Multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite material winding device

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite material winding device which comprises a yarn placing frame and a laser heating device, the laser heating device comprises a laser adjusting frame and a laser heater, and the laser adjusting frame comprises a fixed sliding rail, a sliding block, a movable driving assembly, a laser mounting arm, a laser height adjusting platform and a laser rotating tray. One end of the fixed sliding rail is connected with the yarn placing frame, the sliding block is slidably connected with the fixed sliding rail, the movable driving assembly is used for driving the sliding block to move along the fixed sliding rail, the laser mounting arm is fixed to the sliding block, the laser height adjusting platform is slidably arranged on the laser mounting arm, and the laser rotating tray is rotatably connected to the laser height adjusting platform around the vertical axis. A mounting bracket is arranged on the laser rotating tray; and the laser heater is rotationally connected to the mounting bracket around a horizontal axis. In the winding forming process, the heating position and the heating angle of the material can be flexibly adjusted, and the forming quality of a thermoplastic composite material winding forming product can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of material forming, in particular to a multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite material winding device. Background Art

[0002] The resin matrix of fiber-reinforced resin-based composite materials is mainly divided into two types, thermoplastic resin and thermosetting resin. Thermosetting resin undergoes chemical changes after heating, gradually hardens and forms, and will not soften or dissolve when heated again. The advantages are good heat resistance, pressure resistance, and not easy to deform. The disadvantage is poor mechanical properties. Common thermosetting resins include phenolic resin, epoxy resin, etc. Thermoplastic resins only undergo physical changes when heated, soften when heated, and harden after cooling. They have the characteristics of high fatigue resistance and good toughness. Common thermoplastic resins include polycarbonate, polyamide, polysulfone, polypropylene, and polyetheretherketone. From the perspective of molding method, thermosetting composite materials usually need to be cured and molded in an autoclave, and the size of the autoclave must be larger than the size of the molded component, which results in increased costs and increased production time. In addition, due to the chemical changes that occur during the molding process of thermosetting composite materials, it is difficult to repair and recycle the products after they are damaged, which will cause environmental pollution. In contrast, thermoplastic composite molding does not require autoclave curing, and can achieve in-situ curing molding, that is, direct molding in one processing, and the products can be reused or repaired and put into service after being damaged.

[0003] In existing thermoplastic composite winding molding devices, laser heating is mostly used to heat the composite materials. However, due to the rough position adjustment scheme of the laser heating device, it is impossible to flexibly fine-tune the material heating position and heating angle during the processing, which restricts the improvement of the molding quality of thermoplastic composite winding molding products. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art. During the winding molding process, the material heating position and heating angle can be flexibly adjusted, which is beneficial to improving the molding quality of thermoplastic composite winding molding products.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following solutions:

[0006] The present invention provides a multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device, comprising a yarn placing frame and a laser heating device.

[0007] The laser heating device includes a laser adjustment frame and a laser heater. The laser adjustment frame includes a fixed slide rail, a slider, a mobile drive assembly, a laser mounting arm, a laser height adjustment platform and a laser rotating tray. The fixed slide rail is arranged along the prepreg supply direction, one end of the fixed slide rail is connected to the yarn placement frame, the slider is slidably connected to the fixed slide rail, the mobile drive assembly is used to drive the slider to move along the fixed slide rail, the laser mounting arm is fixed on the slider, the laser height adjustment platform is slidably arranged on the laser mounting arm and driven up and down by a first drive device, the laser rotating tray rotates around a vertical axis, is connected to the laser height adjustment platform and is driven to rotate by a second drive device, a mounting bracket is provided on the laser rotating tray, and the laser heater rotates around a horizontal axis, is connected to the mounting bracket and is driven to swing by a third drive device.

[0008] Preferably, it also includes a yarn backflow prevention device, which is arranged between the yarn placing frame and the laser heating device. The yarn backflow prevention device includes an yarn backflow prevention frame, a yarn placing platform and a spring. The yarn placing platform is slid up and down on the yarn backflow prevention frame, and the two ends of the yarn placing platform are connected to the top crossbeam of the yarn backflow prevention frame through one of the springs respectively.

[0009] Preferably, a path control comb is provided on the yarn placing platform.

[0010] Preferably, it also includes a square connector, which is arranged between the yarn backflow prevention device and the laser heating device and is used to connect the yarn placement frame and the laser heating device.

[0011] Preferably, the laser mounting arm is a U-shaped mounting arm, the bottom of the U-shaped mounting arm is fixed on the slider, vertical slide rails are provided on the inner sides of the two side arms of the U-shaped mounting arm, the two ends of the laser height adjustment platform are respectively slidably set on the two vertical slide rails, and a stop block is provided on the top of each vertical slide rail.

