Improvements in Type-writing Machines for Writing Music-notes.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines for Writing Music-notes.
A communication to me from abroad by CARL FRIEDRICH GROTE, of Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
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 and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
This invention relates to type-writing machines, by means of which music notes are
written and its object is to provide a device, by means of which the paper which
carries the five horizontal music lines or stave upon which the music-notes are to be
printed is so raised when required that the music note or sign which is always printed
at the same place and without change by the printing mechanism is printed upon the
proper part of the music lines with reference to its height.in the music space.
The mechanism for printing the notes and other musical signs and for advancing
the paper horizontally after each impression may be of any construction, and forms no
part of this present invention.
The object of the invention is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing, in which Figures 1 and 2 are side views of the mechanism and
Figure 3 is a vertical cross section on the line A, B, Figure 1.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several figures.
The smooth metal printing plate a is coated upon one side with india rubber so that
the paper stretched thereon presents an even surface to the printing types pressed
upon it.
The printing plate a is capable of moving up and down between antifriction
rollers b b according as the finger keys m are pressed down or set free, as hereinafter
described.
At its lower end, parallel to the rollers bb and to the five musical lines or stave
previously written or printed upon the paper the printing plate a is provided with a
roller c turning in small hangers or bearings projecting from the plate a.
When the mechanism is not in operation (see figure 2) the roller c is supported by

page_text: thirty-two slides & mounted parallel to each other and at right angles to the plane ci
the printing plate a. Each slide d runs upon an antifriction roller e and another
antifriction roller e¹ whilst an antifriction roller t held by a spring u is pressed upon
the upper surface of the slide d. All the antifriction rollers e turn freely upon a
common shaft or axle and all the antifriction rollers e¹ turn freely upon a common
shaft or axle f¹.
The slides d are connected with a similar number of finger keys m in such a way
that when any one of the keys m is pressed down, the corresponding slide in connection
with it, is slid forward in the direction of the arrow (in Figure 1) raising with its
part d' which is an inclined plane, the printing plate a together with the paper to be
printed upon, to a certain height. This height is different with each slide the
graduated intervals being one millimêtre-the distance from line to line of the five
musical lines being two millimêtres, that is to say, the inclined parts & and the
upper level surfaces of the several slides d differ one millimetre in height from each
other.
By this means the printing-plate a with the paper having the five horizontal music
lines upon
it is raised to such a height that the note or sign is printed upon that line
or at that height which corresponds to the key struck.
The movement of the finger-keys m may be transformed into the alternating motion
of the slides d by any mechanism ordinarily used for such purpose in the manufacture
of pianos, but I prefer to employ the mechanism shewn in the drawing
This
mechanism is formed as follows:-All the finger keys m turn upon a shaft or axle o,
and are pressed upwards by a spring v. They have downwardly projecting arms n,
the ends of which are connected by the links with the levers turning upon the
shaft or axle 9. and connected by links s with the slides d.
In order that the thirty two slides d simultaneously, and with them the printing
plate a, may be adjustable up and down in the direction of motion of the printing-
plate a according to the musical key in which the music is being printed, soprano,
tenor, alto, bass; etcetera the ends of the shafts f, f, are made to pass through slots hh'
in the framework of the machine made parallel to the printing plate a, and also through
inclined slots in the adjusting slides k.
These latter are guided at right angles to the printing plate a, and are moved in
their guides forward or backward so as to raise or lower the shafts ff, and together
therewith the printing plate a according to the key in which the music is to be printed.
The position of the slides corresponding with a certain musical key is secured by
means of a pin passing through the end of the slide k into one of the holes 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, of the framework.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of the printing plate a moving up and down between anti-
friction rollers bb with the roller c and the slides d provided with inclined planes d'
of different height, as described and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination of the slides d and rollers é, e¹, turning upon shafts ff with the
slides k, having inclined slits, and the slits h h', in the framework of the machine
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Datail this 18th da÷ of Jal 1000
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Inventor