Regulatory Guide

Abstract

Unstable movement position can lead to variations in the amount of resin deposited during the resin impregnation process. Furthermore, constant contact between the guide and the fiber bundle can cause changes in the fiber bundle's shape, resulting in altered resin adhesion and lint buildup, potentially degrading quality and performance. [Solution] A restricting guide for restricting the running position of a fiber bundle, wherein the restricting guide is characterized in that one or more position adjustment parts, which are variable bodies that expand and contract, are attached to the outer circumference of a support part, and the position adjustment parts are variable bodies that expand and contract.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a guide unit used for forming composite materials, particularly filament winding forming.

Background Art

[0002] Fiber Reinforced Plastics (hereinafter referred to as FRP) have excellent mechanical properties such as high strength and high elastic modulus, and are thus widely used in general industrial applications such as automobiles and wind power generation. Various intermediate materials and various molding methods, typified by prepregs, have also been developed. Among them, tow prepregs and filament winding molding methods are intermediate materials and molding methods that use continuous reinforcing fibers impregnated with resin, and are suitable for obtaining high-strength FRP molded products.

[0003] In the manufacturing methods of these intermediate materials and the molding methods of FRP, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a reinforcing fiber bundle and a liquid resin are separately prepared, integrated in the manufacturing process, and then molded into a desired state or shape. In these manufacturing processes, the liquid resin is stored in a tank called a resin impregnation tank, and a part of the lower outer periphery of the resin impregnation roller rotates while being immersed in the liquid resin, so that a predetermined amount of the liquid resin is scooped up onto the resin impregnation roller.

[0004] The fiber bundles are stretched in an aligned manner along the upper outer circumference of the resin-impregnating roller. Liquid resin, whose application amount is adjusted by a scraper located near the roller, comes into contact with the fiber bundles as the roller rotates, impregnating the inside of the fiber bundles. To improve productivity, multiple fiber bundles are often used, and impregnation is performed simultaneously on a single roller. To restrict the movement of the fiber bundles, prevent them from overlapping, and suppress variations in the amount of resin, guide members are provided on both the upstream and downstream sides (upstream and downstream) of the resin-impregnating tank to regulate the fiber bundles' paths. These guide members vary, from simple bar-shaped members to comb-shaped guides with multiple pins attached to a bar-shaped member to regulate the paths of multiple fiber bundles, and feed rollers for feeding the fiber bundles. In any case, the guide members are installed as close to the resin-impregnating tank as possible to ensure the effect of restricting the fiber path.

[0005] Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-89161) describes a configuration in which "a freely rotatable guide roller made of a cylindrical or solid body having a circular cross-section and a fixed guide member such as a long rod with multiple comb pins arranged at equal pitches, or a cylindrical or solid body having a circular cross-section are arranged at both the part that guides multiple reinforcing fiber bundles drawn from multiple bobbins immediately after they are drawn and the part that guides them immediately downstream of the same part" and discloses the effect of "reducing fluffing due to the surface roughness, plating thickness, and surface hardness of the guide roller and the fixed guide member."

[0006] Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-37785) discloses a filament winding apparatus in which a comb member is provided in the travel path of multiple reinforced fiber bundles drawn from multiple bobbins to uniformly align the fibers. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-185930 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-120210 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-89161 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-37785 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] However, in the arrangement of resin impregnation tanks and guide members as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the fiber bundles are constantly pressed against the guide members to restrict their position, which causes the fiber bundles to fold back and the yarn width to narrow, resulting in variations in the amount of resin. In addition, contact with the guide members causes the fiber bundles to rub against each other, leading to the generation of fuzz and the accumulation of fuzz on the guide members. This accumulated fuzz may enter the product and impair its performance.

[0009] In the configuration of Patent Document 3, when the guide and the fiber bundle come into contact, there is no method for adjusting the position, so the contact between the guide and the fiber bundle may occur for a long time, potentially causing variations in the amount of resin due to the folding of the fiber bundle and changes in yarn width.

