JP5886618B2 - Electronic keyboard instrument keyboard device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument that includes a swingable key and a hammer that rotates by being pushed up by a pressed key.

  Conventionally, as a keyboard device of this type of electronic keyboard musical instrument, for example, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. This keyboard device includes a swingable key, a rotatable hammer, and a switch for detecting key pressing information, and a capstan screw is screwed into the hammer. The hammer is placed on the key via a capstan screw. When the key is pressed, the key pushes the hammer through the capstan screw. As a result, the hammer is rotated and the switch is pressed to detect key pressing information, and a musical sound is generated accordingly. In addition, when the capstan screw is viewed from the side, the angle with respect to the vertical of the capstan screw is greater when the key is fully depressed (when the key is pressed) than when the key is in the released state. It is set large.

Japanese Patent No. 3591579

  Generally, in this type of keyboard device, the volume of the musical sound is controlled according to the rotation speed of the hammer that presses the switch, so that the rotation speed of the hammer can be finely adjusted to obtain a rich performance expression. It is preferable to make it. For example, a weak sound such as pianissimo can be obtained by rotating the hammer once to the vicinity of the switch and further rotating from that state to reduce the rotation speed of the hammer when pressing the switch. it can.

  In addition, in order to make it easy for the performer to adjust the rotation speed of the hammer in order to obtain good performance of the keyboard device, the touch weight of the key (load applied to the performer's fingertip) should be set to an appropriate size. It is important to set. In particular, in order to obtain a weak sound appropriately, it is possible to set the touch weight when the hammer rotated to the vicinity of the switch is further rotated, that is, the touch weight immediately before the end of the key depression, to an appropriate size. is important. Since the hammer is placed on the key via the capstan screw, the touch weight is determined by the reaction force of the hammer acting on the key via the capstan screw. The reaction force of the hammer is due to the weight of the hammer and acts mainly vertically.

  In the conventional keyboard device described above, the angle of the capstan screw with respect to the vertical is set to be larger at the end of the key depression than when the key is in the key release state. For this reason, immediately before the end of pressing the key, the component force in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the capstan screw out of the reaction force of the hammer acting vertically is increased, so that the hammer reaction force is applied to the capstan screw. Will not be properly communicated to the key, thereby reducing the touch weight. As a result, in the conventional keyboard device, the touch weight is insufficient immediately before the end of the key depression, and as a result, the rotation speed of the hammer cannot be adjusted appropriately, and as a result, good performance can be obtained. It becomes impossible.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and can ensure a sufficient touch weight when a key is pressed, thereby obtaining a good performance. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a key that extends in the front-rear direction and is swingable around the center, a hammer rotatable around the hammer fulcrum, and a key and hammer. A capstan screw that is provided on one side and abuts against the other of the key and the hammer, and the hammer is placed on the rear portion of the key via the capstan screw, and the key is depressed along with the key depression. When the capstan screw is viewed from the side, the angle with respect to the vertical of the capstan screw is set smaller when the key is fully depressed than when the key is released. It is characterized by being.

  According to this configuration, the key extends in the front-rear direction and is swingable around the center, and the hammer is rotatable around the hammer fulcrum. A capstan screw provided on one of the key and the hammer is in contact with the other of the key and the hammer. Further, the hammer is placed on the rear portion of the key via the capstan screw, and is pushed up by the key when the key is depressed, thereby rotating upward. Thus, since the hammer is placed on the key via the capstan screw, a reaction force due to the weight of the hammer acts on the key, and the reaction force of the hammer acts mainly vertically. In addition, the touch force of the key (the load applied to the performer's fingertip) is determined by the reaction force of the hammer.

  According to the above-described configuration, when the capstan screw is viewed from the side, the angle of the capstan screw with respect to the vertical is greater when the key is pressed, that is, when the key is pressed, that is, when the key is pressed. The end of is set smaller. As a result, when the key is pressed, i.e., from the start to the end of the key press, the portion of the reaction force of the hammer acting vertically is perpendicular to the capstan screw axis. The force can be reduced, whereby the hammer reaction force can be properly transmitted to the key via the capstan screw. Therefore, a sufficient touch weight can be ensured when the key is pressed, and thereby good performance can be obtained. In particular, unlike the above-described conventional keyboard device, a sufficient touch weight can be ensured immediately before the end of key pressing, so that good performance can be obtained more effectively.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument according to the first aspect, the hammer fulcrum and the center of gravity of the hammer are located at substantially the same height when the key is in a key release state. It is characterized by.

