Improvements in Music Leaf Turners.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
Improvements in Music Leaf Turners.
I, JOHN WESLEY DARLEY, Junior, a citizen of the United States, residing at
Number 1027 North Ann Street, in the City of Baltimore and State of Maryland,
Mechanical Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in music leaf turners, and it consists of
improved means by which the leaves of music may be wholly or partly turned
without using the hands for the purpose.
This may be accomplished in any of the ways hereinafter described.
Reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which the same parts are
indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The drawings hereunto annexed may be divided into several groups of figures.
Figures 1 to 24 inclusive relate to one form of music leaf turner, which wholly
turns the leaves; Figures 27 to 31, inclusive relate to a simplified modification of
the form of leaf turner shown in Figures 1 to 24; Figures 32 to 53 show a further
modification; and Figures 25 and 26 represent details of attachments for holding
the sheet or book music so that it may be conveniently operated upon by the leaf
turner.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a piano fitted with one of my improved leaf
turners;
Fig. 2 is a detail front view of the leaf turner shown in Fig. 1 in its normal
position ;
Fig. 3 represents the leaf turner in the position it assumes just before it raises
the leaf;
Fig. 4 represents the position of the several parts when the corner of the leaf is
raised.
Fig. 5 shows the position of the parts when the revolving wire has passed beneath
the leaf in the position for turning.
Fig. 6 represents a horizontal section through the music rack on the line x x of
Fig. 5 looking down.
Fig. 7 is an inverted plan view of the device in the position shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the device with the top plate broken away;
and
Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the same on the line y y of Fig. 8, looking
in the direction of the arrow;
Figs. 10, 11, and 12, are perspective views, looking from the top and front,
and elevations from opposite sides, respectively, of the pivoted frame carrying the
revolving wire ;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the lever for operating the revolving wire showing
the cord detached;
Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are elevations from opposite sides, and an inverted plan
respectively, of the secondary pivoted frame;
Fig. 17 is a plan view showing the relative positions of the two pivoted frames
and the lever for operating the revolving wire, and
Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view thereof, on the line z z of Fig. 17, looking to
the right;

page_text: 1 is an enlarged sectional view, on the line of Fig. 18;
Fig. 20 is a sectional view of the detachable rubber tip upon the end of the
revolving wire, and
Fig. 21 shows a modification in which a roughened tip is used;
Fig. 22 is a similar view of one of the rollers having a detachable rubber tire ;
Fig. 23 represents a central horizontal section of the bearing block for the butt
of the rolling wire, and
Fig. 24 represents a central vertical section of the same;
Fig. 25 represents a side elevation, and
Fig. 26 represents a plan view of a device to keep the sheets of music from being
accidentally displaced.
The device shown in the above mentioned figures is supported in a frame A
which is secured to the front of the music rack A¹, and carries the operating parts
of the device. A smaller frame B carrying the sheaves bis placed upon the back
of the said music rack and the screws a a pass through the latter frame, the music
rack, and enter screw threaded openings in the frame A, thus binding the two
frames together, one upon each side of the music rack A¹, felt pads A² are
interposed between the two frames and the music rack, and felt bouchings are
placed around the screws to prevent the vibrations of the piano from being taken
up by the moving parts of the device.
A vertical shaft C, is journalled in the frame A and passes down through the
same, below which it is bent at right-angles as at c, is then curved outwardly at c¹
(see Fig. 7) and extends horizontally at C', and is finally bent again at a right-
angle to form the horizontal spindle c; to this shaft all the moving parts of the
device are connected.
Upon the shaft C, between the upper and lower parts, a' and a², of the frame A,
are loosely journalled the sheaves D, D', the upper one D being hollowed out as
at d to receive the flat coiled spring d¹ which is secured at one end to a sleeve d²
which latter is secured upon the shaft C by a pin d³ (Fig. 9), the opposite end of
this spring d¹, is secured to a lug d which projects outwardly and downwardly
from a curved lever D' which is also loosely mounted on the upper end of the
shaft C; pivoted at e in the upper piece a¹ of the frame is a rod E which extends
horizontally beneath the piece a¹ to a curved slot a³ where it is bent upwardly at a
right angle passing through the said slot and extending upwardly to lay in the fold
of the music and hold it in place as shown in Fig. 1. In the horizontal portion of
the rod E a groove e¹ is formed in which the inner end of the curved lever D2 has
a sliding bearing. The tension of the spring d¹ is designed to press the curved
lever D against the rod E and thus keep the latter pressed firmly against the
music. One end of the spring d' being secured to the shaft C by the sleeve d³,
the same spring serves also to turn the shaft C in the direction of the arrow 1.
