JP2684827B2 - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a keyboard device for musical instruments, and more particularly to a keyboard device suitable for use in electronic musical instruments.

[Prior Art] For example, each key of the keyboard of a natural musical instrument piano extends long in a portion that cannot be seen from the outside, and its fulcrum is also in the back, and drives a hammer.

Each key of the keyboard of the electronic musical instrument does not need to drive a hammer, but is supported by a portion immediately after the portion that can be seen from the outside and has a short length.

When playing the keyboard, the keys of the electronic musical instrument are pushed down to the same extent as the keys of the natural musical instrument.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] When a short key such as used in an electronic musical instrument whose one end is rotatably supported is pressed down for a predetermined stroke, a key having a long length from a fulcrum to an end like a piano key is obtained. Compared, it rotates a larger angle.

Furthermore, in the case of a short key, the key touch varies greatly depending on whether the end is pushed down or the intermediate position.

An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device in which a change in angle when a predetermined stroke is pressed is small and a touch feeling when a key end and an intermediate part are pressed is not significantly changed.

[Means for solving the problem]

A keyboard device according to the present invention is a keyboard device having a plurality of keys, the first rotation fulcrum formed on each key, the second rotation fulcrum formed on a support base, and the first A link guide mechanism that rotatably supports the rotation fulcrum and the second rotation fulcrum, and supports the keys so that they can move substantially parallel to the support base, and returns to the non-operating position of the keys. When the operator presses a key, the keys move substantially in parallel from the non-operating position to the key pressing end position.

[Operation] When the short key is supported at one end and the other end is pushed down by a predetermined stroke, the angle at which the key rotates is determined. By providing the first rotation fulcrum on the key and the second rotation fulcrum on the support base, and guiding each key so that each key performs a predetermined motion without the fulcrum on the key, It is possible to realize a keyboard device in which the change in angle is small when the stroke is pressed down, and the key touch feeling when the end and middle parts are pressed down does not change significantly.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 schematically shows the basic structure of the present invention.

A first rotation fulcrum 3 is provided on the key 1, and a support base 5 is provided.
A second rotation fulcrum 7 is provided on the. The link guide mechanism 9 links the rotation fulcrums 3 and 7 so that the key 1 moves with respect to the support base 5 in a predetermined posture.
I will guide you. A return force means 10 is provided in association with the key 1 or the link guide mechanism 9 to give the key 1 a force for returning the key to a predetermined position.

First rotation fulcrum 3, second rotation fulcrum 7, link guide mechanism 9
By the operation of, the key 1 moves so that it does not have a fulcrum in the key 1 but has a fulcrum behind the rear end of the key (including infinity).

When supporting a very long key at one end and manipulating the other end, the keys feel almost like a translation. A configuration in which a short key is used to guide the key to move substantially in parallel will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a basic figure having parallel opposite sides.

FIG. 2 (A) shows a rectangle. The rectangle connecting the points PQRS has sides a and b parallel to each other. Rectangular diagonal PR
And QS intersect at each midpoint T. Midpoint T to each vertex PQRS
The lengths of the diagonals up to pqrs are equal.

When the diagonal lines PR and QS are approximated by two arms and the arms are rotatably connected at the midpoint T, the two opposite sides a and b are kept parallel to each other. When the angle at which the two arms PR and QS intersect is changed, the length of each side (c, d) changes,
Opposing sides a and b are always kept parallel.

FIG. 2B shows a parallelogram. Parallelogram PQRS
Opposing sides a and b and c and d have the same length and are maintained in parallel. If two adjacent points, for example P and Q, are provided on the key and the other two points S and R are provided on the support base, and each of them is rotatable, the key is fixed with respect to the support base. Move while maintaining posture.

FIG. 2C shows an isosceles trapezoid. The isosceles trapezoid PQRS has opposing sides a and b parallel to each other, and two isosceles sides c and d having the same length. The isosceles sides c and d form an angle with each other with respect to the parallel facing sides a and b,
Are combined.

A key of the keyboard and a supporting base define parallel opposing sides a and b, and two arms define an isosceles side c and d between them so as to form a catching angle with respect to the side a or b. , The opposite sides a and b become parallel. In order for the isosceles sides c and d to form a catching angle, the isosceles sides c and d are connected so as to rotate in opposite directions at the same angle.

Although the case where the opposite sides are parallel has been described, the symmetry may be adjusted so that the opposite sides may be displaced to some extent.
For example, in the configuration of FIG. 2 (A), two arms
For PR and QS, the length from the pivotal connection point T to the end may be changed. For example, if the length from the point T to the ends S and R is longer than the length from T to P and Q, the right ends of the sides a and b move more than the left ends.

