U.S. patent application number 11/331056 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-08 for article design support system and method and medium storing program for article design support.
Invention is credited to Kenichi Ninomiya.
Application Number | 20060122723 11/331056 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 16748903 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060122723 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ninomiya; Kenichi |
June 8, 2006 |
Article design support system and method and medium storing program
for article design support
Abstract
A furniture design support system comprises a computer system.
The computer system comprises an HD unit, which stores a furniture
design support program and data representing the basic forms of
units and parts. An operator defines a size, a finishing color, a
material (the kind of wood), etc. with respect to the unit to be
used for furniture to be designed on the basis of the desires of a
customer, and also defines a finishing color, a material, etc. with
respect to the part (a drawer, a door leaf, etc.) (step 33).
Completed furniture is displayed on a display screen by assembling
the unit and the part on the display screen. An HD stores design
data related to the completed furniture (step 34). The appearance
of the completed furniture is displayed on the display screen on
the basis of the design data, and a design drawing is outputted
from a printer (step 35).
Inventors: |
Ninomiya; Kenichi; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCGINN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP, PLLC
Suite 200
8321 Old Courthouse Road
Vienna
VA
22182-3817
US
|
Family ID: |
16748903 |
Appl. No.: |
11/331056 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10048429 |
Feb 1, 2002 |
7016747 |
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PCT/JP00/05217 |
Aug 3, 2000 |
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11331056 |
Jan 13, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06T 2210/04 20130101;
G06F 2111/20 20200101; G06T 19/00 20130101; B33Y 50/00 20141201;
G06F 19/00 20130101; G06F 30/00 20200101; Y10S 715/964
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/106 |
International
Class: |
G06F 19/00 20060101
G06F019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 3, 1999 |
JP |
11-220293 |
Claims
1-76. (canceled)
77. An article manufacturing process drawing production system
comprising: a database storing data representing work processes
related to each of constituent members, data representing the work
processes related to said constituent member including data related
to the order of processes for each of contents of work included in
the work processes; work process data extraction means for
extracting, on the basis of data related to a combination of one or
a plurality of types of constituent members constituting a given
article, the data representing the work processes related to each
of the constituent members constituting said article from said
database; and article manufacturing process drawing production
means for arranging the extracted data representing the work
processes related to the constituent member, to produce and output
a manufacturing process drawing of the article constructed by the
combination of the one or plurality of types of constituent
members.
78-80. (canceled)
81. A medium having a program recorded thereon for controlling a
computer comprising a database storing data representing work
processes related to each of constituent members, the data
representing the work processes related to said constituent member
including data related to the order of processes for each of
contents of work included in the work processes, the program
controlling the computer so as to: extract, on the basis of data
related to a combination of one or a plurality of types of
constituent members constituting a given article, data representing
the work processes related to the constituent members constituting
said article from said database; and arrange the extracted data
representing the work processes related to the constituent members,
to produce and output a manufacturing process drawing of the
article constructed by combining the one or plurality of types of
constituent members.
82. (canceled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a system for and a method
of supporting the design of an article, for example, furniture, and
a medium having a program for supporting the design of an article
stored thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] When furniture such as a bookcase, a shoecase, or a cupboard
is purchased, a customer generally selects, out of pieces of
ready-made furniture, one having a shape, a structure, a size, a
color, a material, a material quality, etc. which he or she
desires.
[0003] In order to meet a variety of desires of the customer,
furniture has been made to order. However, the made-to-order
furniture takes more time and labor to manufacture, as compared
with the ready-made furniture. Accordingly, the made-to-order
furniture is generally high in cost. Further, furniture on which
all the desires of the customer are reflected is not necessarily
manufactured even if it is made to order. The reason for this is
that the design is not made while incorporating the desires of the
customer one by one, and the texture, the hue, or the like of the
material is not generally expressed in a design drawing.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a support
tool for designing an article (for example, furniture) having some
of elements such as a shape, a structure, a size, a color, a
material, and a material quality which are as close to the desires
of a user as possible, that is, an article design support
system.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
support tool that makes it easy to design an article, that is, an
article design support system.
[0006] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a support tool that makes it easy to manufacture an article, that
is, an article manufacture support system.
[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
recording medium storing a program for realizing a design support
method, a design support system, a manufacture support method, and
a manufacture support system of an article using a general purpose
computer. The medium storing the program (having the program
recorded thereon) includes not only a portable recording medium
such as an FD (Floppy Disk) or a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only
Memory) but also a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a semiconductor
memory, and so forth.
[0008] An article design support system according to a first
invention comprises constituent member selection means for
accepting, out of a plurality of types of constituent members, the
selection of the plurality of types of constituent members used for
designing an article; first input means for accepting the input of
data related to a combination of the selected plurality of types of
constituent members; second input means for accepting the input of
size data related to at least one of the selected plurality of
types of constituent members; first storage means for storing data
respectively representing the selected plurality of types of
constituent members, the inputted data related to the combination,
and the inputted size data; and display means for displaying an
image representing an article constructed by combining the
plurality of types of constituent members on the basis of the data
representing the selected plurality of types of constituent
members, the inputted data related to the combination, and the
inputted size data.
[0009] An article design support method according to the first
invention is particularly for supporting design using a computer,
which comprises the steps of causing to select, out of a plurality
of types of constituent members, the plurality of types of
constituent members used for designing an article; causing to input
data related to a combination of the selected plurality of types of
constituent members; causing to input size data related to at least
one of the selected plurality of types of constituent members;
displaying an image representing an article constructed by
combining the plurality of types of constituent members on the
basis of the data representing the selected plurality of types of
constituent members, the inputted data related to the combination,
and the inputted size data; and storing the data representing the
selected plurality of types of constituent members, the inputted
data related to the combination, and the inputted size data.
[0010] A program recording medium according to the first invention
stores the following program. That is, the program is for
controlling a computer so as to cause the computer to perform
constituent member selection processing for accepting, out of a
plurality of types of constituent members, the selection of the
plurality of types of constituent members used for designing an
article; combination input processing for accepting the input of
data related to a combination of the selected plurality of types of
constituent members; size input processing for accepting the input
of size data related to at least one of the selected plurality of
types of constituent members; storage processing for storing data
representing the selected plurality of types of constituent
members, the inputted data related to the combination, and the
inputted size data; and display processing for displaying an image
representing an article constructed by combining the plurality of
types of constituent members on the basis of the data representing
the selected plurality of types of constituent members, the
inputted data related to the combination, and the inputted size
data.
[0011] In the first invention, it is presupposed that a desired
article can be designed by selection and combination (including
arrangement) of the plurality of types of constituent members
previously determined. An example of the article is furniture.
[0012] An operator selects the constituent members, and enters the
sizes of at least some of the constituent members, and further
enters their combination, so that an image representing an article
constructed by the combination of the selected constituent members
is produced and is displayed. Further, data for the display or data
forming the basis thereof are stored in a memory.
[0013] It is possible to confirm whether or not the article has a
desired shape, structure, and size by seeing the displayed image (a
design drawing) representing the article. It is also possible to
designate a material (a material quality) or a color. The article
is represented by the designated material (material quality) or
color. The size, the combination, the material, the material
quality, the color, etc. can be also changed, if required. An image
(a design drawing) after the change is displayed.
[0014] The selection, the combination, and the sizes of the
constituent members can be thus determined depending on the desires
of the user. Accordingly, the design drawing of the article having
the shape, the structure, and the size which meet the desires of
the user is completed. Further, the completed design drawing can be
confirmed or checked by being displayed. The selection and the
combination of the constituent members and the input of the sizes
are basically sufficient for an operator to perform operations.
Accordingly, the operations are easy.
[0015] It is preferable that images (drawings) representing the
selected constituent members and an image (a design drawing)
representing the article constructed by combining the constituent
members during or after completion of the combination are
simultaneously displayed on separate areas of a display screen.
[0016] Data representing the plurality of types of constituent
members which are used for designing the article may be displayed.
The data representing the constituent members include images,
characters, icons, etc. The constituent members used for designing
the article are selected out of the plurality of types of
constituent members which are represented by the images, the
characters, the icons, etc.
[0017] As for a certain type of article, for example, furniture,
the furniture has one or a plurality of basic structures (shapes).
The basic structure (shape) can be represented by basic constituent
members which are of one type or are classified into a plurality of
types (basic constituent members of at least one type). The other
constituent members are represented as a plurality of types of
parts. Each of the parts includes at least one type.
[0018] It is possible to cause the operator to select the basic
constituent members of at least one type and one type of at least
one of the parts and construct an article having a desired shape,
structure, and size by their combination. If the sizes are inputted
with respect to the basic constituent members, the size of the part
to be combined therewith can be automatically calculated on the
basis of the sizes of the basic constituent members and data
representing the combination.
[0019] Preferably, the operator is caused to enter data related to
formation of cells by dividing a space (this may be also called a
cell) defined by the basic constituent members selected and
displayed. By introducing the concept "cell", the selected part can
be associated (combined) with the cells formed by the division.
This makes it easy to handle data representing an article having a
complicated structure.
[0020] In this case, at least one of the size of a board member for
defining the cells and the size of the cell can be easily
calculated automatically on the basis of the sizes of the basic
constituent members and the number of divisions. The input of the
size of the cell, the size of the board member, and the sizes of
the other parts can be omitted.
[0021] All the data representing the selected constituent members
used for designing the article, the inputted data related to the
combination of the constituent members, the inputted size data, the
data related to the material (material quality) and the color of
the inputted constituent member, the inputted data related to the
formation of the cells, etc. are entered (selected) by the user
(operator) of the article design support system. Consequently, data
for representing an image (a design drawing) representing the
article is constructed in the storage means. Data to be the basis
of the input and selection may be previously stored in another
storage means. The user can design an article having a desired
shape, structure, and size by freely changing the combination of
the constituent members and determining the sizes thereof in the
data to be the basis.
[0022] The design support system according to the first invention
can be also defined from another point of view (particularly of
display) (this is referred to as a second invention). A design
support system according to the second invention comprises
constituent member display means for displaying, out of a plurality
of types of constituent members, images representing the selected
plurality of types of constituent members; article display means
for displaying an image representing an article constructed by
combining the plurality of types of constituent members on the
basis of data representing the combination of the plurality of
types of constituent members and data representing at least the
sizes thereof which are given with respect to the displayed
plurality of types of constituent members; and storage means for
storing data representing the selected plurality of types of
constituent members, the given data representing the sizes of the
plurality of types of constituent members, and the given data
representing the combination.
[0023] According to the second invention, the images representing
the selected plurality of types of constituent members and the
image representing the article constructed by combining the
plurality of types of constituent members are displayed. The
displayed image representing the article is based on the data
representing the selected plurality of types of constituent
members, the given data representing the sizes of the constituent
members, and the given data representing the combination of the
constituent members stored in the storage means.
[0024] The constituent members are selected, so that the images
representing the constituent members are displayed. A constituent
member newly selected is combined with the displayed constituent
members, so that an image representing an article (a completed
article or an article during completion) is displayed. The contents
of the data stored in the storage means are changed depending on
the combination of the constituent members (the assembling of the
article) on the display screen. It is indicated on the display
screen how the article is being assembled. Accordingly, the article
to be designed is easy to grasp and is easy to understand.
[0025] The present invention further provides the following article
design support tool.
[0026] A design support system according to a third invention
comprises first display means for displaying images respectively
representing a plurality of types of articles; article selection
means for accepting the selection of any one of the displayed
plurality of types of articles; input means for accepting the input
of size data related to the selected article; and second display
means for displaying an image representing the selected article of
a size based on the inputted size data.
[0027] A design support system according to a fourth invention
comprises first display means for displaying images respectively
representing combinations of one or a plurality of types of basic
constituent members and parts; combination selection means for
accepting the selection of any one of the displayed combinations of
the one or plurality of types of basic constituent members and
parts; first input means for accepting, with respect to the
selected combination, the input of size data related to at least
one of the basic constituent member and the part; and second
display means for displaying an image representing the combination
of the basic constituent member and the part, one of which is of a
size based on the inputted size data.
[0028] A design support system according to a fifth invention
comprises first display means for displaying images respectively
representing a plurality of types of basic constituent members;
basic constituent member selection means for accepting the
selection of any one of the displayed plurality of types of basic
constituent members; second display means for displaying images
respectively representing a plurality of types of parts; first
input means for accepting the input of data related to a
combination of the selected basic constituent member and at least
one of the displayed plurality of types of parts; second input
means for accepting the input of size data related to at least one
of the selected basic constituent member and the part combined with
the basic constituent member; and third display means for
displaying an image representing a combination of the basic
constituent member and the part, one of which is of a size based on
the inputted size data.
[0029] A design support system according to a sixth invention
comprises first display means for displaying images respectively
representing a plurality of types of basic constituent members;
basic constituent member selection means for accepting the
selection of any one of the displayed plurality of types of basic
constituent members; first input means for accepting the input of
data for dividing a cell defined by the selected basic constituent
member into a plurality of cells; second display means for
displaying images respectively representing a plurality of types of
parts; part selection means for accepting the selection of any one
of the displayed plurality of types of parts; second input means
for accepting the input of data for associating the selected part
with the one or plurality of cells; third input means for accepting
the input of size data related to at least one of the selected
basic constituent member and the one or plurality of cells; and
third display means for displaying an image representing the basic
constituent member and the part associated with the cells formed by
the division on the basis of the inputted size data.
[0030] In the third invention, the size of the article selected
depending on the desires of the user is determined. In the fourth
invention, the sizes of the basic constituent member and the part
which constitute the article are determined depending on the
desires of the user. In the fifth invention, the user can select
the basic constituent member and the part which should be used for
the article, and can determine the sizes thereof. In the sixth
invention, the user can determine the cells in the selected basic
constituent member.
[0031] Furthermore, the present invention provides a tool capable
of easily designing an article meeting the taste of the user by
previously preparing article design data which can be changed, and
particularly a server computer used in an article design support
system operated through a network.
[0032] A server computer comprises storage means storing article
design data including data respectively representing a plurality of
types of articles and size data related to each of the articles.
The server computer comprises main page transmission means for
transmitting to a client computer a main page for displaying on the
client computer images representing the plurality of types of
articles based on the article design data and accepting the
designation of the article in response to a main page transmission
request from the client computer; article design data change page
transmission means for transmitting to the client computer an
article design data change page for accepting the change in the
size of the article designated in the client computer; appearance
data production means for producing data representing the
appearance of the article on the basis of the size data inputted in
the client computer; and appearance image page transmission means
for transmitting to the client computer an appearance image page
for displaying an image representing the appearance of the article
which is represented by the produced appearance data.
[0033] The article design data is previously prepared for the
server computer. On the client computer, the images representing
the plurality of articles represented by the article design data
(which may be an image representing a picture or the like of an
article (an actual object) having approximately the same shape as
the article represented by the article design data) is displayed
(this is a main page). A user of the client computer can select any
(liked) article, and can request to change the size of the selected
article (an article design data change page). On the client
computer, the image representing the appearance of the article
having the size which has been changed is displayed (an appearance
image page). The user of the client computer can easily read the
article having the liked size.
[0034] The article design data may include the data representing
the plurality of types of constituent members constituting the
article and data related to the combination of the constituent
members constituting the article. In the article design data change
page, the change in the constituent members constituting the
designated article may be further accepted. The server computer
transmits, when it receives change data related to the constituent
member constituting the article, the image representing the
appearance of the article comprising the changed constituent member
to the client computer.
[0035] Furthermore, if the article design data includes color data
representing the color of the article, and the article design data
change page is for further accepting the change in the color of the
designated article, the article is represented in the color liked
by the user.
[0036] According to the present invention, the size of the article
represented by the article design data previously prepared can be
thus easily changed into a liked size or the like. Since the
article design data is changed, the user can obtain an article
having a liked size, members, or color if the article is
manufactured on the basis of the changed article design data.
[0037] The present invention further provides various article
manufacture support tools used for manufacturing an article.
[0038] A first manufacture support tool is an article processing
drawing production system.
[0039] An article processing drawing production system according to
the present invention comprises first storage means storing data
representing minimum constituent elements composing a plurality of
types of constituent members, data related to the constituent
member represented by a combination of the minimum constituent
elements, data related to an article represented by a combination
of the constituent members, and size data related to each of the
minimum constituent elements; and processing drawing production
means for producing, on the basis of the data representing the
minimum constituent elements composing the plurality of types of
constituent members, the data related to the constituent member
represented by the combination of the minimum constituent elements,
the data related to the article represented by the combination of
the constituent members, and the size data related to each of the
minimum constituent elements, processing drawings having a drawing
and the size of the minimum constituent element, a drawing and the
size of the constituent member, and a drawing and the size of the
article separately drawn thereon, and outputting the processing
drawings as a set.
[0040] The minimum constituent element means an element which
cannot be further divided. A combination of elements constitutes a
constituent member. A combination of constituent members
constitutes an article.
[0041] It is possible to express on a drawing, on the basis of the
data representing the minimum constituent elements, the data
related to the constituent member represented by the combination of
the minimum constituent elements, the data related to the article
represented by the combination of the constituent members, and the
data related to the size of the minimum constituent element, the
shape and the structure of the elements required to process
(manufacture) the article (the constituent members), the shape and
the structure of the constituent member, and the shape and the
structure of the article, together with the sizes. The elements
displayed on the drawing (processing drawing) are manufactured and
are assembled, thereby making it possible to manufacture the
constituent members. The constituent members are combined on the
basis of the data related to the combination of the constituent
members, thereby making it possible to manufacture the article.
[0042] The data representing joint portions among the minimum
constituent elements for assembling the constituent members and
assembling the article may be stored. The joint portions among the
elements are illustrated, thereby making it easy to assemble the
article. A hole, a hinge, or the like may be indicated in the joint
portion.
[0043] It is preferable that the joint portion between the minimum
constituent elements is one corresponding to the size of the
elements. In one embodiment, the article processing drawing
production system comprises means for changing at least one of the
positions and the number of joint portions among the minimum
constituent elements on the basis of the size data related to the
minimum constituent elements. It is possible to make such change
that the number of joint portions is increased when the size of the
minimum constituent element further constituting the constituent
member constituting the article is larger than a set value, while
being reduced when it is smaller than the set value.
[0044] A second manufacture support tool is an article
manufacturing process drawing production system.
[0045] An article manufacturing process drawing production system
according to the present invention comprises a database storing
data representing work processes related to each of constituent
members, data representing the work processes related to the
constituent member including data related to the order of processes
for each of contents of work included in the work processes; work
process data extraction means for extracting, on the basis of data
related to a combination of one or a plurality of types of
constituent members constituting a given article, the data
representing the work processes related to each of the constituent
members constituting the article from the database; and article
manufacturing process drawing production means for arranging the
extracted data representing the work processes related to the
constituent member, to produce and output a manufacturing process
drawing of the article constructed by the combination of the one or
plurality of types of constituent members.
[0046] The data related to the combination of the constituent
members shows which constituent members are combined and how the
constituent members are combined to constitute the article.
Further, the data representing the work processes is stored with
respect to each of the constituent members in the database. The
data includes data representing the order of processes for each of
the contents of work included in the work processes. Therefore, the
contents of work for processing can be arranged and illustrated for
each of the constituent members constituting the article. If the
constituent members are processed (manufactured) along the flow of
the illustrated contents of work for each of the constituent
members, the article is finally completed.
[0047] The data representing the flow of processing (data
representing work processes) is thus previously prepared for each
of the constituent members, thereby making it possible to produce a
drawing (which may be a process table) for causing the
manufacturing work of the article to smoothly progress.
[0048] A third manufacture support tool is an article instruction
manual production system.
[0049] An article instruction manual production system according to
the present invention comprises a first database storing data
representing the basic structure of an instruction manual formed
with a blank field; a second database storing, with respect to one
or a plurality of types of constituent members, at least one of
data respectively representing a descriptive text and a descriptive
image which constitute the instruction manual; extraction means for
extracting, on the basis of data related to a combination of the
one or plurality of types of constituent members constituting a
given article, at least one of data representing a descriptive text
and a descriptive image related to the constituent members
constituting the article from the second database; and instruction
manual production means for incorporating at least one of the data
representing the descriptive text and the data representing the
descriptive image, which has been extracted, into the position in
the predetermined blank field of the data, representing the basic
structure of the instruction manual, stored in the first database,
to produce and output the instruction manual for the article.
[0050] The data related to the combination of the constituent
members constituting the article is given, thereby making it
possible to produce an instruction manual to be appended to an
article in a completed state or an article assembly kit by being
adapted to the structure, the shape, etc. of the article. The
descriptive text and the descriptive image related to the
constituent members used for the article are inserted into the
instruction manual in accordance with the data representing the
basic structure of the instruction manual. The burden on the
production of the instruction manual to be produced with respect to
various articles (articles including various constituent members)
can be significantly reduced.
[0051] In one embodiment, the data representing the descriptive
image includes data representing a rendering drawing produced on
the basis of the data representing the plurality of types of
constituent members to be given and the data related to the
combination of the constituent members. A drawing that almost
accurately expresses the shape and the structure of the article
constituted by the combination of the constituent members and the
arrangement (positions) of the constituent members can be inserted
into the instruction manual.
[0052] The present invention further provides a server computer
control method for an article design support system, a medium
having a program for controlling a server computer recorded
thereon, and a medium having a program recorded thereon for
controlling a processing drawing production system, a manufacturing
process drawing production system, and an instruction manual
production system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0053] FIG. 1 (A) is a perspective view of a top board and base
board covering type unit, and FIG. 1 (B) is a partially sectional
view taken along a line IB-IB shown in FIG. 1 (A)
[0054] FIG. 2 (A) is a perspective view of a side board covering
type unit I, and FIG. 2 (B) is a partially sectional view taken
along a line IIB-IIB shown in FIG. 2 (B).
[0055] FIG. 3 (A) is a perspective view of a side board covering
type unit II, and FIG. 3 (B) is a partially sectional view taken
along a line IIIB-IIIB shown in FIG. 3 (A).
[0056] FIG. 4 (A) is a perspective view of a miter joining type
unit, and FIG. 4 (B) is a partially sectional view taken along a
line IVB-IVB shown in FIG. 4 (A).
[0057] FIGS. 5 (A), 5 (B), 5 (C), and 5 (D) are perspective views
showing examples of furniture.
[0058] FIGS. 6 (A), 6 (B), 6 (C), and 6 (D) are perspective views
respectively showing examples of furniture.
[0059] FIG. 7 (A) is a partially broken perspective view showing an
example of furniture provided with an inset type drawer, and FIG. 7
(B) is a partially broken perspective view showing an example of
furniture provided with an overset type drawer.
[0060] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a
furniture design support system.
[0061] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the electrical
configuration of a furniture design support system.
[0062] FIG. 10 illustrates a part of the contents of a basic
information table (a master).
[0063] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a design drawing
(front).
[0064] FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a design drawing
(side).
[0065] FIGS. 13 (A), 13 (B), and 13 (C) illustrate the relationship
among a cell in a unit, a cell number, and a part number assigned
to a parting board.
[0066] FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a completed furniture
table.
[0067] FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a unit number table.
[0068] FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a unit arrangement
table.
