Manufacturing method for connection mechanisms and fixtures

Abstract

This connection mechanism reduces the time and effort required from the preparation of each component to the completion of the fixture through the connection of the components. [Solution] A connecting mechanism J for connecting a fixture top plate 10 and a frame 20 that constitute a fixture 1, wherein a boss 113a is provided on the surface of the fixture top plate 10 facing the frame 20, and a through hole 21 is provided on the surface of the frame 20 facing the fixture top plate 10, and the fixture top plate 10 and the frame 20 are connected by inserting the boss 113a into the through hole 21, and the boss 113a is a laminate made of multiple resin layers stacked together.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection mechanism and a method for manufacturing furniture.

Background Art

[0002] Currently, various pieces of furniture composed of a combination of multiple parts have been proposed and put into practical use. For example, a furniture includes a back plate, a pair of side plates, a top plate and a bottom plate installed at the upper and lower ends of these side plates, and the head of a connect pin provided so as to protrude from the inner surface of one plate material (for example, a side plate) is fitted into a fitting groove provided in the other plate material (for example, the top plate), so that an assembled AV rack for connecting one plate material (side plate) and the other plate material (top plate) has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). It is said that by adopting such a configuration, the connection between parts can be completed without using any tools.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional technology as described in Patent Document 1, the plate material and the connect pin are prepared separately, a blind nut for attaching the connect pin to the plate material is embedded in the plate material, and the connect pin is screwed into this blind nut. There is a problem that such a process requires time and labor. In addition, when embedding the blind nut in the plate material, there is a risk of damage to the plate material.

[0005] This invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and aims to provide a connection mechanism that can reduce the time and effort required from the preparation of each component to the completion of the fixture through the connection of the components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the first aspect of the present invention is a connecting mechanism for connecting a first component and a second component constituting a fixture, wherein a connecting projection is provided on the second component-facing surface of the first component, and a connecting recess is provided on the second component-facing surface, and the first component and the second component are connected by inserting the connecting projection into the connecting recess, and the connecting projection is a laminate formed by stacking multiple resin layers. The connecting projection can be provided directly on the second component-facing surface. Alternatively, the connecting projection can be fused to the second component-facing surface.

[0007] Furthermore, a second aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a fixture, comprising a preparation step for preparing a first component and a second component constituting the fixture, and a connection step for connecting the first component and the second component, wherein the preparation step includes a protrusion forming step for providing a connecting protrusion as a laminate by laminating a plurality of resin layers on the surface of the first component facing the second component, and a recess forming step for providing a connecting recess on the surface of the second component facing the first component, and the connection step includes an insertion step for inserting the connecting protrusion into the connecting recess.

[0008] By adopting this configuration and method, the connecting protrusions used to connect the first and second components of the fixture are laminates formed by stacking multiple resin layers. Therefore, the connecting protrusions can be easily attached to the first component using additive manufacturing technology, such as a 3D printer. Consequently, the effort of separately manufacturing and attaching the connecting protrusions to the first component is eliminated, resulting in the advantage of reducing the time and effort required from the preparation of each component to the completion of the fixture through the connection of the components.

[0009] In the connection mechanism and furniture manufacturing method according to the present invention, a through hole can be used as the connection recess, and a cylindrical body inserted into the through hole can be used as the connection protrusion. In this case, a screw hole can be formed at the tip of the cylindrical body in the connection mechanism according to the present invention, and the preparation step of the furniture manufacturing method according to the present invention can include a hole forming step of forming a screw hole at the tip of the cylindrical body.

[0010] By adopting this configuration and method, the connecting projection, which is a cylindrical body, can be inserted into the connecting recess, which is a through-hole, and a screw can be screwed into the screw hole provided at the tip of the cylindrical body. Therefore, the second part, which has the connecting recess (through-hole), can be fixed by being sandwiched between the first part, which has the connecting projection (cylindrical body), and the screw. Furthermore, the connecting projection (cylindrical body) inserted into the connecting recess (through-hole) can function like an embedded threaded insert without damaging the second part.

