JP2018058159A - Device for and method of producing chopped fiber bundle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a production device and method for chopped fiber bundle, capable of continuously slant-cutting a reinforced fiber yarn, capable of slant-cutting at smaller angles and capable of stably producing the chopped fiber bundle obtained by slant cutting into a desired shape.SOLUTION: A production device for chopped fiber bundle comprises: a cutter roll; a nip roll capable of nipping a reinforced fiber yarn between the cutter roll and the nip roll; a guide guiding the reinforced fiber yarn between the nip and cutter rolls; and a reciprocation-driving mechanism reciprocating at least one of the roll and guide, and the device produces the chopped fiber bundle by continuously cutting the above fiber yarn using the cutter roll while moving the guide eye of the fiber yarn to reciprocate in the direction parallel to a roll axial direction via the reciprocation-driving mechanism. The reciprocation-driving mechanism is equipped with a control means for a folding end part movement speed which increases a guide eye movement speed at the folding end part of reciprocation stroke of the guide eye in the reinforced fiber yarn with respect to the movement speed to reach the folding end part. The production method for chopped fiber bundle is also provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  When used as a molding material, the present invention has a good impregnation property, fluidity and molding followability, and when used as a fiber reinforced plastic, a chopped fiber bundle that exhibits excellent mechanical properties is stabilized in a desired shape. The present invention relates to a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method of a chopped fiber bundle that can be manufactured by the manufacturing method.

  Fiber reinforced plastic consisting of reinforced fiber and matrix resin is attracting attention in industrial applications because it has high specific properties, high specific modulus, excellent mechanical properties, weather resistance, chemical resistance, etc. The demand is increasing year by year. Among them, as a molding method suitable for a complicated shape such as a three-dimensional shape, a bundle of discontinuous reinforcing fibers (for example, carbon fibers) (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a fiber bundle) and a matrix resin are used. A technique for producing a molded product having a desired shape by using a molding material by heating and pressure molding is known, and molding using a SMC (sheet molding compound) or a stampable sheet is mainly mentioned. .

  For SMC molded products, a fiber bundle of reinforcing fibers is cut in a direction perpendicular to the fiber so that the fiber length is about 25 mm, for example, to produce a chopped fiber bundle, and the chopped fiber bundle is impregnated with a matrix resin which is a thermosetting resin It can be obtained by heating and pressurizing a sheet-like base material (SMC) in a semi-cured state using a heating press. A stampable sheet molded product is obtained by thermoplasticizing a sheet-like base material (stampable sheet) in which a thermoplastic resin is impregnated with a chopped fiber bundle cut to about 25 mm or a nonwoven mat made of continuous reinforcing fibers with an infrared heater. It is obtained by heating above the melting point of the resin, laminating on a mold at a predetermined temperature, and cooling and pressurizing. In many cases, the SMC or stampable sheet is cut smaller than the shape of the molded body before being pressed, placed on the mold, and stretched (flowed) into the shape of the molded body by pressing. Since the fibers are discontinuous, the reinforcing fiber bundle can flow freely together with the resin, so that it is possible to follow a complicated shape such as a three-dimensional shape.

  By the way, as a technique for improving the performance of the fiber-reinforced plastic material composed of the above-mentioned discontinuous reinforcing fibers, there is a disclosure relating to the knowledge of making the cut angle of discontinuous fibers smaller than 90 ° with respect to the fiber direction (for example, Patent Document 1-3). In this disclosure, by using a chopped strand having an oblique cut surface, the joint area between the resin and the end of the strand is increased, stress concentration is avoided, and the fracture strength is improved. In addition, the chopped strand is easily opened to a single fiber, the resin / strand bonding area is increased, stress concentration is avoided, and the breaking strength is improved.

  However, there is no specific method listed in Patent Document 1 for actually cutting the reinforcing fiber bundle obliquely.

  Patent Document 2 mentions a cutting roll in which cutting blades are arranged obliquely on a rotating roll. However, the manufacturing cost is high due to the complicated shape, and only the blade portion is replaced like a normal cutter roll. Therefore, the cost of blade replacement becomes very large, and it is unrealistic to apply to actual production. In particular, in the case of high-strength fibers such as carbon fibers and aramid fibers, the strength of the fibers themselves is high, so that the blades wear quickly and this problem is remarkable.

