JP2017128056A - Heating device for thermoplastic carbon fiber material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heating device for a thermoplastic carbon fiber material where, even without arranging heaters in a matrix shape and performing individual control, temperature increase is possible while suppressing the variation of the temperature distribution of the sheet-shaped object to be heated.SOLUTION: A thermoplastic carbon fiber material mounted at a position prescribed with a positioning member is carried to the vicinities of heaters by a belt conveyer, the heaters being the bar-shaped heaters extending along the carrying passage, a heater group where the heaters obtained by respectively joining bar materials of different kinds of stocks are arranged in parallel in such a manner that the heat generation density of both the edge parts of the respective heaters is made higher than that of the central part is formed, and further, a controller of controlling the respective heaters in such a manner that the conduction quantity of the heaters at both the sides of the carriage passage is increased than that of the heater at the central part side of the carriage passage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a heating device for thermoplastic carbon fiber materials.

  In recent years, carbon fiber materials containing carbon fibers are becoming widespread. The carbon fiber material includes a thermosetting carbon fiber material using a resin that is cured by firing, and a thermoplastic carbon fiber material using a resin that softens when heated. Many of the carbon fiber materials currently in widespread use are thermosetting carbon fiber materials. However, thermosetting carbon fiber materials are difficult to dispose of and have been widely used in the processing of metal materials. Since the molding is performed by a completely different technique from the press molding, there are various problems that it is not easy to apply as a substitute material for a member produced by the press molding. Therefore, recently, a thermoplastic carbon fiber material that is easy to dispose of and is easy to press-mold is attracting attention. The thermoplastic carbon fiber material is heated during press molding. An apparatus for heating an article is used in, for example, food and drink and other various fields (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

Japanese Patent No. 3898100 Japanese Patent No. 4382725 Japanese Patent No. 4412671

  Since the thermoplastic carbon fiber material has high strength even when heated, the pressing force required for the press machine is large. Carbon fiber materials are extremely expensive compared to materials such as iron, regardless of whether they are thermosetting or thermoplastic. Therefore, when pressing the thermoplastic carbon fiber material, it is required to raise the temperature of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material to an appropriate temperature. And it becomes difficult to raise the temperature uniformly while suppressing variations in the temperature distribution of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material in proportion to the size of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material to be pressed.

  Here, as a measure for uniformly raising the temperature of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material while suppressing variations in temperature distribution, for example, a large number of heaters arranged in a matrix are arranged at positions facing the surface of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material. Although it is conceivable to adopt a method of controlling each heater according to the distribution of the surface temperature of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material, the heaters arranged in a matrix at the position facing the surface of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material are obstacles. Therefore, it is not easy to measure the distribution of the surface temperature of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material. Further, if a device that controls each of the multiple heaters independently is configured, the device configuration becomes complicated and the device becomes expensive.

  Therefore, the present application discloses a heating apparatus for thermoplastic carbon fiber material that can raise the temperature while suppressing variations in the temperature distribution of the sheet-like object to be heated without arranging the heaters in a matrix and controlling them individually. .

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the thermoplastic carbon fiber material placed at a position defined by the positioning member is transported to the vicinity of the heater by a belt conveyor, and the heater is along the direction of the transport path. A heater group in which a plurality of heaters in which bar materials of different materials are joined in parallel so that both ends of each heater have a higher heat generation density than the center part is formed. Furthermore, a control device is provided for controlling each heater so that the heaters on both sides of the transport path are more energized than the heaters on the center side of the transport path.