[0010] In the configuration of Patent Document 4, when the guide and the fiber bundle come into contact, there is no method for adjusting the position, so the comb member and the fiber bundle remain in contact for a long time. This can cause changes in yarn width due to the folding of the fiber bundle caused by contact between the guide and the fiber bundle, potentially leading to variations in the amount of resin. Furthermore, because the fiber bundle passes through the gaps in the comb, it is more prone to lint buildup than a single fixed bar, which may lead to a decrease in quality.

[0011] In view of the problems of the prior art, the present invention aims to stabilize the travel position of the fiber bundle by providing an adjustment mechanism for the travel path position, thereby reducing variations in the amount of resin deposited during the resin impregnation process. Furthermore, it suppresses the accumulation of lint caused by constant contact with the guide, thereby solving the problem of reduced quality and performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To achieve the above objective, the present invention has the following configuration. <1> A regulating guide that restricts the position of a fiber bundle and has one or more variable-width adjustment units attached to the outer circumference of the support section that expand and contract. <2> The position adjustment unit is a variable body that expands and contracts in response to a force from the inside of the position adjustment unit. <1> The regulatory guidelines described below. <3> The position adjustment unit is air-injectable and includes an air flow control unit. <2> The regulatory guidelines described below. <4> The position adjustment part is a bag-shaped object. <2> or <3> The regulatory guidelines described below. <5> A portion of the position adjustment part is located inside the support part and is shaped to be movable by receiving force from a surface that protrudes into the internal space of the support part. <2> ~ <4> The regulatory guidelines listed in any of the following. <6> The position adjustment unit has a detection unit, and the air flow rate is controlled based on the amount detected by the detection unit. <3> The regulatory guidelines described below. <7> The position adjustment unit is a variable body that expands and contracts in response to forces from outside the position adjustment unit. <1> The regulatory guidelines described below. <8> The position adjustment unit includes a mechanism that controls the amount of movement by receiving a force from the outside and deforming as at least one of the contacting support or receiving part moves. <7> The regulatory guidelines described below. <9> The position adjustment part is plate-shaped. <7> or <8> The regulatory guidelines described below. <10> The position adjustment unit has a detection unit, and the movement of the support unit is controlled based on the amount detected by the detection unit. <8> The regulatory guidelines described below. <11> The position adjustment unit can be controlled individually. <1> ~ <10> The regulatory guidelines listed in any of the following. <12> The aforementioned regulating guides are arranged on both sides of the fiber bundle's travel path, and the amount of change L [mm] of the position adjustment part is 0.8 × (W1 - W2) / 2 with respect to the distance W1 [mm] between the opposing regulating guides across the fiber bundle and the fiber bundle width W2 [mm]. <L<(W1ーW2) / 2である、 <1> ~ <11> The regulatory guidelines listed in any of the following. <13>The restriction guide according to <1>, wherein the fiber bundle is a fiber bundle impregnated with a liquid resin. <14>A manufacturing apparatus for resin-impregnated fibers, comprising a plurality of fiber bundle bobbins made of continuous fibers oriented in one direction, unwinding means for unwinding fiber bundles from each fiber bundle bobbin, and resin impregnation means for impregnating the fiber bundles with a liquid resin, wherein the restriction guide according to any one of <1> to <13> is disposed on at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side of the resin impregnation means. <15>A manufacturing method for resin-impregnated fibers, comprising an unwinding step of unwinding fiber bundles from a plurality of fiber bundle bobbins made of continuous fibers oriented in one direction, and a resin impregnation step of impregnating the fiber bundles with a liquid resin, wherein the restriction guide according to any one of <1> to <13> is disposed on at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side of the resin impregnation step.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] [Figure 1] A schematic view of a restriction guide having one position adjusting part in the present invention, (a) is a side view, and (b) is a cross-sectional view. [Figure 2] A schematic view of a restriction guide when one to three position adjusting parts are provided in the present invention. [Figure 3] A schematic view of restricting a plurality of fiber bundles using the restriction guide in the present invention. [Figure 4] A schematic view of a bag-shaped object in the present invention. [Figure 5] A schematic view of a position adjusting part partially disposed in a support column in the present invention. [Figure 6] A schematic view of a restriction guide that expands and contracts under an external force in the present invention, (a) is the state before receiving the external force, and (b) is the state after expanding under the external force. [Figure 7] A schematic view for explaining the installation distance of a plurality of restriction guides in the present invention, (a) is a side view, and (b) is a top view. [Figure 8]It is a schematic diagram of a resin impregnation device using a regulation guide in the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the drawings and examples at all.

