US1312917A - Planporapii co - Google Patents

Description

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

n W HF d F. L. McCORMlCK.

. APPLICATION FILED JAN-4,1917.

DOUBLE TRACKER MQSICAL INSTRUMENT.

.nnnonn o u a n u n u n u r INVENTDR f c i A "BY ATTURNEY:

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WAsmNd'roN, D c.

F. L. McCORMICK.

DOUBLE TRACKER MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 19w.

1 3 2, 9 1 7 Patented Aug. 12, 1919 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

k l Q gg Q m i I l," mm la +5, m Q V I; Q R 11%?) I f1 LQ Q 1 m I Q Q U N Na k w gm u i INVENTEIR' ATTEIRNEYE:

1-21: COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co., wAsmNd'mN. n. c.

.F. L. McCORMICK.

DOUBLE TRACKER MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MN.4,1911.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

5 SHEETSSHE&' 3

AT T u R N E r:

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPYH C0-, WASHINGTON, D.

r. L. M c CORMICK; ooum TRACKER MUSICAL msmumsrn.

Pdtented Aug. 12, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

APPLICATION FILED IVA-N. 4| 19H:

I st

ATTURNEYE! F.L. McC ORMICK. DOUBLE TRACKER MUSiCAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN14| I91?- Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- 1% v 1 3W x ATT URNEYEI.

THE COLUMBIA PLANoaRAPn co., WAsmNd'roN, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. MGCORMICK, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DOUBLE-TRACKER MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

vented new and useful Improvements inv DoubleTracker Musical Instruments, which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic pianos or similar instruments controlled by two or more trackers, and more particularly to an instrument of this character designed for use in moving picture shows.

The requirements of such instruments are various, At times when the operator is unavoidably absent, the instrument should be capable 'of playing continuously without attention except to start and stop it, one sheet being automatically rewound while the other is playing and the rewound sheet being automatically started when the end of the playing sheet is reached. When the instrument is under control of the operator, the roll winding and rewinding mechanism and its controlling devices should be so constructed that the operator can instantly switch from one tracker to the other to adapt the music to the changing scenes of the films, one music sheet usually playing gay and lively music and the other slow or grave compositions. The operator should also be able to stop either music sheet at a desired place and later resume playing it where it left off, well as to select a composition on the idle sheet and hold it ready to be playing.

The object of my invention is the production of a convenient and reliable instrument which meets these various requirements and which enables the operator to switch from one music sheet to the other or to select com positions by a minimum number of movements on his part.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an automatic piano equipped with the improved duplex tracker. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the trackers, on an enlarged scale, showing the winding and rewinding mechanism of one of the trackers. Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections on the correspondingly numbered lines in 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5,

Specification of Letters Yatent.

played while the other sheet continues Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Application filed January 4, 1917. Serial No. 140,550.

Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line 6-6, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a transverse Vertical section through one of the shipper-levers, the plans of the section being on line 77, Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is an enlarged face view of one of the indicators and the corresponding indicating plate. Fig. 9 is a transverse section on line 99, Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the duplex tracker, some of the parts being shown diagrammatically and in section. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the pallet or valve. Fig. 12 is a transverse section of the action wind chest and the coupler. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 1313, Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical section of the cutoff valve of said chest. Fig. 15 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one of the controlling levers. Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the clutch members, showing the detent blocked by the clutch-pawl.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

1 indicates the keyboard of the instrument, 2 the main or action wind-chest. 3 indicates one of the customary striker or playing-Pneumatics and 3 the trackers or tracker boards. Each of these striker pneumatics is controlled by the customary double valve 1 and pouch or primary pneumatic 5.

Suitable means are provided for coupling either of the trackers to said main action wind chest and simultaneously uncoupling or cutting off the other. I prefer to employ for this purpose the pneumatic coupler shown in the drawings which is constructed as follows:

6 indicates a coupler board or chest having a central longitudinal partition 7 which divides its chest into two pouch. or valve chambers 8, 9, one for each tracker board, each of which chambers is adapted to be eX- hausted or flushed. Leading to the pneumatic 5 and associated with each striker pneumatic 3 is a channel 10 which extends into the partition 7 and has two terminal branches or ports 11, 12, one opening at the upper surface of said partition and, the other at its lower surface, as shown. in- Fig. 12. Associated with the two ports 11, 12 ofseach channel 10 are two independent ports or channels 13, 14 one opening at the top of the partition 7 adjacent to the port 11, and the other opening at the bottom of said parti tion adjacent to the port 12. The ports 13. and 14 are connected by conduits 15 and 16 with corresponding note ducts of the two tracker boards, that is, with the two ducts representing the same note. Each companion pair of upper ports 11. and 13 is controlled by a valve, preferably a flexible pouch-valve 17 appliedto the upper side of the partition 7, while each companion pair of lower ports 12' and 14 is controlled by a similar pouch-valve 18 applied to the lower side of the partition. hen, for example, the atmosphere is admitted to the upper valve-chamber 8 of the coupler, the pouchvalves therein are flattened and pressed against the partition 7, closing the various pairs of upper ports 11 and 13 and cutting off the right hand tracker from the main action wind-chest; while when said valve chamber is exhausted, said pouch valves are raised, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 12, uncovering said upper pairs of ports and allowing the atmosphere to pass from the ports 13 into the ports 11 and actuate those primary pneumatics 5 whose corresponding tracker ducts are uncovered by registering with perforations of the music sheet.

Each of the pouch chambers 8 and 9 is alternately exhausted and flushed preferably by the following mechanism:

19 indicates a block secured upon the wind chest and having a central suction port 20 adapted to be connected with the main suction bellows 21 of the instrument, this port terminating at the horizontal upper edge of the block which forms a valve seat.

osite sides of this suction port, the blo:-k 1s provided with flushing ports 22, 23, which are connected by conduits 24, 25, with the pouch chambers 8, 9, respectively. These flushing ports also terminate at said valve seat, as shown in Fig. 10. 26 is a slide valve of the D-type suitably guided upon said valve-seat and provided in its underside with a longitudinal port or cavity 27 which when lower arm is actuated by the mechanism hereinafter described. 7 Means are preferably provided for cutting off both chambers of the coupler from the main suction bel lowsor source of suction, thereby cutting off both trackers. The cut-off device shown in the drawings consists of a D-valve 29 sliding upon a seat 30 containing ports 31, 32. The suction port 20 leads tov one of these ports, while leading from the other port is a conduit 33 which is connected with the main suction bellows. The cavity of the valve 29 is of such dimensions that when the valve is shifted to the'position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 14, it shuts off the conduit and admits atmosphereto the suction port 20, causing the pouches in both chambers of the coupler to close andcutting off both trackers, while when said valve is shifted against the block 19 it connects the port 20 with the suction conduit 33. The stem of the valve 29 is connected by links 34, 35' with hand levers-36, arranged at the front of the instrument.

The main suction bellows 21 may be op erated by an electric or other suitable motor 37. This motor maybe controlled by an or dinary push-button switchor a suitable coin-- controlled device, not shown in the drawings.