[0069] FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a parting (cell)
information table.
[0070] FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a unit/part definition
table.
[0071] FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a drawer arrangement
table.
[0072] FIG. 20 illustrates an example of a door leaf arrangement
table.
[0073] FIG. 21 illustrates an example of a door pull arrangement
table.
[0074] FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a leg arrangement
table.
[0075] FIG. 23 illustrates an example of a parting board
arrangement table.
[0076] FIG. 24 illustrates the relationship among data tables
stored in an HD.
[0077] FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing of a
furniture design support system.
[0078] FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing the flow of unit/part
definition processing.
[0079] FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing the flow of board thickness
definition processing.
[0080] FIG. 28 is a flow chart showing the flow of assembling
processing.
[0081] FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing the flow of parting
definition processing.
[0082] FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing the flow of color tone
change processing.
[0083] FIG. 31 is a flow chart showing the flow of drawing
display/printing processing.
[0084] FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing the flow of display drawing
selection processing.
[0085] FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing the flow of unit size change
processing.
[0086] FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing the flow of cell size change
processing.
[0087] FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing the flow of furniture
picture display processing.
[0088] FIG. 36 is a flow chart showing the flow of printing
processing.
[0089] FIG. 37 illustrates an example of display of a main menu
window.
[0090] FIG. 38 illustrates an example of display of a unit/part
selection window.
[0091] FIG. 39 illustrates an example of display of a unit size
input window.
[0092] FIG. 40 illustrates the relationship among the sizes of a
top board, a baseplate, a left side board, and a right side board
which constitute a unit, the size of a cell, and a board
thickness.
[0093] FIG. 41 illustrates an example of display of a storage name
input window.
[0094] FIG. 42 illustrates an example of display of an assembling
main window.
[0095] FIG. 43 illustrates an example of display of an assembling
main window.
[0096] FIGS. 44 (A), 44 (B), 44 (C), and 44 (D) illustrate the flow
of furniture assembling processing.
[0097] FIGS. 45 (A), 45 (B), 45 (C), and 45 (D) illustrate the flow
of furniture assembling processing.
[0098] FIG. 46 illustrates the flow of furniture assembling
processing.
[0099] FIG. 47 illustrates an example of display of an arrangement
change window.
[0100] FIG. 48 illustrates an example of display of a parting
definition window.
[0101] FIG. 49 illustrates an example of display of an arrangement
change window.
[0102] FIG. 50 is a partially broken perspective view showing
completed furniture whose offset size is ensured.
[0103] FIG. 51 illustrates an example of display of an assembling
main window.
[0104] FIG. 52 illustrates an example of display of a completed
furniture display window.
[0105] FIG. 53 illustrates an example of display of a completed
furniture display window.
[0106] FIG. 54 illustrates an example of display of a display
drawing selection window.
[0107] FIG. 55 illustrates an example of display of a size change
window.
[0108] FIG. 56 illustrates an example of display of a size change
window.
[0109] FIG. 57 illustrates an example of display of a cell size
change window.
[0110] FIG. 58 illustrates an example of display of a picture
display window.
[0111] FIG. 59 illustrates an example of display of a printing
designation window.
[0112] FIG. 60 illustrates another example of display of a
unit/part selection window.
[0113] FIG. 61 illustrates an example of display of a drawer
definition window.
[0114] FIG. 62 illustrates another example of display of an
assembling main window.
[0115] FIG. 63 illustrates another example of display of an
assembling main window.
[0116] FIG. 64 illustrates an example of display of a size change
window.
[0117] FIG. 65 illustrates another example of display of an
assembling main window.
[0118] FIG. 66 illustrates an example of display of a cell
definition window.
[0119] FIG. 67 illustrates another example of display of an
assembling main window.
[0120] FIG. 68 illustrates another example of display of an
assembling main window.
[0121] FIG. 69 illustrates a unit/part display area in enlarged
fashion.
[0122] FIG. 70 illustrates another example of display of an
assembling main window.
[0123] FIG. 71 illustrates an example of display of a drawer
setting method selection window.
[0124] FIG. 72 illustrates another example of display of an
assembling main window.
[0125] FIG. 73 illustrates an example of display of a furniture
storage window.
[0126] FIG. 74 illustrates another example of display of an
assembling main window.
[0127] FIG. 75 illustrates another example of display of a
completed furniture display window.
[0128] FIG. 76 illustrates another example of display of a
completed furniture display window.
[0129] FIG. 77 illustrates an example of display of a drawing
selection window.
[0130] FIG. 78 illustrates an example of display of a completed
furniture display window.
[0131] FIG. 79 illustrates an example of display of a completed
furniture display window.
[0132] FIG. 80 illustrates an example of display of a printing
drawing selection window.
[0133] FIG. 81 illustrates an example of display of a completed
furniture display window.
[0134] FIG. 82 illustrates an example of display of a completed
furniture display window.
[0135] FIG. 83 illustrates a processing drawing of completed
furniture.
[0136] FIG. 84 illustrates a processing drawing of a combination of
a unit and a parting board in completed furniture.
[0137] FIG. 85 illustrates a processing drawing of a top board.
[0138] FIG. 86 illustrates a processing drawing of a baseplate.
[0139] FIG. 87 illustrates a processing drawing of a back
board.
[0140] FIG. 88 illustrates a processing drawing of a side
board.
[0141] FIG. 89 illustrates a processing drawing of a parting
board.
[0142] FIG. 90 illustrates a processing drawing of a door leaf.
[0143] FIG. 91 illustrates a processing drawing of a drawer.
[0144] FIG. 92 is a block diagram showing another example of the
electrical configuration of a furniture design support system.
[0145] FIG. 93 is a perspective view showing an example of
completed furniture.
[0146] FIG. 94 illustrates an example of a manufacturing process
drawing.
[0147] FIG. 95 illustrates an example of a manufacturing process
information table.
[0148] FIG. 96 is a flow chart showing the flow of manufacturing
process drawing production processing.
[0149] FIG. 97 illustrates an example of a temporary file.
[0150] FIG. 98 is a block diagram showing still another example of
the electrical configuration of a furniture design support
system.
[0151] FIG. 99 illustrates an example of an instruction manual.
[0152] FIG. 100 illustrates an example of an instruction
manual.
[0153] FIG. 101 illustrates an example of an instruction
manual.
[0154] FIG. 102 illustrates an example of an instruction
manual.
[0155] FIG. 103 illustrates an example of an instruction
manual.
[0156] FIG. 104 illustrates an example of an instruction
manual.
[0157] FIG. 105 illustrates an example of an instruction manual
table.
[0158] FIG. 106 illustrates an example of a text data table.
[0159] FIG. 107 illustrates an example of an image data table.
[0160] FIG. 108 is a flow chart showing the flow of instruction
manual production processing.
[0161] FIG. 109 is a block diagram showing the overall
configuration of a furniture design support system utilizing a
network.
[0162] FIG. 110 illustrates the contents of a CD-ROM.
[0163] FIG. 111 illustrates an example of display of a start
window.
[0164] FIG. 112 illustrates an example of display of a user
registration/authentication window.
[0165] FIG. 113 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing of
each of a server computer and a client computer.
[0166] FIG. 114 illustrates an example of display of a main
page.
[0167] FIG. 115 illustrates an example of display of a custom
page.
[0168] FIG. 116 illustrates an example of display of a rendering
page.
[0169] FIG. 117 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing for
producing a rendering page.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0170] Contents [0171] 1 Furniture Design Support System [0172] 1.1
Outline of furniture design support system [0173] 1.2 Basic
structures of units and parts [0174] 1.3 Configuration of furniture
design support system [0175] 1.4 Basic information table (master
file) and design drawing [0176] 2 Furniture Design Data [0177] 2.1
Completed furniture table [0178] 2.2 Unit number table [0179] 2.3
Unit arrangement table [0180] 2.4 Parting (cell) information table
[0181] 2.5 Unit/part definition table [0182] 2.6 Drawer arrangement
table [0183] 2.7 Door leaf arrangement table [0184] 2.8 Door pull
arrangement table [0185] 2.9 Leg arrangement table [0186] 2.10
Parting board arrangement table [0187] 3 Processing I in Furniture
Design Support System [0188] 3.1 Overall outline [0189] 3.2
Unit/part definition processing [0190] 3.3 Assembling processing
[0191] 3.4 Drawing display/printing processing [0192] 4 Processing
II in Furniture Design Support System (centered on Display Screen)
[0193] 5 Processing Drawing Production Processing [0194] 6
Manufacturing Process Drawing Production Processing [0195] 7
Instruction Manual Production Processing [0196] 8 Furniture Design
Support System Utilizing Network 1 Furniture Design Support System
1.1 Outline of Furniture Design Support System
[0197] A furniture design support system is basically installed in
a furniture shop, a housing exhibit place, and other places for
receiving a customer who will purchase furniture. In the shop and
other places, an operator uses the furniture design support system,
to design, with respect to furniture of a type desired by the
customer, the furniture while hearing or considering the desires of
the customer for its shape, structure, size, material (wood, glass,
etc.), members (including a metal fitting or part), color, etc.
(produce furniture design data), and display on a display screen or
print an image (a drawing) or the like representing the appearance
of the designed furniture to provide it to the customer. That is,
the furniture design support system designs (simulates) the
furniture in a made-to-order manner in accordance with the desires
of the customer.
[0198] Furthermore, the furniture design support system may, in
some cases, be installed in a furniture manufacturing workshop, a
design office (room), etc. In the furniture manufacturing workshop
or the like, furniture design data is received from the furniture
shop, the housing exhibit place, or the like through a FD (Floppy
Disk), a communication line, or the like. The furniture design data
is inputted into the furniture design support system installed in
the furniture manufacturing workshop or the like. A furniture
design drawing represented by the furniture design data inputted
into the furniture design support system is outputted (outputted on
a screen, or printed out) from the furniture design support system.
In the furniture manufacturing workshop or the like, the furniture
is manufactured on the basis of the outputted design drawing.
Furniture on which the desires of the customer are reflected is
manufactured. Of course, in the furniture manufacturing workshop or
the like, the furniture can be also designed using the furniture
support system.
[0199] There are a large number of types of furniture, for example,
a chest, a wardrobe, a closet, a cupboard, a bookcase, a sideboard,
a cabinet, a chest, a shelf, a wagon, a rack, and a desk. The
furniture design support system pays attention to the idea that all
of the large number of types of furniture can be manufactured by
combining members (an outer frame, a parting board, a drawer, a
door leaf, a top board, a leg, a door pull, a hinge, a castor,
etc.) (units, parts, etc. described later) constituting the
furniture, and has the idea as a basis.
[0200] A storage device in the furniture design support system
previously stores basic data (type, etc.) for each of the members
constituting the furniture (basic constituent members or
components=units, components or parts=parts, and other members).
The furniture design support system, in response to operator's
entry, combines the data respectively representing the members
constituting the furniture which are previously prepared to design
a lot of types of furniture. Moreover, it is possible to design
furniture having various shapes, structures, sizes, materials,
material qualities, parts, colors, etc. by a variety of
combinations of the data respectively representing the constituent
members.
[0201] Furniture can be broadly classified into "with no legs
(box)", "with legs", "joinery", etc. from the point of view of its
structure.
[0202] In the present embodiment, description is made by focusing
on the design (simulation) of furniture "with no legs (box)" and
particularly, such furniture design that a basic structure (basic
constituent members) constituting the furniture "with no legs
(box)" is taken as a basis, and various members (parts), etc. are
combined with the basic structure, to finally design complete
furniture.
[0203] The furniture "with no legs (box)" has one space whose
boundary is determined by a plurality of walls. A frame is formed
by the plurality of walls. The inside of the frame is the
above-mentioned space. The most basic frame of the structure of the
furniture "with no legs (box)" is referred to as a "unit" in the
specification. The above-mentioned space in the unit is referred to
as a "cell" in the specification.
[0204] Generally, the space (cell) in the unit of the furniture
"with no legs (box)" is further divided by one or a plurality of
parting (partitioning) boards (plates) or other members, parts,
etc. (e.g., guides of a drawer). A smaller space formed by the
division is also referred to as a "cell" in the specification.
1.2 Basic Structures of Units and Parts
[0205] FIGS. 1 to 4 respectively illustrate examples of the
structure of a unit (unit types).
[0206] A unit constituting furniture can be typically classified
into three types, i.e., {circle around (1)} a top board and base
board covering type, {circle around (2)} a side (end) board
covering type, and {circle around (3)} a miter joining type.
[0207] {circle around (1)} Top Board and Base Board Covering Type
(FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B))
[0208] FIG. 1 (A) is a perspective view of a top board and base
board covering type unit, and FIG. 1 (B) is a cross-sectional view
taken along a line IB-IB shown in FIG. 1 (A). The top board and
base board covering type unit is so adapted that a top board
(plate) 1 is joined (at both ends thereof) to upper end surfaces
(upper edges) of two side (end) boards (plates) 3 and 4 in the same
shape which are raised parallel to each other with spacing provided
therebetween on the right and left sides such that the upper end
surfaces are covered from above, and a baseplate (base board or
bottom plate) 2 is joined (at both ends thereof) to lower end
surfaces (lower edges) of the side (end) boards (plates) 3 and 4
such that the lower end surfaces are covered from below. The upper
end surfaces of the side boards 3 and 4 and the top board 1 are
joined to each other, and the lower end surfaces of the side boards
3 and 4 and the baseplate 2 are joined to each other, respectively,
using adhesives, nails, screws, etc. or their combinations (the
illustration of the nails, the screws, etc. is omitted) (the same
is true for the side board covering type unit, described later). A
space in a rectangular parallelepiped shape formed by inner
surfaces of the top board 1, the baseplate 2, and the side boards 3
and 4 is a "cell". A front surface of the cell (on the front side)
is opened. A back surface of the cell (on the back side) is opened,
or is closed by a back board (plate) (not shown). The same is true
for the side board covering type unit and the miter joining type
unit, described below. One end or both ends on either one of the
right and the left sides of the top board 1 may project sideward
from the side boards 3 and 4. Similarly, one end or both ends on
either one of the right and the left sides of the baseplate 2 may
project sideward from the side board 3 or 4.
{circle around (2)} Side Board Covering Type (FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B)
and FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B))
[0209] There are three side board covering types, which are taken
as side board covering types I, II, and III.
[0210] FIG. 2 (A) is a perspective view of the side board covering
type I unit, and FIG. 2 (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along a
line IIB-IIB shown in FIG. 2 (A). The side board covering type I
unit is so adapted that side boards (plates) 3 and 4 are
respectively joined to right and left end surfaces (edges) of each
of a top board 1 and a baseplate 2 which are arranged parallel to
each other with spacing provided therebetween such that they are
respectively covered from the sides. Respective upper ends of the
side boards 3 and 4 may project upward from the top board 1, and
respective lower ends of the side boards 3 and 4 may project
downward from the baseplate 2.
[0211] FIG. 3 (A) is a perspective view of the side board covering
type II unit, and FIG. 3 (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along
a line IIIB-IIIB shown in FIG. 3 (A). The side board covering type
II unit is so adapted that side boards 3 and 4 are respectively
joined to right and left end surfaces (edges) of a baseplate 2 such
that they are respectively covered from the sides. Further, a top
board 1 is joined to respective upper end surfaces (edges) of the
side boards 3 and 4. One end or both ends on either one of the
right and left sides of the top board 1 may project sideward from
the side board 3 or 4, and respective lower ends of the side boards
3 and 4 may project downward from the baseplate 2.
[0212] The side board covering type III unit is so adapted that two
side boards are respectively joined to right and left end surfaces
(edges) of a top board, and a baseplate is joined to lower end
surfaces (edges) of the two side boards, whose illustration is
omitted. Respective upper ends of the side boards may project
upward from the top board, and one end or both ends on either one
of the right and left sides of the baseplate may project sideward
from the side board.
{circle around (3)} Miter Joining Type (FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B))
[0213] FIG. 4 (A) is a perspective view of a miter joining type
unit, and FIG. 4 (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along a line
IVB-IVB shown in FIG. 4 (A). Right and left end surfaces (edges) of
each of a top board 1 and a baseplate 2 and upper and lower end
surfaces (edges) of each of side boards 3 and 4 are diagonally
(obliquely) cut. The right and left cut surfaces of the top board 1
and the cut surface at the upper end of each of the side boards 3
and 4 are joined to each other, and the right and left cut surfaces
of the baseplate 2 and the cut surface at the lower end of each of
the side boards 3 and 4 are joined to each other. A projection (a
tenon) (which is denoted by reference character 4a in FIG. 4 (B))
and a recess (a mortise) (which is denoted by reference character
1a) in which the projection 4a is fitted are respectively formed on
one and the other of the cut surfaces which are joined to each
other. The cut surfaces are fixed (coupled) to each other by
fitting the projection and the recess to each other or using
adhesives in addition to the fitting. The tenons and the mortises
may be alternately provided over a plurality of portions. In the
miter joining type unit, the top board 1, the baseplate 2, and the
side boards 3 and 4 need not necessarily be fixed to each other
using nails or screws. The top board or the baseplate and the side
board may be joined to each other by fitting the projection and the
recess which are respectively formed at their ends to each
other.
[0214] FIG. 5 (A) illustrates an example of furniture including the
top board and base board covering type unit. FIGS. 5 (B), 5 (C) and
5 (D) respectively illustrate examples of furniture including the
side board covering type I unit. FIGS. 6 (A), 6 (B) and 6 (C)
respectively illustrate examples of furniture including the side
board covering type II unit. FIG. 6 (D) illustrates an example of
furniture including the miter joining type unit. A lot of pieces of
furniture include units of any one or more of the above-mentioned
three unit types.
[0215] In a cell in the unit, smaller cells are formed by parting
boards, guides, or the like, as described above. The cell
accommodates a drawer depending on cases. A door leaf may, in some
cases, be attached to an opened front surface of the unit. A door
pull, a handle, or a knob may, in some cases, be attached to a
front surface of the drawer, the door leaf, or the like. Further, a
caster may, in some cases, be attached to a bottom surface of the
unit. A parting board, a guide, a drawer, a door leaf, a door pull,
a caster, etc. which are thus provided in the unit or the cell are
generically referred to as "parts" in the present
specification.
[0216] FIGS. 7 (A) and 7 (B) respectively illustrate examples of
furniture having parts.
[0217] In furniture 8 shown in FIG. 7 (A), a cell within a unit 8A
is divided into upper and lower two small cells by a parting board
10, and a drawer 6 is accommodated in each of the small cells such
that it can be freely drawn out. The parting board 10 is fixed to
both side boards 3 and 4 and a back board 5 in the unit 8A. Door
pulls 6b are attached to a front panel 6a of the drawer 6.
[0218] In furniture 9 shown in FIG. 7 (B), a cell within a unit 9A
is divided into upper and lower two small cells by right and left
two guides (supporting members) 10A. The right and left two guides
10A are respectively fixed to side boards 3 and 4. The right and
left two guides 10A are positioned at a height approximately
intermediate between a top board 1 and a baseplate 2, and are
spaced apart from the top board 1 and the baseplate 2. A drawer 7
is accommodated in each of the small cells devided by the guides
10A such that it can be freely drawn out. Both sides of the upper
drawer 7 are respectively received by the guides 10A. Recesses 7b
serving as handles are formed in a lower part of a front panel 7a
of the drawer 7.
[0219] A drawer can be generally classified into two types, i.e.,
"an inset type" and "an overset type". FIG. 7 (A) and 7 (B)
respectively illustrate an inset type drawer and an overset type
drawer.
[0220] An inset type drawer means a drawer of such a size that in a
state where it is accommodated in a cell, its front panel enters
the cell. Generally, respective front end surfaces of the top board
1, the baseplate 2, the side boards 3 and 4, and a front surface of
the inset type drawer 6 (a front surface of the front panel 6a)
enter an approximately flush state.
[0221] An overset type drawer means a drawer of such a size that in
a state where it is accommodated in a cell, its front panel does
not enter the cell. Generally when the overset type drawer 7 is
accommodated in the cell, a reverse (back) surface of the front
panel 7a enters a state where it is brought into contact with
respective front end surfaces of the top board 1, the baseplate 2,
and the side boards 3 and 4.
1.3 Configuration of Furniture Design Support System
[0222] FIGS. 8 and 9 respectively illustrate the appearance of a
furniture design support system and the electrical configuration
thereof.
[0223] The furniture design support system comprises a computer
system (e.g., a personal computer) including a computer 20. An FD
drive 14, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) drive 15, an HD
(Hard Disk) unit 16, and a memory 18 are connected to the computer
20. They are contained inside a computer main body case 19. A CRT
(Cathode-Ray Tube) display device 11, a keyboard 12, a mouse 13,
and a printer 17 are connected to the computer 20. The FD drive 14
writes data into an FD 22, and reads out the data from the FD 22.
The CD-ROM drive 15 reads out a furniture design support program
and data (a master file) from a CD-ROM 21. The HD unit 16 writes
the furniture design support program and various types of data into
a hard disk (HD), and reads out the program and the data from the
HD. The HD for the computer system previously stores an operating
system (OS) for synthetically controlling the computer system.
[0224] Various screens (windows) are displayed on a display screen
of the display device 11, as described later, on the basis of
display data fed from the computer 20. An operator (or a customer)
overlaps a pointer which moves on the display screen in
synchronization with the movement of the mouse 13 with various
types of buttons (icons) displayed on the display screen to click
or positions the pointer on desired one of various listed items to
click, thereby entering a request, an intension, and a selection.
Further, the operator uses the keyboard 12, to enter necessary data
(numeric values, characters, etc.). The data entered using the
mouse 13 or the keyboard 12 is accepted in the computer 20, and is
used for the subsequent processing. The hard copy of a display
screen displayed on the display screen of the display device 11 and
the printing of the results of the processing are made by the
printer 17.
[0225] The furniture design support program and the data (including
the master file) required to operate the computer system as the
furniture design support system are recorded on the CD-ROM 21. The
furniture design support program and the data which are stored in
the CD-ROM 21 are read by the CD-ROM drive 15, and are installed in
the HD in the HD unit 16. The screens (windows) which are displayed
on the display screen of the display device 11 are based on both
the furniture design support program and the data which are
installed in the HD, and the OS.
[0226] Furniture design data 25 is stored in the HD (furniture
design data 25 includes the contents of the master file). An image,
a design drawing, etc. of furniture are represented by the
furniture design data 25, as described later.
1.4 Basic Information Table (Master File) and Design Drawing
[0227] The master file installed in the HD includes a basic
information table. Master data used for designing furniture is
stored in a hierarchical structure, as shown in FIG. 10, in the
basic information table.
[0228] Described with respect to units is: a top board and base
board covering type, a side board covering type, and a miter
joining type (they are referred to as a type classification 1), and
the side board covering type is classified into side board covering
types I, II and III (they are referred to as a type classification
2).
[0229] Subsequently, a classification (a type classification 1)
related to parts is described in the basic information table.
