JP2002109314A - Design panel manufacturing and selling method using communication means - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct a method for manufacturing and selling the decoration panel of a custom-made system which responds fully to a customer's desire, and to provide a method for manufacturing and selling the decoration panel by a communication means, whose target range is not only domestic but also the whole world. SOLUTION: Image data and its collateral customer desire are obtained from an unspecified majority of customers via an information communicating means 1, the image data is converted and/or made into two-dimensional or three-dimensional data, that can be subjected to automatic machine grinding or cutting with an NC machine tool 15, a three-dimensional image having excellent design is engraved on the surface layer part of a grindable object, on the basis of the converted and/or generated data, a decoration panel corresponding one-to-one to the customer's desire is manufactured, and the decoration panel is delivered to the customer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for obtaining image data from an unspecified customer via information communication means such as the Internet, converting the information into CAD / CAM data, and / or generating the data. A method of manufacturing and selling a design panel using communication means for producing a design panel corresponding to a customer's request one-to-one by automatically grinding or cutting using an NC machine tool. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many materials such as metal, wood, plastic, ceramics and the like have been used as materials for decorative panels (hereinafter also referred to as decorative panels or panels). For example, a mass production system in which priority is given to reduction of manufacturing cost in which a position as a manufacturer, for example, a manufacturer is prioritized, is dominant. For this reason, the panels made of the above-described materials are manufactured by the following methods. First, when the material of the panel is metal, the metal is hard and difficult to cut, so that a method of casting a panel by producing a mold without performing three-dimensional engraving is often adopted.
Therefore, since the cost of manufacturing the mold is high, many products are manufactured using the same mold, and the manufacturing cost per panel is reduced. When the material of the panel is ceramic, the ceramic is a baked product and thus is easily chipped, and it is difficult to obtain dimensional accuracy and the like by shaving. Therefore, the main method is a method of manufacturing a panel by patterning the surface of a flat ceramic with glaze. Further, when the material of the panel is wood, the wood is most easily shaved, so that many panels are designed in consideration of design. Therefore, for example, carvings having various designs are made on the surface of a tray or the like, and panels with many paint finishes are manufactured.

[0003]

However, when the above-mentioned conventional mass production method is applied to a small production method for individual customers (consumers), the following problems arise. is there. (1) Since the dimensions of the panel are set to several types in advance by the manufacturer, they cannot be freely determined as desired by the customer. (2) The patterns (three-dimensional patterns) engraved on the panel
Since several types are set in advance by the manufacturer, it is not possible to engrave a pattern or the like desired by the customer. (3) Since several colors and surface finishes (for example, plating, painting, etc.) of the panel are set in advance by the manufacturer, it is not possible to specify the color and surface finish desired by the customer. (4) When manufacturing panels, the number of panels to be manufactured is preset by the manufacturer in consideration of manufacturing costs and the like, so that the customer cannot freely limit the amount of production. Even if the above-mentioned (1) to (4) are possible, it takes a lot of time and effort to determine the specifications of the panel and the like, and it becomes a very expensive product, which is a general product. Absent.

[0004] Here, even if the panel is manufactured in view of the fact that it takes a lot of time and effort to determine the specifications of the panel, etc., and that it is a very expensive product, there are the following problems. (5) When the manufacturer and the customer are geographically distant from each other, it is not possible to smoothly exchange information such as a decision to use a panel. (6) Before manufacturing the panel, the customer cannot confirm the product image with the image, and the completed panel may be different from the customer's product image. (7) When reproducing a panel, data at the time of manufacture is not uniform, and the reproducibility of a completed panel is poor.