The instrument shown in the drawings comprises two tracker boxes or frames and associated roll driving and controlling mechanisnif- They are identical in construction and a description of one will therefore apply to both.

38 indicates the music roll, 39 the take-up roll and 40 the music sheet. The take-up roll is engaged with the usual clutch member or head carried by the take-up shaft 41, while the rewind roll spindle is engaged with the customary clutch member secured to the rewind shaft 42, these shafts being journaled in the side walls of the tracker box. Fixed to the rewind shaft is a spurpinion 43 which engages an idler gear 44 and fixed to the take-up shaft is a spur gear 45.

46 indicates a horizontal driving shaft common to both trackers and supported by the tracker boxes. Secured to this shaft adjacent' to each roll driving mechanism is a spur gear 47. 48 is a. vertically-swinging shipper member or lever pivoted upon the shaft 46, and 49 is a spindlejournaled'transversely in said arm and having fixed thereon three transmission gears 50, 51, 52. The gear 50 is in constant engagement with the gear 47 on the driving shaft 46, which latter is constantly rotated during the operation of the instrument. The other two gears 51 and 52 are arranged to mesh with the gears 44 and 45, respectively. By this construe tionand arrangement when said shipper lever is depressed to its lowest position, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 10, the pinion 52'meshes with the take-up gear'45 and the rewind transmission gear 51 is disengaged from the rewind idler 44, thereby driving the take-up roll forwardly by reason of the constant rotation of the spindle and winding up or playing the music sheet. WVhen said shipper-lever is raised to the upper extremity of the stroke, the take-up pinion 52 is disconnected from the take-up gear 45 and the rewind transmission gear 51 is shifted into engagement with the rewind idler gear 44, thereby driving the music roll and rewinding the sheet.

The driving shaft 46 is preferably driven from an upright shaft 53 by friction gears 54 and 55, the shaft of the friction disk 54 being connected with said driving shaft by a universally-jointed shaft 56. Motion may be transmitted to this upright shaft from the motor 37 by any suitable means, that shown in the drawings including a horizon; tal shaft 57 and worm gearing 58.

A spring 59, attached at its upper endto the free front end of the shipper lever and at its lower end to a fixed pin 60, tends constantly to lower this lever. The two shipper levers are simultaneously shifted in opposite directions to cause one music sheet to be played while the other is rewound, by a horizontal cam-shaft 61 preferably arranged 3 parallel with the constantly-rotating drivin g shaft 46 and journaled in the lower portions of both tracker frames. Secured to this shaft on diametrically opposite sides thereof are a pair of lifting cams 62 which bear respectively against antifriction rollers 63 journaled in the lower ends of a corresponding pair of lift bars 64 respectively connected with the free ends of the shipper lever 48, so that during every half-turn of said cam shaft one of the shipper levers is raised and the other shipper lever is permitted to descend under the tension of its depressing spring-59, throwing the rewind mechanism of the first named shipper lever into action at the same time that the take-up mechanism of the other is shifted into action.

In order to prevent breakage of any of the parts in case the teeth of the rewind pinion 51 and rewind idler 44 should not mesh properly on the upward stroke of the corresponding shipper lever, the latter is yieldingly connected with its lift-bar 64. In the preferred construction shown in the drawings, the lift-bar carries a laterally projecting pin 65 which passes inwardly through a vertical slot 66 in the shipper lever, the lift-bar being free to slide vertically relatively to the shipper-lever to the mesh properly, the spring 68 will allow the lift-bar to continue its upward movement under the lifting action of its cam 62 inclependently of the shipper bar, preventing breakage of any parts. In addition to the guide furnished by the keeper 67, the lower portion of the lift-bar is guided by a headed pin or screw 69 projecting laterally from. a fixed standard 69 through a vertical slot 70 in the lift-bar.

The coupler controlling valve 26 is actuated from the cam-shaft 61 in such manner that the moment the shipper-lever of one tracker is shifted to playing position, the corresponding tracker board is coupled to the pneumatic actions of the striker pneumatics 3 and the other tracker is simultaneously out 01f from said pneumatics. For this purpose the cam-shaft is provided with a crank disk 71 the wrist pin of which is connected with the lower arm of the rock lever 28 by a link 72.

The cam-shaft, as will be understood from the foregoing, is periodically or intermittently rotated, being actuated only when the shipper levers are to be reversed and remaining at rest at all other times. This cam-shaft is driven from the constantlyrotating driving-shaft 46 by the following mechanism Arranged parallel with the cam-shaft 61 and preferably in rear thereof, is a countershaft 73 which is connected with the cam shaft by transmission gears 74, 75, the pinion 74 of the countershaft being half the diameter of the gear 7 5 on the cam-shaft, so that the latter makes a half turn for every complete rotation of the countershaft. The latter is intermittently driven from the driving shaft 46 by a suitable clutch and intermediate gearing. The means shown in the drawings for this purpose comprise gears 77, 78, respectively fixed to said driving shaft and an intermediate shaft 79 ar ranged below the latter; a sprocket chain 80 running around sprockets 76 and 80; a notched collar 81 carried by the lower sprocket 80 and a pawl 82 adapted to inter lock with one of the notches of said collar and pivoted by a transverse pin to the radial ear 83 of a collar 84 fixed to said countershaft. The sprocket 76 is fixed to the shaft 7 9 while the other sprocket 80 is loosely journaled on the countershaft 73. A spring 85 is secured to the collar 84 and bears with its free end upon a sliding pin 86 guided in a transverse opening of the shaft 73, the lower end of said pin bearing against the tail of the pawl 82. This spring tends constantly to swing the pawl. into engagement with the notched clutch collar 81. The pawl is normally held out of engagement therewith by a rocking stop-plate or detent 87 pivoted to the base of the tracker box and constantly drawn into the path of the tail of the pawl by a suitable spring 88. lVhen this detent is in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2, it looks the pawl out of engagement with the notched clutch collar, while when it is withdrawn it allows the pawl to bepressed into its operative position by the spring 88. by the downward movement of the upper movable board of what may be termed a main rewind pneumatic 89. The arm of this pneumatic carries. a downwardly-extending trip-rod or tappet 90 arranged todepress the tail of the detent. WVhcn this pneumatic is collapsed, the detent is tripped out of engagement with the pawl, which thereupon interlocks with the notched clutch-collar 81, thereby connecting the cam-shaft 61 with the driving shaft 16 and rotating it to the extent of a half turn, when it is arrested by the automatic disengagement of the clutch pawl from said clutch collar caused by the detent which in the meantime has been released by the inflation of said rewind pneumatic and allowed to move to its operative position by its spring 88.

The rewind pneumatic 89 is controlled by the customary rewind perforations in the rear ends of the music sheets, which perforations cooperatewith the corresponding ducts 92. nected by tubes 93, 94:, with the primary pneumatic 9d of one of the action units of the wind chest 2, identical with the parts 1 and 5. The result is that in playing the instrument continuously, the music sheets are alternately taken up and rewound automatically, this operation continuing so long as the driving shaft 46 of the machine is actuated.

