US974963A

US974963A - Electrical piano.

Info

Publication number: US974963A
Application number: US45722408A
Authority: US
Inventors: David J Hauss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1908-10-12
Filing date: 1908-10-12
Publication date: 1910-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1927-11-08

Description

D` HAUSS.

ELEGTRlAL PIANO.

APPLIGATIQN MLED 001212, 190B.

Patented Nov. s, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@mi h1 @ons attaining D. J. HAUSS.

ELEUTRICAL PIANO.

APPLIGATION FILED 00T. 12, 190s.

Patented Nov'. 8, 1910.

4 SBBETfS-SHEET 2.

D. J. HAUSS.

ELECTRICAL PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.12, 190B.

0. 1 9 1 oo. V. 0 N d e LIU D m D..

QW T E E H 4 S T E E E s 4.

D. JQHAUSS.

ELECTRICAL PIANO. V APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 12, 1908. l 974,963, Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

'arrangement of rollers over which the forated sheet is fed and to J. HAUSS, OF AURORA, INDIANA.

ELECTRICAL PIANO.

Application filed October 12, 1908, Serial No. 457,224.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID J HAUss, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Aurora,

in the county, of Dearborn and State of Indiana, have invented ycertain new and usefull Another object is to provide improved mechanism by means of which the respective electrical circuits are closed as the perforated sheet is fed forward.

Another object is to provide improved means for transposing the key of the music vand cutting out of circuit part of the actuating keys when requlred.

Another object is to provide animproved erprevent in]ury to the sheet.

It further consists' in certain details of form, combination, and arrangement, all of which will be more fully setforth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fi ure 1 is a front elevation of a piano, part broken away, with my improvements attac ed thereto, 'Fig 2 is a perspective View of one of the 4fingers by'means of'which electrical contact is made through the lperforations of the sheet. Fig. 3 is a pers ective viewof the end of one form of s eet roller. Fig. 4 is a similar view of another form-of sheet roller. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one form ofmechanism' employed to en.`

gage and drive the sheet roller. 'Fig.`6 is a rear plan of the sheet-sup orting and dri v' ingmechanism, 'artly bro en awayr.. Flg.

7 is a section on ine c: a: of Fig. 6. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the bar carrying the contact lingers/ Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one ofl tte sprin emlingers-1n circuit. Fi 10 is an enlarge section on line fw w q1 ig. 1 through, the key ,actuating mechanism. Fig. I1l 'is'.afdetail sectional view q'f the key actuating-mechanism on line Speciiication of Letters` Patent.

"Patented Nov. s, 1910.

o du of Fg.,10. Fig. l2 is a detail view partly in section of the sheet roller supporting and driving mechanism, and showlng a modification of Fig. 5. Fi 13 is a diagram illustrating the electrica connections. Fig. 14 is a 'detail horizontal-section through the bar S and part of the panel I and door J along the center oi; barS in Fig. 6. .-l

In the accompanying drawings A represents the case of a piano of ordinary con-- struction. 4

B represent the keys and B the lid or fall adapted to be turned down to cover and protect the keys. Beneath the keys is a com" partment in which is located a metal plate b preferably of iron which carries a series of electromagnets C to actuate the piano keys. I preferably arrange the magnets C in two or more rows, and in staggered arrangement, which permits the use of magnets' of ample size, and an arranoement of the respective magnets immediately beneath the keys they are to operate. Plate b is provided with proiectio c t'o which are hinoed at c the armatures D of the ma than otherwise. AArms el project from the armature D and are connected or clamped to cords or flexible connections Z2 which are attached 'at t-heir opposite ends to the piano keys, forming noiseless connections. when an electric current `is established through any one of the magnets C a correspending piano key is depressed, while the keys are freeto be operated by hand in the usual manner. Electro'ma lar construction, are'provi ed to operate the pedals ec.

The electrlc current to actuate the piano 1 keys is controlledby means of a perforated sheet or roll of paper or similar material F which is unwound from a roller G' onto a roller H. The rollers G H are detachably heldfbetwe'en centers gl g. and h h journaled' y to the rear face adetachable panel I forming the upper face of the piano frame. The panel I is provided with a door J which is hinged thereto at its bottom, and held in the closed position by a latch` j. To the inner face of door J is journaled a metal roller K which when the door J is closed presses against the sheet F, pressing it against a series of contacts L, as indicated in Fig. 7, and when the door J is opened the roller K is out of ContactA with the sheet F which travels in adirect line from roller G to roller H, and free from the contacts L.

