Patent Application
20170052525
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-162378 filed. Aug. 20, 2015.
(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to an object arrangement apparatus.
(ii) Related Art
To manufacture a part configuring a mechanical product or the like, blanking of cutting out parts from a material such as a sheet, material has been executed. Also, to increase the ratio of the parts to be blanked to the material, that is, to increase the yield, tightly arranging as many parts as possible on the material at the timing of design, or so-called nesting has been executed.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an object arrangement apparatus including a first arrangement unit that translates and arranges a second object with respect to a first object, the first object having an cater periphery including a concave portion, the second object having a shape equivalent to a shape of the first object, the second object being arranged so that a portion of the second object enters the concave portion of the first object; a first area computing unit that computes a first area on the basis of a distance by which the: second object is translated with respect to the first object along a first direction in which the second object is translated so that the portion of the second object enters the concave portion of the first object, and a distance between one end of the first object and the other end of the first object in a first orthogonal direction orthogonal to the first direction; a second arrangement unit that translates and arranges the second object with respect to the first object so that the portion of the second object does not enter the concave portion of the first object; a second area computing unit that computes a second area on the basis of a distance by which the second object is translated with respect to the first object along a second direction in. which the second object is translated so that the portion of the second object does not enter the concave portion of the first object, and a distance between one end of the first object and the other end of the first object in a second orthogonal direction orthogonal to the second direction; and an arrangement direction determining unit that determines the first direction as an object arrangement direction if the first area is smaller than the second area.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
A specific example for implementing the present invention (hereinafter, referred to an exemplary embodiment) is described below with reference to the drawings; however, the present invention is not limited to the following exemplary embodiment.
For easier understanding of the following description, in the drawings, it is assumed that the front-rear direction is the X-axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction, and the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction; and directions or the sides indicated by arrows X, −X, Y, −Y, Z, and −Z respectively represent forward, rearward, rightward, leftward, upward, and downward, or front, rear, right, left, upper side, and lower side.
Also, in the drawings, it is assumed that a symbol in which “.” is written in “◯” represents an arrow directed from the back side to the front, side of the paper face, and a symbol in which “x” is written in “◯” represents an arrow directed from the front side to the back side of the paper face.
In the following description with reference to the drawings, illustration of members other than members required for the description is occasionally omitted for easier understanding.
In
The client personal computer PC in the first exemplary embodiment includes a computer body H1 serving as an example of an electronic computer body. A display H2 serving as an example of a display device is connected to the computer body H1. Also, a keyboard H3 and a mouse H4 serving as examples of an input device are connected to the computer body H1. The computer body H1 includes a hard disk (HD) drive serving as an example of a memory device (not shown), and a compact disc (CD) drive serving as an example of a reading device for a storage medium.
In
Also, the computer body Hi includes a random access memory (RAM). The RAM temporarily stores required data. Also, the computer body H1 includes a central processing unit (CPU). The GPU executes processing corresponding to the program stored in the hard disk or the like. Also, the computer body H1 includes a clock oscillator.
The client personal computer PC may realize various functions by executing the program stored in the hard disk, ROM, etc.
The hard disk of the client personal computer PC stores an operating system OS serving as system software. The operating system OS controls basic operation of the computer device.
Also, the hard disk of the client personal computer PC stores an arrangement support program AP1 serving as an example of an object arrangement program. The arrangement support program AP1 executes object arrangement processing.
Also, the hard disk of the client personal computer PC stores application programs (not shown), such as word processing software serving as document creating software and e-mail transmitting and receiving: software.
Hereinafter, respective functions (control units) of the arrangement support program AP1 except for the operating system OS and the application programs (not shown), which are known, are described.
In the following drawings, first objects have different shapes depending on the contents of description in the respective drawings, and hence the shapes are not necessarily the same.
A shape information memory C1 stores shape information relating to the shape of a first object. The shape information memory C1 in the first exemplary embodiment stores shape information relating to the shape pattern of the first object on a pattern basis. In the first exemplary embodiment, as the shape information corresponding to the shape pattern of a target object 1 serving as an example of the first object, the position of a corner formed at the target object 1 and the distance between corners are stored. To be specific, for an example of the shape pattern in the first exemplary embodiment, as shape information associated with the target object 1, corners included in the target object 1, distances between the corners, and a region enclosed by the outer periphery of the target object 1 are stored.
