Music box device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6323404
  • Patent Number
    6,323,404
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, February 8, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 27, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A music box device whose constitution member is put together into a unit is provided. A pedestal housing 36 for storing therein a spring 38 as well as a pedestal 30 for supporting a spring gear 58 and speed increasing gear trains 32, and 33 of a governor mechanism 24 are formed with synthetic resin mould to be united therewith. A rotating shaft of the speed increasing gear train 32 of the governor mechanism 24 and a rotating shaft 26 of the governor rotating body 25 are supported in cooperation with the pedestal 30 and a spring storage box 36, thus a spring power source unit supplying controlled stable rotating output is constituted.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




The present invention relates to a music box device which plays a vibration plate with pins provided on surface of a rotary drum.




BACKGROUND




A conventional music box, as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,173, includes a KOUBAKO (a spring storage box) storing therein the spring, a rotary drum driven in one direction in accordance with release of stored force of the spring, a sound vibration valve (hereinafter referred to as only vibration plate) sounding while being played with engaging pin provided on the surface of the rotary drum, a governor mechanism for rotating the rotary drum with fixed speed, gear train for coupling the governor mechanism and the spring. Such functional members described-above are mounted directly on a casting metallic frame made of zinc die casting or iron or so forth. Further, a member which includes a part of supporting section of gear train and one side of bearing section that supports a governor rotating body, which member leads a braking section of the governor mechanism from the spring storage box, is formed with synthetic resin in a body.




However, since the bearing section which supports rotary members such as the governor rotating body and respective gears and so forth is integrated with the frame concentrically, shape of the frame becomes complicated, so processing is difficult. Further, a casting metal such as a zinc die casting and so forth to be material of the frame has large coefficient of friction. Accordingly, when a rotary member which rotates in high speed is supported directly on the frame, rotation transfer efficiency of the gears deteriorates, thus the spring with small stored capacity of driving force becomes disadvantage.




So, it is an object of the present invention to provide a music box device in which a bearing section of a rotary member is formed with synthetic resin separately from the frame so as to improve a rotation transfer efficiency of a gear, and in which a spring, a gear train, and a governor mechanism are configured as one body unit to facilitate installation for the frame.




DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION




The music box device concerning the present invention, whose spring drive mechanism and governor mechanism are constituted as a supporting unit formed from a pedestal made of synthetic resin, which is supported independently to be separated from a base frame, therefore, in a few chances, fault of the base frame affects the supporting unit. Thus it is capable of improving drive performance of the music box. Further, when individual fault portion or repair portion in the drive mechanism, the governor mechanism and so forth occurs, partial exchange in every unit becomes possible, thus management cost for repair can be reduced. Furthermore, assembling in every unit of the drive mechanism, the governor mechanism and so forth and parts management become easy, thus it is capable of scheming improvement of production efficiency. In particular, it becomes possible to execute production in every unit of the drive mechanism, the governor mechanism and so forth as well as final assembling to the music box device in the optimum production area respectively, thus it is capable of reducing production cost.




Further, since a bearing section for supporting a speed increasing gear train of the governor mechanism and a governor rotating body is made of synthetic resin as a part of a supporting unit, friction loss of a bearing is reduced, thus it is capable of transferring stored force of a spring in high efficiency without loosing en route for transferring, therefore, it is capable of extending a performance time of the music box.




On the other hand, there is provided a hooking member with which a pedestal and a pedestal housing are engaged in the neighborhood of a transfer gear to prevent separation of a contact close section of U-shaped opening supporting section caused by torque of a rotary drum, and outer periphery of opening section of a spring storage section is formed continuously, further strengthening opening section of the spring storage section while covering the opening section with cylindrical convex edge of the pedestal. Even though the supporting unit is made of synthetic resin, it is capable of preventing deformation caused by repulsion force of the spring, accordingly, it is capable of securing sufficient strength capable of withstanding load caused by spring driving.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a plan view indicating a first embodiment of a music box device concerning the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a side view of supporting unit in the first embodiment of the music box device concerning the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a front view of a spring storage box,side of the supporting unit of the first embodiment of the music box device concerning the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a front view of a pedestal side of the supporting unit in the first embodiment of the music box device concerning the present invention.





FIG. 5

is an exploded perspective view of a unit in a second embodiment of the music box concerning the present invention.





FIG. 6

is a side view indicating relationship between a rotary drum and a bearing frame in fragmentary sectional view in a third embodiment of the music box concerning the present invention.





FIG. 7

is a side view indicating relationship between a rotary drum and a bearing frame in fragmentary sectional view in a fourth embodiment of the music box concerning the present invention.





