Abstract:
An automatic estimation method comprises a first step (STEP  01 ) of introducing a shape data on an item, a second step (STEP  02 ) of recognizing a shape of the item on the basis of the shape data, a third step (STEP  06 ) of acquiring a manufacturing condition which can be selected on the basis of the recognized shape, a fourth step (STEP  08 ) of displaying the manufacturing condition and corresponding price and delivery time, and a fifth step (STEP  09 , STEP  10 ) of updating the displayed price and delivery time depending on change of the manufacturing condition.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an automatic estimation method, a server and an automatic estimation system for automatically estimating a manufacturing cost and delivery time of an item from a manufacturing condition of the item. 
         [0003]    Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In the past, in manufacturing a mechanical device or the like, it is required to estimate a manufacturing cost and a delivery time regarding objects, at a stage of designing the objects, such as sheet-metal parts, machining parts, stamping parts, and injection-molded parts (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “item”) which are used to configure the mechanical device or the like. 
         [0005]    As a system supporting the design of such an item, a design support system has been known in which a user transmits design data via the Internet or the like to a server, and a parts manufacturer presents an estimate regarding a manufacturing cost and a delivery time on the basis of the design data (e.g., see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-181842). 
         [0006]    On the other hand, generally, the item has different manufacturing conditions such as tolerance, material, hardness, surface treatment or the like depending on the mechanical device or the like to be used. The manufacturing cost and delivery time for the item change depending on the manufacturing condition. 
         [0007]    However, in the conventional design support system, the manufacturing condition can be arbitrarily changed at a stage of creating the design data, but data only with the fixed manufacturing condition has been used for processing at a stage of estimating the manufacturing cost and delivery time of the item. 
         [0008]    Therefore, in the conventional system, it has been concerned to be difficult to comprehensively make a decision about determination on a specification of the item while considering the manufacturing cost and the delivery time, unless a user has technical knowledge of its processing and the manufacturing cost. 
         [0009]    The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and has an object to provide an automatic estimation method, a server, and an automatic estimation system capable of easily determining a specification of an item by a user with a price and a delivery time being taken into consideration. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An automatic estimation method according to the present invention comprises a first step of introducing shape data on an item via an input terminal, a second step of recognizing a shape and a size of the item input to the input terminal based on the shape data, a third step of acquiring a manufacturing condition including a tolerance which can be selected in manufacturing the item, based on the recognized shape and size of the item, a fourth step of selectably displaying the manufacturing condition on a display terminal, and acquiring and displaying on the display terminal a price or a delivery time corresponding to the displayed manufacturing condition and a 3D model of the item to which the size and the tolerance corresponding to the manufacturing condition are added, and a fifth step of updating, depending on the manufacturing condition selected via the input terminal, the price or the delivery time, and the size and the tolerance added to the 3D model which are displayed on the display terminal. 
         [0011]    A server according to the present invention comprises a feature recognition processing unit configured to recognize a shape and a size of an item based on a shape data on the item input via an input terminal, a first information storage unit configured to store a manufacturing condition including a tolerance which can be selected in manufacturing the item based on the shape and size of the item recognized by the feature recognition processing unit, a second information storage unit configured to store a price or a delivery time corresponding to the manufacturing condition, a displayed information processing unit configured to acquire the manufacturing condition corresponding to the item from the first information storage unit, and acquire the price or the delivery time corresponding to the selected manufacturing condition from the second information storage unit, and a display processing unit configured to selectably display the manufacturing condition acquired by the displayed information processing unit on a display terminal, and display the price or the delivery time corresponding to the selected manufacturing condition, and a 3D model of the item to which the size and the tolerance corresponding to the manufacturing condition are added on the display terminal. 
         [0012]    An automatic estimation system according to the present invention comprises a server, an input terminal, and a display terminal, wherein the server includes a feature recognition processing unit configured to recognize a shape and a size of an item based on a shape data on the item input via the input terminal, a first information storage unit configured to store a manufacturing condition including a tolerance which can be selected in manufacturing the item, based on the shape and size of the item recognized by the feature recognition processing unit, a second information storage unit configured to store a price or delivery time corresponding to the manufacturing condition, a displayed information processing unit configured to acquire the manufacturing condition corresponding to the item from the first information storage unit, and acquire the price or the delivery time corresponding to the selected manufacturing condition from the second information storage unit, and a display processing unit configured to selectably display the manufacturing condition acquired by the displayed information processing unit on the display terminal, and display the price or the delivery time corresponding to the selected manufacturing condition, and a 3D model of the item to which the size and the tolerance corresponding to the manufacturing condition are added on the display terminal. 
