US877721A - Mechanically-operated musical instrument. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908.

E. H- KLABER.

MEOHANIUALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-14, 1906.

3 SHEETSSHEBT l.

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No. 877,721. PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. B. H. KLABER.

MEOHANIOALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14. 1906.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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No. 877,721. PATENTED JAN. 28, 190s'.- E. H. KLABER.

MEGHANIGALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14, 1906.

3 SHEETS- SHEET 3.

Q2 (D N $3 7% 1275756519 N 1/611 for UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMILE HERZ KLABER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOE TO AUGUSTUS DAVID KLABER, OF

LONDON, ENGLAND.

MEGHANICALLY-OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1908.

Application filed August 14, 1906. Serial No. 330.5%.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMILE HERZ KLABER, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at 94 Regent street, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ltlechanically-O p erated Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to mechanically operated musical l]'.lSl)1.L1l116l1tS, such as pianos and the like, of the type in. which a perforated. music sheet passes over a tracker bar. It is desirable in such instruments that the at tachment or fitting comprising the tracker bar, music winding and re-winding devices and so forth should be disposed below the keyboard so as to avoid inconvenience when operating the piano by hand and for other reasons but although various devices of the type indicated have been proposed these have commonly possessed the defect that the music sheet is not conveniently seen when in operation and thus the expression marks and other indications on the music cannot be followed.

The object of the present invention is to overcome this difliculty by the provision of an attachment or device which although disposed in the desired position below the keyboard nevertheless allows the music to be readily seen when the piano is operated.

The present invention thus consists in an attachment or device of the type indicated having as its main feature an arm or frame pivoted or mounted below the keyboard of the instrument and adapted on the one hand to be swung out and so allow the music to be readily seen when the instrument is in operation, and on the other hand to be returned or Withdrawn below the keyboard when not require d.

The invention preferably also comprises as subsidiary features a second pivoted swing arm or frame and a slidably mounted tracker bar, the nature and functions of which will be hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification :Figure 1 shows a front view of one form of the invention in its operative position; Fig. 2 being a corresponding end view and Fig. 3 an inverted plan, while Fig. 4, shows an end view 4 of the devlce in its inoperative pos1t1on.

In carrying the mventlon into effect according to one form as applied by way of eX- ample to a piano, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, I provide a plate, 0, adapted to be screwed or otherwise fastened below the keyboard, 6, of the piano, and below this plate I slidably mount a second plate a, carrying the tracker bar proper, (1, provided with the usual tubular attachments, e, or the like. Slots, f, in the plate, a, are shown engaging with screw pins, 9, in the plate, a, so as to allow the required sliding motion, but any other suitable device may be substituted. I also mount on the plate, a, brackets, h 7L2, to which I pivot arms, t t rigidly connected by a bar, 76, and carrying at their free ends the usual clip pivots, m m for holding the music roll. Co-axially with these arms, i i but rotatable independently, I mount a second pair of arms, n n similarly connected by a bar, 0, and carrying the take-up roller, r, on to which the music sheet is wound when the piano is actuated. The arms, n 17., also carry small rollers, s 3 adapted to engage with spring clips, 29, t mounted on brackets h, 7%, and so hold the arms, n '0 in their operative posltlon.

The roller, r, is provided with the usual hook, u, or the like for the attachment of the music sheet and has rigidly secured to it the gear wheel, 4), adapted to mesh with the pinion, w, carried by the motion shaft, w. This shaft is operated from any suitable source of power by means for instance of the sprocket, 2, attached to it and is moreover slidable longitudinally in. bearings provided for the purpose in the brackets, 7L 7L2.

Loose on the shaft, 90, I provide a chain wheel, 2, prevented from moving longitudinally by means of the bent plate, 3, or the like secured to the bracket, h and engaging With the circumferential groove, 4, formed on the hub portion of the chain wheel, 2. The chain wheel, 2, is connected by the chain, 5, to a compound chain wheel, 6, pivoted co-aXially with the arms, t t and n a and likewise rotatable independently, the chain wheel, 6, being in turn connected by means of the chain, 7, passing over suitable rollers, 8, carried by the arm, 6 to a corresponding wheel, 9, secured to the clip pivot, m

To the plate, a, a lever, 10, is pivotally secured at the point, 11, and carries a project- (ppm-Pn- 2 011 /4].

ing pin, 12, or the like adapted to engage between two collars, 13, 1t, attached to the shaft, (1;. pin, 15, adapted to co-aet with a corresponding pin, 16, fixed to the hub portion of the chain wheel, 2, operation of the lever, 10, i V to be clutched to or unclutched from the motion 1 shaft, at, as required, the pinion, it, being at thus enabling the chain wheel, 2,

the same time thrown out of or into gear with the roller wheel, 11. A quick return motion of the music sheet on to the roller from which it has been unwound is thus secured.

The action of the complete device is as follows: If it is desired to operate the piano, the arms, t i are swung out from their inoperative position below the keyboard, (see Fig. r) into the operative position shown in Fig. the position of the tracker bar being also changed as shown in. the same figures.