As the rollers G carrying the perforated sheet F, and which have heretofore been operated pneumatically, may be obtained 1n commerce of different lengths and with the sheets of different widths and perforated to actuate a different number of keys, and as the ends of different rollers are adapted to be engaged by centers of odifferent construction, provide engaging members, Figs. G and 12, adaipted to engagel rolls of different lengths, an also having centers or clutch members of different forms to engage different styles of rollers ordinarily found in commerce. These engaging members corrprise a spindle m splined to the driving shaft m', and at its forward end m2 recessed 'and adapted to engage the stud m3 of a roller such as shown in Fig. et. The spindle m is splin'ed to sleeve N which is 'driven thereby and journaled in box n. The spindle m is adjustable endwise in the sleeve N and locked to its adjusted position by a latch n engagin either one of the grooves n2. The sleeve i N 1s adjustable endwise to accommodate rolls of different lengths and locked to its adjusted rposition'by means of latch. n3 carried by box n engaging annular grooves nf. At the opposite end roller G is supported by stud g carried by an endwise adjustable rody g2 locked to its adjustable position by latch g3. The roller H issu ported by mechanism similar to that emp oyed to support roller G. lVhen in the position shown in Fig. 12'

the hollow rectangular stud engages a cor responding recess 1n the end of a roller such as shown m Fig. 3, while the end m2 of spindle m is retracted. As shown in Fig. 6 the end m2 -is in engagement with stud m of roller G and the stud y is retracted.

In the modication, Fig. 5, the sleeve N is driven by the shaft and adjustable end- Wise as shown in Fig. 12; its forward end,

. however, is armed with a member N2 pivotally attached thereto and having a plurality ofarms Na to engage the ends of different rollers. The member N2 may be turned to bring any one of arms N3 to position for use and locked to such position by pins N.

A bar of insulating material 0 is supported upon studs O Oz carried by 'panel I, and

sponding in number to the keys of the instrument. In the slots o3 are mounted a series of contacts or fingers L which are pivoted bymeans of short pins restin a'rOy the slot Z ofbar 0. The weighted en s Z of fingers L cause the ends Z2 of said fingers to normally press against and ride upon the sheet F and to enter any perforations therein so as to contact with the metal roller K and thereby close an electric circuit through one of the magnets C toactuate the keys.

lVhere narrow music sheets are employed or where it is desired tocut partA of the keys out of circuit, I provide a slot o4 in bar O 1n which slot are seated bars 05 which may be moved independently or if desired arranged to slide in unison with the endwise movements of the members N and g2. The inner ends of bars o serve to lift such fingers L as they come in contact with out of contact with the sheet on roller K, and thus cut the corresponding keys out of circuit.

P represents a detachable. bar su ported kat its ends in brackets p, which brac` ets are preferably attached to the rear"of panel I. The. bar P is provided with a series of spring lingers P which as the bar P is placed in position bear upon the respective fin ers L above their pivot point as shown in ig. 7. These springs P may if desired be permitted to rest upon the pivot ins of the respective fingers L. The bar. has attached thereto and in electrical contact With springs P a series of electric wires leading from the respective magnets C While a common return wire is in electrical contact with rollerv K. Thus the bar P ma be readily detached and replaced as desire and gives ready access to the bar O and fingers L which may be.'

independently detached and replaced.

I preferably employ an electric motor Q to drive the rollers G H. A worm Q 0n the motor shaft engages and 'drives a worm wheel Q2 which in turn drives a gear QP transmitting motion to a -gear Q4 `loose on the shaft Q5 which serves by means of clutch members Q6 Q7 to drive the roller H at a slow rate of speed while the sheet is being moved in the direction to play the music. At. the opposite end of the motor shaft is a beveled'friction gear R which drives a beveled friction gear R loose on shaft 'm' which shaft by means ofv clutch members R2 R serves to drive the roller G org-gees sheet onto roller t? after the piece has been played. A pivotcd lever t3 serves to shift the clutch members QF R3 to reverse the feed ot' the sheet. A spring R* serves to normally throw thc clutch members R2 R3, into engagement, while a bar attached to lerer S by a link Si engages an incline E? on the side ot door J bywliich bar Sf is shifted cndvi'ise to throw clutch members @T into engagement (see Figs. G and lll). Thus \'hen the door J is ope-n clutch members R2 lt are in engagement to Wind the sheet on roller (i and the roller K is out of contact with the sheet and the sheet away from the fingers L so as not to be liableto be injured thereby, While when door J is closed clutch members Q0 Q7 arey in engagement to drive roller H, and the roller K presses the sheet. into contact with lingers L, Which are not liable to injure the sheet when the sheet is feeding toward roller H.