  Specifically, the present invention is a heating apparatus for thermoplastic carbon fiber material, in which the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is heated from a first region where the sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material before heating is mounted. A belt conveyor that forms a conveyance path to the third region where the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is press-molded through two regions, and a placement position of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material placed on the belt conveyor in the first region. A positioning member to be defined, and a rod-shaped heater extending along the direction of the conveyance path in the second region, and the rods of different materials are arranged so that the heat generation density is higher at both ends of each heater than at the center. A control device that controls a heater group in which a plurality of joined heaters are arranged in parallel, a belt conveyor, and the heater group, and the center of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material placed in the first region is the center of the heater group Located in The first function of transporting the thermoplastic carbon fiber material by moving the belt conveyor and the heaters on both sides of the transport path have more energization per unit time than the heaters on the center of the transport path. And a control device having a second function for controlling each heater so as to increase and a third function for moving the belt conveyor to convey the thermoplastic carbon fiber material from the second region to the third region.

  With the above-described heating device for thermoplastic carbon fiber material, the rod-shaped heaters are arranged in parallel, which is simpler than that in which the heaters are arranged in a matrix, but both ends generate more heat than the center. Therefore, even if it is a comparatively large sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material, it can raise temperature, suppressing the dispersion | variation in temperature distribution.

  In addition, said control apparatus may operate a belt conveyor according to the preset control amount. If the belt conveyor is operated according to a preset control amount, the rods made of different materials can be used so that both ends have higher heat generation density than the center without detecting the position of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material. A thermoplastic carbon fiber material can be arranged in an appropriate positional relationship with respect to a heater group composed of heaters formed by joining materials.

  In addition, a stopper mechanism for holding the thermoplastic carbon fiber material by contacting the end of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material fed from the belt conveyor is provided in the vicinity of the third region. When the belt conveyor that is transporting the carbon fiber material from the second region to the third region stops according to the control amount preset in the control device, the end of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material on the traveling direction side contacts the stopper mechanism. You may prescribe | regulate the mounting position of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material in a 1st area | region so that it may become a contact position. If it is the heating apparatus for thermoplastic carbon fiber materials comprised in this way, since the heated thermoplastic carbon fiber material can be conveyed to the suitable position of a press machine, the yield of a press can be improved.

  If it is said heating apparatus for thermoplastic carbon fiber materials, it can heat up, suppressing the dispersion | variation in the temperature distribution of a sheet-like to-be-heated object, without arranging a heater in a matrix form and controlling separately.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a heating system for a thermoplastic carbon fiber material. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the conveyor and the heater of the heating device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the heating furnace. FIG. 4 shows the heater. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a heater control method. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship among the conveyor, the press, and the stopper mechanism of the transport device. FIG. 7 shows the stopper mechanism. FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view of the stopper mechanism. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the movement of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material in the heating system. FIG. 10 is a first view showing the state of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material in the vicinity of the press. FIG. 11 is a second view showing the state of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material in the vicinity of the press. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating how the position of the stopper is adjusted in the lateral direction.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. Embodiment shown below is one aspect | mode of this invention, and does not limit the technical scope of this invention.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing a heating system for a thermoplastic carbon fiber material (hereinafter simply referred to as “heating system”). The heating system 1 includes a heating device 2 and a transport device 3 that transports the thermoplastic carbon fiber material fed from the heating device 2 to the press machine 100. The press machine 100 is an apparatus for compression-molding a heated flat thermoplastic carbon fiber material, and various molds can be mounted thereon. The heating system 1 is a system for heating a sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material having a width and length of about 1 meter, and can press various members such as a hood and a door of an automobile, for example. Have a size.

  The heating device 2 includes a heating furnace 4 with a built-in heater, and a conveyor 5 that conveys a thermoplastic carbon fiber material. The conveyor 5 is a belt conveyor that forms a first region 26R1 for mounting a sheet-shaped thermoplastic carbon fiber material before heating and a second region 26R2 in the heating furnace 4 in which the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is heated. It is. The transport device 3 includes a conveyor 6 that transports the thermoplastic carbon fiber material, and a stopper mechanism 7 that grips the thermoplastic carbon fiber material transported to the conveyor 6, and the thermoplastic carbon fiber heated by the heating device 2. The material is conveyed to the third region 26R3 where the press machine 100 is located.

