Multi-degree-of-freedom additive mixed weaving apparatus and method for continuous fiber reinforced composite material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12330372-B2
Application number	US-202318167092-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2023
Priority date	Nov 28, 2022
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A lower surface of the printing platform is provided with a displacement device, and the displacement device is used to rotate the printing platform horizontally and adjust a pitch angle of the printing platform. The additive device is located above the printing platform and is connected to one end of the robotic arm, and the additive device is provided with a pressing roller. The robotic arm includes rotating joints used to drive the additive device to print and melt a fiber tow on the printing platform according to a predetermined path. The fiber pulling device is disposed on the printing platform to grab the reinforced fiber and make it cross-weave with the horizontally printed fiber tow on the horizontal plane. When working, the pressing roller is always perpendicular to the printing platform to press the melted fiber tow and the reinforced fiber cross-woven with the fiber tow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-degree-of-freedom additive mixed weaving apparatus for a continuous fiber reinforced composite material, comprising a printing platform, a robotic arm, an additive device, and a fiber pulling device, wherein:
a lower surface of the printing platform is provided with a displacement device, and the displacement device is used to rotate the printing platform horizontally and adjust a pitch angle of the printing platform,
the additive device is located above the printing platform and is connected to one end of the robotic arm, and the additive device is provided with a pressing roller, the pressing roller attached to the additive device with a support rod,
the robotic arm comprises a plurality of rotating joints used to drive the additive device to print and melt a fiber tow on the printing platform according to a predetermined path,
the fiber pulling device is disposed on the printing platform and is used to grab a pre-set vertical reinforced fiber and make it cross-weave with the fiber tow in each layer of printing, and
when working, the robotic arm drives the additive device to print, and the displacement device drives the printing platform to move with the additive device, so that a central axis of the support rod of the pressing roller is always perpendicular to a horizontal plane defined by the lower surface of the printing platform to press the melted fiber tow and the reinforced fiber cross-woven with the fiber tow,
wherein the additive device comprises a fixed platform, an upper surface of the fixed platform is connected to one end of the robotic arm, and a lower surface of the fixed platform is provided with a tow feeding mechanism and a laser, and wherein the tow feeding mechanism is used to output the fiber tow onto the printing platform, and the laser is used to melt the fiber tow.

2. The multi-degree-of-freedom additive mixed weaving apparatus for the continuous fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing roller is disposed at a center of the lower surface of the fixed platform, and both the tow feeding mechanism and the laser are disposed at one side of the pressing roller.

3. The multi-degree-of-freedom additive mixed weaving apparatus for the continuous fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 1 , wherein lower ends of the pressing roller, the tow feeding mechanism, and the laser all face toward a same processing point on the printing platform.

4. The multi-degree-of-freedom additive mixed weaving apparatus for the continuous fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 2 , wherein a cutting device is also disposed on the fixed platform, and the cutting device is disposed on another side of the pressing roller for cutting the fiber tow sent out by the tow feeding mechanism.

5. The multi-degree-of-freedom additive mixed weaving apparatus for the continuous fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 1 , wherein the fiber pulling device comprises a grabbing unit and a connecting rod driving mechanism, wherein
the connecting rod driving mechanism comprises a guiding rod, a slider, a connecting rod, and a crank, an upper end of the guiding rod is fixed onto the displacement device, the slider is disposed on the guiding rod and is able to move up and down on the guiding rod, one end of the connecting rod is connected to the slider, and another end thereof is connected to one end of the crank, another end of the crank is fixed onto a lateral side of the printing platform, the grabbing unit is disposed at a connecting joint of the connecting rod and the crank, and the crank and a fixing point of the printing platform are located directly above the slider.

6. The multi-degree-of-freedom additive mixed weaving apparatus for the continuous fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 1 , wherein the printing platform is further provided with a clamping device thereon, the clamping device is used to fix the reinforced fiber cross-woven with each layer of fiber tow, the robotic arm comprises six rotating joints, the displacement device comprises a base, a rotating unit, and a turning unit from bottom to top, wherein an upper end of the turning unit is connected to the lower surface of the printing platform, and a lower end of the turning unit is connected to the base, and upper and lower ends of the rotating unit are respectively connected to the turning unit and the base.

Assignees

• Univ Huazhong Science Tech

Inventors

• Yan Chunze
• Yang Lei
• Wang Wenbo
• Pi Zhanpeng
• Su Bin
• Xia Zhigang
• Shi Yusheng

Classifications

• B29C64/236

  for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer · CPC title

• B33Y10/00 Primary

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C64/209

  Heads; Nozzles · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B29C64/241

  for rotary motion · CPC title