JP2009274358A - Process for forming lumber and exterior for electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process for forming lumber which can be suitably used for uniformizing mutual color tone and luster when separately compressing members mutually contiguous before forming, and to provide an exterior for electronic device. <P>SOLUTION: The process includes: a shaping step of shaping raw wood into a blank material in a predetermined figure; a dividing step of dividing the blank material shaped in the shaping step into one or more sub-blank materials; and a compression step of collectively compressing a plurality of sub-blank materials divided in the dividing step in a water vapor ambience higher in temperature and pressure than the atmospheric air so that each sub-blank material deforms. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wood molding method for molding a wood into a predetermined three-dimensional shape by compressing the wood, and an electronic device exterior body molded using the molding method.

  In recent years, natural wood has attracted attention. Since wood has various grain patterns, individual differences occur depending on the location of the raw wood, and the individual differences are the individuality of each product. In addition, scratches and changes in color caused by long-term use may also have a unique texture and may be familiar to the user. For these reasons, wood is attracting attention as a material that can produce unique and tasty products that are not found in products using synthetic resins and light metals, and its molding technology is also making rapid progress.

  Conventionally, as a technique for forming such wood, after compressing a piece of water softened and softened, and slicing the wood substantially parallel to the compression direction to obtain a plate-like primary fixed product, this primary fixed product is heated and absorbed by water. There is known a technique of forming a predetermined three-dimensional shape while performing the process (for example, see Patent Document 1). There is also known a technique in which a piece of wood compressed in a softened state is temporarily fixed, and this wood is put into a mold and recovered to mold (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  Also disclosed is a technique for forming an exterior body of an electronic device such as a digital camera by using compressed wood formed using the wood forming technique described above (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent No. 3078452 JP-A-11-77619 JP 2004-64021 A

  By the way, in the exterior body for electronic devices described in Patent Document 3, for example, a lid member having a configuration that is detachable or openable / closable from the main body of the electronic device may be provided, for example, at a location where a battery is stored. If a cover member made of compressed wood is fixed to the main body of an electronic device adjacent to the attachment position of the lid member, by compressing two partial pieces of wood that are separated from each other by dividing the series of pieces of wood If the lid member and the cover member are molded, it is possible to align the grain of the lid member and the cover member with the lid member attached. However, when the two partial timbers are individually compressed, each partial timber is compressed under different conditions, so that there may be a slight difference in color tone and gloss after compression.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is a method for forming wood that can uniformly align the color tone and gloss even when compression-molding a separate series of wood pieces And it aims at providing the exterior body for electronic devices.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a wood molding method according to the present invention includes a shaping process for shaping a blank material having a predetermined shape from raw wood, and a blank shaped by the shaping process. A dividing step of dividing the material into a plurality of partial blank materials, and the partial blank materials by compressing the plurality of partial blank materials divided in the dividing step in a steam atmosphere at a higher temperature and pressure than air. And a compression step for deforming.

  Further, in the wood molding method according to the present invention, in the above invention, the compression step is to sandwich the plurality of partial blank materials by a pair of dies in a state in which the partial blank materials are arranged in a shape substantially matching the blank material before division. And applying a compressive force to each partial blank.

  Moreover, the exterior body for electronic devices which concerns on this invention is an exterior body for electronic devices which exteriorizes an electronic device, Comprising: After dividing the blank material shape | molded from the raw wood into several partial blank materials, these several partial blanks A plurality of timbers each deformed into a predetermined shape by collectively compressing the material in a steam atmosphere at a higher temperature and pressure than air, and arranging the plurality of timbers in a shape corresponding to the shape of the blank material It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, after dividing a blank material shaped from raw wood into a plurality of partial blank materials, the partial blank materials are compressed together in the same water vapor atmosphere, so that the plurality of partial blank materials under uniform conditions. Can be compressed. Therefore, even if a series of wood pieces are separated and compression-molded, the color tone and gloss of each other can be made uniform.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the drawings referred to in the following description are schematic, and when the same object is shown in different drawings, dimensions, scales, and the like may be different.

  FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing of a wood forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention. When forming wood, first, wood having a predetermined shape (hereinafter referred to as “blank material”) is shaped from raw wood by cutting or the like (step S1). FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an outline of this shaping process. In the shaping process, a blank material 2 having a substantially dish shape is shaped by cutting or the like from a raw wood 1 such as a solid wood in an uncompressed state. For the log 1, an optimum material may be selected from cypress, hiba, paulownia, cedar, pine, cherry blossom, cocoon, ebony, shidan, bamboo, teak, mahogany, rosewood and the like.

  The blank member 2 includes two side plates that extend in a curved manner with respect to the main plate portion 2a from each of a flat main plate portion 2a having a substantially rectangular surface and two short sides facing each other on the surface of the main plate portion 2a. Part 2b, and two side plate parts 2c that are curved and extend from each of the two long side parts facing each other on the surface of main plate part 2a with respect to main plate part 2a. Since the blank material 2 is divided into a plurality of partial blank materials in a division step described later, the blank material 2 has a shape including an amount (processing margin) lost by the division. Moreover, the blank material 2 has the volume which added the volume for the amount reduced by the compression process mentioned later previously. In addition, in FIG. 2, although the case where the grain G of the blank material 2 is a grid material substantially parallel to the fiber direction of the blank material 2 is shown, this is only an example. That is, the blank material formed in step S1 may be a grain material or a mouthpiece material.

  Subsequently, the blank material 2 shaped in step S1 is divided into two partial blank materials 21 and 22 (step S2). FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of the dividing step. In the case shown in FIG. 3, the blank material 2 is cut along a cutting plane parallel to the short direction (left and right direction in FIG. 3). When cutting, a cutting tool such as an electric cutter is used. The width of the machining margin h provided at the stage of shaping the blank material 2 from the raw wood 1 is about several mm. In addition, the number and shape which divide the blank material 2 are arbitrary. Hereinafter, the portion derived from the main plate portion 2a of the blank material 2 in the partial blank material 21 is referred to as a main plate portion 21a, and the portion derived from the main plate portion 2a of the blank material 2 in the partial blank material 22 is referred to as a main plate portion 22a. Moreover, the part which each originates in the side plate parts 2b and 2c of the blank material 2 with the partial blank material 21 is called side plate part 21b and 21c, and the part which originates in the side plate parts 2b and 2c of the blank material 2 with the partial blank material 22, respectively. These are referred to as side plate portions 22b and 22c.

  Then, the partial blank materials 21 and 22 are softened by leaving them for a predetermined time in a steam atmosphere having a temperature higher than that of the atmosphere and absorbing water excessively (step S3). The high temperature and high pressure here refers to a state where the temperature is about 100 to 230 ° C. and the pressure is about 0.1 to 3.0 MPa (megapascal). Such a water vapor atmosphere can be realized, for example, by using a pressure vessel. In the case of using a pressure vessel, the inside of the pressure vessel may be the above-described water vapor atmosphere, and the partial blank materials 21 and 22 may be left in the inside. In addition, instead of softening the partial blank materials 21 and 22 in the water vapor atmosphere described above, after supplying moisture to the surface of the partial blank materials 21 and 22, the partial blank materials 21 and 22 are applied by high-frequency electromagnetic waves such as microwaves. It may be softened by heating, or may be softened by boiling the partial blank materials 21 and 22.

