Improvements in Automatic Operating Devices for use in connection with Organs, Pianos, and other like Musical Instruments.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1900
Improvements in Automatic Operating Devices for use in connection
with Organs, Pianos, and other like Musical Instruments.
I, WILLIAM CYRUS RANNEY, of Main Street, in the Village of Elbridge, County
of Onondaga, and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturei,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
18 to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
My invention relates to improvements in playing apparatus, particularly applic-
aple for use in connection with organa, pianos, and other musical instruments,
and has for its object the production of a mechanism for the desired purpose,
which 18 simple in construction, is readily placed in operative position, and 18
highly effective in use; and to this end, the invention consists, essentially, in the
combination, construction and arrangement of the component parts of a playing
apparatus for musical instruments, as hereinafter fully described and pointed
out in the claims In describing this invention, reference is had to the accom-
panying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like letters indicate
corresponding parts in all the views
Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of an organ and my improved playing
apparatus operatively mounted thereon.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, looking from the rear and partly
broken away and in elevation, of the keyboard seen in Figure 1 and my improved
playing apparatus.
Figures 3 and 4 are transverse and longitudinal sectional views, taken, respec-
tively, on lines A-A and B-B, Figure 2
Figure 5 18 an elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the frame of my play-
ing apparatus
Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, top plan, and side elevation, partly in section,
of one of the detached engaging pieces of said apparatus
Figure 8 18 a sectional view, taken on line CC, Figure 1, the music-sheet
being not illustrated.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 are detail sectional views, taken, respectively, on
lines D-D and E E, Figures 2 and 8, one end of the music-sheet being shown
in Figures 9 and 10 as engaged with the roller for unwinding the music-sheet,
and in Figure 11 as disengaged from said roller.
Figure 12 18 a longitudinal sectional view taken on line F-F, Figure 3
Figures 13 and 14 are transverse sectional views, taken, respectively, on
lines G-G and H-H, Figure 8.
Figures 15 and 16 are detail sectional views, taken, respectively, on lines I-I
and JJ, Figure 14
My improved playing apparatus comprises a frame 1, operating members 2,
engaging pieces 3, actuated by the operating members, an air-circulating device
for moving the operating members, a music-sheet 4 for controlling the movement
of said members, and actuating mechanism for simultaneously operating said air-

page_text: circulating device and moving the music-sheet Said fame 1 is supported upon
the frame of a musical instrument 5 algre and in close proximity to the key-
board of said instrument and is usually provided with pockets 7, a chamber 8,
passages 9, 10, a conduit 11, ducts 12, a chamber L, and table adjusting means,
Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 14, 15 and 16. Corresponding sides of the pockets 7 are con-
nected to the chamber 8 by the passages 9 and the opposite sides of said pockets
are connected by branch passages 14 to the inner or lower ends of the passages 10
which preferably extend crosswise of an upright projection or bar 15 of the
frame I, and are generally provided with contracted outer or upper extremities 16,
as best seon in Figure 3 The chamber 8 and the conduit 11 are connected
directly to the air-circulating device, presently described, and the conduit 11
18 formed with a separable outer wall, Figure 3, which is secured in position by
any suitable means, unnecessary to heroin illustrate and describe. The ducts 12
are preferably of less cross-sectional area than the passages 10, are extended
upwardly at an angle from said passages, and serve to connect the conduit 11 to
the passages 10 between the pockets 7 and the music-sheet 4, also presently
described By connecting the conduit 11, as described, to the passages 10, the
action of the playing apparatus is rendered very rapid and positive. Moreover,
the ducts 12, which are more or less liable to be come clogged with dust and thus
retard the action of the playing apparatus, may be readily and thoroughly cleaned
when the separable outer wall of the conduit 11 is removed Said chamber 8,
passages 9 10, conduit 11 and ducts 12 form a particularly simple and effective
means for connecting opposite sides of the pockets 7 to the air-circulating device,
presently described, but, it is obvious that any other suitable means may be used
for said purpose.
The chamber 13 projects upwardly from the central part of the frame 1, encloses
the upper portion of the projection or bar 15, and is preferably provided with an
inlet-opening and a closure 17.
The adjusting means for the frame 1 usually consists of posts 18, nuts 19, and
screws 20, Figure 14. Said posts 18 rest upon the fame of the musical instru-
ment 5 and are inserted into substantially upright sockets 21 which are formed
in the frame 1 and are provided with shoulders 22 separated from the adjacent
ends of the posts 18. The nuts 19 are prevented from revoluble movement in
the sockets 21 by any desuable means and are engaged with the shoulders 22
The sciews 20 are movable longitudinally through the nuts 19 in the sockets 21
and are engaged with the adjacent ends of the posts 18. As said screws 20 are
adjusted, the frame 1 is moved toward and away from the keyboard 6 and serves
to vary the stroke of the engaging pieces 3, presently described
The operating members 2, Figures 2 and 3, are movable in the pockets 7 be-
tween the sides of said pockets from which the passages 9 10 extend, and prefer-
ably consist of yielding diaphragms stretching across the pockets midway between
said sides The yielding diaphragms forming the operating members 2 are
generally formed integral with each other or of a single piece of suitable material,
but it is obvious that said diaphragms may be formed separable from each other,
if desired.
