US1233943A - Automatic or self-playing piano. - Google Patents

Description

R. i. WLCOX.

AUTOMATIC 0R SELF PLAYING PIANO.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I9, 1914. 1,233,943. Patented July 17', 19W.

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my, /ZeM( R. l. wlLcox. l AUTOMATIC OR SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATLON FILED SEPT. T91 i914. 1,233,943. Patemd July 17, 19147.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. I. WILCOX.

.AUTOMATIC 0R SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED SE-PT. I9, I9I4. I 1,238,943. Patented July 17, 1917.

: l l H llll .IIL

R. I. WILCOX. AUTOMATIC oR.sELF PLAYING PIANO.

` APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I9, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Witness Patented July 17, 1917.

RUSSELL I. WIYLCOX, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

AUTQMA'IIC OR SELF-PLAYING PIANO.

Application led September 19, 1914.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RUSSELL I. WILCOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic or Self-Playing Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to automatic or self playing pianos and especially to that type of such instruments in which the action is operated pneumatically, in accordance with a perforated music sheet. The object of the present invention is primarily to enable any one of a plurality of selections on a music sheet to be played by simply setting an indicator. It is particularly designed for use in coin-controlled pianos installed in public places, but is not limited to such use, being equally advantageous for house pianos. By means of my invention a very large repertoire can be provided for. The several pieces of music are either per-` forated in series in a single continuous sheet of paper, or separate music rolls are fastened together so as to constitute one continuous roll equal in length to the combined lengths of the individual rolls or sheets. The mechanism which I have devised operates to run this roll through in one direction or the other at a rapid rate of speed until the selected piece of music is reached, when the winding mechanism slows down to the proper speed for playing, and stops at the end of the piece. The mechanism may be set, however, so that the music sheet will be moved at playing speed and the series of selections played through from end to end.

The present invention embodies improvements on the mechanism of my Patent No. 1,110,172, dated Sept. 8, 1914. These 1mprovements relate, more particularly, to the controlling mechanism by which any selection of the music roll or sheet may be played, such mechanism being adapted to insure absolute reliability of the selective action at all times so that when the mechanism is set to play a given one of the various selections of the music sheet. the playing of that particular selection is insured without possibility of mistake, whereby the automatic action of the mechanism inY wind-` Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

serial No. 862,492.

ing and re-winding the music sheet and arranging it for the playing of the desired selection is guaranteed.

The present invention also embodies improvements in the provision of emergency automatic kick-oli and re-wind means which becomes active when the music sheet has been wound or unwound, for instance, when the entire repertoire of selectionshasbeen played 1n rotation, this mechanism being in the nature of auxiliary means adapted to act as a substitute for the kick-ofi' and re-wind mechanism ordinarily employed when the indiator is set to play a particular selection as such normally-used kick-ofi and re-wind mechanisms are rendered inoperative when the entire repertoire is played.

In the present invention, I may provide a pneumatic means for switching the suction from the main or playing wind chest to the auxiliary valve chest used in controlling the automatic mechanism of the present invention when the music sheet is rewinding in either direction so that the full eiiect of the suction on the controlling valve chest will be obtained as it will not then be needed by the wind chest which controls t ie playing action of the piano.

In the present application, I have shown the mechanism disclosed `in my Patent No. 1,110,172 dated Sept. S, 1914i` to illustrate the cooperation of the present improvements therewith. llVhile the present improvements enter into operative combinations with the mechanism of my patent above mentioned, they also constitute improvements in themselves and in iis broadest aspect, therefore, the present invention is not limited to its combination with the re-wind, kick-ofi and allied mechanisms of my patent as it is possible that other mechanisms could be substituted tor those ot my patent in carrying` out the present improvements in an operative automatic piano player.

rlie embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings and hereinafter described is to be considered as illustrative, rather than restrictive, of the scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, showing the complete system;

Fig. 2, a front view of the controller;

Fig. 3, a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 4, a side elevation ofthe direction valve mechanism;

Fig. 5, a detail face view of the direction valve;

Fig. 6, a similar view of the direction valve disk;

Fig. 7, a view of the inner face of the automatic ratchet disk;

Fig. 8, a similar view of the inner face of the manually controlled disk;

Figs. 9 and 10, views of the opposite faces of the stationary or distributing disk of the controller;

Fig. 11, an end elevation of the emergency kickbff mechanism;

Fig. 12, a front view of a modified controller;

Fig. 13, a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 14, a view of a section of a music sheet, showing the controlling slots or openings, and

Fig. 15, a cross section of the assembled controlling device of Figs. 7 to 10.