  Next, the partial blank materials 21 and 22 softened in step S3 are compressed (step S4). In this step S4, the partial blank materials 21 and 22 are sandwiched by a pair of molds in the same water vapor atmosphere as in step S3 and arranged in a shape substantially coincident with the blank material 2 before division, and the compression force is collectively applied. By adding, the partial blank materials 21 and 22 are deformed into a predetermined three-dimensional shape. When the partial blank materials 21 and 22 are softened in the pressure vessel, the partial blank materials 21 and 22 may be continuously compressed in the pressure vessel.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of the compression process in step S4 and a configuration of a main part of a pair of molds used in the compression process. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the partial blank materials 21 and 22 are sandwiched between a pair of molds 11 and 12 and a predetermined compression force is applied thereto.

  The mold 11 for applying a compressive force from above the partial blank materials 21 and 22 during the compression step is a recess 111 that abuts on the surface of the partial blank materials 21 and 22 corresponding to the surface on the protruding side of the blank material 2. Is a cavity mold. The surface of the portion of each of the partial blanks 21 and 22 that is curved from the main plate portions 21a and 22a to the side plate portions 21b and 22b, and the concave surface that is in contact with the surface is defined as RO. When the radius of curvature of the surface of 111 is RA, the two curvature radii RO and RA satisfy the relationship RO> RA.

  On the other hand, the mold 12 for applying a compressive force from below the partial blank materials 21 and 22 during the compression process is applied to the surface of the partial blank materials 21 and 22 corresponding to the concave surface of the blank material 2. It is a core metal mold | die provided with the convex part 121 which each contact | abuts. The curvature radius of the surface of the portion of the partial blank 21, 22 that is curved from the main plate portion 21 a, 22 a to the side plate portion 21 b, 22 b and facing the mold 12 is defined as RI, and the convexity that comes into contact with this surface When the curvature radius of the surface of the part 121 is RB, the two curvature radii RI and RB satisfy the relationship RI> RB.

  In the compression step, the partial blanks 21 and 22 are placed at predetermined positions on the convex portion 121 of the mold 12 and then the mold clamping is performed. In addition, when the partial blank materials 21 and 22 cannot be placed in a stable state on the convex portion 121 with the partial blank materials 21 and 22 being divided, the cut surfaces facing each other of the partial blank materials 21 and 22 are glues that do not have a strong adhesive force. And then temporarily mounted on the convex portion 121.

  The molds 11 and 12 are clamped after sandwiching the partial blanks 21 and 22. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the molds 11 and 12 that have been clamped are applying a compressive force to the partial blank materials 21 and 22, and a diagram showing a state in which the deformation of the partial blank materials 21 and 22 is almost completed. It is. As shown in FIG. 6, the partial blank materials 21 and 22 are deformed into a three-dimensional shape corresponding to the gap between the mold 11 and the mold 12 as a whole by receiving a compression force from the molds 11 and 12, respectively. . In step S4, the compression force is continuously applied to the blank 2 for a predetermined time (1 to several tens of minutes, more preferably about 5 to 10 minutes) in the state shown in FIG.

  After step S4 is completed, by adding steam at a temperature higher than the above-described steam to the periphery of the molds 11 and 12 while keeping the molds 11 and 12 clamped, the partial blank materials 21 and 22 The shape is fixed (step S5). When this immobilization treatment is performed in a pressure vessel, water vapor having a temperature higher than that in the compression step may be blown into the pressure vessel.

  Subsequently, the molds 11 and 12 and the partial blank materials 21 and 22 are opened to the atmosphere, and the partial blank materials 21 and 22 are dried (step S6). In this case, the molds 11 and 12 are released from the clamped state, and the molds 11 and 12 are separated from the partial blank materials 21 and 22 to promote drying of the partial blank materials 21 and 22. Good. The thickness of the partial blank materials 21 and 22 after completion of drying is preferably about 30 to 50% of the thickness of the partial blank materials 21 and 22 before compression. This corresponds to the compression ratio of the partial blank materials 21 and 22 being about 0.50 to 0.70. Hereinafter, the partial blank materials 21 and 22 that have been completed up to the drying step of Step S6 are referred to as woods 31 and 32, respectively.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the timbers 31 and 32. The wood 31 includes a main plate portion 31a and side plate portions 31b and 31c corresponding to the main plate portion 21a and the side plate portions 21b and 21c of the partial blank material 21, respectively. On the other hand, the wood 32 includes a main plate portion 32a and side plate portions 32b and 32c corresponding to the main plate portion 22a and the side plate portions 22b and 22c of the partial blank material 22, respectively. In addition, what is necessary is just to mutually space | separate both, when the cut surfaces which the mutually opposite cut surfaces of the timber 31 and 32 after drying adhere.

