Improvements in Automatically Operated Stringed Musical Instruments.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Apr., 1898 - Accepted, 30th July, 1898
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES BIGELOW KENDALL, of 53, State Street,
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Broker.]
Improvements in Automatically Operated Stringed Musical
Instruments.
U ....
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows; _
This invention relates to means for mechanically and automatically playing
tunes upon a banjo, mandolin, guitar, harp, or other similar stringed musical
instrument.
It comprises a machine provided with suitable supporting brackets for the banjo,
and having a series of automatically operated mechanical fingers 'arranged over
each of the strings of the instrument at the frets thereof, and adapted to stop the
respective strings at the desired positions, for determining their vibrating length
and therefore the pitch of the resultant sounds. Automatically operated fingers
are also provided which serve to pick the strings concurrently with the devices
which stop them at the frets.
The devices which perform these concurrent and interrelated functions of stop-
ping and picking the strings are each connected with an independent motor
bellows. The interior of each motor bellows communicates by means of a tube
with the interior of an independent valve chest, and the latter are all arranged side
by side in a series along the exhaust chest of the instrument, being separated there-
from by a partition through which the exhaust chest-communicates with each valve
chest by means of an independent air passage. The interior of each valve chest
is also in communication with the external air by means of a passage arranged
opposite to the passage which leads to the exhaust chest. These oppositely dis-
posed passages of each valve chest are provided with a sensitively balanced valve,
so suspended between them that it may readily be moved to close either one of the
passages, leaving the other passage open. The manner in which the valves are
suspended allows them to seat themselves perfectly and thus prevent undue leakage.
By the operation of these valves their respective motor bellows are alternately
collapsed by communication with the exhaust chest, and expanded by communica-
tion with the external atmospheric pressure.
The valves in the entire series of valve chests are operated by means of indepen-
dent primary bellows, located in a corresponding series in the exhaust chest
immediately below their respective valves, the movable side of each primary
bellows engaging with its valve by means of a pin or stud projecting through the
passage leading thereto from the exhaust chest. The interiors of the series of
primary bellows communicate by means of independent tubes with a correspond-
ing series of holes arranged in line close together in a tracker bar.
The admission of air through the holes in the tracker bar, and thence by means

page_text: of the independent tubes to their respective primary bellows, is controlled by
means of a strip of paper, having perforations arranged in a relation and sequence
corresponding to those of the notes in the tune to be played. As the properly
perforated strip of paper is drawn across the surface of the tracker bar, the per-
forations which coincide with the holes therein admit air to the corresponding
primary bellows.
A partial vacuum is maintained in the exhaust chest while the machine is in
operation by means of suction bellows driven by an electric motor located in the
base of the machine. Each primary bellows of the series located within the
exhaust chest communicates with the interior of that chest by means of a small
aperture, so that the air is also exhausted from the interiors of all of the primary
bellows, which therefore rest in a collapsed or closed position while their respec-
tive holes in the tracker bar are covered by the paper of the music sheet during
the intervals between the repetitions of the note. While a primary bellows is in.
its closed position its pin is withdrawn from engagement with its associated valve,
allowing the latter to be drawn by the suction in the exhaust chest so as to close
the passage leading thence to the valve chest, thus opening the passage leading
to the external air and permitting atmospheric pressure to enter and expand the
several motor bellows connected with the fret stopping and string picking devices.
In order to sound a particular note, it is necessary to concurrently operate the
two corresponding motor bellows for picking the string, and for stopping that
string at the desired fret. Two perforations are therefore provided for each of
the notes, those perforations being so arranged upon the sheet as to pass across
the tracker bar simultaneously, or substantially so, one perforation serving to stop
the fret, and the other to pick the string. The air rushing through one of these
perforations to supply the vacuum in the exhaust chest, expands its primary
bellows, operates its valve to close the passage to the external air, and open the
passage to the exhaust chest, thus collapsing its motor bellows and operating the
associated fret stopping device, or picker, as the case may be. The operation of
each motor bellows is practically simultaneous with the passage of a perforation
over its corresponding hole in the tracker bar, and the instant that hole is again
covered by the passing paper its corresponding primary bellows is collapsed, allow-
ing the valve to again close its passage leading to the exhaust chest, and to admit
atmospheric pressure to the motor bellows, thereby expanding it and returning its
associated devices to their first position, ready for the succeeding repetition of the
note.
