Cut surface smoothing apparatus, production system, cutting apparatus, and treating method for three-dimensional filament bonded body

Abstract

Provided is a cut surface smoothing apparatus that can smoothen a cut surface of a three-dimensional filament bonded body. This cut surface smoothing apparatus has a high-temperature part which is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of a three-dimensional filament bonded body, and smoothens a cut surface of the three-dimensional filament bonded body through abutting of the high-temperature part against the cut surface.

Description

Cut surface smoothing device, manufacturing system, cutting device, and method for processing three-dimensional filament bond

[0001] The present invention relates to a cut surface smoothing device for smoothing the cut surface of a three-dimensionally bound filament body, a manufacturing system using the same, and a cutting device and a method for processing a three-dimensionally bound filament body.

[0002] In recent years, high-resilience mattresses that use a three-dimensional filament bonded body (network structure) obtained by three-dimensionally fusing and bonding filaments made of thermoplastic resin as a cushioning material have been attracting attention as mattresses that are excellent in breathability and allow for easy turning over in bed. Furthermore, the application of the three-dimensional filament bonded body is not limited to mattresses, but can also be applied to various products that require cushioning properties.

[0003] Three-dimensional bound filaments have good breathability and can be easily washed with water, making them excellent for hygienic use. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method for three-dimensional bound filaments. These documents show a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method for continuously forming and discharging three-dimensional bound filaments, and the discharged continuous three-dimensional bound filaments are sheared at predetermined intervals and applied to mattresses and the like.

[0004] Patent No. 4966438 JP 2019-131950 A

[0005] However, the filaments constituting the three-dimensional combined filaments have a random loop shape, which results in an uneven cut surface of the three-dimensional combined filaments, and there is a problem that when touching the three-dimensional combined filaments during work such as storing the combined filaments in a cover, the ends of the filaments protruding from the uneven cut surface can cause injury or even pain.

[0006] Furthermore, even after the three-dimensional filament assembly is housed in the cover, particularly when a mesh fabric cover is used, the ends of the filaments may protrude from the gaps in the mesh, potentially hitting the user or getting caught on carpets, futons, or other items that come into contact with the assembly during use, potentially damaging them.

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a cut surface smoothing device, a manufacturing system, a cutting device, and a method for processing a three-dimensional filament bonded body that can easily smooth the cut surface of the filament three-dimensional bonded body.

[0008] The cut surface smoothing device according to the present invention has a high-temperature part that is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the three-dimensional filament bond, and smooths the cut surface by applying the high-temperature part to the cut surface of the three-dimensional filament bond. With this configuration, it is possible to easily smooth the cut surface of the three-dimensional filament bond.

[0009] More specifically, the cut surface smoothing device of the above configuration smooths the cut surface of the filament three-dimensional bonded body that is transported parallel to the cut surface, and the high-temperature part may be configured to rotate in the same direction as the transport while contacting the cut surface.

[0010] More specifically, the high-temperature portion may be the outer surface of a belt stretched and supported by rollers disposed on the upstream and downstream sides of the conveyance. More specifically, the belt may be heated by a heat source provided on the upstream roller, and cooling air may be supplied between the rollers on the inside of the belt. Still more specifically, the above configuration may be configured to apply a coating treatment to the outer surface of the belt to facilitate separation of the cut surface from the outer surface.

[0011] More specifically, the above configuration may include a fixed vibration table that supports the filament three-dimensional assembly with the high-temperature portion being a wall surface and the cut surface exposed, and the fixed vibration table vibrates parallel to the cut surface while the cut surface is in contact with the wall surface, thereby smoothing the cut surface. More specifically, the above configuration may include a coating that suppresses adhesion of resin to the wall surface.

[0012] More specifically, the above configuration may include a cutter that moves along the intended cutting surface of the filament three-dimensional combined body and cuts the filament three-dimensional combined body, and a high-temperature section that is provided on the opposite side of the movement direction of the cutter and that successively smooths the cut surfaces that are produced by the cutter cutting.

