Compactor and prepreg sheet automatic lamination device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9956705-B2
Application number	US-201515115247-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2015
Priority date	Feb 10, 2014
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

This compactor includes first rollers having first roller surfaces that press a laminated sheet from the second surface side of a release sheet, the first rollers being disposed separated from each other; and a second roller having a second roller surface that presses the laminated sheet from the second surface side of the release sheet, the second roller being disposed such that the second roller surface faces a gap provided between the first rollers.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A prepreg sheet automatic lamination device for laminating a plurality of semi-cured prepreg sheets, the prepreg sheet automatic lamination device comprising:
a compactor group including a plurality of compactors that are arranged, each of the compactors being configured to press a laminated sheet including a release sheet and a semi-cured prepreg sheet attached to a first surface of the release sheet onto a top surface of a laminate base formed of at least one semi-cured prepreg sheet, from a second surface side of the release sheet of the laminated sheet;
a stage on which the laminate base is placed horizontally;
a laminated sheet supply roller configured to horizontally supply the laminated sheet onto the top surface of the laminate base; and
a release sheet recovery roller configured to recover the release sheet peeled off from the semi-cured prepreg sheet pressed, by the compactor group, onto the top surface of the laminate base,
each compactor including:
a pair of first rollers disposed separated from each other, each of the first rollers having a first roller surface that presses the laminated sheet from the second surface side of the release sheet; and
a second roller having a second roller surface that presses the laminated sheet from the second surface side of the release sheet, the second roller being disposed such that the second roller surface faces a gap provided between the pair of first rollers,
the compactor group being movable horizontally along the top surface of the laminate base independently from the laminated sheet supply roller and the release sheet recovery roller, wherein
the plurality of compactors forming the compactor group are arranged such that the pair of first rollers and the second roller from each compactor are alternately disposed in a direction intersecting a feed direction of the laminated sheet, and
the first roller surfaces that are constituents of one of the compactors are disposed so as to face the first roller surfaces of other compactors disposed adjacent to the one of the compactors.

2. The prepreg sheet automatic lamination device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second roller is disposed such that outer peripheral surfaces located on the gap side of the first roller surfaces of the pair of first rollers face the second roller surface.

3. The prepreg sheet automatic lamination device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first rotating shaft configured to rotatably support the pair of first rollers;
a second rotating shaft configured to rotatably support the second roller; and
a roller retaining portion configured to retain the pair of first rollers and the second roller, via the first and second rotating shafts.

4. The prepreg sheet automatic lamination device according to claim 3 , wherein
the roller retaining portion includes a first roller retaining portion configured to retain the pair of the first rollers, and a second roller retaining portion configured to retain the second roller, and
the prepreg sheet automatic lamination device further comprises:
a first pressing air cylinder or shaft connected to an upper portion of the first roller retaining portion and configured to press the first roller retaining portion; and
a second pressing air cylinder or shaft connected to an upper portion of the second roller retaining portion and configured to press the second roller retaining portion.

5. The prepreg sheet automatic lamination device according to claim 4 , wherein
the second roller retaining portion is provided separately from the first roller retaining portion.

6. The prepreg sheet automatic lamination device according to claim 5 , further comprising a pressing mechanism retaining portion configured to retain the first pressing air cylinder or shaft and the second pressing air cylinder or shaft.

7. The prepreg sheet automatic lamination device according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a rotary damper fixed on the roller retaining portion; and
a rotating shaft connected to a top of the rotary damper and configured to rotatably support the roller retaining portion.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Tsuruta Megumu
• Shibutani Takashi
• Saeki Kentarou
• Noda Yoshitomo
• OWATARI Kosuke

Classifications

• B29K2105/0863

  SMC, i.e. sheet moulding compound · CPC title

• B29K2105/0872

  Prepregs · CPC title

• B29C2043/3422

  rollers · CPC title

• B29C43/22

  of articles of indefinite length · CPC title

• B29C70/38

  Automated lay-up, e.g. using robots, laying filaments according to predetermined patterns {(application heads for tyres B29D30/28)} · CPC title