Improved means are provided for guiding and feeding a perforated music sheet,
whereby an endless sheet may be fed across the tracker bar so that the series of
apertures therein shall be brought with precision into coincidence with the holes
in the. tracker bar. This consists of a box or similar receptacle having the space
between its sides a distance apart substantially equal to the width of the music
sheet. This box is placed in alignment with the desired path of the music sheet
over the tracker bar, from which the sheet passes into the box in superimposed
loops. Feeding rolls are also provided which draw the continuous web of paper
from the bottom of the box, unfolding the undermost loops one by one and per-
mitting those above to settle down into the box. Friction bars and guiding rolls
are also provided for guiding the web and for imposing a suitable frictional
resistance to its movement, and those friction bars, guiding rolls and feeding rolls
are all arranged so as to be readily removable, thereby permitting the endless sheet
or web of music to be readily removed from the instrument, and another to be sub-
stituted in its place. By the use of this improvement, I am enabled to employ an
endless band of paper, which may therefore be played continuously without
rewinding.
Provision is also made for starting the machine by the pressing of a key, or the
insertion of a coin, which operates to close an electric circuit connected with the
motor of the machine, thereby setting it and the associated devices of the machine
in motion.
An additional motor bellows, valve and primary bellows is provided for dis

page_text: connecting the electric circuit and stopping the machine, being connected, like
the rest, with one of the holes in the tracker bar. The music sheet is provided
with a stop perforation which coincides with the stop hole in the tracker bar, the
stop perforation being located at the end of the series of perforations comprising
a tune, or at any other desired interval in the music. When this stop perforation
in the sheet arrives at the tracker bar its motor bellows is operated and the electric
circuit is broken, thereby stopping the machine.
Means are provided for sustaining the string picking devices upon the head
of the banjo
or other instrument to which those devices are attached, in such a way
as not to interfere with or deaden the vibrations of the instrument while being
played.
The invention also comprises improved means for imparting the desired lateral
movements to the picker as it is drawn back and forth by its bellows, so as to
cause the finger to engage with the string on the forward stroke, to be disengaged
therefrom at the proper point, and to return to its first position by a different path
so as not to interfere with the still vibrating string. This is accomplished by means
of a pin upon the picker, engaging in the recess of a fixed cam. The cam recess
is peculiarly shaped so as to guide the picker along one side during its forward
or picking movement, and along the other side during the return movement, the
picker being guided at the latter ends of its stroke into the plane in which its
opposite or return stroke is to be made. The ends of these cams are also so shaped
as to cushion the ends of the stroke of the pin. The pin and its cam are both held
in place by an elastic connection, by means of which the noise of the picker motion
is reduced to a minimum, and the picker is made to strike the string with a
cushioned blow. The picker pin is made to follow closely against the sides of its
cam, and thus adhere strictly to its required movement by attaching an arm to the
picker, extending at right angles thereto, and rubbing against a friction plate or
pad, which tends to retard the movement of that side of the picker on which the
arm is placed, thereby drawing the picker pin against one side of the cam on the
forward stroke, and against the other side of the cam on the return stroke.
Means are also provided for adjusting the cams which control the lateral move-
ments of the picker fingers, whereby the time at which they engage and release
the strings may be varied.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatically Operated Stringed Musical
Instruments.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
This invention relates to means for mechanically and automatically playing
tunes upon a banjo, mandolin, guitar,. harp, or other similar, stringed musical
instrument, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like letters
and numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several figures.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a complete musical instrument, embodying the
features of my invention, the framing thereof being in section taken on the

page_text: line 1-1 of Fig. 2, and the right-hand picker bracket being shown in section
taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 8.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the complete instrument, the framing being in
section taken on the line 2-2 of Eig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side sectional elevation, drawn in enlarged scale, of the lower portion
of the instrument. The framing is shown in section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,
the lower right hand portion of the instrument constituting the storage and feed-
ing devices for the note sheet, being shown in section taken on the line 3-3 of
Fig. 1, while the pneumatic box at the middle left hand portion of the view is
shown in section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. The coin receiving devices at
the upper right hand portion of the instrument are shown in section taken on the
centre line of the coin tube.