In order that tlie'rewinding of the sheets may be controlled manually, if desired, a hand-controlled valve or pallet 95 operated by a push button 96 is conveniently located at the front of the instrument. This pallet is applied to 'a duct 97 formed in a ductblock 98 and corresponding to the controlling ducts 92 of the tracker boards. This duct is connected by a branch tube 99 with the tube 93 leading to the primary pneumatic 94". The rewind button 96 is used principally for fully rewinding the music sheets of both trackers preparatory to starting the instrument. 7

When the main rewind pneumatic 89 is controlled by the music sheets and trackers, it is under certain conditions operated so quickly that the retracted detent 87 unless restrained, will fly back under the tail of the pawl 82 before the latter lias'time to interlock with a notch of the clutch collar 81, in case the pawl happens to, strike a solid instead of a notched portion of said collar, thus defeating the operation of the clutch. To guard against this, means are provided The detent is retracted.

Both of these ducts are con-.

for effecting a suitable clearance, say a thirty-second of an inch, between the face of said pawl and the periphery of the clutch collar in the retracted position of'the pawl, as shown in Fig. 2, so that in the abovementioned case, the awl has sufficient movement toward the side of the clutch collar to swing its tail in front of the detent and block it, as shown in Fig. 16, giving the pawl time to interlock with the next notch of the rotating clutch collar. Even if the tripped detent should be quickly released, it cannot therefore reengage the pawl to lock it 'out'of action until after the pawl has made a complete revolution. This clearance movement of the pawl is automatically effected by an incline 91 at the upper edge of the detent which rises in the direction of rotation of the pawl and on which its tail is caused to ride by a further partial rotation of the pawl-carrying shaft 7 3 which takes place immediately after the detent disengages the pawl from the clutch collar. This additional turnof saidshaft'is produced by a spring-pressed roller 91 bearing against the shoulder 91 of a cam 91 secured to said shaft, as shown in Fig. 9. This roller is carried by a vertically-swinging lever 91 pivoted to the tracker box at 91. Connected to this lever is a spring 9'1 which tends to draw the roller against the face of the cam. When thecountershaft is clutched to the notched collar 81, the cam 91 is rotated with it until the highest part of the cam passes under the roller 91*, as shown in Fig. 9, raising said lever and straining its spring. The moment the. cam reaches this position, said roller, by its pressure against the cam shoulder 91 gives the cam and said eountershaft a. forward impulse which is sufiicient to carry the tail of the pawl over said incline and withdraw the pawl from the notched clutch collar far enough to leave the above-described clearance.

As before stated, each shipper lever 18 is held down in its take-up position by its spring 59. It is' locked in its upper or rewind position until the sheet is fully rewound by an automatic locking pawl or catch 100 arranged to interlock with the pin 65 of the shipper lever. In the construction-shown,this catch is pivoted to the adjacent wall of the tracker box and held in engagement with the pin 65 by a spring 101. At the; end of the rewinding operation this locking catch is tripped out of engagement with said pin, allowingthe shipper lever to descend to its take-up position for again playing the corresponding music sheet. In the preferred construction shown in the drawings, this automatic release of said locking catch is effected by the take-up roll by the following mechanism:

102 indicates a'horizontal rod supported transversely in the tracker box above the take-up roll and 103 is a sleeve or hollow rock shaft journaled on said rod and carrying a trip finger 104 arranged to engage the laterally-extending tail 105 of the locking catch 100' when the sleeve is rocked in the proper direction, thereby disengaging the catch from the pin 65 of the shipper lever. Extending downwardly from this sleeve is an actuating arm 106 to which is pivoted a vertically-swinging finger 107 which rests upon the convolutions of the music sheet opposite a transverse groove or recess 108 in the periphery of the take-up roll. This recess has an abrupt rear edge 109 referring to the direction of travel of the take-up roll during the rewinding of the music sheet. So long as the convolutions cover this recess during the rewinding operation, the finger is held in its retracted position, as shown in Fig. 4, but as soon as the recess is uncovered by the complete unwinding of the sheet, the finger is allowed to drop into it, bringing its free end into the path of the abrupt end of the recess which thereupon pushes the finger toward the front of the tracker box, causing it to rock the sleeve 103 and tripping the locking catch out of engagement with the shipper lever 48. The rock shaft 103 is also provided with an auxiliary trip finger 104 arranged to engage the upper sideof the locking pin 65 after the latch has been unlocked by the finger 104. Said auxiliary finger thus serves to positively depress the unlocked shipper lever 48 in case the rewind gear 51 and the idler gear 44 should tend to bind.

To )ermit the locking catch 100 to be trippec by hand, if desired, the trip finger 104 is provided with a laterally-projecting thumb piece 110.

hen such instruments are used in picture shows, it is desirable to provide means by which the idle sheet may be rapidly propelled. in either direction to a given place. while the other sheet continues to play, for the purpose of selecting a desired composition, ready to be played with a sub sequent scene or picture of the film. In case the sheet is nearly wound up by the takeup roll, the selecting is done by rewinding the idle sheet until the desired piece appears next to the tracker. It may happen however that the desired composition is at or near the opposite end of the sheet which is already rewound, and in this case it is necessary to select by propelling the sheet forwardly or in the take-up direction. To save time, this should be done at a greater speed than that at which the sheet is propelled in playing it. These two methods of selecting a composition may be briefly termed backward and forward selecting. The preferred forward selecting mechanism of each tracker shown in the drawings is constructed as follows:

Fixed to the take-up shaft 41 is a selecting or auxiliary take-up gear 111 which may at will be connected with the gear 47 on the constantly driven shaft 46 through an idler gear 112. The latter is journaled on a vertically-swinging shipper arm 113 fulcrumed on the take-up shaft 41, this idler being in constant mesh with said selecting gear. Said shipper arm is actuated by a vertically-swinging controlling lever 114 fulcrumed on the wall of the trackerbox at 115 and provided at its rear end with a laterally-extending pin 116 which is connected with the free rear end of said shipper arm by a link 117. By this construction, when said controlling lever is in the position shown in the drawings, referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the idler gear 112 is in its lower position out of engagement with the driving gear 47, while when said controlling lever is sufliciently lowered, said idler gear is raised into engagement with said driving gear, thereby transmitting motion from the latter to the take-up shaft 41 through said idler gear and the selecting gear 111, instead of through the transmission gear 50 and the take-up pinion 52 and gear 45. Said idler gear and selecting gear are of the proper ratio to drive the music sheet forwardly at a suitably higher speed than do the takeup gears 52 and 45, in order to enable a composition to be selected rapidly. It is of course necessary to throw the take-up pinion 52 out of gear when the selecting mechanism is thrown into gear, inasmuch as both of such mechanisms drive the takeup roll in the same directlon. For this purpose, the shipper lever 48 of each tracker is coupled to the shipper arm 113 by a link 118 connected to said lever in front of its fulcrum, so that upon depressing the con trolling-lever 114 to throw the selecting gears into action, the shipper lever is at the same time raised sufficiently to disengage the take-up pinion 52 from the take-up gear 45. Suitable provision is made for lost motion between the link 118 and the shipper arm 113, in order that the corresponding shipper lever 48 may be raised to rewind position without simultaneously lifting the arm 113 and moving the idler gear 112 into mesh with the driving gear 47 Such lost motion may be obtained by means of a pin and slot connection, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Each of said controlling levers may also be used for throwing the roll-driving mechanism of each sheet into take-up or rewind position or into an intermediate or neutral position for. disconnecting both of said mechanisms from the driving shaft 46 to stop the sheet. For this purpose each controlling lever carries an upwardly-extending lift or thrust-bar 119 having its upper a longitudinal slot 121 of said bar.

