JP2003238027A - Method and device for folding-in of sheet material and sheet material - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fold-in method and device suitable for folding in a sheet material simply from two sides simultaneously into the form of a folding screen. <P>SOLUTION: In place of a conventional sheet material fold-in method in plane form put in the Cartesian X-Y-Z space, a sheet material in plane form is put in the X-Y plane, and the tips of the rear surface fold teeth are abutted from the rear surface along the Z-axis to the outside Y-line of folding while the tips of obverse surface fold teeth are abutted from the obverse surface along the Z-axis to the inside Y-line of folding, and the rear fold teeth and obverse fold teeth are moved along the X-axis so that the X-direction pitch x of the tips of the rear fold teeth and those of the obverse fold teeth becomes shorter, and the rear fold teeth or obverse fold teeth are moved along the Z-axis in the directions of biting into each other so that the Z-direction spacing z of the tips of the rear fold teeth and those of the obverse fold teeth becomes greater, wherein the Z-direction spacing z is allowed to enlarge with smaller X-direction pitch x. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for folding a thin plate material, a folding device for the thin plate material, and a thin plate material folded by the folding method. In particular, a method for folding a thin plate material from two directions simultaneously in a folding screen and a method for folding the thin plate material characterized by the structure of the device, the thin plate material folding device, and the thin plate shape folded by the folding method Regarding materials.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a folding method in which a thin plate material such as a map can be folded at the same time in the left-right direction and the up-down direction to make it compact. For example, Jitsuko Sho-2
Japanese Patent No. 5023 discloses the folding method shown in FIG.
This folding method is known as so-called "Miura folding". The thin plate material folded by "Miura folding" is
It can be expanded and contracted by a simple operation in one direction by pulling both ends of the diagonal, and even if the expansion and contraction are repeated, it is difficult for the folds to be reversed and the creases are not easily broken. On the other hand, the thin plate material folded by "Miura folding" has a characteristic that it cannot be partially expanded and contracted. When "Miura folding" is performed on an unlaminated thin plate material, it is necessary to make a crease on the entire thin plate material at the same time because of the characteristic that this partial expansion and contraction cannot be performed. Is not easy to attach. Conventionally, after making a score on a flat thin plate material by a press or the like, a crease is manually made.

[0003]

As described above, in the prior art,
There is a problem that manual work is required to fold the thin plate-shaped material into a folding screen shape from two directions at the same time, and the work efficiency is not further improved.

The present invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is suitable for easily folding a thin plate-shaped material simultaneously from two directions in a folding screen instead of the conventional method for folding a thin plate-shaped material. Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding method, a folding device using the method, and a thin plate material folded by the method.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the planar thin plate-like materials placed in the orthogonal X-Y-Z space according to the present invention are adjacent to each other when developed on the X-Y plane. Is composed of a plurality of plane areas in which sides and corners share each other, and a plane area having at least no outer peripheral edge is a parallelogram and X sides which are sides along the X axis are connected to form a straight line Y The Y sides, which are the sides along the axis, are alternately bent to form a zigzag line, and the X side repeats mountain folds and valley folds alternately along the X axis, and zigzag lines arranged along the X axis are formed. The folding method of the thin plate-like material which is alternately folded in the mountain fold and the valley fold is as follows. A thin plate-like material fixing step of placing a flat thin plate-like material on the XY plane and a Z-fold on the Y side to be mountain-folded. A mountain fold that abuts the tips of the back folding teeth along the axis And abutting step, a valley fold is the Y
The step of abutting the valley fold line to abut the tooth tip of the surface folding tooth from the surface along the Z axis to the side, and the X-axis direction pitch x between the tooth tip of the back folding tooth and the tooth tip of the front folding tooth is short. As described above, the X-axis moving step of moving the back side folding teeth and the front side folding teeth along the X axis, and increasing the Z-axis direction distance z between the back side folding tooth tips and the front side folding tooth tips. And a Z-axis moving step of moving the back side folding teeth or the front side folding teeth along the Z axis in a direction to bite each other, and the X direction pitch distance x becomes smaller as the Z axis direction interval z becomes larger.

With the above-described structure of the present invention, a flat thin plate material is placed on the XY plane in the thin plate material fixing step, and the Y side to be mountain-folded in the mountain folding line abutting step is along the Z axis. The tip of the back folding tooth is abutted from the back side, the tip of the front folding tooth is abutted from the front side along the Z axis to the Y side that is valley-folded in the valley folding line abutting step, and the back side is abutted in the X axis moving step. The back side folding tooth and the front side folding tooth are moved along the X axis so that the pitch x in the X axis direction between the tip of the folding tooth and the tip of the front side folding tooth is shortened, and the back side folding tooth is moved in the Z axis moving step. The back-side folding teeth or the front-side folding teeth are moved along the Z-axis in such a direction as to bite each other so that the Z-axis direction spacing z between the tooth tip and the tip of the front-side folding tooth is increased, and the Z-axis direction distance z is increased. As the pitch distance x in the X direction becomes smaller as Abutting the rear surface in the Y-side are Risa,
The tip of the surface-folding tooth is pressed against the Y side to be valley-folded from the surface, and each is moved along the Z axis in the direction of biting to form a mountain fold line on the Y side to be mountain-folded and valley-folded. Since a valley fold line is formed on the Y side and the back side folding tooth and the front side folding tooth are moved along the X axis so that the X axis direction pitch distance X becomes smaller as the Z axis direction interval z becomes larger, Unnecessary strain is not generated in the flat area, the flat area can be prevented from being broken, and an unintended fold can be prevented, and the intended thin plate-shaped material can be folded.

Further, according to the method of folding a thin plate-like material according to the present invention, the back side folding teeth abutted against the Y side sandwiching one plane area during the steps of the X-axis moving step and the Z-axis moving step. The relative positions in the plane of the plane area of the tooth tip of the above and the tooth tip of the front side folding tooth are not changed.
According to the configuration of the present invention, when the back folding teeth and the front folding teeth are moved along the X axis so that the X axis direction pitch distance X becomes smaller as the Z axis direction spacing z becomes larger, one plane is formed. The back-side folding teeth and the front-side folding teeth are set on the X-axis so that the relative positions of the tip of the back-side folding teeth and the tip of the front-side folding teeth abutted on the Y sides that sandwich the area do not change in the plane of the plane area. Since it is moved along, it is possible to prevent unreasonable tension and compression from occurring in the flat area, and it is possible to reliably prevent the flat area from breaking and unintentional folds. Can be folded.

Further, in the method for folding a thin plate material according to the present invention, the parallelogram has a first side having a length a along the X-axis, and the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Z-axis direction are the same. The relationship with the distance z is represented by the following first equation x ² + z ² = a ² . According to the configuration of the present invention described above, when the back side folding teeth and the front side folding teeth are moved along the X axis so that the X axis direction pitch distance X becomes smaller as the Z axis direction distance z becomes larger, Since the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Z-axis direction distance z are changed as represented by the formula, it is impossible to form a plane area of a parallelogram in which the length of the first side along the X axis is a. It is possible to surely prevent the flat area from being broken and to make an unintended crease without causing any unnecessary pulling or compression, and it is possible to fold the target thin plate-shaped material.

Further, in the method for folding the thin plate-shaped material according to the present invention, the Y-axis direction pitch distance y of the tip of the back side folding tooth and the Y-axis pitch distance y of the tip of the front side folding tooth are shortened. And a Y-axis moving step of moving the tip of the front folding tooth and the tip of the back folding tooth along the Y axis while rotating in the XY plane with rotation of the Y side. It is assumed that the Y-axis direction pitch distance y decreases as the X-axis direction pitch distance x decreases. According to the above configuration of the present invention, the surface folding is performed so that the Y-axis direction pitch distance y of the tip of the back-side folding tooth and the Y-axis pitch distance y of the tip of the front-side folding tooth are shortened in the Y-axis moving step. The tip of the tooth and the tip of the back folding tooth are moved along the Y-axis while rotating in the XY plane with the rotation of the Y side, and as the X-axis direction pitch distance x becomes smaller, Since the pitch distance y in the Y-axis direction becomes smaller, the back-side folding teeth and the front-side folding teeth are set to the X-axis and the Z-axis.
A step of folding the Y side when moving along the axis and moving the tip of the back side folding tooth and the tip of the front side folding tooth along the Y axis so that the pitch distance in the Y axis direction becomes smaller. Even if it rotates a large amount inside, it is possible to prevent the tip of the back side folding tooth and the tip of the front side folding tooth from restraining the rotation of the flat area,
It is possible to prevent the flat area from being broken or to make an unintended fold, and it is possible to fold the target thin plate-shaped material.

