CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISH OR APPARATUS FOR TURNING OVER LEAVES, EITHER IN A FOLDED, STITCHED, OR BOUND STATE
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ashworth and Elijah Ashworth, both of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISH OR APPARATUS FOR TURNING OVER LEAVES,
EITHER IN A FOLDED, STITCHED, OR BOUND STATE."
Sealed the 9th November 1866, and dated the 10th May 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ashworth and
Elijah Ashworth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 10th May 1866.
We, GEORGE ASHWORTH and ELIJAH ASHWORTH, both of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM OR APPARATUS FOR TURNING OVER
LEAVES, EITHER IN A FOLDED, STITCHED, OR BOUND STATE," to be as follows:-
Our Invention is designed principally for turning over the leaves of music
(either bound or loose) without the use of the hand, which object is effected
by an instrument or apparatus attached to the music desk and actuated by a
cord from the foot or knee. The improvements consist in the arrangement,
combination, and construction of apparatus for the purpose, which apparatus
consists of a bracket to be fixed to the ledge of the "desk" and which is

page_text: rendered adjustable thereon vertically and horizontally by slides and lock
bolts, so as to be applicable to any varying thickness or depth of book or
piece; in this bracket the shaft of a "box pulley" bears, and within the box
of the pulley a coiled spring is enclosed, one end being secured to the interior
of the pulley and the other to the bracket; on the part of the shaft projecting
beyond the inwardmost bearing a small pinion is secured, which takes into a
small rack on the end of a sliding bar, the other end of such bar being con-
nected to the short end of a lever, to the other end of which a pad of india-
rubber is attached and which is used (as a moist finger) to curve or fold up
the bottom of the leaf as the lever is moved by the rack bar. Below this bar
is another bar, which is attached by one end to the bracket, its other end
forming the fulcrum of the aforesaid lever, and on this second bar two fingers
are mounted on pins or fulera; one of these is made of steel spring and presses
upon the left-hand side of the leaf so as to hold it whilst the aforesaid lever
bends or curves up the leaf, and the other finger is employed to pass under
the curve of the leaf ready to turn it over, the movement of these two fingers
being controlled and decided by means of small pins at their other ends, which
are acted upon by projectious on the top sliding rack bar. In order to place
sufficient pressure on the india-rubber to enable it to hold on the paper and to
curve up the leaf another lever carrying a stud and spring catch is attached
to the bracket and extends in such a manner that the catch presses on the
rack bar and obtains its pressure from the cord passing over the stud. The
action of this mechanism may be thus explained:-When the cord which
passes round the outside of the "box pulley" is pulled by the foot it turns
the pinion and moves the rack lever which moves the "pad lever" and causes
it to curve up the leaf, and as the rack lever slides further it causes the
turning finger to project and pass beneath the page, during which time the
spring finger still holds down one part of the leaf, the rack bar slides onwards
and the projections thereon leave the turning finger stationary, but act on the
"pad lever" and holding finger so as to withdraw them sideways off the leaf,
the pressure of the cord lever having been then taken off by the catch passing
through an opening in the rack lever, at this point the pinion has reached the
end of the rack, and the continued pull on the cord compresses the enclosed
spring, and the whole apparatus turns on the shaft and delivers the leaf on
the other side; when the cord is released the expansion of the spring turns
the whole apparatus over again to act on another leaf. In order that the leaf
may be retained in its position when turned over a small 'finger which has
been in a horizontal position during the turning over the leaf is caused to rise
into a vertical position, and this is effected by means of the aforesaid rack
16

page_text: bar which strikes upon a sliding angle piece as it turns the leaf over and
raises the small finger into a vertical position, and this single piece terminates.
in a rod which is notched behind the book desk, and into such notch one end
of a bell-crank lever falls to hold the finger in its position when the cord is
released and the apparatus returns; the bell-crank lever is actuated by the
cord, and when a leaf is to be turned over the pull on the cord lifts the end.
thereof out of the notch, and a spring forces the said small finger again into a
horizontal position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Ashworth and Elijah Ashworth in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 10th November 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
ASHWORTH and ELIJAH ASHWORTH, both of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said George Ashworth and Elijah Ashworth, Her special license that we,
the said George Ashworth and Elijah Ashworth, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George Ashworth and
Elijah Ashworth, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,.
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM OR APPARATUS FOR TURNING OVER LEAVES, EITHER
IN A FOLDED, STITCHED, OR BOUND STATE," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said George Ashworth and Elijah Ashworth, our executors.or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the. nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office. within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said George Ashworth and Elijah Ashworth