  The conveyor 5 of the heating device 2 is preferably a wire mesh belt that is difficult to prevent radiation of heat from the lower side to the upper side of the conveyor 5, for example, a so-called chocolate net that is frequently used in a conveyor that handles foods is suitable. It is. A frame 8 (which is an example of a “positioning member” in the present application) that defines the placement position of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is attached to the first region 26 </ b> R <b> 1 of the conveyor 5. The frame 8 has an inner size that matches the shape and size of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material to be heated by the heating system 1, and an appropriate one according to the type of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is mounted on the conveyor 5. The The control device that controls the conveyors 5 and 6 moves the conveyors 5 and 6 according to a specified control amount. Therefore, when the control device moves the conveyors 5 and 6 according to the specified control amount, the frame 8 is moved to the thermoplastic carbon fiber material. The position where the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is to be placed in the first region 26R1 is defined so as to be the specified position in the second region 26R2 and the third region 26R3.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the conveyor 5 and the heater of the heating device 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a heater group 9 in which a large number of rod heaters are arranged is arranged inside the heating furnace 4. The conveyor 5 forms a conveyance path that passes through the heater group 9. The conveyor 5 rotates an endless belt that circulates in the heating device 2 with driving devices (not shown), and conveys the thermoplastic carbon fiber material into and out of the heating furnace 4. The heating device 2 may be provided with an electric door that suppresses leakage of heat in the heating furnace 4 at the entrance and exit of the heating furnace 4 through which the thermoplastic carbon fiber material enters and exits.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing the internal structure of the heating furnace 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the heater group 9 arranged inside the heating furnace 4 is configured by a large number of rod-shaped heaters 10 arranged on the upper side and the lower side of the conveyor 5. Each heater 10 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction extends along the direction of the conveyance path of the conveyor 5. In addition, in FIG. 3, in order to prevent drawing becoming unclear, 12 heaters 10 are drawn on the upper side and the lower side of the conveyor 5, but in the heating system 1 of this embodiment, as described later, 24 heaters 10 are provided on the upper side and the lower side of the conveyor 5, respectively.

  The heating furnace 4 is provided with reflecting mirrors 11 and 12 on the upper side and the lower side of the heater group 9 so that the infrared rays emitted from the heater 10 strike the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W of the conveyor 5. The reflecting mirrors 11 and 12 are formed of a corrugated plate material that undulates along the heaters 10 arranged in parallel to each other so that infrared rays emitted radially from the rod-like heater 10 are reflected toward the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W. ing. Of the two reflecting mirrors 11 and 12 respectively disposed on the upper side and the lower side of the conveyor 5, the center of the reflecting mirror 12 disposed on the upper side of the conveyor 5 is a surface of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W by a radiation thermometer. An opening 13 for measuring the temperature is provided.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing the heater 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the heater 10 is a rod-shaped electric heater, and generates heat due to a potential difference between both electrodes applied through electric wires connected to both ends. The heater 10 is preferably a carbon heater that can radiate mid-infrared rays more effectively than a halogen heater. The heater 10 uses two types of heating elements so that the amount of mid-infrared radiation radiated near the entrance of the heating furnace 4 that is easily exposed to outside air is higher than that near the center of the heating furnace 4. The bars are joined together to form one bar. That is, the heater 10 is divided into three sections, a central section 14 and outer sections 15 and 16, and the heating elements in the outer sections 15 and 16 have a higher heat amount (for example, 20%) than the heating elements in the central section 14. Degree). The heating element of the central section 14 and the heating elements of the outer sections 15 and 16 are joined in series, and form one heating element in appearance. In addition, when it is desired to improve the temperature uniformity of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W, far infrared rays are generally preferable to middle infrared rays. However, a heater that emits far infrared rays has a longer temperature rise time than a heater that emits mid-infrared rays. Therefore, if a heater that emits far infrared rays is used, temperature adjustment by on / off control is difficult. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a heater 10 that emits mid-infrared rays is employed.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a control method of the heater 10. As described above, the heater group 9 is composed of a total of 48 heaters 10 arranged 24 each on the upper side and the lower side of the conveyor 5. The heating system 1 includes three heaters 10 corresponding to each phase of the distribution lines drawn into various factories as one group, and the 48 heaters 10 are divided into 16 groups (Gr1 to 16). I have control.