FIG. 8

is a side view indicating relationship between a rotary drum and a bearing frame in fragmentary sectional view in a fifth embodiment of the music box concerning the present invention.





FIG. 9

is a side view indicating relationship between a rotary drum and a bearing frame in fragmentary sectional view in a sixth embodiment of the music box concerning the present invention.











BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION




Hereinafter, there will be described about an embodiment of a music box device concerning the present invention in accordance with a drawing of the first embodiment.

FIG. 1

is a plan view indicating the whole of music box device


10


.

FIG. 2

is a side view indicating section of a supporting unit


40


. A base frame


12


is formed y drawing of causing metal plate material, for instance, thin steel plate of 1.2 mm thick to be subjected to plastic deformation. Ribs


13




a


,


13




b


,


13




c


, and


14


are provided for the sake of improvement of stiffness. Discontinuity parts of the base frame


12


caused by a lack portion such as hole after cut-raising processing is relieved to keep suitable sound quality. Further, it is also suitable of causing surface of metal plate material to undergo work hardening while performing grain-processing to the surface of the metal plate material to improve intensity and flatness. Here, the grain-processing is that press pressing processing such as coining processing is performed on a surface of metal plate and so forth. According to this processing, grain shaped press patterns are formed uniformly on the whole surface. Furthermore, it is suitable that thickness of the metal plate material is capable of being subjected to plastic processing. Thickness is suitable not more than 3 mm.




Reference numeral


15


is a vibration plate. A vibration plate mounting surface of a vibration plate mounting stand


16


, which is provided at the base frame


12


is formed broader than surface of the base


17


of the vibration plate


15


. The whole surface of the vibration plate base


17


of the vibration plate


15


is fixed firmly with tapping screw


16




a


such that the vibration plate


15


is adhered to the vibration plate mounting surface closely. Thus it is capable of improving sound quality while reducing transfer loss of the vibration due to the fact of causing the part near the base of a valve of the vibration plate at least to be adhered to the vibration plate mounting stand. Further, in the base


19


of the base frame


12


, three points of small areas of convex surface formed at the alienated position mutually that occupy the apexes of a triangle are taken to be mounting stands


20


. Three points without existing on the same straight line demarcate a plane. Even though there are some unevenness on the mounted surface, since the plane demarcated from three points gauges the mounted surface, it is capable of mounting the base frame


12


surely without unstableness, thus making transfer of excellent sound to the mounted body such as jewel box and so forth possible. A protrusion from the base frame


12


of the vibration plate mounting stand


16


is R-shaped portion.




The ribs


13




a


,


13




b


,


13




c


, and


14


stiffen stiffness of the base frame


12


according to plastic deformation processing of thin steel plate. The ribs


13




a


,


13




b


,


13




c


, and


14


are ridge-shaped convex sections whose section continues with arc shaped protruded. A rib group is constituted from two ridges of the ribs


13




a


, and


13




b


elongating to under part of mounted position of a rotary drum


22


from the vibration plate mounting stand


16


, and the rib


13




c


which unites these ribs. The rib group and the vibration plate mounting stand form four-sided section at under side of the vibration plate


15


and the rotary drum


22


. Even though the base frame


12


undergoes stress from its external environment, related position between the vibration plate


15


and the rotary drum


22


does not change easily because the base frame


12


does not curve due to the rib group. Namely, it is prevented fluctuation of engaged distance between pointed ends which are drawn up in a line of a comb-shaped vibration valve


78


formed on the vibration plate


15


and engaging pin


80


set on outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum


22


so that it is capable of being maintained the engaged distance accurately.




Another rib


14


exists while surrounding outer peripheral portion of the neighborhood of the bearing of a worm


27


to be a rotating shaft


26


of a governor rotating body


25


from the vibration plate mounting stand


16


in arc shaped condition. The rib


14


stiffs stiffness of the base frame


12


in the neighborhood of a governor device. Governor operation of a governor rotating body


25


which rotates in high speed of a governor mechanism


24


is not prevented from deformation of the base frame


12


, a rotation of the governor rotating body


25


is stable, thus it is capable of maintaining governor operation surely.




In

FIG. 1

to

FIG. 4

indicating the first embodiment, Reference numeral


30


is a pedestal supporting a speed increasing gear train


34


consisting of composite spur gears


31


,


32


, and


33


, and the worm


27


. Reference numeral


36


is a pedestal housing including a spring storage section


36




a


for storing therein a spring


38


to be drive source of a music box. Reference numeral


39


is a spring winding shaft. Further, FIG.


3


and

FIG. 4

are respective front views of a pedestal


30


and a pedestal housing


36


.




