Leads and methods for manufacturing leads

Abstract

Controlling the characteristics of the lead. [Solution] A lead comprising: a first region comprising a first material, extending from heel to tip and constituting the external shape of the lead; and a second region comprising a second material different from the first material, adjacent to the first region within the external shape of the lead. This allows for anisotropy in the rigidity of the lead and control over the lead's properties. By adjusting the shapes of the first and second regions and the properties of the first and second materials, the lead's properties can be adjusted to the user's desires.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a reed for a wind instrument and a method for manufacturing the same.

Background Art

[0002] A reed attached to a mouthpiece of a wind instrument is generally formed of a plant material called cane. In recent years, reeds formed of resin materials have also been developed (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to reduce the variation in characteristics between individuals, forming a reed composed of a resin material by a 3D printer has been considered.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to control the characteristics of the reed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a reed is provided that includes a first material and extends from a heel to a tip to form a first region that constitutes an outer shape of the reed, and a second region that includes a second material different from the first material and is adjacent to the first region within the outer shape of the reed.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a lead is provided which comprises a first region comprising a first material and extending from the heel to the tip to constitute the external shape of the lead, and a second region comprising a second material different from the first material and within the external shape of the lead, adjacent to the first region and wider than the first region in plan view.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a lead is provided, which includes obtaining data including a first parameter for forming a lead, a second parameter different from the first parameter, and a third parameter different from the first and second parameters; forming a portion of a first region, comprising a first material and extending from heel to tip to constitute the external shape of the lead, based on the first parameter; forming an adjacent second region, comprising a second material different from the first material and extending along the portion of the first region within the external shape of the lead, based on the second parameter; and forming the remaining portion of the first region, comprising the first material and constituting the external shape of the lead, based on the third parameter.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a lead is provided, which includes: obtaining data including a first parameter for forming a lead and a second parameter different from the first parameter; forming a portion of a first region, comprising a first material and extending from heel to tip to constitute the external shape of the lead, based on the first parameter; forming a second region, comprising a second material different from the first material, within the external shape of the lead, adjacent to the first region and wider than the first region in plan view; and forming the remaining portion of the first region, comprising the first material and constituting the external shape of the lead, based on the third parameter. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the characteristics of the lead can be controlled. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This figure shows the mouthpiece of a musical instrument to which a reed is attached, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows the lead and mouthpiece related to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a top view of the lead in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of the lead shown in Figure 3, along the line A1-A2. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart showing an example of a lead manufacturing method according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the lead produced by the manufacturing flow shown. [Figure 7] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the lead produced by the manufacturing flow shown. [Figure 8] This is a top view of a lead according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view of the lead shown in Figure 8, along the line A3-A4. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view along A5-A6 of the lead shown in Figure 8. [Figure 11] This flowchart shows an example of a method for manufacturing leads according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the lead produced by the manufacturing flow shown. [Figure 13] This diagram illustrates the lead produced by the manufacturing flow shown in Figure 11. [Figure 14] This is a top view of the lead according to Modification 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are examples, and the present invention is not construed as being limited to these embodiments. In the drawings referred to in this embodiment, the same parts or parts having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals or similar reference numerals (reference numerals with A, B, etc. attached after the numbers), and the repeated description thereof may be omitted. The drawings may be schematically described such that the dimensional ratios are different from the actual ratios or a part of the configuration is omitted from the drawings in order to clarify the description.

[0013] The reed in one embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a single reed used for a saxophone. The reed contains a resin material.

[0014] <First Embodiment> [Configuration of Reed] FIG. 1 is a view showing the blowing portion 1 of an instrument to which a reed 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached. In FIG. 1, as an example of the blowing portion 1, the blowing portion of a saxophone is shown. Also, in FIG. 1, an example of the case where the blowing portion 1 is viewed from the side is shown. FIG. 2 is a view showing the reed 10 and the mouthpiece 30 according to the present embodiment.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the blowing portion 1 includes a reed 10, a mouthpiece 30, and a ligature 80. The ligature 80 is a member that fixes the reed 10 and the mouthpiece 30.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the mouthpiece 30 includes a table 3 + 01, side rails 303, and a tip rail 300. The two side rails 303 extend from the table 301. The tip rail 300 extends from the two side rails 303. The tip rail 300 is disposed at the end of the side rail 303.

[0017] The lead 10 includes a base portion 101 and a vamp 103. As shown in Figure 2, the base portion 101 includes a top portion 151, a back portion 153, a tip 155, and a heel 157. The top portion 151 is located on at least one side of the base portion 101. The back portion 153 is the side opposite to the top portion 151. In this example, the back portion 153 corresponds to at least a portion of the plane that contacts the table 301 when attached to the mouthpiece 30. The heel 157 is the end of the base portion 101 located opposite the vamp 103.

