JP6421387B2 - Press forming method of fiber preform - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, a mold in which at least one of an upper mold and a lower mold is divided into a plurality of segments, and a plurality of creels wound up so that a fiber tape can be pulled out can be advanced and retracted between the upper mold and the lower mold. The present invention relates to a fiber preform press molding method for press molding a fiber preform to be a reinforcing material of a fiber reinforced resin member using a creel group juxtaposed with each other.

  RTM (resin transfer molding method), which is one of the methods for manufacturing fiber reinforced resin members, is a mold in which a fiber preform formed by laminating a plurality of fiber layers and shaped into a predetermined three-dimensional shape is set in a mold. After tightening, a low-viscosity resin is injected into the mold at a high pressure and cured so as to wrap the fiber preform. The product taken out from the mold after the resin is cured becomes a finished product through trimming and drilling of the outer peripheral portion.

  As a method of manufacturing such a fiber preform, a plurality of creels wound so that the fiber tape can be pulled out are juxtaposed on one side of the mold, and ends of the fiber tape are provided with a plurality of grippers provided corresponding to the plurality of creels. Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique in which a fiber preform is molded by closing a mold and pressing a fiber tape after the mold is pulled out so as to cross the opened mold.

Special table 2014-510178 gazette

  By the way, since the above-mentioned conventional one is press-molded in a state where the fiber tape having one end fixed to the gripper and the other end fixed to the creel crosses the mold, the fibers separated from the gripper and the creel which are the fixing portions. There is a problem that the intermediate portion of the tape is displaced with respect to the mold, the density of the fiber tape is locally non-uniform, and the molding accuracy of the fiber preform is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to increase the forming accuracy of a fiber preform formed by pressing a fiber tape drawn from a creel with a mold.

  To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a mold in which at least one of the upper mold and the lower mold is divided into a plurality of segments, and a plurality of coils in which the fiber tape is wound up so that it can be pulled out. A fiber preform press molding method in which a fiber preform as a reinforcing material of a fiber reinforced resin member is press molded using a creel group in which creels are juxtaposed between the upper mold and the lower mold so as to be able to advance and retract. A step of advancing the plurality of creels from one end side to the other end side of the mold between the opened upper mold and the lower mold, and the fiber tapes respectively drawn from the plurality of creels Fixing the plurality of segments to the other end of the mold, and retreating the plurality of creels from the other end of the mold toward the one end. Press molding method of fiber preform which comprises a step of pressing in order to that of the one side is proposed.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the configuration of claim 1, a clamp for fixing the fiber tape drawn out from the creel is provided on the other end side of the mold so as to be movable up and down. A featured fiber preform press molding method is proposed.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the configuration of claim 1 or 2, the mold is rotatable around an axis extending in the opening and closing direction of the upper mold and the lower mold. A method for press forming a fiber preform is proposed.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the configuration of any one of claims 1 to 3, the creel group is juxtaposed so as to be able to advance and retract in a direction crossing each other. A method for press-forming a fiber preform characterized by comprising a plurality of creel groups is proposed.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, in addition to the configuration of any one of claims 1 to 4, both the upper mold and the lower mold are divided into a plurality of segments. A method for press forming a fiber preform is proposed.

  The upper mold segment 11a and the lower mold segment 12a of the embodiment correspond to the segment of the present invention, and the first creel 15A and the second creel 15B of the embodiment correspond to the creel of the present invention. The first creel group 16A and the second creel group 16B correspond to the creel group of the present invention.

  According to the configuration of claim 1, a mold in which at least one of the upper mold and the lower mold is divided into a plurality of segments and a plurality of creels wound so that the fiber tape can be pulled out are advanced between the upper mold and the lower mold. -Since fiber preforms that serve as reinforcements for fiber-reinforced resin members are press-molded using creel groups juxtaposed so that they can be retracted, fibers can be used compared to the case where fiber preforms are press-molded from a single fiber sheet. Wrinkles generated in the preform can be reduced.

  In addition, a plurality of creels are advanced from one end of the mold to the other end between the upper and lower molds that are opened, and then the fiber tape drawn from the plurality of creels is fixed to the other end of the mold. Then, while the plurality of creels are retracted from the other end side of the mold toward the one end side, the plurality of segments are sequentially pressed from the other end side of the mold to the one end side, so that the fiber The tape is always press-formed in the vicinity of the fixed portion, and the positional deviation of the fiber tape can be prevented to further reduce the generation of wrinkles and further increase the forming accuracy of the fiber preform.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the clamp for fixing the fiber tape drawn from the creel is provided on the other end side of the mold so as to be raised and lowered, the end of the fiber tape is set to the height of the press surface of the mold. By fixing together, it is possible to perform press molding with high accuracy while preventing looseness of the fiber tape.

