Patent Publication Number: US-9905205-B2

Title: Support assembly and keyboard apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-063270, filed on Mar. 25, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a support assembly for use in a keyboard apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional acoustic pianos such as grand pianos and upright pianos are configured of many components. Also, since assembling these components is very complex, the assembling operation takes a long time. In particular, since an action mechanism provided for each key requires many components, its assembling operation is very complex. 
     For example, in an action mechanism described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-292361, a plurality of components operate together, and key operation by key pressing and key releasing is transmitted to a hammer. In particular, a support assembly configuring part of the action mechanism operates with various components assembled together. The support assembly has not only a mechanism which achieves string hammering by the hammer in accordance with key pressing but also an escapement mechanism for releasing a force transmitted to the hammer by key operation immediately before string hammering. This mechanism is an important mechanism for the basic operation of an acoustic piano. In particular, in a grand piano, a double escapement mechanism with a repetition lever and a jack combined together is generally adopted. 
     The operation of the action mechanism provides a sense (hereinafter referred to as a touch feeling) to a finger of a player through the key. In particular, the structure of the support assembly has an important influence on the touch feeling. For example, the touch feeling by the operation of the escapement mechanism is called let-off. 
     Since the number of respective components making up the support assembly is large, the manufacturing period is prolonged, and manufacturing cost increased. Therefore, to reduce manufacturing cost, it is desired to simply decrease the number of components and the structure. However, if the structure of the support assembly is changed, the touch feeling at the time of key operation is greatly changed. Therefore, it is difficult to decrease the expense of manufacturing an acoustic piano. 
     SUMMARY 
     One object of the present invention is to reduce manufacturing cost of a support assembly while decreasing a change in touch feeling at the time of key operation, compared with a keyboard apparatus of an acoustic piano. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a support assembly is provided which includes a support rotatably disposed with respect to a frame, a jack rotatably connected with respect to the support on a side opposite to a rotation center of the support, and a support heel disposed on a lower surface side of the support to make contact with a member connected to a key, wherein the support is configured of a first main body portion, a bent portion, a second main body portion, and a jack support portion, from the rotation center side of the support toward a rotation center side of the jack, and the second main body portion is disposed on a side closer to the key than the first main body portion by the bent portion which couples the first main body portion and the second main body portion. 
     The support assembly may further include a projecting portion projecting from the jack to the bent portion side and rotating with the jack. 
     The support assembly may further include an elastic body connected to the projecting portion, the elastic body providing a rotational force to the jack so that the projecting portion moves to the support side. 
     The elastic body may be a torsion coil spring, the torsion coil spring may include a first arm and a second arm and the second arm may make contact with the projecting portion. 
     The projection portion may include a hook portion and the second arm may be hooked to the hook portion. 
     The second arm may be inserted inside the projecting portion. 
     The support heel may be disposed below the bent portion. 
     The rotation center of the jack may be disposed above the second main body portion with the jack support portion projecting upward from the second main body portion. 
     The support heel may be disposed below the bent portion. 
     The support heel may be disposed on a lower surface of the second main body portion. 
     The support may include a resin structure. 
     The jack may include a resin structure. 
     Also, according to one embodiment of the present embodiment, a keyboard apparatus may be provided, which includes a plurality of the support assemblies, keys disposed correspondingly to the respective support assemblies to rotate the support, and a sound emission mechanism emitting sound in accordance with key pressing. 
     The sound emission mechanism may include a sound source unit generating a sound signal in accordance with key pressing. 
