U.S. patent application number 10/485324 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-24 for information processing system for manufacturing building material, building material manufacturing method and facility, and building information circulating system.
Invention is credited to Hashimoto, Shinichiro, Hirakawa, Tomohisa, Horibe, Tetsushi, Imai, Kimihiko, Ito, Yoshitomo, Murahashi, Yoshimitsu, Shimizu, Jun.
Application Number | 20050044133 10/485324 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26619385 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050044133 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hashimoto, Shinichiro ; et
al. |
February 24, 2005 |
Information processing system for manufacturing building material,
building material manufacturing method and facility, and building
information circulating system
Abstract
An information processing system for producing a building
material comprises a design drawing generating means for generating
the design drawing information of an objective building, a list
generating means for generating the list information of the members
used for the objective building, and a member production control
means for controlling the production of the members used for the
objective building, based on the list information obtained by the
list generating means.
Inventors: |
Hashimoto, Shinichiro;
(Chiyoda-ku, JP) ; Hirakawa, Tomohisa;
(Chiyoda-ku, JP) ; Shimizu, Jun; (Chiyoda-ku,
JP) ; Ito, Yoshitomo; (Chiyoda-ku, JP) ; Imai,
Kimihiko; (Chiyoda-ku, JP) ; Murahashi,
Yoshimitsu; (Chiyoda-ku, JP) ; Horibe, Tetsushi;
(Kani-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & BOTTS
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
|
Family ID: |
26619385 |
Appl. No.: |
10/485324 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
May 20, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP02/04857 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/201 ;
700/182 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05B 2219/35002
20130101; Y10T 29/49629 20150115; G05B 19/4097 20130101; Y10T
83/9423 20150401; G06F 30/13 20200101; G05B 2219/32176 20130101;
G06Q 30/06 20130101; Y10T 29/5197 20150115; Y10T 83/944 20150401;
G06F 2111/02 20200101; Y10T 29/5136 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/201 ;
700/182 |
International
Class: |
G06F 019/00; G06F
015/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 27, 2001 |
JP |
2001-227065 |
Oct 11, 2001 |
JP |
2001-314230 |
Claims
1-25. (Canceled).
26. An information processing system for producing a building
material, comprising: a design drawing generating arrangement
configured to generate design drawing information of an objective
building; a list generating arrangement configured to generate list
information of members used for the objective building, the list
being generated based on the design drawing information generated
by the design drawing generating arrangement; and a member
production control arrangement configured to control a production
of the members used for the objective building, the production
being controlled based on the list information generated by the
list generating arrangement.
27. The information processing system according to claim 26,
wherein the design drawing generating arrangement includes a
computer aided design ("CAD") system for generating the design
drawing information, and wherein the member production control
arrangement includes a computer aided manufacturing ("CAM") system
for controlling the production of the members.
28. The information processing system according to claim 26,
wherein the design drawing information includes particular drawing
information of at least one of a wall panel drawing, a floor panel
drawing and a roof truss drawing.
29. The information processing system according to claim 26,
wherein the list generating arrangement generates, as the list
information, particular information including specification and
quantity of the members used for the objective building.
30. The information processing system according to claim 29,
wherein the specification of the members includes the information
for positioning the members when the members are assembled.
31. The information processing system according to claim 26,
wherein the list generating arrangement generates the list
information for each predetermined one of the members.
32. An information processing system for producing a building
material, comprising: a communication arrangement configured to
conduct communication with an external arrangement; and a member
production control arrangement adapted to control a production of
members used for an objective building, the production of the
members being controlled based on information received by the
communication arrangement, wherein the communication arrangement
receives list information of the members used for the objective
building from the external arrangement, the list information being
generated based on design drawing information of the objective
building.
33. A method for producing a building material, comprising the
steps of: generating design drawing information of an objective
building using a processing arrangement; generating list
information of members used for the objective building, the list
information being generated based on the design drawing
information; and controlling a production of the members used for
the objective building based on the list information.
34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising step of
transmitting the list information via an arbitrary network from a
first arrangement for executing the design drawing generating step
and the list generating step, to a second arrangement for executing
the member production control step.
35. A method for producing a building material, comprising the
steps of: generating design drawing information which includes at
least any one of a wall panel drawing, a floor panel drawing and a
roof truss drawing of an objective building by a computer aided
design ("CAD") system; generating list information by utilizing
specification and quantity of the members used for the objective
building, the list information being generated based on the design
drawing information; and producing members used for the objective
building based on the list information by a computer aided
manufacturing ("CAM") system.
36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the specification of
the members includes positioning information for assembling the
members.
37. The method according to claim 35, wherein the list generating
step includes the substep of generating the list information for
each panel used for the objective building.
38. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program
thereon, the program being capable to configure a processing
arrangement to execute the steps comprising of: generating design
drawing information of an objective building using a processing
arrangement; generating list information of members used for the
objective building, the list information being generated based on
the design drawing information; and controlling a production of the
members used for the objective building based on the list
information.
39. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program
thereon, the program being capable to configure a processing
arrangement to execute the steps comprising of: generating design
drawing information which includes at least any one of a wall panel
drawing, a floor panel drawing and a roof truss drawing of an
objective building by a computer aided design ("CAD") system;
generating list information by utilizing specification and quantity
of the members used for the objective building, the list
information being generated based on the design drawing
information; and producing members used for the objective building
based on the list information by a computer aided manufacturing
("CAM") system.
40. A program being capable to configure a processing arrangement
to execute the steps comprising of: generating design drawing
information of an objective building using a processing
arrangement; generating list information of members used for the
objective building, the list information being generated based on
the design drawing information; and controlling a production of the
members used for the objective building based on the list
information.
41. A program being capable to configure a processing arrangement
to execute the steps comprising of: generating design drawing
information which includes at least any one of a wall panel
drawing, a floor panel drawing and a roof truss drawing of an
objective building by a computer aided design ("CAD") system;
generating list information by utilizing specification and quantity
of the members used for the objective building, the list
information being generated based on the design drawing
information; and producing members used for the objective building
based on the list information by a computer aided manufacturing
("CAM") system.
42. An equipment for producing light gauge shape sheet steel for a
steel house by supplying flat sheet steel on a main production line
which includes an uncoiler, a leveler arranged downstream of the
uncoiler, an end portion cutter arranged downstream of the leveler,
a waiting table arranged downstream of the end portion cutter, a
stationary fastening hole forming machine arranged downstream of
the waiting table, and a roll forming machine arranged downstream
of the stationary fastening hole forming machine, the equipment
comprising: a non-stationary fastening hole forming machine
configured to form fastening holes without stopping a supply of the
sheet steel, the non-stationary fastening hole forming machine
being arranged downstream of the leveler, and independent of the
stationary fastening hole forming machine.
43. The equipment according to claim 42, wherein the fastening
holes that do not require a high machining accuracy are formed by
the non-stationary fastening hole forming machine arranged during
an operation of the leveler, and wherein the fastening holes that
require the high machining accuracy are formed by the stationary
fastening hole forming machine.
44. A computer-controlled production control system, comprising: an
equipment for producing a light gauge shape sheet steel for a steel
house, the equipment including a general member constituting a
basic structure, an application member having a shape different at
end portions thereof from the general member, and a further member
subjected to a machining procedure, wherein the equipment comprises
a main production line including an uncoiler, a leveler arranged
downstream of the uncoiler, an end portion cutter arranged
downstream of the leveler, a waiting table arranged downstream of
the end portion cutter, a stationary fastening hole forming machine
arranged downstream of the waiting table and a roll forming machine
arranged downstream of the stationary fastening hole forming
machine, and a further production line arranged in parallel to the
main production line, wherein the general member, the application
member and the further member are distinguished from one another
before the usage of the leveler based on member control information
of the production control system, and wherein the general member
and the application member are produced on the production line, and
the further member is transferred to the further production line
that different from the main production line after being machined
in procedures shared by the general member and the application
member on the main production line, the special member being
returned to the main production line after being machined to a
shape that is unique to the further member on the special
production line.
45. The production control system according to claim 44, wherein,
in order to generate a fastening hole information of the member
control information, a computer aided design ("CAD") system
building is designed so that the fastening hole information that
includes the position, shape and the machining accuracy of the
fastening holes are generated automatically in accordance with
individual attributes of the members, and wherein the generated
fastening hole information is obtained as the member control
information.
