GB2268703A - Preparation of a feed roll for a fibre reinforced tape-laying head - Google Patents

Preparation of a feed roll for a fibre reinforced tape-laying head Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2268703A
GB2268703A GB9215100A GB9215100A GB2268703A GB 2268703 A GB2268703 A GB 2268703A GB 9215100 A GB9215100 A GB 9215100A GB 9215100 A GB9215100 A GB 9215100A GB 2268703 A GB2268703 A GB 2268703A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
tape
backing layer
feed roll
length
resin film
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9215100A
Other versions
GB2268703B (en
GB9215100D0 (en
Inventor
Andrew Mills
Graham John Burley
Andrew Paul Godbehere
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BAE Systems PLC
Original Assignee
British Aerospace PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British Aerospace PLC filed Critical British Aerospace PLC
Priority to GB9215100A priority Critical patent/GB2268703B/en
Publication of GB9215100D0 publication Critical patent/GB9215100D0/en
Publication of GB2268703A publication Critical patent/GB2268703A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2268703B publication Critical patent/GB2268703B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/04—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising reinforcements only, e.g. self-reinforcing plastics
    • B29C70/28—Shaping operations therefor
    • B29C70/54—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations, e.g. feeding or storage of prepregs or SMC after impregnation or during ageing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/04—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising reinforcements only, e.g. self-reinforcing plastics
    • B29C70/28—Shaping operations therefor
    • B29C70/40—Shaping or impregnating by compression not applied
    • B29C70/50—Shaping or impregnating by compression not applied for producing articles of indefinite length, e.g. prepregs, sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or cross moulding compounds [XMC]
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/12—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B38/00—Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
    • B32B38/0004—Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C37/00—Component parts, details, accessories or auxiliary operations, not covered by group B29C33/00 or B29C35/00
    • B29C2037/90—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2793/00—Shaping techniques involving a cutting or machining operation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2262/00—Composition or structural features of fibres which form a fibrous or filamentary layer or are present as additives
    • B32B2262/10—Inorganic fibres
    • B32B2262/106—Carbon fibres, e.g. graphite fibres

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Reinforced Plastic Materials (AREA)
  • Moulding By Coating Moulds (AREA)

Abstract

A method and apparatus for preparing a feed roll for a fibre reinforced tape-laying head are provided. The apparatus includes a source (1) of fibrous reinforcing material (2) and resin matrix material (5, 6) mounted on a backing layer (7, 8), cutting means (13) to cut same into shaped lengths (14) scrap removal means (15) to remove scrap released by the cutting means (13) and a reel (18) to receive a resulting prepared length of tape (20) whereby to form the feed roll (22) (see Figure 2). <IMAGE>