  After step S6, the shape of the timbers 31 and 32 is shaped while applying heat to the timbers 31 and 32 in the atmosphere (step S7). FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing an outline of the shaping process in step S7. In the present embodiment, the timbers 31 and 32 are shaped by sandwiching the timbers 31 and 32 by the molds 13 and 14 that are a pair of shaping dies.

  In FIG. 8, the mold 13 positioned above the timbers 31 and 32 includes a concave portion 131, while the mold 14 positioned below the timbers 31 and 32 includes a convex portion 141. Heaters 15 and 16 that generate heat are mounted inside the molds 13 and 14, respectively. The heaters 15 and 16 are connected to a control device 17 having a temperature control function. For this reason, the heaters 15 and 16 generate heat under the control of the control device 17 and apply heat to the molds 13 and 14, respectively. In addition, when placing the timbers 31 and 32 on the convex portion 141 of the mold 14, similarly to the compression step described above, the mutually facing cut surfaces of the timber 31 and the timber 32 are temporarily fixed with a glue or the like. May be placed on the convex portion 141.

  The control device 17 controls the heaters 15 and 16 so that the temperatures of the molds 13 and 14 when the woods 31 and 32 are sandwiched are substantially constant (for example, a high temperature of about 180 to 200 ° C.). When the molds 13 and 14 heated by the heaters 15 and 16 come into contact with the surfaces of the woods 31 and 32, part of the sap inside the woods 31 and 32 oozes out to the surfaces of the woods 31 and 32, respectively. As a result, deep shades and gloss are generated on the surfaces of the woods 31 and 32.

  In step S <b> 7, a slight compressive force is applied from the molds 13 and 14 to the woods 31 and 32. The magnitude of the compressive force is desirably a value that hardly changes the shape of the woods 31 and 32 and can increase the hardness of the surfaces of the woods 31 and 32. This is because the wood 31 and 32 cannot be greatly deformed because step S7 is performed in the atmosphere.

  The mold temperature of the molds 13 and 14 and the time for which the molds 13 and 14 hold the woods 31 and 32 are characteristics such as the type of the raw wood 1, the place of production, the growth environment, the growth state, and the processed woods 31 and 32. It is determined according to conditions such as color, gloss and strength to be applied to the surface.

  After step S7 described above, finishing of the timbers 31 and 32 to the final shape is performed (step S8). Specifically, the end surfaces of the timbers 31 and 32 are aligned by cutting the timbers 31 and 32, or predetermined holes and notches are formed in the timbers 31 and 32. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the timber 33 that is the final shape of the timber 31 and the configuration of the timber 34 that is the final shape of the timber 32.

  The wood 33 has a main plate portion 33a and side plate portions 33b, 33c corresponding to the main plate portion 31a and the side plate portions 31b, 31c of the wood 31, respectively. An opening 331 is provided at the center of the main plate portion 33a. Of the two side plate portions 33c, the side plate portion 33c located on the near side in FIG. 9 is provided with a semi-cylindrical cutout 332. A predetermined number of screw holes 333 for screw insertion are provided in the main plate portion 33a and the side plate portions 33b and 33c.