[0011] In the connection mechanism according to the present invention, the diameter at the base of the connecting projection can be made larger than the diameter at the tip. Furthermore, the projection formation step in the method for manufacturing fixtures according to the present invention may include a diameter adjustment step in which the diameter at the base of the connecting projection is made larger than the diameter at the tip.

[0012] By adopting this configuration, the diameter at the base of the connecting projection is larger than the diameter at the tip, which increases the strength of the base of the connecting projection and facilitates insertion into the connecting recess. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connection mechanism that can reduce the time and effort required from the preparation of each component to the completion of the fixture through the connection of the components. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view of a fixture equipped with a connection mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]This is a view of the fixture shown in Figure 1, seen from below in the vertical direction. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged perspective view of section III in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged view of section IV in Figure 2. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a connection mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the 3D printer used to fabricate the additional elements for the display unit's top panel shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below, with reference to the drawings as necessary. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible without departing from its essence. In the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. Unless otherwise specified, positional relationships such as up, down, left, and right will be based on the positional relationships shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are not limited to those shown. In each drawing, the x and y axes may be horizontal, and the z axis may be vertical. The positive z-axis direction is also referred to as "up" or "upward," and the negative z-axis direction is also referred to as "down" or "downward."

[0016] <Overall configuration of fixtures> First, the overall configuration of the furniture 1 equipped with the connection mechanism J according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the furniture 1 in this embodiment is an office desk equipped with a furniture top plate 10, a frame 20, and legs 30. Note that the present invention is not limited to office desks, but can be applied to various furniture such as tables, chairs, shelves, partitions, etc. for general household use. The furniture top plate 10 has bosses (connecting protrusions) 113a that constitute the connection mechanism J according to this embodiment, and corresponds to the first component in the present invention. On the other hand, the frame 20 has through holes (connecting recesses) 21 that constitute the connection mechanism J according to this embodiment, and corresponds to the second component in the present invention. The connection mechanism J will be described in detail later. For the frame 20, for example, a metal rectangular prism member can be used. For the legs 30, for example, a resin cylindrical member can be used.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the fixture top plate 10 in this embodiment comprises a top plate body 101 having a first surface 101a and a second surface 101b which is the surface opposite to the first surface 101a. The fixture top plate 10 in this embodiment also comprises a surface material 102 on the second surface 101b of the top plate body 101, a back surface material 103 on the first surface 101a of the top plate body 101, and an additional element 110 disposed on the top plate body 101. The additional element 110 has a boss 113a (described later) which constitutes the connection mechanism J according to this embodiment. In Figure 1, the z direction is the stacking direction.

[0018] In the top plate body 101, the first surface 101a and the second surface 101b may be substantially flat, and the first surface 101a and the second surface 101b may be substantially parallel. The first surface 101a is preferably a rough surface. This makes it easier for the back material 103 and the additional element 110 to adhere to the top plate body 101. Also, the top plate body 101 may be rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, or circular in plan view. Further, when the top plate body 101 is polygonal such as rectangular, triangular, or pentagonal in plan view, at least one of its corners may be rounded, or all of them may be rounded.

[0019] The top plate body 101 may have a small opening 101c formed between the first surface 101a and the second surface 101b. When the area of the first surface 101a in the horizontal direction (xy plane) is smaller than that of the second surface 101b, the small opening 101c is disposed obliquely inward as it progresses downward in the vertical direction. Here, the inner side is the central side of the top plate body 101 in the horizontal direction (in-plane direction of the top plate body 101). Also, the downward direction in the vertical direction is, for example, the direction in which the leg portion 30 extends and is the direction away from the furniture top plate 10. The cross-sectional views of the top plate body 101 in the xz plane and the yz plane may be trapezoidal.

[0020] The thickness of the top plate body 101 is preferably 5.0 to 20.0 mm, and more preferably 7.5 to 17.5 mm. By having the thickness of the top plate body 101 within the above range, it is possible to lighten the mass of the furniture top plate 10 while improving the load-bearing capacity.

