JP3331073B2 - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device in which a key guide for preventing lateral deflection of a key is devised.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of key guide pieces are erected on a chassis, for example, by cutting and raising a part of a chassis corresponding to each of the plurality of keys, and each of the plurality of key guide pieces is depressed. The key was guided to prevent the key from swaying. Further, in order to smooth the sliding between the key guide pieces and the keys and to prevent contact noise between the key guide pieces and the keys, an attaching member is attached to each of the key guide pieces.

[0003] However, the work of attaching the adherend to each of the plurality of key guide pieces requires man-hours. Therefore, in order to reduce the number of man-hours, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-46462
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-15064 proposes a method by so-called outsert molding in which a synthetic resin is fixed over all key guide pieces erected on a chassis. According to the method by the outsert molding proposed in this publication, the synthetic resin is simultaneously fixed to all of the plurality of guide pieces, so that it is not necessary to attach an adherend to each of the plurality of key guide pieces, which reduces man-hours. Is done.

[0004]

However, there are 61 keys on the keyboard.
Since there are key variations such as a key, a 56 key, and a 49 key, in the outsert molding in which the synthetic resin is fixed over all the plurality of key guide pieces erected on the chassis, a mold is provided for each chassis of the key variation. It is necessary, and there is a problem that the mold cost is increased.

Further, at the start of outsert molding,
Chassis shot for setting molding conditions and chassis in which the synthetic resin is not fixed to the key guide piece as specified in the subsequent work will be discarded together with the chassis, resulting in many wasteful problems. Meanwhile, Shokai 64-2
Japanese Patent No. 6793 proposes a method in which a plurality of key guide pieces are integrally formed to form one key guide member, and the key guide member is fixed to a keyboard chassis with screws or the like. According to this method, the labor for mounting the member to be attached to each of the plurality of guide pieces is omitted. However, if the position where the key guide member is attached is shifted, a key touch failure may occur over a plurality of keys.

Further, a structure has been proposed in which the entire chassis including the key guide is integrally formed of only synthetic resin, but the rigidity of the keyboard unit itself is weakened and reinforcement is required, and a mold is required for each key variation. However, there is a problem that the mold cost is also increased. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a keyboard device in which man-hours are reduced and cost is reduced.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a keyboard apparatus comprising: (1) a plurality of keys which extend in the front-rear direction and whose front ends are pressed; and (2) a plurality of keys corresponding to the plurality of keys. A chassis having a key guide piece for guiding a depressed key; and (3) a base, extending in a comb-like shape from the base, and attached to the key guide piece at each of the extended tips. A sub-chassis fixed on the chassis is provided, the sub-chassis having a key and an extended portion formed with a key guide piece cap that slides.

Here, it is effective that the sub-chassis is provided with a key support for rotatably supporting the keys.

[0009]

According to the keyboard apparatus of the present invention, the key guide piece cap formed at each of the tips extending in a comb shape from the base of the sub-chassis and sliding on the key is mounted on the key guide piece. In doing so, a large number of key guide piece caps are simultaneously attached to a large number of key guide pieces, thereby reducing man-hours.
Further, since the key guide piece cap formed on the sub-chassis is attached to the key guide piece installed upright on the chassis, for example, a sub-chassis having a key guide piece cap corresponding to the number of keys for one octave is provided. By combining a plurality of the sub-chassis, it is possible to easily cope with a large number of key variations of a keyboard incorporated in a keyboard device, and it is not necessary to manufacture a mold for each key variation as in the prior art. The cost of the mold is reduced. Further, even if a failure occurs in either the chassis or the sub-chassis, it is only necessary to discard the one in which the failure has occurred, thereby reducing the cost.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Is a cross-sectional view showing a chassis and a sub-chassis provided in the keyboard device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the chassis and the sub-chassis.

First, the chassis and the sub-chassis will be described with reference to FIGS. The chassis 1 shown in FIG. 2 is formed of metal, and a key guide piece 1a for guiding a depressed key is provided upright for each of the plurality of keys. The key guide piece 1a is obtained by cutting and raising the chassis 1 so that the tip of the key guide piece 1a has an arc shape as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the sub-chassis 2 shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the base 2-1 has a comb-shaped extension 2-2 extending from the base 2-2, and the base 2-1 and the extension 2-2 are It is integrally formed of synthetic resin. Here, a key guide piece cap 2a attached to the key guide piece 1a is formed at the tip of the extension portion 2-2.
Since the extension portion 2-2 has a comb-like shape, it can be deformed in the left-right direction. Further, since the tip of the key guide piece 1a erected on the chassis 1 has an arc shape, the key guide piece cap is formed. The attachment of 2a to the key guide piece 1a is easy.
As shown in FIG. 2, bosses 2b and 2c to which a substrate to be described later is fixed, a projection 2d for positioning the substrate, and a hook portion to which one end of the substrate is fitted and held, as shown in FIG. 2e is formed. Further, a boss 2f into which a spring for urging the key counterclockwise in FIG.
A key support portion 2g for rotatably supporting the key is also formed.