Machines of this kind are now usually driven by an electric motor, whose starting is effected by dropping a coin into a suitable receptacle. As this is well understood, and as the specific mechanism to be employed for this purpose forms no part of my invention, I have omitted it from the drawings. It will be assumed, however, that some form Y of coin-controlled actuating motor is connected to the upright shaft 1, on which are secured the two bevel gears 2, 3, meshing respectively with similar gears 4, 5, on the parallel horizontal shafts 6, 7 and rotating them in opposite directions. By means of suitable clutches these last mentioned shafts can be coupled to the spindles of two winding drums 8, 9, though not to both at the same time. The multiple music sheet above mentioned is wound on these .two drums, and by throwing in one or the other of the clutches this sheet can be wound forward or backward as the case may be until the desired piece of music is reached.

Interposed between the spindles of the drums and the shafts 6, 7, are chuck shafts 10, 11, which are journaled in the outer ends of brackets 12, 13, projecting from the upright frame 14 in which the drums are carried. The chuck shafts extend through this frame and carry chucks 15, 16 in which are engaged the ends of the spindles of the drums 8 and 9. A knurled rim 16 on each chuck enables the drums to be turned by hand when desired.

The preferred form of clutch which I employ to connect the driving shafts 6, 7 with the chuck shafts 10, 11, is shown in Fig. 1.

Rigidly. secured on each driving shaft is a hub 17 The one on shaft 6 has a flange 18 for a purpose hereinafter described. In

this hub are twoy or more longitudinal holes through which slide pins 19 which are riveted' to a collar 20 which is vfree to slide on the shaft. The outer end of the chuck shaft enters a central hole in the hub 17 and is journaled therein. A collar 21 is secured to the chuck shaft and is provided with lugs 22 on the side toward the hub 17. When the collar 20 is slid to the left (in Fig. 1) the pins interlock with the lugs and cause the rotation of the driving shaft to be imparted to the chuck shaft. The two clutch collars 20 are circumferentially grooved at 20 to receive trunnions in the forked ends of a T-shaped clutch lever 23 which is pivoted at 24 at the end of a guide rod 25 projecting from the frame 14'.V Tension springs 26 are attached at vone end tothe guide rod and at the other to an arm 23a which is pivoted at 23b to lever 23 and has its rocker end 23C entering the slotted end 25a of guide rod 25. When both clutchesare out of engagement with the floating shafts, the clutch lever stands in its mid position, and the springs lie in the same plane as the pivot, so that they eXert no tendency to move the lever. In order to throw the tail 23 of the clutch lever up or down and thus let in one clutch or the other, two bellows 27, 23, are provided, each having a finger 29 arranged to strike the end of the tail 23 when said bellows is collapsed, and tilt the clutch lever olf its dead center so that the springs 26 can pull it over sharply, slide the clutch in quickly and retain the clutch in its position due to the use of the arm 23a. The pneumatic conrol of these two bellows will be described ater.

The clutch lever is returned to its mid position at the proper time by means of a kick-off frame 30 which slides on the guide rod 25 and has two arms in each of which is a set screw 31 adapted to bear against the left hand side of the `!"'head of the clutch lever and force it back to its central position. The .kick-olf frame is itself urged toward the right by a spring 32, but it is positively moved, also, in that direction by a bellows 33 which lhas a finger 34 arranged to co- Vto its mid position.