  As described above, the hammer is rotatable about the hammer fulcrum and is placed on the key. Thus, the hammer is supported by the hammer fulcrum and the key. If the hammer fulcrum is lower than the center of gravity of the hammer when the key is in the released state, the component force in the length direction of the hammer is large in the gravity (reaction force) of the hammer acting in the vertical direction. As a result, the portion supported by the hammer fulcrum increases, and the portion supported by the key decreases accordingly. For this reason, when the key is pressed, the hammer fulcrum is further lowered with respect to the center of gravity as the hammer rotates upward, thereby further increasing the component force in the longitudinal direction of the hammer. Thus, the reaction force of the hammer acting on the key is further reduced. According to the above-described configuration, when the key is in the key-released state, the hammer fulcrum and the center of gravity of the hammer are located at substantially the same height, so that the hammer fulcrum is lower than the center of gravity of the hammer. The component force in the longitudinal direction of the hammer can be reduced, and thereby the reaction force of the hammer acting on the key when the key is depressed, that is, the touch weight can be increased. Thereby, the effect by the invention which concerns on Claim 1, ie, the effect that touch weight can fully be ensured at the time of a key depression, and can obtain favorable performance can be acquired more effectively.

It is a side view which shows the keyboard apparatus of the electronic piano by one Embodiment of this invention in the state where a part was notched, when the key exists in a key release state. It is a side view which expands and shows a part of FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the keyboard device of FIG. 1 with a part cut away when the key is fully depressed. It is a side view which expands and shows a part of FIG. It is a side view which shows the keyboard apparatus of the electronic piano by a comparative example in the state where a part was notched, when a key exists in a key release state. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the keyboard device of FIG. 5 with a part cut away when the key is fully depressed. In a comparative example, (a) The figure which shows the angle of the capstan screw with respect to the perpendicular | vertical line orthogonal to a cross, (b) It is a figure which shows the contact area of the capstan screw with respect to the cross. In this embodiment, (a) The figure which shows the angle of the capstan screw with respect to the perpendicular | vertical line orthogonal to a cross, (b) It is a figure which shows the contact area of the capstan screw with respect to the cross.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. A keyboard device 1 of an electronic piano shown in FIG. 1 includes a large number of keys 2 (only one white key 2a and one black key 2b are shown) arranged in the left-right direction (front and back direction in FIG. 1) of the electronic piano, A keyboard chassis 3 that supports the key 2, a hammer support 4 connected to the rear end (right end in FIG. 1) of the keyboard chassis 3, and provided for each key 2. A number of hammers 5 (only one shown), a number of let-off parts 6 (only one shown) provided for each hammer 5 to give a let-off feeling when the key 2 is depressed, and a key The key switch 7 is used to detect the key depression information 2.

  The keyboard chassis 3 is composed of three support rails 9 including a front rail 9a, a middle rail 9b, and a rear rail 9c extending in the left-right direction, and five reinforcing ribs 10 extending in the front-rear direction, in a cross-beam shape. It is fixed on a horizontal shelf (not shown). Each of these support rails 9 and ribs 10 is composed of an iron plate formed into a predetermined shape by stamping and bending with a press. The plate thickness of the support rail 9 is set to be thinner (for example, 1.0 mm) for weight reduction, and the plate thickness of the rib 10 is set to be thicker (for example, 1.6 mm) for reinforcement.

  A saddle front 11 and a saddle center 12 are fixed to the lower surface of the front rail 9a and the upper surface of the middle rail 9b, respectively. The saddle front 11 and the saddle center 12 are thick plate-shaped members made of synthetic resin, and extend in the left-right direction over the entire front rail 9a and middle rail 9b. A large number of balance pins 13 are erected in a state where the balance 12 is arranged in the left-right direction at the front and rear positions corresponding to the white key 2a and the black key 2b. A large number of front pins 14 are erected on the front 11 in front and rear positions corresponding to the white key 2a and the black key 2b in a state where the front pins 14 are arranged in the left-right direction.