Fig. 4 is a plan view, in a scale still further enlarged from that of Fig. 3, of the
pneumatic box, shown partly in section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 6. Fig. 5
is a front view of the left hand portion of Fig. 4, in section taken on the line 5-5
thereof. Fig. 6 is a side view of the pneumatic box of Fig. 4, in section taken
on the line 6-6 thereof. Fig. 7 is a side sectional elevation of the duct valve
and its connecting pin.
Figs. 8 and 9 are plan views in enlarged scale showing the picker and its
operating devices at two phases of their movement, portions being broken away to
show the devices more clearly. Fig. 10 is an end view in section taken on the
line 10-10 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a plan view illustrating the angular adjustment
of the picker cam.
Fig. 12 is a plan view in section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 1, showing
the arrangement of the fret stop motor devices. Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view
showing the system upon which the respective devices of the instrument are
arranged and connected. Fig. 14 is a plan view in section taken on the line 14-14
of Fig. 3, showing details of the sheet feeding devices.
This invention, although applicable to all stringed musical instruments, is herein
illustrated as being adapted to the automatic playing of a banjo of ordinary con-
struction by mechanically stopping the frets and picking the strings thereof. The
banjo G is supported by suitable brackets e, extending from the back-board H
of the upper section of the instrument. The fret stops f are arranged in series
in suitable relation to the frets at which their respective strings are to be stopped.
Each of these fret stops is connected to its operating motor, which as herein
shown, is the movable side of a pneumatic bellows. The fret stops for the first
string are connected with the series a of motors; those of the second string j
with the series b: those of the third string k with the series e; and those of the
fourth string with the series d.
The pickers are located over their respective strings in proper relation to the
head of the instrument, as best shown in Fig. 1, and are pivotally connected with
their operating means, which, as herein shown, consists also of a series of bellows
motors, the pickers for the first, second, third and fourth strings being connected
with the motors A, B, C and D respectively. These motors are supported upon
the brackets h, extending from the back board H, these brackets serving also to
carry the supports I, to which are attached the guiding and controlling devices for
the pickers.
The means for guiding the lateral movements of each of the pickers during
their reciprocating movement consists of a guiding cam 1. preferably made of
leatherette, located adjacent to each picker and provided with an aperture 2. the
walls of which encircle a pin or projection g¹ of the picker. The side walls of the
aperture are located at a suitable distance apart to allow of the desired amplitude
of the lateral vibrations of the picker, and are connected by inclined end walls
which serve to guide the pin g¹ of the picker at the conclusion of its stroke in
either direction into the plane of its return movement. The direction of the
normal travel of the picker pin along the wall of its encircling aperture 2 is
indicated by small arrows in Figs. 8, 9 and 11.

page_text: This form of guiding cam, dispensing with the central hub hitherto existing in
cams of this class, is of great utility, inasmuch as those hubs were liable to pre-
vent the proper operation of the picker. If, for example, for any reason, the
stroke of the picker motor were insufficient to carry the cam pin far enough
longitudinally to enable it to be moved laterally past the ends of the central hub,
it was liable, upon its return stroke, to be lodged against the end of that hub, or
to go backward over its forward path, thus bringing the point of the picker back
against the string, and thereby not only prematurely "damping" the vibration
thereof due to the previous "pick," but insuring a similar failure of the succeed-
ing pick, inasmuch as the picker then rests on the wrong side of the string. By
the omission of this hub, the picker may be moved laterally by its controlling
means upon the reversal of the reciprocating stroke of the motor, even though that
stroke should be less than its normal length.
