Year: 1886

page_text: We, EUGEN WELLNER, locomotive superintendent of Leipzig, and EMIL PRAGER,
Manufacturer, of Gohlis, both in the Kingdom of Saxony, do hereby declare the
nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
Music works, in which music sheets are employed, are mostly so arranged, that
either very long music bands are used, which are automatically wound on and off,
or sheets, the ends of which are connected to each other, or circular sheets.
The improved instrument is so arranged, that strip shaped music sheets, the
extremities of which are not connected with each other, are introduced repeatedly
and mechanically, whereby music pieces can be at pleasure repeated. The arrange-
ment required for this purpose is as follows:
The music sheet is introduced in a guide groove between a pair of transporting
rollers mounted on the top of the musical box and is thereby conducted over the
valve operating pins, after which the sheet slides into another guide and disappears
through a slit into the interior of the casing. From the slit extends into the
casing a guide surface, which is so curved, that the end of the music sheet presses
constantly upon the surface of the guide and slides forward, whereupon it at length
enters again the guide situated before the transporting rollers.
The travel being slightly shorter, than the music sheet proper, the two extre-
mities of the music paper are always regularly close to each other; the fore end
enters as soon as the rear end has left the rollers. The shifting effect, taking place
therewith, is produced by a music-sheet-fold situated in the path of the sheet, so
that even when the rear extremity of the music sheets has come cut, the fore end
is completely shifted in again.
The music sheet may be transported by rolls or wheels.
When the music sheet is intended to come out of the instrument, that is to say,
when the music piece is not to be repeated, a flap placed in the path of the sheet,
is opened, whereby the sheet is turned outward and comes slowly out of the
casing.
This arrangement is applicable to all music works, which play with music sheets,
the two extremities of which are not connected.
In a modified form the bellows and the mechanism may be contained in a room
or receptacle, which is enclosed by a separate path of the music paper.

page_text: The path of the music sheet may be prescribed by two curved grooves, which
run round the mechanism of the bellows, and are arranged at the walls of the
casing of the instrument. The sheet is introduced into the instrument and sliding
in a pair of grooves, it is so transported by the driving roller, that the two ends
of the music sheet are always contiguous and are kept together by providing one
end with a tongue and the other with a corresponding recess, so that the pins
of the mechanism are always pressed down, when the introduced music piece is
repeated, and the rim of the music sheet cannot be pushed against the whole row
of the pins.
To allow the music sheet to get out of the instrument, the lifting fingers are
employed. The latter are situated on an axle which is provided with an arm held
by a stop and so pressed after being released, by a spring, that the fingers press
softly against the inner surface of the music sheet and lift the music paper, when
the fore-end of the same passes, so that it is not again introduced into the recess,
but projects from the instrument, the music sounding until the music sheet has
completely left the instrument.
The music sheets, moved and guided in the manner described above, may, instead
of moving the valve operating levers, act on a bell work.
In this case the movement of the music sheet is effected by means of a radial
driving arm which is mounted on the central axle and catches with its fore end
into an opening of the music sheet. The said arm pulls the music sheet slowly
over the pin-rows, and the latter act on a series of inclined levers, which cause the
hammers to strike.
The music-sheet is guided laterally by an angle rail and a round bead, whereby
the points of the levers must always fall into the corresponding note perforation.
The said radial arm or driving lever seizes the music sheet in the middle, for which
purpose the hammer mechanism is divided into two parts, between which the
hammer may rotate.
The key levers are not directly connected with the hammers, but they carry
a hinge-piece, which acts upon the hammer-lever, which is influenced by a spring.
The instrument is actuated by means of a crank and worm-axle.
The arrangement may also be so chosen, that the bells or the sound plates are
placed outside the casing of the instrument.

page_text: opened and the sheet allowed to come alowly out of the casing as shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 1.
This arrangement is applicable to all musical works which play
with music sheets, the two extremities of which are not connected.
In a modified form the bellows and the mechanism may be contained in a space
or receptacle which is enclosed by a separate path of the music paper. The path of
the music sheet may be prescribed by two curved grooves g. g¹ which run round
the mechanism of the bellows K and K' and are arranged on the walls F of the
casing of the instrument. The sheet A is introduced into the instrument and
sliding in the grooves g g¹, is so transported by the driving rollers C C that the
two ends of the music sheet are always contiguous and are kept together by
providing one end with a tongue and the other with a corresponding recess so that
the pins of the mechanism are always pressed down when the music piece is
repeated and the rim of the music sheet cannot be pushed against the whole row
of the pins.
To allow the music sheet to pass out of this instrument, the outlifting fingers h
are employed, the latter are situated on the axle i which is provided with an arm k
held by a stop and so pressed after being released, by a spring m that the fingers
press softly against the inner surface of the music sheet and lift the music paper
when the fore end of the same passes, so that it is not again introduced into the
recess, but projects from the instrument, the music continuing until the music sheet
has completely left the instrument.
The music sheets, moved and guided in the manner described, may, instead of
moving the valve operating levers, act on a harmonicon or on a bell work as shown
in Figs. 7 to 10.
The movement of the music sheet is effected by means of a radial driving arm L
which is mounted on the central axle e and catches with its fore end into an
opening o of the music sheet. The said arm L pulls the music sheet, slowly over
the pin rows and the latter act on a series of inclined levers 7 which cause the
hammers to strike.
The music sheet is guided laterally by an angle rails and a circular bead t, so:
that the music sheet is always correctly guided over the points of the levers. The
said radial or driving arm L seizes the music sheet in the middle, for which
purpose, the hammer mechanism is divided into two parts, between which the arm
may rotate.
The key-levers r¹ are not directly connected with the hammers but they carry a
hinge piece p. which acts upon the hammer lever, which latter is influenced by the
spring n.
The instrument is actuated by means of a crank with worm v.
The arrangement may also be so chosen, that the bells N or the harmonicon
plates P are placed outside the instrument.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is;
1.) In mechanical musical instruments, a music sheet travel G with guides B
and D for receiving a music sheet whose ends are not connected together,
and enabling the same to be played repeatedly substantially as illustrated and
described.
2.) In mechanical musical instruments the arrangement of the bellows K, K¹, K",
and flap mechanism within a space surrounded by the music sheet A guided in
grooves g g¹.
3.) In combination with a music sheet A. surrounding the bellows K K K
and flap mechanism; fingers hh elastically pressed against the lower surface of
the music sheet by means of the spring m substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.

page_text: 4.) In mechanical musical instruments having a cylindrical music sheet, or one
arranged as a cylindrical sheet a driving arm L on shaft e set in rotation for
moving said music sheet, substantially as illustrated and described.
5) A mechanical bell series, the hammers M of which are set in action by the
perforated music sheet, substantially as illustrated and described.
6.) The combination of key levers r springs u and rods
substantially as and for the purpose described.
with the hammers n