     The sound emission mechanism may include a string generating a sound by colliding a hammer in accordance with key pressing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view depicting the structure of a keyboard apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view depicting the structure of a support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view depicting a partial structure (support) of the disassembled support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view depicting a partial structure (jack) of the disassembled support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3C  is a partially enlarged view of a region A 1  of  FIG. 3B ; 
         FIG. 3D  is a drawing of the spring contact portion when viewed in a D 1  direction of  FIG. 3C ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view depicting a positional relation of each structure of the support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view for describing movement of the support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram depicting the structure of a sound emission mechanism of the keyboard apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  . . . keyboard apparatus,  110  . . . key,  20  . . . support assembly,  210  . . . support,  2101  . . . first main body portion,  2102  . . . bent portion,  2103  . . . second main body portion,  2105  . . . jack support portion,  2109  . . . through hole,  212  . . . support heel,  216  . . . stopper,  218  . . . spring support portion,  220  . . . flexible portion,  240  . . . repetition lever,  242  . . . spring contact portion,  244  . . . extension portion,  2441  . . . inner portion,  2442  . . . outer portion,  2443  . . . coupling portion,  2444  . . . stopper contact portion,  250  . . . jack,  2502  . . . large jack,  2504  . . . small jack,  2505  . . . support connecting portion,  256  . . . projecting portion,  2562  . . . spring contact portion,  2564  . . . opening portion,  2566  . . . curved-surface portion,  2568  . . . hook portion,  280  . . . torsion coil spring,  2802  . . . first arm,  2804  . . . second arm,  290  . . . support flange,  310  . . . hammer shank,  315  . . . hammer roller,  320  . . . hammer,  346  . . . repetition regulating screw,  360  . . . regulating button,  390  . . . shank flange,  410  . . . hammer stopper,  50  . . . sound emission mechanism,  510  . . . sensor,  520  . . . shielding plate,  550  . . . signal converting unit,  560  . . . sound source unit,  570  . . . output unit,  900  . . . bracket,  910  . . . balance rail,  920  . . . support rail,  930  . . . shank rail,  940  . . . hammer stopper rail,  950  . . . sensor rail,  960  . . . support rail 
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following, a keyboard apparatus including a support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings. Embodiments described below are merely examples of embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention should not be interpreted to be restricted to these embodiments. Note that, in the drawings referred to in the present embodiments, identical portions or portions having a similar function are provided with a same sign or similar sign (sign with a numeral merely followed by A, B, or the like), and repetitive description thereof may be omitted. Also, for convenience of description, the dimensional ratios in the drawings (such as ratio between respective structures, or a ratio among length) may differ from an actual ratio, and part of the structure may be omitted from the drawings. 
     &lt;Embodiments&gt; 
     [Structure of Keyboard Apparatus  1 ] 
     A keyboard apparatus  1  in one embodiment of the present invention is an example obtained by applying one example of the support assembly according to the present invention to an electronic piano. To obtain a touch feeling close to a grand piano at the time of key operation, this electronic piano includes a structure similar to a support assembly included in a grand piano. By using  FIG. 1 , a general outline of the keyboard apparatus  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention is described. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view depicting a mechanical structure of the keyboard apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the keyboard apparatus  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of keys  110  (in this example, eighty-eight keys) and an action mechanism for each of the keys  110 . The action mechanism includes a support assembly  20 , a hammer shank  310 , a hammer  320 , and a hammer stopper  410 . Note that while  FIG. 1  depicts the case in which the key  110  is a white key, the key may be a black key. Also, in the following description, terms representing orientations such as a player&#39;s forward side, a player&#39;s depth side, upward, downward, and sideward are defined as orientations when the keyboard apparatus is viewed from a player&#39;s side. For example, in the example of  FIG. 1 , the support assembly  20  is disposed on a player&#39;s forward side when viewed from the hammer  320 , and is disposed upward when viewed from the key  110 . Sideward corresponds to a direction in which the keys  110  are arranged. 
     The key  110  is rotatably supported by a balance rail  910 . The key  110  rotates in a range from a rest position depicted in  FIG. 1  to an end position. The key  110  includes a capstan screw  120 . The support assembly  20  is rotatably connected to a support flange  290 , and is resting on the capstan screw  120 . The support flange  290  is fixed to a support rail  920 . Detailed structure of the support assembly  20  will be described further below. Note that the support flange  290  and the support rail  920  are one example of a frame serving as a reference of rotation of the support assembly  20 . The frame may be formed of a plurality of members, such as the support flange  290  and the support rail  920 , or may be formed of one member. The frame may be, as with the support rail  920 , a rail-shaped member with a long side in the arrangement direction of the keys  110 , or may be, as with the support flange  290 , an independent member for each key  110 . 
