JP6558601B2 - Nip-switching tension adjustment mechanism for fiber opening device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is an improvement of a fiber opening device, more specifically, a simple configuration with a single motor, and a nip switching type in a fiber opening device capable of independently and accurately controlling the tension of a reinforcing fiber bundle. The present invention relates to a tension adjustment mechanism.

  In order to manufacture a prepreg sheet that is an intermediate material of FRP, a reinforcing fiber bundle having a large number of filaments such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, and aramid fiber is widened by an air flow of a wind tunnel device and formed into a sheet shape. An opening device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a fiber opening device, in order to simultaneously open a plurality of reinforcing fiber bundles in parallel and obtain a sheet having a predetermined width without coarseness (opening unevenness) depending on the part, the tension of each reinforcing fiber bundle is constant. In order to increase the accuracy, it is preferable to adjust the tension independently for each reinforcing fiber bundle.

  However, in order to adjust the tension independently in this way, it is difficult to synchronize because it is necessary to provide a motor for each of the rotation speeds of the rollers to be sent out, and it is difficult to synchronize them. There is a problem that high accuracy cannot be achieved and manufacturing costs are inevitably increased.

JP 2007-9357 A

  The present invention was made in view of the above-described problems in the conventional fiber opening device, and the object of the present invention is simply constituted by a single motor, and the reinforcing fiber An object of the present invention is to provide a nip switching type tension adjusting mechanism in a fiber opening device that can independently control the tension of a bundle with high accuracy.

  Means employed by the present inventor for solving the above technical problem will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

That is, the present invention can adjust the tension independently for each reinforcing fiber bundle F in a fiber opening device in which a plurality of parallel reinforcing fiber bundles F, F,. Mechanism,
Before and after the traveling direction of all the reinforcing fiber bundles F, the low-speed roll 1 and the high-speed roll 2 having different rotational speeds are arranged transversely, and the low-speed roll 1 or the high-speed roll is provided for each reinforcing fiber bundle F. On the other hand, the nip rolls 3, 3...
Sensors 4... That can detect the tension of the reinforcing fiber bundle F are arranged on the downstream side of the high-speed roll 2 for each reinforcing fiber bundle F, respectively.
By selectively pressing the nip roll 3 against the surface of either the low-speed roll 1 or the high-speed roll 2 in accordance with a signal from the sensor 4, the traveling speed of the reinforcing fiber bundle F can be increased or decreased to adjust the tension. Because
And, on the downstream side of the sensor 4, a wind tunnel device 5 capable of opening the reinforcing fiber bundle F by an air flow is disposed,
On the downstream side of the wind tunnel device 5, a take-up roll 6 from which the reinforcing fiber bundle F opened in a sheet shape is taken up is disposed,
Adopting technical means that the torque of a single motor 7 is simultaneously transmitted to all the rotating shafts of the low-speed roll 1, the high-speed roll 2 and the take-up roll 6 so that they can be linked at a constant rotation ratio. Thus, the nip switching type tension adjusting mechanism in the fiber opening device was completed.

In addition, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention makes the outer circumferences of the low-speed roll 1 and the high-speed roll 2 have the same diameter in addition to the above means as necessary, and the number of teeth on the rotating shaft of each roll Are arranged with different gears,
It is possible to employ technical means for enabling the motor 7 to be interlocked at a constant rotation ratio by simultaneously transmitting the torque of the motor 7 to the gears via the transmission body 71.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is configured such that the nip roll 3 is configured by connecting the press contact bodies 31 and 31 in addition to the above-described means, and the outer periphery of the low-speed roll 1 or the high-speed roll 2. A technical means for selectively pressing the surface can be employed.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides dancer rolls 41, 41... Independently for each fiber bundle on the downstream side of the high-speed roll 2 in addition to the above means as necessary. Thus, technical means that the sensor 4 can detect the tension depending on the vertical position of the dancer roll 41 can be employed.

In the present invention, a low-speed roll and a high-speed roll having different rotational speeds are arranged transversely before and after the traveling direction of all the reinforcing fiber bundles, and a low-speed roll or a high-speed roll is provided for each reinforcing fiber bundle. While a nip roll that can be pressed against any one of the surfaces is disposed, on the downstream side of the high-speed roll, a sensor that can detect the tension of the reinforcing fiber bundle is disposed for each reinforcing fiber bundle.
By selectively pressing the nip roll against the surface of either the low-speed roll or the high-speed roll based on a signal from this sensor, the traveling speed of the reinforcing fiber bundle can be increased or decreased to adjust the tension.

