DE102015106517A1 - Fiber laying head - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a fiber laying head for laying fiber material, wherein with the aid of a fiber guide unit, the feed position of the fiber material on a pressure roller is transversely to the conveying direction of the fiber material changeable.

Description

The invention relates to a fiber laying head for laying fiber material for producing a fiber fabric for the production of a fiber composite component.

Due to the particularly advantageous property of having a particularly high strength and rigidity at least one load-bearing direction with a relatively low weight, fiber composite components, which were produced from a fiber composite material, from the industrial environment are now almost indispensable. The advantages resulting from these particularly advantageous properties, such as, for example, the reduced fuel consumption over the entire service life of the means of transport or the reduced wear, lead to an increasing use in safety-critical and structurally bearing application areas. Especially in these areas, however, a high and especially industrial reproducible component quality is of particular importance.

A disadvantage of fiber composites is usually only with quite a lot of automated production process, so even today with complex component structures many manufacturing steps must be performed by hand. There are therefore efforts to automate the manufacturing process, in particular the laying of the fiber material on a mold, as far as possible. Thus, for example, from a fiber-laying device is known, in which by means of arranged on robots fiber laying heads fiber material can be stored on a mold, the robots are guided on a circulating around the mold rail system and can reach each point of the mold for depositing fiber material ,

Due to the resilience of the overall system, especially in industrial robots, the deposition process is in itself subject to a certain degree of inaccuracy, which are outside the tolerances of some components, especially in the safety-critical area. But also the semi-finished fiber or the fiber material has manufacturing tolerances, which can sometimes lead to defects in the finished component, which then cause the committee of the corresponding manufactured component.

From the DE 41 30 269 A1 a device for producing laminated prepreg parts is known, in which a web-shaped fiber material, which is wound on a fiber roll and fed to the device, is passed over a pressure roller, which then deposits the fiber material on a tool. So that the fiber material is always guided centrally over the pressure roller, it is proposed there that the fiber roll, which contains the fiber material to be deposited, is axially displaceable relative to the pressure roller, so that in a web deviation, the entire fiber roll can be aligned with the wound fiber material.

However, such a device finds its limits when the fiber material in the fiber storage is not rolled up serially one above the other, but serially next to each other, whereby at lower web widths of the fiber material more fiber material can be wound on the roll. This would mean that the entire fiber roll would have to be displaced axially with the stored fiber material in such a way that in certain areas at least partially the fiber accumulator protrudes from the laying head.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fiber laying head, can be compensated with the process uncertainties in the automated deposition of fiber material and at the same time also serially juxtaposed fiber materials can be used.

The object is achieved with the fiber laying head according to claim 1 according to the invention.

Accordingly, a fiber laying head is proposed, which is provided for laying fiber material for producing a fiber fabric for the production of a fiber composite component. The fiber laying head has a fiber supply unit for supplying fiber material to the fiber laying head and a fiber laying unit, wherein the fiber laying unit is designed for laying the fiber material provided on the fiber laying head by the fiber supply unit and conveyed from the fiber supply unit to the fiber laying unit on a tool.

In advantageous embodiments, the fiber supply unit is a fiber material store, which is designed to store web-shaped fiber materials. This can be, for example, a fiber material roll on which the web-shaped fiber materials are wound up. The fiber material can be serially wound side by side on the fiber material roll. In an advantageous embodiment, the fiber-laying unit can be a pressure roller or pressure roller with which the fiber material fed to the pressure roller is pressed onto the tool and thus laid. Accordingly, the fiber materials are supplied to the fiber laying unit so that the fiber material passes between fiber laying unit and tool and is thus deposited by the fiber laying head on the tool.

According to the invention it is now provided that in the conveyor chain of the fiber material between the fiber supply unit and the fiber laying unit, a fiber guide unit is provided, through which the fiber material is fed to the fiber lay unit at a feed position. The fiber guide unit is designed to change the feed position of the fiber material on the fiber laying unit transversely to the conveying direction of the fiber material, so that the feed position during the laying of the fiber material is variable. The fiber supply unit is further signal-wise connected to a control unit which is designed to control the fiber supply unit in order to change the feed position on the fiber laying unit or to set it to a predetermined or calculated value.

According to the invention, the fiber supply unit is arranged between the fiber supply unit and the fiber laying unit in order to be able to change the feed position of the fiber laying unit. Advantageously, the fiber material is passed from the fiber supply unit through the fiber supply unit and then fed to the fiber laying unit. This has the advantage that the fiber material can be influenced correspondingly shortly before being fed to the fiber laying unit in order to be able to change or set the feeding position on the fiber laying unit, whereby in this case the entire fiber material storage space does not have to be moved. As a result, it is also possible to use fiber materials which are wound axially next to one another on a fiber material roll.

