DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PREPARING AN FOIL CONDUCTOR FABRIC

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for processing a fiber optic fabric with weft and warp threads, in which at least a portion of the weft or warp threads are designed as light-conducting fibers to enable the controlled and efficient introduction of light into the light-conducting fibers. The invention further relates to a method for processing the fiber optic fabric.

[0002] Optical fiber-conducting fabrics are known and are disclosed, for example, in European Publication EP 1 675 985 B1. Document US 2017 / 261670 describes an optical fiber-conducting fabric in which the light is emitted via the end faces of the optical fibers.

[0003] Furthermore, devices described above are found in documents US 3 195 216 A, US 3 447 211 A and SU 110 797 A1, but these are not used for the processing of optical fiber fabrics.

[0004] Known optical fiber fabrics contain light-conducting fibers into which light can be directed from one end to cause the corresponding section of the fabric to glow. In these optical fiber fabrics, the light-conducting fibers are the weft or warp threads.

[0005] The optical fibers are either designed before the optical fiber fabric is manufactured so that light introduced at one end diffuses across at least part of the cladding surface perpendicular to the fiber's longitudinal axis, or scattering points are subsequently introduced into the optical fibers through a surface treatment, thus enabling controlled light emission along the fiber. Such optical fiber fabrics therefore form an area light source and can be used in a wide variety of applications. To introduce light into predetermined sections or areas of the optical fiber fabric, it is supplied via a light source, such as a diode, located at one end of the optical fibers. For this purpose, the optical fibers of a predetermined area are bundled together at their ends.

[0006] The publication EP 1 675 985 B1 describes the production of such a light guide fabric, whereby a pattern is incorporated into the fabric during weaving using the Jacquard technique.

[0007] It is therefore necessary to count the optical fibers at the fabric edges from time to time before grouping them and connecting their ends, known as "supply ends," to a light source. This allows for the identification of the areas whose light-conducting fibers will subsequently be bundled. Accordingly, the optical fiber fabric can be processed easily and with minimal error after its manufacture. In this process, the ends of the light-conducting fibers in a given area are exposed and then bundled, enabling light to be introduced into the respective areas via these bundled ends.

[0008] A disadvantage of this method is that the optical fiber fabric described therein, due to its incorporated patterns, only offers advantages for predetermined applications. For industrial applications, however, it is desirable that the optical fiber fabric be produced completely independently of the intended application and then individually tailored and further processed for each specific application. Furthermore, EP 1 675 985 B1 does not specify how the ends of the optical fibers are exposed and subsequently bundled. For industrial and flexible processing, it is essential that the exposure of the optical fiber ends be enabled in a particularly simple and flexible manner.

[0009] In contrast to the combing devices known from the prior art for conventional fabrics, a fiber optic fabric requires further processing in order to introduce the light efficiently and in a controlled manner.

[0010] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device that makes it possible to process a light guide fabric in the simplest and most flexible way possible, so that light can be introduced into the light guide fabric efficiently, flexibly and in a controlled manner.

[0011] To this end, the invention proposes, starting from a device of the type mentioned at the outset, that a combing device be provided, comprising at least one combing element and a counter element, wherein the optical fiber fabric can be inserted between the combing element and the counter element in the insertion direction, and the combing element is movably arranged relative to the optical fiber fabric. A segmenting device is further provided, which is configured to divide the optical fibers into at least two groups. After the ends of the optical fibers have been exposed, the optical fibers of individual areas can be divided into groups by means of the segmenting device.

[0012] The optical fiber fabric can be inserted between the combing element and the counter element. The insertion direction is essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the optical fibers. The ends of the optical fibers to be exposed are positioned at the front in the insertion direction. The combing element is then moved towards the optical fiber fabric so that the fabric is in contact with both the combing element and the counter element. The combing element is then rotated or moved translationally, combing out the warp or weft threads of the optical fiber fabric, which run perpendicular to the insertion direction, towards the ends of the optical fibers to be exposed. This allows the ends of the optical fibers to be exposed in a simple, flexible, controlled, and efficient manner.Depending on the desired exposure of the light-conducting fibers, this can be achieved variably via the combing device. The length of the exposed fiber ends can also vary depending on the width of the fiber optic fabric. A major advantage of the device is that, regardless of the fabric type, the extent to which the fiber ends are exposed can be determined solely by the design of the combing device or the relative movement of the combing element. Consequently, one and the same fabric type can be prepared and used for a wide variety of applications.