  In addition, a wind tunnel device capable of opening a reinforcing fiber bundle by an air flow is disposed on the downstream side of the sensor, and the reinforcing fiber bundle opened in a sheet shape is taken up on the downstream side of the wind tunnel device. A take-up roll is provided, and the torque of a single motor is simultaneously transmitted to all the rotating shafts of the low-speed roll, the high-speed roll, and the take-up roll, thereby allowing the take-up roll to be interlocked at a constant rotation ratio.

  Therefore, according to the nip switching tension adjusting mechanism in the fiber opening device of the present invention, it is simply configured with a single motor, and the tension of the reinforcing fiber bundle can be independently controlled with high accuracy. A high-quality spread sheet with little spread unevenness can be obtained.

  In addition, since the rotation mechanisms can be accurately and simply synchronized, the manufacturing cost of the apparatus is reduced and the maintenance is facilitated. Therefore, the industrial utility value is greatly increased.

It is a schematic side view showing the nip switching type tension adjusting mechanism of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic top view showing the nip switching type tension adjusting mechanism of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view showing the nip roll of embodiment of this invention. It is a side view showing the nip roll of embodiment of this invention. It is a side view showing the modification of the nip roll of embodiment of this invention. It is a side view showing the modification of the nip roll of embodiment of this invention. It is a side view showing the modification of the nip roll of embodiment of this invention. It is a side view showing the modification of the transmission body of embodiment of this invention. It is a side view showing the modification of the transmission body of embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic side view showing the state which connected two or more nip switching type tension adjustment mechanisms of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic top view showing the state which connected two or more nip switching type tension adjustment mechanisms of the embodiment of the present invention.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, what is indicated by reference numeral 1 is a low-speed roll, and what is indicated by reference numeral 2 is a high-speed roll. These rolls are members having a friction member such as urethane on the circumferential curved surface, and “high speed” and “low speed” are the number of rotations per unit time of the pair of low speed roll 1 and high speed roll 2 in the front and rear. It shows the relative difference of.

  Also, what is indicated by reference numeral 3 is a nip roll, and this nip roll 3 can employ a roller-type pressure contact body 31 and can be brought into pressure contact with the roll surface by elevating operation, for example.

  Furthermore, what is indicated by reference numeral 4 is a sensor, and this sensor 4 is a device for measuring the tension of the reinforcing fiber bundle F.

  Furthermore, what is indicated by reference numeral 5 is a wind tunnel device, and this wind tunnel device 5 is a device for opening the reinforcing fiber bundle F by an air flow.

  Furthermore, what is indicated by reference numeral 6 is a take-up roll, and this take-up roll 6 can sandwich the reinforcing fibers with a pair of upper and lower rolls and can be transferred by rotating the roll.

  Furthermore, what is indicated by reference numeral 7 is a motor, and this motor 7 is an electric rotary drive device.

  Therefore, the present invention can adjust the tension independently for each reinforcing fiber bundle F in a fiber opening device in which a plurality of parallel reinforcing fiber bundles F, F,. Mechanism. These reinforcing fiber bundles F are unwound and supplied from each bobbin, and carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, etc. are used as the types of reinforcing fibers, and the number of filaments of the raw yarn is thousands (several K) to Tens of thousands (several tens of K) are used.

  Then, before and after the traveling direction of all the reinforcing fiber bundles F, the low speed roll 1 and the high speed roll 2 having different rotational speeds are disposed transversely (in the orthogonal direction) (see FIG. 2). Note that “low speed” and “high speed” refer to relative differences in the rotational speeds of these rolls, and do not indicate a rotational speed that is greater than or equal to a certain rotational speed.

  In the present embodiment, in order to provide such a difference in roll rotation speed, the outer circumferences of the low-speed roll 1 and the high-speed roll 2 have the same diameter, and gears having different numbers of teeth are arranged on the rotation shafts of the respective rolls. can do. By doing so, the same material can be used for the roll portions of the low-speed roll 1 and the high-speed roll 2.

  In addition, the torque of the motor 7 can be simultaneously transmitted to the gears via the transmission body 71 (in the present embodiment, a toothed belt) so that the motor 7 can be interlocked with a constant rotation ratio. At this time, the meshing between the toothed belt and the gear prevents slipping and can reliably maintain the rotation ratio with high accuracy.

  In addition, the relationship between the rotational speeds of the low-speed roll 1, the high-speed roll 2, and the take-up roll 6 needs to be low-speed roll 1 <take-up roll 6 <high-speed roll 2. Low-speed roll 1: take-up roll 6: high-speed roll 2 The ratio of the rotational speed is preferably about 0.95 or more and about 1: 1.05 or less.