[0021] The surface material 102 is provided on the second surface 101b of the tabletop body 101. By providing the surface material 102 to the tabletop 10 for fixtures, the load-bearing capacity of the tabletop 10 for fixtures can be improved. The surface material 102 may be provided so as to cover the entire second surface 101b of the tabletop body 101, or it may be provided so as to cover at least a portion of the second surface 101b. The surface material 102 may be provided in layers. In this case, the surface material 102 may have substantially the same thickness in the vertical direction throughout. The thickness of the surface material 102 is preferably 0.1 to 2.0 mm, 0.2 to 1.5 mm, or 0.3 to 1.0 mm. By having the thickness of the surface material 102 within the above range, the load-bearing capacity can be improved while reducing the mass of the tabletop 10 for fixtures.

[0022] The backing material 103 is provided on the first surface 101a of the tabletop body 101. By providing the backing material 103 to the fixture tabletop 10, the load-bearing capacity of the fixture tabletop 10 can be improved. Furthermore, by providing the surface material 102 and the backing material 103 to the fixture tabletop 10, the fixture tabletop 10 has a vertically symmetrical structure, thereby reducing warping of the fixture tabletop 10. The backing material 103 may be provided so as to cover the entire first surface 101a of the tabletop body 101, or it may be provided so as to cover at least a portion of the first surface 101a. The backing material 103 may be provided in layers. In this case, the backing material 103 may have substantially the same thickness in the vertical direction throughout. The thickness of the backing material 103 is preferably 0.1 to 2.0 mm, 0.2 to 1.5 mm, or 0.3 to 1.0 mm. By keeping the thickness of the backing material 103 within the above range, the mass of the fixture top plate 10 can be reduced while improving its load-bearing capacity.

[0023] It is preferable that the tabletop body 101, surface material 102, and back material 103 contain resin. Since resin is lighter than wood or metal materials, the inclusion of resin in the tabletop body 101 can reduce the mass of the fixture tabletop 10. Furthermore, as will be described later, the additional element 110 of the fixture tabletop 10 is a laminate comprising multiple layers containing resin. In other words, both the tabletop body 101 and the additional element 110 contain the same type of material, resin, making it easier to recycle the fixture tabletop 10. From a similar viewpoint, it is preferable that the tabletop body 101 contains thermoplastic resin. This makes it possible to recycle the thermoplastic resin by heating the fixture tabletop 10 to melt it and then cooling and solidifying it. In other words, it is preferable because it makes it easier to recycle the fixture tabletop 10.

[0024] The tabletop body 101 may be a resin foam obtained by foaming resin. By using a resin foam as the tabletop body 101, the first surface 101a can be made rough. In addition, the tabletop body 101 can be made lighter. As such a tabletop body 101, a commercially available product may be used, or a product manufactured by foaming resin may be used. Commercially available products are not particularly limited, but examples include Paronia (registered trademark) and Sumiceller (registered trademark). As the surface material 102 and back material 103, commercially available products may be used, or products manufactured using resin as a raw material may be used. Commercially available products are not particularly limited, but examples include polypropylene sheets (PP sheets) containing propylene homopolymer. From the viewpoint of reducing warping of the tabletop 10 for the fixture, it is preferable that the thickness of the surface material 102 and the back material 103 are the same. Also, from the same viewpoint, it is preferable that the surface material 102 and the back material 103 contain the same resin.

[0025] The additional elements 110 may be provided for the purpose of reinforcing the fixture top plate 10 to improve its load-bearing capacity, to improve its design, or to improve its ease of use for the user. The additional elements 110 may be directly or indirectly attached to the top plate body 101. For example, if the fixture top plate 10 is equipped with a backing material 103, the additional elements 110 may be indirectly attached to the top plate body 101 via the backing material 103. Specifically, the wall elements 112 and reinforcing elements 113, described later, may be indirectly attached to the top plate body 101 via the backing material 103, while the edge elements 111, described later, may be directly attached to the top plate body 101.

