Piano and the Production of Cards for same.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 4th Oct., 1888
Piano and the Production of Cards for same.
I, GUSTAVE PAUL LE DAN of No. 7 Rue Pastourello, Paris, France, Manufacturer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
My invention relates to an apparatus essentially mechanical whereby I obtain the
automatic execution of pieces of music and that in a manner as perfect as may be,
as well as the production of cards for use in the said instrument.
My apparatus is arranged to be capable of application to all kinds of pianos it
being provided for this purpose with regulating screws arranged at each end of the
table by which it can be more or less adjusted in height, or this result may be obtained
by means of any convenient and suitable screw arrangement.
The travelling perforated plates which I employ in my apparatus, present in
projection or relief on the underside the compression or burr of the metal, the
perforations and consequent relief or burr corresponding in length to the value of the
note to be re-produced and the perforations are arranged in series of parallel lines
equal to the number of notes composing the octaves of an ordinary piano; in all cases
the number and spacing of these lines correspond to those of the squares forined on
bellcrank levers on the head of which the compressions or reliefs of the perforated
plates abut when they are drawn or traversed over the heads of the levers by spur
wheels gearing into racks or rows of projections formed on the plate.
These relief or burred perforated plates are arranged in the form of leaflets, and
when folded at the junction form a small book. I employ for this purpose a hinge
made of bent metal without a pin, it is rivetted onto the sheets and passes into grooves
formed in the box or frame through which the cards are passed, and it is in this box
below the cards that the bellcrank levers are carried.
From what has been said, if the apparatus is put in motion by crank or handle
being turned, or the spring of the barrel onto which the cards are wound being put
into tension or wound, the motion will be transmitted by means of the chain from the
barrel axis by a train of wheels and then to the spur wheels thereby causing the

page_text: dragging along of the perforated cards which will force the angle pieces or bellcrank
levers to assume an inclined position according as they meet the burrs of the
perforations of the plate.
These angle pieces being met by the projections or perforations of the plate oscillate
about their axes drawing with them the rods and oscillating the rock levers which
latter communicate movement to the rods secured to such movable angle pieces or
levers as will cause hammers to strike on the keys of the piano.
In order to obtain the necessary abutment for the bellerank levers which are
operated by the reliefs of the cards I have provided the cover of the box containing
the mechanism with some suitable fastening or lock so that it cannot rise under the
re-action of the perforated plate.
This arrangement enables me to make the fortes or pianos by giving to the burrs
or reliefs of the projections of the perforated plate heights of metal the length of the
course of which corresponds with the duration of the forte or piano.
The tool or apparatus which I employ to produce my perforated plates or cards
is composed principally of a frame or punch carrier provided with grooves into which
the punches are introduced of a size corresponding to the value of the note to be
reproduced.
These punches are spaced in the grooves by quoins the lengths of which vary
with the time which should elapse before the re-production of the same note on the
same octave, in this manner I obtain so to say mechanically the reproduction of no
matter what piece of music.
The punches are cut somewhat bevelled and the angles are made a little rounded
so that the perforations. of the metal of the plate or card is cut on one side and
stamped on the other and having its ends stamped a little rounded:
To effect the perforation I cover the punch carrying frame with a cap or cover on
which the rod or plunger of a pressing machine acts.

page_text: Piano and the Production of Cards for same.
I, GUSTAVE PAUL LE DAN of No. 7 Rue Pastourelle, Paris, France, Manufacturer,
do heroby 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 an apparatus, essentially mechanical, whereby I obtain the
automatic execution of pieces of music, and that in a manner as perfect as may be,
as well as the production of cards for use in the said instrument.
My invention will be best understood by describing same with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a front view of apparatus constructed according to my invention fitted
to the key-board of a piano.
Figure 2 is a plan.
Figure 3 shews in plan the box with parts connected therewith, the sheet of per-
forated plate metal, in plan and side view.
Figure 4 shews the apparatus placed upon a piano.
Figure 5 is a section through the middle of the tool which I employ for perforating
my sheet metal plates intended to reproduce the pieces of music.
Figure 6 are views of the perforating punches.
Figure 7 is a section through the middle of the punch carrier.
Figure 8 is a plan.
Figure 9 is a plan of the tool plate.
Figure 10 is a plan of the counter plate or comb into which the punches pass.
Figure 11 shews the hinge without pin which I employ to connect the leaflets or
plates in relief in small books.
Figures 12 and 13 shew in elevation and plan the striking lever arrangement.
My apparatus is arranged to be capable of application to all kinds of pianos it being
provided for this purpose with regulating screws a a Figure 4 arranged at each end
of the table 6 by which it can be more or less adjusted in height, or this result may bo
obtained by means of any convenient and suitable screw arrangement. The arrange-
ment of apparatus does not interfere with the action or use of the ordinary
pedals.
The travelling perforated plates which I employ in my apparatus, present in the
projection or relief on the under side, the compression or burr of the metal, (Figure 3),
the perforations and consequent relief or burr corresponding in length to the value of
the note to be reproduced, and the perforations are arranged in series of parallel lines
equal to the number of notes composing the octaves of an ordinary piano; in all
cases the number and spacing of these lines correspond to the bell crank levers c c on

