Improvements in Apparatus for Turning Music or other Pages.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Turning Music or other Pages.
I, GIOVANNI BATISTA RISSONE of 30, Great Warner Street, Clerkenwell in
the County of London, Piano Manufacturer (a communication to me from
abroad by Salvatore Serra of Catanzaro in the Kingdom of Italy, Clockmaker),
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This music leaf turner is applied as follows to a desk on which the music book is
placed-The pages to be played are fixed in clips (advantageously six in number)
borne by a like number of small steel rods-the others are held by two vertical
springs.
If (in the piece to be played) it is necessary to turn one page only the latter is
fixed in clip No. 1 and (when it is time) it is turned almost instantaneously by
touching an arm provided for this purpose and which I will term the "right" arm.
Should it be desired to repeat the piece played another arm which I will term.
the "left" arm is touched and the page returns to its former position.
If the pages are to be two or more the pages to be played must be fixed in the
proper clips always commencing from No. 1 and proceeding as above.
But if the pages to be returned (for replaying or otherwise) are say six in
number it is not necessary to touch the left arm six times but it will be
sufficient to turn them altogether by the hand and then one can
afresh.
commence.
This complete music turner may be separated from the stand. Its frame has a
movable cover which (by means of a tooth or catch to hold same in position)
completely closes the only internal aperture so as to exclude dust and keeps the six
small rods fixed on the right side.
When the music turner is to be used the said cover is turned or moved
i.e. partially revolved.
•
A safety latch running under said right and left arms (or two keys) may be used
to prevent the appliance from being used by any curious person to the injury of
the machine.
The internal mechanism is as follows :-
The force of a spiral spring is used at its extreme ends the external extremity
moves the barrel when it is closed and the central extremity moves the axle which
bears it.
The barrel supports a toothed circular plane or disc divided at the periphery
into six equal parts by means of six holes into which the motive power is confined
(as bereinafter explained) upon each backward turning of a page.
The axle also bears another toothed circular plane or disc fixed upon a tube
within which the axle moves to wind the spring. Upon this second disc is fixed a
crown which bears six notches 1, 2 etc. the latter being closed by the power upon
each forward turning of a page and at the centre of the said disc is arranged a
cog-wheel.
These principal parts of the contrivance are fixed between two small thin plates
which are kept equi-distant and firm by three (or other number of) small pillars.
The lower small plate is pierced in order to make room for the barrel of said
spring there being from this a circular crown upon which are fixed other portions
of the mechanism as well as the feet of the latter.
Upon the upper small plate are free cog-wheels and a small lever or closing
brake for the pages which are turned forward. Both the circular disc borne by
the barrel as well as the other disc borne by the axle are toothed so as to move the
two small cog-wheels which are used for reducing the motive power and for

page_text: page.
rendering it possible for the contrivance to be closed upon every turning of a
Two large rollers (on these two cog-wheels) are placed between the said two
small plates.
Having given these particulars of the principal motor and its accessories I will
now describe the second motor which I will call the "regulator" because as a
matter of fact it regulates the forward and backward turning of the pages
commencing alternately with the disc borne by the barrel and with the disc borne
by the axle.
Six toothed wings of suitable shape which work into six rollers also of suitable
shape (the latter bearing the above mentioned small rods) are crossed by a hollow
cylinder which keeps them one over the other but separated at equal rectilinear
and angular spaces. They are placed between two small round plates and are
firmly fixed together by two long screws.
These last mentioned two small round plates have each on their circumference
six notches corresponding with each other. It should be borne in mind that this
combination is usually kept upwards (almost touching one of the aforesaid toothed
discs) by two very light small springs and it is in this position that it moves the
pages forward and this in the following way:-
Pressing the said "right" arm a linked handle and lever provided for the
purpose will be pressed-same being joined to a brake lying on the upper small
plate first named.
This brake, releases the said toothed disc which works by itself the "regulator"
by means of a guide which is placed in one of the aforesaid division notches in the
upper small round plates and causes it to turn a page forward after which it is
instantly closed against the said brake.
The lower small round plate which has its six division notches like the other one
(as has been already stated) by its fixed guide touches in its turn the aforesaid
toothed circular disc borne by the barrel so as to turn the pages backward.
Moreover by pressing the "left" key or arm the said linked handle raises a
lever (which carries a brake and a small rack or ratchet both joined and forming
a single whole) and with the said lever the following movements are obtained.
The small rack or ratchet releases the "regulator" by the guide of the said
upper thin plate and causes it to descend to the lower toothed plate upon which it
meets the corresponding guide which is to carry it at the same time the brake will
have released the toothed disc and the latter with the "regulator" will turn the
page back. In this way the six toothed wings are worked into their six rollers so
as to turn the pages to the left or to the right.