[0026] The additional element 110 is a laminate comprising multiple layers, each of which contains resin. For example, the laminate is a cured resin. When the additional element 110 is provided as a laminate comprising multiple layers containing resin, it becomes possible to provide the additional element 110 using additive manufacturing technology such as a 3D printer. By providing the additional element 110 using additive manufacturing technology, dedicated molds and processing machines for the additional element 110 become unnecessary, and the design of the additional element 110, such as its dimensions, can be freely changed. Therefore, the additional element 110 can be easily manufactured according to the design of the tabletop body 101, and the design of the additional element 110 can also be easily changed. Furthermore, because the additional element 110 contains resin, the mass of the tabletop 10 for the fixture can be reduced. Additive manufacturing technology is a manufacturing technology that creates a three-dimensional object by stacking thin layers based on three-dimensional data of the object.

[0027] The multiple layers constituting the laminate as the added element 110 preferably contain a thermoplastic resin. This tends to facilitate the recycling of the fixture top plate 10. As such a thermoplastic resin, an olefin polymer is preferred, and a propylene homopolymer is more preferred. This improves the lightness and load-bearing capacity of the fixture top plate 10, and also makes the recycling of the fixture top plate 10 easier. The resin content in the added element 110 is not particularly limited with respect to the total amount of the added element 110, but for example, it is 70-100% by mass, 80-100% by mass, 90-100% by mass, or 95-100% by mass.

[0028] The additive element 110 may also contain other additives. These other additives are not particularly limited, but examples include foaming agents, fillers, pigments, and dyes. The content of the other additives is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 0.1 to 10.0% by mass, 0.1 to 5.0% by mass, or 0.1 to 1.0% by mass, relative to the total amount of the additive element 110.

[0029] The additional element 110 in this embodiment consists of an end element 111, a wall element 112, and a reinforcing element 113. The end element 111 and the wall element 112 may constitute the side surface of the fixture top plate 10. In this embodiment, the end element 111 and the wall element 112 are provided by first arranging the first layer around the surface on the first surface 101a side of the fixture top plate 10, then arranging the second layer on top of the first layer, and for the third layer and beyond, arranging the third and subsequent layers on top of the previous layer, and the reinforcing element 113 is provided in the same manner. The reinforcing element 113 includes a boss (connecting projection) J1 that constitutes the connection mechanism J according to this embodiment, which will be described in detail later.

[0030] Figure 2 is a view of the fixture 1 in this embodiment from below in the vertical direction. As shown in Figure 2, when the fixture 1 is viewed from below in the vertical direction, at least a portion of the wall element 112 may be located inside the boundary line 101L of the top plate body 101. This makes it easier for the wall element 112 to support the top plate body 101, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity of the fixture top plate 10. In addition, the exposed surface of the first surface 101a of the fixture top plate 10 appears between the boundary line 101L and the wall element 112, allowing the user of the fixture 1 to place their fingers on this exposed surface and carry the fixture 1. In other words, the ease of use of the fixture 1 can be improved.

[0031] The wall element 112 may be provided substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the top plate body 101, or it may not be provided perpendicular. The wall element 112 may be provided so as to encircle the boundary line 101L when the furniture 1 is viewed from below in the vertical direction. In this case, the wall element 112 may be substantially parallel to the boundary line 101L, or it may not be parallel. The wall element 112 may include a substantially straight straight section and a curved curved section. As shown in Figure 2, at least a portion of the wall element 112 may overlap the boundary line 101L when the furniture 1 is viewed from below in the vertical direction.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the wall element 112 may be located outside the area where the frame 20 is provided when the fixture 1 is viewed from below in the vertical direction. This allows the wall element 112 to conceal the frame 20 so that it is not visible from the outside, resulting in a fixture top 10 with superior design. Alternatively, the wall element 112 may be provided between the area where the frame 20 is provided and the boundary line 101L.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, the reinforcing element 113 has a boss 113a that constitutes the connection mechanism J between the fixture top plate 10 (first part) and the frame 20 (second part) of the fixture 1, and a linear reinforcing part 113b that reinforces the load-bearing capacity of the fixture top plate 10, and is provided on the surface of the fixture top plate 10 on the first surface 101a side (on the surface of the back material 103 in Figure 2). The fixture top plate 10 tends to have improved load-bearing capacity when equipped with the reinforcing element 113.

