US794126A - Music-leaf turner. - Google Patents

Description

No. 794,126. PATENTED JULY 4, 1905.

S. C. SHAW.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

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No. 794.126.' PATENTED JULYL 1905. S. C. SHAW.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION HLED JULY z, 1904.

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S. C. SHAW. MUSIC LEAP TURNER.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 2, 1904.

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MUSIC LEAP TURNER.

APPLI01.\T10N FILED JULY 2. 1904.

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No. 794,126. PATBNTBD JULY 4,1905.

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APPLICATION ULY 2, 1904.

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No. 794,126. PATENTED JULY 4, 1905.

s. c. SHAW. MUSIC-LEAP TU'RNBR- APPLIGATION FILED JULY 2, 1904.

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Patented July 4, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

SLATER OOWART SHAW, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,126, dated July 4, 1905.

Application filed July 2, 1904. Serial No. 215,164.

To all whom it may concern.'

Beit known that I, SLATEe OowART SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk ,and the State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Music-Leaf Turner, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an attachment especially designed for use on pianos, though not limited to use in combination with such instruments, the object of which is to turn the leaves of a musical composition, either in book or sheet form.

An object of the invention is to provide such an attachment which can have its operating mechanism in themain incased within the musical instrument to which it is attached and of which it is practically a part.

A further object is to provide means for operating the mechanism, or for setting free springs which will operate it, within easy reach of the hands and feet of the player, and by thus dividing the operative means between foot-pedals and hand-stops a multiplicity of either, which would be confusing to the player, is avoided, and the entire mechanism is controlled bytwo pedals and two stops.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piano, parts being broken away and having my musicleaf turner applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the sounding and key boards and showing the position occupied by the various parts of my device with reference to the sounding-board and keyboard of the piano. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the casing containing the iinger-moving mechanism and carrying the leaf-turning fingers, the lingers being shown in plan. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail perspective views of the finger-tripping slide. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view. Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the casing and tripping-slide. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3, the slide being omitted. Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views, partly in section, showing the manner of pivoting the fingers. Fig. 11 is aside View of the lnger-tripping slide, partly in section, an outer cover-plate being removed. Fig. 12 is a view in elevation of the leaf-turning fingers and the actuating mechanism, the casing beingin section. Fig. 13 isaverticalsection through the casing containing the mechanism inclosed within the piano-case. Fig. 14 is an irregular section on the line 14 14 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a section on the line 15 15 of Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of various portions of the mechanism shown in plan in Fig. 13, the various parts being detached from the casing and from each other. Fig. 17 is a front face view ofthe music-rack and casing carried by piano. Fig. 18 is a partial end view. Fig. 19 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the manner of locking the end rack-bars to the inger-carrying casing. Fig. 2O is a plan view of the pedals controlling the iinger-actuating mechanism. Fig. 21 is a vertical elevation of the pedals, the piano-casing being shown in section. Fig. 22 is a section on the line 22 22 of Fig. 20. Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the hand-operated release mechanism arranged under the keyboard of the piano, shown in section, the release being actuated by the right hand. Fig. 24 is a plan view of the attachment shown in Fig. 23. Fig. 25 is a detail perspective view of the attachment controlled by the left hand. Figs. 26, 27, 28, and 29 are detail views of pulley-holding brackets.

The above-described invention will be more clearly understood by bearing in mind that the leaf-turning fingers are carried by an eX- terior casing mounted upon the front of the piano A and actuated by spring-actuated mechanism arranged in the said casing, and the action of the said mechanism is regulated by mechanism carried in an interior casing arranged in the rear of the sounding-board A and which is controlled by foot and hand operated attachments projecting from the front of the piano below the keyboard.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings the piano A carries above the keyboard a specially-constructed music-rack B, and above the music-rack is arranged the casing O, carrying the leaf-turn- IOO ing lingers C', the rack B depending from the casing C and beingl adjustable with reference to the casing C.

