Patent GB-191301317-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Music Writing Machines.
Inventor: FERRETTO ANDREA
IPC: B41J3/34
Filed: 1913-01-16
Granted: 1914-02-16
Abstract: 1317. Ferretto, A. Jan. 16, 1912, [Convention date]. [Addition to 1662/12.] Machines for writing music.-The machine described in the parent Specification for writing music and ordinary characters is improved by replacing the two radius-arms for controlling the platen and the printing-members by a single manipulation ; further, the type-bars are replaced by type-drums and the spacing and ruling mechanisms are improved. The manipulator preferably consists of a hollow radius-arm 104, Figs. 3 and 17, which receives a rock-shaft 138, and is formed with a forked end 105 pivoted on a vertical rock-shaft 100. The radius-arm is provided with a roller 132 which runs on the cross-bar 131 of a pivoted frame 129, 130. Platen rotation and platen scales for writing music. (1) The axle of the platen 7, Figs. 1, 3 and 5, carries loose sectors 23, 89 coupled by links 90 to cranks 91, 92 on a rock-shaft 94 journaled in the platencarriage 4. The shaft 94 is feathered to engage a relatively stationary crank 95 coupled by linkage to an arm 99, Fig. 17, on the rock-shaft 100 of the manipulator. The sector 23 is coupled to the linespacing wheel 14 by a spring-pawl 24 and the arrangement is such that the platen is coupled to the manipulator in all letter-space positions of the carriage and can be rotated to position the notes with respect to the stave by sweeping the radiusarm to the right or the left. (2) The radius-arm is formed with an index-finger 109, Figs. 3 and 17, adapted to be set with reference to a scale-plate 111 and to enter slots 108 when the radius-arm is depresse 1. Line-spacing mechanism.-The line-spacing lever 19, Fig. 5, carries a pawl 20, and is adjusted for throw by means of a stop-arm 21 provided with a locking-piece 22 adapted to engage notches in the normally stationary segment 23. The line-spacing mechanism is used in ordinary writing and for spacing between the staves in writing music. Platen couplings.- The line-spacing wheel 14, Fig. 5, is coupled to the platen-axle by means of a spring-pressed disk formed with conical projections 16 engaging apertures in the line-spacing wheel. The platen can be released by pushing inwards the platen-knob. Type-wheel actions; case-shift mechanism; keyboards.-(1) Printing is effected by two type-drums 52, 53, Figs. 1, 3 and 11, each rotatable about its axis for character selection, movable axially for case-shift and adapted to swing about a parallel axis for impression. The drum 53 is formed with three annular zones, of which the top zone bears types for the notes, accents, and like signs, the middle zone bears similar types in a smaller size, and the bottom zone bears types for the small letters and punctuation marks. The drum 53 is mounted on a square axle 73 journaled on an arm 59 of a shaft 66 which is connected by bevel-gear 79 to a rod 76 adapted on depression to swing the arm 59 through a quarter of a revolution to carry the type-wheel to impression. The drum is rotated for character selection by means of a rod 65 connected by linkage 68, 70 to a sector 71 gearing with the shaft 73. The drum is moved axially for case-shift by a rod 61 engaging a lever 57, which is pivoted on the arm 59 and engages the drum. The drum 52 is similar to the drum 53, being controlled for character-selection, case-shift, and impression by rods 220, 61<x> and 216 respectively, and being divided into three annular zones, of which the top zone bears types for printing ledger lines, marks of interpretation and the like, the middle zone bears similar types in a smaller size, and the bottom zone bears types for the capital letters and figures. (2) The keyboard, Fig. 1, is provided with six rows of keys of which, excluding special keys such as shift-keys, row I controls the ruling-devices described below, rows II and III control the drum 52, and rows IV, V, and VI control either of the drums 52, 53. The key-levers 225, Fig. 27, of rows II and III are connected by links 217 to the setting-rod 220, and are pivoted at 209 to pivoted forks 207 which are connected by a frame 214 to the impression-rod 216. The links 217 are provided with lost-motion devices arranged so that, on depression of any of the keys in rows II and III, the rod 220 is moved to select the corresponding type and the depressed key-lever 225 then bears on the fulcrum 208 of the forks and operates the impression-rod 216. (3) The key-levers 226, Fig. 29, of rows IV, V and VI are mounted like the key-levers 224 on pivoted forks 239, and are formed with eyes 221 in which can engage either of two sets of lost-motion links 222, 223 connected respectively to the setting-rod 65 of the drum 53 and the setting-rod 220 of the drum 52. The links 222 are normally in engagement but by operating a shift-key F<1> or P<1> the drum 52 is shifted axially to bring the bottom zone to the printing level, and the links 223 are coupled to the