IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PERFORATING PAPER OR SIMILAR MATERIAL TO BE USED IN AUTOMATIC OR MECHANICAL ORGANS OR HARMONIUMS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake;
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PERFORATING PAPER OR SIMILAR
MATERIAL TO BE USED IN AUTOMATIC OR MECHANICAL ORGANS OR
HARMONIUMS." A communication from abroad by the Automatic Music
Paper Company, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lako at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1881.
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN. MACHINERY FOR
PERFORATING PAPER OR SIMALAR MATERIAL TO BE USED IN AUTOMATIC OR
MECHANICAL ORGANS OR HARMONIUMS." [A communication from abroad by the
Automatic Music Paper Company, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America.]
This Invention relates to further improvements in the class of machinery described
in the Provisional Specification filed with my petition for Letters Patent on the
26th day of February, A.D. 1881, No. 834.
. According to the present Invention, in order to obtain a more accurate feed-
movement of the paper sheet and stencil, I provide apparatus consisting of an
extended frame supporting a flexible belt passing over rolls at each end, said belt
being provided with a detachable clamp, whereby the paper, or the paper and
stencil together, may be attached to the surface of the belt at any point, an
intermittent or step-by-step motion, being given to the belt, whereby the paper
drawn through the machine and submitted to the action of the punches.
I also provide mechanism for automatically cutting the rack in a blank stencil-
sheet, the arrangement being such that the blank stencil-sheet is fed to the
rack-cutting punches by the same mechanism which at the same time is feeding
the paper sheet to the perforators. The rack is cut by suitable punches arranged
and operated in the manner hereinafter described.

page_text: In the process of preparing a stencil-sheet it is necessary to divide its surface
into equal parts or spaces before it passes into the hands of the composer, who lays
off upon the surface the various sound openings or perforations designating their
relative position and length by suitable marks upon the sheet, the openings being
afterward cut by a mallet and punch. In order to enable him to correctly arrange
these openings with relation to each other, as well as to fix the length of each
cutting, it has heretofore been customary to draw a series of transverse lines upon
the surface of the sheet separated by equal intervals and exactly parallel with each
other. This work has always required the utmost care, since the harmony of the
music and the entire execution depend upon the accuracy with which the sound
openings are arranged and cut. Heretofore this ruling of the stencil-sheet has
been done by hand, it is found however that the constant repetition of the parallel
lines has a tendency to confuse the eye of the operator and cause inaccuracy, even
with the utmost care; moreover, hand labor of this kind is so slow and requires
such attention that it adds largely to the cost of producing the music-paper. I
therefore provide mechanism for automatically marking the surface of the blank
stencil-sheet with as many series of dots or points as there are different series or
rows of cuttings or perforations to be formed therein. This is accomplished by a
number of pencils or marking-points set in a reciprocating frame and brought after
each feed-movement into contact with the stencil. When finished, the surface of
the sheet will show a number of dots arranged in exactly parallel lines, both
longitudinally and transversely, with equal intervals between. Each longitudinal
row of these dots is located exactly in the line of a row of the perforations, and
the interval between any two of the marked points or dots is equal to the space
cut out by a single stroke of the perforating punch, or, in other words, to the length
of the shortest note or sound-opening used.
I will first proceed to describe that portion of my present Invention by which a
rack is cut in the stencil-sheet, and its surface is marked to prepare it for the
composer.
Above the die and stripper-plates between which the paper sheets pass I place a
support for a second stripper-plate extending from side to side of the machine, and
having two die-plates, one at each side. In the same series of perforating-punches
I place two rack-cutting punches, one being placed at one end, and the other at
the opposite end of the line of paper-cutting punches. These rack-cutting punches
are in all respects similar to the perforating-punches, except in size and length,
being about twice as long and somewhat smaller, to correspond exactly with the
size and shape of the teeth upon the ends of the stencil-roll. Upon the back of
each punch is formed a tooth, and adapted to engage with the yoke in the same
manner.
Upon each end of the carrier-frame is mounted a dog directly beneath the rack-
cutter which is placed at that end of the line of punches. These dogs are similar
to the dogs which operate the paper-cutting punches, and are provided with arms,
the ends of which are slightly bent or curved outward, their extremities being
provided with pins. Upon each end of the stencil roll is a disc having notches or
cavities formed in its periphery. These notches are located at equal distances from
each other, and are placed exactly opposite to the teeth on the ends of the stencil-
roll.
By curving the dog arms outward the pins upon their extremities are brought
directly over the notched discs, and it is evident that as the stencil roll revolves
these pins will fall at regular intervals into the notches in said discs, and will
thereby cause the dogs to engage with the rack-cutting punches and operate said
punches.
