Multifilament Fibre Splicing With Heat-Shrinkable Junction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for splicing multifilament textile fibers in continuous manufacturing installations for elongated composite materials result in thick junctions that cannot pass through calibration dies, requiring significant downtime for reel changes and cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a heat-shrinkable sheath to join fiber bundles with a precise dosage of hardenable organic material, which is hardened within the sheath to control the junction thickness, allowing continuous production without excess thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional splicing methods (compressed air mixing or roller winding) are used to join fiber bundles, then the fiber bundles can be connected, but the junction thickness is greatly increased and cannot pass through calibration dies
Solution Approach 1:
A heat-shrinkable sheath is introduced as an intermediary component to contain and compress the hardenable material during the splicing process. The sheath provides a controlled environment that prevents material overflow and ensures the junction maintains a thickness compatible with calibration dies, while still achieving strong fiber bundle connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and volume of the hardenable material through controlled hardening within the heat-shrinkable sheath. The sheath's heat-shrinkage property allows the material to be contained and compressed, transforming it from a potentially bulky state to a compact junction that fits through calibration dies.
2Productivity
If reel replacement is performed using conventional methods, then the fiber supply can be renewed, but the installation must be completely shut down and cleaned, causing significant downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The splicing method enables continuous production by allowing fiber bundles to be joined on-the-fly during the impregnation process. The heat-shrinkable sheath with hardenable material provides a rapid splicing mechanism that doesn't require installation shutdown, maintaining continuous useful action and eliminating downtime associated with conventional reel replacement.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise dosage of hardenable material is used within the heat-shrinkable sheath, then the junction thickness can be controlled to pass through calibration dies, but the splicing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-shrinkable sheath acts as a simplified intermediary that encapsulates the hardenable material and provides automatic volume control through its heat-shrinkage property. This mediator simplifies the dosing process by preventing material overflow and ensuring consistent junction thickness without requiring complex dosing equipment or procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables nearly continuous production of uniform composite materials with a constant thickness junction, minimizing downtime and ensuring the junction can pass through calibration dies.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the heat-shrinkable sheath surrounding the joining portion is heated to a predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 2
a hardenable organic material is introduced into the sheath into a space separating said end portions of the bundles so as to join the end portions together by means of a joining portion
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for splicing two bundles (1, 2) of multifilament textile fibres, wherein: - an end portion of a first bundle (1) is inserted into a first end of a heat-shrinkable sheath (10) and an end portion of a second bundle (2) is inserted into a second end of said sheath, axially opposite the first, until the ends of the end portions of the two bundles meet facing one another, - a curable organic material is inserted into the sheath (10) in a space separating said end portions of the bundles (1, 2) so as to join the end portions to one another via a joining portion (9), the curable organic material being inserted into the space (5) that exists between the ends of the end portions (3, 4) of the two bundles (1, 2) after the bundles have been placed inside the sheath (10), - a portion of the heat-shrinkable sheath (10) surrounding the joining portion (9) is heated to a predetermined temperature, - the curable organic material is cured, - the sheath (10) is removed.