Karakuri - Japanese Automata

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Robotic, automata

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    CONTENTSContents and Cautions2The World of Karakuri

    Mechanical Dolls3Parts in this Kit4Lets Assemble the Cart!6Lets Install the Escapement!9Lets Assemble the Chest Unit! 11Lets Assemble the Motive

    Power Unit! 14Lets Install the Other Parts!19

    The Figure of the Finished

    Mechanical Doll 20Lets Do the Test Run! 21Make Fine Adjustment to Each Part22Check the Move of the Doll23Make the Final Adjustment

    before your Performance24How to Dress the Doll in Kimono25Mechanism of the Karakuri

    Mechanical Doll 26

    The plastic materials used in this kithead (white) : styrene body, tray, tweezers and other brown parts : styrene arms, feet and other white parts : polyacetalguards (transparent) : polyethylene terephthalate handle of the screwdriver : polystyrene small bags (transparent) : polyethyleneWhen you dispose the kit, follow the regulations of each local government.

    CAUTION! Please read the following instructions before using this kit.

    Be careful of handling thin and pointed metal bars contained in this kit. Improper use may cause injury to persons.

    Be careful of handling some metallic parts that are made thin and sharpfunctionally. Improper use may cause injury to persons.

    Be careful not to swallow small parts to avoid suffocation. Be careful not to point your hands and eyes with the screwdriver in this kit to avoidinjury.

    Be careful that your fingers are not caught in a machine while operation. Do not operate the doll on a road to avoid the risk of traffic accidents. Do not break up the mainspring. An inner spring may cause injury to persons.

    Please read the assembly instructions and cautions in this booklet carefully before use.Do not use the parts that are broken or deformed.

    Please handle the doll with good care. The doll may be broken if it is treated roughly. For example, do not shake it with its head down.

    Be careful not to be scalded when the doll serves hot drinks. The colors may fade out of Kimonos when it is exposed to the sun. Keep the doll with care. Do not wash the Kimonos with whites. The colors may be washed off and stain whites.

    The history of Karakuri ("Karakuri" means the mechanism that drives a

    machine.) automatic dolls in Japan began in the early Edo period(1603~1867).The tea-serving doll is the most typical one and it appears in the bookwritten by Ihara Saikaku, a very popular novelist in the Edo period. ThisKarakuri doll kit is produced according to the Karakuri Zui, the onlyexisting manual of Karakuri mechanical dolls written in 1796 by Hosokawa Hanzo, popularly known as Karakuri Hanzo who was an engineer of Tosa domain. Karakuri dolls can be said to be one of the original foams of modern robots. Please enjoy the beauty of Japanese craftsmanship of those days by assembling this kit.

    The World of Karakuri Mechanical Dolls

    07.4.24 5:11 PM 1

  • front chest

    D: 4 pieces of 2-by-10 mmscrews

    C: 5 pieces of 2-by-5 mmscrews with a collar

    B: 3 pieces of 2.6-by-5 mmscrews with a collar

    A: 8 pieces of 3-by-8 mmscrews

    A Variety of Screws

    front wheel rubber

    front wheel

    auxiliarywheel

    large wheel

    rotary wheel B

    reversal stopper B

    rotary wheel A

    adjuster

    rotary plate

    reversalstopper A

    rubberband

    bottom panel

    front wheel bearing

    front wheel connector

    left foot

    Parts in this Kit

    54

    tension spring (small) looped string (small)

    looped string (middle)

    looped string (large)

    tension spring (middle)

    tension spring (large)

    auto-adjustmentpin

    winding knob

    right body

    left body right arm

    leftarm

    lower chest

    upper chest

    escapement

    escape wheel

    escapementbridge

    escapementcock

    neck (right)

    neck joint(upper)

    neck joint(lower)

    neck bridge

    arm shaft

    right foot

    mainspring shaft

    drivingwheel cover

    front wheel bridge

    neck (left)

    For handy usage, put screwson small trays separately.

    both sides adhesive tape

    hakamaskirt

    kimono top 1

    kimono top 2

    lowerguard

    For each size, two springsare contained in this kit. Oneis a spare.

    driving wheel

    chanchanko vest

    upperguard

    head

    teacup

    mainspring

    tray

    tweezers

    screwdriver

    driving wheelrubberIf the driving wheel cover isstuck in the auxiliary wheel,

    please separate each other.

