USRE13244E - powers - Google Patents

Description

T. B. POWERS & M. JJEWELL, AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED MAR-1.1905. RBISSllGd May .23, 1911. 1 3,244."

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T, POWERS& LM;. R;"JBWBLL. AUTOMATIC PLAYINGA'PIIARATUS 03 IMJUSIGAL' INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED n11, 1906.. Relssued May 23, 1911. 1

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T. B. POWERS & M. R. JEWELL. AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED MAB. 1, 1906'.

Reissued-May23,191 1. Q 13,244. I

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lfl mearewx herzfa run A 62w M9 a 16 T. B. POWERS & M. R. JEWELL. AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APILIGATIQH FILED MAB-.1, 1906.

Reissued May 23,1911.

T. B. POWERS & M. R. JEWELL. AUTOMATIC PLAYING'APPA-BATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1906. Relssued May 23, 1911.

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Reissued May 23, 1911.

APPLICATION FILED NARA, 1906.

10 S HEETS-SHEET 7.

T; B. "POWERS & M, R. JEWELL.

' AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1;1906.

1 3,244. 19 BHEETSSHEET 8.

Reissu ed. ma 23, 1911.

T. B. POWERS & M. R. JEWELL.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED MAR.1,1906.

Reissued May 23, 1911. Y 1 3,244.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR.1, 1906. RBISSllGd May 23, 1911.

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. York, and State of New York, and MAJOR to the key and pedal magnets, motor and UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

TIMOTHY BERNARD row'nns, or NEW YORK, N. Y., AND MAJOR ROMEYN aEwnLn-or crncneo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS, BY mnsnn ASSIGNMENTS, r0 THE TELELECTRIC COMPANY, or PITTSEIELD,.MASSACHUSETTS, A conromvrron or MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING A LFPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

13,244. Original No. 753,809, dated March 1, 1904,

' Serial No.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that we, TIMOTHY BERNARD Pownns, of New York' city, county of New ROMEYN JEWELL, now of Chicago,- county of Cook, and State of Illinois, and formerly of New York, city, county of New York, and State of New York; have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Playing Apparatus for Musical Instruments, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvenientsm automatic playing apparatus for musical 1n struments, being applicable for use in con nection with various forms of string or reed instruments and referring more particularly to electricallyoperated pianos, organs, and similar key board musical instruments.

The primary object of this invention is to provide means for automaticallyreproduc ing any m usical composltion with all the variations and combinations of tone, expression and feeling to give a faithful interpretation of the composers purposes and intention Another object isto so construct and arrange certain parts of the apparatus as to permit the operator to manually control the operation of various elements to vary the volume and expression ofthe music at will and to entirely cut out the expression controlling magnets and fingers, if desired.

A further object is to control the wind and rewind of the music sheet, both manually and automatically, and to also provide means for'automatically andmanually releasing the music sheet carriage from its operative position for permitting the removal and insertion of the music sheet cylinders.

To this end the invention consists in the combination, arrangement, and construction of the.parts of a music playing apparatus, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piano and our improved playing device connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of connecting the several electric circuits from a single source of electric energy fingers.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. R i d May 23, 1911. Serial NE 72,012. Application for reissue filed March 1, 1906.

circuit breaker, and expression controlling magnets. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively top playing apparatus. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged opposite end views, partly in section, of the upper portion of the device seen in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the swinging carriage and mechanism mounted thereon, showing also the adjacent portion of thesupporting frame and driving mechanism in section and the electrically operated means for controlling the position of the driving mechanism, the swlnglng frame and plan and frontelevation of the detached the parts mounted thereon being shown in dotted lines in its inoperative 'position.

Fig. 8 is a detail end view ofthe music sheet cylinder and the carriage holding and re leasing mechanism. Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken, respectively, on line A A, Fig. 4, and BB, Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a. top plan View of the motor, showing the automatic and manually operated controller therefor. views taken. respectively, on lines C U'an'd D D, Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a detail view-of' the electrically operated circuit breaker and the rocking lever for controlling the position of the driving mechanism' and bridge for the music sheet. Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line E E, Fig. 4. Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view of the eccentric bridge for themusic sheet, the contact bar vand one of the' contact fingers controlled by the music sheet.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the contact bar and thecontact sleeve of one of the Fig. 18 is a sectional'view, partly broken away, taken on line -F F, Fig, 7. Fig. 19 is a plan view of the music-sheet,

showing the rewinding roller and its inclosing case. Figs. QOan d 21 are respectively an end view and side elevation of one of the pedal controlling magnets. Figs. 22 and 23 are detail views of the manual means'for controlling the operation of the pedal magnets. Fig. 24 is a sectional view taken on line :2: m, Fig. 20. i

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding pai'tsin all theviews.