  For each reinforcing fiber bundle F, nip rolls 3, 3... That can be pressed against the surface of either the low speed roll 1 or the high speed roll 2 are disposed. In the present embodiment, the press contact bodies 31 are provided above the low speed roll 1 and the high speed roll 2, respectively, and can be selectively pressed by the up and down movement of each press contact body 31.

  Further, sensors 4, 4... Capable of detecting the tension of the reinforcing fiber bundle F are arranged for each reinforcing fiber bundle F on the downstream side of the high-speed roll 2. This sensor 4 may employ a sensor that directly measures the tension and speed of the reinforcing fiber bundle F. In the present embodiment, each of the dancer rolls 41, 41,. For each fiber bundle, one that detects the tension based on the vertical position of the dancer roll 41 is employed. The dancer roll 41 is a known tension difference absorbing structure in which the weight is lowered when the yarn tension is low and the weight is raised when the yarn tension is high.

  Next, the nip roll 3 is selectively brought into pressure contact with the surface of either the low-speed roll 1 or the high-speed roll 2 by the signal from the sensor 4, whereby the traveling speed of the reinforcing fiber bundle F is increased or decreased. Is adjustable. That is, when the tension is lower than the set value, the nip roll 3 presses the surface of the low-speed roll 1 so that the yarn between the low-speed roll 1 and the take-up roll 6 becomes faster (pulled) on the upstream side. On the contrary, when the tension is higher than the set value, the nip roll 3 presses the surface of the high-speed roll 2 so that the yarn between the high-speed roll 2 and the take-up roll 6 is downstream. Since the side becomes faster (extruded), the tension of the yarn can be lowered.

  A wind tunnel device 5 capable of opening the reinforcing fiber bundle F by an air flow is disposed on the downstream side of the sensor 4. In the present embodiment, a structure that generates a downward suction air flow is employed. Moreover, in this embodiment, the heating mechanism 8 which blows and heats a hot air (for example, about 100 degreeC) to the reinforced fiber bundle F corresponding to an opening part can be provided. At this time, in order to increase the heating efficiency, it can be sprayed while passing through the inside of the casing in a high temperature atmosphere. Thus, the sizing agent adhering to the reinforcing fiber bundle F can be softened by heating the reinforcing fiber bundle F to be opened. Therefore, the fibers are easily unwound in the expansion region, and the fibers are uniformly dispersed in the spread region. The heating mechanism 8 is not limited to the hot air type, and a heating and pressing roll or the like may be employed.

  On the downstream side of the wind tunnel device 5, a take-up roll 6 from which the reinforcing fiber bundle F opened in the form of a sheet is taken up is disposed. Usually, a motor 7 is connected to the take-up roll 6 and driven to rotate. .

  And the torque of the single motor 7 is simultaneously transmitted to all the rotating shafts of the low-speed roll 1, the high-speed roll 2 and the take-up roll 6, and can be interlocked with a constant rotation ratio. By doing so, the power source can be simplified to reduce the cost, and the rotation can be reliably synchronized, so that the tension control can be easily performed.

  Next, as a modification of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the nip roll 3 is configured by connecting the press contact bodies 31 and 31 (with hinges 32), and the low-speed roll 1 or the high-speed roll 2. It is possible to selectively press the outer peripheral surface of the. By doing so, when one rises, the other descends via the hinge 32, so that the response is quick, and it is possible to prevent the two rolls from being pressed by mistake and damaging the yarn. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, by providing the urging means 33 for urging one of the pressure contact bodies 31, it is possible to simplify the apparatus by uniting the power required for the pressure contact operation.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, either the low-speed roll 1 or the high-speed roll 2 is moved by swinging the nip roll 3 and the press contact body 31 having the hinge 32 as a support shaft. It is also possible to selectively press-contact the surface. In this case, the movement time of the press-contact body 31 can be shortened by making the space | interval of the low speed roll 1 and the high speed roll 2 as small as possible, and switching operation can be performed rapidly.

  The torque transmission body 71 of the motor 7 in the present embodiment can adopt a gear as shown in FIG. 8, and further includes a plurality of toothed belts as shown in FIG. The transmission body 71 may also be used. Furthermore, although not shown, a gear and a toothed belt can be appropriately combined.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of nip switching type tension adjusting mechanisms configured as described above can be arranged in the front-rear direction as shown in FIGS. In this case, the reinforcing fiber bundle F that has passed through the upstream wind tunnel device 5 is in a so-called “preliminary opening” state and has been opened to a predetermined accuracy, and the same process is performed again on the downstream side. Thus, it is possible to obtain a high-quality spread sheet with very little spread unevenness.