The blank stencil-sheet is fed over the bed-plate its two edges passing under
die-plates. It may be taken from a roll mounted in standards, which for the sake
of convenience I place nearly over the roll from which the paper is taken. The
edges of the blank stencil-sheet pass beneath the die plates, while nearly the entire
surface of the sheet is exposed, and the rack cutting punches are in the same

page_text: vertical plane with the teeth on the ends of the stencil-roll. The stripper and
bed-plates rest upon solid supports bolted to the side standards of the machine.
A socket bearing is formed in each of these supports to receive a pin passing down
through the die-plate into the block upon which said plate is mounted, and adapted
5 to move smoothly up and down in its socket. Upon these pins is mounted a
horizontal bar or support consisting of two metal plates separated from each other
by blocks inserted between the ends of the plates and bolted in place by nuts upon
the pins. A series of perforations is formed in the plates, and vertical wires or
marking-pencils, are placed therein supported at a suitable height by washers
> attached to each pencil and resting upon the lower plate. Between these washers
and the upper plate are placed spiral springs by which the pencils are forcibly held
down, while at the same time they will yield to any upward force strong enough
to compress the said springs. The blocks are extended outward, and receive the
ends of two vertically-reciprocating rods, one on each side of the machine. The
blocks are attached to these rods by nuts. A projecting plate is attached to each
side of the machine at some distance below the bar or support, and between the
blocks and said plates is placed a strong spiral spring surrounding the rod. These
springs sustain the support at such a height that the pencils are suspended with
their points a short distance above the bed-plate.
The supporting frame is reciprocated vertically by means of the rods or bars
which are linked at their lower ends to a lever having one of its ends pivotted to
the machine. A cam on the main shaft of the machine vibrates this lever, and at
each revolution of the shaft this cam draws the rods downward, depressing the
support far enough to bring the points of the pencils into contact with the bed-plate
over which the blank stencil-sheet is fed. The springs yield sufficiently to bring
every one of the pencils into perfect contact with the sheet.
The number of pencils corresponds with the number of perforating-punches, and
each wire marks in the exact line of cut of the corresponding punch below.
The manner of feeding the blank stencil-sheet is such that each step movement
imparted thereto is equal to the space or length of a single cut of the perforating
punch. It follows therefore that the blank stencil-sheet after passing through the
machine will appear with a rack cut near its edges, and its entire surface being
marked with a series of dots arranged at exactly equal distances apart longitudinally,
said distance between any two dots being equal to the length of a single cut of the
paper-perforators, and therefore indicating the length of the shortest sound-opening
formed in the sheet. In other words, this perforation will represent a note of the
lowest value as music is ordinarily written upon the staff. Prepared in this manner
the blank stencil-sheet is ready to be delivered to the composer, who lays off upon
its surface any given musical composition. His markings are made in the different
longitudinal lines of dots in the manner well known to thoso acquainted with the
art. The sheet is afterwards perforated by a hand-stamp or punch, the operator
cutting out the spaces marked by the composer. When finished it is ready to be
put upon the machine, and from this stencil or pattern any number of music
sheets may be cut by the automatic mechanism described in my said former
Specification.
Instead of wires, carbon pencils may be used, or any other marking devices
adapted for the purpose. When wire points are used, sheets of impression paper
may be laid under them, but this is not essential because the sharpened points of
the wires indent the surface of the paper sufficiently to render their markings very
distinct.
I may add that the marking of the stencil-sheet, as above described, may be
effected in a machine having no special apparatus for that purpose by merely
passing the sheet over the stencil-roll, and marking it by the pins on the arms, or
by means of pencils secured to said arms. These arms, being lifted by the yoke at
every revolution of the shaft, and immediately lowered after the stencil is fed
forward, are adapted to be used for marking in the manner described, although the
process is considerably longer, and moroover the perforating mechanism cannot be

page_text: used while the stencil is being marked, whereas in my present Invention any
number of blank stencil-sheets may be prepared without interrupting the perforating
mechanism at all.
"
In feeding the paper sheet it has been found by experience that difficulty may be
met in using the feed-rolls described in my said former Specification, since a very
slight inequality in the paper or in the surfaces of the feed-rolls may give a side
twist or " skew
to the paper, and as the feed-rolls revolve farther this inaccuracy
will increase, or else the sheet will wrinkle in recovering its proper position, and
the feed-rolls will press each wrinkle into a fold, and very likely tear the sheet
before it again straightens.
After considerable experiment it is found that the best method of feeding the
paper through the machine is by clamping it to a flexible belt, which will draw the
sheet through between the die and stripper a single step at a time. For this
purpose I provide devices constructed as follows:-In front of the machine I erect
a strong framework extending some distance from the machine. Any suitable
standards may support this structure, but it should be braced and bolted to the
flooring to render it firm and steady. The top of the frame is upon a level with
the stripper plate, so that the paper sheet may pass from the machine upon a
horizontal plane, or nearly so. The top of said frame is composed of two parallel
strips, at each end of which is journalled a roll having its top in or about in the
plane of the upper side of said strips. These strips are adapted to support a long
endless belt. This belt is constructed of separate slats of wood rivetted near each
end to flexible or elastic strips of metal. The slats are placed close together, there
being but a small space between, and each end of every slat is shod with a small
rectangular plate of metal which projects somewhat beyond the extremity of the
slat. The length of the said slats is somewhat greater than the width of the blank
stencil-sheet, and, the projecting metal plates attached to the ends of the said slats
rest upon the edges of the strips. At the extreme end of the frame is a roll having
at its ends discs which are notched at intervals, said notches being adapted to
receive the ends of the metal plates. It is from this roll that the belt receives
motion, and these notched discs by engaging with the slats of the belt prevent the
latter from slipping on the roll.