that upon raising the controlling lever to stop or rewind position, the shipper lever israised to disengage the take-up pinion 52 from the take-up gear 45, or the rewind pinion 51 is moved into engagement with the rewind idler M. This lift-bar, which is auxiliary to the lift-bar 64 operated by the cam-shaft 61, is pivoted at its lower. end to thecontrolling lever and guided by a pin 120 projecting horizontally from the wall of the tracker box and passing through n order to hold the controlling lever in its several positions, it is provided with'a suitable locking device which in the construction shown in the drawings, Figs. 5 and 15, consists of a spring-pressed locking pin 122 carried by the front portion of the lever and adapted to interlock With any one of four recesses 12-3 formed in the wall of the tracker box. This pin is withdrawn to re lease the lever, by a small lever 124 fulcrumed on the controlling lever beside its handle, so that the lever can be unlocked and shifted by the same hand. To prede- 'termine the position of each controlling 1ever, it isprovided with-a pointer or indicator 125 which traverses a plate 126 bearing the designations Play, Stop, Re

wind and Select, as shown in Fig. 8;

or if desired the uppermost indication to which the controlling lever is shifted for either rewinding the sheet or selecting backward may'also be designated select.

r In addition to this selecting capacity, it is desirable that the instrument should be so organized that the operator can switch instantly from one sheet to the other to suit the music to the changing character of the pictures; that is, play one sheet and stop the other without rewinding it, and later on stop the playing sheet and resume playing thearrested sheet at the place where it left off. It is further desirable to do such switching by the use of a single controlling device, such for example, as a push button 127.

This button controls an auxiliary rewind pneumatic 1 28 which when collapsed produces the same effect as the main rewind pneumatic 89 that is, causes the cam shaft 61 to be coupled to the driving shaft 46 long enough to give it a half turn, in order to reverse the shipperlevers 67 of the two trackers; -Ordinarily thishalf-turn of the cam shaft would cause the stepped sheet to be rewound and the other to be played, because the stroke of the cams 62 is sufficient to move the elevated shipper-lever to rewind position; To prevent this and check the further ascent of :the rising shipper-lever; after it :has disconnected the playing gears 52' and 45 of the sheet to be stopped, a retractable stop is arranged to block said lever during lts upward stroke. Such a stop is associated with each shipper lever,

and the preferred device shown in the draw 70 ings consists of an upright lever 129 pivoted to the tracker frame at 130,.the lower arm of the lever being adapted to swing into the path'of movement of a stop pin 181 extending inwardly from the free end of the shipper lever, so as to arrestthe upward movement of the latter' after it has :disengaged the gears 52 and 4:5 and before the rewind gear 51 has come into mesh with the idler gear 4:4. The blocking or stop lever is actuated by an arm 132 secured to a rock shaft 133' arranged horizontally above the wind and rewindgears and journaled in the tracker boxes. This shaft has an actuating arm 13d connected by a link 135 with the movable board of a'bloc-king pneumatic 136 conveniently looked upon the wind chest 2. In the inflated condition of said pneumatic, said blocking lever is withdrawn from the path of movement of said stop pin 131. When said pneumatic is collapsed said lever is swung into operative position to-bloek the shipper lever.

The auxiliary rewind pneumatic 128 could be arranged to operate upon the clutch-detent 87 independently of the main rewind pneumatic 89, but .in order to simplify the mechanism and render it more compact, said auxiliary pneumatic is preferably superposed upon the main one and its movable board is arranged to act upon the movable board of the mam pneumatic, thus depressing the 'detent trrp rod 90 through the medium of the main rewind pneumatic when the auxiliary pneumatic is collapsed. As shown in the drawings, thisis accomplished by pivoting to the movable board of the auxiliary pneumatic a coupling link or catch 137 having a shoulder which is adapted to engage a pin 138 projecting from the upper movable board of the rewind pneumatic. This catch is normally held in engagement with said pm by a spring 139, so that upon the collapse of said auxiliary pneumatic the movable board of the main pneumatic is depressed in unison with the firstnamed movable board, withdrawing the detent from the clutch pawl 82. and allowing the latter to ;engage the notched clutch collar 81 to 0011- 1.20

from said action. This action is preferably of the type including a retaining valve for holding the action in its operative position and keeping the blocking pneumatic collapsed for a predetermined period. It is constructed as follows:

143 indicates an auxiliary wind chest having its main suction chamber 144 suitably connected with the main suction bellows 21, and 145 indicates a valve chamber connected with the atmosphere and the suction chamber 144 by the usual ports controlled by a secondary duplex valve 146 of ordinary construction. This valve is controlled by a diaphragm 147 to which leads a channel 148 connected with a valve chamber 149. The latter is connected with the atmosphere and the suction chamber 144 by ports controlled by a primary or retaining valve 150, the heads of which are arranged on the outer side of the chamber 149. This valve is controlled by a diaphragm 151. A channel or by-pass 152 provided with the customary bleeds connects the diaphragm 151 with the valve chamber 149. When the retaining valve 150 is raised by the dia :phragm 151, atmosphere passes through the bypass 152 and acts upon said diaphragm, holding said valve in that position until allowed to drop by the action of the releasing valve hereinafter described. Under these conditions, atmosphere also enters the channel 148 and raises the valve 146, allowing the tension in the chamber 144 to col lapse the pneumatics 128 and 136.

Leading to the chamber of the diaphragm 151 is a duct 152 the mouth of which is controlled by a "alve 153, preferably consisting of a springpressed pallet, whose rear arm is the armature of an electromagnet 154. This magnet is included in an electric circuit which is controlled by the push-button 127 which closes the circuit when pressed, thereby admitting atmosphere to the diaphragm 151 and collapsing the pneumatics 128 and 136, as before described.