In the configuration of FIG. 2B, for example, the lengths of the opposing sides may be changed to unequal lengths.

Further, in the configuration of FIG. 2C, for example, the lengths of the isosceles sides c and d may be changed to unequal lengths. Specific examples will be described below.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a rectangular modification keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the key is in the highest position when opened, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the key is pushed down. The key 1 has a rotation fulcrum 3 and a guide groove 17. The support base 5 has a rotation fulcrum 7 and a guide 23 having a stopper 24. The stopper 24 engages with the stopper 25 on the key 1. The two arms 11, 12 are joined at their midpoints by a pivoting joint 13 and can rotate their angle with respect to each other. Arm 11
One end of is rotatably supported by a pivot 3 on the key 1,
A guide roller 18 is provided at the other end. Other arm
The reference numeral 12 has one end thereof rotatably connected to a rotation fulcrum 7 on the support base 5, and the other end thereof is provided with a guide roller 16 engaged with a guide groove 17. A spring 21 is connected between the support base 5 and the guide roller 18 near the rotation fulcrum 7 and pulls the guide roller 18 to the right in the drawing. Arm 11,
12 corresponds to the diagonal of the rectangle, its ends 3, 7, 16,
18 correspond to the four vertices of a rectangle. The distances from the pivotal connection 13 to the respective vertices are equal, and the key 1 maintains a parallel relationship with the support base 5 even if the angle at which the arms intersect changes.

As shown in FIG. 3 (B), when the key 1 is pushed down, the spring
21 extends and the guide roller 18 rolls on the support base 5 to the left in the figure.

The guide roller 16 slides in the guide groove 17 and
Similar to 18, move to the left in the figure. The guide roller may be in sliding engagement or rolling engagement with the sliding surface or the guide groove. In this specification, rolling engagement is also referred to as rolling engagement. Further, the stopper 25 moves downward by being guided by the guide 23 that prevents the key 1 from vibrating in the left-right direction.
In the figure, the rotation fulcrum 3 is above the rotation fulcrum 7, and the key moves only in the vertical direction.

From the pivotal connection 13 to each end 3, 18, 7, 16 of the arm 11, 12.
If the distances are equal, the ends correspond to the vertices of a rectangle, but if the distances are changed, the key 1 can be tilted by a desired amount by the pressing operation. That is, in order to obtain a keyboard that tilts slightly (downward to the left in the drawing) when the horizontal keyboard is pushed down, the arm on the left side of the rotary coupling 13 may be made longer than the arm on the right side.

4 (A) and 4 (B) show a parallelogrammatic keyboard according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 (A) shows the key in the highest position when opened, and FIG. 4 (B) shows the key when pressed. The key 1 has turning fulcrums 3 and 33 at one end thereof, and correspondingly, turning fulcrums 7 and 34 are also formed on the support base 5. The distance between the rotation fulcrums 3 and 33 is substantially equal to the distance between the rotation fulcrums 7 and 34. An arm 31 is connected between the rotation fulcrums 3 and 7, and an arm 32 is connected between the rotation fulcrums 33 and 34. These arms
31 and 32 have approximately equal lengths. That is, the rotation fulcrums 3, 7, 33, 34 correspond to the vertices of the parallelogram. Key 1
Has a spring 35 coupled to the support base 5 and receives an upward force. The guide mechanism shown in the left part of the figure is the same as that shown in FIG. When the key 1 is pushed down, the parallelogram formed by the arms 31 and 32 changes its shape and is deformed as shown in FIG. 4 (B). At this time, the pivots 3, 33
The line connecting the keys is kept parallel to the line connecting the rotation fulcrums 7, 34, so that the key 1 is kept horizontal.

In order to make the key 1 slightly tilted from the horizontal position, for example, the arm 31 may be slightly longer than the arm 32.