The music turner complete is secured by a foot which is placed on a hook fixed
in front of the pianoforte in the case of grand pianofortes it is placed upon a
suitable wooden stand or otherwise mounted in any suitable and desired manner.
Dandol 1
:
T1
100
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Turning Music or other Pages.
I, GIOVANNI BATISTA RISSONE of 30 Great Warner Street, Clerkenwell, in
the County of London, Piano Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from abroad by Salvatore Serra of Catanzaro in
the Kingdom of Italy, Clockmaker) 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 mechanism or apparatus for turning over music or other

page_text: pages and has for its object to provide an apparatus containing a motor or motive
power which will mechanically turn the page or pages to the right or left that is to
turn the pages backward as well as forward as desired by means of power stored up
in a motor advantageously a coiled spring and clockwork and controlled and
applied for the above purposes by the means and in the manner hereinafter set
forth.
This music leaf turner is applied as follows to a desk on which the music book is
placed-The pages to be played are fixed in clips (advantageously six in number)
borne by a like number of metal rods.
And in order that this invention may be easily understood and readily carried
into practice I will proceed to fully describe same with reference to the drawings
hereunto annexed :—
Fig. 1 is a front view of a music desk with the leaves of the music held in the
apparatus ready to be turned.
Fig. 2 is an exterior view of the apparatus unattached to a music desk.
Fig. 3 is a view in elevation (partly in section) of the interior of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus without its enclosing case.
Fig. 5 is a view of the underside (ie. a plan view of the bottom) of the
apparatus.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
If (in the piece to be played) it is necessary to turn one page only the latter is
fixed in clip No. 1 and (when it is time) it is turned almost instantaneously by
touching an arm D¹ provided for this purpose and which I will term the "right"
arm.
"
Should it be desired to repeat the piece played another arm S¹ which I will term
the "left" arm is touched and the page returns to its former position.
"
If the pages are to be two or more the pages to be played must be fixed in the
proper clips always commencing from No. 1 and proceeding as above.
But if the pages to be returned (for replaying or otherwise) are say six in
number it is not necessary to touch the left arm 'S' six times but it will be sufficient
to turn them altogether by the hand and then one can commence afresh.
This complete music turner may be separated from the stand. Its frame has a
movable cover C which completely closes the only internal aperture so as to exclude
dust and keeps the six small rods fixed on the right side when out of use and this
partially revolving cover is held in its proper position by means of a fixed stud
or pin (not shown) on the frame acting as a guide and stop in a horizontal slot
(not shown) in said cover, or said cover may be controlled in any other suitable
way.
When the music turner is to be used the said cover is turned i.e. partially
revolved so as to leave the six arms free to move the full length of their allotted
travel.
A safety latch F running under said right and left arms or "keys" D' and S¹
be used to lock said arms and prevent the apparatus being accidentally set
going when not required.
may
The internal mechanism is as follows:-
Referring more particularly to Fig. 3:-
2
The force of a spiral spring is used at its extreme ends the external extremity
moves the barrel z and the central extremity moves the axle T which bears it.
The barrel supports a toothed circular plane or disc a (divided on its periphery
into six equal parts by means of six holes) into which the motive power is confined:
as hereinafter explained upon each backward turning of a page.
The said axle passes through another toothed circular plane or disc b and same
is free to turn in one direction to wind the said spring while it is held in gear so as
to revolve said disc b in the other direction when the latter is released as hereinafter
explained.
Upon this second disc b is fixed a crown V. which bears six notches 1, 2, etc. the
latter being held by the catch t upon each forward turning of a-page and the

page_text: periphery of the said disc b is arranged as a cog-wheel to.revolve the fly wheel W¹
as hereinafter explained.
These principal parts of the contrivance are fixed between two thin discs or
plates A and B which are kept equi-distant and firm by three (or other number of)
small pillars C. D. E.
The lower plate B has the central part cut out in order to make room for the
barrel of the aforesaid spring; there being upon this said plate B portions of the
releasing mechanism as well as the framework carrying the latter etc.
Upon the upper plate A is mounted the releasing lever or catch t for use when
turning the pages forward.
Both the circular disc a borne by the barrel z as well as the other disc b borne
by the crown V on the main axle are toothed so as to respectively gear with a
pinion on the axis of one or the other of two small cog-wheels x or a¹ which may be
used for actuating the regulating or speed reducing wheels W and W' for rendering
it possible for the contrivance to be stopped upon every turning of a page.
Having given these particulars of the principal motor and its accessories I will
now describe the second motor which I will call the "regulator" because as a matter
of fact it regulates the forward and backward turning of the pages commencing
alternately with the toothed disc a borne by the barrel and with the toothed disc b
borne by the crown V and axle T.
