Continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment. The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment comprises a frame body, and a miniaturized unwinding mechanism, a limiting mechanism, a desizing mechanism, a yarn spreading mechanism, a size dipping mechanism, a hot drying mechanism, a hot pressing mechanism, a rolling mechanism, a traction mechanism and a winding mechanism. The mechanisms are arranged on the frame body in at least two layers, and fiber yarns sequentially penetrate through the mechanisms to be processed. The size and the weight of each mechanism are reduced by more than 90% through miniaturization design, layered installation is realized, the occupied area and the power consumption (gt, 90%) of the equipment are obviously reduced, and meanwhile, the loss of fiber and resin slurry is reduced by more than 90%. The equipment adopts a modular independent structure, supports flexible configuration and function adjustment, and is convenient for process upgrading and customized development. The equipment is particularly suitable for laboratory research and development and small-scale preparation scenes, can directly produce a prepreg tape narrow-band finished product which is smooth in surface, free of defects and uniform in thickness, omits a subsequent cutting procedure, and meets the high-quality production requirement while reducing the power consumption cost, the experiment cost and the processing cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of composite material manufacturing equipment technology, and in particular to a continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic prepreg (CFRTP), as a key substrate for next-generation high-performance composite materials, has become a core raw material for lightweight structural components in aerospace, high-strength parts for new energy equipment, lightweight automotive bodies, and composite preforms for rail transportation, thanks to its high strength, high modulus, excellent impact toughness, designability, high temperature resistance, and recyclability. In the prepreg manufacturing process, molding equipment, as the core production equipment, directly determines the product quality, production efficiency, and performance stability of the prepreg.

[0003] However, current mainstream continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic prepreg production equipment is bulky and heavy, limiting its deployment to ground-floor workshops and requiring significant space. This makes it unsuitable for space-constrained environments such as small laboratories. Transportation and installation are complex and costly. The equipment typically consumes over 80 kWh, demanding high power supply capacity and resulting in high overall production costs. The large consumption of resin matrix and fibers required for each production start-up leads to significant material waste, hindering small-batch sample preparation and rapid process verification. Existing equipment is designed for wide prepregs (width > 300 mm) and cannot directly produce narrow strips (width < 50 mm). Obtaining narrow strips requires subsequent slitting, increasing equipment investment and processing costs. Furthermore, the slitting process is prone to fiber damage and edge burrs, degrading the performance of the narrow strips. These issues severely restrict the efficient iteration of prepreg materials in R&D and the expansion of application scenarios, particularly in university research and enterprise technology incubation where frequent trial production and verification are necessary. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention provides a continuous fiber prepreg tape production device, aiming to solve the problems of large and heavy structures in related technologies, resulting in poor site adaptability, excessive energy and material consumption, and a lack of narrow tape production capabilities.

[0005] This invention provides a continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment, including a frame and miniaturized unwinding mechanism, limiting mechanism, desizing mechanism, yarn spreading mechanism, sizing mechanism, heat drying mechanism, heat pressing mechanism, roller pressing mechanism, traction mechanism, and winding mechanism. The unwinding mechanism, limiting mechanism, desizing mechanism, yarn spreading mechanism, sizing mechanism, heat drying mechanism, heat pressing mechanism, roller pressing mechanism, traction mechanism, and winding mechanism are arranged in at least two layers on the frame. The free end of the fiber yarn wound on the unwinding mechanism passes sequentially through the limiting mechanism, desizing mechanism, yarn spreading mechanism, sizing mechanism, heat drying mechanism, heat pressing mechanism, roller pressing mechanism, and traction mechanism, and is finally wound on the winding mechanism.

[0006] According to the present invention, a continuous fiber prepreg tape production device is provided, wherein at least one unwinding mechanism is provided.

[0007] According to the present invention, a continuous fiber prepreg tape production device is provided, wherein the limiting mechanism comprises: A horizontal limiting roller assembly includes two vertical limiting guide rollers. The distance between the two vertical limiting guide rollers is adjustable. The fiber yarn passes through the middle area of ​​the two vertical limiting guide rollers, and the fiber yarns located on both sides in the horizontal direction contact the adjacent vertical limiting guide rollers. The vertical limiting roller assembly includes two horizontal limiting guide rollers with an adjustable spacing between them. The fiber yarn passes through the middle area of ​​the two horizontal limiting guide rollers, and the top and bottom of the fiber yarn are in contact with the corresponding horizontal limiting guide rollers.

[0008] According to the continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment provided by the present invention, both the desizing mechanism and the heat drying mechanism include: An oven, wherein a yarn inlet and a yarn outlet are respectively provided on both sides along the extension direction of the fiber yarn, and a first heating module is provided inside the oven; The guide roller assembly includes an inlet guide roller and an outlet guide roller. The contact surface between the inlet guide roller and the fiber yarn, the center surface of the yarn inlet, the center surface of the yarn outlet, and the contact surface between the outlet guide roller and the fiber yarn are all located on the same plane.