(Figs. 6, 7 and 8.)
In Figs. 10, 11, and 12, is shown the frame F in which the revolving rod F¹ is
journalled.
The frame consists of the parallel sides f, and f³, and the end f'; openings f³
are formed through the sides of proper size to receive the spindle of the shaft C³.
A shaft extends transversely through the rear lower corner of the frame F, and
upon this shaft is loosely mounted a bearing block F in which the rear end of the
revolving rod F¹ has a bearing; the other bearing for the said rod is formed in the
end of the frame F and is made slightly larger than the rod in order that
the latter may have a little play therein. A spring f is arranged in the frame to
normally hold the bearing block F close to the side of the frame F' as shown
in Fig. 10, but yet to allow the said bearing block to slide into the position
shown in dotted lines when pressure is brought upon the end of the revolving
rod F.
The method of holding the revolving rod F¹ in the bearing block is shown
in Figs. 23 and 24. The end of the spring f' is bent as shown, and passes
through a hole in the block F", and part of an annular groove ƒ³ near the end of

page_text: AS 100g as the prece
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pulled out, although it is free to revolve.
The frame F carries upon its upper rear corner a roller F having a detachable
rubber tire of the construction shown in Fig. 22, in which 3 designates the roller,
4 the shaft, 5 the spindle, and 6 the rubber tire, which latter, by reason of its
elasticity may be readily removed when worn and another inserted in its place.
The said frame F also has upon the outside of the side ƒ a stop F* having a
rubber periphery 7.
A frame G, composed of two parallel sides g, g' and an end g is also mounted
upon the spindle in such a manner that the side g will be on the outside of the
side f, and the side g₁ on the inside of the side f₁ of the frame F, as shown
in Fig. 17. The side y is cut away as at g' to receive the stop F* of the frame F,
this opening is elongated to allow the frame G to have a limited movement upon
the spindle c' before it strikes the said stop.
Two lugs g, are formed upon the side of the frame G in which the holding
rod G is secured; the said rod is bent at an acute angle just back of the lower
lug g and passes upward through the upper lug extending a short distance above
the frame where it carries a roller G similar in construction to the roller F³, &
similar roller G is mounted upon the outer end of the rod G¹. The side g' of the
frame G is extended toward the front and provided with a perforated lug g³ in
which the end of the operating cord 2 is secured.
H designates a flat lever of the form shown in Fig. 13, the rear end of which is
cut away at h has a curved edge h¹, and terminates in a hook 2, the front end of
this lever is bifurcated at h³ and provided with a bifurcated upward extension h*.
1 designates a cord which is also shown in Fig. 13, and has its ends secured in
eyelets the reduced portion of which enter the bifurcated ends and * of the
lever H; a flat piece of metal I¹ perforated at its ends is placed upon said cord.
The lever H is pivoted upon the end of the shaft of the frame F and is
situated between the side f of said frame and the side of the frame G, as shown
in Fig. 17. The upper edge of the lever H is cut away at h³ to receive the stop F*
and the opening is elongated to allow a limited movement of the lever before
striking the said stop.
Upon the rod Fi just outside of the frame F is secured a spirally grooved
pulley F the central groove of which is cut straight across as at f to receive the
metal piece I upon the cord 1; this metal piece not only prevents the cord from
slipping around the pulley, but renders the adjustment of the length of the two
legs of the cord very easy. It is necessary to so adjust the cord experimentally
that the tip 12 of the rod F' shall strike the music leaf at the proper angle.
After said metal piece is inserted in the recess fo, each end of the cord is passed
once around in the grooves of the pulley and one of the eyelets i placed in the
bifurcated extension of the lever H; the cord is then drawn taut and the other
eyelet i placed in the bifurcated end h³ of the said lever and held in position by a
pivoted keeper / pivoted upon the lever H and adapted to be sprung over the
eyelet to hold the same in place. By this construction it will be seen that if the
lever H be turned upon its pivot f*, the cord 1 will unwind or wind upon
the grooved pulley F' and thus rotate the rod F'. The bifurcated ends h³ and hª
of the lever H are so situated with reference to the centre of the shaft f* upon
which the lever H is pivoted that when the eyelets are in place the eyelet in the
slot h³ is in this instance further from the centre of the shaft f* due to the pitch of
the worm of the pulley F' upon which the cord makes two turns. Now, since one
arm of the lever to which the cord 1 is attached, is longer than the other, it follows
there would be a tightness of the cord 1 on one side of the roller F' and a looseness
on the other, and vice versa, depending on the direction of motion were there no
compensation. This compensation is provided by varying the obliquity of the
groove on the roller F',-for each diameter of roller and length of levers from the
shaft f, there is a certain critical obliquity of groove in the roller F³. This can
only be determined by experiment in each case.