The devices for releasing the retaining valve 150 include a pouch chamber 155 located in the auxiliary wind chest 143 and connected by a channel 156 with a valve chamber 157. The latter communicates with the atmosphere and the suction chamber by the usual ports which are controlled by a duplex releasing valve 158 similar to the valve 146, which in turn is controlled by a diaphragm 159. Located in the pouch chamber 155 is a valve or pouch 160, which con trols the ports 161, 162, the port 162 leading directly from the suction chamber 144 to the space inclosed by said pouch, and the port 161 leading to the bypass 152. By the raising of the releasing valve 158 the pouch chamber 155 is placed in communication with the suction chamber 144 and the pouch 160 is raised from the ports 161 and 162, ex-

hausting the bypass 152 and allowing the retaining valve 150 to drop. The channel 148 is thereby connected with the suction chamber 144, lowering the secondary valve 146 and cutting off communication between said suction chamber and the nneumatics 128 and 136, thereby flushing the latter and returning the blocking levers 129 to inoperative position.

The chamber of the diaphragm 159 is connected by a conduit 163 with a duct 164 arranged in a block 165 and controlled by a vertically-swinging pallet or valve 166. The front end of this pallet projects into the path of movement of the ear 83 of theclutchcollar 84, so that it is tripped and momentarily opened by said car during each revolution of said collar, thereby raising said releasing valve and flushing the auxiliary rewind pneumatic 128 and the blocking pneumatic 136.

Such a retaining valve action is necessary to hold the blocking levers 129 in their operative position for a half turn of the camshaft 61, otherwise the lift-cam 62 of the rising shipper lever 48 will raise it to rewind position and cause the music sheet to be reversed instead of stopped. On the other hand, the collapse of the main pneumatic 89 should not be thus prolonged, but it must be flushed immediately after having retract ed the detent 87, otherwise the latter will be held in that position long enough to allow the cam shaft to make more than a half turn, and defeat the operation of the rolldriving mechanism. Inasmuch as the auxiliary rewind pneumatic 128 and the block ing pneumatic 136 are both controlled by said retaining valve action, it is necessary to provide means to disconnect the auxiliary pneumatic from the main rewind pneumatic 89 immediately after the collapse of the former to permit the main one to promptly expand after tripping .said detent. The device shown in the drawings comprises a fixed pin 167 arranged to be encountered by a beveled nose 168 at the lower end of the catch 137 just atfer the auxiliary pneumatic through said catch has depressed the movable board of the main rewind pneumatic, thereby tripping said catch out of engagement with said pin and allowing the lower rewind pneumatic to inflate and release the detent 87 notwithstanding that the auxiliary rewind pneumatic continues to remain collapsed with the blocking pneumatic.

Just after the highest part of the cam 62 clears the lift-bar 64, the collapsed blocking pneumatic 136 is flushed through the tripping of the pallet 166, withdrawing the cor responding blocking lever and releasing the shipper lever 48 ready to be next shifted to rewind position, if required.

The use of said auxiliary rewind pneumatic and said catch-tripping device insures the proper operation of the mechanism re gardless of whether the push button 127 is pressed momentarily or :held down for a longer interval. r

It will now be understood that when it is desired to change'or switch from one music sheet to the other and subsequently resume playing the stopped sheetw-here it left off, it is only necessary for the operator to press the push button 127. The result is that the auxiliary rewind pneumatic is collapsed and the cam-shaft 61 is given a half turn, reversing the position of the shipper levers 48. At the same time the blocking pneumatic 136 is collapsed, stopping the upward move-- ment of the rising shipper-lever when it reaches its stop position. Upon again pressing said button, the shipper levers are reversed to their former position, again starting the stopped sheet where it left off playing and at the same time stopping the other sheet.

It will be observed that although one of the shipper levers is thus blocked by the lever 129, under the last-described conditions, the corresponding lift bar 64 nevertheless receives a full upward stroke from the corresponding cam 62. This stroke is suffi cient to carry the locking pin of the lift bar above the shoulder of the locking catch 100, and if the latter were allowed to remain in its normal position, it would interlock with said pin upon the descent of said liftbar and prevent the shipper lever from dropping back to take-up position ready to resume the playing of the stopped sheet. Said catch must therefore be held out of the path of said locking pin during such descent of the lift-bar. This is done, in the preferred construction shown, by means of anupright retracting lever 169 mounted-on a horizontal pivot 170 carried by the tracker. box. ,The upper end of this lever is operatively engaged with an arm 171 of the rock-shaft 133, while its lower end is arranged to trip the tail of the locking catch 100 and swing the latter to its inoperative position when said shaft is rocked by the collapse of the blocking pneumatic 136, as before described. The moment this pneumatic is flushed by the tripping 0f the pallet 166, said rock shaft is turned in the opposite direction, causing the retracting lever to release said catch and allowing the .latter to' return to its operative position ready to lock the corresponding shipper lever '48 in its rewind position.

After one controlling lever 114: has been shifted to select position and the head of the desired composition has nearly reached the tracker, said lever should be'movedto play position ready to play the sheet when the button 127 is pressed. As this last actis liable to be overlooked by the operadoing so. The devices shown in the draw ings consist of auxiliary cams 172, a pair of the same cooperating with each controlling lever. The cams ofeach pair are secured to the cam shaft 61 in the same positions as the main lifting cams 62. The cams 172 are adapted alternately to engage under the front arm' of the controlling lever to raise it from select to play position when the button 127 is pushed to switch from one music sheet to the other, as here- 'lnbefore described.

In the manual control of the instrument, when either of the controlling levers 11 i is in its highest or rewind position, the lockmovable downward therewith. This wedge is interposed between the hub of the cams 172 and a pin 17 4 projecting laterally from the lower arm of a releasing or rock lever 175. This lever is fulcrumed at 176 and its upper arm is pivoted toa depending arm 177 of the hollow rock-shaft 103. The arrangement is such that when said wedge is lowered by depressing the controlling lever, the lever is rocked on its pivot in the proper direction to cause the finger 104i of said hollow shaft to unlock the catch and let the shipper-leverdrop to play or select position, according as the controlling lever is shifted to one or the other of these designations of the plate 126.

Cooperating with each of the catch-releasing levers 175 is an auxiliary cam 178 fixed to the cam-shaft 61. These cams through said levers 175 serve to unlock the catches 100 from the shipper levers and allow the latter todrop out of rewind position in case they should be held there when the button 127 is pushed. The cams 178 are arranged about ninety degrees in advance of the main cams 62, as shown.

The operation of the instrument, generally stated, isas follows:

Upon starting the electric motor 37, constant rotary motion is imparted to the driving shaft 46. 7

Let it be assumed that both music sheets have been fully rewound and that the in strument is desired to play continuously;

andlet it' further be assumed that one of the lifting 03131562 occupies a lowered position in which it allows the corresponding shipper lever 48 to descend to its lower-' most or playing position, while the other cam 62 is in a partly-raised or intermediate position in which it prevents the correspond ing shipper lever 48 from descending below its stop or intermediate position, so as to disconnect both the take-up roll. and the music roll from the driving shaft 46. The operator now shifts both controlling levers 114 to play position. The music sheet corresponding to the partly lowered shipper lever will then remain at rest, while the other sheet will be taken up and played from end to end and after finishing its last composition, the rewind perforation near its rear end registers with its corresponding tracker duct 92, causing the main rewind pneumatic 89 to be collapsed, tripping the detent 87 and connecting the countershaft 7 3, 76 to the constantly driven shaft 46, thereby imparting a half turn to the cam shaft 61. By this action the two shipper levers are shifted in reverse directions, causing the roll driving gears to rewind the played sheet and take up the previously-idle sheet. After the latter has been fully played, said cam shaft receives another half turn, reversing the shipper levers to their former position and repeating said operation, and so on, until the motor is stopped.

