US3675173A

US3675173A - Presetting device for electronic musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US3675173A
Application number: US74475A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nobuhiko Suzuki
Original assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
Priority date: 1967-09-26
Filing date: 1970-09-22
Publication date: 1972-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-04

Abstract

A device for memorizing and reproducing a position of a continuously adjustable controller, comprising a rotatable yoke of magnetic material and adapted to rotate on a pivot axis to the position corresponding to the position of adjustment of said adjustable controller, an armature rotatably mounted on said pivot axis in close proximity to said rotatable yoke and having a coil thereon and a brake adapted to brake the rotation of said armature, whereby the position of the adjustable controller can be memorized by releasing the brake from the armature and then energizing the armature coil to rotate the armature to the position of said rotatable yoke and the position of the controller can be reproduced by applying the brake to the armature and energizing the armature coil to rotate the rotatable yoke to tee position of the armature.

Description

United States Patent Suzuki July 4, 1972 [54] PRESETTING DEVICE FOR [56] References Cited ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor: Nobuhilto Suzuki, Hamamatsu, Japan 554,080 2/1896 McElroy 335/149 l,702,988 2/l929 Wright [731 Ass'gnw "WW" sell" Keb'lflllkh 2,6l5,945 10/1952 13mm v.317/123 matsu-shi, Japan [22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1970 Primary Examiner-Harold Broome Appl. No.: 74,475

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 76l,034, Sept. 20, 1968.

Foreign Application Priority Data 335/254, 266, 267, 73, 74, I77, l82, I84, I49

Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller 81 Mosher [57] ABSTRACT A device for memorizing and reproducing a position of a continuously adjustable controller, comprising a rotatable yoke of magnetic material and adapted to rotate on a pivot axis to the position corresponding to the position of adjustment of said adjustable controller, an armature rotatably mounted on said pivot axis in close proximity to said rotatable yoke and having a coil thereon and a brake adapted to brake the rotation of said armature, whereby the position of the adjustable controller can be memorized by releasing the brake from the armature and then energizing the armature coil to rotate the armature to the position of said rotatable yoke and the position of the controller can be reproduced by applying the brake to the armature and energizing the annature coil to rotate the rotatable yoke to tee position of the armature.

13 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Patented July 4, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet l I I I I I I I I I I I FIG. 2

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ATTORNEY S 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mil/19 1514 2 R m J r 1111 1.. iii 0 w a ii! ll 2 4 II T H 2 L L G r H- l w {ill m m H fi l M 2 W B MAMA- WI wJl+ l e m u e .H n H Patented July 4, 1972 Patented July 4, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.15

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ATTORNEYS PRESE'I'IING DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 161,034 filed Sept. 20, 1968.

More specifically, it relates to a device for memorin'ng and reproducing a combination of positions of a plurality of adjustable conu'ollers. Although the invention can be advantageously applied to a presetting device for an electronic musical instrument which can memorize and reproduce positions of operating means of continuously adjustable controllers for controlling tone colors, coupler tones, degrees of musical effects or the like of the electronic musical instrument, the invention is not limited to such use but may find more broad application.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which can very easily memorize and reproduce a position of a continuously adjustable controller with a very simple mechanism which can be manufactured at low cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of the above character which produces no noise during operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which can very easily memorize and reproduce any combination of positions of operating means of a plurality of continuously adjustable controllers.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for memorin'ng and reproducing a position of adjustment of a continuously adjustable controller, comprising a rotatable yoke of soft magnetic material, for example soft iron, and adapted to rotate on a pivot axis to the position corresponding to the position of adjustment of said adjustable controller, an armature rotatably mounted on said pivot axis in close proximity to said rotatable yoke and having a coil thereon, and a brake adapted to brake the rotation of said armature, whereby the position of the adjustable controller can be memorized by releasing the brake from the armature and energizing the coil of said armature to rotate the armature to the position of said rotatable yoke and the position of the adjustable controller can be reproduced by applya ing the brake to the armature and energizing the coil of said armature to rotate the rotatable yoke to the position of the armature.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for memorizing and reproducing positions of adjustment of continuously adjustable controllers, comprising rotatable yokes of soil magnetic material each associated with each of said adjustable controllers and adapted to rotate on a pivot axis to the position corresponding to the position of adjustment of said adjustable controller, armatures rotatably mounted on said pivot axis in close proximity to said rotatable yoke and having a coil thereon, and a brake adapted to brake the rotation of the armature, whereby the position of any of the adjustable controllers can be memorized by releasing the brake from the corresponding armature and energizing the coil thereof to rotate said armature to the position of the rotatable yoke and can be reproduced by applying the brake to said armature and energizing the coil to rotate the rotatable yoke to the position of the armature.