In the drawings, 1 represents a piano, having a key-board 2, a series of key operating magnets 3, pedals 4, and pedal controlling magnets 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Figs. 12 and 13 are sectional' '9, Fig. 1, represents a suitable inclosing any desired construction adapted to operate the keys independently of each other, being here illustrated as each consisting of double magnets having projecting pole pieces and oscillatory armatures 11 pivoted between the pole pieces and adapted to be rocked into alinement therewith when the magnets are energized. We preferably provide one of these magnets for each key of the musical instrument, the armature of each of which .is connected to the key by suitable rods 12 and 13, the rod 12 being secured to the lower face of the key by screw threads or other equivalent fastening means and provided with a substantially horizontal loop 14 and a bufier 15, having an aperture alined with the opening in the loop. The lower section 13 is preferably formed of wire passed through the loop and aperture of the buffer ahd having its upper end arranged in the form of a coilengaged with the bufier and its lower .end connected to the armature 11 by a suitable swivel connection '17 atone side of the, axis of the armature. As the magnet is energized the armature is rocked to operate the key of the instrument, said armature being returned to its normal positioneither by the key or by a suitable spring 18.

The upper section 12 of the connection between the key and its magnet being free to move upon the lower section, it is evident that said key maybe operated manually in the, usual manner without affecting the operation of the armature. These several'magnets are connected to the'battery 10 by'suitable feed wires 19' and return wires 20, the current being controlled by a suitable perforated music sheet and independent contact making and breaking devices hereinafter described.

The pedal controlling magnets are substantiallyidentical in construction, there-being one set of magnets for each'pedal, in this instance two, as seen in-Figs. 2, 20 and 21. These pedal'magnets 5 and. 6 are similar to the key controlling magnets 3, being each provided with projecting pole pieces, 7

and a rocking armature 21, adapted to be drawn into alinement with the pole pieces when the magnet is energized, the armature of each of the magnets being connected to its corresponding pedal in any desired manner not necessary to herein illustrate or describe for effecting the operation of its corresponding pedal for the purpose for which said dal is intended, one of the pedals being usually for a soft-expression and the other for a louder expression, the use of. these pedals bemg well known to those skilled in a the art.

It is sometimes desirable to hold either one or the other of these pedals for a limited time in its operative position, and we have therefore provided each of the pedal controlling devices with an additional magnet 7 and 8, having an independent armature 22, which is pivoted at 22 -and providedv with a shoulder 23, arranged to engage a shoulder 24 on the armature 21, and which is normally held away from its core by a spring 22, the shoulder 23 being beveled on one side, so'arran'ged relative to the shoulder 24 that when thearmature 21 is drawn t0 its operative position by energizing the magnet, as 5, the shoulder 24 rides upon the beveled face of the shoulder 23, thus depressing, its

armature against the action of the spring 22', which as soon as the shoulder 24 passes the shoulder 23 reacts upon the armature 22 and automatically interlocks the shoulder 23 with the shoulder 24, this latter shoulder 23, serving to hold the armature 21 and the pedal connected thereto in their operative positions until the magnets 7 8 are energized. This energizing of the magnets 7 8 operates the armature '22 and draws the shoulder 23 out of the path of the shoulder24, thereby permitting the return of the armature 21 to its normal position, this return movement of thearmature 21 being effected or facilitated byv a suitable spring 25.

The magnets '7 and 8 are usuallyconnected to the batterylO, being each connected in a circuit independent'of the circuit for the adjacent pedalvmagnet. The energizing of these pedal magnets 5 and 6 and the auxiliary magnets 7 and 8 is controlled by suitable contact devices connected in their respective circuits, the contact being controlled by the music sheet previously described. Suitable feed wires 26 and 27 connect the magnets 5, 6, 7, and 8 with their respective contact terminals, said magnets being connected to the return conductor 20 by suitable wires 28 and 29. Thus far we have de scribed the key and pedal operating magnets andthe circuits connected thereto, and we will now proceed to describev the means whichv control the operation of these mag nets or, 1n other words, the various'mechasheet 30 is preferably formed of thin sheet metal, as brass, which is less susceptible to expansion and contraction than paper, and is more easily handled without'liability of injury, and is provided witha series of per- 'forations 33, co-acting with the contact fingers 32 for controlling the operation of the said fingers being formed of conducting material and being each provided with a rotatable contactsleeve 36, of noncorro'sive material, adapted to contact with the bar 31, which is also formed of electric conducting, material. The bridge 34- is also formed or provided at one end with a flattened or cam face 68, the pur ose of which will be hereinafter describe The ends of the fingers 32, Figs. 9 and 16, adjacent to the contact bar3l are loosely connected to suitable rocking fingers 37,.

forming a continuation of the fingers and having trailing points 38, adapted to enter the apertures 33 in'the music sheet and to also enter the grooves 35 in the bridge 34, these grooves 35 being of sufiicient depth to insure the contact of the sleeves 36 with the contact bar 31 when the trailing points 38 are registered with the apertures 33. The fingers 32 and 37 are preferably insulated from each other, the adjacent ends of the fingers 37 being provided with plates 39, of insulating material, said plates being formed with sockets in their end faces for receiving the adjacent ends of the fingers 32. The fingers 32 preferably consist of spring wire tcnsioned toward the contact bar 31, and the fingers 37 are so connected to the fingers 32 that when the trailing points 38 register with the apertures in the music sheet and the corresponding grooves in the bridge 34 the sleeves36 automatically contact with the contact bar, thereby closing the key operating circuits through the contact bar and fingers 32, said contact bar and fingers .32 being connected in the key'operating circuit in the manner hereinafter described.