46. The production control system according to claim 45, wherein
one of the member having a two-dimensional cross section after a
roll forming process and requiring a two-dimensional control for
development information associated with the fastening hole position
is produced, and wherein the development information is controlled
as a one-dimensional information along a length of the one of the
members for each shape of the one of the members.
47. A building information distribution aiding system including a
server arrangement configured to provide a building information
distribution site for distributing building information of a
building having common standards of materials and construction
processes, and a client arrangement connectable with the server
arrangement via a network, the system comprising: a first
arrangement which is capable to program at least one of the server
arrangement, the client arrangement and a further arrangement to
allow said server to indicate actual cases of buildings; a second
arrangement which is capable to program at least one of the server
arrangement, the client arrangement and a further arrangement to
allow the client arrangement to select at least one of the actual
cases shown in a case collection page; and a third arrangement
which is capable to program at least one of the server arrangement,
the client arrangement and a further arrangement to allow the
building information corresponding to the selected actual case to
be forwarded to the client arrangement.
48. The building information distribution aiding system according
to claim 47, wherein the server arrangement includes a fourth
arrangement which is adapted to receive a member order and a
specification from the client arrangement.
49. The building information distribution aiding system according
to claim 47, comprising: a fifth arrangement which is capable to
program at least one of the server arrangement, the client
arrangement and a further arrangement to allow the client
arrangement to transmit to the server arrangement one of the
building information corrected from the downloaded building
information and the building information newly generated by the
client arrangement as new building information; a sixth arrangement
which is capable to program at least one of the server arrangement,
the client arrangement and a further arrangement to allow the
server arrangement to receive the new building information from the
client arrangement; and a seventh arrangement which is capable to
program at least one of the server arrangement, the client
arrangement and a further arrangement to allow a manager of the
server arrangement to transmit to the client arrangement an
expression of a will to purchase the new building information when
the manager of the server arrangement decided to purchase the
received new building information.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a national stage application of PCT
Application No. PCT/JP02/04857 which was filed on Jul. 26, 2002,
and published on Feb. 13, 2003 as International Publication No. WO
03/012562 (the "International Application"). This application
claims priority from the International Application pursuant to 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 365. The present application also claims priority
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 from Japanese Patent Application Nos.
2001-228169 and 2001-314230, filed on Jul. 27, 2001 and Oct. 11,
2001, respectively, the entire disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an information processing
system, a building material production method and production
equipment for producing a building material used for a steel house
or, e.g., a panel formed by combining light gauge shape sheet
steel, and a building information distribution system for
distributing the steel house building information using a network
such as WAN (Wide Area Network). As described herein, a low
building having a frame member and a face plate or a brace of a
surface-treated light gauge shape steel for a building structure
can be referred to as a steel house. Also, the building information
can include information regarding general drawings (design drawing,
structure drawing, equipment drawing, etc.) that can be used by
building contractors to construct a building.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0003] The use of a steel house constituting a low building
including a house built of building materials such as a light gauge
shape sheet steel and panels has been recently extending as the
result of improvement in the living comfort, structure and
production cost. One problem of a steel house is the building cost.
In order to reduce the building cost, the workability is improved
by structural improvement of the building materials such as shape
steel and panels or by improvement of the production system of the
building materials. The present invention relates to a reduction of
production costs of the building materials by improving the
productivity as due to improved production equipment and an
improved production control system for the light gauge shape sheet
steel for a steel house.
[0004] In connecting the light gauge shape sheet steel, the time
consumed for the connecting work at the factory or the construction
site can be shortened while at the same time siginificantly
improving the connection a strength of the shape steel by forming
connecting holes in the frame member in advance. According to the
present invention, a shape steel formed of sheet steel having a
thickness of not less than 0.4 mm but less than 2.3 mmcan be used
(called a light gauge shape sheet steel). Each of the fastening
tools such as a tapping screw and a one-side rivet generally used
for connecting the light gauge shape sheet steel are low in
connection strength as compared with the bolt used for an iron
frame building. In order to secure a sufficient connection
strength, many fastening tools are usually utilize which in turn
need a multiplicity of fastening holes to be formed in the light
gauge shape sheet steel for the fastening tools.
[0005] In producing the light gauge shape sheet steel formed with
fastening holes, the fastening holes are generally formed with the
sheet steel kept stationary before the roll forming step, but the
fastening holes are not formed in the sheet steel moving after the
step of straightening the curl caused by the leveler. An increased
number of fastening holes formed with the sheet steel kept
stationary extremely reduces the production efficiency. Also, in
the case where the fastening holes are formed with the sheet steel
kept stationary, a comparatively large waiting table for holding
the sheet steel in standby state is required as a buffer, and
therefore a large space is required to install the production line.
Further, the problem of a reduced overall production is posed
depending on the productivity of the machine for forming the
fastening holes.
[0006] On the other hand, a CAD system (Computer Aided Design
system) can be used as a design aiding system in various fields.
Also, a CAM system (Computer Aided Manufacturing system) may be
used to control the production equipment for machining and assembly
based on the data obtained from the CAD system. In the field of the
low house using light gauge shape sheet steel, buildings and
building materials, such as shape steel and panels, have been
designed using the CAD system. However, the building materials are
not produced using the CAD/CAM systems. In order to produce
building materials in accordance with the building design data
generated by CAD, therefore, various processes need to be executed
manually to move the building design data from CAD to the building
materials production machine. This, in turn, reduces the production
efficiency of the building materials for a steel house.
[0007] Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-232320 describes a design
aiding CAD system for iron frame structures using a steel plate not
thinner than 2.3 mm and the data generated by the CAD system for
machining in the factory. The application field of this system
disclosed in the publication is limited to the iron frame structure
and the system is not applicable to the production of building
materials from sheet steel having a thickness not less than 0.4 mm
but less than 2.3 mm used for a low building. Also, the
configuration described in this publication is not a system for
aiding the design and production by relating the CAD system to the
CAM system.
[0008] Accordingly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
are provided to solve the problem of the prior art described above.
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an
information processing system, a building material production
method and production equipment capable of efficiently producing a
building material of a steel house.
[0009] The light gauge shape sheet steel can be classified into
three types including a general member used for general purposes of
a steel house, an application member having the same cross section
and the same fastening hole specification as the general member but
a different shape of the end portion connected to other shape
steel, and a special member having a unique shape and difficult to
produce on a production line adapted for the general member and the
application member. In the prior art, therefore, the special member
is unavoidably produced on a production line, for machining the
special member, different from the production line for the general
member and the application member. The provision of the two
production lines including the one for the general member and the
application member and the one for the special member not only
increases the installation area of the production lines but also
requires an independent control system for controlling each
production line, thereby complicating the production control
system.
[0010] In the conventional production control system for the light
gauge shape sheet steel for a steel house, the productivity of the
light gauge shape sheet steel for a steel house is generally
reduced by the facts that (i) the work of opening the fastening
holes for connecting the members is one factor reducing the
productivity, (ii) the shape steel has different types including
the general member, the application member and the special member,
and especially the existence of "the special member" is a factor
reducing the working efficiency of the conventional production
equipment and the conventional production control system, (iii) the
necessity of opening a multiplicity of fastening holes requires
long time and a great amount of labor to fetch the information on
the fastening holes such as the position, the shape and the
machining accuracy of the fastening holes in the design stage, as
the member control information for the production control system,
and (iv) the information on the positions of the fastening holes to
be formed are complicated. Thus, another object of the present
invention is to solve the problems (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
described above.
[0011] Further, houses and other buildings are generally built
individually by reflecting the propensity of each customer.
Therefore, the design drawing, the working drawing, the material
order and the like construction information prepared at the time of
constructing a building are rarely reused. In recent years, the
extension of ownership of prefabricated houses has increased the
chance of reusing the building information in the same company. For
the reasons explained below, however, the building information are
not generally reused between different companies.
[0012] (a) The standards of the members making up a building are
not shared by companies.
[0013] (b) The building information is rarely reused as it is, and
correction to some degree is required. The manner in which the
building information is stored varies from one company to another.
Especially, the building information which may be stored in the
form of paper media cannot be easily corrected.
[0014] (c) Conventionally, the building information are not very
helpful to both the party providing them and the party using them,
and therefore are not extensively used by other companies.