The operation of the various parts will be best understood by first considering in detail the mechanism carried by the casing D, arranged within the piano case. Sliding' in Vertical guideways D/, arranged in the casing D, is a block D, having on opposite sides wedge-shaped rack-teeth D, all of which are downwardly inclined. Eyes are attached to each end of the block D2, and to these eyes are secured cables D'1 and D5, the cable D L extending upwardly through an opening in the top of the casing and passing over a pulley D, carried uupon the top of the casing D. The cable Dn extends downwardly and passes over the pulley D7, one of a number secured in the lower portion of the casing D, and passes out through an opening DB. formed in the lower portion of the casing D. Arranged within the casing and parallel to the block D2 is an open rectangular slidable frame having eyes carried in its upper and lower end members, and this frame E is adapted to be moved vertically, and pivoted between the side members of the frame E is a pawl E', wedge-shaped, and a curved spring' E, carried by the lower end member of the frame E, normally holds the pawl E in engagement with one of the rackteeth D3 of the block Fi. A coil-spring E has its upper end secured to a block E", carried by the casing' D, and its lower end is connected to the eye carried by the upper member of the frame E. To the eye carried by the lower end member of the frame E is connected the cable E, which passes downward and over the pulley E and thence out the opening D, parallel to the cable D5. On the opposite side of the block Dzfrom the frame 'E there is pivoted within the casingl D a pawl F, the lower end of which is adapted to engage the teeth D, formed on that side o't' the block D2, and the upper end o'l' the pawl is curved, and when the lower end is in engagement with a tooth D3 the curved upper end projects over a suitable slot, channel, or guideway in which a block Fl is adapted to slide, and the block F/ has a-beveled lower end F2, adapted to engage the curved end of the pawl F and to force the pawl F out of engagement with the teeth D3, a spring F3 bearing on the lower end portion of the pawl F and tending to normally hold the same in engagement with the teeth D3. An eye of the usual kind is secured to one side oli' the block F, and to this eye is secured an end of a cable F2 which extends downwardly and over a pulley F" and thence outwardly through the opening D8. The pawl E is also rounded upon one side adjacent its upper end, and when its lower end is in engagement with a tooth Di the rounded end portion of the pawl is projected over a suitable channel-way in which slides a block G, similar in construction to the block F. A coil-spring G is secured at its lower end to a suitable block carried by the casing D below the block G, and at its upper end it is secured to an eye carried by the lower end of the block G. The upper end of the blochr G is beveled and is adapted to engage the upper end portion ot' the pawl E and 4l`orce the lower end of the said pawl out of engagement with the teeth DI. To an eye carried by the side of the block is secured a cable G2, which passes upwardly and over a pulley G and thence downwardly and over a pulley G't and thence outwardly through the opening D8. The upwardly-extcnding cable D4 extends to the casing C, and the cables and F run to the right and left pedals, respectively.

Referring more especially to Figs. 20, 2l, and 22, it will be noted that within the pianocasing A is arranged on the floor ot' said casing a bracket H, comprising a base-plate and parallel upwardly-extending arms at each corner of the plate. The foot-pedals H' and H2 are pivotally hung adjacent their inner ends on a pintle H3, carried by the rear arms olf the bracket H. The forward arms project above the pedals and on each side ot' same, and in these arms are journaled the ends of a shaft H", on which are mounted idle pulleys Hr. Eyes are inserted in the upper face ot' the pedals adjacent and in advance of the pulleys, and the cable E5 runs over one of these pulleys and is connected to the eye carried by the right-hand pedal HQ and the cable Fl runs over the other pulley and is connected to the eye carried by the pedal H2 on the left-hand side. It will be noted 'from Fig. 22 that the portion of the pedals within the casing A are angled in cross-section, the angled portion of the pedal H2 overhanging or overlapping that o't' the pedal H., the latter being' the main pedal and capable of independent operation; but when the pedal Hz is depressed both pedals are actuated. The pedals project through a suitable opening in the piano-casing t and eX- terior of same may have any desirable con* figuration.

rlhe casing C is connected in any desired manner to the `front of the piano-casing' and adjacentthe upper edge or top of the same. The casing C has an opening C formed in its front and intermediate its ends, and in this opening is arranged vertically a shaft C, and on this shaft, which is fixed, is arranged alternately the fingers C and cups or bearings C". One side, preferably the lower side, of each linger C is recessed, as shown at C5, thcshalt (Il passing through the recesses. Cylindrical cups are arranged on the shaft, the cups resting on one of the lingers and projecting into the re cess of the adjacent linger, and in each cup is arranged a spring C, one end of which is secured in an aperture formed in the shaft (,3 and the opposite end being secured in the wall of the cup C4. Each cup is also formed with a lug C7, which projects into a supplemental recess or socket formed in the wall of the re- IOO ITO

cess Cr. By this arrangement each finger is independent of the other and may be swung pivotally on the shaft C2 without having a tendency to move the other fingers. Vhen a finger is swung, however, out of its normal position, which is shown in Fig. 3, the spring C, arranged in the cup C2, connected to the said finger by means of the projecting lug C', is twisted on the shaft, and when the force actuating the finger C' is removed the tension of the spring CG returns the finger C' to its normal position.