  In patent document 3, the method of inclining and introducing a fiber thread is mentioned to the cutter roll of the form which arrange | positioned the linear blade in the roll circumferential direction like a normal cutter roll, and if it is this system, only a blade part will be mentioned. Can be exchanged, so the above problem is avoided. However, in this method, in order to cut continuously while maintaining the fiber direction of the yarn in an oblique direction, the shape and fiber direction of the yarn must not change due to the pulling of the roll. Processing such as fixing to the top was necessary. In Patent Document 3, a method of hardening fibers by resin impregnation is mentioned, but it is not a preferable method because it leads to an improvement in cost. In addition, since the effect of oblique cutting becomes larger as the angle becomes smaller, it is preferable to cut at as small an angle as possible. However, in this method, the cutting direction of the cutter blade is perpendicular to the drawing direction of the fiber yarn. Yes, since the cutting angle = (90 ° −introduction angle of fiber yarn), it was necessary to make the introduction angle very large in order to obtain a small cutting angle. For example, in order to obtain a fiber bundle having a cutting angle of 5 °, it is necessary to incline the yarn path of the fiber yarn by 85 ° and introduce it into the cutter roll, which is substantially parallel to the direction of the fiber yarn with respect to the rotation axis of the cutter. Therefore, it was very difficult to continuously introduce the fiber at a constant introduction angle while maintaining the shape of the fiber yarn at such an angle.

JP 2003-165739 A JP 2009-114611 A JP 2009-114612 A

  An object of the present invention is to pay attention to the above-mentioned problems, and with a simple device, the reinforcing fiber yarn can be continuously obliquely cut, and can be obliquely cut at a smaller angle, and the oblique cutting thereof. An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method of a chopped fiber bundle capable of stably manufacturing the chopped fiber bundle obtained by the above in a desired shape.

In order to solve the above problems, a chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.
(1) A reinforcing fiber yarn can be nipped between a rotating cutter roll in which a plurality of disk blades are arranged at intervals in the roll axis direction and the cutter roll arranged in parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll. A rotating nip roll, a guide for guiding the reinforcing fiber yarn between the nip roll and the cutter roll, at least one of the cutter roll, the nip roll, and the guide, and a roll axial direction of the cutter roll. A reciprocating drive mechanism that reciprocates in a parallel direction, and the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn fed between the nip roll and the cutter roll via the guide via the reciprocating drive mechanism. While moving the cutter roll so as to reciprocate in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction, the reinforcing fiber yarn is An apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle that is continuously cut by a ter-roll, wherein the reciprocating drive mechanism has a reciprocating stroke in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn. A chopped fiber bundle provided with a folded end moving speed control means for increasing the moving speed of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn at the folded end relative to the moving speed up to the folded end. Manufacturing equipment.
(2) The folded end portion moving speed control means is configured to at least 1.5 times the average moving speed of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn at the folded end portion with respect to the average moving speed up to the folded end portion. The apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle according to (1), which is preferably increased at least twice.
(3) The reciprocating drive mechanism in which both the cutter roll, the nip roll, and the guide can be independently controlled has the reciprocating drive mechanism. The chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the operation of the chopped fiber bundle is controlled.
(4) The return end portion moving speed control means operates the guide reciprocating drive mechanism only at the instant of the return of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn at the return end and the vicinity thereof. The manufacturing apparatus of chopped fiber bundle of description.
(5) The apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein a spacer is provided between adjacent disk blades in the cutter roll.
(6) The apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the reinforcing fiber yarns are carbon fiber yarns.