The engaging pieces 3, Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7, are actuated by the operating
members 2 and generally consist of plungers guided through the passages 9 and
having corresponding ends extended beyond the frame 1 and normally engaged
with the outer ends of the keys of the instrument 5, and their other ends provided
with enlarged extremities or heads 23 movable in the pockets 7 and engaged
with the operating members 2 Said engaging pieces are generally formed of
wire, their lower ends are provided with tips of rubber or other yielding material,
and their opposite ends teiminate in closed coils arranged at substantially night
angles to the lengthwise planes of said pieces for forming the heads 23
The air-circulating device of my playing apparatus, Figures 2 and 12, prefer-
ably consists of equalizing chambers 24 communicating with each other and the
opposite sides of the pockets 7, and suction-chambers 25 for alternately, with-

page_text: drawing air from the chambers 24 Said chambers 24 are usually formed with
movable walls 26 for permitting expansion and contraction thereof, are provided
with springs 27 for holding the walls 26 in their normal position, and are con-
nected to each other and to the chamber 8 and the conduit 11 by a conduit 28
and branch conduits 29 30, Figure 2 The suction-chambers 25 are generally
provided with movable walls 31, inlet and outlet-openings 32 33, and valves 34 35.
The inlet and outlet-openings 32 33 communicate, respectively, with the
chambers 24 and the atmosphere, and the valves 34 35 control the passage of the
air through said openings
The music-sheet 4 18 arranged in the chamber 13 and consists of a perforated
strip movable across the top of the projection or bai 15 of the frame 1, previously
mentioned, and provided with perforations movable into registration with the
contracted extremities 16 of the passages 10. The opposite ends of the music-
sheet are connected to rollers 36 37 arranged within the chamber 13 at opposite
sides of the upper portion of the projection or bar 15. Said music-sheet, when
inserted within the chamber 13, 18 wound upon the roller 36 and is provided at
its free end with an engaging piece 38 for detachably interlocking with a shoulder
or hook 39, Figures 3, 9, 10 and 11, upon the rollei 37 The roller 36 18 usually
detachably supported in position, being here illustrated, Figure 8, as provided
at its ends with projecting trunnions Journaled in sockets 40 41, one of which 40
18 reciprocally movable toward and away from the other and is held in its normal
position by a spring 42. Said other socket 41 18 1evoluble with the roller 36 and
is preferably connected to suitable means for rewinding the music-sheet upon the
roller 36, which means is here illustrated as consisting of a spring or motor 43
connected by gears or other power-transmitting means 44 45 to the socket 41.
The roller 37 18 revolved by suitable actuating mechanism, presently described,
and when the music-sheet is unwound therefrom by the spring or motor 43, the
roller 36 18 prevented from undue movement by a stop 46 which is preferably
provided upon the roller 37, being generally movable longitudinally in said roller
into and out of engagement with the gear or power-transmitting means 45.
A spring 47 serves to force the stop 46 to its operative position,
and an engaging piece 48 normally holds said stop in its inopera-
tive position against the action of the spring 47 Said engaging piece
48 18 held in its operative position by the engaging piece 38 piovided
upon the music-sheet 4, and when the engaging piece 38 of said
sheet 18 detached from the shoulder or hook 39 of the roller 37 by the continued
revolution of the roller 36, as seen in Figure 11, the engaging piece 38 18 forced
from its operative position by the action of the spring 47, and the stop 46 18
engaged with the gear or power-transmitting means 45. The stop 46 is particu-
larly applicable for use with the remaining parts of my playing apparatus but
any other suitable stop may be substituted therefor, if desired
music-
The actuating mechanism for diving the roller 37 18 of any desirable form,
Bize and construction and is generally utilized to actuate the air-cuculating
device, previously described, during the movement of the music-sheet Said
actuating mechanism is here illustrated as consisting of a longitudinally movable
shaft 49 which is held in position by a spring 50, is suitably connected to a balance
wheel 51, and is provided with a gear 52 a diving wheel 53, and an eccentric
disk 54 The geai 52 meshes with a gear 55 fixed to the roller 37, and when the
shaft 49 is moved longitudinally against the action of the spring 50, said gear 52
18 disengaged from the gear 55 for permitting the sping or motor 43 to reversely
revolve the rollers 36 37, in order to rewind the music-sheet 4 from the 1oller 37
upon the roller 36 Said driving wheel 53 actuates the shaft 49 and may be
duven by a belt from any suitable power-transmitting mechanism, not illustrated.
