JP2000222454A - Design support system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To perform computer simulation of sheet conveyance, narrow down parameters to some extent, select an optimal solution from among them, display the computer simulation results of the sheet well, and provide design support. . When a vertical force component (drag force) and a tangential force component (frictional force) acting upon contact between a sheet object and a guide, which are obtained by calculation, are equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The information specifying the guide that contacts the value, the time information at that time, the coordinates of the contact point, and the node information in the calculation are written and saved in the external storage device 7 as a file, and the design change of the corresponding guide is referred to by referring to the file. Implementation to determine the optimal structure before actually manufacturing the product.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention analyzes the behavior of a sheet such as a sheet conveyed in a copying machine, a printer, a document feeder, a printing machine, and the like by a computer simulation, displays the analyzed result, and displays an optimum result. The present invention relates to a design support system for performing a design.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With a recent improvement in computer performance, as one method for machine design, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
As in the response simulation display system of a framed structure disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 9578, graphs of various physical quantities related to nodes and elements obtained from a moving image of the framed structure and external force response analysis data of the framed structure at the same time. Computer simulations have been widely performed so as to synchronize them with each other and to display animations in real time, and their importance has been increasing year by year.

As described above, studying the function of a design object under various conditions before the actual production of the object requires reduction of the development cost and period by reducing the number of prototypes in the product development stage. Not only is it useful for corporate activities, but it is also possible to consider the global environment such as saving resources.

[0004] Sheets such as copiers and printers, especially paper and the like, change their characteristics due to temperature, humidity, and the like. In a photographic method or the like, mechanical properties such as rigidity and surface properties may change during operation due to formation of a toner image. In order to confirm the reliability of a product under such many conditions, many tests are required, which leads to a prolonged development period and an increase in cost. For this reason, it is important to analyze the conveyance behavior of the sheet with a computer simulation program and optimize the conveyance path in advance.

In order to simulate the behavior of a sheet such as a sheet conveyed in a copying machine or a printer, it is necessary to solve a motion equation describing the motion of the sheet. In order to actually solve this equation, it is necessary to approximate each of space and time as finite quantities to an algebraic expression, and to solve a simultaneous equation by a computer. For space, there are the finite difference method and the finite element method as typical methods.For the time, there are many direct time integration methods such as the Runge-Kutta method, the linear acceleration method including the Newmark beta method, the Wilson theta method, and the Houbolt method. is there.

[0006]

However, a computer simulation program for analyzing a sheet conveyance behavior of a copying machine, a printer or the like has not been developed, and it is necessary to analyze a sheet conveyance behavior using a general-purpose computer simulation program.

[0007] There are many general-purpose computer simulation programs. However, since they are general-purpose, they need to be analyzed by a dedicated operator in order to specially analyze a specific phenomenon, which is difficult for a user or lacks necessary functions. In addition, analysis cannot be performed due to lack of analysis function. Therefore, when there is a clear purpose of use, it is not practical until a dedicated analysis system having operability that can be easily used by any designer.

The significance of computer simulation of sheet conveyance is to confirm that a good function is selected before operating actual equipment, and to reduce cost and period by reducing trial operations. To save resources. Furthermore, the goal is an optimal design. However, there is an infinite number of parameters for optimizing the design of the transport path based on computer simulation, and it is almost impossible to leave everything to the computer and perform it automatically.

According to the present invention, the above disadvantages are improved. When computer simulation of sheet conveyance is performed, parameters are narrowed down to a certain extent, an optimum solution is selected from the parameters, and the computer simulation result of the sheet is displayed well and designed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a design support system capable of providing support.

[0010]

A design support system according to the present invention uses a sheet object as an analysis model and performs a computer simulation of a process of conveying the sheet object at each time.
The resulting solution (numerical value) is processed, and a drawing area for drawing the shape of the deformed sheet object and a guide for guiding and conveying the sheet object as a geometric shape, and a drawing area for manipulating the drawn geometric shape. An operation area, a display area for displaying information input as a result of executing a computer simulation and information obtained as a result are configured on a screen, a drawing means for drawing a geometric shape in a drawing area, and a drawing means for drawing a drawn geometric shape. Data processing having an operating means for operating, and an interface for selecting and executing the operating means in an operating area, and a display means for displaying information input as a result of executing a computer simulation and information obtained as a result. This is a design support system for the device, which calculates the vertical force component (drag) acting by the contact between the sheet and the guide obtained by calculation. When one or both of the linear force components (frictional force) exceed or exceed a value determined for comparison, information specifying a guide that contacts the value, time information at that time, and the contact point It is characterized in that coordinates and node information in calculation are selectively written as a file in an external storage device.

At each time of the computer simulation, the contact position between the guide and the sheet is the maximum value of the drag force and / or the friction force excluding the leading edge of the sheet, the information for specifying the contacting guide, the time information, and the contact information. The coordinates of the points and the node information in the calculation may be selectively written to an external storage device as a file. Also, it is desirable to write as an individual file for each guide.

Further, it is preferable to draw a mark in the deformation animation display of the sheet so that the corresponding contact position at the time of drawing can be identified.

The information to be written as a file is preferably drawn as a graph on a computer screen. Further, it is desirable to draw a mark on the graph that can identify a location of the same data as the drawing time together with the display of the deformation animation of the sheet.

It is preferable that the information obtained by multiplying the bending stiffness ratio of the different sheets based on the bending stiffness of the sheets used in the calculation by the drag and the frictional force be the information of the different sheets.

Further, when at least one of the guides is a roller, and the roller is defined as a circle, a cylinder, or an arc, the direction in which the sheet set in the condition is conveyed is changed to the rotation direction of the circle, the cylinder, or the arc. It is desirable to show by the arrow shown. Further, the displayed rotation direction may be reversed by a preset key input or operation of a pointing device.