[0009] According to the present invention, a continuous fiber prepreg tape production device is provided, wherein the yarn spreading mechanism includes two friction guide rollers and a vibration assembly. The vibration assembly includes a first linear telescopic mechanism and a yarn spreading guide roller. The yarn spreading guide roller is connected to the telescopic end of the first linear telescopic mechanism, and the axis of the yarn spreading guide roller is perpendicular to the telescopic direction of the first linear telescopic mechanism. The two friction guide rollers and the yarn spreading guide roller form a triangle. The telescopic direction of the first linear telescopic mechanism is perpendicular to the plane containing the axes of the two friction guide rollers. The first linear telescopic mechanism drives the yarn spreading guide roller to reciprocate.

[0010] According to the present invention, a continuous fiber prepreg tape production device is provided, wherein the impregnation mechanism includes at least one, and when the number of the impregnation mechanisms is greater than or equal to two, the impregnation mechanisms are distributed along the extension direction of the fiber yarn, and each impregnation mechanism includes: A pre-impregnation tank, the top of which is open, and a stirring device is provided inside the pre-impregnation tank; At least one first guide roller is disposed at the bottom of the inner side of the prepreg tank, and the fiber yarn passes through the bottom of the first guide roller; A slurry extrusion mechanism includes a second guide roller, an extrusion guide roller, and a distance adjustment mechanism. The second guide roller is arranged parallel to the extrusion guide roller, and the distance adjustment mechanism is connected to the extrusion guide roller. The distance adjustment mechanism is used to adjust the distance between the extrusion guide roller and the second guide roller.

[0011] According to the present invention, a continuous fiber prepreg tape production apparatus is provided, wherein the hot pressing mechanism comprises: Two heat-conducting plates are arranged in parallel. A second heating module, wherein the second heating module is thermally connected to at least one of the heat-conducting plates; The second linear telescopic mechanism is connected to one of the heat-conducting plates and is used to drive the corresponding heat-conducting plate to move closer to or further away from the other heat-conducting plate in order to adjust the distance between the two heat-conducting plates.

[0012] According to the present invention, a continuous fiber prepreg tape production device is provided, wherein the rolling mechanism includes a first fixed guide roller, a first movable guide roller and a third linear telescopic mechanism. The first fixed guide roller is parallel to the axis of the first movable guide roller, and the first movable guide roller is drivenly connected to the telescopic end of the third linear telescopic mechanism. The third linear telescopic mechanism is used to drive the first movable guide roller to approach or move away from the first fixed guide roller in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the first fixed guide roller.

[0013] According to the present invention, a continuous fiber prepreg tape production device is provided, wherein the traction mechanism includes a second fixed guide roller, a second movable guide roller, and a fourth linear telescopic mechanism. The second fixed guide roller is parallel to the axis of the second movable guide roller, and the second movable guide roller is throttle-connected to the telescopic end of the fourth linear telescopic mechanism. The fourth linear telescopic mechanism is used to drive the second movable guide roller to approach or move away from the second fixed guide roller in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the second fixed guide roller. Friction material is provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the second fixed guide roller and the second movable guide roller.

[0014] According to the present invention, a continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment is provided, wherein the winding mechanism includes a winding guide roller, a guide roller driving device, and a wire guide device, wherein the guide roller driving device is connected to the winding guide roller in a driving connection, and the wire guide device is disposed on the upstream side of the winding guide roller.