[0012] Preferably, the fixed slide rail is a cylindrical slide rail, and the slider is an annular slider. The annular slider is sleeved on the outside of the cylindrical slide rail and slidably cooperates with the cylindrical slide rail through a concave-convex structure.

[0013] Preferably, the first driving device is a lifting cylinder.

[0014] Preferably, the second driving device includes a first gear and a second gear, the first gear and the second gear are rotatably connected to the laser height adjustment platform, the first gear and the second gear are meshed with each other, the laser rotating tray is fixed on the central axis of the first gear, and an adjustment knob is fixed on the central axis of the second gear.

[0015] Preferably, the third driving device comprises a rotating gear and a rack, the rotating gear is fixed on the rotating shaft of the laser heater, and the rack is slidably disposed on the mounting bracket and meshes with the rotating gear.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has achieved the following technical effects:

[0017] The multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device provided by the present invention can adjust the heating position and angle of the laser emitter during the winding molding process through a laser adjustment frame, thereby realizing flexible adjustment of the material heating position and heating angle, which is beneficial to improving the molding quality of thermoplastic composite winding molding products. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of a multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structural relationship between the fixed slide rail, the slider and the laser mounting arm in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structural relationship among a slider, a laser mounting arm, a laser height adjustment platform, a laser rotating tray and a laser heater in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of a built-in yarn rack, a yarn backflow prevention device and a square connector in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] In the figure: 1-yarn rack, 2-laser adjustment rack, 3-laser heater, 4-fixed slide rail, 5-slider, 6-laser mounting arm, 7-laser height adjustment platform, 8-laser rotating tray, 9-anti-yarn backflow device, 10-anti-yarn backflow rack, 11-yarn platform, 12-spring, 13-top crossbeam, 14-path control comb, 15-square connector, 16-vertical slide rail, 17-block, 18-frame, 19-mounting bracket, 20-slide groove, 21-bump, 22-core mold, 23-wire nozzle rack, 24-second path control comb, 25-first guide roller, 26-pillar, 27-yarn winding shaft, 28-brake, 29-second guide roller, 30-yarn winding cover, 31-first gear, 32-second gear, 33-adjusting knob, 34-first driving device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device to solve the problems existing in the prior art. The material heating position and heating angle can be flexibly adjusted during the winding molding process, which is beneficial to improving the molding quality of thermoplastic composite winding molding products.

[0026] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0027] like Figure 1-Figure 4 As shown, this embodiment provides a multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device, including a yarn placement frame 1 and a laser heating device.

[0028] The yarn rack 1 includes a frame 18, a prepreg tape supply assembly and a tension control assembly. The prepreg tape supply assembly and the tension control assembly are sequentially arranged on the frame 18 according to the prepreg tape supply direction. The prepreg tape supply assembly can receive and release the prepreg tape to be processed, and the tension control assembly is used to control the tension of the prepreg tape to be processed during the supply process; the prepreg tape supply assembly includes a yarn winding shaft 27, and the tension control assembly includes a brake 28. The yarn winding shaft 27 is connected to the brake 28, and the tension can be controlled by adjusting the brake 28;

[0029] The laser heating device includes a laser adjustment frame 2 and a laser heater 3. The laser adjustment frame 2 includes a fixed slide rail 4, a slider 5, a mobile drive assembly, a laser mounting arm 6, a laser height adjustment platform 7 and a laser rotating tray 8. The fixed slide rail 4 is arranged along the prepreg supply direction, one end of the fixed slide rail 4 is connected to the frame 18 of the yarn frame 1, the slider 5 is slidably connected to the fixed slide rail 4, the mobile drive assembly is used to drive the slider 5 to move along the fixed slide rail 4, the laser mounting arm 6 is fixed on the slider 5, the laser height adjustment platform 7 is slidably set on the laser mounting arm 6 and is driven up and down by the first drive device 34, the laser rotating tray 8 is connected to the laser height adjustment platform 7 and driven to rotate by the second drive device, and a mounting bracket 19 is provided on the laser rotating tray 8. The laser heater 3 is connected to the mounting bracket 19 and driven to swing by the third drive device. The prepreg to be processed released by the prepreg supply assembly is supplied toward the laser heating device after passing through the tension control assembly. The laser heater 3 is used to emit a laser spot to the prepreg to be processed during the supply process so as to perform laser heating on the prepreg to be processed.

[0030] By adjusting the position of the slider 5 on the fixed slide rail 4, the height of the laser height adjustment platform 7, the rotation angle of the laser rotating tray 8 and the swing angle of the laser heater 3 on the mounting bracket 19, the laser heater 3 can be adjusted in multiple degrees of freedom to achieve flexible adjustment of the heating position and heating angle of the prepreg to be processed, which is beneficial to improving the molding quality of thermoplastic composite winding molding products.