Reference numeral


40


is a supporting unit consists of two members of divided the pedestal


30


and the pedestal housing


36


that are constituted as separated members from the base frame


12


. The supporting unit


40


supports the governor mechanism


24


with the governor mechanism


24


surrounded according to two members of the pedestal


30


divided into the upper and the lower sides in the direction of the shaft of the spring winding shaft


39


as well as the pedestal housing


36


. The governor mechanism


24


includes the speed increasing gear train


34


which radiates the stored force while controlling stored force of the spring


38


to be a spring drive mechanism driving the rotary drum


22


and the spring winding shaft


39


and the spring


38


. Namely, the supporting unit


40


holds the spring drive mechanism and the governor mechanism as separated independent unit from the base frame. Thus, when the spring and the governor mechanism to be a drive source are taken to be one body of unit which is a separated standard unit from the base frame, parts management and assembling become easy. It is capable of reducing product cost. Further, it is suitable that the supporting unit is divided into two members in the direction of an output shaft


70


without dividing into two members in the direction of shaft of the spring winding shaft


39


. Furthermore, the spring winding shaft


39


also can be provided in such a way of causing the spring winding shaft


39


to be parallel to the base of the base frame


12


and to be perpendicular to rotating shaft of the rotary drum.




Both the pedestal


30


and the pedestal housing


36


are made of synthetic resins mould. A connected portion is combined into one body according to an appropriate means such as caulking or adhesion, thus the supporting unit


40


is formed. An opening


50


for bearing for rotationally supporting one side of shaft


66


of the rotary drunk


22


as well as a bearing hole


72


for supporting one end of an output shaft


70


are provided at an outer side surface of the supporting unit


40


. Further, a positioning pin


30




b


for controlling installation position accurately is provided at the base of the supporting unit


40


opposite to the base frame


12


. It is capable of performing easily coupling assembly between another members such as the rotary drum


22


, the output shaft


70


, the base frame


12


and so forth and the supporting unit with accurate position relationship maintained due to the positioning pin


30




b


. Furthermore, the pedestal housing


36


is desirable to be made of synthetic resin. However, when powerful spring is employed, it is suitable to form only the spring storage section


36




a


or the whole of the pedestal housing


36


by press while performing press processing high strength metal plate in order to secure intensity of the spring storage section


36




a.






In the composite spur gears


32


, and


33


of the speed increasing gear train


34


, respective large and small spur gears and the rotating shaft are formed integrately. Bearings of respective rotating shaft are constituted by U-shaped upper-opening supporting sections


42


, and


43


at a bearing support of the pedestal


30


. The rotating shaft is assembled to be supported rotationally while fitting to be inserted the rotating shaft to be thrown down from the opening end section side.




However, the rotating shaft of the composite spur gear


32


is subjected to an interaction both of rotation torque of the composite spur gear


31


, which demarcates one side of the rotating drum


22


integrately integrated with a small bevel gear


65


describe later and braking torque depending on the governor mechanism


24


. The rotating shaft of the composite spur gear


32


develops a tendency to float up while being subjected to force in the direction of the opening-end section of the upper-opening supporting section


42


. The rotating shaft of the composite spur gear


32


is attempted to deviate from stable bearing position. So, concerning the bearing of the composite spur gear


32


, a supporting surface


44


provided at a part of the pedestal housing


36


is set to an opening-end


42




a


of the upper-opening supporting section


42


, so that floating of the rotating shaft caused by force in the direction of the opening-end section is prevented. Namely, the bearing of the composite spur gear


32


is constituted from divided two parts of the side of the pedestal


30


and the side of the pedestal housing


36


.




Further, the force which causes the rotating shaft of the composite spur gear


32


to be forced in the direction of the opening-end section of the upper-opening supporting section


42


, gives load to the pedestal housing


36


in the degree that the force deforms the pedestal housing


36


. Accordingly, there are some possibilities of occurrence of a gap between contacted surfaces with each other while being alienated the supporting surface


44


from the opening-end


42




a


. In order to prevent the occurrence of the gap, it causes a square hole


42




b


to be perforated in the elongated portion toward

FIG. 4

upper side of a bearing support including the upper-opening supporting section


43


which supports the rotating shaft of the composite gear


33


. There is provided an engaging member at the side, of the pedestal housing


36


. The engaging member meshes to be engaged with the square hole


42




b


. The engaging member is a hook


43




a


projecting from a leg base


43




c


elongated toward lower direction of the pedestal housing


36


. When it causes the U-shaped upper-opening supporting section


43


to be stopped up while permitting the leg base


43




c


to be touched to the opening-end surface


43




d


of the upperopening supporting section


43


at the side of the pedestal


30


, the hook


43




a


is inserted into the square hole


42




b


, thus being prevented floating of supporting surface


44


of the pedestal housing. (referring to FIG.