This results in the advantage that the fiber laying head is enabled to change the feeding position of the fiber material on the fiber laying unit, so that process uncertainties when depositing the fibers can be compensated. Thus, for example, a web deviation from an already deposited fiber web or manufacturing tolerances of the fiber material can be compensated.

Fiber materials in the sense of the present invention may be any materials that are suitable for the production of a fiber composite component. For example, the fiber materials may be Tows (usually 1/4 "or 1/2" wide) or tapes (at least 150 mm or 300 mm wide). However, also rovings or other fiber strands are conceivable.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the fiber guide unit has at least one actuator, which is designed for the rotational and / or translational movement of the fiber guide unit transversely to the conveying direction of the fiber material for changing the feed position. Such an actuator may for example be a linear drive with which the fiber feed unit is moved transversely to the conveying direction of the fiber material. By moving the fiber guide unit transversely to the conveying direction of the fiber material, the feed position of the fiber material on the fiber laying unit can be changed transversely to the conveying direction, so that the advantageous effects are achieved.

For example, if the fiber laying unit is a pressure roller, it is particularly advantageous if the fiber guide unit can be moved axially relative to the pressure roller or pressure roller by means of the actuator in order to be able to change or adjust the feed position on the pressure roller.

According to a further embodiment, the fiber guide unit has at least one pair of opposing guide elements, between which the fiber material is passed. Advantageously, the fiber guide unit has a plurality of such pairs of guide elements, so that the fiber material between these pairs of guide elements can be safely guided through and by movement of the fiber guide unit according to the feed position is variable. The guide elements are advantageously perpendicular to a fiber laying plane defined by the fiber laying unit, so that, in particular in the case of web-shaped endless fiber materials, a change in the feeding position on the fiber laying unit is made possible without damaging the fiber materials at the edge areas. Rather, the guide elements, which can be guide rollers, are perpendicular to the fiber laying plane, and thus also perpendicular to an axis of a pressure roller, so that the material must first be rotated by 90 degrees before it can then be fed back to the fiber laying unit.

In other words, the sheet-like fiber material is passed through the fiber guide unit perpendicular to the actual fiber laying plane and then undergoes a torsion about 90 degrees about its own axis, so that the sheet-like fiber material is then again in the fiber laying plane and so can be stored accordingly on the tool. By the rotation of the fiber material about 90 degrees about its own axis can be achieved that by a displacement of the fiber feed unit transversely to the conveying direction no force acts on the edge regions of the fiber materials to change the feed position on the fiber laying unit.

According to an advantageous embodiment, a sensor is provided, which is designed to detect the width of the fiber material conveyed to the fiber laying unit, wherein the control unit for controlling the fiber guide unit for adjusting the feed position on the Fiber laying unit is formed as a function of the detected width of the fiber material. If the width of the fiber material deviates, the position of the material can be corrected with the aid of the present invention before the fiber material reaches the fiber laying unit and is pressed onto the molding tool. The current web then does not overlap the adjacent, previously deposited web, because in the deposition process, the tolerance of the fiber material was considered in terms of width.

The width of the fiber material records the expansion of the fiber material transversely to the conveying direction.

According to a further embodiment, a sensor is provided, which is designed to detect an actual guiding position of the fiber material transversely to the conveying direction of the fiber material, wherein the control unit for driving the fiber guide unit for adjusting the feeding position on the fiber laying unit in dependence on the detected actual guide position and a predetermined target leadership position is set up. By detecting the current actual guidance position and comparing this actual guidance position with a present desired guidance position, the deviation of the fiber material from the predetermined desired guidance position can be detected and corrected and intervened so as to prevent the fiber material from becoming unresponsive the preferred feed position is supplied to the fiber laying unit, which leads to deviations in material when depositing the fiber material on the tool. Rather, can be achieved by driving the fiber guide unit, that the fiber material is always adjusted exactly to the predetermined target guide position, whereby the fiber material is always fed to the predetermined feed position on the fiber laying unit and thus stored with high accuracy.

The guide position may for example be a position transverse to the conveying direction of the fiber material, for example, a corresponding position axially to a pressure roller. However, the actual guidance position can also be detected at a different location by means of the sensor, which can then be closed by the constructive relationship to the corresponding leadership position on the fiber lay unit.