The spring 53 does not have to be provided at the center, but may be provided by moving it to the right or left in the figure. When the spring 35 is moved to the vicinity of one of the left and right ends of the key, a space is formed below the central part of the key and can be used for other purposes.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the key 1 is slightly displaced in the horizontal direction when it is pushed down.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an isosceles trapezoidal modified keyboard according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 (A) shows a state in which the key is on the open position, and FIG. 5 (B) shows a state in which the key is pushed down. Rotational fulcrums 3 and 43 are formed on the key 1, and a fulcrum 7 is formed on the support base 5. An arm 41 is connected between the pivot points 3 and 7, and another arm is attached to the pivot point 43.
42 are combined. A guide roller 44 is coupled to the other end of the arm 42. The guide roller 44 is the support base 5
It can move on the sliding surface 46 of the. The rotation fulcrums 3 and 43 are provided with gears 48 and 49, respectively, and are connected to each other.
Therefore, when the arm 41 rotates around the rotation fulcrum 3, the arm 42 also rotates in the opposite direction around the rotation fulcrum 43 by the same angle via the engagement gears 48 and 49. Also, with the arm 41
The lengths of 42 are made equal. Rotational fulcrums 3, 7, 44, 43
Correspond to the four vertices of an isosceles trapezoid. In this isosceles trapezoid, the length of the upper side and the length of the isosceles side are fixed, and the length of the lower side changes.
When the key 1 is pushed down, the guide roller 44 moves leftward in the figure, and the spring 45 is extended. Since the arms 41 and 42 have the same length and the same angle with respect to the support base, they maintain the isosceles trapezoidal shape. Therefore, the key 1 maintains a parallel relationship with the support base 5.

The guide mechanism shown in the left part of the figure is equivalent to that of the above-mentioned embodiment. Friction engagement may be used instead of the engagement gears 48,49. That is, it suffices that the arms 41 and 42 rotate in the same angle but in opposite directions. Although an isosceles trapezoid is used that is wide on the support base side and narrow on the key side, the relationship may be reversed. Further, as a modified example, an inverted isosceles triangle is formed so that the bottom side corresponds to the key, and a sliding member is provided at, for example, a midpoint of the isosceles side so as to make sliding engagement with the support base. An isosceles trapezoid can be formed.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a link mechanism other than the above may be used. Further, instead of the spring, a magnet or the like may be used to exert an equivalent force, or a high torque motor may be used as the rotation fulcrum itself. Any other key may be used as long as it exerts a force for returning the key to the open position. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, improvements, combinations, and the like can be made.

As described above, according to the present invention, a short key is used,
Moreover, a keyboard is provided that can obtain almost the same key touch regardless of where the key is pressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the basic structure of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 (A), (B), and (C) show parallel facing sides that should be realized by the link guide mechanism of FIG. 3A and 3B are side views showing a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining a basic figure of the present invention. FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views for explaining a keyboard according to another embodiment, and FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views for explaining a keyboard according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 ... key, 3,7 ... rotation fulcrum 5 ... support base, 9 ... link guide mechanism 10 ... returning force means, 11,12 ... arm 13 ... rotation coupling 16,18 …… Guide roller 17 …… Guide groove, 21 …… Spring 23 …… Guide, 24,25 …… Stopper 31,32 …… Arm 33,34 …… Rotation fulcrum 35 …… Spring, 41,42 …… Arm 43 …… Rotation fulcrum, 44 …… Guide roller 46 …… Sliding surface, 48,49 …… Coupling gear

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A keyboard device having a plurality of keys, wherein a first rotation fulcrum formed on each key, a second rotation fulcrum formed on a support base, and the first rotation fulcrum. And a link guide mechanism that rotatably supports the second rotation fulcrum and supports the keys so that they can move substantially parallel to the support base, and a return force for returning the keys to the non-operating position. And a key returning means for providing a key, and when the operator depresses a key, the keys move substantially in parallel from the non-operating position to the key depressing end position. 2. The link guide mechanism includes two sides, which are arranged on the key and the support base, and which face each other substantially in parallel, with the first rotation fulcrum and the second rotation fulcrum as two apexes. 2. The key pressing device according to claim 1, wherein the quadrangle defines one of a rectangle, a parallelogram and an isosceles trapezoid, or a modification thereof. 3. The link guide mechanism has two arms having substantially equal lengths and rotatably connected to each other at an intermediate point thereof, and one end of each of the arms is provided with each of the first rotations. The fulcrum and the second pivot fulcrum are coupled, the other ends of the arms are respectively slidably coupled to the support base and the key, the two arms defining two diagonals of a rectangle or a variant thereof. Keyboard device. 4. The link guide mechanism includes a first arm connecting the first rotation fulcrum and the second rotation fulcrum, and the first arm.
An arm and a second arm which is arranged substantially parallel to the arm at all times or during a certain period of movement and both ends of which are rotatably supported by the key and the support base, and the first arm and the second arm are parallel to each other. 3. The keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein opposite sides of the polygon or its modification are defined. 5. The guide mechanism is disposed to face the first arm, a first arm connecting the first rotation fulcrum and the second rotation fulcrum, and the first rotation fulcrum or the first rotation fulcrum. The second arm is connected to the second rotation fulcrum, and one end thereof is supported by the key or the support base via the rotation fulcrum so as to rotate in the opposite direction to the first arm by the same angle, and the other end is connected to the support base or the key. The keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein the keyboard device is slidably coupled.