JP2006248769A - Simulation device, simulation method, and design support program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simulation device capable of starting simulation by easily defining a flexible medium anywhere on the way of a conveying path without performing the work for selecting or forming a straight part when initially arranging the flexible medium. <P>SOLUTION: The flexible medium is formed into a desirable shape comprising a straight line and a circular part (S111), and divided into rigid components (S12). An angle formed by the formed rigid components of the flexible medium is computed (S13). Angle at 0° is computed in the part formed by the straight line, and angle ϕ is computed on the basis of curvature and the number of division in the part formed by a curve. Motion computing is started (S14). In the case wherein the angle computed in the step S13 is not 0°, restoring force for returning the angle to 0° is applied to each of mass points from the first step of the motion computing (S15). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a simulation apparatus, a simulation method, and a design support program that can be used for designing a conveyance path for conveying a sheet-like flexible medium such as paper or film.

  When designing transport routes that are installed in devices such as copiers and laser beam printers and transport flexible media in the form of sheets such as paper, the transport route is designed to shorten the development period and reduce costs. The behavior of a flexible medium that moves is analyzed by computer simulation and drawn on a screen.

  As a simulation technique, the flexible medium is expressed by a finite element by the finite element method, contact with the conveyance guide or roller in the conveyance path is determined, and the equation of motion is numerically solved. A design support program for evaluating the conveyance resistance and contact angle with the guide has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  There is also known a technique for improving the calculation speed by expressing the flexible medium more simply by a mass and a spring.

  When analyzing the motion of a flexible medium, as described above, a motion equation of the flexible medium expressed discretely by a finite element or mass-spring system is established, and the analysis target time is divided into time steps having a finite width. New time β method, Wilson θ method, Euler method, Kutta-merson method, etc. are analyzed by sequentially obtaining unknown acceleration, velocity, and displacement for each time step from time 0 (numerical time integration). Widely known.

  Here, the flexible medium is divided into rigid elements, and a flexible medium model is created by connecting the divided rigid elements with springs. Using this model, a force proportional to the displacement from the original shape is generated. Let That is, the original shape is a shape drawn as an initial shape, and when it is deformed by an external force, a restoring force to return to this shape is applied.

Usually, the flexible medium is a straight line when set in an apparatus such as a copying machine. Therefore, the initial shape of the flexible medium is defined by a straight line, and the behavior calculation is started from a state where the restoring force is zero.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-195052 JP-A-11-116133

  However, the conventional simulation technique has the following problems.

  If you simulate the entire transport path from paper feed to paper discharge for one model at a time, the computational load and the scale of the calculation model will become enormous. Therefore, if necessary, the part of the entire transport path that you want to evaluate It is efficient to cut out only and perform simulation from the middle of the transport path. However, conventionally, since the flexible medium is defined by a straight line, in order to calculate from the middle of the conveyance path, (1) the flexible medium can be arranged on an appropriate straight part, or (2) the straight flexible medium can be arranged. It is necessary to change the conveyance path (for example, to provide a straight conveyance guide and a conveyance roller at the start position of the flexible medium).

  However, since there is almost no straight line portion in the conveyance path where a flexible medium having a desired length can be arranged, it is difficult to perform a simulation by cutting out only a portion to be evaluated from all the conveyance paths (the above ( 1)). Also, if a transport guide or transport roller that is different from the design drawing is added (above (2)), not only will the designer be misunderstood, but the transport route on the design drawing created by CAD or the like will be read and the behavior will continue. Even when it is desired to perform the simulation, there is a problem that the user is forced to perform correction work related to the additional portion.

  In the present invention, in view of the above-described conventional problems, a flexible medium can be easily defined in any part of the conveyance path without performing an operation of selecting or creating a straight line portion when the flexible medium is initially arranged. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simulation apparatus, a simulation method, and a design support program that can start a simulation.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a simulation apparatus for simulating the behavior of a sheet-like flexible medium moving in a conveyance path on the display screen on which predefined components are displayed. Shape setting means for setting the shape of the flexible medium whose operation is simulated, and simulation means for simulating the behavior of the flexible medium set by the shape setting means, wherein the simulation means When the shape is a curved shape, a restoring force is applied to the flexible medium to return to the linear shape in accordance with the start of the simulation.

