Improvements in Musical Boxes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 16th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Boxes.
I, CARL ALBERT ROEPKE of Claremont Road Manchester Watchmaker, 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:-
The improvements relate to musical boxes, and have for object the changing of
the tunes therein with facility, and the general cheapening of the cost of construction
thereof.
To accomplish this and to effect my improvements, I provide what is known as
the "comb," or row of vibrating tongues, of the ordinary description, or substitutes
therefor, or additions thereto, mounted on a suitable frame, as is well understood.
Instead, however, of operating this comb or the like, by means of a barrel forme:
with spikes or projections, I operate such comb by means of a travelling band or sheet
of perforated cardboard, paper, or other substance, through special intervening
apparatus, which intervening apparatus with the mode of action thereof constitutes the
essential part of my invention.
This intervening apparatus consists of a number of dual or compound levers, one
arrangement for each of the notes of the comb, and placed in line therewith, each
being capable of receiving at the striking point a compound motion, by means of
the direct pressure from the edges of the travelling perforated sheet.
Each principal
lever turns on a fulcrum, and is formed, by preference, with two legs. It is provided,
at the end of the leg next the comb, with a small point or projection, which is capable
of being caused to advance and recede to and from the vibrating note of the comb,
on pressure from the edges of the perforated sheet being applied to the secondary or
other leg attachment of the lever. The lever may be held in position by means of a
spring or springs, or counterbalance weight or weights, or both; but, by preference,
I employ a spring or springs for this purpose. At the end of the opposite leg of the
main or principal lever is fulcrumed a second short lever, or equivalent therefor,
which is shaped at one end so as to enter the perforations in the sheet as they present
themselves thereto; and as the sheet is drawn over the same, by suitable mechanism,
the perforations permit of the levers taking their normal or non-operating position.
In the preferential form of lover, as the cardboard or other sheet travels forward, the
edges of the perforations first press back the end of the short lever which is fulcrumed
upon the principal one, and thus operates a draw rod attached to the other end; such
draw rod passing through a small hole in a projection at the end of the principal
lever, by which means the point of the draw rod is forced past the vibrator of the
comb, when further pressure of the edge of the perforation operates the longer lever
and thereby produces the necessary sound.
It is apparent that if the end of a simple lever is forced past a comb point, it will
not be able to return to the first position; hence the function of the secondary lever,
or equivalent action, is clearly seen, which is to enable the striking point to be drawn
back, clear of the comb, so as to allow the lever to resume its original position as soon
as a new perforation presents itself.
But that the invention may be better understood, I will, by the aid of the accom-
panying drawings, proceed more fully to describe means employed by me.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows a plan with the perforated sheet in operation, and Fig. 2, a plan with
the perforated sheet removed, and Fig. 3 a transverse section of apparatus, arranged
in accordance with my invention; while the remaining Figs. show transverse sections

page_text: perforated sheet, and the shape of the levers producing the necessary compounded
motion. The same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever they occur.
a, a, is the "comb," or row of vibrating tongues, or notes of a musical box; and b, b,
the sheet of perforated paper; c, c, are the primary levers, and d, d², the secondary
levers at the end thereof; and e, e, and e¹, e¹, are the springs, while, f, is the draw
rod, which may either be provided with a stop as at 1, or such stop may be upon the
lever or levers as will be well understood; g, g, are dampers which may or may not
be employed, a, is a bar, by preference hinged at one end, as shown, for holding the
perforated sheet in position, and h, h, is the ordinary clock-work driving apparatus,
which causes the perforated sheet to travel; but this may be accomplished by land
power, by means of a crank handle or otherwise, operating the wheels which draw
forward the perforated sheet. In lieu of a comb, or in conjunction therewith, bells,
drums, and other percussion sounders may be employed.