[0015] On the other hand, the building materials and the
construction methods of a steel house can be easily shared and the
building information on them can be distributed among a plurality
of companies. Nevertheless, companies generally do not construct a
building by reusing the building information of another building
constructed by another company.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to solve these
problems of the prior art and to provide a building information
distribution aiding system for distributing the building
information through a network.
[0017] The entire disclosures of the references cited herein are
incorporated herein by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] According to the present invention, an information
processing system is provided for producing a building material.
The system includes a design drawing generating arrangement for
generating the design drawing information on an objective building,
a list generating arrangement for generating the list information
of members used for the objective building, based on the design
drawing information obtained by the design drawing generating
arrangement, and a member production control arrangement for
controlling the production of the members used for the objective
building, based on the list information obtained by the list
generating arrangement.
[0019] For example, in order to efficiently produce the members
such as light gauge shape sheet steel for a building or especially
a steel house, the light gauge shape sheet steel for a steel house
is produced by the CAD system and the CAN system, e.g., systems for
assisting in controlling the preparation for production such as the
process design, the work design and the NC (numerically controlled)
programming and the production process such as machining and
assembly, in such a manner that the design drawings, including a
wall panel drawing, a floor panel drawing and a roof truss drawing,
of a low building are first generated on a computer. The
specification and quantity of the light gauge shape sheet steel can
be determined from these design drawings. Based on these drawings,
a steel member order list may be prepared, and based on this steel
member order list information, the light gauge shape sheet steel
can be produced under a control of a computer.
[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the specification and the quantity of the light gauge
shape sheet steel are automatically determined from the design
drawing information of a steel house, and based on them, a steel
member order list is automatically output. Therefore, the material
(steel member) totaling work required for producing the light gauge
shape sheet steel which has conventionally been conducted manually
may be eliminated, either fully or to the large extent. As a
result, not only the transfer error is substantially eliminated,
the whole work can be siginificantly simplified, and at the same
time, the complicated desk work for ordering steel members may be
reduced.
[0021] addition, in view of the fact that the light gauge shape
sheet steel is produced using the information of the specification
and the quantity input to the computer, the light gauge shape sheet
steel can be supplied accurately, rapidly and at low cost. Further,
in case of a need of a design change for some reason or other, the
specification, the quantity and the contents of the order for the
light gauge shape sheet steel are automatically corrected very
efficiently by correcting the original design drawing
information.
[0022] The light gauge shape sheet steel includes members formed of
shape steel using the sheet steel having a thickness not less than
0.4 mm but less than 2.3 mm and fittings and hardware.
[0023] Also, the specification of the light gauge shape sheet steel
includes the product standard, length and the quantity of the
members and the member positioning information for assembling the
members.
[0024] The specification of the light gauge shape sheet steel
includes the member positioning information for assembling the
members. Thus, the risk of machining a member for positioning not
conforming with the design drawing is eliminated, and it is
possible to machine the light gauge shape sheet steel efficiently.
The "member positioning information" (position machining
information) generally includes information for determining the
relative positions of the members being assembled such as the
positions of the bolt holes for assembling the members, and the
notching and embossing, and the like.
[0025] Further, by calculating the specification and the quantity
of the light gauge shape sheet steel for each panel used for a low
building, the light gauge shape sheet steel preferred for
assembling a panel can be easily specified, thereby making
efficient assembly work possible. The "panel" (predetermined unit
member) generally includes a wall panel and a floor panel
configured of a plurality of the light gauge shape sheet steel
combined with one another.
[0026] Further, according to another embodiment of the present
invention, a production equipment is provided for producing the
light gauge shape sheet steel for a steel house by supplying flat
steel on a main production line. The production line includes an
uncoiler, a leveler arranged downstream of the uncoiler, an end
portion cutter arranged downstream of the leveler, a waiting table
arranged downstream of the end portion cutter, a stationary
fastening hole forming machine arranged downstream of the waiting
table and a roll forming machine arranged downstream of the
stationary fastening hole forming machine. In particular, the
equipment includes a non-stationary fastening hole forming machine
for forming the fastening holes without stopping the flow of the
sheet steel is arranged downstream of the leveler independently of
the stationary fastening hole forming machine.
[0027] Further, according to another embodiment of the present
invention, a computer-controlled production control system is
provided for producing light gauge shape sheet steel for a steel
house configured of a general member of the basic structure, an
application member having only the shape of the end portion thereof
different from that of the general member and a special member
requiring a special machining process, by a production equipment
for producing the light gauge shape sheet steel for a steel house,
comprising a main production line including an uncoiler, a leveler
arranged downstream of the uncoiler, an end portion cutter arranged
downstream of the leveler, a waiting table arranged downstream of
the end portion cutter, a stationary fastening hole forming machine
arranged downstream of the waiting table and a roll forming machine
arranged downstream of the stationary fastening hole forming
machine, and a special production line arranged in parallel to the
main production line. Using the control system, based on the member
control information of the production control system, the general
member, the application member and the special member can be
discriminated in the step preceding to the leveler. The general
member and the application member can be produced on the main
production line, while the special member, after being machined
through the machining steps shared by the general member and the
application member on the main production line, is moved onto the
special production line different from the main production line,
and after being machined to a unique shape, returned to the main
production line.
[0028] In the stationary fastening hole forming machine, the
production efficiency is reduced due to the fact that the fastening
holes are formed by stopping the sheet steel temporarily during the
line assembly work to form the fastening holes in the work with
high accuracy. In the non-stationary fastening hole forming
machine, the fastening holes can be formed in the moving sheet
steel. Thus, the production efficiency can be improved, although
the accuracy with which the fastening holes are formed is reduced
as compared with the stationary fastening hole forming machine.
[0029] As described herein, the fastening holes formed in the light
gauge shape sheet steel of a steel house can be classified into
holes of a high accuracy and generally not depending on the
position and purpose of the individual holes. According to the
present invention, based on this point, the fastening holes which
do not need to have high accuracy are produced by the
non-stationary fastening hole forming machine on the main
production line, and those holes that should be of high accuracy by
the stationary fastening hole forming machine thereby to improve
the productivity. By employing this production control system, the
production efficiency of the whole production line of the light
gauge shape sheet steel of a steel house including the general
member, the application member and the special member can be
improved.
[0030] In contrast with prior art, according to the present
invention invention, in designing a steel house with the CAD
system, the information including the positions, shape and the
machining accuracy of the fastening holes can be automatically
generated in accordance with the attributes of the individual
members, and the fastening hole information thus generated are
fetched into the member control information. In this manner, a
multiplicity of fastening hole information are efficiently obtained
automatically at the same time as the building design, so that the
member control information of the production control system can be
generated.
[0031] Also, according to the present invention, the shape of the
shape steel is developed into a flat form, and the fastening hole
position information is controlled one-dimensionally along the
length of the members of each portion of the developed shape steel,
so that the process of forming the fastening holes is easily
controlled, thereby making it possible to secure the versatility of
the data.
[0032] Further, according to the present invention, a building
information distribution aiding system is provided. The system
includes a server arrangement for providing a building information
distribution site for distributing the building information of
buildings having a common standard of the material and the
construction method, and a client arrangement connectable with the
server arrangement through a network. The system further comprise a
first arrangement which allows the server arrangement to list
actual cases of buildings, a second arrangement allowing the client
arrangement to select at least one of the actual cases listed in
the case collection page, and a third arrangement allowing the
building information corresponding to the selected actual case to
be downloaded into the client arrangement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information processing
system according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration
of the information processing system of FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the
information processing system of FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen for
setting the cross section, etc. of the light gauge shape sheet
steel) of the display unit of the information processing system
shown in FIG. 1;
[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen for
setting the wall position and the positions of openings (opening
size)) of the display unit of the information processing system
shown in FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state in which the light gauge shape sheet steel are
automatically arranged) of the display unit of the information
processing system of FIG. 1;
[0040] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state of the wall divided into panels) of the display
unit of the information processing system of FIG. 1;
[0041] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state of hardware arranged automatically) of the
display unit of the information processing system shown in FIG.