[0018] The vamp 103 extends from the base material 101 on the side opposite to the heel 157. That is, the vamp 103 is located at one end of the lead 10 in the longitudinal direction D1. The vamp 103 has a tip 155 on the side opposite to the base material 101, and its thickness gradually decreases toward the tip 155.

[0019] Figure 3 is a top view of lead 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of lead 10 shown in Figure 3 along A1-A2.

[0020] As shown in Figure 3, the lead 10 includes a first region 131 and a second region 133. The first region 131 contains a first material and extends from the heel 157 to the tip 155, forming the outer shape of the lead 10. The second region 133 contains a second material different from the first material and is adjacent to the first region 131 within the outer shape of the lead 10.

[0021] In this embodiment, both the first material and the second material contain a first component and a second component. However, the ratio of the first component to the second component differs between the first material and the second material. In this embodiment, the first component is a first resin, and the second component is a second resin different from the first resin. In other words, the composition ratio of the first resin and the second resin differs between the first region 131 and the second region 133. As the first resin, for example, polycarbonate, nylon, etc., can be used. As the second resin, for example, polypropylene, etc., can be used. However, the first resin and the second resin are not limited to these, and can be appropriately selected from ABS resin and engineering plastics such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) resin, polyetherimide (PEI) resin, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resin. In this embodiment, the elastic modulus of the second region 133 is different from the elastic modulus of the first region 131. In other words, the elastic modulus of the second material is different from the elastic modulus of the first material.

[0022] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second region 133 is surrounded by the first region 131 and is not exposed to the outside. In this embodiment, the second region 133 includes a first longitudinal region 133a and a second longitudinal region 133b. The first longitudinal region 133a and the second longitudinal region 133b each extend longitudinally and are spaced apart from each other. The first distance d1 between the first longitudinal region 133a and the second longitudinal region 133b at a first position closer to the heel 157 than the vamp 103 is smaller than the second distance d2 between the first longitudinal region 133a and the second longitudinal region 133b at a second position closer to the tip 155 than the first position.

[0023] In other words, the first longitudinal region 133a extends from the heel 157 side along the longitudinal direction D1 of the lead 10, and at the tip 155 side of the vamp 103, it extends away from the second longitudinal region 133b toward one side of the short direction D2 of the lead 10. The second longitudinal region 133b extends from the heel 157 side along the longitudinal direction D1 of the lead 10, and at the tip 155 side of the vamp 103, it extends away from the first longitudinal region 133a toward the other side of the short direction D2 of the lead 10. Hereinafter, when the first longitudinal region 133a and the second longitudinal region 133b are not distinguished, they will simply be referred to as the second region 133.

[0024] As described above, in this embodiment, the composition ratios of the first resin and the second resin in the first and second materials are adjusted to be different from each other. This imparts anisotropy between the rigidity in the longitudinal direction D1 and the rigidity in the short direction D2 of the lead 10, so that the rigidity in the longitudinal direction D1 of the lead is greater than the rigidity in the short direction D2, thereby controlling the properties of the lead 10. Furthermore, by adjusting the composition ratio of the first resin and the second resin in the first and second materials, the shapes of the first region 131 and the second region 133, and the properties of the first and second materials, the properties of the lead 10 can be adjusted to the user's desires. In addition, if the elastic modulus of the second region 133 is made smaller than the elastic modulus of the first region 131, the second region 133, which has a relatively lower elastic modulus, is located near the end of the lead 10 in the short direction D2, especially on the tip 155 side. Therefore, the reproducibility of the movement of the plant material lead by the lead 10 is improved.

[0025] [How to manufacture leads] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a manufacturing method for the lead 10 according to this embodiment. The lead 10 is manufactured by a 3D printer. Figures 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating the lead 10 manufactured by the manufacturing flow shown in Figure 5. Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the lead 10 shown in Figure 3 along A1-A2, similar to Figure 4.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5, first, data including the first, second, and third parameters for forming the lead 10 is acquired (S501). The first parameter is for forming a portion of the first region 131 in the lead 10 using a 3D printer. The second parameter is for forming the second region 133 in the lead 10 using a 3D printer. The third parameter is for forming the remaining portion of the first region 131 in the lead 10 using a 3D printer. The first, second, and third parameters include, for example, the extruder's movement speed, temperature, layer thickness (layer height), line width, and bed temperature, respectively. These parameters are pre-set appropriately according to the shape of the lead 10, the shape of the second region 133, the types of the first and second materials and their physical properties, etc.