That is, at present, in order to obtain a panel satisfying the customer, the customer must select from a limited variety of panels produced by the manufacturer. Therefore, most of the selection methods of the customer's panel are based on the preference and the economic condition of the customer. in this way,
Applying the conventional mass production system to a small-scale production system that can reflect customer preferences to the maximum, which can be said to be a completely custom-made system, involves a great many problems and has not yet been realized. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims at constructing a method of manufacturing and selling a decorative panel of a custom-made system that can completely respond to a customer's request. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing and selling a design panel using communication means intended for a panel.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing and selling a design panel using communication means according to the present invention, comprising the steps of receiving image data and its attendant data from an unspecified number of customers via information communication means. Acquires customer requests and converts image data to NC
It is converted and / or created into two-dimensional or three-dimensional data that can be automatically machined or cut by a machine tool, converted and / or converted.
Alternatively, a 3D image with excellent design can be engraved on the surface layer of a grindable object based on the created data,
Manufactures decorative panels that correspond one-to-one and delivers them to customers. The decorative panel here does not indicate a specific product, but indicates a series of products having a three-dimensional pattern on the surface of a plate-like substance and having excellent design properties. Specific examples of the image may include a wide variety of tiles used in bathrooms and entrances, materials for outer or inner walls of buildings, exterior materials of furniture, various decorations, decorative plates of various boxes, and the like. As a result, the manufacturer can respond 100% to individual tastes, and can manufacture and sell panels that completely reflect the individual's intentions. Therefore, it is possible for a manufacturer to obtain a panel that only one person has in the world without having to select a desired panel from mass-produced panels as in the past. It is possible to manufacture and sell a decorative panel having an excellent design with an extremely high degree of satisfaction.
Here, in the method for manufacturing and selling a decorative panel using the communication means according to the present invention, it is preferable that the decorative panel on which the three-dimensional image is engraved is further subjected to a final finish by plating or painting. This makes it possible to manufacture and sell a decorative panel having an excellent appearance suitable for the installation location and installation environment of the panel.

[0007] A customer for a company (hereinafter, also referred to as a maker) as referred to herein means a person who is currently globalized and exists all over the world. In particular, house building materials,
Individual customers, such as decorative decorative panels used for various purposes,
Or if you're dealing with a small business owner who runs a private store, your customers will be hundreds of millions worldwide. For this reason, an infrastructure has been prepared that enables global business expansion as a way to efficiently conduct business with these unspecified large numbers of customers scattered around the world (unknown or known customers). .

That is, in the present invention, the work of panel production is started by obtaining the original design created by the customer from the customer via the information communication means. When a customer builds or renovates (eg, renovates) their home,
For example, we have a request to equip wall boards, bathroom tiles, kitchen fixtures, etc. with original designs with design properties that match our tastes, and provide information on what kind of design panels we want to make, The service is provided to companies via information and communication means.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. Here, FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a communication device used in a method of manufacturing and selling a design panel using a communication unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing manufacturing and sales of a design panel using the communication unit. 3 is a front view of the design panel according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the design panel according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a communication device 10 used in a method of manufacturing and selling a design panel using communication means according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided by an unspecified number of customers (not shown). Internet 1 as an example of information communication means
1 to make it possible to obtain image data and its accompanying customer requests. Therefore, the communication device 10
Has a server 12 that is a computer that provides a service, and a client 13 that is a computer that uses a service provided by the server 12. The server 12 and the client 13 include a display (not shown) for displaying images and data,
A keyboard (not shown) for inputting data to the computer and performing various operations; and a server 12 and a client 13 are connected to the Internet 11
It can be connected via a. The server 12 includes a database unit 14 for storing information necessary for manufacturing and selling panels to be provided to customers, original data for panel production provided by customers, and the like. Then, the server 12 converts the image data sent from the client 13 via the Internet 11 into
2D or 3D capable of automatic mechanical grinding or cutting by NC (Numerical Control) machine tool 15
Data processing unit 16 that converts and / or creates dimensional data
have. Further, the server 12 includes the data processing unit 1
6 is connected to an NC machine tool 15 for engraving a surface layer portion of a panel raw material, which is an example of a grindable object, based on the data converted and / or created by 6. The details will be described below.

