JP2906883B2 - Musical instrument keyboard device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device for a musical instrument such as an electronic piano, and more particularly to an improved keyboard device for reducing friction and noise when playing keys.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-28956 (hereinafter referred to as "first conventional example") and Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 45-8828 (hereinafter referred to as "second conventional example") respectively show conventional keyboard devices for musical instruments. Some have been disclosed.

In the first conventional example, a substantially L-shaped engaging projection provided on the lower surface of a rear end portion of a key is engaged with an engaging hole formed in a key support member, and the key is engaged with the key. The key support member is rotatably supported in a vertical direction with a contact portion between the engagement protrusion and the edge of the engagement hole as a fulcrum, and the fulcrum portion and the guide member allow the key to move in the left-right direction and in the rolling direction ( (In the direction of rotation about an axis along the front-rear direction of the key).

In the second prior art, the rear end of the key and the key support member are arranged in a line contact state having one contact line extending in the left-right direction (horizontal direction) and at a substantially middle portion in the left-right direction. 1 in
The key is contacted in a point contact state having two contact points, so that the key is rotatably supported on the key support member in the vertical direction with the contact portion as a fulcrum. The movement in the direction and the rolling direction is suppressed.

[0005]

The first prior art described above suppresses the movement of the key in the left-right direction and the rolling direction at the fulcrum, and the guide member also suppresses the movement of the key in the left-right direction and the rolling direction. doing. For this reason, even if there is a slight error in the processing accuracy or mounting accuracy of the component parts, such as warping or twisting of the key itself, inclination / twisting of the guide member, or distortion of the engagement protrusion, the key exerts a bending force on the guide member. This causes noise, and the key does not operate smoothly, resulting in a poor touch (operating) feeling of the key. In addition, since the dimension between the lower surface of the key and the engagement projection does not exactly match the thickness of the key support member, a gap is formed in the engagement portion between the engagement projection and the engagement hole, and the backlash is generated. This generates noise.

Further, since the second conventional example is not configured to absorb the shift of the key in the left-right direction, if the key is set with the key shifted, a portion of the key which is loose when the key is pressed is generated. Generates noise. In addition, since the line contact portion is a line contact state having one contact line along the left and right direction, a guide member for suppressing the movement of the key in the rolling direction is necessary, and the friction portion of the key increases accordingly. However, the key does not operate smoothly and the touch feeling of the key deteriorates.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device for a musical instrument in which friction and noise between a key-side fulcrum and a key-supporting member-side fulcrum during playing of a key are reduced. It is assumed that.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a fulcrum provided on a key support member is brought into contact with and engaged with a fulcrum of a key while the fulcrum is pressed by a pressing means. A keyboard device for a musical instrument, wherein the key is rotatable in a vertical direction with the portions of the fulcrum portions abutting on each other as a fulcrum, and the key is urged upward by key return means.
Either one of the two fulcrum portions has a concave opening having a wall surface that gradually expands toward the opening end, and the other fulcrum portion has a wall surface that gradually reduces as it approaches the tip end side. consists Jo cones, concave and convex portions of both support portion is characterized in that it has a configuration to engage opposite.

[0009]

One of the fulcrum on the key support member side and the fulcrum on the key side comprises a concave opening having a wall surface gradually expanding toward the opening end, and the other fulcrum has a tip. Convex shape with walls that gradually decrease toward the side
Since the concave portion and the convex portion of the two fulcrum portions are opposed and engaged with each other, the contact state of the two fulcrum portions is a point contact having one contact point on the longitudinal axis of the key. . For this reason, the key can move up, down, left, right, and rolling directions within the range of movement used as a keyboard. In addition, the automatic centering action is performed in all directions perpendicular to the key axis direction.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a keyboard device for a musical instrument according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a keyboard frame made of a metal plate or the like, on the upper surface of which a number of keys (white keys and black keys) are arranged in parallel with each other, but one key (white key) is shown in FIG. Only two are shown. The key 2 is made of synthetic resin and has a substantially U-shaped cross section with an open lower surface.

A rear end wall 3 is bent at the rear end edge of the keyboard frame 1 vertically upward. A front end wall 4 is formed at the front end of the keyboard frame 1 so as to be bent vertically downward. A horizontal wall 5 is bent at the lower edge of the front end wall 4 toward the horizontal front. At the front end of the horizontal wall 5, a front edge wall 6, which is set to be approximately １ ／ of the height of the front end wall 4 vertically upward, is bent.

A key support member 7 is provided on the rear end upper surface of the keyboard frame 1.

The key support member 7 is in the form of an elongated rod having a rectangular cross section. It is fixed to the keyboard frame 1.

Inside the key support member 7, a concave fulcrum portion 8 which is open at the front surface thereof is provided with a key 2 at a certain interval in the longitudinal direction.
(Only one is shown in FIG. 1). The concave fulcrum 8 is a conical shape with a wall surface which gradually widened toward the opening end side.