     The hammer shank  310  is rotatably connected to a shank flange  390 . The hammer shank  310  includes a hammer roller  315 . The hammer shank  310  is mounted on the support assembly  20  via the hammer roller  315 . The shank flange  390  is fixed to a shank rail  930 . The hammer  320  is fixed to an end of the hammer shank  310 . A regulating button  360  is fixed to the shank rail  930 . The hammer stopper  410  is fixed to a hammer stopper rail  940  disposed at a position of regulating rotation of the hammer shank  310 . 
     A sensor  510  is a sensor for measuring the position and moving speed (speed immediately before the hammer shank  310  collides with the hammer stopper  410 ) of the hammer shank  310 . The sensor  510  is fixed to a sensor rail  950 . In this example, the sensor  510  is a photo interrupter. In accordance with the amount of shielding the optical axis of the photo interrupter by a shielding plate  520  fixed to the hammer shank  310 , an output value from the sensor  510  is changed. Based on this output value, the position and moving speed of the hammer shank  310  can be measured. Note that a sensor for measuring an operating state of the key  110  may be provided in place of the sensor  510  or together with the sensor  510 . 
     The above-described support rail  920 , shank rail  930 , hammer stopper rail  940 , and sensor rail  950  are supported by a bracket  900 . 
     [Structure of Support Assembly  20 ] 
       FIG. 2  is a side view depicting the structure of the support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3D  are side views each depicting a partial structure of the disassembled support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention. For easy understanding of the features of each component,  FIG. 3A  is a drawing in which a jack  250  and a torsion coil spring  280  are excluded from the support assembly  20 .  FIG. 3B  is a drawing only depicting the jack  250 . 
     The support assembly  20  includes a support  210 , a repetition lever  240 , the jack  250 , and the torsion coil spring  280 . The support  210  and the repetition lever  240  are coupled together via a flexible portion  220 . By the flexible portion  220 , the repetition lever  240  is rotatably supported with respect to the support  210 . The support assembly  20 , except the torsion coil spring  280  and cushioning materials or the like (such as nonwoven fabric or elastic body) provided at a portion which collides with another member, is a resin-made structure manufactured by injection molding. In this example, the support  210  and the repetition lever  240  are integrally formed. Note that the support  210  and the repetition lever  240  may be formed as individual components and be attached or bonded together. 
     The support  210  has one end side where a through hole  2109  is formed, and has the other end side where a jack support portion  2105  is formed. Between the through hole  2109  and the jack support portion  2105 , the support  210  includes a support heel  212  projecting downward and a spring support portion  218  projecting upward. Through the hole  2109 , a shaft supported by the support flange  290  is drawn. With this, the support  210  is rotatably disposed with respect to the support flange  290  and the support rail  920 . Therefore, the through hole  2109  serves as a rotation center of the support  210 . 
     The support heel  212  has its lower surface which makes contact with the above-described capstan screw  120 . The sprint support portion  218  supports the torsion coil spring  280 . The jack support portion  2105  rotatably supports the jack  250 . Therefore, the jack support portion  2105  serves as a rotation center of the jack  250 . 