In instruments of this class it is highly desirable to adjust the picker devices
while they are in motion, not only to avoid stopping the instrument if the need
of adjustment is observed while it is in operation, but also because the exactness
of the adjustments can best be determined by the repeated sounding of the strings
in the regular playing of the instrument. The adjustments required of the
picker are those for determining the movement of its point with relation to the
resting position of the string, and therefore comprise both its longitudinal and
lateral range of movement, which taken together determine the depth of engage-
ment of the picker with its string, and the amount of lateral displacement thereof
before releasing it. In this machine these adjustments are secured by attach-
ing the cam 7 to a block 5 fitted in a slot in the support I, in which it is adjustable
longitudinally, and to which it is clamped at the desired position by means of the
screw 6. The cam is attached to this block by means of the pivot screw 7, having
a partly spherical head, which is mounted in a corresponding cupped recess on,
the block 5, thereby permitting the cam to be swung in either direction longitu-
dinally of the picker to the extent shown in Fig. 11. The adjusting screws 8
are located in the block 5 upon opposite sides of the pivot screw 7, and are seated
in cupped recesses in the cam base 4, to which the cam is pivotally attached by
means of the screw 9. By proper manipulation of the screws 7 and 8, the cam
may be adjusted angularly to the desired extent, and may also be adjusted bodily
toward and from the plane of the strings.
Inasmuch as the ends of the aperture 2 of the guiding cam ordinarily serve as
stops for the reciprocating movements of the pickers and their respective motors, it
follows that the cam pin g¹ collides with the end walls of its cam aperture with
considerable force, thereby making it noisy in operation to an objectionable extent.
These rapidly repeated collisions with a rigidly fixed cam would tend to unduly
wear or even to break the respective parts. To avoid these dangers and objections,
we insert a buffer 3, consisting of rubber or other resilient material, between the
guiding cam 1 and its base 4. The cam is thus enabled to vield upon its pivot 9
to the impact of the cam pin at the ends of its stroke, thereby serving to cushion
that impact and prevent the noise and undue wear referred to.
In the operation of instruments of this class, particularly those employing
metallic strings, the force of impact of the pickers, which are also preferably of
metal, against the tightly strained strings, is liable to produce audible clicking
sounds, which coming upon the ear appreciably in advance of the musical sounds
produced by the vibrations of the released strings, seriously detracts from the per-
fection of its operation. The remedy for this defect has hitherto been sought in
the direction of making the picker point elastic. so as to cushion the force of the
blow, and thereby lessen the sound thereof. This, however, was found to be
objectionable, inasmuch as the deflections of the resilient picker point constantly
varied the angle of its contact with the string, thereby appreciably varying the
period at which it would release the strings, and also varying the loudness or
volume of its tone, the latter being dependent upon the amount of lateral move-
ment imparted to the string before releasing it.

page_text: The means herein employed for modifying the force of impact of the picker
point against the string consists of a resilient connection between the picker and
its motor, which is preferably in the form of a flat spring 10 fixed to the movable
side of the bellows motor, and pivotally attached to the picker g, as shown in
Figs. 8 and 9. With such a connection I am enabled to employ a picker finger
having a rigid
rigid or non-resilient point thereby maintaining a uniform angle of
engagement with the string.
The objections hitherto existing to the use of such a resilient connection when
employed with a cam having a central hub, have been based o. the greater liability
of the pin to catch against the central hub when thus connected. The vibrations
of a resiliently operated picker, set up by the release of the string therefrom were
liable to interfere with the lateral movement of its pin around the end of the hub.
These objections are herein removed by the omission of the obstructing central
hub of the previous cams.
As a means of controlling the lateral movements of the pickers so as to cause
them to follow their guiding cams, they are each provided with an arm 11, which
may be removably attached to the picker as shown in the drawings, or may be
integral therewith. This arm extends from the picker substantially at right
angles to the general direction of its longitudinal movement, and radially from
the point of its pivotal connection with its motor, into engagement with the con-
troller 12, which is preferably a resilient plate attached to the support I, and bear-
ing against the arm 11 of the picker. The plane of engagement of the arm 11
with the controller being at one side of the plane of movement of the picker pivot,
imparts a lateral impulse to the picker at each reversal of the longitudinal stroke
thereof, tending thereby to hold the picker against that side, wall of the. cam
aperture to which it was carried by the inclined wall thereof at the conclusion
of the previous stroke, thereby causing the picker pin to follow continuously
around the encircling walls of its cam aperture in the direction indicated by the
arrows.