Now the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the present invention which are embodied in a presetting device for an electronic musical instrument. It will be understood, however, that the invention can be carried out in the form other than the presetting device of the electronic musical instrument.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line Il-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of a presetting system using the devices as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram of a presetting system using the devices as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view ofa third embodiment of the invention; FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 8;

FIG. [0 is an electric circuit diagram of a presetting system usingthedevioesmshown in-FIG. 6-,

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8 showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. I 1;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. ll;

FIG. 14 is an electric circuit diagram of a presetting system usingthe devicesasshown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8 showing a fifth embodiment of die invention; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 which show the first embodiment, 1 is a panel of an electronic musical instrument, 2 are continuously adjustable controllers, i.e. variable resistors, which are arranged on said panel in juxtaposed relationship, 3 is an operating lever of said controller, 4 is a resistance element, 5 is a slide contact, and 6 is a pivot axis on which the continuously adjustable controller is pivotally mounted. The

tones, couplers, musical effects such as vibrato, tremolo and.

the like of the electronic musical instrument can be controlled by adjusting the operating lever 3 of the controller 2. A rotatable yoke 7 of soft magnetic material is fixed to or integral with the operating lever 3 and armatures 8 are rotatably mounted on the pivot axis 6. Each armature 8 has coil 9 thereon and a brake 10 is associated therewith to brake the rotation of the armature. The brake 10 comprises a braking element 12 made of an iron piece which is supported by a leaf spring 11 and resiliently urged against a projection 13 formed on the central portion of the armature. Cooperating teeth are formed on the confronting surfaces of the braking element 12 and the projection 13, and an electromagnet 14 is disposed behind the braking element. The braking element 12 is normally urged against the projection 13 of the armature by the leaf spring II to brake the armature, and when the electromagnet 14 is energized the braking element is attracted toward the electromagnet, thereby releasing the brake from the armature 8. The electromagnet I4 is supported by a plate 15.

FIG. 3 shows an electric diagram of the presetting device according to the present invention, which includes a plurality ofcontrollers TVR,, TVR, ;coils L L,,, L, L L onthearrnaturesofthecontrollersTVR,,TVR,. release coils l 1 1 I l 1,, on electromagnets for releasing the braking elements of the controllers TVR,, 'I'VR a push button switch MB which is adapted to be operated at the time of memorizing; and push button switches C8,, C8,, CB, which are adapted to be operated at the time of both memorizing and reproducing.

In operation, the operating levers of the controllers TVR,, TVR, are adjusted to the desired positions, respectively, and the rotatable yokes are moved to the corresponding positions. Now the push button switch MB is operated and, with the switch MB being kept operated, one of the push button switches CB C8,, CB, is operated. Asuming that the switch CB, is operated, electric current passes through the first series of the coils 1 l of the controllers TVR,, TVR, respectively to attract the braking elements 12 (FIG. 1) to release the brakes from the armatures. At the respectively same time electric current passes through the first series ofthe coils L L ofthecontrollersTVR TVR, to form magnetic paths through the arrnatures B and the rotatable yokes 7, thereby rotating the armatures 8 of the first series to the positions of the rotatable yokes 7, which are held stationary due to frictional resistance existing at the slide contact 5 and the other parts. When the push button switches are released, the braking elements of the brakes are again urged against the respective armatures to brake the rotation thereof. Thus a combination of the positions of the controllers are memorized by the first series of the armatures of the controllers. Other combinations of the positions of the controllers can be memorized by the second, third series of the armatures in the same manner. When it is desired to reproduce the positions memorized by the first series of the armatures, the push button switch CB is operated, without operating the push button switch MB. Then, electric current passes through the coils n n Accordingly the armatures 8 are positively held stationary by the brakes II] while the rotatable yoke 7 are rotated to the positions of the armatures 8, respectively, against the frictional resistance, so that the operating levers of the controllers TVR,, TVR, are moved to the memorized positions. Thus, the positions of the controllers memorized by the first series of the armatures are reproduced. In the same manner the positions memorized by the second, third series of the armatures can be reproduced.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention, which is substantially similar to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the same parts as those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same numerals as in FIG. I. This embodiment employs a braking element 22 made of a permanent magnet which is resiliently urged against a projection 23 formed on the central portion of the arrnatures 8, by means of a spring 21. The projection 23 has a release coil 24 thereon. At the time of memorizing, electric current is passed through said release coil 24 in one direction to produce at the end of said projec tion 23 a magnetic pole of same polarity as that of the confronting surface of the braking element 22 to repulse said element, thereby releasing the brake from the armature. At the time of reproducing, electric current is passed through said coil 24 in the opposite direction to produce at the end of said projection 23 a magnetic pole of opposite polarity to that appearing at the surface of the element 22 to attract the permanent magnetic element, thereby applying the brake on the armature.