[0013] The manufacturing system of the present invention is configured to include a filament three-dimensional combined body manufacturing device that continuously forms and discharges the filament three-dimensional combined body, a cutting device that cuts the discharged filament three-dimensional combined body at predetermined intervals, and a cut surface smoothing device of the above configuration that smooths the cut surface created by the cutting.

[0014] The cutting device of the present invention has a high-temperature section that is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the filament three-dimensional bond, and the high-temperature section moves along the intended cutting surface of the filament three-dimensional bond, melting and cutting the filament three-dimensional bond.

[0015] The method for processing a three-dimensional filament bonded body according to the present invention includes a cutting step of cutting the three-dimensional filament bonded body, and a smoothing step of smoothing the cut surface of the three-dimensional filament bonded body produced by the cutting by applying an object having a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the three-dimensional filament bonded body.

[0016] More specifically, the above processing method may further include a cooling step of cooling the object placed on the cutting surface to a temperature lower than the melting point, and an isolation step of separating the object from the cutting surface after the cooling step is performed.

[0017] According to the cut surface smoothing device, manufacturing system, cutting device, and method for processing a three-dimensional filament assembly according to the present invention, it is possible to smooth the cut surface of a three-dimensional filament assembly.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a manufacturing system for a three-dimensional combined filament body according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a cut surface smoothing device Xa; FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a cut surface FL1 before smoothing; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a cut surface FL1 after smoothing; FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a roller 15 and its vicinity according to a modified example; FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a roller 15 and its vicinity according to another modified example; FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a cut surface smoothing device Xb; FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a manufacturing system for a three-dimensional combined filament body according to a second embodiment; FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a movable body 21; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of how a three-dimensional combined filament body is cut by the movable body 21; FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a movable body 22; FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of how a three-dimensional combined filament body is cut by the movable body 22; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a cut surface smoothing device Xc; FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a cut surface smoothing device Xc viewed from above; FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a cut surface smoothing device Xc; FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of a heating plate 31 according to a modified example viewed from above; FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a heating plate 31 according to a modified example.

[0019] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. For convenience, the up-down, left-right, and front-rear directions (directions perpendicular to each other) in the following description are as shown in the drawings, and the up-down direction corresponds to the vertical direction.

[0020] 1. First Embodiment First, the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a manufacturing system S1 for a three-dimensional combined filament body according to the first embodiment. As shown in this figure, the manufacturing system 1 includes a three-dimensional combined filament body manufacturing apparatus 12 (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "manufacturing apparatus 12") that manufactures a three-dimensional combined filament body FL, a cutting device 13, a conveyor 14, rollers 15, and a heater 16. The conveyor 14, rollers 15, and heater 16 mainly constitute a cut surface smoothing device Xa that smooths a cut surface FL1 of the three-dimensional combined filament body FL.

[0021] The manufacturing apparatus 12 is an apparatus that three-dimensionally fuses and bonds filaments made of a thermoplastic resin to continuously form and discharge a three-dimensional combined filament structure FL. In the example of FIG. 1 , the manufacturing apparatus 12 discharges the three-dimensional combined filament structure FL from right to left. The basic configuration and operation of the three-dimensional combined filament structure manufacturing apparatus are publicly known, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0022] The cutting device 13 is disposed near a position where the continuous three-dimensional combined filaments FL discharged from the manufacturing device 12 arrives, and cuts the continuous three-dimensional combined filaments FL at predetermined intervals, for example, using a cutter. In the example shown in Fig. 1 , the cutter of the cutting device 13 moves back and forth along the intended cutting surface of the three-dimensional combined filaments FL (the surface indicated by the dashed arrow in Fig. 1 ), and the continuous three-dimensional combined filaments FL is cut by the cutting device 13 so as to generate a cut surface FL1 perpendicular to the discharge direction (the direction indicated by the colored arrow in Fig. 1 ).

[0023] The conveyor 14 is disposed so as to transport the three-dimensional filament assembly FL cut by the cutting device 13 toward the rollers 15. In the example shown in Fig. 1 , the cut three-dimensional filament assembly FL having two parallel cut surfaces FL1, left and right, is transported by the conveyor 14 forward (in the direction indicated by the outline arrow in Fig. 1 ) parallel to the cut surfaces.

