JP2007163526A - Key guide structure of electronic keyboard musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key guide structure of an electronic keyboard musical instrument in which positioning in a key front-rear direction is accurate and an array of key tips can securely be obtained. <P>SOLUTION: A key 30 has a key body 30a which receives pressed key operation when having its front part on a side close to a player and a hinge part 30b provided to a rear part of the key body, and a keyboard frame 10 is provided with a guide part 14 which comes into contact with the key board 30a to keep the front-rear directional position of the key body in operation; and the hinge part 30b is equipped with a holding piece 36 which bends and vertically extends from the key body 30a to have its end part fixed to the keyboard frame, and the holding piece elastically energizes the key body 30a in the front and back direction to press it against the guide part 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a key guide structure for guiding keys of an electronic keyboard instrument.

  In the present specification and claims, in the electronic keyboard instrument, the one closer to the performer is referred to as the front, and the one farther from the player is referred to as the rear.

  In a key guide structure of a general electronic keyboard instrument, a key includes a key body that receives a key pressing operation, and a hinge portion provided at a rear end portion of the key body, and the hinge portion is a rear end of the key body. And an elastic member that urges the key body upward about the rear end. The keyboard frame for supporting the key includes an attaching portion for fixing the elastic member, an upper stopper that contacts a part of the key body and performs positioning when the key body biased upward is not pressed. A lower stopper that abuts the key at the lowered position in the key pressing stroke is provided. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In such a key guide structure, a guide member for positioning and stabilizing the keys in the key arrangement direction is provided by sandwiching a part of the key body in the key arrangement direction.
3-100894

  In the key guide structure, the key is positioned in the front-rear direction, assuming that the shape in which the key body and the elastic member are combined is constant in any key, the elastic member is simply attached to the keyboard frame mounting portion. It was done by fixing to.

  However, in practice, the shape in which the key body and the elastic member are combined is not necessarily constant due to manufacturing conditions, material variations, internal stress generated during molding, and the like. As a result, the leading ends of the keys to be aligned become uneven in the front-rear direction, resulting in an undesirable appearance. In general, the main part of the key is integrally formed of plastic, and the shape of the key attachment part in the keyboard frame is fixed. Therefore, once irregularity occurs in the front-rear direction, it is almost impossible to correct it. It was possible.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a key guide structure for an electronic keyboard instrument that solves such problems of the prior art and that allows accurate positioning in the front-rear direction of the key and ensures alignment of the key tips. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a keyboard device comprising a key and a keyboard frame that supports the key, wherein the key is operated by pressing the key closer to the player. A key body to be received, and a hinge part provided at the rear of the key body, and the keyboard frame is provided with a guide part for maintaining the position of the key body in the front-rear direction during operation by contacting the key body. The hinge portion includes a holding piece that is bent from the key body and extends in the vertical direction, and has an end portion fixed to the keyboard frame. The holding piece presses the key body against the guide portion. The present invention provides a key guide structure for an electronic keyboard instrument characterized by being elastically biased in the front-rear direction.

  According to the present invention, based on the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide a key guide structure for an electronic keyboard instrument in which key front-rear direction positioning is accurate and key tip alignment is reliably obtained.

[Action]
According to the key guide structure of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present invention, the key includes a key body that receives a key pressing operation and a hinge portion provided at a rear portion of the key body. Therefore, when a key pressing operation is performed, a rotation operation is performed around the hinge portion.

  Further, in this key guide structure, the keyboard frame is provided with a guide portion that keeps the position of the key body in the front-rear direction during operation by contacting the key body. Since this guide part can be provided integrally or separately at an appropriate position in the keyboard frame, it is possible to accurately obtain the position of the guide part during the manufacture of the keyboard frame such as molding, component assembly, etc. Any manufacturing method is easy.

  The hinge portion includes a holding piece that is bent from the key body and extends in the vertical direction, and an end portion thereof is fixed to the keyboard frame. The holding piece is elastic in the front-rear direction so as to press the key body against the guide portion. Energized. Therefore, the position of the key body in the front-rear direction is accurately determined by pressing the guide body. In addition, since the contact between the key body and the guide portion is maintained by the elastic biasing force, it is possible to prevent the key from fluctuating in the front-rear direction due to a slight keystroke force during the key operation, thereby preventing the performance from deteriorating. it can. As a result, when assembled as an electronic keyboard instrument, key tip alignment can be reliably obtained without impairing the smoothness of the key operation. In particular, the hinge portion of the key body has elasticity for the biasing, and as a result, does not have a key body positioning function. Therefore, the positioning of the key body by the guide portion and the guide during operation are extremely effective. To do.