The mode of operation is as follows:-The sheet is drawn forward, by manual or
automatic action, by means of the toothed wheels, j, j, on the revolving shaft k, k,
taking into the holes or slots formed near the edges of the sheet, or at other convenient
parts thereof, until the short lever ends at c', enter perforations made for the production
of sound. When the end of a lever enters into, and while it remains in such a per-
foration, the lever is kept in its normal or inoperative position, with the lever leg ²,
resting underneath or on the striking side of the vibrator rod of the comb. As the
sheet travels forward the edge of the perforation presses the short-lever leg d', and
the opposing leg d², pushes forward the draw rod ƒ ƒ, when, on the short lever
coming to its dead step, the further pressure of the perforated sheet operates the main
lever and the end of the draw rod is forced past the comb point, and so vibrates the
same. During the time the sheet presents a blank space to the lever leg c', it is
retained in the last named position, as shewn by the dotted lines; but on another
perforation presenting itself, the short lever is first released, and then the main lever
resumes its original place, when the operation may be repeated.
The end of the draw red, or equivalent, can pass the comb point on the lever
returning to its original position, without difficulty, and without striking the same, on
account of the compound motion given to such end of the draw rod or equivalent, by
fulcruming one lever upon another, whereby the to and fro motion of the end or
point is obtained. The arrows in each case illustrated, indicate the direction of
motion of the travelling perforated sheet.
Variations in detail may be made, such as the shape and proportions of the levers,
the direction of the two legs, and the consequent position and direction of travel of
the perforated sheet, with other variations, without departing from the peculiar
character of the invention. Examples of such variations are shown in Figs. 4, 5,
and 6.
In Fig. 4 the draw rod f, f, is caused to slide on a separate pin instead of through
or on the opposing leg of the main lever.
In Fig: the short lever d¹, d², is placed at the acting end of the main lever c, c,
and the striking point is formed upon the end of the short lever, in lieu of the longer
draw rod; while in Fig. 6 the draw rod f, f, is linked to the main lever c, c. In each
and every case the arrangement of levers and springs gives the end of the rod or lever
forming the striking point a compound motion, wherein it is first caused to approach
the vibrating rod; secondly, to be forced past the same; thirdly, to be withdrawn
therefrom and lastly, to fall back to its original position; and all of which motions
are obtained solely by the pressure and release derived from the edge of the
perforation in the travelling sheet, acting upon the projecting end of the first
lever.
I am aware that perforated sheets have been used, in conjunction with other
intervening.mechanisms, for the purpose of operating musical instruments, both of
the vibratory kind and for wind instruments, but such intervening mechanisms are
different from the compound or dual levers forming this my present invention,
which latter utilizes the onward thrust of the edges of the perforations of the sheet
for the dual purpose of 'putting the ends or points of the striking levers in- gear, and

page_text: also of causing the tongues to be vibrated by the direct action of such ends or points,
through the intervention of reciprocating mechanism of the peculiar character indicated.
By which means I obtain a simple, direct, reliable, and cheap mechanism, having
small and easy action, for the construction of musical boxes of the description already
referred to.
Although I have described and shown in the drawings, a musical box, arranged
according to my invention, employing endless bands of perforated card, it will be
obvious that other forms of musical boxes may be constructed, wherein the improve-
ments may be applied to the employment of perforated discs or the like.
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 musical boxes of the character indicated, the lever c, c, combined with the
draw rod ff, and secondary lever d¹, d², directly operated by the pressure of the
edges of the perforations in a travelling sheet, giving a compound motion to
the striking end or point and of the draw rod f, f, for the purpose and in manner
substantially as herein shewn and described, in reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6.
2. In musical boxes of the character indicated the lever c, c, combined with the
secondary lever d', d, having thereon a withdrawable striking end or point, directly
operated by the pressure of the edges of the perforations in a travelling sheet, giving a
compound motion to such end or point, for the purpose and in manner substantially
as herein shewn and described, in reference to Fig. 5.
Dated this 21st day of April 1890.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,.
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.