Further, a hook 2h is also formed on the base 2-1. The hook 2h is inserted into a hole (not shown) provided in the chassis 1. The sub-chassis 2 is rotated about the hook 2h in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2 and the key guide piece cap 2a is mounted on the key guide piece 1a. As described above, the sub-chassis 2 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin. The sub-chassis 2 has bosses 2b, 2c, projections for fixing the board, in addition to the key guide piece cap 2a. 2d, hook part 2e,
A key support 2g for rotatably supporting the key, a boss 2f into which a spring is fitted, and a hook 2h for attaching the sub-chassis 2 to the chassis 1 are provided. Since many members are manufactured at the same time as one sub-chassis, the man-hour is remarkably reduced.

The sub-chassis 2 is fixed to the chassis 1 with screws 8 as shown in FIG. In this embodiment,
One sub-chassis 2 corresponds to a key for one octave. Next, FIG. 1 will be described. The sub-chassis 2 is fixed to the chassis 1 shown in FIG. A key 3 is rotatably supported by a key support 2g of the sub-chassis 2. The key 3 is provided with a weight 3 a for adjusting the inertial mass of the key 3. Boss 2 of sub chassis 2
A spring 4 is interposed between f and the key 3. As a result, the key 3 is urged counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by the spring 4 and is in contact with a level felt 5 provided on the chassis 1 for key release positioning.

When the key 3 is pressed, the key 3 is provided with a stop felt 6 provided on the chassis 1 for key pressing positioning.
Abut. Further, on the lower side of the chassis 1, the substrate 7
One end of the sub-chassis 2 is fitted and held in the hook portion 2 e of the sub-chassis 2, and the substrate 7 is fixed to the bosses 2 b and 2 c of the sub-chassis 2 with screws 8. The board 7 is provided with a rubber switch 9 for notifying key press information of the key 3 to a control unit (not shown) of the keyboard device.

In the keyboard device configured as described above,
When the key 3 is depressed, the key 3 slides on the key guide piece cap 2a and guides the depressed key 3, so that the key 3 is prevented from swaying. Since the key guide piece cap 2a is formed of a synthetic resin, the key 3 is
a, and the key 3 and the key guide piece cap 2
Contact noise with a is also prevented, and a smooth key touch feeling can be obtained.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the entire sub-chassis 2 described above. The sub-chassis 2 is fixed to the chassis 1 with screws 8. The sub-chassis 2 has a number of key guide piece caps 2a corresponding to the number of keys of one octave. By combining a plurality of the sub-chassis 2, a plurality of key variations of a keyboard incorporated in a keyboard device can be easily achieved. Can respond. Although the sub-chassis 2 is formed of a synthetic resin, since the sub-chassis 2 is fixed on the chassis 1 formed of metal, a keyboard device having high rigidity is provided.

In this embodiment, the sub-chassis 2 in which a key for one octave is pivotally supported has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the die cost and productivity are considered for all key variations. Subchassis for the optimum number of keys may be formed. Also, sub-chassis 2
Is fixed to the chassis 1 with the screw 8, but the invention is not limited to this, and a method of fitting with a hook structure or the like without using a screw may be adopted, or welding may be performed.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the key guide piece caps formed at the respective ends of the plurality of comb-shaped extended portions of the sub-chassis are attached to the key guide pieces, the plurality of key guide piece caps are attached to the plurality of key guide pieces. It is installed at the same time, and the man-hour is reduced. Further, by forming a sub-chassis having a predetermined number of key guide piece caps and a key support portion and using a plurality of the sub-chassis in combination, it is possible to easily cope with a plurality of key variations of a keyboard incorporated in a keyboard device. Therefore, the mold cost is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a chassis and a sub-chassis provided in the keyboard device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of a chassis and a sub-chassis.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the entire sub-chassis.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Chassis 1a Key guide piece 2 Subchassis 2-1 Base 2-2 Extension 2a Key guide piece cap 2b, 2c, 2f Boss 2d Projection 2e, 2h Hook 2g Key support 3 Key 3a Weight 4 Spring 5 Level felt 6 Stop felt 7 Substrate 8 Screw 9 Rubber switch

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G10B 3/12 G10C 3/12 G10H 1/34

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of keys that extend in the front-rear direction and whose front ends are pressed; a chassis having a key guide piece that stands up corresponding to each of the plurality of keys and guides the pressed keys; and A sub-chassis fixed on the base, the sub-chassis extending in a comb-like shape from the base, and each extended end is mounted on the key guide piece and slides with the key. An extension having a key guide piece cap formed thereon, and a key support for rotatably supporting the plurality of keys, wherein the base, the extension, and the key support are integrally formed. A keyboard device, characterized in that: 2. The chassis has a hole for engagement with the sub-chassis, and the sub-chassis includes a hook inserted into the hole, the sub-chassis being provided in the chassis and the hole being provided in the hole. 2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the hook is fixed in an engaged state. 3. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the sub-chassis includes a boss for attaching a spring for urging the key. 4. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein said sub-chassis is provided with a boss for attaching a board to said sub-chassis. 5. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the sub-chassis is formed integrally with a synthetic resin.