US1300978A - Reroll-controlling mechanism for musical instruments. - Google Patents

Description

I H. J. LA JOIE. RERQLL CONTROLLING M ECHANlSM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 10. 1914. 1,300,978.

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Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT curios.

HERBERT J. LA J'OIE, 0F ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 AUTOPIANO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed November 10, 1914. Serial No. 871,395.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT J. LA J 01E, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Reroll-Controlling Mechanism for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

Many of the ordinary musical instruments played by a perforated note-sheet and apertured tracker-bar are now driven by an elec- 'tric motor connected to operate the bellows and the various parts of the instrument.

The object of this present invention is to control the re-rolling and stopping of the note-sheet in such an instrument.

To this end the invention consists in providing means for operating the switch which controls the operation of the electric motor, which means is held out of operation by the note-sheet when it is in position. By this mechanism, just as soon as the re-rolling is substantially completed, the electric motor will be stopped.

Mechanism is also provided by which the re-rolling will take place as soon as the playing of the piece is completed, or the notesheet has run far enough.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application for patent in which,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views on en larged scale, illustrat' the operation.

Referring to the drawmg and in detail, A designates the perforated note-sheet, and B the apertured tracker-bar of a musical instrument. 0 represents, conventionally, an electric motor, which is connected to drive the instrument in any of the ways well known in this-art.

The mechanism, as illustrated, has been designed and applied in an automatic playerpiano. The electric motor is controlled from a two-button switch D. A rod 9 is connected to one button 10 of the switch, and has a knob 11 on its end so that the operator can start the instrument.

To start the instrument in operation, the operator pushes in on the lmob 11.

12 represents the re-roll lever of the instrument, which is mounted on a shaft 13, which has a crank-arm 14 connected by a link 15 to the governor of the motor in the ordinary way, the parts being arranged so that when the re-roll lever is in the position shown, the note-sheet will be drawn forward over the tracker for playing, and so that when the re-roll lever 12 is thrown to the left, or to the position indicated in dotted lines, the motor will be connected to re-roll the perforated note-sheet.

A control opening 16 is arranged in the tracker so as to be covered by the margin of the note-sheet when the same is in operative position. This control opening is connected by a tube 17 to control the operation of a primary valve 18, which controls the operation of a pneumatic 19. This pneumatic 19 has an arm 20, extending through a hole in which is a rod 21 connected to a crankarm 22 on shaft 13.

A collar 23 is adjustably secured on the rod 21, whereby a movement of the movable leaf of the pneumatic to the right will push said rod 21 to the right. The rod 21 still can be moved to the right, independently of the pneumatic.

The note-sheet is provided with a notch or aperture 24, behind the perforations which are cut in the note-sheet for the piece of music. By this means, when the notesheet has been drawn over the tracker-bar as far as desired, and the piece of music been played, control opening 16 will be uncovered, as shown in Fig. 2, which will connect the electric motor so that the operation of the same will rewind the perforated note-- sheet.

Another control opening 25 is arranged below the opening 16 and in position also to be covered by the note-sheet when the latter is in normal position. This control opening connects by a tube 26 to control the operation of a primary valve 27 of a pneumatic'28 which has an arm 29, adjustably connected to which is a rod 30 having a pad 31 for engaging the other button 32 of the switch.

By this arrangement, when the note-sheet has been rewound, as shown in Fi 3, the control opening 25 will be uncovered, which will cause the pneumatic 28 to operate and snap the switch D so as throw the motor out of operation.

By the mechanism described, the operator puts the note-sheet in position and starts the instrument in operation by pushing in on the knob 11. The note-sheet will now run forward and the piece of music played.

When the piece of music has been played, the control opening lfi 'Wlll comeinto operation, the mechanism will be set" so that thenote-sheet will be rewound; and when the note-sheet has beensubstantially. reWound,g

the operation ofth'e electric motor willbe stopped. This Will leave the parts in position so that all-the operator has-to dois to take the re-rolled note sheet out. and putrinh a new music roll or spool for the next piece. The-details herein shown ands described may be greatly varied by 2]SkillBCliIIlBCh3l'llC 4 apertures andstwo openings. atnone end of said control apertures, said'tWo openings beh1g substantially in alinement with each ot 'e'r -ti'ans-versely to'--the directionof the row of eontrol apertures and adapted to be controlled by a note sheet having a notch therein near the edge'thereof adapted to uncover one of said openings and having its 'end"also shaped to uncover one of 'said openings during thetrayel of the sheet, means controlled by one of'said openings for stop;

ping the sheet, andmeansecontrolled by the others of saicL openings hfon re-rollihg: the sheet V lnitestimony whereof" I have hereunto set 'my hand, in, the presence oftWo subscribing;

Witnesses. I p 7 r p p HERBERT J. LAL-JOIEE Witnesses:

R; 1 W. LLAWYBENCE, WM; L.,KNEBEL.,

Uopiesoi this patentmay be obtained forefive cents each;e yflddressing,the!Commissioner. ofQI-Y'tents, 4

Washington, DQCA, V V

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