Patent GB-190009913-A (GB)
Title: Improved Music Box
Inventor: VARRELMAN GEORGE
Filed: 1900-05-29
Granted: 1901-05-29
Abstract: 9913. Varrelman, G. May 29. Musical boxes.- Relates to musical boxes in which the tune-sheets used for plucking the teeth for producing the sound are automatically changed. The main wheel S' drives a pinion S, which is pivoted at S<2> on an arm S<3> projecting from a lever V, which is itself pivoted on the framing at S<4>. The lever V is connected by springs W<5> and W<6> to a second lever W, which is pivoted at W' friction - tight to the framing. The starting position is shown in Fig. 7. When the catch Y<3> is removed from the hub R<6> of a wheel R<4>, which is then in gear with the wheel S, the wheel R<4> immediately commences to revolve. This motion is shortly arrested by a tooth V<3> on the lever V entering a notch d in the hub R<6>, the movement of the lever being effected by the spring W<5>, which is then stretched. The wheel S is thus disengaged from the wheel R<4>, and thrown into gear with a wheel T, the hub of which is simultaneously released from a tooth V<4> in the lever V. A link T<4>, pivoted to the wheel T, then, with the assistance of a spring B<5>, causes a frame B to rise into the position shown in dotted lines, and a pin F which it carries is moved forwards by contact with a stop G', so as to enter a hole in the outermost of the tune-sheets D, which are suspended from a sloping bar H. The frame H raises a catch K, which allows the outermost tune-sheet to slide on to the pin F, while a catch L descends and retains the remaining tune-sheets. A pin T<7> on an arm T<6> forming a continuation of the link T' has meanwhile tilted the lever W, relaxing the spring W<5> and straining the spring W<6>, so that when, owing to the continued rotation of the wheel T, the frame B, with the tune-sheet upon it, has resumed its horizontal position, the tooth V<4> is ready to snap into a notch in the hub T<1> of the wheel T, which is thus stopped. The wheel S then again gears with the wheel R<4>, which proceeds to rotate the tune-sheet until the tooth V<3> again encounters the notch d, when the cycle of operations is repeated. The following subsidiary operations are also performed. (1) As the frame B descends, it deposits the tune-sheet on a central pivot E, which contains a catch N for securing the pressure bar M. This bar is engaged by the frame B in its descent, and closed down upon the tune-sheet. (2) Just before the frame B rises again, the catch N is released by the pin T' encountering one of the arms of a bell-crank lever 0, and the frame is then free to raise the pressure bar. (3) As the frame rises, the tune-sheet slides off it, and is deposited on a shelf i, which forms, when closed up, part of the case of the instrument. (4) When the frame B is assuming its horizontal position, a stop G withdraws the pin F, thereby allowing the tune-sheet to rotate. (5) The lever V is locked in its positions by pivoted arms U, the movements of which are controlled by the lever W and by springs U<2>. A modified form of tune-sheet changing-device is shown, in which two verticallymoving frames are used. The rod H, from which the tune-sheets are suspended, is replaced by a bead supported by a web. One of the frames receives a tune-sheet from the lower end of the bead, while the other one places the tune-sheet which has just been used on the upper end.