page_text: importance of Reeping both ends of the coru i taut is to prevent noise que
to lost motion.
The outer end of the rod F' is bent at right angles as at 10 in Figs. 3 and 4, and
has screwed upon its extremity a thimble 11 which carries a rubber tip 12 composed
of a shank 13 fitting tightly in the thimble and a ball 14 to engage the leaf to be
turned, (see Fig. 20). In lieu of the rubber tip I may simply roughen the end of
the wire as shown in Fig. 21.
A coil spring g is placed upon the spindle c² one end of which bears upon the
shaft and the other end upon the front piece g of the frame G and serves
to hold the latter down upon the rubber roller of the frame F, as shown
in Fig. 18.
A round lug C³ is formed upon the shaft C', and is perforated to receive the end
of the operating cord 1, the inner side of the said lug is formed into a stop and
provided with a rubber periphery which engages the cut away portion h, the
surface and the hook of the lever H.
The
In the operation the device is secured upon the music rack A', in the position
shown in Fig. 1; that is, upon the lower part near the middle with the upper side
of the frame A on a line with the top of the strip at upon which the music rests,
the said strip at is cut away as at a to make room for the music turner.
holding rod E, made of resilient metal, lays against the music rack and is cut away
upon the rear side at its upper end as at e to facilitate placing the music behind
the same.
A thin curved strip a' may be secured upon the music rack in position
to conform to the arc in which the ends of the rods F' and G¹ move, to make a
good bearing surface for the rods in picking up the leaf, but where the music rack
has a plane surface this is not necessary.
A third pedal K is placed on one side, preferably the left, of the pedal
support L of the piano, and pivoted at a point k intermediate of its length. The
operating cord 1 is secured to the lug Cupon the shaft C and passes one or more
times around the lower pulley D' thence through the music rack and over the
lower sheave b in the frame B, and passes along the back of the music rack to a
point near the pivotal point of the latter where it passes over a suitable guide
sheave at m, then down through the piano over suitable guide sheaves and is
connected to the rear end of the pedal at k¹.
It will be obvious that a knee shift may be used in place of the pedal, or an
extra key placed in the keyboard, and that the mode of applying power to the
cords 1 and 2 may be varied indefinitely.
The operating cord 2 is secured to the lug g' upon the frame G and passes one
or more times around the upper pulley D on the shaft C thence through the music
rack over the upper sheave b in the frame B along the back of the music rack,
and over suitable guide sheaves parallel with the cord 1 to the pedal K, to which it
is connected at a point on the opposite side of the pivot to the point k¹.
It is important that the cords 1 and 2 leave the music rack at a point near the
pivot of the latter as thereby the straining of the cords is prevented when the
music rack is turned down, and the piano closed.
A spring k³ is placed under the front of the pedal and serves to keep the latter
in an elevated position, causing a constant pull upon the cord 1, and this spring is
sufficiently strong to hold the music turner in the position shown in Fig. 2, which
is its initial position, against the tension of the spring d¹. Arrows marked 1 and 2
are attached to the several figures to indicate the motion of the parts when
entering into and when returning from engagement, respectively. The operation
of the device is as follows:-
The music is opened and then inserted beneath the holding rod E so that the
latter will lay in the fold, as in Fig. 1, the lever arm D' connected to the spring d
will keep the rod E firmly pressed into the music, and yet allow for any thickness
of book or sheets. The music may then be opened at any page, and when it is
desired to turn the leaf, the foot is pressed upon the pedal K; this will slacken
the cord 1 and pull upon the cord 2. As soon as the tension of the cord 1 is

page_text: released, the spring d¹ will turn the shaft C C' and the operating parts carried
thereby into the position shown in Fig. 3; that is; the roller g resting against
the end of the stop a' upon the upper side a¹ of the frame A. A slight additional
pressure upon the pedal, will now pull upon the cord 2 which is connected with
the lug g upon the frame G, the pull upon this cord will cause the frame G to
turn upon the spindle against the tension of its spring 9 until the upper end of
the cut away portion 93 strikes against the stop F upon the frame F; this will
elevate the rod G', and bring the roller G' nearly off of the stop a', as soon as
the frame G comes in contact with the stop F further movement of the said
frame will turn the frame F also; the result being, first to raise the revolving
rod F¹, then the roller G having passed off of the stop a', the shaft C will turn
(the spring being assisted by the pull upon the cord 2), and bring the rods F¹
and G against the leaf to be turned; at the same time the turning of the frame F
will carry the shaft f, upon which the lever H is pivoted, downward. During
the first part of this movement the upper side of the opening will press upon
the stop which will cause the forward part of the lever to descend, thereby