FIG. 5 shows an electric circuit diagram of the presetting device according to the second embodiment, which includes a switch MB adapted to reverse the direction of the electric current, passing through the circuit. At the time of memorizing, the switch MB is operated to reverse the direction of the electric current and then one of the switches C8,, C8,, CB, is operated. Now assuming that the switch CI? is operated, electric current passes through the first series of the armature coils L L and the release coils 1 1 ofthe controllers TVR,, TVR producing at the end of the projections 23 (FIG. 4) a magnetic pole having the same polarity as that of the confronting surfaces of the braking elements 22, thus repulsing the braking elements so as to allow the free rotation of the armatures. Then the magnetic circuits produced by the electric current passing through the coils L,,, L act to rotate the armatures 8 to the position of the rotatable yokes 7. By releasing the switches, the projections 23 of the arrnatures are demagnetized and, consequently, the braking elements 22 are urged against the corresponding projections 23, so that the arrnatures 8 are fixed or memorized. When it is desired to reproduce the memorized positions, any of the switches C8,, CB is operated, without operating the switch MB. Asuming that the switch CB, is operated, electric current passes through the coils in the opposite direction and produces at the end of the projections 23 (FIG. 4) a magnetic pole having the opposite polarity to that of the confronting surfaces of the braking elements made of permanent magnet 22. Accordingly the braking elements are more strongly urged against the projections of the annatures, which are prevented from rotating about the pivot axis, so that the rotatable yoltes are rotated to the position of the arr-natures and the operating levers of the controller are moved to the memorized positions, respectively,

FIGS. 6 through 9 show a third embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 10 shows an electric circuit diagram. In

. but does not pass through the coils I 1,,

this embodiment each of continuously adjustable controllers is formed as a variable resistor having a click-stop. In the drawings, 31 is an operating lever, 32 is a slide contact, 33 is a supporting arm of the slide contact, 34 is a resistance element and 35 is a click-stop made of corrugated spring plate. A pivot shaft 36 of the operating lever 31 has a bevel gear 37, which meshes with a bevel gear 38 fixed on an end of a rotary shah 39, on which a rotatable yoke 40 of magnetic material is fixed and armatures 4! are rotatably mounted. Each of the armatures has coils 42 thereon and a brake 43 is associated with each armature. The brake 43 comprises a leaf spring 44, and a movable element 45 made of a permanent magnet resiliently urged toward the armature by said leaf spring, said element 45 having a laterally projecting pin 46 which is adapted to engage with teeth formed at the marginal edge of a braking plate 47 fixed on the side of the central portion of the armature to brake the rotation of the armature. When memoriang, electric current is passed through two arrnatures disposed at the opposite sides of the rotary shafl 39, in the opposite directions, thereby forming magnetic circuits as shown by dash-and-dot lines 48 in FIG. 8, which produce a magnetic pole at the central portion of the armature. The magnetic pole acts to repulse the permanent magnet 45 away from the armature, thus disengaging the pin 46 from the teeth of the braking plate 47 to allow the free rotation of the armature. The magnetic circuits also act to rotate the armature to the position of the rotatable yoke 40. When the coil is deenergized, the pin 46 of the braking element engages the braking plate 47 to fix the armature in this position. When it is desired to reproduce the memorized position, electrical current is passed throughout the armature in one direction to produce a magnetic circuit as shown by a broken line 49 in FIG. 8. No magnetic pole appears at the central portion of the armature so that the brake is not released. The magnetic circuit thus fon'ned acts to rotate the rotatable yoke 40 to the position of the armature 41. The rotation of the rotatable yoke is transmitted through the rotary shaft 39,