The disk 54 which transmits motion from the shaft 49 to the an-circulating device
18 provided with a cam-shaped slot 56, and a stud 57 movable in said slot is con-
nected by links 58 59 to the movable walls 31 of the chambers 25
In the operation of my playing apparatus, the roller 36 with a music-sheet

page_text: thereon, 18 placed in position in the chamber 13, the free end of said music-sheet
18 engaged with the shoulder or hook 39, and the shaft 49 18 revolved by the
wheel 63 The revolution of the shaft 49 actuates the chambers 25 to alternately
withdraw air from the chambers 24 and create a partial vacuum within the
pockets upon opposite sides of the operating members 2 and winds the music-
sheet 4 upon the roller 37 As the perforations in said music-sheet register with
the contracted extremities 16 of the passages 10, the partial vacuum at the upper
sides of the operating members 2 is destroyed and said members are forcibly
drawn downwaidly, thus causing the engaging pieces 3 to depiess and actuate
the kevs of the musical instrument 5. When the perforations in the music-sheet
pass the extremities 16, the partial vacuum at the upper sides of the operating
members 2 18 immediately restored by the ducts 12, even though the distance
between successive perforations is exceedingly slight
The construction and operation of my improved playing apparatus will now
be readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description and the accom-
panying drawings, and it will be apparent that the detail construction and
arrangement of the component parts of said playing apparatus may be more or
less varied without departing from the spirit of my invention
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same 18 to be performed, I declare that what
I claim 18.
-
1-A playing apparatus comprising a frame, operating members movable in
the frame, passages leading from corresponding sides of the operating members,
and additional passages leading from the opposite sides of the operating members,
a music-sheet having perforations movable into registration with the first pas-
sages, and an air-ciculating device connected to the first passages between the
portions thereof adjacent to the operating members and the music-sheet and also
connected to the additional passages, substantially as and for the purpose
described
2 A playing apparatus comprising a frame provided with a plurality of
pockets, passages leading from corresponding sides of the pockets, and additional
passages leading from the opposite sides of the pockets, a music-sheet having
perforations movable into registration with the first passages, operating members
movable in the pockets between said sides thereof, and an air-circulating device
connected to the fist passages between the pockets and the music-sheet, and also
connected to the additional passages, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3-A playing apparatus comprising a frame provided with a plurality of
pockets, passages leading from corresponding sides of the pockets, and additional
passages leading from the opposite sides of the pockets, a music-sheet having
perforations movable into registration with the first passages, operating members
movable in the pockets between said sides thereof, said operating members con-
sisting of yielding diaphragms, and engaging pieces movable in the additional
passages and having coresponding ends extended beyond the frame and their
other ends provided with enlarged extremities movable in the pockets and engaged
with the operating members, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4-playing apparatus comprising a frame provided with a plurality of
pockets, passages leading from corresponding sides of the pockets, and additional
passages leading from the opposite sides of the pockets, a music-sheet having
perforations movable into registration with the first passages, operating members
movable in the pockets between said sides thereof, a conduit, ducts connected to
the fist passages between the pockets and the mumc sheet, said ducts being of
less cross-sectional area than the first passages, and an air-circulating device con-
nected to said additional passages and to the conduit, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
5 In a playing apparatus, the combination of a pair of rollers, & perforated
music-sheet, means for winding the music-sheet upon one of the rollers, a motor

page_text: for winding the music-sheet upon the other roller, a stop for preventing the move-
ment of one of the rollers, the movement of said stop being controlled by the
music-sheet, substantially as and for the purpose specified
6-In a playing apparatus, the combination of a roller, means for revolving the
roller, a stop secured to the 1oller for preventing revolution thereof, a spring
for forcing the stop to its operative position, an engaging piece for holding the
stop in its inoperative position, and a second engaging piece detachably secured
to the roller for holding the former engaging piece in its operative position,
substantially as and for the purpose described
7 The combination with a keyboard, of a playing apparatus detachably
mounted on the keyboard and having a plurality of engaging pieces normally
resting on the keys, and means for adjusting the frame of the playing apparatus
toward and away from the keyboard independently of the engaging pieces for
varying the stroke of said engaging pieces, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
8 In a playing apparatus, the combination of a fiame having a socket pro-
vided with a shoulder, a longitudinally movable post having one end inserted
into the socket and separated from the shoulder, a nut engaged with said shoulder,
and a screw engaged with the post and nut and movable lengthwise of the socket,
substantially as and for the purpose specified
A
་
WILLIAM CYRUS RANNEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C, Agents for the Applicant