[0015] A regulation guide for regulating the traveling position of a fiber bundle, wherein one or more position adjusting parts are attached to the outer periphery of a support part, and the position adjusting part is a variable body that expands and contracts.

[0016] Here, the regulation guide 500 used in the present invention will be described while referring to FIG. 1.

[0017] In the regulation guide 500 in the present invention, one or more position adjusting parts 502 are attached to the outer periphery of a support part 501.

[0018] The material of the support part 501 is not particularly limited, and metals, resins, ceramics, etc. can be used as long as it has rigidity that does not deform due to contact with the fiber bundle 103. Among them, considering workability and attachment to the device, it is preferably made of metal.

[0019] The material of the position adjusting part 502 is not particularly limited, and rubber, resin, metal, etc. can be used as long as it is a variable body that expands and contracts. Among them, it is preferably made of rubber from the viewpoints of workability and shape stability.

[0020] The shape of the position adjusting part 502 is not particularly limited, but the contact part with the fiber bundle 103 is preferably a curved surface.

[0021] The position adjustment units 502 used in the present invention can be arranged in one or more locations starting from the center of gravity of the support unit 501. Figure 2 shows an example of the arrangement of one or more position adjustment units. Figure 2(a) shows the position adjustment units 502 arranged on a part of the outer circumference of the support unit 501. Figure 2(b) shows the position adjustment units 502 arranged around the entire circumference of the support unit 501. Figure 2(c) shows two position adjustment units 502 arranged 180 degrees away from the center of gravity of the support unit 501, i.e., opposite the center of gravity. Figure 2(d) shows two position adjustment units 502 arranged 90 degrees away from the center of gravity of the support unit 501. Figure 2(e) shows two position adjustment units 502 arranged 120 degrees away from the center of gravity of the support unit 501. Figure 2(f) shows that three position adjustment units 502 are positioned 120 degrees apart from the center of gravity of the support unit 501.

[0022] The position adjustment section in the regulatory guide of the present invention may be a variable body that expands and contracts due to a force from the inside of the position adjustment section, or a variable body that expands and contracts due to a force from the outside.

[0023] In the present invention, if the position adjustment section is a variable body that expands and contracts due to an internal force, it is preferable that the position adjustment section is capable of receiving air injection and is equipped with an air flow control unit.

[0024] The position adjustment section 502 is widened in a direction away from the center of the support section 501 by injecting air through an air passage 506 provided within the support section 501. The injection speed and amount of air are controlled by the flow rate control 504. By controlling the air injection speed with the flow rate control 504, the widening speed of the position adjustment section 502 can be adjusted.

[0025] In this invention, it is preferable that the position adjustment unit 502 has a detection unit 503, and that the air flow rate is controlled based on the amount detected by the detection unit 503.

[0026] The position adjustment unit 502 has a detection unit 503, and when it detects contact with the fiber bundle 103, a signal from the detection control unit 510 initiates control of the flow rate control unit 504, and air is injected.

[0027] The detection unit 503 can use methods to detect contact of the fiber bundle 103, such as electrical resistance measurement, contact pressure measurement, and strain measurement. When using the electrical resistance measurement method in the detection unit 503, conductive fibers can be used. By measuring the change in electrical resistance due to contact of the fiber bundle 103, it is possible to detect whether or not contact with the fiber bundle 103 is present. When using contact pressure measurement or strain measurement, insulating materials can be used. The change in surface pressure caused by the contact of the fiber bundle 103 with the insulating material, and the change in the surface shape of the position adjustment unit 502 can be measured as the amount of strain.

