Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Turning Over the Leaves of Music.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Turning Over the Leaves
of Music.
I, MICHAEL BRANEANU, of 43 Behrenstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Student of Statistics, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon
:―
Heretofore various forms of apparatus for turning over the leaves of music have
been constructed, some of which were actuated by the hand of the player and others
were worked by clockwork, in which latter case the player was only required to
start it. In both cases the apparatus could never be made to completely fulfil its
purpose, as to work it was either just as troublesome and time consuming as turning
the leaves by hand, or the apparatus was caused by the clockwork to work so quickly
that in a comparatively short time the music book became defective. It was
moreover not possible with the ordinary apparatus to turn the leaves of music in
soft paper covers.
The present invention has for its object the turning of the leaves of music books
or sheet music slowly and surely as soon as the player gives a slight tap with the
hand or foot on a lever or treadle within easy reach whereby the turning mechanism
is set in motion.
The accompanying drawings give illustrations of the method of attaching the
music book or sheets to the apparatus as well as of the construction of the latter.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the clockwork mechanism enclosed in a box, the
latter being in section.
Figure 2 represents the apparatus as seen from the rear.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 but with the plate p removed.
Figure 4 is an axial section showing the spring casing a, the main wheel b>, the
winding drum T, the mechanism S F and some of the other parts.
Figure 5 is a section of the same drawn at right angles to the spindle.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 represent in front, rear and side elevation a music book
opened and connected to a leaf turning apparatus constructed according to the
present invention.
Figure 9 represents a strong cardboard or other mount L in connection with the
same apparatus and intended to receive loose sheet music.
Figure 10 represents the parts of the apparatus which turn the leaves over.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 E is a board or plate, to the front of which the music book
is attached and which also supports the driving mechanism at the rear, which latter
in this case consists of a clockwork protected by a box y, z, and comprising two
plates ppl connected together at a given distance apart by four pillars i fixed in
the plate p and retaining the plate p by means of cross pins, the spindle d. d' which
is rigidly connected with the ratchet wheel S (see Figures 4 and 5) of the winding
drum T, and to the disc o, carries the drum k for the reception of the music
turner, M M and H, Figure 10, as well as the main driving wheel b with the
ratchet pawl K and spring F. The shaft d d' is mounted in the spring casing a
which is screwed to the plate p and is surrounded by the winding drum T.
The spring A forms the motive power of the clockwork. The riband a is
attached to the outer periphery of the winding drum T and the arrangement is
such that by pulling the ribanda by hand after setting the clockwork in motion the
apparatus is again wound up.
The wheel gears with the pinion c on the spindle e on which latter is also fixed

page_text: another wheel gearing with the pinion g on the spindle g¹, and this latter is
provided with a fly h to regulate the speed of the driving wheel.
The spindle u is rigidly connected to the pawl and the lever s as also to the
tube u.
The pawl acts in connection with the two teeth on the disc o and it is
by means of the levers and spring / continuously pressed against the disc thereby
ensuring its proper action.
The tube u is provided with an internal screw thread to receive the lever s¹ by
means of which the mechanism is set in motion. m is a guide roller supported in
brackets n. n' to guide the leaf turner H on to the drum k.
The whole mechanism is fixed by means of screws to the board or plate E
shown at Figures 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 carrying the music book and having at the back
four hooks D, D' for the purpose of keeping the music book in position. The said
hooks are made adjustable to suit various sizes of books. In order to avoid
the necessity for an extra music stand the propecting casing is provided with
struts B to support it as represented at Figures 7 and 8. The music book as
shown at Figure 6 has to be perforated close to the central fold and the leaves
must be strengthened with linen, parchment or other suitable material so that the
holes P cannot become enlarged.
The leaf turner proper, Figure 10, moves in the said holes and consists of a cord
or string H having attached to it at certain intervals, india rubber cross rods M M'
which latter are able, on the string being pulled, to turn the leaf over without
slipping through the hole P¹, but they may in consequence of their elasticity, easily
be pulled through the leaves on the left side of the book which had already been
turned over.
When only sheet music is used, the music turner is fixed to a piece of cardboard
or other suitable stiff material L Figure 9 which is provided with elastic bands j
for holding the music sheets.
The music turner acts in the following manner.
The music book or piece is attached to the music leaf turner by means of
the four hooks D. D₁ and the clockwork is wound up by pulling the winding
riband .
The leaf turner proper H, which is provided at one end with a small ball
and at the other with a threading in needle, is then inserted in the book from the
back in such manner that one of the india rubber cross rods M is retained between
every leaf.
The other end with the ball or knot is now inserted in the drum k by passing the
ball through one of the holes in the drum and slightly pulling it. If the string is
found to be a little too long it only requires to loosen by hand the nut on the
screwed end of the spindle d so that the drum k is lifted by the spring F¹ to release
it from a square on the spindle which forms the coupling when the drum can be
turned round to obtain the required tension.
When it is intended to turn a leaf the lever s' is slightly depressed whereby the
string His wound on the drum k in such a manner that each india rubber rod pulls
a music leaf over.
The construction of the clockwork is arranged so as to produce a slow and sure
turning of the leaf. After having turned the leaf, the clockwork has finished its
function which is determined by the ratchet mechanism and o, and comes to rest.
The operation is repeated each time for turning a leaf. If it should be required to
recommence with the same piece or any other part of the music book, it will be
necessary to pull the winding riband x so as to wind up the clockwork which
operation will at the same time uncoil the leaf turner H from the drum k so as to
be ready for use again in turning the leaves. If the music is on sheets unbound it
is preferable to use the mill-board or other support L before mentioned and to perform
just in the manner herein before described.
If the music leaf turner is used in connection with an instrument which has no
music stand attached to it, the present leaf turner can also be used as such by
simply resting it on the leg or strut B.

page_text: If the instrument being played is of such a character that the player cannot
without interruption of his playing take his hand off, as in the case of the violin
for example, one end of a cord can be attached to the lever s¹ whilst the other
end is attached to a small treadle lever on the floor, by these means when it is
desired to start the music leaf turner it is sufficient to touch the treadle with the
foot.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1. In means or apparatus for turning over the leaves of music, the music leaf
turner consisting of a string or cord actuated by clockwork, and which is passed
through holes in the music hook or leaves and is provided at certain distances with
small india rubber cross rods for turning the music leaf substantially as herein
shown and described.
2. In connection with the music leaf turner hereinbefore described the com-
bination therewith of a clockwork mechanism having a drum k which is started, by
means of a pawl lever acting upon a ratchet wheel, to take up the cord H,
and another drum on which the winding riband x is wound automatically during
the working of the clockwork mechanism substantially as herein shown and
described.
3. In means or apparatus for turning the leaves of music the combination and
arrangement of the various parts substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In means or apparatus for turning the leaves of music the various improve-
ments substantially as herein shown and described.
MANICHIURI 1030
MICHAEL BRANEANU,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.