pulling the cord 1 downward and causing the rod F¹ to revolve; this brings the
rubber tip 12 in contact with the lower right hand corner of the leaf to be turned,
the rotary motion of the rod carrying the corner of the leaf up with it as shown in
Fig. 1; and finally as the rod continues its revolution throwing the corners of the
leaf outward and over the said rod F¹, so that it falls between the two rods F¹
and G; during this movement the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 4;
further movement of the frames F and G will bring the stop F* in contact with
the cut away portion of the lever H, and the curved surface h¹ of said lever
having reached the stop c³ the three aforesaid parts will turn together upon the
spindle until the book engages the stop c³ and further movement in this
direction is prevented; at this time the rod F is raised behind the leaf to an angle
of about 45 degrees from the horizontal and the roller F³ has passed below the
plane of the lower side a of the frame A. The foot is now raised from the
pedal K and the spring k³ will tend to raise the front of the said pedal and thus
slacken the cord 2 and pull upon the cord 1. As soon as the cord 2 is relieved
from tension the spring 76 will turn the frame G into its normal position in relation
to the frame F and bring the rod G₁ nearly parallel with the rod F', (as shown in
Fig. 5), the leaf to be turned being between the two rods. By holding the pedal
at this point the leaf is gripped and is ready to turn the instant the pressure on the
pedal is relieved.
The pedal being relieved, the pull upon the cord 1 caused by the spring of the
pedal will pull the shaft C, C', and turn it and the parts carried thereon together
with the leaf of the music over to the left of the centre, thus turning the leaf.
When the parts near the end of their movement to the left, the roller G² comes
in contact with the inclined surface a upon the upper side of the frame A and is
thus moved outwardly from the central shaft C turning the several parts to which
it is connected back to the initial position as shown in Fig. 2.
It will be seen by reference to Figs. 7 and 8, that the lower part a² of the
frame A is formed at its lower edge to conform to an arc of a circle concentric
with the shaft C, and that it is cut away at the sides as at 21, 22, a lug a³ projecting
above the end 22 of the arc:-the purpose of this is that, as the several parts
turn to the right to pick up the leaf, the roller F³ upon the frame F will pass over
the top of the lug a³ and the parts will thereby be prevented from turning upward
until the said roller has passed over the said lug when the rods are in the proper
position to lift the leaf; when the parts turn and take up the leaf the roller* F³
passes downward past the end of the arc 22 until it is below the plane of the lower
side a', and as the parts return to the left or initial position the roller F³ passes
under the edge of the side a³, and the parts are thus prevented from being thrown
into their normal position until the said roller has passed the end 21 of the arc,
which it does at the same time that the roller G¹ engages the inclined surface a³.

page_text: It will be seen that the roller G steadies the leaf in place and stiffens it while
the button 12 pushes the corner of the leaf up, and then when the said corner is
raised sufficiently the arm 11 rolls back and passes under the leaf, the leaf being
then held between the said roller G' and the said arm 11.
Now if the foot be raised from the pedal, the pressure of the spring on the
pedal will carry the leaf across and the rods G' and F¹ will return to the initial
position, but if it be desired to turn a page back, as in repeating; by holding the
foot on the pedal and pressing backwards or forwards the same page may be turned
backwards and forwards an indefinite number of times.
Since turning a leaf rapidly creates a partial vacuum behind it, which is apt to
carry over the next leaf or two, a spring hook a10, as shown in Fig. 1, may be
attached to the music stand, the said hook engaging the music about the middle
of the side of the sheet to be turned, and the resiliency of the metal being
sufficient to hold the sheets of music against draughts of air but not against the
leaf turner. Or instead of this hook a stiff hook such as all in Figs. 25, and 26,
may be used.
In this hook the under side is placed at a sufficient distance from the music fret
to accommodate the thickest book it is desired to use, should a second sheet attempt
to follow the one being turned, it can only go as far as the hook and there the
leaf held by the turning wires will slide out from under the hook, the other one
remaining behind as there is no force tending to slide it out.
Thus it will be seen that I provide a compact device by which the performer is
enabled to turn the sheets of music by simply pressing a pedal and without taking
the hands from the keyboard.
In order to adapt the device to sheets of music of any size, the rods or wires F¹
and G should be made removable, and two or more lengths of them should be
provided with each instrument.
While I have shown the device as applied to pianos, it will be evident that it is
equally adapted for use with organs and other fixed instruments, and with slight
modificatious might be applied to music stands for use in orchestras, &c.