[0028] In the present invention, the position adjustment part 502 is preferably a bag-shaped object. The bag-shaped object preferably has one or more connection ports to the air passage 506 and has a space to retain air inside, so that its outer shape can be expanded. As shown in Figure 4, the structure of the bag-shaped object can be an integrally molded product using injection molding or the like (a), a molded product that is in a bag shape by bonding one or more materials together (b), or a structure in which a sheet-like material is bonded to the support part 501 (c).

[0029] Another embodiment of the variable body that expands and contracts by an internal force in the present invention is, as shown in Figure 5, a preferred shape in which a part of the position adjustment section 502 is positioned inside the support section 501, and the position adjustment section can be expanded by receiving force from a surface that protrudes into the internal space of the support section.

[0030] By injecting air through the air passage 506 provided within the support portion 501, the shape of the position adjustment portion 502 widens in a direction that moves it away from the outer surface of the support portion 501. The injection speed and amount of air are controlled by the flow rate control 504. By controlling the air injection speed with the flow rate control 504, the widening speed of the position adjustment portion 502 can be adjusted. It can be deflated by removing the injected air.

[0031] Since the position adjustment section 502 is positioned inside the support section 501, when the position adjustment section 502 is contracted, the outer dimensions in the direction of the fiber bundle 103 can be shortened. Therefore, when multiple regulating guides are lined up or when the space for regulating guides is narrow, installation is possible while ensuring a gap with the fiber bundle 103.

[0032] Here, it is preferable to adjust the amount of air so that the widening speed is between 1 mm / s and 5 mm / s. If the widening speed of the position adjustment unit 502 is less than 1 mm / s, the fiber bundle 103 will not be easily pushed back to its running position, the contact time between the position adjustment unit 502 and the fiber bundle 103 will increase, and fluffing may increase. Also, as will be described later, if the regulating guide 500 is placed downstream of the resin impregnation means 400, the risk of the attached resin being scraped off increases. If the widening speed of the position adjustment unit 502 exceeds 5 mm / s, the running position of the fiber bundle 103 will change drastically, which may prevent stable running of the fiber bundle 103.

[0033] Furthermore, the flow control unit 504 can stop air injection and discharge the air inside the position adjustment unit 502 to the outside. As the air inside the position adjustment unit 502 is discharged, it contracts towards the center of the support unit 501. The flow control unit 504 can control the rate at which the air inside the position adjustment unit is discharged. It is preferable to control the rate at which the air is discharged and adjust the contraction rate to be between 0.1 mm / s and 2.5 mm / s. If the contraction rate is less than 0.1 mm / s, the position adjustment unit 502 and the fiber bundle 103 will continue to be in contact, and the longer contact time may increase the generation of lint. Also, as mentioned above, the risk of the attached resin being scraped off increases. If the contraction rate exceeds 2.5 mm / s, the force acting on the fiber bundle 103, which has been pushed back to the running position by the widening of the position adjustment unit 502, will cease, and there is a risk that stable running of the fiber bundle 103 will not be achieved.

[0034] As shown in Figure 6(a), in the regulatory guide of the present invention, when the position adjustment part is a variable body that expands and contracts with external force, the support part 501 and / or receiving part 515 are individually movable up and down, and the position adjustment part 502 is positioned between the support part 501 and the receiving part 515. For example, as shown in Figure 6(b), when the support part 501 is lowered, the distance to the receiving part 515 decreases, and when an external force is applied to the position adjustment part 502, the position adjustment part expands. When the position adjustment part 501 is raised, the distance to the receiving part 515 increases, the deformation force decreases, and it contracts.

[0035] The support portion 501 and / or receiving portion 515 preferably include a mechanism for controlling the amount of movement, and it is possible to use an air cylinder or motor drive. For controlling the amount of movement, the movement source can be moved by a timer or the like, or the movement distance can be limited by providing a stopper.

[0036] The shape of the position adjustment part may be cylindrical or plate-shaped. If it is plate-shaped, it can deform even with a small load from the support part, and it is also easy to manufacture.

[0037] The position adjustment unit 502 has a detection unit 503, and the movement of the support unit 501 and / or receiving unit 515 can be controlled based on the amount detected by the detection unit.

