JP2009109601A - Keyboard apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard apparatus for obtaining improved space factor by efficiently arranging the weights and guidance mechanisms. <P>SOLUTION: A key side guide section is provided in the weight 50 fixed, under a key operation face of a white key 10, in a keyboard device 100 in which horizontal motion of the white key 10 is restricted, as a frame side guide section 40 is in slide contact with a key side guide section. Each of the weights 50 has the same shape, while its specific gravity is different by each key region. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyboard device, and more particularly, to a keyboard device including a weight fixed to a key for improving a touch feeling and a guide mechanism for restricting movement of the key in the left-right direction.

In general, lead having a high specific gravity has been used as the weight. In recent years, the use of lead has been banned for environmental reasons, but the fact is that there is no cheap and high specific gravity material to replace lead. Therefore, in order to realize a mass equivalent to lead as an alternative, the volume is increased and a larger mounting space is required. On the other hand, the key appearance dimension of the keyboard device is determined in advance, and the mounting space is naturally determined accordingly. Both the weight and the guide mechanism are desirably arranged near the front end of the key, and efficient arrangement of both is required. However, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, in the conventional keyboard device, the weight and the guide mechanism are provided separately and are arranged separately, so that the space was not effectively used. There was a problem.
Japanese Patent No. 2959495

  Therefore, the present invention focuses on the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device that improves the space factor by efficiently arranging weights and guide mechanisms.

  The invention according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the above-described problem, is a keyboard device in which the movement of the key in the left-right direction is restricted by the sliding contact between the frame side guide portion and the key side guide portion. A key side guide part is provided on a weight fixed to the lower part of the surface.

  The invention according to claim 2 is provided such that each of the plurality of weights fixed to each key has a different mass for each key range.

  The invention according to claim 3 is provided such that each of the plurality of weights fixed to each key is provided in the same shape and has a different specific gravity for each key range.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the weight is provided with a concave adhesive reservoir.

  In the invention described in claim 5, the weight is provided by being fixed in the key of the resin molded product by insert molding.

  In the invention described in claim 6, the weight is formed of a resin molded product.

  In the invention according to claim 7, the weight is formed of a die-cast product.

  In the invention according to claim 8, the weight is provided by insert-molding a member having a specific gravity higher than that of the resin.

  In the invention according to claim 9, the weight is molded from a mixed material of a powder high specific gravity material having a specific gravity higher than that of the resin and the resin.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the weight fixed to the white key is fixed to a wide portion of the white key positioned in front of the front end of the black key.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the weight and the mass body are provided so that the weight of the weight acting on the key and the weight of the mass body cancel each other when the key rotates.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the weight function and the guide function are realized by common parts by providing the key side guide portion on the weight fixed to the lower part of the key operation surface of the key. Therefore, both the space factor and the touch feeling can be improved.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the touch feeling can be made different for each key range, and the touch feeling of a natural musical instrument can be brought close to.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, by making the plurality of weights having different masses into the same shape, precise quality control of the weight can be performed in the manufacturing process and the inspection process.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since excess adhesive accumulates in the adhesive reservoir and does not protrude outside, stable adhesiveness can be realized and quality can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 5, the weight can be easily fixed to the key without using an adhesive.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, even a complicated shape can be formed at low cost, and mass productivity and quality can be improved.

  According to invention of Claim 7, in addition to mass-productivity, mass can be ensured with a small volume. In addition, a high degree of smoothness, which is a necessary element for the key side guide portion, can be secured, and friction generated between the key side guide portion provided on the weight and the frame side guide portion when the key is pressed can be reduced. it can.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the shape required as the key side guide portion can be formed of the resin with respect to a member having a large specific gravity but difficult to process with a complicated shape, the high specific gravity and the key side guide can be formed. It is possible to ensure both the shape accuracy of the part.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, it is possible to achieve mass productivity and high specific gravity while ensuring the uniformity of the mass distribution of the weight.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the wide part of the white key is farthest from the key rotation fulcrum and gains moment, a larger inertia force can be added to the key. Further, since the wide portion of the white key can have a large volume, the weight can be increased by increasing the volume of the weight. Further, since the wide part of the white key has the same shape regardless of the pitch name, it is easy to unify the weights.

  According to the invention of the eleventh aspect, it is possible to improve the key touch feeling.