Further, according to the method of folding a thin plate-like material according to the present invention, the back side folding teeth arranged in the Y-axis direction during the steps of the X-axis moving step, the Y-axis moving step and the Z-axis moving step, The path length on the zigzag line of the distance between the tips of the front side folding teeth is not changed. According to the above configuration of the present invention, when the tooth tips of the back folding teeth and the tooth tips of the front folding teeth are moved along the Y axis so that the pitch distance in the Y axis direction becomes small, the back folding teeth or the front folding teeth are moved. Since the path length on the zigzag line between the tips of the teeth does not change, it is possible to prevent tension or compression in the Y-axis direction from occurring in the flat area, break the flat area, or make an unintended crease. Can be surely prevented from entering
The desired thin plate material can be folded.

Further, in the method for folding a thin plate material according to the present invention, the parallelogram has a first side having a length a and a second side having a length b along the X axis, and the first side And the intersection angle of the second side is inclined by θ degrees from the right angle, and the relationship between the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Y-axis direction pitch distance y is the following second equation By ² + A (1 / x ² ) = 1 where A = a ² sin ² θ and B = 1 / b ² are assumed. According to the above configuration of the present invention, when the tooth tips of the back side folding teeth and the tooth tips of the front side folding teeth are moved along the Y axis so that the pitch distance in the Y axis direction becomes small, Since the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Y-axis direction pitch distance y are changed as described above, it has a first side with a length a along the X axis and a second side with a length b, Unnecessary pulling or compression does not occur in the plane area of the parallelogram in which the intersection angle of the first side and the second side is inclined by θ degrees from the right angle, the plane area is broken, and unintended folds are formed. This can be reliably prevented, and the desired thin plate-shaped material can be folded.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, when a planar thin plate-like material placed in an orthogonal XYZ space according to the present invention is developed on an XY plane, adjacent ones are edges. And a corner are shared by a plurality of plane regions, and the plane region having at least no outer peripheral edge is a parallelogram and has X
The X side, which is the side along the axis, is continuous to form a straight line, and the Y side, which is the side along the Y axis, is alternately bent and connected to form a zigzag line, and the X side is alternately arranged to be a mountain fold and a valley. A folding device for a thin plate-like material that repeats folding and zigzag lines arranged along the X-axis alternately to repeat mountain folds and valley folds is a flat thin plate-like device placed on an XY plane. A back side folding tooth that abuts the tip of the material from the back side along the Z axis to the Y side of the material to be folded, and a Z to the Y side of the flat thin plate-shaped material placed on the XY plane. A front fold tooth that abuts a tooth tip from the front side along the axis, and a back fold tooth and a front fold tooth so that the X-axis direction pitch x between the tooth tip of the back fold tooth and the tooth tip of the front fold tooth becomes short. X-axis moving mechanism for moving and along the X-axis, tooth tip of back side folding tooth and tooth of front side folding tooth Z in the Z axis direction distance z bite each other back folding teeth or front folding teeth as greater orientation and
A Z-axis moving mechanism for moving along the axis,
As the axial distance z increases, the X-axis direction pitch x increases.
Will be smaller.

According to the above-mentioned structure of the present invention, the back folding teeth are X-shaped.
-A planar shape in which the tooth tips of the flat thin plate-shaped material placed on the Y plane are mountain-folded from the back side along the Z axis, and the front folding teeth are placed on the XY plane. Of the thin plate-shaped material, the tip of the tooth is abutted from the front side along the Z axis along the Y side to be valley-folded, and the X-axis moving mechanism moves the tip of the back-side folding tooth and the tip of the front-side folding tooth in the X-axis direction. The back folding tooth and the front folding tooth are moved along the X axis so that the pitch x is shortened, and the Z axis moving mechanism causes the Z axis direction interval z between the tip of the back folding tooth and the tip of the front folding tooth to be z. The back-side folding teeth or the front-side folding teeth are moved along the Z-axis in such a manner as to bite each other so as to become larger, and the X-axis direction pitch x becomes smaller as the Z-axis direction interval z becomes larger. The tooth abuts the tip of the tooth against the Y side where it is mountain-folded, and the surface-folded tooth is valley-folded at the tip. Since each side is abutted from the surface and moves along the Z axis in a direction in which each side bites, a mountain fold line is formed on the Y side to be mountain-folded, and a valley fold line is formed on the Y side to be valley-folded. Since the back-side folding teeth and the front-side folding teeth are moved along the X-axis so that the X-axis direction pitch distance X becomes smaller as the Z-axis direction spacing z becomes larger, the flat area is broken or unintended folds are generated. It is possible to prevent it from entering and to fold the target thin plate material.

Further, in the folding device for the thin plate material according to the present invention, the X-axis moving mechanism and the Z-axis moving mechanism are:
It is assumed that the tooth tips of the back side folding teeth and the tooth tips of the front side folding teeth, which are abutted on the Y sides sandwiching one plane area, operate synchronously so that the relative positions in the plane of the plane area do not change. According to the configuration of the present invention, when the back folding teeth and the front folding teeth are moved along the X axis so that the X axis direction pitch distance X becomes smaller as the Z axis direction spacing z becomes larger, one plane is formed. The back side folding tooth and the front side folding tooth are arranged on the X-axis so that the relative positions of the tip side of the back side folding tooth and the tip side of the front side folding tooth abutted on the Y side sandwiching the area do not change in the plane of the plane area. Since it moves along the surface, it is possible to prevent unreasonable tension or compression from occurring in the flat area, and it is possible to reliably prevent the flat area from being broken or unintentional creases. Can be folded.

Further, in the folding device for the thin plate material according to the present invention, the parallelogram has a first side having a length a along the X-axis, and the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Z-axis direction are provided. The relationship with the distance z is represented by the following first equation x ² + z ² = a ² . According to the configuration of the present invention described above, when the back side folding teeth and the front side folding teeth are moved along the X axis so that the X axis direction pitch distance X becomes smaller as the Z axis direction distance z becomes larger, Since the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Z-axis direction distance z are changed as represented by the formula, it is impossible to form a plane area of a parallelogram in which the length of the first side along the X axis is a. It is possible to surely prevent the flat area from being broken and to make an unintended crease without causing any unnecessary pulling or compression, and it is possible to fold the target thin plate-shaped material.

Further, in the thin plate-shaped material folding device according to the present invention, the Y-axis direction pitch distance y of the tip of the back side folding tooth and the Y-axis direction pitch distance y of the tip of the front side folding tooth are shortened. And a Y-axis moving mechanism for moving the tip of the front folding tooth and the tip of the back folding tooth along the Y axis while rotating in the XY plane as the Y side rotates. It is assumed that the Y-axis direction pitch distance y decreases as the X-axis direction pitch distance x decreases. With the configuration of the present invention described above, the surface folding teeth are arranged so that the Y-axis moving mechanism shortens the Y-axis direction pitch distance y of the tooth tips of the back side folding teeth and the Y axis direction pitch distance y of the tooth tips of the front side folding teeth. And the tip of the back-side folding tooth are moved along the Y-axis while rotating in the XY plane as the Y-side rotates, and the Y-axis becomes smaller as the X-axis direction pitch distance x decreases. Since the axial pitch distance y becomes smaller, the back folding teeth and the front folding teeth are moved along the X axis and the Z axis, and the tip ends of the back folding teeth and the front folding teeth are moved in the Y axis direction. When moving along the Y-axis so that the pitch distance becomes smaller, even if the Y-side largely rotates during the folding process, the tip of the back-side folding tooth and the tip of the front-side folding tooth rotate in a plane area. Can be prevented from binding, and the flat area can be torn or unintended creases Ukoto can be prevented, it is the folding of a thin plate-like material for the purpose.