Examples of the type of drawer include an inset type and an overset
type. Particularly as for the drawer, its front panel is classified
into a front panel 1 (standard: wood) and a front panel 2 (with
glass). A door leaf is classified into a door leaf 1 (double
swinging) and a door leaf 2 (single swinging). The door leaf 2
(single swinging) is further classified into a right swinging door
leaf and a left swinging door leaf (a type classification 2). As
for the parts, a classification for each of a leg, a door pull, a
parting board, a hinge, a key, etc. is further defined.
[0230] Attributes for each of the units and the parts (a material,
a material quality (grain), a color, a board thickness, the
thickness of a door leaf, the thickness of a front panel of a
drawer, etc.) are further defined in the basic information
table.
[0231] The basic information table also stores other data depending
on processing which the furniture design support system is caused
to perform. For example, the basic information table stores data
representing unit cost (price) per unit area for each type of wood,
data representing unit cost for each part, data representing a
furniture picture image obtained by photographing furniture, etc.
in addition to data related to the units, the parts, the
attributes, described above.
[0232] The basic information table, together with the furniture
design support program, is stored in the CD-ROM 21, and is
installed in the HD in the HD unit 16 for the furniture design
support system.
[0233] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an example of a design drawing of
furniture which is outputted from the printer 17. FIGS. 11 and 12
respectively illustrate a front view of the design drawing of the
designed furniture and a side view of the design drawing of the
designed furniture.
[0234] The shape, the structure, and the size (the width, the
depth, and the height) of the furniture are indicted in the design
drawing of the furniture which is produced by the furniture design
support system and is outputted. Description for designating the
material, the material quality (grain), the color (painting color),
etc. of each of constituent members constituting the furniture may,
in some cases, be further added to the design drawing.
[0235] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the X-coordinates, the
Y-coordinates, the Z-coordinates, and the coordinates of each of
reference points and further illustrate unit numbers, the names of
typical parts, and part numbers for convenience of explanation.
[0236] The furniture has a furniture number (described later) of
"1113", and is constituted by two units (unit numbers "1113-01" and
"1113-02").
[0237] Description is made of the unit in the upper stage (unit
number "1113-01"). The unit comprises as parts four parting boards
(part numbers "001" to "004") (see FIG. 13), five drawers (part
numbers "005" to "009"), and five door pulls (part numbers "010" to
"014").
[0238] A cell formed in the unit in the upper stage and a cell ID
assigned thereto will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 (A)
to 13 (C).
[0239] Referring to FIG. 13 (A), the unit includes one cell. A cell
ID for specifying a cell formed by a top board (plate), a baseplate
(board), a left side board (plate), and a right side board (plate)
of the unit is "00" (hereinafter referred to as a cell ID
"00").
[0240] The cell in the unit is divided by parting boards (plates)
(shelf boards). A plurality of cells which are smaller than the
original cell are formed.
[0241] As shown in FIG. 13 (B), the cell having the cell ID "00" is
divided by two parting boards extending in the transverse direction
(part numbers "001" and "002"), to form three smaller cells. Cell
IDs are respectively assigned to the three cells (cell IDs "01",
"02", and "03").
[0242] As shown in FIG. 13 (C), the cell having the cell ID "03" is
divided by two parting boards extending in the longitudinal
direction (part numbers "003" and "004"), to form three smaller
cells. Cell IDs are respectively assigned to the three cells (cell
IDs "04", "05", and "06").
[0243] In the furniture design support system, the unit in the
upper stage of the furniture shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is handled as
one including seven cells (cell IDs "00" to "06").
[0244] The unit in the lower stage (unit number "1113-02") of the
furniture shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 also comprises as parts three
parting boards, four drawers, four door pulls to be attached to
front panels of the drawers, one double swinging door leaf, one
door pull (a pair of door pulls) to be attached to the door leaf, a
set of (four) hinges for attaching the double swinging door leaf to
the unit, and a set of (four) legs (casters). The number of cells
included in the unit is a total of five.
2 Furniture Design Data
[0245] FIGS. 14 to 23 illustrate the furniture design data 25
stored in the HD for the furniture design support system. The
furniture design data 25 is stored in various types of tables which
are linked to one another. Specific data in the tables are utilized
for expressing the design drawing of the furniture shown in FIGS.
11 and 12 and displaying the appearance of the furniture, for
example.
2.1 Completed Furniture Table
[0246] A completed furniture table stores (memorizes, registers)
data related to a furniture number, a furniture type, a furniture
name, the date of manufacture, and the number of units, as shown in
FIG. 14.
[0247] "Furniture number" is a unique number assigned for each
furniture designed using the furniture design support system
(hereinafter referred to as "completed furniture").
[0248] "Furniture type" stores any one of "with no legs (box)",
"with legs", and "joinery" depending on the type of the completed
furniture.
[0249] "Furniture name" is data representing the name of the
completed furniture (a character string for display).
[0250] "Date of manufacture" represents a date (year, month, and
day) on which the data related to the furniture number, the
furniture type, the furniture name, and the number of units (the
data in a row direction) are stored in the complete furniture
table.
[0251] "The number of units" represents the number of units
included in completed furniture. "2" and "3" are stored when the
completed furniture respectively include two units and three
units.
[0252] As for the completed furniture shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the
furniture number is "1113", and the furniture name is "chest 3".
The chest 3 is constituted by two units.
2.2 Unit Number Table
[0253] A unit number table stores data related to a furniture
number, a unit number, a unit/part definition number, a unit/part
definition name, and the number of cells, as shown in FIG. 15.
[0254] "Furniture number" is the same as that in the
above-mentioned completed furniture table. The unit number table
and the completed furniture table are linked to each other by
"furniture number".
[0255] "Unit number" is a number assigned for each unit included in
completed furniture. For example, it indicates that two units
respectively specified by unit numbers "1113-01" and "1113-02" are
included in the completed furniture having the furniture number
1113 (illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12). All tables, described later,
are linked to the unit number table by "furniture number" and "unit
number".
[0256] "Unit/part definition number" and "unit/part definition
name" will be described later.
[0257] "The number of cells" represents the number of cells
included in a unit. The above-mentioned two units respectively
include seven cells and five cells, as described above.
2.3 Unit Arrangement Table
[0258] A unit arrangement table stores data related to a furniture
number; a unit number; a cell ID; arrangement information; a
reference point (x, y, z); the overall size (uW, uD, uH); the size,
the finishing color, and the material of a portion 1 (a top board);
the size, the finishing color and the material of a portion 2 (a
baseplate); the size, the finishing color and the material of a
portion 3 (a left side board); the size, the finishing color and
the material of a portion 4 (a right side board) (not shown with
respect to the portions 2 to 4); the number of parts; and the
presence or absence of a leg, as shown in FIG. 16.
[0259] "Furniture number" and "unit number" are as described
above.
[0260] "Cell ID" represents a cell ID for specifying a cell formed
by a unit.
[0261] "Arrangement information" represents the positional
relationship among units. When completed furniture includes a
plurality of units, it is indicated what positional relationship
exists among the units.
[0262] Data indicating that "1113-02 is integrally joined to bottom
surface" is stored in "arrangement information" related to a unit
number "1113-01", and data indicating that "1113-01 is integrally
joined to top surface" is stored in "arrangement information"
related to a unit number "1113-02". Therefore, it is indicated that
in the completed furniture ("furniture number 1113") a unit having
the unit number "1113-01" and a unit having the unit number
"1113-02" are respectively arranged in the upper stage and the
lower stage, and a baseplate in the unit in the upper stage and a
top board in the unit in the lower stage re composed of one board
(are integrally joined to each other).
[0263] "Reference point (x, y, z)" indicates a point in the lower
left front corner of a unit in a case where the unit is viewed from
the front as three-dimensional coordinates (x, y, z). When
completed furniture is constituted by a plurality of units, the
point in the lower left front corner of the unit first designed is
determined as the origin of the three-dimensional coordinates.
[0264] "Overall size (uW, uD, uH)" expresses the size, i.e., the
width (uW), the depth (uD), and the height (uH) of a unit,
respectively, in millimeters.
[0265] A unit is basically formed by a top board, a baseplate, a
left side board, and a right side board, which are respectively
taken as portions 1, 2, 3, and 4. "Size of portion 1 (top board)",
"finishing color of portion 1 (top board)", and "material of
portion 1 (top board)" respectively represent the size, the
finishing color (painting color), and the material (the kind and
the material quality (grain) of wood may, in some cases, be
stored). With respect to the top board, the left side board, and
the right side board, data representing the size, the finishing
color, and the material are also respectively stored. The data in
the basic information table (FIG. 10) are used as the data
representing the finishing color and the material.
[0266] "The number of parts" represents the number of parts
included in a unit.
[0267] "Presence or absence of leg" indicates whether or not a leg
(a caster, etc.) is attached to a unit.
2.4 Parting (Cell) Information Table
[0268] A parting (partitioning) (cell) information table stores
data related to a furniture number, a unit number, a cell ID, the
number of transverse parting, the number of longitudinal parting, a
parent cell ID, a lateral (transverse) position in the parent cell,
a longitudinal position in the parent cell, a reference point (x,
y, z), a size (cW, cD, cH), an arranged part definition name, a
division level, etc.
[0269] "Cell ID" represents a number for identifying each of cells
included in a unit specified by a unit number. As described above,
the unit having the unit number "1113-01" includes seven cells, and
cell IDs (""00", "01", "02", "03", "04, "05", and "06") are
respectively assigned to the seven cells.
[0270] "The number of transverse parting" represents the number of
parting boards arranged in the transverse direction (the horizontal
direction). "The number of longitudinal parting" represents the
number of parting boards arranged in the longitudinal direction
(the vertical direction). For example, the cell (unit) having the
cell ID "00" is provided with two horizontal parting boards
(transverse parting boards), so that "2" is stored in the section
of "the number of transverse parting".
[0271] "Parent cell ID" represents, in a case where a cell is
divided by parting boards so that a plurality of cells are
included, a cell ID assigned to the original cell (the cell which
has not been divided). For example, "00" is stored in "parent cell
ID" in each of the cells respectively having the cell IDs "01",
"02", and "03". The cells respectively having the cell IDs "01",
"02, and "03" indicate that they are cells formed by dividing the
cell having the cell ID "00" by parting boards. A cell such as the
cell having the cell ID "00" is referred to as a "parent cell", and
cells such as the cells having the cell IDs "01", "02, and "03" are
referred to as "child cells" of the cell having the cell ID
"00".
[0272] "Lateral position in parent cell" indicates how many child
cells are there from the left in a parent cell in a case where a
unit is viewed from the front. For example, with respect to the
cell having the cell ID "06", "3" is stored in "lateral position in
parent cell". A parent cell including the cell having the cell ID
"06" is the cell having the cell ID "03". The cell having the cell
ID "06" is the third child cell from the left in the parent cell
(the cell having the cell ID "03").
[0273] "Longitudinal position in parent cell" indicates how many
child cells are there from the bottom in a parent cell in a case
where a unit is viewed from the front. For example, with respect to
the cell having the cell ID "02", "2" is stored in "lateral
position in parent cell". A parent cell including the cell having
the cell ID "02" is the cell having the cell ID "00". The cell
having the cell ID "02" is the second child cell from the bottom in
the parent cell (the cell having the cell ID "00").
[0274] "Reference point (x, y, z)" represents the three-dimensional
coordinates (x, y, z) of a point in the lower left front corner of
a cell in a case where a unit is viewed from the front.
[0275] "Size (cW, cD, cH)" represents the size, i.e., the width
(cW), the depth (cD), and the height (cH) of a cell.
[0276] "Arranged part definition name" represents a unit/part
definition name (described later) of a part attached to (stored in)
a cell.
[0277] "Division level" indicates how many divisions are made to
form a cell. For example, the cells respectively having the cell
IDs "01", "02", and "03" are formed by dividing the cell having the
cell ID "00", so that "1" is stored in "division level". The cells
respectively having the cell IDs "04", "05", and "06" are formed by
dividing the cell having the cell ID "00" and further dividing the
cell having the cell ID "03" which is a child cell of the cell
having the cell ID "00", so that "division level" is "2". The
parting (cell) information table further stores data related to the
presence or absence of a parting board, the priority relationship
of longitudinal parting boards or transverse parting boards, the
presence or absence of a back board, and an offset value (described
later).
2.5 Unit/Part Definition Table
[0278] A unit/part definition table stores data related to a
unit/part type, a unit/part definition number, a unit/part
definition name, a type classification 1, a type classification 2,
a type classification 3, the overall size, the size, the finishing
color, the material, etc. of each of portions 1 to 4 (not shown
with respect to the finishing color and the material of the portion
2 and with respect to the portions 3 and 4), as shown in FIG. 18.
The data stored in the unit/part definition table are generically
referred to as "definition data". That is, the data described in
the unit/part definition table are data inputted (defined) by an
operator (or a customer) with respect to units and parts when
furniture is designed using the furniture design support system.
The definition data stored in the unit/part definition table can be
utilized for a plurality of pieces of completed furniture (or a
portion of them), and can be utilized even many times.
[0279] "Unit/part type" represents a unit itself or represents, in
the case of a part, the type of the part.
[0280] "Unit/part definition number" is a unique number assigned to
each of the units and the parts to which the definition data is
given.
[0281] "Unit/part definition name" represents a name (a character
code for displaying the name) given by the operator (or the
customer) to each of the units and the parts to which the
definition data is given.
[0282] "Type classification 1", "type classification 2", and "type
classification 3" represent definitions given by the operator (or
the customer) using the master data stored in the basic information
table (FIG. 10) with respect to the unit or the part (the type
classification 3 is not illustrated in FIG. 10).
[0283] For example, "type classification 1" related to a unit
indicates which of a top board and base board covering type, a side
board covering type and a miter joining type is the type of the
unit. When "type classification 1" is the end board covering type,
data indicating which of a side board covering type I, a side board
covering type II, and a side board covering type III is the type is
further described in "type classification 2". "Type classification
1" related to a drawer indicates which of a standard type and a
type with glass is the type of a front panel of the drawer.
[0284] "Overall size" represents the size, i.e., the width (W), the
depth (D) and the height (H) of a unit or the width, the depth and
the height of a part (which may, in some cases, represent the
lateral length, the longitudinal length, and the thickness of the
part). With respect to the part, the overall size may not, in some
cases, be defined.
[0285] The size, the finishing color and the material of each of
the portions 1 to 4 respectively represent, in a case where a unit
or a part is constituted by a plurality of members, the size, the
finishing color (painting color) and the material of each of the
members.
[0286] The portions 1 to 4 are previously determined depending on
the type of the unit or the part. As described above, with respect
to the unit, a top board, a baseplate, a left side board, and a
right side board are respectively the portions 1, 2, 3, and 4, as
described above. With respect to the drawer, a front panel is the
portion 1, and the other board is the portion 2. With respect to
the part, the sizes of the portions may not, in some cases, be
defined.
[0287] Various types of tables, described below, are linked to the
unit/part definition table by the unit/part definition number and
the unit/part definition name.
2.6 Drawer Arrangement Table
[0288] Data related to a drawer which is one of parts is stored in
a drawer arrangement table. The drawer arrangement table stores
data related to a furniture number, a unit number, a cell ID, a
part number, a unit/part definition number, a unit/part definition
name, a reference point (x, y, z), a size, a finishing color (a
front panel), a material (a front panel), a finishing color (other
than the front panel), a material (other than the front panel), a
setting method, and the number of parts, as shown in FIG. 19.
[0289] "Furniture number", "unit number", and "cell
ID"-respectively represent the furniture number of completed
furniture accommodating the drawer, the unit number of a unit
accommodating the drawer, and the cell ID assigned to a cell
accommodating the drawer.
[0290] "Part number" represents an identification number assigned
to each drawer. The part number is unique irrespective of the type
of part in one unit. "Reference point (x, y, z)" represents the
three-dimensional coordinates of a point in the lower left front
corner of a front panel composing the drawer. "Size" represents the
size, i.e., the width, the depth, and the height of the whole
drawer. "Finishing color (front panel)" and "material (front
panel)" respectively represent the color of the front panel and the
material (the type or the like of wood) of the front panel.
"Finishing color (other than the front panel)" and "material (other
than the front panel)" respectively represent the color of a box
portion other than the front panel of the drawer and the material
of the box portion other than the front panel of the drawer.
[0291] "Setting method" indicates which of an overset type and an
inset type is the type of the drawer. "The number of parts"
represents the number of parts (e.g., door pulls) attached to the
front panel of the drawer.
2.7 Door Leaf Arrangement Table
[0292] A door leaf arrangement table stores data related to a door
leaf which is one of parts. The door leaf arrangement table stores
data related to a furniture number, a unit number, a cell ID, a
part number, a unit/part definition number, a unit/part definition
name, a reference point (x, y, z), a size, a finishing color, a
material, a setting method, and the number of parts, as shown in
FIG. 20.
[0293] "Furniture number", "unit number", and "cell ID"
respectively represent the furniture number of completed furniture
to which a door leaf is attached, the unit number of a unit to
which the door leaf is attached, and the cell ID of a cell to which
the door leaf is attached.
[0294] "Part number" represents an identification number assigned
to each door leaf. "Reference point (x, y, z)" represents the
three-dimensional coordinates of a point in the lower left front
corner of the door leaf. "Size" represents the size, i.e., the
lateral length, the longitudinal length and the board thickness of
the door leaf. "Finishing color" represents the color of the door
leaf, and "material" represents the type of wood or the like used
for the door leaf.
[0295] "Setting method" indicates which of an overset type and an
inset type is the type of a door leaf (a door leaf attached so as
to be brought into contact with front end surfaces of right and
left side boards of a unit is an overset type door leaf, and a door
leaf arranged inside the side boards is an inset type door leaf).
"The number of parts" represents the number of parts (e.g., door
pulls) attached to the door leaf.
2.8 Door Pull Arrangement Table
[0296] A door pull arrangement table stores data related to a door
pull which is one of parts. The door pull arrangement table stores
data related to a furniture number, a unit number, a parent part
number, a cell ID, a part number, a unit/part definition number, a
unit/part definition name, arrangement information, a reference
point (x, y, z), a size, a finishing color, and a material, as
shown in FIG. 21.
[0297] "Furniture number", "unit number", "parent part number", and
"cell ID" respectively represent the furniture number of completed
furniture to which the door pull is attached, the unit number of a
unit to which the door pull is attached, the part number of a part
(a parent part, for example, a drawer) to which the door pull is
attached, and the cell ID of a cell to which the door pull is
attached.
[0298] "Part number" represents an identification number assigned
to each door pull. "Arrangement information" represents the
arrangement relationship (center, upper portion, lower portion,
left end, right end, etc.) of a front panel of the drawer or a door
leaf to which the door pull is attached. "Reference point (x, y,
z)" represents the coordinates of a point in the lower left front
corner of the door pull. "Size" represents the size, i.e., the
width, the depth and the height of the door pull. "Finishing color"
represents the color of the door pull, and "material" represents
the type of material (aluminum, etc.) used for the door pull.
2.9 Leg Arrangement Table
[0299] A leg arrangement table stores data related to a leg which
is one of parts. The leg arrangement table stores data related to a
furniture number, a unit number, a part number, a unit/part
definition number, a unit/part definition name, a reference point
(x, y, z), a size, a finishing color, and a material, as shown in
FIG. 22.
[0300] When a unit is provided with a leg, one leg (stand) is
provided on the whole of a bottom surface of the unit, or
respective one legs are provided in the four corners of the bottom
surface of the unit. In this case, the data in a row direction
which are stored in the leg arrangement table are data related to
four-in-a-set legs.
[0301] "Furniture number" and "unit number" respectively represent
the furniture number of completed furniture to which a leg (e.g., a
caster) is attached and the unit number of a unit to which the leg
is attached. "Part number" represents an identification number
assigned to one set of legs.
[0302] "Reference point (x, y, z)" represents the three-dimensional
coordinates of the center of a joint portion between the leg
positioned on the left front side of the unit out of the legs
attached to the bottom surface of the unit and the bottom surface
of the unit, for example. "Size" represents the size, i.e., the
width, the depth, and the height of the leg. "Finishing color" and
"material" respectively represent the color of the leg and the type
of wood or the like used for the leg (when the type of the leg is
"caster", data representing the material is omitted).
2.10 Parting Board Arrangement Table
[0303] A parting board arrangement table stores data related to a
parting board which is one of parts. The parting board arrangement
table stores data respectively related to a furniture number, a
unit number, a cell ID, a part number, a unit/part definition
number, a unit/part definition name, a reference point (x, y, z), a
size, a finishing color, a material, and fixing/movable, as shown
in FIG. 23.
[0304] "Furniture number", "unit number", and "cell ID"
respectively represent the furniture number of completed furniture
to which a parting board is attached, the unit number of a unit to
which the parting board is attached, and the cell ID of a cell to
which the parting board is attached.
[0305] "Part number" represents an identification number assigned
to each parting board attached to completed furniture.
[0306] "Reference point (x, y, z)" represents the three-dimensional
coordinates of a point in the lower left front corner of the
parting board in a case where the completed furniture is viewed
from the front. "Size" represents the size of the parting board
(the length in the lateral direction (the width direction), the
length in the longitudinal direction (the depth direction), and the
thickness (the board thickness of the parting board). "Finishing
color" represents the color of the parting board, and "material"
represents the type of wood or the like used for the parting
board.
[0307] "Fixing/movable" indicates whether the parting board is
fixed to the unit or is detachable (movable).
[0308] FIG. 24 illustrates the relationship among various types of
data tables (FIGS. 14 to FIG. 23), described above.
3 Processing I in Furniture Design Support System
3.1 Overall Outline
[0309] FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing the procedure for processing
in the furniture design support system.
[0310] The processing operation of the furniture design support
system conforms to the furniture design support program stored in
the HD in the HD unit 6. When an operator of the furniture design
support system uses the mouse 13 to start the furniture design
support program stored in the HD, the furniture design support
program is read out of the HD, and is executed by the computer 20.
FIGS. 37 to 39, FIGS. 41 to 43, FIGS. 47 to 49, and FIGS. 51 to 59
illustrate examples of a window displayed on the display screen of
the display device 11 in accordance with the furniture design
support program.
[0311] When the furniture design support program is started, a main
menu window W1 is displayed on the display screen of the display
device 11 as an initial screen, as shown in FIG. 37 (step 31). "A
window is displayed on a display screen of a display device 11" is
hereinafter merely referred to as "A window is displayed".
[0312] The main menu window W1 is provided with buttons "unit/part
define", "assemble", "drawing display/print", and "system
terminate". When the operator moves (overlaps) the cursor 26 using
the mouse 13 to the position of the button and clicks, processing
corresponding to the clicked button is selected (step 32), and the
selected processing is performed (steps 33 to 36). "An operator
moves a cursor 26 using a mouse 13 to the position of a desired
button (or an area) on a window and clicks" is hereinafter merely
referred to as "An operator clicks a button (or an area)".
[0313] When the "unit/part define" button is clicked, unit/part
definition processing is started (step 33).