Six toothed wings or sectors S of suitable shape as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are
rigidly fixed on a tube H loosely fitting on the axle T and gear successively into six
independent cog wheels or toothed segments g of suitable shape each of which latter
bear respectively an arm or rod which latter at their outer ends respectively
have a suitable forked end or clip i to hold its page therein.
These segments or toothed wheels g are mounted and arranged as shown in Fig. 3
one over the other under pressure of a spring g' so that they all revolve in parallel
lines on the same axle but each one quite independent of the others but all lying in
the path of travel of the sectors S as the latter successively come round and one by
one successively gear with a toothed wheel g and thereby the latter is revolved
until the sector S has passed free of same-this partial revolution of g being just
sufficient to move the arm and clip i through half a circle or thereabouts and
thereby turn the page over.
The six sectors S are mounted on the tubular axle H which latter has rigidly
fixed thereto the discs m and n so that the whole rigid combination m n H and S while
capable of revolving on T is also capable of a small vertical movement between a
and b.
It should be borne in mind that this combination is normally kept pressed upwards
(in contact with the aforesaid toothed disc b) by a spring or springs c (see Fig. 3)
and is locked to said disc by a projecting pin thereon engaging in one of six holes
in the disc m, and it is in this position that it moves the pages forward and this in
the following way :-
Upon pressing the said arm D' a linked rod p and lever e provided for the
purpose will be pressed-the latter being connected to the releasing catch or
lever t-lying on the upper plate A.
This catch t releases the crown V and with it the toothed disc b which thereby
is revolved by the aforesaid wound up spring revolving the axle T and thus the
combination m n H carrying the sectors S is revolved and so one sector S engages
and revolves one toothed wheel g and thereby one page is turned over and then the
next of the aforesaid division notches in the crown V engages with the lever or
releasing catch t and so stops the mechanism until D' is again pressed.
The lower disc n which has also six division notches acts as hereinafter stated to
turn the pages back by being connected to the toothed disc a by a tooth or
projection on the latter engaging in one of these said notches when n and a are
pressed firmly together.
By pressing the "left" key S¹ the linked arm u thereon raises a lever s having
its fulcrum at sl and having a rod y jointed thereto and also a second rod or

page_text: hooked catch p¹ both jointed to the said levers whereby the following movements.
are obtained :-
The hooked end of the rod p³ releases the combination" mn H from 6 by
forcing it downwards clear of engagement with band to descend to the lower
toothed plate a upon which one of the aforesaid notches in n meets the pin or
projection or other locking piece or coupling upon a which is to carry it round
with a at the same time the rod y will release the toothed plate a (by descending
clear of same) and this plate a being revolved by the spring barrel will turn the
toothed wheel in the opposite direction to which it was last turned and thereby
the page is turned back.
In this way the six toothed wings or sectors S are consecutively worked into
their six toothed wheels g respectively bearing the arms h and thus turn the pages
to the left or to the right as desired.
The music turner complete as in Fig. 2 may be mounted on the pianoforte by
means of a foot P which is placed in a socket fixed to receive same in front of the
pianoforte; in the case of grand pianofortes it is placed upon a suitable wooden
stand; or this apparatus may be arranged and fixed or otherwise mounted in any
suitable and desired manner.
66
It will be obvious that the inventor does not wish to confine himself to the exact.
mechanism or details illustrated and described-especially as regards the clockwork
mechanism for driving the "sectors" S and reversing the direction in which such
sectors" S are driven-as a skilled clockmaker or other qualified person could
alter or modify the actuating mechanism and means of obtaining the reversing
movement of such sectors S in various equivalent ways without departing from the
nature of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven--
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for turning over music and other pages-the arrangement of two
or more toothed or partially toothed wheels or segments such as gone above the
other and carrying arms such as h provided with means at the outer end of the latter
to clip or hold the pages in combination and acting in conjunction with toothed
wings or "sectors" such as S all radiating from a common centre and adapted to
respectively and consecutively engage with the toothed part of said wheels or
segments substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described
and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. In apparatus for turning over music or other pages-1 claim the said toothed
wings or "sectors" radiating equi-distant from a common centre and having the
toothed wheels or toothed segments g (bearing thereon rods or arms such as h)
interposed in the path of travel respectively of said sectors S in combination and
acting in conjunction with a spring motor to revolve these said sectors S and
means-i.e. reversing apparatus interposed between said motor and the commou.
bearing of said sectors-whereby to reverse the direction in which such motive
power is applied to said sectors so that the arms h may be independently moved
either backwards or forwards as desired substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described and for the purposes set forth.
3. The improved apparatus for turning over music and other pages-arranged
combined and acting substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dd his 9th d... f A 1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.