Moreover, the manufacturing method of the chopped fiber bundle which concerns on this invention has the following structures.
(7) Reinforced fiber yarns can be nipped between the rotating cutter roll in which a plurality of disc blades are arranged at intervals in the roll axis direction and the cutter roll arranged parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll. A rotating nip roll, a guide for guiding the reinforcing fiber yarn between the nip roll and the cutter roll, at least one of the cutter roll, the nip roll, and the guide, and a roll axial direction of the cutter roll. A reciprocating drive mechanism that reciprocates in a parallel direction, and feeds the reinforcing fiber yarn between the nip roll and the cutter roll via the guide, and the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn to be fed The reciprocating drive mechanism is not moved so as to reciprocate in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll. A method of manufacturing a chopped fiber bundle in which the reinforcing fiber yarn is continuously cut by the cutter roll, and the reciprocation of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll. A method for producing a chopped fiber bundle, wherein the moving speed of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn at the folded end of the stroke is increased with respect to the moving speed up to the folded end.
(8) The average moving speed of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn at the folded end is increased by at least 1.5 times, preferably at least twice the average moving speed until reaching the folded end. The manufacturing method of the chopped fiber bundle of Claim 7.

  In the present invention, the above-mentioned “folded end portion” means “the reciprocation of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn from the position of the final disc blade in the arrangement direction of the plurality of disc blades. It is the “roll axial direction portion of the cutter roll along which the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn moves until it returns to the position of the final disk blade via the turn point of movement”.

  According to the present invention, the reinforcing fiber yarn can be continuously obliquely cut with a simple apparatus and method, and can be obliquely cut at a smaller angle, and the chopped fiber bundle obtained by the oblique cutting is obtained. An apparatus and a method for manufacturing a chopped fiber bundle that can be stably manufactured in a desired shape can be provided.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows one embodiment of the manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method of a chopped fiber bundle which concern on one embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the relationship between the disk blade attached to the cutter roll, and the angle made by the reinforced fiber yarn cut | disconnected by a disk blade. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. 2 which shows the cutting length of a chopped fiber bundle. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the reciprocating motion of the yarn path for implementing this invention It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the cutter roll for implementing this invention. It is an expansion schematic block diagram which shows an example of the nip part of the cutter roll and nip roll for implementing this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the mode of the yarn path in the folding | turning edge part of the cutter roll for implementing this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of operation | movement of the cutter roll and guide in the folding | turning edge part vicinity of the cutter roll for implementing this invention.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Overall configuration of manufacturing apparatus for chopped fiber bundle>
First, an overall configuration of a manufacturing apparatus used for manufacturing a chopped fiber bundle according to the present invention and an outline of a manufacturing method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The manufacturing apparatus 100 has a rotation axis and a central axis of a roll body 41 on the outer periphery of a roll body 11. A rotating cutter roll 10 in which a plurality of disk blades 12 are arranged at intervals in the roll axial direction XX so as to coincide with each other, and a cutter roll 10 arranged in parallel with the roll axial direction XX of the cutter roll 10 Reinforcing fiber yarn 1 (reinforcing fiber yarn composed of a bundle of a plurality of continuous reinforcing fibers) between the nip roll 20 and the nip roll 20 and the cutter roll 10 can be nipped. And a guide 30 for guiding. At least one of the set of the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20 and the guide 30 is provided with a reciprocating drive mechanism that reciprocates them in a direction parallel to the roll axial direction XX of the cutter roll 10. In the illustrated example, both a reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 that reciprocates the set of the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20 and a reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42 that reciprocates the guide 30 are provided.

  The yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 fed between the nip roll 20 and the cutter roll 10 via the guide 30 passes through at least one of the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 and the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42. The reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is continuously cut by the cutter roll 10 while being moved so as to reciprocate in the direction parallel to the roll axial direction XX of the cutter roll 10, and the chopped fiber bundle 50 is manufactured. The reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 and the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42 are preferably driven and controlled independently of each other. In the state shown in FIG. 1, at least one of the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 and the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42 activates the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 into the set of the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20. On the other hand, it is relatively moved in the direction of arrow A. When the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is obliquely entered with respect to the set of the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20, the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is continuously and obliquely cut by the cutter roll 10. A chopped fiber bundle 50 obtained by obliquely cutting is obtained.

  The reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 and / or the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42 (in the illustrated example, both the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 and the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42). The moving speed of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 at the turning end portion of the reciprocating stroke in the direction parallel to the roll axial direction XX of the cutter roll 10 of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is defined as the turning end. Folding end moving speed control means 43 is provided to increase the moving speed up to the part. Details of the movement operation example of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 at the folded end by the folded end moving speed control means 43 will be described later.

