Cut-fold shape technology for engineered molded fiber boards

• US 9,740,799 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2011
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Original Assignee: United States Department Of Agriculture, The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Inventors: Herdt, Julee Ann, Schauermann, Kellen Scott, Hunt, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huang, Miranda
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lopez Alvarez, Olvin
• Application Number:
  US13/991,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20130253683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 700 98, 428 342
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/063 combined with folding
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/08 of continuous length, e.g. cords, rovings, mats, fabrics, strands or yarns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

A three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration is formed using determined structural requirements for a three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration and ascertained properties of an engineered molded fiber fiberboard material. A first cut on a top surface and a second cut on a bottom surface of the fiberboard material are calculated. These calculations are based, at least in part, on the structural requirements properties of the fiberboard material. The first cut and the second cut each have a depth, a width, and a position. The first cut and the second cut have a spacing between them such that the flat piece of fiberboard material can be folded at a point located in the spacing between the first cut and second cut to position a first portion of the fiberboard material at a particular angle with respect to a second portion of the fiberboard material.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computer system having a non-transitory, machine-readable memory and a processor for creating control values for controlling a computer numeric control (CNC) cutting device to cut a flat fiberboard sheet for configuration as a three-dimensional, engineered, shaped building panel, the method comprising:

receiving within the computer system a first input of a plurality of structural properties of the flat fiberboard sheet-as a first set of variable values;

receiving within the computer system a second input of a plurality of physical and geometric properties of the three-dimensional engineered shaped building panel configuration as a second set of variable values;

storing the first set of variable values and the second set of variable values in the memory;

calculating with the processor structural and performance properties of the three-dimensional, engineered, shaped panel using a set of equations that incorporate a plurality of variable values from the first set of variable values and the second set of variable values;

calculating with the processor respective positions, widths, depths, and lengths for both a first cut on a top surface of the flat fiberboard sheet that extends to a first depth short of a bottom surface of the flat fiberboard sheet and a second cut on the bottom surface of the flat fiberboard sheet parallel to and spaced apart at a predetermined distance from the first cut that extends to a second depth short of the top surface of the flat fiberboard sheet using a set of equations that incorporate one or more variable values from the second set of variable values, wherein the positions of the first and second cuts are calculated to form a single hinged fold joint along the flat fiberboard sheet that fits the calculated structural and performance properties required to form the three-dimensional, engineered, shaped building panel configuration;

generating with the processor a set of control values corresponding to the respective positions, widths, depths, and lengths of the first cut and the second cut in a format configured to provide control instructions to the CNC cutting device; and

outputting the set of control values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system is further connected with and configured to control the CNC cutting device and the method further comprises controlling the CNC cutting device with the set of control values to cut the first cut and cut the second cut.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of variable values for the physical and geometric properties includes a value for a rib angle that defines a desired angular relationship between a first portion of the flat fiberboard sheet on a first lateral side of the single hinged fold joint and a second portion of the flat fiberboard sheet on a second lateral side of the single hinged fold joint when the flat fiberboard sheet is folded to form the three-dimensional engineered shaped panel configuration.

3. A computer program product for configuring a computer system to create control values for controlling a computer numeric control (CNC) cutting device to cut a flat fiberboard sheet for configuration as a three-dimensional, engineered, shaped building panel, the computer program product comprising:

a first set of instructions, stored in at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by at least one computer processing unit, and configured to retrieve from a memory a first set of variable values corresponding to a plurality of structural properties of the flat fiberboard sheet;

a second set of instructions stored in the at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by at least one computer processing unit, and configured to retrieve from a memory a second set of variable values corresponding to a plurality of physical and geometric properties of the three-dimensional, engineered, shaped building panel configuration;

a third set of instructions stored in the at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by at least one computer processing unit, and configured to calculate a plurality of structural and performance requirements for a three-dimensional engineered shaped panel configuration using a set of equations that incorporate a plurality of variable values from the first set of variable values and the second set of variable values;

a fourth set of instructions, stored in the at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by the at least one processing unit to calculate respective positions, widths, depths, and lengths for both a first cut on a top surface of the fiberboard sheet that extends to a first depth short of a bottom surface of the flat fiberboard sheet and a second cut on the bottom surface of the flat fiberboard sheet parallel to and spaced apart at a predetermined distance from the first cut that extends to a second depth short of the top surface of the flat fiberboard sheet using a set of equations that incorporate one or more variable values from the second set of variable values, wherein the positions of the first and second cuts are calculated to form a single hinged fold joint along the flat fiberboard sheet that fits the calculated structural and performance properties required to form the three-dimensional, engineered, shaped building panel configuration;

a fifth set of instructions stored in the at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by at least one computer processing unit, and configured to generate a set of control values corresponding to the respective positions, widths, depths, and lengths of the first cut and the second cut in a format configured to provide control instructions to the CNC cutting device; and

a sixth set of instructions stored in the at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by at least one computer processing unit, and configured to output the set of control values.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, further comprising a seventh set of instructions, stored in the at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by the at least one processing unit, and configured to control the CNC cutting device with the set of control values to cut the first cut and cut the second cut.

5. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the second set of variable values for the physical and geometric properties includes a value for a rib angle that defines a desired angular relationship between a first portion of the flat fiberboard sheet on a first lateral side of the single hinged fold joint and a second portion of the flat fiberboard sheet on a second lateral side of the single hinged fold joint when the flat fiberboard sheet is folded to form the three-dimensional engineered shaped panel configuration.