  In addition, according to the simulation method of the simulation apparatus for simulating the behavior of the sheet-like flexible medium moving in the conveyance path, the operation is simulated in the conveyance path on a display screen on which predefined components are displayed. A shape setting step for setting the shape of the flexible medium; and a simulation step for simulating the behavior of the flexible medium set in the shape setting step. In the simulation step, the shape of the flexible medium set is a curved shape. In this case, according to the start of the simulation, the simulation is executed by applying a restoring force to return the flexible medium to a linear shape.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily define a flexible medium and start a simulation in any part of the conveyance path without performing an operation of selecting or creating a straight line portion at the initial placement of the flexible medium. It becomes possible to do. As a result, an increase in the size of the calculation model and the calculation load can be suppressed, and the calculation model can be easily created.

  Embodiments of a simulation apparatus, a simulation method, and a design support program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Device configuration]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a simulation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The simulation apparatus is configured by a computer, and includes a video RAM (VRAM) 201, a keyboard 204, a pointing device (PD) 205, a CPU 206, a ROM 208, a RAM 209, a hard disk drive (HDD) 210, and a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive. Each device such as (FDD) 211 is connected via an I / O bus (consisting of an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus) 207.

  The CPU 206 controls each unit of the present apparatus based on a control program (design support program related to the present invention for supporting the design of the conveyance path) stored in the ROM 208. The RAM 209 is used as a work area when the CPU 206 executes a design support program or the like and a temporary save area during error processing. The hard disk drive 210 and the floppy (registered trademark) disk drive 211 are used for storing a database for supporting a transfer route design, an application program, and the like.

  The video RAM 201 is a memory that develops and stores characters and images displayed on the screen of the display device 202, the keyboard 204 includes various keys related to input, and a pointing device 205 is a mouse for pointing icons and the like on the screen. Etc.

  When the simulation apparatus having the above configuration is turned on, the CPU 206 initializes the apparatus in accordance with the boot program stored in the ROM 208, loads the OS (operating system) from the HDD 210, and then performs processing according to the present embodiment described in detail below. In order to realize the above, a design support program or the like is operated.

  The design support program related to the present invention is stored in the ROM 208, but of course, it may be stored in the hard disk 210 or the like, and the present invention is not limited by the storage medium.

[Process of this embodiment]
Hereinafter, a series of processing according to the present embodiment will be described with respect to behavioral simulation in the conveyance path of the flexible medium. This series of processing is realized by the CPU 206 executing the design support program according to the present embodiment in the ROM 208 of the simulation apparatus shown in FIG.

  That is, the design support program according to the present embodiment simulates the behavior of a sheet-like flexible medium including paper and film being transported in a transport path configured by a transport guide and a transport roller. This program supports design. The simulation apparatus executed by this design support program arranges the processing for defining the mechanical parts of the conveyance path including the conveyance guide and the conveyance roller, and the flexible medium that is originally a straight line bent in the middle of the conveyance path. Processing, dividing the arranged flexible medium into a plurality of rigid elements with mass, calculating the initial angle between each rigid element, and connecting each rigid element with a spring to pull and rotate A process for generating a restoring force, a roller driving method as a conveyance condition, and a process for setting a friction coefficient between the roller and the conveyance guide and the flexible medium are executed, and then, based on all these processes, The behavior of the medium is obtained in a time series by numerical simulation, and the behavior of the flexible medium thus obtained is displayed on the display device 202. Hereinafter, the process of the simulation apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

<Definition of transport mechanism>
FIG. 2 is a screen display diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed in the process of defining the transport mechanism.