    E: 8 pieces of 2-by-6 mmscrews

    F: 4 pieces of 3-by-6 mmscrews

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  • 77776666

    55554444

    Move the front wheel connectorback and forth and make surethe front wheel turns right andleft smoothly.

    Place the bottom panel with itsface down and turn the screw Ejust a few times at this point.

    Hang the string attached to thetension spring (small) on thehook of the front wheel connectorwith tweezers.

    Connect the front wheel bearingand the front wheel connectorwith the front wheel bridge and fasten with screw Cs.

    Fit the front wheel rubberaround the front wheel. Put thewheel into the front wheelbearing.

    99998888

    bottom panel

    bottom panel(backside)bottom panel

    Be carefulnot to mistakethe hole.

    screw E(2-by-6 mm)

    Screw E is used for adjustment afterward.

    front wheelrubber

    front wheel

    front wheel bearing

    front wheelbearing

    front wheel bridge

    front wheelconnector

    hook

    tension spring (small)

    screw C (2-by-5mm with a collar)

    screw C (2-by-5 mmwith acollar)

    screw C (2-by-5 mmwith acollar)

    Please seep.22 for theadjustment ofscrew E.

    If the front wheel does notmove smoothly, loosen thescrew and make an adjustment.

    Attach the end ofthe front wheelbridge with a foldline to the frontwheel bearing.

    fold line

    Insert each looped string into each tension spring. Pay attention to the combinations.

    Fit the front wheel connector to theprojection of the bottom panel.

    1111

    33332222

    front wheelrubber

    front wheelconnector

    front wheel

    Parts to be used

    looped string (small)

    looped string (middle)

    left foot

    bottom panel

    Screws tobe used

    Put it in until it snaps.

    tension spring (large, middle, small)

    tension spring (small)

    tensionspring(small)

    front wheelconnector

    Make sure thedirection of theconnector is likethis figure.bottom panel

    bottom panel

    Insert a string intothe hole at the tip ofa tension spring.

    Insert the end of a looped stringinto the other end with a knot.

    Pull and fasten it tight to thespring as shown in the figure.

    tension spring (middle)

    tension spring (large)

    a piece of screw E2-by-6 mm

    3 pieces of screwCs 2-by-5 mmwith a collar

    Lets Assemble the Cart!

    76

    Select correct screws since all screws resemble in shape.

    looped string (large)

    driving wheel

    auxiliary wheel

    At this point the frontwheel connector comesoff easily. Pay attentionnot to lose the connector.

    When you use thetweezers it may turnwhite at the pivot,yet it is usable.

    Bend the tensionspring (small) withyour fingers until thestring reaches thehook, then hang the string on the hook.However the front wheel bridge

    might twist reversely at the center, it is no problem.

    Note: In this Lets make thecart section, only tensionspring (small) is used. Atthis time, however, prepareall three tension springs byinserting strings to avoidmistakes, since the three parts look alike and may bemistaken. Keep thesesprings back in the bagswhen they are ready.

    looped string(large, middle, small)

    driving wheelcover driving wheel

    rubber

    front wheel bridge

    front wheel bearing

    Fasten the front wheel bearingto the bottom panel with a screwC.

    right foot

    Insert the tension spring (small)into the socket on the bottomplate.(Put it in completely likethe figure below.)

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  • 1111 2222Set the escape wheel in thesocket of the left body.

    Push the escapement bridge intothe left body.

    Fasten the escapementbridge to the left bodywith screw Es from thebackside.

    left body

    left body

    left body

    screw E (2-by-6 mm)

    screw E (2-by-6 mm)

    screw E (2-by-6 mm)

    escape wheel

    escapewheel

    escape wheel

    escapement bridge

    escapementbridge

    escapement cock

    Lets Install the Escapement!

    3 pieces of screwEs, 2-by-6 mm

    4 pieces of screwFs, 3-by-6 mm

    2 piece of screwCs, 2-by-5 mmwith a collar

    Insert the pointof the shaft in thehole at the bottomof the socket.

    Caution! : This is not the holementioned above.

    Push the projections at the top and the bottom ofthe escapement bridge into the holes of the left body.At the same time, push the shaft of the escape wheelinto the center hole of the escapement.

    1111333311112222

    1111111111110000Put the driving wheel cover onthe driving wheel.

    Fit the driving wheel rubber inthe groove between drivingwheel and driving wheel cover.

    Install feet inside the drivingwheel and auxiliary wheel.

    Attach the auxiliary wheel tothe shaft of the driving wheel.