A roll of music is then inserted between the 1 clips carried by the arms, L1, t", and the end of the roll is secured to the hook, it, on the roller, 2; the arms, a 21 carrying this roller, which have been swung out from below the keyboard for this latter purpose are then. returned and secured by the spring clips, P, i this motion serving also to stretch the music sheet over the tracker bar into its operative position. The mechanism may then be set in operation and when desired, by actuating the lever, 10, may be reversed thus re-wind l ing the music sheet at an increased speed on to the roller from which it has been drawn as explained above. then be removed and the arms, i, i and the tracker bar returned to their inoperati 0 position below the keyboard.

The usual tempo regulating devices and the like may also be arranged in conjunction with the device above described, so as to fold back below the keyboard when not. required.

Itwill be seen that with the mechanism thus constructed the music-sheet is in plain view during the operation of playing the piano mechanically and the operator may readily see the expression marks thereon.

Also when the mechanism for operating mechanically is not in use, it may be moved back under the keyboard so as to be not only 1 out of view but also removed to such position 1 that it will not be in the way of a person sitting at the piano to performthereonmanually. For this reason there is little danger of accidental injury to the mechanism. Further advantages charz'tcteristie of this construction result largely from mounting the tracker independently of the swinging frame these are that shorter lengths of tubing leading to the tracker are required and there is less slack tubing when the tracker is j Bv in the retracted or inoperative position. the provision of a second swinging frame for the take-up roll, the latter may be located One of these collars, 13, carries a i The music roll may:

under the keyboard but can be swung out beyond the keyboard to facilitate attaching the end of a roll thereto.

' Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a. frame pivotally mounted on the casing thereof below the keyboard, means on said frame for supporting a roll for a music-sheet, said frame being adapted to be swung about its pivots to carry said roll i from a position below the keyboard to an operative position above the same, a tracker mounted on said casing below the keyboard independently of said frame, and. a second roll for the music-sheet mounted on the side of said tracker opposite that of-said lirstnamed roll when the latter is in the operative position, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a frame pivotally mounted on the casing thereof below the keyboard, means on said frame for supporting a roll for a music-sheet, said frame being adapted to be swung about its pivots to carry said roll from a position below the keyboard to an operative position above the same, a tracker mounted to slide upon said casing below the keyboard independently of said frame and a 1 second roll for the music-sheet mounted on i the side of said tracker opposite that of said 1 first-named roll when the latter is in operl ative position, substantially as described.

I). The combination of a keyboard musical 1 instrument, a frame pivotally mounted on l the casing thereof below the keyl'ioard, l means on said frame for supporting a roll y for a music-sheet, said frame being adapted to be swung about its pivots to carrysaid roll from a position below the keyboard to an operative position above the same, a tracker mounted on said casing below the keyboard independently of said frame, and a second roll for the music-sheet mounted below the keyboard of the instrument, substantially as described.

it. The combination of a. keyboard musical instrument, a frame pivotally mounted on the easing thereof below the keyboard, means on said frame for supporting a. roll for a music-sheet, said frame being adapted to be swung about its pivots to carry said roll from position. below the keyboard to an operative position above the same, a tracker mounted to slide upon the casing below the keyboard so that its edge projects beyond the keyboard and second roll for the musicsheet mounted below the keyboard, substantially as described.

The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, two frames imlepemlently pivoted on the casing thereof below the keyboard, means on each of said frames for supporting a roll for a music-sheet and a tracker swam to coact with the music-sheet on said rolls, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, two frames pivoted on the casing thereof below the keyboard and adapted to swing about the same axis, means on each of said frames for supporting a roll for a porting a roll for a music-sl'leet, each of said frames being adapted to be swung on its pivots to carry the roll thereon forward. of the keyboard, and a tracker to coact with a music-sheet on said rolls, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a frame pivotally mounted on the casing tl'lGIGOf below the keyboard, means on said franiie for supporting a roll for a music-sheet, said frame being adapted. to be swung about its pivots to carry said roll from a position below the keyboard to an operative position above the same, a tracker mounted on the casing below the keyboard, a second frame pivotally mounted on the casing below the keyboard, and means on said frame for supporting a roll for the musicsheet, substantially as described.

9, The combination. of a keyboard musical .instrumcnt, a frame pivotally mounted. on the casing thereof below the keyboard, means on said frame for supporting a roll for a musicsheet, said frame being adapted to be swung about its pivots to carry said roll from a position. below the keyboard to an operative position above the same, a tracker mounted to slide upon. the casing below the keyboard so that its edge projects beyond the keyboard, a second frame pivotally mounted. on the casing below the keyboard and means on said. frame for supporting a roll for the music-sheet, substantially as described.

10. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a tracker .mounted below the keyboard and projecting beyond the forward edge thereof, means for supporting a roll for a music-sheet in operative position above the keyboard and means for supporting a second roll for the music-sheet in operative position under the keyboard, substantially as described.

11. The. combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a tracker mounted below the keyboard and projecting beyond the forward edge thereof, a frame pivotally mounted below the keyboard, means thereon for supporting a roll for a music-sheet, said frame being adapted to be swung about its pivots to carry said roll to operative position above the keyboard, and means for supporting a second roll for the music-sheet in operative position under the keyboard, substantially as described.