[0024] The roller 15 is formed in a cylindrical shape with its axis extending in the vertical direction, and serves to smooth the cut surface of the three-dimensional filament assembly FL produced by cutting by the cutting device 13. The configuration and function of the roller 15 will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0025] 2 is a schematic diagram of the cut surface smoothing device Xa. As shown in this figure, rollers 15 are provided on both sides of the conveyor 14, facing each other, and are rotatable about their vertically extending central axes. The outer surface of one of the left and right rollers 15 is arranged to contact one cut surface FL1 of the three-dimensional filament assembly FL conveyed by the conveyor 14, while the outer surface of the other roller 15 is arranged to contact the other cut surface FL1. The distance between the outer surfaces of the rollers 15 is set to be slightly smaller than the distance between the cut surfaces FL1 of the three-dimensional filament assembly FL.

[0026] A heater 16 is disposed inside each roller 15 to heat the roller 15. The heater 16 is, for example, a halogen heater, and heats the roller 15 so that the temperature of at least the outer surface of the roller 15 is equal to or higher than the melting point of the filament three-dimensional combined body FL. The specific form of the heater 16 is not particularly limited within the scope of the present invention, and may be, for example, a heater that outputs hot air or an induction heater (IH). The heater 16 may also heat the roller 15 from outside the roller 15.

[0027] When the three-dimensional filament combined body FL conveyed by the conveyor 14 passes a position sandwiched between the rollers 15, each roller 15 rotates in the direction indicated by the dashed arrow in Fig. 2 due to the force it receives from the cut surface FL1. That is, each roller 15 rotates in the same direction as the conveying direction of the conveyor 14 while contacting the cut surface FL1 (i.e., so that the direction of travel at the contact point is the same). Note that a driving device such as a motor for driving the rotation of the rollers 15 may be provided, and the driving device may rotate the rollers 15 in accordance with the conveying speed of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL.

[0028] Because the distance between the outer surfaces of the rollers 15 is slightly smaller than the distance between the cut surfaces FL1 of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL, each cut surface FL1 advances in the conveying direction while being slightly pressed by each roller 15. At this time, the outer surfaces of the rollers 15 are at a high temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL, so each cut surface FL1 is smoothed. When the entire three-dimensional filament combined body FL has passed the position where it is sandwiched between the rollers 15, each cut surface FL1 is smoothed in its entirety. In this way, it is possible to obtain a three-dimensional filament combined body FL in which the cut surfaces FL1 on both the left and right sides are smoothed.

[0029] Here, Fig. 3 shows an example of an external view (photograph) of the cut surface FL1 before smoothing, and Fig. 4 shows an example of an external view (photograph) of the cut surface FL1 after smoothing. Note that Fig. 3 shows a view from a direction roughly perpendicular to the cut surface FL1. Fig. 4 also shows views from slightly different directions on the left and right.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the cut surface FL1 before smoothing is noticeably uneven, and in particular, the filament ends are occasionally exposed due to the filament loop shapes forming the filament three-dimensional bonded body FL being cut by the cutter. On the other hand, in the cut surface FL1 shown in Figure 4, the exposed filament ends are melted and pressed by the roller 15, fusing to nearby filaments and deforming in the pressing direction, resulting in a smoother cut surface compared to the cut surface FL1 shown in Figure 3. When the cut surface FL1 is pressed by the rotating roller 15, the filament ends are pressed in a manner that is more effectively smoothed than when, for example, a flat plate is pressed straight in a direction perpendicular to the cut surface FL1.

[0031] The three-dimensional filament assembly FL cut by the cutting device 13 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, but the manufacturing system S1 may have rounded or beveled corners. The roller 15 and its surroundings in the manufacturing system S1 are shown in front views in Figures 5 and 6. In these figures, the approximate position of the outer edge of the three-dimensional filament assembly FL is indicated by a dashed line.