[0015] The present invention has the following advantages due to the adoption of the above technical solutions: The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment provided by the present invention includes a frame and miniaturized unwinding mechanism, limiting mechanism, desizing mechanism, yarn spreading mechanism, sizing mechanism, heat drying mechanism, heat pressing mechanism, roller pressing mechanism, traction mechanism and winding mechanism. The unwinding mechanism, limiting mechanism, desizing mechanism, yarn spreading mechanism, sizing mechanism, heat drying mechanism, heat pressing mechanism, roller pressing mechanism, traction mechanism and winding mechanism are arranged in at least two layers on the frame. The free end of the fiber yarn wound on the unwinding mechanism passes through the limiting mechanism, desizing mechanism, yarn spreading mechanism, sizing mechanism, heat drying mechanism, heat pressing mechanism, roller pressing mechanism and traction mechanism in sequence, and is finally wound on the winding mechanism. Compared to traditional prepreg tape forming equipment, the continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment provided in this application features a miniaturized design for each mechanism, reducing size and weight by over 90%. This allows for layered installation on a frame, minimizing overall footprint and improving mobility. Power consumption is reduced by over 90%, lowering electricity and experimental costs and reducing circuit requirements for the site, thus meeting the application needs of small laboratories and similar scenarios. The miniaturized design also reduces fiber and resin slurry loss by over 90%, making it suitable for R&D and small-scale production, reducing waste costs. The independent design of each mechanism allows for flexible adjustment of equipment configuration and functions, facilitating subsequent improvements based on process upgrades and enhancing customization. Furthermore, it can meet the R&D and small-scale production needs of narrow prepreg tapes, eliminating the need for subsequent cutting, and producing finished products with smooth, defect-free surfaces and uniform thickness, improving product quality and reducing processing costs. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure label: 100: Frame; 110: Electrical box; 120: Horizontal mounting plate; 130: Vertical mounting plate; 200: Unwinding mechanism; 300: Limiting mechanism; 310: Vertical limiting guide roller; 320: Horizontal limiting guide roller; 400: Desizing mechanism; 410: Drying oven; 420: Inlet guide roller; 430: Outlet guide roller; 500: Yarn spreading mechanism; 510: Friction guide roller; 520: Yarn spreading guide roller; 530: First linear telescopic mechanism; 600: Impregnation mechanism; 610: Pre-impregnation tank; 620: Second guide roller; 630: 640: Extrusion guide roller; 700: Distance adjustment mechanism; 800: Heat drying mechanism; 810: Heat-conducting plate; 820: Second linear telescopic mechanism; 900: Roller pressing mechanism; 910: First fixed guide roller; 920: First moving guide roller; 930: Third linear telescopic mechanism; 1000: Traction mechanism; 1010: Second fixed guide roller; 1020: Second moving guide roller; 1030: Fourth linear telescopic mechanism; 1100: Winding mechanism; 1110: Winding guide roller; 1120: Yarn guide; 1200: Fiber yarn. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0021] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0022] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0023] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0024] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0025] The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment provided by the present invention includes a frame and miniaturized unwinding mechanism, limiting mechanism, desizing mechanism, yarn spreading mechanism, sizing mechanism, heat drying mechanism, heat pressing mechanism, roller pressing mechanism, traction mechanism and winding mechanism. The unwinding mechanism, limiting mechanism, desizing mechanism, yarn spreading mechanism, sizing mechanism, heat drying mechanism, heat pressing mechanism, roller pressing mechanism, traction mechanism and winding mechanism are arranged in at least two layers on the frame. The free end of the fiber yarn wound on the unwinding mechanism passes through the limiting mechanism, desizing mechanism, yarn spreading mechanism, sizing mechanism, heat drying mechanism, heat pressing mechanism, roller pressing mechanism and traction mechanism in sequence, and is finally wound on the winding mechanism. Compared to traditional prepreg tape forming equipment, the continuous limiting prepreg tape production equipment provided in this application features a miniaturized design for each mechanism, reducing size and weight by over 90%. This allows for layered installation on a frame, minimizing overall footprint and improving mobility. Power consumption is reduced by over 90%, lowering electricity and experimental costs and reducing circuit requirements for the site, thus meeting the application needs of small laboratories and similar scenarios. The miniaturized design also reduces fiber and resin slurry loss by over 90%, making it suitable for R&D and small-scale production, reducing waste costs. The independent design of each mechanism allows for flexible adjustment of equipment configuration and functions, facilitating subsequent improvements based on process upgrades and enhancing customization. Furthermore, it can meet the R&D and small-scale production needs of narrow prepreg tapes, eliminating the need for subsequent cutting, and producing finished products with smooth, defect-free surfaces and uniform thickness, improving product quality and reducing processing costs.

[0026] The following is combined Figure 1 The present invention describes a continuous fiber prepreg tape production apparatus.

[0027] An embodiment of the present invention provides a continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment, including a frame 100, an unwinding mechanism 200, a limiting mechanism 300, a desizing mechanism 400, a yarn spreading mechanism 500, a sizing mechanism 600, a hot drying mechanism 700, a hot pressing mechanism 800, a roller pressing mechanism 900, a traction mechanism 1000, and a winding mechanism 1100.

[0028] The frame 100 may include an electrical box 110, a horizontal mounting plate 120 and a vertical mounting plate 130. The electrical box 110 is located at the bottom and is equipped with casters at the bottom for easy movement. The horizontal mounting plate 120 is located at the top of the electrical box 110 and the vertical mounting plate 130 is located at the top rear side of the horizontal mounting plate 120.

[0029] The unwinding mechanism 200, the limiting mechanism 300, the desizing mechanism 400, the yarn spreading mechanism 500, the sizing mechanism 600, the hot drying mechanism 700, the hot pressing mechanism 800, the roller pressing mechanism 900, the traction mechanism 1000, and the winding mechanism 1100 adopt a miniaturized design. Specifically, compared with traditional prepreg tape forming equipment, the size, weight, and energy consumption of the above mechanisms are reduced by more than 90%.

[0030] In one specific embodiment, see Figure 1 In the upper half of the vertical mounting plate 130, from right to left, an unwinding mechanism 200, a limiting mechanism 300, a desizing mechanism 400, and a yarn unfolding mechanism 500 are arranged sequentially. In the lower half of the vertical mounting plate 130, from left to right, a sizing mechanism 600 and a heat drying mechanism 700 are arranged sequentially. At the top of the horizontal mounting plate 120 and to the right of the heat drying mechanism 700, a hot pressing mechanism 800, a roller pressing mechanism 900, a traction mechanism 1000, and a winding mechanism 1100 are installed sequentially. In this way, the above mechanisms are installed in layers, reducing the floor space required.

[0031] The fiber yarn 1200 drawn out by the unwinding mechanism 200 passes sequentially through the limiting mechanism 300, the desizing mechanism 400, the yarn spreading mechanism 500, the sizing mechanism 600, the hot drying mechanism 700, the hot pressing mechanism 800, the roller pressing mechanism 900, and the traction mechanism 1000. Finally, the prepreg tape is wound up on the winding mechanism 1100.

[0032] The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment provided in the embodiments of this application has the following characteristics: Equipment Integration: Traditional prepreg tape production equipment is too heavy and bulky, limiting its installation to ground-based installation. The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment provided in this application features reduced dimensions and weight for each component, allowing for integrated installation on the frame 100 using a layered arrangement. This effectively reduces the overall size of the equipment and the floor space required. For example, in one specific embodiment, the overall dimensions of the equipment are 2.95 meters × 0.55 meters × 1.1 meters, facilitating movement and installation, meeting the needs of small-space applications, and suitable for scenarios such as laboratories and small R&D centers.