[0314] The unit/part definition processing is processing for
selecting (designating or specifying) a unit used for furniture to
be designed and parts (a drawer, a door leaf, etc.) provided in the
unit, defining (designating or specifying) the size, the finishing
color, the material, the material quality, etc. of the selected
unit, and defining (designating or specifying) the finishing color,
the material, etc. of each of the parts. Data defined in the
unit/part definition processing are stored in the unit/part
definition table (see FIG. 18). The unit/part definition processing
is performed prior to "assembling processing" and "drawing
display/printing processing" next described. The details of the
unit/part definition processing will be described later.
[0315] When the "assemble" button is clicked, assembling processing
is started (step 34).
[0316] The assembling processing is processing for combining
(assembling) on the screen the unit and the parts which are defined
in the above-mentioned unit/part definition processing. By passing
through the assembling processing, a front view of assembled
furniture (completed furniture) or a portion thereof is displayed
in the window displayed on the display screen. When the furniture
is assembled on the display screen, the furniture design data is
stored in the HD. The details of the assembling processing will be
described later.
[0317] When the "drawing-display/print" button is clicked, drawing
display/printing processing is started (step 35).
[0318] In the drawing display/printing processing, processing for
displaying on the display screen of the display device 11 the
appearance of the completed furniture designed in the assembling
processing (step 34) depending on the selection of the type of
drawing (a front view, a side view, a rear view, etc.) and
processing for displaying on the display screen a design drawing
(generally, all kinds of drawings) of the completed furniture,
printing the design drawing by the printer 17 to output are
performed. Further, in the drawing display/printing processing,
processing for changing the size (width, depth, and height) of the
completed furniture, the finishing color (painting color), etc.,
for example, is also performed if required. The details of the
drawing display/printing processing will be described later.
[0319] When the "system terminate" button is clicked, all
processing of the furniture design support program is terminated
(step 36).
3.2 Unit/Part Definition Processing
[0320] FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing the procedure for the
unit/part definition processing.
[0321] When the "unit/part define" button is clicked in the main
menu window W1 (FIG. 37), a unit/part selection window W2 is
displayed in place of or on the main menu window W1, as shown in
FIG. 38 (step 41).
[0322] A unit/part display area A1 is displayed in the unit/part
selection window W2. Further, "erase", "next" and "definition
terminate" buttons are provided therein.
[0323] In the unit/part display area A1, the names of the types of
units and parts (a type classification 1 for the units, and a
drawer, a front panel of the drawer, a door leaf, a leg, etc. for
the parts) in the basic information table (FIG. 10) are displayed
by a list. When a scroll bar on the right side of the unit/part
display area A1 is moved upward or downward using the mouse 13, the
list of the names displayed in the unit/part display area A1 is
scrolled upward or downward. An operator selects the names of the
unit and the part which a customer desires to employ for furniture
out of the names of the units and the parts which are displayed on
the unit/part display area A1.
[0324] Referring to FIG. 26, when the unit is selected, the
operator clicks any one of the names of three unit types (a top
board and base board covering type, a side board covering type, and
a miter joining type) which are displayed in the unit/part display
area A1 (step 42). The color of a portion including the name of the
selected unit type is changed in the unit/part display area A1.
When the "next" button is clicked ("Next" in step 43), processing
for providing more detailed data input is started with respect to
the selected unit type (steps 44 to 49).
[0325] In the detailed data input processing related to the unit
(steps 44 to 49), the designation of a material, a color, etc. used
for the unit (step 44), the designation of the presence or absence
of a back board (step 45), and the designation of a unit size (step
46) are performed by a wizard format (such a format that data input
is successively advanced in response to a question from the
furniture design support program). Of course, one window for the
data input may be displayed on the display screen. In this case,
the wizard format need not be employed.
[0326] In the designation of a material, a color, etc. (step 44), a
list of the types of materials (the types of wood or the like) is
first displayed by characters or a combination of characters and
images. The displayed types of materials are based on the data
stored in the basic information table (FIG. 10). The operator
selects a desired material for each of a top board, a baseplate, a
left side board, and a right side board from the list. Similarly,
even with respect to each of a color (finishing color), a material
quality (grain), a pattern, etc., a list of the types thereof is
displayed on the display screen by characters or a combination of
characters and images (not shown). The display of the list is based
on the data stored in the basic information table (FIG. 10). The
operator selects, from the displayed lists of colors, material
qualities (grains), patterns, etc., desired ones for each of the
top board, the baseplate, the left side board, and the right side
board of the unit. The inputted (selected) data are temporarily
stored in the memory 18.
[0327] In the designation of the presence or absence of a back
board (step 45), data indicating whether or not the back board is
attached to the unit is inputted. The inputted data is temporarily
stored in the memory 18.
[0328] In the designation of the size of the unit (step 46), data
representing the size of the unit is inputted. An example of a
window (a size input window W3) displayed on the display screen in
the size designation (step 46) is shown in FIG. 39. The size input
window W3 includes a numeric value input box W3a for inputting the
size, i.e., the width, the height, and the depth of the unit. The
operator enters values desired by the customer in the numeric value
input box W3a for the width, the height, and the depth of the unit
using the keyboard 12. The entered data are temporarily stored in
the memory 18.
[0329] When the size (width, depth, and height) of the unit is
inputted, the thickness of each of the top board, the baseplate,
and the right and left side boards which constitute the unit, the
size of each of the top board, the baseplate, and the right and
left side boards, and the width, the depth and the height of a cell
formed by the unit are calculated by the furniture design support
program in consideration of the type classification 1 of the unit
selected in the step 42 and the material selected in the step 44
(steps 47 and 48).
[0330] FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing an example of the board
thickness determination processing (step 47) by the furniture
design support program in detail.
[0331] Data related to a material such as wood composing a unit
which is entered by the operator and is temporarily stored in the
memory 18 and data related to the size (width, depth, and height)
of the unit are transferred to a work area of the memory 18 (step
55).
[0332] Woods such as "mahogany", "teak", and "pine" differ in
hardness (strength) for each kind (type). Mahogany is harder than
teak, and teak is harder than pine. When units which are the same
in size and strength are manufactured, the board thickness of the
wood in a case where teak is used must be made larger than that in
a case where mahogany is used. The board thickness of the wood in a
case where pine is used must be made larger than that in a case
where teak is used. Further, the board thickness of the wood used
for the unit of a large size must be larger than the board
thickness used for the unit of a small size. In the furniture
design support program, a calculation rule for calculating a board
thickness on the basis of data representing the type classification
1 of the unit, the kind of the wood, and the size of the unit is
described.
[0333] The calculation rule is such a rule that a board thickness
is set to 30 mm when the inputted height (uH) of the unit is
smaller than a reference value previously determined, while being
set to 50 mm when the height is the same as or larger than the
reference value, for example. The reference values and the numeric
values of the board thickness determined in accordance with the
reference values respectively differ depending on the kind of the
wood. Such a board thickness that a unit to be manufactured has
predetermined strength is determined on the basis of the
characteristics (strength, etc.) and the size of a wood material
used for the unit (step 56 and steps 57, 58, and 59).
[0334] The determined board thickness is temporarily stored in the
memory 18 (step 60).
[0335] Of course, the operator (or the customer) may be requested
to enter a proper size again without performing board thickness
determination processing when any one of the inputted width, depth,
and height of the unit is smaller than the minimum value previously
determined or is larger than the maximum value previously
determined.
[0336] Furthermore, a board thickness used in the horizontal
direction (the transverse direction) for the unit and a board
thickness used in the vertical direction (the longitudinal
direction) for the unit may have different values depending on the
inputted size (width, depth, and height) of the unit. Further, the
operator may be caused to enter the board thickness. In this case,
the board thickness calculation processing (step 47 in FIG. 26) is
skipped.
[0337] Data representing the type classification 1 (top board and
base board covering, side board covering, or miter joining) of the
unit is then read into the work area of the memory 18. The sizes of
the top board, the baseplate, and the side boards which constitute
the unit and the size of the cell are calculated from the data
representing the type classification 1 of the unit (which has
already been specified in the step 42) and data representing the
board thickness determined in the step 47 (step 48). FIG. 40
illustrates the relationship among the size (width, depth, and
height) of the unit which are entered by the operator, the board
thickness determined by the furniture design support program, the
sizes of the top board, the baseplate, and the side boards which
are calculated by the furniture design support program, and the
size of the cell. This is a case of a side board covering type I
unit (there is no back board).
[0338] Let uW, uD, and uH be respectively the width, the depth, and
the height of the unit which are inputted by the operator. Let uxT
be the thickness of the longitudinal board (the side board)
determined in the board thickness determination processing (step
47), and uzT be the thickness of the lateral board (the top board
and the baseplate). In the case of the side board covering type I
unit, the size (width and length) of the top board and the
baseplate, the size (width and length) of the side board, and the
size (width, depth, and height) of the cell are calculated.
[0339] The size in the transverse (lateral) (width) direction of
the top board and the size in the transverse direction (width) of
the baseplate: UW-2uxT
[0340] The size in the depth direction (width) of the top board and
the baseplate
[0341] uD
[0342] The size in the transverse direction (width) of the side
board
[0343] UD
[0344] The size in the height direction (length) of the side
board
[0345] uH
[0346] The size in the width direction (cW) of the cell
cW=uW-2uxT
[0347] The size in the depth direction (cD) of the cell cD=uD
[0348] The size in the height direction (cH) of the cell
cH=uH-2uzT
[0349] In the furniture design support program, with respect to a
side board covering type unit II, a side board covering type unit
III, a top board and base board covering type unit, and a miter
joining type unit in addition to the side board covering type unit
I, an equation for calculating the sizes of a top board, a
baseplate, and side boards and the size of a cell formed by the
unit is described. The size (width, depth, and height) of the unit
which is entered by the operator and the board thickness determined
by the furniture design support program are substituted in an
equation corresponding to the selected unit type, so that the sizes
of the top board, the baseplate, and the side boards and the size
of the cell are calculated by the furniture design support program.
Data representing the calculated size is temporarily stored in the
memory 18.
[0350] When data indicating that a unit is provided with a back
board is inputted, the foregoing equation also includes a parameter
representing the thickness of the back board. The thickness of the
back board may be a fixed value, or may be determined depending on
the size of the unit. The size of the back board is also
calculated.
[0351] After the calculation of the size of each of the boards is
terminated, a data storage name input window W4 shown in FIG. 41 is
displayed. The data storage name input window W4 includes an input
box W4a for inputting a data storage name, and is provided with
"return", "cancel" and "end" buttons.
[0352] The keyboard 12 is used by the operator so that a storage
name is inputted into the input box W4a, and the "end" button is
clicked. Consequently, the storage name inputted into the input box
W4a, together with a type classification and data temporarily
stored in the memory 18 (data representing a size, a material, a
color, etc.), is stored and retained as a unit/part definition name
in the unit/part definition table (FIG. 18) (step 49). The display
on the display screen is returned to the unit/part selection window
W2 again (step 41).
[0353] When there are a plurality of unit types to be employed for
furniture to be designed, the above-mentioned operations are
repeated. Every time the above-mentioned operations are repeated,
data (a record) related to the inputted unit is added to the
unit/part definition table (FIG. 18).
[0354] In a case where the "cancel" button is clicked in the data
storage name input window W4, when characters are inputted into the
input box, the characters are erased. When the "return" button is
clicked, the size input window W3 is displayed again in place of
the data storage name input window W4.
[0355] When a part is subjected to data definition, a portion
including any one of the names of the parts displayed in the
unit/part display area A1 in the unit/part selection window W2 is
clicked by the operator (step 42). The color of the portion
including the name of the selected part is changed. When the "next"
button is clicked ("Next" in step 43), processing for requesting to
input detailed data is started with respect to the selected part
(steps 50 to 52).
[0356] In the processing for inputting the detailed data
respectively related to the part, the designation of a shape, etc.
(step 50) and the designation of a material, a color, etc. (step
51) are successively performed.
[0357] For example, it is assumed that "door leaf" is selected as a
part. Either a door leaf 1 (double swinging) or a door leaf 2
(single swinging) is selected (step 50; selection of a type
classification 1). Here, when the door leaf 2 (single swinging) is
selected, either right swinging or left swinging is selected. A
material, a finishing color, a material quality (grain), a pattern,
etc. are then designated (step 51). Finally, the data storage name
input window W4 (FIG. 41) is displayed, and a data storage name is
inputted into the input box W4a. Definition data related to the
selected part is stored in the unit/part definition table (FIG. 18)
(step 52).
[0358] When a plurality of parts are used for furniture to be
designed, processing (operations) in the steps 41 to 52 is
repeated. Every time the above-mentioned operations are repeated,
data (a record) inputted with respect to the parts is added to the
unit/part definition table (FIG. 18). At this time, a unit/part
definition number is automatically adopted (a serial number is
assigned) with respect to each of the defined unit and parts, and
is stored in correspondence with a unit/part definition name.
[0359] When the unit/part definition processing is terminated, the
operator clicks the "definition terminate" button in the unit/part
selection window W2 (FIG. 38) ("definition termination" in step
43). The main menu window W1 (FIG. 37) is displayed again on the
display screen of the display device 11 (step 31).
[0360] The "erase" button in the unit/part selection window W2 is
used in a case where data related to a particular unit or part in
the unit/part definition table (FIG. 18) is to be erased. When
"door pull" displayed in the unit/part display area A1 is selected
by being clicked, for example, and the "erase" button is then
clicked ("Erasure" in step 43), the data stored with respect to
"door pull" in the unit/part definition table are all cleared
(erased) (step 54).
3.3 Assembling Processing
[0361] FIGS. 28 to 30 are flow charts showing the procedure for
assembling processing.
[0362] The assembling processing is processing for combining units
and parts which have been subjected to data definition in the
above-mentioned unit/part definition processing, to design
furniture in a completed state (completed furniture) or a portion
thereof.
[0363] When the "assemble" button is clicked in the main menu
window W1 (FIG. 37), the program proceeds to the assembling
processing (step 34). As shown in FIG. 42, an assembling main
window W5 is displayed in place of or on the main menu window W1
(step 61).
[0364] In the assembling main window W5 (FIG. 42), a unit/part
display area B1, an assembled furniture display area B2, and a
completed furniture display area B3 are displayed. Further, the
assembling main window W5 is provided with "selection load",
"parting define", "arrangement designate", "color tone change",
"furniture store", and "end" buttons.
[0365] An image representing a front view of each of the units and
the parts which have been subjected to data definition in the
above-mentioned unit/part definition processing is displayed in the
unit/part display area B1. Under the image representing each of the
units and the parts, a unit/part definition name assigned for the
unit or the part is displayed. The image representing the unit or
the part may not reflect the data representing a size, a color,
etc. described in the unit/part definition table (FIG. 18) but may
merely represent the type of the unit or the part. In the example
of the furniture shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, two units are used. Both
the units are of the same type (unit 1) (see the unit/part
definition number "001" in the unit/part definition table (FIG.
18)). Accordingly, only an image related to the one unit (unit 1)
is displayed in the unit/part display area B1. The same is true for
the part.
[0366] The assembled furniture display area B2 is used for
combining (assembling) the units and the parts which are displayed
in the unit/part display area B1. An image representing the results
of the combination is displayed.
[0367] In the completed furniture display area B3, an image
representing completed furniture (or a portion thereof) including
the units and the parts is displayed.
[0368] In an initial state, the images respectively representing
all the units and the parts which have been subjected to data
definition in the above-mentioned unit/part definition processing
are displayed in the unit/part display area B1 in the assembling
main window W5. Nothing is displayed in the assembled furniture
display area B2 and the completed furniture display area B3.
[0369] The unit (unit 1) displayed in the unit/part display area B1
is first selected by being clicked using the mouse 13 (step 62),
and the "selection load" button is then clicked (step 63). As shown
in FIG. 43, the selected unit is displayed in the assembled
furniture display area B2 (steps 64 and 65) (No in the step 64
because the unit is first designated).
[0370] The completed furniture is assembled (furniture design data
is produced) by clicking using the mouse 13 and selecting the unit
or the part, which should be employed for the completed furniture,
out of the units and the parts which are displayed in the unit/part
display area B1 and designating a manner of combination of the
selected unit or part and the unit or part displayed in the
furniture display area B2 (for example, which part should be
attached, to which cell the part should be attached, etc.).
[0371] An example of the flow of assembling of the completed
furniture will be specifically described using FIGS. 44 (A) to 44
(D), 45 (A) to 45 (D) and FIG. 46.
[0372] As described above, the image representing the unit to be
used for the completed furniture is first selected by being clicked
out of the images respectively representing the units which are
displayed in the unit/part display area B1 by the operator (step
62). Thereafter, when the "selection load" button is clicked (step
63), the image representing the selected unit displayed in the
unit/part display area B1 is displayed in the assembled furniture
display area B2 (No in step 64, step 65, FIG. 44 (A), which is the
same as the image in the assembled furniture display area B2 shown
in FIG. 43). The unit is denoted by reference numeral 210, and a
cell in the unit 210 is denoted by reference numeral 200.
[0373] The data (size, finishing color, material quality, etc.)
stored in the unit/part definition table (FIG. 18) are reflected on
the images respectively representing the units and the parts
(finally, the image representing the completed furniture) which are
displayed in the assembled furniture display area B2. When the
definition that the color of a top board (portion 1) of the unit 1
is "no color (a material color)", for example, is stored in the
unit/part definition table, an image representing a unit having a
top board in the color of the material (a mahogany color) of the
top board which is stored in the column "material of portion 1 (top
board)" of the unit/part definition table is displayed in the
assembled furniture display area B2 on the basis of data
representing the material of the top board. Of course, only the
shape may be displayed on a screen by omitting the color or the
like. In any case, there are data representing the type of unit and
data representing the size, the color, the material, etc, of the
unit. Therefore, the image representing the unit can be displayed
in the assembled furniture display area B2. The image representing
the furniture may be displayed in the assembled furniture display
area B2 by a program (e.g., CAD software) other than the furniture
design support program.
[0374] When the unit is displayed in the assembled furniture
display area B2, a branch number (-01) in the unit number is
adopted and is stored in the column "unit number" of the unit
number table (FIG. 15), the unit arrangement table (FIG. 16), and
the parting (cell) information table (FIG. 17).
[0375] The column "unit/part definition number" and the column
"unit/part definition name" related to the unit number "-01" of the
unit number table (FIG. 15) respectively store "unit/part
definition number" (001) and "unit/part definition name" (unit 1)
(which are stored in the unit/part definition table (FIG. 18))
related to the unit displayed in the assembled furniture display
area B2. The column "the number of cells" of the unit number table
(FIG. 15) stores "1" as an initial value.
[0376] The column "overall size", the column "size of portion 1
(top board)", etc. related to the unit number "-01" of the unit
arrangement table (FIG. 16) also respectively store the same data
as those in the unit/part definition table (FIG. 18). The cell ID
"00" of the cell 200 is determined and is stored in the column
"cell ID".
[0377] A point in the lower left front corner of the unit 210 first
displayed in the assembled furniture display area B2 is taken as
the origin "(x, y, z)=(0, 0, 0). Three-dimensional coordinates (0,
0, 0) are stored in the column "reference point" related to the
unit number "-01" of the unit arrangement table (FIG. 16).
[0378] In the parting (cell) information table (FIG. 17), the cell
ID "00" for the cell 200 is stored in the column "cell ID". The
column "reference point" stores the three-dimensional coordinates
(30, 0, 30) of a point in the lower left front corner of the cell
200 which are calculated on the basis of the board thicknesses of a
top board and a left side board of the unit 201 on the basis of the
point in the lower left front corner (the origin) of the unit 210.
The column "size (cW, cD, cH)" stores the width, the depth, and the
height (cW, cD, cH)=(940, 610, 390) of the cell 200 (the cell ID
"00") which are previously calculated and are temporarily stored in
the memory 18 (the size of the cell may be calculated again).
[0379] When the completed furniture is caused to include a
plurality of units, the image representing the unit is clicked
again out of the images respectively representing the units which
are displayed in the unit/part display area B1 by the operator
(step 69). For example, the image representing the unit 1 which is
displayed in the unit/part display area B1 is clicked again, and
the "selection load" button is then clicked (step 63). The answer
is in the affirmative in the step 64 because one unit has already
been displayed in the assembled furniture display area B2. An
arrangement designation window W7 is displayed on the display
screen, as shown in FIG. 47 (step 66).
[0380] The arrangement designation window W7 is a window for
designating the positional (arrangement) relationship between two
units.
[0381] In the arrangement designation window W7, "attachment
surface designation" and "alignment" can be inputted with respect
to the arrangement relationship between the unit (unit 1) which has
already been displayed in the assembled furniture display area B2
(referred to as "displayed unit") and the unit (unit 1) newly
selected (referred to as "selected unit") (step 67).
[0382] In "attachment surface designation", as shown in FIG. 47,
when a top surface of the selected unit and a bottom surface of the
displayed unit are joined to each other, "top surface" and "bottom
surface" are respectively checked with respect to the selected unit
and the displayed unit, and an OK button is clicked. Consequently,
the two units (the displayed unit and the selected unit) in a state
where the bottom surface of the displayed unit is joined to the top
surface of the selected unit are displayed in the assembled
furniture display area B2 in the assembling main window W5 (step
68). Generally when the two units are arranged on the upper and
lower sides, a top surface and a bottom surface are used for
attachment surface designation. When the two units are arranged on
the right and left sides, a left surface and a right surface are
used for attachment surface designation.
[0383] In "alignment", the position where the selected unit is
attached to the displayed unit is designated. For example, in a
case where the two units are arranged on the upper and lower sides,
and the two units are viewed from the front, a left end of the
displayed unit and a left end of the selected unit are aligned with
each other (are at the same position), "left end" is checked, and
the OK button is pressed. The two units (the displayed unit and the
selected unit) which are aligned with each other such that their
left surfaces are flush with each other are displayed in the
assembled furniture display area B2. Generally when the two units
are arranged on the upper and lower sides, they are aligned with
each other on the right and left sides. When the two units are
arranged on the right and left sides, they are aligned with each
other with respect to their heights.
[0384] When "integrally join" is checked, and the OK button is
clicked, there occurs a state where the attachment surfaces are
composed of one board (one of the attachment surfaces is erased,
and a board perpendicular to the attachment surface is a continuous
board). For example, the bottom surface of the displayed unit and
the top surface of the selected unit are designated as attachment
surfaces, "integrally join" is checked, and the OK button is
clicked. In the assembled furniture display area B2, a board on the
top surface (a top board) of the selected unit is erased, and
respective side boards of the displayed unit and the selected unit
are displayed as continuous side boards, and are displayed like one
unit (step 68).
[0385] "Offset size" is inputted when there is a drawer inside a
unit, and a door leaf is attached to a front surface of the unit,
for example. When the door leaf is attached to the front surface of
the unit using a hinge (when the hinge is provided inside the
unit), a predetermined space (a space provided to prevent the
drawer accommodated in the door leaf from not being drawn out
toward its front surface by getting caught on the hinge) is
required in order to make it possible to draw out the drawer toward
the front surface. Data representing the space is an offset
size.
[0386] FIG. 50 is a broken perspective view showing a part of an
example of furniture having an offset size.