Further, in the folding device for a thin plate material according to the present invention, the back folding teeth or the front side in which the X-axis moving mechanism, the Y-axis moving mechanism and the Z-axis moving mechanism are arranged in the Y-axis direction. The path length on the zigzag line of the distance between the tips of the folding teeth is assumed to operate synchronously so that it does not change.
According to the above configuration of the present invention, when the tooth tips of the back folding teeth and the tooth tips of the front folding teeth are moved along the Y axis so that the pitch distance in the Y axis direction becomes small, the back folding teeth or the front folding teeth are moved. Since the path length on the zigzag line between the tips of the teeth does not change, it is possible to prevent tension or compression in the Y-axis direction from occurring in the flat area, and the flat area may be torn or unintended folds may occur. Can be surely prevented from
The desired thin plate material can be folded.

Further, in the folding device for the thin plate-shaped material according to the present invention, the parallelogram has a first side having a length a and a second side having a length b along the X axis, and the first side. And the intersection angle of the second side is inclined by θ degrees from the right angle, and the relationship between the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Y-axis direction pitch distance y is the following second equation By ² + A (1 / x ² ) = 1 where A = a ² sin ² θ and B = 1 / b ² are assumed. With the above-mentioned configuration of the present invention, the tip of the back side folding tooth and the tip of the front side folding tooth are moved along the rotation of the Y side by X.
-When moving along the Y-axis so that the Y-axis direction pitch distance is reduced while rotating in the Y-plane, the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Y-axis are expressed as expressed by a second equation. Since the direction pitch distance y is changed, the length a along the X axis is
Of the parallelogram having a first side and a second side having a length b, and the intersection angle of the first side and the second side is inclined by θ degrees from a right angle. In addition, it is possible to reliably prevent the flat area from being broken or to make an unintended crease, and it is possible to fold the target thin plate-shaped material.

Further, the thin plate-shaped material according to the present invention is a thin plate-shaped material folded by the above-mentioned method for folding the thin plate-shaped material. According to the configuration of the present invention described above, when developed on the XY plane, the adjacent flat areas are formed by a plurality of flat areas that share edges and corners with each other, and at least the flat area having no outer peripheral edge is a parallelogram. The X side, which is the side along the X axis, is connected to form a straight line, and the Y side is the side along the Y axis.
The sides are alternately bent to form a zigzag line, and the X side repeats mountain folds and valley folds alternately along the X axis, and zigzag lines arranged along the X axis alternate between mountain folds and valley folds. The thin plate-shaped material folded in such a manner as described above becomes a thin plate-shaped material in which the plane area is not broken and unintentional folds are not formed.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

A method of folding a thin plate material according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a procedure diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a correlation graph of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4
FIG. 4 is a development view of the embodiment of the present invention.

The method of folding the thin plate-shaped material is orthogonal X-Y.
-A method of folding a thin plate-shaped material placed in the Z space by the so-called "Miura folding" method. The "Miura fold" is composed of a plurality of flat regions in which adjacent ones share sides and corners when the thin plate-shaped material is developed on the XY plane, and has at least no outer peripheral edge. The plane area is a parallelogram and the X sides, which are the sides along the X axis, are connected to form a straight line, and the Y sides, which are the sides along the Y axis, are alternately bent and connected to form a zigzag line, and the X side is the X axis. It is a "folding method" in which zigzag lines lined up along the X-axis alternate between mountain folds and valley folds while alternately repeating mountain folds and valley folds along. The mountain fold is a fold in which the fold is convex when viewed from the surface, and the mountain fold line is the line of the fold that is mountain-folded. The valley fold is a fold in which the fold is concave when viewed from the surface, and the valley fold line is a line of the valley fold. In this case, paying attention to the intersection point where the two X sides and the two Y sides gather, when the two Y sides are mountain folds, the intersection angle between the two Y sides is 90.
The X side on the side that exceeds the degree is a mountain fold, and the X side on the opposite side is a valley fold. If the two Y sides are valley folds, 2
The X side on the side where the intersection angle of the Y sides of the book exceeds 90 degrees is a valley fold, and the X side on the opposite side is a mountain fold.

Here, a case of folding a map, which is a right-angled quadrilateral thin plate-shaped material, will be described as an example. Further, it is assumed that the XY plane is horizontal and the surface is folded upward. A parallelogram is a quadrangle in which a pair of opposite sides are parallel to each other, and the X side has a length a and Y
The length of the side is b, and the angle of intersection of the X side and the Y side is θ
Explain that it is only tilted. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the folded map is unfolded again, and is a thin plate-shaped material (here, 40 flat surface regions composed of a total of 40 flat regions of 8 in the X-axis direction and 5 in the Y-axis direction). Map), of which X
It is shown that 30 plane regions excluding both ends in the axial direction are parallelograms.

The method of folding the thin plate-shaped material includes a thin plate-shaped material fixing step S11, a mountain fold line butting step S12, a valley fold line butting step S13, an X-axis moving step S14, a Y-axis moving step S15, and a Z-axis moving step. And S16. further,
After that, after the folding step S20, the map is folded.

The thin plate-shaped material fixing step S11 is a step of placing a flat thin plate-shaped material on the XY plane. The map is made horizontal with the surface thereof facing upward and one side is parallel to the X-axis. Place on the Y plane. Therefore, the other side perpendicular to one side is parallel to the Y axis.

The mountain fold line abutting step S12 is a step of abutting the tip of the back folding tooth from the back surface along the Z axis to the Y side to be mountain-folded. The tip of one folding tooth is abutted against the Y side from the back surface (here, it corresponds to the lower surface) for each Y side. It is desirable that the tip length of this folding tooth be as close to b as possible.

The valley fold line abutting step S13 is a step of abutting the tip of the surface folding tooth from the surface along the Z axis to the Y side to be valley-folded. The tip of one folding tooth per Y side is abutted against the Y side from the surface (here, it corresponds to the upper surface). It is desirable that the tip length of this folding tooth be as close to b as possible.

In the Z-axis moving step S16, the back side folding teeth or the front side folding teeth are bited in the direction Z so that the distance z between the tip of the back side folding teeth and the leaf tip of the front side folding teeth becomes large.
Move along an axis. The Z-axis direction interval z is initially equal to the map thickness and gradually increases.

The X-axis moving step S14 is a step of moving the back-side folding teeth and the front-side folding teeth along the X-axis so that the X-axis direction pitch x between the tooth tips of the back-side folding teeth and the cutting edges of the front-side folding teeth is shortened. Is. The initial X-axis direction pitch x is a which is equal to the length of the X side, and the X-axis direction pitch x between the adjacent back side folding teeth and front side folding teeth gradually becomes shorter. However, since the folding teeth have a thickness, the X-axis direction pitch x does not become smaller than the thickness of the folding teeth. Since the X-direction pitch distance x decreases as the Z-axis direction distance z increases, the X-direction pitch distance x in the X-axis movement process is changed in synchronization with the Z-axis direction distance z in the Z-axis movement process. If the map is made of a material that does not stretch easily (for example, paper), the X-axis moving step S
14 and the Z-axis moving step S16, the relative positions of the tip of the back folding tooth and the tip of the front folding tooth that are abutted against the Y sides sandwiching one flat area in the plane of the flat area. It is preferable that it does not change. In this way, no undue strain is generated in the plane area. In particular, as the relationship between the X-direction pitch x and the Z-axis direction distance z is represented by the following first equation x ² + z ² = a ² , as the X-direction pitch x distance becomes smaller, the Z-axis direction interval becomes smaller. It is preferred that z varies.