bevel gears

38 and 37, pivot shaft 36 to the variable resistor, which is moved to the memorized position.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 through 9 also includes a click-stop releasing device to reduce the necessary torque for rotating the rotatable yoke 40. The click-stop releasing device comprises a movable base plate 50 on which are supported the click-stop 35 and the resistance element 34, and an electromagnet 51 which is adapted to attract said base plate downward. At the time of reproducing, the armature coils 42 are energized and simultaneously the magnet 51 is energized to move the base plate downward, thus moving the clickstop 35 away from engagement with a detent 52 supported below the rotary supporting arm. The detent 52 resiliently biased downward by the spring support but does not follow the downward movement of the click-stop 35 since a stopper 53 restricts the downward movement of the detent 52. Accordingly, the operating lever 31 is relieved of the resistance owing to the click-stop 35 and it can lightly rotate. Thus, the rotatable yoke 40 can freely rotate at the time of reproducing.

In such a construction the resistance element 34 is also lowered by the downward movement of the base plate 50, so that the resistance element tends to move out of contact with the slide contact 32. In order to hold the slide contact 32 in contact with the resistance element 34, the supporting arm 33 is constructed of two springs 33' and 33", the spring 33' being weak and having larger curvature and the spring 33" being strong and having smaller curvature, and the contact 32 is car ried by the weak spring 33', which is backed up by the strong spring 33 The contact 32 is normally urged into contact with the surface of the resistance element 34 with strong force by both springs 33' and 33", but when the base plate 50 is lowered the weak spring 33' flexes so as to follow the downward movement of the base plate to hold the contact of the contact 32 and resistance element 34, thereby preventing the sound from being interrupted at the time of release of the click-stop. FIG. 10 is an electric circuit diagram which includes a plurality of variable resistors TVR,, TVR, a plurality of pairs of armature coils L,,,, L,,,, L,,,, L L and L L L L L L. of the variable resistors TVR,, TVR release coils 1,, l, of the click-stop releasing electromagnets of the variable resistors TVR,, TVR, a push button switch MB; and push button switches C8,, CB,, CB, At the time of memorizing, the switch MB is operated and then the desired one of the switches C8,, C8,, CB, for example the switch Cl? of the first series, is operated. Electric current passes through the pairs of the coils of the armatures L and L l and L in the opposite directions, without passing through the

coil

1,, 1 forming magnetic circuits as shown by dash-anddot lines 48 in FIG. 8. At the time of reproducing, the switch MB is not operated and the switch CB is operated, so that electric current passes through the coils l 1, which energize the click-stop releasing electromagnets to release the click-stops and electric current also passes through the armature coils L, and L L and L, in one direction to produce magnetic circuit as shown by broken line 49 in FIG. 8.

FIGS. ll through 13 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14 shows an electric circuit thereof. This embodiment is substantially similar to that shown in FIGS. 6 through 9, except that an armature cornprises symmetrically arranged four

cores

60, 61, 62 and 63, and that a brake comprises a braking element 65 made of an iron piece supported by a leaf spring 64 and a braking plate 66 projecting from the side of the central portion of the armature, said braking plate having a pin 67 adapted to engage with teeth formed on said braking element, whereby the brake can be released by attracting the braking element 65 toward the central portion of the armature. FIG. 14 is an electric circuit diagram used in this embodiment, which includes a plurality of variable resistors TVR,, TVR, ;first, second series of four armature coils L,,,, L,,,, L L, and L L L,,,, L

L211, L212 L213 L214 and ab L222, 423- L214 oft-he vari' able resistors TVR,, TVR, (L L L L being associated with core 60, L,,,, L,, L L being associated with core 61, L L l L being associated with core 62, L L L L being associated with core 63 in FIG. 13); coils of the click-stop releasing electromagnets l 1, ofTVR TVR,. ;apush button switch MB; and push button switches CB CB,