page_text: do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
Our Invention is designed principally for turning over the leaves of music
(either bound or loose) without the use of the hand, which object is effected
by an instrument or apparatus attached to the music desk and attached by a
cord from the foot or knee. The improvements consist in an arrangement,
combination, and construction of apparatus for the purpose, which apparatus
consists of a bracket to be fixed to the ledge of the "desk," and which is
rendered adjustable thereon vertically and horizontally by slides and lock
bolts, so as to be applicable to any varying thickness or depth of book or piece;
in this bracket the shaft of a "box pulley" bears, and within the box of the
pulley, and the other to the bracket; on the part of the shaft projecting
beyond the inwardmost bearing a small pinion is secured, which takes into a
small rack on the end of a sliding bar, the other end of such bar being con-
nected to the short end of a lever, to the other end of which a pad of india-
rubber is attached, and which is used (as a moist finger) to curve or fold up
the bottom of the leaf, as the lever is moved by the rack bar. Below this bar
which is attached by one end to the bracket, its other end forming the fulcrum
of the aforesaid lever, and on this second bar two fingers are mounted on pins
or fulcra; one of these is made of steel spring and presses upon the left-hand
side of the leaf so as to hold it whilst the aforesaid lever bends or curves up
the leaf, and the other finger is employed to pass under the curve of the leaf
ready to turn it over, the movement of these two fingers being controlled and
decided by means of small pins at their other ends, which are acted upon by pro-
jections on the top sliding rack bar. In order to place sufficient pressure on the
india-rubber to enable it to hold on the paper and to curve up the leaf another
lever carrying a stud or spring catch is attached to the bracket and extends in
such a manner that the catch presses on the rack bar and obtains its pressure
from the cord passing over the stud.
The action of this mechanism may be thus explained. When the cord
which passes round the outside of the "box pulley" is pulled by the
foot it turns the pinion and moves the rack lever, which moves the " "pad
lever" and causes it to curve up the leaf, and as the rack lever slides
further it causes the turning finger to project and pass beneath the page,
during which time the spring finger still holds down one part of the leaf,
the rack bar slides onwards, and the projections therein leave the turning
finger stationary, but act on the "pad lever" and holding finger so as to
withdraw 'them sideways off the leaf, and the pressure of the cord lever having

page_text: been then taken off by the catch passing through an opening in the rack lever
at this point the pinion has reached the end of the rack, and the continued
pull on the cord compresses the enclosed spring and the whole apparatus turns
on the shaft and delivers the leaf on the other side; when the cord is released
the expansion of the spring turns the whole apparatus over again to act on
another leaf. In order that the leaf may be retained in its position when
turned over, a small finger which has been in a horizontal position during the
turning over the leaf is caused to rise into a vertical position, and this is
effected by means of the aforesaid rack bar which strikes upon a sliding angle
piece as it turns the leaf over and raises the small finger into a vertical
position, and this angle piece terminates in a rod which is notched behind the
book desk, and into such notch one end of a bell-crank lever falls to hold the
finger in its position when the cord is released and the apparatus returns;
this bell-crank lever is actuated by the cord, and when a leaf is to be turned.
over the pull on the cord lifts the end thereof out of the notch and a spring
forces the said small finger again into a horizontal position.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail we have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made about the
full size, and having similar letters of reference marked thereupon on all the
Figures alike.
Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the apparatus, as it would appear when
resting upon the open book preparatory to turning over a leaf; and Fig. 2
represents a front view of the same, the dotted lines in this view represents
the position of the levers of the apparatus when in the act of turning over
the leaf.
In Figs. 1 and 2, a, a, is the stand or deck upon which the book to be.
operated upon is placed;-6 is the bracket fixed to the ledge of the desk a..
This bracket is supplied with a second sliding or adjustable bracket c, which
is capable of being raised and lowered and secured by the lock bolts din
any position required, so as to suit the varying thickness or depth of book
or piece; in this bracket c the shaft d of the box pulley e bears, and with
the box of this pulley a coiled spring is enclosed, one end being secured to
the body or interior of the pulley and the other to the bracket c; upon the
shaft d of this pulley the pinion f is secured, which takes into and actuates.
the rack g formed on the end of the sliding bar h. The opposite end of this
bar is connected to the short end of the lever or finger i, to the extremity of
which a pad of india-rubber is attached, aud which is used (as a moist finger
to curve or fold up the bottom of the leaf, when the lever is moved forward.
by the rack bar h, as herein-after described). Below this bar h another bar.

