Device for collecting electrostatic spinning fibers in water

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of electrostatic spinning, and discloses an in-water electrostatic spinning fiber collecting device which comprises a water tank, an electrostatic spinning fiber collecting device, an electrostatic spinning fiber collecting device and an electrostatic spinning fiber collecting device. The guide assembly comprises a first guide part and a second guide part, a platform is fixedly connected to the water tank, the first guide part is arranged on the water tank, the second guide part is arranged on the platform, and the first guide part is used for guiding electrostatic spinning fibers on the water surface to the second guide part; the collecting assembly comprises a winding part and a twisting part, the winding part is arranged on the water tank, the twisting part is arranged on the platform and used for twisting the electrostatic spinning fibers dried and gathered by the second guide part on the platform, and the twisted electrostatic spinning fibers are guided to the winding part through the second guide part and wound by the winding part. The fiber can be rapidly cooled and solidified, the fiber forming quality is improved, fiber adhesion is reduced, follow-up treatment is simplified, the fiber morphology is regulated and controlled, and a special structure is obtained through the interface action of water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electrostatic spinning, in particular to an underwater electrostatic spinning fiber collecting device. Background Art

[0002] Electrospinning involves using high-voltage static electricity to charge and deform a polymer solution or melt, creating a Taylor cone at the tip of the nozzle. This cone, under the influence of the electric field, forms a jet, which then forms fibers. Compared to solution electrospinning, melt electrospinning offers advantages such as high fiber production efficiency, no solvent contamination, and higher fiber strength.

[0003] In recent years, traditional electrospun fiber collection methods have encountered numerous problems. When collecting fibers from air, they are susceptible to contamination from impurities such as dust and microorganisms. This can severely impact the performance and safety of fibers in applications requiring extremely high purity, such as tissue engineering scaffolds and sustained-release drug delivery vehicles in the biomedical field. Furthermore, the rapid and uneven evaporation of solvents in air can lead to defects during fiber formation, such as uneven fiber diameter distribution and internal voids, which in turn reduces the mechanical properties and functionality of the fibers.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an underwater electrospun fiber collection device to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an underwater electrospun fiber collection device to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides the following solution: The present invention provides an underwater electrospun fiber collection device, comprising:

[0007] A water tank, which stores water and has electrospun fibers floating on the water surface;

[0008] A guide assembly, comprising a first guide member and a second guide member, wherein the water tank is fixedly connected to a platform, the first guide member is disposed on the water tank, and the second guide member is disposed on the platform, and the first guide member is used to guide the electrospun fibers on the water surface to the second guide member;

[0009] The collecting component includes a winding member and a twisting member. The winding member is arranged on the water tank, and the twisting member is arranged on the platform, and is used to twist the electrospun fibers dried and gathered by the second guide member on the platform. The twisted electrospun fibers are guided to the winding member through the second guide member and are wound by the winding member.

[0010] According to the underwater electrospun fiber collecting device provided by the present invention, the first guide member includes a blowing device, which is fixedly connected to one end of the water tank and blows air toward the platform.

[0011] According to an underwater electrospun fiber collection device provided by the present invention, the second guide member includes two oblique blowing devices, which are respectively fixedly connected to both sides of the top of the platform and have a trumpet-shaped opening structure. The open end faces the blowing end of the blowing device, and the oblique blowing device is equipped with several small fans along the axial direction.

[0012] According to the underwater electrospun fiber collection device provided by the present invention, the blowing end of the small fan is fixedly connected to a ring-shaped heating plate.

[0013] According to the underwater electrospun fiber collecting device provided by the present invention, a temperature sensor is provided at the air outlet of the oblique blowing device.

[0014] According to an underwater electrospun fiber collecting device provided by the present invention, the twisting member includes a spiral blade, which is rotatably connected to the platform and located in the middle of the two oblique blowing devices. The spiral blade is used to twist the electrospun fibers.

[0015] According to an underwater electrospun fiber collection device provided by the present invention, the winding member includes a bracket, a collection roller is rotatably connected to the bracket, a motor is fixedly connected inside the bracket, the output end of the motor is fixedly connected to a first gear, and a second gear is fixedly connected to the central axis of the collection roller, and the first gear is meshed with the second gear.

[0016] According to the underwater electrospun fiber collecting device provided by the present invention, a slope is fixedly connected to the platform, and the slope is located between the collecting roller and the platform.

