Prepreg Lamination Head Prevents Curling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional prepreg automatic lamination apparatuses face issues with prepreg sheets adhering too tightly to their paper liners, leading to curling-up and bumpy surfaces during lamination, which compromises product quality due to the vulnerability of carbon fibers to shearing forces.

Innovation Solution

A prepreg lamination head with a forward-placed paper liner peeling device, including rollers and a scraper, peels the paper liner between the first and second rollers, weakening the adhesive force and allowing for easy removal, while a suction table with holes ensures the cut terminal portions are returned to their original position, preventing curling-up and bending.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the paper liner is adhered tightly to the prepreg sheet, then the prepreg sheet can be handled and transported easily, but the paper liner cannot be removed easily during lamination, causing curling-up at the cut terminal portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesive force between paper liner and prepreg sheetVSAvoidease of paper liner removal

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The paper liner removal process is divided into two stages: first, the forward-placed peeling device performs initial peeling between the first and second rollers to weaken adhesion; second, the second roller completes the peeling process. This segmentation allows the paper liner to be removed easily without causing curling-up, while maintaining strong adhesion during handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The forward-placed paper liner peeling device performs preliminary peeling action before the prepreg sheet reaches the second roller. This preliminary action weakens the adhesive force between the paper liner and prepreg sheet, making subsequent complete removal easier and preventing curling-up at the cut terminal portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the paper liner is peeled off completely at once, then the prepreg sheet can be processed quickly, but the cut terminal portion curls-up and bends, compromising product quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelamination speedVSAvoidsurface flatness of prepreg laminated body

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The paper liner peeling process is segmented into two stages: initial peeling by the forward-placed peeling device, and complete peeling by the second roller. This segmentation prevents sudden complete removal that causes curling-up, while maintaining efficient lamination speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The forward-placed peeling device performs preliminary peeling to weaken adhesion before the second roller completes removal. This preliminary action prevents the cut terminal portion from curling-up and bending, ensuring surface flatness while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If the prepreg sheet is pressed strongly against the work, then lamination quality is improved, but the cut terminal portion bends due to shearing force on carbon fibers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelamination qualityVSAvoidmechanical characteristic of carbon fibers

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The forward-placed peeling device performs preliminary peeling to weaken adhesion before the prepreg sheet is pressed against the work. This reduces the shearing force required for complete peeling, preventing bending at the cut terminal portion while maintaining lamination quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This configuration effectively prevents curling-up and bending at the cut terminal portions, ensuring a high-quality prepreg laminated body with improved surface flatness and mechanical characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

a suction table with holes ensures the cut terminal portions are returned to their original position, preventing curling-up and bending

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP2540466B1Prepreg lamination head and prepreg automatic lamination device equipped with same

Publication Date: 2017.10.25 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a prepreg lamination head and a prepreg automatic lamination device equipped with same, which preferably uses a 0 degree layer prepreg sheet when laminating and prevents the cut ends of the prepreg sheet springing up. The prepreg automatic lamination device is equipped with a prepreg lamination head (26) for laminating a prepreg sheet (8) in one direction (T1), in the direction of the fibre, with a first roller (12) which guides the prepreg sheet (8) in one direction (T1) to laminate it onto a body to be laminated (W), and a second roller (13) which guides the prepreg sheet (8) which has passed under the first roller (12) so as to apply pressure to one surface thereof and also pull off a release paper (7) from one surface thereof. The prepreg lamination head is also provided with a means for removing the release paper in advance (27), said means being disposed between the first roller (12) and second roller (13), The means for removing the release paper in advance (27) pulls off the release paper (7) from one surface of the prepreg sheet (8) then returns the removed release paper (7) by applying pressure to the release paper and the prepreg sheet (8) from one side thereof by means of the second roller (13).