When the switch MB and the switch CB are operated, electric current does not pass through the

coils

1,, 1 but through the armature coils from the junctions of the coils L, and L,,,, L, and L toward the opposite ends in the opposite directions and then from the opposite ends of the coils L and L L, and toward theirjunctions in the op osite directions. Accordingly, a magnetic circuit is formed through the four

cores

60, 61, 62 and 63 as shown by broken line 68 in FIG. 13 so that a magnetic pole appears at the side of the central portion of the armature, which acts to attract the braking element 65 to release the brake. The armature is rotated to the position of the rotatable yoke 69 by the action of the magnetic circuit passing through the both ends of the armature, and then fixed by the brake so as to memorize the adjusted position. When the switch CB, is operated, without operating the switch MB in FIG. 14, electric current passes through the coils 1,, l, to actuate the click-stop releasing device and also passes through the armature coils L, L,,,, L and L L L L and L, in the same direction to produce a magnetic current passing throughout the annature, thereby rotating the rotatable yoke 69 to the position of the armature to reproduce the memorized position. At this time no magnetic pole appears at the central portion of the armature, so that the brake is not released.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a fifth embodiment of the invention, which is substantially similar to that shown in FIGS. 11 through 13, except that a brake consists of a braking element 70 of a permanent magnet supported by a spring and is adapted to be released from the armature by the repulsive force due to the magnetic pole produced at the central portion of the armature. In this embodiment two pairs of

cores

71, 72,

73 and 74 of an armature are connected together at their opposite ends by bridge members of soft

magnetic material

75 and 76. At the time of memorizing, two magnetic circuits are formed through the core 71, the bridge member 75, the core 73 and through the core 72, the bridge member 76, and the core 74. The brake is released by the action of the magnetic field appearing at the central portion of the armature, while the armature is rotated to the position of the rotatable yoke 77 by the action of the magnetic leak flux appearing at the

bridge members

75 and 76. The magnetic leak flux can be controlled by varying the cross sectional area of the bridge members 75' and 76, and consequently, the ratio of the brake releasing force and the armature rotating force can be determined by the selection of said bridge sectional area.

it will be understood from the above description that the device according to the present invention can very easily and effectively memorize and reproduce any position of a continuously adjustable controller with a very simple construction. This device produces no noise since it employs magnetic means without mechanical contact for memorizing and reproducing purpose. By employing a plurality of armatures it can memorize and reproduce a plurality of positions, and the number of positions can be increased or decreased as desired by changing the number of armatures. When a plurality of controllers, each including a plurality of armatures, are used, the device according to the invention can memorize and reproduce a plurality of combinations of positions of the controllers. This device can be advantageously employed in a presetting device for an electronic musical instrument, to memorize and reproduce positions of operating levers of continuously adjustable controllers for controlling tones, couplers, musical effects and the like of the electronic musical instrument. The position of the operating lever on a panel of the electronic musical instrument can be easily memorized by a simple means, such as a push button switch and also, combinations of positions of the operating levers can be memorized and reproduced by simple operation of the push button switches. When the positions of the controllers are reproduced the operating levers are moved to their respective memorized positions, so that the operator can confinn the ad justed positions of the controllers and, if necessary, he can change the adjustment of position or positions by further manipulating the operating lever or levers.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for memorizing and reproducing a position of adjustment of a continuously adjustable controller, comprismg:

a yoke of magnetic material rotatably mounted on a pivot axis and movable to a position in correspondence with a position ofadjustment of said controller;

an armature rotatably mounted on said pivot axis and having a coil disposed thereon, said armature being magnetically engageable with said yoke;

energizing means for selectively energizing said coil;

brake means engaging said armature to brake the rotation of said armature; and

releasing means for selectively releasing said brake means from engagement with said armature;

wherein, when said releasing means engages said brake means to release said brake means from engagement with said armature and said energizing means energizes said coil, said armature is rotated to said position in correspondence with said position of adjustment of said controller, and

wherein, when said brake means engages said armature to brake the rotation thereof and said energizing means energizes said coil, said yoke is rotated to a position in correspondence with said armature.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brake means comprises a magnetizable braking element resiliently urged into engagement with the central portion of the armature, and said releasing means comprises an electromagnet disposed adjacent said braking element to selectively attract said braking element and release said braking element from engagement with the armature.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brake means comprises a braking element of permanent magnetic material resiliently urged into engagement with the central portion of the armature, and said releasing means comprises a release coil supported on said armature to repulse said braking element and release the brake means from engagement with the armature.