  The wood 34 has a main plate portion 34a and side plate portions 34b, 34c corresponding to the main plate portion 32a and the side plate portions 32b, 32c of the wood 32, respectively. The main plate portion 34a of the wood 34 is provided with a plurality of screw holes 341 for screw insertion. A linear groove 342 is formed on the inner side surface of the side plate portion 34c of the wood 34.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a digital camera provided with wood 33 and 34 formed by the wood forming method described above as a part of the exterior body. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the back side of FIG. The digital camera 100 shown in these drawings is packaged by an exterior body in which three wooden cover members 101, 102, 103 and a metal frame member 104 are combined.

  The cover member 101 that covers the front side of the digital camera 100 (the side facing the subject) is a blank material that is substantially the same shape as the blank material 2 and whose length in the longitudinal direction is shorter by the width h of the blank material 2 to be processed. Consists of dish-shaped wood obtained by compression molding. The imaging unit 105 and the flash 106 are exposed from the surface of the cover member 101. A shutter button 107 is exposed from the side surface of the cover member 101 and near the boundary with the cover member 102 via the frame member 104. The cover member 101 is fixed to the frame member 104 with a plurality of screws 108.

  The back side of the digital camera 100 (side facing the photographer) is covered with cover members 102 and 103. The cover members 102 and 103 are arranged side by side in a shape corresponding to the shape of the blank material 2, and the wood grain G is connected almost continuously. The cover member 103 is detachable from the main body of the digital camera 100, and has a function as a lid member that covers the storage location of the battery 110 of the digital camera 100. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state where the cover member 103 is removed from the back side of the digital camera 100.

  The cover member 102 is configured using the wood 33, while the cover member 103 is configured using the wood 34. From the opening 331 of the wood 33, a display unit 109 that displays a captured image and various types of information related to photographing is exposed. Near the end surface of the main plate portion 34a of the wood 34, there are provided two hook portions 41 that protrude from the end surface of the main plate portion 34a in a direction perpendicular to the end surface. In the vicinity of the end surface of the main plate portion 33a of the wood 33, a locking portion 42 capable of locking the hook portion 41 attached to the wood 34 is provided. The hook portion 41 and the locking portion 42 are attached to predetermined positions of the main plate portions 33a and 34a by screws 108, respectively.

  It is preferable that the thicknesses of the woods constituting the cover members 101 to 103 are equal to each other and are about 1.6 to 2.0 mm.

  The frame member 104 has an annular main frame portion 104a having a side surface that comes into contact with the end surfaces of the cover members 101 and 102 when the cover members 101 and 102 are attached, and extends in a sleeve shape from the side surface of the main frame portion 104a. A sleeve portion 104b having a plurality of screw holes for screwing screws 108, and a portion of the sleeve portion 104b to which the cover member 103 is attached are provided along the longitudinal direction of the digital camera 100, and the main frame portion 104a. A protrusion 104c that protrudes in the outer circumferential direction of the wood 34 and can be fitted into the groove 342 of the wood 34. The sleeve portion 104 b has a guide function when the cover members 101 and 102 are attached to the frame member 104, while the protruding portion 104 c has a guide function when the cover member 103 is attached.

  In the digital camera 100 having the above configuration, the timbers 33 and 34 constituting the cover members 102 and 103 on the back side are formed by the above-described forming method and arranged side by side in a shape corresponding to the shape of the blank material 2. Therefore, in the state where the cover member 103 is mounted on the main body of the digital camera 100, the back side of the digital camera 100 has the color tone and gloss of the surface in addition to the grain G, and it can be unified aesthetically. Yes.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention described above, after the blank material shaped from the raw wood is divided into a plurality of partial blank materials, the partial blank materials are compressed together in the same water vapor atmosphere. Multiple partial blanks can be compressed under conditions. Therefore, even if a series of wood pieces are separated and compression-molded, the color tone and gloss of each other can be made uniform.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of partial blank materials are arranged side by side in a shape that substantially matches the blank material before division, and a compressive force is applied by a pair of molds. Can be compressed under the following conditions.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, by compressing the partial blank material in a lump and using a plurality of woods arranged side by side in a shape corresponding to the shape of the blank material, by configuring the exterior body for an electronic device, for example, Forming an exterior body with a part that can be detached from the main body of the electronic device, such as a lid member that covers the battery, in a form that looks like the wood grain is continuous without losing the unity of aesthetics. can do.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described in detail so far, but the present invention should not be limited by the above-described embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, an example in which a cutting tool such as an electric cutter is used in the dividing step in step S2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and other cutting tools may be used, or a laser cutter or a water jet. You may cut by.