This action takes place at the end of the rapid winding of the music sheet from one drum to the other, and at the instant that the selected piece of music has been reached. Thereafter the drums are to be driven at the slew speed required for playing, and the Y p 40 splined on the chuck shaft 11 mechanism for accomplishing this will noW be described.. At the left hand end of the kick-off frame 30 is a depending arm 39 Whose lower end is forked to engage a clutch and coperating with a similar clutch face on a Worm gear 41 which is mounted to rotate loosely on the chuck shaft 11. Meshing with this gear is a Worm 42 secured on an upright shaft 43 Whose lower end is journaled in a bearing at the end of a bracket 44 bolted to the frame 14. The upper end of said shaft is journaled in a bearing in a block 45 which is sleeved on the upper chuck shaft 10 and is urged toward the right by a light Spring 45" coiled on said shaft. The object of this spring is to keep a leatheror rubbertired disk 46 on the playing shaft 43 in close contact with the driving iiange 1S on the hub 17 Which is fixed on the upper driving shaft 6 by a set screw 47. These two friction gears thus impart constant rotation to the playing' shaft 43 and the Worm gear 41 and its clutch pins. Now When the kick-off frame is forced to the right by the bellows 33. its, arm 39 Will throvvl in the clutch 40 and therefore cause the playing shaft to begin to drive the take-up drum 9.

At this point attention may be called to the rod 48 extending from the arm 39 thro-ugh the frame 14 and provided With a cam 49 pivoted to its end. rlhe purpose of this is to enable the operator to draw the kick-off frame to the left and lock it there when Vit is desired to unclutch the drums so that they can be turned by hand by the knurled rims 16.

The speed regulator, by means of Which the take-up drum is caused to Wind up the music sheet at an even rate of speed regardless of the increasing diameter of the roll, comprises means for shifting the disk 46 radially over the surface of the driving flange 18, so as to vary the speed of rotation of the playing shaft 43. This mechanism consists preferably of a Worm 50 on the chuck shaft 11 actuating a Worm gear 51 on an upright feed screws7 52 Whose threads engage With a tapped hole in one end of a carrier 53 consisting of a bar secured to the top of a slide rod 54 which is mounted to `move vertically in bearings 55. The other end of the carrier bar is forked to engage with a groove in the hub of the disk 46, so that as the carrier rises and falls it Will shift the disk radially over the surface of the driving flange 1S. When a piece of music is being played, the operation of these parts is to shift the disk 46 toward the center of the driving flange, so as to gradually slow doivn the speed of the take up drum as the diameter of the roll increases. `When the end of the sheet is reached, and the upper clutch is thrown in to re-Wind the sheet on the upper drinn, the reverse movement of the lower drum and the shaft 11 brings back the carrier 53 and the disk 46 to their loyvest positions.

Hand regulation of the speed regulator is rendered possible by pinning the flanged collar 51a to the spindle 52 and pressing the Worm gear 51 against said collar by a spring and collar 52, 52D. A hand knob 52` fast on spindle 52, may be turned by hand While gear 51 remains stationary and in mesh with Worm 50. 1 provide an automatic stop for the speed regulator consisting of collars 53a and 531 which are fastened to spindle 52 and have inwardly extending lugs. A pin 53c is secured to yoke Then yoke is screwed down far enough or up far enough the lugs on 53a or 53", as the case may be, engage pin 53Q and prevent further turning of spindle 52, although gear 51 may continue to turn. The action of this regulator insures uniform tempo for all the selections on the music roll, regardless of the size or continuing variation in diameter of the bottom take up roll and also permits of a. general regulation by hand.

Parts of the foregoing mechanism are set forth in my Patent No. 1,110,172 and constitute no part of the present invention except so far as they enter into operative combinations with my present improvements and are different from such earlier disclosures.

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 7, S, 9, 10 disclose the improved selective controlling mechanism by Which the operator can determine which of the various musical selections of the music roll Will be played. The control is effected through the operation and relative positions of ratchet disk A, stationary distributing disk B and selective disk C. rlhe disk B may be stationarily held or supported in any manner, as for instance, by a standard 310. Extending loosely through the disks A and B is a spindle 100 which is suitably mounted and carries a pointer 100a and manipulating finger-piece 1001, these being suitably positioned in convenient location outside the piano front, and the pointer 100"L being arranged to play over a dial or scale 100C bearing as many numbers or dierent indicia as there are selections on the continuous music sheet or roll X, F ig. 14. Neutral points may also be indicated before and after the series of numbers to show Where the pointer 100L may be turned to so position the mechanism that, instead of any given selection being played, the entire series of selections of the music sheet will be played in rotation.