Should it be desired to stop the roll-driving mechanism without stopping the motor, this is readily done by shifting both controlling levers 114 to stop position.

To select a composition on the idle sheet while the other continues playing, the controlling lever 114 of the idle sheet either is depressed to select position or raised to rewind position, according to the direction of travel of the sheet which will most quickly bring the desired selection next to the tracker board. If said controlling lever be shifted to rewind position for this purpose, the sheet will be propelled backward at rewind speed by the engagement of the rewind gear 51 of the corresponding shipper lever with the idler gear 44. If said controlling lever be shifted to select position, the selecting gear 112 will be raised into mesh with the constantly driven gear 47 and the take-up pinion 52 will be simultaneously lifted out of mesh with the takeup gear 45 through the connecting link 113. When the chosen piece arrives at the tracker board, the sheet is stopped by shifting said controlling lever to stop position, and when the time arrives for playing the se lected piece, the controlling lever of that sheet is shifted to play position and the controlling lever of the other sheet is shifted to rewind position to rewind the latter.

If the operator wishes to stop the playing sheet at a given place without fully rewinding it, so that it may be subsequently started ing pneumatic136 are collapsed, as herein before described, connectmg the cam shaft 61 with the driving shaft 46, reversing the positions of the shipper levers and block ing the shipper lever of the stopped sheet to prevent rewinding of the latter. The blocked shipper lever is supported in stop position by its lift bar 64 and the correspond ing cam 62 which at this time is in its intermediate or partly raised position. When it is desired to resume playing of the stopped sheet, the operator again presses said but ton 127, whereupon the shipper levers will be again reversed, causing the stopped sheet to be taken up and the other sheet to be arrested without rewinding it. Should it however be desired to rewind the idle sheet, this is accomplished by moving its controlling lever 114 to rewind position, without pressing said button.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of the music and take-up rolls, a rewind shaft having a rewind gear, a take-up shaft having main and auxiliary take-up gears, a driving gear, a shipper member carrying transmission gears driven by said driving gear and arranged to alternately engage said main take-up and rewind gears, a controlling member for said shipper member, a selecting gear actuated by said controlling member and arranged to transmit motion from said driving gear to said. auxiliary take-up gear, and means con necting said controlling and shipper members for disengaging said transmission gears from said main take-up gear when said selecting gear is shifted to operative position.

2. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of the music and take-up rolls, a rewind shaft having a rewind gear, a take-up shaft having main and auxiliary take-up gears, a driving gear, a shipper member carrying transmission gears driven by said driving gear and arranged to alternately engage said main take-up and rewind gears, a manual controlling lever, a selecting gear actuated by saidcontrolling lever and arranged to connect said auxiliary take-up gear with said driving gear, means for transmitting motion from said controlling lever to said shipper member to shift said transmission gears either to rewind or to inoperative position, and means connecting the controlling lever and said shipper member for disconnecting said transmission gears from said main take-up gear when said selecting gear is shifted to operative position.

3. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of the music and take-up rolls, a rewind shaft having a rewind gear, a take-up shaft having main and auxiliary take-up gears, a driving gear, a

shipper member movable to playing, rewind or inoperative positions-and carrying transmission gears driven by said driving gear and arranged to alternately engage said main take-up and rewind gears or clear both of them, a controlling lever, a selecting gear shifted by said controlling lever and arranged to connect said auxiliary takeup gear With said driving-gear, a lift bar movable with said controlling lever and arranged to engage said shipper member to move the same to rewind or to inoperative position, and a link connecting said shipper member with said controlling lever to dis-- connect said transmission gears from said main take-up gear when said selecting gear is shifted to operative position.

4.111 an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers each having take-up and music rolls, driving mechanism for said rolls including a driving gear and shipper members, one for each tracker, for connecting said rolls alter nately with said driving-gear, manual controlling levers for operating said shippermembers, a selecting gear for each tracker shiftable by the respective controlling lever and arranged to connect the take-up roll with said driving gear, a connection between each controlling lever and the corresponding shipper member for moving the latter to inoperative position when the controlling lever is moved to select position, actuating means for said shipper members, and means controlled by said actuating means for moving said controlling levers from select to play position.

5. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers each having take-up and music rolls, driving mechanism for said rolls including a driving gear and shipper members, one for each tracker, for connecting said rolls alternately with said driving gear, manual controlling levers for operating said shipper-members, a selecting gear for each tracker shiftable by the respective controlling lever and arranged to connect the takeup roll with said driving gear, a connection between each controlling lever and the corresponding shipper lever for moving the latter to inoperative position when the controlling lever is moved to select position, and a rotary shaft carrying reversely-arranged cams for actuating said shipper-levers and auxiliary cams arranged to engage said controlling levers to shift them from select to play position.

6. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of the music and take-up rolls, Winding and rewinding mechanism for said rolls, including a shipper member for alternately driving them, alocking member arranged to engage said shipper member in the rewind position thereof, manual controlling lever, and a lift bar movablewith said controlling lever and ar ranged to engagethe shipper member to raise the same to rewind or to inoperative position.

7. In an instrumentofthe character described, the combination of the music and take-up rolls, windingand rewinding mechanism for said rolls, including a shipper member for alternately driving them, said shipper lever having a locking pin, a locking member arranged to engage said pin in the rewind position of said shipper lever, a manual controlling lever, and a lift bar attachedto said controlling lever and arranged to engage said pin for lifting said shipper lever to rewind or to inoperative position.

8. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of take-up and music rolls, mechanism for winding and rewinding said rolls, including a shipper member for alternately driving them, said shipper member having a slot, arotary shaft having a cam, a lift bar actuated by said cam and having a pin passing through said slot, and a catch arranged to interlock with said pin for holding the shipper member in rewind position,

9. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a pair of take-up and music rolls, mechanism for winding and rewinding said rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, said member having a locking pin, a locking catch arrangedto engage said pin, a rock shaft having a trip finger arranged to engage said catch to'unlock it, and a second releasing finger arranged to bear upon said pin after the disengagement of said catch, and means for actuating said rock haft.

10. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a tracker, takeup and music rolls, winding and reWinding mechanism for said rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, actuating means for moving said shipper member to rewind position, means for holding said shipper member in said position, and means controlled by said actuating means for disengaging said holding means from the shipper member.

11. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, a controlling shaft common to bot-h trackers having reversely-arranged cams for operating said shipper-members respectively, and means for rotating said cam-shaft.

12. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of musicand take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls, including a shipper-member, a rotary shaft having reversely-arranged cams for actuating said shipper-members, a driving shaft, a clutch for intermittently connecting said cam shaft with said driving shaft, and means for controlling said clutch.

13. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper-member for alternately driving them, a rotary shaft having cams for actuating said shipper members, a driving shaft, a clutch-member geared to said shaft, a countershaft carrying a cooperating clutch member, means for connecting and disconnecting said clutch members, and means for transmitting motion from said countershaft to said cam shaft.

14. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls, including a shipper-member, a rotary shaft having reversely-arranged cams for actuating said shipper members, a driving shaft, a clutch for intermittently connecting said cam shaft with said driving shaft, and a pneumatic controlling said clutch.

15. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls, including a shipper member, a rotary shaft having reversely-arranged cams for actuating said shipper members, a driving shaft, cooperating clutch-members connecting said cam shaft with said driving shaft, means for holding said clutch members out of engagement with each other, and a pneumatic for withdrawing said holding means to allow said members to engage.

- 16. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper-member, a rotary shaft having reversely-arranged cams for actuating said shipper members, a driving shaft, cooperating clutch members connecting said cam shaft with said driving shaft, means for holding the movable member of the clutch out of engagement with the other, a spring tending to interlock the clutch members, and a pneumatic for withdrawing said holding means. 7

M 17 In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member, a rotary shaft having reversely-arranged cams for actuating said shipper members, a driving shaft, a clutch connecting said cam shaft with said driving shaft and comprising a pair of collars, a pawl pivoted to one of said collars and arranged to interlock with the other, a rocking detent arranged to hold said pawl out of engagement with the cooperating collar, and a pneumatic for withdrawing said detent.

18. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member, a rotary shaft having reversely-arranged cams for actuating said shipper members, a driving shaft, a clutch connecting said cam shaft with said driving shaft and comprising a pair of collars, a pawl pivoted to one of said collars and arranged to interlock with the other, a spring tending to move said pawl into engagement with the cooperating collar, a rocking detent arranged to hold said pawl out of engagement with the last-named collar, and a pneumatic for withdrawing said detent.

19. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member, a rotary shaft having reversely-arranged cams for actuating said shipper members, a driving shaft, a clutch connecting. said cam shaft with said driving shaft and comprising a pair of collars, a pawl pivoted to one of said collars and arranged to interlock with the other, a spring for moving said pawl into engagement with the cooperating collar, a rocking detent for holding said pawl outof engagement with the last-named collar, a spring for moving said detent to operative position, and a penumatic for withdrawing said detent.

20. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member, a rotary shaft having actuating means for said shipper members, a driving shaft, a clutch connecting said actuating shaft with said driving shaft and comprising a notched collar and a pawl arranged to interlock therewith, a detent for holding said pawl out of engagement with said collar, means for withdrawing said detent,.and means for moving the pawl away from the periphery of said collar to leave clearance between it and the collar.

21. I11 an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member, a rotary shaft having actuating means for said shipper members, a driving shaft, a clutch connecting said actuating shaft with said driving shaft and comprising a notched collar and a pawl ar ranged to interlock therewith, a detent for holding said pawl out of engagement with said collar, said detent having an incline on which said pawl is arranged to ride, means for withdrawingsaid detent, and means for for moving said pawl relatively to said incline after the disengagement of the pawl from said notched collar. I

22. In an instrument of the character de scribed, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member, a rotary shaft having actuating means for said shipper members, a driving shaft, a clutch connecting said actuating shaft with said driving shaft and comprising a notched collar and a pawl arranged to interlock therewith, a detent for holding said pawl out of engagement with said collar, said detent having an incline on which said pawl is arranged to ride, means for withdrawing said detent, a cam rotatable with said pawl, and a spring-pressed member bearing against said cam and tending to rotate it to carry the pawl over said incline.

23. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member, a rotary shaft having actuating means for said shipper members, a countershaft geared to said actuating shaft, a driving shaft, and a clutch connecting said countershaft with said driving shaft and comprising a notched collar driven from said driving shaft and a cooperating pawl mounted on said countershaft to rotate therewith, a rocking detent for holding said pawl out of engagement with said collar, said detent having an incline on which the tail of said pawl is arranged to ride, means for withdrawing said detent, a shouldered cam secured to said countershaft and a spring pressed lever having a roller bearing against the face of said cam.

24:. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls, including a shipper member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members arranged .to move one of them toward rewind position when the other moves to take-up position, and means for arresting each shipper member after moving out of take-up position and before reaching rewind position.

25. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of takeup and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism foreach pair of rolls, including a shipper member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members arranged to move one of them toward rewind position when the other moves to take-up position, means for intermit tently operating said act-uating'means, and means for arresting each shipper member after moving out of take-up position and before reaching rewind position.

26. In an instrument of the character described, the comlbination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls, including a shipper member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members arranged to move one of them toward rewind position when the other moves to take-up position, means for intermittently operatin said actuating means, means for arresting each shipper member after moving out of take-up position and before reaching rewind position, and a single controlling device for said actuating and arresting means.

27. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members arranged to move one of them toward rewind position when the other moves to take-up position, means for inter mittently operating said actuating means, blocking levers movable into and out of the path of movement of saidshipper members, and means for operating said levers.

28. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a. shipper member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members arranged to move one of them toward rewind position when the other moves to take-up position, means for intermittently operating said actuating means, blocking levers movable into and out of the path of movement of said shipper members, a rock shaft, means for operatively connecting said levers with said rock shaft, and means for actuating said shaft.

29. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members arranged to move one of them toward rewind position when the other moves to take-up position, means for intermittently operating said actuating means, blocking levers movable into and out of the path of movement of said'shipper members, a rock shaft, means for operatively connecting said levers with said rock shaft, and a pneumatic for actuating said shaft.

30. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members arranged to move one of them toward rewind position when the other moves to take-up position, means for intermittently operating said actuating means, a device for arresting each shipper member after moving out of take-up position and before reaching rewind position, a pneumatic controlling said arresting device, and a pneu matic action for said pneumatic including retaining mechanism for holding the same in collapsed condition during the operation of said actuating means and means for releasing said retaining mechanism after said operation. 7

81. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, a rotary shaft having reversely-arranged cams, lift bars engaging said cams and connected with said shipper members, and means for blocking said shipper members after moving out of take-up position and before reaching rewind position, said cams having the necessary stroke to shift said shipper members from take-up to rewind position when unrestrained by said blocking means and said lift bars being capable of continued movement independent of said shipper members after the latter have been arrested by said blocking means.

82. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, a rotary shaft having reversely-arranged cams, lift bars engaging said cams and connected with said shipper members, said bars having limited movement relative to said shipper members, blocking levers movable into and out of the path of movement of said shipper members, and means for actuating said blocking levers.