[0034] As shown in Figure 2, the reinforcing element 113 may be located inside the boundary line 101L when the fixture 1 is viewed from below in the vertical direction. This makes it easier for the reinforcing element 113 to support the top plate body 101. The reinforcing element 113 may also be located inside the area where the frame 20 is provided and inside that area. Specifically, the boss 113a may be provided in the area where the frame 20 is provided, and the linear reinforcing part 113b may be provided inside the area where the frame 20 is provided. Furthermore, the reinforcing element 113 may be located inside the area where the wall element 112 is provided when the fixture 1 is viewed from below in the vertical direction.

[0035] The linear reinforcement portion 113b may be provided to connect the bosses 113a. In Figure 2, eight bosses 113a are connected via the linear reinforcement portion 113b. The linear reinforcement portion 113b may be provided in a portion of the surface on the first surface 101a side of the fixture top plate 10. This makes it possible to achieve both lightness and load-bearing capacity of the fixture top plate 10. The cross-sectional shape of the linear reinforcement portion 113b on a surface perpendicular to the horizontal direction is not particularly limited, but may be rectangular. The thickness (vertical length) of the linear reinforcement portion 113b is not particularly limited, but for example, it is 1 to 10 mm and 2 to 5 mm.

[0036] <Connection mechanism> Here, the connection mechanism J according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described using Figures 3 to 5, etc.

[0037] Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part III in Figure 2, showing the boss 113a (and the linear reinforcing part 113b connected thereto) that constitutes the connection mechanism J. Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of part IV in Figure 2, showing the state in which the frame 20 is connected to the fixture top plate 10. Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the connection mechanism J according to this embodiment (the boss 113a of the fixture top plate 10 and the through hole 21 of the frame 20).

[0038] Boss 113a is a cylindrical body inserted into a through hole (connecting recess) 21 provided in the frame 20 shown in Figures 4 and 5, and corresponds to the connecting protrusion in the present invention. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, boss 113a is provided on the first surface 101a side (the surface of the back material 103), which is the surface of the top plate body 101 facing the frame 20, and is positioned in the area where the frame 20 is placed. On the other hand, the frame 20 is provided with a through hole 21 corresponding to the connecting recess in the present invention. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which a through hole 21 is used as the connecting recess, but a recess (non-through hole) provided on the surface of the frame 20 facing the fixture top plate 10 may also be used as the connecting recess.

[0039] In this embodiment, the boss 113a is provided on the linear reinforcing portion 113b, as shown in Figure 3, and the boss 113a and the linear reinforcing portion 113b are continuously molded by additive manufacturing technology. That is, as already explained, the boss 113a and the linear reinforcing portion 113b, which are part of the additional element 110 (reinforcing element 113), are laminates made up of multiple resin layers. The boss 113a can also be directly provided on the first surface 101a, which is the surface of the top plate body 101 facing the frame 20 (second component facing surface), by fusion without going through the linear reinforcing portion 113b or the back material 103. Furthermore, the colors of the multiple resin layers of the boss 113a can be made different for each layer. In this way, an aesthetic appearance (gradation) can be created in which the color of the boss 113a changes continuously along its lamination direction.

[0040] As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the boss 113a is molded so that its base diameter Dr is larger than its tip diameter Dt. This increases the strength of the base of the boss 113a and facilitates insertion into the through hole 21 of the frame 20.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, a hole 23 for a screw 22 (hereinafter referred to as "screw hole") is formed at the tip of the boss 113a. This allows the screw 22 to be screwed into the screw hole 23 at the tip of the boss 113a while the boss 113a is inserted into the through hole 21 of the frame 20. Therefore, the frame 20, which has the through hole 21, can be fixed by sandwiching it between the fixture top plate 10, which has the boss 113a, and the screw 22. In addition, the boss 113a inserted into the through hole 21 can function like an embedded threaded insert without damaging the frame 20.