In order to automatically reproduce the musical composition to give the precise expression and feeling intended .by the composer we provide a plurality of rheostats, Figs. 2, 3, and 9, connected in the circuits between the contact fingers 32 and the key operating magnets 3 and consisting of suitable resistance coils 40 and contact terminals 41, the terminals 41 preferably forming a part of the contact fingers 32 and normally contacting by their own' spring tension with the helices of the coils 40. The coils 40 are preferably mounted upon a rocking frame 42, which ispivoted at 43 and is actuated by suitable electric means, presently described for varying the position of the coils relative to the contact terminals 41.v We usually provide one of these coils for each ofthe key-operating magnets, the coil for each magnet being connected to its respective feed wire 19 in such manner that when the coil is moved in one direction the resist-. ance through the feed wire 19 is increased and-when moved in the other direction the resistance is diminished.

The electric means, Figs. 2, 4, and 9, for shlftmg the position of the resistance coils relative to the contact terminals 41. isso varying the resistance or for immedi-' ately producing any degree of resistance which may. be desired. This variation in the resistance may be effected by one or more magnets cooperating with one or more electric conducting fingers adapted to contact with the bar 31 and controlled by perforations provided in the music sheet. For the purpose of clearly illustrating'the operation of this resistance controlling device wehave shown a series of magnets 44, 45, 46, and

47, each of which magnets operates to shift the frame 42 to a certain predetermined position. thereby moving the coils 40 to certain predetermined positions with relation to the fingers 32 and contact terminals 41.

These resistance controlling magnets are each connected in an independentcircuit to suitable conducting fingers 44, 45, 46', and

47, Fig. 2, which are similar to the fingers 32, being provided with contact sleeves 36 and extensions 37, the fingers 44', 45, 46',

and 47 being connected by suitable co'nductors 48 to their respective magnets and forming the feed wires to said magnets from the main conductor 31, the only difference bet-ween these latter fingers and the fingers 32 being that they are not provided with any contact terminals and have no connection with the resistance coils.

In Fig. 2 we have shown each of the'magnets 44, 45, 46, and .47 as connected to the return wire. 20 by return conductors 62 and as provided with suitable pole pieces and oscillatory armatures movable between the respective pole pieces,-said armatures being similar in construction to those described for operating the keys and pedals and being limited in their rocking movement by shoulders 42, provided on a yoke 42" and arranged to engage projections 43' upon the armaturcs of the magnets 45 and 46, as seen in Fig. 9.

The music sheet 30, Figs. 2 and 19, is pro vided with apertures 50 for controlling the contact of the fingers 44, 45', 4G and 47 with the bar 31, one of the trailingpoints 38 of one of the fingers 44', etc., being shown in Fig. 2 asregistered with one of the apertures 50 and the armature of its corresponding magnet being shownas moved to its operative position for shifting the resistance coils 'so thatno matter which armature may 'be' moved they all maintain substantially the same relative position to each other; and the connections of the several armatures are such that when the magnet'44 is energized the resistance coils will be moved to the position of greatest resistance, when the magnet is energized the coils will be shifted to slightly reduce the resistance, the magnet 46 when energized will operate to still further reduce the resistance, and when the magnet 47 is energized it will move the rocking frame 42 to cut out practicall all the resistance and permit a'eurrent 0 full potential to be suppliedto the key operating magnets.

The electrical contact devices, Fig. 2, for controlling the operation of the pedal magnets 5, 6, 7 and 8, preferably consist of fingers 51, 52, and 53, which are identical in construction with the fingers for the expression controlling magnets, being preferably provided with non-corrosive contact sleeves 36, adapted to contact with, the bar, 31, and having the extensions 37 and controlling points 38, these controlling point-s being adapted to enter apertures 54 in the musicsheet, whereby the circuit is closed .at the proper time through the contact bar 31, fin-' gers 51, 52 and 53, and pedal operating magnets 5, 6, 7 and 8.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that when one of the erforations 54 is registered with one i o the trailing points-as, for instance, thatof the finger 51the contact sleeve 36 of said finger automatically contacts with the bar 31, thereby closing the circuit through the magnet 5 to energize the magnet and operate its armature 21, which in turn operates the pedal connected thereto. At the same time the shoulder 24 on said armature automatically engages the shoulder 23 of the armature 22 of the magnet 7, which holds the armature 21 in operative position until another one of the apertures 54 registers with the trailing point of the finger 53 connected in the circuit of the electromagnet 7, whereupon the circuit through said magnet is closed and its armature is actuated to withdraw the shoulder 23 from engagement with the shoulder 24, whereby the armature 21 and the pedal to-which it is connected are released and the armature then automatically returns to its normal position either by means of the pedal connected thereto or the spring 25. In like manner the magnets .6 and 8 control the op It is desirable in eration of the other edal connected thereto, it being understoo that any number of pedals-ma be used and similarly connected in an in ependent' circuit adapted to be closed. by a suitable perforation in the musicsheet.