[0013] An advantageous embodiment of the device provides that the counter element is also designed as a combing element and is movable relative to the other combing element. This further improves the combing process.

[0014] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the combing element is designed as a movable brush rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the insertion direction, or as a movable comb movable parallel to the insertion direction. The bristles of a rotatable brush or the teeth of a comb are particularly well suited to exert a frictional force on the weft or warp threads to be combed out, which run transversely to the direction of movement, and / or to engage the spaces between the warp and weft threads, thus reliably removing the warp or weft threads.

[0015] The fiber optic fabric is advantageously introduced into the combing device by means of a feeding device, preferably a slide. This allows the fiber optic fabric to be introduced into the combing device with particular precision. The fiber optic fabric is secured to the feeding device by suitable means.

[0016] Preferably, the feed device is designed to be movable back and forth towards the combing device with an incrementally increasing feed path. This divides the combing process into increments, so that only a predetermined proportion of the transverse warp or weft threads is removed in each increment. This prevents the transverse warp or weft threads being combed out from being pushed onto the warp or weft.

[0017] The light-conducting fibers of a group subdivided according to the invention can preferably be force-fitted together by means of a coupling device during further processing.

[0018] For this purpose, the coupling device comprises a funnel-shaped bundling unit and a cylindrical channel connected to the bundling unit. The ends of the optical fibers of a group can be inserted into the funnel-shaped opening of the bundling unit and thus guided further into the subsequent cylindrical channel. The joining of the ends of the optical fibers of a group is reliable and simple due to the shape of the bundling unit. Similar coupling devices are known, for example, from documents JP 2019 109362 A and JP 2019 133030 A.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the coupling device is formed from two detachably connected half-shells. To remove the bundled ends of the light-conducting fibers from the coupling device, the two half-shells can be easily separated.

[0020] A preferred embodiment provides for a suction device at the end of the channel furthest from the bundling unit, in order to draw the light-conducting fibers of a group into the coupling device. The ends of the light-conducting fibers are thus guided precisely and reliably into the coupling device.

[0021] The channel preferably has a circumferentially extending recess which serves to receive a ferrule. To create a force-fit connection using the ferrule, a crimping die is preferably provided which clamps the ferrule around the light-conducting fibers.

[0022] In a method according to the invention for preparing a fiber optic fabric with warp and weft threads, in which at least a portion of the weft or warp threads are designed as light-conducting fibers, for the controlled and efficient introduction of light into the fiber optic fabric using a device according to the invention, the fabric is first introduced into the combing device. Subsequently, the warp or weft threads running transversely to the light-conducting fibers are combed out by means of the combing device, so that the ends of at least some of the light-conducting fibers are exposed. Following this, the exposed ends of the light-conducting fibers are divided into at least two groups by means of the segmenting device, and the light-conducting fibers of one group are finally connected by means of the coupling device.

[0023] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Figure 1: Schematic top view of the overall structure of a device according to the invention; Figure 2: Schematic 3D view of a combing device of a device according to the invention in a first embodiment; Figure 3: Schematic view of the combing device made of Figure 2 Figure 4: schematically a combing device of a device according to the invention in a second embodiment in 3D view; Figure 5: schematically a segmenting device of a device according to the invention in side view; Figure 6: schematically a coupling device of a device according to the invention in 3D view; Figure 7: schematically a cross-section through the coupling device made of Figure 6 Figure 8a-d: schematically shows the light guide fabric in the different stages of the preparation according to the invention.

[0024] Figure 1This shows the overall structure of a device according to the invention in a top view. The sub-devices shown schematically here are described in the Figure 2-7 described in detail using individual examples.

[0025] Based on the Figure 1 The process of the inventive method is essentially described in more detail. A light guide fabric 1 is fixed to a feed device 2, which has a rotatable carriage 22 arranged on a rail 21. The weft threads of the light guide fabric 1 are designed as light-conducting fibers. The warp threads consist of a conventional textile. The feed device 2 is incrementally movable towards a combing device 3, as indicated by the double arrows pointing parallel to the insertion direction. Furthermore, the feed device 2 is rotatable, as indicated by the rotation arrow.