First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a keyboard device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the white key 10 and the black key 11 shown in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. In the following description, “up / down / left / right / front / back” of the keyboard device 100 means “up / down / left / right / front / back” in an upright state viewed from the performer side during performance.

  The keyboard device 100 is used for an electronic keyboard instrument, for example. As shown in the figure, the keyboard device 100 includes a plurality of white keys 10 and black keys 11 as keys, a frame 20, a lower limit that restricts a lower limit and an upper limit of a rotation range of the white key 10 and the black key 11, respectively. A stopper 30 and an upper limit stopper 31, frame side guide portions 40 and 41, and weights 50 and 51 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the white key 10 and the black key 11 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. The frame 20 is provided, for example, in a plate shape or a box shape having an opening on the bottom, and the key pressing speed of the white key 10 and the black key 11 is below the white key 10 and the black key 11 or inside the frame 20. A speed sensor 60 and the like are detected.

  On the upper surface of the frame 20, a key support portion 21 that supports the rear ends of the white key 10 and the black key 11 is provided so that the white key 10 and the black key 11 can be rotated in the vertical direction. The white key 10 and the black key 11 are pivotally supported by the key support portion 21 and rotate around the fulcrum C1.

  The lower limit stopper 30 and the upper limit stopper 31 are stoppers that come into contact with the white key 10 and the black key 11 and restrict the rotation range of the white key 10 and the black key 11. The lower limit stopper 30 is fixed to the upper side of the upper surface of the frame 20. When the performer presses the white key 10 and the black key 11, the white key 10 and the black key 11 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. When the lower limit stopper 30 comes into contact with each other, a push-off state is established. On the other hand, the upper limit stopper 31 is fixed to the lower side of the upper surface of the frame 20. When the performer stops the key pressing operation, the white key 10 and the black key 11 rotate clockwise in FIG. 1 with the fulcrum C1 as the rotation center, and the contact portion 12 of the white key 10 and the black key 11 When the upper limit stopper 31 comes into contact, the initial position is reached.

  Each of the frame side guide portions 40 is provided in a prismatic shape extending in the vertical direction, and is fixed to the upper surface of the frame 20 so as to protrude toward the white key 10. Each of the frame-side guide portions 41 is provided in a prismatic shape extending in the vertical direction, and is fixed to the upper surface of the frame 20 so as to protrude toward the black key 11. The frame-side guide portion 41 is provided with a sliding contact groove 42 along the vertical direction on the rear surface.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the weight 50 is fixed to the lower part of the key operation surface 13 of the white key 10. The weight 50 is sandwiched between a pair of left and right side surfaces 14 protruding toward the frame 20 from the left and right edges of the key operation surface 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the weight 50 is provided with a sliding contact groove 52 as a key side guide portion provided along the vertical direction. The slidable contact groove 52 is slidably contacted with the frame side guide portion 40 so as to be movable in the vertical direction and restricts the movement of the white key 10 in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the weight 51 is fixed to the lower portion of the key operation surface 13 of the black key 11. The weight 51 is sandwiched between a pair of left and right side surfaces 14 protruding toward the frame 20 from the left and right edges of the key operation surface 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the weight 51 is provided with a sliding contact portion 53 as a key side guide portion provided along the vertical direction. The slidable contact projection 53 is slidably contacted with the slidable contact groove 42 of the frame side guide portion 41 to restrict the movement of the black key 11 in the left-right direction.

  According to the frame side guide portions 40 and 41 and the weights 50 and 51 described above, when the performer performs the key release operation of the white key 10, the sliding contact groove 52 of the weight 50 fixed to the white key 10 is the frame side guide. Guided in the vertical direction along the portion 40. At this time, since the left and right direction of the sliding contact groove 52 is regulated by the frame side guide portion 40, the white key 10 is guided straight in the up and down direction without swinging in the left and right direction. Similarly, when the performer performs the key release operation of the black key 11, the sliding contact portion 53 of the weight 51 fixed to the black key 11 extends in the vertical direction along the sliding contact groove 42 of the frame side guide portion 41. Guided. At this time, since the left and right direction of the sliding contact projection 53 is restricted by the sliding contact groove 42, the black key 11 is guided straight up and down without swinging in the left and right direction.