According to an advantageous embodiment for this purpose, the sensor for detecting the width of the fiber material or the sensor for detecting the actual guiding position can be formed by a deflecting roller arranged in front of the fiber laying unit and fiber feeding unit, wherein the deflecting roller has a pressure-sensitive material which controls the mechanical contact pressure by the fiber material converted into an electrical signal, whereby the width of the fiber material and / or the actual guide position can be detected.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, a sensor is provided, which is designed to detect already deposited fiber material with respect to the fiber laying unit, wherein the control unit is arranged for driving the fiber guide unit for adjusting the feed position on the fiber laying unit as a function of detected, already stored fiber material with respect to the fiber laying unit , As a result, low-frequency path deviations to an adjacent material web can be compensated with the aid of the fiber feed unit provided for adjusting the feed position, so that gaps within the fiber web due to web deviations during the laying process are avoided. If the tray deviates from the desired track and if this is detected by the sensor, for example a laser light section sensor, a correction signal is generated by the control unit and sent to the actuator or the fiber guide unit so that the feed position on the fiber lay unit changes and the material guide displaces accordingly is to compensate for the deposit of the desired path. The material then already occurs corrected or interference-compensated onto the pressure roller, so that consequently a uniform property characteristic is achieved throughout the composite component.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the sensors, i. the sensors for detecting the width, the sensors for detecting the actual guiding position and / or the sensors for detecting already deposited fiber material may be a laser light section sensor with which the desired parameters can be detected with high precision.

The changing of the feed position of the fiber material on the fiber laying unit means at least the aspect that the position on the fiber laying unit transversely to the conveying direction at a first time from the position transverse to the conveying direction deviates at a later second time. By changing the feeding position on the fiber laying unit, it is possible to set or also adjust or even regulate specific predetermined or calculated feed positions on the fiber laying unit.

The invention will be explained by way of example with reference to the attached figures. Show it:

1 schematic representation of a side view of a fiber laying head according to the invention;

2 schematic representation of a plan view of essential elements of the fiber laying head according to the invention.

1 shows schematically the side view of a fiber laying head 1 that to laying fiber material 2 on a tool 3 is provided. The fiber laying head 1 has a material storage for this purpose 4 in the form of a roll on which the fiber material 2 the fiber laying head 1 provided. The fiber material store 4 is thus a fiber supply unit according to the present invention. Incidentally, the fiber supply unit may also be a fiber feed, with which the fiber material from the outside into the fiber laying head 1 is supplied (not shown).

The fiber laying head 1 further includes a pinch roller 5 on, with the fiber material 2 on the tool 3 is pressed and filed. For this purpose, the fiber material 2 from the fiber material store 4 via at least one illustrated pulley 6 to the pinch roller 5 promoted, in such a way that the fiber material 2 between pinch roller 5 and tool surface of the tool 3 to be led. Thus, between the fiber material store 4 and the pinch roller 5 defines a conveyor chain in which the fiber material 2 from the fiber material store 4 to the pinch roller 5 is encouraged.

In the conveyor chain of the fiber material, in the embodiment of 1 between the pulley 6 and the pinch roller 5 , According to the invention is the fiber guide unit 7 provided by the fiber material 2 through to the pinch roller 5 to be led. The fiber guide unit 7 is designed so that the feed position of the fiber material on the pressure roller 5 transversely to the conveying direction of the fiber material (the plane out of the representation out) is changeable, so that the position of the deposited fiber material 2 on the tool while laying the fiber material 2 can be changed or actively regulated. For this purpose, the fiber laying unit is designed so that it by means of an actuator shown axially to the pressure roller 5 can move, whereby the feed position of the fiber material to the pressure roller 5 transverse to the conveying direction of the fiber material, ie axially in the embodiment of 1 , can be changed.

The fiber guide unit 7 stands by signal technology with a control unit 8th in connection to the fiber guide unit 7 to control accordingly and so the feed position of the fiber material to the pressure roller 5 to be able to change.

According to the embodiment of the 1 is a first light section sensor 9 provided for detecting already deposited fiber material webs on the tool 3 is trained. The control unit 8th is formed, the fiber guide unit 7 to be controlled so that by a change in the feed position on the pressure roller 5 Trays can be compensated by the desired path of the already deposited and recorded material webs.

Furthermore, a second light section sensor 10 provided, both for detecting the width of the fiber material 2 as well as for detecting an actual guiding position in front of the fiber guide unit 7 is trained. With knowledge of the width of the fiber material or the actual guiding position of the fiber material 2 can the control unit 8th then the fiber guide unit 7 accordingly control so that material tolerances of the fiber material 2 can be compensated in terms of width or a target leadership position is adjusted.

It is also conceivable, however, that the pulley 6 a pressure-sensitive material, which converts the mechanical contact pressure into an electrical signal, for example an electrical voltage, so that the actual guiding position and / or the width of the fiber material with the aid of the deflection roller 6 can be detected in the manner of a sensor.