In the leaf turner shown in Figs. 27 to 31, a rolling wire M having a bent
end m, provided with either a rubber tip m¹ or a serrated tip m², is mounted in
journals on the top K', bearings k³, of the music stand K. Between the journal
bearings, the pulley M' is mounted on the said revolving rod or wire and the
cord N passes over the said pulley, making several turns around the same, and has
its two ends terminating in the lever P pivoted at pl and provided with a pedal p¹.
The spring P brings the lever back to the initial position after it is released. The
motion of the trendle P may be limited by stops or in any convenient way.
The music book, or sheet rests on the rail k and is placed against the side rail k¹,
which rails k and k serve as guides to hold the book in the desired position.
represents a spring clip to hold the leaves steady against ordinary pressures, but
which will release them readily when they are to be turned. The number of the
turns of the cord M on the pulley M' and the adjustment of the treadle P enables
the rolling wire M to be revolved through any desired angle, first in one direction
and then in the opposite direction. Each time the tip moves from the bottom
towards the top of the music book, it presses the corner of the leaf up sufficiently
to enable it to be caught by the hand and to be thrown over quickly, or to be
operated upon by any supplementary device.
In this form of the device, the leaf is not wholly turned, but it is merely pushed
up into such a position that it may be readily turned either by hand or in any
other way.
The device represented in Figs. 32 to 53 is a modification of that shown in
Figs. 1 to 22 in which the leaf turner is operated by a knee-swell or lever instead
of a treadle and the holding wire for holding down the sheet to be turned and then
releasing the same at the proper time is mounted separately from the rolling wire
or leaf-lifting device.

page_text: In this form of the device Fig. 32 represents a perspective view of an upright
piano partly in section, and illustrates the application of my improved leaf turner
thereto;
Fig. 33 represents a front view of the frame of the music rack, showing the
details of the leaf turner ;
Fig. 33 represents a section across the base of the music rack, and illustrates
the inclined position of the shaft operating the leaf turner;
'Fig. 34 represents a side elevation of the leaf holder used in connection with my
improved device ;
Fig. 35 represents an inverted plan view of a portion of the device;
Fig. 36 represents a section along the line Y Y of Fig. 4; and
Fig. 37 represents a section along the line Y Y of Fig. 4;
Fig. 38 represents the various parts of the tip of the rolling wire ready for
assembling, and
Figs. 39, 40, 41 and 42 represent detail views of the adhesive tip and of the parts
connected thereto;
Figs. 43, 44, 45 and 46 represent the adhesive tip of the rolling wire, in the
various positions assumed in turning the leaf;
Fig. 47 represents a side elevation of the bent piece inserted under the leaves of
the book or folio of music ;
Figs. 48 and 49 represent inverted plan views of the device for holding and
releasing the corners of the leaves;
Fig. 50 represents a sectional elevation of the said device, and of the parts
contiguous thereto;
Figs. 51 and 52 represent details of the operating lever or knee-swell, the
former in plan view, and the latter along the line Z₁ Z¹ looking to the left ;
and
Fig. 53 represents a rear view of a portion of the frame of the music rack, and
of the operating cord and pulleys connected thereto.
Qrepresents the music rack provided with a shelf q to support the music, and
preferably with a bottom piece q, and an ornamental front piece q¹ to enclose the
operating mechanism, and keep it out of sight, free from dust, and also from possible
injury.
The music rack is hinged to the top of the piano in the usual way.
3
The shelf 9 is slotted as at q³, and is provided with rubber or leather stops q³
and g, to prevent the rattling of the wire S. A frame g³ resting on a pad of
leather or telt, also to prevent vibration, carries the roller q for the cord 14 con-
necting the rod 15 to the pulley R¹ keyed on the shaft R, set at a slight incline to
the face of the music rack.
This shaft revolves in the sleeve 98 provided with a flange q' which is screwed to
the music rack Q. Keyed on the shaft R is a spiral gear R³ mounted in a
casing R, free to revolve about said gear. A second casing R³ contiguous to and
preferably integral with the said casing R encloses the end of the rolling wire S.
The casings R and R' are cut away as at t to allow the spiral piuion S rigidly
attached to the rolling wire S to bear against the gear R³, and the end of the
said rolling wire passes through a slot in the said casing R. The forward end
of the conical portion of the casing R³ is provided with a tongue and shoulder,
and a shoulder, against the former the bearing lug s nade tapering as shown,
and attached to the wire S, takes the inward thrust on the said wire; while the
outer end of the sleeve S³, also rigidly attached to the wire S, takes up the
outward thrust on the said wire. This sleeve S³ is loosely mounted on the wire S
and bears against the face of the pinion S², thus transferring the thrust from the
shoulder to the face of the pinion S2. On this sleeve S³ an annular disc grooved
is revolubly mounted, and in this groove a spring R engages.
at
This spring is preferably made bent as shown and is secured to the frame R' by
the bolt and nut 8. The tension of the spring is adjusted by varying the
position of this nut on the bolt.