[0027] Next, as shown in Figure 5, a portion of the first region 131 is formed using a 3D printer based on the first parameter (S503). As described above, the first region 131 includes the first material. As shown in Figure 6, in this embodiment, a portion of the first region 131 has a predetermined thickness in the thickness direction of the lead 10 from the back surface 153 of the lead 10. The thickness direction of the lead 10 is the direction from the back surface 153 of the lead 10 toward the top surface 151 of the lead 10. The thickness direction of the lead 10 is also perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D1 and the short direction D2 of the lead 10. The portion of the first region 131 formed by the process in S503 has two grooves 601 spaced apart from each other. The shapes of the two grooves 601 correspond to the shapes of the first longitudinal region 133a and the second longitudinal region 133b of the second region 133 of the lead 10, respectively.

[0028] Next, as shown in Figure 5, a second region 133 is formed using a 3D printer based on the second parameter (S505). As described above, the second region 133 contains a second material different from the first material. As shown in Figure 7, the second region 133 is formed by filling two grooves 601 formed in a part of the first region 131 formed in the S503 process with the second material.

[0029] Next, as shown in Figure 5, the remaining portion of the first region 131 is formed using a 3D printer based on the third parameter (S507), and the lead 10 shown in Figures 3 and 4 is formed. As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, the remaining portion of the first region 131 includes the upper surface portion 151. In the process of S507, the remaining portion of the first region 131 is formed on the first region 131 formed in the process of S503 and on the second region 133 formed in the process of S505. When the upper surface portion 151 is formed, that is, when the entire outer shape of the lead 10 is formed, the manufacturing of the lead 10 by 3D printer is completed.

[0030] By forming the lead 10 with a 3D printer in this way, it is possible to efficiently manufacture lead 10 with controlled characteristics and improve yield.

[0031] <Second Embodiment> In the lead 10 of the first embodiment described above, the second region 133 had a shape that extended from the heel 157 side along the longitudinal direction D1 of the lead 10. However, the shape of the second region 133 is not limited to the shape in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, a case in which the shape of the second region differs from the second region 133 in the first embodiment in a plan view will be described.

[0032] [Lead structure] Figure 8 is a top view of lead 10A according to the second embodiment of the present invention and a partially enlarged view of a part thereof. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of lead 10A shown in Figure 8 along A3-A4. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of lead 10A shown in Figure 8 along A5-A6. The external shape of lead 10A is the same as the external shape of lead 10 according to the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description of identical or similar components is omitted.

[0033] As shown in Figure 8, the lead 10A includes a first region 131A that constitutes the external shape of the lead 10A, and a second region 133A adjacent to the first region 131A within the external shape of the lead 10A. The first region 131A contains a first material and extends from the heel 157A to the tip 155A. The second region 133A contains a second material different from the first material. The second region 133A is wider than the first region 133A in plan view.

[0034] Similar to the first embodiment, in this embodiment as well, the first material and the second material are different from each other. In this embodiment, the first material includes a resin, and the second material is a gas. For example, the second material is air. The second region 133A is surrounded by the first region 131A and is not exposed to the outside. In other words, the second region 133A is a void surrounded by the first region 131A. In this embodiment, the elastic modulus of the second region 133A is different from the elastic modulus of the first region 131A.

[0035] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the first region 131A has multiple wall portions 135A. One wall portion 135A, together with an adjacent wall portion 135A, forms a hexagonal wall surrounding the second region 133A in plan view. In other words, one wall portion 135A, together with an adjacent wall portion 135A, forms a honeycomb structure surrounding the second region 133A. The multiple wall portions 135A are provided inside the outer shape of the lead 10A, extending from the heel 157A to a part of the vamp 103A.

[0036] As shown in the cross-sections of the lead 10A in Figures 9 and 10, multiple wall portions 135A are provided integrally with the back surface 153A of the lead 10A. The top surface 151A is positioned to be in close contact with the ends of each wall portion 135A. The second region 133A is surrounded by multiple wall portions 135A and separated from adjacent second regions 133A. In other words, the outer circumference of the second region 133A is in contact with the first region 131A. In this embodiment, the wall portions 135A may be integral with the top surface 151A. In this case, the back surface 153A is positioned to be in close contact with the ends of the wall portions 135A. Also, as shown in Figure 10, the height of the wall portions 135A differs from the height of the wall portions 135A in the base material portion 101A excluding the vamp 103A, depending on the thickness of the vamp 103A. Here, the height of the wall portions 135A is the height in the thickness direction of the lead 10A.

