 is a series of electro-magnets 7, equal at least in number to the piano keys,;-and in some cases slightly exceeding in number the number of the piano keys. The magnets 7 rest on the horizontal web of the angle iron 6, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and are rigidly se curedto and insulatedtherefrom in any suitable manner.

Adjustably screwed or bolted to the verti-v cal web of the'angle iron 6` are a number of flat springs S, one being disposedopposite eachmagnet, and each ef which is bent at its upper Aend horizontally over the corresponding magnet. Passing through the free hori z'ontal lend of each spring 8 is the upper threaded ond of a rod 9, preferably of brass, on the upper end of which is screwed a nut, andfbred on said rod immediately' beneath the spring is an armature `10. The rod 9 eX- tends down between the two spools of the.

magnet and loosely projects through a suitable perforation formed in the horizontal web of the-angle iron 6 which acts as a guide for said rod." To the lower threaded end ofthe r'od 9, is secured by means of a set-screw a'block 11 (see Fig. 3) to which is pivoted, as at 12, one of the upper corners of a shoe 13. The lower end of the shoe is slightly convex, as shown, and normally lies slightly above the drum'l. Screwed on the rod 9 between the upper end of the block vl1 and angle iron are two jamnuts 14, and resting on the uppermost of said nutsisa disk 15 of'felt or similar yielding material.` B means ofthe jam-nuts the position of t e shoe relatively to the drum maybe accurately and finely adjusted. The felt disk or \washer operates to render the 'jam-nuts noiseless when they strikeV the underside of the angle iron when released by the magnet as hereinafter described.` To the other upper corner of the shoe 13 is pivotdthe lower end of a vertically movable striker-rod 16, the upper end of which loosely passes through a suitable uide` 17 and 1s of t e inner orlrear end of a piano key 18 immediately above it, or a projection 19 on said key. The drum 1 is continuously rotated' in` the' direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, by themeans hereinafter described, and whenever one .of ,the magnets is energized it attracts its armature y10, thereby adapted, whenraised, to str' e the underside .intermediate their ends to said the curved lower edge of the shoe 13 into contact with the drum 1. Owing to the rotation of the drum the shoe is rocked about the pivot 12 as a center, thereby thrusting the striker-rod 16 upward against the end of the corresponding piano key 18 and causing the latter to sound a note.

In rear of the drum 1, and parallel therewith, is arranged a rest-rail 19a., upon which the friction shoes. 13 may be brought to rest and upon whichthey are supported after having through' engagement therewith, the shoes being thu'ssupprted as long as the armature is held to its magnet poles. The restrail may be supported in any suitable manner from a part of the attachment. When the shoes are brought into contact with the rotary` drum they are instantly thrust or kicked rearwardly as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, and in the case of a sustained note, for instance, unless some means is provided to support and hold 'the shoes when in their active position, away from and clear of the drum, they are liable to fall back into contact with, and cause a frictional drag upon the drum, requiring more power to drive the latter and resulting in more or less wear to the shoe-faces and drum, all of which is objectionable. The rest-rail thus not only serves as a sto to prevent the shoes from being thrown ack into Contact with vthe drum, but also saves wear on the shoes and a waste of power when the shoes rest on the been kicked off the rotary drum drum during any considerable time, as, for v being made movable toward and from the,

shoes by movably arranging its ends in uides 20 formed on the lower ends of rackets 21 pendent from the angle-iron 6, and b ivotally attaching to each end thereol allever 22 said levers beingpivoted rackets,

one of said levers and brackets being clearly shown in Fig. 3. A rail 23 is also arranged in front of the shoes andi's supported by hangers 24 endent from the angle iron 6, said rail-serving as a su port againstwhich the shoes rest when out o action and preventing the shoes from swinging too far away from the drum. To'the lower front edge or toe 'of Yeach shoe is attached a counterbalance, consisting of a threaded in 25 fixed in the shoe and having screwed t ereon a weight 26. By

oised so as to counterbalbe nicely counter ance the weight o the striker-rod 16, and ren- A der it light and quick in action. For `rotating the drurn 1 Iernploy an electric motor`27 (see Figs. 1 and 2) the commu- .tator 28 of which is arranged inside the eld pieces 29, which effects. an economy in space' 4 and permits the employment of a special A vform of brush-holder,` the numeral 3() indieating the brushes and 31 the vholder or brush-heads, which are mounted 011 threaded rods 32 adjustably ixedinbracket-arms 33" (preferably of brass) bolted to the field the base 3 of thekey board 4 by lag-screws '38. The motor 27 is secured to the hanger 2 by two -machine screws 38a. I

' An electro-mechanical governor 39 is rigidly secured to theunderside of the motor by a frame 41, consisting of an iron strap secured to theunderside of the motor by screws 42, thence bent downward into substantially semi-circular shape, thence extending vertically, and at the upper end of the vertical portion is bent horizontally, as shown in Fig.