[0032] In each roller 15 of the manufacturing system S1 shown in Fig. 5, the outer diameter near the center in the vertical direction is the same as the outer diameter of each roller 15 shown in Fig. 2, but the outer diameter gradually increases toward the vertical ends. As a result, in the left and right cut surfaces FL1 of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL, the areas near the upper and lower ends (i.e., the corners of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL) are more strongly pressed and deformed by the rollers 15, which are at a high temperature, and as a result, it is possible to provide rounded corners of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL.

[0033] 6, interference members 15x are disposed immediately in front of the left and right rollers 15 so as to interfere with four corners of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL as viewed from the front. As a result, the vicinity of the corners of the left and right cut surfaces FL1 of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL is pressed and deformed by the interference members 15x immediately after being heated by the rollers 15, and as a result, it is possible to provide bevels at the corners of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL.

[0034] In addition, in the manufacturing system S1, a cut surface smoothing device of another type may be adopted instead of the cut surface smoothing device Xa. An example of the cut surface smoothing device of another type will be described below using the cut surface smoothing device Xb having the configuration shown in Figure 7.

[0035] The cut surface smoothing device Xb includes a conveyor 14, an upstream roller 15a, a downstream roller 15b, a heater 16a, a belt 17, and an application roller 18. The configuration of the conveyor 14 is the same as that of the conveyor 14 in the cut surface smoothing device Xa.

[0036] The upstream roller 15a is formed in a cylindrical shape with its axial direction extending vertically, and the downstream roller 15b is formed in a columnar shape with its axial direction extending vertically. These rollers 15a, 15b are provided on the left and right sides, respectively. The upstream rollers 15a are provided on both the left and right sides of the conveyor 14 so as to face each other laterally, and are rotatable around their vertically extending central axes. The downstream rollers 15b are provided on both the left and right sides of the conveyor 14 in front of the upstream rollers 15a (i.e., downstream in the conveying direction of the conveyor 14) so ​​as to face each other laterally, and are rotatable around their vertically extending central axes.

[0037] Belts 17 are provided on the left and right sides, with the left belt 17 stretched and supported between the left upstream roller 15a and downstream roller 15b, and the right belt 17 stretched and supported between the right upstream roller 15a and downstream roller 15b. The outer surface of one of the left and right belts 17 is in contact with one cut surface FL1 of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL conveyed by the conveyor 14, and the outer surface of the other belt 17 is in contact with the other cut surface FL1. The distance between the outer surfaces of the belts 17 is set to be slightly smaller than the distance between the two cut surfaces FL1 of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL.

[0038] A heater 16a is disposed inside each upstream roller 15a, heating the belt 17 via the upstream roller 15a. The heater 16a is, for example, a halogen heater, and heats the belt 17 so that the temperature of at least the outer surface of the belt 17 is equal to or higher than the melting point of the three-dimensional filament assembly FL. The specific form of the heater 16a is not particularly limited within the scope of the present invention, and may be, for example, a heater that outputs hot air or an induction heater (IH). The heater 16a may also heat the belt 17 from outside the belt 17.

[0039] The application roller 18 is a roller for performing an application process (a process for making it easier for the cut surface FL1 to separate from the outer surface of the belt 17) by applying a release agent (e.g., silicone oil) to the outer surface of the belt 17. The cut surface smoothing device Xb is configured to perform the application process using the application roller 18.

[0040] The application roller 18 is formed in a cylindrical shape with its axis extending in the vertical direction, and is installed rotatably around its central axis extending in the vertical direction as a rotation axis on each of the outer lateral sides of each belt 17. The application roller 18 is configured so that a release agent is continuously supplied from a release agent supplying device (not shown), and is impregnated with the supplied release agent.

[0041] The outer surface of the left application roller 18 contacts the outer surface of the left side of the left belt 17, and the application roller 18 rotates as the belt 17 rotates. This allows the left application roller 18 to continuously and evenly apply the release agent to the outer surface of the left belt 17 with almost no friction with the left belt 17.

