UPFRONT PNEUMATIC AUTOMATION KIT FOR PIANO
FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automatic playing system for key board operated musical instrument. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automation kit for a piano, which is capable of being automatically operated using the electro pneumatic principle.

BACKGROUND ART

Piano is a musical instrument played by means of a key board. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world and is popular as a tool for composing and rehearsal. Although not portable and often expensive, the piano's versatility and ubiquity have made it one of the world's most familiar musical instruments. Almost every modern piano has a key board comprising 88 keys, i.e. 55 white keys and 33 black keys. Pressing a key on the piano's keyboard causes a padded hammer to strike steel strings. The hammers rebound, and the strings continue to vibrate at their resonant frequency. These vibrations are transmitted through a bridge to a sounding board that more efficiently couples the acoustic energy to the air. The sound would otherwise be no louder than that directly produced by the strings. When the key is released, a damper stops the string's vibration and the sound.

Often it is necessary to have skilled piano player for playing the piano. Alternatively, automatic operating arrangement for playing the piano is known in the art and such system is useful for entertainment purpose and can be advantageously used in places like restaurants and airports.

A player can play a music tune on the automatic piano as similar to performance of the music tune as it is done by a skilled piano artist. When users wish to enjoy themselves in performance of a music tune without any fingering of a human player, the user instructs the automatic playing system to reproduce the music tune. Then, the piano is operated to provide the required music tune by means of the automatic playing system. Thus, the automatic playing system serves as an automatic player instead of the human player.

The electronics attached to the automatic playing system sequentially reads out music data codes from the music files input to the system, expressing the note events from the music data file, and produces electrical out put. The electrical output thus generated is used to actuate the mechanisms, which depress the respective black keys and white keys of the piano in the required sequence for the required time duration.

Automatic piano known in the art employs electromagnetic plungers to actuate the mechanisms that depress the respective black keys and white keys of the piano. Such arrangements are expensive and are to be tailor made.

US4741237 discloses an actuator for an automatic performance piano, includes electromagnetic plunger units provided in correspondence to and adjacent to a plurality of keys of the piano, each of the electromagnetic plunger units having an excitation coil and a plunger, and a key drive portion, provided at the distal end of the plunger for driving the key. The electromagnetic plunger units are arranged along the key arrangement direction to be deviated from each other in the front-back direction of the key in a staggered manner. A motion stroke of the key drive portion of the electromagnetic plunger unit in one row is made smaller than a motion stroke of the key drive portion of the electromagnetic plunger unit in the other row.

US2005235801 discloses a separate automatic player independent of a piano, and stands in front of the piano for an automatic playing; the separate automatic player includes a key driver unit, a pedal driver unit and a framework on which the key driver unit and pedal driver unit is carried; the key driver unit has an array of key actuators so as to selectively depress and releases the black and white keys, and a pair of side elevators and a rotary unit is provided between the framework and the array of key actuators; the side elevators bring the plunger heads of the key actuators into contact with the upper surfaces of the black and white keys, and the rotary unit makes the plungers vertical to the upper surfaces so that the key actuators exert force on the black and white keys at the magnitude exactly equivalent to pieces of music data.

It will be advantageous to have a low expensive automatic playing arrangement to play the piano instead of the human player which would be economical and could be easily retrofitted on the existing pianos with minimum effort.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION

One or more of the problems of the conventional prior art may be overcome by various embodiments of the present invention.

The primary object of the present invention is directed to provide an automation kit for a piano which will facilitate automatic playing of the piano so that the dependency on a skilled piano player could be eliminated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automation kit for piano comprising of pneumatic cylinders as actuators for pressing the required key and a control system for selective engagement of the respective key according to the music to be produced.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a standalone/upfront automation kit for playing the piano, which is operated using the pneumatic cylinders and valves.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic automation kit which is economical compared to existing automation kits.

