IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING PAPER OR OTHER MATERIAL TO BE USED AS MUSIC-SHEETS OR TUNE-BANDS IN MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1884

page_text: DILCIFICATION.
I JOHN MAXFIELD of Circus Road, Haverstock Hill, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING PAPER OR OTHER MATERIAL TO
BE USED AS MUSIC-SHEETS OR TUNE-BANDS IN MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS"
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 the perforation of paper or other material for the
music-sheets or tune-bands of mechanical musical instruments, and to apparatus
therefor.
My said Invention consists essentially in employing a number of hollow or
tubular cutters or punches which are adjustable relatively to each other, so that
they may be employed in the perforation of bands or sheets for different tunes or
musical compositions.
The said cutters are so placed that when they are pressed upon a piece of paper
or other suitable material for forming a tune-band or music-sheet, or when the said
paper or other material is pressed upon the cutters or punches they will make
perforations in accordance with the positions of the said cutters or punches. The
Invention also comprises the novel apparatus hereinafter described.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure is a top view or plan of a machine for perforating paper or other
material according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same, and
Figure 3 is an end view of some of the cutter or punch supporting bars.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the
Drawing.
A indicates the frame or bed for carrying the cutters or punches, and is composed
of the longitudinal bars a, and the transverse bars bo; this bed is supported on
suitable legs d.
To the longitudinal bars a are attached, or formed integral therewith, racks e for
purpose hereinafter described; and upon the transverse bars b, c are placed a
number of bars f. These bars f lie between the projections g, on the bars b, and
are provided with flanges or ledges h on their lower sides, upon which the cutters
or punches i rest.

page_text: The said cutters or punches are made of steel or other suitable material and are
hollow or tubular and sharpened upon their upper edges as shown in Figures 1
and 2. These cutters or punches are made of any suitable length and shape
according to the quality and duration of the sounds which it is desired that the
instrument should produce.
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The cutters or punches are placed between the bars f (their bottom sides
resting upon the ledges h) according to the positions of the perforations which it is
desired to make in the paper or other material; blocks or packing pieces; of less
height than the punches are then placed between the bars f to prevent the said
punches from moving longitudinally, and screws k passing through one or both of 1
the side bars a are tightened, pressing the bars f and packing pieces j together to
prevent lateral displacement of the punches.
The projections g on the bars b, in addition to holding the bars f in position also
serve as fixed points between which the packing pieces j may be wedged.
The transverse bars c are preferably tapered upwards and recessed between the
bars fas shown in Figures 2 and 8, in order to prevent as far as possible the pieces
of paper or other material punched out of the tune-bands or music sheets and
falling through the hollow cutters or punches, from collecting on the said bars c
thereby obstructing the passages through the said cutters or punches.
The paper or other material to be perforated is laid upon the said cutters or
punches and pressure is brought to bear upon the paper in order to force the
cutters or punches through the same. This pressure is preferably produced. by
means of a roller m mounted in a carriage n and adapted to run over the
punches i.
To move the said roller the carriage n carries a shaft o provided with a crank-
handle P and two pinions q which latter are adapted to engage with the racks e.
To prevent the carriage from rising and the pinions from coming out of engagement
with the racks, the carriage is provided upon each side with rollers r which bear
against the lower sides of the said racks.
To prevent the cutting edges of the cutters or punches from being damaged by
the roller m, the latter is arranged so that it will not quite come in contact with
the said edges, and a piece of gutta-percha or other suitable material is placed
between the paper and the roller through which material the pressure is applied.
If desired the roller may be covered with india-rubber or like material.
After laying a piece of paper or the like upon the punches with a sheet of
gutta-percha thereon, it will be seen that by turning the crank handle p the
carriage n carrying the roller m will be moved, thereby perforating the paper or
other material in accordance with the shape and position of the punches.
It will be understood that the bed or frame A may be made of any desired length
and width, the machine being suitable for perforating tune bands or music-sheets of
any size smaller than the area of the bed.
I do not confine myself to the apparatus hereinbefore described as it is obvious
that the cutters or punches may be employed in other forms of apparatus without
departing from the nature of my Invention, for instance they may be fixed to the
periphery of a revolving cylinder in any suitable manner. Also instead of forcing
or pressing the paper upon the cutters or punches I may force the latter upon
the paper.
Although I have described the cutters or punches and the packing pieces as
being adjustable it may be advantageous in some instances to dispense with the
said packing pieces and substitute therefor one or more boards or strips having
suitable apertures into which the cutters or punches may be inserted.
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
First. The employment of hollow or tubular cutters or punches adapted to be
arranged and held in any suitable positions, in combination with means for
applying pressure thereto, for the purpose specified.

page_text: Second. The bed A provided with the bars f having ledges or flanges h for
supporting the cutters or punches and packing pieces, substantially as described.
Third. The frame or bed A having the longitudinal bars f, carrying the cutters
or punches and packing pieces j, in combination with the carriage a provided
with the roller m substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
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HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.