page_text: which the compressions or reliefs of the perforated plates abut when they are drawn or
traversed over the heads of the said levers which is done by the spur wheels dd
gearing into racks or rows of projections e e formed on the plate. These relief or
burred perforated plates are arranged in the form of leaflets and when folded at the
junction form a small book. I employ for this purpose a hinge Figure 11, made of
bent metal without a pin, it is rivetted onto the sheets and passes into grooves y formed
in the box or frame through which the cards are passed, and it is in this box below the
cards that the bell-crank levers are carried.
From what has been said, if for example the apparatus is put in motion by a suitably
arranged crank or handle v Figure 2 being turned, or by a spring which may be in a
barrel on which the cards are or may be wound being put into tension or wound up.
The motion from whatever source it is obtained will be transmitted by means of a
chain from the primo mover by a train of wheels g g to the spur wheels d d, thereby
causing the dragging along of the perforated cards, which will force the angle pieces
or bell crank levers c c to assume an inclined position according as they are acted upon
by the burrs of the perforations of the plate.
These angles pieces c being met by the said projections or perforations of the plate,
oscillate about their axes h drawing with them the rods i, and oscillating the rock
levers which latter communicate movement through the rodsk to such movable
angle pieces or levers as shewn, for example, at Figures 12 and 13. The levers
rock on centre l' and cause the striker end or hammers m to strike on the keys of the
piano.
In order to obtain the necessary abutment for the bell crank levers cc which are
operated by the reliefs of the cards, I have provided the cover n of the box containing the
mechanism with some suitable fastening or lock so that it cannot rise under the reaction
of the perforated plate.
This arrangement enables me to make the fortes and pianos by giving to the burrs
or reliefs of the projections of the perforated plate, heights of metal the length of the
course of which corresponds with the duration of the forte or piano.
The tool or apparatus which I employ to produce my perforated plates or cards is
composed principally of a frame or punch carrier o provided with grooves p, into
which the punches q are introduced, of a size corresponding to the value of the note
.to be reproduced. These punches are spaced in the grooves by quoins the lengths of
which vary with the time which should elapse before the reproduction of the same
note, in this manner I obtain, so, to say, mechanically, the reproduction of no matter
what piece of music.
The punches are cut somewhat bevilled and the angles are made a little rounded, for
example, as shewn at Figure 6, so that the perforations of the metal of the plate, or
card are cut on one side and stamped on the other, and having their ends stamped a
little rounded as shewn at Figures 3 and 5.
To effect the perforation I cover the punch-carrying frame o with the cap or cover?
on which the rod or plunger of a pressing machine acts. The punches a descend
under the action of this machine, being guided by the counterplates, and perforate
the metallic sheet on the grooved plate u as shewn at Figure 5.
It is evident that I can vary the details, forms, accessories, materials, and dimensions
without departing from the nature 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. In apparatus for automatically playing the piano, the general arrangement of
apparatus whereby the same can be immediately placed and adjusted on the keys of a
piano, and without disfiguring the instrument, and without the addition of any attach-
ment to the piano, substantially as set forth.
2. The regulation of the hammers, by means of screws placed at each end of the
table, the length of which can be varied, whereby the apparatus can be placed on
any.piano.

page_text: 3. The arrangement of motor comprising, if required, a crank, placed on the front
or middle of the piano whereby the pianist can be seated in front of the piano and the
said pianist may act if required on the ordinary pedals.
4. The perforated plates or cards, each card being connected to the preceding or the
following, by hinges without pins, and the said sheets or cards being produced by
means of a tool all substantially as described and illustrated with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
5. The new or improved apparatus for automatically playing the piano, and the
production of cards for same substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.