[0017] According to an underwater electrospun fiber collection device provided by the present invention, a nozzle is arranged above the water tank, an electrode plate is fixedly connected to the bottom of the water tank, the electrode plate is connected to an external high-voltage electrostatic generator, and the nozzle transports electrospun fibers to the water surface through the electric field generated by the electrode plate.

[0018] According to the underwater electrospun fiber collecting device provided by the present invention, the diameter of the first gear is smaller than the diameter of the second gear.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages and technical effects:

[0020] The present invention provides an underwater electrospun fiber collection device. During use, a first guide member is used to blow the electrospun fibers floating on the water tank toward a platform. On the platform, a second guide member is used to dry the electrospun fibers and collect them toward a twisting member. The twisting member twists the electrospun fibers, and after twisting, the second guide member guides the fibers to a reeling member for reeling. This device can rapidly cool and solidify fibers, improving fiber forming quality; reduce fiber adhesion and improve the dispersibility of individual fibers; simplify subsequent processing, avoid organic solvent residues, and be more environmentally friendly; and regulate fiber morphology, utilizing the interfacial action of water to achieve a unique structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can also derive other drawings based on these drawings without inventive work.

[0022] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of the twisting member of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the fiber orientation in water according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of the oblique blowing device of the present invention;

[0026] Among them, 1. nozzle; 2. water tank; 3. blowing device; 4. electrode plate; 5. platform; 6. oblique blowing device; 7. slope; 8. collecting roller; 9. first gear; 10. second gear; 11. bracket; 12. temperature sensor; 13. spiral blade; 14. small fan; 15. annular heating plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 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 making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] 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.

[0029] Reference Figure 1-Figure 4 The present invention provides an underwater electrospun fiber collection device, comprising:

[0030] Water tank 2, which stores water and has electrospun fibers floating on the water surface;

[0031] The guide assembly includes a first guide member and a second guide member. The water tank 2 is fixedly connected to a platform 5. The first guide member is arranged on the water tank 2, and the second guide member is arranged on the platform 5. The first guide member is used to guide the electrospun fibers on the water surface to the second guide member.

[0032] The collecting component includes a winding member and a twisting member. The winding member is arranged on the water tank 2, and the twisting member is arranged on the platform 5. It is used to twist the electrospun fibers dried and gathered by the second guide member on the platform 5. The twisted electrospun fibers are guided to the winding member through the second guide member and are wound by the winding member.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, when in use, the electrospun fibers floating on the water tank 2 are first blown toward the platform 5 by the first guide member, and then the electrospun fibers are dried on the platform 5 by the second guide member, and gathered toward the twisting member, and the electrospun fibers are twisted by the twisting member, and after twisting, they are guided to the winding member by the second guide member, and wound by the winding member.

[0034] As an optional embodiment, the first guide member includes a blowing device 3 , which is fixedly connected to one end of the water tank 2 , and blows air toward the platform 5 .

[0035] In one embodiment of the present application, the strong airflow generated by the small fan of the blowing device 3 can effectively push the fibers scattered on the surface of the water tank 2 to the designated area platform 5.

[0036] As an optional embodiment, the second guide member includes two oblique blowing devices 6, which are respectively fixedly connected to the two sides of the top of the platform 5 and have a trumpet-shaped opening structure. The open end faces the blowing end of the blowing device 3, and the oblique blowing device 6 is axially installed with several small fans 14.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present application, the oblique blowing device 6 is specifically configured to blow the fibers toward the slope 7. The resulting airflow is angled relative to the direction of fiber movement, effectively guiding the fibers toward the slope 7. Furthermore, to achieve a more uniform effect, the wind force on both sides needs to be kept equal—that is, the wind speed and volume on the left and right sides should be as consistent as possible. This way, when the fibers are subjected to winds of equal strength from different directions, they naturally gather in the center area of ​​the platform 5.

[0038] As an optional embodiment, the blowing end of the small fan 14 is fixedly connected to a ring-shaped heating plate 15.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present application, the annular heating plate 15 is provided to allow the oblique blowing device 6 to blow out warm air, which can dry the fibers collected on the water surface and effectively improve the strength of the fibers.

[0040] As an optional embodiment, a temperature sensor 12 is provided at the air outlet of the oblique blowing device 6 .

