Abstract: A system 100, for determining the velocity of a hammer 120 of a keyboard instrument, with a light transceiver 140 and processing circuitry 160. The light transceiver 140 being configured to transmit a light signal to a hammer 120 to measure a hammer velocity, receive a reflected light signal from the hammer 120 indicative of the velocity of the hammer 120 and send an electrical signal to the processing circuitry 160, where the electrical signal is based on the reflected light signal from the hammer 120. The processing circuitry 160 being configured to receive and process the electrical signal so that a time interval between the electrical signal passing through a first trigger point and a second trigger point and the velocity of the hammer 120 can be determined.

Abstract: A system 100, for determining the velocity of a hammer 120 of a keyboard instrument, with a light transceiver 140 and processing circuitry 160. The light transceiver 140 being configured to transmit a light signal to a hammer 120 to measure a hammer velocity, receive a reflected light signal from the hammer 120 indicative of the velocity of the hammer 120 and send an electrical signal to the processing circuitry 160, where the electrical signal is based on the reflected light signal from the hammer 120. The processing circuitry 160 being configured to receive and process the electrical signal so that a time interval between the electrical signal passing through a first trigger point and a second trigger point and the velocity of the hammer 120 can be determined.

Abstract: A system, for determining the velocity of a hammer of a keyboard instrument, with a light transceiver and processing circuitry. The light transceiver being configured to transmit a light signal to a hammer to measure a hammer velocity, receive a reflected light signal from the hammer indicative of the velocity of the hammer and send an electrical signal to the processing circuitry, where the electrical signal is based on the reflected light signal from the hammer. The processing circuitry being configured to receive and process the electrical signal so that a time interval between the electrical signal passing through a first trigger point and a second trigger point and the velocity of the hammer can be determined.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piano hammer for striking the strings of a piano, including a hammer shank and a hammer head, which is covered with a cover along at least part of its peripheral surface. The aim of the invention is to provide an improved piano hammer which can be tuned in a simple and reproducible, especially also reversible, manner. According to the invention, the cover has a varying thickness along the peripheral surface and the hammer head can be adjusted with respect to the position of its peripheral surface with which it impacts the one or more string(s) to be struck.

Abstract: A hammer butt for an upright piano with a half-conical hammer shank hole located on the top of said hammer butt which has a cylindrical-shaped cross section as viewed from the side of said hammer butt flange and a trapezoidal-shaped cross section as viewed from the front of said hammer butt, with the bottom of said half-conical hammer shank hole representing the short side of said trapezoidal-shaped front cross section.

Abstract: A piano hammer comprises an elongate hammerhead having a nose portion defining side surfaces and a felt covering extending about the nose portion with tail portions of the felt covering affixed to the side surfaces. The felt covering defines a substantially elliptical peripheral surface from a top region for striking a piano string to front and back regions. An elongated single or dual layer strip is arranged on the peripheral surface of the felt covering in the top region, extending along the front and back regions to points beyond the hammer equator. The layers of this strip or “voicing tape” are made of a synthetic non-woven fabric material, preferably of the type sold under the registered trademark Pellon.

Abstract: A piano hammer comprises an elongate hammerhead having a nose portion defining side surfaces and a felt covering extending about the nose portion with tail portions of the felt covering affixed to the side surfaces. The felt covering defines a substantially elliptical peripheral surface from a top region for striking a piano string to front and back regions. An elongated single or dual layer strip is arranged on the peripheral surface of the felt covering in the top region, extending along the front and back regions to points beyond the hammer equator. The layers of this strip or “voicing tape” are made of a synthetic non-woven fabric material, preferably of the type sold under the registered trademark Pellon.

Abstract: A piano hammer comprises an elongate hammer head having a nose portion defining side surfaces and a felt covering extending about the nose portion with tail portions of the felt covering affixed to the side surfaces. The felt covering defines a substantially elliptical peripheral surface from a top region for striking a piano string to front and back regions. An elongate strip is arranged on the peripheral surface of the felt covering in the top region, extending along the front and back regions to points beyond the hammer equator. This strip or “voicing tape” is made of a synthetic non-woven fabric material, preferably of the type sold under the registered trademark Pellon.