  As shown in the figure, this screen includes a menu bar 1 for switching main processes, a sub-configuration menu 2 for each process, a graphical screen 3 on which defined transport paths and processing results are displayed, and a program message. And a command field 4 for inputting numerical values as necessary.

  First, a transport route is defined. When the “transport route” button 1a in the menu bar 1 is pressed to define the transport route, the sub-configuration menu 2 of the transport route definition process is displayed with a desired range area on the left side of the screen as shown in FIG. Is done. The sub-configuration menu 2 includes a roller pair definition button 2A for defining a pair of transport rollers with two rollers, a roller definition button 2B for defining one roller independently, and a straight guide definition button for defining a straight transport guide. 2C, an arc guide definition button 2D for defining an arc conveyance guide, a spline guide definition button 2E for defining a conveyance guide with a spline curve, and a flapper (point) for branching a path along which the flexible medium is conveyed A flapper definition button 2F, a sensor definition button 2G for defining a sensor for detecting whether or not the flexible medium is at a predetermined position in the transport path, and the like can be displayed.

  Each of these buttons 2A to 2G is a part that constitutes a conveyance path of an actual copying machine or printer. Therefore, it is desirable that all the parts necessary for configuring the conveyance path of the flexible medium such as paper are prepared. When the definition of each component is performed using the sub-configuration menu, the position shape is reflected on the graphic screen 3.

<Definition of flexible media>
Next, a flexible medium is defined. By selecting a “medium definition” button 1b provided in the menu bar 1 of FIG. 2, it is possible to shift to the model definition of the flexible medium.

  FIG. 3 is a screen display diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed in the process of defining the flexible medium. On this screen, the components in the conveyance path defined in advance as described above are displayed.

  By detecting that the “medium definition” button 1b on the menu bar 1 is selected, the sub-configuration menu 2 includes a drawing shape selection screen 2I, a medium type selection screen 2J, and a division method as shown in FIG. A selection screen 2K is displayed.

  Here, in order to determine the position and shape of the flexible medium in the transport path as the initial position, when the selection of “straight line” in the drawing figure selection screen 2I is detected, the coordinate values of both ends of the flexible medium are changed. A message prompting input is displayed in the command field 4. The coordinate value can be input by inputting a numerical value into the command field 4 from the keyboard 204 or by directly instructing the graphic screen 3 by the pointing device 205. When the coordinates of both ends of the flexible medium are designated, a straight line (broken line) 22 connecting the both ends 21 is drawn on the graphic screen 3 to check how the flexible medium is installed in the transport path. be able to.

  Further, it is also possible to create a drawing pattern of a flexible medium in the shape of an “arc” or a “spline” corresponding to a bent conveyance path as shown in FIG. Next, this point will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a screen display diagram showing the arrangement of the flexible medium on the bent conveyance path. In order to start the straight flexible medium from the bent state, the flexible medium is bent and arranged at the bent portion in the middle of the conveyance path. Shows the state. FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams for explaining a procedure for creating a bent flexible medium. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of creating a flexible medium having an arbitrary shape.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the partial conveyance path 100 model in which a part of the entire conveyance path is cut out, for example, when a behavior simulation of a flexible medium of 300 mm is performed, there is a straight portion exceeding 300 mm in the partial conveyance path 100. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the flexible medium 200 in a bent state.

  To create a model of the bent flexible medium 200, an arc button or a spline curve button on the shape creation screen 2I is used. For example, in order to create an arc, a start point 31, an intermediate point 32, and an end point 33 through which the arc passes are selected after the arc button is pressed as shown in FIG. This selection is performed by clicking on the screen or by inputting a numerical value in the command list 4. When the spline curve is selected, as shown in FIG. 5B, several points 34 through which the spline curve passes are selected.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 6, when a line is created starting from the end 35 of the flexible medium, each line is connected, and an arbitrary shape combining straight lines, arcs, and spline curves can be created. That is, by detecting the positions of these designated points, the linear shape or curved shape of the flexible medium can be selected.

<Definition of flexible medium as elastic body>
FIG. 7 is a screen display diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed in the process of dividing the flexible medium into a plurality of rigid elements.

