Cut-Fold Shape Technology for Engineered Molded Fiber Boards

• US 20130253683A1
• Filed: 12/02/2011
• Published: 09/26/2013
• 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: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture, The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Inventors: Herdt, Julee Ann, Hunt, John F., Schauermann, Kellen Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,740,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/98
• 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 for forming a three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration, the method comprising

determining a plurality of structural requirements for a three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration;

ascertaining a plurality of properties of at least one engineered molded fiber fiberboard material; and

calculating, at least based on the plurality of structural requirements for the three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration and the plurality of properties of the at least one engineered molded fiber fiberboard material, at least a first cut on a top surface of a flat piece of engineered molded fiber fiberboard material and a second cut on a bottom surface of the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material wherein

the first cut and the second cut each have a depth, a width, and a position and the first cut and the second cut have a spacing between them such that the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber 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 flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material at a particular angle with respect to a second portion of the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said determining operation, said ascertaining method, or said calculating method is performed by at least one processing unit executing at least one set of instructions stored in at least one non-transitory machine readable medium.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising cutting the first cut and the second cut.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising forming a three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration by at least folding the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material at the point to position the first portion at the particular angle with respect to the second portion.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising assembling a three-dimensional structured insulated panel utilizing the three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration as a core.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising securing the first portion to remain positioned at the particular angle with respect to the second portion.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said operation of securing the first portion to remain positioned at the particular angle with respect to the second portion further comprises securing the first portion to remain positioned at the particular angle with respect to the second portion utilizing at least one insert.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising

calculating, at least based on the plurality of structural requirements for the three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration and the plurality of properties of the at least one engineered molded fiber fiberboard material, at least a third cut on the top surface of the flat piece of engineered molded fiber fiberboard material and a fourth cut on the bottom surface of the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material wherein

the third cut and the fourth cut each have a depth, a width, and a position and the third cut and the fourth cut have a spacing between them such that the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material can be folded at an additional point located in the spacing between the third cut and fourth cut to position a third portion of the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material at an additional particular angle with respect to a fourth portion of the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material.

9. A computer program product comprising

a first set of instructions, stored in at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by at least one processing unit to determine a plurality of structural requirements for a three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration;

a second set of instructions, stored in the at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by the at least one processing unit to ascertain a plurality of properties of at least one engineered molded fiber fiberboard material; and

a third set of instructions, stored in the at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by the at least one processing unit to calculate, at least based on the plurality of structural requirements for the three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration and the plurality of properties of the at least one engineered molded fiber fiberboard material, at least a first cut on a top surface of a flat piece of engineered molded fiber fiberboard material and a second cut on a bottom surface of the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material wherein

the first cut and the second cut each have a depth, a width, and a position and the first cut and the second cut have a spacing between them such that the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber 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 flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material at a particular angle with respect to a second portion of the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising a fourth set of instructions, stored in the at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by the at least one processing unit to control performance of cutting the first cut and the second cut.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising a fifth set of instructions, stored in the at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by the at least one processing unit to control performance of forming a three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration by least folding the flat piece of the engineered molded fiber fiberboard material at the point to position the first portion at the particular angle with respect to the second portion.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising a sixth set of instructions, stored in the at least one non-transitory storage medium, executable by the at least one processing unit to control performance of assembling a three-dimensional structured insulated panel utilizing the three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration as a core.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, 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 to control performance of securing the first portion to remain positioned at the particular angle with respect to the second portion.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said securing the first portion to remain positioned at the particular angle with respect to the second portion further comprises securing the first portion to remain positioned at the particular angle with respect to the second portion utilizing at least one insert.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein at least one of said controlling performance of cutting the first cut and the second cut, controlling performance of forming a three-dimensional engineered shaped fiber configuration, controlling performance of assembling a three-dimensional structured insulated panel, or controlling performance of securing the first portion further comprises controlling at least one fabrication system component.