  According to the configuration of claim 3, since the mold is rotatable around the axis extending in the opening / closing direction of the upper mold and the lower mold, a plurality of layers of fiber tapes having different fiber orientation directions are laminated to increase the strength. A high fiber preform can be obtained.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the creel group is composed of a plurality of creel groups juxtaposed so as to be able to advance and retreat in directions intersecting each other. Can increase the production efficiency.

  According to the configuration of claim 5, since the upper mold and the lower mold are both divided into a plurality of segments, the upper mold segment and the lower mold segment are simultaneously moved up and down according to the shape of the target fiber preform. By doing so, a fiber preform having a complicated shape can be easily molded while preventing the generation of wrinkles.

The perspective view of a metal mold | die and a creel group. (First embodiment) 2A-2A cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 and 2B direction arrow view of FIG. (First embodiment) Explanatory drawing of the press process of the fiber tape of the 1st layer of a fiber preform (the 1). (First embodiment) Explanatory drawing of the press process of the fiber tape of the 1st layer of a fiber preform (the 2). (First embodiment) Explanatory drawing of the press process of the fiber tape of the 2nd layer of a fiber preform (the 1). (First embodiment) Explanatory drawing of the press process of the fiber tape of the 2nd layer of a fiber preform (the 2). (First embodiment) Explanatory drawing of the press process corresponding to FIG.5 (F). (Second Embodiment) The perspective view of a metal mold | die and a creel group. (Third embodiment) 9A-9A line sectional view of FIG. 8 and 9B direction arrow view of FIG. (Third embodiment) Explanatory drawing of the press process of the fiber tape of the 1st layer of a fiber preform, and a 2nd layer. (Third embodiment)

First embodiment

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fiber preform manufacturing apparatus includes a mold 13 including an upper mold 11 and a lower mold 12. The upper mold 11 is composed of a plurality of upper mold segments 11a divided into a grid pattern, and each upper mold segment 11a is connected to a cylinder (not shown) and can be moved up and down independently. Similarly, the lower mold 12 includes a plurality of lower mold segments 12a divided in a grid pattern, and each lower mold segment 12a is connected to a cylinder (not shown) and can be moved up and down independently. A concave portion 13a for molding the fiber preform is formed on the lower surface of the upper mold 11, and a convex portion 13b for molding the fiber preform is formed on the upper surface of the lower mold 12. The mold 13 is freely rotatable about an axis L extending in a direction connecting the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12.

  A creel group 16 comprising a plurality of creels 15 wound around the fiber tape 14 so as to be drawable is juxtaposed in one direction, and these creels 15 are supported by the tips of rods 17 by a cylinder (not shown). By moving forward and backward in the other direction orthogonal to the one direction, the mold 13 can be traversed between the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 which are opened. The fiber tape 14 is formed by, for example, applying a binder to the carbon fibers 18 aligned in one direction to hold the tape shape. When a thermoplastic binder is used for the fiber tape 14, the creel 15 is heated. A temperature raising device for melting the plastic binder is provided, and when a thermosetting binder is used for the fiber tape 14, a temperature raising device for curing the thermoplastic binder is provided on the mold 13. It is done.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the creel group 16 is advanced so as to pass between the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 with the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 of the mold 13 being opened. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3 (B), the first row of upper mold segments 11a located at the forward end of the creel group 16 is lowered, and one row facing these upper mold segments 11a. By raising the lower mold segments 12a of the eyes, the ends of the fiber tapes 14 drawn from the creel 15 are clamped and fixed between the upper mold segments 11a and the lower mold segments 12a of the first row. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3 (C), the creel group 16 is retracted by one pitch while pulling the fiber tapes 14 whose ends are clamped, and then the upper mold segments 11a in the second row are lowered. The lower mold segments 12a in the second row are raised to press and form the fiber tapes 14 in the upper mold segments 11a and the lower mold segments 12a in the second row.

  4D, each time the creel group 16 is retracted by one pitch and the fiber tapes 14 are pulled out, the upper mold segments 11a and lower mold segments 12a in the next row are closed and the fiber tapes are closed. 14 is pressed to form. When all the upper mold segments 11a and the lower mold segments 12a are closed and the press forming of the first fiber layer of the fiber preform 19 is completed, as shown in FIG. Cut and detach from creel 15 ...

