Acoustic Piano Keyboard Mechanism Part Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboard devices for acoustic pianos require a large number of links to guide key displacement, increasing the number of parts and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard device design that uses a support member, a link, a guiding pin, and a guiding groove to guide key displacement, where the link rotates to displace the front end and the guiding pin slides to displace the rear end of the key, reducing the need for additional links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If link rotation is used to guide rear end displacement, then key displacement trajectory is improved, but number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guiding function from the link mechanism and assigns it to a dedicated guiding member with a guiding groove. This separates the rotation guidance function (performed by the link) from the lateral displacement guidance function (performed by the guiding groove), allowing the link to be simpler and fewer parts to be used overall while maintaining the correct displacement trajectory.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding member acts as an intermediary element between the link and the key. It receives the rotational motion from the link and converts it into the proper lateral displacement of the key through its guiding groove, enabling complex motion guidance without requiring additional complex linkages.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple links are used to guide key displacement, then displacement control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces a complex mechanical linkage system with a simpler combination of a rotating link and a guiding groove. The guiding groove provides precise displacement control through its geometric shape rather than through a complex sequence of mechanical linkages, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining control precision.
3Ease of operation
If link rotation guides front end displacement, then playing feel is maintained, but number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the key displacement into two independent components: front end displacement controlled by link rotation and rear end displacement controlled by the guiding groove. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized separately, maintaining the authentic playing feel through link rotation while using fewer overall parts.
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
This design reduces the number of parts required, maintains the playing feel of an acoustic piano, and approximates the displacement trajectory of the keys, while minimizing abnormal noise and facilitating maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a displacement of a part on a front end side of the key is guided by rotation of the link with respect to the support member
Implementation Method 2
a displacement of the part on the rear end side of the key is guided by sliding of the guiding pin with respect to the guiding groove
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a keyboard device for which the number of parts can be reduced. The present invention is provided with: hammers rotatably linked to a chassis; keys rotatably linked to the hammer thereof; guiding pins provided to the keys and extending in the widthwise direction of the keys; and a guiding groove provided to the chassis side and into which the guiding pins are inserted. The downward displacement of the front-end sides of the keys is guided by the rotation of the hammers with respect to the chassis, and the downward displacement of rear-end parts of the keys is guided by the sliding of the guiding pins with respect to the guiding groove. This eliminates the need for links to guide the displacement of the rear-end parts of the keys, thus allowing the number of parts to be reduced.