3


and

FIG. 4

)




Further, a leg portion


43




b


with the hook


43




a


is formed with elasticity. When the hook


43




a


is inserted into the square hole


42




b


, outer surface of the leg portion


43




b


comes into contact with an inner surface of the bearing support of the pedestal


30


provided with the square hole


42




b


, thus relative position is decided between two upperopening supporting sections


42


and the supporting surface


44


.




Since a storage section


36




a


of a spring


38


in the pedestal housing


36


is formed with sufficient depth capable of accommodating width of the spring


38


, even though the pedestal


30


is removed from the pedestal housing


36


with the supporting unit


40


disassembled, there is no unexpected accident that released spring


38


flies out of the spring storage section


36




a


caused by free rebounding of remaining stored force.




Further, a lower end portion of the spring storage section


36




a


has a large opening section capable of being inserted the spring


38


easily. An opening-end periphery portion of the opening section is formed continuously. The opening section does not spread further while being deformed caused by rebounding force of the stored spring


38


. Furthermore, in the condition that the pedestal


30


is united with the pedestal housing


36


, an opening section outer periphery surface


37




c


of the spring storage section


36




a


is inserted into a cylindrical convex edge


30




a


provided at periphery of the pedestal


30


. In other words, the cylindrical convex edge


30




a


of the pedestal


30


covers the opening section periphery surface


37




c


of the spring storage section


36




a


. Since the spring storage section


36




a


made of the synthetic resin molding is reinforced, the spring storage section


36




a


has a construction capable of withstanding rebounding force of the spring


38


sufficiently.




A outer end portion of the spring


38


takes the shape of “T”. Thus, the outer end portion is formed broadly. The outer end portion is engaged to be hanged to window hole


37




a


provided at a side wall


37


. Since a rib


37




b


provided along the window hole


37




a


reinforces the side wall


37


at the periphery of the window hole


37




a


, the rib


37




b


secures strength for the sake of spring maintaining. An inner end portion of the spring


38


is engaged to be hanged to a spring winding shaft


39


by a hooking pin


39




a


. On the other hand, the spring winding shaft


39


whose one end portion is protruded from the pedestal


30


while being supported to be inserted into a bearing


60


provided at the pedestal


30


. A protruded end portion of the spring winding shaft


39


is provided with a joining section


39




b


for joining a winding handle of the spring not illustrated. A diminished diameter step portion formed at another end of the spring winding shaft


39


is supported to be inserted into a bearing hole


41


provided at ceiling plate of the pedestal housing


36


, thus the step portion comes into contact with the ceiling plate.




Further, the pedestal housing


36


is provided with a bracket


54


protruding along elongated surface of the ceiling plate. The bracket


54


is provided with a bearing


56


for supporting upper end of a worm rotating shaft


26


of the governor rotating body


25


, and a braking slip surface for braking rotation of the governor rotating body


25


while slipping to be touched to a braking piece


25




a


of the governor rotating body


25


.




The pedestal


30


which constitutes the supporting unit


40


while cooperating with the pedestal housing


36


comprises a bearing


60


for supporting the spring winding shaft


39


which engages with a spring gear


58


in the condition of ratchet-engaging while passing through the spring gear


58


, a spring gear supporting stand


60




b


including a slipping surface


60




a


for supporting the spring gear


58


while slipping to be contacted to the base of the spring gear


58


in the surrounding of the bearing


60


, upper-opening supporting sections


42


, and


43


for supporting rotating shaft of the composite spur gears


32


, and


33


, and a bearing


28


for supporting the governor rotating body


25


capable of rotation, cooperated with a bearing


56


provided at the side of the pedestal housing


36


while supporting lower end of the worm rotating shaft


26


. Further, since a protruded positioning pin


30




b


is provided at the base side opposite to the bearing


28


for deciding position of the supporting unit


40


, it is capable of securing sufficient strength while securing thickness of the pedestal


30


of lower end portion of the worm rotating shaft


26


. Furthermore, the bearing


60


performs positioning between the pedestal


30


and the base frame


12


while cooperating with the positioning pin


30




b


in accordance with engagement with through hole of the base frame


12


.