[0042] The outer surface of the right application roller 18 comes into contact with the right outer surface of the right belt 17, and the application roller 18 also rotates as the belt 17 rotates. This allows the right application roller 18 to continuously and evenly apply the release agent to the outer surface of the belt 17 with almost no friction with the right belt 17. Note that the type of material applied to the outer surface of the belt 17 by the application process is not particularly limited as long as it makes it easy for the cut surface FL1 to separate from the outer surface.

[0043] 7, cooling air (e.g., room temperature air or air cooled to or below room temperature) is supplied from above by a blower (not shown) between the upstream roller 15a and the downstream roller 15b on the inside of each of the left and right belts 17. As a result, each portion of the outer surface of the rotating belt 17 is heated by the heater 16a to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the filament three-dimensional combination FL, and then cooled to a temperature lower than the melting point by the cooling air. In this way, in the cut surface smoothing device Xb, the belt 17 is heated by the heater 16a (heat source) provided on the upstream roller 15a, and further cooled by the cooling air supplied between the rollers 15a and 15b on the inside of the belt 17.

[0044] When the three-dimensional combined filament body FL conveyed by the conveyor 14 passes a position sandwiched between the belts 17, the force applied by the cutting surface FL1 causes each belt 17 to rotate together with each roller 15a, 15b in the direction indicated by the dashed arrow in Figure 7. That is, each belt 17 rotates in the same direction as the conveying direction of the conveyor 14 while contacting the cutting surface FL1 (i.e., so that the traveling direction at the contact point is the same). Note that a driving device such as a motor for driving the rotation of each roller 15a, 15b may be provided, and the driving device may rotate each roller 15a, 15b in accordance with the conveying speed of the three-dimensional combined filament body FL.

[0045] Because the distance between the outer surfaces of the belts 17 is slightly smaller than the distance between the cut surfaces FL1 of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL, each cut surface FL1 advances in the conveyance direction while being slightly pressed by each belt 17. At this time, if attention is focused on an arbitrary portion Z of each cut surface FL1, this portion Z will first come into contact with a portion near the rear of the belt 17 (a portion heated by the heater 16a to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL), and will be smoothed using the same principle as in the case of the cut surface smoothing device Xa.

[0046] As the three-dimensional combined filaments FL continues to be conveyed, the portion Z comes into contact with the belt 17 near the center in the front-to-rear direction (a portion cooled by cooling air to a temperature lower than the melting point of the three-dimensional combined filaments FL), and as the portion Z comes into contact with the planar outer surface of the belt 17, its temperature drops and it solidifies, thereby stabilizing in a shape as close to planar as possible. As the three-dimensional combined filaments FL continues to be conveyed, the portion Z separates from the belt 17. At this time, the belt 17 is coated with a release agent, which allows the portion Z to be smoothly separated from the belt 17.

[0047] The manufacturing system S1 includes a manufacturing device 12 that continuously forms and discharges a three-dimensional filament combined body FL, a cutting device 13 that cuts the discharged three-dimensional filament combined body FL at predetermined intervals, and a cut surface smoothing device Xa (or Xb) that smooths the cut surface FL1 resulting from the cutting. The cut surface smoothing device Xa (or Xb) has a high-temperature portion that is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL, and the high-temperature portion contacts the cut surface FL1 of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL, thereby smoothing the cut surface FL1. The high-temperature portion of the cut surface smoothing device Xa corresponds to the outer surface of the roller 15, and the high-temperature portion of the cut surface smoothing device Xb corresponds to the outer surface of the belt 17.

[0048] The processing method for the three-dimensional combined filaments FL performed by the manufacturing system S1 includes a cutting step of cutting the three-dimensional combined filaments FL with a cutting device 13, and a smoothing step of smoothing the cut surface FL1 of the three-dimensional combined filaments FL by applying an object (roller 15 or belt 17) having a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the three-dimensional combined filaments FL to the cut surface FL1 of the three-dimensional combined filaments FL. Furthermore, when the cut surface smoothing device Xb is used, the processing method further includes a cooling step of cooling the object (belt 17) applied to the cut surface FL1 to a temperature lower than the melting point of the three-dimensional combined filaments FL using cooling air, and an isolation step of separating the belt 17 from the cut surface FL1 after the cooling step is performed.