The disk C is adapted to turn With the spindle 100 and is connected thereto by a pin-and-slotconnection 250, whereby a spring 270 interposed between a collar 280 xed on the spindle 100 and the said disk C, Will hold the disks A, B and C in proper contact, face to face to prevent air leakage. The spindle 100 has a collar 290 against which the rear face of disk A bears to form an abutment. To insure retention of the selective disk C where positioned by manipulation of the linger-piece 100", there is provided on spindle 100 a star ratchet wheel 580 with which the roller of a pivoted ratchet 570 is made to engage by a spring 590.

The disk B remains stationary at all times; the disk C is manipulated by turning the finger-piece 1001; the ratchet disk A is subject to automatic turning step by step, in one direction or the other, to control the winding and re-winding of the music sheet X, Fig. 14 by the action of the small suction bellows D and E, one of which turns the ratchet disk in one direction and the other turns it in the opposite direction through the medium of the pawls 600 and 610, respectively, connected to the bellows D, E, and provided with springs which tend to throw them into engagement with the pins i A of the ratchet wheel A. Steadying dogs 550 and 560 may be provided, operated by the pawls 600, 610, to take into the spaces between the pins A and prevent overthrow or .back throw of the ratchet disk A when itis turned.

Thev disk B is provided on opposite faces withV small circular channels or ports 110 and 110s, the former lying next to the inner face of disk C and the latter next to the inner face of disk A. The face of disk B next the disk C is also provided with an annular port or channel 180. Extending clear through the disk B are as many pairs of ports or holes 500 as there are selections on the music sheet and as represented by the indicia on the dial 100. The pairs of ports 5700 are arranged in radii of the disk B and in concentric arcs. lExtending radially inward from the periphery ofthe disk B at diametrically opposite points are ports 120 and 130 which open out only through that face of the disk B which lies adjacent the disk A. These ports are in communication by pipes or tubes 140 and 150, respectively, with the valve-chest 720, as hereafter described. A pipe 200 extending through the periphery of disk B connects the circular channel or port 110l to the kick-off trip opening 200 in the tracker-bar 62. A pipe or tube 190 connected to an opening extending into the disk B and connected to the channel 180, places said channel 180 incommunication with the re-wind opening 190 in the tracker-bar 62. A pipe or tube 210 connects the channel or port 110 to the valve-chest 720 in a manner set forth presently. The disk A is provided with similar arc-'shaped Vchannels or portsloO and 170 on itsi-face adjacent the disk B, said ports being adapted to communicate with the innermost of the pairs of openings 500. The ends of the ports 160, 170, are separated by a blank space or the same face as the ports 160, 170, is a port 220 which is positioned so that it will be adapted to afford communication between the annular channel 110a and different ones of the outermost pairs of ports 500.

rlhe channels 160, 170, are adapted to remain in communication with the ports 120, 130.

The selective disk C by which the playing ofany musical selection on the music sheet X may be predetermined, is provided on its face next the disk B with ports 230, 240. The port 230 is disposed so that it places channel 110 in communication with any one of the outermost of the ports 500. rThe port 240 is arranged so that it places the annular channel 180 in communication with any one of the innermost ports 500.

To determine the direction in which the disk A shall be turned by one or the other of the small bellows D, E, I provide a direction valve (Figs. 4, 5, 6) cooperating with the chuck spindle 440 of the bottom take-upV roll 9. A disk 360 is secured -to spindle 440 and frictionally bears against the disk valve 420 which is loose on ,spindle 440. The disk valve has an arc-shaped port 441. Suitably held,as by a stem 380, is a disk 430 which'is provided withports 431, 432, 433, arrangedv so that the channel or port 441 may connect either 431 and 432 or 432 and 433. The