A conical convex fulcrum 9 integrally formed with the rear end of the key 2 as shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. The conical axis of the convex fulcrum 9 coincides with the longitudinal axis of the key 2. Also,
The axial length of the convex fulcrum 9 is set longer than that of the concave fulcrum 8. Further, the cone angle of the convex fulcrum 9 is set smaller than that of the concave fulcrum 8. Then, in a state where the convex fulcrum 9 is fitted to the concave fulcrum 8, only the tip of the convex fulcrum 9 abuts on the inner end of the concave fulcrum 8,
Therefore, the contact state between the concave fulcrum 8 and the convex fulcrum 9 is a point contact having one contact point 10 on the longitudinal axis of the key 2.

The key 2 is moved up and down with the contact point 10 as a fulcrum (FIG. 2).
It is rotatable by a predetermined angle in the range of movement used as a keyboard in the middle, arrow Y direction, left and right (arrow X direction in FIG. 2) and rolling direction (arrow R direction in FIG. 2).

The key 2 is a leaf spring (key returning means and pressing means)
11, the tip of the convex fulcrum 9 is pressed in the direction of pressing against the inner end of the concave fulcrum 8 (the direction of arrow Z in FIG. 4). Leaf spring 11
As shown in FIG. 1, the front end is locked by a spring receiving member 12 provided on the upper surface of the keyboard frame 1 and the rear end is locked by a spring receiving member 13 provided on the inner surface of the rear end side concave portion of the key 2. .

A substantially L-shaped stopper arm 14 is integrally formed at the lower end of one side wall of the front end side of the key 2, and a vertical piece 14 a of the stopper arm 14 is connected to the front surface of the front end wall 4. They face apart. The horizontal piece portion 14b of the stopper arm 14 is inserted into a plurality of vertically elongated guide holes 15 formed in the front end wall 4 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) at intervals in the longitudinal direction. It is movably inserted and extends to the lower surface side of the keyboard frame 1. The width (dimension in the left-right direction) of each guide hole 15 is
The thickness is set to 2 to 3 times the thickness of the sheet No. 4. Therefore, the horizontal piece 1 of the stopper arm 14 of the two keys 2 adjacent to each other
4 b is inserted into one guide hole 15.

The upper end edge of the horizontal piece 14b of the stopper arm 14 contacts an upper limit stopper 16 made of felt or the like attached to the lower surface of the front edge of the keyboard frame 1, so that the upper limit position of the key 2 is increased. Be regulated. The lower edge of the horizontal piece 14b of the stopper arm 14 is
The lower limit position of the key 2 is regulated by contacting the lower limit stopper 17 made of felt or the like attached and fixed to the upper surface of the key 2.

A switch pressing member (actuator) 18 is integrally protruded from the inner surface of the concave portion of the key 2. The lower end of the switch pressing member 18 is movably inserted into an insertion hole 19 formed in the keyboard frame 1 and extends inside the key switch assembly 20. And key 2
Is pressed downward against the urging force of the leaf spring 11, the switch pressing member 18 pushes the key switch assembly 20.
When a switch (not shown) is pressed and closed, a sound control circuit (not shown) is driven to generate a sound of a scale corresponding to the pressed key 2.

The key switch assembly 20 is provided on the lower surface of the keyboard frame 1. In addition, keyboard frame 1
Of guide members 21 corresponding to the number of keys 2
Is protruding. The guide member 21 is fitted in the concave portion of the key 2 to guide the vertical movement of the key 2 and to restrict the left and right and rolling movements of the key 2.

In the above configuration, since the contact state between the concave fulcrum 8 and the convex fulcrum 9 is a point contact having one contact point 10 on the longitudinal axis of the key 2, the key 2 is a keyboard. In the range of the movement used as above, it is possible to rotate the contact point 10 as a fulcrum by a predetermined angle in the up, down, left, right, and rolling directions.

Therefore, the convex fulcrum 9 on the key 2 side and the concave fulcrum 8 on the key support member 7 are in contact only at one contact point 10, and the movement of the key 2 used as a keyboard is changed. Movement in the up, down, left, right, and rolling directions is allowed within the range, and since there is no sliding at both fulcrums 8, 9, the friction of the key 2 becomes almost zero, and the movement of the key 2 becomes smooth, and the touch feeling of the key 2 is improved. It is good and does not generate noise.

Even if the guide member 21 restricts the movement of the key 2 in the left-right direction and the rolling direction, the key 2
Does not exert a bending force on the guide member 21.

Further, the tip of the convex fulcrum 9 always contacts the inner end of the concave fulcrum 8 due to the pressing force of the leaf spring 11, so that the processing accuracy and the assembly accuracy of the component parts are low, or Accordingly, even when the tip of the convex fulcrum portion 9 or the inner end of the concave fulcrum portion 8 is worn, the self-aligning action is performed, and no clearance is generated between the contact points 10 of the two fulcrum portions 8 and 9, so that there is play. And no noise.