[0038] Here, it is preferable that the support portion 501 and / or receiving portion 515 be adjusted so that the widening speed is 1 mm / s to 5 mm / s. If the widening speed of the position adjustment portion 502 is less than 1 mm / s, the fiber bundle 103 will not be easily pushed back to its running position, the contact time between the position adjustment portion 502 and the fiber bundle 103 will increase, and fluffing may increase. Also, as will be described later, if the regulating guide 500 is placed downstream of the resin impregnation means 400, the risk of the attached resin being scraped off increases. If the widening speed of the position adjustment portion 502 exceeds 5 mm / s, the running position of the fiber bundle 103 will change drastically, which may prevent stable running of the fiber bundle 103.

[0039] It is preferable to control the movement speed of the support portion 501 and / or the receiving portion 515 and adjust the shrinkage speed to be between 0.1 mm / s and 2.5 mm / s. If the shrinkage speed is less than 0.1 mm / s, the position adjustment portion 502 and the fiber bundle 103 will remain in contact, and the longer contact time may increase the generation of fuzz. Also, as mentioned above, the risk of the attached resin being scraped off increases. If the shrinkage speed exceeds 2.5 mm / s, the force acting on the fiber bundle 103, which has been pushed back to the running position by the widening of the position adjustment portion 502, will cease, and stable movement of the fiber bundle 103 may not be achieved.

[0040] In this invention, it is preferable that the position adjustment unit can be controlled individually.

[0041] When multiple position adjustment units 502 are installed, each position adjustment unit 502 is provided with a detection unit 503, a detection control unit 510, an air passage 506, and a flow rate control unit 504. When the fiber bundle 103 comes into contact with the detection unit 503, the position adjustment unit 502 equipped with the detected detection unit 503 is controlled. By individually controlling multiple position adjustment units 502, it is possible to control only the fiber bundles 103 whose travel position has deviated by a specified amount.

[0042] Here, a method for adjusting the running position of adjacent fiber bundles using a regulating guide 550 having two position adjustment parts 502 as shown in Figure 2(c) will be explained using Figures 3(a-1) to (a-4).

[0043] The fiber bundle 103 travels through the center of the installed regulation guide 550 (Fig. 3(a-1)). When the traveling position of the fiber bundle 103 is displaced due to tension fluctuations or the like, the fiber bundle 103 contacts the detection unit 503 (Fig. 3(a-2)). Here, when the contact with the fiber bundle 103 is detected by the detection unit 503, air with the air injection amount controlled by the flow rate control unit 504 according to the variation amount or the like of the detection unit 503 flows into the position adjustment unit 502, and the position adjustment unit 502 expands. Here, it is important to move toward the center of the traveling position of the fiber bundle 103 (so that the displaced position returns). The traveling position of the fiber bundle 103 is adjusted to the center position of the traveling position by the position adjustment unit 502. As a result, the traveling position can be stabilized, and uneven adhesion of the resin or the like can be suppressed (Fig. 3(a-3)).

[0044] The time for injecting air can be controlled according to the contact state of the fiber bundle 103 of the detection unit 503 or the like. When the controlled air injection time elapses, the air in the position adjustment unit 502 is caused to flow out using the control valve 504. As the air flows out, the position adjustment unit 502 contracts, and the outer surface moves in the direction of the center of the regulation guide 550. That is, it is important that the position adjustment unit 502 moves away from the center of the traveling position of the fiber bundle 103. As a result, after the traveling position of the fiber bundle 103 is adjusted, the contact between the position adjustment unit 502 and the fiber bundle 103 disappears, and the rubbing due to contact with the regulation guide 550 can be minimized (Fig. 3(a-4)). Note that the air injection time can be managed by a timer in addition to the method described above. It is also possible to use a timer in combination.

[0045] A plurality of regulation guides 550 are arranged on both sides of the fiber bundle 103 along the traveling path of the fiber bundle 103. As shown in Fig. 7, the movement amount L [mm] of the outer surface of the position adjustment unit 502 is preferably 0.8×(W1−W2) / 2 < L < (W1−W2) / 2 with respect to the distance W1 [mm] between the position adjustment units 502 of the regulation guides 550 facing each other through the fiber bundle 103 and the width W2 [mm] of the fiber bundle 103.