[0042] The planar shape of the boss 113a (the shape of the fixture 1 as viewed from vertically below) may be circular or polygonal, such as a quadrilateral. Preferably, the planar shape of the boss 113a matches the planar shape of the through hole 21 of the frame 20. The height (vertical length) of the boss 113a is set to be less than or equal to the thickness (vertical length) of the frame 20. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the height of the boss 113a can be set to about 70% of the thickness of the frame 20. The frame 20 may also be provided with a counterbore 24 into which the head 22a of a screw 22 inserted into the through hole 21 and screwed into the screw hole 23 of the boss 113a is fitted, as shown in Figure 5.

[0043] <Manufacturing method for fixtures> Next, the manufacturing method of the fixture 1 in this embodiment will be described.

[0044] First, the components constituting the fixture 1 (fixture top plate 10, frame 20, and legs 30) are prepared (preparation step: S1). The fixture top plate 10 has bosses (connecting protrusions) 113a that constitute the connection mechanism J according to this embodiment, and corresponds to the first component in the present invention. The frame 20 has through holes (connecting recesses) 21 that constitute the connection mechanism J according to this embodiment, and corresponds to the second component in the present invention. As previously mentioned, for example, a metal rectangular column member can be used for the frame 20, and for example, a resin cylindrical member can be used for the legs 30.

[0045] Preparation step S1 includes a protrusion formation step S11, which provides a boss (connecting protrusion) 113a as a laminate by laminating multiple resin layers on the surface of the fixture top plate 10 facing the frame 20 (second component facing surface), and a recess formation step S12, which provides a through hole (connecting recess) 21 on the surface of the frame 20 facing the fixture top plate 10. Protrusion formation step S11 includes a diameter adjustment step S111, which makes the diameter Dr at the base of the boss 113a larger than the diameter Dt at the tip. In protrusion formation step S11, the boss 113a can be directly provided by fusion on the first surface 101a, which is the surface of the top plate body 101 facing the frame 20 (second component facing surface), without the use of a linear reinforcing part 113b or a backing material 103. In addition, in protrusion formation step S11, the colors of the multiple resin layers of the boss 113a can be made different for each layer. In this way, an aesthetically pleasing appearance (gradation) can be created in which the color of the boss 113a changes continuously along its stacking direction. Furthermore, the preparation step S1 includes a hole forming step S13 in which a screw hole 23 is formed at the tip of the boss 113a.

[0046] Following the preparation step S1, the fixture top plate 10, the frame 20, and the legs 30 are connected (connection step: S2). The connection step S2 includes an insertion step S21 in which the boss 113a of the fixture top plate 10 is inserted into the through hole 21 of the frame 20. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the frame 20 is fixed by sandwiching the fixture top plate 10 with the screws 22 by screwing screws 22 into the screw holes 23 of the boss 113a that were inserted into the through hole 21 in the insertion step S21. The legs 30 may be connected to the frame 20 in advance. The method of connecting the legs 30 and the frame 20 is not particularly limited, and screw fastening, welding, etc., can be used.

[0047] <Method for preparing display stand panels> Here, we will specifically describe the method for preparing the fixture top plate 10 in preparation step S1. The method for preparing the fixture top plate 10 includes a top plate body preparation step of preparing the top plate body 101, an additional element placement step of extruding a resin-containing additive manufacturing composition onto the top plate body 101 to place at least one additional element 110 on the top plate body 101, a surface material placement step of placing a surface material 102 on the second surface 101b of the top plate body 101, and a back material placement step of placing a back material 103 on the first surface 101a of the top plate body 101. The following describes each step in the method for preparing the fixture top plate 10 in detail.

[0048] [Preparation process for the tabletop] In the preparation process for the tabletop body, the tabletop body 101 may be purchased commercially, or it may be prepared by molding a resin such as thermoplastic resin. Alternatively, if necessary, the tabletop body 101 may be prepared by cutting a board that will be used as the material for the tabletop body 101 into the desired shape.