12. The combination of a keyboard musical instrun'ient, a tracker mounted below the keyboard and projecting beyond the forward edge thereof, a frame pivotally mounted below the keyboard, means thereon for supporting a roll for a music-sheet, said frame being adapted to be swung about its pivots to carry said roll above the keyboard, a second frame pivotally mounted below the keyboard and means on said frame for supporting a roll for a music-sheet, substantially as described.

12). The combination of a keyboard musi cal instrument, a tracker mounted on the casing thereof below the keyboard. with. its edge projecting beyond the edge of the keyboard, means for supporting a roll for a music-sheet in operative position under the keyboard, and means for supporting a roll for the music-sheet above the tracker in such position that a music-sheet passing from one of said rolls to the other coacts with said tracker, substantially described.

141. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a tracker mounted to slide on the casing thereof below the keyboard to and from a position in which it projects beyond the edge of the keyboard, means for supporting a roll for a music-sheet under the keyboard, and means for supporting a roll for the 1nusic-sheet above the tracker in such position that a music-sheet passing from one of said rolls to the other coacts with said tracker, substantially as described.

15. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a tracker mounted to slide on the casing thereof below the keyboard to and from a position in which it projects beyond the edge of the keyboard, means for supporting a roll for a musicsheet under the keyboard, a frame pivotally mounted below the keyboard, and means thereon for supporting a roll for the music-sheet, said frame being adapted to be swung about its pivots to carry the roll thereon above the tracker to such position that a music-sheet passing from one of said rolls to the other coacts with said tracker, substantially as described.

16. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, two frames pivotally mounted below said keyboard one inde endently of the other, means on each 0 said. frames for supporting a roll for a music-sheet, each of said. frames being adapted to be swung about its pivots to and from an operative position, a clamp for holding one of said frames in the operative position, and a tracker coacting with a music-sheet passing from one of said rolls to the other, substan tially as described.

17. In a mechanically-operated, keyboard,

musical instrument, the combination of a keyboard, two frames pivotally mounted below the same and adapted to be independently swung about their pivots to and from operative positions, means on each of said frames for carrying a roll for a music-sheet, a gear for driving one of said rolls, a gear mounted on the casing of the instrument independently of said frames and means for driving the same, and a clamping device for holding the parts in a position in which said gears are in mesh, substantially as described.

1-8. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a frame pivotally mounted in the casing thereof below the keyboard, means on said frame for supporting aroll for a music-sheet, said frame being adapted to be swung about its pivots to carry said roll from a position below the keyboard to an operative position above the same, means for driving a roll carried by said frame a tracker mounted on said casing below the keyboard independently of said frame, and a second roll for the music-sheet mounted on the side of said tracker opposite that of said first.- named roll when the latter is in the operative position, substantially as described.

it). The. combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a tracker mounted on the casing thereof below the keyboard with its edge projecting beyond the edge of the keyboard,a frame pivot-ally mounted below the keyboard, means thereon for supporting a roll for a music-sheet, said frame being adapted to be swung about its pivots to carry said roll above the tracker, means for supporting a second roll for the music-sheet under the keyboard, and means for driving said lastnamed roll, substantially as described.

20. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a tracker mounted on the casing thereof below the keyboard with its edge projecting beyond the edge of the keyboard, means for supporting a roll for a music-sheet in operative position under the ke\ board, means for supporting a roll for the music-sheet in operative position above the 1 tracker in such position that av music-sheet 1 i i l sical instrument, a tracker mounted to slide on the casing thereof below the keyboard to and from a position in which it projects beyond the edge of the keyboard, means for supporting a roll for a music-sheet under the keyboard, a frame pivotally mounted below the keyboard, means thereon for supporting a roll for the music sheet, said frame being adapted to be swung about its )ivots to carry the roll thereon above the tracker to such po sition that a music-sheet passing from one of said rolls to the other coacts with said tracker, and means for driving one or the other of said rolls, substantially as described.

22. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, two frames pivoted on the casing thereof below the keyboard, means on each of said frames for supporting a roll for a music-sheet, said frames being adapted to be swung about the same axis to carry the rolls thereon from operative to inoperative positions, means for driving one or the other of said rolls when in the operative position, and a tracker to coact with. a music-sheet passing from one of said rolls to the other, substantially as described.

23. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a tracker mounted in operative position upon the casing of the instrument, said tracker lying adjacent to the under surface of the keyboard of the instrument and being incapable of movement above that surface, its operative edge proj ecting beyond the forward etlge of the keyboard, and rolls for a music-sheet located in operative position one above said tracker and the other below and under said tracker and keyboard, substantially as described.

24. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument, a tracker mounted to slide on the casing thereof below the keyboard to carry its operative edge beyond the forward edge of the keyboard, and means for drawing a music-sheet across the operative edge of the tracker, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMILE HERZ KLABER.

\Vitnesses:

BERTRAM H. MATTHEws, FRANCIS J. BIGNELL.

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