  The key 2 includes a wooden key body 15 extending in the front-rear direction and having a rectangular cross section, and a key cover 16 made of synthetic resin bonded to the upper surface and the front surface of the front portion. A balance pin hole 17 is formed at the center of the key body 15 in the front-rear direction, and the key 2 is swingably supported by the balance pin 13 through the balance pin hole 17. Further, a front pin hole 18 is formed at the front end portion of the key body 15, and the front pin hole 18 engages with the front pin 14, thereby causing a lateral shake when the key 2 rotates. Is prevented. A cross C made of felt or the like is attached to the upper surface of the rear end of the key 2.

  The hammer support 4 is made of a synthetic resin and is formed by connecting a plurality of molded products for one octave, for example, and extends in the left-right direction so as to cover all the hammers 5. It is screwed. The hammer support 4 is composed of a hammer support portion 19 standing upright from the vicinity of the rail 9c and a switch mounting portion 20 extending obliquely upward from the upper end portion. A pin-shaped hammer fulcrum 21 for supporting each hammer 5 is formed at the upper end portion of the hammer support portion 19.

  The hammer 5 has an arm-shaped hammer body 22 extending in the front-rear direction and a weight plate 23 (only one is shown) attached to the front end portions of the left and right side surfaces thereof. The hammer body 22 is made of a synthetic resin molded product, and the weight plate 23 is made of a metal material such as iron having a relatively large specific gravity. An arc-shaped shaft hole 24 is formed at the rear end of the hammer body 22, and the hammer 5 is rotatably supported by the hammer support 4 by engaging the shaft hole 24 with the hammer fulcrum 21. Has been. When the key 2 is in a key release state, the hammer fulcrum 21 and the center of gravity GG of the hammer 5 are located at substantially the same height (see FIG. 2).

  A capstan screw 25 is screwed into the lower surface of the hammer body 22 at a position immediately in front of the shaft hole 24 so as to be able to advance and retract. The capstan screw 25 extends vertically when viewed from the front, and abuts against the rear end portion of the key 2 via the cross C. The hammer 5 is placed on the rear end portion of the key 2 via the capstan screw 25. As shown in FIG. 2, when the key 2 is in a key release state, the capstan screw 25 is slightly inclined forward with respect to the vertical. In this case, the capstan screw 25 is moved sideways (in the left-right direction). On the other hand, the angle of the capstan screw 25 with respect to the vertical (hereinafter referred to as “capstan angle”) when viewed from the above is set to the first predetermined value θ1.

  Further, a portion between the shaft hole 24 and the capstan screw 25 on the upper surface of the hammer body 22 is an actuator portion 26 for operating the key switch 7 when the key is depressed. Furthermore, a plate-like engagement protrusion 27 that engages with the let-off component 6 when a key is pressed is provided at the center of the upper surface of the hammer body 22 in the front-rear direction.

  The let-off component 6 is formed of a molded product of a predetermined elastic material (for example, a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer) and is attached to the switch attachment portion 20 of the hammer support 4. The let-off component 6 extends obliquely backward and downward from the switch mounting portion 20, and a head portion 28 is formed at a tip portion thereof via a constricted portion. The head portion 28 faces the engaging protrusion 27 of the hammer 5 in the key release state.

  The key switch 7 includes a switch board 29 made of a printed circuit board and a switch body 30 made of a rubber switch provided for each key 2 on the lower surface of the switch board 29. The switch board 29 has a rear end inserted into the switch mounting portion 20 and is screwed to the switch mounting portion 20 at a central portion. The switch body 30 is attached to the lower surface of the switch substrate 29 and faces the actuator portion 26 of the hammer 5 with a slight gap in the key release state. Further, a hammer stopper 31 made of urethane foam or the like is provided at the front end of the lower surface of the switch mounting portion 20 to restrict the rotation of the hammer 5 upward.

  Next, the operation of the keyboard apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described. When the key 2 is pressed from the key release state shown in FIG. 1, the key 2 swings counterclockwise around the balance pin 13, and accordingly the hammer 5 moves the capstan screw 25. And is pivoted upward (clockwise in the figure) around the hammer fulcrum 21. Accordingly, the capstan screw 25 slides forward along the cross C while changing the capstan angle (angle with respect to the vertical of the capstan screw 25 when viewed from the side).