Another design support system according to the present invention comprises:
Calculates the moving speed of the portion of the sheet that has passed across the straight line or plane specified by the user at each analysis time from the solution of the computer simulation, and the moving speed component in the direction orthogonal to the specified straight line or plane. Is calculated.

Preferably, the calculated moving speed component is displayed in a display area. Further, it is desirable to store the calculated moving speed component together with the time information as a file in an external storage device. Further, it is preferable to graphically display the calculated time change of the moving speed component. It is desirable that the time point of the drawn and displayed sheet object is indicated by a marker on the graph displaying the time change of the moving speed component.

Further, a straight line or a plane through which the sheet object passes is defined by a coordinate value or a coordinate value group to which the straight line or the plane belongs,
It is preferable to input and specify a rotation angle around a point or a straight line indicated by a coordinate value or a group of coordinate values.

Further, the length of the modeled minimum discretized area of the sheet object is L, the conveying speed of the sheet object is V, the time interval at which the simulation is performed is dt, and the real number of 1 or more is n.
When the transport speed V and the real number n have been set and one of the length L of the discretized minimum area of the sheet object and the time interval dt is set, (n × dt × M) = L It is better to set the other to satisfy.

When the real number n has been set and the conveying speed V, the length L of the minimum discretized area of the sheet object, and the time interval dt are not satisfied, (n × dt × M) ≦ L1 is not satisfied. , One of the length L and the time interval dt is (n × dt
× M) = L.

Further, it is desirable to issue a warning when any one of the length L and the time interval dt is changed.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a data processing apparatus according to the present invention, an input unit, a CPU, a display unit, a program memory, a data memory, and an external storage device are connected via a bus. The window of the display unit for displaying the computer simulation result has a menu area, an information display area related to calculations, and a drawing operation area. In the menu area, the deformation state of the sheet conveyed along the conveyance guide converted by data processing of the calculation result is displayed. The information display area related to the calculation displays the time of the deformation state of the currently drawn sheet, the maximum value of the contact force between the sheet and the conveyance guide at that time, and has a file button. The drawing operation area has a group of drawing buttons. By clicking this group of drawing buttons with a mouse cursor, a time-series computer simulation result is drawn as an animation.

When a computer simulation program is started by the data processing apparatus, conveyance guide data including the shape and coordinate values of a conveyance guide contributing to the conveyance of a sheet constituted by the equipment, the Young's modulus of the sheet and the sheet thickness Various characteristic data such as stiffness and density determined by the width and width, and calculation conditions such as parameters required for calculation are input from a file or the like. After inputting the calculation conditions, modeling of the conveyance guide and the sheet is performed, for example, by substituting values for predetermined variables. Next, the state of the sheet after an arbitrary time from the initial state is sequentially calculated. Then, the contact between the sheet and the conveyance guide is determined, and based on this, a simultaneous equation of the whole is created and calculated. After the calculation at a certain time is completed, the data of the calculation result is filed and written to the external storage device. The processing is sequentially repeated, and when the end time is reached, the process ends.

In the case of a copying machine or the like, an image formed on a sheet is scraped by rubbing with a conveyance guide, and the scraped image components stain the image on the sheet. When the magnitude of the drag or frictional force of the frictional contact where this occurs is known,
When the drag or frictional force obtained by calculation using the value as a threshold value is equal to or greater than the threshold value or exceeds the threshold value, it is necessary to correct the existing transport path. Therefore, when a process for converting the information into a file is started by specifying a portion to be corrected, first, an image formed on the sheet is rubbed with the conveyance guide, and an image component on the sheet is scraped off. And a threshold value indicating the magnitude of the frictional force. In this state, data of the computer simulation result stored in the external storage device is read for each time step. Next, the index of the representative point calculated by the computer simulation, for example, in the finite element method, a loop is turned for each node number,
It is checked whether the nodes are in contact with each other, and if they are in contact, the magnitude of the contact force of the drag or frictional force is compared with the threshold. If the contact force exceeds the threshold, write the data to a file.
This process is repeated until the last node of the time step. This process is repeated for each time step, and the filing process ends. The contents of the data to be filed are which transport guide and the sheet are strongly rubbed, and are specified by the coordinates of the contact point between the transport guide and the sheet or the unique information that can identify the transport guide. Further, the time at that time, which can be represented by the absolute time or relative time or the number of steps used in the calculation, the node number in contact with the drag or frictional force, and the like are selected and written to the external storage device as a file.

As described above, from the results of the computer simulation, the contact points exceeding the threshold value inputted by the user among the contact forces such as the drag force and the frictional force are extracted and saved as a file. Such analysis can be easily performed. Further, when the contact force is equal to or larger than the threshold value, it is possible to accurately confirm and correct a portion where the transport guide needs to be corrected in the design stage.

[0026]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the data processing device 1
The input unit 2, CPU 3, display unit 4, program memory 5, data memory 6, and external storage device 7 are connected via a bus 8. The input unit 2 has a keyboard for inputting data and command keys, a tablet and a mouse, and the like.
Input information such as various conditions and data. The CPU 3 performs calculations for various processes and logical judgments, and controls each component connected to the bus 8. The display unit 4 displays various data and calculation results. The program memory 5 stores various programs including a processing procedure for analyzing the conveyance behavior of the sheet. The program memory 5 may be a ROM or the like, or an RA in which a program is loaded from the external storage device 7.
M may be used. The data memory 6 stores various conditions and data input and data generated by various processes. The external storage device 7 stores data and the like obtained by computer simulation. Since data for each time is stored in the external storage device 7 by computer simulation, the size of the data file increases in proportion to the number of calculated times. Therefore, each time a displacement diagram of a sheet object at a certain time is drawn, the data is read by accessing a data file stored in the external storage device 7. Bus 8 is CPU3
An address signal indicating a component to be controlled, a control signal for controlling each component, and data exchanged between the components are transferred.