The spring winding shaft


39


engages to be hooked with an inner end portion of the spring


38


by the hooking pin


39




a


. The spring winding shaft


39


passes through the spring gear


58


. The spring winding shaft


39


constitutes one directional clutch through well known ratchet means


64


cooperated with above spring gear


58


. Further, slipping section of the base of the spring gear


58


is formed at circular shaped protruded surface


58




a


along outer periphery such that slipping resistance is lessened between the base and the slipping surface


60




a


. Further, it is suitable that a slipping surface


60




a


at the side of the pedestal


30


is taken to be slipping protruded surface instead of the circular shaped protruded surface


58




a


of the spring gear


58


.




In the present embodiment, the bearing


60


is engaged directly with the through hole of the base frame


12


. However, it is suitable that cylindrical portion of the spring gear supporting stand


60




b


including the slipping surface


60




a


of the pedestal


60


is protruded to be formed to opposite side to the slipping surface


60




a


, thus engaging with corresponding through hole provided at the base frame


12


.




The music box device


10


constituted in such a,way of described above, the pedestal


30


of the supporting unit


40


is integrated with supporting sections


42


, and


43


by the synthetic resin, therefore, friction loss of the bearing is reduced. So it is capable of transferring stored force of the spring in high efficiency without loosing the stored force halfway. Furthermore, since the supporting unit


40


with sufficient stiffness is fixed to the base frame


12


made of metal plate material with plastic deformation processing through the pedestal


30


, there is effect of further strengthening stiffness of the base frame


12


.




When the supporting unit


40


is mounted on the base frame


12


, a united section


39




b


which couples the spring winding handle is protruded from the base


19


of the base frame


12


, therefore it is capable of performing winding operation of the spring


38


while connecting appropriate handle means not illustrated to a protrusion portion of the spring winding shaft


39


.




Reference numeral


45


is a bearing frame of the rotary drum


22


. The bearing frame


45


is formed in one body while bending a part of elongated portion of the base frame


12


perpendicular to the elongated portion. Further, a flange


68


demarcates one side of end surface of the rotary drum


22


, whose periphery wall of a center hole


69


is formed in the condition of taper surface. The flange


68


capable of rotation is supported at the taper surface of a pointed end of a pivot shaft


46


screwed in a boss section


47


protruded from the bearing frame


45


. A compressed coil spring


48


intervenes between the bearing frame


45


and the flange


68


of the rotary drum


22


, thus being functioned as elastic body for compressing the rotary drum


22


in the thrust direction. The elastic body is not limited to the coil spring.




On the other hand, the small bevel gear


65


engaging with the spring gear


58


, which is integrated with the spring winding shaft


39


, an orthogonal rotating shaft


66


, and the composite spur gear


31


, demarcates one side of end surface of the rotary drum


22


. The rotating shaft


66


is supported to be inserted into the bearing hole


50


provided at a spring storage box side wall


52


of the supporting unit


40


. The spring storage box side wall


52


and rotating surface of the small bevel gear


65


keep slipping condition with appropriate pressing force according to pressurization in the thrust direction due to the compressed coil spring


48


. According to this constitution, vibration transfer loss caused by gap is reduced, as well as the rotary drum


22


is capable of rotating smoothly with stable speed with related position in the shaft direction to the vibration plate


15


maintained accurately.




An output shaft


70


provided in parallel to the rotary drum


22


is supported by a bearing hole


72


of the spring storage box side wall


52


and a bearing hole


71


of the bearing frame


45


. A pinion


73


integrated therewith engages with the composite spur gear


31


to rotate. The pinion


73


supplies power to a mechanical device such as toy or doll not illustrated. When the rotary drum


22


is mounted between the pedestal housing


36


and the bearing frame


45


, the composite spur gear


31


is joined to the speed increasing gear train


34


capable of rotation supported by the supporting unit


40


, thus rotation of the composite spur gear


31


is transferred to a worm gear


75


integrated with a composite spur gear


33


through the composite gear


32


, then rotating the governor rotating body


25


in high speed under predetermined braking. Further, the output shaft


70


is provided according to demand of usage. Thus, when it is unnecessary to supply power to the mechanical device such as a toy or a doll, or when output to the another direction is performed, the output shaft is not required.




Next, there will be described about operation of the music box device


10


concerning the present invention, in the constitution described-above. When a person winds the spring


38


manually while connecting appropriate handle means to the spring winding shaft


39


, rebound force is stored. Since the ratchet means


64


exists, rotation of the spring winding shaft


39


according to winding manipulation is not transferred to the spring gear


58


. When the spring winding shaft


39


is set free while stopping winding manipulation, stored force of the spring


38


is released, the spring winding shaft


39


rotates the spring gear


58


through the ratchet means


64


.