page_text: A piston rod R' and piston R³ are connected to the frame R*, and the said piston
moves in the cylinder R attached to the frame Q, the whole forming a dash pot.
The hole in the cylinder R is to limit the cushion in the dash pot to nearly
the end of the stroke. The dash pot is preferably made to cushion in only the
return direction, being provided with a relief valve, not shown, which permits of
motion in the direction of operation. In order to prevent rattling, and lessen, the
jar when the gear R³ communicates its motion to the case R, an elastic stop 5' is
so arranged that it will bring up against the curved end 4 of the curved slot in the
bottom of the frame R4, the stop 5 being attached to the spiral gear R³. The
angle of the spiral on the gear R³ and also on the pinion S2 is forty-five degrees
although any other suitable angle might be adopted.
The rolling wire S is provided at its opposite end from the pinion S2, with a
leaf-lifting device S¹. This consists of the various parts shown in detail in
Figs. 40 to 46. S* represents a disk loose on the end of the wire S, and slipped
on the said wire just outside of the fixed collar st. Outside of this disk two pear-
shaped plates S and S6 are slipped on the shaft 1, one of which is provided with
prongs to engage in the piece S' of rubber, preferably containing some abrading
material. These two plates are connected together and the rubber piece is held
between them by the prongs 5. On the outside of one of these plates, as S³, the
curved levers S and S are pivoted, having teeth 8 meshing with each other.
The smaller lever is provided with a roller s", and a catch 8, as shown in
Fig. 39.
The side of the small lever S opposite to the teeth 88 is provided with a guide
arms to prevent the edge of the paper from catching on the rubber rim in the
act of lifting the sheet.
The lifting device S' is secured on the end of the wire S by a pin through the
hole shown in Fig. 38.
The corner of the leaf is held, and released at the proper moment by the swinging
arm T provided with an enlarged tip tadapted to have a good bearing surface on
the paper. This arm T is connected to or integral with the vertical shaft T¹
carrying at its lower end the pulley T2 loosely mounted thereon, and kept under
normal tension by the spiral spring T connected by the bolt t¹ to the base
plate T.
A felt pad or washer 2 is interposed between the spring and the base plate T7 to
form a stop for the bent arm T¹.
T represents an arm projecting from the vertical shaft T, and rigidly attached
thereto; the said arm is provided with a downwardly projecting tip t connected by
the spring T to the screw t³ screwed into the pulley T.
The vertical shaft T' is free to revolve in the sleeve T which is firmly attached
to the shelf by a base plate T.
7
The pulley T is connected with the pulley R2 by means of the cord 15, as shown
in Fig. 34.
The leaf turner and leaf holder are operated by a lever or knee-swell U prefer-
ably projecting downward beneath the front of the keyboard of the piano. This
knee-swell is mounted on a shaft U¹ revolving in journal bearings u² and u³, the
former of which is provided with shoulders u¹ adapted to limit the motion of the
knee-swell through the desired angle, the said knee-swell being provided with a
lug u projecting between and adapted to engage one of these shoulders at either
end of its travel.
Rigidly attached to the end of the shaft U1 is the rod U³ bent at right angles as
at U and terminating in an oblong slot u' through which the threaded end 16 of
the rod 15 passes. The nuts 17, and 18, and felt pad 19 afford a ready means of
adjusting the tension on the cord 14, and at the same time deaden vibration, and
and so permit of the parts being disconnected when it is desired to tune the piano.
A spiral spring U2 is secured at one end to the lug u provided on the knee-
swell U, and has its other end bearing against some portion of the piano; the
function of this spring is to resist to the requisite degree the tension of the spring T

page_text: and prevent the sudden release of the Ante swth and constr
cords 14 and 15.
Attached to the shelf 7 near the lower right-hand corner of the music rack, I
provide a curved metallic piece V, provided with a pad or paper V' on the face
thereof, and a projecting arm v carrying a pin »' at right-angles thereto, as shown
in Figs. 47 and 50.
The spring holder shown in Fig. 34 consists of a simple well known device 20
used to hold the opposite side of the book, folio or leaf of music from that to be
turned. This is not essential to the operation of the device, however, and is not a
part of my invention.
The operation of my improved device is as follows:-
The book or piece of music to be turned is placed on the music rack in the usual
way, and is slid along to the right until the lower right-hand corner of the leaf
strikes against the pin v', when the music will be in position to be operated upon.
