US 5,127,778 A · Musical reed duplication

Abstract

A machine for duplicating musical reeds comprises a force sensor supporting a drill bit, which acts both as a measuring contact, when stationary, or as a tool for removing material from the surface of a reed, when rotated. A flexural resistance map of a master reed, having desirable musical characteristics, is made initially, by moving the drill bit toward the reed surface a predetermined distance after initial contact is made, and storing the resultant reaction force in a computer. The master reed is then replaced with a new reed, at least as stiff as the master, and the process is repeated, comparing the readings with corresponding readings for the master. Where the reed is too stiff, material is removed from its surface by the drill bit; this is repeated over the entire reed surface, until the flexural resistance map of the new reed matches that of the master.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An apparatus for producing a tonal duplicate of a master musical reed, comprising

a fixture for holding the reed at one end, while permitting flexure of the other end,
a force sensor supporting the fixture, for sensing forces applied to the surface of the reed,
a tool for contacting the surface of the reed,
means for moving the tool laterally in two dimensions across the surface of the reed,
means for moving the tool predetermined distances toward and away from the surface of the reed,
means for sensing contact between the tool and the reed surface,
means for measuring the reaction force between the tool and the reed, and different points over the surface of the reed,
whereby a flexural resistance map of the master reed can be made, and then a new reed can be installed in the fixture, measured, and modified to provide a tonal duplicate of the master.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Musical reed duplication

Life of this patent

Musical reed duplication

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6