I n the free end of the frame 41 and in the y lowest portion thereof res ectively are mounted journal pins 43 an' 44, between which is journaled the vertical governorshaft 45, having mounted thereon a sliding collar 46, adapted to be raised and lowered in a well known manner by the centrifu al action of weights or balls 47 mounted on ladesprings '48 attached at their opposite ends to thecollar 46 .and thelower end of the governor-shaft respectively. In'adjustable contact with the collar 46 is ametallic brush 49,

held in a brush-'holder 50, which is rotatablymounted in a bearingblock 5 1 of insulating material 52', fixed to the frame 41. To said brush-holder is fixed one end of a crank-arm 53, the other end of which is pivotally connectedl to one end of a link 54, and the other' end of said link is pivoted' to one arm of a bell-crank lever 55.A To the other arm of `'said bell-crank lever is pivoted oneend of a y link 56,=the e posite .end of which is pivoted to one armo a bell-crankv lever ,57 (see'Fig.

f4). Totheother' arm of the bell-crank lever 57 is iivoted one end of a link 58, -the oppo-v siteen'd of which is-in like mann'er `connected being illustrated. in Fig. 4. By oscillating the expression lever it lwill'be manifest that through the'medium ofthe connections de- Vscribed thebruslr-h'older '5 0 will be rocked in vits and @the brush.- 49 will be moved toward and from the slidir'ig'` collar 46.

.To the-huish 49'is -HML'vl voneLen'd of a connected `to .a contact presently to be desulated from'ithe motor is attached the endv Aof a wire 61, which is in series with the motor',

wires 6() and 61 form part of an electric circuit, as will hereinafter be described, both the governor and motor are in series, it therefore follows, that whenever the speed of the motor becomes such as to cause the governor to move the Collar 46 away fro/ni the brush. 49 the circuit will bebroken and ther motor main broken until thespeed ofthe motor aga-in becomes normal when the governor will close the circuit between the collar 46 and brush 47. In this manner the speed of the motor, and hence the speed of rotation of the drum 1, will be automatically maintained constant. Byv turning the expression lever 59, as before described, the brush 49 can be adjusted toward and f rom the sliding collar 49, andhence the speed of the niotor and drum canhe regulated at will. ln

portionate to the speed of the motor, a collar 62, preferably faced 'withleathen is fixed on the governor-shaft 45, and is in frictional contact with an annular rim 63 fixed tothe motor armature 64. that by the means described' the governor will be driven at a speed exactly proportionate to, but much greater,4 than the motor. wire 'is connected by a branch 65 withv a erator leads a wire 67 thatis connected tolthe expression lever 59.. Said expression lever isy arranged in movable engagementwith a segment shaped contact`68 to which is corrnected the wire 61 after'it leavesv the'motor. The circuit 'is traced from the generator 66 (see Fig. 4) by wires 65, and 60, through the brush 49, sliding collar 46, governor-shaft 45, frame41. and wire 61to and through the motor and from the latter to the Contact 68, thence through lever 59 and wire 67 back tothe generator. It will be evident that if'thc expression lever 59 be moved to the position'marked v5Off in Fig. 4, it will be thrown out of encuit will be. broken, vthus throwingy the motor out of action. j.v .l My'improved music holder com! rises two and independentlyv ofone anotherand both supported by a fixed" frame secured to the 'underside of the base 3 ofthe piano keyas' follows, 'reference' being had to Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. The numeral 69 indicates a flat rectangular and open metallic frame .any suitable manner.' and having opposite order to drive the governor at a speed pro- It will be readily seen,

The'.

board, said music holder being constructedA f secured to ,the underside. ofthe base 3 in parallel @pending adema-f provided withv ,13

wire conductor 60,` the other end of whichisl l scribed,4 and to' the 'frame 41, which is inas most clearly shown in Fig. 4 and as both will cease to be driven.` The circuit vwill rebattery or generator 66,.A and from said gen'- gagem-ent with thecontact. 68 and the cirhorizontally sliding frames movab vetogether 1.20

. the frame72 the "selector frame.

outwardly and horizontally extending flanges 71. The music holder proper coinprises an upper and a lower' rectangular open metallielrame respectivelyindicated by the numerals 7 and 7 3, the sides of the frame 7 2 being provided with interni'tllongitudinal grooves 74 into which the flanges 71 loosely project, said flanges forming ways on which the frame 72 may be slid in and out beneath the `keyboard of the piano. For tiie convenience of descriptionl term Mounted between the ,sides 'of the-frame 72 is a transverse bar 75 in which are fixed the selectors 76 each consisting of a metallic brush, the brushes being insulated frein the selector-bar 75 and freni each other, there being at least as many selectors as thei'e are piano keys. The opposite lower edges of the sides oli-the seleitor frame 72 are provided with inwardly and horizontally projecting flanges 77 which loosely project into corresponding grooves *'78y formed in the upper outer portions of the sides of the frame 73 which I terni the roll-holder frame. The roll-holder framel may be freely slid back andY forth on the flanges 77, or both the selector and rollholder frames may be slid in and out together on the flanges 7l of the iixed frame 69.

