US932606A - Self-playing musical instrument. - Google Patents

Description

F. R. GOOLMAN. SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1908.

Patented'Aug. 31, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w n; m

F a e QVi/bneweo J is thrown PQR. GOOLMAN; SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1908.

' Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

' B BHEBTB-QHBET 2.

Fred R. oozman, wva l'I-tO t @3 1 hi? affoz 1101 9 90am I NITED STATES PATENT 5..

FFTCE FRED R. GOOL MAN, 0F BINGHAHTUN, NEW YORK.

SE LF PLikYING MUSICAL INSTRUME NT.

Specification ofLettez-s Patent.

Patented Aug. 3.1, 1909.

Application filed March 30,1908. Serial No. 424,121. I

ing Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification. A

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in self playing musical instruments, and'more particularly to that type wherein a perforated note sheet is employed as the medium for determining the rendition of the musical selections.

The invention has particularly todo with improved means for controlling the travel of the note sheet so as to insure feed of the same continuously and evenly without slip-- ping relative to the sheet m ving means, so that the sheet will at all times move forward in a positive manner.

feed of the sheet without slipping relative to the feed roll.

A further object is to rovide means of the character set forth which will be of such construction as to be readily adjustable for the purpose of regulating the feed of the sheet,.so that the latter may be moved and held in more or less positive engagement with the feed roll over which it travels.

To the above stated ends the invention, as embodied in this specification, includes a 'power driven feed roll arranged in engagement with'the note sheet, an element arranged adjacent said roll, and wed ing means disposed-between said roll and e ement for bolding the note sheet in positive engagement with the feed roll.

I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein:

Figure 1, is a view in perspective of a note sheet feeding and controlling means embodying my invention. Fig. 2, is a transverse vertical section throughthe sheet feeding and controlling means. Fig. 3, is a view in front elevation of a self-playing instrument, such as a piano, showing the manner in which the sheet feeding and controlling means is associated therewith.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Fig. 3, by numerals and letters of reference: A, designates a piano, which may be of any desired type or construction, the keyboard being indicated at 1', and the key-bottomat 2. Upon the underside of the key-bottom, preferably adjacent the right hand end thereof, are disposed flanged plates 3, 3, withwhich slidably cooperate flanges 4, 4, secured upon the upper side ed es of a drawer 5, 'the latter containing t e sheet feeding and controlli mechanism to be presently described. eneath the drawer 5, is arranged a receptacle or pocket 6, which serves to hold that portion of the note sheet which is not in actual engagement with the note selector and the feeding and controlling means. t

Referring toFig. 1, of the drawings, 7 designates a rectangular metal frame of roper dimensions, u on the upper sides of t e end members of w rich is supported a spool frame comprising end members 8, 8, in which are journaled the pintles or gudgeons 9, 9, of the spaced note sheet rolls 10, 11, the latter being provided atone end with any suitable means through which connection may be made with any suitable source of'power for rotating said roll. For the purpose of this application thi's-connec'tio'n-is shown as consistin of a gear wheel 12. The s 001 framemay detachabl-y held in place y any suitable means,

1 and as a simple manner of accomplishing this result, I provide the end members 8, 8,

with. transverse elements 13, over which engage shoulders 14, 14' of lugs 15, 15 secured to the frame 7 by means of screws 16, 16.

T, designates the tracker of the pneumatic playing mechanism which mechanism is a part of the piano, and is so positioned that when the drawer 5, containing the feed rolls is moved into 0 erative position for play ing, said rolls vdil be disposed on opposite sides of the tracker with their upper faces slightly above the under face 01' said tracker ver which the note sheet moves. The note sheet is indicated at S, and as heretofore stated, is in the form of an endless band, arranged to travel over the rolls 10, 11, and beneath the under face of the tracker, and be folded back and forth within the receptacle 6, as shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings. In operation the sheet is drawn from the bottom of the pile of folds, moves over the roller 10, thence over the roller 11, and is folded up in said receptacle.

Arranged between the rolls 10, 11, and extending parallel therewith, is a bar 17, having thereon depending arms 18, 18, which support a resilient plate 19, the ed es of which engage the under faces of the rolls and serve to steady the movement of the same and to prevent a too free rotation.

All of the features above described are immaterial to the purposes of my resent inthe sheet perfectly flat and in full face conmaterial.

ried thereby, are urged towardthe roll 11, by

tact therewith, and to prevent turning of the ed es of the same.

ivotally mounted on the frame 7, preferably at a point below the rolls 10, 11, as at 20, is a swinging frame comprising vertical end members 21, 21, having journaled in their upper ends, as at 22, 22, a presser roll 23, of any suitable material and provided with rings 23, of rubber, felt, or other soft The frame andthe roller 23 carmeans of a spring 24, mounted at its lower end upon the frame 7, as at 25, and bearing at its upper end upon a transverse member 26, connecting the vertical end members 21, 21. The force of the sprin against the frame may be increased or riminished by means of a set screw 27, let through the frame 7, 'andbearing against said spring, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings.

The lOll 23, is held out of contact with the roll 11, and for this purpose means is provided for limiting the movement of the frame comprisin the vertical'end members '21, 21. A simp e means for accomplishing this purpose consists of screws '27 27, threaded into the vertical members 21, 21, and projecting through slots or openings 23, 28, 1n the frame 7, said screws carrying washers 29, 29, which engage the frame to limit the movement of the frame carrying the roll 23, as indicated. These screws 27,

27 may also be employed for the purpose of retracting the roll 2?, against the force of the spring 24.