At frequent intervals upon the belt a slat is provided with elongated metal tips
or plates having the prolonged portion bent upward and then inward, or toward
each other.
To attach the paper sheet to the belt I use a clamp of peculiar form. This clamp
is composed of a bar of wood a little longer than the slats, said bar having a small
flat metal plate fastened to and projecting outward from each end of the bar, the
plates being attached to one vertical side of the bar, so that they stand in a vertical
plane. At the centre of the bar are placed two upright plates, between which is
mounted a cam bearing against a pin placed loosely in a socket in the bar. While
the upper end of this pin bears against a cam the lower end rests on a thin steel
plate, fastened at one end by a screw or rivet to the bar, and having the other end
free. In order to fasten the paper sheet to the belt the sheet is laid upon the slats
of the belt, and the clamp-bar is placed upon it at a point where lies one of the
slats having prolonged and upwardly-bent plates. The ends of the bar are inserted
beneath the inwardly-bent ends of these plates until the metal pieces or plates
come in contact with plates, care being taken to place the small flat metal plates
upon the side of the plates farthest from the machine, so that the pull of the paper
sheet shall draw against the plates. When the bar is in position the cam is turned
down, whereby the steel plate is firmly clamped against the sheet, the upward
pressure of the cam being resisted by the hooked ends of the one set of plates.
The slats of the belt may be made of a single piece of metal cast in the proper form,
and connected to each other by a chain instead of an elastic strip; or a heavy
strip of cloth may be used, and the feed-rolls at the end of the frame may be
covered with rubber; or, again, a large drum nay be used, the paper being clamped
to its periphery in the same manner in which it is fastened to the belt. The

page_text: stencil-sheet blank may also be clamped to the belt in the same manner, and may
be fed to the rack-cutters and markers by this same belt at the same time that the
paper sheet is fed to the perforating-punches. In order to accomplish this an idler-
roll is journalled in standards at the end of the frame nearest the machine, the
lower side of the roll being far enough above the belt to permit the passage beneath
it of the blank stencil-sheet and one or more paper sheets. The edge of the bed-
plate is curved slightly, and the stencil-sheet blank is carried therefrom down to
and under the roll, and being laid upon the feeding-belt upon the top of the paper
sheet it is clamped down by a fastening-bar in the manner already set forth. I
thus accomplish an important result in securing a feed for the blank stencil-sheet
which corresponds exactly to the feed of the paper-sheet, while I am able also to cut
the paper and to prepare the stencil at one and the same time.
The flexible belt passes over the rolls at the ends of the frame, and its weight is
partly sustained beneath by an idler-roll. To give motion to the belt I employ a
pawl-and-ratchet feed. A pitman passes from the main shaft of the machine to
the distant end of the frame, whero it engages with a pawl-carrier mounted on the
shaft of roll, and having an eye through which the extremity of the pitman passes.
Upon the end of the latter, which is screw-threaded for some distance, nuts are
placed, one upon each side of the eye. By causing these nuts to approach or
separate from each other the throw of the pawl may be regulated, and the rate of
feed-movement of the belt correspondingly varied. It may be desirable, owing to
the length and weight of the pitman, to attach to the frame a support, within
which the end of the rod may play. It is obvious that in using this feed an
operator must attend the machine to affix the clamps, which must be removed from
the belt when they reach the roll, a second clamp having been previously affixed at
the end nearest the machine. In this way the paper sheets and the stencil may be
allowed to run off the belt upon the floor, where they may be rolled up as the
perforated strips increase in length. According to my present Invention I feed the
stencil in a manner different from that described in my said former Specification.
Instead of taking it from a pay-off roll, I let the sheet lie loosely upon the floor in
a roll; thence it passes over the stencil-roll to the take-up roll. The stencil-roll is
driven by a pawl-and-ratchet feed. The take-up roll also is revolved by a belt
passing from a pulley on the main shaft to a pulley on the shaft of the roll.
In passing to the stencil-roll the stencil-sheet may run over a narrow table, and
by placing one or more light blocks of wood upon the sheet to create a little friction
it may be drawn tightly down upon the stencil roll.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake. in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th September 1881.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
PERFORATING PAPER OR SIMILAR MATERIAL TO BE USED IN AUTOMATIC OR
MECHANICAL ORGANS OR HARMONIUMS." A communication from abroad by the
Automatic Music Paper Company, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America.