[0046] Ideally, the fiber bundle 103 should travel near the center between the opposing guides 550 without touching the guides 550. However, the travel position may shift, causing it to come into contact with the guides 550. In this case, if the amount of movement L [mm] of the position adjustment unit 502 is less than 0.8 × (W1 - W2) / 2, the fiber bundle 103 cannot be sufficiently returned to the vicinity of the center between the guides 550, and the travel position of the fiber bundle 103 remains unstable. If the amount of movement L [mm] is greater than (W1 - W2) / 2, the fiber bundle 103 is pushed out to the guide 550 on the opposite side from its ideal position near the center between the guides 550, making it difficult to return the travel position of the fiber bundle 103 to the vicinity of the center between the guides 550.

[0047] The fiber bundle 103 used in the present invention is not particularly limited and includes carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, alumina fibers, graphite fibers, etc., and it is also possible to use a fiber bundle with two or more of these mixed together. Among these, it is preferable to include carbon fibers in order to exhibit high mechanical properties and ease of designing those properties.

[0048] The present invention relates to a resin-impregnated fiber manufacturing apparatus having at least a plurality of fiber bundle bobbins 101 made of continuous fibers oriented in one direction, an unwinding means 100 for unwinding fiber bundles 103 from each fiber bundle bobbin 101, and a resin impregnation means 400 for impregnating the fiber bundles 103 with liquid resin 405, wherein a regulating guide 500 is arranged on at least one of the upstream and downstream sides of the resin impregnation means 400.

[0049] The resin impregnation apparatus according to the present invention will be explained with reference to Figure 8. In Figure 8, regulating guides 500 are arranged on the upstream and downstream sides of the resin impregnation means 400.

[0050] The fiber bundle 103 unwound from the fiber bundle bobbin 101 passes through a restricting guide 500 that regulates the travel position of the fiber bundle 103, then undergoes a process of applying and impregnating the fiber bundle 103 with liquid resin 405, and then passing through the restricting guide 500 again.

[0051] If the running position of the resin-coated fiber bundle 103 is stable downstream of the resin-impregnation means 400, it will not come into contact with the regulating guide 500, and thus the amount of resin adhering to the fiber bundle 103 can be kept constant. If the regulating guide 500 and the resin-coated fiber bundle 103 continue to come into contact, there is a risk that fuzzy material may form on the fiber bundle 103 or the amount of resin adhering to it may decrease.

[0052] The fiber bundle bobbin 101 is a winding in which the fiber bundle 103 is wound around a core material, and is not particularly limited as long as the fiber bundle 103 can be drawn out from the fiber bundle bobbin 101. In addition, the fiber bundle 103 can be in the form of roving or cloth, but for applications requiring particularly high strength, it is preferable to use roving in which the fibers are aligned in a single direction.

[0053] In this invention, the liquid resin impregnation of the fiber bundle 103 is preferably carried out using a kiss coater method. A portion of the lower outer circumference of the resin impregnation roller 402 is immersed in liquid resin 405 stored in the resin impregnation tank 401, and the resin impregnation roller 402 rotates in the same direction as the conveying direction of the fiber bundle 103. A scraper 408 is positioned on the resin impregnation roller 402 at a predetermined gap, and the scraper 408 adjusts the resin picked up by the resin impregnation roller 402 to a constant film thickness. Then, the resin impregnation roller 402 with a certain amount of liquid resin 405 attached comes into contact with the fiber bundle 103, and the liquid resin 405 is applied to one side of the fiber bundle 103, impregnating it and resulting in a resin-impregnated fiber bundle.

[0054] Here, thermosetting resins can be used as examples of liquid resin 405, including epoxy resins, unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins, and polyurethane resins. In particular, when obtaining the required heat resistance and environmental resistance, an epoxy resin composition containing epoxy resin and a curing agent is preferred. Furthermore, a curing catalyst can be added as appropriate to shorten the curing time.

