Apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional filamentary aggregate

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of manufacturing device, can form more uniform filament three-dimensional combination in the bonding strength of the fusion filament mutual fusion point does not decline.The manufacturing device includes: melt filament supply part, melt filament group is discharged to the lower side;Slide, with slide inclined plate, the slide inclined plate receives the melt filament of the thickness direction end of melt filament group, and is inclined to the direction of the thickness reduction of melt filament group;Cooling water supply part, cooling water is supplied to slide inclined plate;And fusion bonding formation part, while making melt filament three-dimensionally entangled, makes contact point fusion bonding, in the manufacturing device of filament three-dimensional combination, form multiple grooves on the upper surface of slide inclined plate, and the width of each of the multiple grooves is 0.1mm or more and 3.0mm or less, the depth of each of the multiple grooves is 0.1mm or more and 3mm or less, the interval of adjacent grooves is 1mm or more and 7mm or less.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional composite of filament raw materials that can be used as cushioning materials for mattresses or pillows. Background Technology

[0002] As a cushioning material that overcomes the time-consuming recycling of metal springs or urethane foam, three-dimensional composites (three-dimensional mesh structures) made by three-dimensionally fusing thermoplastic elastomer filaments have attracted much attention. This type of cushioning material is not only easy to recycle, but also has the advantages of being resistant to moisture and heat and washable.

[0003] As a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional filament composite, for example, Patent Document 1 describes the following method: a molten filament assembly (a linear aggregate of molten thermoplastic resin in a molten state) containing multiple molten filaments flowing downward in a vertical direction is dropped into cooling water, and the buoyancy of the water is used to form a molten filament ring. At the same time, the molten filaments are brought into contact with each other by the deflection during the formation of the ring, so that the contact points are fused together to manufacture a three-dimensional filament composite (a three-dimensional mesh structure).

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 describes the following: To maintain a constant thickness of the three-dimensional filament assembly, a pair of slides are provided that slope from both ends of the molten filament assembly towards the center of the molten filament assembly in the thickness direction. To ensure that cooling water covers the entire surface of the slides, a water-permeable sheet such as bleached cloth is used to cover the slide surface, and cooling water is supplied to this sheet, thereby forming a cooling water layer across the entire surface of the slides. By ensuring the cooling water is distributed throughout the slides, the effect of preventing molten filaments from adhering to the slide surface is achieved.

[0005] However, the method of covering the slide surface with permeable sheets has the following drawbacks: wrinkles may occur on the permeable sheets, foreign matter (such as rust) may adhere to them, or the permeable sheets may wear or crack due to long-term manufacturing. As a method to overcome these drawbacks, Patent Document 2 describes a method of roughening the slide surface by sandblasting, thereby forming a cooling water layer on the slide surface without using permeable sheets.

[0006] Figure 11 This is a conceptual diagram showing the state when the surface 531s of the slide 531 is roughened by sandblasting. As shown in this diagram, unevenness is formed on the surface of the slide 531s. Figure 12 The following situation is shown: cooling water supplied to the surface 531s of the slide 531 is stagnated or slowed down by the unevenness, thereby forming a cooling water film W.

[0007] [Existing Technical Documents]

[0008] [Patent Literature]

[0009] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 4181878

[0010] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 4966438 Summary of the Invention

[0011] [The problem the invention aims to solve]

[0012] However, during sandblasting, it is difficult to maintain a constant depth and width of the recesses across all areas of the slide surface. The small inclination angle of the recesses results in low capacity to retain or slow down cooling water, making it difficult to form a uniform cooling water film when there is insufficient cooling water. Even locally, the ability to retain or slow down cooling water decreases in shallow recessed areas (relatively known as convex areas). Therefore, even when cooling water is supplied to the slide surface, it may sometimes flow away without forming a cooling water film due to surface tension. Consequently, problems arise such as: molten filaments temporarily adhering to the slide surface where no cooling water film has formed, and their movement speed on the slide surface becoming irregular, resulting in an uneven three-dimensional filament bond.