The small bevel gear


65


engaged with the spring gear


58


rotates while interlocking the spring gear


58


together with the composite spur gear


31


and the rotary drum


22


which are integrated with the small bevel gear


65


. At this time, the engaging pin


80


arranged in accordance with specific musical composition on the rotary drum


22


snaps corresponding pointed end of the vibration valve


78


, thus performing an individual scale of the vibration valve


78


. The output shaft


70


rotates simultaneously to output rotation to interlocking mechanism such as for instance a doll not illustrated.




On the other hand, the rotation transferred to the speed increasing gear train


34


rotates the governor rotating body


25


in high speed, thus controlling radiation at one stroke of stored force of the spring


38


due to the friction resistance between the braking piece


25




a


of the governor rotating body


25


and a braking slipping surface


54




a


, to perform rotation of the rotary drum


22


smoothly, thus keeping tempo of the performance appropriately. Since a bearing section for supporting a rotating shaft of a drive mechanism within the supporting unit


40


is integrated with the pedestal


30


and the pedestal housing


36


with synthetic resin, friction resistance of the bearing is reduced, and energy loss of the spring is lessened, thus load is reduced, with the result that it is capable of increasing storing capacity in the predetermined volume.




Next, there will be described a second embodiment of a music box device


110


concerning the present invention referring to FIG.


5


. The music box device


110


does not possess a united supporting unit


40


such as the first embodiment, but possessing two units of a power unit


115


and a governor mechanism unit


116


separated from a base frame


117


. The contour of the power unit


115


constituted according to a spring storage section


114


and a storage section cover


114




a


. The power unit


115


accommodates a spring gear


111


containing a ratchet means not illustrated and a spring winding shaft


113


for engaging to be hooked a spring


112


and an inner end portion of the spring


112


due to a hooking pin


118


while supporting the spring winding shaft


113


capable of rotation. It is suitable that the spring storage section


114


is integrated with the storage section cover


114




a


according to appropriate means such as caulking. Further, the power unit


115


and the governor mechanism unit


116


are united to be fixed to the base frame due to appropriate uniting means such as a screw and so forth. Furthermore, the governor unit mechanism


116


undergoes accurate positioning in that a positioning pin


117




a


is engaged with a positioning hole


116




a


. Moreover,


117




b


,


117




c


,


117




d


are screwing holes of the power unit


115


and the governor mechanism


116


. Reference numeral


119


is a retaining ring for controlling movement in the thrust direction of the spring winding shaft


113


. The common parts to the first embodiment are indicated by the same signs as that of the first embodiment to omit description.




Here, the spring storage section


114


made of metal is formed depending on press drawing processing. The storage section cover


114




a


is made of synthetic resin. The storage section cover


114




a


keeps slipping between the storage section cover


114




a


and the spring gear


111


appropriately, thus supporting the spring gear


111


. In the meantime, the governor mechanism unit


116


stores to be supported a speed increasing gear train and a governor mechanism in the same way as the first embodiment. A housing of the governor mechanism unit


116


whose body portion made of metal is formed while performing press processing, and whose bearing section made of synthetic resin is formed in such a way of outsert molding in order to secure slipping performance of bearing section.





FIG. 6

to

FIG. 9

are a third embodiment to a sixth embodiment indicating relationship between rotary drum and a bearing frame formed on the base frame of the music box device concerning the present invention.

FIG. 6

is the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, a supporting shaft


122


protruded from a bearing frame


121


of a base frame


120


depending on drawing processing supports the rotary drum


22


(


122


) constituted in the same way as the first embodiment. Since a compressed coil spring


123


as a pressurization means pressurizes the rotary drum


122


in the thrust direction, the pivot bearing


46


in the first embodiment becomes useless. It is capable of also employing a leaf spring instead of the compressed coil spring. Another signs indicate that members are common members of the first embodiment.





FIG. 7

is the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, a supporting shaft


131


is protruded from a bearing frame


130


to support a rotary drum


132


. Such a constitution is the same as that of the third embodiment. However, a leaf spring


133


as an elastic body, which is a pressurization means for pressurizing the rotary drum


132


in the thrust direction. The leaf spring


133


intervenes between a side surface of a small bevel gear


134


integrated with the rotary drum


132


and a housing side wall


135


. When the leaf spring


133


is formed in U-shape, it is capable of inserting in the lateral direction after assembly of the rotary drum


132


, so, it is capable of simplifying assembly work.





FIG. 8

is the fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, elastic function


141


as a pressurization means is given to a bearing frame


140


, which protrudes a supporting shaft


142


to support a rotary drum


143


, in the same way as the third embodiment. The elastic function


141


is lower side surface (illustrated in

FIG. 8

) of the supporting shaft


142


of a bearing frame


140


, which is formed by press processing such that surface opposite to the rotary drum


143


becomes thin, thus being easy to undergo elastic deformation. In this case, since there is the elastic function


141


on the bearing frame


140


, it is suitable to provide separately no elastic member.