  At this time, the relationship between the rotational speeds of the low speed roll 1A, the high speed roll 2A and the take-up roll 6A in the upstream tension adjusting mechanism and the rotational speeds of the low speed roll 1B, the high speed roll 2B and the take-up roll 6B in the downstream tension adjusting mechanism. Must be 1A <6A <2A, 1B <6B <2B, and at least 6A <6B in each tension adjustment mechanism.

  In the nip switching tension adjusting mechanism installed on the downstream side, the size of the press contact body 31 and the like can be changed according to the width of the pre-opened reinforcing fiber bundle F. Although the reinforcing fiber bundle F spreads to a predetermined width, there is no variation in tension because the bobbin of the supply source is the same.

  The present invention is generally configured as described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, for example, roll rotation. In order to provide a difference in number, by making the outer peripheral diameter of the low-speed roll 1 larger than the outer peripheral diameter of the high-speed roll 2, a surface speed difference can be generated.

  Further, when the outer circumferences of the low-speed roll 1 and the high-speed roll 2 are made the same diameter, not only the gears having different numbers of teeth are arranged on the rotation shafts of the respective rolls but also the rotation shafts of the respective rolls. Different pulleys with different diameters may be provided to create a surface speed difference.

  Furthermore, the motor 7 is not necessarily connected to the take-up roll 6 as long as torque can be transmitted to all the rotation shafts of the low-speed roll 1, the high-speed roll 2 and the take-up roll 6 at the same time. Also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

1 (1A, 1B) Low speed roll 2 (2A, 2B) High speed roll 3 Nip roll
31 pressure contact
32 Hinge
33 Energizing means 4 Sensor
41 Dancer roll 5 Wind tunnel device 6 (6A, 6B) Take-up roll 7 Motor
71 Transmitter 8 Heating mechanism F Reinforcing fiber bundle

Claims (4)

In a fiber opening device in which a plurality of parallel reinforcing fiber bundles (F, F...) Are each opened to form a sheet body, a mechanism capable of adjusting the tension independently for each reinforcing fiber bundle (F). There,
The low-speed roll (1) and the high-speed roll (2) having different rotational speeds are disposed transversely before and after the traveling direction of all the reinforcing fiber bundles (F), and each reinforcing fiber bundle (F) is provided. On the other hand, a nip roll (3, 3...) That can be pressed against one surface of either the low speed roll (1) or the high speed roll (2) is disposed.
On the downstream side of the high speed roll (2), sensors (4, 4...) Capable of detecting the tension of the reinforcing fiber bundle (F) are arranged for each reinforcing fiber bundle (F),
By means of a signal from the sensor (4), the nip roll (3) is selectively pressed against the surface of either the low-speed roll (1) or the high-speed roll (2), so that the reinforcing fiber bundle (F) The tension can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the traveling speed of
And on the downstream side of the sensor (4), a wind tunnel device (5) capable of opening the reinforcing fiber bundle (F) by an air flow is disposed,
On the downstream side of the wind tunnel device (5), a take-up roll (6) from which the reinforcing fiber bundle (F) opened in a sheet shape is taken up is disposed,
The torque of the single motor (7) is simultaneously transmitted to all the rotation shafts of the low-speed roll (1), the high-speed roll (2), and the take-up roll (6), and can be interlocked with a constant rotation ratio. A nip switching type tension adjusting mechanism in a fiber-spreading device. The outer circumferences of the low speed roll (1) and the high speed roll (2) have the same diameter, and gears with different numbers of teeth are arranged on the rotation shafts of the rolls,
The nip switching in the fiber opening device according to claim 1, wherein the torque of the motor (7) is simultaneously transmitted to each gear through the transmission body (71) so that the motor can be interlocked with a constant rotation ratio. Type tension adjustment mechanism.   The nip roll (3) is configured by connecting pressure contact bodies (31, 31), and can selectively press contact the outer peripheral surface of the low speed roll (1) or the high speed roll (2). Item 3. A nip switching type tension adjusting mechanism in the fiber opening device according to item 1 or 2.   On the downstream side of the high-speed roll (2), dancer rolls (41, 41, ...) are arranged independently for each fiber bundle, and the sensor (4) depends on the vertical position of the dancer roll (41). The tension can be detected, and the nip switching tension adjusting mechanism in the fiber-spreading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.