Journaled in the frame 73, in thenianner hereinafter described, is a delivery roller 79 from the. delivery roller.

and a take-up roller 80,'tlie delivery roller 'being the roller on which thel perforated `music sheet 8] vis woundv and the'talie-up roller operating to unwind the music sheet Pivoted, as at 82,' to lugs 83 formed on Ythe outer ends of thc opposite sides of the roll-holder frame 73, are two arms 84, united at their inner ends by'a cross-bar `85, preferably formed integrallwith said arms'. Journaled in bearings 86 formed on the innereiids of the arms 84 is the con.- tact'iol-ler 87, consisting` of a metallic roller' or metal covered roller, over which the music sheet passes Aas it is unwound from the delivery roller onto the take-up roller, as most clearlyfshown in Fig. 5. A coiled spring 88 is arranged between the underside of the' cross-bar 85 and atransverse integral web 89 uniting the two sides of the rollholden l "frame, and operatesio normally hold the contact-roller in engagement with the ends of the selectors. On the Vouter or 'free ends o` the arms 84 are formed outwardly and horizontally` projecting lugs or projections 90 which are adapted to engage lthe upper sides ofthe flanges 77of-the select or frame 72. As

. shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5,-thecuter of cach of the arms 84 is one end of a link 93, the other end of which is pivoted to one end 'of a bell-crank lever or trigger' 94, ivoted, as

ol" the arms 84, and the roller 87, thereby lifting the' lugs. 90 out of the grooves or recesses 92, whereupon the roll-holder frame is released fiom the'sclector frame and may be freely drawn out. ers the contact-roller 87, away Vfrom the selectors 7 6, so that there is not any danger of said selectors catching in the perforations of This movement also low-1' i dium of the links 93 deprcsses the inner ends r vso the music sheet and being thereby broken,

bent, or otherwise injured.l When theV roll'- holder frame is pushed back into-place beneath the selector frame thev lugs 90 ride up the inclined ends 91 of the'flanges, thereby lowering the contact-roller until said lugs settle into the grooves-or recesses 92, upon which the spring 88 raises the roller'into con-A tact with theselectors and holds the lugs sea-tedin said grooves, thuslocking therolll holder and selectorframes to ether.

Each of the selectors 76 is' e ectrically connected to one of the electroniagnets 7 as follows. Attached to the base 3 of the keyboard of the piano is a'bar 97, preferably of f,

insulating material, provided onits under- I side with'a plurality of'contacts 98, equal in number to the selectors, (see Figs. 1,- 4 and 14)' and attached to thel underside of saidI base 8, and projecting rearwardly therefrom beneath the contacts l88', is an equal number4 of spring contacts 99. each contact 98. with an electro-magnet 7,

and each magnet is connected to .one of the selectors by a wire 100% and eachv spriiig conwith a series of contacts 103 the foiwvard- A wire 100 connects.-

iio

`tactQQ is connected` to an end 60 of the Wire 60 .before described. A wire VV101 leads from the contact roller8r7 and is connected to the' ends of which'projeet beyond the lfront ,edge

of said bar and form spring. contacts.

series of contacts 10--1 are fixed Ito the u )per 'sides of the bar 102, the op osite ens of said contacts being-free and vorniing spring contacts. Each series of contacts 103 and 104 is equalin number to the series ofvcon- The. bar 102 is fixed inv anytacts 98 and 99. suitable manner so that each contact v104 will engage a contact 98, and each contact 103 will in like. manner engage a contact 99. This arrangement greatly facilitates and 4lessensfthelabor of assembling and .connect`I "ingup, thepa'rtsas all the contacts can be :simultaneouslyf-connected up by merely slipping'andxing the barv in place. The 5barjfl02 may-;lco'inreniently be secured in `Id''d inserting said dowel ins in suitable .sockets `o'rfm'ortises forme( in the base 3. y The contatsflOS. and 104 Fig. 14 are thrown lo into and out of electrical'contact to short circuit the' key contacts 157, and 15S presently to beA described by a switch-bar consisting/cfa bar 106, preferably wedge- I shaped -in 'cross-section,A which may con- !5 vemently be formed'of wood and provided 'with-a metallic contact clip 107, which may be brought ilito and out of contact with the tongues', 1'O3and 104 and electrically connect same in circuitwith the magnets 7 ,and lr'ey contacts 157 and'158,fas hereinafter' described. Dowel pins 108 are fixed in said bar and are movably jlitted'in sockets or mortises 109 formedv inthe bar 4102. Coiled 'sprilngs -110 are .rrangedv between the adjacent-faces of the bars 102 and 106 and eper ate'to separate them. :Projectingfrom the y ends of the bar-102'arehigs 111 to which are 'pivoted cams 1 12 having-hand-levers 113:?