     Between the through hole  2109  (rotation center of the support  210 ) and the jack support portion  2105  (rotation center of the jack  250 ), a space SP is formed on a jack support portion  2105  side from the support heel  212 . For convenience of description, the support  210  is sectioned into regions: a first main body portion  2101 , a bent portion  2102 , and a second main body portion  2103 , from a through hole  2109  side. That is, the support  210  is configured of the first main body portion  2101 , the bent portion  2102 , the second main body portion  2103  and the jack support portion  2105  from the rotation center of the support  210  toward the rotation center of the jack  250 . The bent portion  2102  is disposed obliquely or vertically with respect to the first main body portion  2101  and the second main body portion  2103 . In this case, by the bent portion  2102  which couples the first main body portion  2101  and the second main body portion  2103  together, the second main body portion  2103  is disposed on a side closer to the key  110  (downward) than the first main body portion  2101 . The jack support portion  2105  projects upward from the second main body portion  2103 . According to this sectioning, the above-described space SP corresponds to a region interposed between the bent portion  2102  and the jack support portion  2105  above the second main body portion  2103 . Also, at an end of the support  210  (an end on a second main body portion  2103  side), a stopper  216  couples. The support heel  212  is disposed below the bent portion  2102 . Here, it is preferred that a distance from the key  110  to the second main body portion  2103  be longer than a distance from the key  110  to the support heel  212  (that is, the length of the capstan screw  130 ). This makes the capstan screw  130  easily adjustable from a player&#39;s side. 
     To the repetition lever  240 , a spring contact portion  242  and an extension portion  244  are coupled. The spring contact portion  242  and the extension portion  244  extend from the repetition lever  240  to a support  210  side. The spring contact portion  242  makes contact with a first arm  2802  of the torsion coil spring  280 . The repetition lever  240  and the extension portion  244  include two plate-shaped members for interposition from sides of both side surfaces of the jack  250 . In this example, the extension portion  244  and the jack  250  slidably make contact with each other in at least part of a space interposed between these two plate-shaped members. 
     The extension portion  244  includes an inner portion  2441 , an outer portion  2442 , a coupling portion  2443 , and a stopper contact portion  2444 . The inner portion  2441  is coupled in the repetition lever  240  on a player&#39;s depth side (flexible portion  220  side) of a large jack  2502 . At a portion where the inner portion  2441  and the repetition lever  240  are coupled together, a rib  246  is provided. The inner portion  2441  interposes the large jack  2502  to cross to extend to a player&#39;s forward side (opposite side to the flexible portion  220 ) of the large jack  2502 . That is, it can also be said that the extension portion  244  crosses the jack  250 . At a portion of the intersection between the inner portion  2441  and the large jack  2502 , the inner portion  2441  includes a linear-shaped protrusion P 1  protruding to a large jack  2502  side. 
     The outer portion  2442  is coupled to the repetition lever  240  on a player&#39;s forward side (opposite side to the flexible portion  220 ) of the jack  250  (large jack  2502 ). The inner portion  2441  and the outer portion  2442  are coupled together at the coupling portion  2443 . The coupling portion  2443  interposes a small jack  2504 . The stopper contact portion  2444  couples to the coupling portion  2443 , and makes contact with the stopper  216  from downward of the stopper  216 . According to this, the stopper  216  regulates a rotation range of the repetition lever  240  to a direction in which the repetition lever  240  and the support  210  spread (upward). 
     The jack  250  includes the large jack  2502 , the small jack  2504 , and a projecting portion  256 . The jack  250  is rotatably disposed with respect to the support  210 . Between the large jack  2502  and the small jack  2504 , a support connecting portion  2505  to be rotatably supported by the jack support portion  2105  is formed. The support connecting portion  2505  has a shape surrounding part of the jack support portion  2105 , and regulates a rotation range of the jack  250 . Also, with the shape of the support connecting portion  2505  and elastic deformation of its material, it is possible to fit the support connecting portion  2505  of the jack  250  into the jack support portion  2105  from above the jack support portion  2105 . The projecting portion  256  projects from the large jack  2502  to a side opposite to the small jack  2504  (to the bent portion  2102  side), and rotates with the jack  250 . The projecting portion  256  includes, on its side surface, a spring contact portion  2562 . The spring contact portion  2562  makes contact with a second arm  2804  of the torsion coil spring  280 . 
     The large jack  2502  includes linear-shaped protrusions P 2  protruding from both side surfaces. The protrusions P 2  slidably contacts the protrusion P 1  of the inner portion  2441  described above. The small jack  2504  includes circular-shaped protrusions P 3  protruding from both side surfaces. The protrusion P 3  slidably contact an inner surface of the coupling portion  2443  described above. As such, with the jack  250  and the extension portion  244  slidably contacting each other via the protrusions P 1 , P 2 , and P 3 , a contact area is decreased. Note that a grease chamber may be formed by forming a groove by a plurality of protrusions P 2 . Also, a protrusion or groove may be formed in a side-surface of the large jack  2502 . 