The on / off control of each heater 10 is performed as follows, for example. That is, the controller that controls the on / off of each heater 10 is based on, for example, an on / off control in which 2 seconds is one cycle, and is a time for turning on the heater 10 during one cycle (hereinafter simply referred to as “on time”). Length) is set individually for each group. For example, infrared rays emitted from the heater 10 on the upper side of the conveyor 5 are irradiated to the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W without being blocked by the conveyor 5 like infrared rays emitted from the heater 10 on the lower side of the conveyor 5. The Therefore, the ON time of the group (Gr1 to 8) having the heater 10 on the upper side of the conveyor 5 is lower than the ON time of the group (Gr9 to 16) having the heater 10 on the lower side of the conveyor 5, for example. Set to a short time. In addition, the on-time of the groups (for example, Gr1, 8, 9, 16) located on both sides of the conveyor 5 that radiates heat to the surroundings more easily than the center of the conveyor 5 is, for example, other groups on the center side. It is set to a time shorter than the ON time. The controller of the heating system 1 monitors the surface temperature of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W detected by the radiation thermometer (not shown) through the opening 13 while the heater controller energizes such a pattern. When it is confirmed that the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W has reached an appropriate temperature for a certain period of time, the energization of the heater is stopped and the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is conveyed to the press machine 100.

  The above control method is merely an example, and each heater 10 may be energized according to various control methods different from the above.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship among the conveyor 6, the press machine 100, and the stopper mechanism 7 of the transport device 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the transport device 3 realizes a transport path that passes between the upper mold (upper mold) and the lower mold (lower mold) provided in the press machine 100. It is an apparatus, and is arranged adjacent to the downstream side of the conveyor 5 of the heating apparatus 2 so that the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W fed out from the heating furnace 4 is placed on the conveyor 6. The stopper mechanism 7 is disposed in the vicinity of the press machine 100 disposed on the downstream side of the conveyor 6.

  The conveyor 6 is preferably a wire mesh belt having a small contact area with the heated thermoplastic carbon fiber material W, for example, a so-called chocolate net, like the conveyor 5 of the heating device 2. The conveyor 6 has a conveying path in which a belt straddling between the upper side of the first roller 17R1 on the heating device 2 side and the upper side of the second roller 17R2 on the stopper mechanism 7 side conveys the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W. Form. The circumferential length of the belt of the conveyor 6 is set to be longer than the length of the first roller 17R1 and the second roller 17R2, and between the lower side of the first roller 17R1 and the lower side of the second roller 17R2. The surplus belt routed around is stretched between the third roller 17R3 and the fourth roller 17R4.

  The transport device 3 includes a roller moving mechanism 27 that moves the second roller 17R2 toward the stopper mechanism 7 or returns it to the original position in accordance with a command from the controller. The roller moving mechanism 27 moves the third roller 17R3 together with the second roller 17R2. Therefore, when both the second roller 17R2 and the third roller 17R3 move to the stopper mechanism 7, the amount corresponding to the distance between the first roller 17R1 and the second roller 17R2 that increases as the second roller 17R2 moves. This belt is supplemented with a belt corresponding to the distance between the third roller 17R3 and the fourth roller 17R4, which decreases as the third roller 17R3 moves. Of course, while the roller moving mechanism 27 is in operation, the belt itself of the conveyor 6 is also rotated by a driving device (not shown). Strictly speaking, before and after the operation of the roller moving mechanism 27, the third roller 17R3 and the fourth roller 17R4. The belt stretched between the first roller 17R1 and the second roller 17R2 does not move.