33. In an instrument of the character de scribed, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, a rotary shaft having reversely-arranged cams, lift bars engaging said cams, pin-and-slot connections between said lift bars and the shipper levers, springs connecting the lift bars and shipper levers, and means for arresting said shipper members after moving out of take-up position and before reaching rewind position.

34. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of take-up and music rolls, winding and rewinding mecha nism for said rolls, including a shipper member for driving them, said shipper member having a locking pin and a stop-pin, a locking device arranged to engage said looking pin when the shipper member is moved to rewind position, blocking means arranged to move into the path of said stop pin to arrest the movement of the shipper member toward rewind position, and means for operating said blocking means.

35. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of take-up and music rolls, mechanism for driving said rolls, including a shipper member for alternately driving them, means for locking said shipper member in rewind position, means for blocking the movement of said shipper member toward rewind position, and means for holding said blocking means out of operative position while said blocking means are in their operative position.

36. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of take-up and music rolls, winding and rewinding mechanism for said rolls, including a shipper member for alternately driving them, a locking catch for holding said shipper member in rewind position, a releasing lever for said catch, a lever for blocking the movement of said shipper member toward rewind position, a rock shaft, means for operatively connecting said levers with said shaft to hold said catch unlocked while said blocking lever is held in its operative position, and means for actuating said shaft.

37. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of take-up and music-rolls, winding and rewinding mechanism for said rolls, includin a shipper member: for alternately driving them, said shipper member having a slot, a rotary shaft having a cam, a lift bar actuated by said cam and having a pin passing through said slot, whereby said bar has a limited movement independent of said shipper member, a locking catch arranged to engage said pin, a releasing lever for said catch, a blocking lever arranged to intercept the shipper member in moving toward rewind position, and actuating means for said levers operating to unlock said catch and hold it out of operative position when said blocking lever is moved to operative position.

38. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music-rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls, including a shipper-member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members, a main rewind pneumatic controlling said actuating means, an auxiliary rewind pneumatic, means for coupling the movable members of said pneumatics, means for arresting each shipper member before reaching rewind position, a controlling pneumatic for said arresting means, a pneumatic actlon controlling said main rewind pneumatic, and a separate pneumatic action controlling said arresting pneumatic and said auxiliary rewind pneumatic.

39. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper-member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members. a main rewind pneumatic controlling said actuating means, an auxiliary rewind pneumatic, means for coupling the movable members of said pneumatics, means for arresting each shipper member before reaching rewind position, a controlling pneumatic for said arresting means, a

pneumatic action controlling said main re-' wind pneumatic, a separate pneumatic action controlling said arresting pneumatic and said auxiliary rewind pneumatic including retaining mechanism for holding the two last-named pneumatics in collapsed condition during the operation of said actuating means, and means for releasing said retain ing mechanism after said operation.

40. In an instrument of the character de scribed, the combination of a plurality of wind pneumatic, means for coupling the movable members of said pneumatics, means for automatically uncoupling said members after the collapse of the main rewind pneumatic, means for arresting each shippermember after moving out of take-up position and before reaching rewind position, a controlling pneumatic for said arresting means, and a pneumatic action for said controlling pneumatic and said auxiliary re wind pneumatic including retaining mechanism for holding the same in collapsed condition during the operation of said actuating means, and means for releasing said retaining mechanism after said operation.

41. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pairof rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members, a main rewind pneumatic controlling said actuating means, an auxiliary rewind pneumatic, a coupling catch pivoted to the movable member of said auxiliary rewind pneumatic and arranged to engage with the corresponding member of the main rewind pneumatic, automatic means for uncoupling said catch from the main rewind pneumatic afte its collapse thereof, means for arresting each shipper member before reaching rewind position, a controlling pneumatic for said arresting means, and a pneumatic action for said controlling pneumatic and said auxiliary rewind pneumatic including retaining mechanism for holding the two lastnamed pneumatics in collapsed condition during the operation of said actuating means, and means for releasing said retaining mechanism after said operation.

42. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of take-up and music rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members, a main rewind pneumatic controlling said actuating means, an auxiliary rewind pneumatic, means for coupling the movable members of said pneumatics, means for arresting each shipper member before reaching rewind position, a controlling pneumatic for said arresting means, a pneumatic action for said controlling and auxiliary rewind pneumatics, including retaining mechanism for prolonging the collapse of the two last-named neumatics, and releasing means for said retaining mechanism controlled by said actuating means.

43. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of takeup and music rolls for each tracker, wmdmg and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls including a shipper-member for alternately driving them, actuating means for said shipper members, means for arresting each shipper member before reaching rewind position, a pneumatic controlling said arresting means, and a pneumatic action for said pneumatic including retaining mechanism for prolonging the collapse thereof, a duct block, and a pallet applied to the duct of said block and arranged to be opened by a part of said actuating mechanism.

44:. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a tracker, takeup and music rolls, winding and rewinding mechanism for said rolls including a' shipper member for alternately driving them, means for holding said shipper member in rewind position, a manual controlling lever for operating said shipper member, and means actuated by said controlling lever for disen gaging said holding means from the shipper member.

45. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a tracker, takeup and music rolls, winding and rewinding mechanism for said rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, means for holding said shipper member in rewind position, a' releasing lever for said holding means, a controlling lever for operating said shipper-member, and a wedge engaging said releasing lever and operated by said controlling lever.

46. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a tracker, takeup and music rolls, winding and rewinding mechanism for said rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, a look ing catch for holding said shipper member in rewind position, a rock shaft having a trip arm arranged to engage said catch and unlock it, an actuating lever for said rock shaft, a controlling lever for operating said shipper-member, and a wedge connected with said controlling lever and arranged to operate said actuating lever when the controlling lever is moved to shift the shippermember to take-up position.

47. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a tracker, takeup and music rolls, winding and rewinding mechanism for said rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, a' rotary shaft carrying a cam for moving said shipper member to rewind position, means for holding said shipper member in said position, and a second cam on said rotary shaft for disengaging said holding means from the shipper member.

48. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a tracker, take up and music rolls, winding and rewinding mechanism for said rolls including a shipper member for alternately driving them, means for holding said shipper-member in rewind position, a releasing lever for said holding means, and a rotary shaft carrying a cam for moving said shipper member to rewind position and a second cam arranged to engage said releasing lever.

49. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for each pair of rolls,'including a shipper-member for alternately driving them, a rotary shaft having reversely-arranged cams for actuating said shipper members, means for intermittently rotating said shaft, playing mechanism, a coupler for alternately connecting said trackers with said playing mechanism, and valve mechanism controlling said coupler and operatively connected with said cam-shaft.

50. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a plurality of trackers, a pair of music and take-up rolls for each tracker, winding and rewinding mechanism for said rolls including a shipper-member for alternately driving them, a rotary shaft having a crank disk and reversely-arranged cams for actuating said shipper members, means for intermittently rotating said shaft, playing mechanism, a pneumatic coupler for alternately connecting said trackers with said playing mechanism, a slide-valve controlling said coupler, and means for operatively connecting said valve with said crank disk.

I FRANK L. MCCORMICK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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