     In the torsion coil spring  280 , the spring support portion  218  is taken as a fulcrum, the first arm  2802  makes contact with the spring contact portion  242 , and the second arm  2804  makes contact with the spring contact portion  2562 . The first arm  2802  functions as an elastic body which provides a rotational force to the repetition lever  240  via the spring contact portion  242  so as to move a player&#39;s side of the repetition lever  240  upward (in a direction away from the support  210 ). The second arm  2804  functions as an elastic body which provides a rotational force to the jack  250  via the spring contact portion  2562  so as to move the projecting portion  256  downward (to a support  210  side). 
     The spring contact portion  2562  is described in detail under reference to  FIG. 3C  and  FIG. 3D .  FIG. 3C  is a partially enlarged view of a region A 1  of  FIG. 3B .  FIG. 3D  is a drawing of the spring contact portion  2562  when viewed in a D 1  direction. The spring contact portion  2562  includes a hook portion  2568 . The hook portion  2568  includes a curved-surface portion  2566  at a portion which receives a force from the second arm  2804  to rotate the jack  250 . When the jack  250  rotates, the second arm  2804  slidably moves on the curved-surface portion  2566 . Here, since the second arm  2804  extends along a tangent line of the curved-surface portion  2566 , the second arm  2804  and the curved-surface portion  2566  have a contact area which is very small, almost a point contact. 
     The hook portion  2568  regulates movement of the second arm  2804  to a side-surface direction. Of the hook portion  2568 , a surface which regulates movement of the second arm  2804  to the side-surface direction may be formed as a curved surface. With this, as with the curved-surface portion  2566 , a contact area size with the second arm  2804  can be reduced. Since a portion above the curved-surface portion  2566  is open, the second arm  2804  can be easily hooked onto the hook portion  2568 . Note that while an opening portion  2564  is formed in the projecting portion  256  for easy manufacturing by injection molding in this example, this is not necessary depending on the manufacturing method. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view depicting a positional relation of each structure of the support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention. At the position of the jack  250  when the key  110  is not pressed (hereinafter referred to as an initial position), a fulcrum T 1  (spring support portion  218 ) of the torsion coil spring  280 , a rotation center T 2  (jack support portion  2105 ) of the jack  250 , and a point of action (hook portion  2568 ) of the second arm  2804  to the jack  250  have a specific positional relation. The specific positional relation is a relation where the point of action is disposed on a straight line L 1  connecting the fulcrum T 1  and the rotation center T 2 . With this specific positional relation, the elastic force of the torsion coil spring  280  is efficiently transmitted to the hook portion  2568 . Also, the amount of slip between the second arm  2804  and the curved-surface portion  2566  when the jack  250  rotates by a predetermined angle from the initial position can be reduced. Note that the specific positional relation is not restricted to be achieved at the initial position, but may be achieved in the rotation range of the jack  250 . The above is description of the structure of the support assembly  20 . 
     [Operation of Support Assembly  20 ] 
     Next, the support assembly  20  is described when the key  110  is pressed down from the rest position ( FIG. 1 ) to the end position. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view for describing movement of the support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention. When the key  110  is pressed down to the end position, the capstan screw  120  pushes up the support heel  212  to rotate the support  210 , with the axis of the through hole  2109  taken as a rotation center. When the support  210  rotates to move upward, the large jack  2502  pushes up the hammer roller  315  to cause the hammer shank  310  to collide with the hammer stopper  410 . Note that this collision corresponds to string hammering by a hammer in a conventional grand piano. 
     Immediately before this collision, while upward movement of the small jack  2504  is regulated by the regulating button  360 , the support  210  (jack support portion  2105 ) further ascends. Therefore, the large jack  2502  rotates so as to go off from the hammer roller  315 . Here, by the regulating button  360 , upward movement of the coupling portion  2443  is also regulated. In this example, the regulating button  360  has also a function of a repetition regulating screw in the action mechanism in a conventional grand piano. 