  In order to press-mold the second fiber layer of the fiber preform 19, as shown in FIG. 5 (F), the mold 13 is rotated 45 ° around the axis L and the upper mold is opened. The creel group 16 is moved forward so as to pass between the lower die 12 and the lower die 12, and the upper die segment 11a in the first row is lowered to lower the lower die segment 12a in the first row and the first layer of the fiber preform 19. The ends of the fiber tapes 14 drawn from the creel group 16 are clamped and fixed between the fiber layers. At this time, since the mold 13 is rotated by 45 °, the upper mold segment 11a and the lower mold segment 12a in the first row are arranged in a V shape along two adjacent sides of the mold 13. It will be.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5 (F), as shown in FIG. 5 (G), the creel group 16 is slightly advanced and tension is applied by winding the slack fiber tape 14, as shown in FIG. The upper mold segments 11a in the second row arranged in a letter shape are lowered, and the first fiber layer and the fibers of the fiber preform 19 between the lower mold segments 12a in the second row arranged in a V shape. The tapes 14 are pressed and molded.

  Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 6 (H), each time the creel group 16 is retracted by one pitch and the fiber tapes 14 are pulled out, the upper mold segments 11a and lower mold segments 12a in the next row are closed to form one layer. A second-layer fiber tape 14 is pressed and molded on the fiber layer of the eye. When all the upper mold segments 11a and lower mold segments 12a are closed and the press forming of the second fiber layer of the fiber preform 19 is completed, as shown in FIG. Cut and detach from creel 15 ...

  When the molding of the first and second fiber layers of the fiber preform 19 is completed in this way, the molding of the third and subsequent layers of the fiber preform 19 is performed while the mold 13 is rotated around the axis L each time. By performing, the fiber preform 19 in which a predetermined number of fiber layers are oriented in a predetermined direction is completed.

  As described above, the fiber preform 19 is formed by pressing a plurality of fiber tapes 14 divided in parallel, rather than pressing one fiber sheet to form a fiber preform. Occurrence of wrinkles at the peripheral edge of the fiber preform 19 is sometimes prevented, and the molding accuracy can be increased.

  Moreover, the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 are respectively divided into a plurality of upper mold segments 11 a... And lower mold segments 12 a... And the mold 13 is opened from one end side to the other end side between the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12. The creel group 16 is moved forward, the fiber tapes 14 respectively drawn from the plurality of creels 15 are fixed to the other end side of the mold 13, and the plurality of creels 15 are fixed to the one end side from the other end side of the mold 13. The upper tape segments 11a and the lower mold segments 12a are pressed in order from the other end side of the mold 13 to the one end side while being retracted toward the end, so that the fiber tape 14 is always fixed. Press molding is performed in the vicinity of the portion. As a result, it becomes difficult for the fiber tapes 14 to be displaced during press molding, so that the generation of wrinkles can be further reduced and the molding accuracy of the fiber preform 19 can be further increased.

Second embodiment

  In the first embodiment described above, when the first fiber layer of the fiber preform 19 is press-molded, the fiber tape 14... Is utilized by using the upper mold segment 11 a. However, when the second and subsequent fiber layers of the fiber preform 19 are press-molded, the first fiber layer of the fiber preform 19 is already mounted. Since the lower mold segments 12a of the lower mold 12 cannot be raised, the fiber tape 14 is excessively pulled out from the creel 15 and fibers are obtained using the upper mold segments 11a and lower mold segments 12a of the first row. After clamping the ends of the tapes 14, it was necessary to draw extra fiber tape 14 into the creel 15 to give tension (see FIG. 5F).

  In order to improve the efficiency of clamping the fiber tapes 14 when the second and subsequent fiber layers are press-molded, the fiber preform manufacturing apparatus of the second embodiment corresponds to each creel 15. Are provided with a plurality of openable and closable clamps 20. Each clamp 20 can be moved to an arbitrary position in a horizontal plane and can be raised and lowered. Therefore, when the second and subsequent fiber layers are press-molded, the ends of the fiber tapes 14 are clamped at the same height as the creel 15 by the clamps 20 and then the fiber tapes 14 are pulled out from the creel 15. Then, the clamps 20 are lowered to the height of the lower mold 12.

  This eliminates the need for the step of winding the fiber tape 14 once pulled out of the creel 15 around the creel 15 again, thereby improving the work efficiency and preventing the fiber tape 14 from loosening. It can be press-formed well.

Third embodiment

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first embodiment described above includes a creel group 16 in which a plurality of creels 15 are juxtaposed in a first direction. As shown in FIGS. In the embodiment, a first creel group 16A in which a plurality of first creels 15A are juxtaposed in a first direction and a plurality of second creels 15B are juxtaposed in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. And the second creel group 16B. The first and second creel groups 16A and 16B are arranged with different heights so as not to interfere with each other.

  According to the present embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 10A, the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 of the mold 13 are opened so as to pass between the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12. The first creel 15A of the first creel group 16A is advanced and the second creel 15B of the second creel group 16B is advanced. From this state, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the apex of the mold 13 is P, one first creel 15A on the apex P side of the first creel group 16A and the second creel group When one second creel 15B... On the apex P side of 16B is retracted by one pitch, each one upper mold segment 11a and lower mold segment 12a located at the apex P of the mold 13 (see symbol a) Since the fiber tape 14 drawn out from one first creel 15A and the fiber tape 14 drawn out from one second creel 15B overlap each other, each one of the upper segments 11a indicated by the symbol a. And the two fiber tapes 14 and 14 which overlapped by pressing the lower mold | type segment 12a are clamped.

