Patent GB-142950-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for repeatedly winding and unwinding rolls of flexible material particularly applicable to mechanically operated musical instruments
IPC: G10F5/06
Filed: 1919-02-21
Abstract: 142,950. Wade, H., (Mills, H. S.). Feb. 21, 1919. Monogrammic signs.-Means for feeding a perforated control sheet or the like in an automatic electric sign, are constructed so as automatically to govern the winding speed of an electric motor, and to transfer the drive from the winding-roll or the like to the take-up roll, or vice versa, when the sheet has been completely unwound from one or the other, so that the sheet is repeatedly wound to and fro. During re-winding, the motor is automatically accelerated, and the contact brushes of the action are moved away from the sheet. The invention is described as applied to an automatic musical instrument. The motor shaft may be provided with a fly-wheel, from the face of which project two studs cushioned by rubber sheaths. These studs engage a crossbar on a worm-shaft, the worm and worm-wheel being enclosed in a flat casing made in two parts, one of which has a bracket attached to the frame of the apparatus. Fast on the worm-wheel shaft is a sleeve 87, Figs. 4 and 18, having an arm 89 in which is pivoted a dog 92. From opposite sides of the dog project studs 95, 96. In the position shown in Fig. 18, the stud 95 is driving a crank pin 69 on the shaft 62 of the take-up roll, but, when the dog is tilted to the position shown in Fig. 4, this stud is disengaged and the other stud 96 drives a pin on a toothed wheel 86, which is loose on the worm-wheel shaft 84 and geared through an idler with the music-roll spindle. A spring-urged friction-piece 90 prevents accidental tilting of the dog on its pivot. On the dog is a lug 93 which, when the motor reverses to re-wind the sheet on to the music-roll and the shaft 84 rotates counterclockwise, Fig. 4, collides with a spring-controlled lever 229 on the frame. Thereby the dog first is thrown over into the position shown in Fig. 4, to drive the music-roll shaft, and then turns the lever 229 so that a bent-up portion 230 thereon pushes a leg 221 off a stop 224, on which it has previously rested by means of a notch 223. The leg 221 is pivoted and spring-connected to an arm 217 projecting outside the framework of the machine from a pivoted frame carrying the contact-brushes, and can also be operated by a handle in changing the tune sheet. A spring 218 draws the arm 217 down so as to remove the brushes from the tune sheet, when the leg 221 is disengaged from the stop. When the motor again reverses, the curved end of a second leg 237 which has previously been idly deflected at each revolution, engages the lug 93 and tilts the dog into its first position for driving the take-up roll. Further motion of the shaft 84 causes the lug to lift the leg 237 and swing the brush frame into the operative position, the first leg then slipping on to the stop again. A spring plunger 238 and curved surface 239<1> guide the lug 237. A contact-roll co-operating with the brushes and driven by the tune-sheet is coupled by bevel gear 168, Fig. 6, to a vertical shaft 170 carrying a weighted governor lever connected to a sliding collar 176. A contact-brush 178 adapted to engage the collar is carried by a pendulum on an arm 183 pivoted at 184 and adjustable by a screw 188. The contact closes a circuit in shunt to a resistance 303, Fig. 40, in the motor circuit when the speed of the tunesheet lessens. Also bearing against the lower face of the collar 176, Fig. 6, is a lever 192, the end of which moves near a scale 190 to indicate the speed. During re-winding, the resistance is permanently shunted by an arm 239, Figs. 4 and 40, on the brush frame, meeting an adjustable plunger contact 241. Reversal of the motor is effected by two solenoids 306, 307. One of these, 307, is connected to an extra contact brush 203 which enters a special tune-sheet perforation when the sheet is completely unwound from the musicroll. The other solenoid 306 is connected to a contact 259. A feeler-arm 249 carrying a roller which bears on the sheet on the take-up roll has at its outer end a trip contact 251 which snaps off an accurately-adjusted stop 258 on to the fixed contact 259 when the take-up roll is nearly empty. It is advisable to make the tune-sheet long enough to make several turns around the take-up roll before the perforated portion is reached, to ensure proper action of the feeler and switch. The solenoid acts on a sliding bar 304, 308 connected to one supply conductor and having inlet into it an insulating block 309 with an inset contact 310 connected to the motor armature. Spring plungers 317-320 engaging the bar 308 are connected as shown to the motor field coils 330 and to the solenoids 306, 307, so that, when either solenoid is excited, it reverses the current in the field coils and then cuts itself out of circuit. Fig. 35 shows the switch in detail. The sliding bar is provided with cushioning stops 327, and with a handle 326. A pin 311 attached to the insulated contact 310 works in a slot in the bracket 322, and is connected thereto by a flex 323. On the driving- shaft 105, Figs. 29 and 30, of the music-roll is a fast collar 108 surrounded by a loose sleeve 109 and provided with a notch and ball 110 to form a one-way clutch. Pivoted spring-pressed arms 115 are fitted with brake blocks bearing on the sleeve, so as to tension the sheet during playing. A plunger is pressed against the flange of the takeup spool to produce the required resistance in rewinding. The drive-shaft 105 of the music-roll works in ball bearings in a sleeve 106, secured in the frame by a long screw 107<1>, Fig. 4. The shaft has a pointed end 121, Fig. 29, to enter the end of the music-roll 123, and carries two spring plungers 124, the ends of which are received by either of two pairs of holes set 90 degrees apart in the roll. At its opposite end the music-roll has a pintle 129, Fig. 10, which rests on two rollers 130 shown in plan and abuts against a locked adjustable screw 142. The rollers and screw are mounted in a plate 145, which can move through a limited angle about pivots 133, and is drawn inwards by a spring. The plate moves outwards during insertion of a music-roll, the perforated end of which is first engaged with the driving-shaft. Ribs 147, 146 on the frame and plate, guide the pintle into place. The take-up roll is fitted with stub shafts on which are collars adjustably secured by set screws and forming the cone parts of ball bearings. The roll comprises a cast aluminium core having a recess in which is fitted a peg 58, Fig. 39. A ring 60 on the tune-sheet is slipped over the peg after depression of a wire spring catch 59. The top of the peg is flush with the surface of the roll. The contact-roll 148, Fig. 32, is provided at each end with a central recess for a shaft and an eccentric hole for a headed pin secured to a collar on the shaft. One shaft is movable axially in its ball bearings, being pressed inwards by a spring. The other shaft revolves in ball bearings in a frame supporting the governor mechanism above described. The contact roll is grooved to receive the brushes, each of which consists of a wire 203 bent double, as shown in Fig. 34, after threading through a small plate 205. The wire works in a tube 198 having a groove for the plate 205 which is cut away to accommodate an adjusting nut 208. The tubes are arranged in staggered fashion in an insulating bar 197 on the brush-holder. Near the contact-roll the brushes are guided by an insulating- comb 209, and are retained therein by a rubber tube 210<1>.