Device and method for producing fiber preforms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9694547-B2
Application number	US-201314048756-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2013
Priority date	Apr 8, 2011
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A device for producing fiber preforms including a plurality of unwind stations, a plurality of grippers and at least one first molding tool. Further, a method includes the successive steps of tensioning threads or rovings for a first layer with grippers, draping the first layer over a first molding tool, severing of the threads or rovings of the first layer, tensioning threads or rovings for a second layer with grippers, draping an additional layer over the first forming tool, and severing the threads or rovings of the second layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for producing a plurality of 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 grippers being movable on a path between a maximum position and a pick-up position provided at a thread transfer point, said pick-up position being closer to one of said unwind stations than said maximum position, said plurality of grippers configured for gripping an origin of one of an individual or a plurality of said threads or rovings;
at least one first molding tool having a draping position in a region of a plurality of connecting lines between said maximum position and said thread transfer point of each of said plurality of grippers and a starting position outside said connecting lines, said at least one first molding tool being at least one of rotatable and tiltable at least in said starting position and said at least one first molding tool being movable into a respective draping position when at least one of rotated and tilted.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second molding tool having a starting position of its own, said second molding tool configured to be brought together with said at least one first molding tool in said draping position.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein a direction of movement between said starting position of at least one of said second molding tool and said at least one first molding tool is arranged substantially perpendicular to said paths of said plurality of grippers.

4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein said second molding tool is at least one of rotatable and tiltable at least in said starting position of said second molding tool and is movable in said at least one of said rotated and said tilted position into said draping position.

5. The device according to claim 2 , wherein said second molding tool is a hood configured to fit over said at least one first molding tool, said second molding tool defining a gap for said plurality of threads or rovings with said at least one first molding tool.

6. The device according to claim 3 , wherein an axis of rotation of at least one of said second molding tool and said at least one first molding tool is positioned substantially perpendicular to said paths of said plurality of grippers and substantially parallel to said direction of movement between said starting position and said draping position.

7. The device according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of said second molding tool and said at least one first molding tool is equipped with a heating device.

8. The device according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of said second molding tool and said at least one first molding tool is equipped with a pressing unit.

9. The device according to claim 2 , further comprising a motion device, at least one of said second molding tool and said at least one first molding tool being attachable and detachable from the device.

10. The device according to claim 9 , said motion device being one of a lifting table and a lowering device.

Assignees

• Voith Patent Gmbh

Inventors

• Göttinger Marco
• Kaiser Michael

Classifications

• B29C2793/0081

  before shaping · CPC title

• B29C2793/0027

  Cutting off · CPC title

• B29C70/56 Primary

  Tensioning reinforcements before or during shaping · CPC title

• B29C70/207

  arranged in parallel planes of fibres crossing at substantial angles · 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