It is another object of the present invention, wherein the pneumatic automation kit can be retrofitted to existing piano.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Thus according to the basic aspect of the present invention there is provided an upfront pneumatic automation kit for piano comprising:

an input device;
one or more Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) decoder unit(s);
one or more connector terminal(s); one or more solenoid valve(s); one or more manifold(s); one or more cylinder holding device(s); and one or more pneumatic cylinder(s) for actuating keys arranged on key board of the piano, wherein the cylinder holding device carrying the pneumatic cylinders are fastened to the piano, wherein the solenoid valves mounted on the manifold are fastened to the piano, wherein the input device is connected to the MIDI decoder unit by a connecting medium, wherein the MIDI decoder unit comprises plurality of terminals which are electrically connected to first end of the connector terminals, wherein second end of the connector terminals are electrically connected to the designated solenoid valves, wherein the manifolds are in flow communication with compressed air of pre-determined pressure rating, and wherein the solenoid valves are pneumatically connected to the designated pneumatic cylinders.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein ends of piston rods of the pneumatic cylinders facing the piano key are fitted with pads and wherein on actuation of the pneumatic cylinders, the pads de-press the respective piano keys.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the pneumatic cylinders are arranged in two rows on the cylinder holding device, the first row arranged according to pitch distance of black keys and the second row arranged according to pitch distance of white keys.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the input device is a personal computer or hand held devices such as smart phone, tablet pc, media player which generates MIDI outputs on reading MIDI files.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the connecting medium is a USB MIDI cables.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the MIDI decoder units are interconnected by MIDI- MIDI cable and powered by a switch mode power supply.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the MIDI decoder unit, the switch mode power supply unit and the connector terminal are constructed as a cabinet.

A further aspect of the present invention is directed to provide a method of automatic playing of piano using upfront pneumatic automation kit comprises the steps of:
reading Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) files using an input device; generating and feeding MIDI outputs to one or more MIDI decoder unit(s); feeding the outputs from the MIDI decoder in the form of electrical signal to designated solenoid valves; and releasing compressed air by the designated solenoid valves to designated pneumatic cylinders there by sequential de-pressing of the designated piano keys produces music accordance to the MIDI outputs generated by the input device.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1: of the drawing schematically illustrates the general arrangement of the piano fitted with the upfront pneumatic automation kit.

Figure 2: of the drawing is the schematic layout of the present invention.

Figure 3: of the drawing is the partial view of the piano fitted with the upfront pneumatic automation kit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

Referring to Figure 1, the upfront pneumatic automation kit for piano according to the present invention is suitable for upright pianos, also called vertical pianos wherein the frame and strings are vertically arranged.
The hammers move horizontally, and return to their resting position via springs, which are susceptible to degradation.

The upright pianos unusually comprise tall frames and long strings. As known, pressing a key on the piano's keyboard causes a hammer to strike the steel strings to produce the sound. The automation kit for piano according to the present invention is provided with actuators for pressing the required key and comprises a control system for the selective engagement of the respective key according to the music to be produced. The object of providing a pneumatic automation kit which is economical compared to existing automation kits is achieved by using miniature pneumatic cylinders as the actuators. The method of activation of the pneumatic cylinders is explained in greater detail in the subsequent paragraphs of the specification.

Reference is invited to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings accompanying the specification. The pneumatic automation kit according to the present invention comprises an input device (4); one or more decoder unit(s) (5); a switch mode power supply unit (8); one or more electrical terminal(s) (9); one or more solenoid valve(s) (10) mounted on one or more manifold(s) (11); one or more pneumatic cylinder(s) (2) for actuating black keys arranged on key board of the piano; one or more pneumatic cylinder(s) for actuating white keys arranged on key board of the piano; and one or more cylinder holding device(s) (3).

Plurality of pneumatic cylinders (2) corresponding to total number of keys of the piano (1) are mounted on one or more cylinder holding device(s) (3) and the cylinder holding device (3) carrying the pneumatic cylinders (2) are fastened to the piano (1) using suitable brackets. The pneumatic cylinder (2) used in the present invention is miniature type having specific constructional features to facilitate easy fixing and dismantling on / from the cylinder holding device (3). The pneumatic cylinders (2) are arranged in two rows on the cylinder holding device (3). While the first row is arranged according to the pitch distance of the black keys, the second row is arranged according to pitch distance of the white keys. The ends of piston rods of the pneumatic cylinder (2) facing the piano key are fitted with pads manufactured by soft and durable material such that on actuation of the pneumatic cylinder (2), the pads depress the respective piano keys gently, but firmly. For example the pads are manufactured from synthetic material such as Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR), silicone rubber.