FIG. 9

is the sixth embodiment. In the sixth embodiment, a rotating shaft


152


capable of rotation, which is protruded from the center of a flange


151


of a rotary drum


150


, which is supported by a bearing frame


153


, and which is pressurized by a compressed coil spring


154


in the thrust direction. The following matters are not illustrated. In the fifth embodiment, a reduced diameter portion capable of rotation formed on the pointed end of a rotating shaft protruded from the flange


151


of the rotary drum


150


is supported by a bearing frame


153


. A leaf spring


133


which is the same as that of the fifth embodiment intervenes between a small diameter bevel gear


155


and a housing side wall


156


, thus pressurizing the rotary drum


150


in the thrust direction. It is suitable that pressurization force is supported by a reduced diameter step portion of a rotating shaft


162


.




In the third embodiment to the sixth embodiment indicated in

FIG. 6

to

FIG. 9

, in the same way as the elastic body according to the compressed coil spring


48


of the first embodiment, pressurization force in the thrust direction pressurized according to various kinds of elastic bodies


123


,


133


,


141


, and


154


accurately maintains position relationship concerning direction of the rotating shaft between the engaging pin


80


provided on the rotary drums


22


,


132


,


143


, and


150


and pointed end of the comb shaped vibration valve


78


, thus guaranteeing smooth rotation. Another constitutions in the third embodiment to the sixth embodiment indicated in

FIG. 6

to

FIG. 9

are capable of being executed while combining any of the first embodiment and/or the second embodiment variously.




INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY




As described above, the music box device of the present invention is of course capable of employing as an ordinary device only. In particular, since the spring drive mechanism and governor mechanism are constituted into independent unit construction separated from the base frame, thus being applicable to not only an device of base frame according to plastic deformation processing, but also various types of device of base frame such as casting metal frame and so forth. Further, since the unit of the present invention can be also applied to as stable supply source of spring power, it is capable of being applied to a toy for instance, as parts material of assemble toys such as plastic model.