  In the key guide structure, the urging force by the holding piece acts forward, and when the excessive key operation force to the key is applied to the keyboard frame, the key moves backward. It is desirable to provide a protective stopper for regulation. The key body pushes the guide portion forward by applying the urging force of the holding piece forward. In general, the key pressing force mainly acts downward, but often includes a backward pressing component. As described above, when the guide portion is pushed forward, the key is moved backward when the key pressing force acts with a rear component. Therefore, the key pressing force acts in the direction of separating the key body from the guide portion, the frictional resistance during key pressing is reduced, and it is particularly easy to obtain a smooth operation.

  Further, in a structure in which the urging force acts forward, when a backward force exceeding the urging force acts, the key moves backward. If the amount of movement is large, the holding piece may be plastically deformed or broken. On the other hand, if the keyboard frame is provided with a protective stopper for restricting the movement of the key to the rear, it is possible to prevent the holding piece from being plastically deformed or broken.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar parts in the drawings may be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof may be omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument according to the present invention. In this keyboard device, a key 30 is supported on a keyboard frame 10, and the key 30 includes a white key 30W and a black key 30B. The structures of the white key 30W and the black key 30B are different in the shape of the pressed portion, and the other structures are substantially the same. Therefore, although the white key is described here, the same applies to the black key. For the sake of explanation, when there is no need to distinguish between a white key and a black key, it is described as a key.

  As shown in the figure, the white key 30W is provided in a box-shaped key body 30a having an upper wall 31, side walls 32 on both sides, a front wall 33, and a rear wall 34, and the lower side being opened, and a rear portion of the key body. Hinge portion 30b. A contact piece 320 is coupled to the front portion of the side wall 32. The contact piece 320 includes a hanging portion 321 extending downward from the side wall 32 and a horizontal portion 322 extending horizontally (in a direction away from the performer) from the lower end of the hanging portion. The rear end portion of the key body 30a is a flat portion 35 extending in a flat plate shape from the box-shaped portion, and continues to the hinge portion 30b.

  The keyboard frame 10 is provided with a lower stopper 11 that comes into contact with the lower surface of the hanging portion at the lowered position in the keystroke stroke of the key 30 and an upper stopper 12 that comes into contact with the upper surface of the horizontal portion 322 at the raised position of the key 30. Yes. These stoppers 11 and 12 are formed by sticking felt to the main body of the keyboard frame 10. A spring (not shown) is provided between the key 30 and the keyboard frame 10, and the spring force keeps the key 30 in the raised position when the key is not pressed, and provides a key pressing resistance when the key is pressed. As the spring and its mounting structure, those used in a normal electronic keyboard instrument keyboard device can be adopted, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hinge portion 30 b includes a flat plate-like holding piece 36 that is bent from the flat portion 35 of the key body 30 a and extends downward to be fixed to the keyboard frame. At the rear end portion of the keyboard frame 10, a holding portion 13 that sandwiches and supports the lower end portion of the holding piece 36 is provided. The holding unit 13 includes a front holding unit 13 a located on the front side of the holding piece 36 and a rear holding unit 13 b located on the rear side of the holding piece 36.

  In this embodiment, lower portions of the plurality of holding pieces 36 are connected by connecting pieces 361 to 363. That is, the flat portion 35a of the front key in FIG. 2 is coupled to the holding piece 36a, and the lower portion of the holding piece 36a is a common connecting piece with the lower portion of the holding piece 36d on the back side beyond the adjacent two holding pieces. 361 are connected. In the holding piece 36b, a holding piece (not shown) on the back side of the holding piece 36d and the lower part are connected by a connecting piece 362, and the holding piece 36c is the same. In this embodiment, three connecting pieces 361 to 363 in the front-rear direction are held between the front holding part 13a and the rear holding part 13b and held on the keyboard frame 10. Each connecting piece connects two to five holding pieces 36.