This Invention relates to further improvements in the class of machinery
described in the Specification of my former Letters Patent, dated February 26th
A.D. 1881, No. 834.
In the Specification of the said former Letters Patent I have shewn and described
mechanism for feeding the paper sheets to the perforating punches. As therein
shown the said mechanism consists substantially of two rolls, between which the
paper passes, the said rolls being tightly pressed together. By the friction or
gripe of these rolls upon the paper it is drawn step by step above the perforating
punches, the revolution of the rolls being effected by means of a pitman on the
main shaft by which intermittent motion is given to a pawl-carrier vibrating upon
the shaft of one of the feed-rolls. A pawl, mounted upon this carrier, is adapted
to engage with a ratchet-wheel rigidly mounted on the shaft of the roll, and the
throw of this pawl is regulated by nuts which may be adjusted upon a screw-
threaded portion of the pitman, in the manner therein fully set forth. I have
stated in that Specification that the utmost accuracy is necessary in the con-
struction and combination of these parts as it is absolutely essential to secure the
highest degree of precision in the step-by-step movement or feed imparted to the
paper sheet.
In the movement or feed of the stencil or pattern sheet a similar
precision is equally necessary. In order therefore to obtain a more accurate feed-
movement of the paper sheet and stencil I provide, according to my present
Invention, a feeding apparatus consisting of an extended frame supporting a flexible
belt passing over rolls at each end, the said belt being provided with a detachable
clamp, whereby the paper, or the paper and stencil together, may be attached to
the surface of the belt at any point, an intermittent or step-by-step motion being
given to the belt whereby the paper is drawn through the machine and submitted
to the action of the punches.
In the Specification of the said former Letters Patent I have also shown and
described mechanism for imparting a feed-movement to the stencil or pattern
sheet. This, as shown, is accomplished by the revolution of the stencil-roll over
which the pattern-sheet passes, and with which it engages by teeth or cogs placed at
or near the ends of the said roll and engaging with a rack or series of perforations
formed near each edge of the stencil-sheet. It is obvious that great care must be
taken in forming the rack in order that each one of the series of perforations shall
register with the corresponding tooth on the stencil-roll, as the least irregularity
would either displace the sheet or cause it to slip on the roll, causing thereby a
corresponding error in the arrangement of the perforations cut in the paper sheet.
I therefore now provide and incorporate with my improved perforating-machine
mechanism for automatically cutting the rack in a blank stencil-sheet, the arrange-
ment of the said mechanism being such that the blank stencil-sheet is fed to the
rack-cutting punches by the mechanism, which, at the same time, is feeding the
paper sheet to the perforators. The rack is cut by suitable punches arranged and
operated in the manner hereinafter described.

page_text: In the process of preparing a stencil-sheet it is necessary to divide its surface
into equal parts or spaces before it passes into the hands of the composer who lays
off upon the surface the various sound openings or perforations, designating their
relative position and length by suitable marks upon the sheet, the openings being
afterwards cut by a mallet and punch. In order to enable him to correctly arrange
these openings with relation to each other as well as to fix the length of each
cutting, it has heretofore been customary to draw a series of transverse lines upon
the surface of the sheet separated by equal intervals and exactly parallel with each
other. This work has always required the utmost care since the harmony of the
music and the entire execution depend upon the accuracy with which the sound-
openings are arranged and cut. Heretofore this ruling of the stencil-sheet has
been done by hand. It is found however that the constant repetition of the
parallel lines has a tendency to confuse the eye of the operator and cause inaccuracy
even with the utmost care. Moreover hand-labor of this kind is so slow and
requires such attention that it adds largely to the cost of producing the music-paper.
I therefore, according to the present Invention, provide, in combination with the
perforating and rack-cutting mechanism, an apparatus for automatically marking
the surface of the blank stencil-sheet with as many series of dots or points as there
are different series or rows of cuttings or perforations to be formed therein. This
is accomplished by a number of pencils or marking points set in a reciprocating
frame, and brought after each feed-movement into .contact with the stencil. When
finished the surface of the sheet will show a number of dots arranged in exactly
parallel lines, both longitudinally and transversely, with equal intervals between.
Each longitudinal row of these dots is located exactly in the line of a row of the
perforations, and the interval between any two of the marked points or dots is
equal to the space cut out by a single stroke of the perforating punch, or, in other
words, to the length of the shortest note or sound-opening used.