The engaging surfaces of the picker, or the controller, or both, are preferably
faced with leather, or other material suitable for causing the desired amount of
friction, and for insuring silent operation. The pressure and the consequent
friction of the controller against the arm 11 may be varied by means of the adjust-
ing screw 13 to any desired extent. The controller is either resilient in itself
as shown herein, or it may be a non-resilient plate having springs for pressing
its picker arm engaging surface resiliently into contact. It should also be noted
that the controller may bear against the end of the picker arm 11, as herein
shown, or against the side thereof, at any desired .or suitable distance from the
plane of movement of the picker pin.
4
The bellows motors of the series a, b, c and .d, communicate. by independent
pneumatic tubes 46 arranged in a corresponding series a², 68, 3,, with their
respective valve chambers 45 in the pneumatic box P, Each of these chambers
contains a valve, operated by an independent primary actuator, which is herein
shown to be a pneumatic bellows 47, and these actuators communicate by indepen-
dent tubes 49, arranged in corresponding series a¹, b, c, d, with a series of aper- 4
tures arranged in a line side by side in the tracker bar 20. Similarly, the
motors A, B, C and D for the pickers communicate by means of independent
tubes A, B, C, D, with their respective valve chambers, and the corresponding
primary actuators 47, like those for the fret stop motors, communicate by means
of independent tubes A, B, C, D, with similar apertures in the tracker bar.
The operation of the devices is initiated and controlled by means of a con-
tinuous or endless flexible note. sheet n. of paper or other suitable material, pro-
vided with perforations arranged in series longitudinally of the sheet, which are
so disposed laterally thereof as to coincide with the apertures in the tracker bar.
The perforations of the note sheet are arranged in a relation and sequence corres- 5
ponding to those of the notes in the tune to be played, and as the perforated strip
of paper is drawn across the surface of the tracker bar, the perforations which
5

page_text: coincide with the apertures therein, momentarily admit air to the corresponding
primary actuators, which operate as hereinafter described.
The devices for feeding the continuous note sheet, and for storing the idle
portions thereof, are best shown in enlarged scale in Fig. 3. The perforated note
sheet n,
when the machine is in operation, is drawn in the direction of the arrow
shown in that figure, out of the lower or delivery end of the storage receptacle
or reservoir 15, between the edge guides 16 and 17, between the friction bar 18
and the idler roll 19, across the tracker bar 20, over the idler roll 21, between
the driving rolls 22 and 23, and thence back into the reservoir 15, where it is dis-
posed in superimposed loops, which bend in easy curves, as best shown in Figure 3,
and which rest lightly upon each other, settling down toward the delivery end
of the reservoir as the delivering portion of the sheet is drawn therefrom.
curved form of the loops imparts to them a lateral stiffness, which prevents their
edges from being turned by the sides 24, 25 of the reservoir 15, and the pile of
superimposed loops, being laterally flexible in all other respects, readily adjusts
itself to the space between the guiding sides. This disposition of the web of
paper gives it a form best adapted to protect its edges from injury by the sides
of the box, while subjecting it passively to the guiding influence of those sides.
The
The sides 24, 25 of the box 15, are located at a distance apart but slightly
greater than the width of the sheet, so that the superimposed loops are kept always
in alignment with their course between the rolls and over the tracker bar. The
front and rear sides 26 and 27 of the box are joined to the bottom 28 by easy
curves, so as to guide and support the loops evenly and smoothly during their
passage through the reservoir. The edge guides 16 and 17 are attached to the
supporting brackets 29 and 30 respectively, their inner surfaces forming practi-
cally extensions of the inner or guiding surfaces of the sides 24 and 25 of the
reservoir, as best shown in Fig. 3. The brackets 29 and 30 serve also to support
the ends of the driving rolls, the idler rolls, friction bar, and tracker bar. The
friction bar 18 and the tracker bar 20 are fixed in position, being upon the outside
of the loop formed by the joined music sheet, but the idler rolls 19 and 21 rest
in half bearings in the brackets, and are therefore readily lifted out of place.