this class of playing ap-' paratus toprovide means for automatically breaking the circuit through the several key and pedal operating magnets and also through the expression controlling magnets when the music sheet approaches the end of the musical composition, and we therefore provide, Figs. 2, 5 and 14, a suitable circuit breaker 55, which is connected in the key, pedal, and expression controlling circuits between the contact bar'31 and the source of electric energy 10. This circuit breaker preferably consists of suitable terminals,

which are normally in contact with each other vduring the, operation of the apparatus for producing music, one of the terminals being usually spring tensioned to separate from the other terminal automatically and held in contact with said other terminal by the-arm 66 of a bridge operating lever 64 which isheld in the position shown in Fig. 5 by a suitable catch 56, in this instance consisting of .an armature of an electromagnet 57, the armature being so arrangedthat when the magnet is energized the armature is moved to release the lever 64 and the spring contact terminal of the circuit. breaker 55, whereupon said movable contact terminal automatically separates from the-other terminal and breaks the circuit through the key, pedal, and expression controlling magnets. The means for energizing this magnet 57 consists of a contact finger '58, Fig. 2, which is substantially identical, in construction with the finger 44, being preferably provided with a non-corroa trailing point 38, said trailing having) point eing adapted to register with a suitable aperture 59 in the music sheet, this aperture being usually at the end of the composition and the last to register with any of the trailingpoints, and when said aperture is registered with its trailing point 38 the circuit is closed through the magnet 57 and operates the armature 56 for the purpose above described, it being understood that one of the terminals of the circuit breaking device "is connected to one pole of the battery 10 by a suitable feed wire 60,

the other terminal being connected to the contact bar 31 by a conductor 61.

It is sometimes desirable to break the circuit through the several key, pedal, and 'expression controlling magnets during the rendering 'of themusical composition by the music sheet, and we therefore provide, manually operated means consisting of a push rod 63, Figs. 4, 5 and 14, which is movably withdrawn entirely, if

mounted upon the bridge operating member 64 and adapted to engage the armature 56 for operating the same to effect the release of the movable terminal, of the circuit breaker This armature 56 also serves to control the position of the winding and rewinding mechanism for the musicsheet, previously mentioned, through the medium. of the bridge 34, which is eccentrically pivoted at its opposite ends in a swing frame 65, hereinafter described.

Secured to one end of the bridge 34, Figs. 5 and 7, is the operating member 64, consisting of a lever having. an arm 66, normally engaged withv the armature 56 in such manner that when the armature is drawn toward the magnet 57 the bridge 34 is free to rock upon its eccentric pivots, the rocking movement being facilitated by a spring 67, (see Figs. 7 and 15) which is secured at one end to the end wall 73 of the frame 85 and has its other end tensioned against the cam face 68 formed on the bridge, said spring being extended beyond the bridge and engaged with a stud 70, provided on a rock arm 71, which in turn is centrally pivoted'at .72 to the end wall 73, of the supporting frame 85. ccntrically pivoting the bridge 34 is to provide means whereby when the music sheet is placed in position upon its feeding rolls, the bridge by being manually rocked by the lever 64 may be elevated to raise the music sheet into position tocoact with the fingers 37 and to tension the music sheet and spring contact fingers during the operat1on of the apparatus for producing music,

it being understood that the bridge is in its highest osition during such operation and is held in this position by theengagement of-the arm 66 with the armature 56.

The contact bar 31, Figs. 9 and 10, is movable transversely of theseveral contact fingers and music sheet being adapted to be desired, for the purpose of scouring or polishing its contact surface and insurlng a positive electrical contact with the contact part of fingers of the several key, pedal, and expression controlling circuits. This contact bar is preferably mounted in a suitable metal guide or sleeve, 75 of conducting material, connected in the key operatin opening 76, hroughwhich the contact rib or surface 78 of the contact bar 31 projects, the inner end, of the contact bar being slightly tapered and its outer end being proed with a hand piece 79, whereby the contact bar 31 may bereadily withdrawn or inserted into the guide sleeve 75, the inner elevate any of the contact fingers during the insertion of the bar'31 without'liability of injuring or binding thefingers. The sleeve is in electrical contact with the bar 31 and The purpose of ecclrcuit, having a lengthwiseis preferably mounted at itsopposite ends in suitable bearings 80, Fig. 10, which are elec trically connected to the'sleeve and are adjustable vertically by means of suitable adjusting screws 81 and springs 82, the adjust ing, screws 81 being in electrical connection with the bar 31 through the bearings 80 and sleeve 75 and being mounted in insulating supports 83, one of the screws 81 being electrically connected by a. wire 81' to the circuit breaker 55. This sliding contact bar is. an important feature of our invention, having a sliding electrical contact with the sleeve 75, and it is evident that by moving the same back and forth under the several contact points or sleeves 36 the contact surfaces, are thereby cleaned and brightened, thus insuring a more perfect electrical contact with said sleeves and fingers.