page_text: engagement with their punches when the pins m drop through perforations in the
stencil, and, on the other hand, being held out of engagement with the punches so
long as the pins m rest upon the unperforated portions of the said stencil L. The
dogs G are mounted upon a reciprocating carrier-frame M, which is driven upward
between the feed-movements of the stencil and the paper-sheet. By this upward
movement all those dogs which are in engagement with any of the punches f
operate the said punches by driving them up through the paper while the other
punches not engaged by the said dogs remain idle. After each stroke the dogs G
are all withdrawn from beneath the punches, and the arms H raised by means of a
yoke attached to a yoke-carrier P which is mounted by a spring P¹ upon the
carrier-frame M. A pivotted lever P", actuated by a cam a on the main shaft,
throws the yoke-carrier P backward as soon as the carrier frame M descends,
thereby causing the yoke p to retract all the dogs G and raise all the arms H so as
to lift the pins m clear of the stencil until the latter has been fed a single step
forward. As soon as this feed-movement is completed the cam a leaves the
lever P¹¹ and the spring P¹ throws the yoke p forward allowing the arms H to drop
and bring their pins. m into engagement with the stencil, thereby effecting a new
selection of the perforating-punches. The arms H are drawn downward by either
spiral springs & beneath the said arms, or by light leaf-springs secured to the
carrier-frame M and bearing against the rear edges of the pivoted doge G. The
punches after each stroke are drawn downward by a yoke n which strikes against
a tooth o upon the back of each punch. This yoke n is attached to the carrier-
frame M, and the descent of the said carrier after each stroke draws all the punches
down and clears them from the paper sheet in time to permit its being fed one step
forward.
In the Specification of the said former Letters Patent I also describe mechanism
for imparting intermittent rotary motion to the stencil-roll and to the feed-rolls for
moving the paper, but this portion of the said machine requires no specific mention
as it forms no part of my present Invention.
I will first proceed to describe that portion of my present Invention by which a
rack is cut in the stencil-sheet, and its surface is marked to prepare it for the
composer.
Above the die and stripper-plates E, F, between which the paper sheets pass, I
place a support for a second stripper-plate T, extending from side to side of the
machine and having two die-plates T one at each side, as shewn in Figures 2 and 5.
In the same series of perforating punches f I place two rack-cutting punches f',
one being placed at one end and the other at the opposite end of the line of the
paper-cutting punches f. These rack-cutting punches f¹ are in all respects similar
to the perforating-punches, except with regard to dimensions, they being about
twice as long and somewhat smaller at their end to correspond exactly with the size
and shape of the teeth e upon the ends of the stencil-roll K". Upon the back of
each punch f¹ is formed a tooth similar to the tooth o (see Figure 5) adapted to
engage with the yoke n in the same manner.
Upon each end of the carrier-frame M is mounted a dog g directly beneath the
rack-cutter which is placed at that end of the line of punches. These dogs 9 are
similar to the dogs G which operate the paper-cutting punches, and are provided
with arms H¹ the ends of which are slightly bent or curved outward, as seen in
Figure 2, their extremities being provided with pins similar to the pins m on the
arms H. Upon each end of the stencil-roll K" is a disc D¹ having notches or
cavities a, a, formed in its periphery. These notches are located at equal distances
from each other, and as will be seen by reference to Figures 2 and 6 are placed
exactly opposite to the teeth e on the ends of the stencil-roll.
By curving the arms H' outward the pins upon their extremities are brought
directly over the notched dises D', and it is evident that as the stencil-roll Kч
revolves these pins will fall at regular intervals into the notches in the said disca
and will thereby cause the dogs g to engage with the rack-cutting punches f¹ and
operate the same.

page_text: The blank stencil-sheet L' is fed over the bed-plate T, its two edges passing
under the dio-plates T, T. It may be taken from a roll Os mounted in standards A³
which, for the sake of convenience, I place nearly over, the roll B from which the
paper
is taken.
It will be observed, by reference to Figure 2, that the edges of the blank stencil-
sheet pass beneath the die-plates T,'T, while nearly the entire surface of the sheet
is exposed for a purpose hereinafter described. It will also be observed, by reference
to the same Figure, that the rack-cutting punches f' are in the same vertical plane
with the teeth e on the ends of the stencil-roll.
The stripper and bed-plates T, T, and T¹ rest upon solid supports A³, bolted to
the side standards A. of the machine. A socket-bearing is formed in each of these
supports A³ to receive a pin H³ passing down through the die-plate T into the
block upon which the said plate is mounted and adapted to move smoothly up and
down in its socket. Upon these pins His mounted a horizontal bar or support G
consisting of two metal plates g³, g³, separated from each other by blocks D, D',
inserted between the ends of the said plates and secured in place by nuts H³, H³,
upon the pins H³, H. A series of perforations are formed in the plates g³, I³,
and vertical wires or marking-pencils W are placed therein and supported at a
suitable height by washers d attached to each pencil and resting upon the lower
plate g. Between these washers and the upper plate 92 are placed spiral springs n³
by which the pencils are forcibly held down while at the same time they will yield
to any upward force strong enough to compress the springs n².