  In the present embodiment, the cover members 101 and 102 are fixed to the frame member 104 with screws 108, and the groove portion 342 of the cover member 103 is fitted to the projection portion 104 c of the frame member 104, and the cover member 103 is attached to the cover member 103. The cover member 103 is attached to the digital camera 100 by engaging the provided hook portion 41 with the engaging portion 42 provided on the cover member 102. However, the method of attaching the cover member 103 to the digital camera 100 is not limited thereto. It is not something that can be done. When fixing the cover members 101 and 102 to the frame member 104, it is preferable in terms of appearance to reduce the number of screws 108 and the exposure as much as possible.

  The wood molding method according to the present invention can also be applied to the manufacture of exterior bodies for electronic devices other than digital cameras, tableware, various cases, building materials, and the like.

  Thus, the present invention can include various embodiments and the like not described herein, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the technical idea specified by the claims. It is possible to apply.

It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the shaping | molding method of the timber which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the shaping process of the shaping | molding method of the wood which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the division | segmentation process of the shaping | molding method of the wood which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the compression process of the shaping | molding method of the wood which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the deformation | transformation of the partial blank material was completed substantially in the compression process of the shaping | molding method of the timber which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the timber completed to the drying process of the shaping | molding method of the timber concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the shaping | molding process of the shaping | molding method of the wood which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the timber shape | molded by the shaping | molding method of the timber which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the front side of the digital camera covered by the exterior body for electronic devices which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the back side of the digital camera coat | covered with the exterior body for electronic devices which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which removed a part of exterior body for electronic devices from the state shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Log 2 Blank material 2a, 21a, 22a, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a Main plate part 2b, 2c, 21b, 21c, 22b, 22c, 31b, 31c, 32b, 32c, 33b, 33c, 34b, 34c Side plate part 11 , 12, 13, 14 Die 15, 16 Heater 17 Control device 21, 22 Partial blank material 31, 32, 33, 34 Wood 41 Hook part 42 Locking part 100 Digital camera 101, 102, 103 Cover member 104 Frame member 104a Main frame part 104b Sleeve part 104c Projection part 105 Imaging part 106 Flash 107 Shutter button 108 Screw 109 Display part 110 Battery 111, 131 Concave part 121, 141 Convex part 331 Open part 332 Notch 333, 341 Screw hole 342 Groove part G Wood

Claims (3)

A shaping process for shaping a blank material having a predetermined shape from the raw wood;
A dividing step of dividing the blank material shaped in the shaping step into a plurality of partial blank materials;
A compression step of deforming each partial blank material by collectively compressing the plurality of partial blank materials divided in the dividing step in a steam atmosphere at a higher temperature and pressure than the atmosphere;
A method for forming a wood, comprising: The compression step includes
The plurality of partial blank materials are sandwiched by a pair of molds in a state in which the partial blank materials are arranged in substantially the same shape as the blank material before division, and a compressive force is applied to each partial blank material. The method for forming wood according to the description. An electronic device exterior body for packaging an electronic device,
After dividing the blank material shaped from the raw wood into a plurality of partial blank materials, the plurality of partial blank materials were respectively deformed into a predetermined shape by compressing them in a steam atmosphere at a higher temperature and pressure than air. With multiple wood,
An exterior body for an electronic device, wherein the plurality of woods are arranged side by side in a shape corresponding to the shape of the blank material.

Images