<Cutter roll and nip roll>
The cutter roll 10 refers to the entire roll-shaped rotating body formed by the roll body 11 and the disk blade 12, and has a shape in which the blade portion of the disk blade 12 protrudes from the roll surface. The disk blade 12 may be fixed to or integrated with the outer peripheral portion of the roll body 11, but is preferably detachable from the viewpoint of blade maintenance. The nip roll 20 is installed substantially parallel to the rotation axis direction of the cutter roll 10 so as to be adjacent to or in contact with the cutter roll 10 and has a relatively flat surface shape. The material of the nip roll 20 and the cutter roll 10 is not particularly limited, but when an elastic material such as rubber or urethane is used, the force for gripping the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 can be improved. In particular, when an elastic material is used for the nip roll 20, the adhesiveness with the cutter roll 10 is improved, so that the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is easily cut reliably.

<Reinforcing fiber yarn>
The reinforcing fiber yarn 1 used in the present invention is not particularly limited, but is a high-strength reinforcing fiber in which the disk blade 12 is quickly worn out and the disk blade 12 needs to be frequently replaced. In the case of carbon fibers, the present invention is preferred.

<The whole cutting procedure>
The reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is guided to the guide 30, while the yarn path is reciprocated to the left and right relative to the set of the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20. Are cut into the shape of a chopped fiber bundle 50 by the disk blades 12 sandwiched between them and protruding from the surface of the cutter roll 10. The nip roll 20 is always in contact with the cutter roll 10. For example, when the cutter roll 10 is driven, the nip roll 20 is also driven by friction. In this case, the nip roll 20 may be driven and the cutter roll 10 may be driven freely. Moreover, if it is a case where it does not follow well by friction by slip etc., you may drive both the nip roll 20 and the cutter roll 10. FIG.

<Applying tension to reinforcing fiber yarn>
The reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is sandwiched between the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20 and is drawn in by the rotation of the cutter roll 10 and / or the nip roll 20 and is given a tension. Accordingly, the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is fixed between the guide 30 and the nip roll 20 while maintaining a predetermined angle. Accordingly, the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 can be directly cut without performing a special treatment such as fixing the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 with a guide or the like, or presolidifying the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 by impregnating the resin with the resin.

<Description of angle adjustment>
Next, an angle when the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is cut into the chopped fiber bundle 50 will be described with reference to FIG. Due to the relative speed between the moving speed of the guide 20 and the moving speed of the cutter roll 10 in the roll axis direction, the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 enters the disk blade 12 on the cutter roll 10 with an angle θ [°] and is cut. The As a result, a parallelogram-shaped chopped fiber bundle 50 having an angle θ [°] is formed. The angle θ [°] is defined as an acute angle among the angles formed by the disk blade 12 and the reinforcing fiber yarn 1.

  Here, V [m / min] is a relative speed between the moving speed of the guide 30 for guiding the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 and the moving speed of the cutter roll 10 in the roll axis direction, that is, the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1. Rω [m / min] indicates the peripheral speed of the cutter roll 10, and the angle θ [°] is determined by the relationship between the two. That is, by appropriately changing these speeds, the angle θ [°] can be easily and steplessly controlled at any time without exchanging the disk blade 12.

  Further, the angle θ [°] can be continuously changed by arbitrarily changing the relative speed V [m / min]. If such a cutting method is utilized, it is also possible to mix strands having various angles θ [°]. In particular, if a mechanism for arbitrarily adjusting the speed of at least one of the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 and the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42 is provided, the relative speed V [m / min] is easily changed. be able to.

  Further, by increasing the peripheral speed Rω [m / min] relative to the relative speed V [m / min] or adjusting the relative speed V [m / min] itself to a small value, the angle θ [° It is possible to obtain a chopped fiber bundle having a very small value of, for example, θ <5 °. When such a chopped fiber bundle having a very small cutting angle θ [°] is applied to, for example, a discontinuous fiber reinforced plastic, its strength can be improved.