The blocks D are extended outward and receive the ends of two vertically
reciprocating-rods Is'one on each side of the machine. These blocks D' are attached
to the said rods by nuts a', a'. A projecting plate m³ is attached to each side of
the machine at some distance below the support G³, and between the blocks D' and
the said plates m³ is placed a strong spiral spring N³ surrounding the rod I³. These
springs sustain the support G at such a height that the pencils W are suspended
with their points a short distance above the bed-plate T¹.
The supporting-frame G is reciprocated vertically by means of the rods or bars I²
which are linked at their lower ends to a lever M³ having one of its ends pivoted
to the machine. A cam K³ on the main shaft of the machine vibrates this lever,
and at each revolution of the shaft this cam draws the rods downward depressing
the support G² far enough to bring the points of the pencils W into contact with
the bed-plate T, over which the blank stencil-sheet is fed. The springs n²
yield sufficiently to bring every one of the pencils into perfect contact with the
sheet.
I have already directed attention to the fact that the rack-cutting punches fl
are in the same vertical plane with the teeth e upon the ends of the stencil-roll.
It will also be noticed that the number of poncils W corresponds with the number
of perforating punches f, and that each wire marks in the exact line of cut of the
corresponding punch below (see Figure 2). It should be remarked that, for the
purpose of clearly showing the perforating mechanism, I have illustrated in the
Drawing two of the perforating-punches only, although the number usually
employed is from fourteen' (14) to thirty-nine (39). Whatever the number may be
the marking-pencils W should correspond therewith.
I shall describe hereinafter the manner of feeding the blank stencil-sheet,
whereby each step movement imparted, thereto is equal to the space or length of
a single cut of the perforating-punch. It follows therefore that the blank stencil-
sheet, after passing through the machine, will appear as shown in Figure 7 of the
Drawing, a rack being cut near its edges and its entire surface being marked with
a series of dots arranged at exactly equal distances apart longitudinally, the said
distance between any two dots being equal to the length of a single cut of the
paper-perforators, and therefore indicating the length of the shortest sound opening
formed in the sheet. In other words this perforation would represent a note of
the lowest value, as music is ordinarily written upon the staff. Prepared in this
manner the blank stencil-sheet is ready to be delivered to the composer, who lays
.

page_text: .
off upon its surface any given musical composition. His markings are made in the
different longitudinal lines of dots in the manner well known to those acquainted
with the art. The sheet is afterwards perforated by a hand-stamp or punch, the
operator cutting out the spaces marked by the composer. When finished it is
ready to be put upon the machine, as shown at L, Figure 5, and from this stencil
or pattern any number of music-sheets may be cut by the automatic mechanism
described in the Specification of the said former Letters Patent.
Instead of the wires W carbon pencils may be used, or any other marking
devices adapted for the purpose. When wire points are used sheets of impression
paper may be laid under them; but this is not essential, because the sharpened
points of the wires W indent the surface of the paper sufficiently to render their
markings very distinct.
I may add that the marking of the stencil sheet as above described may be
effected in a machine having no special apparatus for that purpose, by merely
passing the sheet over the stencil-roll and marking it by the pins m on the arms El
or by means of pencils secured to the said arms H. These arms being lifted by
the yoke p at every revolution of the shaft, and immediately lowered after the
stencil is fed forward, are adapted to be used for marking in the manner described,
although the process is considerably longer, and moreover the perforating
mechanism cannot be used while the stencil is being marked, whereas, in my
present Invention, any number of blank stencil-sheets may be prepared without
any interruption of the perforating mechanism.
In feeding the paper sheet D it is found that difficulty may be met in using
the feed-rolls described in the said former Specification, since a very slight
inequality in the paper or in the surfaces of the feed-rolls may give a side twist
or "skew " to the paper, and as the feed-rolls revolve this inaccuracy will increase,
or else the sheet will wrinkle in recovering its proper position and the feed-rolls
will press each wrinkle into a fold and probably tear the sheet before it again
straightens.
I
It has been found, by experiment, that the best method of feeding the paper
through the machine is by clamping it to a fiexible belt, which will draw the sheet
through between the die and stripper a single step at a time. For this purpose
have devised the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1, 3, and 4, that is to say:-
In front of the machine I erect a strong framework A¹ extending some distance
from the machine. Any suitable standards may support this structure, but it
should be braced and bolted to the flooring to render it firm and steady. The
top of the frame is upon a level with the stripper-plate E, so that the paper sheet
may pass from the machine upon a horizontal plane or nearly so. The top of the
said frame is composed of two parallel strips A₁, at each end of which is journalled
a roll having its top in or about in the plane of the upper side of the said strips A".
These strips are adapted to support a long endless belt B¹. This belt is constructed
of separate slats 61 of wood (see Figure 3) rivetted near each end to flexible or
elastic strips of metal 6". The said slats 6¹ are placed close together, there being
but a small space between, and each end of every slat is shod with a small
rectangular plate of metal 65, which projects somewhat beyond the extremity of
the slat. The length of the said slats 6¹ is somewhat greater than the width of the
blank stencil-sheet, and the projecting metal plates attached to the ends of the said
slats rest upon the edges of the strips A". At the extreme end of the frame is a
roll having at its ends discs c, c, which are notched at intervals, the notches in the
same being adapted to receive the ends of the metal plates 63. It is from this roll
that the belt receives motion, and these notched discs c, c, by engaging with tho
slats of the belt, prevent the latter from slipping on the roll.