[0041] In one embodiment of the present application, a temperature sensor 12 is provided to monitor the outlet temperature in real time. Using a thermocouple sensor with a millisecond response time, coupled with an adaptive PID algorithm, the heating power can be adjusted within 2 seconds to accommodate wind speed changes. Temperature feedback control process: The thermocouple monitors the outlet temperature in real time, converts the signal to an analog-to-digital converter (A / D) and compares it to the set value. Based on the comparison result, the power of the annular heating plate is dynamically adjusted to ensure that the fiber drying process remains within the optimal process range, avoiding fiber structural defects caused by overheating or insufficient drying.

[0042] As an optional embodiment, the twisting member includes a spiral blade 13, which is rotatably connected to the platform 5 and located in the middle of the two oblique blowing devices 6. The spiral blade 13 is used to twist the electrospun fibers.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present application, the spiral blade 13 rotates under the drive of a separate motor, and the speed is adjustable. After the fiber enters the spiral vortex generated by the blade, different parts are subjected to differentiated drag forces due to changes in air flow speed and direction. The fiber moves in a spiral motion in the vortex, and one end lags behind in the low-speed area near the center of the blade, while the other end is accelerated in the high-speed area at the edge of the blade, forming a relative torsional force, similar to the "rope twisting" effect. The design of the spiral blade 13 can accurately control the torsional angle and path of the fiber, ensuring that the fiber is subjected to uniform and continuous torsional force when passing through the blade, thereby achieving a more uniform twisting effect.

[0044] As an optional embodiment, the winding member includes a bracket 11, to which a collecting roller 8 is rotatably connected, a motor is fixedly connected inside the bracket 11, a first gear 9 is fixedly connected to the output end of the motor, a second gear 10 is fixedly connected to the central axis of the collecting roller 8, and the first gear 9 is meshed with the second gear 10.

[0045] In one embodiment of the present application, the collecting roller 8 is driven to rotate by a motor and the meshed first gear 9 and second gear 10, and the twisted fibers are collected when the collecting roller 8 rotates.

[0046] As an optional embodiment, a ramp 7 is fixedly connected to the platform 5 , and the ramp 7 is located between the collecting roller 8 and the platform 5 .

[0047] In one embodiment of the present application, the oblique blowing device 6 on the platform 5 is specially configured to blow the twisted fibers toward the direction of the slope 7 and finally guide them to the collecting roller.

[0048] As an optional embodiment, a nozzle 1 is arranged above the water tank 2, and an electrode plate 4 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the water tank 2. The electrode plate 4 is connected to an external high-voltage electrostatic generator. The nozzle 1 transports electrostatically spun fibers to the water surface through the electric field generated by the electrode plate 4.

[0049] In one embodiment of the present application, during the electrospinning process, the polymer melt gradually gathers at the tip of the nozzle 1 under the action of the electric field force and gravity to form a Taylor cone. When the high-voltage electrostatic generator is connected to the electrode plate 4, it generates a strong electric field. Under the influence of this electric field, the polymer droplets at the top of the Taylor cone begin to be induced and charged. As the amount of charge increases, these charged particles are repelled from each other by the Coulomb repulsion, but are also affected by the attraction exerted on them by the external electric field. These two forces act together on the polymer solution, causing a small fibrous jet to be pulled out from the top of the Taylor cone and accelerated to spray outward. These fibers composed of polymers are affected by various factors during their flight in the air, including air resistance, their own weight, and the persistent electric field force. Then, these fibers slowly descend to the water surface due to the electric field force and gravity.

[0050] As an optional implementation, the diameter of the first gear 9 is smaller than the diameter of the second gear 10 .

[0051] In one embodiment of the present application, when the first gear 9 rotates, it drives the second gear 10 to rotate as well. Since the diameter of the first gear 9 is smaller than that of the second gear 10, this design can effectively reduce the rotation speed and increase the torque output, making the force acting on the collection roller 8 more stable and powerful.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present application, plastic is selected as the material of the gear. This is because plastic has excellent insulation properties and can effectively avoid electromagnetic interference that may be introduced by metal materials, thereby ensuring that the electric field distribution of the entire system remains stable and uniform. Similarly, the water tank 2 is an indispensable part of the experiment or production process, and its material is selected to be polytetrafluoroethylene. It has high chemical stability and does not react with reagents, ensuring service life and experimental accuracy. The surface is smooth and fibers are not easy to adhere, which makes it easy to collect products and clean the water tank 2. It has good electrical insulation, maintains electric field stability, and avoids safety hazards. The platform 5 and the ramp 7, these two structures are made of alumina ceramics. Alumina ceramics have excellent insulation properties and can effectively reduce the generation of static electricity, thereby reducing the impact of electric field strength. Secondly, the alumina ceramic material is made of smooth material to reduce friction resistance, making it easier for fibers to pass through the platform 5 and the ramp 7.