[0013] Furthermore, if the supply of cooling water is increased in order to reliably form a cooling water film on the slide surface, problems arise such as cooling of the molten filaments and a decrease in the bond strength at the weld points of the molten filaments. In addition, if the slide surface is roughened as a whole in order to retain or slow down the cooling water in the shallow recessed area, the molten filaments will have difficulty sliding on the slide surface, thus presenting a dilemma such as the molten filaments being temporarily easy to adhere.

[0014] In view of the aforementioned issues, the present invention aims to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional filament bond that can form a more uniform three-dimensional filament bond without reducing the bonding strength at the fusion points of the molten filaments.

[0015] [Technical means to solve the problem]

[0016] The apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional filament bond of the present invention includes: a molten filament supply section for discharging a molten filament assembly comprising multiple molten filaments downward in a vertical direction; a slide rail having a slide rail inclined plate that receives molten filaments at the thickness-direction end of the molten filament assembly and is biased towards the direction in which the thickness of the molten filament assembly decreases; a cooling water supply section for supplying cooling water to the slide rail inclined plate; and a welding and bonding forming section for welding and bonding the contact points while three-dimensionally entangled in the molten filaments. The apparatus for manufacturing the three-dimensional filament bond is configured such that multiple grooves are formed on the upper surface of the slide rail inclined plate, each groove having a width of 0.1 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less, a depth of 0.1 mm or more and 3 mm or less, and a spacing of 1 mm or more and 7 mm or less between adjacent grooves. According to this configuration, a more uniform three-dimensional filament bond can be formed without reducing the bonding strength at the welding points of the molten filaments.

[0017] More specifically, the structure may also be configured such that the plurality of grooves are formed to extend in parallel at equal intervals. Alternatively, the structure may be configured such that the plurality of grooves extend at an angle of 30 degrees or more but less than 60 degrees relative to the maximum tilt direction of the slide rail. Furthermore, the structure may also be configured such that the cross-sectional shape of each of the plurality of grooves is quadrilateral.

[0018] More specifically, the structure may also be configured such that hydrophilic polymers are coated or embedded in all or part of the plurality of grooves. Alternatively, more specifically, the structure may be configured such that the plurality of grooves cover the entire area on the upper surface of the inclined slide plate that receives the molten filament, and the cooling water supply unit is configured to supply cooling water to all of the grooves covering the entire area.

[0019] [The effects of the invention]

[0020] The apparatus for manufacturing three-dimensional filament composites according to the present invention can form a more uniform three-dimensional filament composite without reducing the bonding strength at the fusion points of the molten filaments. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a conceptual diagram of the manufacturing apparatus for the three-dimensional filament assembly according to the first embodiment.

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Arrow view of the A-A' section of the manufacturing apparatus shown.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a bottom view of the nozzle section according to the first embodiment.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the slide in the first embodiment.

[0025] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of the area around the slide.

[0026] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Enlarged arrow view of the B-B' section of the slide shown.

[0027] Figure 7 It means that it was intercepted. Figure 6 A conceptual diagram showing the water trapped in the groove of the slide and the cooling water film formed on the surface of the slide.

[0028] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the slide of the manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

[0029] Figure 9 This is an explanatory diagram of a modified example with altered cross-sectional shape of the groove.

[0030] Figure 10 This is an explanatory diagram of another variation with a changed cross-sectional shape of the groove.

[0031] Figure 11 This is a conceptual diagram representing the state of the slide surface roughened by sandblasting.

[0032] Figure 12 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating the formation of a cooling water film on the surface of the slide. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The various embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the directions (orthogonal to each other) of up / down, left / right, and front / back in the following description are shown in the figures. These directions are provided for convenience only, with the vertical direction being the up / down direction, and the orientation of the pair of slides 31 and 32 (the surfaces of slide vertical plates 31b and 32b) facing each other being the front / back direction.

[0034] 1. First Implementation Method

[0035] First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 1 This is a conceptual diagram of the manufacturing apparatus 1 for a three-dimensional filament composite according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Additionally, Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Arrow view of the A-A' section of the manufacturing apparatus 1 shown.