The database unit 14 is a client 1
3 is a section for storing, for example, a homepage on which information necessary for manufacturing and selling panels to be provided via the Internet 11 to customers using the Internet 3 is stored. In addition, the database unit 14 manufactures and sells panel data such as original data for panel production transmitted from the client 13, that is, image data of an original design, incidental customer requests (external conditions) relating to the panel, and customer personal information. This is a part that also stores information from the customer necessary for the information. Here, the image data means an image (original design) processed into a panel captured by a digital camera. Therefore,
As the image data, it is preferable to use an image photographed by a digital camera with as many pixels as possible, but in some cases, an image created by a scanner or the like may be used. In addition, incidental customer requests include panel size,
Information necessary for panel production, such as shape, material, color, design style of the entire panel, surface finishing method, etc. And
The customer's personal information is the customer's address, name, telephone number, age, gender, occupation, and the like. It is preferable that the type of information necessary for manufacturing and selling panels is registered in advance by a contract company (a company that handles panels).

The data processing section 16 forms a three-dimensional three-dimensional image on the surface layer of the panel raw material which is the main object of the present invention,
In order to manufacture a panel having excellent design properties, image data that is two-dimensional information (bitmap information) is converted into two-dimensional or three-dimensional CAD (Computer Aided Design).
n) / CAM (Computer Aided Man)
ufacturing) data and / or create it. Here, two-dimensional or three-dimensional CAD / C
Conversion to AM data means converting an aggregate of point information of image data into line or surface information.
Then, based on the converted and / or created data, the data processing section 16 adds 3 to the surface layer of the panel raw material.
The three-dimensional statue is converted into NC data to be automatically processed by the NC machine tool 15.

However, at present, there is no software for converting two-dimensional information, which is image data of a digital camera, into CAD / CAM data, and special design capability is required. Therefore, CAD /
Since it is converted to CAM data, there are many factors that involve human judgment. In extreme cases, information obtained by adding additional customer requests for panels to digital camera images as necessary And CAD / CA
M data is newly created. However,
Since the image data of a digital camera gives the positions of the main points when lines and surfaces are created, it is a powerful information source for converting and / or creating image data into CAD / CAM data. Becomes The NC machine tool 15 is a conventionally known machine tool controlled by NC, controlled by numerical information and a servo mechanism,
This is a powerful processing machine that can improve processing accuracy and ensure quality uniformity and does not require skilled work, and is widely used in the industrial world. The use of the NC machine tool 15 enables automatic operation of panel processing regardless of day and night, and enables a required number of panels having the same shape to be manufactured with good reproducibility.

Next, a method of manufacturing and selling a design panel using the communication means according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A method for manufacturing and selling a design panel using communication means according to one embodiment of the present invention is to obtain image data and its accompanying customer requests from an unspecified number of customers via the Internet 11. . Then, the image data is converted and / or created into two-dimensional or three-dimensional data that can be automatically machined or cut by the NC machine tool 15,
Based on the converted and / or created data, a 3D image with excellent design is engraved on the surface layer of the panel raw material that can be ground to produce decorative panels that meet customer needs on a one-to-one basis. This is a method of delivering decorative panels to the country. The details will be described below.

First, in step 1 (ST1), the customer searches the homepage for panel production by using the client 13, and sends it to the server 1 via the Internet 11.
From step 2, information for panel production is obtained. Next, in step 2 (ST2), the customer uses a digital camera or a scanner to image the customer's favorite original designs, such as landscapes, people, animals, flowers, abstract paintings, and vehicles, which are engraved on the panel. The data is taken into the client 13 as data. At this time, in step 3 (ST3),
Additional customer requests regarding panels, personal information of customers, etc.
Input to the client 13 using the keyboard. Here, the customer confirms the image data of the original design projected on the display and the incidental customer requests, etc., and performs a change process as necessary, thereby completing the image of the panel preferred by the customer.

