Electric Capo With Motorized Lead Screw Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capos require strong grip strength for operation, making them difficult for players with insufficient grip strength to use, and are often instrument-specific, complicating adjustments between performances.
Innovation Solution
A capo with a pair of arm members and an electric drive mechanism, including a motor and drive force transmission members like lead screws or worm gears, allowing for adjustable distance between arm members, enabling easy and reliable operation even with insufficient grip strength and accommodating multiple stringed instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a capo uses spring force or friction to hold the neck, then it can maintain firm grip on the strings, but strong grip strength is required for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical spring-based grip system with an electric drive mechanism. The electric motor drives a lead screw to move the arm members, substituting manual mechanical force with an electrically actuated system that provides controlled, reliable grip without requiring strong manual grip strength from the user.
2Ease of operation
If a capo utilizes leverage to be operated with light force, then ease of operation is improved, but it requires adjustment beforehand for each stringed instrument
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an electric drive mechanism with a lead screw that enables dynamic adjustment of the arm member position. This dynamic system allows the capo to be easily adjusted for different stringed instruments by simply rotating the lead screw to change the distance between arm members, eliminating the need for complex preliminary adjustments while maintaining ease of operation.
3Productivity
If a capo is designed to be rapidly operated between performances, then productivity is improved, but strong grip strength is required which limits usability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical grip system with an electric drive mechanism that can rapidly open and close the arm members through electric motor actuation. This enables quick operation between performances without requiring the user to exert strong grip force, as the electric motor provides the necessary force for rapid attachment and detachment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The capo can be easily and simply adjusted, allowing players with insufficient grip strength to operate it reliably, and can be used on various stringed instruments without the need for strong grip or prior adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a motor configured to generate a drive force
Implementation Method 2
a lead screw to be rotated by the motor, and the movable arm member includes a screw part having a screw hole into which the lead screw is screwed, and the movable arm member is configured to be movable in an axial direction of the lead screw by rotation of the lead screw
Implementation Method 3
the drive force transmission member is a worm gear including: a worm coupled to an output shaft of the motor; and a worm wheel configured to mesh with the worm, and the movable arm member is coupled and fixed to the worm wheel
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a capo that can be operated simply and reliably. A capo includes a pair of arm members (a first arm member and a second arm member) capable of sandwiching a neck, and an electric drive mechanism that changes a distance between the pair of arm members.