In the Y-axis moving step S15, the tip of the front folding tooth is shortened so that the Y-axis direction pitch distance y of the tip of the back folding tooth and the Y-axis pitch distance y of the tip of the front folding tooth are shortened. It is a step of moving along the Y-axis while rotating the tip of the back-side folding tooth in the XY plane as the Y-side rotates. When the map is made of a material that does not expand or contract, the back side folding teeth or the front side folding lines arranged in the Y axis direction during the steps of the X-axis moving step S14, the Y-axis moving step S15, and the Z-axis moving step S16. It is preferable that the path length on the zigzag line of the distance between the tips of the teeth does not change. In particular, the relationship between the X-direction pitch distance x and the Y-direction pitch distance y is the following second expression By ² + A (1 / x ² ) = 1 where A = a ² sin ² θ and B = 1 / b ^As represented by ^2, it is preferable that the Y-axis direction pitch distance y changes as the X-direction pitch x distance decreases.

In this way, the front fold teeth and the back fold teeth engrave predetermined valley fold lines and mountain fold lines on the map, and fold the folding screen in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction at the same time. Folding the map according to the mountain fold line and the valley fold line (folding step S20), so-called "Miura fold"
You can create a customized map, and this method is suitable for automation. Therefore, it is possible to easily make a device for folding a thin plate material by the method for folding a thin plate material according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Next, a thin plate-shaped material folding device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a front view of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line BB of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8: is CC sectional view taken on the line of embodiment of this invention.

The folding device for the thin plate material is an orthogonal XY
A device for folding a thin plate-shaped material placed in the Z space by the so-called “Miura folding” method. The description of Miura folding is the same as the description of the folding method, so the description is omitted. Here, a device for folding a map, which is a right-angled quadrilateral thin plate-shaped material, will be described as an example. Further, it is assumed that the XY plane is horizontal and the surface is folded upward. In the parallelogram, the length of the X side is a, the length of the Y side is b, and the intersection angle of the X side and the Y side is inclined by θ degrees from the right angle.

The folding device for the thin plate-like material comprises a plurality of back side folding teeth 10, a plurality of front side folding teeth 20, and an X-axis moving mechanism 30.
And a Y-axis moving mechanism 40, a Z-axis moving mechanism 50, and a folding unit 60.

The back side folding tooth 10 is a folding tooth which abuts the tip of the tooth from the back side along the Z axis on the Y side of the flat thin plate material placed on the XY plane to be mountain-folded. A plurality of back side folding teeth 10 are arranged such that the tip 11 of the back side folding teeth 10 face upward, and the back side folding teeth fixing hinge 1 is arranged at a pitch equal to the length b of the Y side in the Y-axis direction.
2 and the back side folding tooth free hinge 13 are rotatably connected alternately in the XY plane. Lower X-axis moving mechanism 3 described later
0d and the lower Y-axis moving mechanism 40d move the back side folding tooth fixing hinge 12 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, the back side folding tooth 10 follows the movement of the back side folding tooth fixing hinge 12 in the X-axis direction. It moves in the X-axis direction, and moves in the Y-axis direction as the back side folding tooth fixing hinge 12 moves in the Y-axis direction. Further, when the spacing between the plurality of back side folding tooth fixing hinges 12 in the Y-axis direction becomes narrower, the continuous back side folding teeth 10 rotate on the XY plane and are arranged in a zigzag shape.

The front side folding tooth 20 is a folding tooth that abuts the tip of the tooth from the front side along the Z axis to the Y side of the flat thin plate material placed on the XY plane to be valley-folded. A plurality of front side folding teeth 20 are arranged such that the tips 21 of the front side folding teeth 20 face downward, and the front side folding teeth fixing hinges 2 are arranged at a pitch equal to the length b of the Y side in the Y-axis direction.
2 and the front side folding tooth free hinge 23 are alternately rotatably connected in the XY plane. Upper X-axis moving mechanism 3 described later
0u and the upper Y-axis moving mechanism 40u move the front-side folding tooth fixing hinge 22 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, the front-side folding tooth 20 follows the movement of the front-side folding tooth fixing hinge 22 in the X-axis direction. It moves in the X-axis direction, and moves in the Y-axis direction as the front side folding tooth fixing hinge 22 moves in the Y-axis direction. Moreover, when the intervals in the Y-axis direction of the plurality of front side folding teeth fixing hinges 22 become narrower, the front side folding teeth 20 in series are arranged in a zigzag pattern by rotating on the XY plane.

The Z-axis moving mechanism 50 has a Z-axis direction interval z between the tip 11 of the back folding tooth 10 and the tip 21 of the front folding tooth 20.
Is a mechanism for moving the back side folding teeth 10 or the front side folding teeth 20 along the Z axis in such a direction as to bite each other so as to increase the size of the common frame 51, the lower frame 52, and the upper frame 5.
3, a slide guide 54, and a Z-axis drive device 55. The drawing shows an example in which the Z-axis moving mechanism 50 moves the upper frame 53 supporting the front folding teeth 20 in the Z-axis direction to change the Z-axis direction interval z.

The common pedestal 51 is the basis of the folding device, has legs on the bottom, and supports the other mechanisms on the top. The lower frame 52 is a base frame supported by a common mount, and has a lower X that supports a plurality of back folding teeth 10 on its upper surface.
The shaft moving mechanism 30d and the lower Y-axis moving mechanism 40d can be installed. The slide guide 54 is a guide rod that guides the upper frame 53 slidably up and down. Four slide guides are erected vertically on the four corners of the lower frame 52. The upper frame 53 has four slide guides 54
The upper X-axis moving mechanism 30u and the upper Y-axis moving mechanism 40u are installed on the lower surface of the frame which is guided by the upper and lower sides of the frame.

The Z-axis drive unit 55 is a drive unit that changes the distance between the lower frame 52 and the upper frame 53. The distance between the upper frame 53 and the lower frame 52 is changed in conjunction with the movement of the X-axis moving mechanism 30 described later.

The X-axis moving mechanism 30 moves the back-side folding teeth 10 and the front-side folding teeth 20 by X so that the pitch x between the tip 11 of the back-side folding teeth 10 and the top 21 of the front-side folding teeth 20 becomes short.
The lower X-axis moving mechanism 30 is a mechanism that moves along an axis.
d and the upper X-axis moving mechanism 30u.

The lower X-axis moving mechanism 30d is installed on the lower frame 52 and supports the tooth tips 11 of the back side folding teeth 10.
Is a mechanism for moving the back side folding teeth 10 along the X axis so that the interval in the X axis direction becomes shorter.
And a plurality of lower X-axis moving slide bars 32d, a pair of lower X-axis synchronizing links 33d, and a lower X-axis synchronizing plate 3
4d, a lower X-axis moving linear guide 35d, and a lower Y-axis drive cam 36d.

The pair of lower X-axis linear guides 35d are linear guides fixed to the lower frame 52 and extending in the X-axis direction, and the pair of linear guides are arranged separately in the Y-axis direction. The pair of lower X-axis linear guides 35d guide the lower X-axis synchronizing plate 34d slidably along the X-axis. The lower X-axis synchronizing plate 34d is a plate that is long in the Y-axis direction, and has both ends on the lower X-axis linear guide 3.
It is supported by 5d and is slidable in the X-axis direction.

A plurality of lower X-axis moving slide bars 32d
Is a slide bar whose axis extends along the Y-axis and is arranged at equal intervals in the X-axis direction. In FIG. 6, four lower X-axis moving slide bars 32d are shown. The lower X-axis moving slide bar 32d located at one end of the four is fixed at both ends to the lower X-axis synchronizing plate 34d, and the lower X-axis moving slide bar 32d located at the other end has both ends at the lower frame 52. Fixed. The two middle lower X-axis movement slide bars 32d are arranged at equal intervals between the lower X-axis movement slide bars 32d located at both ends. The pair of lower X-axis synchronizing links 33d are pantograph-type links that keep the intervals between the plurality of lower X-axis moving slide bars 32d always equal. In FIG. 6, the fulcrum of the pantograph type link of the lower X-axis synchronizing link 33d rotatably fixes the end of the lower X-axis moving slide bar 32d.