When the change processing is completed, step 4 (ST)
4) The image data of the completed original design,
Original data including incidental customer requests regarding the panel, customer personal information, and the like are created. The original data created in Step 4 is stored in Step 5 (S
At T5), the data is transmitted to the server 12 installed by the manufacturer of the panel via the Internet 11 within a short time. The image data of the original design may be transmitted from the client 13 to the server 12 via an e-mail which is an example of information communication means. As a result, the manufacturer can obtain original data for manufacturing and selling panels that correspond one-to-one to customer requests, and store the original data in the database unit 14 of the server 12.

In step 6 (ST6), the server 12 uses the data processing unit 16 to execute, for example, two-dimensional image data transmitted from the client 13 stored in the database unit 14 and to perform a human judgment. Intervene and convert and / or create 2D or 3D CAD / CAM data. Thereby, step 7 (ST
In 7), the maker makes a design image of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional panel product, for example, a virtual reality image (VR).
Image). In step 8 (ST8), the design image created in step 7 is again
Is transmitted to the client 13 of the customer and displayed on the display of the client 13. Step 9
In (ST9), the customer confirms the design image, and if it is not good, performs the modification work of the panel design image in step 10 (ST10), and repeats the operation from step 5, that is, the customer and the maker perform a plurality of times. To create a final panel design image.

If the customer confirms and approves the design image, the final panel design image is determined in step 11 (ST11). Next, step 12 (ST1)
In 2), the server 12 uses the two-dimensional or three-dimensional CAD / CAM data of the final panel design image,
The data processing unit 16 converts the data into NC data for automatic operation of the NC machine tool 15 using a conventionally known method. Then, in step 13 (ST13), the panel raw material having the material desired by the customer is set in the NC machine tool 15, and the NC machine tool 15 is operated based on the NC data to process the panel, that is, to process the panel raw material. A three-dimensional image is engraved on the surface layer. As described above, if the NC data is prepared, the panel processing can be automatically operated day and night, and the required number of panels having the same shape can be manufactured with good reproducibility.

When the maker saves the created NC data and the customer's personal information in a storage means such as a disk, if the customer requests additional manufacturing of the panel, the customer prepares the image data again. Panel can be instantaneously manufactured from the stored NC data without performing the operation. Further, it is preferable that the panel in which the three-dimensional image is engraved has a final finish by plating or painting applied to the surface of the required portion in accordance with the customer's request and intended use. This makes it possible to produce panel products having better design properties. The product of the completed panel is delivered to an unspecified number of customers based on the customer's personal information stored in the database unit 14.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which a decorative panel is manufactured by applying a method of manufacturing and selling a design panel using communication means according to the present invention will be described. (Example 1) A customer in Japan requested that a wooden carved decorative panel be produced based on a commemorative photograph of a trip to the United States. As shown in FIG.
He wants to engrave a commemorative photographic image that is elliptical with respect to the central part 19 of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped panel raw material 17 of 300 mm in length, 300 mm in length, and 500 mm in width, while leaving the outer edge 18 of the panel raw material 17 as it is. It was the content (customer request). The commemorative photo was taken with a digital camera of 2.1 million pixels, and was sent from the customer to the manufacturer together with the customer's request using e-mail, which is an example of information communication means.

Based on the image data of the commemorative photograph, three-dimensional CAD (Solid Works 2000: trade name)
The image data is dropped into the 3
Dimensional CAD data was created. The three-dimensionalization of a two-dimensional image is formed by a mixture of elements that can be determined rationally and subjective elements (artistic) of a CAD operator. CA
D data is converted to CAM data, and the makeup panel is NC
Before being machined by the machine tool 15, the customer was provided with the expected finish diagram on the Internet 11 to check the specifications.
After obtaining the customer's consent, the NC machine tool 15 was used to engrave a three-dimensional image equivalent to a commemorative photograph of the customer's request on the elliptical contour shape line 20 and the inside, that is, the central portion 19. Since the material of the panel raw material 17 was wood, simple processing was performed in a short time. Outside the elliptical contour shape line 20, that is, the outer edge 1
8 has a dark brown satin finish, the elliptical contour line 20 has a golden color, and the statue of the central portion 19 has a white gloss paint finish. This product is used as a wall hanging (decoration) indoors.