An identification (ID) number setting unit C2 sets identification (ID) numbers at the respective corners of the first object. As shown in
A second arrangement unit C3 translates the first object along a predetermined second direction so that a second object having a shape equivalent to the shape of the first object does not enter a concave portion of the first object, and arranges the first object at a predetermined position. As shown in
Also, with, the configuration in the first exemplary embodiment, to prepare for a die cutting operation of cutting out the target object 1 and the adjacent objects 31 and 41 from a base material, the target object 1 is further moved to have a sufficient allowance, that is, a margin in accordance with a gap of a predetermined length set between the target object 1 and each of the adjacent objects 31 and 41. In the first exemplary embodiment, the target object 1 is translated toward the +X-axis direction and the +Y-axis direction; however, it is not limited thereto. The target object 1 may be translated in directions other than the +X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. For example, the target object 1 may be translated in the −X-axis direction and the +Y-axis direction, in accordance with the design and specification.
A second area calculator C4 serving as an example of s second area computing unit calculates the area between the first object and the second object as a second area. The second area calculator C4 in the first exemplary embodiment calculates the area between the target object 1 and each of the adjacent objects 31 and 41, which are translated in the second movement directions by the second arrangement unit C3, as the second area.
To be specific, as shown in
A concave portion detector C5 includes an inter-corner vector calculator C5A, an inner product calculator C5B, an inner product value judging unit C5C, and a convex/concave setting unit C5D, and detects a concave portion formed at the first object. The concave portion detector C5 in the first exemplary embodiment detects a corner forming a portion of a concave portion 1a among the corners formed at the target object 1 on the basis of the shape information stored in the shape information memory C1.
The inter-corner vector calculator C5A calculates vectors between each corner and the other corners formed at the first object. The inter-corner vector calculator C5A in the first exemplary embodiment calculates vectors Pα,βdirected from each corner Aαto the other corners Aβof the first object having a number α of corners on the basis of the shape information memory C1 and the ID number setting unit C2, In the first exemplary embodiment, as shown in
The inner product calculator C5B calculates the inner products of the respective inter-corner vectors of the first object. The inner product calculator C5B in the first exemplary embodiment calculates inner product values as the inner product values of the respective vectors Pα,βof the target object 1, on the basis of the shape information of the target object 1 stored in the shape information memory C1 and the inter-corner vectors Pα,βcalculated by the inter-corner vector calculator C5A.
Among inner product values of a vector corresponding to one side of the first object and vectors extending from an end of the one side to the other corners, the inner product value judging unit C5C judges whether an inner product value of the vector corresponding to the one side and a vector corresponding to an adjacent side being adjacent to the one side is the minimum value or not. On the basis of the inner product values of the respective vectors Pα,βof the target object 1 calculated by the inner product calculator C5B, among inner product values Bα−1,βof a vector Pα,α−1 directed from a corner to a corner Aαto a corner Aα−1 and respective vectors Pα,βextending from the corner Aαto the other corners Aβin the target object 1, the inner product value judging unit C5C in the first exemplary embodiment judges whether an inner product value Bα−1 of the vector Pα,α−1 and a vector Pα,α+1 directed from the corner Aαto a corner Aα+1 is the minimum value or not.
To be specific, as shown in
The convex/concave setting unit C5D sets each corner formed at the outer periphery of the first object as one of a portion of the concave portion 1a and a portion of a convex portion of the first object. If the inner product value judging unit C5C judges that the inner product value Bα−1,α+1 among the inner products Bα−1,βis not the minimum value, the convex/concave setting unit C5D judges that the adjacent corner Aα+1 is a corner of the concave portion 1a, and sets the corner as being “concave.” Also, if the inner product value judging unit C5C judges that the inner product value Bα−1, α+1 is the minimum value, the convex/concave setting unit C5D judges that the adjacent corner Aα+1 is a corner of the convex portion, and sets the corner as being “convex.”