[0387] In order to ensure an offset and provide drawers in a unit,
inner side boards are provided for attaching a parting board
receiving each of the drawers (the inner side board need not be
positioned as a part, but may appear on a design drawing finally
obtained). Examples of the offset include an offset in the
horizontal direction representing a gap between an outer surface of
the inner side board and an inner surface of a side board of the
unit, an offset in the depth direction representing a gap between a
front end surface of the inner side board (or a front surface of
the drawer) and a front surface of the unit, and an offset in the
vertical direction representing a gap between an upper end surface
of the top drawer and a bottom surface of a top board of the
unit.
[0388] Although in the above-mentioned example, the OK button is
pressed for each item, the OK button may be clicked after
"attachment surface designation", "alignment", "integrally join",
and "offset size" are inputted. When the OK button is clicked, the
arrangement designation window W7 disappears. In a state where two
or more units are displayed in the assembled furniture display area
B2 in the assembling main window W5 shown in FIG. 42, even if any
of the units is then selected by being clicked, and the
"arrangement designate" button is then clicked, the arrangement
designation window W7 appears on the display screen.
[0389] FIG. 44 (B) illustrates one unit obtained by integrally
joining a top board of a unit 210 and a top board of a unit 260. A
cell in the unit 260 is denoted by reference numeral 250.
[0390] In the unit number table (FIG. 15), the unit arrangement
table (FIG. 16), and the parting (cell) information table (FIG.
17), a branch number (-02) in the unit number is adopted and is
stored in the column "unit number".
[0391] "001" and "unit 1" are respectively stored in the column
"unit/part definition number" and the column "unit/part definition
name" related to the unit number "-02" of the unit number table
(FIG. 15) by referring to the unit/part definition table (FIG. 18).
Further, "1" is set as an initial value in the column "the number
of cells" related to the unit number "-02" of the unit number table
(FIG. 15).
[0392] Data are also respectively stored in the columns such as the
column "overall size" and the column "size of portion 1 (top
board)" related to the unit number "-02" of the unit arrangement
table (FIG. 16) by referring to the unit/part definition table
(FIG. 18). A cell ID "00" of the cell 250 is determined and is
stored in the column "cell ID".
[0393] The three-dimensional coordinates of a point in the lower
left front corner of the unit 260 are calculated on the basis of
the point in the lower left front corner (the origin) of the unit
210. The calculated three-dimensional coordinates are stored in the
column "reference point" related to the unit number "-02" of the
unit arrangement table (FIG. 16). Further, in the unit arrangement
table (FIG. 16), data indicating "a unit having a branch number -02
is integrally joined to a bottom surface" is stored in the column
"arrangement information" related to the unit 210 on the upper side
(a branch number "-01"), and data indicating "a unit having a
branch number -01 is integrally joined to a top surface" is stored
in the column "arrangement information" related to the unit 260 (a
branch number "-02").
[0394] In the parting (cell) information table (FIG. 17), the cell
ID "00" of the cell 250 is stored in the column "cell ID". The
coordinates of a point in the lower left front corner of the cell
250 are stored in the column "reference point". The width, the
depth, and the height (cW, cD, and cH) of the cell which are
previously calculated with respect to the cell 250 and are
temporarily stored in the memory 18 are stored in the column
"size.
[0395] By providing a parting board in a cell formed by a unit, the
cell can be divided into a plurality of smaller cells.
[0396] In a state where the unit shown in FIG. 44 (B) is displayed
in the assembled furniture display area B2, the cell 200 is
selected by being clicked using the mouse 13, an image (not shown)
representing a parting board is then selected by being clicked in
the unit/part display area B1, and the "parting define" button is
pressed (step 70 in FIG. 28). As shown in FIG. 48, a parting board
definition window W6 is displayed on the display screen (step 81 in
FIG. 29) (here, a fixed type parting board shall be selected).
[0397] The parting board definition window W6 (FIG. 48) includes
three numeric value input boxes W6a, W6b, and W6c for inputting
"the number of divisions by longitudinal parting boards", "the
number of divisions by lateral parting boards", and "size
designation after division".
[0398] To the numeric value input box W6a for inputting "the number
of divisions by longitudinal parting boards", a number indicating
how many spaces (cells) should be formed in a selected cell by
parting boards provided in the longitudinal direction is
inputted.
[0399] To the numeric value input box W6b for inputting "the number
of divisions by lateral parting boards", a number indicating how
many spaces (cells) should be formed in a selected cell by parting
boards provided in the lateral direction is inputted.
[0400] When a numeric value is inputted into "the number of
divisions by longitudinal parting boards" or "the number of
divisions by lateral parting boards" (step 82), and an "OK" button
is clicked (OK in step 83), a unit having parting boards provided
therein so as to include cells whose number is equal to the
inputted number is displayed in the assembled furniture display
area B2 (step 84). When the OK button is pressed, the parting board
definition window W6 disappears.
[0401] In the parting board definition window W6 which appears when
the cell 200 is selected, and the "parting define" button is then
clicked, a screen displayed in the assembled furniture display area
B2 when "3" is inputted into "the number of divisions by lateral
parting boards" is illustrated in FIG. 44 (C). Three cells 201,
202, and 203 are formed. The cell 200 is a "parent cell", and the
cells 201, 202, and 203 are child cells in the parent cell 200.
Since "size designation after division" is not inputted, the parent
cell is divided into three cells of an equal height (the size
designation after division will be described later).
[0402] "1" stored as an initial value in the column "the number of
cells" related to the unit number "-01" of the unit number table
(FIG. 15) is updated to "4".
[0403] "2" representing the number of parts (here, parting boards)
attached to the unit having the unit number "-01" is stored in the
column "the number of parts" related to the unit number "-01" of
the unit arrangement table (FIG. 16).
[0404] In the parting board (cell) information table (FIG. 17),
numbers "01", "02", and "03" for specifying the cells 201, 202, and
203 are adopted and are respectively stored in the column "cell
ID". The three-dimensional coordinates of a point in the lower left
front corner of each of the cells 201, 202, and 203 are calculated
and are stored in the column "reference point" on the basis of the
point in the lower left front corner (the origin) of the unit 210.
The width, the depth, and the height of each of the cells 201, 202,
and 203 are calculated and are stored in the column "size". "2"
indicating that two parting boards are attached in the transverse
direction to the cell 200 is stored in the column "the number of
lateral parting boards" related to the cell 200 (the cell ID "0").
"00" is stored in the column "parent cell ID" related to each of
the cell IDs "01, "02, and "03". A number representing the
arrangement order in the longitudinal direction of the cell IDs
"01", "02", and "03" in the parent cell (the cell ID "00" (how many
cells are there from the bottom) is stored in the column
"longitudinal position in parent cell". "1" indicating that the
division is the first division is stored in the column "division
level" related to each of the cell IDs "01", "02, and "03".
[0405] Data related to each of two parting boards newly provided is
added to the parting board arrangement table (FIG. 23). Part
numbers are respectively adopted with respect to the two parting
boards and are stored in the column "part number". Further, a
branch number "-01" in a unit number for specifying a unit to which
the parting board is attached, a cell ID "00" for specifying a cell
to which the parting board is attached, and data related to the
parting-board attached in the cell 200 are respectively stored in
the column "unit number", the column "cell ID", and the columns
"unit/part definition number", "unit/part definition name",
"finishing color", "material", and "fixed/movable" by referring to
the unit/part definition table (FIG. 18). The three-dimensional
coordinates of a point in the lower left front corner of the
parting board are stored in the column "reference point". The
length in the width direction and the length in the depth direction
of the parting board are calculated and are stored in the column
"size", and the thickness of the parting board is stored therein.
The thickness of the parting board is determined by the furniture
design support program on the basis of the size of the unit. Of
course, it may be a fixed value (a thickness previously defined) or
a designated value.
[0406] With respect to any one or two of the cells 201, 202, and
203, it is also possible to further provide a lateral parting board
or a longitudinal parting board. FIG. 44 (D) illustrates, in the
parting board definition window W6 (FIG. 48) which appears when the
cell 203 is selected, and the "parting define" button is then
clicked, an image displayed in the assembled furniture display area
B2 when "3" is inputted into "the number of divisions by
longitudinal parting boards". The cell 203 is divided by being
partitioned by two longitudinal parting boards, so that cells 205,
206, and 207 are formed. The cells 205, 206, and 207 are child
cells in the parent cell 203. The respective widths of the cells
205, 206, and 207 are equal.
[0407] "4" stored in the column "the number of cells" related to
the unit number "-01" of the unit number table (FIG. 15) is updated
to "7".
[0408] A number representing the number of parts attached to a unit
having the unit number "-01" is updated to "4" in the column "the
number of parts" related to the unit number "-01" of the unit
arrangement table (FIG. 16).
[0409] Cell IDs "04", "05", and "06" for respectively specifying
the cells 205, 206, and 207 are adopted and are respectively stored
in the column "cell ID" of the parting (cell) information table
(FIG. 17). The three-dimensional coordinates of a point in the
lower left front corner of each of the cells 205, 206, and 207 are
calculated and are stored in the column "reference point". The
width, the depth, and the height of each of the cells 205, 206, and
207 are calculated and are stored in the column "size". In the
column "the number of longitudinal parting boards" related to the
cell 203 (the cell ID "03"), "2" indicating that two parting boards
are attached in the longitudinal direction to the cell 203. "03" is
stored in "parent cell ID" related to the cell IDs "04", "05", and
"06". Numbers representing the arrangement orders in the lateral
direction of the cell IDs "04", "05", and "06" in the parent cell
(the cell ID "03") (how many cells are there from the left) are
stored in the column "longitudinal position in parent cell". "2"
indicating that the second division is made is stored in the column
"division level" related to each of the cell IDs "04", "05", and
"06".
[0410] Data-related to each of two parting boards newly provided is
stored in the parting board arrangement table (FIG. 23). Part
numbers are respectively adopted with respect to the two parting
boards and are stored in the column "part number". A branch number
"-01" in a unit number for specifying a unit to which the parting
board is attached, a cell ID "00" for specifying a cell to which
the parting board is attached, and data related to the parting
board attached in the cell 203 are respectively stored in the
column "unit number", the column "cell ID", and the columns
"unit/part definition number", "unit/part definition name",
"finishing color", "material", and "fixed/movable" by referring to
the unit/part definition table (FIG. 18). The three-dimensional
coordinates of a point in the lower left front corner of the
parting board are stored in the column "reference point". The
length in the depth direction and the length in the height
direction of the parting board are calculated and are stored in the
column "size", and the thickness of the parting board is stored
therein.
[0411] In the parting board definition window W6 (FIG. 48) which
appears when any one of cells (child cells) formed by inputting a
numeric value to the number of divisions by longitudinal parting
boards or the number of divisions by lateral parting boards is
selected, and the "parting define" button is then clicked, the
width or the height (which may be both the width and the height) of
the cell is inputted into the numeric value input box W6c for
inputting "size designation after division". Consequently, the
width and the height of the selected cell are changed into the
width and the height inputted into the numeric value input box W6b
for inputting "size designation after division", and are displayed
in the assembled furniture display area B2 (the illustration of
display after the size change is omitted).
[0412] When the width or the height of a cell is changed, data in
the column "reference point" related to the cell the width or the
height of which has been changed is updated to a reference point
(the three-dimensional coordinates of a point in the lower left
front corner) of the cell after the size change which is displayed
in the assembled furniture display area B2, and data in the column
"size" is changed into data representing the changed width, depth,
and height of the cell in the parting (cell) information table
(FIG. 17).
[0413] Furthermore, the width or the height of a cell adjacent to
the cell the width or the height of which has been changed is
automatically changed. For example, when size change is made such
that the height of the cell 201 is increased, the height of the
cell 202 adjacent to the cell 201 is reduced by an increased amount
of the height of the cell 201. When size change is made such that
the height of the cell 202 is increased, each of the height of the
cell 201 adjacent to the cell 202 and the heights of the cells 205,
206, and 207 is reduced by a height (a length in the vertical
direction) obtained by dividing the increased amount into two equal
parts. Data in the column "reference point" related to the adjacent
cell and the data in the column "size" are also changed into data
respectively representing the reference point of the cell whose
size has been changed and the size. Further, when the width or the
height of the cell is changed, the arrangement position of a
parting board is also changed. Accordingly, data in the column
"reference point" of the parting board arrangement table (FIG. 23)
is also updated to data representing the arrangement position of
the parting board after the change.
[0414] FIG. 45 (A) illustrates a state where an overset type drawer
is accommodated in each of the cells 201, 202, 205, 206, and 207.
The drawer is assembled in the following manner.
[0415] An image representing "drawer 1" in the unit/part display
area B1 in the assembling main window W5 (FIGS. 42 and 43) is
selected (step 69 in FIG. 28), the range of a rectangular area
including the cells 201, 202, 205, 206, and 207 in the assembled
furniture display area B2 is designated using the mouse 13, and the
"selection load" button is clicked (step 63). Consequently, an
arrangement designation window W8 is displayed, as shown in FIG. 49
(step 66).
[0416] The arrangement designation window W8 is for specifying, in
a case where the selected part is a part which is identified as an
inset type or an overset type, for example, "drawer" or a case
where it is a part whose attachment position can be determined,
which of "inset" and "overset" should be selected.
[0417] When "overset" is selected, and an OK button is clicked
(step 67), an image representing an overset type drawer
accommodated in each of the cells 201, 202, 205, 206, and 207 is
displayed in the assembled furniture display area B2 (step 68, FIG.
45 (A)).
[0418] In the column "the number of parts" related to the unit
number "-01" of the unit arrangement table (FIG. 16), a number
representing the number of parts which are attached to the unit
having the unit number "-01" is updated to "9".
[0419] In the parting board (cell) information table (FIG. 17),
"drawer 1" is stored in the column "arranged part definition name"
related to each of the cell 201 (the cell ID "01"), the cell 202
(the cell ID "02"), the cell 205 (the cell ID "04"), the cell 206
(the cell ID "05"), and the cell 207 (the cell ID "06")
[0420] In the drawer arrangement table (FIG. 19), data related to
each of five drawers newly provided is added. Part numbers are
respectively adopted with respect to the five drawers, and are
stored in the column "part number". Further, a branch number "-01"
in a unit number for specifying a unit to which the drawers are
attached, a cell ID for specifying a cell to which the drawer is
attached, and data related to the drawer (drawer 1) are
respectively stored in the column "unit number", the column "cell
ID", and the columns "unit/part definition number", "unit/part
definition name", "finishing color (front panel)", "material (front
panel)", "finishing color (other than front panel)", and "material
(other than front panel)" by referring to the unit/part definition
table (FIG. 18). The three-dimensional coordinates of a point in
the lower left front corner of the drawer are stored in the column
"reference point". The width, the depth, and the height of the
drawer are respectively stored in the column "size". The respective
sizes of the two drawers provided in the cells 201 and 202 are
approximately equal to each other, and the respective sizes of the
three drawers provided in the cells 205, 206, and 207 are
approximately equal to each other. Data indicating that a
designated setting method is an overset type is stored in the
column "setting method".
[0421] Of course, one of the cells can be also selected one by one,
to provide the drawer for the cell.
[0422] In the assembled furniture display window W5, the door pull
1 is selected from the unit/part display area B1 (step 69 in FIG.
28), and the range of a rectangular area (a range in which the
drawers are accommodated) including the cells 201, 202, 205, 206,
and 207 is designated using the mouse 13 in the assembled furniture
display area B2. Thereafter, even when the "selection load" button
is clicked (step 63), the arrangement designation window W8 (FIG.
49) is also displayed (step 66). The displayed arrangement
designation window W8 is for designating the arrangement position
with respect to the door pull. In which position the selected part
is arranged in a portion selected by the designation of the range
(any of "standard", "upper end", "lower end", or "center" in each
of the height direction and the horizontal direction) is
determined, and the position is inputted.
[0423] When the OK button is clicked, assuming that the attachment
position is "center" with respect to "height" and "center" with
respect to "right or left" (step 67), an image in a case where a
door pull is attached near the center of each of the five drawers
is displayed in the assembled furniture display area B2, as shown
in FIG. 45 (B) (step 68).
[0424] A number representing the number of parts attached to the
unit having the unit number "-01" is updated to "14" in the column
"the number of parts" related to the unit number "-01" of the unit
arrangement table (FIG. 16).
[0425] "1" representing the number of parts (door pulls)
respectively attached to the drawers is stored in the column "the
number of parts" of the drawer arrangement table (FIG. 19).
[0426] Data related to each of the five door pulls newly provided
is added to the door pull arrangement table (FIG. 21). A part
number is adopted for each of the five door pulls, and is stored in
the column "part number". A branch number "-01" in a unit number
for specifying a unit to which the door pulls are attached, the
part number of the part (the drawer) to which the door pull is
attached, a cell ID for specifying a cell to which the door pull is
attached, and data related to the door pull (door pull 1) are
respectively stored in the column "unit number", the column "parent
part number", the column "cell ID", and the columns "unit/part
definition number", "unit/part definition name", "finishing color",
and "material" by referring to the unit/part definition table (FIG.
18). Data indicating that the door pull is arranged at the center
of the drawer and the three-dimensional coordinates of a point in
the lower left front corner of the door pull are respectively
stored in the column "arrangement information" and the column
"reference point". The width, the depth, and the height of the door
pull are respectively stored in the column "size".
[0427] FIG. 45 (C) illustrates a state where three lateral parting
boards are provided in the cell 250 in the lower unit 260, and the
cell 250 is divided into four cells 251, 252, 253, and 254. FIG. 45
(D) illustrates a state where inset type drawers are respectively
accommodated in the four cells 251, 252, 253, and 254, and a door
pull is attached to each of the drawers. Processing for displaying
an image illustrated in FIG. 45 (C) in the assembled furniture
display area B2 is the same as the above-mentioned processing for
displaying the image illustrated in FIG. 44 (C) in the assembled
furniture display area B2. Processing for assembling an image
illustrated in FIG. 45 (D) in the assembled furniture display area
B2 is the same as the processing for displaying the images
illustrated in FIGS. 45 (A) and 45 (B) in the assembled furniture
display area B2. When the inset type drawer is assembled, an
attaching method may be set to "inset" in an arrangement
designation window W8 (FIG. 49).
[0428] An image in a state where a door leaf is attached to a
portion of the cell 250 in the lower unit 260, door pulls are
attached to the door leaf, and casters are attached to a bottom
surface of the unit 260 is shown in FIG. 46. An image representing
"door leaf 1" in the unit/part display area B1 in the assembling
main window W5 is selected (step 69), the range of a rectangular
area including the cell 250 is then designated in the assembled
furniture display area B2, and the "selection load" button is
clicked (step 63). When "overset" is selected in the arrangement
designation window W8 (step 67), an image in a state where a door
leaf is attached by an overset attaching method is displayed in the
assembled furniture display area B2 (step 68). Further, "door pull
1" is selected from the unit/part display area B1 (step 69), and
the range of a rectangular area including the cell 250 (a range in
which the door leaf is attached) is designated in the assembled
furniture display area B2. Thereafter, the attachment position is
set to "standard" with respect to "height" and is set to "standard"
with respect to "right or left" in the arrangement designation
window W8 displayed when the "selection load" button is clicked
(step 67). An image in a state where a door pull is attached to a
portion in the vicinity of an opening or closing portion of a door
leaf and near the center in the height direction of the door leaf
is displayed in the assembled furniture display area B2 (step 68).
An image (not shown) representing "caster" in the unit/part display
area B1 in the assembling main window W5 is selected (step 69), the
unit 260 is then selected in the assembled furniture display area
B2, and the "selection load" button is clicked (step 63). In the
arrangement designation window W8, when "standard" and "standard"
are respectively selected with respect to "height" and "right or
left" (step 67), an image in a state where casters are respectively
attached to the four corners of a bottom surface of the unit 260 is
displayed in the assembled furniture display area B2 (step 68).
[0429] Data are successively stored in the unit number table (FIG.
15), the unit arrangement table (FIG. 16), the parting (cell)
information table (FIG. 17), the drawer arrangement table (FIG.
19), and the door pull arrangement table (FIG. 21) as the parting
board, the drawer, and the door pull are provided in the unit 260
(the cell 250), as in the above-mentioned case where the parting
board, the drawer, and the door pull are attached to the unit 210
(the cell 200).
[0430] In the door leaf arrangement table (FIG. 20), data related
to a door leaf attached to the cell 250 in the unit 260 is stored.
A part number for the door leaf is adopted and is stored in the
column "part number". A branch number "-02" in a unit number for
specifying a unit to which the door leaf is attached, a cell ID
"00" for specifying the cell 250 to which the door leaf is
attached, and data related to the door leaf (door leaf 1) are
respectively stored in the column "unit number", the column "cell
ID", and the columns "unit/part definition number", "unit/part
definition name", "finishing color", and "material" by referring to
the unit/part definition-table (FIG. 18). The three-dimensional
coordinates of a point in the lower left front corner of the door
leaf are stored in the column "reference point". The width, the
depth, and the height of the door leaf are stored in the column
"size". Data indicating that an inset type door leaf is attached
and the number of parts (door pulls) attached to the door leaf are
respectively stored in the column "setting method" and the column
"the number of parts".
[0431] In the leg arrangement table (FIG. 22), data related to a
leg (a caster) attached to a bottom surface of the unit 260 is
stored. A part number for the caster is adopted and is stored in
the column "part number". A branch number "-02" in a unit number
for specifying a unit to which the caster is attached, and data
related to the caster are respectively stored in the column "unit
number" and the columns "unit/part definition number", "unit/part
definition name", and "finishing color" by referring to the
unit/part definition table (FIG. 18). The three-dimensional
coordinates of the center of a joint portion between the leg
positioned at the left front of the unit and the bottom surface of
the unit are stored in the column "reference point". The width, the
depth, and the height of the caster are respectively stored in the
column "size".
[0432] As an image displayed in the assembled furniture display
area B2 in the assembled furniture display window W5 is thus
successively changed, data (furniture design data) stored in
various types of tables stored in the HD are successively
updated.
[0433] When the "color tone change" button is clicked in the
assembled furniture display window W5' (step 72), a color tone
change window is displayed (step 91 in FIG. 30) (the color tone
change window is not illustrated). In the color tone change window,
the finishing color (painting color) (including a pattern) and the
kind of wood or the like (including grain) of a unit or a part
displayed in the assembled furniture display area B2 can be
changed. A portion (a top board, a baseplate, a left side board, or
a right side board) of a unit the finishing color or the kind of
wood or the like of which is desired to be changed or apart (or a
portion thereof) is clicked and is designated in the assembled
furniture display area B2, the color and the kind of wood which
will be changed are then designated (step 92), and an OK button is
clicked ("OK" in step 93). The unit or the part having the
designated color or wood or the like is displayed in the assembled
furniture display area B2, and the furniture design data 25 is
changed (step 94).
[0434] When the finishing color of the top board of the unit having
the unit number "-01" is changed, for example, data in the column
"finishing color" related to a portion 1 (a top board) of the unit
arrangement table (FIG. 16) is updated to data representing the
changed finishing color.
[0435] When the kind of wood composing the unit is changed, the
thickness of a board composing the unit will be calculated again.
The thickness of the board depending on the changed kind of wood is
determined again (see FIG. 27).