  During the rotation of the hammer 5, the engaging projection 27 engages with the head 28 of the let-off component 6 and presses the let-off component 6 while compressing the let-off component 6 through the head 28. The reaction force acting on the hammer 5 increases. As the rotation of the hammer 5 progresses, the engagement protrusion 27 is disengaged from the head 28, so that the reaction force from the let-off component 6 disappears rapidly. Due to the increase and disappearance of the reaction force of the let-off component 6, a let-off feeling similar to that of an acoustic piano can be obtained.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the key 2 is pushed, the hammer 5 comes into contact with the hammer stopper 31, and the upward rotation of the hammer 5 is completed. Further, during the rotation of the hammer 5 upward, the actuator portion 26 presses the switch body 30 of the key switch 7 and turns on the key switch 7, whereby the key 2 corresponding to the rotation speed of the hammer 5 is turned on. Key press information is detected and output to a sound generation control device (not shown). The sound generation control device controls the sound generation of the electronic piano based on the detected key press information.

  After that, when the key 2 is released, the key 2 swings in the opposite direction to that when the key is pressed, and returns to the key release state shown in FIG. 1, and the hammer 5 is also rotated downward and released. Return to the key state.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the key 2 is pushed down, the capstan screw 25 is slightly inclined backward with respect to the vertical. In this case, the capstan angle is a second predetermined value θ2. is there. As is apparent from the comparison between FIG. 4 and FIG. 2 described above, the second predetermined value θ2 is set smaller than the first predetermined value θ1 set as the capstan angle when the key 2 is in the key release state. Has been.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the capstan angle (the angle with respect to the vertical of the capstan screw 25 when the capstan screw 25 is viewed from the side) is when the key 2 is in the key release state (first step). The value is set smaller when the key is depressed (second predetermined value θ2), that is, at the end of the key pressing, than 1 predetermined value θ1). Thereby, when the key 2 is depressed, that is, from when the key depression is started to when it is terminated, the reaction force of the hammer 5 acting vertically is perpendicular to the axis of the capstan screw 25. The component force in the direction can be reduced, whereby the reaction force of the hammer 5 can be appropriately transmitted to the key 2 via the capstan screw 25. Therefore, a sufficient touch weight can be ensured when the key is pressed, and thereby good performance can be obtained. In particular, unlike the above-described conventional keyboard device, a sufficient touch weight can be ensured immediately before the end of key pressing, so that good performance can be obtained more effectively.

  In addition, when the key 2 is in the key-released state, the center of gravity GG of the hammer fulcrum 21 and the hammer 5 are positioned at substantially the same height, so that the hammer fulcrum 21 is lower than the center of gravity GG of the hammer 5. Thus, the component force in the longitudinal direction of the hammer 5 among the reaction force (gravity) of the hammer 5 can be reduced, thereby increasing the reaction force of the hammer 5 acting on the key 2 when the key is pressed. As a result, the above-described effect, that is, the effect that the touch weight can be sufficiently ensured when the key is pressed and thereby good performance can be obtained can be obtained more effectively.

  Furthermore, unlike the keyboard device 1 according to the present embodiment, the capstan screw is configured to be tilted forward both when the key is in a released state and when the key is pressed, or when the key is When the capstan screw is tilted forward when in the key release state and configured to be vertical when pressed, the capstan angle when the key is in the key release state is very large. Become. As a result, the capstan angle is increased in the initial stage of the key depression, so that the reaction force of the hammer is not properly transmitted to the key via the capstan screw, and the touch weight is insufficient. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the capstan screw 25 is moved forward with respect to the vertical direction when the key 2 is in the key release state, and when the key 2 is pushed out. Each is tilted backwards. As a result, the capstan angle when the key 2 is in the key release state is reduced, and thereby, a sufficient touch weight can be obtained at the initial stage of the key depression.

  5 and 6 show an electronic piano keyboard device 51 according to a comparative example. Since the keyboard device 51 is configured in substantially the same manner as the keyboard device 1 according to the present embodiment, its configuration and operation will be briefly described below. The keyboard device 51 includes a large number of keys 52 (only one white key 52a and one black key 52b are shown) arranged in the left-right direction of the electronic piano (the front and back directions in FIG. 5), and these keys 52 at the center. 5, a keyboard chassis 53 supported in a swingable manner, a hammer support 54 connected to the rear end (right end in FIG. 5) of the keyboard chassis 53, and a number of hammers 55 provided for each key 52 (one Only one), a number of let-off components 56 (only one shown) provided for each hammer 55, a key switch 57 for detecting key pressing information of the key 52, and the like.