To be specific, in the target object 1 shown in
A first movement direction extractor C6 extracts the first movement direction as a direction in which the first object is moved so that a portion of the second object enters a concave portion of the first object, as an example of a first direction. The first movement direction extractor C6 extracts a direction directed from a corner with a minimum α among corners set as being “convex” of the target object 1 by the convex/concave setting unit C5D toward a corner set as being “concave” of the target object 1. To be specific, as shown in
A first arrangement unit C7 translates the first object along the direction set in accordance with the concave portion of the first object, and arranges the first object at a predetermined position. The first arrangement unit C7 in the first exemplary embodiment translates the target object 1 along the first movement direction extracted by the first movement direction extractor C6 by a distance between a predetermined corner and another corner on the target object 1 stored in the shape information memory C1, and arranges the target object 1 as an adjacent object 11 or 21, serving as an example of the second object/ adjacent to the target object 1.
To be specific, as shown in
A first area calculator C8 as an example of a first area computing unit calculates an area between the first object and the second object, which is moved along the direction set in accordance with the shape of the first object, as a first area. The first area calculator C8 in the first exemplary embodiment calculates an area extending from an end of the target object 1 to an end of the adjacent object 11 or 21 along the first movement direction, as the first area.
To be specific, as shown in
An arrangement direction determining unit C9 determines an arrangement direction being a direction in which the first object is arranged next to each other, among the movement directions. The arrangement direction determining unit C9 in the first exemplary embodiment determines the movement direction corresponding to the minimum area among areas calculated by the first area calculator C8 and the second area calculator C4, as an arrangement, direction. To be specific, as shown in
A notification screen displaying unit C10 displays a notification screen for notification about, arrangement information of the first object. The notification screen displaying unit C10 in the first exemplary embodiment displays a screen, for notification about the arrangement diagram of the target object 1 and the moved target object 1, the movement distance of the target object 1, the maximum width in the orthogonal direction of the target object 1, and the inclination angle θ of the arrangement direction with respect to the X-axis as arrangement information, on the display H2 when the target object 1 is moved in the arrangement direction. In the first exemplary embodiment, as shown in
An arrangement setting end unit C11 ends the object arrangement setting processing by the arrangement support system S when the notification screen displaying unit C10 displays the arrangement information on the display H2.
Next, the flow of the processing by the arrangement support program API of the client personal computer PC in the first exemplary embodiment is described by using a flowchart.
Processing in each ST (step) of the flowchart in
The flowchart shown in
In ST1 in
In ST2, the shape information of the target object 1 is acquired on the basis of the shape information memory C1. Then, the processing goes to ST3.
In ST3, among the corners formed at the target object 1, a single point on the outer periphery is randomly selected, and an ID number is set as the corner A1. Then, ID numbers of the corner A2, corner A3, . . . , corner Aα−1, and corner Aα(1≦α≦8) are respectively set at the residual corners sequentially in the clockwise order from the corner A1. Then, the processing goes to ST4.
In ST4, the target object 1 is translated along the X-axis and Y-axis directions until a portion of each of the adjacent objects 31 and 41 no longer overlaps a portion of the target object 1. Then, the processing goes to ST5.
In ST5, the second area EX between the target object 1 and the adjacent object 31, and the second area EY between the target object 1 and the adjacent object 41 are calculated. Then, the processing goes to ST6.
In ST6, vectors Pα,βdirected from the corner Aαto the other corners Aβ(1≦β≦8) are calculated. Then, the processing goes to ST7.
In ST7, each inner product value Bα−1,α+1 is calculated on the basis of the shape information of the target object 1 and the inter-corner vectors Pα,β. Then, the processing goes to ST8.
In ST8, each corner is set as being “concave” or “convex,” To be specific, among the inner product values Bα−1,β, if the inner product value Bα−1,α+1 is judged as not being the minimum value, the corner Aα+1 is set as being “concave,” and if the inner product value Bα−1,α+1 is judged as being the minimum value, the corner Aα+1 is set as being “convex.” Then, the processing goes to ST9.
In ST9, it is judged whether or not the corners formed at the target object 1 include a corner set as being “concave.” If YES, the processing goes to ST10, and if NO, the processing goes to ST16.
In ST10, among the corners set as being “concave,” the corner Aαwith a being the minimum is set as a target corner used for extraction in the first movement direction. Then, the processing goes to ST11.