port 431 is connected by a pipe 434V to the valve-chest 720 and the port 433 is connectedto said chest by a pipe 435. The intermediate port 432 is connected by a pipe 436 to an opening 437 in the left-hand end of the tracker-bar 62. Pins 370 carried by the valve 420 are adapted to permit a suflicient -rockable movement of said valve to connect the ports 431 and 432 or 432 and 433 before said pins strike the standard 380. The direction of rotation of the take-up roll 9 determines which way the valve 420 will be moved and, consequently, whether ports 431 and 432 are connected or ports 432 and 433, thus determining which of the bellows D, E, will be operated by the valve-chest. The engagement of the parts 360 and 420 being frictional only, the continuance of rotation of the rol-l 9 is not interfered with is utilized when the complete music sheet is played through from end to end.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 11, the bottom take-up roll 9 is provided with the concavity 520 whose bottom merges into the surface thereof. A spring-actuated flap valve 511 (Fig. 11) normally closes communication with the atmosphere of the outlet or pipe 530 which joins pipe 210. A trip 510 is pivotally carried by the valve 511 and is arranged to enter the concavity 520 when the music sheet is about to completely unwind from roll 9, such action pressing open the iiap valve 511 and admitting atmosphere to pipe 530, thereby causing the admission of suction to kick-olf 33 and effecting conditions which bring about re-winding of the music sheet on the roll 9.

If the music sheet is sufficiently wide to permit the cutting of another slot, such slot may be provided and arranged to uncover a hole in the tracker, which, in turn, constitutes the mouth of pipe 530. In such case, the emergency valve of Fig. 11 will be entirely dispensed with and the same result obtained by the uncovering of hole when the sheet has been played through.

To switch the suction into the valve-chest 720 when re-windin g is taking place, so that the full effect thereof may be exerted on the chest 720 and the suction be cut olf from the playing wind chest, I provide a flap valve 521 arranged to be engaged by the lever 37 when said lever moves. The valve 521 controls the admission of atmosphere to a. pipe or tube which operates on a diaphragm in a chamber- 524 subject to the suction in pipe 740. The diaphragm 523 controls a double beat valve 93 having the valves 92 and 95. Normally the valve 95 is seated and valve 92 unseated, which places suction pipe 740 in communication with the playing chest pipe P because a bleed in the diaphragm 523 admits the suction to the under side thereof. When the lever 37 opens the flap valve 521, the diaphragm 523 moves inwardly and closes valve 92, thus voiding the pipe P past valve 95 and causing the full suction to be exerted through pipe 740 on the suction chamber 730 of valve-chest 720.

' When the lever 37 is restored, the parts re- Y which has a bleed 780 which permits suiii cient suction to exist under the diaphragm to prevent it being raised by the suction in 730 under normal conditions. Above the chamber 730 are independent chambers 750 which are connected, from right to left of the valve-chest 720 with bellows 28, 27, 33, E and D. These chambers 750 are in coinmunication with the atmosphere through small ports. The admission of suction to the chamber 750 is normally cut off by valves connected to the respective diaphragms 790 and numbered in order from right to left of the i. alve-chest as 850, 860, 710, 711, 712. These valves are normally seated. It will be clear that when atmosphere is admitted under any one of the diaphragms 790, the diaphragm will rise and unseat its valve and thereby permit suction to exist in the chamber controlled by the valve. W hen suction has access to the chamber controlled by the valve, the corresponding bellows collapses and performs its function.

Referring to Fig. 1-l, the music sheet X is provided at its right-hand and left-hand margins between the end of one selection and the beginning of another with re-wind and kick-off slots y, y of about two inches in length which are arranged to pass over the openings 190, 200 in the tracker-bar 62. Opening 7/ may be on the right hand margin` and y on the left hand, if preferred.

I provide at the left-hand margin of each musical selection at a point of about two or three feet from the commencement of each musical selection, another slot or trip opening m which is adapted to pass over the opening Other slots 0, O', U may be eut in the margins of the music sheet for controlling soft and loud effects, mandolin or other attachments. etc., when they should come in. Slot O4E is provided to control the operation of a suitable pneumatic which in turn, stops the playing or trips a coin, after a selection has been played.

After the final musical selection, there is provided a single independent emergency rewind opening or slot E which is adapted to uncover a hole, in the tracker 62, to which is connected pipe E" (Fig. 1) that joins line 150 so that rewind bellows 28 will be operated, to cause rewinding, after all the selections have been played in rotation.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, I have shown a modification of the automatic ratchet controlling mechanism by the use of which the direction valve 420, L30 and allied parts, are entirely dispensed with.