[0036] The apparatus 1 for manufacturing a three-dimensional filament composite includes a molten filament supply unit 10, a welding and bonding forming unit 20, and a pair of slides 31 and 32, as well as a cooling water supply unit 41 and a cooling water supply unit 42. The molten filament supply unit 10 discharges a molten filament assembly MF, consisting of multiple molten filaments with diameters of 0.5 mm to 3 mm, downward in the vertical direction. The welding and bonding forming unit 20, while causing the molten filament assembly MF to entangle in three dimensions, welds the contact points together, and then cools and solidifies to form a three-dimensional filament composite. The pair of slides 31 and 32 receive the molten filaments at the thickness-direction ends (left and right ends in the front-back direction) of the molten filament assembly MF, and are biased towards the direction in which the thickness of the molten filament assembly MF decreases. The cooling water supply units 41 and 42 supply cooling water to the upper parts of the slides 31 and 32, respectively.

[0037] The molten filament supply section 10 includes a pressurized melting section 11 (extruder) and a filament discharge section 12 (die). The pressurized melting section 11 includes a material input section 13 (hopper), a screw 14, a screw motor 15 driving the screw 14, a screw heater 16, and a plurality of temperature sensors (not shown), and has a barrel 11a formed inside it, which is used to convey the thermoplastic resin supplied from the material input section 13 while heating and melting it through the screw heater 16.

[0038] The screw 14 is rotatably housed within the barrel 11a. A barrel outlet 11b is formed at the downstream end of the barrel 11a for discharging thermoplastic resin toward the filament discharge section 12. The heating temperature of the screw heater 16 is controlled, for example, based on the detection signal from a temperature sensor installed in the molten filament supply section 10.

[0039] The filament discharge section 12 includes a nozzle section 17, a mold heater 18, and a plurality of temperature sensors (not shown). A guide path 12a is formed inside the nozzle section 17, which guides the molten thermoplastic resin discharged from the barrel discharge outlet 11b.

[0040] The nozzle section 17 is a generally rectangular metal plate with multiple openings, located below the filament discharge section 12, which corresponds to the downstream end of the guide path 12a. Furthermore, it is used subsequently... Figure 3 The multiple openings formed in the nozzle section 17 will be described.

[0041] The mold heater 18 has multiple units arranged in the left-right direction (in) Figure 2 In the example shown, 6 filament discharge sections (18a to 18f) are heated. The heating temperature of the mold heater 18 is controlled, for example, based on the detection signal of a temperature sensor installed in the filament discharge section 12.

[0042] Thermoplastic resins that can be used as materials for three-dimensional bonding of filaments include, for example: polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide resins such as nylon 66, polyvinyl chloride resin and polystyrene resin, or thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene elastomers, vinyl chloride elastomers, olefin elastomers, urethane elastomers, polyester elastomers, nitrile elastomers, polyamide elastomers, and fluoropolymer elastomers.

[0043] Thermoplastic resin supplied from the material input section 13 is heated and melted in the barrel 11a, for example, by extrusion through the screw 14, and supplied as molten thermoplastic resin from the barrel outlet 11b to the guide path 12a of the filament discharge section 12. Then, a molten filament assembly MF, comprising multiple molten filaments, is discharged in a manner that proceeds downward from each of the multiple nozzles of the nozzle section 17.

[0044] The welded joint forming section 20 includes: a cooling water tank 23, a pair of conveyor belts 24a and 24b, and a plurality of conveyor rollers 25a to 25h. The cooling water tank 23 is a tank for pre-storing cooling water. Inside the cooling water tank 23 are arranged the pair of conveyor belts 24a and 24b and the plurality of conveyor rollers 25a to 25h. The pair of conveyor belts 24a and 24b and the plurality of conveyor rollers 25a to 25h are driven by a drive motor (not shown).

[0045] Figure 3 This is a bottom view of the nozzle section 17. Multiple openings (nozzle group 19) for discharging molten filaments are formed in the nozzle section 17. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the openings is set to a circle with an inner diameter of 1 mm, and the distance (spacing) between adjacent nozzles is set to 10 mm. However, based on the specifications of the three-dimensional filament assembly to be manufactured, the shape of each nozzle in the nozzle group 19, the inner diameter of each nozzle, the spacing between adjacent nozzles, and the arrangement pattern of each nozzle can be appropriately adjusted.