  Further, the transport device 3 is provided with a variable angle mechanism 18 that inclines the belt end on the stopper mechanism 7 side obliquely downward. The variable angle mechanism 18 has the second roller 17R2 centered on the fifth roller 17R5 so that the end of the belt is folded around the fifth roller 17R5 disposed slightly closer to the heating device 2 than the second roller 17R2. This is a mechanism for rotating and moving. Various mechanisms such as an electric motor and an air cylinder can be applied as the driving mechanism of the variable angle mechanism 18, but an electric motor is preferable because an appropriate operation speed can be realized.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the stopper mechanism 7. The stopper mechanism 7 includes a stopper 22 having a receiving plate 19 on which an end portion of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W in the traveling direction is placed, and an expansion / contraction device 21 for taking in and out the holding portion 20 toward the upper surface of the receiving plate 19. The stopper mechanism 7 includes a slip prevention member 28. The backing plate 19 is fixed to a column 23 (an example of a “contact portion” in the present application) with which an end portion of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W comes into contact. In FIG. 7, the stopper mechanism 7 including three stoppers 22 is illustrated. However, the stopper mechanism 7 may include two or less stoppers 22, and may include four or more stoppers 22. It may be provided. The stopper mechanism 7 includes a gantry 24 on which the stoppers 22 are placed,
A gantry 29 on which the displacement prevention member 28 is placed, and a slide device 25 that moves the gantry 24 and the gantry 29 back and forth independently along the conveying direction of the conveyor 6 are provided. The telescopic device 21 and the slide device 25 operate according to instructions from a controller (not shown).

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the stopper mechanism 7. The stopper mechanism 7 is normally in a state in which the telescopic device 21 is contracted and the gripping portion 20 is raised, and the slide device 25 moves the gantry 24 toward the press 100 (see FIG. 8A). ). And the end part of the advancing direction side of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W which the conveyor 6 conveyed from the heating apparatus 2 to the press machine 100 approachs between the receiving plate 19 and the holding part 20, and the said edge part goes to the support | pillar 23. The expansion / contraction device 21 is extended at the contact timing, and the end portion is pressed against the receiving plate 19 by the grip portion 20 (see FIG. 8B). As a result, the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is held by the stoppers 22. Then, when the transfer by the conveyor 6 is completed in a state where each stopper 22 is holding the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W, and the belt of the conveyor 6 is retracted from the press machine 100, the expansion / contraction device 21 is contracted and the holding portion 20 is heated. It leaves | separates from the plastic carbon fiber material W (refer FIG.8 (C)). Thereby, the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W will be in the state by which the holding | grip by each stopper 22 was cancelled | released. When the gripping by each stopper 22 is released, the slide device 25 moves only the gantry 24 to the opposite side of the press 100 without moving the gantry 29 and separates each stopper 22 from the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W (FIG. 8). (See (D)). At this time, since the slip prevention member 28 is in contact with the edge of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W, even if the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is slightly adhered to the stopper 22, the displacement of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is shifted. Is prevented. Next, the slide device 25 moves the gantry 29 together with the gantry 24 to separate the deviation preventing member 28 and each stopper 22 from the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W (see FIG. 8E).

  The heating device 2 and the conveying device 3 operate in response to a control signal from a control device that is output in accordance with a sequence in which operation patterns of the devices are defined in advance. For example, the conveyor 5 of the heating device 2 and the conveyor 6 of the transport device 3 operate according to a control amount set in advance in the control device, and move the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W to a specified position.