  When the flexible medium is defined as described above, a message prompting the input of the number of divisions or the division size when the flexible medium is discretized into a plurality of spring-mass systems is displayed in the command column 4. In the example of FIG. 7, an example is shown in which a flexible medium is defined by a straight line, the number of divisions is 10, and “equal division” is selected on the division method selection screen 2K.

  In the figure, a rotary spring 52 connecting the mass points 51 expresses bending rigidity when the flexible medium is regarded as an elastic body, and a translation spring 53 expresses tensile rigidity. The constants of both springs 52 and 53 can be derived from elasticity theory. The rotation spring constant kr and the translation spring constant ks are given by the following equations using the Young's modulus E, the width w, the paper thickness t, and the distance ΔL between the mass points.

  The mass m of the mass point is calculated by the following equation, assuming that the length L, the width w, the paper thickness t, the density ρ, and the division number n of the flexible medium.

[Equation 2]
m = Lwtρ / (n−1)
With the above operation, the flexible medium is model-defined as an elastic body that reacts to bending and pulling forces on the program.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the restoring force by the rotating spring.

  In the program, the flexible medium generates a restoring force against bending by the rotation spring 52. The restoring force is a force that causes the deformation to return to the original shape. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the state where the rigid elements are arranged in a straight line is the state of the restoring force 0, FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, in the state having the angle φ, a restoring force for returning to a straight line is generated.

  FIG. 9 is a screen display diagram for explaining the process of dividing the bent flexible medium, and shows an example in which the element size is specified as 2 mm and the element size is equally divided so that the element size becomes 2 mm.

  As shown in the figure, when a flexible medium is defined in an arbitrary shape and “equal division” is selected, the rigid element is divided into equal parts of the total length combining straight lines, arcs, and spline curves. Equal division may be performed by inputting the number of divisions or designating the size of one element after division.

  In addition, in order to divide the rigid element by partially changing the division size, for example, when dividing the flexible medium partially, select a part of the flexible medium, and the number of divisions for the selected part. Or specify the partition size. FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram showing an example of the partial division processing. This example is an example in which the length of the flexible medium in the selected area 44 is equally divided with the division size set to 1 mm.

  In order to select a part of the flexible medium, in addition to the method of designating the area as a rectangle as shown in FIG. 10, a method of designating a range by numerically inputting the distance from the end of the flexible medium may be used. Similarly, unequal division including partial equality division can also be performed. In the case of equal ratio division, in addition to the division ratio, the maximum value of the element size is input, or the division number is input to perform division.

  Next, selection of the medium type of the flexible medium will be described. In the medium type selection screen 2J of the present embodiment, representative flexible medium type names are registered in advance, and the type of flexible medium to be calculated is selected by clicking with the pointing device 205. Parameters required for the motion calculation process described later are information on the Young's modulus, density, and thickness of the flexible medium, and the parameters are assigned as a database to the paper type displayed in the medium type selection screen 2J. Yes.

  In the present embodiment, recycled paper A is selected as the medium type. As a result, the Young's modulus of recycled paper A is 5409 Mpa, the density is 6.8 × 10 −7 kg / mm 3, and the paper thickness is 0.0951 mm. Will be selected from the database.

<Setting transport conditions and friction coefficient>
After the discretization into the spring-mass element is performed by the model definition of the flexible medium as described above, the transport condition is set. In this conveyance condition setting process, the driving condition of the conveyance roller and the friction coefficient at the time of contact between the conveyance guide or conveyance roller and the flexible medium are defined.

  11 and 12 are screen display diagrams illustrating an example of a screen displayed in the conveyance condition setting process according to the present embodiment.

  When the “conveyance condition” button 1 c in the menu bar 1 is pressed, a screen for defining the drive condition, the friction coefficient, and the conveyance roller is displayed in the sub-configuration menu 2. FIG. 11 shows an input example of the drive control of the transport roller. At the stage when the driving condition “roller” in the sub-configuration menu 2 is selected (the “roller” portion in FIG. 11 is highlighted). is there.