When thelevers 113 of the cams are thrown 3.0.up into the positionshown in` Fig.v 1 the from between the contacts 103'and 104 and the latter willbe electrically disconnected; but if the levers 113 be thrown down into the position shown in Fig. 14 the cams will force the switch- bar'between'the contacts 103 and 104 therebyconnecting the contacts 98 with the contacts 99.` i Let it be assumed thatthe switch-barlll 40 is in the position last above described and thatthe expression lever 59 has been turned 4to throw the motor into circuit. Letit also be assumed that the music sheet 81 is being u'nw'ound from the delivery roller 7 0 by the take-up roller 80 by means' which will presently be described. .Then a perforated part ofthexmusic sheet passes beneath any' lone of the selectors 76 a circuit will be closed through acorrespondingr magnet 7 as follows Starting from the selector thus `v brought into contact with the contact-roller `Vthe circuitis traced from the latter by wire l101 tothe wire 61, thence through the'contactfand expression lever 50, thenceV by '55 .Wire' to the generator', -from the latter bywvires and 60 to'one of thecontacts 90, thence through contact 103, switchdiar v and-contact 104' to contact 08,l thence by- )Wire 100 to one of the magnets 7 and from ,2t 60 the latter bach to the selector by wire 1003. Theinagnet thusenergia'ed throws a corre- ,l umand Acauses the strikerrod` 1o confgnected'-thereto to actuate a key 1a.' lilach keyis'thus actuated at the proper eipending shoe 13 into engagement with the moment to sound .a note, asdetermin'ed by the location of the perforations or slots in the music sheet-81, the duratien of the note being dependent upon the length of the slot in the music sheet. -By turning the expression ce" by fixing dowel pins in the bar lever in the proper direction the motor can be causedto run' faster or slower, in the'manner before described, hence the'forcewith which any key or set of keys is struck can be regulated. [n practice the music sheet is marked at the rproper points to indicate when the 'notes are to be played loud. or soft and therefore by watching the niusic sheet as it passes from the delivery roller to thecontact roller and turning the expression lever in the proper direction at the proper intervals the operator. can cause the attachment to execute the composition with the proper expression. It is for this purpose that l arrange the selector and music-roll holder frames inthe manner described, so vthat. by drawing them out from beneath the keys board the-music sheet is in plain view 0f the.

operator and enables him to properly control or manipulatethe expression lever, and when thefattachment is not in use said frames can be pushed back beneath the keyboard where they will not interfere with a performer using the piano inthe usual or ordinary' -manner. springs ',110 will force the switch-bar 102 In order to cause the music sheet to travel v'over the contact roller at any desired. speed I providethe following means. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 114 indicates a shaft journaled between suitable journal pins 115 and 116 and having fixed. thereon a roo pulley 117,wl'u`ch is driven by a belt 118 from i a ,pulley 119 on the drum 1. Movably mounted on, butincapable of rotating independently '-thereof, is a relatively large friction disk 120, which is held in frictional engagement with a smaller friction wheel 121 by a coiled'sp'ring 122 arranged on the shaft V114 and bearing against' a collar 123 on said shaft. i As shown the periphery of the friction wheel 121bears against the face of the disk 120, and said friction wheel is fixed ona l shaft V124,which is longitudinallymovable in abearing formed in a bracket 125 pendent from the underside of the base 3, and in a `worm 126 which. is rotatably mounted in a bracket 127 fixed to one side of the selector' frame 72, said worm being splined on the shaft 124 so that it can. slide thereon but not rotate,independently thereof. The `worm 126 gears with a worin wheel 128 (see Figs. n

12 and 13) journaled in one end of a swinging arm 129, the other en d of said arm being piv- :oted on the journal of the take-up roller 80.

Fixed on the journal olthe' worm wheel 128'A is a pinion 1230 whichgears with a gear wheel '131 fixed on the end if the take-up roller 8 0 and tlrus .rotates the latter to wind up thereon the music sheet 81. By mounting the worm Wheel inthe end ofthe swinging arm in-the manner described the former is permit-ted to raise and lower slightly whenengaging and disengaging the worm, which it must do whenever the roll-holder frame 73 is moved in and out independently of the selector frame 72. A pin 155 is fixed in one side of the roll-holder frame and acts as a stop or support for the swinging arm when said frame 1s drawn out. Fixed to or formed on the outer edge of one side of the selector frame 72 is a circular graduated dial or disk 132, pivoted centrally to the underside of which is one end of a lever 133, termed by me a tempo-lever, said lever beingy provided at its outer end with a handle 134 (see Fig.- 8) and with a pointer 135 which overhangs the graduations on the disk or dial. Pivoted to the tempo-lever -is one end of a slotted bar 136, the other end of which is pivoted to the outer end of a lever 137, the inner end of which has fixed thereon a pinion 138 (see Fig. 7) and is pivoted to a bracket arm 139 fixed to one side of the selector frame 72. The inner end of the tempodever in like man ner has fixed thereon a similar pinion 146, and both said pinions gear with a rack-bar `141 that is movably supported longitudinally by headed pins 142 and 143 which project from the undersides of the bracket-arm 130 and disk 1 32 res rectively and extend through slots 144 forme( in the ends of said rack-bar. Pivoted to a bracket-arm 145 fixed to the frame 69 is a bell-crank lever 146, the end of one arm of which is provided with a headed pin 147 which projects through the slot 14S in the slotted bar 136, and pivoted to the end of the other arm of said bell-crank lever is one end of a rod 149, the other end of which is hooked into a loop 150 formed centrally in a rod 151 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to an eye 152 on the rear end ofthe frame 69' and at its other end is .loosely looped, as at 153 about a peripherally grooved collar 154 fixed by a set screw on the shaft 124.