Description

PREPARATION OF A FEED ROLL FOR A FIBRE REINFORCED TAPE-LAYING HEAD This invention relates to apparatus and a method for preparing a feed roll for a fibre reinforced tape-laying head.
It is known, in the manufacture of fibre reinforced composite materials, to lay up plies of fibre reinforcing material, usually comprised of unidirectional fibres, using an automated tape-laying machine. Such a machine has a swivelling tape-laying head, having anything up to 10 degrees of freedom, and deposits the tape onto a mould surface or a flat layup surface. The tape is normally pre-impregnated with resin matrix material ("pre-preg") and is wound on a drum or reel which unwinds as the tape is deposited on the mould surface or layup surface. The tape is sheared by cutters on the tape-laying head when the head reaches the end of a run across the part in manufacture.
It is an object of the invention to provide means for preparing a feed roll for a fibre reinforced tape-laying head which will be more efficient in use.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for preparing a feed roll for a fibre reinforced tape-laying head including a source of fibrous reinforcing material and resin matrix material mounted on a backing layer, cutting means to cut the same into shaped lengths, scrap removal means to remove scrap released by the cutting means and a reel to receive a resulting prepared tape whereby to form the feed roll.
The source of fibrous material and resin matrix material may include a source of fibrous reinforcing material and at least one separate source of resin film matrix material on a backing layer and the apparatus may include compressing means to compress the materials and adhere them together.
The apparatus may include means positioned downstream the cutting means to separate at least one backing layer from its resin film and may also include means to apply a fresh backing layer to the prepared tape.
Preferably the apparatus includes two sources of resin matrix material, each on a backing layer and positioned on either side of the source of fibrous reinforcing material wherein to apply a layer of resin film to either side of the fibrous reinforcing material, the cutting means being preferably adapted to cut through all but a backing layer of one layer of resin matrix material and means to strip off the backing layer from the layer of resin matrix material to be wound on the outwardly facing side of the prepared length of tape when wound on the feed roll.
The apparatus may include means to carry out non-destructive evaluation of the integrity of the adhered fibrous material and resin film and/or prepared tape.
The compressing means may include two opposed rollers at least one of which is heated.
The apparatus may also include means to record the position on the feed roll of said shaped lengths.
The apparatus may include a support for the tape during cutting.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of preparing a feed roll for a fibre reinforced composite tape-laying head including the steps of feeding a length of fibrous reinforcing material and resin matrix material mounted on a backing layer past cutting means, cutting the fibrous reinforcing material and resin matrix material into shaped lengths on the backing layer, removing scrap from the backing layer and winding a resulting prepared length of tape onto a reel to form said feed roll.
The method may include the step of passing separate lengths of fibrous reinforcing material and resin material between compressing means to adhere same together before cutting.
A said backing layer may be removed from the prepared length of tape and a fresh backing layer may be applied thereto.
Preferably, two lengths of resin film, each backed by a backing layer, together with the length of fibrous reinforcing material are fed between the compressing means whereby to compress a length of said resin film to either side of the length of fibrous material.
The method may include the step of carrying out non-destructive evaluation of the fibrous material and resin film and may also include the step of applying heat to the fibrous material and resin film when compressing them together. Desirably, the method includes the step of recording the position on the feed roll of each shaped length.
The invention will now be described by way of example with seferenoe to the accompanying drawings of which:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a tape-laying head fitted with a feed roll prepared according to the invention.
Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a fibrous material source roll 1 carrying unidirectional carbon fibre fabric 2 ("UDF") having fibre orientation longitudinally of the strip as it is drawn off the roll. The apparatus also comprises to a pair of source rolls 3,4 of resin film 5,6 on a backing layer 7,8. The backed resin films 5,7 and 6,8, together with the UDF 2 pass between pinch rolls 9,10 which are heated and which compress the resin against the UDF which partially melts and mingles with the UDF to form a partially impregnated tape 11 comprised of fibrous material and resin film adhered together. The partially impregnated tape 11 passes a non destructive evaluation scanner 12 to check the integrity thereof. An ultrasonic knife 13 then cuts the partially impregnated tape into shaped lengths 14 by cutting through all but the backing layer 8.A vacuum gripper 15 removes scrap 16 from the tape following cutting. The backing layer 7 is removed from the tape by a stripping roller 17 which strips the backing layer as the tape passes between a take-up roll 18 and an idler roller 19.
The take-up roll 18 becomes the feed roll for use in a tape-laying head. It will be appreciated that a prepared length of tape 20 on the take-up roll 18, having had the backing layer 7 removed, has a tacky outer surface as it is drawn off the take-up roll 18.
Referring now to figure 2, a tape-laying head 21 comprises a powered feed roll 22 which constitutes the take-up roll 18 from figure 1, a consolidation roller 23 and a powered backing layer take-up roll 24 all rotatably mounted on a body portion 25 of the tape-laying head 21.
The tape-laying head 21 is rotatable about a vertical axis 26 and the whole tape-laying head 21 may be raised and lowered into position on a layup surface 27.
The feed roll 22 includes means 28 to record the position of each shaped length of tape 14 and the tape-laying head 21 includes means 29 to read the recording means 28 which interacts with computerised control means (not shown) to control the position and rotation of the tape-laying head 21. In use the feed roll 22, the consolidation roller 23 and the backing layer take-up roll 24 are powered in rotation according to the position of the tape-laying head 21 over the layup surface 27, the shaped lengths 14 of tape being arranged on the feed roll 22 precisely to coincide with the intended layup positions on the layup surface 27. No cutting of the tape is therefore necessary during tape-laying.