The lower X-axis driving device 31d is a device for reciprocating the lower X-axis synchronizing plate 34d guided by the lower X-axis linear guide 35d in the X-axis direction. In FIG. 6, an electric motor and a feed screw are provided. It is shown. Therefore, the lower X-axis drive device 31d is used by the lower X-axis synchronizing plate 34.
When d is moved in the X-axis direction, the plurality of lower X-axis moving slide bars 32d are fixed to the lower X-axis moving slide bar 32d located at the other end while keeping the mutual intervals equal, X-axis movement slide bar 32d X
It can be reciprocated in the axial direction.

The lower X-axis moving mechanism 30d and the Z-axis moving mechanism 50 are located in the plane areas of the tip of the back side folding tooth and the tip of the front side folding tooth which are abutted against the Y sides sandwiching one plane area. It is preferable to operate in synchronization so that the relative position in the plane does not change. For example, the X-axis pitch distance x between the tooth tip of the back side folding tooth and the tooth tip of the front side folding tooth is set in the lower frame 52 according to the correlation represented by the following first equation x ² + z ² = a ^2. The lower X-axis drive unit 3 changes so as to change according to the change in the Z-axis direction interval z which is the interval between the addendum 11 of the back side folding tooth 10 provided and the addendum 21 of the front side folding tooth 20 provided on the upper frame 53.
It is preferable to drive 1d.

The lower Y-axis drive cam 36d is a mechanism for moving the back-side folding teeth in the Y-axis in synchronization with the movement of the back-side folding teeth in the X-axis direction, as will be described later, and is a lower X-axis synchronizing plate. Fixed to. Details will be described later.

The upper X-axis moving mechanism 30u is installed on the upper frame 53 and supports the tip 21 of the front side folding tooth 20.
Is a mechanism for moving the front folding teeth 20 along the X-axis so that the interval in the X-axis direction becomes short.
And a plurality of upper X-axis moving slide bars 32u, a pair of upper X-axis synchronizing links 33u, and an upper X-axis synchronizing plate 3
4u, an upper X-axis moving linear guide 35u, and an upper Y-axis drive cam 36u. The main structure of the upper X-axis moving mechanism 30u is plane-symmetrical to the lower X-axis moving mechanism 30d, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The difference is that the number of the plurality of upper X-axis moving slide bars 32u is one more than the number of the lower X-axis moving slide bars 32d, and the upper X-axis moving slide bars 32u located at both ends are folded on the front side. This is that the folding unit 60 is supported instead of the front folding teeth 20 via the tooth fixing hinge 22. In FIG. 7, five upper X-axis moving slide bars are shown.

The Y-axis moving mechanism 40 is arranged so that the Y-axis pitch distance y of the tip 11 of the back folding tooth 10 and the Y-axis pitch distance y of the tip 21 of the front folding tooth 20 are shortened. While rotating the tooth tip in the XY plane as the Y side rotates, Y
The lower Y-axis moving mechanism 40 is a mechanism that moves along an axis.
d and the upper Y-axis moving mechanism 40u.

The lower Y-axis moving mechanism 40d is supported by the lower frame 52 and has a plurality of back-side folding teeth 10 connected in the Y-axis direction. Is a mechanism that moves along the Y-axis while rotating the tip of the tooth along the Y-axis in the XY plane, and a plurality of (four in FIG. 6) lower Y-axis moving slide bars 41d.
And a pair of lower Y-axis synchronizing links 42d, a lower Y-axis synchronizing plate 43d, and a lower X-axis moving linear guide 44d. The lower Y-axis linear guide 44d is a linear guide that is fixed to the lower frame 52 and extends in the Y-axis direction, and a pair of linear guides are arranged separately in the Y-axis direction. The pair of lower Y-axis linear guides 44d guide the lower Y-axis synchronizing plate 43d slidably along the Y-axis.

The lower Y-axis synchronizing plate 43d is a plate long in the X-axis direction, and both ends thereof are supported by the lower Y-axis linear guide 44d so as to be slidable in the Y-axis direction. The lower Y-axis drive plate 36d is provided on the lower Y-axis synchronizing plate 43d.
A cam groove 45d that engages d is provided. Cam groove 45d
As described in the method of folding the thin plate-shaped material according to the above-described embodiment, the curve of the lower X-axis synchronization plate 34
As d moves in the X-axis direction and the X-axis direction pitch distance x becomes shorter, the Y-axis direction pitch distance y becomes shorter. Lower X-axis moving mechanism 30d and lower Y-axis moving mechanism 4
0d and the Z-axis moving mechanism 50 operate synchronously so that the path length on the zigzag line of the distance between the tips of the back folding teeth 10 or the front folding teeth 20 aligned in the Y-axis direction does not change. preferable. For example, the curve of the cam groove 45d is expressed by the following second equation By ² + A (1 / x ² ) = 1, where A = a ² sin ² θ and B = 1 / b ² It is particularly preferable that the directional pitch distance y changes according to the X-direction pitch x distance.

A plurality of lower Y-axis moving slide bars 41d
Are slide bars arranged at equal intervals in the Y-axis direction, and in FIG. 6, four lower Y-axis moving slide bars 41d are shown.
It is shown. The lower Y-axis moving slide bar 41d located at one end of the plurality of lines arranged is fixed at both ends to the lower Y-axis synchronizing plate, and the lower Y-axis moving slide bar 41d located at the other end is fixed at both ends to the lower frame 52. It The two middle lower Y-axis moving slide bars 41d are arranged at equal intervals between the lower Y-axis moving slide bars 41d located at both ends. The pair of lower Y-axis synchronizing links 42d are
This is a pantograph type link that always keeps the intervals between the plurality of lower Y-axis moving slide bars 41d equal. In the figure, the fulcrum of the pantograph type link of the lower Y-axis synchronizing link 42d rotatably fixes the end of the lower Y-axis moving slide bar 41d.

When the lower X-axis driving device 31d moves the lower X-axis synchronizing plate 34d in the X-axis direction, the lower Y-axis driving cam 3 fixed to the lower X-axis synchronizing plate 34d.
6d pushes the cam groove 45d to move the lower Y-axis synchronizing plate 43d in the Y-axis direction, so that the plurality of lower Y-axis moving slide bars 41d lower the lower Y-axis moving slide bar 41d located at the other end. It is possible to move the lower Y-axis moving slide bar 41d in the Y-axis direction in synchronization with the movement of the X-axis synchronizing plate while keeping the mutual intervals at the same value while being fixed to the frame 52. Therefore, the lower Y-axis slide bar 41d moves in the Y-axis direction in synchronization with the movement of the lower X-axis movement slide bar 32d in the X-axis direction.

The upper Y-axis moving mechanism 30u is supported by the upper frame 53, and the front folding teeth 20 are arranged so that the Y-axis direction pitch distance y of the tips 21 of the plurality of front folding teeth 20 connected in the Y-axis direction is shortened. The tooth tip 21 of the XY along with the rotation of the Y side.
A mechanism that moves along the Y axis while rotating in a plane,
A plurality of (four in FIG. 6) slide bars 4 for moving the upper Y-axis
1u, a pair of upper Y-axis synchronizing links 42u, an upper Y-axis synchronizing plate 43u, and an upper X-axis moving linear guide 44.
u and. The main structure of the upper Y-axis movement mechanism is the lower Y
Since the structure is plane-symmetrical to the shaft moving mechanism, description thereof will be omitted.