The operation of this part of the device is as follows: Let it be assumed that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 7, wherein the selector' and roll-holder frames are shown pushed in beneath the keyboard, and in which position the take up -roll will he driven at its -fastest speed. New if the lever -1 33 be swung about its pivot in the direction of .the arrow it will draw forward with it and at 'the same time move the slotted bar 136 toward the music holder or toward the left as viewed in the drawing. This movement of the slotted bar rocks the bell-crank lever 146 on its pivot and thrusts rearward the rod or link 149, thereby swinging the lever 151 rearward and moving the shaft 124 in the same direction, thus shifting the friction wheel nearer to the center of the friction disk 120, and consequently reducing the speed of rotation. of the shaft 124. The shaft 124 being geared to the take-up roller through the gearing described, said roller will also, therefore, he driven at a slower speed and cause the music sheet to travel over the contact roller at t correspondingly slower speed.

By gearing the slotted ha'r 136 to the rackbar 141 in the manner described said slotted bar will always remain parallel. with the adjacent side of the music holder `and hence a given movement of the tempo-lever will impart a corresponding movement to the bell-crank lever 146 irrespective of the posi-- tion of the tempo-lever. By vconnecting the tempo-lever to the bell-crank lever 146 hy means of the slotted har 136, as described, the selector frame 72 may be freely moved in and out without in any manner all'ecting -the position of the friction wheel ,12] relatively to the friction disk 120, and said frietion wheel may he moved toward and from the center of the friction disk to regulate the speed of travel of the music sheet irrespective of the position the selector frame may he in, whether it be entirely pushed in or drawn out or at any intermediate point. l have described the tempo-lever as 1seing pivoted centrally to the underside of a graduated disk fixed to or formed with the outer end of one side of the selector frame. A similar gradini-ted dial or disk 15G is arranged' on the opposite side of said selector frame and pivoted centrally to the underside thereof is the expression lever 59, the segment-shaped contact 63 being also fixed to the underside of said disk 156. By moving the expression lever to register' with the different graduations on the dial the speed of the motor will he correspondingly adjusted through the medium of the connections and governor in the manner before described.

As above described the attachment is arranged for automatically playing on the piano any composition that perforationsv or slots in the music sheet may determine. l

will nowdescribe the means hy which the instrument 1s transformed into an apparatus for recording upon an imperforate sheet any composition which may he played upon the piano by a. performer in the usual manner. For this purpose l employ an imperl'orate music sheet consisting ol' :1 sheet of paper of the same size as the perforated music sheet, but made of paper having y'line metallic partieles evenly and thickly distributed through it and incorporated therein during'the course of the manufacture of the paper. This paper in practice is made sufficiently thin to permit the minute metallic particles to .pi-h- -trude on opposite sides of the paper so us to An imperforate sheet of such be exposed. paper is to he used in lieu of the perforated sheet of Manila paper employed when the at-Y tachment is used as a self-playing attachment.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings,

Cre

the numerals 157 and 158l respectively indicate two metallic spring contacts attached tov the piano keyboard underneath the outer end of each piano key 1-8, said contacts being normally separated. To the contact 157 is connected one end of a wir-e159, the other end ofwhich is 4connected to oneof the contacts 104, and in like `manner the other contact 158 is connected by a wire 160 to a corresponding contact 103, it being understood that each pair of contacts under each key o f the piano is in the same manner connected to a pair of cdntacts 103 and 104. To convert the piano playing attachment into an attach- A' ment for recording the music played on the ypiano .manually the handles 113 of the cams Fig.' 1, whereupon the springs 110 force the 112 are thrown up into the position shown in switch-bar -106 fromv between and-ou-t-of engagement with the contacts 103 and 10L1,

thereby breaking the circuit between-saidcontacts.` Then by depressing the lever-S22 the bar 19 is raised until it bears against the 'undersides of all the shoes13, thereby throwying `the'latter out of action. i A delivery roll Q.Wound with the metallized imperforate music 'L sheet is then placed in the roll-holder frame,

vpassed overthe contact roller and attached to the take-up roller in the same manner as the perforatedymusic. sheet, .and the tempo.-4 lever setto Afeedir'igmec give the desired speed to the sheet anism. The expression lever is now turned until it engagesthe Contact 68,

` thus .putting the motor in circuit, and said Aexpression lever is then adjusted to give the. 'desired speed to the, motor. The performer then plays upon the piano in the usual man- .ne' A's" "each key is depressed it presses together the contacts 157 and'158 underneath it, thus closing the lcircuit at that point,`

which isa-.traced as" follows, vreference being ".hadlto Fig'. 4. Startingfrorn the generator 66 the circuit is traced over the wires 65 and 560% through the contacts-99 and 103 to the `w1re160, over saidwire to and through the contacts-158 and 1.57, thence by wire 159 to contacts 104 and 98 to wire 100, then through tween the selectors and contact roller 87 and4 -one of the electromagnets 7 and by wire 100a toone of the selectors 76. As vbefore described the metallizedsheetis traveling bein contactwith-both of them, hence the metallic particles incorporated-,in said sheet place;4 said yselectors and contact roller in electricalcontact.` Therefore the circuit continues'f-fr'om :the end of the selector through l Asthe current passes through the-metallized sheet tothe contact roller 87,

over thefwire 101 to Wirel and over the 1atcontact with the se ector and contact roller, the resistance o'llered by said particles raises ,ther'n to a high `heat, thereby scorching and discoloring thepaper, "and even sometimes causing the particles to drop from the sheet,