In the mechanism of Figs. 12 and 13, a worm 300 is connected by a flexible connection 302 to the spindle of the take-up roll 9. Meshing with and driven by the worm 300 is a worm-wheel 400 which is continuouslyT turned by the worn 300 in one direction or the other according to the direction of rotation of the roll 9. rIhe disks AX., BX and CX similar in all respects to correspondingly lettered disks previously described, are carried by the spindle 100 and their interrelation controlled by finger-piece 100i). A pointer and dial are used as previously set forth. The ratchet disk AX is not provided with the pins-A', but it is in frictional engagement" with the face of the worm-wheel 400. The disk AX is provided with a hub 150 on which the worm-wheel 400 is loosely mounted. A spring 130interposed between the worm-wheel 400 and the collar 140.011 the hub 150, holds the worm-wheel 400 in frictional cont-act wit-h the disk AX. The disk A is provided with notches 50 in its periphery thereby constituting it a ratchet wheel whose rotation by the worm-wheel 400 is permitted or prevented according as the tooth 70 of a pawl 60 is disengaged therefrom or received in one of the notches 50. A light spring 80 tends to throw the tooth 70 against the edge of the disk AX and to position it to engage one of the notches 50. A bellows 90 connected to the pawl 60 is adapted to retract said pawl when suction is admitted to said bellows. Y The direction valve 420, 430, etc., being` dispensed with when the mechanism of Figs. 12, 13 is used, the port 437 of the tracker-bar 62 is connected to the space under a diaphragm like one of the diaphragms 790 and a' valve similar to the valve 850 is used to control the suction to the bellows 90. Consequently,

when the openings of the music sheet uncover the opening 437, the valve action is operated and suction is admitted to the bellows 90, whereupon it collapses and the tooth 70 disengages from the notch 50 which previously received it so that the frictional engagement'of the disk A and worm-wheel 400 results in the disk AX being turned by the worm-wheel, but the tooth 70 enters the next notch 50 and the operation is as hereinafter set forth.

e The notches 50 are spaced apart the same distance as the ports 500 and extend completely around the disk Ac at regularv intervals.

The operation of shifting the clutches by the collapse of the bellows 27, 28 and 33 to cause rapid 1re-winding of the music sheet in one direction or the other or the turning of the lower roll 9 at playing speed, is the same as set forth in my co-pending application, Serial No. 814,880.

It will also be understood that the music sheet X contains as many musical selections as there are numbers on the dial 100C and as many pairs of ports as are included in the Vseries 500.

Referring first to Figs. 1-11, assuming that the music roll is placed in the machine and the pointer 100a turned to the No. 1 place on the scale 100C. The ratchet disk A should also then be turned by hand until the port 22,0 and the bridge 330 register with the first pair of ports 500 and the channel 110a as indicated' at 450. The disk C turning with @he point-.er we to the i.7 the ports munication between the tracker-bar through the channel 180, the pipe 190 and the tracker opening 190. At the saine time communication to pipe 200 and kick-off opening 200 is opened into channel 110 and through port 230 into the first outside hole 500 at the point 450 and through this hole into port 220 in ratchet disk A and thence to the channel 110a and out through pipe 210 to the chamber under diaphragm 710 in windchest 720. lith the disks A, B and C in the relative position specified, the admission of atmosphere at 200 results in the suction in chamber 730 raising or drawing inwardly the diaphragm of valve 710 so that the suction has access to chamber 750 and thence to kick-off bellows 33. The collapse of the bellows 33 causes the kick-off arm 23 to be moved outwardly and the clutches 17 are thereupon placed in position for playin and as the re-winding operation is out og, the instrument will play the first or No 1 selection of the music sheet X.