page_text: or rod k is placed, one end of which is secured to the bracket c, the other
end forming the fulcrum of the aforesaid rod h; on this second bar two
fingers and m are mounted on pins or fulcra, the finger is made of steel
spring, and is caused to press upon the left-hand side of the leaf so as to
hold it whilst the pad of the lever i bends or curves up the leaf. Immediately
the bend or curve on the leaf is formed, the second finger m is caused to
pass into the curved space and under the leaf ready to turn it over, the
movement of the two fingers and m being controlled and decided by means
of the small pins n and o, which are acted upon during this forward move-
ment of the rack bar h by the projecting studs p and q. In order that
sufficient pressure should be exerted by the fingers i to hold upon the paper
during the time it is curving up the leaf another lever r secured to the
brackets c, and to which a studs and spring catch t is attached, extends in such
a manner that the spring catch t is caused to press upon the rack bar h so
long as it is caused to slide and rest upon the same, the pressure and action
of the levers and fingers being due to the pull of the cord u and spring box
pulley e.
The action of the mechanism from the foregoing lettered description may
be thus explained. When the cord u which passes round the outside of the
box pulley e is pulled by the foot it turns the pinion f which gives motion
to the rack lever h, the forward action of which moves the pad lever i, and
causes it to curve up the leaf by reason of the sliding pressure it exerted
upon the leaf in conjunction with the spring finger 1, the pressure so obtained
being caused by the sliding pressure of the spring catch t, the pressure being
relieved so soon as the catch enters the recess or groove v formed in the
lever h; before being thus relieved the T-headed lever m is caused by the
forward action of the rack bar and stud q to pass into the curved space and
under the leaf. When the fingers are in this position the rack bar still
moving forward causes the spring catch t to enter the recess v, giving thereby
an instantaneous relief from pressure of the rack bar and fingers, the fingers
and m by the continued forward action of the rack bar are caused, through
the medium of the studs p and q, to slide sideways off the leaf and assume a
position in a line with the rack bar. At this point the pinion has reached
the end of the rack, and the continued pull on the cord compresses the
enclosed spring, and the whole apparatus turns on the shaft d, and delivers
the leaf on the other side. When the cord is released the expansion of the
spring turns the whole apparatus over again to act on another leaf. In order
that the leaf may be retained in its position when turned over, a small finger
w which has been in a horizontal position during the turning over of the

page_text: leaf is caused to rise into a vertical position. This is effected by means of
the aforesaid rack bar h, which when turning over the leaf strikes upon the
cushion which compresses the spring y, and raises the small finger u into
a vertical position; the cushion terminates in a rod which is notched behind
the desk, and into which one end of a bell-crank lever z falls, for the purpose
of holding the finger in its position when the cord is released and the
apparatus returns. This bell-crank lever is actuated by the cord, and when
a leaf is to be turned over the pull on the cord lifts the end thereof out of
the notch, and the spring y forces the finger wagain into a horizontal position.
The spring clip a¹ is employed for steadying the book.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, we wish it to be distinctly
understood that we claim the novel construction, arrangement, and adaptation
of the several parts as herein described, and as attached to a music desk
or stand to be employed for the purpose of turning over leaves of books, in
the manner and for the purpose herein-before described and fully set forth in
the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Ashworth and Elijah Ash-
worth, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-six.