The data processing screen of the display unit 4 for displaying the results of the computer simulation is, for example, as shown in FIG.
Using the multi-window OS, the window 9 is generated by a program for displaying the calculation result. This window 9 has a menu area 10. When a file area in the menu area 10, for example, is clicked with the mouse of the input unit 2, a lower layer menu is displayed. By selecting the menu again with the mouse cursor, the command is executed. In the drawing area 11, a geometric shape converted by performing data processing on a calculation result is displayed. The sheet 1 conveyed along the conveyance guide 17 in the apparatus by the drawing area 11
The deformation state of No. 6 is visualized, and a researcher or a designer can visually grasp the calculation result. In the information display area 12 relating to the calculation, for example, the time of the deformation state of the currently drawn sheet 16 and the maximum value of the contact force between the sheet 16 and the conveyance guide 17 at that time are displayed. The information display area 12 has a filing button 15. The drawing operation area 13 includes a drawing button group 14. By clicking these drawing buttons 14 with a mouse cursor, time-series computer simulation results are drawn as animation. The drawing button group 14 is used to continuously draw in the forward and backward directions of time, or to draw one button in the forward and reverse directions.
There are a button for drawing step by step, a pause button for stopping a deformed figure during continuous drawing, and the like. By drawing using these buttons, it is possible to carefully observe the animation operation of the deformation of the sheet object and the state particularly to be examined. Here, the case where each area is divided in one window 9 is shown, but each area may be divided and distributed in the window. Alternatively, one child window may be generated for each area, and data may be exchanged between the windows.

Data processing device 1 configured as described above
The outline when executing the computer simulation program will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the execution of the program is started, the conveyance guide data including the shape and coordinate values of the conveyance guide 17 contributing to the conveyance of the sheet material constituted by the equipment, and the sheet 16
Various characteristic data such as stiffness and density determined by the Young's modulus and the sheet thickness and width, and calculation conditions such as parameters required for calculation are input from a file or the like (step S
1). These may have a program structure that can be specified from within a program by using a keyboard or a pointing device of the input unit 2. After entering this calculation condition,
Modeling of the transport guide 17 and the sheet 16 is performed, for example, by substituting values for predetermined variables and the like (step S2). Next, the sheet 16 after an arbitrary time T (n + 1) from the initial state
Are sequentially calculated (steps S3 to S7). For example, the calculation of the (n + 1) step corresponding to the time T (n + 1) is performed based on the result after n steps (step S
3). Then, the contact between the sheet 16 and the conveyance guide 17 is determined (Step S4), and based on this, an entire simultaneous equation is created and calculated (Steps S5 and S6). This calculation is a matrix operation, and the displacement or the new coordinate value of the sheet 16 or the conveyance guide 17 at an arbitrary position and the contact force acting there at the sheet 16 and the conveyance guide 17, that is, the resistance force and the frictional force. Is calculated. Since this calculation is a nonlinear analysis, it is repeatedly performed until the result converges (step S7). If it is determined that convergence does not occur even in the iterative calculation (step S7), the time step used in this step is reset to a smaller value, and the process is repeated until convergence (step S8). Time T (n +
After the calculation in 1) is completed, the data of the calculated result is filed and written to the external storage device 7 (step S9). If the end time has been reached, the process ends (step S10). If the end time has not been reached, the next time step interval dt is set and the calculation at the next time is performed (step S8). This program makes no distinction between three-dimensional analysis and two-dimensional analysis, and targets both computer simulation results.

The data obtained as a result of the computer simulation program includes coordinate values after displacement or deformation of the sheet 16 or the conveyance guide 17 at an arbitrary position, and the operating position of the sheet 16 or the conveyance guide 17 if the sheet 16 and the conveyance guide 17 are in contact with each other. And the contact force vector of the resistance and friction acting on it. In this way, the result of the computer simulation of the conveyance of the sheet 16 at each time is displayed on the display unit 4 to be visualized, and useful information can be obtained.

In the case of a copying machine or the like, the image formed on the sheet 16 is scraped off by rubbing with the transport guide 17, and the cut-off image components stain the image on the sheet 16. When the magnitude of the drag or frictional force of the frictional contact where this occurs is known, if the value of the dragged or frictional force obtained by calculation with this value as a threshold is more than this threshold or exceeds the threshold, the existing conveyance path is Need to fix. Then, in order to identify the portion to be corrected, the information is stored in the external storage device 7 as a file, and the user refers to the information, changes the design of the corresponding transport guide 17, and calculates the result again by calculation. Check that the sheet 16 and the transport guide 17
The contact drag or frictional force of the contact can be set to be equal to or less than a threshold. Thus, an optimum structure can be determined before actually manufacturing an object.

A process for specifying a portion to be corrected and converting the information into a file will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

File button 1 on display unit 4 shown in FIG.
5 to input a filing command and start the filing process, first, the image formed on the sheet 16 is rubbed against the conveyance guide 17 and the image components on the sheet 16 are scraped off. Threshold R indicating the size of
th is input (step S11). In this state, computer simulation result data stored in the external storage device 7 is read for each time step n represented by an integer (steps S12 to S14). Time Tn of this time step n
Is Tn = (n × dt), where dt is the time step interval.
Becomes Next, a loop is turned for each index i of the representative point calculated by the computer simulation, for example, for each node number i in the finite element method, and it is checked whether or not the node i is in contact. The magnitudes of the contact force Ri and the threshold value Rth are compared (steps S15 to S1).
7). If the contact force Ri exceeds the threshold value Rth, the data is written to the external storage device 7 as a file (step S18). This process is repeated up to the last node of time step n (step S19). This process is repeated for each time step, and when the final time is reached, the filing process ends (step S20). Here, there are various ways of turning the loop, and the method is not limited to FIG. 4, and all data may be compared with the threshold value Rth. The content of the data to be written is which transport guide 17 and the sheet 16 are strongly rubbed, and is specified by the coordinates of the contact point between the transport guide 17 and the sheet 16 or unique information that can identify the transport guide 17, such as an index or a name. . Further, the time at that time, which can be represented by the absolute time or relative time or the number of steps n used in the calculation, the node number i in contact with the drag or frictional force, and the like are selected and written to the external storage device 7 as a file. Further, the CPU 3 calculates the moving speed of the sheet 16 from the written displacement information of the representative point at each time and writes the calculated moving speed as a file in the external storage device 7.