[0033] Modular Equipment: The above-mentioned mechanisms are designed in a modular manner. For example, the traction mechanism 1000 can be installed as an independent module on the horizontal mounting plate 120 by bolt connection. The traction mechanism 1000 can be easily removed by unscrewing the bolts. Each mechanism can be installed independently on the frame 100, which is small in size, light in weight, easy to adjust the position and modify the equipment, lower in cost, and easier to operate.

[0034] Low power consumption: Existing traditional prepreg tape forming equipment consumes over 80 kWh, resulting in significant power loss, high cost, and inconvenience for small-scale production and experimental verification. This equipment miniaturizes high-power mechanisms and reduces the power of each module, thereby reducing the overall equipment power consumption to only 8 kWh. This represents a 90% reduction compared to existing prepreg tape forming equipment, significantly lowering electricity costs.

[0035] Suitable for narrow strip fabrication and small-batch production: Due to its miniaturized design, the size of the prepreg tapes that can be produced can be reduced, and small-batch production is also possible. For example, narrow strips with widths between 2 mm and 30 mm can be produced. Compared with traditional wide thermoplastic prepreg tapes, narrow prepreg tapes can be directly fabricated without cutting, reducing processing costs and eliminating the impact of burrs and uneven edges caused by cutting.

[0036] In some embodiments, at least two unwinding mechanisms 200 may be provided, so that multiple fiber yarns 1200 can be run in parallel to produce prepreg tapes of different widths.

[0037] The unwinding mechanism 200 can be a driven guide roller with tension control function, which can apply a constant tension to the fiber yarn 1200 while releasing the fiber yarn 1200.

[0038] In some embodiments, the limiting mechanism 300 includes a horizontal limiting roller group and a vertical limiting roller group.

[0039] The horizontal limiting roller assembly includes two vertical limiting guide rollers 310, the axes of which extend vertically, and the plane containing the axes of the two vertical limiting guide rollers 310 is perpendicular to the vertical mounting plate 130. The horizontal distance between the two vertical limiting guide rollers 310 is adjustable to limit the horizontal movement of fiber yarns 1200 of different widths.

[0040] Specifically, the horizontal limiting roller assembly is mounted on the vertical mounting plate 130 via a first mounting plate. The first mounting plate is mounted perpendicular to the vertical mounting plate 130 and extends horizontally. The vertical limiting guide rollers 310 can also be driven guide rollers. Both vertical limiting guide rollers 310 are slidably connected to the first mounting plate and slide in a direction perpendicular to the front side of the vertical mounting plate 130. A locking assembly is also provided between the vertical limiting guide rollers 310 and the first mounting plate. When the locking assembly is unlocked, the positions of the two vertical limiting rollers and the distance between them can be adjusted. When the locking assembly is locked, it restricts the position of the two vertical limiting guide rollers 310.

[0041] Similarly, the vertical limiting roller assembly includes two horizontal limiting guide rollers 320. The axes of the two horizontal limiting guide rollers 320 extend in a direction perpendicular to the front side of the vertical mounting plate 130, and the plane containing the axes of the two horizontal limiting guide rollers 320 is perpendicular to the horizontal mounting plate 120. The longitudinal spacing between the two horizontal limiting guide rollers 320 is adjustable to limit the vertical movement of the fiber yarn 1200.

[0042] Specifically, second mounting plates are provided on the front and rear sides of the top of the first mounting plate. The second mounting plates are perpendicular to the first mounting plate and parallel to the front side of the vertical mounting plate 130. The horizontal limiting guide roller 320 is also a driven guide roller. The horizontal limiting guide roller 320 is installed between the two second mounting plates and is slidably connected to the second mounting plates. The sliding direction is vertical. A locking assembly is also provided between the horizontal limiting guide roller 320 and the second mounting plates. When the locking assembly is unlocked, the position of the two horizontal limiting rollers and the longitudinal distance between them can be adjusted. When the locking assembly is locked, it restricts the position of the two horizontal limiting guide rollers 320.

[0043] Two vertical limiting guide rollers 310 and two horizontal limiting guide rollers 320 form a grid-like structure to limit the position of the fiber yarn 1200 in the horizontal and vertical directions.

[0044] In some embodiments, both the desizing mechanism 400 and the hot drying mechanism 700 include an oven 410 and a set of guide rollers.

[0045] The oven 410 is equipped with a first heating module, which can be, for example, multiple heating resistance wires, and the temperature can be continuously adjusted from room temperature to 400°C. At both ends of the oven 410 along the extension direction of the fiber yarn 1200, there are yarn inlets and yarn outlets, which can be rectangular strip-shaped through holes and are aligned in the left-right direction.