  According to the keyboard device 100 described above, by providing the key side guide portions that are in sliding contact with the frame side guide portions 40 and 41 on the weights 50 and 51 fixed to the lower portions of the key operation surfaces 13 of the white key 10 and the black key 11. The weight function and the guide function can be realized by a common component. For this reason, even if lead with high specific gravity cannot be used as the weights 50 and 51, both the space factor and the touch feeling can be improved.

  The plurality of weights 50 are provided in the same shape. Similarly, the plurality of weights 51 are also provided in the same shape. Further, the keyboard device 100 is divided into a plurality of key ranges A1 to A3 as shown in FIG. 4, and the weights 50 and 51 are provided so that the specific gravity is lighter as the key ranges A1 to A3 are higher in pitch. . That is, the weights 50 and 51 can be provided so that the masses of the weights A1 to A3 are increased. Therefore, since the inertial force generated in the white key 10 and the black key 11 when the key is pressed can be reduced as the key ranges A1 to A3 become higher, a touch feeling close to that of a natural musical instrument can be obtained.

  Further, the frame side guide portions 40 and 41 and the weights 50 and 51 cause mechanical noise due to slight deviations in dimensions, or cause a key stick phenomenon (a phenomenon in which the white key 10 and the black key 11 do not move smoothly). End up. That is, the dimensions of the frame-side guide portions 40 and 41 and the weights 50 and 51 are the most precise portions related to quality in the keyboard device 100. For example, if the production facility is a mold, the variation among the plurality of molds is reduced by using a common discharge electrode as much as possible under the same conditions. In addition, if the products are taken from the same mold as much as possible, the variation in dimensions when arranged as a whole is reduced, and the occurrence of mechanical noise and key stick phenomenon can be prevented. Also, in terms of product inspection, an object having the same shape can be measured with the same measuring instrument without changing the setting, and the measurement accuracy and inspection level can be improved. Therefore, by providing each of the weights 50 in the same shape and each of the weights 51 in the same shape as described above, it is possible to precisely control the weights 50 and 51 in the manufacturing process and the inspection process.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the weights 50 and 51 are formed by applying an adhesive 70 to the lower part of the key operation surface 13 of the white key 10 and the black key 11, and applying the adhesive 70 to the white key 10 and the black key 11. It is fixed. If the application amount of the adhesive 70 is too large, the adhesive 70 protrudes to the outside. On the other hand, if the coating amount is too small, the adhesive strength cannot be obtained. For this reason, it was very difficult to adjust the application amount of the adhesive 70. Therefore, in this embodiment, the weights 50 and 51 are provided with the concave adhesive reservoir 54. As a result, even if a large amount of the adhesive 70 is applied, the excess adhesive 70 accumulates in the adhesive reservoir 54 and does not protrude outside, so that stable adhesion can be realized and quality can be improved.

  Further, as the weights 50 and 51, resin molded products, die cast products, and the like are conceivable. For example, if the weights 50 and 51 are provided with resin moldings such as ABS and PPS, even complicated shapes can be formed at low cost, and mass productivity and quality can be improved. However, it is difficult to secure the mass of the resin molded product because the specific gravity is about 1 for ABS and the specific gravity is only about 2 for PPS. On the other hand, if the weights 50 and 51 are provided by die-cast products, mass can be secured with a small capacity in addition to mass productivity. Magnesium, aluminum, especially zinc die-casting can ensure a high level of smoothness (mirror finish), which is a necessary element for the guide function, and the weights 50 and 51 and the frame side guide part 40, It is possible to reduce friction generated between the motor 41 and the motor 41.

  Further, as the weights 50 and 51, as shown in FIG. 5, a member 55 having a specific gravity higher than that of resin such as iron may be formed by insert molding on the resin 56. According to this, for the member 55 having a large specific gravity but difficult to process with a complicated shape, the shape required as the key side guide portion can be formed with the resin 56, so that the weights 50 and 51 have a high specific gravity and a key. It is possible to ensure both the shape accuracy as the side guide portion.