As described above, from the results of the computer simulation, the contact points exceeding the threshold value Rth input by the user among the contact forces Ri such as the drag force and the frictional force are extracted and saved as a file. Analysis such as graph creation can be easily performed.
In addition, when the contact force is equal to or more than the threshold value Rth and the sheet 16 on which an image is formed due to friction is likely to be scraped off due to mechanical abrasion and contaminate the image, the transport guide 17 needs to be modified at the design stage. The location can be confirmed and corrected with high accuracy.

In the above embodiment, the transport guide 17 and the sheet 16 are used.
Although the description has been given of the case where the contact force Ri is compared with the input threshold value Rth, the threshold value Rth may be set in a file in advance.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the input or set threshold value Rth is used as a reference for comparing the contact force Ri has been described. However, if the threshold value Rth is not known, an experiment for obtaining the threshold value Rth is performed. In order to achieve the correlation, the maximum value of the contact force (drag force or friction force) is obtained for each node other than the leading end of the sheet 16 at each time and stored in a file. Then, the threshold value Rth can be obtained by obtaining the contact force corresponding to the position of the sheet 16 where the rubbing has occurred in the experiment. Here, the reason why the leading end of the sheet 16 is excluded is that there is no image at the leading end of the sheet 16 and it becomes the inhibition information when obtaining the maximum value.

Furthermore, when the contact force Ri between the sheet 16 and the transport guide 17 exceeds the threshold value Rth and the data is written to a file, it is preferable to create and save an individual file for each transport guide 17. That is, when writing data to the file when the contact force Ri between the sheet 16 and the transport guide 17 exceeds the threshold value Rth, the index of the corresponding transport guide 17 is checked, and the index is used to determine the individual index as shown in FIG. The files 71a to 71k are created and data is written. For example, if the index of the corresponding transport guide 17 is j, the transport guide 17
j is written into the individual file 71j. By creating the individual files 71a to 72k for each transport guide 17 in this manner, comparison between the transport guides 17 becomes easy. If these data are represented on the same graph, it is possible to determine which transport guide 17 has the highest level of contact force. Further, even when the contact force between the sheet 16 and each of the transport guides 17 is lower than the threshold value Rth, a malfunction state may occur due to a temporal change. This can be quickly confirmed and improved at the beginning.

The drawing area 11 of the display unit 4 is displayed at each time.
Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the position where the maximum contact force occurs may be indicated by the marker 18. For example, the display time shown in FIG. 6 is 23 ms, and the maximum contact force at this time is 0.4 Newton. By indicating the position where the maximum contact force is generated by the marker 18, the position where the maximum contact force is generated can be immediately confirmed on the screen of the display unit 4.

Further, the position where the maximum contact force is generated at each time is indicated by a marker 18 in the drawing area 11 of the display unit 4 and, as shown in FIG. It is preferable to display the time of the sheet 16 and the conveyance guide 17 which are displayed in the drawing area 11 at that time with the marker 20 on the graph 19. By displaying the time change of the maximum contact force on the graph 19 in this manner, the time change of the contact state between the sheet 16 and the conveyance guide 17 can be immediately confirmed, and the time to be particularly noted can be grasped in advance. As a result, the contact state between the sheet 16 and the transport guide 17 can be designed stably. Further, by drawing the threshold value Rth on this graph, it is possible to immediately confirm the time to improve and the contact position to improve. Further, it is possible to easily confirm how the maximum contact force changes from the state displayed in the drawing area 11 by the marker 20 of the graph 19.

Using the information filed as described above, the approximate value of another sheet 16a can be predicted without recalculation. The rigidity of the sheet 16 used in the computer simulation is determined by the Young's modulus E, the thickness t, and the sheet width b, and the bending rigidity is a product of the Young's modulus E and the second moment of area I. can get. ^{EI = E · b · t 3} /12 (1) Young's modulus of the sheet 16a to predict by calculation results of computer simulations sheet 16 used in Ea, when a thickness of ta, the bending rigidity ratio of the sheet 16 and the sheet 16a Can be expressed by the following equation (2). (EaIa / EI) = (Ea · b · ta 3/12) / (E · b · t 3/12) = (Ea / E) · (ta / t) 3 (2) sheet 16 of this bending rigidity ratio By multiplying the frictional force calculated in step (1), an approximate value of the frictional force of the sheet 16a can be estimated.

In addition, as long as the image is rubbed on the sheet 16 as in a copying machine or the like, only the data that comes into contact with the image surface may be limited. Therefore, when a location to be corrected is specified and the information is filed, the time Ta when the leading end of the sheet 16 arrives at the transport roller 21 serving as the transport source is defined as the time Ta.
Then, the coordinates of the leading end of the sheet 16 are read, the number and index of the conveyance guides 17 on the opposite side to the conveyance direction are checked, and the numbers are stored in a file to file data such as contact force. In this case, by displaying the rotation direction of the transport rollers 21 and 22 in the drawing area 11 of the display unit 4, the transport direction of the sheet 16 can be accurately confirmed.