[0046] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional view of a pair of slides 31 and 32 is shown. Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of the area around the slide. Figure 6 yes Figure 5 The image shows an enlarged arrow view of the B-B' section of the slide rail 31. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rear slide rail 31 and the front slide rail 32 are symmetrical about a virtual plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction and function equally. In the following description of slide rails 31 and 32, sometimes only one of slide rails 31 and 32 will be described, while the other will be omitted.

[0047] A pair of slides 31 and 32 have flat slide inclined plates 31a and 32a respectively formed in a downward inclined direction (the inclination is more downward as it moves inward in the front-to-back direction), and flat slide vertical plates 31b and 32b extending from the lower end of slide inclined plates 31a and 32a in the vertical direction, and are arranged with a predetermined gap between them.

[0048] On the upper surfaces of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a, a plurality of grooves 31c and 32c are formed at equal intervals, extending upward in the direction of maximum inclination of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a, respectively. Thus, in this embodiment, each of the plurality of grooves 31c and 32c is formed such that each groove extends parallel at equal intervals. Furthermore, the maximum inclination direction of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a is the direction in which the inclination of the upper surfaces of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a relative to the horizontal plane is the greatest. In this embodiment, it is consistent with the direction of extension of the portion (line segment) where a virtual plane orthogonal to the left and right directions intersects with the upper surfaces of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a.

[0049] In this embodiment, multiple grooves 31d and 32d are formed at equal intervals on the opposing surfaces of the slide vertical plate 31b and slide vertical plate 32b, extending vertically. The multiple grooves 31d extend parallel to each other, connecting at their upper ends to multiple grooves 31c, and their lower ends reach the lower edge of the slide vertical plate 31b. Similarly, the multiple grooves 32d extend parallel to each other, connecting at their upper ends to multiple grooves 32c, and their lower ends reach the lower edge of the slide vertical plate 32b.

[0050] Regarding the dimensions or shapes of the grooves 31c, 32c, 31d, and 32d, in this embodiment, the width (left-right dimension) of all grooves is set to be 0.1 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less, the depth of all grooves is set to be 0.1 mm or more and 3 mm or less, and the spacing between adjacent grooves is set to be 1 mm or more and 7 mm or less. Furthermore, the width of grooves 31c, 32c, 31d, and 32d is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 times the diameter of the molten filament discharged from the nozzle section 17. When the width of grooves 31c, 32c, 31d, and 32d is less than the specified range, the amount of water entering the groove is relatively less than the amount of molten filament supplied from the nozzle section 17, and the water evaporates easily. On the other hand, when the width of grooves 31c, 32c, 31d, and 32d is greater than the specified range, the molten filament falls into the groove, making it difficult to form the cooling water film described later. Furthermore, the cross-sections (sections cut by a plane orthogonal to the direction of groove extension) of grooves 31c, 32c, 31d, and 32d are as follows: Figure 6 As shown, all the slots are formed as quadrilaterals (rectangular or square in this embodiment). However, in the quadrilaterals, the upper side is the opening face of the slot. In this embodiment, all slots 31c, 32c, 31d, and 32d have the same cross-sectional shape and size.

[0051] In this embodiment, the inclined slide plate 31a, inclined slide plate 32a, and vertical slide plate 31b, vertical slide plate 32b are formed as flat plates, but they can also be formed as curved surfaces. In addition, in this embodiment, a pair of slides 31 and 32 are provided with a predetermined gap, but they can also be configured in such a way that the slides 31 and 32 form a quadrilateral or elliptical space when viewed from above, making the slides 31 and 32 an integral unit.