<Description of cutting length>
As shown in FIG. 3, the cutting length of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is such that when the interval between the disk blades 12 is P [mm] and the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 enters at an angle θ [°], the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 The cutting length is P / sin θ [mm]. That is, it is possible to control the cutting length arbitrarily and steplessly by changing the angle θ [°] without changing the interval P [mm] of the disk blades 12.

<Control during reciprocating turn>
As shown in FIG. 4, when the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 guided by the guide 30 reaches the end of the cutter roll 10 in the reciprocating motion, the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is continuously cut by switching the reciprocating motion direction. can do. For example, when the guide 30 is reciprocated, the cutting angle changes from θ [°] to −θ [°] by turning the guide 30 at the end and turning back in the opposite direction. Here, −θ [°] indicates that the left and right directions are different from each other with respect to the disk blade 12. When the relative speed V [m / min] is constant before and after turning, the chopped fiber bundles 50 and 52 to be cut out are symmetrical with each other, and the cutting length and the cutting angle are substantially the same. By repeating this process every time the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 reaches the end of the roll, it is possible to carry out continuously and efficiently without a break.

  In the above operation, when the cutting angle of the guide 30 is switched from θ [°] to −θ [°], the angle θ [°] approaches 0 °, and the cutting length is P / sin θ [mm]. A lengthened chopped fiber bundle 51 is cut out. If the cutting length becomes too long and the difference from the normal cutting length increases, adverse effects such as non-uniform quality may be considered. In order to suppress the fiber length of such a chopped fiber bundle 51, the moving speed of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 at the turning end of the reciprocating stroke is controlled by the turning end moving speed control means 43. It is increased with respect to the moving speed up to the folded end. An example of this control will be described later.

  Next, an example of the configuration of the cutter roll 10 is shown in FIG. A blade is attached to the outer edge, and a disk blade 12 having an opening for attachment at the center and a disk-shaped spacer 13 having an opening for attachment at the center are alternately arranged. The cutter roll 10 can be configured by inserting the roll main body 11 through the opening. With such a configuration, when the disk blade 12 is worn out, it is only necessary to replace the worn disk blade 12, and it is possible to shorten the work time and exchange cost associated with the exchange of the disk blade 12. In particular, it is suitable for cutting high-strength reinforcing fibers that require rapid replacement of the disk blades 12, particularly carbon fibers with particularly high hardness. Moreover, if it is this structure, the space | interval of the disk blade 12 can be changed easily and correctly by exchanging or rearranging the spacer 13. Furthermore, even if the plurality of cutter rolls 10 are not owned, one type of cutter roll 10 can cope with various angles θ [°] and fiber lengths P / sin θ [mm]. Furthermore, by changing the diameter of the disk blade 12 or the spacer 13, it is possible to change the amount of protrusion of the blade from the surface of the cutter roll 10. Accordingly, it is possible to deal with the reinforcing fiber yarns 1 having various thicknesses.

  In the case of such a configuration, since the shape of the disk blade 12 becomes very simple, a material having high hardness such as high-speed steel that is difficult to process can be selected as the material of the disk blade 12. Also, for the spacer 13, various materials can be used for the same reason.

  The reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is fed and cut between the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20 configured as described above. The reinforcing fiber yarn 1 to be cut after being nipped is, for example, as shown in FIG. become. That is, the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is securely nipped between the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20, and the necessary disk blade 12 is used, and the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 fed in is continuously cut. Go.

  Next, the operation control at the turn-back end of the reciprocating motion in the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 reaches the end of the cutter roll 10, and the turning end where the reciprocating motion direction is turned is cut by the disk blade 12 at the end. The fiber length of the chopped fiber bundle 53 tends to increase. In particular, when the cutter roll 10 side is reciprocated by the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41, if the weight (mass) of the cutter roll 10 side increases, it may be difficult to quickly turn back due to its inertia. Along with this, it may be difficult to quickly return the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1. In such a case, the reinforced fiber yarn 1 at the turning end of the reciprocating stroke by the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 and / or the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42 by the turning end moving speed control means 43. By controlling the movement speed of the yarn path to be increased (at least 1.5 times, preferably more than 2 times) with respect to the movement speed up to the folded end, A quick turn-back can be realized, and a chopped fiber bundle 54 with a shortened fiber length can be formed. The weight (mass) on the cutter roll 10 side increases.

