Device and method for producing fiber preforms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9364997-B2
Application number	US-201314048720-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2013
Priority date	Apr 8, 2011
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A method and a device for producing fiber preforms which are, for example, a precursor in the production of fiber reinforced plastic components, are disclosed. The method includes the steps of tensioning the threads or rovings, draping the threads or rovings over a molding tool and attaching the threads or rovings to a fiber preform. A plurality of separate grips grip individual or a plurality of threads or rovings at a plurality of thread transfer points allocated respectively to the individual grippers. The grippers are then moved in substantially parallel paths relative to each other and the threads or rovings are thereby tensioned side by side.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for producing fiber preforms, the device comprising:
a plurality of unwind stations for providing a plurality of threads or rovings;
a plurality of grippers, each of said plurality of grippers having a maximum position and an assigned thread transfer point and each of said plurality of grippers being individually movable on a plurality of substantially parallel paths between said maximum position and a pick-up position, said pick-up position being at said thread transfer point and being closer to one of said plurality of unwind stations than said maximum position, said plurality of grippers being configured for gripping an origin of one of an individual and a plurality of said threads or rovings; and
at least one molding tool configured to be brought between said thread transfer points and at least some of said grippers, wherein said plurality of grippers is configured to assume a plurality of different individual intermediate positions on their respective said path and configured to retain a plurality of respective origins of said plurality of threads or rovings at said individual intermediate positions.

2. A device for producing fiber preforms, the device comprising:
a plurality of unwind stations for providing a plurality of threads or rovings;
a plurality of grippers, each of said plurality of grippers having a maximum position and an assigned thread transfer point and each of said plurality of grippers being individually movable on a plurality of substantially parallel paths between said maximum position and a pick-up position, said pick-up position being at said thread transfer point and being closer to one of said plurality of unwind stations than said maximum position, said plurality of grippers being configured for gripping an origin of one of an individual and a plurality of said threads or rovings; and
at least one molding tool configured to be brought between said thread transfer points and at least some of said grippers, wherein said at least one molding tool is configured to be brought between said thread transfer points and at least some of said grippers in such a way that said threads or rovings are draped over said at least one molding tool.

3. The device according to claim 1 , each individual of said plurality of grippers being movable on a substantially linear path from said pick-up position to said maximum position.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein each said individual gripper is positionable on its respective path, following an outer contour of said at least one molding tool.

5. The device according to claim 1 , said plurality of grippers each having a clamping width in a range of between approximately 10 to 500 millimeters (mm).

6. The device according to claim 5 , said plurality of grippers each having a clamping width in a range of between approximately 20 to 200 mm.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of grippers is at least 5 grippers.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein said plurality of grippers is at least 10 grippers.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein said plurality of grippers is at least 20 grippers.

10. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a binder material supply positioned between said plurality of unwind stations, for supplying a grip binder material, said plurality of grippers also gripping said grip binder material together with said plurality of threads or roving at said thread transfer points.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein said grip binder material is at least one of a plurality of threads or a fleece, one of consisting of and formed with a thermoplastic or an adhesive.

12. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a separating device configured for at least one of separating said plurality of threads or rovings between said at least one molding tool and said plurality of grippers and separating said plurality of threads or rovings between said at least one molding tool and said thread transfer points.

13. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a fixing device configured for connecting said plurality of threads or rovings with each other into a stable shape one of in said at least one molding tool and around said at least one molding tool.

14. The device according to claim 13 , said fixing device being at least one of a heating device and a pressing device.

15. The device according to claim 1 , said at least one molding tool being rotatable to add an additional layer of said plurality of threads or rovings onto a first, draped layer of said plurality of threads or rovings, said additional layer having a different fiber orientation than said first, draped layer.

16. The device according to claim 15 , said at least one molding tool being rotated by approximately 30°.

17. The device according to claim 16 , said at least one molding tool being rotated by approximately 45°.

18. The device according to claim 17 , said at least one molding tool being rotated by approximately 60°.

19. The device according to claim 18 , said at least one molding tool being rotated by approximately 90°.

Assignees

• Voith Patent Gmbh

Inventors

• Göttinger Marco
• Kaiser Michael

Classifications

• B29C70/382 Primary

  Automated fiber placement [AFP] · CPC title

• B29C70/20 Primary

  oriented in a single direction, e.g. roofing or other parallel fibres {(B29C70/083, B29C70/226 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B29B11/16

  comprising fillers or reinforcement {(non-woven fabrics per se D04H1/00, D04H3/00)} · CPC title

• B29C70/541

  Positioning reinforcements in a mould, e.g. using clamping means for the reinforcement (positioning inserts in moulds B29C33/12; lay-up on a mould B29C70/30) · CPC title

• B29C70/56

  Tensioning reinforcements before or during shaping · CPC title