         [0013]    In this way, in the automatic estimation method, the server and the automatic estimation system according to the invention, the shape of the item from the input shape data is automatically recognized, and thereafter, the manufacturing condition which can be selected for the item are presented. Then, when the manufacturing condition is changed, the price or delivery time corresponding to that change is presented. In other words, the configuration is such that the price or delivery time to be presented is changed in conjunction with the manufacturing condition change by the user. 
         [0014]    Therefore, according to the automatic estimation method, the server, and the automatic estimation system of the invention, even if the user does not have any technical knowledge of processing, he/she can easily determine the specification of the item with the price and the delivery time being taken into consideration. 
         [0015]    In the automatic estimation method according to the invention, it is preferable to acquire, in the third step, based on the recognized shape of the item, all of the manufacturing conditions which can be selected in manufacturing the item and the prices or the delivery times corresponding to the manufacturing conditions. 
         [0016]    In this way, all of the patterns are calculated in advance before presenting the price or delivery time corresponding to the manufacturing condition on the display terminal, which improves a response until the price or delivery time is displayed on the occasion when the user changes the manufacturing condition. 
         [0017]    In the automatic estimation method according to the invention, it is preferable that, in a case where the first to fifth steps are repeatedly performed in this order, the manufacturing condition selected in the fifth step is stored, and the manufacturing condition stored in the fifth step last time is used as the manufacturing condition to be selectably displayed on the display terminal in the fourth step next time. 
         [0018]    In a case where a system to which the invention is applied is used plural times by the user, by storing the manufacturing condition which was selected by the user last time of usage and using that manufacturing condition as the manufacturing condition to be initially displayed next time of usage as described above, it is possible to save the trouble for the user to select again. 
         [0019]    In the automatic estimation method according to the invention, it is preferable that, in the third step, based on the recognized shape of the item, a variation item is acquired which satisfies only a part of the manufacturing condition or has a shape similar to the shape of the item, and a manufacturing condition is acquired which can be selected in manufacturing the item or the variation item. 
         [0020]    The server according to the invention is preferable to further comprise a variation information storage unit configured to store therein, based on the shape of the item recognized by the feature recognition processing unit, information on a variation item which satisfies only a part of the manufacturing condition or has a shape similar to the shape of the item, wherein the displayed information processing unit acquires the manufacturing condition corresponding to the item and the variation item from the first information storage unit, and acquires the price or the delivery time corresponding to the selected manufacturing condition from the second information storage unit, and the display processing unit selectably displays the manufacturing condition, or the item or the variation item acquired by the displayed information processing unit on the display terminal, and displays the price or the delivery time corresponding to the selected manufacturing condition and the item or the variation item on the display terminal. 
         [0021]    In this way, presentation of the manufacturing condition concerning not only the item satisfying the manufacturing condition but also the variation item satisfying only a part of the manufacturing condition or having a shape similar to the shape of the item (e.g., an item having a similar shape or a so-called semi-processed article) allows to widen the range of user choice. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic estimation system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing a process performed by the automatic estimation system in  FIG. 1 : 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an exemplary image displayed on a display screen at STEP  01  in  FIG. 2 : 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing a process performed by the automatic estimation system in  FIG. 1  at STEP  02  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an exemplary image displayed on the display screen after STEP  03  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an image displayed on the display screen at STEP  04  in  FIG. 2  when a user selects a manufacturing condition; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an exemplary image displayed on the display screen at STEP  08  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an exemplary image displayed on the display screen at STEP  09  in  FIG. 2  when a user changes a tolerance: 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an exemplary image displayed on the display screen at STEP  09  in  FIG. 2  when a user changes a kind of an item; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a diagram showing an exemplary image displayed on the display screen at STEP  10  in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Hereinafter, a description is given of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. 
         [0033]    First, referring to  FIG. 1 , a description is given of a configuration of an automatic estimation system according to the embodiment. 
         [0034]    The automatic estimation system according to the embodiment includes a user-side information terminal  1  and a server  2  connected with the user-side information terminal  1  via a line such as the Internet. 
         [0035]    The user-side information terminal  1  has a display unit  10  (display terminal) configured by various displays such as a liquid crystal display or the like, and an input unit  11  (input terminal) configured by a keyboard and a mouse or the like. The server  2  receives information input via the input unit  11  to perform an automatic estimation process on the basis of the information, and then, transmits a result of the process to the user-side information terminal  1 . 