If the book or folio have stiff backs, the back is slid behind the rest V, the weight
of the leaves will cause them to bend over the face of the rest V in approximately
the curve shown in Figs. 43 to 46, in which position they are further held by the
initial pressure of the arm T and of the lifting device S. It is desirable to have
the leaves bent over somewhat, as in this way, since they are very much more
readily lifted when curved than when straight.
With the ordinary, sheet music it will not be necessary to put the back of the
sheet behind the curved piece V since these sheets are ordinarily sufficiently
flexible to adapt themselves to the curve desired. The paper disc or pad V₁, is
put on the face of the curved piece V in order to obtain the necessary amount of
friction between the last sheet and the rest V behind the same, for otherwise two
or more sheets might be slipped together up the bent piece V, and thus the desired
effect of turning the leaves seriatim would not be obtained.
The music being in position, it is pressed upon by the arm T under the tension
of the spring T3 and by the lifting device S¹ under the tension of the spring R*,
which presses on the inner end of the rolling wire S, which causes the outer end
carrying the lifting device to bear against the paper. The rolling wire, as will be
seen is virtually a revolving lever having a fulcrum at, and a tension on one end
of this lever will produce a corresponding pressure on the opposite end of this
lever.
By means of this spring Re an initial pressure is given the lifting device to
ensure perfect contact with the paper before the operation of the knee-swell begins,
and this initial pressure may be readily adjusted to meet the requirements of the
individual instrument.
The music being in a position for turning, the leaves, may be turned seriatim by
simply pressing on the knee-swell U, and then relieving the pressure and allowing
the spring T and cord 15 to return the knee-swell to the original position.
As the knee-swell is pressed over, the arm U³ is brought down pulling on the
cord 14 and revolving the pulley R' and the shaft K. This shaft carries with it
the spiral gear R³ which causes the pinion S' to revolve, and at the same time the
angle of the teeth causes the said pinion to be pressed out and the lifting device S¹
in towards the paper, thus increasing the pressure on the said paper, and at the
same time revolving the device S' on the surface thereof.
The operation of the leaf turner and lifter is represented in Figs. 43 to 46, where
Fig. 43 shows the initial position of the leaf lifter, the disk S pressing on the face
of the music; as the wire S revolves, the adhesive rim S' is brought into the
position shown in Fig. 44, pressing up the leaf o' from the body of the leaves w,
and bringing the catch into position for passing beneath the bottom edge of the
paper, as shown in Fig. 45, at which time the roller s" slides along the face of the
paper holding the point of the catch down.
It will be seen in the said figures that the lever S' is free to assume any position
between those positions shown in Figures 13 and 16 but that the catch must
always be in the position shown in Fig. 14 before the roller has turned sufficiently
B

page_text: to bring the catch upon the paper, as thereby the end of the catch S' is prevented
from catching in the next leaf to the one to be turned; this is ensured by the
construction of the lever S8, one end of which gears into the lever S, the other end
of lever SB being curved in such a manner as to bring about the desired result by
reason of bearing on the music leaves.
Up to this time the claw t has been holding the leaf down, but the cord 15 is so
adjusted that the pulley T' will be swung around sufficiently to carry the spring T
past a centre causing the pressure of the spring T to bear on the opposite side of
the arm T, and to swing the arm T clear of the rest V and release the leaf, which
is then thrown over by the wire S, the stop 5 having in the mean time struck the
groove 4 and the motion of the spiral gear having been transmitted to the frame R*
in which the said wire S is mounted.
It will be seen by an inspection of Fig. 46, that the arm 510 will prevent the
bottom edge of the leaf from catching behind the rim S7, and becoming injured by
the teeth 88.
After the position shown in Fig. 46 has been reached the part S¹ continues to
revolve until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 43, when the stop 5' strikes the
end of the groove 4' and the revolution of the wire ceases, in which position the
roller will be fully under the sheet lifted and the disk S will be bearing on
the second sheet, ensuring free motion while the sheet just lifted is about to be
turned.
As soon as the claw t has released the sheet about to be turned, by reason of the
continued motion of the pulley R², cord 15, pulley T and various parts connected
thereto, the spring T will again cross the centre and bring the claw t upon the
music leaves, thus preventing any leaves from following the leaf being turned, as
the rapid motion of the leaf being turned causes a partial vacuum and consequently
an air draft.