1;
[0042] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state in which a plan view is automatically prepared)
of the display unit of the information processing system shown in
FIG. 1;
[0043] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state in which each panel drawing is automatically
prepared) of the display unit of the information processing system
shown in FIG. 1;
[0044] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen for
setting the assignment area of each floor panel) of the display
unit of the information processing system shown in FIG. 1;
[0045] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state in which each floor panel member is automatically
arranged) of the display unit of the information processing system
shown in FIG. 1;
[0046] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state in which a floor plan is automatically prepared)
of the display unit of the information processing system shown in
FIG. 1;
[0047] FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen for
determining the roof area) of the display unit of the information
processing system shown in FIG. 1;
[0048] FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state in which the roof truss members are automatically
arranged) of the display unit of the information processing system
shown in FIG. 1;
[0049] FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state in which the truss drawing is automatically
prepared) of the display unit of the information processing system
shown in FIG. 1;
[0050] FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state developed (shape steel) into the truss members)
of the display unit of the information processing system shown in
FIG. 1;
[0051] FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state developed (hardware) into the truss members) of
the display unit of the information processing system shown in FIG.
1;
[0052] FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a screen (a screen
showing the state in which the shape steel production data are
automatically totaled) of the display unit of the information
processing system shown in FIG. 1;
[0053] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a general
configuration of the production equipment of the light gauge shape
sheet steel for a steel house according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
[0054] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the step of the
leveler of the production equipment of the light gauge shape sheet
steel for a steel house according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0055] FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a system to generate
the fastening hole information from the attributes of individual
members in designing a building by the CAD system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0056] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a system to generate the
fastening hole information from the attributes of individual
members in designing a building by the CAD system;
[0057] FIG. 24A is a sectional view of the shape steel for
explaining a system for controlling the fastening hole position
information of the shape steel as one-dimensional information;
[0058] FIG. 24B is a development of the shape steel for explaining
a system for controlling the fastening hole position information of
the shape steel as one-dimensional information;
[0059] FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing the general member,
the application member and a particular member according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0060] FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing a computer-controlled
production control system for the light gauge shape sheet steel for
a steel house according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0061] FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing a building
information distribution aiding system according to the invention,
which is a diagram showing the page in the building information
distribution site as a directory structure;
[0062] FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the process executed by the
server and the client in purchasing the building information;
[0063] FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the process executed by the
sever and the client in purchasing the members; and
[0064] FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the process executed by the
server and the client to sell new building information in the
building information distribution aiding system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0065] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below
with reference to the drawings.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 1, an information processing system 100
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can
be used for efficiently producing the light gauge shape sheet steel
for a steel house, and comprises a design drawing generating unit
101, an order list generating unit 102, a member production control
unit 103, a storage unit 104, a display unit 105 and an operating
unit 106.
[0067] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a hardware configuration of
the information processing system 100, the information processing
system 100 can be implemented by, for example, a computer 200.
[0068] The computer 200, as shown in FIG. 2, comprises a CPU 201, a
ROM 202, a RAM 203, a keyboard controller (KBC) 205 of a keyboard
(KB) 209, a CRT controller (CRTC) 206 of a CRT display (CRT) 210, a
disk controller (DKC) 207 for a hard disk (HD) 211 and a flexible
disk (FD) 212, and a network interface card (NIC) 208 of an
arbitrary network 300. These component parts are interconnected in
a communicable manner.
[0069] The CPU 201 controls the component parts connected to a
system bus 204 by executing the software stored in the ROM 202 or
the HD 211 or the software provided from the FD 212. Specifically,
the CPU 201 reads and executes a processing program conforming with
a predetermined processing sequence from the ROM 202 or the HD 211
or the FD 212. Especially, the CPU 201 implements the design
drawing generating unit 101, the order list generating unit 102 and
the member production control unit 103 shown in FIG. 1.
[0070] The RAM 203 functions as a main memory or a work area for
the CPU 201.
[0071] The DKC 207 controls the access to the HD 211 and the FD 212
storing a boot program, various applications, an editing file, a
user file and a predetermined processing program for executing the
functions of this embodiment.
[0072] The storage unit 104 shown in FIG. 1 includes the RAM 203,
the ROM 202, the hard disk (HD) 211, the flexible disk (FD) 212 and
the disk controller (DKC) 207, and stores such data as the basic
design drawing (design drawing, etc.) for a steel house, in
addition to the various processing programs.
[0073] The KBC 205 controls the input from the input devices such
as the KB 209 and a pointing device (not shown for the sake of
clarity). The operating unit 106 shown in FIG. 1 includes the KB
209 and the KBC 205.
[0074] The CRTC 206 controls the display of the CRT 210. The
display unit 105 shown in FIG. 1 includes the CRT 210 and the CRTC
206.
[0075] The NIC 208 exchanges data interactively with the devices or
the systems on the network 300.
[0076] The information processing system 100 according to this
embodiment is configured so that the light gauge shape sheet steel
for a steel house can be efficiently produced. In order to conform
with steel houses of various designs, the light gauge shape sheet
steel and the panel are required to be designed and produced
independently for each building. Also, by opening and accurately
setting in position the fastening holes in the light gauge shape
sheet steel and assembling the members, the steel house can be
constructed most efficiently with high accuracy.
[0077] The light gauge shape sheet steel for a steel house
configured of sheet steel having a thickness of no less than 0.4 mm
but less than 2.3 mm, for example, can be efficiently and
accurately produced with a roll forming machine or a turret
punching machine controlled by the CAM system. This, the fastening
holes can be opened at more accurate positions.
[0078] Accordingly, in the information processing system 100
according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
the design drawing generating unit 101, the order list generating
unit 102 and the member production control unit 103 shown in FIG. 1
are such that the information obtained in the CAD system is
operatively interlocked with the CAM system by designing the panel
drawing (design drawing) for each building by the CAD system and
burying the information such as the shape and the fastening holes
of each light gauge shape sheet steel in the information (design
drawing information) of the panel drawing. As a result, the
productivity of the steel house can be improved.
[0079] The CPU 201 of the computer 200 executes the processing
program in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 3. As a result,
the information processing system 100 operates as follows:
[0080] Step S101: The design drawing generating unit 101, based on
the information input from the user by the CAD system using the
computer 200, generates design drawings including a wall panel
drawing, a floor panel drawing and a roof truss drawing for a steel
house using the information stored beforehand in the storage unit
104.
[0081] The CAD system includes modules for producing the working
drawings for three portions including the wall panel, the floor
panel and the roof truss member making up the steel house, and each
of the working drawing generating modules executes the following
steps:
[0082] (1) The step of designing the plan view and calculating the
proof stress of the steel house.
[0083] (2) The step of determining the shape of the cross section
of the light gauge shape sheet steel constituting the wall panel
and the floor panel.
[0084] (3) The step of determining the arrangement and the openings
of the wall panel of the steel house.
[0085] (4) The step of automatically generating a working drawing
(panel working drawing) of a plurality of the wall panels and the
floor panels making up the steel house while, at the same time,
automatically calculating the specification information of the
light gauge shape sheet steel required for production of each wall
panel and each floor panel.
[0086] Such CAD system has registered therein the layout of each
light gauge shape sheet steel making up a given panel, the
dimensional correction of the joint of each light gauge shape sheet
steel and the logic about the position of the fastening holes of
each light gauge shape sheet steel. The user determines the shape
of the light gauge shape sheet steel used, by the CAD system, and
generates a panel layout diagram (see FIG. 9). In this way, each
panel working drawing (see FIG. 10) and the production data of the
shape steel and the hardware (order list information, see FIG. 19)
are automatically prepared.
[0087] The CAD system has a member totaling module in addition to
the three working drawing generating modules including the wall
panel, the floor panel and the roof truss member making up the
steel house as described above.
[0088] The wall panel drawing generating module is such that:
[0089] (1) Once the information on the cross section (information
including the fastening hole information) of the light gauge shape
sheet steel making up the wall panel is set by the user (FIG. 4)
and the position of the wall line and the opening size are input as
shown in the design drawing (FIG. 5), predetermined light gauge
shape sheet steel is automatically produced based on the
information from the user.
[0090] (2) By dividing the wall line by panel, the gaps between the
light gauge shape sheet steel and the panels required for the panel
boundary are automatically generated.
[0091] (3) Based on the steel house construction method, anchor
bolts and band metal are automatically generated. In the process,
the fastening hole information is input to those portions of the
upper and lower frames of the wall panel which interfere with the
anchor bolts.