         [0036]    The server  2 , which is an electronic unit including a CPU, a memory, and various interface circuits or the like, is connected with the display unit  10  and input unit  11  of the user-side information terminal  1  via a network. The server  2  includes a feature recognition processing unit  21 , a shape pattern storage unit  22 , a displayed information processing unit  23 , a manufacture information storage unit  24  (first information storage unit), a variation information storage unit  25 , an estimate information storage unit  26  (second information storage unit), a user information storage unit  27 , and a display processing unit  28 . 
         [0037]    The feature recognition processing unit  21  performs a process for recognizing a shape of an item, based on a manufacturing condition of sheet-metal parts, machining parts, stamping parts, injection-molded parts and the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as “item”) used to configure a mechanical device or the like, which is input via the input unit  11  of the user-side information terminal  1 . 
         [0038]    The shape pattern storage unit  22  stores therein a schematic pattern of an item corresponding to shape data input by a user. 
         [0039]    The displayed information processing unit  23  acquires information from the manufacture information storage unit  24 , the variation information storage unit  25 , the estimate information storage unit  26  and the user information storage unit  27 . The displayed information processing unit  23  performs a process for determining information to be displayed on the basis of the acquired information, the information input via the input unit  11  by the user, and the shape of the item recognized by the feature recognition processing unit  21 . 
         [0040]    The manufacture information storage unit  24  stores therein the manufacturing conditions which can be selected in manufacturing a predetermined item. 
         [0041]    The variation information storage unit  25  stores therein information on an item having a shape similar to a predetermined item and a semi-processed article of a predetermined item. 
         [0042]    The estimate information storage unit  26  stores therein a production technology requirement, price, and delivery time corresponding to the manufacturing condition. 
         [0043]    The user information storage unit  27  stores therein information on the manufacturing condition or the like regarding the item selected when the user using the automatic estimation system performs an order placement process. 
         [0044]    The display processing unit  28  displays various pieces of information on a display screen of the display unit  10  according to a signal from the displayed information processing unit  23 . 
         [0045]    Next, referring to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 10 , a description is given of processes performed in the automatic estimation system according to the embodiment. 
         [0046]    First, the user transmits user information such as a user name or a file name and shape data on the item via the input unit  11  to the server  2 ( FIG. 2 /STEP  01 ). 
         [0047]    At STEP  01 , an image as shown in  FIG. 3  is displayed on the display screen of the display unit  10 . The user chooses a shape data specifying part  10   a  on the display screen to specify a data file for inputting the shape data, or directly inputs the shape data in a shape data input unit  10   b . The shape data input in such a way is transmitted via an Internet connection to the feature recognition processing unit  21  in the server  2 . 
         [0048]    The automatic estimation system according to the embodiment uses the design data of 3D CAD data including size data as the shape data on the item. However, the shape data is not necessarily the 3D CAD data including the size data, but may be 2D CAD data as well as data from which the shape and size of the item is recognizable. 
         [0049]    It may be such that the user may, instead of transmitting the shape data, select one of the shapes or sizes presented by the automatic estimation system and the automatic estimation system automatically acquires the shape data corresponding to the user selection. 
         [0050]    Next, the feature recognition processing unit  21  of the automatic estimation system performs a feature recognition process on the basis of the received shape data ( FIG. 2 /STEP  02 ). 
         [0051]    This feature recognition process is performed following a procedure described in a flowchart shown in  FIG. 4  in a case where the item is a pin, for example. 
         [0052]    Concretely, first, when receiving the shape data transmitted by the user, the feature recognition processing unit  21  acquires a schematic shape pattern corresponding to a kind of the item specified by the user (that is a pin, in this embodiment) from the shape pattern storage unit  22  ( FIG. 4 /STEP  021 ). 
         [0053]    In the embodiment, the schematic shape pattern refers to a general shape pattern of the item. For example, if the kind of the item is a pin, the pattern may be a pattern having a shaft, and a head, a shank and a tip in this order from one side in a direction of the shaft. 
         [0054]    Next, the feature recognition processing unit  21  searches the 3D CAD data for a cylindrical shape of the shank and recognizes a shaft of the cylinder as the shaft of the pin ( FIG. 4 /STEP  022 ). 
         [0055]    Finally, the feature recognition processing unit  21  acquires the sizes of portions in the shaft direction and a direction perpendicular to the shaft direction (e.g., diameter, entire length) from the 3D CAD data ( FIG. 4 /STEP  023 ). 