Let it be assumed that the pointer 100a is moved to position No 5 on the dial 100C. Now, when the music sheet X started to wind onto the roll 9, the direction valve 420, Figs. 4 6, was moved so that the port 441 bridged the ports 431 and 432, thereby conditioning the direction valve so that when the opening 437 is uncovered by an opening m, the bellows D will collapse. Consequently, after the selection No l has been played part way through, the opening uncovers the port 437 and the bellows D thereupon collapses, causing the pawl 600 to engage one of the pins A and kick the' ratchet disk A to the right one point or to the second position'while selection No 1 is being played. With the disk A moved to the right, as stated, communication with pipe 200 through the kick-off opening 200', is cut off. However, the pointer 100a having been set to No 5, the port 230 is then at the fth position, but the port 220 and the bridgeBSO .of disk A are only in the second position. Then in this position, the kickthe music sheet X at the beginning of selection No 2 will open the passage so that bellows 27 will collapse and the roll 9V will be rapidly'turned for re-winding the music sheet X at a rapid rate. With the disk C in position for playing Na 5, the port 2&0 will connect through the fifth hole, 500, to the semi-circular channel 170 in disk A, because this disk will be three points to the left of the controlling disk C and channel 170 being at all times in communication with port 120 and the pipe 140 which leads to the diaphragm of valve 860 which controls the collapse of bellows 27. Now, if the disk C should be set to the left of any position occupied by ratchet disk A, it will be observed that the same port 240 of disk C will connect channel 180 through whichever inner hole of the series 500 it happens to register with, with the semi-circular channel 160, which channel by its registration with outlet port 130 and pipe 150 leads to the diaphragm 7 8O which controls valve S50 and, in turn, controlling the collapse of bellows 28. Consequently, such an operation will cause rewinding of the music sheet X and consequent reverse of the ratchet disk A, until the ports 220 and 230 of the disks A and C again register and then upon the arrival of a kick-oif opening y in the music sheet, the

bellows 33 will collapse and the mechanism proceed ahead at playing speed to play the selection. lf the pointer 100a is left on a given number as for instance 7 and coins are repeatedly inserted in the machine to control the. motor which drives shaft 1, No 7 will be repeated as many times as there are coins inserted, because, while playing the indicated number, the ratchet disk A is kicked ahead one point after a small portion of the selection Na 7 has been played and thereupon the reverse re-wind is opened and the kick-off kicked o, and if the magazine contains more than one coin, the coin will be tripped and the music sheet will con* tinue moving ahead a few inches at playing speed until the re-wind is reached at the beginning of the next piece, and in winding backward, the ratchet will again be kicked back one point which will cut od the rewind and open up the kick-oli1 passage and cause the roll to stop re-winding and repeat the number in question.

It will be understood that bellows E is controlled in the same manner that the bellows D is controlled and that the pawl 610 operates to turn the ratchet disk A backward just as the pawl GOO is adapted to turn it forward.

If the pointer 100a is set at one of the neutral positions 0, the resulting position of the disk C prevents passage of air through the ports 230 and 240 and, consequently, neither the kick-olf y nor the re-wind y will be brought into action. I have, therefore, provided the emergency kick-off shown in Figs. 1 and 11 which consists of the parts 510, 511 and 520. When the pieces have all been played, the emergency re-wind E acts.

The switching of the suction is accomplished through the opening of valve 521 by lever 37 as previously explained.

Referring now to Figs. 12 and 13 the mechanism set forth dispenses with the necessi-ty of employing tac direction valve $20, 130, etc., as previously explained. lVith a mechanism of this character, when the disk AX is set as shown, and the pointer 100 is at No 1 of the dial 100C, from the previous explanation it will be understood that the valve port-s of the disks A", BX and CX are arranged for playing selection Nd 1. After selection No 1 is about half played, a trip opening uncovers a port like 13T in the tracker and, through the operation at the valve chest 720, the suction is admitted to bellows 90 and the pawl 60 retracted, ,releasing the tooth from the notch 50 which previously received it. A few revolutions of the take-up roll causes the notch No 2 of the disk AX to come into line with the tooth 70, whereupon the said tooth engages notch No 2, thus placing the disk AX at a safe limit ahead of selection Na 1 so that if the pointer 100a is allowed to remain on selection No 1, the disks are now in position to re-wind back to selection Nd 1 and to kick oli the mechanism, and in re-winding back through selection Nd 1, the trackerport like port 437, will again be exposed through slot, like slot fc, thereby again collapsing bellows and allowing the tooth 70 to fall into notch Nd 1. It can be seen, therefore, how the disk AX will travel ahead or back for each selection on the music sheet and will move in the proper direction. Such movements control the relative arrangement of the ports in disks AX. BX and CX and the operations which follow, in the manner previously set forth.