[0052] Furthermore, the cooling water supply unit 41 is configured to supply cooling water without leakage to the vicinity of the upper end of the entire left-right direction area of ​​the upper surface of the slide inclined plate 31a. The cooling water supply unit 42 is configured to supply cooling water without leakage to the vicinity of the upper end of the entire left-right direction area of ​​the upper surface of the slide inclined plate 32a. The cooling water supply units 41 and 42 continuously supply cooling water to the upper surface of the slide inclined plate 31a to stably form the cooling water film described later. In addition, the cooling water supplied to the slide inclined plate 31a by the cooling water supply units 41 and 42 can be, for example, water supplied from outside the manufacturing apparatus 1, or a portion of the cooling water in the cooling water tank 23.

[0053] Figure 7 It means that it was intercepted. Figure 6The diagram shows the water trapped in the multiple grooves 31c and the cooling water film W formed on the surface (upper surface) of the slide rail inclined plate 31a. When cooling water is supplied to the upper surface of the slide rail inclined plate 31a and slide rail inclined plate 32a by the cooling water supply unit 41 and the cooling water supply unit 42, a portion of the cooling water enters into the multiple fine grooves 31c and grooves 32c formed on the upper surface of the slide rail inclined plate 31a and slide rail inclined plate 32a.

[0054] The flow rate of cooling water entering the multiple tanks 31c and 32c is significantly slowed down, becoming trapped water. Cooling water is further supplied by cooling water supply units 41 and 42. The cooling water flowing down the upper surface of the slide rail inclined plate 31a and 32a is blocked by the surface tension with the trapped water in the multiple tanks 31c and 32c, thereby forming a film between two adjacent tanks. They are interconnected, thereby forming a uniform thin film of cooling water on the entire upper surface of the slide rail inclined plate 31a and 32a.

[0055] Furthermore, since air bubbles may not be expelled from tanks 31c and 32c immediately after the manufacturing apparatus 1 has started operating, water vapor can be supplied towards the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a before the manufacturing apparatus 1 starts operating to expel air bubbles from the multiple tanks 31c and 32c. Additionally, hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol can be coated or embedded in all or part of the multiple tanks 31c and 32c.

[0056] The molten filament assembly MF discharged from nozzle 17 has its thickness (front-to-back dimension) adjusted by the previously mentioned slides 31 and 32, and is flexed by the buoyancy of the cooling water in cooling water tank 23, where the filaments form random loops. The random loops intertwine with adjacent random loops in a three-dimensional molten state, and the contact points are fused together to form a three-dimensional filament assembly.

[0057] Then, while being cooled by cooling water in the cooling water tank 23, the assembly is conveyed by a pair of conveyor belts 24a and 24b and multiple conveying rollers 25a to 25h, thereby discharging the assembly as a filament three-dimensional assembly 3DF outside the cooling water tank 23. In this way, a filament three-dimensional assembly 3DF can be manufactured.

[0058] As described above, the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes: a molten filament supply unit 10 that discharges a molten filament assembly MF comprising multiple molten filaments in a vertically downward direction; slides 31 and 32 having slide inclined plates 31a and 32a, the slide inclined plates 31a and 32a receiving molten filaments at the thickness direction (front-back direction) end of the molten filament assembly MF and biased towards the direction in which the thickness of the molten filament assembly MF decreases; cooling water supply units 41 and 42 that supply cooling water to the slide inclined plates 31a and 32a; and a welding and bonding forming unit 20 that welds and bonds the contact points while causing the molten filaments to entangle in three dimensions.

[0059] Furthermore, multiple grooves 31c and 32c are formed on the upper surfaces of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a of the manufacturing apparatus 1. Since multiple fine grooves are formed at predetermined intervals on the upper surfaces of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a, the upper surfaces of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a are formed with a uniform and fine uneven structure, which allows a thin film of cooling water to be formed on the entire upper surface of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a by means of the surface tension of water.

[0060] A portion of the cooling water supplied to the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a is reliably retained (retained or slowed down) in the grooves 31c and 32c. Simultaneously, the cooling water supplied to the upper part of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a and flowing down their upper surfaces is blocked by the surface tension with the water retained in the grooves, thereby forming a film between the two adjacent grooves. Therefore, a thin film of cooling water can be reliably formed integrally on the upper surfaces of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a. This more reliably prevents molten filaments from adhering to the surfaces of the inclined slide plates 31a and 32a, resulting in a more uniform three-dimensional filament composite.

