An Improved Apparatus for Turning Over the Leaves of Music, Books, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1892-Accepted, 4th June, 1892
CUDI DID DI DUIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Turning Over the Leaves of Music,
Books, and the like.
We, THOMAS MORRIS ASH, of Waverley Cottage, Warwick Road, Acocks
Green in the County of Worcester, Electrician and Optician, and HENRY WILLIAM
GILL, of Wastwater, Yardley Road, Acocks Green, aforesaid, Gentleman, 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:-
Our invention relates as hereinafter described to an apparatus for turning over
the leaves of music, books and other like purposes.
Our said invention consists essentially of mechanism constructed and arranged in
such a manner that when for example applied to the music rest of a piano, the sheet
of music may he turned over at will by the performer.
Our invention may also be applied to turning over the leaves of books or sheets
of paper.
We will describe our invention in reference to the accompanying drawings and
the manner in which the same may be performed
Figures 1, 2 and 3, represent respectively a front elevation, a plan and an end
elevation of our invention.
Figures 4, 5 and 6, are detail views showing the various movements of our
improved apparatus.
The corresponding parts throughout the drawings are indicated therein by similar
letters of reference.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3, A represents a rectangular metallic frame (provided at
the underside with two or more hooks or clips B also shown in Figures 4 and 6) for
attaching the same to the music stand of a piano or to an ordinary orchestra stand,
the projection C forming a stop or rest for the book. D is a vertical spindle,
supported at both ends D and D³, the upper end thereof terminating in a horizontal
arm E provided with a sliding tube F and a tongue F' for the purpose of adjustment
according to the size of book or sheet. Near the end of the arm E and attached
to the tube F is an ordinary horse shoe magnet G.
H, and H, Figure 1 represent a music book supported on the stand A. A disc
or tablet I made from thin sheet iron or steel is fixed to the right hand corner of
each leaf or sheet by some suitable adhesive compound.
A pinion J is fitted to the vertical spindle D gearing in the quadrant rack K
which is connected at L with the depending lever M. The depending lever M is
bent at right angles and extends downwards in front of the frame into loop M² and
is also provided with a sleeve N furnished with a slot N' and a stop pin Ns for the
purpose hereafter referred to.
The quadrant rack K carrying the depending lever M is retained in its normal
position as shewn at Figures 1 and 2, by the coil spring O.
When the lever M is pushed laterally in the position shown in the dotted
lines M6, it takes with it the quadrant rack K, which gives motion to the pinion J
hence to the vertical spindle D and thus causes the horizontal arm E to move in a
semi-circle from the right hand to the left hand side of the frame as indicated by
the dotted lines E' carrying with it the magnet G which attracts the metallic
disc I and takes the leaf or sheet of music H with it to the left hand side as shown
at H
The leaf or sheet is there detached from the magnet by the weighted finger P,
Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, attached to the horizontal rod R, the opposite end S being
bent at right angles which is operated on by the horizontal arm E, pressing against

page_text: it in part of its motion and turning it into the position shown in Figures 4 and 5,
which in like manner turns the finger P in the opposite direction and allows the
sheet to pass.
The further movement of the arm extend's beyond the projecting end S which
falls vertically by the weight at the bottom part of the finger P which also resumes
a vertical position. The spring O being expanded, forces the arm E to return to
its normal position which presses against the finger P at U, Figure 6 and forces it
over to the position shown in the dotted lines, and detaches the leaf from the
magnet and then the spring O causes the arm E to return to its normal position,
when it is ready for another operation.
In some instances it is necessary to turn a leaf from the left to right, as for
example in repeating a passage of music which movement may be effected as
follows:
When the depending lever M is being moved laterally to the left, the loop M' is
pressed upwards which causes the sleeve N to slide on the lever M, and the
tongue V (Figures 2 and 3,) attached to the lever M engages in the slot W,
(Figures 1, 2 and 3) of the catch Y which is forced outward by a spring. The
depending arm M is thus held from being drawn backwards by the coil spring O,
the movement not being sufficient to take the arm E beyond the finger P, it is thus
held until the passage is repeated. When the loop M² is drawn downward it
becomes disengaged and allows the arm to operate in the manner before described.
The depending lever M may be operated by extending a wire along the key-
board of the piano which may be manipulated by the hand or fingers. Or we may
extend the depending lever M and attach levers thereto and operate the same by
the movement of the foot or any other part of the body.
The fork shaped holder Z may be used for holding single sheets of music.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is --
1. The improved apparatus for turning over the leaves of music, books and the
like by means of a magnet G and an iron or steel disc I or its equivalent, attached
to a suitable part or parts of the leaves constructed and operated substantially as
herein described and shown in the several figures of the accompanying drawings.
2. The arrangement of the movable arm E for giving a semi-circular movement
to the magnet as claimed above operated by the depending lever M, and the
quadrant rack K and the pinion J, also the arrangement of the catch Y and the
tongue V for retaining the lever M in a fixed position, substantially as herein shown
and described.
3. The arrangement of the finger P and the horizontal rod R for detaching the
leaves from the magnet G constructed and operated in the manner substantially as
herein described and shown in several figures of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of May 1892.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.