[0049] [Additional element placement process] In the additional element placement process, the additional element 110 is preferably placed using additive manufacturing technology such as a 3D printer. For example, a resin such as a thermoplastic resin is extruded from a 3D printer into a desired shape, and the extruded resin is solidified and molded by cooling or the like to directly or indirectly place the additional element 110, which is a laminate comprising multiple layers including resin, onto the top plate body 101.

[0050] This section describes the case in which the additional element 110 is installed using additive manufacturing technology with a 3D printer. Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a 3D printer 40 that fabricates the additional element 110. The 3D printer 40 is, for example, a 3D additive manufacturing device that fabricates the three-dimensional shape of the additional element 110. The 3D printer 40 can fabricate the additional element 110 using the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM (trademark registered)) method.

[0051] The 3D printer 40 shown in Figure 6 comprises, for example, a platform 41, a drive unit 42, a nozzle 43, an extrusion head 44, a guide unit 45, a material supply unit 46 for supplying material M, and a supply pipe 47. The platform 41 is a base for placing the top plate body 101 on which the add-on elements 110 formed from material M are placed. The drive unit 42 functions to move the platform 41, controlled by a control device (not shown). The nozzle 43 extrudes molten material M toward the platform 41. The nozzle 43 may have a tapered shape that narrows as it moves vertically downward. The nozzle 43 may heat the material M and extrude the material M while maintaining a constant temperature. The extrusion head 44, on which the nozzle 43 is mounted, is configured to move along the guide unit 45, controlled by the control device. The material supply unit 46 supplies material M to the extrusion head 44 via the supply pipe 47. The control device can control the position and movement speed of the nozzle 43, the amount of material M discharged from the nozzle 43, and so on.

[0052] Using the 3D printer 40 having the above configuration, an additional element 110 of a desired shape can be fabricated on the top plate body 101 placed on the platform 41. For example, for the reinforcing element 113, the first layer of resin can be extruded and fused to the back material 103, then the second layer of resin can be extruded on the first layer of resin, and subsequent layers of resin can be extruded on the resin of the previous layer. The boss 113a and the linear reinforcing part 113b may also be fabricated continuously. The process of forming the boss 113a with the 3D printer 40 in this way corresponds to the convex part formation process (S11) in the present invention. Furthermore, when forming the boss 113a, the diameter can be reduced as layers are sequentially stacked from the first layer of resin at the base towards the tip. This process corresponds to the diameter adjustment process (S111) in the present invention.

[0053] In additive manufacturing technology using a 3D printer 40, resin extrusion and solidification / molding may be performed substantially simultaneously or separately. When resin extrusion and solidification / molding are performed substantially simultaneously, the nozzle 43 of the 3D printer 40 may be equipped with a resin extrusion port and a cooling device for cooling the resin. The cooling device is not particularly limited, but examples include a blower, a cooler, etc. When resin extrusion and solidification / molding are performed separately, after the resin extrusion is completed, the entire top plate body 101 to which the resin has been extruded may be cooled by a blower, a cooler, etc. The resin contained in the additive manufacturing composition may optionally contain other additives such as fillers, pigments, and dyes.

[0054] [Surface material placement process] In the surface material placement process, the surface material 102 is first prepared. At this time, the surface material 102 may be purchased commercially, or it may be prepared by molding a resin such as a thermoplastic resin. If necessary, a board that will be used as the material for the surface material 102 may be cut into the desired shape to form the surface material 102. The surface material 102 thus prepared is placed on the second surface 101b of the tabletop body 101. The method of placing the surface material 102 on the second surface 101b is not particularly limited, but examples include screwing the surface material 102 onto the second surface 101b or gluing the surface material 102 onto the second surface 101b.

[0055] [Backing material placement process] In the backing material placement process, the backing material 103 is first prepared. At this time, the backing material 103 may be purchased commercially, or it may be prepared by molding a resin such as a thermoplastic resin. If necessary, a board that will be used as the material for the backing material 103 may be cut into the desired shape to form the backing material 103. The backing material 103 thus prepared is placed on the first surface 101a of the top plate body 101. The method of placing the backing material 103 on the first surface 101a is not particularly limited, but examples include screwing the backing material 103 onto the first surface 101a or gluing the backing material 103 onto the first surface 101a.

