US3621105A - Action device for electric musical instrument - Google Patents

Action device for electric musical instrument Download PDF

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Publication number
US3621105A
US3621105A US78366A US3621105DA US3621105A US 3621105 A US3621105 A US 3621105A US 78366 A US78366 A US 78366A US 3621105D A US3621105D A US 3621105DA US 3621105 A US3621105 A US 3621105A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
hammer
action device
flange
frame
electrically conductive
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US78366A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Naokichi Takamatsu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nippon Columbia Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Nippon Columbia Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nippon Columbia Co Ltd filed Critical Nippon Columbia Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3621105A publication Critical patent/US3621105A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H3/00—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means
    • G10H3/12—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument
    • G10H3/14—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means
    • G10H3/20—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means using a tuning fork, rod or tube
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10C—PIANOS, HARPSICHORDS, SPINETS OR SIMILAR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE OR MORE KEYBOARDS
    • G10C3/00—Details or accessories
    • G10C3/16—Actions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an action device for an electric musical instrument such as an electric piano having an electrostatictype pickup in which variation of electrostatic capacity between a mechanical vibrator and a fixed electrode is converted to an electric signal and is made a sound through a speaker.
  • the main object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic musical instrument which positively avoids the variation of an electrostatic capacity between a vibrator and an electrode due to electric charge transferred from a hammer to thereby prevent occurrence of noise.
  • FIG. I is a side view, partially in cross section, of an action device for an electric musical instrument according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged plane view for illustrating one part of the device depicted in FIG. 1.
  • reference numeral I indicates a frame made of electrically conductive metal, for example; 2, a fixed electrode and 4, a fitting base made of electrically conductive material one end of which is attached to one end of the frame 1 by a screw 3.
  • One end of the fixed electrode 2 is fixed to the free end of the fitting base 4 by means of a screw 10a.
  • Reference numerals 5 and 6 represent washers which are respectively made of electrically insulating material for insulating the fitting base 4 from the frame 1 and 7a washer.
  • Reference numeral 8 designates an electrostatic capacity detecting member which consists of a pair of electrode plates 8a and 8b and formed at the free end of the fixed electrode 2 and 9 a vibrator, one end of which is fixed to the frame 1 at the other end thereof by means of a bolt 14 and a washer l3 and the other end or free end of which is positioned between the electrode plates 8a and 81; without being contacted therewith.
  • Reference numeral 10b indicates an adjusting screw for adjusting the fixed electrode 2 with respect to the fitting base 4 or adjusting the position of the electrode plates 8a and 8b, 11 a screw provided in association with the fixed electrode 2 for adjusting the distance and position of the electrostatic capacity detecting member 8, namely the distance between the electrode plates 8a and 8b and 12 a weight formed of solder, lead etc. and mounted on the free end portion of the vibrator 9 for adjusting the vibration frequency of the vibrator 9.
  • Reference numeral 13 is a washer.
  • Reference numeral 14 is a bolt for attaching the vibrator 9 to the frame I.
  • the frame 1 has provided therewith :1 lug 15 made of conductive material or same material as that of the frame to which one end of u fitting member I6 made of conductive material is fixed by means of, for example, a screw 16a.
  • a center rail 17 made of conductive material is attached by, for example, a screw 16b.
  • the center rail I7 has attached thereto a flange 18 made of plastic material and with its surface being coated with a thin film made of conductive material and a hammer rail fitting member I9 made of metal by means of, for example, screws 18a and I9a respectively.
  • a hammer 20 made of plastic material is pivotally attached to the flange 18.
  • the surface of the hammer 20 is made to be conductive by, for example, coating a conductive film on the surface.
  • Reference numeral 21 indicates a hammer felt which is fixed to the hammer 20 on the portion striking the vibrator 9.
  • the thickness of the hammer felt 21 is selected to be very thin, about I mm., 22 a hammer rail supported by the hammer rail fitting member 19 on its free end portion, 23 a hammer rail .felt which is mounted on the hammer rail 22 on the portion receiving the end of the hammer 20 opposite to that with the hammer felt 21, 24 a jack which may hit the hammer 20 at the portion near the pivoted point, 25 a felt coated on the hammer 20 in the vicinity of its pivot and 26 a cloth adhered to the hammer 20 on the part to be pushed by the jack 24.
  • Reference numeral 27 is a spring made of conductive material which is stretched between the flange l8 and the hammer 20 and normally supports the hammer 20
  • the frame I is grounded and the vibrator 9 is percussed by the hammer 20, the vibrator 9 vibrates at a predetermined frequency.
  • the electrostatic capacity established between the electrostatic capacity detecting member 8 and the vibrator 9 is varied due to the displacement of the free end of the vibrator 9 between the opposed electrode plates 8a and 8b and the variation of the electrostatic capacity is detected as a corresponding electric signal such, for example, as current or voltage.
  • the means for detecting the electrostatic capacity variation and converting the variation into a corresponding electric signal is not shown and explained in the specification for the reason that this means is well known in the art.
  • the electric charge stored on the hammer 20 is grounded through the circuit of the hammer 20, the flange 18, the center rail 17, the fitting member 16, the lug l5 and the frame I, so that any electric charge is not stored on the hammer 20. Accordingly, no electric charge is transferred to the vibrator 9 when the vibrator 9 is percussed by the hammer 20, which will mean that no noise is produced.
  • the electric charge stored on the hammer felt 21 may be grounded through the circuit same to that explained above. Accordingly, the charge may have no affect upon the electrostatic capacity between the electrostatic capacity detecting member 8 and the vibrator 9 in practice.
  • the hammer 20 and the flange l8 may be made of electrically conductive material or material containing therein powders of metal or carbon in addition to coat the surfaces of them with metal or carbon layer.
  • the spring 27 may be grounded to transfer the charge stored on the hammer to the earth.
  • the hammer and the flange are made of conductive material such, for example, as metal, it is prevented that charge may be produced on the hammer.
  • An action device for an electric musical instrument comprising a frame, an electrostatic-type pickup attached to said frame, a center rail fixed to said frame, a flange attached to said center rail, a hammer pivotally attached to said flange, a hammer rail fixed to said center rail, and grounding means attached to said hammer.
  • An action device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a spring is stretched between said flange and hammer, said spring being grounded and said means consists of a member which makes the surface of said hammer electrically conductive.
  • An action device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said flange is made of material which consists of nonconductive material and powders of an electrically conductive material mixed therewith.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
US78366A 1970-03-10 1970-10-06 Action device for electric musical instrument Expired - Lifetime US3621105A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP45020359A JPS4936408B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-03-10 1970-03-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3621105A true US3621105A (en) 1971-11-16