[0031] In this embodiment, a yarn-returning prevention device 9 is also included. The yarn-returning prevention device 9 is arranged between the yarn-setting frame 1 and the laser heating device. The yarn-returning prevention device 9 includes a yarn-returning prevention frame 10, a yarn-setting platform 11 and a spring 12. The yarn-returning prevention frame 10 is an inverted U-shaped structure. The yarn-setting platform 11 is slidably arranged on the pillars 26 on both sides of the yarn-returning prevention frame 10. The two ends of the yarn-setting platform 11 are respectively connected to the top crossbeam 13 of the yarn-returning prevention frame 10 through a spring 12. The spring 12 can provide an upward elastic force to the yarn-setting platform 11. After the prepreg to be processed passes through the yarn-setting platform 11, the prepreg to be processed can be kept taut under the elastic force of the spring 12, thereby achieving the purpose of yarn-returning prevention.

[0032] In this embodiment, a path control comb 14 is provided on the yarn placement platform 11. The path control comb 14 is composed of a plurality of metal short rods arranged at intervals. The prepreg tape can pass through the intervals between adjacent metal short rods to adjust the path of the prepreg tape and ensure the stability of the prepreg tape during the winding process.

[0033] In this embodiment, a square connecting piece 15 is further included. The square connecting piece 15 is arranged between the yarn backflow prevention device 9 and the laser heating device, and is used to connect the yarn setting frame 1 and the laser heating device.

[0034] In this embodiment, the laser mounting arm 6 is a U-shaped mounting arm, the bottom of the U-shaped mounting arm is fixed on the slider 5, and the inner sides of the two side arms of the U-shaped mounting arm are provided with vertical slide rails 16. The two ends of the laser height adjustment platform 7 are respectively slidably arranged on the two vertical slide rails 16, and the top of each vertical slide rail 16 is provided with a stopper 17. The stopper 17 can block and limit the laser height adjustment platform 7 to prevent the laser height adjustment platform 7 from sliding upward out of the vertical slide rail 16. The laser heater 3 and the U-shaped mounting arm together enclose a closed or nearly closed channel, and the prepreg tape to be processed from the yarn rack 1 passes through the channel and is fed to the corresponding core mold 22.

[0035] In this embodiment, the fixed slide rail 4 is a cylindrical slide rail, and the slider 5 is an annular slider. The annular slider is sleeved outside the cylindrical slide rail and slides with the cylindrical slide rail through a concave-convex structure. The first axial end of the cylindrical slide rail is connected to the end of the frame 18 away from the prepreg tape supply assembly. The concave-convex structure includes a slide groove 20 provided on the outer wall of the cylindrical slide rail and a protrusion 21 provided on the inner wall of the annular slider. The slide groove 20 is arranged parallel to the axial direction of the cylindrical slide rail, and the protrusion 21 slides with the slide groove 20 in a concave-convex sliding manner, that is, the protrusion 21 and the slide groove 20 are both concave-convexly engaged and slideably matched. The mobile driving component can be arranged on the outside of the cylindrical slide rail, and specifically can be connected to the slider 5 in the form of a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, etc., so as to drive the slider 5 to move axially along the fixed slide rail 4 under the guiding action of the above-mentioned concave-convex structure; the cylindrical slide rail and the annular slider can simultaneously achieve guiding cooperation through multiple groups of the above-mentioned concave-convex structures, and the multiple groups of concave-convex structures are evenly distributed along the circumference of the cylindrical slide rail.

[0036] In this embodiment, the first driving device 34 is a lifting cylinder, which drives the laser height adjustment platform 7 to move up and down, thereby adjusting the height of the laser heater 3.

[0037] In this embodiment, the second driving device includes a first gear 31 and a second gear 32, which are rotatably connected to the laser height adjustment platform 7, the first gear 31 and the second gear 32 are meshed with each other, the laser rotating tray 8 is fixed on the central axis of the first gear 31, and an adjusting knob 33 is fixed on the central axis of the second gear 32. By rotating the adjusting knob 33, the second gear 32 is driven to rotate, thereby driving the first gear 31 to rotate, so as to achieve the purpose of adjusting the angle of the laser rotating tray 8, and then adjusting the angle of the laser heater 3 in the horizontal direction.

[0038] In this embodiment, the third driving device includes a rotating gear and a rack. The rotating gear is fixed on the rotating shaft of the laser heater 3. The rack is slidably arranged on the mounting bracket 19 and meshes with the rotating gear. The rack slides on the mounting bracket 19 to drive the rotating gear to rotate, thereby driving the laser heater 3 to swing up and down to adjust the heating angle of the laser heater 3.

