Patent GB-190310084-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Automatic Musical Instruments.
Inventor: MARKS GEORGE CROYDON
Filed: 1903-05-04
Granted: 1903-12-17
Abstract: 10,084. Marks, G. C., [Welin, P.]. May 4. Automatic instruments.-A mechanical player for a piano or similar instrument has its parts constructed and arranged so that it may he easily repaired and may be housed within the piano casing or concealed, except when in use. The pneumatics aud bellows are arranged below the keyboard, and the pneumatics are arranged to operate upon the strikers through short multiplying-levers so that the keys need not move. The keys are then n locked by a locking-bar which is, preferably, released when the sliding door or panel placed in front of the paper-winding devices is closed. The winding-devices are grouped together and arranged above the keyboard behind the musicdesk panel. The tracker-board pipes are, preferably, provided with joints to enable the pipes to be removed for repairs. The bellows-operating pedals are mounted in a frame, which may be hung up inside the piano casing when not in use. Each note is controlled by a distinct element or train of operative parts, independently detachable and removable without affecting the other elements. Fig. 13 shows one element which includes the main pneumatics and the controlling-valves. The lower section 50 of the valve-box has a channel 51 for connection with the tracker-board channel. The suction-chamber section 52 has a chamber 53 for connection with the suction channel of the baseboard. On the top of the suction section is the section 61 containing the controlling-valve3. These sections are fastened together by screws. The valve 63 is of ordinary construction, but may be a valve not rigidly connected to its valve-stem. The body portion of such a valve is of disc shape and is provided with a closed socket for receiving the valve-stem. The connecting-wire, between the movable section of the main pneumatic 13 and the spring-pressed lever to which it is attached, is displaceable laterally to facilitate the removal of the element. The wind motor of the instrument has the motor pneumatics and controlling-valves connected with the crank shaft in such manner that unbalanced weights are not hung upon the crank shaft. A pneumatic reversing- connection for rewinding the paper on the music roll, a regulating-belt for tensioning the paper and furnishing uniform resistance during the forward winding of the music but which is relaxed during rewinding, and a rewinding chain, which is loosened when the paper is being wound forward, but has an increased tension while the paper is being rewound, are provided. Fig. 18 shows the paperwinding mechanisms. The motor comprises three vertical pneumatics, one, 121, of which is shown in Fig. 19. A cross-channel construction is adopted for the valve ports. The movable section of each pneumatic is connected by a pitman 182 with the crank shaft 122. The slide valve 124 extends from the pitman 182. The slide valve 112 by throttling the passage between the chamber 110 and the suction passage 111 regulates the speed of the motor. The reversing-pneumatic 125 is arranged horizontally upon the base-plate Z, and engages the lever 133. which is connected to the swinging frame 134. The pinion 139 on the motor crank shaft 122 drives the winding-roll 137. On the reversing-shaft 140 is mounted the tension belt pulley 141 and the reversing chain-wheel 142, which is movable to co-operate with the fixed collar 143. The belt wheels 146, 141 have a spiral spring, tensioning the belt. The driving-chain 153, running on the wheels 142, 154, is normally quite loose, but is tightened when the rewind occurs.