key-levers 226. In printing music, the key-levers 226 rotate the drum 53 for character-selection, but the impression-stroke is effected by depressing the frame 129, 130. In printing ordinary characters, the key-levers 226 both rotate the drum 53 and move it to impression, a shift-key G<1> setting the necessary connexions as described below. The key-levers 226 can also rotate and swing the drum 52 to print capitals, the the shift-keys F<1>, P<1> controlling the links 223, described above, aud connexions for effecting impression. For these purposes the key-levers 226 carry hooks 231 engaging a pivoted frame 233 which engages a lever 234 coupled by a link 235 to a lever 236 on the impression-rod 76. The lever 236 carries a link 237, which is slotted at 238 to engage a finger 133 on the frame 129, 130. In printing music, the depression of the key-levers 226 rotates the drum 53 through the link 222 and rocks the lever 234 to bring the bottom of the slot 238 into engagement with the finger 133, so that on depression of the frame 129, 130, the finger 133 pulls down the impression-rod 76 by means of the link 237, the link 235 being held stationary. (4) During the descent of the frame 129, 130, the ledger lines are printed by means of the drum 52, which is coupled to a series of levers 124, Figs. 1 and 3, each provided with a pawl 125 adapted to engage a hook 113 on the radius-arm 104. The arrangement is such that, when the radius-arm is set to print a note outside the stave, the hook 113 engages the corresponding lever 124 and the ledger lines corresponding to the pitch of the note are printed during the first half of the down-stroke of the frame 129, 130, the hook 113 pulling down the lever 134 and then releasing it. During the second half of the down-stroke of the frame 129, 130, the musical sign corresponding to the depressed key in row IV, V or VI is printed as described above. The hook 113 is normally clear of the pawls 125, but is swung backward into engaging position by a connexion operated by the keys in rows IV, V and VI, the connexion comprising a link 114 coupled to a slide mounted in the rock-shaft 100 and adapted to be operated by links 240, Fig. 29. (5) For printing small alphabetical characters, the shift-key G' is operated, thereby bringing the bottom zone of the drum 53 to the printing level and also rocking a book 241, Fig. 29, into engagement with a lug 242 on the link 237. On depressing any of the key levers 226, the drum 53 is set as described above, and when the key-lever engages the pivot 208 the impression-rod 76 is operated by the movement of the link 235, the link 237 being held stationary by the hook 241. For printing capitals the shift key F<1> or P' is operated, thereby bringing the bottom zone of the drum 52 to the printing level, rocking the hook 241 into engagement with the lug 242, and shifting the links 223 into engagement with the key-levers 226 and shifting the frame 233 slightly to the left so that it releases the lever 234 and engages a lever connected to the impression-rod 216 of the drum 52 A shift-key E<1> is provided for bringing the middle zones of the drums to the printing level. Alining for impression.-The type-drums are each provided with a toothed alining-wheel 74, Fig. 11, adapted to engage a projection on the framework. Roller inking - arrangements.-The type-drums are each engaged by an inking-roller 83, Fig. 11, mounted on the arm 84 of a rock-shaft 85, which is controlled through a link 81 by a cam 88 adapted to hold the roller clear of the type-drum when this is returning from the printing point. Letter-spacing mechanism.-(1) The escapementshaft 35, Fig. 24, is connected by bevel gearing 31 to a shaft 32, Fig. 3, provided with pinions 29, 30 adapted to engage one at a time with racks 27, 28 on the platen-carriage 4. The pinion 29 is larger than the pinion 30 and imparts a longer feed than the pinion 30 to the carriage, the long feed being used in writing in even time, and the short feed being used in writing in odd time. The racks are secured to pivoted frames and can be lifted by thumb-levers 40, Fig. 1. (2) The escapement is adapted for variable spacing and comprises a wheel 186, Fig. 24, splined on the shaft 187 and formed with edged teeth 189 to engage a fixed stop 191 and with crown teeth 188 to engage an arm 190 mounted to swing on the shaft 187 between a fixed stop 191<x> and a stop 192 which is adjusted in the manner described below. In writing music, the depression of the frame 129, 130 depresses the escapement-wheel 186 by means of a lever 136 which is connected by a link 135 to a rear projection 134 on the frame. The depressed escapement-wheel is locked by the engagement of the teeth 189 with the stop 191 and the arm 190 is released and swung over to the stop 192 by a spring. When the frame 129, 130 is released, the escapement-wheel rises clear of the stop 191 and engages the arm 190, the spring-drum then feeding the carriage through a space determined by the swing of the arm. The stop 192 is secured to a pinion 150 which is loose on t