`but* this in no Way..p1oves objectionable. The length of the mark or discoloration thus madeon the paper will be dependent -upon the duration of the note playedV and consequently the length of time the circuit remains closed, a short. staccato -note producing a mere dot, while a long sustained note will result in a correspondingly long mark or stripe. 'It will of course be'understoodthat as each key is struck a corresponding selector will be thrown into circuit and the note'will be vrecorded inthe manner described on the inetallized sheetf-y `After the entire composition has been played, and has been thus recorded .on the metallized sheet, the latter' is removed from the music sheet holder and the recorded notesare cut out by'hand with a punch, or by'other suitable means. The sheet then be comes a music sheet, faithfully recording the music performed upon the piano, and is then coated with shellac, or other suitable material to insulate the metallic particles. The music sheet thus produced can then be wound upona delivery roller and placed in the Inusic holder, when by forcing the switch-bar between the contacts 9S and 99, lowering the bar 19 f1o1n fl eneath the shoes, and turning the expression lever tov throw the motor into circuit, the piano will automatically play or repeat the composition previously manually played upon the piano. 0r instead of coatmg the sheet with shellac or other insulating material to: render it suitable for use as a music sheet?, itmay be employed as a pattern or 'stencil for reproducing duplicate music sheets indefinitely in a usual and well known manner.

By placing contacts similar to the contacts 157 and 15Sunde1- each foot pedal of the piano, providing corresponding selectors, and

connecting up said contacts and selectors in precisely the same manner as the piano keys, the action of the pedals can obviously also be automatically recorded in the s'arne manner as that of the keys. Y

- In order to readily remove the. delivery roller from its frame so as to change from one music sheet to another, and in order to rewind the music sheet thereon, I journal the Y delivery roller in the frame in the manner, and provide rewinding mechanism, which l Will now'describe. A trunnion 161 is fixed on each end of the delivery roller 70 (sec Figs. 8 and10) and is `provided with one or more .laterally projecting lugs or wings 102. Journaled :in each side .of the roll-holder .frame 73 is a spindle 163, provided at one .end with a head 164 and having a, central socket in which the trunnion 161 is adapted to be loosely fitted, and also having a slot or rer'fcss 165 for the rece )tion of the lug 162, whereby the delivery rol er and'said spindle are caused vided 1with an o en bearing 172.

to rotate together. The spindle adjacent to the head- 164 is provided with an integral collar or enlargement 166 thatI is adapted' to lit Within'a corresponding socket 167 formed in the innerside of the frame 73.v Splined on the spindle 167 is a pinion 168 that is disposed in a recess 169 formed in the trame 73. Pivoted to the frame 73, before referred to, isa hooked catch 170, Fig. 11, the forked end 171 of Which is adapted to hook over the is drawn out, 'as shown in Fig. 10, and the 'hooked catch 1s swung up or over so as to hook over the spindle behindthe head 164i, thusr holding the spind-le in place to be en.- gaged by the trunnion of the shorter-roller.

Knobs 173 are iixcd on the end of the roll-i holderirame to furnish convenient means for drawing out bothsaidframe and the selector frame from beneath the keyboard. Journaled on a stud-shaft on one side of the frame 78 is a pinion 174, see Fig. l, which gears With the pinion 16S before described, and also journaled on a stu d-shait on the same side of said frame is a gear Wheel 175 Whichgears with the pinion 174. A crank or handle 176 is fixed to. the gear Wneel 175. After the music sheet has been unWound from the delivery roller it may be re-Wound thereon by turning the gear Wheel by its handle 176, whereby, through the gearing described the music sheet may be rapidly rewound onto the delivery roller. the musicsheet from the take-u i roller the delivery roller may be remove( 'from the frame and another one inserted.

ln the foregoing description, and in the apended claims, l have used the term perorated music sheet, such being the term by which such sheets, when employed for controllingf self-playing musical instruments, are Well knovvn, and by such term is understood a strip of p apcr, or other suitable iiexible material, provided with slits or slots of varying lengths, the location and length of the slits corresponding to the diilercnt notes andtheir duration. Hence, l Wish it to be understood that Wherever the term perforated music sheet is employed, a sheet having slits or slots is meant, the said term being employed in its conventional sense as Well understood in the art. i

hile I have shown and described the attachment applied to a piano, it may obviously be applied to other keyed musical in- By unhooking the end -ol" struments, and in the claims hereinafter` iollowing Wherever the term piano is emnloyedv l. wish to be understood as including keyed musical instruments ot every kind to which the attachment is or may be applicable.

l do not claim'herein the music roll holder shown and described7 as this is claimed in my divisional patent No. 854,689, dated May 21, 1907;l

Having described my invention,"what l claim is 1. .ln an attachment for musical instruments, the' coml'iination with mechanism for automatically playing said instrument and for producing electrically upon .an imperiorate sheet a record ol'v music played manually on the instrument, means lor throwingr the playin portion ol the mechanism out or operation and means for rendering the recordin ing mechanism inoperative, a p art of said recording portion cooperating` with a periorated music sheet for controlling the playing portion.