The swing frame or carrier 65, Fig. 7, is adapted to support the music sheet and its supporting rollers and bridge, and is pref erably arranged to swing outwardly in a substantially horizontal plane, being pivoted at 84 to a suitable supporting base 85 and adapted to be forced outwardly to its inoperative position by a spring 86. The opposite end walls of the frame 65 are provided with front bearings 87 and 88 and rear bearings 89 and 90, these bearings being arranged in a planebeneath and at the front and rear sides of the bridge 34. The front bearings 87 and 88 are adapted to support a revolving roller 91 to which the music sheet is secured, the rear bearings 89' and being adapted to support a revolving feed roller 92. J ournaled in the bearings 87 is a hollow bushing 93, having one end providedwith .a gear 94: and its inner end formed with socket 95 and lengthwise grooves96, the adjacent end of the roller '91 being provided with a trunnion 97 having ribs or shoulders 98, adapted to interlock with the grooves96, said grooves being of sufficient length "to permit the roller to be moved endwise against the action of a suitable spring 99, which is interposed between the end face of the trunnion 97 and the end volve in the socket independently. of the bushing 100. This roller 91, Figs. 8 and 9, is adapted-V to receive and support the music r I sheet, which is wound thereon and secured tapering end of said contact bar serving to' thereto at one'end by a suitable rod 10 1, ex

;tending lengthwise of the roller within a walls 107 and having a lengthwise opening or slot 108 extending through the cylindrispace is left between the inner end of the hollow bushing 93 and the adjacentend of the casing or roller 91 to permit the casing and roller to be moved endwise against the action of thespring 99 for withdrawing the trunnion 103 from the socket 101, whereupon said casing maybe moved outwardly and endwis'e for withdrawing the trunnion 97.

' from the socket 96, the purpose of this being to permit the music holding case or cylinder and roller to be removed and a new music.

sheet and its holder inserted when desired.

Pivoted to the supporting frame 85 at 111 is a catch arm 112, Fig. 8, having a shoulder 113, adapted to interlock with a shoulder 114, provided on the carriage 65. This catch arm 112 serves to automatically en+ gage and normally hold the swing frame in its opeartive or closed position, and is forced into operative position by a suitable spring 114'. The arm 112 is provided also with a cam face 5, adapted to be engaged by the arm 102 w en actuated by the movement of the cy linder 106 upon the rewind of the music sheet, or the said arm' 112 may be operated manually, being provided with'a laterally extending finger piece 116. Secured to the arm 112 is a projecting stud 117, which is arranged to engage the armature56 for simultaneously rocking the same when the catch arm 112 is elevated or moved to its inoperative position, thereby serving to-operate the circuit breaker mechanically to cut out the key, pedal, and expression controlling circuits when the carriage is released.

The roller 92, Figs; 7 and 9, is journaled in the bearings 89 and 90 and is provided with flanges 118,"having suitable cut-outs 55 119 and spring catches 120, the intermediate portion of the roller being provided with a lengthwise groove 121, having an enlargement 122, the groove and recess being adapted to receive the free end of the music sheet and a suitable finger ring or loop 123 secured thereto. The free end ofthe musilc sheet is' provided with a lengthwise bar 30', Fig. 9, around which the music sheet is tolded, said bar being extended beyond the op posite edges of the music sheet to form proections 124, adapted to engage the notches The bushing [in the end walls 107 of thc'eylinder 106 when the music sheet is rewound upon the roller 91. sheet 30 is adapted to rest in the recess or groove 121, the projecting ends 124 of'the bar 30" being adapted to enter the cut-outs 119, and to be held in position by the springs '120 in such manner that as the music sheet is unwound from the roller 92 the projecti'ons 124 will automatically withdraw from the recess 119 out-of engagement with the spring catches 120.

The driving mechanism, Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 7, for rotating the rollers 92 and 91 in reverse directions preferably consists of gears The advance end of the music 129 and 130, additional gears 131 and 132,

and a pulley 133, actuated by a suitable motor 134, the gears 129 and 130 being mounted upon a spindle 135 on the rock arm 71 at oneside of its pivot 72, and the gears 131 and 132 and the pulley 133 being mounted upon a spindle 130 on the arm 71 at the opposite side of its pivot, the gears 130 and 131 being in mesh with each other, and the gear 129 being adapted to mesh with a gear 94 secured to the roller 92, when. the arm 71 is rocked in one direction, and the gear 132 being adapted to mesh with the gear 94 on the roller 91' when the arm is rocked in the opposite direction,'the' operation of the rock' arm 71 being controlled, as previously described,.by the spring 07 and the operatingmember 64 for the bridge 34. A suitable brake 137, Fig. 7, engages the end face of the roller 92 and serves to prevent any slack in the music sheet during the process of rewinding the same or when the carriage is released. It is evident from the foregoing description that when the driving mechanism is connected to the roller 92 the music sheet' will be wound thereon until antomatically released by withdrawing the armature 56 from engagement with'the arm 60, said armature being withdrawn either by the magnet or by means of the push rod 63, whereupon the driving mechanism is automatically shifted to actuate the roller 91 in the reverse direction for .rewinding the music sheet thereon. lVhen' the music sheet is unwound from the roller 92 and the shoulders 124 engage the casing 106, said casing is partially rotated, thereby rocking the arm 102 and elevating the arm 112, which releases the carriage, -and,'the carriage is then automatically swung outwardly by the spring 86 and disconnects the rollers 91 and '92 from the driving mechanism, as illusconnected thereto being returned to their normal position by a suitable spring 138.

The motor134 is connected to the source of electric energy 10, the motor and other circuits previously described being provided with a suitable switch 139, which is adapted to be automatically opened by the carriage trated in Fig. 7, the arm 102 and easing when the same is released, said switch being provided with a shoulder 140, adapted to interlock with the adjacent portion of the swing frame 65, and when said frame is swung outwardly the switch is released and forced to its inoperative or open position by a suitable spring 141, Figs. 5 and9.

