Musical composer instrument and electronic player (electronic composer)

Apparatus for composing a pattern of parallel lines controlled upon an elongated strip having at least one straight longitudinal edge, comprising:

• a composing board having a main recess for receiving and supporting said strip, said recess having one upright side for locating and aligning the said one longitudinal edge of said strip;
• an elongated slidable rule extending across said recess;
• a pair of transverse recesses arranged on said board and located on opposite sides of the strip moving along said main recess for aligning and slidably receiving said rule, the depths of said grooves extending substantially to the surface of the main recess so that the underside of said slidable rule engages the strip positioned upon said recess and is aligned perpendicular to said one upright side;
• said rule having a narrow elongated slot extending substantially parallel to said one upright side;
• detent means for releasably securing said slidable rule at a plurality of equispaced discrete positions to enable said elongated slot to be moved to a plurality of equispaced discrete positions to facilitate the drawing of straight line upon said strip only said equispaced discrete positions by insertion of the tip of a marking instrument into said slot.

Apparatus for creating and thereafter reading markings on a movable elongated flexible strip having at least one straight longitudinal side, comprising:

• composing means for creating a pattern of parallel lines of a controlled length and thickness upon an elongated strip comprising;
• a board having a main recess for receiving and supporting said strip, said main recess having one upright side for locating and aligning the one longitudinal edge of said strip;
• an elongated slidable rule extending across said first recess;
• a pair of transverse slots on said board arranged on opposite sides of said recess for locating and slidably receiving said slidable rule, the bottom surfaces of said grooves extending substantially to the surface of said recess so that the underside of said rule engages the strip positioned upon said recess;
• said slidable rule having a narrow elongated slot extending substantially parallel to said upright side;
• said slidable rule being movable to a plurality of equispaced discrete positions to enable said elongated slot to be moved to each discrete position to facilitate the drawing of straight line upon said strip only said discrete positions;
• reading means being positioned adjacent to said composing means to receive said strip from said composing means, said reading means including:
• a substantially flat insulating member;
• a plurality of elongated conductive members arranged in a closely spaced parallel fashion at equispaced intervals upon one surface of said member said intervals being equal to the spacing between the discrete positions determined by said composing board;
• each of said conductive members being separated into associated first and second conductor portions, whereby the ends of adjacent first and second conductor portions define a gap exposing the surface of said member;
• said strip being slidable along said one surface with the surface of said strip bearing said markings engaging said one surface of said member;
• said elongated members being in alignment with the direction of movement of said strip;
• resilient means positioned to urge said strip into ultimate contact with said gap region and the conducting members in the immediate region of said gaps;
• said markings being formed with an electrically conductive material;
• and
• means for coupling electrical power to said first conductor portions, whereby the electrical power is conducted to selected ones of said second conductor portions when a marking on said strip bridges the gap between associated first and second conductor portions.