  When the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is reciprocated in the roll axis direction of the cutter roll 10 in order to obliquely cut the reinforcing fiber yarn 1, the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 passing through the guide 30 is kept in a stable form as much as possible. For this purpose, it is preferable to reciprocate the cutter roll 10 side (that is, the set of the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20) by the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41. However, when the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is reciprocated only by the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41, as described above, particularly when the weight (mass) on the cutter roll 10 side becomes large, the reciprocating folded end portion. In some cases, it is difficult to turn back quickly. In such a case, it is possible to realize a quick return of the yarn path at the return end by causing the guide 30 to perform a preferable operation in combination with the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42.

  In consideration of this, in FIG. 8, a set of the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20 is represented by the cutter roll 10, and the vicinity of the turn-back end of the reciprocating movement of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 on the cutter roll 10 side An example of operation | movement of the cutter roll 10 and the guide 30 in is shown.

  In FIG. 8, at the time of normal traversing (1) that is the reciprocating position up to the turn-up end, the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42 is not operated and the guide 30 is not reciprocated and is set in a predetermined predetermined state. (For example, the center position of the cutter roll 10 in the roll axial direction) and is reciprocated only by the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 only on the cutter roll 10 side, whereby the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 Is reciprocated relative to the cutter roll 10 side. By fixing the position of the guide 30 without reciprocating, the form of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 passing through the guide 30 is stabilized. The length of the arrow in FIG. 8 (1) represents the magnitude of the moving speed on the cutter roll 10 side. Also in the following FIGS. 8 (2) to (5), the length of the arrow in the drawing similarly represents the magnitude of the moving speed of the cutter roll 10 side or the guide 30.

  When the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 approaches the turn-back end portion of the reciprocating motion, the moving speed on the cutter roll 10 side is reduced, and the guide 30 starts moving in the direction opposite to the moving direction on the cutter roll 10 side (see FIG. 8 (2)). Since the movement direction of the guide 30 and the cutter roll 10 side is the reverse counter operation, a speed difference in consideration of the plus side and the minus side is given to the movement of the guide 30 and the cutter roll 10 side, and is strengthened at the folded end portion. The moving speed of the reciprocating movement of the yarn path of the fiber yarn 1 can be increased.

  When the stroke of the reciprocating motion of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 reaches the turning point, the moving speed on the cutter roll 10 side is instantaneously zero and the weight (mass) is small as shown in FIG. As the moving speed of the guide 30 is increased, the guide 30 is rapidly changed in direction at the turning point of the reciprocating motion and turned back. The yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 is quickly bent and quickly turned back by increasing the moving speed of the guide 30 and rapidly turning back, while shortening the fiber length as shown in FIG. The target chopped fiber bundle 54 (FIG. 7) is produced by cutting.

  When the turning point has passed, as shown in FIG. 8 (4), the movement of the cutter roll 10 side to the side opposite to that shown in FIG. 8 (2) is started, the moving speed is accelerated, The moving speed of the guide 30 turned back in FIG. 8 (3) is reduced. Also at this time, since the movement direction of the guide 30 and the cutter roll 10 side is a counter operation in the reverse direction, a speed difference in consideration of the plus side and the minus side is given to the movement of the guide 30 and the cutter roll 10 side. The moving speed of the reciprocating movement of the yarn path of the fiber yarn 1 is brought close to the moving speed during normal traversing.

  When the folding is completed, or when the folding is completed and moved away from the folded end part to some extent, the movement of the guide 30 is stopped and the original position shown in FIG. It is fixed, and the moving speed on the cutter roll 10 side is returned to the normal traverse speed (the direction opposite to the moving direction shown in FIG. 8 (1)). Such a series of movement speed control at the folded end is performed via the folded end moving speed control means 43. By controlling the moving speed at the folded end as described above, the desired chopped fiber bundle can be manufactured stably and continuously over the entire region including the folded end of the reciprocating stroke of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1. It becomes possible to do.