As soon as the leaf is swung over, the pressure on the knee-swell is withdrawn,
and the spring U will oppose the spring T3 acting through the medium of the
connecting cords 14 and 15, and will ease the knee-swell back to the initial position
and so at all times will keep the cords taut. At the same time the spring T³ will
wind up the cord 15 on the pulley T, thus turning the pulley R2 and shaft R, and
causing the lifting device S to return to the initial position shown in Fig. 33. At
the same time the cord 14 will wind up on the pulley R', and the apparatus will be
in complete readiness to turn another leaf. In this way the leaves may be turned
seriatim until the rest V is laid bare.
While the initial pressure of the lifting device S' is made sufficient by the
spring R to ensure perfect contact with the paper, the subsequent pressure on the
lifting device occasioned by the pressure on the knee-swell will be a function of
the energy expended on the said knee-swell. The energy so exerted, owing to the
angularity of the spiral teeth of the gear wheel R³ and the pinion S' will
be converted into two factors, each practically equal, the one causing a
thrust on the shoulder may be neglected; the other performs a two-fold
function, first to revolve the pinion S³, and second to move it bodily outward in
the direction of the elongated slot 7 in the frame. The revolution of the pinion
and wire S moving therewith causes the adhesive rim S7 to push the paper along
in front of it, and pick it up; and the bodily movement of the pinion outward or
along the slot will produce the requisite pressure on the face of the paper.
Now, the co-efficient of friction between two sheets of paper, if the pressure of
the lifting device S¹ upon the paper is never more than just enough to prevent the
adhesive tip slipping, the single sheet of paper must yield, and must be lifted up
by the lifting device S'. The limit of the thickness of the paper that may be
lifted depends upon the amount of pressure that it is possible to bring to bear,
thus a very thin sheet will be lifted with very little pressure, while even
cardboard sheet may be lifted with an ordinary machine by bringing the
requisite force to bear on the knee-swell. Independent of the pressure applied to
the knee-swell, the pressure producing friction on the rubber rim will never be

page_text: more than just enough to prevent the rubber rim from slipping on the paper, and
thus it will be seen that the instrument adapts itself automatically to varying
thicknesses of paper.
This characteristic of the device also enables the leaf turner to turn torn
music, and music which has been creased or rumpled, as it is evident that the
pressure required to separate a sheet of music will vary if the sheet is rumpled
or torn.
The sleeve is so placed upon the frame Q with reference to the pin v³ that the
centre of the shaft R will come a little to the right of the centre of the smallest
book, it is designed to use, as thereby the catching of the lifting device S' in the
edge of the leaf just turned is prevented. It will be noticed that the flange q' is
at an angle to the sleeve 8, in order to bring the lifting device S¹ upon the music
at the beginning and end of its travel and to give a leverage upon the music at the
intermediate points.
It is obvious that many modifications will readily suggest themselves to any
one skilled in the art, which could be used without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A music leaf turner constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figs. 1 to 22 of the annexed drawings;
2. A music leaf turner constructed substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figs. 27 to 31 of the annexed drawings;
3. A music leaf turner constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figs. 32 to 53 of the drawings hereunto annexed;
4. In a music leaf turner the combination of a rolling wire provided with an
adhesive tip, a spring normally pressing said wire against the music to be turned,
and means for revolving and for swinging said wire, substantially as and for the
purposes described;
5. In a music leaf turner of the character described the use of an adhesive
tip such as S¹ provided with a segmental disk of adhesive material such
as S and a roller such as S of less diameter than said segmental disk, substan-
tially as herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 40 to 46 of the
accompanying drawings;
6. In a music leaf turner of the character described, an adhesive tip such as S¹
provided with a segmental disk of adhesive material such as S' and a roller such
as S of less diameter than said segmental disk, and a pivoted catch such as S° and
means for operating the same, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by Figs. 40 to 46 of the drawings hereunto annexed;
7. In a music leaf turner of the character described, the combination of the
rolling wire and the device for operating the same, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figs. 334, 35, 36, and 37 of the drawings hereunto
annexed;
8. The music holding and releasing device herein described with reference to
Figs. 47 to 50 of the drawings hereunto annexed;
9. The construction, arrangement and combination of parts which co-operate to
form the leaf turner hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 35 to 53 of the
drawings, hereunto annexed;
10. The combination of two rods or wires such as G¹ and F¹, the one to hold
and the other to pick up and to turn the leaf, with the apparatus for swinging and
for revolving said wires, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in
Figs. 1, to 22 of the drawings hereunto annexed;
11. In a music leaf turner, the combination of two frames, a holding rod or
wire mounted in one of said frames, a rolling rod or wire provided with an
adhesive tip mounted in the other of said frames, and means for simultaneously

page_text: moving both of said rods or wires, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described.
Dated this 27th day of June 1893.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.