Improvements in Apparatus for Turning Over Music and other Leaves.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Turning Over Music and other
Leaves.
1 EBENEZER RICHARDSON of Holmhirst Road, Norton Woodseats in the
County of Derby, Glass Cutter Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for turning over music and
other leaves, whether placed on the music stand of a pianoforte or upon orchestral
or other stands. It consists of. a series of leaf turning levers (wires) each being
carried by a spring placed in a small round box. Five or more of these boxes with
springs inside are placed together in the frame of the machine. A groved spindle
is passed through the centre of the frame and the centre hole in each box. The
grove in the spindle corresponds and receives one end of each spring which it locks
in position. On the outside of each box are connected the levers which turn the
leaves. The spindle being held in position by a lever and rack enables the
operator to encrease or decrease the power of the spring. On the levers being
turned from left to right hand they are held in position by a movable bar auto-
matically arranged so that they are secured or locked. Running paralal with this
bar there is another bar below which turns up and on over the top bar leaveing
sufficient space between to allow only one lever to pass with each movement of the
hand lever which may be moved by hand or foot.
The music stand has between the right hand half an extra strip of wood which
hangs downwards to prevent the leaves from crinking and keeps them slightly
bowed. At one or both ends of the stand there is a spring lever which turns over
to secure those leaves which are not required to be turned. The bottom part of
the music stand is in the shape of the receptacle of a drawer, and the machine is
placed in the centre between the upper and lower boards the top board being
notched almost cut through to allow the wires to go right up to the book. An
elbow joint of these wires admit of there being turned down in front of the
operator and in this position the operator turns to the last page, places one wire
and then a leaf another wire and so on to the first page. The two paralal bars
before mentioned which hold and release the wires have each at one end a sockit.
A spindle passes through both sockits the lower one being made fast and the other
loose. A worm-spring being placed over the loose one presses it down and govens
its action to a given point. The above spindle is held in position by passing through
two holes at one side of the frame, the hand lever being connected at the front
end and a spring at the other end to counteract the movement.
In starting the machine the hand lever is moved down by a small lever in
front of the machine. The top paralal bar being held back at the same time
by an automatic arrangment, allows the levers to get between and also releases
the bar, which then locks them in position until liberated one by one with
the hand lever. And here inserted in the receptacle to prevent the wires from
Swaying or oscillating an arrangment is placed in the form of a comb, each
wire passing between the teeth. To prevent two leaves coming at the same time a
short retaining wire is placed in front of the main wires, between which the leaf is
placed and so held secure.

page_text: "..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Turning Over Music and other
Leaves.
İ, EBENEZER RICHARDSON of Holmhurst Road, Norton Woodseats, in the
County of Derby, Glass Cutter Manufacturer 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 improvements in apparatus for turning over music leaves,
and other leaves, whether placed upon the music holder of a pianoforte or upon
orchestral or other like stands.
The invention is illustrated in the annexed sheet of drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1, is an elevation of the complete apparatus.
Fig. 2, plan of spring-box and finger, showing spring.
Fig. 3, side elevation of escapement mechanism.
Fig. 4, plan of segmental rack, and regulating lever.
Fig. 5, side elevation of spring bolt, or cover holder.
--
It consists broadly speaking of a number of leaf-turning fingers held together in
a frame and actuated by coiled springs which press them from right to left, com-
bined with mechanism by which they can be retained at the right hand side, and be
released in rotation, either by hand or by foot motion.
There may be any required number of fingers, and the frame preferably made of
wood, may be made of metal or of other material.
Each turning finger consists of a horizontal arm 1, supported by a spring case 2,
containing a coiled spring 3, the outer end of which is secured to the case 2,
and the inner end to a spindle 4, which passes through the whole series of spring
cases and forms the fixed point of resistance for the springs, and is provided with a
'short lever at the top marked 5, by which it can be turned part of a revolution, so
as to regulate the reactive power of the springs, and thus either increase or decrease
the speed at which the leaves may be turned.
The lever or handle 5, is retained, by engaging with the teeth of a segmental
⚫rack 6.
At the outer end of the arm 1, is an elbow 7, which supports a finger 8, and
leaf-holder 9; the finger may be capable of being withdrawn from the elbow or may
be permanently fixed therein. The elbow may be either fixed upon the arin or may
be made to slide longitudinally thereon for a short distance as preferred; it is jointed
so that the part which carries the finger 8, can be turned down from the vertical to
the horizontal position in one direction, which enables the paper leaf to be more
readily passed over it, than would be the case if it was in a vertical position.
A strip of wood or metal 10, is placed vertically on the right hand of the centre
strip, for the purpose of giving a forward curve to the leaves, and prevent them from
"crinking" or bending inwardly which would be detrimental to the satisfactory
action of the apparatus.
+66
At one or both ends of the frame I fix a self adjusting spring bolt 11, fitted with
a short arm 12, that can be turned either upon or from the frame and are for holding
the cover, or those leaves which are not to be turned. The spring enables the arm 12,
to take in and hold various thicknesses of leaves.
The turning mechanism is placed between an upper and a lower board which form
part of the frame, the top board upon which the sheets of music rest, being recessed.
as shown to receive the fingers.