  With “roller” in the sub-configuration menu 2 selected, a transport roller that defines a drive condition is selected from the transport rollers displayed on the graphic screen 3. When the selection of the necessary transport rollers is completed, if the time and the number of rotations of the roller are input to the command field 4 as feature points, the number of rotations of the roller with respect to time is displayed on the graphic screen 3 as shown in FIG. A graph is displayed.

  For example, a graph can be created and displayed on the graphic screen 3 by inputting a feature point consisting of a set of time and rotation number from the command column 4 as needed. In this embodiment, the rotation speed of the conveyance roller is linearly increased from 0 to 120 rpm by 0 to 1 second, maintained at 120 rpm until 1 to 3 seconds, and decelerated to 120 rpm to 0 during 3 to 4 seconds. The feature points were input as follows. As a result, a graph with time on the horizontal axis and the number of roller rotations on the vertical axis is displayed on the graphic screen 3 as shown in FIG.

  Even when the friction coefficient is defined, the conveyance roller or the conveyance guide displayed on the graphic screen 3 is individually selected with “friction coefficient” selected in the drive condition of the sub-configuration menu 2 and selected. The friction coefficient μ with the flexible medium is input from the command column 4 for each transport roller or transport guide. Assuming that the normal force obtained by the contact calculation between the mass point of the flexible medium and the conveyance roller or the conveyance guide is N, the frictional force in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the flexible medium as shown in FIG. It is set so that μN works.

<Motion calculation processing>
Next, a motion calculation process for calculating the motion of the flexible medium in the transport path will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the motion calculation process according to the present embodiment.

  First, in step S61, an actual time T of motion calculation and a time step Δt of numerical time integration used when numerically finding the solution of the motion equation are set. Thereafter, steps S62 to S67 are a loop of numerical time integration, and the motion of the flexible medium is calculated every Δt from the initial time, and the result is stored in the RAM 209.

  In step S62, an initial acceleration, an initial speed, and an initial displacement necessary for calculation after Δt seconds are set. As for these values, the calculation result (that is, the calculation value of the previous cycle is set as the initial value) is input every time one cycle ends.

  In subsequent step S63, forces acting on the respective mass points forming the flexible medium are defined. This force includes rotational moment, restoring force expressed by pulling force, contact force, friction force, gravity, air resistance force, and Coulomb force. After calculating the force acting on each mass point, the resultant force is It is defined as the force finally applied to the flexible medium.

  In the next step S64, the resultant force of each mass point obtained in step S63 is divided by the mass of the mass point, and the acceleration after Δt seconds is calculated by adding the initial acceleration, and in step S65, the velocity is calculated. In step S66, the displacement is calculated. That is, in step S65, the acceleration is multiplied by Δt, and the initial velocity is added to calculate the velocity after Δt seconds. In step S66, the velocity is multiplied by Δt, and the initial displacement is added to obtain Δt. Calculate the displacement in seconds.

  In this embodiment, Euler's time integration method is used for the physical quantity calculation after a series of Δt seconds in steps S63 to S66. However, the Kutta-merson, Newmark-β method, Willson-θ method, etc. The time integration method may be adopted.

  In step S67, it is determined whether or not the calculation time has reached the real time T set in step S61. If the calculation time has reached, the motion calculation process is terminated. If not, the process returns to step S62 again, and the time integration is repeated.

  When the flexible medium is defined in an arbitrary shape, it is assumed that the linear flexible medium is deformed in the rotary spring 52 by an angle that is already formed by the element before the motion calculation is started. Since the reference shape of the flexible medium is a straight line, that is, the element angle is 0 °, a restoring force that returns to 0 ° due to the spring stiffness is generated from the first step of the motion calculation.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an outline of behavior simulation when the flexible medium is defined in an arbitrary shape, which is executed by the CPU 206 based on the program read from the ROM 206 to the RAM 209.