[0039] In this embodiment, it also includes a nozzle frame 23 connected to the axial second end of the cylindrical slide rail, and the nozzle frame 23 is provided with a second path control comb 24 and a first guide roller 25 arranged along the prepreg supply direction. Among them, the second path control comb 24 is composed of a plurality of metal short rods arranged at intervals, and the prepreg tape can pass through the intervals between adjacent metal short rods to further adjust the path of the prepreg tape and ensure the stability of the prepreg tape during the winding process; during the heating process, the prepreg tape is sent out by the second path control comb 24 and then passes through the first guide roller 25. The first guide roller 25 can further control the prepreg tape not to deviate from the conveying path. Multiple groups of second path control combs 24 can be set on the nozzle frame 23, such as Figure 1 As shown, two groups of second path control combs 24 are arranged on the nozzle frame 23 along the prepreg supply direction, and the two groups of second path control combs 24 are respectively located at two ends of the nozzle frame 23 .

[0040] In this embodiment, a plurality of second guide rollers 29 are arranged in sequence along the prepreg tape supply direction on the frame 18 between the yarn winding shaft 27 and the anti-yarn backflow device 9. After the prepreg tape is fed out from the yarn winding shaft 27, it passes through each second guide roller 29 in sequence. Each second guide roller 29 can guide and control the position of the prepreg tape.

[0041] The winding process of the present invention specifically comprises the following steps:

[0042] (1) The yarn roll is placed on the yarn roll shaft 27 and fixed with the yarn roll cover 30, the prepreg is pulled onto the second guide roller 29, and then the prepreg is placed on the yarn placement platform 11. During the winding process, the purpose of preventing the yarn from returning is achieved through the spring 12 connected to the yarn placement platform 11 and the anti-return yarn frame 10, and the tension can be controlled by adjusting the brake 28.

[0043] (2) The prepreg is connected and placed on the second path control comb 24 of the nozzle holder 23, and then wound around the surface of the core mold 22 through the first guide roller 25. The laser heater 3 is turned on, and the laser heating angle and position are adjusted through the laser height adjustment platform 7, the laser rotating tray 8 and the mounting bracket 19, and then the winding can begin.

[0044] (3) During the heating and winding process, the laser heater 3 can be moved axially on the nozzle holder 23 by sliding the slider 5 on the fixed slide rail 4 .

[0045] The present invention uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The above examples are only used to help understand the method and core ideas of the present invention. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the ideas of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device, comprising a yarn setting frame and a laser heating device, characterized in that: The laser heating device includes a laser adjustment frame and a laser heater. The laser adjustment frame includes a fixed slide rail, a slider, a mobile drive assembly, a laser mounting arm, a laser height adjustment platform and a laser rotating tray. The fixed slide rail is arranged along the prepreg supply direction, one end of the fixed slide rail is connected to the yarn placement frame, the slider is slidably connected to the fixed slide rail, the mobile drive assembly is used to drive the slider to move along the fixed slide rail, the laser mounting arm is fixed on the slider, the laser height adjustment platform is slidably arranged on the laser mounting arm and driven up and down by a first drive device, the laser rotating tray rotates around a vertical axis, is connected to the laser height adjustment platform and is driven to rotate by a second drive device, a mounting bracket is provided on the laser rotating tray, and the laser heater rotates around a horizontal axis, is connected to the mounting bracket and is driven to swing by a third drive device.

2. The multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a yarn backflow prevention device, which is arranged between the yarn placement frame and the laser heating device. The yarn backflow prevention device includes an yarn backflow prevention frame, a yarn placement platform and a spring. The yarn placement platform is slid up and down on the yarn backflow prevention frame, and the two ends of the yarn placement platform are connected to the top crossbeam of the yarn backflow prevention frame through one of the springs respectively.

3. The multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The yarn placing platform is provided with a path control comb.

4. The multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a square connector, which is arranged between the yarn backflow prevention device and the laser heating device and is used to connect the yarn placement frame and the laser heating device.

5. The multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laser mounting arm is a U-shaped mounting arm, the bottom of the U-shaped mounting arm is fixed on the slider, vertical slide rails are provided on the inner sides of the two side arms of the U-shaped mounting arm, the two ends of the laser height adjustment platform are respectively slidably set on the two vertical slide rails, and a stop block is provided on the top of each vertical slide rail.

6. The multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed slide rail is a cylindrical slide rail, and the slider is an annular slider. The annular slider is sleeved on the outside of the cylindrical slide rail and slidably cooperates with the cylindrical slide rail through a concave-convex structure.

7. The multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first driving device is a lifting cylinder.

8. The multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second driving device includes a first gear and a second gear, the first gear and the second gear are rotatably connected to the laser height adjustment platform, the first gear and the second gear are meshed with each other, the laser rotating tray is fixed on the central axis of the first gear, and an adjustment knob is fixed on the central axis of the second gear.

9. The multi-degree-of-freedom laser heating thermoplastic composite winding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The third driving device includes a rotating gear and a rack. The rotating gear is fixed on the rotating shaft of the laser heater. The rack is slidably arranged on the mounting bracket and meshes with the rotating gear.

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