[0046] The guide roller assembly includes an inlet guide roller 420 and an outlet guide roller 430. The contact surface between the inlet guide roller 420 and the fiber yarn 1200, the center surface of the yarn inlet, the center surface of the yarn outlet, and the contact surface between the outlet guide roller 430 and the fiber yarn 1200 are all on the same plane. In other words, in this embodiment, the yarn inlet and yarn outlet provided on the oven 410 are aligned in the left-right direction. In order for the fiber yarn 1200 to pass smoothly through the yarn inlet and yarn outlet, the fiber yarn 1200 needs to pass through the oven 410 in a horizontal posture. Therefore, the inlet guide roller 420 and the outlet guide roller 430 stretch the fiber yarn 1200 into a horizontal posture on the left and right sides of the oven 410.

[0047] The desizing unit 400 completely removes the resin adhering to the surface of the continuous fiber yarn 1200. The drying unit dries the pre-impregnated fiber yarn 1200, and can use different drying temperatures depending on the resin sizing agent.

[0048] In some embodiments, the yarn spreading mechanism 500 includes two friction guide rollers 510 and a vibration assembly. The vibration assembly includes a first linear telescopic mechanism 530 and a yarn spreading guide roller 520. The yarn spreading guide roller 520 is connected to the telescopic end of the first linear telescopic mechanism 530, and the axis of the yarn spreading guide roller 520 is perpendicular to the telescopic direction of the first linear telescopic mechanism 530. The two friction guide rollers 510 and the yarn spreading guide roller 520 form a triangle. The telescopic direction of the first linear telescopic mechanism 530 is perpendicular to the plane containing the axes of the two friction guide rollers 510. The first linear telescopic mechanism 530 drives the yarn spreading guide roller 520 to reciprocate.

[0049] Specifically, the rear ends of the two friction guide rollers 510 can be connected to the vertical support plate, and the plane containing the axes of the two friction guide rollers 510 is horizontal. The first linear telescopic mechanism 530 is located below the middle of the two friction guide rollers 510, and the first telescopic mechanism extends downward and retracts upward. The yarn spreading guide roller 520 is located at the telescopic end of the first telescopic mechanism, and the axis of the yarn spreading guide roller 520 is parallel to the axis of the friction guide roller 510.

[0050] During operation, the fiber yarn 1200 first passes over the upstream friction guide roller 510, then passes over the bottom end of the spreading guide roller 520, and then passes over the downstream friction guide roller 510. The first telescopic mechanism drives the spreading guide roller 520 to vibrate up and down at a high frequency and low amplitude, so that the fiber bundle of the fiber yarn 1200 is fully spread out.

[0051] It should be noted that the first linear telescopic mechanism 530 can be a cylinder.

[0052] In some embodiments, the impregnation mechanism 600 includes at least one, and when the number of impregnation mechanisms 600 is greater than or equal to two, the impregnation mechanisms 600 are distributed along the extension direction of the fiber yarn 1200. Each impregnation mechanism 600 includes a prepreg tank 610, at least one first guide roller, and a sizing extrusion mechanism.

[0053] The prepreg tank 610 can be a trapezoidal structure made of plastic, with the large end of the prepreg tank 610 open and facing upward. A stirring device, such as a magnetic stirrer, is installed inside the prepreg tank 610 to prevent the resin slurry from settling.

[0054] Two first guide rollers can be provided in each prepreg tank 610. The two first guide rollers are located on the inner side of the prepreg tank 610 near the bottom and are distributed in the left and right direction. When the fiber yarn 1200 enters the prepreg tank 610, it passes around the bottom of the two first guide rollers in sequence and then extends to the outside of the prepreg tank 610. When the fiber yarn 1200 passes through the prepreg tank 610, the resin slurry suspension will adhere to the fiber surface and combine with the fiber through the sizing agent.

[0055] The slurry extrusion mechanism includes a second guide roller 620, an extrusion guide roller 630, and a distance adjustment mechanism 640. The rear end of the second guide roller 620 is connected to and perpendicular to the vertical mounting plate 130. The extrusion guide roller 630 is connected to the vertical mounting plate 130 via the distance adjustment mechanism 640, and the axis of the extrusion guide roller 630 is parallel to the axis of the second guide roller 620. The distance adjustment mechanism 640 can adjust the distance between the two rollers in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the extrusion guide roller 630, moving them closer to or further away from the second guide roller 620.

[0056] For example, the distance adjustment mechanism 640 can be a cylinder that controls the extrusion guide roller 630 to extend or retract toward or away from the second guide roller 620 to adjust the distance between them.

[0057] After the fiber yarn 1200 passes through the prepreg tank 610, it needs to pass through the area between the second guide roller 620 and the extrusion roller 630. By adjusting the distance between the second guide roller 620 and the extrusion roller 630, the thickness of the yarn with the attached resin paste can be changed, that is, the amount of resin paste can be adjusted. When passing through the second guide roller 620 and the extrusion roller 630, the excess resin paste is squeezed off and falls back into the prepreg tank 610.

[0058] In some embodiments, the hot pressing mechanism 800 includes two heat-conducting plates 810, a second heating module, and a second linear telescopic mechanism 820.

[0059] Two heat-conducting plates 810 are arranged in parallel, and the second heating module is set in one of the heat-conducting plates 810, or heating modules are set in both heat-conducting plates 810. The heating modules can be heating tubes, and the heating tubes are evenly distributed in the corresponding heat-conducting plates 810.