rEhe emergency kick-off of Fig. 11 and the switching device 92, 95, etc., may be dispensed with. In the mechanism of Figs. 12, 13 only a simple bellows is required. Other modifications may be resorted to.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. ln an automatic piano, the combination with a perforated music sheet having a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other, of winding' drums for windand 're-winding said music sheet, means for operating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in one direction or the other, a selective controller comprising relatively movable cooperative members jointly controlling the means for operating said drums, one of said controlling members being manually settable to determine the selection or selections to be played, and the other being automatically operated under the control of the music sheet.

2. In an automatic piano, the combination with a perforated music sheet having a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other, of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means for operating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in one direction or the other, a selective controller comprising relatively movable ported cooperating members, pneumatic means whose operation is controlled by the relationship of the ports of the coperating members and which is adapted to control the means for operating said drums, one of said controlling members being manually settable to determine the selection or selections to be played, and the other member being pneumatically controlled by the music sheet.

3. In an automatic Piano, the combination with a perforated music sheet having a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other, of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means for operating` said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in one direction or the other, a selective controller comprising relatively movable ported cooperating mem-- bers, one of said controlling members being manually settable to determine the selection or selections to be played, the other controlling member being adapted for automatic step by step movement, pneumatic cogtrollingV means for said automatic step by step movable member which determines the step by step movement thereof, and a pneumatic system controlledby the manually operable and automatically controlled parts of the selective controller which in turn is controlled by the music sheet and determines the action of the operating means for the drums aforesaid. v

4. In an automatic piano, the combination with a perforated music sheet having a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other, of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means for operating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet fin one direction or the other, a selective controller comprising relatively movable ported coperating rotatable disks, one of said disks being adapted to be manually set to determine the selection or selections to be played, the other disk be- `ing arranged for a step by step rotation,

pneumatic means controlling the step by step rotation of the last-named disk, and a pneumatic systemY controlled by the coperative relation of the two disks aforesaid and messie selection or selections to be played, and the other being automatically operated under the control of the music Sheet, and means controlled by one of said drums which de.-

termines the direction of movement of said automatically operative controlling member.

6. In an automatic piano, the Combination with a perforated music sheet having a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other, of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means for operating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in one direction or the other, a selective controller comprising relatively rotatable cooperative members jointly controlling the means for operating said drums, one of said controlling members being manually settable to determine the selection or selections to be played, and the other being automatically operated under the control of the music sheet, and means, including a pneumatic device, which is controlled by the rotation of one of said drums to determine the rotation and step by step movement of said automatically operated rotary controlling member.

7. In an automatic piano, the combination with a perforated music sheet having a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other, of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means for operating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in one direction or the other, a selective controller comprising relatively movable coperative members jointly controlling the means for Voperating said drums, one of said controlling members being manually settable to determine the selection or selections to be played, and the other being automatically operated under the control of the music sheet, and means subject to the joint control of one of the drums and the music sheet which determines the direction of movement of said automatically operated controlling member.

8. In an automatic piano, the combination with a perforated music sheet having a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other, of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means for operating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in one direction or the other, a selective controller comprising relatively movable coperative members jointly controlling the means for operating said drums, one of said controlling members being manually settable to determine the selection or selections to be played, and the other being automatically operated under the control of the music sheet, a mov` able member adapted to be shifted in one direction or the other to correspond to the direction of rotation of one of said drums and to determine the direction of movement of the automatically operated member, and a pneumatic device controlled by the music sheet and co'peratively related to the said movable member which determines a step by step movement of the automatically operated controlling member.

Oopies of this patent may be obtained for 9. In an automatic piano, the combination with a perforated music sheet having a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other, of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means for operating the drums forward and backward to wind the sheet, means for selectively controlling the playing of any musical selection of the music sheet or all of them in rotation by controlling the action of the drumoperating means aforesaid, and means coperating with one of said drums to reverse the drum-operating means and cause rewinding of the music sheet when all the selections have been played.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUSSELL I. WILCOX.

Witnesses:

A. J. EINERMANN, ARTHUR EBERT.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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