[0092] (4) After completely arranging the light gauge shape sheet
steel, the dimensions of the joint portion of the light gauge shape
sheet steel are corrected in a single collective operation.
[0093] The floor panel drawing generating module is such that:
[0094] (1) The cross section information (information including the
fastening hole information) of the light gauge shape sheet steel
making up the floor panel is set by the user and, at the time when
the range of the floor panel is designated as in the design
drawing, the light gauge shape sheet steel making up the floor
panel are automatically generated. At the same time, the dimensions
of the joints of the light gauge shape sheet steel are also
corrected.
[0095] (2) In the case where other floor panels are arranged
adjacently, the gaps between the panels and the light gauge shape
sheet steel newly required are automatically generated based on the
steel house construction method.
[0096] (3) The ties are automatically arranged based on the steel
house construction method.
[0097] The roof truss drawing generating module is such that:
[0098] (1) When the roof gradient, the span and the extension of
the eaves in addition to the cross section of the light gauge shape
sheet steel used are set by the user (FIG. 4), the light gauge
shape sheet steel is automatically produced based on the
designation of the truss position and the range of the hip roof and
the gable.
[0099] (2) with regard to the truss and the rafter, the members are
connected by bolts to each other, and the fastening hole
information are input predetermined positions of the particular
members based on the steel house construction method (FIGS. 15 and
16).
[0100] (3) After complete arrangement of the light gauge shape
sheet steel, the dimensions of the joints of the light gauge shape
sheet steel are corrected in a collective operation.
[0101] In the stage where the information is completely generated
by the function as described above, the member totaling module
automatically totals, by cross section or length, the information
including the shape, length, quantity, hole shape and the hole
position (design drawing information) of all the light gauge shape
sheet steel used for the steel house existing in the CAD system.
Based on this total, an order list (steel member order list) is
prepared (FIG. 19).
[0102] Step S102: The order list generating unit 102 totals the
specification and the quantity of the light gauge shape sheet steel
making up the steel house from the design drawing information
obtained in the design drawing generating unit 101 by the member
totaling module of the CAD system described above, and based on
them, an order list (steel member order list) is generated.
[0103] Step S103: The member production control unit 103 produces
the light gauge shape sheet steel by the CAM system based on the
steel order list information obtained in the order list generating
unit 102. More specifically, the member production control unit
103, for example, converts the steel member order list information
obtained in the order list generating unit 102 to the data (control
data) for operation control of the equipment (member production
machine) for producing the light gauge shape sheet steel and
supplies these control data to the member production machine. As a
result, the member production machine starts to produce the
designated light gauge shape sheet steel.
[0104] FIGS. 4 to 20 show examples of screens (the screens due to
the CAD/CAM systems) displayed on the display unit 105 by the
process up to the production of the light gauge shape sheet steel
from the aforementioned design in the information processing system
100 according to this exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0105] The operation in accordance with the display on each screen
of the display unit 105 shown in FIGS. 4 to 19 and the manipulation
(manipulation by mouse, etc.) of the user on the screen are
controlled by the CPU 201 of the computer 200 shown in FIG. 2.
[0106] 1. Setting Screen 501 for Cross Section, etc. of Light Gauge
Shape Sheet Steel (FIG. 4)
[0107] The setting screen 501 is configured so as to set the cross
section, etc. of the light gauge shape sheet steel automatically
arranged. For example, based on the design drawing, etc. of the
steel house stored beforehand in the storage unit 104, the desired
one of the information on the cross section (the cross section
conforming with a predetermined standard) of the light gauge shape
sheet steel also stored in advance in the storage unit 104 can be
selectively set. Therefore, the light gauge shape sheet steel set
on the setting screen 501 are automatically arranged as shown on
the screen 506, etc. of FIG. 6 described herein below.
[0108] 2. Setting Screen 502 for Wall Position and Opening Position
(Opening Size) (FIG. 5)
[0109] The setting screen 502 is configured so that the positions
of the wall and the openings can be set. This setting is carried
out based on the design drawing data, etc. of the steel house
stored in advance in the storage unit 104.
[0110] 3. Screen 503 Showing the State of Light Gauge Shape Sheet
Steel Automatically Arranged (FIG. 6)
[0111] On the screen 503, the state of the light gauge shape sheet
steel automatically arranged with regard to the wall portion is
displayed based on the setting on the setting screen 501 and the
setting screen 502.
[0112] 4. Screen 504 Showing the State of the Wall Divided into
Panels (FIG. 7)
[0113] On the screen 504, the light gauge shape sheet steel
automatically arranged with respect to the wall, shown on the
screen 503 of FIG. 6, is displayed as a panel (wall panel) as a
configuration combining the particular light gauge shape sheet
steel.
[0114] 5. Screen 505 Showing the State of Hardware Automatically
Arranged (FIG. 8)
[0115] On the screen 505, the state in which the panel-to-panel
joint (hardware position) automatically arranged by combining a
plurality of light gauge shape sheet steel on the screen 504 of
FIG. 7 is displayed.
[0116] 6. Screen 506 Showing the State in which the Plan View is
Automatically Generated (FIG. 9)
[0117] On the screen 506, the layout of the panels automatically
generated based the wall panel state shown on the screen of FIG. 7
and the hardware position shown on the screen 505 of FIG. 8 is
displayed.
[0118] 7. Screen 507 Showing the State in which each Panel Drawing
is Automatically Generated (FIG. 10)
[0119] On the screen 507, a panel drawing (the drawing showing the
layout, etc. of the members conforming with the opening size)
automatically generated for each panel in the panel layout drawing
shown on the screen 506 of FIG. 9 is displayed.
[0120] 8. Setting Screen 508 of Assignment Area of each Floor Panel
(FIG. 11)
[0121] The screen 508 is so configured that the assignment area of
the panels (floor panels) configured by combining the light gauge
shape sheet steel for the floor portion can be set based on the
setting by the setting screen 501 and the setting screen 502.
[0122] 9. Screen 509 Showing the State in which each Floor Panel
Member is Automatically Arranged (FIG. 12)
[0123] On the screen 509, the state of the light gauge shape sheet
steel (floor panel members) automatically arranged based on the
setting on the screen 508 of FIG. 11 is displayed.
[0124] 10. Screen 510 Showing the State in which the Floor Plan is
Automatically Generated (FIG. 13)
[0125] On the screen 510, the light gauge shape sheet steel
automatically arranged suitably with respect to positions of the
light gauge shape sheet steel shown on the screen 509 of FIG. 12
are displayed.
[0126] 11. Screen 511 for Determining Roof Area (FIG. 14)
[0127] The screen 511 is configured so that the shape, etc. of the
roof portion can be determined based on the setting on the setting
screen 501 and the setting on the setting screen 502.
[0128] 12. Screen 512 Showing the State in which the Roof Truss
Members are Automatically Arranged (FIG. 15)
[0129] On the screen 512, the state of the light gauge shape sheet
steel (roof truss members) automatically arranged based on the
determination on the screen 511 of FIG. 14 is displayed.
[0130] 13. Screen 513 Showing the State with the Truss Drawing
Automatically Generated (FIG. 16)
[0131] On the screen 513, the truss drawing automatically generated
based on the arrangement of the light gauge shape sheet steel (roof
truss members) shown on the screen 512 of FIG. 15 is displayed.
[0132] 14. Screen 514 Showing the State Developed (Shape Steel)
into Truss Members (FIG. 17)
[0133] On the screen 514, the size, etc. of light gauge shape sheet
steel (roof truss members) making up the roof portion are
displayed.
[0134] 15. Screen 515 Showing the State Developed (Hardware) into
the Truss Member (FIG. 18)
[0135] On the screen 515, the joints (hardware positions) of
individual light gauge shape sheet steel (roof truss members)
making up the roof portion are displayed.
[0136] The setting of various information and the automatic
arrangement of the light gauge shape sheet steel in 1 to 15 above
are implemented by the design drawing generating unit 101.
[0137] 16. Screen 516 Showing the State in which the Shape Steel
Production Data are Automatically Totaled (FIG. 19)
[0138] On the screen 516, the order list (steel member order list)
information obtained by automatically totaling the information
(design drawing generating unit 101) obtained from screens 501 to
515 of FIGS. 4 to 18 is displayed. This automatic totaling
operation is carried out by the order list generating unit 102.