The folding plate 60 has an upper part X.
Front side folding tooth fixing hinge 22 supported by upper X-axis moving slide bars 32u located at both ends of the axis moving mechanism 30u.
Is a plate fixed to the front side folding tooth 20 and the back side folding tooth 10 when they are moved along the Z axis in a direction to bite, and a map is sandwiched between the blade edge of the back side folding tooth 10 by being urged by a spring. To prevent the map from shifting horizontally.

Next, the operation of the thin plate material folding apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 9
FIG. 1 is a first XZ diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10
FIG. 2 is a second XZ diagram of the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11
FIG. 3 is a third XZ diagram of the embodiment of the present invention. 12
FIG. 4 is a XZ diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of the embodiment of the present invention. Thin plate material fixing step: The Z-axis driving device 55 is driven to raise the upper frame 53 upward, and the map is inserted between the tip 11 of the back folding tooth 10 and the tip 21 of the front folding tooth 20. X
The side is along the X axis, and the Y side is located above the cutting edge of the back folding teeth.

Valley trough line abutting step: The map is pulled down so that the cutting edge of the back side folding tooth is on the Y side of the map. The tip 11 of the backside folding tooth 10 is abutted from the backside of the Y side of the map.

Mountain fold line butting process: Z-axis drive device 55
Is driven to lower the upper frame 53 to the lower frame 52 side, and the tips 21 of the surface folding teeth 20 are abutted against the Y side of the map surface. In this state, the tip 11 of the back folding tooth 10
And the z-axis direction interval z between the tooth tip 21 of the front folding tooth 20 and the tooth tip 21 becomes substantially zero.

X-axis moving step: The upper X-axis moving mechanism 30u and the lower X-axis moving mechanism 30d are operated to operate the back side folding teeth 10.
The back side folding tooth 10 and the front side folding tooth 20 are moved along the X axis so that the pitch x in the X axis direction between the tooth tip 11 and the tooth tip 12 of the front side folding tooth becomes short. The lower X-axis driving device 31d and the upper X-axis driving device 31u are operated in synchronization, and the lower X-axis synchronizing plate 34d and the upper X-axis synchronizing plate 34u are moved at the same speed. The lower X-axis synchronizing plate 34d moves the lower X-axis moving slide bar 32d in the X-axis direction, and the upper X-axis synchronizing plate 34u moves the upper X-axis moving slide bar 32u in the X-axis direction. Lower X-axis synchronization link 3
By 3d, the plurality of lower shaft moving slide bars 32d narrow the mutual distance while keeping the adjacent distances equal to each other.
The plurality of X-axis moving slide bars 32u reduce the distance between the X-axis moving slide bars 32u while keeping the adjacent distances equal to each other by the axis synchronizing link 33u. The back side folding tooth 10 is supported by the lower X-axis moving slide bar 32d through the back side folding tooth hinge 12,
Since the front folding teeth 20 are supported by the upper X-axis moving slide bar 32u via the upper folding teeth hinges 22, the X-axis direction pitch x of the tooth tops 11 of the back folding teeth 10 and the cutting edges 21 of the front folding teeth 20 becomes smaller. It becomes shorter in synchronization with the Z-axis direction distance z. In particular, it is preferable that the X-axis pitch distance x changes according to a change in the Z-axis direction interval z described later, as represented by the first expression x ² + z ² = a ² .

Y-axis moving step: The lower Y-axis moving mechanism 40d and the upper Y-axis moving mechanism 40u are actuated to move the back side folding teeth 10.
The back side folding tooth 1 is formed so that the Y-axis direction pitch y of the tooth tip 11 and the Y-axis direction pitch y of the cutting edge 21 of the front side folding tooth 20 are shortened.
0 and the front folding teeth 20 are moved along the Y axis. Bottom X
When the shaft synchronizing plate 34d and the upper X-axis synchronizing plate 34u move at the same speed, the lower Y-axis drive cam 36d pushes the cam groove 45d to lower the Y-axis synchronizing plate 43d.
Moves and the upper Y-axis drive cam 36u moves the cam groove 45u
Is pressed to move the upper Y-axis synchronization plate 43u. The lower Y-axis synchronizing plate 43d moves the lower Y-axis moving slide bar 41d in the Y-axis direction, and the upper Y-axis synchronizing plate 4d.
3u moves the upper Y-axis moving slide bar 41u in the Y-axis direction. The lower Y-axis synchronizing link 42d shortens the distance between the plurality of Y-axis moving slide bars 41d while keeping the adjacent distances equal to each other.
By u, the plurality of Y-axis moving slide bars 41u shorten the mutual intervals while keeping the adjacent intervals equal. The back side folding teeth 10 are supported by the lower Y-axis moving slide bar 41d via the back side folding tooth fixing hinge 12, and the front side folding teeth 20 are supported by the upper Y-axis moving slide bar 41u via the upper folding tooth fixing hinge 22. Back folding teeth 1
0 and the front side folding tooth 20 rotate in the XY plane, the Y-axis direction pitch y of the tooth tip 11 of the back side folding tooth 10 and the Y axis direction pitch y of the cutting edge 22 of the front side folding tooth 20 are synchronized. Gradually becomes shorter.

Due to the cam groove 45d provided on the lower Y-axis synchronizing plate 43d and the cam groove 45u provided on the upper Y-axis plate 43u, the X-axis direction pitch x and the Y-axis direction pitch y are the same as those of the cam grooves 45d and 45u. It changes with the correlation defined by the curve. In particular, the second equation By ² + A (1 / x ² ) = 1, where the Y-axis direction pitch distance y is the X-direction pitch x as represented by A = a ² sin ² θ and B = 1 / b ^2. It preferably changes with distance.

Z-axis moving process: During the above-mentioned X-axis moving process and Y-axis moving process, the Z-axis moving mechanism changes the distance between the upper frame and the lower frame. Z-axis drive device 55
Drive the upper frame 53 closer to the lower frame 52. Upper X installed on the upper frame 43
The tip 21 of the front folding tooth 20 supported by the shaft moving mechanism 30u and the upper Y-axis moving mechanism 40u descends. Front folding tooth 2
The tooth tip 21 of 0 approaches the tooth tip 11 of the back side folding tooth 10 supported by the lower X-axis moving mechanism 30d and the lower Y-axis moving mechanism 40d installed on the lower frame 52, and the Z-axis direction interval z becomes zero. Become. Further, when the Z-axis driving device 55 drives the upper frame 53 to approach the lower frame 52, the tooth tops 11 of the back side folding teeth 10 and the tooth tops 21 of the front side folding teeth 20 bite along each other along the Z axis. And is moved, and the Z-axis direction interval z increases. When the Z-axis direction interval z starts to increase, the X-axis moving mechanism 30 and the Y-axis moving mechanism 40 start moving in synchronization with the Z-axis direction interval z, and perform the above-described movement.

By using the method of folding the thin plate-shaped material of the above-described embodiment, it is possible to make a fold at the same time on the X side and the Y side of the map (corresponding to the thin plate-shaped material), and to fold it. When moving in the X-axis direction in synchronism with the movement in the axial direction, the surface of the flat surface area of the tip of the back side folding tooth and the tip of the front side folding tooth that are abutted against the Y sides sandwiching one plane area. If the relative position in the area is not changed, even if the map is made of a material that does not expand or contract, there will be no unreasonable distortion in the flat area, and the flat area will be broken or unintended creases will be created. Without doing so, the X side and the Y side of the map (corresponding to a thin plate-shaped material) can be folded at the same time, and the X axis can be moved so that the correlation expressed by the first equation is obtained. If the amount of movement and the amount of Z-axis movement are synchronized, a parallel line whose first side is a (Corresponding to a thin plate material.) To map a plane area in the form of, broke or without or with unintended creases, can be folded. Further, when moving in the Y-axis direction in synchronism with the movement in the Z-axis direction and the movement in the X-axis direction, on the zigzag line of the distance between the tips of the back side folding teeth or the front side folding teeth arranged in the Y axis direction. As long as the map does not change the length of the route, even if the map is made of a material that does not expand or contract, the planar area will not be distorted excessively, and the planar area will be broken or unintentional creases will be created. Without, X on the map (corresponding to thin plate material)
The sides and the Y sides can be folded with simultaneous creases, and the X-axis movement amount, the Y-axis movement amount, and the Z-axis movement amount can be adjusted so as to obtain the correlation expressed by the first and second expressions. When synced,
A map composed of a parallelogram planar area in which the first side is a, the length of the second side is b, and the angle at which the first side and the second side intersect is inclined by θ degrees from a right angle (thin plate Corresponds to the material.)
Can be folded in without breaking or making unintended creases.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The example in which the thin plate-shaped material is a map has been described, but the map is not limited to this. Moreover, although the material of the thin plate-shaped material is exemplified as paper, the material is not limited to this. Further, the outer peripheral shape of the thin plate-shaped material is not particularly described, and in the description of the embodiment, the rectangular shape is described, but the present invention is not limited to this.
Further, the thin plate-shaped material has been described by taking a map having no defect as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a part of the planar region may be missing. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the description has been given on the assumption that all the main plane regions forming the thin plate-shaped material are parallelograms of the same size, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plane region can be formed as long as it is a Miura-foldable fold. The parallelograms may have different sizes.