[0436] When the "furniture store" button is clocked in the
assembled furniture display window W5 (step 73), the furniture
displayed in the assembled furniture display area B2 is reduced in
size and is displayed in the completed furniture display area B3,
as shown in FIG. 51 (step 74).
[0437] A number ("1113") is adopted with respect to the furniture
displayed in the assembled furniture display area B2 and is stored
in the column "furniture number" of the completed furniture table
(FIG. 14). The furniture number is also stored in the column "unit
number" of the unit arrangement table (FIG. 16), the parting board
(cell) information table (FIG. 17), or the like.
[0438] In the assembling main window W5, the parting board
definition (step 70), the arrangement designation (step 71), the
color tone change (step 72), and the furniture storage (step 73)
may be performed in any order. For example, after the color of the
top board of the unit is changed by the color tone change (step
72), the parting board definition (step 70) can be also performed.
Alternatively, after furniture design data is stored by the
furniture storage (step 73), the color tone change (step 72) can be
also performed.
[0439] When the parting board definition, the arrangement
designation, or the color tone change is performed after the
furniture storage (step 73), completed furniture before and
completed furniture after the parting board definition, the
arrangement designation, or the color tone change are respectively
displayed in the completed furniture display area B3.
[0440] When the "end" button is clicked (step 75), the assembling
processing is terminated. The main menu window W1 is displayed
again on the display screen of the display device 11 (step 31).
[0441] The furniture design data is thus stored in various types of
tables which are linked to each other, so that the rough design of
furniture having a structure or the like desired by a customer is
terminated. Thereafter, the rough design will be corrected, if
required.
3.4 Drawing Display/Printing Processing
[0442] Drawing display/printing processing is for displaying the
appearance or the like of completed furniture on the display screen
of the display device on the basis of data stored in various types
of data tables for the HD in the assembling processing (step 34),
or printing to output a design drawing or the like of the completed
furniture using the printer 17.
[0443] FIGS. 31 to 36 are flow charts showing the procedure for the
drawing display/printing processing. Here, a display screen (a
window) shown in FIGS. 52 to 59 is referred to.
[0444] When the "drawing display/print" button is clicked in the
main menu window W1 (step 35), a completed furniture display window
W11 is displayed, as shown in FIG. 52 (step 101).
[0445] The completed furniture display window W11 (FIG. 52)
includes a completed furniture display area C1 and a completed
furniture drawing display area C2. Further, "furniture select",
"drawing select", "size change", "picture display", "print", and
"end" buttons are provided therein.
[0446] An image representing completed furniture assembled by the
above-mentioned assembling processing is displayed in the completed
furniture display area C1. When there are a plurality of pieces of
completed furniture assembled by the assembling processing,
furniture design data respectively related to the plurality of
pieces of completed furniture are stored in each of the
above-mentioned types of data tables. That is, when the furniture
design data respectively related to the plurality of pieces of
completed furniture are stored in the data table, images
respectively representing the plurality of pieces of completed
furniture which are represented by the furniture design data are
displayed in the completed furniture display area C1. On the other
hand, in an initial state, nothing is displayed in the completed
furniture drawing display area C2.
[0447] The image representing the completed furniture on which a
design drawing should be printed is selected by being clicked out
of the images respectively representing the completed furniture
which are displayed in the completed furniture display area C1
(step 102), and the "furniture select" button is then clicked (step
103). A front view of the selected completed furniture is displayed
in the completed furniture drawing display area C2 (step 104, FIG.
53).
[0448] When the "drawing select" button is clicked (step 106), a
display drawing selection window W12 is displayed, as shown in FIG.
54 (step 111 in FIG. 32).
[0449] The display drawing selection window W12 (FIG. 54) is used
for choosing which of drawings (any one of "front view", "plan
view", "rear view", "side view", "cell view", and "detailed front
view"), "member table", "cutout view", and "estimation sheet"
should be displayed on the completed furniture display window
W11.
[0450] With respect to any one of "front view", "plan view", "rear
view", "side view", "cell view", and "detailed front view", "member
table", "cutout view", and "estimation sheet", a corresponding
circular input box is clicked (step 112). The color of the checked
circular input box is changed.
[0451] When any one of "front view", "plan view", "rear view",
"side view", and "cell view" is clicked, and an OK button is
clicked (OK in step 113), the clicked drawing is displayed in the
completed furniture drawing display area C2 in the completed
furniture display window W11 (step 114).
[0452] The unit arrangement table (FIG. 16) stores, with respect to
a unit included in completed furniture, positional information (a
reference point (x, y, z)) related to the lower left front corner
of the unit, and stores the size (uW, uD, uH) of the unit. A data
table related to parts, for example, the parting (cell) information
table (FIG. 17) or the drawer arrangement table (FIG. 19) stores
positional information (a reference point) related to each of the
parts, and stores data representing the size of the part.
[0453] The furniture design support program performs rendering
processing for generating three-dimensional drawing data (data
representing the coordinates of a vertex, a side, and a surface,
and their mutual relation) related to the completed furniture on
the basis of data representing "reference point" and data
representing "size" which are stored in the above-mentioned data
table related to the unit and the parts, to display a
two-dimensional image on the display screen of the display device
11. By the rendering processing, calculation is made as to in which
form a three-dimensional object is seen in the two-dimensional
image (coordinate transformation) on the basis of the
three-dimensional drawing data, and a line and a surface of a
hidden portion are then removed (hidden line removal and hidden
surface removal), so that image data representing the
two-dimensional image is generated on the display screen of the
display device 11.
[0454] When "front view" is selected (step 112), the furniture
design support program displays a front view of the completed
furniture in the completed furniture drawing display area C2 (step
114). Similarly, when "plan view", "rear view", and "side view" are
selected (step 112), the furniture design support program displays
a plan view, a rear view, and a right side view of the completed
furniture in the completed furniture drawing display area C2. The
front view, the plan view, the rear view, and the side view of the
completed furniture can be also displayed on the basis of the
furniture design data without performing the rendering processing
(see FIGS. 11 and 12).
[0455] When "cell view" is selected (step 112), the furniture
design support program displays in the completed furniture drawing
display area C2 a front view of the furniture in a state where
parts excluding a parting board, for example, a drawer and a door
leaf are removed from the completed furniture.
[0456] When "detailed front view" is selected (step 112), the
furniture design support program displays in the completed
furniture drawing display area C2 an image obtained by shading the
front view (or a perspective view) of the completed furniture.
[0457] When "member table" is selected, the furniture design
support program displays in the completed furniture drawing display
area C2 a material used for the completed furniture (the kind of
wood used for a unit, the kind of wood used for a part, etc.).
[0458] When "cutout-view" is selected, the furniture design support
program calculates the size of wood required to manufacture a unit,
a drawer, etc. constituting the completed furniture, and displays
in the completed furniture drawing display area C2 a cutout view
for cutting out a top board, a side board, etc. constituting the
unit, the drawer, etc. from one board (or a plurality of boards)
efficiently (such that the board is not uselessly left).
[0459] When "estimation sheet" is selected, the furniture design
support program calculates costs required to fabricate the
completed furniture on the basis of the kind, the structure, the
size, the presence or absence of painting (the finishing color) of
wood, the costs of parts, etc. used for the completed furniture,
and displays in the completed furniture drawing display area C2 an
estimation sheet in which the calculated costs are described.
[0460] In order to calculate the costs of the unit and the parting
board, data representing unit cost per unit area for each material
(kind of wood) stored in the basic information table (FIG. 10) (the
illustration of the cost data is omitted in FIG. 10), data
representing the size and the material of the unit included in the
completed furniture which are stored in the unit arrangement table
(FIG. 16), and data representing the size and the material of the
parting board which are stored in the parting board arrangement
table (FIG. 23) are used. The area of a board used for the unit and
the parting board is calculated for each material, and the
calculated area of the board made of the material is multiplexed by
the unit cost per unit area for the material, so that the costs of
the unit and the parting board are calculated.
[0461] The basic information table (FIG. 10) also stores data
representing the unit cost of each of the parts such as the drawer,
the door leaf, the leg, and the door pull (the illustration thereof
is omitted in FIG. 10). The quantity of each of the parts used for
the completed furniture is multiplexed by the unit cost, so that
the cost required for the part is estimated.
[0462] In the estimation sheet, necessary costs for the unit, the
parting board, and the parts which are calculated in such a manner
are shown, and the necessary cost of the whole of the completed
furniture (cost which is the sum of the necessary costs of the unit
and the parts) is shown.
[0463] When the "size change" button is clicked (step 107), a unit
size change window W13 is displayed (step 121 in FIG. 33), as shown
in FIG. 55. The unit size change window W13 (FIG. 55) is a window
for changing the width, the depth, and the height of the whole of
completed furniture or the width, the depth, and the height of a
unit included in the completed furniture.
[0464] The unit size change window W13 includes a completed
furniture display area D1, a size change display area D2, and a
changed size input area D3.
[0465] In the size change display area D2 in the unit size change
window W13, a front view of the completed furniture is
displayed.
[0466] The changed size input area D3 includes a changed size input
box. Further, the changed size input area D3 is provided with
"redisplay", "cell size change", "cancel", and "storage terminate"
buttons.
[0467] When the completed furniture includes a plurality of units,
the size thereof can be changed for each of the units. An example
in which the height of the unit (a portion having a door leaf
provided therein) in the lower stage of the completed furniture
which is displayed in the size change display area D2 is changed
will be described.
[0468] When the portion of the unit in the lower stage of the
completed furniture is clicked using the mouse 13 in the size
change display area D2, the width, the depth, and the height of the
unit in the lower stage of the completed furniture are displayed in
the changed size input box.
[0469] In the changed size input box, the changed size is inputted
using the keyboard 12 (step 122).
[0470] When the "redisplay" button is clicked ("redisplay" in step
123), a front view of the completed furniture whose size has been
changed at a ratio corresponding to numeric values inputted into
the changed size input box is displayed in the size change display
area D2 (step 124, FIG. 56).
[0471] When the "storage terminate" button is clicked ("storage
termination" in step 123), the completed furniture display window
W11 is displayed in place of the size change window W13. The
completed furniture whose size has been changed is displayed in the
completed furniture drawing display area C2 in the completed
furniture display window W11 (step 125, not shown).
[0472] When the "cancel" button is clicked ("cancel" in step 123),
the completed furniture whose size has not been changed is
displayed in the completed furniture drawing display area C2 in the
completed furniture display window W11.
[0473] When the size of the completed furniture (or the unit) is
changed, the sizes or the like of the parting board and the cell
are changed as the size of the completed furniture (unit) is
changed. In an example in which the size of the furniture shown in
FIG. 55 is changed to that of furniture shown in FIG. 56, data in
the column "overall size" and the columns "size of portion 3 (left
side board)" and "size of portion 4 (right side board)" of the unit
arrangement table (FIG. 16) are changed as the size of the
completed furniture is changed. Data in the column "size" and the
column "reference point" of the parting (cell) information table
(FIG. 17) are also changed. Data in the column "reference point"
related to the parting board is changed in the parting board
arrangement table (FIG. 23). Of course, in the leg arrangement
table (FIG. 22), the drawer arrangement table (FIG. 19), the door
leaf arrangement table (FIG. 20), and the door pull arrangement
table (FIG. 21), the data in the columns "reference point" and
"size" are changed so as to correspond to the completed furniture
whose size has been changed.
[0474] When the size of the completed furniture (or the unit) is
changed, the thickness of a board composing the unit may be
calculated again. The thickness of the board which corresponds to
the changed size of the unit is determined.
[0475] When the "cell size change" button is clicked in the unit
size change window W13 (FIGS. 55 and 56) (step 126), a cell size
change window W14 (FIG. 57) is displayed on the display screen of
the display device 11 (step 131 in FIG. 34). The cell size change
window W14 (FIG. 57) includes a cell size change display area E2
and a changed cell size input area E3.
[0476] An image representing furniture in a state where only units
and parting boards are drawn (excluding drawers, a door leaf, etc.)
is displayed in the cell size change display area E2.
[0477] When any of the cells is selected by being clicked in the
cell size change display area E2, numeric values representing the
width and the height of the selected cell are displayed in a
numeric value input box in the changed cell size input area E3. The
changed width or height of the cell is inputted into the numeric
value input box so as to rewrite the numeric values displayed in
the numeric value input box (step 132). When a "redisplay" button
is clicked ("redisplay" in step 133), the width or the height of
the selected cell is changed into the inputted width or height, and
is displayed in the cell size change display area E2 (step
134).
[0478] When the "storage terminate" button is clicked ("storage
termination" in step 133), the completed furniture display window
W11 is displayed in place of the cell size change window W14. The
completed furniture having the cell whose size has been changed is
displayed in the completed furniture drawing display area C2 (step
135).
[0479] When the width or the height of the cell is changed, data in
the column "reference point" related to the cell the width or the
height of which has been changed is updated to a reference point
related to the cell whose size has been changed (the
three-dimensional coordinates of a point in the lower left front
corner) which is displayed in the assembled furniture display area
B2, and data in the column "size" is changed into data representing
the changed width, depth, and height of the cell. Further, the
width or the height of the cell adjacent to the cell the width or
the height of which has been changed is also changed. Accordingly,
data in the column "reference point" and data in the column "size"
which are related to the adjacent cell are also changed into data
representing the reference point and the size of the cell whose
size has been changed. Further, when the width or the height of the
cell is changed, the arrangement position of the parting board or
the like is also changed. Accordingly, data in the column
"reference point" of the parting board arrangement table (FIG. 23)
or the like is also updated to data representing the changed
arrangement position of the parting board or the like.
[0480] When the "picture display" button is clicked in the
completed furniture display window W11 (FIG. 52) (step 105), a
picture display window W15 is displayed, as shown in FIG. 58 (step
141 in FIG. 35).
[0481] The picture display window W15 (FIG. 58) includes a
completed furniture display area F1, an enlarged picture display
area F2, and a picture display area F3. The enlarged picture
display area F2 includes a "select" button and an "end" button. The
same area as the completed furniture display area C1 in the
completed furniture display window W11 (FIG. 52) is displayed in
the completed furniture display area F1.
[0482] Picture image data representing the appearance of the actual
furniture is previously stored in the HD in the HD unit 16 for the
furniture design support system. Picture images respectively
representing pieces of furniture which are represented by the
picture image data stored in the HD are displayed in the picture
display area F3.
[0483] Any of the picture images respectively representing the
pieces of furniture which are displayed in the picture display area
F3 is clicked (step 142), and the "select" button in the enlarged
picture display area F2 is then clicked ("selection" in step 143).
The selected picture image representing the furniture is displayed
in enlarged fashion in the enlarged picture display area F2 (step
144).
[0484] When the "end" button in the enlarged picture display area
F2 is clicked ("termination" in step 143), the completed furniture
display window W11 is displayed in place of the picture display
window W14.
[0485] When the "print" button is clicked in the completed
furniture display window W11 (FIG. 52) (step 109), a printing
designation window W16 is displayed, as shown in FIG. 59 (step 151
in FIG. 36).
[0486] In the printing designation window W16 (FIG. 59), one or a
plurality of items which will be printed out of five items, i.e.,
"drawing", "detailed front view", "member table", "cutout view",
and "estimation sheet" are selected by being clicked (step 152),
and a "print" button is then clicked ("printing" in step 153).
Consequently, the designated item (the drawing, etc.) is printed on
paper or the like by the printer 17 to be outputted (step 154).
[0487] When "drawing" is clicked, and the "print" button is
clicked, for example, a design drawing of completed furniture is
outputted from the printer 17 (see FIGS. 11 and 12).
[0488] A "printer set" button is clicked when a printer which
should output the item is set (selected).
[0489] When a "cancel" button is clicked ("cancel" in step 153),
the program is returned to the selection of the item to be printed
(step 152).
[0490] When the "end" button is clicked in the completed furniture
display window W11 (step 110), the drawing display/printing
processing is terminated. The main menu window W1 is displayed in
place of the completed furniture display window W11 (step 31).
4 Processing II in Furniture Design Support System (Centered on
Window)
[0491] A window displayed on the display screen of the display
device 11 in the furniture design support system is not limited to
those shown in FIGS. 37 to 39, FIGS. 41 to 49, and FIGS. 51 to 59.
Further, the flow such as the design of furniture and the change in
furniture design data (e.g., size) is not limited to that in the
above-mentioned example. FIGS. 60 to 82 illustrate another example
of the window displayed on the display screen of the display device
11. The flow charts (FIGS. 25 to 36) described in the
above-mentioned processing I in the furniture design support system
are suitably referred to, to describe another example of processing
in the furniture design support system.
[0492] FIG. 60 illustrates another example of a unit/part selection
window which appears on the display screen when the "unit/part
define" button is clicked by an operator or a user in the main menu
window W1 (FIG. 37) (corresponding to steps 32 and 33 in FIG. 25,
and step 41 in FIG. 26). The unit/part selection window W21
comprises a unit/part display area a1, and comprises "next" and
"end" buttons.
[0493] Characters of "unit", "drawer", "door leaf", "parting
board/shelf board", "leg", "door pull", and "key" are displayed in
the unit/part display area a1. Any of character portions is clicked
using the mouse 13, so that either the unit or any of the parts (a
drawer, a door leaf, a parting board/shelf board, a leg, a drawer,
and a key) is selected (corresponding to step 42). With respect to
the selected unit or part, the definitions of "size", "material",
"material quality", "painting", etc. are given (generation of
definition data; registration of data in the unit/part definition
table is performed).
[0494] An example of a window (a drawer definition window W22)
which appears on the display screen when "drawer" is clicked, and
the "next" button is then clicked ("next" in step 43) is
illustrated in FIG. 61.
[0495] The drawer definition window W22 includes a type selection
area a2, a size definition area a3, an attribute definition area
a4, and a defined list display area a5, and comprises "store",
"name change", "delete", and "end" buttons.
[0496] The types of drawers are displayed by a list in the type
selection area a2 on the basis of the data previously stored in the
basic information table (FIG. 10). Here, data respectively
representing drawers of three types, i.e., a standard type
(standard), a framed type (framed), and a type with a frame and
having a glass board fitted in the frame (with framed glass) are
previously stored in the basic information table (FIG. 10), and
screen display is performed in accordance with the data.
[0497] With respect to the drawer of the type selected in the type
selection area a2 (the color of characters is reversed), the board
thickness of a front panel of the drawer, the board thickness of
the main body of the drawer (a box portion), and the arrangement
position of a door pull attached to the front panel of the drawer
are defined in the size definition area a3.
[0498] In the attribute definition area a4, a material (oak, bog
oak, mahogany, etc.), a material quality (solid board or veneer),
and painting (urethane painting, natural color, amber color, etc.)
which are used for the front panel of the drawer and the main body
of the drawer are defined. The data which are previously stored in
the basic information table (FIG. 10) are also used for definition
data which can be selected in the size definition area a3 and the
attribute definition area a4.
[0499] When the "store" button is clicked after the type, the size,
and the attribute of the drawer are determined, a new window for
inputting a name is displayed with the window overlapped with the
drawer definition window W22 (not shown). The inputted name is
newly added to the defined list display area a5 (not shown).
[0500] The "name change" button is clicked when the name of the
drawer displayed in the defined list display area a5 is changed.
The "delete" button is clicked when defined data displayed in the
defined list display area a5 is deleted (step 54). The "end" button
is clicked when the data definition is terminated. When the "end"
button is clicked, the definition window W22 disappears from the
display screen.
[0501] With respect to parts (a door leaf, a parting board/shelf
board, a leg, a door pull, and a key) other than the drawer and
units, which sizes, attributes, etc. are defined using the
definition window W22 in the same manner.
[0502] The processing using the above-mentioned definition window
W22 does not completely coincide with the flow chart shown in FIG.
26 but is common thereto in that a user of the furniture design
support system defines definition data related to the units and the
parts within the range of the data in the basic information table
previously prepared (stores the definition data in the unit/part
definition table).
[0503] FIG. 62 illustrates another example of the assembling main
window displayed when the "assemble" button is clicked (steps 32
and 34 in FIG. 25) by an operator or a user in the main menu window
W1 (FIG. 37) (step 61 in FIG. 28).
[0504] An assembling main window W23 includes a unit/part display
area b1, an assembled furniture display area b2, and a completed
furniture display area b3, and comprises "unit/part load", "cell
define", "size change", "part delete", "furniture store",
"furniture load", "furniture delete" and "end" buttons. The
unit/part type display area b1, the assembled furniture display
area b2, and the completed furniture display area b3 may be
respectively separate windows.
[0505] An upper part of the unit/part display area b1 includes a
unit/part type display box b4. When a triangular mark portion on
the right side of the display box b4 is clicked, the types of units
or parts are displayed by a list (see FIG. 68).
[0506] When "unit" is displayed in the display box b4, an image
representing the outline of the appearance (front) of the unit,
together with the name of the unit, is displayed in the unit/part
display area b1 (below the display box b4).
[0507] A manner of combination of the units and the parts is
displayed in the assembled furniture display area b2. Further, a
reference point (coordinates) for representing a reference for the
width or the height of the furniture (units and parts) is displayed
therein.
[0508] The name of completed furniture (or a portion thereof) and
an image representing the completed furniture are displayed in the
completed furniture display area b3.
[0509] For example, a top board and base board (baseplate) 1 type
unit is selected by being clicked in the unit/part display area b1
(step 62 in FIG. 28). Thereafter, when the "unit/part load" button
is clicked (step 63), the lower left front vertex of the top board
and base board 1 type unit is overlapped with the origin (0, 0),
and is displayed in the assembled furniture display area b2), as
shown in FIG. 63 (NO in step 64, and step 65 in FIG. 28). The
width, the height, and the depth of the top board and base board 1
type unit are indicted by numeric values in a lower part of the
unit/part display area b1.
[0510] The size of a unit or a cell can be changed within the
assembling processing.
[0511] When the size of the unit or the cell is changed, the "size
change" button is clicked. When the "size change" button is
clicked, a size change window W24 is displayed with the window
overlapped with the assembling main window W23, as shown in FIG.
64.
[0512] A field W24a for displaying the width, the height, and the
depth of the unit displayed in the assembled furniture display area
b2 in the assembling main window W23 and a "change and end" button
are provided in an upper part of the size change window W24.
[0513] When the size of the unit is changed, numerical values
displayed in the field W24a for displaying the width, the height,
and the depth are rewritten using the keyboard 12, and the "change
and end" button is thereafter clicked (see FIG. 33). Consequently,
the unit having the size whose numeric values have been changed is
thereafter displayed in the assembled furniture display area b2 in
the assembling main window W23, as shown in FIG. 65. The size
change window W24 disappears.
[0514] When the size of the cell in the unit is changed, the size
change window W24 is also used.
[0515] A lower part of the size change window W24 (FIG. 64) is
provided with a field for displaying the cell number of a cell
selected in the assembled furniture display area b2, the number of
cells included in the unit, and the size of the selected cell, a
field W24b for inputting the changed size (new size), a field for
determining the movement direction of the cell whose size is to be
changed, and a field for determining the effect on the adjacent
cell. Further, "reset", "change", "terminate", and "cancel" buttons
are provided therein.