  In this way, the connection pieces straddling the plurality of holding pieces are provided in order to make the parallel intervals of the keys accurate and to ensure the holding by the holding unit 13. In addition, some other holding pieces are placed between the holding pieces to be connected, because when the adjacent holding pieces are connected, the gap between the adjacent key bodies is small, so that the corresponding part in the mold becomes thin and damaged. Because it becomes easier to receive. Therefore, in general, the holding pieces 36 can be connected to each other by various combinations that satisfy these requirements. The holding pieces 36 can be individually held by the holding portions without connecting the lower portions with the connecting pieces.

  A guided portion 37 extending downward from the upper wall 31 is provided at the front portion of the key body 30a. The guided portion 37 can be easily provided at an accurate position by being integrally formed with the key body 30a. Alternatively, it can be attached as a separate member from the key body 30a, and in this case, it can be easily attached at an accurate position based on the marking on the key body 30a or using a jig.

  The keyboard frame 10 is provided with a guide portion 14 that is in contact with the front surface of the guided portion 37 and guides the operation of the key body in the pressing / releasing key direction. The guide portion 14 has a width that is slightly smaller than the distance between the inner surfaces of the side walls 32 on both sides of the key 30 and extends from the main body of the keyboard frame 10 into the key main body 30a. Keep the position of the direction (key arrangement direction). The guide portion 14 can be easily provided at an accurate position by being integrally provided as a part of the keyboard frame 10 during press molding or die molding. Alternatively, it can be attached as a separate member from the keyboard frame 10, and in this case, it can be easily attached at an accurate position based on the marking on the keyboard frame 10 or using a jig.

  The holding piece 36 elastically biases the key body forward so as to press the guided portion 37 against the guide portion 14 in a state where the key 30 is incorporated in the keyboard frame 10 as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the key 30 is moved up and down by the pressing / releasing key, the guided portion 37 slides while being pressed against the rear surface of the guide portion 14. In order to obtain this biased state, for example, the key 30 is formed so that the flat portion 35 of the key body 30a and the holding piece 36 of the hinge portion 30b are integrated, and the angle between them is shown in the figure. It is manufactured to be slightly larger than the angle (approximately 90 degrees). The angle is determined in accordance with the material, size, shape, and the like of the flat portion 35 and the holding piece 36 so that the contact between the guide portion 14 and the guided portion 37 is maintained and the key operation is not hindered. Alternatively, a spring (for example, an L-shaped spring, a torsion spring, etc.) acting on the flat portion 35 and the holding piece 36 may be mounted and biased by the spring force.

  Based on these configurations, in the key guide structure according to the present embodiment, the key can be accurately positioned in the front-rear direction according to the positions of the guide portion in the keyboard frame and the guided portion in the key. As a result, when assembled as an electronic keyboard instrument, the alignment of the key tips is reliably obtained.

  In particular, in this embodiment, the holding piece 36 is pressed against the guide portion 14 by elastically urging the key body 30a forward. Therefore, when the key pressing force acts with a rear component, it acts in the direction of separating the key body from the guide portion, the frictional resistance during key pressing is reduced, and it is particularly easy to obtain a smooth operation.

  Further, in this embodiment, a protective stopper 38 is provided at the rear end of the keyboard frame 10. The protective stopper is provided behind each key, and FIG. 1 shows what acts on the black key 30B. The protective stopper 38 extends upward from the rear end of the keyboard frame 10 and is positioned at a slight distance from the holding piece 36. This distance is determined so as to come into contact with the key when the key moves backward due to an external force such as an excessive key operation force. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the holding piece 36 that can move in the front-rear direction due to elasticity from being largely moved by an external force and causing plastic deformation or breakage.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and includes various modifications. FIG. 3 shows a modification of the guide member and the guided portion. FIGS. 3A and 3B are both perspective views of the key as viewed from below, showing a state in which the guide portion 14 is cut along the same surface as the bottom surface of the key body. In FIG. 3A, the guided portion 37 is bent so as to form a V shape when viewed from below. This V-shape is opened forward of the key, and the guide portion 14 is in contact with the opened side. The guide portion 14 has a circular cross section and extends upward from the keyboard frame and enters the key body 30a. As shown by an arrow F, a forward biasing force is applied to the key body 30a by the holding piece 36. In this way, the guided portion 37 is V-shaped, and the guide portion 14 is brought into contact with the two bent surfaces of the guide portion, whereby the key body 30a is guided in both the front-rear direction and the width direction with a simple structure. can do.