[0060] Two heat-conducting plates 810 can be distributed vertically. The lower heat-conducting plate 810 can be fixedly connected to the vertical mounting plate 130, and the upper heat-conducting plate 810 is connected to the horizontal mounting plate 120 through a second linear telescopic mechanism 820. The second telescopic mechanism can drive the upper heat-conducting plate 810 to move up and down, making it closer to or away from the lower heat-conducting plate 810. The second telescopic mechanism can be a cylinder.

[0061] The heat-conducting plate 810 can be made of carbon steel plate. It is heated by the heating tube and hot-presses the fiber yarn 1200 with resin slurry attached. When the second linear telescopic mechanism 820 drives the upper heat-conducting plate 810 to move upward away from the lower heat-conducting plate 810, it is convenient to clean the slurry residue inside due to heating.

[0062] In some embodiments, the rolling mechanism 900 includes a first fixed guide roller 910, a first movable guide roller 920, and a third linear telescopic mechanism 930. The first fixed guide roller 910 is parallel to the axis of the first movable guide roller 920. The first movable guide roller 920 is connected to the telescopic end of the third linear telescopic mechanism 930. The third linear telescopic mechanism 930 is used to drive the first movable guide roller 920 to approach or move away from the first fixed guide roller 910 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the first fixed guide roller 910.

[0063] Specifically, the first fixed guide roller 910 is mounted on the top of the horizontal mounting plate 120 via the first bracket, and the axis of the first fixed guide roller 910 is perpendicular to the vertical mounting plate 130. The third linear telescopic mechanism 930 is located on the top of the first bracket, with its telescopic end facing downwards. The first movable guide roller 920 is connected to the telescopic end of the third linear telescopic mechanism 930. The first movable guide roller 920 can be located directly above the first fixed guide roller 910, and the axis of the first movable guide roller 920 is also perpendicular to the vertical mounting plate 130.

[0064] The third linear telescopic mechanism 930 is used to drive the first movable guide roller 920 to move up and down, so as to adjust the distance between the bottom end of the first movable guide roller 920 and the top end of the first fixed guide roller 910, thereby controlling the thickness of the prepreg tape passing through the rolling mechanism 900.

[0065] Heating tubes are provided inside the first moving guide roller 920 and the first fixed guide roller 910. The temperature of the heating tubes can be continuously adjusted from room temperature to 400°C.

[0066] The third linear telescopic mechanism 930 can be a cylinder.

[0067] In addition, the first movable guide roller 920 and the first fixed guide roller 910 are hollow inside, and their ends are detachably connected with joints. The joints are used to connect to the circulating water chiller to cool the inside of the first movable guide roller 920 and the first fixed guide roller 910, so as to ensure that the high temperature of the first fixed guide roller 910 and the first movable guide roller 920 of the roller pressing mechanism 900 during heating will not damage the slip ring and other components.

[0068] In some embodiments, the traction mechanism 1000 includes a second fixed guide roller 1010, a second movable guide roller 1020, and a fourth linear telescopic mechanism 1030. The second fixed guide roller 1010 is parallel to the axis of the second movable guide roller 1020. The second movable guide roller 1020 is connected to the telescopic end of the fourth linear telescopic mechanism 1030. The fourth linear telescopic mechanism 1030 is used to drive the second movable guide roller 1020 to approach or move away from the second fixed guide roller 1010 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the second fixed guide roller 1010.

[0069] Specifically, the second fixed guide roller 1010 is mounted on the top of the horizontal mounting plate 120 via the second bracket, and the axis of the second fixed guide roller 1010 is perpendicular to the vertical mounting plate 130. The fourth linear telescopic mechanism 1030 is located on the top of the second bracket, with its telescopic end facing downwards. The second movable guide roller 1020 is connected to the telescopic end of the fourth linear telescopic mechanism 1030. The second movable guide roller 1020 can be located directly above the second fixed guide roller 1010, and the axis of the second movable guide roller 1020 is also perpendicular to the vertical mounting plate 130.

[0070] The fourth linear telescopic mechanism 1030 is used to drive the second movable guide roller 1020 to move up and down, so as to adjust the distance between the bottom end of the second movable guide roller 1020 and the top end of the second fixed guide roller 1010, thereby clamping the prepreg tape passing between the second movable guide roller 1020 and the second fixed guide roller 1010.

[0071] The second fixed guide roller 1010 can be equipped with a separate motor for rotation, with an adjustable speed (0-500 mm / s). The second fixed guide roller 1010 and the second movable guide roller 1020 can be polyurethane-coated wheels with a diameter of 100 mm. They use friction to drive the prepreg belt forward, and the fourth linear telescopic mechanism 1030 is used for pressure application and opening and closing. The fourth linear telescopic mechanism 1030 can also be a cylinder.

[0072] In some embodiments, the winding mechanism 1100 includes a winding guide roller 1110, a guide roller drive device, and a wire guide 1120. The guide roller drive device can be a motor that drives the winding guide roller 1110 to rotate, using friction winding to match the speed of the traction mechanism 1000. The wire guide 1120 reciprocates in the front-back direction, driving the prepreg tape to reciprocate in the front-back direction, thereby winding it onto the winding guide roller 1110.

[0073] The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment provided by this invention is applicable to continuous fibers such as glass fiber, aramid fiber, basalt fiber and carbon fiber, and thermoplastic resins such as polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), polyamide 6 (PA6), polyamide 66 (PA66), polyphthalamide (PPA), polyimide (PI), polyethersulfone (PES), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyetherketoneketone (PEKK). The main production steps include: unwinding-desizing-spreading-impregnation-drying-hot pressing-rolling-winding.