4. Apparatus according to claim I, wherein the continuously adjustable controller has a click-stop and further comprising a click-stop releasing electromagnet, to release said click-stop from the controller.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the brake means comprises a braking element of permanent magnetic material resiliently urged into engagement with the central portion of the armature, said armature having a plurality of coils disposed thereon, wherein when electric current is passed in opposite directions through said coils a magnetic pole is produced at the central portion of the armature to repulse said braking element to release said element from the armature and when electric current is passed in the same direction through said coils no magnetic pole is produced at the central portion of the armature, said braking element being held in engagement with said armature.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the brake means comprises a magnetizable braking element resiliently urged into engagement wiflr a braking plate fixed to the central portion of the armature, said armature having a plurality of coils disposed thereon, wherein when electric current is passed through said coils in opposite directions a magnetic field is produced at the central portion of the armature to attract said braking element from engagement with said braking plate and when electric current is passed through said coils in the same direction no magnetic field is produced at the central portion of the annature wherein said braking element is held in engagement with said braking plate.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the armature has two adjacent pairs of opposed coils disposed thereon, wherein when electric current is passed in the opposite direction through every two adjacent coils and in the opposite directions through every two opposed coiis the magnetic field is produced at the central portion of the armature and when electric current is passed in the same direction through all of the coils no magnetic field is produced at the central portion of the armature 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the armature has two adjacent pairs of opposed coils, every two adjacent coils having cores which are connected together at their ends by a bridge member of magnetic material.

9. Apparatus for memorizing and reproducing positions of adjustment of a plurality of continuously adjustable controllers for an electronic musical instrument, comprising:

a plurality of yokes of magnetic material, each associated with one of said controllers, each rotatably mounted on a pivot axis of the corresponding controller and movable in correspondence with a position of adjustment of said corresponding controller;

a plurality of armatures magnetically engagable with a corresponding yoke rotatably mounted on each said pivot axis and having armature coils disposed thereon, said armatures forming a plurality of series of arrnatures, each series including the armatures engagable with a respective yoke;

energizing means for selectively engaging one of said series of armatures;

brake means engaging each of said armatures for braking the rotation thereof; and

releasing means for releasing each of said brake means from engagement with said annatures.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, comprising an electric current supplying source, a memorizing switch and a plurality of memorizing and re roducin switches, wherein the respective controllers mclu e a plur ity of armature coils and a plurality of brake releasing coils, the corresponding ones of said armature coils being connected to said source through the memorizing switch and one of the memorizing and reproducing switches and the corresponding ones of the break releasing switches being connected to said source through one of the memorizing and reproducing switches.

ll. Apparatus according to claim 9, comprising an electric current supplying source, memorizing switch means to reverse the direction of electric current supplied from said source, and a plurality of memorizing and reproducing switches, wherein the respective controllers include a plurality of armature coils and a plurality of brake releasing coils, corresponding ones of the armature coils and the brake releasing coils being connected to said source through the memorizing switch means and one of the memorizing and reproducing switches.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9, comprising an electric current supplying source, a memorizing switch and a plurality of memorizing and reproducing switches, wherein the respec tive controllers include a plurality of pairs of armature coils and a plurality of brake releasing coils, corresponding pairs of the armature coils and corresponding ones of the brake releasing coils being connected to said source through the memorizing switch and one of the memorizing and reproducing switches, the junctions of the pairs of the armature coils being connected to the source through one of the memorizing and reproducing switches.

13. Apparatus for memorizing and reproducing a position of an adjustable controller having operating lever means for adjusting said controller, comprising: a rotatable yoke made of magnetic material rotatable on a pivot axis, means mechanically connecting said operating lever with said rotatable yoke, an armature member rotatably mounted on said pivot axis in close proximity to said rotatable yoke, said armature member having a coil disposed thereon in magnetic cooperation with said rotatable yoke, brake means for engaging said armature member for stopping said armature member, and means for actuating said brake means into engagement with and deac tuating said brake means out of engagement with said armature member.