[0055] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing resin-impregnated fibers, comprising at least a winding step of winding fiber bundles from each fiber bundle bobbin, in which a plurality of fiber bundle bobbins made of continuous fibers oriented in one direction are arranged, and a resin impregnation step of impregnating the fiber bundles with a liquid resin, characterized in that a regulating guide is placed on at least one of the upstream and downstream sides of the resin impregnation step. [Industrial applicability]

[0056] The thread feeding device using the guide unit of the present invention is suitable for intermediate materials and molding methods that use reinforcing fibers, such as tow prepregs and filament winding molding methods. These intermediate materials and molding methods are particularly suitable for use in aircraft, sports, and general industrial applications, and in general industrial applications, they are suitable for civil engineering and construction materials such as drive shafts, pressure vessels, flywheels, papermaking rollers, roofing materials, cables, reinforcing bars, and repair and reinforcement materials. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 100 unwinding means 101 (101a, 101b) Bobbin 103 (103a, 103b) Fiber bundle 400 Resin impregnation method 401 Resin impregnation tank 402 Resin-impregnated roller 403a, 403b Guide rollers 405 Liquid resin 408 Scraper Regulatory Guidelines for 500, 540, 550, 560, 570, and 580 501 Support part 502 Position adjustment section 503 Detection Unit 504 Flow Control Unit 506 Airflow channel 510 Detection Control Unit 515 Receiving part

Claims

1. A regulating guide that restricts the position of a fiber bundle and has one or more variable-width adjustment units attached to the outer circumference of the support part that expand and contract.

2. The regulatory guide according to claim 1, wherein the position adjustment section is a variable body that expands and contracts in response to a force from inside the position adjustment section.

3. The regulating guide according to claim 2, wherein the position adjustment unit is air-injectable and includes an air flow control unit.

4. The regulatory guide according to claim 2, wherein the position adjustment portion is a bag-shaped object.

5. The regulatory guide according to claim 2, wherein a part of the position adjustment part is located inside the support part and is shaped to be movable by receiving force from a surface protruding into the internal space of the support part.

6. The regulatory guide according to claim 3, wherein the position adjustment unit has a detection unit, and the air flow rate is controlled based on the amount detected by the detection unit.

7. The regulatory guide according to claim 1, wherein the position adjustment section is a variable body that expands and contracts in response to a force from outside the position adjustment section.

8. The regulating guide according to claim 7, wherein the position adjustment part is deformed by receiving a force from the outside as at least one of the contacting support part or receiving part moves, and the amount of movement is controlled.

9. The regulatory guide according to claim 7, wherein the position adjustment portion is plate-shaped.

10. The regulatory guide according to claim 8, wherein the position adjustment unit has a detection unit, and the movement of the support unit is controlled based on the amount detected by the detection unit.

11. The regulatory guide according to claim 1, wherein the position adjustment unit is individually controllable.

12. The regulating guide according to claim 1, wherein the regulating guides are arranged on both sides of the travel path of the fiber bundle, and the amount of change L [mm] of the position adjustment portion is 0.8 × (W1 - W2) / 2 < L < (W1 - W2) / 2 with respect to the distance W1 [mm] between the opposing regulating guides and the fiber bundle width W2 [mm] across the fiber bundle.

13. The regulatory guide according to claim 1, wherein the fiber bundle is a fiber bundle impregnated with a liquid resin.

14. A resin-impregnated fiber manufacturing apparatus comprising a plurality of fiber bundle bobbins made of continuous fibers oriented in one direction, an unwinding means for unwinding fiber bundles from each fiber bundle bobbin, and a resin impregnation means for impregnating the fiber bundles with a liquid resin, wherein the regulating guide described in any one of claims 1 to 13 is placed on at least one of the upstream and downstream sides of the resin impregnation means.

15. A method for manufacturing resin-impregnated fibers, comprising at least a winding step of winding fiber bundles from each fiber bundle bobbin, wherein a plurality of fiber bundle bobbins made of continuous fibers oriented in one direction are arranged, and a resin impregnation step of impregnating the fiber bundles with a liquid resin, wherein a regulating guide according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is placed on at least one of the upstream and downstream sides of the resin impregnation step.

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