Abstract: A striking mechanism for a string instrument, such as a piano or a grand piano, which has, for each string, a hammer, which, via a power transmission, is brought to strike the string when the associated key in the keyboard of the instrument is depressed. The mechanism includes first and second checks having, respectively, first and second check zones for, in mutual engagement, stopping and temporarily retaining the hammer during rebound. A magnetic or magnetizable material is placed in each check zone to generate a magnetic field which causes the hammer during rebound to obtain a much safer and softer braking than is the case in conventional striking mechanism. Thus, the risk of the hammer rebounding and striking the string in an unintended repetition strike is eliminated.

Abstract: A hammer head for a piano which is simple in structure and is capable of maintaining a humidity preventive effect for a longer time. The hammer head comprises a hammer body having a hammer felt including two flat surfaces substantially parallel to each other, and a string striking portion for striking a string, and a humidity preventive film adhered on the two flat surfaces of the hammer felt of the hammer body so as to cover the flat surfaces. A method for manufacturing such hammer heads at a low cost is also provided.

Abstract: A keyboard music instrument includes a keyboard, key action mechanisms functionally connected to keys of the keyboard, strings assigned notes of a scale and hammer assemblies for striking the strings. The hammer assemblies have respective hammer heads formed of metallic powder containing synthetic resin so as to exactly regulate the weight to target values.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a unit for displaying on a screen a musical score, keyboard and tone time information to be inputted; a unit for designating the position of the keyboard, and tone time information, respectively displayed on the display unit; a unit for storing musical information produced through designation by the designating unit of the position of the keyboard and tone time information displayed on the display unit; a unit for controlling the display of the musical score, keyboard and tone time information on the screen of the display unit, and for controlling the display of a pattern of musical tone or rest on the musical score on the display unit in accordance with the position of the keyboard and tone time information respectively designated by the designating unit; and a unit for generating a musical tone by reading the musical information stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A piano forte hammer includes an elongated head having a nose defining side surfaces, and a felt body extending about the nose portion, with tail portions of the felt body affixed upon the side surfaces. The tail portions contain a predetermined measured amount of an acrylic copolymer. In preferred embodiments, the hammer is formed by a process including the steps of: providing a first volume of an aqueous solution containing the predetermined measured amount of acrylic copolymer in a slot, disposing a first tail portion of the felt body in the solution, allowing the felt body to draw essentially all of the solution from the slot by natural wicking action, providing a second volume of an aqueous solution containing the predetermined measured amount of acrylic polymer in a slot, disposing a second tail portion of the felt body in the solution in the slot, and allowing the felt body to draw essentially all of the solution from the slot by natural wicking action.

Abstract: The dynamics of a piano performance are measured by measuring the dynamics of each individual note played. This measurement is accomplished by measuring the "near terminal velocity" of the hammer shank associated with each note, the velocity determining the "loudness" of the note. In order to make this velocity measurement without affecting appreciably the "feel" of the piano, a notched shutter is secured to the hammer shank for the particular hammer associated with each note for cooperation with an optical switch (light source and photo cell). When any one note is played, the corresponding hammer shank will move upwardly to cause the hammer to strike the appropriate piano string and in the upward movement, the top of the shutter will intercept the optical switch to generate an initiating signal. This initiating signal starts a count in an electronic counter.

Abstract: In a coupling construction of a wooden base with a striking head of a piano hammer, at least one gap is left between a longitudinal end of the striking head and the longitudinal end face of the wooden base which serves as a refuge for unexpected deformation of the elastic insert, thereby avoiding separation of the striking head from the wooden base and development of cracks in the wooden base when striking the string.

Abstract: A system for adjusting the tonal quality of piano hammers or similar objects consists of incorporating a tensioning device into the device for attaching the string-engaging cover to the hammer so that the stiffness of the cover may be varied. The cover itself may consist of an elastic rubber-like material.