Processing for displaying the rotation direction of the transport rollers 21 and 22 will be described. Window O
When the pre-post processing program is started in S, a pre-post processing screen is displayed on the display unit 4 as shown in FIG. In the window 9 of the pre-processing screen, the drawing area 11, a pre-processing input unit 23 for inputting data necessary for calculation, a post-processing input unit 24 for operating an animation display of calculation results, and input / output of various files The file input / output unit 25 is displayed. In the drawing area 11, the shape data of the conveyance guide 17 and the conveyance rollers 21 and 22 of the conveyance path for conveying the sheet 16 are displayed. In order to execute a computer simulation when the sheet 16 is conveyed on this conveying path, which of the conveying rollers 2 in the displayed shape data is used.
1, 22 and it is necessary to specify the direction in which the sheet 16 is conveyed. Therefore, when the guide tag 25 of the pre-processing input section 23 is activated and the transport tag 26 is further activated, the pre-processing input section 23 becomes a display screen on which the transport conditions can be set as shown in FIG. Can be set. On this display screen, one transport condition is defined in the transport condition name display section 27, for example, with the name of “transport section 1”.
In the related shape display unit 28, “roller 1” and “roller 2” and their names are displayed in association with, for example, two pieces of shape data corresponding to the condition. This name may be information such as a serial number that specifies an individual shape such as a transport roller or a transport guide. Here, it is assumed that there is one circle or arc in the associated shape, and the rotation direction about the center of rotation is indicated by an arrow 30 around the shape displayed in the drawing area 11.
Indicated by For example, in FIG. 9, an arrow 30 indicating the rotation direction is shown on the transport roller 21, but the arrow 30 may be drawn on one or both of the transport rollers 21 and 22. By confirming the arrow 30, the conveying direction of the sheet 16 can be visually confirmed.

In this state, by clicking the transport direction change button 29, the direction of the arrow 30 is reversed. This process is performed by clicking the transport direction change button 29 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 (step S3).
1), a flag variable Rf indicating the rotation direction of “roller 1”
The flag is reversed (step S32). For example, if the flag variable Rflag is an integer 1, which indicates clockwise rotation, and if the flag variable Rflag is an integer-1, it indicates counterclockwise rotation, the value of the flag variable Rflag is checked (step S
33), when the flag variable Rflag is an integer 1, the clockwise arrow 30 is drawn around the transport roller 21 which is the "roller 1" (step S34), and the flag variable Rflag is drawn.
When g is an integer-1, the counterclockwise arrow 30 is drawn around the transport roller 21 that is the "roller 1" (step S35). Thus, the rotation direction of the transport roller 21 can be set to a desired rotation direction and displayed. The set rotation direction, that is, the sheet conveyance direction is written to the external storage device 6 as a file. afterwards,
When the computer simulation program is started, the computer simulation program is executed.

In a copying machine, a facsimile, or the like, there is a document feeding section and a reading section. There are two types of reading methods of the reading unit: a method in which a document is sent to a predetermined position and stopped, and the reading unit is moved while moving the reading unit, and a method in which a document being transported is read by a fixed reading unit. The former has a high reading accuracy, but requires a complicated device configuration that requires the operation of stopping and re-transporting the original. The latter requires the operation of resting and re-conveying the document. The apparatus configuration is simplified, but the accuracy of feeding the document directly affects the reading accuracy. This reading accuracy is, as shown in FIG.
A velocity component V in a direction orthogonal to the reading line 32 when the sheet 16 of the document conveyed by the conveying rollers 21 and 22 along the conveying guide 17 passes through the reading line 32 of the reading unit 31.
It is ideal that the velocity component V is constant. For example, when the leading end of the document sheet 16 does not reach the downstream transport roller 21, the upstream transport roller 2
2, the reading position 32
The speed of the sheet 16 passing through the
The speed may fluctuate depending on the deformation state of No. 6.
It is important from a design standpoint to evaluate the conveyance behavior of the sheet 16 after computer simulation to predict a reading error and reduce the speed fluctuation. Processing for evaluating the conveyance behavior of the sheet 16 after computer simulation will be described.

When the window 9 is generated on the display unit 4 by the program for displaying the calculation result of the original reading conveyance path by using the multi-window OS after the computer simulation, the information display area related to the calculation is displayed as shown in FIG. 12, the time of the deformation state of the sheet 16 being drawn in the drawing area 11 at that time, and the sheet 1 at that time.
The reading speed which is a speed component orthogonal to the reading line 32 of No. 6 is displayed. In this case, the representative point stored as a file in the external storage device 7 does not always coincide with the read line 32. Therefore, the CPU 3 interpolates the speed Vn of the representative point n sandwiching the reading line 32 and the speed V (n + 1) of the representative point (n + 1), as shown in FIG.
6 is calculated. There are various interpolation methods for calculating the moving speed V, and any of these methods may be used. For example, from the internal division ratio (1-a, a) of the read line 32 with respect to the representative point n and the representative point (n + 1), V = a · Vn + (1-a)
Linear interpolation with V (n + 1) The calculated moving speed V is displayed as a reading speed in the information display area 12 relating to the calculation, and the calculated moving speed V for each time is filed and stored in the external storage device 7.

As described above, a reading error can be predicted by displaying the reading speed at each time based on the result of the computer simulation. Further, by changing the shape of the transport guide 17 in accordance with the predicted reading error and performing computer simulation, it is possible to design the reading speed with less time variation.

In the above embodiment, the information display area 1 related to the calculation is shown.
2, the sheet 16 being drawn in the drawing area 11 at that time
Has been described, and the reading speed, which is a speed component orthogonal to the reading line 32 of the sheet 16 at that time, is displayed. As shown in FIG. 14, a time change graph 33 of the reading speed is displayed. And time change graph 33
The sheet 16 displayed in the drawing area 11 at that time
And the time of the transport guide 17 may be displayed by a marker 20. By displaying the change in the reading speed over time in a graph, the deformation state of the sheet 16 and the change in the reading speed can be immediately confirmed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the direction of the reading speed is calculated from the rotation direction of the conveying roller 21 indicated by the arrow 30 and is filed together with the reading speed. The moving direction can be immediately confirmed.

In order to calculate the reading speed in this way, it is necessary to specify a reading area. If the computer simulation is two-dimensional, the read line 32 whose read area is a straight line
However, when the computer simulation is three-dimensional, the reading area becomes the reading surface. It is necessary to recognize the read line 32 and the geometric shape of the read surface. Therefore, a process for specifying the geometric shape of the reading line 32 and the reading surface will be described.