The music to be automatically played by the piano (1) is input to the automation kit in the form of Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) using an input device (4). The input device (4) may be for example a personal computer or hand held devices such as a smart phone / tablet pc / media player which is disposed to read the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) files and to generate necessary Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) outputs. The digital outputs are fed to one or more MIDI decoder unit(s) (5) by suitable connecting medium (6), for example USB MIDI cables. The MIDI decoder units (5) are inter connected by suitable inter connector (7), for example which may be MIDI- MIDI cable. The MIDI decoder units (5) are powered by a switch mode power supply (8). The switch mode power supply may be of rating 24 V DC and 3A. The MIDI decoder unit (5) comprises plurality of terminals which are electrically connected to the terminals of the connector terminal (9), for example which may be a phoenix double Decker terminal. The MIDI decoder unit (5) may comprise 64 MIDI out puts. The outputs from the MIDI decoders unit (5) are fed in the form of electrical signal to the first end of the connector terminal (9) and the second end of the connector terminal (9) is electrically connected to the designated solenoid valves (10).

Plurality of solenoid valves (10) corresponding to the total number of keys of the piano are mounted on one or more manifold(s) (11). The manifold(s) (11) are interconnected and connected to a compressed air line of pre-determined pressure rating and are fastened to the piano (1). As known in the art the compressed air supply line of the pneumatic automation kit is provided with a filter regulator. The solenoid valves (10) mounted on the manifold (11), which are in flow communication with compressed air of pre-determined pressure rating is pneumatically connected to the designated pneumatic cylinder (2). The solenoid valve (10) is energized by the electrical signal fed to it and the designated pneumatic cylinder (2) is actuated by the compressed air. By the above arrangement the designated key of the piano (1) is de-pressed by the piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder (2) and the sequential depressing of the designated piano keys produces the music in accordance to the MIDI output generated by the input device (4).

The MIDI decoder unit (5), the switch mode power supply unit (8) and the connector terminal (9) are constructed as a cabinet. The pneumatic automation kit is constructed as modules and can be retrofitted to existing piano.

WE CLAIM:
1. An upfront pneumatic automation kit for piano comprising: an input device (4);
one or more Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) decoder unit(s) (5); one or more connector terminal(s) (9); one or more solenoid valve(s) (10); one or more manifold(s) (11); one or more cylinder holding device(s) (3); and one or more pneumatic cylinder(s) (2) for actuating keys arranged on key board of the piano, wherein the cylinder holding device (3) carrying the pneumatic cylinders (2) are fastened to the piano (1), wherein the solenoid valves (10) mounted on the manifold (11) are fastened to the piano (1), wherein the input device (4) is connected to the MIDI decoder unit (5) by a connecting medium (6), wherein the MIDI decoder unit (5) comprises plurality of terminals which are electrically connected to first end of the connector terminals (9), wherein second end of the connector terminals (9) are electrically connected to the designated solenoid valves (10), wherein the manifolds (11) are in flow communication with compressed air of pre-determined pressure rating, and wherein the solenoid valves (10) are pneumatically connected to the designated pneumatic cylinders (2).

2. The upfront pneumatic automation kit for piano as claimed in claim 1, wherein ends of piston rods of the pneumatic cylinders (2) facing the piano key are fitted with pads and wherein on actuation of the pneumatic cylinders (2), the pads de-press the respective piano keys.

3. The upfront pneumatic automation kit for piano as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pneumatic cylinders (2) are arranged in two rows on the cylinder holding device (3), the first row arranged according to pitch distance of black keys and the second row arranged according to pitch distance of white keys.

4. The upfront pneumatic automation kit for piano as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input device (4) is a personal computer or hand held devices such as smart phone, tablet pc, media player which generates MIDI outputs on reading MIDI files.

5. The upfront pneumatic automation kit for piano as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting medium (6) is a USB MIDI cables.

6. The upfront pneumatic automation kit for piano as claimed in claim 1, wherein the MIDI decoder units (5) are interconnected by MIDI- MIDI cable and powered by a switch mode power supply (8).

7. Upfront pneumatic automation kit for piano as claimed in claim 1, wherein the MIDI decoder unit (5), the switch mode power supply unit (8) and the connector terminal (9) are constructed as a cabinet.

8. A method of automatic playing of piano using upfront pneumatic automation kit comprises the steps of:

reading Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) files using an input device; generating and feeding MIDI outputs to one or more MIDI decoder unit(s); feeding the outputs from the MIDI decoder in the form of electrical signal to designated solenoid valves; and releasing compressed air by the designated solenoid valves to designated pneumatic cylinders there by sequential de-pressing of the designated piano keys produces music accordance to the MIDI outputs generated by the input device.