Also, on the screen 516, the steel member order list information
can be transmitted. The transmission in this case includes the
transmission to the member production control unit 103, and the
transmission to the external devices through a communication
network described herein below. Thus, the member production control
unit 103, based on the steel member order list information
transmitted from the screen 516 of FIG. 19, produces the light
gauge shape sheet steel under the control of the computer.
[0139] Incidentally, according to this exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, the objective building is assumed to be a steel
house, as an example, and the building material is assumed to be
the light gauge shape sheet steel. It should be undesrtood that the
present invention is not limited to such materials. In addition,
this exemplary embodiment is applicable to the design and the
member production for the entire building or part thereof.
[0140] Also, according to this exemplary embodiment, the light
gauge shape sheet steel are produced based on the design drawing
information acquired by the single information processing system
100. This invention, however, is not limited to this case, but
applicable to a case in which the order list information obtained
based on the design drawing information is obtained from an
external source through communication means, and based on this
information, the light gauge shape sheet steel may be produced. In
particular, in the information processing system 100, the order
list information obtained by an external device having the function
of the design drawing generating unit 101 and the order list
generating unit 102 are received through a communication network
(the network 300, etc. shown in FIG. 2).
[0141] The member production control unit 103, based on the
received information (order list information), machines the sheet
steel under the control of computer and produces the light gauge
shape sheet steel. As a result, the building designer and the light
gauge shape sheet steel maker can automate the processing steps
from the design to the production of the light gauge shape sheet
steel in its entirety through a communication network.
[0142] Also, in the information processing system 100, for example,
the order list information obtained by the external device having
the function of the design drawing generating unit 101 and the
order list generating unit 102 or especially, the panel working
drawing (panel working drawing) and the specification information
obtained by assembling the light gauge shape sheet steel are
received through a communication network. The member production
control unit 103, based on the received information (the panel
working drawing and the specification information) and the
information on the light gauge shape sheet steel required for panel
production stored beforehand in the storage unit 104, assembles the
light gauge shape sheet steel and produces panels under the control
of computer. In this way, not only the production of the light
gauge shape sheet steel from the design stage but the whole process
up to the panel assembly step can be automated in its entirety.
[0143] One of the objects of the present invention can of course be
achieved also in such a manner that a storage medium storing the
program code of the software for implementing the functions of the
host and the terminals according to the embodiment is supplied to a
system or a device, and the computer (CPU or MPU) of the particular
system or the device reads and executes the program code stored in
the storage medium. In this case, the program code read from the
storage medium implements the functions of this embodiment and the
storage medium for storing the particular program is included in
this invention.
[0144] The storage media that can be used for providing the program
code include a ROM, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk,
a magneto-optic disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape or a
non-volatile memory card.
[0145] Also, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can
be applied for a case in which by executing the program code read
by the computer, not only the functions of this embodiment are
implemented, but also based on the instruction of this program
code, the OS (operating system), etc. operating on the computer
executes a part or the whole of actual processing, whereby the
functions of this embodiment are implemented.
[0146] Further, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
can be applied for a case in which the program code read from the
storage medium is written into a memory associated with the
function extension board inserted in the computer or the function
extension unit connected to the computer, after which based on the
instruction of the particular program code, the CPU of the function
extension board or the function extension unit, as the case may be,
executes a part or all of the actual processing, whereby the
functions of this embodiment are implemented.
[0147] As described above, according to the present invention, the
production of the building members can be realized by the CAD/CAM
systems. Therefore, the building materials can be efficiently
produced. In particulat, the following effects can be
exhibited:
[0148] (1) By inputting the design conditions of an objective
building, the wall panel drawing, the floor panel drawing and the
roof truss drawing can be automatically generated.
[0149] (2) From the design drawing information such as the wall
panel drawing, the floor panel drawing and the roof truss drawing,
the members used for the objective building are directly totaled
and a list of the members (steel member order list) can be
prepared.
[0150] (3) Using the member list information (CAD data), the CAM
system for producing the building materials can be connected.
[0151] Another embodiment of the present invention is explained
below with reference to FIGS. 20 to 26.
[0152] Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, an equipment 1 for producing
the light gauge shape sheet steel for a steel house according to
this invention comprises an uncoiler 2 for rewinding the sheet
steel curled in a coil, a leveler 3 for straightening the sheet
steel, an end portion cutter 4 for cutting the front end portion to
a predetermined shape after straightening, a non-stationary
fastening hole forming machine 5 for forming the fastening holes
not requiring a high machining accuracy in the sheet steel in
motion, a waiting table 7 for keeping in a standby state the sheet
steel formed with the fastening holes, a stationary fastening hole
forming machine 8 for forming the fastening holes requiring a high
machining accuracy, and a roll forming machine 9 for forming the
sheet steel formed with the fastening holes into the light gauge
shape sheet steel for a steel house having a predetermined cross
section by the roll forming method. The uncoiler 2, the leveler 3,
the end portion cutter 4, the non-stationary fastening hole forming
machine 5, the waiting table 7, the stationary fastening hole
forming machine 8 and the roll forming machine 9 make up a main
production line.
[0153] Further, the equipment 1 for producing the light gauge shape
sheet steel for a steel house comprises a special member machining
unit 6. This special member machining unit 6, after the fastening
holes are formed by the non-stationary fastening hole forming
machine 5 and the rear end of the sheet steel is cut to a
predetermined size and shape by the end portion cutter 4, machines
the sheet steel to a special shape without stopping the flow of the
main production line 2 to 9. The sheet steel machined by the
special member machining unit 6 are returned again to the waiting
table 7 of the main production line.
[0154] The fastening holes not requiring very high machining
accuracy formed by the non-stationary fastening hole forming
machine 5 include the fastening holes for connecting the light
gauge shape sheet steel of the steel house to the structural face
plates and the fastening holes for passing the electrical wiring.
These fastening holes do not require high machining accuracy due to
their intended applications. The fastening holes requiring high
machining accuracy formed by the stationary fastening hole forming
machine 8, on the other hand, include the fastening holes for
connecting the light gauge shape sheet steel for the steel house.
These fastening holes require high accuracy due to their
positioning function in connecting the panels to each other.
[0155] Then, the CAD system for automatically generating the
fastening hole information is explained with reference to FIGS. 22
and 23.
[0156] In the CAD system, members including a runner, a stud and a
reinforcing member are arranged as shown in FIG. 23, and connected
to each other to design a building. In the process, the fastening
hole information including the joint between the runner and the
stud, the joint between the reinforcing member and the stud, the
joint between the stud and the structural face plate and the wiring
holes formed in the stud are automatically generated from the
attributes of the individual members. The fastening hole
information automatically generated at the time of designing a
building by the CAD system are fetched as member control
information for the production control system.
[0157] In FIG. 23, character a designates the joint between the
stud and the runner, and the fastening holes of each member has a
high machining accuracy due to the positioning function between
them. Character b designates a joint for mounting the reinforcing
member on the stud, and requires not so high machining accuracy as
the joint a. Character c designates a hole for electrical wiring or
a fastening hole for mounting the stud on the structural face
plate, and does not require a high machining accuracy.
[0158] In the computer-controlled production control system for the
production line of the light gauge shape sheet steel of a steel
house, the shape steel has a two-dimensional cross section after
being roll formed. In order to form the fastening holes by the
non-stationary fastening hole forming machine and the stationary
fastening hole forming machine, therefore, the positions of the
fastening holes are required to be two-dimensionally controlled.
According to this invention, the shape steel having a
two-dimensional cross section is developed into a flat surface and
the positions of the fastening holes are controlled as
one-dimensional information with a reference axis along the length
of the members for each surface.
[0159] Referring to FIG. 24A, the sheet steel is formed by the roll
forming equipment into a C-frame shape steel 20 having a
two-dimensional cross section. As an example, the C-frame shape
steel 20 shown in FIG. 24A has five faces 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25.
According to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
such C-frame shape steel 20 is developed into a flat surface as
shown in FIG. 24B, and the positions of the fastening holes to be
formed in the five faces 21 to 25 are controlled as one-dimensional
information along the longitudinal reference axis. As a result, the
data management of the positions of the fastening holes is
facilitated, thereby making it possible to easily control the
non-stationary fastening hole forming machine 5 and the stationary
fastening hole forming machine 8.