When the bar O is shifted endWise toV change the key of the music, the treeend's of spring ngers'P have sutiicient spring movement sidewise to retain their positions in contact with the respective m mbers L. The member K is prete ably a roller ljournaled to door J, but may it desiredbe a stationary' member mounted `on door J lin place ot' '.1 rotating member.

The mechanism illustrated and described is applicable foroperating other musical instruments, and is capable of considerable modification without departing.,r from the principle of my invention.

Having described my invention, what. claim is:

1. In a mechanism ot' the character described, a. perforated. sheet, a pair ot stationarily journaled sheet-feeding rollers, a

series ot' contact fingers, a door hinged to the casing of the instrument and opening outwardly, a contact member mounted upon said door and adapted when said door is closed to engage and press the sheet into contact with said contact lingers, and a plurality of electrical circuits adapted to be closed by the contact of sa1d lingers with said Contact member.

Q. In a mechanism of the character indi-- cated, a supporting member, a perforated sheet, a pair of sheet feeding rollers rotatably supported upon said supporting member, a series of contact fingers, a door hinged to said supporting member, a Contact ineinber carried by said door and adapted when said door is .closed to press the perforated sheet into engagement with said contact tingers, a motor, transmitting-mechanism recciving motion from said motor and ada )ted to rotate' the respective sheet feeding rollers in opposite directions, and clutch mechanism ata comparatively rapid rate to rewind the l actuated the movements ot said door to r verse the direction or' feed of sai-d `sheet Said door -is opened or ciosed. In a mechanism of the character indiated, casing and supporting member, a )erforatctl sheet, a pair or" sheeteeding "'ollers rotatablysnpported said snpporting; nieinber,a ber'carried by Said supporting;A i'n'em'oer, a or' contact-fingers pirotaiij-,f supported by said bar, a movable contact adapted to press the sheet into contact with said contact fingers, and a detachable bar `carrying s series of spring lingers,

said spring` lingers resting upon the pivotal portionv ot saidcontact fingers in electrical il contact with said Contact fingers. l

n a mechanism ot' the character indicated, av snpporting member, a sheet of music, a pair of sheet-feeding rollers rotatably supported jupon said supporting member, a bar carried by said supporting member and adapted to be'shiited endwise relatitfeto said frame, meansfor shifting said bar, a series of Contact fingers carried by and pivotally mounted on said bar, a series of spring ingers pressing upon the pivotal portion ot' said contacttingers to secure independent electrical contact with the respe/:tive contact lingers, and a movable contact member adapted to press Said sheet into engagement .witii said contact fingers.

5. ln a mechanism of the character indicated, a supporting member, a sheet 'of music, a pair otslieet-eeding rollers rotatably supported upon said supporting member, a bar -oi insulating material. carried by said supporting nieinber and provided With a series ot verticai recesses, a series of contact fingers pivctally supported upon said bar and supported Within and limited as to moi/ement by said recesses, a bar of insulating,` material detachabiy supported in rear oisiid lirst named bar, a series or spring lingers carried by said last named bar.the

free ends et said fingers resting on and establishing electrical contact with the pivetal portion of said fingers, and a movable contact member adapted' to press said sheet into contact with said fingers. i

G. in mechanism of the character indicated, a supporting member, a sheet of music, a pair osheet feeding rollers rota'- tacly supported upon said sup-porting member, a bar of insulating material carried by said supporting' member, ay series of Contactl finders rivet-all f su 3 orted u on. said bal and adapted to Contact with said sheet, and

means carried by and adjustable on said ber `to shil't. one or more of said contact fingers ont ot engagement with .said sheet.

i". in a mechanism ot the character-indicated, a, supporting member, sheet ofv music, a pinrality ot sheet supporting and feeding rollers, a bor carried by said supface of said sheet to press the :heet info con- 10 porting member, u. Jlurality of Contact fintuct with said lingers. gers p1v0ta1ly supported upon said bar and In testimony whereof I lxlave affixed my Weighted to hold the points of sind Contact signature in presence of` two witnesses.

5 fin ers in en affement with one :ice of the i y Sluit, a, doorgolening outwardly relative to DAVID J' HAUbb' said supporting member, and a Contact memlVitnesses: ber earned by said door and adapted when v lVALTER F. MURRAY, said door is closed to engage the opposite C. WMILES.