    Youve finishedthe cart. Keep itas it is until youuse it at p.18.

    auxiliarywheel

    right foot

    guideguide

    left foot

    driving wheelcover

    driving wheel

    driving wheel(Be careful not to install right foot and leftfoot inversely.)

    driving wheel

    Fit the projection of the driving wheel to theholes of the driving wheel cover and snap in.

    Push the shaft of drivingwheel in shaft bearings of thebottom panel.

    The direction ofthe auxiliary wheelis like the figure.

    Cover the projections on the driving wheel and theauxiliary wheel with U-shaped parts of feet.Fit the feet with the guides on the bottom panel.

    98

    Now the cart is completed!

    Select right screws since all screws resemble in shape.

    3333

    escapementdriving wheelrubber

    bottom panel

    Parts to be used

    Screws tobe used

    These three screw Eshave to be fastenedfirmly.

    left body

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  • 1111

    33332222

    Pay attention to thedirection of the neck joint(upper).

    Attach screw Bs on the chest (upper) asthe figure shows. Turn them a couple oftimes and fasten them loose, so that asmall space remains between collars ofscrews and the chest. Fit the projectionof the neck into the groove.

    Hold the chest and the neckas shown in the figure, andfasten them with screw Bs.

    4 pieces of screwEs, 2-by-6 mm

    screw E (2-by-6 mm)

    screw E (2-by-6 mm)

    1 piece of screwD, 2-by-10 mm

    2 pieces of screwBs, 2.6-by-5 mmwith a collar

    screw Bs, 2.6-by-5 mm witha collar

    front chest

    neck(right)

    neck(left)

    flat part

    projection

    projection

    flat part

    flat part

    neck (left) neck (left)

    neck

    neck (right)

    neck joint (upper)

    neck joint(upper)

    Note: Tension springs(middle and large) aregoing to be used. Stringshave already been putthrough these springs atthe Lets assemble thecart! section.

    Lets Assemble the Chest Unit!

    IMPORTANT

    The roll of theescapement

    5555

    Attach four screw F's to the bottom parts of the escapement.

    Place the escapementon the escapementbridge in thedirection like this figure.

    Put the escapementcock on the escapement

    and fasten it with screw Cs.

    Youve finished installingthe escapement to the leftbody. Look at the figure tomake sure that theescapement is correctlyattached.

    The main components of theescapement are two cylindricalparts with pallets attached onthe upper part of the shaft.The escapement controls thespeed of the rotation byhanging the pallets on thewheels. The heavier are thesheet weights around thebottom parts of the shaft, themore slowly the wheel rotates,and the lighter, the faster.

    Now the leftbody iscompleted!

    pallet

    escapement

    escapement bridge

    escapement cock

    screw Cs(2-by-5 mmwith acollar)

    screw Fs (3-by-6 mm )

    1110

    Select right screws carefully since all screws resemble in shape.

    Put the neck joint (upper)between the neck parts (rightand left) and fasten it with ascrew E.

    left body

    left body

    Screws tobe used

    Parts to be used

    upper chest

    upper chest

    tension spring (large)

    tension spring (middle)

    lower chestneck bridge

    neck joint (lower)

    4444

    escapement

    screw Fs (3-by-6 mm )

    6666

    These four screw Fshave to be fastenedfirmly.

    Put the pallet in theescapement.

    pallet

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  • 11110000 11111111

    11112222

    Put the hole of the neck bridgeon the projection of the neckjoint (upper).

    Hang the string of the tension spring (large) onthe hook at the side of the neck with tweezers.

    Youve finished thechest unit. Look atthe figure to makesure if it is correctlyassembled.

    Hold the bridge softly and fit thefront chest in the groove of thelower chest.Turn the screw D foradjustment just a couple of times.

    Now the Chest Unit is Completed!

    neck joint (upper)

    neck bridge

    neck bridge

    neck

    hook

    front chestgroove

    lowerchest

    screw D (2-by-10 mm)

    77776666

    55554444

    99998888

    Check if the neck and the neckjoint (upper) move back andforth smoothly.

    Clatter!

    Turn over the lower chest andput the neck joint (lower) on theprojection of the lower chest.

    Fasten the upper chest andthe lower chest with screw Espaying attention to thedirection of each part.

    Put the neck bridge in the holeof the neck joint (lower).

    Keep the neck bridge down.