When the computer simulation is two-dimensional, as shown in FIG. 15A, the coordinates of any two points A and B through which the read line 32 passes are calculated and input, or the coordinates of the point A and the reference By calculating and inputting the inclination angle θ with respect to the straight line 35, the geometric shape of the reading line 32 can be specified. In the case where the computer simulation is three-dimensional, as shown in FIG. 15B, the coordinates of arbitrary three points C, D, and E passing through the reading surface 36 are input, or the coordinates of the two points C, D and a straight line are input. The reading surface 36 can be specified by inputting the rotation angle θ having the CD as the rotation axis.

As the transport guide 17 of the reading unit 31, a contact glass is usually used. Read line 3
In many cases, the reading surface 2 and the reading surface 36 are provided substantially orthogonal to the contact glass. In such a case,
By designating a contact glass as the transport guide 17 and inputting coordinates of a point at a reading position of the contact glass, the reading line 32 and the reading surface 36 can be specified. Also in this case, the representative point stored as a file in the external storage device 7 does not always match the reading position. Therefore, interpolation of the coordinates of the two representative points sandwiching the reading position may be performed to calculate the coordinates of the point at the reading position.

In order to analyze the behavior of the conveyed sheet 11 based on the results of computer simulation as shown in the above embodiments, it is necessary to easily and accurately set input data required for the analysis. . Therefore, prior to analyzing the behavior of the sheet 11 based on the result of the computer simulation, a process for setting input data required for analysis by a pre / post processing program will be described.

When the pre-post processing program is started by the OS of the window, a pre-post processing screen is displayed on the display unit 4 as shown in FIG. In the window 9 of the pre-processing screen, the drawing area 11, a pre-processing input unit 23 for inputting data necessary for calculation, a post-processing input unit 24 for operating an animation display of calculation results, and input / output of various files The file input / output unit 25 is displayed. The length of the discretized minimum area of the sheet 16 modeled in the drawing area 11 is L, the conveying speed of the sheet 16 is V, the time interval at which the calculation is performed is dt, and the real number of 1 or more is n. Here, the discretized minimum area is, for example, one side of the cell in the case of the difference method, or the element length or the distance between nodes in the case of the finite element method. FIG.
(A) shows an example in which a two-dimensional cross section of the sheet 16 is modeled by beam elements 37, and one element 37 is composed of two nodes 3
8, the length L of the minimum area is equal to the element length. FIG. 16B shows an example in which a two-dimensional cross section of the sheet 16 is modeled by quadrilateral elements. Nodes 38 are arranged at the vertices of the quadrilateral and the midpoint thereof, and one element 38 is formed by eight nodes.
Are formed. In this case, the length L of the minimum area is the distance between the nodes, and corresponds to half the length of one side of the element. In the computer simulation program for analyzing the sheet conveyance behavior, a solution is obtained for each time step dt. After obtaining the solution at time T0, when obtaining the next solution at time (T0 + dt), the product of the transport speed V of the sheet 16 and the time interval dt (V ×
It is expected that the sheet 16, that is, the node, is advanced by a distance of dt). This calculation is a contact analysis between the sheet 16 and the transport guide 17, but if the node penetrates the transport guide 17 at an excessively large distance, the convergence of the solution may deteriorate and the solution may not be obtained. . As a condition for obtaining this convergence solution, as shown in the following equation (3), (V × d
It is desirable that t) be equal to or smaller than the minimum discretization region L.
(N × dt × V) ≦ L (3) As a condition satisfying the expression (3), a variable is determined by the following expression (4). L = (n × dt × V) (4)

Here, assuming that the real number n and the transport speed V of the sheet 16 have been set, if the length L of the minimum area is set by inputting before the time interval dt, the time interval dt
Is calculated by equation (4), and the calculated time interval dt is set. When the time interval dt is set by inputting before the length L of the minimum area, the length L of the minimum area calculated by the equation (4) is set. Here, the values of the length L of the minimum area and the time interval dt do not need to be directly input. For example, the length of the sheet 16 is LS, and as shown in FIG. m, the length L of the minimum area is L = LS / m. Also, the total calculation time is TA
And the number of all time steps is k, the time interval dt
= TA / k. These values may be substituted and set as the length L of the minimum area and the time interval dt.

In order to set the input data of the length L and the time interval dt of the minimum area, when the paper / speed tag of the pre-processing input section 23 of the pre-post processing screen shown in FIG. 8 is activated, FIG. As shown, the pre-processing input unit 2
3, a sheet length input unit 41, a discretization number input unit 42, a conveyance speed input unit 43, a time step input unit 44, a total calculation time input unit 45, and an automatic setting button 46 are provided. Here, for example, when the time interval dt is not set and other data is set, or when the minimum area length L is not set and other data is set, the automatic setting button 46 is clicked with a mouse. As a result, the unset time interval dt and the value of the length L of the minimum area are automatically calculated and set. The process of clicking the automatic setting button 46 and calculating the unset time interval dt and the length L of the minimum area will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the automatic setting button 46 is clicked (step S41), the time interval dt and the length L of the minimum area are set.
Is checked, and it is determined whether or not the length L> 0 of the minimum area at the time interval dt = 0. Here, the time interval dt = 0 indicates that the value of the time interval dt has not been input by the user, and when the length L of the minimum area is greater than 0, the value of the length L of the minimum area has been input by the user. Indicates that Time interval dt
If = 0 and the length of the minimum area L> 0, the time interval dt = L / (n × V) is calculated and set by the equation (4) (steps S42 and S43). Further, when the time interval dt is input and dt> 0, the length L of the minimum area is not input and L
= 0, the length L of the minimum area is expressed by the equation (4) as L = (n ×
V × dt) is calculated and set (steps S44, S4)
5). If both the time interval dt and the length L of the minimum area have not been input, the process ends without processing (step S4).
6). In addition, when the time interval dt and the length L of the minimum area are input, and dt> 0, L> 0, it is determined which of the input time interval dt and the length L of the minimum area has priority. In advance, one of the time interval dt and the length L of the minimum area is calculated, and the input value is changed to the calculated value and set (steps S46 and S47).

