Fiber Roving Spreading and Dividing Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The mechanical properties of carbon fiber SMC semi-finished products decrease with an increasing number of filaments due to reduced impregnability of the matrix material, leading to higher costs when using heavy tows with low filament counts for forming multiple rovings.
Innovation Solution
A device that transports and spreads a high-filament fiber roving along its longitudinal direction, using a cylindrical spreading device with fan-shaped grooves and a drive roller to widen and then divide it into second fiber rovings with a lower filament count, allowing for better impregnation and cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If heavy tows with high filament count are used, then cost advantage is achieved, but impregnability of matrix material decreases and mechanical strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing a heavy tow with high filament count into multiple lighter sub-rovings with lower filament counts. This is achieved through a spreading device that opens the tow and a cutting device that divides it into several strands. Each sub-roving maintains sufficient strength while improving impregnability, thus resolving the contradiction between cost advantage and mechanical reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If heavy tows with high filament count are used, then cost advantage is achieved, but impregnability of matrix material decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy tow is segmented into multiple sub-rovings through spreading and cutting mechanisms. This segmentation increases the surface area and reduces fiber density, allowing matrix material to penetrate more effectively. The process maintains cost efficiency by utilizing the original heavy tow while achieving better impregnability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreading device transforms the compact one-dimensional tow structure into a two-dimensional spread configuration, increasing the exposed surface area of fibers. This dimensional change enables better matrix access and impregnation while preserving the cost benefits of using heavy tows.
3Ease of operation
If multiple rovings with low filament count are used to produce semi-finished products, then impregnability improves, but product cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of purchasing multiple separate low-filament rovings, the invention segments a single heavy tow into multiple sub-rovings. This approach achieves the same impregnability benefits while avoiding the cost penalty of acquiring and processing multiple separate rovings, as the division is performed in-situ during processing.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for reducing the filament count of a first fiber roving (7), comprising an apparatus for conveying the fiber roving (7) along the longitudinal direction thereof and a cutting apparatus (15) for cutting fiber rovings (7) largely transversely to the longitudinal direction thereof, wherein the device has a spreading apparatus (3) that spreads the first fiber roving and an apparatus for dividing the spread fiber roving (10) into at least two second fiber rovings (18) having a reduced filament count.