    Put tension springs (large andmiddle) into frames on thechest (lower) to the end asshown in the figure.

    Be careful not totake the large sheetspring for middle,because both springshave the same width,although theirlengths are different.

    chest (lower)

    lower chest

    neck joint (lower)

    upperchest

    lowerchest

    neck joint(lower)

    neck bridge

    neck bridge

    tension spring(middle)

    tensionspring(large)

    Pay attention to thedirection. Attach thejoint in this directionand angle as shown inthe figure.

    Screw enough sothat the parts willnot slip out of theplace.

    Pay attentionto the direction.

    Hold the part from the backside withfingers so that you can see the hole.

    Pay attention to the direction.

    screw E (2-by-6 mm)

    screw E (2-by-6 mm)

    1312

    See p.22 for theadjustment of thescrew D.

    Put in the upperpart of the front chestfirst, then, fit thelower part in thegroove below.

    Side View

    Side View

    Side View

    Side View

    Side View

    Bend the tension spring (large) with yourfingers until the string reaches the hook, thenhang the string on the hook with tweezers.

    neck joint (lower)

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  • 3333

    4444

    5555

    Put the mainspring shaft through the rotary plate first, then though thelarge wheel in the direction as shown in the figure.

    Put the rubber band into themainspring shaft to the end sothat the parts dont come apart.

    Attach the reversal stopper B and the rotary wheel B to the large wheel.

    Put the reversal stopperB on the projection of thelarge wheel.

    Fit the rotary wheel Bin the center hole of thelarge wheel.

    Make sure that therotary wheel B turns inthe only one directionclattering.

    1111

    2222

    Attach the adjuster to the rotary plate. Put theadjuster on the projection and fasten with a screw B.

    The adjuster can move leftand right to some extentby loosening the screw B.

    Turn over the rotary plate and attach the reversal stopper A and rotarywheel A in the right direction.

    Place the rotary plate with itsbackside (without a screw) upand put the reversal stopper A onthe projection.

    Fit the rotary wheel A inthe center hole of the rotaryplate.

    Make sure that the rotarywheel A turns to only onedirection clattering. (Themechanism a wheel can turnonly in one direction likethis, is called ratchetmechanism.)

    8 pieces of screwAs, 3-by-8 mm

    1 piece of screw D,2-by-10 mm

    1 piece of screw B, 2.6-by-5 mm with a collar

    screw B (2.6-by-5 mm with a collar)

    large wheel

    large wheel

    large wheel

    rotary plate

    rubber band

    rubber band

    rotary plate

    mainspring shaft

    mainspring shaft

    rotary wheel Brotarywheel B Clatter!

    rotary wheel Brotary wheel A

    reversal stopper Breversalstopper B

    rotary wheel A

    rotary plate

    Put it on tothe end.

    reversal stopper A rotarywheel A

    reversal stopper A

    rubber band

    mainspring

    adjuster

    adjuster

    arm shaft

    Lets Assemble the Motive Power Unit!

    1514

    At this point, fastenthe adjuster temporarilywith a screw B. See p.22for the adjustment of thescrew.

    Side view islike this figure.

    Select right screws since all screws resemble in shape.

    rotary plate

    rotary plate

    large wheel

    Screws tobe used

    Parts to be used

    right body

    mainspring shaft

    Clatter!

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  • 11110000

    11111111

    Insert the mainspring shaft into the center hole of the mainspring, whileholding up the neck joint (lower) so that it isnt in the way.

    Fasten a screw D for adjustment to the arm shaft loose. Then, put the armshaft through the front chest till the tip comes out from the hole of the rightbody.

    6666

    8888 9999

    7777Attach the mainspring to theright body in the direction likethe figure below.

    Attach the chest unit finishedat p.13 to the right body.

    Fasten the chest unit to theright body with screw As.

    Fasten the mainspring to theright body with screw As.

    1716

    right body

    right body

    chest unit

    right body

    mainspring mainspring

    screw A (3-by-8 mm)

    screw A (3-by-8 mm)

    screw A (3-by-8 mm)

    screw A (3-by-8 mm)

    largeprojection

    smallprojection

    small projection

    Fasten thesetwo screw As alittle bit looseand leave a roomto screw firmlyas a finishing.

    These twoscrew As have tobe fastenedfirmly, nottemporarily.

    Put four projectionsof the chest unit in theholes of the right body.

    Fit the two smallprojections of mainspringin the holes of the rightbody.