[0074] The following is a specific embodiment: The fiber yarn 1200 uses continuous carbon fiber (T700, 12K continuous carbon fiber), and the thermoplastic resin uses polyether ether ketone (PEEK) resin powder (500 mesh).

[0075] The preparation steps of continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyetheretherketone prepreg tape are as follows: 1. Place the carbon fiber on the unwinding device. The unwinding device has fixed conical rings at both ends of the roll, which are fixed with screws. Tighten the conical ring closest to the vertical mounting plate 130, then install the carbon fiber roll on the roll, and then install the fixed conical ring at the end away from the vertical mounting plate 130 and tighten it.

[0076] 2. Pull out the carbon fiber bundle and pass it through the limiting mechanism 300 to prevent the fiber yarn 1200 from shifting left, right, up, or down.

[0077] 3. Continue to pass the carbon fiber bundle through the desizing mechanism 400. After passing through, start heating the desizing mechanism 400 and set the temperature to 300℃.

[0078] 4. The carbon fiber bundle reaches the yarn spreading mechanism 500, and passes through the friction guide roller 510-yarn spreading guide roller 520-friction guide roller 510 respectively, and reaches the impregnation mechanism 600.

[0079] 5. In the impregnation mechanism 600, the carbon fiber bundle is first passed through the lower contact surface of the first guide roller in the first prepreg tank 610, then through the slurry extrusion mechanism, and then through the lower contact surface of the first guide roller and the slurry extrusion mechanism in the second prepreg tank 610, reaching the drying mechanism. After the carbon fiber bundle passes through the two sets of prepreg tanks 610 and the slurry extrusion mechanism, 500 mL of slurry is added to each prepreg tank 610. Then, the magnetic stirrer in the prepreg tank 610 is turned on, driving the stir bar to rotate and stir to prevent powder in the slurry from settling. The stirring speed is set to 600 rpm.

[0080] 6. Pass the carbon fiber bundle through the drying mechanism, turn on the heating of the drying mechanism, set the temperature to 350℃, and then proceed to the hot pressing mechanism at 800℃.

[0081] 7. Lift the heat-conducting plate 810 above the hot pressing mechanism 800, and pass the carbon fiber bundle through the middle area of ​​the two heat-conducting plates 810. The carbon fiber bundle should lightly touch the top surface of the lower heat-conducting plate 810, and then pass through the exit roller. Apply tension to ensure that the carbon fiber bundle is in a parallel state. The carbon fiber bundle reaches the rolling mechanism 900. The hot pressing mechanism 800 starts heating, and the heating temperature is set to 360℃, while the upper heat-conducting plate 810 remains raised.

[0082] 8. After the carbon fiber bundle reaches the rolling mechanism 900, first turn on the circulating water chiller and set the temperature to 15℃. Lift the first moving guide roller 920, and then pass the carbon fiber bundle through the rolling mechanism 900 to the traction mechanism 1000. The rolling mechanism 900 starts heating, and the heating temperature is set to 250℃, while the first moving guide roller 920 remains raised.

[0083] 9. Lift the second moving guide roller 1020 of the traction mechanism 1000, and then the carbon fiber bundle passes through the traction mechanism 1000 and reaches the winding mechanism 1100. The second moving guide roller 1020 of the traction mechanism 1000 remains in the lifted state.

[0084] 10. The carbon fiber bundle arrives at the winding mechanism 1100. First, the take-up reel is installed on the spool of the winding mechanism 1100, and both ends are fixed with friction discs and conical discs. Then, the carbon fiber bundle is wound tightly onto the take-up reel.

[0085] 11. After the preparation of the carbon fiber bundle is completed, apply tension to the carbon fiber bundle from step 7 to ensure fiber balance. Then, press down and close the heat-conducting plate 810 of the hot pressing mechanism 800. Next, manually apply tension to the carbon fiber from step 8 and press down and close the first moving guide roller 920. Finally, manually apply tension to the carbon fiber from step 9 and press down and close the second moving guide roller 1020.

[0086] 12. After all preparations are completed and all temperatures reach the set temperatures, open the yarn spreading mechanism 500 and set the speed to 200 r / min; then turn on the motors of the traction mechanism 1000 and the winding mechanism 1100, and set the speeds to 40 mm / s and 50 mm / s respectively. After the prepreg tape reaches the winding mechanism 1100, remove the unformed carbon fibers from the front, and then fix the prepreg tape onto the roll to begin preparing the continuous carbon fiber reinforced prepreg tape.

[0087] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any way. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment, characterized in that, The system includes a frame (100) and a miniaturized unwinding mechanism (200), a limiting mechanism (300), a desizing mechanism (400), a yarn spreading mechanism (500), a sizing mechanism (600), a heat drying mechanism (700), a heat pressing mechanism (800), a roller pressing mechanism (900), a traction mechanism (1000), and a take-up mechanism (1100). The unwinding mechanism (200), the limiting mechanism (300), the desizing mechanism (400), the yarn spreading mechanism (500), the sizing mechanism (600), the heat drying mechanism (700), the heat pressing mechanism (800), and the roller pressing mechanism (900) are also included. The pressing mechanism (900), the traction mechanism (1000), and the winding mechanism (1100) are arranged in at least two layers on the frame (100). The free end of the fiber yarn (1200) wound on the unwinding mechanism (200) passes through the limiting mechanism (300), the desizing mechanism (400), the yarn spreading mechanism (500), the sizing mechanism (600), the heat drying mechanism (700), the heat pressing mechanism (800), the roller pressing mechanism (900), and the traction mechanism (1000) in sequence, and is finally wound on the winding mechanism (1100).