  Subsequently, when the two first creels 15A ... from the apex P side of the first creel group 16A and the two second creels 15B ... from the apex P side of the second creel group 16B are retreated one pitch at a time, As shown in FIG. 10 (C), since the two fiber tapes 14 and 14 are newly overlapped between each of the two upper mold segments 11a and 11a and the lower mold segments 12a and 12a (see symbols b and b), The two upper tape segments 11a and 11a and the lower mold segments 12a and 12a indicated by reference numerals b and b are pressed to clamp the two overlapping fiber tapes 14 and 14.

  Subsequently, when the three first creels 15A ... from the apex P side of the first creel group 16A and the three second creels 15B ... from the apex P side of the second creel group 16B are retreated one pitch at a time, As shown in FIG. 10 (D), since the two fiber tapes 14, 14 overlap each other between the three upper mold segments 11a ... and the lower mold segments 12a ... (see symbols c, c, d), Each of the two upper mold segments 11a and 11a and the lower mold segments 12a and 12a indicated by reference numerals c and c is pressed to clamp the two overlapping fiber tapes 14 and 14, and one each of the reference numerals d and The upper mold segment 11a and the lower mold segment 12a are pressed and the two fiber tapes 14 and 14 overlapped are press-molded.

  By repeating the above process, the fiber tapes 14... Are clamped and press-formed one by one in a diagonal direction from the apex P of the mold 13 toward the other apex P ′ at the diagonal position. The fiber preform 19 having the second fiber layer can be press-molded.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the two fiber layers are simultaneously pressed while preventing wrinkles from occurring in the fiber preform 19 and improving the molding accuracy as in the first embodiment. By molding, the fiber preform 19 can be efficiently manufactured in a short time.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the upper mold 11 is divided into a plurality of upper mold segments 11a, and the lower mold 12 is divided into a plurality of lower mold segments 12a. However, only one of the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 is divided into a plurality of pieces. It may be divided into segments. However, when the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 are both divided into a plurality of segments 11a and 12a, the amount of movement in the vertical direction of the fiber tape 14 becomes smaller when the first fiber layer is press-molded. The accuracy is further improved.

  In the embodiment, the upper mold segment 11a and the lower mold segment 12a are all divided into the same dimensions, but may be divided into different dimensions.

11 Upper mold 11a Upper mold segment
12 Lower mold 12a Lower mold segment
13 Mold 14 Fiber tape 15 Creel 15A First creel (Creel)
15B 2nd creel (Creel)
16 Creel group 16A First creel group (Creel group)
16B 2nd creel group (creel group)
19 Fiber preform 20 Clamp L Axis

Claims (5)

A mold (13) in which at least one of the upper mold (11) and the lower mold (12) is divided into a plurality of segments (11a, 12a), and a plurality of creels (FIG. 5) wound up so that the fiber tape (14) can be pulled out. 15, 15A, 15B) using a creel group (16, 16A, 16B) in which the upper die (11) and the lower die (12) are juxtaposed so as to be able to advance and retreat, and a reinforcing material for a fiber reinforced resin member A fiber preform press molding method for press molding a fiber preform (19) to be:
A step of advancing the plurality of creels (15, 15A, 15B) from one end side to the other end side of the mold (13) between the opened upper mold (11) and the lower mold (12); ,
Fixing the fiber tape (14) drawn from each of the plurality of creels (15, 15A, 15B) to the other end of the mold (13);
While the plurality of creels (15, 15A, 15B) are retracted from the other end side to the one end side of the mold (13), the plurality of segments (11a, 12a) are moved to the other side of the mold (13). Pressurizing in order from the one on the end side to the one on the one end side;
A method for press-forming a fiber preform, comprising:   The clamp (20) for fixing the fiber tape (14) pulled out from the creel (15, 15A, 15B) is provided on the other end side of the mold (13) so as to be movable up and down. 2. A method for press-forming a fiber preform according to 1.   The said metal mold | die (13) is rotatable around the axis line (L) extended in the opening-and-closing direction of the said upper mold | type (11) and the said lower mold | type (12), The Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. A method for press-molding the fiber preform as described.   The creel group (16A, 16B) is composed of a plurality of creel groups (16A, 16B) juxtaposed so as to be able to advance and retreat in directions crossing each other. A method for press-forming a fiber preform according to claim 1.   The fiber mold according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the upper mold (11) and the lower mold (12) are both divided into a plurality of segments (11a, 12a). Reform press molding method.

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