Claims
  • 1. A music box device comprising:a base frame; a vibration plate which has a plurality of vibration valves arranged in comb-shape, being fixed to said base frame; a rotary drum which has a plurality of engaging pins arranged in accordance with predetermined musical composition, and said engaging pins snap to be sounded said plurality of vibration valves while engaging with said vibration plate; a spring drive mechanism which has a spring winding shaft for winding a spring, for driving said rotary drum; a governor mechanism which has a speed increasing gear train for increasing speed of rotation of said spring drive mechanism and a governor rotating body positioned at final stage of said speed increasing gear train for governing rotation of said rotary drum; a housing which stores therein said spring, and which forms therein a first bearing section for supporting one end of rotating shaft capable of rotation of said governor rotating body; and a pedestal made of synthetic resin, which forms therein a second bearing section for supporting another end of rotating shaft capable of rotation of said governor rotating body, and which forms therein a supporting member for supporting said speed increasing mechanism capable of rotation, and which is fixed on said base frame and wherein said base frame is made of metal plate material and a plural of ribs are formed in the neighborhood of mounting surface of said vibration plate of said base frame as well as in the neighborhood of said rotary drum, and a part of the rib extends to the second bearing section formed on said pedestal made of resin.
  • 2. A music box device according to claim 1, wherein said pedestal made of resin has a protruded positioning pin that is engaged with said base frame.
  • 3. A music box device according to claim 2, wherein said positioning pin is formed in the neighborhood of a second bearing section formed at said pedestal made of resin.
  • 4. A music box device according to claim 1, wherein said housing forms therein a first spring bearing section for supporting one side of said spring winding shaft capable of rotation, and said pedestal made of synthetic resin forms therein a second spring bearing section for supporting another end of said spring winding shaft capable of rotation.
  • 5. A music box device according to claim 4, wherein said second spring bearing section is inserted to be fitted to a hole formed on said base frame.
  • 6. A music box device according to claim 4, wherein said spring winding shaft provides therein one directional ratchet mechanism which does not transfer rotation of said spring winding shaft on the occasion of spring winding, while when stored force of said spring is released, rotation of said spring winding shaft is transferred, and wherein a slipping section for supporting said one directional ratchet mechanism capable of slipping rotation is formed on circumference with said second spring bearing section as center.
  • 7. A music box device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the base of said ratchet mechanism while slipping to be contacted to said slipping contact section and said slipping contact section is formed on circular shaped convex portion.
  • 8. A music box device according to claim 6, wherein said slipping contact section is provided on end surface of cylindrical portion formed at said pedestal, and said cylindrical portion is engaged with a hole formed on said base frame.
  • 9. A music box device according to claim 1, wherein said pedestal made of synthetic resin forms therein a supporting section having U-shaped opening for supporting rotating shaft capable of rotation of transfer gear constituting said speed increasing gear train, and wherein said housing forms therein a contact close section for preventing floating of rotating shaft of said transfer gear by closing said U-shaped opening while being faced to said supporting section.
  • 10. A music box device according to claim 9, wherein a pedestal side hooking section is formed at said pedestal made of synthetic resin in the neighborhood of said contact close section, and a housing side hooking section for being engaged with said pedestal side hooking section is formed on said housing.
  • 11. A music box device according to claim 9, wherein said storage section for storing said spring is provided with maintaining section for hooking outer end portion of said stored spring at a side wall thereof, and a reinforcement rib is protruded to be provided in the neighborhood of said maintaining section.
  • 12. A music box device according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a storage section for storing said spring and an opening section for inserting said spring into said storage section, further said pedestal made of synthetic resin has cylindrical protruded edge in which said cylindrical convex edge is fitted into an outer periphery of said opening section in the direction of the spring winding shaft, furthermore said cylindrical convex edge covers outer periphery of said opening section.
  • 13. A music box device according to claim 1, wherein said base frame is formed in accordance with plastic deformation processing of metal plate material, and a bearing frame for supporting another side of said rotary drum is formed into one body while bending, a part elongated from said base frame perpendicular to the base frame.
  • 14. A music box device according to claim 13, wherein a drum bearing section provided at said bearing frame supports said rotary drum capable of rotation, and an elastic body for pressurizing said rotary drum in the thrust direction intervenes between said rotary drum and the bearing frame.
  • 15. A music box device comprising:a base frame; a vibration plate which has a plurality of vibration valves arranged in comb-shape, being fixed to said base frame; a rotary drum which has a plurality of engaging pins arranged in accordance with predetermined musical composition, and said engaging pins snap to be sounded said plurality of vibration valves while engaging with said vibration plate; a spring drive mechanism including a spring of drive source for driving said rotary drum; a governor mechanism for governing rotation of said rotary drum; a unit supporting means for supporting independently said spring drive mechanism and said governor mechanism separately from said base frame; and a unit which is supported independently due to said unit supporting means, being arranged on said base frame and wherein said base frame is made of metal plate material and a plural of ribs are formed in the neighborhood of mounting surface of said vibration plate of said base frame as well as in the neighborhood of said rotary drum, and a part of the rib extends to the second bearing section formed on said pedestal made of resin.
  • 16. A music box device according to claim 15, wherein said unit supporting means comprises:a pedestal for supporting said spring drive mechanism as well as said governor mechanism, which pedestal is made of synthetic resin such that said pedestal is capable of being fixed on said base frame; and a housing which has a spring storage section for storing said spring, for supporting said governor mechanism and said spring drive mechanism in cooperation with said pedestal.
  • 17. A music box device according to claim 16, wherein a supporting section of U-shaped opening for supporting rotating shaft capable of rotation of transfer gear constituting speed increasing gear train of said governor mechanism is formed at said pedestal made of synthetic resin, further a contact close section for preventing floating of the rotating shaft of said transfer gear by closing said U-shaped opening in face of said supporting section is formed at said housing, furthermore a pedestal side engaging section is formed at said pedestal made of synthetic resin in the neighborhood of said contact close section, and a housing side engaging section for being engaged with said pedestal side engaging section.
  • 18. A music box device according to claim 16, wherein said spring winding shaft provides therein one directional ratchet mechanism which does not transfer rotation of said spring winding shaft on the occasion of spring winding, while when stored force of said spring is released, rotation of said spring winding shaft is transferred, and wherein a slipping section for supporting said one directional ratchet mechanism capable of slipping rotation is formed on said pedestal.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
10-164330 May 1998 JP
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind 102e Date 371c Date
PCT/JP99/02812 WO 00 2/8/2001 2/8/2001
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO99/62051 12/2/1999 WO A
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number Name Date Kind
315774 Hakins Apr 1885
4557173 Isaka Dec 1985
5543577 Zhu et al. Aug 1996
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number Date Country
S61-18557 Jun 1986 JP
S63-35100 Mar 1988 JP
S63-264792 Nov 1988 JP
H8-50476 Feb 1996 JP
H8-221057 Aug 1996 JP
H8-248951 Sep 1996 JP