[0160] According to the present invention, the shape steel is
classified into a general member, an application member and a
special member. Referring to FIG. 25, the general member 30 has a
shape with the two ends of sheet steel cut at right angles. The
application member 31, with the end portions thereof cut not at
right angles, is cut only at the end portions of sheet steel. The
special member 32 should not only to be cut at the end portions
thereof, but also to be machined.
[0161] The application member 31, whose shape of the cut end
portions may be standardized in the future, can be machined on the
main production line like the general member 30 when being cut by
the end portion cutter 4 following the straightening step by the
leveler 3. The special member 32, due to its unique machining
position, would require an exclusive machining unit and the
machining operation would affect the productivity of the whole
production line, if produced on the main production line. In the
production equipment 1 of the light gauge shape sheet steel of a
steel house according to the invention, therefore, the special
member 32 is returned to the main production line after completion
of the common machining operation on the main production line and
the machining operation off line by the special member machining
unit 6.
[0162] Next, referring to FIG. 26, the production control system
according to the present invention is explained herein below.
[0163] The production control system 40 can be implemented with a
computer and has a machining control unit 41. The machining control
unit 41 has stored therein the member machining information
including the member numbers, the steel material standard (plating
type), the shape information, length, width and the shape and type
of the fastening holes, the requirement or no requirement of high
machining accuracy, and the positions and number of the fastening
holes, for the light gauge shape sheet steel of each of a plurality
of types of steel house to be produced, so that the production
process is controlled based on these member machining information.
The machining control unit 41 includes the leveler 3 of the
production equipment 1 for the light gauge shape sheet steel of the
steel house, the end portion cutter 4, a control unit 42 for the
non-stationary fastening hole forming machine 5, a control unit 43
for the waiting table 7, the control unit 44 for the stationary
fastening hole forming machine 8, a control unit 45 for the roll
forming machine 9 and a control unit 46 for controlling the
operation of printing the serial numbers or the like on an ink jet
printer 10. Also, in the machining control unit 41, the shape steel
actually produced is recorded as a machining achievement record
47.
[0164] The machining control unit 41 has determining means (not
shown) for discriminating, based on the member machining
information, the member used for production into one of the general
member 30, the application member 31 and the special member 32
during the process preceding to the leveler 3. The machining
control unit 41 determines, based on the result of determination in
the determining means, whether the member to be machined is to be
produced on the main production line 3 to 9 or to be machined off
line by the special member machining unit 6.
[0165] The main production line executes (1) the step of
straightening by the leveler 3, (2) the step of forming the
fastening holes not requiring high machining accuracy by the
non-stationary fastening hole forming machine 5, (3) the step of
cutting the end portions of the sheet steel by the end portion
cutter 4, (4) the step of waiting on the waiting table 7, (5) the
step of forming the fastening holes requiring high machining
accuracy by the stationary fastening hole forming machine 8, (6)
the step of forming into shape steel by the roll forming machine 9,
and (7) the step of printing the serial number, etc. on the formed
shape steel by the ink jet printer 10, in that order.
[0166] The off-line production process by the special member
machining unit 6 includes (8) the step of machining to a special
shape the special member 32 passed through the steps (1) to (3) on
the main production line, and (9) the step of returning the special
member thus machined to the special shape back to the waiting table
7 on the main production line, in that order. When moving the
special member 32 from the main production line to the special
member machining unit 6, a control signal is transmitted to the
computer and the data thereof is stored in the machining control
unit 41. When the special member 32 that has been machined to the
special shape in the off-line production process is returned to the
waiting table 7 of the main production line, a control signal to
that effect is transmitted to the computer and the data is stored
in the machining control unit 41. The subsequent steps of
production of the special member 32 are incorporated into the
production control system of the main production line.
[0167] In the case where a member to be machined is determined to
be a general member 30 or an application member 31, the machining
control unit 41 transmits the control information to the control
units 42 to 47 based on the member machining control information,
and thereby controls the steps (1) to (7) of the main production
line.
[0168] In the case where a member to be machined is determined to
be a special member by the determining means, at the end of steps
(1) to (3), the machining control unit 41, based on the member
machining information, sends a control signal to the transfer means
for transferring the special member 32 from the main production
line to the special member machining unit 6, and thereby transfers
the special member 32 to the special member machining unit 6. The
control signal indicating that the special member 32 has been
transferred to the special member machining unit 6 is transmitted
to the machining control unit 41 from the transfer means and stored
as data. The special member 32 is machined to special shape off
line by the special member machining unit 6, and then returned to
the waiting table on the main production line. In the process, the
control signal is transmitted to the machining control unit 41 and
stored as data.
[0169] As described above, the special member 32 which is difficult
to machine on the main production line is machined on the main
production line for the common machining operation and machined off
line to a special shape by the special member machining unit 6.
After this machining operation, the special member 32 is returned
to the main production line. In this way, the production control
system for the light gauge shape sheet steel of a steel house
including the general member 30, the application member 31 and the
special member 32 is implemented.
[0170] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, in addition to the fastening hole forming step with the
conventional stationary fastening hole forming machine, the
fastening holes are formed by the non-stationary fastening hole
forming machine without stopping the work flow in the leveler
stage, thereby improving the productivity of the whole production
line of the light gauge shape sheet steel of the steel house.
Further, the fastening holes are divided into those not requiring
high machining accuracy and those requiring high machining
accuracy, and the fastening holes not requiring high machining
accuracy are formed by the non-stationary fastening hole machine
without stopping the work flow, while the fastening holes requiring
high machining accuracy are formed by the stationary fastening hole
forming machine by stopping the movement of the work. Thus, the
assembly work for constructing a steel house of the prefabricated
building materials is facilitated.
[0171] Also, in the computer-controlled production control system
for producing the light gauge shape sheet steel of a steel house
according to the present invention, the general member, the
application member and the special member are discriminated in the
leveler step based on the member control information of the
production control system, so that the general member and the
application member are machined on the main production line, while
the special member, after being machined on the main production
line for the common machining process, is machined off line to a
special shape and then returned to the main production line. In
this manner, the production of even the special member which is
difficult to machine on the main production line can be controlled
by the production line production control system, thereby improving
the flexibility of the production process.
[0172] Further, in the computer-controlled production control
system for producing the light gauge shape sheet steel for a steel
house according to the present invention, a steel house is designed
by the CAD system in such a manner that the information including
the positions, size and the machining accuracy of the fastening
holes are generated automatically in accordance with the attribute
of each member, and by fetching the particular fastening hole
information into the member control information, a multiplicity of
the fastening hole information can be efficiently controlled.
[0173] In view of the fact that the shape steel has a
two-dimensional shape of the cross section after roll forming, the
position information of the fastening holes formed in the shape
steel are required to be controlled two-dimensionally. According to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in contrast, the
shape steel is developed into a flat surface, and the position
information of the fastening holes is controlled one-dimensionally
along the length of each member for each portion of the developed
shape steel, thereby making it possible to easily control the
process of forming the fastening holes.
[0174] A building information distribution aiding system according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is explained
below with reference to FIGS. 27 to 30.
[0175] A building information distribution aiding system 400
according to this exemplary embodiment comprises a server 412 for
providing a building information distribution site 410, and clients
414a, 414b, 414c and so on used by the party (hereinafter referred
to as a contractor) designing and/or constructing a building
according to the steel house construction method. The server 412
and the clients 414a, 414b, 414c and so on are connected by a
communication line thereby making up a network (WAN) 420. The
communication line may include a known wire or wireless
communication system such as a dedicated line, a general telephone
line, ISDN, DSL, a portable telephone line, a subscription radio
access system, a radio LAN system or a CATV network.
[0176] The server 412, in order to provide a building information
distribution site 400 accessible through the network 20 from the
clients 414a, 414b, 414c and so on, includes a CPU, a RAM (random
access memory), a disk drive unit for storing the internal
information of the building information distribution site 400, and
an interface unit such as an Ethernet card or a modem for
transmitting and receiving data to and from the clients 414a, 414b,
414c and so on. The server 412 is preferably an ASP (application
service provider) for controlling the applications. This is to
specify the participants accessible to the building information
distribution site 400 by password authentication while at the same
time securing the quality of the steel house by limiting the
contractors satisfying predetermined standards according to the
invention. Also, by employing ASP, the burden on the clients 414a,
414b, 414c and so on and the system administration cost can be
reduced.