At frequent intervals upon the bell a alat is provided with elongated metal lips
or plates having the prolonged portion bent upward and then inward or toward
each other. This construction is represented in Figure 4, where one of these
slats 6 is detached from the belt, the metal plates having the form above
mentioned being indicated at 64.

page_text: To attach the paper sheet to the belt I use a clamp of peculiar form. This
clamp is shewn in Figure 4 as connected with one of the slats of the belt. It is
composed of a bar E of wood a little longer than the slats b', the said bar having
a small flat metal plate e fastened to and projecting outward from each end of it,
the plates being attached to one vertical side of the bar, so that they stand in a
vertical plane. At the centre of the bar Es are placed two upright plates a, a,
between which is mounted a cam g³ bearing against a pin h placed loosely in a
socket in the said bar. While the upper end of this pin bears against the cam g³
the lower end rests on a thin steel plate i fastened at one end by a screw or rivet m
to the bar and having the other end free.
In order to fasten the paper sheet D to the belt the said sheet is laid upon the
slats of the belt and the clamp-bar E' is placed upon it at a point where one of
the slats having prolonged and upwardly bent plates e lies. The ends of the
bar E are inserted beneath the inwardly bent ends of these plates until the metal
pieces or plates e come into contact with the plates 6, care being taken to place.
the plates e upon the side of the plates b* farthest from the machine, so that the
pull of the paper sheet shall draw against the plates 6. When the bar E' is in
position the cam g³ is turned down into the position shewn in Figure 4, whereby
the steel plate i is firmly clamped against the sheet, the upward pressure of the
cam being resisted by the hooked ends of the plates 6*.
The slats of the belt may be made of a single piece of metal cast in the proper
form and connected to each other by a chain instead of an elastic strip, or a heavy
strip of cloth may be used and the feed rolls at the end of the frame may be
covered with india rubber, or a large drum may be used, the paper being clamped
to its periphery in the same manner as that in which it is fastened to the belt.
The stencil-sheet blank may also be clamped to the belt in the same manner and
may be fed to the rack-cutters and markers by this same belt at the same time
that the paper sheet is fed to the perforating punches. In order to accomplish this
an idler-roll R' is journalled in standards at the end of the frame nearest the
machine, the lower side of the said roll being far enough above the belt to permit
the passage beneath it of the blank stencil-sheet and one or more paper sheets.
The edge of the bed-plate T' is curved slightly, as shown in Figure 5, and the
stencil-sheet blank is carried therefrom down to and under the roll R2 and being
laid upon the feeding-belt upon the top of the paper sheet it is clamped down by
a fastening bar in the manner already set forth. This arrangement is shown in
Figure 1 and also in Figure 3. It will be seen at once that by it I accomplish an
important result in securing a feed for the blank stencil-sheet, which corresponds
exactly to the feed of the paper sheet, while I am able also to cut the paper and to
prepare the stencil at one and the same time.
The flexible belt passes over the rolls at the ends of the frame and its weight is
partly sustained beneath by an idler roll R. To give motion to the belt I employ
a pawl-and-ratchet feed similar to that shown in the said former Specification.
The pitman D', Figure 1, passes from the main shaft of the machine to the distant
end of the frame, where it engages with a pawl-carrier I mounted on the shaft of
the roll and having an eye d', through which the extremity of the pitman passes.
Upon the end of the latter, which is screw-threaded for some distance, nuts e are
placed, one upon each side of the eye d¹. By causing these nuts to approach or
separate from each other the throw of the pawl c' may be regulated and the rate
of feed-movement of the belt correspondingly varied.
It may be desirable, owing to the length and weight of the pitman D³, to attach
to the frame A a support within which the end of the rod may play.
It is obvious that in using this feed an operator must attend the machine to
affix the clamps E, which must be removed from the belt when they reach the roll
at C, a second clamp having been previously affixed at the end nearest the
machine. In this way the paper sheets and the stencil may be allowed to run off
the belt upon the floor, where they may be rolled up as the perforated strips
increase in length.

page_text: According to my present Invention I feed the stencil in a manner different
from that shown in the said former Specification, that is to say:-Instead of taking
it from a pay-off roll I let the sheet lie loosely upon the floor in a roll, as
shewn at L, Figure 1. Thence it passes over the stencil-roll K" to the take-up
roll K¹. The stencil-roll K" is driven by a pawl-and-ratchet-feed, shewn at E, E,
Figure 2, but requiring no description here as it is the same as that shown and
described in the said former Specification. The take-up roll K" also is revolved
by a belt K passing from a pulley on the main shaft to a pulley on the shaft of
the roll. This take-up roll is adapted to slip upon its shaft when the stencil is at
a suitable tension.