  The rear end portion of the key 52 is provided with a notch on the upper surface thereof, and is formed in a step shape. A cross C is attached to the upper surface of the notch portion. An arc-shaped shaft hole 55 a is formed at the rear end of the hammer 55, and the hammer 55 rotates with the hammer support 54 when the shaft hole 55 a engages the hammer fulcrum 54 a of the hammer support 54. It is supported freely. A capstan screw 58 is screwed into the lower surface of the hammer 55 at a position immediately in front of the shaft hole 55a, and the capstan screw 58 contacts the rear end portion of the key 52 via the cross C. It touches. The hammer 55 is placed on the rear end portion of the key 52 via the capstan screw 58.

  In the keyboard device 51 configured as described above, when the key 52 is pressed from the key release state shown in FIG. 5, the key 52 swings counterclockwise around the center in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the hammer 55 is pushed up via the capstan screw 58, and rotates upward (clockwise in the figure) around the hammer fulcrum 54a. Accordingly, the capstan screw 58 slides forward along the cross C while changing the angle with respect to the vertical when viewed from the side.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the key 52 is pushed, the hammer 55 comes into contact with the hammer stopper 59 provided at the upper side, and thus the rotation of the hammer 55 upward is completed. Further, during the upward rotation of the hammer 55, the actuator portion 55b of the hammer 55 presses the key switch 57 and turns on the key switch 57, whereby the key 52 is pressed according to the rotation speed of the hammer 55. Information is detected and output to a sound generation control device (not shown). The sound generation control device controls the sound generation of the electronic piano based on the detected key press information.

  After that, when the key 52 is released, the key 52 swings in the opposite direction to that when the key is pressed and returns to the key release state shown in FIG. 5, and accordingly, the hammer 55 is also rotated downward and released. Return to the key state.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the angle θa of the capstan screw 58 with respect to the vertical line perpendicular to the cross C when the capstan screw 58 is viewed from the side when the key 52 is pushed is It is relatively large. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7B, the contact area Sa of the capstan screw 58 to the cross C when the key 52 is pushed down is relatively small.

  On the other hand, in the keyboard device 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, the cross C when the capstan screw 25 is viewed from the side when the key 2 is pushed down is formed. The angle θb of the capstan screw 25 with respect to the orthogonal vertical line is smaller than that in the comparative example (θa) shown in FIG. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the contact area Sb of the capstan screw 25 with respect to the cross C when the key 2 is fully pushed is the case of the comparative example shown in FIG. 7 (b) (Sa). Is bigger than. Thus, when the key 2 is depressed, when the capstan screw 25 slides along the cross C, the true contact area of the capstan screw 25 with respect to the cross C can be increased. The friction between C can be increased, thereby obtaining a greater touch weight.

  In addition, this invention can be implemented in various aspects, without being limited to the described embodiment. For example, in the embodiment, the capstan screw 25 is provided on the hammer 5 and is in contact with the key 2. On the contrary, it may be provided on the key 2 and may be in contact with the hammer 5. Further, in the embodiment, the capstan screw 25 is configured to tilt forward when the key 2 is in the key-released state and backward when the key 2 is fully pressed, but when the key 2 is in the key-released state. If the capstan angle (angle with respect to the vertical when viewed from the side) becomes smaller when pushed down, the capstan screw 25 may be configured as follows. . That is, the capstan screw 25 may be configured to be tilted forward both when the key 2 is in the key release state and when it is pressed, or when the key 2 is in the key release state. Alternatively, the capstan screw 25 may be configured to tilt forward and to be vertical when pushed down.

  Further, the embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to the keyboard device 1 of an electronic piano. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other appropriate electronic keyboard instruments, for example, a keyboard device of a synthesizer. It is. In addition, it is possible to appropriately change the detailed configuration within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

1 Keyboard device 2 Key 5 Hammer 21 Hammer fulcrum 25 Capstan screw GG Center of gravity of hammer

Claims (2)

A key that extends in the front-rear direction and can swing around the center,
A hammer that can rotate around the hammer fulcrum,
A capstan screw provided on one of the key and the hammer, and abutting against the other of the key and the hammer,
The hammer is placed on the rear part of the key via the capstan screw, and is pushed up by the key along with the depression of the key,
When the capstan screw is viewed from the side, the angle with respect to the vertical of the capstan screw is set to be smaller when the key is pressed than when the key is in a key release state. A keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument, characterized by comprising:   2. The keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument according to claim 1, wherein when the key is in a key-released state, the hammer fulcrum and the center of gravity of the hammer are located at substantially the same height.

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