[0177] According to this exemplary embodiment, objects to be
distributed include the building information such as the structural
design, the framework panel working drawing, the framework panel
layout and the production data of the steel house. The building
information to be distributed is not limited to those prepared by
contractors but may be that prepared by the manager. Also, the
building information to be distributed has attached thereto a
reference number for management, and a uniform file is used by the
type of data included in the building information to facilitate
distribution of the building information among the contractors and
to permit the design change by the contractors. The file of each
building information may be that of widely used applications. For
example, the building design, the shape steel order and the
production data may be the spreadsheet software in the form such as
Excel (trade mark) (xls file) of Microsoft, while the framework
panel working drawing and the framework panel layout drawing may be
CAD software in the form (dwg file) such as for AutoCAD (trade
mark) of Autodesk.
[0178] The building information distribution site 400, as shown in
FIG. 1, includes at least a case collection page 430, an order page
440 and a new reception page 450.
[0179] The case collection page 430 exhibits actual cases of the
steel house constructed based on the building information. As case
a, case b, . . . , case n, for example, the photos, layout, area,
number of steps and the like information of buildings completed are
illustrated for each case, and can be retrieved by the construction
period, building area, reference number, etc. of each building.
[0180] The order page 440 is configured of a design order page 442
used by the contractors to purchase the building information, and a
design order page 448 used for purchasing the members required for
construction. The design order page 442 is configured of a building
information order page 444 for the contractor to transmit the
building information order to the manager and a building
information delivery page 446 for the manager to supply the
building information to the contractors. The design order page 442
and the member order page 448 are prepared in a folder or a
directory unique to each contractor, each of which is accessible
only by the manager and the corresponding contractor.
[0181] The new reception page 450 can be used by the contractor to
sell the building information to the manager, and the building
information of the steel house is delivered to the manager from the
contractor through the new reception page 450.
[0182] The clients 414a, 414b, 414c and so forth on the part of the
contractor can be formed of ordinary personal computers, and
include a CPU, a RAM, a disk drive for storing the building
information, and an interface unit such as an Ethernet card or a
modem for transmitting and receiving the data to and from a server
412. Also, the clients 414a, 414b, 414c and so forth are installed
with means of editing the building information such as the
application software (Excel (trade mark) of Microsoft or AutoCAD
(trade mark) of Autodesk) that can edit the format of the xls file
and dwg file of the building information.
[0183] The operation of the building information distribution
aiding system according to the invention is explained below with
reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.
[0184] First, the contractor studying the distribution of the
building information in the building information distribution site
400 accesses the server 412 through the network 20 by the clients
414a, 414b, 414c and so on, and after being authenticated by the
account and the password, logs in to the building information
distribution site 400 (step S10). Next, in the case collection page
430 carrying a plurality of actual cases a, b, . . . , n, an actual
case having the desired plan is selected (step S12). In the
process, the contractor can efficiently find an actual case to be
purchased, by use of the search system described above.
[0185] The contractor can log out as soon as no actual case having
the desired plan cannot be found as the result of search (step
S22). Assume that the contractor has found the desired plan in the
case collection page 430, on the other hand, or in the case where
the contractor has decided to use the case a of a steel house A.
The contractor goes through the procedure for acquiring the
building information of the steel house A in the design order page
442 in the order page 440 (step S14). Specifically, the contractor
transmits to the server 412 through the building information order
page 444 a building information order including the items for
specifying the contractor, the reference number of the building
information to be purchased and an expression of the will to
purchase the particular building information. By transmitting the
building information order to the server 412, a building
information purchase agreement for the steel house A is concluded
(step S16). In order to authenticate the validity of the procedure,
it is desirable to employ an electronic signature system in which
the contractor encrypts the building information order with a
secret key, and the manager decrypts the order with a public key or
an authentication system using a digital certificate issued from
the manager or the company providing the authentication
service.
[0186] The contractor, upon transmission of the building
information order to the server 412, logs out from the building
information distribution site 400 (step S22) or standing by as it
is, downloads the building information purchased, as described
later.
[0187] The server 412, upon receipt of the building information
order through the building information order page 444, specifies
the contractor from the items described in the building information
order, and stores the building information order in a predetermined
file by relating it to the contractor, while at the same time
storing the building information of the steel house A in the
download folder of the contractor (step S18). From this time point,
the contractor that has purchased the building information of the
steel house A can download the building information from the
building information delivery page 446 (step S20). The contractor
that has logged out from the building information distribution site
400 before downloading the building information purchased is of
course required to log in to the building information distribution
site 400 again to download the particular building information.
[0188] The contractor that has downloaded the building information
of the steel house A uses the building information of the steel
house A as it is, or edits the building information of the steel
house A as required using the application software installed in the
clients 414a, 414b, 414c, and so on. In this way, the contractor
can design a building B as a steel house as corrected from the
steel house A. According to this invention, the building
information is unified in file format, and therefore the edit work
can be carried out very easily.
[0189] The shape steel, etc. of the steel house can be ordered
(FIG. 3) through the member order page 448 of the order page 440 in
the building information distribution site 400. Specifically, the
contractor that purchases for a member logs in to the building
information distribution site 400 (step S30), and places an order
for the member by transmitting from the member order page 448 to
the server 412 a member order including the items for specifying
the contractor and the expression of the will to purchase the
member described in the specification, and a specification of the
member to be purchased (step S32). At this time point, the purchase
agreement for the particular member is concluded (step S34). After
placing the order for the member, the contractor can log out from
the server 412 (step S36). To meet the requirement for
authentication of the validity of the procedure, preferably, an
electronic signature system is employed in which the contractor
encrypts the member order and the specification with a secret key
and the manager decrypts them with a public key, or an
authentication system using a digital certificate issued from the
manager or the company providing the authentication service.
[0190] The server 412 stores the member order and the specification
received through the member order page 448 in the corresponding
folder of the contractor (step S38), while at the same time
transmitting them as an order data to the server (not shown) of
each department of production, distribution and accounting of the
corresponding member (step S40).
[0191] The contractor can prepare in a predetermined format and
sell the building information of the steel house that has been
constructed in the past, through the new reception page 450 in the
building information distribution site 400 (FIG. 4). In this case,
the contractor logs in to the building information distribution
site 400 (step S50), and transmits to the server 412, through the
new reception page 450, an offer to sell the building information
including the items to specify the contractor, the expression of
the desire to sell the building information through the building
information distribution site 400, etc. and the building
information to be sold (step S52). At this time point, the
contractor can log out from the building information distribution
site 400 (step S54). To meet the requirement for authentication of
the validity of the procedure, it is desirable to employ an
electronic signature system in which the contractor encrypts the
offer to sell the building information and the building information
to be sold with a secret key and the manager decrypts them with a
public key, or an authentication system using a digital certificate
issued from the manager or the company providing the authentication
service.
[0192] The server 412 stores the offer to sell the building
information and the building information transmitted, in a
predetermined folder such as a folder on the hard drive of the
personal computer of the person in charge, by studying the purchase
of the new building information (step S56). In step S58, the
purchase of the new building information is studied, and in the
case where the new building information is purchased, the will to
purchase the new building information is sent to the contractor
using the communication means such as E-mail (step S60), and the
new building information is carried in the case collection page
(step S64). In the case where it is determined in step S58 that the
new building information is not purchased, the wish not to purchase
the new building information is transmitted to the contractor using
the communication means such as E-mail (step S62).
[0193] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the contractor on one party that provides (sells) the
building information can gain a profit from the building
information which otherwise might not have been reused in the
future on the one hand, and the contractor on the other party who
uses (purchases) the building information can simplify the design
work on the other hand. Especially, the building information
distributed according to this invention is digital data easy to
edit and can be modified by the purchaser. Therefore, the
purchaser, without the structure and the equipment completely
coincident with the desired building, can easily select the desired
building information.
[0194] In addition, according to the present invention, the manager
can extend and promote the use of the buildings such as a steel
house by providing the chance of distribution of the building
information. Especially in the case where the manager is a member
supplier, both the manager and the contractor can conduct the
business efficiently by placing an order for parts through the
building information distribution site. On the other hand, the
manager providing the building information can gain a profit
without paying the cost of purchasing the building information.
* * * * *