     This regulates upward movement of the repetition lever  240 , which rotates so as to approach the support  210 . With these operations, a double escapement mechanism is achieved.  FIG. 4  is a drawing depicting this state. Note that when the key  110  is being returned to the rest position, the hammer roller  315  is supported by the repetition lever  240 , and the large jack  2502  is returned below the hammer roller  315 . A rotational force to cause the large jack  2502  to be returned below the hammer roller  315  is provided by the second arm  2804  via the projecting portion  256 . 
     As such, since a double escapement is achieved with a structure simpler compared with the support assembly for use in a conventional grand piano, manufacturing costs can be reduced while decreasing influences on touch feeling. 
     [Sound Emission Mechanism of Keyboard Apparatus  1 ] 
     As described above, the keyboard apparatus  1  is an example of application to an electronic piano. The operation of the key  110  is measured by the sensor  510 , and a sound in accordance with the measurement result is outputted. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram depicting the structure of a sound emission mechanism of the keyboard apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. A sound emission mechanism  50  of the keyboard apparatus  1  includes the sensors  510  (sensors  510 - 1 ,  510 - 2 , . . .  510 - 88  corresponding to the eighty-eight keys  110 ), a signal converting unit  550 , a sound source unit  560 , and an output unit  570 . The signal converting unit  550  obtains an electric signal outputted from the sensor  510 , and generates and outputs an operation signal in accordance with an operating state in each key  110 . In this example, the operation signal is a MIDI-format signal. Therefore, in accordance with the timing when the hammer shank  310  collides with the hammer stopper  410  by key-pressing operation, the signal converting unit  550  outputs Note ON. Here, a key number indicating which of the eighty-eight keys  110  has been operated and velocity corresponding to a speed immediately before the collision are also outputted in association with Note ON. On the other hand, when key-releasing operation is performed, in accordance with the timing when string vibrations are stopped by a damper in the case of a grand piano, the signal converting unit  550  outputs the key number and Note OFF in association with each other. To the signal converting unit  550 , a signal corresponding to another operation such as one on a pedal may be inputted and reflected to the operation signal. The sound source unit  560  generates a sound signal based on the operation signal outputted from the signal converting unit  550 . The output unit  570  is a loudspeaker or terminal which outputs the sound signal generated by the sound source unit  560 . 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, compared with a keyboard apparatus of an acoustic piano, manufacturing cost of the support assembly can be reduced while changes in touch feeing at the time of key operation are decreased. 
     &lt;Modification Example&gt; 
     While the support heel  212  projects downward from the support  210  (bent portion  2102 ), the support heel  212  does not necessarily project as long as it is disposed on a lower surface side of the support  210 . For example, when the bent portion  2102  is present closer to a first main body portion  2101  side than the above-described embodiment, that is, when the first main body portion  2101  is short, this means that the support heel  212  is present on a second main body portion  2103  side. In that case, this means that the support heel  212  is present on a lower surface of the second main body portion  2103 . 
     While the second arm  2804  is hooked on the hook portion  2568  on the side surface of the projecting portion  256  to provide a rotational force to the jack  250 , the second arm  2804  may be inserted inside the projecting portion  256  to provide a rotational force. In this case, the spring contact portion  2562  may have a hole shape formed inside the projecting portion  256 . As such, the second arm  2804  can make contact with the projecting portion  256  to provide a rotational force to the jack  250 . Also, the projecting portion  256  may not be provided. In this case, a second arm  2804  can provide a rotational force to any location of the jack  250 . 
     In the above-described embodiment, an electronic piano is described as an example of a keyboard apparatus to which a support assembly is applied. On the other hand, the support assembly of the above-described embodiment can be applied to a grand piano (acoustic piano). In this case, the sound emission mechanism corresponds to a hammer and a string. The string generates a sound by colliding a hammer in accordance with key pressing.