  FIG. 9 is a view showing the movement of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W in the heating system 1. That is, when the heating system 1 receives a heating start operation performed by the operator after the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W before heating is mounted on the first region 26R1 of the conveyor 5, the heating system 1 operates the thermoplastic carbon fiber material. W is carried into the heating furnace 4 (FIG. 9 (A) → (B)). And after heating system 1 energizes heater group 9 and heats thermoplastic carbon fiber material W, while operating conveyor 5 and conveyor 6 and conveying thermoplastic carbon fiber material W to press machine 100, The roller moving mechanism 27 is operated to extend the conveyor 6 so that the conveyor 6 extends toward the stopper mechanism 7, and the downstream end of the conveyor 6 is between the receiving plate 19 of the stopper 22 and the grip 20. The variable angle mechanism 18 is actuated at an appropriate timing so as to be folded toward the center (FIG. 9B → C). The conveyor 6 is stopped at the timing when the end of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W in the traveling direction comes into contact with the support 23, and the expansion device 21 is extended to hold the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W with the stopper 22 (see FIG. 9 (C) → (D)). The heating system 1 grips the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W with the stopper 22 and then operates the conveyor 6 and the roller moving mechanism 27 again to contract the conveyor 6 toward the heating device 2 (FIG. 9D → (E )). Since the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is heated and in a flexible state, the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is covered with the lower mold of the press machine 100. When the conveyor 6 is contracted to the heating device 2 side, the conveyor 6 and the roller moving mechanism 27 are stopped, the angle variable mechanism 18 is operated, and the angle of the end portion on the downstream side of the conveyor 6 is restored. Further, the heating system 1 releases the gripping by the stopper 22 and brings the stopper 22 toward the opposite side of the press machine 100 (FIG. 9 (E) → (F)).

FIG. 10 is a first view showing a state of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W in the vicinity of the press machine 100. The heating system 1 operates after the variable angle mechanism 18 is operated at an appropriate timing so that the downstream end of the conveyor 6 is folded down between the receiving plate 19 of the stopper 22 and the grip 20, and then the thermoplasticity The conveyor 6 is stopped at the timing when the end of the carbon fiber material W in the traveling direction comes into contact with the support column 23 (FIG. 10 (A) → (B)). Then, the heating system 1 extends the expansion / contraction device 21 to grip the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W with the stopper 22 and operates the conveyor 6 and the roller moving mechanism 27 again to contract the conveyor 6 to the heating device 2 side (FIG. 10 (B) → (C)).

  FIG. 11 is a second view showing the state of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W in the vicinity of the press machine 100. The heating system 1 contracts the conveyor 6 to the heating device 2 side, and then contracts the telescopic device 21 to release the gripping by the stoppers 22 (FIG. 10C → FIG. 11D). Then, the heating system 1 moves only the gantry 24 to the opposite side of the press 100 with the slide device 25 without moving the slip prevention member 28 (FIG. 11D → E). Next, the heating system 1 moves the slip prevention member 28 together with the gantry 24 to completely separate the slip prevention member 28 and each stopper 22 from the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W (FIG. 11 (E) → (F)).

  In the case of the heating system 1 described above, the rod-shaped heaters 10 are arranged in parallel in the heating furnace 4 and have a simpler structure than that in which the heaters are arranged in a matrix, but both ends generate more heat than the center. Since the rod-like heater 10 partitioned as described above is used, even a relatively large sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material W can be heated while suppressing variations in temperature distribution. Therefore, with the heating system 1 described above, it is possible to raise the temperature of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W to an appropriate temperature while suppressing variations in temperature distribution, and to improve the press yield in the press machine 100. Can do.

  In the case of the heating system 1 described above, the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W heated to an appropriate temperature in the heating furnace 4 can be conveyed from the heating furnace 4 to the press machine 100 as quickly as possible, Thus, the sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material W in a flexible state is positioned at an appropriate location of the press 100 by the cooperation of the angle variable mechanism 18 and the stopper 22. Therefore, it is possible to suppress molding defects caused by the positional deviation of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W in the press machine 100, and to improve the press yield in the press machine 100.

