and similar Musical Instruments.
Year: 1886

page_text: and similar Musical Instruments.
:
We, JOHANN MATHAUS GROB, ALFRED OSCAR SCHULTZE, and ANTON VINCENZ
NIEMEZIK, all of Eutritsch-Leipzig in the German Empire, Merchants, do hereby
declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR
PLAYING PIANOS, ORGANS AND SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
"
These improvements have reference to mechanism for operating the keys or
hammers of pianos and of the keys or valves of organs or of instruments of these
kinds. The invention consists substantially in the application of peculiar levers
or friction roller segments which are periodically caused by the action of a
perforated note sheet of the usual kind to press against a quickly revolving
roller and to be thereby set in motion, such motion of the friction roller segments
being utilised in a suitable manner for operating the hammers, keys, valves, etcetera
of the instrument.
The accompanying drawing shews the mechanism of this invention in part
section.
The note
a are levers which carry at their upper end the roller segments a'. These
levers a are jointed at 6 to the levers c which are pivotted at 61. all are horizontal
arms forming part of the levers a, their outer ends projecting downwards until
within a very short distance of the keys T of the instrument. care vertical arms
forming part of the levers c. At their upper ends they are provided with a
projecting point cl. Springs fact so as to press these arms against the note
sheet n and the friction roller segments against the friction roller A.
sheet n which may be moved up or down in a known manner has formed in it
orifices or perforations o in which the points c¹¹ of the lever arms c¹ engage at
intervals. When this action takes place the corresponding friction roller segment
is raised and pressed against the roller A, upon which it is quickly moved by the
friction in the direction indicated by the arrow. When it has gone through a
short movement the end of the corresponding arm all strikes against the key T
over which it is mounted, but the key is not immediately moved as the component
parts of the mechanism have a certain vis inertiae, and an augmentation of friction

page_text: takes place corresponding to the pressure of a¹ against A. When the point ou
becomes disengaged from the perforation in the note sheet n, the same occurs
between a¹ and A, and the hammer mechanism passes with a, a¹ back to its normal
position. The springs f are only required to exercise a very slight pressure of a¹
against A, and this may be brought about in instruments of any desired degree of
impact of the hammer against the strings or chords by a quicker or slower rotary
speed of the roller A. Further only a very slight outward motion of the friction
roller segments is necessary, therefore the note sheet is very slightly engaged and
may be made thinner than is customary at present with the ordinary mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim, is:
1. The roller A in combination with the roller segment levers a and the levers c
for the purpose specified substantially as described and shewn.
2. The roller A and the note sheet n in combination with the roller segment
levers a, the levers c and springs f. for the purpose specified, substantially as
described and shewn.
Doted this 99nd dow of Naramban 1000