The shaft of the motor 134, Figs. 11, 12 and 13, is provided with a suitable governor or speed regulator consisting of centrifugally operated Weights 145, a spring actuated contact arm 146, and a sliding contact plate 147 in electrical contact with the finger 146. This plate 147 is arranged upon an insulating bar 148, carried by an oscillatory bar 149, which is adapted to be moved manually along the contact -finger 146 by a suitable hand lever 150 and a link 151 connecting said hand lever with the arm 149. It is thus evident that the speed of the motor may be regulated either automatically or by the hand piece 150. The contact finger 146 is arranged to oscillate along the plate 147,

being forced into engagement witha sleeve 152 by asuitable spring 153,'said sleeve 152 being actuated by a centrifugal movement This contact plate 147 of the weights 145. and 'the finger 146 are connected in the motor circuit in any suitable manner, and it is evident that when the finger 146 is moved out of contact with the plate'l47, or

vice versa, sothatthe finger is on cont-act with the insulating bar 148, the circuit will to return to contact with the plate 147.

It is sometimes desirable to cutout the expression-controlling magnets, and we therefore provide manually-operated means, Figs. 3, 4 and 9, consisting of a pull-rod 157, having a cam-face 158, adapted to ride upon a shoulder 159 of the supportingframe of theapparatus, said pull-rod bei'ng provided with an arm 160, adapted to engage the fingers 44, 45', 46', and 47', which are in electrical connection with said magnets 44, 45, 46, 47 for elevating said fingers and preventing their automatic operation or control by the music-sheet. is also desirable at times tomanually operate the resistance-cons, and we therefore provide means consisting of a handpiece 162,

Figs. 3 and 4, which is connected to the rocking frame 42 by a suitable link In order to enable the operator to control theoperation of thepedals from a position remote from the instrument, we pro vide spring-conductors 3'1 and terminals 51, 52', and 8, the spring-conductors 31 being connected to the source of electric energy, as the battery 10, by the wire 60, and the terminals 51' and 52. being connected, respectively, to the magnets 5 and 6 by wires 26'. (Shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2). The terminals 8' and 51' are secured to the opposite faces of a suitable insulating piece (seen in F ig.'23) in such manner as to insulate them from each other, the terminals- 8 being connected to the release- pedal magnets 8 and 7 by wires 27 and 27, Fig. 2, said wire 27 being shown by dotted lines in said figure. These terminals 51 and 8' incline from a vertical position in such manner that the contact-face'of the terminal 51 lies in the path of the free end of the adjacent conductor 31' as the same is depressed by its push-button, and by, the con tinued depression of said conductor 31' it normally tends to move in a vertical plane and has a sliding contact with said terminal and closes-the circuit through one of the magnets, as 5, which is connected thereto by one ofthe wires 26. This energizes the magnet 5 and rocks its armature 21 to op- 'erate the pedal connected thereto, said armaturebeing automatically locked in this position' by the shoulder23 engaging the arm 24. If it is desired that the pedal remain in operative position, the pressure onthe push-button is released, and the spring-conductor 31 is permitted to return by its own tension to its normal position. In likemanner the other pedal is operated byclosing the circuit through the terminal 52 and the adjacent springconductor 31. If, however, it is desired to release eitherone of the pedals after the same has been forced to and held in its operativeposition, as just described, the downward movement of the terminal 31- along the inclined face of the terminal 51 is continued, which causes the said spring-conductor to spring laterally,

against its own, tension, and as-soon as said spring-conductor is sufiiciently depressed by its push-button beneath the lower end of the terminal 51", it instantly springs laterallyand upwardly in the opposite direction under and against the similarly-inclined facc'of said terminal. 8', it being understood that the pressure on the push-button is released as soon as the spring-conductorleaves the lowerv end of the terminal 51..

AS this spring conductor continues to move upwardly by its {own tension in sliding con tact with the terminal 8' the circuit is closed through the release- magnets 7 and 8, which are then energized and operate their arma tnres to draw the shoulders 23 out of holding engagement with the arms 24, where. upon the armatures 21 are released and allowed to return to their normal positions.

In the operation of our invention the music-sheet. holder or cylinder is placed in position upon the carriage and the end of the music-sheet is connected with the roller 92. The carriage is then swung to its operative position, and the lever 64 is rocked to move the bridge 34 to its operative position and connect the-driving mechanism which automatically rocks, the casing and member of the circuit breaker 55 to close the magnet circuits at this point, and is then held against return movement by the armature 56., The switch 139 is then operated to close the circuit forthe motor and also to close the connection. to the contactbar 31, the motor serving to operate the .music-sheet mechanism for winding the music-sheet upon the roller 92. As the musicsheet reaches the end of the musical componism into engagement with the gear 94 of the roller 91, which rewinds the music-sheet thereon until the shoulders 124 disengage from the roller 92 and engage with the notches in the end walls of the casing 106,

the arm 102 and thereby elevates the loclv ing member out of the path of the shoulder 114 of the swinging carriage, whereupon said carriage is automatically forced out- -wardly by the spring 86, thus disconnecting the rollers from the driving mechanism and releasing the switch 139 which is then automatically operated to open the motor-cir cuit and stop the motor.