[0061] Furthermore, in order to reliably and stably form a thin film of cooling water on the upper surfaces of the slide inclined plates 31a and 32a, it is important to appropriately set the width, depth, and spacing of the plurality of grooves 31c and 32c. Regarding this, the applicant, after investigation and discussion, determined that it is appropriate to set the width of each of the plurality of grooves 31c and 32c to be 0.1 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less, the depth of each of the plurality of grooves 31c and 32c to be 0.1 mm or more and 3 mm or less, and the spacing between adjacent grooves 31c and 32c to be 1 mm or more and 7 mm or less. Therefore, this setting is also performed in the manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment. Furthermore, the width of each of the plurality of grooves 31c and 32c may also be set to 0.1 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, or it may be set to 0.1 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

[0062] Furthermore, assuming that the surface of the slide is covered with a permeable sheet or the like, there is a concern about the permeable sheet peeling off. However, in this embodiment, since fine grooves are formed directly on the surface of the slide (the upper surfaces of the slide inclined plate 31a and slide inclined plate 32a), such peeling does not occur, thus ensuring stable performance even during long-term continuous manufacturing of the filament three-dimensional composite. Moreover, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to supply a large amount of cooling water to the slide inclined plates 31a and 32a in order to form a thin film of cooling water integrally on the upper surfaces of the slide inclined plates 31a and 32a. Therefore, a uniform filament three-dimensional composite can be formed without reducing the bond strength at the fusion points of the molten filaments.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the plurality of grooves 31c and the plurality of grooves 32c are respectively formed to extend parallel at equal intervals. Therefore, a uniform cooling water film can be formed on the slide inclined plate 31a and the slide inclined plate 32a.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, multiple grooves 31c and 32c are formed to cover the entire area of ​​the upper surface of the inclined slide plate 31a and the inclined slide plate 32a that receives the molten filament, and the cooling water supply units 41 and 42 are configured to supply cooling water to all of the grooves 31c and 32c covering the entire area. This more completely prevents the molten filament from adhering to the inclined slide plate 31a and the inclined slide plate 32a.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of each of the multiple grooves 31c and 32c is quadrilateral, so even if the surfaces of the slide rail inclined plate 31a and slide rail inclined plate 32a wear due to long-term use, the width of the grooves 31c and 32c can be maintained at a constant value. Additionally, as previously mentioned, hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol can be coated or embedded in all or part of the multiple grooves 31c and 32c. This improves the water retention capacity through the hydrophilic polymers in the multiple grooves 31c and 32c, thus effectively suppressing the evaporation of retained water in the grooves 31c and 32c caused by the heat of the molten filaments at temperatures exceeding the boiling point of water. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the depth of the multiple grooves 31c and 32c is set to be uniform, but the depth of the multiple grooves 31c and 32c can also be set to be non-uniform. Furthermore, without compromising the effectiveness of the present invention, the structure can be configured such that multiple grooves 31c and 32c are arranged in a straight line or curve, or it can be configured such that multiple indentations are provided on the slide inclined plate 31a and slide inclined plate 32a.

[0066] 2. Second Implementation Method

[0067] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Furthermore, the second embodiment is essentially the same as the first embodiment, except for the shape of the groove formed in the slide. In the following description, the focus is on the aspects that differ from the first embodiment, and aspects common to the first embodiment are sometimes omitted.

[0068] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of slides 131 and 132 (corresponding to slides 31 and 32 in the first embodiment) in the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the second embodiment. The pair of slides 131 and 132 have flat slide inclined plates 131a and 132a respectively formed as downward inclined (the inclination becomes more downward as it moves inward in the front-back direction), and flat slide vertical plates 131b and 132b extending from the lower end of slide inclined plates 131a and 132a in the vertical direction, and are provided with a predetermined gap between them.