The ends of the driving rolls 22 and 23 rest in the slots 31 and 32, in the sides
of the bracket, and these rolls are pressed together with suitable tension by means
of the springs 33 and 34, which upon being swung aside permit of the ready.
removal of the rolls.
The rolls 22 and 23 are operatively connected by means of gears, the lower one
of which meshes with a driving pinion 35 fixed upon the shaft 36, which is
journalled in the bearing 37, and has fixed upon its opposite end the pulley 38,
which is connected by means of the belt o with the driving mechanism.
The disposition of the paper web in loops in the reservoir is effected by the
joint action of the feeding devices and of the web itself.
As the web emerges
from between the driving rolls, it is laid along upon the previous loop until the
weight of the suspended paper overcomes its stiffness, when another loop is formed,
the paper looping alternately backward and forward in this manner continuously,
the underneath loops being successively unfolded and drawn upwardly along the
back of the reservoir, across the tracker bar. By the use of these devices, the
application of tension to extended lengths of paper is avoided, confining it to short
portions thereof, which are subjected only to a sufficient tension to take out the
slackness and to draw the sheet smoothly across the tracker bar. Even while
under such a slight tension the short portion of paper subjected thereto is so
engaged by the tension bar and idler rolls as to allow no chance for the sheet to
buckle or to stretch unevenly. All of the idle or stored portion of the sheet is
entirely free from tension, being disposed in rounded loops which preserve its
edges from injury and which enable it to be guided from the storage reservoir in
5 perfect alignment, so that its emerging loops are delivered therefrom with pre-
cision to the feeding devices so as to repeatedly bring the perforations into exact
coincidence with the corresponding openings in the tracker bar. Any desired

page_text: length of paper may be fed in this way if storage space enough is allowed so as
not to press the loops together too closely.
The mechanism of the instrument may be driven by means of any available
motive force. I have, however, represented it herein as being driven by means
of the electric motor M, from which the power is communicated to the main
The
shaft N, the latter being provided with a pulley for driving the belt o.
shaft N is also provided with cranks or eccentrics for driving the suction bellows 39,
by means of which, while the motor is in operation, the air is exhausted from the
exhaust chest 41, through the tube 40, and the equalizer E.
The primary actuators 47, and their respective valve chambers 45, are arranged
side by side within the pneumatic box P'. Each of these valve chambers com-
municates by means of a tube 46 with its corresponding motor, by means of the
duct 42 with the external atmosphere, and by means of the duct 48 to the exhaust
chest 41, which extends beneath, and is common to all, of the valve chambers.
Each of the valve chambers 45 contains a valve 43, adapted to close the ducts 42
and 48. These valves, as shown in detail in Fig. 7, are in the form of a hollow
cone, having its base turned outwardly to form an annular flange, the opposite
faces of which serve as seating faces for fitting over and stopping the air ducts 42
and 48, the seating faces of the ducts being provided with the usual facings of
leather or other suitable materiál. The conical projection '43" of the valve above
its base extends upwardly into the duct 42, being substantially smaller than the
duct to allow the valve flange to seat itself thereon freely without wedging in
the duct.
As a means for suspending the valve, and for raising it at the desired intervals,
so as to open the duct 48, and close the duct 42, and thereby operate the motor
bellows, each valve is connected with its underlying primary actuator 47 by
means of the pin or rod 44, which rests upon the movable side of the bellows
actuator and extends through the duct 48 into the recess of the valve 43, forming
a pivotal point of suspension. therefor.
This mode of arranging and suspending the valve enables it to seat itself firmly
and evenly upon either the upper or the lower walls of the valve chamber, even
if those walls may not be parallel with each other, and in spite of local irregularities
which may exist in their respective surfaces. The upper projection 43" of the
valve serves also at each upward actuation thereof to approximately centralize
both the valve and the upper end of its pin 44, with the ducts, thereby preventing
displacement of the parts and dispensing with the necessity of other devices for
holding them in operative position.