[0049] 2. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. Fig. 8 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a manufacturing system S2 for a three-dimensional combined filament body according to the second embodiment. As shown in this figure, the manufacturing system S2 includes a manufacturing device 12 for manufacturing a three-dimensional combined filament body FL and a cutting device 20. The manufacturing device 12 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

[0050] The cutting device 20 is disposed near a position where the continuous three-dimensional combined filaments FL discharged from the manufacturing apparatus 12 arrives, and cuts the continuous three-dimensional combined filaments FL at predetermined intervals. More specifically, the cutting device 20 has a movable body that is movable back and forth along the intended cutting surface of the three-dimensional combined filaments FL (the surface indicated by the dashed arrow in FIG. 8 ). By moving this movable body, the continuous three-dimensional combined filaments FL is cut so as to produce a cut surface perpendicular to the discharge direction (the direction indicated by the colored arrow in FIG. 8 ). Specific examples of this movable body are described below using movable body 21 shown in FIG. 9 and movable body 22 shown in FIG. 11 .

[0051] The movable body 21 shown in Fig. 9 has a blade portion 21a that extends vertically and has a sharp front edge, and a flat plate portion 21b that faces left and right on the rear side of the blade portion 21a. The movable body 21 is connected to a driving device (not shown) and can move in the front-rear direction. The blade portion 21a can be heated, for example, by electricity, to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the filament three-dimensional combination FL.

[0052] 10 shows how the movable body 21 is moved forward to cut the three-dimensional filament assembly FL. As shown in this figure, the movable body 21 is moved along the intended cutting surface of the three-dimensional filament assembly FL. As the movable body 21 is heated to a high temperature, the blade portion 21a melts and gradually cuts the three-dimensional filament assembly FL. At this time, the flat portion 21b, located behind the blade portion 21a, is interposed between the cut portions of the three-dimensional filament assembly FL, preventing these portions from coming into contact and fusing together.

[0053] Furthermore, as the blade portion 21a gradually cuts the three-dimensional filament assembly FL while melting it, the filaments appearing on the cut surface are pushed in a molten state by the blade portion 21a, so that the three-dimensional filament assembly FL is cut by the blade portion 21a and the resulting cut surface is smoothed.

[0054] The cutting device 20 having the movable body 21 has a blade portion 21a (high-temperature portion) that is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the three-dimensional filament bond FL, and the blade portion 21a moves along the intended cutting surface of the three-dimensional filament bond FL, thereby melting and cutting the three-dimensional filament bond FL. The specific shape of the blade portion 21a is not particularly limited within the scope of the present invention, and may be, for example, in the form of a wire.

[0055] The movable body 22 shown in Fig. 11 has a configuration in which a flat plate portion 22b with its front and back facing left and right is provided behind a disk-shaped rotary blade portion 22a that rotates with its axis in the left-right direction. The movable body 22 is connected to a driving device (not shown) and is movable in the front-rear direction. The flat plate portion 22b is configured to be heated, for example, by using electricity, to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the filament three-dimensional combination FL.

[0056] 12 shows how the movable body 22 is moved forward to cut the three-dimensional filament assembly FL. As shown in this figure, when the movable body 22 is moved along the intended cutting surface of the three-dimensional filament assembly FL, the rotary blade 22a, rotating at high speed, gradually cuts the three-dimensional filament assembly FL. The flat plate 22b, located behind the rotary blade 22a, abuts on both the left and right cut surfaces that are successively produced by the cutting. As a result, the cut surfaces of the three-dimensional filament assembly FL that are successively produced by the cutting of the rotary blade 22a are pressed against the flat plate 22b in a melted state by the heat of the flat plate 22b, and are smoothed.

[0057] 11 has a flat plate portion 22b (high-temperature portion) that is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL, and the flat plate portion 22b comes into contact with the cut surface FL1 of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL, thereby smoothing the cut surface FL1. The cut surface smoothing device, which is the movable body 22, includes a rotary blade portion 22a (cutter) that moves along the planned cutting surface of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL and cuts the three-dimensional filament combined body FL, and a flat plate portion 22b that is provided on the opposite side (rear side) of the moving direction of the rotary blade portion 22b and sequentially smooths the cut surface FL1 that is sequentially produced by cutting with the rotary blade portion 22a.