[0069] On the upper surfaces of the inclined slide plates 131a and 132a, multiple grooves 131c and 132c are formed at an angle of 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less relative to the maximum tilt direction of the inclined slide plates 131a and 132a, respectively. In this embodiment, on the surfaces of the vertical slide plates 131b and 132b that are opposite to each other, multiple grooves 131d and 132d are also formed at an angle of 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less relative to the vertical direction, respectively.

[0070] In this embodiment, for example, on the upper surface of the slide inclined plate 131a, a plurality of grooves 131c inclined at an angle θ (a predetermined angle of 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less) from the maximum inclination direction are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction, and a plurality of grooves 131c inclined at an angle θ from the maximum inclination direction to another direction are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction. The grooves 131c inclined at an angle θ from the maximum inclination direction to one direction and the grooves 131c inclined at an angle θ to the other direction intersect each other at equal intervals.

[0071] Furthermore, in the slide rail vertical plate 131b, a plurality of grooves 131d inclined at an angle θ from the vertical direction are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction, and a plurality of grooves 131d inclined at an angle θ from the vertical direction to the other direction are also arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction. The grooves 131d inclined at an angle θ from the vertical direction intersect each other at equal intervals. In addition, each of the plurality of grooves 131d is connected at its upper end to each of the plurality of grooves 131c, and its lower end reaches the lower edge of the slide rail vertical plate 131b.

[0072] Regarding the dimensions or shapes of the grooves 131c, 132c, 131d, and 132d, in this embodiment, the width (dimension in the left-right direction) of all grooves is set to 0.1mm or more and 3.0mm or less, and the depth of all grooves is set to 0.1mm or more and 3mm or less. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, a thin film of cooling water can be reliably and stably formed on the upper surfaces of the slide rail inclined plates 131a and 132a. Furthermore, the width of the grooves 131c, 132c, 131d, and 132d can be set to 0.1mm or more and 1.0mm or less, or it can be set to 0.1mm or more and 0.5mm or less. Additionally, the shape of the cross-section (the cross-section when cut by a plane orthogonal to the direction of groove extension) of the grooves 131c, 132c, 131d, and 132d is the same as in the first embodiment; all grooves are formed as quadrilaterals (rectangular or square in this example). However, in the quadrilateral, the upper side is the opening face of the slot.

[0073] Furthermore, in this embodiment, grooves 131c, 132c, 131d, and 132d are formed to intersect at equal intervals, but they may also be formed to not intersect. In addition, slide rail inclined plates 131a and 132a, slide rail vertical plates 131b and 132b are formed to be flat, but they may also be curved.

[0074] As described above, in this embodiment, the grooves 131c and 132c are formed at an angle of 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less relative to the maximum tilt direction of the slide rail inclined plates 131a and 132a. Therefore, even if the tilt angle of the slide rail inclined plates 131a and 132a is increased in order to make the molten filament slide well, the flow of trapped water in the grooves 131c and 132c can be suppressed.

[0075] 3. Other

[0076] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the structure of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It should be understood that the technical scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than the description of the embodiments, and includes all modifications that fall within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0077] Here, as an example of a variation of the described embodiment, reference is made below. Figure 9 and Figure 10 Examples in which the cross-sectional shape of the groove formed in the slide is changed will be described. In addition, these examples are the same as the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, except for matters related to the cross-sectional shape of the groove in the slide.

[0078] Figure 9 An example is shown where the cross-sectional shape of the groove 31c is changed for the inclined plate 31a of the slide. Figure 9 In the example shown, a groove 231c (corresponding to the groove 31c in the first embodiment) is formed in the slide inclined plate 231a (corresponding to the slide inclined plate 31a in the first embodiment) in the slide 231 (corresponding to the slide 31 in the first embodiment).

[0079] exist Figure 9 In the example shown, the cross-sectional shape of groove 231c is V-shaped, with the two side surfaces of groove 231c contacting each other at their ends, and it slopes outwards towards the surface of the slide rail inclined plate 231a. Even with this cross-sectional shape of groove 231c, the same or comparable effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the grooves for the front and rear slide rail inclined plates in slide rail 231 can be formed as V-shaped, and similarly, the cross-sectional shape of the grooves for the front and rear slide rail vertical plates in slide rail 231 can be formed as V-shaped.

