IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR TURNING OVER SHEETS OF MUSIC
Year: 1885

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR TURNING
OVER SHEETS OF MUSIC" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to apparatus for enabling a musical performer to turn the
sheets or leaves of a piece of music without the aid of the hands, and has for its
object to provide a music leaf turner of such a description, that when placed on
a piano, an organ or other instrument the leaves of a music book, may not only
be turned over during the playing, leaf after leaf, in one or the other direction,
but a leaf just turned over in one direction may immediately be turned back
again. The improved apparatus is operated by turning a roller with the foot in
the required direction.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 illustrates a mode of fixing the improved music leaf turner on an
upright piano.
Figure
a front view, and
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the said apparatus.
The remaining Figures are views of details hereinafter described.
The said music leaf turner comprises a plate A from which projects or project
one or more angular ears B (see Figure 4) by means of which the music leaf turner
may be fixed in an inclined position, for instance on an upright piano-see
Figure 1.
To the plate A two side plates C C¹ are fixed in any suitable manner, between
which extends a spiral or screw D, attached at one end to the side plate C, its
other extremity entering a hole in the side plate C₁. Upon this spiral or screw
are placed a number of collars E, from each of which extends an arm F. The said
collars E are capable of being turned half a revolution and in their extreme.
Prins
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the said apparatus.
The remaining Figures are views of details hereinafter described.
The said music leaf turner comprises a plate A from which projects or project
one or more angular ears B (see Figure 4) by means of which the music leaf turner
may be fixed in an inclined position, for instance on an upright piano-see
Figure 1.
To the plate A two side plates CC₁ are fixed in any suitable manner, between
which extends a spiral or screw D, attached at one end to the side plate C, its
other extremity entering a hole in the side plate C₁. Upon this spiral or screw
are placed a number of collars E, from each of which extends an arm F. The said
collars E are capable of being turned half a revolution and in their extreme.

page_text: positions the said arms rest against stops G, the top edges of which are inclined as
shown in Figure 4.
To the arms F are attached movable sockets H, shown drawn to an enlarged
scale in Figure 5, to which sockets forks of steel wire I are attached. In order
that these forks may be retained upon the arms in the positions to which they have
been adjusted, there is in each socket a spring K, and in order to facilitate the
shifting of these sockets on the said arms they may be provided with buttons L
or the like.
A series of springs M corresponding in number to the arms F are attached to
one end of the plate A; the extremities of the said springs bear against the edges
of the collars E which are flattened on two sides as shown in Figure 8 in order
that the springs may retain them in their extreme positions. Through the centre
of the spiral or screw D passes an angular shaft N having bearings in the side
plates CC. On this shaft slides a socket O shown in Figure 6, provided with
a stud P of such a size as to permit it to extend between the threads of the spiral
somewhat beyond the surface thereof as shown in Figures 7 and 8. By turning
the shaft N the socket which rotates therewith is caused to move, by means of the
spiral, longitudinally upon the shaft.
In each collar E is formed a spiral groove Q through which the stud P passes as
it slides along the shaft N. Thus, in turning the shaft N in one direction, the said
stud impinges against one face of the groove Q and turns the collar with its arm
half round. By continuing to turn the shaft in the same direction it will, in the
same manner, turn the next following arms, until all the arms have been turned to
the same side, for instance to the left. By continuing to turn the shaft N the
stud P may be caused to enter a slot in the side plate C¹, so that the arms may be
turned by the hand in either direction, independently of the mechanism. In the
same manner the said stud may be caused to enter a slot in the side plate C when
the result will be the same.
In order to turn back one or more leaves, if, for instance, three leaves have been
turned to the left, the shaft N is turned in the opposite direction a number of
times corresponding to the number of leaves to be turned over.
In order to be able to put loose unattached leaves of music in this music leaf
turner, I provide the particular arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 9. It
consists of a bent steel wire R fixed in a support S. From this support projects a
single steel wire T placed centrally and somewhat in front of the bent wire R. The
support S is provided with a stud u of quadrangular or other similar shape which
is introduced into a support V attached to the plate A. The music sheets are
introduced between the wires R and T, and each leaf, except the exterior ones, is
introduced into its respective fork I in the order desired.
In order to retain the exterior leaves so that they do not follow the other leaves
when turned over, there are two wires or pins X movable in guides at the ends of
the plate, which are pushed up so as to lie above their respective leaves.
From the above description it will be easy to understand, how the leaves are
turned over, in turning the shaft N in one or the other direction.
In order to effect the turning of the shaft, several different means may be
employed. That represented in Figure 1 is intended as an example. As here
shown, the shaft N is, by means of two universal joints Y and an intermediate
shaft, connected with an upright shaft a, descending between two keys on the
key-board and extending slightly below the key-board. The bottom of this shaft
is provided with a chain pulley b over which passes an endless chain c. This chain
passes into the case of the instrument, being guided by four pulleys d; it leaves
the said case near the floor, and passes over another chain pulley e, attached to the
same shaft as a roller f of india rubber or other suitable material placed on either
side of the pedals and supported by a bracket. It will be evident that if this roller
be turned by the foot in one or the other direction, the shaft N will also turn in
the same direction.
j

page_text: Instead of passing the chain into the case of the instrument it may pass through
a tube extending towards the floor and attached to the bottom-side of the
key-board. This tube contains the necessary pulleys for supporting and conducting
the chain and is at the bottom provided with the aforesaid roller.
In order that such a tube may be applied to an upright or a grand pianoforte,
the said tube may be made in two parts of which one is pushed into the other and
fixed with a screw.
Toothed or friction gearing from the foot-roller to the upright shaft a may be
used in lieu of the chain hereinbefore described.
When the cover of the key-board of the piano is required to be closed, the
leaf-turner must be taken away, together with the universal joints, so that only the
upright shaft remains.
In order to be able to rapidly turn the arms of the music turner, a movable rack
may be attached to the underside of the key-board, which rack is provided with a
downwardly projecting knob, so that it may be pushed forwards and backwards by
the knee of a performer. This rack is normally out of gear and only pushed
inwards against and into gear with a small pinion on the shaft a when it is desired
to turn the leaves rapidly. Instead of a rack and pinion, a friction wheel may be
employed.
It is evident that the music-turner may be provided with a greater or lesser
number of arms, that their lengths may be varied, and that the forks may be bent
in the plane of the music sheet, without departing from the nature of this
Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
First. In a music sheet or leaf turner, a spiral or screw D arranged between two
projecting ears C C and through which passes an angular shaft N carrying a
socket O, having a stud P, the said stud acting in the grooves Q of the collars E,
which are movable around the spiral D and acted upon by the springs M, the said
collars being provided with arms F which bear against inclined stops G, and the
said arms with movable sockets H having the forks I and springs K, substantially
as shown and described.
Second. The device for holding loose sheets of music substantially as described
with reference to Figures 2 and 9 of the Drawing, in combination with the movable
pins or wires X for retaining the exterior music leaves.
Third. The arrangement described with reference to Figure 1 of the Drawing for
applying the music leaf-turner to an instrument, and for effecting the turning of
the shaft N by means of a roller placed near the floor and adapted to be operated
by the foot, in combination with the arrangement for rapidly turning over the
leaves, as set forth.
Fourth. The music sheet or leaf turner substantially as shown and described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.