2 schematically shows the top view of the fiber material storage 4 , the fiber guide unit 7 and the pinch roller 5 and the conveyor chain of the fiber material 2 in a top view. The fiber guide unit 7 has pairs of guide elements 11 on, for example in the form of guide rollers. Between each pair guide element 11 becomes the fiber material 2 passed. The fiber guide unit 7 is formed transversely to the conveying direction F _m of the fiber material 2 to be movable, so that a feed position P _m on the pressure roller 5 is changeable or adjustable. The fiber guide unit 7 moves coaxially with the pressure roller 5 so that the feeding position P _{m of} the fiber material 2 on the pressure roller 5 is axially adjustable.

The fiber guide unit 7 For example, by means of a linear actuator in the directions shown R ₁ , R _{2 are} slidably mounted, possibly by means of a lever mechanism. Such an actuator can be, for example, a piezoactuator.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 Fiber laying head

2

 fiber material

3

 Tool

4

 Fiber material storage, fiber supply unit

5

 Pinch roller, fiber lay unit

6

 guide rollers

7

 Fiber guide unit

8th

 control unit

9

 Light section sensor

10

 Light section sensor

11

Guide elements F _m , conveying direction of the fiber material P _m , feeding position of the fiber material R ₁ , R ₂ , the direction of movement of the fiber guide unit

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 4130269 A1 [0005]

Claims (10)

Fiber laying head ( 1 ) for laying fiber material for producing a fiber fabric for the production of a fiber composite component, comprising - a fiber supply unit ( 4 ) for providing fiber material ( 2 ) on the fiber laying head 1 and - a fiber-laying unit ( 5 ) for laying the fiber laying head ( 1 ) by the fiber supply unit ( 4 ) provided by the Fiber Provisioning Unit ( 4 ) to the fiber laying unit ( 5 ) conveyed fiber material ( 2 ) on a tool ( 3 ) for producing the fiber fabric, characterized in that - in the conveyor chain of the fiber material ( 2 ) between the fiber supply unit ( 4 ) and the fiber-laying unit ( 5 ) a fiber guide unit ( 7 ) is provided, through which the fiber material ( 2 ) of the fiber-laying unit ( 5 ) is supplied at a feed position (P _m ), - wherein the fiber guide unit ( 7 ) for changing the feed position (P _m ) of the fiber material ( 2 ) on the fiber laying unit ( 5 ) transversely to the conveying direction (R ₁ , R ₂ ) of the fiber material ( 2 ) and, - a control unit ( 8th ) provided with the fiber guide unit ( 7 ) signal-technically connected and for driving the fiber guide unit ( 7 ) is arranged to change the feed position (P _m ). Fiber laying head ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fiber guiding unit ( 7 ) has at least one actuator for rotational and / or translational movement of the fiber guide unit ( 7 ) transversely to the conveying direction (F _m ) of the fiber material ( 2 ) is adapted to change the feed position (P _m ). Fiber laying head ( 1 ) According to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fiber guiding unit ( 7 ) at least one pair of opposing guide elements ( 11 ), through which the fiber material ( 2 ), wherein the guide elements ( 11 ) perpendicular to one through the fiber laying unit ( 5 ) fiber laying plane are arranged, so that the fiber material ( 2 ) substantially perpendicular to the fiber laying plane through the fiber guide unit ( 7 ) to be led. Fiber laying head ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor ( 10 ) is provided for detecting the width of the fiber laying unit ( 5 ) conveyed fiber material ( 2 ) is formed, wherein the control unit ( 8th ) for driving the fiber guide unit ( 7 ) (For adjusting the feeding position P _m) to the fiber laying unit ( 5 ) depending on the detected width of the fiber material ( 2 ) is set up. Fiber laying head ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor ( 10 ) is provided, which for detecting an actual guiding position of the fiber material ( 2 ) transversely to the conveying direction of the fiber material ( 2 ) is formed, wherein the control unit ( 8th ) for driving the fiber guide unit ( 7 ) for adjusting the feed position (P _m ) on the fiber laying unit ( 5 ) is set up in response to the detected actual guidance position and a predetermined target guidance position. Fiber laying head ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor ( 9 ) is provided, which is for detecting already deposited fiber material with respect to the fiber laying unit ( 5 ) is formed, wherein the control unit ( 8th ) for driving the fiber guide unit ( 7 ) for adjusting the feed position (P _m ) on the fiber laying unit ( 5 ) depending on the detected, already deposited fiber material with respect to the fiber laying unit ( 5 ) is set up. Fiber laying head ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the sensor ( 9 . 10 ) is a light section sensor. Fiber laying head ( 1 ) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that as a sensor ( 10 ) a pulley ( 6 ) is provided with a pressure-sensitive material, which determines the mechanical contact pressure by the fiber material ( 2 ) is converted into an electrical signal to detect the width and / or actual guidance position. Fiber laying head ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fiber laying unit ( 5 ) is a pinch roller. Fiber-laying device with a robot, a tool ( 3 ) and a fiber laying head ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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