[0080] Figure 10 Another example is shown where the cross-sectional shape of the groove 31c is changed for the inclined plate 31a of the slide. Figure 10 In the example shown, a groove 331c (corresponding to the groove 31c in the first embodiment) is formed in the slide inclined plate 331a (corresponding to the slide inclined plate 31a in the first embodiment) in the slide 331 (corresponding to the slide 31 in the first embodiment).

[0081] exist Figure 10 In the example shown, the cross-sectional shape of groove 331c is U-shaped, and no corners are provided in the forming portion of groove 331c. Even if the cross-sectional shape of groove 331c is formed in this way, the same or comparable effect as that in the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, for the grooves of the front and rear inclined plates of slide 331, the cross-sectional shape can be formed as V-shaped as described, and similarly, for the grooves of the front and rear vertical plates of slide 331, the cross-sectional shape can be formed as V-shaped as described.

[0082] Furthermore, the embodiments described are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive in all respects. It should be understood that the scope of the invention is defined by the claims rather than the description of the embodiments, and includes all modifications falling within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0083] [Industry availability]

[0084] This invention can be used in a manufacturing apparatus for three-dimensional composites of filaments.

[0085] [Explanation of Symbols]

[0086] 1: Manufacturing apparatus for three-dimensional composite filaments

[0087] 10: Melt filament supply department

[0088] 11: Pressurized melting section

[0089] 11a: Material barrel

[0090] 11b: Material cylinder discharge port

[0091] 12: Filament discharge section

[0092] 12a: Flow guide path

[0093] 13: Materials Input Department

[0094] 14: Screw

[0095] 15: Screw motor

[0096] 16: Screw heater

[0097] 17: Nozzle section

[0098] 18: Mold heater

[0099] 19: Nozzle assembly

[0100] 20: Welded joint forming part

[0101] 23: Cooling water tank

[0102] 24a, 24b: Conveyor belt

[0103] 25a~25h: Conveyor rollers

[0104] 31, 32: Slides

[0105] 31a, 32a: Slide inclined plate

[0106] 31b, 32b: Slide vertical plate

[0107] 31c, 32c: Grooves of the inclined plate of the slide rail

[0108] 31d, 32d: Grooves of the vertical plate of the slide.

[0109] 41, 42: Cooling water supply department

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional composite of filaments, comprising: The molten filament supply section discharges a molten filament assembly comprising multiple molten filaments in a vertically downward direction; A slide rail has a slide rail inclined plate, which receives the molten filament at the thickness direction end of the molten filament assembly and is biased towards the direction in which the thickness of the molten filament assembly decreases; The cooling water supply unit supplies cooling water to the inclined plate of the slide; and The fusion bonding forming section, which simultaneously entangles molten filaments in three dimensions and fuses the contact points together, is characterized in that... Multiple grooves are formed on the upper surface of the inclined plate of the slide, and The width of each of the plurality of slots is greater than 0.1 mm and less than 3.0 mm. The depth of each of the plurality of grooves is greater than 0.1 mm and less than 3 mm. The adjacent slots are spaced more than 1 mm and less than 7 mm apart. The width of each of the plurality of grooves is 0.5 to 1.5 times the diameter of the molten filament discharged from the molten filament supply section.

2. The apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional composite filament according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of slots are formed to extend in parallel at equal intervals.

3. The apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional composite filament according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of grooves are respectively formed to extend at an angle of more than 30 degrees and less than 60 degrees relative to the maximum tilt direction of the slide rail.

4. The apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional composite of filaments according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The cross-sectional shape of each of the multiple grooves is quadrilateral.

5. The apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional composite of filaments according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, Hydrophilic polymers are coated or embedded in all or part of the plurality of tanks.

6. The apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional composite of filaments according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The plurality of grooves are formed to cover the entire area on the upper surface of the inclined slide plate that receives the molten filament. The cooling water supply unit is configured to supply cooling water to the entire tank covering the entire area.

Images