[0058] 3. Third Embodiment Next, a cut surface smoothing device Xc according to a third embodiment will be described. The cut surface smoothing device Xc is a device for smoothing the cut surface of a rectangular parallelepiped three-dimensional filament assembly FL. Fig. 13 is a schematic perspective view of the cut surface smoothing device Xc with the three-dimensional filament assembly FL set therein. Fig. 14 is a configuration diagram of the cut surface smoothing device Xc as viewed from above, and Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the cut surface smoothing device Xc when cut along the A-A plane shown in Fig. 14.

[0059] As shown in these figures, the cut surface smoothing device Xc includes a heating plate 31 and a fixed vibration table 32. The heating plate 31 is formed in a plate shape with a wall surface 31b exposed downward, and is provided with a plurality of heaters 31a (e.g., halogen heaters) inside. In this embodiment, an aluminum plate is used as the heating plate 31, and the wall surface 31b is coated with a fluororesin. The heater 31a heats the heating plate 31 so that the wall surface 31b reaches a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the filament three-dimensional assembly FL.

[0060] The fixed vibration table 32 is configured to expose a cut surface at the front and to be able to fix and support the filament three-dimensional combination FL. More specifically, the fixed vibration table 32 is configured so that the rectangular parallelepiped-shaped filament three-dimensional combination FL having top, bottom, left, right, and front and rear surfaces can be placed on and set thereon, and has walls that are in surface contact with the bottom, left, rear, and right surfaces of the set filament three-dimensional combination FL, thereby fixing and supporting the filament three-dimensional combination FL. Note that the fixed vibration table 32 does not have a wall that contacts the front surface of the set filament three-dimensional combination FL, and as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 , the portion of the filament three-dimensional combination FL near its front end can be protruded forward from the front end of the fixed vibration table 32.

[0061] When using the cut surface smoothing device Xc, the heating plate 31 is heated by the heater 31a, and the three-dimensional filament assembly FL is set on the fixed vibration table 32 as shown in Figures 13 to 15. The three-dimensional filament assembly FL shown in these figures has a cut surface facing forward, with the portion near the front end protruding forward beyond the front end of the fixed vibration table 32. The cut surface is lightly pressed against the wall surface 31b of the heating plate 31. To easily achieve a state in which the cut surface is lightly pressed against the wall surface 31b, the position of the heating plate 31 or the fixed vibration table 32 may be adjustable in the front-rear direction.

[0062] With the filament three-dimensional combined body FL set on the fixed vibration table 32, for example, by operating a switch (not shown), the fixed vibration table 32 is vibrated in the left-right direction. In this way, by vibrating the fixed vibration table 32 parallel to the cut surface while the cut surface of the filament three-dimensional combined body FL is brought into contact with the wall surface 31b, the filaments appearing on the cut surface are pushed in a molten state against the wall surface 31b, and the cut surface is smoothed.

[0063] At this time, since the wall surface 31b is coated with a fluororesin, the resin of the molten filament is prevented from adhering to the wall surface 31b. Note that a coating other than a fluororesin may be used as the coating applied to the wall surface 31b to prevent the resin from adhering.

[0064] The shape of the heating plate 31 may be set so that the edges of the cut surface of the three-dimensional filament assembly FL are rounded. An example of such a heating plate 31 is shown in a configuration diagram viewed from above in Fig. 16, and a cross-sectional view taken along the B-B plane in Fig. 16 is shown in Fig. 17. The dashed lines in these figures indicate the approximate positions of the outer edges of the three-dimensional filament assembly FL set on the fixed vibration table 32.