(Example 2) An order was received from a US customer for a panel in which a large bronze panel was made, and an emblem of a football team was engraved on the surface of the panel. As shown in FIG. 4, the image of the digital camera of the emblem has been sent by e-mail with the shape of the large panel. We had several meetings with the customer to confirm the original design by e-mail, and we started making large panels.

An elliptical special panel 21 was cut out from a 10 mm thick bronze plate panel raw material as an integral body. The center of the special panel 21, that is, the circular sculpture portion 22 (inside of the dotted line) has the NC machine tool 15 based on the NC data obtained by converting the San Francisco 49ers emblem based on the CAD / CAM data.
The special panel 21 engraved using was manufactured. After smoothing the surface of the special panel 21 after shaving,
Cu: 20 μ outside the dotted line, that is, except for the engraved portion 22
Bright plating of m, Ni: 10 μm, and Cr: 0.3 μm was performed, and the part where the emblem was cut was finished to a matte-like matte (milky white) appearance.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be considered within the scope of the claims. Other embodiments and modifications are also included. For example, in the above embodiment, the customer
When inputting original design image data and incidental customer requests related to the panel to the client, and confirming the original design image data and incidental customer requests projected on the display, and completing the image of the panel preferred by the customer Was shown. However, the image data of the original design and the incidental customer request are combined by incorporating a program capable of displaying a panel completion expectation (schematic) diagram based on the image data and the incidental customer request in advance in the database unit. It is also possible for the image to be displayed on the display. As a result, the customer can reproduce the imaged panel more faithfully.

[0025]

According to the method for manufacturing and selling a design panel using the communication means according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the manufacturer, for example, the manufacturer, can respond 100% to the individual's personal preference, and completely complete the personal It will be possible to manufacture and sell panels with the intention. This allows customers to obtain a panel that they have only one person in the world without having to select the panel they want from mass-produced panels as before, It is possible to manufacture and sell decorative panels with excellent design that have extremely high customer satisfaction. Therefore, the manufacturer can develop a completely new method of manufacturing and selling decorative panels excellent in economic efficiency and workability, and can sell the products not only in Japan but also all over the world. Also, customers
Since the user can easily obtain a panel that meets his or her requirements, it is possible to enjoy maximum satisfaction. In particular,
According to the method for manufacturing and selling a design panel using the communication means according to the second aspect, it is possible to manufacture and sell a decorative panel having an excellent appearance suitable for the installation location and installation environment of the panel. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture a panel that can maintain a state at the time of manufacture as compared with a panel that has not been subjected to a final finish, and can further enhance customer satisfaction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a communication device used in a method of manufacturing and selling a design panel using a communication unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram up to processing of a panel manufactured by a design panel manufacturing and selling method using the communication means.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the design panel according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a design panel according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Communication device, 11: Internet (information communication means), 12: Server, 13: Client, 14: Database unit, 15: NC machine tool, 16: Data processing unit, 17: Panel raw material, 18: Outer edge, 19 : Central part, 20: elliptical contour shape line, 21: special panel, 2
2: Sculpture part

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Reijima 2-1, Akasaka Beach, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka F-term in Ishikawa Metal Industry Co., Ltd. 5B049 BB07 CC05 CC10 FF01 GG02

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image data and its accompanying customer request are obtained from an unspecified number of customers via information communication means,
The image data is converted and / or created into two-dimensional or three-dimensional data that can be automatically machined or cut by an NC machine tool, and a surface layer of an object that can be ground based on the converted and / or created data. A communication means characterized in that a three-dimensional image with excellent design is engraved in the part, and a decorative panel corresponding to the customer's request is manufactured on a one-to-one basis, and the decorative panel is delivered to the customer. Manufacturing and sales of design panels. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said decorative panel on which said three-dimensional image is engraved is further subjected to a final finish by plating or painting. Manufacturing and sales method of design panel using communication means.