  It is also possible to mold the weights 50 and 51 with a mixed material of a powder high specific gravity material having a specific gravity higher than that of the resin and the resin. According to this, mass productivity and high specific gravity can be realized while ensuring the uniformity of the mass distribution of the weights 50 and 51. Further, the mass can be set to some extent by the mixing ratio of the powder high specific gravity material. In general, nylon is used as the resin, and metal powder such as tungsten is used as the powder high specific gravity material. However, since the above nylon absorbs water and the quality is not stable, it is desirable to use ABS as a resin for precision parts such as the key side guide. The powder high specific gravity material may be determined by compatibility with a resin such as molybdenum, molybdenum disulfide, iron oxide, zircon oxide, or zinc oxide. In addition, if specific gravity is high, it is not necessary to use metal powder as a powder high specific gravity material, For example, glass fiber etc. may be sufficient.

Second Embodiment Next, a keyboard device 100 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this figure, the same parts as those of the keyboard device 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 already described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The second embodiment differs greatly from the first embodiment in the fixed position and shape of the weight 50 fixed to the white key 10. In the first embodiment, the weight 50 is fixed to the narrow portion 15 of the white key 10 located behind the front end of the black key 11. However, in the second embodiment, the weight 50 is more than the front end of the black key 11. Is also fixed to the wide portion 16 of the white key 10 located on the front side. Since the wide portion 16 of the white key 10 is farthest from the fulcrum C1 and gains moment, a larger inertia force can be added to the key. As is clear from FIG. 7, the width of the wide portion 16 in the left-right direction is wider than that of the narrow portion 15. Since this wide volume can be obtained, the mass of the weight 50 can be increased to increase the mass. Further, the narrow portion 15 sandwiched between the black key 11 and the black key 11 is narrower in the left-right direction than the narrow portion 15 sandwiched between the black key 11 and the white key 10. That is, the width in the left-right direction of the narrow portion 15 varies depending on the pitch name. On the other hand, since the width of the wide portion 16 in the left-right direction is the same regardless of the pitch name, the shape of the weight 50 can be easily unified.

  Further, the weight 50 is provided with a sliding contact recess 57 as a key side guide portion that is in sliding contact with the frame side guide portion 40. When the performer performs a key release operation of the white key 10, the sliding contact recess 57 of the weight 50 fixed to the white key 10 is guided in the vertical direction along the frame side guide portion 40. At this time, since the horizontal direction of the sliding contact recess 57 is regulated by the frame side guide portion 40, the white key 10 is guided straight in the vertical direction without swinging in the horizontal direction.

Third Embodiment Next, a keyboard device 100 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the same parts as those of the keyboard apparatus 100 of FIGS. 1 to 7 already described in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The third embodiment is greatly different from the first and second embodiments in that a mass body 80 is provided. The mass body 80 is provided on the lower side of the upper surface of the frame 20, extending in the front-rear direction, a weight portion 82 provided on the rear side of the arm portion 81, and on the front side of the arm portion 81. And an operating unit 83. The arm portion 81 is pivotally supported about the fulcrum C2 by the mass body support portion 22 protruding from the frame 20.

  Further, the front end of the operating portion 83 is formed to be divided into two parts in the vertical direction, and a connecting plate 17A provided at the lower portion of the operating portion 17 protruding downward from the white key 10 and the black key 11 is the operating portion 83. It is connected to. The lower limit stopper 30 and the upper limit stopper 31 that restrict the lower limit and the upper limit of the rotation range of the mass body 80 are provided so as to contact the weight portion 82 of the mass body 80. As a result, when the performer depresses the white key 10 and the black key 11, the action part 17 pushes down the actuating part 83, and the mass body 80 rotates clockwise in FIG. When the body 80 and the lower limit stopper 30 come into contact with each other, a push-off state is established. On the other hand, when the player stops the operation, the mass body 80 rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 with the fulcrum C2 as the center of rotation, and when the mass body 80 and the upper limit stopper 31 come into contact, the initial position is reached.

  According to the above-described configuration, the weight F1 of the weights 50 and 51 and the weight F2 of the mass 80 acting on the front side of the fulcrum C1 of the white key 10 and the black key 11 when the white key 10 and the black key 11 are rotated are mutually connected. Weights 50 and 51 and mass body 80 are provided so as to cancel each other. Thereby, the key touch feeling can be improved.

