PIVOT MECHANISM AND KEYBOARD APPARATUS

• US 20190043459A1
• Filed: 09/13/2018
• Published: 02/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: ICHIKI, Shunsuke
• Granted Patent: US 10,643,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G10B 3/12 Keys or keyboards; Manuals
• CPC Class Codes: G10C 3/12 Keyboards; Keys
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/344 Structural association with individual keys electrically operated wind-actuated organs G10B3/22
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/346 Keys with an arrangement for simulating the feeling of a piano key, e.g. using counterweights, springs, cams

Abstract

A pivot mechanism includes: a shaft; a bearing including an opening portion in which the shaft is to be inserted, wherein a size of the opening portion at an open end of the bearing which has flexibility is less than a diameter of the shaft, and the bearing is configured to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the shaft; and a stopper disposed spaced apart from the shaft in a direction in which the shaft inserted in the opening portion moves away from the bearing, the stopper being movable in a direction different from the direction in which the shaft moves away from the bearing.

Claims

1. A pivot mechanism, comprising:

a shaft;

a bearing comprising an opening portion in which the shaft is to be inserted, wherein a size of the opening portion at an open end of the bearing which has flexibility is less than a diameter of the shaft, and the bearing is configured to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the shaft; and

a stopper disposed spaced apart from the shaft in a direction in which the shaft inserted in the opening portion moves away from the bearing, the stopper being movable in a direction different from the direction in which the shaft moves away from the bearing.

2. The pivot mechanism according to claim 1, wherein movement of the stopper allows the shaft to move to an outside of the opening portion.

3. The pivot mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is bendable in the direction different from the direction in which the shaft moves away from the bearing.

4. The pivot mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is bendable at least in a direction substantially orthogonal to a straight line connecting a distal end portion of the stopper and the pivot axis to each other.

5. The pivot mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is disposed at a position at which the stopper acts such that, when the shaft is relatively moved toward the stopper, the stopper presses the shaft back into the opening portion by contacting the shaft.

6. The pivot mechanism according to claim 1,

wherein a cross section of the shaft has a round shape, and

wherein the stopper is disposed at a position at which, when the shaft is relatively moved toward the stopper, the stopper contacts the shaft before a center of the round shape moves to an outer side of the open end.

7. A pivot mechanism, comprising:

a shaft;

a bearing comprising an opening portion in which the shaft is to be inserted, the bearing being configured to employ a snap-fit structure to suppress movement of the shaft inserted in the opening portion, in a direction in which the shaft inserted in the opening portion moves away from the bearing, the bearing being configured to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the shaft; and

a stopper connected to the bearing, the stopper being disposed at a distant position spaced apart from the shaft in the direction in which the shaft inserted in the opening portion moves away from the bearing, the stopper being configured to prevent separation of the bearing from the shaft, the stopper being movable from the distant position.

8. The pivot mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the stopper is configured to, when the shaft is relatively moved toward the stopper, prevent separation of the shaft from the bearing by acting such that the stopper contacts the shaft to press the shaft back to a position at which movement of the shaft is suppressed by the snap-fit structure.

9. A keyboard apparatus, comprising:

a key;

a hammer assembly configured to pivot about a pivot mechanism in response to pressing of the key, the pivot mechanism comprising (i) a shaft, (ii) a bearing comprising an opening portion in which the shaft is to be inserted, wherein a size of the opening portion at an open end of the bearing which has flexibility is less than a diameter of the shaft, and the bearing is configured to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the shaft, and (iii) a stopper disposed spaced apart from the shaft in a direction in which the shaft inserted in the opening portion moves away from the bearing, the stopper being movable in a direction different from the direction in which the shaft moves away from the bearing;

a sensor disposed below the key and configured to detect an operation for the key; and

a sound source section configured to produce a sound waveform signal in response to a signal output from the sensor.