[0064]

As described above, the orthogonal XY of the present invention is used.
-When a planar thin plate-shaped material placed in the Z space is developed on the XY plane, it is composed of a plurality of planar regions in which adjacent ones share sides and corners, and at least has an outer peripheral edge. The non-planar region is a parallelogram, and the X side that is the side along the X axis is continuous to form a straight line and the side Y that is along the Y axis.
The sides are alternately bent to form a zigzag line, and the X side alternates between mountain fold and valley fold along the X axis, and a plurality of zigzag lines fold in such a manner that mountain folds and valley folds alternate. The method of folding the thin plate material is
The configuration has the following effects. Since the X-axis direction movement and the Z-axis direction movement of the back-side folding tooth tips and the front-side folding tooth tips are synchronized and the back-side folding tooth tips and the front-side folding tooth tips are pushed into the Y side, A mountain fold line is formed on the Y side to be mountain-folded, a valley fold line is formed on the Y side to be valley-folded, and the back side is such that the X-axis direction pitch distance X becomes smaller as the Z-axis direction interval z increases. X for the folding tooth and the front folding tooth
Since it is moved along the axis, it is possible to prevent the plane region from being unduly distorted, prevent the plane region from being broken, and prevent unintended folds from being formed, and the desired thin plate-shaped material can be folded. In addition, the back side folding teeth and the front side folding teeth are arranged so that the relative positions of the tooth tops of the back side folding teeth and the front side folding teeth abutting on the Y sides sandwiching one plane area do not change in the plane of the plane area. Since and are moved along the X-axis, it is possible to prevent unreasonable tension or compression from occurring in the flat area, and it is possible to reliably prevent the flat area from being broken or unintentional folds. It is possible to fold the thin plate material. Further, since the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Z-axis direction distance z are changed as represented by the first equation, the parallelogram having the length of the first side along the X-axis is a. Unnecessary pulling or compression does not occur in the flat area, and it is possible to reliably prevent the flat area from breaking or to make an unintended crease, and it is possible to fold the target thin plate-shaped material. Further, since the X-axis direction movement and the Y-axis direction movement of the tooth tips of the back-side folding teeth and the surface folding teeth are synchronized, even if the Y-side is largely rotated during the folding process, It is possible to prevent the tip of the tooth and the tip of the surface-folding tooth from restraining the rotation of the flat area, prevent the flat area from breaking, and prevent unintended creases. Can be folded. Also,
Since the path length on the zigzag line of the distance between the tips of the back side folding teeth or the front side folding teeth arranged in the Y-axis direction is not changed, it is possible to prevent tension or compression in the Y-axis direction from occurring in the plane area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the flat area from being broken or to prevent an unintended crease from entering, and it is possible to fold the target thin plate-shaped material. Further, since the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Y-axis direction distance y are changed as represented by the second equation, the first side of the length a along the X-axis and the first side of the length b along the X-axis. There is no unreasonable pulling or compression in the plane area of the parallelogram that has two sides and the intersection angle of the first side and the second side is inclined by θ degrees from the right angle, and the plane area is torn or It is possible to reliably prevent creases from entering and to fold the target thin plate material.

Further, as described above, the orthogonal X of the present invention is used.
-The flat thin plate material placed in the YZ space is treated as XY
When developed on a plane, adjacent planes are formed by a plurality of plane regions that share edges and corners with each other, and at least a plane region having no outer peripheral edge is a parallelogram and is a side along the X axis. The X side is continuous and becomes a straight line, and the Y side, which is a side along the Y axis, is bent and is alternately connected to form a zigzag line, and the X side is alternately mountain-folded and valley-folded along the X axis, and the Y axis is formed. The thin plate-shaped material folding device in which the zigzag lines arranged along the lines alternately fold and repeat the mountain fold and the valley fold has the following effects.
In order to synchronize the movement in the X-axis direction and the movement in the Z-axis direction of the tooth tops of the back-side folding teeth and the front-side folding teeth, a mountain fold line is formed on the Y side to be mountain-folded, and a valley-folding Y is formed. A valley fold line is formed on each side, and the back-side folding teeth and the front-side folding teeth are moved along the X-axis so that the X-axis direction pitch distance X becomes smaller as the Z-axis direction interval z becomes larger. It is possible to prevent the sheet from being torn or to make an unintended fold, and it is possible to fold the target thin plate material. In addition, the X-axis moving mechanism and the Z-axis moving mechanism are synchronized with each other, and within the plane of the plane area of the tip of the back side folding tooth and the tip of the front side folding tooth that are abutted against the Y sides sandwiching one plane area. Since the back side folding teeth and the front side folding teeth move along the X-axis so that the relative position in the area does not change, it is possible to prevent unreasonable tension or compression from occurring in the flat area, and to break the flat area or It is possible to reliably prevent creases from entering and to fold the target thin plate material. Also,
Since the pitch distance x in the X-axis direction and the distance z in the Z-axis direction are changed as represented by the first expression, a plane of a parallelogram whose first side length along the X-axis is a. Unnecessary tension or compression does not occur in the area, and it is possible to reliably prevent the flat area from breaking and unintentional folds.
The desired thin plate material can be folded. Also, the movement of the tip of the back-side folding tooth and the tip of the front-side folding tooth in the X-axis direction and Y
Since the movement in the axial direction is synchronized, it is possible to prevent the tip of the back-side folding tooth and the tip of the front-side folding tooth from restraining the rotation of the flat area even if the Y side largely rotates during the folding process.
It is possible to prevent the flat area from being broken or to make an unintended fold, and it is possible to fold the target thin plate-shaped material. In addition, the X-axis moving mechanism, the Y-axis moving mechanism, and the Z-axis moving mechanism are synchronized, and the path length on the zigzag line of the distance between the tips of the back-side folding teeth or the front-side folding teeth arranged in the Y-axis direction is Since it does not change, it is possible to prevent the flat area from being stretched or compressed in the Y-axis direction, to prevent the flat area from being broken, or to make an unintended crease. Can be folded.
Further, since the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Y-axis direction distance z are changed as represented by the second equation, the first side of the length a along the X-axis and the first side of the length b along the X-axis. There is no unreasonable tension or compression in the plane area of the parallelogram that has two sides and the intersection angle of the first side and the second side is inclined by θ degrees from the right angle, and the plane area is torn or It is possible to reliably prevent creases from entering and to fold the target thin plate material. Further, by the above-mentioned folding method, it is possible to obtain a thin plate-like material without unintended creases or tears. Therefore, it is possible to provide a folding method suitable for easily folding a thin plate material from two directions simultaneously into a folding screen, a folding device using the folding method, and a thin plate material folded by the method.

