Patent GB-190117662-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Automatic Musical Instruments.
Inventor: WESER JOHN ALBERT
Filed: 1901-09-03
Granted: 1901-11-16
Abstract: 17,662. Weser, J. A. Sept. 3. Automatic instruments.-The invention relates to automatic devices for playing a keyboard instrument, and has special reference to pianofortes. The keys 20 are operated by stickers 19, which are thrust against them by shoes 18 when the latter are brought into frictional engagement with a continuouslyrotating roller A. The shoes are brought into contact with the roller by levers 15, which are operated by the tune-sheet through links 14 and rotatable cranked rods E. The rods E and other parts of the apparatus are contained in a drawer which pulls out for the purpose of changing the tune-sheet. The above parts are not claimed as new, the improvements relating to the following particulars :-(1) The rods E are mounted in a frame one side of which is oblique to suit their differing lengths. The oblique side is shown at 28, Figs. 4, 5, and 18. The sides of the frame are rotated as shown, and the rods E are held therein by a notched rail 30, and are padded with felt strips 31, 32. The rods are operated by levers D, the upper ends of which pass through holes in the tune-sheet B. (2) The tune-sheet passes from a storage roll H to a take-up roll G, between a plate 25, which is perforated to allow the levers D to pass through, and a presser-bar J, which is notched to receive the ends of the levers. The presser-bar is acted upon by a spring which tends to press it upwards, but is held down upon the tune-sheet by an adjustable wire 47 which comes into contact with the casing of the instrument when the abovementioned drawer is pulled out. The tune-sheet is guided at each side by plates 34 pivoted on adjustable supports 37, 38, which are linked together so that they can be simultaneously moved and clamped by a screw 42. The plates 34 are situated exactly opposite the points of the levers D, so as to guide the part of the tune-sheet which is in immediate operation. (3) Provision is made for varying the tempo and expression independently, by gearing the roller H and the take-up roller G to the actuating-motor by separate systems of reversely-coned pulleys and straps. (4) The stop action is shown in Fig. 4, and consists of a lever 64 with a projection 63 which engages with a hole in the tune-sheet. The lever 64 actuates another lever 67, which pushes the take-up roller endways against a spring and disengages it from its driving- pinion 22. A lever 85 is then pushed forward by a spring 86, and engages with the take-up roller G and holds it in its disengaged position. The following operations then take place :-The storage roller H is thrown into gear with a driving-pulley 75, which is connected by a band with the gear 22, and the tune-sheet commences to be re-wound. Before the tune-sheet becomes entirely disengaged from the roller G, a lever 95 engages with the tune-sheet. This releases the lever 64, and also the roller G, while the roller H is disengaged from its pulley 75. While the tune-sheet is being re-wound, the levers D are depressed by a plate carried on links 108, 109 and moved by a projection 107, which is operated by the lever 67. On the completion of the re-winding operation, the tune is repeated. (b) The apparatus can be controlled by the action of a coin. The driving-spindle 119 carries two discs 120, 121, which are insulated from one another, but can be connected electrically by a coin inserted through a slot 122. The disc 121 has a hole 126 through which coins of less than the proper size drop without starting the apparatus. Coins of the proper size, however, make contact and start the motor which carries the discs round while the tune is being played until the coin comes round to the bottom, when it drops out. The circuit is now broken, but the instrument is kept going by an alternative circuit which is closed by the tune-sheet as soon as it has started. The Specification shows a tune-sheet adapted for playing three tunes. The instrument stops after each tune, and requires the insertion of a coin to re-start it. The circuit-closing device is disconnected from its contacts 137, 138 when the drawer is pulled out, and the gears 21, 22 are also separated.