Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments.
I, JOHANN LUDWIG MÜLLER of Johannesgasse No. 10, Leipzig, in the Empire
of Germany, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is a peculiarly constructed mechanical musical instru-
ment, which is characterised by particular devices for respectively engaging the
pallets, damping the instrument and operating the music sheet.
Reference being had to the drawing hereunto annexed, in which like letters denote
like or analogous parts throughout the various figures.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the pallet-engaging device shown as inoperative,
Fig. 2 the same illustrating the primary position of said device, when engaging
into the note perforation.
Fig. 3 the same showing the position of the device, when subsequently coming
in contact with the rear edge of the note perforation.
Fig. 4 the same showing the engaging mechanism in that position in which it
operates the pallet.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section, on a reduced scale, of the engaging device with
music sheet movement.
Fig. 6 is a plan, and
Fig. 7 a front view to Fig. 5.
The improved instrument pertains to that class of musical works, in which the
steel pallets are sounded or operated by the aid of a moving music sheet N. The
latter is actuated by means of a feeding cylinder A formed as a spring-box drum.
The drum A is in connection with the speed regulator B, while the spring C is
rigidly secured with one end to the cylinder A and with the other extremity on the
shaft a adapted to be revolved by means of a crank D, Fig. 7, that is to say on the
covering block or tube E rigidly connected with said shaft.
The music sheet, which may be jointed band-shaped or endless, acts with its note
perforations m on engaging devices as hereafter described.
A one-armed lever revoluble about i carries the projections n and c and consists of
two parts and d which are displaceable relatively to each other. This lever is
influenced by the two springs f and l. Below the pallet projection c, a slot g is
provided, into which is placed the damping strip h made from soft material. The
pallet engaging contrivance and damper operate as follows:
By the music sheet N, note perforations m are guided past the lever 6 d, that is
to say past the catch or projection n. As soon as one of said signs or apertures
arrives above the catch, the portion b of the lever is pressed upward by the action of
spring, while remaining pressed rearward towards pivot by aid of spring 7 so as to
allow the pallet nozzle c to rise above the point of the tongue or pallet without
coming in contact therewith, Fig. 2. On the further movement of the music sheet
however, the lever portion b is displaced by the same, Fig. 3, that is to say, the part d
retains its position and part 6 moves through the slot m for a slight distance
forwardly, thereby causing the projection c to stand above the pallet k; on the further
movement of the music sheet N, the said projection is pressed downward owing to
the inclined surface o of projection n. Consequently when the latter leaves the note
perforation the pallet is released, Fig. 4, and on the projection n being released from
the music sheet, the part 6 is displaced towards i by the action of spring 1, Fig. 1,
thereby causing the projection c to recede from the point k. The damping of
the pallet prior to its being operated is effected as follows: When projection n
engages into a note perforation, the damper strip h placed in the slot 9 below the
projection c is raised and brought in contact with the point k of the pallet, whereby

page_text: the oscillation of the latter is discontinued. Subsequently the above described action
of the bipartite lever b d on the pallet takes place.
The contrivance for operating the pallet is simple and suitable in its disposition and
reliable in action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained, the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim, is :
In a mechanical musical instrument with steel pallets
n
1) A device which serves to engage the latter and consists of a one-armed lever
formed of two relatively displaceable parts d and b and provided with projections
and C,
said lever being governed by springs fand 7 and having a slot g for bolding
a movable damper strip made of soft cloth or material, substantially as set forth.
2) A mechanism, for moving the music sheet, consisting of a sheet roller or
cylinder A, formed as a spring box and enclosing a spring C adapted to operate the
cylinder, substantially as illustrated and described.
Dated this 15th day of May 1890.
JOHANN LUDWIG. MÜLLER,
By Huelser & Co., 142, Fleet Street, London, Attorneys.