The operation of our invention will now be readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, and it will be noted that considerable change may be made in the detail construction and arrangement of the component parts of our improved playing apparatus without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv 1. The' 'c0mbination with an electricallyoperated key of a musical instrument, of a contact-finger and anon-rotating metal guide connected in the key-operating circuit, an electric conductor movable in said guide transversely of the finger in electrical contact with the guide, andmeans for making and breaking the contact between the finger and said conductor.

2. In an electrically-operated musical instrument, the combination of a series of contact-fingers, and a non-rotating metal sleeve,

the fingers and sleeve being connected in the 1 operating-circuit and a bar in electrical connection with the sleeve movable therein transversely of the fingers.

On the release of the lever 3. In an electrically-operated musical instrument, the combination of a series of contact-fingers, and a non-rotating sleeve, the finger-sand sleevebeing connected in the operating circuit and a conductor movable transversely of the fingers in contact with the sleeve, and means for controlling the contact between'the fingers and conductor.

4. The combination with a series of electrically-operated keys of a musical'instrument, of a non-rotating metal uide and fingers, electrically connected in the key-operating circuits, a metal bar movable endwise in the guide transversely of the fingers in electrical contact with the guide, and a perforated music-sheet for controlling the contact between the bar and fingers.

5. The combination with electrically-op erated keys of a musical instrun1ent,"of a series of contact-fingers operating in connection with a muslc-sheet, and a barremovable 'gendwise and having contact with the fingers,.a guide for the bar, said fingers and bar being connected in the key-opera'ting circuits. 7

6. The combination with a series of contact-fingers and a non-rotating sleeve of conducting material connected in circuit with a series of electrically-operated keys of a musical instrument, of a metal bar in contact with the sleeve, a music-sheet controllin the contact of the fingers with the bar, said bar being movable transversely of the movement of the music-sheet in contact with the sleeve.

7. A contact device for, electrically-operated musical instruments consisting of a guide and a sliding contact bar or rod guidedv thereon, and a finger adapted'to contact with the bar.

8. A contact device for electrically-operated musical instruments consisting of an open-sided sleeve, a, sliding contact-bar guided in the sleeve and projecting through its opening, and a finger adapted to contact with said projecting portion of the bar. 9. A contact device for electrically-operated musical instruments consisting of a slidable contact-bar, and a finger having a non corrosive sleeve rotatable on the finger and adapted to contact with the bar.

10. A contact device for electrically-operated musical instruments consisting of an open-sided sleeve, a sliding contact-bar- I guided in the sleeve and projecting through its opening,

and a'finger having a nonco'rros'ive S vs adapted to contact with the projecting portion of the bar. y

11. A contact device for electrically-operated musical instruments consisting of a guidc-rod and a sliding contact bar or rod guided thereon, and a nge'r having anoncorrosive sleeve adapted to contact with the bar.

12. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electrically-operated key, an expression-controlling device comprising a resistance-coil and contact member both connected in the key-operating circuit, one of the parts being movable upon the other, in combination with a conductor,

a music-sheet adapted to make and break cont-act between the member and conductor, and three or more independently controlled electric circuits each having a device connected therein for shifting the movable part of the expression controlling, device to acertain predetermined position. a

13. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an-electrically-op 'erated key, an expression-controlling device comprising a resistance-coil and a contact member both connected in the key-operating circuit, a conductor, a music-sheet 'to make and break contact between the member and conductor, and three or more electrically-operated devices controlled by the music-sheet for shifting one of the parts of the expression controlling device relatively to the other to vary the degree of resistance in the operating-circuit, each such electrically operated device being adapted to shift such part to acertain predetermined sition.

position.

14; In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electrically-operated key, an expression-controlling device comprising a resistance-coil and a contact member both connected in the key-operating circuit, the coil being movable relatively to the contact member, a conductor, a musicsheet tomake and break contact between the member and conductor, and three or more electrically-operated devices connected in independently controlled circuits for shifting the position of the coil, each of such electrically operated devices being adapted to shift the coil to a 15. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with a key, of an electric working circuit,

and a key-operating magnet connected therein, contact members connected in said circuit, the contact being controlled by a musicsheet, a resistance-c011 having a sliding contact with one of said members, three or more electric circuits having separate contact members adapted to engage the other of the former members and controlled by the music-sheet, and separate devicesconnected in the latter circuits. for shifting the position of the coil, each ofvsuch devices being adapted to shift the coil to a certain predetermined position.

16. In .Q-an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, a key-working circuit, a contact-bar and a finger connected insaid circuit, .a music-sheet for controlling the contact between said bar and finger, a refor musical instruments,

certain predetermined po-v sistance-coil .connected in said circuit, and having a sliding contact with the finger, a second electric circuit having a finger connected therein adapted to contact with the bar, said contact being controlled by the music-sheet, and an electrically-operated device connected in the second circuit and adapted to shift thecoil relatively to the contact-finger to a certain predetermined position for the purpose'described.