  In the operation example at the folded end, the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 is controlled by the folded end moving speed control means 43, which controls the moving speed of both the cutter roll 10 and the guide 30. It is also possible to control only one of the reciprocating drive mechanisms (B) 42 and increase the moving speed of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 in the reciprocating direction at the folded end. In particular, when the inertia on the cutter roll 10 side is not so great, there is a possibility that the control is simplified by this method.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to all uses that require continuous and stable production of chopped fiber bundles by oblique cutting of reinforcing fiber yarns, and is particularly suitable when the reinforcing fiber yarns are carbon fiber yarns. Is.

1: Reinforcing fiber yarn 10: Cutter roll 11: Roll body 12: Disc blade 13: Spacer 20: Nip roll 30: Guide 41: Reciprocating drive mechanism (A)
42: Reciprocating drive mechanism (B)
43: Turned end moving speed control means 50, 51, 52, 53, 54: Chopped fiber bundle 100: Manufacturing apparatus for chopped fiber bundle θ: Cut angle of fiber [°]
V: Relative speed [m / min] with respect to the moving speed of the cutter roll in the roll axis direction with respect to the moving speed of the guide
Rω: Cutter roll peripheral speed [m / min]
P: Disc blade pitch

Claims (8)

  A rotating cutter roll in which a plurality of disc blades are arranged at intervals in the roll axis direction and a rotating fiber roll arranged in parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll so that a reinforcing fiber yarn can be nipped between them. A nip roll, a guide for guiding reinforcing fiber yarns between the nip roll and the cutter roll, and at least one of the cutter roll, the nip roll, and the guide in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll. A reciprocating drive mechanism for reciprocally moving the reinforcing fiber yarn thread path fed between the nip roll and the cutter roll via the guide, and the cutter roll via the reciprocating drive mechanism. The reinforcing fiber yarn is moved in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction of the roll while the reinforcing fiber yarn is moved to the cutter. A chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus that continuously cuts by a roll, and a reciprocating stroke in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarns to the reciprocating drive mechanism. The chopped fiber is provided with a folded end moving speed control means for increasing the moving speed of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn at the folded end of the folded fiber relative to the moving speed up to the folded end. Bundle manufacturing equipment.   The folded end portion moving speed control means increases the average moving speed of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn at the folded end portion by at least 1.5 times the average moving speed up to the folded end portion. The apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle according to claim 1.   The cutter roll, the nip roll, and the guide both have the reciprocating drive mechanism that can be controlled independently, and the folding end portion moving speed control means operates both the reciprocating driving mechanisms at the folding end portion. The chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 to be controlled.   The chopped end moving speed control means operates the reciprocating drive mechanism of the guide only at and near the moment when the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn is turned back at the turned-up end. Fiber bundle manufacturing equipment.   The manufacturing apparatus of the chopped fiber bundle in any one of Claims 1-4 in which the spacer is provided between the adjacent disk blades in the said cutter roll.   The apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reinforcing fiber yarn comprises a carbon fiber yarn.   A rotating cutter roll in which a plurality of disc blades are arranged at intervals in the roll axis direction and a rotating fiber roll arranged in parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll so that a reinforcing fiber yarn can be nipped between them. A nip roll, a guide for guiding reinforcing fiber yarns between the nip roll and the cutter roll, and at least one of the cutter roll, the nip roll, and the guide in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll. And a reciprocating drive mechanism that reciprocates the reinforcing fiber yarn between the nip roll and the cutter roll via the guide, and the reciprocating path of the reinforcing fiber yarn that is fed in is reciprocated. While moving to reciprocate in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll via a dynamic drive mechanism, A method of manufacturing a chopped fiber bundle in which the reinforcing fiber yarn is continuously cut by the cutter roll, and a reciprocating stroke in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn A method for producing a chopped fiber bundle, characterized in that the moving speed of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn at the folded end is increased with respect to the moving speed up to the folded end.   The chopped fiber bundle according to claim 7, wherein an average moving speed of the yarn path of the reinforcing fiber yarn at the folded end is increased by at least 1.5 times the average moving speed up to the folded end. Manufacturing method.

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