ln an attachment for musical' instruments, the combination with mechanism for automatically playing said instrument and for producing electrically upon an imperiora'te sheet a record of music played umanually on the instrument', means for throwing the recording portion of' the mechanism out of operation, and means for rendering the playing portion operative, a part of said recording portion cooperating with a perforated music sheet for controlling the playing portion.. l

3. ln an attachment for musical instruments, the combination. with. mechanism for automatically playing said instrument and for producing electrically upon an imperferate sheet a record of music played manually on the instrument, means for" rendering either the playing portion or the recording portion operative, and means for throwing out of operation either the playing portion or the recording portion, a part of said recording `'portion cooperating with a perforated music sheet for controlling the playing portion` 4. ln an attachment for musical instruments, the combination with mechanism for .aiit miatically playing said instrument and for producing,electrically uponan imperioratc sheet a record ofmusic played manually on thefinstrument, said mechanism including` electrical Contact fingers, means for throwing the playing portion of the mechanism out of operation and means for rendering the recording portion inoperative, the said contact fingers cooperating with a erforated music sheet for controlling the p aying portion.

5. In an organized instrument for automatically playing music and for obtaining on an'iniperforate sheet a visual record of music played manually on musical instrument, the combination with a musical instrument, of means controlled by a perforated music sheet for automatically actuating the sound, producing devices. thereof,`a series of electric contact devices between which either the imperforate or the perforated music sheet may e causedto pass to obtain the visual record or to control the operation of the actuating means for the sound-producing devices, electric circuits in which said contact devices are included, a normally open circuit maker and breakerarranged beneath each key of the musical instrument, wires leading from the two members o'f each circuit maker and breaker to corresponding contact devices, and a switch for throwinor the said wires and circuit makers and .brea rers in and. out of v circuit at will.

" 6. In a combined automatic music playing and music recording apparatus, the combinaf. tion with a musical instrument, of means for 'sheet or a perforated music sheet may be' lautomatically actuating the sound producing devices thereof, a series of electric contact devices'betweenwhich either an imperforate caused lto passte obtain a .visual record or e control the o for the soun. reducing. devices, an electric circuit in whicv said contact-devices are in-l cluded, normally open clrcuit makers and vbreakers arranged to @be operated by the keys of the musical instrument, wires leading from said circuit makers and-'breakers to corre-` sponding contact devices, two separated contacts forming the terminals `of each 'of said -wires, and a switch bar adapted to bridge theA said separated contacts of all the circuits, as

and for the purpose specified, 7. In an organized instrument, electrically operated mechanism for automatically playing a musical instrument through the medium y of a perforated-music sh eet, including means,

' i music playing mechanism.

8. In an organized instrument, electrically operated' mechanism for automatically playing a musical instrument through the medium of aperforatd music sheet, .including means forproducing upon an imperforate sheet a visual record of music played manually u pon4 therinstrument, said means consisting of electrical contact-fingers forming va part of the musicfplaying mechanism, and means for y feeding the sheet between lsaid fingers during the playing of the instrument.

9. .In a pianoattachment, the. combination with electrically-operated mechanism for. plaving the piano, and electric means controlled by a perforated music sheet for controlling t 1e action of the playing mechanism and for marking on an 'imperforate sheet eration ofthe actuating means' the notes played manually on the piano, of means for'holding a` portion of the playing vmechanism inactive during the marking opeither the perforatedsheet orthe sheet to be v marked in associated relation with said electric means, substantially as described.

l1. A piano having means controlled by a perforated music .sheet for automatically actuating the pianokeys to play the piano, said means including electric devices controlled by the piano keys when the piano is manually played for scorching an imperforate sheet Awhere the latter is tobe perforated to `formA a music sheetvadapted to control the automatic playing mechanism.

12. In a pianoV playing attachment, the combination with means controlledby a perforated music sheet for actuatingvthe piano keys to play the piano, including an .electric circuit and selector fingers therein, circuit closersh controlled by the operation of the piano-keys when the piano 1s played manu' allyfor completin the circuit through said selector lingers to urn. an imperforate sheet and produce thereon a visua record of the music manually played, and'means for holds ing the actuatlng means for the` keys out of 13, l. The combination with mechanism controlled by a perforated music-sheet for auto- -operation when the attachment `is employed s as a recorder.

matically pla y g'a musical instrument and l `'for burning e ectrically upon an imperforatc sheet a record ofgmusicplayed manually ulpon the instrument, means for throwing the p ing'portion ofthe mechanism out of opera-. tion, and means :for rendering the recording portion inoperative,"a' part of said recording portion cooperating lwith a perforated music sheet for controlling the playing portion.

14. In a music playing attachment for musical instruments, the A'combinationwith means 'for actuating a sound producing device includinga pivoted friction shoe,of a counter-weight vattached to the shoe, for the purpose described. 15. In amusic playing attachment for inusical instruments, the combination with means for actuating'va sound produclng device including a lpivoted friction shoe and a striker-rod connected thereto, of a counter- Weight adjustably attached to the shoe and i Y o erating to counter-balance the weight of t estriker-rod,substantially as described.

16. 'In'a music playing attachment formusical instruments, .Y the combination with means lfor actuating a sound producing device including a pivoted friction shoe and a striker rod arranged to .be operated thereby, of a fixed t`o said shoe, and a weight adjustabl mounted on the in land operating to counterbalance the weight of the striker rod, sub- Y stantially as described.