  As described above, first, the CPU 206 creates a flexible medium in an arbitrary shape including a straight line or an arc in accordance with a user operation (step S111), and then divides the flexible medium into rigid elements (step S112). At this time, an angle formed by the rigid elements of the created flexible medium is calculated (step S113). An angle of 0 ° is calculated for a portion created by a straight line, and an angle φ is calculated from the curvature and the number of divisions for a portion created by a curve, and the information is stored in the RAM 209.

  Then, the CPU 206 starts motion calculation (simulation) (step S114). When the angle calculated in step S113 according to the start of the simulation is not 0 ° (that is, a portion where the flexible medium is set as a curved shape), the angle is restored to 0 ° from the first step of the motion calculation. A force acts on each mass point (step S115). Thereafter, the motion calculation is performed as usual until the set real time is reached.

  FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a behavior simulation of a flexible medium arranged in a bent conveyance path.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the flexible medium 200A is defined in an arc shape in the bent conveyance path, and is linear with respect to the flexible medium 200A as indicated by the dotted line in the figure as the motion calculation process starts. Generate resilience to return. The flexible medium 200B after the generation of the restoring force comes into contact with the conveyance guide 100. Further, when the curl amount is set at the end portion of the flexible medium, a restoring force that returns to the set curl shape acts on the curled portion. After this process, the simulation is actually executed.

<Result display process>
FIG. 17 is a screen display diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed in the result display process according to the present embodiment.

  As a result display, when a “result display” button 1d in the menu bar 1 is pressed, a moving image menu and a plot menu are displayed in the sub-configuration menu 2 as shown in FIG. In the sub-configuration menu 2, the contents of moving images and plots can be selected. The moving picture menu includes a play button 71, a stop button 72, a pause button 73, a fast forward button 74, and a rewind button 75. With these buttons, the behavior of the flexible medium can be visualized on the graphic screen 3.

  After the result display process, a graph display process is performed. FIG. 18 is a screen display diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed in the graph display processing according to the present embodiment.

  In this graph display processing, when any of the calculation results of acceleration, velocity, displacement, and resistance of the mass point to be graphed is selected from the plot menu of the sub-configuration menu 2, the time is displayed on the graphic screen 3 as shown in FIG. A series graph is displayed.

<Advantages of the embodiment>
(1) Define a flexible medium, which is essentially a straight line, bent in the middle of the conveyance path, divide the defined flexible medium into a plurality of rigid elements having masses, and calculate an initial angle between the rigid elements. Keep it. Then, by restoring the rigid elements by springs, the restoring force of tension and rotation is calculated, and the force to return the initial angle to the linear shape is calculated. In other words, for the flexible medium defined in the bent state, the process of generating the restoring force of the rotating spring from the initial calculation step so that the angle formed by each element returns to 0 ° is executed. As the behavior of the flexible medium defined in the above state, the same behavior as that of the straight flexible medium passing through the bent portion of the transport path can be obtained. As a result, it is possible to easily define a flexible medium and start a simulation at any part of the conveyance path without performing an operation such as selecting or creating a straight line portion at the initial placement of the flexible medium. It becomes possible. As a result, it is possible not only to suppress an increase in the size of the calculation model and the calculation load, but also to facilitate the creation of the calculation model, such as using the conveyance path read from the design drawing as it is for the simulation.

  In addition, it is possible to evaluate the function of the transport path under various conditions before actually creating the actual product, and even a designer who does not have detailed simulation knowledge regarding the flexible medium modeling policy can achieve relatively high accuracy. Can lead to good calculation results.

  (2) The initial shape of the flexible medium is defined by combining several figures including a straight line, an arc, or a spline curve, so that the flexible medium is arranged in a shape suitable for the path in any shape of the conveyance path. be able to.

  (3) When dividing a rigid element of a flexible medium, an appropriate division size is calculated by specifying a desired division method and element size for the whole or a part of the flexible medium and automatically divided. Since the process is executed, the optimum flexible medium model can be created without the user being confused by the division of the rigid element.