  Further, according to the third embodiment described above, the fulcrum C2 of the mass body 80 is provided in front of the fulcrum C1 of the white key 10 and the black key 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the fulcrum C2 of the mass body 80 may be provided behind the fulcrum C1 of the white key 10. In this case, the weight F2 of the mass body 80 acting on the rear side of the fulcrum C1 of the white key 10 when the white key 10 is rotated works downward as indicated by a solid line. Therefore, since the weight F2 of the mass body 80 works upward in front of the fulcrum C1 of the white key 10 as indicated by the dotted line, the weight 50 acting forward of the fulcrum C1 of the white key 10 when the white key 10 rotates. The weight 50 and the mass body 80 can be provided so that the own weight F1 and the own weight F2 (dotted line) of the mass body 80 cancel each other.

  Further, according to the first to third embodiments described above, the weight 50 fixed to the white key 10 and the weight 51 fixed to the black key 11 are provided in different shapes, but the present invention is limited to this. It is not a thing. For example, the weight 50 fixed to the white key 10 and the weight 51 fixed to the black key 11 may be provided in the same shape.

  Further, according to the first to third embodiments described above, by providing the weights 50 and 51 so that the specific gravity is different for each of the key ranges A1 to A3, the mass is provided for each of the key ranges A1 to A3 even if they are provided in the same shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is also conceivable to change the mass of each of the key ranges A1 to A3 by changing the size of the weights 50 and 51.

  Further, according to the first to third embodiments described above, the weights 50 and 51 are fixed to the white key 10 and the black key 11 by the adhesive 70, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is conceivable that the white key 10 and the black key 11 are made of a resin-formed product, and the weights 50 and 51 are fixedly provided in the white key 10 and the black key 11 by insert molding. According to this, the weights 50 and 51 can be easily fixed to the white key 10 and the black key 11 without using the adhesive 70.

  Further, according to the first to third embodiments described above, the frame side guide portion 41 is provided so as to protrude in the direction toward the upper surfaces of the white key 10 and the black key 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. The frame-side guide portion 41 only needs to be provided so as to face the inner walls of the white key 10 and the black key 11, and for example, protrudes forward, backward, and downward of the white key 10 and the black key 11. May be provided.

  Further, the above-described embodiments are merely representative forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the keyboard apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is a partial top view of the white key and black key shown in FIG. It is the II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a top view of a white key and a black key shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the weight in other embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the keyboard apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 7 is a partial top view of the white key and the black key shown in FIG. 6. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the keyboard apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the keyboard apparatus in other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... White key (key), 11 ... Black key (key), 13 ... Key operation surface, 16 ... Wide part, 20 ... Frame, 40 ... Frame side guide part, 41 ... Frame side guide part, 50 ... Weight, 51 ... Weight, 52 ... Sliding contact groove (key side guide part), 53 ... Sliding contact protrusion (key side guide part), 54 ... Adhesive reservoir, 57 ... Sliding contact recess (key side guide part), 70 ... Adhesive 80 ... mass body, 100 ... keyboard device, A1 to A3 ... key range

Claims (11)

A plurality of keys arranged side by side in the left-right direction, a frame that supports the key so that the front end portion of the key can be rotated in the up-down direction, and a face that faces the inner wall of the key A frame-side guide portion fixed to the frame; and a key-side guide fixed to the key provided so as to be slidably contacted with the frame-side guide portion so as to be movable in the vertical direction and restrict the movement of the key in the horizontal direction. A keyboard device comprising:
A keyboard apparatus, wherein the key side guide portion is provided on a weight fixed to a lower part of a key operation surface of the key.   The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of weights fixed to the keys has a mass different for each key range.   3. The keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of weights fixed to each key is provided in the same shape and has a specific gravity different for each key range. The weight is fixed to the key by an adhesive;
The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a concave adhesive reservoir is provided on the weight. The key is composed of a resin molded product,
The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the weight is provided in the key by being fixed by insert molding.   The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the weight is made of a resin molded product.   The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the weight is made of a die-cast product.   The said weight is comprised with resin and the member whose specific gravity is higher than the said resin sealed by insert molding in the said resin, The any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. Keyboard device.   The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the weight is formed of a mixed material of a powder high specific gravity material having a specific gravity higher than that of the resin and the resin.   The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the weight fixed to the white key is fixed to a wide portion of the white key positioned in front of the front end of the black key. . A mass body supported by the frame so as to rotate in the vertical direction in conjunction with the rotation of the key,
11. The weight and the mass body are provided so that the weight of the weight acting on the key when the key rotates and the weight of the mass body cancel each other. The keyboard device according to claim 1.

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