         [0056]    Through the above processes, the feature recognition processing unit  21  recognizes and acquires the shape of the item described in the shape data input by the user and the sizes of respective portions of the item. The feature recognition processing unit  21  also calculates a tolerance which can be selected besides this feature recognition process. Further, the feature recognition processing unit  21  also checks a production technology requirement besides this feature recognition process. 
         [0057]    Next, the displayed information processing unit  23  of the automatic estimation system obtains the manufacturing condition which can be selected (e.g., material, surface treatment, tolerance range) from the manufacture information storage unit  24  on the basis of the kind of the item input by the user and the shape of the item recognized by the feature recognition processing unit  21  ( FIG. 2 /STEP  03 ). 
         [0058]    Then, after STEP  03 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , the display processing unit  28  of the server  2  displays a schematic shape of the recognized item in an item shape displaying part  10   c  on the display screen of the display unit  10  and displays the material, the surface treatment, and the tolerance range in a selectable form in a manufacturing condition selecting part  10   d.    
         [0059]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the user selects an arbitrary manufacturing condition of the material, the surface treatment and the tolerance range displayed in the manufacturing condition selecting part  10   d  on the display screen in the display unit  10  via the input unit  11  ( FIG. 2 /STEP  04 ). 
         [0060]    The user may omit the selection of the manufacturing condition at this stage. 
         [0061]    After STEP  04 , the user chooses an estimation starting part  10   e  displayed on the display screen of the display unit  10  to transmit a signal for starting an estimation process to the server  2 . 
         [0062]    Next, on the basis of the shape of the item recognized by the feature recognition processing unit  21 , the displayed information processing unit  23  of the automatic estimation system searches the variation information storage unit for information on an item having a shape similar to the recognized item and on a semi-processed article of the recognized item which may satisfy a part of the manufacturing conditions (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “variation item”), and acquires the information ( FIG. 2 /STEP  05 ). 
         [0063]    Next, the displayed information processing unit  23  of the automatic estimation system acquires from the estimate information storage unit  26  the prices and delivery times concerning all patterns of combination of the item recognized by the feature recognition processing unit  21  and the variation items, and the manufacturing conditions which can be selected ( FIG. 2 /STEP  06 ). 
         [0064]    Concretely, the price and delivery time is calculated by way of referring to a data table created in advance, with taking the production technology requirement in manufacturing the item into consideration, in addition to the manufacturing condition such as the tolerance which can be selected. 
         [0065]    Next, on the basis of the user information input by the user such as the user name and the file name, the displayed information processing unit  23  of the automatic estimation system searches the information stored in the user information storage unit  27  for registration information of the relevant user, and determines the manufacturing condition to be initially displayed ( FIG. 2 /STEP  07 ). 
         [0066]    Concretely, in a case where the registration information exists and the selection of the manufacturing condition has been omitted, the manufacturing condition for ordering used by the user last time of usage is determined as the manufacturing condition to be initially displayed. In a case where the registration information does not exist, and the selection of the manufacturing condition has been omitted, a predetermined manufacturing condition is determined as the manufacturing condition to be initially displayed. However, whether or not in the case where the registration information exists, if the selection of the manufacturing condition has been performed, the selected manufacturing condition is determined as the manufacturing condition to be initially displayed. 
         [0067]    Next, on the basis of the information acquired and the information determined by the displayed information processing unit  23 , the display processing unit  28  displays the manufacturing condition of the item in a selectable form with a 3D model of the item, and displays the price and delivery time corresponding to the condition to be initially displayed ( FIG. 2 /STEP  08 ). 
         [0068]    Concretely, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the display processing unit  28  displays a 3D model  10   f  substantially on the center of the display screen of the display unit  10 , the model  10   f  displaying a model of the item recognized by the feature recognition processing unit  21  with the size data on the model to which the tolerance acquired from the manufacture information storage unit  24  is added. 
         [0069]    The display processing unit  28  also displays a tolerance changing part  10   g  for changing the tolerance that is one of the manufacturing conditions at a side portion on the display screen of the display unit  10  (at a right side in the figure in  FIG. 7 ), displays a manufacturing condition changing part  10   h  for changing other manufacturing conditions than the tolerance at an upper portion on the screen, displays a variation selecting button  10   i  in the manufacturing condition changing part  10   h , displays a price and delivery time displaying part  10   j  for presenting the price and the delivery time at a further upper portion of the manufacturing condition changing part  10   h , and displays an order instructing part  10   k  at a right upper portion on the screen. 
         [0070]    Next, the displayed information processing unit  23  confirms whether or not the user has changed the manufacturing condition such as the tolerance or the kind of the item ( FIG. 2 /STEP  09 ). 