Each primary bellows 47 communicates by means of the tube 49 with its inde-
pendent opening in the tracker bar 20. Each primary bellows also communicates
with the exhaust chest 41 by means of the vent 50, through which the air is
exhausted from the bellows and from the tracker bar and tube 49. As the note
sheet n is drawn across the tracker bar by its driving rolls 22 and 23, the per-
forations in the sheet pass consecutively across the openings in the tracker bar,
and each perforation as it uncovers one of those openings thereby momentarily
admits atmospheric pressure to the primary 47, thus raising the valve from the
position occupied by the valve of Fig. 6, to that occupied by the middle valve of
Figure 5. In this raised position of the valve the duct 42 leading to the atmos-
phere is closed, and the duct 48 is opened, thus establishing direct communication
through the valve chamber 45 and the tube 46, between the interior of the corres-
ponding bellows motor, and the exhaust chest 41, thereby collapsing the motor
As soon as the
and operating the picker or fret stop, with which it is connected.
perforation in the note sheet has passed over its opening in the tracker bar the
atmospheric pressure is again excluded by the note sheet, the air contained in
the tube 49 and in the primary 47 is again exhausted through the vent 50, collaps
ing the primary and allowing the valve to fall to its normal position, shown in
Fig. 6. This fall of the valve closes the duct 48 and again opens the duct 42
thereby admitting the atmospheric pressure through the tube 46 to its associated

page_text: motor bellows, which under the influence of its spring, or by any other appropriate
means, is again expanded to its normal open position, where it rests until again
actuated by the repetition of the process just described, initiated by the passage
of the next perforation of the note sheet n over the corresponding opening in the
tracker bar.
This improved form of valve is especially well adapted for suspension and for
operation under the influence of gravity, inasmuch as the centre of gravity of
such a form is nearer to its base, and comparatively far below the suspension of
the valve upon the pin.
The means for starting the electric motor M is herein shown as a coin operated
device for closing the electric circuit, which passes to and from the machine
through the wires 51, 52. The electrical circuit may be closed through the motor.
by means of the pivotally mounted switch 53, which is capable of swinging to the
dotted line position against the contact points 54, but is normally held in its full
line, disconnected position by means of the latch 55, the latter being located
immediately beneath a pair of electro-magnets 56. The wiring of the latter is
connected with the main circuit and with the contact point 57, the return circuit
being completed through the coin operated switch 58, which normally stands in
the position shown in the figure, with its end extending into the coin passage 59.
The coin being inserted in the usual way, drops through the passage 59, and
carries the switch 58 against the contact point 57, thus energizing the magnet 56,
and lifting the latch 55, thereby releasing the switch 53, which falls against the
contact points 54, and closes the circuit through the motor, thus starting the
entire apparatus.
In place of the passage 59, and its associated devices for enabling the machine
to be started by the introduction of coins, the machine may be arranged to be
started by hand, or in various ways. For example, the right hand end of the
switch 58, or the shaft upon which it is pivoted, may be extended beyond the casing
of the machine, or be connected with a press knob.in any of several ways which
will suggest themselves to the constructor, so as to make it conveniently accessible
to the operator from the outside.
In order to provide for stopping the mechanism at the end of each tune, or at
any desired interval in the music, I employ a stop device in connection with per-
forations s located in the music sheet at the desired stop intervals with relation
to the tune. The sheet represented in Fig. 3 is shown to be provided with six
of these stop perforations. The corresponding stop aperture in the tracker bar
is connected by means of an independent tube S¹ with an independent primary 47,
its corresponding valve chamber 45 communicating by means of the tube 60 with
the stop motor S. That motor stands normally in its expanded position, its
movable side being provided with a thrust rod 62, extending in such a relation to
the switch 53 that upon the collapsing of the bellows S the switch will be moved
from its dotted line position to the full line or latched position, thereby discon-
necting the motor circuit, and stopping the entire machine. The admission of
air through the stop perforation in the music sheet, and through the passages
communicating thence to the motor S, operate in the way already described to
collapse that bellows momentarily, expanding it again immediately to the position
shown in the figures, so as to enable the latch to drop down again upon the insertion
of another coin, which operates in the manner already described to continue the
movement of the music sheet until its next stop perforation arrives at the tracker
bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A guiding cam for a picker having an aperture encircling a projection of
the picker, the side walls of which are located at a suitable distance apart to allow
of the desired amplitude of lateral movement of the picker, the end walls being
13

page_text: inclined for guiding the picker at the conclusion of its stroke into the desired
plane of its return movement.