Mounteddoosely between the roll 23, and the roll 11, and arranged to revolve insurface contact therewith, is a wedging roll 30, consisting of a cylindrical metal bar, which rests against the upper side face of the note sheet roll, and against the rings 24, on the roll 23, said rings serving to provide for the smooth turning of the wedging roll, and to prevent noise which-might be present were the rolls 23 and 30, permitted to travel in engagement with each other. The roll 30, is of a length substantially coextensive with the length of the roll 11, so that it holds the note sheet in positive engagement therewith throughout the entire width of the sheet.

It will be apparent that in the embodiment of theinven'tion illustrated, the roll 30, rests by gravity against the note sheet and roll 11, on one side, and the roll 23 on the I other side, and that the lower the position taken by said roll 30, the greater .will be the wedging action thereof against the note sheet, and the more'for-cibly the sheet will be pressed against the roll 11. This wedging action is regulated at will by shifting the roll 23, toward and away from the roll 11, the closer said rolls approximate each other, the

lessthe wed 'ing action will be, as the wedging roll will e disposed higher up relative to the axes of the rolls 11, and 23, and is, therefore, not moved into engagement with the roll 11, as positively as when it is in a lower position.

While I have described .the wedging device and the means for adjusting the same as being rolls I desire to positively state that my invention is not to be limited to such forms as other'elements of different former structure may be. devised. for accomplishing the same objects, and still fall within the intended scope of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what i I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pataway from said roll, and a wedging roll supported by said feedroll and element, and act-.

ing to press the note sheet into engagement with said feed roll when the note sheet is in playing position.

3. Ina mechanism of the character described, the combination of a feed roll for a note sheet, an element movable toward and away from said roll, and a wedging roll resting of its own weight upon said feed roll and element, and acting to press the note sheet into engagement with the feed roll when the note sheet is in playing position.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a feed roll for a note sheet, a roll movable toward and away from said feed roll, and a wedging roll supported by said feed roll and movable roll, and acting to press the note sheet into engage-. ment with the feed roll when the note sheet is in playing position.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a feed roll for a note sheet, a roll movable toward and away from said feed Tell, and a floating wedging roll supported by said feed roll and movable roll, and acting to press the note sheet into engagement with the feed roll when the note sheet is in playing position.

6. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a feed roll for a note sheet, an element movable toward and away from the feed roll, a wedging device supported by the'feed roll and said element and engaging the feed roll to press the note sheet into engagement with said feed roll when the note sheet is in playing-position,

and means for regulating the wedgmg action of said wedg'ing device.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a feed roll for a note sheet, an element movable toward and away from the feed roll, a wedging roll'supported by the feed roll and said element to press the note sheet into engagement with said feed roll when the note sheet is in playing position, and means for regulating the wedging action of said wed ing roll.

8. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a feed roll for a note sheet, an element movable toward and away from the feed roll, a wedging roll supported by said feed roll and element, and means for changing the position of the wedging roll to regulate the wedging action thereof.

9. In a mechanism of the characterv described, the combination of a feed roll for a note sheet, an element located adjacent to but out of contact with the feed roll, and a wedging element acting betweenthe feed roll and said first narned element to hold the note sheet in positive engagement with-the feed roll when the note sheet is in playing position.

10. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a feed roll for a cent he feed roll, awedging roll supported by said element in engagement with the feed roll to hold a note sheet in positive engagement therewith when the note sheet is in playing position, and means to move the movable element to regulate the wedging action of said wedging roll.

11. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a feed roll for a note sheet, a frame movably mounted adjacent said roll, a roll journaled 011 said frame,

means for adjusting said frame toward and away from the feed roll, and a floating wedging roll sup orted by said feed roll and the roll on said rame, and acting to hold the note sheet in positive engagement with the feed roll when the note sheet is in playing position.

12. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a feed roll for a note sheet, a frame movably mounted adjacent said roll, a roll journaled on said frame, a 5 ring for urging said frame toward the fee roll, means for limiting the movement of said frame, and a floating wedging roll supported by said feed roll and the roll on said rame, and acting to hold the note sheet in positive engagement with the feed roll when the note sheet is in playing position.

13.'In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a feed roll for a note sheet, a frame pivotally mounted adjacent said roll, a roll journaled on said frame, a s ring for urging said frame toward the feed rol means for limiting the movement of said frame, and a floating wedging roll supported by said feed roll and the roll on .saidirame, and acting to hold the note sheet in p si-tive engagement with the feed roll when the note sheet is in playing position.

14. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a feed roll for a note sheet, a roll mounted adjacent but out of contact with said feed roll, and having a re silient bearing surface, and a floating wedging roll supported onsaid feed roll and said second-named roll, and acting to hold the note sheet in positive engagement with the feed roll When the note sheet is in playing position.

' 15. In a mechanism of the character dc- I scribed, the combination with an element over which a note sheet passes, of an element adjacent but out of contact with said first named element, and a wedging element act ing between said first-named and secondnamed element to hold the note sheet in positive engagement with said first-named element when the note sheet is in playing position.

16. In a mechanism of the character dehold the note in positive engagement with 10 said first named element when the note sheet is in playing position.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. i FRED R. GOOLMAN.

sheet in engagement With the first-named element when the note sheet is in playing I position. i

17. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with an element over which a note sheet is adapted to pass, of an element adjacent said first named element and a Wedging element acting between said first named and second named elements, to

0 Witnesses:

CHARLES F. TERHUNE, HARRY C. W ALKER.'

Images