[0026] The optical fiber fabric 1 is fed into the combing device 3 by means of the feeding device 2 up to the length of the first increment. The weft threads, which are designed as light-conducting fibers, are aligned parallel to the feeding device. The warp threads are combed out of the optical fiber fabric by means of the combing device 3, thus exposing the ends of the light-conducting fibers. The combing process is monitored by the Figure 2-4 This is explained in more detail below. The optical fiber fabric is then pulled out of the combing device 3 by means of the feed device 2. The process can then be repeated, with the optical fiber fabric being inserted into the combing device 3 each time up to the length of the next larger increment.

[0027] Once the ends of the light-conducting fibers are exposed to the desired length, the light guide fabric 1 is pivoted by approximately 180° towards a segmentation device 4 using the feed device. The segmentation device 4 divides the exposed ends of the light-conducting fibers into groups. This process is monitored by the Figure 5 Explained in more detail below.

[0028] Subsequently, the exposed ends of each group are connected to form individual bundles by means of a coupling device 5. This process is described by the Figure 6 and 7 Explained in more detail below.

[0029] In Figure 2Figure 1 shows a combing device 3 of a device according to the invention in a first embodiment. The combing device 3 has a combing element 31 and a counter element 32, between which the optical fiber 1 is inserted. The combing element 31 has a base body 31a and bristles 31b arranged thereon. During the combing process, the combing element 31 is pressed against the optical fiber 1 lying on the counter element, as shown in Figure 1. Figure 3The combing element 31 is shown and moved in a direction parallel to the weft threads along the optical fiber fabric. The frictional engagement between the bristles 31b of the combing element 31 and the optical fiber fabric 1 combs out the warp threads of the optical fiber fabric 1 that run perpendicular to the weft threads. If the bristles 31b are sufficiently thin, it is also possible for them to penetrate the spaces between the warp and weft threads of the optical fiber fabric 1, and then, by moving the combing element 31 in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the weft threads, the warp threads are combed out.

[0030] In this simplest embodiment of a combing device of a device according to the invention, both the insertion process and the movement of the combing element 31 can be carried out purely manually by an operator.

[0031] Figure 4Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a combing device according to the invention, which includes a combing device 3. The combing device 2 has a frame 33 on which two brushes 34a, 34b are rotatably mounted about their longitudinal axes. The brushes 34a, 34b serve as a combing element and simultaneously as a counter element according to the invention. The combing process is essentially the same as in the previously described embodiment. The optical fiber fabric 1 (not shown here) is guided between the two brushes 34a, 34b, for example by means of the feed device 2, to the length of the first increment. Subsequently, the two brushes 34a, 34b are rotated so that the warp threads running parallel to the longitudinal axes of the two brushes 34a, 34b are combed out of the optical fiber fabric 1. This process is also repeated for the subsequent increments until the desired length of the light-conducting fibers is exposed.

[0032] Figure 5 Figure 1 shows a segmentation device 4 of a device according to the invention. The segmentation device 4 has a frame 41 on the upper side of which elongated pins 42 are arranged in two offset rows. The division of the light-conducting fibers into groups by means of the segmentation device 4 is carried out as follows: The light-conducting fabric 1 (not shown here) is moved over the segmentation device 4 by means of the feed device 2, as described above. The elongated pins 42 are moved upwards so that they pass between the exposed ends of the light-conducting fibers. The pins 42 arranged in one row are initially positioned parallel to the light-conducting fibers to be exposed and aligned with the pins 42 of the other row. Now, one row of the pins 42 is moved transversely to the light-conducting fibers to be exposed, so that an arrangement as shown in Figure 1 is formed. Figure 5This results in the following: The light-conducting fibers are divided into groups, in this example into four groups.

[0033] In Figure 6 Figure 5 shows a coupling device 5 of a device according to the invention. The coupling device 5 has two planes 51 which are movably mounted relative to each other on four retaining rods 52. A half-shell 53 is arranged on each of the opposing sides of the planes 51. A cross-section through the two joined half-shells 52 is shown in Figure 5. Figure 7 The joined hemispheres 53 form a funnel-shaped bundling unit 54 and an adjoining cylindrical channel 55.

