Damper mechanism for grand piano

Abstract

To solve the problem that it is difficult to effectively transmit delicate vertical movement of a keyboard caused by touch of a player since lead which is easily processed is embedded in a tip part of a conventional keyboard in order to reduce keying force of the keyboard, and the lead functions at the time of depression of the keyboard but does not function at the time of restoration from the depressed state due to its weight.SOLUTION: The grand piano includes a keyboard made of a uniform material and swingably supported by a keyboard reed, a damper lever to be pushed up by a rise of a rear end of the keyboard caused by key depression, and a damper connected to the damper lever and configured to move away from and come into contact with a string in response to key depression and key rest. A compression coil spring is provided between the upper surface on the back side of the damper lever and the lower surface of the back frame on which the damper lever is supported. Further, a compression coil spring is provided between the lower side of the rear end part of the keyboard and the key frame.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a peripheral mechanism for a damper lever connected to a damper of a grand piano. [Background technology]

[0002] A cross-sectional view of a conventional action mechanism including keyboard and damper functions is shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4, a keyboard 2 with lead 3 embedded in its tip is supported by a support 5 on the top surface of a keyboard reed 1 so that it can swing. When a key 2 is pressed, the back part 10 of the keyboard and the cushioning felt 11 on its top surface rise, coming into contact with the bottom of a damper lever 12 and pushing it up, which in turn raises a damper 13 that is connected to the damper lever 12 via a damper rod 14 and suppresses the vibration of the string 9. To express a richer playing effect, the right pedal (not shown) can be depressed to release the vibration of the string 9 and allow it to vibrate freely. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2002-196748 [Patent Document 2] Actual Publication Showa 58-91789 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional keyboard 2 described above, lead 3, which is easy to process, is embedded in the tip to reduce the force required to strike the keys. However, due to its weight, the lead 3 functions when the keys 2 are pressed down but does not function when they are released from the pressed state, making it difficult to effectively transmit the subtle up and down movement of the keys caused by the player's touch. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve the above problems, the damper mechanism of the present invention for a grand piano comprises a keyboard made of a uniform material and supported on a keyboard reed so as to be able to swing, a damper lever that is pushed up when the rear end of the keyboard is raised by key depression, and a damper connected to the damper lever that moves away from and into contact with the strings as the key is depressed or silenced, and is provided with a compression coil spring between the upper surface of the rear end of the keyboard and the lower surface of the tip of the damper lever, a compression coil spring between the upper surface of the rear side of the damper lever and the lower surface of the rear frame on which the damper lever is supported, and a compression coil spring between the underside of the rear end of the keyboard and the keyboard reed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] With this configuration, the action of the compression coil spring installed between the top surface of the rear end of the key and the bottom surface of the tip of the damper lever allows the key to smoothly return to its quiet state after being released, even on keys that are not embedded with lead, and provides quick response when consecutive keys are pressed. This makes it possible to effectively convey the subtle up and down movement of the key caused by the player's touch. Furthermore, if a coil spring is installed between the top surface of the rear side of the damper lever and the bottom surface of the rear frame, the response can be further improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a grand piano including the keyboard of the present invention when the keys are quiet. [Figure 2] 1 is an enlarged view of a main part of a grand piano including the keyboard of the present invention when the keys are quiet. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is an enlarged view of a main part of a grand piano including a keyboard according to the present invention when a key is struck. [Figure 4] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a grand piano with conventional keys when the keys are quiet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a grand piano including a keyboard according to the present invention when the key is in a quiet state, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the essential parts of FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear portion 10 of the keyboard 2, made of a uniform piece of wood, has a partially cutout at the top so that a compression coil spring 4 (described later) can be positioned between the key and the damper lever 12 in the desired position. A felt pad 16 is provided on the rear portion 10 as a cushioning material. The compression coil spring 4 has one end fixed to the tip 12a of the damper lever 12, the other end of which abuts against the other end. The damper lever 12 is supported by the rear frame 8 so that its rear end pivots around the fulcrum. The other end of the compression coil spring 6, one end of which is fixed to the rear frame 8, abuts against the approximate center of the damper lever 12. Furthermore, a damper 13 is attached to the tip 12a of the damper lever 12 via a damper wire 14. The damper 13 is provided with a damper pad 15 that abuts against the string 9 when the key is in a quiet state. Additionally, a compression coil spring 7 is provided between the underside of the keyboard rear portion 10 and the keyboard reed 1, which is in a compressed state when the key is not pressed, and when the key is pressed, it reduces the force compressing the compression coil springs 4 and 6. The keyboard 2 is made of solid wood, and does not have weights such as lead embedded inside.

[0009] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the main components of a grand piano including a keyboard according to the present invention when a key is pressed. In FIG. 3, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 3, when a key 2 is pressed, the key 2 rotates clockwise around its support 5, pushing the back portion 10 of the key upward. This compresses the compression coil spring 4, causing the damper lever 12 to rotate counterclockwise. This then causes the damper 13 attached to the damper lever 12 via the damper wire 14 to rise, separating the damper pad 15 from the string 9. In this state, a hammer in the piano action mechanism (not shown) strikes the string 9. The rotation of the damper lever 12 simultaneously compresses the compression coil spring 6, and the repulsive forces of these two compression coil springs are accumulated when the key 2 is pressed. When the key is released from this state, the repulsive forces of the two compression coil springs quickly return the key to its quiet state. This recovery time is extremely short compared to conventional damper mechanisms, allowing the performer to perform continuous keystrokes with better response than before, and making pizzicato playing extremely easy. The recovery time can be adjusted by appropriately selecting the shape and spring constant of the three compression coil springs 4, 6, and 7. Furthermore, because no lead or other weights are used in the keys or damper levers, the keyboard itself is simple to manufacture and there are no health concerns associated with the use of lead. [Industrial Applicability]

[0010] The present invention is useful as a damper mechanism for a grand piano that improves response when a player strikes keys repeatedly. [Explanation of symbols]

[0011] 1 Keyboard reed, 2 Keyboard, 3 Lead, 4 Compression coil spring, 5 Support, 6 Compression coil spring, 7 Compression coil spring, 8 Back frame, 9 Strings, 10 Back of keyboard, 11 Felt, 12 Damper lever, 13 Damper, 14 Damper wire, 15 Damper pad, 16 Felt

Claims

1. A grand piano has a keyboard made of a uniform material that is swingably supported on a keyboard reed, a damper lever that is pushed up when the rear end of the keyboard rises due to keystrokes, and a damper connected to the damper lever that moves away from and into contact with the strings as the key is struck or silenced, characterized in that a compression coil spring is provided between the top surface of the rear end of the keyboard and the underside of the tip of the damper lever, and a compression coil spring is provided between the top surface of the rear side of the damper lever and the underside of the rear frame on which the damper lever is supported.

2. 2. The grand piano according to claim 1, further comprising a compression coil spring between the underside of the rear end of the keyboard and the keyboard reed.

Images