Claims (17)

1. Apparatus for preparing a feed roll for a fibre reinforced tape-laying head including a source of fibrous reinforcing material and resin matrix material mounted on a backing layer, cutting means to cut same into shaped lengths, scrap removal means to remove scrap released by the cutting means and a reel to receive a resulting prepared length of tape whereby to form the feed roll.
2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the source of fibrous reinforcing material and resin matrix material includes a source of fibrous reinforcing material and at least one separate source of resin film matrix material on a backing layer and the apparatus includes compressing means to compress the materials and adhere them together.
3. Apparatus as in claim 1 or 2 including means positioned downstream the cutting means to separate at least one backing layer from its resin film.
4. Apparatus as in claim 3 including means to apply a fresh backing layer to the prepared tape.
5. Apparatus as in any preceding claim including means to carry out non-destructive evaluation of the integrity of the adhered fibrous material and resin film.
6. Apparatus as in any preceding claim in which the compressing means includes two opposed rollers at least one of which is heated.
7. Apparatus as in any preceding claim including means to record the position on the feed roll of said shaped lengths.
8. Apparatus as in any preceding claim including a support for the tape during cutting.
9. A method of preparing a feed roll for a fibre reinforced composite tape-laying head including the steps of feeding a length of fibrous reinforcing material and resin matrix material mounted on a backing layer past cutting means, cutting the fibrous reinforcing material and resin matrix material into shaped lengths on the backing layer, removing scrap from the backing layer and winding a resulting prepared length of tape onto a reel to form said feed roll.
10. A method as in claim 9 including the step of passing separate lengths of fibrous reinforcing material and resin material between compressing means to adhere same together before cutting.
11. A method as in claim 9 or 10 in which a said backing layer is removed from the prepared length of tape and a fresh backing layer is applied thereto.
12. A method as in claim 9, 10 or 11 in which two lengths of resin film, each backed by a backing layer, together with the length of fibrous reinforcing material are fed between the compressing means whereby to compress a length of said resin film to either side of the length of fibrous material.
13. A method as in any preceding claim including the step of carrying out non-destructive evaluation of the fibrous material and resin film.
14. A method as in any preceding claim including the step of applying heat to the fibrous material and resin film when compressing them together.
15. A method as in any preceding claim including the step of recording the position on the feed roll of each shaped length.
16. Apparatus for preparing a feed roll for a fibre reinforcing composite tape-laying head substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. A method of preparing a feed roll for a fibre reinforcing composite tape-laying head substantially as herein described.
GB9215100A 1992-07-16 1992-07-16 Preparation of a feed roll for a fibre reinforced tape-laying head Expired - Fee Related GB2268703B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9215100A GB2268703B (en) 1992-07-16 1992-07-16 Preparation of a feed roll for a fibre reinforced tape-laying head

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9215100A GB2268703B (en) 1992-07-16 1992-07-16 Preparation of a feed roll for a fibre reinforced tape-laying head

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9215100D0 GB9215100D0 (en) 1992-08-26
GB2268703A true GB2268703A (en) 1994-01-19
GB2268703B GB2268703B (en) 1996-04-24

Family

ID=10718782

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9215100A Expired - Fee Related GB2268703B (en) 1992-07-16 1992-07-16 Preparation of a feed roll for a fibre reinforced tape-laying head

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2268703B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5482589A (en) * 1993-08-25 1996-01-09 Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha Method and apparatus for making pre-cut pre-preg tape

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5482589A (en) * 1993-08-25 1996-01-09 Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha Method and apparatus for making pre-cut pre-preg tape

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2268703B (en) 1996-04-24
GB9215100D0 (en) 1992-08-26

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20020716