    Put your finger throughthe front chest and push theneck bridge to raise the neckjoint (lower).

    After the mainspring shaft was put in, the neckjoint (lower) goes between the rotary plate and thelarge wheel as shown in the figure.

    mainspring shaft

    arm shaft

    screw D (2-by-10 mm)

    neck joint (lower)

    mainspring

    push

    go up

    See p.22 for theadjustment of thescrew.

    Screw just four or five timesto fasten loose.

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  • Install the auto-adjustment pin. Insert the head into the neckand insert the both arms intothe tray. Now youve done!

    1111

    3333 4444

    2222Hang the string of the tensionspring (middle) on the hook ofthe arm shaft.

    Attach the right and the leftarms to the arm shaft and fastenwith screw Ds.

    tray

    tray

    hook

    tension spring (middle)

    head

    auto-adjustment pin

    right arm

    right arm

    left arm

    left arm

    Lets Install Other Parts!

    2 pieces ofscrew Ds2-by-10 mm

    screw D(2-by-10 mm)

    screw D (2-by-10 mm)

    11113333 11114444

    11112222Attach the left body to the chest unit.

    Place the body unit youassembled above on the cartyouve finished on page 8.

    Fasten the right body andthe left body with screw Asfrom the backside of the cart.

    19

    screw A (3-by-8 mm)

    screw A (3-by-8 mm)

    screw A (3-by-8 mm)

    screw A (3-by-8 mm)

    Fasten these two screw Asa little bit loose and leave aroom to screw firmly as afinishing.

    Fasten these two screw As a little bit loose atthis point. Make sure that there is no distortionall over, then fasten screw As (not only the twoscrew As fastened now but also screw Asfastened loose at 9 and 12) again firmly.

    Put four projectionsof the chest unit in theholes of the left body.

    Put six projections of the left body and theright body in the holes of the cart firmly.

    The projection of the mainspring comes tothe front.

    Thrust the tips of the arm shaft and the mainspring shaft out of the holes of the left body.

    left body

    Bend the tensionspring (middle) withyour fingers untilthe string reachesthe hook, then hang the string on thehook with tweezers.

    Put the point of the pin in the hole ofthe escapement bridge first, and thensnap it to fit in the groove between thearm shaft and the lower chest.

    auto-adjustment pin

    18

    bottom panel

    Screws tobe used

    Parts to be used

    Snap!

    head

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  • 44443333

    22221111

    66665555

    After the doll goes straight for awhile, it makes a bow. Then, takethe teacup and the doll stops.

    After the turn, it goes straight. When the doll gets back tothe starting point, take theteacup and the doll stops.

    When you put the teacup onthe tray, the doll startsmoving. First, it goes straight.

    Lets Do the Test RunCheck the action of each partbefore you dress the doll.

    The Finished Mechanical Doll

    2120

    Return the teacup on the trayand the doll starts movingagain. Then, it makes a turn.

    Do not fill the cup withtea during the test so thatthe tea might not be spilt.

    When you dont use the doll for a long time

    1. Be sure to take off the teacup from the tray, otherwise the tensionspring might deteriorate and become useless.2. Be sure to leave the mainspring unwound. Loosen it completely. It might become out of order, if it is left wound for a long time.

    Set the doll on the flat place andwind up the mainspring with thewinding knob.

    projection

    screw C(2-by-5mm witha collar)

    front wheel bridge

    front wheel connector

    CHECKtension spring

    CHECKfront wheel connector&front wheel bridge

    CHECKescape wheel&auto-adjustment pin

    CHECKdriving wheel&large wheel

    CHECKbottom panel(backside)

    projection

    (backside)

    (backside)

    07.4.24 5:11 PM 19

  • 1. The angle of the neckAdjustthe screw at the chest.

    the screw foradjustment

    adjuster

    2. The angle of the tray Adjust thescrew at the arm shaft.

    3. CourseAdjust the screw atthe bottom panel.

    4. The angle of the turnMove theadjuster at the rotary plate.

    The screw at the front chest is to adjustthe neck angle. Turn it clockwise orcounterclockwise to adjust.

    When you turn the screw clockwise,the doll looks downward.

    When you turn the screw counter-clockwise, the doll looks upward.

    When you turn the screw clockwise,the arms go up.

    When you turn the screw counter-clockwise, the arms go down.

    Adjust the angle of the tray so that itbecomes level when you put on theteacup.