. 17. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electric kcy-opcrating circuit, a contact-bar and a finger connected insaid circuit, and adapted to contact with each other, a music-sheet for controlling the said contact,a resistance-coil also connected in said circuit and having a sliding contact with the finger, three or more circuits each having a finger adapted to contact with said bar, the contact being controlled by the music-sheet, three or more independent -electrically-operated devices connected in said circuits, each of said devices being connected to shift the coil to a certain predetermined position.

18. In an automatic playing apparatus an electric key-operating circuit, a contact-bar and a finger connected in said circuit and adapted to contact with each other, a music-sheet for controlling the said contact, a resistance-coil also connected in said circuit and having a sliding contact with the finger, three or more independently controlled electric circuits having electricallyoperated devices sepa .rately connected therein and connections,

whereby eachof such devices shifts the coil to'a certain predetermined position.

19. In an automatic playing. apparatus for musical instruments, a plurality of keyworking electric circuits, a contact-bar connected in and common to all of the circuits,

"a contact-finger connected .in each circuit and adapted to contact with the bar, the music-sheet operating to control said contact, a resistance-coil connected in each of the circuits and having a sliding contact .with its respective finger, a second series of electric circuits, an electromagnet connected in each of the latter circuits and provided with an'armature, said armatures being mechanically connected to each other and each operating to shift the coils to a certain predetermined position, whereby by operation of said armatures successively the coils may be shifted step by step in opposite directions.

for musical instruments, an electric ke operating device, a circuit therefor having a contact bar and a finger connected therein, a moving stencil to control the contact for producing music, a resistance coil connected in said circuit and having a sliding contact with thelfinger, 'three or more independently 20. In an automatic playing apparatus controlled electric circuits, and an electrically operated device connected in each of said independently controlled circuits for shifting the position of the coil, each of such devices being adapted to shift the coil to a certain predetermined position.

'21. In an automatic playing. apparatus for musical instruments, an electric working circuit, a finger and a contact-bar'connected in said circuit, a movin stencil .to control the contact between sai bar and finger, a

' rockin support, a resistance-coil connected in sai electric circuit and mounted on the support and having a sliding contact with the finger, and a series of electrically-operated devices controlled by the stencil to shift the position of the coil, each of said electrically operated devices being adapted to shift the coil to a certain predetermined position. a 1 I 22. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electrically-operated key, a contact-finger and a non-rotatable bar connected in the key-operating circuit, said bar being movable transversely of the finger, aresistance-coil connected in said circuit and having a slidingv contact with the finger, independently controlled electric circuits having devices connected therein to shift the each of which is a apted to shift the coil to a certain predetermined position, and a moving stencil for controllin the contact between the finger andbar an operating to open and close the last mentioned circuits.

' 23. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, a key-operating electric circuit, a contact-bar and a finger connected to the circuit, a music-sheet operating to control the contact, a resistance-coil connected in the electric. circuit and having a'sliding contact with the finger, additional electric circuits, additional fingers connected in the latter circuits and adapted to contact with said bar, the contact being controlled bv' the music-sheet, and three or more electrically-0 rated devices connected in the additiona circuits and having mechanically-connected armatures connected to move the coil, each of such devices being adapted to move the coil to a certain predetermined position.

24. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, an electric circuit necte therein, contacting members connected m-said clrcult, a music-sheet and a trailpoint coacting therewith and insulated from one of the contact members to move said member into and out of contact with the other member, a resistance-coil connected in the key-working circuit and having a sliding contact with one of the contact members, fingers connected therein to contact with one osition of the coil and a key-operating electromagnet' con additional circuits having of said members, said latter contact being controlled by the music-sheet, and three or more electrically-operated devices connected in said circuits and each adapted to shift the resistance coil to a certain predetermined position.

25. In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, a key-working circuit having a finger and a contact-bar con nected therein, a.music-sheetand means interposed between the musicsheet and finger' and insulated therefrom whereby the contact is controlled by the music-sheet, a rockin support carryin a resistance-coil connecte in the key-wor ing circuit and having a sliding contact with the finger, additional electric circuits having fingers connected therein to contact with said bar, the contact of the latter fingers being controlled by the music-sheet, and three or more electric devices connected in the additional circuits and each adapted to shift the support to a certain predetermined position.

26, In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with a plurality of key-operating electric circuits, each having a contact-finger connected therein, of a contact-bar common to all of the fingers, said bar having a sliding endwise movement transversely of the 'fingers whereby some of the fingers may be cut out of contact with the bar without breaking contact with the other fingers, and a music-sheet for controlling the contact of the fingers with the bar.

27. In anautomatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with akey-operating electric circuit, having a plurality of fingers, a guide adjustable relatively to the fingers,-and a contact-bar mounted in the guide and movable transversely of the fingers, said bar being connectedin the ke -operating circuit, and the contact of the ngers with said bar being controlled by a music-sheet.

28, In an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination with the swinging carriage-for, the musicsheet, of a detent for the carriage, means to feed the sheet in one direction, additional means to feed the sheet in the reverse direction, a second .detent holding one of said means in operative position, and electricallyoperated means controlled by the music-Y sheet to release the latter detent. without releasin the carriage. v

\29. u an automatic playing apparatus for musical instruments, winding and re-v winding rollers for the music-sheet, a swinging carriage for the rollers, driving mechanism independent of the carriage for rotat-' ing the winding-roller in one direction, and

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