The fingers C' are ofvvarying lengths, as shown in Figs. l and 17, and are angled, their outer free end portions extending downwardly, and to the lower end of each Enger, the fingers all terminating in the same hori- Zontal plane, is secured a spring clip Us, adapted to engage the leaf of music to be turned. The inner end of each finger C' is in the shape of an arrow-head and is provided with a beveled edge C9. To actuate these fingers singly and successively, I arrange in the casing C a sliding plate J, which has one side cut away to form a series of steps J', each step being beveled and adapted to coact with the beveled edge C2 of one of the fingers C'. The plate J is arranged on edge, and the steps are so formed that the first or upper step willengage the upper `or longest of the fingers C' and the lowest and shortest finger C' will be engaged last. In order that the plate J may slide smoothly, it is provided with double sides or ianges J2, those along the upper edge of the plate extending the entire length of the plate and thosev along the lower edge from the rear end of the plate to a point adjacent the lowest and rearmost step J'. The flanges J2 along the upper edge are spaced apart by the skeleton frame J3, and between the two flanges are arranged sets of rollers J2 and J 2, the rollers Jl being of greater diameter than those upon the opposite side of the frame J 2. and marked J". A roller or disk J 2 is also mounted between the lower set of anges corresponding to the rollers J 5, and rollers J 7 are carried between the said fianges corresponding to the rollers J". By referring to the sectional view in Fig. 7 it will be noted that the plate J lies adjacent the front side of the casing C. By means of parallel cleats K, secured to the inner sides of the casingG, grooves are formed, in which run the rollers just described, the smaller rollers J2 and J 5 running between the cleats K, carried by the front plate of the casing, and the larger rollers J2 and J 7 extending to and running in the grooves or guideways formed by the cleats K, carried by the rear side of the casing C. The plate J carries on its inner side a block L, having eyes connected thereto, and the cable DA2 is broughtinto the casing over a pulley L' and connected to one eye of the block L. A coil-spring L2 is connected at one end to the other eye of the block L and at its opposite end is secured in the end of the casing C to the rear of the plate J.

Blocks M are carried by the ends of the casing C and are grooved, as shown at M', perforations M2 being formed between the grooves. A music-rack B has vertical side members N, provided with shoes N', adapted to slide in the grooves M', the edges of the grooves being undercut. The side members of the rack B are also perforated to aline with the perforations in the blocks M and carry spring-pressed hook members N2, having ends adapted to pass through the perforations in the said side members of the rack and engage the perforations M2. The rack B can therefore be adjusted a varying distance from the case of the piano A for a purpose to be hereinafter specified. The music-rack also carries a central vertical bar N3, having ratchetteeth formed thereon. The music-rest N2, carried by the rack B, is slidable upon the vertical members of the rack and carries a pawl or hook member N5, similar to the hook members N2, which has a hook end adapted to project through a perforation in the rest N2 and engage the teeth in the bar N2, thereby locking the music-rest N2 in its adjusted position.

The leaf-turning mechanism is operated by the pedal heretofore described; but it is also necessary to provide for turning back all or any of the leaves, either when the piece has been finished or when it has been partly played through and it is necessary to repeat one or more of the pages already played. This is provided for by two pieces of mechanism operated by the right and left hands, respectively, and which control mechanism already described in connection with casing D. On the under side of the keyboard within easy reach of the left hand of the player I secure a bracket O, having av central depending rib, which carries a sleeve O'. A piston or plunger O2, considerably longer than the sleeve, is adapted to slide in the sleeve and carries on its outer end a circular disk or head (J3, which serves as a handle to be grasped by the fingers. The inner end of the piston is formed with an eye, and to the same is secured the upper outer end of the cable G2. Under the keyboard and to the right of the player is secured a metal bracketframe P, from the inner end of which depends a stud or pivot-pin P'. Adjacent the forward end of the bracket-frame one of its arms carries a depending stud P2, on which is mounted a pulley P3. Anopen rectangular frame Pi depends from the bracket, the frame being curved on the arc of a circle and forms a slideway for a lever P. The inner end of this lever is pivoted to the pin P' and adjacent its outer end carries on the side a verticallyarranged disk P, adapted to be pressed by the thumb. A coil-spring P' is secured at one end to a pin projecting downwardly from IZO ISO

an arm of the frame I) and at its opposite end to :the lever P2 and normally holds the lever to the left-hand end of the frame 1- that is, the end adjacent the player. The outer end portion of the cable D passes over the pulley P3 and is secured to the lever Pf. rl`he various cables in passing from the casingD to the front of the piano are passed over suitably-arranged pulleys held in brackets, as shown at Q in Fig. 26, S in Figs. 28 and 29, and at R in Fig. 27. As the bracket R carries all of the cables, it may be stated that the pulley R carries the cable Ff to the main or right-hand side pedal, the pulley R2 the cable F'l to the left or reversing pedal, the pulley R2 the cable G2 to the releasing device, and the pulley It" the cable D5 to the release-control stop.