2. The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one unwinding mechanism (200) is provided.

3. The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting mechanism (300) includes: The horizontal limiting roller group includes two vertical limiting guide rollers (310), the distance between the two vertical limiting guide rollers (310) is adjustable, the fiber yarn (1200) passes through the middle area of ​​the two vertical limiting guide rollers (310), and the fiber yarn (1200) located on both sides in the horizontal direction contacts the adjacent vertical limiting guide roller (310); The vertical limiting roller assembly includes two horizontal limiting guide rollers (320), the distance between the two horizontal limiting guide rollers (320) is adjustable, the fiber yarn (1200) passes through the middle area of ​​the two horizontal limiting guide rollers (320), and the top and bottom of the fiber yarn (1200) are in contact with the corresponding horizontal limiting guide roller (320).

4. The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the desizing mechanism (400) and the hot drying mechanism (700) include: The oven (410) has a yarn inlet and a yarn outlet on both sides along the extension direction of the fiber yarn (1200), and a first heating module is provided inside the oven (410). The guide roller assembly includes an inlet guide roller (420) and an outlet guide roller (430). The contact surface between the inlet guide roller (420) and the fiber yarn (1200), the center surface of the yarn inlet, the center surface of the yarn outlet, and the contact surface between the outlet guide roller (430) and the fiber yarn (1200) are located on the same plane.

5. The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The yarn spreading mechanism (500) includes two friction guide rollers (510) and a vibration assembly. The vibration assembly includes a first linear telescopic mechanism (530) and a yarn spreading guide roller (520). The yarn spreading guide roller (520) is connected to the telescopic end of the first linear telescopic mechanism (530), and the axis of the yarn spreading guide roller (520) is perpendicular to the telescopic direction of the first linear telescopic mechanism (530). The two friction guide rollers (510) and the yarn spreading guide roller (520) form a triangle. The telescopic direction of the first linear telescopic mechanism (530) is perpendicular to the plane containing the axes of the two friction guide rollers (510). The first linear telescopic mechanism (530) drives the yarn spreading guide roller (520) to reciprocate.

6. The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The impregnation mechanism (600) includes at least one, and when the number of the impregnation mechanisms (600) is greater than or equal to two, the impregnation mechanisms (600) are distributed along the extension direction of the fiber yarn (1200), and each of the impregnation mechanisms (600) includes: A pre-impregnation tank (610) has an open top and is equipped with a stirring device inside. At least one first guide roller is disposed at the bottom inside the prepreg tank (610), and the fiber yarn (1200) passes through the bottom of the first guide roller; The slurry extrusion mechanism includes a second guide roller (620), an extrusion guide roller (630), and a distance adjustment mechanism (640). The second guide roller (620) is arranged parallel to the extrusion guide roller (630), and the distance adjustment mechanism (640) is connected to the extrusion guide roller (630). The distance adjustment mechanism (640) is used to adjust the distance between the extrusion guide roller (630) and the second guide roller (620).

7. The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hot pressing mechanism (800) includes: Two heat-conducting plates (810) are arranged in parallel. The second heating module is thermally connected to at least one of the heat-conducting plates (810); The second linear telescopic mechanism (820) is connected to one of the heat-conducting plates (810) for driving the corresponding heat-conducting plate (810) to move closer to or further away from the other heat-conducting plate (810) to adjust the distance between the two heat-conducting plates (810).

8. The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rolling mechanism (900) includes a first fixed guide roller (910), a first movable guide roller (920), and a third linear telescopic mechanism (930). The first fixed guide roller (910) is parallel to the axis of the first movable guide roller (920). The first movable guide roller (920) is connected to the telescopic end of the third linear telescopic mechanism (930). The third linear telescopic mechanism (930) is used to drive the first movable guide roller (920) to move closer to or away from the first fixed guide roller (910) in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the first fixed guide roller (910).

9. The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The traction mechanism (1000) includes a second fixed guide roller (1010), a second movable guide roller (1020), and a fourth linear telescopic mechanism (1030). The second fixed guide roller (1010) is parallel to the axis of the second movable guide roller (1020). The second movable guide roller (1020) is connected to the telescopic end of the fourth linear telescopic mechanism (1030). The fourth linear telescopic mechanism (1030) is used to drive the second movable guide roller (1020) to move closer to or away from the second fixed guide roller (1010) in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the second fixed guide roller (1010). The outer peripheral surfaces of the second fixed guide roller (1010) and the second movable guide roller (1020) are provided with friction material.

10. The continuous fiber prepreg tape production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The winding mechanism (1100) includes a winding guide roller (1110), a guide roller drive device, and a wire guide (1120). The guide roller drive device is connected to the winding guide roller (1110) in a transmission manner, and the wire guide (1120) is located on the upstream side of the winding guide roller (1110).

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