Partial Split-Fiber Bundle Splice Detection and Thrust Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing partial split-fiber fiber bundles struggle with continuous separation when a splice part is present, leading to fiber bundle breakage and incomplete splitting, which hinders the evaluation of splitting ease in sheet molding compounds (SMC) processing.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a fiber splitting means with protruding parts that detects the splice part and adjusts its thrusting timing and speed to avoid contact, ensuring continuous separation and evaluating the dispersion state of the split fibers by impacting the cut fibers under controlled conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a blade is thrust into a fiber bundle with a splice part to separate fibers, then fiber separation processing can be performed, but the splice part breaks and the fiber bundle cannot be continuously conveyed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber separation processingVSAvoidcontinuous conveyance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful effect by removing the splice part from the fiber separation processing path. The detection device identifies the splice part's position, and the control device stops the thrusting operation when the blade approaches the splice part, effectively taking out the splice part from the processing zone to prevent breakage and ensure continuous conveyance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies preliminary action by detecting the splice part's position in advance before the blade reaches it. The detection device provides advance warning, allowing the control device to stop the thrusting operation beforehand, preventing the blade from contacting and breaking the splice part, thus ensuring continuous fiber bundle conveyance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the fiber splitting means continuously thrusts into the fiber bundle, then separation efficiency is high, but the splice part breaks and causes incomplete splitting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidsplitting completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies dynamics by making the thrusting operation adjustable and responsive. The control device dynamically adjusts the thrusting operation based on real-time detection of the splice part's position. When the splice part is detected, the control device stops or adjusts the thrusting operation, allowing the fiber splitting means to maintain high separation efficiency in normal sections while preventing damage to the splice part, thus ensuring complete and accurate splitting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If a rotary blade is used to longitudinally slit the fiber bundle, then the number of filaments can be adjusted, but the fiber bundle winds around guide rolls and cannot be easily conveyed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of filaments adjustmentVSAvoidconveyance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful effect of the rotary blade by replacing it with a linear thrusting operation. The fiber splitting means thrusts linearly into the fiber bundle rather than rotating, which prevents the split fiber ends from winding around guide rolls. This maintains the ability to adjust the number of filaments while ensuring easy and stable conveyance of the fiber bundle through the processing system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3748055B1Partially separated fiber bundle, intermediate base material, molding, and method for producing same
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 TORAY INDUSTRIES INC
  • EP3748055B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(c)
  • EP3748055B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP3748055B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

Provided is a method for producing a partial split-fiber fiber bundle capable of stably separating a fiber bundle continuously for a long time even when a splice part is present in the partial split-fiber fiber bundle, and to provide a method for producing an intermediate base material and a molded article using the partial split-fiber fiber bundle. Thus, provided is a method for producing a partial split-fiber fiber bundle in which when the fiber bundle having the splice part formed by joining fiber bundles is allowed to travel along a longitudinal direction, a part of the fiber bundle is separated by thrusting a protruding part of the fiber splitting means into the fiber bundle, and timing at which the fiber splitting means is thrust into the fiber bundle is changed based on position information of the splice part obtained by detecting the splice part.