         [0071]    At STEP  09 , for example, in the case of changing the tolerance, the user selects a changed tolerance by way of the tolerance changing part  10   g  via the input unit  11  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0072]    In the case of changing the kind of the item, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the user first chooses the variation selecting button  10   i  arranged in the manufacturing condition changing part  10   h  via the input unit  11  to transmit a signal for changing the kind of the item to the displayed information processing unit  23 . The displayed information processing unit  23 , when receiving that signal, transmits a signal for displaying a variation selecting part  10   l  to the display processing unit  28 . Then, the user selects an arbitrary item from among items displayed in the variation selecting part  10   l  which is displayed in a way described above. 
         [0073]    Next, if the manufacturing condition is changed (in the case of YES in  FIG. 2 /STEP  09 ), the displayed information processing unit  23  selects the price and delivery time corresponding to the change from among those already acquired, and transmits a signal for displaying that selection to the display processing unit  28 . Then, the display processing unit  28  updates the price and delivery time on the display screen of the display unit  10  ( FIG. 2 /STEP  10 ). 
         [0074]    Concretely, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the price and delivery time displaying part  10   j  on the display screen is changed. If the tolerance is changed, the tolerance added to the size of 3D data is also changed at the same time. 
         [0075]    Next, the displayed information processing unit  23  confirms again whether or not the user has changed the manufacturing condition such as the tolerance or the kind of the item ( FIG. 2 /STEP  11 ). 
         [0076]    Then, if the manufacturing condition is changed (in the case of YES in  FIG. 2 /STEP  11 ), the displayed information processing unit  23  returns to STEP  10  (that is, following a procedure similar to STEP  10 ) to update the price and delivery time. 
         [0077]    On the other hand, if the manufacturing condition is not changed (in the case of NO at STEP  09 , or NO at STEP  11  in  FIG. 2 ), the price and delivery time is not updated. 
         [0078]    Next, when the need for changing the manufacturing condition is removed and the user chooses the order instructing part  10   k  on the display screen of the display unit  10 , the server  2  recognizes that the order placement process is performed (STEP  12 ). 
         [0079]    Finally, the displayed information processing unit  23  stores the manufacturing condition of at the time of the final order with the user information in the user information storage unit  27  (STEP  13 ). 
         [0080]    As described above, the automatic estimation system according to the embodiment automatically recognizes the shape of the item from the input shape data, and thereafter, presents the manufacturing condition which can be selected for an item having that shape. Then, when the manufacturing condition is selected, the price and delivery time corresponding to that selection is presented. In other words, the system is configured such that the price and delivery time to be displayed is changed in conjunction with the manufacturing condition change by the user. 
         [0081]    Therefore, according to the automatic estimation system in the embodiment, even if the user does not have any technical knowledge of the processing and manufacturing cost, he/she can easily determine the specification of the item with the price and the delivery time being taken into consideration. 
         [0082]    Hereinabove, the embodiments shown in the figures are described, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. 
         [0083]    For example, in the above embodiments, the display unit  10  and the input unit  11 , and the server  2  are connected with each other via the Internet connection. However, the invention does not necessarily have such a configuration, and may be configured as one body terminal. 
         [0084]    In the above embodiments, the display unit  10  and the input unit  11  are configured as separate bodies, but the invention does not necessarily have such a configuration, and the configuration may be those in which the user can select the data displayed via the display terminal by use of the input terminal. For example, a touch panel or the like may be used as the input terminal and an output terminal. 
         [0085]    In the above embodiments, the tolerance, the material, the surface treatment, and the kind of item are selectable as the manufacturing condition. However, the invention does not necessarily have such a configuration, and only one of those conditions may be selectable, or other manufacturing conditions which have an effect on the price or the delivery time may be selectable. 
         [0086]    Further, in the above embodiments, the price and the delivery time are variably presented. However, the invention does not necessarily have such a configuration, and only one of the price and the delivery time may be presented. 
         [0087]    In the above embodiments, at  FIG. 2 /STEP  06 , the prices and delivery times are acquired concerning all patterns of the combination of the manufacturing condition and the shape of the item to improve response. However, the invention does not necessarily have such a configuration, and the price and delivery time only corresponding to the manufacturing condition displayed as an initial condition may be acquired and other prices and delivery times may be acquired when the manufacturing condition is changed. 
         [0088]    In the above embodiments, at  FIG. 2 /STEP  07  and STEP  13 , the information used by the user last time is acquired and stored to determine the manufacturing condition to be displayed at an initial state. However, the invention may omit such a learning function.