  In FIG. 3B, as seen from below, the guided portion 37 extends linearly perpendicular to these wall surfaces between the two side walls 32, and the guide portion 14 has a T-shape. The guide portion 14 is arranged such that two end portions 14 a and 14 b arranged in a straight line in the T shape are in contact with the inner surface of the side wall 32 of the key body 30 a and the remaining one end portion 14 c is in contact with the guided portion 37. ing. The guide portion 14 also extends upward from the keyboard frame and enters the key body 30a. In this example, the key body 30a is guided in the width direction by two end portions 14a and 14b substantially in contact with the side wall 32 of the guide portion 14, and is guided in the front-rear direction by the remaining end portion 14c.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which the key body 30a is urged against the holding piece 14 'in the direction opposite to that of the embodiment of FIG. That is, a hinge portion 30b 'is provided on the rear side of the flat portion 35 of the key body 30a, as in the embodiment of FIG. In this example, the holding piece 36 ′ elastically biases the key body backward so as to press the rear surface of the guided portion 37 ′ against the guide portion 14 ′. Therefore, when the key 30 is moved up and down by the pressing / releasing key, the guided portion 37 slides while being pressed against the front surface of the guide portion 14. The description of the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be applied to the basic structure of the means for obtaining the biased state. However, when the flat portion 35 and the holding piece 36 ′ are integrally formed, the mutual angle is shown in the figure. Even when a spring (for example, an L-shaped spring or a torsion spring) that is manufactured to be slightly smaller than the angle (approximately 90 degrees) and acts on the flat portion 35 and the holding piece 36 is mounted, the spring force Is attached so as to obtain a rearward bias.

  In the example of FIG. 4, a protective stopper 38 ′ for a case where an external force due to a key depression or the like acts forward is provided. For each key, the protective stopper 38 ′ is located in front of the guided portion 37 ′ at a distance from the guide portion, and extends upward from the front portion of the keyboard frame 10. This distance is determined so as to come into contact with the key when the key moves forward due to excessive external force, and prevents the holding piece 36 'from being deformed or broken. However, the protective stopper 38 'can be omitted if the forward movement of the key 30 can be prevented by other means (for example, contact with the mouth bar 15 of the instrument body).

  Also in the case of a structure in which the key body 30a is urged rearward, the same form as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B can be adopted. However, in this example, the V-shaped opening direction of the guided portion 37 and the positional relationship between the guided portion 37 and the guide portion 14 are reversed.

  In the above example, the guide unit has a guide function in both directions so that the position of the key body during operation is maintained in the key arrangement direction and the front-rear direction, but a separate guide function is provided for each guide function. It may be provided as a member.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the guided portion 37 provided in the space of the key body 30a is shown as a member with which the guide portion 14 contacts, but the front wall 33 of the key body 30a is used as the guided portion. You can also. In this case, the holding piece urges the key body backward.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows one Embodiment of the key guide structure for electronic keyboard musical instruments which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the hinge part in the key guide structure shown in FIG. 1, and its vicinity. The other embodiment which concerns on this invention is shown, and it is the perspective view which looked at the key main body and the guide part from the downward direction. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows other embodiment of the key guide structure for electronic keyboard musical instruments which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 keyboard frame, 14 guide part, 30 key, 30B black key, 30W white key, 30a key body, 30b hinge part, 36 holding piece, 38 protective stopper

Claims (2)

A keyboard device comprising a key and a keyboard frame that supports the key, wherein the key has a key body that receives a key pressing operation when the side closer to the performer is the front side, and a rear part of the key body. A hinge portion provided, and the keyboard frame is provided with a guide portion that keeps the position of the key body in the front-rear direction during operation by contacting the key body, and the hinge portion includes the key body. A holding piece that is bent from the side and extends in the vertical direction and has an end portion fixed to the keyboard frame. The holding piece elastically biases the key body in the front-rear direction so as to press the key body against the guide portion. An electronic keyboard instrument key guide structure characterized by The holding piece presses the key body against the guide portion by elastically urging the key body forward, and when an excessive key operation force is applied to the keyboard frame backward. The key guide structure according to claim 1, further comprising a protective stopper for restricting movement of the key to the rear.

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