Having described the various parts in full, their operation may be briefly summed up as follows: Assuming that the parts are as shown in the drawings, by pressing down the main pedal H' the frame IC in the casing D is drawn downward by the cable E", and the pawl IC engages a tooth D3 of the block and forces the block one step downward, and the tooth D3 on the opposite side of the block D2 to the step engaged by the pawl E is engaged by the pawl F, and when the spring E draws upward the frame E on removal of the foot from the pedal the block D2 is held from returning to its normal position by the pawl F. It is obvious that by repeated movements of the foot the block D2 is successively moved downwardly step by step, and each of these downward movements exerts a pull upon the cable D". As this cable is connected to the sliding plate J in the casing C, each downward step in the movement of the block D2 imparts a forward step to the plate J, and each of these steps on the part of the plate J brings a step J into engagement with one of the lingers C, .which is forced through an are of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees and is held in such position against the torsial pull of the spring C by pressure of the plate J. In the drawings I have shown a device with siX of the fingers C' and of course an equal number of steps on the plate J and of teeth on each side of the block D2; but it will be obvious that any number can be employed within reasonable limits. IVhen the composition has been finished or it is desired to turn back to a former page, the left pedal H2 is depressed, and this also depresses the right or main pedal H, so that cables E and F1 are both acted upon. The cable F2 draws down the block F, which strikes and throws the pawl F out of engagement with the teeth D2; but as the block E has also been drawn downward the block D2 is held in position and does not immediately fly back, thereby turning the pages instantaneously and ruiming the risk of tearing them and making more or less noise;

but as the pedal H2 is pressed down the plunger-head O2 is grasped by the lingers and drawn outward, and through the medium of the eable G2 the block G is drawn upward and, striking the pawl E' adjacent its upper end, releases the same from engagement with the teeth D2 of the block D. It will be noted that as the block D2 is moved downward the slack in the cable D"` is taken up by the spring I7 gradually throwing the lever P2 to the left; but it will be understood that the spring P* is not strong enough to have any appreciable effect on the action of the spring L2. The right hand in the meantime grasps the disk or handle P and permits the same to be gradually drawn back to its normal position, and the leaves are thus turned back as slowly as desired, and the backward movement may be stopped at any point desired by releasing the pedal H2. I'Vhen all of the pages are to be turned back, it is not necessary to retain the foot on the pedal H2, as it will be noted that the bracket .H is pivoted at its rear end on the plate H, its forward end swings on the segmental wear-plate H7, and the opening' A", from whence the levers H and H2 project, is reduced in height at one end, as shown at A, and by means of a lateral pressure on the pedals they are swung into this reduced portion of the opening' A2 and held in their depressed position.

From the above description it will be noted that the turning of the leaves is under the control of the player, not only as to the direction in which they are turned and the number turned, but in turning' them back they can be turned quickly or slowly, as may be desired, and all may be turned back or only a portion of them.

It is obvious that the cables may be of cord or wire, that pulleys may be placed as may be found necessary in various makes of pianos, and that weights might be substituted for some of the springs without departing from the spirit of my invention. It will also be obvious that tl'ien'iusic-rack B can beadjusted outwardly to accommodate books of varying thickness and vertically to adjust the rack for use with music in book and sheet form.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A device of the kind described comprising a casing adapted to be secured to a piano, said casing having an opening in the front thereof, a shaft secured vertically in the opening, a plurality of leaf-turning lingers loosely mounted in vertical alinement on the said shaft, each finger being recessed adjacent the shaft, a plurality of cups loosely mounted on the shaft and alternating with the fingers, cach cup extending in the recess of a linger, a spring arranged in each cup, the said spring having one end secured to the cup and the other end to the shaft, means connecting the cups and fingers, and means for successively moving the said fingers.

2. The combination with a piano, of a casing having an opening therein, a'plurality of leaf-turning fingers having their inner ends projecting into the said opening, a slidable finger-tripping plate having a series of steps formed on one of its sides adapted to engage successively with the inner ends of' the fingers, and means for moving the plate step by step.