[0034] An intake device, symbolized by the directional arrows, can be provided at the end of the cylindrical channel 55. A recess 56 is provided in the channel 55, into which a ferrule can be inserted. A crimping die 57 is also provided at the recess 56.

[0035] To connect the light-conducting fibers of a group by means of a force-fit connection, they are guided by the suction device over the funnel-shaped bundling unit 54 into the cylindrical channel 55 and thus also through the ferrule. Subsequently, the ferrule is crimped by means of the crimping die 57, and the light-conducting fibers of a group are thus force-fitted together to form a bundle.

[0036] In the Figure 8a-8d The light guide fabric 1 is shown in the different phases of processing. Figure 8aThe cut raw product is shown, in which the weft threads are formed as light-conducting fibers. The warp threads run perpendicular to these. After some of the warp threads have been combed out in the combing device 3, the ends of the light-conducting fibers are exposed, as shown in Figure 8b The segmentation device 4 divides the exposed ends of the light-conducting fibers into two groups, as shown in the illustration. Figure 8c The optical fibers of a group are then force-fitted together using the coupling device 5 by crimping a ferrule 6 around the optical fibers using the crimping die 57. The finished product is in Figure 8d depicted. Reference symbol list:

[0037] 1 Light guide fabric 2 Feed device 21 Rail 22 Slide 3 Combing device 31 Combing element 31a Base body of the combing element 31 31b Bristles of the combing element 31 32 Counter element 33 Frame of the combing device 3 34 Rotatable brush 34 Rotatable brush 4 Segmenting device 41 Frame 42 Pins 5 Coupling device 51 Level 52 Retaining rod 53 Half shell 54 Bundling unit 55 Channel 56 Recess 57 Crimping die 6 Ferrule

Claims

1. Device for preparing a light-guide fabric (1) with weft and warp threads, in which at least a part of the weft or warp threads are formed as light-guiding fibers, in order to enable the controlled and efficient introduction of light into the light-guiding fibers, with at least one combing device (3) with at least one comb element (31, 34a) and a counter element (32, 34b), wherein the light-guide fabric (1) can be introduced between the comb element (31, 34a) and the counter element (32, 34b) in insertion direction and the comb element (31, 34a) is arranged movably relative to the counter element (32, 34b) characterized in that a segmenting device (4) is provided, which is arranged to subdivide the light-guiding fibers into at least two groups.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the counter element is likewise formed as comb element (34b) and is formed movable relative to the other comb element (34a).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the comb element is formed as movable brush (34a, 34b), which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis running orthogonally to the insertion direction, or is formed as movable comb, which is movable parallel to the insertion direction.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light-guide fabric (1) can be introduced into the combing device (3) by means of a feed device (2), preferably by means of a carriage (22).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the feed device (2) is formed movable back and forth in the direction toward the combing device (3) with incrementally increasing feed path.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that a coupling device (5) is provided, by means of which the light-guiding fibers of a group can be connected in a force-locking manner.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the coupling device (5) has a funnel-shaped bundling unit (54) and a cylindrical channel (55) connected to the bundling unit (54).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the channel (55) has a recess (56) running in circumferential direction, which is formed for receiving a ferrule (6).

9. Device according to one of claims 6-8, characterized in that the coupling device (5) is formed from two detachably connected half-shells (53).

10. Device according to one of the claims 7 to 9, and at least claim 7, characterized in that a suction device is arranged at the end of the cylindrical channel (55) facing away from the bundling unit (54).

11. Device according to one of claims 7-10, characterized in that a crimp punch (57) is provided.

12. Method for preparing a light-guide fabric with warp- and weft threads, in which at least a part of the weft or warp threads are formed as light-guiding fibers, for the controlled and efficient introduction of light into the light-guide fabric (1), using a device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light-guide fabric (1) is introduced in insertion direction between the comb element (31, 34a) and the counter element (32, 34b) and the comb element (31, 34a) is arranged movably relative to the light-guide fabric (1), wherein the light-guide fabric (1) is introduced into the combing device (3) and the warp or weft threads running transversely to the light-guiding fibers are combed out at least in sections, so that the ends of at least some light-guiding fibers are exposed, and wherein the exposed light-guiding fibers are subdivided into groups by means of the segmenting device (4).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the light-guiding fibers of a group are connected in a force-locking manner by means of a coupling device (5).