Improvements in and connected with Music Sheets for Mechanical Musical Instruments.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
COMPLETE DIBUIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Music Sheets for Mechanical
Musical Instruments.
I, Dr. FRIEDRICH ADOLF RICHTER, of Rudolstadt, in the Empire of Germany,
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 :-
Heretofore the metallic and paperboard music sheets of mechanical musical
instruments have either been rotated from the centre or have been moved along
by toothed gear or by friction rollers. Now the movement by means of toothed
gear is always accompanied with a certain amount of noise, whilst movement by
means of friction rollers requires an expenditure of too much power.
According to my present invention I provide only the outer edge or border of
circular and annular music sheets, with suitable projections say for a width of
about an inch; or in the case of circular or annular music sheets of large size
the same are provided with suitable projections situated within or between the
lines of the music in the direction of the rotation of the circular or annular sheets
so as to form actuating ways. In the case of music sheets in the form of strips or
ribbons, these actuating ways are composed of suitable projections arranged in the
longitudinal direction of the strips, and both outside of, and inside of, the lines of
music according to the width of the music strips.
The onward motion or travel of the music sheets is effected by means of two
rollers arranged one over the other and covered with elastic material (caoutchouc
or the like) and located over and underneath the actuating way. The elastic
actuating rollers act after the manner of toothed wheels, because the projections of
the actuating way are pressed into the yielding covering of the rollers, whereby
the actuating of the music sheet is rendered easier, and interruptions of the uniform
travel of the strips or sheets (which are of frequent occurrence with the ordinary
driving gear) are completely obviated. The rollers are rotated either by hand or
by any other power in the usual manner. If the projections of the actuating way
are provided only on one side of the music sheet, then only the roller which
engages with the projections need be furnished with an elastic covering.
My invention will be more readily understood by the following description having
reference to the accompanying drawing whereon is shown several arrangements and
constructions of the actuating ways for music sheets.
In the case of metallic music sheets, the projections which serve as teeth are
pressed up or stamped out, and may have the shape of the longitudinal ribs a or of
undulating or corrugated ribs b, arranged at equal distances apart, as shown in
Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7. Or the actuating ways may have the form of conical
projections as shown in Figs. 4, 8, 9 and 10, or of egg-shaped or elliptical
projections d, as shown in Figs. 3 and 10.
Figs. 11 and 12 show respectively a plan and a section through the conical
projections c, drawn to a larger scale than the previous figures.
In the case of music sheets of paper, cardboard or the like, the projections of
the actuating way are formed by the insertion of wire staples f, Fig. 13, or by the
insertion of studs g with heads of conical or elliptical form as at Fig. 14.
Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate the arrangement of the actuating rollers.
In Fig. 15 only the lower roller is furnished with an elastic covering; and the
upper roller serves solely as a pressure roller.
In Fig. 16, both rollers are covered with elastic material, because the projections
of the actuating way project on both sides of the music sheet.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In mechanical musical instruments, the means for actuating the metallic,
paper, or cardboard music sheets therein, one or more actuating ways being formed
or provided on the music sheets, which are caused to pass between two rollers
arranged one above the other, one or both of which rollers are furnished with an
elastic covering, into which the projections of the actuating way are pressed
whereby a noiseless, easy and uniform travel of the music sheet is effected, all
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. The general arrangement and construction composing my improvements in
and connected with music sheets for mechanical musical instruments all combined
and acting as and for the purposes herein described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of July 1801
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.