  It is desirable that the position and size of the frame 8 and the position of each stopper 22 be appropriately adjusted according to the size and shape of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating how the position of the stopper 22 is adjusted in the horizontal direction. The stopper 22 fixed to the gantry 24 is preferably adjusted to an appropriate position by, for example, loosening a screw fixing the stopper 22 to the gantry 24 and moving it along a groove provided in the gantry 24. When the stopper mechanism 7 includes three stoppers 22, for example, the intermediate stopper 22 is fixed around the center line of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W, and the other two stoppers 22 are thermoplastic carbon fibers. It is preferable to be fixed near the corner of the material W. In addition, since the conveyors 5 and 6 move only the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W along the advancing direction, the horizontal positional relationship with respect to the advancing direction is the mounting position defined by the frame 8 installed in the heating device 2. Will respond.

  In addition, for example, in the vicinity of the fifth roller 17R5, an auxiliary roller for pressing an unintended behavior (such as jumping up) of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W from the upper side is provided at a portion where the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is bent. It may be provided.

  In addition, the heating system 1 is not only used for heating one thermoplastic carbon fiber material W, but also, for example, another thermoplastic carbon fiber material is stacked on a part of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W. The combined state may be heated.

The controller for controlling each heater 10 stores heating recipes prepared for various types of thermoplastic carbon fiber materials having different shapes, thicknesses, and dimensions, and switching of the heating recipes by the operator. The operation may be acceptable.

1. Heating system: 2. Heating device: 3. Transfer device: 4. Heating furnace: 5, 6. Conveyor: 7. Stopper mechanism: 8. Frame: 9. Heater group: 10. Heater: 11, 12 Reflector: 13 Opening section: 14 Central section: 15, 16 Outer section: 17R1 First roller: 17R2 Second roller: 17R3 Third Roller: 17R4 ・ ・ 4th roller: 17R5 ・ ・ 5th roller: 18 ・ ・ Angle variable mechanism: 19 ・ ・ Back plate: 20 ・ ・ Holding part: 21 ・ ・ Extension device: 22 ・ ・ Stopper: 23 ・ ・ Post : 24, 29 ································································ Slide device: 26R1 ··· 1st region: 26R2 ··· 2nd region: 26R3・ ・ Press machine: W ・ ・ Thermoplastic carbon fiber material

Claims (3)

A third region in which the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is press-molded from a first region in which the sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material is mounted before heating, through a second region in which the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is heated. A belt conveyor that forms a transport path leading to
A positioning member that defines a placement position of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material placed on the belt conveyor in the first region;
It is a rod-shaped heater that extends along the direction of the conveyance path in the second region, and is formed by bonding rods of different materials so that both ends of each heater have a higher heat generation density than the center. A heater group in which a plurality of heaters are arranged in parallel;
A control device for controlling the belt conveyor and the heater group, wherein the belt conveyor is moved so that a center of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material placed in the first region is located at a central portion of the heater group; The first function of transporting the thermoplastic carbon fiber material and the heater on the both sides of the transport path increase the amount of current per unit time than the heater on the center of the transport path. A control device having a second function for controlling each heater, and a third function for moving the belt conveyor to convey the thermoplastic carbon fiber material from the second region to the third region; A heating device for thermoplastic carbon fiber material. The control device operates the belt conveyor according to a preset control amount.
The heating apparatus for thermoplastic carbon fiber materials according to claim 1. In the vicinity of the third region, there is provided a stopper mechanism for gripping the thermoplastic carbon fiber material by contacting an end portion of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material fed from the belt conveyor,
The positioning member is configured to move the thermoplastic carbon fiber material when the belt conveyor that is transporting the thermoplastic carbon fiber material from the second region to the third region stops according to a control amount preset in the control device. Prescribing the mounting position of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material in the first region so that the end of the material in the traveling direction is a position in contact with the stopper mechanism;
The heating apparatus for thermoplastic carbon fiber materials according to claim 2.

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