Keyboard Support Assembly Component Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The complex assembly of acoustic piano components, particularly the support assembly, results in high manufacturing costs and time due to the large number of components involved, making it challenging to reduce costs without compromising the touch feeling provided by the key operation.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly with a rotatable support, a repetition lever, and an extension portion that makes slidable contact with a guide portion, reducing the number of components while maintaining the double escapement mechanism and touch feeling, by integrating the support and repetition lever and using a torsion coil spring for rotational force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the support assembly uses many components to achieve the double escapement mechanism, then the touch feeling and operational accuracy are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components into integrated structures. The support assembly integrates the support, repetition lever, and guide portion into a unified mechanism where the repetition lever rotates on the support and interacts with the guide portion, reducing the total number of separate components while maintaining the double escapement functionality and touch feeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the repetition lever, provides the rotation axis, and includes the guide portion that guides the repetition lever's movement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall assembly.
2Productivity
If the support assembly is simplified to reduce manufacturing cost, then the manufacturing time and cost are reduced, but the operational accuracy and touch feeling may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly is segmented into functional modules: the support structure, the repetition lever, and the guide portion. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of each component while maintaining precise operational relationships through the rotation and slidable contact mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide portion acts as an intermediary element between the repetition lever and the support, providing precise guidance for the repetition lever's rotation and movement. This intermediary structure ensures operational accuracy is maintained even in a simplified design.
3Device complexity
If the support assembly structure is simplified, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but yawing and rolling issues may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion serves as a mediator that prevents unwanted yawing and rolling movements of the repetition lever during rotation. It provides lateral guidance and constraint, ensuring stable rotational movement while maintaining the simplified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly uses a thin-walled but structurally sound support structure that provides sufficient rigidity to prevent deformation during operation. The flexible yet stable support structure maintains rotational accuracy without requiring complex reinforcement.
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 solution reduces manufacturing costs by simplifying the support assembly structure while preserving the key operation touch feeling, enhancing the accuracy of the repetition lever rotation and reducing yawing and rolling issues, thus facilitating a more efficient and cost-effective production process.
Implementation Method 1
using a torsion coil spring for rotational force application
Implementation Method 2
an extension portion coupled to the repetition lever, the extension portion being brought to slidable contact with a first guide portion
Data Source
AI summary
A support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention includes a support rotatable along a first surface with respect to a frame; a repetition lever rotatable with respect to the support; and an extension portion coupled to the repetition lever, the extension portion being slidable contact with a first guide portion, the first guide portion moving along the first surface.