[0516] The cell whose size will be changed is selected using the
mouse 13 in the assembled furniture display area b2. The width or
the height of the new cell is inputted into the field W24b for
inputting "new size". In the field for determining "movement
direction", it is chosen whether the cell whose size is to be
changed is widened (narrowed) upward (rightward) or widened
(narrowed) downward (leftward). In the field for determining
"effect on movement direction", it is chosen, with respect to the
cells other than the cell whose size has been changed, whether only
the cell adjacent to the cell whose size is to be changed is
affected (only the adjacent cell is changed) or the sizes of all
the cells included in the unit are changed at an equal ratio (all
the cells are changed at an equal ratio) (see FIG. 34 with respect
to the change in the size of the cell).
[0517] When the "change" button is clicked, the unit including the
cell whose size has been changed is displayed in the assembled
furniture display area b2. The "reset" button, the "end" button,
and the "cancel" button are respectively clicked in a case where
the display screen is returned to the state before the change, a
case where the cell size change processing is terminated, and a
case where the size change processing is canceled.
[0518] In the assembling main window W23, the "cell define" button
is clicked when a longitudinal board or a lateral board is provided
in the unit displayed in the assembled furniture display area
b2.
[0519] It goes without saying that the size change window W24 may
comprise the function of changing the sizes of parts other than the
unit and the cell.
[0520] When the "cell define" button is clicked, a cell definition
window W25 is displayed with the window overlapped with the
assembling main window W23, as shown in FIG. 66.
[0521] The cell definition window W25 comprises a field (a defined
area) W25a for selecting the kind of parting board (shelf board)
(made of wood or glass) used as a longitudinal board or a lateral
board and a field W25b for inputting the number of boards, and
comprises "all clear", "clear", "OK", and "cancel" buttons.
[0522] When seven lateral boards made of wood are provided in the
unit displayed in the assembled furniture display area b2 shown in
FIG. 65, for example, "made of wood" is selected in the defined
area W25a, and the number of lateral boards is seven in the field
W25b for displaying the number of boards, as shown in FIG. 66.
Thereafter, the "OK" button is clicked. Consequently, the unit
provided with seven lateral boards is displayed in the assembled
furniture display area b2 in the assembling main window W23, as
shown in FIG. 67. The unit includes eight cells of an equal size.
The cell definition window W25 disappears from the display screen
("cell definition" processing corresponds to "parting definition"
processing in the step 70 (FIG. 29) shown in FIG. 28).
[0523] The "all clear" button, the "clear" button, and the "cancel"
button are respectively clicked in a case where all longitudinal
boards or lateral boards which are provided in the unit are erased,
a case where when processing for providing longitudinal boards or
lateral boards is performed a plurality of times, the longitudinal
board or the lateral board which is last provided is erased, and a
case where the cell definition processing is canceled.
[0524] When a part is attached to the unit displayed in the
assembled furniture display area b2 in the assembling main window
W23, the name of the part which will be attached is first displayed
in the display box b4 on the upper side of the unit/part display
area b1, as shown in FIG. 68.
[0525] When "leg" is selected as the part name ("leg" is displayed
by characters in the display box b4), for example, a plurality of
kinds of legs are displayed in the unit/part display area b1, as
shown in FIG. 69 (based on the unit/part definition table (FIG.
18)). FIG. 70 illustrates the assembling main window W23 in a case
where "four-in-a-set squared legs with plinth" is selected by being
clicked using the mouse 13, and the "unit/part load" button is then
clicked. Furniture in which four-in-a-set squared legs with plinth
composed of four pillar-shaped legs and a plinth are attached to a
bottom surface of a unit is displayed in the assembled furniture
display area b2 (the window for designating arrangement (steps 66
to 68 in FIG. 28; FIGS. 47 and 49) is not necessarily
displayed).
[0526] Furthermore, when a drawer which is one of parts is provided
in each of the eight cells included in the unit, all the eight
cells are selected using the mouse 13, and "drawer" is then
displayed by characters in the display box b4. Images respectively
representing a plurality of kind of drawers are displayed in the
unit/part display area b1. After the desired kind of drawer is
selected using the mouse 13, the "unit/part load" button is
clicked. Consequently, a setting method selection window W26 for
specifying how the drawer is set is displayed with the window
overlapped with the assembling main window W23 (FIG. 71) (which is
another example of the arrangement designation window W7 (W8)).
[0527] In the setting method selection window W26, any one of four
setting methods, i.e., {circle around (1)} "inset 1 (complete)" in
which a drawer is accommodated such that a front panel of the
drawer is almost flush with a front surface of a parting board
provided in a cell, {circle around (2)} "inset 2 (only a parting
board is hidden)" in which a drawer is accommodated such that front
surfaces of a top board, a baseplate, and side boards are almost
flush with a front panel of the drawer, and each of parting boards
is not seen by the front panel of the drawer by making the size in
the depth direction of the parting board slightly shorter, {circle
around (3)} "overset 1 (complete)" in which a drawer is
accommodated such that all a top board, a baseplate, side boards,
and each of parting boards are hidden by a front panel of the
drawer, and {circle around (4)} "overset 2 (boards other than a top
board and a baseplate are hidden)" in which a drawer is
accommodated such that side boards other than the top board and the
baseplate and each of parting boards are hidden by a front panel of
the drawer is selected.
[0528] When any one of the setting methods is selected, and an "OK"
button is clicked, furniture accommodating drawers by the setting
method selected using the setting method selection window W26 is
displayed in the assembled furniture display area b2, as shown in
FIG. 72 (here, drawers with glass are accommodated by "overset 2")
(corresponding to the steps 66 to 68 in FIG. 28). The setting
method selection window W26 disappears.
[0529] When the "furniture store" button is clicked (step 73), a
furniture storage window W27 is displayed (FIG. 73). A name for
specifying furniture is inputted into a field W27a for displaying
"name of completed furniture" using the keyboard 12, and an "OK"
button is clicked. As shown in FIG. 74, an image representing the
furniture displayed in the assembled furniture display area b2 is
reduced in size and is displayed in the completed furniture display
area b3 (step 74). Further, the name inputted using the
above-mentioned furniture storage window W27 is displayed on the
reduced image.
[0530] In the assembling main window W23, the "part delete" button,
the "furniture load" button, and the "furniture delete" button are
respectively clicked in a case where an assembled (attached) part
is deleted (removed) (deleted from the data table), a case where
completed furniture displayed in the completed furniture display
area b3 is displayed in the assembled furniture display area b2,
and a case where completed furniture displayed in the completed
furniture display area b3 is deleted (deleted from the data table).
When the "end" button is clicked, the assembling main window W23
disappears from the display screen (step 75 in FIG. 28).
[0531] FIG. 75 illustrates another example of the completed
furniture display window which appears on the display screen when
the "drawing display/print" button is clicked by an operator or a
user in the main menu window W1 (FIG. 37) (steps 32 and 35 in FIG.
25, and step 101 in FIG. 31). A completed furniture display area c1
is positioned on the left side of the completed furniture display
window W31, and a completed furniture drawing display area c2 is
positioned on the right side thereof.
[0532] "Furniture load", "drawing display", "render", "size
change", "material quality change", "drawing print", "furniture
store", and "end" buttons are displayed on the lower side of the
completed furniture display window W31.
[0533] When any image of completed furniture is selected using the
mouse 13 in the completed furniture display area c1, and the
"furniture load" button is then clicked (steps 102 and 103 in FIG.
31), a front view of the selected completed furniture, together
with the size thereof, is displayed in the completed furniture
drawing display area c2, as shown in FIG. 76 (step 104). A button
for enlarging or reducing a drawing displayed in the completed
furniture drawing display area c2 and redisplaying the drawing and
a cross button for moving the drawing of the furniture displayed in
the completed furniture drawing display area c2 in any of upward,
downward, rightward and leftward directions and displaying the
drawing are newly displayed on the right side of the completed
furniture drawing display area c2.
[0534] When the "drawing display" button is clicked (corresponding
to the processing (FIG. 32) for "drawing selection" (step 106)
shown in FIG. 31), a drawing selection window W32 is displayed with
the window overlapped with the completed furniture display window
W31, as shown in FIG. 77. In the drawing selection window W32, the
variety of drawing (a front view, a plan view, etc), to be
displayed in the completed furniture drawing display area c2, for
example, is selected.
[0535] When a cubic diagram, for example, is selected (step 112 in
FIG. 32), and a "display" button on the lower side of the drawing
selection window W32 is clicked, completed furniture is displayed
in a three-dimensional manner in the completed furniture drawing
display area c2, as shown in FIG. 78 (step 114).
[0536] When the "render" button on the lower side of the completed
furniture display window W31 is clicked, a drawing which has been
subjected to rendering processing is displayed in the completed
furniture drawing display area c2, as shown in FIG. 79.
[0537] For the rendering processing, a CAD (Computer Aided Design)
program (software) can be utilized. The CAD program may be located
as a part of the furniture design support program, or may be a
program separate from the furniture design support program.
[0538] The CAD program generates three-dimensional drawing data
(data representing the coordinates of a vertex, a side, and a
surface and their mutual relation) related to completed furniture
on the basis of reference point data and size data which are stored
in the data table related to units and parts. Data and an
instruction required to generate and output the three-dimensional
drawing data related to the completed furniture are handed to the
CAD program from the furniture design support program (a 3D
modeling instruction, a 3D drawing instruction, and a 3D printing
instruction). The CAD program includes a function (a modeling
function) required to generate the three-dimensional drawing data,
and performs calculation (coordinate transformation) as to in which
form a three-dimensional object is seen in a two-dimensional image
on the basis of the data delivered from the furniture design
support program, to generate three-dimensional drawing data
(modeling). Further, the CAD program includes a drawing function
for removing a line and a surface of a portion which is hidden
(hidden line removal and hidden surface removal), and performing
shading processing, ray-tracing processing, or the like, to do
drawing on the display screen and a printing function for doing
printing. A two-dimensional image expressed in a three-dimensional
manner can be displayed on the display screen of the display device
11, or can be outputted from the printer 17.
[0539] When the "drawing print" button on the lower side of the
completed furniture display window W31 is clicked, a printing
drawing selection window W33 appears, as shown in FIG. 80
(corresponding to step 109 in FIG. 31, and corresponding to FIG.
36). The printing drawing selection window W33 includes characters
"drawing", "elevation view", "member table", and "estimation sheet"
and circular input boxes respectively corresponding thereto, and
comprises a "display" button and a "cancel" button.
[0540] When "drawing" is selected in the printing drawing selection
window W33, and the "display" button is then clicked, a front view,
a side view, a rear view, etc. of completed furniture, together
with the size thereof, are displayed in the completed furniture
drawing display area c2, as shown in FIG. 81. "Printer set",
"print", "previous page", and "subsequent page" buttons appear in
an area c4 on the right side of the screen. The "printer set"
button, the "print" button, the "previous page" button, and the
"subsequent page" button are respectively clicked in a case where
the setting of a printer displayed on the display screen
(designation of a printer which should output prints in a case
where the prints can be outputted to a plurality of printers), a
case where printing is done, a case where the previous page is
displayed when a drawing displayed on the display screen covers a
plurality of pages, and a case where the subsequent page is
displayed.
[0541] When "cubic diagram" is selected in the printing drawing
selection window W33 (FIG. 80), and the "display" button is
clicked, a cubic diagram is displayed in the completed furniture
drawing display area c2 (see FIG. 78). When "member table" is
selected, and the "display" button is clicked, members (units and
parts) used for the completed furniture displayed in the completed
furniture drawing display area c2 are displayed by a list (not
shown). When "estimation sheet" is selected, and the "display"
button is clicked, "name", "material", "material quality",
"painting", "size", "material unit cost", "painting unit cost",
"quantity", "total amount of money", etc. of each of the units and
the parts which are used for the completed furniture displayed in
the completed furniture drawing display area c2 are displayed by a
list, as shown in FIG. 82. When the "print" button is clicked, any
one of the drawing, the elevation view, the member table, and the
estimation sheet which are displayed in the completed furniture
drawing display area c2 is printed out from the printer 17 (step
154 in FIG. 36).
[0542] In the completed furniture display window W31, the "size
change" button and the "material quality change" button are
respectively clicked in a case where the size of the completed
furniture or the size of the cell is changed (corresponding to step
107 in FIG. 31, step 126 in FIG. 33, and FIG. 34) and a case where
the material quality (the material) of the unit or the part used
for the completed furniture is changed. When data representing the
completed furniture the size or the material quality of which has
been changed is stored, the "furniture store" button is clicked.
When the "end" button is clicked, the completed furniture display
window W31 disappears from the display screen.
5 Processing Drawing Production Processing
[0543] As described in the foregoing, the front view, the side
view, the rear view, etc. of the completed furniture, together with
the size thereof, can be displayed on the display screen or printed
out on the basis of the furniture design data (data stored in
various kinds of tables) 25 produced using the furniture design
support system. Each of the units and the parts which constitute
the completed furniture is caused to have more detailed data as the
furniture design data 25, thereby making it possible to display a
drawing for processing the units and the parts which constitute the
completed furniture (a processing drawing) or print out the
drawing. FIGS. 83 to 91 illustrate examples of processing drawings
used for manufacturing furniture. FIGS. 83 to 91 illustrate
examples of processing drawings used for manufacturing furniture.
FIGS. 83 to 91 illustrate processing drawings for the furniture
(completed furniture) shown in FIG. 5.
[0544] FIGS. 83A, 83B, and 83C respectively illustrate a plan view
of the completed furniture, a front view of the completed
furniture, and a right side view of the completed furniture,
together with the size (numbers representing the size are omitted.
The same is true for the other drawings).
[0545] FIG. 84 illustrates a unit and a parting board (a shelf
board) of the completed furniture, together with the sizes thereof.
FIGS. 84A, 84B, and 84C are respectively a plan view, a front view,
and a right side view.
[0546] FIG. 85 illustrates a processing drawing of a top board.
FIG. 85A is a plan view of the top board (a view showing the top
board as viewed from the top), FIG. 85B is a front view of the top
board, FIG. 85C is a bottom view of the top board (a reverse
surface; a view showing the top board as viewed from the cell (the
inside of the unit)), and FIG. 85D is a diagram showing a joint
portion between the top board and a side board in enlarged fashion.
A slit (a black circle) used for joining the side board and a back
board is shown on a bottom surface (reverse surface) of the top
board. The joint portion between the top board and the side board
is illustrated in enlarged fashion in FIG. 85D with respect to a
portion indicated by an arrow in FIG. 85C. In FIG. 85D, a portion
indicated by a broken line represents a dowel to be inserted into
the slit.
[0547] FIG. 86 illustrates a processing drawing of a baseplate.
FIG. 86A is a plan view of the baseplate (a view showing the
baseplate as viewed from the cell (the inside of the unit)), FIG.
86B is a front view of the baseplate, FIG. 86C is a bottom view of
the baseplate (a view showing the baseplate as viewed from the
bottom), and FIG. 86D is an enlarged view of a joint portion
between the baseplate and a side board.
[0548] FIG. 87 illustrates a processing drawing of a back board.
FIG. 87A is a plan view of the back board, FIG. 87B is a front view
of the back board, 87C is a bottom view of the back board, and FIG.
87D is a right side view of the back board. FIG. 87E and FIG. 87F
respectively illustrate a slit formed in the back board as viewed
from the front and the side.
[0549] FIG. 88 illustrates a processing drawing of side boards.
FIGS. 88A to 88E and FIG. 88F to 88J respectively illustrate a
processing drawing of the left side board and a processing drawing
of the right side board. FIG. 88A(88I) is a front view of the side
board, FIG. 88B(88G) is a right side view of the side board, FIG.
88C(88H) is a plan view of the side board, FIG. 88D(88F) is a rear
view of the side board, and FIG. 88E(88J) is a bottom view of the
side board. FIG. 88B(88G) and FIG. 88D(88F) illustrate a hinge to
be attached to the side board (and a slit for attaching the
hinge).
[0550] FIG. 89 illustrates a processing drawing of parting boards
arranged between a door leaf and a drawer and accommodated inside
the unit (cell). FIGS. 89A to 89E and FIGS. 89F to 89J respectively
illustrate a processing drawing of the left parting board and a
processing drawing of the right parting board. FIG. 89A(89I) is a
front view of the parting board, FIG. 89B(89G) is a right side view
of the drawer, FIG. 89C(89H) is a plan view of the drawer, FIG.
89D(89F) is a rear view of the drawer, and FIG. 89E(89J) is a
bottom view of the drawer. FIG. 89D(89F) illustrates a rail used
when the drawer is accommodated inside the unit.
[0551] FIG. 90 illustrates a processing drawing of door leaves.
FIGS. 90A to 90D and FIG. 90E to 90H respectively illustrate a
processing drawing of the left door leaf and a processing drawing
of the right door leaf. FIG. 90A(90G) is a plan view of the door
leaf, FIG. 90B(90H) is a front view of the door leaf, FIG. 90C is a
right side view of the door leaf, FIG. 90F is a left side view of
the door leaf, and FIG. 90D(90E) is a rear view of the door leaf.
FIG. 90D(90E) and FIG. 90B(90H) illustrate a hinge for attaching
the door leaf to the unit. A handle attached to the door leaf is
illustrated in FIGS. 90A(90G), 90B(90H), and 90C(90F).
[0552] FIG. 91 illustrates a processing drawing of a drawer. FIG.
91A is a plan view of the assembled drawer. FIG. 91B is a front
view of a front panel to be attached to a front surface of the
drawer. FIG. 91F is a right side view of the drawer. FIG. 91G is a
cross-sectional view showing the drawer in a portion excluding the
front panel as viewed from the right side.
[0553] FIGS. 91C to 91E and FIGS. 91H to 91L are respectively
processing drawings showing members (elements) constituting the
drawer. FIG. 91C is a front view of the front panel, FIG. 91D is a
plan view of the front panel, and FIG. 91E is a rear view of the
front panel. FIG. 91C and FIG. 91E illustrate a slit for a handle
to be attached to the front panel of the drawer. FIG. 91H, FIG.
91I, FIG. 91J, FIG. 91K, and FIG. 91L respectively illustrate a
left side board which is an element constituting a box portion of
the drawer, a right side board of the box portion of the drawer, a
back board of the box portion of the drawer, a front panel of the
box portion of the drawer, and a baseplate of the box portion of
the drawer.
[0554] In the processing drawing production processing, data for
each of the members (elements) constituting each of the units and
the parts which constitute the completed furniture (data
representing a size, a punching position, a hinge attachment
position, etc.). A table storing data for producing a processing
drawing may be newly provided in the HD, to previously store in the
basic information table (FIG. 10) data which should be stored in
the data table for producing the processing drawing, if
required.
[0555] A program for the processing drawing production processing
may be positioned as a part of the function of the above-mentioned
furniture design support program, or may be a program different
(separate) from the furniture design support program. When the
program for the processing drawing production processing is a
program different (separate) from the furniture design support
program, the program for the processing drawing production
processing is for performing processing for producing the
processing drawing in accordance with furniture design data
produced using the furniture design support program and data in the
table storing the data for producing the processing drawing. The
produced processing drawing is displayed on the display screen, or
is printed out.
[0556] The processing drawing produced by the processing drawing
production processing is mainly utilized, when completed furniture
designed using the furniture design support system is actually
produced in a furniture manufacturing workshop (a furniture
manufacturing factory) or the like, by a manufacturing person (a
processing person) of the furniture.
[0557] Data used for producing the processing drawing (data
representing the size of a unit, the sizes of members (elements; a
top board, a baseplate, a side board, a back board, etc.)
constituting the unit, the position where a slit for each of the
elements is formed, the position where a hinge is attached, the
size of a part (a drawer), the sizes of elements (a front panel
attached to a front surface of a box portion, and a front panel,
side boards, a baseplate, and a back board of the box portion)
constituting the drawer, the position of a slit for the drawer, the
position of a slit for a door leaf, etc.) are coded data.
Therefore, the elements constituting the unit and the elements
constituting the part can be also produced under the control of a
computer by causing a CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) device (a
numeric value control machine tool) for processing completed
furniture (or the units and the parts constituting the completed
furniture) to read the data for producing the processing
drawing.
[0558] Since the furniture is constituted by units and parts, and
each of the units and the parts is constituted by elements, the
sizes of the units, the parts, and the elements are determined
depending on the size of the furniture. The number of joint members
used for assembling the elements and the joint positions (e.g., the
number of slits and the positions thereof, and the position where a
hinge is attached) may be changed depending on the sizes of the
units, the parts, and the elements. For example, the relationship
between the size of the standard element and the number of joint
members and the position where each of the joint members is
arranged is previously determined in the data table. The furniture
design support program (or the program for the processing drawing
production processing) may be caused to make such judgment that the
number of slits is increased if the size of the element exceeds a
threshold value (a set value), while being reduced if it is smaller
than the threshold value.
6 Manufacturing Process Drawing Production Processing
[0559] As described in the foregoing, the furniture design data
provided by the furniture design support system include data
required to display on the display screen an image representing the
appearance (a rendering drawing) of the completed furniture, for
example, the respective structures (types) of the units and the
parts which are included in the completed furniture, the respective
sizes of the units and the parts, and the positional relationship
among the units and the parts and print the design drawing. That
is, the furniture design data previously shows how the units and
the parts are combined to constitute the furniture. A manufacturing
process drawing of the completed furniture can be produced, as
follows, by preparing still another data (data table).
[0560] FIG. 92 illustrates the electrical configuration of a
furniture design support system (a computer system) comprising
manufacturing process data used for producing a manufacturing
process drawing. The furniture design support system differs from
the furniture design support system shown in FIG. 9 in that
manufacturing process data is stored in the HD unit 16 (HD)
(indicated by reference character 25A). The other hardware
configuration and programs and data which are stored in the HD are
the same as those shown in FIG. 9 and hence, the overlapped
description is avoided.
[0561] FIG. 93 is a perspective view showing an example of
completed furniture (a cabinet with drawers). FIG. 94 illustrates
an example of a manufacturing process drawing of the completed
furniture (the cabinet with drawers) shown in FIG. 93.
[0562] The manufacturing process drawing shown in FIG. 94 is used
for manufacturing work of furniture in a furniture manufacturing
workshop, a furniture manufacturing factory, or the like. Units and
parts are processed in the furniture manufacturing workshop or the
like in accordance with the flow of manufacturing processes shown
in the manufacturing process drawing, to manufacture the
furniture.
[0563] In the manufacturing process drawing, a processing line is
shown for each of the parts and the units which must be processed.
The parts and the units which are included in the furniture are
respectively processed for the processing lines. Finally, the parts
and the units which have been respectively processed in the
processing lines are combined (assembled or attached), to complete
the furniture. The furniture (the cabinet with drawers) shown in
FIG. 93 comprises a door leaf, drawers, a unit (of a top board and
base board covering type), parting boards (shelf boards), and a
plinth. They are a unit and parts which must be processed in the
cabinet with drawers. With respect to the drawer, the processing
line is divided into those for a front panel and a box.
[0564] Work processes previously determined for each of the units
and the parts are arranged in the processing line. In the
manufacturing process drawing of FIG. 94, "door leaf (solid board)"
is paid attention to. There are five work processes, i.e., cutting,
butt end affixation, hinge punching, door pull punching, and hinge
and door pull attachment. With respect to each of the units and the
parts which constitute the furniture (completed furniture), such
work processes are previously determined.