Family

ID=12024888

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US78366A Expired - Lifetime US3621105A (en) 1970-03-10 1970-10-06 Action device for electric musical instrument

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Country Link
US (1) US3621105A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4936408B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4995291A (en) * 1988-08-29 1991-02-26 Kawai Gakki Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Action mechanism for the piano

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US215977A (en) * 1879-05-27 Improvement in piano-forte actions
US239670A (en) * 1881-04-05 Yitold chaeles aktoike philippe dieudonee guillaume
US1411820A (en) * 1919-11-29 1922-04-04 Waggett Frederick Wm Metal pianoforte action
US2001392A (en) * 1932-12-14 1935-05-14 Miessner Inventions Inc Method and apparatus for the production of music
US2071649A (en) * 1933-12-01 1937-02-23 Miessner Inventions Inc Apparatus for the production of music
USRE21225E (en) * 1939-10-03 Apparatus for th
US2535341A (en) * 1947-07-14 1950-12-26 Jack R Zeckman Translation system
US3360663A (en) * 1965-05-14 1967-12-26 Albert V Crewe High-voltage generator
US3501653A (en) * 1969-01-15 1970-03-17 Eastman Kodak Co Impact electrification apparatus

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US215977A (en) * 1879-05-27 Improvement in piano-forte actions
US239670A (en) * 1881-04-05 Yitold chaeles aktoike philippe dieudonee guillaume
USRE21225E (en) * 1939-10-03 Apparatus for th
US1411820A (en) * 1919-11-29 1922-04-04 Waggett Frederick Wm Metal pianoforte action
US2001392A (en) * 1932-12-14 1935-05-14 Miessner Inventions Inc Method and apparatus for the production of music
US2071649A (en) * 1933-12-01 1937-02-23 Miessner Inventions Inc Apparatus for the production of music
US2535341A (en) * 1947-07-14 1950-12-26 Jack R Zeckman Translation system
US3360663A (en) * 1965-05-14 1967-12-26 Albert V Crewe High-voltage generator
US3501653A (en) * 1969-01-15 1970-03-17 Eastman Kodak Co Impact electrification apparatus

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4995291A (en) * 1988-08-29 1991-02-26 Kawai Gakki Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Action mechanism for the piano

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4936408B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-09-30

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