[0037] In this embodiment, the second material contained in the second region 133A is air, which reduces the overall weight of the lead 10A and makes the lead 10A more susceptible to vibration. Therefore, when a resin with a high specific gravity is used as the first material, the lead 10A becomes more susceptible to vibration while maintaining high elasticity. Furthermore, by making the second material a gas, the overall density of the lead 10A can be reduced, bringing the properties of the lead 10A closer to those of a plant-derived lead. In addition, the properties of the lead 10A can be controlled by adjusting the shape of the second region 133A inside the outer shape of the lead 10A.

[0038] Furthermore, in the vamp 103A of lead 10A, the second region 133A is not provided on the tip 155 side. By not providing the second region 133A on the tip 155 side, the overall weight of lead 10A can be reduced while maintaining the strength of vamp 103A.

[0039] [How to manufacture leads] Figure 11 is a flow chart showing an example of a method for manufacturing the lead 10A according to this embodiment. Figures 12 and 13 are diagrams illustrating the lead 10A manufactured by the manufacturing flow shown in Figure 11. Figures 12 and 13 are cross-sectional views of the lead 10A shown in Figure 8 along A3-A4, similar to Figure 9.

[0040] Lead 10A is manufactured by a 3D printer. As shown in Figure 11, first, data including the first, second, and third parameters for forming lead 10A is acquired (S801). The first parameter is for forming a portion of the first region 131A in lead 10A by the 3D printer. The second parameter is for forming the second region 133A in lead 10A. The third parameter is for forming the remaining portion of the first region 131A in lead 10A by the 3D printer. The first and second parameters include, for example, the extruder travel speed, temperature, layer thickness (layer height), line width, and bed temperature, respectively. These parameters are pre-set appropriately according to the shape of lead 10A, the shape of the second region 133A, the line width of the wall portion 135A of the first region 131A, the types of first and second materials and their physical properties, etc.

[0041] Next, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, a portion of the first region 131A is formed using a 3D printer based on the first parameter (S803). The first region 131A includes the first material as described above. As shown in Figure 12, a portion of the first region 131A has a predetermined thickness in the thickness direction of the lead 10A, from the back surface 153A of the lead 10A.

[0042] Next, as shown in Figures 11 and 13, a second region 133A is formed using a 3D printer based on the second parameter (S805). In this embodiment, the second region 133A is a void. Therefore, as shown in Figure 13, forming the second region 133A also means forming a plurality of wall portions 135A having a predetermined height in the thickness direction of the lead 10A on the first region 131A of the lead 10A formed in the S803 process.

[0043] Next, as shown in Figure 11, the remaining portion of the first region 131A is formed using a 3D printer based on the third parameter (S807), and the lead 10A shown in Figures 8 and 9 is formed. The remaining portion of the first region 131A includes the upper surface 151A of the lead 10A.

[0044] By forming lead 10A using a 3D printer in this way, lead 10A with controlled characteristics can be manufactured efficiently, thereby improving yield.

[0045] <Variation> The following describes some modified examples of the present invention.

[0046] [Example 1] In the first embodiment described above, the ratio of the first component to the second component was explained to be different in the first material in the first region 131 of the lead 10 and the second material in the second region 133. However, the first material and the second material may be made of different materials. For example, the first material may contain a first resin, and the second material may not contain the first resin but contain a second resin different from the first resin. Also, the specific gravities of the first component and the second component may be different. Furthermore, the first material may contain a first resin, and the second material may contain an inorganic material or an organic material. Examples of inorganic materials include ceramics and metals. Examples of organic materials include cellulose, wood powder, and carbon fiber. When the second material is an inorganic or organic material, the second material may contain a resin containing the first resin as a base material.

[0047] [Differentiation 2] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the second material is not limited to resin, but may be a gas, such as air. In other words, the second region 133 may be a void. When the second region 133 is a void, a support material corresponding to the second region 133 may be used when manufacturing the lead 10. In this case, the support material is removed after the lead 10 is manufactured. Therefore, if the second region 133 is formed using a support material, a hole for removing the support material is provided in the lead 10. The hole for removing the support material is provided at a predetermined position on the heel 157 side of the lead 10. In other words, the second region 133 is connected to the outside at a predetermined position on the heel 157 side of the lead 10.

[0048] Figure 14 is a top view of the lead 10B according to the second modification. Figure 14 shows, as an example, a case in which a hole 161 for removing support material is provided in the heel 157B. The hole 161 is connected to the second region 133 (first longitudinal region 133a, second longitudinal region 133b). Note that the location where the hole 161 is provided is not limited to the heel 157B. For example, the hole 161 may be provided on the side surface of the base material 101B on the heel 157B side.