[0066]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a procedure diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a correlation graph of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a development view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line BB of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line CC of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a first XZ diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a second XZ diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a third XZ diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a fourth XZ diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line DD of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 14] Conceptual diagram of "Miura folding"

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Laminated material (eg map) 10 Back folding teeth 11 addendum 12 Back side folding tooth fixed hinge 13 Backside folding teeth free hinge 20 surface folding teeth 21 Tooth tip 22 Surface folding teeth fixed hinge 23 Surface Folding tooth Free hinge 30 X-axis movement mechanism 30d Lower X-axis movement mechanism 31d Lower X-axis drive device 32d Lower X-axis slide bar 33d Lower X-axis synchronization link 34d Lower X-axis synchronization plate 35d Lower X-axis linear guide 36d Lower Y-axis drive cam 30u Upper X-axis movement mechanism 31u Upper X-axis drive 32u Upper X-axis slide bar 33u Upper X-axis synchronization link 34u Upper X-axis synchronization plate 35u Linear guide for upper X-axis movement 36u Upper Y-axis drive cam 40 Y-axis movement mechanism 40d Lower Y-axis movement mechanism 41d Slide bar for lower Y-axis movement 42d Lower Y-axis synchronization link 43d Lower Y-axis synchronization plate 44d Linear guide for lower X-axis movement 40u upper Y-axis movement mechanism 41u Upper Y-axis slide bar 42u Upper Y-axis synchronization link 43u Upper Y-axis synchronization plate 44u Linear guide for upper X-axis movement 50 Z-axis movement mechanism 51 common mount 51 52 Lower frame 53 upper frame 54 Slide guide 55 Z-axis drive 60 folding units

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of planes in which, when a planar thin plate material placed in an orthogonal X-Y-Z space is developed on an X-Y plane, adjacent ones share sides and corners with each other. A plane region having at least no outer peripheral edge, which is composed of regions, is a parallelogram, and X sides that are sides along the X axis are connected to form a straight line, and Y sides that are sides along the Y axis are alternately bent and connected. Becomes a zigzag line, and the X-side is a thin plate shape in which mountain folds and valley folds are alternately repeated along the X axis, and zigzag lines lined up along the X axis are alternately folded to repeat mountain folds and valley folds. A method of folding a material, which comprises a step of fixing a flat thin plate material on an XY plane, and
A mountain fold line abutting step of abutting the tooth tips of the back side folding teeth from the back side along the Z axis to the Y side to be mountain-folded, and teeth from the front side to the front side folding tooth along the Z axis to the Y side to be valley folded. A valley fold line abutting step of abutting the tips, and a back folding tooth and a front folding tooth on the X axis so that the pitch x between the tip of the back folding tooth and the tip of the front folding tooth becomes short. Along the X-axis, and the Z-axis in the direction in which the back side folding teeth or the front side folding teeth are bitten into each other so that the distance z between the tip side of the back side folding teeth and the tip side of the front side folding teeth becomes large. And a Z-axis moving step of moving the X-axis direction pitch distance x becomes smaller as the Z-axis direction interval z becomes larger. 2. During the steps of the X-axis moving step and the Z-axis moving step, the tip of the back side folding tooth and the tip of the front side folding tooth abutted against the Y side sandwiching one plane region are formed. The method for folding a thin plate-like material according to claim 1, wherein the relative position of the plane region in the plane is not changed. 3. The parallelogram has a first side with a length a along the X axis, and the relationship between the X axis direction pitch distance x and the Z axis direction distance z is the following first expression. folding method of the thin plate-like material as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by being represented by ^{x 2 + z 2 = a 2} . 4. The Y-axis direction pitch distance y of the tip of the back side folding tooth and the Y axis direction pitch distance y of the tip of the front side folding tooth.
And a Y-axis moving step of moving the tip of the front folding tooth and the tip of the back folding tooth along the Y axis while rotating in the XY plane as the Y side rotates. 2. The Y-axis direction pitch distance y decreases as the X-axis direction pitch distance x decreases.
A method of folding a thin plate-like material according to claim 3. 5. During the steps of the X-axis moving step, the Y-axis moving step, and the Z-axis moving step, the spacing between the tips of the back side folding teeth or the front side folding teeth lined up in the Y axis direction is set. The method for folding a thin plate-like material according to claim 4, wherein the path length on the zigzag line is not changed. 6. The parallelogram has a first side having a length a and a second side having a length b along the X axis, and an intersecting angle of the first side and the second side is θ degrees from a right angle. And the relationship between the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Y-axis direction pitch distance y is the following second equation By ² + A (1 / x ² ) = 1 where A = a ² sin ² The method for folding a thin plate-like material according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that θ and B = 1 / b ² . 7. A plurality of flat surfaces, which are adjacent to each other when a flat thin plate material placed in an orthogonal X-Y-Z space is developed on an X-Y plane and share sides and corners with each other. A plane region having at least no outer peripheral edge, which is composed of regions, is a parallelogram, and X sides that are sides along the X axis are connected to form a straight line, and Y sides that are sides along the Y axis are alternately bent and connected. Becomes a zigzag line, and the X-side is a thin plate shape in which mountain folds and valley folds are alternately repeated along the X axis, and zigzag lines lined up along the X axis are alternately folded to repeat mountain folds and valley folds. A folding device for a material, which comprises a back side folding tooth that abuts the tip of the tooth from the back side along the Z axis on the Y side of the flat thin plate-shaped material placed on the XY plane to be mountain-folded,
A front side folding tooth that abuts a tip from the front side along the Z axis on the Y side of a flat thin plate-shaped material placed on the XY plane and is valley-folded, and a tip of the back side folding tooth and the front side. An X-axis moving mechanism that moves the back side folding tooth and the front side folding tooth along the X axis so that the X-axis direction pitch x with the tooth tip of the folding tooth becomes short;
A Z-axis moving mechanism that moves the back side folding teeth or the front side folding teeth along the Z axis in a direction to bite each other so that the Z-axis direction distance z between the tip side of the back side folding tooth and the tip side of the front side folding tooth increases. And the X-axis direction pitch x decreases as the Z-axis direction interval z increases. 8. The X-axis moving mechanism and the Z-axis moving mechanism are provided in the plane area of the tooth tip of the back side folding tooth and the tip side of the front side folding tooth that are abutted against Y sides sandwiching one plane area. The apparatus for folding a thin plate-like material according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is operated in synchronization so that the relative position in the plane does not change. 9. The parallelogram has a first side having a length a along the X axis, and the relationship between the X axis direction pitch distance x and the Z axis direction distance z is the following first expression. The device for folding a thin plate-like material according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that x ² + z ² = a ² . 10. The tip of the front folding tooth and the back surface of the front folding tooth so that the Y-axis pitch distance y of the tip of the back folding tooth and the Y-axis pitch distance y of the tip of the front folding tooth are shortened. A Y-axis moving mechanism that moves the tip of the folding tooth along the Y-axis while rotating in the XY plane with the rotation of the Y side is provided, and as the X-axis direction pitch distance x decreases, the Y-axis The thin plate-shaped material folding device according to claim 7, wherein an axial pitch distance y is reduced. 11. The X-axis moving mechanism, the Y-axis moving mechanism, and the Z-axis moving mechanism are arranged on a zigzag line between the tips of the back-side folding teeth or the front-side folding teeth arranged in the Y-axis direction. 11. The apparatus for folding a thin plate-like material according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus operates in synchronization so that the path length of the sheet material does not change. 12. The length a of the parallelogram along the X-axis.
Of the first side and the second side of the length b, the intersection angle of the first side and the second side is inclined by θ degrees from a right angle, and the X-axis direction pitch distance x and the Y-axis direction pitch are The following second equation By ² + A (1 / x ² ) = 1 in relation to the distance y is expressed by A = a ² sin ² θ and B = 1 / b ² below. The apparatus for folding a thin plate-like material according to claim 10 or 11. 13. A thin plate-shaped material folded by the method for folding a thin plate-shaped material according to any one of claims 1 to 6.