[0065] In the heating plate 31 shown in these figures, the portion near the left end of the wall surface 31b is curved so as to gradually bend backward as it extends leftward, and the portion near the right end of the wall surface 31b is curved so as to gradually bend backward as it extends rightward. Furthermore, the portion near the upper end of the wall surface 31b is curved so as to gradually bend backward as it extends upward, and the portion near the lower end of the wall surface 31b is curved so as to gradually bend backward as it extends downward. This allows the edges of the cut surface of the filament three-dimensional combined body FL to be rounded.

[0066] The cut surface smoothing device Xc described above has a high-temperature portion that is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL, and the high-temperature portion contacts the cut surface FL1 of the three-dimensional filament combined body FL to smooth the cut surface FL1. More specifically, the cut surface smoothing device Xc has the high-temperature portion, which is the wall surface 31b of the heating plate 31, and a fixed vibration table 32 that fixedly supports the three-dimensional filament combined body FL with the cut surface FL1 exposed. The fixed vibration table 32 smooths the cut surface FL1 by vibrating parallel to the cut surface FL1 while contacting the cut surface FL1 against the wall surface 31b.

[0067] 4. Others The smoothing of the cut surface by the cut surface smoothing device according to the present invention can be performed at an appropriate timing taking into consideration various conditions, etc., and the smoothing may be performed during final finishing. For example, in the first embodiment, the cut surface is smoothed immediately after the filament three-dimensional assembly FL is cut by the cutting device 13, but instead, other processing may be performed first after the cutting, and then the cut surface may be smoothed as final finishing after the other processing is completed.

[0068] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In other words, the above embodiments are illustrative in all respects and should be considered not to be limiting. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the above embodiments, and should be understood to include all modifications that fall within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0069] The present invention can be used in a manufacturing system for a three-dimensional filament assembly.

[0070] 12 Filament three-dimensional combined body manufacturing device 13 Cutting device 14 Conveyor 15 Roller 15a Upstream roller 15b Downstream roller 15x Interference member 16, 16a Heater 17 Belt 18 Application roller 20 Cutting device 21, 22 Movable body 21a Blade portion 21b Flat plate portion 22a Rotary blade portion 22b Flat plate portion 31 Heating plate 31a Heater 31b Wall surface 32 Fixed vibration table FL Filament three-dimensional combined body FL1 Cut surface of filament three-dimensional combined body S1, S2 Manufacturing system Xa, Xb, Xc Cross-section smoothing device

Claims

1. A high-temperature portion is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the filament three-dimensional bond, A cut surface smoothing device for smoothing a cut surface of the filament three-dimensional bond by applying the high-temperature part to the cut surface, The cut surface of the filament three-dimensional bonded body is smoothed while being conveyed parallel to the cut surface, The high temperature portion is A cut surface smoothing device that is disposed so as to rotate in the same direction as the conveyance while contacting the cut surface.

2. 2. The cut surface smoothing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high temperature portion is an outer surface of a belt supported by rollers disposed on the upstream and downstream sides of the conveyance.

3. The belt is heated by a heat source provided on the upstream roller, 3. The cut surface smoothing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a step of supplying cooling air between the rollers on the inner side of the belt.

4. 4. The cut surface smoothing device according to claim 2, wherein a coating treatment is applied to an outer surface of the belt so as to facilitate separation of the cut surface from the outer surface.

5. A high-temperature portion is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the filament three-dimensional bond, A cut surface smoothing device for smoothing a cut surface of the filament three-dimensional bond by applying the high-temperature part to the cut surface, The high temperature portion is a wall surface; a fixed vibration table that exposes the cut surface and supports the filament three-dimensional assembly; The fixed vibration table is A cut surface smoothing device comprising: a cut surface smoothing device that smoothes the cut surface by vibrating the cut surface in parallel to the cut surface while contacting the cut surface with the wall surface.

6. 6. The cut surface smoothing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the wall surface is provided with a coating that suppresses adhesion of resin to the wall surface.

7. a filament three-dimensional combined body manufacturing apparatus for continuously forming and discharging the filament three-dimensional combined body; a cutting device for cutting the discharged three-dimensional filament assembly at predetermined intervals; A manufacturing system comprising: the cut surface smoothing device according to claim 1 , which smoothes a cut surface produced by the cutting.