[0049] [Difference 3] In the second embodiment described above, the second material was a gas. However, the second material is not limited to a gas. The second material may be a liquid, and the resin contained in the first material may be a different resin or an inorganic material.

[0050] [Differentiation Example 4] In the second embodiment described above, when manufacturing the lead 10A, a support material corresponding to the second region 133A may be used. In this case, the support material is removed after the lead 10A has been manufactured. By removing the support material, the second region 133A becomes a void. Therefore, when the second region 133A is formed using a support material, a hole for removing the support material is provided in the wall portion 135A. In this case, multiple second regions 133A are connected to each other through holes provided in the wall portion 135A surrounding each second region 133A.

[0051] [Difference 5] In the first embodiment described above, the elastic modulus of the second region 133 may be smaller than that of the first region 131. In other words, the elastic modulus of the second material may be smaller than that of the first material. Conversely, the elastic modulus of the second region 133 may be larger than that of the first region 131. In other words, the elastic modulus of the second material may be larger than that of the first material. When the elastic modulus of the second material is larger than that of the first material, the second region 133 can function as a framework for the lead 10, and the flexibility of the lead 10 can be adjusted according to the first material used in the first region 131.

[0052] [Modification 6] In the first embodiment described above, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, two grooves 601 are formed in a part of the first region 131 in process S503, and the second region 133 is formed by filling the two grooves 601 with the second material in process S505. However, the formation of the first region 131 and the second region 133 is not limited to this.

[0053] For example, in process S503, a portion of the first region 131 may be formed, and the first region 131 and the second region 133 (133a, 133b) may be alternately stacked in the short direction D2 on the formed portion of the first region 131 to form the second region 133, and then the remaining portion of the first region 131 may be formed to form the lead 10 shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this case, it is not necessary to form the groove 601 in process S503. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1: Blowing section, 10, 10A, 10B: Reed, 30: Mouthpiece, 80: Ligature, 101, 101A, 101B: Base material, 103, 103A, 103B: Vamp, 131, 131A, 131B: First area, 133, 133A, 133B: Second area, 151, 151A, 151B: Top surface, 153, 153A, 153B: Back surface, 155, 155A, 155B: Tip, 157, 157A, 157B: Heel, 161: Hole

Claims

1. A first region comprising the first material and extending from the heel to the tip, which constitutes the outer shape of the lead, The second material is different from the first material, and within the outer shape of the lead, the second region is adjacent to the first region, Leads, including

2. The lead according to claim 1, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the second region is different from the modulus of elasticity of the first region.

3. The first material and the second material each contain a first component and a second component, The lead according to claim 1, wherein the first material and the second material have different ratios of the first component and the second component.

4. The first material includes a first resin, The lead according to claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a second resin different from the first resin.

5. The first material includes a first resin, The lead according to claim 1, wherein the second material includes an inorganic material.

6. The second region includes a first longitudinal region and a second longitudinal region, each having a longitudinal dimension and extending apart from one another. The lead according to claim 1, wherein the first distance between the first longitudinal region and the second longitudinal region at a first position on the heel side of the vamp is smaller than the second distance between the first longitudinal region and the second longitudinal region at a second position closer to the tip than the first position.

7. A first region comprising the first material and extending from the heel to the tip to form the outer shape of the lead, The lead comprises a second material different from the first material, and within the external shape of the lead, there is a second region adjacent to the first region and wider than the first region in a plan view, Leads, including

8. The lead according to claim 7, wherein the second material includes a gas.

9. The lead according to claim 1 or 7, wherein the rigidity in the longitudinal direction of the lead is greater than the rigidity in the short direction.

10. To obtain data including a first parameter for forming a read, a second parameter different from the first parameter, and a third parameter different from the first and second parameters, Based on the first parameter, a portion of a first region comprising a first material and extending from the heel to the tip to constitute the outer shape of the lead is formed, and Based on the second parameter, the second material, which is different from the first material, is included and extends along a portion of the first region within the outer shape of the lead to form an adjacent second region. Based on the third parameter, the remaining portion of the first region comprising the first material and constituting the outer shape of the lead is formed. A method for manufacturing leads, including

11. To obtain data including a first parameter for forming a lead and a second parameter different from the first parameter, Based on the first parameter, a portion of a first region comprising a first material and extending from the heel to the tip to constitute the outer shape of the lead is formed, and Based on the second parameter, the material includes a second material different from the first material, and forms a second region within the outer shape of the lead that is adjacent to the first region and is wider than the first region in a plan view. Based on the third parameter, the remaining portion of the first region comprising the first material and constituting the outer shape of the lead is formed. A method for manufacturing leads, including

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