In ST11, a direction directed from the corner Aαwith α being the minimum among the corners set as being “convex” of the target object 1 toward the target corner is extracted as the first movement direction. Then, the processing goes to ST12.
In ST12, the target object 1 is translated along the first movement direction. To be specific, the target object 1 is translated until a portion of the adjacent object 11 or 21 no longer overlaps a portion of the target object 1. Then, the processing goes to ST13.
In ST13, the second area Ea between the target object 1 and the adjacent object 11, and the second area Bb between the target object 1 and the adjacent object 21 are calculated. Then, the processing goes to ST14.
In ST14, it is judged whether or not translation is ended for all corners Aαset as being “concave.” If YES, the processing goes to ST16, and if NO, the processing goes to ST15.
In ST15, the corner located downstream in the clockwise direction of the target corner and set as being “concave” is set as the next target corner. Then, the processing returns to ST11.
In ST16, the movement direction corresponding to the minimum area among the calculated areas Ea, Eb, EX, and EY is determined as an arrangement direction. Then, the processing goes to ST17.
In ST17, plural adjacent objects 11 are arranged along the arrangement direction with a predetermined gap interposed with respect to the target object 1. Then, the processing goes to ST18.
In ST18, as shown in
In the arrangement support system S in the first exemplary embodiment having the above-described configuration, the arrangement support program AP1 is executed, and the object arrangement processing shown in
As shown in
If the target object 1 includes at least one corner set as being “concave,” as shown in
In this case, with an example configuration of related art, a product group (W1), which is configured of plural products having different shapes, sizes, and directions, is arranged from the right end toward the left in a tightly arranged manner. Then, a position at which the product group (W1) is no longer detected is detected form the right end toward the left, and a region between the detected position and the right end is set as a minimum region where all product group (W1), may be arranged.
However, with this configuration of related art, products are arranged next to each other from the right toward the left regardless of the shape, size, and direction of the product. The arrangement direction is limited to a certain arrangement direction regardless of the shape of the products.
Hence, although the area not to be used as a product is decreased if the products are arranged in a direction other than the direction from the right toward the left in accordance with the shape etc. of the products, the configuration of related art is not able to change the arrangement direction. Hence, in
In contrast, with the configuration of the first exemplary embodiment, as shown in
Hence, in the first exemplary embodiment, as is shown in
Also, in the first exemplary embodiment, in a target object 101 serving as an example of the first object, an adjacent object 131 serving as an example of the second object is arranged along the X-axis direction if a first area Ea′shown in
In this case, a region 132 not to be used as a product is decreased if the target object 101 is arranged without partial entrance of the adjacent object 131 into a concave portion 101a of the target object 101. Accordingly, in the first exemplary embodiment, the adjacent object 131 is arranged not in a state in which a portion of the adjacent object 131 enters the concave portion 101a formed at the target object 101. Hence, as shown in
Therefore, with the configuration in the first exemplary embodiment, the area of the region 132 between the objects 101 and 131 and not to be used as a product may be decreased as compared with regions 112 and 113 between objects 101 and 111 arranged along the first movement direction shown in
Hence, as compared with the configuration of related art in which the arrangement direction is not determined in accordance with the area Ea, Ea′, Eb, EX, EX′, or EY, with the configuration of the first exemplary embodiment, the areas of the regions 12 and 13, or 132 arranged between the objects 1 and 11 or between the objects 101 and 131 and not to be used for a product may be decreased to a minimum required area.
Also, in the first exemplary embodiment, when the area Ea or Ex′is calculated, the movement distance L1a or L101a corresponding to the distance between the corner A1 of the target object 1 or 101 and the adjacent object 11 or 131, and the maximum width L1b or L101b of the target object 1 or 101 in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the arrangement directions in the target object 1 or 101 are computed. The maximum width L1b or L101b corresponds to the width required for a base material from which the target object 1 or 101 and the adjacent object 11 or 131 are cut out. Also, the movement distance L1a or L101a corresponds to a rough length of a single product, and a required rough length of the base material may be detected from the movement distance L1a or L101a, and the required number of products. Accordingly, with the configuration of the first exemplary embodiment, even if the arrangement direction is inclined with respect to the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction, the rough size of the required base material may be easily recognized by the user on the basis of the movement distance L1a or L101a, and the maximum width L1b or L101b.