For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the length LS of the sheet 16 is 150 (mm) and the number m of divisions into beam elements is 30.
0, conveying speed V of sheet 16 = 100 (mm / sec)
c), when the total calculation time TA = 1500 (msec) is input and n = 2.0, the time interval dt =
LS / (m × n × V) = 150 / (300 × 2 × 10
0) = 0.0025 (seconds). The value of the time interval dt is set, and data indicating each condition is filed and written to the external storage device 7. When the computer simulation program is started, the written condition is read and the process is executed.

Further, as shown in FIG.
In the case where dt> 0 and L> 0, the automatic setting button 44 is clicked as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 20 (step S5).
1) According to the input data, (n × dt) of the above (1)
It is determined whether or not the condition of (× V) ≦ L is satisfied (step S52), and if this condition is satisfied, the process ends. When this condition is not satisfied, one of the input time interval dt and the value of the length L of the minimum area is selected according to a predetermined priority, the other value is calculated, and the input value is calculated. It is changed (step S53). For example, as shown in FIG.
(Mm), number of divisions into beam elements m = 300, sheet 16
Transfer speed V = 100 (mm / sec), total calculation time T
A = 1500 (msec), time interval dt = 10 (ms)
ec) and n = 2.0, L / (n × V × dt) = LS / (m × n × V × dt) = 150 / (300 × 2 × 100 × 0) .01) = 0.25, which does not satisfy the conditional expression of (n × dt × V) ≦ L.
Therefore, the value of the time interval dt is calculated from the equation (2) as dt = 2.5
(Msec).

When changing the value of the condition thus input, a warning display 47 shown in FIG. 21 is displayed in a window,
Clarify that the value entered by the user is incorrect,
When the user agrees to change to the computed value,
Change the value of the input condition to the calculated value. In this way, it is possible to prevent the user from changing to an unintended value and setting it.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, the vertical force component (drag force) and the tangential force component (frictional force) acting upon the contact between the sheet and the guide obtained by the calculation are as follows. When the value is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, information for identifying a guide that contacts the value, time information at that time, coordinates of the contact point, and node information in the calculation are written and stored in a file in the external storage device. By changing the design of the corresponding guide by reference, the optimum structure can be determined before actually manufacturing an object.

Further, by storing information specifying the guide that comes into contact with the maximum value of the drag and frictional force of the sheet except for the leading end of the sheet from the contact position between the guide and the sheet, obstruction information may be generated due to the leading end of the sheet. Can be prevented.

Further, by saving as an individual file for each guide, comparison for each guide can be easily performed.

Further, by drawing a mark in the sheet deformation animation display to identify the corresponding contact position at the time of drawing, it is possible to immediately confirm the position where the maximum contact force occurs on the screen. it can.

By drawing the information to be written as a file on a computer screen as a graph, the time transition of the contact state between the sheet and the conveyance guide can be immediately confirmed. By displaying the time of the currently displayed sheet and the conveyance guide on this graph,
The time transition of the contact state between the sheet and the conveyance guide can be confirmed more accurately, and the contact state between the sheet and the conveyance guide can be designed stably.

Further, the information obtained by multiplying the bending stiffness ratio of the different sheet based on the bending stiffness of the sheet used in the calculation by the drag and the frictional force is used as the information of the different sheet to obtain the information of the different sheet. Can be obtained quickly.

Further, by displaying the rotation direction of the roller among the guides, the sheet conveyance direction can be visually confirmed. The desired rotation direction can be selected by reversing the display of the rotation direction by key input or operation of a pointing device.

At each time of analysis, the moving speed of the portion of the sheet passing through the straight line or plane specified by the user is calculated from the solution of the computer simulation, and is orthogonal to the specified straight line or plane. By calculating the moving speed component of the sheet in the direction in which the sheet moves, the design can be designed so that the speed fluctuation of the sheet can be reduced, and the design can be designed so that the time fluctuation of the reading speed when reading the image formed on the sheet is small.

The time change of the moving speed component of the sheet is displayed on a graph, and the time of the displayed sheet and the conveyance guide are displayed on the graph with markers. Can be confirmed immediately. Further, by displaying the moving speed component of the sheet with an arrow, the moving direction of the sheet can be immediately confirmed.

Further, a straight line or a plane through which the sheet passes,
By specifying a coordinate value or a coordinate value group to which a straight line or a plane belongs and a coordinate value or a point indicated by the coordinate value group or a rotation angle around the straight line as a rotation center, the moving speed component of the sheet passing through the straight line or the plane is stabilized Can be calculated.

Further, one of the length of the discretized minimum area of the modeled sheet object and the time interval at which the simulation is performed is automatically set according to other input conditions. Input data required for behavior analysis can be easily and accurately set.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a data processing screen of a display unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of a computer simulation program.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of specifying a portion to be corrected and creating a file.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an external storage device.

FIG. 6 is a data processing screen diagram showing a maximum contact force.

FIG. 7 is a data processing screen diagram showing a time change of the maximum contact force.

FIG. 8 is a data processing screen diagram when a pre-post processing program is activated.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data processing screen during a sheet conveying direction designation process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing the rotation direction of a roller.

FIG. 11 is a layout diagram showing a reading position.

FIG. 12 is a data processing screen diagram showing a reading speed.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a reading position specifying process.

FIG. 14 is a data processing screen diagram showing a time change of a reading speed.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a process for specifying a read line and a read surface.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the length of a discretization minimum area of a sheet.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of a data processing screen at the time of setting a time interval at which a calculation is performed.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a process of setting a length and a time interval of a discretization minimum area.