Claims

1. Apparatus for memorizing and reproducing a position of adjustment of a continuously adjustable controller, comprising: a yoke of magnetic material rotatably mounted on a pivot axis and movable to a position in correspondence with a position of adjustment of said controller; an armature rotatably mounted on said pivot axis and having a coil disposed thereon, said armature being magnetically engageable with said yoke; energizing means for selectively energizing said coil; brake means engaging said armature to brake the rotation of said armature; and releasing means for selectively releasing said brake means from engagement with said armature; wherein, when said releasing means engages said brake means to release said brake means from engagement with said armature and said energizing means energizes said coil, said armature is rotated to said position in correspondence with said position of adjustment of said controller, and wherein, when said brake means engages said armature to brake the rotation thereof and said energizing means energizes said coil, said yoke is rotated to a position in correspondence with said armature.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the continuously adjustable controller has a click-stop and further comprising a click-stop releasing electromagnet, to release said click-stop from the controller.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the brake means comprises a magnetizable braking element resiliently urged into engagement with a braking plate fixed to the central portion of the armature, said armature having a plurality of coils disposed thereon, wherein when electric current is passed through said coils in opposite directions a magnetic field is produced at the central portion of the armature to attract said braking element from engagement with said braking plate and when electric current is passed through said coils in the same direction no magnetic field is produced at the central portion of the armature wherein said braking element is held in engagement with said braking plate.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the armature has two adjacent pairs of opposed coils disposed thereon, wherein when electric current is passed in the opposite direction through every two adjacent coils and in the opposite directions through every two opposed coils the magnetic field is produced at the central portion of the armature and when electric current is passed in the same direction through all of the coils no magnetic field is produced at the central portion of the armature.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the armature has two adjacent pairs of opposed coils, every two adjacent coils having cores which are connected together at their ends by a bridge member of magnetic material.

9. Apparatus for memorizing and reproducing positions of adjustment of a plurality of continuously adjustable controllers for an electronic musical instrument, comprising: a plurality of yokes of magnetic material, each associated with one of said controllers, each rotatably mounted on a pivot axis of the corresponding controller and movable in correspondence with a position of adjustment of said corresponding controller; a plurality of armatures magnetically engagable with a corresponding yoke rotatably mounted on each said pivot axis and having armature coils disposed thereon, said armatures forming a plurality of series of armatures, each series including the armatures engagable with a respective yoke; energizing means for selectively engaging one of said series of armatures; brake means engaging each of said armatures for braking the rotation thereof; and releasing means for releasing each of said brake means from engagement with said armatures.

10. ApparatUs according to claim 9, comprising an electric current supplying source, a memorizing switch and a plurality of memorizing and reproducing switches, wherein the respective controllers include a plurality of armature coils and a plurality of brake releasing coils, the corresponding ones of said armature coils being connected to said source through the memorizing switch and one of the memorizing and reproducing switches and the corresponding ones of the break releasing switches being connected to said source through one of the memorizing and reproducing switches.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9, comprising an electric current supplying source, memorizing switch means to reverse the direction of electric current supplied from said source, and a plurality of memorizing and reproducing switches, wherein the respective controllers include a plurality of armature coils and a plurality of brake releasing coils, corresponding ones of the armature coils and the brake releasing coils being connected to said source through the memorizing switch means and one of the memorizing and reproducing switches.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9, comprising an electric current supplying source, a memorizing switch and a plurality of memorizing and reproducing switches, wherein the respective controllers include a plurality of pairs of armature coils and a plurality of brake releasing coils, corresponding pairs of the armature coils and corresponding ones of the brake releasing coils being connected to said source through the memorizing switch and one of the memorizing and reproducing switches, the junctions of the pairs of the armature coils being connected to the source through one of the memorizing and reproducing switches.

13. Apparatus for memorizing and reproducing a position of an adjustable controller having operating lever means for adjusting said controller, comprising: a rotatable yoke made of magnetic material rotatable on a pivot axis, means mechanically connecting said operating lever with said rotatable yoke, an armature member rotatably mounted on said pivot axis in close proximity to said rotatable yoke, said armature member having a coil disposed thereon in magnetic cooperation with said rotatable yoke, brake means for engaging said armature member for stopping said armature member, and means for actuating said brake means into engagement with and deactuating said brake means out of engagement with said armature member.