    Loosen the screw before you move theadjuster. Adjust the angle of the turn.Look at the consecutive action of the dolland adjust so that it makes good turn.

    Adjust the doll so that it goesstraightforward. (If you dont make thisadjustment, the doll tends to gorightward.) When the doll doesnt gostraight, adjust this screw.

    These are the three basic moves of the doll.1. The doll starts moving when the teacup is puton the tray and stops when the teacup is taken.2. The doll goes straight about a fixed distance(90 cm at the longest).3. The doll turns after it makes a bow.

    Before your performance in front of guests, test a couple of times and grasp how each part works, howlong the doll moves and how it turns. Then make fine adjustments to each action as follows if necessary. If the doll moves as follows, youve made good adjustments. Check it now!

    Make Fine Adjustments to each part

    When you turn the screwclockwise, the doll goes rightward.

    When you turn the screw counter-clockwise, the doll goes leftward.

    When you move the adjusterrightward, the angle of theturn becomes larger.When you move the adjusterleftward, the angle of theturn becomes smaller.

    Wind up themainspring. Putthe teacup on thetray. Then, the armgoes down, the auto-adjustment pinbecomes off and thedoll starts moving.First, the doll goesstraightforward.

    When the doll makesa bow, pick up theteacup. Then, thearms go up, the auto-adjustment pin iscaught between thecogs of theescapement wheeland the doll stops.

    When youreturn theteacup on thetray, the dollstarts againand makes aturn this time.

    When the dollcomes back,pick up theteacup. Then,the doll stops.This is the endof a series of moves.

    5

    1 1

    2

    3

    Check the Move of the Doll

    2322

    Loosen thisscrew to movethe adjuster.

    Before you makethis adjustment,unwind themainspring.

    rotary plate

    Removethe head.

    the screw foradjustment

    After making aturn, the dollgoes straight.Now the dollrepeats thesame move as

    actually.

    4

    the screw foradjustment

    07.4.24 5:11 PM 21

  • 24

    How to Dress the DollBefore you start dressing

    Dress the kimono tops.1

    Dress the hakama skirt.2

    2. Put each arm through sleeves of thekimono top 1 and the 2. Peel the thinpaper from the adhesive tape and pastethe both sides of kimono tops together atthe back.

    2. Bring the back laces to the front and tie them atthe front. (Cover the back knot with the hakama skirt.Make the back part higher and the front part lower.)

    3Take off the head. Turn thevest upside down and put theboth arms through sleeveholes as shown in the figure.Dress the vest as it covers theneck. Tie the laces. (If thefront knot comes out forward,fasten with an adhesive tape.)Put the head on again. Nowyouve finished!

    Align thecollars ofboth tops.

    Parts to be used

    hakamaskirt

    both sideadhesive tape

    kimonotop 1

    kimonotop 2

    chanchankovest

    Dress the chanchanko vest. Finished!

    Make the Final Adjustment Before your Performance

    Note: If the front iscrossed too tight,the doll cant bow.Check if the neckcan move back andforth before youfasten the frontwith a tape.

    the front part lower

    the backparthigher

    Take off the headand dress thechanchanko vest.

    Tie thefront laces.

    Attach the tray. Becareful that the front lacesdo not touch the tray.

    2222

    Put on guards (upper andlower) beforehand so thatthe dress is not caught inwheels.

    Wind up the mainspring.

    1111

    When you wind up the mainspring, the adjuster at the rotary plate comes tothe position shown in the figure below. Turn the rotary plate clockwise andchange the position to suite the distance between you and the guest. (Themore you turn, the less the distance becomes. Take a look at the figurebelow and adjust the distance.)

    Note: Keep the screw of theadjuster as it is. (Do not loosen itand change the position of the adjuster itself.)

    When the mainspring is wound,the adjuster comes to this position.The doll goes straight about 90 cm(the longest) if you set the doll inmotion in this condition.

    When the adjuster is at thisposition, the doll goes straightabout 45 cm.

    Be sure to turn the rotaryplate always clockwise.

    Pay attentionto the direction.

    When you finish the adjustments onp.22, make the final adjustment beforeyou show the doll to your guest.(Thisadjustment is possible after the doll isdressed. In that case, pull the hakamaup.)

    If the doll doesnt move successfully after all adjustments, check the following points.The doll starts right after you wind up themainspring without putting the teacup on

    the tray. The tension spring (middle)might not be working well. Knot the stringtwice and make the loop smaller or changethe tension spring (middle) with a spare.