` means for rotating it, of a seriesof electro-` magnets, .ture sup 17. In a music playing attachment lfor pianos, the vcombination with a drum and one for each piano'key, an armaorted above each magnet, a rod ,pendent rom each armature, a shoe pivotally connected tothe lower end of the rod and having a curved friction face arranged to be thrown into contact with the drum when the armature is attracted by its magnet, a strikerrodA pivotally connected to the shoe:` and adapted to strike the inner end 'of a piano key, and a counterweight attached to veach shoe and operating to counterbalance the weight l of the striker-rod, substantially grs described.

. means for rotating 1when the armature is attracted by its magnet, a striker-rod pivotally connected tol one side of the upper end of the shoe, and *adaptedy to -strike the mner end of a piano key, a in fixed to the o posite side of the lower end)of the shoe, an a weight adjustably mounted on said pin and operating to counterbalance the weight of the striker-rod, substantially as described. Y

19. In a music playing attachment for musical instruments', t e combination with a drum 'and means for rotatingit, of a series of electro magnets, an armature for each magnet, arod pendent from each armature, a shoe pivoted to each rod, a striker-rod connected to each shoe and adapted to actuate a key of the musical instrument, and a rail arrangedbeneath the front end of all the shoes and operating to form a stop and support for the latter after being thrown into contact with the drum by the ma ts', armatures and rods, substantially as escribed.

20. In a music playing attachment for pianos,

the combination with a drum and `means for rotatmg it, of a series of electro- Vmagnets one for-each iano ke an armature supported. above each ma net, a rod endent from each armature, a s oe pivota ly conrod pivotally connectedvto the shoe and adapted to strike the inner end of a piano key, and all the shoes and loperating to form a stop a rail arranged beneath one end ofy and support for the latter after being thrown into contact with the drum by the magnets, armatures and rods, substantiallyA as described.

2.1. In a piano attachment, the 'combination with a contact roller and a plurality cf selectors, one for-each piano key, adapted-to contact with the contact roller, ,electiicjcircults each including one of said selectors and the contact roller,'a key strikingmcchamsm, one for each selector, arranged to be put in .operation to actuate a key when any one of-saidcircuits is closed,- whereby when lany one of said selectors contactsv with the contact roller a correspondingkey will be actuated, two separated contacts vforming the terminals of each of said circuits, a movable switch bar adapted to' bridge the said contacts of all the circuits, a normally open circuitv maker and breaker arranged beneath the end of each key, wires leading from thc two 4members of each circuit maker-andbreaker to a corresponding air of said ter minal contacts, and means or moving said switch bar from between the terminal contacts to include said circuit makers-andbreakers in said circuits. 22, Inl a music playing attachment for musical instruments, the combination with a rotary drum, of a plurality of shoes arranged to be actuated'by the drum, means for moving thel shoes into contact with the drum, connections between the shoes and the sound producing devices ofthe musical instrument, and a rail arranged adjacent to the drum and shoes and operating to form a stop and support for the shoes when the latter are thrown into contact with the drum durin action.

23. In a music playing attac iment for musical instruments, the combination with a rotary drum, of a plurality of pivotedlahoes arranged to be actuated by the drum, means for moving the shoes into contact with the drum, a connection between each shoe and a sound producing device of the musical instrument, and a rest-rail arranged beneath and in rear of the slices and operating to forni a' stop and support for the latter when thrown into contact with the drum during action.

24. In a piano attachment, the combination with key striking mechanism controlled by a perforated music sheet for automatically actuating the piano keys to play the piano, of means controlled by the piano keys when the piano is manually played for indicating on an impci'forate sliect where the latter is to be perforated to foi-m a music sheet adapted to control the automatic playing tmechanism and cause the latter to automatically play on the piano the music previously played manually thereon, and means for `locking the key striking mechanism against mover` "i with the drum, means actuated by the shoes forstriking the plano keys, means controlled by the piano keys when the piano is manually yed for indicating on an imperforate sheet where the latter is to be a music sheet adap matlc playing mec perforated to form ted tov control the autoanism and cause the latter'to automatically play on the piano the music previously played manually thereon,

a ra arranged beneath the shoes and means for .raislng said rail to hold said shoes against movement, substantially as described.

lrotary element, a frict'on 1actuated thereby,

26.- In music playing mechanism, the comination with a sound-producing device, of a shoe cooperatively associated therewith and arranged to be means operated by the l shoe for actuating vice, and means contact With the rotary element'and in its active position after it has been actuated by said element.'

27 In music playin mechanism, the combination With a sound-producing device, of a rotary element,- a frlctionshoe .coperatively associated therewith and arranged to be actuated thereby, means actuated by the shoe for operating the sound producing device, and means coperating with the friction face of the shoe for engaging and holding the latter out of contact A after having been actuated thereby.

" In testimony whereof I affix my signature in` presence of two witnesses.

G. HoWLETT DAVIS'.

Witnesses JOSEPH EVANS, ELIZABETH EVANS.

the sound-producing de-` for holding the shoe .Qutof With the rotary element

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