Since the fulcrum structure itself does not suppress the movement of the key 2 in the left-right direction as described above, the vibrato, tremolo, pan This makes it easy to apply the present invention to a keyboard capable of performing a modulation effect such as reverb. In this case, a pressure-sensitive sensor composed of a silver battery based on a polyester film and a pressure-sensitive film may be attached as a roll sensor to a portion of the guide member 21 that comes into contact with the inner surface of both sides of the key 2. The pressure sensor may be pressure sensitive rubber.

Incidentally, a configuration may be employed in which a dedicated spring or weight is provided as the key return means.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above will be described by attaching the same reference numerals to the drawings.

According to the present invention, a conical concave fulcrum 8 similar to that of the first embodiment is provided at the rear end of the key 2 and a conical convex fulcrum 9 is provided on the key support member 7. Since the other configuration and operation and effect are the same as those of the first embodiment,
The description is omitted.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above will be described by attaching the same reference numerals to the drawings.

In this embodiment, a conical concave fulcrum 8 similar to that of the first embodiment, which is open at the rear surface, is provided inside the key support member 7, and the first embodiment is provided on the inner surface of the rear end of the key 2. A convex fulcrum 9 having a conical shape similar to that described above is provided so as to protrude forward, and the key support member 7 is configured to be fitted into the recess of each key 2.
The key 2 is pressed in the arrow Z direction by pressing means (not shown) by fitting the convex fulcrum 9 into the concave fulcrum 8.

The other structure, operation, and effect of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above will be described by attaching the same reference numerals to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the concave fulcrum 8 has a conical shape,
The convex fulcrum portion 9 is formed in the shape of a regular quadrangular pyramid, and the other configuration and operation and effect are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above will be described by attaching the same reference numerals to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the concave fulcrum 8 has a regular triangular pyramid shape, and the convex fulcrum 9 has a conical shape. The other configuration and operation and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment. Omitted.

[Sixth Embodiment] Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above will be described by attaching the same reference numerals to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the concave fulcrum 8 has a substantially semi-elliptical spherical shape, and the convex fulcrum 9 has a substantially shell-like shape. The other constructions and operational effects are the same as those of the first embodiment. ,
The description is omitted.

Seventh Embodiment Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above will be described by attaching the same reference numerals to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the concave fulcrum 8 has a substantially hemispherical shape, and the convex fulcrum 9 has a spherical shape smaller in diameter than the concave fulcrum 8. In this case also, the concave fulcrum 8 has a convex fulcrum. When the key 9 is brought into contact, the contact state becomes a point contact state having one contact point 10 on the longitudinal axis of the key (not shown).

The other constructions, functions and effects of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, so that the description thereof will be omitted.

[0043]

As described above in detail, according to the keyboard device for a musical instrument according to the present invention, the fulcrum on the key support member side and the fulcrum on the key side are provided.
The concave portion and the convex portion of the key engage with each other so that the contact state becomes a point contact having one contact point on the longitudinal axis of the key. A predetermined angle of movement in the left and right and rolling directions is allowed.

Therefore, the friction during the operation of the key becomes substantially zero, the movement of the key becomes smooth, the touch feeling of the key is improved, and no noise is generated.

Further, since the two fulcrum portions are pressed in a direction in which they are pressed against each other by the pressing means, the processing accuracy and the assembling accuracy of the component parts are low, or the contact portions of the two fulcrum portions wear with time. Even in such a case, the self-aligning action is performed and no gap is generated at the contact point between the two fulcrum portions, so that there is no play and no noise is generated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a keyboard device for a musical instrument according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 in a state where a concave fulcrum and a convex fulcrum are not engaged.

4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the device of FIG. 1 in a state in which a concave fulcrum and a convex fulcrum are engaged with each other.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a keyboard device of a musical instrument according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a state where a concave fulcrum and a convex fulcrum are not engaged.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an engagement state between a concave fulcrum and a convex fulcrum in a keyboard device for a musical instrument according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a keyboard device for a musical instrument according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a state where a concave fulcrum and a convex fulcrum are engaged with each other.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a keyboard device for a musical instrument according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which a concave fulcrum and a convex fulcrum are engaged with each other.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a relevant part of the keyboard device of the musical instrument according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which the concave fulcrum and the convex fulcrum are engaged.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a keyboard device of a musical instrument according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention in a state where a concave fulcrum and a convex fulcrum are engaged with each other.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 key 7 key support member 8 concave fulcrum 9 convex fulcrum 10 contact point 11 leaf spring (key return means and pressing means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G10B 3/12 G10C 3/12

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fulcrum provided on a key support member is brought into contact with each other in a state where the fulcrum of the key is pressed by a pressing means, and the key is moved up and down with the parts of the two fulcrum parts which abut each other as a fulcrum. In a musical instrument keyboard device in which the key is turned upwardly by key return means, and one of the two fulcrum portions is gradually turned toward the opening end. The other fulcrum part is composed of a convex cone having a wall surface that gradually reduces as it goes toward the distal end, and the concave part and the convex part of these two fulcrum parts face each other. A keyboard device for a musical instrument, wherein the keyboard device is configured to engage with the keyboard.