[0053] The present invention successfully overcomes the technical bottleneck of fiber collection in an aqueous environment during melt electrospinning. Specifically, the blowing device 3 guides the movement trajectory of the fiber in the water by precisely controlling the direction and intensity of the airflow; the oblique blowing device 6 further optimizes the orientation of the fiber. This underwater collection method not only completely isolates the fiber from contact with impurities such as dust and oil in the air, but also quickly shapes the fiber through the cooling effect of water, thereby significantly improving the purity and structural integrity of the product. It is particularly worth noting that the twisting element, through its special spiral groove design, achieves high-efficiency mechanical twisting during the fiber collection process, and the precise matching of its rotation speed with the spinning speed ensures that each fiber can obtain a uniform and consistent twisting effect. This synergistic effect not only increases the twisting efficiency of the fiber by more than 40%, but also significantly improves the mechanical properties and surface morphology of the fiber, providing a new technical path for the preparation of high-performance micro-nano fiber materials.

[0054] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "transverse", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0055] The embodiments described above are merely descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the spirit of the present invention, various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present invention by persons skilled in the art should fall within the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for collecting electrospun fibers in water, characterized in that: include: A water tank (2) stores water and has electrospun fibers floating on the water surface; A guide assembly comprising a first guide member and a second guide member, wherein a platform (5) is fixedly connected to the water tank (2), the first guide member is arranged on the water tank (2), and the second guide member is arranged on the platform (5), and the first guide member is used to guide the electrospun fibers on the water surface to the second guide member; The collecting component comprises a winding member and a twisting member, wherein the winding member is arranged on the water tank (2), and the twisting member is arranged on the platform (5) and is used for twisting the electrospun fibers dried and gathered by the second guide member on the platform (5); the twisted electrospun fibers are guided to the winding member through the second guide member and are wound by the winding member.

2. The device for collecting underwater electrospun fibers according to claim 1, wherein: The first guide member comprises a blowing device (3), the blowing device (3) is fixedly connected to one end of the water tank (2), and the blowing device (3) blows air toward the platform (5).

3. The underwater electrospun fiber collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second guide member includes two oblique blowing devices (6), which are respectively fixedly connected to the two sides of the top of the platform (5) and have a trumpet-shaped opening structure, with the opening end facing the blowing end of the blowing device (3). The oblique blowing device (6) is axially mounted with a plurality of small fans (14).

4. The device for collecting underwater electrospun fibers according to claim 3, wherein: The blowing end of the small fan (14) is fixedly connected to an annular heating plate (15).

5. The underwater electrospun fiber collection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: A temperature sensor (12) is provided at the air outlet of the oblique blowing device (6).

6. The underwater electrospun fiber collection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The twisting member comprises a spiral blade (13) which is rotatably connected to the platform (5) and is located in the middle of the two oblique blowing devices (6). The spiral blade (13) is used for twisting the electrostatically spun fibers.

7. The underwater electrospun fiber collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The winding member comprises a bracket (11), a collecting roller (8) is rotatably connected to the bracket (11), a motor is fixedly connected inside the bracket (11), a first gear (9) is fixedly connected to the output end of the motor, a second gear (10) is fixedly connected to the central axis of the collecting roller (8), and the first gear (9) is meshed with the second gear (10).

8. The underwater electrospun fiber collection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A slope (7) is fixedly connected to the platform (5), and the slope (7) is located between the collecting roller (8) and the platform (5).

9. The underwater electrospun fiber collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A nozzle (1) is provided above the water tank (2); an electrode plate (4) is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the water tank (2); the electrode plate (4) is connected to an external high-voltage electrostatic generator; the nozzle (1) transports electrostatically spun fibers onto the water surface through the electric field generated by the electrode plate (4).

10. The underwater electrospun fiber collection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The diameter of the first gear (9) is smaller than the diameter of the second gear (10).

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