3. The combination With a piano, a casing having an opening therein and adapted to be secured to the piano-front, pivoted leaf-turning fingers carried by the said casing and having beveled end portions projecting into the opening, springs adapted to normally hold the lingers adjacent the side of the casing to the right of the opening, a slidable plate carried Within the casing and having a series of beveled steps adapted to successively engage the beveled ends of the fingers, means for moving the plate step by step, and means for entirely or partially retracting the plate at the will of' the operator.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a casing having an opening therein, a shaft in the opening, a plurality ofl leaf-turning fingers mounted loosely on the shaft and having end portions projectinginto the opening, longitudinally arranged guideways arranged within the casing, a plate cut to form a series of steps along one edge, rollers mounted on the plate and adapted to travel in the guide- Ways, and means for advancing the steps of the plate into engagement with the inner projecting ends of the lingers, as and for the purpose-set forth.

5. A device of the kind described comprising a piano-casing carrying a music-rack, a casing arranged upon the piano above the said rack, the casing having an opening therein, leaf-turning fingers pivotally carried by the casing, said fingers having end portions projecting from the opening, said lingers being angled and of varying lengths, spring-clips connected to the outer, lower ends of the fingers, a sliding plate having a series of steps formed thereon, an operating mechanism arranged Within the piano, a foot-pedal adapted to actuate the said mechanism step by step, a cable connecting the mechanism to the sliding plate and adapted to draw the steps of the plate into engagement with the fingers, a spring adapted to Withdraw the plate from engagement With the jlingers, andsprings adapted to return the fingers'to their normal position on Withdrawal of the plate.

6. A device of the kind described comprising a casing, a toothed block adapted to slide therein, a movable block carrying a pavvl adapted to engage the teeth of the slidable block, a pivoted pawl adapted to engage the teeth of' the block, a pedal, acable connecting the pedal and the movable block, leaf-turning fingers, mechanism adapted to actuate the said fingers, a cable connecting the toothed block to said finger-actuating mechanism, and means for returning the block and fingers totheir normal positions.

7. In combination with a casing carried by the front of a piano andcarrying fingers and finger-actuating mechanism, a casing carried within a piano, atoothed block adapted to slide in said casing, a cable connecting one end of the said block to the nger-actuating mechanism in the first-mentioned casing, a lever pivoted upon the under side of' the piano-keyboard, a cable connecting the opposite end of the toothed block to the said lever, a spring connected at one end to the lever and adapted to move the lever to take up the slack in the last-mentioned cable, means for moving the toothed block step by step in the direction of the last-mentioned cable, and means for returning it to its normal position, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In combination with a piano-casing having an opening reduced in height adjacent one end, pedals pivoted Within the casing and projecting from'the opening, pivoted leaf-turning fingers, a sliding plate having steps formed thereon adapted to successively engage the iingers, a movable toothed block, a movable block carryingapawl adapted to engage the toothed block, a pivoted fixed paWl adapted to engage the teeth ofthe block, a movable block adapted to engage the fixed pawl, a cable connecting the pavvl-carrying block to one of said pedals, a cable connecting the block adapted to engage the fixed pavvl to the other pedal, a cable connecting 'the toothed block to the slidable stepped plate, a spring adapted to retract said plate, a release-controlling lever, a cable connecting the release-controlling lever to the toothed block, and means for releasing the toothed block from engagement With the pawl carried by the movable block.

9. In a music -leaf turner comprising a toothed movable block, means for moving the block step by step means for returning the block to its normal position, and a release- .controlling device comprising a bracket secured below the piano-keyboard, a lever pivoted to said bracket, a spring connected at one end to the bracket and at the opposite end to the lever, and a cable connecting the lever and the rlrliovable block, as and for the purpose set fort 10. A music-leaf' turner adapted to be attached to a piano comprising pedals having overlapping flanges, said pedals being pivoted Within the piano-casing and projecting through an opening reduced in size adjacent one end, leaf-turning fingers carried adjacent the music-rack of the piano, a slidable plate adapted to engage and turn the fingers, a movable toothed block, pawls adapted to engage the said block, a cable connecting the toothed block and the slidable plate, a movable frame IOO IIO

ISO

carrying one of the pzuvls, a cable connecting' block, a lever Carried by the under side ol' the IO the movable frame to one ol' the pedals, a keyboard, aoable Conneobingtlle toothed block block adapted to engage the other pzuvl, a eaand the said lever, and a spring connected to ble connecting the blool and the remaining' the lever and adapted to take up the slack ln 5 pedal, a movable bloel; adapted to engage the tbe lasts-mentioned cable.

pawl carried by the movable frame, a sleeve SLA-TER COWART SHAW. carried by the under sigle of the piano-key- Vitnesses: board, :L plunger in said sleeve, a cable oon- O. C. DAWSON,

neeting said plunger to the last-mentioned Gmo. M. HERBERT.

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