FIG. 19 is a display diagram of a pre-processing input unit into which a time interval and a minimum area length have been input.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a process of selecting and setting a time interval and a minimum area length.

FIG. 21 is a display diagram showing a warning when changing the value of an input condition.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Data processor 2 Input part 3 CPU 4 Display part 5 Program memory 6 Data memory 7 External storage device 8 Bus

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A sheet object is used as an analysis model, and a process in which the sheet object is conveyed is computer-simulated at each time, a solution (numerical value) obtained as a result is processed, and a sheet object shape and a sheet object to be deformed are processed. A drawing area for drawing the guide to be guided and transported as a geometric shape, an operation area for operating the drawn geometric shape, information inputted for executing the computer simulation, and information obtained as a result are displayed. A display area is formed on the screen, and a drawing means for drawing a geometric shape in the drawing area, an operation means for operating the drawn geometric shape, and an interface for selecting and executing the operation means are arranged in the operation area. And a design support system for a data processing apparatus having display means for displaying information input as a result of executing a computer simulation and information obtained as a result. The vertical force component (drag force) and / or the tangential force component (friction force) acting upon contact between the sheet and the guide obtained by calculation are compared for comparison. If the value exceeds or exceeds the value specified in
A design support system characterized in that information for specifying a contacting guide, time information at that time, coordinates of a contact point and node information in calculation are selectively written as a file in an external storage device. 2. At each time of the computer simulation, the contact position between the guide and the sheet is the maximum value of both or one of the drag force and the friction force excluding the front end of the sheet, the information specifying the contacting guide, and the time information. 2. The design support system according to claim 1, wherein the coordinates of the contact point and the node information in the calculation are selectively written as a file to an external storage device. 3. The design support system according to claim 1, wherein each guide is written as an individual file. 4. The design support system according to claim 1, wherein a mark for identifying a contact position at a drawing time is drawn in the deformation animation display of the sheet. 5. The information to be written as the file is drawn as a graph on a computer screen.
Design support system described. 6. The design support system according to claim 5, wherein a mark that can identify a location of the same data as the time when the deformation animation is displayed on the sheet is drawn on a graph. 7. A value obtained by multiplying a bending stiffness ratio of a different kind of sheet based on a bending stiffness of the sheet used in the calculation by a drag and a frictional force as information of the different kind of sheet. The design support system described in Crab. 8. When at least one of the guides is a roller, and the roller is defined as a circle, a cylinder, or an arc, the direction in which the conditionally set sheet is conveyed is the rotation direction of the circle, the cylinder, or the arc. The design support system according to claim 1, wherein the design support system is indicated by an arrow. 9. The design support system according to claim 8, wherein the displayed rotation direction is reversed by a key input or an operation of a pointing device set in advance. 10. A sheet object is used as an analysis model, a process of conveying the sheet object is computer-simulated at each time, a solution (numerical value) obtained as a result is processed, and a sheet object shape and a sheet object to be deformed are processed. A drawing area for drawing a guide that guides and conveys a geometric shape, an operation area for operating the drawn geometric shape, and information input as a result of executing a computer simulation and information obtained as a result. A display area to be displayed is formed on a screen, and a drawing means for drawing a geometric shape in the drawing area, an operation means for operating the drawn geometric shape, and an interface for selecting and executing the operation means are provided in the operation area. Design support for a data processing device having a display means for displaying information inputted as a result of execution of a computer simulation and information obtained as a result of the computer simulation A system, wherein, at each time of analysis, a moving speed of a portion of a sheet object passing through a straight line or a plane specified by a user is calculated from a solution of a computer simulation, and is orthogonal to the specified straight line or a plane. A design support system for calculating a moving speed component in a moving direction. 11. The design support system according to claim 10, wherein the calculated moving speed component is displayed in a display area. 12. The design support system according to claim 10, wherein the calculated moving speed component is stored as a file in an external storage device together with time information. 13. The design support system according to claim 10, wherein a time change of the calculated moving speed component is displayed as a graph. 14. The design support system according to claim 13, wherein a time point of the drawn and displayed sheet object is indicated by a marker on a graph displaying a time change of a moving speed component. 15. Inputting a straight line or a plane through which the sheet passes, a coordinate value or a coordinate value group to which the straight line or the plane belongs, and a rotation angle about a point or a straight line indicated by the coordinate value or the coordinate value group as a rotation center. 11. The design support system according to claim 10, wherein 16. A sheet object is used as an analysis model, a process in which the sheet object is conveyed is computer-simulated at each time, a solution (numerical value) obtained as a result is processed, and a sheet object shape and a sheet object to be deformed are processed. A drawing area for drawing a guide that guides and conveys a geometric shape, an operation area for operating the drawn geometric shape, and information input as a result of executing a computer simulation and information obtained as a result. A display area to be displayed is formed on a screen, and a drawing means for drawing a geometric shape in the drawing area, an operation means for operating the drawn geometric shape, and an interface for selecting and executing the operation means are provided in the operation area. Design support for a data processing device having a display means for displaying information inputted as a result of execution of a computer simulation and information obtained as a result of the computer simulation When the length of the modeled discrete minimum area of the sheet is L, the conveying speed of the sheet is V, the time interval at which the simulation is performed is dt, and the real number of 1 or more is n,
When the transport speed V and the real number n have been set and one of the length L and the time interval dt of the discretized minimum area of the sheet is set, the other is set so as to satisfy n × dt × M = L. A design support system characterized by: 17. When the real number n has been set and the transport speed V, the length L of the discretized minimum area of the sheet object, and the time interval dt are not satisfied, if n × dt × M ≦ L1 is not satisfied, 17. The design support system according to claim 16, wherein one of the length L and the time interval dt is automatically changed and set so as to satisfy n * dt * M = L. 18. The design support system according to claim 17, wherein a warning is issued when any one of the length L and the time interval dt is changed.