    The doll doesnt go straight after the turn.The tension spring (small) might not beworking well. Knot the string twice andmake the loop smaller or change the tensionspring (small) with a spare.

    The doll bows from the beginning. Thetension spring (large) might not be workingwell. Knot the string twice and make theloop smaller or change the tension spring(large) with a spare.

    The doll doesnt make a bow at all.If thedoll is dressed already and if it is too tightaround the neck, the doll cant bow. In thiscase, loosen the Kimono a little so that thedoll can move the neck.

    guard (upper)

    guard (lower)

    Check the collar, the nape, the neckline and the positionof the hakama skirt. If they are all right, cut the rest of theadhesive tape and fasten the front with it.

    Adjust the distance between thestarting point and where the doll bowsin front of your guest.

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    1. Unfold the hakama skirt and putthrough the doll from the bottom. Bringthe front laces back and tie them at theback.(Tie the laces at the height as shownin the figure below. Adjust the skirt sothat the insteps come out a little bit.)

    1. Cut a both side adhesivetape into 10cm. Put it on theinside of the back margin ofthe kimono top 1 (the leftside when you face it).

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  • The mechanism of theshuffle walkWhile the doll is moving, its feet moveback and forth. It looks as if the dollconforms to the manners of the teaceremony and shuffles forward. Thisunique walk style is realized by thecrank movement made by the pivotscontrolling the move of each foot,since their shafts are not aligned withthe center of the driving wheels. The"Karakuri Zui" instructs that the leftpivot should be attached forward andright pivot backward.

    27

    What mechanisms make this doll move?

    The mechanism of going straightWhen the mainspring loosens, it generates power.This power first effects on the No.1 wheel. Thiswheel has 80 cogs. The power is transmitted to theNo.2 wheel, and it has 12 cogs. Based on thecalculation, the No.2 wheel turns about 7 timeswhile No.1 wheel turns once. After 5 turns,however, the projection at the rotary plate beginsto push the front wheel. The doll moves about 18cm while the No.2 wheel turns once, so it goesstraight about 90 cm long before the projectioncatches the front wheel (and the doll begins toturn). For the mainspring, the Karakuri Zuispecifies that a whale fin should be used.

    No.1 wheel

    The mechanism of a start and a stop

    The mechanism of a turnWhat takes on a turn is the little wheel at thebottom. The angle of the wheel decides the course ofthe doll just like the front wheel of a tricycledetermines its route. The angle of the wheel changesby being pushed by the rotary plate. The dollcontinues to turn right while the wheel is pushed.When the front wheel connector gets off theprojection, the wheel goes back to the former positionand the doll goes straight. You can control the angleof the turn by adjusting the projection.

    This karakuri doll is basically modeled after the mechanisms described in theKarakuri Zui. The very best technologies of the Edo period(1603~1867) are appliedto the mechanisms of the doll.

    26 References:Tachikawa, Shoji, Yomigaeru Karakuri (The Revival of the Karakuri Mechanism): NTT Publishing Company.Tachikawa, Shoji and coauthors, Zusetu Karakuri (The Illustrated Karakuri Mechanism): Kawade Syobo Shinsha Publishing Company.

    What takes on the switching system for a start and a stop

    is the auto-adjustment pin connected with the arms. (Thein the figure of the "Karakuri Zui") When you put the

    teacup on the tray, the arms go down and the pin goes up.This pin plays the role of the stopper for the cogwheel.When the pin goes up, the stopper becomes off and thecogwheel starts turning. When you take the teacup, thearms go up and the stopper works and the cogwheel stops.

    The mechanism of adjusting the speed

    What controls the speed is a cogwheel at the backpart called gyojirin. (See the picture.) Beingcaught in the cogwheel, the two stoppers at theescapement controls the rotation. The technology used for the escapement of aJapanese clock is applied to thismechanism. The sheet weightsaround the speed control bar havemade the finer speed control possible.

    This doll makes a bow politely when it brings acup of tea to the guest. What a charming actionit is! The part that controls this action is therotary plate. When the projection catches thepart extended from the neck, the front of theneck is pulled and the head goes down. Whenthe projection gets out of the place, the neck isreleased and the head goes back to the formerposition. Since the rotary plate also controls thefront wheel, the doll always makes a bow beforeit makes a turn coordinately.

    The mechanism of a bow

    Mechanisms of the Karakuri Mechanical Doll

    No.2 wheel

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