2. In a stringed musical instrument, a picker arranged to vibrate in a substan-
tially horizontal plane, a guiding cam for the lateral vibrations of the picker,
having an aperture encircling a projection of the picker, the side walls of the
aperture being located at a suitable distance apart to allow of the desired amplitude
of lateral vibrations, and the end walls being inclined to guide the picker at the
conclusion of its longitudinal movement in each direction into the desired plane
of its return movement.
3. In a stringed musical instrument, in combination with the picker thereof,
a motor, and a resilient connection between the picker and the motor.
4. In a stringed musical instrument, in combination with the picker thereof, a
pivotally mounted guiding cam for the picker, and means for resiliently opposing
the oscillations of the cam, thereby cushioning the reciprocating strokes of the
picker.
5. In combination with the picker of a stringed musical instrument, a guiding
cam therefor supported for longitudinal, lateral, and angular adjustment upon
a relatively fixed portion of the instrument, whereby it may be adjusted while
the instrument is in operation.
6. In combination with the picker of a stringed musical instrument, a guiding
cam therefor pivotally mounted upon a support which is fixed relatively to the
picker, and provided with means for adjusting the angular position of the cam
upon its pivotal support in a direction longitudinally of the movement of the
picker.
7. In combination with the picker of a stringed musical instrument, a guiding
cam therefor, a pivot screw upon which the cam is mounted, and by means of
which it may be adjusted laterally to the movement of the picker, and adjusting
screws located upon opposite sides of the pivot screw for adjusting the cam angularly
upon its pivotal support in opposite directions longitudinally of the movement of
the picker.
8. In a stringed musical instrument, a pivotally mounted reciprocating picker
and a controller for frictionally engaging with the picker for oscillating it in one
direction during its forward movement and in the opposite direction during its
backward movement.
9. In a stringed musical instrument, a pivotally mounted reciprocating picker,
a guiding cam therefor, and a controller frictionally engaging with the picker at
one side of the plane of movement of its pivot, whereby the picker is caused to
follow the contour of the guiding cam during its reciprocations.
10. In a stringed musical instrument, a pivotally mounted reciprocating picker,
a guiding cam therefor, a controller, and means for résiliently pressing the con-
troller into frictional engagement with the picker, at one side of the plane of move-
ment of its pivot to hold the picker laterally into contact with its guiding cam
during its reciprocations.
11. In a pneumatic action for stringed musical instruments comprising a valve
chamber connected by oppositely disposed ducts to an exhaust chest and to the
atmosphere respectively, the combination of a primary, a valve located between
the ducts and provided with oppositely disposed seating faces therefor, and a valve
pin extending from the primary through one of the ducts, and forming a support
for suspending the valve at a point substantially above both seating faces of the
valve.
12. In a pneumatic action for stringed musical instruments comprising a valve
chamber connected by oppositely disposed ducts to an exhaust chest and to the
atmosphere respectively, the combination of a primary, a valve located between
the ducts and provided with oppositely disposed seating faces therefor, and a valve
pin pivotally supported upon the primary and extending therefrom through one
of the ducts, and forming a support for the valve at a point substantially above
both seating faces of the valve.

page_text: 13. In a pneumatic action for stringed musical instruments comprising a valve
chamber, connected by oppositely disposed ducts to an exhaust chest and to the
atmosphere respectively, the combination of a primary, a valve located between
the ducts and provided with oppositely disposed seating faces therefor, and a valve
pin pivotally mounted upon the primary and extending therefrom through one
of the ducts and forming a pivotal support for suspending the valve at a point
substantially above both of the respective planes of the seating faces of the valve.
14. In a pneumatic action for stringed musical instruments comprising a valve
chamber connected by oppositely disposed ducts to an exhaust chest and to the
atmosphere respectively, the combination of a primary, a valve located between
the ducts, provided with oppositely disposed seating faces therefor, and having
a conical projection extending into one of the ducts to center the valve there-
with, and a valve pin extending from the primary through one of the ducts
and forming a support for suspending the valve at a point substantially above both
seating faces of the valve.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.