page_text: When the apparatus is put into use, the finger arms 1, are turned by hand from:
their normal position on the left, to the opposite position on the right where they are.
caught and retained by the escapement mechanism.
This consists of a hooked bar 13, fixed upon a rocking shaft 14, held in bearings,.
and having means by which it may be rocked or partially revolved, such as the
trigger 15, or a connection attached to a foot pedal capable of producing the same.
motion.
On the same shaft 14, is fitted a second bar 16, capable of a short rotary move-
ment upon the shaft and being connected with a spring 17* which tends to throw
the arm upwards; the shaft is connected with a spring 17 which tends to keep the
bar 13, down, and the trigger raised.
To counteract the pressure put upon the finger arms 1, when turned to the right,.
by the bar 13, I fix a comb 18, between the teeth of which the arms pass and by
which they are supported.
The action of the escapement is as follows: When the finger arms are turned to
the right, the trigger is pressed down which raises the arm 13, the arm 16, would
follow but is caught by a spring catch 19, which retains it in that position until the
finger arms have got past it, when the bottom arm comes in contact with the upper
part of the catch pressing it back and releasing the bar 16, which flies upwards to
the same height as the bar 13, in which position it forms a diagonal barrier in front
of all the finger arms except the top arm. This top finger arm supports the bar 13,.
and as there is room between the ends of two bars to permit the finger arm to pass,
it is forced forward by the reaction of its coiled spring 3, between the bars against.
the hook of the bar 13, ready to be released. It will be understood that the leaves.
have been previously placed in position, between the small wire-loop or equivalent
retainer 9 and the finger 8.
When the trigger 15, is pressed down, or the shaft 14, caused to rock or
partially revolve by any other means, the bar 13, is raised until the top arm is
free from the hooked end, when it flies round to the left carrying the leaf round
with it.
The trigger being released the bar 13, drops upon the next arm, the bar 16,
descending with it and thus permitting the arm to pass forward to the hook of
bar 13, as before, and so on to the end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is performed or carried into practice, I declare that
what I claim is :-
:-
1. An apparatus for turning the leaves of music or other like leaves, consisting
of a frame supporting a number of horizontal arms and fingers provided with coiled
springs pressing them from right to left, and fitted upon a vertical spindle capable
of being turned by a lever so as to increase or diminish the power of the
springe. An escapement action with retaining and releasing bars, and trigger all
arranged and constructed substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
2. In an apparatus for turning music leaves, a horizontally moving arm, having a
joint to enable the finger to be moved from a vertical to a horizontal position, for the
purpose specified, in the manner described and shown.
3. In an apparatus for turning music leaves, a spindle passing through all the
arm springs, and having a lever by which the springs may be more or less coiled so
as to increase or decrease the power of the springs, substantially as hereinbefore
described and as shown.
4. In an apparatus for turning music leaves the escapement mechanism,
consisting of a releasing bar and a retaining bar, so arranged and constructed
as to automatically withdraw and retain each finger-arm in rotation a little distance
in front of the others, and to release each finger-arm in succession as the trigger is
alternately pressed down and released, substantially as described and shown.
5. In an apparatus for turning music leaves, an auxiliary strip or leaf support 10,

page_text: that will curve the leaves outwardly, or prevent them sinking out of form, for the
purpose specified.
Dated the 26th day of January 1894.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.