[0056] <Effects and Effects> In the connection mechanism J according to the embodiment described above, the boss (connecting protrusion) 113a used when connecting the fixture top plate (first part) 10 and the frame (second part) 20 that constitute the fixture 1 is a laminate formed by stacking multiple resin layers. Therefore, the boss 113a can be easily provided on the fixture top plate 10 using additive manufacturing technology with a 3D printer 40. Consequently, the effort of separately manufacturing and attaching the boss 113a to the fixture top plate 10 is eliminated, which has the advantage of saving time and effort required from the preparation of each part to the completion of the fixture 1 through the connection of the parts.

[0057] Furthermore, in the connection mechanism J according to the embodiment described above, with the boss 113a (connecting projection) of the fixture top plate 10 inserted into the through hole (connecting recess) 21 of the frame 20, the screw 22 can be screwed into the screw hole 23 provided at the tip of the boss 11a. Therefore, the frame 20, which has the through hole 21, can be fixed by being sandwiched between the fixture top plate 10, which has the boss 113a, and the screw 22. In addition, the boss 113a inserted into the through hole 21 can function like an embedded threaded insert nut without causing damage to the frame 20.

[0058] Furthermore, in the connection mechanism J according to the embodiment described above, since the diameter Dr at the base of the boss 113a is larger than the diameter Dt at the tip, the strength at the base of the boss 113a can be increased, and insertion into the through hole 21 can be facilitated.

[0059] In the embodiments described above, an office desk was used as an example of furniture. However, as already stated, the present invention is not limited to office desks, but can be applied to furniture such as tables, chairs, shelves, partitions, etc., for general household use. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to furniture in general that is constructed by combining multiple parts (for example, an assembly rack in which one board material is connected to another board material by fitting a protrusion provided so as to protrude from the inner surface of one board material into a recess provided on the other board material), and thus has an extremely broad range of applications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1… Fixtures 10… Display stand (Part 1) 101a...1st surface (second component opposing surface) 113a... Boss (connecting protrusion, cylindrical body) 20... Frame (second component) 21…Through hole (connecting recess) 22...bis 23... Holes for screws J...Connection mechanism Dr... the diameter at the base of the boss Dt...Diameter at the tip of the boss

Claims

1. A connecting mechanism for connecting a first component and a second component that constitute a fixture, A connecting projection is provided on the second part-facing surface of the first part that is opposite to the second part. A connecting recess is provided on the surface of the second part facing the first part. By inserting the connecting projection into the connecting recess, the first part and the second part are connected. The aforementioned connecting protrusion is a laminate formed by stacking multiple resin layers, comprising a connecting mechanism.

2. The aforementioned connecting recess is a through hole, The aforementioned connecting projection is a cylindrical body inserted into the through hole. The connection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a hole for a screw is formed at the tip of the cylindrical body.

3. The connection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the connecting projection at the base is larger than the diameter at the tip.

4. The connection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the connecting projection is provided directly on the opposing surface of the second component.

5. The connection mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the connecting projection is fused to the opposing surface of the second component.

6. A method for manufacturing a fixture, comprising a preparation step of preparing a first component and a second component that constitute the fixture, and a connection step of connecting the first component and the second component, The preparation step includes a protrusion formation step, which involves laminating a plurality of resin layers on the surface of the first part facing the second part to provide a connecting protrusion as a laminate, and a recess formation step, which involves providing a connecting recess on the surface of the second part facing the first part. A method for manufacturing furniture, wherein the connection step includes an insertion step of inserting the connection projection into the connection recess.

7. The aforementioned connecting recess is a through hole, The aforementioned connecting projection is a cylindrical body inserted into the through hole. The method for manufacturing a fixture according to claim 6, wherein the preparation step includes a hole-forming step of forming a hole for a screw at the tip of the cylindrical body.

8. The method for manufacturing a fixture according to claim 6, wherein the protrusion forming step includes a diameter adjustment step of making the diameter of the base side of the connecting protrusion larger than the diameter of the tip side.

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