Also, in the first exemplary embodiment, a margin is provided between the target object 1 or 101 and the arranged adjacent object 11 or 131. If a margin is not provided, when a cutting edge cuts out the object 1, 101, 11, or 131 by the die cutting operation, a boundary portion of the object 1, 101, 11, or 131 may be occasionally chipped more than, designed. Accordingly, in the first exemplary embodiment, as compared with a configuration without a margin, when the die cutting operation is executed, a possibility that the object 1, 101, 11, or 131 is not formed as designed may be decreased.
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described above; however, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, and may be modified in various ways within the scope of the present invention described in the claims. Modifications (H01) to (H09) of the present invention are exemplarily described below.
(H01) In the exemplary embodiment, the target object 1 shown in
(H02) In the exemplary embodiment, a gap with a predetermined length is provided between the target object and the adjacent object to prepare for the die cutting operation of cutting out the target object and the adjacent object from the base material by the first arrangement unit C7; however, it is not limited thereto. For example, as the thickness of the base material is increased, the length of the gap may be automatically increased. Alternatively, a user may manually change the length of the gap. The length of the gap between the target object and the adjacent object may be changed in accordance with design and specification.
(H03) In the exemplary embodiment, after the client personal computer PC is turned on and then the arrangement support program AP1 is activated, the object arrangement processing is started; however, it is not limited thereto. For example, registration application information and license agreement information may be transmitted and received between the client personal computer PC and a license server, and if the arrangement support system S obtains the license and then the arrangement support program AP1 is activated, the object arrangement processing may be started.
(H04) In the exemplary embodiment, the target object 1 or 101 is desirably further moved to have a margin in accordance with the gap of the predetermined length set between the target object 1 or 101 and the adjacent object 11 or 131. However, depending on the creation method of the target object 1 or 101, the target object 1 or 101 may be moved without a margin between the target object 1 or 101 and the adjacent object 11 or 131.
(H05) In the exemplary embodiment, the two directions of the X-axis and. Y-axis directions are set as the second movement directions serving as the examples of the second direction; however, it is not limited thereto. For example, only at least one of the X-axis and Y-axis directions may be set as the second movement direction. Alternatively, a direction inclined with respect to the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction may foe previously set as the second movement direction.
(H06) In the exemplary embodiment, the direction directed from the “convex” corner toward the “concave” corner is set as the first movement direction; however, it is not limited thereto. For example, if plural “concave” corners are present, a direction directed from the “convex” corner toward a midpoint position of the “concave” corners may be set as the first movement direction.
(H07) In the exemplary embodiment, the corner forming the portion of the concave portion 1a or 101a is detected among the corners formed at the target object 1 on the basis of the shape information storing the positions of the corners formed at the target object 1 and the distances between the corners; however, it is not limited thereto. For example, convex/concave information in which “convex” or “concave” is associated with each corner of the target object 1 may be previously stored, and the detection of “convex” or “concave” of each corner may be omitted. Alternatively, as a configuration that detects “convex” or “concave” for each corner, a convex polygon circumscribing the target object 1 or a circumscribed circle is obtained, and a corner not present on the circumscribed polygon or the circumscribed circle among corners on the outer periphery of the target object 1 may be detected as a “concave” corner. Still alternatively, a projection image of a target object may be created once, the image may be analyzed, and a corner forming a portion of a concave portion may be detected.
(H08) In the exemplary embodiment, the direction directed toward the “concave” corner while the start point is at the corner with the minimum α set as being “convex” is set as the first direction; however, it is not limited thereto. Setting may be desirably executed, such as randomly setting the start point.
(H09) In the exemplary embodiment, the first direction directed from the “convex” corner formed at the lower left of the target object 1 toward the “concave” corner is exemplarily described; however, it is not limited thereto. For example, a direction directed from a “convex” corner formed at any of the lower right, upper right, and upper left toward a “concave” corner may serve as the first direction.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration: and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-162378 | Aug 2015 | JP | national |