In passing to the stencil-roll K¹ the stencil-sheet may run over a narrow table P,
Figure 1, and by placing one or more light blocks of wood upon the sheet to create
slight friction, it may be drawn tightly down upon the roll K¹¹.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I claim,-
First. In a perforating machine, the combination with a series of punches and
their operating mechanism of a feeding device for the paper being cut (its feeding
movement not being greater than the width of the punch), the stencil-sheet having
openings of varied length and arrangement, and an endless belt, to which the paper
sheet or the stencil-sheet blank, or both, are clamped, and by which they are
drawn step by step over the punches, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Second. The combination with the perforating mechanism, above described, of
an endless belt, the rolls at the ends of the supporting-frame A¹, and the removable
clamp-bar E adapted to engage with the said belt, in the manner and for the
purpose set forth.
Third. An endless feeding-belt for perforating machines, composed of slats
attached to flexible strips, and adapted to rest and slide upon the upper surface of
the supporting-frame A¹, in combination with a detachable clamping bar resting
upon the said belt, and adapted to engage with its slats, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the stencil-roll of a grooved or notched disc (the
notches being arranged at regular intervals), a dog mounted on a reciprocating
carrier above the said disc, a cutting punch placed above the dog, and a die and
stripper-plate, between which the edge of the stencil passes, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Fifth: The combination with the punching mechanism of a stencil-marking
mechanism consisting of a series of marking points, wires, or pencils mounted on a
reciprocating support, and adapted to be brought into contact with the stencil-sheet
blank at regular intervals, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the punching and marking apparatus of a rack-
cutting mechanism consisting of a punch or punches arranged to cut the stencil-
sheet blank, the said punches being controlled by corresponding dogs, which are
mounted on a reciprocating carrier and caused to engage with the rack-cutters by
means of a notched form on the stencil-roll, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth..
Seventh. The combination with the perforating mechanism, the rack-cutting
apparatus, and the marking devices, of feeding mechanism, consisting of a flexible
belt (to which the paper being cut is clamped, and with which it moves), passing
over a suitable supporting-frame in front of the machine, adapted to feed either
separately or simultaneously both the paper sheet and the stencil-sheet blank, the
one to the perforators and the other to the marking and rack-cutting devices,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the stencil-marking and rack-cutting mechanism
of the flexible feeding belt and a roll mounted above it, the lower side of the said
roll being near the surface of the belt, and the said roll being placed at the end of

page_text: the frame nearest the said marking and cutting mechanism, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Ninth. A clamping-bar adapted to engage with the feeding-belt and attach the
paper and stencil-sheet blank thereto, the said bar consisting of a block having
flat vertical projections at its ends, with a cam and a pin h in the centre, and
a flat steel plate i upon the lower side, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Tenth. A flexible feeding-belt consisting of slats connected by elastic or flexible
strips, the said slats being shod at their ends with projecting metal plates, and
certain slats in said belt being provided with plates, which are prolonged and bent
upward and inward to furnish a fastening for the clamp-bar, substantially as set
forth.
Eleventh. The combination of the frame A', A", the flexible belt constructed as
described, the roll journalled in standards at the end of the frame and above the
belt, the clamp-bar, the pitman for driving the said belt, the independent punches,
the series of selecting and operating dogs, and the marking wires or pencils,
substantially as above set forth.
Twelfth. The combination with the carrier M of the dogs g having arms H¹
curved or deflected outwardly, and the discs D¹ upon the stencil-roll having
notches a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Thirteenth. In a paper perforating machine the combination with the independent
dogs and punches the carrier-frame on which the said dogs are mounted, and the
stencil-roll having notched discs mounted thereon, of the rack-cutting punches and
a series of pencils or wires adapted to be reciprocated against a bed-plate over
which the stencil-sheet blank is fed, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Fourteenth. The combination with the stencil-roll having teeth or cogs e, e, of a
single take-up roll, a friction-table over which the stencil passes before reaching
the roll, and devices for feeding both the stencil and the take-up roll, the latter
being adapted to slip upon its shaft when the stencil is at a suitable tension,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination with the supporting bar G³ of the marking-wires W
mounted movably in said bar, the springs n³, and mechanism for reciprocating the
said bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixteenth. The combination with the marking wires or pencils W of the bed-
plate T, the die-plates upon each side thereof, the rack-cutters f¹, the dogs g
having bent arms H¹, and the stencil-roll K provided with notched discs, all
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Seventeenth. The stencil blank provided with dotted lines at regular intervals
on its surface, and having a rack throughout its entire length adapted to engage
with the cogs on the stencil roll of a machine for perforating paper for mechanical
or automatic musical instruments.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one
HENRY H. LAKE. (L.S.)