  (4) For flexible media, the element size is partially specified regardless of the shape, and various element sizes are allowed to coexist. Therefore, the element size is reduced for the portion where the behavior of the flexible medium is to be evaluated with higher accuracy. For parts that do not require high accuracy, the calculation load can be reduced by setting a larger element size.

  Note that an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus as a storage medium. This is accomplished by reading and executing stored program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD. -RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code, etc. Includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the simulation apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a screen display figure which shows an example of the screen displayed in the case of the process which defines a conveyance mechanism. It is a screen display figure which shows an example of the screen displayed in the case of the process which defines a flexible medium. It is a screen display figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the flexible medium in the bent conveyance path | route. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the preparation procedure of the bent flexible medium. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the method to produce the flexible medium of arbitrary shapes. It is a screen display figure showing an example of a screen displayed in the case of processing which divides a flexible medium into a plurality of rigid elements. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the restoring force by a rotation spring. It is a screen display figure explaining the division | segmentation process of the bent flexible medium. It is a screen display figure showing an example of partial division processing. It is a screen display figure which shows an example of the screen displayed in the case of the conveyance condition setting process which concerns on embodiment. It is a screen display figure which shows an example of the screen displayed in the case of the conveyance condition setting process which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the friction coefficient at the time of a conveyance condition setting process. It is a flowchart which shows the exercise | movement calculation process which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the behavior simulation in the case of defining a flexible medium by arbitrary shapes. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the behavior simulation of the flexible medium arrange | positioned in the bent conveyance path | route. It is a screen display figure which shows an example of the screen displayed in the case of the result display process which concerns on embodiment. It is a screen display figure which shows an example of the screen displayed in the case of the graph display process which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Menu bar 2 Sub structure menu 3 Graphic screen 4 Command field 51 Mass 52 Rotary spring 53 Translation spring 100 Conveyance path 200 Flexible medium 204 Keyboard 205 Pointing device (PD)
206 CPU
208 ROM
209 RAM
210 Hard disk drive (HDD)

Claims (6)

In a simulation apparatus for simulating the behavior of a sheet-like flexible medium moving in a conveyance path,
On a display screen on which predefined components are displayed, shape setting means for setting the shape of a flexible medium whose operation is simulated in the transport path;
Simulation means for simulating the behavior of the flexible medium set by the shape setting means,
When the set shape of the flexible medium is a curved shape, the simulation means applies a restoring force to return the linear shape to the flexible medium according to the start of the simulation. A curl amount setting means for setting a curl amount of the flexible medium;
When the shape of the flexible medium set by the shape setting means is a curved shape, the simulation means returns the curl shape to the curled portion set by the flexible medium setting means when the simulation starts. A simulation apparatus characterized by exerting a restoring force to exert a restoring force to return a straight shape to a portion that is not a curled portion while exerting a restoring force to attempt to restore. In the simulation method of the simulation device for simulating the behavior of the sheet-like flexible medium moving in the conveyance path,
A shape setting step for setting a shape of a flexible medium whose operation is simulated in the transport path on a display screen on which predefined components are displayed;
A simulation step of simulating the behavior of the flexible medium set in the shape setting step,
In the simulation step, when the set shape of the flexible medium is a curved shape, the simulation is executed by applying a restoring force to return the flexible medium to the linear shape according to the start of the simulation. A simulation method for a simulation apparatus. And a curl amount setting step for setting a curl amount of the flexible medium.
In the simulation step, when the shape of the flexible medium set in the shape setting step is a curved shape, the curl shape is returned to the curl portion set in the flexible medium setting step according to the start of the simulation. A simulation method of a simulation apparatus, wherein a simulation is performed by applying a restoring force to be attempted, and a restoring force is applied to a portion that is not a curled portion to return to a linear shape.   The program which makes a simulation apparatus perform the simulation method of Claim 3 or Claim 4.   A storage medium for storing the program according to claim 5.

Images