[0565] Furthermore, the work processes previously determined with
respect to each of the units and the parts have data respectively
related to the respective dates and the order or processes. When
"door leaf (solid board)" constituting the cabinet with drawers is
paid attention to, the first work process for processing on the
second day is determined as "cutting".
[0566] FIG. 95 illustrates an example of a manufacturing process
information table storing data related to the work processes for
each of the units and the parts which constitute the furniture and
the respective dates and the order of processes, for example, which
are determined. For the manufacturing process data, the data stored
in the manufacturing process information table are used.
[0567] The manufacturing process information table stores data
respectively related to process division, units/parts, a line
number, the order of processes, the contents of work, a coupling
line, and the contents of work at a destination of coupling, as
shown in FIG. 95.
[0568] "Process division" stores a division determined depending on
the complexity of the completed furniture and the type of the unit
included in the completed furniture, for example. "Process
division" is indicated by a time period required from the time when
the manufacture is started until a product is finally delivered,
for example, "seven days" or "thirty days". For example, "process
division" is previously set for each of the units or the parts
which are used for the furniture.
[0569] The names of the units or the parts, which must be
processed, out of the units or the parts which are included in the
furniture are stored in the column "unit/part". A processing line
("line number") is allocated to each of the units or the parts (or
may be previously allocated). For example, a processing line having
a line number 1 is allocated to "door leaf (solid board)" in a case
where "process division" is "seven days".
[0570] "Order of processes" represents the dates for the work
processes (contents of work) of the unit or the part which are
defined in the subsequent item "work contents" and the order or
processes on the date. For example, "cutting" and "butt end
affixation" respectively represent the first process on the second
day and the second process on the second day.
[0571] When the completed furniture is finally assembled, or the
front panel and the box portion of the drawer are assembled if the
part is the drawer, the unit or the part (a portion thereof) must
be moved into the other processing line. "Coupling line" stores the
line number of the processing line at a designation of movement in
such a case. "Coupling destination work contents" represents the
contents of work in the line at a destination of movement. It is
data also called timing of line coupling.
[0572] FIG. 96 is a flow chart showing the flow of manufacturing
process drawing production processing. FIG. 97 illustrates the
contents of a temporary file produced in the manufacturing process
drawing production processing shown in FIG. 96.
[0573] The manufacturing process drawing production processing can
be also positioned as a part of the function of the above-mentioned
furniture design support program, or can be also positioned as the
function of a separate program which operates utilizing furniture
design data produced by the furniture design support system. In
this case, a program for the manufacturing process drawing
production processing is previously stored (installed) in the HD in
the HD unit 16.
[0574] First, start processing (e.g., execution of the
manufacturing process drawing production output processing program)
and selection of the furniture (completed furniture) whose
manufacturing process drawing should be produced are performed
(step 161).
[0575] In the manufacturing process information table and the
furniture design data, data related to the selected completed
furniture is accessed.
[0576] The manufacturing process information table (FIG. 95)
previously stores, with respect to each of the parts and the units,
which must be processed, included in the completed furniture
designed using the furniture design support system, data
respectively representing work processes (including the order (the
date and the order of processes)), a processing line, a coupling
line, the contents of coupling work, etc. Data for specifying the
work processes related to each of the parts and the units which are
included in the selected furniture are successively read out of the
manufacturing process information table, to produce a temporary
file as shown in FIG. 97 (step 162).
[0577] In the temporary file, the name of furniture, parts (units),
a line number, work processes (including termination of work and a
destination of coupling), and the order of processes are indicated
by codes. Data stored in the temporary file are manufacturing
process data related to the selected furniture. The manufacturing
process drawing as shown in FIG. 85 is produced on the basis of the
temporary file (step 163). The produced manufacturing process
drawing is displayed on the display screen, or is printed out.
[0578] As for the manufacturing process drawing shown in FIG. 94,
the manufacturing process drawing can be used as a schedule in a
case where a cabinet with drawers (including a door leaf (solid
board), a door pull (front panel), a drawer (box), a unit, a
parting board/shelf board, and a plinth) has been manufactured and
even delivered in seven days (the first day is used for confirming
the progress of work).
[0579] In a manufacturing process drawing to be produced, work
processes (contents of work) are arranged such that the same work
processes included in work processing of different units and parts
(e.g., "cutting") are carried out on the same date (e.g., on the
second day). The furniture is manufactured (the units and the parts
are processed) on the basis of such a manufacturing process
drawing, thereby making it possible to efficiently manufacture the
completed furniture in a furniture manufacturing factory or the
like.
7 Instruction Manual Production Processing
[0580] FIG. 98 illustrates the electrical configuration of a
furniture design support system (a computer system) comprising
instruction manual data used for producing an instruction manual.
The furniture design support system differs from the furniture
design support system shown in FIG. 9 in that instruction manual
data is added to the HD unit 16 (HD) (indicated by reference
character 25B). The other hardware configuration and programs and
data which are stored in the HD are the same as those shown in FIG.
9. It goes without saying that the above-mentioned manufacturing
process data can be further stored in the HD. In this case, the
computer system can perform both the above-mentioned manufacturing
process drawing production processing and instruction manual
production processing, next described.
[0581] The furniture design data provided by the furniture design
support system includes data representing the structure (kind), the
position (arrangement), the size, and the material of each of units
and parts included in furniture (completed furniture), the name of
the furniture, etc., as described above. In the instruction manual
production processing, data stored in an instruction manual table,
a text data table, and an image data table, described below, and
the above-mentioned furniture design data are used, to produce an
instruction manual for the furniture. The instruction manual
production processing is basically processing for inserting
(incorporating), on the basis of data representing the basic
structure (model) of the instruction manual stored in the
instruction manual table, text data stored in the text data table,
furniture design data, and image data stored in the image data
table into the position of a predetermined blank field of the
model, to produce the instruction manual. FIGS. 99 to 104
illustrate examples of the instruction manual produced by the
furniture design support system. FIG. 99 (the cover of the
instruction manual) shows how the text data stored in the test data
table, the furniture design data, and the image data stored in the
image data table are inserted (incorporated) into the position of
the blank field in the basic structure of the instruction manual. A
portion denoted by each of reference characters 170a to 170m (a
portion enclosed by a one-dot and dash line) is a portion
represented by the inserted data (the inserted portion (the one-dot
and dash line) is omitted in FIGS. 100 to 104).
[0582] FIG. 105, FIG. 106, and FIG. 107 respectively illustrate an
example of the instruction manual table, an example of the text
data table, and an example of the image data table. Data
respectively stored in the tables are used, to produce instruction
manual data representing an instruction manual.
[0583] The instruction manual table (FIG. 105) stores data
respectively related to an output item, output conditions, parts, a
format 1, a format 2, the type of output data, and the contents of
explanation.
[0584] "Output item" stores any of items in the instruction manual
(display, cautions, before-use cautions, and a using method).
"Output" is herein used in the sense that the furniture design data
or the data stored in the text data table or the image data table
is used (inserted or incorporated) for the instruction manual (for
the instruction manual data) to be produced.
[0585] "Output conditions" stores the presence or absence of
conditions (no conditions or conditions) for judging whether or not
the text (text data) stored in the text data table, described
later, is unconditionally outputted (included in the instruction
manual) or is outputted depending on the furniture or the unit.
[0586] "Part" stores the name of a part whose instruction manual is
required. "Furniture name" stores the name of completed furniture
whose instruction manual is to be produced.
[0587] "Format 1" and "format 2" respectively store data for
defining page eject, the number of lines, etc., and data for
defining a font, a font size, a display scale, etc.
[0588] "Output data type" indicates which of text data, image data,
and output data (rendering data) related to an application program
(another software, for example, CAD software) is to be outputted
(included in the instruction manual).
[0589] "Explanation content code" stores a code representing the
contents of explanation. By "explanation content code", the text
data table (FIG. 106) and the image data table (FIG. 107),
described later, are linked to the instruction manual table (FIG.
105).
[0590] The text data table (FIG. 106) stores a code and instruction
manual text data corresponding to the code. The image data table
(FIG. 107) stores a code and instruction manual image data
corresponding to the code.
[0591] FIG. 108 is a flow chart showing the flow of instruction
manual production processing. The instruction manual production
processing can be positioned as a part of the function of the
above-mentioned furniture design support program, or can be also
positioned as a separate program which is operated utilizing the
furniture design data produced by the furniture design support
system. In this case, a program for the instruction manual
production processing is previously stored (installed) in the HD
unit 16 (HD).
[0592] First, start processing of the instruction manual production
processing (e.g., execution of the program for instruction manual
production processing) and selection of furniture whose instruction
manual is to be produced are performed (step 171).
[0593] In the instruction manual production processing, an
instruction manual to be produced, starting at the first page
(cover). First, the cover (the first page) is produced.
[0594] Referring to FIG. 99, the name of furniture is outputted
(inserted or incorporated) (step 172). The name of the furniture is
inserted into a portion indicated by reference character 170a. The
font, the font size, etc. of characters to be used conform to the
data stored in the instruction manual table (FIG. 105).
[0595] A rendering drawing of completed furniture is then outputted
(step 173). The furniture design data is used to display the
rendering drawing in portions denoted by reference character 170b
and reference character 170c.
[0596] A cover model sentence is outputted (step 174). Text data
representing the cover model sentence is read out and is outputted
in accordance with the column "explanation content code" of the
instruction manual table (FIG. 105) from the text data table (FIG.
106) to a potion denoted by reference character 170d.
[0597] A spec table is outputted (step 175). The furniture design
data is used to respectively display the name of a product (the
name of furniture), a country of production, a size, etc. in
portions denoted by reference characters 170e to 1701 (it goes
without saying that all data for producing the spec table are
previously stored in the furniture design data).
[0598] A serial number is adopted and is outputted to a portion
denoted by reference character 170m (step 176). The serial number
is a serial number assigned for each furniture.
[0599] By the foregoing processing, data representing the cover
(the first page) of the instruction manual for a space-saving
closet is completed.
[0600] In the same manner, data respectively representing a caution
page (FIGS. 100 and 101), a before-use caution page (FIG. 102), and
a using method explanation page (FIGS. 103 and 104) are
produced.
[0601] As for the caution page, a model sentence is outputted (step
177), and cautions concerning parts included in the furniture whose
instruction manual is to be produced are outputted (step 178). The
program for instruction manual production processing is for
performing retrieval on the basis of the furniture design data as
to whether or not the part whose cautions should be outputted is
included in the furniture whose instruction manual is to be
produced, to read out and output cautions concerning the part from
the text data table (FIG. 106) when the part is included in the
furniture. When the furniture includes two or more identical parts
whose cautions should be outputted, the cautions concerning only
one of the parts are outputted (the identical cautions are not
outputted).
[0602] As for the before-use caution page (FIG. 102), a model
sentence is outputted (step 179), and a rendering drawing is
outputted (step 180). In the outputted rendering drawing, the name
of a main part, together with a leader line, is displayed (data
related to the name of the part displayed in the rendering drawing
is also previously included in the furniture design data or the
instruction manual data).
[0603] A program for the instruction manual production processing
is for performing retrieval as to whether or not the part whose
before-use cautions should be outputted is included in the
furniture whose instruction manual is to be produced, to read out
and output the before-use cautions concerning the part from the
text data table (FIG. 106) and to read out and output the image
data from the image data table (FIG. 107) when the part is included
in the furniture (step 181).
[0604] As for the using method explanation page (FIGS. 103 and
104), retrieval is performed as to whether or not the part whose
descriptive text or descriptive image should be outputted is
included in the furniture, to read out and output data representing
the descriptive text for a using method concerning the part from
the text data table (FIG. 106) and to read out and output the image
data from the image data table (FIG. 107) when the part is included
in the furniture (step 182). When the furniture includes two or
more identical parts whose descriptive text or descriptive image
should be outputted, the descriptive text or descriptive image
concerning one of the parts is outputted.
[0605] An instruction manual for furniture (completed furniture) is
thus produced in accordance with instruction manual data. In
accordance with the type of part included in the furniture, for
example, text data and image data which are adapted to the type of
the part are read out (outputted). Accordingly, as for each type of
furniture, an instruction manual for the furniture can be produced.
The produced instruction manual is displayed on the display screen
or is printed out.
8 Furniture Design Support System Utilizing Network
[0606] In the above-mentioned furniture design support system, a
furniture design support program installed in the computer system
and various types of tables are used, for an operator or a customer
to select units and parts and enter the sizes, for example, to
assemble completed furniture (to produce data representing the
completed furniture). Data respectively related to a plurality of
kinds (types) of completed furniture of a basic type may be
prepared, for the customer to change data related to the completed
furniture of a basic type. Another computer connected through a
network can be caused to produce a rendering drawing of the
completed furniture.
[0607] FIG. 108 illustrates the overall configuration of a
furniture design support system utilizing a network.
[0608] The furniture design support system comprises a server
computer 302 and a plurality of client computers 303 which are
connected to one another through a network 301. In the present
embodiment, the server computer 302 shall be under the management
of a provider of the furniture design support system. The client
computer 303 shall be under the management of a user utilizing
programs and data which are provided by the provider of the
furniture design support system.
[0609] The server computer 302 and the client computer 303 are
respectively computer systems (personal computers, work stations,
etc.) each including a storage device storing programs, data, etc.
and a transmitter-receiver for transmitting and receiving the
programs, the data, etc. through the network 301, an input device
for inputting the data or the like, and a display device for
displaying the data, etc. The network 301 includes both a public
line (the Internet, etc.) and a leased line which are provided
between the computer systems. Facilities and devices (a CATV
facility, a broadcasting satellite, a communication satellite,
etc.) used in the lines are also included in the network 301. The
storage device in each of the server computer 302 and the client
computer 303 stores a communication program used for transmitting
and receiving data or the like. When the network 301 is the
Internet, a browser can be used as the communication program
provided in the client computer 303.
[0610] The client computer 303 comprises a CD-ROM 304 previously
distributed from the provider of the furniture design support
system. The contents of the programs and the data which are
recorded on the CD-ROM 304 are shown in FIG. 110.
[0611] The programs and the data which are recorded on the CD-ROM
304 are basically executed in cooperation with the browser
previously prepared in the client computer 303. On the CD-ROM 304,
a start window (HTML data; HyperText Markup Language), sample image
data (jpg data, etc.) related to furniture and parts, an auto
demonstration program, link data (URL; Uniform Resource Locator), a
new user registration/authentication window (HTML data), and a
furniture design support system introduction window (HTML data) are
recorded.
[0612] A part or the whole of the above-mentioned furniture design
support program may be recoded on the CD-ROM 304. In this case, the
furniture design support program recorded on the CD-ROM 304 is
installed in the client computer 303, so that the client computer
303 operates as the furniture design support system (FIGS. 8, 92,
and 98) in a stand-alone manner. When a part of the furniture
design support program is recorded, the client computer 303
executes only a part of the function of the above-mentioned
furniture design support system (restriction of the function).
[0613] An example of a window (a start window) displayed on the
display screen when the start window data (HTML data) recorded on
the CD-ROM 304 is read in the client computer 303 in which the
browser is started is illustrated in FIG. 111.
[0614] The start window W41 includes an image display area. An area
41a in which sample images respectively related to a plurality of
pieces of completed furniture are displayed is included on the left
side of the image display area. An area W41b in which the sample
image related to the completed furniture selected in the left area
W41a is displayed in enlarged fashion is included on the right side
of the image display area. The sample image related to the
completed furniture displayed in the area W41a and the area 41b is
based on the image data recorded on the CD-ROM 304. Further, the
following buttons are included on the left side of the start window
W41.
[0615] "Home" button: clicked when a page in which information
related to the provider of the furniture design support system is
registered is displayed on the display screen. The URL is described
therein.
[0616] "Demonstrate" button: clicked when it is demonstrated how
the completed furniture represented by the sample image is
subjected to size change, color change, or the like. When the
"demonstrate" button is clicked, the auto demonstration program
recorded on the CD-ROM 304 is executed.
[0617] "Register" button: clicked when user
registration/authentication is performed. FIG. 112 illustrates an
example of a user registration/authentication window W42. When the
"register" button is clicked, the user registration/authentication
window W42 appears on the display screen.
[0618] The user registration/authentication window W42 includes an
area W42a in which a user ID and a password are entered, and an
area W42b in which selection of a service, a company/division, a
name, an address, a telephone number, a facsimile number, and an
e-mail address are entered. A person who performs user registration
(new registration) enters data into the area 42b. The entered data
are transmitted to the server computer 302 through the network 301.
The server computer 302 issues (produces) a user ID and a password
for specifying a user who has transmitted the data, and notifies
the user of the user ID and the password. Thereafter, the user
enters the user ID and the password of which the user is notified
into the area W42a when the client computer 303 is connected to the
server computer 302.
[0619] "About" button: clicked when the introduction of the
function of the furniture design support system is displayed on the
display screen. The introduction of the function of the furniture
design support system is displayed on the display screen by
characters (a sentence) and an image on the basis of instruction
data recorded on the CD-ROM 304.
[0620] "End" button: clicked when the start window is erased from
the display screen.
[0621] The user of the client computer 303 can change the size and
the color, for example, of the completed furniture represented by
the sample image by utilizing the server computer 302. FIG. 113 is
a flow chart showing an example of the flow of processing of the
server computer 302 and processing of the client computer 303 in
the furniture design support system utilizing the network 301.
[0622] The user of the client computer 303 starts the CD-ROM 304,
to display the user registration/authentication window W42 on the
display screen and enter the user ID and the password (step 311).
The user ID and the password are transmitted to the server computer
302 from the client computer 303.
[0623] The server computer 302 authenticates the user on the basis
of the user ID and the password which have been received. When the
authentication has succeeded, data representing a main page is
transmitted to the client computer 303 (step 312). A main page W43
is displayed on the display screen of the client computer 303 (step
313, FIG. 114).
[0624] The main page W43 is basically the same as the
above-mentioned start window W41 (FIG. 111). The number of sample
images displayed in the area W43a may be larger than the number of
sample images displayed on the basis of the CD-ROM 304.
[0625] The main page W41 displayed on the client computer 303 may
be produced in the server computer 302 on the basis of a
transmission request (entry of the user ID and the password) from
the client computer 303, or may be previously produced and held in
the server computer 302. The main page W41 can be represented by
HTML data (an HTML file) (displayed on the display screen of the
client computer 303). In any case, the server computer 302
temporarily stores, when it is accessed from the client computer
303, the HTML data for displaying the main page W41 in a
transmission buffer in a memory. The HTML data stored in the
transmission buffer is downloaded by the client computer 303. In
the client computer 303, the window (the main page W41) based on
the downloaded HTML data is displayed. The same is true for the
other page, described later.
[0626] A "home" button, a "step 2" button, a "step 3" button, a
"register" button, and an "about" button are included on the left
side of the main page W43. The "home" button, the "register"
button, and the "about" button are the same as those in the start
window W41.
[0627] The "step 2" button is clicked when the sample image
(completed furniture) is subjected to size change, part change, or
color change. The "step 3" button is clicked when a rendering
drawing is to be displayed.
[0628] When any one of the sample images (images representing
completed furniture) is selected in the main page W43, an image
representing the selected completed furniture is displayed in
enlarged fashion in an area W43b. When the "step 2" button is
clicked herein, a custom page concerning the selected completed
furniture is transmitted to the client computer 303 from the server
computer 302 (steps 315 and 316, FIG. 115).
[0629] A custom page W44 (FIG. 115) includes an area W44a for
displaying a drawing representing the structure and the size of
selected completed furniture and an area W44b for inputting the
size, parts, the color of selected furniture, and inputting the
name of the furniture.
[0630] The user can change the size, the parts, and the color of
the selected completed furniture using the custom page W44 (step
317).
[0631] When the "step 3" button is clicked (step 318), data
representing the changed values (the size, the parts, and the
color) (hereinafter referred to as change data) are transmitted to
the server computer 302 from the client computer 303. In the server
computer 302 which has received the change data, processing for
producing a rendering page to be transmitted to the client computer
303 is performed (step 319).
[0632] FIG. 117 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing for
producing the rendering page in the server computer 302.
[0633] The server computer 302 comprises furniture design data
related to a sample image (the same data as the above-mentioned
furniture design data 25), and further comprises a rendering engine
(a program), an assembling engine (a program), and an estimation
engine (a program). The assembling engine is used on the basis of
the change data, so that the furniture (furniture design data) is
changed (step 331).
[0634] Rendering processing is subsequently performed by the
rendering engine on the basis of the furniture design data which
has been changed (step 333). Data representing a rendering drawing
is produced.
[0635] Furthermore, the cost of the furniture (completed furniture)
is calculated from parts included in the furniture and the sizes of
the parts by the estimation engine on the basis of the furniture
design data which has been changed (step 334).
[0636] The server computer 302 produces data representing a
rendering page including the furniture design data obtained by the
assembling engine, the data representing the rendering drawing
obtained by the rendering engine, and data representing the cost of
the furniture obtained by the estimation engine, and transmits the
data to the client computer 303 (step 320).
[0637] A rendering page W45 (FIG. 116) includes an area W45a where
a rendering drawing of the furniture on which the size, the parts,
and the color which have been changed using the above-mentioned
custom page W42 are reflected is displayed. A drawing (a design
drawing) representing the changed size and structure of the
furniture and a spec table (a date, a size, a material, a color,
painting, equipment, cost) are respectively displayed at the upper
right of the area W45a and the lower right of the area W45a.
[0638] The rendering page W45 includes a "determine" button. When
the "determine" button is clicked, the change data (the furniture
design data after the change) is stored in a database in the server
computer 302 (steps 321 and 322). Furniture design data related to
furniture having the changed size, parts, and color is transmitted
toward a furniture manufacturing workshop or the like from the
server computer 302 (may be delivered by a drawing or the like).
The furniture having the changed size, parts, and color is
manufactured in the furniture manufacturing workshop.
[0639] The furniture design data related to the completed furniture
having a basic structure (and an image representing the completed
furniture) are thus previously prepared, thereby making it possible
to relatively easily design furniture having a liked structure,
color, etc. only by changing a portion thereof. Liked furniture can
be designed and ordered with ease. Further, the production of an
image and a drawing representing the furniture, including the
rendering processing, is performed on the side of the server
computer 302. Accordingly, the processing load on the client
computer 303 is light.
[0640] In the furniture design support system utilizing the
above-mentioned network, the furniture design data related to the
completed furniture is previously prepared, and the size data or
the like in the furniture design data is changed, thereby producing
the furniture design data related to the furniture of a size, etc.
liked by the user. Of course, a system so adapted that the
furniture design data related to the completed furniture previously
prepared can be changed may be realized as a stand-alone computer
system. Conversely, the above-mentioned stand-alone furniture
design support system (a system for producing furniture design data
according to the selection of units) may be also established
utilizing the network. Further, the user may be caused to produce
the furniture design data by previously preparing furniture design
data in a state where units and basic parts are combined and
further combining parts liked by the user with the furniture design
data (or replacing the parts).
* * * * *